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90_SB0665sam012 LRB9000602EGfgam16 1 AMENDMENT TO SENATE BILL 665 2 AMENDMENT NO. . Amend Senate Bill 665, AS AMENDED, 3 by replacing the title with the following: 4 "AN ACT in relation to public employee pensions."; and 5 by inserting immediately below the enacting clause the 6 following: 7 "Section 5. The State Employees Group Insurance Act of 8 1971 is amended by changing Section 3 as follows: 9 (5 ILCS 375/3) (from Ch. 127, par. 523) 10 (Text of Section before amendment by P.A. 89-507) 11 Sec. 3. Definitions. Unless the context otherwise 12 requires, the following words and phrases as used in this Act 13 shall have the following meanings. The Department may define 14 these and other words and phrases separately for the purpose 15 of implementing specific programs providing benefits under 16 this Act. 17 (a) "Administrative service organization" means any 18 person, firm or corporation experienced in the handling of 19 claims which is fully qualified, financially sound and 20 capable of meeting the service requirements of a contract of 21 administration executed with the Department. -2- LRB9000602EGfgam16 1 (b) "Annuitant" means (1) an employee who retires, or 2 has retired, on or after January 1, 1966 on an immediate 3 annuity under the provisions of Articles 2, 14, 15 (including 4 an employee who has retiredand is receiving a retirement5annuityunder theanoptional retirement program established 6 under Section 15-158.2and who would also be eligible for a7retirement annuity had that person been a participant in the8State University Retirement System), paragraphs (b) or (c) of 9 Section 16-106, or Article 18 of the Illinois Pension Code; 10 (2) any person who was receiving group insurance coverage 11 under this Act as of March 31, 1978 by reason of his status 12 as an annuitant, even though the annuity in relation to which 13 such coverage was provided is a proportional annuity based on 14 less than the minimum period of service required for a 15 retirement annuity in the system involved; (3) any person not 16 otherwise covered by this Act who has retired as a 17 participating member under Article 2 of the Illinois Pension 18 Code but is ineligible for the retirement annuity under 19 Section 2-119 of the Illinois Pension Code; (4) the spouse of 20 any person who is receiving a retirement annuity under 21 Article 18 of the Illinois Pension Code and who is covered 22 under a group health insurance program sponsored by a 23 governmental employer other than the State of Illinois and 24 who has irrevocably elected to waive his or her coverage 25 under this Act and to have his or her spouse considered as 26 the "annuitant" under this Act and not as a "dependent"; or 27 (5) an employee who retires, or has retired, from a qualified 28 position, as determined according to rules promulgated by the 29 Director, under a qualified local government or a qualified 30 rehabilitation facility or a qualified domestic violence 31 shelter or service. (For definition of "retired employee", 32 see (p) post). 33 (c) "Carrier" means (1) an insurance company, a 34 corporation organized under the Limited Health Service -3- LRB9000602EGfgam16 1 Organization Act or the Voluntary Health Services Plan Act, a 2 partnership, or other nongovernmental organization, which is 3 authorized to do group life or group health insurance 4 business in Illinois, or (2) the State of Illinois as a 5 self-insurer. 6 (d) "Compensation" means salary or wages payable on a 7 regular payroll by the State Treasurer on a warrant of the 8 State Comptroller out of any State, trust or federal fund, or 9 by the Governor of the State through a disbursing officer of 10 the State out of a trust or out of federal funds, or by any 11 Department out of State, trust, federal or other funds held 12 by the State Treasurer or the Department, to any person for 13 personal services currently performed, and ordinary or 14 accidental disability benefits under Articles 2, 14, 15 15 (including ordinary or accidental disability benefits under 16 theanoptional retirement program established under Section 17 15-158.2), paragraphs (b) or (c) of Section 16-106, or 18 Article 18 of the Illinois Pension Code, for disability 19 incurred after January 1, 1966, or benefits payable under the 20 Workers' Compensation or Occupational Diseases Act or 21 benefits payable under a sick pay plan established in 22 accordance with Section 36 of the State Finance Act. 23 "Compensation" also means salary or wages paid to an employee 24 of any qualified local government or qualified rehabilitation 25 facility or a qualified domestic violence shelter or service. 26 (e) "Commission" means the State Employees Group 27 Insurance Advisory Commission authorized by this Act. 28 Commencing July 1, 1984, "Commission" as used in this Act 29 means the Illinois Economic and Fiscal Commission as 30 established by the Legislative Commission Reorganization Act 31 of 1984. 32 (f) "Contributory", when referred to as contributory 33 coverage, shall mean optional coverages or benefits elected 34 by the member toward the cost of which such member makes -4- LRB9000602EGfgam16 1 contribution, or which are funded in whole or in part through 2 the acceptance of a reduction in earnings or the foregoing of 3 an increase in earnings by an employee, as distinguished from 4 noncontributory coverage or benefits which are paid entirely 5 by the State of Illinois without reduction of the member's 6 salary. 7 (g) "Department" means any department, institution, 8 board, commission, officer, court or any agency of the State 9 government receiving appropriations and having power to 10 certify payrolls to the Comptroller authorizing payments of 11 salary and wages against such appropriations as are made by 12 the General Assembly from any State fund, or against trust 13 funds held by the State Treasurer and includes boards of 14 trustees of the retirement systems created by Articles 2, 14, 15 15, 16 and 18 of the Illinois Pension Code. "Department" 16 also includes the Illinois Comprehensive Health Insurance 17 Board and the Illinois Rural Bond Bank. 18 (h) "Dependent", when the term is used in the context of 19 the health and life plan, means a member's spouse and any 20 unmarried child (1) from birth to age 19 including an adopted 21 child, a child who lives with the member from the time of the 22 filing of a petition for adoption until entry of an order of 23 adoption, a stepchild or recognized child who lives with the 24 member in a parent-child relationship, or a child who lives 25 with the member if such member is a court appointed guardian 26 of the child, or (2) age 19 to 23 enrolled as a full-time 27 student in any accredited school, financially dependent upon 28 the member, and eligible as a dependent for Illinois State 29 income tax purposes, or (3) age 19 or over who is mentally or 30 physically handicapped as defined in the Illinois Insurance 31 Code. For the health plan only, the term "dependent" also 32 includes any person enrolled prior to the effective date of 33 this Section who is dependent upon the member to the extent 34 that the member may claim such person as a dependent for -5- LRB9000602EGfgam16 1 Illinois State income tax deduction purposes; no other such 2 person may be enrolled. 3 (i) "Director" means the Director of the Illinois 4 Department of Central Management Services. 5 (j) "Eligibility period" means the period of time a 6 member has to elect enrollment in programs or to select 7 benefits without regard to age, sex or health. 8 (k) "Employee" means and includes each officer or 9 employee in the service of a department who (1) receives his 10 compensation for service rendered to the department on a 11 warrant issued pursuant to a payroll certified by a 12 department or on a warrant or check issued and drawn by a 13 department upon a trust, federal or other fund or on a 14 warrant issued pursuant to a payroll certified by an elected 15 or duly appointed officer of the State or who receives 16 payment of the performance of personal services on a warrant 17 issued pursuant to a payroll certified by a Department and 18 drawn by the Comptroller upon the State Treasurer against 19 appropriations made by the General Assembly from any fund or 20 against trust funds held by the State Treasurer, and (2) is 21 employed full-time or part-time in a position normally 22 requiring actual performance of duty during not less than 1/2 23 of a normal work period, as established by the Director in 24 cooperation with each department, except that persons elected 25 by popular vote will be considered employees during the 26 entire term for which they are elected regardless of hours 27 devoted to the service of the State, and (3) except that 28 "employee" does not include any person who is not eligible by 29 reason of such person's employment to participate in one of 30 the State retirement systems under Articles 2, 14, 15 (either 31 the regular Article 15 system or theanoptional retirement 32 program established under Section 15-158.2) or 18, or under 33 paragraph (b) or (c) of Section 16-106, of the Illinois 34 Pension Code, but such term does include persons who are -6- LRB9000602EGfgam16 1 employed during the 6 month qualifying period under Article 2 14 of the Illinois Pension Code. Such term also includes any 3 person who (1) after January 1, 1966, is receiving ordinary 4 or accidental disability benefits under Articles 2, 14, 15 5 (including ordinary or accidental disability benefits under 6 theanoptional retirement program established under Section 7 15-158.2), paragraphs (b) or (c) of Section 16-106, or 8 Article 18 of the Illinois Pension Code, for disability 9 incurred after January 1, 1966, (2) receives total permanent 10 or total temporary disability under the Workers' Compensation 11 Act or Occupational Disease Act as a result of injuries 12 sustained or illness contracted in the course of employment 13 with the State of Illinois, or (3) is not otherwise covered 14 under this Act and has retired as a participating member 15 under Article 2 of the Illinois Pension Code but is 16 ineligible for the retirement annuity under Section 2-119 of 17 the Illinois Pension Code. However, a person who satisfies 18 the criteria of the foregoing definition of "employee" except 19 that such person is made ineligible to participate in the 20 State Universities Retirement System by clause (4) of the 21 first paragraph of Section 15-107 of the Illinois Pension 22 Code is also an "employee" for the purposes of this Act. 23 "Employee" also includes any person receiving or eligible for 24 benefits under a sick pay plan established in accordance with 25 Section 36 of the State Finance Act. "Employee" also includes 26 each officer or employee in the service of a qualified local 27 government, including persons appointed as trustees of 28 sanitary districts regardless of hours devoted to the service 29 of the sanitary district, and each employee in the service of 30 a qualified rehabilitation facility and each full-time 31 employee in the service of a qualified domestic violence 32 shelter or service, as determined according to rules 33 promulgated by the Director. 34 (l) "Member" means an employee, annuitant, retired -7- LRB9000602EGfgam16 1 employee or survivor. 2 (m) "Optional coverages or benefits" means those 3 coverages or benefits available to the member on his or her 4 voluntary election, and at his or her own expense. 5 (n) "Program" means the group life insurance, health 6 benefits and other employee benefits designed and contracted 7 for by the Director under this Act. 8 (o) "Health plan" means a self-insured health insurance 9 program offered by the State of Illinois for the purposes of 10 benefiting employees by means of providing, among others, 11 wellness programs, utilization reviews, second opinions and 12 medical fee reviews, as well as for paying for hospital and 13 medical care up to the maximum coverage provided by the plan, 14 to its members and their dependents. 15 (p) "Retired employee" means any person who would be an 16 annuitant as that term is defined herein but for the fact 17 that such person retired prior to January 1, 1966. Such term 18 also includes any person formerly employed by the University 19 of Illinois in the Cooperative Extension Service who would be 20 an annuitant but for the fact that such person was made 21 ineligible to participate in the State Universities 22 Retirement System by clause (4) of the first paragraph of 23 Section 15-107 of the Illinois Pension Code. 24 (q) "Survivor" means a person receiving an annuity as a 25 survivor of an employee or of an annuitant. "Survivor" also 26 includes: (1) the surviving dependent of a person who 27 satisfies the definition of "employee" except that such 28 person is made ineligible to participate in the State 29 Universities Retirement System by clause (4) of the first 30 paragraph of Section 15-107 of the Illinois Pension Code; and 31 (2) the surviving dependent of any person formerly employed 32 by the University of Illinois in the Cooperative Extension 33 Service who would be an annuitant except for the fact that 34 such person was made ineligible to participate in the State -8- LRB9000602EGfgam16 1 Universities Retirement System by clause (4) of the first 2 paragraph of Section 15-107 of the Illinois Pension Code. 3 (r) "Medical services" means the services provided 4 within the scope of their licenses by practitioners in all 5 categories licensed under the Medical Practice Act of 1987. 6 (s) "Unit of local government" means any county, 7 municipality, township, school district, special district or 8 other unit, designated as a unit of local government by law, 9 which exercises limited governmental powers or powers in 10 respect to limited governmental subjects, any not-for-profit 11 association with a membership that primarily includes 12 townships and township officials, that has duties that 13 include provision of research service, dissemination of 14 information, and other acts for the purpose of improving 15 township government, and that is funded wholly or partly in 16 accordance with Section 85-15 of the Township Code; any 17 not-for-profit corporation or association, with a membership 18 consisting primarily of municipalities, that operates its own 19 utility system, and provides research, training, 20 dissemination of information, or other acts to promote 21 cooperation between and among municipalities that provide 22 utility services and for the advancement of the goals and 23 purposes of its membership; and the Illinois Association of 24 Park Districts. "Qualified local government" means a unit of 25 local government approved by the Director and participating 26 in a program created under subsection (i) of Section 10 of 27 this Act. 28 (t) "Qualified rehabilitation facility" means any 29 not-for-profit organization that is accredited by the 30 Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities or 31 certified by the Department of Mental Health and 32 Developmental Disabilities to provide services to persons 33 with disabilities and which receives funds from the State of 34 Illinois for providing those services, approved by the -9- LRB9000602EGfgam16 1 Director and participating in a program created under 2 subsection (j) of Section 10 of this Act. 3 (u) "Qualified domestic violence shelter or service" 4 means any Illinois domestic violence shelter or service and 5 its administrative offices funded by the Illinois Department 6 of Public Aid, approved by the Director and participating in 7 a program created under subsection (k) of Section 10. 8 (v) "TRS benefit recipient" means a person who: 9 (1) is not a "member" as defined in this Section; 10 and 11 (2) is receiving a monthly benefit or retirement 12 annuity under Article 16 of the Illinois Pension Code; 13 and 14 (3) either (i) has at least 8 years of creditable 15 service under Article 16 of the Illinois Pension Code, or 16 (ii) was enrolled in the health insurance program offered 17 under that Article on January 1, 1996, or (iii) is the 18 survivor of a benefit recipient who had at least 8 years 19 of creditable service under Article 16 of the Illinois 20 Pension Code or was enrolled in the health insurance 21 program offered under that Article on the effective date 22 of this amendatory Act of 1995, or (iv) is a recipient or 23 survivor of a recipient of a disability benefit under 24 Article 16 of the Illinois Pension Code. 25 (w) "TRS dependent beneficiary" means a person who: 26 (1) is not a "member" or "dependent" as defined in 27 this Section; and 28 (2) is a TRS benefit recipient's: (A) spouse, (B) 29 dependent parent who is receiving at least half of his or 30 her support from the TRS benefit recipient, or (C) 31 unmarried natural or adopted child who is (i) under age 32 19, or (ii) enrolled as a full-time student in an 33 accredited school, financially dependent upon the TRS 34 benefit recipient, eligible as a dependent for Illinois -10- LRB9000602EGfgam16 1 State income tax purposes, and either is under age 24 or 2 was, on January 1, 1996, participating as a dependent 3 beneficiary in the health insurance program offered under 4 Article 16 of the Illinois Pension Code, or (iii) age 19 5 or over who is mentally or physically handicapped as 6 defined in the Illinois Insurance Code. 7 (x) "Military leave with pay and benefits" refers to 8 individuals in basic training for reserves, special/advanced 9 training, annual training, emergency call up, or activation 10 by the President of the United States with approved pay and 11 benefits. 12 (y) "Military leave without pay and benefits" refers to 13 individuals who enlist for active duty in a regular component 14 of the U.S. Armed Forces or other duty not specified or 15 authorized under military leave with pay and benefits. 16 (Source: P.A. 88-670, eff. 12-2-94; 89-21, eff. 6-21-95; 17 89-25, eff. 6-21-95; 89-76, eff. 7-1-95; 89-324, eff. 18 8-13-95; 89-430, eff. 12-15-95; 89-502, eff. 7-1-96; 89-628, 19 eff. 8-9-96; revised 8-23-96.) 20 (Text of Section after amendment by P.A. 89-507) 21 Sec. 3. Definitions. Unless the context otherwise 22 requires, the following words and phrases as used in this Act 23 shall have the following meanings. The Department may define 24 these and other words and phrases separately for the purpose 25 of implementing specific programs providing benefits under 26 this Act. 27 (a) "Administrative service organization" means any 28 person, firm or corporation experienced in the handling of 29 claims which is fully qualified, financially sound and 30 capable of meeting the service requirements of a contract of 31 administration executed with the Department. 32 (b) "Annuitant" means (1) an employee who retires, or 33 has retired, on or after January 1, 1966 on an immediate 34 annuity under the provisions of Articles 2, 14, 15 (including -11- LRB9000602EGfgam16 1 an employee who has retiredand is receiving a retirement2annuityunder theanoptional retirement program established 3 under Section 15-158.2and who would also be eligible for a4retirement annuity had that person been a participant in the5State University Retirement System), paragraphs (b) or (c) of 6 Section 16-106, or Article 18 of the Illinois Pension Code; 7 (2) any person who was receiving group insurance coverage 8 under this Act as of March 31, 1978 by reason of his status 9 as an annuitant, even though the annuity in relation to which 10 such coverage was provided is a proportional annuity based on 11 less than the minimum period of service required for a 12 retirement annuity in the system involved; (3) any person not 13 otherwise covered by this Act who has retired as a 14 participating member under Article 2 of the Illinois Pension 15 Code but is ineligible for the retirement annuity under 16 Section 2-119 of the Illinois Pension Code; (4) the spouse of 17 any person who is receiving a retirement annuity under 18 Article 18 of the Illinois Pension Code and who is covered 19 under a group health insurance program sponsored by a 20 governmental employer other than the State of Illinois and 21 who has irrevocably elected to waive his or her coverage 22 under this Act and to have his or her spouse considered as 23 the "annuitant" under this Act and not as a "dependent"; or 24 (5) an employee who retires, or has retired, from a qualified 25 position, as determined according to rules promulgated by the 26 Director, under a qualified local government or a qualified 27 rehabilitation facility or a qualified domestic violence 28 shelter or service. (For definition of "retired employee", 29 see (p) post). 30 (c) "Carrier" means (1) an insurance company, a 31 corporation organized under the Limited Health Service 32 Organization Act or the Voluntary Health Services Plan Act, a 33 partnership, or other nongovernmental organization, which is 34 authorized to do group life or group health insurance -12- LRB9000602EGfgam16 1 business in Illinois, or (2) the State of Illinois as a 2 self-insurer. 3 (d) "Compensation" means salary or wages payable on a 4 regular payroll by the State Treasurer on a warrant of the 5 State Comptroller out of any State, trust or federal fund, or 6 by the Governor of the State through a disbursing officer of 7 the State out of a trust or out of federal funds, or by any 8 Department out of State, trust, federal or other funds held 9 by the State Treasurer or the Department, to any person for 10 personal services currently performed, and ordinary or 11 accidental disability benefits under Articles 2, 14, 15 12 (including ordinary or accidental disability benefits under 13 theanoptional retirement program established under Section 14 15-158.2), paragraphs (b) or (c) of Section 16-106, or 15 Article 18 of the Illinois Pension Code, for disability 16 incurred after January 1, 1966, or benefits payable under the 17 Workers' Compensation or Occupational Diseases Act or 18 benefits payable under a sick pay plan established in 19 accordance with Section 36 of the State Finance Act. 20 "Compensation" also means salary or wages paid to an employee 21 of any qualified local government or qualified rehabilitation 22 facility or a qualified domestic violence shelter or service. 23 (e) "Commission" means the State Employees Group 24 Insurance Advisory Commission authorized by this Act. 25 Commencing July 1, 1984, "Commission" as used in this Act 26 means the Illinois Economic and Fiscal Commission as 27 established by the Legislative Commission Reorganization Act 28 of 1984. 29 (f) "Contributory", when referred to as contributory 30 coverage, shall mean optional coverages or benefits elected 31 by the member toward the cost of which such member makes 32 contribution, or which are funded in whole or in part through 33 the acceptance of a reduction in earnings or the foregoing of 34 an increase in earnings by an employee, as distinguished from -13- LRB9000602EGfgam16 1 noncontributory coverage or benefits which are paid entirely 2 by the State of Illinois without reduction of the member's 3 salary. 4 (g) "Department" means any department, institution, 5 board, commission, officer, court or any agency of the State 6 government receiving appropriations and having power to 7 certify payrolls to the Comptroller authorizing payments of 8 salary and wages against such appropriations as are made by 9 the General Assembly from any State fund, or against trust 10 funds held by the State Treasurer and includes boards of 11 trustees of the retirement systems created by Articles 2, 14, 12 15, 16 and 18 of the Illinois Pension Code. "Department" 13 also includes the Illinois Comprehensive Health Insurance 14 Board and the Illinois Rural Bond Bank. 15 (h) "Dependent", when the term is used in the context of 16 the health and life plan, means a member's spouse and any 17 unmarried child (1) from birth to age 19 including an adopted 18 child, a child who lives with the member from the time of the 19 filing of a petition for adoption until entry of an order of 20 adoption, a stepchild or recognized child who lives with the 21 member in a parent-child relationship, or a child who lives 22 with the member if such member is a court appointed guardian 23 of the child, or (2) age 19 to 23 enrolled as a full-time 24 student in any accredited school, financially dependent upon 25 the member, and eligible as a dependent for Illinois State 26 income tax purposes, or (3) age 19 or over who is mentally or 27 physically handicapped as defined in the Illinois Insurance 28 Code. For the health plan only, the term "dependent" also 29 includes any person enrolled prior to the effective date of 30 this Section who is dependent upon the member to the extent 31 that the member may claim such person as a dependent for 32 Illinois State income tax deduction purposes; no other such 33 person may be enrolled. 34 (i) "Director" means the Director of the Illinois -14- LRB9000602EGfgam16 1 Department of Central Management Services. 2 (j) "Eligibility period" means the period of time a 3 member has to elect enrollment in programs or to select 4 benefits without regard to age, sex or health. 5 (k) "Employee" means and includes each officer or 6 employee in the service of a department who (1) receives his 7 compensation for service rendered to the department on a 8 warrant issued pursuant to a payroll certified by a 9 department or on a warrant or check issued and drawn by a 10 department upon a trust, federal or other fund or on a 11 warrant issued pursuant to a payroll certified by an elected 12 or duly appointed officer of the State or who receives 13 payment of the performance of personal services on a warrant 14 issued pursuant to a payroll certified by a Department and 15 drawn by the Comptroller upon the State Treasurer against 16 appropriations made by the General Assembly from any fund or 17 against trust funds held by the State Treasurer, and (2) is 18 employed full-time or part-time in a position normally 19 requiring actual performance of duty during not less than 1/2 20 of a normal work period, as established by the Director in 21 cooperation with each department, except that persons elected 22 by popular vote will be considered employees during the 23 entire term for which they are elected regardless of hours 24 devoted to the service of the State, and (3) except that 25 "employee" does not include any person who is not eligible by 26 reason of such person's employment to participate in one of 27 the State retirement systems under Articles 2, 14, 15 (either 28 the regular Article 15 system or theanoptional retirement 29 program established under Section 15-158.2) or 18, or under 30 paragraph (b) or (c) of Section 16-106, of the Illinois 31 Pension Code, but such term does include persons who are 32 employed during the 6 month qualifying period under Article 33 14 of the Illinois Pension Code. Such term also includes any 34 person who (1) after January 1, 1966, is receiving ordinary -15- LRB9000602EGfgam16 1 or accidental disability benefits under Articles 2, 14, 15 2 (including ordinary or accidental disability benefits under 3 theanoptional retirement program established under Section 4 15-158.2), paragraphs (b) or (c) of Section 16-106, or 5 Article 18 of the Illinois Pension Code, for disability 6 incurred after January 1, 1966, (2) receives total permanent 7 or total temporary disability under the Workers' Compensation 8 Act or Occupational Disease Act as a result of injuries 9 sustained or illness contracted in the course of employment 10 with the State of Illinois, or (3) is not otherwise covered 11 under this Act and has retired as a participating member 12 under Article 2 of the Illinois Pension Code but is 13 ineligible for the retirement annuity under Section 2-119 of 14 the Illinois Pension Code. However, a person who satisfies 15 the criteria of the foregoing definition of "employee" except 16 that such person is made ineligible to participate in the 17 State Universities Retirement System by clause (4) of the 18 first paragraph of Section 15-107 of the Illinois Pension 19 Code is also an "employee" for the purposes of this Act. 20 "Employee" also includes any person receiving or eligible for 21 benefits under a sick pay plan established in accordance with 22 Section 36 of the State Finance Act. "Employee" also includes 23 each officer or employee in the service of a qualified local 24 government, including persons appointed as trustees of 25 sanitary districts regardless of hours devoted to the service 26 of the sanitary district, and each employee in the service of 27 a qualified rehabilitation facility and each full-time 28 employee in the service of a qualified domestic violence 29 shelter or service, as determined according to rules 30 promulgated by the Director. 31 (l) "Member" means an employee, annuitant, retired 32 employee or survivor. 33 (m) "Optional coverages or benefits" means those 34 coverages or benefits available to the member on his or her -16- LRB9000602EGfgam16 1 voluntary election, and at his or her own expense. 2 (n) "Program" means the group life insurance, health 3 benefits and other employee benefits designed and contracted 4 for by the Director under this Act. 5 (o) "Health plan" means a self-insured health insurance 6 program offered by the State of Illinois for the purposes of 7 benefiting employees by means of providing, among others, 8 wellness programs, utilization reviews, second opinions and 9 medical fee reviews, as well as for paying for hospital and 10 medical care up to the maximum coverage provided by the plan, 11 to its members and their dependents. 12 (p) "Retired employee" means any person who would be an 13 annuitant as that term is defined herein but for the fact 14 that such person retired prior to January 1, 1966. Such term 15 also includes any person formerly employed by the University 16 of Illinois in the Cooperative Extension Service who would be 17 an annuitant but for the fact that such person was made 18 ineligible to participate in the State Universities 19 Retirement System by clause (4) of the first paragraph of 20 Section 15-107 of the Illinois Pension Code. 21 (q) "Survivor" means a person receiving an annuity as a 22 survivor of an employee or of an annuitant. "Survivor" also 23 includes: (1) the surviving dependent of a person who 24 satisfies the definition of "employee" except that such 25 person is made ineligible to participate in the State 26 Universities Retirement System by clause (4) of the first 27 paragraph of Section 15-107 of the Illinois Pension Code; and 28 (2) the surviving dependent of any person formerly employed 29 by the University of Illinois in the Cooperative Extension 30 Service who would be an annuitant except for the fact that 31 such person was made ineligible to participate in the State 32 Universities Retirement System by clause (4) of the first 33 paragraph of Section 15-107 of the Illinois Pension Code. 34 (r) "Medical services" means the services provided -17- LRB9000602EGfgam16 1 within the scope of their licenses by practitioners in all 2 categories licensed under the Medical Practice Act of 1987. 3 (s) "Unit of local government" means any county, 4 municipality, township, school district, special district or 5 other unit, designated as a unit of local government by law, 6 which exercises limited governmental powers or powers in 7 respect to limited governmental subjects, any not-for-profit 8 association with a membership that primarily includes 9 townships and township officials, that has duties that 10 include provision of research service, dissemination of 11 information, and other acts for the purpose of improving 12 township government, and that is funded wholly or partly in 13 accordance with Section 85-15 of the Township Code; any 14 not-for-profit corporation or association, with a membership 15 consisting primarily of municipalities, that operates its own 16 utility system, and provides research, training, 17 dissemination of information, or other acts to promote 18 cooperation between and among municipalities that provide 19 utility services and for the advancement of the goals and 20 purposes of its membership; and the Illinois Association of 21 Park Districts. "Qualified local government" means a unit of 22 local government approved by the Director and participating 23 in a program created under subsection (i) of Section 10 of 24 this Act. 25 (t) "Qualified rehabilitation facility" means any 26 not-for-profit organization that is accredited by the 27 Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities or 28 certified by the Department of Human Services (as successor 29 to the Department of Mental Health and Developmental 30 Disabilities) to provide services to persons with 31 disabilities and which receives funds from the State of 32 Illinois for providing those services, approved by the 33 Director and participating in a program created under 34 subsection (j) of Section 10 of this Act. -18- LRB9000602EGfgam16 1 (u) "Qualified domestic violence shelter or service" 2 means any Illinois domestic violence shelter or service and 3 its administrative offices funded by the Department of Human 4 Services (as successor to the Illinois Department of Public 5 Aid), approved by the Director and participating in a program 6 created under subsection (k) of Section 10. 7 (v) "TRS benefit recipient" means a person who: 8 (1) is not a "member" as defined in this Section; 9 and 10 (2) is receiving a monthly benefit or retirement 11 annuity under Article 16 of the Illinois Pension Code; 12 and 13 (3) either (i) has at least 8 years of creditable 14 service under Article 16 of the Illinois Pension Code, or 15 (ii) was enrolled in the health insurance program offered 16 under that Article on January 1, 1996, or (iii) is the 17 survivor of a benefit recipient who had at least 8 years 18 of creditable service under Article 16 of the Illinois 19 Pension Code or was enrolled in the health insurance 20 program offered under that Article on the effective date 21 of this amendatory Act of 1995, or (iv) is a recipient or 22 survivor of a recipient of a disability benefit under 23 Article 16 of the Illinois Pension Code. 24 (w) "TRS dependent beneficiary" means a person who: 25 (1) is not a "member" or "dependent" as defined in 26 this Section; and 27 (2) is a TRS benefit recipient's: (A) spouse, (B) 28 dependent parent who is receiving at least half of his or 29 her support from the TRS benefit recipient, or (C) 30 unmarried natural or adopted child who is (i) under age 31 19, or (ii) enrolled as a full-time student in an 32 accredited school, financially dependent upon the TRS 33 benefit recipient, eligible as a dependent for Illinois 34 State income tax purposes, and either is under age 24 or -19- LRB9000602EGfgam16 1 was, on January 1, 1996, participating as a dependent 2 beneficiary in the health insurance program offered under 3 Article 16 of the Illinois Pension Code, or (iii) age 19 4 or over who is mentally or physically handicapped as 5 defined in the Illinois Insurance Code. 6 (x) "Military leave with pay and benefits" refers to 7 individuals in basic training for reserves, special/advanced 8 training, annual training, emergency call up, or activation 9 by the President of the United States with approved pay and 10 benefits. 11 (y) "Military leave without pay and benefits" refers to 12 individuals who enlist for active duty in a regular component 13 of the U.S. Armed Forces or other duty not specified or 14 authorized under military leave with pay and benefits. 15 (Source: P.A. 88-670, eff. 12-2-94; 89-21, eff. 6-21-95; 16 89-25, eff. 6-21-95; 89-76, eff. 7-1-95; 89-324, eff. 17 8-13-95; 89-430, eff. 12-15-95; 89-502, eff. 7-1-96; 89-507, 18 eff. 7-1-97; 89-628, eff. 8-9-96; revised 8-23-96.) 19 Section 10. The Illinois Pension Code is amended by 20 changing Sections 15-107, 15-134, 15-136, 15-141, 15-142, 21 15-146, 15-154, 15-157, 15-158.2, and 15-165 and adding 22 Section 15-136.4 as follows: 23 (40 ILCS 5/15-107) (from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 15-107) 24 Sec. 15-107. Employee. 25 (a) "Employee" means any member of the educational, 26 administrative, secretarial, clerical, mechanical, labor or 27 other staff of an employer whose employment is permanent and 28 continuous or who is employed in a position in which services 29 are expected to be rendered on a continuous basis for at 30 least 4 months or one academic term, whichever is less, who 31 (A) receives payment for personal services on a warrant 32 issued pursuant to a payroll voucher certified by an employer -20- LRB9000602EGfgam16 1 and drawn by the State Comptroller upon the State Treasurer 2 or by an employer upon trust, federal or other funds, or (B) 3 is on a leave of absence without pay. Employment which is 4 irregular, intermittent or temporary shall not be considered 5 continuous for purposes of this paragraph. 6 However, a person is not an "employee" if he or she: 7 (1) is a student enrolled in and regularly 8 attending classes in a college or university which is an 9 employer, and is employed on a temporary basis at less 10 than full time; 11 (2) is currently receiving a retirement annuity or 12 a disability retirement annuity under Section 15-153.2 13 from this System; 14 (3) is on a military leave of absence; 15 (4) is eligible to participate in the Federal Civil 16 Service Retirement System and is currently making 17 contributions to that system based upon earnings paid by 18 an employer; 19 (5) is on leave of absence without pay for more 20 than 60 days immediately following termination of 21 disability benefits under this Article; 22 (6) is hired after June 30, 1979 as a public 23 service employment program participant under the Federal 24 Comprehensive Employment and Training Act and receives 25 earnings in whole or in part from funds provided under 26 that Act; 27 (7) is employed on or after July 1, 1991 to perform 28 services that are excluded by subdivision (a)(7)(f) or 29 (a)(19) of Section 210 of the federal Social Security Act 30 from the definition of employment given in that Section 31 (42 U.S.C. 410); or 32 (8) participates in an optional program for 33 part-time workers under Section 15-158.1.; or34(9) participates in an optional program for-21- LRB9000602EGfgam16 1employees under Section 15-158.2.2 (b) Any employer may, by filing a written notice with 3 the board, exclude from the definition of "employee" all 4 persons employed pursuant to a federally funded contract 5 entered into after July 1, 1982 with a federal military 6 department in a program providing training in military 7 courses to federal military personnel on a military site 8 owned by the United States Government, if this exclusion is 9 not prohibited by the federally funded contract or federal 10 laws or rules governing the administration of the contract. 11 (c) Any person appointed by the Governor under the Civil 12 Administrative Code of the State is an employee, if he or she 13 is a participant in this system on the effective date of the 14 appointment. 15 (d) A participant on lay-off status under civil service 16 rules is considered an employee for not more than 120 days 17 from the date of the lay-off. 18 (e) A participant is considered an employee during (1) 19 the first 60 days of disability leave, (2) the period, not to 20 exceed one year, in which his or her eligibility for 21 disability benefits is being considered by the board or 22 reviewed by the courts, and (3) the period he or she receives 23 disability benefits under the provisions of Section 15-152, 24 workers' compensation or occupational disease benefits, or 25 disability income under an insurance contract financed wholly 26 or partially by the employer. 27 (f) Absences without pay, other than formal leaves of 28 absence, of less than 30 calendar days, are not considered as 29 an interruption of a person's status as an employee. If such 30 absences during any period of 12 months exceed 30 work days, 31 the employee status of the person is considered as 32 interrupted as of the 31st work day. 33 (g) A staff member whose employment contract requires 34 services during an academic term is to be considered an -22- LRB9000602EGfgam16 1 employee during the summer and other vacation periods, unless 2 he or she declines an employment contract for the succeeding 3 academic term or his or her employment status is otherwise 4 terminated, and he or she receives no earnings during these 5 periods. 6 (Source: P.A. 89-430, eff. 12-15-95.) 7 (40 ILCS 5/15-134) (from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 15-134) 8 Sec. 15-134. Participant. 9 (a) Each person shall, as a condition of employment, 10 become a participant and be subject to this Article on the 11 date that he or she becomes an employee, makes an election to 12 participate in, or otherwise becomes a participant in one of 13 the retirement programs offered under this Article, whichever 14 date is later. 15 An employee who becomes a participant shall continue to 16 be a participant until he or she becomes an annuitant, dies 17 or accepts a refund of contributions, except that a person 18 shall not be deemed a participant while participating in an 19 optional program for part-time workers established under 20 Section 15-158.1or participating in an optional program for21employees established under Section 15-158.2. 22 (b) A person employed concurrently by 2 or more 23 employers is eligible to participate in the system on 24 compensation received from all employers; however, his or her 25 combined basic compensation and combined earnings shall not 26 exceed the basic compensation and earnings which would have 27 been payable for full-time employment by the employer under 28 which the employee's basic compensation is the highest. 29 However, effective for all employment on or after July 1, 30 1991, where a person is employed to render service to one 31 employer during an academic or summer term and is employed by 32 another employer to render service to it during the 33 succeeding, nonoverlapping academic or summer term, then -23- LRB9000602EGfgam16 1 exclusively for the purposes of this Section, the person 2 shall be considered to be successively employed by more than 3 one employer, rather than concurrently employed by 2 or more 4 employers. 5 (Source: P.A. 89-430, eff. 12-15-95.) 6 (40 ILCS 5/15-136) (from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 15-136) 7 Sec. 15-136. Retirement annuities - Amount. 8 (a) The amount of the retirement annuity shall be 9 determined by whichever of the following rules is applicable 10 and provides the largest annuity: 11 Rule 1: The retirement annuity shall be 1.67% of final 12 rate of earnings for each of the first 10 years of service, 13 1.90% for each of the next 10 years of service, 2.10% for 14 each year of service in excess of 20 but not exceeding 30, 15 and 2.30% for each year in excess of 30, except that the 16 annuity for those persons having made an election under 17 Section 15-154(a-1) shall be calculated and payable under the 18 portable retirement benefit program pursuant to the 19 provisions of Section 15-136.4. 20 Rule 2: The retirement annuity shall be the sum of the 21 following, determined from amounts credited to the 22 participant in accordance with the actuarial tables and the 23 prescribed rate of interest in effect at the time the 24 retirement annuity begins: 25 (i) The normal annuity which can be provided on an 26 actuariallyactuarialequivalent basis, by the accumulated 27 normal contributions as of the date the annuity begins; and 28 (ii) an annuity from employer contributions of an amount 29 which can be provided on an actuarially equivalent basis from 30 the accumulated normal contributions made by the participant 31 under Section 15-113.6 and Section 15-113.7 plus 1.4 times 32 all other accumulated normal contributions made by the 33 participant, except that the annuity for those persons having -24- LRB9000602EGfgam16 1 made an election under Section 15-154(a-1) shall be 2 calculated and payable under the portable retirement benefit 3 program pursuant to the provisions of Section 15-136.4. 4 Rule 3: The retirement annuity of a participant who is 5 employed at least one-half time during the period on which 6 his or her final rate of earnings is based, shall be equal to 7 the participant's years of service not to exceed 30, 8 multiplied by (1) $96 if the participant's final rate of 9 earnings is less than $3,500, (2) $108 if the final rate of 10 earnings is at least $3,500 but less than $4,500, (3) $120 if 11 the final rate of earnings is at least $4,500 but less than 12 $5,500, (4) $132 if the final rate of earnings is at least 13 $5,500 but less than $6,500, (5) $144 if the final rate of 14 earnings is at least $6,500 but less than $7,500, (6) $156 if 15 the final rate of earnings is at least $7,500 but less than 16 $8,500, (7) $168 if the final rate of earnings is at least 17 $8,500 but less than $9,500, and (8) $180 if the final rate 18 of earnings is $9,500 or more, except that the annuity for 19 those persons having made an election under Section 20 15-154(a-1) shall be calculated and payable under the 21 portable retirement benefit program pursuant to the 22 provisions of Section 15-136.4. 23 Rule 4: A participant who is at least age 50 and has 25 24 or more years of service as a police officer or firefighter, 25 and a participant who is age 55 or over and has at least 20 26 but less than 25 years of service as a police officer or 27 firefighter, shall be entitled to a retirement annuity of 2 28 1/4% of the final rate of earnings for each of the first 10 29 years of service as a police officer or firefighter, 2 1/2% 30 for each of the next 10 years of service as a police officer 31 or firefighter, and 2 3/4% for each year of service as a 32 police officer or firefighter in excess of 20, except that 33 the annuity for those persons have made an election under 34 Section 15-154(a-1) shall be calculated and payable under the -25- LRB9000602EGfgam16 1 portable retirement benefit program pursuant to the 2 provisions of Section 15-136.4. The retirement annuity for 3 all other service shall be computed under Rule 1, payable 4 under the portable retirement benefit program pursuant to the 5 provisions of Section 15-136.4, if applicable. 6 (b) The retirement annuity provided under Rules 1 and 3 7 above shall be reduced by 1/2 of 1% for each month the 8 participant is under age 60 at the time of retirement. 9 However, this reduction shall not apply in the following 10 cases: 11 (1) For a disabled participant whose disability 12 benefits have been discontinued because he or she has 13 exhausted eligibility for disability benefits under 14 clause (6)(5)of Section 15-152; 15 (2) For a participant who has at least 35 years of 16 service; or 17 (3) For that portion of a retirement annuity which 18 has been provided on account of service of the 19 participant during periods when he or she performed the 20 duties of a police officer or firefighter, if these 21 duties were performed for at least 5 years immediately 22 preceding the date the retirement annuity is to begin. 23 (c) The maximum retirement annuity provided under Rules 24 1, 2, and 4 shall be the lesser of (1) the annual limit of 25 benefits as specified in Section 415 of the Internal Revenue 26 Code of 1986, as such Section may be amended from time to 27 time and as such benefit limits shall be adjusted by the 28 Commissioner of Internal Revenue, and (2) 75% of final rate 29 of earnings; however, this limitation of 75% of final rate of 30 earnings shall not apply to a person who is a participant or 31 annuitant on September 15, 1977 if it results in a retirement 32 annuity less than that which is payable to the annuitant or 33 which would have been payable to the participant under the 34 provisions of this Article in effect on June 30, 1977. -26- LRB9000602EGfgam16 1 (d) An annuitant whose status as an employee terminates 2 after August 14, 1969 shall receive automatic increases in 3 his or her retirement annuity as follows: 4 Effective January 1 immediately following the date the 5 retirement annuity begins, the annuitant shall receive an 6 increase in his or her monthly retirement annuity of 0.125% 7 of the monthly retirement annuity provided under Rule 1, Rule 8 2, Rule 3, or Rule 4, contained in this Section, multiplied 9 by the number of full months which elapsed from the date the 10 retirement annuity payments began to January 1, 1972, plus 11 0.1667% of such annuity, multiplied by the number of full 12 months which elapsed from January 1, 1972, or the date the 13 retirement annuity payments began, whichever is later, to 14 January 1, 1978, plus 0.25% of such annuity multiplied by the 15 number of full months which elapsed from January 1, 1978, or 16 the date the retirement annuity payments began, whichever is 17 later, to the effective date of the increase. 18 The annuitant shall receive an increase in his or her 19 monthly retirement annuity on each January 1 thereafter 20 during the annuitant's life of 3% of the monthly annuity 21 provided under Rule 1, Rule 2, Rule 3, or Rule 4 contained in 22 this Section. The change made under this subsection by P.A. 23 81-970 is effective January 1, 1980 and applies to each 24 annuitant whose status as an employee terminates before or 25 after that date. 26 Beginning January 1, 1990, all automatic annual increases 27 payable under this Section shall be calculated as a 28 percentage of the total annuity payable at the time of the 29 increase, including all increases previously granted under 30 this Article. The change made in this subsection by P.A. 31 85-1008 is effective January 26, 1988, and is applicable 32 without regard to whether status as an employee terminated 33 before that date. 34 (e) If, on January 1, 1987, or the date the retirement -27- LRB9000602EGfgam16 1 annuity payment period begins, whichever is later, the sum of 2 the retirement annuity provided under Rule 1 or Rule 2 of 3 this Section and the automatic annual increases provided 4 under the preceding subsection or Section 15-136.1, amounts 5 to less than the retirement annuity which would be provided 6 by Rule 3, the retirement annuity shall be increased as of 7 January 1, 1987, or the date the retirement annuity payment 8 period begins, whichever is later, to the amount which would 9 be provided by Rule 3 of this Section. Such increased amount 10 shall be considered as the retirement annuity in determining 11 benefits provided under other Sections of this Article. This 12 paragraph applies without regard to whether status as an 13 employee terminated before the effective date of this 14 amendatory Act of 1987, provided that the annuitant was 15 employed at least one-half time during the period on which 16 the final rate of earnings was based. 17 (f) A participant is entitled to such additional annuity 18 as may be provided on an actuariallyactuarialequivalent 19 basis, by any accumulated additional contributions to his or 20 her credit. However, the additional contributions made by 21 the participant toward the automatic increases in annuity 22 provided under this Section shall not be taken into account 23 in determining the amount of such additional annuity. 24 (g) If, (1) by law, a function of a governmental unit, 25 as defined by Section 20-107 of this Code, is transferred in 26 whole or in part to an employer, and (2) a participant 27 transfers employment from such governmental unit to such 28 employer within 6 months after the transfer of the function, 29 and (3) the sum of (A) the annuity payable to the participant 30 under Rule 1, 2, or 3 of this Section (B) all proportional 31 annuities payable to the participant by all other retirement 32 systems covered by Article 20, and (C) the initial primary 33 insurance amount to which the participant is entitled under 34 the Social Security Act, is less than the retirement annuity -28- LRB9000602EGfgam16 1 which would have been payable if all of the participant's 2 pension credits validated under Section 20-109 had been 3 validated under this system, a supplemental annuity equal to 4 the difference in such amounts shall be payable to the 5 participant. 6 (h) On January 1, 1981, an annuitant who was receiving a 7 retirement annuity on or before January 1, 1971 shall have 8 his or her retirement annuity then being paid increased $1 9 per month for each year of creditable service. On January 1, 10 1982, an annuitant whose retirement annuity began on or 11 before January 1, 1977, shall have his or her retirement 12 annuity then being paid increased $1 per month for each year 13 of creditable service. 14 (i) On January 1, 1987, any annuitant whose retirement 15 annuity began on or before January 1, 1977, shall have the 16 monthly retirement annuity increased by an amount equal to 8¢ 17 per year of creditable service times the number of years that 18 have elapsed since the annuity began. 19 (Source: P.A. 86-272; 86-273; 86-1028; revised 5-17-96.) 20 (40 ILCS 5/15-136.4 new) 21 Sec. 15-136.4. Portable Retirement Benefit Program. 22 (a) For purposes of this Section, "eligible spouse" 23 means the husband or wife of a participant to whom the 24 participant is married on the date the participant's annuity 25 begins. However, if the participant should die prior to the 26 date the annuity would have begun, then "eligible spouse" 27 means the husband or wife, if any, to whom the participant 28 was married throughout the one-year period preceding the date 29 of his or her death. 30 (b) If a participant has an eligible spouse on the date 31 his or her annuity payments commence, the annuity shall be 32 paid in the form of a 50% joint and survivor annuity unless 33 the participant elects otherwise in writing and his or her -29- LRB9000602EGfgam16 1 eligible spouse consents to that election. Under a 50% joint 2 and survivor annuity, a reduced amount shall be paid to the 3 participant for his or her lifetime and his or her eligible 4 spouse, if surviving at the participant's death, shall be 5 entitled to receive thereafter a lifetime survivorship 6 annuity in a monthly amount equal to 50% of the reduced 7 monthly amount that was payable to the participant. The 8 reduced amount payable to the participant under the 50% joint 9 and survivor annuity shall be determined so that the 10 aggregate of the annuity payments expected to be made to the 11 participant and his or her eligible spouse is the actuarial 12 equivalent of a single-life annuity. The last payment of a 13 50% joint and survivor annuity shall be made as of the first 14 day of the month in which the death of the survivor occurs. 15 (c) Instead of the 50% joint and survivor annuity, a 16 participant may elect in writing, within the 90-day period 17 prior to the date his or her annuity payments commence, and 18 only with the consent of his or her eligible spouse, to 19 receive a monthly amount in the form of a single-life 20 annuity. A participant may also elect instead an optional 21 form of benefit under subsection (k). However, if the 22 participant does elect an optional form of benefit under 23 subsection (k) and if the contingent annuitant under the 24 option is not the participant's eligible spouse, then the 25 optional election shall be canceled and the annuity shall be 26 paid in the form of a 50% joint and survivor annuity unless, 27 within the 90-day period preceding the annuity commencement 28 date, the eligible spouse consents to the optional election. 29 (d) A participant may also revoke any election made 30 under this Section at any time during the 90-day period 31 preceding the date the participant's annuity commences if the 32 purpose of such revocation is to reinstate coverage under the 33 50% joint and survivor annuity. 34 (e) The eligible spouse's consent to any election made -30- LRB9000602EGfgam16 1 pursuant to this Section that requires the eligible spouse's 2 consent shall be in writing and shall acknowledge the effect 3 of the consent. In addition, the eligible spouse's signature 4 on the written consent must be witnessed by a notary public. 5 The eligible spouse's consent need not be obtained if the 6 system is satisfied that there is no eligible spouse, that 7 the eligible spouse cannot be located, or because of any 8 other relevant circumstances. An eligible spouse's consent 9 under this Section is valid only with respect to the 10 specified alternate contingent annuitant designated by the 11 participant. If the alternate contingent annuitant is 12 subsequently changed, a new consent by the eligible spouse is 13 required. The eligible spouse's consent to an election made 14 by a participant pursuant to this Section, once made, may not 15 be revoked by the eligible spouse. 16 (f) Within a reasonable period of time preceding the 17 date a participant's annuity commences, a participant shall 18 be supplied with a written explanation of (1) the terms and 19 conditions of the 50% joint and survivor annuity, (2) the 20 participant's right, if any, to elect a single-life annuity 21 or an optional form of payment under subsection (k) in lieu 22 of the 50% joint and survivor annuity and subject, in certain 23 cases, to his or her eligible spouse's consent, and (3) the 24 participant's right to reinstate coverage under the 50% joint 25 and survivor annuity prior to his or her annuity commencement 26 date by revoking an election of a single-life annuity or an 27 optional form of benefit under subsection (k). 28 (g) If a participant does not have an eligible spouse 29 on the date his or her annuity payments commence, the 30 participant shall receive a single-life annuity, subject to 31 his or her right, if any, to elect an optional form of 32 benefit. The last payment of the single-life annuity shall be 33 made as of the first day of the month in which the death of 34 the participant occurs. -31- LRB9000602EGfgam16 1 (h) A participant with a least 5 years of service whose 2 employment has not terminated shall be covered by the 50% 3 joint and survivor annuity provisions so that if he or she 4 dies prior to termination of employment, his or her eligible 5 spouse will be entitled to receive an annuity. The annuity 6 payable under this subsection (h) to the eligible spouse 7 shall be actuarially equivalent to the amount that would be 8 payable as a survivor annuity under subsection (b) if (1) in 9 the case of a participant who dies after the date on which 10 the participant attained the earliest retirement age, the 11 participant had retired with an immediate qualified joint and 12 survivor annuity on the day before the participant's date of 13 death; or (2) in the case of a participant who dies on or 14 before the date on which the participant would have attained 15 the earliest retirement age, the participant had separated 16 from service on the date of death, survived to the earliest 17 retirement age, retired with an immediate qualified joint and 18 survivor annuity at the earliest retirement age, and died on 19 the day after the day on which the participant would have 20 attained the earliest retirement age. 21 The annuity payable to an eligible spouse of a 22 participant shall commence as of the beginning of the month 23 next following the later of the date of death or the date the 24 participant would have met the eligibility requirements for 25 an annuity and shall continue through the beginning of the 26 month in which the death of the eligible spouse occurs. 27 No benefit shall be payable under this subsection (h) for 28 death during employment after the participant has satisfied 29 the requirements for retirement if an option is effective 30 under subsection (k). 31 (i) A participant who (1) has terminated employment with 32 at least 5 years of service, (2) has not begun receiving 33 annuity payments, (3) has not taken a refund under Section 34 15-154(a-2), and (4) has not elected an effective option -32- LRB9000602EGfgam16 1 under subsection (k), shall be covered by the 50% joint and 2 survivor annuity provisions of subsection (b) until the date 3 his or her annuity payments commence. If the participant 4 dies before the date his or her annuity payments commence, 5 the participant's surviving eligible spouse shall receive an 6 annuity computed in accordance with the applicable provisions 7 of this Section as if the participant's annuity payments had 8 commenced on the first day of the month coincident with or 9 next following the later of his or her date of death or the 10 date the participant would have been eligible for a 11 retirement annuity based on service prior to his or her 12 death. The annuity payable to such an eligible spouse shall 13 commence on the first day of the month coincident with or 14 next following the later of the participant's date of death 15 or the date the participant would have been eligible for a 16 retirement annuity based on service prior to his death and 17 shall continue through the beginning of the month in which 18 the death of the eligible spouse occurs. 19 (j) The provisions of subsection (i) shall not affect 20 the right of a participant to elect a single-life annuity, 21 pursuant to the provisions of subsection (b). 22 (k) By filing a timely election with the system, a 23 participant who will be eligible to receive a retirement 24 annuity under this Section may designate his or her spouse or 25 any person approved by the system as his or her contingent 26 annuitant and elect to receive an annuity payable in 27 accordance with one of the following options, instead of the 28 annuity to which he or she may otherwise become entitled: 29 Option 1: The participant shall receive a reduced 30 annuity payable for life, and payments in the amount of 31 100% of such reduced amount shall, after the 32 participant's death, be continued to the contingent 33 annuitant during the latter's lifetime. 34 Option 2: The participant shall receive a reduced -33- LRB9000602EGfgam16 1 annuity payable for life, and payments in the amount of 2 75% of such reduced annuity shall, after the 3 participant's death, be continued to the contingent 4 annuitant during the latter's lifetime. 5 Option 3: The participant shall receive a reduced 6 annuity payable for life, and payments in the amount of 7 50% of such reduced annuity shall, after the 8 participant's death, be continued to the contingent 9 annuitant during the latter's lifetime. 10 The aggregate of the annuity payments expected to be paid 11 to a participant and his contingent annuitant under any of 12 the above options shall be the actuarial equivalent of the 13 annuity that the participant is otherwise entitled to receive 14 upon retirement. 15 Under no circumstances may an option be elected, changed, 16 or revoked after the date the participant's annuity 17 commences. An option in favor of a contingent annuitant who 18 is not the participant's eligible spouse may be revoked at 19 any time prior to the date the participant's annuity payments 20 commence. If the contingent annuitant under the elected 21 option is not the participant's eligible spouse, then the 22 election is valid only if the eligible spouse consents to the 23 participant's optional election and to the specific 24 contingent annuitant within the 90-day period preceding the 25 date the participant's annuity commences. 26 An election made pursuant to this subsection (k) shall 27 become inoperative if the participant's employment terminates 28 before he or she is eligible for a retirement annuity, or if 29 the participant or the contingent annuitant dies before the 30 date the participant's annuity payments commence, or if the 31 eligible spouse's consent is required and not given. An 32 effective option under this subsection (k) takes the place of 33 any benefit otherwise payable under this Section, and the 34 form made available by the system for election of the option -34- LRB9000602EGfgam16 1 shall so specify. 2 (1) Within the appropriate applicable period under 3 Section 417 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended 4 from time to time, a participant shall be supplied with a 5 written explanation of (1) the terms and conditions of the 6 preretirement survivor annuity under subsections (h) and (i), 7 (2) the participant's right, if any, to elect a single-life 8 annuity or an optional form of payment under subsection (k) 9 in lieu of the preretirement survivor annuity and subject, in 10 certain cases, to his or her eligible spouse's consent, and 11 (3) the participant's right to reinstate coverage under the 12 preretirement survivor annuity by revoking an election of a 13 single-life annuity or an optional form of benefit under 14 subsection (k). 15 (40 ILCS 5/15-141) (from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 15-141) 16 Sec. 15-141. Death benefits - Death of participant. The 17 beneficiary of a participant is entitled to a death benefit 18 equal to the sum of (1) the employee's accumulated normal and 19 additional contributions on the date of death, (2) the 20 employee's accumulated survivors insurance contributions on 21 the date of death, if a survivors insurance benefit is not 22 payable, (3) an amount equal to the employee's final rate of 23 earnings, but not more than $5,000 if (i) the beneficiary, 24 under rules of the board, was dependent upon the participant, 25 (ii) the participant was a participating employee immediately 26 prior to his or her death, and (iii) a survivors insurance 27 benefit is not payable, and (4) $2,500 if (i) the beneficiary 28 was not dependent upon the participant, (ii) the participant 29 was a participating employee immediately prior to his or her 30 death, and (iii) a survivors insurance benefit is not 31 payable. 32 However, if the participant has elected to participate in 33 the portable retirement benefit program by making the -35- LRB9000602EGfgam16 1 election specified in Section 15-154(a-1), the death benefit 2 shall be calculated as follows. The death benefit shall be 3 equal to the employee's accumulated normal and additional 4 contributions on the date of death, or if the employee died 5 with 5 or more years of service for employment as defined in 6 Section 15-113.1, his or her beneficiary shall also be 7 entitled to employer contributions in an amount equal to the 8 sum of accumulated normal and additional contributions; 9 except that if a benefit to a surviving spouse is payable 10 under Section 15-136.4, the death benefit payable under this 11 paragraph shall be reduced, but to not less than zero, by the 12 actuarial value of the benefit payable to the surviving 13 spouse. 14 If payments are made under any State or Federal Workers' 15 Compensation or Occupational Diseases Law because of the 16 death of an employee, the portion of the death benefit 17 payable from employer contributions shall be reduced by the 18 total amount of the payments. 19 (Source: P.A. 87-8.) 20 (40 ILCS 5/15-142) (from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 15-142) 21 Sec. 15-142. Death benefits - Death of annuitant. Upon 22 the death of an annuitant receiving a retirement annuity or 23 disability retirement annuity, the annuitant's beneficiary 24 shall, if a survivor's insurance benefit is not payable under 25 Section 15-145 or an annuity is not payable under Section 26 15-136.4, be entitled to a death benefit equal to the greater 27 of the following: (1) the excess, if any, of the sum of the 28 accumulated normal, survivors insurance and additional 29 contributions as of the date of retirement, or the date the 30 disability retirement annuity began, whichever is earlier, 31 over the sum of all annuity payments made prior to the date 32 of death, or (2) $1,000. 33 (Source: P.A. 83-1440.) -36- LRB9000602EGfgam16 1 (40 ILCS 5/15-146) (from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 15-146) 2 Sec. 15-146. Survivors insurance benefits - Minimum 3 amounts. 4 (a) The minimum total survivors annuity payable on 5 account of the death of a participant shall be 50% of the 6 retirement annuity which would have been provided under Rule 7 1, Rule 2, or Rule 3 of Section 15-136 upon the participant's 8 attainment of the minimum age at which the penalty for early 9 retirement would not be applicable or the date of the 10 participant's death, whichever is later, on the basis of 11 credits earned prior to the time of death. 12 (b) The minimum total survivors annuity payable on 13 account of the death of an annuitant shall be 50% of the 14 retirement annuity which is payable under Section 15-136 at 15 the time of death or 50% of the disability retirement annuity 16 payable under Section 15-153.2. This minimum survivors 17 annuity shall apply to each participant and annuitant who 18 dies after September 16, 1979, whether or not his or her 19 employee status terminates before or after that date. 20 (c) If an annuitant has elected a reversionary annuity, 21 the retirement annuity referred to in this Section is that 22 which would have been payable had such election not been 23 filed. 24 (d) If a participant has made the election provided for 25 under Section 15-154(a-1), the minimum survivor benefit shall 26 be determined under Section 15-136.4. 27 (Source: P.A. 83-1362; 83-1440.) 28 (40 ILCS 5/15-154) (from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 15-154) 29 Sec. 15-154. Refunds. 30 (a) A participant whose status as an employee is 31 terminated, regardless of cause, or who has been on lay off 32 status for more than 120 days, and who is not on leave of 33 absence, is entitled to a refund of contributions upon -37- LRB9000602EGfgam16 1 application; except that not more than one such refund 2 application may be made during any academic year. 3 Except as set forth in subsections (a-1) and (a-2), the 4 refund shall be the sum of the accumulated normal, additional 5 and survivors insurance contributions, less the amount of 6 interest credited on these contributions each year in excess 7 of 4 1/2% of the amount on which interest was calculated. 8 (a-1) Every person who becomes a participating employee 9 after the date on which his or her employer first offers an 10 optional retirement program under Section 15-158.2 may elect 11 within 60 days of becoming a participant to have any refund 12 calculated pursuant to subsection (a-2) by forgoing all 13 survivors insurance benefits to which the person's survivors 14 would otherwise be entitled under this Article. This 15 election is irrevocable and may be made by filing an election 16 with the system on such form as the Executive Director shall 17 prescribe. 18 Each person who is a participating employee on the date 19 on which his or her employer first offers an optional 20 retirement program under Section 15-158.2 shall have a 21 one-time option to elect to have his or her refund calculated 22 pursuant to subsection (a-2), by forgoing all survivors 23 insurance benefits to which the person's survivors would 24 otherwise be entitled under this Article. The election will 25 not be effective until one year after the election is filed 26 with the system. This election is irrevocable and may be 27 made by filing an election with the system, on such form as 28 the Executive Director shall prescribe, within one year after 29 the date on which his or her employer first offers an 30 optional retirement program under Section 15-158.2. 31 A person may make the one-time irrevocable election 32 authorized under this Section or the election authorized 33 under Section 15-158.2(g), but may not make both elections. 34 Any person interested in electing the portable retirement -38- LRB9000602EGfgam16 1 benefit program provided under this Section and Section 2 15-136.4 must be given a consultation with the State 3 Universities Retirement System before making that election. 4 (a-2) The refund elected under subsection (a-1) shall be 5 the sum of the participant's accumulated normal and 6 additional contributions, as defined in Sections 15-116 and 7 15-117. If the participant terminates with 5 or more years 8 of service for employment as defined in Section 15-113.1, he 9 or she shall also be entitled to a refund of employer 10 contributions in an amount equal to the sum of the 11 accumulated normal and additional contributions, as defined 12 in Sections 15-116 and 15-117. 13 (b) Upon acceptance of a refund, the participant 14 forfeits all accrued rights and credits in the System, and if 15 subsequently reemployed, the participant shall be considered 16 a new employee subject to all the qualifying conditions for 17 participation and eligibility for benefits applicable to new 18 employees. If such person again becomes a participating 19 employee and continues as such for 2 years, or is employed by 20 an employer and participates for at least 2 years in the 21 Federal Civil Service Retirement System, all such rights, 22 credits, and previous status as a participant shall be 23 restored upon repayment of the amount of the refund, together 24 with compound interest thereon from the date the refund was 25 received to the date of repayment at the rate of 6% per annum 26 through August 31, 1982, and at the effective rates after 27 that date. 28 (c) If a participant has made survivors insurance 29 contributions, but has no survivors insurance beneficiary 30 upon retirement, he or she shall be entitled to a refund of 31 the accumulated survivors insurance contributions, or to an 32 additional annuity the value of which is equal to the 33 accumulated survivors insurance contributions. 34 (d) A participant, upon application, is entitled to a -39- LRB9000602EGfgam16 1 refund of his or her accumulated additional contributions 2 except those covering the cost of the annual increase in the 3 retirement annuity provided under Section 15-136. Upon the 4 acceptance of such a refund of accumulated additional 5 contributions, the participant forfeits all rights and 6 credits which may have accrued because of such contributions. 7 (e) A participant who terminates his or her employee 8 status and elects to waive service credit under Section 9 15-154.2, is entitled to a refund of the accumulated normal, 10 additional and survivors insurance contributions, if any, 11 which were credited the participant for this service, or to 12 an additional annuity the value of which is equal to the 13 accumulated normal, additional and survivors insurance 14 contributions, if any; except that not more than one such 15 refund application may be made during any academic year. Upon 16 acceptance of this refund, the participant forfeits all 17 rights and credits accrued because of this service. 18 (f) If a police officer or firefighter receives a 19 retirement annuity under Rule 1, 2, or 3 of Section 15-136, 20 he or she shall be entitled at retirement to a refund of the 21 difference between his or her accumulated normal 22 contributions and the normal contributions which would have 23 accumulated had such person filed a waiver of the retirement 24 formula provided by Rule 4 of Section 15-136. 25 (g) If, at the time of retirement, a participant would 26 be entitled to a retirement annuity under Rule 1, 2, 3 or 4 27 of Section 15-136 that exceeds the maximum specified in 28 clause (1) of subsection (c) of Section 15-136, he or she 29 shall be entitled to a refund of the employee contributions, 30 if any, paid under Section 15-157 after the date upon which 31 continuance of such contributions would have otherwise caused 32 the retirement annuity to exceed this maximum, plus compound 33 interest at the effective rates. 34 (Source: P.A. 87-8; 87-794; 87-895; 87-1265; 88-45.) -40- LRB9000602EGfgam16 1 (40 ILCS 5/15-157) (from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 15-157) 2 Sec. 15-157. Employee Contributions. 3 (a) Each participating employee shall make contributions 4 towards the retirement annuity of each payment of earnings 5 applicable to employment under this system on and after the 6 date of becoming a participant as follows: Prior to 7 September 1, 1949, 3 1/2% of earnings; from September 1, 1949 8 to August 31, 1955, 5%; from September 1, 1955 to August 31, 9 1969, 6%; from September 1, 1969, 6 1/2%. These 10 contributions are to be considered as normal contributions 11 for purposes of this Article. 12 Each participant who is a police officer or firefighter 13 shall make normal contributions of 8% of each payment of 14 earnings applicable to employment as a police officer or 15 firefighter under this system on or after September 1, 1981, 16 unless he or she files with the board within 60 days after 17 the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1991 or 60 days 18 after the board receives notice that he or she is employed as 19 a police officer or firefighter, whichever is later, a 20 written notice waiving the retirement formula provided by 21 Rule 4 of Section 15-136. This waiver shall be irrevocable. 22 If a participant had met the conditions set forth in Section 23 15-132.1 prior to the effective date of this amendatory Act 24 of 1991 but failed to make the additional normal 25 contributions required by this paragraph, he or she may elect 26 to pay the additional contributions plus compound interest at 27 the effective rate. If such payment is received by the 28 board, the service shall be considered as police officer 29 service in calculating the retirement annuity under Rule 4 of 30 Section 15-136. 31 (b) Starting September 1, 1969, each participating 32 employee shall make additional contributions of 1/2 of 1% of 33 earnings to finance a portion of the cost of the annual 34 increases in retirement annuity provided under Section -41- LRB9000602EGfgam16 1 15-136. 2 (c) Each participating employee shall make additional 3survivors insurancecontributions of 1% of earnings 4 applicable under this system on and after August 1, 1959. 5 The contribution made under this subsection shall be used to 6 finance survivors insurance benefits, unless the participant 7 has made an election under Section 15-154(a-1), in which case 8 the contribution made under this subsection shall be used to 9 finance the benefits obtained under that election. 10 Contributions in excess of $80 during any fiscal year 11 beginning August 31, 1969 and in excess of $120 during any 12 fiscal year thereafter until September 1, 1971 shall be 13 considered as additional contributions for purposes of this 14 Article. 15 (d) If the board by board rule so permits and subject to 16 such conditions and limitations as may be specified in its 17 rules, a participant may make other additional contributions 18 of such percentage of earnings or amounts as the participant 19 shall elect in a written notice thereof received by the 20 board. 21 (e) That fraction of a participant's total accumulated 22 normal contributions, the numerator of which is equal to the 23 number of years of service in excess of that which is 24 required to qualify for the maximum retirement annuity, and 25 the denominator of which is equal to the total service of the 26 participant, shall be considered as accumulated additional 27 contributions. The determination of the applicable maximum 28 annuity and the adjustment in contributions required by this 29 provision shall be made as of the date of the participant's 30 retirement. 31 (f) Notwithstanding the foregoing, a participating 32 employee shall not be required to make contributions under 33 this Section after the date upon which continuance of such 34 contributions would otherwise cause his or her retirement -42- LRB9000602EGfgam16 1 annuity to exceed the maximum retirement annuity as specified 2 in clause (1) of subsection (c) of Section 15-136. 3 (Source: P.A. 86-272; 86-1488.) 4 (40 ILCS 5/15-158.2) 5 Sec. 15-158.2. Optional retirement program for 6 educational employees. 7 (a) Purpose. The General Assembly finds that it is 8 important for colleges and universities to be able to attract 9 and retain the most qualified employees and that in order to 10 attract and retain these employees, colleges and universities 11 should have the flexibility to provide an alternative 12 retirement program for eligible employeespersonswho elect 13 not to participate in the other retirement programsplan of14contributions and benefits otherwiseprovided under this 15 Article. 16 (b) Definitions. For the purposes of this Section, 17 "eligible employeeperson" means an employee who is eligible 18 to participate in the State UniversitiesUniversity19 Retirement Systemwithout respect to Section 15-107(a)(9)and 20 who does not have sufficient age and service to qualify for a 21 retirement annuity under Section 15-135. A "currently 22 eligible employeeperson" is an employeea personwho becomes 23 an eligible employeepersonon the effective date of the 24 optional retirement program established by the employee's 25person'semployer. A "newly eligible employeeperson" is an 26 employeea personwho becomes an eligible employeeperson27 after the effective date of the optional retirement program 28 established by the employee'sperson'semployer. 29 (c) Program. Each employer subject to this Article may 30 elect to establish an optional retirement program under this 31 Section for the eligible employees whompersons thatit 32 employs. The optional retirement program shall provide 33 retirement benefits for participating employeespersons-43- LRB9000602EGfgam16 1 through the purchase of annuity contracts, either fixed or 2 variable or a combination thereof, through the purchase of 3 mutual funds, or through both and shallmayalso provide for 4death anddisability benefits. 5 The State Universities Retirement System shall be the 6 plan sponsor for the program. Consistent with its fiduciary 7 duty to the participants and beneficiaries of the program, 8 the Board of Trustees of the System may delegate aspects of 9 program administration as it sees fit toThe program may10provide for administration of the program bycompanies 11 authorized to do business in this State, toorthe employers, 12employeror to a combination of both, but shall not require13any action by the State Universities Retirement System or its14Board of Trustees. Two or more employers may agree to15establish a joint program under this Section. 16 The planprogrammust be qualified under the Internal 17 Revenue Code of 1986. 18 (d) Proposals. The System, in consultation with the 19 employers,An employer under this Sectionshall solicit 20 proposals to participate in the program from insurance and 21 annuity companies and mutual fund companies authorized to do 22conduct suchbusiness in this State. In reviewing the 23 proposals received and approving and contracting with no 24 fewer than 2 and no more than 7 companies, at least 2 of 25 which must be insurance and annuity companies, the Board of 26 Trustees of the Systemdeciding to implement a program, the27employershall consider, among other things, the following 28 criteria: 29 (1) the nature and extent of the benefits that 30 would be provided to the participants; 31 (2) the reasonableness of the benefits in relation 32 to the premium charged; 33 (3) the suitability of the benefits to the needs 34 and interests of the participating employeespersonsand -44- LRB9000602EGfgam16 1 the employer; 2 (4) the ability of the company to provide benefits 3 under the contract and the financial stability of the 4 company; and 5 (5) the efficacy of the contract in the recruitment 6 and retention of employees. 7 An employer that elects to offer an optional retirement 8 program under subsection (c) may only select for 9 participation in the program 2 or more of the companies 10 approved by the Board of Trustees of the System. The System, 11 in consultation with the employers, shall periodically review 12 each approved company; a company may continue to participate 13 in the program only so long as it continues to be an approved 14 company under contract with the Board. 15 (e) System Conflict of Interest. In order to preclude 16 any conflict of interest by the System, only insurance and 17 annuity companies and mutual fund companies that are 18 authorized to do business in this State may be approved, in 19 accordance with the procedures of subsection (d), to 20 participate in this program and offer investment options for 21 program participants. 22 (f) Account Balance Transfers. Employees who are 23 participating in the program must be allowed to transfer 24 their account balances from the investment options offered by 25 one of the companies selected by the employer to the 26 investment options offered by another company so selected, 27 subject to applicable contractual provisions. 28 (g)(e)Participation. Any eligible employeeperson29employed by an employermay elect to participate in the 30 optional retirement program offered by the employer under 31 subsection (c)that employer's optional retirement program. 32 The election must be made in writing and in the manner 33 prescribed by the Systememployer. A currently eligible 34 employeepersonmust maketakethis election within one year -45- LRB9000602EGfgam16 1 after the effective date of the employer's optional 2 retirement program. A newly eligible employeepersonmust 3 maketakethis election within 60 days after becoming an 4 eligible employeeperson. A person may make the one-time 5 irrevocable election authorized under this Section or the 6 election authorized under Section 15-154(a-1), but may not 7 make both elections. The employer shall not remit 8 contributions on behalf of a newly eligible employeeto9either the optional retirement program orto the State 10 Universities Retirement System until the 60-day period has 11 run unless an election by the employee has been made earlier. 12 Any eligible employeepersoninterested in electing the 13 optional retirement program provided under this Section must 14 be given a consultation with the State Universities 15 Retirement System before making thatanelection. 16 Participation in the optional retirement program shall 17 begin on the first day of the first pay period following the 18 date of election, but no earlier than January 1, 1998July 1,191996. The employee'sperson'sparticipation in any other 20 retirement program administered by the System under this 21 Articlethe System, if any, with respect to the qualifying22employmentshall terminate on the date that participation in 23 the optional retirement program begins, and the employee 24personshall thereby be deemed to have elected to receive a 25 refund of contributions as provided in Section 15-154, except 26 that such deemed refund shall include interest at the 27 effective rate for the respective years, and except that any 28 funds which would have been received shall instead be 29 transferred directly to the optional retirement program as a 30 tax free transfer in accordance with Internal Revenue Service 31 guidelines. 32 Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code, an 33 employeea personmay not purchase or receive service or 34 service credit applicable to any other retirement program -46- LRB9000602EGfgam16 1 administered by the System under this Articlein this System2 for any period during which the employee was a participant 3person was not a participant in the System due to an election4to participatein theanoptional retirement program 5 established under this Section. 6 An employeeA personwho has elected to participate in 7 theanoptional retirement program under this Section must 8 continue participation while employed in an eligible 9 position, and may not participate in any other retirement 10 program administered by the System under this Articlereturn11to participation in this Systemwhile employed by that 12 employer, unless the optional retirement program is 13 terminated in accordance with subsection (i)(g). 14 Participation in the optional retirement program under 15 this Section shall constitute membership in the State 16 Universities Retirement System, although a participant under 17 this Section shall not be entitled to receive any benefits 18 under any other provisions of Article 15 or of Article 20. 19 An employee who receives a disability benefit or a retirement 20 benefit under this Section or an employee who receives a lump 21 sum distribution from a mutual fund company under this 22 Section and uses the lump sum to purchase an annuity shall be 23 considered an employee or an annuitant under Article 15 for 24 purposes of the State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971. 25 Participation in the optional retirement program under this 26 Section creates a contractual relationship with respect to 27 the investment of the employee's account balance between the 28 employee and the company providing the investment options for 29 the employee's account balance. Participation does not 30 create a contractual relationship between the employee and 31 the System or between the employee and his or her employer. 32Participation in an optional retirement program33established under this Section does not constitute membership34or participation in the State Universities Retirement System-47- LRB9000602EGfgam16 1or any other pension fund or retirement system of the State.2Participation in an optional retirement program established3under this Section creates a contractual relationship only4between the person and the company providing the optional5retirement program, and not between the person and the System6or the person's employer.7 (h)(f)Contributions. The contribution rate for 8 employeespersonsparticipating in theanoptional retirement 9 program under this Section shall be equal to the employee 10 contribution rate for other participants in the System. This 11 required contribution may be made as an "employer pick-up" 12 under Section 414(h) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 or 13 any successor Section. Any employeepersonparticipating in 14 the System or who elects to participate in the optional 15 retirement program shall continue to have the employer 16 "pick-up" the contribution. However, amounts picked up after 17 the election of the optional retirement program shall be 18 remitted to the optional retirement plan. In no event shall 19 an employee have an option of receiving these amounts in 20 cash. The program shall provide for employer contributions 21 at a rate of no more than 7.6% of the participating 22 employee'sperson'ssalary. TheAnoptional retirement 23 program shall be funded by contributions from employees 24personsparticipating in the program and employer 25 contributions as required by the plan. The plan shall be 26 funded in a manner consistent with the requirements ofthe27 Internal Revenue Code Section 412, and regulations 28 promulgated thereunder,and Proposed Regulation 412(b)-1(a)29 as that Section appliesthose Sections applyto money 30 purchase plans. 31 The State of Illinois shall make contributions by 32 appropriations to the System of the employer contributions 33 required for employees who participate in the optional 34 retirement program under this Section. The amount required -48- LRB9000602EGfgam16 1 shall be certified by the Board of Trustees of the System and 2 paid by the State in accordance with Section 15-165. The 3 System shall not be obligated to remit the required employer 4 contributions to any insurance and annuity and mutual fund 5 companies participating in the optional retirement program 6 under subsection (d) until it has received the required 7 employer contributions from the State. In the event of a 8 deficiency in the amount of State contributions, the System 9 shall implement those procedures described in subsection (c) 10 of Section 15-165 to obtain the required funding from the 11 General Revenue Fund. 12 The contributions and interest thereon, and any benefits 13 based upon them, shall be treated as provided in the funding 14 vehicles for this plan. An amount of up to 1% of each 15 participating employee'sparticipant'ssalary shallmaybe 16 taken from the employer contribution to the optional 17 retirement program and shallmaybe contributed, on the 18 employee'sparticipant'sbehalf, to a plan which the System 19 offersemployer sets upto provide forlife ordisability 20 benefits. 21 (i)(g)Termination. An optional retirement program 22 authorizedestablishedunder this Section may be terminated 23 by the employer, subject to the terms of any relevant 24 contracts, and the employer shall have no obligation to 25 reestablish an optional retirementrenew any contract or26 programestablishedunder this Section. This Section does 27 not create a right to continuedcontinueparticipation in any 28 optional retirement program set up by an employerestablished29 under this Section. If an optional retirement program is 30 terminated, the participants shall have the right to 31 participate in one of the other retirement programs offered 32 by the System and receive service credit in such other 33 retirement program for any years of employment following the 34 termination. -49- LRB9000602EGfgam16 1 (j)(h)Vesting. Employer contributions shall be vested 2 after five years of employment. If an employeea participant3 terminates employment prior to completing five years of 4 service, the employeeparticipantshall be entitled to a 5 benefit in accordance with the terms of the employer's 6 retirement plan which is based on the accumulation value 7 attributable to the employee'sparticipant'scontributions 8 and any investment returnexperiencethereon. Benefits for 9 employeesparticipantswho terminate with at least five years 10 of service shall be in accordance with the terms of the 11 optionalemployer'sretirement plan and based on the 12 accumulation value attributable to both the employer and the 13 employee'sparticipant'scontributions and any investment 14 returnexperiencethereon. Any employer contributions which 15 are forfeited shall be held in escrow by thefundingcompany 16 investing those contributions and shall be used to reduce the 17 next premium payment due from the employer. 18 (Source: P.A. 89-430, eff. 12-15-95.) 19 (40 ILCS 5/15-165) (from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 15-165) 20 Sec. 15-165. To certify amounts and submit vouchers. 21 (a) The Board shall certify to the Governor on or before 22 November 15 of each year the appropriation required from 23 State funds for the purposes of this System for the following 24 fiscal year. The certification shall include a copy of the 25 actuarial recommendations upon which it is based. 26 (b) The Board shall certify to the State Comptroller or 27 employer, as the case may be, from time to time, by its 28 president and secretary, with its seal attached, the amounts 29 payable to the System from the various funds. 30 (c) Beginning in State fiscal year 1996, on or as soon 31 as possible after the 15th day of each month the Board shall 32 submit vouchers for payment of State contributions to the 33 System, in a total monthly amount of one-twelfth of the -50- LRB9000602EGfgam16 1 required annual State contribution certified under subsection 2 (a). These vouchers shall be paid by the State Comptroller 3 and Treasurer by warrants drawn on the funds appropriated to 4 the System for that fiscal year. 5 If in any month the amount remaining unexpended from all 6 other appropriations to the System for the applicable fiscal 7 year (including the appropriations to the System under 8 Section 8.12 of the State Finance Act and Section 1 of the 9 State Pension Funds Continuing Appropriation Act) is less 10 than the amount lawfully vouchered under this Section, the 11 difference shall be paid from the General Revenue Fund under 12 the continuing appropriation authority provided in Section 13 1.1 of the State Pension Funds Continuing Appropriation Act. 14 (d) So long as the payments received are the full amount 15 lawfully vouchered under this Section, payments received by 16 the System under this Section shall be applied first toward 17 the employer contribution to the optional retirement program 18 established under Section 15-158.2. Payments shall be 19 applied second toward the employer's portion of the normal 20 costs of the System, as defined in subsection (f) of Section 21 15-155. The balance shall be applied toward the unfunded 22 actuarial liabilities of the System. 23 (e) In the event that the System does not receive, as a 24 result of legislative enactment or otherwise, payments 25 sufficient to fully fund the employer contribution to the 26 optional retirement program established under Section 27 15-158.2 and to fully fund that portion of the employer's 28 portion of the normal costs of the System, as calculated in 29 accordance with Section 15-155(a-1), then any payments 30 received shall be applied proportionately to the optional 31 retirement program established under Section 15-158.2 and to 32 the employer's portion of the normal costs of the System, as 33 calculated in accordance with Section 15-155(a-1). 34 (Source: P.A. 88-593, eff. 8-22-94.) -51- LRB9000602EGfgam16 1 Section 15. The State Pension Funds Continuing 2 Appropriation Act is amended by changing Section 1.1 as 3 follows: 4 (40 ILCS 15/1.1) 5 Sec. 1.1. Appropriations to certain retirement systems. 6 (a) There is hereby appropriated from the General 7 Revenue Fund to the General Assembly Retirement System, on a 8 continuing monthly basis, the amount, if any, by which the 9 total available amount of all other appropriations to that 10 retirement system for the payment of State contributions is 11 less than the total amount of the vouchers for required State 12 contributions lawfully submitted by the retirement system for 13 that month under Section 2-134 of the Illinois Pension Code. 14 (b) There is hereby appropriated from the General 15 Revenue Fund to the State Universities Retirement System, on 16 a continuing monthly basis, the amount, if any, by which the 17 total available amount of all other appropriations to that 18 retirement system for the payment of State contributions, 19 including any deficiency in the required contributions of the 20 optional retirement program established under Section 21 15-158.2 of the Illinois Pension Code, is less than the total 22 amount of the vouchers for required State contributions 23 lawfully submitted by the retirement system for that month 24 under Section 15-165 of the Illinois Pension Code. 25 (c) There is hereby appropriated from the Common School 26 Fund to the Teachers' Retirement System of the State of 27 Illinois, on a continuing monthly basis, the amount, if any, 28 by which the total available amount of all other 29 appropriations to that retirement system for the payment of 30 State contributions is less than the total amount of the 31 vouchers for required State contributions lawfully submitted 32 by the retirement system for that month under Section 16-158 33 of the Illinois Pension Code. -52- LRB9000602EGfgam16 1 (d) There is hereby appropriated from the General 2 Revenue Fund to the Judges Retirement System of Illinois, on 3 a continuing monthly basis, the amount, if any, by which the 4 total available amount of all other appropriations to that 5 retirement system for the payment of State contributions is 6 less than the total amount of the vouchers for required State 7 contributions lawfully submitted by the retirement system for 8 that month under Section 18-140 of the Illinois Pension Code. 9 (e) The continuing appropriations provided by this 10 Section shall first be available in State fiscal year 1996. 11 (Source: P.A. 88-593, eff. 8-22-94.)"; and 12 by renumbering all subsequent Sections of the bill in 13 consecutive ascending multiples of 5, beginning with the 14 number 20.