Summary as Introduced
Amends the Illinois Pension Code. In the General Provisions Article, provides that beginning on January 1, 2024, the annual earnings, salary, or wages of a Tier 2 participant under the Cook County Article shall track with the Social Security wage base (rather than shall not exceed $106,800, adjusted annually). Makes conforming changes in the Cook County Article and provides that the county's contribution shall be paid through a tax levy and any other lawfully available funds. Provides that beginning on January 1, 2025, the Fund shall not use contributions received by the Fund for subsidy for an annuitant health care program. Deletes a restrictive date in a provision concerning establishing credit for military service. Beginning on December 1, 2023, provides that the president of the county shall appoint 2 additional members to the board of trustees. Requires the retirement board to retain an actuary who is a member in good standing of the American Academy of Actuaries to produce an annual actuarial report of the Fund and provides criteria for the report. Provides that the annual audit required of the Fund may include the preparation of the annual actuarial report. Provides that the annual report submitted to the county board shall include the annual actuarial report. Requires that the minimum required employer contribution shall be submitted annually by the county and provides the method of determining the minimum required employer contribution. Provides that the Fund shall (rather than may) pay for an annuitant health care program administered by the Fund (rather than any of the county's health care plans). Makes other changes. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.
Staff Analysis
Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Illinois Pension Code. In the State Employee Article of the Code, provides that, with regard to persons subject to the Tier 2 provisions, an investigator for the Department of the Lottery is entitled to an annuity calculated under the alternative retirement annuity provisions, in lieu of the regular or minimum retirement annuity, only if the person has withdrawn from service with not less than 20 years of eligible creditable service and has attained age 55, regardless of whether the attainment of age 55 occurs while the person is still in service. Authorizes an investigator for the Department of the Lottery to establish eligible creditable service under the alternative retirement annuity provisions. Provides that a specified educational requirement for persons employed by the Department of Juvenile Justice shall no longer determine the eligibility to earn eligible creditable service under the alternative retirement annuity provisions, and authorizes the conversion of service credit to eligible creditable service. Excludes a benefit increase resulting from the amendatory Act from the definition of "new benefit increase". Establishes a deferred retirement option plan for certain police officers, firefighters, sheriff's law enforcement employees, and deputy sheriffs in the Cook County Police Department who are otherwise eligible to retire under which a participant may continue in active service for up to 5 years while having his or her retirement pension paid into a special account. Provides that the election to participate in the deferred retirement option plan must be made before January 1, 2029. Provides that the Retirement Systems Reciprocal Act (Article 20 of the Code) is adopted and made a part of the Downstate Police, Downstate Firefighter, Chicago Police, and Chicago Firefighter Articles. In the Chicago Teacher Article of the Code, provides that when computing days of validated service, contributors shall receive the greater of: (1) one day of service credit for each day for which they are paid salary representing a partial or a full day of employment rendered to an employer or the Board of Trustees of the Fund; or (2) 10 days of service credit for each 10-day period of employment in which the contributor worked 50% or more of the regularly scheduled hours (instead of one day of service credit for each day for which they are paid salary representing a partial or a full day of employment rendered to an employer or the Board). Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement.