HB2851 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB101 06762 RPS 51789 b

101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2019 and 2020
HB2851

Introduced , by Rep. Thomas Morrison

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

See Index

Amends the General Assembly, State Employees, Downstate Teachers, and Judges Articles of the Illinois Pension Code. Requires each System to establish a self-managed plan that shall offer participants the opportunity to accumulate assets for retirement through a combination of participant and State contributions that may be invested. Provides that the System shall establish an opening account balance in the self-managed plan for a participant who elects to participate in the self-managed plan and elects to terminate all rights and credits in the System due to previous participation in the traditional benefit package. Provides that a participant in the self-managed plan may not participate in any other retirement program administered by the System. Contains provisions concerning definitions; default investments; contributions; employer pick-up of contributions; vesting; disability benefits; return to service; and termination of the plan. Provides that any benefit increase that results from the amendatory Act is excluded from the definition of "new benefit increase". Makes other changes. Makes conforming changes in the State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement by the State. Effective immediately.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

PENSION IMPACT NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

STATE MANDATES ACT MAY REQUIRE REIMBURSEMENT

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning public employee benefits.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971 is amended by changing Sections 3 and 10 as follows:

(5 ILCS 375/3) (from Ch. 127, par. 523)

Sec. 3. Definitions. Unless the context otherwise requires, the following words and phrases as used in this Act shall have the following meanings. The Department may define these and other words and phrases separately for the purpose of implementing specific programs providing benefits under this Act.

(a) "Administrative service organization" means any person, firm or corporation experienced in the handling of claims which is fully qualified, financially sound and capable of meeting the service requirements of a contract of administration executed with the Department.

(b) "Annuitant" means (1) an employee who retires, or has retired, on or after January 1, 1966 on an immediate annuity under the provisions of Article Articles 2 (including an employee who, in lieu of receiving an annuity under that Article, has retired under the self-managed plan established under Section 2-126.8 of that Article), 14 (including an employee who has elected to receive an alternative retirement cancellation payment under Section 14-108.5 of the Illinois Pension Code in lieu of an annuity; an employee who, in lieu of receiving an annuity under that Article, has retired under the self-managed plan established under Section 14-133.2 of that Article; or an employee who meets the criteria for retirement, but in lieu of receiving an annuity under that Article has elected to receive an accelerated pension benefit payment under Section 14-147.5 of that Article), or 15 (including an employee who has retired under the optional retirement program established under Section 15-158.2 or who meets the criteria for retirement but in lieu of receiving an annuity under that Article has elected to receive an accelerated pension benefit payment under Section 15-185.5 of the Article), paragraphs (2), (3), or (5) of Section 16-106 (including an employee who meets the criteria for retirement, but in lieu of receiving an annuity under that Article has elected to receive an accelerated pension benefit payment under Section 16-190.5 of the Illinois Pension Code or an employee who, in lieu of receiving an annuity under that Article, has retired under the self-managed plan established under Section 16-158.4 of the Illinois Pension Code), or Article 18 (including an employee who, in lieu of receiving an annuity under that Article, has retired under the self-managed plan established under Section 18-133.2 of that Article) of the Illinois Pension Code; (2) any person who was receiving group insurance coverage under this Act as of March 31, 1978 by reason of his status as an annuitant, even though the annuity in relation to which such coverage was provided is a proportional annuity based on less than the minimum period of service required for a retirement annuity in the system involved; (3) any person not otherwise covered by this Act who has retired as a participating member under Article 2 of the Illinois Pension Code but is ineligible for the retirement annuity under Section 2-119 of the Illinois Pension Code; (4) the spouse of any person who is receiving a retirement annuity under Article 18 of the Illinois Pension Code and who is covered under a group health insurance program sponsored by a governmental employer other than the State of Illinois and who has irrevocably elected to waive his or her coverage under this Act and to have his or her spouse considered as the "annuitant" under this Act and not as a "dependent"; or (5) an employee who retires, or has retired, from a qualified position, as determined according to rules promulgated by the Director, under a qualified local government, a qualified rehabilitation facility, a qualified domestic violence shelter or service, or a qualified child advocacy center. (For definition of "retired employee", see (p) post).

(b-5) (Blank).

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(b-7) (Blank).

(c) "Carrier" means (1) an insurance company, a corporation organized under the Limited Health Service Organization Act or the Voluntary Health Services Plan Act, a partnership, or other nongovernmental organization, which is authorized to do group life or group health insurance business in Illinois, or (2) the State of Illinois as a self-insurer.

(d) "Compensation" means salary or wages payable on a regular payroll by the State Treasurer on a warrant of the State Comptroller out of any State, trust or federal fund, or by the Governor of the State through a disbursing officer of the State out of a trust or out of federal funds, or by any Department out of State, trust, federal or other funds held by the State Treasurer or the Department, to any person for personal services currently performed, and ordinary or accidental disability benefits under Articles 2, 14, 15 (including ordinary or accidental disability benefits under the optional retirement program established under Section 15-158.2), paragraphs (2), (3), or (5) of Section 16-106, or Article 18 of the Illinois Pension Code, for disability incurred after January 1, 1966, or benefits payable under the Workers' Compensation or Occupational Diseases Act or benefits payable under a sick pay plan established in accordance with Section 36 of the State Finance Act. "Compensation" also means salary or wages paid to an employee of any qualified local government, qualified rehabilitation facility, qualified domestic violence shelter or service, or qualified child advocacy center.

(e) "Commission" means the State Employees Group Insurance Advisory Commission authorized by this Act. Commencing July 1, 1984, "Commission" as used in this Act means the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability as established by the Legislative Commission Reorganization Act of 1984.

(f) "Contributory", when referred to as contributory coverage, shall mean optional coverages or benefits elected by the member toward the cost of which such member makes contribution, or which are funded in whole or in part through the acceptance of a reduction in earnings or the foregoing of an increase in earnings by an employee, as distinguished from noncontributory coverage or benefits which are paid entirely by the State of Illinois without reduction of the member's salary.

(g) "Department" means any department, institution, board, commission, officer, court or any agency of the State government receiving appropriations and having power to certify payrolls to the Comptroller authorizing payments of salary and wages against such appropriations as are made by the General Assembly from any State fund, or against trust funds held by the State Treasurer and includes boards of trustees of the retirement systems created by Articles 2, 14, 15, 16 and 18 of the Illinois Pension Code. "Department" also includes the Illinois Comprehensive Health Insurance Board, the Board of Examiners established under the Illinois Public Accounting Act, and the Illinois Finance Authority.

(h) "Dependent", when the term is used in the context of the health and life plan, means a member's spouse and any child (1) from birth to age 26 including an adopted child, a child who lives with the member from the time of the placement for adoption until entry of an order of adoption, a stepchild or adjudicated child, or a child who lives with the member if such member is a court appointed guardian of the child or (2) age 19 or over who has a mental or physical disability from a cause originating prior to the age of 19 (age 26 if enrolled as an adult child dependent). For the health plan only, the term "dependent" also includes (1) any person enrolled prior to the effective date of this Section who is dependent upon the member to the extent that the member may claim such person as a dependent for income tax deduction purposes and (2) any person who has received after June 30, 2000 an organ transplant and who is financially dependent upon the member and eligible to be claimed as a dependent for income tax purposes. A member requesting to cover any dependent must provide documentation as requested by the Department of Central Management Services and file with the Department any and all forms required by the Department.

(i) "Director" means the Director of the Illinois Department of Central Management Services.

(j) "Eligibility period" means the period of time a member has to elect enrollment in programs or to select benefits without regard to age, sex or health.

(k) "Employee" means and includes each officer or employee in the service of a department who (1) receives his compensation for service rendered to the department on a warrant issued pursuant to a payroll certified by a department or on a warrant or check issued and drawn by a department upon a trust, federal or other fund or on a warrant issued pursuant to a payroll certified by an elected or duly appointed officer of the State or who receives payment of the performance of personal services on a warrant issued pursuant to a payroll certified by a Department and drawn by the Comptroller upon the State Treasurer against appropriations made by the General Assembly from any fund or against trust funds held by the State Treasurer, and (2) is employed full-time or part-time in a position normally requiring actual performance of duty during not less than 1/2 of a normal work period, as established by the Director in cooperation with each department, except that persons elected by popular vote will be considered employees during the entire term for which they are elected regardless of hours devoted to the service of the State, and (3) except that "employee" does not include any person who is not eligible by reason of such person's employment to participate in one of the State retirement systems under Articles 2, 14, 15 (either the regular Article 15 system or the optional retirement program established under Section 15-158.2) or 18, or under paragraph (2), (3), or (5) of Section 16-106, of the Illinois Pension Code, but such term does include persons who are employed during the 6 month qualifying period under Article 14 of the Illinois Pension Code. Such term also includes any person who (1) after January 1, 1966, is receiving ordinary or accidental disability benefits under Articles 2, 14, 15 (including ordinary or accidental disability benefits under the optional retirement program established under Section 15-158.2), paragraphs (2), (3), or (5) of Section 16-106, or Article 18 of the Illinois Pension Code, for disability incurred after January 1, 1966, (2) receives total permanent or total temporary disability under the Workers' Compensation Act or Occupational Disease Act as a result of injuries sustained or illness contracted in the course of employment with the State of Illinois, or (3) is not otherwise covered under this Act and has retired as a participating member under Article 2 of the Illinois Pension Code but is ineligible for the retirement annuity under Section 2-119 of the Illinois Pension Code. However, a person who satisfies the criteria of the foregoing definition of "employee" except that such person is made ineligible to participate in the State Universities Retirement System by clause (4) of subsection (a) of Section 15-107 of the Illinois Pension Code is also an "employee" for the purposes of this Act. "Employee" also includes any person receiving or eligible for benefits under a sick pay plan established in accordance with Section 36 of the State Finance Act. "Employee" also includes (i) each officer or employee in the service of a qualified local government, including persons appointed as trustees of sanitary districts regardless of hours devoted to the service of the sanitary district, (ii) each employee in the service of a qualified rehabilitation facility, (iii) each full-time employee in the service of a qualified domestic violence shelter or service, and (iv) each full-time employee in the service of a qualified child advocacy center, as determined according to rules promulgated by the Director.

(l) "Member" means an employee, annuitant, retired employee or survivor. In the case of an annuitant or retired employee who first becomes an annuitant or retired employee on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 97th General Assembly, the individual must meet the minimum vesting requirements of the applicable retirement system in order to be eligible for group insurance benefits under that system. In the case of a survivor who first becomes a survivor on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 97th General Assembly, the deceased employee, annuitant, or retired employee upon whom the annuity is based must have been eligible to participate in the group insurance system under the applicable retirement system in order for the survivor to be eligible for group insurance benefits under that system.

(m) "Optional coverages or benefits" means those coverages or benefits available to the member on his or her voluntary election, and at his or her own expense.

(n) "Program" means the group life insurance, health benefits and other employee benefits designed and contracted for by the Director under this Act.

(o) "Health plan" means a health benefits program offered by the State of Illinois for persons eligible for the plan.

(p) "Retired employee" means any person who would be an annuitant as that term is defined herein but for the fact that such person retired prior to January 1, 1966. Such term also includes any person formerly employed by the University of Illinois in the Cooperative Extension Service who would be an annuitant but for the fact that such person was made ineligible to participate in the State Universities Retirement System by clause (4) of subsection (a) of Section 15-107 of the Illinois Pension Code.

(q) "Survivor" means a person receiving an annuity as a survivor of an employee or of an annuitant. "Survivor" also includes: (1) the surviving dependent of a person who satisfies the definition of "employee" except that such person is made ineligible to participate in the State Universities Retirement System by clause (4) of subsection (a) of Section 15-107 of the Illinois Pension Code; (2) the surviving dependent of any person formerly employed by the University of Illinois in the Cooperative Extension Service who would be an annuitant except for the fact that such person was made ineligible to participate in the State Universities Retirement System by clause (4) of subsection (a) of Section 15-107 of the Illinois Pension Code; and (3) the surviving dependent of a person who was an annuitant under this Act by virtue of receiving an alternative retirement cancellation payment under Section 14-108.5 of the Illinois Pension Code.

(q-2) "SERS" means the State Employees' Retirement System of Illinois, created under Article 14 of the Illinois Pension Code.

(q-3) "SURS" means the State Universities Retirement System, created under Article 15 of the Illinois Pension Code.

(q-4) "TRS" means the Teachers' Retirement System of the State of Illinois, created under Article 16 of the Illinois Pension Code.

(q-5) (Blank).

(q-6) (Blank).

(q-7) (Blank).

(r) "Medical services" means the services provided within the scope of their licenses by practitioners in all categories licensed under the Medical Practice Act of 1987.

(s) "Unit of local government" means any county, municipality, township, school district (including a combination of school districts under the Intergovernmental Cooperation Act), special district or other unit, designated as a unit of local government by law, which exercises limited governmental powers or powers in respect to limited governmental subjects, any not-for-profit association with a membership that primarily includes townships and township officials, that has duties that include provision of research service, dissemination of information, and other acts for the purpose of improving township government, and that is funded wholly or partly in accordance with Section 85-15 of the Township Code; any not-for-profit corporation or association, with a membership consisting primarily of municipalities, that operates its own utility system, and provides research, training, dissemination of information, or other acts to promote cooperation between and among municipalities that provide utility services and for the advancement of the goals and purposes of its membership; the Southern Illinois Collegiate Common Market, which is a consortium of higher education institutions in Southern Illinois; the Illinois Association of Park Districts; and any hospital provider that is owned by a county that has 100 or fewer hospital beds and has not already joined the program. "Qualified local government" means a unit of local government approved by the Director and participating in a program created under subsection (i) of Section 10 of this Act.

(t) "Qualified rehabilitation facility" means any not-for-profit organization that is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities or certified by the Department of Human Services (as successor to the Department of Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities) to provide services to persons with disabilities and which receives funds from the State of Illinois for providing those services, approved by the Director and participating in a program created under subsection (j) of Section 10 of this Act.

(u) "Qualified domestic violence shelter or service" means any Illinois domestic violence shelter or service and its administrative offices funded by the Department of Human Services (as successor to the Illinois Department of Public Aid), approved by the Director and participating in a program created under subsection (k) of Section 10.

(v) "TRS benefit recipient" means a person who:

(1) is not a "member" as defined in this Section; and

(2) is receiving a monthly benefit or retirement annuity under Article 16 of the Illinois Pension Code; and

(3) either (i) has at least 8 years of creditable service under Article 16 of the Illinois Pension Code, or (ii) was enrolled in the health insurance program offered under that Article on January 1, 1996, or (iii) is the survivor of a benefit recipient who had at least 8 years of creditable service under Article 16 of the Illinois Pension Code or was enrolled in the health insurance program offered under that Article on the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1995, or (iv) is a recipient or survivor of a recipient of a disability benefit under Article 16 of the Illinois Pension Code.

(w) "TRS dependent beneficiary" means a person who:

(1) is not a "member" or "dependent" as defined in this Section; and

(2) is a TRS benefit recipient's: (A) spouse, (B) dependent parent who is receiving at least half of his or her support from the TRS benefit recipient, or (C) natural, step, adjudicated, or adopted child who is (i) under age 26, (ii) was, on January 1, 1996, participating as a dependent beneficiary in the health insurance program offered under Article 16 of the Illinois Pension Code, or (iii) age 19 or over who has a mental or physical disability from a cause originating prior to the age of 19 (age 26 if enrolled as an adult child).

"TRS dependent beneficiary" does not include, as indicated under paragraph (2) of this subsection (w), a dependent of the survivor of a TRS benefit recipient who first becomes a dependent of a survivor of a TRS benefit recipient on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 97th General Assembly unless that dependent would have been eligible for coverage as a dependent of the deceased TRS benefit recipient upon whom the survivor benefit is based.

(x) "Military leave" refers to individuals in basic training for reserves, special/advanced training, annual training, emergency call up, activation by the President of the United States, or any other training or duty in service to the United States Armed Forces.

(y) (Blank).

(z) "Community college benefit recipient" means a person who:

(1) is not a "member" as defined in this Section; and

(2) is receiving a monthly survivor's annuity or retirement annuity under Article 15 of the Illinois Pension Code; and

(3) either (i) was a full-time employee of a community college district or an association of community college boards created under the Public Community College Act (other than an employee whose last employer under Article 15 of the Illinois Pension Code was a community college district subject to Article VII of the Public Community College Act) and was eligible to participate in a group health benefit plan as an employee during the time of employment with a community college district (other than a community college district subject to Article VII of the Public Community College Act) or an association of community college boards, or (ii) is the survivor of a person described in item (i).

(aa) "Community college dependent beneficiary" means a person who:

(1) is not a "member" or "dependent" as defined in this Section; and

(2) is a community college benefit recipient's: (A) spouse, (B) dependent parent who is receiving at least half of his or her support from the community college benefit recipient, or (C) natural, step, adjudicated, or adopted child who is (i) under age 26, or (ii) age 19 or over and has a mental or physical disability from a cause originating prior to the age of 19 (age 26 if enrolled as an adult child).

"Community college dependent beneficiary" does not include, as indicated under paragraph (2) of this subsection (aa), a dependent of the survivor of a community college benefit recipient who first becomes a dependent of a survivor of a community college benefit recipient on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 97th General Assembly unless that dependent would have been eligible for coverage as a dependent of the deceased community college benefit recipient upon whom the survivor annuity is based.

(bb) "Qualified child advocacy center" means any Illinois child advocacy center and its administrative offices funded by the Department of Children and Family Services, as defined by the Children's Advocacy Center Act (55 ILCS 80/), approved by the Director and participating in a program created under subsection (n) of Section 10.

(cc) "Placement for adoption" means the assumption and retention by a member of a legal obligation for total or partial support of a child in anticipation of adoption of the child. The child's placement with the member terminates upon the termination of such legal obligation.

(Source: P.A. 99-143, eff. 7-27-15; 100-355, eff. 1-1-18; 100-587, eff. 6-4-18.)

(5 ILCS 375/10) (from Ch. 127, par. 530)

Sec. 10. Contributions by the State and members.

(a) The State shall pay the cost of basic non-contributory group life insurance and, subject to member paid contributions set by the Department or required by this Section and except as provided in this Section, the basic program of group health benefits on each eligible member, except a member, not otherwise covered by this Act, who has retired as a participating member under Article 2 of the Illinois Pension Code but is ineligible for the retirement annuity under Section 2-119 of the Illinois Pension Code, and part of each eligible member's and retired member's premiums for health insurance coverage for enrolled dependents as provided by Section 9. The State shall pay the cost of the basic program of group health benefits only after benefits are reduced by the amount of benefits covered by Medicare for all members and dependents who are eligible for benefits under Social Security or the Railroad Retirement system or who had sufficient Medicare-covered government employment, except that such reduction in benefits shall apply only to those members and dependents who (1) first become eligible for such Medicare coverage on or after July 1, 1992; or (2) are Medicare-eligible members or dependents of a local government unit which began participation in the program on or after July 1, 1992; or (3) remain eligible for, but no longer receive Medicare coverage which they had been receiving on or after July 1, 1992. The Department may determine the aggregate level of the State's contribution on the basis of actual cost of medical services adjusted for age, sex or geographic or other demographic characteristics which affect the costs of such programs.

The cost of participation in the basic program of group health benefits for the dependent or survivor of a living or deceased retired employee who was formerly employed by the University of Illinois in the Cooperative Extension Service and would be an annuitant but for the fact that he or she was made ineligible to participate in the State Universities Retirement System by clause (4) of subsection (a) of Section 15-107 of the Illinois Pension Code shall not be greater than the cost of participation that would otherwise apply to that dependent or survivor if he or she were the dependent or survivor of an annuitant under the State Universities Retirement System.

(a-1) (Blank).

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(a-7) (Blank).

(a-8) Any annuitant, survivor, or retired employee may waive or terminate coverage in the program of group health benefits. Any such annuitant, survivor, or retired employee who has waived or terminated coverage may enroll or re-enroll in the program of group health benefits only during the annual benefit choice period, as determined by the Director; except that in the event of termination of coverage due to nonpayment of premiums, the annuitant, survivor, or retired employee may not re-enroll in the program.

(a-8.5) Beginning on the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 97th General Assembly, the Director of Central Management Services shall, on an annual basis, determine the amount that the State shall contribute toward the basic program of group health benefits on behalf of annuitants (including individuals who (i) participated in the General Assembly Retirement System, the State Employees' Retirement System of Illinois, the State Universities Retirement System, the Teachers' Retirement System of the State of Illinois, or the Judges Retirement System of Illinois and (ii) qualify as annuitants under subsection (b) of Section 3 of this Act), survivors (including individuals who (i) receive an annuity as a survivor of an individual who participated in the General Assembly Retirement System, the State Employees' Retirement System of Illinois, the State Universities Retirement System, the Teachers' Retirement System of the State of Illinois, or the Judges Retirement System of Illinois and (ii) qualify as survivors under subsection (q) of Section 3 of this Act), and retired employees (as defined in subsection (p) of Section 3 of this Act). The remainder of the cost of coverage for each annuitant, survivor, or retired employee, as determined by the Director of Central Management Services, shall be the responsibility of that annuitant, survivor, or retired employee.

Contributions required of annuitants, survivors, and retired employees shall be the same for all retirement systems and shall also be based on whether an individual has made an election under Section 15-135.1 of the Illinois Pension Code. Contributions may be based on annuitants', survivors', or retired employees' Medicare eligibility, but may not be based on Social Security eligibility.

(a-9) No later than May 1 of each calendar year, the Director of Central Management Services shall certify in writing to the Executive Secretary of the State Employees' Retirement System of Illinois the amounts of the Medicare supplement health care premiums and the amounts of the health care premiums for all other retirees who are not Medicare eligible.

A separate calculation of the premiums based upon the actual cost of each health care plan shall be so certified.

The Director of Central Management Services shall provide to the Executive Secretary of the State Employees' Retirement System of Illinois such information, statistics, and other data as he or she may require to review the premium amounts certified by the Director of Central Management Services.

The Department of Central Management Services, or any successor agency designated to procure healthcare contracts pursuant to this Act, is authorized to establish funds, separate accounts provided by any bank or banks as defined by the Illinois Banking Act, or separate accounts provided by any savings and loan association or associations as defined by the Illinois Savings and Loan Act of 1985 to be held by the Director, outside the State treasury, for the purpose of receiving the transfer of moneys from the Local Government Health Insurance Reserve Fund. The Department may promulgate rules further defining the methodology for the transfers. Any interest earned by moneys in the funds or accounts shall inure to the Local Government Health Insurance Reserve Fund. The transferred moneys, and interest accrued thereon, shall be used exclusively for transfers to administrative service organizations or their financial institutions for payments of claims to claimants and providers under the self-insurance health plan. The transferred moneys, and interest accrued thereon, shall not be used for any other purpose including, but not limited to, reimbursement of administration fees due the administrative service organization pursuant to its contract or contracts with the Department.

(a-10) To the extent that participation, benefits, or premiums under this Act are based on a person's service credit under an Article of the Illinois Pension Code, service credit terminated in exchange for an accelerated pension benefit payment under Section 14-147.5, 15-185.5, or 16-190.5 of that Code shall be included in determining a person's service credit for the purposes of this Act.

(a-15) For purposes of determining State contributions under this Section, service established under a self-managed plan under Article 2, 14, 16, or 18 of the Illinois Pension Code shall be included in determining an employee's creditable service. Any credit terminated as part of a transfer of contributions to a self-managed plan under Article 2, 14, 16, or 18 of the Illinois Pension Code shall also be included in determining an employee's creditable service.

(b) State employees who become eligible for this program on or after January 1, 1980 in positions normally requiring actual performance of duty not less than 1/2 of a normal work period but not equal to that of a normal work period, shall be given the option of participating in the available program. If the employee elects coverage, the State shall contribute on behalf of such employee to the cost of the employee's benefit and any applicable dependent supplement, that sum which bears the same percentage as that percentage of time the employee regularly works when compared to normal work period.

(c) The basic non-contributory coverage from the basic program of group health benefits shall be continued for each employee not in pay status or on active service by reason of (1) leave of absence due to illness or injury, (2) authorized educational leave of absence or sabbatical leave, or (3) military leave. This coverage shall continue until expiration of authorized leave and return to active service, but not to exceed 24 months for leaves under item (1) or (2). This 24-month limitation and the requirement of returning to active service shall not apply to persons receiving ordinary or accidental disability benefits or retirement benefits through the appropriate State retirement system or benefits under the Workers' Compensation or Occupational Disease Act.

(d) The basic group life insurance coverage shall continue, with full State contribution, where such person is (1) absent from active service by reason of disability arising from any cause other than self-inflicted, (2) on authorized educational leave of absence or sabbatical leave, or (3) on military leave.

(e) Where the person is in non-pay status for a period in excess of 30 days or on leave of absence, other than by reason of disability, educational or sabbatical leave, or military leave, such person may continue coverage only by making personal payment equal to the amount normally contributed by the State on such person's behalf. Such payments and coverage may be continued: (1) until such time as the person returns to a status eligible for coverage at State expense, but not to exceed 24 months or (2) until such person's employment or annuitant status with the State is terminated (exclusive of any additional service imposed pursuant to law).

(f) The Department shall establish by rule the extent to which other employee benefits will continue for persons in non-pay status or who are not in active service.

(g) The State shall not pay the cost of the basic non-contributory group life insurance, program of health benefits and other employee benefits for members who are survivors as defined by paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (q) of Section 3 of this Act. The costs of benefits for these survivors shall be paid by the survivors or by the University of Illinois Cooperative Extension Service, or any combination thereof. However, the State shall pay the amount of the reduction in the cost of participation, if any, resulting from the amendment to subsection (a) made by this amendatory Act of the 91st General Assembly.

(h) Those persons occupying positions with any department as a result of emergency appointments pursuant to Section 8b.8 of the Personnel Code who are not considered employees under this Act shall be given the option of participating in the programs of group life insurance, health benefits and other employee benefits. Such persons electing coverage may participate only by making payment equal to the amount normally contributed by the State for similarly situated employees. Such amounts shall be determined by the Director. Such payments and coverage may be continued until such time as the person becomes an employee pursuant to this Act or such person's appointment is terminated.

(i) Any unit of local government within the State of Illinois may apply to the Director to have its employees, annuitants, and their dependents provided group health coverage under this Act on a non-insured basis. To participate, a unit of local government must agree to enroll all of its employees, who may select coverage under either the State group health benefits plan or a health maintenance organization that has contracted with the State to be available as a health care provider for employees as defined in this Act. A unit of local government must remit the entire cost of providing coverage under the State group health benefits plan or, for coverage under a health maintenance organization, an amount determined by the Director based on an analysis of the sex, age, geographic location, or other relevant demographic variables for its employees, except that the unit of local government shall not be required to enroll those of its employees who are covered spouses or dependents under this plan or another group policy or plan providing health benefits as long as (1) an appropriate official from the unit of local government attests that each employee not enrolled is a covered spouse or dependent under this plan or another group policy or plan, and (2) at least 50% of the employees are enrolled and the unit of local government remits the entire cost of providing coverage to those employees, except that a participating school district must have enrolled at least 50% of its full-time employees who have not waived coverage under the district's group health plan by participating in a component of the district's cafeteria plan. A participating school district is not required to enroll a full-time employee who has waived coverage under the district's health plan, provided that an appropriate official from the participating school district attests that the full-time employee has waived coverage by participating in a component of the district's cafeteria plan. For the purposes of this subsection, "participating school district" includes a unit of local government whose primary purpose is education as defined by the Department's rules.

Employees of a participating unit of local government who are not enrolled due to coverage under another group health policy or plan may enroll in the event of a qualifying change in status, special enrollment, special circumstance as defined by the Director, or during the annual Benefit Choice Period. A participating unit of local government may also elect to cover its annuitants. Dependent coverage shall be offered on an optional basis, with the costs paid by the unit of local government, its employees, or some combination of the two as determined by the unit of local government. The unit of local government shall be responsible for timely collection and transmission of dependent premiums.

The Director shall annually determine monthly rates of payment, subject to the following constraints:

(1) In the first year of coverage, the rates shall be equal to the amount normally charged to State employees for elected optional coverages or for enrolled dependents coverages or other contributory coverages, or contributed by the State for basic insurance coverages on behalf of its employees, adjusted for differences between State employees and employees of the local government in age, sex, geographic location or other relevant demographic variables, plus an amount sufficient to pay for the additional administrative costs of providing coverage to employees of the unit of local government and their dependents.

(2) In subsequent years, a further adjustment shall be made to reflect the actual prior years' claims experience of the employees of the unit of local government.

In the case of coverage of local government employees under a health maintenance organization, the Director shall annually determine for each participating unit of local government the maximum monthly amount the unit may contribute toward that coverage, based on an analysis of (i) the age, sex, geographic location, and other relevant demographic variables of the unit's employees and (ii) the cost to cover those employees under the State group health benefits plan. The Director may similarly determine the maximum monthly amount each unit of local government may contribute toward coverage of its employees' dependents under a health maintenance organization.

Monthly payments by the unit of local government or its employees for group health benefits plan or health maintenance organization coverage shall be deposited in the Local Government Health Insurance Reserve Fund.

The Local Government Health Insurance Reserve Fund is hereby created as a nonappropriated trust fund to be held outside the State Treasury, with the State Treasurer as custodian. The Local Government Health Insurance Reserve Fund shall be a continuing fund not subject to fiscal year limitations. The Local Government Health Insurance Reserve Fund is not subject to administrative charges or charge-backs, including but not limited to those authorized under Section 8h of the State Finance Act. All revenues arising from the administration of the health benefits program established under this Section shall be deposited into the Local Government Health Insurance Reserve Fund. Any interest earned on moneys in the Local Government Health Insurance Reserve Fund shall be deposited into the Fund. All expenditures from this Fund shall be used for payments for health care benefits for local government and rehabilitation facility employees, annuitants, and dependents, and to reimburse the Department or its administrative service organization for all expenses incurred in the administration of benefits. No other State funds may be used for these purposes.

A local government employer's participation or desire to participate in a program created under this subsection shall not limit that employer's duty to bargain with the representative of any collective bargaining unit of its employees.

(j) Any rehabilitation facility within the State of Illinois may apply to the Director to have its employees, annuitants, and their eligible dependents provided group health coverage under this Act on a non-insured basis. To participate, a rehabilitation facility must agree to enroll all of its employees and remit the entire cost of providing such coverage for its employees, except that the rehabilitation facility shall not be required to enroll those of its employees who are covered spouses or dependents under this plan or another group policy or plan providing health benefits as long as (1) an appropriate official from the rehabilitation facility attests that each employee not enrolled is a covered spouse or dependent under this plan or another group policy or plan, and (2) at least 50% of the employees are enrolled and the rehabilitation facility remits the entire cost of providing coverage to those employees. Employees of a participating rehabilitation facility who are not enrolled due to coverage under another group health policy or plan may enroll in the event of a qualifying change in status, special enrollment, special circumstance as defined by the Director, or during the annual Benefit Choice Period. A participating rehabilitation facility may also elect to cover its annuitants. Dependent coverage shall be offered on an optional basis, with the costs paid by the rehabilitation facility, its employees, or some combination of the 2 as determined by the rehabilitation facility. The rehabilitation facility shall be responsible for timely collection and transmission of dependent premiums.

The Director shall annually determine quarterly rates of payment, subject to the following constraints:

(1) In the first year of coverage, the rates shall be equal to the amount normally charged to State employees for elected optional coverages or for enrolled dependents coverages or other contributory coverages on behalf of its employees, adjusted for differences between State employees and employees of the rehabilitation facility in age, sex, geographic location or other relevant demographic variables, plus an amount sufficient to pay for the additional administrative costs of providing coverage to employees of the rehabilitation facility and their dependents.

(2) In subsequent years, a further adjustment shall be made to reflect the actual prior years' claims experience of the employees of the rehabilitation facility.

Monthly payments by the rehabilitation facility or its employees for group health benefits shall be deposited in the Local Government Health Insurance Reserve Fund.

(k) Any domestic violence shelter or service within the State of Illinois may apply to the Director to have its employees, annuitants, and their dependents provided group health coverage under this Act on a non-insured basis. To participate, a domestic violence shelter or service must agree to enroll all of its employees and pay the entire cost of providing such coverage for its employees. The domestic violence shelter shall not be required to enroll those of its employees who are covered spouses or dependents under this plan or another group policy or plan providing health benefits as long as (1) an appropriate official from the domestic violence shelter attests that each employee not enrolled is a covered spouse or dependent under this plan or another group policy or plan and (2) at least 50% of the employees are enrolled and the domestic violence shelter remits the entire cost of providing coverage to those employees. Employees of a participating domestic violence shelter who are not enrolled due to coverage under another group health policy or plan may enroll in the event of a qualifying change in status, special enrollment, or special circumstance as defined by the Director or during the annual Benefit Choice Period. A participating domestic violence shelter may also elect to cover its annuitants. Dependent coverage shall be offered on an optional basis, with employees, or some combination of the 2 as determined by the domestic violence shelter or service. The domestic violence shelter or service shall be responsible for timely collection and transmission of dependent premiums.

The Director shall annually determine rates of payment, subject to the following constraints:

(1) In the first year of coverage, the rates shall be equal to the amount normally charged to State employees for elected optional coverages or for enrolled dependents coverages or other contributory coverages on behalf of its employees, adjusted for differences between State employees and employees of the domestic violence shelter or service in age, sex, geographic location or other relevant demographic variables, plus an amount sufficient to pay for the additional administrative costs of providing coverage to employees of the domestic violence shelter or service and their dependents.

(2) In subsequent years, a further adjustment shall be made to reflect the actual prior years' claims experience of the employees of the domestic violence shelter or service.

Monthly payments by the domestic violence shelter or service or its employees for group health insurance shall be deposited in the Local Government Health Insurance Reserve Fund.

(l) A public community college or entity organized pursuant to the Public Community College Act may apply to the Director initially to have only annuitants not covered prior to July 1, 1992 by the district's health plan provided health coverage under this Act on a non-insured basis. The community college must execute a 2-year contract to participate in the Local Government Health Plan. Any annuitant may enroll in the event of a qualifying change in status, special enrollment, special circumstance as defined by the Director, or during the annual Benefit Choice Period.

The Director shall annually determine monthly rates of payment subject to the following constraints: for those community colleges with annuitants only enrolled, first year rates shall be equal to the average cost to cover claims for a State member adjusted for demographics, Medicare participation, and other factors; and in the second year, a further adjustment of rates shall be made to reflect the actual first year's claims experience of the covered annuitants.

(l-5) The provisions of subsection (l) become inoperative on July 1, 1999.

(m) The Director shall adopt any rules deemed necessary for implementation of this amendatory Act of 1989 (Public Act 86-978).

(n) Any child advocacy center within the State of Illinois may apply to the Director to have its employees, annuitants, and their dependents provided group health coverage under this Act on a non-insured basis. To participate, a child advocacy center must agree to enroll all of its employees and pay the entire cost of providing coverage for its employees. The child advocacy center shall not be required to enroll those of its employees who are covered spouses or dependents under this plan or another group policy or plan providing health benefits as long as (1) an appropriate official from the child advocacy center attests that each employee not enrolled is a covered spouse or dependent under this plan or another group policy or plan and (2) at least 50% of the employees are enrolled and the child advocacy center remits the entire cost of providing coverage to those employees. Employees of a participating child advocacy center who are not enrolled due to coverage under another group health policy or plan may enroll in the event of a qualifying change in status, special enrollment, or special circumstance as defined by the Director or during the annual Benefit Choice Period. A participating child advocacy center may also elect to cover its annuitants. Dependent coverage shall be offered on an optional basis, with the costs paid by the child advocacy center, its employees, or some combination of the 2 as determined by the child advocacy center. The child advocacy center shall be responsible for timely collection and transmission of dependent premiums.

The Director shall annually determine rates of payment, subject to the following constraints:

(1) In the first year of coverage, the rates shall be equal to the amount normally charged to State employees for elected optional coverages or for enrolled dependents coverages or other contributory coverages on behalf of its employees, adjusted for differences between State employees and employees of the child advocacy center in age, sex, geographic location, or other relevant demographic variables, plus an amount sufficient to pay for the additional administrative costs of providing coverage to employees of the child advocacy center and their dependents.

(2) In subsequent years, a further adjustment shall be made to reflect the actual prior years' claims experience of the employees of the child advocacy center.

Monthly payments by the child advocacy center or its employees for group health insurance shall be deposited into the Local Government Health Insurance Reserve Fund.

(Source: P.A. 100-587, eff. 6-4-18.)

Section 10. The Illinois Pension Code is amended by adding Sections 2-105.3, 2-107.5, 2-107.6, 2-126.8, 14-103.42, 14-103.43, 14-133.2, 16-122.2, 16-122.3, 16-158.4, 18-118.1, 18-118.2, and 18-133.2 and by changing Sections 1-160, 1-161, 2-162, 14-152.1, 16-203, and 18-169 as follows:

(40 ILCS 5/1-160)

Sec. 1-160. Provisions applicable to new hires.

(a) The provisions of this Section apply to a person who, on or after January 1, 2011, first becomes a member or a participant under any reciprocal retirement system or pension fund established under this Code, other than a retirement system or pension fund established under Article 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 15 or 18 of this Code, notwithstanding any other provision of this Code to the contrary, but do not apply to any self-managed plan established under this Code, to any person with respect to service as a sheriff's law enforcement employee under Article 7, or to any participant of the retirement plan established under Section 22-101. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section, for purposes of this Section, a person who participated in a retirement system under Article 15 prior to January 1, 2011 shall be deemed a person who first became a member or participant prior to January 1, 2011 under any retirement system or pension fund subject to this Section. The changes made to this Section by Public Act 98-596 are a clarification of existing law and are intended to be retroactive to January 1, 2011 (the effective date of Public Act 96-889), notwithstanding the provisions of Section 1-103.1 of this Code.

This Section does not apply to a person who first becomes a noncovered employee under Article 14 on or after the implementation date of the plan created under Section 1-161 for that Article, unless that person elects under subsection (b) of Section 1-161 to instead receive the benefits provided under this Section and the applicable provisions of that Article.

This Section does not apply to a person who first becomes a member or participant under Article 16 on or after the implementation date of the plan created under Section 1-161 for that Article, unless that person elects under subsection (b) of Section 1-161 to instead receive the benefits provided under this Section and the applicable provisions of that Article.

This Section does not apply to a person who elects under subsection (c-5) of Section 1-161 to receive the benefits under Section 1-161.

This Section does not apply to a person who first becomes a member or participant of an affected pension fund on or after 6 months after the resolution or ordinance date, as defined in Section 1-162, unless that person elects under subsection (c) of Section 1-162 to receive the benefits provided under this Section and the applicable provisions of the Article under which he or she is a member or participant.

This Section does not apply to a person who participates in a self-managed plan established under Article 14, 15, or 16 of this Code.

(b) "Final average salary" means the average monthly (or annual) salary obtained by dividing the total salary or earnings calculated under the Article applicable to the member or participant during the 96 consecutive months (or 8 consecutive years) of service within the last 120 months (or 10 years) of service in which the total salary or earnings calculated under the applicable Article was the highest by the number of months (or years) of service in that period. For the purposes of a person who first becomes a member or participant of any retirement system or pension fund to which this Section applies on or after January 1, 2011, in this Code, "final average salary" shall be substituted for the following:

(1) In Article 7 (except for service as sheriff's law enforcement employees), "final rate of earnings".

(2) In Articles 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12, "highest average annual salary for any 4 consecutive years within the last 10 years of service immediately preceding the date of withdrawal".

(3) In Article 13, "average final salary".

(4) In Article 14, "final average compensation".

(5) In Article 17, "average salary".

(6) In Section 22-207, "wages or salary received by him at the date of retirement or discharge".

(b-5) Beginning on January 1, 2011, for all purposes under this Code (including without limitation the calculation of benefits and employee contributions), the annual earnings, salary, or wages (based on the plan year) of a member or participant to whom this Section applies shall not exceed $106,800; however, that amount shall annually thereafter be increased by the lesser of (i) 3% of that amount, including all previous adjustments, or (ii) one-half the annual unadjusted percentage increase (but not less than zero) in the consumer price index-u for the 12 months ending with the September preceding each November 1, including all previous adjustments.

For the purposes of this Section, "consumer price index-u" means the index published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the United States Department of Labor that measures the average change in prices of goods and services purchased by all urban consumers, United States city average, all items, 1982-84 = 100. The new amount resulting from each annual adjustment shall be determined by the Public Pension Division of the Department of Insurance and made available to the boards of the retirement systems and pension funds by November 1 of each year.

(c) A member or participant is entitled to a retirement annuity upon written application if he or she has attained age 67 (beginning January 1, 2015, age 65 with respect to service under Article 12 of this Code that is subject to this Section) and has at least 10 years of service credit and is otherwise eligible under the requirements of the applicable Article.

A member or participant who has attained age 62 (beginning January 1, 2015, age 60 with respect to service under Article 12 of this Code that is subject to this Section) and has at least 10 years of service credit and is otherwise eligible under the requirements of the applicable Article may elect to receive the lower retirement annuity provided in subsection (d) of this Section.

(c-5) A person who first becomes a member or a participant subject to this Section on or after July 6, 2017 (the effective date of Public Act 100-23), notwithstanding any other provision of this Code to the contrary, is entitled to a retirement annuity under Article 8 or Article 11 upon written application if he or she has attained age 65 and has at least 10 years of service credit and is otherwise eligible under the requirements of Article 8 or Article 11 of this Code, whichever is applicable.

(d) The retirement annuity of a member or participant who is retiring after attaining age 62 (beginning January 1, 2015, age 60 with respect to service under Article 12 of this Code that is subject to this Section) with at least 10 years of service credit shall be reduced by one-half of 1% for each full month that the member's age is under age 67 (beginning January 1, 2015, age 65 with respect to service under Article 12 of this Code that is subject to this Section).

(d-5) The retirement annuity payable under Article 8 or Article 11 to an eligible person subject to subsection (c-5) of this Section who is retiring at age 60 with at least 10 years of service credit shall be reduced by one-half of 1% for each full month that the member's age is under age 65.

(d-10) Each person who first became a member or participant under Article 8 or Article 11 of this Code on or after January 1, 2011 and prior to the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 100th General Assembly shall make an irrevocable election either:

(i) to be eligible for the reduced retirement age provided in subsections (c-5) and (d-5) of this Section, the eligibility for which is conditioned upon the member or participant agreeing to the increases in employee contributions for age and service annuities provided in subsection (a-5) of Section 8-174 of this Code (for service under Article 8) or subsection (a-5) of Section 11-170 of this Code (for service under Article 11); or

(ii) to not agree to item (i) of this subsection (d-10), in which case the member or participant shall continue to be subject to the retirement age provisions in subsections (c) and (d) of this Section and the employee contributions for age and service annuity as provided in subsection (a) of Section 8-174 of this Code (for service under Article 8) or subsection (a) of Section 11-170 of this Code (for service under Article 11).

The election provided for in this subsection shall be made between October 1, 2017 and November 15, 2017. A person subject to this subsection who makes the required election shall remain bound by that election. A person subject to this subsection who fails for any reason to make the required election within the time specified in this subsection shall be deemed to have made the election under item (ii).

(e) Any retirement annuity or supplemental annuity shall be subject to annual increases on the January 1 occurring either on or after the attainment of age 67 (beginning January 1, 2015, age 65 with respect to service under Article 12 of this Code that is subject to this Section and beginning on the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 100th General Assembly, age 65 with respect to service under Article 8 or Article 11 for eligible persons who: (i) are subject to subsection (c-5) of this Section; or (ii) made the election under item (i) of subsection (d-10) of this Section) or the first anniversary of the annuity start date, whichever is later. Each annual increase shall be calculated at 3% or one-half the annual unadjusted percentage increase (but not less than zero) in the consumer price index-u for the 12 months ending with the September preceding each November 1, whichever is less, of the originally granted retirement annuity. If the annual unadjusted percentage change in the consumer price index-u for the 12 months ending with the September preceding each November 1 is zero or there is a decrease, then the annuity shall not be increased.

For the purposes of Section 1-103.1 of this Code, the changes made to this Section by this amendatory Act of the 100th General Assembly are applicable without regard to whether the employee was in active service on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 100th General Assembly.

(f) The initial survivor's or widow's annuity of an otherwise eligible survivor or widow of a retired member or participant who first became a member or participant on or after January 1, 2011 shall be in the amount of 66 2/3% of the retired member's or participant's retirement annuity at the date of death. In the case of the death of a member or participant who has not retired and who first became a member or participant on or after January 1, 2011, eligibility for a survivor's or widow's annuity shall be determined by the applicable Article of this Code. The initial benefit shall be 66 2/3% of the earned annuity without a reduction due to age. A child's annuity of an otherwise eligible child shall be in the amount prescribed under each Article if applicable. Any survivor's or widow's annuity shall be increased (1) on each January 1 occurring on or after the commencement of the annuity if the deceased member died while receiving a retirement annuity or (2) in other cases, on each January 1 occurring after the first anniversary of the commencement of the annuity. Each annual increase shall be calculated at 3% or one-half the annual unadjusted percentage increase (but not less than zero) in the consumer price index-u for the 12 months ending with the September preceding each November 1, whichever is less, of the originally granted survivor's annuity. If the annual unadjusted percentage change in the consumer price index-u for the 12 months ending with the September preceding each November 1 is zero or there is a decrease, then the annuity shall not be increased.

(g) The benefits in Section 14-110 apply only if the person is a State policeman, a fire fighter in the fire protection service of a department, a security employee of the Department of Corrections or the Department of Juvenile Justice, or a security employee of the Department of Innovation and Technology, as those terms are defined in subsection (b) and subsection (c) of Section 14-110. A person who meets the requirements of this Section is entitled to an annuity calculated under the provisions of Section 14-110, 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 60, regardless of whether the attainment of age 60 occurs while the person is still in service.

(h) If a person who first becomes a member or a participant of a retirement system or pension fund subject to this Section on or after January 1, 2011 is receiving a retirement annuity or retirement pension under that system or fund and becomes a member or participant under any other system or fund created by this Code and is employed on a full-time basis, except for those members or participants exempted from the provisions of this Section under subsection (a) of this Section, then the person's retirement annuity or retirement pension under that system or fund shall be suspended during that employment. Upon termination of that employment, the person's retirement annuity or retirement pension payments shall resume and be recalculated if recalculation is provided for under the applicable Article of this Code.

If a person who first becomes a member of a retirement system or pension fund subject to this Section on or after January 1, 2012 and is receiving a retirement annuity or retirement pension under that system or fund and accepts on a contractual basis a position to provide services to a governmental entity from which he or she has retired, then that person's annuity or retirement pension earned as an active employee of the employer shall be suspended during that contractual service. A person receiving an annuity or retirement pension under this Code shall notify the pension fund or retirement system from which he or she is receiving an annuity or retirement pension, as well as his or her contractual employer, of his or her retirement status before accepting contractual employment. A person who fails to submit such notification shall be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor and required to pay a fine of $1,000. Upon termination of that contractual employment, the person's retirement annuity or retirement pension payments shall resume and, if appropriate, be recalculated under the applicable provisions of this Code.

(i) (Blank).

(j) In the case of a conflict between the provisions of this Section and any other provision of this Code, the provisions of this Section shall control.

(Source: P.A. 100-23, eff. 7-6-17; 100-201, eff. 8-18-17; 100-563, eff. 12-8-17; 100-611, eff. 7-20-18; 100-1166, eff. 1-4-19.)

(40 ILCS 5/1-161)

Sec. 1-161. Optional benefits for certain Tier 2 members under Articles 14, 15, and 16.

(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code to the contrary, the provisions of this Section apply to a person who first becomes a member or a participant under Article 14, 15, or 16 on or after the implementation date under this Section for the applicable Article and who does not make the election under subsection (b) or (c), whichever applies. The provisions of this Section also apply to a person who makes the election under subsection (c-5). However, the provisions of this Section do not apply to any participant in a self-managed plan or a self-managed plan established under Article 14, 15, or 16, nor to a covered employee under Article 14.

As used in this Section and Section 1-160, the "implementation date" under this Section means the earliest date upon which the board of a retirement system authorizes members of that system to begin participating in accordance with this Section, as determined by the board of that retirement system. Each of the retirement systems subject to this Section shall endeavor to make such participation available as soon as possible after the effective date of this Section and shall establish an implementation date by board resolution.

(b) In lieu of the benefits provided under this Section, a member or participant, except for a participant under Article 15, may irrevocably elect the benefits under Section 1-160 and the benefits otherwise applicable to that member or participant. The election must be made within 30 days after becoming a member or participant. Each retirement system shall establish procedures for making this election.

(c) A participant under Article 15 may irrevocably elect the benefits otherwise provided to a Tier 2 member under Article 15. The election must be made within 30 days after becoming a member. The retirement system under Article 15 shall establish procedures for making this election.

(c-5) A non-covered participant under Article 14 to whom Section 1-160 applies, a Tier 2 member under Article 15, or a participant under Article 16 to whom Section 1-160 applies may irrevocably elect to receive the benefits under this Section in lieu of the benefits under Section 1-160 or the benefits otherwise available to a Tier 2 member under Article 15, whichever is applicable. Each retirement System shall establish procedures for making this election.

(d) "Final average salary" means the average monthly (or annual) salary obtained by dividing the total salary or earnings calculated under the Article applicable to the member or participant during the last 120 months (or 10 years) of service in which the total salary or earnings calculated under the applicable Article was the highest by the number of months (or years) of service in that period. For the purposes of a person to whom this Section applies, in this Code, "final average salary" shall be substituted for "final average compensation" in Article 14.

(e) Beginning on the implementation date, for all purposes under this Code (including without limitation the calculation of benefits and employee contributions), the annual earnings, salary, compensation, or wages (based on the plan year) of a member or participant to whom this Section applies shall not at any time exceed the federal Social Security Wage Base then in effect.

(f) A member or participant is entitled to a retirement annuity upon written application if he or she has attained the normal retirement age determined by the Social Security Administration for that member or participant's year of birth, but no earlier than 67 years of age, and has at least 10 years of service credit and is otherwise eligible under the requirements of the applicable Article.

(g) The amount of the retirement annuity to which a member or participant is entitled shall be computed by multiplying 1.25% for each year of service credit by his or her final average salary.

(h) Any retirement annuity or supplemental annuity shall be subject to annual increases on the first anniversary of the annuity start date. Each annual increase shall be one-half the annual unadjusted percentage increase (but not less than zero) in the consumer price index-w for the 12 months ending with the September preceding each November 1 of the originally granted retirement annuity. If the annual unadjusted percentage change in the consumer price index-w for the 12 months ending with the September preceding each November 1 is zero or there is a decrease, then the annuity shall not be increased.

For the purposes of this Section, "consumer price index-w" means the index published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the United States Department of Labor that measures the average change in prices of goods and services purchased by Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers, United States city average, all items, 1982-84 = 100. The new amount resulting from each annual adjustment shall be determined by the Public Pension Division of the Department of Insurance and made available to the boards of the retirement systems and pension funds by November 1 of each year.

(i) The initial survivor's or widow's annuity of an otherwise eligible survivor or widow of a retired member or participant to whom this Section applies shall be in the amount of 66 2/3% of the retired member's or participant's retirement annuity at the date of death. In the case of the death of a member or participant who has not retired and to whom this Section applies, eligibility for a survivor's or widow's annuity shall be determined by the applicable Article of this Code. The benefit shall be 66 2/3% of the earned annuity without a reduction due to age. A child's annuity of an otherwise eligible child shall be in the amount prescribed under each Article if applicable.

(j) In lieu of any other employee contributions, except for the contribution to the defined contribution plan under subsection (k) of this Section, each employee shall contribute 6.2% of his her or salary to the retirement system. However, the employee contribution under this subsection shall not exceed the amount of the total normal cost of the benefits for all members making contributions under this Section (except for the defined contribution plan under subsection (k) of this Section), expressed as a percentage of payroll and certified on or before January 15 of each year by the board of trustees of the retirement system. If the board of trustees of the retirement system certifies that the 6.2% employee contribution rate exceeds the normal cost of the benefits under this Section (except for the defined contribution plan under subsection (k) of this Section), then on or before December 1 of that year, the board of trustees shall certify the amount of the normal cost of the benefits under this Section (except for the defined contribution plan under subsection (k) of this Section), expressed as a percentage of payroll, to the State Actuary and the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability, and the employee contribution under this subsection shall be reduced to that amount beginning July 1 of that year. Thereafter, if the normal cost of the benefits under this Section (except for the defined contribution plan under subsection (k) of this Section), expressed as a percentage of payroll and certified on or before January 1 of each year by the board of trustees of the retirement system, exceeds 6.2% of salary, then on or before January 15 of that year, the board of trustees shall certify the normal cost to the State Actuary and the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability, and the employee contributions shall revert back to 6.2% of salary beginning January 1 of the following year.

(k) In accordance with each retirement system's implementation date, each retirement system under Article 14, 15, or 16 shall prepare and implement a defined contribution plan for members or participants who are subject to this Section. The defined contribution plan developed under this subsection shall be a plan that aggregates employer and employee contributions in individual participant accounts which, after meeting any other requirements, are used for payouts after retirement in accordance with this subsection and any other applicable laws.

(1) Each member or participant shall contribute a minimum of 4% of his or her salary to the defined contribution plan.

(2) For each participant in the defined contribution plan who has been employed with the same employer for at least one year, employer contributions shall be paid into that participant's accounts at a rate expressed as a percentage of salary. This rate may be set for individual employees, but shall be no higher than 6% of salary and shall be no lower than 2% of salary.

(3) Employer contributions shall vest when those contributions are paid into a member's or participant's account.

(4) The defined contribution plan shall provide a variety of options for investments. These options shall include investments handled by the Illinois State Board of Investment as well as private sector investment options.

(5) The defined contribution plan shall provide a variety of options for payouts to retirees and their survivors.

(6) To the extent authorized under federal law and as authorized by the retirement system, the defined contribution plan shall allow former participants in the plan to transfer or roll over employee and employer contributions, and the earnings thereon, into other qualified retirement plans.

(7) Each retirement system shall reduce the employee contributions credited to the member's defined contribution plan account by an amount determined by that retirement system to cover the cost of offering the benefits under this subsection and any applicable administrative fees.

(8) No person shall begin participating in the defined contribution plan until it has attained qualified plan status and received all necessary approvals from the U.S. Internal Revenue Service.

(l) In the case of a conflict between the provisions of this Section and any other provision of this Code, the provisions of this Section shall control.

(Source: P.A. 100-23, eff. 7-6-17.)

(40 ILCS 5/2-105.3 new)

Sec. 2-105.3. Tier 1 participant; Tier 2 participant. "Tier 1 participant": A participant who first became a participant before January 1, 2011.

"Tier 2 participant": A participant who first became a participant on or after January 1, 2011.

(40 ILCS 5/2-107.5 new)

Sec. 2-107.5. Traditional benefit package. "Traditional benefit package" means the defined benefit retirement program maintained by the System available to a participant who does not elect to participate in the self-managed plan.

(40 ILCS 5/2-107.6 new)

Sec. 2-107.6. Self-Managed Plan. "Self-managed plan": The defined contribution retirement program maintained under the System as described in Section 2-126.8.

(40 ILCS 5/2-126.8 new)

Sec. 2-126.8. Self-managed plan.

(a) The System shall establish and administer a self-managed plan that shall offer participants the opportunity to accumulate assets for retirement through a combination of participant and State contributions that may be invested in mutual funds, collective investment funds, or other investment products and used to purchase annuity contracts, either fixed or variable or a combination thereof. The plan must be qualified under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.

(b) The System shall be the plan sponsor for the self-managed plan and shall prepare a plan document and prescribe such rules and procedures as are considered necessary or desirable for the administration of the self-managed plan. Consistent with its fiduciary duty to the participants and beneficiaries of the self-managed plan, the Board of Trustees of the System may delegate aspects of plan administration as it sees fit to companies authorized to do business in this State.

(c) The System shall solicit proposals to provide administrative services and funding vehicles for the self-managed plan from insurance and annuity companies and mutual fund companies, banks, trust companies, or other financial institutions authorized to do business in this State. In reviewing the proposals received and approving and contracting with no fewer than 2 and no more than 7 companies, the Board of Trustees of the System shall consider, among other things, the following criteria:

(1) the nature and extent of the benefits that would be provided to the participants;

(2) the reasonableness of the benefits in relation to the premium charged;

(3) the suitability of the benefits to the needs and interests of the participants and the State; and

(4) the ability of the company to provide benefits under the contract and the financial stability of the company.

The System shall periodically review each approved company. A company may continue to provide administrative services and funding vehicles for the self-managed plan only so long as it continues to be an approved company under contract with the Board.

(d) Participants in the program must be allowed to direct the transfer of their account balances among the various investment options offered, subject to applicable contractual provisions. The participant shall not be deemed a fiduciary by reason of providing such investment direction. A person who is a fiduciary shall not be liable for any loss resulting from such investment direction and shall not be deemed to have breached any fiduciary duty by acting in accordance with that direction. The System shall provide advance notice to the participant of the participant's obligation to direct the investment of participant and State contributions into one or more investment funds selected by the System at the time he or she makes his or her initial retirement plan selection. If a participant fails to direct the investment of participant and State contributions into the various investment options offered to the participant when making his or her initial retirement election choice, that failure shall require the System to invest the participant and State contributions in a default investment fund on behalf of the participant, and the investment shall be deemed to have been made at the participant's investment direction. The participant has the right to transfer account balances out of the default investment fund during time periods designated by the System. Neither the System nor the State guarantees any of the investments in the participant's account balances.

(e) A participant eligible to participate in the self-managed plan must make a one-time irrevocable written election in accordance with procedures established by the System. Participation in the self-managed plan by an electing participant shall begin on the first day of the first pay period following the later of the date the participant's election is filed with the System or the date the System begins to offer participation in the self-managed plan. The System may not make the self-managed plan available earlier than January 1, 2020. Participation in any other retirement program administered by the System under this Article shall terminate on the date that participation in the self-managed plan begins.

A participant in the self-managed plan under this Section must continue participation while an active member and may not participate in any other retirement program administered by the System under this Article, unless the self-managed plan is terminated in accordance with subsection (i).

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article, a Tier 2 participant shall have the option to enroll in the self-managed plan.

Participation in the self-managed plan under this Section shall constitute membership in the System.

A participant under this Section shall be entitled to the benefits of Article 20 of this Code.

(f) If, at the time a participant elects to participate in the self-managed plan, he or she has rights and credits in the System due to previous participation in the traditional benefit package, the participant may elect to terminate those rights and credits and the System shall establish for the participant an opening account balance in the self-managed plan, equal to the amount of contribution refund that the participant would be eligible to receive under Section 2-123 if the participant terminated participation on that date and elected a refund of contributions, except that this hypothetical refund shall include interest at the effective rate for the respective years. The System shall transfer assets from the defined benefit retirement program to the self-managed plan, as a tax-free transfer in accordance with Internal Revenue Service guidelines, for purposes of funding the participant's opening account balance.

(g) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article, a participant may not purchase or receive service or service credit applicable to any other retirement program administered by the System under this Article for any period during which the participant was a participant in the self-managed plan established under this Section.

(h) The self-managed plan shall be funded by contributions from participants in the self-managed plan and State contributions as provided in this Section.

The contribution rate for participants in the self-managed plan under this Section shall be equal to the participant contribution rate for other participants in the System, as provided in Section 2-126. This required contribution shall be made as an "employer pick-up" under Section 414(h) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 or any successor Section thereof. Any member participating in the System's traditional benefit package prior to his or her election to participate in the self-managed plan shall continue to have the State pick up the contributions required under Section 2-126. However, the amounts picked up after the election of the self-managed plan shall be remitted to and treated as assets of the self-managed plan. In no event shall a participant have an option of receiving these amounts in cash. Participants may make additional contributions to the self-managed plan in accordance with procedures prescribed by the System, to the extent permitted under rules prescribed by the System.

The program shall provide for State contributions to be credited to each self-managed plan participant at a rate of 7.6% of the participant's compensation. The amounts so credited shall be paid into the participant's self-managed plan accounts in a manner to be prescribed by the System.

The State of Illinois shall make contributions by appropriations to the System of the State contributions required for participants in the self-managed plan under this Section. The amount required shall be certified by the Board of Trustees of the System and paid by the State in accordance with Section 2-134. The System shall not be obligated to remit the required State contributions to any of the insurance and annuity companies, mutual fund companies, banks, trust companies, financial institutions, or other sponsors of any of the funding vehicles offered under the self-managed plan until it has received the required contributions from the State. In the event of a deficiency in the amount of State contributions, the System shall implement those procedures described in subsection (b) of Section 2-134 to obtain the required funding from the General Revenue Fund.

(i) The self-managed plan authorized under this Section may be terminated by the System, subject to the terms of any relevant contracts, and the System shall have no obligation to reestablish the self-managed plan under this Section. This Section does not create a right to continued participation in any self-managed plan set up by the System under this Section. If the self-managed plan is terminated, the participants shall have the right to participate in the traditional benefit package and receive service credit in the traditional benefit package for any years of service following the termination.

(j) A participant in the self-managed plan becomes vested in the State contributions credited to his or her accounts in the self-managed plan on the earliest to occur of the following: (1) completion of 5 years of service; (2) the death of the participant while in service if the participant has completed at least 1 1/2 years of service; or (3) the participant's election to retire and apply the reciprocal provisions of Article 20 of this Code.

A participant in the self-managed plan who receives a distribution of his or her vested amounts from the self-managed plan while not yet eligible for retirement under this Article (and Article 20, if applicable) shall forfeit all service credit and accrued rights in the System; if he or she subsequently re-enters service as a member, the participant shall be considered a new member. If a former member again becomes an active participant (or becomes employed by a participating system under Article 20 of this Code) and continues as such for at least 2 years, all such rights, service credits, and previous status as a participant shall be restored upon repayment of the amount of the distribution, without interest.

(k) If a participant who is vested in State contributions terminates service, the participant shall be entitled to a benefit which is based on the account values attributable to both State and participant contributions and any investment return thereon.

If a participant who is not vested in State contributions terminates service, the participant shall be entitled to a benefit based solely on the account values attributable to the participant's contributions and any investment return thereon, and the State contributions and any investment return thereon shall be forfeited. Any State contributions which are forfeited shall be held in escrow by the company investing those contributions and shall be used as directed by the System for future allocations of State contributions or for the restoration of amounts previously forfeited by former participants who again become active participants.

(40 ILCS 5/2-162)

(Text of Section WITHOUT the changes made by P.A. 98-599, which has been held unconstitutional)

Sec. 2-162. Application and expiration of new benefit increases.

(a) As used in this Section, "new benefit increase" means an increase in the amount of any benefit provided under this Article, or an expansion of the conditions of eligibility for any benefit under this Article, that results from an amendment to this Code that takes effect after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 94th General Assembly. "New benefit increase", however, does not include any benefit increase resulting from the changes made to this Article by this amendatory Act of the 101st General Assembly.

(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code or any subsequent amendment to this Code, every new benefit increase is subject to this Section and shall be deemed to be granted only in conformance with and contingent upon compliance with the provisions of this Section.

(c) The Public Act enacting a new benefit increase must identify and provide for payment to the System of additional funding at least sufficient to fund the resulting annual increase in cost to the System as it accrues.

Every new benefit increase is contingent upon the General Assembly providing the additional funding required under this subsection. The Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability shall analyze whether adequate additional funding has been provided for the new benefit increase and shall report its analysis to the Public Pension Division of the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. A new benefit increase created by a Public Act that does not include the additional funding required under this subsection is null and void. If the Public Pension Division determines that the additional funding provided for a new benefit increase under this subsection is or has become inadequate, it may so certify to the Governor and the State Comptroller and, in the absence of corrective action by the General Assembly, the new benefit increase shall expire at the end of the fiscal year in which the certification is made.

(d) Every new benefit increase shall expire 5 years after its effective date or on such earlier date as may be specified in the language enacting the new benefit increase or provided under subsection (c). This does not prevent the General Assembly from extending or re-creating a new benefit increase by law.

(e) Except as otherwise provided in the language creating the new benefit increase, a new benefit increase that expires under this Section continues to apply to persons who applied and qualified for the affected benefit while the new benefit increase was in effect and to the affected beneficiaries and alternate payees of such persons, but does not apply to any other person, including without limitation a person who continues in service after the expiration date and did not apply and qualify for the affected benefit while the new benefit increase was in effect.

(Source: P.A. 94-4, eff. 6-1-05.)

(40 ILCS 5/14-103.42 new)

Sec. 14-103.42. Traditional benefit package. "Traditional benefit package" means the defined benefit retirement program maintained by the System available to a participant who does not elect to participate in the self-managed plan.

(40 ILCS 5/14-103.43 new)

Sec. 14-103.43. Self-managed plan. "Self-managed plan" means the defined contribution retirement program maintained by the System, as described in Section 14-133.2.

(40 ILCS 5/14-133.2 new)

Sec. 14-133.2. Self-managed plan.

(a) The System shall establish and administer a self-managed plan that shall offer participating employees the opportunity to accumulate assets for retirement through a combination of employee and State contributions that may be invested in mutual funds, collective investment funds, or other investment products and used to purchase annuity contracts, either fixed or variable or a combination thereof. The plan must be qualified under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.

(b) The System shall be the plan sponsor for the self-managed plan and shall prepare a plan document and prescribe such rules and procedures as are considered necessary or desirable for the administration of the self-managed plan. Consistent with its fiduciary duty to the participants and beneficiaries of the self-managed plan, the Board of Trustees of the System may delegate aspects of plan administration as it sees fit to companies authorized to do business in this State.

(c) The System shall solicit proposals to provide administrative services and funding vehicles for the self-managed plan from insurance and annuity companies and mutual fund companies, banks, trust companies, or other financial institutions authorized to do business in this State. In reviewing the proposals received and approving and contracting with no fewer than 2 and no more than 7 companies, the Board of Trustees of the System shall consider, among other things, the following criteria:

(1) the nature and extent of the benefits that would be provided to the participants;

(2) the reasonableness of the benefits in relation to the premium charged;

(3) the suitability of the benefits to the needs and interests of the participants and the employer;

(4) the ability of the company to provide benefits under the contract and the financial stability of the company; and

(5) the efficacy of the contract in the recruitment and retention of employees.

The System shall periodically review each approved company. A company may continue to provide administrative services and funding vehicles for the self-managed plan only so long as it continues to be an approved company under contract with the Board.

(d) Participants in the program must be allowed to direct the transfer of their account balances among the various investment options offered, subject to applicable contractual provisions. The participant shall not be deemed a fiduciary by reason of providing such investment direction. A person who is a fiduciary shall not be liable for any loss resulting from such investment direction and shall not be deemed to have breached any fiduciary duty by acting in accordance with that direction. The System shall provide advance notice to the participant of the participant's obligation to direct the investment of employee and State contributions into one or more investment funds selected by the System at the time he or she makes his or her initial retirement plan selection. If a participant fails to direct the investment of employee and State contributions into the various investment options offered to the participant when making his or her initial retirement election choice, that failure shall require the System to invest the employee and State contributions in a default investment fund on behalf of the participant, and the investment shall be deemed to have been made at the participant's investment direction. The participant has the right to transfer account balances out of the default investment fund during time periods designated by the System. Neither the System nor the State guarantees any of the investments in the employee's account balances.

(e) A participant eligible to participate in the self-managed plan must make a one-time irrevocable written election in accordance with procedures established by the System. Participation in the self-managed plan by an electing participant shall begin on the first day of the first pay period following the later of the date the participant's election is filed with the System or the date the System begins to offer participation in the self-managed plan. The System may not make the self-managed plan available earlier than January 1, 2020. Participation in any other retirement program administered by the System under this Article shall terminate on the date that participation in the self-managed plan begins.

A participant in the self-managed plan under this Section must continue participation while in service and may not participate in any other retirement program administered by the System under this Article, unless the self-managed plan is terminated in accordance with subsection (i).

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article, a Tier 2 member shall have the option to enroll in the self-managed plan.

Participation in the self-managed plan under this Section shall constitute membership in the System.

A participant under this Section shall be entitled to the benefits of Article 20 of this Code.

(f) If, at the time a participant elects to participate in the self-managed plan, he or she has rights and credits in the System due to previous participation in the traditional benefit package, the participant may elect to terminate those rights and credits and the System shall establish for the member an opening account balance in the self-managed plan, equal to the amount of contribution refund that the employee would be eligible to receive under Section 14-130 if the employee terminated employment on that date and elected a refund of contributions, except that this hypothetical refund shall include interest at the effective rate for the respective years. The System shall transfer assets from the defined benefit retirement program to the self-managed plan, as a tax-free transfer in accordance with Internal Revenue Service guidelines, for purposes of funding the employee's opening account balance.

(g) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article, an employee may not purchase or receive service or service credit applicable to any other retirement program administered by the System under this Article for any period during which the employee was a participant in the self-managed plan established under this Section.

(h) The self-managed plan shall be funded by contributions from employees participating in the self-managed plan and State contributions as provided in this Section.

The contribution rate for employees participating in the self-managed plan under this Section shall be equal to the employee contribution rate for other participants in the System, as provided in Section 14-133. This required contribution shall be made as an "employer pick-up" under Section 414(h) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 or any successor Section thereof. Any employee participating in the System's traditional benefit package prior to his or her election to participate in the self-managed plan shall continue to have the department pick up the contributions required under Section 14-133. However, the amounts picked up after the election of the self-managed plan shall be remitted to and treated as assets of the self-managed plan. In no event shall an employee have an option of receiving these amounts in cash. Employees may make additional contributions to the self-managed plan in accordance with procedures prescribed by the System, to the extent permitted under rules prescribed by the System.

The program shall provide for State contributions to be credited to each self-managed plan participant at a rate of 7.6% of the participating employee's salary, less the amount used by the System to provide disability benefits for the employee. The amounts so credited shall be paid into the participant's self-managed plan accounts in a manner to be prescribed by the System.

An amount of State contribution, not exceeding 1% of the participating employee's salary, shall be used for the purpose of providing the disability benefits of the System to the employee. Prior to the beginning of each plan year under the self-managed plan, the Board of Trustees shall determine, as a percentage of salary, the amount of State contributions to be allocated during that plan year for providing disability benefits for employees in the self-managed plan.

The State of Illinois shall make contributions by appropriations to the System of the State contributions required for participants in the self-managed plan under this Section. The amount required shall be certified by the Board of Trustees of the System and paid by the State in accordance with Section 14-135.08. The System shall not be obligated to remit the required State contributions to any of the insurance and annuity companies, mutual fund companies, banks, trust companies, financial institutions, or other sponsors of any of the funding vehicles offered under the self-managed plan until it has received the required contributions from the State. In the event of a deficiency in the amount of State contributions, the System shall implement those procedures described in Section 14-131 to obtain the required funding from the General Revenue Fund.

(i) The self-managed plan authorized under this Section may be terminated by the System, subject to the terms of any relevant contracts, and the System shall have no obligation to reestablish the self-managed plan under this Section. This Section does not create a right to continued participation in any self-managed plan set up by the System under this Section. If the self-managed plan is terminated, the participants shall have the right to participate in the traditional benefit package offered by the System and receive service credit in such other retirement program for any years of employment following the termination.

(j) A participant in the self-managed plan becomes vested in the State contributions credited to his or her accounts in the self-managed plan on the earliest to occur of the following: (1) completion of 5 years of service; (2) the death of the participating employee while in service if the participant has completed at least 1 1/2 years of service; or (3) the participant's election to retire and apply the reciprocal provisions of Article 20 of this Code.

A participant in the self-managed plan who receives a distribution of his or her vested amounts from the self-managed plan while not yet eligible for retirement under this Article (and Article 20, if applicable) shall forfeit all service credit and accrued rights in the System; if subsequently re-employed, the participant shall be considered a new employee. If a former participant again becomes a participating employee (or becomes employed by a participating system under Article 20 of this Code) and continues as such for at least 2 years, all such rights, service credits, and previous status as a participant shall be restored upon repayment of the amount of the distribution, without interest.

(k) If an employee who is vested in State contributions terminates employment, the employee shall be entitled to a benefit which is based on the account values attributable to both State and employee contributions and any investment return thereon.

If an employee who is not vested in State contributions terminates employment, the employee shall be entitled to a benefit based solely on the account values attributable to the employee's contributions and any investment return thereon, and the State contributions and any investment return thereon shall be forfeited. Any State contributions which are forfeited shall be held in escrow by the company investing those contributions and shall be used as directed by the System for future allocations of State contributions or for the restoration of amounts previously forfeited by former participants who again become participating employees.

(40 ILCS 5/14-152.1)

Sec. 14-152.1. Application and expiration of new benefit increases.

(a) As used in this Section, "new benefit increase" means an increase in the amount of any benefit provided under this Article, or an expansion of the conditions of eligibility for any benefit under this Article, that results from an amendment to this Code that takes effect after June 1, 2005 (the effective date of Public Act 94-4). "New benefit increase", however, does not include any benefit increase resulting from the changes made to Article 1 or this Article by Public Act 96-37, Public Act 100-23, Public Act 100-587, Public Act 100-611, or this amendatory Act of the 101st General Assembly or this amendatory Act of the 100th General Assembly.

(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code or any subsequent amendment to this Code, every new benefit increase is subject to this Section and shall be deemed to be granted only in conformance with and contingent upon compliance with the provisions of this Section.

(c) The Public Act enacting a new benefit increase must identify and provide for payment to the System of additional funding at least sufficient to fund the resulting annual increase in cost to the System as it accrues.

Every new benefit increase is contingent upon the General Assembly providing the additional funding required under this subsection. The Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability shall analyze whether adequate additional funding has been provided for the new benefit increase and shall report its analysis to the Public Pension Division of the Department of Insurance. A new benefit increase created by a Public Act that does not include the additional funding required under this subsection is null and void. If the Public Pension Division determines that the additional funding provided for a new benefit increase under this subsection is or has become inadequate, it may so certify to the Governor and the State Comptroller and, in the absence of corrective action by the General Assembly, the new benefit increase shall expire at the end of the fiscal year in which the certification is made.

(d) Every new benefit increase shall expire 5 years after its effective date or on such earlier date as may be specified in the language enacting the new benefit increase or provided under subsection (c). This does not prevent the General Assembly from extending or re-creating a new benefit increase by law.

(e) Except as otherwise provided in the language creating the new benefit increase, a new benefit increase that expires under this Section continues to apply to persons who applied and qualified for the affected benefit while the new benefit increase was in effect and to the affected beneficiaries and alternate payees of such persons, but does not apply to any other person, including without limitation a person who continues in service after the expiration date and did not apply and qualify for the affected benefit while the new benefit increase was in effect.

(Source: P.A. 100-23, eff. 7-6-17; 100-587, eff. 6-4-18; 100-611, eff. 7-20-18; revised 7-25-18.)

(40 ILCS 5/16-122.2 new)

Sec. 16-122.2. Traditional benefit package. "Traditional benefit package" means the defined benefit retirement program maintained by the System available to a participant who does not elect to participate in the self-managed plan.

(40 ILCS 5/16-122.3 new)

Sec. 16-122.3. Self-managed plan. "Self-managed plan" means the defined contribution retirement program maintained by the System, as described in Section 16-158.4.

(40 ILCS 5/16-158.4 new)

Sec. 16-158.4. Self-managed plan.

(a) The System shall establish and administer a self-managed plan that shall offer participating members the opportunity to accumulate assets for retirement through a combination of member and employer contributions that may be invested in mutual funds, collective investment funds, or other investment products and used to purchase annuity contracts, either fixed or variable or a combination thereof. The plan must be qualified under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.

(b) The System shall be the plan sponsor for the self-managed plan and shall prepare a plan document and prescribe such rules and procedures as are considered necessary or desirable for the administration of the self-managed plan. Consistent with its fiduciary duty to the participants and beneficiaries of the self-managed plan, the Board of Trustees of the System may delegate aspects of plan administration as it sees fit to companies authorized to do business in this State, to the employers, or to a combination of both.

(c) The System, in consultation with the employers, shall solicit proposals to provide administrative services and funding vehicles for the self-managed plan from insurance and annuity companies and mutual fund companies, banks, trust companies, or other financial institutions authorized to do business in this State. In reviewing the proposals received and approving and contracting with no fewer than 2 and no more than 7 companies, the Board of Trustees of the System shall consider, among other things, the following criteria:

(1) the nature and extent of the benefits that would be provided to the participants;

(2) the reasonableness of the benefits in relation to the premium charged;

(3) the suitability of the benefits to the needs and interests of the participants and the employer;

(4) the ability of the company to provide benefits under the contract and the financial stability of the company; and

(5) the efficacy of the contract in the recruitment and retention of teachers.

The System, in consultation with the employers, shall periodically review each approved company. A company may continue to provide administrative services and funding vehicles for the self-managed plan only so long as it continues to be an approved company under contract with the Board.

(d) Participants in the program must be allowed to direct the transfer of their account balances among the various investment options offered, subject to applicable contractual provisions. The participant shall not be deemed a fiduciary by reason of providing such investment direction. A person who is a fiduciary shall not be liable for any loss resulting from such investment direction and shall not be deemed to have breached any fiduciary duty by acting in accordance with that direction. The System shall provide advance notice to the participant of the participant's obligation to direct the investment of participant and employer contributions into one or more investment funds selected by the System at the time he or she makes his or her initial retirement plan selection. If a participant fails to direct the investment of participant and employer contributions into the various investment options offered to the participant when making his or her initial retirement election choice, that failure shall require the System to invest the participant and employer contributions in a default investment fund on behalf of the participant, and the investment shall be deemed to have been made at the participant's investment direction. The participant has the right to transfer account balances out of the default investment fund during time periods designated by the System. Neither the System nor the employer guarantees any of the investments in the participant's account balances.

(e) A participant eligible to participate in the self-managed plan must make a one-time irrevocable written election in accordance with procedures established by the System. Participation in the self-managed plan by an electing participant shall begin on the first day of the first pay period following the later of the date the participant's election is filed with the System or the date the System begins to offer participation in the self-managed plan. The System may not make the self-managed plan available earlier than January 1, 2020. Participation in any other retirement program administered by the System under this Article shall terminate on the date that participation in the self-managed plan begins.

A participant in the self-managed plan under this Section must continue participation while in service as a teacher and may not participate in any other retirement program administered by the System under this Article, unless the self-managed plan is terminated in accordance with subsection (i).

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article, a Tier 2 member shall have the option to enroll in the self-managed plan.

Participation in the self-managed plan under this Section shall constitute membership in the System.

A participant under this Section shall be entitled to the benefits of Article 20 of this Code.

(f) If, at the time a participant elects to participate in the self-managed plan, he or she has rights and credits in the System due to previous participation in the traditional benefit package, the participant may elect to terminate those rights and credits and the System shall establish for the participant an opening account balance in the self-managed plan, equal to the amount of contribution refund that the participant would be eligible to receive under this Article if the participant terminated employment on that date and elected a refund of contributions, except that this hypothetical refund shall include interest at the effective rate for the respective years. The System shall transfer assets from the defined benefit retirement program to the self-managed plan, as a tax-free transfer in accordance with Internal Revenue Service guidelines, for purposes of funding the participant's opening account balance.

(g) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article, a participant may not purchase or receive service or service credit applicable to any other retirement program administered by the System under this Article for any period during which he or she was a participant in the self-managed plan established under this Section.

(h) The self-managed plan shall be funded by contributions from participants in the self-managed plan and employer contributions as provided in this Section.

The contribution rate for participants in the self-managed plan under this Section shall be equal to the employee contribution rate for other participants in the System, as provided in Section 16-152. This required contribution shall be made as an "employer pick-up" under Section 414(h) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 or any successor Section thereof. Any member participating in the System's traditional benefit package prior to his or her election to participate in the self-managed plan shall continue to have the employer pick up the contributions required under Section 16-152. However, the amounts picked up after the election of the self-managed plan shall be remitted to and treated as assets of the self-managed plan. In no event shall a participant have an option of receiving these amounts in cash. Employees may make additional contributions to the self-managed plan in accordance with procedures prescribed by the System, to the extent permitted under rules prescribed by the System.

The program shall provide for employer contributions to be credited to each self-managed plan participant at a rate of 7.6% of the participant's salary, less the amount used by the System to provide disability benefits for the participant. The amounts so credited shall be paid into the participant's self-managed plan accounts in a manner to be prescribed by the System.

An amount of employer contribution, not exceeding 1% of the participant's salary, shall be used for the purpose of providing the disability benefits of the System to the employee. Prior to the beginning of each plan year under the self-managed plan, the Board of Trustees shall determine, as a percentage of salary, the amount of employer contributions to be allocated during that plan year for providing disability benefits for participants in the self-managed plan.

The State of Illinois shall make contributions by appropriations to the System of the employer contributions required for employees who participate in the self-managed plan under this Section. The amount required shall be certified by the Board of Trustees of the System and paid by the State in accordance with Section 16-158. The System shall not be obligated to remit the required employer contributions to any of the insurance and annuity companies, mutual fund companies, banks, trust companies, financial institutions, or other sponsors of any of the funding vehicles offered under the self-managed plan until it has received the required employer contributions from the State. In the event of a deficiency in the amount of State contributions, the System shall implement those procedures described in subsection (b-1) of Section 16-158 to obtain the required funding from the General Revenue Fund.

(i) The self-managed plan authorized under this Section may be terminated by the System, subject to the terms of any relevant contracts, and the System shall have no obligation to reestablish the self-managed plan under this Section. This Section does not create a right to continued participation in any self-managed plan set up by the System under this Section. If the self-managed plan is terminated, the participants shall have the right to participate in the traditional benefit package offered by the System and receive service credit in such other retirement program for any years of employment following the termination.

(j) A participant in the self-managed plan becomes vested in the employer contributions credited to his or her accounts in the self-managed plan on the earliest to occur of the following: (1) completion of 5 years of service; (2) the death of the participant while employed as a teacher, if the participant has completed at least 1 1/2 years of service; or (3) the participant's election to retire and apply the reciprocal provisions of Article 20 of this Code.

A participant in the self-managed plan who receives a distribution of his or her vested amounts from the self-managed plan while not yet eligible for retirement under this Article (and Article 20, if applicable) shall forfeit all service credit and accrued rights in the System; if subsequently re-employed, the participant shall be considered a new teacher. If a former participant again becomes a teacher (or becomes employed by a participating system under Article 20 of this Code) and continues as such for at least 2 years, all such rights, service credits, and previous status as a participant shall be restored upon repayment of the amount of the distribution, without interest.

(k) If a participant who is vested in employer contributions terminates employment, the participant shall be entitled to a benefit which is based on the account values attributable to both employer and participant contributions and any investment return thereon.

If a participant who is not vested in employer contributions terminates employment, the participant shall be entitled to a benefit based solely on the account values attributable to the participant's contributions and any investment return thereon, and the employer contributions and any investment return thereon shall be forfeited. Any employer contributions which are forfeited shall be held in escrow by the company investing those contributions and shall be used as directed by the System for future allocations of employer contributions or for the restoration of amounts previously forfeited by former participants who again become participating employees.

(40 ILCS 5/16-203)

Sec. 16-203. Application and expiration of new benefit increases.

(a) As used in this Section, "new benefit increase" means an increase in the amount of any benefit provided under this Article, or an expansion of the conditions of eligibility for any benefit under this Article, that results from an amendment to this Code that takes effect after June 1, 2005 (the effective date of Public Act 94-4). "New benefit increase", however, does not include any benefit increase resulting from the changes made to Article 1 or this Article by Public Act 95-910, Public Act 100-23, Public Act 100-587, Public Act 100-743, Public Act 100-769, or this amendatory Act of the 101st General Assembly or by this amendatory Act of the 100th General Assembly.

(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code or any subsequent amendment to this Code, every new benefit increase is subject to this Section and shall be deemed to be granted only in conformance with and contingent upon compliance with the provisions of this Section.

(c) The Public Act enacting a new benefit increase must identify and provide for payment to the System of additional funding at least sufficient to fund the resulting annual increase in cost to the System as it accrues.

Every new benefit increase is contingent upon the General Assembly providing the additional funding required under this subsection. The Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability shall analyze whether adequate additional funding has been provided for the new benefit increase and shall report its analysis to the Public Pension Division of the Department of Insurance. A new benefit increase created by a Public Act that does not include the additional funding required under this subsection is null and void. If the Public Pension Division determines that the additional funding provided for a new benefit increase under this subsection is or has become inadequate, it may so certify to the Governor and the State Comptroller and, in the absence of corrective action by the General Assembly, the new benefit increase shall expire at the end of the fiscal year in which the certification is made.

(d) Every new benefit increase shall expire 5 years after its effective date or on such earlier date as may be specified in the language enacting the new benefit increase or provided under subsection (c). This does not prevent the General Assembly from extending or re-creating a new benefit increase by law.

(e) Except as otherwise provided in the language creating the new benefit increase, a new benefit increase that expires under this Section continues to apply to persons who applied and qualified for the affected benefit while the new benefit increase was in effect and to the affected beneficiaries and alternate payees of such persons, but does not apply to any other person, including without limitation a person who continues in service after the expiration date and did not apply and qualify for the affected benefit while the new benefit increase was in effect.

(Source: P.A. 100-23, eff. 7-6-17; 100-587, eff. 6-4-18; 100-743, eff. 8-10-18; 100-769, eff. 8-10-18; revised 10-15-18.)

(40 ILCS 5/18-118.1 new)

Sec. 18-118.1. Traditional benefit package. "Traditional benefit package" means the defined benefit retirement program maintained by the System available to a participant who does not elect to participate in the self-managed plan.

(40 ILCS 5/18-118.2 new)

Sec. 18-118.2. Self-managed plan. "Self-managed plan" means the defined contribution retirement program maintained by the System, as described in Section 18-133.2.

(40 ILCS 5/18-133.2 new)

Sec. 18-133.2. Self-managed plan.

(a) The System shall establish and administer a self-managed plan that shall offer participants the opportunity to accumulate assets for retirement through a combination of participant and State contributions that may be invested in mutual funds, collective investment funds, or other investment products and used to purchase annuity contracts, either fixed or variable or a combination thereof. The plan must be qualified under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.

(b) The System shall be the plan sponsor for the self-managed plan and shall prepare a plan document and prescribe such rules and procedures as are considered necessary or desirable for the administration of the self-managed plan. Consistent with its fiduciary duty to the participants and beneficiaries of the self-managed plan, the Board of Trustees of the System may delegate aspects of plan administration as it sees fit to companies authorized to do business in this State.

(c) The System shall solicit proposals to provide administrative services and funding vehicles for the self-managed plan from insurance and annuity companies and mutual fund companies, banks, trust companies, or other financial institutions authorized to do business in this State. In reviewing the proposals received and approving and contracting with no fewer than 2 and no more than 7 companies, the Board of Trustees of the System shall consider, among other things, the following criteria:

(1) the nature and extent of the benefits that would be provided to the participants;

(2) the reasonableness of the benefits in relation to the premium charged;

(3) the suitability of the benefits to the needs and interests of the participants and the State; and

(4) the ability of the company to provide benefits under the contract and the financial stability of the company.

The System shall periodically review each approved company. A company may continue to provide administrative services and funding vehicles for the self-managed plan only so long as it continues to be an approved company under contract with the Board.

(d) Participants in the program must be allowed to direct the transfer of their account balances among the various investment options offered, subject to applicable contractual provisions. The participant shall not be deemed a fiduciary by reason of providing such investment direction. A person who is a fiduciary shall not be liable for any loss resulting from such investment direction and shall not be deemed to have breached any fiduciary duty by acting in accordance with that direction. The System shall provide advance notice to the participant of the participant's obligation to direct the investment of participant and State contributions into one or more investment funds selected by the System at the time he or she makes his or her initial retirement plan selection. If a participant fails to direct the investment of participant and State contributions into the various investment options offered to the participant when making his or her initial retirement election choice, that failure shall require the System to invest the participant and State contributions in a default investment fund on behalf of the participant, and the investment shall be deemed to have been made at the participant's investment direction. The participant has the right to transfer account balances out of the default investment fund during time periods designated by the System. Neither the System nor the State guarantees any of the investments in the participant's account balances.

(e) A participant in the self-managed plan must make a one-time irrevocable written election in accordance with procedures established by the System. Participation in the self-managed plan by an electing participant shall begin on the first day of the first pay period following the later of the date the participant's election is filed with the System or the date the System begins to offer participation in the self-managed plan. The System may not make the self-managed plan available earlier than January 1, 2020. Participation in any other retirement program administered by the System under this Article shall terminate on the date that participation in the self-managed plan begins.

A participant who has elected to participate in the self-managed plan under this Section must continue participation while serving as a judge and may not participate in any other retirement program administered by the System under this Article, unless the self-managed plan is terminated in accordance with subsection (i).

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article, a participant who first serves as a judge on or after January 1, 2011 shall have the option to enroll in the self-managed plan.

Participation in the self-managed plan under this Section shall constitute membership in the System.

A participant under this Section shall be entitled to the benefits of Article 20 of this Code.

(f) If, at the time a participant elects to participate in the self-managed plan, he or she has rights and credits in the System due to previous participation in the traditional benefit package, the participant may elect to terminate those rights and credits and the System shall establish for the participant an opening account balance in the self-managed plan, equal to the amount of contribution refund that the participant would be eligible to receive under Section 18-129 if the participant ceased to be a judge on that date and elected a refund of contributions, except that this hypothetical refund shall include interest at the effective rate for the respective years. The System shall transfer assets from the defined benefit retirement program to the self-managed plan, as a tax-free transfer in accordance with Internal Revenue Service guidelines, for purposes of funding the participant's opening account balance.

(g) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article, a participant may not purchase or receive service or service credit applicable to any other retirement program administered by the System under this Article for any period during which he or she was a participant in the self-managed plan established under this Section.

(h) The self-managed plan shall be funded by contributions from participants in the self-managed plan and State contributions as provided in this Section.

The contribution rate for participants in the self-managed plan under this Section shall be equal to the contribution rate for other participants in the System, as provided in Section 18-133. This required contribution shall be made as an "employer pick-up" under Section 414(h) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 or any successor Section thereof. Any judge in the System's traditional benefit package prior to his or her election to participate in the self-managed plan shall continue to have the employer pick up the contributions required under Section 18-133.1. However, the amounts picked up after the election of the self-managed plan shall be remitted to and treated as assets of the self-managed plan. In no event shall a participant have an option of receiving these amounts in cash. Participants may make additional contributions to the self-managed plan in accordance with procedures prescribed by the System, to the extent permitted under rules prescribed by the System.

The program shall provide for State contributions to be credited to each self-managed plan participant at a rate of 7.6% of the participant's salary, less the amount used by the System to provide disability benefits for the employee. The amounts so credited shall be paid into the participant's self-managed plan accounts in a manner to be prescribed by the System.

An amount of State contribution, not exceeding 1% of the participant's salary, shall be used for the purpose of providing the disability benefits of the System to the employee. Prior to the beginning of each plan year under the self-managed plan, the Board of Trustees shall determine, as a percentage of salary, the amount of State contributions to be allocated during that plan year for providing disability benefits for participants in the self-managed plan.

The State of Illinois shall make contributions by appropriations to the System of the State contributions required for participants in the self-managed plan under this Section. The amount required shall be certified by the Board of Trustees of the System and paid by the State in accordance with Section 18-131. The System shall not be obligated to remit the required State contributions to any of the insurance and annuity companies, mutual fund companies, banks, trust companies, financial institutions, or other sponsors of any of the funding vehicles offered under the self-managed plan until it has received the required contributions from the State. In the event of a deficiency in the amount of State contributions, the System shall implement those procedures described in Section 18-140 to obtain the required funding from the General Revenue Fund.

(i) The self-managed plan authorized under this Section may be terminated by the System, subject to the terms of any relevant contracts, and the System shall have no obligation to reestablish the self-managed plan under this Section. This Section does not create a right to continued participation in any self-managed plan set up by the System under this Section. If the self-managed plan is terminated, the participants shall have the right to participate in the traditional benefit package retirement programs offered by the System and receive service credit in such other retirement program for any years of employment following the termination.

(j) A participant in the self-managed plan becomes vested in the State contributions credited to his or her accounts in the self-managed plan on the earliest to occur of the following: (1) completion of 5 years of service as a judge; (2) the death of the participant while serving as a judge, if the participant has completed at least 1 1/2 years of service as a judge; or (3) the participant's election to retire and apply the reciprocal provisions of Article 20 of this Code.

A participant in the self-managed plan who receives a distribution of his or her vested amounts from the self-managed plan while not yet eligible for retirement under this Article (and Article 20, if applicable) shall forfeit all service credit and accrued rights in the System; if he or she subsequently resumes service as a judge, the participant shall be considered a new judge. If a former participant again becomes an active participant (or becomes employed by a participating system under Article 20 of this Code) and continues as such for at least 2 years, all such rights, service credits, and previous status as a participant shall be restored upon repayment of the amount of the distribution, without interest.

(k) If a participant who is vested in State contributions terminates services as a judge, the participant shall be entitled to a benefit that is based on the account values attributable to both State and participant contributions and any investment return thereon.

If a participant who is not vested in State contributions ceases serving as a judge, the participant shall be entitled to a benefit based solely on the account values attributable to the participant's contributions and any investment return thereon, and the State contributions and any investment return thereon shall be forfeited. Any State contributions that are forfeited shall be held in escrow by the company investing those contributions and shall be used as directed by the System for future allocations of State contributions or for the restoration of amounts previously forfeited by former participants who again become active participants.

(40 ILCS 5/18-169)

Sec. 18-169. Application and expiration of new benefit increases.

(a) As used in this Section, "new benefit increase" means an increase in the amount of any benefit provided under this Article, or an expansion of the conditions of eligibility for any benefit under this Article, that results from an amendment to this Code that takes effect after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 94th General Assembly."New benefit increase", however, does not include any benefit increase resulting from the changes made to this Article by this amendatory Act of the 101st General Assembly.

(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code or any subsequent amendment to this Code, every new benefit increase is subject to this Section and shall be deemed to be granted only in conformance with and contingent upon compliance with the provisions of this Section.

(c) The Public Act enacting a new benefit increase must identify and provide for payment to the System of additional funding at least sufficient to fund the resulting annual increase in cost to the System as it accrues.

Every new benefit increase is contingent upon the General Assembly providing the additional funding required under this subsection. The Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability shall analyze whether adequate additional funding has been provided for the new benefit increase and shall report its analysis to the Public Pension Division of the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. A new benefit increase created by a Public Act that does not include the additional funding required under this subsection is null and void. If the Public Pension Division determines that the additional funding provided for a new benefit increase under this subsection is or has become inadequate, it may so certify to the Governor and the State Comptroller and, in the absence of corrective action by the General Assembly, the new benefit increase shall expire at the end of the fiscal year in which the certification is made.

(d) Every new benefit increase shall expire 5 years after its effective date or on such earlier date as may be specified in the language enacting the new benefit increase or provided under subsection (c). This does not prevent the General Assembly from extending or re-creating a new benefit increase by law.

(e) Except as otherwise provided in the language creating the new benefit increase, a new benefit increase that expires under this Section continues to apply to persons who applied and qualified for the affected benefit while the new benefit increase was in effect and to the affected beneficiaries and alternate payees of such persons, but does not apply to any other person, including without limitation a person who continues in service after the expiration date and did not apply and qualify for the affected benefit while the new benefit increase was in effect.

(Source: P.A. 94-4, eff. 6-1-05.)

(40 ILCS 5/2-105.1 rep.)

Section 15. The Illinois Pension Code is amended by repealing Section 2-105.1.

Section 90. The State Mandates Act is amended by adding Section 8.43 as follows:

(30 ILCS 805/8.43 new)

Sec. 8.43. Exempt mandate. Notwithstanding Sections 6 and 8 of this Act, no reimbursement by the State is required for the implementation of any mandate created by this amendatory Act of the 101st General Assembly.

Section 999. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.