102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2021 and 2022
HB5803

 

Introduced 11/16/2022, by Rep. Katie Stuart

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
40 ILCS 5/14-104  from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 14-104
40 ILCS 5/14-135.13 new

    Amends the State Employee Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that certain contributions for service must be paid in full before retirement either in a lump sum or in installment payments over a period not to exceed 5 years (instead of in a lump sum or in installment payments) in accordance with such rules as may be adopted by the Board of Trustees of the System. Sets forth provisions concerning written appeals, hearings, rehearings, and written reappeals. Effective immediately.


LRB102 28632 RPS 40515 b

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

HB5803LRB102 28632 RPS 40515 b

1    AN ACT concerning public employee benefits.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Illinois Pension Code is amended by
5changing Section 14-104 and by adding Section 14-135.13 as
6follows:
 
7    (40 ILCS 5/14-104)  (from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 14-104)
8    Sec. 14-104. Service for which contributions permitted.
9Contributions provided for in this Section shall cover the
10period of service granted. Except as otherwise provided in
11this Section, the contributions shall be based upon the
12employee's compensation and contribution rate in effect on the
13date he last became a member of the System; provided that for
14all employment prior to January 1, 1969 the contribution rate
15shall be that in effect for a noncovered employee on the date
16he last became a member of the System. Except as otherwise
17provided in this Section, contributions permitted under this
18Section shall include regular interest from the date an
19employee last became a member of the System to the date of
20payment.
21    These contributions must be paid in full before retirement
22either in a lump sum or in installment payments over a period
23not to exceed 5 years in accordance with such rules as may be

 

 

HB5803- 2 -LRB102 28632 RPS 40515 b

1adopted by the board.
2    (a) Any member may make contributions as required in this
3Section for any period of service, subsequent to the date of
4establishment, but prior to the date of membership.
5    (b) Any employee who had been previously excluded from
6membership because of age at entry and subsequently became
7eligible may elect to make contributions as required in this
8Section for the period of service during which he was
9ineligible.
10    (c) An employee of the Department of Insurance who, after
11January 1, 1944 but prior to becoming eligible for membership,
12received salary from funds of insurance companies in the
13process of rehabilitation, liquidation, conservation or
14dissolution, may elect to make contributions as required in
15this Section for such service.
16    (d) Any employee who rendered service in a State office to
17which he was elected, or rendered service in the elective
18office of Clerk of the Appellate Court prior to the date he
19became a member, may make contributions for such service as
20required in this Section. Any member who served by appointment
21of the Governor under the Civil Administrative Code of
22Illinois and did not participate in this System may make
23contributions as required in this Section for such service.
24    (e) Any person employed by the United States government or
25any instrumentality or agency thereof from January 1, 1942
26through November 15, 1946 as the result of a transfer from

 

 

HB5803- 3 -LRB102 28632 RPS 40515 b

1State service by executive order of the President of the
2United States shall be entitled to prior service credit
3covering the period from January 1, 1942 through December 31,
41943 as provided for in this Article and to membership service
5credit for the period from January 1, 1944 through November
615, 1946 by making the contributions required in this Section.
7A person so employed on January 1, 1944 but whose employment
8began after January 1, 1942 may qualify for prior service and
9membership service credit under the same conditions.
10    (f) An employee of the Department of Labor of the State of
11Illinois who performed services for and under the supervision
12of that Department prior to January 1, 1944 but who was
13compensated for those services directly by federal funds and
14not by a warrant of the Auditor of Public Accounts paid by the
15State Treasurer may establish credit for such employment by
16making the contributions required in this Section. An employee
17of the Department of Agriculture of the State of Illinois, who
18performed services for and under the supervision of that
19Department prior to June 1, 1963, but was compensated for
20those services directly by federal funds and not paid by a
21warrant of the Auditor of Public Accounts paid by the State
22Treasurer, and who did not contribute to any other public
23employee retirement system for such service, may establish
24credit for such employment by making the contributions
25required in this Section.
26    (g) Any employee who executed a waiver of membership

 

 

HB5803- 4 -LRB102 28632 RPS 40515 b

1within 60 days prior to January 1, 1944 may, at any time while
2in the service of a department, file with the board a
3rescission of such waiver. Upon making the contributions
4required by this Section, the member shall be granted the
5creditable service that would have been received if the waiver
6had not been executed.
7    (h) Until May 1, 1990, an employee who was employed on a
8full-time basis by a regional planning commission for at least
95 continuous years may establish creditable service for such
10employment by making the contributions required under this
11Section, provided that any credits earned by the employee in
12the commission's retirement plan have been terminated.
13    (i) Any person who rendered full time contractual services
14to the General Assembly as a member of a legislative staff may
15establish service credit for up to 8 years of such services by
16making the contributions required under this Section, provided
17that application therefor is made not later than July 1, 1991.
18    (j) By paying the contributions otherwise required under
19this Section, plus an amount determined by the Board to be
20equal to the employer's normal cost of the benefit plus
21interest, but with all of the interest calculated from the
22date the employee last became a member of the System or
23November 19, 1991, whichever is later, to the date of payment,
24an employee may establish service credit for a period of up to
254 years spent in active military service for which he does not
26qualify for credit under Section 14-105, provided that (1) he

 

 

HB5803- 5 -LRB102 28632 RPS 40515 b

1was not dishonorably discharged from such military service,
2and (2) the amount of service credit established by a member
3under this subsection (j), when added to the amount of
4military service credit granted to the member under subsection
5(b) of Section 14-105, shall not exceed 5 years. The change in
6the manner of calculating interest under this subsection (j)
7made by this amendatory Act of the 92nd General Assembly
8applies to credit purchased by an employee on or after its
9effective date and does not entitle any person to a refund of
10contributions or interest already paid. In compliance with
11Section 14-152.1 of this Act concerning new benefit increases,
12any new benefit increase as a result of the changes to this
13subsection (j) made by Public Act 95-483 is funded through the
14employee contributions provided for in this subsection (j).
15Any new benefit increase as a result of the changes made to
16this subsection (j) by Public Act 95-483 is exempt from the
17provisions of subsection (d) of Section 14-152.1.
18    (k) An employee who was employed on a full-time basis by
19the Illinois State's Attorneys Association Statewide Appellate
20Assistance Service LEAA-ILEC grant project prior to the time
21that project became the State's Attorneys Appellate Service
22Commission, now the Office of the State's Attorneys Appellate
23Prosecutor, an agency of State government, may establish
24creditable service for not more than 60 months service for
25such employment by making contributions required under this
26Section.

 

 

HB5803- 6 -LRB102 28632 RPS 40515 b

1    (l) By paying the contributions otherwise required under
2this Section, plus an amount determined by the Board to be
3equal to the employer's normal cost of the benefit plus
4interest, a member may establish service credit for periods of
5less than one year spent on authorized leave of absence from
6service, provided that (1) the period of leave began on or
7after January 1, 1982 and (2) any credit established by the
8member for the period of leave in any other public employee
9retirement system has been terminated. A member may establish
10service credit under this subsection for more than one period
11of authorized leave, and in that case the total period of
12service credit established by the member under this subsection
13may exceed one year. In determining the contributions required
14for establishing service credit under this subsection, the
15interest shall be calculated from the beginning of the leave
16of absence to the date of payment.
17    (l-5) By paying the contributions otherwise required under
18this Section, plus an amount determined by the Board to be
19equal to the employer's normal cost of the benefit plus
20interest, a member may establish service credit for periods of
21up to 2 years spent on authorized leave of absence from
22service, provided that during that leave the member
23represented or was employed as an officer or employee of a
24statewide labor organization that represents members of this
25System. In determining the contributions required for
26establishing service credit under this subsection, the

 

 

HB5803- 7 -LRB102 28632 RPS 40515 b

1interest shall be calculated from the beginning of the leave
2of absence to the date of payment.
3    (m) Any person who rendered contractual services to a
4member of the General Assembly as a worker in the member's
5district office may establish creditable service for up to 3
6years of those contractual services by making the
7contributions required under this Section. The System shall
8determine a full-time salary equivalent for the purpose of
9calculating the required contribution. To establish credit
10under this subsection, the applicant must apply to the System
11by March 1, 1998.
12    (n) Any person who rendered contractual services to a
13member of the General Assembly as a worker providing
14constituent services to persons in the member's district may
15establish creditable service for up to 8 years of those
16contractual services by making the contributions required
17under this Section. The System shall determine a full-time
18salary equivalent for the purpose of calculating the required
19contribution. To establish credit under this subsection, the
20applicant must apply to the System by March 1, 1998.
21    (o) A member who participated in the Illinois Legislative
22Staff Internship Program may establish creditable service for
23up to one year of that participation by making the
24contribution required under this Section. The System shall
25determine a full-time salary equivalent for the purpose of
26calculating the required contribution. Credit may not be

 

 

HB5803- 8 -LRB102 28632 RPS 40515 b

1established under this subsection for any period for which
2service credit is established under any other provision of
3this Code.
4    (p) By paying the contributions otherwise required under
5this Section, plus an amount determined by the Board to be
6equal to the employer's normal cost of the benefit plus
7interest, a member may establish service credit for a period
8of up to 8 years during which he or she was employed by the
9Visually Handicapped Managers of Illinois in a vending program
10operated under a contractual agreement with the Department of
11Rehabilitation Services or its successor agency.
12    This subsection (p) applies without regard to whether the
13person was in service on or after the effective date of this
14amendatory Act of the 94th General Assembly. In the case of a
15person who is receiving a retirement annuity on that effective
16date, the increase, if any, shall begin to accrue on the first
17annuity payment date following receipt by the System of the
18contributions required under this subsection (p).
19    (q) By paying the required contributions under this
20Section, plus an amount determined by the Board to be equal to
21the employer's normal cost of the benefit plus interest, an
22employee who was laid off but returned to any State employment
23may establish creditable service for the period of the layoff,
24provided that (1) the applicant applies for the creditable
25service under this subsection (q) within 6 months after July
2627, 2010 (the effective date of Public Act 96-1320), (2) the

 

 

HB5803- 9 -LRB102 28632 RPS 40515 b

1applicant does not receive credit for that period under any
2other provision of this Code, (3) at the time of the layoff,
3the applicant is not in an initial probationary status
4consistent with the rules of the Department of Central
5Management Services, and (4) the total amount of creditable
6service established by the applicant under this subsection (q)
7does not exceed 3 years. For service established under this
8subsection (q), the required employee contribution shall be
9based on the rate of compensation earned by the employee on the
10date of returning to employment after the layoff and the
11contribution rate then in effect, and the required interest
12shall be calculated at the actuarially assumed rate from the
13date of returning to employment after the layoff to the date of
14payment. Funding for any new benefit increase, as defined in
15Section 14-152.1 of this Act, that is created under this
16subsection (q) will be provided by the employee contributions
17required under this subsection (q).
18    (r) A member who participated in the University of
19Illinois Government Public Service Internship Program (GPSI)
20may establish creditable service for up to 2 years of that
21participation by making the contribution required under this
22Section, plus an amount determined by the Board to be equal to
23the employer's normal cost of the benefit plus interest. The
24System shall determine a full-time salary equivalent for the
25purpose of calculating the required contribution. Credit may
26not be established under this subsection for any period for

 

 

HB5803- 10 -LRB102 28632 RPS 40515 b

1which service credit is established under any other provision
2of this Code.
3    (s) A member who worked as a nurse under a contractual
4agreement for the Department of Public Aid, or its successor
5agency, the Department of Human Services, in the Client
6Assessment Unit and was subsequently determined to be a State
7employee by the United States Internal Revenue Service and the
8Illinois Labor Relations Board may establish creditable
9service for those contractual services by making the
10contributions required under this Section. To establish credit
11under this subsection, the applicant must apply to the System
12by July 1, 2008.
13    The Department of Human Services shall pay an employer
14contribution based upon an amount determined by the Board to
15be equal to the employer's normal cost of the benefit, plus
16interest.
17    In compliance with Section 14-152.1 added by Public Act
1894-4, the cost of the benefits provided by Public Act 95-583
19are offset by the required employee and employer
20contributions.
21    (t) Any person who rendered contractual services on a
22full-time basis to the Illinois Institute of Natural Resources
23and the Illinois Department of Energy and Natural Resources
24may establish creditable service for up to 4 years of those
25contractual services by making the contributions required
26under this Section, plus an amount determined by the Board to

 

 

HB5803- 11 -LRB102 28632 RPS 40515 b

1be equal to the employer's normal cost of the benefit plus
2interest at the actuarially assumed rate from the first day of
3the service for which credit is being established to the date
4of payment. To establish credit under this subsection (t), the
5applicant must apply to the System within 6 months after July
627, 2010 (the effective date of Public Act 96-1320).
7    (u) By paying the required contributions under this
8Section, plus an amount determined by the Board to be equal to
9the employer's normal cost of the benefit, plus interest, a
10member may establish creditable service and earnings credit
11for periods of furlough beginning on or after July 1, 2008. To
12receive this credit, the participant must (i) apply in writing
13to the System before December 31, 2011 and (ii) not receive
14compensation for the furlough period. For service established
15under this subsection, the required employee contribution
16shall be based on the rate of compensation earned by the
17employee immediately following the date of the first furlough
18day in the time period specified in this subsection (u), and
19the required interest shall be calculated at the actuarially
20assumed rate from the date of the furlough to the date of
21payment.
22    (v) Any member who rendered full-time contractual services
23to an Illinois Veterans Home operated by the Department of
24Veterans' Affairs may establish service credit for up to 8
25years of such services by making the contributions required
26under this Section, plus an amount determined by the Board to

 

 

HB5803- 12 -LRB102 28632 RPS 40515 b

1be equal to the employer's normal cost of the benefit, plus
2interest at the actuarially assumed rate. To establish credit
3under this subsection, the applicant must apply to the System
4no later than 6 months after July 27, 2010 (the effective date
5of Public Act 96-1320).
6(Source: P.A. 96-97, eff. 7-27-09; 96-718, eff. 8-25-09;
796-775, eff. 8-28-09; 96-961, eff. 7-2-10; 96-1000, eff.
87-2-10; 96-1320, eff. 7-27-10; 96-1535, eff. 3-4-11; 97-333,
98-12-11.)
 
10    (40 ILCS 5/14-135.13 new)
11    Sec. 14-135.13. Written appeals and hearings.
12    (a) Definitions. In this Section:
13    "Authorized representative" means a person representing a
14petitioner in a written appeal or hearing.
15    "Executive Committee" means a committee consisting of one
16member of the Board, the Chairperson of the Board or his or her
17designee, and the Executive Secretary of the System or his or
18her designee, which shall meet periodically for the purpose of
19hearing all administrative contested matters and making
20recommendations to the Board who shall make the final
21decision. At any time, the Chairperson of the Board or the
22Executive Secretary of the System may appoint an alternate
23designee to serve on the committee in place of the designee
24that he or she has previously appointed.
25    "Executive Secretary of the System" means the person

 

 

HB5803- 13 -LRB102 28632 RPS 40515 b

1designated as the official custodian of all papers and
2documents filed in proceedings before the Executive Committee.
3    "Hearing" means the reconsideration by the Executive
4Committee of the initial disposition of a claim, at which the
5petitioner appears in person or by an authorized
6representative, either at the hearing or by video or audio
7conference.
8    "Hearing officer" means a member of the Executive
9Committee or an attorney retained by the Executive Committee
10for the purpose of conducting hearings and communicating the
11Executive Committee's findings of fact, conclusions of law,
12and recommendation to the Board.
13    "Legal action" means any action, following the final
14denial by the Board, in which a member is seeking relief in
15State or federal court for a disputed claim.
16    "Petition" means a written request made by a petitioner or
17authorized representative for a hearing, a written appeal, a
18rehearing, or a written reappeal before the Executive
19Committee.
20    "Petitioner" means an individual who requests (1) by
21petition a hearing or a written appeal before the Executive
22Committee for reconsideration of the initial disposition of a
23claim or (2) a rehearing or written reappeal before the
24Executive Committee for reconsideration of the disposition of
25a hearing or written appeal.
26    "Rehearing" means the reconsideration by the Executive

 

 

HB5803- 14 -LRB102 28632 RPS 40515 b

1Committee of the disposition of a hearing or written appeal,
2at which the petitioner appears in person or by an authorized
3representative, either at the hearing or by video or audio
4conference.
5    "Video or audio conference" means a hearing or rehearing
6before the Executive Committee for which the petitioner or
7authorized representative is not physically present and the
8proceeding before the Executive Committee is conducted through
9video or audio technology.
10    "Written appeal" means the reconsideration by the
11Executive Committee, based upon written evidence, of the
12initial disposition of a petitioner's claim, at which the
13petitioner does not appear either in person or by an
14authorized representative.
15    "Written reappeal" means the reconsideration by the
16Executive Committee, based upon written evidence, of the
17disposition of a hearing or written appeal, at which the
18petitioner does not appear either in person or by an
19authorized representative.
20    (b) Administrative determination. The administrative staff
21of the System shall be responsible for the daily functioning
22of the System, including the processing of all claims for
23benefits payable by the System, all claims for service credits
24granted by the System, and all claims against or relating to
25the System.
26    (c) Right of appeal. Any member, annuitant, or beneficiary

 

 

HB5803- 15 -LRB102 28632 RPS 40515 b

1adversely affected by the initial disposition of a claim by
2the System's staff may have the disposition of the claim
3reconsidered either at a hearing before the Executive
4Committee or by filing a written appeal with the Executive
5Committee.
6    (d) Written appeals to the Executive Committee.
7        (1) All petitions for written appeal shall be directed
8    to the Executive Secretary of the System at its
9    Springfield office and must be received within 30 days
10    following the notification of the initial disposition of
11    the claim.
12        (2) Form of written appeal. A petition for a written
13    appeal shall set forth the name and address of the
14    petitioner; the name and address of the petitioner's
15    authorized representative, if applicable; a brief
16    statement of the facts forming the basis of the written
17    appeal, which must include any new or additional evidence;
18    and the relief sought.
19        (3) Disposition of written appeal.
20            (A) The Executive Committee shall consider written
21        appeals at the next regular meeting of the Executive
22        Committee more than 15 days after the receipt of the
23        petition.
24            (B) Following the written appeal and the receipt
25        of all supplemental material requested, the
26        recommendation of the Executive Committee shall be

 

 

HB5803- 16 -LRB102 28632 RPS 40515 b

1        communicated in writing to the petitioner and
2        authorized representative, if applicable, and the
3        appropriate action shall be implemented by the
4        Executive Committee subject to the approval of the
5        Board.
6        (4) Continuances and extensions of time. Continuances
7    and extensions of time shall be granted by the Executive
8    Committee or the examiner when it is demonstrated that
9    obtaining and presenting additional evidence is necessary
10    to render a fair and equitable decision on the written
11    appeal before the Committee.
12        (5) Minutes and records of written appeals.
13            (A) Minutes of every meeting of the Executive
14        Committee and a record of all written appeals before
15        the Executive Committee shall be kept by the Executive
16        Secretary of the System at its Springfield office.
17            (B) The Executive Secretary of the System shall be
18        the official custodian of all papers and documents
19        filed in proceedings before the Executive Committee.
20    (e) Hearings before the Executive Committee.
21        (1) All petitions for hearings shall be made to the
22    Executive Secretary of the System at its Springfield
23    Office and must be received within 30 days following the
24    notification of the initial disposition of the claim.
25        (2) Any petitioner or authorized representative may
26    appear at a hearing before the Executive Committee, either

 

 

HB5803- 17 -LRB102 28632 RPS 40515 b

1    in person or by video or audio conference.
2        (3) Petitions may be informal or formal and shall be
3    presented by letter or other writing. A petition shall set
4    forth the name and address of the petitioner; the name and
5    address of the authorized representative, if applicable; a
6    brief statement of the facts forming the basis of the
7    petition, which must include any new or additional
8    evidence; and the relief sought.
9        (4) Upon scheduling of a hearing before the Executive
10    Committee, a petitioner shall be provided with written
11    notice of: the date, time, and place of the hearing; the
12    subject matter of the hearing; and the relevant procedural
13    and substantive statutory and regulatory provisions.
14    Notice of the hearing shall also inform the petitioner
15    that he or she will be afforded the opportunity to provide
16    a statement of his or her position, present oral evidence,
17    and conduct examination and cross-examination of witnesses
18    as necessary for full and true disclosure of the facts. In
19    the absence of the petitioner, the Executive Committee
20    shall consider the petitioner's petition and such other
21    matters as may be properly brought before it at the
22    hearing.
23        (5) Prehearing conferences.
24            (A) Upon written request by the Executive
25        Committee or a petitioner or authorized
26        representative, a conference shall be conducted for

 

 

HB5803- 18 -LRB102 28632 RPS 40515 b

1        the purpose of formulating issues and considering:
2                (i) the simplification of issues;
3                (ii) the amendment of pleadings;
4                (iii) the making of admissions of facts or
5            stipulations for the purpose of avoiding the
6            unnecessary introduction of evidence;
7                (iv) the procedure at the hearing;
8                (v) the limitation of the number of witnesses;
9            and
10                (vi) such other matters as may aid in the
11            simplification of the evidence and disposition of
12            the proceeding.
13            (B) The persons attending the prehearing
14        conference may enter into a written stipulation as to
15        matters decided in the prehearing conference.
16            (C) No minutes shall be kept of the prehearing
17        conference. Facts disclosed in the course of the
18        prehearing conferences are privileged and, except by
19        agreement, shall not be used against the petitioner or
20        any other party attending the prehearing conference
21        either before the Executive Committee or elsewhere
22        unless fully substantiated by other evidence.
23        (6) Conduct of hearings.
24            (A) Hearings shall be conducted before the
25        Executive Committee by the hearing officer and shall
26        be of an informal nature.

 

 

HB5803- 19 -LRB102 28632 RPS 40515 b

1            (B) The hearing officer shall direct all parties
2        to enter their appearances on the record. The hearing
3        officer shall conduct a full and fair hearing, receive
4        testimony of the claimant, admit exhibits into
5        evidence, avoid delay, maintain order, and make a
6        sufficient record for a full and true disclosure of
7        the facts and issues. To accomplish these ends, the
8        hearing officer shall make all procedural and
9        evidentiary rulings necessary for the conduct of the
10        hearing.
11            (C) Parties may, by written stipulation, agree
12        upon any facts involved in the proceeding. The facts
13        stipulated shall be considered as evidence in the
14        proceeding.
15            (D) Irrelevant material or unduly repetitious
16        evidence shall be excluded.
17        (7) Documentary evidence. Whenever possible, documents
18    and exhibits shall be introduced by stipulation of the
19    parties. Originals of documents shall be introduced into
20    evidence with leave of the hearing officer to substitute
21    the originals with copies. Whenever possible, the parties
22    shall interchange copies of exhibits or other pertinent
23    material before the hearing at which they are to be
24    offered.
25        (8) Briefs and oral arguments. Written briefs and oral
26    arguments shall be allowed at the request of the

 

 

HB5803- 20 -LRB102 28632 RPS 40515 b

1    petitioner. The time limitations upon the oral argument
2    shall be determined by the hearing officer having regard
3    to the magnitude and complexity of the issues involved and
4    the other business of the Executive Committee. All
5    testimony shall be taken under oath before an officer
6    authorized to administer oaths by the laws of this State,
7    of the United States, or of the place where the testimony
8    is to be given.
9        (9) Disposition of hearing. Following the hearing and
10    receipt of all supplemental material requested, the
11    Executive Committee, following its next scheduled meeting,
12    shall communicate its recommendation in writing to the
13    petitioner and authorized representative, if applicable.
14    The recommendation shall contain a sufficient statement of
15    the facts, all necessary findings of fact and conclusions
16    of law, and a suggested decision or decisions of the
17    Board. The appropriate action shall be implemented by the
18    Executive Committee subject to the approval of the Board.
19        (10) Continuances and extensions of time. Continuances
20    and extensions of time shall be granted by the Executive
21    Committee or the hearing officer when it is demonstrated
22    that obtaining and presenting additional evidence or
23    witnesses is necessary to render a fair and equitable
24    decision on the hearing before the Executive Committee.
25        (11) Minutes and record of hearing.
26            (A) Minutes of every meeting of the Executive

 

 

HB5803- 21 -LRB102 28632 RPS 40515 b

1        Committee and a record of all hearings before the
2        Executive Committee shall be kept by the Executive
3        Secretary of the System at its Springfield office.
4            (B) Two records of proceedings shall be kept that
5        shall be in the form of a nonverbatim bystander's
6        record of the proceedings and either a stenographic
7        transcription or a tape recording. The record shall be
8        available to the petitioner or authorized
9        representative prior to the Executive Committee making
10        its recommendations.
11            (C) The Executive Secretary of the System shall be
12        the official custodian of all papers and documents
13        filed in proceedings before the Executive Committee.
14        (12) Disqualification; ex parte communications.
15            (A) Disqualification.
16                (i) A hearing officer or other member of the
17            Executive Committee may be disqualified on grounds
18            of bias or conflict of interest. A motion to
19            disqualify a hearing officer or other member of
20            the Executive Committee for bias or conflict of
21            interest should be made to the hearing officer by
22            any party to the hearing at least one week prior to
23            the commencement of the hearing. The motion shall
24            be heard, considered, and ruled upon by the
25            hearing officer at or prior to the commencement of
26            the hearing. The movant shall have the burden of

 

 

HB5803- 22 -LRB102 28632 RPS 40515 b

1            proof with respect to the motion to disqualify.
2            Either an adverse ruling or the fact that a
3            hearing officer or other member of the Executive
4            Committee is an employee of the System or has a
5            contract with the System, standing alone, shall
6            not constitute bias or conflict of interest.
7                (ii) The Executive Secretary of the System may
8            not be called as a witness unless it is
9            demonstrated that the Executive Secretary of the
10            System has relevant noncumulative personal
11            knowledge of facts bearing upon the claim. The
12            Executive Secretary of the System may not be
13            disqualified as a member of the Executive
14            Committee on the basis that the Executive
15            Secretary of the System is responsible for the
16            overall administration of the System.
17                (iii) If the Executive Committee is reduced to
18            fewer than 2 members, the President of the Board
19            may appoint another person to the Executive
20            Committee.
21            (B) Ex parte communications prohibited. Except in
22        the disposition of matters that the System is
23        authorized by law to entertain or dispose of on an ex
24        parte basis, the members of the Executive Committee
25        shall not, after receiving notice of a hearing in a
26        contested matter, communicate, directly or indirectly,

 

 

HB5803- 23 -LRB102 28632 RPS 40515 b

1        in connection with any issue of fact, with any party,
2        or in connection with any other issue with any party,
3        or the representative of any party, except upon notice
4        and opportunity for all parties to participate.
5        However, an employee of the System may communicate
6        with other employees of the System and an employee of
7        the System or member of the Executive Committee may
8        have the aid and advice of one or more assistants. An
9        ex parte communication received by any member of the
10        Executive Committee shall be made a part of the record
11        of the pending matter, including all written
12        communications, all written responses to the
13        communications, and a memorandum stating the substance
14        of all oral communications and all responses made and
15        the identity of each person from whom the ex parte
16        communication was received. Communications regarding
17        matters of procedure and practice, such as the format
18        of pleadings, number of copies required, manner of
19        service, and status of proceedings, are not considered
20        ex parte communications.
21    (f) Rehearings and written reappeals.
22        (1) Purpose of rehearing and written reappeal. Any
23    member of the Executive Committee may grant a rehearing or
24    written reappeal only for the purpose of considering new
25    or additional evidence not previously available.
26        (2) Procedures for rehearing. The procedures set forth

 

 

HB5803- 24 -LRB102 28632 RPS 40515 b

1    in subsection (e) shall apply to rehearings, except that a
2    petition for a rehearing must be received within 90 days
3    following the notification of the final decision of the
4    Board with respect to the recommendation of the Executive
5    Committee.
6        (3) Procedures for written reappeal. The procedures
7    set forth in subsection (d) shall apply to written
8    reappeals, except that a petition for a written reappeal
9    must be received within 90 days following the notification
10    of the final decision of the Board with respect to the
11    recommendation of the Executive Committee.
12    (g) Decisions of the Board.
13        (1) Decisions of the Board are final administrative
14    decisions subject to the provisions of the Administrative
15    Review Law.
16        (2) The decision of the Board shall be communicated in
17    writing to the petitioner and authorized representative,
18    if applicable.
19    (h) Request for retirement annuity or refund of
20contributions. A request for a retirement annuity or a refund
21of contributions shall be granted when legal action is pending
22on a disputed disability claim. If the member receives a
23favorable decision on the legal action against the System and
24requests additional disability benefits with regard to the
25disputed claim for a period beyond the effective date the
26retirement annuity or refund of contributions, the member must

 

 

HB5803- 25 -LRB102 28632 RPS 40515 b

1repay all retirement benefits or refund of contributions
2within 30 days after notification by the System of the amount
3due.
 
4    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
5becoming law.