SJ0016 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SJ0016 LRB103 25483 MST 51832 r

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The College Insurance Program provides health insurance for retired community college professionals; and

WHEREAS, The College Insurance Program has experienced extensive financial challenges over the past decade; and

WHEREAS, Retired community college professionals rely upon this program, in some cases as their sole source of health insurance, during their retirement and as a supplement to Medicare upon eligibility; and

WHEREAS, The College Insurance Program is currently experiencing a billing hold cycle and is running a deficit on an annual basis; and

WHEREAS, It is essential that the State of Illinois honor its commitment to retired educators who have devoted their careers to the improvement of the economic prospects for countless students in Illinois; and

WHEREAS, The increasing need for community college faculty and staff requires that a reliable and valuable set of benefits be provided in order to attract and retain prospective educators; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING HEREIN, that the College Insurance Program Task Force is created to study the College Insurance Program and present policy and legislative recommendations to the General Assembly; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall consist of the following members, who shall serve without compensation:

(1) One member of the Illinois Senate appointed by the Senate President, who shall serve as co-chair;

(2) One member of the Illinois House appointed by the Speaker of the House, who shall serve as co-chair;

(3) One member of the Illinois Senate appointed by the Senate Minority Leader;

(4) One member of the Illinois House appointed by the House Minority Leader;

(5) The Chair of the Illinois Community College Board, or his or her designee;

(6) One member from an organization representing community college trustees appointed by the Senate President;

(7) One member from an organization representing community college presidents appointed the Speaker of the House;

(8) One member from an organization representing college retirees appointed by the Senate Minority Leader;

(9) One member from an organization representing county assessors appointed by the House Minority Leader; and

(10) Two members from separate organizations representing community college staff and faculty appointed by the Governor; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Illinois Department of Central Management Services shall provide administrative support for the Task Force; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall conduct a minimum of two public hearings in at least two different counties within the State at the call of the co-chairs; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall convene a wide array of stakeholders to examine the current state of the College Insurance Program and present a recommendation to the General Assembly to ensure the program remains a viable and healthy benefit; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall submit its final report to the General Assembly no later than January 1, 2024, and upon the filing of its final report, is dissolved; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be delivered to the Senate President, the Speaker of the House, the Senate Minority Leader, the House Minority Leader, the Chair of the Illinois Community College Board, and the Governor.