State of Illinois
90th General Assembly
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90_HB0769

      40 ILCS 5/6-111           from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 6-111
      40 ILCS 5/6-128.2         from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 6-128.2
      40 ILCS 5/6-128.4         from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 6-128.4
      40 ILCS 5/6-164.2         from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 6-164.2
      30 ILCS 805/8.21 new
          Amends the Chicago Firefighter  Article  of  the  Pension
      Code.   Extends  the  annuitant health insurance plan through
      December 31, 2002.   Changes  the  definition  of  salary  to
      include   duty  availability  pay  and  the  full  amount  of
      ambulance commander compensation.  Allows certain persons  to
      have their salary for pension purposes retroactively adjusted
      to  include  duty  availability  pay  and  the full ambulance
      commander compensation received since January 1,  1995,  upon
      payment  of  the corresponding employee contributions without
      interest.  Increases the minimum retirement annuity to  $1000
      per  month  for  certain  annuitants.   Increases the minimum
      widow's annuity to $800 per month for certain widows.  Amends
      the State Mandates  Act  to  require  implementation  without
      reimbursement.  Effective immediately.
                                                     LRB9003876EGfg
                                               LRB9003876EGfg
 1        AN  ACT  to  amend  the Illinois Pension Code by changing
 2    Sections 6-111, 6-128.2, 6-128.4, and 6-164.2  and  to  amend
 3    the State Mandates Act.
 4        Be  it  enacted  by  the People of the State of Illinois,
 5    represented in the General Assembly:
 6        Section 5.  The  Illinois  Pension  Code  is  amended  by
 7    changing  Sections  6-111,  6-128.2,  6-128.4, and 6-164.2 as
 8    follows:
 9        (40 ILCS 5/6-111) (from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 6-111)
10        Sec. 6-111. Salary.  "Salary": Subject to Section  6-211,
11    the annual salary of a fireman, as follows:
12        (a)  For  age  and  service annuity, minimum annuity, and
13    disability benefits, the actual amount of the annual  salary,
14    except as otherwise provided in this Article.;
15        (b)  For  prior service annuity, widow's annuity, widow's
16    prior service annuity and child's annuity  to  and  including
17    August  31,  1957,  the  amount  of the annual salary up to a
18    maximum of $3,000.;
19        (c)  Except as otherwise provided in Section 6-141.1, for
20    widow's annuity, beginning September 1, 1957, the  amount  of
21    annual salary up to a maximum of $6,000.
22        (d)  Beginning  on  the effective date of this amendatory
23    Act of 1997 (and for any period prior to that date for  which
24    contributions  have  been  paid  under subsection (e) of this
25    Section), the salary of a  fireman,  as  calculated  for  any
26    purpose   under   this   Article,   shall  include  any  duty
27    availability pay  received  by  the  fireman  pursuant  to  a
28    collective  bargaining  agreement,  and  references  in  this
29    Article  to  the  salary  attached to or appropriated for the
30    permanent  or  classified  civil  service  rank,  grade,   or
31    position  of the fireman shall be deemed to include that duty
                            -2-                LRB9003876EGfg
 1    availability pay.
 2        (e)  An  active  or  former  fireman  who  received  duty
 3    availability pay at any time  after  December  31,  1994  and
 4    before  the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1997 and
 5    who either (1) retired during that period or (2) had attained
 6    age 46 and at least 16 years of service by the effective date
 7    of this amendatory Act of 1997 may elect to  have  that  duty
 8    availability  pay  included  in the calculation of his or her
 9    salary for any portion of that period for which the  pay  was
10    received,  by  applying in writing and paying to the Fund, no
11    later  December  31,   2000,   the   corresponding   employee
12    contribution, without interest.
13        In  the  case of an applicant who is receiving an annuity
14    at the time the application and contribution are received  by
15    the Fund, the annuity shall be recalculated and the resulting
16    increase  shall  become  payable  on the next annuity payment
17    date following the date the contribution is received  by  the
18    Fund.
19        In  the  case of an active or former fireman who (i) dies
20    before January 1, 2001 without making an election under  this
21    subsection  and  (ii)  was eligible to make an election under
22    this subsection at the time of  death  (or  would  have  been
23    eligible  had  the death occurred after the effective date of
24    this amendatory Act of 1997), any surviving spouse, child, or
25    parent of the fireman who is eligible to  receive  a  benefit
26    under  this  Article  based  on the fireman's salary may make
27    that election and pay the required contribution on behalf  of
28    the deceased fireman.  If the death occurs within the 30 days
29    immediately  preceding  January  1,  2001,  the  deadline for
30    application and payment is extended to January 31, 2001.
31        Any duty availability pay  for  which  the  corresponding
32    employee contribution has not been paid shall not be included
33    in the calculation of salary.
34        (f)  Beginning  on  the effective date of this amendatory
                            -3-                LRB9003876EGfg
 1    Act of 1997 (and for any period prior to that date for  which
 2    contributions  have  been  paid  under subsection (g) of this
 3    Section), with respect to  a  fireman  holding  the  rank  of
 4    ambulance  commander,  references  in  this  Article  to  the
 5    fireman's  salary  or  the salary attached to or appropriated
 6    for the permanent or classified civil service rank, grade, or
 7    position of the fireman shall be deemed to refer to the  full
 8    amount  of  the  salary  attached  to  the  rank of ambulance
 9    commander and shall not be limited to the salary attached  to
10    the  rank  held  by  the fireman before attaining the rank of
11    ambulance commander.
12        (g)  An active or former fireman who, at any  time  after
13    December  31,  1994  and  before  the  effective date of this
14    amendatory Act of 1997, held the rank of ambulance  commander
15    and whose employee contributions to the Fund were based on an
16    amount less than the full salary then attached to the rank of
17    ambulance  commander  and  received  by  the  fireman and who
18    either (1) retired during that period or (2) has attained age
19    46 and at least 16 years of service by the effective date  of
20    this amendatory Act of 1997 may elect to have the full amount
21    of   the  salary  attached  to  that  rank  included  in  the
22    calculation of his or her salary  for  any  portion  of  that
23    period  during  which  the fireman held the rank of ambulance
24    commander, by applying in writing and paying to the Fund,  no
25    later  than  December  31,  2000,  the appropriate additional
26    employee contribution, without interest.
27        In the case of an applicant who is receiving  an  annuity
28    at  the time the application and contribution are received by
29    the Fund, the annuity shall be recalculated and the resulting
30    increase shall become payable on  the  next  annuity  payment
31    date  following  the date the contribution is received by the
32    Fund.
33        In the case of an active or former fireman who  (i)  dies
34    before  January 1, 2001 without making an election under this
                            -4-                LRB9003876EGfg
 1    subsection and (ii) was eligible to make  an  election  under
 2    this  subsection  at  the  time  of death (or would have been
 3    eligible had the death occurred after the effective  date  of
 4    this amendatory Act of 1997), any surviving spouse, child, or
 5    parent  of  the  fireman who is eligible to receive a benefit
 6    under this Article based on the  fireman's  salary  may  make
 7    that  election and pay the required contribution on behalf of
 8    the deceased fireman.  If the death occurs within the 30 days
 9    immediately preceding  January  1,  2001,  the  deadline  for
10    application and payment is extended to January 31, 2001.
11        Any  portion  of the compensation received for service as
12    an ambulance commander for which the  corresponding  employee
13    contribution  has  not been paid shall not be included in the
14    calculation of salary.
15        (h)  The changes to this Section made by this  amendatory
16    Act of 1997 are not limited to firemen in service on or after
17    the effective date of this amendatory Act.
18    (Source: P.A. 83-1362.)
19        (40 ILCS 5/6-128.2) (from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 6-128.2)
20        Sec. 6-128.2. Minimum retirement annuities.
21        (a)  Beginning  with  the monthly payment due in January,
22    1988, the monthly annuity  payment  for  any  person  who  is
23    entitled  to  receive a retirement annuity under this Article
24    in January, 1990 and has retired from service at  age  50  or
25    over with 20 or more years of service, and for any person who
26    retires  from  service on or after January 24, 1990 at age 50
27    or over with 20 or more years of service, shall not  be  less
28    than $475 per month. The $475 minimum annuity is exclusive of
29    any automatic annual increases provided by Sections 6-164 and
30    6-164.1,  but not exclusive of previous raises in the minimum
31    annuity as provided by any Section of this Article.
32        Beginning January 1, 1992, the minimum retirement annuity
33    payable to any person who has retired from service at age  50
                            -5-                LRB9003876EGfg
 1    or  over  with 20 or more years of service and is entitled to
 2    receive a retirement annuity under this Article on that date,
 3    or who retires from service at age 50 or over with 20 or more
 4    years of service after that date, shall be $650 per month.
 5        Beginning January 1, 1993, the minimum retirement annuity
 6    payable to any person who has retired from service at age  50
 7    or  over  with 20 or more years of service and is entitled to
 8    receive a retirement annuity under this Article on that date,
 9    or who retires from service at age 50 or over with 20 or more
10    years of service after that date, shall be $750 per month.
11        Beginning January 1, 1994, the minimum retirement annuity
12    payable to any person who has retired from service at age  50
13    or  over  with 20 or more years of service and is entitled to
14    receive a retirement annuity under this Article on that date,
15    or who retires from service at age 50 or over with 20 or more
16    years of service after that date, shall be $850 per month.
17        Beginning January 1, 1997, the minimum retirement annuity
18    payable to any person who has retired from service at age  50
19    or  over  with 20 or more years of service and is entitled to
20    receive a retirement annuity under this Article on that date,
21    or who retires from service at age 50 or over with 20 or more
22    years of service after that date, shall be $1000 per month.
23        The minimum annuities established by this subsection  (a)
24    do include previous raises in the minimum annuity as provided
25    by  any  Section of this Article, but do not include any sums
26    which have been added or will be added to annuity payments by
27    the automatic annual increases provided by Sections 6-164 and
28    6-164.1.  Such annual increases shall be paid in addition  to
29    the minimum amounts specified in this subsection.
30        (b)  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article,
31    beginning  January  1,  1990,  the minimum retirement annuity
32    payable to any person who is entitled to receive a retirement
33    annuity under this Article on that date  shall  be  $475  per
34    month.
                            -6-                LRB9003876EGfg
 1        (c)  The  changes made to this Section by this amendatory
 2    Act of 1997 shall apply to all persons receiving a retirement
 3    annuity under this Article, without  regard  to  whether  the
 4    retirement  of  the  fireman  occurred prior to the effective
 5    date of this amendatory Act of 1997 1993.
 6    (Source: P.A.  86-273;  86-1027;  86-1028;  86-1475;  87-849;
 7    87-1265.)
 8        (40 ILCS 5/6-128.4) (from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 6-128.4)
 9        Sec. 6-128.4. Minimum widow's annuities.
10        (a)  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article,
11    beginning January 1, 1996,  the  minimum  amount  of  widow's
12    annuity  payable  to  any person who is entitled to receive a
13    widow's annuity under this Article is $700 per month, without
14    regard to whether the deceased fireman is in  service  on  or
15    after the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1995.
16        (b)  Notwithstanding  Section  6-128.3, beginning January
17    1, 1994, the minimum widow's annuity under this Article shall
18    be $700 per month  for  (1)  all  persons  receiving  widow's
19    annuities  on  that  date  who are survivors of employees who
20    retired at age 50 or over with at least 20 years of  service,
21    and (2) persons who become eligible for widow's annuities and
22    are survivors of employees who retired at age 50 or over with
23    at least 20 years of service.
24        (c)  Notwithstanding  Section  6-128.3, beginning January
25    1, 1997, the minimum widow's annuity under this Article shall
26    be $800 per month  for  (1)  all  persons  receiving  widow's
27    annuities  on  that  date  who are survivors of employees who
28    retired at age 50 or over with at least 20 years of  service,
29    and (2) persons who become eligible for widow's annuities and
30    are survivors of employees who retired at age 50 or over with
31    at least 20 years of service.
32    (Source: P.A. 89-136, eff. 7-14-95.)
                            -7-                LRB9003876EGfg
 1        (40 ILCS 5/6-164.2) (from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 6-164.2)
 2        Sec. 6-164.2.  Group health benefit.
 3        (a)  For the purposes of this Section "annuitant" means a
 4    person  receiving an age and service annuity, a prior service
 5    annuity, a widow's annuity, a widow's prior service  annuity,
 6    or  a  minimum  annuity  on  or  after January 1, 1988, under
 7    Article 5, 6, 8 or 11, by reason of  previous  employment  by
 8    the  City  of  Chicago  (hereinafter,  in  this Section, "the
 9    city").
10        (b)  The city shall continue to offer to  annuitants  and
11    their  dependents  the  same  basic  city  health  care  plan
12    available  as  of June 30, 1988 (hereinafter called the basic
13    city plan), and  may  offer  additional  plans  at  its  sole
14    discretion.
15        (c)  Effective  the  date the initial increased annuitant
16    payments pursuant to subsection (g)  take  effect,  the  city
17    shall  pay  50%  of  the  aggregated  costs  of the claims or
18    premiums, whichever is applicable, of  annuitants  and  their
19    dependents  under  all health care plans offered by the city.
20    The claims or premiums of all annuitants and their dependents
21    under  all  of  the  plans  offered  by  the  city  shall  be
22    aggregated for the purpose of calculating the city's  payment
23    required under this subsection, as well as for the setting of
24    rates  of payment for annuitants as required under subsection
25    (g).
26        (d)  From January 1, 1988 until December  31,  1992,  the
27    board  shall pay to the city on behalf of each of the board's
28    annuitants who chooses to participate in any  of  the  city's
29    plans the following amounts: up to a maximum of $65 per month
30    for  each  such  annuitant  who  is  not qualified to receive
31    medicare benefits, and up to a maximum of $35 per  month  for
32    each  such  annuitant  who  is  qualified to receive medicare
33    benefits.  From January 1, 1993 through June 30,  2002  until
34    December  31, 1997, the board shall pay to the city on behalf
                            -8-                LRB9003876EGfg
 1    of each of the board's annuitants who chooses to  participate
 2    in  any  of  the  city's plans the following amounts: up to a
 3    maximum of $75 per month for each such annuitant who  is  not
 4    qualified  to  receive medicare benefits, and up to a maximum
 5    of $45 per month for each such annuitant who is qualified  to
 6    receive medicare benefits.
 7        For the period January 1, 1988 through the effective date
 8    of  this  amendatory Act of 1989, payments under this Section
 9    shall be reduced by the amounts paid by or on behalf  of  the
10    board's annuitants covered during that period.
11        The  payments  described in this subsection shall be paid
12    from the  tax  levy  authorized  under  Section  6-165;  such
13    amounts  shall  be credited to the reserve for group hospital
14    care and group medical and surgical plan  benefits,  and  all
15    payments  to the city required under this subsection shall be
16    charged against it.
17        (e)  The city's obligations under subsections (b) and (c)
18    shall terminate on June 30, 2002 December  31,  1997,  except
19    with  regard  to covered expenses incurred but not paid as of
20    that  date.   This  subsection   shall   not   affect   other
21    obligations that may be imposed by law.
22        (f)  The  group  coverage plans described in this Section
23    are  not  and  shall  not  be  construed  to  be  pension  or
24    retirement benefits for purposes of Section 5 of Article XIII
25    of the Illinois Constitution of 1970.
26        (g)  The aggregate cost of claims and premiums  for  each
27    calendar  year  from  1989  through 2001 and for the 6 months
28    ending June 30, 2002 1997 of all  annuitants  and  dependents
29    covered  by  the  city's  group  health  care  plans shall be
30    estimated by the city, based upon a written determination  by
31    a  qualified  independent actuary to be appointed and paid by
32    the city and the board.  If such estimated cost is more  than
33    the  estimated  amount  to  be contributed by the city during
34    that year (or during the 6 months ending June  30,  2002,  as
                            -9-                LRB9003876EGfg
 1    the  case  may  be)  plus  the  estimated  amounts to be paid
 2    pursuant to subsection (d) and by the other pension boards on
 3    behalf of  other  participating  annuitants,  the  difference
 4    shall  be  paid  by  all participating annuitants.  The city,
 5    based upon the  determination  of  the  independent  actuary,
 6    shall set the monthly amounts to be paid by the participating
 7    annuitants.  The initial determination of such payments shall
 8    be  prospective  only  and  shall be based upon the estimated
 9    costs for the balance of the year (or the balance  of  the  6
10    months  ending June 30, 2002, as the case may be).  The board
11    may deduct the amounts to be paid by its annuitants from  the
12    participating annuitants' monthly annuities.
13        If it is determined from the city's annual audit, or from
14    audited  experience  data,  that the total amount paid by all
15    participating annuitants was more or less than the difference
16    between (1) the cost  of  providing  the  group  health  care
17    plans,  and  (2) the sum of the amount to be paid by the city
18    under subsection (c) and the amounts paid by all the  pension
19    boards,  then  the  independent  actuary  and  the city shall
20    account for the  excess  or  shortfall  in  the  next  year's
21    payments by annuitants.
22        (h)  An  annuitant  may  elect to terminate coverage in a
23    plan  at  any  time,  which  election  shall  terminate   the
24    annuitant's  obligation  to  contribute toward payment of the
25    excess described in subsection (g).
26    (Source: P.A. 86-273.)
27        Section 90.  The State Mandates Act is amended by  adding
28    Section 8.21 as follows:
29        (30 ILCS 805/8.21 new)
30        Sec.  8.21.  Exempt  mandate.  Notwithstanding Sections 6
31    and 8 of this Act, no reimbursement by the State is  required
32    for  the  implementation  of  any  mandate  created  by  this
                            -10-               LRB9003876EGfg
 1    amendatory Act of 1997.
 2        Section  99.  Effective date.  This Act takes effect upon
 3    becoming law.

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