HB 276 - Pension Code - GARS Amends the General Assembly Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Restricts participation in the General Assembly Retirement System to persons who became participants before the effective date of the amendatory Act and provides that, beginning on that date, the System shall not accept any new participants. Makes related changes. Effective immediately. 2/9/2017 Scheduled Feb 15, 2017 at 4:00 PM Room D-1 Stratton 2/2/2017 Scheduled Feb 8, 2017 at 4:00 PM Room D-1 Stratton 1/25/2017 Assigned to Personnel & Pensions 1/13/2017 House Introduction HB 291 - IMRF - Elected Officials Amends the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that a person who holds part-time elective office is not a participating employee with respect to that office, unless he or she (i) was elected to that office before the effective date of the amendatory Act and (ii) has elected while in that office to become a contributor. Provides that an elective office shall be presumed to be part-time in the absence of an official job description or determination by the legal advisor of the applicable unit of local government, filed with the Board of the Fund every 4 years, declaring the elective office to be full-time. 2/9/2017 Scheduled Feb 15, 2017 at 4:00 PM Room D-1 Stratton 2/2/2017 Scheduled Feb 8, 2017 at 4:00 PM Room D-1 Stratton 1/25/2017 Assigned to Personnel & Pensions 1/10/2017 House Introduction HB 299 - Pension Code - SURS - Return to Work Amends the State Universities Article of the Illinois Pension Code. In a provision concerning return to work by an affected annuitant, provides that a person who becomes an affected annuitant remains an affected annuitant, except for any period on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act during which an annuitant received an annualized retirement annuity that is less than $10,000. Effective immediately. 2/23/2017 Passed House Sent to Senate 2/15/2017 Committee Favorably Reported 2/9/2017 Scheduled Feb 15, 2017 at 4:00 PM Room D-1 Stratton 2/2/2017 Scheduled Feb 8, 2017 at 4:00 PM Room D-1 Stratton 1/25/2017 Assigned to Personnel & Pensions 1/10/2017 House Introduction
HB 315 - Pension Code - Accelerated Benefit Payment Amends the General Assembly, State Employee, State Universities, Downstate Teachers, and Judges Articles of the Illinois Pension Code. No later than January 1, 2018, requires each System to calculate the net present value of the pension benefits for each eligible person and to offer that eligible person the opportunity to elect to receive an accelerated pension benefit payment equal to 70% of the net present value of his or her pension benefits in lieu of receiving any pension benefit. Provides that the election must be made before July 1, 2018 and if a person elects to receive an accelerated pension benefit payment, his or her credits and creditable service under that Article shall be terminated upon receipt of the accelerated pension benefit payment; except that the terminated service credit shall be used for the purposes of determining participation and benefits under the State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971. Makes other changes. Amends the State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971 to make related changes. Amends the Illinois Finance Authority Act. Requires the Authority to issue bonds if the amount of the accelerated pension benefit payments exceed the amount appropriated to each System for those payments. Amends the General Obligation Bond Act. Authorizes $250,000,000 in State Pension Obligation Acceleration Bonds to be sold to pay for accelerated pension benefit payments to eligible persons. Amends the State Pension Funds Continuing Appropriation Act to create a continuing appropriation for payments on those Bonds. Amends the State Finance Act to create the State Pension Obligation Acceleration Bond Fund. Effective immediately. 2/9/2017 Scheduled Feb 15, 2017 at 4:00 PM Room D-1 Stratton 2/2/2017 Scheduled Feb 8, 2017 at 4:00 PM Room D-1 Stratton 1/25/2017 Assigned to Personnel & Pensions 1/10/2017 House Introduction HB 362 - IMRF - Elected Officials Amends the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF) Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that a person who holds elective office in a participating municipality that is not a home rule unit and is first so elected on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act is not a participating employee with respect to that office. Effective immediately. 2/9/2017 Scheduled Feb 15, 2017 at 4:00 PM Room D-1 Stratton 2/2/2017 Scheduled Feb 8, 2017 at 4:00 PM Room D-1 Stratton 1/25/2017 Assigned to Personnel & Pensions 1/12/2017 House Introduction HB 363 - Pension Code - GARS Amends the General Assembly Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Restricts participation in the General Assembly Retirement System by members of the General Assembly to persons who become participants before January 1, 2019 and provides that, beginning on that date, the System shall not accept any new participants who are members of the General Assembly. Makes related changes. Effective immediately.
2/9/2017 Scheduled Feb 15, 2017 at 4:00 PM Room D-1 Stratton 2/2/2017 Scheduled Feb 8, 2017 at 4:00 PM Room D-1 Stratton 1/25/2017 Assigned to Personnel & Pensions 1/12/2017 House Introduction HB 368 - Pension Code - SURS - Disability Annuity Amends the State Universities Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Changes the definition of "service" to include periods where earnings credits were established for periods of voluntary pay reduction in lieu of furlough. In a provision concerning retirement annuity payment periods, provides that for a recipient of a disability retirement annuity, the date on which a retirement annuity payment period begins shall not be prior to the discontinuation of the disability retirement annuity. Provides for the discontinuation of a disability retirement annuity when the recipient refuses to submit to a reasonable physical examination by a physician approved by the board or when the recipient fails to provide an earnings verification necessary to determine continuance of benefits. Requires the board to prescribe rules governing the filing, investigation, control, and supervision of disability retirement annuity claims. Adds provisions concerning costs incurred in connection with completing a claim for a disability retirement annuity. Authorizes the secretary of the board to issue subpoenas to obtain information to assist in the collection of sums due to the System, the determination of the death of a benefit recipient or a potential benefit recipient, or obtaining personal identifying information necessary for the administration of benefits. Makes other changes. Effective immediately. House Amendment No. 1 - Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the introduced bill with the following change: in a provision that authorizes the secretary of the board to issue subpoenas to compel the attendance of witnesses and the production of documents and records in connection with the collection of sums due to the System, removes language that specifies that those documents and reports include, but are not limited to, banks and other financial records. Effective immediately. 2/15/2017 Committee Amended Favorably Reported 2/15/2017 House Amendment No. 1 Adopted 2/9/2017 Scheduled Feb 15, 2017 at 4:00 PM Room D-1 Stratton 2/7/2017 House Amendment No. 1 Filed 2/2/2017 Scheduled Feb 8, 2017 at 4:00 PM Room D-1 Stratton 1/25/2017 Assigned to Personnel & Pensions 1/12/2017 House Introduction HB 393 - Fire Dept - Hazardous Materials Amends the Illinois Municipal Code and Fire Protection District Act. Provides that the corporate authorities of municipalities and the boards of trustees of fire protection districts may fix, charge, and collect reasonable fees not exceeding the reasonable cost of services rendered by the municipality or district for emergency action taken in response to a hazardous material emergency incident. Limits charges to a rate not to exceed $250 per hour and not to exceed $70 per hour per firefighter and for reasonable charges to reimburse the municipality or district for extraordinary expenses of materials used in rendering the services. Excludes charges for vehicles, personnel, or equipment that are not actively being used in response to the emergency incident. Amends the Hazardous Material Emergency Response Reimbursement Act making conforming changes. Effective immediately. 2/15/2017 Referred to Fire Services Subcommittee 2/9/2017 Scheduled Feb 15, 2017 at 4:00 PM Room 115 Capitol 2/2/2017 Scheduled Feb 8, 2017 at 4:00 PM Room 115 Capitol
1/25/2017 Assigned to Fire & Emergency Services 1/12/2017 House Introduction HB 411 - Work Comp - Injury Amends the Workers' Compensation Act. Defines the terms "accident" and "injury". Provides that "injury" includes the aggravation of a pre-existing condition by an accident arising out of and in the course of the employment, but only for so long as the aggravation of the pre-existing condition continues to be the major contributing cause of the disability. Provides that an injury resulting directly or indirectly from idiopathic causes is not compensable. 2/8/2018 Referred to Work Comp Subcommittee 2/2/2017 Scheduled Feb 8, 2017 at 4:00 PM Room 114 Capitol 1/25/2017 Assigned to Labor & Commerce 1/12/2017 House Introduction HB 416 - Pension Code - GARS - New Participants Amends the General Assembly Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Restricts participation in the General Assembly Retirement System by members of the General Assembly to persons who become participants before January 1, 2018 and provides that, beginning on that date, the System shall not accept any new participants who are members of the General Assembly. Makes related changes. Effective immediately. 2/9/2017 Scheduled Feb 15, 2017 at 4:00 PM Room D-1 Stratton 2/2/2017 Scheduled Feb 8, 2017 at 4:00 PM Room D-1 Stratton 1/25/2017 Assigned to Personnel & Pensions 1/12/2017 House Introduction HB 418 - Pension Code - Downstate Police - Return To Service Amends the Downstate Police Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that if a person who is receiving a police pension becomes employed as a chief of police, the person must so notify the pension fund paying the pension and any other fund in which the person has service credit, and the pension shall be suspended until the employment as chief terminates; if the person elects to participate in IMRF, the person must also notify IMRF of those police pension funds. Provides that if a person who is receiving a police pension enters service as a police officer with a different municipality, the person must so notify the pension fund paying the pension and the pension shall be suspended until the service terminates, unless the different municipality had a population of less than 6,000 at the time of the return to active service. Applies to persons who first enter service after the effective date of the amendatory Act. 2/15/2017 Committee Favorably Reported 2/9/2017 Scheduled Feb 15, 2017 at 4:00 PM Room D-1 Stratton 2/2/2017 Scheduled Feb 8, 2017 at 4:00 PM Room D-1 Stratton 1/25/2017 Assigned to Personnel & Pensions
1/12/2017 House Introduction HB 436 - Pension Code - Tier 3 Plan Amends the Illinois Pension Code. With respect to the 5 State-funded Retirement Systems: requires each System to prepare and implement a Tier 3 plan by July 1, 2018 that aggregates State and employee contributions in individual participant accounts which are used for payouts after retirement. Provides that a Tier 1 or Tier 2 participant may irrevocably elect to participate in the Tier 3 plan instead of the defined benefit plan and may also elect to terminate all participation in the defined benefit plan and to have a specified amount credited to his or her account under the Tier 3 plan. Makes related changes in the State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971. In the Downstate Teachers, State Employees, and State Universities Articles, authorizes a person to elect not to participate or to terminate participation in those Systems. In the General Assembly and Judges Articles, authorizes a participant to terminate his or her participation in the System. In the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF), State Employees, State Universities, and Downstate Teachers Articles, for participants who first become participants on or after the effective date, prohibits (i) payments for unused sick or vacation time from being used to calculate pensionable salary and (ii) unused sick or vacation time from being used to establish service credit. In the Downstate Teachers Article, prohibits an employer from making employee contributions on behalf of an employee, except for the sole purpose of allowing an employee to make pre-tax contributions. Amends the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Act to prohibit collective bargaining over that prohibition. Effective immediately. 2/9/2017 Scheduled Feb 15, 2017 at 4:00 PM Room D-1 Stratton 2/2/2017 Scheduled Feb 8, 2017 at 4:00 PM Room D-1 Stratton 2/2/2017 Assigned to Personnel & Pensions 1/13/2017 House Introduction HB 438 - Local Government Bankruptcy Neutral Evaluation Creates the Local Government Bankruptcy Neutral Evaluation Act. Makes legislative findings. Defines terms. Authorizes a local public entity to initiate a neutral evaluation process if that entity is unable to meet its financial obligations. Provides for the selection and qualification of an evaluator, the evaluation process, cessation of an evaluation, declaration of a fiscal emergency, and definition of liabilities. Provides that records prepared for or used in connection with the Local Government Bankruptcy Neutral Evaluation Act are exempt from disclosure. Amends the Open Meetings Act. Provides that a public body may hold closed meetings related to the Local Government Bankruptcy Neutral Evaluation Act. Amends the Freedom of Information Act. Makes conforming changes. Effective immediately. 2/8/2017 Referred to Local Government Subcommittee 2/2/2017 Scheduled Feb 8, 2017 at 2:00 PM Room D-1 Stratton 2/2/2017 Assigned to Cities & Villages 1/13/2017 House Introduction
HB 442 - Open Meetings - Posting Records Amends the Open Meetings Act. Requires a unit of local government or school district with an operating budget of $1 million or more to maintain an Internet website and post to that website, for the current calendar or fiscal year, the following information: (1) information about elected and appointed officials; (2) notice of and materials prepared for meetings; (3) procedures for requesting information from the unit of local government or school district; (4) annual budget; (5) ordinances; (6) procedures to apply for building permits and zoning variances; (7) financial reports and audits; (8) information concerning employee compensation; (9) contracts with lobbying firms; (10) taxes and fees imposed by the unit of local government or school district; (11) rules governing the award of contracts; (12) bids and contracts worth $25,000 or more; (13) a debt disclosure report; and (14) public notices. Provides that any citizen who is a resident of the unit of local government or school district may bring a mandamus or injunction action to compel the unit of local government or school district to comply with the Internet posting requirements. Limits home rule powers. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Amends the Freedom of Information Act. Provides for a statutory exemption for any electronic copy of a record or information maintained on specified websites. Amends the Department of Central Management Services Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois to make conforming changes. Effective immediately. 2/24/2017 Scheduled March 9, 2017 at 9:30 AM Room 115 Capitol 2/16/2017 House Amendment No. 1 Filed 2/9/2017 Scheduled Feb 16, 2017 at 1:30 PM Room 115 Capitol 2/2/2017 Assigned to Counties & Townships 1/13/2017 House Introduction HB 445 - Pension Code - SURS - Tier 3 Plan Amends the Illinois Pension Code. With respect to the 5 State-funded Retirement Systems: requires each System to prepare and implement a Tier 3 plan by July 1, 2018 that aggregates State and employee contributions in individual participant accounts which are used for payouts after retirement. Provides that a Tier 1 or Tier 2 participant may irrevocably elect to participate in the Tier 3 plan instead of the defined benefit plan; makes conforming changes. Authorizes a Tier 1 or Tier 2 participant who elects to participate in the Tier 3 plan to elect to terminate all participation in the defined benefit plan and to have a specified amount credited to his or her account under the Tier 3 plan. Provides that the Tier 3 plan supersedes the defined contribution plan created under P.A. 98-599 for certain Tier 1 participants. Requires each System to report on its progress in establishing the Tier 3 plan to the Governor and the General Assembly by January 15, 2018. Provides that "new benefit increase" does not include any benefit increase resulting from the changes made by the amendatory Act. In the Downstate Teachers, State Employees, and State Universities Articles, authorizes a person to elect not to participate or to terminate his or her participation in those Systems. In the General Assembly and Judges Articles, authorizes a participant to terminate his or her participation in the System. Makes related changes in the Retirement Systems Reciprocal Act (Article 20 of the Code) and the State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971. Makes other changes. Effective immediately. 2/9/2017 Scheduled Feb 15, 2017 at 4:00 PM Room D-1 Stratton 2/2/2017 Scheduled Feb 8, 2017 at 4:00 PM Room D-1 Stratton 2/2/2017 Assigned to Personnel & Pensions 1/13/2017 House Introduction
HB 447 - Labor Agreement Hearings Amends the Illinois Public Labor Relations Act and the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Act. Provides that, once an agreement is reached between a public or educational employer and its employees regarding all of the terms of a collective bargaining agreement, the agreement shall be reduced to writing and published on the website of the public or educational employer. Requires the public or educational employer, not less than 14 days after publishing such an agreement, to hold an open public meeting on the ratification of that agreement. Provides that any contract between a public employer and an employee where the total compensation exceeds $150,000 shall be published on the employer's website for a period of not less than 14 days prior to being signed by both the employer and the employee. Requires the public employer to hold an open public meeting on the contract in addition to posting it for 14 days if that contract is subject to board approval. Makes conforming changes in the Open Meetings Act and the Freedom of Information Act. Effective immediately. 2/24/2017 Scheduled March 8, 2017 at 1:30 PM Room 114 Capitol 2/9/2017 Scheduled Feb 16, 2017 at 12:00 PM Room 114 Capitol 2/2/2017 Scheduled Feb 8, 2017 at 4:00 PM Room 114 Capitol 2/2/2017 Assigned to Labor & Commerce 1/13/2017 House Introduction HB 448 - Labor Relations - Financial Ability Amends the Illinois Public Labor Relations Act. Provides that if a unit of local government, as an employer, and public employees provide for arbitration of impasses, the employer's financial ability to fund the proposals based on existing available resources shall be given primary consideration, provided that such ability is not predicated on an assumption that lines of credit or reserve funds are available or that the employer may or will receive or develop new sources of revenue or increase existing sources of revenue. Provides that in interest arbitration for security employee, peace officer, and fire fighter disputes, the arbitration panel shall take the employer's financial ability to fund the proposals based on existing available resources as the primary consideration, provided that such ability is not predicated on an assumption that lines of credit or reserve funds are available or that the employer may or will receive or develop new sources of revenue or increase existing sources of revenue (currently the interests and welfare of the public and the financial ability of the unit of government to meet those goals). Amends the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Act. With respect to collective bargaining between an educational employer (other than the Chicago school district) and an exclusive representative of its employees, provides that when making wage and benefit determinations during interest arbitration, the employer's financial ability to fund the proposals based on existing available resources shall be given primary consideration, provided that such ability is not predicated on an assumption that lines of credit or reserve funds are available or that the employer may or will receive or develop new sources of revenue or increase existing sources of revenue. Effective immediately. 2/24/2017 Scheduled March 8, 2017 at 1:30 PM Room 114 Capitol 2/9/2017 Scheduled Feb 16, 2017 at 12:00 PM Room 114 Capitol 2/2/2017 Scheduled Feb 8, 2017 at 4:00 PM Room 114 Capitol 2/2/2017 Assigned to Labor & Commerce 1/13/2017 House Introduction
HB 449 - Pension Code - Downstate Teachers - End Pension Pickup Amends the Downstate Teachers Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Prohibits an employer from making employee contributions on behalf of an employee, except for the sole purpose of allowing an employee to make pre-tax contributions. Provides that employment contracts or collective bargaining agreements in effect on the effective date of the amendatory Act are not subject to the prohibition, but any such contract or collective bargaining agreement that is subsequently modified, amended, or renewed or that is in effect 3 or more years after the effective date of the amendatory Act shall be subject to the prohibition. Effective immediately. 2/9/2017 Scheduled Feb 15, 2017 at 4:00 PM Room D-1 Stratton 2/2/2017 Scheduled Feb 8, 2017 at 4:00 PM Room D-1 Stratton 2/2/2017 Assigned to Personnel & Pensions 1/13/2017 House Introduction HB 501 - Municipal Code - Bankruptcy Amends the Illinois Municipal Code. In provisions concerning finance, provides that a municipality may file a petition and exercise powers pursuant to applicable federal bankruptcy law. Effective immediately. 2/8/2017 Assigned to Local Government Subcommittee 2/2/2017 Scheduled Feb 8, 2017 at 2:00 PM Room D-1 Stratton 2/2/2017 Assigned to Cities & Villages 1/20/2017 House Introduction HB 507 - School Code - Fire Prevention Funds Amends the School Code. Allows a school board to use remaining funds on hand in the Fire Prevention and Safety Fund for dyslexia screenings for students. Makes technical corrections. Effective immediately. 2/8/2017 Assigned to Special Issues Subcommittee 2/2/2017 Scheduled Feb 8, 2017 at 3:00 PM Room 115 Captiol 2/2/2017 Assigned to Elementary & Secondary Education: Licensing, Administration & Oversight 1/23/2017 House Introduction HB 616 - Fire Protection District - Appointment Certificates Amends the Illinois Municipal Code and Fire Protection District Act. Provides that after a firefighter is selected from the register of eligibles to fill a vacancy in a fire department or fire protection district, each appointee shall be presented with his or her certificate of appointment on the day on which he or she is sworn in as a classified member of the affected department or district. Provides that firefighters who were not issued a certificate of appointment when originally appointed may make a written request to receive one. Effective immediately.
2/16/2017 Passed House Sent to Senate 2/8/2017 Committee Favorably Reported 2/2/2017 Scheduled Feb 8, 2017 at 4:00 PM Room 115 Capitol 2/2/2017 Assigned to Fire & Emergency Services 1/24/2017 House Introduction HB 618 - Pension Code - Downstate Firefighter - Transfer Years Amends the Illinois Pension Code. Authorizes an active member of a downstate firefighters' pension fund to transfer up to 6 years of creditable service to that fund from the downstate police pension fund that is administered by the same unit of local government. Requires application within 6 months after the effective date. Authorizes reinstatement of service that was terminated by a refund. Provides that if the transferred police service was Tier 1, then the firefighter shall be considered to be a Tier 1 firefighter. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately. 2/22/2017 House Amendment No. 1 Filed 2/9/2017 Scheduled Feb 15, 2017 at 4:00 PM Room D-1 Stratton 2/2/2017 Scheduled Feb 8, 2017 at 4:00 PM Room D-1 Stratton 2/2/2017 Assigned to Personnel & Pensions 1/24/2017 House Introduction HB 624 - Fire Protection District - Disconnect Amends the Fire Protection District Act. Provides that a home rule municipality may file a petition to disconnect fire protection district territory from the district if: the municipality's fire department services at least 80% of the municipality; the disconnection will not cause the territory of the district to be noncontiguous; and the loss of assessed valuation by reason of the disconnection of the territory will not impair the ability of the district to render adequate fire protection service to the territory remaining in the district. Provides that territory disconnected shall remain liable for its proportionate share of any bonded indebtedness outstanding as of the date of disconnection. Provides for petition, hearing, notice, and objection requirements. Further provides that if a court finds that the petition complies with the Section and that the allegations of the petition are true, the court shall order that the territory be disconnected. 2/24/2017 Referred to Fire Service Subcommittee 2/9/2017 Scheduled Feb 15, 2017 at 4:00 PM Room 115 Capitol 2/2/2017 Scheduled Feb 8, 2017 at 4:00 PM Room 115 Capitol 2/2/2017 Assigned to Fire & Emergency Services 1/24/2017 House Introduction
HB 628 - Municipal Code - Foreign Fire Insurance Amends the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that an entity that collects a foreign fire insurance tax or license fee rendered to the fire department of a municipality or a fire protection district shall post to its website by August 1 certain information from the previous year. Prohibits an entity from charging an administrative fee that exceeds 1% of the gross amount collected in each municipality or fire protection district. 2/2/2017 Assigned to Government Transparency 1/24/2017 House Introduction HB 636 - Illinois Lottery - Memorial Fund Amends the Illinois Lottery Law. Requires the Department of the Lottery, beginning on January 1, 2018 or as soon thereafter as is practical, to offer a special instant scratch-off game to benefit State police memorials. Requires the net revenue from that game to be deposited into the Criminal Justice Information Projects Fund. Provides that moneys received from the scratch-off game shall be divided equally for distribution into the Chicago Police Memorial Foundation Fund, the Police Memorial Committee Fund, and the Illinois State Police Memorial Fund. Moneys received under this Section shall be used to fund grants for building and maintaining memorials and parks; holding annual memorial commemorations; giving scholarships to children of officers killed or catastrophically injured in the line of duty, or those interested in pursuing a career in law enforcement; and providing financial assistance to police officers and their families when a police officer is killed or injured in the line of duty. Authorizes the Department to adopt rules necessary to implement and administer the game. Defines "net revenue". Amends the Illinois Criminal Justice Act to make conforming changes. Effective immediately. 2/24/2017 Scheduled March 9, 2017 at 8:50 AM Room 122B Capitol 2/24/2017 Referred to Finance Subcommittee 2/2/2017 Assigned to Revenue & Finance 1/24/2017 House Introduction HB 642 - Municipal Code - Fire Chief Removal Amends the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that the chief of the fire department or chief of the police department may be removed or discharged by the board of fire and police commissioners if the municipality has such a board or the appointing authority if the municipality does not have a board (currently, removed or discharged only by the appointing authority). Effective immediately. 2/23/2017 Scheduled March 7, 2017 at 3:30 PM Room C-1 Stratton 2/9/2017 Scheduled Feb 15, 2017 at 3:00 PM Room C-1 Stratton 2/2/2017 Scheduled Feb 8, 2017 at 2:00 PM Room D-1 Stratton 2/2/2017 Assigned to Cities & Villages 1/24/2017 House Introduction
HB 644 - Municipal Financial Distress Alert Creates the Municipal Financial Distress Alert System Act. Requires the State Comptroller to establish an index system to identify municipalities that are in or approaching financial distress. Provides that the Comptroller shall use the index system to indicate municipalities that have failed to submit annual audits or financial reports to the Comptroller as required by law. Requires the Comptroller to annually review audits and financial reports obtained under the Governmental Account Audit Act and publish a report identifying municipalities that are in or approaching financial distress. Defines terms. 2/23/2017 Scheduled March 7, 2017 at 3:30 PM Room C-1 Stratton 2/9/2017 Scheduled Feb 15, 2017 at 3:00 PM Room C-1 Stratton 2/8/2017 Assigned to Cities & Villages 1/24/2017 House Introduction HB 656 - Pension Code - Downstate Teachers - Trust Fund Contributions Amends the Downstate Teacher Article of the Illinois Pension Code. In a provision relating to employer contributions from special trust and federal funds, provides that, beginning July 1, 2017, the rate, expressed as a percentage of salary, shall be equal to the total employer's normal cost, expressed as a percentage of payroll. Effective immediately. 2/24/2017 Committee Favorably Reported 2/9/2017 Scheduled Feb 15, 2017 at 4:00 PM Room D-1 Stratton 2/8/2017 Assigned to Personnel & Pensions 1/25/2017 House Introduction HB 668 - Pension Code - Downstate Firefighters - Examination of Fund Amends the Illinois Pension Code. Changes the schedule for examinations of pension funds established under the Downstate Police or Downstate Fire Article from every 3 years to a periodic basis, as determined by the Public Pension Division of the Department of Insurance. Provides that the examination may (instead of shall) include a review of certain information. Effective immediately. 2/9/2017 Scheduled Feb 15, 2017 at 4:00 PM Room D-1 Stratton 2/8/2017 Assigned to Personnel & Pensions 1/25/2017 House Introduction
HB 669 - Pension Code - Local Control of Benefits Amends the Illinois Pension Code. Authorizes units of local government to provide alternative retirement plans in lieu of or in addition to the existing plan under the applicable Article. Provides that the alternative retirement plan may include a defined-benefit component, a defined contribution component, or both, and may include disability or survivor benefits and any other benefits that are permitted under federal law. Provides that the alternative retirement plan is not required to provide any minimum level of benefits and need not provide any benefits at all, other than mandatory Social Security coverage if applicable. Provides that service credit received under an alternative retirement plan may not be transferred to any other fund and may not be used under the Retirement Systems Reciprocal Act (Article 20 of the Code). Amends the Illinois Public Labor Relations Act and the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Act. Provides that employers shall not be required to bargain over the changes made by the amendatory Act. 2/9/2017 Scheduled Feb 15, 2017 at 4:00 PM Room D-1 Stratton 2/8/2017 Assigned to Personnel & Pensions 1/25/2017 House Introduction HB 671 - Pension Code - SURS & Downstate Teacher - Employer Contributions Amends the State Universities and Downstate Teacher Articles of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that, for academic years beginning on or after July 1, 2017, if the amount of a participant's earnings for any academic year used to determine the final rate of earnings, determined on a full-time equivalent basis, exceeds the amount of his or her earnings with the same employer for the previous academic year, determined on a full-time equivalent basis, by more than the unadjusted percentage increase in the consumer price index-u for that year (rather than 6%), then the participant's employer shall pay to the applicable System, in addition to all other payments required and in accordance with guidelines established by that System, the present value of the increase in benefits resulting from the portion of the increase in earnings that is in excess of the unadjusted percentage increase in the consumer price index-u for that year (rather than the present value of the increase in benefits resulting from the portion of the increase in earnings that is in excess of 6%). Defines "consumer price index-u". Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately. 2/9/2017 Scheduled Feb 15, 2017 at 4:00 PM Room D-1 Stratton 2/8/2017 Assigned to Personnel & Pensions 1/25/2017 House Introduction HB 688 - Pension Code - Downstate Firefighter - Transfer Amends the Downstate Firefighter and Chicago Firefighter Articles of the Illinois Pension Code. Authorizes a firefighter to transfer up to 10 years of creditable service in a downstate firefighter pension fund to the Firemen's Annuity and Benefit Fund of Chicago upon payment of a specified amount. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately. 2/9/2017 Scheduled Feb 15, 2017 at 4:00 PM Room D-1 Stratton 2/8/2017 Assigned to Personnel & Pensions
1/25/2017 House Introduction HB 743 - Fire Protection District - Revenue Amends the Fire Protection District Act. Provides that a board of trustees of a fire protection district may levy a special tax, by referendum, for the purpose of providing funds to pay for the costs of emergency and rescue crews and equipment at a rate not to exceed 0.10% of the value of all taxable property within the district (rather than to increase the tax rate limit from 0.05% to 0.10%) and changes the wording of the proposition. 2/23/2017 Passed House Sent to Senate 2/15/2017 Committee Favorably Reported 2/9/2017 Scheduled Feb 15, 2017 at 4:00 PM Room 115 Capitol 2/8/2017 Assigned to Fire & Emeregency Services 1/26/2017 House Introduction HB 771 - Volunteer Firefighters - Tires Amends the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that, if authorized by the fire chief of the fire department, any regularly enrolled volunteer fire fighter may purchase 4 vehicle tires every 3 years through his or her fire department's or municipality's joint purchasing contract relating to the purchase of vehicle tires. Further provides that the firefighter shall cover the cost of the tires and any related taxes. Limits applicability. Amends the Fire Protection District Act making similar changes. Effective immediately. 2/23/2017 Passed House Sent to Senate 2/15/2017 Committee Favorably Reported 2/9/2017 Scheduled Feb 15, 2017 at 4:00 PM Room 115 Capitol 2/8/2017 Assigned to Fire & Emeregency Services 1/26/2017 House Introduction HB 775 - Pension Code - Climate Change Policy Amends the General Provisions Article of the Illinois Pension Code. By no later than December 31, 2018, requires every pension fund, except for a Downstate Police or Downstate Firefighter fund, to develop a climate change risk minimization policy. Provides that the policy shall consider the financial risk to the investments held by the pension fund in the event of different levels of climate change, as defined by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Requires the policy to explain what sources of data, which must include specified sources, were used to make certain projections. Requires the policy to consider the scope of the financial risk of climate-related events. Authorizes the pension fund to determine a policy for all corporate equities held by the pension fund on voting for shareholder resolutions and directors to advance corporate policies that minimize the long-term risk to the pension fund's assets from increased climate change. Requires the policy to be updated annually and published on the pension fund's website. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately. 2/9/2017 Scheduled Feb 15, 2017 at 4:00 PM Room D-1 Stratton
2/8/2017 Assigned to Personnel & Pensions 1/26/2017 House Introduction HB 782 - Notice by Publication - Electronic Publication Amends the Notice By Publication Act. Provides that whenever a governmental unit, community college district, or school district is required to provide notice by publication in a newspaper by law, order of court, or contract, the governmental unit may publish the notice on an official government website instead of in a newspaper. Provides conditions concerning the availability and format of the notice webpage. Repeals a Section concerning the placement of published notices on a statewide website and makes corresponding changes throughout the Act and in the Newspaper Legal Notice Act. Effective immediately. 2/24/2017 Scheduled March 8, 2017 at 1:30 PM Room C-1 Stratton 2/8/2017 Assigned to Cost Benefit Analysis 1/26/2017 House Introduction HB 797 - Labor Relations - Financial Ability Amends the Illinois Public Labor Relations Act. Provides that if a unit of local government, as an employer, and public employees provide for arbitration of impasses, the employer's financial ability to fund the proposals based on existing available resources shall be given primary consideration, provided that such ability is not predicated on an assumption that lines of credit or reserve funds are available or that the employer may or will receive or develop new sources of revenue or increase existing sources of revenue. Provides that in interest arbitration for security employee, peace officer, and fire fighter disputes, the arbitration panel shall take the employer's financial ability to fund the proposals based on existing available resources as the primary consideration, provided that such ability is not predicated on an assumption that lines of credit or reserve funds are available or that the employer may or will receive or develop new sources of revenue or increase existing sources of revenue (currently the interests and welfare of the public and the financial ability of the unit of government to meet those goals). Amends the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Act. With respect to collective bargaining between an educational employer (other than the Chicago school district) and an exclusive representative of its employees, provides that when making wage and benefit determinations during interest arbitration, the employer's financial ability to fund the proposals based on existing available resources shall be given primary consideration, provided that such ability is not predicated on an assumption that lines of credit or reserve funds are available or that the employer may or will receive or develop new sources of revenue or increase existing sources of revenue. 2/23/2017 Referred to Workforce Reconciliation Subcommittee 2/9/2017 Scheduled Feb 16, 2017 at 12:00 PM Room 114 Capitol 2/8/2017 Assigned to Labor & Commerce 1/27/2017 House Introduction HB 815 - IMRF - Firefighter SLEP Amends the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF) Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that certain police officers and firefighters who participate in IMRF may be granted Sheriff's Law Enforcement Employee (SLEP) status with the approval of the employing municipality. The approval resolution must specify that SLEP status shall be applied to employment occurring on or after the adoption of the resolution. Provides that the resolution is irrevocable, but shall automatically terminate upon the establishment of an Article 3 or 4 fund by the municipality. Effective immediately.
2/24/2017 Committee Favorably Reported 2/9/2017 Scheduled Feb 15, 2017 at 4:00 PM Room D-1 Stratton 2/8/2017 Assigned to Personnel & Pensions 1/30/2017 House Introduction HB 1775 - Pension Code - Chicago Firefighter - Retirement Increase Amends the Chicago Firefighter Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Incrementally increases the minimum retirement annuity for current and future retirees who have retired from service at age 50 or over with 20 or more years of service, up to $1,250 per month beginning on January 1, 2020. Also makes a technical change. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately. 2/14/2017 Assigned to Personnel & Pensions 2/1/2017 House Introduction HB 2352 - Public Safety Employee Benefits - Catastrophic Injury Amends the Public Safety Employee Benefits Act. Provides that "catastrophic injury" means an injury, the direct and proximate consequences of which permanently prevent an individual from performing any gainful work. Effective immediately. 2/23/2017 Referred to Workforce Reconciliation Subcommittee 2/9/2017 Scheduled Feb 16, 2017 at 12:00 PM Room 114 Capitol 2/8/2017 Assigned to Labor & Commerce 2/2/2017 House Introduction HB 2382 - Fire Hydrants - Dry Hydrant Amends the Fire Hydrant Act. Defines "dry hydrant". Contains provisions concerning the maintenance of and access to specified dry hydrants. Provides that all other dry hydrants shall be subject to specified provisions of the Act and a specified additional requirement. 2/24/2017 Committee Favorably Reported 2/14/2017 Assigned to Fire & Emergency Services 2/3/2017 House Introduction
HB 2405 - Pension Code - Tier 3 Plan Amends the Illinois Pension Code. With respect to the 5 State-funded Retirement Systems: requires each System to implement a Tier 3 plan by July 1, 2018 that aggregates State and employee contributions in individual participant accounts which are used for payouts after retirement. Provides that a person who becomes a participant of a System on or after July 1, 2018 shall participate in the Tier 3 plan instead of the defined benefit plan. Authorizes a Tier 1 or Tier 2 participant to elect to participate in the Tier 3 plan instead of the defined benefit plan and to also elect to terminate all participation in the defined benefit plan and to have a specified amount credited to his or her account. Makes related changes in the State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971. In the Downstate Teachers, State Employees, and State Universities Articles, authorizes a person to elect not to participate or to terminate participation in those Systems. In the General Assembly and Judges Articles, authorizes a participant to terminate his or her participation in the System. In the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF), State Employees, State Universities, and Downstate Teachers Articles, for participants who first become participants on or after the effective date, prohibits payments for unused sick or vacation time from being used to calculate pensionable salary and unused sick or vacation time from being used to establish service credit. In the Downstate Teachers Article, prohibits an employer from making employee contributions on behalf of an employee, except to allow an employee to make pre-tax contributions. Amends the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Act to prohibit collective bargaining over that prohibition. Effective immediately. 2/24/2017 Scheduled March 9, 2017 at 10:30 AM Room 122B Capitol 2/14/2017 Assigned to Personnel & Pensions 2/3/2017 House Introduction HB 2490 - Pension Code - Downstate Firefighters - Administrative Costs Amends the Downstate Police and Downstate Firefighter Articles of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that, subject to appropriation, beginning with fiscal year 2018, a municipality that has a fund created after July 1, 2012 may apply to the Department of Insurance for reimbursement for administrative costs associated with the creation and administration of the fund, including, but not limited to, legal fees, actuarial analyses, continuing education for board members, and other qualified costs, as determined by the Department of Insurance. Provides that reimbursement may only be made for administrative costs associated with the first 5 years after the fund is created. Provides that a municipality that established a fund pursuant to a referendum is not eligible for reimbursement. Authorizes rulemaking. Effective immediately. 2/22/2017 Assigned to Personnel & Pensions 2/7/2017 House Introduction HB 2491 - Pension Code - QILDRO - Calculate Salary Amends the General Provisions Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that for the purposes of a specified formula for calculating the amount of a Qualified Illinois Domestic Relations Order (QILDRO), the gross amount of the member's monthly retirement benefit shall be calculated as of the member's effective date of retirement, but using the member's salary on the date the QILDRO is issued if that date is after January 1, 2018. Effective immediately. 2/22/2017 Assigned to Personnel & Pensions 2/7/2017 House Introduction
HB 2492 - Vehicle Code - Emergency Vehicles - Weight Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that the Code Chapter governing size, weight, and load of vehicles does not apply to fire apparatus or authorized emergency vehicles owned or operated by any governmental body or not-for-profit fire protection service organization or agency. Removes a provision providing that an emergency vehicle may not exceed 86,000 pounds gross weight or other listed weights. 2/24/2017 Scheduled March 8, 2017 at 10:00 AM Room 122B Capitol 2/22/2017 Assigned to Transportation: Vehicles & Safety 2/7/2017 House Introduction HB 2496 - Pension Code - SERS - Disability Amends the State Employee Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Allows licensed health care professionals (rather than just physicians) to make certain disability determinations. Defines "licensed health care professional". Requires a licensed health care professional to submit his or her registration number on all reports submitted to the System. Eliminates the 12-month application deadline for certain disability benefits. Makes changes to provisions concerning when a nonoccupational disability benefit begins to accrue. Also makes changes relating to Social Security full retirement age and to hearings under certain provisions of the Workers' Compensation Act and the Workers' Occupational Diseases Act. Makes a technical change. Effective immediately. 2/22/2017 Assigned to Personnel & Pensions 2/7/2017 House Introduction HB 2497 - Pension Code - Judges -Tier 2 Amends the Judges Article of the Illinois Pension Code. In provisions concerning the retirement annuity amount, specifies that the maximum annual salary of $106,800 is for all purposes under the Article; makes a related change in provisions concerning temporary total disability benefits. Provides that if 2 or more persons are eligible to receive survivor's annuities based on the same deceased participant that first serves as a judge after January 1, 2011, the calculation of the survivor's annuities shall be based on the total calculation of the survivor's annuity and divided pro rata. Makes changes in provisions concerning employee contributions to clarify to whom certain provisions apply. Effective immediately. 2/22/2017 Assigned to Executive 2/7/2017 House Introduction
HB 2547 - Pension Code - Downstate Teachers - Return to Teaching Amends the Downstate Teacher Article of the Illinois Pension Code. In the provision defining "eligible employment" for the purpose of allowing a teacher to return to teaching in subject shortage areas without impairing his or her retirement status or retirement annuity, changes the ending date of the employment from no later than June 30, 2013 to no later than June 30, 2020. Provides that any benefit increase that results from the amendatory Act is excluded from the definition of "new benefit increase". Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement by the State. Effective immediately. 2/22/2017 Assigned to Personnel & Pensions 2/8/2017 House Introduction HB 2550 - Vehicle Code - Firefighter Memoral Fund - Grants Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that in addition to other purposes, moneys in the Illinois Fire Fighters' Memorial Fund shall be used to provide scholarships for graduate study, undergraduate study, or any other post-secondary education approved by the Illinois Firefighter Memorial Foundation (rather than only graduate study or undergraduate study) to children and spouses of fire fighters killed in the line of duty. Effective immediately. 2/24/2017 Scheduled March 9, 2017 at 10:30 AM Room 115 Capitol 2/22/2017 Assigned to Fire & Emergency Services 2/8/2017 House Introduction HB 2551 - State Fire Marshall - Grants Amends the State Fire Marshal Act. Provides that the Office of the State Fire Marshal shall administer grants (currently, General Revenue Fund grants) to areas not located in a fire protection district or in a municipality which provides fire protection services, to defray the organizational expenses of forming a fire protection district. Amends the Law Enforcement and Fire Fighting Medal of Honor Act. Provides that members of the Fire Fighting Medal of Honor Committee shall serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed for actual expenses incurred in the performance of their duties from funds appropriated to the Office of the State Fire Marshal (currently, Office of the Governor) for such purpose. Effective immediately. 2/24/2017 Scheduled March 9, 2017 at 10:30 AM Room 115 Capitol 2/22/2017 Assigned to Fire & Emergency Services 2/8/2017 House Introduction HB 2575 - Local Government Protection Authority Act Creates the Illinois Local Government Protection Authority Act. Provides findings of the General Assembly and establishes the Authority with the purpose of achieving solutions to financial difficulties faced by units of local government. Defines terms and creates a board of trustees. Sets forth the Authority's duties and powers, including the ability to obtain the unit of local government's records and to recommend revenue increases. Provides for a petition process, whereby certain entities may petition the Authority to review a unit of local government. Sets forth participation requirements.