Legislation Update and Pending Bills
Core Legislation status.

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Latest update: May 20, 2013
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STATE OF ILLINOIS LEGISLATION
(SEE BELOW - CLICK HERE - FOR FEDERAL LEGISLATION)


A BIG defeat for anyone hired after January 1, 2011- Bill 1946 changes the defined benefit pension plan to a defined contribution pension plan, does not pay a pension until a retiree reaches the age of 67 and averages the last EIGHT years of service to determine the amount of the pension (see our archives page for the vote).
Be Watchful!

On July 19, 2009, WBBM (780) radio interviewed Senate President Cullerton on their 'At Issue' program.  At one point, when talking about sources of revenue, he pointed out that Illinois is one of the few states that does not tax retirement income.

(CLICK HERE FOR A LIST OF THE 2013 LEGISLATION AND THE CURRENT STATUS OF THAT LEGISLATION)
For the latest status go to Legislation status - Illinois or click on the bill number in the table below
WATCH THIS SPACE FOR BREAKING NEWS ON ANY BILL(S) THAT PROPOSE PENSION CHANGES!

Read the proposed Constitutional Amendment HERE,  RTAC's comments HERE and letters of explanation HERE
NOTE: The Amendment FAILED to pass in the November election!

2013 LEGISLATION UPDATE
FINALLY - a little balance - click here to learn more.
Proposed RTAC Legislation for 2013
Proposed CTPF Legislation for 2013
  • Eliminate the State Offset where CPS contributions are reduced by the amount that the state contributes.
  • Increase the State Contributions.  Require the state to contribute AT LEAST $344 million (about 10% of what is given to TRS)
  • Increase the CPS contributions.
  • Increase retiree health care reimbursements.  The pension code allows a reimbursement of up to75% but CTPF is limited to $65 million.
  • Provide for Ad-Hoc lite increase for those who received their initial pension prior to 1980.
  • Increase the maximum total payments for the health insurance rebate to $100 million.
  • Receive an amount equal to 20% of what the State appropriates to TRS.
  • Provide for a 4th Annuitant on the Pension Fund Board.
  • Oppose any and all legislation which would adversely affect our pensions.
  • Restore the CTPF property tax levy and require the collected funds be transferred to CTPF in a timely manner.
  • Eliminate the State Offset where CPS contributions are reduced by the amount that the state contributes. (SB1919 & HB2751)
  • Increase the State Contributions.  Require the state to contribute AT LEAST $344 million (SB1926 & HB2652). 
  • Increase the CPS contributions. 
  • Change the way retiree health care reimbursements are calculated. (SB2252 & HB2789)
  • Increase the accountability of Charter Schools. (SB1523 & HB2583)
  • Require equitable funding for CTPF and require CPS to make annual contributions to pay for the fund's accumulated liabilities. (HB1484)

For members of the 98th (2013-2014) Illinois Legislative Session use the following links:
Illinois Senators by district or Illinois Senators by name
Illinois Representatives by district or Illinois Representatives by name

Bill
Sponsor Status Proposed Action
Legislation Which Has Been Introduced During the 98th Legislative Session (2013-2014)
(See the Archives for 2009-2012 Legislation)
HJRCA0002
Jakobsson In Rules Committee
Proposes to amend the Revenue Article of the Illinois Constitution. Provides that individual income taxes may be at a graduated or a non-graduated rate. Provides that any such tax imposed on corporations shall be at a non-graduated rate, not to exceed the average of the lowest and highest individual rates by more than a ratio of 8 to 5
Legislation which has been introduced in the Illinois House of Representatives
HB0098
HB1154
HB1165
HB1166
HB3162
HB3303
|SB0001|
&
|HA #1|
SB2404
Nekritz
Madigan
Madigan
Madigan
Hoffman
Morrison
|Cullerton|
&
 |Madigan|
Cullerton

All of these bills propose changes to the DOWNSTATE and  SUBURBAN TRS pension system and DO NOT affect CTPF pensions.   Please read the guestbook entry by Kyle with a possible explanation of why they most probably will never affect our pensions.   RTAC's lobbiests are aware of these bills and are keeping an eye on them.   Should there be a change we will alert you as soon as possible.  See also comments on the Constitutionality of the Union Proposal on Pension Reform here.
HB0036
Franks In Rules Committee
Shell bills that make technical changes but leave the door open for more serious changes. (WATCH FOR CHANGES)
HB0050
Franks
HB0073
Jakobsson
In Rules Committee Amends the State Employees Group Insurance Act.  Makes changes to the contributions required for the basic program of health insurance using a sliding scale. (WATCH FOR CHANGES)
HB0092#
McSweeney In Rules Committee Amends the General Assembly Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that no participant shall accrue service credit on or after January 14, 2015, and no member shall become a participant on or after January 14, 2015.
HB0096
McSweeney Tabled
Shifts the cost of healthcare from the state to the institutions that employed the retirees. (WATCH FOR CHANGES
HB0098##
Nekritz In Rules Committee Increases required employee contributions for Tier I members and participants. Limits pensionable salary for Tier I participants. Changes the required State contribution to each of the affected retirement systems so that those systems are 100% funded by 2043. Guarantees certain funding levels. In the State Universities and Downstate Teacher Articles, shifts costs to local employers.  NOTE: As of 5/9/2013 this ONLY applies to downstate pensions, NOT Chicago pensions.   (See SB0001 for other amendments) Read other comments and analyzes here. (WATCH FOR CHANGES) 
HB0942
Flowers
Placed on Calendar 2nd Reading Creates the Illinois Universal Health Care Act.  Provides that all individuals residing in the State are covered under the Illinois Health Services Program for Health insurance.
HB1165
Madigan
Passed House 66-50
(See Vote)
In Senate Executive Committee
Limits compounded annual cost-of-living increases for state retirees and will only affect current and retired state workers, university employees, legislators, and downstate and suburban teachers.  The bill also requires current and future public employees to wait until age 67 or five years after retirement to begin collecting retirement benefits.  State employees' COLAs would be capped at the lesser of 3 percent of $750 per year.  NOTE: As of 5/9/2013 this ONLY applies to downstate pensions, NOT Chicago pensions. (WATCH FOR CHANGES) 
HB1296
Mitchell
Lost on House Vote
(See Vote)
Requires each pension fund and retirement system to make its best efforts to identify all firearm manufacturing companies in which it has direct or indirect holdings and, under certain circumstances, divest itself from holdings in those companies. (IN FAVOR)
HB1484##
Currie
In Rules Committee Specifies the amount of required State and CPS funding contributions for fiscal year 2014.  Beginning in fiscal year 2015, changes the goal from 90% to 100% and specifies the manner in which the required contributions will be determined. (IN FAVOR)
HB2583##
Burke
Passed House 65-50
(See Vote)
In Senate Licensed Activities and Pensions  Committee
Provides stricter requirements for charter schools that are delinquent on payroll submissions to CTPF. See also SB1523. (IN FAVOR)
HB2620#
Riley
Passed House 74-42
(See Vote)
In Senate Executive Committee
In the Section requiring the use of a competitive selection process for obtaining investment services, creates an additional exception for "contracts for follow-on funds with the same fund sponsor through closed-end funds".  This allows successful investment services to award contracts to other funds with he same sponsor without requiring competitive bidding.
HB2652##
Davis
In Rules Committee Increases the 2014 state contribution to CTPF to $344 million and requires the State of Illinois contribution in future years to be at least 10% of the amount authorized for TRS. see also SB1926. (IN FAVOR)
HB2751##
Turner
In Rules Committee Allows CTPF to receive full contributions from BOTH CPS and the State of Illinois.  Currently CPS contributions are offset by any amount CTPF received from the State of Illinois. See also SB1919. (IN FAVOR)
HB2789##
Sims
In Rules Committee
Changes the way health insurance rebates are calculated and removes the $65 million cap on the amount CTPF can reimburse for health insurance premiums.  Our current reimbursement percentage is unsustainable and this bill would allow CTPF to continue the reimbursement for an extended period of time.  See also SB 2252. (IN FAVOR)   (Read James Ward's committee testimony here.)
HB3162
Hoffman
In Rules Committee
Same as SB2404
HB3088
Evans
Passed House 115-0
(See Vote)
In Senate Licensed Activities and Pensions  Committee
Amends the Illinois Pension Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning Chicago municipal employees, officers, and officials, clarifying the composition of the various pension boards.  (IN FAVOR) (Same as SB0448)
Legislation which has been introduced in the Illinois Senate
SB0001#

(House Amendment #1)
Cullerton

Madigan
Passed Senate 30-22
(See Vote)
Passed House 62-51-2
with Amendment
(See Vote)

(Returned to Senate)
See SB2404 below for the latest Senate legislation. 
Increases required employee contributions for Tier I members and participants. Limits pensionable salary for Tier I participants. Changes the required State contribution to each of the affected retirement systems so that those systems are 100% funded by 2043. Guarantees certain funding levels. In the State Universities and Downstate Teacher Articles, shifts costs to local employers.  NOTE: As of 5/9/2013 this ONLY applies to downstate pensions, NOT Chicago pensions.  (Same as HB0098)  Read other comments and analyzes here. (WATCH FOR CHANGESPlease read House Amendment #1 proposed by Speaker Madigan.  Among other things, this amendment creates a new funding schedule,  a new method for certifying contributions, a funding guarantee,  a pensionable salary cap, a new method of calculating the COLA, increases the retirement age, increases employee contributions, eliminates pensions from collective bargaining and prohibits the use of pension fund to pay costs associated with healthcare.  (WATCH CAREFULLYSee also comments on the Constitutionality of the Union Proposal on Pension Reform here.
SB0026
Steans
Passed Senate
40-19
(See Vote)
In House Rules Committee
Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code to expand the State's medical assistance program.
SB0034
Koehler
In Subcommittee on Governmental Operations Amends the Illinois Health Benefits exchange law.  Clarifies the intent of the law.
SB0448
Martinez
Passed Senate 54-0
(See Vote)
In House Awaiting Assignment
Senate Amendment 1 to SB0448 amends the Illinois Pension Code and makes a technical change in a Section concerning Chicago municipal employees, officers, and officials, clarifying the composition of the various pension boards.  (IN FAVOR) (Same as HB3088)
SB1523##
Sandoval
Passed Senate 51-0
(See Vote)
In House Executive Committee
Provides stricter requirements for charter schools that are delinquent on payroll submissions to CTPF.  See also HB2583. (IN FAVOR)
SB1544


Resubmitted as SB0448 - see SB0448 above
SB1919##
Raoul
In Assignments Committee
Allows CTPF to receive full contributions from BOTH CPS and the State of Illinois.  Currently CPS contributions are offset by any amount CTPF received from the State of Illinois. See also HB2751. (IN FAVOR)
SB1926##
Jones
In Assignments Committee Increases the 2014 state contribution to CTPF to $344 million and requires the State of Illinois contribution in future years to be at least 10% of the amount authorized for TRS. See also HB2652. (IN FAVOR)
SB2252##
Trotter
In Subcommittee on Special Issues Changes the way health insurance rebates are calculated and removes the $65 million cap on the amount CTPF can reimburse for health insurance premiums. Our current reimbursement percentage is unsustainable and this bill would allow CTPF to continue the reimbursement for an extended period of time. See also HB 2789. (IN FAVOR)
SB2404#
Cullerton Passed Senate 40-16
(See Vote)
Awaiting House Action
Increases required employee contributions for Tier I members and participants. Limits pensionable salary for Tier I participants. Changes the required State contribution to each of the affected retirement systems so that those systems are 100% funded by 2043. Guarantees certain funding levels. In the State Universities and Downstate Teacher Articles.  NOTE: As of 5/9/2013 this ONLY applies to downstate pensions, NOT Chicago pensions.   Read the CTPF summary hereSee also comments on the Constitutionality of the Union Proposal on Pension Reform here.




****See these Archives for legislative actions prior to the 98th Legislative Session.****
    ## bills of utmost importance     # bills that have high interest

Voice your opinion!!  Personal visits to the office, letters, e-mails are much more effective than phone calls.



FEDERAL LEGISLATION
(5/20/2013)
Support The 2013 Social Security Fairness initiave. 
Encourage your federal legislators to eliminate the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO) that penalize us for receiving a public pension even though we have paid into Social security.
Details here.

See also http://www.ssfairness.com/
.

STAND BY FOR FURTHER CALLS TO ACTION!

(For subject hints, see the Lobbying page.)

For direct information, use these official government links:

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