Public Act 1090 93RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HB0612 Enrolled LRB093 05660 EFG 05753 b

Public Act 093-1090

AN ACT in relation to pensions.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Illinois Pension Code is amended by changing Sections 4-109.3, 4-110, 4-110.1, 4-111, and 4-114 as follows:

(40 ILCS 5/4-109.3)

Sec. 4-109.3. Employee creditable service.

(a) As used in this Section:

"Final monthly salary" means the monthly salary attached to the rank held by the firefighter at the time of his or her last withdrawal from service under a particular pension fund.

"Last pension fund" means the pension fund in which the firefighter was participating at the time of his or her last withdrawal from service.

(b) The benefits provided under this Section are available only to a firefighter who:

(1) is a firefighter at the time of withdrawal from the last pension fund and for at least the final 3 years of employment prior to that withdrawal;

(2) has established service credit with at least one pension fund established under this Article other than the last pension fund;

(3) has a total of at least 20 years of service under the various pension funds established under this Article and has attained age 50; and

(4) is in service on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 93rd General Assembly.

(c) A firefighter who is eligible for benefits under this Section may elect to receive a retirement pension from each pension fund under this Article in which the firefighter has at least one year of service credit but has not received a refund under Section 4-116 (unless the firefighter repays that refund under subsection (g)) or subsection (c) of Section 4-118.1, by applying in writing and paying the contribution required under subsection (i).

(d) From each such pension fund other than the last pension fund, in lieu of any retirement pension otherwise payable under this Article, a firefighter to whom this Section applies may elect to receive a monthly pension of 1/12th of 2.5% of his or her final monthly salary under that fund for each month of service in that fund, subject to a maximum of 75% of that final monthly salary.

(e) From the last pension fund, in lieu of any retirement pension otherwise payable under this Article, a firefighter to whom this Section applies may elect to receive a monthly pension calculated as follows:

The last pension fund shall calculate the retirement pension that would be payable to the firefighter under subsection (a) of Section 4-109 as if he or she had participated in that last pension fund during his or her entire period of service under all pension funds established under this Article (excluding any period of service for which the firefighter has received a refund under Section 4-116, unless the firefighter repays that refund under subsection (g), or for which the firefighter has received a refund under subsection (c) of Section 4-118.1). From this hypothetical pension there shall be subtracted the original amounts of the retirement pensions payable to the firefighter by all other pension funds under subsection (d). The remainder is the retirement pension payable to the firefighter by the last pension fund under this subsection (e).

(f) Pensions elected under this Section shall be subject to increases as provided in subsection (d) of Section 4-109.1.

(g) A current firefighter may reinstate creditable service in a pension fund established under this Article that was terminated upon receipt of a refund, by payment to that pension fund of the amount of the refund together with interest thereon at the rate of 6% per year, compounded annually, from the date of the refund to the date of payment. A repayment of a refund under this Section may be made in equal installments over a period of up to 10 years, but must be paid in full prior to retirement.

(h) As a condition of being eligible for the benefits provided in this Section, a person who is hired to a position as a firefighter on or after July 1, 2004 the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 93rd General Assembly, a firefighter must, within 21 months after being hired, notify the new employer, all of his or her previous employers under this Article, and the Public Pension Division of the Division Department of Insurance of the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation , within one year of being hired, of his or her intent to receive the benefits provided under this Section all periods of service of at least one year under a pension fund established under this Article.

(i) In order to receive a pension under this Section or an occupational disease disability pension for which he or she becomes eligible due to the application of subsection (m) of this Section, a firefighter must pay to each pension fund from which he or she has elected to receive a pension under this Section a contribution equal to 1/12th of 1% of monthly salary for each month of service credit that the firefighter has in that fund (other than service credit for which the firefighter has already paid the additional contribution required under subsection (c) of Section 4-118.1), together with interest thereon at the rate of 6% per annum, compounded annually, from the firefighter's first day of employment with that fund or the first day of the fiscal year of that fund that immediately precedes the firefighter's first day of employment with that fund, whichever is earlier.

In order for a firefighter who, as of the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 93rd General Assembly, has not begun to receive a pension under this Section or an occupational disease disability pension under subsection (m) of this Section and who has contributed 1/12th of 1% of monthly salary for each month of service credit that the firefighter has in that fund (other than service credit for which the firefighter has already paid the additional contribution required under subsection (c) of Section 4-118.1), together with the required interest thereon, to receive a pension under this Section or an occupational disease disability pension for which he or she becomes eligible due to the application of subsection (m) of this Section, the firefighter must, within one year after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 93rd General Assembly, make an additional contribution equal to 11/12ths of 1% of monthly salary for each month of service credit that the firefighter has in that fund (other than service credit for which the firefighter has already paid the additional contribution required under subsection (c) of Section 4-118.1), together with interest thereon at the rate of 6% per annum, compounded annually, from the firefighter's first day of employment with that fund or the first day of the fiscal year of that fund that immediately precedes the firefighter's first day of employment with the fund, whichever is earlier. A firefighter who, as of the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 93rd General Assembly, has not begun to receive a pension under this Section or an occupational disease disability pension under subsection (m) of this Section and who has contributed 1/12th of 1% of monthly salary for each month of service credit that the firefighter has in that fund (other than service credit for which the firefighter has already paid the additional contribution required under subsection (c) of Section 4-118.1), together with the required interest thereon, in order to receive a pension under this Section or an occupational disease disability pension under subsection (m) of this Section, may elect, within one year after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 93rd General Assembly to forfeit the benefits provided under this Section and receive a refund of that contribution. time the service was rendered to the date of payment.

(j) A retired firefighter who is receiving pension payments under Section 4-109 may reenter active service under this Article. Subject to the provisions of Section 4-117, the firefighter may receive credit for service performed after the reentry if the firefighter (1) applies to receive credit for that service, (2) suspends his or her pensions under this Section, and (3) makes the contributions required under subsection (i).

(k) A firefighter who is newly hired or promoted to a position as a firefighter shall not be denied participation in a fund under this Article based on his or her age.

(l) If a firefighter who elects to make contributions under subsection (c) of Section 4-118.1 for the pension benefits provided under this Section becomes entitled to a disability pension under Section 4-110, the last pension fund is responsible to pay that disability pension and the amount of that disability pension shall be based only on the firefighter's service with the last pension fund.

(m) Notwithstanding any provision in Section 4-110.1 to the contrary, if a firefighter who elects to make contributions under subsection (c) of Section 4-118.1 for the pension benefits provided under this Section becomes entitled to an occupational disease disability pension under Section 4-110.1, each pension fund to which the firefighter has made contributions under subsection (c) of Section 4-118.1 must pay a portion of that occupational disease disability pension equal to the proportion that the firefighter's service credit with that pension fund for which the contributions under subsection (c) of Section 4-118.1 have been made bears to the firefighter's total service credit with all of the pension funds for which the contributions under subsection (c) of Section 4-118.1 have been made. A firefighter who has made contributions under subsection (c) of Section 4-118.1 for at least 5 years of creditable service shall be deemed to have met the 5-year creditable service requirement under Section 4-110.1, regardless of whether the firefighter has 5 years of creditable service with the last pension fund.

(n) If a firefighter who elects to make contributions under subsection (c) of Section 4-118.1 for the pension benefits provided under this Section becomes entitled to a disability pension under Section 4-111, the last pension fund is responsible to pay that disability pension, provided that the firefighter has at least 7 years of creditable service with the last pension fund.

(Source: P.A. 93-689, eff. 7-1-04.)

(40 ILCS 5/4-110) (from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 4-110)

Sec. 4-110. Disability pension - Line of duty. If a firefighter, as the result of sickness, accident or injury incurred in or resulting from the performance of an act of duty or from the cumulative effects of acts of duty, is found, pursuant to Section 4-112, to be physically or mentally permanently disabled for service in the fire department, so as to render necessary his or her being placed on disability pension, the firefighter shall be entitled to a disability pension equal to the greater of (1) 65% of the monthly salary attached to the rank held by him or her in the fire department at the date he or she is removed from the municipality's fire department payroll or (2) the retirement pension that the firefighter would be eligible to receive if he or she retired (but not including any automatic annual increase in that retirement pension). A firefighter shall be considered "on duty" while on any assignment approved by the chief of the fire department, even though away from the municipality he or she serves as a firefighter, if the assignment is related to the fire protection service of the municipality.

Such firefighter shall also be entitled to a child's disability benefit of $20 a month on account of each unmarried child less than 18 years of age and dependent upon the firefighter for support, either the issue of the firefighter or legally adopted by him or her. The total amount of child's disability benefit payable to the firefighter, when added to his or her disability pension, shall not exceed 75% of the amount of salary which the firefighter was receiving at the date of retirement.

Benefits payable on account of a child under this Section shall not be reduced or terminated by reason of the child's attainment of age 18 if he or she is then dependent by reason of a physical or mental disability but shall continue to be paid as long as such dependency continues. Individuals over the age of 18 and adjudged to be disabled persons pursuant to Article XIa of the Probate Act of 1975, except for persons receiving benefits under Article III of the Illinois Public Aid Code, shall be eligible to receive benefits under this Act.

If a firefighter dies while still disabled and receiving a disability pension under this Section, the disability pension shall continue to be paid to the firefighter's survivors in the sequence provided in Section 4-114 but shall, from the date of death, become subject to the requirements, including limitations on amount, that are provided for pensions to survivors under Section 4-114. A pension previously granted under Section 4-114 to a survivor of a firefighter who died while receiving a disability pension under this Section shall be deemed to be a continuation of the pension provided under this Section and shall be deemed to be in the nature of worker's compensation payments. The changes to this Section made by this amendatory Act of 1995 are intended to be retroactive and are not limited to persons in service on or after its effective date.

(Source: P.A. 91-466, eff. 8-6-99.)

(40 ILCS 5/4-110.1) (from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 4-110.1)

Sec. 4-110.1. Occupational disease disability pension.

The General Assembly finds that service in the fire department requires firefighters in times of stress and danger to perform unusual tasks; that firefighters are subject to exposure to extreme heat or extreme cold in certain seasons while performing their duties; that they are required to work in the midst of and are subject to heavy smoke fumes, and carcinogenic, poisonous, toxic or chemical gases from fires; and that these conditions exist and arise out of or in the course of employment.

An active firefighter with 5 or more years of creditable service who is found, pursuant to Section 4-112, unable to perform his or her duties in the fire department by reason of heart disease, stroke, tuberculosis, or any disease of the lungs or respiratory tract, resulting from service as a firefighter, is entitled to an occupational disease disability pension during any period of such disability for which he or she has no right to receive salary.

Any active firefighter who has completed 5 or more years of service and is unable to perform his or her duties in the fire department by reason of a disabling cancer, which develops or manifests itself during a period while the firefighter is in the service of the fire department, shall be entitled to receive an occupational disease disability benefit during any period of such disability for which he or she does not have a right to receive salary. In order to receive this occupational disease disability benefit, (i) the type of cancer involved must be a type which may be caused by exposure to heat, radiation or a known carcinogen as defined by the International Agency for Research on Cancer and (ii) the cancer must (and is rebuttably presumed to) arise as a result of service as a firefighter.

A firefighter who enters the service after August 27, 1971 shall be examined by one or more practicing physicians appointed by the board. If the examination discloses impairment of the heart, lungs or respiratory tract, or the existence of any cancer, the firefighter shall not be entitled to the occupational disease disability pension unless and until a subsequent examination reveals no such impairment or cancer.

The occupational disease disability pension shall be equal to the greater of (1) 65% of the salary attached to the rank held by the firefighter in the fire service at the time of his or her removal from the municipality's fire department payroll or (2) the retirement pension that the firefighter would be eligible to receive if he or she retired (but not including any automatic annual increase in that retirement pension).

The firefighter is also entitled to a child's disability benefit of $20 a month for each natural or legally adopted unmarried child less than age 18 dependent upon the firefighter for support. The total child's disability benefit when added to the occupational disease disability pension shall not exceed 75% of the firefighter's salary at the time of the grant of occupational disease disability pension.

The occupational disease disability pension is payable to the firefighter during the period of the disability. If the disability ceases before the death of the firefighter, the disability pension payable under this Section shall also cease and the firefighter thereafter shall receive such pension benefits as are provided in accordance with other provisions of this Article.

If a firefighter dies while still disabled and receiving a disability pension under this Section, the disability pension shall continue to be paid to the firefighter's survivors in the sequence provided in Section 4-114 but shall, from the date of death, become subject to the requirements, including limitations on amount, that are provided for pensions to survivors under Section 4-114. A pension previously granted under Section 4-114 to a survivor of a firefighter who died while receiving a disability pension under this Section shall be deemed to be a continuation of the pension provided under this Section and shall be deemed to be in the nature of worker's occupational disease compensation payments. The changes to this Section made by this amendatory Act of 1995 are intended to be retroactive and are not limited to persons in service on or after its effective date.

The child's disability benefit shall terminate if the disability ceases while the firefighter is alive or when the child or children attain age 18 or marry, whichever event occurs first, except that benefits payable on account of a child under this Section shall not be reduced or terminated by reason of the child's attainment of age 18 if he or she is then dependent by reason of a physical or mental disability but shall continue to be paid as long as such dependency continues. Individuals over the age of 18 and adjudged as a disabled person pursuant to Article XIa of the Probate Act of 1975, except for persons receiving benefits under Article III of the Illinois Public Aid Code, shall be eligible to receive benefits under this Act.

(Source: P.A. 91-466, eff. 8-6-99.)

(40 ILCS 5/4-111) (from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 4-111)

Sec. 4-111. Disability pension - Not in duty. A firefighter having at least 7 years of creditable service who becomes disabled as a result of any cause other than an act of duty, and who is found, pursuant to Section 4-112, to be physically or mentally permanently disabled so as to render necessary his or her being placed on disability pension, shall be granted a disability pension of 50% of the monthly salary attached to the rank held by the firefighter in the fire service at the date he or she is removed from the municipality's fire department payroll. If a firefighter dies while still disabled and receiving a disability pension under this Section, the disability pension shall continue to be paid to the firefighter's survivors in the sequence provided in Section 4-114 if that disability pension is greater than the survivors pension provided under subsection (a) of Section 4-114.

(Source: P.A. 83-1440.)

(40 ILCS 5/4-114) (from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 4-114)

Sec. 4-114. Pension to survivors. If a firefighter who is not receiving a disability pension under Section 4-110 or 4-110.1 dies (1) as a result of any illness or accident, or (2) from any cause while in receipt of a disability pension under this Article, or (3) during retirement after 20 years service, or (4) while vested for or in receipt of a pension payable under subsection (b) of Section 4-109, or (5) while a deferred pensioner, having made all required contributions, a pension shall be paid to his or her survivors, based on the monthly salary attached to the firefighter's rank on the last day of service in the fire department, as follows:

(a)(1) To the surviving spouse, a monthly pension of 40% of the monthly salary, and to the guardian of any minor child or children including a child which has been conceived but not yet born, 12% of such monthly salary for each such child until attainment of age 18 or until the child's marriage, whichever occurs first. Beginning July 1, 1993, the monthly pension to the surviving spouse shall be 54% of the monthly salary for all persons receiving a surviving spouse pension under this Article, regardless of whether the deceased firefighter was in service on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1993.

(2) Beginning July 1, 2004, unless the amount provided under paragraph (1) of this subsection (a) is greater, the total monthly pension payable under this paragraph (a), including any amount payable on account of children, to the surviving spouse of a firefighter who died (i) while receiving a retirement pension, (ii) while he or she was a deferred pensioner with at least 20 years of creditable service, or (iii) while he or she was in active service having at least 20 years of creditable service, regardless of age, including any amount payable on account of children, shall be no less than 100% of the monthly retirement pension earned by that the deceased firefighter at the time of death, regardless of whether death occurs before or after attainment of age 50, was receiving at the time of death, including any increases under Section 4-109.1. This minimum applies to all such surviving spouses who are eligible to receive a surviving spouse pension, regardless of whether the deceased firefighter was in service on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 93rd General Assembly, and notwithstanding any limitation on maximum pension under paragraph (d) or any other provision of this Article.

(3) If the pension paid on and after July 1, 2004 to the surviving spouse of a firefighter who died on or after July 1, 2004 and before the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 93rd General Assembly was less than the minimum pension payable under paragraph (1) or (2) of this subsection (a), the fund shall pay a lump sum equal to the difference within 90 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 93rd General Assembly.

The pension to the surviving spouse shall terminate in the event of the surviving spouse's remarriage prior to July 1, 1993; remarriage on or after that date does not affect the surviving spouse's pension, regardless of whether the deceased firefighter was in service on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1993.

The surviving spouse's pension shall be subject to the minimum established in Section 4-109.2.

(b) Upon the death of the surviving spouse leaving one or more minor children, to the duly appointed guardian of each such child, for support and maintenance of each such child until the child reaches age 18 or marries, whichever occurs first, a monthly pension of 20% of the monthly salary.

(c) If a deceased firefighter leaves no surviving spouse or unmarried minor children under age 18, but leaves a dependent father or mother, to each dependent parent a monthly pension of 18% of the monthly salary. To qualify for the pension, a dependent parent must furnish satisfactory proof that the deceased firefighter was at the time of his or her death the sole supporter of the parent or that the parent was the deceased's dependent for federal income tax purposes.

(d) The total pension provided under paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of this Section shall not exceed 75% of the monthly salary of the deceased firefighter (1) when paid to the survivor of a firefighter who has attained 20 or more years of service credit and who receives or is eligible to receive a retirement pension under this Article, or (2) when paid to the survivor of a firefighter who dies as a result of illness or accident, or (3) when paid to the survivor of a firefighter who dies from any cause while in receipt of a disability pension under this Article, or (4) when paid to the survivor of a deferred pensioner. For all other survivors of deceased firefighters, the total pension provided under paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of this Section shall not exceed 50% of the retirement annuity the firefighter would have received on the date of death.

The maximum pension limitations in this paragraph (d) do not control over any contrary provision of this Article explicitly establishing a minimum amount of pension or granting a one-time or annual increase in pension.

(e) If a firefighter leaves no eligible survivors under paragraphs (a), (b) and (c), the board shall refund to the firefighter's estate the amount of his or her accumulated contributions, less the amount of pension payments, if any, made to the firefighter while living.

(f) An adopted child is eligible for the pension provided under paragraph (a) if the child was adopted before the firefighter attained age 50.

(g) If a judgment of dissolution of marriage between a firefighter and spouse is judicially set aside subsequent to the firefighter's death, the surviving spouse is eligible for the pension provided in paragraph (a) only if the judicial proceedings are filed within 2 years after the date of the dissolution of marriage and within one year after the firefighter's death and the board is made a party to the proceedings. In such case the pension shall be payable only from the date of the court's order setting aside the judgment of dissolution of marriage.

(h) Benefits payable on account of a child under this Section shall not be reduced or terminated by reason of the child's attainment of age 18 if he or she is then dependent by reason of a physical or mental disability but shall continue to be paid as long as such dependency continues. Individuals over the age of 18 and adjudged as a disabled person pursuant to Article XIa of the Probate Act of 1975, except for persons receiving benefits under Article III of the Illinois Public Aid Code, shall be eligible to receive benefits under this Act.

(i) Beginning January 1, 2000, the pension of the surviving spouse of a firefighter who dies on or after January 1, 1994 as a result of sickness, accident, or injury incurred in or resulting from the performance of an act of duty or from the cumulative effects of acts of duty shall not be less than 100% of the salary attached to the rank held by the deceased firefighter on the last day of service, notwithstanding subsection (d) or any other provision of this Article.

(j) Beginning July 1, 2004, the pension of the surviving spouse of a firefighter who dies on or after January 1, 1988 as a result of sickness, accident, or injury incurred in or resulting from the performance of an act of duty or from the cumulative effects of acts of duty shall not be less than 100% of the salary attached to the rank held by the deceased firefighter on the last day of service, notwithstanding subsection (d) or any other provision of this Article.

(Source: P.A. 93-689, eff. 7-1-04.)

Section 90. The State Mandates Act is amended by adding Section 8.28 as follows:

(30 ILCS 805/8.28 new)

Sec. 8.28. Exempt mandate. Notwithstanding Sections 6 and 8 of this Act, no reimbursement by the State is required for the implementation of any mandate created by this amendatory Act of the 93rd General Assembly.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.