Public Act 0961 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HB4644 Enrolled LRB096 14771 AMC 29624 b

Public Act 096-0961

AN ACT concerning public employee benefits.

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 7-142, 7-142.1, 7-145.1, 9-121.6, 14-104, and by adding Sections 9-128.2 and 15-113.11 as follows:

(40 ILCS 5/7-142) (from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 7-142)

Sec. 7-142. Retirement annuities - Amount.

(a) The amount of a retirement annuity shall be the sum of the following, determined in accordance with the actuarial tables in effect at the time of the grant of the annuity:

1. For employees with 8 or more years of service, an annuity computed pursuant to subparagraphs a or b of this subparagraph 1, whichever is the higher, and for employees with less than 8 years of service the annuity computed pursuant to subparagraph a:

a. The monthly annuity which can be provided from the total accumulated normal, municipality and prior service credits, as of the attained age of the employee on the date the annuity begins provided that such annuity shall not exceed 75% of the final rate of earnings of the employee.

b. (i) The monthly annuity amount determined as follows by multiplying (a) 1 2/3% for annuitants with not more than 15 years or (b) 1 2/3% for the first 15 years and 2% for each year in excess of 15 years for annuitants with more than 15 years by the number of years plus fractional years, prorated on a basis of months, of creditable service and multiply the product thereof by the employee's final rate of earnings.

(ii) For the sole purpose of computing the formula (and not for the purposes of the limitations hereinafter stated) $125 shall be considered the final rate of earnings in all cases where the final rate of earnings is less than such amount.

(iii) The monthly annuity computed in accordance with this subparagraph b, shall not exceed an amount equal to 75% of the final rate of earnings.

(iv) For employees who have less than 35 years of service, the annuity computed in accordance with this subparagraph b (as reduced by application of subparagraph (iii) above) shall be reduced by 0.25% thereof (0.5% if service was terminated before January 1, 1988) for each month or fraction thereof (1) that the employee's age is less than 60 years, or (2) if the employee has at least 30 years of service credit, that the employee's service credit is less than 35 years, whichever is less, on the date the annuity begins.

2. The annuity which can be provided from the total accumulated additional credits as of the attained age of the employee on the date the annuity begins.

(b) If payment of an annuity begins prior to the earliest age at which the employee will become eligible for an old age insurance benefit under the Federal Social Security Act, he may elect that the annuity payments from this fund shall exceed those payable after his attaining such age by an amount, computed as determined by rules of the Board, but not in excess of his estimated Social Security Benefit, determined as of the effective date of the annuity, provided that in no case shall the total annuity payments made by this fund exceed in actuarial value the annuity which would have been payable had no such election been made.

(c) The retirement annuity shall be increased each year by 2%, not compounded, of the monthly amount of annuity, taking into consideration any adjustment under paragraph (b) of this Section. This increase shall be effective each January 1 and computed from the effective date of the retirement annuity, the first increase being .167% of the monthly amount times the number of months from the effective date to January 1. Beginning January 1, 1984 and thereafter, the retirement annuity shall be increased by 3% each year, not compounded. This increase shall not be applicable to annuitants who are not in service on or after September 8, 1971.

(d) Any elected county officer who was entitled to receive a stipend from the State on or after July 1, 2009 and on or before June 30, 2010 may establish earnings credit for the amount of stipend not received, if the elected county official applies in writing to the fund within 6 months after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly and pays to the fund an amount equal to (i) employee contributions on the amount of stipend not received, (ii) employer contributions determined by the Board equal to the employer's normal cost of the benefit on the amount of stipend not received, plus (iii) interest on items (i) and (ii) at the actuarially assumed rate.

(Source: P.A. 91-357, eff. 7-29-99.)

(40 ILCS 5/7-142.1) (from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 7-142.1)

Sec. 7-142.1. Sheriff's law enforcement employees.

(a) In lieu of the retirement annuity provided by subparagraph 1 of paragraph (a) of Section 7-142:

Any sheriff's law enforcement employee who has 20 or more years of service in that capacity and who terminates service prior to January 1, 1988 shall be entitled at his option to receive a monthly retirement annuity for his service as a sheriff's law enforcement employee computed by multiplying 2% for each year of such service up to 10 years, 2 1/4% for each year of such service above 10 years and up to 20 years, and 2 1/2% for each year of such service above 20 years, by his annual final rate of earnings and dividing by 12.

Any sheriff's law enforcement employee who has 20 or more years of service in that capacity and who terminates service on or after January 1, 1988 and before July 1, 2004 shall be entitled at his option to receive a monthly retirement annuity for his service as a sheriff's law enforcement employee computed by multiplying 2.5% for each year of such service up to 20 years, 2% for each year of such service above 20 years and up to 30 years, and 1% for each year of such service above 30 years, by his annual final rate of earnings and dividing by 12.

Any sheriff's law enforcement employee who has 20 or more years of service in that capacity and who terminates service on or after July 1, 2004 shall be entitled at his or her option to receive a monthly retirement annuity for service as a sheriff's law enforcement employee computed by multiplying 2.5% for each year of such service by his annual final rate of earnings and dividing by 12.

If a sheriff's law enforcement employee has service in any other capacity, his retirement annuity for service as a sheriff's law enforcement employee may be computed under this Section and the retirement annuity for his other service under Section 7-142.

In no case shall the total monthly retirement annuity for persons who retire before July 1, 2004 exceed 75% of the monthly final rate of earnings. In no case shall the total monthly retirement annuity for persons who retire on or after July 1, 2004 exceed 80% of the monthly final rate of earnings.

(b) Whenever continued group insurance coverage is elected in accordance with the provisions of Section 367h of the Illinois Insurance Code, as now or hereafter amended, the total monthly premium for such continued group insurance coverage or such portion thereof as is not paid by the municipality shall, upon request of the person electing such continued group insurance coverage, be deducted from any monthly pension benefit otherwise payable to such person pursuant to this Section, to be remitted by the Fund to the insurance company or other entity providing the group insurance coverage.

(c) A sheriff's law enforcement employee who has service in any other capacity may convert up to 10 years of that service into service as a sheriff's law enforcement employee by paying to the Fund an amount equal to (1) the additional employee contribution required under Section 7-173.1, plus (2) the additional employer contribution required under Section 7-172, plus (3) interest on items (1) and (2) at the prescribed rate from the date of the service to the date of payment.

(d) The changes to subsections (a) and (b) of this Section made by this amendatory Act of the 94th General Assembly apply only to persons in service on or after July 1, 2004. In the case of such a person who begins to receive a retirement annuity before the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 94th General Assembly, the annuity shall be recalculated prospectively to reflect those changes, with the resulting increase beginning to accrue on the first annuity payment date following the effective date of this amendatory Act.

(e) Any elected county officer who was entitled to receive a stipend from the State on or after July 1, 2009 and on or before June 30, 2010 may establish earnings credit for the amount of stipend not received, if the elected county official applies in writing to the fund within 6 months after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly and pays to the fund an amount equal to (i) employee contributions on the amount of stipend not received, (ii) employer contributions determined by the Board equal to the employer's normal cost of the benefit on the amount of stipend not received, plus (iii) interest on items (i) and (ii) at the actuarially assumed rate.

(Source: P.A. 94-712, eff. 6-1-06.)

(40 ILCS 5/7-145.1)

Sec. 7-145.1. Alternative annuity for county officers.

(a) The benefits provided in this Section and Section 7-145.2 are available only if the county board has filed with the Board of the Fund a resolution or ordinance expressly consenting to the availability of these benefits for its elected county officers. The county board's consent is irrevocable with respect to persons participating in the program, but may be revoked at any time with respect to persons who have not paid an additional optional contribution under this Section before the date of revocation.

An elected county officer may elect to establish alternative credits for an alternative annuity by electing in writing to make additional optional contributions in accordance with this Section and procedures established by the board. These alternative credits are available only for periods of service as an elected county officer. The elected county officer may discontinue making the additional optional contributions by notifying the Fund in writing in accordance with this Section and procedures established by the board.

Additional optional contributions for the alternative annuity shall be as follows:

(1) For service as an elected county officer after the option is elected, an additional contribution of 3% of salary shall be contributed to the Fund on the same basis and under the same conditions as contributions required under Section 7-173.

(2) For service as an elected county officer before the option is elected, an additional contribution of 3% of the salary for the applicable period of service, plus interest at the effective rate from the date of service to the date of payment, plus any additional amount required by the county board under paragraph (3). All payments for past service must be paid in full before credit is given.

(3) With respect to service as an elected county officer before the option is elected, if payment is made after the county board has filed with the Board of the Fund a resolution or ordinance requiring an additional contribution under this paragraph, then the contribution required under paragraph (2) shall include an amount to be determined by the Fund, equal to the actuarial present value of the additional employer cost that would otherwise result from the alternative credits being established for that service. A county board's resolution or ordinance requiring additional contributions under this paragraph (3) is irrevocable.

No additional optional contributions may be made for any period of service for which credit has been previously forfeited by acceptance of a refund, unless the refund is repaid in full with interest at the effective rate from the date of refund to the date of repayment.

(b) In lieu of the retirement annuity otherwise payable under this Article, an elected county officer who (1) has elected to participate in the Fund and make additional optional contributions in accordance with this Section, (2) has held and made additional optional contributions with respect to the same elected county office for at least 8 years, and (3) has attained age 55 with at least 8 years of service credit (or has attained age 50 with at least 20 years of service as a sheriff's law enforcement employee) may elect to have his retirement annuity computed as follows: 3% of the participant's salary for each of the first 8 years of service credit, plus 4% of that salary for each of the next 4 years of service credit, plus 5% of that salary for each year of service credit in excess of 12 years, subject to a maximum of 80% of that salary.

This formula applies only to service in an elected county office that the officer held for at least 8 years, and only to service for which additional optional contributions have been paid under this Section. If an elected county officer qualifies to have this formula applied to service in more than one elected county office, the qualifying service shall be accumulated for purposes of determining the applicable accrual percentages, but the salary used for each office shall be the separate salary calculated for that office, as defined in subsection (g).

To the extent that the elected county officer has service credit that does not qualify for this formula, his retirement annuity will first be determined in accordance with this formula with respect to the service to which this formula applies, and then in accordance with the remaining Sections of this Article with respect to the service to which this formula does not apply.

(c) In lieu of the disability benefits otherwise payable under this Article, an elected county officer who (1) has elected to participate in the Fund, and (2) has become permanently disabled and as a consequence is unable to perform the duties of his office, and (3) was making optional contributions in accordance with this Section at the time the disability was incurred, may elect to receive a disability annuity calculated in accordance with the formula in subsection (b). For the purposes of this subsection, an elected county officer shall be considered permanently disabled only if: (i) disability occurs while in service as an elected county officer and is of such a nature as to prevent him from reasonably performing the duties of his office at the time; and (ii) the board has received a written certification by at least 2 licensed physicians appointed by it stating that the officer is disabled and that the disability is likely to be permanent.

(d) Refunds of additional optional contributions shall be made on the same basis and under the same conditions as provided under Section 7-166, 7-167 and 7-168. Interest shall be credited at the effective rate on the same basis and under the same conditions as for other contributions.

If an elected county officer fails to hold that same elected county office for at least 8 years, he or she shall be entitled after leaving office to receive a refund of the additional optional contributions made with respect to that office, plus interest at the effective rate.

(e) The plan of optional alternative benefits and contributions shall be available to persons who are elected county officers and active contributors to the Fund on or after November 15, 1994. A person who was an elected county officer and an active contributor to the Fund on November 15, 1994 but is no longer an active contributor may apply to make additional optional contributions under this Section at any time within 90 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1997; if the person is an annuitant, the resulting increase in annuity shall begin to accrue on the first day of the month following the month in which the required payment is received by the Fund.

(f) For the purposes of this Section and Section 7-145.2, the terms "elected county officer" and "elected county office" include, but are not limited to: (1) the county clerk, recorder, treasurer, coroner, assessor (if elected), auditor, sheriff, and State's Attorney; members of the county board; and the clerk of the circuit court; and (2) a person who has been appointed to fill a vacancy in an office that is normally filled by election on a countywide basis, for the duration of his or her service in that office. The terms "elected county officer" and "elected county office" do not include any officer or office of a county that has not consented to the availability of benefits under this Section and Section 7-145.2.

(g) For the purposes of this Section and Section 7-145.2, the term "salary" means the final rate of earnings for the elected county office held, calculated in a manner consistent with Section 7-116, but for that office only. If an elected county officer qualifies to have the formula in subsection (b) applied to service in more than one elected county office, a separate salary shall be calculated and applied with respect to each such office.

(h) The changes to this Section made by this amendatory Act of the 91st General Assembly apply to persons who first make an additional optional contribution under this Section on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act.

(i) Any elected county officer who was entitled to receive a stipend from the State on or after July 1, 2009 and on or before June 30, 2010 may establish earnings credit for the amount of stipend not received, if the elected county official applies in writing to the fund within 6 months after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly and pays to the fund an amount equal to (i) employee contributions on the amount of stipend not received, (ii) employer contributions determined by the Board equal to the employer's normal cost of the benefit on the amount of stipend not received, plus (iii) interest on items (i) and (ii) at the actuarially assumed rate.

(Source: P.A. 90-32, eff. 6-27-97; 91-685, eff. 1-26-00; 91-887, eff. 7-6-00.)

(40 ILCS 5/9-121.6) (from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 9-121.6)

Sec. 9-121.6. Alternative annuity for county officers.

(a) Any county officer elected by vote of the people may elect to establish alternative credits for an alternative annuity by electing in writing to make additional optional contributions in accordance with this Section and procedures established by the board. Such elected county officer may discontinue making the additional optional contributions by notifying the Fund in writing in accordance with this Section and procedures established by the board.

Additional optional contributions for the alternative annuity shall be as follows:

(1) For service after the option is elected, an additional contribution of 3% of salary shall be contributed to the Fund on the same basis and under the same conditions as contributions required under Sections 9-170 and 9-176.

(2) For service before the option is elected, an additional contribution of 3% of the salary for the applicable period of service, plus interest at the effective rate from the date of service to the date of payment. All payments for past service must be paid in full before credit is given. No additional optional contributions may be made for any period of service for which credit has been previously forfeited by acceptance of a refund, unless the refund is repaid in full with interest at the effective rate from the date of refund to the date of repayment.

(b) In lieu of the retirement annuity otherwise payable under this Article, any county officer elected by vote of the people who (1) has elected to participate in the Fund and make additional optional contributions in accordance with this Section, and (2) has attained age 60 with at least 10 years of service credit, or has attained age 65 with at least 8 years of service credit, may elect to have his retirement annuity computed as follows: 3% of the participant's salary at the time of termination of service for each of the first 8 years of service credit, plus 4% of such salary for each of the next 4 years of service credit, plus 5% of such salary for each year of service credit in excess of 12 years, subject to a maximum of 80% of such salary. To the extent such elected county officer has made additional optional contributions with respect to only a portion of his years of service credit, his retirement annuity will first be determined in accordance with this Section to the extent such additional optional contributions were made, and then in accordance with the remaining Sections of this Article to the extent of years of service credit with respect to which additional optional contributions were not made.

(c) In lieu of the disability benefits otherwise payable under this Article, any county officer elected by vote of the people who (1) has elected to participate in the Fund, and (2) has become permanently disabled and as a consequence is unable to perform the duties of his office, and (3) was making optional contributions in accordance with this Section at the time the disability was incurred, may elect to receive a disability annuity calculated in accordance with the formula in subsection (b). For the purposes of this subsection, such elected county officer shall be considered permanently disabled only if: (i) disability occurs while in service as an elected county officer and is of such a nature as to prevent him from reasonably performing the duties of his office at the time; and (ii) the board has received a written certification by at least 2 licensed physicians appointed by it stating that such officer is disabled and that the disability is likely to be permanent.

(d) Refunds of additional optional contributions shall be made on the same basis and under the same conditions as provided under Section 9-164, 9-166 and 9-167. Interest shall be credited at the effective rate on the same basis and under the same conditions as for other contributions. Optional contributions under this Section shall be included in the amount of employee contributions used to compute the tax levy under Section 9-169.

(e) The effective date of this plan of optional alternative benefits and contributions shall be January 1, 1988, or the date upon which approval is received from the U.S. Internal Revenue Service, whichever is later. The plan of optional alternative benefits and contributions shall not be available to any former county officer or employee receiving an annuity from the Fund on the effective date of the plan, unless he re-enters service as an elected county officer and renders at least 3 years of additional service after the date of re-entry.

(f) Any elected county officer who was entitled to receive a stipend from the State on or after July 1, 2009 and on or before June 30, 2010 may establish earnings credit for the amount of stipend not received, if the elected county official applies in writing to the fund within 6 months after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly and pays to the fund an amount equal to (i) employee contributions on the amount of stipend not received, (ii) employer contributions determined by the Board equal to the employer's normal cost of the benefit on the amount of stipend not received, plus (iii) interest on items (i) and (ii) at the actuarially assumed rate.

(g) (f) The plan of optional alternative benefits and contributions authorized under this Section applies only to county officers elected by vote of the people on or before January 1, 2008 (the effective date of Public Act 95-654).

(Source: P.A. 95-369, eff. 8-23-07; 95-654, eff. 1-1-08; 95-876, eff. 8-21-08.)

(40 ILCS 5/9-128.2 new)

Sec. 9-128.2. Stipends. Any elected county officer who was entitled to receive a stipend from the State on or after July 1, 2009 and on or before June 30, 2010 may establish earnings credit for the amount of stipend not received, if the elected county official applies in writing to the fund within 6 months after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly and pays to the fund an amount equal to (i) employee contributions on the amount of stipend not received, (ii) employer contributions determined by the Board equal to the employer's normal cost of the benefit on the amount of stipend not received, plus (iii) interest on items (i) and (ii) at the actuarially assumed rate.

(40 ILCS 5/14-104) (from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 14-104)

Sec. 14-104. Service for which contributions permitted. Contributions provided for in this Section shall cover the period of service granted. Except as otherwise provided in this Section, the contributions shall be based upon the employee's compensation and contribution rate in effect on the date he last became a member of the System; provided that for all employment prior to January 1, 1969 the contribution rate shall be that in effect for a noncovered employee on the date he last became a member of the System. Except as otherwise provided in this Section, contributions permitted under this Section shall include regular interest from the date an employee last became a member of the System to the date of payment.

These contributions must be paid in full before retirement either in a lump sum or in installment payments in accordance with such rules as may be adopted by the board.

(a) Any member may make contributions as required in this Section for any period of service, subsequent to the date of establishment, but prior to the date of membership.

(b) Any employee who had been previously excluded from membership because of age at entry and subsequently became eligible may elect to make contributions as required in this Section for the period of service during which he was ineligible.

(c) An employee of the Department of Insurance who, after January 1, 1944 but prior to becoming eligible for membership, received salary from funds of insurance companies in the process of rehabilitation, liquidation, conservation or dissolution, may elect to make contributions as required in this Section for such service.

(d) Any employee who rendered service in a State office to which he was elected, or rendered service in the elective office of Clerk of the Appellate Court prior to the date he became a member, may make contributions for such service as required in this Section. Any member who served by appointment of the Governor under the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois and did not participate in this System may make contributions as required in this Section for such service.

(e) Any person employed by the United States government or any instrumentality or agency thereof from January 1, 1942 through November 15, 1946 as the result of a transfer from State service by executive order of the President of the United States shall be entitled to prior service credit covering the period from January 1, 1942 through December 31, 1943 as provided for in this Article and to membership service credit for the period from January 1, 1944 through November 15, 1946 by making the contributions required in this Section. A person so employed on January 1, 1944 but whose employment began after January 1, 1942 may qualify for prior service and membership service credit under the same conditions.

(f) An employee of the Department of Labor of the State of Illinois who performed services for and under the supervision of that Department prior to January 1, 1944 but who was compensated for those services directly by federal funds and not by a warrant of the Auditor of Public Accounts paid by the State Treasurer may establish credit for such employment by making the contributions required in this Section. An employee of the Department of Agriculture of the State of Illinois, who performed services for and under the supervision of that Department prior to June 1, 1963, but was compensated for those services directly by federal funds and not paid by a warrant of the Auditor of Public Accounts paid by the State Treasurer, and who did not contribute to any other public employee retirement system for such service, may establish credit for such employment by making the contributions required in this Section.

(g) Any employee who executed a waiver of membership within 60 days prior to January 1, 1944 may, at any time while in the service of a department, file with the board a rescission of such waiver. Upon making the contributions required by this Section, the member shall be granted the creditable service that would have been received if the waiver had not been executed.

(h) Until May 1, 1990, an employee who was employed on a full-time basis by a regional planning commission for at least 5 continuous years may establish creditable service for such employment by making the contributions required under this Section, provided that any credits earned by the employee in the commission's retirement plan have been terminated.

(i) Any person who rendered full time contractual services to the General Assembly as a member of a legislative staff may establish service credit for up to 8 years of such services by making the contributions required under this Section, provided that application therefor is made not later than July 1, 1991.

(j) By paying the contributions otherwise required under this Section, plus an amount determined by the Board to be equal to the employer's normal cost of the benefit plus interest, but with all of the interest calculated from the date the employee last became a member of the System or November 19, 1991, whichever is later, to the date of payment, an employee may establish service credit for a period of up to 4 years spent in active military service for which he does not qualify for credit under Section 14-105, provided that (1) he was not dishonorably discharged from such military service, and (2) the amount of service credit established by a member under this subsection (j), when added to the amount of military service credit granted to the member under subsection (b) of Section 14-105, shall not exceed 5 years. The change in the manner of calculating interest under this subsection (j) made by this amendatory Act of the 92nd General Assembly applies to credit purchased by an employee on or after its effective date and does not entitle any person to a refund of contributions or interest already paid. In compliance with Section 14-152.1 of this Act concerning new benefit increases, any new benefit increase as a result of the changes to this subsection (j) made by Public Act 95-483 is funded through the employee contributions provided for in this subsection (j). Any new benefit increase as a result of the changes made to this subsection (j) by Public Act 95-483 is exempt from the provisions of subsection (d) of Section 14-152.1.

(k) An employee who was employed on a full-time basis by the Illinois State's Attorneys Association Statewide Appellate Assistance Service LEAA-ILEC grant project prior to the time that project became the State's Attorneys Appellate Service Commission, now the Office of the State's Attorneys Appellate Prosecutor, an agency of State government, may establish creditable service for not more than 60 months service for such employment by making contributions required under this Section.

(l) By paying the contributions otherwise required under this Section, plus an amount determined by the Board to be equal to the employer's normal cost of the benefit plus interest, a member may establish service credit for periods of less than one year spent on authorized leave of absence from service, provided that (1) the period of leave began on or after January 1, 1982 and (2) any credit established by the member for the period of leave in any other public employee retirement system has been terminated. A member may establish service credit under this subsection for more than one period of authorized leave, and in that case the total period of service credit established by the member under this subsection may exceed one year. In determining the contributions required for establishing service credit under this subsection, the interest shall be calculated from the beginning of the leave of absence to the date of payment.

(l-5) By paying the contributions otherwise required under this Section, plus an amount determined by the Board to be equal to the employer's normal cost of the benefit plus interest, a member may establish service credit for periods of up to 2 years spent on authorized leave of absence from service, provided that during that leave the member represented or was employed as an officer or employee of a statewide labor organization that represents members of this System. In determining the contributions required for establishing service credit under this subsection, the interest shall be calculated from the beginning of the leave of absence to the date of payment.

(m) Any person who rendered contractual services to a member of the General Assembly as a worker in the member's district office may establish creditable service for up to 3 years of those contractual services by making the contributions required under this Section. The System shall determine a full-time salary equivalent for the purpose of calculating the required contribution. To establish credit under this subsection, the applicant must apply to the System by March 1, 1998.

(n) Any person who rendered contractual services to a member of the General Assembly as a worker providing constituent services to persons in the member's district may establish creditable service for up to 8 years of those contractual services by making the contributions required under this Section. The System shall determine a full-time salary equivalent for the purpose of calculating the required contribution. To establish credit under this subsection, the applicant must apply to the System by March 1, 1998.

(o) A member who participated in the Illinois Legislative Staff Internship Program may establish creditable service for up to one year of that participation by making the contribution required under this Section. The System shall determine a full-time salary equivalent for the purpose of calculating the required contribution. Credit may not be established under this subsection for any period for which service credit is established under any other provision of this Code.

(p) By paying the contributions otherwise required under this Section, plus an amount determined by the Board to be equal to the employer's normal cost of the benefit plus interest, a member may establish service credit for a period of up to 8 years during which he or she was employed by the Visually Handicapped Managers of Illinois in a vending program operated under a contractual agreement with the Department of Rehabilitation Services or its successor agency.

This subsection (p) applies without regard to whether the person was in service on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 94th General Assembly. In the case of a person who is receiving a retirement annuity on that effective date, the increase, if any, shall begin to accrue on the first annuity payment date following receipt by the System of the contributions required under this subsection (p).

(q) By paying the required contributions under this Section, plus an amount determined by the Board to be equal to the employer's normal cost of the benefit plus interest, an employee who was laid off but returned to State employment under circumstances in which the employee is considered to have been in continuous service for purposes of determining seniority may establish creditable service for the period of the layoff, provided that (1) the applicant applies for the creditable service under this subsection (q) within 6 months after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 94th General Assembly, (2) the applicant does not receive credit for that period under any other provision of this Code, (3) at the time of the layoff, the applicant is not in an initial probationary status consistent with the rules of the Department of Central Management Services, and (4) the total amount of creditable service established by the applicant under this subsection (q) does not exceed 3 years. For service established under this subsection (q), the required employee contribution shall be based on the rate of compensation earned by the employee on the date of returning to employment after the layoff and the contribution rate then in effect, and the required interest shall be calculated from the date of returning to employment after the layoff to the date of payment.

(r) A member who participated in the University of Illinois Government Public Service Internship Program (GPSI) may establish creditable service for up to 2 years of that participation by making the contribution required under this Section, plus an amount determined by the Board to be equal to the employer's normal cost of the benefit plus interest. The System shall determine a full-time salary equivalent for the purpose of calculating the required contribution. Credit may not be established under this subsection for any period for which service credit is established under any other provision of this Code.

(s) A member who worked as a nurse under a contractual agreement for the Department of Public Aid, or its successor agency, the Department of Human Services, in the Client Assessment Unit and was subsequently determined to be a State employee by the United States Internal Revenue Service and the Illinois Labor Relations Board may establish creditable service for those contractual services by making the contributions required under this Section. To establish credit under this subsection, the applicant must apply to the System by July 1, 2008.

The Department of Human Services shall pay an employer contribution based upon an amount determined by the Board to be equal to the employer's normal cost of the benefit, plus interest.

In compliance with Section 14-152.1 added by Public Act 94-4, the cost of the benefits provided by Public Act 95-583 are offset by the required employee and employer contributions.

(t) Any person who rendered contractual services on a full-time basis to the Illinois Institute of Natural Resources and the Illinois Department of Energy and Natural Resources may establish creditable service for up to 4 years of those contractual services by making the contributions required under this Section, plus an amount determined by the Board to be equal to the employer's normal cost of the benefit plus interest at the actuarially assumed rate from the first day of the service for which credit is being established to the date of payment. To establish credit under this subsection (t), the applicant must apply to the System within 6 months after August 28, 2009 (the effective date of Public Act 96-775) this amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly.

(u) (t) A member may establish creditable service and earnings credit for a period of voluntary or involuntary furlough, not exceeding 5 days, beginning on or after July 1, 2008 and ending on or before June 30, 2009, that is utilized as a means of addressing a State fiscal emergency. To receive this credit, the member must apply in writing to the System before July 1, 2012, and make contributions required under this Section, plus an amount determined by the Board to be equal to the employer's normal cost of the benefit, plus interest at the actuarially assumed rate.

A member may establish creditable service and earnings credit for a period of voluntary or involuntary furlough, not exceeding 24 days, beginning on or after July 1, 2009 and ending on or before June 30, 2011, that is utilized as a means of addressing a State fiscal emergency. To receive this credit, the member must, before December 31, 2011, (i) apply in writing to the System and (ii) make the contributions required under this Section, plus an amount determined by the Board to be equal to the employer's normal cost of the benefit, plus interest at the actuarially assumed rate.

(v) (t) Any member who rendered full-time contractual services to an Illinois Veterans Home operated by the Department of Veterans' Affairs may establish service credit for up to 8 years of such services by making the contributions required under this Section, plus an amount determined by the Board to be equal to the employer's normal cost of the benefit, plus interest at the actuarially assumed rate. To establish credit under this subsection, the applicant must apply to the System no later than 6 months after July 27, 2009 (the effective date of Public Act 96-97) this amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly.

(Source: P.A. 95-483, eff. 8-28-07; 95-583, eff. 8-31-07; 95-652, eff. 10-11-07; 95-876, eff. 8-21-08; 96-97, eff. 7-27-09; 96-718, eff. 8-25-09; 96-775, eff. 8-28-09; revised 9-9-09.)

(40 ILCS 5/15-113.11 new)

Sec. 15-113.11. Service for periods of voluntary or involuntary furlough. A participant may establish creditable service and earnings credit for periods of furlough beginning on or after July 1, 2009 and ending on or before June 30, 2011. To receive this credit, the participant must (i) apply in writing to the System before December 31, 2011; (ii) not receive compensation from an employer for any furlough period; and (iii) make employee contributions required under Section 15-157 based on the rate of basic compensation during the periods of furlough, plus an amount determined by the Board to be equal to the employer's normal cost of the benefit, plus compounded interest at the actuarially assumed rate from the date of voluntary or involuntary furlough to the date of payment. The participant shall provide, at the time of application, written certification from the employer providing the total number of furlough days a participant has been required to take.

Section 90. The State Mandates Act is amended by adding Section 8.34 as follows:

(30 ILCS 805/8.34 new)

Sec. 8.34. 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 96th General Assembly.

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