HB1185 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB094 04142 AMC 34163 b

94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2005 and 2006
HB1185

Introduced 2/8/2005, by Rep. Robert S. Molaro

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

40 ILCS 5/7-118	from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 7-118
40 ILCS 5/7-139	from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 7-139
40 ILCS 5/7-141	from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 7-141
40 ILCS 5/7-142	from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 7-142
40 ILCS 5/7-152	from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 7-152
40 ILCS 5/7-158	from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 7-158
40 ILCS 5/7-164	from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 7-164
40 ILCS 5/7-168	from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 7-168
40 ILCS 5/7-172	from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 7-172
40 ILCS 5/7-174	from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 7-174
40 ILCS 5/7-205	from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 7-205
40 ILCS 5/7-206	from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 7-206
30 ILCS 805/8.29 new

Amends the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF) Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Increases the death benefit from $3,000 to $5,000. Authorizes the Fund to pay interest on separation benefits. Changes the vesting requirement for a retirement annuity from 8 years to 5. Makes a corresponding change in one part of the retirement formula. Changes the service requirement for being a member of the Board of Trustees, from 8 years to 5. Authorizes employers to increase disability benefits from 50% to 60% of earnings, with the the resulting costs to be paid by the employer and employees. Deletes provisions limiting the retroactive payment of retirement benefits. Removes a provision limiting unused sick leave credit to credit from an employer with which the employee is in service within the 60 days before retirement. Allows an employee to receive a full pension after 30 years of service (rather than 35 years of service). Provides that no more than 24 months (rather than 12 months) of creditable service may be credited for unused sick leave. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

PENSION IMPACT NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

STATE MANDATES ACT MAY REQUIRE REIMBURSEMENT

A BILL FOR

AN ACT in relation to 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 7-118, 7-139, 7-141, 7-142, 7-152, 7-158, 7-164, 7-168, 7-172, 7-174, 7-205, and 7-206 as follows:

(40 ILCS 5/7-118) (from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 7-118)

Sec. 7-118. "Beneficiary":

(a) The surviving spouse of an employee or of an employee annuitant, or if no surviving spouse survives, the person or persons designated by a participating employee or employee annuitant, or if no person so designated survives, or if no designation is on file, the estate of the employee or employee annuitant. The person or persons designated by a beneficiary annuitant, or if no person designated survives, or if no designation is on file, the estate of the beneficiary annuitant. The estate of a surviving spouse annuitant where the employee or employee annuitant filed no designation, or no person designated survives at the death of a surviving spouse annuitant. Designations of beneficiaries shall be in writing on forms prescribed by the board and effective upon filing in the fund offices. The designation forms shall provide for contingent beneficiaries. Divorce, dissolution or annulment of marriage revokes the designation of an employee's former spouse as a beneficiary on a designation executed before entry of judgment for divorce, dissolution or annulment of marriage.

(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, an employee, former employee who has not yet received a retirement annuity or separation benefit, or employee annuitant may elect to name any person, trust or charity to be the primary beneficiary of any death benefit payable by reason of his death. Such election shall state specifically whether it is his intention to exclude the spouse, shall be in writing, and may be revoked at any time. Such election or revocation shall take effect upon being filed in the fund offices.

(c) If a surviving spouse annuity is payable to a former spouse upon the death of an employee annuitant, the former spouse, unless designated by the employee annuitant after dissolution of the marriage, shall not be the beneficiary for the purposes of the $5,000 $3,000 death benefit payable under subparagraph 6 of Section 7-164. This benefit shall be paid to the designated beneficiary of the employee annuitant or, if there is no designation, then to the estate of the employee annuitant.

(Source: P.A. 89-136, eff. 7-14-95; 90-448, eff. 8-16-97.)

(40 ILCS 5/7-139) (from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 7-139)

Sec. 7-139. Credits and creditable service to employees.

(a) Each participating employee shall be granted credits and creditable service, for purposes of determining the amount of any annuity or benefit to which he or a beneficiary is entitled, as follows:

1. For prior service: Each participating employee who is an employee of a participating municipality or participating instrumentality on the effective date shall be granted creditable service, but no credits under paragraph 2 of this subsection (a), for periods of prior service for which credit has not been received under any other pension fund or retirement system established under this Code, as follows:

If the effective date of participation for the participating municipality or participating instrumentality is on or before January 1, 1998, creditable service shall be granted for the entire period of prior service with that employer without any employee contribution.

If the effective date of participation for the participating municipality or participating instrumentality is after January 1, 1998, creditable service shall be granted for the last 20% of the period of prior service with that employer, but no more than 5 years, without any employee contribution. A participating employee may establish creditable service for the remainder of the period of prior service with that employer by making an application in writing, accompanied by payment of an employee contribution in an amount determined by the Fund, based on the employee contribution rates in effect at the time of application for the creditable service and the employee's salary rate on the effective date of participation for that employer, plus interest at the effective rate from the date of the prior service to the date of payment. Application for this creditable service may be made at any time while the employee is still in service.

A municipality that (i) has at least 35 employees; (ii) is located in a county with at least 2,000,000 inhabitants; and (iii) maintains an independent defined benefit pension plan for the benefit of its eligible employees may restrict creditable service in whole or in part for periods of prior service with the employer if the governing body of the municipality adopts an irrevocable resolution to restrict that creditable service and files the resolution with the board before the municipality's effective date of participation.

Any person who has withdrawn from the service of a participating municipality or participating instrumentality prior to the effective date, who reenters the service of the same municipality or participating instrumentality after the effective date and becomes a participating employee is entitled to creditable service for prior service as otherwise provided in this subdivision (a)(1) only if he or she renders 2 years of service as a participating employee after the effective date. Application for such service must be made while in a participating status. The salary rate to be used in the calculation of the required employee contribution, if any, shall be the employee's salary rate at the time of first reentering service with the employer after the employer's effective date of participation.

2. For current service, each participating employee shall be credited with:

a. Additional credits of amounts equal to each payment of additional contributions received from him under Section 7-173, as of the date the corresponding payment of earnings is payable to him.

b. Normal credits of amounts equal to each payment of normal contributions received from him, as of the date the corresponding payment of earnings is payable to him, and normal contributions made for the purpose of establishing out-of-state service credits as permitted under the conditions set forth in paragraph 6 of this subsection (a).

c. Municipality credits in an amount equal to 1.4 times the normal credits, except those established by out-of-state service credits, as of the date of computation of any benefit if these credits would increase the benefit.

d. Survivor credits equal to each payment of survivor contributions received from the participating employee as of the date the corresponding payment of earnings is payable, and survivor contributions made for the purpose of establishing out-of-state service credits.

3. For periods of temporary and total and permanent disability benefits, each employee receiving disability benefits shall be granted creditable service for the period during which disability benefits are payable. Normal and survivor credits, based upon the rate of earnings applied for disability benefits, shall also be granted if such credits would result in a higher benefit to any such employee or his beneficiary.

4. For authorized leave of absence without pay: A participating employee shall be granted credits and creditable service for periods of authorized leave of absence without pay under the following conditions:

a. An application for credits and creditable service is submitted to the board while the employee is in a status of active employment, and within 2 years after termination of the leave of absence period for which credits and creditable service are sought.

b. Not more than 12 complete months of creditable service for authorized leave of absence without pay shall be counted for purposes of determining any benefits payable under this Article.

c. Credits and creditable service shall be granted for leave of absence only if such leave is approved by the governing body of the municipality, including approval of the estimated cost thereof to the municipality as determined by the fund, and employee contributions, plus interest at the effective rate applicable for each year from the end of the period of leave to date of payment, have been paid to the fund in accordance with Section 7-173. The contributions shall be computed upon the assumption earnings continued during the period of leave at the rate in effect when the leave began.

d. Benefits under the provisions of Sections 7-141, 7-146, 7-150 and 7-163 shall become payable to employees on authorized leave of absence, or their designated beneficiary, only if such leave of absence is creditable hereunder, and if the employee has at least one year of creditable service other than the service granted for leave of absence. Any employee contributions due may be deducted from any benefits payable.

e. No credits or creditable service shall be allowed for leave of absence without pay during any period of prior service.

5. For military service: The governing body of a municipality or participating instrumentality may elect to allow creditable service to participating employees who leave their employment to serve in the armed forces of the United States for all periods of such service, provided that the person returns to active employment within 90 days after completion of full time active duty, but no creditable service shall be allowed such person for any period that can be used in the computation of a pension or any other pay or benefit, other than pay for active duty, for service in any branch of the armed forces of the United States. If necessary to the computation of any benefit, the board shall establish municipality credits for participating employees under this paragraph on the assumption that the employee received earnings at the rate received at the time he left the employment to enter the armed forces. A participating employee in the armed forces shall not be considered an employee during such period of service and no additional death and no disability benefits are payable for death or disability during such period.

Any participating employee who left his employment with a municipality or participating instrumentality to serve in the armed forces of the United States and who again became a participating employee within 90 days after completion of full time active duty by entering the service of a different municipality or participating instrumentality, which has elected to allow creditable service for periods of military service under the preceding paragraph, shall also be allowed creditable service for his period of military service on the same terms that would apply if he had been employed, before entering military service, by the municipality or instrumentality which employed him after he left the military service and the employer costs arising in relation to such grant of creditable service shall be charged to and paid by that municipality or instrumentality.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, any participating employee shall be entitled to creditable service as required by any federal law relating to re-employment rights of persons who served in the United States Armed Services. Such creditable service shall be granted upon payment by the member of an amount equal to the employee contributions which would have been required had the employee continued in service at the same rate of earnings during the military leave period, plus interest at the effective rate.

5.1. In addition to any creditable service established under paragraph 5 of this subsection (a), creditable service may be granted for up to 24 months of service in the armed forces of the United States.

In order to receive creditable service for military service under this paragraph 5.1, a participating employee must (1) apply to the Fund in writing and provide evidence of the military service that is satisfactory to the Board; (2) obtain the written approval of the current employer; and (3) make contributions to the Fund equal to (i) the employee contributions that would have been required had the service been rendered as a member, plus (ii) an amount determined by the board to be equal to the employer's normal cost of the benefits accrued for that military service, plus (iii) interest on items (i) and (ii) from the date of first membership in the Fund to the date of payment. If payment is made during the 6-month period that begins 3 months after the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1997, the required interest shall be at the rate of 2.5% per year, compounded annually; otherwise, the required interest shall be calculated at the regular interest rate.

6. For out-of-state service: Creditable service shall be granted for service rendered to an out-of-state local governmental body under the following conditions: The employee had participated and has irrevocably forfeited all rights to benefits in the out-of-state public employees pension system; the governing body of his participating municipality or instrumentality authorizes the employee to establish such service; the employee has 2 years current service with this municipality or participating instrumentality; the employee makes a payment of contributions, which shall be computed at 8% (normal) plus 2% (survivor) times length of service purchased times the average rate of earnings for the first 2 years of service with the municipality or participating instrumentality whose governing body authorizes the service established plus interest at the effective rate on the date such credits are established, payable from the date the employee completes the required 2 years of current service to date of payment. In no case shall more than 120 months of creditable service be granted under this provision.

7. For retroactive service: Any employee who could have but did not elect to become a participating employee, or who should have been a participant in the Municipal Public Utilities Annuity and Benefit Fund before that fund was superseded, may receive creditable service for the period of service not to exceed 50 months; however, a current or former elected or appointed official of a participating municipality may establish credit under this paragraph 7 for more than 50 months of service as an official of that municipality, if the excess over 50 months is approved by resolution of the governing body of the affected municipality filed with the Fund before January 1, 2002.

Any employee who is a participating employee on or after September 24, 1981 and who was excluded from participation by the age restrictions removed by Public Act 82-596 may receive creditable service for the period, on or after January 1, 1979, excluded by the age restriction and, in addition, if the governing body of the participating municipality or participating instrumentality elects to allow creditable service for all employees excluded by the age restriction prior to January 1, 1979, for service during the period prior to that date excluded by the age restriction. Any employee who was excluded from participation by the age restriction removed by Public Act 82-596 and who is not a participating employee on or after September 24, 1981 may receive creditable service for service after January 1, 1979. Creditable service under this paragraph shall be granted upon payment of the employee contributions which would have been required had he participated, with interest at the effective rate for each year from the end of the period of service established to date of payment.

8. For accumulated unused sick leave: A participating employee who is applying for a retirement annuity shall be entitled to creditable service for that portion of the employee's accumulated unused sick leave for which payment is not received, as follows:

a. Sick leave days shall be limited to those accumulated under a sick leave plan established by a participating municipality or participating instrumentality which is available to all employees or a class of employees.

b. Only sick leave days accumulated with a participating municipality or participating instrumentality with which the employee was in service within 60 days of the effective date of his retirement annuity shall be credited; If the employee was in service with more than one employer, during this period only the sick leave days with the employer with which the employee has the greatest number of unpaid sick leave days shall be considered.

c. The creditable service granted shall be considered solely for the purpose of computing the amount of the retirement annuity and shall not be used to establish any minimum service period required by any provision of the Illinois Pension Code, the effective date of the retirement annuity, or the final rate of earnings.

d. The creditable service shall be at the rate of 1/20 of a month for each full sick day, provided that no more than 24 12 months may be credited under this subdivision 8.

e. Employee contributions shall not be required for creditable service under this subdivision 8.

f. Each participating municipality and participating instrumentality with which an employee has service within 60 days of the effective date of his retirement annuity shall certify to the board the number of accumulated unpaid sick leave days credited to the employee at the time of termination of service.

9. For service transferred from another system: Credits and creditable service shall be granted for service under Article 3, 4, 5, 14 or 16 of this Act, to any active member of this Fund, and to any inactive member who has been a county sheriff, upon transfer of such credits pursuant to Section 3-110.3, 4-108.3, 5-235, 14-105.6 or 16-131.4, and payment by the member of the amount by which (1) the employer and employee contributions that would have been required if he had participated in this Fund as a sheriff's law enforcement employee during the period for which credit is being transferred, plus interest thereon at the effective rate for each year, compounded annually, from the date of termination of the service for which credit is being transferred to the date of payment, exceeds (2) the amount actually transferred to the Fund. Such transferred service shall be deemed to be service as a sheriff's law enforcement employee for the purposes of Section 7-142.1.

(b) Creditable service - amount:

1. One month of creditable service shall be allowed for each month for which a participating employee made contributions as required under Section 7-173, or for which creditable service is otherwise granted hereunder. Not more than 1 month of service shall be credited and counted for 1 calendar month, and not more than 1 year of service shall be credited and counted for any calendar year. A calendar month means a nominal month beginning on the first day thereof, and a calendar year means a year beginning January 1 and ending December 31.

2. A seasonal employee shall be given 12 months of creditable service if he renders the number of months of service normally required by the position in a 12-month period and he remains in service for the entire 12-month period. Otherwise a fractional year of service in the number of months of service rendered shall be credited.

3. An intermittent employee shall be given creditable service for only those months in which a contribution is made under Section 7-173.

(c) No application for correction of credits or creditable service shall be considered unless the board receives an application for correction while (1) the applicant is a participating employee and in active employment with a participating municipality or instrumentality, or (2) while the applicant is actively participating in a pension fund or retirement system which is a participating system under the Retirement Systems Reciprocal Act. A participating employee or other applicant shall not be entitled to credits or creditable service unless the required employee contributions are made in a lump sum or in installments made in accordance with board rule.

(d) Upon the granting of a retirement, surviving spouse or child annuity, a death benefit or a separation benefit, on account of any employee, all individual accumulated credits shall thereupon terminate. Upon the withdrawal of additional contributions, the credits applicable thereto shall thereupon terminate. Terminated credits shall not be applied to increase the benefits any remaining employee would otherwise receive under this Article.

(Source: P.A. 92-424, eff. 8-17-01; 93-933, eff. 8-13-04.)

(40 ILCS 5/7-141) (from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 7-141)

Sec. 7-141. Retirement annuities - Conditions. Retirement annuities shall be payable as hereinafter set forth:

(a) A participating employee who, regardless of cause, is separated from the service of all participating municipalities and instrumentalities thereof and participating instrumentalities shall be entitled to a retirement annuity provided:

1. He is at least age 55, or in the case of a person who is eligible to have his annuity calculated under Section 7-142.1, he is at least age 50. ;

2. He is (i) an employee who was employed by any participating municipality or participating instrumentality which had not elected to exclude persons employed in positions normally requiring performance of duty for less than 1000 hours per year or was employed in a position normally requiring performance of duty for 600 hours or more per year prior to such election by any participating municipality or participating instrumentality included in and subject to this Article on or before the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1981 which made such election and is not entitled to receive earnings for employment in a position normally requiring performance of duty for 600 hours or more per year for any participating municipality and instrumentalities thereof and participating instrumentality; or (ii) an employee who was employed only by a participating municipality or participating instrumentality, or participating municipalities or participating instrumentalities, which have elected to exclude persons in positions normally requiring performance of duty for less than 1000 hours per year after the effective date of such exclusion or which are included under and subject to the Article after the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1981 and elects to exclude persons in such positions, and is not entitled to receive earnings for employment in a position normally requiring performance of duty for 1000 hours or more per year by such a participating municipality or participating instrumentality. ;

3. The amount of his annuity, before the application of paragraph (b) of Section 7-142, is at least $10 per month. ;

4. If he first became a participating employee after December 31, 1961, he has at least 5 years 8 years of service. This service requirement shall not apply to any participating employee, regardless of participation date, if the General Assembly terminates the Fund.

(b) Retirement annuities shall be payable:

1. As provided in Section 7-119. ;

2. Except as provided in item 3, upon receipt by the fund of a written application. The effective date may be no earlier than the first day of the first full calendar month after termination of participating employment. not more than one year prior to the date of the receipt by the fund of the application;

3. Upon attainment of age 70 1/2 if the member (i) is no longer in service, and (ii) is otherwise entitled to an annuity under this Article. ;

4. To the beneficiary of the deceased annuitant for the unpaid amount accrued to date of death, if any.

(c) The amendment to subdivision (b)(2) of this Section made by this amendatory Act of the 94th General Assembly, removing the one year limitation on retroactive annuity, applies to every person who has not yet begun receiving a retirement annuity, without regard to whether the person terminated employment prior to the effective date of this amendatory Act.

(Source: P.A. 91-887, eff. 7-6-00.)

(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 5 or 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 5 years 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 30 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 25 30 years of service credit, that the employee's service credit is less than 30 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.

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

(40 ILCS 5/7-152) (from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 7-152)

Sec. 7-152. Disability benefits - Amount. The amount of the monthly temporary and total and permanent disability benefits shall be 50% of the participating employee's final rate of earnings on the date disability was incurred, subject to the following adjustments:

(a) The amount of the monthly temporary and total and permanent disability benefits shall be 60% (rather than 50%) of the participating employee's final rate of earnings on the date disability was incurred, if the date of disability occurs after the employer files with the board an undertaking to be responsible for the additional costs resulting from this increase. The undertaking may provide for all or a portion of those additional costs to be collected by the employer from its employees, through deductions from earnings or in any other manner. The undertaking may be terminated by the employer (or rejected by the board) at any time, in which case benefits granted thereafter shall be based on the 50% rate, but benefits already based on the 60% rate shall be unaffected by the termination of the undertaking.

(a-5) If the participating employee has a reduced rate of earnings at the time his employment ceases because of disability, the rate of earnings shall be computed on the basis of his last 12 month period of full-time employment.

(b) If the participating employee is eligible for a disability benefit under the federal Social Security Act, the amount of monthly disability benefits shall be reduced, but not to less than $10 a month, by the amount he would be eligible to receive as a disability benefit under the federal Social Security Act, whether or not because of service as a covered employee under this Article. The reduction shall be effective as of the month the employee is eligible for Social Security disability benefits. The Board may make such reduction if it appears that the employee may be so eligible pending determination of eligibility and make an appropriate adjustment if necessary after such determination. If the employee, because of his refusal to accept rehabilitation services under the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973 or the federal Social Security Act, or because he is receiving workers' compensation benefits, has his Social Security benefits reduced or terminated, the disability benefit shall be reduced as if the employee were receiving his full Social Security disability benefit.

(c) If the employee (i) is over the age for a full Social Security old-age insurance benefit, (ii) was not eligible for a Social Security disability benefit immediately before reaching that age, and (iii) is eligible for a full Social Security old-age insurance benefit, then the amount of the monthly disability benefit shall be reduced, but not to less than $10 a month, by the amount of the old-age insurance benefit to which the employee is entitled, whether or not the employee applies for the Social Security old-age insurance benefit. This reduction shall be made in the month after the month in which the employee attains the age for a full Social Security old-age insurance benefit. However, if the employee was receiving a Social Security disability benefit before reaching the age for a full Social Security old-age insurance benefit, the disability benefits after that age shall be determined under subsection (b) of this Section.

(d) The amount of disability benefits shall not be reduced by reason of any increase, other than one resulting from a correction in the employee's wage records, in the amount of disability or old-age insurance benefits under the federal Social Security Act which takes effect after the month of the initial reduction under paragraph (b) or (c) of this Section.

(e) If the employee in any month receives compensation from gainful employment which is more than 25% of the final rate of earnings on which his disability benefits are based, the temporary disability benefit payable for that month shall be reduced by an amount equal to such excess.

(f) An employee who has been disabled for at least 30 days may return to work for the employer on a part-time basis for a trial work period of up to one year, during which the disability shall be deemed to continue. Service credit shall continue to accrue and the disability benefit shall continue to be paid during the trial work period, but the benefit shall be reduced by the amount of earnings received by the disabled employee. Return to service on a full-time basis shall terminate the trial work period. The reduction under this subsection (f) shall be in lieu of the reduction, if any, required under subsection (e).

(g) Beginning January 1, 1988, every total and permanent disability benefit shall be increased by 3% of the original amount of the benefit, not compounded, on each January 1 following the later of (1) the date the total and permanent disability benefit begins, or (2) the date the total and permanent disability benefit would have begun if the employee had been paid a temporary disability benefit for 30 months.

(Source: P.A. 92-424, eff. 8-17-01.)

(40 ILCS 5/7-158) (from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 7-158)

Sec. 7-158. Surviving spouse annuities - Options. In lieu of the surviving spouse annuity an eligible surviving spouse shall have the option of receiving other benefits as follows:

1. The surviving spouse of a participating employee may elect to receive either a single sum death benefit or a surviving spouse annuity and the $5,000 $3,000 death benefit provided in Sections 7-163 and 7-164.

2. The surviving spouse of an employee, who has separated from service and would have been entitled to a retirement annuity on date of death, may elect to receive either a single sum death benefit or a surviving spouse annuity and the $5,000 $3,000 death benefit provided in Sections 7-163 and 7-164.

3. If any surviving spouse annuity is payable prior to the earliest age at which the recipient will become eligible for a widows' or widowers' insurance benefit under the Federal Social Security Act, the recipient may elect that the annuity payments from this fund shall exceed those payable after attaining such age by an amount not in excess of the estimated Social Security Benefit, determined as of the effective date of the surviving spouse 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 paid had no such election been made.

4. The surviving spouse of a participating employee, whose annuity was suspended upon return to employment and who had one year or more of service after his return, may apply the additional service credits to a supplemental surviving spouse annuity and receive the $5,000 $3,000 death benefit or apply the additional service credits to a single sum death benefit and forego the $5,000 $3,000 death benefit payable upon the death of an annuitant.

5. The surviving spouse of a participating employee, whose annuity was suspended upon return to employment and who had less than one year of service after his return, shall have the additional service credits applied towards a supplemental surviving spouse annuity and shall receive the $5,000 $3,000 death benefit.

(Source: P.A. 85-941.)

(40 ILCS 5/7-164) (from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 7-164)

Sec. 7-164. Death benefits - Amount. The amount of the death benefit shall be:

1. Upon the death of an employee with at least one year of service occurring while in an employment relationship (including employees drawing disability benefits) with a participating municipality or participating instrumentality, an amount equal to the sum of:

(a) The employee's normal, additional and survivor credits, including interest credited thereto through the end of the preceding calendar year, but excluding credits and interest thereon allowed for periods of disability.

(b) An amount equal to the employee's annual final rate of earnings. An employee who dies as a result of injuries connected with his duties shall be considered to have a year of service for purposes of this benefit.

2. Upon the death of an employee with less than 1 one year of service occurring while in the service of any participating municipality or instrumentality, an amount equal to the sum of his accumulated normal, additional and survivor credits on the date of death, excluding those credits and interest thereon allowed during periods of disability.

3. Upon the death of an employee who has separated from service and was not entitled to a retirement annuity on the date of death, an amount equal to the sum of his accumulated normal, survivor and additional credits on the date of death excluding those credits and interest thereon allowed during periods of disability.

4. Upon the death of an employee in an employment relationship, or an employee who has service and was entitled to a retirement annuity on the date of death, when a surviving spouse or child annuity is awarded, $5,000 $3,000.

5. Upon the death of an employee, who has separated from service and was entitled to a retirement annuity on the date of death, and no surviving spouse or child annuity is awarded, $5,000 $3,000 plus an amount equal to his accumulated normal, survivor and additional credits on the date of death, excluding those credits and interest earned thereon allowed during periods of disability.

6. Upon the death of an employee annuitant, $5,000 $3,000 and, unless a surviving spouse, child or reversionary annuity is payable, the sum of (i) the excess of the normal and survivor credits, excluding those allowed during periods of disability, which the annuitant had as of the effective date of his annuity over the total annuities paid pursuant to paragraph (a) 1 of Section 7-142 to the date of death, plus (ii) the excess of the additional credits, excluding any such credits used to create a reversionary annuity, used to provide the annuity granted pursuant to paragraph (a) 2 of Section 7-142 over the total annuity payments made pursuant thereto to the time of death.

7. Upon the death of an annuitant receiving a reversionary annuity or of a person designated to receive a reversionary annuity prior to the receipt of such annuity the sum of the additional credits of the person creating the reversionary annuity as of the effective date of his own retirement annuity over the reversionary annuity payments, if any, made prior to the date of death of such annuitant or person designated to receive the reversionary annuity.

8. Upon the death of an annuitant receiving a beneficiary annuity which was effective before January 1, 1986, the excess of the death benefit which was used to provide the annuity, over the sum of all annuity payments made to the beneficiary. Upon the death of an annuitant receiving a beneficiary annuity effective January 1, 1986 or thereafter, the sum of (i) the excess of the normal and survivor credits, excluding those allowed during periods of disability, which the annuitant had as of the effective date of his annuity over the total annuities paid pursuant to paragraph (c) of Section 7-165, to date of death, plus (ii) the excess of the additional credits, excluding any such credits used to create a reversionary annuity, used to provide the annuity granted pursuant to paragraph (d) of Section 7-165 over the total annuity payments made pursuant thereto to the time of death.

9. Upon the marriage prior to reaching age 55 (except for a surviving spouse who remarries after December 31, 2000) or death of a person receiving a surviving spouse annuity, unless a child annuity is payable, the sum of (i) the excess of the normal and survivor credits, excluding those credits and interest thereon allowed during periods of disability, attributable to the employee at the effective date of the annuity or date of death, whichever first occurred, over the total of all annuity payments attributable to paragraph (a) 1 of Section 7-142 made to the employee or surviving spouse plus (ii) the excess of the additional credits, excluding any such credits used to create a reversionary annuity or used to provide the annuity attributable to paragraph (a) 2 of Section 7-142 over the total of such payments.

10. Upon the marriage, death or attainment of age 18 of a child receiving a child annuity, if no other child annuities are payable, the sum of (i) the excess of the normal and survivor credits excluding those credits and interest thereon allowed during periods of disability, of the employee at the effective date of the annuity or date of death, whichever first occurred, over the total annuity payments attributable to paragraph (a) 1 of Section 7-142 made to the employee, surviving spouse and children plus (ii) the excess of the additional credits, excluding any such credits used to create a reversionary annuity, used to provide the annuity attributable to paragraph (a) 2 of Section 7-142 over the total annuity payments made to the employee, surviving spouse and children, pursuant thereto.

11. Upon the death of the participating employee whose annuity was suspended upon his return to employment:

a. If a surviving spouse or child annuity is awarded, $5,000 $3,000;

b. If no surviving spouse or child annuity is awarded and he had less than one year's service upon return, $5,000 $3,000 plus the excess of the normal, survivor and additional credits, including interest thereon, but excluding those allowed during a period of disability, at the effective date of the suspended annuity, plus those allowed after his return, over all annuity payments made to the employee;

c. If no surviving spouse or child annuity is awarded and he has one year or more of service upon return, the higher of (a) the payment under subparagraph b of this paragraph or (b) the payment under paragraph 1 of this Section, taking into consideration only the service and credits allowed after his return, plus the excess of the normal, survivor and additional credits, including interest thereon, excluding those allowed during periods of disability, at the effective date of his suspended annuity over all annuity payments made to the employee.

12. The $3,000 or $5,000 death benefit provided in paragraphs 4 and 6 shall not be payable to beneficiaries of persons who terminated service prior to September 8, 1971, unless the payment or agreement for payment provided by Section 7-144.2 of this Article is made prior to the date of death.

13. The increase in certain death benefits from $1,000 to $3,000 provided by this amendatory Act of 1987 shall apply only to deaths occurring on or after January 1, 1988.

The increase in certain death benefits from $3,000 to $5,000 provided by this amendatory Act of the 94th General Assembly applies to deaths that occur on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act, without regard to whether the deceased person was in service on or after that date.

(Source: P.A. 91-887, eff. 7-6-00.)

(40 ILCS 5/7-168) (from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 7-168)

Sec. 7-168. Separation benefits - Amount. The amount of the separation benefit benefits shall be the sum of the employee's accumulated normal, survivor, and additional contributions. Separation benefits paid on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 94th General Assembly may also include interest on the refunded contributions, calculated at a rate and in a manner determined by the Board.

(Source: P.A. 87-740.)

(40 ILCS 5/7-172) (from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 7-172)

Sec. 7-172. Contributions by participating municipalities and participating instrumentalities.

(a) Each participating municipality and each participating instrumentality shall make payment to the fund as follows:

1. municipality contributions in an amount determined by applying the municipality contribution rate to each payment of earnings paid to each of its participating employees;

2. an amount equal to the employee contributions provided by paragraphs (a) and (b) of Section 7-173, whether or not the employee contributions are withheld as permitted by that Section;

3. all accounts receivable, together with interest charged thereon, as provided in Section 7-209;

4. if it has no participating employees with current earnings, an amount payable which, over a period of 20 years beginning with the year following an award of benefit, will amortize, at the effective rate for that year, any negative balance in its municipality reserve resulting from the award. This amount when established will be payable as a separate contribution whether or not it later has participating employees.

(b) A separate municipality contribution rate shall be determined for each calendar year for all participating municipalities together with all instrumentalities thereof. The municipality contribution rate shall be determined for participating instrumentalities as if they were participating municipalities. The municipality contribution rate shall be the sum of the following percentages:

1. The percentage of earnings of all the participating employees of all participating municipalities and participating instrumentalities which, if paid over the entire period of their service, will be sufficient when combined with all employee contributions available for the payment of benefits, to provide all annuities for participating employees, and the $5,000 $3,000 death benefit payable under Sections 7-158 and 7-164, such percentage to be known as the normal cost rate.

2. The percentage of earnings of the participating employees of each participating municipality and participating instrumentalities necessary to adjust for the difference between the present value of all benefits, excluding temporary and total and permanent disability and death benefits, to be provided for its participating employees and the sum of its accumulated municipality contributions and the accumulated employee contributions and the present value of expected future employee and municipality contributions pursuant to subparagraph 1 of this paragraph (b). This adjustment shall be spread over the remainder of the period that is allowable under generally accepted accounting principles.

3. The percentage of earnings of the participating employees of all municipalities and participating instrumentalities necessary to provide the present value of all temporary and total and permanent disability benefits granted during the most recent year for which information is available.

4. The percentage of earnings of the participating employees of all participating municipalities and participating instrumentalities necessary to provide the present value of the net single sum death benefits expected to become payable from the reserve established under Section 7-206 during the year for which this rate is fixed.

5. The percentage of earnings necessary to meet any deficiency arising in the Terminated Municipality Reserve.

(c) A separate municipality contribution rate shall be computed for each participating municipality or participating instrumentality for its sheriff's law enforcement employees.

A separate municipality contribution rate shall be computed for the sheriff's law enforcement employees of each forest preserve district that elects to have such employees. For the period from January 1, 1986 to December 31, 1986, such rate shall be the forest preserve district's regular rate plus 2%.

In the event that the Board determines that there is an actuarial deficiency in the account of any municipality with respect to a person who has elected to participate in the Fund under Section 3-109.1 of this Code, the Board may adjust the municipality's contribution rate so as to make up that deficiency over such reasonable period of time as the Board may determine.

(d) The Board may establish a separate municipality contribution rate for all employees who are program participants employed under the federal Comprehensive Employment Training Act by all of the participating municipalities and instrumentalities. The Board may also provide that, in lieu of a separate municipality rate for these employees, a portion of the municipality contributions for such program participants shall be refunded or an extra charge assessed so that the amount of municipality contributions retained or received by the fund for all CETA program participants shall be an amount equal to that which would be provided by the separate municipality contribution rate for all such program participants. Refunds shall be made to prime sponsors of programs upon submission of a claim therefor and extra charges shall be assessed to participating municipalities and instrumentalities. In establishing the municipality contribution rate as provided in paragraph (b) of this Section, the use of a separate municipality contribution rate for program participants or the refund of a portion of the municipality contributions, as the case may be, may be considered.

(e) Computations of municipality contribution rates for the following calendar year shall be made prior to the beginning of each year, from the information available at the time the computations are made, and on the assumption that the employees in each participating municipality or participating instrumentality at such time will continue in service until the end of such calendar year at their respective rates of earnings at such time.

(f) Any municipality which is the recipient of State allocations representing that municipality's contributions for retirement annuity purposes on behalf of its employees as provided in Section 12-21.16 of the Illinois Public Aid Code shall pay the allocations so received to the Board for such purpose. Estimates of State allocations to be received during any taxable year shall be considered in the determination of the municipality's tax rate for that year under Section 7-171. If a special tax is levied under Section 7-171, none of the proceeds may be used to reimburse the municipality for the amount of State allocations received and paid to the Board. Any multiple-county or consolidated health department which receives contributions from a county under Section 11.2 of "An Act in relation to establishment and maintenance of county and multiple-county health departments", approved July 9, 1943, as amended, or distributions under Section 3 of the Department of Public Health Act, shall use these only for municipality contributions by the health department.

(g) Municipality contributions for the several purposes specified shall, for township treasurers and employees in the offices of the township treasurers who meet the qualifying conditions for coverage hereunder, be allocated among the several school districts and parts of school districts serviced by such treasurers and employees in the proportion which the amount of school funds of each district or part of a district handled by the treasurer bears to the total amount of all school funds handled by the treasurer.

From the funds subject to allocation among districts and parts of districts pursuant to the School Code, the trustees shall withhold the proportionate share of the liability for municipality contributions imposed upon such districts by this Section, in respect to such township treasurers and employees and remit the same to the Board.

The municipality contribution rate for an educational service center shall initially be the same rate for each year as the regional office of education or school district which serves as its administrative agent. When actuarial data become available, a separate rate shall be established as provided in subparagraph (i) of this Section.

The municipality contribution rate for a public agency, other than a vocational education cooperative, formed under the Intergovernmental Cooperation Act shall initially be the average rate for the municipalities which are parties to the intergovernmental agreement. When actuarial data become available, a separate rate shall be established as provided in subparagraph (i) of this Section.

(h) Each participating municipality and participating instrumentality shall make the contributions in the amounts provided in this Section in the manner prescribed from time to time by the Board and all such contributions shall be obligations of the respective participating municipalities and participating instrumentalities to this fund. The failure to deduct any employee contributions shall not relieve the participating municipality or participating instrumentality of its obligation to this fund. Delinquent payments of contributions due under this Section may, with interest, be recovered by civil action against the participating municipalities or participating instrumentalities. Municipality contributions, other than the amount necessary for employee contributions and Social Security contributions, for periods of service by employees from whose earnings no deductions were made for employee contributions to the fund, may be charged to the municipality reserve for the municipality or participating instrumentality.

(i) Contributions by participating instrumentalities shall be determined as provided herein except that the percentage derived under subparagraph 2 of paragraph (b) of this Section, and the amount payable under subparagraph 5 of paragraph (a) of this Section, shall be based on an amortization period of 10 years.

(Source: P.A. 92-424, eff. 8-17-01.)

(40 ILCS 5/7-174) (from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 7-174)

Sec. 7-174. Board created.

(a) A board of 8 members shall constitute a board of trustees authorized to carry out the provisions of this Article. Each trustee shall be a participating employee of a participating municipality or participating instrumentality or an annuitant of the Fund and no person shall be eligible to become a trustee after January 1, 1979 who does not have at least 5 years 8 years of creditable service.

(b) The board shall consist of representatives of various groups as follows:

1. 4 trustees shall be a chief executive officer, chief finance officer, or other officer, executive or department head of a participating municipality or participating instrumentality, and each such trustee shall be designated as an executive trustee.

2. 3 trustees shall be employees of a participating municipality or participating instrumentality and each such trustee shall be designated as an employee trustee.

3. One trustee shall be an annuitant of the Fund, who shall be designated the annuitant trustee.

(c) A person elected as a trustee shall qualify as a trustee, after declaration by the board that he has been duly elected, upon taking and subscribing to the constitutional oath of office and filing same in the office of the Fund.

(d) The term of office of each trustee shall begin upon January 1 of the year following the year in which he is elected and shall continue for a period of 5 years and until a successor has been elected and qualified, or until prior resignation, death, incapacity or disqualification.

(e) Any elected trustee (other than the annuitant trustee) shall be disqualified immediately upon termination of employment with all participating municipalities and instrumentalities thereof or upon any change in status which removes any such trustee from all employments within the group he represents. The annuitant trustee shall be disqualified upon termination of his or her annuity.

(f) The trustees shall fill any vacancy in the board by appointment, for the period until the next election of trustees, or, if the remaining term is less than 2 years, for the remainder of the term, and until his successor has been elected and qualified.

(g) Trustees shall serve without compensation, but shall be reimbursed for any reasonable expenses incurred in attending meetings of the board and in performing duties on behalf of the Fund and for the amount of any earnings withheld by any employing municipality or participating instrumentality because of attendance at any board meeting.

(h) Each trustee other than the annuitant trustee shall be entitled to one vote on any and all actions before the board; the annuitant trustee is not entitled to vote on any matter. At least 4 concurring votes shall be necessary for every decision or action by the board at any of its meetings. No decision or action shall become effective unless presented and so approved at a regular or duly called special meeting of the board.

(Source: P.A. 89-136, eff. 7-14-95.)

(40 ILCS 5/7-205) (from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 7-205)

Sec. 7-205. Reserves for annuities. Appropriate reserves shall be created for payment of all annuities granted under this Article at the time such annuities are granted and in amounts determined to be necessary under actuarial tables adopted by the Board upon recommendation of the actuary of the fund. All annuities payable shall be charged to the annuity reserve.

1. Amounts credited to annuity reserves shall be derived by transfer of all the employee credits from the appropriate employee reserves and by charges to the municipality reserve of those municipalities in which the retiring employee has accumulated service. If a retiring employee has accumulated service in more than one participating municipality or participating instrumentality, aggregate municipality charges shall be prorated on a basis of the employee's earnings in case of concurrent service and creditable service in other cases.

2. Supplemental annuities shall be handled as a separate annuity and amounts to be credited to the annuity reserve therefor shall be derived in the same manner as a regular annuity.

3. When a retirement annuity is granted to an employee with a spouse eligible for a surviving spouse annuity, there shall be credited to the annuity reserve an amount to fund the cost of both the retirement and surviving spouse annuity as a joint and survivors annuity.

4. Beginning January 1, 1989, when a retirement annuity is awarded, an amount equal to the present value of the $3,000 or $5,000 death benefit payable upon the death of the annuitant shall be transferred to the annuity reserve from the appropriate municipality reserves in the same manner as the transfer for annuities.

5. All annuity reserves shall be revalued annually as of December 31. Beginning as of December 31, 1973, adjustment required therein by such revaluation shall be charged or credited to the earnings and experience variation reserve.

6. There shall be credited to the annuity reserve all of the payments made by annuitants under Section 7-144.2, plus an additional amount from the earnings and experience variation reserve to fund the cost of the incremental annuities granted to annuitants making these payments.

7. As of December 31, 1972, the excess in the annuity reserve shall be transferred to the municipality reserves. An amount equal to the deficiency in the reserve of participating municipalities and participating instrumentalities which have no participating employees shall be allocated to their reserves. The remainder shall be allocated in amounts proportionate to the present value, as of January 1, 1972, of annuities of annuitants of the remaining participating municipalities and participating instrumentalities.

(Source: P.A. 89-136, eff. 7-14-95.)

(40 ILCS 5/7-206) (from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 7-206)

Sec. 7-206. Death Reserve. All death benefit payments shall be charged to the Death Reserve, other than the $3,000 or $5,000 death benefits paid after December 31, 1988 upon the death of an annuitant. All contributions for death purposes under Section 7-172(b)4 shall be credited to the same reserve. Whenever the balance in such reserve at the close of a year exceeds 100% of the average annual charges to this account during the 3 preceding calendar years, the basic actuarial assumptions upon which municipality contribution rates for these purposes are based, shall be reviewed and revised in such manner as is deemed necessary to reduce such balance.

(Source: P.A. 89-136, eff. 7-14-95.)

Section 90. The State Mandates Act is amended by adding Section 8.29 as follows:

(30 ILCS 805/8.29 new)

Sec. 8.29. 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 94th General Assembly.

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