SJ0029 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SJ0029 LRB098 11356 GRL 42823 r

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, In 2010, the State of Illinois enacted a new set of pension benefits for public employees in State-funded pension systems; and

WHEREAS, Public employees hired after January 1, 2011 are commonly referred to as "Tier 2" members; and

WHEREAS, These Tier 2 members include faculty and professional staff at institutions of higher education throughout the State of Illinois; and

WHEREAS, These university faculty and professional staff do not receive Social Security and many pension experts believe that these Tier 2 benefits do not provide a pension that is at least equal to that federal program; and

WHEREAS, It is essential that the State of Illinois provide a benefit and pay package that will attract the most talented and ambitious university faculty and professional staff in the country to our institutions of higher education; and

WHEREAS, These benefits have been in effect for newly hired university faculty and professional staff for over 2 years, with no study of how this has impacted recruitment and retention in institutions of higher education in Illinois; and

WHEREAS, It is appropriate for the General Assembly to study the impact of these benefits on the State's ability to provide the best university faculty and professional staff for our students; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING HEREIN, that the "University Faculty and Professional Staff Recruiting and Retention Task Force" is created to study the impact of Tier 2 pension benefits on the ability of institutions of higher education to recruit and retain university faculty and professional staff to our institutions of higher education; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall consist of one member appointed by the Governor, who shall serve as chair of the Task Force; 2 members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House; 2 members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Minority Leader of the House; 2 members of the Senate appointed by the President of the Senate; 2 members of the Senate appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate; one member from the University of Illinois appointed by the Board of Trustees; 2 members from 2 other public four-year universities appointed by their boards of trustees or equivalent; one member appointed from Illinois Community Colleges; and 2 members appointed each from separate unions representing university faculty and professional staff; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall be provided technical and staffing support by the Commission on Government and Financial Accountability; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the State Universities Retirement System shall provide all necessary support to the Task Force in coordination with COGFA; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall report its findings to the Governor and the General Assembly on or before January 1, 2014.