Public Act 096-0429
 
SB1974 Enrolled LRB096 09271 AMC 19425 b

    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 adding
Section 1-109.3 as follows:
 
    (40 ILCS 5/1-109.3 new)
    Sec. 1-109.3. Training requirement for pension trustees.
    (a) All elected and appointed trustees under Article 3 and
4 of this Code must participate in a mandatory trustee
certification training seminar that consists of at least 32
hours of initial trustee certification at a training facility
that is accredited and affiliated with a State of Illinois
certified college or university. This training must include
without limitation all of the following:
        (1) Duties and liabilities of a fiduciary under Article
    1 of the Illinois Pension Code.
        (2) Adjudication of pension claims.
        (3) Basic accounting and actuarial training.
        (4) Trustee ethics.
        (5) The Illinois Open Meetings Act.
        (6) The Illinois Freedom of Information Act.
    The training required under this subsection (a) must be
completed within the first year that a trustee is elected or
appointed under an Article 3 or 4 pension fund. The elected and
appointed trustees of an Article 3 or 4 pension fund who are
police officers (as defined in Section 3-106 of this Code) or
firefighters (as defined in Section 4-106 of this Code) or are
employed by the municipality shall be permitted time away from
their duties to attend such training without reduction of
accrued leave or benefit time. Active or appointed trustees
serving on the effective date of this amendatory Act of the
96th General Assembly shall not be required to attend the
training required under this subsection (a).
    (b) In addition to the initial trustee certification
training required under subsection (a), all elected and
appointed trustees under Article 3 and 4 of this Code,
including trustees serving on the effective date of this
amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly, shall also
participate in a minimum of 16 hours of continuing trustee
education each year after the first year that the trustee is
elected or appointed.
    (c) The training required under this Section shall be paid
for by the pension fund.
    (d) Any board member who does not timely complete the
training required under this Section is not eligible to serve
on the board of trustees of an Article 3 or 4 pension fund,
unless the board member completes the missed training within 6
months after the date the member failed to complete the
required training. In the event of a board member's failure to
complete the required training, a successor shall be appointed
or elected, as applicable, for the unexpired term. A successor
who is elected under such circumstances must be elected at a
special election called by the board and conducted in the same
manner as a regular election under Article 3 or 4, as
applicable.
 
    Section 90. The State Mandates Act is amended by adding
Section 8.33 as follows:
 
    (30 ILCS 805/8.33 new)
    Sec. 8.33. 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.