Public Act 0775 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HB3606 Enrolled LRB096 11400 AMC 21864 b

Public Act 096-0775

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 2-121, 3-109, 4-109.1, 7-141.1, and 14-104 as follows:

(40 ILCS 5/2-121) (from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 2-121)

Sec. 2-121. Survivor's annuity - conditions for payment.

(a) A survivor's annuity shall be payable to a surviving spouse or eligible child (1) upon the death in service of a participant with at least 2 years of service credit, or (2) upon the death of an annuitant in receipt of a retirement annuity, or (3) upon the death of a participant who terminated service with at least 4 years of service credit.

The change in this subsection (a) made by this amendatory Act of 1995 applies to survivors of participants who die on or after December 1, 1994, without regard to whether or not the participant was in service on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1995.

(b) To be eligible for the survivor's annuity, the spouse and the participant or annuitant must have been married for a continuous period of at least one year immediately preceding the date of death, but need not have been married on the day of the participant's last termination of service, regardless of whether such termination occurred prior to the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1985.

(c) The annuity shall be payable beginning on the date of a participant's death, or the first of the month following an annuitant's death, if the spouse is then age 50 or over, or beginning at age 50 if the spouse is then under age 50. If an eligible child or children of the participant or annuitant (or a child or children of the eligible spouse meeting the criteria of item (1), (2), or (3) of subsection (d) of this Section) also survive, and the child or children are under the care of the eligible spouse, the annuity shall begin as of the date of a participant's death, or the first of the month following an annuitant's death, without regard to the spouse's age.

The change to this subsection made by this amendatory Act of 1998 (relating to children of an eligible spouse) applies to the eligible spouse of a participant or annuitant who dies on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act, without regard to whether the participant or annuitant is in service on or after that effective date.

(c-5) Upon the death in service of a participant during the 90th General Assembly, the survivor's annuity shall be payable prior to age 50, notwithstanding subsection (c) of this Section, provided that the deceased participant had at least 6 years of service. This subsection (c-5) applies to the eligible spouse of a deceased participant without regard to whether the deceased participant was in service on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly, and retroactive benefits may be paid for periods of eligibility after February 28, 2009.

(d) For the purposes of this Section and Section 2-121.1, "eligible child" means a child of the deceased participant or annuitant who is at least one of the following:

(1) unmarried and under the age of 18;

(2) unmarried, a full-time student, and under the age of 22;

(3) dependent by reason of physical or mental disability.

The inclusion of unmarried students under age 22 in the calculation of survivor's annuities by this amendatory Act of 1991 shall apply to all eligible students beginning January 1, 1992, without regard to whether the deceased participant or annuitant was in service on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1991.

(e) Remarriage of a surviving spouse prior to attainment of age 55 shall disqualify the surviving spouse from the receipt of a survivor's annuity, if the remarriage occurs before the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 91st General Assembly.

The changes made to this subsection by this amendatory Act of the 91st General Assembly (pertaining to remarriage prior to age 55) apply without regard to whether the deceased participant or annuitant was in service on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act.

(Source: P.A. 95-279, eff. 1-1-08.)

(40 ILCS 5/3-109) (from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 3-109)

Sec. 3-109. Persons excluded.

(a) The following persons shall not be eligible to participate in a fund created under this Article:

(1) part-time police officers, special police officers, night watchmen, temporary employees, traffic guards or so-called auxiliary police officers specially appointed to aid or direct traffic at or near schools or public functions, or to aid in civil defense, municipal parking lot attendants, clerks or other civilian employees of a police department who perform clerical duties exclusively;

(2) any police officer who fails to pay the contributions required under Section 3-125.1, computed (i) for funds established prior to August 5, 1963, from the date the municipality established the fund or the date of a police officer's first appointment (including an appointment on probation), whichever is later, or (ii) for funds established after August 5, 1963, from the date, as determined from the statistics or census provided in Section 3-103, the municipality became subject to this Article by attaining the minimum population or by referendum, or the date of a police officer's first appointment (including an appointment on probation), whichever is later, and continuing during his or her entire service as a police officer; and

(3) any person who has elected under Section 3-109.1 to participate in the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund rather than in a fund established under this Article, without regard to whether the person continues to be employed as chief of police or is employed in some other rank or capacity within the police department, unless the person has lawfully rescinded that election.

(b) A police officer who is reappointed shall, before being declared eligible to participate in the pension fund, repay to the fund as required by Section 3-124 any refund received thereunder.

(c) Any person otherwise qualified to participate who was excluded from participation by reason of the age restriction removed by Public Act 79-1165 may elect to participate by making a written application to the Board before January 1, 1990. Persons so electing shall begin participation on the first day of the month following the date of application. Such persons may also elect to establish creditable service for periods of employment as a police officer during which they did not participate by paying into the police pension fund, before January 1, 1990, the amount that the person would have contributed had deductions from salary been made for such purpose at the time such service was rendered, together with interest thereon at 6% per annum from the time such service was rendered until the date the payment is made.

(d) A person otherwise qualified to participate who was excluded from participation by reason of the fitness requirement removed by this amendatory Act of 1995 may elect to participate by making a written application to the Board before July 1, 1996. Persons so electing shall begin participation on the first day of the month following the month in which the application is received by the Board. These persons may also elect to establish creditable service for periods of employment as a police officer during which they did not participate by paying into the police pension fund, before January 1, 1997, the amount that the person would have contributed had deductions from salary been made for this purpose at the time the service was rendered, together with interest thereon at 6% per annum, compounded annually, from the time the service was rendered until the date of payment.

(e) A person employed by the Village of Shiloh who is otherwise qualified to participate and was excluded from participation by reason of his or her failure to make written application to the Board within 3 months after receiving his or her first appointment or reappointment as required under Section 3-106 may elect to participate by making a written application to the Board before July 1, 2008. Persons so electing shall begin participation on the first day of the month following the month in which the application is received by the Board. These persons may also elect to establish creditable service for periods of employment as a police officer during which they did not participate by paying into the police pension fund, before January 1, 2009, the amount that the person would have contributed had deductions from salary been made for this purpose at the time the service was rendered, together with interest thereon at 6% per annum, compounded annually, from the time the service was rendered until the date of payment. The Village of Shiloh must pay to the System the corresponding employer contributions, plus interest.

(f) A person who has entered into a personal services contract to perform police duties for the Village of Bartonville on or before the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly may be appointed as an officer in the Village of Bartonville within 6 months after the effective date of this amendatory Act, but shall be excluded from participating under this Article.

(Source: P.A. 95-483, eff. 8-28-07.)

(40 ILCS 5/4-109.1) (from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 4-109.1)

Sec. 4-109.1. Increase in pension.

(a) Except as provided in subsection (e), the monthly pension of a firefighter who retires after July 1, 1971 and prior to January 1, 1986, shall, upon either the first of the month following the first anniversary of the date of retirement if 60 years of age or over at retirement date, or upon the first day of the month following attainment of age 60 if it occurs after the first anniversary of retirement, be increased by 2% of the originally granted monthly pension and by an additional 2% in each January thereafter. Effective January 1976, the rate of the annual increase shall be 3% of the originally granted monthly pension.

(b) The monthly pension of a firefighter who retired from service with 20 or more years of service, on or before July 1, 1971, shall be increased, in January of the year following the year of attaining age 65 or in January 1972, if then over age 65, by 2% of the originally granted monthly pension, for each year the firefighter received pension payments. In each January thereafter, he or she shall receive an additional increase of 2% of the original monthly pension. Effective January 1976, the rate of the annual increase shall be 3%.

(c) The monthly pension of a firefighter who is receiving a disability pension under this Article shall be increased, in January of the year following the year the firefighter attains age 60, or in January 1974, if then over age 60, by 2% of the originally granted monthly pension for each year he or she received pension payments. In each January thereafter, the firefighter shall receive an additional increase of 2% of the original monthly pension. Effective January 1976, the rate of the annual increase shall be 3%.

(c-1) On January 1, 1998, every child's disability benefit payable on that date under Section 4-110 or 4-110.1 shall be increased by an amount equal to 1/12 of 3% of the amount of the benefit, multiplied by the number of months for which the benefit has been payable. On each January 1 thereafter, every child's disability benefit payable under Section 4-110 or 4-110.1 shall be increased by 3% of the amount of the benefit then being paid, including any previous increases received under this Article. These increases are not subject to any limitation on the maximum benefit amount included in Section 4-110 or 4-110.1.

(c-2) On July 1, 2004, every pension payable to or on behalf of a minor or disabled surviving child that is payable on that date under Section 4-114 shall be increased by an amount equal to 1/12 of 3% of the amount of the pension, multiplied by the number of months for which the benefit has been payable. On July 1, 2005, July 1, 2006, July 1, 2007, and July 1, 2008, every pension payable to or on behalf of a minor or disabled surviving child that is payable under Section 4-114 shall be increased by 3% of the amount of the pension then being paid, including any previous increases received under this Article. These increases are not subject to any limitation on the maximum benefit amount included in Section 4-114.

(d) The monthly pension of a firefighter who retires after January 1, 1986, shall, upon either the first of the month following the first anniversary of the date of retirement if 55 years of age or over, or upon the first day of the month following attainment of age 55 if it occurs after the first anniversary of retirement, be increased by 1/12 of 3% of the originally granted monthly pension for each full month that has elapsed since the pension began, and by an additional 3% in each January thereafter.

The changes made to this subsection (d) by this amendatory Act of the 91st General Assembly apply to all initial increases that become payable under this subsection on or after January 1, 1999. All initial increases that became payable under this subsection on or after January 1, 1999 and before the effective date of this amendatory Act shall be recalculated and the additional amount accruing for that period, if any, shall be payable to the pensioner in a lump sum.

(e) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a), upon the first day of the month following (1) the first anniversary of the date of retirement, or (2) the attainment of age 55, or (3) July 1, 1987, whichever occurs latest, the monthly pension of a firefighter who retired on or after January 1, 1977 and on or before January 1, 1986 and did not receive an increase under subsection (a) before July 1, 1987, shall be increased by 3% of the originally granted monthly pension for each full year that has elapsed since the pension began, and by an additional 3% in each January thereafter. The increases provided under this subsection are in lieu of the increases provided in subsection (a).

(f) In July 2009, the monthly pension of a firefighter who retired before July 1, 1977 shall be recalculated and increased to reflect the amount that the firefighter would have received in July 2009 had the firefighter been receiving a 3% compounded increase for each year he or she received pension payments after January 1, 1986, plus any increases in pension received for each year prior to January 1, 1986. In each January thereafter, he or she shall receive an additional increase of 3% of the amount of the pension then being paid. The changes made to this Section by this amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly apply without regard to whether the firefighter was in service on or after its effective date.

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

(40 ILCS 5/7-141.1)

Sec. 7-141.1. Early retirement incentive.

(a) The General Assembly finds and declares that:

(1) Units of local government across the State have been functioning under a financial crisis.

(2) This financial crisis is expected to continue.

(3) Units of local government must depend on additional sources of revenue and, when those sources are not forthcoming, must establish cost-saving programs.

(4) An early retirement incentive designed specifically to target highly-paid senior employees could result in significant annual cost savings.

(5) The early retirement incentive should be made available only to those units of local government that determine that an early retirement incentive is in their best interest.

(6) A unit of local government adopting a program of early retirement incentives under this Section is encouraged to implement personnel procedures to prohibit, for at least 5 years, the rehiring (whether on payroll or by independent contract) of employees who receive early retirement incentives.

(7) A unit of local government adopting a program of early retirement incentives under this Section is also encouraged to replace as few of the participating employees as possible and to hire replacement employees for salaries totaling no more than 80% of the total salaries formerly paid to the employees who participate in the early retirement program.

It is the primary purpose of this Section to encourage units of local government that can realize true cost savings, or have determined that an early retirement program is in their best interest, to implement an early retirement program.

(b) Until the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1997, this Section does not apply to any employer that is a city, village, or incorporated town, nor to the employees of any such employer. Beginning on the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1997, any employer under this Article, including an employer that is a city, village, or incorporated town, may establish an early retirement incentive program for its employees under this Section. The decision of a city, village, or incorporated town to consider or establish an early retirement program is at the sole discretion of that city, village, or incorporated town, and nothing in this amendatory Act of 1997 limits or otherwise diminishes this discretion. Nothing contained in this Section shall be construed to require a city, village, or incorporated town to establish an early retirement program and no city, village, or incorporated town may be compelled to implement such a program.

The benefits provided in this Section are available only to members employed by a participating employer that has filed with the Board of the Fund a resolution or ordinance expressly providing for the creation of an early retirement incentive program under this Section for its employees and specifying the effective date of the early retirement incentive program. Subject to the limitation in subsection (h), an employer may adopt a resolution or ordinance providing a program of early retirement incentives under this Section at any time.

The resolution or ordinance shall be in substantially the following form:

RESOLUTION (ORDINANCE) NO. ....

A RESOLUTION (ORDINANCE) ADOPTING AN EARLY

RETIREMENT INCENTIVE PROGRAM FOR EMPLOYEES

IN THE ILLINOIS MUNICIPAL RETIREMENT FUND

WHEREAS, Section 7-141.1 of the Illinois Pension Code provides that a participating employer may elect to adopt an early retirement incentive program offered by the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund by adopting a resolution or ordinance; and

WHEREAS, The goal of adopting an early retirement program is to realize a substantial savings in personnel costs by offering early retirement incentives to employees who have accumulated many years of service credit; and

WHEREAS, Implementation of the early retirement program will provide a budgeting tool to aid in controlling payroll costs; and

WHEREAS, The (name of governing body) has determined that the adoption of an early retirement incentive program is in the best interests of the (name of participating employer); therefore be it

RESOLVED (ORDAINED) by the (name of governing body) of (name of participating employer) that:

(1) The (name of participating employer) does hereby adopt the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund early retirement incentive program as provided in Section 7-141.1 of the Illinois Pension Code. The early retirement incentive program shall take effect on (date).

(2) In order to help achieve a true cost savings, a person who retires under the early retirement incentive program shall lose those incentives if he or she later accepts employment with any IMRF employer in a position for which participation in IMRF is required or is elected by the employee.

(3) In order to utilize an early retirement incentive as a budgeting tool, the (name of participating employer) will use its best efforts either to limit the number of employees who replace the employees who retire under the early retirement program or to limit the salaries paid to the employees who replace the employees who retire under the early retirement program.

(4) The effective date of each employee's retirement under this early retirement program shall be set by (name of employer) and shall be no earlier than the effective date of the program and no later than one year after that effective date; except that the employee may require that the retirement date set by the employer be no later than the June 30 next occurring after the effective date of the program and no earlier than the date upon which the employee qualifies for retirement.

(5) To be eligible for the early retirement incentive under this Section, the employee must have attained age 50 and have at least 20 years of creditable service by his or her retirement date.

(6) The (clerk or secretary) shall promptly file a certified copy of this resolution (ordinance) with the Board of Trustees of the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund.

CERTIFICATION

I, (name), the (clerk or secretary) of the (name of participating employer) of the County of (name), State of Illinois, do hereby certify that I am the keeper of the books and records of the (name of employer) and that the foregoing is a true and correct copy of a resolution (ordinance) duly adopted by the (governing body) at a meeting duly convened and held on (date).

SEAL

(Signature of clerk or secretary)

(c) To be eligible for the benefits provided under an early retirement incentive program adopted under this Section, a member must:

(1) be a participating employee of this Fund who, on the effective date of the program, (i) is in active payroll status as an employee of a participating employer that has filed the required ordinance or resolution with the Board, (ii) is on layoff status from such a position with a right of re-employment or recall to service, (iii) is on a leave of absence from such a position, or (iv) is on disability but has not been receiving benefits under Section 7-146 or 7-150 for a period of more than 2 years from the date of application;

(2) have never previously received a retirement annuity under this Article or under the Retirement Systems Reciprocal Act using service credit established under this Article;

(3) (blank);

(4) have at least 20 years of creditable service in the Fund by the date of retirement, without the use of any creditable service established under this Section;

(5) have attained age 50 by the date of retirement, without the use of any age enhancement received under this Section; and

(6) be eligible to receive a retirement annuity under this Article by the date of retirement, for which purpose the age enhancement and creditable service established under this Section may be considered.

(d) The employer shall determine the retirement date for each employee participating in the early retirement program adopted under this Section. The retirement date shall be no earlier than the effective date of the program and no later than one year after that effective date, except that the employee may require that the retirement date set by the employer be no later than the June 30 next occurring after the effective date of the program and no earlier than the date upon which the employee qualifies for retirement. The employer shall give each employee participating in the early retirement program at least 30 days written notice of the employee's designated retirement date, unless the employee waives this notice requirement.

(e) An eligible person may establish up to 5 years of creditable service under this Section. In addition, for each period of creditable service established under this Section, a person shall have his or her age at retirement deemed enhanced by an equivalent period.

The creditable service established under this Section may be used for all purposes under this Article and the Retirement Systems Reciprocal Act, except for the computation of final rate of earnings and the determination of earnings, salary, or compensation under this or any other Article of the Code.

The age enhancement established under this Section may be used for all purposes under this Article (including calculation of the reduction imposed under subdivision (a)1b(iv) of Section 7-142), except for purposes of a reversionary annuity under Section 7-145 and any distributions required because of age. The age enhancement established under this Section may be used in calculating a proportionate annuity payable by this Fund under the Retirement Systems Reciprocal Act, but shall not be used in determining benefits payable under other Articles of this Code under the Retirement Systems Reciprocal Act.

(f) For all creditable service established under this Section, the member must pay to the Fund an employee contribution consisting of 4.5% of the member's highest annual salary rate used in the determination of the final rate of earnings for retirement annuity purposes for each year of creditable service granted under this Section. For creditable service established under this Section by a person who is a sheriff's law enforcement employee to be deemed service as a sheriff's law enforcement employee, the employee contribution shall be at the rate of 6.5% of highest annual salary per year of creditable service granted. Contributions for fractions of a year of service shall be prorated. Any amounts that are disregarded in determining the final rate of earnings under subdivision (d)(5) of Section 7-116 (the 125% rule) shall also be disregarded in determining the required contribution under this subsection (f).

The employee contribution shall be paid to the Fund as follows: If the member is entitled to a lump sum payment for accumulated vacation, sick leave, or personal leave upon withdrawal from service, the employer shall deduct the employee contribution from that lump sum and pay the deducted amount directly to the Fund. If there is no such lump sum payment or the required employee contribution exceeds the net amount of the lump sum payment, then the remaining amount due, at the option of the employee, may either be paid to the Fund before the annuity commences or deducted from the retirement annuity in 24 equal monthly installments.

(g) An annuitant who has received any age enhancement or creditable service under this Section and thereafter accepts employment with or enters into a personal services contract with an employer under this Article thereby forfeits that age enhancement and creditable service; except that this restriction does not apply to (1) service in an elective office, so long as the annuitant does not participate in this Fund with respect to that office and (2) a person appointed as an officer under subsection (f) of Section 3-109 of this Code. A person forfeiting early retirement incentives under this subsection (i) must repay to the Fund that portion of the retirement annuity already received which is attributable to the early retirement incentives that are being forfeited, (ii) shall not be eligible to participate in any future early retirement program adopted under this Section, and (iii) is entitled to a refund of the employee contribution paid under subsection (f). The Board shall deduct the required repayment from the refund and may impose a reasonable payment schedule for repaying the amount, if any, by which the required repayment exceeds the refund amount.

(h) The additional unfunded liability accruing as a result of the adoption of a program of early retirement incentives under this Section by an employer shall be amortized over a period of 10 years beginning on January 1 of the second calendar year following the calendar year in which the latest date for beginning to receive a retirement annuity under the program (as determined by the employer under subsection (d) of this Section) occurs; except that the employer may provide for a shorter amortization period (of no less than 5 years) by adopting an ordinance or resolution specifying the length of the amortization period and submitting a certified copy of the ordinance or resolution to the Fund no later than 6 months after the effective date of the program. An employer, at its discretion, may accelerate payments to the Fund.

An employer may provide more than one early retirement incentive program for its employees under this Section. However, an employer that has provided an early retirement incentive program for its employees under this Section may not provide another early retirement incentive program under this Section until the liability arising from the earlier program has been fully paid to the Fund.

(Source: P.A. 94-456, eff. 8-4-05.)

(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 the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly.

(Source: P.A. 94-612, eff. 8-18-05; 94-1111, eff. 2-27-07; 95-483, eff. 8-28-07; 95-583, eff. 8-31-07; 95-652, eff. 10-11-07; 95-876, eff. 8-21-08.)

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.