HB2623 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB103 29985 RPS 56404 b

103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024
HB2623

Introduced 2/15/2023, by Rep. Stephanie A. Kifowit

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

40 ILCS 5/16-204
40 ILCS 5/16-207 new

Amends the Downstate Teacher Article of the Illinois Pension Code. In a provision that requires the System to automatically enroll certain employees in the System's defined contribution benefit, provides an exception for employees whose school district provides an alternative qualifying plan. Provides that the alternative qualifying plan shall abide by the automatic enrollment procedures and automatic increase in contribution provisions applicable to the System's defined contribution benefit. Sets forth additional requirements for alternative qualifying plans. Requires a school district that has an alternative qualifying plan to file a letter of compliance, passed by resolution of the school board, with the System. Effective immediately.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning public employee benefits.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Illinois Pension Code is amended by changing Section 16-204 and by adding Section 16-207 as follows:

(40 ILCS 5/16-204)

Sec. 16-204. Optional defined contribution benefit.

(a) As soon as practicable after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 100th General Assembly, the System shall offer a defined contribution benefit to active members of the System. The defined contribution benefit shall be an optional benefit to any member who chooses to participate. The defined contribution benefit shall collect optional employee and optional employer contributions into an account and shall offer investment options to the participant. The benefit under this Section shall be operated in full compliance with any applicable State and federal laws, and the System shall utilize generally accepted practices in creating and maintaining the benefit for the best interest of the participants. The System may use funds from the employee and employer contributions to defray any and all costs of creating and maintaining the benefit. In addition, the System may use funds provided under Section 16-158 of this Code to defray any and all costs of creating and maintaining the benefit and then shall reimburse those costs from funds received from the employee and employer contributions under this Section. All employers must comply with the reporting and administrative functions established by the System and are required to implement the benefits established under this Section. The System shall produce an annual report on the participation in the benefit and shall make the report public.

(b) As soon as is practicable on or after January 1, 2022, the System shall automatically enroll any employee who first becomes an active member or participant in the System, unless the school district that employs the employee provides an alternative qualifying plan under subsection (d) and Section 16-207. School districts electing to use an alternative qualifying plan shall abide by the automatic enrollment procedures provided in this subsection (b) and the automatic increase of contributions provisions under subsection (c). A member automatically enrolled under this Section shall have 3% of his or her pre-tax gross compensation for each compensation period deferred into his or her deferred compensation account, unless the member otherwise instructs the System on forms approved by the System. A member may elect, in a manner provided for by the System, to not participate in the defined contribution benefit or to increase or reduce the amount of pre-tax gross compensation contributed, consistent with State or federal law. A member shall be automatically enrolled in the benefit beginning the first day of the pay period following the member's 30th day of employment. A member who has been automatically enrolled in the benefit may elect, within 90 days of enrollment, to withdraw from the benefit and receive a refund of amounts deferred, plus or minus any applicable earnings, investment fees, and administrative fees. Any refunded amount shall be included in the member's gross income for the taxable year in which the refund is issued.

(c) On or after January 1, 2023, the System may elect to increase the automatic annual contributions under this Section. The increase in the rate of contribution, however, shall not exceed 2% of a member's pre-tax gross compensation per year, and at no time shall any total contribution exceed any contribution limits established by State or federal law.

(d) In this Section, "alternative qualifying plan" means a defined contribution benefit plan that is subject to the requirements of Article 1 of this Code, meets the qualifying criteria specified in this subsection (d), and is sponsored by a school district. Any school district may elect to offer an alternative qualifying plan, instead of adopting the System's defined contribution benefit plan. A school district's alternative qualifying plan may automatically enroll employees who first become active members or participants in the System on or after June 1, 2023 into an alternative qualifying plan only if the plan satisfies the following criteria:

(1) the alternative qualifying plan only has a single vendor for recordkeeping services;

(2) the alternative qualifying plan does not have any annuities or separate accounts;

(3) the alternative qualifying plan permits employees to transfer or roll over funds (i) without cost to the employee and (ii) at the time instructed by the employee; and

(4) the alternative qualifying plan requires that the plan recordkeeper agree that, in performing services with respect to the plan, the recordkeeper (i) must not use information received as a result of providing services to the plan or the plan's participants to solicit the plan's participants for the purpose of cross-selling non-plan products and services, unless in response to a request by a plan participant; and (ii) shall not promote, recommend, endorse, or solicit plan participants to purchase any financial products or services outside of the plan.

(Source: P.A. 102-540, eff. 8-20-21.)

(40 ILCS 5/16-207 new)

Sec. 16-207. Alternative qualifying plan application and documentation.

(a) The optional defined contribution benefit established under Section 16-204 constitutes the default defined contribution plan for members of the System. A school district may only elect to enroll employees into an alternative qualifying plan if the school district's desired alternative qualifying plan meets the criteria established in Section 16-204 and the school district files a letter of compliance, passed by resolution of the school board, with the System.

(b) School districts must submit a copy of the passed resolution to the System certifying that its alternative qualifying plan meets the criteria established in Section 16-204.

(c) The school district must submit the resolution to the System as soon as practicable after the school board passes the resolution.

(d) The System shall maintain a record of all alternative qualifying plans.

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