SJ0091 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SJ0091 LRB094 20465 AMC 58694 r

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, In 1997, Section 6.9 was added to the State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971 (5 ILCS 375/6.9); the new statute called for the establishment of a uniform program of health benefits for certain community college benefit recipients and their dependent beneficiaries, to be under the administration of the Department of Central Management Services; this program is now known as the College Insurance Program; and

WHEREAS, Participating retirees, current employees, and affected community college employers have suggested that it is time for an evaluation of the College Insurance Program; and

WHEREAS, The City Colleges of Chicago, administered under Article VII of the Public Community College Act, are expressly excluded from the College Insurance Program under the statute; and

WHEREAS, The City Colleges of Chicago, and their employees and retirees, have sought to be included in the College Insurance Program; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING HEREIN, that there is created the Joint Task Force on the College Insurance Program, consisting of the following members: one chairperson appointed by the Governor, one member appointed by the President of the Senate, one member appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate, one member appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, one member appointed by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, and 5 members appointed by the Governor, one each representing (i) a statewide organization representing community college trustees, (ii) a statewide retirees association, (iii) an education labor organization representing teachers primarily in Cook County, (iv) an education labor organization representing teachers primarily outside Cook County, and (v) a community college currently participating in the College Insurance Program; and that these appointments shall be made by June 1, 2006; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the following officials shall serve, ex officio, as members of the Task Force: the Director of the Governor's Office of Management and Budget, the Chancellor of the City Colleges of Chicago, and the Chairman of the Illinois Community College Board; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall (1) investigate the current state of the College Insurance Program and (2) consider the inclusion of the retirees of the City Colleges of Chicago, and shall report its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly by October 31, 2006; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall provide staff support to the Task Force, as necessary; and be it further

RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be delivered to the Governor, the Director of the Governor's Office of Management and Budget, the Chancellor of the City Colleges of Chicago, and the Chairman of the Illinois Community College Board.