HR0641

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HOUSE RESOLUTION


 
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    WHEREAS, The Illinois Teachers' Retirement Insurance 
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Program (TRIP) was enacted in 1995 to provide a comprehensive 
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program of health care coverage for retired teachers and their 
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eligible dependents; and

 
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    WHEREAS, The number of enrollees in TRIP for FY 2009 was 
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64,636; overall, membership is expected to increase in FY 2010 
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to 67,260 or 4.1%; in comparison, the number of enrollees in FY 
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2000 was 38,446 or 42.8% less than the FY 2009 enrollment; and

 
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    WHEREAS, On average, the cost of TRIP is increasing at a 
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faster rate, 9.9%, than the overall funding sources of the 
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program, which are increasing at a rate of 5.4%; and

 
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    WHEREAS, In reviewing FY 2008 and FY 2009 revenues and 
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expenditures, it is evident that the funding sources for TRIP 
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are not adequate; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Projections by the Department of Healthcare and 
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Family Services show TRIP is projected to have a negative cash 
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balance of $81 million by FY 2011; this amount will grow 
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substantially in future fiscal years without changes in the 
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funding or benefits, or both, of TRIP; and

 
 


 






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    WHEREAS, Since its inception, TRIP has experienced 
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escalating costs to the program; increased retiree premiums, 
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increased active teacher and State contributions, and school 
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district financial assistance are recent changes to the TRIP 
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program in FY 2003 and FY 2005 to keep the program solvent; and

 
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    WHEREAS, The most recent changes made to TRIP were 
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established in Public Act 93-679; the legislation (1) raised 
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the premiums for retired teachers; (2) increased the 
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contributions from active teachers, school districts, and the 
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State; and (3) included a continuing appropriation of $13 
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million per fiscal year for 3 years to maintain benefit 
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enhancements, which expired at the end of FY 2007; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Public Act 93-679 also established a 10-member 
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Teacher Retirement Insurance Program Committee that is 
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appointed by the Governor; the committee is required to meet at 
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least 4 times a year to consider and make recommendations on 
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issues affecting TRIP that shall be based on the consensus of 
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the committee; and

 
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    WHEREAS, The Teacher Retirement Insurance Program 
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Committee has not been appointed by the Governor, despite the 
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dire fiscal projections for TRIP in FY 2011; therefore, be it

 
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    RESOLVED, BY THE  HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
 


 






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NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we 
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urge the Governor to appoint and convene the Teacher Retirement 
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Insurance Program Committee as mandated by Public Act 93-679 to 
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begin stakeholder discussions on maintaining the solvency of 
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TRIP in FY 2011 and beyond; and be it further

 
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    RESOLVED, That that a copy of this resolution be delivered 
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to the Governor.