SB2172 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB100 11909 RPS 23560 b

100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2017 and 2018
SB2172

Introduced 3/15/2017, by Sen. Michael Connelly

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

See Index

Amends the Illinois Pension Code. Restricts participation in the General Assembly Retirement System to persons who became participants before the effective date. Provides separate benefits for persons who, on or after 6 months after the effective date, first become participants or members under the State Universities or Downstate Teachers Article or a noncovered participant under the State Employees Article. Requires those retirement systems to establish a defined contribution plan for certain members. In the IMRF, Chicago Municipal, Cook County, Cook County Forest Preserve, Chicago Laborers, Chicago Park District, Metropolitan Water Reclamation District, and Chicago Teachers Articles, establishes similar benefits if the governing body of the unit of local government adopts those benefits by resolution or ordinance. In the State Employee, State Universities, and Downstate Teachers Articles, requires those Systems to offer certain inactive members the opportunity to elect to receive an accelerated pension benefit payment equal to 70% of the net present value of their pension benefits in lieu of receiving any pension benefit. In the 5 State-funded retirement systems and the Chicago Teachers Pension Fund, makes funding changes. In the State Universities and Downstate Teachers Articles, shifts certain costs to the local employer. In the Chicago Teachers Article, requires the State to contribute $215,200,000 for fiscal year 2017 and provides a continuing appropriation from the Common School Fund for that contribution. Amends the Budget Stabilization Act. Provides for the transfer of certain amounts from the General Revenue Fund to the Pension Stabilization Fund. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

PENSION IMPACT NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

STATE MANDATES ACT MAY REQUIRE REIMBURSEMENT

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 State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971 is amended by changing Sections 3 and 10 as follows:

(5 ILCS 375/3) (from Ch. 127, par. 523)

Sec. 3. Definitions. Unless the context otherwise requires, the following words and phrases as used in this Act shall have the following meanings. The Department may define these and other words and phrases separately for the purpose of implementing specific programs providing benefits under this Act.

(a) "Administrative service organization" means any person, firm or corporation experienced in the handling of claims which is fully qualified, financially sound and capable of meeting the service requirements of a contract of administration executed with the Department.

(b) "Annuitant" means (1) an employee who retires, or has retired, on or after January 1, 1966 on an immediate annuity under the provisions of Articles 2, 14 (including an employee who has elected to receive an alternative retirement cancellation payment under Section 14-108.5 of the Illinois Pension Code in lieu of an annuity or who meets the criteria for retirement, but in lieu of receiving an annuity under that Article has elected to receive an accelerated pension benefit payment under Section 14-147.5 of that Article), 15 (including an employee who has retired under the optional retirement program established under Section 15-158.2 or who meets the criteria for retirement but in lieu of receiving an annuity under that Article has elected to receive an accelerated pension benefit payment under Section 15-185.5 of the Article), paragraphs (2), (3), or (5) of Section 16-106 (including an employee who meets the criteria for retirement, but in lieu of receiving an annuity under that Article has elected to receive an accelerated pension benefit payment under Section 16-190.5 of the Illinois Pension Code), or Article 18 of the Illinois Pension Code; (2) any person who was receiving group insurance coverage under this Act as of March 31, 1978 by reason of his status as an annuitant, even though the annuity in relation to which such coverage was provided is a proportional annuity based on less than the minimum period of service required for a retirement annuity in the system involved; (3) any person not otherwise covered by this Act who has retired as a participating member under Article 2 of the Illinois Pension Code but is ineligible for the retirement annuity under Section 2-119 of the Illinois Pension Code; (4) the spouse of any person who is receiving a retirement annuity under Article 18 of the Illinois Pension Code and who is covered under a group health insurance program sponsored by a governmental employer other than the State of Illinois and who has irrevocably elected to waive his or her coverage under this Act and to have his or her spouse considered as the "annuitant" under this Act and not as a "dependent"; or (5) an employee who retires, or has retired, from a qualified position, as determined according to rules promulgated by the Director, under a qualified local government, a qualified rehabilitation facility, a qualified domestic violence shelter or service, or a qualified child advocacy center. (For definition of "retired employee", see (p) post).

(b-5) (Blank).

(b-6) (Blank).

(b-7) (Blank).

(c) "Carrier" means (1) an insurance company, a corporation organized under the Limited Health Service Organization Act or the Voluntary Health Services Plan Act, a partnership, or other nongovernmental organization, which is authorized to do group life or group health insurance business in Illinois, or (2) the State of Illinois as a self-insurer.

(d) "Compensation" means salary or wages payable on a regular payroll by the State Treasurer on a warrant of the State Comptroller out of any State, trust or federal fund, or by the Governor of the State through a disbursing officer of the State out of a trust or out of federal funds, or by any Department out of State, trust, federal or other funds held by the State Treasurer or the Department, to any person for personal services currently performed, and ordinary or accidental disability benefits under Articles 2, 14, 15 (including ordinary or accidental disability benefits under the optional retirement program established under Section 15-158.2), paragraphs (2), (3), or (5) of Section 16-106, or Article 18 of the Illinois Pension Code, for disability incurred after January 1, 1966, or benefits payable under the Workers' Compensation or Occupational Diseases Act or benefits payable under a sick pay plan established in accordance with Section 36 of the State Finance Act. "Compensation" also means salary or wages paid to an employee of any qualified local government, qualified rehabilitation facility, qualified domestic violence shelter or service, or qualified child advocacy center.

(e) "Commission" means the State Employees Group Insurance Advisory Commission authorized by this Act. Commencing July 1, 1984, "Commission" as used in this Act means the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability as established by the Legislative Commission Reorganization Act of 1984.

(f) "Contributory", when referred to as contributory coverage, shall mean optional coverages or benefits elected by the member toward the cost of which such member makes contribution, or which are funded in whole or in part through the acceptance of a reduction in earnings or the foregoing of an increase in earnings by an employee, as distinguished from noncontributory coverage or benefits which are paid entirely by the State of Illinois without reduction of the member's salary.

(g) "Department" means any department, institution, board, commission, officer, court or any agency of the State government receiving appropriations and having power to certify payrolls to the Comptroller authorizing payments of salary and wages against such appropriations as are made by the General Assembly from any State fund, or against trust funds held by the State Treasurer and includes boards of trustees of the retirement systems created by Articles 2, 14, 15, 16 and 18 of the Illinois Pension Code. "Department" also includes the Illinois Comprehensive Health Insurance Board, the Board of Examiners established under the Illinois Public Accounting Act, and the Illinois Finance Authority.

(h) "Dependent", when the term is used in the context of the health and life plan, means a member's spouse and any child (1) from birth to age 26 including an adopted child, a child who lives with the member from the time of the filing of a petition for adoption until entry of an order of adoption, a stepchild or adjudicated child, or a child who lives with the member if such member is a court appointed guardian of the child or (2) age 19 or over who has a mental or physical disability from a cause originating prior to the age of 19 (age 26 if enrolled as an adult child dependent). For the health plan only, the term "dependent" also includes (1) any person enrolled prior to the effective date of this Section who is dependent upon the member to the extent that the member may claim such person as a dependent for income tax deduction purposes and (2) any person who has received after June 30, 2000 an organ transplant and who is financially dependent upon the member and eligible to be claimed as a dependent for income tax purposes. A member requesting to cover any dependent must provide documentation as requested by the Department of Central Management Services and file with the Department any and all forms required by the Department.

(i) "Director" means the Director of the Illinois Department of Central Management Services.

(j) "Eligibility period" means the period of time a member has to elect enrollment in programs or to select benefits without regard to age, sex or health.

(k) "Employee" means and includes each officer or employee in the service of a department who (1) receives his compensation for service rendered to the department on a warrant issued pursuant to a payroll certified by a department or on a warrant or check issued and drawn by a department upon a trust, federal or other fund or on a warrant issued pursuant to a payroll certified by an elected or duly appointed officer of the State or who receives payment of the performance of personal services on a warrant issued pursuant to a payroll certified by a Department and drawn by the Comptroller upon the State Treasurer against appropriations made by the General Assembly from any fund or against trust funds held by the State Treasurer, and (2) is employed full-time or part-time in a position normally requiring actual performance of duty during not less than 1/2 of a normal work period, as established by the Director in cooperation with each department, except that persons elected by popular vote will be considered employees during the entire term for which they are elected regardless of hours devoted to the service of the State, and (3) except that "employee" does not include any person who is not eligible by reason of such person's employment to participate in one of the State retirement systems under Articles 2, 14, 15 (either the regular Article 15 system or the optional retirement program established under Section 15-158.2) or 18, or under paragraph (2), (3), or (5) of Section 16-106, of the Illinois Pension Code, but such term does include persons who are employed during the 6 month qualifying period under Article 14 of the Illinois Pension Code. Such term also includes any person who (1) after January 1, 1966, is receiving ordinary or accidental disability benefits under Articles 2, 14, 15 (including ordinary or accidental disability benefits under the optional retirement program established under Section 15-158.2), paragraphs (2), (3), or (5) of Section 16-106, or Article 18 of the Illinois Pension Code, for disability incurred after January 1, 1966, (2) receives total permanent or total temporary disability under the Workers' Compensation Act or Occupational Disease Act as a result of injuries sustained or illness contracted in the course of employment with the State of Illinois, or (3) is not otherwise covered under this Act and has retired as a participating member under Article 2 of the Illinois Pension Code but is ineligible for the retirement annuity under Section 2-119 of the Illinois Pension Code. However, a person who satisfies the criteria of the foregoing definition of "employee" except that such person is made ineligible to participate in the State Universities Retirement System by clause (4) of subsection (a) of Section 15-107 of the Illinois Pension Code is also an "employee" for the purposes of this Act. "Employee" also includes any person receiving or eligible for benefits under a sick pay plan established in accordance with Section 36 of the State Finance Act. "Employee" also includes (i) each officer or employee in the service of a qualified local government, including persons appointed as trustees of sanitary districts regardless of hours devoted to the service of the sanitary district, (ii) each employee in the service of a qualified rehabilitation facility, (iii) each full-time employee in the service of a qualified domestic violence shelter or service, and (iv) each full-time employee in the service of a qualified child advocacy center, as determined according to rules promulgated by the Director.

(l) "Member" means an employee, annuitant, retired employee or survivor. In the case of an annuitant or retired employee who first becomes an annuitant or retired employee on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 97th General Assembly, the individual must meet the minimum vesting requirements of the applicable retirement system in order to be eligible for group insurance benefits under that system. In the case of a survivor who first becomes a survivor on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 97th General Assembly, the deceased employee, annuitant, or retired employee upon whom the annuity is based must have been eligible to participate in the group insurance system under the applicable retirement system in order for the survivor to be eligible for group insurance benefits under that system.

(m) "Optional coverages or benefits" means those coverages or benefits available to the member on his or her voluntary election, and at his or her own expense.

(n) "Program" means the group life insurance, health benefits and other employee benefits designed and contracted for by the Director under this Act.

(o) "Health plan" means a health benefits program offered by the State of Illinois for persons eligible for the plan.

(p) "Retired employee" means any person who would be an annuitant as that term is defined herein but for the fact that such person retired prior to January 1, 1966. Such term also includes any person formerly employed by the University of Illinois in the Cooperative Extension Service who would be an annuitant but for the fact that such person was made ineligible to participate in the State Universities Retirement System by clause (4) of subsection (a) of Section 15-107 of the Illinois Pension Code.

(q) "Survivor" means a person receiving an annuity as a survivor of an employee or of an annuitant. "Survivor" also includes: (1) the surviving dependent of a person who satisfies the definition of "employee" except that such person is made ineligible to participate in the State Universities Retirement System by clause (4) of subsection (a) of Section 15-107 of the Illinois Pension Code; (2) the surviving dependent of any person formerly employed by the University of Illinois in the Cooperative Extension Service who would be an annuitant except for the fact that such person was made ineligible to participate in the State Universities Retirement System by clause (4) of subsection (a) of Section 15-107 of the Illinois Pension Code; and (3) the surviving dependent of a person who was an annuitant under this Act by virtue of receiving an alternative retirement cancellation payment under Section 14-108.5 of the Illinois Pension Code.

(q-2) "SERS" means the State Employees' Retirement System of Illinois, created under Article 14 of the Illinois Pension Code.

(q-3) "SURS" means the State Universities Retirement System, created under Article 15 of the Illinois Pension Code.

(q-4) "TRS" means the Teachers' Retirement System of the State of Illinois, created under Article 16 of the Illinois Pension Code.

(q-5) (Blank).

(q-6) (Blank).

(q-7) (Blank).

(r) "Medical services" means the services provided within the scope of their licenses by practitioners in all categories licensed under the Medical Practice Act of 1987.

(s) "Unit of local government" means any county, municipality, township, school district (including a combination of school districts under the Intergovernmental Cooperation Act), special district or other unit, designated as a unit of local government by law, which exercises limited governmental powers or powers in respect to limited governmental subjects, any not-for-profit association with a membership that primarily includes townships and township officials, that has duties that include provision of research service, dissemination of information, and other acts for the purpose of improving township government, and that is funded wholly or partly in accordance with Section 85-15 of the Township Code; any not-for-profit corporation or association, with a membership consisting primarily of municipalities, that operates its own utility system, and provides research, training, dissemination of information, or other acts to promote cooperation between and among municipalities that provide utility services and for the advancement of the goals and purposes of its membership; the Southern Illinois Collegiate Common Market, which is a consortium of higher education institutions in Southern Illinois; the Illinois Association of Park Districts; and any hospital provider that is owned by a county that has 100 or fewer hospital beds and has not already joined the program. "Qualified local government" means a unit of local government approved by the Director and participating in a program created under subsection (i) of Section 10 of this Act.

(t) "Qualified rehabilitation facility" means any not-for-profit organization that is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities or certified by the Department of Human Services (as successor to the Department of Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities) to provide services to persons with disabilities and which receives funds from the State of Illinois for providing those services, approved by the Director and participating in a program created under subsection (j) of Section 10 of this Act.

(u) "Qualified domestic violence shelter or service" means any Illinois domestic violence shelter or service and its administrative offices funded by the Department of Human Services (as successor to the Illinois Department of Public Aid), approved by the Director and participating in a program created under subsection (k) of Section 10.

(v) "TRS benefit recipient" means a person who:

(1) is not a "member" as defined in this Section; and

(2) is receiving a monthly benefit or retirement annuity under Article 16 of the Illinois Pension Code; and

(3) either (i) has at least 8 years of creditable service under Article 16 of the Illinois Pension Code, or (ii) was enrolled in the health insurance program offered under that Article on January 1, 1996, or (iii) is the survivor of a benefit recipient who had at least 8 years of creditable service under Article 16 of the Illinois Pension Code or was enrolled in the health insurance program offered under that Article on the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1995, or (iv) is a recipient or survivor of a recipient of a disability benefit under Article 16 of the Illinois Pension Code.

(w) "TRS dependent beneficiary" means a person who:

(1) is not a "member" or "dependent" as defined in this Section; and

(2) is a TRS benefit recipient's: (A) spouse, (B) dependent parent who is receiving at least half of his or her support from the TRS benefit recipient, or (C) natural, step, adjudicated, or adopted child who is (i) under age 26, (ii) was, on January 1, 1996, participating as a dependent beneficiary in the health insurance program offered under Article 16 of the Illinois Pension Code, or (iii) age 19 or over who has a mental or physical disability from a cause originating prior to the age of 19 (age 26 if enrolled as an adult child).

"TRS dependent beneficiary" does not include, as indicated under paragraph (2) of this subsection (w), a dependent of the survivor of a TRS benefit recipient who first becomes a dependent of a survivor of a TRS benefit recipient on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 97th General Assembly unless that dependent would have been eligible for coverage as a dependent of the deceased TRS benefit recipient upon whom the survivor benefit is based.

(x) "Military leave" refers to individuals in basic training for reserves, special/advanced training, annual training, emergency call up, activation by the President of the United States, or any other training or duty in service to the United States Armed Forces.

(y) (Blank).

(z) "Community college benefit recipient" means a person who:

(1) is not a "member" as defined in this Section; and

(2) is receiving a monthly survivor's annuity or retirement annuity under Article 15 of the Illinois Pension Code; and

(3) either (i) was a full-time employee of a community college district or an association of community college boards created under the Public Community College Act (other than an employee whose last employer under Article 15 of the Illinois Pension Code was a community college district subject to Article VII of the Public Community College Act) and was eligible to participate in a group health benefit plan as an employee during the time of employment with a community college district (other than a community college district subject to Article VII of the Public Community College Act) or an association of community college boards, or (ii) is the survivor of a person described in item (i).

(aa) "Community college dependent beneficiary" means a person who:

(1) is not a "member" or "dependent" as defined in this Section; and

(2) is a community college benefit recipient's: (A) spouse, (B) dependent parent who is receiving at least half of his or her support from the community college benefit recipient, or (C) natural, step, adjudicated, or adopted child who is (i) under age 26, or (ii) age 19 or over and has a mental or physical disability from a cause originating prior to the age of 19 (age 26 if enrolled as an adult child).

"Community college dependent beneficiary" does not include, as indicated under paragraph (2) of this subsection (aa), a dependent of the survivor of a community college benefit recipient who first becomes a dependent of a survivor of a community college benefit recipient on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 97th General Assembly unless that dependent would have been eligible for coverage as a dependent of the deceased community college benefit recipient upon whom the survivor annuity is based.

(bb) "Qualified child advocacy center" means any Illinois child advocacy center and its administrative offices funded by the Department of Children and Family Services, as defined by the Children's Advocacy Center Act (55 ILCS 80/), approved by the Director and participating in a program created under subsection (n) of Section 10.

(Source: P.A. 98-488, eff. 8-16-13; 99-143, eff. 7-27-15.)

(5 ILCS 375/10) (from Ch. 127, par. 530)

Sec. 10. Contributions by the State and members.

(a) The State shall pay the cost of basic non-contributory group life insurance and, subject to member paid contributions set by the Department or required by this Section and except as provided in this Section, the basic program of group health benefits on each eligible member, except a member, not otherwise covered by this Act, who has retired as a participating member under Article 2 of the Illinois Pension Code but is ineligible for the retirement annuity under Section 2-119 of the Illinois Pension Code, and part of each eligible member's and retired member's premiums for health insurance coverage for enrolled dependents as provided by Section 9. The State shall pay the cost of the basic program of group health benefits only after benefits are reduced by the amount of benefits covered by Medicare for all members and dependents who are eligible for benefits under Social Security or the Railroad Retirement system or who had sufficient Medicare-covered government employment, except that such reduction in benefits shall apply only to those members and dependents who (1) first become eligible for such Medicare coverage on or after July 1, 1992; or (2) are Medicare-eligible members or dependents of a local government unit which began participation in the program on or after July 1, 1992; or (3) remain eligible for, but no longer receive Medicare coverage which they had been receiving on or after July 1, 1992. The Department may determine the aggregate level of the State's contribution on the basis of actual cost of medical services adjusted for age, sex or geographic or other demographic characteristics which affect the costs of such programs.

The cost of participation in the basic program of group health benefits for the dependent or survivor of a living or deceased retired employee who was formerly employed by the University of Illinois in the Cooperative Extension Service and would be an annuitant but for the fact that he or she was made ineligible to participate in the State Universities Retirement System by clause (4) of subsection (a) of Section 15-107 of the Illinois Pension Code shall not be greater than the cost of participation that would otherwise apply to that dependent or survivor if he or she were the dependent or survivor of an annuitant under the State Universities Retirement System.

(a-1) (Blank).

(a-2) (Blank).

(a-3) (Blank).

(a-4) (Blank).

(a-5) (Blank).

(a-6) (Blank).

(a-7) (Blank).

(a-8) Any annuitant, survivor, or retired employee may waive or terminate coverage in the program of group health benefits. Any such annuitant, survivor, or retired employee who has waived or terminated coverage may enroll or re-enroll in the program of group health benefits only during the annual benefit choice period, as determined by the Director; except that in the event of termination of coverage due to nonpayment of premiums, the annuitant, survivor, or retired employee may not re-enroll in the program.

(a-8.5) Beginning on the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 97th General Assembly, the Director of Central Management Services shall, on an annual basis, determine the amount that the State shall contribute toward the basic program of group health benefits on behalf of annuitants (including individuals who (i) participated in the General Assembly Retirement System, the State Employees' Retirement System of Illinois, the State Universities Retirement System, the Teachers' Retirement System of the State of Illinois, or the Judges Retirement System of Illinois and (ii) qualify as annuitants under subsection (b) of Section 3 of this Act), survivors (including individuals who (i) receive an annuity as a survivor of an individual who participated in the General Assembly Retirement System, the State Employees' Retirement System of Illinois, the State Universities Retirement System, the Teachers' Retirement System of the State of Illinois, or the Judges Retirement System of Illinois and (ii) qualify as survivors under subsection (q) of Section 3 of this Act), and retired employees (as defined in subsection (p) of Section 3 of this Act). The remainder of the cost of coverage for each annuitant, survivor, or retired employee, as determined by the Director of Central Management Services, shall be the responsibility of that annuitant, survivor, or retired employee.

Contributions required of annuitants, survivors, and retired employees shall be the same for all retirement systems and shall also be based on whether an individual has made an election under Section 15-135.1 of the Illinois Pension Code. Contributions may be based on annuitants', survivors', or retired employees' Medicare eligibility, but may not be based on Social Security eligibility.

(a-9) No later than May 1 of each calendar year, the Director of Central Management Services shall certify in writing to the Executive Secretary of the State Employees' Retirement System of Illinois the amounts of the Medicare supplement health care premiums and the amounts of the health care premiums for all other retirees who are not Medicare eligible.

A separate calculation of the premiums based upon the actual cost of each health care plan shall be so certified.

The Director of Central Management Services shall provide to the Executive Secretary of the State Employees' Retirement System of Illinois such information, statistics, and other data as he or she may require to review the premium amounts certified by the Director of Central Management Services.

The Department of Central Management Services, or any successor agency designated to procure healthcare contracts pursuant to this Act, is authorized to establish funds, separate accounts provided by any bank or banks as defined by the Illinois Banking Act, or separate accounts provided by any savings and loan association or associations as defined by the Illinois Savings and Loan Act of 1985 to be held by the Director, outside the State treasury, for the purpose of receiving the transfer of moneys from the Local Government Health Insurance Reserve Fund. The Department may promulgate rules further defining the methodology for the transfers. Any interest earned by moneys in the funds or accounts shall inure to the Local Government Health Insurance Reserve Fund. The transferred moneys, and interest accrued thereon, shall be used exclusively for transfers to administrative service organizations or their financial institutions for payments of claims to claimants and providers under the self-insurance health plan. The transferred moneys, and interest accrued thereon, shall not be used for any other purpose including, but not limited to, reimbursement of administration fees due the administrative service organization pursuant to its contract or contracts with the Department.

(a-10) To the extent that participation, benefits, or premiums under this Act are based on a person's service credit under an Article of the Illinois Pension Code, service credit terminated in exchange for an accelerated pension benefit payment under Section 14-147.5, 15-185.5, or 16-190.5 of that Code shall be included in determining a person's service credit for the purposes of this Act.

(b) State employees who become eligible for this program on or after January 1, 1980 in positions normally requiring actual performance of duty not less than 1/2 of a normal work period but not equal to that of a normal work period, shall be given the option of participating in the available program. If the employee elects coverage, the State shall contribute on behalf of such employee to the cost of the employee's benefit and any applicable dependent supplement, that sum which bears the same percentage as that percentage of time the employee regularly works when compared to normal work period.

(c) The basic non-contributory coverage from the basic program of group health benefits shall be continued for each employee not in pay status or on active service by reason of (1) leave of absence due to illness or injury, (2) authorized educational leave of absence or sabbatical leave, or (3) military leave. This coverage shall continue until expiration of authorized leave and return to active service, but not to exceed 24 months for leaves under item (1) or (2). This 24-month limitation and the requirement of returning to active service shall not apply to persons receiving ordinary or accidental disability benefits or retirement benefits through the appropriate State retirement system or benefits under the Workers' Compensation or Occupational Disease Act.

(d) The basic group life insurance coverage shall continue, with full State contribution, where such person is (1) absent from active service by reason of disability arising from any cause other than self-inflicted, (2) on authorized educational leave of absence or sabbatical leave, or (3) on military leave.

(e) Where the person is in non-pay status for a period in excess of 30 days or on leave of absence, other than by reason of disability, educational or sabbatical leave, or military leave, such person may continue coverage only by making personal payment equal to the amount normally contributed by the State on such person's behalf. Such payments and coverage may be continued: (1) until such time as the person returns to a status eligible for coverage at State expense, but not to exceed 24 months or (2) until such person's employment or annuitant status with the State is terminated (exclusive of any additional service imposed pursuant to law).

(f) The Department shall establish by rule the extent to which other employee benefits will continue for persons in non-pay status or who are not in active service.

(g) The State shall not pay the cost of the basic non-contributory group life insurance, program of health benefits and other employee benefits for members who are survivors as defined by paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (q) of Section 3 of this Act. The costs of benefits for these survivors shall be paid by the survivors or by the University of Illinois Cooperative Extension Service, or any combination thereof. However, the State shall pay the amount of the reduction in the cost of participation, if any, resulting from the amendment to subsection (a) made by this amendatory Act of the 91st General Assembly.

(h) Those persons occupying positions with any department as a result of emergency appointments pursuant to Section 8b.8 of the Personnel Code who are not considered employees under this Act shall be given the option of participating in the programs of group life insurance, health benefits and other employee benefits. Such persons electing coverage may participate only by making payment equal to the amount normally contributed by the State for similarly situated employees. Such amounts shall be determined by the Director. Such payments and coverage may be continued until such time as the person becomes an employee pursuant to this Act or such person's appointment is terminated.

(i) Any unit of local government within the State of Illinois may apply to the Director to have its employees, annuitants, and their dependents provided group health coverage under this Act on a non-insured basis. To participate, a unit of local government must agree to enroll all of its employees, who may select coverage under either the State group health benefits plan or a health maintenance organization that has contracted with the State to be available as a health care provider for employees as defined in this Act. A unit of local government must remit the entire cost of providing coverage under the State group health benefits plan or, for coverage under a health maintenance organization, an amount determined by the Director based on an analysis of the sex, age, geographic location, or other relevant demographic variables for its employees, except that the unit of local government shall not be required to enroll those of its employees who are covered spouses or dependents under this plan or another group policy or plan providing health benefits as long as (1) an appropriate official from the unit of local government attests that each employee not enrolled is a covered spouse or dependent under this plan or another group policy or plan, and (2) at least 50% of the employees are enrolled and the unit of local government remits the entire cost of providing coverage to those employees, except that a participating school district must have enrolled at least 50% of its full-time employees who have not waived coverage under the district's group health plan by participating in a component of the district's cafeteria plan. A participating school district is not required to enroll a full-time employee who has waived coverage under the district's health plan, provided that an appropriate official from the participating school district attests that the full-time employee has waived coverage by participating in a component of the district's cafeteria plan. For the purposes of this subsection, "participating school district" includes a unit of local government whose primary purpose is education as defined by the Department's rules.

Employees of a participating unit of local government who are not enrolled due to coverage under another group health policy or plan may enroll in the event of a qualifying change in status, special enrollment, special circumstance as defined by the Director, or during the annual Benefit Choice Period. A participating unit of local government may also elect to cover its annuitants. Dependent coverage shall be offered on an optional basis, with the costs paid by the unit of local government, its employees, or some combination of the two as determined by the unit of local government. The unit of local government shall be responsible for timely collection and transmission of dependent premiums.

The Director shall annually determine monthly rates of payment, subject to the following constraints:

(1) In the first year of coverage, the rates shall be equal to the amount normally charged to State employees for elected optional coverages or for enrolled dependents coverages or other contributory coverages, or contributed by the State for basic insurance coverages on behalf of its employees, adjusted for differences between State employees and employees of the local government in age, sex, geographic location or other relevant demographic variables, plus an amount sufficient to pay for the additional administrative costs of providing coverage to employees of the unit of local government and their dependents.

(2) In subsequent years, a further adjustment shall be made to reflect the actual prior years' claims experience of the employees of the unit of local government.

In the case of coverage of local government employees under a health maintenance organization, the Director shall annually determine for each participating unit of local government the maximum monthly amount the unit may contribute toward that coverage, based on an analysis of (i) the age, sex, geographic location, and other relevant demographic variables of the unit's employees and (ii) the cost to cover those employees under the State group health benefits plan. The Director may similarly determine the maximum monthly amount each unit of local government may contribute toward coverage of its employees' dependents under a health maintenance organization.

Monthly payments by the unit of local government or its employees for group health benefits plan or health maintenance organization coverage shall be deposited in the Local Government Health Insurance Reserve Fund.

The Local Government Health Insurance Reserve Fund is hereby created as a nonappropriated trust fund to be held outside the State Treasury, with the State Treasurer as custodian. The Local Government Health Insurance Reserve Fund shall be a continuing fund not subject to fiscal year limitations. The Local Government Health Insurance Reserve Fund is not subject to administrative charges or charge-backs, including but not limited to those authorized under Section 8h of the State Finance Act. All revenues arising from the administration of the health benefits program established under this Section shall be deposited into the Local Government Health Insurance Reserve Fund. Any interest earned on moneys in the Local Government Health Insurance Reserve Fund shall be deposited into the Fund. All expenditures from this Fund shall be used for payments for health care benefits for local government and rehabilitation facility employees, annuitants, and dependents, and to reimburse the Department or its administrative service organization for all expenses incurred in the administration of benefits. No other State funds may be used for these purposes.

A local government employer's participation or desire to participate in a program created under this subsection shall not limit that employer's duty to bargain with the representative of any collective bargaining unit of its employees.

(j) Any rehabilitation facility within the State of Illinois may apply to the Director to have its employees, annuitants, and their eligible dependents provided group health coverage under this Act on a non-insured basis. To participate, a rehabilitation facility must agree to enroll all of its employees and remit the entire cost of providing such coverage for its employees, except that the rehabilitation facility shall not be required to enroll those of its employees who are covered spouses or dependents under this plan or another group policy or plan providing health benefits as long as (1) an appropriate official from the rehabilitation facility attests that each employee not enrolled is a covered spouse or dependent under this plan or another group policy or plan, and (2) at least 50% of the employees are enrolled and the rehabilitation facility remits the entire cost of providing coverage to those employees. Employees of a participating rehabilitation facility who are not enrolled due to coverage under another group health policy or plan may enroll in the event of a qualifying change in status, special enrollment, special circumstance as defined by the Director, or during the annual Benefit Choice Period. A participating rehabilitation facility may also elect to cover its annuitants. Dependent coverage shall be offered on an optional basis, with the costs paid by the rehabilitation facility, its employees, or some combination of the 2 as determined by the rehabilitation facility. The rehabilitation facility shall be responsible for timely collection and transmission of dependent premiums.

The Director shall annually determine quarterly rates of payment, subject to the following constraints:

(1) In the first year of coverage, the rates shall be equal to the amount normally charged to State employees for elected optional coverages or for enrolled dependents coverages or other contributory coverages on behalf of its employees, adjusted for differences between State employees and employees of the rehabilitation facility in age, sex, geographic location or other relevant demographic variables, plus an amount sufficient to pay for the additional administrative costs of providing coverage to employees of the rehabilitation facility and their dependents.

(2) In subsequent years, a further adjustment shall be made to reflect the actual prior years' claims experience of the employees of the rehabilitation facility.

Monthly payments by the rehabilitation facility or its employees for group health benefits shall be deposited in the Local Government Health Insurance Reserve Fund.

(k) Any domestic violence shelter or service within the State of Illinois may apply to the Director to have its employees, annuitants, and their dependents provided group health coverage under this Act on a non-insured basis. To participate, a domestic violence shelter or service must agree to enroll all of its employees and pay the entire cost of providing such coverage for its employees. The domestic violence shelter shall not be required to enroll those of its employees who are covered spouses or dependents under this plan or another group policy or plan providing health benefits as long as (1) an appropriate official from the domestic violence shelter attests that each employee not enrolled is a covered spouse or dependent under this plan or another group policy or plan and (2) at least 50% of the employees are enrolled and the domestic violence shelter remits the entire cost of providing coverage to those employees. Employees of a participating domestic violence shelter who are not enrolled due to coverage under another group health policy or plan may enroll in the event of a qualifying change in status, special enrollment, or special circumstance as defined by the Director or during the annual Benefit Choice Period. A participating domestic violence shelter may also elect to cover its annuitants. Dependent coverage shall be offered on an optional basis, with employees, or some combination of the 2 as determined by the domestic violence shelter or service. The domestic violence shelter or service shall be responsible for timely collection and transmission of dependent premiums.

The Director shall annually determine rates of payment, subject to the following constraints:

(1) In the first year of coverage, the rates shall be equal to the amount normally charged to State employees for elected optional coverages or for enrolled dependents coverages or other contributory coverages on behalf of its employees, adjusted for differences between State employees and employees of the domestic violence shelter or service in age, sex, geographic location or other relevant demographic variables, plus an amount sufficient to pay for the additional administrative costs of providing coverage to employees of the domestic violence shelter or service and their dependents.

(2) In subsequent years, a further adjustment shall be made to reflect the actual prior years' claims experience of the employees of the domestic violence shelter or service.

Monthly payments by the domestic violence shelter or service or its employees for group health insurance shall be deposited in the Local Government Health Insurance Reserve Fund.

(l) A public community college or entity organized pursuant to the Public Community College Act may apply to the Director initially to have only annuitants not covered prior to July 1, 1992 by the district's health plan provided health coverage under this Act on a non-insured basis. The community college must execute a 2-year contract to participate in the Local Government Health Plan. Any annuitant may enroll in the event of a qualifying change in status, special enrollment, special circumstance as defined by the Director, or during the annual Benefit Choice Period.

The Director shall annually determine monthly rates of payment subject to the following constraints: for those community colleges with annuitants only enrolled, first year rates shall be equal to the average cost to cover claims for a State member adjusted for demographics, Medicare participation, and other factors; and in the second year, a further adjustment of rates shall be made to reflect the actual first year's claims experience of the covered annuitants.

(l-5) The provisions of subsection (l) become inoperative on July 1, 1999.

(m) The Director shall adopt any rules deemed necessary for implementation of this amendatory Act of 1989 (Public Act 86-978).

(n) Any child advocacy center within the State of Illinois may apply to the Director to have its employees, annuitants, and their dependents provided group health coverage under this Act on a non-insured basis. To participate, a child advocacy center must agree to enroll all of its employees and pay the entire cost of providing coverage for its employees. The child advocacy center shall not be required to enroll those of its employees who are covered spouses or dependents under this plan or another group policy or plan providing health benefits as long as (1) an appropriate official from the child advocacy center attests that each employee not enrolled is a covered spouse or dependent under this plan or another group policy or plan and (2) at least 50% of the employees are enrolled and the child advocacy center remits the entire cost of providing coverage to those employees. Employees of a participating child advocacy center who are not enrolled due to coverage under another group health policy or plan may enroll in the event of a qualifying change in status, special enrollment, or special circumstance as defined by the Director or during the annual Benefit Choice Period. A participating child advocacy center may also elect to cover its annuitants. Dependent coverage shall be offered on an optional basis, with the costs paid by the child advocacy center, its employees, or some combination of the 2 as determined by the child advocacy center. The child advocacy center shall be responsible for timely collection and transmission of dependent premiums.

The Director shall annually determine rates of payment, subject to the following constraints:

(1) In the first year of coverage, the rates shall be equal to the amount normally charged to State employees for elected optional coverages or for enrolled dependents coverages or other contributory coverages on behalf of its employees, adjusted for differences between State employees and employees of the child advocacy center in age, sex, geographic location, or other relevant demographic variables, plus an amount sufficient to pay for the additional administrative costs of providing coverage to employees of the child advocacy center and their dependents.

(2) In subsequent years, a further adjustment shall be made to reflect the actual prior years' claims experience of the employees of the child advocacy center.

Monthly payments by the child advocacy center or its employees for group health insurance shall be deposited into the Local Government Health Insurance Reserve Fund.

(Source: P.A. 97-695, eff. 7-1-12; 98-488, eff. 8-16-13.)

Section 10. The Budget Stabilization Act is amended by changing Section 20 as follows:

(30 ILCS 122/20)

(Text of Section WITHOUT the changes made by P.A. 98-599, which has been held unconstitutional)

Sec. 20. Pension Stabilization Fund.

(a) The Pension Stabilization Fund is hereby created as a special fund in the State treasury. Moneys in the fund shall be used for the sole purpose of making payments to the designated retirement systems as provided in Section 25.

(b) For each fiscal year through State fiscal year 2020, when the General Assembly's appropriations and transfers or diversions as required by law from general funds do not exceed 99% of the estimated general funds revenues pursuant to subsection (a) of Section 10, the Comptroller shall transfer from the General Revenue Fund as provided by this Section a total amount equal to 0.5% of the estimated general funds revenues to the Pension Stabilization Fund.

(c) For each fiscal year through State fiscal year 2020, when the General Assembly's appropriations and transfers or diversions as required by law from general funds do not exceed 98% of the estimated general funds revenues pursuant to subsection (b) of Section 10, the Comptroller shall transfer from the General Revenue Fund as provided by this Section a total amount equal to 1.0% of the estimated general funds revenues to the Pension Stabilization Fund.

(c-5) In addition to any other amounts required to be transferred under this Section, in State fiscal year 2021 and each fiscal year thereafter through State fiscal year 2045, or when each of the designated retirement systems, as defined in Section 25, has achieved 100% funding, whichever occurs first, the State Comptroller shall order transferred and the State Treasurer shall transfer from the General Revenue Fund to the Pension Stabilization Fund an amount equal to (1) the sum of the amounts certified by the designated retirement systems under subsection (a-10) of Section 14-135.08, subsection (a-10) of Section 15-165, and subsection (a-10) of Section 16-158 of this Code for that fiscal year minus (2) the sum of the required State contributions certified by the retirement systems under subsection (a-5) of Section 14-135.08, subsection (a-5) of Section 15-165, and subsection (a-5) of Section 16-158 of this Code for that fiscal year. The transferred amount is intended to represent the annual savings to the State resulting from the enactment of Section 1-161 and Section 14-155.2, the enactment of subsection (a-2) of Section 15-155 and subsection (b-4) of Section 16-158, and the changes made to Section 1-160 by this amendatory Act of the 100th General Assembly.

(d) The Comptroller shall transfer 1/12 of the total amount to be transferred each fiscal year under this Section into the Pension Stabilization Fund on the first day of each month of that fiscal year or as soon thereafter as possible; except that the final transfer of the fiscal year shall be made as soon as practical after the August 31 following the end of the fiscal year.

Until State fiscal year 2021, before Before the final transfer for a fiscal year is made, the Comptroller shall reconcile the estimated general funds revenues used in calculating the other transfers under this Section for that fiscal year with the actual general funds revenues for that fiscal year. The final transfer for the fiscal year shall be adjusted so that the total amount transferred under this Section for that fiscal year is equal to the percentage specified in subsection (b) or (c) of this Section, whichever is applicable, of the actual general funds revenues for that fiscal year. The actual general funds revenues for the fiscal year shall be calculated in a manner consistent with subsection (c) of Section 10 of this Act.

(Source: P.A. 94-839, eff. 6-6-06.)

Section 15. The Illinois Pension Code is amended by changing Sections 1-160, 2-101, 2-105, 2-107, 2-124, 2-134, 2-162, 14-131, 14-135.08, 14-152.1, 15-108.1, 15-108.2, 15-155, 15-165, 15-198, 16-158, 16-203, 17-127, 17-129, 18-131, 18-140, 20-121, 20-123, 20-124, and 20-125 and by adding Sections 1-161, 1-162, 2-105.3, 2-165.1, 2-166.1, 14-103.41, 14-147.5, 14-155.1, 14-155.2, 14-156.1, 15-185.5, 15-200.1, 15-201.1, 16-107.1, 16-190.5, 16-205.1, 16-206.1, and 17-106.05 as follows:

(40 ILCS 5/1-160)

(Text of Section WITHOUT the changes made by P.A. 98-641, which has been held unconstitutional)

Sec. 1-160. Provisions applicable to new hires.

(a) The provisions of this Section apply to a person who, on or after January 1, 2011, first becomes a member or a participant under any reciprocal retirement system or pension fund established under this Code, other than a retirement system or pension fund established under Article 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 15 or 18 of this Code, notwithstanding any other provision of this Code to the contrary, but do not apply to any self-managed plan established under this Code, to any person with respect to service as a sheriff's law enforcement employee under Article 7, or to any participant of the retirement plan established under Section 22-101. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section, for purposes of this Section, a person who participated in a retirement system under Article 15 prior to January 1, 2011 shall be deemed a person who first became a member or participant prior to January 1, 2011 under any retirement system or pension fund subject to this Section. The changes made to this Section by Public Act 98-596 this amendatory Act of the 98th General Assembly are a clarification of existing law and are intended to be retroactive to January 1, 2011 (the effective date of Public Act 96-889), notwithstanding the provisions of Section 1-103.1 of this Code.

This Section does not apply to a person who, on or after 6 months after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 100th General Assembly, first becomes a member or participant under Article 14 or 16, unless that person (i) is a covered employee under Article 14 who has not elected to participate in the defined contribution plan under Section 14-155.2 or (ii) elects under subsection (b) of Section 1-161 to receive the benefits provided under this Section and the applicable provisions of the Article under which he or she is a member or participant. This Section also does not apply to a person who first becomes a member or participant of an affected pension fund on or after 6 months after the resolution or ordinance date, as defined in Section 1-162, unless that person elects under subsection (c) of Section 1-162 to receive the benefits provided under this Section and the applicable provisions of the Article under which he or she is a member or participant.

(b) "Final average salary" means the average monthly (or annual) salary obtained by dividing the total salary or earnings calculated under the Article applicable to the member or participant during the 96 consecutive months (or 8 consecutive years) of service within the last 120 months (or 10 years) of service in which the total salary or earnings calculated under the applicable Article was the highest by the number of months (or years) of service in that period. For the purposes of a person who first becomes a member or participant of any retirement system or pension fund to which this Section applies on or after January 1, 2011, in this Code, "final average salary" shall be substituted for the following:

(1) In Article 7 (except for service as sheriff's law enforcement employees), "final rate of earnings".

(2) In Articles 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12, "highest average annual salary for any 4 consecutive years within the last 10 years of service immediately preceding the date of withdrawal".

(3) In Article 13, "average final salary".

(4) In Article 14, "final average compensation".

(5) In Article 17, "average salary".

(6) In Section 22-207, "wages or salary received by him at the date of retirement or discharge".

(b-5) Beginning on January 1, 2011, for all purposes under this Code (including without limitation the calculation of benefits and employee contributions), the annual earnings, salary, or wages (based on the plan year) of a member or participant to whom this Section applies shall not exceed $106,800; however, that amount shall annually thereafter be increased by the lesser of (i) 3% of that amount, including all previous adjustments, or (ii) one-half the annual unadjusted percentage increase (but not less than zero) in the consumer price index-u for the 12 months ending with the September preceding each November 1, including all previous adjustments.

For the purposes of this Section, "consumer price index-u" means the index published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the United States Department of Labor that measures the average change in prices of goods and services purchased by all urban consumers, United States city average, all items, 1982-84 = 100. The new amount resulting from each annual adjustment shall be determined by the Public Pension Division of the Department of Insurance and made available to the boards of the retirement systems and pension funds by November 1 of each year.

(c) A member or participant is entitled to a retirement annuity upon written application if he or she has attained age 67 (beginning January 1, 2015, age 65 with respect to service under Article 12 of this Code that is subject to this Section) and has at least 10 years of service credit and is otherwise eligible under the requirements of the applicable Article.

A member or participant who has attained age 62 (beginning January 1, 2015, age 60 with respect to service under Article 12 of this Code that is subject to this Section) and has at least 10 years of service credit and is otherwise eligible under the requirements of the applicable Article may elect to receive the lower retirement annuity provided in subsection (d) of this Section.

(d) The retirement annuity of a member or participant who is retiring after attaining age 62 (beginning January 1, 2015, age 60 with respect to service under Article 12 of this Code that is subject to this Section) with at least 10 years of service credit shall be reduced by one-half of 1% for each full month that the member's age is under age 67 (beginning January 1, 2015, age 65 with respect to service under Article 12 of this Code that is subject to this Section).

(e) Any retirement annuity or supplemental annuity shall be subject to annual increases on the January 1 occurring either on or after the attainment of age 67 (beginning January 1, 2015, age 65 with respect to service under Article 12 of this Code that is subject to this Section) or the first anniversary of the annuity start date, whichever is later. Each annual increase shall be calculated at 3% or one-half the annual unadjusted percentage increase (but not less than zero) in the consumer price index-u for the 12 months ending with the September preceding each November 1, whichever is less, of the originally granted retirement annuity. If the annual unadjusted percentage change in the consumer price index-u for the 12 months ending with the September preceding each November 1 is zero or there is a decrease, then the annuity shall not be increased.

(f) The initial survivor's or widow's annuity of an otherwise eligible survivor or widow of a retired member or participant who first became a member or participant on or after January 1, 2011 shall be in the amount of 66 2/3% of the retired member's or participant's retirement annuity at the date of death. In the case of the death of a member or participant who has not retired and who first became a member or participant on or after January 1, 2011, eligibility for a survivor's or widow's annuity shall be determined by the applicable Article of this Code. The initial benefit shall be 66 2/3% of the earned annuity without a reduction due to age. A child's annuity of an otherwise eligible child shall be in the amount prescribed under each Article if applicable. Any survivor's or widow's annuity shall be increased (1) on each January 1 occurring on or after the commencement of the annuity if the deceased member died while receiving a retirement annuity or (2) in other cases, on each January 1 occurring after the first anniversary of the commencement of the annuity. Each annual increase shall be calculated at 3% or one-half the annual unadjusted percentage increase (but not less than zero) in the consumer price index-u for the 12 months ending with the September preceding each November 1, whichever is less, of the originally granted survivor's annuity. If the annual unadjusted percentage change in the consumer price index-u for the 12 months ending with the September preceding each November 1 is zero or there is a decrease, then the annuity shall not be increased.

(g) The benefits in Section 14-110 apply only if the person is a State policeman, a fire fighter in the fire protection service of a department, or a security employee of the Department of Corrections or the Department of Juvenile Justice, as those terms are defined in subsection (b) of Section 14-110. A person who meets the requirements of this Section is entitled to an annuity calculated under the provisions of Section 14-110, in lieu of the regular or minimum retirement annuity, only if the person has withdrawn from service with not less than 20 years of eligible creditable service and has attained age 60, regardless of whether the attainment of age 60 occurs while the person is still in service.

(h) If a person who first becomes a member or a participant of a retirement system or pension fund subject to this Section on or after January 1, 2011 is receiving a retirement annuity or retirement pension under that system or fund and becomes a member or participant under any other system or fund created by this Code and is employed on a full-time basis, except for those members or participants exempted from the provisions of this Section under subsection (a) of this Section, then the person's retirement annuity or retirement pension under that system or fund shall be suspended during that employment. Upon termination of that employment, the person's retirement annuity or retirement pension payments shall resume and be recalculated if recalculation is provided for under the applicable Article of this Code.

If a person who first becomes a member of a retirement system or pension fund subject to this Section on or after January 1, 2012 and is receiving a retirement annuity or retirement pension under that system or fund and accepts on a contractual basis a position to provide services to a governmental entity from which he or she has retired, then that person's annuity or retirement pension earned as an active employee of the employer shall be suspended during that contractual service. A person receiving an annuity or retirement pension under this Code shall notify the pension fund or retirement system from which he or she is receiving an annuity or retirement pension, as well as his or her contractual employer, of his or her retirement status before accepting contractual employment. A person who fails to submit such notification shall be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor and required to pay a fine of $1,000. Upon termination of that contractual employment, the person's retirement annuity or retirement pension payments shall resume and, if appropriate, be recalculated under the applicable provisions of this Code.

(i) (Blank).

(j) Except for Sections 1-161 and 1-162, in In the case of a conflict between the provisions of this Section and any other provision of this Code, the provisions of this Section shall control.

(Source: P.A. 97-609, eff. 1-1-12; 98-92, eff. 7-16-13; 98-596, eff. 11-19-13; 98-622, eff. 6-1-14; revised 3-24-16.)

(40 ILCS 5/1-161 new)

Sec. 1-161. Optional benefits for certain Tier 2 members under Articles 14, 15, and 16.

(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code to the contrary, the provisions of this Section apply to a person who, on or after 6 months after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 100th General Assembly, first becomes a member or a participant under Article 14, 15, or 16 and who does not make the election under subsection (b) or (c), whichever is applicable. The provisions of this Section do not apply to any participant in a self-managed plan or to a covered employee under Article 14.

(b) In lieu of the benefits provided under this Section, a member or participant, except for a participant under Article 15, may irrevocably elect the benefits under Section 1-160 and the benefits otherwise applicable to that member or participant. The election must be made within 30 days after becoming a member or participant. Each retirement system shall establish procedures for making this election.

(c) A participant under Article 15 may irrevocably elect the benefits otherwise provided to a Tier 2 participant under Article 15. The election must be made within 30 days after becoming a participant. The retirement system under Article 15 shall establish procedures for making this election.

(d) "Final average salary" means the average monthly (or annual) salary obtained by dividing the total salary or earnings calculated under the Article applicable to the member or participant during the last 120 months (or 10 years) of service in which the total salary or earnings calculated under the applicable Article was the highest by the number of months (or years) of service in that period. For the purposes of a person who first becomes a member or participant of any retirement system to which this Section applies on or after 6 months after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 100th General Assembly, in this Code, "final average salary" shall be substituted for "final average compensation" in Article 14.

(e) Beginning 6 months after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 100th General Assembly, for all purposes under this Code (including without limitation the calculation of benefits and employee contributions), the annual earnings, salary, or wages (based on the plan year) of a member or participant to whom this Section applies shall not at any time exceed the federal Social Security Wage Base then in effect.

(f) A member or participant is entitled to a retirement annuity upon written application if he or she has attained the normal retirement age determined by the Social Security Administration for that member or participant's year of birth, but no earlier than 67 years of age, and has at least 10 years of service credit and is otherwise eligible under the requirements of the applicable Article.

(g) The amount of the retirement annuity to which a member or participant is entitled shall be computed by multiplying 1.25% for each year of service credit by his or her final average salary.

(h) Any retirement annuity or supplemental annuity shall be subject to annual increases on the first anniversary of the annuity start date. Each annual increase shall be one-half the annual unadjusted percentage increase (but not less than zero) in the consumer price index-w for the 12 months ending with the September preceding each November 1 of the originally granted retirement annuity. If the annual unadjusted percentage change in the consumer price index-w for the 12 months ending with the September preceding each November 1 is zero or there is a decrease, then the annuity shall not be increased.

For the purposes of this Section, "consumer price index-w" means the index published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the United States Department of Labor that measures the average change in prices of goods and services purchased by Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers, United States city average, all items, 1982-84 = 100. The new amount resulting from each annual adjustment shall be determined by the Public Pension Division of the Department of Insurance and made available to the boards of the retirement systems and pension funds by November 1 of each year.

(i) The initial survivor's or widow's annuity of an otherwise eligible survivor or widow of a retired member or participant who first became a member or participant on or after 6 months after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 100th General Assembly shall be in the amount of 66 2/3% of the retired member's or participant's retirement annuity at the date of death. In the case of the death of a member or participant who has not retired and who first became a member or participant on or after 6 months after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 100th General Assembly, eligibility for a survivor's or widow's annuity shall be determined by the applicable Article of this Code. The benefit shall be 66 2/3% of the earned annuity without a reduction due to age. A child's annuity of an otherwise eligible child shall be in the amount prescribed under each Article if applicable.

(j) In lieu of any other employee contributions, except for the contribution to the defined contribution plan under subsection (k) of this Section, each employee shall contribute 6.2% of his her or salary to the retirement system. However, the employee contribution under this subsection shall not exceed the amount of the normal cost of the benefits under this Section (except for the defined contribution plan under subsection (k) of this Section), expressed as a percentage of payroll and determined on or before November 1 of each year by the board of trustees of the retirement system. If the board of trustees of the retirement system determines that the 6.2% employee contribution rate exceeds the normal cost of the benefits under this Section (except for the defined contribution plan under subsection (k) of this Section), then on or before December 1 of that year, the board of trustees shall certify the amount of the normal cost of the benefits under this Section (except for the defined contribution plan under subsection (k) of this Section), expressed as a percentage of payroll, to the State Actuary and the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability, and the employee contribution under this subsection shall be reduced to that amount beginning January 1 of the following year. Thereafter, if the normal cost of the benefits under this Section (except for the defined contribution plan under subsection (k) of this Section), expressed as a percentage of payroll and determined on or before November 1 of each year by the board of trustees of the retirement system, exceeds 6.2% of salary, then on or before December 1 of that year, the board of trustees shall certify the normal cost to the State Actuary and the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability, and the employee contributions shall revert back to 6.2% of salary beginning January 1 of the following year.

(k) No later than 5 months after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 100th General Assembly, each retirement system under Article 14, 15, or 16 shall prepare and implement a defined contribution plan for members or participants who are subject to this Section. The defined contribution plan developed under this subsection shall be a plan that aggregates employer and employee contributions in individual participant accounts which, after meeting any other requirements, are used for payouts after retirement in accordance with this subsection and any other applicable laws.

(1) Each member or participant shall contribute a minimum of 4% of his or her salary to the defined contribution plan.

(2) For each participant in the defined contribution plan who has been employed with the same employer for at least one year, employer contributions shall be paid into that participant's accounts at a rate expressed as a percentage of salary. This rate may be set for individual employees, but shall be no higher than 6% of salary and shall be no lower than 2% of salary.

(3) Employer contributions shall vest when those contributions are paid into a member's or participant's account.

(4) The defined contribution plan shall provide a variety of options for investments. These options shall include investments handled by the Illinois State Board of Investment as well as private sector investment options.

(5) The defined contribution plan shall provide a variety of options for payouts to retirees and their survivors.

(6) To the extent authorized under federal law and as authorized by the retirement system, the defined contribution plan shall allow former participants in the plan to transfer or roll over employee and employer contributions, and the earnings thereon, into other qualified retirement plans.

(7) Each retirement system shall reduce the employee contributions credited to the member's defined contribution plan account by an amount determined by that retirement system to cover the cost of offering the benefits under this subsection and any applicable administrative fees.

(8) No person shall begin participating in the defined contribution plan until it has attained qualified plan status and received all necessary approvals from the U.S. Internal Revenue Service.

(l) By accepting the benefits under this Section, a member or participant acknowledges and consents that benefits once earned may not be diminished, but that future benefits may be modified, including, but not limited to, changes in the retirement age at which a member or participant becomes eligible to receive future benefits, changes in the amount of the automatic annual increase for those future benefits, or the amount of the retirement annuity. Any increase in benefits under this Section applicable to persons under Article 15 or 16 does not apply unless it is approved by resolution or ordinance of the governing body of the unit of local government with regard to the members or participants under that unit of local government.

(m) In the case of a conflict between the provisions of this Section and any other provision of this Code, the provisions of this Section shall control.

(40 ILCS 5/1-162 new)

Sec. 1-162. Optional benefits for certain Tier 2 members of pension funds under Articles 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, and 17.

(a) As used in this Section:

"Affected pension fund" means a pension fund established under Article 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, or 17 that the governing body of the unit of local government has designated as an affected pension fund by adoption of a resolution or ordinance.

"Resolution or ordinance date" means the date on which the governing body of the unit of local government designates a pension fund under Article 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, or 17 as an affected pension fund by adoption of a resolution or ordinance.

(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code to the contrary, the provisions of this Section apply to a person who first becomes a member or a participant in an affected pension fund on or after 6 months after the resolution or ordinance date and who does not make the election under subsection (c). The provisions of this Section do not apply to a sheriff's law enforcement employee under Article 7.

(c) In lieu of the benefits provided under this Section, a member or participant may irrevocably elect the benefits under Section 1-160 and the benefits otherwise applicable to that member or participant. The election must be made within 30 days after becoming a member or participant. Each affected pension fund shall establish procedures for making this election.

(d) "Final average salary" means the average monthly (or annual) salary obtained by dividing the total salary or earnings calculated under the Article applicable to the member or participant during the last 120 months (or 10 years) of service in which the total salary or earnings calculated under the applicable Article was the highest by the number of months (or years) of service in that period. For the purposes of a person who first becomes a member or participant of an affected pension fund on or after 6 months after the ordinance or resolution date, in this Code, "final average salary" shall be substituted for the following:

(1) In Article 7, (except for service as sheriff's law enforcement employees), "final rate of earnings".

(2) In Articles 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12, "highest average annual salary for any 4 consecutive years within the last 10 years of service immediately preceding the date of withdrawal".

(3) In Article 13, "average final salary".

(4) In Article 17, "average salary".

(e) Beginning 6 months after the resolution or ordinance date, for all purposes under this Code (including without limitation the calculation of benefits and employee contributions), the annual earnings, salary, or wages (based on the plan year) of a member or participant to whom this Section applies shall not at any time exceed the federal Social Security Wage Base then in effect.

(f) A member or participant is entitled to a retirement annuity upon written application if he or she has attained the normal retirement age determined by the Social Security Administration for that member or participant's year of birth, but no earlier than 67 years of age, and has at least 10 years of service credit and is otherwise eligible under the requirements of the applicable Article.

(g) The amount of the retirement annuity to which a member or participant is entitled shall be computed by multiplying 1.25% for each year of service credit by his or her final average salary.

(h) Any retirement annuity or supplemental annuity shall be subject to annual increases on the first anniversary of the annuity start date. Each annual increase shall be one-half the annual unadjusted percentage increase (but not less than zero) in the consumer price index-w for the 12 months ending with the September preceding each November 1 of the originally granted retirement annuity. If the annual unadjusted percentage change in the consumer price index-w for the 12 months ending with the September preceding each November 1 is zero or there is a decrease, then the annuity shall not be increased.

For the purposes of this Section, "consumer price index-w" means the index published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the United States Department of Labor that measures the average change in prices of goods and services purchased by Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers, United States city average, all items, 1982-84 = 100. The new amount resulting from each annual adjustment shall be determined by the Public Pension Division of the Department of Insurance and made available to the boards of the retirement systems and pension funds by November 1 of each year.

(i) The initial survivor's or widow's annuity of an otherwise eligible survivor or widow of a retired member or participant who first became a member or participant on or after 6 months after the resolution or ordinance date shall be in the amount of 66 2/3% of the retired member's or participant's retirement annuity at the date of death. In the case of the death of a member or participant who has not retired and who first became a member or participant on or after 6 months after the resolution or ordinance date, eligibility for a survivor's or widow's annuity shall be determined by the applicable Article of this Code. The benefit shall be 66 2/3% of the earned annuity without a reduction due to age. A child's annuity of an otherwise eligible child shall be in the amount prescribed under each Article if applicable.

(j) In lieu of any other employee contributions, except for the contribution to the defined contribution plan under subsection (k) of this Section, each employee shall contribute 6.2% of his her or salary to the affected pension fund. However, the employee contribution under this subsection shall not exceed the amount of the normal cost of the benefits under this Section (except for the defined contribution plan under subsection (k) of this Section), expressed as a percentage of payroll and determined on or before November 1 of each year by the board of trustees of the affected pension fund. If the board of trustees of the affected pension fund determines that the 6.2% employee contribution rate exceeds the normal cost of the benefits under this Section (except for the defined contribution plan under subsection (k) of this Section), then on or before December 1 of that year, the board of trustees shall certify the amount of the normal cost of the benefits under this Section (except for the defined contribution plan under subsection (k) of this Section), expressed as a percentage of payroll, to the State Actuary and the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability, and the employee contribution under this subsection shall be reduced to that amount beginning January 1 of the following year. Thereafter, if the normal cost of the benefits under this Section (except for the defined contribution plan under subsection (k) of this Section), expressed as a percentage of payroll and determined on or before November 1 of each year by the board of trustees of the affected pension fund, exceeds 6.2% of salary, then on or before December 1 of that year, the board of trustees shall certify the normal cost to the State Actuary and the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability, and the employee contributions shall revert back to 6.2% of salary beginning January 1 of the following year.

(k) No later than 5 months after the resolution or ordinance date, an affected pension fund shall prepare and implement a defined contribution plan for members or participants who are subject to this Section. The defined contribution plan developed under this subsection shall be a plan that aggregates employer and employee contributions in individual participant accounts which, after meeting any other requirements, are used for payouts after retirement in accordance with this subsection and any other applicable laws.

(1) Each member or participant shall contribute a minimum of 4% of his or her salary to the defined contribution plan.

(2) For each participant in the defined contribution plan who has been employed with the same employer for at least one year, employer contributions shall be paid into that participant's accounts at a rate expressed as a percentage of salary. This rate may be set for individual employees, but shall be no higher than 6% of salary and shall be no lower than 2% of salary.

(3) Employer contributions shall vest when those contributions are paid into a member's or participant's account.

(4) The defined contribution plan shall provide a variety of options for investments. These options shall include investments handled by the Illinois State Board of Investment as well as private sector investment options.

(5) The defined contribution plan shall provide a variety of options for payouts to retirees and their survivors.

(6) To the extent authorized under federal law and as authorized by the affected pension fund, the defined contribution plan shall allow former participants in the plan to transfer or roll over employee and employer contributions, and the earnings thereon, into other qualified retirement plans.

(7) Each affected pension fund shall reduce the employee contributions credited to the member's defined contribution plan account by an amount determined by that affected pension fund to cover the cost of offering the benefits under this subsection and any applicable administrative fees.

(8) No person shall begin participating in the defined contribution plan until it has attained qualified plan status and received all necessary approvals from the U.S. Internal Revenue Service.

(l) By accepting the benefits under this Section, a member or participant acknowledges and consents that benefits once earned may not be diminished, but that future benefits may be modified, including, but not limited to, changes in the retirement age at which a member or participant becomes eligible to receive future benefits, changes in the amount of the automatic annual increase for those future benefits, or the amount of the retirement annuity. Any increase in benefits under this Section does not apply unless it is approved by resolution or ordinance of the governing body of the unit of local government with regard to the members or participants under that unit of local government.

(m) In the case of a conflict between the provisions of this Section and any other provision of this Code, the provisions of this Section shall control.

(40 ILCS 5/2-101) (from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 2-101)

Sec. 2-101. Creation of system. A retirement system is created to provide retirement annuities, survivor's annuities and other benefits for certain members of the General Assembly, certain elected state officials, and their beneficiaries.

The system shall be known as the "General Assembly Retirement System". All its funds and property shall be a trust separate from all other entities, maintained for the purpose of securing payment of annuities and benefits under this Article.

Participation in the retirement system created under this Article is restricted to persons who became participants before the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 100th General Assembly. Beginning on that date, the System shall not accept any new participants.

(Source: P.A. 83-1440.)

(40 ILCS 5/2-105) (from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 2-105)

Sec. 2-105. Member. "Member": Members of the General Assembly of this State, including persons who enter military service while a member of the General Assembly, and any person serving as Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, Treasurer, Comptroller, or Attorney General for the period of service in such office.

Any person who has served for 10 or more years as Clerk or Assistant Clerk of the House of Representatives, Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the Senate, or any combination thereof, may elect to become a member of this system while thenceforth engaged in such service by filing a written election with the board. Any person so electing shall be deemed an active member of the General Assembly for the purpose of validating and transferring any service credits earned under any of the funds and systems established under Articles 3 through 18 of this Code.

However, notwithstanding any other provision of this Article, a person shall not be deemed a member for the purposes of this Article unless he or she became a participant of the System before the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 100th General Assembly.

(Source: P.A. 85-1008.)

(40 ILCS 5/2-105.3 new)

Sec. 2-105.3. Tier 1 employee. "Tier 1 employee": A participant who first became a participant before January 1, 2011.

(40 ILCS 5/2-107) (from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 2-107)

Sec. 2-107. Participant. "Participant": Any member who elects to participate; and any former member who elects to continue participation under Section 2-117.1, for the duration of such continued participation. However, notwithstanding any other provision of this Article, a person shall not be deemed a participant for the purposes of this Article unless he or she became a participant of the System before the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 100th General Assembly.

(Source: P.A. 86-1488.)

(40 ILCS 5/2-124) (from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 2-124)

(Text of Section WITHOUT the changes made by P.A. 98-599, which has been held unconstitutional)

Sec. 2-124. Contributions by State.

(a) The State shall make contributions to the System by appropriations of amounts which, together with the contributions of participants, interest earned on investments, and other income will meet the cost of maintaining and administering the System on a 90% funded basis in accordance with actuarial recommendations.

(b) The Board shall determine the amount of State contributions required for each fiscal year on the basis of the actuarial tables and other assumptions adopted by the Board and the prescribed rate of interest, using the formula in subsection (c).

(c) For State fiscal years 2018 through 2045, the minimum contribution to the System to be made by the State for each fiscal year shall be an amount determined by the System to be sufficient to bring the total assets of the System up to 90% of the total actuarial liabilities of the System by the end of State fiscal year 2045. In making these determinations, the required State contribution shall be calculated each year as a level percentage of total payroll, including payroll that is not deemed pensionable, but excluding payroll attributable to participants in the defined contribution plan under Section 2-165.1, over the years remaining to and including fiscal year 2045 and shall be determined under the projected unit credit actuarial cost method.

Beginning in State fiscal year 2018, any increase or decrease in State contribution over the prior fiscal year due exclusively to changes in actuarial or investment assumptions adopted by the Board shall be included in the State contribution to the System, as a percentage of the applicable employee payroll, and shall be increased in equal annual increments so that by the State fiscal year occurring 5 years after the adoption of the actuarial or investment assumptions, the State is contributing at the rate otherwise required under this Section.

For State fiscal years 2012 through 2017 2045, the minimum contribution to the System to be made by the State for each fiscal year shall be an amount determined by the System to be sufficient to bring the total assets of the System up to 90% of the total actuarial liabilities of the System by the end of State fiscal year 2045. In making these determinations, the required State contribution shall be calculated each year as a level percentage of payroll over the years remaining to and including fiscal year 2045 and shall be determined under the projected unit credit actuarial cost method.

For State fiscal years 1996 through 2005, the State contribution to the System, as a percentage of the applicable employee payroll, shall be increased in equal annual increments so that by State fiscal year 2011, the State is contributing at the rate required under this Section.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article, the total required State contribution for State fiscal year 2006 is $4,157,000.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article, the total required State contribution for State fiscal year 2007 is $5,220,300.

For each of State fiscal years 2008 through 2009, the State contribution to the System, as a percentage of the applicable employee payroll, shall be increased in equal annual increments from the required State contribution for State fiscal year 2007, so that by State fiscal year 2011, the State is contributing at the rate otherwise required under this Section.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article, the total required State contribution for State fiscal year 2010 is $10,454,000 and shall be made from the proceeds of bonds sold in fiscal year 2010 pursuant to Section 7.2 of the General Obligation Bond Act, less (i) the pro rata share of bond sale expenses determined by the System's share of total bond proceeds, (ii) any amounts received from the General Revenue Fund in fiscal year 2010, and (iii) any reduction in bond proceeds due to the issuance of discounted bonds, if applicable.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article, the total required State contribution for State fiscal year 2011 is the amount recertified by the System on or before April 1, 2011 pursuant to Section 2-134 and shall be made from the proceeds of bonds sold in fiscal year 2011 pursuant to Section 7.2 of the General Obligation Bond Act, less (i) the pro rata share of bond sale expenses determined by the System's share of total bond proceeds, (ii) any amounts received from the General Revenue Fund in fiscal year 2011, and (iii) any reduction in bond proceeds due to the issuance of discounted bonds, if applicable.

Beginning in State fiscal year 2046, the minimum State contribution for each fiscal year shall be the amount needed to maintain the total assets of the System at 90% of the total actuarial liabilities of the System.

Amounts received by the System pursuant to Section 25 of the Budget Stabilization Act or Section 8.12 of the State Finance Act in any fiscal year do not reduce and do not constitute payment of any portion of the minimum State contribution required under this Article in that fiscal year. Such amounts shall not reduce, and shall not be included in the calculation of, the required State contributions under this Article in any future year until the System has reached a funding ratio of at least 90%. A reference in this Article to the "required State contribution" or any substantially similar term does not include or apply to any amounts payable to the System under Section 25 of the Budget Stabilization Act.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section, the required State contribution for State fiscal year 2005 and for fiscal year 2008 and each fiscal year thereafter, as calculated under this Section and certified under Section 2-134, shall not exceed an amount equal to (i) the amount of the required State contribution that would have been calculated under this Section for that fiscal year if the System had not received any payments under subsection (d) of Section 7.2 of the General Obligation Bond Act, minus (ii) the portion of the State's total debt service payments for that fiscal year on the bonds issued in fiscal year 2003 for the purposes of that Section 7.2, as determined and certified by the Comptroller, that is the same as the System's portion of the total moneys distributed under subsection (d) of Section 7.2 of the General Obligation Bond Act. In determining this maximum for State fiscal years 2008 through 2010, however, the amount referred to in item (i) shall be increased, as a percentage of the applicable employee payroll, in equal increments calculated from the sum of the required State contribution for State fiscal year 2007 plus the applicable portion of the State's total debt service payments for fiscal year 2007 on the bonds issued in fiscal year 2003 for the purposes of Section 7.2 of the General Obligation Bond Act, so that, by State fiscal year 2011, the State is contributing at the rate otherwise required under this Section.

(d) For purposes of determining the required State contribution to the System, the value of the System's assets shall be equal to the actuarial value of the System's assets, which shall be calculated as follows:

As of June 30, 2008, the actuarial value of the System's assets shall be equal to the market value of the assets as of that date. In determining the actuarial value of the System's assets for fiscal years after June 30, 2008, any actuarial gains or losses from investment return incurred in a fiscal year shall be recognized in equal annual amounts over the 5-year period following that fiscal year.

(e) For purposes of determining the required State contribution to the system for a particular year, the actuarial value of assets shall be assumed to earn a rate of return equal to the system's actuarially assumed rate of return.

(Source: P.A. 96-43, eff. 7-15-09; 96-1497, eff. 1-14-11; 96-1511, eff. 1-27-11; 96-1554, eff. 3-18-11; 97-813, eff. 7-13-12.)

(40 ILCS 5/2-134) (from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 2-134)

(Text of Section WITHOUT the changes made by P.A. 98-599, which has been held unconstitutional)

Sec. 2-134. To certify required State contributions and submit vouchers.

(a) The Board shall certify to the Governor on or before December 15 of each year until December 15, 2011 the amount of the required State contribution to the System for the next fiscal year and shall specifically identify the System's projected State normal cost for that fiscal year. The certification shall include a copy of the actuarial recommendations upon which it is based and shall specifically identify the System's projected State normal cost for that fiscal year.

On or before November 1 of each year, beginning November 1, 2012, the Board shall submit to the State Actuary, the Governor, and the General Assembly a proposed certification of the amount of the required State contribution to the System for the next fiscal year, along with all of the actuarial assumptions, calculations, and data upon which that proposed certification is based. On or before January 1 of each year beginning January 1, 2013, the State Actuary shall issue a preliminary report concerning the proposed certification and identifying, if necessary, recommended changes in actuarial assumptions that the Board must consider before finalizing its certification of the required State contributions. On or before January 15, 2013 and every January 15 thereafter, the Board shall certify to the Governor and the General Assembly the amount of the required State contribution for the next fiscal year. The Board's certification must note any deviations from the State Actuary's recommended changes, the reason or reasons for not following the State Actuary's recommended changes, and the fiscal impact of not following the State Actuary's recommended changes on the required State contribution.

On or before May 1, 2004, the Board shall recalculate and recertify to the Governor the amount of the required State contribution to the System for State fiscal year 2005, taking into account the amounts appropriated to and received by the System under subsection (d) of Section 7.2 of the General Obligation Bond Act.

On or before July 1, 2005, the Board shall recalculate and recertify to the Governor the amount of the required State contribution to the System for State fiscal year 2006, taking into account the changes in required State contributions made by this amendatory Act of the 94th General Assembly.

On or before April 1, 2011, the Board shall recalculate and recertify to the Governor the amount of the required State contribution to the System for State fiscal year 2011, applying the changes made by Public Act 96-889 to the System's assets and liabilities as of June 30, 2009 as though Public Act 96-889 was approved on that date.

As soon as practical after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 100th General Assembly, the Board shall recalculate and recertify to the State Actuary, the Governor, and the General Assembly the amount of the State contribution to the System for State fiscal year 2018, taking into account the changes in required State contributions made by this amendatory Act of the 100th General Assembly. The State Actuary shall review the assumptions and valuations underlying the Board's revised certification and issue a preliminary report concerning the proposed recertification and identifying, if necessary, recommended changes in actuarial assumptions that the Board must consider before finalizing its certification of the required State contributions. The Board's final certification must note any deviations from the State Actuary's recommended changes, the reason or reasons for not following the State Actuary's recommended changes, and the fiscal impact of not following the State Actuary's recommended changes on the required State contribution.

(b) Beginning in State fiscal year 1996, on or as soon as possible after the 15th day of each month the Board shall submit vouchers for payment of State contributions to the System, in a total monthly amount of one-twelfth of the required annual State contribution certified under subsection (a). From the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 93rd General Assembly through June 30, 2004, the Board shall not submit vouchers for the remainder of fiscal year 2004 in excess of the fiscal year 2004 certified contribution amount determined under this Section after taking into consideration the transfer to the System under subsection (d) of Section 6z-61 of the State Finance Act. These vouchers shall be paid by the State Comptroller and Treasurer by warrants drawn on the funds appropriated to the System for that fiscal year. If in any month the amount remaining unexpended from all other appropriations to the System for the applicable fiscal year (including the appropriations to the System under Section 8.12 of the State Finance Act and Section 1 of the State Pension Funds Continuing Appropriation Act) is less than the amount lawfully vouchered under this Section, the difference shall be paid from the General Revenue Fund under the continuing appropriation authority provided in Section 1.1 of the State Pension Funds Continuing Appropriation Act.

(c) The full amount of any annual appropriation for the System for State fiscal year 1995 shall be transferred and made available to the System at the beginning of that fiscal year at the request of the Board. Any excess funds remaining at the end of any fiscal year from appropriations shall be retained by the System as a general reserve to meet the System's accrued liabilities.

(Source: P.A. 96-1497, eff. 1-14-11; 96-1511, eff. 1-27-11; 97-694, eff. 6-18-12.)

(40 ILCS 5/2-162)

(Text of Section WITHOUT the changes made by P.A. 98-599, which has been held unconstitutional)

Sec. 2-162. Application and expiration of new benefit increases.

(a) As used in this Section, "new benefit increase" means an increase in the amount of any benefit provided under this Article, or an expansion of the conditions of eligibility for any benefit under this Article, that results from an amendment to this Code that takes effect after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 94th General Assembly. "New benefit increase", however, does not include any benefit increase resulting from the changes made to this Article by this amendatory Act of the 100th General Assembly.

(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code or any subsequent amendment to this Code, every new benefit increase is subject to this Section and shall be deemed to be granted only in conformance with and contingent upon compliance with the provisions of this Section.

(c) The Public Act enacting a new benefit increase must identify and provide for payment to the System of additional funding at least sufficient to fund the resulting annual increase in cost to the System as it accrues.

Every new benefit increase is contingent upon the General Assembly providing the additional funding required under this subsection. The Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability shall analyze whether adequate additional funding has been provided for the new benefit increase and shall report its analysis to the Public Pension Division of the Department of Insurance Financial and Professional Regulation. A new benefit increase created by a Public Act that does not include the additional funding required under this subsection is null and void. If the Public Pension Division determines that the additional funding provided for a new benefit increase under this subsection is or has become inadequate, it may so certify to the Governor and the State Comptroller and, in the absence of corrective action by the General Assembly, the new benefit increase shall expire at the end of the fiscal year in which the certification is made.

(d) Every new benefit increase shall expire 5 years after its effective date or on such earlier date as may be specified in the language enacting the new benefit increase or provided under subsection (c). This does not prevent the General Assembly from extending or re-creating a new benefit increase by law.

(e) Except as otherwise provided in the language creating the new benefit increase, a new benefit increase that expires under this Section continues to apply to persons who applied and qualified for the affected benefit while the new benefit increase was in effect and to the affected beneficiaries and alternate payees of such persons, but does not apply to any other person, including without limitation a person who continues in service after the expiration date and did not apply and qualify for the affected benefit while the new benefit increase was in effect.

(Source: P.A. 94-4, eff. 6-1-05.)

(40 ILCS 5/2-165.1 new)

Sec. 2-165.1. Defined contribution plan.

(a) By July 1, 2018, the System shall prepare and implement a voluntary defined contribution plan for up to 5% of eligible active Tier 1 employees. The System shall determine the 5% cap by the number of active Tier 1 employees on the effective date of this Section. The defined contribution plan developed under this Section shall be a plan that aggregates employer and employee contributions in individual participant accounts which, after meeting any other requirements, are used for payouts after retirement in accordance with this Section and any other applicable laws.

As used in this Section, "defined benefit plan" means the retirement plan available under this Article to Tier 1 employees who have not made the election authorized under this Section.

(1) Under the defined contribution plan, an active Tier 1 employee of this System could elect to cease accruing benefits in the defined benefit plan under this Article and begin accruing benefits for future service in the defined contribution plan. Service credit under the defined contribution plan may be used for determining retirement eligibility under the defined benefit plan.

(2) Participants in the defined contribution plan shall pay employee contributions at the same rate as Tier 1 employees in this System who do not participate in the defined contribution plan.

(3) State contributions shall be paid into the accounts of all participants in the defined contribution plan at a uniform rate, expressed as a percentage of compensation and determined for each year. This rate shall be no higher than the employer's normal cost for Tier 1 employees in the defined benefit plan for that year, as determined by the System and expressed as a percentage of compensation, and shall be no lower than 3% of compensation. The State shall adjust this rate annually.

(4) The defined contribution plan shall require 5 years of participation in the defined contribution plan before vesting in State contributions. If the participant fails to vest in them, the State contributions, and the earnings thereon, shall be forfeited.

(5) The defined contribution plan may provide for participants in the plan to be eligible for defined disability benefits. If it does, the System shall reduce the employee contributions credited to the participant's defined contribution plan account by an amount determined by the System to cover the cost of offering such benefits.

(6) The defined contribution plan shall provide a variety of options for investments. These options shall include investments handled by the Illinois State Board of Investment as well as private sector investment options.

(7) The defined contribution plan shall provide a variety of options for payouts to retirees and their survivors.

(8) To the extent authorized under federal law and as authorized by the System, the plan shall allow former participants in the plan to transfer or roll over employee and vested State contributions, and the earnings thereon, into other qualified retirement plans.

(9) The System shall reduce the employee contributions credited to the participant's defined contribution plan account by an amount determined by the System to cover the cost of offering these benefits and any applicable administrative fees.

(b) Only persons who are active Tier 1 employees of the System on the effective date of this Section are eligible to participate in the defined contribution plan. Participation in the defined contribution plan shall be limited to the first 5% of eligible persons who elect to participate. The election to participate in the defined contribution plan is voluntary and irrevocable.

(c) An eligible active Tier 1 employee may irrevocably elect to participate in the defined contribution plan by filing with the System a written application to participate that is received by the System prior to its determination that 5% of eligible persons have elected to participate in the defined contribution plan.

When the System first determines that 5% of eligible persons have elected to participate in the defined contribution plan, the System shall provide notice to previously eligible employees that the plan is no longer available and shall cease accepting applications to participate.

(d) The System shall make a good faith effort to contact each active Tier 1 employee who is eligible to participate in the defined contribution plan. The System shall mail information describing the option to join the defined contribution plan to each of these employees to his or her last known address on file with the System. If the employee is not responsive to other means of contact, it is sufficient for the System to publish the details of the option on its website.

Upon request for further information describing the option, the System shall provide employees with information from the System before exercising the option to join the plan, including information on the impact to their vested benefits or non-vested service. The individual consultation shall include projections of the participant's defined benefits at retirement or earlier termination of service and the value of the participant's account at retirement or earlier termination of service. The System shall not provide advice or counseling with respect to whether the employee should exercise the option. The System shall inform Tier 1 employees who are eligible to participate in the defined contribution plan that they may also wish to obtain information and counsel relating to their option from any other available source, including but not limited to labor organizations, private counsel, and financial advisors.

(e) In no event shall the System, its staff, its authorized representatives, or the Board be liable for any information given to an employee under this Section. The System may coordinate with the Illinois Department of Central Management Services and other retirement systems administering a defined contribution plan in accordance with this amendatory Act of the 100th General Assembly to provide information concerning the impact of the option set forth in this Section.

(f) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section, no person shall begin participating in the defined contribution plan until it has attained qualified plan status and received all necessary approvals from the U.S. Internal Revenue Service.

(g) The System shall report on its progress under this Section, including the available details of the defined contribution plan and the System's plans for informing eligible Tier 1 employees about the plan, to the Governor and the General Assembly on or before January 15, 2018.

(h) The Illinois State Board of Investments shall be the plan sponsor for the defined contribution plan established under this Section.

(i) The intent of this amendatory Act of the 100th General Assembly is to ensure that the State's normal cost of participation in the defined contribution plan is similar, and if possible equal, to the State's normal cost of participation in the defined benefit plan, unless a lower State's normal cost is necessary to ensure cost neutrality.

(40 ILCS 5/2-166.1 new)

Sec. 2-166.1. Defined contribution plan; termination. If the defined contribution plan is terminated or becomes inoperative pursuant to law, then each participant in the plan shall automatically be deemed to have been a contributing Tier 1 employee in the System's defined benefit plan during the time in which he or she participated in the defined contribution plan, and for that purpose the System shall be entitled to recover the amounts in the participant's defined contribution accounts.

(40 ILCS 5/14-103.41 new)

Sec. 14-103.41. Tier 1 employee. "Tier 1 employee": An employee under this Article who first became a member or participant before January 1, 2011 under any reciprocal retirement system or pension fund established under this Code other than a retirement system or pension fund established under Article 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 18 of this Code.

(40 ILCS 5/14-131)

Sec. 14-131. Contributions by State.

(a) The State shall make contributions to the System by appropriations of amounts which, together with other employer contributions from trust, federal, and other funds, employee contributions, investment income, and other income, will be sufficient to meet the cost of maintaining and administering the System on a 90% funded basis in accordance with actuarial recommendations.

For the purposes of this Section and Section 14-135.08, references to State contributions refer only to employer contributions and do not include employee contributions that are picked up or otherwise paid by the State or a department on behalf of the employee.

(b) The Board shall determine the total amount of State contributions required for each fiscal year on the basis of the actuarial tables and other assumptions adopted by the Board, using the formula in subsection (e).

The Board shall also determine a State contribution rate for each fiscal year, expressed as a percentage of payroll, based on the total required State contribution for that fiscal year (less the amount received by the System from appropriations under Section 8.12 of the State Finance Act and Section 1 of the State Pension Funds Continuing Appropriation Act, if any, for the fiscal year ending on the June 30 immediately preceding the applicable November 15 certification deadline), the estimated payroll (including all forms of compensation) for personal services rendered by eligible employees, and the recommendations of the actuary.

For the purposes of this Section and Section 14.1 of the State Finance Act, the term "eligible employees" includes employees who participate in the System, persons who may elect to participate in the System but have not so elected, persons who are serving a qualifying period that is required for participation, and annuitants employed by a department as described in subdivision (a)(1) or (a)(2) of Section 14-111.

(c) Contributions shall be made by the several departments for each pay period by warrants drawn by the State Comptroller against their respective funds or appropriations based upon vouchers stating the amount to be so contributed. These amounts shall be based on the full rate certified by the Board under Section 14-135.08 for that fiscal year. From the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 93rd General Assembly through the payment of the final payroll from fiscal year 2004 appropriations, the several departments shall not make contributions for the remainder of fiscal year 2004 but shall instead make payments as required under subsection (a-1) of Section 14.1 of the State Finance Act. The several departments shall resume those contributions at the commencement of fiscal year 2005.

(c-1) Notwithstanding subsection (c) of this Section, for fiscal years 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017 only, contributions by the several departments are not required to be made for General Revenue Funds payrolls processed by the Comptroller. Payrolls paid by the several departments from all other State funds must continue to be processed pursuant to subsection (c) of this Section.

(c-2) For State fiscal years 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017 only, on or as soon as possible after the 15th day of each month, the Board shall submit vouchers for payment of State contributions to the System, in a total monthly amount of one-twelfth of the fiscal year General Revenue Fund contribution as certified by the System pursuant to Section 14-135.08 of the Illinois Pension Code.

(d) If an employee is paid from trust funds or federal funds, the department or other employer shall pay employer contributions from those funds to the System at the certified rate, unless the terms of the trust or the federal-State agreement preclude the use of the funds for that purpose, in which case the required employer contributions shall be paid by the State. From the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 93rd General Assembly through the payment of the final payroll from fiscal year 2004 appropriations, the department or other employer shall not pay contributions for the remainder of fiscal year 2004 but shall instead make payments as required under subsection (a-1) of Section 14.1 of the State Finance Act. The department or other employer shall resume payment of contributions at the commencement of fiscal year 2005.

(e) For State fiscal years 2018 through 2045, the minimum contribution to the System to be made by the State for each fiscal year shall be an amount determined by the System to be sufficient to bring the total assets of the System up to 90% of the total actuarial liabilities of the System by the end of State fiscal year 2045. In making these determinations, the required State contribution shall be calculated each year as a level percentage of total payroll, including payroll that is not deemed pensionable, over the years remaining to and including fiscal year 2045 and shall be determined under the projected unit credit actuarial cost method.

Beginning in State fiscal year 2018, any increase or decrease in State contribution over the prior fiscal year due exclusively to changes in actuarial or investment assumptions adopted by the Board shall be included in the State contribution to the System, as a percentage of the applicable employee payroll, and shall be increased in equal annual increments so that by the State fiscal year occurring 5 years after the adoption of the actuarial or investment assumptions, the State is contributing at the rate otherwise required under this Section.

For State fiscal years 2012 through 2017 2045, the minimum contribution to the System to be made by the State for each fiscal year shall be an amount determined by the System to be sufficient to bring the total assets of the System up to 90% of the total actuarial liabilities of the System by the end of State fiscal year 2045. In making these determinations, the required State contribution shall be calculated each year as a level percentage of payroll over the years remaining to and including fiscal year 2045 and shall be determined under the projected unit credit actuarial cost method.

For State fiscal years 1996 through 2005, the State contribution to the System, as a percentage of the applicable employee payroll, shall be increased in equal annual increments so that by State fiscal year 2011, the State is contributing at the rate required under this Section; except that (i) for State fiscal year 1998, for all purposes of this Code and any other law of this State, the certified percentage of the applicable employee payroll shall be 5.052% for employees earning eligible creditable service under Section 14-110 and 6.500% for all other employees, notwithstanding any contrary certification made under Section 14-135.08 before the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1997, and (ii) in the following specified State fiscal years, the State contribution to the System shall not be less than the following indicated percentages of the applicable employee payroll, even if the indicated percentage will produce a State contribution in excess of the amount otherwise required under this subsection and subsection (a): 9.8% in FY 1999; 10.0% in FY 2000; 10.2% in FY 2001; 10.4% in FY 2002; 10.6% in FY 2003; and 10.8% in FY 2004.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article, the total required State contribution to the System for State fiscal year 2006 is $203,783,900.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article, the total required State contribution to the System for State fiscal year 2007 is $344,164,400.

For each of State fiscal years 2008 through 2009, the State contribution to the System, as a percentage of the applicable employee payroll, shall be increased in equal annual increments from the required State contribution for State fiscal year 2007, so that by State fiscal year 2011, the State is contributing at the rate otherwise required under this Section.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article, the total required State General Revenue Fund contribution for State fiscal year 2010 is $723,703,100 and shall be made from the proceeds of bonds sold in fiscal year 2010 pursuant to Section 7.2 of the General Obligation Bond Act, less (i) the pro rata share of bond sale expenses determined by the System's share of total bond proceeds, (ii) any amounts received from the General Revenue Fund in fiscal year 2010, and (iii) any reduction in bond proceeds due to the issuance of discounted bonds, if applicable.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article, the total required State General Revenue Fund contribution for State fiscal year 2011 is the amount recertified by the System on or before April 1, 2011 pursuant to Section 14-135.08 and shall be made from the proceeds of bonds sold in fiscal year 2011 pursuant to Section 7.2 of the General Obligation Bond Act, less (i) the pro rata share of bond sale expenses determined by the System's share of total bond proceeds, (ii) any amounts received from the General Revenue Fund in fiscal year 2011, and (iii) any reduction in bond proceeds due to the issuance of discounted bonds, if applicable.

Beginning in State fiscal year 2046, the minimum State contribution for each fiscal year shall be the amount needed to maintain the total assets of the System at 90% of the total actuarial liabilities of the System.

Amounts received by the System pursuant to Section 25 of the Budget Stabilization Act or Section 8.12 of the State Finance Act in any fiscal year do not reduce and do not constitute payment of any portion of the minimum State contribution required under this Article in that fiscal year. Such amounts shall not reduce, and shall not be included in the calculation of, the required State contributions under this Article in any future year until the System has reached a funding ratio of at least 90%. A reference in this Article to the "required State contribution" or any substantially similar term does not include or apply to any amounts payable to the System under Section 25 of the Budget Stabilization Act.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section, the required State contribution for State fiscal year 2005 and for fiscal year 2008 and each fiscal year thereafter, as calculated under this Section and certified under Section 14-135.08, shall not exceed an amount equal to (i) the amount of the required State contribution that would have been calculated under this Section for that fiscal year if the System had not received any payments under subsection (d) of Section 7.2 of the General Obligation Bond Act, minus (ii) the portion of the State's total debt service payments for that fiscal year on the bonds issued in fiscal year 2003 for the purposes of that Section 7.2, as determined and certified by the Comptroller, that is the same as the System's portion of the total moneys distributed under subsection (d) of Section 7.2 of the General Obligation Bond Act. In determining this maximum for State fiscal years 2008 through 2010, however, the amount referred to in item (i) shall be increased, as a percentage of the applicable employee payroll, in equal increments calculated from the sum of the required State contribution for State fiscal year 2007 plus the applicable portion of the State's total debt service payments for fiscal year 2007 on the bonds issued in fiscal year 2003 for the purposes of Section 7.2 of the General Obligation Bond Act, so that, by State fiscal year 2011, the State is contributing at the rate otherwise required under this Section.

(f) After the submission of all payments for eligible employees from personal services line items in fiscal year 2004 have been made, the Comptroller shall provide to the System a certification of the sum of all fiscal year 2004 expenditures for personal services that would have been covered by payments to the System under this Section if the provisions of this amendatory Act of the 93rd General Assembly had not been enacted. Upon receipt of the certification, the System shall determine the amount due to the System based on the full rate certified by the Board under Section 14-135.08 for fiscal year 2004 in order to meet the State's obligation under this Section. The System shall compare this amount due to the amount received by the System in fiscal year 2004 through payments under this Section and under Section 6z-61 of the State Finance Act. If the amount due is more than the amount received, the difference shall be termed the "Fiscal Year 2004 Shortfall" for purposes of this Section, and the Fiscal Year 2004 Shortfall shall be satisfied under Section 1.2 of the State Pension Funds Continuing Appropriation Act. If the amount due is less than the amount received, the difference shall be termed the "Fiscal Year 2004 Overpayment" for purposes of this Section, and the Fiscal Year 2004 Overpayment shall be repaid by the System to the Pension Contribution Fund as soon as practicable after the certification.

(g) For purposes of determining the required State contribution to the System, the value of the System's assets shall be equal to the actuarial value of the System's assets, which shall be calculated as follows:

As of June 30, 2008, the actuarial value of the System's assets shall be equal to the market value of the assets as of that date. In determining the actuarial value of the System's assets for fiscal years after June 30, 2008, any actuarial gains or losses from investment return incurred in a fiscal year shall be recognized in equal annual amounts over the 5-year period following that fiscal year.

(h) For purposes of determining the required State contribution to the System for a particular year, the actuarial value of assets shall be assumed to earn a rate of return equal to the System's actuarially assumed rate of return.

(i) After the submission of all payments for eligible employees from personal services line items paid from the General Revenue Fund in fiscal year 2010 have been made, the Comptroller shall provide to the System a certification of the sum of all fiscal year 2010 expenditures for personal services that would have been covered by payments to the System under this Section if the provisions of this amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly had not been enacted. Upon receipt of the certification, the System shall determine the amount due to the System based on the full rate certified by the Board under Section 14-135.08 for fiscal year 2010 in order to meet the State's obligation under this Section. The System shall compare this amount due to the amount received by the System in fiscal year 2010 through payments under this Section. If the amount due is more than the amount received, the difference shall be termed the "Fiscal Year 2010 Shortfall" for purposes of this Section, and the Fiscal Year 2010 Shortfall shall be satisfied under Section 1.2 of the State Pension Funds Continuing Appropriation Act. If the amount due is less than the amount received, the difference shall be termed the "Fiscal Year 2010 Overpayment" for purposes of this Section, and the Fiscal Year 2010 Overpayment shall be repaid by the System to the General Revenue Fund as soon as practicable after the certification.

(j) After the submission of all payments for eligible employees from personal services line items paid from the General Revenue Fund in fiscal year 2011 have been made, the Comptroller shall provide to the System a certification of the sum of all fiscal year 2011 expenditures for personal services that would have been covered by payments to the System under this Section if the provisions of this amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly had not been enacted. Upon receipt of the certification, the System shall determine the amount due to the System based on the full rate certified by the Board under Section 14-135.08 for fiscal year 2011 in order to meet the State's obligation under this Section. The System shall compare this amount due to the amount received by the System in fiscal year 2011 through payments under this Section. If the amount due is more than the amount received, the difference shall be termed the "Fiscal Year 2011 Shortfall" for purposes of this Section, and the Fiscal Year 2011 Shortfall shall be satisfied under Section 1.2 of the State Pension Funds Continuing Appropriation Act. If the amount due is less than the amount received, the difference shall be termed the "Fiscal Year 2011 Overpayment" for purposes of this Section, and the Fiscal Year 2011 Overpayment shall be repaid by the System to the General Revenue Fund as soon as practicable after the certification.

(k) For fiscal years 2012 through 2017 only, after the submission of all payments for eligible employees from personal services line items paid from the General Revenue Fund in the fiscal year have been made, the Comptroller shall provide to the System a certification of the sum of all expenditures in the fiscal year for personal services. Upon receipt of the certification, the System shall determine the amount due to the System based on the full rate certified by the Board under Section 14-135.08 for the fiscal year in order to meet the State's obligation under this Section. The System shall compare this amount due to the amount received by the System for the fiscal year. If the amount due is more than the amount received, the difference shall be termed the "Prior Fiscal Year Shortfall" for purposes of this Section, and the Prior Fiscal Year Shortfall shall be satisfied under Section 1.2 of the State Pension Funds Continuing Appropriation Act. If the amount due is less than the amount received, the difference shall be termed the "Prior Fiscal Year Overpayment" for purposes of this Section, and the Prior Fiscal Year Overpayment shall be repaid by the System to the General Revenue Fund as soon as practicable after the certification.

(Source: P.A. 98-24, eff. 6-19-13; 98-674, eff. 6-30-14; 99-8, eff. 7-9-15; 99-523, eff. 6-30-16.)

(40 ILCS 5/14-135.08) (from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 14-135.08)

(Text of Section WITHOUT the changes made by P.A. 98-599, which has been held unconstitutional)

Sec. 14-135.08. To certify required State contributions.

(a) To certify to the Governor and to each department, on or before November 15 of each year until November 15, 2011, the required rate for State contributions to the System for the next State fiscal year, as determined under subsection (b) of Section 14-131. The certification to the Governor under this subsection (a) shall include a copy of the actuarial recommendations upon which the rate is based and shall specifically identify the System's projected State normal cost for that fiscal year.

(a-5) On or before November 1 of each year, beginning November 1, 2012, the Board shall submit to the State Actuary, the Governor, and the General Assembly a proposed certification of the amount of the required State contribution to the System for the next fiscal year, along with all of the actuarial assumptions, calculations, and data upon which that proposed certification is based. On or before January 1 of each year beginning January 1, 2013, the State Actuary shall issue a preliminary report concerning the proposed certification and identifying, if necessary, recommended changes in actuarial assumptions that the Board must consider before finalizing its certification of the required State contributions. On or before January 15, 2013 and each January 15 thereafter, the Board shall certify to the Governor and the General Assembly the amount of the required State contribution for the next fiscal year. The Board's certification must note any deviations from the State Actuary's recommended changes, the reason or reasons for not following the State Actuary's recommended changes, and the fiscal impact of not following the State Actuary's recommended changes on the required State contribution.

(a-10) For purposes of subsection (c-5) of Section 20 of the Budget Stabilization Act, on or before November 1 of each year beginning November 1, 2019, the Board shall determine the amount of the State contribution to the System that would have been required for the next fiscal year if Section 1-161, Section 14-155.2, and the changes made to Section 1-160 by this amendatory Act of the 100th General Assembly had not taken effect, using the best and most recent available data but based on the law in effect on May 31, 2019. The Board shall submit to the State Actuary, the Governor, and the General Assembly a proposed certification, along with the relevant law, actuarial assumptions, calculations, and data upon which that certification is based. On or before January 1, 2020 and every January 1 thereafter, the State Actuary shall issue a preliminary report concerning the proposed certification and identifying, if necessary, recommended changes in actuarial assumptions that the Board must consider before finalizing its certification. On or before January 15, 2020 and every January 1 thereafter, the Board shall certify to the Governor and the General Assembly the amount of the State contribution to the System that would have been required for the next fiscal year if Section 1-161, Section 14-155.2, and the changes made to Section 1-160 by this amendatory Act of the 100th General Assembly had not taken effect, using the best and most recent available data but based on the law in effect on May 31, 2019. The Board's certification must note any deviations from the State Actuary's recommended changes, the reason or reasons for not following the State Actuary's recommended changes, and the impact of not following the State Actuary's recommended changes.

(b) The certifications under subsections (a) and (a-5) shall include an additional amount necessary to pay all principal of and interest on those general obligation bonds due the next fiscal year authorized by Section 7.2(a) of the General Obligation Bond Act and issued to provide the proceeds deposited by the State with the System in July 2003, representing deposits other than amounts reserved under Section 7.2(c) of the General Obligation Bond Act. For State fiscal year 2005, the Board shall make a supplemental certification of the additional amount necessary to pay all principal of and interest on those general obligation bonds due in State fiscal years 2004 and 2005 authorized by Section 7.2(a) of the General Obligation Bond Act and issued to provide the proceeds deposited by the State with the System in July 2003, representing deposits other than amounts reserved under Section 7.2(c) of the General Obligation Bond Act, as soon as practical after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 93rd General Assembly.

On or before May 1, 2004, the Board shall recalculate and recertify to the Governor and to each department the amount of the required State contribution to the System and the required rates for State contributions to the System for State fiscal year 2005, taking into account the amounts appropriated to and received by the System under subsection (d) of Section 7.2 of the General Obligation Bond Act.

On or before July 1, 2005, the Board shall recalculate and recertify to the Governor and to each department the amount of the required State contribution to the System and the required rates for State contributions to the System for State fiscal year 2006, taking into account the changes in required State contributions made by this amendatory Act of the 94th General Assembly.

On or before April 1, 2011, the Board shall recalculate and recertify to the Governor and to each department the amount of the required State contribution to the System for State fiscal year 2011, applying the changes made by Public Act 96-889 to the System's assets and liabilities as of June 30, 2009 as though Public Act 96-889 was approved on that date.

As soon as practical after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 100th General Assembly, the Board shall recalculate and recertify to the State Actuary, the Governor, and the General Assembly the amount of the State contribution to the System for State fiscal year 2018, taking into account the changes in required State contributions made by this amendatory Act of the 100th General Assembly. The State Actuary shall review the assumptions and valuations underlying the Board's revised certification and issue a preliminary report concerning the proposed recertification and identifying, if necessary, recommended changes in actuarial assumptions that the Board must consider before finalizing its certification of the required State contributions. The Board's final certification must note any deviations from the State Actuary's recommended changes, the reason or reasons for not following the State Actuary's recommended changes, and the fiscal impact of not following the State Actuary's recommended changes on the required State contribution.

(Source: P.A. 96-1497, eff. 1-14-11; 96-1511, eff. 1-27-11; 97-694, eff. 6-18-12.)

(40 ILCS 5/14-147.5 new)

Sec. 14-147.5. Accelerated pension benefit payment.

(a) As used in this Section:

"Eligible person" means a person who:

(1) has terminated service;

(2) has accrued sufficient service credit to be eligible to receive a retirement annuity under this Article;

(3) has not received any retirement annuity under this Article; and

(4) does not have a QILDRO in effect against him or her under this Article.

"Pension benefit" means the benefits under this Article, or Article 1 as it relates to those benefits, including any anticipated annual increases, that an eligible person is entitled to upon attainment of the applicable retirement age. "Pension benefit" also includes applicable survivor's or disability benefits.

(b) Before January 1, 2019, and annually thereafter, the System shall calculate, using actuarial tables and other assumptions adopted by the Board, the net present value of pension benefits for each eligible person and shall offer each eligible person the opportunity to irrevocably elect to receive an amount determined by the System to be equal to 70% of the net present value of his or her pension benefits in lieu of receiving any pension benefit. The offer shall specify the dollar amount that the eligible person will receive if he or she so elects and shall expire when a subsequent offer is made to an eligible person or when the System determines that 10% of eligible persons in that year have made the election under this subsection, whichever occurs first. The System shall make a good faith effort to contact every eligible person to notify him or her of the election and of the amount of the accelerated pension benefit payment.

Until the System determines that 10% of eligible persons in that year have made the election under this subsection, an eligible person may irrevocably elect to receive an accelerated pension benefit payment in the amount that the System offers under this subsection in lieu of receiving any pension benefit. A person who elects to receive an accelerated pension benefit payment under this Section may not elect to proceed under the Retirement Systems Reciprocal Act with respect to service under this Article.

(c) A person's credits and creditable service under this Article shall be terminated upon the person's receipt of an accelerated pension benefit payment under this Section, and no other benefit shall be paid under this Article based on those terminated credits and creditable service, including any retirement, survivor, or other benefit; except that to the extent that participation, benefits, or premiums under the State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971 are based on the amount of service credit, the terminated service credit shall be used for that purpose.

(d) If a person who has received an accelerated pension benefit payment under this Section returns to active service under this Article, then:

(1) Any benefits under the System earned as a result of that return to active service shall be based solely on the person's credits and creditable service arising from the return to active service.

(2) The accelerated pension benefit payment may not be repaid to the System, and the terminated credits and creditable service may not under any circumstances be reinstated.

(e) As a condition of receiving an accelerated pension benefit payment, an eligible person must have another retirement plan or account qualified under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, for the accelerated pension benefit payment to be rolled into. The accelerated pension benefit payment under this Section may be subject to withholding or payment of applicable taxes, but to the extent permitted by federal law, a person who receives an accelerated pension benefit payment under this Section must direct the System to pay all of that payment as a rollover into another retirement plan or account qualified under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

(f) Before January 1, 2020 and every January 1 thereafter, the Board shall certify to the Illinois Finance Authority and the General Assembly the amount by which the total amount of accelerated pension benefit payments made under this Section exceed the amount appropriated to the System for the purpose of making those payments.

(g) The Board shall adopt any rules necessary to implement this Section.

(h) No provision of this Section shall be interpreted in a way that would cause the applicable System to cease to be a qualified plan under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.

(i) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section, in no case shall the total amount of accelerated pension benefit payments paid under this Section, Section 15-185.5, and Section 16-190.5 cause the Illinois Finance Authority to issue more than the $250,000,000 of State Pension Obligation Acceleration Bonds authorized in subsection (c-5) of Section 801-40 of the Illinois Finance Authority Act.

(40 ILCS 5/14-152.1)

(Text of Section WITHOUT the changes made by P.A. 98-599, which has been held unconstitutional)

Sec. 14-152.1. Application and expiration of new benefit increases.

(a) As used in this Section, "new benefit increase" means an increase in the amount of any benefit provided under this Article, or an expansion of the conditions of eligibility for any benefit under this Article, that results from an amendment to this Code that takes effect after June 1, 2005 (the effective date of Public Act 94-4). "New benefit increase", however, does not include any benefit increase resulting from the changes made to this Article by Public Act 96-37 or by this amendatory Act of the 100th General Assembly this amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly.

(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code or any subsequent amendment to this Code, every new benefit increase is subject to this Section and shall be deemed to be granted only in conformance with and contingent upon compliance with the provisions of this Section.

(c) The Public Act enacting a new benefit increase must identify and provide for payment to the System of additional funding at least sufficient to fund the resulting annual increase in cost to the System as it accrues.

Every new benefit increase is contingent upon the General Assembly providing the additional funding required under this subsection. The Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability shall analyze whether adequate additional funding has been provided for the new benefit increase and shall report its analysis to the Public Pension Division of the Department of Insurance Financial and Professional Regulation. A new benefit increase created by a Public Act that does not include the additional funding required under this subsection is null and void. If the Public Pension Division determines that the additional funding provided for a new benefit increase under this subsection is or has become inadequate, it may so certify to the Governor and the State Comptroller and, in the absence of corrective action by the General Assembly, the new benefit increase shall expire at the end of the fiscal year in which the certification is made.

(d) Every new benefit increase shall expire 5 years after its effective date or on such earlier date as may be specified in the language enacting the new benefit increase or provided under subsection (c). This does not prevent the General Assembly from extending or re-creating a new benefit increase by law.

(e) Except as otherwise provided in the language creating the new benefit increase, a new benefit increase that expires under this Section continues to apply to persons who applied and qualified for the affected benefit while the new benefit increase was in effect and to the affected beneficiaries and alternate payees of such persons, but does not apply to any other person, including without limitation a person who continues in service after the expiration date and did not apply and qualify for the affected benefit while the new benefit increase was in effect.

(Source: P.A. 96-37, eff. 7-13-09.)

(40 ILCS 5/14-155.1 new)

Sec. 14-155.1. Defined contribution plan.

(a) By July 1, 2019, the System shall prepare and implement a voluntary defined contribution plan for up to 5% of eligible active Tier 1 employees. The System shall determine the 5% cap by the number of active Tier 1 employees on the effective date of this Section. The defined contribution plan developed under this Section shall be a plan that aggregates employer and employee contributions in individual participant accounts which, after meeting any other requirements, are used for payouts after retirement in accordance with this Section and any other applicable laws.

As used in this Section, "defined benefit plan" means the retirement plan available under this Article to Tier 1 employees who have not made the election authorized under this Section.

(1) Under the defined contribution plan, an active Tier 1 employee of this System could elect to cease accruing benefits in the defined benefit plan under this Article and begin accruing benefits for future service in the defined contribution plan. Service credit under the defined contribution plan may be used for determining retirement eligibility under the defined benefit plan.

(2) Participants in the defined contribution plan shall pay employee contributions at the same rate as Tier 1 employees in this System who do not participate in the defined contribution plan.

(3) State contributions shall be paid into the accounts of all participants in the defined contribution plan at a uniform rate, expressed as a percentage of compensation and determined for each year. This rate shall be no higher than the employer's normal cost for Tier 1 employees in the defined benefit plan for that year, as determined by the System and expressed as a percentage of compensation, and shall be no lower than 3% of compensation. The State shall adjust this rate annually.

(4) The defined contribution plan shall require 5 years of participation in the defined contribution plan before vesting in State contributions. If the participant fails to vest in them, the State contributions, and the earnings thereon, shall be forfeited.

(5) The defined contribution plan may provide for participants in the plan to be eligible for the defined disability benefits available to other participants under this Article. If it does, the System shall reduce the employee contributions credited to the member's defined contribution plan account by an amount determined by the System to cover the cost of offering such benefits.

(6) The defined contribution plan shall provide a variety of options for investments. These options shall include investments handled by the Illinois State Board of Investment as well as private sector investment options.

(7) The defined contribution plan shall provide a variety of options for payouts to retirees and their survivors.

(8) To the extent authorized under federal law and as authorized by the System, the plan shall allow former participants in the plan to transfer or roll over employee and vested State contributions, and the earnings thereon, into other qualified retirement plans.

(9) The System shall reduce the employee contributions credited to the member's defined contribution plan account by an amount determined by the System to cover the cost of offering these benefits and any applicable administrative fees.

(b) Only persons who are active Tier 1 employees of the System on the effective date of this Section are eligible to participate in the defined contribution plan. Participation in the defined contribution plan shall be limited to the first 5% of eligible persons who elect to participate. The election to participate in the defined contribution plan is voluntary and irrevocable.

(c) An eligible Tier 1 employee may irrevocably elect to participate in the defined contribution plan by filing with the System a written application to participate that is received by the System prior to its determination that 5% of eligible persons have elected to participate in the defined contribution plan.

When the System first determines that 5% of eligible persons have elected to participate in the defined contribution plan, the System shall provide notice to previously eligible employees that the plan is no longer available and shall cease accepting applications to participate.

(d) The System shall make a good faith effort to contact each active Tier 1 employee who is eligible to participate in the defined contribution plan. The System shall mail information describing the option to join the defined contribution plan to each of these employees to his or her last known address on file with the System. If the employee is not responsive to other means of contact, it is sufficient for the System to publish the details of the option on its website.

Upon request for further information describing the option, the System shall provide employees with information from the System before exercising the option to join the plan, including information on the impact to their vested benefits or non-vested service. The individual consultation shall include projections of the member's defined benefits at retirement or earlier termination of service and the value of the member's account at retirement or earlier termination of service. The System shall not provide advice or counseling with respect to whether the employee should exercise the option. The System shall inform Tier 1 employees who are eligible to participate in the defined contribution plan that they may also wish to obtain information and counsel relating to their option from any other available source, including, but not limited to, labor organizations, private counsel, and financial advisors.

(e) In no event shall the System, its staff, its authorized representatives, or the Board be liable for any information given to an employee under this Section. The System may coordinate with the Illinois Department of Central Management Services and other retirement systems administering a defined contribution plan in accordance with this amendatory Act of the 100th General Assembly to provide information concerning the impact of the option set forth in this Section.

(f) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section, no person shall begin participating in the defined contribution plan until it has attained qualified plan status and received all necessary approvals from the U.S. Internal Revenue Service.

(g) The System shall report on its progress under this Section, including the available details of the defined contribution plan and the System's plans for informing eligible Tier 1 employees about the plan, to the Governor and the General Assembly on or before January 15, 2019.

(h) The Illinois State Board of Investment shall be the plan sponsor for the defined contribution plan established under this Section.

(i) The intent of this amendatory Act of the 100th General Assembly is to ensure that the State's normal cost of participation in the defined contribution plan is similar, and if possible equal, to the State's normal cost of participation in the defined benefit plan, unless a lower State's normal cost is necessary to ensure cost neutrality.

(40 ILCS 5/14-155.2 new)

Sec. 14-155.2. Defined contribution plan for certain covered employees.

(a) As used in this Section:

"Defined benefit plan" means the retirement plan available under this Article and Section 1-160 to eligible covered employees who do not make the election authorized under this Section.

"Eligible covered employee" means a covered employee who first becomes a participant under this Article on or after 6 months after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 100th General Assembly.

(b) In lieu of the defined benefit plan, an eligible covered employee may irrevocably elect to participate in the defined contribution plan under this Section. The election to participate in the defined contribution plan must be made within 30 days after becoming an eligible covered employee. The election to participate in the defined contribution plan under this Section is voluntary and irrevocable.

(c) No later than 5 months after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 100th General Assembly, the System shall prepare and implement a voluntary defined contribution plan for eligible covered employees. The defined contribution plan developed under this Section shall be a plan that aggregates employer and employee contributions in individual participant accounts which, after meeting any other requirements, are used for payouts after retirement in accordance with this Section and any other applicable laws.

(1) A participant in the defined contribution plan shall contribute a minimum of 3% of his or her compensation to the defined contribution plan.

(2) For persons who participate in the defined contribution plan for at least one year, employer contributions shall be paid into the accounts of those participants at a rate of 3% of compensation.

(3) Employer contributions shall vest when those contributions are paid into a participant's account.

(4) The defined contribution plan shall provide a variety of options for investments. These options shall include investments handled by the Illinois State Board of Investment as well as private sector investment options.

(5) The defined contribution plan shall provide a variety of options for payouts to retirees and their survivors.

(6) To the extent authorized under federal law and as authorized by the affected pension fund, the defined contribution plan shall allow former participants in the plan to transfer or roll over employee and employer contributions, and the earnings thereon, into other qualified retirement plans.

(7) The System shall reduce the employee contributions credited to the participant's defined contribution plan account by an amount determined by the System to cover the cost of offering the benefits under this Section and any applicable administrative fees.

(40 ILCS 5/14-156.1 new)

Sec. 14-156.1. Defined contribution plan; termination. If the defined contribution plan under Section 14-155.1 is terminated or becomes inoperative pursuant to law, then each participant in the plan shall automatically be deemed to have been a contributing Tier 1 employee in the System's defined benefit plan during the time in which he or she participated in the defined contribution plan, and for that purpose the System shall be entitled to recover the amounts in the participant's defined contribution accounts.

(40 ILCS 5/15-108.1)

Sec. 15-108.1. Tier 1 member; Tier 1 employee.

"Tier 1 member": A participant or an annuitant of a retirement annuity under this Article, other than a participant in the self-managed plan under Section 15-158.2, who first became a participant or member before January 1, 2011 under any reciprocal retirement system or pension fund established under this Code, other than a retirement system or pension fund established under Articles 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 18 of this Code. "Tier 1 member" includes a person who first became a participant under this System before January 1, 2011 and who accepts a refund and is subsequently reemployed by an employer on or after January 1, 2011.

"Tier 1 employee": A Tier 1 member who is a participating employee, unless he or she is a disability benefit recipient under Section 15-150.

(Source: P.A. 98-92, eff. 7-16-13.)

(40 ILCS 5/15-108.2)

Sec. 15-108.2. Tier 2 member. "Tier 2 member": A person who first becomes a participant under this Article on or after January 1, 2011 and before 6 months after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 100th General Assembly, other than a person in the self-managed plan established under Section 15-158.2 or a person who makes the election under subsection (c) of Section 1-161, unless the person is otherwise a Tier 1 member. The changes made to this Section by this amendatory Act of the 98th General Assembly are a correction of existing law and are intended to be retroactive to the effective date of Public Act 96-889, notwithstanding the provisions of Section 1-103.1 of this Code.

(Source: P.A. 98-92, eff. 7-16-13; 98-596, eff. 11-19-13.)

(40 ILCS 5/15-155) (from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 15-155)

Sec. 15-155. Employer contributions.

(a) The State of Illinois shall make contributions by appropriations of amounts which, together with the other employer contributions from trust, federal, and other funds, employee contributions, income from investments, and other income of this System, will be sufficient to meet the cost of maintaining and administering the System on a 90% funded basis in accordance with actuarial recommendations.

The Board shall determine the amount of State contributions required for each fiscal year on the basis of the actuarial tables and other assumptions adopted by the Board and the recommendations of the actuary, using the formula in subsection (a-1).

(a-1) For State fiscal years 2018 through 2045, the minimum contribution to the System to be made by the State for each fiscal year shall be an amount determined by the System to be sufficient to bring the total assets of the System up to 90% of the total actuarial liabilities of the System by the end of State fiscal year 2045. In making these determinations, the required State contribution shall be calculated each year as a level percentage of total payroll, including payroll that is not deemed pensionable, but excluding payroll attributable to participants in the defined contribution plan under Section 15-200.1, over the years remaining to and including fiscal year 2045 and shall be determined under the projected unit credit actuarial cost method.

Beginning in State fiscal year 2018, any increase or decrease in State contribution over the prior fiscal year due exclusively to changes in actuarial or investment assumptions adopted by the Board shall be included in the State contribution to the System, as a percentage of the applicable employee payroll, and shall be increased in equal annual increments so that by the State fiscal year occurring 5 years after the adoption of the actuarial or investment assumptions, the State is contributing at the rate otherwise required under this Section.

For State fiscal years 2012 through 2017 2045, the minimum contribution to the System to be made by the State for each fiscal year shall be an amount determined by the System to be sufficient to bring the total assets of the System up to 90% of the total actuarial liabilities of the System by the end of State fiscal year 2045. In making these determinations, the required State contribution shall be calculated each year as a level percentage of payroll over the years remaining to and including fiscal year 2045 and shall be determined under the projected unit credit actuarial cost method.

For State fiscal years 1996 through 2005, the State contribution to the System, as a percentage of the applicable employee payroll, shall be increased in equal annual increments so that by State fiscal year 2011, the State is contributing at the rate required under this Section.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article, the total required State contribution for State fiscal year 2006 is $166,641,900.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article, the total required State contribution for State fiscal year 2007 is $252,064,100.

For each of State fiscal years 2008 through 2009, the State contribution to the System, as a percentage of the applicable employee payroll, shall be increased in equal annual increments from the required State contribution for State fiscal year 2007, so that by State fiscal year 2011, the State is contributing at the rate otherwise required under this Section.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article, the total required State contribution for State fiscal year 2010 is $702,514,000 and shall be made from the State Pensions Fund and proceeds of bonds sold in fiscal year 2010 pursuant to Section 7.2 of the General Obligation Bond Act, less (i) the pro rata share of bond sale expenses determined by the System's share of total bond proceeds, (ii) any amounts received from the General Revenue Fund in fiscal year 2010, (iii) any reduction in bond proceeds due to the issuance of discounted bonds, if applicable.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article, the total required State contribution for State fiscal year 2011 is the amount recertified by the System on or before April 1, 2011 pursuant to Section 15-165 and shall be made from the State Pensions Fund and proceeds of bonds sold in fiscal year 2011 pursuant to Section 7.2 of the General Obligation Bond Act, less (i) the pro rata share of bond sale expenses determined by the System's share of total bond proceeds, (ii) any amounts received from the General Revenue Fund in fiscal year 2011, and (iii) any reduction in bond proceeds due to the issuance of discounted bonds, if applicable.

Beginning in State fiscal year 2046, the minimum State contribution for each fiscal year shall be the amount needed to maintain the total assets of the System at 90% of the total actuarial liabilities of the System.

Amounts received by the System pursuant to Section 25 of the Budget Stabilization Act or Section 8.12 of the State Finance Act in any fiscal year do not reduce and do not constitute payment of any portion of the minimum State contribution required under this Article in that fiscal year. Such amounts shall not reduce, and shall not be included in the calculation of, the required State contributions under this Article in any future year until the System has reached a funding ratio of at least 90%. A reference in this Article to the "required State contribution" or any substantially similar term does not include or apply to any amounts payable to the System under Section 25 of the Budget Stabilization Act.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section, the required State contribution for State fiscal year 2005 and for fiscal year 2008 and each fiscal year thereafter, as calculated under this Section and certified under Section 15-165, shall not exceed an amount equal to (i) the amount of the required State contribution that would have been calculated under this Section for that fiscal year if the System had not received any payments under subsection (d) of Section 7.2 of the General Obligation Bond Act, minus (ii) the portion of the State's total debt service payments for that fiscal year on the bonds issued in fiscal year 2003 for the purposes of that Section 7.2, as determined and certified by the Comptroller, that is the same as the System's portion of the total moneys distributed under subsection (d) of Section 7.2 of the General Obligation Bond Act. In determining this maximum for State fiscal years 2008 through 2010, however, the amount referred to in item (i) shall be increased, as a percentage of the applicable employee payroll, in equal increments calculated from the sum of the required State contribution for State fiscal year 2007 plus the applicable portion of the State's total debt service payments for fiscal year 2007 on the bonds issued in fiscal year 2003 for the purposes of Section 7.2 of the General Obligation Bond Act, so that, by State fiscal year 2011, the State is contributing at the rate otherwise required under this Section.

(a-2) For employees first hired on or after 6 months after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 100th General Assembly who have elected the benefits under Section 1-161 of this Code, the employer shall annually contribute an amount, expressed as a percentage of payroll, equal to the defined benefit normal cost of the defined benefit plan, less the employee contribution, plus 2%. On an annual basis, the System shall certify to each employer the amount of unfunded liability accrued in the employer's account to be paid by the employer so that the System is 90% funded by the end of State fiscal year 2045. The contributions shall be divided equally over a 12-month period and made monthly. The employer shall also contribute an amount equal to the employer defined contribution, as set on an individual employee basis, under paragraph (2) of subsection (k) of Section 1-161 during each pay period. The System shall have the authority to adopt rules regarding implementation of employer contributions.

(b) If an employee is paid from trust or federal funds, the employer shall pay to the Board contributions from those funds which are sufficient to cover the accruing normal costs on behalf of the employee. However, universities having employees who are compensated out of local auxiliary funds, income funds, or service enterprise funds are not required to pay such contributions on behalf of those employees. The local auxiliary funds, income funds, and service enterprise funds of universities shall not be considered trust funds for the purpose of this Article, but funds of alumni associations, foundations, and athletic associations which are affiliated with the universities included as employers under this Article and other employers which do not receive State appropriations are considered to be trust funds for the purpose of this Article.

(b-1) The City of Urbana and the City of Champaign shall each make employer contributions to this System for their respective firefighter employees who participate in this System pursuant to subsection (h) of Section 15-107. The rate of contributions to be made by those municipalities shall be determined annually by the Board on the basis of the actuarial assumptions adopted by the Board and the recommendations of the actuary, and shall be expressed as a percentage of salary for each such employee. The Board shall certify the rate to the affected municipalities as soon as may be practical. The employer contributions required under this subsection shall be remitted by the municipality to the System at the same time and in the same manner as employee contributions.

(c) Through State fiscal year 1995: The total employer contribution shall be apportioned among the various funds of the State and other employers, whether trust, federal, or other funds, in accordance with actuarial procedures approved by the Board. State of Illinois contributions for employers receiving State appropriations for personal services shall be payable from appropriations made to the employers or to the System. The contributions for Class I community colleges covering earnings other than those paid from trust and federal funds, shall be payable solely from appropriations to the Illinois Community College Board or the System for employer contributions.

(d) Beginning in State fiscal year 1996, the required State contributions to the System shall be appropriated directly to the System and shall be payable through vouchers issued in accordance with subsection (c) of Section 15-165, except as provided in subsection (g).

(e) The State Comptroller shall draw warrants payable to the System upon proper certification by the System or by the employer in accordance with the appropriation laws and this Code.

(f) Normal costs under this Section means liability for pensions and other benefits which accrues to the System because of the credits earned for service rendered by the participants during the fiscal year and expenses of administering the System, but shall not include the principal of or any redemption premium or interest on any bonds issued by the Board or any expenses incurred or deposits required in connection therewith.

(g) For academic years beginning on or after June 1, 2005 and before July 1, 2018, if If the amount of a participant's earnings for any academic year used to determine the final rate of earnings, determined on a full-time equivalent basis, exceeds the amount of his or her earnings with the same employer for the previous academic year, determined on a full-time equivalent basis, by more than 6%, the participant's employer shall pay to the System, in addition to all other payments required under this Section and in accordance with guidelines established by the System, the present value of the increase in benefits resulting from the portion of the increase in earnings that is in excess of 6%. This present value shall be computed by the System on the basis of the actuarial assumptions and tables used in the most recent actuarial valuation of the System that is available at the time of the computation. The System may require the employer to provide any pertinent information or documentation.

Whenever it determines that a payment is or may be required under this subsection (g), the System shall calculate the amount of the payment and bill the employer for that amount. The bill shall specify the calculations used to determine the amount due. If the employer disputes the amount of the bill, it may, within 30 days after receipt of the bill, apply to the System in writing for a recalculation. The application must specify in detail the grounds of the dispute and, if the employer asserts that the calculation is subject to subsection (h) or (i) of this Section, must include an affidavit setting forth and attesting to all facts within the employer's knowledge that are pertinent to the applicability of subsection (h) or (i). Upon receiving a timely application for recalculation, the System shall review the application and, if appropriate, recalculate the amount due.

The employer contributions required under this subsection (g) may be paid in the form of a lump sum within 90 days after receipt of the bill. If the employer contributions are not paid within 90 days after receipt of the bill, then interest will be charged at a rate equal to the System's annual actuarially assumed rate of return on investment compounded annually from the 91st day after receipt of the bill. Payments must be concluded within 3 years after the employer's receipt of the bill.

When assessing payment for any amount due under this subsection (g), the System shall include earnings, to the extent not established by a participant under Section 15-113.11 or 15-113.12, that would have been paid to the participant had the participant not taken (i) periods of voluntary or involuntary furlough occurring on or after July 1, 2015 and on or before June 30, 2017 or (ii) periods of voluntary pay reduction in lieu of furlough occurring on or after July 1, 2015 and on or before June 30, 2017. Determining earnings that would have been paid to a participant had the participant not taken periods of voluntary or involuntary furlough or periods of voluntary pay reduction shall be the responsibility of the employer, and shall be reported in a manner prescribed by the System.

(g-1) For academic years beginning on or after July 1, 2018, if the amount of a participant's earnings for any academic year used to determine the final rate of earnings, determined on a full-time equivalent basis, exceeds the amount of his or her earnings with the same employer for the previous academic year, determined on a full-time equivalent basis, by more than the unadjusted percentage increase in the consumer price index-u for the calendar year immediately preceding the beginning of the academic year, published by the Public Pension Division of the Department of Insurance by November 1 of each year, then the participant's employer shall pay to the System, in addition to all other payments required under this Section and in accordance with guidelines established by the System, the present value of the increase in benefits resulting from the portion of the increase in earnings that is in excess of the unadjusted percentage increase in the consumer price index-u for the applicable calendar year. This present value shall be computed by the System on the basis of the actuarial assumptions and tables used in the most recent actuarial valuation of the System that is available at the time of the computation. The System may require the employer to provide any pertinent information or documentation.

Whenever it determines that a payment is or may be required under this subsection (g-1), the System shall calculate the amount of the payment and bill the employer for that amount. The bill shall specify the calculations used to determine the amount due. If the employer disputes the amount of the bill, it may, within 30 days after receipt of the bill, apply to the System in writing for a recalculation. The application must specify in detail the grounds of the dispute and, if the employer asserts that the calculation is subject to subsection (i-1) of this Section, must include an affidavit setting forth and attesting to all facts within the employer's knowledge that are pertinent to the applicability of subsection (i-1). Upon receiving a timely application for recalculation, the System shall review the application and, if appropriate, recalculate the amount due.

The employer contributions required under this subsection (g-1) may be paid in the form of a lump sum within 90 days after receipt of the bill. If the employer contributions are not paid within 90 days after receipt of the bill, then interest shall be charged at a rate equal to the System's annual actuarially assumed rate of return on investment compounded annually from the 91st day after receipt of the bill. Payments must be concluded within 3 years after the employer's receipt of the bill.

For the purposes of this Section, "consumer price index-u" means the index published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the United States Department of Labor that measures the average change in prices of goods and services purchased by all urban consumers, United States city average, all items, 1982-84 = 100. The new amount resulting from each annual adjustment shall be determined by the Public Pension Division of the Department of Insurance and made available to the boards of the retirement systems and pension funds by November 1 of each year.

(h) This subsection (h) applies only to payments made or salary increases given on or after June 1, 2005 but before July 1, 2011. The changes made by Public Act 94-1057 shall not require the System to refund any payments received before July 31, 2006 (the effective date of Public Act 94-1057).

When assessing payment for any amount due under subsection (g), the System shall exclude earnings increases paid to participants under contracts or collective bargaining agreements entered into, amended, or renewed before June 1, 2005.

When assessing payment for any amount due under subsection (g), the System shall exclude earnings increases paid to a participant at a time when the participant is 10 or more years from retirement eligibility under Section 15-135.

When assessing payment for any amount due under subsection (g), the System shall exclude earnings increases resulting from overload work, including a contract for summer teaching, or overtime when the employer has certified to the System, and the System has approved the certification, that: (i) in the case of overloads (A) the overload work is for the sole purpose of academic instruction in excess of the standard number of instruction hours for a full-time employee occurring during the academic year that the overload is paid and (B) the earnings increases are equal to or less than the rate of pay for academic instruction computed using the participant's current salary rate and work schedule; and (ii) in the case of overtime, the overtime was necessary for the educational mission.

When assessing payment for any amount due under subsection (g), the System shall exclude any earnings increase resulting from (i) a promotion for which the employee moves from one classification to a higher classification under the State Universities Civil Service System, (ii) a promotion in academic rank for a tenured or tenure-track faculty position, or (iii) a promotion that the Illinois Community College Board has recommended in accordance with subsection (k) of this Section. These earnings increases shall be excluded only if the promotion is to a position that has existed and been filled by a member for no less than one complete academic year and the earnings increase as a result of the promotion is an increase that results in an amount no greater than the average salary paid for other similar positions.

(i) When assessing payment for any amount due under subsection (g), the System shall exclude any salary increase described in subsection (h) of this Section given on or after July 1, 2011 but before July 1, 2014 under a contract or collective bargaining agreement entered into, amended, or renewed on or after June 1, 2005 but before July 1, 2011. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section, any payments made or salary increases given after June 30, 2014 shall be used in assessing payment for any amount due under subsection (g) of this Section.

(i-1) When assessing payment for any amount due under subsection (g-1), the System shall exclude salary increases paid to participants under contracts or collective bargaining agreements entered into, amended, or renewed before the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 100th General Assembly.

(j) The System shall prepare a report and file copies of the report with the Governor and the General Assembly by January 1, 2007 that contains all of the following information:

(1) The number of recalculations required by the changes made to this Section by Public Act 94-1057 for each employer.

(2) The dollar amount by which each employer's contribution to the System was changed due to recalculations required by Public Act 94-1057.

(3) The total amount the System received from each employer as a result of the changes made to this Section by Public Act 94-4.

(4) The increase in the required State contribution resulting from the changes made to this Section by Public Act 94-1057.

(j-5) For academic years beginning on or after July 1, 2018, if the amount of a participant's earnings for any academic year, determined on a full-time equivalent basis, exceeds $140,000, the participant's employer shall pay to the System, in addition to all other payments required under this Section and in accordance with guidelines established by the System, the amount of the earnings that exceed $140,000 multiplied by the level percentage of payroll used in that fiscal year, as determined by the System, to be sufficient to bring the total assets of the System up to 90% of the total actuarial liabilities of the System by the end of State fiscal year 2045. This amount shall be computed by the System on the basis of the actuarial assumptions and tables used in the most recent actuarial valuation of the System that is available at the time of the computation. The System may require the employer to provide any pertinent information or documentation.

Whenever it determines that a payment is or may be required under this subsection, the System shall calculate the amount of the payment and bill the employer for that amount. The bill shall specify the calculations used to determine the amount due. If the employer disputes the amount of the bill, it may, within 30 days after receipt of the bill, apply to the System in writing for a recalculation. The application must specify in detail the grounds of the dispute. Upon receiving a timely application for recalculation, the System shall review the application and, if appropriate, recalculate the amount due.

The employer contributions required under this subsection may be paid in the form of a lump sum within 90 days after receipt of the bill. If the employer contributions are not paid within 90 days after receipt of the bill, then interest will be charged at a rate equal to the System's annual actuarially assumed rate of return on investment compounded annually from the 91st day after receipt of the bill. Payments must be concluded within 3 years after the employer's receipt of the bill.

(k) The Illinois Community College Board shall adopt rules for recommending lists of promotional positions submitted to the Board by community colleges and for reviewing the promotional lists on an annual basis. When recommending promotional lists, the Board shall consider the similarity of the positions submitted to those positions recognized for State universities by the State Universities Civil Service System. The Illinois Community College Board shall file a copy of its findings with the System. The System shall consider the findings of the Illinois Community College Board when making determinations under this Section. The System shall not exclude any earnings increases resulting from a promotion when the promotion was not submitted by a community college. Nothing in this subsection (k) shall require any community college to submit any information to the Community College Board.

(l) For purposes of determining the required State contribution to the System, the value of the System's assets shall be equal to the actuarial value of the System's assets, which shall be calculated as follows:

As of June 30, 2008, the actuarial value of the System's assets shall be equal to the market value of the assets as of that date. In determining the actuarial value of the System's assets for fiscal years after June 30, 2008, any actuarial gains or losses from investment return incurred in a fiscal year shall be recognized in equal annual amounts over the 5-year period following that fiscal year.

(m) For purposes of determining the required State contribution to the system for a particular year, the actuarial value of assets shall be assumed to earn a rate of return equal to the system's actuarially assumed rate of return.

(Source: P.A. 98-92, eff. 7-16-13; 98-463, eff. 8-16-13; 99-897, eff. 1-1-17.)

(40 ILCS 5/15-165) (from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 15-165)

(Text of Section WITHOUT the changes made by P.A. 98-599, which has been held unconstitutional)

Sec. 15-165. To certify amounts and submit vouchers.

(a) The Board shall certify to the Governor on or before November 15 of each year until November 15, 2011 the appropriation required from State funds for the purposes of this System for the following fiscal year. The certification under this subsection (a) shall include a copy of the actuarial recommendations upon which it is based and shall specifically identify the System's projected State normal cost for that fiscal year and the projected State cost for the self-managed plan for that fiscal year.

On or before May 1, 2004, the Board shall recalculate and recertify to the Governor the amount of the required State contribution to the System for State fiscal year 2005, taking into account the amounts appropriated to and received by the System under subsection (d) of Section 7.2 of the General Obligation Bond Act.

On or before July 1, 2005, the Board shall recalculate and recertify to the Governor the amount of the required State contribution to the System for State fiscal year 2006, taking into account the changes in required State contributions made by this amendatory Act of the 94th General Assembly.

On or before April 1, 2011, the Board shall recalculate and recertify to the Governor the amount of the required State contribution to the System for State fiscal year 2011, applying the changes made by Public Act 96-889 to the System's assets and liabilities as of June 30, 2009 as though Public Act 96-889 was approved on that date.

(a-5) On or before November 1 of each year, beginning November 1, 2012, the Board shall submit to the State Actuary, the Governor, and the General Assembly a proposed certification of the amount of the required State contribution to the System for the next fiscal year, along with all of the actuarial assumptions, calculations, and data upon which that proposed certification is based. On or before January 1 of each year, beginning January 1, 2013, the State Actuary shall issue a preliminary report concerning the proposed certification and identifying, if necessary, recommended changes in actuarial assumptions that the Board must consider before finalizing its certification of the required State contributions. On or before January 15, 2013 and each January 15 thereafter, the Board shall certify to the Governor and the General Assembly the amount of the required State contribution for the next fiscal year. The Board's certification must note, in a written response to the State Actuary, any deviations from the State Actuary's recommended changes, the reason or reasons for not following the State Actuary's recommended changes, and the fiscal impact of not following the State Actuary's recommended changes on the required State contribution.

(a-10) For purposes of subsection (c-5) of Section 20 of the Budget Stabilization Act, on or before November 1 of each year beginning November 1, 2019, the Board shall determine the amount of the State contribution to the System that would have been required for the next fiscal year if Section 1-161, subsection (a-2) of Section 15-155, and the changes made to Section 1-160 by this amendatory Act of the 100th General Assembly had not taken effect, using the best and most recent available data but based on the law in effect on May 31, 2019. The Board shall submit to the State Actuary, the Governor, and the General Assembly a proposed certification, along with the relevant law, actuarial assumptions, calculations, and data upon which that certification is based. On or before January 1, 2020 and every January 1 thereafter, the State Actuary shall issue a preliminary report concerning the proposed certification and identifying, if necessary, recommended changes in actuarial assumptions that the Board must consider before finalizing its certification. On or before January 15, 2020 and every January 1 thereafter, the Board shall certify to the Governor and the General Assembly the amount of the State contribution to the System that would have been required for the next fiscal year if Section 1-161, subsection (a-2) of Section 15-155, and the changes made to Section 1-160 by this amendatory Act of the 100th General Assembly had not taken effect, using the best and most recent available data but based on the law in effect on May 31, 2019. The Board's certification must note any deviations from the State Actuary's recommended changes, the reason or reasons for not following the State Actuary's recommended changes, and the impact of not following the State Actuary's recommended changes.

(a-15) As soon as practical after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 100th General Assembly, the Board shall recalculate and recertify to the State Actuary, the Governor, and the General Assembly the amount of the State contribution to the System for State fiscal year 2018, taking into account the changes in required State contributions made by this amendatory Act of the 100th General Assembly. The State Actuary shall review the assumptions and valuations underlying the Board's revised certification and issue a preliminary report concerning the proposed recertification and identifying, if necessary, recommended changes in actuarial assumptions that the Board must consider before finalizing its certification of the required State contributions. The Board's final certification must note any deviations from the State Actuary's recommended changes, the reason or reasons for not following the State Actuary's recommended changes, and the fiscal impact of not following the State Actuary's recommended changes on the required State contribution.

(b) The Board shall certify to the State Comptroller or employer, as the case may be, from time to time, by its chairperson and secretary, with its seal attached, the amounts payable to the System from the various funds.

(c) Beginning in State fiscal year 1996, on or as soon as possible after the 15th day of each month the Board shall submit vouchers for payment of State contributions to the System, in a total monthly amount of one-twelfth of the required annual State contribution certified under subsection (a). From the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 93rd General Assembly through June 30, 2004, the Board shall not submit vouchers for the remainder of fiscal year 2004 in excess of the fiscal year 2004 certified contribution amount determined under this Section after taking into consideration the transfer to the System under subsection (b) of Section 6z-61 of the State Finance Act. These vouchers shall be paid by the State Comptroller and Treasurer by warrants drawn on the funds appropriated to the System for that fiscal year.

If in any month the amount remaining unexpended from all other appropriations to the System for the applicable fiscal year (including the appropriations to the System under Section 8.12 of the State Finance Act and Section 1 of the State Pension Funds Continuing Appropriation Act) is less than the amount lawfully vouchered under this Section, the difference shall be paid from the General Revenue Fund under the continuing appropriation authority provided in Section 1.1 of the State Pension Funds Continuing Appropriation Act.

(d) So long as the payments received are the full amount lawfully vouchered under this Section, payments received by the System under this Section shall be applied first toward the employer contribution to the self-managed plan established under Section 15-158.2. Payments shall be applied second toward the employer's portion of the normal costs of the System, as defined in subsection (f) of Section 15-155. The balance shall be applied toward the unfunded actuarial liabilities of the System.

(e) In the event that the System does not receive, as a result of legislative enactment or otherwise, payments sufficient to fully fund the employer contribution to the self-managed plan established under Section 15-158.2 and to fully fund that portion of the employer's portion of the normal costs of the System, as calculated in accordance with Section 15-155(a-1), then any payments received shall be applied proportionately to the optional retirement program established under Section 15-158.2 and to the employer's portion of the normal costs of the System, as calculated in accordance with Section 15-155(a-1).

(Source: P.A. 97-694, eff. 6-18-12; 98-92, eff. 7-16-13.)

(40 ILCS 5/15-185.5 new)

Sec. 15-185.5. Accelerated pension benefit payment.

(a) As used in this Section:

"Eligible person" means a person who:

(1) has terminated service;

(2) has accrued sufficient service credit to be eligible to receive a retirement annuity under this Article;

(3) has not received any retirement annuity under this Article;

(4) does not have a QILDRO in effect against him or her under this Article; and

(5) is not a participant in the self-managed plan under Section 15-158.2.

"Pension benefit" means the benefits under this Article, or Article 1 as it relates to those benefits, including any anticipated annual increases, that an eligible person is entitled to upon attainment of the applicable retirement age. "Pension benefit" also includes applicable survivor's or disability benefits.

(b) Before January 1, 2018, and annually thereafter, the System shall calculate, using actuarial tables and other assumptions adopted by the Board, the net present value of pension benefits for each eligible person and shall offer each eligible person the opportunity to irrevocably elect to receive an amount determined by the System to be equal to 70% of the net present value of his or her pension benefits in lieu of receiving any pension benefit. The offer shall specify the dollar amount that the eligible person will receive if he or she so elects and shall expire when a subsequent offer is made to an eligible person or when the System determines that 10% of eligible persons in that year have made the election under this subsection, whichever occurs first. The System shall make a good faith effort to contact every eligible person to notify him or her of the election and of the amount of the accelerated pension benefit payment.

Until the System determines that 10% of eligible persons in that year have made the election under this subsection, an eligible person may irrevocably elect to receive an accelerated pension benefit payment in the amount that the System offers under this subsection in lieu of receiving any pension benefit. A person who elects to receive an accelerated pension benefit payment under this Section may not elect to proceed under the Retirement Systems Reciprocal Act with respect to service under this Article.

(c) A person's credits and creditable service under this Article shall be terminated upon the person's receipt of an accelerated pension benefit payment under this Section, and no other benefit shall be paid under this Article based on those terminated credits and creditable service, including any retirement, survivor, or other benefit; except that to the extent that participation, benefits, or premiums under the State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971 are based on the amount of service credit, the terminated service credit shall be used for that purpose.

(d) If a person who has received an accelerated pension benefit payment under this Section returns to participating employee status under this Article, then:

(1) Any benefits under the System earned as a result of that return to participating employee status shall be based solely on the person's credits and creditable service arising from the return to participating employee status.

(2) The accelerated pension benefit payment may not be repaid to the System, and the terminated credits and creditable service may not under any circumstances be reinstated.

(e) As a condition of receiving an accelerated pension benefit payment, an eligible person must have another retirement plan or account qualified under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, for the accelerated pension benefit payment to be rolled into. The accelerated pension benefit payment under this Section may be subject to withholding or payment of applicable taxes, but to the extent permitted by federal law, a person who receives an accelerated pension benefit payment under this Section must direct the System to pay all of that payment as a rollover into another retirement plan or account qualified under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

(f) Before January 1, 2019 and every January 1 thereafter, the Board shall certify to the Illinois Finance Authority and the General Assembly the amount by which the total amount of accelerated pension benefit payments made under this Section exceed the amount appropriated to the System for the purpose of making those payments.

(g) The Board shall adopt any rules necessary to implement this Section.

(h) No provision of this Section shall be interpreted in a way that would cause the applicable System to cease to be a qualified plan under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.

(i) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section, in no case shall the total amount of accelerated pension benefit payments paid under this Section, Section 14-147.5, and Section 16-190.5 cause the Illinois Finance Authority to issue more than the $250,000,000 of State Pension Obligation Acceleration Bonds authorized in subsection (c-5) of Section 801-40 of the Illinois Finance Authority Act.

(40 ILCS 5/15-198)

(Text of Section WITHOUT the changes made by P.A. 98-599, which has been held unconstitutional)

Sec. 15-198. Application and expiration of new benefit increases.

(a) As used in this Section, "new benefit increase" means an increase in the amount of any benefit provided under this Article, or an expansion of the conditions of eligibility for any benefit under this Article, that results from an amendment to this Code that takes effect after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 94th General Assembly. "New benefit increase", however, does not include any benefit increase resulting from the changes made to this Article by this amendatory Act of the 100th General Assembly.

(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code or any subsequent amendment to this Code, every new benefit increase is subject to this Section and shall be deemed to be granted only in conformance with and contingent upon compliance with the provisions of this Section.

(c) The Public Act enacting a new benefit increase must identify and provide for payment to the System of additional funding at least sufficient to fund the resulting annual increase in cost to the System as it accrues.

Every new benefit increase is contingent upon the General Assembly providing the additional funding required under this subsection. The Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability shall analyze whether adequate additional funding has been provided for the new benefit increase and shall report its analysis to the Public Pension Division of the Department of Insurance Financial and Professional Regulation. A new benefit increase created by a Public Act that does not include the additional funding required under this subsection is null and void. If the Public Pension Division determines that the additional funding provided for a new benefit increase under this subsection is or has become inadequate, it may so certify to the Governor and the State Comptroller and, in the absence of corrective action by the General Assembly, the new benefit increase shall expire at the end of the fiscal year in which the certification is made.

(d) Every new benefit increase shall expire 5 years after its effective date or on such earlier date as may be specified in the language enacting the new benefit increase or provided under subsection (c). This does not prevent the General Assembly from extending or re-creating a new benefit increase by law.

(e) Except as otherwise provided in the language creating the new benefit increase, a new benefit increase that expires under this Section continues to apply to persons who applied and qualified for the affected benefit while the new benefit increase was in effect and to the affected beneficiaries and alternate payees of such persons, but does not apply to any other person, including without limitation a person who continues in service after the expiration date and did not apply and qualify for the affected benefit while the new benefit increase was in effect.

(Source: P.A. 94-4, eff. 6-1-05.)

(40 ILCS 5/15-200.1 new)

Sec. 15-200.1. Defined contribution plan.

(a) By July 1, 2018, the System shall prepare and implement a voluntary defined contribution plan for up to 5% of eligible Tier 1 employees. The System shall determine the 5% cap by the number of Tier 1 employees on the effective date of this Section. The defined contribution plan developed under this Section shall be a plan that aggregates employer and employee contributions in individual participant accounts which, after meeting any other requirements, are used for payouts after retirement in accordance with this Section and any other applicable laws.

As used in this Section, "defined benefit plan" means the retirement plan available under this Article to Tier 1 employees who have not made the election authorized under this Section.

(1) Under the defined contribution plan, a Tier 1 employee of this System could elect to cease accruing benefits in the defined benefit plan under this Article and begin accruing benefits for future service in the defined contribution plan. Service credit under the defined contribution plan may be used for determining retirement eligibility under the defined benefit plan. A Tier 1 employee who elects to cease accruing benefits in his or her defined benefit plan shall be prohibited from purchasing service credit on or after the date of his or her election. A Tier 1 employee making the irrevocable election provided under this Section shall not receive interest accruals to his or her Rule 2 benefit on or after the date of his or her election.

(2) Participants in the defined contribution plan shall pay employee contributions at the same rate as other participants under this Article as determined by the System.

(3) State contributions shall be paid into the accounts of all participants in the defined contribution plan at a uniform rate, expressed as a percentage of earnings and determined for each year. This rate shall be no higher than the employer's normal cost for Tier 1 employees in the defined benefit plan for that year, as determined by the System and expressed as a percentage of earnings, and shall be no lower than 3% of earnings. The State shall adjust this rate annually.

(4) The defined contribution plan shall require 5 years of participation in the defined contribution plan before vesting in State contributions. If the participant fails to vest in them, the State contributions, and the earnings thereon, shall be forfeited.

(5) The defined contribution plan may provide for participants in the plan to be eligible for the defined disability benefits available to other participants under this Article. If it does, the System shall reduce the employee contributions credited to the member's defined contribution plan account by an amount determined by the System to cover the cost of offering such benefits.

(6) The defined contribution plan shall provide a variety of options for investments. These options shall include investments handled by the System as well as private sector investment options.

(7) The defined contribution plan shall provide a variety of options for payouts to retirees and their survivors.

(8) To the extent authorized under federal law and as authorized by the System, the plan shall allow former participants in the plan to transfer or roll over employee and vested State contributions, and the earnings thereon, into other qualified retirement plans.

(9) The System shall reduce the employee contributions credited to the member's defined contribution plan account by an amount determined by the System to cover the cost of offering these benefits and any applicable administrative fees.

(b) Only persons who are Tier 1 employees of the System on the effective date of this Section are eligible to participate in the defined contribution plan. Participation in the defined contribution plan shall be limited to the first 5% of eligible persons who elect to participate. The election to participate in the defined contribution plan is voluntary and irrevocable.

(c) An eligible Tier 1 employee may irrevocably elect to participate in the defined contribution plan by filing with the System a written application to participate that is received by the System prior to its determination that 5% of eligible persons have elected to participate in the defined contribution plan.

When the System first determines that 5% of eligible persons have elected to participate in the defined contribution plan, the System shall provide notice to previously eligible employees that the plan is no longer available and shall cease accepting applications to participate.

(d) The System shall make a good faith effort to contact each Tier 1 employee who is eligible to participate in the defined contribution plan. The System shall mail information describing the option to join the defined contribution plan to each of these employees to his or her last known address on file with the System. If the employee is not responsive to other means of contact, it is sufficient for the System to publish the details of the option on its website.

Upon request for further information describing the option, the System shall provide employees with information from the System before exercising the option to join the plan, including information on the impact to their vested benefits or non-vested service. The individual consultation shall include projections of the member's defined benefits at retirement or earlier termination of service and the value of the member's account at retirement or earlier termination of service. The System shall not provide advice or counseling with respect to whether the employee should exercise the option. The System shall inform Tier 1 employees who are eligible to participate in the defined contribution plan that they may also wish to obtain information and counsel relating to their option from any other available source, including but not limited to labor organizations, private counsel, and financial advisors.

(e) In no event shall the System, its staff, its authorized representatives, or the Board be liable for any information given to an employee under this Section. The System may coordinate with the Illinois Department of Central Management Services and other retirement systems administering a defined contribution plan in accordance with this amendatory Act of the 100th General Assembly to provide information concerning the impact of the option set forth in this Section.

(f) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section, no person shall begin participating in the defined contribution plan until it has attained qualified plan status and received all necessary approvals from the U.S. Internal Revenue Service.

(g) The System shall report on its progress under this Section, including the available details of the defined contribution plan and the System's plans for informing eligible Tier 1 employees about the plan, to the Governor and the General Assembly on or before January 15, 2018.

(h) If a Tier 1 employee has not made an election under Section 15-134.5 of this Code, then the plan prescribed under this Section shall not apply to that Tier 1 employee and that Tier 1 employee shall remain eligible to make the election prescribed under Section 15-134.5.

(i) The intent of this amendatory Act of the 100th General Assembly is to ensure that the State's normal cost of participation in the defined contribution plan is similar, and if possible equal, to the State's normal cost of participation in the defined benefit plan, unless a lower State's normal cost is necessary to ensure cost neutrality.

(40 ILCS 5/15-201.1 new)

Sec. 15-201.1. Defined contribution plan; termination. If the defined contribution plan is terminated or becomes inoperative pursuant to law, then each participant in the plan shall automatically be deemed to have been a contributing Tier 1 employee participating in the System's defined benefit plan during the time in which he or she participated in the defined contribution plan, and for that purpose the System shall be entitled to recover the amounts in the participant's defined contribution accounts.

(40 ILCS 5/16-107.1 new)

Sec. 16-107.1. Tier 1 employee. "Tier 1 employee": A teacher under this Article who first became a member or participant before January 1, 2011 under any reciprocal retirement system or pension fund established under this Code other than a retirement system or pension fund established under Article 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 18 of this Code.

(40 ILCS 5/16-158) (from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 16-158)

(Text of Section WITHOUT the changes made by P.A. 98-599, which has been held unconstitutional)

Sec. 16-158. Contributions by State and other employing units.

(a) The State shall make contributions to the System by means of appropriations from the Common School Fund and other State funds of amounts which, together with other employer contributions, employee contributions, investment income, and other income, will be sufficient to meet the cost of maintaining and administering the System on a 90% funded basis in accordance with actuarial recommendations.

The Board shall determine the amount of State contributions required for each fiscal year on the basis of the actuarial tables and other assumptions adopted by the Board and the recommendations of the actuary, using the formula in subsection (b-3).

(a-1) Annually, on or before November 15 until November 15, 2011, the Board shall certify to the Governor the amount of the required State contribution for the coming fiscal year. The certification under this subsection (a-1) shall include a copy of the actuarial recommendations upon which it is based and shall specifically identify the System's projected State normal cost for that fiscal year.

On or before May 1, 2004, the Board shall recalculate and recertify to the Governor the amount of the required State contribution to the System for State fiscal year 2005, taking into account the amounts appropriated to and received by the System under subsection (d) of Section 7.2 of the General Obligation Bond Act.

On or before July 1, 2005, the Board shall recalculate and recertify to the Governor the amount of the required State contribution to the System for State fiscal year 2006, taking into account the changes in required State contributions made by this amendatory Act of the 94th General Assembly.

On or before April 1, 2011, the Board shall recalculate and recertify to the Governor the amount of the required State contribution to the System for State fiscal year 2011, applying the changes made by Public Act 96-889 to the System's assets and liabilities as of June 30, 2009 as though Public Act 96-889 was approved on that date.

(a-5) On or before November 1 of each year, beginning November 1, 2012, the Board shall submit to the State Actuary, the Governor, and the General Assembly a proposed certification of the amount of the required State contribution to the System for the next fiscal year, along with all of the actuarial assumptions, calculations, and data upon which that proposed certification is based. On or before January 1 of each year, beginning January 1, 2013, the State Actuary shall issue a preliminary report concerning the proposed certification and identifying, if necessary, recommended changes in actuarial assumptions that the Board must consider before finalizing its certification of the required State contributions. On or before January 15, 2013 and each January 15 thereafter, the Board shall certify to the Governor and the General Assembly the amount of the required State contribution for the next fiscal year. The Board's certification must note any deviations from the State Actuary's recommended changes, the reason or reasons for not following the State Actuary's recommended changes, and the fiscal impact of not following the State Actuary's recommended changes on the required State contribution.

(a-10) For purposes of subsection (c-5) of Section 20 of the Budget Stabilization Act, on or before November 1 of each year beginning November 1, 2019, the Board shall determine the amount of the State contribution to the System that would have been required for the next fiscal year if Section 1-161, subsection (b-4) of Section 16-158, and the changes made to Section 1-160 by this amendatory Act of the 100th General Assembly had not taken effect, using the best and most recent available data but based on the law in effect on May 31, 2019. The Board shall submit to the State Actuary, the Governor, and the General Assembly a proposed certification, along with the relevant law, actuarial assumptions, calculations, and data upon which that certification is based. On or before January 1, 2020 and every January 1 thereafter, the State Actuary shall issue a preliminary report concerning the proposed certification and identifying, if necessary, recommended changes in actuarial assumptions that the Board must consider before finalizing its certification. On or before January 15, 2020 and every January 1 thereafter, the Board shall certify to the Governor and the General Assembly the amount of the State contribution to the System that would have been required for the next fiscal year if if Section 1-161, subsection (b-4) of Section 16-158, and the changes made to Section 1-160 by this amendatory Act of the 100th General Assembly had not taken effect, using the best and most recent available data but based on the law in effect on May 31, 2019. The Board's certification must note any deviations from the State Actuary's recommended changes, the reason or reasons for not following the State Actuary's recommended changes, and the impact of not following the State Actuary's recommended changes.

(a-15) As soon as practical after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 100th General Assembly, the Board shall recalculate and recertify to the State Actuary, the Governor, and the General Assembly the amount of the State contribution to the System for State fiscal year 2018, taking into account the changes in required State contributions made by this amendatory Act of the 100th General Assembly. The State Actuary shall review the assumptions and valuations underlying the Board's revised certification and issue a preliminary report concerning the proposed recertification and identifying, if necessary, recommended changes in actuarial assumptions that the Board must consider before finalizing its certification of the required State contributions. The Board's final certification must note any deviations from the State Actuary's recommended changes, the reason or reasons for not following the State Actuary's recommended changes, and the fiscal impact of not following the State Actuary's recommended changes on the required State contribution.

(b) Through State fiscal year 1995, the State contributions shall be paid to the System in accordance with Section 18-7 of the School Code.

(b-1) Beginning in State fiscal year 1996, on the 15th day of each month, or as soon thereafter as may be practicable, the Board shall submit vouchers for payment of State contributions to the System, in a total monthly amount of one-twelfth of the required annual State contribution certified under subsection (a-1). From the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 93rd General Assembly through June 30, 2004, the Board shall not submit vouchers for the remainder of fiscal year 2004 in excess of the fiscal year 2004 certified contribution amount determined under this Section after taking into consideration the transfer to the System under subsection (a) of Section 6z-61 of the State Finance Act. These vouchers shall be paid by the State Comptroller and Treasurer by warrants drawn on the funds appropriated to the System for that fiscal year.

If in any month the amount remaining unexpended from all other appropriations to the System for the applicable fiscal year (including the appropriations to the System under Section 8.12 of the State Finance Act and Section 1 of the State Pension Funds Continuing Appropriation Act) is less than the amount lawfully vouchered under this subsection, the difference shall be paid from the Common School Fund under the continuing appropriation authority provided in Section 1.1 of the State Pension Funds Continuing Appropriation Act.

(b-2) Allocations from the Common School Fund apportioned to school districts not coming under this System shall not be diminished or affected by the provisions of this Article.

(b-3) For State fiscal years 2018 through 2045, the minimum contribution to the System to be made by the State for each fiscal year shall be an amount determined by the System to be sufficient to bring the total assets of the System up to 90% of the total actuarial liabilities of the System by the end of State fiscal year 2045. In making these determinations, the required State contribution shall be calculated each year as a level percentage of total payroll, including payroll that is not deemed pensionable, but excluding payroll attributable to participants in the defined contribution plan under Section 16-205.1, over the years remaining to and including fiscal year 2045 and shall be determined under the projected unit credit actuarial cost method.

Beginning in State fiscal year 2018, any increase or decrease in State contribution over the prior fiscal year due exclusively to changes in actuarial or investment assumptions adopted by the Board shall be included in the State contribution to the System, as a percentage of the applicable employee payroll, and shall be increased in equal annual increments so that by the State fiscal year occurring 5 years after the adoption of the actuarial or investment assumptions, the State is contributing at the rate otherwise required under this Section.

For State fiscal years 2012 through 2017 2045, the minimum contribution to the System to be made by the State for each fiscal year shall be an amount determined by the System to be sufficient to bring the total assets of the System up to 90% of the total actuarial liabilities of the System by the end of State fiscal year 2045. In making these determinations, the required State contribution shall be calculated each year as a level percentage of payroll over the years remaining to and including fiscal year 2045 and shall be determined under the projected unit credit actuarial cost method.

For State fiscal years 1996 through 2005, the State contribution to the System, as a percentage of the applicable employee payroll, shall be increased in equal annual increments so that by State fiscal year 2011, the State is contributing at the rate required under this Section; except that in the following specified State fiscal years, the State contribution to the System shall not be less than the following indicated percentages of the applicable employee payroll, even if the indicated percentage will produce a State contribution in excess of the amount otherwise required under this subsection and subsection (a), and notwithstanding any contrary certification made under subsection (a-1) before the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1998: 10.02% in FY 1999; 10.77% in FY 2000; 11.47% in FY 2001; 12.16% in FY 2002; 12.86% in FY 2003; and 13.56% in FY 2004.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article, the total required State contribution for State fiscal year 2006 is $534,627,700.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article, the total required State contribution for State fiscal year 2007 is $738,014,500.

For each of State fiscal years 2008 through 2009, the State contribution to the System, as a percentage of the applicable employee payroll, shall be increased in equal annual increments from the required State contribution for State fiscal year 2007, so that by State fiscal year 2011, the State is contributing at the rate otherwise required under this Section.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article, the total required State contribution for State fiscal year 2010 is $2,089,268,000 and shall be made from the proceeds of bonds sold in fiscal year 2010 pursuant to Section 7.2 of the General Obligation Bond Act, less (i) the pro rata share of bond sale expenses determined by the System's share of total bond proceeds, (ii) any amounts received from the Common School Fund in fiscal year 2010, and (iii) any reduction in bond proceeds due to the issuance of discounted bonds, if applicable.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article, the total required State contribution for State fiscal year 2011 is the amount recertified by the System on or before April 1, 2011 pursuant to subsection (a-1) of this Section and shall be made from the proceeds of bonds sold in fiscal year 2011 pursuant to Section 7.2 of the General Obligation Bond Act, less (i) the pro rata share of bond sale expenses determined by the System's share of total bond proceeds, (ii) any amounts received from the Common School Fund in fiscal year 2011, and (iii) any reduction in bond proceeds due to the issuance of discounted bonds, if applicable. This amount shall include, in addition to the amount certified by the System, an amount necessary to meet employer contributions required by the State as an employer under paragraph (e) of this Section, which may also be used by the System for contributions required by paragraph (a) of Section 16-127.

Beginning in State fiscal year 2046, the minimum State contribution for each fiscal year shall be the amount needed to maintain the total assets of the System at 90% of the total actuarial liabilities of the System.

Amounts received by the System pursuant to Section 25 of the Budget Stabilization Act or Section 8.12 of the State Finance Act in any fiscal year do not reduce and do not constitute payment of any portion of the minimum State contribution required under this Article in that fiscal year. Such amounts shall not reduce, and shall not be included in the calculation of, the required State contributions under this Article in any future year until the System has reached a funding ratio of at least 90%. A reference in this Article to the "required State contribution" or any substantially similar term does not include or apply to any amounts payable to the System under Section 25 of the Budget Stabilization Act.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section, the required State contribution for State fiscal year 2005 and for fiscal year 2008 and each fiscal year thereafter, as calculated under this Section and certified under subsection (a-1), shall not exceed an amount equal to (i) the amount of the required State contribution that would have been calculated under this Section for that fiscal year if the System had not received any payments under subsection (d) of Section 7.2 of the General Obligation Bond Act, minus (ii) the portion of the State's total debt service payments for that fiscal year on the bonds issued in fiscal year 2003 for the purposes of that Section 7.2, as determined and certified by the Comptroller, that is the same as the System's portion of the total moneys distributed under subsection (d) of Section 7.2 of the General Obligation Bond Act. In determining this maximum for State fiscal years 2008 through 2010, however, the amount referred to in item (i) shall be increased, as a percentage of the applicable employee payroll, in equal increments calculated from the sum of the required State contribution for State fiscal year 2007 plus the applicable portion of the State's total debt service payments for fiscal year 2007 on the bonds issued in fiscal year 2003 for the purposes of Section 7.2 of the General Obligation Bond Act, so that, by State fiscal year 2011, the State is contributing at the rate otherwise required under this Section.

(b-4) For employees first hired on or after 6 months after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 100th General Assembly who have elected the benefits under Section 1-161 of this Code, the employer shall annually contribute an amount, expressed as a percentage of payroll, equal to the defined benefit normal cost of the defined benefit plan, less the employee contribution, plus 2%. On an annual basis, the System shall certify to each employer the amount of unfunded liability accrued in the employer's account to be paid by the employer so that the System is 90% funded by the end of State fiscal year 2045. The contributions shall be divided equally over a 12-month period and made monthly. The employer shall also contribute an amount equal to the employer defined contribution, as set on an individual employee basis, under paragraph (2) of subsection (k) of Section 1-161 during each pay period. The System shall have the authority to adopt rules regarding implementation of employer contributions.

(c) Payment of the required State contributions and of all pensions, retirement annuities, death benefits, refunds, and other benefits granted under or assumed by this System, and all expenses in connection with the administration and operation thereof, are obligations of the State.

If members are paid from special trust or federal funds which are administered by the employing unit, whether school district or other unit, the employing unit shall pay to the System from such funds the full accruing retirement costs based upon that service, which, beginning July 1, 2014, shall be at a rate, expressed as a percentage of salary, equal to the total minimum contribution to the System to be made by the State for that fiscal year, including both normal cost and unfunded liability components, expressed as a percentage of payroll, as determined by the System under subsection (b-3) of this Section. Employer contributions, based on salary paid to members from federal funds, may be forwarded by the distributing agency of the State of Illinois to the System prior to allocation, in an amount determined in accordance with guidelines established by such agency and the System. Any contribution for fiscal year 2015 collected as a result of the change made by this amendatory Act of the 98th General Assembly shall be considered a State contribution under subsection (b-3) of this Section.

(d) Effective July 1, 1986, any employer of a teacher as defined in paragraph (8) of Section 16-106 shall pay the employer's normal cost of benefits based upon the teacher's service, in addition to employee contributions, as determined by the System. Such employer contributions shall be forwarded monthly in accordance with guidelines established by the System.

However, with respect to benefits granted under Section 16-133.4 or 16-133.5 to a teacher as defined in paragraph (8) of Section 16-106, the employer's contribution shall be 12% (rather than 20%) of the member's highest annual salary rate for each year of creditable service granted, and the employer shall also pay the required employee contribution on behalf of the teacher. For the purposes of Sections 16-133.4 and 16-133.5, a teacher as defined in paragraph (8) of Section 16-106 who is serving in that capacity while on leave of absence from another employer under this Article shall not be considered an employee of the employer from which the teacher is on leave.

(e) Beginning July 1, 1998, every employer of a teacher shall pay to the System an employer contribution computed as follows:

(1) Beginning July 1, 1998 through June 30, 1999, the employer contribution shall be equal to 0.3% of each teacher's salary.

(2) Beginning July 1, 1999 and thereafter, the employer contribution shall be equal to 0.58% of each teacher's salary.

The school district or other employing unit may pay these employer contributions out of any source of funding available for that purpose and shall forward the contributions to the System on the schedule established for the payment of member contributions.

These employer contributions are intended to offset a portion of the cost to the System of the increases in retirement benefits resulting from this amendatory Act of 1998.

Each employer of teachers is entitled to a credit against the contributions required under this subsection (e) with respect to salaries paid to teachers for the period January 1, 2002 through June 30, 2003, equal to the amount paid by that employer under subsection (a-5) of Section 6.6 of the State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971 with respect to salaries paid to teachers for that period.

The additional 1% employee contribution required under Section 16-152 by this amendatory Act of 1998 is the responsibility of the teacher and not the teacher's employer, unless the employer agrees, through collective bargaining or otherwise, to make the contribution on behalf of the teacher.

If an employer is required by a contract in effect on May 1, 1998 between the employer and an employee organization to pay, on behalf of all its full-time employees covered by this Article, all mandatory employee contributions required under this Article, then the employer shall be excused from paying the employer contribution required under this subsection (e) for the balance of the term of that contract. The employer and the employee organization shall jointly certify to the System the existence of the contractual requirement, in such form as the System may prescribe. This exclusion shall cease upon the termination, extension, or renewal of the contract at any time after May 1, 1998.

(f) For school years beginning on or after June 1, 2005 and before July 1, 2018, if If the amount of a teacher's salary for any school year used to determine final average salary exceeds the member's annual full-time salary rate with the same employer for the previous school year by more than 6%, the teacher's employer shall pay to the System, in addition to all other payments required under this Section and in accordance with guidelines established by the System, the present value of the increase in benefits resulting from the portion of the increase in salary that is in excess of 6%. This present value shall be computed by the System on the basis of the actuarial assumptions and tables used in the most recent actuarial valuation of the System that is available at the time of the computation. If a teacher's salary for the 2005-2006 school year is used to determine final average salary under this subsection (f), then the changes made to this subsection (f) by Public Act 94-1057 shall apply in calculating whether the increase in his or her salary is in excess of 6%. For the purposes of this Section, change in employment under Section 10-21.12 of the School Code on or after June 1, 2005 shall constitute a change in employer. The System may require the employer to provide any pertinent information or documentation. The changes made to this subsection (f) by this amendatory Act of the 94th General Assembly apply without regard to whether the teacher was in service on or after its effective date.

Whenever it determines that a payment is or may be required under this subsection, the System shall calculate the amount of the payment and bill the employer for that amount. The bill shall specify the calculations used to determine the amount due. If the employer disputes the amount of the bill, it may, within 30 days after receipt of the bill, apply to the System in writing for a recalculation. The application must specify in detail the grounds of the dispute and, if the employer asserts that the calculation is subject to subsection (g) or (h) of this Section, must include an affidavit setting forth and attesting to all facts within the employer's knowledge that are pertinent to the applicability of that subsection. Upon receiving a timely application for recalculation, the System shall review the application and, if appropriate, recalculate the amount due.

The employer contributions required under this subsection (f) may be paid in the form of a lump sum within 90 days after receipt of the bill. If the employer contributions are not paid within 90 days after receipt of the bill, then interest will be charged at a rate equal to the System's annual actuarially assumed rate of return on investment compounded annually from the 91st day after receipt of the bill. Payments must be concluded within 3 years after the employer's receipt of the bill.

(f-1) For school years beginning on or after July 1, 2018, if the amount of a teacher's salary for any school year used to determine final average salary exceeds the member's annual full-time salary rate with the same employer for the previous school year by more than the unadjusted percentage increase in the consumer price index-u for the calendar year immediately preceding the beginning of the school year, published by the Public Pension Division of the Department of Insurance by November 1 of each year, then the teacher's employer shall pay to the System, in addition to all other payments required under this Section and in accordance with guidelines established by the System, the present value of the increase in benefits resulting from the portion of the increase in salary that is in excess of the unadjusted percentage increase in the consumer price index-u for the applicable calendar year. This present value shall be computed by the System on the basis of the actuarial assumptions and tables used in the most recent actuarial valuation of the System that is available at the time of the computation. The System may require the employer to provide any pertinent information or documentation.

Whenever it determines that a payment is or may be required under this subsection (f-1), the System shall calculate the amount of the payment and bill the employer for that amount. The bill shall specify the calculations used to determine the amount due. If the employer disputes the amount of the bill, it may, within 30 days after receipt of the bill, apply to the System in writing for a recalculation. The application must specify in detail the grounds of the dispute and, if the employer asserts that the calculation is subject to subsection (h-1) of this Section, must include an affidavit setting forth and attesting to all facts within the employer's knowledge that are pertinent to the applicability of subsection (h-1). Upon receiving a timely application for recalculation, the System shall review the application and, if appropriate, recalculate the amount due.

The employer contributions required under this subsection (f-1) may be paid in the form of a lump sum within 90 days after receipt of the bill. If the employer contributions are not paid within 90 days after receipt of the bill, then interest shall be charged at a rate equal to the System's annual actuarially assumed rate of return on investment compounded annually from the 91st day after receipt of the bill. Payments must be concluded within 3 years after the employer's receipt of the bill.

For the purposes of this Section, "consumer price index-u" means the index published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the United States Department of Labor that measures the average change in prices of goods and services purchased by all urban consumers, United States city average, all items, 1982-84 = 100. The new amount resulting from each annual adjustment shall be determined by the Public Pension Division of the Department of Insurance and made available to the boards of the retirement systems and pension funds by November 1 of each year.

(g) This subsection (g) applies only to payments made or salary increases given on or after June 1, 2005 but before July 1, 2011. The changes made by Public Act 94-1057 shall not require the System to refund any payments received before July 31, 2006 (the effective date of Public Act 94-1057).

When assessing payment for any amount due under subsection (f), the System shall exclude salary increases paid to teachers under contracts or collective bargaining agreements entered into, amended, or renewed before June 1, 2005.

When assessing payment for any amount due under subsection (f), the System shall exclude salary increases paid to a teacher at a time when the teacher is 10 or more years from retirement eligibility under Section 16-132 or 16-133.2.

When assessing payment for any amount due under subsection (f), the System shall exclude salary increases resulting from overload work, including summer school, when the school district has certified to the System, and the System has approved the certification, that (i) the overload work is for the sole purpose of classroom instruction in excess of the standard number of classes for a full-time teacher in a school district during a school year and (ii) the salary increases are equal to or less than the rate of pay for classroom instruction computed on the teacher's current salary and work schedule.

When assessing payment for any amount due under subsection (f), the System shall exclude a salary increase resulting from a promotion (i) for which the employee is required to hold a certificate or supervisory endorsement issued by the State Teacher Certification Board that is a different certification or supervisory endorsement than is required for the teacher's previous position and (ii) to a position that has existed and been filled by a member for no less than one complete academic year and the salary increase from the promotion is an increase that results in an amount no greater than the lesser of the average salary paid for other similar positions in the district requiring the same certification or the amount stipulated in the collective bargaining agreement for a similar position requiring the same certification.

When assessing payment for any amount due under subsection (f), the System shall exclude any payment to the teacher from the State of Illinois or the State Board of Education over which the employer does not have discretion, notwithstanding that the payment is included in the computation of final average salary.

(h) When assessing payment for any amount due under subsection (f), the System shall exclude any salary increase described in subsection (g) of this Section given on or after July 1, 2011 but before July 1, 2014 under a contract or collective bargaining agreement entered into, amended, or renewed on or after June 1, 2005 but before July 1, 2011. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section, any payments made or salary increases given after June 30, 2014 shall be used in assessing payment for any amount due under subsection (f) of this Section.

(h-1) When assessing payment for any amount due under subsection (f-1), the System shall exclude earnings increases paid to participants under contracts or collective bargaining agreements entered into, amended, or renewed before the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 100th General Assembly.

(i) The System shall prepare a report and file copies of the report with the Governor and the General Assembly by January 1, 2007 that contains all of the following information:

(1) The number of recalculations required by the changes made to this Section by Public Act 94-1057 for each employer.

(2) The dollar amount by which each employer's contribution to the System was changed due to recalculations required by Public Act 94-1057.

(3) The total amount the System received from each employer as a result of the changes made to this Section by Public Act 94-4.

(4) The increase in the required State contribution resulting from the changes made to this Section by Public Act 94-1057.

(i-5) For school years beginning on or after July 1, 2018, if the amount of a participant's salary for any school year, determined on a full-time equivalent basis, exceeds $140,000, the participant's employer shall pay to the System, in addition to all other payments required under this Section and in accordance with guidelines established by the System, the amount of earnings that exceed $140,000 multiplied by the level percentage of payroll used in that fiscal year as determined by the System to be sufficient to bring the total assets of the System up to 90% of the total actuarial liabilities of the System by the end of State fiscal year 2045. This amount shall be computed by the System on the basis of the actuarial assumptions and tables used in the most recent actuarial valuation of the System that is available at the time of the computation. The System may require the employer to provide any pertinent information or documentation.

Whenever it determines that a payment is or may be required under this subsection, the System shall calculate the amount of the payment and bill the employer for that amount. The bill shall specify the calculations used to determine the amount due. If the employer disputes the amount of the bill, it may, within 30 days after receipt of the bill, apply to the System in writing for a recalculation. The application must specify in detail the grounds of the dispute. Upon receiving a timely application for recalculation, the System shall review the application and, if appropriate, recalculate the amount due.

The employer contributions required under this subsection may be paid in the form of a lump sum within 90 days after receipt of the bill. If the employer contributions are not paid within 90 days after receipt of the bill, then interest will be charged at a rate equal to the System's annual actuarially assumed rate of return on investment compounded annually from the 91st day after receipt of the bill. Payments must be concluded within 3 years after the employer's receipt of the bill.

(j) For purposes of determining the required State contribution to the System, the value of the System's assets shall be equal to the actuarial value of the System's assets, which shall be calculated as follows:

As of June 30, 2008, the actuarial value of the System's assets shall be equal to the market value of the assets as of that date. In determining the actuarial value of the System's assets for fiscal years after June 30, 2008, any actuarial gains or losses from investment return incurred in a fiscal year shall be recognized in equal annual amounts over the 5-year period following that fiscal year.

(k) For purposes of determining the required State contribution to the system for a particular year, the actuarial value of assets shall be assumed to earn a rate of return equal to the system's actuarially assumed rate of return.

(Source: P.A. 96-43, eff. 7-15-09; 96-1497, eff. 1-14-11; 96-1511, eff. 1-27-11; 96-1554, eff. 3-18-11; 97-694, eff. 6-18-12; 97-813, eff. 7-13-12; 98-674, eff. 6-30-14.)

(40 ILCS 5/16-190.5 new)

Sec. 16-190.5. Accelerated pension benefit payment.

(a) As used in this Section:

"Eligible person" means a person who:

(1) has terminated service;

(2) has accrued sufficient service credit to be eligible to receive a retirement annuity under this Article;

(3) has not received any retirement annuity under this Article; and

(4) does not have a QILDRO in effect against him or her under this Article.

"Pension benefit" means the benefits under this Article, or Article 1 as it relates to those benefits, including any anticipated annual increases, that an eligible person is entitled to upon attainment of the applicable retirement age. "Pension benefit" also includes applicable survivor's or disability benefits.

(b) Before January 1, 2018, and annually thereafter, the System shall calculate, using actuarial tables and other assumptions adopted by the Board, the net present value of pension benefits for each eligible person and shall offer each eligible person the opportunity to irrevocably elect to receive an amount determined by the System to be equal to 70% of the net present value of his or her pension benefits in lieu of receiving any pension benefit. The offer shall specify the dollar amount that the eligible person will receive if he or she so elects and shall expire when a subsequent offer is made to an eligible person or when the System determines that 10% of eligible persons in that year have made the election under this subsection, whichever occurs first. The System shall make a good faith effort to contact every eligible person to notify him or her of the election and of the amount of the accelerated pension benefit payment.

Until the System determines that 10% of eligible persons in that year have made the election under this subsection, an eligible person may irrevocably elect to receive an accelerated pension benefit payment in the amount that the System offers under this subsection in lieu of receiving any pension benefit. A person who elects to receive an accelerated pension benefit payment under this Section may not elect to proceed under the Retirement Systems Reciprocal Act with respect to service under this Article.

(c) A person's credits and creditable service under this Article shall be terminated upon the person's receipt of an accelerated pension benefit payment under this Section, and no other benefit shall be paid under this Article based on those terminated credits and creditable service, including any retirement, survivor, or other benefit; except that to the extent that participation, benefits, or premiums under the State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971 are based on the amount of service credit, the terminated service credit shall be used for that purpose.

(d) If a person who has received an accelerated pension benefit payment under this Section returns to active service under this Article, then:

(1) Any benefits under the System earned as a result of that return to active service shall be based solely on the person's credits and creditable service arising from the return to active service.

(2) The accelerated pension benefit payment may not be repaid to the System, and the terminated credits and creditable service may not under any circumstances be reinstated.

(e) As a condition of receiving an accelerated pension benefit payment, an eligible person must have another retirement plan or account qualified under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, for the accelerated pension benefit payment to be rolled into. The accelerated pension benefit payment under this Section may be subject to withholding or payment of applicable taxes, but to the extent permitted by federal law, a person who receives an accelerated pension benefit payment under this Section must direct the System to pay all of that payment as a rollover into another retirement plan or account qualified under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

(f) Before January 1, 2019 and every January 1 thereafter, the Board shall certify to the Illinois Finance Authority and the General Assembly the amount by which the total amount of accelerated pension benefit payments made under this Section exceed the amount appropriated to the System for the purpose of making those payments.

(g) The Board shall adopt any rules necessary to implement this Section.

(h) No provision of this Section shall be interpreted in a way that would cause the applicable System to cease to be a qualified plan under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.

(i) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section, in no case shall the total amount of accelerated pension benefit payments paid under this Section, Section 14-147.5, and Section 15-185.5, and Section 16-190.5 cause the Illinois Finance Authority to issue more than the $250,000,000 of State Pension Obligation Acceleration Bonds authorized in subsection (c-5) of Section 801-40 of the Illinois Finance Authority Act.

(40 ILCS 5/16-203)

(Text of Section WITHOUT the changes made by P.A. 98-599, which has been held unconstitutional)

Sec. 16-203. Application and expiration of new benefit increases.

(a) As used in this Section, "new benefit increase" means an increase in the amount of any benefit provided under this Article, or an expansion of the conditions of eligibility for any benefit under this Article, that results from an amendment to this Code that takes effect after June 1, 2005 (the effective date of Public Act 94-4). "New benefit increase", however, does not include any benefit increase resulting from the changes made to this Article by Public Act 95-910 or this amendatory Act of the 100th General Assembly this amendatory Act of the 95th General Assembly.

(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code or any subsequent amendment to this Code, every new benefit increase is subject to this Section and shall be deemed to be granted only in conformance with and contingent upon compliance with the provisions of this Section.

(c) The Public Act enacting a new benefit increase must identify and provide for payment to the System of additional funding at least sufficient to fund the resulting annual increase in cost to the System as it accrues.

Every new benefit increase is contingent upon the General Assembly providing the additional funding required under this subsection. The Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability shall analyze whether adequate additional funding has been provided for the new benefit increase and shall report its analysis to the Public Pension Division of the Department of Insurance Financial and Professional Regulation. A new benefit increase created by a Public Act that does not include the additional funding required under this subsection is null and void. If the Public Pension Division determines that the additional funding provided for a new benefit increase under this subsection is or has become inadequate, it may so certify to the Governor and the State Comptroller and, in the absence of corrective action by the General Assembly, the new benefit increase shall expire at the end of the fiscal year in which the certification is made.

(d) Every new benefit increase shall expire 5 years after its effective date or on such earlier date as may be specified in the language enacting the new benefit increase or provided under subsection (c). This does not prevent the General Assembly from extending or re-creating a new benefit increase by law.

(e) Except as otherwise provided in the language creating the new benefit increase, a new benefit increase that expires under this Section continues to apply to persons who applied and qualified for the affected benefit while the new benefit increase was in effect and to the affected beneficiaries and alternate payees of such persons, but does not apply to any other person, including without limitation a person who continues in service after the expiration date and did not apply and qualify for the affected benefit while the new benefit increase was in effect.

(Source: P.A. 94-4, eff. 6-1-05; 95-910, eff. 8-26-08.)

(40 ILCS 5/16-205.1 new)

Sec. 16-205.1. Defined contribution plan.

(a) By July 1, 2018, the System shall prepare and implement a voluntary defined contribution plan for up to 5% of eligible active Tier 1 employees. The System shall determine the 5% cap by the number of active Tier 1 employees on the effective date of this Section. The defined contribution plan developed under this Section shall be a plan that aggregates employer and employee contributions in individual participant accounts which, after meeting any other requirements, are used for payouts after retirement in accordance with this Section and any other applicable laws.

As used in this Section, "defined benefit plan" means the retirement plan available under this Article to Tier 1 employees who have not made the election authorized under this Section.

(1) Under the defined contribution plan, an active Tier 1 employee of this System could elect to cease accruing benefits in the defined benefit plan under this Article and begin accruing benefits for future service in the defined contribution plan. Service credit under the defined contribution plan may be used for determining retirement eligibility under the defined benefit plan. An active Tier 1 employee who elects to cease accruing benefits in his or her defined benefit plan shall be prohibited from purchasing service credit on or after the date of his or her election. A Tier 1 employee making the irrevocable election provided under this Section shall not receive interest accruals to his or her benefit under paragraph (A) of subsection (a) of Section 16-133 on or after the date of his or her election.

(2) Participants in the defined contribution plan shall pay employee contributions at the same rate as Tier 1 employees in this System who do not participate in the defined contribution plan.

(3) State contributions shall be paid into the accounts of all participants in the defined contribution plan at a uniform rate, expressed as a percentage of salary and determined for each year. This rate shall be no higher than the employer's normal cost for Tier 1 employees in the defined benefit plan for that year, as determined by the System and expressed as a percentage of salary, and shall be no lower than 0% of salary. The State shall adjust this rate annually.

(4) The defined contribution plan shall require 5 years of participation in the defined contribution plan before vesting in State contributions. If the participant fails to vest in them, the State contributions, and the earnings thereon, shall be forfeited.

(5) The defined contribution plan may provide for participants in the plan to be eligible for the defined disability benefits available to other participants under this Article. If it does, the System shall reduce the employee contributions credited to the member's defined contribution plan account by an amount determined by the System to cover the cost of offering such benefits.

(6) The defined contribution plan shall provide a variety of options for investments. These options shall include investments in a fund created by the System and managed in accordance with legal and fiduciary standards, as well as investment options otherwise available.

(7) The defined contribution plan shall provide a variety of options for payouts to retirees and their survivors.

(8) To the extent authorized under federal law and as authorized by the System, the plan shall allow former participants in the plan to transfer or roll over employee and vested State contributions, and the earnings thereon, into other qualified retirement plans.

(9) The System shall reduce the employee contributions credited to the member's defined contribution plan account by an amount determined by the System to cover the cost of offering these benefits and any applicable administrative fees.

(b) Only persons who are active Tier 1 employees of the System on the effective date of this Section are eligible to participate in the defined contribution plan. Participation in the defined contribution plan shall be limited to the first 5% of eligible persons who elect to participate. The election to participate in the defined contribution plan is voluntary and irrevocable.

(c) An eligible Tier 1 employee may irrevocably elect to participate in the defined contribution plan by filing with the System a written application to participate that is received by the System prior to its determination that 5% of eligible persons have elected to participate in the defined contribution plan.

When the System first determines that 5% of eligible persons have elected to participate in the defined contribution plan, the System shall provide notice to previously eligible employees that the plan is no longer available and shall cease accepting applications to participate.

(d) The System shall make a good faith effort to contact each active Tier 1 employee who is eligible to participate in the defined contribution plan. The System shall mail information describing the option to join the defined contribution plan to each of these employees to his or her last known address on file with the System. If the employee is not responsive to other means of contact, it is sufficient for the System to publish the details of the option on its website.

Upon request for further information describing the option, the System shall provide employees with information from the System before exercising the option to join the plan, including information on the impact to their vested benefits or non-vested service. The individual consultation shall include projections of the member's defined benefits at retirement or earlier termination of service and the value of the member's account at retirement or earlier termination of service. The System shall not provide advice or counseling with respect to whether the employee should exercise the option. The System shall inform Tier 1 employees who are eligible to participate in the defined contribution plan that they may also wish to obtain information and counsel relating to their option from any other available source, including but not limited to labor organizations, private counsel, and financial advisors.

(e) In no event shall the System, its staff, its authorized representatives, or the Board be liable for any information given to an employee under this Section. The System may coordinate with the Illinois Department of Central Management Services and other retirement systems administering a defined contribution plan in accordance with this amendatory Act of the 100th General Assembly to provide information concerning the impact of the option set forth in this Section.

(f) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section, no person shall begin participating in the defined contribution plan until it has attained qualified plan status and received all necessary approvals from the U.S. Internal Revenue Service.

(g) The System shall report on its progress under this Section, including the available details of the defined contribution plan and the System's plans for informing eligible Tier 1 employees about the plan, to the Governor and the General Assembly on or before January 15, 2018.

(h) The intent of this amendatory Act of the 100th General Assembly is to ensure that the State's normal cost of participation in the defined contribution plan is similar, and if possible equal, to the State's normal cost of participation in the defined benefit plan, unless a lower State's normal cost is necessary to ensure cost neutrality.

(40 ILCS 5/16-206.1 new)

Sec. 16-206.1. Defined contribution plan; termination. If the defined contribution plan is terminated or becomes inoperative pursuant to law, then each participant in the plan shall automatically be deemed to have been a contributing Tier 1 employee in the System's defined benefit plan during the time in which he or she participated in the defined contribution plan, and for that purpose the System shall be entitled to recover the amounts in the participant's defined contribution accounts.

(40 ILCS 5/17-106.05 new)

Sec. 17-106.05. Tier 1 employee. "Tier 1 employee": A teacher under this Article who first became a member or participant before January 1, 2011 under any reciprocal retirement system or pension fund established under this Code other than a retirement system or pension fund established under Article 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 18 of this Code.

(40 ILCS 5/17-127) (from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 17-127)

Sec. 17-127. Financing; revenues for the Fund.

(a) The revenues for the Fund shall consist of: (1) amounts paid into the Fund by contributors thereto and from employer contributions and State appropriations in accordance with this Article; (2) amounts contributed to the Fund by an Employer; (3) amounts contributed to the Fund pursuant to any law now in force or hereafter to be enacted; (4) contributions from any other source; and (5) the earnings on investments.

(b) The General Assembly finds that for many years the State has contributed to the Fund an annual amount that is between 20% and 30% of the amount of the annual State contribution to the Article 16 retirement system, and the General Assembly declares that it is its goal and intention to continue this level of contribution to the Fund in the future.

(c) Beginning in State fiscal year 1999, the State shall include in its annual contribution to the Fund an additional amount equal to 0.544% of the Fund's total teacher payroll; except that this additional contribution need not be made in a fiscal year if the Board has certified in the previous fiscal year that the Fund is at least 90% funded, based on actuarial determinations. These additional State contributions are intended to offset a portion of the cost to the Fund of the increases in retirement benefits resulting from this amendatory Act of 1998.

(d) In addition to any other contribution required under this Article, including the contribution required under subsection (c), for State fiscal year 2017, the State shall contribute the amount of $215,200,000 to the Fund. This amount shall be deemed a portion of the employer's required contribution.

(Source: P.A. 90-548, eff. 12-4-97; 90-566, eff. 1-2-98; 90-582, eff. 5-27-98; 90-655, eff. 7-30-98.)

(40 ILCS 5/17-129) (from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 17-129)

Sec. 17-129. Employer contributions; deficiency in Fund.

(a) If in any fiscal year of the Board of Education ending prior to 1997 the total amounts paid to the Fund from the Board of Education (other than under this subsection, and other than amounts used for making or "picking up" contributions on behalf of teachers) and from the State do not equal the total contributions made by or on behalf of the teachers for such year, or if the total income of the Fund in any such fiscal year of the Board of Education from all sources is less than the total such expenditures by the Fund for such year, the Board of Education shall, in the next succeeding year, in addition to any other payment to the Fund set apart and appropriate from moneys from its tax levy for educational purposes, a sum sufficient to remove such deficiency or deficiencies, and promptly pay such sum into the Fund in order to restore any of the reserves of the Fund that may have been so temporarily applied. Any amounts received by the Fund after December 4, 1997 from State appropriations, including under Section 17-127, shall be a credit against and shall fully satisfy any obligation that may have arisen, or be claimed to have arisen, under this subsection (a) as a result of any deficiency or deficiencies in the fiscal year of the Board of Education ending in calendar year 1997.

(b) (i) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section, and notwithstanding any prior certification by the Board under subsection (c) for fiscal year 2011, the Board of Education's total required contribution to the Fund for fiscal year 2011 under this Section is $187,000,000.

(ii) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section, the Board of Education's total required contribution to the Fund for fiscal year 2012 under this Section is $192,000,000.

(iii) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section, the Board of Education's total required contribution to the Fund for fiscal year 2013 under this Section is $196,000,000.

(iv) For fiscal years 2014 through 2059, the minimum contribution to the Fund to be made by the Board of Education in each fiscal year shall be an amount determined by the Fund to be sufficient to bring the total assets of the Fund up to 90% of the total actuarial liabilities of the Fund by the end of fiscal year 2059. In making these determinations, the required Board of Education contribution shall be calculated each year as a level percentage of the applicable employee payrolls over the years remaining to and including fiscal year 2059 and shall be determined under the projected unit credit actuarial cost method.

(v) Beginning in fiscal year 2060, the minimum Board of Education contribution for each fiscal year shall be the amount needed to maintain the total assets of the Fund at 90% of the total actuarial liabilities of the Fund.

(vi) Notwithstanding any other provision of this subsection (b), for any fiscal year, the contribution to the Fund from the Board of Education shall not be required to be in excess of the amount calculated as needed to maintain the assets (or cause the assets to be) at the 90% level by the end of the fiscal year.

(vii) Any contribution by the State to or for the benefit of the Fund, including, without limitation, as referred to under Section 17-127, shall be a credit against any contribution required to be made by the Board of Education under this subsection (b).

(c) The Board shall determine the amount of Board of Education contributions required for each fiscal year on the basis of the actuarial tables and other assumptions adopted by the Board and the recommendations of the actuary, in order to meet the minimum contribution requirements of subsections (a) and (b). Annually, on or before February 28, the Board shall certify to the Board of Education the amount of the required Board of Education contribution for the coming fiscal year. The certification shall include a copy of the actuarial recommendations upon which it is based.

Beginning in fiscal year 2018, any increase or decrease in the Board of Education's contribution over the prior fiscal year due exclusively to changes in actuarial or investment assumptions adopted by the Board shall be included in the Board of Education's contribution to the Fund, as a percentage of the applicable employee payroll, and shall be increased in equal annual increments so that by the fiscal year occurring 5 years after the adoption of the actuarial or investment assumptions, the Board of Education is contributing at the rate otherwise required under this Section.

(d) As soon as practical after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 100th General Assembly, the Board shall recalculate and recertify to the Board of Education the amount of the required Board of Education contribution to the Fund for fiscal years 2017 and 2018, as necessary to take into account the changes in required Board of Education contributions made by this amendatory Act of the 100th General Assembly.

(Source: P.A. 96-889, eff. 4-14-10.)

(40 ILCS 5/18-131) (from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 18-131)

Sec. 18-131. Financing; employer contributions.

(a) The State of Illinois shall make contributions to this System by appropriations of the amounts which, together with the contributions of participants, net earnings on investments, and other income, will meet the costs of maintaining and administering this System on a 90% funded basis in accordance with actuarial recommendations.

(b) The Board shall determine the amount of State contributions required for each fiscal year on the basis of the actuarial tables and other assumptions adopted by the Board and the prescribed rate of interest, using the formula in subsection (c).

(c) For State fiscal years 2018 through 2045, the minimum contribution to the System to be made by the State for each fiscal year shall be an amount determined by the System to be sufficient to bring the total assets of the System up to 90% of the total actuarial liabilities of the System by the end of State fiscal year 2045. In making these determinations, the required State contribution shall be calculated each year as a level percentage of total payroll, including payroll that is not deemed pensionable, over the years remaining to and including fiscal year 2045 and shall be determined under the projected unit credit actuarial cost method.

Beginning in State fiscal year 2018, any increase or decrease in State contribution over the prior fiscal year due exclusively to changes in actuarial or investment assumptions adopted by the Board shall be included in the State contribution to the System, as a percentage of the applicable employee payroll, and shall be increased in equal annual increments so that by the State fiscal year occurring 5 years after the adoption of the actuarial or investment assumptions, the State is contributing at the rate otherwise required under this Section.

For State fiscal years 2012 through 2017 2045, the minimum contribution to the System to be made by the State for each fiscal year shall be an amount determined by the System to be sufficient to bring the total assets of the System up to 90% of the total actuarial liabilities of the System by the end of State fiscal year 2045. In making these determinations, the required State contribution shall be calculated each year as a level percentage of payroll over the years remaining to and including fiscal year 2045 and shall be determined under the projected unit credit actuarial cost method.

For State fiscal years 1996 through 2005, the State contribution to the System, as a percentage of the applicable employee payroll, shall be increased in equal annual increments so that by State fiscal year 2011, the State is contributing at the rate required under this Section.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article, the total required State contribution for State fiscal year 2006 is $29,189,400.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article, the total required State contribution for State fiscal year 2007 is $35,236,800.

For each of State fiscal years 2008 through 2009, the State contribution to the System, as a percentage of the applicable employee payroll, shall be increased in equal annual increments from the required State contribution for State fiscal year 2007, so that by State fiscal year 2011, the State is contributing at the rate otherwise required under this Section.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article, the total required State contribution for State fiscal year 2010 is $78,832,000 and shall be made from the proceeds of bonds sold in fiscal year 2010 pursuant to Section 7.2 of the General Obligation Bond Act, less (i) the pro rata share of bond sale expenses determined by the System's share of total bond proceeds, (ii) any amounts received from the General Revenue Fund in fiscal year 2010, and (iii) any reduction in bond proceeds due to the issuance of discounted bonds, if applicable.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article, the total required State contribution for State fiscal year 2011 is the amount recertified by the System on or before April 1, 2011 pursuant to Section 18-140 and shall be made from the proceeds of bonds sold in fiscal year 2011 pursuant to Section 7.2 of the General Obligation Bond Act, less (i) the pro rata share of bond sale expenses determined by the System's share of total bond proceeds, (ii) any amounts received from the General Revenue Fund in fiscal year 2011, and (iii) any reduction in bond proceeds due to the issuance of discounted bonds, if applicable.

Beginning in State fiscal year 2046, the minimum State contribution for each fiscal year shall be the amount needed to maintain the total assets of the System at 90% of the total actuarial liabilities of the System.

Amounts received by the System pursuant to Section 25 of the Budget Stabilization Act or Section 8.12 of the State Finance Act in any fiscal year do not reduce and do not constitute payment of any portion of the minimum State contribution required under this Article in that fiscal year. Such amounts shall not reduce, and shall not be included in the calculation of, the required State contributions under this Article in any future year until the System has reached a funding ratio of at least 90%. A reference in this Article to the "required State contribution" or any substantially similar term does not include or apply to any amounts payable to the System under Section 25 of the Budget Stabilization Act.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section, the required State contribution for State fiscal year 2005 and for fiscal year 2008 and each fiscal year thereafter, as calculated under this Section and certified under Section 18-140, shall not exceed an amount equal to (i) the amount of the required State contribution that would have been calculated under this Section for that fiscal year if the System had not received any payments under subsection (d) of Section 7.2 of the General Obligation Bond Act, minus (ii) the portion of the State's total debt service payments for that fiscal year on the bonds issued in fiscal year 2003 for the purposes of that Section 7.2, as determined and certified by the Comptroller, that is the same as the System's portion of the total moneys distributed under subsection (d) of Section 7.2 of the General Obligation Bond Act. In determining this maximum for State fiscal years 2008 through 2010, however, the amount referred to in item (i) shall be increased, as a percentage of the applicable employee payroll, in equal increments calculated from the sum of the required State contribution for State fiscal year 2007 plus the applicable portion of the State's total debt service payments for fiscal year 2007 on the bonds issued in fiscal year 2003 for the purposes of Section 7.2 of the General Obligation Bond Act, so that, by State fiscal year 2011, the State is contributing at the rate otherwise required under this Section.

(d) For purposes of determining the required State contribution to the System, the value of the System's assets shall be equal to the actuarial value of the System's assets, which shall be calculated as follows:

As of June 30, 2008, the actuarial value of the System's assets shall be equal to the market value of the assets as of that date. In determining the actuarial value of the System's assets for fiscal years after June 30, 2008, any actuarial gains or losses from investment return incurred in a fiscal year shall be recognized in equal annual amounts over the 5-year period following that fiscal year.

(e) For purposes of determining the required State contribution to the system for a particular year, the actuarial value of assets shall be assumed to earn a rate of return equal to the system's actuarially assumed rate of return.

(Source: P.A. 96-43, eff. 7-15-09; 96-1497, eff. 1-14-11; 96-1511, eff. 1-27-11; 96-1554, eff. 3-18-11; 97-813, eff. 7-13-12.)

(40 ILCS 5/18-140) (from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 18-140)

Sec. 18-140. To certify required State contributions and submit vouchers.

(a) The Board shall certify to the Governor, on or before November 15 of each year until November 15, 2011, the amount of the required State contribution to the System for the following fiscal year and shall specifically identify the System's projected State normal cost for that fiscal year. The certification shall include a copy of the actuarial recommendations upon which it is based and shall specifically identify the System's projected State normal cost for that fiscal year.

On or before November 1 of each year, beginning November 1, 2012, the Board shall submit to the State Actuary, the Governor, and the General Assembly a proposed certification of the amount of the required State contribution to the System for the next fiscal year, along with all of the actuarial assumptions, calculations, and data upon which that proposed certification is based. On or before January 1 of each year beginning January 1, 2013, the State Actuary shall issue a preliminary report concerning the proposed certification and identifying, if necessary, recommended changes in actuarial assumptions that the Board must consider before finalizing its certification of the required State contributions. On or before January 15, 2013 and every January 15 thereafter, the Board shall certify to the Governor and the General Assembly the amount of the required State contribution for the next fiscal year. The Board's certification must note any deviations from the State Actuary's recommended changes, the reason or reasons for not following the State Actuary's recommended changes, and the fiscal impact of not following the State Actuary's recommended changes on the required State contribution.

On or before May 1, 2004, the Board shall recalculate and recertify to the Governor the amount of the required State contribution to the System for State fiscal year 2005, taking into account the amounts appropriated to and received by the System under subsection (d) of Section 7.2 of the General Obligation Bond Act.

On or before July 1, 2005, the Board shall recalculate and recertify to the Governor the amount of the required State contribution to the System for State fiscal year 2006, taking into account the changes in required State contributions made by this amendatory Act of the 94th General Assembly.

On or before April 1, 2011, the Board shall recalculate and recertify to the Governor the amount of the required State contribution to the System for State fiscal year 2011, applying the changes made by Public Act 96-889 to the System's assets and liabilities as of June 30, 2009 as though Public Act 96-889 was approved on that date.

As soon as practical after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 100th General Assembly, the Board shall recalculate and recertify to the State Actuary, the Governor, and the General Assembly the amount of the State contribution to the System for State fiscal year 2018, taking into account the changes in required State contributions made by this amendatory Act of the 100th General Assembly. The State Actuary shall review the assumptions and valuations underlying the Board's revised certification and issue a preliminary report concerning the proposed recertification and identifying, if necessary, recommended changes in actuarial assumptions that the Board must consider before finalizing its certification of the required State contributions. The Board's final certification must note any deviations from the State Actuary's recommended changes, the reason or reasons for not following the State Actuary's recommended changes, and the fiscal impact of not following the State Actuary's recommended changes on the required State contribution.

(b) Beginning in State fiscal year 1996, on or as soon as possible after the 15th day of each month the Board shall submit vouchers for payment of State contributions to the System, in a total monthly amount of one-twelfth of the required annual State contribution certified under subsection (a). From the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 93rd General Assembly through June 30, 2004, the Board shall not submit vouchers for the remainder of fiscal year 2004 in excess of the fiscal year 2004 certified contribution amount determined under this Section after taking into consideration the transfer to the System under subsection (c) of Section 6z-61 of the State Finance Act. These vouchers shall be paid by the State Comptroller and Treasurer by warrants drawn on the funds appropriated to the System for that fiscal year.

If in any month the amount remaining unexpended from all other appropriations to the System for the applicable fiscal year (including the appropriations to the System under Section 8.12 of the State Finance Act and Section 1 of the State Pension Funds Continuing Appropriation Act) is less than the amount lawfully vouchered under this Section, the difference shall be paid from the General Revenue Fund under the continuing appropriation authority provided in Section 1.1 of the State Pension Funds Continuing Appropriation Act.

(Source: P.A. 96-1497, eff. 1-14-11; 96-1511, eff. 1-27-11; 97-694, eff. 6-18-12.)

(40 ILCS 5/20-121) (from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 20-121)

(Text of Section WITHOUT the changes made by P.A. 98-599, which has been held unconstitutional)

Sec. 20-121. Calculation of proportional retirement annuities.

(a) Upon retirement of the employee, a proportional retirement annuity shall be computed by each participating system in which pension credit has been established on the basis of pension credits under each system. The computation shall be in accordance with the formula or method prescribed by each participating system which is in effect at the date of the employee's latest withdrawal from service covered by any of the systems in which he has pension credits which he elects to have considered under this Article. However, the amount of any retirement annuity payable under the self-managed plan established under Section 15-158.2 of this Code or under the defined contribution plan established under Article 2, 14, 15, or 16 of this Code depends solely on the value of the participant's vested account balances and is not subject to any proportional adjustment under this Section.

(a-5) For persons who participate in a defined contribution plan established under Article 2, 14, 15, or 16 of this Code to whom the provisions of this Article apply, the pension credits established under the defined contribution plan may be considered in determining eligibility for or the amount of the defined benefit retirement annuity that is payable by any other participating system.

(b) Combined pension credit under all retirement systems subject to this Article shall be considered in determining whether the minimum qualification has been met and the formula or method of computation which shall be applied, except as may be otherwise provided with respect to vesting in State or employer contributions in a defined contribution plan. If a system has a step-rate formula for calculation of the retirement annuity, pension credits covering previous service which have been established under another system shall be considered in determining which range or ranges of the step-rate formula are to be applicable to the employee.

(c) Interest on pension credit shall continue to accumulate in accordance with the provisions of the law governing the retirement system in which the same has been established during the time an employee is in the service of another employer, on the assumption such employee, for interest purposes for pension credit, is continuing in the service covered by such retirement system.

(Source: P.A. 91-887, eff. 7-6-00.)

(40 ILCS 5/20-123) (from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 20-123)

(Text of Section WITHOUT the changes made by P.A. 98-599, which has been held unconstitutional)

Sec. 20-123. Survivor's annuity. The provisions governing a retirement annuity shall be applicable to a survivor's annuity. Appropriate credits shall be established for survivor's annuity purposes in those participating systems which provide survivor's annuities, according to the same conditions and subject to the same limitations and restrictions herein prescribed for a retirement annuity. If a participating system has no survivor's annuity benefit, or if the survivor's annuity benefit under that system is waived, pension credit established in that system shall not be considered in determining eligibility for or the amount of the survivor's annuity which may be payable by any other participating system.

For persons who participate in the self-managed plan established under Section 15-158.2 or the portable benefit package established under Section 15-136.4, pension credit established under Article 15 may be considered in determining eligibility for or the amount of the survivor's annuity that is payable by any other participating system, but pension credit established in any other system shall not result in any right to a survivor's annuity under the Article 15 system.

For persons who participate in a defined contribution plan established under Article 2, 14, 15, or 16 of this Code to whom the provisions of this Article apply, the pension credits established under the defined contribution plan may be considered in determining eligibility for or the amount of the defined benefit survivor's annuity that is payable by any other participating system, but pension credits established in any other system shall not result in any right to or increase in the value of a survivor's annuity under the defined contribution plan, which depends solely on the options chosen and the value of the participant's vested account balances and is not subject to any proportional adjustment under this Section.

(Source: P.A. 91-887, eff. 7-6-00.)

(40 ILCS 5/20-124) (from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 20-124)

(Text of Section WITHOUT the changes made by P.A. 98-599, which has been held unconstitutional)

Sec. 20-124. Maximum benefits.

(a) In no event shall the combined retirement or survivors annuities exceed the highest annuity which would have been payable by any participating system in which the employee has pension credits, if all of his pension credits had been validated in that system.

If the combined annuities should exceed the highest maximum as determined in accordance with this Section, the respective annuities shall be reduced proportionately according to the ratio which the amount of each proportional annuity bears to the aggregate of all such annuities.

(b) In the case of a participant in the self-managed plan established under Section 15-158.2 of this Code to whom the provisions of this Article apply:

(i) For purposes of calculating the combined retirement annuity and the proportionate reduction, if any, in a retirement annuity other than one payable under the self-managed plan, the amount of the Article 15 retirement annuity shall be deemed to be the highest annuity to which the annuitant would have been entitled if he or she had participated in the traditional benefit package as defined in Section 15-103.1 rather than the self-managed plan.

(ii) For purposes of calculating the combined survivor's annuity and the proportionate reduction, if any, in a survivor's annuity other than one payable under the self-managed plan, the amount of the Article 15 survivor's annuity shall be deemed to be the highest survivor's annuity to which the survivor would have been entitled if the deceased employee had participated in the traditional benefit package as defined in Section 15-103.1 rather than the self-managed plan.

(iii) Benefits payable under the self-managed plan are not subject to proportionate reduction under this Section.

(c) In the case of a participant in a defined contribution plan established under Article 2, 14, 15, or 16 of this Code to whom the provisions of this Article apply:

(i) For purposes of calculating the combined retirement annuity and the proportionate reduction, if any, in a defined benefit retirement annuity, any benefit payable under the defined contribution plan shall not be considered.

(ii) For purposes of calculating the combined survivor's annuity and the proportionate reduction, if any, in a defined benefit survivor's annuity, any benefit payable under the defined contribution plan shall not be considered.

(iii) Benefits payable under a defined contribution plan established under Article 2, 14, 15, or 16 of this Code are not subject to proportionate reduction under this Section.

(Source: P.A. 91-887, eff. 7-6-00.)

(40 ILCS 5/20-125) (from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 20-125)

(Text of Section WITHOUT the changes made by P.A. 98-599, which has been held unconstitutional)

Sec. 20-125. Return to employment - suspension of benefits. If a retired employee returns to employment which is covered by a system from which he is receiving a proportional annuity under this Article, his proportional annuity from all participating systems shall be suspended during the period of re-employment, except that this suspension does not apply to any distributions payable under the self-managed plan established under Section 15-158.2 or under a defined contribution plan established under Article 2, 14, 15, or 16 of this Code.

The provisions of the Article under which such employment would be covered shall govern the determination of whether the employee has returned to employment, and if applicable the exemption of temporary employment or employment not exceeding a specified duration or frequency, for all participating systems from which the retired employee is receiving a proportional annuity under this Article, notwithstanding any contrary provisions in the other Articles governing such systems.

(Source: P.A. 91-887, eff. 7-6-00.)

(40 ILCS 5/2-165 rep.)

(40 ILCS 5/2-166 rep.)

(40 ILCS 5/14-155 rep.)

(40 ILCS 5/14-156 rep.)

(40 ILCS 5/15-200 rep.)

(40 ILCS 5/15-201 rep.)

(40 ILCS 5/16-205 rep.)

(40 ILCS 5/16-206 rep.)

Section 20. The Illinois Pension Code is amended by repealing Sections 2-165, 2-166, 14-155, 14-156, 15-200, 15-201, 16-205, and 16-206.

Section 25. The State Pension Funds Continuing Appropriation Act is amended by changing Section 1.1 as follows:

(40 ILCS 15/1.1)

Sec. 1.1. Appropriations to certain retirement systems.

(a) There is hereby appropriated from the General Revenue Fund to the General Assembly Retirement System, on a continuing monthly basis, the amount, if any, by which the total available amount of all other appropriations to that retirement system for the payment of State contributions is less than the total amount of the vouchers for required State contributions lawfully submitted by the retirement system for that month under Section 2-134 of the Illinois Pension Code.

(b) There is hereby appropriated from the General Revenue Fund to the State Universities Retirement System, on a continuing monthly basis, the amount, if any, by which the total available amount of all other appropriations to that retirement system for the payment of State contributions, including any deficiency in the required contributions of the optional retirement program established under Section 15-158.2 of the Illinois Pension Code, is less than the total amount of the vouchers for required State contributions lawfully submitted by the retirement system for that month under Section 15-165 of the Illinois Pension Code.

(c) There is hereby appropriated from the Common School Fund to the Teachers' Retirement System of the State of Illinois, on a continuing monthly basis, the amount, if any, by which the total available amount of all other appropriations to that retirement system for the payment of State contributions is less than the total amount of the vouchers for required State contributions lawfully submitted by the retirement system for that month under Section 16-158 of the Illinois Pension Code.

(d) There is hereby appropriated from the General Revenue Fund to the Judges Retirement System of Illinois, on a continuing monthly basis, the amount, if any, by which the total available amount of all other appropriations to that retirement system for the payment of State contributions is less than the total amount of the vouchers for required State contributions lawfully submitted by the retirement system for that month under Section 18-140 of the Illinois Pension Code.

(e) The continuing appropriations provided by subsections (a), (b), (c), and (d) of this Section shall first be available in State fiscal year 1996. The continuing appropriations provided by subsection (h) of this Section shall first be available as provided in that subsection (h).

(f) For State fiscal year 2010 only, the continuing appropriations provided by this Section are equal to the amount certified by each System on or before December 31, 2008, less (i) the gross proceeds of the bonds sold in fiscal year 2010 under the authorization contained in subsection (a) of Section 7.2 of the General Obligation Bond Act and (ii) any amounts received from the State Pensions Fund.

(g) For State fiscal year 2011 only, the continuing appropriations provided by this Section are equal to the amount certified by each System on or before April 1, 2011, less (i) the gross proceeds of the bonds sold in fiscal year 2011 under the authorization contained in subsection (a) of Section 7.2 of the General Obligation Bond Act and (ii) any amounts received from the State Pensions Fund.

(h) For State fiscal year 2017, there is hereby appropriated from the Common School Fund to the Public School Teachers' Pension and Retirement Fund of Chicago the amount, if any, by which the total available amount of all other State appropriations to that Retirement Fund for the payment of State contributions under subsection (d) of Section 17-127 of the Illinois Pension Code is less than the total amount of required State contributions under subsection (d) of Section 17-127.

(Source: P.A. 96-43, eff. 7-15-09; 96-1497, eff. 1-14-11; 96-1511, eff. 1-27-11.)".

Section 900. The State Mandates Act is amended by adding Section 8.41 as follows:

(30 ILCS 805/8.41 new)

Sec. 8.41. 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 100th General Assembly.

Section 970. Severability. The provisions of this Act are severable under Section 1.31 of the Statute on Statutes.

Section 999. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.