HB3608 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB103 30008 RPS 56428 b

103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024
HB3608

Introduced 2/17/2023, by Rep. Eva-Dina Delgado

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

40 ILCS 5/4-109.1	from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 4-109.1
30 ILCS 805/8.47 new

Amends the Downstate Firefighter Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that in July 2023, the monthly pension of a firefighter who retired between July 1, 1977 and January 1, 1986 shall be recalculated and increased to reflect the amount that the firefighter would have received in July 2023 had the firefighter been receiving a 3% compounded increase for each year he or she received pension payments after his or her retirement date. Provides that in each January thereafter, he or she shall receive an additional increase of 3% of the amount of the pension then being paid. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.

STATE MANDATES ACT MAY REQUIRE REIMBURSEMENT MAY APPLY

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning public employee benefits.

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

Section 5. The Illinois Pension Code is amended by changing Section 4-109.1 as follows:

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

Sec. 4-109.1. Increase in pension.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(f-5) In July 2023, the monthly pension of a firefighter who retired between July 1, 1977 and January 1, 1986 shall be recalculated and increased to reflect the amount that the firefighter would have received in July 2023 had the firefighter been receiving a 3% compounded increase for each year he or she received pension payments after his or her retirement date. In each January thereafter, he or she shall receive an additional increase of 3% of the amount of the pension then being paid. The changes made to this Section by this amendatory Act of the 103rd General Assembly apply without regard to whether the firefighter was in service on or after its effective date.

(g) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article, the monthly pension of a person who first becomes a firefighter under this Article on or after January 1, 2011 shall be increased on the January 1 occurring either on or after the attainment of age 60 or the first anniversary of the pension 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 pension. If the annual unadjusted percentage change in the consumer price index-u for a 12-month period ending in September is zero or, when compared with the preceding period, decreases, then the pension shall not be increased.

For the purposes of this subsection (g), "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 pension funds.

(Source: P.A. 96-775, eff. 8-28-09; 96-1495, eff. 1-1-11.)

Section 90. The State Mandates Act is amended by adding Section 8.47 as follows:

(30 ILCS 805/8.47 new)

Sec. 8.47. 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 103rd General Assembly.

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