HB1435 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB104 08140 SPS 18186 b

104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
HB1435

Introduced 1/28/2025, by Rep. Gregg Johnson

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

820 ILCS 80/10
820 ILCS 80/30
820 ILCS 80/55
820 ILCS 80/85

Amends the Illinois Secure Choice Savings Program Act. Provides that the accounts established under the Secure Choice Savings Program shall be IRAs, into which enrollees contribute funds that are invested in investment options established by the Illinois Secure Choice Savings Board. Provides that a separate account shall be established for each enrollee and the accounts shall be owned by the enrollee. Provides that the savings accounts established under the Program shall be portable and allow for an enrollee to make contributions from multiple employers into a single account. Provides that an enrollee in the Program may have both a Roth IRA and a Traditional IRA through the Program. Provides that the Board shall have the duty to assess the feasibility of agreements with other governmental entities, including other states and their agencies and instrumentalities, to achieve greater economies of scale through shared resources and to enter into those agreements if determined to be beneficial. Provides that an employer who fails without reasonable cause to enroll an employee in the Program within the time provided and fails to remit their contributions (rather than fails without reasonable cause to enroll an employee in the Program within the time provided) shall be subject to a penalty. Makes changes in provisions concerning employer and employee information packets. Effective immediately.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning employment.

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

Section 5. The Illinois Secure Choice Savings Program Act is amended by changing Sections 10, 30, 55, and 85 as follows:

(820 ILCS 80/10)

Sec. 10. Establishment of Illinois Secure Choice Savings Program.

(a) A retirement savings program in the form of an automatic enrollment payroll deduction IRA, known as the Illinois Secure Choice Savings Program, is hereby established and shall be administered by the Board for the purpose of promoting greater retirement savings for private-sector employees in a convenient, low-cost, and portable manner.

(b) The accounts established under this Program shall be IRAs, into which enrollees contribute funds that are invested in investment options established by the Board. A separate account shall be established for each enrollee and the accounts shall be owned by the enrollee.

(c) The savings accounts established under the Program shall be portable and allow for an enrollee to make contributions from multiple employers into a single account, either simultaneously or separately throughout the enrollee's lifetime.

(d) An enrollee in the Program may have both a Roth IRA and a Traditional IRA through the Program.

(Source: P.A. 98-1150, eff. 6-1-15.)

(820 ILCS 80/30)

Sec. 30. Duties of the Board. In addition to the other duties and responsibilities stated in this Act, the Board shall:

(a) Cause the Program to be designed, established and operated in a manner that:

(1) accords with best practices for retirement savings vehicles;

(2) maximizes participation, savings, and sound investment practices;

(3) maximizes simplicity, including ease of administration for participating employers and enrollees;

(4) provides an efficient product to enrollees by pooling investment funds;

(5) ensures the portability of benefits; and

(6) provides for the deaccumulation of enrollee assets in a manner that maximizes financial security in retirement.

(b) Appoint a trustee to the IRA Fund in compliance with Section 408 of the Internal Revenue Code.

(c) Explore and establish investment options, subject to Section 45 of this Act, that offer employees returns on contributions and the conversion of individual retirement savings account balances to secure retirement income without incurring debt or liabilities to the State.

(d) Establish the process by which interest, investment earnings, and investment losses are allocated to individual program accounts on a pro rata basis and are computed at the interest rate on the balance of an individual's account.

(e) Make and enter into contracts necessary for the administration of the Program and Fund, including, but not limited to, retaining and contracting with investment managers, private financial institutions, other financial and service providers, consultants, actuaries, counsel, auditors, third-party administrators, and other professionals as necessary.

(e-5) Conduct a review of the performance of any investment vendors every 4 years, including, but not limited to, a review of returns, fees, and customer service. A copy of reviews conducted under this subsection (e-5) shall be posted to the Board's Internet website.

(f) In collaboration with the State Treasurer, determine the number and duties of staff members needed to administer the Program and assemble such a staff.

(g) Cause moneys in the Fund to be held and invested as pooled investments described in Section 45 of this Act, with a view to achieving cost savings through efficiencies and economies of scale.

(h) Evaluate and establish the process by which an enrollee is able to contribute a portion of his or her wages to the Program for automatic deposit of those contributions and the process by which the participating employer provides a payroll deposit retirement savings arrangement to forward those contributions and related information to the Program, including, but not limited to, contracting with financial service companies and third-party administrators with the capability to receive and process employee information and contributions for payroll deposit retirement savings arrangements or similar arrangements.

(i) Design and establish the process for enrollment under Section 60 of this Act, including the process by which an employee can opt not to participate in the Program, select a contribution level, select an investment option, and terminate participation in the Program.

(j) Evaluate and establish the process by which an individual may voluntarily enroll in and make contributions to the Program.

(k) Accept any grants, appropriations, or other moneys from the State, any unit of federal, State, or local government, or any other person, firm, partnership, or corporation solely for deposit into the Fund, whether for investment or administrative purposes.

(l) Evaluate the need for, and procure as needed, insurance against any and all loss in connection with the property, assets, or activities of the Program, and indemnify as needed each member of the Board from personal loss or liability resulting from a member's action or inaction as a member of the Board.

(m) Make provisions for the payment of administrative costs and expenses for the creation, management, and operation of the Program, including the costs associated with subsection (b) of Section 20 of this Act, subsections (e), (f), (h), and (l) of this Section, subsection (b) of Section 45 of this Act, subsection (a) of Section 80 of this Act, and subsection (n) of Section 85 of this Act. Subject to appropriation, the State may pay administrative costs associated with the creation and management of the Program until sufficient assets are available in the Fund for that purpose. Thereafter, all administrative costs of the Fund shall be paid only out of moneys on deposit therein. However, private funds or federal funding received under subsection (k) of Section 30 of this Act in order to implement the Program until the Fund is self-sustaining shall not be repaid unless those funds were offered contingent upon the promise of such repayment. The Board shall keep investment fees as low as possible, but in no event shall they exceed 0.25% of the total trust balance. The Board may charge administrative fees, established by rule, that shall be consistent with industry standards.

(n) Allocate administrative fees to individual retirement accounts in the Program on a pro rata basis.

(o) Set minimum and maximum contribution levels in accordance with limits established for IRAs by the Internal Revenue Code.

(o-5) Select a default contribution rate for Program participants within the range of 3% to 6% of an enrollee's wages.

(o-10) Establish annual, automatic increases to the contribution rates based upon a schedule provided for in rules up to a maximum of 10% of an enrollee's wages.

(p) Facilitate education and outreach to employers and employees.

(q) Facilitate compliance by the Program with all applicable requirements for the Program under the Internal Revenue Code, including tax qualification requirements or any other applicable law and accounting requirements.

(q-5) Verify employee eligibility for auto-enrollment in accordance with the Internal Revenue Code and applicable Federal and State laws. The verification shall include the rejection of any enrollee under 18 years of age.

(r) Carry out the duties and obligations of the Program in an effective, efficient, and low-cost manner.

(s) Exercise any and all other powers reasonably necessary for the effectuation of the purposes, objectives, and provisions of this Act pertaining to the Program.

(t) Deposit into the Illinois Secure Choice Administrative Fund all grants, gifts, donations, fees, and earnings from investments from the Illinois Secure Choice Savings Program Fund that are used to recover administrative costs. All expenses of the Board shall be paid from the Illinois Secure Choice Administrative Fund.

(u) Assess the feasibility of agreements with other governmental entities, including other states and their agencies and instrumentalities, to achieve greater economies of scale through shared resources and to enter into those agreements if determined to be beneficial.

The Board may enter into agreements with other governmental entities, including other states or their agencies and instrumentalities, to enable residents of other states to participate in the Program.

(Source: P.A. 102-179, eff. 1-1-22; 103-43, eff. 6-9-23.)

(820 ILCS 80/55)

Sec. 55. Employer and employee information packets and disclosure forms.

(a) Prior to the opening of the Program for enrollment, the Board shall design and disseminate to all employers an employer information packet and an employee information packet, which shall include background information on the Program, appropriate disclosures for employees, and information regarding the vendor Internet website described in subsection (i) of Section 60 of this Act.

(b) The Board shall provide for the contents of both the employee information packet and the employer information packet.

(c) The employee information packet shall include a disclosure form. The disclosure form shall explain, but not be limited to, all of the following:

(1) the benefits and risks associated with making contributions to the Program;

(2) the mechanics of how to make contributions to the Program;

(3) how to opt out of the Program;

(4) how to participate in the Program with a level of employee contributions other than the default contribution rate;

(5) the process for withdrawal of retirement savings;

(6) how to obtain additional information about the Program;

(7) that employees seeking financial advice should contact financial advisors, that participating employers are not in a position to provide financial advice, and that participating employers are not liable for decisions employees make pursuant to this Act;

(8) that the Program is not an employer-sponsored retirement plan; and

(9) that the Program Fund is not guaranteed by the State.

(d) The employee information packet shall also include a form for an employee to note his or her decision to opt out of participation in the Program and information on how or elect to participate with a custom level of employee contributions other than the default contribution rate.

(e) Participating employers shall supply the employee information packet to employees upon launch of the Program. Participating employers shall supply the employee information packet to new employees at the time of hiring, and new employees may opt out of participation in the Program or elect to participate with a level of employee contributions other than the default contribution rate at that time.

(Source: P.A. 100-6, eff. 6-30-17.)

(820 ILCS 80/85)

Sec. 85. Penalties.

(a) An employer who fails without reasonable cause to enroll an employee in the Program within the time prescribed under Section 60 of this Act and fails to remit their contributions shall be subject to a penalty equal to:

(1) $250 per employee for the first calendar year the employer is noncompliant; or

(2) $500 per employee for each subsequent calendar year the employer is noncompliant; noncompliance does not need to be consecutive to qualify for the $500 penalty.

The Department shall determine total employee count using the annual average from employer-reported quarterly data.

(b) After determining that an employer is subject to a penalty under this Section for a calendar year, the Department shall issue a notice of proposed assessment to such employer, stating the number of employees for which the penalty is proposed under item (1) of subsection (a) of this Section or the number of employees for which the penalty is proposed under item (2) of subsection (a) of this Section for such calendar year, and the total amount of penalties proposed.

Upon the expiration of 120 days after the date on which a notice of proposed assessment was issued, the penalties specified therein shall be deemed assessed, unless the employer had filed a protest with the Department under subsection (c) of this Section or come into full compliance with the Program as required under Section 60 of this Act.

If, within 120 days after the date on which it was issued, a protest of a notice of proposed assessment is filed under subsection (c) of this Section, the penalties specified therein shall be deemed assessed upon the date when the decision of the Department with respect to the protest becomes final.

(c) A written protest against the proposed assessment shall be filed with the Department in such form as the Department may by rule prescribe, setting forth the grounds on which such protest is based. If such a protest is filed within 120 days after the date the notice of proposed assessment is issued, the Department shall reconsider the proposed assessment and shall grant the employer a hearing. As soon as practicable after such reconsideration and hearing, the Department shall issue a notice of decision to the employer, setting forth the Department's findings of fact and the basis of decision. The decision of the Department shall become final:

(1) if no action for review of the decision is commenced under the Administrative Review Law, on the date on which the time for commencement of such review has expired; or

(2) if a timely action for review of the decision is commenced under the Administrative Review Law, on the date all proceedings in court for the review of such assessment have terminated or the time for the taking thereof has expired without such proceedings being instituted.

(d) As soon as practicable after the penalties specified in a notice of proposed assessment are deemed assessed, the Department shall give notice to the employer liable for any unpaid portion of such assessment, stating the amount due and demanding payment. If an employer neglects or refuses to pay the entire liability shown on the notice and demand within 10 days after the notice and demand is issued, the unpaid amount of the liability shall be a lien in favor of the State of Illinois upon all property and rights to property, whether real or personal, belonging to the employer, and the provisions in the Illinois Income Tax Act regarding liens, levies and collection actions with regard to assessed and unpaid liabilities under that Act, including the periods for taking any action, shall apply.

(e) An employer who has overpaid a penalty assessed under this Section may file a claim for refund with the Department. A claim shall be in writing in such form as the Department may by rule prescribe and shall state the specific grounds upon which it is founded. As soon as practicable after a claim for refund is filed, the Department shall examine it and either issue a refund or issue a notice of denial. If such a protest is filed, the Department shall reconsider the denial and grant the employer a hearing. As soon as practicable after such reconsideration and hearing, the Department shall issue a notice of decision to the employer. The notice shall set forth briefly the Department's findings of fact and the basis of decision in each case decided in whole or in part adversely to the employer. A denial of a claim for refund becomes final 120 days after the date of issuance of the notice of the denial except for such amounts denied as to which the employer has filed a protest with the Department. If a protest has been timely filed, the decision of the Department shall become final:

(1) if no action for review of the decision is commenced under the Administrative Review Law, on the date on which the time for commencement of such review has expired; or

(2) if a timely action for review of the decision is commenced under the Administrative Review Law, on the date all proceedings in court for the review of such assessment have terminated or the time for the taking thereof has expired without such proceedings being instituted.

(f) No notice of proposed assessment may be issued with respect to a calendar year after June 30 of the fourth subsequent calendar year. No claim for refund may be filed more than 1 year after the date of payment of the amount to be refunded.

(g) The provisions of the Administrative Review Law and the rules adopted pursuant to it shall apply to and govern all proceedings for the judicial review of final decisions of the Department in response to a protest filed by the employer under subsections (c) and (e) of this Section. Final decisions of the Department shall constitute "administrative decisions" as defined in Section 3-101 of the Code of Civil Procedure. The Department may adopt any rules necessary to carry out its duties pursuant to this Section.

(h) Whenever notice is required by this Section, it may be given or issued by mailing it by first-class mail addressed to the person concerned at his or her last known address or in an electronic format as determined by the Department.

(i) All books and records and other papers and documents relevant to the determination of any penalty due under this Section shall, at all times during business hours of the day, be subject to inspection by the Department or its duly authorized agents and employees.

(j) The Department may require employers to report information relevant to their compliance with this Act on returns otherwise due from the employers under Section 704A of the Illinois Income Tax Act and failure to provide the requested information on a return shall cause such return to be treated as unprocessable.

(k) For purposes of any provision of State law allowing the Department or any other agency of this State to offset an amount owed to a taxpayer against a tax liability of that taxpayer or allowing the Department to offset an overpayment of tax against any liability owed to the State, a penalty assessed under this Section shall be deemed to be a tax liability of the employer and any refund due to an employer shall be deemed to be an overpayment of tax of the employer.

(l) Except as provided in this subsection, all information received by the Department from returns filed by an employer or from any investigation conducted under the provisions of this Act shall be confidential, except for official purposes within the Department or pursuant to official procedures for collection of penalties assessed under this Act. Nothing contained in this subsection shall prevent the Director from publishing or making available to the public reasonable statistics concerning the operation of this Act wherein the contents of returns are grouped into aggregates in such a way that the specific information of any employer shall not be disclosed. Nothing contained in this subsection shall prevent the Director from divulging information to an authorized representative of the employer or to any person pursuant to a request or authorization made by the employer or by an authorized representative of the employer.

(m) Civil penalties collected under this Act and fees collected pursuant to subsection (n) of this Section shall be deposited into the Tax Compliance and Administration Fund. The Department may, subject to appropriation, use moneys in the fund to cover expenses it incurs in the performance of its duties under this Act. Interest attributable to moneys in the Tax Compliance and Administration Fund shall be credited to the Tax Compliance and Administration Fund.

(n) The Department may charge the Board a reasonable fee for its costs in performing its duties under this Section to the extent that such costs have not been recovered from penalties imposed under this Section.

(o) The Department shall post on its Internet website a notice stating that this Section is operative and the date that it is first operative. This notice shall include a statement that rather than enrolling employees in the Program under this Act, employers may set up a qualified retirement plan, including, but not limited to, a defined benefit plan, 401(k) plan, a Simplified Employee Pension (SEP) plan, or a Savings Incentive Match Plan for Employees (SIMPLE) plan. The Board shall provide a link to the vendor Internet website described in subsection (i) of Section 60 of this Act, if applicable.

(Source: P.A. 102-179, eff. 1-1-22; 103-681, eff. 1-1-25.)

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