HJ0027eng 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HJ0027 Engrossed LRB098 11212 EFG 42094 r

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 27

WHEREAS, In 2010 the State of Illinois enacted a new set of pension benefits for public employees in State-funded pension systems; and

WHEREAS, Public employees hired on or after January 1, 2011 are commonly referred to as "Tier 2" members; and

WHEREAS, These Tier 2 members include public school teachers in K-12 classrooms throughout the State of Illinois; and

WHEREAS, Public school teachers do not receive Social Security, and many pension experts believe that Tier 2 benefits do not provide a pension that is at least equal to that federal program; and

WHEREAS, It is essential that Illinois provide a benefit and pay package that will attract the most talented and ambitious teachers in the country to our schools; and

WHEREAS, These benefits have been in effect for newly hired public school teachers for over two years with no study of how this has impacted recruitment and retention of teachers in Illinois; and

WHEREAS, It is appropriate for the General Assembly to study the impact of these benefits on the State's ability to provide the best teachers to our children; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that the Teacher Recruiting and Retention Task Force be created to study the impact of these Tier 2 pension benefits on the ability of school districts to recruit and retain teachers in public school classrooms; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall consist of 2 members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House, one of whom shall serve as co-chair, 2 members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Minority Leader of the House, 2 members of the Senate appointed by the President of the Senate, one of whom shall serve as co-chair, 2 members of the Senate appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate, and 2 members appointed by the Governor; and be it further

RESOLVED, That 2 members from a statewide school alliance and 2 members from separate unions representing public school teachers statewide shall be appointed by the co-chairs to the Task Force; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the State Board of Education shall provide all necessary support to the Task Force; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall report its findings to the Governor and the General Assembly on or before January 1, 2014.