PENSION-VARIOUS

Amends the State Employee Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning contributions by the State. Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 40 ILCS 5/14-131 Adds reference to: 40 ILCS 5/2-121.3 from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 2-121.3 40 ILCS 5/7-141 from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 7-141 40 ILCS 5/14-121.1 from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 14-121.1 40 ILCS 5/15-135 from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 15-135 40 ILCS 5/16-142.3 from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 16-142.3 40 ILCS 5/18-128.3 from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 18-128.3 40 ILCS 5/1-160 40 ILCS 5/7-109.4 new 40 ILCS 5/7-109.5 new 40 ILCS 5/7-114 from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 7-114 40 ILCS 5/7-116 from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 7-116 40 ILCS 5/7-141 from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 7-141 40 ILCS 5/7-141.1 40 ILCS 5/7-142 from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 7-142 40 ILCS 5/7-144 from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 7-144 40 ILCS 5/7-156 from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 7-156 40 ILCS 5/7-191 from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 7-191 40 ILCS 5/13-310 from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 13-310 40 ILCS 5/17-140 from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 17-140 40 ILCS 5/17-151.1 40 ILCS 5/17-106.1 40 ILCS 5/17-131 from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 17-131 40 ILCS 5/15-159 from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 15-159 40 ILCS 5/15-202 40 ILCS 5/10-107 from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 10-107 40 ILCS 5/9-158 from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 9-158 40 ILCS 5/14-148.5 new 40 ILCS 5/21-120 rep. 40 ILCS 5/4-108.8 new 40 ILCS 5/7-139.8 from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 7-139.8 40 ILCS 5/14-110 from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 14-110 40 ILCS 5/14-152.1 40 ILCS 5/17-147 from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 17-147 40 ILCS 5/16-106 from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 16-106 30 ILCS 805/8.45 new Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Illinois Pension Code. In the General Assembly, Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF), State Universities, Downstate Teachers, and Judges Articles, makes changes to the age at which certain distributions are required and the age at which certain annuities are payable. In the General Provisions and IMRF Articles, moves provisions concerning Tier 2 members of IMRF from the General Provisions Article to the IMRF Article. Provides that the increase to the retirement annuity of a Tier 1 regular employee shall be computed from the effective date of the retirement annuity, the first increase being 0.25% (instead of .167%) of the monthly amount times the number of months from the effective date to January 1. Provides that if the employee was a Tier 1 regular employee, the surviving spouse annuity shall be increased by an amount equal to (i) 3% of the original amount thereof if the deceased employee was receiving a retirement annuity at the time of his or her death; otherwise (ii) 0.25% (instead of 0.167%) of the original amount thereof for each complete month that has elapsed since the date the annuity began. In the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Article, provides that payments of an ordinary disability benefit shall be made at least monthly (instead of intervals of not more than 30 days). In the Chicago Teacher Article, makes changes concerning mistakes in benefit amount, the definition of "administrator", and payroll deductions. In the State Universities Article, makes changes concerning the qualification of trustees and the optional defined contribution benefit. In a provision of the Cook County Forest Preserve Article concerning the property tax levy for providing revenue for the Fund, provides that the forest preserve district may use other lawfully available funds in lieu of all or part of the levy. In a provision of the Cook County Article concerning proof of disability, provides that proof of duty or ordinary disability shall be furnished to the board by at least one licensed and practicing physician appointed by or acceptable to the board (instead of appointed by the board) and provides that each disabled employee who receives a duty or ordinary disability benefit shall be examined at least once a year or a longer period of time as determined by the board (instead of at least once a year). In the State Employee Article, provides that the System may indemnify a financial institution insured by an agency of the federal government as necessary to recover for the System any benefit overpayment that the System has made to the financial institution on behalf of a member. In the Social Security Enabling Act Article, repeals a provision requiring the submission of a report to the General Assembly covering the administration and operation of the Article during the preceding biennium. In the Downstate Firefighter Article, provides that an active member of the State Employees' Retirement System (SERS) who is an arson investigator may apply to transfer to SERS his or her credits and creditable service accumulated in any downstate firefighter pension fund. In the IMRF Article, provides that an active member of SERS who is a Commerce Commission police officer may apply to transfer to SERS certain IMRF credits. In the State Employee Article, provides that a State policeman, conservation police officer, arson investigator, or Commerce Commission police officer may elect to establish eligible creditable service under the alternative retirement annuity formula. Provides that a State policeman or conservation police officer may elect to convert service credit earned under the Article to eligible creditable service. In the Chicago Teacher Article, provides that payment from the Fund shall be made upon checks or through direct deposit transmittals authorized by the executive director (instead of upon warrants signed by the president and the secretary of the Board of Education, the president of the Board, and countersigned by the executive director). In the Downstate Teacher Article, adds to the definition of "teacher", the chief administrative officer of the education service centers established under the School Code and serving that portion of a Class II county outside a city of 500,000 or more inhabitants. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Certain changes to the Illinois Pension Code and the changes to the State Mandates Act are effective immediately. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 40 ILCS 5/15-202 Adds reference to: 5 ILCS 375/6.5 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the engrossed bill with the following changes. In provisions amending the State Universities Retirement System Article of the Illinois Pension Code, removes language that changes references to the "optional defined contribution benefit" to "optional defined contribution plan". Amends the State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971. Deletes language providing that if in any case an error is made in billing a TRS benefit recipient under a provision concerning health benefits for TRS benefit recipients and TRS dependent beneficiaries, the Department shall identify the error and refund the overpaid amount as soon as practicable; and providing that a TRS benefit recipient who has overpaid shall be entitled to a refund of overpayments for up to 7 years of past payments. Provides that if, for any month beginning on or after January 1, 2013, a TRS benefit recipient or TRS dependent beneficiary was enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B and such Medicare coverage was primary to coverage under certain provisions of the Act but payment for that coverage was made at a rate greater than the Medicare primary rate published by the Department of Central Management Services, the TRS benefit recipient or TRS dependent beneficiary shall be eligible for a refund equal to the difference between the amount paid by the TRS benefit recipient or TRS dependent beneficiary and the published Medicare primary rate. Provides that to receive a refund, the TRS benefit recipient or TRS dependent beneficiary must provide documentation to the Department of Central Management Services evidencing the TRS benefit recipient's or TRS dependent beneficiary's Medicare coverage and the amount paid by the TRS benefit recipient or TRS dependent beneficiary during the applicable time period. Certain changes to the Illinois Pension Code and the changes to the State Mandates Act are effective immediately.