Rep. Robert S. Molaro

Amends the Chicago Teacher Article of the Illinois Pension Code to change the annual limit on the amount of reimbursement to annuitants for health insurance costs, from $40,000,000 plus authorized but unpaid amounts to $65,000,000 plus authorized but unpaid amounts, including interest earned thereon. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.

Amends the Chicago Firefighter Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Compounds the automatic annual increase in retirement annuity. Increases the rate of increase to 3% and removes the 30% maximum for all firemen, regardless of date of birth. For certain firemen with at least 20 years of service, makes the initial annual increase occur on the first anniversary of retirement, regardless of age. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF) Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides for participation by noncertificated employees of the regional office of education serving suburban Cook County, beginning July 1, 2004. Includes provisions relating to credit for prior service with that employer and the payment of liabilities if the regional office is abolished. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.

Amends the Chicago Teacher Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides for mandatory State contributions to the Chicago Teacher Pension Fund. Effective immediately.

Creates the Chicago Teacher Pension Fund Continuing Appropriation Act. Provides a continuing appropriation to guarantee payment of required State contributions to the Chicago Teacher Pension Fund.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that in counties with 3,000,000 or more inhabitants, for assessments made for the 2002 and 2003 assessment years, except for property that is classified as "residential property" under the classification ordinance adopted by the county, the Property Tax Appeal Board shall have no jurisdiction to hear appeals. Provides that an appeal that would, but for this restriction, have been filed with the Property Tax Appeal Board shall be filed instead with the court that an appeal would have been filed with after a decision was issued by the Property Tax Appeal Board. Effective immediately.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the definition of "taxing district".

Amends the Property Tax Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the definition of "taxing district".

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that if a person's driver's license is scheduled to expire within 30 days of the date he or she is ordered to retake the licensing examination, an examination date shall be scheduled that is earlier than the date on which the license is scheduled to expire.

Amends the Downstate Police Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides for a Deferred Retirement Option Plan, under which a police officer who is at least age 50 with 20 years of service may continue in active service for up to 5 years while having his or her retirement pension paid into a special account, to be distributed to the police officer upon retirement. Bases the retirement pension on the police officer's service and salary at the time of joining the DROP plan. Requires termination of service at the end of the DROP plan participation period. Effective immediately.