Amends the Deferred Compensation Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that "eligible sponsoring entity" means a school district organized under the Chicago School District Article of the School Code; the City of Chicago as the sponsoring entity for the City of Chicago Deferred Compensation Plan; or Cook County as the sponsoring entity for the Cook County Deferred Compensation Plan. Authorizes an eligible sponsoring entity to automatically enroll employees in its deferred compensation program. Provides that the eligible sponsoring entity shall continue to be subject to specified fiduciary duty provisions under the General Provisions Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that an employee who is automatically enrolled in the deferred compensation program shall contribute 3% of his or her pretax gross compensation for each compensation period into his or her account. Removes language providing that the provisions authorizing local government deferred compensation plans does not limit the power or authority of any unit of local government, school district, or any institution supported in whole or in part by public funds to establish and administer any other deferred compensation plans that may be authorized by law and deemed appropriate by the officials of such subdivisions or institutions. Contains provisions concerning fiduciary duties; availability of multiple plans or programs; elections not to participate; refunds; and increases to the default contribution rate. Effective immediately.
Sponsored bills
Amends the General Provisions Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Excludes disclosures made to the Municipal Employees Society of Chicago from a provision that prohibits the disclosure of certain information regarding members or participants of a pension fund or retirement system.
Amends the Public Officer Prohibited Activities Act. Provides that a public officer, employee, board, or representative of a governmental unit may not ban or otherwise prohibit a book from being available for reading or circulation by members of the public in a library, school, or other publicly funded facility. Provides that the provisions do not restrict the ability to limit books in schools or in another publicly funded facility based upon the age and development level of persons who will have access to those books. Limits the concurrent exercise of home rule powers.
Creates the Illinois Farm to Food Bank Program Act. Establishes the Illinois Farm to Food Bank Program within the Department of Human Services to help expand the availability of nutritious, locally grown, raised, or processed foods for Illinois' emergency food system. Provides that the program shall (1) acquire and distribute agricultural products from Illinois agricultural entities or aggregators to Illinois' emergency food system, and (2) provide grants to improve capacity of the emergency food system to allow for the proper transportation, storage, or distribution of agricultural products to underserved areas. Provides that the program shall target fruits, vegetables, meat and poultry, dairy, and eggs produced in Illinois. Provides that foods shall be surplus, seconds, or market-grade quality levels and must be safe for consumption. Provides that the program is subject to appropriation and shall dedicate no less than 75% of available funds to acquisition and distribution of food. Requires the Secretary of the Department of Human Services to engage a not-for-profit entity from Illinois' emergency food system to administer the program. Requires the administering entity to have statewide reach and represent multiple food banks that source and distribute food to Illinois food pantries and soup kitchens under the same authorities and standards as the Emergency Food Assistance Program administered by the Department. Contains provisions concerning the duties of the administering entity. Creates the Farm to Food Bank Advisory Council to provide support to the program through facilitating relationship-building and partnerships between the Illinois agricultural sector and the emergency food system and other matters. Provides that the program may distribute food to those food banks with the infrastructure to accept, store, and distribute foods through the emergency food system and with the capacity to serve significant geographic areas within Illinois. Provides that the program shall distribute capacity-building grants for facility upgrades, equipment, or other investments necessary to support the objectives of the program. Requires the Department of Human Services to adopt rules. Effective immediately.
Amends the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code. Provides that the circuit court has jurisdiction over persons who are: (1) subject to involuntary admission on an inpatient basis; (2) subject to involuntary admission on an outpatient basis; or (3) in need of treatment by psychotropic medication and electroconvulsive therapy. Provides that no respondent who has pending felony charges may be ordered to undergo a program of hospitalization in a mental health facility operated by the Department of Human Services unless the Department agrees to the program of hospitalization.
Amends the Firefighters' Pension Investment Fund Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that a trustee shall qualify by taking an oath of office before the Secretary of State or the Board's appointed legal counsel (instead of only the Secretary of State). In a provision concerning reimbursement for travel expenses for trustees, removes a reference to the standards in effect for members of the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability. In a provision concerning voting for trustees by participants and beneficiaries, removes language requiring the ballot envelope to have a certificate stating that the person voting the ballot is entitled to vote. Provides that a trustee appointed to fill the vacancy of an elected trustee shall serve until a successor is elected. Removes language providing that for a vacancy of an elected trustee occurring with an unexpired term of 6 months or more, an election shall be conducted for the vacancy. Makes a conforming change. Provides that special elections to fill the remainder of an unexpired term vacated by an elected trustee shall be held concurrently with and in the same manner as the next regular election for an elected trustee position. Provides that a copy of the rules adopted by the Fund shall be posted on the Fund's website (instead of filed with the Secretary of State and the Department of Insurance). Makes changes concerning indemnification of the Fund, the board, and the officers and employees of the Fund. Makes other changes.
Amends the Chicago Municipal Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that for school years beginning on or after July 1, 2023, an age and service or prior service annuity shall not be cancelled in the case of an employee who is re-employed by the Board of Education of the city as a paraprofessional or related service provider on a temporary and non-annual basis or on an hourly basis so long as the person: (1) does not work for compensation on more than 120 days in a school year; or (2) does not accept gross compensation for the re-employment in a school year in excess of $30,000. Effective immediately.
Amends the Downstate Teacher Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that the employer (instead of the governing body of the employer) shall submit to the System all required reports and contributions for salary paid during any month by the 10th of the following month. Provides that all required contributions for salary earned during a school term are due by the July 10 following the close of the school term. Removes provisions requiring the governing board of each school district to make 2 specified deposits each month. Provides that if an employer (instead of the governing body of an employer) that is not a State agency fails to forward certain required contributions within the time permitted, the System shall notify the employer of an amount (instead of an additional amount) due, equal to $50 per day for each day that elapses from the due date until the day such report and contributions (instead of employee contributions) are received by the System. Makes conforming changes.
Amends the Chicago Teacher Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that a service retirement pensioner employed under a provision concerning subject shortage areas shall have deducted from the service retirement pensioner's salary an amount equal to 9% of that salary, which shall be contributed to the Fund as a sustainability contribution. Provides that the service retirement pensioner shall not earn service credit during that re-employment, and the service retirement pension benefit shall not be recalculated. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.
Amends the Prevailing Wage Act. Provides that any laborer, worker, or mechanic who is employed by the contractor or by any lower tier sub-contractor and is paid for services in a sum less than the prevailing wage rates for work performed on a project shall have a right of action for whatever difference there may be between the amount so paid and the prevailing rates required to be paid for work performed on the project. Makes other changes.