Legislation Update and Pending Bills
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Latest update: August 11, 2018
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STATE OF ILLINOIS LEGISLATION
(SEE BELOW - CLICK HERE - FOR FEDERAL LEGISLATION)

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Even though RTAC has an excellent legislative advocate,

All of Us Must Be Watchful!
(CLICK HERE FOR A LIST OF THE 2018 LEGISLATION AND THE CURRENT STATUS OF THAT LEGISLATION)
PLEASE visit your legislators and express your opinion(s) on possible legislation.

The 2018 Illinois Legislative Calendar can be found here.
For the latest status on a particular bill, click on the bill number in the table below.
WATCH THIS SPACE FOR BREAKING NEWS ON ANY BILL(S) THAT PROPOSE PENSION CHANGES!

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2017 LEGISLATION UPDATE

Proposed RTAC Legislation for 2018

Proposed CTPF Legislation for 2018

Maintenance and enhancement or pension benefits. Ensure the implementation of the Chicago pension tax levy to support the Chicago Teachers Pension Fund (CTPF) to provide a stable revenue source for pensioners. Secure equitable State of Illinois funding for Chicago teacher's pensions. Stabilize a viable health insurance program for CTPF annuitants. Maintain the independence and fiscal integrity of CTPF Oppose any 'pension holidays' for the Chicago Public Schools. Increase retiree representation on the CTPF Board. Support educational funding that meets the needs of all Illinois children. Oppose any legislation adverse or detrimental to our pensions.

Support legislation to reestablish the Chicago pension tax levy to support the Chicago Teachers Pension Fund. Increase the State of Illinois' contributions to CTPF to at least 10% of the State's contribution to TRS. Support legislation to increase the limit on the amount of funds to subsidize CTPF pensioners health care.   Strengthen Charter School Reporting Mechanisms. Oppose any legislation adverse or detrimental to our pensions.

Legislation Which Has Been Proposed During the 100th Legislative Session (2017-2018). (Click here for 2017) (See the Archives for 2009-2017 Legislation)
Bill	Sponsor	Status	Date of Last Action	Proposed Action
HJRCA 18##	Sosnowski + 7 others	In Rules Committee	1/27/17	Repeals the clause 'benefits shall not be diminished or impaired'.  (Oppose)
HJR 68##	Butler +4 others	In Rules Committee	6/21/17	Calls for a Constitutional Convention. (Oppose)
Legislation which has been introduced in the Illinois House of Representatives in 2018
HB4045	Martwick Cullerton + 1 other	Passed House 061-041-000 Referred to the  Assignments Committee	5/31/18	Amends the Illinois Pension Code. In Articles 2, 14, 15, 16, and 17, requires active Tier 1 employees to elect either (i) to have automatic annual increases in retirement and survivor's annuities delayed and reduced or (ii) to maintain current benefits except for additional limits on pensionable salary; provides additional benefits to persons electing item (i). Makes funding changes, including shifting certain costs to employers under Articles 15 and 16. Restricts participation in the General Assembly Retirement System to persons who became participants before the effective date. In Articles 14, 15, and 16, requires those Systems to offer an optional accelerated benefit payment to certain members in lieu of receiving a pension. Provides separate benefits for certain persons who become participants under Article 14, 15, or 16. Requires those retirement systems to establish a defined contribution plan for certain members; in Articles 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, and 17, establishes similar benefits if the governing body of the unit of local government adopts those benefits. In Article 17, requires the State to contribute $215,200,000 for fiscal year 2017. Provides a continuing appropriation for the Article 17 State contribution and for certain consideration payments. Amends various Acts to make conforming changes. Provides for the transfer of certain amounts to the Pension Stabilization Fund. Amends the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Act and the Illinois Public Labor Relations Act to prohibit bargaining and interest arbitration regarding certain changes made by the amendatory Act; exempts certain existing agreements. Makes other changes. Includes severability provisions. Effective immediately.
HB4146	Fine + 53 more Steans + 34 more	Passed House  071-027-000 Passed Senate 049-000-000 Sent to the Governor	6/29/18	Amends the Managed Care Reform and Patient Rights Act. In provisions concerning transition of services, provides that the health care plan shall not modify an enrollee's coverage of a drug during the plan year if the drug has been previously approved for coverage by the plan for a medical condition, the plan's prescribing provider continues to prescribe the drug for the medical condition, and the patient continues to be an enrollee of the health care plan. Provides specific prohibited modifications of drug coverage in the health plan. Provides that the provisions do not prohibit a health care plan from requiring a pharmacist to effect generic substitutions of prescription drugs. Provides that the provisions do not prohibit the addition of prescription drugs to a health care plan's list of covered drugs during the coverage year. Provides that the provisions do not apply to a health care plan as defined in the State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971 or medical assistance under the Illinois Public Aid Code. Effective immediately. House Committee Amendment No. 1 In language providing that a health care plan is not prohibited from requiring a pharmacist to effect substitutions of prescription drugs, provides that the health care plan is not prohibited from requiring a pharmacist to effect substitutions consistent with provisions from the Pharmacy Practice Act that allow a pharmacist to substitute an interchangeable biologic for a prescribed biologic product and select a generic drug determined to be therapeutically equivalent by the United States Food and Drug Administration and in accordance with the Illinois Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act.
HB4237	Carroll + 25 more Morrison +10 more	Passed House 093-015-000 Passed Senate 054-001-001 Referred to the Rules Committee	7/2/18	House Ammendment 1. Reinserts the provisions of the introduced bill with the following changes: (1) provides that the Fund shall be known as the Illinois Education Excellence Fund; (2) provides that the Illinois Education Excellence Fund may accept contributions for exclusively public education purposes; (3) provides that the tax credits for contributions to the Illinois Education Excellence Fund and the county fund for charitable purposes apply to individual taxpayers only; (4) provides that the State Treasurer shall provide a copy of the certification to the taxpayer and the Department of Revenue as soon as possible after the contribution is certified; (5) provides that the income tax credit applies for taxable years ending after December 31, 2017 and before January 1, 2026; and (6) provides that provisions amending the Counties Code apply for taxable years 2018 through 2025. Effective immediately. (Monitor)
HB4411	Ammons + 7 more	In Rules Committee	5/1/18	Amends the General Provisions Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that a retirement system or investment board created under the State Employee, State Universities, Downstate Teachers, Chicago Teachers, or the Board of Investment Article may not enter into a contract for lobbying services with a lobbyist who represents another retirement system or investment board created under one of those Articles. Defines "lobbying" and "lobbyist".
HB4412	Ammons + 9 more Sims, Jr.	Passed House  070-026-005 Passed Senate 049-001-000 Sent to the Governor	6/29/18	Amends the State Universities Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that the Board shall make best efforts to ensure that the racial and ethnic makeup of the System's senior administrative staff represents the racial and ethnic makeup of the System's membership. Provides that "senior administrative staff" includes, but is not limited to, the Executive Director, the Chief Investment Officer, the General Counsel and Freedom of Information Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the Director of Member Services, the Director of Outreach, the Director of Human Resources, the Director of Internal Audit, the Director of Operations, and the Director of Application Development and Research.
HB4413	Ammons + 15 more Manar	Passed House 071-039-001 Referred to the  Assignments Committee	5/31/18	Amends the General Provisions Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that any open meeting of the board of trustees of a retirement system or pension fund or any committee established by a retirement system or pension fund must be broadcast to the public and maintained in real-time on the retirement system's or pension fund's website using a high-speed Internet connection. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement by the State. (Monitor)
HB4414	Ammons + 7 more	Referred to the Rules Committee	5/1/18	Amends the State Employees, State Universities, and Downstate Teachers Articles of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act, appointments to the position of executive director or chief investment officer must be made with the advice and consent of the Senate. Amends the Chicago Teachers Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act, appointments to the position of executive director, chief investment officer, or chief legal officer must be made with the advice and consent of the Senate. (Oppose)
HB4742	Mayfield	Passed House 090-009-009 Passed Senate 054-001-000 Sent to the Governor	6/22/18	Amends the School Code. Provides that, by January 1, 2019, the State Board of Education shall implement a program and adopt rules to allow school districts to supplement their substitute teacher recruitment for elementary and secondary schools with the use of recruiting firms. Defines "recruiting firm". Specifies program requirements. Prohibits school districts from using recruiting firms to circumvent collective bargaining agreements or laws. Amends the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that the term "teacher" or "substitute teacher" does not include and service credit may not be granted to an individual employed by an entity that provides substitute teaching services under the program and is not a school district. Effective immediately. (Oppose)
HB4766	Turner + 1 more	In rules Commmittee	4/13/18	Amends the Chicago Teacher Article of the Illinois Pension Code. In a provision that requires Employers to submit payroll records and pension contributions within 30 calendar days after each predesignated payday and establishes penalties for delinquent submissions, requires the Fund to provide a written notice of delinquency to an Employer within 10 business days of the Fund's discovery of any payroll record that is not timely certified or submitted or any incomplete pension contribution. Prohibits the Fund from administering certain penalties if the Fund fails to provide the written notice of delinquency. Provides that an Employer that provides necessary corrections to a payroll record or makes the required contribution within 12 months after receipt of the notice of delinquency shall not be subject to certain penalties. Makes changes to an exception to the mandatory penalty for delinquent payments. Provides that any penalties that are outstanding on the effective date of the amendatory Act shall be waived if the Employer makes the necessary corrections or amendments to the required payroll records or submits the required contribution within 12 months after the effective date of the amendatory Act. (Oppose)
HB4800	Harper + 3 more	In Rules Committee	5/1/18	Amends the Tax Increment Allocation Redevelopment Act of the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that surplus tax revenues may be used to pay for costs of special education, social services, and other costs of a public school district. Provides that for municipalities with a population of over 1,000,000, redevelopment project costs include public school district qualified workers, costs of providing special educational facilities and services, school psychological services, and school social work services, and any surplus balance in the special tax allocation fund at the end of the fiscal year shall be used for these workers, facilities, and services. Removes provisions allowing anticipated redevelopment project costs to be deemed surplus funds. (Monitor)
HB4819	Williams +34 more	Referred to the Rules Committee	5/31/18	Creates the Broadband Procurement and Disclosure Act. Provides that no State broadband purchaser may award any contract to an Internet service provider that includes broadband service unless the contract provides specified terms concerning access to and impairment of Internet services. Requires each Internet service provider to make available on its website a clear and conspicuous statement informing end users of the Internet service provider's network management practices and performance, including commercial terms offered to end users. Provides enforcement and damages provisions. Provides that nothing in the Act supersedes any obligation or authorization or limits the ability of an Internet service provider to address the needs of emergency communications or law enforcement, public safety, or national security authorities consistent with or as permitted by applicable law. Provides legislative findings. (Support)
HB5137	Martwick + 3 more	Passed House 094-000-000 Passed Senate 055-000-000 Sent to the Governor	6/22/18	Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the introduced bill with the following changes: Further amends the Illinois Pension Code. In the State Universities Article, provides that the System shall offer a defined contribution benefit to active members of the System. Provides that the defined contribution benefit shall collect optional employee and optional employer contributions into an account and shall offer investment options to the participant. Provides that the defined contribution benefit shall be operated in full compliance with any applicable State and federal laws, and the System shall utilize generally accepted practices in creating and maintaining the benefit for the best interest of the participants. Authorizes the System to use funds from the employee and employer contributions to defray any and all costs of creating and maintaining the benefit. Requires the System to produce an annual report on the participation in the benefit and to make that report public. Excludes any benefit increase resulting from the change made by the amendatory Act from the definition of "new benefit increase". (Monitor)
HB5241	Davis +7 more	Referred to the Rules Committee	4/27/18	Amends the Children with Disabilities Article of the School Code. Provides that, in a school district with a population of more than 500,000 inhabitants, the principal and all school personnel who are regular members of an individualized education program team shall determine the special education staffing needs of the school based on individualized education program minutes, status of the school's least restrictive environment, optimal scheduling protocols, and other relevant factors. Provides that once a staffing level is set, the school board shall provide full staffing for the school and shall fund the total cost of each position. Provides that the school board may not reduce the special education staffing levels of a school in which the general staffing levels are less than 90% of the State average. Provides that the school board may require more efficient staff scheduling if the scheduling does not impair or hinder any reasonable goals of the school's general education program. Prohibits the school district from banning the use of any measure that would prevent or delay an individualized education program team from adding a service to the program or creating a time restriction in which a service is prohibited from being added to the program. Makes other changes. Effective July 1, 2018. House Committee Amendment No. 1 Provides that a school district may not use any measure (rather than may not ban the use of any measure) that would prevent or delay an individualized education program team from adding a service to the program or create (rather than creating) a time restriction in which a service is prohibited from being added to the program. (Support)  (See also SB3514)
HB5812	Davis +3 more Manar +3 more	Passed House 076-031-000 Passed Senate 038-017-000 Public Act 100-0582	3/23/18	Amends the School Code. With regard to property tax relief pool grants, provides that each year, the State Board of Education shall set a threshold above which a school district may apply for property tax relief. Provides that the intended relief may not be greater than 1% of the EAV for a unit district, 0.69% of the EAV for an elementary school district, or 0.31% of the EAV for a high school district; defines "EAV". Provides that the total property tax relief allowable to a school district shall be calculated based on the total amount of reduction in the school district's aggregate extension. With regard to evidence-based funding, provides that when a school district withdraws from a special education cooperative, the portion of the base funding minimum that is attributable to the school district may be redistributed to the school district upon withdrawal. Provides that the school district and the cooperative must include the amount of the base funding minimum that is to be re-apportioned in their withdrawal agreement and notify the State Board of Education of the change with a copy of the agreement upon withdrawal. Repeals a provision governing the basis for apportionment of general State financial aid and supplemental general State aid to the common schools for the 1998-1999 through the 2016-2017 school years. Makes other changes. Effective immediately. (Support)
Legislation which has been introduced in the Illinois Senate in 2018
SB2236	Bertino-Tarrant + 8 others	Referred to the  Assignments Committee	5/31/18	Amends the Invest in Kids Act. Provides that no credits may be awarded under the Act for any taxable year that begins in a State fiscal year for which the minimum statutory funding level is not met. Provides that the carry-forward period for those credits shall be suspended for any taxable year that begins in a State fiscal year for which the minimum statutory funding level is not met. Requires the State Board of Education to determine whether or not the State has met the minimum funding level for the fiscal year and to transmit a copy of the determination to the Department of Revenue. (Monitor)
SB2439	Bennett +7 more	Passed House 104-003-000 Passed Senate 054-000-000 Sent to the Governor	6/22/18	Amends various acts to remove provisions allowing or requiring licensing authorities to revoke professional licenses for defaulting on an educational loan provided by or guaranteed by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission. Effective immediately. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the introduced bill with the following changes: Creates the Career Preservation and Student Loan Repayment Act. Provides that no governmental agency or board established under a statute of this State may impose or refer a matter to any other governmental agency to impose a denial, refusal to renew, suspension, revocation, or other disciplinary action against a professional or occupational licensee for his or her delinquency, default, or other failure to perform on an educational loan or scholarship provided by or guaranteed by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission. Amends the Nursing Education Scholarship Law, the Illinois Athletic Trainers Practice Act, and the Illinois Roofing Industry Licensing Act to remove provisions allowing or requiring licensing authorities to revoke professional licenses for defaulting on an educational loan provided by or guaranteed by the Commission. Effective immediately. (Monitor)
SB2517	McConchie + 1 more	Referred to the  Assignments Committee	5/3/18	Amends the Downstate Teacher Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that beginning in fiscal year 2020 and each year thereafter, the System shall calculate the projected amount of the increase in the employer normal cost of benefits, expressed as a percentage of salary and reflecting separate amounts for Tier 1 and Tier 2 benefits, resulting from any increase in salary over the preceding school year, expressed as a percentage of salary. Provides that except for a teacher who first becomes a teacher on or after the implementation date of certain benefits, if the amount of a teacher's salary for any school year beginning on or after July 1, 2019 exceeds the member's annual full-time salary rate with the same employer for the previous school year, then the teacher's employer shall pay to the System the projected amount of the increase in the employer normal cost of benefits, as determined by the System and reflecting whether the teacher will receive Tier 1 or Tier 2 benefits, resulting from the increase in the member's salary over the previous school year. Excludes earnings increases paid to members under contracts or collective bargaining agreements entered into, amended, or renewed before the effective date of the amendatory Act. Excludes earning increases paid to members who first become members on or after the implementation date of certain benefits. Defines "Tier 1 benefits" and "Tier 2 benefits". Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately. (Oppose)
SB2844	Aquino +15 more Pritchard	Passed Senate 045-000-000 Passed House 116-000-000 Sent to the Governor	6/28/18	Amends the School Code. Requires the State Board of Education to establish and maintain the Growing Future Educators Program to train high school graduates who at one time have been identified as English learners and who are enrolled in an approved educator preparation program, among other qualifications, to become secondary language educators. Provides that each school district that chooses to participate in the Program shall partner with one public, regionally accredited institution of higher education in this State that offers a pre-approved educator preparation program and each qualified high school graduate participating in the program through the district must be enrolled at that institution in its educator preparation program. Provides that for each semester that a qualified high school graduate is participating in the program, the State Board shall issue the person a paraprofessional educator endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations and the person must be employed as a part-time employee by the participating district as a paraprofessional working under the supervision of a district employee with a Professional Educator License. Sets forth provisions concerning funding, submitting program data, reporting to the General Assembly, and rulemaking. Effective immediately. (Monitor)
SB2892	Manar +7 more	Passed Senate 037-016-000 Passed House 065-047-000 Sent to the Governor	6/28/18	Amends the School Code. Provides that, beginning July 1, 2019, in fixing the salaries of teachers, a school board shall pay those who serve on a full-time basis a rate not less than $40,000 per year. Removes a provision providing for a periodic teacher salary increase schedule. Makes conforming changes. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the introduced bill with the following changes. Restores a provision providing for a periodic teacher salary increase schedule. Makes conforming changes. (Support)
SB3592	Raoul + 1 more	Referred to the  Assignments Committee	3/1/18	Amends the Election Code. Provides for the election of the Chicago Board of Education starting with the 2023 consolidated primary election. Makes related changes. Amends the Chicago School District Article of the School Code. Provides that a person shall be a U.S. citizen and registered voter and shall have been a resident of the city and the electoral district for at least one year immediately preceding his or her election. Sets forth provisions concerning nominating petitions and ballots. Sets forth provisions providing that the City of Chicago shall be subdivided into 20 electoral districts by the Chicago City Council for seats on the Chicago Board of Education. Sets forth provisions providing that in the year following each decennial census, the Chicago Board of Education shall redistrict the electoral districts to reflect the results of each decennial census. Makes other changes. (Monitor)
SR1196	Cullerton	Referred to the  Assignments Committee	7/1/18	Urges the United States Congress and President Trump's administration to advocate for the permanent adoption of net neutrality rules that keep the Internet free and open. (Support)
****See these Archives for legislative actions prior to the 100th Legislative Session.****

Voice your opinion!!  Personal visits to the office, letters, e-mails are much more effective than phone calls.

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FEDERAL LEGISLATION
(1/9/2017)
Support The Social Security Fairness initiative. 
Encourage your federal legislators to eliminate the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO) that penalize us for receiving a public pension even though we have paid into Social security.
Details here.
For a summary of the materials presented at a AARP:NRTA conference in Washington D.C. see this page.
See also http://www.ssfairness.com/.

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