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IPPAC has learned Governor Pritzer’s Commission on Pension Reform has almost finished their work with their report due to be released in October. It is anticipated the proposed legislation, written by the Governor’s office, will accompany the report. The expected recommendation will be to consolidate investment funds from all police and fire pensions into 2 state funds created for that sole reason, and governed by Governor appointed IML Mayors, Investment Representatives, and UNKNOWN OTHERS. THIS LEGISLATION WILL BE MANDATORY. There is a strong indication the legislation will be introduced in the November Veto Session and bulldozed through without much review.

Below is a very brief overview of what the commissions recommendation will be, as nothing has been published and the meetings were not public.

Mandatory consolidation of the Art 3 and Art 4 investments.

Prior to the formation of the new funds, the money will be placed in a “State Fund” for an undetermined period of time until the new investment boards are formed. IMRF is no longer in the picture.

Local Boards will still handle disabilities and retirements, but all investing, auditing and actuary services will come through the state

Tier II changes:
The top pay for tier II will be recalculated to fall inline with Social security Administration rules to ward off SSA Safe Harbor issues

The salary averaging will be reduced to 4 out of the last 5 years instead of the current 8 out of the last ten.

No Tier I changes are expected

The Article 4, 10 year Line of Duty Death vesting will be eliminated

There will be no extension of the 90% funding date at this time.

IPPAC is a member of a coalition of organizations recommending each pension fund adopt a resolution to be sent to the House and Senate discouraging any action being taken in the Veto session. Attorney Cary Collins is working on a draft of a resolution to provide to pension boards for their October quarterly meetings. Since the report and/or legislation has not yet been released, we are only asking the Governor and legislature to slow down and not act on anything during the short veto session.