Public Policy

Legislative Alerts

IAFPD Legislative Alert

HB 599 - Public Act 93-0689 - Effective January 1, 2004. Firefighter Survivor Pension Benefit Increase

House Bill 599 amends the Property Tax Code and Article 4 of the Illinois Pension Code to increase pension benefits. The new benefits include:

• Effective January 1, 2004, surviving spouse annuity of 100% of the deceased firefighter's pension including surviving spouses of all retirees, regardless of date of retirement or death. The bill is retroactive to include every surviving spouse.
• Beginning January 1, 2004, incremental increasing of the minimum retirement, disability, and surviving spouse pensions. The minimum annuities would gradually increase by 3% annually from $1,030 on January 1, 2004 to $1,159.27 on January 1, 2008.
• An immediate catch-up increase in each existing child annuity equal to 1/12th of 3% of the amount of the pension, multiplied by the number of months the benefit has been payable. From January 1, 2005 through January 1, 2008, all children's annuities would be increased by an additional 3% of the existing annuity annually. The benefit cannot exceed 75% of the fire fighter's salary at retirement.
• Reciprocity between Article 4 funds and the ability to transfer IMRF service to an Article 4 fund.