SB1705 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB096 09049 AMC 19189 b

96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2009 and 2010
SB1705

Introduced 2/19/2009, by Sen. Kwame Raoul

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

40 ILCS 5/6-153	from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 6-153
40 ILCS 5/6-154	from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 6-154
40 ILCS 5/6-159	from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 6-159
40 ILCS 5/6-227 new
30 ILCS 805/8.33 new

Amends the Chicago Firefighters Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Requires that a disabled fireman who is receiving a duty, occupational disease, or ordinary disability benefit be examined on a periodic basis as determined by the Board, but at least once a year (was, at least once a year). Provides that if a fireman refuses to submit to such medical, surgical, or hospital treatment as is reasonably essential to promote his recovery from disability, he shall have no further right to receive the benefit. Provides a window during which a fireman who re-entered service and failed to repay his refund within the required 2-year period may repay the refund. Provides that a fireman who has failed to repay any refund due to the Fund after re-entering service shall be treated as a new employee and shall only receive service credit from the date that he has re-entered service as a new employee. Provides that, in those cases where the injury or death for which a disability or death benefit is payable was caused under circumstances creating a legal liability on the part of some person or entity to pay damages to the fireman, then legal proceedings may be taken against such other person or entity to recover damages notwithstanding the Fund's payment of or liability to pay disability or death benefits. Provides that the Fund may join in any action brought by the disabled fireman or his personal representative. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

PENSION IMPACT NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

STATE MANDATES ACT MAY REQUIRE REIMBURSEMENT

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning public employee benefits.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Illinois Pension Code is amended by changing Sections 6-153, 6-154, and 6-159 and by adding Section 6-227 as follows:

(40 ILCS 5/6-153) (from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 6-153)

Sec. 6-153. Proof of duty, occupational disease, or ordinary disability shall be furnished to the Board by at least one licensed and practicing physician appointed by the Board. In cases where the Board requires the applicant to obtain a second opinion, the applicant may select a physician from a list of qualified licensed and practicing physicians which shall be established and maintained by the board. The Board may require other evidence of disability. A disabled fireman who is receiving a duty, occupational disease, or ordinary disability benefit shall be examined on a periodic basis as determined by the Board, but at least once a year, by one or more licensed and practicing physicians appointed by the board; however such annual examination may be waived by the Board if the appointed physician certifies in writing to the Board that the disability of the fireman is of such a nature as to render him permanently disabled and unable ever to return to service.

When the disability ceases, the Board shall discontinue payment of the benefit and the fireman shall be returned to service in his proper rank or grade.

(Source: P.A. 86-273.)

(40 ILCS 5/6-154) (from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 6-154)

Sec. 6-154. Administration of disability benefits. If a fireman who is granted any type of disability benefit under this Article refuses to submit to examination by any physician appointed by the board or refuses to submit to such medical, surgical, or hospital treatment as is reasonably essential to promote his recovery from disability, he shall have no further right to receive the benefit.

A fireman who has withdrawn while disabled and entered upon annuity, and who re-enters the service on or after the date of withdrawal, and who has not served at least one year subsequent to the date of such re-entry, shall not receive ordinary disability benefit in excess of the amount he has previously received as pension on account of disability, or as annuity, for an equal period of disability. This provision shall apply throughout the duration of any disability incurred by the fireman within one year after his reinstatement resulting from any cause other than the performance of an act or acts of duty.

No disability benefit shall be paid on account of any form of disability for any period of time for which a disabled fireman has a right to receive any part of his salary, under any law or ordinance in effect in the city.

If a disabled fireman receives compensation from the city for such disability under the Workers' Compensation Act or Occupational Diseases Act, the disability benefit provided herein shall be reduced by any amount so received, if such amount is less than the amount of the benefit; and if the amount received as compensation exceeds the amount of the disability benefit, the fireman shall not receive such disability benefit until the benefit payable, accumulated at the rate herein stated, equals the amount of such compensation without consideration of interest.

If the widow, child or children, or parent or parents (or any of these persons) of any fireman whose death results from an act or acts of duty receives any compensation from the city under the Workers' Compensation Act or Occupational Diseases Act, the annuities herein provided for such beneficiaries shall be reduced by any amounts so received, if such amounts are less than the amount of the annuity or annuities. If the amount or amounts received as compensation exceed the amount or amounts of the annuity or annuities for the widow, child or children, or parent or parents, the annuities shall not be payable until the accumulated value of the annuity or annuities at the rate herein stated equals the amount of such compensation without consideration of interest. In making such adjustment, the annuity to the widow shall first be reduced.

Disability pension or disability benefit shall not be paid to any fireman while he resides outside the State of Illinois, unless such residence is by permission of the board.

(Source: P.A. 81-992.)

(40 ILCS 5/6-159) (from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 6-159)

Sec. 6-159. Refund - Re-entry into service - Repayment of refund. A fireman who receives a refund, and who subsequently re-enters the service, shall not thereafter receive, nor shall his widow or parent or parents receive, any annuity, benefit or pension under this Article unless he or his widow, or parent or parents, repays the refund within 2 years after the date of re-entry into service or by January 1, 2011 2000, whichever is later, with interest at the rate of 4% per annum, compounded annually, from the date the refund was received to the date such amount is repaid. The change made in this Section by this amendatory Act of 1995 applies without regard to whether the fireman was in service on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1995.

A fireman who has failed to repay any refund due to the Fund under this Article after re-entering service shall be treated as a new employee and shall only receive service credit from the date that he has re-entered service as a new employee.

(Source: P.A. 89-136, eff. 7-14-95.)

(40 ILCS 5/6-227 new)

Sec. 6-227. Action by Fund against third party; subrogation. In those cases where the injury or death for which a disability or death benefit is payable under this Article was caused under circumstances creating a legal liability on the part of some person or entity to pay damages to the fireman, then legal proceedings may be taken against such other person or entity to recover damages notwithstanding the Fund's payment of or liability to pay disability or death benefits under this Code. In such case, however, if the action against such other person or entity is brought by the injured fireman or his personal representative and judgment is obtained and paid, or settlement is made with such other person or entity, either with or without suit, from the amount received by such fireman or personal representative there shall be paid to the Fund the amount of money representing the death or disability benefits paid or to be paid to the disabled fireman pursuant to the provisions of this Code. In all circumstances where the action against a person or entity is brought by the disabled fireman or his personal representative the Fund shall have a claim or lien upon any judgment or award out of which the disabled fireman or his personal representative might be compensated from such person or entity.

Where action is brought by the disabled fireman or his personal representative they shall forthwith notify the Fund by personal service or registered mail, of such fact and of the name of the courting which such suit is brought, filing proof of such notice in such action. The Fund may, at any time thereafter, join in said action upon its own motion, and proper orders of court after hearing and judgment shall be made for the protection of the Fund. No release or settlement of claim for damages by reason of injury to the disabled fireman, and no satisfaction of judgment in such proceedings, shall be valid without the written consent of the Board of Trustees authorized by this Code to administer the Fund created under this Article, except that such consent shall not be required where the Fund has been fully indemnified or protected by Court order.

Where the disabled fireman or his personal representative fail to institute a proceeding against such person or entity at any time prior to 3 months before said action would be barred at law, the Fund may, in its own name or in the name of the personal representative, commence a proceeding against such other person or entity for the recovery of damages on account of injuries caused to the fireman. From any amount so recovered, the Fund shall pay to the personal representative of such disabled fireman all sums collected from such other person or entity by judgment or otherwise in excess of the amount of disability or death benefits paid or to be paid under this Code to the disabled fireman or his personal representative, and such costs, attorney's fees, and reasonable expenses as may be incurred by the Fund in making the collection or in enforcing such liability.

When the amount recovered by the injured fireman, his personal representative, or the Fund in any action brought under this Section is less than the amount of disability or death benefits paid or to be paid to the disabled fireman or his personal representative, the Board of Trustees of the Fund may exercise its discretion and determine an appropriate amount under the circumstances to recoup from any award recovered by judgment or otherwise from a third party.

Section 90. The State Mandates Act is amended by adding Section 8.33 as follows:

(30 ILCS 805/8.33 new)

Sec. 8.33. Exempt mandate. Notwithstanding Sections 6 and 8 of this Act, no reimbursement by the State is required for the implementation of any mandate created by this amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly.