Chicago City Wire

Robert F. Martwick introduced SB1451 in the Illinois Senate on Jan. 31, 2025, during the general assembly session 104, according to the Illinois General Assembly.

According to the Illinois General Assembly site, the legislature summarized the bill's official text as follows: "Amends the General Assembly Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that, in any fiscal year in which the total assets of the System are at least 90% of the total actuarial liabilities of the System, the minimum contribution by the State for that fiscal year shall be the System's normal cost for the fiscal year, plus a supplemental payment in any year in which the total assets of the System are less than 120% of the total actuarial liabilities. Provides that the supplemental payment is to be calculated by using a 30-year rolling amortization to target a ratio of the System's total assets to the System's total actuarial liabilities of 120%. Provides that, if the ratio of the System's total assets to the System's total actuarial liabilities is 120% or greater, but 130% or less, the State is only obligated to make a payment of the normal cost for the fiscal year. Provides that, in any fiscal year in which the ratio of the System's total assets to the System's total actuarial liabilities exceeds 130%, no payment, either for the normal cost or a supplemental payment, shall be paid to the System. Makes conforming changes."

The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, this bill amends the General Assembly Article of the Illinois Pension Code to specify conditions under which the state must make contributions to the pension system based on its funding ratio. When the system's assets are at least 90% of its liabilities, the state's minimum contribution is the system's normal cost for that fiscal year. Additionally, a supplemental payment is required if assets are less than 120% of liabilities, calculated using a 30-year rolling amortization to achieve the 120% target. If assets are between 120% and 130%, only the normal cost is required. No contribution is needed if assets exceed 130% of liabilities. The bill also outlines methods for handling changes in actuarial assumptions and mandates contributions from bond proceeds for certain fiscal years. It includes stipulations for maintaining the system at a 90% funding level post-2045 and specifies how asset values and returns are to be calculated for contribution purposes.

Robert F. Martwick has proposed another 14 bills since the beginning of the 104th session.

Martwick graduated from Boston College in 1988 with a BA and again in 1996 from John Marshall Law School with a JD.

Robert F. Martwick is currently serving in the Illinois State Senate, representing the state's 10th Senate District. He replaced previous state senator John G. Mulroe in 2019.

Bills in Illinois follow a multi-step legislative process, beginning with introduction in either the House or Senate, followed by committee review, floor debates, and votes in both chambers before reaching the governor for approval or veto. The General Assembly operates on a biennial schedule, and while typically thousands of bills are introduced each session, only a fraction successfully pass through the process to become law.

You can read more about bills and other measures here.

Bill Number	Date Introduced	Short Description
SB1451	01/31/2025	Amends the General Assembly Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that, in any fiscal year in which the total assets of the System are at least 90% of the total actuarial liabilities of the System, the minimum contribution by the State for that fiscal year shall be the System's normal cost for the fiscal year, plus a supplemental payment in any year in which the total assets of the System are less than 120% of the total actuarial liabilities. Provides that the supplemental payment is to be calculated by using a 30-year rolling amortization to target a ratio of the System's total assets to the System's total actuarial liabilities of 120%. Provides that, if the ratio of the System's total assets to the System's total actuarial liabilities is 120% or greater, but 130% or less, the State is only obligated to make a payment of the normal cost for the fiscal year. Provides that, in any fiscal year in which the ratio of the System's total assets to the System's total actuarial liabilities exceeds 130%, no payment, either for the normal cost or a supplemental payment, shall be paid to the System. Makes conforming changes.
SB1450	01/31/2025	Amends the Chicago Teacher Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that when computing days of validated service, contributors shall receive the greater of: (1) one day of service credit for each day for which they are paid salary representing a partial or a full day of employment rendered to an employer or the Board of Trustees of the Fund; or (2) 10 days of service credit for each 10-day period of employment in which the contributor worked 50% or more of the regularly scheduled hours (instead of one day of service credit for each day for which they are paid salary representing a partial or a full day of employment rendered to an employer or the Board).
SB1452	01/31/2025	Amends the School Code. Authorizes the Chicago Board of Education, by resolution, to provide for the compensation of its members.
SB1453	01/31/2025	Amends the State Universities Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that the System shall require that the deferred compensation recordkeeper agree that, in performing services with respect to the deferred compensation plan, the recordkeeper: (i) will not use information received as a result of providing services with respect to the deferred compensation plan or the participants in the deferred compensation plan to solicit the participants in the deferred compensation plan for the purpose of cross-selling nonplan products and services, unless in response to a request by a participant in the deferred compensation plan or a request by the System (currently, a request by a participant in the deferred compensation plan); and (ii) will not promote, recommend, endorse, or solicit participants in the deferred compensation plan to purchase any financial products or services outside of the deferred compensation plan, except that links to parts of the recordkeeper's or the recordkeeper's affiliate's (currently, recordkeeper's) website that are generally available to the public, are about commercial products, and may be encountered by a participant in the regular course of navigating the recordkeeper's or the recordkeeper's affiliate's website (currently, recordkeeper's) does not constitute a violation of the prohibition. Amends the University Employees Custodial Accounts Act. Makes similar changes. In a provision prohibiting a defined contribution plan recordkeeper from promoting credit cards, life insurance, or banking products, provides an exception if a request to provide those products is made by the governing board of the public institution of higher education or its authorized delegate. Effective immediately.
SB1454	01/31/2025	Amends the Chicago Police, Chicago Firefighter, and Chicago Municipal Articles of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that a person who becomes a member on or after January 1, 2026 shall be automatically enrolled into a federal tax qualified pre-tax retirement plan that is otherwise allowed by State and federal law. Provides that a member subject to automatic enrollment shall have the option to opt out of the plan and shall be informed of that option within 30 days after being hired. Provides that if another option is not chosen by the member, the default employee contribution to the account shall be 3% of the member's salary. Provides that the plan administrator may automatically increase members contributions by no more than 1% per year, and a member may choose to opt out of the automatic increases. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.
SB1455	01/31/2025	Amends the Deferred Compensation Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that, after January 1, 2026, the deferred compensation plan shall provide for the recovery of the expenses of its administration by charging fees equitably prorated among the participating employers (instead of by charging administrative expenses against the earnings from investments or by charging fees equitably prorated among the participating State employees or by such other appropriate and equitable method as the Illinois State Board of Investment shall determine). Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.
SB1456	01/31/2025	Amends the General Provisions Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that the amendatory Act may be referred to as the Pension Board Member Training Act. Provides that the Department of Insurance shall develop and implement a curriculum designed to provide pension board members with necessary education on specified topics, including legal and fiduciary responsibilities, investment strategies, ethical considerations, and actuarial assessments and reporting requirements. Provides that the curriculum shall be made available online to all pension board members. Requires every pension board member to complete the training provided by the Department on an annual basis. Provides that attendance at pension board meetings shall not be deemed to fulfill the annual training requirement. Sets forth provisions concerning definitions; Department responsibilities and rulemaking; and documentation.
SB1458	01/31/2025	Amends the Firearm Concealed Carry Act. Provides that if a concealed carry licensee leaves his or her vehicle unattended, he or she shall store the firearm out of plain view in a safe or other secure container which, when locked, is incapable of being opened without the key, keypad, combination, or other unlocking mechanism and is capable of preventing an unauthorized person from obtaining access to and possession of the weapon contained therein and shall be fire, impact, and tamper resistant. For the purposes of this provision, a glove compartment, glove box, or center console is not considered an appropriate safe or secure storage container. Provides that when leaving his or her vehicle unattended, a concealed carry licensee shall store his or her loaded or unloaded firearm out of plain view in a safe or other secure container which, when locked, is incapable of being opened without the key, keypad, combination, or other unlocking mechanism and is capable of preventing an unauthorized person from obtaining access to and possession of the weapon contained therein and shall be fire, impact, and tamper resistant. For the purposes of this provision, a glove compartment, glove box, or center console is not considered an appropriate safe or secure storage container. Provides that a concealed carry licensee in violation of this provision is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor for a first or second violation and a Class 4 felony for a third violation. Provides that the Illinois State Police may suspend a license for up to 6 months for a second violation and shall permanently revoke a license for a third violation. Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that for the aggravated unlawful possession of a weapon statute, "case" does not include an unlocked glove compartment, glove box, or center console of a vehicle.
SB1459	01/31/2025	Amends the Tobacco Products Manufacturers' Escrow Enforcement Act of 2003. Provides that, upon a distributor's failure to submit certain information, the Attorney General may send a notice of violation to the distributor and provide 10 days to cure the violation. Provides that, if the distributor does not cure the violation, the Attorney General may notify the Director of Revenue of the violation, and, upon receiving the Attorney General's notice, the Director of Revenue shall revoke the distributor's license. Amends the Tobacco Product Manufacturers' Escrow Act. Provides that a tobacco product manufacturer that elects to place funds into escrow may make an irrevocable assignment of its interest in the funds to the benefit of the State.
SB1460	01/31/2025	Amends the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act concerning the Firearm Transfer Inquiry Program. Provides that the Illinois State Police may charge a fee not to exceed $10 and any processing fee. Provides that the processing fees shall be limited to charges by the State Treasurer for using the electronic online payment system. Provides that $4 from each fee collected under this provision shall be deposited into the State Police Firearm Enforcement Fund. Currently, the Illinois State Police may utilize existing technology which allows the caller to be charged a fee not to exceed $2.
SB1461	01/31/2025	Amends the Illinois Pension Code. In provisions authorizing certain persons to transfer service credit from IMRF to a downstate police pension fund, makes technical and combining changes to conform the changes made by Public Act 102-857 and Public Act 102-1061. Removes a restrictive date on the transfer of that service credit. Authorizes investigators for the Secretary of State and conservation police officers to transfer that service credit. Authorizes State's Attorneys to transfer service credit under the IMRF Article to the State Employee Article. In the State Employee Article, provides that a State policeman or conservation police officer may elect to convert service credit earned under the Article or, for certain types of service, elect to establish eligible creditable service under the alternative retirement annuity provisions by filing a written election with the Board of Trustees and paying to the System a specified amount. Provides that a participant under the alternative retirement annuity provisions may establish eligible creditable service for up to 7 years of service as a State's Attorney. Provides that any benefit increase that results from the amendatory Act is excluded from the definition of "new benefit increase". Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.
SB1462	01/31/2025	Amends the Illinois Pension Code. In provisions authorizing certain persons to transfer service credit from IMRF to a downstate police pension fund, makes technical and combining changes to conform the changes made by Public Act 102-857 and Public Act 102-1061. Removes a restrictive date on the transfer of that service credit. Authorizes investigators for the Secretary of State and conservation police officers to transfer that service credit. Authorizes State's Attorneys to transfer service credit under the IMRF Article to the State Employee Article. In the State Employee Article, provides that a State policeman or conservation police officer may elect to convert service credit earned under the Article or, for certain types of service, elect to establish eligible creditable service under the alternative retirement annuity provisions by filing a written election with the Board of Trustees and paying to the System a specified amount. Provides that a participant under the alternative retirement annuity provisions may establish eligible creditable service for up to 7 years of service as a State's Attorney. Provides that any benefit increase that results from the amendatory Act is excluded from the definition of "new benefit increase". Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.
SB1184	01/24/2025	Amends the Chicago Police Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that a policeman who applies for disability benefits under the Article and has been denied reinstatement as a policeman by his or her employer because of a physical or mental incapacity shall be presumed to be disabled as that term is used in the Article. Provides that no policeman who otherwise meets the requirements for a disability benefit shall be denied a disability benefit unless and until the policeman's employer reinstates him or her as a policeman or offers him or her a limited-duty position. Provides that the changes apply retroactively to January 1, 2023. Provides that any policeman who has been denied a disability benefit without an offer of reinstatement or a limited-duty position after January 1, 2023 shall be entitled to retroactive disability benefits. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.
SB1185	01/24/2025	Amends the Chicago Police Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that a policeman who applies for disability benefits under the Article and has been denied reinstatement as a policeman by his or her employer because of a physical or mental incapacity shall be presumed to be disabled as that term is used in the Article. Provides that no policeman who otherwise meets the requirements for a disability benefit shall be denied a disability benefit unless and until the policeman's employer reinstates him or her as a policeman or offers him or her a limited-duty position. Provides that any policeman who has been denied a disability benefit without an offer of reinstatement or a limited-duty position after the effective date of the amendatory Act is entitled to disability benefits. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.
SB1186	01/24/2025	Amends the Chicago Police Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that if a policeman has an application for an ordinary disability benefit denied by the Board of Trustees of the Fund or has a duty disability benefit, ordinary disability benefit, or occupational disability benefit terminated by the Board and brings an action for administrative review challenging the termination or denial of the disability benefit and the policeman prevails in the action in administrative review, then the prevailing policeman shall be entitled to recover from the Fund court costs and litigation expenses, including reasonable attorney's fees, as part of the costs of the action. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.
SB1187	01/24/2025	Amends the Chicago Police Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that for Tier 2 policemen, "final average salary" is the greater of: (i) the average monthly salary obtained by dividing the total salary of the policeman during the 96 consecutive months of service within the last 120 months of service in which the total salary was the highest; or (ii) the average monthly salary obtained by dividing the total salary of the policeman during the 48 consecutive months of service within the last 60 months of service in which the total salary was the highest. Provides that the limit on salary for all purposes under the Code for Tier 2 policemen shall annually be increased by the lesser of 3% or the annual (instead of one-half of the annual) unadjusted percentage increase in the consumer price index-u, including all previous adjustments. Provides that the surviving spouse's annuity for certain Tier 2 policemen shall be 54% of the policeman's monthly salary at the time of the policeman's death. Provides that if the deceased policeman was a parent of a child or children and there is a surviving spouse, 12% of the policeman's monthly salary at the date of death, or 12% of the policeman's earned pension, shall be granted to the guardian of any such minor child or children. Provides that upon the death of the surviving spouse leaving one or more children under the age of 18, or upon the death of a policeman leaving one or more children but no surviving spouse, a monthly pension of 20% of the policeman's monthly salary at the date of death or 20% of the policeman's earned pension at the date of death shall be granted to the guardian of each such child until the child reaches age 18. Makes other changes. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.
SB1188	01/24/2025	Amends the Chicago Teacher Article of the Illinois Pension Code. In a provision allowing a service retirement pensioner to be re-employed as a teacher for a specified number of days without cancellation of the service retirement pension, provides that if a service retirement pensioner works more than the number of days allowed under that provision in any school year, the service retirement pension benefit shall be withheld on a pro rata basis for each day worked in excess of the number of days allowed. Provides that if a pensioner who only teaches drivers education courses after regular school hours works more than 900 hours in any school year, the service retirement pension benefit shall be withheld on a pro rata basis for each period of 7.5 hours in excess of 900 hours. Provides that the changes made by the amendatory Act are retroactive to July 1, 2020. Provides that all service retirement pensioners whose service retirement pensions were cancelled as a result of re-employment as a teacher during the period of July 1, 2020 through the effective date of the amendatory Act shall have their overpayments recalculated on a pro rata basis consistent with the changes made by the amendatory Act, and the difference between the initial overpayment and the recalculated overpayment shall be refunded to those service retirement pensioners with interest. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.
SB1189	01/24/2025	Amends the Chicago Police Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that a policeman who applies for disability benefits under the Article and has been denied reinstatement as a policeman by his or her employer because of a physical or mental incapacity shall be presumed to be disabled as that term is used in the Article. Provides that no policeman who otherwise meets the requirements for a disability benefit shall be denied a disability benefit unless and until the policeman's employer reinstates him or her as a policeman or offers him or her a limited-duty position. Provides that any policeman who has been denied a disability benefit without an offer of reinstatement or a limited-duty position after the effective date of the amendatory Act is entitled to disability benefits. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.
SB1190	01/24/2025	Amends the Chicago Police Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that a policeman who applies for disability benefits under the Article and has been denied reinstatement as a policeman by his or her employer because of a physical or mental incapacity shall be presumed to be disabled as that term is used in the Article. Provides that no policeman who otherwise meets the requirements for a disability benefit shall be denied a disability benefit unless and until the policeman's employer reinstates him or her as a policeman or offers him or her a limited-duty position. Provides that the changes apply retroactively to January 1, 2023. Provides that any policeman who has been denied a disability benefit without an offer of reinstatement or a limited-duty position after January 1, 2023 shall be entitled to retroactive disability benefits. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.
SB1191	01/24/2025	Amends the Chicago Police Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that if a policeman has an application for an ordinary disability benefit denied by the Board of Trustees of the Fund or has a duty disability benefit, ordinary disability benefit, or occupational disability benefit terminated by the Board and brings an action for administrative review challenging the termination or denial of the disability benefit and the policeman prevails in the action in administrative review, then the prevailing policeman shall be entitled to recover from the Fund court costs and litigation expenses, including reasonable attorney's fees, as part of the costs of the action. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.
SB0002	01/13/2025	Amends the Illinois Pension Code. Makes changes to Tier 2 benefits, including changing the amount of the automatic annual increase to 3% of the originally granted retirement annuity or 3% of the retirement annuity then being paid for the General Assembly and Judges Articles, changing the limit on the amount of salary for annuity purposes to the Social Security wage base, changing the calculation of final average salary to the Tier 1 calculation for persons who are active members on or after January 1, 2026, and changing the retirement age. Establishes an accelerated pension benefit payment option for the General Assembly, Chicago Teachers, and Judges Articles of the Code. Provides that, with regard to persons subject to the Tier 2 provisions, a security employee of the Department of Human Services, a security employee of the Department of Corrections or the Department of Juvenile Justice, an investigator for the Department of the Lottery, or a State highway worker is entitled to an annuity calculated under the alternative retirement annuity provisions of the State Employee Article of the Code. Authorizes the conversion of service to eligible creditable service. Provides that the Retirement Systems Reciprocal Act (Article 20 of the Code) is adopted and made a part of the Downstate Police, Downstate Firefighter, Chicago Police, and Chicago Firefighter Articles. Authorizes SLEP status under the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund for a person who is a county correctional officer or probation officer and for a person who participates in IMRF and qualifies as a firefighter under the Public Safety Employee Benefits Act. In the Downstate Firefighter Article, includes a de facto firefighter in the definition of "firefighter". Defines "de facto firefighter". Provides that the monthly pension of a firefighter who is receiving a disability pension shall be increased at the rate of 3% of the original monthly pension. Makes changes to the minimum retirement annuity payable to a firefighter with 20 or more years of creditable service, the minimum disability pension, and the minimum surviving spouse's pension. Makes other changes. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement by the State. Effective immediately.