HB3757 amends the Illinois Pension Code to create a limited, six-month window for active members of downstate police pension funds to transfer up to eight years of creditable service earned in a downstate firefighter pension fund administered by a unit of local government. The transfer is available only if the member was not subject to disciplinary action when leaving the firefighter employer, and it requires payment of an amount set by the pension board that reflects the difference between prior contributions and what would have been contributed under the police fund, plus actuarial interest.
The bill also allows an active police pension member, at the time of applying for the transfer, to reinstate previously refunded police service credit by repaying the refund amount with 6% compounded annual interest. In addition, it amends the State Mandates Act to specify that implementation is required without reimbursement, meaning local governments would not be entitled to state reimbursement for any costs associated with carrying out the new provisions.
Impact
HB3757 would add new provisions to both the Downstate Police and Downstate Firefighter Articles of the Illinois Pension Code, creating a mechanism for certain firefighters who later become police officers to consolidate service credit into the police pension system. It affects active members of downstate police pension funds, downstate firefighter pension funds administered by local governments, and the pension boards responsible for calculating and processing transfers and reinstatements. The bill also adds a State Mandates Act provision indicating the state does not owe reimbursement for implementation costs.
Sentiment
No committee transcript or recorded vote information was provided, so there is no documented debate or voting pattern to gauge legislative sentiment. Based on the bill text alone, the measure appears narrowly tailored and administrative in nature, suggesting a technical pension benefit adjustment rather than a broad policy overhaul. The absence of opposition or support statements means sentiment cannot be reliably characterized beyond the bill’s apparent intent to facilitate service-credit portability for a limited group of public safety employees.
Contention
The main potential points of contention are fiscal and eligibility-related. Local pension systems may be concerned about the cost of transferring service credit, the actuarial assumptions used to price the transfer, and the requirement that the member pay only a board-determined amount rather than the full long-term cost. Another possible issue is fairness: the bill benefits a specific class of employees—active downstate police members with prior firefighter service—and excludes those who left under disciplinary circumstances. The State Mandates Act language may also draw attention from local governments because it shifts implementation responsibility without reimbursement.
Establishes the downstate New York power authority to own and operate electricity service and acquire the distribution facilities formerly owned by any downstate utility corporation.
Sets base wage requirements for certain human services workers employed in eligible state-funded programs that provide health and/or welfare assistance.
Sets base wage requirements for certain human services workers employed in eligible state-funded programs that provide health and/or welfare assistance.