SB 1646

Abstract

Amends the Downstate Teacher Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Allows a member to establish optional credit for up to 2 years of service as a teacher or administrator employed by a private school recognized by the Illinois State Board of Education, provided that the teacher (i) was certified under the law governing the certification of teachers at the time the service was rendered, (ii) applies in writing on or before June 30, 2023, (iii) supplies satisfactory evidence of the employment, (iv) completes at least 10 years of contributing service as a teacher, and (v) pays the required contribution. Effective immediately. House Floor Amendment No. 2 Adds reference to: 40 ILCS 5/16-158 from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 16-158 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the engrossed bill with the following changes. Further amends the Downstate Teacher Article of the Illinois Pension Code. In a provision that requires an employer to make an additional contribution to the System for certain salary increases greater than 6%, excludes salary increases resulting from teaching summer school on or after May 1, 2021 and before September 15, 2022. Effective immediately. Pension Note, House Floor Amendment No. 2 (Government Forecasting & Accountability) SB 1646, as amended by HA 2, would reopen a window for teachers to apply for optional service credit for work done in approved private schools as teachers and administrators. The Teachers' Retirement System reports having 3,463 members who have applied for this private school credit in previous window openings, as described below. TRS estimates that the fiscal impact of this bill would be low, as the member must pay both the member and employer contributions, plus the actuarially assumed rate of interest to take advantage of this credit. The fiscal impact to TRS as a result of exempting summer school teaching from the 6% Final Average Salary Cap is unknown, as it is not known how many teachers would accrue pensionable salary in excess of 6% from the previous school year with the same employer via summer school teaching rendered between May 1, 2021 and September 15, 2022. Fiscal Note, House Floor Amendment No. 2 (Teachers Retirement System) Actuarial cost impact. SB 1646 as amended would have an unknown impact to TRS. Changes allowing optional service purchase under the bill are designed to be fully paid for by the related member contributions. Changes in required school district contributions would likely create some additional cost to the State of Illinois, but the total cost cannot be calculated without knowing the actual behavior of individual school districts and employees. Administrative cost impact. Administering the provisions of this bill would not increase the administrative costs ofTRS.