Legislative News

by: Keith George

seal

April 21, 2009

The Illinois General Assembly is in full swing now. In this column, we will examine various bills or resolutions of a law enforcement nature. A synopsis of the bill in question will follow with sponsor documentation where applicable.

We will also comment as to whether a bill is law enforcement friendly and suggest that you call your local representatives and encourage him or her to assist passage or to kill a bill in whatever house it may appear (House or Senate). It is important that you become involved in these matters. Your approval or rejection of any bill should be made known to your representative.

House Bill 0302 (HB0302)

The Police Pension Marriage after Retirement bill was introduced on January 22, 2009, in the House by State Representative Jay C. Hoff man. This bill is designed to provide pension benefits to the surviving spouse and children of a marriage which occurred after the officer’s retirement.

A short synopsis as it was introduced: This bill amends the Downstate Police Article of the Illinois Pension Code. The bill allows payment of a survivor’s pension to the surviving spouse and children of a marriage occurring after retirement, if the surviving spouse and the deceased police officer were married for at least one year immediately preceding the date of the officer’s death. It amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement.

This is a good bill. It corrects a flaw in the current pension codes. Currently if an officer remarries after their retirement and dies the pension does not pass to their current spouse or any children resulting in that marriage. This situation has been happening more frequently with officers living longer and remarrying after their retirement dates. It is a bill that MAP supports and encourages our membership to contact your local representatives as well as the sponsor State Representative Jay C. Hoffman to express your support.

The bill has been referred to Rules Committee. Check out this bill online at the Illinois General Assembly page at www.ilga.gov and click on Bills and Resolutions.