PEN CD-CHI FIRE-RECIPROCAL ACT

104th Regular Session Introduced by Marty Moylan

HB 2684 lets eligible Chicago firefighter retirees/survivors elect the Reciprocal Act to coordinate benefits across Illinois pension systems; no state reimbursement; local funds bear costs.

Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

HB 2684 — "PEN CD‑CHI FIRE‑RECIPROCAL ACT" — Bill Summary

Note: The materials provided include text from two different bills (an Arizona pedestrian safety bill and an Illinois pension bill). This summary focuses on the Illinois bill titled “PEN CD‑CHI FIRE‑RECIPROCAL ACT” (Illinois HB 2684). Confirm the authoritative text on the Illinois General Assembly website for final details.

Purpose / Intent

To make the Retirement Systems Reciprocal Act (Article 20 of the Illinois Pension Code) available within the Chicago Firefighter Article of the Illinois Pension Code for certain individuals, and to specify that implementing this change creates no state reimbursement obligation under the State Mandates Act.

Key Provisions

Adds Section 6‑235 to the Illinois Pension Code (40 ILCS 5):

The Retirement Systems Reciprocal Act (Article 20) is expressly adopted and made part of the Chicago Firefighter Article, but only for persons who both:
On or after the bill’s effective date are entitled under the Chicago Firefighter Article to begin receiving a retirement annuity or a survivor’s annuity; and
Elect to proceed under the Retirement Systems Reciprocal Act.
In short: eligible firefighters (or survivors) who first become entitled to annuities on or after the effective date may elect to apply the reciprocal rules.

Adds Section 8.49 to the State Mandates Act (30 ILCS 805):

Declares that no reimbursement by the State is required for implementation of any mandate created by this amendatory Act (i.e., exempts the bill from state reimbursement requirements).

Who Is Affected

Primary: Members of the Chicago Firefighter retirement system and their survivors who become eligible for retirement or survivor annuities on or after the bill’s effective date and who choose to elect the Reciprocal Act option.

Secondary: Other public retirement systems and administrators who may need to coordinate benefits under reciprocal rules.

Fiscal: Local pension funds and employers that administer Chicago firefighter benefits — the bill includes an explicit State Mandates Act exemption, indicating no state reimbursement obligation for implementation costs.

Practical Impact

Provides an elective pathway for eligible Chicago firefighter annuitants/survivors to utilize the Reciprocal Act (which allows aggregation/coordination of service credit and benefit calculation across multiple Illinois public pension systems).

Could change benefit computations or portability options for those who elect it; administrative coordination among systems may be required.

The State Mandates Act exemption shifts implementation costs or administrative burdens, if any, to local governments/pension funds rather than the State.

Procedural / Timeline Notes

Introduced in the Illinois House by Rep. Martin J. Moylan (introduced 2/6/2025 per LRB header).

Companion bill in the Senate: SB 1233 (listed as related).

The provided file includes mixed legislative-actions entries (some from other jurisdictions). For current status (committee referrals, votes, amendments, effective date), consult the official Illinois General Assembly bill page.

If you want, I can fetch the current procedural status and the exact effective date from the Illinois legislative website and compare the official enrolled bill text.