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HB 3354

PEN CD-CHI POLICE-ADMIN REVIEW

104th Regular Session Introduced by Stephanie Kifowit

Allows police disability plaintiffs who win administrative review to recover court costs and attorney fees from the Chicago Police Pension Fund.

Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee
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Bill Summary · HB 3354

Summary — HB 3354 (PEN CD-CHI POLICE‑ADMIN REVIEW)

Status: Introduced Feb 18, 2025 (Rep. Stephanie A. Kifowit). Re-referred under Rule 19(a) to Rules Committee. Companion: SB 1369.

Purpose

HB 3354 amends the Chicago Police Article of the Illinois Pension Code to allow a policeman who prevails in an administrative-review challenge to the denial or termination of certain disability pension benefits to recover court costs and litigation expenses (including reasonable attorney’s fees) from the Chicago Police Pension Fund. The bill also amends the State Mandates Act to state that implementation of this change requires no state reimbursement.

Key provisions

  • Amends 40 ILCS 5/5-228 (Administrative review for Chicago Police pension proceedings).
    • If a policeman’s application for a duty disability (Section 5-154), occupational disease disability (Section 5-154.1), or ordinary disability (Section 5-155) is:
    • denied by a majority vote of the Fund’s Board of Trustees, or
    • terminated by a majority vote of the Board,
    • and the policeman brings an action for administrative review and prevails, then the prevailing policeman is entitled to recover from the Fund:
      • court costs, and
      • litigation expenses, including reasonable attorney’s fees, as part of the costs of the action.
  • Adds Section 8.49 to the State Mandates Act (30 ILCS 805/8.49):
    • Declares that no state reimbursement is required for implementing any mandate created by this amendatory Act.
  • Effective date: upon becoming law.

Who is affected

  • Primary: Chicago policemen (applicants/recipients of duty, occupational, or ordinary disability benefits) who pursue and prevail in administrative-review litigation.
  • Chicago Police Pension Fund / Board of Trustees: increased potential liability to pay successful claimants’ litigation costs and attorney fees.
  • City of Chicago / taxpayers: potential indirect fiscal effects if the Fund’s expenses require adjustments to funding, contributions, or reserves (bill contains no appropriation).

Procedural timeline / current status

  • Introduced Feb 18, 2025; first reading Feb 18.
  • Referred to committees; assigned to Appropriations‑Pensions & Personnel; moved through subcommittee and calendar actions in March–April 2025.
  • Read second time Apr 29, 2025; subsequent calendar movements and laid on table May 5, 2025.
  • As noted, the bill was re‑referred to the Rules Committee under Rule 19(a).

Potential impact / considerations

  • Encourages enforcement of pension rights by reducing the net cost of successful appeals to claimants.
  • Increases financial exposure for the Chicago Police Pension Fund because it must pay prevailing claimants’ litigation costs and attorney fees.
  • The State Mandates Act amendment precludes state reimbursement, leaving any fiscal consequences to the pension fund and its stakeholders rather than the state budget.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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