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Bill

HB 79

PEN CD-IMRF-RETURN TO SERVICE

104th Regular Session Introduced by Neil Anderson and 13 co-sponsors

Illinois allows retired IMRF members to repay withdrawn contributions and restore pension benefits, increasing their retirement payouts and the fund's liabilities.

Public Act . . . . . . . . . 104-0163
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Bill Summary · HB 79

Legislative bill overview

HB 79 allows certain retired public employees in Illinois who previously received a refund of their pension contributions to return that money to the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF) and restore their pension benefits. The bill creates a pathway for these individuals to reclaim service credit they lost when they initially withdrew from the pension system.

Why is this important

For affected retirees, this represents a second chance to access pension benefits they forfeited years ago, potentially increasing their retirement income significantly. The policy also affects IMRF's long-term obligations and the state's pension liability calculations, which are ongoing fiscal concerns in Illinois.

Potential points of contention

  • Fiscal impact uncertainty: Restoring pension benefits increases IMRF's long-term liability, and the cost to the fund and taxpayers may not be fully quantified
  • Fairness questions: Creates advantages for employees who can afford to repay contributions versus those who cannot, and differs from options available to other Illinois pension systems
  • Administrative complexity: Implementing repayment mechanisms and recalculating decades-old service credits requires substantial IMRF administrative work

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

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