SB2196 Summary

• Establishes the University of Illinois School of Labor and Employment Relations as a distinct and autonomous entity within the University of Illinois to offer curricula and educational programs at Urbana-Champaign and Chicago campuses and through extension services in industrial and labor relations.

• Amends the Illinois Pension Code to clarify that persons who participated in Article 15 retirement systems prior to January 1, 2011 are deemed to have first become members before that date, making these changes retroactive to Public Act 96-889.

• Modifies definitions and provisions for Tier 2 pension members regarding final average salary calculations, earnings caps starting at $106,800 annually with adjustments up to 3% or half the CPI increase, whichever is less.

• Establishes requirements for employers to notify the pension system when re-employing retirees receiving annuities, with specific contribution obligations for "affected annuitants" who meet employment thresholds, including potential contribution doubling for employer non-compliance.

• Revises survivor's insurance annuity provisions for Tier 2 members, setting initial benefits at 66 2/3% of the deceased member's retirement annuity with annual increases tied to the consumer price index.