Lodge Legislation
_Illinois Fraternal Order of Police #1 Legislative Priority!
_SB 512 PUBLIC EMPLOYEE BENEFITS-TECH
LODGE OPPOSES!
The Truth About Public Pensions
We are ONE Illinois
Essential Public Services
Firefighters and police, teachers and nurses, child protection workers and disability caregivers are just some of the public employees that Illinois residents rely on every day, in every community, in every part of the state.
POLITICIANS CAUSED PENSION DEBT
For decades, Illinois politicians shorted or skipped the employer contributions required by law, creating the nation’s largest pension debt. All that time, public employees paid their fair share. It’s wrong to punish public employees for the actions—or inaction—of irresponsible politicians.
PUBLIC EMPLOYEES PAY
A public employee’s pension is his or her own life savings—they typically contribute 8 percent, 9 percent or more from each paycheck to their pension fund. Illinois public employees have always paid their share, faithfully and in full.
NO SOCIAL SECURITY
Most Illinois public employees are ineligible for Social Security. Unlike every private-sector worker in America, police and firefighters, teachers and university employees, city of Chicago and Cook County employees don’t qualify for Social Security. Reducing the pension they earn would leave many public employees with little to fall back on in retirement.
PENSIONS ARE MODEST
Illinois public employees retire on very modest pensions—on average just $32,000 a year after a career dedicated to public service. Many receive much less than this average amount.
PROTECTED BY THE CONSTITUTION
The Illinois Constitution states that membership in a public pension system is an enforceable contractual relationship, “the benefits of which may not be diminished or impaired.” That plain language means it is unconstitutional to reduce pension benefits or increase contributions of current public employees. Legislation violating this constitutional protection will cause a costly and wasteful court challenge.
REP LYONS : HB 0176 CORRECTIONAL OPERATIONS
Amends the State Finance Act. Creates the Illinois Department of Corrections Parole Division Violent Offender Supervision Fund in the State treasury. Also creates the Illinois Department of Corrections Operations Assistance Fund in the State treasury.
LODGE SUPPORTS Passed both Houses sent to Governor for signing!!
REP SACIA : HB 0098 CORRECTIONAL OFFICER-FIREARMS
Amends the Criminal Code of 1961, the Unified Code of Corrections, and the County Jail Act. Permits currently employed and retired State correctional officers and county correctional officers to carry their own firearms off duty without being in violation of the unlawful use of weapons and aggravated unlawful use of a weapon statutes if they meet certain training requirements.
LODGE SUPPORTS Sits in Rules committee, Lodge will revisit in veto session and spring 2012
REP MCAULIFFE : HB 0196 CD CORR-EARLY RELEASE
Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that a prisoner in a Department of Corrections facility who is serving a sentence for the offense of domestic battery or aggravated domestic battery committed on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act shall receive no good conduct credit and shall serve the entire sentence imposed by the court.
LODGE SUPPORTS Currently not moving, will not be addressed this session.
LODGE OPPOSES!
The Truth About Public Pensions
We are ONE Illinois
Essential Public Services
Firefighters and police, teachers and nurses, child protection workers and disability caregivers are just some of the public employees that Illinois residents rely on every day, in every community, in every part of the state.
POLITICIANS CAUSED PENSION DEBT
For decades, Illinois politicians shorted or skipped the employer contributions required by law, creating the nation’s largest pension debt. All that time, public employees paid their fair share. It’s wrong to punish public employees for the actions—or inaction—of irresponsible politicians.
PUBLIC EMPLOYEES PAY
A public employee’s pension is his or her own life savings—they typically contribute 8 percent, 9 percent or more from each paycheck to their pension fund. Illinois public employees have always paid their share, faithfully and in full.
NO SOCIAL SECURITY
Most Illinois public employees are ineligible for Social Security. Unlike every private-sector worker in America, police and firefighters, teachers and university employees, city of Chicago and Cook County employees don’t qualify for Social Security. Reducing the pension they earn would leave many public employees with little to fall back on in retirement.
PENSIONS ARE MODEST
Illinois public employees retire on very modest pensions—on average just $32,000 a year after a career dedicated to public service. Many receive much less than this average amount.
PROTECTED BY THE CONSTITUTION
The Illinois Constitution states that membership in a public pension system is an enforceable contractual relationship, “the benefits of which may not be diminished or impaired.” That plain language means it is unconstitutional to reduce pension benefits or increase contributions of current public employees. Legislation violating this constitutional protection will cause a costly and wasteful court challenge.
REP LYONS : HB 0176 CORRECTIONAL OPERATIONS
Amends the State Finance Act. Creates the Illinois Department of Corrections Parole Division Violent Offender Supervision Fund in the State treasury. Also creates the Illinois Department of Corrections Operations Assistance Fund in the State treasury.
LODGE SUPPORTS Passed both Houses sent to Governor for signing!!
REP SACIA : HB 0098 CORRECTIONAL OFFICER-FIREARMS
Amends the Criminal Code of 1961, the Unified Code of Corrections, and the County Jail Act. Permits currently employed and retired State correctional officers and county correctional officers to carry their own firearms off duty without being in violation of the unlawful use of weapons and aggravated unlawful use of a weapon statutes if they meet certain training requirements.
LODGE SUPPORTS Sits in Rules committee, Lodge will revisit in veto session and spring 2012
REP MCAULIFFE : HB 0196 CD CORR-EARLY RELEASE
Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that a prisoner in a Department of Corrections facility who is serving a sentence for the offense of domestic battery or aggravated domestic battery committed on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act shall receive no good conduct credit and shall serve the entire sentence imposed by the court.
LODGE SUPPORTS Currently not moving, will not be addressed this session.
