Bill Text: IL HB4939 | 2017-2018 | 100th General Assembly | Introduced
Bill Title: Amends the Downstate Firefighter Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that a firefighter receiving a disability pension for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) shall not be required to undergo a medical examination to verify continuance of disability after attaining the age of 45 (rather than 50). Effective immediately.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Failed) 2019-01-08 - Session Sine Die [HB4939 Detail]
Download: Illinois-2017-HB4939-Introduced.html
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||
1 | AN ACT concerning public employee benefits.
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
2 | Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
3 | represented in the General Assembly:
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
4 | Section 5. The Illinois Pension Code is amended by changing | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
5 | Section 4-112 as follows:
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
6 | (40 ILCS 5/4-112) (from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 4-112)
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
7 | Sec. 4-112. Determination of disability; restoration to | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
8 | active service; disability cannot constitute cause for | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
9 | discharge. A disability pension shall not be paid until | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
10 | disability
has been established by the board by examinations
of | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
11 | the firefighter at pension fund expense by 3 physicians | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
12 | selected
by the board and such other evidence as the board | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
13 | deems
necessary. The 3 physicians selected by the board need | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
14 | not agree as to the existence of any disability or the nature | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
15 | and extent of a disability. Medical examination of a | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
16 | firefighter
receiving a disability pension shall be made at | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
17 | least once each year prior
to attainment of age 50 in order to | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
18 | verify continuance of disability , except that a medical | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
19 | examination of a firefighter receiving a disability pension for | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
20 | post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) shall not be made after | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
21 | attainment of age 45 . No
examination shall be required after | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
22 | age 50 , except that no examination shall be required after age | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
23 | 45 for a firefighter receiving a disability pension for |
| |||||||
| |||||||
1 | post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) . No physical or mental | ||||||
2 | disability that constitutes, in whole or in part, the basis of | ||||||
3 | an application for benefits under this Article may be used, in | ||||||
4 | whole or in part, by any municipality or fire protection | ||||||
5 | district employing firefighters, emergency medical | ||||||
6 | technicians, or paramedics as cause for discharge.
| ||||||
7 | Upon satisfactory proof to the board that a firefighter on | ||||||
8 | the disability
pension has recovered from disability, the board | ||||||
9 | shall
terminate the
disability pension.
The firefighter shall | ||||||
10 | report to the marshal or chief
of the fire department, who | ||||||
11 | shall thereupon
order immediate reinstatement into active | ||||||
12 | service, and the municipality shall immediately return the | ||||||
13 | firefighter to its payroll, in the same rank or grade held
at | ||||||
14 | the date he or she was placed on disability pension. If the | ||||||
15 | firefighter must file a civil action against the municipality | ||||||
16 | to enforce his or her mandated return to payroll under this | ||||||
17 | paragraph, then the firefighter is entitled to recovery of | ||||||
18 | reasonable court costs and attorney's fees.
| ||||||
19 | The firefighter shall be entitled to 10 days notice before
| ||||||
20 | any hearing or meeting of the board at which the question of | ||||||
21 | his or her
disability is to be considered, and shall have the | ||||||
22 | right to be present
at any such hearing or meeting, and to be | ||||||
23 | represented by counsel; however,
the board shall not have any | ||||||
24 | obligation to provide such fireman with counsel.
| ||||||
25 | (Source: P.A. 95-681, eff. 10-11-07.)
| ||||||
26 | Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon |
| |||||||
| |||||||
1 | becoming law.
|