Legislative Update From President Fred Scholl February 23, 2010 With the legislative session underway the Lodge is currently tracking numerous bills that would have an impact on our membership. Some are beneficial and some are harmful. If you would like to track the movements of any bill, you can do so logging onto the Illinois legislative website and enter the bill number. Here are just some of the bills we are monitoring. | HB5839 (Burke-D) | The D.R.O.P. (Deferred Retirement Option Plan) is a Troopers Lodge initiative created as a way to assist in the funding of our pension. | | HB5418 (McCarthy-D) | This bill, if passed, would create a two tiered pension system. The Lodge is OPPOSED to this bill. The bill is currently in Rules. | | HB5507 (Gordon-D) | This bill, which was sponsored by the Illinois FOP State Lodge would create an FOP specialty license plate. The bill is currently in Committee. The Lodge SUPPORTS this bill. | | HB5856 (Poe-R) | The Lodge SUPPORTS this bill which provides that the state pay the cost of dental benefits for retirees and survivors. This would stop the state from charging retirees dental premiums. This bill has picked up three co-sponsors (Cavaletto, Moffitt and Brauer) and is in Rules. | | SB2978 (Millner-R) | This bill would make certain records of law enforcement officers exempt from FOI (Freedom of Information) requests. The bill has been assigned to Committee and the Lodge SUPPORTS the bill. | | SB3040 (Haine-D) | Another FOI bill, this one exempts an officers evaluations from being subject of a FOI. This bill is also in Committee and is also SUPPORTED by the Lodge. | | SB3141 (Millner-R) | This bill is the same as HB5507 to create an FOP license plate. We SUPPORT this bill. | | SB3308 (Demuzio-D) | This is similar to HB5856 but also includes prohibiting the state from charging premiums for vision benefits as well as dental. We SUPPORT it. | | SB3310 (Bomke-R) | Another retiree health care bill, the language is the exact same as HB5856, and we also SUPPORT this bill. | | SB3408 (Brady-R) | This senate bill would require new hires to enroll in a self managed program of retirement benefits instead of the current pension system. This has been assigned to Committee and we OPPOSE the bill. | | SB3409 (Brady-R) | This is very similar to SB3408 and has also been assigned to Committee. We also OPPOSE this bill. |
Those wishing to follow legislation, both state and national, can do so by clicking on the following links. State Issues to Illinois General Assembly
National Issues to Grand Lodge |
