On June 9, 2014, Senate Bill 1922 was signed into law and became Illinois Public Act 98-0641 (“Act”). Specifically, the Act called for reductions in future automatic annual increases in annuity, commonly referred to as “COLAs.” The Act also required increased pension contributions from active employees in exchange for actuarial-based funding from the City that would have put the LABF on a path toward reaching 90% funded status by 2055.

In late December 2014, two lawsuits were filed challenging the constitutionality of the Act on the grounds that it diminished pension benefits and, therefore, violated the pension protection clause of the Constitution of the State of Illinois.

On July 24, 2015, the Act was ruled unconstitutional by the Circuit Court of Cook County. The ruling was appealed and on March 24, 2016, the Illinois Supreme Court affirmed the lower court’s ruling.

Click below to read the full statute:

PA 98-0641