Gov. Pritzker Signs Firefighter’s Pensions Reform Legislation Codifying Benefits

Link: https://www.riverbender.com/articles/details/gov-pritzker-signs-firefighters-pensions-reform-legislation-codifying-benefits-49231.cfm

Excerpt:

HB 2451 addresses disparate pension benefits among Chicago firefighters. Currently, employees eligible for a pension in the Firemen’s Annuity and Benefit Fund of Chicago (FABF) who were born after January 1, 1966 are granted a 1.5 percent COLA. However, firefighters who may have started on the force the same day, may unfairly receive different benefits based on their dates of birth. The legislation addresses this discrepancy by adjusting the COLA for these firefighters from 1.5 percent to 3 percent.

The legislation eliminates the 30 percent cap on cumulative COLA adjustments. For employees eligible for a 1.5 percent COLA, they would have hit the cap at 20 years. The reforms made in this legislation provides firefighters the ability to plan for themselves and their families.

HB 2451 is effective immediately.

Publication Date: 5 April 2021

Publication Site: Riverbender