§ 17-149 — Cancellation of pensions

(a) If any person receiving a disability retirement pension from the Fund is re-employed as a teacher by an Employer, the pension shall be cancelled on the date the re-employment begins, or on the first day of a payroll period for which service credit was validated, whichever is earlier. (b) If any person receiving a service retirement pension from the Fund is re-employed as a teacher on a permanent or annual basis by an Employer, the pension shall be cancelled on the date the re-employment begins, or on the first day of a payroll period for which service credit was validated, whichever is earlier. However, subject to the limitations and requirements of subsection (c-5), (c-6), (c-7), or (c-10), the pension shall not be cancelled in the case of a service retirement pensioner who is re-employed on a temporary and non-annual basis or on an hourly basis. (c) If the date of re-employment on a permanent or annual basis occurs within 5 school months after the date of previous retirement, exclusive of any vacation period, the member shall be deemed to have been out of service only temporarily and not permanently retired. Such person shall be entitled to pension payments for the time he could have been employed as a teacher and received salary, but shall not be entitled to pension for or during the summer vacation prior to his return to service. When the member again retires on pension, the time of service and the money contributed by him during re-employment shall be added to the time and money previously credited. Such person must acquire 3 consecutive years of additional contributing service before he may retire again on a pension at a rate and under conditions other than those in force or attained at the time of his previous retirement. (c-5) For school years beginning on or after July 1, 2019 and before July 1, 2022, the service retirement pension shall not be cancelled in the case of a service retirement pensioner who is re-employed as a teacher on a temporary and non-annual basis or on an hourly basis, so long as the person (1) does not work as a teacher for compensation on more than 120 days in a school year or (2) does not accept gross compensation for the re-employment in a school year in excess of (i) $30,000 or (ii) in the case of a person who retires with at least 5 years of service as a principal, an amount that is equal to the daily rate normally paid to retired principals multiplied by 100. These limitations apply only to school years that begin on or after July 1, 2019 and before July 1, 2022. Such re-employment does not require contributions, result in service credit, or constitute active membership in the Fund. The service retirement pension shall not be cancelled in the case of a service retirement pensioner who is re-employed as a teacher on a temporary and non-annual basis or on an hourly basis, so long as the person (1) does not work as a teacher for compensation on more than 100 days in a school year or (2) does not accept gross compensation for the re-employment in a school year in excess of (i) $30,000 or (ii) in the case of a person who retires with at least 5 years of service as a principal, an amount that is equal to the daily rate normally paid to retired principals multiplied by 100. These limitations apply only to school years that begin on or after August 8, 2012 (the effective date of Public Act 97-912) and before July 1, 2019. Such re-employment does not require contributions, result in service credit, or constitute active membership in the Fund. Notwithstanding the 120-day limit set forth in item (1) of this subsection (c-5), the service retirement pension shall not be cancelled in the case of a service retirement pensioner who teaches only driver education courses after regular school hours and does not teach any other subject area, so long as the person does not work as a teacher for compensation for more than 900 hours in a school year. The $30,000 limit set forth in subitem (i) of item (2) of this subsection (c-5) shall apply to a service retirement pensioner who teaches only driver education courses after regular school hours and does not teach any other subject area. To be eligible for such re-employment without cancellation of pension, the pensioner must notify the Fund and the Board of Education of his or her intention to accept re-employment under this subsection (c-5) before beginning that re-employment (or if the re-employment began before August 8, 2012 (the effective date of Public Act 97-912), then within 30 days after that effective date). An Employer must certify to the Fund the temporary and non-annual or hourly status and the compensation of each pensioner re-employed under this subsection at least quarterly, and when the pensioner is approaching the earnings limitation under this subsection. If the pensioner works more than 100 days or accepts excess gross compensation for such re-employment in any school year that begins on or after August 8, 2012 (the effective date of Public Act 97-912), the service retirement pension shall thereupon be cancelled. If the pensioner who only teaches drivers education courses after regular school hours works more than 900 hours or accepts excess gross compensation for such re-employment in any school year that begins on or after August 12, 2016 (the effective date of Public Act 99-786), the service retirement pension shall thereupon be cancelled. If the pensioner works more than 120 days or accepts excess gross compensation for such re-employment in any school year that begins on or after July 1, 2019, the service retirement pension shall thereupon be cancelled. The Board of the Fund shall adopt rules for the implementation and administration of this subsection. (c-6) For school years beginning on or after July 1, 2022 and before July 1, 2027, the service retirement pension shall not be cancelled in the case of a service retirement pensioner who is re-employed as a teacher or an administrator on a temporary and non-annual basis or on an hourly basis, so long as the person does not work as a teacher or an administrator for compensation on more than 140 days in a school year. Such re-employment does not require contributions, result in service credit, or constitute active membership in the Fund. (c-7) For school years beginning on or after July 1, 2027, the service retirement pension shall not be cancelled in the case of a service retirement pensioner who is re-employed as a teacher or an administrator on a temporary and non-annual basis or on an hourly basis, so long as the person does not work as a teacher or an administrator for compensation on more than 120 days in a school year. Such re-employment does not require contributions, result in service credit, or constitute active membership in the Fund. (c-10) Until June 30, 2027, the service retirement pension of a service retirement pensioner shall not be cancelled if the service retirement pensioner is employed in a subject shortage area and the Employer that is employing the service retirement pensioner meets the following requirements: (1) If the Employer has honorably dismissed, within the calendar year preceding the beginning of the school term for which it seeks to employ a service retirement pensioner under this subsection, any teachers who are legally qualified to hold positions in the subject shortage area and have not yet begun to receive their service retirement pensions under this Article, the vacant positions must first be tendered to those teachers. (2) For a period of at least 90 days during the 6 months preceding the beginning of either the fall or spring term for which it seeks to employ a service retirement pensioner under this subsection, the Employer must, on an ongoing basis, (i) advertise its vacancies in the subject shortage area in employment bulletins published by college and university placement offices located near the school; (ii) search for teachers legally qualified to fill those vacancies through the Illinois Education Job Bank; and (iii) post all vacancies on the Employer's website and list the vacancy in an online job portal or database. An Employer of a teacher who is unable to continue employment with the Employer because of documented illness, injury, or disability that occurred after being hired by the Employer under this subsection is exempt from the provisions of paragraph (2) for 90 school days. However, the Employer must on an ongoing basis comply with items (i), (ii), and (iii) of paragraph (2). The Employer must submit documentation of its compliance with this subsection to the regional superintendent. Upon receiving satisfactory documentation from the Employer, the regional superintendent shall certify the Employer's compliance with this subsection to the Fund. (c-15) If a service retirement pension is required to be canceled because the service retirement pensioner worked more than the number of days allowed under this Section in any school year, the service retirement pension benefit shall be withheld on a pro rata basis for each day worked in excess of the number of days allowed under this Section. If a service retirement pensioner who only teaches drivers education courses after regular school hours works more than 900 hours in any school year, the service retirement pension benefit shall be withheld on a pro rata basis for each period of 7.5 hours in excess of 900 hours. (d) Notwithstanding Sections 1-103.1 and 17-157, the changes to this Section made by Public Act 90-32 apply without regard to whether termination of service occurred before the effective date of that Act and apply retroactively to August 23, 1989. Notwithstanding Sections 1-103.1 and 17-157, the changes to this Section and Section 17-106 made by Public Act 92-599 apply without regard to whether termination of service occurred before June 28, 2002 (the effective date of Public Act 92-599). Notwithstanding Sections 1-103.1 and 17-157, the changes to this Section made by Public Act 97-912 apply without regard to whether termination of service occurred before August 8, 2012 (the effective date of Public Act 97-912). The changes made by this amendatory Act of the 104th General Assembly are retroactive to July 1, 2020. All service retirement pensioners whose service retirement pensions were canceled as a result of re-employment as a teacher pursuant to this Section during the period of July 1, 2020 through the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 104th General Assembly shall have their overpayments recalculated on a pro rata basis consistent with the changes made by this amendatory Act of the 104th General Assembly, and the difference between the initial overpayment and the recalculated overpayment shall be refunded to those service retirement pensioners with interest.

Legislative History

(Source: P.A. 103-154, eff. 6-30-23; 103-588, eff. 6-5-24; 104-284, eff. 8-15-25.)