Rulemaking

Recently Proposed Rules

When SURS files proposed rule changes with the Secretary of State, they are published on the Illinois Register, the official state document for publishing public notice of rulemaking activity initiated by state governmental agencies. To access SURS proposed and adopted rules go to: https://www.ilsos.gov/departments/index/register/home.html.  For comments or questions on any proposed rule changes requested by SURS send an email to rulemakings@surs.org.

48 Ill. Reg. 10992 (August 2, 2024) – 80 ILAC 1600.100, 160, 260, 270, 330, 410, 420, 450, 455, 460, 461, 550, 555, 710.  The proposed rulemaking amends Section 1600.100 to further clarify the definition of annuity payment period; adds Section 1600.160 to provide specific definitions and procedures to implement 40 ILCS 5/15-168 (concerning information requests necessary for the proper administration of the System and suspensions for non-compliance by members and penalties for non-compliance by employers);  amends Section 1600.260 to exempt participants on or after September 1, 2024, from the part-time service credit adjustment under 40 ILCS 5/15-134.5(b); amends Section 1600.270 to exclude from the 6% Rule earnings increase paid in an academic year beginning on or after July 1, 2020, resulting from overload work performed in an academic year subsequent to an academic year in which the employer was unable to offer or allow to be conducted overload work due to an emergency declaration limiting such activities; adds Section 1600.330 to establish acceptable documentary evidence for demographic information such as birth dates and marital status; amends Section 1600.410 to subject participants on or after September 1, 2024, to the 20% limit on earnings increases due to increases in percentage time; amends Section 1600.420 to suspend Preliminary Estimated Payments for noncompliance with document requests; amends Section 1600.450 to add a De Minimis Exception to overpayment recovery; adds Section 1600.455 to provide procedures for benefit forfeitures relating to felony convictions; amends Sections 1600.460 and 1600.461 to clarify buyout application deadlines; amends Section 1600.550 to add procedures for line-of-duty disability benefits for police officers; adds Section 1600.555 to establish Disability Retirement Annuity claims procedures; and amends Section 1600.710 to remove Social Security number information from elected trustee nomination petitions.

Recently Adopted Rules

When SURS adopts a rule, the Secretary of State publishes the notice of final adoption of the rulemaking in the Illinois Register.  The final SURS rules are codified under Title 80, Part 1600 of the Illinois Administrative Code.  The Illinois Register issues containing recently adopted SURS rules are listed below according to their effective dates.

February 29, 2024 – 80 ILAC § 1600.745 – The adopted Amendment is intended to provide clarity for the options available to candidates for sending out SURS approved electronic and/or hard copy campaign communications to voters (Candidate Informational Communications).

September 29, 2023 — 80 ILAC §§ 1600.150, 430, 450, 500, 510 – The adopted amendments are intended to implement the change of the title to “Retirement Savings Plan” (formerly the Self-Managed Plan (SMP)) in Section 1600.150 relating to group trusts, make clarifying changes to Section 1600.430 relating to the Excess Benefit Arrangement, add the “recipient’s estate” and the Illinois Debt Recovery Offset Portal references to Section 1600.450 relating to overpayment recovery procedures, and streamline administrative hearings by combining the processes under Sections 1600.500 (relating to Member Appeals) and 1600.510 (relating to Employer Appeals) into a single, unified administrative hearings process and by making further changes that promote procedural integrity and efficiency.