ICYMI: “Rauner signs police pension reform bill”

Rauner Continuing Push to Reform Illinois

Yesterday, Governor Bruce Rauner signed bipartisan legislation to protect taxpayers by stopping police pension double dipping.

It’s another example of Rauner’s push to reform Illinois and protect taxpayers.

Daily Herald: Rauner signs police pension reform bill
Thursday, Gov. Bruce Rauner signed legislation that outlaws a practice he described as “double dipping.”
Previously, police officers could work for 30 years, retire at 50, begin receiving pension benefits equal to 75 percent of their final salary, then take a new law enforcement job somewhere else and start building a second pension. Commonly, these retired police officers take leadership posts in another department.

Naperville Sun: Rauner signs ‘double-dipping’ pension bill linked to Naperville police chief
Legislation to prevent law enforcement officers from retiring, collecting a pension and then returning to active police duty to earn a second pension was signed into law Thursday by Gov. Bruce Rauner at the Naperville Municipal Center.
The measure, sponsored by state Rep. Grant Wehrli, R-Naperville, and state Sen. Michael Connelly, R-Lisle, stops the practice known as “double dipping.” It was triggered, in part, by Naperville Police Chief Robert Marshall, who retired after 28 years with the Naperville Police Department only to return seven years later as its top administrator.
… The legislation received bi-partisan support from the General Assembly and begins to address Illinois’ mounting pension problems, Wehrli said.

CBS St. Louis: Gov. Rauner Signs Police Pension Bill
Governor Bruce Rauner signs a new law to help prevent the “double dipping” of pensions in Illinois.

 

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ICYMI – Rauner Signs More Criminal Justice Reforms

Proves Bipartisan Cooperation Possible in Illinois

Yesterday Governor Bruce Rauner signed six criminal justice reform bills into law, adding to the Governor’s already impressive record of bipartisan cooperation on criminal justice issues.

Check out the coverage:

KFVS: Rauner signs 6 bills to give second chances
The signed bills will help offenders obtain jobs and safe housing, and as a long term result it help decrease prison population.

Rauner goal is to reduce the prison population by 25 percent by 2025.

WAND: Governor: New laws help ‘broken’ criminal justice system
One of my most important goals since taking office has been to fix our broken criminal justice system,” Gov. Rauner said. “Our work is far from over, but these bills are a step in the right direction toward reducing recidivism and giving people a second chance at life.”

House Bill 698 allows prisoners to learn business skills while serving prison time. They include computer skills, budgeting, goal setting, public speaking and business plan creation. To be eligible for the five-year pilot program, prisoners must not have major sex offense convictions.

… House Bill 1688 removes licensing barriers that stand in the way of ex-offenders who want to apply for job opportunities.

House Bill 2373 allows for records to be sealed in cases where a charged person is allowed an order of supervision for non-violent and non-sexual crimes. In a similar measure, House Bill 514 allows records to be sealed for charges that lead to acquittal or dismissal.

Senate Bill 1781 waives a $120 fee aimed toward ex-offenders in Cook County as they apply to get records cleared. It applies to people whose charges end up dropped. Finally, House Bill 3817 carries a similar measure, making it easier for minors to have their records erased.

 

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