SPRINGFIELD – Illinois firefighters will be able to worry less about their retirement under a new law sponsored by State Senator Laura Ellman (D-Naperville) that was signed into law on Friday.

“This law creates a level playing field for all of Illinois’ firefighters,” Ellman said. “Prior law failed to address an oversight that would have caused hundreds of firefighters to lose out on time they’ve served when they retire.”

Previously, firefighters outside of Chicago who began work after 2011 were not allowed to purchase service credit after changing employers. The new law ensures all firefighters can purchase service credit if they move to a new employer who is covered by a different fire pension fund.

Members of a pension system earn service credits for time they’ve worked. A purchased service credit is an additional amount of service that pension system participants can purchase – or essentially move from one pension system to another – that can be used to calculate the amount a person will receive when they retire.

Many firefighters outside of Chicago can purchase credit when they switch employers, so their service at their prior employer will be factored into their retirement earnings. For example, a firefighter who moves from Peoria to Rockford might purchase their time in Peoria to move it to the Rockford system.

“Our firefighters risk their lives every day to protect our communities,” Ellman said. “This law will ensure they receive all the benefits they have earned and deserve when it comes time for them to retire.”

Senate Bill 167 is effective immediately.

NAPERVILLE — State Senator Laura Ellman (D-Naperville) is pleased to learn Fitch Ratings has revised its outlook on Illinois’ General Obligation bonds from negative to positive — a direct result of responsible spending.

“The more than 15 months of a global pandemic could have wiped out our financial condition, but we made responsible financial decisions to keep Illinois on track,” Ellman said. “The work we have put in over the years is now paying off for not only the state, but all who live here.”

Fitch’s is the third ratings agency to upgrade the state’s forecast, in addition to Standard and Poor’s, and Moody’s.

According to Fitch’s analysis, the state budget for the upcoming fiscal year provides Illinois a stable foundation for further financial improvement. Recent debt payments and a reduction of nearly a billion dollars in spending since 2020—without sacrificing funding for pensions, K-12 or higher education—suggest responsible budget management and movement toward fiscal stability.

Fitch’s full analysis is available here.

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Student Assistance Commission will always include a student member under a new law sponsored by State Senator Laura Ellman (D-Naperville) that was signed into law Friday.

“The Student Assistance Commission can’t truly perform its mission without the student perspective,” Ellman said. “This law ensures there is always student representation on the Commission.”

ISAC’s mission is to provide Illinois students with information and assistance to help make education beyond high school accessible and affordable. The new law allows the student member of the commission to retain their seat beyond the expiration of their term until a new and qualified student member is appointed.

Previously, if a vacancy occurred during the student commissioner’s two-year term, a new student appointee filling a vacancy could serve only for the remainder of that term. This had led to gaps between student commissioners, leaving the commission without a student perspective. It also contributed to delays in the commission's work when meetings have to be rescheduled due to lack of quorum.

“Important policy discussions miss out on a student perspective when ISAC doesn’t have a student commissioner,” Ellman said. “This law ensures that Illinois students will always have a voice.”

House Bill 1802 is effective immediately.

State Senator Laura Ellman, D-Naperville, and State Rep. Janet Yang Rohr, D-Naperville are partnering with the Secretary of State’s Office to host a Mobile DMV event on Friday, June 25 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at their constituent services office, located at 475 River Bend Rd, Suite 500, in Naperville.

“This past year, many individuals have not been able to utilize DMV services due to the pandemic and may be in need of renewing IDs or plate stickers,” said Ellman. “We’re working to make sure seniors and families in our community have access to crucial services in an easy and efficient way, and we look forward to meeting community members at this event,” said Yang Rohr.

Ellman and Yang Rohr’s event will offer many of the services offered at a regular DMV office, including renewal or correction of a driver’s license, state ID cards, license plate stickers, voter registration and organ donor registration. Real ID compliant driver’s licenses and ID cards must be processed at a driver service facility, and individuals will not be able to process Real ID’s at this event. Seniors age 75 and up need to visit the DMV to renew a driver’s license, and proper identification will be needed for the above services.

‘Mobile Driver Services Event’
Friday, June 25
10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
475 River Bend Rd, Suite 500
Naperville

Ellman and Yang Rohr’s event is free and open to the public. For more information, or to RSVP, please contact Yang Rohr’s full time constituent service office by calling 630-296-4157 or visiting www.repyangrohr.com.