SPRINGFIELD — Equality Illinois applauds passage today of legislation ensuring pension fairness for LGBT individuals who retired from public employment prior to the civil unions law and marriage equality law. We now call upon Gov. Bruce Rauner to expeditiously sign the bill as soon as it reaches his desk.
Sponsored by Rep. Sam Yingling and Sen. Daniel Biss, House Bill 6021 allows retired public employees in the Illinois Teachers Retirement System, State Universities Retirement System or Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund and who are in a same-sex civil union or marriage to designate survivor benefits for their spouse. Equality Illinois advocated for the bill, which passed with overwhelming bipartisan support. Today, HB 6021 passed the Senate by a vote of 49-3, and the Illinois House of Representatives approved it on April 13 on a vote of 102-4.
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