Illinois Supreme Court
Civil Court
Employee Benefits
Amendment to Section 10 of State Employees Group Insurance Act, effective 7/1/12, eliminated statutory standards for State's contributions to health insurance premiums for members of three of State's retirement systems. The State's provision of health insurance premium subsidies for retirees is a benefit of membership in a pension or retirement system within meaning of Illinois Constitution, and legislature was precluded from diminishing or impairing that benefit for employees, annuitants, and survivors whose rights were governed by pre-amendment version of Group Insurance Act.(GARMAN, THOMAS, KILBRIDE, KARMEIER, and THEIS, concurring.)