Source: https://www.scribd.com/document/405607333/Piccioli-v-the-Board-of-Trustees-of-the-Teachers-Retirement-System
Timestamp: 2019-04-22 14:33:34+00:00

Document:
The Illinois Supreme Court ruled that David Piccioli is entitled to a teachers pension for life, although he only taught for one day.
RETIREMENT SYSTEM et al., Appellees.
Opinion filed April 4, 2019.
Justice Theis dissented, with opinion, joined by Justices Thomas and Garman.
directions to enter summary judgment in favor of plaintiff.
article 16 of the Code, which governs the TRS. Id. (adding 40 ILCS 5/16-106(10)).
her prior union service. Id.
Nov. 30, 2006, at 50 (statements of Senator Martinez).
5/14-103.05(c)). These provisions have not been altered and are still part of the Code.
(West 2006). Within six months of that date, plaintiff applied in writing to the TRS.
prior to becoming a certified teacher.
amendment at issue in this case. Id. §§ 5, 97 (amending 40 ILCS 5/16-106(10)).
5/16-106(8) (West 2006)). Plaintiff’s service credit for this time period is not at issue in this appeal.
those contributions since their receipt.” Id.
provisions of the state constitution, including the pension protection clause (Ill.
Const. 1970, art. XIII, § 5). The parties filed cross-motions for summary judgment.
that the 2012 Act repealing that provision was constitutionally valid.
of the effective date of the legislation, rendered that provision special legislation.
Accordingly, the court declared the provision unconstitutional and void ab initio.
Plaintiff appealed the trial court’s decision directly to this court. Ill. S. Ct. R.
302(a)(1) (eff. Oct. 4, 2011).
standing requires “some injury in fact to a legally cognizable interest.” Greer v.
benefit of its members and, thus, has no personal interest in the fund it administers.
standing argument is without merit.
to challenge the constitutionality of the 2007 amendment.
violated the pension protection clause (Ill. Const. 1970, art. XIII, § 5).
¶ 17 The constitutionality of a statute is a question of law subject to de novo review.
2013 IL 114853, ¶ 41. Statutes carry a strong presumption of constitutionality.
Moline School District No. 40 Board of Education v. Quinn, 2016 IL 119704, ¶ 16.
defendants bear the burden of establishing the statute’s constitutional infirmity. Id.
determine whether the classification is arbitrary. Id.; Big Sky Excavating, Inc. v.
Illinois Bell Telephone Co., 217 Ill. 2d 221, 235 (2005).
benefit on the former that is unavailable to the latter. See Pub. Act 94-1111 (eff.
finding a rational relationship, the law will be upheld.” (Emphasis added.) Id.
to achieve the desired result are matters for the legislature, not the courts.” Id.
(citing Crusius, 216 Ill. 2d at 332).
2” annuity benefits for persons who became members on or after January 1, 2011).
basis. Id.; see also Chicago National League Ball Club, Inc. v. Thompson, 108 Ill.
is special legislation. We reject this contention.
service. The same benefit available to plaintiff was available to other employees.
the statutory benefit special legislation.
before its passage. That motion is denied. See Rural Electric Convenience Cooperative Co. v.
by the cutoff date is arbitrary. We also reject this argument.
government benefits or programs by a certain date.
amendment violated the special legislation clause. Id. ¶ 60.
characteristics the day after the statute’s effective date.” Id. ¶ 54.
applicants. Accordingly, the analysis in that case does not apply.
benefits plaintiff was awarded pursuant to the 2007 amendment. See Carmichael v.
Constitution and, therefore, that plaintiff is entitled to summary judgment.
enter summary judgment in favor of plaintiff.
¶ 35 Circuit court judgment reversed; cause remanded with directions.
5/16-106(10)) violates the special legislation clause (Ill. Const. 1970, art. IV, § 13).
pension protection clause (Ill. Const. 1970, art. XIII, § 5).
facts. For context, I offer details that the majority overlooks.
established and is governed by article 16 of the Code. See 40 ILCS 5/16-101 et seq.
worked for teacher organizations to earn TRS service credit for their union work.
Teachers (IFT) and the Illinois Education Association (IEA).
where it stalled. Id. at 43.
asked if the organization would be interested in reviving a new version of the bill.
organization supported it. Ultimately, the organization decided to do so.
remembered some discussion about it.
ILCS 5/16-106(8)(i) (West 2006)), which included work as a substitute (id.
Springfield elementary school. He never worked as a teacher again.
contributions for past credit. He paid $192,668 in installments over four years.
variety of problems that came about as a result of some news articles ***.”).
hinge on whether the 2007 amendment passes constitutional muster.
The constitutionality of other parts of Public Act 97-651 was addressed in Carmichael v.
Laborers’ & Retirement Board Employees’ Annuity & Benefit Fund, 2018 IL 122793.
114853, ¶ 48 (Peoria School District).
effective date cutoff—satisfies the second step.
or situation that are sufficiently related to the problem targeted by the statute.
569, 596 (2006) (citing Mathews v. De Castro, 429 U.S. 181, 185 (1976)).
rationally related to the end pursued by the legislature if we know the end. People v.
the legislature has chosen to pursue it.”).
not only reasonable but necessary.” Supra ¶ 21.
the State’s pension funds.” Supra ¶ 22.
corrects this technicality.” Id. at 68-69.
pension system would be minimal.” Id. at 74 (statements of Representative Black).
concluding, “[i]t’s a great bill,” and “[i]t’s a great day.” Id. at 51.
instead, arbitrary and violative of the special legislation clause.
the appellate court reversed the trial court’s decision. Id. ¶¶ 21-22.
¶ 64 This court held that the statute was unconstitutional special legislation. Id. ¶ 60.
foreign to our special legislation jurisprudence.” (Emphasis in original.) Id. ¶ 43.
attributes or characteristics the day after the statute’s effective date.” Id. ¶ 54.
to districts who directly employed police or security officers on its effective date.
Side Levee & Sanitary District v. Madison County Levee & Sanitary District, 54 Ill.
amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly”), with Pub. Act 94-1111 (eff. Feb.
not rationally related to a legitimate government interest.
assignment” could “get coverage” under a statute that had not gone into effect.
Slamming a window shut before it ever opened smacks of special legislation.
County, 118 U.S. 425, 442 (1886))).
¶ 70 For the foregoing reasons, I respectfully dissent.
¶ 71 JUSTICES THOMAS and GARMAN join in this dissent.

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