40 ILCS 5/6-151.1
2021 Illinois Compiled Statutes|Chapter 40 - PENSIONS|40 ILCS 5/ - Illinois Pension Code.|Article 6 - Firemen's Annuity And Benefit Fund--Cities Over 500,000

   (from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 6-151.1)Sec. 6-151.1. The General Assembly finds and declares that service in the  Fire Department requires that firemen, in times of stress and danger, must  perform unusual tasks; that by reason of their occupation, firemen are subject  to exposure to great heat and to extreme cold in certain seasons while in  performance of their duties; that by reason of their employment firemen are  required to work in the midst of and are subject to heavy smoke fumes and  carcinogenic, poisonous, toxic or chemical gases from fires; and that in the  course of their rescue and paramedic duties firemen are exposed to disabling  infectious diseases, including AIDS, hepatitis C, and stroke.  The General  Assembly further finds and declares that all the aforementioned conditions  exist and arise out of or in the course of such employment.Any active fireman who has completed 7 or more years of service  and is unable to perform his duties in the Fire Department by reason of heart  disease, tuberculosis, any disease of the lungs or respiratory  tract, AIDS, hepatitis C, or stroke resulting from his service  as a fireman, shall be entitled to receive an occupational disease disability  benefit during any period of such disability for which he does not have a right  to receive salary.Any active fireman who has completed 7 or more years of service  and is unable to perform his duties in the fire department by reason of a  disabling cancer, which develops or manifests itself during a period while  the fireman is in the service of the department, shall be entitled to  receive an occupational disease disability benefit during any period of  such disability for which he does not have a right to receive salary.  In  order to receive this occupational disease disability benefit, the type of  cancer involved must be a type which may be caused by exposure to heat,  radiation or a known carcinogen as defined by the International Agency for  Research on Cancer.Any fireman receiving a retirement annuity shall be entitled to an occupational disease disability benefit under this Section if the fireman (1) has not reached the age of compulsory retirement, (2) has not been receiving a retirement annuity for more than 5 years, and (3) has a condition  that would have qualified the fireman for an occupational disease disability benefit under this Section if he or she was an active fireman. A fireman who receives an occupational disease disability benefit in accordance with this paragraph may not receive a retirement annuity during the period in which he or she receives an occupational disease disability benefit. The occupational disease disability benefit shall terminate upon the fireman reaching the age of compulsory retirement.Any fireman who shall enter the service after the effective date of this  amendatory Act shall be examined by one or more practicing physicians appointed  by the Board, and if that    examination discloses impairment of  the heart, lungs, or respiratory tract, or the existence of AIDS,  hepatitis C, stroke, or cancer, then the fireman shall  not be  entitled to receive an occupational disease disability benefit unless and  until a subsequent examination reveals no such impairment, AIDS,  hepatitis C, stroke, or cancer.The occupational disease disability benefit shall be 65% of the  fireman's salary at the time of his removal from the Department payroll.  However, beginning January 1, 1994, no occupational disease disability  benefit that has been payable under this Section for at least 10 years shall be  less than 50% of the current salary attached from time to time to the rank and  grade held by the fireman at the time of his removal from the Department  payroll, regardless of whether that removal occurred before the effective date  of this amendatory Act of 1993.Such fireman also shall have a right to receive child's disability  benefit of $30 per month on account of each unmarried child who is less than  18 years of age or handicapped, dependent upon the fireman for support, and  either the issue of the fireman or legally adopted by him.  The total  amount of child's disability benefit payable to the fireman, when added to  his occupational disease disability benefit, shall not exceed 75% of the  amount of salary which he was receiving at the time of the grant of  occupational disease disability benefit.The first payment of occupational disease disability benefit or  child's disability benefit shall be made not later than one month after  the benefit is granted.  Each subsequent payment shall be made not later  than one month after the date of the latest payment.Occupational disease disability benefit shall be payable during the  period of the disability until the fireman reaches the age of compulsory  retirement.  Child's disability benefit shall be paid to such a fireman  during the period of disability until such child or children attain age  18 or marry, whichever event occurs first; except that attainment of age  18 by a child who is so physically or mentally handicapped as to be  dependent upon the fireman for support, shall not render the child  ineligible for child's disability benefit.  The fireman thereafter shall  receive such annuity or annuities as are provided for him in accordance  with other provisions of this Article.  (Source: P.A. 102-91, eff. 7-9-21.)