Wayne A. Rosenthal introduced HB1635 in the Illinois House on Jan. 23, 2025, during the general assembly session 104, according to the Illinois General Assembly.
According to the Illinois General Assembly site, the legislature summarized the bill’s official text as follows: “Amends the State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971. Provides that, by no later than January 1, 2026, the Department of Central Management Services shall, by rule, establish a program to allow the active members of TRS and their dependent beneficiaries to participate in the program of group health benefits made available under the Act to TRS benefit recipients and TRS dependent beneficiaries, including the program of group health benefits for Medicare-primary members and their Medicare-primary dependents, in lieu of health benefits otherwise provided by the school district. Provides that the Department of Central Management Services shall adopt any rules necessary to implement and administer the program, including, but not limited to, the manner of electing to participate in the program, eligibility for participation in the program, and contributions for coverage through the program. Effective immediately.”
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, this bill requires the Illinois Department of Central Management Services to establish a program by Jan. 1, 2026, allowing active members of the Teachers’ Retirement System (TRS) and their dependents to join the group health benefits program available to TRS benefit recipients. The program includes health benefits for Medicare-primary members and their dependents, serving as an alternative to existing school district health benefits. The department is tasked with creating rules for implementing and administering the program, including the process for electing participation, determining eligibility, and handling contributions for coverage. The legislation takes effect immediately upon becoming law.
Rosenthal graduated from the University of Illinois-Springfield in 1974 with a BA.
Wayne A. Rosenthal is currently serving in the Illinois State House, representing the state’s 108th House District. He replaced previous state representative Charles Meier in 2023.
Bills in Illinois follow a multi-step legislative process, beginning with introduction in either the House or Senate, followed by committee review, floor debates, and votes in both chambers before reaching the governor for approval or veto. The General Assembly operates on a biennial schedule, and while typically thousands of bills are introduced each session, only a fraction successfully pass through the process to become law.
You can read more about bills and other measures here.
| Bill Number | Date Introduced | Short Description |
|---|---|---|
| HB1635 | 01/23/2025 | Amends the State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971. Provides that, by no later than January 1, 2026, the Department of Central Management Services shall, by rule, establish a program to allow the active members of TRS and their dependent beneficiaries to participate in the program of group health benefits made available under the Act to TRS benefit recipients and TRS dependent beneficiaries, including the program of group health benefits for Medicare-primary members and their Medicare-primary dependents, in lieu of health benefits otherwise provided by the school district. Provides that the Department of Central Management Services shall adopt any rules necessary to implement and administer the program, including, but not limited to, the manner of electing to participate in the program, eligibility for participation in the program, and contributions for coverage through the program. Effective immediately. |
