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JRS Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Information
Judges' Retirement System (JRS) FOIA Information 5 ILCS 140/4(a)
If you are a JRS member and have questions about your benefits, you do not have to submit a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to receive an answer from JRS. Please contact JRS at (217) 782-8500 for any membership inquiries.
Submitting Requests & Response Time:
JRS accepts FOIA requests through mail and email correspondence. JRS responds to all public record requests in compliance with the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, 5 ILCS 140. If any requested records will be used for a commercial purpose, this must be disclosed when submitting the request. JRS responds to non-commercial record requests within five business days and within 21 days for all commercial requests. JRS business hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. CST, Monday through Friday. JRS observes all state holidays. A record request is considered received on the next business day if submitted during non-business hours or on a State holiday.
Jeff Houch
State Retirement Systems
2101 S. Veterans Parkway
Springfield, IL 62794-9255
Fees:
JRS does not charge a fee for requesting electronic or most paper records. JRS will provide records in an electronic format whenever possible to reduce printing costs associated with FOIA requests.
Brief Description of the Judges' Retirement System:
The following information is provided in compliance with the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, 5 ILCS 140/4.
The Judges' Retirement System was established as a single-employer public employee retirement system by state statute on July 1, 1941 for the purpose of establishing an efficient method of permitting retirement, without hardship or prejudice, of judges who are aged or otherwise incapacitated, by enabling them to accumulate reserves for themselves and their dependents for old age, disability, death and termination of employment. The System' s enabling legislation is in the Illinois Pension Code at 40 ILCS 5/18-101.
Key Statutory Provisions:
JRS benefits are governed by Articles 1, 18, and 20 of the Illinois Pension Code, 40 ILCS 5/1, 40 ILCS 5/18, and 40 ILCS 5/20. JRS is also subject to other laws, rules and regulations as an agency of the State of Illinois.
Membership:
JRS members fall into the following categories: active, inactive, annuitant, or beneficiary. Active members are current judges that are contributing to the System. As of June 30, 2020, there were 947 active contributing members.
Inactive members have service credit in JRS but are no longer contributing to the System. As of June 30, 2020, there were 24 inactive members.
Annuitants are persons receiving a retirement annuity. Beneficiaries are persons receiving a survivor annuity. As of June 30, 2020, there were 931 annuitants and 345 survivor beneficiaries.
Operating Budget:
The JRS operating budget for fiscal year 2021 is $1,054,660. During fiscal year 2020, JRS administered $165.6 million in retirement and survivor benefits. At June 30, 2020, JRS had $1.1 billion available for benefits.
Offices:
The System's main office is located at 2101 S. Veterans Parkway, Springfield, IL 62704.
Employees:
Per the Pension Code, the JRS Board of Trustees employs an Executive Secretary responsible for the administration of the System. JRS shares 5 full-time staff with the General Assembly Retirement System.
Board Information:
The 5 member Board of Trustees is responsible for the general administration of the System as authorized by 40 ILCS 5/18-135. The Board is composed of the State Treasurer, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and 3 participating Judges. JRS Board of Trustees.
Investments:
The Illinois State Board of Investment (ISBI) has the fiduciary responsibility for managing the pension assets of the Judges' Retirement System. The ISBI maintains a wide diversification of investments within the ISBI Commingled Fund which is intended to reduce overall risk and increase returns. The Chairperson of the JRS Board of Trustees serves as a member on the Illinois State Board of Investment. The Illinois State Board of Investment is located at:
Illinois State Board of Investment
180 North LaSalle Street, Suite 2015
Chicago, IL 60601
(312) 793-5718
List of Records Immediately Available From the Judges' Retirement System:
General and detailed information about JRS is available on the JRS Home Page, such as retirement publications and fact sheets, financial and actuarial information and reports, tax information, general contact information and office hours, Board meeting minutes and agenda, active member and retiree newsletters, and frequently asked questions pertaining to membership and benefits. In addition, the System makes the following records immediately available to the public:
- Comprehensive Annual Financial Reports
- Annual Financial Report Summaries
- Board of Trustee Meeting Minutes
- Annual Actuarial Valuations
- Member Handbooks & Publications
- Various Benefit Packets & JRS Forms