Illinois law bans pensions for future county board members

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - A new Illinois law bars newly-elected members on the state's county boards from signing up for pensions from the Illinois Municipal Retirement fund.

The law, signed last month by Gov. Bruce Rauner, is a result of a political battle in McHenry County, where a candidate in the November race for county board president found board members were - depending on the county - supposed to work 600 or 1,000 hours a year to receive pensions.

The retirement fund guidelines contended the 1,000-hour limit - equal to about 20 hours a week - would make it "highly unusual" for any county board members to qualify.

Under the law, current county board members must document their work hours - and reach a county-specific minimum - to qualify for a public pension.