A new Illinois law bars newly elected members on county boards within the state 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.