---
type: "Bill"
title: "PEN CD-SURS-SEVERANCE PAYMENTS"
description: "Amends the State Universities Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that severance payments are not included in the definition of \"earnings\"."
jurisdiction: "us/states/il"
legislature: "Illinois General Assembly"
session: "99th"
identifier: "SB 2156"
citation: "Illinois SB 2156 (99th)"
classification: ["bill"]
subjects: []
status: "enacted"
primary_sponsors: []
version_count: 3
action_count: 82
vote_count: 4
first_action: "2015-07-14"
last_action: "2016-08-26"
source: "openstates"
source_identifier: "ocd-bill/5c8fdb58-de70-4ed8-ae3f-ac5fa3f876ad"
source_url: "http://ilga.gov/legislation/BillStatus.asp?DocNum=2156&GAID=13&DocTypeID=SB&LegId=91879&SessionID=88&GA=99"
source_hash: "c57a01b3fb3346b2e9de237e9f9e6f155972b2b14d5f0f8412643827adc3de01"
vintage: "2026-07-01"
source_snapshot: "https://data.openstates.org/daily/2026-07-01/public.pgdump"
retrieved_at: "2026-07-06"
confidence: "reported"
tags: ["legislation", "bill", "us-il"]
---

# Illinois SB 2156 (99th) — PEN CD-SURS-SEVERANCE PAYMENTS

Amends the State Universities Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that severance payments are not included in the definition of "earnings".

## Version chain

The bill's text revisions, in order — the diff chain from filing to enrollment.

1. **Introduced** (filed) — [source](http://ilga.gov/legislation/fulltext.asp?DocName=09900SB2156&GA=99&SessionId=88&DocTypeId=SB&LegID=91879&DocNum=2156&GAID=13&Session=&print=true)
2. **Engrossed** (committee substitute) — [source](http://ilga.gov/legislation/fulltext.asp?DocName=09900SB2156eng&GA=99&SessionId=88&DocTypeId=SB&LegID=91879&DocNum=2156&GAID=13&Session=&print=true)
3. **Enrolled** (enrolled) — [source](http://ilga.gov/legislation/fulltext.asp?DocName=09900SB2156enr&GA=99&SessionId=88&DocTypeId=SB&LegID=91879&DocNum=2156&GAID=13&Session=&print=true)

## Votes

- Third Reading — **52–0** (pass) · upper
- Concurrence, Amendment 2 — **57–0** (pass) · upper
- Concurrence, Amendment 3 — **57–0** (pass) · upper
- Third Reading — **110–0** (pass) · lower

## Sponsors

- Bill Cunningham — primary (person)

## Timeline

The legislative action history — every referral, reading, and vote.

- **2015-07-14** Filed with Secretary by Sen. Bill Cunningham `filing`
- **2015-07-14** First Reading `reading-1`
- **2015-07-14** Referred to Assignments `referral-committee`
- **2015-07-20** Added as Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Dan Kotowski
- **2015-07-21** Added as Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Michael Connelly
- **2015-08-17** Added as Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Thomas Cullerton
- **2015-09-09** Assigned to Higher Education `referral-committee`
- **2015-09-09** To Subcommittee on Public Higher Education Executive Compensation
- **2015-09-09** Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Filed with Secretary by Sen. Bill Cunningham `amendment-introduction`
- **2015-09-09** Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Referred to Assignments `referral-committee`
- **2015-10-10** Pursuant to Senate Rule 3-9(b) / Referred to Assignments `referral-committee`
- **2015-10-20** Re-assigned to Higher Education `referral-committee`
- **2015-10-20** To Subcommittee on Public Higher Education Executive Compensation
- **2016-01-07** Pursuant to Senate Rule 3-9(b) / Referred to Assignments `referral-committee`
- **2016-02-16** Re-assigned to Higher Education `referral-committee`
- **2016-02-16** Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Assignments Refers to Higher Education
- **2016-02-17** To Subcommittee on Public Higher Education Executive Compensation
- **2016-02-25** Senate Committee Amendment No. 2 Filed with Secretary by Sen. Bill Cunningham `amendment-introduction`
- **2016-02-25** Senate Committee Amendment No. 2 Referred to Assignments `referral-committee`
- **2016-03-02** Senate Committee Amendment No. 2 Assignments Refers to Higher Education
- **2016-03-02** Added as Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Julie A. Morrison
- **2016-03-02** Reported Back To Higher Education; 003-000-000
- **2016-03-02** Senate Committee Amendment No. 2 Adopted `amendment-passage`
- **2016-03-03** Do Pass as Amended Higher Education; 010-000-000 `committee-passage`
- **2016-03-03** Placed on Calendar Order of 2nd Reading March 8, 2016
- **2016-03-08** Chief Co-Sponsor Changed to Sen. Laura M. Murphy
- **2016-03-09** Senate Floor Amendment No. 3 Filed with Secretary by Sen. Bill Cunningham `amendment-introduction`
- **2016-03-09** Senate Floor Amendment No. 3 Referred to Assignments `referral-committee`
- **2016-03-16** Senate Floor Amendment No. 3 Assignments Refers to Higher Education
- **2016-04-06** Senate Floor Amendment No. 3 Recommend Do Adopt Higher Education; 010-000-000
- **2016-04-06** Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Andy Manar
- **2016-04-08** Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Rule 3-9(a) / Re-referred to Assignments `referral-committee`
- **2016-04-12** Second Reading `reading-2`
- **2016-04-12** Senate Floor Amendment No. 3 Adopted; Cunningham `amendment-passage`
- **2016-04-12** Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading April 13, 2016
- **2016-04-14** Third Reading - Passed; 052-000-000 `reading-3, passage`
- **2016-04-14** Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Tabled Pursuant to Rule 5-4(a) `amendment-failure`
- **2016-04-14** Arrived in House `introduction`
- **2016-04-14** Chief House Sponsor Rep. Kelly M. Burke
- **2016-04-14** First Reading `reading-1`
- **2016-04-14** Referred to Rules Committee `referral-committee`
- **2016-04-18** Assigned to Personnel and Pensions Committee `referral-committee`
- **2016-05-02** House Committee Amendment No. 1 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Kelly M. Burke `amendment-introduction`
- **2016-05-02** House Committee Amendment No. 1 Referred to Rules Committee `referral-committee`
- **2016-05-04** Do Pass / Short Debate Personnel and Pensions Committee; 007-000-000 `committee-passage`
- **2016-05-04** House Committee Amendment No. 1 Tabled Pursuant to Rule 40 `amendment-failure`
- **2016-05-05** Placed on Calendar 2nd Reading - Short Debate
- **2016-05-05** Added Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Grant Wehrli
- **2016-05-11** House Floor Amendment No. 2 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Kelly M. Burke `amendment-introduction`
- **2016-05-11** House Floor Amendment No. 2 Referred to Rules Committee `referral-committee`
- **2016-05-12** House Floor Amendment No. 2 Recommends Be Adopted Rules Committee; 003-002-000 `committee-passage-favorable`
- **2016-05-12** Second Reading - Short Debate `reading-2`
- **2016-05-12** House Floor Amendment No. 2 Adopted `amendment-passage`
- **2016-05-12** Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading - Short Debate
- **2016-05-25** House Floor Amendment No. 3 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Kelly M. Burke `amendment-introduction`
- **2016-05-25** House Floor Amendment No. 3 Referred to Rules Committee `referral-committee`
- **2016-05-26** House Floor Amendment No. 3 Rules Refers to Personnel and Pensions Committee
- **2016-05-26** House Floor Amendment No. 3 Recommends Be Adopted Personnel and Pensions Committee; 009-000-000 `committee-passage-favorable`
- **2016-05-27** Added Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Norine K. Hammond
- **2016-05-27** Final Action Deadline Extended-9(b) May 31, 2016
- **2016-05-29** Recalled to Second Reading - Short Debate `reading-2`
- **2016-05-29** House Floor Amendment No. 3 Adopted `amendment-passage`
- **2016-05-29** Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading - Short Debate
- **2016-05-29** Third Reading - Short Debate - Passed 110-000-001 `reading-3, passage`
- **2016-05-29** Secretary's Desk - Concurrence House Amendment(s) 2, 3
- **2016-05-29** Placed on Calendar Order of Concurrence House Amendment(s) 2, 3 - May 30, 2016
- **2016-05-30** House Floor Amendment No. 2 Motion to Concur Filed with Secretary Sen. Bill Cunningham `filing`
- **2016-05-30** House Floor Amendment No. 2 Motion to Concur Referred to Assignments `referral-committee`
- **2016-05-30** House Floor Amendment No. 3 Motion to Concur Filed with Secretary Sen. Bill Cunningham `filing`
- **2016-05-30** House Floor Amendment No. 3 Motion to Concur Referred to Assignments `referral-committee`
- **2016-05-30** House Floor Amendment No. 2 Motion to Concur Assignments Referred to Higher Education `referral-committee`
- **2016-05-30** House Floor Amendment No. 3 Motion to Concur Assignments Referred to Higher Education `referral-committee`
- **2016-05-30** House Floor Amendment No. 2 Motion To Concur Recommended Do Adopt Higher Education; 009-000-000
- **2016-05-30** House Floor Amendment No. 3 Motion To Concur Recommended Do Adopt Higher Education; 009-000-000
- **2016-05-31** House Floor Amendment No. 2 Senate Concurs 057-000-000
- **2016-05-31** House Floor Amendment No. 3 Senate Concurs 057-000-000
- **2016-05-31** Senate Concurs
- **2016-05-31** Passed Both Houses
- **2016-06-29** Sent to the Governor `executive-receipt`
- **2016-08-26** Governor Approved `executive-signature`
- **2016-08-26** Effective Date January 1, 2017
- **2016-08-26** Public Act . . . . . . . . . 99-0897 `became-law`

## Source

OpenStates / OpenCivicData bulk snapshot [2026-07-01](https://data.openstates.org/daily/2026-07-01/public.pgdump); origin `ocd-bill/5c8fdb58-de70-4ed8-ae3f-ac5fa3f876ad`. Confidence: reported (aggregated from official Illinois legislature records).