The definition of “catastrophic injury” under Section 10(a) of the Illinois Public Safety Employee Benefits Act (PSEBA) has been interpreted in different ways by the courts. As a result, confusion exists as to whether municipal employers should be awarding or denying the extra health insurance benefits and disability claims of those employees awarded line-of-duty disabilities.

Caucus Position

The Mayors Caucus will work with the Illinois Risk Management Association, the City of Chicago, its participating suburban COGs and the Illinois Municipal League on legislation to modernize PSEBA by adding the federal definition of “catastrophic injury” and eliminate the abuses of the system that occur under its current interpretation.