FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                          CR
FRIDAY, JULY 7, 1995                               (202) 616-2765
                                               TDD (202) 514-1888


    ILLINOIS REPEALS PROVISIONS OF PENSION CODE THAT ALLEGEDLY
         DISCRIMINATED AGAINST CITIZENS WITH DISABILITIES


     WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Justice Department officials today
praised the state of Illinois for repealing elements of its
pension code that the Justice Department claimed discriminated on
the basis of disability.
     Under a bill signed by Governor Jim Edgar last Friday, the
state will no longer exclude qualified police officers and
firefighters from municipal pension plans because of
disabilities.   The state had previously excluded such
individuals even where their disability had no bearing on job
performance.
     In December 1993, the Justice Department sued the state
claiming that certain provisions of the code violated the
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
     Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Deval L. Patrick
issued the following statement: 
     "Illinois did the right thing.  We are pleased that the
state has decided to change the way it treats civil servants with
disabilities."

     "This change is a major victory for police officers and
firefighters with disabilities throughout the state who now --
like their fellow officers -- can receive retirement and
disability benefits.  Before, a career police officer with
diabetes who had been performing successfully could not have
received disability benefits even if he or she were shot in the
line of duty -- just because of their condition."

     "This case was the first the Justice Department had filed to
protect people with disabilities from employment discrimination. 
By repealing discriminatory provisions of the state's pension
code, the state will provide equal benefits in the future to all
police officers and firefighters."

     "With this legislation, we look forward to quickly resolving
all outstanding issues regarding relief for individual officers
and firefighters."

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