SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Legislation giving Illinois’ attorney general more power to stop state pension payments to convicted felons has passed the Illinois House.

The measure is sponsored by State Sen. Daniel Biss of Evanston and State Rep. Elaine Nekritz of Northbrook. It would give the attorney general the ability to intervene to halt pension payments to anyone convicted of a felony related to their public service.

The Illinois Supreme Court in July upheld a lower court’s ruling that Attorney General Lisa Madigan couldn’t challenge a Chicago police pension board decision allowing former commander Jon Burge to keep his pension. Burge was convicted of lying about torturing suspects.

Some lawmakers debating the bill Wednesday decried that decision. Nekritz says the legislation would prevent something similar from happening.

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The bill is SB2809.
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