It’s a critical time to fix Illinois' pension program for public-sector employees hired after 2011 — but it may not happen this fall, state Rep. Jay Hoffman told pension-eligible employees of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville on Tuesday.

“I don't think there's enough time to do it and do it correctly,” Hoffman said.

Hoffman, D-Swansea, chairs the Illinois General Assembly’s Pensions Working Group that has led negotiations on reforms. Lawmakers have been trying to change the state’s Tier 2 pensions for a couple of years now and a legislative proposal could be one of the bigger subjects addressed during the fall veto session, which starts Oct. 14. Tier 2 pensions cover local public employees like teachers, for example.

“Hopefully this spring, we're going to be able to pass

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