Five retired state employees are suing over a new law that allows Illinois to begin charging some state retirees for health insurance.

The retirees are members of the State Employees Retirement System who all put in at least 20 years of state service.

Such SERS members had been entitled to premium-free state health insurance. But Gov. Pat Quinn signed a law last month that does away with that benefit.

The retirees contend the law is an invalid delegation of legislative authority to an administrative agency or officer because it allows the Department of Central Management Services to determine annually what retirees will pay for health care.

Retired appellate judge Gordon Maag has filed a separate lawsuit asking that the law be declared unconstitutional.