Section 36-8-7.5-13 - Disability retirement; benefits; procedure for determination of disability and reinstatement; period of disability credited(a) For a member who becomes disabled before July 1, 2000, the 1953 fund shall be used to pay a pension in an annual sum equal to:(1) fifty percent (50%) for a disease or disability occurring before July 1, 1991; and(2) fifty-five percent (55%) for a disease or disability occurring after June 30, 1991; of the salary of a first class patrolman in the police department, computed and payable as prescribed by section 12(b) of this chapter, to an active member of the police department who has been in active service for more than one (1) year and who has suffered or contracted a mental or physical disease or disability that renders the member permanently unfit for active duty in the police department, or to an active member of the police department who has been in active service for less than one (1) year who has suffered or received personal injury from violent external causes while in the actual discharge of the member's duties as a police officer. The pensions provided for in this subsection shall be paid only so long as the member of the police department remains unfit for active duty in the police department.
(b) For a member who becomes disabled after June 30, 2000, the 1953 fund shall be used to pay a pension in an annual sum equal to fifty-five percent (55%) of the salary of a first class patrolman in the police department, computed on an annual basis and payable in twelve (12) equal monthly installments, to an active member of the police department who: (1) has suffered or incurred a disability that renders the member permanently unfit for active duty in the police department and that is:(A) the direct result of:(i) a personal injury that occurs while the fund member is on duty;(ii) a personal injury that occurs while the fund member is off duty and is responding to an offense or a reported offense; or(iii) an occupational disease (as defined in IC 22-3-7-10), including a duty related disease that is also included within clause (B);(B) a duty related disease (for purposes of this section, a "duty related disease" means a disease arising out of the fund member's employment. A disease is considered to arise out of the fund member's employment if it is apparent to the rational mind, upon consideration of all of the circumstances, that: (i) there is a connection between the conditions under which the fund member's duties are performed and the disease;(ii) the disease can be seen to have followed as a natural incident of the fund member's duties as a result of the exposure occasioned by the nature of the fund member's duties; and(iii) the disease can be traced to the fund member's employment as the proximate cause); or(C) a disability presumed incurred in the line of duty under IC 5-10-13 or IC 5-10-15; and(2) is unable to perform the essential functions of the job, considering reasonable accommodation to the extent required by the Americans with Disabilities Act. The pensions provided for in this subsection shall be paid only so long as the member of the police department remains unfit for active duty in the police department. If the salary of a first class patrolman is increased or decreased, the pension payable shall be proportionately increased or decreased. However, the monthly pension payable to a member or survivor may not be reduced below the amount of the first full monthly pension received by that person.
(c) For a member who becomes disabled after June 30, 2000, the 1953 fund shall be used to pay a pension in an annual sum equal to fifty-five percent (55%) of the salary of a first class patrolman in the police department, computed on an annual basis and payable in twelve (12) equal monthly installments, to an active member of the police department who has been in active service for at least one (1) year and:(1) has suffered or incurred a disability that:(A) renders the member permanently unfit for active duty in the police department; and(B) is not described in subsection (b)(1); and(2) is unable to perform the essential functions of the job, considering reasonable accommodation to the extent required by the Americans with Disabilities Act. The pension provided in this subsection shall be paid only so long as the member of the police department remains unfit for active duty in the police department. If the salary of a first class patrolman is increased or decreased, the pension payable shall be proportionately increased or decreased. However, the monthly pension payable to a member or survivor may not be reduced below the amount of the first full monthly pension received by that person.
(d) For a member who became disabled before July 1, 2000, the 1953 fund shall be used to pay temporary benefits in an annual sum equal to thirty percent (30%) of the salary of a first class patrolman in the police department, computed and payable as prescribed by section 12(a) of this chapter, to an active member of the police department who has been in active service for more than one (1) year and who has suffered any physical or mental disability that renders the member temporarily or permanently unable to perform the member's duties as a member of the police department, or to an active member of the police department who has been in active service for less than one (1) year and who has suffered or received personal injury from violent external causes while in the actual discharge of the member's duties as a police officer, until the time the member is physically and mentally able to return to active service on the police department.(e) For a member who becomes disabled after June 30, 2000, the 1953 fund shall be used to pay a pension in an annual sum equal to thirty percent (30%) of the salary of a first class patrolman in the police department, computed on an annual basis and payable in twelve (12) equal monthly installments, to an active member of the police department who:(1) suffers or incurs a disability that renders the member temporarily unfit for active duty in the police department and that is:(A) the direct result of:(i) a personal injury that occurs while the fund member is on duty;(ii) a personal injury that occurs while the fund member is off duty and is responding to an offense or a reported offense, in the case of a police officer; or(iii) an occupational disease (as defined in IC 22-3-7-10), including a duty related disease that is also included within clause (B);(B) a duty related disease (for purposes of this section, a "duty related disease" means a disease arising out of the fund member's employment. A disease is considered to arise out of the fund member's employment if it is apparent to the rational mind, upon consideration of all of the circumstances, that: (i) there is a connection between the conditions under which the fund member's duties are performed and the disease;(ii) the disease can be seen to have followed as a natural incident of the fund member's duties as a result of the exposure occasioned by the nature of the fund member's duties; and(iii) the disease can be traced to the fund member's employment as the proximate cause); or(C) a disability presumed incurred in the line of duty under IC 5-10-13 or IC 5-10-15; and(2) is unable to perform the essential functions of the job, considering reasonable accommodation to the extent required by the Americans with Disabilities Act. The pension provided in this subsection shall be paid only so long as the member of the police department remains unfit for active duty in the police department. If the salary of a first class patrolman is increased or decreased, the pension payable shall be proportionately increased or decreased. However, the monthly pension payable to a member or survivor may not be reduced below the amount of the first full monthly pension received by that person.
(f) For a member who becomes disabled after June 30, 2000, the 1953 fund shall be used to pay temporary benefits in an annual sum equal to thirty percent (30%) of the salary of a first class patrolman in the police department, computed on an annual basis and payable in twelve (12) equal monthly installments, to an active member of the police department:(1) who has been in active service for at least one (1) year;(2) suffers or incurs a disability that: (A) renders the member temporarily unfit for active duty in the police department; and(B) is not described in subsection (e)(1); and(3) is unable to perform the essential functions of the job, considering reasonable accommodation to the extent required by the Americans with Disabilities Act. The pension provided for in this subsection shall be paid only so long as the member of the police department remains unfit for active duty in the police department. If the salary of a first class patrolman is increased or decreased, the pension payable shall be proportionately increased or decreased. However, the monthly pension payable to a member or survivor may not be reduced below the amount of the first full monthly pension received by that person.
(g) If an application is made by an active member of the police department because of physical or mental disability for temporary benefits as provided in subsection (d), (e), or (f), the benefit is not payable until the local board determines after a hearing conducted under IC 36-8-8-12.7 that the member is unfit for active duty on the police department, considering reasonable accommodation to the extent required by the Americans with Disabilities Act. Before the hearing, a physician to be appointed by the local board shall examine the member and certify in writing whether in the physician's opinion the member is unfit, physically or mentally, for active duty in the police department. After the pension or benefit has been granted by the local board, the payment commences with the original date of the injury or illness causing the disability.(h) A member who has been granted a disability benefit under this section and who fails or refuses to submit to a physical examination at any time by the local board physician has no right in the future to receive the disability benefit, and any benefit that has been granted shall be immediately canceled by the local board.(i) The local board may, from time to time, require a member of the police department who is receiving at any time disability benefits or pensions as provided in this section to be examined by the physician appointed by the local board. After the examination, the local board shall conduct a hearing under IC 36-8-8-12.7 to determine whether the disability still exists and whether the member should continue to receive the pension or benefit. If after the examination and hearing the member is found to have recovered from the member's disability and is fit for active duty on the police department, then upon written notice to the member by the local board, the member shall be reinstated in active service, the safety board shall be informed of the action of the local board, and from that time the member is no longer entitled to payments from the 1953 fund. If the member fails or refuses to return to active duty after ordered by the local board, the member ceases to be a member of the 1953 fund and waives all rights to any further pensions or benefits provided by the 1953 fund.(j) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, no disability benefit may be paid for any disability based upon or caused by any mental or physical condition that a member had at the time the member entered or reentered the member's active service in the police department.(k) If a member who is receiving disability benefits under subsection (a), (b), or (c) for a disease or disability occurring after June 30, 1991, is transferred from disability to regular retirement status, the member's monthly pension may not be reduced below fifty-five percent (55%) of the salary of a first class patrolman at the time of payment of the pension.(l) To the extent required by the Americans with Disabilities Act, the transcripts, reports, records, and other material compiled to determine the existence of a disability shall be:(1) kept in separate medical files for each member; and(2) treated as confidential medical records.(m) A fund member who is receiving disability benefits under subsection (d) or (f) shall be transferred from disability to regular retirement status when the member becomes fifty-five (55) years of age.(n) A fund member who is receiving disability benefits under subsection (e) is entitled to: (1) receive a disability benefit for the remainder of the fund member's life; and(2) have the amount of the disability benefit computed under section 12 of this chapter when the fund member becomes fifty-five (55) years of age.As added by Acts1982 , P.L. 77, SEC.9. Amended by P.L. 311-1989, SEC.5; P.L. 226-1991, SEC.1; P.L. 4-1992, SEC.42; P.L. 118-2000, SEC.17; P.L. 246-2001, SEC.15; P.L. 185-2002, SEC.9; P.L. 62-2006, SEC.5.