§ 20-18-21 — Award and benefits for disability – Duty related

(a) Any member who after the effective date of this article and during covered employment: (1) Has been or becomes either totally or partially disabled by injury, illness, or disease; and (2) the disability is a result of an occupational risk or hazard inherent in or peculiar to the services required of members; or (3) the disability was incurred while performing law-enforcement functions during either scheduled work hours or at any other time; and (4) in the opinion of two physicians based on a medical examination, one of whom shall be named by the board and one by the member, the member is by reason of the disability unable to perform adequately the duties required of a Natural Resources Police Officer, is entitled to receive and shall be paid from the fund in monthly installments the compensation under either subsection (b) or (c) of this section.

(b) If the member is totally disabled, the member shall receive 90 percent of his or her average full monthly compensation for the 12-month contributory period preceding the member’s disability award, or the shorter period if the member has not worked 12 months.

(c) If the member is partially disabled, the member shall receive 45 percent of his or her average full monthly compensation for the 12-month contributory period preceding the member’s disability award, or the shorter period if the member has not worked 12 months.

(d) If the member remains partially disabled until attaining 60 years of age, the member shall then receive the retirement benefit provided in §20-18-18 and §20-18-19 of this code with the accrued benefit being computed with the multiplier in effect as of his or her effective date of retirement.

(e) The disability benefit payments will begin the first day of the month following termination of employment and receipt of the disability retirement application by the Consolidated Public Retirement Board.

Legislative History

2023 Reg. Sess., SB450; 2020 Reg. Sess., HB4363