2009 Louisiana Laws TITLE 11 Consolidated public retirement :: RS 11:1313 Disability retirement; eligibility

§1313.  Disability retirement; eligibility

A.  Eligibility for disability benefits, procedures for application for disability benefits, procedures for the certification of continuing eligibility for disability benefits, the authority of the board of trustees to modify disability benefits, and procedures governing the restoration to active service of a formerly disabled employee are specifically described and provided for in R.S. 11:201 through 224.

B.  The board of trustees shall award disability benefits to any sworn, commissioned law enforcement officer of the office of state police who is eligible and who has been officially certified as disabled by the State Medical Disability Board.  The disability benefit shall be determined as follows:

(1)  Upon application for retirement due to a total and permanent disability caused solely as the result of injuries sustained in the performance of his official duties, a member shall receive a disability benefit equal to fifty percent of his average salary, plus one and one-half percent of his average salary for each year of service credit in excess of ten years.  Such benefit shall not exceed one hundred percent of the member's average salary and the provisions of R.S. 11:221 shall be inapplicable with respect to such disability retiree.

(2)  Upon application for retirement due to a total and permanent disability caused as the result of any other reason, a member with at least five years service credit shall receive a disability benefit equal to fifty percent of his average salary plus one and one-half percent for each year of service credit in excess of ten years.  Such benefit shall not exceed one hundred percent of the member's average salary.

(3)(a)  Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, upon application for retirement due to a total and permanent disability caused solely as the result of injuries sustained in the performance of official duties, and such injuries include loss of limb, loss of organ, total loss of sight or hearing, paralysis, or permanent damage to the brain or spinal cord, a member shall receive a disability benefit equal to one hundred percent of his average annual salary, or thirty-six thousand dollars annually, whichever is greater.

(b)  Any person who is a disability retiree of the system on June 30, 2003, and who has a qualifying disability as defined in Subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph shall be eligible for the disability benefits provided thereunder; however, any increase in benefits to such a disability retiree shall be payable prospectively from July 1, 2003 only.

(c)  The provisions of this Paragraph shall not apply to any person whose disability occurs on or after June 30, 2003.

Acts 1989, No. 509, §1; Redesignated from R.S. 40:1428 by Acts 1991, No. 74, §3, eff. June 25, 1991; Acts 2003, No. 538, §1, eff. July 1, 2003.