2005 West Virginia Code - §15-2A-11a. — Physical examinations of prospective members; application for disability benefit; determinations.

§15-2A-11a. Physical examinations of prospective members; application for disability benefit; determinations.

(a) Not later than thirty days after an employee becomes a member of the Fund, the employer shall forward to the Board a copy of the physician's report of a physical examination which incorporates the standards or procedures described in section seven, article two, chapter fifteen of this code. A copy of the physicians's report shall be placed in the employee's retirement system file maintained by the Board.
(b) Application for a disability benefit may be made by a member or, if the member is under an incapacity, by a person acting with legal authority on the member's behalf. After receiving an application for a disability benefit, the Board shall notify the Superintendent of the Department that an application has been filed: Provided, That when, in the judgment of the Superintendent, a member is no longer physically or mentally fit for continued duty as a member of the West Virginia State Police and the member has failed or refused to make application for disability benefits under this article, the Superintendent may petition the Board to retire the member on the basis of disability pursuant to legislative rules proposed in accordance with article three, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code. Within thirty days of the Superintendent's receipt of the notice from the Board or the filing of the Superintendent's petition with the Board, the Superintendent shall forward to the Board a statement certifying the duties of the member's employment, information relating to the Superintendent's position on the work relatedness of the member's alleged disability, complete copies of the member's medical file and any other information requested by the Board in its processing of the application.
(c) The Board shall propose legislative rules in accordance with article three, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code relating to the processing of applications and petitions for disability retirement under this article.
(d) The Board shall notify a member and the Superintendent of its final action on the disability application or petition within ten days of the Board's final action. The notice shall be sent by certified mail, return receipt requested. If either the member or the Superintendent is aggrieved by the decision of the Board and intends to pursue judicial review of the Board's decision as provided in section four, article five, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code, the party aggrieved shall notify the Board within twenty days of the member's or Superintendent's receipt of the Board's notice that they intend to pursue judicial review of the Board's decision.
(e) The Board may require a disability benefit recipient to file an annual statement of earnings and any other information required in rules which may be adopted by the Board. The Board may waive the requirement that a disability benefit recipient file the annual statement of earnings if the Board's physician certifies that the recipient's disability is ongoing. The Board shall annually examine the information submitted by the recipient. If a disability recipient refuses to file the statement or information, the disability benefit shall be suspended until the statement and information are filed.