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REFERENCE TITLE: CORP; accidental disability calculation |
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State of Arizona House of Representatives Fiftieth Legislature First Regular Session 2011
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HB 2413 |
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Introduced by Representatives Mesnard: Stevens
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AN ACT
amending section 38‑886, Arizona Revised Statutes; relating to the corrections officer retirement plan.
(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:
Section 1. Section 38-886, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:
38-886. Accidental disability retirement; total and permanent disability retirement; qualification; amount of pension; conditions for continued payment of pension; definition
A. A member may retire and receive an accidental disability pension or a total and permanent disability pension if the local board finds that all of the following conditions occur:
1. An application for disability retirement is filed with the retirement plan or the local board by either the member or the member's participating employer after the disabling incident or within one year after the date the member ceases to be an employee. Timely application for an accidental or a total and permanent disability pension is a prerequisite to receipt of the pension.
2. The member undergoes all medical examinations and tests ordered by the local board and releases to the local board all medical reports and records requested by the local board.
3. The local board determines that an accidental disability or total and permanent disability condition exists which that meets the requirements for accidental disability retirement or total and permanent disability retirement.
B. The effective date of an accidental disability retirement or a total and permanent disability retirement shall not predate the date of disability or the date the member ceases to be an employee.
C. The amount of an accidental disability pension or a total and permanent disability pension is equal to fifty per cent of the member's average monthly salary or the amount computed using the member's average monthly salary and the member's actual years of credited service, whichever is higher.
D. During the period, if any, between the effective date of accidental disability retirement or total and permanent disability retirement and the date the disabled retired member attains sixty‑two years of age the local board may require a disabled retired member to undergo periodic reevaluation of the continuation of accidental disability or total and permanent disability. If the disabled retired member refuses to submit to reevaluation, the local board may suspend payment of the pension. If the refusal continues for one year, the local board may revoke the disabled retired member's rights to the pension. An accidental disability pension or a total and permanent disability pension is terminated if the local board finds the retired member no longer meets the requirements for accidental disability retirement or total and permanent disability retirement.
E. A member does not qualify for an accidental disability pension or a total and permanent disability pension if the local board determines that the member's disability results from any of the following:
1. An injury suffered while engaged in a felonious criminal act or enterprise.
2. Service in the armed forces of the United States which that entitles the member to a veteran's disability pension.
3. A physical or mental condition or injury that existed or occurred before the member's date of membership in the plan.
F. Local boards shall base a finding of total and permanent disability and accidental disability on medical evidence obtained by a medical doctor or clinic selected by the local board and shall disregard any other medical evidence or opinions. If the local board retains more than one medical doctor or clinic in connection with any case, the local board shall resolve any material conflicts in the medical evidence that is presented by the local board's medical doctors or clinics.
G. For the purposes of this section:
1. "Average monthly salary" means:
(a) One‑twelfth of the aggregate salary that is paid to a member by a participating employer during a period of twelve consecutive months of service in which the member received the highest salary within the last one hundred twenty months of service.
(b) If the member has less than twelve months of service, the aggregate amount of salary that is paid a member divided by the member's months of service.
2. In computing average monthly salary, a period of nonpaid or partially paid industrial leave shall be considered based on the salary the employee would have received in the employee's job classification if the employee was not on industrial leave.
Sec. 2. Retroactivity
This act applies retroactively to July 1, 1986.