§3143. Pensions and benefits

Pensions and benefits shall be as follows:

(1) If any member of the fire department who has been in the active service of the fire department for a period of at least six months, is found by the board of trustees to be totally physically or mentally disabled for service in the fire department by reason of service in the fire department, he shall receive monthly from the fund so long as such disability shall continue or until he becomes eligible for retirement on service basis, whichever is sooner, a sum, which together with any benefits from worker's compensation, shall be equal to thirty-three and one-third percent of the total monthly salary of the active member of the fire department holding the position corresponding to that held by the beneficiary at the time that he acquired the disability during the first five years of such disability. During the second five years of such disability he shall receive a sum which together with any benefits from worker's compensation, shall be equal to fifty percent of the total monthly salary of the active member of the fire department holding the position corresponding to that held by the beneficiary at the time he acquired the disability. After ten years of such disability he shall receive a sum which together with any benefits from worker's compensation shall be equal to sixty-six and two-thirds percent of the total monthly salary of the active member of the fire department holding the position corresponding to that held by the beneficiary at the time that he acquired the disability; provided, however, that if the member has served as a member of the fire department continuously for a period of ten years at the time of the disability, he shall be eligible for retirement without having served the full twenty-five years as stipulated in Paragraph (3) of this Section.

(2) If any member of the fire department, while in the active service is found by the board of trustees to be totally physically or mentally disabled for service in the fire department by reason or causes not arising or developing directly from his employment in the fire department, save and except any disability which may arise from the commission or attempted commission of a misdemeanor or felony or use of any drug or intoxicating liquor which use contributes to the disability, he shall receive monthly from the fund, so long as such disability shall continue a sum which, together with any benefits from worker's compensation, shall equal thirty-three and one-third percent of the monthly salary of the active member of the fire department holding the position corresponding to that held by the beneficiary at the time he acquired the disability, plus an additional two percent of such salary for each year of active service rendered over five years; provided, however, that the maximum benefit shall be sixty-six and two-thirds percent of the monthly salary of the active member of the fire department holding the position corresponding to that held by the beneficiary at the time he acquired the disability. Provided, further, that the time elapsing while the member is receiving benefits under this Paragraph shall not be considered as time served in the fire department by the member and shall not be included as "time served" in determining eligibility for retirement under this Part. Provided, further, however, that if the member who has been disabled for service in the fire department for causes not arising or developing directly from his employment in the fire department has served as a member of the fire department continuously for a period of ten years at the time of disability, he shall be eligible for retirement without serving the full twenty-five years as stipulated in Paragraph (3) of this Section.

(3) Any member of the said fire department who serves in said fire department for a period of twenty-five years, upon making proper written application to the board of trustees requesting it, shall be retired from the service in said fire department and shall be paid a monthly sum equal to sixty-six and two-thirds percent of the total monthly salary of the active member of said fire department holding the position corresponding to that held by the beneficiary at the time of his retirement, and an additional amount equal to one percent of such salary for each year of service after said member has reached the age of fifty years and after he shall have served twenty-five years; provided, however, that the maximum benefit shall not exceed seventy-five percent of said salary. No fireman shall be entitled to receive benefits based solely on length of service until after five years from July 26, 1972.

(4) After any member of such fire department shall have been retired upon pension by reason of disability, the board of trustees shall have the right at any time to cause such retired member to be brought before it and again examined by the city physician and/or other competent physicians and surgeons, to be selected by it, and also to examine other witnesses for the purpose of discovering whether such disability to perform the duties of the position held at the time of his removal from active service yet continues, and whether such retired member should be continued on the pension roll, but such retired member shall remain upon the pension roll until reinstated to his former rank in the active service of the fire department. Such retired member shall be entitled to notice and to be present at the hearing of any such evidence, and shall be permitted to propound any questions pertinent or relevant to such matter, and shall also have the right to introduce upon his own behalf any competent evidence he may see fit. All witnesses so produced shall be examined under oath. The decision of the board of trustees shall be final and conclusive, and no appeal shall be allowed therefrom, nor shall the same be subject to review except by the board of trustees or upon proper application to the courts.

(5)(a) If any member of the fire department, while in the service of the fire department or while eligible for or receiving benefits under the provisions of this Part, shall die from any cause, and leave a widow surviving, the board shall direct the payment monthly from the said Fund to such widow, during the remainder of her life, and while she remains unmarried, fifty percent of the benefits to which such deceased member would be entitled, were he the direct beneficiary, to be computed at the time such payment is made; each surviving minor child under the age of eighteen years shall receive twenty-four percent of the said benefit which would be otherwise payable to the deceased member if he were the direct beneficiary; provided, however, that said payment to said children shall continue after the remarriage of the said widow, but not after the marriage of the children. Provided, further, that no widow shall be entitled to or receive the benefits from this Part unless she was married to such member, prior to his removal from active service and was living with him at the time of death. Provided, further, however, that the total sum payable to said decedent's family shall not exceed sixty-six and two-thirds percent of the total monthly salary of the active member of the fire department holding the position corresponding to that held by the beneficiary at the time his active service terminated. If a reduction is required in the percentage of benefits payable because of the number of children or other limitation the share of each child shall be reduced equally, but the widow's share shall remain the same.

(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, particularly Subparagraph (5)(a) of this Section, any person who, on July 6, 1986, is a former recipient of survivor benefits from the Firemen's Pension and Relief Fund for the City of Bastrop by virtue of having been the surviving widow of a member of the fund, and whose benefits were curtailed by reason of remarriage, and whose second husband has also died, shall have the benefits she was receiving prior to remarriage reinstated.

(6) Whenever an active or retired member of the fire department shall die as aforesaid in Paragraph (5) hereof, the board of trustees shall appropriate from the Fund the sum of Five Hundred Dollars for funeral and burial expenses of such deceased member.

(7) In the event of the death of a member of the fire department as aforesaid in Paragraph (5) hereof leaving no wife but a child or children, each child shall receive thirty percent of the benefits to which such deceased member would have been entitled had he been the direct beneficiary; provided, however, that these benefits shall be payable only until such child reaches the age of eighteen years or marries, whichever is sooner. Provided, further, that the total sum payable to said deceased's family shall not exceed sixty-six and two-thirds percent of his salary.

(8) The benefits provided in preceding Paragraphs (1) and (2) may continue only until the time the member would have been eligible for retirement under the provisions of this Part had he continued in active service, and at such time, he shall receive the benefits provided for under the retirement provisions of this Part, if he is eligible therefor.

(9) The benefits provided in this Part for minor children shall be paid to the qualified tutor or tutrix during the minority of said child, unless otherwise directed by the board.

(10) In the event a member of the fire department shall die of any cause, while eligible for or receiving benefits under the provisions of this Part, and leave a father and/or mother directly dependent upon him for support and maintenance, the board in its discretion may grant and pay such father and/or mother such portion of the pension which would have been payable to the deceased member had he been the direct beneficiary as they may deem advisable. Provided, however, that this subsection shall not operate in such manner as to effect or diminish any benefits provided herein for surviving widows and/or children.

(11) No member or other beneficiary designated in this Part shall be entitled to or receive the benefits herein provided so long as he shall receive from the fire department a sum equal to or greater than the benefits to which he would otherwise be entitled under this Part. In the event such sum so received should be less than the said amount of the benefits provided herein, the benefits payable shall be reduced in an amount equal to the sum received from the fire department.

(12) Notwithstanding the provisions of Paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) of this Section, there shall be no increase in monthly retirement benefits to beneficiaries, because of any salary increases which may be given to active members of the Fund.

Designated from Acts 1972, No. 23, §11, by Acts 1991, No. 74, §3, eff. June 25, 1991; Acts 2014, No. 811, §4, eff. June 23, 2014.

NOTE: Acts 2014, No. 811 changed terminology referring to persons with disabilities throughout the La. Revised Statutes and codes of law, and included a listing of terms that were deleted and their respective successor terms (See Acts 2014, No. 811, §36). The Act provides that it is not the intent of the legislature that changes in terminology effected therein alter or affect in any way the substance, interpretation, or application of any law or administrative rule; further provides that nothing in the Act shall be construed to expand or diminish any right of or benefit for any person provided by any law or administrative rule (See Acts 2014, No. 811, §35(C) and (D)).