§780. Reexamination of disability retirees; modification of benefits; restoration to active service

A. Once each year during the first five years following any retirement of a member on a disability retirement allowance and once in every three-year period thereafter, the board of trustees shall require any disability retiree whose first employment making him eligible for membership in one of the state systems occurred on or before June 30, 2015, who has not yet attained the age of sixty years and any disability retiree whose first employment making him eligible for membership in one of the state systems occurred on or after July 1, 2015, who has not yet attained the age of sixty-two to undergo a medical examination at the retiree's expense, to be made at the place of residence of the retiree or other place mutually agreed upon, by a physician or physicians designated by the board of trustees. The periodic reexaminations may be discontinued upon advice of the medical board that the retiree's condition is either terminal or that chances of recovery are highly improbable. If any such disability retiree refuses to submit to at least one medical examination in any such year by a physician or physicians designated by the board of trustees, his allowance may be discontinued until his withdrawal of such refusal; but if his refusal continues for one year, all of his rights in and to his pension may be revoked by the board of trustees.

B. Every disability retiree except a disability retiree who had no earnings and is determined by the Teachers' Retirement System of Louisiana to be incapacitated or who is residing in a nursing home shall submit to the board of trustees by May first of every year, a notarized annual earnings statement detailing his earned income from employment in the previous tax year. Should a retiree refuse to submit such an earnings statement by May first, his allowance may be discontinued without retroactive reimbursement, until the statement is filed. Should his refusal continue for the remainder of the calendar year, all his rights in and to his disability pension may be revoked by the board of trustees.

C.(1) Notwithstanding the provisions of R.S. 11:221, if the medical board reports and certifies to the board of trustees that a disability retiree is able to engage in a gainful occupation paying more than the difference between his retirement allowance and the average final compensation, and if the board of trustees concurs in this report, then, except as provided in either Paragraph (2) or (3) of this Subsection, the amount of his pension shall be reduced to an amount which, together with his annuity and the amount earnable by him, shall equal the amount of his average final compensation. If his earning capacity is later changed, the amount of his pension may be further modified; however, the new pension shall not exceed the amount of the pension originally granted nor an amount which, when added to the amount earnable by the retiree together with his annuity, equals the amount of his average final compensation.

(2)(a) The pay which is used to reduce benefits pursuant to Paragraph (1) of this Subsection shall not include the amount equal to the difference between the retiree's total annual benefit and the poverty threshold for a family unit of one person under age sixty-five as determined by the United States Bureau of the Census for the year in which such pay is earned.

(b) Any disability retiree who is engaged in a gainful occupation shall provide such information or documentation as may be requested by the system to implement the provisions of this Paragraph.

(3)(a) If, pursuant to the provisions of this Subsection, the board of trustees reduces the pension of any disability retiree of this system who retired pursuant to a reciprocal agreement between this system and any other state or statewide public retirement system, the reduction shall be subject to Subparagraph (b) of this Paragraph, provided the retiree satisfies all of the following provisions of this Subparagraph:

(i) The vocational rehabilitation program within the Department of Children and Family Services furnishes the retiree with durable medical equipment for use, subject to a requirement that the retiree be engaged in a gainful occupation for at least twenty hours per week.

(ii) The retiree furnishes any documentation as may be requested by the Teachers' Retirement System of Louisiana.

(b) Any income earned while working the twenty hours required by the vocational rehabilitation program in order to use such durable medical equipment shall not be included in the pay which is used to implement Paragraph (1) of this Subsection. Any income which is derived from the same employment, but which is derived from work in excess of the twenty hours required in relation to such equipment shall be included for purposes of implementing Paragraph (1) of this Subsection.

D. For the purposes of this Section, there shall be an annual cost-of-living adjustment to the average final compensation figure used in the modification computations. This cost-of-living adjustment shall be based upon and directly reflect the annual percentage increase or decrease in the Consumer Price Index for the preceding calendar year.

E. If any disability retiree is restored to active service, his retirement allowance shall cease, he shall again become a member of the retirement system, and he shall contribute thereafter at the current rate in effect at the time he is restored to service, and if he contributes for at least three years, the period of time on disability shall be counted as accredited service for purposes of establishing retirement eligibility, but not for computation of benefits. Any prior service certificate on the basis of which his service was computed at the time of his retirement shall be restored to full force and effect and, in addition, upon his subsequent retirement he shall be credited with all his service as a member.

Amended by Acts 1968, Ex.Sess., No. 37, §1; Acts 1972, No. 730, §1; Acts 1976, No. 613, §1; Acts 1978, No. 648, §5, eff. July 13, 1978; Acts 1986, No. 267, §1; Redesignated from R.S. 17:639 by Acts 1991, No. 74, §3, eff. June 25, 1991; Acts 1993, No. 718, §1, eff. July 1, 1993; Acts 1995, No. 592, §1, eff. July 1, 1995; Acts 1997, No. 812, §1, eff. July 1, 1997; Acts 2000, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 94, §1, eff. April 17, 2000; Acts 2000, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 115, §1, eff. July 1, 2000; Acts 2014, No. 226, §1, eff. June 30, 2014.