143-166.19. Determination of cause and extent of incapacity; hearing before Industrial Commission; appeal; effect of refusal to perform duties.

Upon the filing of the report, the secretary or other head of the department or, in the case of the General Assembly, the Legislative Services Officer, shall determine the cause of the incapacity and to what extent the claimant may be assigned to other than the claimant's normal duties. The finding of the secretary or other head of the department shall determine the right of the claimant to benefits under this Article. Notice of the finding shall be filed with the North Carolina Industrial Commission. The finding of the secretary or other department head shall be final unless the claimant, within 30 days of receipt of the notice, files a request for a hearing with the North Carolina Industrial Commission using a form required by the Commission. Upon the filing of a request, the North Carolina Industrial Commission shall proceed to hear the matter in accordance with its regularly established procedure for hearing claims filed under the Worker's Compensation Act, and shall report its findings to the secretary or other head of the department. From the decision of the North Carolina Industrial Commission, an appeal shall lie as in other matters heard and determined by the Commission. Any person who refuses to perform any duties to which the person may be properly assigned as a result of the finding of the secretary, other head of the department or of the North Carolina Industrial Commission shall be entitled to no benefits pursuant to this Article as long as the refusal continues. A duty is properly assigned if the duty complies with the authorized treating physician's restrictions. Any eligible person whose salary continuation benefits are terminated by the secretary or other head of the department shall be immediately entitled to benefits under G.S. 97-29 or G.S. 97-30. Such benefits under G.S. 97-29 or G.S. 97-30 shall only be suspended or terminated by the employer pursuant to G.S. 97-18.1.