2023 Montana Code Annotated › Title 19. Public Retirement Systems › Chapter 6. Highway Patrol Officers' Retirement › Part 6. Disability Retirement Benefits › 19-6-612. Medical examination of disability retiree -- cancellation of benefit

19-6-612. Medical examination of disability retiree -- cancellation of benefit.
(1) The board may require the recipient of a disability retirement benefit to undergo a medical examination. The examination must be made by a board-approved physician or surgeon at a place mutually agreed on by the board, the disabled member, and the physician or surgeon and at the board's expense. Upon the basis of the examination, the board shall determine whether the recipient can perform the essential elements of the position held by the recipient when the recipient retired. If the board determines that the recipient is not incapacitated, the recipient's disability retirement benefit must be canceled when the recipient is offered a position under subsection (3) or when, if a position is available, the recipient cannot be reinstated under subsection (3) for reasons unrelated to the disability. If the recipient refuses to submit to a medical examination, the recipient's disability retirement benefit must be canceled.
(2) If the board determines that a recipient of a disability retirement benefit should no longer be subject to medical review, the board may grant a service retirement status to the recipient without recalculating the recipient's monthly benefit. The board shall notify the recipient in writing as to the change in status. If the recipient disagrees with the board's determination, the recipient may file a written application with the board requesting that the board reconsider its action. The request for reconsideration must be filed within 60 days after receipt of the notice of the status change.
(3) (a) Except as provided in subsection (3)(b), a recipient whose disability retirement benefit is canceled because the board has determined that the recipient is no longer incapacitated must be reinstated to the position held by the recipient immediately before the recipient's retirement or to a position in a comparable pay and benefit category within the recipient's capacity, whichever is first open. The fact that the recipient was retired for disability may not prejudice any right to reinstatement to duty that the recipient may have or claim to have.
(b) This section does not affect any requirement that the former employee meet or be able to meet professional certification and licensing standards unrelated to the disability and necessary for reinstatement to duty.
(4) The department of justice may request a medical or psychological review as to the ability of the recipient to return to work as a member of the highway patrol. If the board's findings are upheld, the department of justice shall pay the cost of the review.
(5) If a disabled member who is receiving a disability retirement benefit independently determines that the member is no longer disabled as that term is defined in 19-2-303 and returns to covered employment, the member shall immediately notify retirement system administrative staff so that the member's disability retirement benefit is canceled.
History: En. Sec. 4, Ch. 597, L. 1981; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 138, L. 1989; amd. Sec. 126, Ch. 265, L. 1993; amd. Sec. 15, Ch. 412, L. 1995; amd. Sec. 24, Ch. 370, L. 1997; amd. Sec. 49, Ch. 562, L. 1999; amd. Sec. 59, Ch. 99, L. 2001; amd. Sec. 23, Ch. 283, L. 2009; amd. Sec. 12, Ch. 400, L. 2023.