GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
1989 SESSION
CHAPTER 717
AN ACT TO MAKE TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS IN THE DISABILITY INCOME PLAN OF NORTH CAROLINA.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1. G.S. 135-5(a) reads as rewritten:
"(a) Service Retirement Benefits. -
(1) Any member may retire upon written application to the Board of Trustees setting forth at what time, as of the first day of a calendar month, not less than one day nor more than 90 days subsequent to the execution of and filing thereof, he desires to be retired: Provided, that the said member at the time so specified for his retirement shall have attained the age of 60 years and have at least five years of membership service or shall have completed 30 years of creditable service.
(2) Repealed by Session Laws 1983 (Regular Session, 1984), c. 1019, s. 1.
(3) Any member who was in service October 8, 1981, who had attained 60 years of age, may retire upon written application to the Board of Trustees setting forth at what time, as of the first day of a calendar month, not less than one day nor more than 90 days subsequent to the execution and filing thereof, he desires to be retired.
(4) Any member who is a law-enforcement officer, and who attains age 50 and completes 15 or more years of creditable service in this capacity or who attains age 55 and completes five or more years of creditable service in this capacity, may retire upon written application to the Board of Trustees setting forth at what time, as of the first day of a calendar month, not less than one day nor more than 90 days subsequent to the execution and filing thereof, he desires to be retired; Provided, also, any member who has met the conditions herein required but does not retire, and later becomes a teacher or an employee other than as a law-enforcement officer shall continue to have the right to commence retirement.
(5) Any member who is eligible for and is being paid a benefit under the Disability Income Plan as provided in G.S. 135-105 or G.S. 135-106 shall be deemed a member in service and may not retire under the provisions of this section. Any member who has made written application for long-term or extended short-term benefits under the Disability Income Plan as provided in G.S. 135-105 or G.S. 135-106, and who has been rejected by the Plan's Medical Board for a long-term or extended short-term benefit shall have 90 days from the date of notification of the rejection to convert his application to an early or service retirement application, provided that the member meets the eligibility requirements, effective the first day of the month following the month in which short-term disability benefits ended or the first day of the month following the month in which any salary continuation as may be provided in G.S. 135-104 ended, whichever is later."
Sec. 2. G.S. 135-5(c) reads as rewritten:
"(c) Disability Retirement
Benefits of Members Retiring Leaving Service Prior to January 1,
1988. - The provisions of this subsection shall not be applicable to members in
service on or after January 1, 1988. Upon the application of a member or of
his employer, any member who has had five or more years of creditable service
may be retired by the Board of Trustees, on the first day of any calendar
month, not less than one day nor more than 90 days next following the date of
filing such application, on a disability retirement allowance: Provided, that
the medical board, after a medical examination of such member, shall certify
that such member is mentally or physically incapacitated for the further
performance of duty, that such incapacity was incurred at the time of active
employment and has been continuous thereafter, that such incapacity is likely
to be permanent, and that such member should be retired; Provided further the
medical board shall determine if the member is able to engage in gainful
employment and, if so, the member may still be retired and the disability
retirement allowance as a result thereof shall be reduced as in subsection (e)
below. Provided further, that the medical board shall not certify any member as
disabled who:
(1) Applies for disability retirement based upon a mental or physical incapacity which existed when the member first established membership in the system; or
(2) Is in receipt of any payments on account of the same disability which existed when the member first established membership in the system.
The Board of Trustees shall require each employee upon enrolling in the retirement system to provide information on the membership application concerning any mental or physical incapacities existing at the time the member enrolls.
Supplemental disability benefits heretofore provided are hereby made a permanent part of disability benefits after age 65, and shall not be discontinued at age 65.
Notwithstanding the requirement of five or more years of creditable service to the contrary, a member who is a law-enforcement officer and who has had one year or more of creditable service and becomes incapacitated for duty as the natural and proximate result of an accident occurring while in the actual performance of duty, and meets all other requirements for disability retirement benefits, may be retired by the Board of Trustees on a disability retirement allowance.
Notwithstanding the foregoing to the contrary, any beneficiary who commenced retirement with an early or service retirement benefit has the right, within three years of his retirement, to convert to an allowance with disability retirement benefits without modification of any election of optional allowance previously made; provided, the beneficiary presents clear and convincing evidence that the beneficiary would have met all applicable requirements for disability retirement benefits while still in service as a member. The allowance on account of disability retirement benefits to the beneficiary shall be retroactive to the effective date of early or service retirement.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the surviving designated beneficiary of a deceased member who met all other requirements for disability retirement benefits, except whose death occurred before the first day of the calendar month in which the member's disability retirement allowance was to be due and payable, may elect to receive the reduced retirement allowance provided by a fifty percent (50%) joint and survivor payment option in lieu of a return of accumulated contributions, provided the following conditions apply:
(1) The member had designated as the principal beneficiary, to receive a return of accumulated contributions at the time of his death, one and only one person, and
(2) The member had not instructed the Board of Trustees in writing that he did not wish the provision of this subsection to apply."
Sec. 3. G.S. 135-5(d4) reads as rewritten:
"(d4) Allowance on Disability
Retirement of Persons Retiring on or after July 1, 1982, but Who Left
Service prior to January 1, 1988. - Upon retirement for disability, in
accordance with subsection (c) of this section on or after July 1, 1982 but
prior to January 1, 1988, 1982, a member who left service prior
to January 1, 1988 shall receive a service retirement allowance if he has
qualified for an unreduced service retirement allowance; otherwise the
allowance shall be equal to a service retirement allowance calculated on the
member's average final compensation prior to his disability retirement and the
creditable service he would have had had he continued in service until the
earliest date on which he would have qualified for an unreduced service
retirement allowance."
Sec. 4. G.S. 135-5(e) reads as rewritten:
"(e) Reexamination of
Beneficiaries Retired for Disability. - The provisions of this subsection shall
be applicable to members retired on a disability retirement allowance prior
to January 1, 1988 and shall not be applicable to members in service on
or after January 1, 1988. Once each year during the first five years
following retirement of a member on a disability retirement allowance, and once
in every three-year period thereafter, the Board of Trustees may, and upon his
application shall, require any disability beneficiary who has not yet attained
the age of 60 years to undergo a medical examination, such examination to be
made at the place of residence of said beneficiary or other place mutually
agreed upon, by a physician or physicians designated by the Board of Trustees.
Should any disability beneficiary who has not yet attained the age of 60 years
refuse 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, and should his refusal
continue for one year all his rights in and to his pension may be revoked by
the Board of Trustees.
(1) The Board of Trustees shall determine whether a disability beneficiary is engaged in or is able to engage in a gainful occupation paying more than the difference, as hereinafter indexed, between his disability retirement allowance and the gross compensation earned as an employee during the 12 consecutive months of service in the final 48 months prior to retirement producing the highest gross compensation excluding any compensation received on account of termination. If the disability beneficiary is earning or is able to earn more than the difference, the portion of his disability retirement allowance not provided by his contributions shall be reduced to an amount which, together with the portion of the disability retirement allowance provided by his contributions and the amount earnable by him shall equal the amount of his gross compensation prior to retirement. This difference shall be increased on January 1 each year by the ratio of the Consumer Price Index to the Index one year earlier, calculated to the nearest tenth of one percent (1/10th of 1%). Should the earning capacity of the disability beneficiary later change, the portion of his disability retirement allowance not provided by his contributions may be further modified. In lieu of the reductions on account of a disability beneficiary earning more than the aforesaid difference, he may elect to convert his disability retirement allowance to a service retirement allowance calculated on the basis of his average final compensation and creditable service at the time of disability and his age at the time of conversion to service retirement. This election is irrevocable. Provided, the provisions of this subdivision shall not apply to beneficiaries of the Law-Enforcement Officers' Retirement System transferred to this Retirement System who commenced retirement on and before July 1, 1981.
(2) Should a disability beneficiary under the age of 60 years be restored to active service at a compensation not less than his average final compensation, his retirement allowance shall cease, he shall again become a member of the Retirement System, and he shall contribute thereafter at the same rate he paid prior to disability; provided that, on and after July 1, 1971, if a disability beneficiary under the age of 62 years is restored to active service at a compensation not less than his average final compensation, his retirement allowance shall cease, he shall again become a member of the Retirement System, and he shall contribute thereafter at the uniform contribution rate payable by all members. Any such 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, but should he be restored to active service on or after the attainment of the age of 50 years his pension upon subsequent retirement shall not exceed the sum of the pension which he was receiving immediately prior to his last restoration and the pension that he would have received on account of his service since his last restoration had he entered service at the time as a new entrant.
(3) Notwithstanding the foregoing, a member retired on a disability retirement allowance who is restored to service and subsequently retires on or after July 1, 1971, shall be entitled to an allowance not less than the allowance described in a below reduced by the amount in b below:
a. The allowance to which he would have been entitled if he were retiring for the first time, calculated on the basis of his total creditable service represented by the sum of his creditable service at the time of his first retirement and his creditable service after he was restored to service.
b. The actuarial equivalent of the retirement benefits he previously received.
(3a) Notwithstanding the foregoing, a member retired on a disability retirement allowance who is restored to service and subsequently retires on or after July 1, 1985, shall be entitled to an allowance to which he would have been entitled if he were retiring for the first time, calculated on the basis of his total creditable service represented by the sum of his creditable service at the time of his first retirement and his creditable service after he was restored to service. Provided, however, any election of an optional allowance cannot be changed unless the member subsequently completes three years of membership service after being restored to service.
(4) As a condition to the receipt of the disability retirement allowance provided for in G.S. 135-5(d), (d1), (d2) and (d3) each member retired on a disability retirement allowance shall, on or before April 15 of each calendar year, provide the Board of Trustees with a statement of his or her income received as compensation for services, including fees, commissions or similar items, and income received from business, for the previous calendar year. Such statement shall be filed on a form as required by the Board of Trustees.
The Director of the State Retirement System shall contact any State or federal agency which can provide information to substantiate the statement required to be submitted by this subdivision and may enter into agreements for the exchange of information.
(5) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Article to the contrary, a beneficiary who was a beneficiary retired on a disability retirement with the Law-Enforcement Officers' Retirement System at the time of the transfer of law-enforcement officers employed by a participating employer and beneficiaries last employed by a participating employer to this Retirement System and who also was a contributing member of this Retirement System at that time, shall continue to be paid his retirement allowance without restriction and may continue as a member of this Retirement System with all the rights and privileges appendant to membership. Any beneficiary who retired on a disability retirement allowance as an employee of any participating employer under the Law-Enforcement Officers' Retirement System and becomes employed as an employee other than as a law-enforcement officer by an employer participating in the Retirement System after the aforementioned transfer shall continue to be paid his retirement allowance without restriction and may continue as a member of this Retirement System with all the rights and privileges appendant to membership until January 1, 1989, at which time his retirement allowance shall cease and his subsequent retirement shall be determined in accordance with the preceding subdivision (3a) of this section. Any beneficiary as hereinbefore described who becomes employed as a law-enforcement officer by an employer participating in the Retirement System shall cease to be a beneficiary and shall immediately commence membership and his subsequent retirement shall be determined in accordance with subdivision (3a) of this section.
(6) Notwithstanding any other provision to the contrary, a beneficiary in receipt of a disability retirement allowance until the earliest date on which he would have qualified for an unreduced service retirement allowance shall thereafter (i) not be subject to further reexaminations as to disability, (ii) not be subject to any reduction in allowance on account of being engaged in a gainful occupation other than with an employer participating in the Retirement System, and (iii) be considered a beneficiary in receipt of a service retirement allowance. Provided, however, a beneficiary in receipt of a disability retirement allowance whose allowance is reduced on account of reexamination as to disability or to ability to engage in a gainful occupation prior to the date on which he would have qualified for an unreduced service retirement allowance shall have only the right to elect to convert to an early or service retirement allowance as permitted under subdivision (1) above."
Sec. 5. G.S. 135-5(f) reads as rewritten:
"(f) Return of Accumulated Contributions. - Should a member cease to be a teacher or State employee except by death or retirement under the provisions of this Chapter, he shall upon submission of an application be paid, not earlier than 60 days from the date of termination of service, his contributions, and if he has attained at least five years of membership service or if termination of his membership service is involuntary as certified by the employer, the accumulated regular interest thereon, provided that he has not in the meantime returned to service. Upon payment of such sum his membership in the System shall cease and, if he thereafter again becomes a member, no credit shall be allowed for any service previously rendered except as provided in G.S. 135-4, and such payment shall be in full and complete discharge of any rights in or to any benefits otherwise payable hereunder. Upon receipt of proof satisfactory to the Board of Trustees of the death, prior to retirement, of a member or former member there shall be paid to such person or persons as he shall have nominated by written designation duly acknowledged and filed with the Board of Trustees, if such person or persons are living at the time of the member's death, otherwise to the member's legal representatives, the amount of his accumulated contributions at the time of his death, unless the beneficiary elects to receive the alternate benefit under the provisions of (m) below. Notwithstanding any other provision of Chapter 135, there shall be deducted from any amount otherwise payable hereunder any amount due any agency or subdivision of the State by the member by reason of any outstanding overpayment of salary or by reason of the embezzlement of fees collected by the member for any agency or subdivision of the State; Provided that, notwithstanding any other provisions of this Chapter, even if the member fails to demand the return of his accumulated contributions within 90 days from the day he ceases to be a teacher or State employee, any amount due such agency or subdivision by reason of any outstanding overpayment of salary or embezzlement of fees shall be paid to such agency or subdivision by the Retirement System upon demand; Provided, further, that such agency or subdivision shall have notified the executive director of any amount so due and that the Retirement System shall have no liability for amounts so deducted and transmitted to such agency or subdivision nor for any failure by the Retirement System for any reason to make such deductions. An extension service employee who made contributions to the Local Governmental Employees' Retirement System and the Teachers' and State Employees' Retirement System as a result of dual employment may not be paid his accumulated contributions unless he is eligible to be paid his accumulated contributions in both systems for the same period of service.
Pursuant to the provisions of G.S. 135-56.2, a member who is also a member of the Consolidated Judicial Retirement System may irrevocably elect to transfer any accumulated contributions to the Consolidated Judicial Retirement System or to the Supplemental Retirement Income Plan and forfeit any rights in or to any benefits otherwise payable hereunder.
A member who is a participant or beneficiary of the Disability Income Plan of North Carolina as is provided in Article 6 of this Chapter shall not be paid a return of accumulated contributions, notwithstanding the member's status as an employee or teacher. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, a member who is a beneficiary of the Disability Income Plan of North Carolina as provided in Article 6 of this Chapter and who is receiving disabililty benefits under the transition provisions as provided in G.S. 135-112, shall not be prohibited from receiving a return of accumulated contributions as provided in this subsection."
Sec. 6. G.S. 135-5(l) reads as rewritten:
"(l) Death Benefit Plan. - There is hereby created a Group Life Insurance Plan (hereinafter called the 'Plan') which is established as an employee welfare benefit plan that is separate and apart from the Retirement System and under which the members of the Retirement System shall participate and be eligible for group life insurance benefits. Upon receipt of proof, satisfactory to the Board of Trustees in their capacity as trustees under the Group Life Insurance Plan, of the death, in service, of a member who had completed at least one full calendar year of membership in the Retirement System, there shall be paid to such person as he shall have nominated by written designation duly acknowledged and filed with the Board of Trustees, if such person is living at the time of the member's death, otherwise to the member's legal representatives, a death benefit. Such death benefit shall be equal to the greater of:
(1) The compensation on which contributions were made by the member during the calendar year preceding the year in which his death occurs, or
(2) The greatest compensation on which contributions were made by the member during a 12-month period of service within the 24-month period of service ending on the last day of the month preceding the month in which his last day of actual service occurs;
subject to a minimum of twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) and to a maximum of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000). Such death benefit shall be payable apart and separate from the payment of the member's accumulated contributions under the System on his death pursuant to the provisions of subsection (f) of this section. For the purpose of the Plan, a member shall be deemed to be in service at the date of his death if his death occurs within 180 days from the last day of his actual service.
The death benefit provided in this subsection (l) shall not be payable, notwithstanding the member's compliance with all the conditions set forth in the preceding paragraph, if his death occurs
(1) After December 31, 1968 and after he has attained age 70; or
(2) After December 31, 1969 and after he has attained age 69; or
(3) After December 31, 1970 and after he has attained age 68; or
(4) After December 31, 1971 and after he has attained age 67; or
(5) After December 31, 1972 and after he has attained age 66; or
(6) After December 31, 1973 and after he has attained age 65; or
(7) After December 31, 1978, but before January 1, 1987, and after he has attained age 70.
Notwithstanding the above provisions, the death benefit shall be payable on account of the death of any member who died or dies on or after January 1, 1974, but before January 1, 1979, after attaining age 65, if he or she had not yet attained age 65, if he or she had not yet attained age 66, was at the time of death completing the work year for those individuals under specific contract, or during the fiscal year for those individuals not under specific contract, in which he or she attained 65, and otherwise met all conditions for payment of the death benefit.
Notwithstanding the above provisions, the Board of Trustees may and is specifically authorized to provide the death benefit according to the terms and conditions otherwise appearing in this Plan in the form of group life insurance, either (i) by purchasing a contract or contracts of group life insurance with any life insurance company or companies licensed and authorized to transact business in this State for the purpose of insuring the lives of members in service, or (ii) by establishing a separate trust fund qualified under Section 501(c)(9) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, as amended, for such purpose. To that end the Board of Trustees is authorized, empowered and directed to investigate the desirability of utilizing group life insurance by either of the foregoing methods for the purpose of providing the death benefit. If a separate trust fund is established, it shall be operated in accordance with rules and regulations adopted by the Board of Trustees and all investment earnings on the trust fund shall be credited to such fund.
In administration of the death benefit the following shall apply:
(1) For the purpose of determining eligibility only, in this subsection 'calendar year' shall mean any period of 12 consecutive months or, if less, the period covered by an annual contract of employment. For all other purposes in this subsection 'calendar year' shall mean the 12 months beginning January 1 and ending December 31.
(2) Last day of actual service shall be:
a. When employment has been terminated, the last day the member actually worked.
b. When employment has not been terminated, the date on which an absent member's sick and annual leave expire, unless he is on approved leave of absence and is in service under the provisions of G.S. 135-4(h).
(3) For a period when a member is on leave of absence, his status with respect to the death benefit will be determined by the provisions of G.S. 135-4(h).
(4) A member on leave of absence from his position as a teacher or State employee for the purpose of serving as a member or officer of the General Assembly shall be deemed to be in service during sessions of the General Assembly and thereby covered by the provisions of the death benefit. The amount of the death benefit for such member shall be the equivalent of the salary to which the member would have been entitled as a teacher or State employee during the 12-month period immediately prior to the month in which death occurred, not to be less than twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) nor to exceed fifty thousand dollars ($50,000).
The provisions of the Retirement System pertaining to Administration, G.S. 135-6, and management of funds, G.S. 135-7, are hereby made applicable to the Plan.
A member who is a beneficiary of the Disability Income Plan
provided for in Article 6 of this Chapter shall be eligible for group life
insurance benefits as provided in this subsection, notwithstanding that the
member is no longer an employee or teacher or that the member's death occurs
after the eligibility period after active service. The basis of the death
benefit payable hereunder shall be the higher of the death benefit computed as
above or a death benefit based on compensation used in computing the benefit
payable under G.S. 135-106 G.S. 135-105 and G.S. 135-106, as may
be adjusted for percentage post-disability increases, all subject to the
maximum dollar limitation as provided above. A member in receipt of
benefits from the Disability Income Plan under the provisions of G.S.
135-112(b) and (c) G.S. 135-112 whose right to a benefit accrued
under the former Disability Salary Continuation Plan shall not be covered under
the provisions of this paragraph.
Upon receipt of proof, satisfactory to the Board of Trustees in its capacity under this subsection, of the death of a retired member of the Retirement System on or after July 1, 1988, there shall be paid a death benefit to the surviving spouse of the deceased retired member or to the deceased retired member's legal representative if not survived by a spouse; provided the retired member has elected, when first eligible, to make, and has continuously made, in advance of his death required contributions as determined by the Board of Trustees on a fully contributory basis, through retirement allowance deductions or other methods adopted by the Board of Trustees, to a group death benefit trust fund administered by the Board of Trustees separate and apart from the Retirement System's Annuity Savings Fund and Pension Accumulation Fund. This death benefit shall be a lump-sum payment in the amount of five thousand dollars ($5,000) upon the completion of twenty-four months of contributions required under this subsection. Should death occur before the completion of twenty-four months of contributions required under this subsection, the deceased retired member's surviving spouse or legal representative if not survived by a spouse shall be paid the sum of the retired member's contributions required by this subsection plus interest to be determined by the Board of Trustees."
Sec. 7. G.S. 135-101(3) reads as rewritten:
"(3) 'Benefits' shall mean
the monthly disability income payments made pursuant to the provisions of this
Article. In the event of death or termination of benefits on or
after the first day of a month, the monthly benefit shall not be prorated and
shall equal the benefits paid in the previous month."
Sec. 8. G.S. 135-101 is amended by adding two new subdivisions to read:
"(20) 'Trial Rehabilitation' shall mean a return to service in any capacity, if the return occurs within the waiting period as provided in G.S. 135-104 and shall mean a return to service in the same capacity that existed prior to the disability if the return occurs within the short-term disability period as provided in G.S. 135-105.
(21) 'Workers' Compensation' shall mean any disabililty income benefits provided under the North Carolina Workers' Compensation Act, excluding any payments for a permanent partial disability rating."
Sec. 9. G.S. 135-104(a) reads as rewritten:
"(a) A participant shall
receive no benefits from the Plan for a period of 60 continuous calendar days
from the onset of disability determined as the last actual day of service service,
the day of the disabling event if the disabling event occurred on a day other
than a normal workday, or the day succeeding at least 365 calendar days
after service as a teacher or employee, whichever is later. These 60
continuous calendar days may be considered the waiting period before benefits
are payable from the Plan. During this waiting period, a participant may
be paid such continuation of salary as provided by an employer through the use
of sick leave, vacation leave or any other salary continuation."
Sec. 10. G.S. 135-105 reads as rewritten:
"§ 135-105. Short-term disability benefits.
(a) Any participant who
becomes disabled and is no longer able to perform his usual occupation may,
after at least 365 calendar days succeeding his date of initial employment as a
teacher or employee and at least one year of contributing membership service,
receive a benefit commencing on the first day succeeding the waiting period;
provided that the participant's employer and attending physician shall certify
that such participant is mentally or physically incapacitated for the further
performance of duty, that such incapacity was incurred while the participant
was a teacher or employee at the time of active employment and has
been continuous thereafter; provided further that the requirement for one year
of contributing membership service must have been earned within 36 calendar
months immediately preceding the date of disability and further, salary
continuation used during the period as provided in G.S. 135-104 shall count
toward the aforementioned one year requirement.
(b) The benefits as provided for in subsection (a) of this section shall commence on the first day following the waiting period and shall be payable for a period of 365 days as long as the participant continues to meet the definition of disability. However, a disabled participant may elect to receive any salary continuation as provided in G.S. 135-104 in lieu of short-term disability benefits; provided further, such election shall not extend the 365 days duration of short-term payments. An election to receive any salary continuation for any part of a given day shall be in lieu of any short-term benefit otherwise payable for that day, provided further, any lump-sum payout for vacation leave shall be treated as if the beneficiary or participant had exhausted the leave and shall be in lieu of any short-term benefit otherwise payable."
(c) The monthly benefit as provided in subsection (a) of this section shall be equal to fifty percent (50%) of 1/12th of the annual base rate of compensation last payable to the participant prior to the beginning of the short-term benefit period as may be adjusted for percentage increases as provided under G.S. 135-108 plus fifty percent (50%) of 1/12th of the annual longevity payment to which the participant would be eligible, to a maximum of three thousand dollars ($3,000) per month reduced by monthly payments for Workers' Compensation to which the participant may be entitled. Provided, that should a participant have earnings in an amount greater than the short-term benefit, the amount of the short-term benefit shall be reduced on a dollar-for-dollar basis by the amount that exceeds the short-term benefit.
(d) The provisions of this section shall be administered by the employer and further, the benefits during the first six months of the short-term disability period shall be the full responsibility of and paid by the employer; Provided, further, that upon the completion of the initial six months of the short-term disability period, the employer will continue to be responsible for the short-term benefits to the participant, however, such employer shall notify the Plan on a quarterly basis of the amount of short-term benefits paid and the Plan shall reimburse the employer the amounts so paid.
(e) During the short-term disability period, a beneficiary may return to service for trial rehabilitation for periods of not greater than 40 continuous days of service. Such return will not cause the beneficiary to become a participant and will not require a new waiting period or short-term disability period to commence unless a different incapacity occurs. The period of rehabilitative employment shall not extend the period of the short-term disability benefits.
(f) A participant or beneficiary of short-term disability benefits or his legal representative or any person deemed by the Board of Trustees to represent the participant or beneficiary, or the employer of the participant or beneficiary, may request the Board of Trustees to have the Medical Board make a determination of eligibility for the short-term disability benefits as provided in this section or to make a preliminary determination of eligibility for the long-term disability benefits as provided in G.S. 135-106. A preliminary determination of eligibility for long-term disability benefits shall not preclude the requirement that the Medical Board make a determination of eligibility for long-term disability benefits.
(g) The Board of Trustees may extend the short-term disability benefits of a beneficiary beyond the benefit period of 365 days for an additional period of not more than 365 days; provided the Medical Board determines that the beneficiary's disability is temporary and likely to end within the extended period of short-term disability benefits. During the extended period of short-term disability benefits, payment of benefits shall be made by the Plan directly to the beneficiary."
Sec. 11. G.S. 135-106 reads as rewritten:
"§ 135-106. Long-term disability benefits.
(a) Upon the application
of a beneficiary or participant or of his legal representative or any person
deemed by the Board of Trustees to represent the participant or beneficiary,
any beneficiary or participant who has had five or more years of membership
service may receive long-term disability benefits from the Plan upon approval
by the Board of Trustees, commencing on the first day succeeding the conclusion
of the short-term disability period provided for in G.S. 135-105, provided the
beneficiary or participant makes application for such benefit within 180 days
after the short-term disability period ceases or after salary continuation
payments cease, whichever is later; Provided, that the Medical Board shall
certify that such beneficiary or participant is mentally or physically
incapacitated for the further performance of duty, that such incapacity was
incurred while a teacher or employee at the time of active employment
and has been continuous thereafter, that such incapacity is likely to be
permanent; Provided further that the Medical Board shall not certify any
beneficiary or participant as disabled who is in receipt of any payments on
account of the same incapacity which existed when the beneficiary first
established membership in the Retirement System.
The Board of Trustees may require each beneficiary who becomes eligible to receive a long-term disability benefit to have an annual medical review or examination for the first five years and thereafter once every three years after the commencement of benefits under this section. However, the Board of Trustees may require more frequent examinations and upon the advice of the Medical Board shall determine which cases require such examination. Should any beneficiary refuse to submit to any examination required by this subsection or by the Medical Board, his long-term disability benefit shall be suspended until he submits to an examination, and should his refusal last for one year, his benefit may be terminated by the Board of Trustees. If the Medical Board finds that a beneficiary is no longer mentally or physically incapacitated for the further performance of duty, the Medical Board shall so certify this finding to the Board of Trustees, and the Board of Trustees may terminate the beneficiary's long-term disability benefits effective on the last day of the month in which the Medical Board certifies that the beneficiary is no longer disabled.
As to the requirement of five years of membership service, any participant or beneficiary who does not have five years of membership service within the 96 calendar months prior to conclusion of the short-term disability period or cessation of salary continuation payments, whichever is later, shall not be eligible for long-term disability benefits.
(b) After the
commencement of benefits under this section, the benefits payable under the
terms of this section shall be equal to sixty-five percent (65%) of 1/12th of
the annual base rate of compensation last payable to the participant or
beneficiary prior to the beginning of the long-term benefit short-term
disability period as may be adjusted for percentage increases as provided under
G.S. 135-108, plus sixty-five percent (65%) of 1/12th of the annual
longevity payment to which the participant or beneficiary would be eligible, to
a maximum of three thousand nine hundred dollars ($3,900) per month reduced by
any primary Social Security disability benefits and by monthly payments for Workers'
Compensation, if any Compensation to which the participant or
beneficiary may be entitled, but the benefits payable shall be no less than ten
dollars ($10.00) a month. However, a disabled participant may elect
to receive any salary continuation as provided in G.S. 135-104 in lieu of
long-term disability benefits; provided such election shall not extend the
first 36 consecutive calendar months of the long-term disability period. An
election to receive any salary continuation for any part of any given day shall
be in lieu of any long-term benefit payable for that day, provided further, any
lump-sum payout for vacation leave shall be treated as if the beneficiary or
participant had exhausted the leave and shall be in lieu of any long-term
benefit otherwise payable. Notwithstanding the foregoing, upon the
completion of four years from the conclusion of the waiting period as provided
in G.S. 135-104, the beneficiary's benefit shall be reduced by an amount, as
determined by the Board of Trustees, equal to a primary Social Security
disability benefit to which the beneficiary might be entitled had the
beneficiary been awarded Social Security disability benefits. Provided
that, in any event, a beneficiary's benefit shall be reduced by an amount, as
determined by the Board of Trustees, equal to a primary Social Security
retirement benefit to which the beneficiary might be entitled.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the long-term disability benefit is payable so long as the beneficiary is disabled until the earliest date at which the beneficiary is eligible for an unreduced service retirement allowance from the Retirement System, at which time the beneficiary would receive a retirement allowance calculated on the basis of the beneficiary's average final compensation at the time of disability as adjusted to reflect compensation increases subsequent to the time of disability and the creditable service accumulated by the beneficiary, including creditable service while in receipt of benefits under the Plan.
(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, a beneficiary in receipt of long-term disability benefits who has earnings during the first 36 consecutive calendar months of the long-term disability period shall have his long-term disability benefit reduced when the sum of the net long-term disability benefit and the earnings equals one hundred percent (100%) of monthly compensation adjusted as provided under G.S. 135-108. The long-term disability benefit shall be reduced dollar-for-dollar for the amount of earnings in excess of the one hundred percent (100%) monthly limit. Provided further, after the first 36 months of the long-term disability period, a beneficiary's earnings will not result in any reduction of the monthly long-term disability benefit until the monthly earnings equal the net monthly long-term disability benefit. The monthly long-term disability benefit will be reduced by one dollar ($1.00) for each three dollars ($3.00) of monthly earnings in excess of the net long-term disability benefit until the sum of the monthly net long-term benefit and monthly earnings reach one hundred percent (100%) of monthly compensation adjusted as provided under G.S. 135-108, at which point the monthly long-term disability benefit shall be reduced dollar-for-dollar for the amount of earnings in excess of the one hundred percent (100%) monthly limit. Any beneficiary exceeding the earnings limitations shall notify the Plan by the fifth of the month succeeding the month in which the earnings were received of the amount of earnings in excess of the limitations herein provided. Failure to report excess earnings may result in a suspension or termination of benefits as determined by the Board of Trustees."
Sec. 12. G.S. 135-112(b) reads as rewritten:
"(b) All benefit recipients under the former Disability Salary Continuation Plan provided for in G.S. 135-34 and the rules adopted thereto shall become beneficiaries under this Plan under the same provisions and conditions including the benefit amounts payable as were provided under the former Disability Salary Continuation Plan. Any benefit recipient under the former Disability Salary Continuation Plan who returns to service on or after January 1, 1988, who subsequently becomes disabled due to the same disabling condition within 90 days after restoration to service shall not become a participant of the Disability Income Plan but shall be entitled to a restoration of the disability benefit under the same provisions and conditions, including the benefit amounts payable, as were provided under the former Disability Salary Continuation Plan, and shall be entitled to make application for disability retirement benefits under the Retirement System under the same provisions and conditions as were provided members whose service terminated prior to January 1, 1988."
Sec. 13. Section 29(g) of Chapter 738 of the 1987 Session Laws reads as rewritten:
"(g) G.S. 135-5(e) and G.S.
128-7(e) 128-27(e) are amended by adding a new subdivision to the
end of each designated as (6) to read:
'(6) Notwithstanding any other provision to the contrary, a beneficiary in receipt of a disability retirement allowance until the earliest date on which he would have qualified for an unreduced service retirement allowance shall thereafter (i) not be subject to further reexaminations as to disability, (ii) not be subject to any reduction in allowance on account of being engaged in a gainful occupation other than with an employer participating in the Retirement System, and (iii) be considered a beneficiary in receipt of a service retirement allowance. Provided, however, a beneficiary in receipt of a disability retirement allowance whose allowance is reduced on account of reexamination as to disability or to ability to engage in a gainful occupation prior to the date on which he would have qualified for an unreduced service retirement allowance shall have only the right to elect to convert to an early or service retirement allowance as permitted under subdivision (1) above.'"
Sec. 13.1. G.S. 128-27(l)(7) is rewritten to read:
"(7) After December 31,
1978, but before July 1, 1988 January 1, 1987, and after he has
attained age 70."
Sec. 14. This act shall become effective July 1, 1989, except that Section 13 is effective upon ratification.
In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 3rd day of August, 1989.