Arizona § 38-806 - Disability retirement pensions

§ 38-806. Disability retirement pensions

A. A member who becomes permanently mentally or physically incapacitated for the purpose of performing the duties of the member's office may receive disability retirement benefits if the board of trustees finds that all of the following apply:

1. The member submits either personally or by a guardian an affidavit as to the nature of the member's incapacity.

2. The member is medically examined by a board of three physicians, one designated by the administrator of the fund, one designated by the member or the member's guardian and one designated by the governor.

3. A majority of the board of physicians certifies to the board of trustees that:

(a) The member is mentally or physically incapacitated for the purpose of performing the duties of the member's office.

(b) The member's incapacity occurred during the member's term of office and is expected to be of an indefinite duration.

(c) The member should be retired.

B. On retirement by reason of disability under this section, a retired member shall receive a pension computed pursuant to section 38-808, subsection B, paragraph 2 or subsection C, paragraph 2 until the member's death or until the member's pension is suspended, revoked or discontinued pursuant to this section.

C. If the board of trustees has reason to believe that a member, retired pursuant to this section but not yet eligible for normal retirement, may no longer be mentally or physically incapacitated from performing the duties of the public office from which the member retired, the board of trustees may require such retired member to be medically examined. The examination shall be conducted by a board of three physicians, one designated by the administrator of the fund, one designated by the retired member or the member's guardian and one designated by the governor.

D. The board of trustees shall discontinue pension payments to a member retired pursuant to this section, if the board of physicians certifies that the member is mentally and physically capable of performing the duties of the public office from which the member retired.

E. If the retired member refuses to submit to the medical examination, the administrator of the fund may suspend payment of the member's pension until the member submits to the medical examination. If the retired member refuses for one year or more to submit to medical examination, the board of trustees shall revoke the pension of a member retired under this section.