Sec. 15. (a) The department may establish and operate a disability benefit program for the payment of disability expense reimbursement and pensions to employee beneficiaries with a disability. The department may provide these benefits by the creation of a reserve account, by obtaining disability insurance coverage, or both. However, the department may not establish or modify a disability benefit program after June 30, 1989, without the approval of the county fiscal body which shall not reduce or diminish any disability benefits set forth in any disability program that was in effect on January 1, 1989.

     (b) Benefits payable as a result of line of duty activities, including a disability presumed incurred in the line of duty under IC 5-10-13, must be in reasonable amounts. Monthly benefits payable as a result of other activities may not exceed the amount of pension to which that employee beneficiary employed until normal retirement age would have been entitled.

[Pre-Local Government Recodification Citation: 17-3-14-13.]

As added by Acts 1981, P.L.309, SEC.61. Amended by P.L.313-1989, SEC.6; P.L.185-2002, SEC.13; P.L.99-2007, SEC.221; P.L.1-2010, SEC.151.