RS 11:3113 Pensions and benefits - Louisiana Statutes

§3113.  Pensions and benefits

Pensions and benefits payable out of said fund shall be as follows:

(1)  If a member of said fire department becomes disabled for service by reason of an accident arising out of his service as a fireman or becomes disabled for services therein for causes not arising or developing directly from his employment in said fire department, said fireman shall, upon being found so disabled by the board of trustees, be paid monthly, so long as such disability shall continue, the sum of sixty-six and two thirds percent of the monthly salary he was receiving in the permanent position in which he was serving at the time he became disabled.  Those persons who on July 26, 1972, are retired and receiving a disability allowance shall be paid, for each of the two years commencing on July 26, 1972, a three percent cost-of-living increase in the amount of the disability allowance, or for such portion of said two-year period as the retiree is eligible for a disability allowance.

(2)  Firemen over the age of thirty years shall not be covered by the provisions of Paragraph (1) of this Section unless they were regularly and permanently employed by the Alexandria Fire Department prior to May 1, 1940; if, on said date, said firemen were not regularly employed by the Alexandria Fire Department, and are over thirty years of age at the time of employment, they shall not be required to contribute any portion of their salaries to said fund.  Any fireman who is receiving benefits for disability under Paragraph (1) of this Section shall not be considered as serving time in the fire department so as to compute his eligibility for retirement under the provisions of Paragraph (3) of this Section.

(3)  Any member of the fire department of the city of Alexandria who has served therein for a period of 20 years shall, upon making written application to the board of trustees, be retired from the service in said department and shall be paid a monthly sum equal to sixty-six and two thirds percent of the monthly salary he was receiving in the permanent position in which he was serving at the time of his retirement.  Those persons who on July 26, 1972, are retired and receiving a retirement allowance shall be paid, for each of the two years commencing on July 26, 1972, a three percent cost-of-living increase in the amount of the retirement allowance, or for such portion of said two-year period as the retiree is eligible for a retirement allowance.  That any regular employee of the Alexandria Fire Department who may be employed subsequent to May 1, 1940, and, at the time of said employment, be over the age of thirty years, may elect, at his option, to receive the benefits under this Paragraph, and should he so do, his years of service so far as receiving benefits under the retirement provisions of this Part shall commence on the first day he contributes his allotted eight percent portion of his salary to said fund; provided that no contribution shall be made by an employee until he has been regularly and permanently appointed to a position in the fire department.

(4)  That after any member of said fire department shall have been retired upon pension by reason of disability, the said board of trustees shall have the right at any time to cause the retired member to be examined by any competent physician to be selected by it, and also to examine other witnesses for the purpose of discovering whether such disability to perform the duties of the position held at the time of his removal from active services yet continues, and whether such retired members should be continued on the pension roll until final action in the matter.  Such retired member shall be entitled to notice and to be present at the hearing of such evidence, shall be entitled to counsel, shall be permitted to propound any question pertinent to such matters, and shall also have the right to introduce upon his own behalf any competent evidence he may see fit.  All witnesses shall be examined, under oath, and any member of said board of trustees is hereby authorized to administer such oath.  The decision of said board of trustees shall be final and no appeal shall be allowed therefrom, nor shall the same be subject to review, except by said board of trustees, or the courts.

(5)  If any member of said fire department, while in the service of said fire department or while eligible for or receiving benefits under the provisions of this Part, shall die from any cause, the benefits to which said member would be entitled shall be payable to and shall be paid to his surviving widow and child or children, and additionally these benefits shall also be payable to the surviving spouse of any fireman, which fireman was receiving benefits prior to June 20, 1972, who dies after July 26, 1972, on the following basis:

(a)  To the surviving widow of the member of the said fire department, provided she has been married to said member prior to his removal from active service and was living with him at the time of his death, the same benefits as were being received by the member of the fire department prior to his decease, said payments to cease upon her remarriage.  Where at the time of his death the deceased member of the fire department leaves a surviving child born of marriage or children either born outside of marriage or adopted, in addition to the amount payable to the surviving widow as above set out, there shall be paid to her or to the natural tutrix of the child in the event one should be appointed for the sole use and benefit of said child or children, the additional sum of twenty-five dollars per month if there be one child, and fifty dollars per month if there should be two or more children.  Provided, however, that in no event should the total amount payable to said children exceed fifty-five percent of the pay to the deceased member at the time of his death.  Those persons who on July 26, 1972, are beneficiaries and are receiving an allowance shall be paid, for each of the two years commencing on the effective date hereof, a three percent cost-of-living increase in the amount of the allowance, or for such portion of said two-year period as the beneficiary is eligible for an allowance.

(b)  In the event there be no surviving widow, but surviving children born of marriage, there shall be paid to said children where there is only one child, twenty-five dollars per month, plus fifty percent of the benefits payable to a surviving widow as above set forth, and where there are two or more such children, fifty dollars per month plus fifty percent of the benefits payable to a surviving widow.  An additional three percent cost-of-living increase shall be paid beneficiaries in this category who are drawing benefits on July 26, 1972, such increase to be paid for each of the next two consecutive years.

(c)  Benefits payable to surviving children under the provisions of this Part shall cease:

(i)  When said children attain the age of 18 years;

(ii)  When said children marry;

(iii)  When said children are gainfully employed so as to be self-supporting.

(d)  Provided, however, that the benefits payable to an afflicted child or children, who because of said affliction, the board of trustees shall determine is incapable of self-care or support, shall be payable during the entire life of said child unless said child or children be placed in a government owned or charitable institution.

(e)  If this system is merged into the Firefighters' Retirement System:

(i)  The provisions of this Paragraph shall not apply to any person who is an active member of this system on the effective date of the merger; and

(ii)  All active members of the system shall be governed by the provisions of R.S. 11:2259 with respect to survivor benefits and optional allowances; except

(iii)  That any person who retired or is receiving benefits prior to the effective date of such merger shall be entitled to the benefits as provided in this Paragraph.

(6)  That whenever an active, disabled, or retired member of said fire department shall die under circumstances set out in Paragraph (5) hereof, the said board of trustees shall appropriate from the said fund the sum of two hundred fifty dollars for funeral and burial expenses of such deceased member.

(7)  That benefits provided in this act for minor children shall be paid to the surviving parent or tutor during the minority of said child unless otherwise directed by the said board.

(8)  Anything to the contrary herein notwithstanding, no member of the fire department shall in the event of his resignation or discharge from the department be entitled to receive or be refunded any contributions made to the fund under the provisions of this Part.

(9)  There shall be included in the period necessary for retirement, as set out in Paragraph (3) as hereinabove set out, a period of time served by a member of the fire department as a member of the Armed Forces of the United States or its allies, whether such service was voluntary or involuntary.

(10)  The term "member of the fire department" as used in this Part is defined as an employee of the Fire Department of the City of Alexandria who has been regularly appointed and confirmed as such.

(11)  All firemen or their widows who are receiving benefits under the provisions of this Section on September 1, 1985, shall receive a one hundred dollar per month cost-of-living increase in their benefits.

Acts 1952, No. 47, §1; Acts 1956, No. 58, §1; Acts 1960, No. 24, §1; Acts 1962, No. 252, §1; Acts 1966, No. 238, §1; Acts 1972, No. 45, §1; Acts 1985, No. 624, §1; Acts 1985, No. 628, §1; Acts 1992, No. 988, §1; Acts 2004, No. 26, §6.