Sec. 864.004.  TEMPORARY DISABILITY RETIREMENT BENEFITS.  (a)  A member is entitled to disability retirement benefits from the pension system only if a local board determines that the member became disabled during the performance of emergency services or support services and is unable to return to work at the member's regular occupation or, if the member is a student, is unable to return to the member's scholastic studies.  A disabled member must, at the time of disability, elect between a service retirement annuity or disability retirement benefits, if eligible for both.
(b)  Subject to Subsection (c), a member described by Subsection (a) who does not elect to receive a service retirement annuity is entitled to a temporary disability retirement benefit of:
(1)  $300 per month; or
(2)  a greater amount that the state board by rule adopts based on the monthly contributions made for the members by the governing body of the political subdivision.
(c)  Except as provided by Section 864.005, a temporary disability retirement benefit under Subsection (b) must cease on the expiration of a period, not to exceed one year, determined to be the likely duration of the disability by a physician in a written statement to the local board.  The local board shall select the physician making a determination under this subsection.
Added by Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 803 (S.B. 522), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2005.
Amended by: 
Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 321 (H.B. 2400), Sec. 4, eff. September 1, 2007.
Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1165 (H.B. 3247), Sec. 13, eff. September 1, 2019.