43:13-43. Retirement for disability
Any municipal employee or officer of any village in any county of the first class who shall have received permanent disability in the performance of his duty shall, upon the certificate of a physician designated for that purpose by the pension commission, be retired on a pension equal to one-half of his salary at the time of his retirement.
Where, however, any such municipal employee or officer shall desire to retire by reason of permanent disability not incurred in the performance of his duty he shall apply in writing to the pension commission for such retirement. The pension commission shall, thereupon, call to its aid a regularly licensed and practicing surgeon or physician and the applicant may also call to his aid a regularly licensed and practicing surgeon or physician. If the two surgeons or physicians so called fail to agree on the physical condition of the applicant, the pension commission may call a third and disinterested, licensed and practicing surgeon or physician. The determination of the majority of the three surgeons or physicians who shall first be duly sworn, shall be reduced to writing and signed by them. The president of the pension commission may administer oaths to such surgeons, physicians or other persons called regarding the matter before the commission. The commission shall determine, by resolution, whether the applicant is entitled to the benefits of this article and shall consider the determination of the surgeons or physicians in reaching its decision. If it is determined that the applicant is entitled to receive a pension in accordance herewith, said pension shall be based on the applicant's years of service with said village. A pension of two per centum (2%) of his final average salary shall be paid for each year the applicant has served the said village, but said pension shall not exceed one-half of his final average salary. Such pension shall be paid notwithstanding the fact that such employee or officer has not paid his annual installments for a period of five years as hereinafter provided.
Amended by L.1949, c. 119, p. 485, s. 3.