R477-7-18. Disabled Law Enforcement Officer Amendments

(1) A law enforcement officer or state correctional officer, as defined in 67-19-27, who is injured in the course of employment, as defined in 67-19-27, shall be given a leave of absence with 100% of the officer's regular monthly salary and benefits, either:

(a) during the period the employee has a temporary disability; or

(b) in the case of a total disability, until the employee is eligible for an unreduced retirement under Title 49 or reaches the retirement age of 62 years, whichever occurs first.

(2) The eligible employee shall disclose to the agency any time-loss benefit amounts received by, or payable to, the employee, from outside sources, as soon as the employee is made aware.

(a) These amounts do not include benefits received from sources in which the employee pays the full premium.

(3) The agency shall apply R477-7-16, workers compensation leave, and R477-7-17, long term disability leave rules first. They then must consider any benefit amounts received under (2). If the total of these benefits is less than 100% of the employee's monthly salary and benefits, the agency shall make arrangements through payroll to pay the employee the difference.

(4) DHRM shall work with the Division of Risk Management, Workers' Compensation, and the Public Employee's Health Program on a periodic and case-by-case basis to assure that eligible employees receive full benefits.

(a) If at any time it is discovered that the employee is receiving less than 100% of their regular monthly salary and benefits, the agency shall make up the difference to the employee.

(5) If an employee discloses other time-loss benefits received under (2) after these additional payments by the agency have been made, the employee shall reimburse the agency for salary and benefits paid in overage.