(a) Any dues-paying member who became a member prior to July 1, 1993, who is rendered totally and permanently disabled by disease or injury so as to be unable to perform substantially all of the duties of the position to which the member was regularly assigned when the disability originated or so as to be unable to engage in any occupation or gainful employment for which the member is reasonably suited by virtue of the member's background, training, education, and experience shall be entitled to disability benefits of $257.00 per month for life or until the member's disability ceases, provided that the member makes application to the board for disability benefits within 12 months of becoming totally and permanently disabled.

(b) The disability benefits provided under this Code section shall be payable upon the event of disability as provided in subsection (a) of this Code section regardless of the cause of the disability and shall be payable when the disability is a result of any mental or physical injury or disease, whether caused by reason of the peace officer's employment or not, provided that no benefits shall be payable under this Code section for any disability resulting from the chronic and excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages, addiction to drugs, the use of which is prohibited in this state by law, engagement by the member in any criminal act, willful misconduct of the member, or injury sustained by the member while serving in the armed forces of any country or while on active duty in the National Guard or other armed forces reserve force.

(c) Any other provision of law to the contrary notwithstanding, any member who is receiving disability benefits pursuant to this Code section on June 30, 1990, and who had at least 20 years of creditable service at the time such member first became eligible for such disability benefits shall receive the same benefits as a member who retires at age 55 or older with 20 years of creditable service under the provisions of Code Section 47-17-80. For each year of service above 20 years but not more than 30 years which such member had when first becoming eligible to receive disability benefits, the benefits shall be the same as those provided for the same number of years of creditable service under the provisions of Code Section 47-17-80. The benefits of such members who are receiving disability benefits pursuant to this Code section on June 30, 1990, shall be recomputed and the increased benefits shall be paid to such members beginning July 1, 1990. Any member who first becomes eligible to receive disability benefits on or after July 1, 1990, who has the required years of creditable service as provided in this subsection shall have disability benefits computed and paid in the same manner as provided in this subsection.

(d) The amount of disability benefits in this Code section shall apply to those members who have retired on disability prior to July 1, 1990, as well as to those members who retire on disability on or after that date. The service of each such member who retired prior to July 1, 1990, shall be recomputed, and the benefits provided under this Code section shall be paid to such member in the future beginning July 1, 1990.

(e) Once each year during the first five years following the commencement of disability benefits under this Code section, and once in every three-year period thereafter, the board may require a disability beneficiary who has not yet attained 65 years of age to undergo a medical examination, such examination to be made at his place of residence, or other place mutually agreed upon, by physicians designated by the board. The disability benefits recipient may himself request such an examination. The designated physicians shall report to the board, following each such examination, the current status and condition of the recipient's disability.

(f) A disabled member's disability benefits shall cease:

(1) Upon his return to gainful employment with the employer for which he worked at the time his disability originated;

(2) If he refuses to submit to any medical examination requested under this Code section, in which case the benefits shall remain discontinued until the member's withdrawal of such refusal and submission to the requested medical examination; and, if his refusal continues for one year, all his rights in and to disability benefits may be revoked by the board;

(3) If the board determines on the basis of any medical examination that the member has sufficiently recovered from his disability so as to again be able to perform substantially all of the duties of the position to which he was regularly assigned when the disability originated, or so as to be able to engage in an occupation or gainful employment for which he is reasonably suited by virtue of his background, training, education, and experience;

(4) If the member does in fact obtain gainful employment compensating him at a level equal to or greater than the current compensation for the position he occupied at the time his disability originated; or

(5) When he dies.

(g) The board shall prescribe and furnish a form and procedure for the application for disability benefits. Applications shall contain such information as the board shall require. Upon the receipt of an application, the board may pass upon and decide whether to grant or deny the application on the basis of the submitted information or may refer the application to its duly appointed hearing officer for a recommendation. Any applicant for disability benefits shall have the right to request the board to refer his application to the hearing officer for a recommendation. In the consideration of any application for disability benefits, the receipt of disability benefits or payments by the applicant under the federal Social Security Act shall be deemed sufficient for eligibility for disability benefits under this Code section.

(h) The board is authorized and empowered to appoint and compensate a hearing officer for the purpose of holding hearings, compiling evidence and information, and submitting evidence, information, and recommendations to the board in any disability benefits case.

(i) The hearing officer shall have the authority to do the following in connection with any hearing on a disability application: administer oaths and affirmations; sign and issue subpoenas; rule upon offers of proof; regulate the course of the hearing, set the time and place for the hearing or any continued hearings, and fix the time for filing any briefs; provide for the taking of testimony by deposition or interrogatory; and reprimand or exclude from the hearing any person for any indecorous or improper conduct committed in the presence of the hearing officer. When a subpoena issued by the hearing officer is disobeyed, any interested party may apply to the superior court of the county where the hearing is being held for an order requiring obedience. Failure to comply with such order shall be cause for punishment as for contempt of court. Any applicant for disability benefits shall have the right to be represented by counsel before the hearing officer.

(j) With respect to all hearings before the hearing officer:

(1) Irrelevant, immaterial, or unduly repetitious evidence shall be excluded. The rules of evidence as applied in the trial of civil nonjury cases in the superior courts shall be followed. Evidence not admissible under such rules of evidence may be admitted if it is of a type commonly relied upon by reasonably prudent men in the conduct of their affairs. The hearing officer shall give effect to the rules of privilege recognized by law; and

(2) Documentary evidence may be received in the form of copies or excerpts if the original is not readily available. At the discretion of the hearing officer, the original shall be compared with the copy or excerpt.

(k) The hearing officer, within 30 days from the close of the evidence or, if necessary, a longer period of time approved by the board, shall certify the entire record from the hearing to the board, together with his recommendation on the application. On review of the entire record from the hearing officer, the board shall have all the powers it would have in presiding at the reception of the evidence. In its discretion, the board may take additional testimony or remand the matter to the hearing officer for such purpose. The recommendation of the hearing officer to the board shall be made a part of the record before the board.

(l) As a part of its decision subsequent to any hearing, the board shall include findings of fact and conclusions of law, separately stated, and the effective date of the decision. The decision of the board shall be mailed to the applicant for disability benefits as soon after the rendition of the decision as is practicable.

(m) Any applicant for disability benefits who is adversely affected by any final decision of the board may seek judicial review of the final decision of the board in the Superior Court of Spalding County. Proceedings for review shall be instituted by filing a petition with the court within 30 days after the decision is rendered. A copy of the petition shall be served upon the board. The petition shall state the nature of the petitioner's interest, the facts showing that the petitioner is aggrieved by the decision of the board, and the grounds upon which the petitioner contends the decision should be reversed or remanded. The petition may be amended with leave of the court.

(n) Within 30 days after the service of the petition or within further time allowed by the court, the board shall transmit to the reviewing court the original or a certified copy of the entire record of the proceeding under review. By agreement of the petitioner, the record may be shortened. The court may require or permit subsequent corrections or additions to the record.

(o) The filing of the petition shall in no manner stay the enforcement of the decision of the board.

(p) The review shall be conducted by the court without a jury and shall be confined to the record. The court shall not substitute its judgment for that of the board as to the weight of the evidence on questions of fact. The court may affirm the decision of the board or remand the case for further proceedings. The court may reverse the decision of the board if substantial rights of the petitioner have been prejudiced because the findings, inferences, conclusions, or decisions of the board are:

(1) In violation of constitutional or statutory provisions;

(2) In excess of the statutory authority of the board;

(3) Made upon unlawful procedure;

(4) Clearly erroneous in view of the reliable, probative, and substantial evidence on the whole record; or

(5) Arbitrary or capricious.

(q) A petitioner who is aggrieved by an order of the court in a proceeding authorized under this Code section may appeal to the Supreme Court of Georgia or the Court of Appeals of Georgia in accordance with Title 5.

(r) Any other provision of this Code section to the contrary notwithstanding, no person who becomes a member or again becomes a member of this fund on or after July 1, 1993, shall be entitled to any benefit provided for in this Code section.