(a) The member shall provide medical documentation substantiating the impairment qualifying the member for the disability retirement under this part.

(b) On receipt of an application for disability retirement under this part, the system may order a medical examination or review of medical documentation of a member to determine whether the member is incapacitated for performance of service. The medical examination or review of medical documentation shall be conducted by a practicing physician, selected by the board, with expertise in the member’s impairment, and the board shall pay all costs associated with the examination or review of medical documentation. If the member refuses to submit to the required medical examination or review of medical documentation, the application for disability retirement shall be rejected. If a medical examination is ordered:

(1) The member shall either remain in this state, or return to this state at the member’s own expense, to undergo the medical examination or the application shall be rejected, unless this requirement is waived by the board. The board shall pay all other reasonable costs related to travel and meals in accordance with the rates set for state employees by the Department of Human Resources.

(2) If the member is too ill to be examined, the system shall postpone the examination until the member can be examined. The member or the member’s treating physician shall inform the system, in writing, when the medical examination can be rescheduled.

(c) The system may reject the disability retirement application under this part if the member fails to provide requested medical documentation to substantiate a disability, as defined in Section 22126, within 45 days from the date of the request or within 30 days from the time that a legally designated representative is empowered to act on behalf of a member who is mentally or physically incapacitated.

(d) If the board determines that a member who has applied for disability retirement under this part may perform service in the member’s former position of employment or in a comparable level position with the assistance of reasonable accommodation, the board may require the member to request reasonable accommodation from the employer. Failure of the member to request reasonable accommodation, as directed by the board, may be grounds for cancellation of the disability retirement application under this part.

(e) If the employer fails or refuses to provide reasonable accommodation, the board may require the member to pursue an administrative appeal of the employer’s denial as a condition for receiving a disability retirement allowance under this part.

(f) The system shall inform the member of the rejection or cancellation of the member’s disability retirement allowance application under this part within 30 days after that determination is made by the system.

(g) In determining whether a member meets the definition of disability pursuant to Section 22126, the board shall make a determination on the basis of competent medical documentation and shall not use the awarding of a disability retirement as a substitute for the disciplinary process.

(Amended by Stats. 2012, Ch. 665, Sec. 9. (SB 1308) Effective January 1, 2013.)