Sec. 17. (a) If benefits are payable to a dependent child under eighteen (18) years of age or to a person adjudged mentally incompetent, the local board may, when it is to the apparent interest of the dependent child or incompetent person, waive guardianship proceedings and pay the benefit directly to the person providing for and caring for the dependent child, and to the spouse, parent, or blood relative providing for and caring for the incompetent person. The local board may, if it finds it in the best interest of any dependent child, pay any benefits due to the dependent child directly to such child regardless of any other law.

(b) A member is not entitled to receive the benefits of this chapter until the member's payments are paid in full, unless the member has suffered permanent disability or death from any cause while in actual discharge of duties as a police officer. If the member dies before the required payments are made, the surviving spouse or other dependents shall pay any balance due and are then entitled to pension benefits.

(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, no disability or retirement benefit of any kind provided for in this chapter may be paid to any member of the police department for any period during which the member receives or is entitled to receive all or any part of the member's salary.

(d) If any member reenters active service in the police department of any municipality after having been pensioned for any reason, the payment of the pension ceases but shall be resumed upon the resignation or discharge of the member.

As added by Acts 1982, P.L.77, SEC.9. Amended by P.L.33-1989, SEC.127; P.L.1-1990, SEC.366.