3-12C-816. Advice of disability advisory committee--Independent examination or assessment--Notice of disapproval of application. Upon receipt of an application for disability benefits after June 30, 2015, along with statements from a health care provider and the member's employer, the executive director shall determine whether the member is eligible for disability benefits. The executive director may request the advice of the disability advisory committee with respect to any application. The recommendation of the disability advisory committee is not binding on the executive director. The disability advisory committee or the executive director may require an independent medical examination of the member to be conducted by a disinterested health care provider selected by the disability advisory committee or the executive director to evaluate the member's condition. The disability advisory committee or the executive director may require a functional capacity assessment of the member to be conducted by a licensed professional qualified to administer such an assessment. The assessment may be used to evaluate the member's qualification for benefits. Refusal to undergo an examination or assessment pursuant to this section is cause for denying the application.

If the executive director determines that the member is not disabled, a notice of the executive director's determination and the reasons for the determination shall be sent by certified mail to the member's last known address.

Source: SL 2014, ch 20, § 5; SL 2016, ch 31, § 38; SDCL § 3-12-205; SL 2019, ch 22, § 1.