Section 24003 Of Chapter 25. Disability Allowance From California Education Code >> Division 1. >> Title 1. >> Part 13. >> Chapter 25.
24003
. (a) The member shall provide medical documentation to
substantiate the impairment qualifying the member for the disability
allowance.
(b) On receipt of an application for disability allowance 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 allowance 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 allowance 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 a
disability allowance 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 allowance application.
(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 allowance under this part.
(f) The system shall inform the member of the rejection or
cancellation of the member's disability 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 allowance as a substitute
for the disciplinary process.