§ 16. Disability Pensioner; Enhanced Pension for Retraining.

(1)

After a disability pension has been granted by the board of trustees, a disability pensioner may voluntarily elect to receive a sum equal to one and a half times the amount he or she would otherwise receive for up to a maximum of 4 years to allow said pensioner to undertake retraining via vocational, technical, or college education and entry into another field of endeavor. Upon entry into another gainful occupation, the pensioner shall revert to the regular amount of disability pension which he or she shall be entitled to draw until such time as the pension and the earnings from the gainful occupation equal the amount the pensioner was drawing as salary immediately prior to disability retirement. When the earnings from the gainful occupation exceed the difference between the pension and the amount received as salary immediately prior to disability retirement, the amount of pension shall be reduced to an amount which together with the amount earned from the gainful occupation equals the amount received as salary immediately prior to disability retirement.

(2)

If the disability pensioner takes advantage of this increased pension amount for retraining or rehabilitation and then fails or refuses to seek a gainful occupation for which he or she is now qualified as a result of the rehabilitation or retraining, any pension payable shall be withheld until such time as he or she enters a gainful occupation.

(3)

If the disability pensioner does engage in a gainful occupation following such retraining or rehabilitation, he or she shall make a report to the board of trustees, on or before the 20th day of each month, of any and all earnings received, or entitled to be received, by reason of engaging in the gainful occupation during the preceding month. If the report is not filed, the pension payable to the pensioner shall be withheld until the report is filed. If the pensioner files a false report, the board of trustees shall conduct a hearing, upon notice to the pensioner, and may order the pension suspended or terminated.

(Laws of Fla. ch. 84-492, § 17; Laws of Fla. ch. 95-482, § 16)