Sec. 22. (a) The 1937 fund may not be, either before or after an order for distribution to members of the fire department or to the surviving spouses or guardians of a child or children of a deceased, disabled, or retired member, held, seized, taken, subjected to, detained, or levied on by virtue of an attachment, execution, judgment, writ, interlocutory or other order, decree, or process, or proceedings of any nature issued out of or by a court in any state for the payment or satisfaction, in whole or in part, of a debt, damages, demand, claim, judgment, fine, or amercement of the member or the member's surviving spouse or children. The 1937 fund shall be kept and distributed only for the purpose of pensioning the persons named in this chapter. The local board may, however, annually expend an amount from the 1937 fund that it considers proper for the necessary expenses connected with the fund. Notwithstanding any other law, neither the fiscal body nor the department of local government finance may reduce these expenditures.
(b) However, the member's contributions or benefits, or both, may be transferred to reimburse the member's employer for loss resulting from the member's criminal taking of the employer's property by the local board if the local board receives adequate proof of the loss. The loss resulting from the member's criminal taking of the employer's property must be proven by an order for restitution in favor of the employer issued by the sentencing court following a felony or misdemeanor conviction.
(c) The local board may withhold payment of the member's contributions and interest if the employer of the member notifies the local board that felony or misdemeanor charges accusing the member of the criminal taking of the employer's property have been filed.
(d) The local board may withhold payment of a person's contributions and interest under subsection (c) until the final resolution of the criminal charges.
(e) Subsections (c) and (d) do not apply to the:
(1) pension benefit of a retired member; or
(2) disability benefit of a member who becomes disabled.
[Pre-Local Government Recodification Citations: 19-1-37-22; 19-1-37-27 part.]
As added by Acts 1981, P.L.309, SEC.57. Amended by P.L.90-2002, SEC.489; P.L.224-2007, SEC.125; P.L.146-2008, SEC.778; P.L.203-2019, SEC.8; P.L.257-2019, SEC.150; P.L.156-2020, SEC.146.
Structure Indiana Code
Chapter 7. 1937 Firefighters' Pension Fund
36-8-7-0.1. Application of Certain Amendments to Chapter
36-8-7-1. Application of Chapter
36-8-7-2. "Fire Company" Defined
36-8-7-2.5. Qualification of 1937 Fund Under Internal Revenue Code; Benefit Limitations
36-8-7-2.7. "Americans With Disabilities Act"
36-8-7-2.9. Administration of Fund
36-8-7-3. Creation of Fund; Management by Board of Trustees; Powers and Duties
36-8-7-4. Fire Departments With Fewer Than Five Members; Trustees; Elections
36-8-7-5. Trustees; Election of Active Members
36-8-7-6. Trustees; Election of Retired Members
36-8-7-6.5. Securing Ballots; Tampering With Ballots
36-8-7-7. Trustees; Officers; Local Board Secretary Bond; Rules; Application for Relief or Pensions
36-8-7-8. Derivation of Money in Fund
36-8-7-9.5. Use of Certain Amounts in 1937 Fund
36-8-7-10. Investment of Funds
36-8-7-12.1. Members Retiring With 20 Years Service
36-8-7-12.2. Members Dying Other Than in Line of Duty
36-8-7-12.3. Members Dying in Line of Duty Before September 1, 1982
36-8-7-12.4. Members Dying in Line of Duty After August 31, 1982
36-8-7-12.5. Determination Whether Disability in Line of Duty
36-8-7-12.7. Reemployment After Retirement
36-8-7-13. Lump Sum Death Benefit
36-8-7-15. Insufficient Funds for Appropriations; Loans; Tax Levy to Repay Loans
36-8-7-17. Eligibility for Employment; Physical Examinations; Age Requirements
36-8-7-18. Membership of Persons Employed on March 2, 1937, in Pension Fund
36-8-7-21. Payments; Procedure
36-8-7-23. Fiscal Officer as Custodian of Fund; Liability; Accounts
36-8-7-24. Temporary Loans; Authorization and Procedure
36-8-7-25. Items Excluded When Computing Benefits; Liability for Overpayment
36-8-7-26. Special Lump Sum Death Benefit in Addition to Other Benefits