The Board of Estimates is hereby authorized and empowered in its discretion, upon proper application by retired policemen and firemen of the City of Baltimore, in cases where such retirement has been occasioned by disabilities sustained in the line of duty, to provide for continuing medical treatment of such retirees.
Such treatment may be provided at such place or places as the Board may authorize; or in lieu thereof the Board may make a payment to such retiree, payable during disability or in a lump sum, in its discretion; or the Board may provide both medical treatment and a sum of money if the circumstances of a particular case require it.
City Code, 1976/83, art. 1, §138(a)(1st par.)
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After having passed upon a case in first instance, the Board may delegate to the retiree’s former department or to a suitable department or agency of the City the implementation of its award and the question of whether or not such award is to be permanent or temporary in nature.
In each case, however:the Board retains jurisdiction and responsibility for the execution of this subtitle in accordance with its declared intent; and
any decision by a subordinate official or agency may be informally appealed or brought before the Board for review.
City Code, 1976/83, art. 1, §138(a)(2nd par.)
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The Board is authorized and empowered to promulgate and adopt suitable rules and regulations for the implementation of this section.
Such rules shall provide generally for:the determination of what medical treatment is required in a particular case;
the approximate amount to be allowed;
where such retirees should be treated, if at all, and by whom, using City facilities and personnel where practicable; and
whether a sum of money should be payable in lieu of medical services or in addition thereto.
City Code, 1976/83, art. 1, §138(b)
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Upon retirement of a City policeman or fireman because of injuries sustained in line of duty and in cases where such disability is continuing, he may informally petition the Board for the services or payments herein provided. Such petition may be by a letter or other document referring the Board to his departmental case.
Upon receipt of such petition, the Board may:refer such matter back to the department from which the claimant has been retired for full investigation and prompt report to the Board; or
refer such claim to any other agency of the City, including the Law Department for investigation by its Central Bureau of Investigation.
Upon receipt of such report, the Board shall act in disposing of the claim before it. In doing so it may act solely upon the record before it or it may call the claimant and other witnesses to aid in its determination of such matter.
Where there is a dispute as to whether a retiree’s medical condition is service-connected and should be compensated under this section, a decision of the Board after full investigation shall be deemed final and conclusive.
City Code, 1976/83, art. 1, §138(d)
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Any other payments now or hereafter financed wholly or in part from public funds, including but not limited to workmen’s compensation, intended to meet the same expense or provide the same service with respect to the same medical condition, shall serve as an offset against the payments herein provided.
City Code, 1976/83, art. 1, §138(e)
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Such sum as may be provided herein or such services as may be furnished shall be such as the Board in its judgment determines to be right and proper under the circumstances.
And the decision of the Board in any particular case, or in any stage of any such case, shall be final and conclusive and not subject to appeal.
City Code, 1976/83, art. 1, §138(c)
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Funding of this compensation provision during the City Fiscal Year 1970-71 shall be from the respective budget of the Police and Fire Departments.
After such initial year, funds to sustain awards shall be available as provided in the Ordinance of Estimates.
City Code, 1976/83, art. 1, §138(a)(3rd par.)
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