§ 47-2-309. Proceedings on claims - Appeal to district court.

Claims for pensions, retirement pay, medical expenses, hospital expenses, and any other allowances or benefits provided for under the System shall be allowed and paid only upon application therefor signed and verified by the affidavit of the person claiming to be entitled thereto, filed with the Board.  All such claims shall be presented at the first regular meeting of the Board, or a special meeting called for that purpose by the President and Secretary of the Board, and no claim shall be approved or allowed except by vote of a majority of the Board.  The Board shall have full power and authority to determine all questions of eligibility for membership in the System, eligibility for retirement, eligibility to continue membership, injury, illness, disability, the extent of disability, the percentage of disability, ability or inability to perform the duties connected with any employment, age, length of service, credits for service, and, in connection with determining any such question, may secure and pay for the services of a minimum of two physicians or surgeons to make an examination of the member or applicant and report upon such matter.  The proceedings of the Board shall be kept by the Secretary of the Board and reduced to writing in books kept for that purpose and shall include all claims filed, allowed or rejected and a copy of each resolution, action or order of the Board.  Any objection to the allowance or disallowance of any claim presented to the Board shall be presented to the Board within  thirty (30) days after notification of such allowance or disallowance, and, the Board shall set a date for hearing thereon and shall cause written notice of such hearing to be mailed to the claimant and to the contestant, if the contestant be one other than a member of the Board, not less than ten (10) days prior to such hearing, at which hearing evidence bearing upon the propriety and correctness of the claim may be introduced.  Any and all evidence introduced upon such a hearing shall be taken and transcribed by, or under the supervision of, the Secretary of the Board, and a copy thereof, together with a copy of the order or decision of the Board, shall be kept as a part of the official record of the Board.  Any person aggrieved by any action of the Board may appeal to the district court of Oklahoma County, Oklahoma, by filing in the office of the court clerk of said county, within thirty (30) days after the signing and filing of the Board's written decision or order in the matter, a petition setting forth such order or decision and the grounds upon which such appeal is taken, together with a true and complete transcript of the proceedings before the Board, and causing summons to be issued and served, as in civil actions, upon the President of the Board.  Said district court is hereby vested with final appellate jurisdiction in such matters, shall try the same wholly upon the transcript of the proceedings before the Board, and shall act solely as an appellate court in such proceedings.

Added by Laws 1961, p. 335, § 2-309, eff. Sept. 1, 1961.  Amended by Laws 1975, c. 365, § 7, operative July 1, 1975; Laws 1980, c. 357, § 17, eff. July 1, 1980; Laws 1996, c. 315, § 2, eff. July 1, 1996.