Subject to the other provisions of this act, any county employee who shall become permanently and totally disabled as a result of injury, accident or sickness arising out of and in the course of his employment shall, upon his application and approval thereof by the pension commission be retired on half pay. Upon and after the death of such employee or upon and after the death of any employee who dies as a result of any disability, injury or disease arising out of and in the course of his employment, a pension of one-half the salary of such employee shall be paid to the surviving widow, so long as she remains unmarried, surviving widower, so long as he remains unmarried, or minor children up to eighteen years of age, as the case may be.

The pension commission shall have power to determine whether or not any employee is permanently and totally disabled and whether or not a disability, or death of an employee is the result of an injury, accident or sickness arising out of and in the course of the employee’s employment. The claimant shall have the right to present physicians, witnesses or other testimony in his behalf before the commission. The president or any other member of the pension commission may administer oaths to any physicians or other persons called before the commission regarding the employee’s disability or death. The commission shall decide, by resolution, whether the applicant is entitled to the benefits of this act.

L.1943, c. 160, p. 460, s. 11.