Sec. 12.3. (a) This section applies to a member who died in the line of duty (as defined in section 12.4 of this chapter) before September 1, 1982.

(b) If a member of the fire department or a retired member of the 1937 fund dies and leaves:

(1) a surviving spouse;

(2) a child or children less than eighteen (18) years of age;

(3) a child or children at least eighteen (18) years of age who are mentally or physically incapacitated; or

(4) a child or children less than twenty-three (23) years of age who are:

(A) enrolled in and regularly attending a secondary school; or

(B) full-time students at an accredited college or university;

the local board shall authorize the payment to the surviving spouse and to the child or children of the amount from the fund as prescribed by this section. If the surviving spouse of a deceased member remarried before September 1, 1983, and pension benefits ceased on the date of remarriage, the benefits for the surviving spouse shall be reinstated on July 1, 1997, and continue during the life of the surviving spouse. If the pension of the surviving spouse of a deceased member has ceased by virtue of the spouse's remarriage, and if the person to whom the spouse has remarried was a retired member of the fire department who was also entitled to a pension, then upon the death of the member to whom the spouse had remarried, the spouse is entitled to receive a pension as the surviving spouse of a deceased member as though the spouse had not been remarried.

(c) If a deceased member of the fire department leaves no surviving spouse or children but leaves a dependent parent, and upon satisfactory proof that the parent was wholly dependent upon the deceased member, the local board shall authorize the monthly payment to the parent from the 1937 fund that is prescribed by this section.

(d) If a member dies while in active service:

(1) the surviving spouse is entitled to receive an amount fixed by ordinance but not less than thirty percent (30%) of the salary of a fully paid first class firefighter in the unit at the time of the payment of the pension;

(2) the member's children who are:

(A) less than eighteen (18) years of age; or

(B) less than twenty-three (23) years of age if the children are enrolled in and regularly attending a secondary school or are full-time students at an accredited college or university;

are each entitled to receive an amount fixed by ordinance but not less than twenty percent (20%) of the salary of a fully paid first class firefighter in the unit at the time of the payment of the pension; and

(3) each parent of a deceased member who was eligible for a pension is entitled to receive jointly an amount equal to thirty percent (30%) of the salary of a fully paid first class firefighter in the unit at the time of the payment of the pension.

If the local board finds upon the submission of satisfactory proof that a child eighteen (18) years of age or older is mentally or physically incapacitated, is not a ward of the state, and is not receiving a benefit under subdivision (2)(B), the child is entitled to receive the same amount as is paid to the surviving spouse of a deceased firefighter as long as the mental or physical incapacity continues. A sum paid for the benefit of a child or children shall be paid to the remaining parent, if alive, as long as the child or children reside with and are supported by the parent. If the parent dies, the sum shall be paid to the lawful guardian of the child or children.

(e) The monthly pension payable to a survivor may not be reduced below the amount of the first full monthly pension received by that person.

(f) A benefit payable under this section shall be paid in not less than twelve (12) monthly installments.

(g) The unit of local government that employed the deceased member shall after December 31, 2003, offer to provide and pay for health insurance coverage for the member's surviving spouse and for each natural child, stepchild, or adopted child of the member:

(1) until the child becomes eighteen (18) years of age;

(2) until the child becomes twenty-three (23) years of age if the child is enrolled in and regularly attending a secondary school or is a full-time student at an accredited college or university; or

(3) during the entire period of the child's physical or mental disability;

whichever period is longest. If health insurance coverage is offered by the unit to active members, the health insurance provided to a surviving spouse and child under this subsection must be equal in coverage to that offered to active members. The offer to provide and pay for health insurance coverage shall remain open for as long as there is a surviving spouse or as long as a natural child, stepchild, or adopted child of the member is eligible for the coverage under subdivision (1), (2), or (3).

As added by P.L.118-2000, SEC.13. Amended by P.L.86-2003, SEC.4.