1. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 3, the surviving spouse and any surviving child of a police officer or firefighter who was:

(a) Employed by a local governmental agency that had established group insurance, a plan of benefits or medical and hospital service pursuant to NRS 287.010, 287.015, 287.020 or paragraph (b), (c) or (d) of subsection 1 of NRS 287.025; and

(b) Killed in the line of duty,

may elect to accept or continue coverage under that group insurance, plan or medical and hospital service if the police officer or firefighter was a participant or would have been eligible to participate in the group insurance, plan or medical and hospital service on the date of the death of the police officer or firefighter. If the surviving spouse or child elects to accept coverage under the group insurance, plan or medical and hospital service in which the police officer or firefighter would have been eligible to participate or to discontinue coverage under the group insurance, plan or medical and hospital service in which the police officer or firefighter was a participant, the spouse, child or legal guardian of the child must notify in writing the local governmental agency that employed the police officer or firefighter within 60 days after the date of death of the police officer or firefighter.

2. Except as otherwise provided in NRS 287.023, the local governmental agency that employed the police officer or firefighter shall pay the entire cost of the premiums or contributions for the group insurance, plan of benefits or medical and hospital service for the surviving spouse or child who meets the requirements set forth in subsection 1.

3. A surviving spouse is eligible to receive coverage pursuant to this section for the duration of the life of the surviving spouse. A surviving child is eligible to receive coverage pursuant to this section until the child reaches the age at which the child would not otherwise be eligible to receive coverage under the group insurance, plan of benefits or medical and hospital service.

4. As used in this section “police officer” has the meaning ascribed to it in NRS 617.135.

(Added to NRS by 1999, 2607; A 2003, 1613, 2737, 3261; 2005, 323; 2011, 2737)