1. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 4, the surviving spouse and any surviving child of a police officer or firefighter who was employed by a participating public agency and who was killed in the line of duty may join or continue coverage under the Program or another insurer or employee benefit plan approved by the Board pursuant to NRS 287.0479 if the police officer or firefighter was a participant or would have been eligible to participate on the date of the death of the police officer or firefighter. If the surviving spouse or child elects to join or discontinue coverage under the Program pursuant to this subsection, the spouse, child or legal guardian of the child must notify in writing the participating public 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 subsection 4, the surviving spouse and any surviving child of a volunteer firefighter who was killed in the line of duty and who was officially a member of a volunteer fire department in this State is eligible to join the Program. If such a spouse or child elects to join the Program, the spouse, child or legal guardian of the child must notify in writing the Board within 60 days after the date of death of the volunteer firefighter.

3. The participating public agency that employed the police officer or firefighter shall pay the entire cost of the premiums or contributions for the Program or another insurer or employee benefit plan approved by the Board pursuant to NRS 287.0479 for the surviving spouse or child who meets the requirements set forth in subsection 1. The State of Nevada shall pay the entire cost of the premiums or contributions for the Program for the surviving spouse or child who elects to join the Program pursuant to subsection 2.

4. 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 Program.

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

(Added to NRS by 1999, 2608; A 1999, 3046, 3047; 2003, 1613; 2005, 324; 2011, 2745)