A. There is created the "peace officers', New Mexico mounted patrol members' and reserve police officers' survivors supplemental death benefits review committee". The committee shall consist of the attorney general, the chief of the New Mexico state police and the state president of the fraternal order of police or their designees.

B. The peace officers', New Mexico mounted patrol members' and reserve police officers' survivors supplemental death benefits review committee shall determine whether a peace officer, New Mexico mounted patrol member or reserve police officer has been killed in the line of duty and advise the secretary of that determination. In addition to any other death benefits provided by law, the surviving spouse, children or parents shall be paid two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000) as supplemental death benefits whenever a peace officer, New Mexico mounted patrol member or reserve police officer is killed in the line of duty. The benefits shall be paid from the fund.

C. The benefits shall be paid first to the surviving spouse. If there is no surviving spouse, the benefits shall be distributed in pro rata shares to all surviving children. If there are no surviving children or spouse, benefits shall be distributed to the surviving parents of the peace officer, New Mexico mounted patrol member or reserve police officer.

History: Laws 1995, ch. 59, § 5; 2002, ch. 78, § 3; 2007, ch. 59, § 1; 2016, ch. 41, § 4.

The 2016 amendment, effective May 18, 2016, provided survivors supplemental death benefits for New Mexico mounted patrol members and reserve police officers; in the catchline, added "New Mexico mounted patrol members' and reserve police officers'" and throughout the sections, after "'peace officers'", added "New Mexico mounted patrol members' and reserve police officers'".

The 2007 amendment, effective June 15, 2007, increased supplemental death benefits from $100,000 to $250,000.

The 2002 amendment, effective May 15, 2002, inserted "or parents" in the second sentence of Subsection B; and added the last sentence in Subsection C.