As used in this section, "member's contribution" means the total amount deducted from the salary of a member of the Ohio police and fire pension fund and credited to the member's account in the fund.

If a member of the fund dies before receiving pension and benefit payments from the fund in an amount equal to the member's contribution and leaves no surviving spouse, surviving children, or dependent parent eligible for monthly pension payments under section 742.37 of the Revised Code, the board of trustees of the Ohio police and fire pension fund shall pay to the estate of such deceased member an amount equal to the member's contribution, less the total amount received by such member as benefit or pension payments from such fund.

If a member who dies before receiving pension and benefit payments from the fund in an amount equal to the member's contribution leaves one or more survivors eligible for monthly pension payments under section 742.37 of the Revised Code but the total amount paid all survivors under that section is less than the member's contribution, the fund shall pay to the survivors or their estates, in equal shares, an amount equal to the member's contribution, less the total amount received by the member and all survivors as benefit or pension payments from the fund.

If the accumulated contributions of a deceased member are not claimed by a survivor, or by the estate of the deceased member or survivor, within seven years, they shall be transferred to the guarantee fund and thereafter paid to such survivor or to the estate of the member or survivor upon application to the board.

Amended by 131st General Assembly File No. TBD, HB 520, §1, eff. 4/6/2017.

Effective Date: 11-02-1999 .