§ 11-49-112. Pensions for loss of life.

A.  Whenever any member of the fire department shall lose his or her life by reason of any injury or sickness sustained by him or her while in, or in consequence of, the performance of his or her duty or while on active duty in the National Guard and Reserves called to active duty, leaving a surviving spouse, or child or children under the age of eighteen (18) years, then, upon satisfactory proof of such facts made to it, the State Board shall order and direct that a monthly pension be paid.  Such amount shall be determined in accordance with the provisions of subsection A of Section 49-109 of this title.  In the event of the death of the surviving spouse, the pension shall cease, and should there then be but one living child such child shall receive an amount equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the pension, but if there then be more than one living child, one hundred percent (100%) of the pension shall be divided equally between the children until each child reaches the age of eighteen (18) years or until the age of twenty-two (22) years if the child is enrolled full-time and regularly attending a public or private school or any institution of higher education.  In the event the State Board finds that such a child who is not married at the time of death of the member or the member’s surviving spouse and who at the time the child attains or attained the age of eighteen (18) years is either physically or mentally disabled, the pension shall continue so long as such disability remains.  Upon the death of the firefighter and surviving spouse, if any, the physically or mentally disabled child shall be entitled to have paid to the child’s trustee of a trust, whether inter vivos or testamentary, which trust provides for the receipt of the pension benefits to be held and administered for the sole benefit of the physically or mentally disabled child, or if there is no trust, to the child’s legally appointed guardian, an amount not to exceed one hundred percent (100%) of the pension.  The money paid to the guardian or trustee shall be used solely for the benefit of the disabled child and it shall be reported annually to the State Board.  The payment provided shall be calculated after payments have been made to all eligible children as provided in this subsection.  If the member does not leave a beneficiary or disabled child as described in this subsection, the accumulated contributions made to the System by the member shall be paid to the estate of the member.

B.  Whenever any member of the fire department who has not terminated employment shall lose his or her life for any reason not described in subsection A of this section, after completing less than twenty (20) years of credited service, leaving a surviving spouse, or child or children under the age of eighteen (18) years, then upon satisfactory proof of such facts made to it, the State Board shall order and direct that a monthly pension be paid.  Such amount shall be fifty percent (50%) of the average monthly salary which was paid to the firefighter during the last sixty (60) months of the firefighter’s service.  In the event of the death of the surviving spouse, the pension shall cease, and should there then be but one living child such child shall receive an amount equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the pension, but if there then be more than one living child, one hundred percent (100%) of the pension shall be divided equally between the children until each child reaches the age of eighteen (18) years or the age of twenty-two (22) years if the child is enrolled full-time and regularly attending a public or private school or any institution of higher education.  In the event the State Board finds that such a child who is not married at the time of death of the member or the member’s surviving spouse and who at the time the child attains or attained the age of eighteen (18) years is either physically or mentally disabled, the pension shall continue so long as the disability remains.  Upon the death of the firefighter and surviving spouse, if any, said physically or mentally disabled child shall be entitled to have paid to the child’s trustee of a trust, whether inter vivos or testamentary, which trust provides for the receipt of the pension benefits to be held and administered for the sole benefit of said physically or mentally disabled child, or if there is no trust, to the child’s legally appointed guardian, an amount not to exceed one hundred percent (100%) of the pension.  The money paid to the guardian or trustee shall be used solely for the benefit of the disabled child and it shall be reported annually to the State Board.  The payment provided shall be calculated after payments have been made to all eligible children as provided in this subsection.  If the member does not leave a beneficiary or disabled child as described in this subsection, the accumulated contributions made to the System by the member shall be paid to the estate of the member.

C.  For purposes of this section, a child shall not be considered disabled if the child is able to pursue a remunerative occupation, with the remuneration being reasonably substantial rather than merely nominal.

Laws 1977, c. 256, § 49-112, eff. July 1, 1978; Laws 1980, c. 352, § 20, eff. Jan. 1, 1981.  Amended by Laws 1990, c. 143, § 2,  emerg. eff. May 1, 1990; Laws 1991, c. 125, § 1, emerg. eff. April 29, 1991; Laws 2007, c. 356, § 3, emerg. eff. June 4, 2007.