(b) If a member dies in the line of duty after August 31, 1982, the surviving spouse is entitled to a monthly benefit, during the spouse’s lifetime, equal to the benefit to which the member would have been entitled on the date of the member’s death, but not less than fifty percent (50%) of the monthly wage received by a fully paid first class firefighter. If the spouse remarried before September 1, 1983, and benefits ceased on the date of remarriage, the benefits for the surviving spouse shall be reinstated on July 1, 1997, and continue during the life of the surviving spouse. If the pension of the surviving spouse of a deceased member has ceased by virtue of the spouse’s remarriage, and if the person to whom the spouse has remarried was a retired member of the fire department who was also entitled to a pension, then upon the death of the member to whom the spouse had remarried, the spouse is entitled to receive a pension as the surviving spouse of a deceased member as though the spouse had not been remarried.

(1) less than eighteen (18) years of age; or

(2) less than twenty-three (23) years of age if the children are enrolled in and regularly attending a secondary school or are full-time students at an accredited college or university;

are each entitled to receive an amount fixed by ordinance but not less than twenty percent (20%) of the salary of a fully paid first class firefighter in the unit at the time of the payment of the pension.

     (d) The surviving children of the deceased member who are eligible to receive a benefit under subsection (c) may receive an additional benefit in an amount fixed by ordinance, but the total additional benefit under this subsection to all the member’s children may not exceed a total of thirty percent (30%) of the monthly wage received by a first class firefighter. However, this limitation does not apply to the children of a member who have a physical or mental disability.

     (e) If a deceased member of the fire department leaves no surviving spouse or children but leaves a dependent parent, and upon satisfactory proof that the parent was wholly dependent upon the deceased member, the local board shall authorize the monthly payment to the parent from the 1937 fund. Each parent of a deceased member who was eligible for a pension under this subsection is entitled to receive jointly an amount equal to thirty percent (30%) of the salary of a fully paid first class firefighter in the unit at the time of the payment of the pension.

     (f) For purposes of this section, “dies in the line of duty” means death that occurs as a direct result of personal injury or illness caused by incident, accident, or violence that results from any action that the member, in the member’s capacity as a firefighter:

(1) is obligated or authorized by rule, regulation, condition of employment or service, or law to perform; or

(2) performs while on the scene of an emergency run (including false alarms) or on the way to or from the scene.

The term includes a death presumed incurred in the line of duty under IC 5-10-13.

     (g) If the local board finds upon the submission of satisfactory proof that a child eighteen (18) years of age or older is mentally or physically incapacitated, is not a ward of the state, and is not receiving a benefit under subsection (c)(2), the child is entitled to receive the same amount as is paid to the surviving spouse of a deceased firefighter, as long as the mental or physical incapacity continues. A sum paid for the benefit of a child or children shall be paid to the remaining parent, if alive, as long as the child or children reside with and are supported by the parent. If the parent dies, the sum shall be paid to the lawful guardian of the child or children.

     (h) The monthly pension payable to a survivor may not be reduced below the amount of the first full monthly pension received by that person.

     (i) A benefit payable under this section shall be paid in not less than twelve (12) monthly installments.

     (j) The unit of local government that employed the deceased member shall after December 31, 2003, offer to provide and pay for health insurance coverage for the member’s surviving spouse and for each natural child, stepchild, or adopted child of the member:

(1) until the child becomes eighteen (18) years of age;

(2) until the child becomes twenty-three (23) years of age if the child is enrolled in and regularly attending a secondary school or is a full-time student at an accredited college or university; or

(3) during the entire period of the child’s physical or mental disability;

whichever period is longest. If health insurance coverage is offered by the unit to active members, the health insurance provided to a surviving spouse and child under this subsection must be equal in coverage to that offered to active members. The offer to provide and pay for health insurance coverage shall remain open for as long as there is a surviving spouse or as long as a natural child, stepchild, or adopted child of the member is eligible for the coverage under subdivision (1), (2), or (3).

As added by P.L.118-2000, SEC.14. Amended by P.L.62-2002, SEC.2; P.L.185-2002, SEC.8; P.L.86-2003, SEC.5; P.L.99-2007, SEC.217.