(a) Notwithstanding any provisions of Kan. Stat. Ann. §§ 74-4927 or any provisions of the group life insurance policy purchased by the Kansas public employees retirement system pursuant to such section to the contrary, the board shall pay to the spouse of an employee who was first employed on August 8, 1977, who was injured on August 14, 1978, in the course of performance of duty in the employ of a participating employer, who became a member of the system on August 18, 1978, and who died as a result of such injury on August 19, 1978, an amount equal to the insured death benefit which such spouse would have been entitled to receive had such employee been eligible for insured death benefits under the provisions of the group life insurance contract entered into pursuant to Kan. Stat. Ann. § 74-4927.

(b) Notwithstanding any provision of subsection (2) of Kan. Stat. Ann. §§ 74-4916 to the contrary and in addition to any payments made under subsection (a) of this section, the board shall pay to the spouse of an employee described in subsection (a) of this section or other person eligible therefor an amount or amounts equal to the accidental death benefits which such spouse or other person would have been entitled to receive had such employee been eligible for accidental death benefits under subsection (2) of Kan. Stat. Ann. § 74-4916. The board shall pay such amounts in the manner provided by law for the payment of accidental death benefits.

(c) Payments under subsections (a) and (b) of this section shall be made from the Kansas public employees retirement fund and shall be considered a past service liability of the fund.