(a)        When any covered person is killed in the line of duty, the Industrial Commission shall award a death benefit in the amount of one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) to be paid to one of the following:

(1)        The spouse of the covered person if there is a surviving spouse.

(2)        If there is no surviving spouse, then payments shall be made to any surviving dependent child of the covered person. If there is more than one surviving dependent child, then the payment shall be made to and equally divided among all surviving dependent children.

(3)        If there is no surviving spouse and no surviving dependent child or children, then payments shall be made to any surviving dependent parent of the covered person. If there is more than one surviving dependent parent, then the payments shall be made to and equally divided between the surviving dependent parents of the covered person.

(4)        If there is no surviving spouse, surviving dependent child, or surviving dependent parent, then the payment shall be made to the estate of the deceased covered person.

(b)        Repealed by Session Laws 2018-5, s. 35.29(a), effective retroactively to April 1, 2017, and applicable to qualifying deaths occurring on or after that date.

(c), (d) Repealed by Session Laws 2015-88, s. 9, effective July 1, 2015.

(e)        On and after July 1, 2016, when any covered person is murdered in the line of duty, in addition to the award under subsection (a) of this section, the Industrial Commission shall award a death benefit in the amount of one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) to be paid to one of the following:

(1)        The spouse of the covered person if there is a surviving spouse.

(2)        If there is no surviving spouse, then payments shall be made to any surviving dependent child of the covered person. If there is more than one surviving dependent child, then the payment shall be made to and equally divided among all surviving dependent children.

(3)        If there is no surviving spouse and no surviving dependent child or children, then payments shall be made to any surviving dependent parent of the covered person. If there is more than one surviving dependent parent, then the payments shall be made to and equally divided between the surviving dependent parents of the covered person.

(4)        If there is no surviving spouse, surviving dependent child, or surviving dependent parent, then the payment shall be made to the estate of the deceased covered person.

(f)        Except as otherwise allowed under subdivisions (a)(4) and (e)(4) of N.C. Gen. Stat. § 143-166, the State Treasurer shall not pay or distribute a death benefit awarded under this section to any person other than the beneficiary or the beneficiary’s parent or legal guardian. ?(1959, c. 1323, s. 1; 1965, c. 937; 1971, c. 960; 1973, c. 634, s. 2; 1975, c. 284, s. 8; 2003-284, s. 30.18A(a); 2015-88, s. 9; 2018-5, s. 35.29(a); 2019-228, ss. 2(b), 3(a); 2022-14, s. 4.1.)