Sec. 14.1. (a) This section applies to an active member who dies in the line of duty after August 31, 1982.

     (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 first class patrolman. If the spouse remarried before September 1, 1983, benefits ceased on the date of remarriage. However, if a member of the police department dies in the line of duty after August 31, 1982, and the member’s surviving spouse remarried before September 1, 1983, the benefits for the surviving spouse shall be reinstated on July 1, 1995, and continue during the life of the surviving spouse.

     (c) The 1953 fund shall also be used to pay an annuity equal to twenty percent (20%) of the salary of a first class patrolman on the police department, computed as provided in section 12(b) of this chapter and payable in monthly installments, to each dependent child of a member of the fund who dies from any cause while in the actual discharge of duties as a police officer. The pension to each child continues:

(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. However, the pension to the child ceases if the child marries or is legally adopted by any person.

     (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 benefit to all the member’s children under this subsection may not exceed a total of thirty percent (30%) of the monthly wage received by a first class patrolman. However, this limitation does not apply to the children of a member who have a physical or mental disability.

     (e) If a deceased member leaves no surviving spouse and no child who qualifies for a benefit under subsection (c) but does leave a dependent parent or parents, the 1953 fund shall be used to pay an annuity not greater than a sum equal to twenty percent (20%) of the salary of a first class patrolman on the police department, computed and payable as provided in section 12(b) of this chapter, payable monthly to the dependent parent or parents of a member of the police department who dies from any cause while in the actual discharge of duties as a police officer. The annuity continues for the remainder of the life or lives of the parent or parents as long as either or both fail to have sufficient other income for their proper care, maintenance, and support.

     (f) In all cases of payment to a dependent relative of a deceased member, the local board is the final judge of the question of necessity and dependency and of the amount within the stated limits to be paid. The local board may also reduce or terminate temporarily or permanently a payment to a dependent relative of a deceased member when it determines that the condition of the 1953 fund or other circumstances make this action necessary.

     (g) If the salary of a first class patrolman is increased or decreased, the pension payable under this section shall be proportionately increased or decreased. However, the monthly pension payable to a member or survivor may not be reduced below the amount of the first full monthly pension received by that person.

     (h) 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 police officer:

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

(2) performs in the course of controlling or reducing crime or enforcing the criminal law.

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

     (i) 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 coverage under subdivision (1), (2), or (3).

As added by Acts 1982, P.L.214, SEC.2. Amended by P.L.364-1983, SEC.6; P.L.200-1984, SEC.5; P.L.196-1988, SEC.3; P.L.1-1989, SEC.72; P.L.52-1993, SEC.5; P.L.325-1995, SEC.2; P.L.2-1996, SEC.292; P.L.118-2000, SEC.22; P.L.1-2001, SEC.46; P.L.62-2002, SEC.3; P.L.185-2002, SEC.10; P.L.86-2003, SEC.7; P.L.99-2007, SEC.218.