(a) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), whenever a municipality provides for the payment of premiums for any health benefit plan for its emergency personnel, it shall pay premiums for the continuation of coverage under COBRA for the surviving spouse and eligible dependent children under the age of 26 years of any emergency personnel who dies in the line of duty. Premiums for continuation of coverage under COBRA shall be paid for 18 months.

(2) A municipality may not be required to pay the premiums described in paragraph (1) for a surviving spouse:

(A) On or after the end of the 18th calendar month after the date of death of the deceased emergency personnel;

(B) upon the remarriage of the deceased emergency personnel’s surviving spouse; or

(C) upon the deceased emergency personnel’s surviving spouse reaching the age of 65.

(b) For the purposes of this section:

(1) “Emergency personnel” means an emergency medical service provider as such term is defined in Kan. Stat. Ann. § 65-6112, and amendments thereto.

(2) “Health benefit plan” shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Kan. Stat. Ann. § 40-4602, and amendments thereto.

(3) “Municipality” means a city or county.