Louisiana Revised Statutes 11:618 – Survivors’ benefits for members killed in the line of duty; death by an intentional act of violence
Terms Used In Louisiana Revised Statutes 11:618
- Member: means any person included in the membership of the system. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 11:403
- Minor child: means an unmarried child under the age of eighteen years or an unmarried student under the age of twenty-three years who is the issue of a marriage of a member of this system, the legally adopted child of a member of this system, a child born outside of marriage of a female member of this system, or the child of a male member of this system if acknowledged or filiated pursuant to the provisions of the Civil Code. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 11:403
- Retirement: means termination of active service, with a retirement allowance granted under the provisions of this Chapter. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 11:403
- Spouse: means a person who is legally married to a member of this system. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 11:403
- State: means the state of Louisiana. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 11:403
- System: means the Louisiana State Employees' Retirement System. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 11:403
A. If a member‘s death occurs in the line of duty or is a direct result of an injury sustained while in the line of duty, survivor benefits shall be payable to qualified survivors as provided for in this Section, except that a survivor shall be eligible for benefits under this Section without regard to the amount of time that the surviving spouse was married to the deceased member and without regard to the amount of time that the deceased was a member of this plan. This benefit is payable only if the injury or injuries were sustained while on active duty status.
B.(1) If the member has a surviving spouse, minor, or handicapped or mentally incapacitated child or children, the amount of the total benefit shall equal eighty percent of the member’s average compensation. The benefit shall be shared equally by the surviving spouse and children. When a child who is not handicapped or mentally incapacitated no longer meets the definition of minor child under La. Rev. Stat. 11:403, his benefit shall cease, and the remaining beneficiaries shall have their shares adjusted accordingly.
(2) If the member’s death resulted from an intentional act of violence and the member has a surviving spouse, minor, or handicapped or mentally incapacitated child or children, the amount of the total benefit shall equal one hundred percent of the member’s average compensation. The benefit shall be shared equally by the surviving spouse and children. When a child who is not handicapped or mentally incapacitated no longer meets the definition of minor child under La. Rev. Stat. 11:403, his benefit shall cease, and the remaining beneficiaries shall have their shares adjusted accordingly.
(3) The benefit of the surviving spouse, minor, or handicapped or mentally incapacitated child or children of any member of this system, who would otherwise be eligible for benefits under the plan except that the member’s first employment making him eligible for membership in any state system occurred on or before December 31, 2010, and whose death resulted from an intentional act of violence shall be equal to one hundred percent of the member’s average compensation. The benefit shall be equally shared by the surviving spouse and children. When a child who is not handicapped or mentally incapacitated no longer meets the definition of minor child under La. Rev. Stat. 11:403, his benefit shall cease, and the remaining beneficiaries shall have their shares adjusted accordingly.
C. The provisions of La. Rev. Stat. 11:472 through 477 concerning procedures for payment of survivor benefits which are not in conflict with this Section shall apply to members.
D. The provisions of this Section shall not apply to any member of this plan who:
(1) Has participated in the Deferred Retirement Option Plan; or
(2) Is a retiree of the system who is reemployed under Option 1 or Option 3 as provided in La. Rev. Stat. 11:416.
Acts 2010, No. 992, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2011; Acts 2011, No. 368, §1, eff. July 1, 2011; Acts 2018, No. 224, §1, eff. May 15, 2018.