Rhode Island General Laws 45-21.2-12. Ordinary death benefit
Upon death of a member occurring while in service and prior to retirement from any cause other than accidental death arising directly out of and in the course of employment, a payment shall be made consisting of:
(1) The sum of eight hundred dollars ($800) for each year of service subject to a minimum payment of four thousand dollars ($4,000) and a maximum payment of sixteen thousand dollars ($16,000); and
(2) An annuity to his or her widow or widower or domestic partner to continue for life unless he or she remarries or enters into a domestic partnership equal to thirty percent (30%) of the rate of compensation plus an allowance of ten percent (10%) of the compensation on account of each child of the member under age eighteen (18), subject to a total family benefit of fifty percent (50%) of final compensation; or if there is no widow or widower or domestic partner, or if the widow or widower or domestic partner dies or remarries or enters into a domestic partnership before any child of the deceased member has attained the age of eighteen (18) years, then an annuity with respect to each child of fifteen percent (15%) of the member’s final compensation subject to a maximum family benefit of fifty percent (50%) of final compensation.
(3) The benefit under subsection (2) of this section is not payable if the member elected the provisions of § 45-21.2-21.
History of Section.
P.L. 1968, ch. 230, § 1; P.L. 1973, ch. 137, § 1; P.L. 1984, ch. 42, § 2; P.L. 1988, ch. 513, § 1; P.L. 2007, ch. 510, § 18.
Terms Used In Rhode Island General Laws 45-21.2-12
- Annuity: A periodic (usually annual) payment of a fixed sum of money for either the life of the recipient or for a fixed number of years. A series of payments under a contract from an insurance company, a trust company, or an individual. Annuity payments are made at regular intervals over a period of more than one full year.
- final compensation: means for members who retire on or prior to June 30, 2012, the average annual compensation, pay or salary of a member for services rendered during the period of three (3) consecutive years within the total service of the member when that average was highest. See Rhode Island General Laws 45-21.2-2
- Partnership: A voluntary contract between two or more persons to pool some or all of their assets into a business, with the agreement that there will be a proportional sharing of profits and losses.