SENATE BILL 190

51st legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2014

INTRODUCED BY

Pat Woods and Emily Kane

AN ACT

RELATING TO FIREFIGHTERS; INCREASING SUPPLEMENTAL BENEFITS FOR SURVIVORS OF FIREFIGHTERS.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

     SECTION 1. Section 10-11B-5 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2007, Chapter 149, Section 5) is amended to read:

     "10-11B-5. FIREFIGHTERS' SURVIVORS SUPPLEMENTAL BENEFITS--REVIEW COMMITTEE--DETERMINATION--PAYMENT.--

          A. There is created the "firefighters' survivors supplemental death benefits review committee". The committee shall consist of the attorney general, the president of the New Mexico fire chiefs association, the state president of the New Mexico professional fire fighters association and the president of the New Mexico state fire fighters' association or their designees.

          B. The firefighters' survivors supplemental death benefits review committee shall determine whether a firefighter has been killed in the line of duty and advise the state fire marshal of that determination. In addition to any other death benefits provided by law, the surviving spouse or children shall be paid [fifty thousand dollars ($50,000)] two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000) as supplemental death benefits whenever a firefighter is killed in the line of duty. The benefits shall be paid from the fund.

          C. The benefits shall be paid entirely to the surviving spouse. If there is no surviving spouse, the benefits shall be distributed in pro rata shares to all surviving children. If there are no surviving children or spouse, benefits shall be distributed to the surviving parents of the firefighter."

     SECTION 2. EFFECTIVE DATE.--The effective date of the provisions of this act is July 1, 2014.

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