§ 45-21-25 - Accidental death benefits.
SECTION 45-21-25
§ 45-21-25 Accidental death benefits.– Upon the accidental death of a member before retirement; provided, thatevidence is submitted to the retirement board proving that the death of themember was the natural and proximate result of an accident while in theperformance of duty at some definite time and place, and that the death was notthe result of willful negligence on the member's part, the member's accumulatedcontributions shall be paid to the member's estate, or to the person having aninsurable interest in the member's life that the member has nominated bywritten designation, duly executed and filed with the retirement board, and,upon application by or on behalf of the dependents of the deceased member, theretirement board shall grant a benefit equal to one-half ( 1/2) the rate ofcompensation of the member in effect at the date of death:
(1) To his or her widow or widower or domestic partner, tocontinue for life unless he or she remarries or enters into a domesticpartnership; or
(2) If there is no widow or widower or domestic partner, orif the widow or widower or domestic partner dies or remarries or enters into adomestic partnership before any child of the deceased member has attained theage of eighteen (18) years, then to his or her child or children under thatage, divided in any manner that the retirement board in its discretiondetermines, to continue as a joint and survivor annuity of one-half ( 1/2) ofthat compensation until every child dies or attains that age; or
(3) If there is no widow, widower, or domestic partner orchild under the age of eighteen (18) years surviving the deceased member, thento his or her dependent father or mother, as the deceased member has nominatedby written designation, duly acknowledged and filed with the retirement board;or if there is no nomination, then to his or her dependent father or to his orher dependent mother, as the retirement board in its discretion directs, tocontinue for life.