Sec. 4. (a) The state shall establish and operate a death benefit program for the payment of lump sum death benefits to the survivors of a state employee who dies in the line of duty. The state may provide these benefits by purchasing group life insurance or by establishing a program of self-insurance.
(b) If the state establishes a program of self-insurance, the state shall fund the program by such contributions as considered necessary by the board. The board shall deposit any contributions received to maintain the program in the special death benefit fund established by IC 5-10-9.8-2, and the board shall pay benefits out of the special death benefit fund.
(c) This subsection applies if the state established a fund under this section before July 1, 2017. The special death benefit fund established by IC 5-10-9.8-2 is the successor of the fund established under this section. On July 1, 2017, the board shall transfer money in the fund established under this section to the special death benefit fund established by IC 5-10-9.8-2. As of July 1, 2017, pending claims against the fund under this section become pending claims against the special death benefit fund established by IC 5-10-9.8-2. The board shall maintain the records of the fund established under this section as if the records were created for the purposes of the special death benefit fund established by IC 5-10-9.8-2.
As added by P.L.49-1989, SEC.7. Amended by P.L.25-1994, SEC.2; P.L.40-2017, SEC.4.