RS 1345.8 - Survivors' benefit for members killed in the line of duty; death by an intentional act of violence
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, a child or children who are minors, have a disability, or are mentally incapacitated, or both a surviving spouse and a 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 any children. When a child who neither has a disability nor is mentally incapacitated no longer meets the definition of minor child under R.S. 11:1301, his benefit shall cease, and the remaining beneficiaries shall have their shares adjusted accordingly.
(2)(a) If the member has a surviving spouse, a child or children who are minors, have a disability, or are mentally incapacitated, or both a surviving spouse and a child or children, and the member is killed by an intentional act of violence or dies as a direct result of an injury sustained as a consequence of an intentional act of violence, the amount of the total benefit shall equal one hundred percent of the member's salary at the time of death. The benefit shall be shared equally by the surviving spouse and any children. When a child who neither has a disability nor is mentally incapacitated no longer meets the definition of minor child under R.S. 11:1301, his benefit shall cease, and the remaining beneficiaries shall have their shares adjusted accordingly.
(b) Beginning in Fiscal Year 2021-2022 and in each year thereafter, the benefit shall, on the anniversary of the officer's death, be increased by three percent until the benefit equals the maximum of the officer's paygrade for his classification under the pay plan that applied to the officer on his date of death.
C. Notwithstanding the forfeiture provisions of R.S. 11:1321, the benefit of a surviving spouse covered by Subsection B of this Section shall be paid until the death of the surviving spouse.
D. Any surviving spouse of a member killed on or before June 29, 2017, by an intentional act of violence who would qualify for the survivor benefit provided for in Subparagraph (B)(2)(a) of this Section shall have any benefit payable on or after June 30, 2017, increased to the amount calculated pursuant to Subparagraph (B)(2)(a) of this Section regardless of the date of death of the member.
Acts 2010, No. 992, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2011; Acts 2014, No. 811, §4, eff. June 23, 2014; Acts 2017, No. 284, §1, eff. June 30, 2017; Acts 2021, No. 56, §2, eff. June 30, 2021.
NOTE: Acts 2014, No. 811 changed terminology referring to persons with disabilities throughout the La. Revised Statutes and codes of law, and included a listing of terms that were deleted and their respective successor terms (See Acts 2014, No. 811, §36). The Act provides that it is not the intent of the legislature that changes in terminology effected therein alter or affect in any way the substance, interpretation, or application of any law or administrative rule; further provides that nothing in the Act shall be construed to expand or diminish any right of or benefit for any person provided by any law or administrative rule (See Acts 2014, No. 811, §35(C) and (D)).