(a) There is created the emergency personnel survivors benefit review board which shall consist of the state treasurer or designee, the attorney general or designee, the executive director of the Vermont fire service training council or designee, and one member of the public to represent the interests of emergency personnel appointed by the governor for a term of two years. Survivors of emergency personnel, employed by or who volunteer for the state of Vermont, a county or municipality of the state, or a nonprofit entity which provides services in the state, who die in the line of duty or of an occupation-related illness may request the board award a monetary benefit under section 3173 of this title. The board shall be responsible for determining whether to award monetary benefits under section 3173. A decision to award monetary benefits shall be made by unanimous vote of the board, and shall be made within 60 days after the receipt of all information necessary to enable the board to determine eligibility. The board may request any information necessary for the exercise of its duties under this section. Nothing in this section shall prevent the board from initiating the investigation or determination of a claim before being requested by a survivor or employer of emergency personnel.

(b) Within 10 days after the board has reached its decision, it shall notify the named survivors of its decision by certified mail. If the board denies the claim, the named survivors shall have 60 days from the date of receiving the denial to file an appeal with the superior court in the county in which the deceased was employed or was an authorized volunteer.

(c) If the board decides to award a monetary benefit, the benefit shall be paid to the surviving spouse or, if the emergency personnel had no spouse at the time of death, to the surviving child, or equally among surviving children. If the deceased emergency personnel is not survived by a spouse or child, the benefit shall be paid to a surviving parent, or equally between surviving parents. If the deceased emergency personnel is not survived by a spouse, children, or parents, the board shall not award a monetary benefit under this chapter.

(d) Upon a board decision to award a monetary benefit under this chapter, the treasurer shall make payment to the beneficiaries as described in subsection (c) of this section.

(e) The state treasurer's office shall provide staff, office space, and any other reasonable and necessary resources to the board.

(f) The member of the public appointed by the governor shall be entitled to per diem compensation authorized under 32 V.S.A. § 1010 for each day spent in the performance of his or her duties. (Added 2001, No. 119 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 2005, No. 33, § 1.)