518                                LAWS OF MARYLAND                       [CH. 217

Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Maryland,
That new Sections 47-53 be and they are hereby added to Article
73B of the Annotated Code of Maryland (1957 Edition), title Pen-
sions," to be under a new subtitle, "Baltimore City Police De-
partment Death Relief Fund" to follow immediately after Section 46,
and to read as follows:

47. Establishment of Fund.

There is hereby established, as an instrumentality of the State
of Maryland, the Baltimore City Police Department Death Relief
Fund, which shall be the successor of the Relief Fund heretofore
administered by the Police Commissioner of Baltimore City.

48. Purpose of Fund.

The Baltimore City Police Department Death Relief Fund shall
pay special death benefits, as hereinafter provided, on account of
the death of Baltimore City police officers or civilian employees of
the Baltimore City Police Department whose death is proximately
caused by injuries sustained or by harm inflicted upon the body in
the course of the performance of their duty, and also to provide for
the payment of death benefits for active police officers and civilian
employees of the Department whose death is not proximately caused
by injuries or by harm inflicted upon the body in the course of their
performance of duties.

49. Benefits.

(a)    In General. The amount of benefit payable on account of
the death of an officer or a civilian employee whose death is prox-
imately caused by injuries sustained or by harm inflicted upon the
body in the course of the performance of their duty shall be $5,000.00
or such greater amount as may be prospectively and uniformly
established by resolution adopted by the Board and approved by
majority vote of the Relief Fund Committee; and the amount of
benefit payable on account of the death of an officer or a civilian
employee whose death is not proximately caused by injuries sus-
tained or by harm inflicted upon the body in the course of the
performance of their duty shall be $500.00 or such greater amount
as may be prospectively and uniformly established by resolution
adopted by the Board and approved by majority vote of the Relief
Fund Committee. The benefits under this subtitle shall be in addition
to all other benefits provided by law or by voluntary action of any
person or persons.

(b)    Eligible Beneficiaries. The said benefit shall be paid only
to the following, and in the following order: to the decedent's
widow or widower, if any, and if there is no widow or widower, to
the decedent's minor children, if any, in equal shares; and if there
is no widow or widower or minor children, to decedent's dependent
parents, if any, in equal shares; and if there is no widow, widower,
minor children, or dependent parents, then to any other dependents
of the decedent (and in such amounts up to the maximum benefit,
and in such proportions) as the trustees in their discretion determine.
Payments due a minor shall be made to the minor's legal guardian,
if any, in this state, and if none, to such person or persons on behalf
of the minor at such times and amounts, and subject to such con-