PARRIS N. GLENDENING, Governor

Ch. 129

(i) Eighteen years of age or under; or

(ii) Over eighteen years of age and incapable of self-support because
of physical or mental disability.

(4) "Correctional officer" means a member of a correctional unit who is
responsible for the investigation, care, custody, control, or supervision of persons
confined to places of incarceration.

(5) "Correctional unit" means any State or county governmental
organization which has by statute, ordinance, or court order the responsibility for the
care, control, and supervision of inmates in correctional institutions for persons declared
to be parolees or for persons placed on probation or suspension of sentence.

(6) "Stepchild" means a child of the surviving spouse who was living with or
dependent for support on the decedent at the time of his death.

(7) "State Fire Marshal" means any sworn member of the Maryland State
Fire Marshal's Office.

(b) (1) A death benefit shall be paid to the surviving spouse, children, or
dependent parents of any law enforcement officer of the State or of any political
subdivision of the State, any sheriff or deputy sheriff, any correctional officer, any
volunteer or professional firefighter or rescue squad member or any State Fire Marshal,
who is killed or dies in the performance of duties on or after July 1, 1989. The amount of
the benefit shall be $50,000.

(2) This death benefit shall be in addition to:

(i) Any workers' compensation benefits;

(ii) The proceeds of any form of life insurance, regardless of who paid
the premiums on the insurance; or

(iii) Funeral benefit provided under paragraph (3) of this subsection.

(3) (i) Reasonable funeral expenses, not to exceed $10,000, shall be paid
to the surviving spouse, children, or dependent parents of a law enforcement officer,
correctional officer, volunteer or professional firefighter or rescue squad member, or
State Fire Marshal who is killed or dies in the line of duty.

(ii) The funeral benefit provided by this paragraph shall be reduced by
the amount of any related workers' compensation benefits paid under the provisions of §
9-689 of the Labor and Employment Article.

(c) The payments for which this section provides shall be made out of funds which
the Governor may appropriate for that purpose in the State budget.

(d) The Secretary of Public Safety and Correctional Services may award a death
benefit under this section under any of the following circumstances provided the decision
is made on a case-by-case basis:

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