Section 7-203 - Death benefits. - Maryland Statutes

§ 7-203. Death benefits.
 

(a)  Eligibility.-  

(1) The Board shall pay death benefits under this section if a member of a volunteer fire company or member of a volunteer rescue squad dies: 

(i) as a direct result of actively participating in fighting a fire; 

(ii) while going to or from a fire; 

(iii) while performing other duties necessary to the operation or maintenance of the fire company; 

(iv) while actively participating in the ambulance, advanced life support, or rescue work of a volunteer advanced life support unit or volunteer fire, ambulance, or rescue company located in the State; or 

(v) while providing emergency or rescue assistance, whether acting alone or at the direction of or with a fire, ambulance, or rescue company or advanced life support unit. 

(2) A benefit under this subsection shall be paid: 

(i) regardless of the district in which the decedent died; or 

(ii) regardless of whether the decedent died in this State, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Pennsylvania, Virginia, or West Virginia. 

(b)  Amount of payment and to whom paid.-  

(1) The Board shall pay a benefit under this section from the treasury of the Maryland State Firemen's Association in the amount that the Board determines, but not less than $2,000. 

(2) The Board shall pay a benefit under this subsection: 

(i) to the decedent's surviving spouse or dependent child; 

(ii) if no individual is eligible under item (i) of this paragraph, to the decedent's surviving dependent parent; 

(iii) if no individual is eligible under item (i) or (ii) of this paragraph, to each surviving child of the decedent in equal shares; 

(iv) if no individual is eligible under item (i), (ii), or (iii) of this paragraph, to the decedent's surviving parent; or 

(v) if no individual is eligible under item (i), (ii), (iii), or (iv) of this paragraph, to each surviving sister, brother, or grandparent of the decedent in equal shares. 

(c)  Pension benefits.-  

(1) If there is a surviving spouse or dependent child: 

(i) until the surviving spouse remarries, the surviving spouse is entitled to receive a pension from the Maryland State Firemen's Association; and 

(ii) until the dependent child becomes an adult, each dependent child is entitled to receive a pension from the Maryland State Firemen's Association. 

(2) The Board shall pay a benefit under this subsection from the treasury of the Maryland State Firemen's Association in the amount, at the times, and in the installments that the Board determines. 

(3) The secretary of the Board shall add the name of each beneficiary under this subsection to the Disabled Firemen's and Rescue Squadmen's List. 
 

[An. Code 1957, art. 38A, § 42A(b)-(d); 2003, ch. 5, § 2.]