2013 -- H 5175

=======

LC00497

=======

STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2013

____________

A N A C T

RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES - RELIEF OF INJURED AND DECEASED FIRE

FIGHTERS AND POLICE OFFICERS

     

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Guthrie, Casey, and Tomasso

     Date Introduced: January 29, 2013

     Referred To: House Finance

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

1-1

     SECTION 1. Sections 45-19-4, 45-19-4.1, 45-19-4.2, 45-19-4.3, 45-19-12, 45-19-12.1,

1-2

45-19-12.3 and 45-19-16 of the General Laws in Chapter 45-19 entitled "Relief of Injured and

1-3

Deceased Fire Fighters and Police Officers" are hereby amended to read as follows:

1-4

     45-19-4. Annuities to dependents of deceased police officers and appropriations to

1-5

nondependent parents of police officers. -- (a) If an active or retired member of the police force

1-6

of a city or town, or state of Rhode Island, or quasi-public corporation is killed or dies from

1-7

injuries received while in the performance of his or her duty as a member, or dies of a heart

1-8

condition or any condition derived from hypertension while still a member, there shall be paid out

1-9

of the police officer's relief fund of Rhode Island to the following dependents of the deceased

1-10

person, the following sums of money:

1-11

      (1) To the widow or widower or domestic partner an annuity not exceeding three

1-12

thousand six hundred dollars ($3,600) a year, payable in the number of regular installments

1-13

determined by the board and continuing as long as he or she remains unmarried or not in a

1-14

domestic partnership and commencing with the date of death but not more than six (6) months

1-15

prior to the date of filing of the petition by the widow or widower or domestic partner; provided,

1-16

that if the member died more than six (6) months prior to the filing of the petition then the

1-17

payments are to commence no sooner than six (6) months prior to the date of petition;

1-18

      (2) An additional annuity of twelve hundred dollars ($1,200) a year, payable in the

1-19

number of regular installments determined by the board, for each child of the deceased person

2-1

during the time that the child is under the age of eighteen (18) years, or over the age and

2-2

physically or mentally incapacitated from earning. If there is any child and no widow or widower

2-3

or domestic partner or the widow or widower or domestic partner dies later, the sum and the

2-4

annuity that would have been payable to the widow or widower or domestic partner had there

2-5

been one or had he or she lived, to or for the benefit of the child or of the children, in equal

2-6

shares, during the time previously stated;

2-7

      (3) If there is any child and the widow or widower or domestic partner remarries or

2-8

enters in a domestic partnership, in lieu of the previously stated annuity to him or her, an annuity

2-9

not exceeding twelve hundred dollars ($1,200) to or for the benefit of each child during the time

2-10

previously stated;

2-11

      (4) If there is no widow or widower or domestic partner and no child the total sum of ten

2-12

thousand dollars ($10,000) payable in a lump sum for the benefit of the father and/or mother of

2-13

the deceased, if not dependent upon him or her for support at the time of his or her death; and

2-14

      (5) If there is no widow or widower or domestic partner and no child, the sum of three

2-15

thousand six hundred dollars ($3,600) payable in regular installments by the board of police

2-16

officer's relief to or for the benefit of the father or mother of the deceased, if dependent upon him

2-17

or her for support at the time of his or her death, and commencing with the date of death but not

2-18

more than six (6) months prior to the date of filing the petition; provided, that if the member died

2-19

more than six (6) months prior to the filing of the petition then the payments are to commence no

2-20

sooner than six (6) months prior to the date of the petition and continuing so long as the

2-21

beneficiary is unable to support himself or herself and does not remarry or enter into a domestic

2-22

partnership, an annuity not exceeding three thousand six hundred dollars ($3,600) a year, payable

2-23

in regular installments determined by the board. The amount of the annuity shall, from time to

2-24

time, be determined within the limits previously stated by the board.

2-25

      (b) For the purpose of this section the words "police officer" shall mean and include any

2-26

active or retired member of the state police or the police of any city or town regularly employed

2-27

at a fixed salary or wage or any executive high sheriff, sheriff, deputy sheriff, member of the

2-28

fugitive task force, or capitol police officer, permanent environmental police officer or criminal

2-29

investigator of the department of environmental management, or airport police officer.

2-30

      (c) The provisions of this section apply in the case of any dependent receiving benefits in

2-31

accordance with the provisions of this section as it was in effect prior to April 25, 1960.

2-32

      (d) The provisions of this section apply in the case of any active or retired police officer

2-33

who from and after January 1, 1935, was killed or died from injuries received while in the

2-34

performance of duty, or dies of a heart condition or any condition derived from hypertension.

3-1

      (e) The amount of the annuity shall not be reduced by reason of receipt of an annuity

3-2

and/or other payments to any beneficiaries from any other source.

3-3

      (f) Upon the death of a member, the police chief shall immediately notify the widow or

3-4

widower or domestic partner of the member by registered or certified mail, return receipt

3-5

requested, of the widow or widower's or domestic partner's possible eligibility for benefits under

3-6

this chapter and the time restriction for filing a claim for these benefits.

3-7

      (g) For purposes of this chapter, "domestic partner" shall be defined as a person who,

3-8

prior to the decedent's death, was in an exclusive, intimate and committed relationship with the

3-9

decedent, and who certifies by affidavit that their relationship met the following qualifications:

3-10

      (1) Both partners were at least eighteen (18) years of age and were mentally competent

3-11

to contract;

3-12

      (2) Neither partner was married to anyone else;

3-13

      (3) Partners were not related by blood to a degree which would prohibit marriage in the

3-14

state of Rhode Island;

3-15

      (4) Partners resided together and had resided together for at least one year at the time of

3-16

death; and

3-17

      (5) Partners were financially interdependent as evidenced by at least two (2) of the

3-18

following:

3-19

      (i) Domestic partnership agreement or relationship contract;

3-20

      (ii) Joint mortgage or joint ownership of primary residence;

3-21

      (iii) Two (2) of: (A) joint ownership of motor vehicle; (B) joint checking account; (C)

3-22

joint credit account; (D) joint lease; and/or

3-23

      (iv) The domestic partner had been designated as a beneficiary for the decedent's will,

3-24

retirement contract or life insurance.

3-25

     45-19-4.1. Tuition to children of police officers dying or disabled as a result of

3-26

service. -- (a) If an active member of the police force of a city or town, or state of Rhode Island,

3-27

or of a quasi-public corporation is killed, dies, or becomes totally and permanently disabled from

3-28

injuries received while in the performance of his or her duty as a member, or dies of a heart

3-29

condition or any condition derived from hypertension while still a member, there shall be paid out

3-30

of the general fund of the state of Rhode Island the charges for the tuition of children of the

3-31

deceased or totally and permanently disabled police officer and/or the spouse of a police officer

3-32

killed in the line of duty. The benefits are extended to the children and/or spouse who are

3-33

attending or may attend the University of Rhode Island, Rhode Island College, or any other

3-34

college or university operated by the state; provided, that the child has entered the institution

4-1

while between the ages of sixteen (16) and twenty-one (21); and provided, further, that the aid

4-2

granted is available to the child and/or spouse for the period of time that may equal the normal

4-3

time for completing the courses regularly offered by the institution, but in no case more than four

4-4

(4) years.

4-5

      (b) For the purpose of this section, the words "police officer" shall mean and include any

4-6

member of the state police, any correctional officer within the department of corrections, or the

4-7

police of any city or town regularly employed at a fixed salary or wage. Furthermore, this

4-8

excludes auxiliary and volunteer police officers of city, town, or state police or any executive

4-9

high sheriff, sheriff, deputy sheriff, member of the fugitive task force, or capitol police officer,

4-10

permanent environmental police officer or criminal investigator of the department of

4-11

environmental management, or airport police officer. For the purpose of this section, the words

4-12

"totally and permanently disabled" mean any impairment of mind or body making it impossible

4-13

for one to follow continuously a gainful occupation.

4-14

     45-19-4.2. Tuition to police officers disabled as a result of service. -- (a) If an active

4-15

member of the police force of a city or town becomes totally and permanently disabled from

4-16

injuries received while in the performance of his or her duty as a member, or if any member of

4-17

the police force of a city or town becomes totally and permanently disabled from injuries received

4-18

while in the performance of his or her duty, there shall be paid out of the general fund of the state

4-19

of Rhode Island the charges for the tuition of the totally and permanently disabled police officer.

4-20

The benefits are extended to members who are attending or may attend the university of Rhode

4-21

Island, Rhode Island college, or any other college or university operated by the state; provided,

4-22

that the aid granted in this section is available for the period of time that may equal the normal

4-23

time for completing the courses regularly offered by the institution, but in no case more than four

4-24

(4) years.

4-25

      (b) For the purpose of this section the words "police officer" shall mean and include any

4-26

member of the state police or the police of any city or town regularly employed at a fixed salary

4-27

or wage or any executive high sheriff, sheriff, deputy sheriff, member of the fugitive task force,

4-28

or capitol police officer, permanent environmental police officer or criminal investigator of the

4-29

department of environmental management, or airport police officer. Furthermore, this excludes

4-30

auxiliary and volunteer police officers of city, town, or state police.

4-31

     45-19-4.3. One time death benefit -- Death benefits to family of deceased police

4-32

officers, correctional officers, and firefighters. -- (a) If an active or retired police officer,

4-33

capitol police officer, correctional officer, airport police officer, permanent environmental police

4-34

officer or criminal investigator of the department of environmental management, firefighter, crash

5-1

rescue crew person, airport firefighter, fire marshal, or deputy fire marshal of any city, town, fire

5-2

district, or the state of Rhode Island or state sheriff or state deputy sheriff or a correctional officer

5-3

or member of a volunteer auxiliary fire force or volunteer crash rescue or ambulance corps is

5-4

killed or dies from injuries received while in the performance of his or her duties, there shall be

5-5

paid a killed-in-line-of-duty benefit to be administered by the board of police officer's and

5-6

firefighter's relief. The benefit shall be in the sum of forty percent (40%) of the federal death

5-7

benefits for law enforcement officers and firefighters killed in the line of duty. The benefit shall

5-8

be paid as follows:

5-9

      (1) If there is no surviving child of such officer, to the surviving spouse or domestic

5-10

partner of such officer;

5-11

      (2) If there is a surviving child or children and a surviving spouse or domestic partner,

5-12

one-half (1/2) to the surviving child or children of such officer in equal shares and one-half (1/2)

5-13

to the surviving spouse or domestic partner;

5-14

      (3) If there is no surviving spouse or domestic partner, to the child or children of said

5-15

officer in equal shares;

5-16

      (4) If there is no surviving spouse, domestic partner, or surviving child, to the individual

5-17

designated by such officer as beneficiary under such officer's most recently executed life

5-18

insurance policy; provided, that such individual survived such officer; or

5-19

      (5) If none of the above, to the parent or parents of such officer in equal shares.

5-20

      (b) Domestic partners shall certify by affidavit to the board of police officer's and

5-21

firefighter's relief that the: (1) partners are at least eighteen (18) years of age and mentally

5-22

competent to contract; (2) partners are not married to anyone; (3) partners are not related by blood

5-23

to a degree which would prohibit marriage in the state of Rhode Island; (4) partners reside

5-24

together and have resided together for at least one year; (5) partners are financially interdependent

5-25

as evidenced by at least two (2) of the following: (i) domestic partnership agreement or

5-26

relationship contract; (ii) joint mortgage or joint ownership of primary residence; (iii) two (2) of:

5-27

(A) joint ownership of motor vehicle; (B) joint checking account; (C) joint credit account; (D)

5-28

joint lease; and/or (iv) the domestic partner has been designated as a beneficiary for the

5-29

deceased's will, retirement contract or life insurance.

5-30

     45-19-12. Annuities to dependents of deceased fire fighters and appropriations to

5-31

nondependent parents of deceased fire fighters. -- (a) If an active or retired member of the fire

5-32

force of a city or town or state of Rhode Island, or quasi-public corporation or fire fighter for the

5-33

town of North Smithfield is killed or dies from injuries received while in the performance of his

5-34

or her duty as a member or dies of a heart condition, respiratory ailments, or any condition

6-1

derived from hypertension while still a member, there shall be paid out of the fire fighter's relief

6-2

fund of Rhode Island to the following dependents of the deceased person, the following sums of

6-3

money:

6-4

      (1) To the widow or widower or domestic partner an annuity not exceeding three

6-5

thousand six hundred dollars ($3,600) a year, payable in the number of regular installments

6-6

determined by the board and continuing as long as he or she remains unmarried or not in a

6-7

domestic partnership and commencing with the date of death but not more than six (6) months

6-8

prior to the date of filing of the petition by the widow or widower or domestic partner;

6-9

      (2) An additional annuity of one thousand two hundred dollars ($1,200) a year, payable

6-10

in the number of regular installments determined by the board, for each child of the deceased

6-11

person during the time that the child is under the age of eighteen (18) years, or over the age and

6-12

physically or mentally incapacitated from earning;

6-13

      (3) If there is no widow or widower or domestic partner and no child, the total sum of ten

6-14

thousand dollars ($10,000), payable in a lump sum for the benefit of the father and/or mother of

6-15

the deceased, if not dependent upon him or her for support at the time of his or her death;

6-16

      (4) If there is any child and no widow or widower or domestic partner or the widow or

6-17

widower or domestic partner dies later, the sum and the annuity that should have been payable to

6-18

the widow or widower or domestic partner had there been one or had he or she lived, to or for the

6-19

benefit of the child or of the children, in equal shares during the previously stated time;

6-20

      (5) If there is any child, and the widow or widower or domestic partner remarries or

6-21

enters into a domestic partnership, in lieu of the previously stated annuity to him or her, an

6-22

annuity not exceeding one thousand two hundred dollars ($1,200) to or for the benefit of each

6-23

child during the time previously stated; and

6-24

      (6) If there is no widow or widower or domestic partner and no child, the sum of three

6-25

thousand six hundred dollars ($3,600) payable in regular installments by the board of fire fighter's

6-26

relief, to or for the benefit of the father or mother of the deceased, if dependent upon him or her

6-27

for support at the time of his or her death, and commencing with the date of death but not more

6-28

than six (6) months prior to the date of filing of the petition and continuing so long as the

6-29

beneficiary is unable to support himself or herself and does not remarry or enter into a domestic

6-30

partnership, an annuity not exceeding three thousand six hundred dollars ($3,600) a year, payable

6-31

in the number of regular installments determined by the board.

6-32

      (b) The amount of the annuity shall, from time to time, be determined within the limits

6-33

previously stated by the board.

7-34

      (c) The provisions of this section shall in the case of any active or retired member of the

7-35

fire force of any city or town or fire fighter for the town of North Smithfield who, from and after

7-36

January 1, 1935, is killed or dies from injuries received while in the performance of his or her

7-37

duty, or dies of a heart condition, respiratory ailments, or any condition derived from

7-38

hypertension. The provisions of this section shall only be construed to apply prospectively.

7-39

      (d) The amount of the annuity shall not be reduced by reason of receipt of any annuity

7-40

and/or other payments to any beneficiary from any other source.

7-41

      (e) Upon the death of a member, the fire chief shall immediately notify the widow or

7-42

widower or domestic partner of the member, in writing, by registered or certified mail, return

7-43

receipt requested, of the widow or widower's or domestic partner's possible eligibility for benefits

7-44

under this chapter and the time restriction for filing a claim for the benefits.

7-45

     45-19-12.1. Tuition to children of deceased or disabled fire fighters. -- (a) If an active

7-46

member of the fire force of a city or town or crash rescue crew persons or airport firefighters of

7-47

the state of Rhode Island is killed or dies or becomes totally and permanently disabled from

7-48

injuries received while in the performance of his or her duty as a member, or dies of a

7-49

performance related heart condition, or dies of performance related respiratory ailments, or dies

7-50

of any conditions derived from performance related hypertension, there shall be paid, out of the

7-51

general fund of the state of Rhode Island, the charges for the tuition of children of the deceased or

7-52

totally and permanently disabled fire fighters. The benefits shall be extended to the children who

7-53

are attending or may attend the University of Rhode Island, Rhode Island College, or any other

7-54

college or university operated by the state; provided, that the child has entered the institution

7-55

while between the ages of sixteen (16) and twenty-one (21); and provided, further, that the aid

7-56

granted in this section is available to the child for a period of time that equals the normal time for

7-57

completing the courses regularly offered by the institution, but in no case more than four (4)

7-58

years.

7-59

      (b) For the purposes of this section, the words "members of fire force" mean and include

7-60

any member of a fire force or crash rescue crew persons of any city or town regularly employed

7-61

at a fixed salary or wage; this includes auxiliary and volunteer fire fighters and crash rescue crew

7-62

persons of any city, town, or state fire fighting department.

7-63

     45-19-12.3. Tuition to disabled fire fighters. -- (a) If an active member of the fire force

7-64

of a city or town or crash rescue crew persons or airport firefighters of the state of Rhode Island

7-65

becomes totally and permanently disabled from injuries received while in the performance of his

7-66

or her duty as a member, or if any member of the fire force of a city or town or crash rescue crew

7-67

persons of the state of Rhode Island becomes totally and permanently disabled from injuries

7-68

received while in the performance of his or her duty, there shall be paid, out of the general fund

8-1

of the state of Rhode Island, the charges for the tuition of totally and permanently disabled fire

8-2

fighters. The benefits are extended to members who are attending or may attend the University of

8-3

Rhode Island, Rhode Island College, or any other college or university operated by the state;

8-4

provided, that the aid granted in this section is available for a period of time that equals the

8-5

normal time for completing the courses regularly offered by the institution, but in no case more

8-6

than four (4) years.

8-7

      (b) For the purposes of this section, the words "members of fire force" mean and include

8-8

any member of a fire force or crash rescue crew persons of any city or town regularly employed

8-9

at a fixed salary or wage; this includes auxiliary and volunteer fire fighters and crash rescue crew

8-10

persons and airport firefighters of any city, town or state fire fighting department.

8-11

     45-19-16. Presumption of disability in the line of fire fighting duty. --

8-12

Notwithstanding the provisions of any general or special law or to any state or municipal

8-13

retirement system, any city or town, or quasi-public corporation, may, by ordinance, provide that

8-14

every condition of impairment of health caused by smoke inhalation of the lungs or respiratory

8-15

tract, resulting in total disability or death to a uniformed member of a paid fire department, is

8-16

presumed to have been suffered in the line of duty as a result of the inhalation of noxious fumes

8-17

or poisonous gases, unless the contrary is shown by competent evidence; provided, that the

8-18

person benefiting by the presumption passes a physical examination upon entry into service or

8-19

subsequent to entry an examination failed to reveal any evidence of the condition.

8-20

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

     

=======

LC00497

========

EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N A C T

RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES - RELIEF OF INJURED AND DECEASED FIRE

FIGHTERS AND POLICE OFFICERS

***

9-1

     This act would change the definition of “Police Officer” for the purposes of relief of

9-2

injured and deceased fire fighters and police officers, and also would include members of the

9-3

police forces of the State of Rhode Island or quasi-public corporations, and airport fire fighters in

9-4

benefits and relief provided under current law.

9-5

     This act would take effect upon passage.

     

=======

LC00497

=======

H5175