A. There is created the "firefighters' survivors supplemental death benefits review committee". The committee shall consist of the attorney general or the attorney general's designee and the fire services council. B. The firefighters' survivors supplemental death benefits review committee shall determine whether a firefighter has been killed in the line of duty and advise the state fire marshal of that determination. In addition to any other death benefits provided by law, the surviving spouse or children shall be paid one million dollars ($1,000,000) as supplemental death benefits whenever a firefighter is killed in the line of duty. The benefits shall be paid from the fund. C. The benefits shall be paid entirely to the surviving spouse. If there is no surviving spouse, the benefits shall be distributed in pro rata shares to all surviving children. If there are no surviving children or spouse, benefits shall be distributed to the surviving parents of the firefighter. History: Laws 2007, ch. 149, § 5; 2014, ch. 17, § 1; 2020, ch. 9, § 27; 2023, ch. 111, § 1. The 2023 amendment, effective June 16, 2023, increased the amount of death benefits to the surviving spouse or children of a firefighter killed in the line of duty; and in Subsection B, after "shall be paid", deleted "two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000)" and added "one million dollars ($1,000,000). The 2020 amendment, effective July 1, 2021, revised the composition of the firefighters' survivors supplemental death benefits review committee; and in Subsection A, after "consist of the attorney general", deleted "the president of the New Mexico fire chiefs association, the state president of the New Mexico professional fire fighters association and the president of the New Mexico state fire fighters' association or their designee" and added "or the attorney general's designee and the fire services council". The 2014 amendment, effective July 1, 2014, increased the supplemental benefits for survivors of firefighters; and in Subsection B, in the second sentence, after "shall be paid", deleted "fifty-thousand dollars ($50,000)" and added "two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000)".
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