(a) Amount and persons entitled.--A pension may be paid to either the widow or widower or minor children or dependent parent of any member of the Pennsylvania National Guard, who may die from injuries received, or who may be killed while in active service, under orders of the Governor, which active service shall include participation in armory assemblies or participation in aerial flights incidental to training. Such pension shall be computed on the following basis and distributed to the following persons monthly:
(1) To each minor child, if there is no widow or widower entitled to compensation, $75, with $50 for each child in excess of two, with a maximum of $200 to be paid to their guardian.
(2) To the widow or widower, if there are no children, $100.
(3) To the widow or widower, if there is one child, $150.
(4) To the widow or widower, if there are two children, $200.
(5) To the widow or widower, if there are three children, $250.
(6) To the widow or widower, if there are four or more children, $300.
(7) To the father and mother, if there is no widow, widower, or children, if dependent to any extent upon the member for support at the time of his death, $100.
(b) Workmen's compensation.--Such pension shall be in addition to any relief in the form of compensation determined under the Workmen's Compensation Law of Pennsylvania as authorized by section 3501 (relating to relief for disability incurred in active State service).
(c) Claims.--All claims for pension under this section shall be made to the department, which shall establish rules governing the filing of such claims. The department shall investigate all circumstances connected with the death of the person and make a recommendation to the Adjutant General as to the granting of a pension. If a pension is granted, it shall be paid monthly in the manner provided by law.
(d) Term and removal.--No pension granted under this section shall be granted for a longer period than ten years; but in the case of minor children of a deceased member, the pension shall be paid until the minor child reaches 18 years of age.
(e) Revocation.--The department shall have power to revoke any pension granted under this section when it shall be shown to the satisfaction of the department that the pensioner is no longer in a state of dependency.
(f) Exemption.--The provisions of this section shall not apply to any member of the Pennsylvania National Guard while in the service of the United States, in case of war, or under the orders of the President of the United States.
(g) Appropriation.--The necessary appropriation to pay any pensions granted under this section shall, at each regular session of the General Assembly, be included in the items pertaining to the department, in the act of Assembly providing for the ordinary expenses of the Executive, Judicial, and Legislative Departments of the Commonwealth.
(Dec. 18, 1980, P.L.1245, No.225, eff. imd.)
References in Text. The short title of the act of June 2, 1915 (P.L.736, No.338), known as The Pennsylvania Workmen's Compensation Act, referred to in subsec. (b), was amended by the act of July 2, 1993, P.L.190, No.44. The amended short title is now the Workers' Compensation Act.
Structure Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes