§ 45-21-25. Accidental death benefits.
Upon the accidental death of a member before retirement; provided, that evidence is submitted to the retirement board proving that the death of the member was the natural and proximate result of an accident while in the performance of duty at some definite time and place, and that the death was not the result of willful negligence on the member’s part, the member’s accumulated contributions shall be paid to the member’s estate, or to the person having an insurable interest in the member’s life that the member has nominated by written designation, duly executed and filed with the retirement board, and, upon application by or on behalf of the dependents of the deceased member, the retirement board shall grant a benefit equal to one-half (½) the rate of compensation of the member in effect at the date of death:
(1) To his or her widow or widower or domestic partner, to continue for life unless he or she remarries or enters into a domestic partnership; or
(2) If there is no widow or widower or domestic partner, or if the widow or widower or domestic partner dies or remarries or enters into a domestic partnership before any child of the deceased member has attained the age of eighteen (18) years, then to his or her child or children under that age, divided in any manner that the retirement board in its discretion determines, to continue as a joint and survivor annuity of one-half (½) of that compensation until every child dies or attains that age; or
(3) If there is no widow, widower, or domestic partner or child under the age of eighteen (18) years surviving the deceased member, then to his or her dependent father or mother, as the deceased member has nominated by written designation, duly acknowledged and filed with the retirement board; or if there is no nomination, then to his or her dependent father or to his or her dependent mother, as the retirement board in its discretion directs, to continue for life.
History of Section.P.L. 1951, ch. 2784, § 8; G.L. 1956, § 45-21-25; R.P.L. 1957, ch. 135, § 2; P.L. 1959, ch. 23, § 4; P.L. 1984, ch. 42, § 1; P.L. 2007, ch. 510, § 16.
Structure Rhode Island General Laws
Chapter 45-21 - Retirement of Municipal Employees
Section 45-21-1. - Purpose of chapter.
Section 45-21-2. - Definitions.
Section 45-21-3. - Effective date of operations.
Section 45-21-4. - Acceptance by municipalities — Effective date.
Section 45-21-5. - Procedure for withdrawal of municipality.
Section 45-21-6. - Settlement on withdrawal from system.
Section 45-21-7. - Liability of municipalities — Enforcement.
Section 45-21-8. - Membership in system.
Section 45-21-8.1. - Exclusion of elected city, town council or other elected members.
Section 45-21-10. - Information furnished as to members — Classification.
Section 45-21-11. - Cessation of membership.
Section 45-21-12. - Statements as to prior service.
Section 45-21-12.1. - Credit for service as a teacher or state employee.
Section 45-21-13. - Verification of prior service.
Section 45-21-14. - Computation of years of service.
Section 45-21-14.1. - Repealed.
Section 45-21-14.2. - Leave of absence credits.
Section 45-21-15. - Prior service certificate.
Section 45-21-16. - Retirement on service allowance.
Section 45-21-16.1. - Repealed.
Section 45-21-16.2. - Electronic funds transfer.
Section 45-21-17. - Service retirement allowance.
Section 45-21-17.2. - Social security supplemental option.
Section 45-21-18. - Deferred allowance on service retirement before minimum age.
Section 45-21-19. - Retirement for ordinary disability.
Section 45-21-20. - Ordinary disability allowance.
Section 45-21-21. - Retirement for accidental disability.
Section 45-21-22. - Accidental disability allowance.
Section 45-21-23. - Periodical examination of disability annuitants — Placement on employment lists.
Section 45-21-25. - Accidental death benefits.
Section 45-21-26. - Ordinary death benefits.
Section 45-21-27. - Benefit on death of retired employee.
Section 45-21-28. - Refund of contributions on cessation of membership.
Section 45-21-29. - Repayment of refunded contributions — Reinstatement of service credit.
Section 45-21-30. - Optional benefits on service retirement.
Section 45-21-31. - Offset of workers’ compensation or personal injury recovery.
Section 45-21-32. - Retirement system established as corporation — Management.
Section 45-21-33. - Information furnished by municipalities.
Section 45-21-34. - Annual report and statement.
Section 45-21-35. - Legal adviser — General treasurer — Executive director — Assistant director.
Section 45-21-36. - Clerical and professional assistance — Appropriations and disbursements.
Section 45-21-37. - Vouchers for payment of benefits.
Section 45-21-38. - Receipt of contributions — Investment of funds.
Section 45-21-39. - Credit of interest.
Section 45-21-40. - Improper interest in investments of board.
Section 45-21-41. - Members’ contributions — Payroll deductions — Certification to board.
Section 45-21-41.1. - Municipality payment of member contributions.
Section 45-21-42. - Contributions by municipalities.
Section 45-21-42.2. - Fiscal impact of proposed legislation impacting the retirement system.
Section 45-21-43. - Accounts and records — Reserve accounts.
Section 45-21-43.1. - Actuarial cost method.
Section 45-21-44. - Guaranties by municipalities — Adjustment of contribution rates.
Section 45-21-45. - Tax exemption.
Section 45-21-46. - Forfeiture for fraudulent claims.
Section 45-21-47. - Reserved power to amend or repeal — Vested rights.
Section 45-21-48 - — 45-21-50. Repealed.
Section 45-21-51.1. - Optional annuity protection — Election of option by member.
Section 45-21-52. - Automatic increase in service retirement allowance.
Section 45-21-53. - Armed service credit.
Section 45-21-54. - Reemployment of retired members.
Section 45-21-55. - Retired members of the town of Warren.
Section 45-21-56. - Credit for other municipal service.
Section 45-21-57. - Life insurance benefits.
Section 45-21-58. - Credits for layoffs.
Section 45-21-59. - Effect of deferral and/or reduction of salary.
Section 45-21-60. - Pensioners and beneficiaries of Plan No. 3023 — Town of North Kingstown.
Section 45-21-61. - Purchase of credit while serving a prison sentence — Prohibited.
Section 45-21-62. - Purchase of credits for continuous municipal service.
Section 45-21-63. - Health insurance coverage of retired municipal employees.
Section 45-21-64. - Purchase of service credits payable by installment.
Section 45-21-65. - Other post-employment benefits — OPEB trusts.
Section 45-21-66. - Severability.
Section 45-21-67. - Central Falls retirees — Settlement agreement.