Payment to spouses or children of deceased policemen or firemen

(a) If any officer or member of a police or fire department, while in the performance of such officer's or member's duties, is killed or dies as a result of an injury received, or dies of any disease contracted by reason of such officer's or member's occupation as a policeman or fireman, or dies after having retired and leaves a spouse, such spouse, shall receive a monthly pension in an amount equal to 50% of the monthly salary of such deceased officer or member, if such spouse was lawfully married to such policeman or fireman at the time of such policeman's or fireman's retirement. Commencing on the effective date of this act, any surviving spouse, who was receiving benefits pursuant to this section and who had such benefits terminated by reason of such spouse's remarriage, shall be entitled to once again receive benefits pursuant to this section, except that such surviving spouse shall not be entitled to recover any benefits not received after the termination of benefits by reason of such surviving spouse's remarriage but before the effective date of this act. In the event there is no surviving spouse, then any child or children of the deceased, shall receive, in equal shares a monthly amount equal to 50% of the monthly salary received at the time of death, such sums to be paid until such child or children attain the age of 18 years or until such child or children attain the age of 23 years, if such child or children are full-time students as provided in K.S.A. 74-49,117, and amendments thereto. Commencing on the effective date of this act, any child who was receiving benefits pursuant to this section and who had such benefits terminated by reason of such child's marriage, shall be entitled to once again receive benefits pursuant to this section subject to the limitations contained in this section, except that such child shall not be entitled to recover any benefits not received after the termination of benefits by reason of such child's marriage but before the effective date of this act. (b) If any officer or member of such fire or police department, after having become eligible for retirement as provided in K.S.A. 14-10a08, and amendments thereto, is killed while not in the performance of such officer's or member's official duties, or dies, an amount equal to 50% of such officer's or member's monthly salary shall be paid to such persons for the periods of time provided in subsection (a) and shall be subject to all the limitations provided in subsection (a). (c) Payments to the surviving spouse, child or children under the provisions of subsection (a) or (b) must begin no later than December 31 of the calendar year immediately following the calendar year in which the member died.