DEATH BENEFITS FOR FIREFIGHTERS AND EMERGENCY

MEDICAL SERVICES PERSONS WHO DIE WHILE

IN THE LINE OF DUTY

§1621.__Definitions

As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings:

1.__Emergency medical services person.__"Emergency medical services person" means a person who is licensed to provide emergency medical treatment under Title 32, chapter 2-B and is actively serving a public agency in an official capacity as an officially recognized or designated employee or member of a rescue squad or ambulance crew, with or without compensation, or who is an employee of an emergency medical service as defined in subsection 2.

2.__Emergency medical service.__"Emergency medical service" means a nonprofit, incorporated ambulance service or nontransporting emergency medical service licensed under Title 32, chapter 2-B receiving full or partial financial support from or officially recognized by the State, a municipality or county or an entity created under Title 30-A, chapter 115 or 119 except when the emergency medical service is acting outside the scope of activities expressly authorized by the State, a municipality or county or entity created under Title 30-A, chapter 115 or 119.

3.__Firefighter.__"Firefighter" means an active municipal firefighter or an active volunteer firefighter, as defined in Title 30-A, section 3151.

§1622.__Death benefit

1.__Amount; recipients.__In a case in which the State Fire Marshal determines under rules adopted pursuant to this section that a firefighter or emergency medical services person has died while in the line of duty, the State shall pay a benefit of $50,000 as follows:

A.__If there is no surviving child of the firefighter or emergency medical services person, to the surviving spouse of the firefighter or emergency medical services person;

B.__If there is a surviving child or children and a surviving spouse, 1/2 to the surviving child or children of