(b) “Fresh pursuit” means the pursuit of a person who has committed or is reasonably suspected of having committed a felony, misdemeanor, traffic infraction, or violation of a county or municipal ordinance. The term does not imply instant pursuit, but pursuit without unreasonable delay.
(c) “Insurance” means insurance procured from a stock company or mutual company or association or exchange authorized to do business as an insurer in this state.
(d) “Law enforcement, correctional, or correctional probation officer” means any officer as defined in s. 943.10(14) or employee of the state or any political subdivision of the state, including any law enforcement officer, correctional officer, correctional probation officer, state attorney investigator, public defender investigator, or criminal conflict and civil regional counsel investigator, whose duties require such officer or employee to investigate, pursue, apprehend, arrest, transport, or maintain custody of persons who are charged with, suspected of committing, or convicted of a crime; and the term includes any member of a bomb disposal unit whose primary responsibility is the location, handling, and disposal of explosive devices. The term also includes any full-time officer or employee of the state or any political subdivision of the state, certified pursuant to chapter 943, whose duties require such officer to serve process or to attend a session of a circuit or county court as bailiff.
(b) The sum of $75,000 must be paid as provided in this section if a law enforcement, correctional, or correctional probation officer is accidentally killed as specified in paragraph (a) and the accidental death occurs:
2. As a result of the officer’s response to what is reasonably believed to be an emergency;
3. At the scene of a traffic accident to which the officer has responded; or
4. While the officer is enforcing what is reasonably believed to be a traffic law or ordinance.
(c) If a law enforcement, correctional, or correctional probation officer, while engaged in the performance of the officer’s law enforcement duties, is unlawfully and intentionally killed or dies as a result of such unlawful and intentional act, the sum of $225,000 must be paid as provided in this section.
(d) Such payments, pursuant to paragraphs (a), (b), and (c), whether secured by insurance or not, must be made to the beneficiary designated by such law enforcement, correctional, or correctional probation officer in writing, signed by the officer and delivered to the employer during the officer’s lifetime. If no such designation is made, then the payments must be paid to the officer’s surviving child or children and to the officer’s surviving spouse in equal portions, and if there is no surviving child or spouse, then to the officer’s parent or parents. If a beneficiary is not designated and there is no surviving child, spouse, or parent, then the sum must be paid to the officer’s estate.
(e) Such payments, pursuant to paragraphs (a), (b), and (c), are in addition to any workers’ compensation or retirement plan benefits and are exempt from the claims and demands of creditors of such law enforcement, correctional, or correctional probation officer.
(f) If a full-time law enforcement, correctional, or correctional probation officer who is certified pursuant to chapter 943 and employed by a state agency is killed in the line of duty while the officer is engaged in the performance of law enforcement duties or as a result of an assault against the officer under riot conditions:
2. The officer’s employing agency may pay up to $5,000 directly toward the venue expenses associated with the funeral and burial services of such officer.
2. The surviving child continues to be dependent for support, or the surviving child is a full-time or part-time student and is dependent for support.
b. It is unlawful for a person to willfully and knowingly make, or cause to be made, or to assist, conspire with, or urge another to make, or cause to be made, any false, fraudulent, or misleading oral or written statement to obtain health insurance coverage as provided under this paragraph. A person who violates this sub-subparagraph commits a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.
c. In addition to any applicable criminal penalty, upon conviction for a violation as described in sub-subparagraph b., a law enforcement, correctional, or correctional probation officer or other beneficiary who receives or seeks to receive health insurance benefits under this paragraph shall forfeit the right to receive such health insurance benefits, and shall reimburse the employer for all benefits paid due to the fraud or other prohibited activity. For purposes of this sub-subparagraph, the term “conviction” means a determination of guilt that is the result of a plea or trial, regardless of whether adjudication is withheld.
(b) Only a student in good standing in his or her respective institution may receive the benefits provided in this subsection.
(c) A child or spouse receiving benefits under this subsection must be enrolled according to the customary rules and requirements of the institution attended.
(b) Payment of benefits to beneficiaries of state employees, or of the premiums to cover the risk, under this section must be paid from existing funds otherwise appropriated to the department employing the law enforcement, correctional, or correctional probation officers.
(6) Notwithstanding any provision of this section to the contrary, the death benefits provided in paragraphs (2)(c) and (g) shall also be applicable and paid in cases where an officer received bodily injury before July 1, 1993, and subsequently died on or after July 1, 1993, as a result of such in-line-of-duty injury attributable to an unlawful and intentional act, or an act of violence inflicted by another, or an assault on the officer under riot conditions. Payment of such benefits must be in accordance with this section. This subsection may not be construed to limit death benefits for which those individuals listed in paragraph (2)(d) may otherwise be eligible.
