(40 ILCS 5/5-153) (from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 5-153)

Sec. 5-153. Death benefit.

(a) Effective January 1, 1962, an ordinary death benefit is payable on account of any policeman in service and in receipt of salary on or after such date, which benefit is in addition to all other annuities and benefits herein provided. This benefit is payable upon death of a policeman:

(1) occurring in active service while in receipt of salary;

(2) on an authorized and approved leave of absence, without salary, beginning on or after January 1, 1962, if the death occurs within 60 days from the date the employee was in receipt of salary; or otherwise in the service and not separated by resignation or discharge beginning January 1, 1962 if death occurs before his resignation or discharge from the service;

(3) receiving duty disability or ordinary disability benefit;

(4) occurring within 60 days from the date of termination of duty disability or ordinary disability benefit payments if re-entry into service had not occurred; or

(5) occurring on retirement and while in receipt of an age and service annuity, Tier 2 monthly retirement annuity, or prior service annuity; provided (a) retirement on such annuity occurred on or after January 1, 1962, and (b) such separation from service was effective on or after the policeman's attainment of age 50, and (c) application for such annuity was made within 60 days after separation from service.

(b) The ordinary death benefit is payable to such beneficiary or beneficiaries as the policeman has nominated by written direction duly signed and acknowledged before an officer authorized to take acknowledgments, and filed with the board. If no such written direction has been filed or if the designated beneficiaries do not survive the policeman, payment of the benefit shall be made to his estate.

(c) Until December 31, 1977, if death occurs prior to retirement on annuity and before the policeman's attainment of age 50, the amount of the benefit payable is $6,000. If death occurs prior to retirement, at age 50 or over, the benefit of $6,000 shall be reduced $400 for each year (commencing on the policeman's attainment of age 50, and thereafter on each succeeding birthdate) that the policeman's age, at date of death, is more than age 50, but in no event below the amount of $2,000. However, if death results from injury incurred in the performance of an act or acts of duty, prior to retirement on annuity, the amount of the benefit payable is $6,000 notwithstanding the age attained.

Until December 31, 1977, if the policeman's death occurs while he is in receipt of an annuity, the benefit is $2,000 if retirement was effective upon attainment of age 55 or greater. If the policeman retired at age 50 or over and before age 55, the benefit of $2,000 shall be reduced $100 for each year or fraction of a year that the policeman's age at retirement was less than age 55 to a minimum payment of $1,500.

After December 31, 1977, and on or before January 1, 1986, if death occurs prior to retirement on annuity and before the policeman's attainment of age 50, the amount of the benefit payable is $7,000. If death occurs prior to retirement, at age 50 or over, the benefit of $7,000 shall be reduced $400 for each year (commencing on the policeman's attainment of age 50, and thereafter on each succeeding birthdate) that the policeman's age, at date of death, is more than age 50, but in no event below the amount of $3,000. However, if death results from injury incurred in the performance of an act or acts of duty, prior to retirement on annuity, the amount of the benefit payable is $7,000 notwithstanding the age attained.

After December 31, 1977, and on or before January 1, 1986, if the policeman's death occurs while he is in receipt of an annuity, the benefit is $2,250 if retirement was effective upon attainment of age 55 or greater. If the policeman retired at age 50 or over and before age 55, the benefit of $2,250 shall be reduced $100 for each year or fraction of a year that the policeman's age at retirement was less than age 55 to a minimum payment of $1,750.

After January 1, 1986, if death occurs prior to retirement on annuity and before the policeman's attainment of age 50, the amount of benefit payable is $12,000. If death occurs prior to retirement, at age 50 or over, the benefit of $12,000 shall be reduced $400 for each year (commencing on the policeman's attainment of age 50, and thereafter on each succeeding birthdate) that the policeman's age, at date of death, is more than age 50, but in no event below the amount of $6,000. However, if death results from injury in the performance of an act or acts of duty, prior to retirement on annuity, the amount of benefit payable is $12,000 notwithstanding the age attained.

After January 1, 1986, if the policeman's death occurs while he is in receipt of an annuity, the benefit is $6,000.

(d) For the purposes of this Section only, the death of any policeman as a result of the exposure to and contraction of COVID-19, as evidenced by either (i) a confirmed positive laboratory test for COVID-19 or COVID-19 antibodies or (ii) a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 from a licensed medical professional, shall be rebuttably presumed to have been contracted while in the performance of an act or acts of duty and the policeman shall be rebuttably presumed to have been fatally injured while in active service. The presumption shall apply to any policeman who was exposed to and contracted COVID-19 on or after March 9, 2020 and on or before June 30, 2021 (including the period between December 31, 2020 and the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 101st General Assembly); except that the presumption shall not apply if the policeman was on a leave of absence from his or her employment or otherwise not required to report for duty for a period of 14 or more consecutive days immediately prior to the date of contraction of COVID-19. For the purposes of determining when a policeman contracted COVID-19 under this subsection, the date of contraction is either the date that the policeman was diagnosed with COVID-19 or was unable to work due to symptoms that were later diagnosed as COVID-19, whichever occurred first.

(Source: P.A. 101-633, eff. 6-5-20; 101-653, eff. 2-28-21.)