(a) For purposes of this section, the terms in this sub-part shall be defined as follows:
(1) "Volunteer Peace Officer" shall have the meaning given in Ohio R.C. 143.01(C)
(2) "Killed in the line of duty" means either
A. Death in the line of duty, or
B. Death from injury sustained in the line of duty, including heart attack or other fatal injury or illness caused while in the line of duty.
(3) "Totally and permanently disabled" means being unable to engage in any substantial gainful employment for a period of not less than 12 months by reason if a medically determinable physical impairment that is permanent or presumed to be permanent.
(b) There is hereby established a Volunteer Peace Officers' Dependent Fund Board (hereinafter the "Board") to administer claims for benefits from the Volunteer Peace Officers' Dependent Fund (hereinafter the "Fund"), which was established under Ohio R.C. 143.01(C). The Fund was created to provide death benefits to survivors of volunteer peace officers killed in the line of duty, and disability benefits to such disabled officers who are totally and permanently disabled as a result of discharging their duties.
(c) The Board shall consist of 5 members who shall serve without compensation. Board members shall be elected as follows:
(1) Two members shall be elected by City Council and shall be current City Council members. Election for these Board members must be held each year between November 1 and the second Monday in December.
(2) Two members shall be elected by the volunteer peace officers serving on the Germantown Police Auxiliary Unit. These Board members must be employed with the Germantown Police Department. Election for these Board members must be held each year by the second Monday in December.
(3) One member shall be elected by the other four members. This Board member must be a registered voter in the City of Germantown, and cannot be a public employee, a member of City Council, or a peace officer employed with the Germantown Police Department. The election of this Board member must be held each year by December 31.
(d) Terms of office of Board members are one year and begin the first day of January. Any vacancy occurring on the Board is to be filled at a special election called by the Board's secretary.
(e) The Board is to meet promptly after every election to select from among its members a Chairperson and a Secretary. The Board's secretary must submit the following to the Ohio Director of Commerce:
(1) The name and address of each Board member and the group or authority that elected the member,
(2) The names of the Chairperson and Secretary, and
(3) A certificate indicating the current assessed property valuation of the City of Germantown.
The Board's secretary must also keep a complete record of the Board's proceedings, which must be maintained as a permanent file. The Board may adopt rules as necessary for handling and processing claims for benefits. The Board must perform other duties as necessary to implement the law governing the fund.
(f) Not later than five days after receiving a claim for benefits, the Board must meet and determine the validity of the claim. If the Board determines that the claim is valid, it must make a determination of the amount due and certify its determination to the Ohio Director of Commerce for payment. The certification must show (1) the Board's name and address, (2) the name and address of each beneficiary, (3) the amount to be received by each beneficiary, and (4) the name and address of the person to whom payments are to be made. If the Board determines that a claimant is ineligible for benefits, it must deny the claim and issue to the claimant a copy of its order. (Ord. 16-14. Passed 6-20-16.)