(a) There is hereby established a Volunteer Peace Officers' Dependents Fund pursuant to Ohio Revised Code Chapter 143 to assist dependents of volunteer peace officers killed in the line of duty and to assist volunteer peace officers that become totally and permanently disabled as a result of a line of duty injury. The Fund will be administered by the Ohio Department of Commerce.
(b) The Lancaster Police Department Reserve Unit, created by Lancaster Codified Ordinance 131.06, is subject to membership and participation in the Volunteer Peace Officers' Dependents Fund pursuant to the definition of "Volunteer peace officer" as set forth in Ohio Revised Code Chapter 143.01(C).
(c) There is hereby created a Volunteer Peace Officers' Dependents Fund Board in the City of Lancaster to administer any claims from the benefit fund pursuant to Ohio Revised Code Chapter 143. Board members shall serve without compensation. The five member Board must consist of the following volunteer members:
(1) Two members elected by the legislative authority of the city;
(2) Two members elected by the volunteer police officers; and
(3) One member elected by the four other members. This member must be a elector of the City of Lancaster, but not a public employee, member of the legislative authority, or officer of the Lancaster Police Department.
(d) The term of office of a board member begins the first day of January and is one year. The election of board members in (c)(1) and (c)(2) above shall be held each year not earlier than the first day of November and not later than the second Monday in December. The election of the board member referenced in (c)(3) above shall be held each year on or before the thirty-first day of December. The secretary of the board shall give notice of the election of the board members referenced in (c)(2) above by posting it in a conspicuous place at the Lancaster Police Department. Between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. on the day designated, each person eligible to vote shall send in writing the name of two persons eligible to be elected as their choices. The board shall count and record the votes and the two persons receiving the highest number of votes are elected. A tie vote may be decided by lot or in any other way agreed on by the persons for whom the tie vote was cast.
(e) The board shall select a chairperson and a secretary from among its members. The board may adopt rules as necessary for handling and processing claims and benefits in compliance with the requirements set forth in Ohio Revised Code Chapter 143.
(f) The secretary shall keep a complete record of the board's proceedings which shall be maintained as a permanent file. The secretary shall submit the following to the director of commerce:
(1) The name and address of each board member and who elected the member;
(2) The names of the chairperson and secretary;
(3) A certificate indicating the current assessed property valuation of the City of Lancaster.
(g) The board shall meet not later than five days after receipt of a claim for benefits and determine the validity of the claim and compensation of the claim pursuant to the guidelines and requirements of Ohio Revised Code Chapter 143.
(h) The legislative authority shall provide sufficient meeting space and supplies for the board to carry out its duties and provide monetary contributions to the Fund as directed by Ohio Revised Code Chapter 143.
(Ord. 12-16. Passed 3-28-16.)