Sec. 3. 1. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 4, the surviving spouse and any surviving child of a police officer or fireman who was employed by a participating public agency and who was killed in the line of duty may join or continue coverage under the [state’s program of group insurance] public employees’ benefits program if the police officer or fireman was a participant or would have been eligible to participate on the date of the death of the police officer or fireman. If the surviving spouse or child elects to join or discontinue coverage under the [state’s program of group insurance] public employees’ benefits program pursuant to this subsection, the spouse, child or legal guardian of the child must notify in writing the participating public agency that employed the police officer or fireman within 60 days after the date of death of the police officer or fireman.

2. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 4, the surviving spouse and any surviving child of a volunteer fireman who was killed in the line of duty and who was officially a member of a volunteer fire department in this state is eligible to join the [state’s program of group insurance.] public employees’ benefits program. If such a spouse or child elects to join the [state’s program of group insurance,] public employees’ benefits program, the spouse, child or legal guardian of the child must notify in writing the [committee on benefits] board within 60 days after the date of death of the volunteer fireman.

3. The participating public agency that employed the police officer or fireman shall pay the entire cost of the premiums or contributions for the [state’s program of group insurance] public employees’ benefits program for the surviving spouse or child who meets the requirements set forth in subsection 1. The State of Nevada shall pay the entire cost of the premiums or contributions for the [state’s program of group insurance] public employees’ benefits program for the surviving spouse or child who elects to join the [state’s program of group insurance] public employees’ benefits program pursuant to subsection 2.

Sec. 3. 1. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 4, the surviving spouse and any surviving child of a police officer or fireman who was employed by a participating public agency and who was killed in the line of duty may join or continue coverage under the public employees’ benefits program or another insurer or employee benefit plan approved by the board pursuant to section 12.5 of Senate Bill No. 544 of this session if the police officer or fireman was a participant or would have been eligible to participate on the date of the death of the police officer or fireman. If the surviving spouse or child elects to join or discontinue coverage under the public employees’ benefits program pursuant to this subsection, the spouse, child or legal guardian of the child must notify in writing the participating public agency that employed the police officer or fireman within 60 days after the date of death of the police officer or fireman.

3. The participating public agency that employed the police officer or fireman shall pay the entire cost of the premiums or contributions for the public employees’ benefits program or another insurer or employee benefit plan approved by the board pursuant to section 12.5 of Senate Bill No. 544 of this session for the surviving spouse or child who meets the requirements set forth in subsection 1. The State of Nevada shall pay the entire cost of the premiums or contributions for the public employees’ benefits program for the surviving spouse or child who elects to join the public employees’ benefits program pursuant to subsection 2.