Section 219-T. Contributions and benefits

1. The sponsor of a supplemental
  award program shall contribute to the program a fixed amount  of  money,
  as  determined  by  the  sponsor,  on  behalf of each participant who is
  credited with a decade of service. The  minimum  contribution  shall  be
  twenty-five  dollars  per  decade  of  service. The maximum contribution
  shall be one hundred dollars per decade of service.
    2. The maximum number of years for which a participant may  receive  a
  contribution  shall  be determined by the sponsor, but in no event may a
  participant receive a contribution of more than fifty years.
    3. Supplemental awards shall be paid in the form of a  lump  sum.  The
  program  may  limit the forms of payment or impose conditions concerning
  the availability of a form of payment.
    4. Except as otherwise provided in this section, a  participant  shall
  be  entitled to apply for and receive a supplemental award only when the
  participant has acquired a  nonforfeitable  right  to  a  service  award
  established  pursuant  to  article  eleven-A, eleven-AA or eleven-AAA of
  this chapter and has reached entitlement age. A participant  who  served
  as  a  volunteer  firefighter  or  ambulance  worker  in  the  timeframe
  specified by the program sponsor shall be  entitled  to  apply  for  and
  receive  a  supplemental  award  only  when  the participant has reached
  entitlement age.
    5. In the event that a participant  becomes  totally  and  permanently
  disabled,  as  certified  by  the  workers'  compensation board or other
  competent authority approved by the administrator,  and  the  disability
  prevents the participant from pursuing his or her normal occupation, the
  participant  shall  be  entitled to apply for and receive a supplemental
  award, regardless of whether the participant has reached entitlement age
  or has acquired a nonforfeitable right to a service award.
    6. A supplemental award shall be paid only  after  an  application  is
  made  to  the  program  administrator and the administrator approves the
  application.
    7. No supplemental award  may  be  assigned  or  alienated  except  to
  provide for the legally obligated support of minor children or spouse.
    8. Notwithstanding any inconsistent provision of law, no member of the
  governing board of a political subdivision of the state is prohibited by
  virtue  of  being  a  member of a volunteer fire or ambulance company or
  department from voting upon a resolution authorizing a referendum on the
  establishment of a service award program if more than forty  percent  of
  the  governing board would otherwise be prohibited from voting upon such
  resolution. Any member of  such  governing  board  voting  upon  such  a
  resolution  who  serves  as  a  member  of a volunteer fire or ambulance
  company  or  department  shall  publicly  disclose  in  writing  to  the
  governing  board  such  status. Such written disclosure shall be part of
  and set forth  in  the  official  record  of  the  proceedings  of  such
  governing board.