N.Y. Gen. Mun. Law § 208-c

§ 208-c. Death benefits for dependent fathers or dependent mothers of\ncertain police officers and firefighters. 1. Notwithstanding any other\nprovision of law, and in addition to any benefits otherwise provided,\nany municipality, as enumerated in section two hundred eight-b of this\nchapter, may elect to make the death benefit provided thereunder\navailable and paid to the dependent father or dependent mother, as he\nshall have nominated by written designation duly acknowledged and filed\nwith the chief officer of the municipality maintaining such police\ndepartment, or police force, or fire department; or, if there be no such\nnomination, then to his dependent father or dependent mother, as such\nchief officer, in his discretion, shall determine if\n (a) The member shall leave no widow, or if his widow shall die before\nreceiving the total of the amounts provided in subdivision two of\nsection two hundred eight-b of this chapter, and\n (b) He has no child or children under the age of eighteen surviving.\n 2. Application for such death benefit shall be made by the member's\ndependent father or dependent mother in the manner provided in\nsubdivision four of section two hundred eight-b of this chapter.\n