(a) Any law enforcement officer who becomes physically disabled, but not permanently disabled, on or subsequent to July 1, 2001, as a result of a physical injury incurred in the line of duty and caused by a willful act of violence committed by a person other than a fellow employee shall be entitled to receive compensation as provided in this Code section. Any fireman who becomes physically disabled, but not permanently disabled, on or subsequent to July 1, 2001, as a result of a physical injury incurred in the line of duty while fighting a fire shall be entitled to receive compensation as provided in this Code section. The compensation shall be paid to eligible applicants by the commission from funds appropriated to the commission for such purpose.

(b) Except as otherwise provided in this part, any law enforcement officer or fireman injured in the line of duty as provided in subsection (a) of this Code section shall receive monthly compensation from the commission in an amount equal to such person's regular compensation for the period of time that the law enforcement officer or fireman is physically unable to perform the duties of his or her employment; provided, however, that such benefits provided pursuant to this Code section for injuries resulting from a single incident shall not be granted for more than a total of 12 months. A law enforcement officer or fireman shall be required to submit to the commission satisfactory evidence of such disability.

(c) Benefits made available under this Code section shall be subordinate to any workers' compensation benefits, disability and other compensation benefits from the person's employer which the law enforcement officer or fireman is awarded and shall be limited to the difference between the amount of workers' compensation benefits and other compensation benefits actually paid and the amount of the law enforcement officer's or fireman's regular compensation.

(d) A law enforcement officer or fireman who collects benefits pursuant to this Code section shall not be entitled to any benefits under Code Section 45-7-9.

(e) A law enforcement officer or fireman who is disabled and who receives indemnification under Part 1 of this article as a result of an incident shall not be entitled to any compensation under this Code section for the disability resulting from the same incident. A law enforcement officer or fireman who initially receives benefits under this Code section but who is determined subsequently to be entitled to benefits under Part 1 of this article with respect to the same incident or whose beneficiary is determined subsequently to be entitled to benefits under Part 1 of this article shall be entitled only to the amount equal to the benefits to which the person would be entitled to under Part 1 reduced by the total amount of benefits received under this Code section.