Any funds heretofore or hereafter received and held by a relief association organized and existing under this article, from any source, may be used for the relief, support and maintenance of qualified firefighters and their dependents, not only during the lives of the firefighters but after their death, in accordance with such reasonable rules and regulations in regard thereto as the executive committee of the New Jersey State Firemen's Association from time to time establishes. The executive committee may make and establish, alter, amend and supplement these rules and regulations, may put into effect and alter, from time to time, the methods of administration as may best accomplish such results and may provide for the restoration of the funds of any local relief association diminished by payments made by an assessment levied by the executive committee in such equitable manner as it prescribes.
N.J.S. § 43:17-35