The following words and terms, when used in this chapter, shall have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.
  (1) Act--Texas Government Code, Title 8, Subtitle G, as amended.
  (2) Alternate payee--A spouse, former spouse, child, or other dependent of a member or retiree who is recognized by a domestic relations order, as having a right to receive all or a portion of the benefits payable by the system with respect to such member or retiree.
  (3) Benefits--Any of the payments or benefits described in §129.6(a) and (b) of this title (relating to Order Should Divide All Benefits).
  (4) Domestic relations liaison--A person who is acting on behalf of the system and authorized by the director of the system or by way of their position in the system to receive and take action concerning domestic relations orders that are sent or delivered to the system.
  (5) Domestic relations order--Any judgment, decree, or order signed by the presiding judge of a court of competent jurisdiction (including one which approves a property settlement agreement) which:
    (A) relates to the provision of child support, temporary support, or marital property rights to a spouse, former spouse, child, or other dependent of a member or former member of the system; and
    (B) is made pursuant to the Texas Family Code or any other applicable domestic relations or community property law.
  (6) Participant--A member or former member of the system who has sums of money on deposit with the system or who is or may become entitled to receive any benefit from the system based on membership in the system. This may also include a beneficiary who is entitled to receive a benefit payment from the system.
  (7) Parties--The participant and all alternate payees named in a domestic relations order.
  (8) Pursue action--For purposes of this chapter, a participant or alternate payee pursues action with respect to a domestic relations order by filing with a court of competent jurisdiction a pleading or a written request for a hearing date for the court to consider a proposed domestic relations order based on a system prescribed form or to consider clarification of a similar domestic relations order.

Source Note: The provisions of this §129.2 adopted to be effective July 1, 2022, 47 TexReg 3272