Sec. 408.181.  DEATH BENEFITS.  (a)  An insurance carrier shall pay death benefits to the legal beneficiary if a compensable injury to the employee results in death.
(b)  Subject to Section 408.061, the amount of a death benefit is equal to 75 percent of the employee's average weekly wage.
(c)  The commissioner by rule shall establish requirements for agreements under which death benefits may be paid monthly.  Death benefits may be paid monthly only:
(1)  on the request of the legal beneficiary and the agreement of the legal beneficiary and the insurance carrier; and
(2)  in compliance with the requirements adopted by the commissioner.
(d)  An insurance carrier may pay death benefits through an annuity if the annuity agreement meets the terms and conditions for annuity agreements adopted by the commissioner by rule.  The establishment of an annuity under this subsection does not relieve the insurance carrier of the liability under this title for ensuring that the death benefits are paid.
Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 269, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1993.  Amended by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 1426, Sec. 15, eff. Sept. 1, 1999.
Amended by: 
Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 265 (H.B. 7), Sec. 3.127, eff. September 1, 2005.