SUBCHAPTER D. DEATH BENEFIT ANNUITIES

Sec. 814.301.  SELECTION OF DEATH BENEFIT PLAN BY MEMBER.  (a)  A contributing member who has at least 10 years of service credit in the elected or employee class of membership may select a death benefit plan for the payment, if the member dies while the member is eligible to select a plan, of a death benefit annuity to a person designated by the member.  Death benefit annuities available for selection by a member described in this subsection are the optional annuities provided by Sections 814.108(c)(1) and (c)(4), payable as if the member had retired at the time of death.
(b)  If a member of a retirement system administered by the board of trustees selects death benefit plans under more than one board-administered retirement system, each plan selected may take effect. If a member selects a death benefit plan under only one retirement system administered by the board of trustees, the plan applies to service credit in other board-administered retirement systems.
(c)  The computation of a death benefit annuity selected under this section must include the ages of the member and the member's designated beneficiary at the time of the member's death.
(d)  A member may select a death benefit plan by filing an application for a plan with the retirement system on a form prescribed by the retirement system.  After selection, a death benefit plan takes effect at death unless the member amends the plan, selects a retirement annuity at the time of retirement, has chosen a plan that cannot take effect, or becomes ineligible to select a plan.
(e)  A beneficiary designation that names a former spouse as beneficiary is invalid for purposes of this section unless the designation is made after the date of the divorce.
Acts 1981, 67th Leg., p. 1876, ch. 453, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1981.  Renumbered from Vernon's Ann.Civ.St. Title 110B, Sec. 24.301 and amended by Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 179, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1989.  Amended by Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 850, Sec. 18, eff. Sept. 1, 1991;  Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 586, Sec. 19, eff. Aug. 28, 1995.
Amended by: 
Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 347 (S.B. 1176), Sec. 15, eff. September 1, 2005.