Sec. 824.503.  RETURN OF EXCESS CONTRIBUTIONS.  (a)  If a retiree dies while receiving a standard or reduced service retirement annuity as provided by Section 824.202 or an optional service retirement annuity as provided by Section 824.204(c)(1), (c)(2), or (c)(5) and, in the case of a retiree receiving an optional service retirement annuity, if the retiree's designated beneficiary of the annuity has predeceased the retiree, the retirement system shall pay a lump-sum death benefit in an amount, if any, by which the amount of the deceased retiree's accumulated contributions at the time of retirement exceeds the amount of annuity payments made before the retiree's death.
(b)  A benefit under Subsection (a) is payable to any existing designated beneficiary or, if none exists, in the manner provided by Section 824.103.
(c)  If a retiree's designated beneficiary dies while receiving an optional annuity under Section 824.204(c)(1), (c)(2), or (c)(5), the retirement system shall pay a lump-sum death benefit in an amount, if any, by which the amount of the retiree's accumulated contributions at the time of retirement exceeds the amount of annuity payments made to the retiree and the designated beneficiary before the beneficiary's death.
(d)  A benefit under Subsection (c) is payable to the person or persons designated as the beneficiary of the beneficiary and, if such person has not been designated or does not survive, then to the persons entitled to distribution of the deceased beneficiary's estate.
(e)  An eligible person may receive benefits under both this section and Section 824.501.
(f)  The designated beneficiary of a disability retiree is eligible to receive the benefits described by this section if the retiree:
(1)  retires on or after September 1, 1992; and
(2)  dies while receiving disability retirement benefits under Section 824.304.
Acts 1981, 67th Leg., p. 1876, ch. 453, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1981.  Renumbered from Vernon's Ann.Civ.St. Title 110B, Sec. 34.503 and amended by Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 179, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1989.  Amended by Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., 1st C.S., ch. 13, Sec. 12, eff. Sept. 1, 1992;  Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 555, Sec. 27, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.
Amended by: 
Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 1359 (S.B. 1691), Sec. 15, eff. September 1, 2005.
Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 930 (S.B. 1663), Sec. 6, eff. September 1, 2017.