Sec. 834.303.  RETURN OF CONTRIBUTIONS.  (a)  Except as provided by Subsection (c), if a member dies before retirement, the amount of the member's contributions to the retirement system is payable as a lump-sum death benefit.
(b)  The benefit provided by this section is payable to a person designated by the member in a signed document filed with the board of trustees.  If a member does not designate a beneficiary, the benefit is payable to the member's estate.
(c)  A death benefit may not be paid under this section if a death benefit annuity has been selected as provided by Section 834.301 or 834.302.
Acts 1981, 67th Leg., p. 1876, ch. 453, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1981.  Renumbered from Vernon's Ann.Civ.St. Title 110B, Sec. 44.303 and amended by Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 179, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1989.