A. All benefits paid from the System shall be distributed in accordance with the requirements of Section 401(a)(9) of the federal Internal Revenue Code and the regulations under that section. In order to meet these requirements, the System shall be administered in accordance with the following provisions:
1. Distributions of a member’s benefits must begin by the later of the April 1 following the calendar year in which a member attains age seventy and one-half (70 1/2) or the April 1 of the year following the calendar year in which the member retires;
2. The life expectancy of a member or a member’s spouse may not be recalculated after the benefits commence;
3. If a member dies before the distribution of the member’s benefits has begun, distributions to beneficiaries must begin no later than December 31 of the calendar year immediately following the calendar year in which the member died; and
4. The amount of benefits payable to a member’s beneficiary may not exceed the maximum determined under the incidental death benefit requirement of the federal Internal Revenue Code.
B. Except as otherwise provided in Section 1102 of Title 20 of the Oklahoma Statutes, distributions from the System may be made only upon retirement, separation from service, disability or death.
Added by Laws 1999, c. 257, § 19, eff. July 1, 1999.