(a) If a retired member of the Tennessee consolidated retirement system, including a retired prior class member, has, under the options of provisions of the preceding systems in this part, designated the spouse of the retired member as such retired member's beneficiary on the death of the retired member, then if the surviving spouse should die after the death of the retired member, and there is surviving a minor child or children of the retired member, the same annuity paid to the surviving spouse shall be divided equally among the minor children. Each child shall receive the child's share until the first day of the month following the month in which the child dies or reaches twenty-two (22) years of age, whichever occurs first, at which time the annuity shall be redistributed equally among the remaining children.

(b) If the retired member's spouse is designated as the sole beneficiary on the date of the member's death, and if that spouse predeceased the retired member or died in a common accident or occurrence with the member, then the same annuity to which the spouse of the retired member would have been entitled had such spouse survived the retired member shall be divided equally among the retired member's minor children. Each child shall receive the child's share until the first day of the month following the month in which the child dies or reaches age twenty-two (22), whichever occurs first, at which time the annuity shall be redistributed equally among the remaining children.