Sec. 814.403. RETURN OF CONTRIBUTIONS. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (d), if a member dies before retirement, the amount in the member's individual account in the employees saving account at the time of death is payable as a lump-sum death benefit.

(b) Except as provided by Subsection (c), the benefit provided by this section is payable to a person designated by the member in a signed and witnessed document filed with the retirement system before the member's death. A designation, change, or revocation of a beneficiary in a will or other document not filed with the retirement system is not effective. If a member does not designate a beneficiary or if the beneficiary designation cannot be made effective, the benefit is payable to the member's estate.

(c) 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.

(d) A death benefit may not be paid under this section if, at the time of death, a death benefit annuity became effective.

Acts 1981, 67th Leg., p. 1876, ch. 453, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1981. Amended by Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 91, Sec. 8, eff. Sept. 1, 1985. Renumbered from Vernon's Ann.Civ.St. Title 110B, Sec. 24.403 and amended by Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 179, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1989. Amended by Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 850, Sec. 22, eff. Sept. 1, 1991; Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 586, Sec. 22, eff. Aug. 28, 1995.