Sec. 844.006. CHANGE OF BENEFICIARY OR DIVISION OF BENEFIT FOR CERTAIN PERSONS RECEIVING MONTHLY BENEFITS. (a) A retiree who is receiving payments under a retirement annuity computed on the life of the retiree only may revoke any existing selection and designation of beneficiary nominated to receive any payments that may become due under the annuity after the retiree's death and may select a new beneficiary to whom payments may be made.

(b) A person who, as beneficiary of a deceased retiree, is receiving monthly payments of any fixed-term annuity described by Subsection (a) may select and designate a person to whom shall be paid any monthly payments that may become due under the annuity after the death of the beneficiary making the designation. If a valid beneficiary designation is not on file with the retirement system, any monthly payments that become due after the death of the beneficiary are payable to the beneficiary's spouse or, if no surviving spouse exists, to the beneficiary's estate.

(c) A retiree who is receiving payments under a retirement annuity computed on the joint lives of the retiree and the retiree's designated beneficiary may revoke the designation of the beneficiary to receive the annuity on the death of the retiree, if a court of competent jurisdiction in a divorce proceeding involving the retiree and beneficiary awards to the retiree the entire retirement benefit earned by the retiree. The order awarding the retirement benefit may be set forth in the divorce decree or in an order approving the terms of a property settlement agreement incident to the divorce of the retiree and beneficiary but must be dated on or after December 31, 1999. The revocation takes effect when the retirement system receives it and cancels the optional annuity selection made by the retiree. Beginning with the month following the month in which the retirement system receives the notice of revocation, the retiree is entitled to receive a standard retirement annuity in the same amount that the retiree would receive for the same month if the retiree had originally retired with a standard retirement annuity.

(d) The benefit payable to a retiree who is receiving payments of a standard or optional retirement annuity may be divided by the retirement system into two annuities in accordance with the terms of a model qualified domestic relations order adopted by the board of trustees by rule.

(e) The division of an annuity under Subsection (d) is effective when the order is determined by the retirement system to be a qualified domestic relations order, and the amount of each of the two annuities shall be computed by the retirement system at that time, based on tables that have been adopted by the retirement system and in effect at that time, so that the two annuities are actuarially equivalent at the time of division to the annuity being divided.

(f) The board of trustees has sole authority and discretion to specify the terms and format that are required for a domestic relations order to be acceptable for purposes of this section, to require strict compliance for qualification, and to define the terms and features of the benefit awarded an alternate payee under the order. The board by rule may establish requirements for forms, documentation, and procedures necessary or desirable for the administration of this section.

Added by Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 460, Sec. 11, eff. Jan. 1, 1992. Amended by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 175, Sec. 9, 10, eff. Jan. 1, 1994; Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 427, Sec. 24, eff. Dec. 31, 1999; Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 122, Sec. 24, eff. Dec. 31, 2001.

Amended by:

Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 873 (H.B. 1587), Sec. 32, eff. January 1, 2008.

Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 300 (H.B. 407), Sec. 17, eff. January 1, 2010.