CHANGE OF BENEFICIARY AFTER RETIREMENT

(a) A retiree receiving an optional retirement annuity under Section 824.204(c)(1), (c)(2), or (c)(5) or Section 824.308(c)(1), (c)(2), or (c)(5) may change the designated beneficiary as provided by this section for the benefits payable after the retiree's death under those sections. (b) If the beneficiary designated at the time of the retiree's retirement is the spouse of the retiree at the time of the designation: (1) the spouse must give written, notarized consent to the change; (2) if the parties divorce after the designation, the former spouse who was designated beneficiary must give written, notarized consent to the change; or (3) a court with jurisdiction over the marriage must approve or order the change. (c) A beneficiary designated under this section is entitled on the retiree's death to receive monthly payments of the survivor's portion of the retiree's optional retirement annuity for the shorter of: (1) the remainder of the life expectancy of the beneficiary designated as of the effective date of the retiree's retirement; or (2) the remainder of the new beneficiary's life. (c-1) Notwithstanding Subsection (c), a beneficiary designated under this section is entitled on the retiree's death to receive monthly payments of the survivor's portion of the retiree's optional retirement annuity for the remainder of the beneficiary's life if the beneficiary designated at the time of the retiree's retirement is a trust and the beneficiary designated under this section is: (1) the sole beneficiary of that trust; or (2) an individual who at the time of the retiree's death is the sole beneficiary of that trust. (c-2) The executive director or the executive director's designee has exclusive authority to determine whether the language in a court order described by Subsection (b) is sufficient to indicate that the court has approved or ordered the change in the designated beneficiary. A determination by the executive director or the executive director's designee under this subsection may be appealed only to the board of trustees, except that the board by rule may waive the requirement that an appeal be to the board. An appeal to the board is a contested case under Chapter 2001. The standard of review of an appeal brought under this subsection is by substantial evidence. (d) A retiree may not change a beneficiary under this section after retirement if the retiree has previously changed or designated after retirement a beneficiary for optional retirement annuity payments under this subtitle.