PAYMENTS OF ADDITIONAL DEATH BENEFITS FOR RETIRED APPOINTED OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES OF THE TEACHER RETIREMENT SYSTEM OF TEXAS, AND THE TEXAS CENTRAL EDUCATION AGENCY, AND THE TEXAS SCHOOLS FOR THE BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED AND FOR THE DEAF

(a) This article shall apply only to persons retired as annuitants under the provisions of the Teacher Retirement System of Texas who were immediately prior to retirement appointed officers or employees of the Central Education Agency, the Teacher Retirement System of Texas, the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired, or for the Texas School for the Deaf. (b) There shall be paid from the funds of the Central Education Agency, the Teacher Retirement System of Texas, the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired, or for the Texas School for the Deaf an additional lump-sum death benefit in such amount as, when added to any lump-sum death benefit payable under the provisions of the Teacher Retirement System of Texas, shall equal $5,000 upon satisfactory proof of the death, occurring on or after September 1, 1977, of any person defined in Part (a) of this article. Each such additional lump-sum death benefit shall be paid from the funds of the agency or school from which such person retired. (c) Such benefit shall be paid as provided by the laws of descent and distribution unless the retiree has directed in writing that it be paid otherwise. (d) Such payment shall be made in accordance with rules and regulations established by the Central Education Agency, the Teacher Retirement System of Texas, the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired, or for the Texas School for the Deaf, and each shall certify to the Comptroller of Public Accounts of Texas each month the amounts of all such payments made in the preceding month. (e) There are hereby authorized to be paid out of the funds of the Central Education Agency, the Teacher Retirement System of Texas, the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired, or for the Texas School for the Deaf the sums necessary to pay such additional lump-sum death benefits.