19-20-1001. Allowances for death of member. (1) If a member dies before retirement, his accumulated contributions shall be paid to his estate or such person as he may have nominated by a written designation filed with the retirement board prior to his death in the manner prescribed by the board.
     (2) (a) In lieu of benefits provided for in subsection (1), if the deceased member qualified by reason of service for a retirement benefit, the beneficiary nominated by the deceased member may elect to receive a monthly life annuity. The monthly life annuity shall be determined as prescribed in 19-20-804(1) and section 5, Chapter 549, Laws of 1981, in the same manner as if the member elected option A provided for in 19-20-702(2)(a).
     (b) In the event payments made to an annuitant do not equal the amount of the member's accumulated contributions prior to the annuitant's death, the difference between the total annuity payments made and the amount of the accumulated contributions shall be paid to the beneficiary.
     (3) If the deceased member had 5 or more years of creditable service and was an active member in the state of Montana within 1 year prior to his death, a lump-sum death benefit of $500 is payable to his designated beneficiary.
     (4) If a deceased member had 5 or more years of creditable service and was an active member in the state of Montana within 1 year prior to his death, the sum of $200 per month shall be paid to each minor child of the deceased member until such child reaches his 18th birthday.

     History: En. 75-6208 by Sec. 103, Ch. 5, L. 1971; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 57, L. 1971; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 422, L. 1971; amd. Sec. 4, Ch. 507, L. 1973; amd. Sec. 3, Ch. 26, L. 1975; amd. Sec. 5, Ch. 127, L. 1977; amd. Sec. 5, Ch. 331, L. 1977; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 443, L. 1977; R.C.M. 1947, 75-6208(part); amd. Sec. 8, Ch. 549, L. 1981; amd. Sec. 4, Ch. 56, L. 1989; Sec. 19-4-1001, MCA 1991; redes. 19-20-1001 by Code Commissioner, 1993.