19-3-1501. Optional forms of benefits -- designation of contingent annuitant. (1) The retirement benefit of a member or the survivorship benefit of a designated beneficiary who so elects must be converted, in lieu of all other benefits under this chapter, into an optional retirement benefit that is the actuarial equivalent of the original benefit. An optional retirement benefit is initially payable during the member's or designated beneficiary's lifetime, with a subsequent benefit, depending on the option selected, to a contingent annuitant as follows:
     (a) option 2--a continuation of the optional retirement benefit after the death of the initial payee and payable during the lifetime of the named contingent annuitant;
     (b) option 3--a continuation of one-half of the optional retirement benefit after the death of the initial payee and payable during the lifetime of the named contingent annuitant;
     (c) option 4--a continuation of the optional retirement benefit to one or more contingent annuitants in the event of the initial payee's death before the end of a period certain, determined as follows:
     (i) the period certain commences at the time that the initial payee first begins receiving the retirement benefit and is available as either:
     (A) a 10-year period certain if the member retired at 75 years of age or younger; or
     (B) a 20-year period certain if the member retired at 65 years of age or younger;
     (ii) if there is more than one surviving contingent annuitant, each contingent annuitant must receive a proportion of the initial payee's benefit on a share-and-share-alike basis.
     (2) The member or the designated beneficiary who elects an optional retirement benefit shall file a written application with the board prior to the first payment of the benefit. A contingent annuitant must be identified on the application.
     (3) If a benefit recipient or the recipient's contingent annuitant dies before the first payment has been made under option 2 or 3, the election of the option is automatically canceled.
     (4) If a member dies after retirement and within 30 days from the date that the member's written application electing or changing an election of an optional retirement benefit is received by the board, then the election is void.
     (5) (a) Upon filing a written application with the board, a retired member who is receiving an optional retirement benefit that became effective before October 1, 1999, may designate a different contingent annuitant, select a different option, or convert the member's optional retirement benefit to a regular retirement benefit if:
     (i) the original contingent annuitant has died; or
     (ii) the member's marriage to the original contingent annuitant has been dissolved and the original contingent annuitant has no right to receive the optional retirement benefit as part of a family law order, as defined in 19-2-907.
     (b) Upon receipt of the written application, the board shall actuarially adjust the member's monthly retirement benefit to reflect the change.
     (6) (a) A retired member receiving an optional retirement benefit pursuant to subsection (1)(a) or (1)(b) that is initially effective on or after October 1, 1999, may file a written application with the board to have the optional retirement benefit revert to the regular retirement benefit available at the time of the member's retirement, designate a different contingent annuitant, or select a different option if:
     (i) the contingent annuitant has died, in which case the optional benefit may revert effective on the first day of the month following the contingent annuitant's death; or
     (ii) the member's marriage to the contingent annuitant is dissolved and the beneficiary has no right to receive the optional retirement benefit as part of a family law order, in which case the benefit must revert effective on the first day of the month following receipt of the written application and verification that the family law order does not grant the optional benefit to the contingent annuitant.
     (b) A regular retirement benefit provided pursuant to this subsection (6) must be increased by the amount of any postretirement adjustments received by the member since the effective date of the member's retirement.
     (7) A written application pursuant to subsection (5) or (6) must be filed with the board within 18 months of the death of or dissolution of marriage to the contingent annuitant.

     History: En. 68-2203 by Sec. 40, Ch. 323, L. 1973; amd. Sec. 5, Ch. 190, L. 1974; amd. Sec. 9, Ch. 99, L. 1977; amd. Sec. 6, Ch. 241, L. 1977; amd. Sec. 15, Ch. 332, L. 1977; R.C.M. 1947, 68-2203; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 527, L. 1985; amd. Sec. 85, Ch. 265, L. 1993; Sec. , MCA 1991; redes. by Code Commissioner, 1993; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 217, L. 1999; amd. Sec. 38, Ch. 562, L. 1999; amd. Sec. 42, Ch. 99, L. 2001; amd. Sec. 42, Ch. 429, L. 2003; amd. Sec. 26, Ch. 329, L. 2005.