19-20-702. Optional allowances -- certain period and life allowances. (1) Until the first payment on account of any benefit becomes normally due, any member may elect to receive one of the allowances described in subsection (2) or (3) in lieu of the normal form of retirement allowance, which is provided for in 19-20-902 and part 8 of this chapter.
     (2) An optional allowance is the actuarial equivalent of the member's service retirement or disability retirement allowance at the time of the member's retirement effective date and provides an allowance payable to the member throughout the member's lifetime and, upon the member's death, an allowance payable to the joint annuitant that the member nominated by written designation, duly acknowledged and filed with the retirement board at the time of the member's retirement, in accordance with one of the following options:
     (a) Option A--the optional allowance will be paid to the member throughout the member's lifetime and, upon the member's death, continue throughout the lifetime of the member's joint annuitant.
     (b) Option B--the optional allowance will be paid to the member throughout the member's lifetime, and upon the member's death, one-half of the optional allowance will be continued throughout the lifetime of the member's joint annuitant.
     (c) Option C--the optional allowance will be paid to the member throughout the member's lifetime, and upon the member's death, two-thirds of the optional allowance will be continued throughout the lifetime of the member's joint annuitant.
     (d) Upon election of an optional allowance and designation of a joint annuitant, any prior or subsequent designation of a beneficiary by the retired member is void.
     (3) (a) In lieu of any other option available in this section, a member may elect to receive one of the following allowances that must be paid over the certain period of time or for the member's lifetime, whichever is greater:
     (i) 10 years if the member is 75 years of age or younger at the time of retirement; or
     (ii) 20 years if the member is 65 years of age or younger at the time of retirement.
     (b) At the time of retirement, the member shall file with the board a written nomination of beneficiaries to receive payments if the member dies before the end of the certain period elected. Unless limited by a family law order, the nominated beneficiary may be changed by the member at any time by filing with the board a written notice designating different beneficiaries.
     (4) (a) Upon written application to the retirement board, a retired member whose effective date of retirement is before October 1, 1993, and who is receiving an optional retirement allowance may select a different actuarially equivalent optional allowance and designate a different joint annuitant if:
     (i) the original joint annuitant has died. The benefit must convert to the normal form of retirement allowance effective the first of the month following the death of the joint annuitant.
     (ii) the member has been divorced from the original joint annuitant and the original joint annuitant has not been granted the right to receive the optional retirement allowance as part of the divorce settlement. The benefit must convert to the normal form of retirement allowance effective the first of the month following receipt of a written application and verification that the original joint annuitant has not been granted the right to receive the optional retirement allowance as part of the divorce settlement.
     (b) Upon receipt of the written application, the board shall actuarially adjust the member's monthly retirement or disability allowance to reflect the change.
     (5) A retired member receiving an optional retirement allowance pursuant to subsection (2)(a), (2)(b), or (2)(c) that is effective after October 1, 1993, may file a written application to select a different actuarially equivalent optional allowance and designate a different joint annuitant or to revert the optional retirement allowance to the full normal form of retirement allowance available at the time of retirement if:
     (a) the original joint annuitant has died. The benefit must revert to the full normal form of retirement allowance effective the first of the month following the death of the original joint annuitant.
     (b) the member has been divorced from the original joint annuitant and the original joint annuitant has not been granted the right to receive the optional retirement allowance as part of the divorce settlement. The benefit must revert to the full normal form of retirement allowance effective the first of the month following receipt of a written application and verification that the original joint annuitant has not been granted the right to receive the optional retirement allowance as part of the divorce settlement.
     (6) The normal form of retirement allowance available must be increased by the value of any postretirement adjustments received by the member since the effective date of retirement.
     (7) The retired member shall file the written application required by subsection (4) or (5) with the board within 18 months of the death or divorce of the joint annuitant.

     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(8); amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 493, L. 1985; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 9, L. 1993; Sec. 19-4-702, MCA 1991; redes. 19-20-702 by Code Commissioner, 1993; amd. Sec. 15, Ch. 442, L. 1997; amd. Sec. 15, Ch. 111, L. 1999; amd. Sec. 9, Ch. 282, L. 2009; amd. Sec. 8, Ch. 59, L. 2011.