2-18-1313. Beneficiaries -- death benefits. (1) A member may designate as a beneficiary an individual, charitable organization, or trust. The designation must be in a manner prescribed by the department.

(2) Upon proof of a member's death, if the deceased member's account retains funds, the member's designated beneficiary is entitled to use the account for qualified health care expenses or, to the extent allowable under applicable Internal Revenue Code sections, to receive a taxable lump-sum payment of the deceased member's account balance. The department shall prescribe by rule the disposition of a deceased member's account if the member failed to designate a beneficiary or has no surviving designated beneficiary.