Texas Government Code - GOV'T § 814.301. Selection of Death Benefit Plan by Member

(a) A contributing member who has at least 10 years of service credit in the elected or employee class of membership may select a death benefit plan for the payment, if the member dies while the member is eligible to select a plan, of a death benefit annuity to a person designated by the member. Death benefit annuities available for selection by a member described in this subsection are the optional annuities provided by Sections 814.108(c)(1) and (c)(4), payable as if the member had retired at the time of death.

(b) If a member of a retirement system administered by the board of trustees selects death benefit plans under more than one board-administered retirement system, each plan selected may take effect. If a member selects a death benefit plan under only one retirement system administered by the board of trustees, the plan applies to service credit in other board-administered retirement systems.

(c) The computation of a death benefit annuity selected under this section must include the ages of the member and the member's designated beneficiary at the time of the member's death.

(d) A member may select a death benefit plan by filing an application for a plan with the retirement system on a form prescribed by the retirement system. After selection, a death benefit plan takes effect at death unless the member amends the plan, selects a retirement annuity at the time of retirement, has chosen a plan that cannot take effect, or becomes ineligible to select a plan.

(e) A beneficiary designation that names a former spouse as beneficiary is invalid for purposes of this section unless the designation is made after the date of the divorce.