Texas Government Code - GOV'T § 814.302. Selection of Death Benefit Plan by Survivor of Member

(a) If a contributing member eligible to select a death benefit plan under Section 814.301 dies without having made a selection, or if a selection cannot be made effective, the member's designated beneficiary may select a plan in the same manner as if the member had made the selection. If there is no designated beneficiary, the personal representative of the decedent's estate may make the selection for the benefit of the decedent's heirs or devisees. In lieu of selecting a death benefit plan, the designated beneficiary or, if there is none, the personal representative of the decedent's estate, may elect to receive a refund of contributions and any applicable payment under Section 814.401.

(b) If a person dies who, at the time of death, was a contributing member of a retirement program administered by the board of trustees and was eligible, having met the requirements of service credit and attained age, for a service retirement annuity based on service in one or more board-administered programs or was a contributing member of the employee class, had at least three years of service credit in that class, and would have been eligible to retire under the proportionate retirement program under Chapter 803, but was not eligible to select a death benefit plan, the person's surviving spouse may select a plan in the same manner that the decedent could have made the selection if the decedent had retired on the last day of the month in which the person died. If there is no surviving spouse, the guardian of the decedent's surviving minor children may select a plan. If the decedent is not survived by a spouse or minor children, an annuity may not be paid under this subsection.