[§88-333] Retirement allowance options. (a) Upon retirement:
(1) Any class H member may elect to receive the maximum retirement allowance to which the member is entitled, computed in accordance with the provisions described under section 88-332, 88-335, or 88-337, and if the member elects to receive the maximum retirement allowance, in the event of the member's death, there shall be paid to the member's beneficiary, or otherwise to the member's estate, the difference between the balance of the member's accumulated contributions at the time of the member's retirement and the retirement allowance paid or payable to the member prior to death; or
(2) In lieu of the maximum allowance to which the member is entitled, computed in accordance with the provisions described under section 88-332, 88-335, or 88-337, the member may elect to receive the member's retirement allowance under any one of the optional plans described in section 88-83, which shall be actuarially equivalent to the maximum allowance.
To receive benefits, the beneficiary shall have been designated by the member in the form and manner prescribed by the board.
(b) If a class H member dies after the date of the filing of the member's written application to retire but prior to the retirement date designated by the member, the designated beneficiary, or otherwise the personal representative of the member's estate, if the member was eligible to retire on the date of the member's death, may elect to receive either the death benefit under section 88-338 or the allowance under the option selected by the member that would have been payable had the member retired. The effective date of the member's retirement shall be a first day of a month, except for the month of December when the effective date of retirement may be on the first or last day of the month, and shall be no earlier than the later of thirty days from the date the member's retirement application was filed or the day following the member's date of death.
(c) If a retirant dies within one year after the date of retirement, the retirant's beneficiary may elect to receive either the death benefit under the retirement allowance option selected by the member, or the benefits that would have been paid under section 88-338 had the retirant died immediately prior to retirement, less any payments received by the retirant.
(d) Any election of a mode of retirement allowance shall be irrevocable.
(e) No election under this section shall take effect unless:
(1) The spouse or reciprocal beneficiary of the member is furnished written notification that:
(A) Specifies the retirement date, the benefit option selected, and the beneficiary designated by the member;
(B) Provides information indicating the effect of the election; and
(C) Is determined adequate by rules adopted by the board in accordance with chapter 91;
(2) The member selects option 2 or option 3 under section 88-83 and designates the spouse or reciprocal beneficiary as the beneficiary; or
(3) It is established to the satisfaction of the board that the notice required under paragraph (1) cannot be provided because:
(A) There is no spouse or reciprocal beneficiary;
(B) The spouse or reciprocal beneficiary cannot be located;
(C) The member has failed to notify the system that the member has a spouse or reciprocal beneficiary, or has failed to provide the system with the name and address of the member's spouse or reciprocal beneficiary; or
(D) Of other reasons, as established by board rules adopted in accordance with chapter 91.
Any notice provided to a spouse or reciprocal beneficiary, or determination that the notification of a spouse or reciprocal beneficiary cannot be provided shall be effective only with respect to that spouse or reciprocal beneficiary. The system shall rely upon the representations made by a member as to whether the member has a spouse or reciprocal beneficiary and the name and address of the member's spouse or reciprocal beneficiary. The system shall not be liable for any false statements made by the member.
(f) Each member, within a reasonable period of time before the member's retirement date, shall be provided a written explanation of:
(1) The terms and conditions of the various benefit options;
(2) The rights of the member's spouse or reciprocal beneficiary under subsection (c) to be notified of the member's election of a benefit option; and
(3) The member's right to make, and the effect of, a revocation of an election of a benefit option. [L 2004, c 179, pt of §1]