(a) A member or inactive member described in Section 40A-21(d), (e), (f), or (g) is eligible to select a death benefit option for the payment of a pension as provided by those provisions. The selected option will become effective only if the member or inactive member dies while eligible to select the option.
(b) Designation of beneficiaries.
(1) Each member or inactive member who is married at the time a death benefit option is selected shall designate the spouse as beneficiary under the full survivor option or, if not eligible for the full survivor option, under the one-half survivor option. Any other designation of a beneficiary or selection of a death benefit option will become effective only if agreed to by the spouse in writing on a form filed with the administrator.
(2) A death benefit option that designates a spouse as beneficiary becomes void if the member or inactive member and the spouse become divorced.
(3) Upon the marriage of a member or inactive member, a death benefit option that does not designate the new spouse as beneficiary under either the full survivor option or the one-half survivor option becomes void.
(c) If a member or inactive member selects a one-half survivor option, and the member or inactive member is eligible to select a full survivor option at the time of death, then benefits under a full survivor option will be paid.
(d) If an eligible member or inactive member dies without having selected a death benefit option or if the selection cannot be made effective, the surviving spouse may select an option as if the member or inactive member had made the selection. If there is no surviving spouse, the personal representative of the estate of the member or inactive member may make the selection for the benefit of the qualified recipients. If there are no qualified recipients, then a lump sum payment equal to the commuted value of a 10 year certain option will be paid to the estate of the member or inactive member. (Ord. Nos. 15414; 16886; 18181; 19470; 20960; 21582; 30162)