Missouri Revised Statutes § 104.1030 - Death prior to annuity starting date, effect of — surviving spouse's benefits — children's benefits — applicability to members of general assembly and statewide officials

104.1030. Death prior to annuity starting date, effect of — surviving spouse's benefits — children's benefits — applicability to members of general assembly and statewide officials. — 1. If a member with five or more years of credited service or a vested former member dies before such member's or such vested former member's annuity starting date, the applicable annuity provided in this section shall be paid. 2. The member's surviving spouse who was married to the member at the date of death shall receive an annuity computed as if such member had: (1) Retired on the date of death with a normal retirement annuity based upon credited service and final average pay to the date of death, and without reduction if the member's age was younger than normal retirement eligibility; (2) Elected option 2 provided for in section 104.1027; and (3) Designated such spouse as beneficiary under such option. 3. If a spouse annuity is not payable pursuant to the provisions of subsection 2 of this section, or when a spouse annuity has ceased to be payable, eighty percent of an annuity computed in the same manner as if the member had retired on the date of death with a normal retirement annuity based upon credited service and final average pay to the date of death and without reduction if the member's age at death was younger than normal retirement eligibility shall be divided equally among the dependent children of the deceased member. A child shall be a dependent child until death or attainment of age twenty-one, whichever occurs first; provided the age twenty-one maximum shall be extended for any child who has been found totally incapacitated by a court of competent jurisdiction. Benefits otherwise payable to a child under eighteen years of age shall be payable to the surviving parent as a natural guardian of such child if such parent has custody or assumes custody of such minor child or to the legal conservator of such child until such child attains age eighteen. Upon a child ceasing to be a dependent child, that child's portion of the dependent annuity shall cease to be paid, and the amounts payable to any remaining dependent children shall be proportionately increased. 4. For the purpose of computing the amount of an annuity payable pursuant to this section, if the board finds that the death was the natural and proximate result of a personal injury or disease arising out of and in the course of his or her actual performance of duty as an employee, then the minimum annuity to such member's spouse or, if no spouse benefits are payable, the minimum annuity that shall be divided among and paid to such member's dependent children shall be fifty percent of final average pay. The credited service requirement of subsection 1 of this section shall not apply to any annuity payable pursuant to this subsection. 5. The provisions of this section shall apply to members of the general assembly and statewide elected officials except that the credited service and monthly pay requirements described in section 104.1084 shall apply notwithstanding any other language to the contrary contained in this section. (L. 1999 S.B. 308 & 314, A.L. 2001 S.B. 371, A.L. 2013 H.B. 233)