Missouri Revised Statutes § 104.372 - General assembly members and elective state officers, survivor's income payments, when, amount — death before retirement survivor's benefit — creditable prior service for certain teachers employed by state — surviving spouse, special consultant — payments in lieu of other provisions, when

104.372. General assembly members and elective state officers, survivor's income payments, when, amount — death before retirement survivor's benefit — creditable prior service for certain teachers employed by state — surviving spouse, special consultant — payments in lieu of other provisions, when. — 1. (1) In the event a person who served as a member of the general assembly or in an elective state office on or after September 1, 1976, and who retired after September 1, 1976, dies, a survivor's income in an amount equal to fifty percent of the monthly annuity the retired member was receiving at the time of the member's death shall be paid in monthly installments to such deceased retired member's surviving spouse; provided such surviving spouse was married to the deceased retired member of the general assembly or elected official on the date of the member's death; or if there is no surviving spouse eligible to receive such survivor's income, then such survivor's income shall be payable to any children under the age of twenty-one of the deceased member of the general assembly or elective official in equal shares in a total amount equal to such survivor's income that would otherwise have been paid to the surviving spouse until the children reach twenty-one years of age. The benefits shall be funded as provided in section 104.436; or (2) Upon the death of a person who served as a member of the general assembly or in an elective state office on or after September 1, 1976, and who retired pursuant to the provisions of this chapter on or after September 1, 1976, and who terminated employment before August 28, 1988, such deceased retired member's surviving spouse, who was married to the deceased retired member on the date of the member's death, may apply to the board of trustees and shall be made, constituted, appointed and employed by the board as a special consultant on the problems of retirement, aging and other state matters for the remainder of the surviving spouse's life, and upon request of the board shall give opinions, and be available to give opinions in writing, or orally, in response to such requests. As compensation for such services, beginning the first of the month following application, such surviving spouse shall receive monthly an amount equal to fifty percent of the monthly annuity the retired member was receiving at the time of the member's death. 2. If a member of the general assembly who has served in at least three full biennial assemblies dies before retirement, pursuant to the provisions of sections 104.312 to 104.801, a survivor's benefit shall be paid in an amount equal to fifty percent of the member's accrued annuity calculated as if the member were of normal retirement age as of the member's death. The survivor's benefit shall be paid in monthly installments to such deceased member's surviving spouse; provided such surviving spouse was married to the deceased member of the general assembly on the date of the member's death; or if there is no surviving spouse eligible to receive such survivor's benefit, such survivor's benefit shall be payable to any children under the age of twenty-one of the deceased member of the general assembly in equal shares in a total amount equal to such survivor's benefit that would otherwise have been paid to the surviving spouse until the children reach twenty-one years of age. 3. In the event a person who has held one or more statewide state elective offices for a total of at least twelve years, and whose retirement benefits have been calculated and are being paid pursuant to the provisions of section 104.371, dies, a survivor's benefit in an amount equal to fifty percent of the benefits being paid the member pursuant to section 104.371 shall be paid to the member's surviving spouse. The survivor's benefits shall be paid in the manner provided in section 104.371. 4. Every member of the state employees' retirement system who had previous state employment by a state agency by virtue of which the person was a member of the public school retirement system of Missouri and has previously withdrawn the person's employee contribution to the public school retirement system shall upon request if qualified pursuant to the provisions of this subsection receive creditable prior service in the state employees' retirement system for such service notwithstanding any other provisions of law. The public school retirement system shall pay to the state employees' retirement system an amount equal to the contribution paid to the public school retirement system on behalf of the employee by the employee's employer, and the commissioner of administration shall pay an equal amount to the state employees' retirement system from funds appropriated from the general revenue fund for such purpose. In no event shall any person receive credit for the same period of service under more than one retirement system. 5. Upon the death of a person who served as a member of the general assembly or in an elective state office before September 1, 1976, and who retired and chose a normal annuity pursuant to the provisions of this chapter, such deceased retired member's surviving spouse, who was married to the member on the date of the member's death, may apply to the board of trustees and shall be made, constituted, appointed and employed by the board as a special consultant on the problems of retirement, aging, and other state matters for the remainder of the surviving spouse's life, and upon request of the board shall give opinions, and be available to give opinions in writing, or orally, in response to such requests. As compensation for such services, beginning the first of the month following application, such surviving spouse shall receive monthly an amount equal to fifty percent of the monthly annuity the retired member was receiving at the time of the member's death. 6. Survivor benefits shall be paid pursuant to section 104.420 in lieu of any other provisions of this section to the contrary if the member of the general assembly or statewide elected official: (1) Dies on or after August 28, 2001; (2) Had a vested right to an annuity; and (3) Was not receiving an annuity. 7. Survivor benefits shall be paid pursuant to section 104.395 in lieu of any other provisions of this section to the contrary if the member of the general assembly or statewide elected official elects a survivor benefit option pursuant to section 104.395, and dies on or after August 28, 2001. (L. 1984 H.B. 1370, A.L. 1986 H.B. 1496, A.L. 1987 H.B. 713, A.L. 1988 H.B. 1643 & 1399, A.L. 1994 H.B. 1149, A.L. 1997 H.B. 356, A.L. 2000 H.B. 1808, A.L. 2001 S.B. 371)