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74-4918a. Retirement benefit options; spousal consent; statement required. (a) If the member who is married at the time of retirement selects or will receive a retirement benefit or annuity which would provide to such member's spouse upon the member's death no monthly payments or payment which is less than the payment that the spouse would receive as a joint annuitant under the joint and ½ to joint annuitant survivor option, as provided in K.S.A. 20-2610a, 74-4918, 74-4964 or 74-4964a and amendments thereto, or selects the lump sum payment at retirement benefit option as provided in subsection (3)(G) of K.S.A. 74-4918, and amendments thereto, at the time of such selection of a retirement benefit or annuity the member shall submit a notarized statement of the marital status of the member and, if the member is currently married, a statement of the spouse's consent or objection to the member's selected retirement benefit or annuity under the provisions of this section signed by the spouse and notarized in such form and manner as provided by the system.

(b) (i) If the spouse of the member does not consent to the member's selection of a retirement benefit or annuity under the provisions of this section before the date of actual retirement, the system shall:

(A) Notify the spouse that the spouse has 90 days to consent or have the member change such member's selected retirement benefit or annuity; and

(B) pay the retirement benefit or annuity at the amount as provided by the joint and ½ to joint annuitant survivor option until the spouse consents or for 90 days, whichever is less.

(ii) Upon consent of the spouse or at the end of 90 days, the retirement benefit or annuity must be recalculated and paid as provided by the terms of the member's original selected retirement benefit or annuity retroactively to the date on which the retirement became effective.

(iii) The system is not liable for any damages resulting from false designation of marital status by a member or retirant.

(c) For purposes of this section, "retirement system" or "system" means the Kansas public employees retirement system, the Kansas police and firemen's retirement system and the retirement system for judges.

(d) The provisions of this section shall take effect on and after July 1, 1994.

History: L. 1994, ch. 293, § 34; L. 1995, ch. 267, § 10; L. 2001, ch. 209, § 16; May 31.