1432                                      LAWS OF MARYLAND                                Ch. 686

CHAPTER 686
(Senate Bill 471)

AN ACT to repeal and re-enact, with amendments, Section 53(2)(c) of Article 88B
of the Annotated Code of Maryland ([[1969 Replacement Volume and]] 1972
Supplement), title "State Police," subtitle "State Police Retirement System,"
and to add new Section 53(11) to the same Article, Code, title and subtitle, to
follow immediately after Section 53(10) thereof, to [[substitute the term
"surviving spouse" for "widow" and to restore optional benefit provisions for
single members and surviving spouses.]] make the pension benefits for survivors
of retired State policemen available to surviving spouses and to provide
additional benefit options.

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That Section 53(2)(c) of Article 88B of the Annotated Code of
Maryland ([[1969 Replacement Volume and]] 1972 Supplement), title "State
Police," subtitle "State Police Retirement System," be and it is hereby repealed
and re-enacted, with amendments; that new Section 53(11) be and it is hereby
added to the same Article, Code, title and subtitle, to follow immediately after
Section 53(10) thereof, and all to read as follows:

53.
(2)

(c) Upon the death of any member who has retired on a retirement service
allowance:

(i) There shall be paid to [his widow] THE SURVIVING SPOUSE, if he
leaves a [widow] SURVIVING SPOUSE, to continue [during her widowhood]
UNTIL REMARRIAGE OF THE SURVIVING SPOUSE, one half of his
retirement allowance; or

(ii) If there be no ELIGIBLE [widow] SURVIVING SPOUSE, or if [the]
AN ELIGIBLE [widow] SURVIVING SPOUSE dies or remarries before the
[younger] YOUNGEST child of such deceased member shall have attained the
age of eighteen, then one half of the deceased member's retirement allowance shall
be paid to his child or children, under said age [if he leaves children], divided in
such manner as the board in its discretion shall determine to continue as a joint
and survivorship pension for the benefit of the child or children under said age
until every child dies or attains said age.

(11) IN LIEU OF THE DISABILITY OR SERVICE ALLOWANCES
PAYABLE UNDER THE AFORESAID PROVISIONS, A MEMBER WHO
AT THE TIME OF RETIREMENT DOES NOT HAVE A SPOUSE WHO
WOULD BE ENTITLED TO A BENEFIT UNDER SECTION 53(2)(C) MAY,
PRIOR TO THE FIRST RETIREMENT ALLOWANCE PAYMENT
NORMALLY DUE, ELECT A REDUCED RETIREMENT ALLOWANCE OF
EQUIVALENT ACTUARIAL VALUE IN ONE OF THE OPTIONAL
FORMS SET OUT BELOW. THE ELECTION OF THE OPTION SHALL BE
MADE ON A FORM PROVIDED FOR THAT PURPOSE AND SHALL BE
FILED WITH THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES. SHOULD A MEMBER DIE
PRIOR TO THE EXPIRATION OF THIRTY DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF
THE FILING OF SUCH ELECTION OR PRIOR TO THIRTY DAYS
AFTER RETIREMENT, SUCH ELECTION SHALL BE VOID AND OF NO
EFFECT, AND THE BENEFITS PAYABLE ON HIS ACCOUNT SHALL BE
THE SAME AS THOUGH HIS ELECTION HAD NOT BEEN FILED AND
HE HAD DIED IN ACTIVE SERVICE. A MEMBER WHO HAS ELECTED