1900

LAWS OF MARYLAND

Ch. 609

normally due, elect a 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 the election or
prior to] 30 days after retirement, the 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 an optional benefit may change such election by
due notice to the board of trustees, but no change may be
made after the first payment of his allowance becomes
normally due.

Option 1. If he dies before he has received in
payments the present value of his retirement allowance as it
was at the time of his retirement, the balance shall be paid
to his legal representatives or to the person he has most
recently nominated by written designation duly acknowledged
and filed with the board of trustees; or

Option 2. Upon his death, his reduced retirement
allowance shall be continued throughout the life of and paid
to the person as he has nominated by written designation
duly acknowledged and filed with the board of trustees at
the time of his retirement; or

Option 3. Upon his death, one half of his     reduced

retirement allowance shall be continued throughout   the life

of and paid to the person he has nominated by     written

designation duly acknowledged and filed with the   board of
trustees at the time of his retirement; or

Option 4. Some other benefit or benefits shall be
paid either to the member or to the person or persons he has
nominated, provided the other benefit or benefits together
with the reduced retirement allowance, shall be certified by
the actuary to be of equivalent actuarial value to his
retirement allowance, and shall be approved by the board of
trustees.

(13) Any person [who is or may hereafter be] appointed
or elected to membership in the General Assembly BEFORE
JANUARY 1, 1971, may elect to contribute [fifteen] 15
percent [(15%)] of his compensation on and after July 1,
1966, and, in such event, shall become a member or continue
as a member of the retirement system and be eligible to
receive the benefits enumerated in this subsection on
account of his service in the General Assembly. Anything
in this article to the contrary notwithstanding, the
benefits payable to a member under this subsection shall be
in lieu of any and all pension benefits which may be payable
to such member under any retirement system supported wholly
or in part by the State, or, in the alternative such member
may at any time prior to his retirement transfer his credit
for service in the General Assembly to any other retirement
system, supported wholly or in part by the State, of which