A humband or rife, rho 1m 8 member of thin Syiata, 

UJ appoint in writing an indiridnal other than 

a spouw to moein, at tha dbsth of ths mOabOr, 

the rwldw or hia or her bernfit4 in the Syatw, 

rhothor the aam be oalled *ilatum Oontrlbutfoaan, 

~R~tirwont Bonefltam or wmnuit~R. Suoh a:pointwnt ray be rerolwd, but unl.~ rwokad, th. Trwtow of the System are ruthorisod to pa]r ruoh 

banofstm to,tho nawd appolntw. 

A husband or wire who ham ooased to bm a merbar 

ma, rltbdraw iroa, the Sratea #uoh an amount am 

ha8 bran oreditad to the aooouat of the ratlnd 

umber. The amOunt ao withdrawn balon(la to hl# 

or her separate eatate a# the ease ma, be, and 

$ ;tz E+OUW haa BO %BtOFeSt iB Or Old. t0 

. 

A diroroe would not alter the situation. 

Juno 1, 1939 

Dear Nr. Brown8 

Hoaorablm 9. Y. Brown 

lbaoutin sodrotary 

Toaokr RetIramrrt System of Towa 

Au&in, Towa 

cpinion NO. o-129 

R.; Tit10 to oontributlozu to 

Teaoh*r Ratirmnt Spta 

Ye aoknowledm rmoofpt of yoti reqwrt ia behalf 

0r tha Troh*r Ftotlrwbnt Syotu of Toxaa ior an ojiln~an 

upon tha quwtlozu oontained in pur latter, viz.: 
Non. 9. M. Brown, June 

- .I* ,“pfo tha 

1, 1959, Pees 2 

oontributlono or a tir iB wm - . . _ 

roaonor ~otmomono sJ*tu 0onolnorad M bo oommunity property if the Indlrldual is rrriod? 

8. *If a rlio or hwband apoollioa in writing 

to tho haoher Rotinunt Symtam thot aln or he 

wialw to have th o l ootiated oontributionr in tho 

Tooohor %tiruont Sptom nturnod to l amo Indlridual other than the hu&#and or riio In was of dosth 

b0ror0 retiremoat, lo th Teukhei Betirwnt 8yatu 

l o tIn,within g the law ~otirmlng tti mow, in 

l ooor dnnowe ith tho roq wo tt 

B. “would a husband or wlio Of a W&W, rho 

has ooaood to ba a tmaohor end opplid for Ohs return 

or tho aoow@oted oontrlbu~ipno, bo entitled to any 

of tho funds-? .9 

ii t$‘huaband or rife wore dlrorood but hod km 

Vould the sl%uatIon be altered In any a, 

married during p&t of tho time that the mono, was 

l ooumulatod?w 

In ycur latter, you dlreot the partioular attontlon 

of this dqurtmnt to tha prorlaiolu of Sootlon 6, subaootloa 

6, of tho Ant In quentlon, and It la apparently on l aoount of 

tho prorlalona of thim part oi tho AOt that rou pradioato 

your roquoot for an opinion. It roads as follow: 

WI11 

*Noturn or Aopumulatod Contribution@ - 

“Shcwld a mombor 0.o.e to ti a toaohor exoopt 

by death or retIr(:mnt under the prorlaiom of this 

Aot, k ahall ba paid In full tha amount or tha aooumulatad oontrlbutlow standing to the oawdit of 

hIa Individual aooouut la the Toaoher Soiin& M. 

Should a member di* befor mtlromont the owunt 

oi him aooumulatad contributiona ata niiios to tho 

orodit of hi8 Individual aeoouat shall bo paid as 

provided by the laws or doaoont and dl#tributIoon or 

Tows unloas ho haa direoted the aooount to ba paid 

otherwise. Sovan (7) pars after l uoh ooa#atloo 

of #or~loo, it no prariwm domend haa ban mods, 

any aooumulated oontrlbutiona of a oontrlbutor nhall 

bo returned to him or.to hla hoirn. U the oontributor or hir heira 'donnot then M found hl# aooumulated oontrlbutionr shall be forf.ltoi to tho 

*etirewnt Syotom and oredlted to tha Pemanont Ratlraoiont lurid.” ,,’ : 

There are othw related prorlslo~ In the Aot whloh 

be partioularly noted hereinafter. 

Wo b&we de-d It naoe~oary In due oonaidwation of 

your quoationo to rofar rather artenoirely to other partinent 

prorlaions or the Act. 

0r 

The purpoasa of thla law are etated in Sootion Z 

the Mt., whloh Is as follwm~ 
Bon. 5. Y. Brown, Jun. 1, 1939, Pago 3 

“A B.tirement Syatom 1. h.reby establlahed 

and p1ao.d uador the man.Sa.nt of tho Stats Board 

or Truoteoa a. herelnaft.r oraatod for tho purpo.. of 

prorIdia(! retlrmmnt allaanoea and other benefit. 

uudor th. provI.101~ ot thi. Aot ior toaohoro so 

deilned In this Aot. The S.tirwnt SJ.tcm ao onrated 

.hall bo .otabliahad aa oi July 1. 19SI. 

*It shall have the powr and prIri1aS.a or 

a oorporatlon and shall b. kgwn am tho ‘T0aoh.r 

&tlr.mnt Systa or Taxa.*. and by suoh name all 

oi Its buolrms ehall b. tranoaoted; all of It. 

fund. inr..ted and all of its oaoh and l o o ur ltleo 

and oth.r property held.” 

It 10 provided that th. Trust... .h.ll a.m. rlthout oomponoatIon. 

S.otlon 8 or tho Aot. among ottir thing., ~mrid.8 

that tho taoteas ahall doaI~noto a mdiool board to b. ocmposed of throo olIgIblo phyololam rho shall pass apw ail 

modloal l xulaatlona of m,boro wh1.h may b. zmquirod under 

the prorlalona of the Aot, and who .hall inroatil(ata all 

..a.ntlal l tat.mnta and oortlfloato. by and om behalf of 

sly mombor in oonnootion with his applloatim for dloobillt~ 

ntimnt. 

Th. trwteeo or. rsqu1r.d to appolat an aotuam 

who .hall be their taohnlool adrl..r with r.8 

op.ratIon or the funds oreotod uador tha f 

sot to th 

paw l iono of tho 

Aot. It lo provided thot ho shall prrforr .uoh otlur dutiao 

as ar. nqulrod In oonruotlon thorwith, and that ups tho 

.otablio)aunt of the 9J.t.m. tho aotuam Aall rk. an lnr.otl#ation of tho nortslity, owrlo., l ud omponostion .xporionoo of tho mombore of tho S~otom awl tint ho shall ti 

rooommdatlon to t& Board oi Truotooo with napot to ouah 

mottors, and further ho shall rooomaond for odoptlqn ouoh 

tables l ud rat.8 a. ar. required, and thot thonupon, tho 

Board .halI adopt and oortlf~ rates and as soon a. prootloabl. thmoaitor, th. aotuarJ ahall ask. a valuation bo..d 

upon .uoh tabl.. and rates of th. osoo~sunto and lIabIlItI.o 

of th. fund. oreatsd by the Amt. 

Suba.otIon 1S of Sootion (I prorid.. In 8ub.ton.o 

that ln th. year 193S and at 1oa.t 0110. In l a.h flr. ymr 

period thoraaftor. th. aotuary shall rake a n l oturial iareatlSatIon or th. mortality, .orrioo, and ocmpwmation oxporlure. or tho mabare and b.n.fI.Iari.. of tho &timmnt 

S~mtom, and shall mak6’a valuation of tho l ooo to and llabllltl.. 0r th. fund. 0r tho snot-. I. doing .o, h. .h.ll 

toko into aooount tho result of au09 lm*.tlgatlon and raluatlon, and aold Board .hall adopt f 

ouoh mortalltJ, ..rvIo., and ot&r. 2 

.~+~a btlrOm@nt Syotom 

able. as .hall bo domd 

nooowa~. Thoy .hall oortlty th. rate par .nnum whloh shall 
Bon. 9. Y. Brown. June 1, 1939. Pa&r 4 

ba allowed in oaloulating amounta of prior-•orrloo rooorvao 

to ba orodltod to the aoaount of oaoh Mmbor artor l'Otil-N.Bt. 

The partloular and Important power* of tho Board of 

Tr wtooo l m set forth in aotion 9, and mo fer aa noooooary 

to bo hen noted, they ar.1 

1. They hare power to Invert a+ rolnvoot the funda 

of tha 5yotm, Inoludlng all rotlmmont tunds that may b@ moolred br the Treasury or the Stata iron oontributiono or tha 

taaoharo and mploysr8 aa provided by the Aot, and muoh funds 

may be Invested la auoh ~aourltlom and in agoordanoo with l uoh 

lImItationa aa are apeoliloally tboreln defined. 

E. They base power to hold, puroba8~, a.11 assign, 

.tranofor and d~laposs of any of #uoh seourltiea, aa wail aa to 

Iwaot tho proorda of prior lnreotuntn and amy otbar money 

bolon(llng to the rsrlau8 fund8 named in the Aot. 

S. ‘Pa0 trugt*oe~ annually ahall allow regular interest 

on tho mew amount for ,. 

.$ 

preoadin# year fn eaoh of the funds 

with th o l xooptlon ,.o, Expmnu ?und aa heroin prorldod, and 

the amount ‘P al&owe shall ba annually oredited to suoh rospeotlro fund.. 

There are other powors and dutlea of the tnuteea 

whloh 82~ Important but whloh nood not be notod. 

. Seotlon 3 of the Aot relatea to the -barship of the 

Retirmnt System and prw~doo, In Ufeot, that suoh umbership 

shall ba oompooed of all poroono who are toaohero on the data 

a1) of whloh the Retlnwht System was aotabliohod a. a oondltlon of their employment unloso within ninety daya arbor 

Septaber 1, 1937, a membor #hall tile with the Board a notloo 

of hla olootlon “not to bo oworod in the muborohl 

SyatQ", togothar with a duly exeouted waiver of al P 

of the 

proaont 

and proapeotlre beneiIt.6. Beginning aa 0r September 1, 1938, 

and thereuftor any teaoher teeohI@ for the fIrat tkr In Texas 

shall kooma a member of the ~atlrement Systam as a oondltlon 

of his employment. 

Spaolflo twda met up In th. AOt arot 

1. The Toaohar Saving Fund. 

S. The Stuto Aooumulatlon n\nd. 

3. The Annuity R.e.rv. Fund. 

1. The Intoreat Jknd. 

5. The Permanent Retirement Yund. 

6. The Nxpo~ao Yund. 

Tha first of thooo funds oonalet of rite per oent 

0r tha aweget 0r eaoh toaoher*o annual inoom., but not to 

oxooed in any ow year $lSO.OO. The l ooond lo derived from 

appropriation6 by the Stats, whloh, In l ffaot, shall bo In 

amounts *qua1 to the total paymenta oi all the toaohoro. 

Then Is one other fund nhloh should be,pirtioularly noted. 

It is tha “Permanent Retirement i+und”. as to whloh it I# pro- 
Hon. 3. M. Brown, Tuna 1, 1939, Pago 5 

vldsd that It #hell oonalst of maurrulsted glft#, swar48, 

iundQ, and ao..tQ aocrui~ to th. R.tlr.m.ot Syatu not rpaoIfloall7 r.qu1r.d by 0th.r fund. orsated by th. Aot. Its 

purpooo ir to provide Q oatlng.nt iwd out of whloh Qpolal 

r.qulr.Punto of other funds may b. oororod. Th. prinolpal 

of this fund IQ to b. held and d.dioatod so a pup.tu.1 ondowm.nt to th. Retlrsment System, and It Qhall not b. d1v.rt.d 

or appropriated to any 0tb.r purpos.. All regular int.reat 

0r.dIt.d to It and excess intoro l asr8lngo t trsnrfwred to it 

QhaIl b. hold oQ sn lntersst r.Q.I'v. aooouat, frcm aMoh paymanta 8hsll t. mad0 88 tallows: 

(a) The trust..8 shall r.o.Iv. and trsnsi.r ouoh 

mount as may be required to guarantee rsgular lnt.r.Qt on tb. 

m.Qn amount. of lnvestm.ntQ or th. fund8 0r.at.d by th. Aot, 

exoopt&& the Erpenee Bund. 

(b) They Qhall tranQi.r annually from said l&meat 

rooorvsa to tho iixpenos Fund ouoh an amount aa lo nqulr.d to 

prorlda for the admiBIotrstion and msIotonanoo of tb SyOtom. 

Tba Aot oontalns 8 numbor or trrns whloh sr. d.fln.d 

snd are QI@Iflo.nt, suoh I). nB.n.fIoIsry~, "&nulty: "R*tiromont Allowona*?, *DIoabilIty R#tIromo8t”, and aAotusr~al Squlvalent", whloh la& m.sno a benaflt oompted upon tha ba*lo of 

onoh mcrtallty tables #II ma7 ta adopted by tho trmtooo. togothor with mauler tatwest thoraon. 

It will thus b e l ..n froa ths ior.goIng l tst.m.nto 

thot tbo tit10 to th. total oontrilutiooQ or p.Jmto a* .nd 

when mada by the umber8 to the T.aoh.r R.tirrant S7ot.m 

paoa l baolut.ly to that S7ot.m to by l dmI8iotuod by tho true 

two In th. Int.nQt oi Quoh mmboro. The partioular bonrtlto 

whloh are grantad .nd prom18.d to mob umbuo ar. either payabl. to them durInQ their liv.. or to their .ppolnt..s or to 

tb.Ir .otat.Q upon their roQpootlv. deatha, partloularlrmd under 

th. iollowlne tltlee: 

1. ~Allowanoo ror S*rrIoo RotIremant~. Thi. I. aa 

allorsoo. in the form of an annuity whloh Qball k tha aotuorlal . 

Stats ft 

ulvalont of the Qum oi the t.aoh.r'Q l avix@a and th. 

.o.rv.o duo hIm on aooount of hlQ aoooptod rab.nhip 

In the 8yotu to k oomputod upon hlQ l oestad oontrlbutIoIU ond1t.d t0 hi. a00OWt iB the T0a.h.r SaTin lund at 

th. time oi hl. retllrunt, togothor with ouob add P tlonal 

amount as h. m.7 b found .ntltl.d to no.lr. from tha 8t.t. 

Asatmulation lund aa or the data of tho toaoher'a-r&l-t. 

And imthor, if the tea&or ha a valid prior-•rnioo eartlrloat., hs shall be .ntltl.d to an additional annuity in. 

an amp-t whioh .h.ll be tM l otuuiol l quIval.nt OS an annuity 

or 1s of his avors&vo prior-•.rvloo oorpmuatlon, muItil1.d by 

the numbor of yoaro of him %x08 *onlo* as ohowa in h It a priorQ.nio. ~.oQatIon o.rtiiloato. 

e. ~DIQablllty Rotlraunt B.n.rIt'. k to whloh 

the no) 

P 

rorlda6 that Ii a mombor hoe had SO or mom your oi 

oredltab l l onloo. ha may be r*tlr*d by tls Quatoo on 

sn allowano. In an amount d.temIn& aooording to a l tst.d 

oomputatlon, oondltlonad upon tbQ Y.dIoal Board firQt OOrtiiyin@ that ho lo m.ntolly or phyaloally Inoap6oitat.d foe 

furthor poriomanoo oi hla oallln& and that owh inoapaolty 

is probably pum.wnt. yih.nupon, h. Qhall r*o*lv* a Sonloo 
Bon. S. Y. Brown. Juno 1, lOSO, Pago 6 

BatIramnt Allowsnoa, ii ho haa attained to the aSa or 60 

years, otharwlae. a DIaebllIty Ratlmamt Allowance whloh 

shall be the aotuarlsl equlvalont oi the mm or funda darlvad from muross as follower 

(a) From aoou8pIlated oontrlbutlona by the mabar 

6tandlq to his aooouut In tha Taoohsr Saving 7und at tha 

tlmo cU hla ratlremant; (b) an l ddltIonsl amount from tha 

Stat. Aoomulatlon Fuud aqua1 to that dorived tmm tho mombars; 

and (0) if ho has a prior-sonfoe oartliloata ha elm11 raoolra an l ddltlonal smount whloh ahall ba aquai to SW of NOh 

prior-aanloe aa provided in the Aot. 

The A06 also provldaa for a iom of bnailto denomInotad wRaturn of Aoolmalatad Oontrlbutlona~, tha provialona 

as to whloh am aet out In thy ilrat port of this opinion, 

and they noad not be hara rapeabed. 

yInally, Insofar as tbo beaaflta to tha mabars 

are owounad, thay are #Ivan the right to ohooaa aortain 

optional allowanoee., whoraby any mabor ray aloot to moaI~o 

his bowiito In the form of a ratixwunt allowanoo payable 

throu&mut his llfa in lieu of a llup mri or to noal~a tho 

l otuarlal l qulvalont at that tlu oi bin predatorrlnod bonofits ln s reduood allowanoa poyablo throu&mt his IWO with 

the provl#lon that8 (1) upon hla death, the roolduo of auoh 

allowanoa shall be oontlnued throughout the llia of. and paid 

to, auoh paraoo aa ha shall nominati by written doolguatlon 

duly l oknorled@d and filed with tlm tmotooo at tha tin of 

his ratlraeot. There are oortaln othar options whioh for 

tha purpoaso of this opinion nood not be noted. 

Tha rora@ne. analyala of &rtsIo parts or tbia 

8tstut.a has beon mad. 001017 in OrdOr to dat.aznIna the propu 

anoworo that may be given to the qwotlooo autmlttad to this 

Dsportmot, and rer,bal aoauraoy Is not to be l8plIad. 

In oonstrulng any statute, the first ruI0 to k 

obaervsd ia that If the worda of tho eti~tuta are plain and 

daflnltr, it mumt be lntarpntad in aooordaooa with UW maxir. 

*Tba Law Ia Thus '#rlttana, rrsnlng that a lltoral lntarprotatlon luUt ba given to the words of the #tstut#, unleaa to do 

so will load sway rrom tha I&ant and purposa of tho Aot as a 

rh+a aad pmduoe SD absurd result. 

Of aqua1 Importsnoe is another rula whlob IO that 

a l tatuta rust be Intarpreted so aa to m&a oporativa in a 

praotloal way the purpose of tho kSI~latan, aml ao.aa to 

oaoura to tha olaos or olaaaee of poreon@ in whor behalf the 

l tatuti was l naotod the bonotlto lntondad to h oonforrad. hory 

provlalon, clause or word of tha l totuta will ba oon#truod wltk 

refuonoo to its loading idea and pnaral purpa~a, and brou&ht 

ao far as possible IA hanony tharowlth. Jo, it a l tstuta la 

aunooptlblo or any other raaaonabla intarpretat&m, it wIll not 

be oonOtrwd ao as t0 mka it inpraOtiOa1 Of l niOrOmnb. In 

all oaaeo the Courts will, if poaslbls. avoid a oonatruotlon 
Hon. 3. Y. B-. June 1, 1959, Pago 7 

tht rili ndt in 00nrii0t, 00nmi0n, 0r dmiOP in the wora+ 

mt 0r th0 hw, 0~ tbt will -it* oupidit 

01~8 0r pra- without th9 pro~i0ioru or tL 

bbwwaFt;r 0 

dll prcuto and enoourage liti etion. atb 0 l'or gmeter 

rm.08, it 86, ba mid that it s . not Du8ittr x" to MY one to 

iogiuk id0 (1 mme.0 words 01 implioation0 roreien t0 or 

lari#ABt with the piein iSng~clg0 uld puzpOM Or ths AOt, ti 

whioh, if .O lnoorporat0d. wuld rak0 the Dtetut9 -0~ BOYthin6 difiw0nt irmn that whioh 100 lntsnd0d by tlm LO 

U&d rhioh rotid tend t0 Prollat.0 Oil Or 0010 Or th0 w I? 

alOtur0, 

0 and 

dirrioalti0r in it8 enforoannt l * h0r~inabcwo unticmd. 

183 l upp0rt 0r ths0 prapo~iti-, t&u r0wwiw autboriti0e aa-0 oitodr Sbi&.le~ 'I. rloyd0da &dopmMent Sobool 

Dirtriot, SO0 8. W. tOOr. AP 

P 

.) 1691 h-Or T. Carltan 

116 Tax. 573 SO9 Y. x. lOTo- 074; Fro01* ., Tfelkor, OcunL1on.r 

GM. Land ho., 26 8. Li'. (Pad) OS7, 630 (nit niumd)i Wld.? 

. . UIQ (Cowa. App.) 16. 'a. (#Id) 867. State . . Ea10, 96 S. W. 

(&d) lSO, ISO1 and 39 Ter. Jur. ~&&&!S??!. 

Apglylnd what has &at been &d to th0 l.ylal0tlon 

whioh brou&t into l xiston00 th. haoh0r Beti?.8.8t Syatu of 

'hn~, it la the opinion of tM Attorney hnoralQ# D0putment 

that the proviriona or this l tetutam a plain md unmbi@mw 

a. qonwrm those sootlaM u&.on rhloh tlu foNIoin# q~~ti08m 

er0 propPly pr&i-atad, and t&t tha UIU Iyt be 0oMtru.d 

~OOOrdlngl~. k0 edvia., th0wor0, that it wae thm ~~lr~~t 

pprpou 0r th hgi8iewa tht tb Board or mut001 who 

0r0 oh0rS0d with tbr, wlmini#trati0n of this Sratn &all d0al 

Ld 

riaaril~ with %lAa bedioi.wi0s la slmir roa~otlr. Bole a8d 

iridual oapaoiti00 in 0ll utton nqoatin# tbm l mlniawh-~er ; tmdorr, 00000a a i0n l l ~M ror tb 

payamnt 0; dis0harg0, in xhola 0r in w-t, or asv or thm dad 

buuiitm, l uoh payment muat ha mad* to th0 lntu0at.d -bar in 

&~.rron M loam .8 he Or ahe i# l lir0 and Or #oWd mind, r.- 

ardloae 

f 

or rheth0r ruoh &r i# urrl0d or #in~ie, ~10 0r 

eulo, orthatb or &a may harm bmenmrri~ mnd #ub0oquontlr divor0.d. Suoh U. tbo .X$WWM dinotlom oontalaud 

lo the l tatuto, and t&y wt be oarr1.d out b tbr t?UStWm. 

not only bboaum they ub owndad mo to ao, Lt boospro thor 

oozutituto aantraotual obl190tiona l ntuod into bhw.8 tha 

t00ohu0 0ad th0 Stat0 Or Tosm a 1W oap0oiti00 00 wPplo~r" 

and l m a ooatributor to the funL or the systa, unlom l m 

lmpll0d in tlu rid qu.e4tbn l amitted to thie D.Pwt=nt, tha Loglmlaton in 80 omotiq h00 tlol0t0d 00m prorldon 

0r th0 cowtitution or thi0 stm. '%I 0n0 ia r0quir0d t0 dminirtar or inorv 0 r0spxuibilit~ undu an Aot or any motion 

or an Aot of tb h~lmlHwe rhioh ia void beoausa problbit0d 

rr0r b000min9 a lax by th0 Oonatltutlon. 

c0ra-d 00ndeerati08. thudore, ha* bw eirrn 

t-0 th0 00n0titutionOl ph000 th110 lmpli0d, and ror r0000n0 a0 

mor0 prtioularl shown honiMrt*r, it 10 tlm 0pinion or thi4 

D0pwtmnt that l h0 #tatut0 1~ not unoonW.itutioorl in raspeot 

to UIJ or it8 opuatire pawiaio~ nor rmdor rwlw. 

"hilo It 16 the oplnl~ of thi6 Depsrtunt tbst 

th0 knaiIt0 provided for in th10 AOt lmlona t0 tJU l 0tOt0 
Non. 9. Y. Brown, June 1, 1939, Pay 8 

or tha lumbar to whom the mm ah.11 her. boon .llott.d and 

orad1t.d br th. trust... of tb. System, and t&t th. hrubsnd 

or wifa or thm lumber in virtu. of t& oommunit~ lawa h@s no 

olaim to suoh b.n.iit*, y.t it 1. not bmllqied that .r.ry ultijet. 1s.~. or ownership or title with mspmot to theso msttms 

1. n.o.r..ry to b. d.tsrmin.d by the truat..s . . a oondition 

to their l.rN adml.nirtration of the atfair of th. 8yst.m. 

The tnutaoa pay safely d.81 with th. mombars upon the b.si. 

or rossonablo pr.sunpt.ion* and prim.9 rOoi0 indioia or title*. 

It i. ~1.11 to boar in nfnd that th. Constitution no wh.re doiizm. 

"maw0lt~~mtat.". It is only m.nt1on.d one tim. in tlu Oonstltution and then in oonnsotlon with thr r.otlon whioh dailnea 

th. ssparat. *#tat. or the wif. .nd whloh 1. Article 15, seotlon 

16, and whioh after d.ilnlng said *stat., provides that1 

. and laws &all b. passed more ol.srly 

dailnkg'the rights 0r the wire in nlation.as roll 

.s to liar prop.rty (IS that hold in oorrrmon with bar 

husband.” 

Nor la any lluntion made in ths Constitution of the 

h-band'. l rpar.t. astat.. 

ooammity 

Qone.qu.ntly, that art&b and tb 

nltion. L!kmwiae, th0 Ordinary lOSal prWi8ptioIi vhie % 

mporty oi the rpous. .n both or l tatuto 

'g 

tlu .ii.ot t&t all property in eBaew:ion of a1th.r th. hwband 

or rlf. *t th* time ot t& dim0 P ution of wmria#* ahall b. 

prmamad to belom to the oorunltr eatsto, as wrll .s that 

Nspotln@ the husband's oontrol ot th. oomunlty .&at. dwhg 

ths 1ir.s 0r th. B 

Con.equ.ntly, tha & 

ou..., a** pur.ly or statutory eanotion. 

girlatun may .t any tima *mot rqulstiona 

rwpaotlng oozcaunlty ..tates by rlrtu. ot which ths oontrol 

or 00rtkdn typos or oomunity property asg be tsh rvm~ rro8 

th. hurband and be vastsd in t& wii.. With *qua1 oonrtitutionsl 

libwty of sotion, th. Le~lslatur. may provid. b;l law that th. 

rx1at.n.. or oortaln pr.d.tsrmined faots #hall or.st. a pr.- 

"7 

tion of ssparet. own.rshig in th. wir. and that sh. nay b. 

dsa t with upon the be.1. of such presumption. 

Th.re are realliar lnstanoes oi le((i.la~$on suoh 

aa just Puntionod. On. Or the.. ha. to do with ddpOalt# in 

a sarlnga bank. Artlol* 409, R. 0. 8. 19S5, provides in .ubatmoe that: When a d.posit .b.ll bs mado br or in the name 

or a foral., sh* thou b.i~@ or th.reait.r beoo8ing married, 

suoh deposit *hall M held for hm .xolusir. rirJIt and benmiito, 

and that it *hell b. paid, to&h.r with int.nst th.non, to, 

ths person in whom name the doposit shall hai. ken mdm, and 

that th. reoolpt or aoqulttano. of suoh'ferel. shall b. a ralid 

r.l.as. and disohr#s trm .uoh d.poait, or any part th*r*oi, 

to th. oorporatlon wherein suoh d*y&%. MS bmn made. 

An0th.r inataooe or ,tli* k+ilatur* oraatiag suab 

a pm tion is .+tiol. 47Sb.3, R. C. 8. 1985, .s .mnd.d, 

and rhlo -3 provides in .ubatana. that whemrer any p.raon 

shell proour. the lssuano. or a pollop or lnmranoq on hie 

or h.r iii. in any legal resmrvm life in.urano. ooapany and 

shall dsslgnat., in writing, ths ben.rioiary to reoelrq tha 

proowds ther.ot, the oompany issuln(l th. polioy in tlu sbmono. of any notloe of adtars. olair to th. prooosda, may par 

th. proo..d. upon the death of tha inmrsd to tb. psrson .o 

dosignetbd .s b.nerloia 

3 

and such payment shall disoharg. 

hh. oompaql frop 011 lla ility by nason of suoh pollog. 
Z+n. 9. Y. Brown, June 1, 1939, Paem 9 

Another suoh lnstono. la shown by Artiole 4682, 

R. c. 3. 19e5, whioh provider in substeno. that fund8 on depbsLt in any bank, whsther in the nam, oi the husband or wifm, 

shall b. prasumed to be the separat. propmrty of th. on0 in 

whos. nams lt stnnda, rognrdlmsa of whloh 01~ mad. th. deposit, 

and that unless the bunk 1s notlfisd to the oontrary, it shall 

b. gor.rllsd aooordinply in honorinr oheok. on thm SOoOUnt. 

The icragolng lllustratlons damonstrata that th. 

Lqlslatura has with legal impunity enacted lawa whioh provide 

that th. existence or a defined status or the ulstsno. of omrtaln iaot8 shall have th. .rfeot to creatm a legal pmsumption 

or separate ownership of property in either the husband or 

wits. The 1mRst that may be raid in this oonneotion rsspaoting 

the statute under oonslderation 1s that it affords anothmr 

instano. 0r such lO~lsletfon. 

‘Jt 1s settled law that a reoltal in a damd to a 

married woman to tha erreot that the convmyanoe is ior her separatm us. end estate r.mov.8 thm prqsumptlon that ths.proprrty 

oonvayed bslongs to the oonununity estate end orestes a pr..umption 

that it belongs to the separate estate of the wli.. Al.80, it 

is h.ld that the oiroumst’anoes ti--$uoh a oonrmyano. may l steblish 

B girt by the husband to the wei. in a ows whmn tM purahasa 

prioe aotually is paid with he oon5unity funds and the oonvmyanom 

to the ali. 1s by 9 person d thmr than the husband. MoCutohmon 

V. Furinton, 84 Tsx. 603, 19 S. ‘rl. 710. 

Therefore, we sdvlsm that when the trust.96 shall 

have mDd. a payment of the hen&its provided for in this hot to 

any baneiiolsry, B raoalpt from suoh b.n.floiary will opuratr 

aB a disoharge to the trustees to the extent of the amount Or 

such payment rag~rdleas of his or her zarltal status. 

Ae above stnted, however, it is th. o&lion of thla 

department that the benefit. actuarially detmmlrisd to have 

soorumd to a married member of this Systen, b.lon@s solmly 

and aotuelly and not prseumptlrely to suoh msmb.r, and w. will 

proo.ed to asslfn the reasons ior so holding. But b&or. 

doti DO we oall attantion to the iaot that the first queStloB 

submitted to this department is innptly sttited, and that it 

should a%.d rather as iollowsl 

*ore the beneiits whloh shall have b..n leif 

ally alloostsd to a teaohmr member in tbs T.aoh.r 

atlrement System or Taxes 0 ommunity proparty ii 

the tssoher is ~rrled?” 

This 1s deemed propmr ior the rmason that the bmnsfit8 whloh sre returned or paid to the tmsohmr arm not th. 

.ar marked oontrlbutlons nhioh ho may havm paid into the funds 

of th. Syster, but thmy oonslst of su.h an amount .S Bhall 

harm b..n aotuarlally dmt.rminrd to bm his prorats of tb 

earnings from the sum total or the oontrlbutions from all thm 

teaohorB of the State when a4d.d to by the earnings from the 

total of the approprietions made by th. St&t. into the rundu 

or th. System, end f.om suoh othsr souro.s as are oont.mp1et.d 

by th. Aot. 
Hon. 9. M. Brom. June 1, 1939, Pago 10 

Loosely Ypeaking, it may be mid that the Tmaohsr Retirement system of Texas in a l*gal hybrid with raspsot to it8 

oorporeta entity and ths bualnors whloh it has been authorisod 

and *ad*d to 00ndu0t through tha Mdlu~or tnmt00s ror tb 

a0l.a bOerit 0r the teaolmra or tha stat*. E0wermr, N think 

~10 i# apparent that the damhmnt i.atur. or tlm statut. ia its 

"p 

.ratlvo phase* 1s a r0m or social insuranoa, whioh 14, b. 

* *ssiiimd as old ag* lnauranom snd disablllty IamuancIc fas'a~m 

to tha insured msmbsr ln tb. r0a-8 or bmaaiit. d 

l ithu in e lump SIP or (1s per thm tmnu oi an tvsnf mnu ty and *oktalulu& 1x.0, mlemsuta or ordlnmy lirm imuraaoa. Thmrm is 

this furthor essential element, howsvmr and that la that tbo 

5mOats or ~00~ whioh th0 stat0 rrtp. t& to tim IS obli(lat0d 

to appropriate into the Treasury or tlm 8y.t.m .hall bs aqua1 

to the total payumnts of all the taaohmr membora, and also that 

ror tlm purpose of oreaniziag tha System snd matabliahing *n 

orrioa, the Lo~lslatur* apprupriated tha M or #E6,000.00. 

Suoh-sum, thelriore, is tha original or starting oapital or tb’ 

organirstion. and the subsmquant and adcltional ap mzon9 .- 

by the Stste and ths indlvldual paymoats udm by ok 

t*aohur *imply add to the Oapital of ths SyBtem ti OMMB 

t - not the tmaohara 

kn silt8 

- to makm monmy, by manna or whioh tha 

aOtrUl%ally det.r8i.n.d as to amount8 are l r*ntualLy 

upon l tstmd aant~enoias~psid to th8 mo&W* or to tbir 

oat~tr. Ragarded as an indireot ~108, 

bmlng elfta, satisfy ths Gonstitut r 

ths8 b-ii*, 

on*1 prwbrion whloh darfiu8 tha sFperat* **tat* or th* wit0 by d**å that w*ny 

t 

roporty, both real and por*onal or the wirm, mmd or olalmd 

y her befor* marriage and that aoquirmd afterward* by lit 

devisa or de.-, shall k bar omparstm propbrty." &iid 

'16, snotioq 15. 

Thi. provision wa# in00 

=i 

oratmd into tha Conatitutlon *s s nhleld oi proteotlon to he wirm and whil8 it 

,ruo*e**rlly limits 

'which us *oquired 

**tat* to ihow proportia* 

J 

+hm l *v*ral *ourom* dmri80d in 

th. Oolutltutlon. has not rro#ved .nd .hould 

no t rqo*ir* a narrow eonatruotion, l spmoially aa r*opaot* 

Any kind or propmrty whoam inoi tion of 

by whatever r0m it may t.k. snd tv wlmtmvmr .ot ot the donor the Sift 1s indiostmd. l stisr&e# blrr, 

Colutitution, end vasta thm~titlm thanto in hmr so *rati"- 

mstmta, wbthar the donor is tlu husband or some ot k r pmraon. 

As b&men the husband and wifm, th* oourts harm in a varimty 

of **sms upheld the rlf*'s tltlm Wn ba**d upon (~1 1l.d 

girt rr0r th0 husband. Thi* ~*'*spaaislly trus whmn Ye t lndlol* of title appeers to ba already in hmr smparatm *stat& 

It abould be berm notmd that the word "aoqulred" 

as u.sd in th. above saotlon of tlu Corutltutlon BY~U. tin 

inomption or the title to t&m property. As appl1.d to thm 

subjeot undar dlsoussion, t&niorm. it 1~811s that Ft the 

x-lrm b&or* marrlaEe bsaeu s nmbmr or tbs Taaober &tlnunt 

Syatmm. that iaat alon* d*tmaMn*s thm atatua or tba belurita 

thmraiu *s being in her **parat* mrtatm. liar subs*qumnt marrlago 

w0rrld 00t arre0t that titi0. Thm law a8 to thl. matt.r 1. well 

ssttled .-and requlrea no fUrthor dlsousslon or citation oi 

authori~ims. 
Ron. s. Y. Brown. Jut20 1, 1939, Page 11 

Rena., the prinoipal qu.stion to ba dstermlmd and 

the on. whioh has S1v.n thir DapUtreirt .0111) 00aOern i* that 

reapootlag the ohareotar or Pltla whloh a rsrr1.d WM aoqulrea to bwmf1t.s in ths Twoher Rotiremnt. S,#tem, rhon 

during marriage aha beoomea, for the flrot the, wnmbar of 

that s,H.on. Tha prlmry souroea Of the fund8 from whloh 

the bsnoilta or lnsurenoa are to be pnld to the unborr of thlm 

Systw hare already been noted, an4 the, oon~tltut. . rtorfn1 

oonrlderotlon In d~tsrmlnlng the nature and oharaoter of title 

as roopoote mob bemilts. Ii to these oon8iderstion~, a girt 

ix-08 the husband la required to oomplste title In the membu 

who la l aurled vo98n to the raBpaotlra bonaflt# allooatod to 

lur, we think mob girt will nsom.sarily be Inplied. Whnn a 

married wmn bsoomea 8 teeohar In the mohoola of Texas, and 

srpeolall, If sh. oontlnuos to tonoh for en, length of tlm, 

the law oon~lderr that It 1s by ths oonumt, oxprom or lmplled, 

oi the huabaad. It r0iiow8 as a natural oon*oqu*noo that tha 

humband knew or by low la oharged rlth thn kaorlwlgo thnt a 

an prim iaoia rested in her oeparato eatate by the very tmmn 

or the law. Aa to them oonditloIm of the wl?0'0 mplomnt 

as a twoher. a huaband ma,, if ho will, at tha propor tiu, 

obdaot but lmoklng suoh obJeotlon, ho, by lmplloatlon of law, 

oonmmta that his sriie so long ae me reralna auoh teaohm 8ay 

oontrlbute monthly B small pwoentago oi tmr earnin@ aa ior 

her sapareto uaa and benailt to the Toaohsr RatirUnt Syator. 

Oifta thun eH.ablishrd by hplioatlon of 1s~ fro8 t&u hruband 

to the wlr+r hem frequently reoelred the mnotlon or thr oourt# 

In l lnllar l ltuatlona. Saylor v. Saylor, 20 S. R. (g4) gSgi 

Hellott 7. Price, 95 Tax. 160, 66 S. W. 51,541 Daggott v. 

ilorshrm, g64 S. H. (C. A.) 180; Dorfty v. Dorlt,, 70 S. W. 6?111, 

Aff. 96 Tax. 618, 71 S. K. 950; Brown v. Fore (Oo& App.) lg 

S. '8. (ed) 114; Teams v. ?alrohlld (Ca. App.) 16 9. !U. (ed) 

585 6891 Sorenson v, City Rat'1 Bank, lS1 Tax. 496, 40 9. W. 

(2dj 617; 23 Tox. Jur- pp.68-74. 

"Then is no llmltatlon whatarm upon the 

aeparots eatate thus noquirod aa to thm marea 

or the donation. It 16 only requimd nudor the 

gorural prlnolple that than ba an l thorlm6 

donor and (I ooupetmt doan - In other word@, a 

gift. Nolther Is thon any lialtation rhntl 7.r aa to the oheraotor of pro l rt, that YJ be 

thtu dormtod. It 8ny oomlmt 0 s roti property, 

poraonal property or fixed bxowrt,'; of ohoaw In 

poosouion or in aotlon. It ry ocumiat of anything reoopnfzcd by law am propezty or @ pro rty . 

right. Th0 g ir t 8a y bo l r p nrr or i8gdio r dy t Roy 

be by pro1 or in w'rltlag~ it uy b l ltlur inter 

rlror or 08um Portia. Whenavor tha tranuotion 

8oots thr general requlmmntm oi Zm aa to giita 

. and the donm 18 a married penon, the sub- 

;& matter oi 8 gift baoolua at onoe (I part of 

hig (or her) #sparate wtata." 65 Tax. Jar. p. 6g 

aa!! authorities oitod In tha notom. 
Hon. 5. Y. Erown, Juno 1, 1939, Pa60 1S 

And 00 applIoabl. to .ith r th&huObOnd or th. WE., 

absent iraud. ..lth.r may donOt. to t !l. other . portion or the 

oozmunit, funds to b. 1.6.11 

on. or tha other apouse, or t 

lamsted-ror thm soparata UL). 0. 

0th. 23 Tax. hr. 9~.156-16_. 

9 

With nspaot, th.awfor., to . h\uband who i. . mw&.r 

of th. T.aoh.r R.tIr.mwIt Syrt.m, t.h.n ia no tcoubl. in d.t.rninin(l that the bonefit. th*t .r. .llooutod and payabl. to him, 

. . prorldod in thl. law, oon.tItuto. his 0BpOr.t. prOmrtY. 

In .dd:tion to what ha. .lrr.dy b*.n raid, th* prIBolpl*. Of 

law .r* hen .ppllo.bl*, whloh her. gororard th. oourt~ in holdin# that th. pr.o..ds oi llf. iMq%nO. .O'XUiE& from pOl%Oi.. 

t.k*n out by tha hu.band and pa)rbl. to hi. .rtOt. b.lon6 to 

hi0 l .pOrOt. ertnta, notwIth.tOndiq the preattma hat. b.en 

paid fro8 oomunity iuadi. It la not n.oema.8 

thlr opinion to plr. th. r.O.cw .O.i@.d by t Th l 

Do l xt*nd 

soart in 00~ 

ing to that oonolu.Ion. It ia wri0i.at to 00, that oh. law 

h.. thw boon daolared by tlu Supmnr Oourt of thla Stats. 

Xmtin v, YoA.lli.t.r, 94 T.x. 869, 63 5. W. 6948 y.In v, F.I& 

08 8. w. (Xd) 1896 (?‘rIt:.oi wror didmod)) Jorua T. Jonas, 

166 9. 7. (C. A.) 2661 WhIt.O.11. . . BOrthw.st.rn Mutual Life 

In.ur.noe Co., 188 S. iy. 96, Air. REl S. VI. 6051 Eatoh . . 

Eatoh. SO 9. W. 411 (Writ of error reiumd). 

90w or th.0. oaa.0 01.0 aunouu~. th. dootrin., whloh 

IO 0.ttl.d 1.w in thI0 *tat. th.t tha di..olution of th. Mrda&o by diroroo doas not afiaot ruoh 0. *rat. IntuaW of tha 

Opou.. in the polioy of InOurOno., and 0 P 00 th.t after th. 

divoro.. n.ithor .Pous. h.a an, Inrurabl. lit. Intrr..t in the 

iii0 0r tam other. 

With rospaot to tha prori.Ion of th* Aot whloh d*ol.r*. 

thOt a m08b.r whil. lIrln(! a.7 appoint in writin a person tu.. 

reodre at tin death of tha aarber thr relidw 0 f hi. or her 

bwwflt., wbathmr called aRiturn*d Oontributlonrm, q*timnt 

Bsnorit.* or “Annuity”. It 1. to b. not.d th.t ruoh .ppOinwnt 

doea not glra to tha nppointae any preamt intorah in mob boneiit* &win@ the im or tha 888b.r. k to .uoh .9 old** th* 

titl* to l uo h rmlduo doe. not v..t ab.olutrly unt 11 the d*eth 

of th* 8uber. If ruoh an .ppoIntwnt I. m.d* bowror, .nd 

it la not .ub.*qu*ntly r*rok.d by tha mabw, it would l ntltl* 

thr appoiatw to rro eim l ioh neldw of tha m&bmr’. baoiita 

for the re..on that thl. Aot .p.olfioally .o pr.vld... In thl.‘ 

Napoot W statute is l ldlar to the proriaiona uruall~ oontainad in ordinary lif* Inmr.no* poliol~s. rhioh .uthori.. 

the inrursd to .ppoint, in writin6!, . .ub.tituto b*n*floi*ry. 

Suoh UI l ppoInta.nt, . . prorldod ior ln thlr Aat, it i8 boliwod, 

my be r*o.l1@6 or rsrokad by the mabrr. 

It l hOuld b. .dd.d that .O auoh of th.0. ban.fit. 

a0 th. A.t prwides !say p..s to th. **tat. Oi thn urkr upon 

his or her d.sth I. en inh.ritrbl. **tat., and wig in.4 b. 

dispO..d Or by th. Will of tb. urbrr. 

Th.r.lor.. subjrot to th. dOfInItlOn of tbr term 

00 1ndIo.t.d in thlr opinion, th. 0nOw.r to your ilrrt qumtion 

I., t&t thl* pro *rty doe. .ot belong to the oomunlty **tat*, 

but that it doa. & lone to th. a.psrat. *stat. of th. t.aoh.r. 
Ion. 8. Y. Brown, June 1, 1959, P*m 13 

In *nsw*r to your waoond qus*8lon, you at* 

.drl..d tbt the hunb.84 or Wit. U, SO .~.olf, In 

writing. 

7%. auawr to tbo third qwatloa lm; The 

huead or wirov-uT~~a~~88y b0, ir antiti~d ho 00 

8uoh~~of-~ltroontrlbutlon. or rather .o munh oi 8b 

fua d0l otuari*ll~ , d~t~aLd l 8 ia in l 00ord4~~0 with 

the 8p00irio prori*lona 80ntaL.a in saoti0n 6 of *hia 

AOt. .and th* other l pou** hD no inkrO*t in th0 mm, 

The snwar to the rourth queetion 181 A 

divoroo would not altsr the rituetion. 

Tours rsr, truly 

This opinion haa bbon oon*ldbrod in 

*o*f*r*B**, approved. *nd ordered rsoordod. 

--IL.--- 

OERALD F. MAWH 

ATTORWES GEtfERAL OF TBXAB