Ahumbandor rife, rho 1m8 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 orher bernfit4 in the Syatw, rhothor the aam be oalled *ilatum Oontrlbutfoaan, ~R~tirwont Bonefltam orwmnuit~R. Suoh a:pointwnt ray be rerolwd, but unl.~ rwokad, th. Trwtow of the System are ruthorisod to pa]rruoh banofstm to,tho nawd appolntw. Ahusband or wire who hamooased to bma merbar ma, rltbdraw iroa, the Sratea #uoh an amount am ha8 bran oreditad 

### to the aooouat of the ratlnd umber. The amOuntao withdrawn balon(la to hl# or her separate eatate a# the ease ma, be, and $ ;tz E+OUW haa BO %BtOFeSt iB OrOld. t0

. Adiroroe would not alter the situation.

Juno 1, 1939

DearNr. 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
Yeaoknowledm 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, Pees2

oontributlono or a tir iB wm - .. _ roaonor ~otmomono sJ*tu 0onolnorad M bo oommunity property iftheIndlrldualisrrriod?

8. *If a rlio or hwband apoollioa in writing to tho haoher Rotinunt Symtamthot aln or he wialw to have tho l ootiated oontributionr in tho Tooohor %tiruont Sptom nturnod to l amoIndlridual other than thehu&#andorriio Inwas ofdosth b0ror0 retiremoat, lo th Teukhei Betirwnt 8yatu l otIn,g within the law ~otirmlng tti mow, in looordnnoe

withthoroqwott
B.“would a husbandorwlio 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 hodkm

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 thisdqurtmnt to tha prorlaiolu of Sootlon6, subaootloa 6, of tho Ant In quentlon, and Itla 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 deathor 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 memberdi* befor mtlromont the **owunt** oi him aooumulatad contributiona ataniiios **to** tho oroditof 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 bapaid otherwise. Sovan (7) pars afterl 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 'donnotthen 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.
Wob&wede-d It naoe~oary In due oonaidwation of your quoationo to rofar rather artenoirely toother partinent prorlaions or the Act.

0r Thepurpoasa 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 uadorthe 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 deilnedIn this Aot. TheS.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 amtho ‘T0aoh.r &tlr.mnt Systa or Taxa.*. and by suohnameall oi Its buolrms ehall b. tranoaoted; all of It. fund. inr..ted and all of its oaoh and l o ourltleo and oth.r property held.”
It 10 provided that th. Trust... .h.ll a.m. rlthout oomponoatIon.

S.otlon 8 or tho Aot. amongottir thing., ~mrid.8 that tho taoteas ahall doaI~notoa mdiool board to b. ocmposed of throo olIgIblo phyololam rho shall passapw ail modloal l

xulaatlona of m,boro wh1.h mayb. zmquirod under theprorlalonaof theAot, and who.hall inroatil(ata all ..a.ntlal ltat.mnta and oortlfloato. by and ombehalf of sly momborin oonnootion with his applloatim for dloobillt~ ntimnt. Th. trwteeo or. rsqu1r.d to appolatanaotuam who .hall be their taohnlool adrl..r with r.8 op.ratIon or the funds oreotod uador tha fsot to th paw l iono of tho Aot. It lo providedthot 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 assoon 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 (Iprorid.. In 8ub.ton.o that ln th. year 193S andat 1oa.t 0110. In la.h flr. ymr period thoraaftor. th. aotuary shall rake anloturialiareatlSatIon or th. mortality, .orrioo, and ocmpwmation oxporlure. or tho mabare and b.n.fI.Iari.. of tho &timmnt S~mtom, and shall mak6’a valuationoftho loooto andllabllltl.. 0r th. fund. 0r tho snot-. I. doing .o, h. .h.ll toko into aooount tho result of au09 lm*.tlgatlon andraluatlon, andaold Board .hall adopt f2 ouoh mortalltJ, ..rvIo., and ot&r. .~+~abtlrOm@nt Syotom able. as.hall bo domd
nooowa~. Thoy .hall oortlty th. rate par .nnum whloh shallBon. 9. Y. Brown. June 1, 1939. Pa&r4

ba allowed in oaloulating amounta of prior-•orrloo rooorvao to ba orodltod to the aoaount of oaoh Mmborartor l'Otil-N.Bt.

The partloular and Important power* of tho Board of Trwtooo lm set forth in aotion 9,and mofer 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 mayb@moolred **br** the Treasury or the Stata iron oontributiono or tha taaoharo and mploysr8 aa provided by the Aot, and muoh**funds** maybe Invested la auoh ~aourltlom and in agoordanoo with l uoh lImItationa aa are apeoliloally tboreln defined.

E. They base powerto 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. ‘Pa0trugt*oe~ annually ahall allow regular interest on tho mew amount for
,. .$ preoadin# year fn eaoh of the funds with tho

l xooptlon ,.o, Expmnu ?undaa 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 poroonowhoare 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 anotloo of hla olootlon “not to bo oworod in the muborohl SyatQ", togothar with a duly exeouted waiver of alP 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 memberof the ~atlrement Systam as a oondltlon of his employment.

Spaolflo twda metup 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. ThePermanent 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 

### tothe 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, andao..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 Qoatlng.nt **iwd** out of whloh Qpolal r.qulr.Punto of other **funds** mayb. oororod. Th. prinolpal of this fund IQto b. held and d.dioatod so apup.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 intoroat l sr8lngo trsnrfwred to it QhaIl b. hold oQsn lntersst r.Q.I'v. aooouat, frcm aMoh paymanta 8hsll t. mad088 tallows:

(a) Thetrust..8 shall r.o.Iv. and trsnsi.r ouoh mount as maybe required to guarantee rsgular lnt.r.Qt on tb. m.Qnamount. of lnvestm.ntQ or th. fund8 0r.at.d by th. Aot, exoopt&& the Erpenee Bund.

(b) They Qhall tranQi.r annually from saidl&meat rooorvsa totho iixpenosFund ouoh an amount aa lo nqulr.d to prorlda for the admiBIotrstion andmsIotonanoo oftb SyOtom.

Tba Aot oontalns 8 numboror trrns whloh sr. d.fln.d snd areQI@Iflo.nt, suoh I). nB.n.fIoIsry~, "&nulty: "R*tiromontAllowona*?, *DIoabilIty R#tIromo8t”, and aAotusr~al Squlvalent",whloh la& m.sno a benaflt oompted upon tha ba*lo of onoh mcrtallty tables #IIma7ta adopted by tho trmtooo. togothor with mauler **tatwest** thoraon.

It will thus be l..n froa ths ior.goIng l tst.m.nto thottbo tit10 to th. total oontrilutiooQ or p.Jmto a* .nd whenmada by the umber8 to the T.aoh.r R.tirrant S7ot.m paoal baolut.ly to that S7ot.m to by l dmI8iotuod by tho true two In th. Int.nQt oi Quohmmboro. 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. intheformof anannuitywhloh Qball k tha aotuorlal
. Stats ft ulvalont of the Qumoi the t.aoh.r'Q l avix@a andth. .o.rv.o duohImon 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 tlonal P amount as h. m.7 b found .ntltl.d to no.lr. from tha 8t.t. Asatmulation lundaa orthedata of tho toaoher'a-r&l-t. Andimthor, ifthe tea&or ha a validprior-•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 OSan annuity or 1s of his avors&voprior-•.rvloo oorpmuatlon, muItil1.d **by** the numborof yoaro of him%x08 *onlo* as ohowain h a priorIt Q.nio. ~.oQatIon o.rtiiloato.

e. ~DIQablllty Rotlraunt B.n.rIt'. k to whloh the no) P

rorlda6 that Ii a momborhoe had SOormom your oi oredltab l l

onloo. ha maybe r*tlr*d **by** tls Quatoo on sn allowano. In an amount d.temIn& aooording to a l tst.d oomputatlon, oondltlonad upon tbQY.dIoal Board firQt OOrtiiyin@ that ho lo m.ntolly or phyaloally Inoap6oitat.d foe furthorporiomanoo oi hla oallln& and that owh inoapaolty is probably pum.wnt. yih.nupon, h. Qhall r*o*lv* aSonlooBon. 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) Fromaoou8pIlated oontrlbutlona by the mabar **6tandlq** to his aooouut In tha Taoohsr Saving 7und at tha **tlmo** cUhla 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 IWOwith the provl#lon that8 (1) **upon** hla death, the **roolduo** of auoh allowanoa shall be oontlnued throughoutthe llia of. and paid to, auoh paraoo aa ha shall nominati by written doolguatlon duly l oknorled@d and filedwithtlmtmotooo at thatin 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 OrdOrto dat.aznIna the propu **anoworo** that maybe 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 mumtbe lntarpntad in **aooordaooa** with UWmaxir. *TbaLawIa 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 SDabsurd result.

Ofaqua1 Importsnoe is another rula whlob IOthat a l tatuta rust be Intarpreted so aa to m&a oporativa in a praotloal way the purposeof thokSI~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 IAhanony tharowlth. Jo, it a ltstuta la aunooptlblo or any other raaaonabla intarpretat&m, it wIll not be oonOtrwd ao as t0 mka it inpraOtiOa1 Ofl niOrOmnb. In all oaaeo the Courts will, if poaslbls. avoid **a** oonatruotlonHon. 3. Y. B-. June 1, 1959, Pago 7

tht rili ndt in **00nrii0t,** 00nmi0n, 0r dmiOPin 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 andenoourageliti**etion.** atb 0 l'orgmeter rm.08, it86, **ba** mid that it s
. not Du8ittr x" to MY oneto iogiuk **id0** (1mme.0 words 01 implioation0 roreien t0 or lari#ABtwith the piein iSng~clg0 uld puzpOM Orths AOt, ti whioh, if .O lnoorporat0d. wuld rak0 the Dtetut9 -0~ BOYthin6 difiw0nt irmn that whioh 100 lntsnd0d by tlm LO U&drhioh **rotid** tend t0 Prollat.0 Oil Or0010 Orth0 wI? alOtur0, 0 and dirrioalti0r in it8 enforoannt l* h0r~inabcwo unticmd.

183l upp0rt 0r ths0 prapo~iti-, t&ur0wwiw autboriti0e aa-0oitodr Sbi&.le~ 'I. rloyd0da **&dopmMent** Sobool Dirtriot, SO08. W. tOOr. APP.) 1691 h-Or T. Carltan 116 Tax. 573 SO9Y. 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, ISO1and 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 ltetuta am 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 

## itwae thm ~~lr~~t pprpou0r th hgi8iewa 

## tht tb Board or 

## mut001who 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 lmlniawh-~er;

tmdorr, 00000i0n a al 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 &~.rronM 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 mayharmbmenmrri~ 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 moto ao, Lt boospro thor oozutituto aantraotual obl190tiona l **ntuod** into bhw.8 tha t00ohu0 0ad th0 Stat0 OrTosm a 1W oap0oiti00 00 wPplo~r" and lma ooatributor to the funL **or** the **systa,** unlom lm lmpll0d in tlu rid qu.e4tbn l 

## amittedtothie D.Pwt=nt, 

## thaLoglmlaton

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-0th0 00n0titutionOl ph000 th110lmpli0d, and ror r0000n0 a0 mor0 prtioularl shown honiMrt*r, it 10 tlm 0pinion or thi4 D0pwtmnt that lh0 #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 AOtlmlona t0 tJU l 0tOt0Non. 9. Y. Brown, June 1, 1939, Pay 8

or tha lumbar to whomthe mm ah.11 her. boon .llott.d and orad1t.d br th. trust... of tb. System, and t&t th. hrubsnd or wifa or thmlumber in virtu. of t& oommunit~ lawa h@sno 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.9rOoi0 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, andwhioh after d.ilnlng **said** *stat., provides **that1**

. and laws &all b. passed more ol.srly dailnkg'therights 0r the 

### wirein nlation.as roll .s to liar prop.rty (ISthat 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 ution ofwmria#* ahall b. P prmamad tobelom totheoorunltr **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. mayprovid. **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 arerealliar lnstanoes oi le((i.la~$on suoh aa just Puntionod. On. Orthe.. ha. todo with ddpOalt# in a sarlnga bank. Artlol* 409, R. 0. 8. 19S5, provides in .ubatmoe that: Whena 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 namethe doposit shall hai. ken mdm, and that th. reoolpt oraoqulttano. of suoh'ferel. shall b. a ralid r.l.as. and disohr#s trm .uoh d.poait, orany part th*r*oi, to th. oorporatlon wherein suoh d*y&%. MS bmn made.

An0th.r inataooe or ,tli* k+ilatur* oraatiag suab apm tion is .+tiol. 47Sb.3, R. C. 8. 1985, .s .mnd.d, andrhlo provides in .ubatana. that whemrer any p.raon -3 shell proour. the lssuano. or a pollop or lnmranoq on hie or h.riii. in any legal resmrvmlife in.urano. ooapany and shall dsslgnat., in writing, ths ben.rioiary to reoelrqtha proowds ther.ot, the oompanyissuln(l th. polioyin tlu sbmono.of any notloe of adtars. olair to th. prooosda, maypar th. proo..d. upon the death of tha inmrsd to tb. psrson .o dosignetbd .s b.nerloia 3 and suchpayment shall disoharg. hh. oompaql frop 011 lla ility **by** nason of suoh pollog.Z+n. 9. Y. Brown, June 1, 1939, Paem9

Another suoh lnstono. la shown by Artiole 4682, R. c. 3. 19e5, whioh provider in substeno. that fund8 ondepbsLt in any bank, whsther in the nam, oi the husband orwifm, 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 1mRstthat maybe 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 damdto a married womanto tha erreot that the convmyanoe is ior her separatm us. end estate r.mov.8 thmprqsumptlon 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. mayl steblish Bgirt 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 thmr than the husband. MoCutohmon d 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, Braoalpt 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 memberof 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%.drather as iollowsl

*ore the beneiits whloh shall have b..n leif ally alloostsd to a teaohmr memberin tbs T.aoh.r atlrement System or Taxes 0ommunity proparty ii the tssoher is ~rrled?” This 1s deemedpropmrior the rmason that thebmnsfit8whloh sre returned or paid to the tmsohmr armnot th. .ar marked oontrlbutlons nhioh ho mayhavmpaid into the funds of th. Syster, but thmy oonslst of su.h an amount .S Bhall harmb..n aotuarlally dmt.rminrd to bmhis prorats of tb earnings from the sumtotal or the oontrlbutions from all thm teaohorB of the State when a4d.d to by the earnings from the total of the approprietions madeby 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 maybe mid that the TmaohsrRetirement system of Texas in a l*gal hybrid with raspsot to it8 oorporeta entityand ths bualnors whloh it has been authorisod and *ad*d to 00ndu0t through tha Mdlu~or tnmt00s ror tb a0l.a bOerit 0r the teaolmraor tha stat*. E0wermr,N think ~10i# 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 

### thainsured msmbsrln tb. 

### r0a-8 or bmaaiit. **d**tvsnf l ithu ine lumpSIPor (1s per thmtmnu oianmnu tyand*oktalulu& 1x.0, mlemsuta or ordlnmy lirm imuraaoa. Thmrm is this furthor essential element, howsvmr and that la that tbo 5mOats or~00~ whiohth0stat0rrtp. t& to tim ISobli(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 SyBtemti OMMB t - not the tmaohara kn silt8 - to makmmonmy,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
troporty, both real and por*onal or

### thewirm, mmd or olalmd y her befor* marriage and that aoquirmd afterward* by lit devisa or de.-, shall k bar omparstmpropbrty." &iid '16, snotioq 15.

Thi. provision wa# in00=ioratmd into tha Conatitutlon *s s nhleld oi proteotlon to he wirm andwhil8 it ,ruo*e**rlly limits 'which us *oquired **tat* toihow proportia*
J +hm l *v*ral *ourom* dmri80d in th. Oolutltutlon. has not rro#ved .nd .hould not 

### rqo*ir* a

narrow eonatruotion, l spmoiallyaa

r*opaot* Anykind or propmrty whoam inoi tion of bywhatever r0m it mayt.k. snd tv wlmtmvmr .ot ot the donor the Sift 1s indiostmd. l stisr&e# blrr, Colutitution, end vasta thm~titlm thanto inhmr so*rati"- k mstmta, wbthar the donor is tlu husband or some ot r pmraon. As b&men the husband andwifm, th* oourts harmin a varimty of **sms upheld the rlf*'s tltlm Wn ba**d upon (~1 1l.d girt rr0r th0 husband. Thi* ~*'*spaaislly trus whmnt Ye lndlol* of title appeers to ba already in hmrsmparatm *stat&

It abould be bermnotmd that the word "aoqulred" as u.sd in th. above saotlon of tlu Corutltutlon BY~U.tin inomption or the title to t&mproperty. As appl1.d to thm subjeot undar dlsoussion, t&niorm. it 1~811sthat Ft the x-lrm b&or* marrlaEe bsaeu s nmbmr or tbs Taaober &tlnunt Syatmm. that iaat alon* d*tmaMn*s thmatatua or tba belurita thmraiu *s being in her **parat* mrtatm. liar subs*qumnt marrlago w0rrld00t arre0t that titi0. Thmlaw a8 to thl. matt.r 1. well ssttled .-andrequlrea no fUrthor dlsousslon or citation oi authori~ims.Ron. s. Y. Brown. Jut201, 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. Thaprlmry souroea Ofthe fund8 from whloh the bsnoilta or lnsurenoaare to be pnld to the unborr of thlm Systw hare already been noted, an4 the, oon~tltut.
. rtorfn1 oonrlderotlon In d~tsrmlnlng the nature andoharaoter 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 laurled vo98n to theraBpaotlrabonaflt# allooatod to lur, we thinkmob girt will nsom.sarily be Inplied. Whnn a marriedwmn bsoomea 8 teeohar In themohoolaofTexas, 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 humbandknew or by low la oharged rlth thn kaorlwlgo thnt a

an prim iaoia rested in her oeparatoeatate 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 hissriie solong 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&uhruband to the wlr+rhem 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; Dorftyv. Dorlt,, 70 S. W.6?111, Aff. 96Tax. 618, 71 S. K. 950; Brownv. 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; 23Tox. Jur- pp.68-74.

"Then is no llmltatlon whatarm upon the aeparots eatate thus noquirod aa to thmmarea or thedonation. It 16 only requimd nudor the gorural prlnolple that than ba an l thorlm6 donorand (Iooupetmt 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 0s roti property, poraonal property or fixed bxowrt,'; of ohoaw In poosouion or inaotlon. It ry ocumiatofanything reoopnfzcd by law ampropeztyor @pro rty
. right. Th0

girt 8ay bo l r pnrr

or i8gdiody

r t Roy be by pro1 or inw'rltlag~ it uy b l ltlur inter rlror or 08um Portia. Whenavortha tranuotion 8oots thr general requlmmntm oi Zm aato

### giita

. and the donm 18 a married penon, the **sub-** ;& matter oi 8 gift baoolua at onoe (Ipartof hig (orher) #sparate wtata." 65 Tax. Jar. p. 6g aa!!authorities oitod In tha notom.Hon. 5. Y. Erown, Juno 1, 1939, Pa60 1S

And00 applIoabl. to .ith r th&huObOnd or th. WE., !l. absent iraud. ..lth.r maydonOt. 

### to t other . portion or the oozmunit, funds to b. 1.6.11
on. or tha other apouse, or t lamsted-ror thmsoparata 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 lanot n.oema.8 thlropinion to plr. th. r.O.cw .O.i@.d **by** t l Th Dol 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 ofthlaStats. 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. RElS. VI.6051 Eatoh
.. Eatoh.SO 9.W.411 (Writ of error reiumd).

90w or th.0. oaa.0 01.0 aunouu~. th. dootrin., whloh IO0.ttl.d 1.w in thI0 *tat. th.t tha di..olution of th. Mr**da&o by**  diroroodoasnot afiaot ruoh 0. *rat. IntuaW of tha Opou.. in the polioy of InOurOno., and0P00 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 oftha aarber thrrelidw 0 f hi. or her bwwflt., wbathmrcalled aRiturn*d Oontributlonrm, q*timnt Bsnorit.* or “Annuity”. It 1. 

### to b. not.d th.t ruoh .ppOinwnt doea not glrato tha nppointaeany preamt intorah in mob boneiit*&win@ the im or tha 888b.r. k to .uoh .9 old** th* titl* tol

uoh rmlduo doe. not v..t ab.olutrly unt11 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**  rroeim 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 thlrAat,it i8boliwod, 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 !sayp..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 Orby 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 waoondqus*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 munhoi 8b fuad0,

l otuari*ll~ d~t~aLd l8iainl 00ord4~~0

with the 8p00irioprori*lona 80ntaL.a in saoti0n 6 of *hia AOt. .andth* 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**