2023 Texas Statutes › Vernon's Civil Statutes › Title 109 - Pensions › Article 6243a-1. Pension System for Police Officers and Firefighters in Certain Cities › Part 6. Benefits › Section 6.07. Group a Death Benefits

Sec. 6.07.  GROUP A DEATH BENEFITS.  (a)(1)  If a Group A member dies before leaving active service and before the Group A member had 20 years of pension service, the Group A member's spouse and children who are qualified survivors shall, in the aggregate, receive a Group A death benefit equal to a Group A retirement pension computed under the terms of Section 6.01 of this article as if the Group A member had completed 20 years of pension service.
(2)  If a Group A member dies before service retirement and after the Group A member has 20 years of pension service, the Group A member's spouse and children who are qualified survivors shall, in the aggregate, receive a Group A death benefit calculated under Section 6.01 of this article as if the Group A member had left active service on the date of the Group A member's death.
(3)  If a Group A pensioner dies during service retirement, the Group A pensioner's spouse and children who are qualified survivors shall, in the aggregate, receive a Group A death benefit in an amount equal to the Group A retirement pension being received by the Group A pensioner on the date of the pensioner's death.
(4)  If a Group A pensioner dies after November 25, 1996, while receiving periodic disability compensation under Section 6.05 of this article or a disability pension under Section 6.04 of this article, and before the Group A pensioner has 20 years of pension service, the Group A pensioner's spouse and children who are qualified survivors shall, in the aggregate, receive a Group A death benefit calculated under Section 6.04 or 6.05 of this article, as applicable, in the same manner as the Group A pensioner's periodic disability compensation or disability pension, but as if the Group A pensioner had completed 20 years of pension service.
(5)  If a Group A pensioner who has 20 or more years of pension service dies during disability retirement, the Group A pensioner's spouse and children who are qualified survivors shall, in the aggregate, receive a Group A death benefit in an amount equal to the Group A disability pension being received by the Group A pensioner on the date of the pensioner's death.
(b)  Group A death benefits under Subsection (a) of this section shall:
(1)  be divided one-half to the spouse and one-half to the children who are qualified survivors; and
(2)  subject to the terms of Sections 6.06(n), (o), (o-1), and (o-2) of this article, be distributed in an equal and uniform manner to the children described by Subdivision (1) of this subsection.
(c)  If a Group A member or pensioner dies leaving no spouse or children who are qualified survivors, the dependent parents who are qualified survivors shall receive a Group A death benefit equal to the death benefit otherwise payable under Subsection (a) of this section.  The death benefit payable to the dependent parents under this subsection shall be divided equally between the parents regardless of whether the parents are married or living at the same residence.  If there is only one dependent parent, that parent is entitled to one-half of the death benefit described in this subsection.