Opinion ID: 5064
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Appellant's Post–1988 Complaints.

Text: Russell reasons that she is a qualified surviving spouse (married to the member at the time of the member's death) and that the Plan B language, as amended on 26 April 1988, afforded her entitlement to benefits after that date. Again, we disagree. No fair reading of the either the Plan B amendment or the ballot could result in a conclusion that the amendment was applicable to anyone other than a surviving spouse receiving benefits on the effective date of plan amendment, i.e., 21 April 1988. Not only does the ballot itself specifically exclude benefits to those surviving spouses not receiving benefits as of the effective date, but the applicable Texas law requires a prospective application of the language creating plan amendment. Under Texas law, [a] statute is presumed to be prospective in its operation unless expressly made retroactive. Tex.Gov't.Code Ann. § 311.022 (Vernon 1988). It follows, of course, that amendments are also presumed not to apply retroactively. Skoczylas v. Federal Bureau of Prisons, 961 F.2d 543, 554 (5th Cir.1992); Houston Indep. School Dist. v. Houston Chronicle Pub. Company, 798 S.W.2d 580, 585 (Tex.App.1990, writ denied ). Plain and simple, the clear language of the ballot expanded the class of beneficiaries only to those spouses receiving benefits as of 22 April 1988. To read the language more broadly would lead to absurd and unintended consequences. Because we find no issue as to any material fact as to whether Russell was retroactively covered by the Plan B amendment, it is unnecessary to consider the district court's holding that appellant lacked standing to challenge the post amendment actions of the Board.