(a) In the event a retirant who is in receipt of a straight life pension dies before he or she has received in straight life pension payments an aggregate amount equal to his or her accumulated contributions standing to his or her credit in the members' deposit account at the time of his or her retirement, then the difference between his or her accumulated contributions and the aggregate amount of straight life pension payments received by him shall be paid to such persons as he or she shall have nominated by written designation duly executed and filed with the Board of Trustees of the State Police Retirement System.
(b) If there is no designated person surviving the retirant, the difference, if any, shall be paid in accordance with the laws of descent and distribution of the State of Arkansas.
(c) The payments may be made directly to a curator, guardian, administrator, or executor authorized to receive such payments, wherever the representative may be, with or without the appointment of a representative in this state.
(d) In no case shall any benefits be paid under this section on account of the death of a retirant if any pensions become payable from funds of the State Police Retirement System on account of his or her death.