(a)
(1) Notwithstanding the provisions of this subchapter regarding the required dates of distribution of benefits under the Arkansas Teacher Retirement System to former members, the distribution of a former member's benefits under the system shall in any event be made or begun by April 1 of the calendar year following the later of the calendar year in which the member attains age seventy and one-half (70½) or the calendar year in which the member retires.
(2) Distributions shall be made over the life of the member or over the lives of the member and the member's designated beneficiary or over a period not extending beyond the life expectancy of the member or the life expectancy of the member and the member's designated beneficiary.
(b)
(1) If the member dies after the distribution of benefits under the system commences, the distribution of the benefits shall be continued in accordance with the form of benefit in effect prior to the member's death.
(2)
(A) If the member dies before the distribution of benefits under the system commences, the entire death benefit, if any, due as a result of the member's death shall be distributed no later than five (5) years after the member's death except to the extent that a written election is made to receive distributions in accordance with subdivisions (b)(2)(B) or (C) of this section.
(B) If any portion of the member's benefit is payable to a designated beneficiary, distributions shall be made in substantially equal installments over the life or life expectancy of the designated beneficiary commencing no later than one (1) year after the member's death.
(C) If the designated beneficiary is the member's surviving spouse, the date distributions required to begin in accordance with subdivision (b)(2)(A) of this section shall not be earlier than the date on which the member would have attained age seventy and one-half (70½). If the spouse dies before payments begin, subsequent distributions shall be made as if the spouse had been the member.
(D) Notwithstanding the provisions of this subchapter, all distributions of benefits under the system shall comply with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code, 26 U.S.C. 401(a)(9) and the regulations under the Internal Revenue Code, including United States Treasury Regulation, 26 C.F.R. § 1.401(a)(9)-2 and those provisions shall override any distribution options in this chapter that are inconsistent with section 401(a)(9) of the Internal Revenue Code, 26 U.S.C. 401(a)(9).