(1) Option P3 is a joint survivorship annuity, which is defined as a somewhat smaller sum of money than the amount that would be payable under option A but that is the actuarial equivalent thereof, as calculated under this retirement plan, payable monthly to an annuitant from the time of retirement until the death of said annuitant and thereafter to the annuitant's designated spouse or any one individual, so long as said designated spouse or individual shall live; except that, if the co-annuitant is not a designated spouse, the calculation of the payments to the annuitant and co-annuitant will be made in accordance with the further provisions of subsection (2) of this section. The designation of the co-annuitant shall be effective upon the effective date of the member's retirement and may not subsequently be changed except as provided in subsection (4) of this section. Upon the death of the co-annuitant prior to the death of the annuitant, the benefit payable to the annuitant thereafter shall be the original option A amount increased by any increases in the basic retirement allowance granted in accordance with the provisions of the DPS plan document and section 24-51-1732 subsequent to the annuitant's effective date of retirement. In addition to designating a co-annuitant, the member shall designate a beneficiary and shall have the exclusive right to change such designation of beneficiary at any time prior to the annuitant's death. If, upon the death of both the annuitant and the co-annuitant, the total amount of retirement allowance that has been paid to them does not exceed the member's accumulated contributions, then the difference between said accumulated contributions and the total amount of retirement allowance paid to such annuitant and coannuitant shall be paid to the named beneficiary of the annuitant or, if no such named beneficiary exists, to the estate of the co-annuitant.
If the designated co-annuitant is not the annuitant's designated spouse or a formerspouse of the annuitant under the circumstances stated in subsection (3) of this section, the coannuitant's benefit shall be calculated in accordance with the treasury regulations under section 401(a)(9) of the federal "Internal Revenue Code of 1986", as amended, but, as so calculated, the benefits to the annuitant, the co-annuitant, and any beneficiary or to the estate of the coannuitant, as provided for in option P3, shall be the actuarial equivalent of the amount that would be payable under option A as calculated under this retirement plan.
If the designated co-annuitant is a former spouse, and if pursuant to a properly executed and filed agreement under section 14-10-113, C.R.S., the designated co-annuitant may, upon the prior death of the annuitant, and for the life of the co-annuitant, receive a monthly payment equal to that otherwise payable to the annuitant.
In case of the death of the designated co-annuitant under option P3 after the date ofapplication for retirement and before the effective date of retirement, the member may make a change of option or designate a new co-annuitant within thirty days after the death of the previously designated co-annuitant and subject to the appropriate recalculation of the retirement allowance.
Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary, an annuitant may change the coannuitant that was named by such annuitant and designate a supplemental needs trust as a coannuitant in place of the previously named co-annuitant if:
The beneficiary of the supplemental needs trust is the same person as the previouslynamed co-annuitant; and
The retiree files an application and any required documents in a form as designatedby the association.
(6) If a supplemental needs trust is not established before or within ninety days after the death of the annuitant, is determined to be invalid, or is terminated on or after the death of the annuitant, the beneficiary that was named in the trust is the co-annuitant.
Source: L. 2009: Entire part added, (SB 09-282), ch. 288, p. 1371, § 56, effective January 1, 2010. L. 2015: (5) and (6) added, (SB 15-097), ch. 111, p. 329, § 13, effective April 16.
Cross references: For the legislative declaration in SB 15-097, see section 1 of chapter 111, Session Laws of Colorado 2015.