Spokane Municipal Code

Title 03 Administration and Personnel

Chapter 03.05 Spokane Employees' Retirement System

1. Beneficiary Designations, Generally.

At any time before the earlier of the member’s retirement or death, a member may designate a new beneficiary or revoke a previous designation of beneficiary for the purposes of the payment of death benefits under SMC 3.05.170.

2. Requirements of Valid Beneficiary Designations.

To be considered a valid beneficiary designation, such designation must be:

1. In a written format acceptable to the board;

2. Signed and dated by the member; and

3. Received by the retirement system before the earlier of the member’s retirement or death.

3. Effect of Receipt of Valid Beneficiary Designation.

The receipt by the retirement system of a member’s new beneficiary designation revokes all previous otherwise valid beneficiary designations made by that member.

4. Beneficiary Designation not Generally Not Modifiable by Agreement.

The right of a designated spousal beneficiary to receive a death benefit under SMC 3.05.170.A or B. may not be deemed nullified or waived by any agreement or property settlement between the member and the beneficiary, or on behalf of either of them, except to the extent that such agreement or property settlement constitutes a qualified domestic relations order under SMC 3.05.240.B.

5. Subsequent Life Events do not Revoke Existing Beneficiary Designations.

The marriage, divorce, remarriage, dissolution or invalidation of a marriage or state registered domestic partnership, or termination of a state registered domestic partnership will not revoke, affect or otherwise invalidate an otherwise valid beneficiary designation under this SMC 3.05.175 previously executed by a member and filed with the retirement system.  Accordingly, by operation of RCW 11.07.010(2)(b)(i), amounts payable under SMC 3.05.710 are not subject to RCW 11.07.010.”

Date Passed: Monday, November 8, 2021

Effective Date: Wednesday, December 15, 2021

ORD C36127 Section 3