SB 1171 Summary

• Amends Arizona Revised Statutes sections 38-755, 38-760, and 38-776 relating to the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS) spousal consent and beneficiary requirements.

• Allows married members to name a beneficiary other than their current spouse or to waive joint and survivor annuity requirements if the current spouse consents in writing or if naming the spouse would violate another law, an existing contract, or a court order.

• Establishes procedures for spousal consent through a written acknowledgement submitted to ASRS, or allows members to affirm under penalty of perjury that consent is not required due to specific circumstances (unmarried status, no community property interest, inability to locate spouse, qualified domestic relations order, or legal conflict).

• Protects ASRS from liability for payments made in good faith reliance on spousal consent, member affirmations, or statements that the member is not married.

• Makes all amendments retroactively effective from and after June 30, 2013.