CT HB05443

Modifies surviving spouse benefits under the Teachers' Retirement System to apply to any member who was eligible for retirement benefits (other than disability) at time of death and had not filed a waiver of the coparticipant's option.

Surviving spouses may elect to receive either a monthly lifetime benefit equal to a 100% coparticipant's option benefit or a lump sum equal to the member's accumulated contributions with credited interest.

Removes the previous requirement that the spouse be the sole designated beneficiary or that all other beneficiaries relinquish their claims.

Effective from passage and applicable retroactively to members who died on or after January 1, 2008.