2005 Arizona Revised Statutes - Revised Statutes §38-904  Death benefits; amount

A. If an active or inactive member dies and no pension is payable on account of the member's death, an amount equal to two times the member's accumulated contributions to the retirement plan is payable to the person designated by the deceased member in writing and filed with the fund manager. If the designated person or persons do not survive the deceased member, the payment is payable to the estate of the deceased member. For the purposes of this subsection, "inactive member" means a person who previously made contributions to the plan, who has not retired, who is not currently making contributions to the plan and who has not withdrawn contributions from the plan.

B. If the deceased retired or active member does not have an eligible surviving spouse or the pension of the eligible surviving spouse is terminated, each surviving unmarried child of the deceased retired or active member is entitled to a pension which terminates on adoption or the attainment of eighteen years of age unless the child is a full-time student under twenty-three years of age or the child is under a disability which began before the child attained the age of twenty-three years. The amount of the pension of each surviving child of a deceased retired or active member is an equal share of the amount of the surviving spouse's pension. The fund manager shall pay the surviving minor child's pension to the person who is the legally appointed guardian or custodian of the eligible child.