RETIRED EMPLOYEES GROUP DEATH BENEFIT FUND

Fort Worth City Code ch. 2.5, art. II

in effect

Fort Worth City Code § 2.5-226 CONTINUATION OF DEATH BENEFIT FUND.

§ 2.5-226 CONTINUATION OF DEATH BENEFIT FUND. Ord. 6235, as adopted by the city council on January 26, 1970, created and established a fund designated as the “retired employees group death benefit fund” from which lump-sum payments are made upon the death of retired members of the employees’ retirement fund of the City of Fort Worth, Texas. That fund is still in existence and shall continue operation as herein set forth. (Ord. 20471-10-2012, § 2, passed 10-23-2012)

Fort Worth City Code § 2.5-227 APPROPRIATIONS TO FUND.

§ 2.5-227 APPROPRIATIONS TO FUND. The city shall continue to appropriate to the retired employees’ death benefit fund such amount or amounts as may be necessary to provide the lump-sum payments hereinafter set forth in § 2.5-229 on an as needed basis from current revenues, and, in the event such current revenues are insufficient, the city shall compute, ascertain and levy an ad valorem tax sufficient to raise and produce the money required to appropriate and pay any additional sums which may become due during any such year. The city shall levy a sufficient tax, when needed, to provide the revenue from which such appropriations may be made. (Ord. 20471-10-2012, § 2, passed 10-23-2012)

Fort Worth City Code § 2.5-228 DEFINITIONS.

§ 2.5-228 DEFINITIONS. With reference to the retired employees’ group death benefit fund, the following words, terms and phrases shall have the meanings ascribed to them herein, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning. The masculine pronouns wherever used herein shall include both the male and female persons. DESIGNATED BENEFICIARIES ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE THE DEATH BENEFIT HEREUNDER. Includes any individual designated by the member as a designated beneficiary on a board approved beneficiary designated card. FILING. For purposes of determining the surviving designated beneficiary, the date when the beneficiary designation card is actually received by the retirement office. RETIRED EMPLOYEES’ GROUP DEATH BENEFIT FUND. The fund from which lump-sum payments are made upon the death of retired members of the fund if said member retired after January 1, 1970. SURVIVING SPOUSE. The widow or widower legally married to the member at least one year immediately prior to the member’s retirement from the City of Fort Worth and at the time of the member’s death. (Ord. 20471-10-2012, § 2, passed 10-23-2012)

Fort Worth City Code § 2.5-229 ENTITLEMENT TO DEATH BENEFIT.

§ 2.5-229 ENTITLEMENT TO DEATH BENEFIT. (a) When a member of the fund dies subsequent to retirement from active employment with the city, the surviving spouse shall be entitled to receive (in addition to benefits provided by the fund a lump-sum payment of $5,000). If the deceased member leaves no surviving spouse and has filed a valid beneficiary designation card with the retirement office naming a surviving designated beneficiary, a lump-sum payment of $5,000 shall be made in full to said surviving designated beneficiary. Upon written request by the surviving spouse or surviving designated beneficiary after the death of the member, the executive director may directly pay the death benefit, or the portion thereof to the funeral home necessary to satisfy the member’s funeral expenses. (b) (1) If the deceased member leaves no surviving spouse or surviving designated beneficiary, a lump-sum payment of $5,000 shall be made to the estate of the deceased member upon presentation to the executive director of one of the following legal instruments: a. Letters testamentary; b Letters of administration; c. Muniment of title; d. Affidavit of small estate; or e. Judgment declaring heirship. (2) The lump-sum payment herein provided shall be made in lieu of any payments to which the survivor(s) or estate of the deceased member would have been entitled under the city’s group life insurance plan during the member’s period of active employment with the city. (c) This lump-sum payment of $5,000 shall not be payable to those members: (1) Who retired before January 1, 1970; or (2) Whose coverage at the time of death was otherwise extended under the permanent and total disability feature of the city’s group life insurance plan. (Ord. 20471-10-2012, § 2, passed 10-23-2012)

Fort Worth City Code § 2.5-230 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF DEATH BENEFIT FUND.

§ 2.5-230 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF DEATH BENEFIT FUND. The executive director of the fund shall be charged with the duty of making the lump-sum payments herein provided for, and such payments shall be made solely from funds appropriated by the city council for such purpose. The executive director shall maintain such records as may be necessary in the administration of the retired employees’ group death benefit fund. The executive director shall maintain a special accounting of the funds heretofore and hereby appropriated, and the executive director shall not make any payments authorized hereunder from funds contributed by the employees or the city under the provisions of the fund or from earnings on such contributions. (Ord. 20471-10-2012, § 2, passed 10-23-2012)

Fort Worth City Code § 2.5-231 BOARD OF TRUSTEES.

§ 2.5-231 BOARD OF TRUSTEES. (a) The board of trustees of the fund shall act on behalf of the city council of the City of Fort Worth as trustees of the retired employees’ group death benefit fund under the same provisions, regulations and procedures for the investment of funds of the employees’ retirement fund of the City of Fort Worth. (b) All records and earnings on the assets of the retired employees’ group death benefit fund shall be maintained separate and apart from assets and earnings of the fund. (Ord. 20471-10-2012, § 2, passed 10-23-2012)

Source: City of Fort Worth, Code of Ordinances, City Charter and Zoning Ordinance (American Legal Publishing, codelibrary.amlegal.com)URL: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/ftworth/latest/ftworth_tx/0-0-0-3279Fetched: 10/26/2026