111-A - Bonds required in certain cases.

§  111-a.  Bonds  required in certain cases.  a. In any case where, by  order of a court of competent jurisdiction,  the  retirement  system  is  required  to  pay  over  a  benefit which is payable in installments and  which is predicated upon the life of a beneficiary,  to  a  payee  other  than  the recipient who ordinarily would have taken the benefit pursuant  to the provisions of this article, such payee must file a bond. The bond  shall be in favor of the  comptroller  as  administrative  head  of  the  retirement  system  and  shall  indemnify  him against loss by reason of  excess payments to such payee, after  benefits  have  ceased  to  become  payable for any reason whatsoever.    The  amount  of the bond shall be fixed by the court in a sum not less  than the total amount such payee is expected to take for a period of two  years. The bond with at least two  sureties  must  be  approved  by  the  court. It must be filed with the clerk of the court and a certified copy  thereof  served  upon the comptroller. Before the bond shall be approved  there shall be filed in  the  court  by  every  surety  an  acknowledged  instrument  wherein the surety designates the clerk of the court and his  successors in office as a  person  upon  whom  service  of  any  process  issuing  from  the court may be made in like manner and with like effect  as if served personally upon the surety, whenever such surety after  the  exercise of due diligence cannot be found and served within the state of  New York.    Insofar  as  they  are consistent with this article, the provisions of  law relating to bonds and undertakings in a civil action in the  supreme  court shall apply to bonds required by this subdivision.    b.  Notwithstanding any provisions to the contrary in subdivision a of  this section, if the retirement system is required to pay over a benefit  which is payable in installments and which is predicated upon  the  life  of  a  beneficiary,  to  a payee other than the recipient who ordinarily  would have taken the benefit pursuant to the provisions of this chapter,  such payee shall not be required to file a bond or any other undertaking  where such payment  is  required  by  order  of  a  court  of  competent  jurisdiction  as  the  result  of  an action or proceeding for equitable  distribution, alimony, maintenance or child support pursuant to  article  three-A  or  thirteen of the domestic relations law, article four of the  family court act, title six-A or six-B of article three  of  the  social  services  law, section fifty-two hundred forty-two of the civil practice  law and rules, or by an income  execution  issued  pursuant  to  section  fifty-two hundred forty-one of the civil practice law and rules.    Upon  the  payment  of  such  benefit,  the retirement system shall be  relieved and held harmless from any and all liability for any  claim  of  excess  payment  which exists at the time with reference to such benefit  or may thereafter be made on account of such benefit.