10-11-136.  Division of funds as community property.

A court of competent jurisdiction, solely for the purposes of effecting a division of community property in a divorce or legal separation proceeding, may provide by appropriate order for a determination and division of a community interest in the pensions or other benefits provided for in the Public Employees Retirement Act [10-11-1 NMSA 1978].  In so doing, the court shall fix the manner in which warrants shall be issued, may order direct payments to a person with a community interest in the pensions or other benefits, may require the election of a specific form of payment and designation of a specific survivor pension beneficiary, refund beneficiary or survivor pension beneficiary designated in accordance with Section 10-11-14.5 NMSA 1978 and may restrain the refund of accumulated member contributions.  Payments made pursuant to such orders shall only be made when member contributions are refunded or a pension is payable in accordance with the provisions of the Public Employees Retirement Act.  The court shall not alter the manner in which the amount of pensions or other benefits is calculated by the association or cause any increase in the actuarial present value of the pensions or other benefits to be paid by the association.