(a) In addition to exercising the authority granted under Subchapter B, Chapter 1111, the board of trustees may adopt rules to provide for payment of accelerated life insurance benefits to a terminally ill, terminally injured, or permanently disabled participant, including an annuitant participating in optional term life insurance coverage, in amounts that benefit the participant without increasing the cost of providing the benefits.
(b) The amount of any payment of an accelerated benefit under a rule adopted under this section must be deducted from the amount that would otherwise be payable as a death benefit.