ARTICLE 2. Preretirement Death Benefits [21530. - 21554.]

Cal. Government Code - GOV 2.

in effect

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 21530. Section 21530.

(a) This system is liable for either the basic or special death benefit upon the death of a member in any of the following circumstances: (1) Before the effective date of retirement, and (A) while in state service, or (B) while absent on military service, provided the member has made contributions during the absence under Section 20991 or has had contributions made on his or her behalf under Section 20997, or (C) within four months after discontinuance of state service, or (D) while on an approved leave of absence, or (E) while physically or mentally incapacitated for the performance of duty, if the incapacity has been continuous from discontinuance of state service, or (F) while employed as a member of a county retirement system; provided, the employment resulting in membership was begun on or after October 1, 1957, and within 90 days after discontinuance of state service. (2) While in state service in partial service retirement pursuant to Article 1.7 (commencing with Section 19996.30) of Chapter 7 of Part 2.6 or Sections 21110 through 21115. (3) On or after the effective date of retirement and before the mailing of a retirement allowance warrant and either within four months of discontinuance of state service or while physically or mentally incapacitated for the performance of duty if the incapacity has been continuous from discontinuance of state service, and providing all of the following conditions exist: (A) The retirement of the member was not compulsory under Article 5 (commencing with Section 21130) of Chapter 12. (B) The member has not elected the optional settlement in Section 21456, 21457, 21459, 21475, 21475.5, 21476, 21476.5, or 21477, or an optional settlement in Section 21458, involving payment of an allowance throughout the life of a beneficiary. (C) A partially continued allowance under Sections 21624 through 21631, is not payable. (b) This system is liable for a limited death benefit, which consists only of the accumulated contributions of the member payable to his or her beneficiary or estate, under the following circumstances: (1) Upon the death of a member before the effective date of his or her retirement or, with respect to (A) any member whose retirement was not compulsory under Article 5 (commencing with Section 21130) of Chapter 12, and (B) any member who has not elected the optional settlement in Section 21456, 21457, 21459, 21475, 21475.5, 21476, 21476.5, or 21477, or an optional settlement in Section 21458 involving payment of an allowance throughout the life of a beneficiary, on or after that effective date and before the mailing of the first retirement allowance warrant. (2) Under those circumstances in which this system is not liable for either the basic or special death benefit provided in subdivision (a) of this section, and a partially continued allowance under Sections 21624 through 21631, is not payable.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 21531. Section 21531.

The basic death benefit and the limited death benefit shall be paid as provided in this article to the beneficiary designated by the member under Section 21490 or 21492.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 21532. Section 21532.

The basic death benefit is payable in all cases where the retirement system is liable under Section 21530 for either the basic or a special death benefit and the special death benefit is not payable. The basic death benefit shall consist of: (a) The accumulated contributions of the member. (b) If the member is not an insured member, or is an insured member eligible for service retirement or the member is subject to benefits pursuant to Section 21547, an amount, provided from contributions by the state, or a contracting agency, equal to one-twelfth of the annual compensation earnable by the deceased during the 12 months immediately preceding his or her death, or the compensation earnable by the member at the time of becoming eligible for benefits pursuant to Section 21160 if higher, multiplied by the number of completed years of current service credited to the member, but not to exceed one-half of the annual compensation. If the member is an insured member who is ineligible for service retirement and is also credited with service as a local member only that service shall be used in computing the amount under this subdivision and that amount shall not be a part of the basic death benefit payable with respect to the insured member. (c) If the member is a state member, other than a school member, who dies after becoming eligible for retirement with more than five but less than six years credited service, an amount equal to 50 percent of the annual compensation earnable by the deceased member during the 12 months immediately preceding his or her death. The basic death benefit for a member who dies under the circumstances described in subparagraph (F) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section 21530 shall not exceed an amount that, when added to the death benefit paid for the member under the other system, equals the maximum death benefit payable under that system, if the death is not the result of injury or disease arising out of and in the course of his or her employment under that system. However, the benefit shall be at least equal to his or her accumulated contributions. The basic death benefit for the member shall be the amount of his or her accumulated contributions if death is the result of disease or injury arising out of and in the course of employment under the other system.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 21533. Section 21533.

Notwithstanding Section 20636, if a member who is an academic employee of the California State University dies while on a leave with pay, or within 12 months following a leave with pay, during which the member received compensation in an amount less than the full compensation earnable by him or her when not on leave with pay, the benefit payable under subdivision (b) of Section 21532 shall be based on the full compensation earnable by the member when not on leave with pay.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 21533.5. Section 21533.5.

(a) To the extent required by Section 401(a) of Title 26 of the United States Code, if a member dies while performing qualified military services, the survivors of the member shall be entitled to any additional benefits, as determined under Section 401(a)(37) of Title 26 of the United States Code, that would have been provided under the system had the member resumed his or her prior employment with an employer that maintains the system and then terminated employment on account of death. Death of a member while performing qualified military service shall not be treated as a service-connected death or disability. Service for vesting shall be credited to a member affected by this section for the period of his or her qualified military service. (b) “Additional benefits” under this section shall not include benefit accruals relating to the period of qualified military service.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 21534. Section 21534.

Liability imposed on this system with respect to the death of a member who is an academic employee of the California State University while on, or within 12 months following, a leave with pay during which the member received compensation in an amount less than the full compensation earnable by him or her when not on leave with pay shall extend to the death of the members occurring on or after January 1, 1973, and to any benefit for which there would have been liability with respect to the death had Section 21533 been effective on that date.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 21535. Section 21535.

Notwithstanding Section 20178, for member deaths occurring on or after January 1, 1994, if the actuarial interest rate exceeds 6 percent, the accumulated contributions of a member payable pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 21532 shall be increased by a factor determined by the board that is based on the difference between the current actuarial interest rate defined in Section 20014 and the 6 percent interest crediting rate on member contributions. If the actuarial interest rate is less than 6 percent, no increase may be provided under this section.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 21536. Section 21536.

In the determination of the portion of the basic death benefit provided in subdivision (b) of Section 21532, for local members who were members of a local retirement system at the time of that system’s discontinuance wholly or in part as provided in Section 20483, service included in the calculation of the completed years of service shall not be limited to service under this system, but instead service rendered as members of the local system, shall also be included. This section shall not apply to employees of any contracting agency nor to any such agency unless and until the contracting agency elects to be subject to its provisions by amendment to its contract with the board, made as provided in Section 20474, or unless the agency’s contract with the board includes at its effective date, a provision making the agency and its employees subject to the provisions of this section.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 21537. Section 21537.

(a) The special death benefit is payable if the deceased was a patrol, state peace officer/firefighter, state safety, state industrial, or local safety member, if his or her death was industrial and if there is a survivor who qualifies under subdivision (b) of Section 21541. The Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board, using the same procedures as in workers’ compensation hearings, shall in disputed cases determine whether the death of a member was industrial. (b) The jurisdiction of the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board shall be limited solely to the issue of industrial causation, and this section shall not be construed to authorize the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board to award costs against this system pursuant to Section 4600, 5811, or any other provision of the Labor Code. (c) This section does not apply to state safety members described in Section 20401.5 or local safety members described in Section 20423.6. (d) (1) For purposes of this section, the special death benefit is payable as of the effective date of the industrial disability retirement of the member if the death of the member occurred from a single event injury arising out of and in the course of his or her official duties which, based on competent medical opinion, rendered the member into a persistent vegetative state devoid of cognitive function at the time of injury until the time of death. (2) This subdivision applies only to a member who retired and then died on or after July 3, 2006.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 21537.5. Section 21537.5.

(a) The special death benefit is payable if the deceased was a state miscellaneous member in State Bargaining Unit 12 employed by the Department of Transportation, if his or her death occurred as a direct result of injury arising out of and in the course of his or her official duties with the department working on the California highway system performing highway maintenance, and if there is a survivor who qualifies under subdivision (b) of Section 21541. The Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board, using the same procedures as in workers’ compensation hearings, shall in disputed cases determine whether the death of the member occurred as a result of that injury. (b) The jurisdiction of the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board shall be limited solely to the issue of industrial causation, and this section may not be construed to authorize the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board to award costs against this system pursuant to Section 4600, 5811, or any other provision of the Labor Code. (c) This section shall not become operative unless and until a memorandum of understanding has been agreed to by the state employer and the recognized employee organization making this section applicable to those members described in subdivision (a).

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 21538. Section 21538.

The special death benefit is also payable if the deceased was a state member appointed by the Governor, the Director of Corrections, or the Board of Prison Terms, if his or her death occurred as a result of injury or disease arising out of and in the course of his or her official duties within a state prison or facility of the Department of Corrections, and if there is a survivor who qualifies under subdivision (b) of Section 21541. The Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board, using the same procedure as in workers’ compensation hearings, shall in disputed cases determine whether the death of the member occurred as a result of the injury or disease. The jurisdiction of the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board shall be limited solely to the issue of industrial causation, and this section shall not be construed to authorize the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board to award costs against this system pursuant to Section 4600 or 5811 or any other provision of the Labor Code.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 21539. Section 21539.

The special death benefit payable with respect to a member who at death prior to March 7, 1973, was a warden, forestry, harbor police, or law enforcement member shall be continued in accordance with the provisions of this part as they read and applied to that benefit on the day preceding that date.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 21540. Section 21540.

The special death benefit is also payable if the deceased was the Secretary of the Youth and Adult Corrections Agency, or was a state member appointed by the Secretary of the Youth and Adult Corrections Agency, the Department of the Youth Authority, the Superintendent of the California Institution for Women, or the Women’s Board of Terms and Paroles, the Board of Corrections, or was a member of the Board of Corrections or the Department of the Youth Authority not already classified as a prison member, provided that his or her death occurred as a result of misconduct of an inmate of a state prison, correctional school, or facility of the Department of Corrections or the Department of the Youth Authority, or a parolee therefrom. The special death benefit provided by this section is not payable unless the death of the member arose out of and was in the course of his or her official duties and unless there is a survivor who qualifies under subdivision (b) of Section 21541. The Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board, using the same procedure as in workers’ compensation hearings, shall, in disputed cases, determine whether the member’s death arose out of and in the course of his or her official duties. A natural parent of surviving children eligible to receive an allowance payable under this section shall not be required to become the guardian of surviving unmarried children under 18 years of age in order to be paid the benefits prescribed for those children. The jurisdiction of the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board shall be limited solely to the issue of industrial causation, and this section shall not be construed to authorize the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board to award costs against this system pursuant to Section 4600 or 5811 or any other provision of the Labor Code.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 21540.5. Section 21540.5.

(a) The special death benefit is also payable if the deceased was a state, school, or local miscellaneous member, a local safety member described in Section 20423.6, or a state safety member described in Section 20401.5, if the death of the member was a direct consequence of a violent act perpetrated on his or her person that arose out of and was in the course of his or her official duties and there is a survivor who qualifies under paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 21541. The Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board, using the same procedure as in workers’ compensation hearings, shall, in disputed cases determine whether the member’s death was a direct consequence of a violent act perpetrated on his or her person that arose out of and in the course of his or her official duties. (b) A natural parent of surviving children eligible to receive an allowance payable under this section is not required to become the guardian of surviving unmarried children under 18 years of age in order to be paid the benefits prescribed for those children. (c) The jurisdiction of the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board shall be limited solely to the issue of industrial causation, and this section may not be construed to authorize the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board to award costs against this system pursuant to Section 4600 or 5811 or any other provision of the Labor Code. (d) This section does not apply to a contracting agency nor its employees unless and until the agency elects to be subject to it by amendment to its contract made in the manner prescribed for approval of contracts, or in the case of a new contract, by express provision of the contract.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 21541. Section 21541.

(a) The special death benefit consists of the following: (1) An amount equal to and derived from the same source as the basic death benefit exclusive of the contributions from which the annuity provided under paragraph (4) is paid. (2) An amount sufficient, when added to the amount provided under paragraph (1), to provide, when applied according to tables adopted by the board, a monthly death allowance equal to one-half of the member’s final compensation in the membership category applicable to them at the time of the injury, or the onset of the disease, causing death, as adjusted pursuant to subdivision (b), which amount shall be payable to the surviving spouse to whom the member was married either continuously for at least one year before death, or before sustaining the injury or disease resulting in death, as long as the surviving spouse lives; or, if there is no surviving spouse or if the spouse dies before all children of the deceased member attain 22 years of age, to the member’s children under 22 years of age collectively until every child shall have died, married, or attained 22 years of age. However, no child shall receive any part of the allowance after marrying or attaining 22 years of age. The increases described in this section shall only apply to spouses of deceased members who would have been less than 50 years of age, if still living on January 1, 2001. (3) (A) An additional percentage of the death benefit allowed by this section, exclusive of the annuity under paragraph (4), shall be paid to the spouse of a member who is killed in the performance of their duty or who dies as a result of an accident or an injury caused by external violence or physical force, incurred in the performance of their duty, for each of the member’s children during the lifetime of the child, or until the child marries or reaches 22 years of age, as follows: for one child, 25 percent; for two children, 40 percent; and for three or more children, 50 percent. (B) Notwithstanding Section 7522.44, upon the death of a member on or after January 1, 2013, if the member does not have a surviving spouse, but the provisions of subparagraph (A) otherwise apply to the member, or if the surviving spouse dies before every child of the member has died, married, or reached 22 years of age, the additional benefit described by subparagraph (A) shall be paid to the person having custody of the member’s child or children. (4) An annuity that is the actuarial equivalent, assuming monthly payments for life to the surviving spouse, of the deceased’s accumulated additional contributions at the date of their death, plus their accumulated contributions at that date based on compensation earned in any membership category other than the category applicable to them at the time of the injury or the onset of the disease causing death. (b) For purposes of this section only, the deceased member’s final compensation shall be deemed to increase, and the death benefit under paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) shall be increased correspondingly, at any time and to the extent the compensation is increased for then-active members employed in the job classification and membership category that was applicable to the deceased member at the time of the injury, or the onset of the disease, causing death. The deceased member’s final compensation shall be deemed to be subject to further increases hereunder only until the earlier of (1) the death of the surviving spouse or (2) the date that the deceased member would have attained the age of 50 years. (c) Monthly allowances shall be adjusted annually for time commencing on the first day of September and effective with the monthly allowance regularly payable on the first day of the October beginning with October 1, 2001. The employer of the deceased member shall be responsible for reporting and certifying top range salary rates by the first day of July, beginning with July 1, 2001. (d) If the surviving spouse does not have custody of the member’s children, the additional amount payable pursuant to this section shall be payable to the person having custody of the children for each child during the lifetime of the child, or until the child marries or reaches 22 years of age. (e) The computation for time before entering the membership category applicable to the deceased at the time of the injury, or the onset of the disease, causing death shall be based on the compensation earnable by the member in the position first held by them in that category. (f) For purposes of this section: (1) “Child” means a natural or adopted child of the deceased member, or a stepchild living or domiciled with the deceased member at the time of their death. (2) “Spouse” means a wife or husband. (g) This section shall apply to all contracting agencies and to the employees of all contracting agencies. (h) For purposes of Section 21313, the base allowance shall be the allowance as increased under this section. The base year for annual adjustments of allowances increased by this section shall be the calendar year preceding the year of the adjustment. (i) The amount of the death benefit payable pursuant to this section on and after January 1, 2001, with respect to any member who died before that date, shall be recalculated on and after that date pursuant to subdivision (b).

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 21541.5. Section 21541.5.

Any child whose benefits under Section 21541 were terminated upon his or her adoption, pursuant to that section as it read prior to January 1, 2001, shall have those benefits restored as follows: (a) The child shall receive a lump-sum payment in the amount that would have paid, if he or she had not been adopted, from the date of adoption to the earlier of (1) the date his or her eligibility for benefits under Section 21541 would have otherwise terminated had he or she not been adopted or (2) January 1, 2001. (b) If on January 1, 2001, the child is eligible for benefits under Section 21541, he or she shall receive benefits from and after that date pursuant to Section 21541.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 21542. Section 21542.

The special death benefit shall begin to accrue on the day next following the date of the member’s death, and shall be paid in monthly installments to the surviving spouse and children as prescribed in Section 21541. The surviving spouse or the guardian of the minor child or children entitled to the special death benefit may elect, before the first payment, to receive the basic death benefit in lieu of the special death benefit. The election precludes a claim to benefits under Section 4707 of the Labor Code as the special death benefit is deemed payable by this system and is irrevocable.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 21543. Section 21543.

If payment of the special death benefit is stopped because of death of the surviving spouse or death, marriage, or attainment of the age of 22 years by a child before the sum of the monthly payment made, exclusive of the annuity derived from the accumulated additional contribution of the deceased, equals the basic death benefit, a lump sum equal to the difference shall be paid to the surviving children of the deceased member, share and share alike, or if there are no children, to the estate of the person last entitled to the allowance. In that event, the accumulated additional contributions of the deceased, as they were at his or her death, less the annuity paid as derived from those contributions, and plus interest credited to the accumulated additional contributions, shall be paid in the manner provided in this article for the payments of amounts due in the absence of a designated beneficiary.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 21544. Section 21544.

Upon notice of a death as a result of which the special death benefit may be payable, and when there is a survivor who would qualify under subdivision (b) of Section 21541, the board, or in disputed cases, the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board, shall determine whether the death was industrial, and pending final determination of the issue, the board shall temporarily pay special death benefits. The temporary payments shall be deducted from any other death benefits otherwise payable if the death is determined not to be industrial.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 21546. Section 21546.

(a) Upon the death of a member who has attained the minimum age for voluntary service retirement applicable to the member in his or her last employment preceding death, and who is eligible to retire and in circumstances in which the basic death benefit is payable other than solely that of membership in a county retirement system, or a retirement system maintained by the university, a monthly allowance shall be payable as follows: (1) To the member’s surviving spouse as long as the spouse lives. (2) To the children under the age of 18 years collectively if there is no surviving spouse or if the surviving spouse dies before all children of the deceased member attain the age of 18 years, until every child dies or attains the age of 18 years. No child shall receive any allowance after marrying or attaining the age of 18 years. (b) The monthly allowance under this section shall be equal to one-half of, and derived from the same source as, the unmodified retirement allowance the member would have been entitled to receive if he or she had retired for service on the date of death. If, however, the member made a specific beneficiary designation under Section 21490, the monthly allowance shall be equal to one-half of that portion of the member’s unmodified retirement allowance that would have been derived from the nonmember spouse’s community property interest in the member’s contributions and service credit. (c) If a member does not have a surviving spouse nor any children under the age of 18 years at the time of death, no allowance shall be payable under this section. (d) No allowance shall be payable under this section if a special death benefit is payable. (e) (1) The allowance provided by this section shall be paid in lieu of the basic death benefit but a surviving spouse qualifying for the allowance may elect, before the first payment on account of it, to receive the basic death benefit in lieu of the allowance. (2) The allowance provided by this section shall be paid in lieu of the basic death benefit but the guardian of the minor child or children qualifying for the allowance may elect, before the first payment on account of it, to receive the basic death benefit in lieu of the allowance. If an election of the basic death benefit is made, the basic death benefit shall be paid to all the member’s surviving children, regardless of age or marital status, in equal shares. (f) If the total of the payments made pursuant to this section are less than the basic death benefit that was otherwise payable on account of the member’s death, the amount of the basic death benefit less any payments made pursuant to this section shall be paid in a lump sum to the surviving children of the member, share and share alike, or if there are no children, to the estate of the person last entitled to the allowance. (g) The board shall compute the amount by which benefits paid pursuant to this section exceed the benefits that would otherwise be payable and shall charge any excess against the contributions of the state so that there shall be no increase in contributions of members by reason of benefits paid pursuant to this section. (h) As used in this section, “a surviving spouse” means a spouse who was either married to the member for at least one year prior to the member’s death, or was married to the member prior to the occurrence of the injury or the onset of the illness that resulted in death, and “child” includes a posthumously born child of the member. (i) On and after April 1, 1972, this section shall apply to all contracting agencies and to the employees of those agencies with respect to deaths occurring after April 1, 1972, whether or not the agencies have previously elected to be subject to this section.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 21547. Section 21547.

(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this article requiring attainment of the minimum age for voluntary service retirement to the member in his or her last employment preceding death, upon the death of a state member on or after January 1, 1993, who is credited with 20 years or more of state service, the surviving spouse, or eligible children if there is no surviving spouse, may receive a monthly allowance in lieu of the basic death benefit. The board shall notify the eligible survivor, as defined in Section 21546, of this alternate death benefit. The board shall calculate the monthly allowance that shall be payable as follows: (1) To the member’s surviving spouse, an amount equal to the amount the member would have received if the member had retired for service at minimum retirement age on the date of death and had elected the optional settlement in Section 21456 and Section 21459. (2) If the member made a specific beneficiary designation under Section 21490, the monthly allowance shall be based only on that portion of the amount the member would have received described in paragraph (1) that would have been derived from the nonmember spouse’s community property interest in the member’s contributions and service credit. (3) If there is no surviving spouse or the spouse dies before all of the children of the deceased member attain the age of 18 years, to the surviving children, under the age of 18 years, collectively, an amount equal to one-half of, and derived from the same source as, the unmodified allowance the member would have received if he or she had retired for service at minimum retirement age on the date of death. No child shall receive any allowance after marrying or attaining the age of 18 years. As used in this paragraph, “surviving children” includes a posthumously born child or children of the member. (b) This section shall only apply to members employed in state bargaining units for which a memorandum of understanding has been agreed to by the state employer and the recognized employee organization to become subject to this section, members who are excluded from the definition of state employees in subdivision (c) of Section 3513, and members employed by the executive branch of government who are not members of the civil service. (c) For purposes of this section, “state service” means service rendered as a state employee, as defined in Section 19815. This section shall not apply to any contracting agency nor to the employees of any contracting agency. (d) For purposes of this section, “state service” includes service to the state for which the member, pursuant to Section 20281.5, did not receive credit.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 21547.5. Section 21547.5.

For any survivor receiving a monthly allowance pursuant to Section 21547 prior to January 1, 2000, that allowance shall be adjusted as of January 1, 2000, to equal the amount that the survivor would have been entitled to receive if the member’s death had occurred on or after January 1, 2000. The adjusted allowance shall be payable only on and after January 1, 2000.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 21547.7. Section 21547.7.

(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this article requiring attainment of the minimum age for voluntary service retirement applicable to him or her in his or her last employment preceding death, upon the death of a local firefighter member while in the employ of an agency subject to this section on or after January 1, 2001, who is credited with 20 years or more of state service, the surviving spouse, or eligible children, if there is no eligible spouse, may receive a monthly allowance in lieu of the basic death benefit. The board shall notify the eligible survivor, as defined in Section 21546, of this alternate death benefit. The board shall calculate the monthly allowance that shall be payable as follows: (1) To the member’s surviving spouse, an amount equal to the amount the member would have received if he or she had retired for service at the minimum retirement age on the date of death and had elected the optional settlement in Section 21456 and Section 21459. The retirement allowance shall be calculated using all service earned by the member in this system. (2) If the member made a specific beneficiary designation under Section 21490, the monthly allowance shall be based only on that portion of the amount the member would have received described in paragraph (1) that would have been derived from the nonmember spouse’s community property interest in the member’s contributions and service credit. (3) If there is no surviving spouse or the spouse dies before all of the children of the deceased member attain the age of 18 years, to the surviving children, under the age of 18 years, collectively, an amount equal to one-half of, and derived from the same source as, the unmodified allowance the member would have received if he or she had retired for service at the minimum retirement age on the date of death. No child shall receive any allowance after marrying or attaining the age of 18 years. As used in this paragraph, “surviving children” includes a posthumously born child or children of the member. The retirement allowance shall be calculated using all service earned by the member in this system. (4) The cost of the allowance paid pursuant to this subdivision shall be paid from the assets of the employer at the member’s date of death. All member contributions made by the member to this system shall be transferred to the plan assets of the employer liable for the funding of this benefit. (b) (1) Upon the death of a local firefighter member while in the employ of an agency subject to this section on or after January 1, 2001, who is credited with 20 years or more of state service and who has attained the minimum age for voluntary service retirement applicable to him or her in his or her last employment preceding death, the surviving spouse may elect to receive a monthly allowance that is equal to the amount that member would have received if the member had been retired from service on the date of death and had elected the optional settlement in Section 21456 and Section 21459 in lieu of the basic death benefit. The retirement allowance shall be calculated using all service earned by the member in this system. (2) If the member made a specific beneficiary designation under Section 21490, the monthly allowance shall be based only on that portion of the amount the member would have received described in paragraph (1) that would have been derived from the nonmember spouse’s community property interest in the member’s contributions and service credit. (3) If there is no surviving spouse or the spouse dies before all of the children of the deceased member attain the age of 18 years, the allowance shall continue to the surviving children, under the age of 18 years, collectively, in an amount equal to one-half of, and derived from the same source as, the unmodified allowance the member would have received if he or she had been retired from service on the date of death. No child shall receive any allowance after marrying or attaining the age of 18 years. As used in this paragraph, “surviving children” includes a posthumously born child or children of the member. The retirement allowance will be calculated using all service earned by the member in this system. (4) The cost of the increase in service allowance paid pursuant to this subdivision shall be paid from the assets of the employer at the member’s date of death. (c) This section shall not apply to any contracting agency, nor to the employees of any contracting agency, unless and until the agency elects to be subject to this section by amendment to its contract made in the manner prescribed for approval of contracts, except that an election among the employees is not required.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 21548. Section 21548.

(a) The surviving spouse of a member who has attained the minimum age for voluntary service retirement applicable to the member in his or her last employment preceding death, and who is eligible to receive an allowance pursuant to Section 21546, shall instead receive an allowance that is equal to the amount that the member would have received if the member had been retired from service on the date of death and had elected the optional settlement in Section 21456 and Section 21459. (b) The surviving spouse of a member who has attained the minimum age for voluntary service retirement applicable to the member in his or her last employment preceding death, and who is eligible to receive a special death benefit in lieu of an allowance under Section 21546, may elect to instead receive an allowance that is equal to the amount that the member would have received if the member had been retired from service on the date of death and had elected the optional settlement in Section 21456 and Section 21459. (c) If the member made a specific beneficiary designation under Section 21490, the allowance under this section shall be based only on that portion of the amount the member would have received described in subdivision (a) or (b) that would have been derived from the nonmember spouse’s community property interest in the member’s contributions and service credit. (d) The allowance provided by this section shall be payable as long as the surviving spouse lives. Upon the death of the surviving spouse, the benefit shall be continued to minor children, as defined in Section 6500 of the Family Code, or a lump sum shall be paid as provided under circumstances specified in Section 21546 or in Sections 21541 and 21543, as the case may be. (e) The allowance provided by this section shall be paid in lieu of the basic death benefit, but the surviving spouse qualifying for the allowance may elect before the first payment on account of it to receive the basic death benefit in lieu of the allowance. (f) This section shall apply with respect to state members whose death occurs on and after July 1, 1976. (g) All references in this code to Section 21546 shall be deemed to include this section in the alternative. (h) This section shall not apply to any contracting agency nor to the employees of any contracting agency unless and until the agency elects to be subject to this section by amendment to its contract made in the manner prescribed for approval of contracts, except that an election among the employees is not required, or, in the case of contracts made after January 1, 1985, by express provision in the contract making the contracting agency subject to this section.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 21551. Section 21551.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this part, the benefits payable to a surviving spouse pursuant to Sections 21541, 21546, 21547, 21548, and Article 3 (commencing with Section 21570), do not cease upon remarriage if the remarriage occurs on or after September 19, 1989, for surviving spouses of deceased state members, January 1, 1991, for surviving spouses of deceased school members, upon the date a contracting agency elected to be subject to this section for deceased local members, or January 1, 2000, for spouses of deceased local members if the contracting agency has not elected to be subject to this section. Any surviving spouse who elected the reduction specified in Section 21500 as it read prior to January 1, 2000, shall be restored to the lifetime allowance to which he or she was originally entitled effective September 19, 1989, for state members, January 1, 1991, for school members, upon the date a contracting agency elected to be subject to this section, or January 1, 2000, if the contracting agency has not elected to be subject to this section. Pursuant to Section 22822, the surviving spouse who remarries may not enroll his or her new spouse or stepchildren as family members under the continued health benefits coverage of the surviving spouse. Any surviving spouse whose allowance has been discontinued as a result of remarriage prior to the effective date of this section shall have that allowance restored and resumed on January 1, 2000, or the first of the month, following receipt by the board of a written application from the spouse for resumption of the allowance, whichever is later. The amount of the benefits due shall be calculated as though the allowance had never been reduced or discontinued because of remarriage, and is not payable for the period between the date of discontinuance because of remarriage and January 1, 2000. The board has no duty to identify, locate, or notify a spouse who previously had his or her allowance discontinued because of remarriage.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 21552. Section 21552.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this part, on and after the effective date of this section, the remarriage of any surviving spouse of any deceased local safety member who was a firefighter, or peace officer as described in Chapter 4.5 (commencing with Section 830) of Title 3 of Part 2 of the Penal Code, who died in the line of duty, shall not result in the reduction or cessation of any monthly allowance the spouse was receiving pursuant to Section 21541 and Article 3 (commencing with Section 21570).

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 21553. Section 21553.

(a) The monthly allowance pursuant to Section 21541 and Article 3 (commencing with Section 21570), paid to the surviving spouse of any deceased local safety member who was a firefighter, or peace officer as described in Chapter 4.5 (commencing with Section 830) of Title 3 of Part 2 of the Penal Code, who died in the line of duty, shall be restored if that allowance has been reduced or discontinued upon the spouse’s remarriage. The allowance shall be resumed on the effective date of this section, or the first of the month, following receipt by the board of a written application from the spouse for resumption of the allowance, whichever is later. (b) The amount of the benefits due shall be calculated as though the allowance had never been reduced or discontinued because of remarriage, and shall not be payable for the period between the date of reduction or discontinuance and the effective date of resumption. (c) The board has no duty to identify, locate, or notify a spouse who previously had his or her allowance reduced or discontinued because of remarriage. (d) Any surviving spouse shall be entitled to restoration of terminated or diminished benefits upon application to the system if he or she previously qualified for special death benefits because his or her spouse died in the line of duty.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 21554. Section 21554.

(a) The monthly allowance pursuant to Section 21541 and Article 3 (commencing with Section 21570), paid to the surviving spouse of any deceased patrol, state safety, or state peace officer/firefighter member, who died in the line of duty shall be restored if that allowance has been discontinued upon the spouse’s remarriage. The allowance shall be resumed on the effective date of this section, or the first of the month, following receipt by the board of a written application from the spouse for resumption of the allowance, whichever is later. (b) The amount of the benefits due shall be calculated as though the allowance had never been discontinued because of remarriage, and shall not be payable for the period between the date of discontinuance and the effective date of resumption. (c) The board has no duty to identify, locate, or notify a spouse who previously had his or her allowance discontinued because of a remarriage. (d) Any surviving spouse shall be entitled to restoration of terminated benefits upon application to the system if he or she previously qualified for special death benefits because his or her spouse died in the line of duty.

Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026