Section 21503 Of Article 1. General Provisions From California Government Code >> Division 5. >> Title 2. >> Part 3. >> Chapter 14. >> Article 1.

. The board may select an optional settlement under Article 6 (commencing with Section 21450) of Chapter 13 on behalf of the surviving spouse of a member who applied for retirement but who died prior to the mailing of a retirement allowance warrant and prior to an election in accordance with that article if all of the following conditions are met:
  (a) The application for retirement was received by this system, prior to the date of death.
  (b) The document containing the application for retirement received by this system did not provide for a temporary election of the optional settlement 2.
  (c) The deceased member had separated from state service at least one day prior to the effective date of retirement.
  (d) The deceased member was alive on the effective date of retirement.
  (e) The beneficiary designated on the application for retirement is the surviving spouse who requests in writing that the board make the selection. Upon formal action by the board approving the request, the request shall become irrevocable. A retirement allowance provided in accordance with this section shall be calculated as if the member had elected Section 21459.