Section 31781.3 Of Article 12. Death Benefit From California Government Code >> Division 4. >> Title 3. >> Part 3. >> Chapter 3. >> Article 12.
31781.3
. The surviving spouse of a member who dies in service after
five years of service or as a result of service-connected injury or
disease may elect, in lieu of the death benefit in Section 31781 or
the life annuity provided in Section 31781.1 or 31787, the benefit
that is the sum of both of the following:
(a) An amount, provided from contributions by the county or
district, equal to one-twelfth of the annual compensation earnable or
pensionable compensation as defined in Section 7522.34, whichever is
applicable, by the deceased during the 12 months immediately
preceding his or her death, multiplied by the number of completed
years of service under the system, but not to exceed 50 percent of
that compensation.
(b) A monthly allowance as provided in Section 31781.1 or 31787
reduced by a monthly amount which is the actuarial equivalent of the
amount in subdivision (a) as applied to the life of the surviving
spouse.