(a) A death payment of not less than twenty thousand dollars ($20,000) shall be paid to the beneficiary, as designated pursuant to Section 23300, upon receipt of proof of death of a member, who had one or more years of credited service, including service deemed to the member under subparagraph (B) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 22851, at least one of which had been earned subsequent to the most recent refund of accumulated retirement contributions, if the member died during any one of the following periods:

(1) While in employment for which creditable compensation is paid.

Terms Used In California Education Code 23851

  • Amendment: A proposal to alter the text of a pending bill or other measure by striking out some of it, by inserting new language, or both. Before an amendment becomes part of the measure, thelegislature must agree to it.
  • Beneficiary: A person who is entitled to receive the benefits or proceeds of a will, trust, insurance policy, retirement plan, annuity, or other contract. Source: OCC
  • Member: as used in this chapter , means all persons who become members of the plan under this part on or after October 16, 1992, and all persons who were members as of October 15, 1992, who elected, pursuant to Chapter 21. See California Education Code 23850

(2) Within four months after termination of creditable service or termination of employment, whichever occurs first.

(3) Within 12 months of the last day for which creditable compensation was paid, if the member was on an approved leave of absence without creditable compensation for reasons other than disability.

(4) While on a leave of absence to perform qualified military service, if the death occurred on or after January 1, 2007.

(b) A death payment pursuant to this section shall not be payable for the death of a member that occurs within one year commencing with the effective date of termination of the service retirement allowance pursuant to Section 24208 or during the six calendar months commencing with the effective date of termination of the disability retirement allowance pursuant to Section 24117.

(c) The board may adjust the death payment amount following each actuarial valuation based on changes in the All Urban California Consumer Price Index and adopt as a plan amendment with respect to the Defined Benefit Program any adjusted amount.

(d) A designated beneficiary may waive the right to the death payment in accordance with the requirements established by the system. The waiver shall be submitted on a properly executed form prescribed by the system. The filing of a waiver by a beneficiary constitutes a complete and immediate discharge of all obligations of the board, the system, or the plan to or on behalf of the beneficiary.

(Amended by Stats. 2017, Ch. 298, Sec. 7. (AB 1325) Effective January 1, 2018.)

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