(a) A member who is receiving a joint and survivor annuity under the Defined Benefit Supplement Program may change the annuity or the annuity beneficiary elected pursuant to Section 25011, 25011.1, 25018, or 25018.1, provided all of the following conditions are met:

(1) The annuity beneficiary is the member’s spouse or former spouse.

Terms Used In California Education Code 24324

  • Annuity: A periodic (usually annual) payment of a fixed sum of money for either the life of the recipient or for a fixed number of years. A series of payments under a contract from an insurance company, a trust company, or an individual. Annuity payments are made at regular intervals over a period of more than one full year.
  • 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
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • Settlement: Parties to a lawsuit resolve their difference without having a trial. Settlements often involve the payment of compensation by one party in satisfaction of the other party's claims.

(2) A final decree of dissolution of marriage is granted, or a judgment of nullity is entered, or an order of separate maintenance is made by a court of competent jurisdiction with respect to the member and the spouse or former spouse on or after the beginning of the initial plan year designated by the board pursuant to Section 22156.05.

(3) The change is consistent with the final decree of dissolution, judgment of nullity, or order of separate maintenance.

(b) A member may change the annuity pursuant to subdivision (a) before or after the first annuity payment is issued.

(c) The member shall notify the system in writing of the change in the annuity. The notification shall not be earlier than the effective date of the final decree of dissolution, judgment of nullity, or order of separate maintenance and shall include a certified copy of the final decree of dissolution, judgment of nullity, or order of separate maintenance, and any property settlement agreement.

(d) A change in the annuity or annuity beneficiary or both shall become effective on the date the notification of change is received by the system. The annuity amount payable to the member upon the change elected by the member shall be determined as of the effective date of the change and shall be the actuarial equivalent of the lump sum that would otherwise be payable to the member as of the date of the change. If the member elects a joint and survivor annuity, the amount payable under the annuity shall be modified consistent with the annuity elected by the member.

(Added by renumbering Section 24305.3 (as amended by Stats. 2006, Ch. 655, Sec. 39) by Stats. 2014, Ch. 755, Sec. 50. (SB 1220) Effective January 1, 2015.)

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