(a) Notwithstanding any provision of this part, a retired member who chose no optional settlement or the optional settlement in Section 21474 at retirement and who marries after retirement may elect to have the actuarial equivalent, as of the date of the election, of the allowance payable for the remainder of the member’s lifetime applied to a lesser allowance during the member’s remaining lifetime under one of the optional settlements specified in this article and name the member’s spouse as beneficiary.

(b) The election provided by this section is irrevocable and shall be made within 12 months following a member’s marriage if the spouse is named as beneficiary. The election shall become effective on the date specified on the election, provided that this date is not earlier than the day following receipt of the election in this system pursuant to this section.

Terms Used In California Government Code 21482

  • 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
  • Remainder: An interest in property that takes effect in the future at a specified time or after the occurrence of some event, such as the death of a life tenant.
  • 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.
  • Spouse: includes "registered domestic partner" as required by §. See California Government Code 12.2

(c) A member who married prior to or after January 1, 1988, who fails to elect within 12 months, shall retain the right to make an election under this section. However, the election shall become effective no earlier than 12 months after the date it is filed with the board, provided that neither the member nor the designated beneficiary die prior to the effective date of the election.

(d) This section shall not be construed to mean that designation of a new beneficiary causes the selection of an optional settlement. An optional settlement shall be selected by a member in a writing filed by the member with the board.

(e) This section shall apply to any member who retires on or after January 1, 2018.

(Amended by Stats. 2019, Ch. 330, Sec. 16. (SB 782) Effective January 1, 2020.)

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