(a) In lieu of the benefits prescribed by Section 31691, the board of retirement may provide on behalf of a member who has retired, or an eligible surviving spouse who was married to the member prior to the date of retirement of the member, or, if there is no such spouse, the surviving unmarried children of the member who are under 18 years of age, or under 22 years of age and full-time students, for an equivalent increase in allowance from the earnings of the retirement fund that are in excess of the total interest credited to contributions and reserves plus 1 percent of the total assets of the retirement fund. Any benefit provided by this section shall be subject to Section 31692.

(b) Except in a county of the first class, upon adoption by any county providing benefits pursuant to this section that has adopted Article 5.5 (commencing with Section 31610), the board of retirement shall, instead, pay those benefits from the Supplemental Retiree Benefits Reserve established pursuant to Section 31618.

(Amended by Stats. 2014, Ch. 740, Sec. 12. (AB 2473) Effective January 1, 2015.)