(a) If a participant dies during the program period, he or she shall be deemed to have died while eligible for retirement and his or her benefits shall be calculated as if in active service, except as provided in subdivisions (b) and (c).

(b) Benefits under Article 12 (commencing with Section 31780) or, if applicable, Section 31765, 31765.1, or 31765.11 shall be calculated as if the participant had died on the election date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, eligibility of a spouse for any benefits shall be based on the participant’s marital status and the duration of the marriage as of the actual date of death.

(c) The balance in the participant’s program account shall be distributed pursuant to Section 31776.4.

(Added by Stats. 2003, Ch. 897, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2004.)