The death benefit shall consist of:

(a) The member’s accumulated contributions.

(b) An amount, provided from contributions by the county or district, equal to one-twelfth of the annual compensation earnable or pensionable compensation as defined in Section 7522.34, whichever is applicable, by the deceased during the 12 months immediately preceding the member’s death, multiplied by the number of completed years of service under the system, but not to exceed 50 percent of such annual compensation. The computation for any absence shall be based on the compensation of the position held by the member at the beginning of the absence.

(Amended by Stats. 2022, Ch. 231, Sec. 18. (AB 1824) Effective January 1, 2023.)