(a) A judge whose senior judge status is terminated may elect to receive the retirement benefits for which the judge was eligible at the time he or she elected senior judge status.

(b) If the senior judge status is terminated before the end of five years because of the judge’s death, any surviving spouse benefit that is payable, as provided in the section under which the judge retired prior to electing the senior judge status, shall be paid.

(Amended by Stats. 1992, Ch. 1032, Sec. 13. Effective January 1, 1993.)