SECTIONS 21600-21605 - California Statutes

GOVERNMENT CODE

SECTION 21600-21605

21600. (a) The purpose of this article is to provide group term
life insurance benefits for members of this system who are employees
of the state or the university. Notwithstanding any other provision
of this part, this article shall not apply to a school member, or any
other local member.
(b) If this section is in conflict with the provisions of a
memorandum of understanding reached pursuant to Section 3517.5, the
memorandum of understanding shall be controlling without further
legislative action, except that if the provisions of a memorandum of
understanding require the expenditure of funds, the provisions shall
not become effective unless approved by the Legislature in the annual
Budget Act.

21601. A separate account shall be established in the retirement
fund to be known as the Insurance Benefits Account. Moneys in the
account shall be expended for the sole purpose of payment of
insurance benefits under this article. Interest shall be credited to
the account at the annual rate and in the same manner as interest is
credited to employer and employee contributions in the retirement
fund.

21602. (a) The board shall transfer annually on July 1 during any
period of insurance from accumulated state contributions on account
of current service to the Insurance Benefits Account the amount
estimated to be necessary for payment during that fiscal year, of the
portion of the insurance benefit prescribed in subdivision (b) of
Section 21605 plus any deficiency in the transfer for the previous
fiscal year for that purpose.
(b) If this section is in conflict with the provisions of a
memorandum of understanding reached pursuant to Section 3517.5, the
memorandum of understanding shall be controlling without further
legislative action, except that if the provisions of a memorandum of
understanding require the expenditure of funds, the provisions shall
not become effective unless approved by the Legislature in the annual
Budget Act.

21603. An insured member, for purposes of this part, is a member of
this system who is a state or university employee and whose death
occurs under conditions specified in Section 21604.

21604. The insurance benefit shall be paid upon death of an insured
member of this system to the beneficiary entitled to receive the
basic or special death benefit if all of the following conditions
occur:
(a) Death occurs during any of the following:
(1) While in state service.
(2) While absent from state service on military service or on
approved leave of absence.
(3) Within four months of discontinuance of state service.
(4) While physically or mentally incapacitated for performance of
duty continuously from discontinuance of state service.
(b) If either of the following exists:
(1) Death occurs while a member and before the effective date of
retirement.
(2) If an optional settlement 2 or 3 or an optional settlement 4
involving payment of an allowance throughout the life of the
beneficiary has not been elected and if an allowance under Section
21624, 21627, 21629, or 21630 is not payable, and death occurs on or
after the effective date of retirement and before the mailing of a
retirement allowance warrant.
(c) Death occurs during a period of insurance.
(d) Death occurs under circumstances other than those described in
subparagraph (F) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section
21530.
If this section is in conflict with the provisions of a memorandum
of understanding reached pursuant to Section 3517.5, the memorandum
of understanding shall be controlling without further legislative
action, except that, if the provisions of a memorandum of
understanding require the expenditure of funds, the provisions shall
not become effective unless approved by the Legislature in the annual
Budget Act.

21605. The insurance benefit shall be the sum of the following
amounts:
(a) Five thousand dollars ($5,000).
(b) An amount equal to 50 percent of the annual compensation
earnable by the deceased member during the 12 months immediately
preceding his or her death or the compensation earnable by the member
at the time of becoming eligible for benefits pursuant to Section
21160 if higher, or if a member also has state service in an
employment in which employees are ineligible to be insured members, a
proportionate part of that amount in the ratio of eligible service
to total service. No amount shall be paid under this subdivision if
the member is eligible for service retirement or the member is
subject to benefits pursuant to Section 21547.
If this section is in conflict with the provisions of a memorandum
of understanding reached pursuant to Section 3517.5, the memorandum
of understanding shall be controlling without further legislative
action, except that if the provisions of a memorandum of
understanding require the expenditure of funds, the provisions shall
not become effective unless approved by the Legislature in the annual
Budget Act.