(a) Every supernumerary official shall serve for life and shall receive an annual salary in an amount equal to 75 percent of the state salary payable to a circuit clerk on the date a circuit clerk or register becomes a supernumerary official, payable in equal installments on a twice per month basis.

(b) In the event of the death of any supernumerary official, circuit clerk or register who, at the time of his or her death, was serving as or was otherwise eligible to serve as a supernumerary official, his or her spouse shall receive benefits from the Clerks' and Registers' Supernumerary Fund in the State Treasury in an amount equivalent to three percent of the salary payable from the State Treasury, as prescribed by law for the position of circuit clerk, for each year of service not to exceed 30 percent of the salary, payable monthly for the remainder of the spouse's life or until he or she remarries.

(c) The provisions of subsection (a) of this section shall continue to apply only to those circuit clerks and circuit registers in active service on or after October 1, 1990. The provisions of subsection (b) of this section shall apply to circuit clerks and circuit registers who were in active service on or after January 16, 1989.

(d) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (b), any spouse who was appointed to serve the remainder of an unexpired term of a circuit clerk who was in active service on October 19, 1990, with at least 12 years of service, shall be eligible to receive benefits from the Clerks' and Registers' Supernumerary Fund in the State Treasury. The amount shall be equivalent to three percent of the salary, payable from the State Treasury as prescribed for the position of circuit clerk, for each year of service, not to exceed 30 percent of the salary. The benefits shall be payable monthly for the remainder of the spouse's life or until the spouse remarries.