(a) A member may elect to receive the retirement benefit as an annuity payable in monthly installments, provided the balance of credits in the member’s Defined Benefit Supplement account on the date the retirement benefit becomes payable equals at least three thousand five hundred dollars ($3,500) after any lump-sum payments have been made from the account. If the member elects to receive the retirement benefit as an annuity, the member shall elect one of the following forms of payments:

(1) Member only annuity. This is a single life annuity with a cash refund feature that is the actuarial equivalent of the amount that would be payable to the retired member if the member elected to receive the retirement benefit in a lump-sum payment. Upon the death of the member, an amount equal to the remaining balance of credits, if any, transferred from the member’s Defined Benefit Supplement account to the Annuitant Reserve shall be returned in a lump-sum payment to the beneficiary of the member.

(2) One hundred percent beneficiary annuity. This is a joint and survivor annuity that is the actuarial equivalent of the lump-sum payment modified to be payable over the combined lives of the member and the member’s annuity beneficiary or beneficiaries. Upon the death of the member, 100 percent of the monthly amount that was payable to the member shall be paid monthly to the surviving annuity beneficiary or beneficiaries of the member.

(3) Seventy-five percent beneficiary annuity. This is a joint and survivor annuity that is the actuarial equivalent of the lump-sum payment modified to be payable over the combined lives of the member and the member’s annuity beneficiary. Pursuant to Section 401(a)(9) of the Internal Revenue Code, the member shall not elect this annuity if a beneficiary is more than exactly 19 years younger than the member, unless the beneficiary is the member’s spouse or former spouse and the election is pursuant to a determination of community property rights. Upon the death of the member, 75 percent of the monthly amount that was payable to the member shall be paid monthly to the surviving annuity beneficiary or beneficiaries of the member.

(4) Fifty percent beneficiary annuity. This is a joint and survivor annuity that is the actuarial equivalent of the lump-sum payment modified to be payable over the combined lives of the member and the member’s annuity beneficiary or beneficiaries. Upon the death of the member, 50 percent of the monthly amount that was payable to the member shall be paid monthly to the surviving annuity beneficiary or beneficiaries of the member.

(5) A period certain annuity. This form of payment is an annuity equal to the actuarial equivalent of the balance of credits in the member’s Defined Benefit Supplement account on the date the retirement benefit becomes payable. The annuity shall be payable in whole year increments over a period of years specified by the member, from a minimum of three years to a maximum of 10 years subject to life expectancy tables promulgated pursuant to Section 401(a)(9) of the Internal Revenue Code. If the member’s death occurs prior to the end of the period certain, the remaining balance of payments shall be paid to the member’s beneficiary pursuant to Section 25022.

(b) If an annuity beneficiary designated pursuant to paragraph (2), (3), or (4) of subdivision (a) predeceases the member, the annuity shall be paid to the member as the member only annuity that would have been payable had the member elected that form of payment at the commencement of the benefit. That member only annuity shall be payable as of the day following the date of the annuity beneficiary’s death upon receipt by the system of proof of the annuity beneficiary’s death. If the annuity beneficiary predeceases the member and the member designates a new option beneficiary pursuant to Section 24323, the new option beneficiary shall be the new annuity beneficiary. The effective date shall be six months following the date notification is received by the board, provided both the member and the new annuity beneficiary are then living. Notice to the board of the death of the annuity beneficiary shall be on a properly executed form provided by the system. The new annuity beneficiary under this paragraph is subject to an actuarial modification of the member only annuity and shall not result in any additional liability to the fund. The new annuity beneficiary shall not be an existing annuity beneficiary.

(c) If a nonmember spouse elects to receive the retirement benefit as an annuity, the nonmember spouse shall elect the form of payment specified in paragraph (1) or (5) of subdivision (a) and, in those paragraphs, references to a “member” shall apply to the nonmember spouse.

(d) Notwithstanding Section 297 or 299.2 of the Family Code, a spouse as described in paragraph (3) or (5) of subdivision (a) does not include the domestic partner of the member, pursuant to Section 7 of Title 1 of the United States Code.

(e) If there is a determination of community property rights as described in Chapter 12 (commencing with Section 22650) of this part on or before December 31, 2006, the member may elect the annuity that is required by the judgment or court order. This part does not permit the member to change the annuity to the detriment of the community property interest of the nonmember spouse.

(Amended by Stats. 2019, Ch. 497, Sec. 40. (AB 991) Effective January 1, 2020.)