(a) In any case where an employee while in active service of the agency, before having completed twenty years of service as an employee of the agency, dies from any cause other than those specified in this article and not due to vicious habits, intemperance or willful misconduct on his or her part, there shall be paid annually in equal monthly installments from the fund to the surviving spouse of the member during his or her lifetime, or until the surviving spouse remarries, a sum equal to one half of the base salary received in the preceding full twelve-month employment period by the deceased member: Provided, That if the member had not been employed with the agency for twelve full months prior to the disability, the amount of monthly salary shall be annualized for the purpose of determining the benefit. If there is no surviving spouse or the surviving spouse dies or remarries, there shall be paid monthly to each dependent child or children from the fund a sum equal to one fourth of the surviving spouse's entitlement. If there is no surviving spouse and no dependent child or children, there shall be paid annually in equal monthly installments from the fund to the dependent parents of the deceased member during their joint lifetimes a sum equal to the amount that a surviving spouse would have been entitled to receive: Provided, however, That when there is one dependent parent surviving, then that parent is entitled to receive during his or her lifetime one half the amount which both parents, if living, would have been entitled to receive: Provided further, That if there is no surviving spouse, dependent child or dependent parent of the deceased member, the accumulated contributions shall be paid to a named beneficiary or beneficiaries: And provided further, That if there is no surviving spouse, dependent child, dependent parent of the deceased member or any named beneficiary or beneficiaries, then the accumulated contributions shall be paid to the estate of the deceased member.

(b) A surviving spouse or dependent of an employee meeting the requirements of this section is entitled to receive beneficiary payments on the first day of the month following the date the deceased member is removed from payroll by the agency. A surviving spouse or dependent of a member who is not currently an employee meeting the requirements of this section is entitled to receive beneficiary payments on the first day of the month following the date of the deceased member's death. A surviving spouse or dependent of a retirant meeting the requirements of this section is entitled to receive beneficiary payments on the first day of the month following the date of the deceased retirant's death. Upon receipt of properly executed forms from the agency and surviving spouse or dependent, the board shall process the surviving spouse or dependent benefit as soon as administratively feasible.