CA Gov't Code Section 21495

(a)

Payment of any benefit shall not be made to those persons covered by Section 21493 if there are eligible recipients who are living members of a higher ranking class of beneficiaries as set forth in that section.

(b)

Payments made pursuant to Section 21493, 21494, or 21506, upon the board’s good faith determination of entitlement based on satisfactory evidence of entitlement, shall constitute a complete discharge and release of this system from liability for those payments.