Government Code section 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.

Source: Section 21605, https://leginfo.­legislature.­ca.­gov/faces/codes_displaySection.­xhtml?lawCode=GOV§ionNum=21605.­ (accessed Jun. 9, 2025).

Last Updated

May 12, 2025

§ 21605’s source at ca​.gov