(a) If a judge who is credited with at least 10 years of service but less than 20 years of service under this chapter dies prior to retiring under this chapter, and while serving as a judge, his or her surviving spouse shall receive a monthly allowance, payable from the Judges’ Retirement Fund, equal to 1.625 percent of the monthly salary payable, at the time payment of the allowance falls due, to the judge holding the judicial office to which the deceased judge was last elected or appointed multiplied by the number of years of service of the deceased judge.
(b) If a judge who is credited with 20 years or more of service under this chapter dies prior to retiring under this chapter, and while serving as a judge, his or her surviving spouse shall receive a monthly allowance, payable from the Judges’ Retirement Fund, equal to 371/2 percent of the monthly salary payable, at the time the payment of the allowance falls due, to the judge holding the judicial office to which the deceased judge was last elected or appointed.
(c) For the purposes of this section any fraction of a year equals one year. The allowance is payable commencing upon the death of the judge and continuing until the death of the surviving spouse.
(d) If the surviving spouse is eligible for an allowance under Section 75104.4, the allowance provided for by Section 75104.4 shall be paid and no allowance shall be made under this article. If an allowance is paid under this section, no payment shall be made pursuant to Section 75104 or 75104.5.
(Amended by Stats. 2004, Ch. 231, Sec. 15. Effective January 1, 2005.)