California § 31786.1 - Notwithstanding Section 31481 or 31786, upon the death of any member after retire

Full text of California Public Contract Code - PCC § 31786.1 — Notwithstanding Section 31481 or 31786, upon the death of any member after retire, with citation guidance and answers to common questions.

§ 31786.1. Notwithstanding Section 31481 or 31786, upon the death of any member after retire

(a) Notwithstanding Section 31481 or 31786, upon the death of any member after retirement for service-connected disability, the member’s retirement allowance as it was at the member’s death if not modified in accordance with one of the optional settlements specified in Article 11 (commencing with Section 31760), shall be continued to the member’s surviving spouse for life. If there is no surviving spouse entitled to an allowance under this section or if the surviving spouse dies before every child of the deceased member attains the age of 18 years, then the allowance that the surviving spouse would have received had the surviving spouse lived, shall be paid to the surviving spouse’s child or children under that age, collectively, to continue until each child dies or attains that age. However, no child may receive any allowance after marrying or attaining the age of 18 years. (b) No allowance may be paid under this section to a surviving spouse unless the surviving spouse was married to the member at least two years prior to the date of death and has attained the age of 55 years on or prior to the date of death. (c) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this section, the benefits otherwise payable to the children of the member shall be paid to the children up to the 22nd birthdays of the children if the children remain unmarried and are regularly enrolled as full-time students in an accredited school as determined by the board. (d) No allowance may be paid pursuant to this section to any person who is entitled to an allowance pursuant to Section 31786. (e) The superseding rights pursuant to this section do not affect benefits payable to a named beneficiary as provided under Section 31789, 31789.01, 31789.1, 31789.12, 31789.13, 31789.2, 31789.3, 31789.5, or 31790. (f) This section is not applicable in any county until the board of retirement, by resolution adopted by a majority vote, makes this section applicable in the county. The board’s resolution may designate a date, which may be prior or subsequent to the date of the resolution, as of which the resolution and this section shall be operative in the county.

Source: official California text · Last verified 2026-08-27

Frequently Asked Questions About California § 31786.1

What does Public Contract Code - PCC § 31786.1 cover?

Section 31786.1 ("Notwithstanding Section 31481 or 31786, upon the death of any member after retire") is part of the Public Contract Code - PCC, the codified statutory law of California. It sets out the legal rule or procedure described in the text above. Statutes are amended regularly, so always verify against the official source.

How do I cite California § 31786.1?

A common citation format is "Public Contract Code - PCC § 31786.1" (California). Legal writing may require the code abbreviation, section number, and year or edition. Match the style required by your court, professor, or publisher.

Is this the official text of California law?

No. This page is for research and education and may not include the most recent amendments. For official current law, check the California official source linked on this page or consult a licensed California attorney.

How does California § 31786.1 apply to my situation?

Statutes are interpreted in context, and application depends on your specific facts. Only a licensed attorney in California can advise on how this section applies to you. Contact your state or local bar association for a referral.

Sources & Verification

Not legal advice. Verify against the official source and consult a licensed attorney in California.