Cal. Gov. Code § 31789.1
Upon the death of any member after retirement and while receiving a retirement allowance from this system, or any superseded system, there shall be paid to his estate or to such beneficiary as he shall nominate by written designation duly executed and filed with the board, the sum of seven hundred fifty dollars ($750).
This section applies to every member who dies after this section becomes operative whether he has retired before or after the operative date or effective date of this section.
Only one death benefit payment shall be paid under this section or under Section 31789, and shall be paid by the system subject to Section 31789 and this section where the member rendered his last active service.
This section shall not become operative in any county until such time as the board of retirement determines that its benefits may be financed from surplus earnings of the retirement fund. Upon this determination by the retirement board, the provisions of this section shall become operative.
Upon adoption by any county providing benefits pursuant to this section, of Article 5.5 (commencing with Section 31510) of this chapter, the board of retirement shall, instead, pay those benefits from the Supplemental Retiree Benefits Reserve established pursuant to Section 31510.8.
Ca. Gov. Code § 31789.1