(a) “Dependent child” or “dependent children” under the disability allowance and family allowance programs means a member’s unmarried offspring or stepchild who is under 22 years of age and who is financially dependent upon the member on the effective date of the member’s disability allowance or the date of the member’s death.

(b) “Offspring” shall include the member’s child who is born within the 10-month period commencing on the earlier of the member’s disability allowance effective date or the date of the member’s death.

(c) “Offspring” shall include a child adopted by the member.

(d) “Dependent child” shall not include the member’s offspring or stepchild who is adopted by a person other than the member’s spouse.

(e) “Dependent child” under the family allowance program shall not include:

(1) The member’s offspring or stepchild who was financially dependent on the member on the date of the member’s death if a disability allowance was payable to the member prior to his or her death and the disability allowance did not include an amount payable for that offspring or stepchild.

(2) A stepchild or adopted child acquired subsequent to the death of the member.

(f) “Financially dependent” for purposes of this section means that at least one-half of the child’s support was being provided by the member on the member’s disability allowance effective date or the date of the member’s death. The system may require that income tax records or other data be submitted to substantiate the child’s financial dependence. In the absence of substantiating documentation, the system may determine that the child was not dependent on the effective date of the member’s disability allowance or the date of the member’s death.

(g) “Member” as used in this section shall have the same meaning specified in Section 23800.

(Amended by Stats. 2006, Ch. 655, Sec. 4. Effective January 1, 2007.)