(a) Upon application for a retirement benefit under this part, the participant may elect to receive the retirement benefit in the form of an annuity, provided the sum of the employee account and employer account equals or exceeds three thousand five hundred dollars ($3,500).

(b) If the participant elects to receive the retirement benefit as an annuity, the participant shall elect one of the following forms of payment:

(1) A single life annuity without a cash refund feature. This form of payment is the actuarial equivalent of the amount that would be payable to the participant if the participant elected to receive the retirement benefit in a lump-sum payment. This benefit shall be payable for the life of the participant. Upon the death of the participant, no other benefit shall be payable to any beneficiary under this part.

(2) A single life annuity with a cash refund feature. This form of payment is the actuarial equivalent of the amount that would be payable to the participant if the participant elected to receive the retirement benefit in a lump-sum payment. This benefit shall be payable for the life of the participant and any balance remaining upon the death of the participant shall be payable in a lump sum to the participant’s beneficiary.

(3) A 100-percent joint and survivor annuity with a “pop-up” feature. This form of payment is the actuarial equivalent of the amount that would be payable to the participant if the participant elected to receive the retirement benefit in a lump-sum payment, modified to be payable over the combined lives of the participant and the participant’s annuity beneficiary. Upon the death of the participant, the monthly amount that was payable to the participant shall be paid monthly to the participant’s annuity beneficiary. However, if the annuity beneficiary predeceases the participant, the annuity payable to the participant shall be the single life annuity with a cash refund feature that would have been payable had the participant elected that form of payment at the commencement of the benefit. That single life annuity shall be payable as of the day following the date of the annuity beneficiary’s death upon receipt by the system of proof of the annuity beneficiary’s death. If the annuity beneficiary predeceases the participant, the participant may designate a new annuity beneficiary. The effective date of the new designation shall be six months following the date notification, on a properly executed form, is received by the board, provided both the participant and the new designated annuity beneficiary are then living. The designation of the new annuity beneficiary under this paragraph shall be subject to an actuarial modification of the single life annuity with a cash refund feature and shall not result in any additional liability to the fund. The new annuity beneficiary shall not be an existing annuity beneficiary.

(4) A 50-percent joint and survivor annuity with a “pop-up” feature. This form of payment is the actuarial equivalent of the amount that would be payable to the participant if the participant elected to receive the retirement benefit in a lump-sum payment, modified to be payable over the combined lives of the participant and the participant’s annuity beneficiary. Upon the death of the participant, one-half of the monthly amount that was payable to the participant shall be paid monthly to the participant’s annuity beneficiary. However, if the annuity beneficiary predeceases the participant, the annuity payable to the participant shall be the single life annuity with a cash refund feature that would have been payable had the participant elected that form of payment at the commencement of the benefit. That single life annuity shall be payable as of the day following the date of the annuity beneficiary’s death upon receipt by the system of proof of the annuity beneficiary’s death. If the annuity beneficiary predeceases the participant, the participant may designate a new annuity beneficiary. The effective date of the new designation shall be six months following the date notification, on a properly executed form, is received by the board, provided both the participant and the new designated annuity beneficiary are then living. The designation of the new annuity beneficiary under this paragraph shall be subject to an actuarial modification of the single life annuity with a cash refund feature and shall not result in any additional liability to the fund. The new annuity beneficiary shall not be an existing annuity beneficiary.

(5) A period certain annuity. This form of payment is an annuity equal to the actuarial equivalent of the sum of the balance of the employee account and the employer account on the date the retirement benefit becomes payable. The annuity shall be payable in whole year increments over a period of years specified by the participant, from a minimum of three years to a maximum of 10 years subject to life expectancy tables promulgated pursuant to Section 401(a)(9) of the Internal Revenue Code. If the participant’s death occurs prior to the end of the period certain, the remaining balance of payments shall be paid to the participant’s beneficiary pursuant to Section 27007.

(c) Except as described in subdivision (e) of Section 26807.5, on or after January 1, 2007, a participant may not make a new election of an annuity described in subdivision (b).

(d) Any participant with a retirement effective on or after January 1, 2007, shall elect an annuity from the annuities described in Section 26807.5.

(Amended by Stats. 2017, Ch. 298, Sec. 23. (AB 1325) Effective January 1, 2018.)