CA SB850

Expands special death benefits for children of public employees who die in the line of duty by allowing payment to the person having custody of the member's children if there is no surviving spouse or if the surviving spouse dies before all children reach age 22.

Provides additional percentages of death benefits for each child (25% for one child, 40% for two children, 50% for three or more) payable during the child's lifetime or until the child marries or reaches age 22.

Eliminates the requirement that additional death benefits be limited to the lifetime of the surviving spouse when those benefits are paid to the custodian of the member's children.

Makes these provisions retroactively operative to January 1, 2013, and recalculates death benefits for members who died before January 1, 2001, under the new terms.

Applies to all contracting agencies and their employees under the Public Employees' Retirement Law.