California Code, Education Code - EDC § 22123.5

(a) “Dependent child” or “dependent children” under the disability retirement and survivor benefit allowance programs means a member's offspring or stepchild who is under 21 years of age and who is financially dependent upon the member on the effective date of the member's disability retirement 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 retirement 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 survivor benefit allowance program shall not include 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 retirement 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 retirement or the date of the member's death.

(g) “Member” as used in this section shall have the same meaning specified in Section 23850.