California Code, Education Code - EDC § 27410

(a) The nonparticipant spouse who is awarded separate nominal accounts shall have the right to designate, pursuant to Sections 27100 to 27102, inclusive, a beneficiary or beneficiaries to receive the amounts credited to the separate nominal accounts of the nonparticipant spouse on his or her date of death, and any annuity attributable to the separate nominal accounts which is unpaid on the date of the death of the nonparticipant spouse.

(b) This section shall not be construed to provide the nonparticipant spouse with any right to elect a joint and survivor annuity pursuant to paragraphs (3) and (4) of subdivision (b) of Section 26807or subdivision (a) of Section 26807.5.