California Code, Government Code - GOV § 31789.3

(a) Upon the death of any person after retirement and while receiving a retirement allowance from this system, or any superseded system, there shall be paid to his or her estate or to the beneficiary as he or she shall nominate by written designation duly executed and filed with the board, an amount determined by the board of supervisors to be provided from contributions of the county or district.  The board of supervisors shall, by resolution adopted by majority vote, fix and determine an amount that shall not exceed five thousand dollars ($5,000).

(b) This section applies to every member who dies after this section becomes operative whether he or she has retired before or after the operative date or effective date of this section.

(c) The death benefit provided by this section shall be paid in lieu of a payment under Section 31789 or 31789.1.

(d) This section shall not be operative in any county until such time as the board of supervisors shall, by resolution adopted by majority vote, make the provisions of this section applicable in the county.