Section 21553.

(a) The monthly allowance pursuant to Section 21541 and Article 3 (commencing with Section 21570), paid to the surviving spouse of any deceased local safety member who was a firefighter, or peace officer as described in Chapter 4.5 (commencing with Section 830) of Title 3 of Part 2 of the Penal Code, who died in the line of duty, shall be restored if that allowance has been reduced or discontinued upon the spouse's remarriage. The allowance shall be resumed on the effective date of this section, or the first of the month, following receipt by the board of a written application from the spouse for resumption of the allowance, whichever is later.

(b) The amount of the benefits due shall be calculated as though the allowance had never been reduced or discontinued because of remarriage, and shall not be payable for the period between the date of reduction or discontinuance and the effective date of resumption.

(c) The board has no duty to identify, locate, or notify a spouse who previously had his or her allowance reduced or discontinued because of remarriage.

(d) Any surviving spouse shall be entitled to restoration of terminated or diminished benefits upon application to the system if he or she previously qualified for special death benefits because his or her spouse died in the line of duty.

(Added by Stats. 1996, Ch. 1120, Sec. 3. Effective September 30, 1996.)