Upon the death of a member prior to retirement who was a member continuously for not less than 18 months immediately prior to the member’s death and who is survived by one or more children but no surviving spouse, or who is survived by one or more children who are not being cared for by the surviving spouse, the child or children shall be entitled to a monthly survivor’s allowance as specified in Section 31855.8 or 31855.12, as the case may be. The monthly survivor’s allowance of two or more children shall be divided equally as to those children.

This section is an alternative to Section 31855.6.

This section shall not be operative in any county which has adopted this article, until the board of supervisors, by resolution adopted by a majority vote, makes this section operative in the county.