2010 New York Code
RSS - Retirement & Social Security
Article 15 - (600 - 617) COORDINATED RETIREMENT PLAN
606-A - Death benefit for vested members who die prior to retirement.

§ 606-a. Death benefit for vested members who die prior to retirement.
  a. A death benefit plus the reserve-for-increased-take-home-pay, if any,
  shall be payable upon the death of a member of a retirement system who:
    1. Died before the effective date of retirement while a member of such
  retirement system;
    2. Had a least ten years of credited service at the time of death; and
    3.  Died  at  a  time  and  in  a  manner  which did not result in the
  eligibility of the member's estate or any  beneficiary  to  receive  any
  death benefits from such retirement system on account of such death.
    b.  Benefits  provided  under  this  section  shall  be payable to the
  member's estate or the beneficiary or  beneficiaries  nominated  by  the
  member   on   a   designation   of   beneficiary  form  filed  with  the
  administrative head of such retirement system.
    c. The amount of the benefit payable pursuant to this section shall be
  equal to one-half of the amount of  the  ordinary  death  benefit  which
  would  have been payable had the member's death occurred on the last day
  of service upon which membership was based.