Cal. Education Code § 22171

(a) “Spouse” means a person who was continuously married to the member for the period beginning at least 12 months prior to the death of the member, unless a child is born to the member and the member’s spouse within the 12-month period or unless the spouse is carrying a fetus, conceived with the member. (b) “Spouse” also means a person who was married to the member for less than 12 months, if the member’s death was either accidental, or due to an illness, and the marriage took place prior to the occurrence of the injury or diagnosis of the illness that resulted in death. (1) A member’s death is defined as accidental only if the member received bodily injuries through violent, external, or accidental means and died as a direct result of the bodily injuries and independent of all other causes. (2) This subdivision does not apply if, at the time of the marriage, the member could not have reasonably been expected to live for 12 months. (c) Except as excluded by Sections 22661 and 23812, a person who is the registered domestic partner of a member, as established pursuant to Section 297 or 299.2 of the Family Code, shall be treated in the same manner as a spouse.