SECTION 1. (a) Notwithstanding section 12 of chapter 32 of the General Laws or any other general or special law to the contrary, the state retirement board shall provide to Katherine M. McGuinness, the surviving spouse of former Massachusetts state police officer James T. McGuinness, a lifetime, monthly allowance equal to the amount she would receive as if James T. McGuinness had, upon retirement, elected option (c) of subdivision (2) of said section 12 of said chapter 32 and nominated Katherine M. McGuinness as his sole surviving eligible beneficiary; provided, however, that the retirement board shall withhold from each payment made to Katherine M. McGuinness during the first year of such payments, such an amount, in equal increments, as is necessary to account for the difference in the total amount James T. McGuinness received pursuant to option (b) of said subdivision (2) of said section 12 from the date of his retirement to the date of  his death and the total amount he would have received had he elected said option (c) from the date of his retirement to the date of  his death.

(b) Any retirement benefit provided to Katherine M. McGuinness pursuant to this act shall be in lieu of, and not in addition to, any benefits she may have otherwise received from the state retirement board as James T. McGuinness’ beneficiary.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect as of August 4, 2010 .