(a) Upon the death of a state employee who is eligible for vacation under the rules of the director of personnel and standardization, or judge, justice or any other employee of the courts of the commonwealth who is eligible for vacation, payment shall be made in an amount equal to the vacation allowance as earned in the vacation year prior to the employee's death but which had not been granted, and, in addition, that portion of the vacation allowance earned in the vacation year during which the employee died, up to the time of the employee's separation from the payroll; provided, that no monetary or other allowance has already been made therefor. The bureau of personnel and standardization may, upon request of the appointing officer of the deceased employee, authorize the payment of such compensation upon the establishment of a valid claim therefor, in the following order of precedence. First: To the surviving beneficiary or beneficiaries, if any, lawfully designated by the employee under the state employees' retirement system;
Second: If there be no such designated beneficiary, to the estate of the deceased.
The court administrator of the trial court of the commonwealth may, upon request of the appointing officer of the deceased employee, authorize the payment of such compensation for the court system upon the establishment of a valid claim therefor, in the same order of precedence.