BILL ANALYSIS
SENATE TRANSPORTATION & HOUSING COMMITTEE BILL NO: acr 61
SENATOR ALAN LOWENTHAL, CHAIRMAN AUTHOR: villines
VERSION: 5/16/09
Analysis by: Art Bauer FISCAL: yes
Hearing date: July 7, 2009
SUBJECT:
Deputy David G. Graves Memorial Freeway
DESCRIPTION:
This resolution names a segment of State Route (SR) 41 in Fresno
and Madera counties as the Deputy David G. Graves Memorial
Freeway.
.
ANALYSIS:
The committee has adopted a policy regarding the naming of state
highways or structures. Under the policy, the committee will
consider only those resolutions that meet all of the following
criteria:
a. The person being honored must have provided
extraordinary public service or some exemplary contribution
to the public good and have a connection to the community
where the highway is located.
b. The naming must be done without cost to the state.
Costs for signs and plaques must be paid by local or
private sources.
c. The author or co-author of the resolution must represent
the district in which the facility is located and the
resolution must identify the specific highway segment or
structure being named.
d. The proposed designation must reflect a community
consensus and be without local opposition.
e. The proposed designation may not supersede an existing
ACR 61 (VILLINES) Page 2
designation unless the sponsor can document that a good
faith effort has uncovered no opposition to rescinding the
prior designation.
This resolution designates the segment of SR 41 from Herndon
Avenue in the City of Fresno to Avenue 10 in Madera County as
the Deputy David G. Graves Memorial Freeway. The resolution
further requests the Department of Transportation (Caltrans) to
erect appropriate signs upon receiving donations from non-state
sources to cover the costs.
COMMENTS:
1) Purpose of resolution . By naming this segment of SR 41
in honor of Deputy David G. Graves, this resolution seeks
to memorialize the life of Deputy Sheriff David G. Graves
who lost his life after his patrol car was struck by a
drunk driver who ran a stop sign.
2) Summary of Deputy Graves' life . David G. Graves was a
native of Fresno and a graduate of Hoover High School and
Fresno City College who joined the Fresno County Sheriff's
Office in 1979, after having served as a volunteer in the
sheriff's Search and Rescue Unit for two years. He was
assigned to the patrol division and became a dedicated
officer who served his community and loved his profession.
On November 5, 1982, Deputy Graves was on routine patrol on
Shaw Avenue in the Fresno area west of SR 99 in a marked
patrol vehicle when his vehicle was struck by a pickup
truck driven by an intoxicated, 28-year-old Clovis man who
had run a stop sign. Tragically, the collision resulted in
severe head injuries to Deputy Graves that led to his death
prior to his arrival at the Valley Medical Center. He is
survived by his wife Karen, his two daughters, Kelly and
Christine, and numerous friends.
Assembly Votes:
Floor: 76-0
Appr: 15-0
Trans: 14-0
POSITIONS: (Communicated to the Committee before noon on
Wednesday,
July 1, 2009)
ACR 61 (VILLINES) Page 3
SUPPORT: Fresno County Sheriff's Office
OPPOSED: None received.