BILL ANALYSIS
AB 1757
Page 1
ASSEMBLY THIRD READING
AB 1757 (Monning)
As Amended May 28, 2010
Majority vote
VETERANS AFFAIRS 7-0 APPROPRIATIONS 17-0
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|Ayes:|Cook, Salas, Block, |Ayes:|Fuentes, Conway, Ammiano, |
| |Gilmore, | |Bradford, Charles |
| |V. Manuel Perez, Saldana, | |Calderon, Coto, Davis, |
| |Yamada | |Monning, Ruskin, Harkey, |
| | | |Miller, Nielsen, Norby, |
| | | |Skinner, Solorio, |
| | | |Torlakson, Torrico |
|-----+--------------------------+-----+--------------------------|
| | | | |
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SUMMARY : Expands the eligible uses of the California Central
Coast State Veterans Cemetery at Fort Ord Endowment Fund (Fort
Ord Endowment Fund), which was previously established for
purposes of generating income to cover the annual operations and
maintenance costs of the proposed Central Coast Veterans
Cemetery. Provides that funds also cover the costs of project
design and development of all documents necessary for
construction. Specifies that construction cannot proceed until
the Fort Ord Endowment Fund is sufficient to cover annual
operating costs.
FISCAL EFFECT : The United States Department of Veterans
Affairs' current cost estimate to complete preliminary plans and
working drawings, using endowment funds, is about $800,000.
COMMENTS : The military base at Fort Ord was established in
1917, and in 1940 was declared a permanent Army post. In 1991,
Fort Ord was announced for closure by the United States Base
Realignment and Closure Commission. Prior to its closure, the
Fort Ord Reuse Authority (FORA) set aside 204 acres for the
development of a Central Coast Veterans' Cemetery.
Attempts at having a federally funded national cemetery at the
Fort Ord location failed because federal regulations prohibit
the development of a national veterans' cemetery within 75 miles
of another national veterans' cemetery. Fort Ord is located
AB 1757
Page 2
within 75 miles of the San Joaquin Valley National Veterans'
Cemetery in Gustine.
An alternative to a national veterans' cemetery is the
establishment of a state cemetery. The Federal government will
pay 100% of construction costs for a state run veterans'
cemetery, however, the state is responsible for paying the
annual maintenance and operation costs which have been estimated
at approximately $500,000 per year. The state committed to
maintain the cemetery as a part of the initial application for
construction funding. Numerous legislative attempts to
establish the creation of the cemetery at Fort Ord had failed
due to the impact on the General Fund. This lead to the
creation of the California Central Coast State Veterans Cemetery
at Fort Ord Endowment Fund.
Now that the funding sought by the creation of California
Central Coast State Veterans Cemetery at Fort Ord Endowment Fund
the author of this bill would like for the California Department
of Veterans Affairs, in voluntary cooperation with the Board of
Supervisors of the County of Monterey, the City of Seaside, the
Fort Ord Reuse Authority, and local agencies to design, develop
and construct the California Central Coast Veterans Cemetery at
Fort Ord.
AB 3035 (Laird), Chapter 291, Statutes of 2006, established the
Fort Ord Endowment Fund which provided for full funding of the
maintenance and operation costs of the cemetery through private
donations. Under AB 3035, the design and construction of the
veterans cemetery could not move forward until a determination
was made by specified parties that 100% of the Fort Ord
Endowment Fund had been raised. AB 1757 provides that funds
also cover the costs of project design and development of all
documents necessary for construction of the cemetery.
The one other state veterans' cemetery in California is located
in Redding.
Analysis Prepared by : Eric Worthen / V. A. / (916) 319-3550
FN: 0004753