BILL ANALYSIS
SB 52
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Date of Hearing: June 23, 2009
Chief Counsel: Gregory Pagan
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY
Juan Arambula, Chair
SB 52 (Correa) - As Amended: May 18, 2009
SUMMARY : Repeals and recasts the Medal of Valor Act and
renames it the "Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor Act".
Specifically, this bill :
1)Allows the Public Safety Medal of Valor Review Board to
recommend more than five candidates for the Public Safety
Medal of Valor per year and to meet more than once per year.
2)Allows the Governor to award the Public Safety Medal of Valor
to more than one public Safety officer per year.
3)Adds the California Coalition of Law Enforcement Associations
and the California Professional Firefighters to the Public
Safety Medal of Valor Review Board.
4)Clarifies that any cost incurred by a member of the Board
acting as a member may not be paid by the state, but allows
payment for per diem and mileage to be paid by funds donated
to the Board.
EXISTING LAW :
1)Provides that the Governor may annually present in the name of
the State of California a Medal of Valor to one or more public
safety officers cited by the Attorney General (AG) upon the
recommendation of the Medal of Valor Review Board for
extraordinary valor above and beyond the call of duty. The
Public Safety Medal of Valor will be the highest state award
for valor given to public safety officers. (Government Code
Section 3402.)
2)Defines "public safety officer" as a person serving a public
agency, with or without compensation, firefighter, law
enforcement officer, or emergency services officer, as
determined by the AG. "Law enforcement officer" includes a
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person who is a corrections or court officer or a civil
defense officer. [Government Code Section 3401(b).]
3)Creates the "Medal of Valor Review Board", comprised of
representatives or their designees, selected by the following
organizations:
a) California Peace Officers' Association;
b) California Correctional Peace Officers Association;
c) California State Firefighters' Association;
d) Peace Officers Research Association of California;
e) California Police Chiefs' Association;
f) California Association of Highway Patrolmen;
g) California State Sheriffs' Association;
h) California Union of Safety Employees; and,
i) A group representing emergency medical technicians and
paramedics, to be selected by the Board. (Government Code
Section 3403.)
4)Provides that the Board shall meet at the Chair, and may not
meet more than once each year. A majority of the members of
the Board shall constitute a quorum to conduct business, and
may establish by majority vote any other rule for the conduct
of the Board's business. [Government Code Section 3405(a) and
(b).]
5)Requires the Board to recommend candidates for the Medal of
Valor, once per year, to the AG. In a given year, the Board
shall not be required to recommend any candidates but may not
recommend more than five candidates. [Government Code Section
3404(c).]
6)Authorizes the Board to receive donations which shall be used
to pay any costs associated with holding its annual meeting
and having witnesses, and requires the cost of production of
the medals to be funded from existing resources within the
Department of Justice. (Government Code Section 3405.)
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FISCAL EFFECT : Unknown
COMMENTS :
1)Author's Statement : According to the author, "The Public
Safety Medal of Valor is the highest state award given by the
Governor to public safety officers who have demonstrated
extraordinary valor above and beyond the call of duty. The
Medal of Valor Board is charged with recommending candidates
for the medal of Valor to the Attorney General, who then
advises the Governor.
"This bill provides the Board with the ability to evaluate the
candidates by allowing them to meet more than once a year, as
well as, to recognize additional deserving candidates.
"The measure further tightens financial accountability and
responsibilities with the participating entities serving on
the board, updates the name of one of the board participants
and adds the California Coalition of law Enforcement
Associations and the California Professional Firefighters to
this body."
2)Argument in Support : According to the Association for Los
Angeles Deputy Sheriffs , "This measure to recast the Public
Safety Officer Medal of Valor Act has come to be because
public safety officials and Governor Schwarzenegger can no
longer single out only one special Medal of Valor winner to be
lauded for exceptional circumstances. The Medal of Valor
Board can no longer meet only on one occasion to decide upon
the one deserving meal winner. Today, we must recognize
multiple circumstances and multiple candidates, as well as the
need for a more flexible board (still serving without
compensation) that shall meet on more than one occasion to
track and learn about the number of exemplary individuals from
many services who may quality for an award. Board members
shall track background information for the Attorney General,
who will then advise the Governor."
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION :
Support
American Federation of State County
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and Municipal Employees
Association for Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs
California Association of Highway Patrolman
California Attorney General's Office
California Correctional peace Officers Association
California Correctional Supervisors Organization
California Statewide Law Enforcement Coalition
Captain Badel, Lodi Police Department
CDF Firefighters Local 2881
Los Angeles Police Protective League
Los Angeles Probation Officers Union
Orange County Professional Firefighters Association,
IAFF Local 3631
Peace Officers Research Association of California
Riverside Sheriffs' Association
Opposition
None
Analysis Prepared by : Gregory Pagan / PUB. S. / (916)
319-3744