BILL ANALYSIS
SENATE TRANSPORTATION & HOUSING COMMITTEE BILL NO: scr 69
SENATOR ALAN LOWENTHAL, CHAIRMAN AUTHOR: runner
VERSION: 2/9/10
Analysis by: Art Bauer FISCAL: yes
Hearing date: March 23, 2010
SUBJECT:
California Highway Patrol (CHP) Officer Richard D. Duvall
Memorial Highway
DESCRIPTION:
This resolution would name a segment of State Route (SR) 15 in
honor of Officer Duvall.
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.
SCR 69 (RUNNER) Page 2
e. The proposed designation may not supersede an existing
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 15 between Exit D
and the SR 395 interchange in the City of Victorville as the CHP
Officer Richard D. Duvall Memorial Highway. 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 15
in honor of CHP Officer Richard D. Duvall, this resolution
seeks to memorialize the life of Officer Duvall, who fifty
years ago on February 23, 1960 lost his life, after
stopping a car for a routine traffic violation. During the
stop he was shot and killed by an escaped convict from the
California State Prison at San Quentin, who, unknown to
Officer Duvall, had a few minutes earlier murdered a
grocery store clerk.
2) Summary of Officer Duvall's life . Officer Richard Duval
was bone in San Leandro, California on June 19, 1933. After
graduating from high school, Officer Duvall served in the
United States Marine Corps. In September 17, 1957, he
married his wife Gwenellen in San Leandro. He completed the
CHP Academy and was assigned to Victorville. At the time of
his tragic death his daughter, Deanne, was 20 months old,
and his wife was pregnant with his son Richard.
Officer Duvall's daughter, Deanne Willhoft, requests the
naming of a segment of SR 15 for her father to commemorate
his death in the line of duty.
3) Conforms to committee policy . This resolution conforms
with the committee's policies pertaining to naming
resolutions, including the cost of signs being paid for by
non-state sources.
POSITIONS: (Communicated to the Committee before noon on
Wednesday,
March 17, 2010)
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SUPPORT: California Peace Officers' Association
California Police Chiefs Association
OPPOSED: None received.