BILL ANALYSIS Ó
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SENATE COMMITTEE ON RULES 2011 - 2012 Regular Session
Senator Darrell Steinberg, Chair
Staff Analysis
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Hearing: 08/08/12 Fiscal: Yes
Urgency: Yes
BILL NO: AB 1652
AUTHOR: Olsen
AMENDED: June 25, 2012
SUBJECT : California American Portuguese Veterans Memorial
SOURCE : American Portuguese Club of Sacramento
DIGEST : This bill would authorize the American Portuguese
Club Incorporated, in consultation with the Department of
General Services and a specifically created committee, to
construct and maintain a memorial in the existing Capitol
Veterans Memorial Grove to honor California American
Portuguese veterans. It would require that the planning,
construction, and maintenance of the memorial be funded with
private donations through the American Portuguese Club
Incorporated. It would prohibit construction of the memorial
until the master plan of the State Capitol Park is approved
and adopted by the Joint Committee on Rules and the Joint
Committee on Rules, and the Department of Finance have
determined that sufficient private funding is available to
construct and maintain the memorial.
ANALYSIS : Specifically, this bill:
1. Establishes the California American Portuguese
Veterans Memorial Committee, (Committee) consisting of
the following: the director; the State Historic
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Preservation Officer; a member of the Assembly appointed
by the Speaker of the Assembly; a member of the Senate
appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules. The
Committee in consultation with the Department of Veterans
Affairs must approve the design of the memorial.
2. The Department of General Services (DGS) in
consultation with the Club will review the preliminary
design; ensure compliance with the federal Americans with
Disabilities Act of 1990; review and approve CEQA
documents; review final construction documents; prepare
the right of entry permit; prepare the maintenance
agreement; inspect the construction performed by the
contractor selected by the Committee.
3. The Club shall establish a schedule for the design,
construction, and dedication of the memorial.
4. If the Club undertakes responsibility to construct a
memorial under this section, it shall not begin
construction of the memorial until the master plan of the
State Capitol Park is approved and adopted by the Joint
Committee on Rules, and the Joint Committee on Rules and
the Department of Finance have determined sufficient
private funding is available to construct and maintain
the memorial.
5. If the Club undertakes responsibility to construct a
memorial under this section, it shall sign a maintenance
agreement with the state to maintain the memorial with
private contributions.
The facts constituting the necessity for an urgency clause
are: "This authorization is required to begin construction
on the memorial as quickly as possible to coincide with the
Portuguese Heritage Month, established by Chapter 24 of the
Statutes of 2010."
COMMENTS : Pursuant to SCR 79, Chapter 24, Statutes of 2010,
the month of June is recognized as Portuguese Heritage Month,
to honor the valuable and substantial contributions Portuguese
Americans have made to every facet of California life.
Portuguese Americans continue to thrive in agricultural
communities in the Santa Clara and San Joaquin Valleys. The
Portuguese Heritage Society of California designated the
second Saturday of June as a day to celebrate Portuguese
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culture through music, dance, art, cooking, parades, and other
festivities.
Assembly Bill 1652 honors the California American Portuguese
Veterans and authorizes the American Portuguese Club in
consultation with DGS and a specifically created committee to
provide for the construction of a memorial in the existing
Capitol Veterans Memorial Grove to honor California American
Portuguese veterans. This bill does not specify the type of
memorial - statue, plaque, etc.
The author may wish to consider an amendment to clarify the
reference to the director in the composition of the Committee
refers to the Director of DGS.
FISCAL IMPACT :
Minor, absorbable costs to DGS and DOF to consult with the
Club and review legal and financial requirements.
SUPPORT : American Legion; AMVETS; CA Assoc. of County
Veterans Services Officers; CA State Commanders Veterans
Council; Vietnam Veterans of American; American Federation of
State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME)
OPPOSE : None received (07/24/12).
SENATE COMMITTEE ON RULES - Principal Consultant: Sandy
Wood/651-4153