BILL ANALYSIS Ó
Bill No: AB
2445
SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION
Senator Roderick D. Wright, Chair
2011-2012 Regular Session
Staff Analysis
AB 2445 Author: Dickinson
As Amended: June 4, 2012
Hearing Date: June 12, 2012
Consultant: Art Terzakis
SUBJECT
State Capitol
DESCRIPTION
AB 2445 expands the purview of the Historic State Capitol
Commission to include the State Capitol Annex and extends
the sunset on the Capitol Area Committee which administers
the Capitol Area Plan by an additional 15 years.
Specifically, this measure:
1.Revises the definition of the historic State Capitol to
include portions of the State Capitol Building Annex that
contain historic fabric and Capitol Park, provided that
Capitol Park be included only upon the adoption by the
Joint Rules Committee of a master plan regarding Capitol
Park.
2.Extends the sunset date of the Capitol Area Committee
from January 1, 2013 to January 1, 2028 and requires the
Committee to meet annually instead of quarterly.
EXISTING LAW
Existing law establishes the Historic State Capitol
Commission for the purpose of providing advisory review of
the restoration, maintenance, development and management of
the historic State Capitol situated in the area bound by
10th , L, 15th, and N streets in the City of Sacramento.
Existing law provides that the Capitol Area Plan is the
AB 2445 (Dickinson) continued
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official state master plan for the development of the
central city of the City of Sacramento, and provides that
the Department of General Services is responsible for the
ongoing formulation and revision of this plan. Existing law
establishes the Capitol Area Committee, which consists of
nine appointed members, for the purpose of independently
reviewing reports of the department to the Legislature and
counsel and advising the department in carrying out its
responsibilities regarding the Capitol Area Plan. Existing
law also requires the committee to meet at least quarterly
or upon the call of the chairperson or the written request
of any three members. Existing law provides for the repeal
of the provisions that establish and govern the operation
of the Capitol Area Committee on January 1, 2013.
BACKGROUND
Purpose of AB 2445: Construction of the East Annex began
in 1949 and was completed by 1952. The East Annex created
offices for the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, legislators,
and other state officials. Prior to the expansion, Assembly
and Senate members conducted business on the floor of their
respective chamber, or any other place they could find.
The Capitol East Annex is now over 60 years old and is, in
its own right, listed on the U.S. Secretary of the
Interior's National Register of Historic Places.
In 1981, the Legislature established the Historic State
Capitol Commission to provide advisory review of the State
Capitol restoration, maintenance, development and
management. The commission, in sponsoring AB 2445, is
seeking clarification on the scope of their advisory
review. They are often asked to assist in matters relating
to the Capitol East Annex and the Capitol Park and
currently do not have clear statutory authority to do so.
According to the author's office, the age and nature of the
building as well as its unique usage as a public space
makes the building susceptible to modernization which could
rob it of its 1950s spare and minimal, post-modern
architectural features, without the Commission's guidance
to building improvements or repairs.
The Capitol Area Committee is an advisory committee that
helps guide the development of state owned property in the
Capitol Area that is under the jurisdiction of the Capitol
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Area Development Authority (CADA). Specifically, this is
the area of Sacramento between N and R Streets, and 5th
Street to (approximately) 18th Street. The author's office
emphasizes that the Committee continues to perform a
valuable function and should continue in existence. This
measure would extend the sunset on the Committee from 2013
to 2028 and also eliminate the mandatory quarterly meetings
for a yearly meeting.
PRIOR/RELATED LEGISLATION
AB 767 (John A. Perez) 2011-12 Session. Would have created
the "State Capitol Sustainability Task Force" to develop
and implement a sustainability initiative for the State
Capitol Building, the Legislative Office Building and the
State Capitol Park grounds. (Vetoed by Governor)
AB 2130 (Huber) Chapter 670, Statutes of 2010. Among other
things, imposed a sunset date of January 1, 2013, on the
State Race Track Leasing Commission, the Capitol Area
Committee, the Continuing Care Advisory Committee, and the
California Recreational Trails Committee.
SUPPORT: Historic State Capitol Commission (sponsor)
OPPOSE: None on file as of June 8, 2012.
DUAL REFERRAL : Senate Committee on Rules
FISCAL COMMITTEE: Senate Appropriations Committee