BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    Ó






           SENATE TRANSPORTATION & HOUSING COMMITTEE       BILL NO: SCR 80
          SENATOR MARK DESAULNIER, CHAIRMAN              AUTHOR:  fuller
                                                         VERSION: 3/28/12
          Analysis by:  Eric Thronson                    FISCAL:  yes
          Hearing date:  May 8, 2012



          SUBJECT:

          Lance Corporal Joseph C. Lopez Memorial Interchange

          DESCRIPTION:

          This resolution names the Rosamund Boulevard Interchange of 
          State Highway Route 14 in Kern County as the Lance Corporal 
          Joseph C. Lopez Memorial Interchange.

          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:

           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.

           The person being honored must be deceased.

           The naming must be done without cost to the state.  Costs for 
            signs and plaques must be paid by local or private sources.

           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.

           The segment of highway being named must not exceed five miles 
            in length.

           The proposed designation must reflect a community consensus 
            and be without local opposition.





          SCR 80 (FULLER)                                        Page 2

                                                                       


           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 Rosamund Boulevard Interchange of 
          State Highway Route 14 in Kern County as the "Lance Corporal 
          Joseph C. Lopez Memorial Interchange."  The resolution further 
          requests that the Department of Transportation erect appropriate 
          signs upon receiving donations from non-state sources to cover 
          the costs.  
          COMMENTS:

           1.Purpose  .  The author introduced this resolution as a tribute 
            to the life of 
            Lance Corporal Joseph C. Lopez, who died serving his country 
            in Afghanistan.

           2.Background on Lance Corporal Lopez  .  Lance Corporal Joseph 
            "Joey" Lopez grew up in Rosamond, California, and, after 
            spending a few years after high school trying to find his 
            calling, enlisted in the Marine Corps in 2009.  Lance Corporal 
            Lopez was deployed to Afghanistan in September of 2010.  On 
            October 14th, Lance Corporal Lopez' squad was dispatched to 
            assist another Marine unit taking heavy fire, where he was 
            subsequently killed by an improvised explosive device.  After 
            his memorial service in the Rosamond High School gym, an event 
            that drew over one thousand mourners, Lance Corporal Lopez was 
            buried with military honors.

            Lance Corporal Lopez died at the age of 26 while serving in 
            the US Marine Corps overseas.  He is survived by his parents 
            and four brothers.

           3.Consistent with the committee's policy  .  This resolution is 
            consistent with all of the provisions of the committee's 
            policy on highway designations.  
          
          POSITIONS:  (Communicated to the committee before noon on 
          Wednesday, May 2, 2012)

               SUPPORT:  None received.

               OPPOSED:  None received.






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