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. SCR 80 (FULLER) Page 3