BILL ANALYSIS Ó
Bill No: SB
1580
SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION
Senator Roderick D. Wright, Chair
2011-2012 Regular Session
Staff Analysis
SB 1580 Author: Committee on Governmental Organization
As Introduced: March 20, 2012
Hearing Date: April 24, 2012
Consultant: Paul Donahue
SUBJECT
Sale of National Guard armories
DESCRIPTION
1)This bill authorizes the Director of General Services,
with the approval of the Adjutant General, to sell any of
the following properties:
a) Approximately 4.59 acres of real property located
at 2320 N. Parmelee Avenue, Compton, California, known
as the Compton Parmelee Armory.
b) Approximately 2.0 acres of real property located at
900 Powell Avenue in Healdsburg, known as the
Healdsburg Armory.
c) Approximately 1.57 acres of real property located
at 14061 Nevada City Highway, Nevada City, known as
the Nevada City Armory.
d) Approximately 2.84 acres of real property located
at 950 West Laurel Street, Willows, known as the
Willows Armory.
2)This bill specifies that the proceeds from the sale of
these armories shall be deposited in the Armory Fund as
required pursuant to existing law.
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EXISTING LAW
1) Authorizes the Director of General Services, with the
approval of the Adjutant General, to lease, sell or
otherwise dispose of any state real property held for
armory purposes, subject to approval by the Legislature.
2) Existing law establishes the Armory Fund and requires
that the proceeds from the sale or lease of armories be
deposited in the fund, for use, upon appropriation by the
Legislature, for specified purposes related to armories.
3) Expressly provides that disposition of armory
properties are not subject to constitutional and
statutory provisions requiring proceeds from the sale of
surplus property monies to be used for payment of
principal and interest on Economic Recovery Bonds.
ÝMilitary & Veterans Code § 435(b)]
BACKGROUND
1)Sponsor's purpose : The bill is sponsored by the Military
Department, which has approximately 103 active armory
sites throughout the state. The National Guard has dual
responsibilities: to federal authorities to ensure the
readiness of forces for national security missions and to
the Governor for state missions. Armories are the
primary place for unit training and are integral to the
readiness and responsiveness of Guard personnel.
The Military Department notes that the use of armories
for emergency operations is common. Armories are
routinely used to mobilize and house Soldiers when the
Guard responds to wildfires, while also serving as
emergency operations centers for other first-responder
agencies. Armories are also commonly used as shelters
for displaced civilians who have been evacuated from
their homes due to fires, floods or other state
emergencies. Several armories throughout the state
routinely serve as homeless shelters during the winter
months.
California's armories are critical to the mission success
of our Guard troops; funds in the Armory Fund are
essential to ensuring the state fulfills its
responsibility to maintain these important facilities.
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2)Why these armories ? According to the Military
Department, the Compton-Parmelee Armory, Healdsburg
Armory, Nevada City Armory, and the Willows Armory have
reached the end of their service life. The Department
states that these aged, undersized armories have decayed
to a point where their ongoing maintenance costs far
outweigh their utility. The average age of these
armories is 60 years and they are no longer practical or
safe for Guard Soldiers to assemble and train in.
PRIOR/RELATED LEGISLATION
AB 1123 (Berg) Chapter 625, Statutes of 2007 . Authorizes
DGS, with the approval of the Adjutant General, to lease
the Healdsburg Armory to the City of Healdsburg at fair
market value for a period of up to 30 years. The lease
proceeds would be deposited into the Armory Fund, not the
Deficit Recovery Bond Retirement Sinking Fund Subaccount.
SB 1753 (Strickland) 2003-2004 Session . Would have
required the Department of General Services (DGS) to
determine, within 60 days, if surplus property is needed by
any other state entity. If another state entity does need
the property, DGS would transfer the jurisdiction of that
property to that entity within six months. (Died in Senate)
SUPPORT:
California Military Department (sponsor)
OPPOSE:
None on file
FISCAL COMMITTEE: Senate Appropriations Committee
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