BILL ANALYSIS �
SENATE TRANSPORTATION & HOUSING COMMITTEE BILL NO: ACR 3
SENATOR MARK DESAULNIER, CHAIRMAN AUTHOR: logue
VERSION: 5/1/13
Analysis by: Carrie Cornwell FISCAL: yes
Hearing date: June 4, 2013
SUBJECT:
CHP Officer Robert James Quirk Memorial Highway
DESCRIPTION:
This resolution names a portion of State Highway Route (SR) 5 in
Tehama County as the
CHP Officer Robert James Quirk Memorial Highway.
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 measure must represent the
district in which the facility is located, and the measure
must identify the specific highway segment or structure being
named.
If the segment of highway is being named for a specific
individual or individuals, it must not exceed five miles in
length.
The proposed designation must reflect a community consensus
and be without local opposition.
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
ACR 3 (LOGUE) Page 2
designation.
This resolution designates the approximately two-mile portion of
SR 5 from the Sunset Hills Drive overcrossing to the Nine Mile
Hill overcrossing in the County of Tehama as the CHP Officer
Robert James Quirk Memorial Highway. 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 to honor the
life and service of Robert James Quirk.
2.Background on Robert James Quirk . Born in 1922 in Chicago,
Robert James Quirk joined the Navy in 1942 and saw action in
the Pacific during World War II. In 1951, he moved to San
Diego and in 1954 joined the California Highway Patrol serving
first in Compton and later in Red Bluff. While on duty in Red
Bluff on April 11, 1971, Officer Quirk encountered three
pedestrians on the shoulder of SR 5 and pursued them on foot.
When backup arrived, the backup officer found Officer Quirk
walking all three subjects back to his patrol car. After his
shift ended and he returned home, Officer Quirk experienced
chest pains and suffered a fatal heart attack. He was 49
years old. His wife and five children survived him. One of
his children, Ken, is now an officer with the Storey County,
Nevada Sheriff's Department and carries his father's handcuffs
and wears his father's belt buckle while on duty.
3.Consistent with the committee's historic policy . This
resolution is consistent with all the provisions of the
committee's policy on highway designations.
Assembly Votes:
Floor: 70-0
Appr: 17-0
Trans: 16-0
POSITIONS: (Communicated to the committee before noon on
Wednesday, May 29,
2013.)
SUPPORT: California Association of Highway Patrolman
ACR 3 (LOGUE) Page 3
(sponsor)
California Correctional Peace Officers
Association
OPPOSED: None received.