BILL ANALYSIS Ó
SENATE TRANSPORTATION & HOUSING COMMITTEE BILL NO: SCR 77
SENATOR MARK DESAULNIER, CHAIRMAN AUTHOR: Cannella
VERSION: 1/28/14
Analysis by: Nathan Phillips FISCAL: yes
Hearing date: April 1, 2014
SUBJECT:
Special Agent Richard "Rick" K. Oules Memorial Highway
DESCRIPTION:
This resolution designates a portion of State Highway Route 140
in Merced County as the Special Agent Richard "Rick" K. Oules
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
or structure 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.
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 portion of State Highway Route
SCR 77 (CANNELLA) Page 2
140 from Arboleda Drive to Plainsburg Road in Merced County as
the Special Agent Richard 'Rick' K. Oules 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 Special Agent Richard "Rick" K. Oules.
2.Background . Richard "Rick" Oules passed away on April 4, 2011
at age 55, after battling lung cancer, which was determined to
be a result of long-term exposure to chemicals found in
methamphetamine labs. His death was ruled to be compensable
by the state. From 1987 to 2004, Special Agent Oules
supervised an enforcement team that dismantled approximately
300 methamphetamine labs. Special Agent Oules served in
California law enforcement for over 30 years, including
positions of Patrol Deputy, Narcotics Detective, and Patrol
Sergeant in Merced County; Special Agent in the Department of
Justice in its Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement; Director of the
Department of Justice's Division of Law Enforcement; and as
Law Enforcement Coordinator in the U.S. Attorney's Office in
Sacramento. Special Agent Oules was past President of the
California Narcotics Officers' Association; served on the CNOA
Executive Board of Directors and the Executive Board of
Directors of the California Peace Officers' Association; and
was appointed to the California Council on Criminal Justice.
Among his many achievements, Special Agent Oules was honored
with the California Coalition of Law Enforcement Associations'
Top Manager Award for Excellence in Law Enforcement
Leadership.
Special Agent Oules is survived by his wife, daughter, mother,
and father.
3.Consistent with committee policy . This resolution is
consistent with the provisions of the committee's policy on
highway designations.
POSITIONS: (Communicated to the committee before noon on
Wednesday, March 26,
2014.)
SUPPORT: Kamala D. Harris, Attorney General
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Tom Cavallero, Sheriff-Coroner, Merced County
Sheriff's Office
OPPOSED: None received.