California Legislature—2015–16 Regular Session

Assembly BillNo. 442


Introduced by Assembly Member Irwin

February 23, 2015


An act to add and repeal Section 59 of the Military and Veterans Code, relating to military bases.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

AB 442, as introduced, Irwin. Governor’s Military Council.

Existing law establishes the California Military Department, which contains the California National Guard, the State Military Reserve, and other offices.

This bill would codify the Governor’s Military Council, under the direction of the California Military Department, and would provide for appointment to the council by the governor. The bill would provide that the appointments may include policy level representatives from specified areas. The provisions of this bill would remain operative only until January 1, 2021.

Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

P1    1

SECTION 1.  

The Legislature finds and declares as follows:

2(a) California is home to 29 federal military installations and
3the United States Department of Defense directly employs more
4than 236,000 people in California. In an effort to protect and
5expand the military’s vital role in national security and California’s
6economy, Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. established the
P2    1Governor’s Military Council and appointed former Congresswoman
2and Under Secretary of State Ellen Tauscher as chair. The
3Governor’s Military Council works to protect California’s military
4installations and operations amid ongoing United States
5Department of Defense budget cuts, and leverage changes in federal
6military strategy to position the state to continue innovation and
7 leadership in its military mission.

8(b) The Military Council articulates the unique national defense
9value of California installations, and the importance of the
10Californians and businesses that support them. The Military
11Council also provides insight to state policy leaders on how state
12government can ensure that California serves as an operating
13environment for military and defense operations.

14(c) The Military Council has convened several meetings
15throughout the state over the last year to tour installations and
16gather information and input from military commanders, business
17leaders, and community support organizations. The Military
18Council will deliver a report with recommendations to state leaders
19in summer 2015.

20(d) The effect of sequestration and the continuing prospect of
21base reduction and closure necessitate that California maintain
22vigilance and speak with a unified voice to protect and enhance
23the United States Department of Defense mission in California.

24

SEC. 2.  

Section 59 is added to the Military and Veterans Code,
25to read:

26

59.  

(a) There is in the state government a Governor’s Military
27Council (council) that shall serve under the direction of the Military
28Department and consist of members appointed by the governor.
29The council shall advise the governor on efforts to retain military
30installations and operations within this state that are necessary for
31the defense of the nation, and to coordinate and focus those efforts.

32(b) The council membership may include, but is not limited to,
33policy level representatives from the following:

34(1) The Governor’s Advisor on Military Affairs.

35(2) The Director of the Governor’s Office of Business and
36Economic Development.

37(3) The Secretary for Environmental Protection.

38(4) The Director of Employment Development.

39(5) The Director of State Planning and Research.

P3    1(6) The Chairperson of the State Energy Resources Conservation
2and Development Commission.

3(7) The Secretary of Transportation.

4(8) The Executive Director of the Employment Training Panel.

5(9) The Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency.

6(10) The President of the University of California.

7(11) The Chancellor of the California State University.

8(12) The Chancellor of the California Community Colleges.

9(13) The President pro Tempore of the Senate.

10(14) The Speaker of the Assembly.

11(15) The State Air Resources Board.

12(16) The State Energy Resources Conservation and Development
13Commission.

14(17) Any other legislative offices, state agencies, local
15governments, industry, civic, and research organizations that may
16have an interest in defense-related activities.

17(c) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2021,
18and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that
19is enacted before January 1, 2021, deletes or extends that date.



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