BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 442
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Date of Hearing: April 14, 2015
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS
Jacqui Irwin, Chair
AB 442
(Irwin) - As Amended March 16, 2015
SUBJECT: Governor's Military Council
SUMMARY: Codifies the Governor's Military Council, under the
direction of the California Military Department, and provides
for appointment to the council by the Governor. This bill:
1)Codifies the existence of the Governor's Military Council.
2)Requires that the appointments shall include, but not be
limited to, bipartisan representatives from both houses of the
Legislature.
3)States that the provisions of this bill would be repealed on
January 1, 2021.
EXISTING LAW: Neither current law nor any current Executive
Order pertain to the Governor's Military Council.
FISCAL EFFECT: Unknown at this time.
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COMMENTS: The recession eases at a slow pace, sequestration,
once unthinkable, is now the norm for the foreseeable future,
and the Secretary of Defense has repeatedly proposed further
rounds of BRAC. This is the reality of the current state of the
country. Recognizing this, Governor Brown acted boldly and
formed the Governor's Military Council.
According to the website for the Council:
On March 28, 2013, the Governor announced the creation of the
Governor's Military Council. This Council will position
California to maintain and grow military operations in the
state. The Department of Defense has announced several
strategic shifts, including increasing force strength in the
Pacific theater and prioritizing cyber-security, that provide
California opportunities to increase military investment in
our state. The Council will provide insight to state leaders
who are developing a strategy to support and grow military
operations in the Golden State.
As a major investor and landholder in the state, the military
provides many economic and environmental benefits to the state
as it provides for our nation's security. Similarly,
California offers unique geographical, operational and
technological benefits to the military installations that call
it home. Ensuring that the two continue to support each other
is a key focus of this Council.
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The Council will also articulate the military value of
California bases and operations as federal leaders consider
cuts and realignment to federal military operations. The
Secretary of Defense recently explained that coming military
cuts "will impact all 50 states and many districts across
America." Recognizing these threats to military operations,
the Council will highlight the ongoing military value of
California installations, and of the Californians and
businesses that support them.
Governor Brown selected a formidable first Council. The
Honorable Ellen O. Tauscher is the current Chair of the Council.
She represented California's 10th Congressional District for
more than 12 years in the U.S. House of Representatives, where
she chaired the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic
Forces. Current Council membership includes many retired flag
officers, high-ranking military leaders from all the branches of
service, civic and state leaders and includes bipartisan
representation from both houses of the Legislature.
The purpose of this bill is to codify the Governor's Military
Council, under the direction of the California Military
Department and provide for appointment to the Council by the
Governor. This bill requires that the appointments shall
include, but not be limited to, bipartisan representatives from
both houses of the Legislature. The statute this bill would
create contains a sunset provision for January 1, 2021.
Codification of the Council ensures that even if there is
leadership change in the Executive Branch, the Council will
remain for at least a reasonable period into the future and then
its utility will be reevaluated.
A consistent theme and lesson-learned that staff has heard from
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the defense community in California is that vigilance, active
early engagement, and a unified message are vital when it comes
to BRAC. These strategies ensure that the value of California's
defense community and unique installations is well-articulated
and heard by decisionmakers in both the pre-BRAC phase as well
as during BRAC itself.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:
Support
None on File.
Opposition
None on File.
Analysis Prepared by:John Spangler / V.A. / (916) 319-3550
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