BILL ANALYSIS Ó SENATE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS Senator Ricardo Lara, Chair 2015 - 2016 Regular Session AB 442 (Irwin) - Governor's Military Council. ----------------------------------------------------------------- | | | | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------- |--------------------------------+--------------------------------| | | | |Version: March 16, 2015 |Policy Vote: V.A. 5 - 0 | | | | |--------------------------------+--------------------------------| | | | |Urgency: No |Mandate: No | | | | |--------------------------------+--------------------------------| | | | |Hearing Date: August 17, 2015 |Consultant: Jillian Kissee | | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------- This bill does not meet the criteria for referral to the Suspense File. Bill Summary: This bill codifies the Governor's Military Council, under the direction of the California Military Department. The bill's provisions sunset on January 1, 2021. Fiscal Impact: The California Military Department indicates minimal fiscal impact to the department. Background: The Governor announced the establishment of the Governor's Military Council in March of 2013. The council was envisioned to advise the Governor as federal priorities shift to cyber security and new military technology to expand defense-industry jobs and investment in the state. The council was created to also protect California's 29 military installations and operations and the jobs of 236,000 people amid Department of AB 442 (Irwin) Page 1 of ? Defense budget cuts. The announcement of the council indicated that it will meet for one year and draft specific recommendations to the Governor and Legislature. Proposed Law: This bill codifies the Governor's Military Council, under the direction of the California Military Department, in which members are appointed by the Governor. The council must include, but not be limited to, bipartisan representatives from both houses of the Legislature. The bill requires the council is to advise the Governor on efforts to retain military installations and operations within the state that are necessary for national defense, and to coordinate those efforts. Related Legislation: SB 506 (Fuller, 2015) among other things: (1) establishes a process for the designation of a local retention authority to serve as the lead local government entity responsible for efforts to retain local military installations, and (2) creates the Military and Aerospace Program under the Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development to address concerns relating to state and local defense retention, base conversion, and base reuse activities. SB 506 is pending in this committee. SB 121 (Fuller, 2015) requires that school construction projects on military installations eligible for specified federal grants are given priority for funding under the State School Facility program. SB 121 is pending in the Senate Committee on Education. Staff Comments: According to the California Military Department, it has been supporting the Council out of existing funds since it was created in 2013. The department has redirected one position and approximately $65,000, and also received an augmentation of $85,000 General Fund in the 2014-15 budget. This bill codifies the Governor's Military Council until January 1, 2021, guaranteeing its existence at least up until this date. To the extent the Council would have otherwise been discontinued without the enactment of this bill, California Military Department would have likely redirected funds that AB 442 (Irwin) Page 2 of ? supported the Council for other activities. -- END --