BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 489
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Date of Hearing: April 15, 2015
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Jimmy Gomez, Chair
AB
489 (Gonzalez) - As Introduced February 23, 2015
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Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: NoReimbursable: No
SUMMARY:
This bill adds ocean lifeguards to the list of public safety
officers eligible to receive the Public Safety Medal of Valor
(PSMOV) for extraordinary valor above and beyond the call of
duty, and authorizes a group to be named later to represent
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ocean lifeguards on the PSMOV Review Board (Board).
FISCAL EFFECT:
Minor absorbable costs, probably less than $10,000, to the
Department of Justice to include ocean lifeguard representatives
on the Board, and to include ocean lifeguards on the eligibility
list for the PSMOV.
COMMENTS:
1)Background. Current law provides the Governor may annually
present in the name of the State of California a Medal of
Valor to one or more public safety officers cited by the
Attorney General (AG), upon the recommendation of the Board
for extraordinary valor above and beyond the call of duty.
The 11-member Board represents various public safety groups,
including firefighters, law enforcement officers, and
correctional officers.
2)Purpose. According to the author, "The Public Safety Medal of
Valor is the highest state award given to public safety
officers for showing 'extraordinary valor beyond the call of
duty'. Lifeguards in most jurisdictions in California are
classified as public safety officers and they should be
eligible to qualify for this award. Their heroic actions save
thousands of lives each year and the dangerous work they
perform has led some to pay the ultimate price, yet they
cannot be considered for this honor."
"AB 489 will become more inclusionary of those who risk their
lives every day and add ocean lifeguards to the list of
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eligible public servants alongside firefighters, law
enforcement officers, corrections officers and emergency
service officers."
3)Support. The California Marine Safety Chief's Association
states, "Assembly Bill 489 will become more inclusionary of
those who risk their lives every day to protect all of us in
the state. Our organization strongly supports adding ocean
lifeguards to the list of eligible public servants, alongside
firefighters, law enforcement officers, corrections officers
and emergency service officers. AB 489 would also include a
12th member that represents ocean lifeguards to sit on the
Public Safety Medal of Valor Review Board, a group that
reviews and recommends candidates to the Attorney General."
4)Opposition. The Peace Officers Research Association of
California (PORAC) states, ""The Public Safety Officer Medal
of Valor is meant to recognize the heroic acts of sworn public
safety personnel. While we appreciate the heroism of our ocean
lifeguards and commend their efforts to keep our coastline
safe, the Medal of Valor is not the appropriate avenue for
recognition. There are separate medals for citizen and
non-sworn public safety personnel and PORAC believes those
awards are better suited for non-sworn ocean lifeguards."
Analysis Prepared by:Pedro R. Reyes / APPR. / (916)
319-2081
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