BILL ANALYSIS Ó AB 489 Page 1 Date of Hearing: April 15, 2015 ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS Jimmy Gomez, Chair AB 489 (Gonzalez) - As Introduced February 23, 2015 ----------------------------------------------------------------- |Policy | Public Safety |Vote:|7-0 | |Committee: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |-------------+-------------------------------+-----+-------------| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |-------------+-------------------------------+-----+-------------| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------- 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 AB 489 Page 2 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 AB 489 Page 3 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 AB 489 Page 4