BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 489
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CONCURRENCE IN SENATE AMENDMENTS
AB
489 (Gonzalez)
As Amended June 15, 2015
Majority vote
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|ASSEMBLY: | 77-0 |(April 23, |SENATE: |40-0 |(August 24, |
| | |2015) | | |2015) |
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Original Committee Reference: PUB. S.
SUMMARY: 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 the United States Lifesaving Association to
represent ocean lifeguards on the PSMOV Review Board.
The Senate amendments add the United States Lifesaving
Association to the PSMOV review board.
EXISTING LAW:
1)Provides that the Governor may annually present in the name of
the State of California a Medal of Valor to one or more public
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safety officers cited by the Attorney General (AG) upon the
recommendation of the Medal of Valor Review Board (Board) for
extraordinary valor above and beyond the call of duty. The
PSMOV shall be the highest state award for valor given to a
public safety officer, which includes any person serving a
public service agency, with or without compensation, as a
firefighter, a law enforcement officer, including a
corrections or court officer or a civil defense officer, or an
emergency services officer.
2)Creates the "Medal of Valor Review Board," comprised of
representatives or their designees, selected by the following
organizations:
a) California Association of Highway Patrolman;
b) California Coalition of Law Enforcement Associations;
c) California Correctional Peace Officers Association;
d) California Peace Officers' Association;
e) California Police Chiefs' Association;
f) California Professional Firefighters;
g) California State Firefighters' Association;
h) California State Sheriffs' Association;
i) California Statewide Law Enforcement Association;
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j) Peace Officers Research Association of California; and
aa) A group representing emergency medical technicians and
paramedics, to be selected by the Board.
3)Provides that the Board shall be chaired by a member elected
by a majority of the members at the first official meeting of
the Board each year. The Board shall meet at the call of the
chair. Members shall serve without compensation or
reimbursement for travel, per diem, or other expenses, and
they shall minimize travel expenses to the greatest extent
possible. Any cost incurred by a member as a result of
serving as a member shall not be paid by the state.
4)Requires the Board to review applications for the PSMOV to
determine which applicants, if any, to recommend to the AG.
Not more than once each year, the Board may present to the AG
the names of those persons, if any, it recommends for the
PSMOV.
5)Authorizes the Board to receive donations to pay for meeting
and witness expenses. Witnesses requested to appear before
the Board may be paid no more than the fees paid to witnesses
under Code of Civil Procedure. The per diem and mileage
allowance may be paid by funds donated to the Board and shall
not be paid by the state. If donated funds are not available
to the Board, the Board shall not hold hearings or have
witnesses.
FISCAL EFFECT: According to the Senate Appropriations
Committee, pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8, negligible state costs.
COMMENTS: 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
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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 eligible
public servants alongside firefighters, law enforcement
officers, corrections officers and emergency service officers."
Analysis Prepared by:
Gregory Pagan / PUB. S. / (916) 319-3744 FN:
0001307