BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 1701
Page 1
Date of Hearing: August 3, 2016
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Lorena Gonzalez, Chair
AB
1701 (Gonzalez) - As Amended June 27, 2016
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Urgency: Yes State Mandated Local Program: NoReimbursable: No
SUMMARY:
This bill, an urgency measure, appropriates approximately
$450,000 from specified funds to the California Victim
Compensation and Government Claims Board (board) for the payment
of 210 state claims.
FISCAL EFFECT:
General Fund appropriations in the amount of $408,878.43 to pay
184 claims, and appropriations from specific budget items in the
amount of $39,579.79 to pay 26 claims (GF/special funds). All
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of these claims are for reissuance of stale-dated warrants
(expired checks) that range from $21.84 to $60,701.61.
COMMENTS:
Background. The State Board of Control was established in 1945.
It was revised and renamed the Victim Compensation and
Government Claims Board by AB 2491 (Jackson, Chapter 1016,
Statutes of 2000). Government Code 13928 requires the board to
ensure that all claims that have been approved by the board, and
for which no legally available appropriation exists, are
submitted for legislative approval at least twice during each
calendar year. In general, the board will approve claims in
November and February. Those claims are reported to the chairs
of the Appropriations Committees who introduce bills
appropriating General Funds and special funds to pay the claims.
These bills may appropriate funds in amounts to the penny for
tens to hundreds of claims. Government Code 906 provides for
the payment of interest on claims approved by the board for
which an appropriation has been made beginning 30 days after the
effective date of the law by which the appropriation is enacted.
The re-issuance of stale-dated warrants is the most prevalent
claim approved by the board. For stale-dated warrants, the
State Controller must confirm that (1) the check was not cashed
and has not been issued and (2) more than three years have
elapsed since the check was issued and the monies have reverted
to the General Fund or to the relevant special fund. For these
warrants an appropriation is needed to reissue the payment. The
majority of warrants are payroll or tax refund checks.
This bill, an urgency measure, appropriates $448,458.22 from
various state funds, including $408,878.43 directly from the
General Fund, to the board for the payment of 208 state claims
for reissuance of stale-dated warrants. This bill includes
reimbursements for two Board of Equalization employees, one for
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travel expenses the other for overpayment of dental premiums.
Analysis Prepared by:Pedro R. Reyes / APPR. / (916)
319-2081