BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 1980
Page 1
Date of Hearing: May 18, 2016
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Lorena Gonzalez, Chair
AB
1980 (Irwin) - As Amended May 11, 2016
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|Policy | Governmental Organization |Vote:| 18 - 0 |
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Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: NoReimbursable: No
SUMMARY:
This bill authorizes the California Fire Foundation (CFF) to
modify the memorial for fallen firefighters on the grounds of
the State Capitol Park, if certain conditions are met.
Specifically, this bill:
1)Authorizes CFF to prepare a plan for a proposed modification
to the memorial. Once CFF undertakes responsibility to modify
the memorial, it is required to establish a schedule and
processes to solicit designs and to select the design.
AB 1980
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2)Prohibits CFF from commencing construction unless the Joint
Committee on Rules and the Department of General Services
(DGS) have reviewed and approved the plan and unless the
Department of Finance (DOF) have verified that sufficient
donations have been secured to complete construction.
3)Prohibits CFF from commencing construction until the Joint
Committee on Rules has approved and adopted a master plan of
the State Capitol Park or until January 1, 2021, whichever
occurs first.
4)Requires DGS to take specified actions to ensure that the
design, review, inspection, and construction of the proposed
memorial modifications meet certain requirements.
FISCAL EFFECT:
Minor and absorbable costs to DGS.
COMMENTS:
1)Purpose. This bill is intended to ensure that the names of
California's fallen firefighters are inscribed on the memorial
wall for decades to come. The author notes that firefighters
have one of the highest rates of injury and death when
compared to other careers. As a result, 15 to 20 new names, on
average, are added to the Memorial Wall each year. It is
expected that there will be no more room to add names to the
current wall in the near future.
2)Background. CFF is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that
provides emotional and financial assistance to families of
AB 1980
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fallen firefighters, firefighters, and the communities they
protect. Formed in 1987 by the California Professional
Firefighters (CPF), the CFF's mandate includes an array of
survivor and victim assistance projects and community
initiatives, as well as the design, construction, and
maintenance of the California Firefighters Memorial. Sponsored
by the CFF, the Memorial was designed and built in 2002 to
honor
firefighters killed in the line of duty. The Foundation is the
official recipient organization for proceeds from the state
license plate and tax check-off funds earmarked for the
Memorial.
Analysis Prepared by:Luke Reidenbach / APPR. / (916)
319-2081