BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 2247
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Date of Hearing: April 12, 2016
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS
Jacqui Irwin, Chair
AB 2247
(Williams) - As Amended March 17, 2016
SUBJECT: Armories
SUMMARY: (As proposed to be amended) Requires the California
Military Department ("CMD) to grant the City of Santa Barbara or
the Santa Barbara Unified School District an option to purchase
the Santa Barbara Armory. Specifically, this bill:
Requires the Director of General Services, notwithstanding
Section 2 of Chapter 355 of the Statutes of 2015, the, with
approval of the Adjutant General, to grant to the City of Santa
Barbara or the Santa Barbara Unified School District an option
to purchase the Santa Barbara Armory.
Specifies that the option shall expire on July 1, 2017.
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Mandates that any purchase agreement shall include terms and
conditions determined by the Director of General Services to be
in the best interest of the state based on the fair market value
of the armory, based on the zoning as it existed on March 1,
2016, as determined by an appraisal undertaken and approved by
the Department of General Services.
Clarifies that if the option granted expires, the Santa Barbara
Armory shall be offered for sale pursuant to Section 435 of the
Military and Veterans Code.
Defines the Santa Barbara Armory as the approximately 4.7 acres
of real property (APN.: 031-041-001) with an approximately
27,000 sq. ft. armory building and ancillary improvements made
thereon, located at 700 E. Canon Perdido Street, Santa Barbara,
California.
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States that the Legislature finds and declares that a special
law is necessary and that a general law cannot be made
applicable within the meaning of Section 16 of Article IV of the
California Constitution because of the location of the armory in
the city of Santa Barbara.
EXISTING LAW: Military and Veterans Code section 435 states in
part:
(a)The Director of General Services, with the approval of the
Adjutant General, may lease for not more than 99 years or sell
for fair market value upon terms and conditions and subject to
any reservations and exceptions as may be determined to be in
the best interests of the state any real property held for
armory purposes. Real property shall not be sold or leased
pursuant to this subdivision unless the Legislature, by
statute, approves the sale or lease of the property.
(b) There is in the State Treasury the Armory Fund. All net
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proceeds from the sale or lease of an armory shall be
deposited in the fund. The money in the fund is available,
upon appropriation by the Legislature, for the maintenance of
existing armories, and for the acquisition or construction of
new or replacement armories ?
FISCAL EFFECT: Unknown.
COMMENTS: The Santa Barbara Armory is already authorized for
sale as a result of the passage of SB 536 from 2015. The option
in the bill is at fair market value and of a reasonable length.
The City of Santa Barbara is in support of the bill.
This armory is already authorized for sale. However, the bill
brings up the need for a future general policy discussion about
the CMD's plans for the armory system in California. Clearly
the Santa Barbara Armory is important to the City and School
District. Other armories may be the subject of future plans for
sale, renovation, etc., and decisions about those armories are
likely to be important to their respective communities as well.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:
Support
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City of Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara High School
Santa Barbara Middle School
Opposition
None at this time.
Analysis Prepared by:John Spangler / V.A. / (916) 319-3550