BILL ANALYSIS Ó
SENATE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Senator Ricardo Lara, Chair
2015 - 2016 Regular Session
AB 2561 (Committee on Veterans Affairs) - Veterans cemeteries
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|Version: April 12, 2016 |Policy Vote: V.A. 5 - 0 |
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|Urgency: No |Mandate: No |
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|Hearing Date: August 1, 2016 |Consultant: Debra Cooper |
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This bill does not meet the criteria for referral to the
Suspense File.
Bill
Summary: AB 2561 would establish the California Central Coastal
Veterans Cemetery (CCCVC) Project Donation Fund, and requires
that donations for this state veterans cemetery for a specified
purpose be deposited in this fund and be expended for the
specified maintenance or beautification project. This bill would
also continuously appropriate the fund to the Department of
Veterans Affairs (CalVet) for these purposes.
Fiscal
Impact: Minor and absorbable costs to CalVet for administering
the fund. (CCCVC Project Donation Fund)
Background: California currently operates two state veterans cemeteries
(Yountville and Northern California) with a third one under
construction (CCCVC) and a fourth under consideration (Southern
California). These state veterans cemeteries are in addition to
AB 2561 (Committee on Veterans Affairs)
Page 1 of ?
nine federal veterans cemeteries operated by the United States
Department of Veterans Affairs (USDVA).
Under USDVA's State Cemetery Grants Program, the federal
government will fund up to 100% of the cost of establishing,
expanding, or improving state veterans' cemeteries, including
the acquisition of initial operating equipment if the state
agrees to cover the administration, operation, and maintenance
costs.
The CCCVC will be the second California Veterans Cemetery
developed and constructed in cooperation with the USDVA Veterans
Cemetery Grants Program. The facility will be located in
Monterey County at Fort Ord, a former United States Army post.
CCCVC is currently in the construction phase with an estimated
opening in the Fall of 2016.
Existing law established the California Central Coast State
Veterans Cemetery at Fort Ord Endowment Fund (Endowment Fund).
Cash donations without a specified purpose will be deposited in
the Endowment Fund which is available upon appropriation by the
Legislature.
This bill would create a donation fund for the CCCVC similar to
the donation funds for the existing Northern California State
Veterans Cemetery and the proposed Southern California State
Veterans Cemetery.
Proposed Law:
This bill would establish the CCCVC Project Donation Fund
within the State Treasury. Donations in the form of cash for a
purpose specified by the donor shall be deposited in this fund.
Donations in the form of cash that do not have a purpose
specified by the donor shall be deposited into the already
established Endowment Fund. Donations deposited to the CCCVC
Project Donation Fund shall be continuously appropriated to the
department, without regard to fiscal year.
AB 2561 (Committee on Veterans Affairs)
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Related
Legislation:
AB 1435 (Quirk-Silva, Chapter 646, Statutes of 2014) among other
things, established the Southern California Veterans Cemetery
Donations Fund, a continuously appropriated fund that would
require cash donations to be expended for the maintenance,
beautification, and repair of the cemetery, as specified.
AB 3035 (Laird, Chapter 291, Statutes of 2006) established the
Endowment Fund which would be allowed to receive donations of
personal property, including cash or other gifts, to be used for
the maintenance or beautification of the CCCVC, upon
appropriation by the Legislature.
Staff
Comments: Staff notes that the bill requires donations for a
specified purpose to be deposited into the CCCVC Project
Donation Fund. All money in this fund is continuously
appropriated to CalVet for specific veterans cemetery
maintenance or beautification projects. By depositing revenues
into a continuously appropriated fund, the bill technically
makes an appropriation.
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