BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 2704
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Date of Hearing: May 9, 2016
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON RULES
Richard S. Gordon, Chair
AB 2704
(Gipson) - As Amended April 26, 2016
SUBJECT: State Capitol: Mervyn Dymally bust
SUMMARY: Authorizes the construction and maintenance of a bust
in the State Capitol Building Annex to honor Mervyn M. Dymally.
Specifically, this bill:
1)Requires the Department of General Services (DGS) in
consultation with the Mervyn Dymally Memorial Capitol
Foundation to be responsible for the planning, construction,
and dedication of a bust to honor Mervyn Dymally.
2)Requires funds for the planning, construction, and maintenance
of the bust be provided through private donations to the
Mervyn Dymally Memorial Capitol Foundation.
3)Prohibits construction of the bust until the Joint Committee
on Rules has approved and adopted the plan, and the Joint
Committee on Rules and the Department of Finance have
determined that sufficient private funding is available to
construct and maintain the bust.
AB 2704
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EXISTING LAW:
1)Requires DGS to oversee the buildings and grounds of the
state, including the historic State Capitol and the State
Capitol Building Annex.
2)Requires the Joint Committee on Rules to approve and adopt
plans for memorials in the State Capitol Park and statues in
the State Capitol Building Annex.
FISCAL EFFECT: Unknown
COMMENTS:
1)Purpose of the bill : According to the author, placing a bust
in the State Capitol will memorialize Mervyn Dymally as the
first African American Lieutenant Governor in California and
commemorate his legacy of public service to this state. This
bust will serve to inspire African Americans and all
Californians as a model of community and political leadership.
2)Background : Mervyn Dymally was born in Cedros, Trinidad and
moved to California when he was 19 years old. Mr. Dymally was
elected to the California State Assembly in 1962, becoming the
first foreign-born person of African descent to ever hold a
state office in California, and served until 1966. He then
served in the California State Senate from 1966 to 1974.
Mervyn Dymally served as Lieutenant Governor from 1975-1979,
and was California's first African American to hold this
statewide office. Mr. Dymally continued his public service as
a United States Congressman for 12 years from 1981-1993. He
finished his political career in the California State
Assembly, serving six years from 2002-2008.
AB 2704
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Mr. Dymally is widely recognized as a significant and
effective figure in California politics. In fact, throughout
his career of public service he was considered the "Dean of
Black Politicians."
3)Other Bust Locations : A bust of Mervyn Dymally is currently
located at the following locations: Charles R. Drew University
Dymally School of Nursing; CSU Dominguez Hills, Mervyn M.
Dymally African American Political and Economic Institute;
Cedros, Trinidad; the African American Museum of California;
and, the National African American Museum in Washington D.C.
4)Location in the Capitol : AB 2704 does not specify where the
bust would be placed in the State Capitol Building Annex. The
author has indicated a desire to have it placed in or near the
Lieutenant Governor's Office. The location will need final
approval from DGS and the Joint Committee on Rules.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:
Support
California State Conference of the National Association for the
Advancement of Colored People
Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science
Watts Labor Community Action Committee
AB 2704
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Opposition
None on file
Analysis Prepared by:Michael Erke / RLS. / (916) 319-2800