BILL ANALYSIS Ó
SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION
Senator Isadore Hall, III
Chair
2015 - 2016 Regular
Bill No: AB 2790 Hearing Date: 8/9/16
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|Author: |Nazarian |
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|Version: |6/27/2016 Amended |
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|Urgency: |Yes |Fiscal: |Yes |
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|Consultant:|Felipe Lopez |
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SUBJECT: State Capitol Historic Region: international genocide
memorial
DIGEST: This bill authorizes the Department of General
Services (DGS) to apply to the Joint Committee on Rules for an
exemption to allow siting and construction of the international
genocide memorial if the master plan of the State Capitol Park
is not approved or adopted on or before January 1, 2021.
ANALYSIS:
Existing law:
1)Authorizes the construction of an international genocide
memorial in the Capitol Historic Region.
2)Specifies that construction of the memorial may not proceed
without prior approval of DGS and the Capitol Park Master Plan
Group.
3)Specifies that construction of the memorial shall be provided
through private contributions and provides that the commission
may receive contributions for this purpose.
This bill authorizes DGS to apply to the Joint Committee on
Rules for an exemption to allow siting and construction of the
international genocide memorial if the master plan of the State
Capitol Park is not approved or adopted on or before January 1,
AB 2790 (Nazarian) Page 2 of ?
2021.
Background
Purpose of the bill. According to the author, "AB 2790
establishes a reasonable timeline and process to allow the
master plan to be developed and for the construction of the
memorial to be possible. The bill signifies the importance of
public memorials by honoring individuals and remembering
significant events. A public memorial in the State Capitol Park
not only recognizes historical events, but also acknowledges the
suffering felt by victims and all those affected."
Initial authorization. In 2006, Governor Schwarzenegger signed
AB 1210 (Levine, Chapter 849, Statutes of 2006) which
established the International Genocide Memorial Commission to
oversee the construction of a memorial to California's genocide
survivors on the grounds of the State Capitol. The bill's
legislative findings specified that "California recognizes the
atrocities of all ethnic cleansing campaigns, including, among
many others, the Holocaust, Kosovo, the Armenian Genocide,
Rwanda, Darfur, African-American Slaves, Native Americans, and
the plight of the Hmong in Southeast Asia."
The bill also prohibited construction of the memorial until the
master plan of the State Capitol Park is approved and adopted by
the Joint Committee on Rules. It is unclear when the master
plan will be approved and adopted by the Joint Committee on
Rules. AB 2790 would simply authorize DGS to apply for an
exemption to this prohibition if the master plan has not been
approved by January 1, 2021.
Prior/Related Legislation
AB 1980 (Irwin, 2016) authorizes the California Fire Foundation,
in consultation with DGS, to prepare a plan to construct
modifications to the existing memorial on the grounds of the
State Capitol, which may include the construction of a new wall
within the existing footprint of the memorial that would include
the names of additional fallen firefighters. (Pending on the
Senate Floor)
AB 2704 (Gipson, 2016) authorizes the placement of a bust of
Mervyn M. Dymally in the Capitol Annex. (Pending on the Senate
Floor)
AB 2790 (Nazarian) Page 3 of ?
AB 2358 (Hagman, Chapter 682, Statutes of 2012) authorized the
construction of a memorial in the State Capitol Building Annex
to honor former Governor and United States President, Ronald
Reagan.
AB 1210 (Levine, Chapter 849, Statutes of 2006) established the
International Genocide Memorial Commission to oversee the
construction of a memorial to California's genocide survivors on
the grounds of the State Capitol.
AB 3198 (Areias, Chapter 1217, Statutes of 1992) authorized the
construction of the memorial to California firefighters on the
grounds of the State Capitol.
FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: No Fiscal
Com.: Yes Local: No
SUPPORT:
None received
OPPOSITION:
None received