BILL ANALYSIS Ó AB 2790 Page 1 Date of Hearing: August 29, 2016 ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON RULES Richard S. Gordon, Chair AB 2790 (Nazarian) - As Amended June 27, 2016 SUBJECT: State Capitol Historic Region: international genocide memorial SUMMARY: 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. Specifically, this bill: 1)Allows DGS to apply to the Joint Committee on Rules for an exemption to allow siting and construction of the memorial if the master plan of the State Capitol Park is not approved or adopted by the Joint Committee on Rules on or before January 1, 2021. 2)Provides that the bill shall go into effect immediately, as an urgency statute. 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. AB 2790 Page 2 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. 3)Authorizes construction of a memorial to California's genocide survivors in the Capitol Historic Region; and, establishes the International Genocide Memorial Commission to oversee design, construction, and dedication of the memorial. 4)Requires approval of DGS and the Capitol Park Master Plan Group prior to construction of the memorial. 5)Prohibits construction of the memorial by DGS until the master plan of the State Capitol Park is approved and adopted by the Joint Committee on Rules. 6)Specifies that construction and maintenance of the memorial shall be provided exclusively through private contributions. No state funds shall be expended on the memorial. FISCAL EFFECT: Unknown COMMENTS: 1)Purpose of the bill : According to the author, AB 2790 allows construction of the memorial to move forward if the master plan is not approved or adopted by the Joint Committee on Rules on or before January 1, 2021. The bill signifies the importance of public memorials by honoring individuals and remembering significant events. A memorial in Capitol Park would recognize historical events and acknowledge the AB 2790 Page 3 suffering felt by victims and all of those affected. 2)Need for the bill : AB 2790 would establish a reasonable timeline and process to allow the master plan to be developed and for the construction of the international genocide memorial to be possible. No progress has been made toward completion of the memorial as a result of construction of the memorial being contingent upon completion of the master plan. 3)Prior legislation : AB 1210 (Levine, Chapter 849, Statutes of 2006) provided the initial authorization for construction of the international genocide memorial. The bill prohibited construction of the memorial until the master plan of the State Capitol Park is approved and adopted by the Joint Committee on Rules. 4)Related legislation : AB 1980 (Irwin, 2016) authorizes a plan to construct modifications to the existing memorial to California firefighters, but prohibits construction of any proposed modifications until the master plan of the State Capitol Park is approved and adopted by the Joint Committee on Rules, or until January 1, 2021, whichever occurs first. REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION: Support None on file Opposition None on file Analysis Prepared by:Michael Erke / RLS. / (916) 319-2800 AB 2790 Page 4