BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 2790
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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.
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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
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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
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