BILL ANALYSIS Ó SCR 139 Page 1 Date of Hearing: August 15, 2016 ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION Jim Frazier, Chair SCR 139 (Gaines) - As Amended August 9, 2016 SENATE VOTE: 37-0 SUBJECT: Merle Haggard Memorial Overpass SUMMARY: Designates the overpass at the interchange of Interstate 5 (I-5) and State Highway Route 44 (SR 44) in the City of Redding as the "Merle Haggard Memorial Overpass." Specifically, this resolution: 1)Recounts the life and accomplishments of Merle Haggard, a country music recording artist. 2)Designates the overpass at the interchange of I-5 and SR 44 in the City of Redding as the "Merle Haggard Memorial Overpass." 3)Requests that the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) determine the cost of appropriate signs, consistent with the signing requirements for the state highway system, showing the special designation and, upon receiving donations from non-state sources covering that cost, to erect those signs. SCR 139 Page 2 EXISTING LAW: Assigns Caltrans the responsibility of operating and maintaining state highways. This includes the installation and maintenance of highway signs. FISCAL EFFECT: Unknown, but the measure requests that Caltrans only erect the appropriate signage upon receiving donations from non-state sources covering the cost. COMMENTS: Merle Haggard was a country music recording artist who released nearly 70 albums and 600 songs. Over the course of his career, Haggard won numerous awards, including the Country Music Association's Entertainer of the Year. Haggard's recordings included 38 number one hits, and he was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame and received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. He passed away on his ranch in Palo Cedro on April 6, 2016. This resolution designating an overpass in Redding in his honor acknowledges the contributions Mr. Haggard made to his community and the state. REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION: Support None on file Opposition SCR 139 Page 3 None on file Analysis Prepared by:Justin Behrens / TRANS. / (916) 319-2093