Amended in Senate March 2, 2016

Senate Bill No. 806

Introduced by Senator Vidak

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(Principal coauthors: Senators Cannella and Fuller)

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(Principal coauthors: Assembly Members Bigelow, Mathis, and Salas)

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(Coauthors: Senators Anderson, Glazer, Moorlach, and Nguyen)

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(Coauthors: Assembly Members Brough and Lackey)

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January 4, 2016

An act to add Section 1011.5 to the Military and Veterans Code, relating to veterans’ homes.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

SB 806, as amended, Vidak. Dr. Charlie Waters Memorial Veterans’ Home.

Existing law establishes the Veterans’ Home of California, under the administration of the Department of Veterans Affairs, including homes in Yountville and Barstow. Existing law also authorizes the Department of General Services, on behalf of the Department of Veterans Affairs, to acquire, design, equip, construct, and establish additional veterans’ homes in other locations, including Fresno.

This bill would rename the veterans’ home in the County of Fresno as the Dr. Charlie Waters Memorial Veterans’ Home and would make specified findings of the Legislature regarding Dr. Waters’ life.

Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.  

The Legislature finds and declares all of the
following:

(a) Dr. Charlie Waters served his country as a member of the
United States Marine Corps from 1951 to 1958, including 13
months of combat in Korea between 1951 and 1952.

(b) Following his combat service, Dr. Waters was assigned to
the United States Embassy in Montevideo, Uruguay.

(c) Dr. Waters served on many boards, commissions, and
foundations, serving veterans and the entire community, including
the Fresno Marine Corps League, the Veterans Day Parade
Committee, the Fresno Veterans Home Foundation, the American
Legion, and Toys for Tots.

(d) Dr. Waters played a critical role in the establishment of the
Veterans’ Home of California, Fresno, often testifying before the
Legislature to ensure adequate funding for the facility. Dr. Waters,
along with help from Chuck Parnell and George Sinopoli, paved
the road towards the ultimate opening of the begin delete Veterans Home
Located end delete begin insert veterans’ home located end insert in Fresno.

(e) In addition to the contributions of Dr. Waters, Chuck Parnell,
and George Sinopoli, a large number of community members and
organizations dedicated their time and resources towards making
the begin delete Veterans end delete begin insert veterans’ end insert home in Fresno a reality.

(f) The Veterans’ Home of California, Fresno, opened on
October 18, 2013, and includes a bronze bust of Dr. Waters, which
was unveiled on September 3, 2014, exactly one year before his
death.

(g) Dr. Waters died September 3, 2015, after a hard-fought battle
with cancer. Yet, even while battling this disease, he continued
his fight for housing and services for veterans in the central valley
and across the nation.

SEC. 2.  

Section 1011.5 is added to the Military and Veterans
Code, to read:

1011.5.  

The veterans’ home in the County of Fresno, authorized
pursuant to Section 15819.60 of the Government Code, shall be
named the Dr. Charlie Waters Memorial Veterans’ Home.