BILL NUMBER: SB 1815	CHAPTERED  09/27/00

	CHAPTER   771
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE   SEPTEMBER 27, 2000
	APPROVED BY GOVERNOR   SEPTEMBER 26, 2000
	PASSED THE SENATE   AUGUST 31, 2000
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY   AUGUST 31, 2000
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY   AUGUST 30, 2000
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY   JULY 6, 2000
	AMENDED IN SENATE   APRIL 11, 2000
	AMENDED IN SENATE   MARCH 30, 2000

INTRODUCED BY   Senator McPherson
   (Principal coauthor:  Assembly Member Keeley)

                        FEBRUARY 24, 2000

   An act to add Chapter 10 (commencing with Section 1450) to
Division 6 of the Military and Veterans Code, relating to veterans,
making an appropriation therefor, and declaring the urgency thereof,
to take effect immediately.



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 1815, McPherson.   Central Coast Veterans Cemetery.
   Existing law provides for the burial of veterans and veterans'
widows and widowers, and the care of veterans' graves.
   This bill would require the Department of Veterans Affairs, in
voluntary cooperation with the Monterey County Board of Supervisors,
to develop a master plan for a state-owned and state-operated Central
Coast Veterans Cemetery to be located on the grounds of the former
Fort Ord in Monterey County.  The bill also would establish the
Central Coast Veterans Cemetery Master Development Fund.
   The bill would appropriate $140,000 from the General Fund to the
Central Coast Veterans Cemetery Master Development Fund for the
master development plan of the cemetery, as specified.
   The bill would require the department to research and prepare a
State Cemetery Grant  to be filed with the federal Department of
Veterans Affairs for an amount representing 100% of the estimated
cost for designing, developing, constructing, and equipping the
cemetery.
  The bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an
urgency statute.
   Appropriation:  yes.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:


  SECTION 1.  Chapter 10 (commencing with Section 1450) is added to
Division 6 of the Military and Veterans Code, to read:

      CHAPTER 10.  CENTRAL COAST VETERANS CEMETERY

   1450.  The Department of Veterans Affairs, in voluntary
cooperation with the Monterey County Board of Supervisors, shall
develop a master plan for a state-owned and state-operated Central
Coast Veterans Cemetery, which shall be located on the grounds of the
former Fort Ord in Monterey County.
   1451.  All moneys received for the master plan shall be deposited
in the Central Coast Veterans Cemetery Master Development Fund, which
is hereby created in the State Treasury.  Money appropriated from
the fund to the Department of Veterans Affairs shall be used by the
department for planning purposes, to determine the project costs,
regional impact, need, and ongoing state liability, and to develop a
master plan for a state-supported Central Coast Veterans Cemetery on
the grounds of former Fort Ord in Monterey County.
  SEC. 2.  The Legislature hereby appropriates one hundred forty
thousand dollars ($140,000) from the General Fund to the Central
Coast Veterans Cemetery Master Development Fund for the master
development plan of the Central Coast Veterans Cemetery pursuant to
Section 1450 of the Military and Veterans Code.
  SEC. 3.  It is the intent of the Legislature to determine the
costs, regional impact, need, ongoing state liability, and a master
plan for a Central Coast Veterans Cemetery.  Accordingly, as to the
funding of the cemetery, the Department of Veterans Affairs shall
research and prepare a State Cemetery Grant to be filed with the
federal Department of Veterans Affairs for an amount representing 100
percent of the estimated cost for designing, developing,
constructing, and equipping the cemetery.
  SEC. 4.  This act is an urgency statute necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety within the
meaning of Article IV of the Constitution and shall go into immediate
effect.  The facts constituting the necessity are:
   In order to commence with the master plan of the Central Coast
Veterans Cemetery at the earliest possible time, it is necessary that
this act take effect immediately.