BILL ANALYSIS
AB 1520
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CONCURRENCE IN SENATE AMENDMENTS
AB 1520 (Kehoe)
As Amended July 19, 2004
Majority vote
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|ASSEMBLY: |47-31|(January 29, |SENATE: |22-15|(August 19, |
| | |2004) | | |2004) |
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Original Committee Reference: V.A.
SUMMARY : Establishes an 11-member California Veterans' Memorial
Commission (Commission) to review and approve state veterans'
memorials.
The Senate amendments :
1)State that members of the Commission may be reimbursed for the
cost of traveling to and from commission meetings.
2)Provide that the Commission may request staff and facility
support from the Department of Veteran Affairs (DVA) and shall
be reimbursed by the Commission for the cost of this support.
3)Provide that funds for the operation and support of the
Commission and for the design, construction, and dedication of
the memorial shall be provided through private contributions.
4)State that the Commission may expend funds from the California
Veterans Memorial Fund, upon appropriation by the Legislature,
for the purposes of the design, construction, and dedication.
5)Require the Commission to consult with, and obtain final
approval from the Department of General Services (DGS) if the
memorial is to be located on state grounds.
6)Provide that DGS shall be reimbursed by the Commission for any
cost incurred as a result of services provided by DGS having
to do with the design, construction or dedication.
.
EXISTING LAW provides for the establishment of veterans'
memorials by statute. To date legislatively approved memorials
include: a) a Vietnam Memorial; b) a Korean War Memorial, c) an
All Veterans Memorial; and, d) a Mexican American Veterans
AB 1520
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Memorial.
AS PASSED BY THE ASSEMBLY, this bill:
1)Creates a Commission composed of one legislator and one
veteran appointed, respectively, by the Speaker and the Senate
Rules Committee and seven members appointed by the Governor,
four of who must be veterans. Legislative members shall serve
ex officio and without compensation.
2)States that the Commission will review and approve the design
and location of proposals for state veterans' memorials to
recognizable groups of veterans.
3)States that the Commission will provide for private
fundraising for Commission activities and all design,
construction and development costs of approved memorials.
FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Assembly Appropriations
Committee, DVA's support cost would depend on the number of
request for veterans memorials and the level of involvement by
the Commission in each approved memorial project. General Fund
costs, without reimbursement, could be in the range of $40,000
in any fiscal year for one half-time position.
COMMENTS : Opponents argue that it is inappropriate to recognize
any subcategory of veterans distinctly from all veterans.
This bill is patterned after the process established by the
Legislature for determining sites for new state veterans homes
and new state veterans cemeteries.
Any memorials proposed for Capitol Park would continue to also
require legislative approval.
Analysis Prepared by : Anthony Newman / V.A. / (916) 319-3553
FN: 0008027