BILL ANALYSIS
SENATE TRANSPORTATION & HOUSING COMMITTEE BILL NO: ACR 30
SENATOR ALAN LOWENTHAL, CHAIRMAN AUTHOR: Mendoza
VERSION: 2/23/09
Analysis by: Mark Stivers FISCAL: Yes
Hearing date: May 12, 2009
SUBJECT:
Los Angeles County Deputy Sheriff David Powell Memorial Highway
DESCRIPTION:
This resolution designates a portion of State Route (SR) 91 in
Los Angeles County as the Los Angeles County Deputy Sheriff
David Powell Memorial Highway.
ANALYSIS:
The committee has adopted a policy regarding the naming of state
highways or structures. Under the policy, the committee will
consider only those resolutions that meet all of the following
criteria:
The person being honored must have provided extraordinary
public service or some exemplary contribution to the public
good and have a connection to the community where the highway
is located.
The naming must be done without cost to the state. Costs for
signs and plaques must be paid by local or private sources.
The author or co-author of the resolution must represent the
district in which the facility is located and the resolution
must identify the specific highway segment or structure being
named.
The proposed designation must reflect a community consensus
and be without local opposition.
The proposed designation may not supersede an existing
designation unless the sponsor can document that a good faith
effort has uncovered no opposition to rescinding the prior
designation.
ACR 30 (MENDOZA) Page 2
This resolution designates the segment of SR 91 between SR 605
and Pioneer Boulevard in Los Angeles County as the Los Angeles
County Deputy Sheriff David Powell Memorial Highway. The
resolution further requests the Department of Transportation to
erect appropriate signs upon receiving donations from non-state
sources to cover the costs.
COMMENTS:
1.Purpose of the resolution . By naming a portion of SR 91 for
Deputy Powell, this resolution seeks to memorialize Deputy
Powell's ultimate sacrifice in service to the people of Los
Angeles County.
2.Deputy Powell's contributions . Deputy David Powell served the
public as a member of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's
Department for 19 years, the last 14 years of which he was
assigned to the Lakewood Sheriff's Station. Deputy Powell
stated that the reason he became a law enforcement officer was
to make a positive difference in other people's lives. He was
praised by his peers, supervisors, and members of the
community for his tireless efforts to guide young people away
from drugs and gangs. In 2000, Deputy Powell was awarded the
Medal of Valor by the City of Lakewood for saving the life of
an individual attempting suicide, and several months prior to
his death, Deputy Powell tried desperately to remove
critically injured passengers from a burning vehicle and was
honored for his heroic actions with a second Medal of Valor.
Tragically, Deputy Powell was killed in the line of duty in
the City of Artesia on November 30, 2002, while in a standoff
with a barricaded gunman who was holding a hostage.
3.Consistent with committee's policy . This resolution is
consistent with all the provisions of the committee's policy
on highway designations.
Assembly Votes:
Floor: 78-0
Appr: 16-0
Trans: 14-0
POSITIONS: (Communicated to the Committee before noon on
Wednesday,
ACR 30 (MENDOZA) Page 3
May 6, 2009)
SUPPORT: Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department (sponsor)
American Federation of State, County, and
Municipal Employees
Association of Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs
OPPOSED: None received.