BILL NUMBER: AB 671	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 14, 2009

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Krekorian

                        FEBRUARY 25, 2009

    An act relating to the Public Safety Medal of Honor.
  An act to amend Sections 3402 and 3404 of the
Government Code, relating to the Golden Shield Award. 


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 671, as amended, Krekorian. Public Safety  Medal of
Honor.   Golden Shield Award. 
   The Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor Act authorizes the
Governor to annually award and present in the name of the State of
California a Medal of Valor to one public safety officer, as defined,
who is cited by the Attorney General, upon the recommendation of the
board, for extraordinary valor above and beyond the call of duty.

   This bill would state the intent of the Legislature to establish a
Medal of Honor to bestow on a public safety officer who, while
serving under competent authority in any capacity, has been wounded
or killed, or who has died or may die after being wounded in the line
of duty.  
   This bill would authorize the Governor to additionally annually
award and present in the name of the State of California a Golden
Shield Award to one public safety officer who is cited by the
Attorney General, upon the recommendation of the Medal of Valor
Review Board, who while serving under competent authority in any
capacity, has been wounded or killed, or who has died after being
wounded in the line of duty. 
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee:  no
  yes  . State-mandated local program: no.


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

   SECTION 1.    Section 3402 of the  
Government Code   is amended to read: 
   3402.   (a)    The Governor annually may award,
and present in the name of the State of California, a Medal of Valor
of appropriate design, with ribbons and appurtenances, to one public
safety officer who is cited by the Attorney General, upon the
recommendation of the Medal of Valor Review Board, for extraordinary
valor above and beyond the call of duty. In exceptional
circumstances, the Governor may award more than one Medal of Valor in
a year. The Public Safety Medal of Valor shall be the highest state
award for valor awarded to a public safety officer. 
   (b) The Governor annually may award, and present in the name of
the State of California, a Golden Shield Award of appropriate design,
with ribbons and appurtenances, to one public safety officer who is
cited by the Attorney General, upon the recommendation of the Medal
of Valor Review Board, who, while serving under competent authority
in any capacity, has been wounded or killed, or who has died after
being wounded in the line of duty. In exceptional circumstances, the
Governor may award more than one Golden Shield Award in a year. 

   SEC. 2.    Section 3404 of the   Government
Code   is amended to read: 
   3404.  (a) The board shall conduct its first meeting not later
than 90 days after the appointment of the last member appointed of
the initial group of members appointed to the board. Thereafter, the
board shall meet at the call of the chair of the board. The board
shall meet not more than once each year.
   (b) A majority of the members of the board shall constitute a
quorum to conduct business, but the board may establish a lesser
quorum for conducting hearings scheduled by the board. The board may
establish by majority vote any other rules for the conduct of the
board's business, if the rules are not inconsistent with this chapter
or other provisions of law.
   (c) The board shall recommend candidates for the Medal of Valor
 and the Golden Shield Award  from among the applications
received by the board. Not more often than once each year, the board
may present to the Attorney General the name or names of those it
recommends as candidates for the Medal of Valor  and the Golden
Shield Award  . In a given year, the board shall not be required
to recommend any candidates but may not recommend more than five
candidates. The Attorney General in extraordinary cases may increase
the number of candidates in a given year. The board shall set an
annual timetable for fulfilling its duties under this chapter.
   (d) The board may hold one annual hearing, sit and act at a
designated time and place, administer oaths, take testimony, and
receive evidence as the board considers advisable to carry out its
duties.
   (e) Witnesses requested to appear before the board may be paid the
same fees as are paid to witnesses pursuant to the Code of Civil
Procedure. The per diem and mileage allowances for witnesses shall be
paid from funds donated to the board.
   (f) The board may secure directly from any state department or
other state or local agency information as the board considers
necessary to carry out its duties. Upon the request of the board, the
head of a department or agency may furnish information to the board.

   (g) The board shall not disclose any information that may
compromise an ongoing law enforcement investigation or is otherwise
required by law to be kept confidential. 
  SECTION 1.    It is the intent of the Legislature
to establish a Medal of Honor to bestow on a public safety officer
who, while serving under competent authority in any capacity, has
been wounded or killed, or who has died or may die after being
wounded in the line of duty. It is the intent of the Legislature to
model this award after the Medal of Valor.