AB 671 Assembly Bill

BILL NUMBER: AB 671	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MAY 6, 2009
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 14, 2009

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Krekorian

                        FEBRUARY 25, 2009

   An act to  amend Sections 3402 and 3404 of  
add Chapter 9.9 (commencing with Section 3410) to Division 4 of Title
1 of  the Government Code, relating to the Golden Shield Award.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 671, as amended, Krekorian. Public Safety 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  authorize   require 
the Governor to additionally annually award and present in the name
of the State of California a Golden Shield Award to  one
  the next of kin of, or immediate family members of,
every  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: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.


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

   SECTION 1.    Chapter 9.9 (commencing with Section
3410) is added to Division 4 of Title 1 of the   Government
Code   , to read:  
      CHAPTER 9.9.  CALIFORNIA GOLDEN SHIELD ACT


   3410.  This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the
California Golden Shield Act.
   3411.  The Governor annually shall award, and present in the name
of the State of California, a Golden Shield Award of appropriate
design, with ribbons and appurtenances, to the next of kin of, or
immediate family members of, every public safety officer who, while
serving under competent authority in any capacity, has been killed in
the line of duty in that year.
   3412.  For the purposes of this chapter, "public safety officer"
means a person serving a public agency, with or without compensation,
as a firefighter, law enforcement officer, or emergency services
officer, as determined by the Attorney General. "Law enforcement
officer" includes a person who is a corrections or court officer or a
civil defense officer.  
  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.