BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    



                                                                  SB 369
                                                                  Page  1

          Date of Hearing:   July 1, 2009

                        ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
                                Kevin De Leon, Chair

                  SB 369 (Maldonado) - As Amended:  April 28, 2009 

          Policy Committee:                              Veterans  
          AffairsVote: 8-0

          Urgency:     No                   State Mandated Local Program:  
          No     Reimbursable:               

           SUMMARY  

          This bill:

          1)Requires that the Prisoner-of-War/Missing-in-Action (POW/MIA)  
            Flag be flown during business hours at all state-owned  
            buildings where it can be attached to existing flagpoles or  
            structures and the United State flag or the California flag  
            are also flown.

          2)Authorizes the state to accept donations of POW/MIA flags.

           FISCAL EFFECT  

          Minor absorbable costs to the extent POW/MIA flags must be  
          purchased for use at state-owned buildings.  (General Fund and  
          numerous special funds.)

          There are approximately 2,000 state-owned buildings (including  
          about 500 court facilities being transferred to the state from  
          the counties), and costs for POW/MIA flags range from $45 to $70  
          per flag.  To purchase flags for every building, the maximum  
          General Fund cost would be about $22,000 (for 314 flags) and  
          special fund costs would total about $118,000.  Moreover, the  
          bill's requirement applies only where there is an existing  
          structure on which to fly the flag, thus actual costs will  
          likely be much lower.  
           
           COMMENTS  

           Background and Purpose  .  The flag of the National League of  
          POW/MIA Families is a black and white banner symbolizing those  








                                                                  SB 369
                                                                  Page  2

          members of the United States Armed Forces who are listed as POW  
          or MIA.  Existing law already requires the POW/MIA flag to be  
          flown at certain state buildings including, all National Guard  
          armories, the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Military  
          Department, the State Capitol, and state agencies such as  
          Cal-EPA.  This flag is currently flown only on specific dates  
          including, Armed Forces Day, Memorial Day, Flag Day,  
          Independence Day, National POW/MIA Day, and Veterans Day.  

           Analysis Prepared by  :    Chuck Nicol / APPR. / (916) 319-2081