BILL ANALYSIS �
SENATE TRANSPORTATION & HOUSING COMMITTEE BILL NO: acr 117
SENATOR MARK DESAULNIER, CHAIRMAN AUTHOR: Achadjian
VERSION: 5/31/12
Analysis by: Mark Stivers FISCAL: yes
Hearing date: June 12, 2012
SUBJECT:
California Highway Patrol Officer Brett J. Oswald Memorial
Interchange
DESCRIPTION:
This resolution designates a state highway interchange in San
Luis Obispo County as the California Highway Patrol Officer
Brett J. Oswald Memorial Interchange.
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 person being honored must be deceased.
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 measure must represent the
district in which the facility is located, and the measure
must identify the specific highway segment or structure being
named.
If the segment of highway is being named for a specific
individual or individuals, it must not exceed five miles in
length.
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 117 (ACHADJIAN) Page 2
This resolution designates the interchange at the intersection
of state highway routes (SR) 101 and 46 East in the City of Paso
Robles as the California Highway Patrol Officer Brett J. Oswald
Memorial Interchange. The resolution further requests the
Department of Transportation (Caltrans) to erect appropriate
signs only upon receiving donations from non-state sources
sufficient to cover the cost.
COMMENTS:
1.Purpose of the resolution . By naming a highway interchange in
Paso Robles for California Highway Patrol (CHP) Officer Brett
J. Oswald, this resolution seeks to memorialize his sacrifice
in the line of duty and remind all that the safety of law
enforcement officers is a matter of statewide and national
concern.
2.Officer Oswald's contributions . Brett J. Oswald served in the
United States Army for two years and later graduated from the
CHP Academy in 1990. For the next 20 years, Officer Oswald
served the CHP as a flight officer in the Santa Fe Springs
Area Office, a traffic officer in the King City Area Office, a
flight officer in the Paso Robles Coastal Division Air
Operations Office, and a traffic officer in the Templeton Area
Office. On June 27, 2010, Officer Oswald was killed in the
line of duty in Paso Robles when he was struck by a vehicle
while standing beside his patrol car on the side of the road
waiting for a tow truck at the scene of an abandoned vehicle.
Officer Oswald was known as a hard-working, dedicated officer
who loved his job and enjoyed his colleagues and as a loyal
family man who loved his wife dearly. He had an incredible
sense of humor and zest for life, was always smiling and
happy, and saw the beauty in everything.
3.Preparing for reconstruction . This resolution names the
interchange of SR 101 and SR 46 East, which is four miles from
the interchange of SR 101 and SR 46 West. Caltrans has plans
to reroute a portion of SR 46 and create a single intersection
with SR 101. When that occurs, the interchange named in this
resolution will cease to exist. The resolution prepares for
that eventuality by transferring the naming and directing
Caltrans to relocate the signs upon receiving non-state funds
ACR 117 (ACHADJIAN) Page 3
to cover the costs.
4.Consistent with committee's policy . This resolution is
consistent with all the provisions of the committee's policy
on highway designations.
Assembly Votes:
Floor: 69-0
Appr: 16-1
Trans: 13-0
POSITIONS: (Communicated to the committee before noon on
Wednesday, June 6,
2012)
SUPPORT: California Association of Highway Patrolmen
OPPOSED: None received.