BILL ANALYSIS �
Senate Appropriations Committee Fiscal Summary
Senator Christine Kehoe, Chair
AB 342 (Atkins)
Hearing Date: 06/27/2011 Amended: As Introduced
Consultant: Mark McKenzie Policy Vote: G.O. 12-0
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BILL SUMMARY: AB 342 would require the Governor's Office of
Planning and Research (OPR) to serve as the state's liaison to
the United States Department of Defense (DOD). The bill would
also require OPR to coordinate with state, federal, local, and
private entities to ensure the sustainability of defense
activities, to work with federal defense agencies to address
state regulatory activities that affect the sustainability of
defense activities, and to develop legislation that supports the
relationship between the state and the DOD.
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Fiscal Impact (in thousands)
Major Provisions 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 Fund
OPR staff liaison Annual costs in the range of
$50-$100General
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STAFF COMMENTS: This bill meets the criteria for referral to the
Suspense File.
In 1994, Governor Wilson's executive order created the Office of
Military Base Retention and Reuse within the State Technology,
Trade & Commerce Agency in anticipation of federal action to
close military bases in the state. When the State Technology,
Trade and Commerce Agency was abolished, the Legislature renamed
the Office of Military Base Retention and Reuse as the Office of
Military and Aerospace Support (OMAS), moved it to the State
Business, Transportation and Housing Agency (SB 926, Knight,
2004), and then extended its operations until January 1, 2009
(SB 1698, Ashburn, 2006). In addition to serving as the primary
state liaison with the DOD, the OMAS served as the central
clearinghouse for all defense retention, conversion, and base
reuse activities in the state, served as a single state entity
AB 342 (Atkins)
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to interact and communicate with military installations
throughout California, and also provided technical assistance to
communities with potential or existing base closure activities.
The annual budget for OMAS was approximately $517,000 annually.
Executive Order S-16-06 �Schwarzenegger, 2006] established the
Governor's Advisor for Military Affairs within OPR, with duties
to coordinate:
Land use planning to ensure sustainable defense
activities.
Bills to support California's relationship with the DOD.
State regulatory activities that affect defense
operations.
Administration officials to cooperate with the military.
Issues important to military personnel and their
families.
Advocacy on policies that affect armed forces based in
California.
AB 342 would codify the relationship between OPR and the DOD to
ensure continuity in the relationship between the military and
the state on issues relating to state policies that affect the
military.
In practical terms, OPR does not have a single staff person
dedicated to military affairs, but various staff share these
responsibilities; land use planning issues are handled by state
clearinghouse staff, while a Deputy Director dedicates some of
his time to serving as the Military Affairs Advisor. Staff
estimates that OPR currently dedicates approximately 1/2 PY of
total staff time to these duties. By codifying OPR as the state
liaison to the DOD, AB 342 would create General Fund cost
pressures to continue the activities that OPR currently
conducts.
OPR indicates that the bill would require an additional staff
person to serve as a single point of contact as the liaison to
DOD at a cost of approximately $100,000. Staff estimates these
costs could be as low as $50,000, however, if OPR simply
continued the current activities and division of labor dedicated
to military affairs. It is possible that the state could seek
federal funding for a dedicated position if the DOD perceived
the state commitment as an effective and efficient resource to
help streamline military operations in California.
AB 342 (Atkins)
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