BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    �



                                                                  AB 629
                                                                  Page  1

          Date of Hearing:   May 11, 2011

                        ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
                                Felipe Fuentes, Chair

                    AB 629 (Monning) - As Amended:  April 4, 2011 

          Policy Committee:                              Vets Vote:9-0

          Urgency:     No                   State Mandated Local Program: 
          No     Reimbursable:              

           SUMMARY  

          This bill authorizes the California Department of Veterans 
          Affairs (CDVA) to contract with the Fort Ord Reuse Authority 
          (FORA), rather than the Department of General Services (DGS), 
          for design and construction of a state-owned and operated 
          veterans' cemetery on the site of Fort Ord.

           FISCAL EFFECT

           One-time non-state savings of about $550,000. 

           COMMENTS  

           1)Rationale  . The current design cost estimate for the cemetery 
            is about $2 million under DGS.  According to CDVA, contracting 
            with FORA would save the cemetery endowment fund about 
            $550,000.   

           2)Background  . In 1991, Fort Ord was announced for closure by the 
            United States Base Realignment and Closure Commission. Prior 
            to closure, FORA set aside 204 acres for a veterans cemetery. 
            Legislation enacted in 2006 created an endowment fund to 
            support cemetery planning and design. When the endowment is 
            sufficiently funded to design and plan the cemetery, the 
            balance of the construction costs will be paid by the U.S. 
            Department of Veterans Affairs. 
                
            3)Prior Legislation  . 

              a)    AB 1757 (Monning), Statutes of 2010, requires CDVA in 
                cooperation with the County of Monterey, the City of 
                Seaside, FORA, and surrounding counties, cities, and local 








                                                                  AB 629
                                                                  Page  2

                agencies, to design and construct a state-owned and 
                operated veterans cemetery at Ford Ord. The design and 
                construction of the cemetery could not move forward until 
                a determination was made that 100% of the funds necessary 
                for planning and design were raised.

             b)   AB 3035 (Laird), Statutes of  2006 established the 
               California Central Coast State Veterans Cemetery at Fort 
               Ord Endowment Fund for the receipt of donations of personal 
               property, including cash or other gifts, to be used for the 
               maintenance of the veterans' cemetery.  
                
            Analysis Prepared by  :    Geoff Long / APPR. / (916) 319-2081