Bill Text: CA AB489 | 2015-2016 | Regular Session | Chaptered

California Assembly Bill 489 (Prior Session Legislation)

Bill Title: Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor Act.

Sponsorship: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-1)

Status: (Passed) 2015-09-28 - Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 329, Statutes of 2015. [AB489 Detail]

Download: California-2015-AB489-Chaptered.html

BILL NUMBER: AB 489	CHAPTERED
	BILL TEXT

	CHAPTER  329
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE  SEPTEMBER 28, 2015
	APPROVED BY GOVERNOR  SEPTEMBER 28, 2015
	PASSED THE SENATE  AUGUST 24, 2015
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY  AUGUST 27, 2015
	AMENDED IN SENATE  JUNE 15, 2015

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Gonzalez
   (Coauthor: Assembly Member O'Donnell)
   (Coauthors: Senators Bates and Block)

                        FEBRUARY 23, 2015

   An act to amend Sections 3401 and 3402 of the Government Code,
relating to awards.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 489, Gonzalez. Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor Act.
    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 or more public safety officers, as
defined, who are 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. The act also establishes the
Medal of Valor Review Board that recommends candidates to the
Attorney General for the Medal of Valor from among the applications
received by the board.
   This bill would add ocean lifeguards to the list of public safety
officers eligible to receive the award and authorize the United
States Lifesaving Association to represent ocean lifeguards on the
review board.


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

  SECTION 1.  Section 3401 of the Government Code is amended to read:

   3401.  The Governor annually may award and present, in the name of
the State of California, a Public Safety Medal of Valor of
appropriate design, with ribbons and appurtenances, to one or more
public safety officers cited by the Attorney General pursuant to
Section 3402 for extraordinary valor above and beyond the call of
duty. The medal shall be the highest state award for valor awarded to
a public safety officer, which includes any person serving a public
agency, with or without compensation, as a firefighter, an ocean
lifeguard, a law enforcement officer, including a corrections or
court officer or a civil defense officer, or an emergency services
officer.
  SEC. 2.  Section 3402 of the Government Code is amended to read:
   3402.  (a) There exists in state government the Public Safety
Medal of Valor Review Board, whose purpose is to solicit and review
applications for, and make recommendations to the Attorney General
regarding, the Public Safety Medal of Valor.
   (b) The board shall be comprised of one representative selected by
each of the following organizations:
   (1) The California Association of Highway Patrolmen.
   (2) The California Coalition of Law Enforcement Associations.
   (3) The California Correctional Peace Officers Association.
   (4) The California Peace Officers' Association.
   (5) The California Police Chiefs' Association.
   (6) The California Professional Firefighters.
   (7) The California State Firefighters' Association.
   (8) The California State Sheriffs' Association.
   (9) The California Statewide Law Enforcement Association.
   (10) The Peace Officers Research Association of California.
   (11) A group, selected by the board, that represents emergency
medical technicians and paramedics.
   (12) The United States Lifesaving Association.
   (c) The board shall be chaired by a member elected by a majority
vote of the members at the first official meeting of the board each
year. The board shall meet at the call of the chair. Members shall
serve without compensation or reimbursement for travel, per diem, or
other expenses, and they shall minimize travel and expenses to the
greatest extent possible. Any cost incurred by a member as a result
of serving as a member shall not be paid by the state.
   (d) The board shall review the applications for the medal to
determine which applicants, if any, to recommend to the Attorney
General. The board may hear from witnesses and consider whatever
information it considers advisable to carry out its duties. 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. 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.
   (e) Not more often than once each year, the board may present to
the Attorney General the name or names of those persons, if any, it
recommends as candidates for the medal.
   (f) The board may receive donations to pay for meeting and witness
expenses. Witnesses requested to appear before the board may be paid
no more than the fees paid to witnesses pursuant to the Code of
Civil Procedure. The per diem and mileage allowance may be paid from
funds donated to the board and shall not be paid by the state. If
donated funds are not available to the board, the board shall not
hold hearings or have witnesses.