Bill Text: CA ACR97 | 2019-2020 | Regular Session | Chaptered

California Assembly Concurrent Resolution 97 (Prior Session Legislation)

Bill Title: Officer Phia Vang Memorial Interchange.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2020-09-14 - Chaptered by Secretary of State - Res. Chapter 35, Statutes of 2020. [ACR97 Detail]

Download: California-2019-ACR97-Chaptered.html

Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 97

CHAPTER 35

Relative to the Officer Phia Vang Memorial Interchange.

[ Filed with Secretary of State September 14, 2020. ]

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

ACR 97, Patterson. Officer Phia Vang Memorial Interchange.

This measure would designate the interchange at State Route 180 and Temperance Avenue in the County of Fresno as the Officer Phia Vang Memorial Interchange. The measure would request the Department of Transportation to determine the cost for appropriate signs showing this special designation and, upon receiving donations from nonstate sources covering that cost, to erect those signs.

Fiscal Committee: YES

WHEREAS, Officer Phia Vang was born on August 6, 1970, in Ban Phakke, Mouang Phoun, Vangvieng province in the country of Laos, to Xay Pao Vang (father) and Mee Her (mother); Officer Vang was the youngest of nine children and has four brothers and four sisters; and

WHEREAS, After the Secret War in Laos ended in 1975, Phia, at five years of age, fled into the jungle of Laos with his father, mother, and two sisters to escape the new communist regime; during their passage to Thailand, both parents and a sister suffered gunshot wounds; though his mother and father survived their injuries, his sister was fatally wounded and had to be left behind; and

WHEREAS, After crossing the Mekong River to Thailand, Phia, his older sister, and their parents found refuge in the Ban Vinai Refugee Camp, where they lived for one year; they were then sponsored to Denver, Colorado, in April 1980, and once in Denver, they were finally reunited with immediate and extended family members; and

WHEREAS, In 1982, the Vang family decided to relocate to Fresno, California, where their hardworking parents became farmers and contributed to the local agricultural business; and

WHEREAS, Phia attended Yosemite Middle School and graduated from McLane High School in 1989; regardless of the language barrier and cultural differences, he was still determined to be successful; and

WHEREAS, Driven by his willpower and passion to serve the community, Phia enrolled in the Fresno City Police Academy and completed his training in 1991; and

WHEREAS, Phia was first appointed as a Reserve Police Officer in 1992 and was eventually hired by the Fresno Police Department in 1993, where he was assigned to the Multi-Agency Gang Enforcement Consortium, Northwest District Neighborhood Patrol, and the Fresno Area Express Unit; and

WHEREAS, Officer Vang was a dedicated police officer in the Fresno Police Department for 26 years and was known by his colleagues as someone who was humble with a great sense of humor; and

WHEREAS, He married his wife of 23 years, Ker Lee, in Fresno, California; together they have four beautiful children: Corey, Joshua, Brittney, and Ethan; and

WHEREAS, In his leisure time, Officer Vang enjoyed ranching, fishing, and spending quality time with his family; and

WHEREAS, Officer Vang left behind family members, fellow officers, and friends on Monday, February 4, 2019, due to an intoxicated driver colliding with his vehicle; and

WHEREAS, Officer Phia Vang will forever be remembered as a hero who was selfless, compassionate, patient, and an overall great role model to those who were blessed to have known him; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate thereof concurring, That the Legislature designates the interchange at State Route 180 and Temperance Avenue in the County of Fresno as the Officer Phia Vang Memorial Interchange; and be it further

Resolved, That the Department of Transportation is requested to determine the cost of appropriate signs, consistent with the signing requirements for the state highway system, showing this special designation and, upon receiving donations from nonstate sources sufficient to cover the cost, to erect those signs; and be it further

Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the Department of Transportation and to the author for appropriate distribution.