California Assembly Bill AB671 Amended / Bill

 BILL NUMBER: AB 671AMENDED BILL TEXT AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 14, 2009 INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Krekorian FEBRUARY 25, 2009  An act relating to the Public Safety Medal of Honor.   An act to amend Sections 3402 and 3404 of the Government Code, relating to the Golden Shield Award.  LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 671, as amended, Krekorian. Public Safety  Medal of Honor.   Golden Shield Award.  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 public safety officer, as defined, who is cited by the Attorney General, upon the recommendation of the board, for extraordinary valor above and beyond the call of duty.  This bill would state the intent of the Legislature to establish a Medal of Honor to bestow on a public safety officer who, while serving under competent authority in any capacity, has been wounded or killed, or who has died or may die after being wounded in the line of duty.   This bill would authorize the Governor to additionally annually award and present in the name of the State of California a Golden Shield Award to one public safety officer who is cited by the Attorney General, upon the recommendation of the Medal of Valor Review Board, who while serving under competent authority in any capacity, has been wounded or killed, or who has died after being wounded in the line of duty.  Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee:  no   yes  . State-mandated local program: no. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:  SECTION 1.   Section 3402 of the   Government Code   is amended to read:  3402.  (a)    The Governor annually may award, and present in the name of the State of California, a Medal of Valor of appropriate design, with ribbons and appurtenances, to one public safety officer who is 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. In exceptional circumstances, the Governor may award more than one Medal of Valor in a year. The Public Safety Medal of Valor shall be the highest state award for valor awarded to a public safety officer.  (b) The Governor annually may award, and present in the name of the State of California, a Golden Shield Award of appropriate design, with ribbons and appurtenances, to one public safety officer who is cited by the Attorney General, upon the recommendation of the Medal of Valor Review Board, who, while serving under competent authority in any capacity, has been wounded or killed, or who has died after being wounded in the line of duty. In exceptional circumstances, the Governor may award more than one Golden Shield Award in a year.   SEC. 2.   Section 3404 of the   Government Code   is amended to read:  3404. (a) The board shall conduct its first meeting not later than 90 days after the appointment of the last member appointed of the initial group of members appointed to the board. Thereafter, the board shall meet at the call of the chair of the board. The board shall meet not more than once each year. (b) A majority of the members of the board shall constitute a quorum to conduct business, but the board may establish a lesser quorum for conducting hearings scheduled by the board. The board may establish by majority vote any other rules for the conduct of the board's business, if the rules are not inconsistent with this chapter or other provisions of law. (c) The board shall recommend candidates for the Medal of Valor  and the Golden Shield Award  from among the applications received by the board. Not more often than once each year, the board may present to the Attorney General the name or names of those it recommends as candidates for the Medal of Valor  and the Golden Shield Award  . In a given year, the board shall not be required to recommend any candidates but may not recommend more than five candidates. The Attorney General in extraordinary cases may increase the number of candidates in a given year. The board shall set an annual timetable for fulfilling its duties under this chapter. (d) The board may hold one annual hearing, sit and act at a designated time and place, administer oaths, take testimony, and receive evidence as the board considers advisable to carry out its duties. (e) Witnesses requested to appear before the board may be paid the same fees as are paid to witnesses pursuant to the Code of Civil Procedure. The per diem and mileage allowances for witnesses shall be paid from funds donated to the board. (f) 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. (g) 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.  SECTION 1.   It is the intent of the Legislature to establish a Medal of Honor to bestow on a public safety officer who, while serving under competent authority in any capacity, has been wounded or killed, or who has died or may die after being wounded in the line of duty. It is the intent of the Legislature to model this award after the Medal of Valor.