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SB-949 Veterans: California Central Coast State Veterans Cemetery.(2021-2022)

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Date Published: 07/21/2022 02:00 PM
SB949:v97#DOCUMENT

Senate Bill No. 949
CHAPTER 135

An act to amend Section 1453 of, and to repeal Section 1452 of, the Military and Veterans Code, relating to veterans.

[ Approved by Governor  July 19, 2022. Filed with Secretary of State  July 19, 2022. ]

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


SB 949, Laird. Veterans: California Central Coast State Veterans Cemetery.
Existing law requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to design, develop, and construct the state-owned and state-operated California Central Coast State Veterans Cemetery at Fort Ord and to oversee and coordinate the design, development, construction, and equipping of the veterans cemetery. Existing law establishes the California Coast State Veterans Cemetery at Fort Ord Endowment Fund, to be allocated, upon appropriation, to the department for nonreimbursable costs of design, construction, and annual operation of the veterans cemetery. Existing law requires the Controller, after consultation with the department, to annually report on the status of the Endowment Fund, as specified.
This bill would remove the requirement that the Controller annually report on the status of the Endowment Fund. The bill would additionally remove obsolete provisions regarding the construction of the cemetery.
Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: NO  

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:


SECTION 1.

 Section 1452 of the Military and Veterans Code is repealed.

SEC. 2.

 Section 1453 of the Military and Veterans Code is amended to read:

1453.
 (a) (1) The Controller, upon appropriation by the Legislature, shall transfer moneys from the Endowment Fund to the Operations Fund in an amount equal to the estimated costs of developing and submitting a State Veterans Cemetery Grant Program application to the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.
(2) The Controller, upon appropriation by the Legislature, shall transfer funds from the Endowment Fund to the Operations Fund in an amount at least equal to the estimated costs to complete preliminary plans and working drawings. Transfers shall be made only when sufficient funds, as determined by the Director of Finance, exist to fully accomplish each of these project phases.
(b) (1) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs is authorized to act as the official representative of the state in connection with the State Veterans Cemetery Grant Program application, including providing the United States Department of Veterans Affairs throughout the application process with all necessary assurances that additional information shall be provided when required. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall have final approval of all aspects of the cemetery design and operation.
(2) Upon transfer of funds pursuant to paragraphs (1) and (2) of subdivision (a), the department is authorized to proceed with all activities necessary to support the submission of the State Veterans Cemetery Grant Program application.
(3) Upon the United States Department of Veterans Affairs’ certification of the grant award, the department is authorized to proceed with construction and equipping of the veterans cemetery.