State Capitol Park: memorial plaque.

Existing law prescribes various duties for the Department of General Services in connection with development and maintenance of the park around the State Capitol Building. Existing law establishes the Department of Veterans Affairs, which is responsible for administering various programs and services for the benefit of veterans. This bill would require the Department of Veterans Affairs to plan and construct a memorial plaque in the State Capitol Park, in consultation with the Department of General Services, to honor California veterans who have fought and served in the War in Iraq. The bill would require the memorial plaque and its maintenance to be funded through private donations. The bill would require donations received by the Controller for those purposes to be deposited in the War in Iraq Memorial Plaque Fund, which the bill would create as a continuously appropriated fund for that purpose, thereby making an appropriation. The bill would prohibit construction or affixion of the memorial plaque until the Department of Veterans Affairs has determined that sufficient private funding is available to construct the memorial plaque.