(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.

(Amended by Stats. 2015, Ch. 329, Sec. 2. (AB 489) Effective January 1, 2016.)