GOVERNOR SIGNS BILL TO HELP RETAIN MILITARY BASES.

Byline: Jim Skeen Staff Writer

Legislation that calls for creation of a statewide plan to protect military bases from closures was signed into law by the governor.

Senate Bill 1099, authored by Sen. W.J. ``Pete'' Knight, R-Palmdale, creates a statewide Defense Retention and Conversion Council that will oversee the development of a strategic plan for protecting California's military bases from defense cutbacks.

``This is a tremendous first step towards keeping our bases and jobs here in California,'' said Knight, a retired Air Force pilot and former vice commander of the Air Force Flight Test Center at Edwards Air Force Base. ``I was shocked that California had no plan ready to defend our military bases from closing. I authored SB 1099 to keep jobs, especially military and defense-related jobs, from leaving the state.''

California lost 29 military bases during base closure rounds in the 1990s. The state still has 36 bases, which employ a total of 240,000 military and civilian workers.

The Knight bill essentially reactivates a base conversion council created in 1993 to find ways to help find new uses for closed bases. Base retention will be the new top priority for the council, which had ceased operations in January.

The Knight bill also requires the council to address land-use encroachment and population growth issues as they relate to military base retention.

The 21-member council will stay in existence until 2007. The council is required to make at least two reports to the state Legislature, one in June 2000 and another by September 2002.