Article 5d. Veterans Affairs Construction Act of California Military And Veterans Code >> Division 4. >> Chapter 6. >> Article 5d.

This article may be cited as the Veterans Affairs Construction Act of 1953.

With the approval of the Department of Finance and the California Veterans Board, the Public Works Board, pursuant to the provisions of the Property Acquisition Act, may acquire real property, and, after approval of preliminary plans under the procedure provided by Section 6 of the Budget Act of 1953, the department may construct and equip a building thereon, primarily for the department's own use and make improvements to such property, building, and equipment, not to exceed in total two million six hundred fifty thousand dollars ($2,650,000).

The Department of Veterans Affairs shall have a prior claim on any office space constructed pursuant to this article at the time of initial occupancy of the office space and at all times thereafter; provided, the department shall pay rentals as prescribed in Section 996.19 for the space it occupies.

The Department of Veterans Affairs shall contract with the Department of General Services for the maintenance and repair of all public works constructed, acquired, or operated under the provisions of this act, such maintenance and repair to include the items of maintenance and repair customarily supplied and afforded to state buildings by the Department of General Services.

The buildings or improvements provided under the provisions of this article may contain space in excess of the requirements of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and until needed, may be leased or let at such rental and upon such terms and conditions as may be approved by the Department of Veterans Affairs; provided, that rentals charged shall be deposited in the Veterans' Farm and Home Building Fund of 1943.

When money from the Veterans' Farm and Home Building Fund of 1943 or the Veterans Affairs Construction Fund is used for investment purposes in the purchase of property and in the construction of buildings, and appurtenant facilities or in the purchase of property, or in the construction of buildings, and appurtenant facilities for the use of the Department of Veterans Affairs, or for the use of the Department of Veterans Affairs and other state agencies, the Director of Veterans Affairs may do any and all things necessary to protect the investment including purchasing insurance against the loss of or damage to the property or the loss of use and occupancy of the property. Any transaction entered into by the Director of Veterans Affairs under this section shall be subject to the approval of the Department of General Services.