ARTICLE 3. The Adjutant General [160. - 190.]

Cal. Military and Veterans Code - MVC 3.
in effect

Cal. Military and Veterans Code - MVC § 161. Section 161.

Within the Military Department, the office of the Adjutant General consists of one officer of the rank of lieutenant general who is the Adjutant General, one officer of the rank of major general who is the Deputy Adjutant General, one officer who may be of the rank of brigadier general who is the Assistant Adjutant General, Army, one officer who may be of the rank of brigadier general who is the Assistant Adjutant General, Air, one officer who may be of the rank of brigadier general who is the Chief of Staff and Director of the Joint Staff, and other officers as are prescribed by the laws or regulations of the United States. No person is eligible for appointment as the Deputy Adjutant General unless the person has not less than a total of five years of commissioned service in the National Guard of the United States, of which at least three years shall be service as a field grade officer in the California National Guard within the preceding 10-year period prior to the date of appointment and of which at least three years shall have been in command of army or air troops at the battalion or equivalent or higher command level or three years as a staff officer at brigade or equivalent or higher staff level. The Deputy Adjutant General is subordinate only to the Governor and the Adjutant General and shall have their duties assigned by the Adjutant General.

Cal. Military and Veterans Code - MVC § 162. Section 162.

The Governor, as Commander in Chief, shall appoint the Adjutant General, who shall be on state active duty, in the grade of lieutenant general, with the advice and consent of the Senate, and that person shall hold office at the pleasure of the Governor, or until their successor is appointed and has qualified. A person is not eligible for appointment as Adjutant General unless they have no less than a total of 10 years of commissioned service in the National Guard of the United States, of which at least four years shall be service as a field grade officer in the California National Guard within the preceding 10-year period prior to the date of appointment and of which at least four years shall have been in command of army or air troops at the battalion or equivalent or higher command level or four years as a staff officer at brigade or equivalent or higher staff level.

Cal. Military and Veterans Code - MVC § 163. Section 163.

The Adjutant General shall perform such duties as are prescribed in this code and such additional duties consistent with the regulations and customs of the United States Army, United States Air Force, and the United States Navy as may be prescribed by the Governor. He shall issue all orders in the name of the Governor.

Cal. Military and Veterans Code - MVC § 163.1. Section 163.1.

All records of any special proceedings of any board of inquiry convened by the commanding general of the state military forces to investigate the causes of any accidents involving National Guard aircraft, the purpose of which investigation is prevention of future accidents, shall not be admissible for any purpose in evidence in any court of this state. Whenever any such accident involves property damage or personal injury, a collateral investigation shall be conducted to ascertain the causes of such accidents and the records of any collateral investigations shall be discoverable under the appropriate sections of the Code of Civil Procedure.

Cal. Military and Veterans Code - MVC § 164. Section 164.

Subject to the approval of the Department of Finance, the Adjutant General shall appoint and fix the salaries of all clerical, expert, and technical assistants necessary for the proper conduct of his office. In general, the Office of the Adjutant General shall be organized according to general staff doctrine and procedure as set forth by the Department of the Army and the Department of the Air Force regulations where the same are not inconsistent with the laws of the State of California or this code.

Cal. Military and Veterans Code - MVC § 164.1. Section 164.1.

The Adjutant General shall receive the same pay and benefits pursuant to Section 320 as a lieutenant general in the Army of the United States and shall be paid in the same manner and at the same time as other service members on state active duty.

Cal. Military and Veterans Code - MVC § 166. Section 166.

In the event of the absence of the Adjutant General or of their inability to perform their duties, the Deputy Adjutant General or other officer designated by the Adjutant General shall perform the duties of the Adjutant General. If those officers are absent or unable to perform their duties, the Governor may detail a National Guard officer to perform those duties.

Cal. Military and Veterans Code - MVC § 168. Section 168.

The duties of the officers of the Office of the Adjutant General shall be such as are prescribed by law and regulations and shall conform as closely as practicable to the duties prescribed by orders and regulations of the Department of Defense for like officers in the United States Army, United States Air Force and United States Navy. The Assistant Adjutant General shall be a brigadier general and shall receive the same pay and allowances as a brigadier general in the United States Army.

Cal. Military and Veterans Code - MVC § 170. Section 170.

The seal now used in the Office of the Adjutant General is the seal of that office and shall be delivered by the Adjutant General to their successor. All orders issued from the Office of the Adjutant General shall be authenticated with this seal. Any order or directive inadvertently or mistakenly made or entered in the Office of the Adjutant General may for good cause and a reasonable time be vacated and set aside by the Adjutant General and a proper and correct order or directive made and entered in lieu thereof.

Cal. Military and Veterans Code - MVC § 171. Section 171.

The Adjutant General shall keep a register of all the officers of the militia of the State and shall keep in his office all records and papers required to be kept and filed therein.

Cal. Military and Veterans Code - MVC § 172. Section 172.

The Adjutant General shall make a report to the Governor every fourth year, commencing in 1963, the report to include a statement of the moneys received and disbursed by the Adjutant General for military purposes, the number and condition of the active militia, and a history of the activities and developments of the Military Department during the preceding four years.

Cal. Military and Veterans Code - MVC § 173. Section 173.

The Adjutant General shall, at the expense of the State, when necessary, cause the military law, general regulations of the State, Articles of War of the United States, a history or histories of the California National Guard or the units thereof, and such other military publications necessary for the military service to be printed, indexed, and bound in compact form and distributed to the commissioned officers, and the several organizations of the active militia, and to such other military personnel and organizations as the Adjutant General may find to be necessary.

Cal. Military and Veterans Code - MVC § 174. Section 174.

The Adjutant General shall cause to be prepared and issued all necessary blank books, blanks, and notices required to carry into full effect the provisions of this division. All such books and blanks are the property of the State.

Cal. Military and Veterans Code - MVC § 175. Section 175.

In order that the active militia of the State may receive the funds provided by Congress, the Adjutant General shall prepare and submit a plan of proposed field or camp service of instruction for the ensuing year, with an estimate of the funds required for pay, subsistence, and transportation of the portion of the active militia participating therein and such other information as may be required by the Department of the Army or the Department of the Air Force or Department of the Navy of the United States. The estimate shall furnish the details and shall be made out in the form required by instructions from the Secretary of the Army or the Secretary of the Navy or the Secretary of the Air Force.

Cal. Military and Veterans Code - MVC § 176. Section 176.

The Adjutant General may exhibit, at such times and places as he may see fit, the equipment, animals, and property of the National Guard or Naval Militia and may give demonstrations thereof with the aid of personnel selected therefor. All expense in relation thereto shall be paid from State funds.

Cal. Military and Veterans Code - MVC § 177. Section 177.

The Adjutant General shall attend to the care, preservation, transportation, safekeeping, and repair of all military property belonging to the State or issued to the State by the United States for the purpose of arming and equipping the militia.

Cal. Military and Veterans Code - MVC § 178. Section 178.

All military property of the state which after a proper inspection is found unsuitable for the use of the state may, with the approval of the Department of General Services, be sold, destroyed, or otherwise disposed of by the Adjutant General. All proceeds shall be remitted to the State Treasury and credited to the General Fund.

Cal. Military and Veterans Code - MVC § 179. Section 179.

(a) The Adjutant General shall establish a California State Military Museum and Resource Center as a repository for military artifacts, memorabilia, equipment, documents, and other items relating to the military history of California, and to the history of the California National Guard, in accordance with applicable regulations of the United States Army governing Army museum activities. The museum may consist of the facility described in the Proclamation of the Governor dated May 11, 1994, and any branches as may currently exist or may from time to time be created throughout the state. Each facility shall be deemed to be an armory within the meaning of Section 430. (b) The Adjutant General may enter into operating agreements with nonprofit historical foundations, military museums, historical societies, or other entities to conduct museum activities pursuant to the rules and regulations promulgated hereunder. (c) Volunteers, docents, members of the California State Guard, or others working with or for the California State Military Museum and Resource Center, for purposes consistent with the mission of the organization, shall be considered volunteers under Sections 3118 and 3119 of the Government Code and Section 3363.5 of the Labor Code. (d) No funds raised or assets acquired by an entity described in subdivision (b) shall be used for purposes inconsistent with support of the museum. (e) The Military Department shall, no later than March 15 of each year, submit a business plan for the following fiscal year to the Director of Finance and the Chair of the Joint Legislative Budget Committee for review and comment. The Military Department shall also submit, not less than 30 days prior to adoption, any proposed formal amendments to the business plan to the Director of Finance and the Chair of the Joint Legislative Budget Committee for review and comment. (f) (1) The Adjutant General or an entity described in subdivision (b) may solicit, receive, and administer donations of funds or property for the support and improvement of the museum. Any grants or donations received may be expended or used for museum purposes. (2) Property of historical military significance, not including real property, that is owned by the state and is determined by the Adjutant General to be in excess of the needs of the Military Department, shall be transferred to the museum. (3) Property determined by the Adjutant General or an entity described in subdivision (b) to be in excess of the needs of the museum may be sold, donated, exchanged, or otherwise disposed of, at its discretion, in a manner appropriate to the historical and intrinsic value of the property, and the benefits from the disposition shall inure to the museum. This paragraph does not apply to property held in trust for the Controller pursuant to Section 1563 of the Code of Civil Procedure. (g) The Adjutant General or an entity described in subdivision (b) may solicit and receive firearms and other weaponry confiscated by or otherwise in the possession of law enforcement officers as donations to the museum if the Adjutant General deems them to be of historical or military interest. (h) The Adjutant General shall, in cooperation with an entity described in subdivision (b), conduct a study of the future needs of the National Guard to preserve, display, and interpret artifacts, documents, photographs, films, literature, and other items relating to the history of the military in California. (i) (1) An entity described in subdivision (b) may enter into agreements with other military museums in California, including, but not limited to, the Legion of Valor Museum, to loan property that is not real property and that is under the direct control of the foundation. (2) An entity described in subdivision (b) may enter into agreements with other military museums in California to loan property held in trust for the Controller pursuant to Section 1563 of the Code of Civil Procedure.

Cal. Military and Veterans Code - MVC § 179.5. Section 179.5.

(a) The Legislature acknowledges that certain artifacts of the Grand Army of the Republic that were at one time stored or displayed in the State Capitol were the personal property of certain members of the Civil War Roundtable. The Legislature acknowledges that those artifacts have been donated to, and are now in the custody of, the California State Military Museum and Resource Center, and are, thus, not the subject of this section. (b) The Civil War memorabilia that are still located at the State Capitol and that are the subject of this section consist of the following: (1) A display cabinet that once contained, among other things, artifacts of the Grand Army of the Republic that have since been donated by the Civil War Roundtable to the California State Military Museum and Resource Center mentioned in subdivision (a). (2) Certain flags of the Grand Army of the Republic that have been, and continue to be, stored or displayed in the State Capitol. (3) One or more paintings of the Civil War era that were donated to the state. (4) Other remaining artifacts of the Grand Army of the Republic, and Civil War memorabilia. (c) The articles specified in subdivision (b) shall be stored, cared for, or displayed as follows: (1) The Adjutant General shall provide suitable accommodations within the California State Military Museum and Resource Center for the care and display of the display cabinet that was once used to display at the State Capitol the books, papers, and other artifacts relating to the Grand Army of the Republic and may make suitable arrangements for the use of this cabinet for the public display of these articles in locations throughout the state. (2) Suitable facilities shall be provided at the State Capitol for storage or display within the State Capitol of the flags as set forth in paragraph (2) of subdivision (b), of the Civil War era paintings donated to the state as set forth in paragraph (3) of subdivision (b), and of other remaining artifacts and Civil War memorabilia as set forth in paragraph (4) of subdivision (b).

Cal. Military and Veterans Code - MVC § 180. Section 180.

The Adjutant General is responsible for all military property which may be issued to the State by the United States. He shall prepare returns of such property of the United States at the time and in the manner required by the Secretary of the Department of the Army and the Secretary of the Department of the Navy and the Secretary of the Department of the Air Force.

Cal. Military and Veterans Code - MVC § 182. Section 182.

The Adjutant General shall keep a correct account of all expenses necessarily incurred, including pay of officers and enlisted persons, subsistence of militia, transportation of the militia, and all military property of the state. Those expenses shall be audited and paid in the same manner as other military accounts are audited and paid.

Cal. Military and Veterans Code - MVC § 183. Section 183.

The Adjutant General shall issue such military property as the Governor directs, and under his direction shall make purchases for that purpose. No military property shall be issued to persons or organizations other than those belonging to the active militia except such portions of the unorganized militia as may be called out by the Governor, and except further the authorized and approved units of the California Cadet Corps.

Cal. Military and Veterans Code - MVC § 186. Section 186.

The Adjutant General may conduct a study to determine the feasibility of establishing a California National Guard memorial cemetery on state-owned property at Camp San Luis Obispo to serve as an interment site for members who have served at least 20 years in the National Guard and were discharged under honorable conditions or who were killed in the line of duty while serving on state or federal active duty, and for the spouses of these members.

Cal. Military and Veterans Code - MVC § 187. Section 187.

The Adjutant General may at any time purchase from the United States under the regulations of the Department of the Army and of the Department of the Air Force and of the Department of the Navy governing such purchases military property, equipment and supplies required by the military forces of this State.

Cal. Military and Veterans Code - MVC § 188. Section 188.

In the event of a call to active duty in case of insurrection, invasion, tumult, riot, breach of the peace, public calamity or catastrophe, or other emergency, or imminent danger thereof, the Adjutant General, with the approval of the Governor, may secure all necessary supplies, equipment, meals, quarters, subsistence, transportation, medical, surgical, and hospital services, and dental and artificial devices for the officers and men and women called to active duty. Those purchases and services shall be exempt from the rules and regulations set forth in Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 10290) of Part 2 of Division 2 of the Public Contract Code. Claims for expenses thus incurred, when approved by the Adjutant General as purchases for the emergency, shall be deemed valid claims against appropriations for military purposes. Except as otherwise provided in this act all claims shall be subject to the laws relating to state procurement of materials, supplies, equipment, and services pursuant to Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 10290) of Part 2 of Division 2 of the Public Contract Code.

Cal. Military and Veterans Code - MVC § 189. Section 189.

(a) The sum of three thousand dollars ($3,000) appropriated by Chapter 467, Statutes of 1913, for a cash revolving fund to facilitate the work of the Adjutant General’s office, shall be hereafter held, continued, and used by the Adjutant General for that purpose. All or any part of the money may be drawn from the state treasury without the submission of receipts, vouchers, or itemized statements and may be used by the Adjutant General in advancing cash payments for ordnance, equipment, material, labor, supplies, and incidental expenses requiring cash payments in advance, where the payments are necessary for the proper operation of the militia. Any amounts shall be repaid out of the appropriation against which they are a proper charge, upon itemized claims accompanied by proper vouchers and receipts, and the money returned to the cash revolving fund. (b) The Adjutant General shall be liable on their bond for the money so advanced to the Adjutant General and may, to protect themself, require sufficient bond of the several employees under the Adjutant General in case it should be necessary to delegate any of them to disburse money from the revolving fund. The Adjutant General shall account for the money herein appropriated at any time upon demand of the Department of Finance or the Controller.

Cal. Military and Veterans Code - MVC § 190. Section 190.

Federal funds shall be deemed to be available for federal-state joint construction of armories approved for such joint construction, when the federal appropriation of the funds has been approved and the National Guard Bureau or other appropriate federal agency advises the Adjutant General of the amount of funds apportioned or prorated to the State of California for such purpose.
Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026

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