Senate Floor

Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call]

A quorum is present. Colleagues, if we could kindly return to our desk with the members and guests. Behind the rail. Beyond the rail. Please stand up. We will be led in prayer this afternoon by Senator Archuleta, after which, please remain standing for the pledge of allegiance.

Thank you, Madam President. Cosmologist Brian Swimme says, this must be a central facet of human existence to have the truth right in front of us and yet to be unable to recognize it. So today we pray. Gracious and loving God, we thank you for the gift of sight and insight that give depth and meaning to our lives.

Slow us down. That we may see the beauty that surround us under the blue sky and in the facet and in the face of each person we meet. Help us to see beyond appearances to the mystery and the potential in all that has been created.

May we recognize the negative effects of fear and self interest as we effectively look for opportunities to serve the common good. Gracious God, we trust that you see deeply into our hearts and love what you see. Amen.

Members and guests, please join me in the pledge.

[Pledge of Allegiance]

All looking very patriotic today. We have, under privileges of the floor, none. Messages from the Governor will be deemed read. Messages from the Assembly were deemed read. Reports of Committee were deemed read, and amendments adopted.

Under motions, resolutions and notices without objection, the Senate journals for May 13th, 2024 through May 16th, 2024 will be approved as corrected by the minute clerk. Here we go. We're going into the meaty part of our session. Consideration of the daily file. Under second reading file, we have items 1 through 114. Secretary, please read.

Senate Bill 960, 987, 1380, 1468, 895, 896, 897, 899, 905.

2nd reading with deemed read. Here we go, Senators. Senate third reading. Are we ready? We're going to start with file item 124. Senator Cortese, are you prepared?

Secretary, please read.

Senate Bill 956 by Senator Cortese, an act relating to school facilities.

Go ahead, Senator.

Thank you, Madam President. I rise today to present SB 956, which reauthorizes K-12 districts to use the design-build delivery method when constructing and designing school facilities. It's a unique project delivery method. As most of you know, it allows schools to select the design professional and contractor concurrently through a single contract.

By establishing a guaranteed maximum price for the project, the method reduces the risk of costs increase once construction begins. This bill also removes the sunset altogether because schools have proven over two decades that they can use this design-build method responsibly and to the benefit of their communities, I respectfully ask for your aye vote.

Senators, any discussion or debate on this item, file item 124. Seeing none, Secretary please call the roll.

[Roll call]

Secretary, please call the absent members.

[Roll call]

Taking a pause, Senators. Secretary, please call the absent members.

[Roll call]

Aye's 32, no's five. Measure passes. Now moving on to file item 128. Senator Caballero, you're prepared?

Please proceed, Senator

Senate Bill 1386 by Senator Caballero, an act relating to evidence.

Thank you, Madam President and Members, I rise to present SB 1386, a bill that would clarify the civil rape law, a law that protects the privacy of survivors of sexual assault, rape, and sexual battery, by prohibiting at trial inquiries regarding their sexual histories.

This bill is based on the experience of a Jane Doe, an eight year old girl who was sexually abused over a one year period from 2009 to 2010 by her fourth grade teacher while at school. Three years later, the same victim was sexually abused by a family friend at home.

Thereafter, she received counseling for her trauma, and she reported her prior sexual abuse as well. The trial court ruled that evidence of the subsequent sexual assault suffered by Jane Doe could be admitted as evidence to undermine her credibility.

In reviewing the trial court's decision, the California Court of Appeals and the California Supreme Court ruled that the defendant school district may seek to admit evidence of a survivor's other sexual conduct to impeach the survivor's credibility. Members, forcing survivors to disclose details about their intimate life or to relive traumatic incidents unrelated to the case in order to undermine their credibility can be as traumatizing as the assault itself.

Rape shield laws are specifically designed to protect survivors from unnecessary and intrusive inquiries into their personal lives and sexual histories. SB 1386 would clarify that evidence of a victim's sexual conduct unrelated to the case is not admissible to impeach the testimony as to consent or damages of the victim.

This bill will preserve the integrity of the civil rape shield law and foster a supportive environment for survivors to come forward and seek the justice they deserve. I respectfully ask for your aye vote.

Do we have any discussion or debate on file item 128? Seeing none. Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call]

Please call the absent Members.

[Roll Call]

On a vote of 39 to zero, the measure carries. Members, we're going to move next to file item 130. This is SB 1091.

Secretary, please read.

Senate Bill 1091 by Senator Menjivar and accurate into school facilities.

Senator Menjivar, the floor is yours.

Thank you, Mr. President. SB 1091 is seeking to expand access to school ground greening projects by capping the required improvements to the path of travel to 20% of the adjusted construction costs of the project, in line with current federal ADA law.

Children, especially those that attend schools in urban areas that are ill equipped to shelter students from extreme heat, like those in my district, are at a heightened risk of suffering heat-related illnesses, poor health and learning outcomes. Lack of trees in natural areas disproportionately impacts communities of color and communities with the lowest incomes.

Current California law requires school ground greening projects that remove asphalt, plant trees and create nature based outdoor learning spaces to bring the path of travel to the project up to code without a limit on the cost. This represents a tremendous barrier to greening school grounds because even a small project can trigger expensive upgrounds.

Our state grants currently offer the ability to provide funding for 20% upgrades to ADA. Any additional funding would essentially negate the school's ability to upgrade their school campuses to be more green. The 2022 California Extreme Heat Action Plan recognizes the urgency of cooling public schools in vulnerable communities and promotes the use of nature-based solutions.

It will support the access needs of all students while keeping California's policy in line with federal accessibility laws. Respectfully asking for an aye vote.

Members, any discussion and debate? Senator Ochoa Bogh.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Just a question to the author.

Will you take a question?

Yes, Mister President.

Please proceed.

Just any communications with regards to the funding to be able to accommodate these requirements by the school district? Has there been any further discussion?

So, Mr. President, through the president. There is no mandate regulation for the school under this bill. This is only asking when the school applies for a grant that they only need to upgrade the path of travel to 20% of ADA. So there's no mandate? There's no requirements. Only when they apply.

Very good. Any further discussion or debate, seeing none. Senator Menjivar, you may close.

Respectfully asking for an aye vote.

Secretary, please call the roll.

Allen, aye. Alvardo-Gil? Archuleta, aye. Ashby, aye. Atkins, aye. Becker, aye. Blakespear, aye. Bradford, aye. Caballero, aye. Cortese, aye. Dahle? Dodd, aye. Durazo, aye. Eggman, aye. Glazer, aye. Gonzalez, aye. Grove? Hurtado, aye. Jones, aye. Laird, aye Limon, aye. McGuire, aye. Menjivar, aye. Min? Newman, aye. Niello, aye. Ochoa Bogh, aye. Padilla, aye. Portantino, aye. Roth,, aye. Rubio, aye.

Seyarto, aye. Skinner, aye. Smallwood-Cuevas, aye. Stern, aye. Umberg, aye. Wahab, aye. Wiener, aye. Wilk, aye.

Please call the absent Members.

Alvardo-Gil? Dahle, aye. Grove, aye.

On a vote of 38 to zero, the measure passes.

All right, Members, these are the next three bills we're going to be taking up. File item 131. File item 135, and file item 139 so you're prepared, starting with file item 131. Senator Bradford, are you ready? Secretary, please read .

Senate Bill 1177 by Senator Bradford and an act relating to public utilities.

Senator Bradford?

Thank you, Madam President. SB 1177 updates California utility supplier diversity law to better understand spin, concentration, and foster a more diverse workforce. Better known as General Order 156, California utility Supplier Diversity law is one of the larger engines of socioeconomic mobility for historically disadvantaged businesses and people in the State of California.

40 years ago, when the late Assembly woman, Gwen Moore, introduced the measure that established General Order 156, it was about making sure that our utilities contracted with women owned, minority owned, and disabled veteran owned businesses. At that time, 40 years ago, the spin was less than a half $1.0 million.

Today, the day the spin is over $18 billion. But what we have found is that though the dollar amount has gone up, the number of businesses hasn't increased. And what we've also found out, that what was once men owned businesses is now women owned businesses owned by their wives or their daughters.

And this bill simply allows us to track the data and find out how many women owned, veteran, disabled, veteran owned, and minority owned businesses the utilities are doing business with. And I respectfully ask for your aye vote.

Any discussion or debate on file item 131? Seeiong none. Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call]

Secretary, please call the absent Members.

[Roll Call]

Aye 33. No 0. Measure carries. File item 135. The Senator is prepared.

Secretary, please read.

Senate Bill 1484 by Senator Smallwood-Cuevas, an act relating to juveniles.

Thank you, Madam President and colleagues. I rise today to present SB 1484 and would like to thank our Attorney General, Rob Bonta, who is sponsoring this bill, as well as his staff and Committee staff for all of their hard work.

In 2018, the Legislature passed SB 439, which was intended to protect California's children by completely limiting the juvenile court's jurisdiction in cases involving youth under the age of 12.

While the intent of the bill was to entirely prevent youth under age 12 from contact with the court system, unintentional omissions in the Welfare and Institutions Code has left these children vulnerable to expedited and informal procedures adjudicating youth charged for nonviolent crimes.

This unintentional omission has created confusion regarding the minimum age limits of youth who may be subject to such informal or expedited processes. This bill would clarify that the age restrictions enacted in SB 439 also apply even in the context of informal or expedited proceedings.

These informal and expedited proceedings look different throughout the state, but in some counties, youth may be referred to informal traffic courts or proceedings before juvenile hearing officers. In these proceedings, youth may not be appointed a public defender or court reporter. Youth in these proceedings may face significant fines and penalties.

The Legislature has already agreed that our children under the age of 12 do not belong in our courts. SB 1484 is a common sense clarification that children under the age of 12 must be protected from the negative impacts of justice system involvement, even in informal and expedited proceedings, and I respectfully ask for your aye vote.

Thank you, Senator. Any discussion or debate? Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll call]

Please call the absent members.

[Roll call]

Aye's 31, no's six. The measure passes. Now moving on to file item 139. Senator Ashby, are you prepared?

Senate Bill 1058 by Senator Ashby an act relating to public employment.

Thank you, Madam President. Today I rise to present SB 1058, the Park Rangers Protections act. This bill extends workers compensation and disability protections to county and special district park rangers. Park rangers serve California by protecting regional parks, wildlife, and the public visiting those parks.

Oftentimes, park rangers are the first point of contact for disturbances facing similar risks to law enforcement. Sacramento county park rangers have made 241 arrests in this year alone, including 61 felonies. Despite all of this park rangers are not given the same workers compensation and disability protections granted to other law enforcement agencies.

SB 1058 creates parity for county and special district park rangers by granting them workers compensation and disability protections. This bill has received unanimous and bipartisan support. I urge and aye vote.

Any discussion or debate? This item is eligible for unanimous roll call. Any objection to utilizing. Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call]

Please call the absent Members.

[Roll Call]

Ayes 37, no's zero. Measure passes. The next three we have up are file item 140, 143 and 144. We'll start off with file item 140. The Senator is prepared.

Senate Bill 1445 by Senator Cortese an act relating to school governance.

Please proceed, Senator.

Thank you, Madam President and Colleagues, I rise to present Senate Bill 1445.

Senate Bill 1445 will enable school districts and charter schools to allow their student board Member to receive limited case information separate from a closed session meeting with the consent of the student facing expulsion and their parent or guardian to provide restorative justice recommendation for the larger board's consideration in their closed session meeting.

Although California has made strides in recent years to address overly punitive actions in school schools, low income students, students with disabilities, and students of color are still expelled at higher rates compared to their peers.

By passing this bill, we will be reinforcing restorative justice principles in our schools, strengthening connections among effective individuals, peers, teachers, and the wider school community. The bill has no known opposition. I respectfully ask for your aye vote.

Thank you, Senator. Any discussion or debate? Seeing none secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call]

Please call the absent Members.

[Roll Call]

Ayes 34. No's five. Measure passes. Moving on to item 143. I see the Senator is ready.

Secretary, please read

Senate Bill 1290 by Senator Roth an act relating to healthcare coverage.

Senator Roth?

Thank you, Senators. This bill sunsets California's current essential health benefits benchmark plan. The benchmark plan is the plan that sets the benefits standards for all of the health plan and insurance policies that are sold in California's individual and small-group health insurance markets. According to the Affordable Care Act, which, of course, includes plans through Covered California.

Federal rules allow states to update their benchmark plan after undergoing a stakeholder process. The rules also establish a cost ceiling and floor for the changes that can occur. This bill is meant to start the stakeholder process for a new essential benefits plan.

An actuarial analysis will be completed, and stakeholder discussions, both here and in the assembly, will take place before final decisions are made and final votes are taken. We can and should evaluate our benchmark plan to ensure that the benefit structure reflects the needs of Californians. But we can't make changes to the plan without working through this process.

Ultimately, by updating the plan, we may be able to add new needed benefits without impacting the general fund. With that, ask your aye vote.

Thank you, Senator. Do we have any discussion or debate? Senator Grove, you're recognized.

I, too, rise in support of SB 1290. I think it's very important that we look at new benefits that need to be added to the program, but also have to have a mechanism in making sure that we have the ability to pay for them and eliminate maybe things that we don't necessarily use on a regular basis that were covered a few years years ago. Respectfully ask for an aye vote

Further discussion? Senator Roth, you may close.

Thank my colleague for kind remarks and ask for an aye vote.

Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call]

Please call the absent members.

[RollCall]

Former secretary, please call the absent members.

[Roll Call]

Ayes 39, noes zero. The measure passes. All right, next three are file item 144, 145 and 148 if you want to prepare. First up, fire item 144. Majority leader, are you prepared?

Secretary, please read.

Senate Bill 1308 by Senator Gonzalez, an act relating to air pollution.

Majority leader.

Thank you, Madam President and Members. I rise today to present SB 1308 which will ensure that indoor air cleaning devices continue to improve public health and protect Californians living with respiratory conditions.

Air cleaners are efficient tools that improve indoor air quality and SB 1308 will address this risk by directing CARB to adopt a more stringent ozone emissions standard that limits emissions to no higher than five parts per billion for indoor air cleaning devices to ensure that these devices continue to improve public health and protect Californians with respiratory illnesses and conditions. I respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Do we have any discussion or debate on file item 144? Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll call]

Please call the absent members.

[Roll call]

Aye's 32, no's five. Measure passes. File item 145, Senator Archuleta, you prepared?

Senate Bill 1335 by Senator Archuleta an act relating to California Cadet Corps.

Senator, you may begin.

Thank you, madam President. Senate Bill 1335 will enhance the growth of the California Cadet Corps and will permit additional California Cadet Corps programs to be established ensuring more young Californians have access to this life changing program.

The California Cadet Corps is the State of California's only school based applied leadership program conducted within a military framework which also includes civilian teachers and instructors. The program provides personal growth, leadership opportunities and public service vocational pathways for approximately 6000 cadets in middle school and high school.

The California Cadet program establishes a military framework at each participating school that develops leadership skills, enhances academic and vocational achievement, fosters good citizenship and patriotism encourages health, wellness and fitness. Although arranged in a military framework to maximize the leadership experience for the cadets, the program does far more than introduce military experience and concepts.

Cadets are routinely awarded full college scholarships, service academy appointments. Senate Bill 1335 will provide the California Cadet court with additional resources to enhance the program to ensure all students have access to applied leadership opportunities that prepare students for success in college and the framework and the workforce.

So on behalf of the 6000 cadets throughout California showing success and promise, I respectfully ask for your aye vote.

Any discussion or debate on file item 145? This item is eligible for unanimous roll call. Any objection Seeing none. Ayes 39, oh. Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call]

Secretary, please call the absent members.

[Roll Call]

Aye is 38, no is zero. Measure passes. Moving on to fire item 148, Senator Durazzo looks prepared.

Secretary, please read.

Senate Bill 1132 by Senator Durazo, an act relating to public health.

Senator.

Thank you, Madam President. SB 1132 clarifies the authority of county health officers to enter and inspect private detention facilities operating in our state. Today, there are six private facilities that operate in a gray area under our health and safety codes as public health oversight laws do not explicitly cover private detention facilities.

These private facilities are operated by for-profit companies that often fail to meet minimum standards of health, safety and sanitation. Recent reports from these facilities continue to document a pattern of poor conditions, inadequate healthcare and unsafe work conditions.

Our county health officials will ensure minimum standards in these facilities and I respectfully ask for your aye vote.

Any discussion or debate? Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll call]

Please call the absent members.

[Roll call]

Aye's 36, no zero. Measure passes. Next on deck, we have file item 149, 150 and 152. Senator Stern looks prepared for file item 149.

Senate Bill 1471 by Senator Stern. An act relating to people instruction.

Thank you, madam President. SB 1471 brings mental health support into the classroom by allowing authorizing educators to have a daily minute for mindfulness. At the beginning of each school day, one third of California adolescents between 12 and 17 experience psychological distress. There's a 70% increase in anxiety and depression rates.

We all know these statistics all too well. And it's not just statistics, it's real life. This daily minute, as we both. We all know, here on the Senate Floor, gives us a moment to center ourselves. But in this case, this would just be a moment for either silence, mindfulness, no prayer, or any of that is required.

Hopefully gives students the ability to focus, self regulate, relieve tension. And there are numerous neurodivergent individuals who also may be sensitive to sensory stimuli who would benefit from this as well. This has no no votes. Respectfully ask for your aye vote.

Any discussion or debate, this item is eligible for unanimous roll call. Any objection? We got one. Okay, Ayes 39. No's zero. Measure passes. Moving on to item 150. Senator Limon, are you prepared? Secretary, please read.

Senate Bill 1195 by Senator Limon an act relating to assessments.

Thank you. SB 1195 requires a local education agency, an LEA that operates a block schedule, to request the college board to provide an alternative testing date for AP exams while maintaining the option for students to take the exam in the spring.

SB 1195 ensures that students who take an AP course have the opportunity to take the exam immediately following completion of this course. I respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Thank you, Senator. Any discussion? Debate? This item is also eligible for unanimous roll call. Any objection? Two in a row. That's great. Ayes 39. No's zero. Measure passes onto file item 152. Senator Rubio, you look prepared.

Senate Bill 1295 by Senator Rubio. An act relating to insurance.

Thank you, Madam President. Ladies and gentlemen of the Senate, today I rise to present SB 1295, a critical bill that will clarify insurers must provide 10 days notice for non payment, starting after nonpayment of a consumer's premium has lapsed.

Many constituents across the state are being dropped from their auto insurer for being just one day late. And unfortunately, in some cases, we have heard that these incidents are due to either bank error or credit card errors.

I would like to thank my colleague and joint author from Los Angeles for collaborating with me on this Bill that will eliminate any confusion and inequities consumers are experiencing with cancellation notices on their auto insurance policies. Thank you. And I respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Thank you, Senator. Any discussion or debate? Can we go three for three? This item is also eligible for unanimous roll call. Any objection? Ayes 39. No's, zero. The measure passes. We got one. File item 155, 159 and 161. If you want to prepare, those are coming up next. File item 155. Senator Wiener is prepared.

Secretary, please read.

Senate Bill 937 by Senator Wiener, an act relating to land use.

Please go ahead, Senator.

Thank you very much, Madam President and colleagues. SB 937 temporarily extends land use entitlements for housing, given the high interest rate and other challenging economic environment that we're currently in in terms of building new housing.

And it also shifts when certain impact fees are paid to certificate of occupancy or the equivalent at the end of the construction process. Impact fees play a very important role for local governments, which many of us know as having spent time in local elected office.

We also know that for projects to pencil at times, having to pay too many of those fees at the very beginning instead of at the end can harm the ability of that project to be financially feasible. So SB 937 will address this issue.

We worked extensively through the process with local governments so that only certain fees would be put towards the end of the process and that fees that are needed for local government cash flow purpose for specific needs will still be paid early on. I respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Senator Dahle, you're recognized.

Thank you. I rise also in support of the bill. Saw this in Committee. You know, if you don't get the project built, nobody gets the fees. So if you can get the project built, then eventually they'll get their fees. So that's why I supported the bill. Respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Thank you, Senator. Any further discussion or debate? Senator Wiener, you may close.

Sorry. Respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll call]

Please call the absent members.

[Roll call]

Aye's 36, no zero. Measure passes. Now moving on to file item 159. Senator Stern is prepared. Secretary, please call the roll. I mean, please read.

Senate Bill 1301 by Senator Stern, an act relating to gas.

Senator Stern.

Thank you, Madam President. This bill would require natural gas utilities to make available to the Public Utilities Commission all data required, develop hydraulic models and hydraulic feasibility analyses in order to ensure safety and reliability and to facilitate long term planning and cost effective expenditures by ratepayers. It has no opposition and respectfully ask for your aye vote.

Discussion or debate, Senators? We're waiting till tomorrow and Wednesday. All right. This item is also eligible for unanimous roll call. Any objection? Seeing none. Aye's 39, no zero. Measure passes. File item 161. Senator Atkins is prepared. Secretary, please read.

Senator Atkins.

Thank you, Madam President. Colleagues, I rise to present SB 1342. This bill would authorize CEQA streamlining for two key clean energy and clean water projects in the San Diego region, the San Diego San Vicente pump storage project in eastern San Diego County and the South Bay International Wastewater treatment plant, which, as many of you know, is near the Mexico California border.

This is the same CEQA streamlining the legislature and governor approved last summer in SB 149 for other energy, water, and microchip infrastructure projects. That streamlining was supported by Governor Newsom, business, energy, and major environmental groups.

The San Vicente pump storage project is urgently needed for clean energy and load support in the San Diego region to save ratepayers millions in energy costs. The project developer is currently in discussions with the San Diego Water Authority to build the project.

We're certainly all familiar with the cross-border sewage crisis that's closed beaches and public spaces and impacting the air quality for local communities. This is due to years of delay and the ongoing discharge of raw sewage from the South Bay treatment plant. The plant is in desperate need of upgrade and possible reconstruction.

Extending CEQA streamlining to these projects is entirely elective and at the option of the project applicant. This will shave months or years off completing these projects. This is supported by the building and construction trades, carpenters, iron workers, operating engineers, teamsters, and the San Diego Chamber of Commerce, as well as others.

It's co-authored by the bipartisan San Diego Delegation and is sponsored by the San Diego Water Authority. I ask for your support.

Senator Padilla, you're recognized.

Thank you, Madam President. For the reasons articulated by the author and as a co author, I rise in support.

Any other further discussion or debate? Senator Atkins, you may close.

Ask for an aye vote.

Secretary, please call the roll. This is eligible for unanimous roll call. Any objection? We're doing great. Ayes 39, noes zero, measure passes. All right, the next three up to bat is file item 166, 168 and 170.

We're going to start with 166. Senator Umberg is prepared. Secretary, please read.

Senate Bill 918 by Senator Umberg, an act relating to social media platforms.

Senator Umberg.

Thank you very much, Madam President. SB 918, the Social Media and Law Enforcement Cooperation Act, would require social media platforms to have a telephone hotline available at times for law enforcement agencies to be able to make a timely request for information. Also compels social media platforms to immediately comply with a search warrant provided by law enforcement agency if the subject of the search warrant has an account on that social media platform. I urge an aye vote.

Any discussion, debate? Another item eligible for unanimous roll call. Any objection? Seeing none. Aye's 39, no zero. Measure passes. File item 168, Senator Rubio, are you prepared?

Secretary, please read.

Senate Bill 1106 by Senator Rubio an act relating to conservatorship.

Senator Rubio?

Thank you, Madam President. Ladies and gentlemen of the Senate, today I proudly rise to present SB 1106 named Casey Ksum Nichols routine law, which aims to strengthen protections for older adults under conservatorship from being isolated by their caretakers.

This bill requires loved ones to be notified if there is a change in current residence, if the conservator passed away, and details of the memorial services. Unfortunately, there have been countless instances of elder abuse under conservatorships that could have been prevented if close family members and friends knew the whereabouts of their loved ones.

California's elderly population is growing substantially. The number of older people, those over 65, will double over the next 20 years, from approximately 4 million to over 8 million. We must continue to be proactive in strengthening the laws that protect these older population from facing abuse and neglect and aren't unable to escape their abusers.

This bill is critical and is a first step in putting policies in place that will help prevent isolation and mistreatment of a loved one under conservatorship. This bill has strong bipartisan support and no opposition. I respectfully asked for an aye vote. Thank you.

Thank you, Senator. Do we have any discussion or debate on file item 168? Well, we have another winner eligible for unanimous roll call. Any objection? No, that's ayes 39, noes 0. With that, colleagues, we are 1 hour in, and we've done 19 bills out of the 300 something this week. On a good roll. Next up, file item 170.

Senator Stern, are you prepared? Secretary, please read.

Senate Bill 1399 by Senator Stern, an act relating to property.

Senator Stern, go ahead.

Thank you, Madam President. Members, SB 1399 would clarify in statute that the recordation of private transfer fee covenants are permitted for properties that had such an agreement in place prior to 2019.

To avoid any confusion, this clarification would ensure preexisting agreements, including those that support ongoing conservation and community development efforts, are implemented as envisioned. Bill has no opposition, broad environmental support, and respectfully ask for your aye vote.

Any discussion or debate file item 170? Seeing none, we are going back to roll call. Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll call]

Please call the absent members.

[Roll call]

Aye's 39, no zero. Measure passes. Next three are file item 175, 177 and 187. Senator Niello, are you prepared for file item 175? Secretary, please read.

Senate Bill 1141 by Senator Niello and act related to civil actions.

Thank you again. Madam President, I rise to present to you SB 1141, which increases the threshold of cases that can be sent to mandatory mediation by the courts from the current 50,000 to 150,000. The current threshold of 50,000 was set over 30 years ago. SB 1141 raises that threshold to, as I stated, 150,000.

California's courts are congested each year of the last three years. The number of unlimited civil case filings were more than double the number of case dispositions. The hurried ER we go, the behinder we get. But we have a solution. Early resolution, when possible, is beneficial for reducing the costs and burden of all parties. I respectfully ask an aye vote.

Any discussion or debate? Will we have another item eligible for unanimous roll call? Okay. Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call]

Please call the absent members.

[Roll Call]

Ayes 38, no's zero. Measure passes. Moving on to file item 177. Senator Bradford, are you prepared?

Secretary, please read.

Senate Bill 1020 by Senator Bradford, an act relating to law enforcement agency regulations.

Senator Bradford?

Thank you, Madam President. SB 1020 will prohibit law enforcement agencies from utilizing shooting targets that resemble ethnic groups.

In a multitude of studies published by the American Psychological Association, researchers established that participants would shoot an armed target quicker if it resembled an African American compared to if they were white, participants were also likely to shoot an unarmed, I should say less likely to shoot an unarmed white target compared to an African American one.

Just three weeks ago, colleagues, we sadly saw what happened to Airman Roger Fortson, who opened the door within three seconds in Florida. He was gunned down, shot five times by a police officer. Mr. Fortson happened to be African American. I challenge you to say if that would have, roles would have been reversed and it would have been a Caucasian person, that person, more than likely, would still be alive today.

These response times show subconscious racial bias, which leads towards an increased risk of deadly harm towards certain ethnic groups. SB 1020 is a common sense measure that will ensure implicit racial biases are not present in our law enforcement officers, and that all people are treated equal and fairly. I ask for aye vote.

Thank you, Senator. Do we have any discussion or debate on file item 177? Seeing none. Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll call]

Please call the absent members.

[Roll call]

Aye's 33, no zero. Measure passes. Moving on to file item 182. Senator Hurtado looks ready.

Senate Bill 1448 by Senator Hurtado an act relating to food and agriculture.

Please proceed, Senator.

Thank you, Madam President, today I rise to present SB 1448, a bill that will increase access to land at markets for small and underserved farmers. Access to land is a significant hurdle for small, underserved and limited resources farmers. Land access is multifaceted and complex, with a combination of historical discrimination and theft.

Paired with today's increasing pressure of hedge funds and private investment companies rapidly purchasing ag land across California. Local and regional food supply chains have been drastically underfunded and under-resourced, leaving small family farmers to develop new supply chains with little to no financial support to invest in the infrastructure necessary for sustainable transformation.

SB 1448 addresses essential equity issues for two important existing programs. It would clarify that task force members may receive a reasonable per diem using existing or private funds.

Similar to other task force and committee use. It will ensure the Ag-land Equity Task Force report is made public and it streamlines the Farm to Community Food hub program Advisory Committee by reducing the number of Committee Members being less prescriptive and allowing for members of existing CDFA committees to serve and extend the sunset for the farm to community food hub program to ensure it has sufficient time to comply with reporting requirements. I respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Senators, it's getting a little loud out here. If we have any conversations, if we could please take them off the floor. Secretary, please call the roll or any discussion and debate on file item 182. Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call]

Please call the absent members.

[Roll Call]

Ayes 39 no zero, measure passes. Next three on deck. We have file item 187, 192 and 198. Senator Umberg, are you prepared for file item 187?

Senate Bill 900 by Senator Umberg. An act relating to common interest developments.

Senator, please proceed.

Thank you, Madam President. This bill is a result of an event that happened in Orange County, where nearly 600 homeowners and tenants were left without gas for over three months. Gas to cook with, gas for hot water, gas for all purposes for which gas is used for.

And the challenge was, once this gas line was interrupted, is there was a series of finger pointing as to who had responsibility to remedy the situation. This is an occurrence that I thought only happened in Orange County, but apparently it is much more widespread.

So, for example, last month, 174 residents at a mobile home park in Vacaville were in the same situation. January 2023, 162 units at a condominium complex in Sacramento in the same situation. This bill simply says that the homeowners Association Board, once they're notified of this leak, has 10 days by which to start repairs for these critical interruptions.

Allows the management company to act. It allows the management companies to act swiftly to fix utilities if the board doesn't meet and requires repairs to have fair pricing, institutes Reserve studies to ensure organized and transparent budgeting processes and allows the HOAs to conduct electronic voting to achieve a quorum, I urge and aye vote.

Thank you, Senator. Any discussion or debate? File item 187. Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call]

Please call the absent members.

[Roll Call]

Ayes 39, no's zero. Measure passes. Moving on to file item 192. Senator Limon, are you prepared?

Senate Bill 1369 by Senator Limon, an act related to healthcare coverage.

Thank you. Dental plans contract with third party companies to issue provider payments to dental practices with virtual credit cards. Accepting this form of payment, however, charges the dental office processing fees. Two to 5% of the total payment amount. In addition to the standard merchant transaction fee for processing the payment through their credit card terminal.

SB 1369 requires dental plans and contracted virtual credit card companies to provide notice of any fees associated with payment for dental services and gives providers the ability to optimize in to virtual to receive virtual credit cards. I respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Do we have any discussion or debate on file item 192? Seeing none. Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call]

Secretary, please call the absent members.

[Roll Call]

Ayes 37, no's zero. Measure passes. File item 188. Senator Laird looks prepared. Secretary please read.

Senate Bill 1097 by Senator Laird an act related to veterans.

Senator Laird.

Thank you very much, Madam President. Senate Bill 1097 will update the military and Veterans code to use gender inclusive language, clarify that benefits and protections provided by surviving spouses are also available to domestic partners and will close a minor loophole to clarify. Only service members on active military duty orders shall be exempt from jury duty.

I did a similar bill two years ago, SB 272 for the Commissioner of the Highway Patrol, Amanda Ray. She was appointed the first woman to be the Commissioner of the California Highway Patrol, and yet the entire code referred to the Commissioner as he. So this bill does the same for the military and veterans code.

The bill has no registered opposition and has had no no votes. I respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Any discussion or debate? Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call]

Please call the absent Members.

[Roll Call]

Ayes 32, no's zero. Measure passes. Next three on deck is file item 199, 201 and 204. Senator Ashby is prepared with file item 199. Secretary please read.

Secretary, please read.

Senate Bill 1110 by Senator Ashby, an act relating to water.

Senator Ashby.

Thank you, Madam President. Rise to present SB 1110, the Water Efficiency Standards Act. Bill adds two year extension to when the board may issue informational orders related to water production, water use, water conservation, or urban retail water supply that is not meeting its urban water use objectives.

This allows the Water Board time to establish its rulemaking before conducting compliance enforcement. As amended, SB 1110 has no opposition. Urge an aye vote.

Discussion or debate? Item is eligible for unanimous roll call. Any objection? Seeing none. Aye's 39, no zero. Measure passes. File item 201. Senator Laird is prepared. Secretary, please read.

Senate Bill 1190 by Senator Laird, an act relating to mobile homes.

Senator Laird.

Thank you very much. Madam President and members, if you live in an individual mobile home and you wish to upgrade to solar and the covenants or park-wide, don't allow you to do it, this bill will allow individual mobile homeowners to upgrade to solar.

We engaged with the Western Manufacturer Housing Communities Association, addressed their concerns. They are neutral. There's support on both sides, and has had no, no votes. I respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Discussion or debate. Eligible for unanimous roll call. Any objection? Fantastic. Ayes 39, noes zero. File item 201. Measure passes. Moving on to file item 204. Senator Limon is prepared.

Secretary, please read.

Senate Bill 1266 by Senator Limón, an act relating to product safety.

Senator Limón.

Thank you. SB 1266 seeks to prohibit manufacturers from selling juvenile feeding, sucking, or teething products that contain any form of bisphenols or BPs at a detectable level of 0.1 parts per billion.

SB 1266 strengthens the commitment to protect children from harmful chemicals and authorizes the Department of Toxic Substances control to establish standards prioritizing the health and wellness of our children. I respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Members, discussion or debate file item 204? This is also eligible for unanimous roll call. Any objection? Aye's 39, no zero. Measure passes. Next three, we got file item 207, 209 and 214. Senator Wahab looks prepared. Secretary, please read.

Senate Bill 1317 by Senator Wahab. An act relating to county jail inmates.

Thank you. I rise to present SB 1317, court ordered meds for county jails. SB 1317 extends for five years, the sunset date for seeking court orders to administer involuntary psychiatric medication to those with severe mental health disorders who are detained in county jails.

Existing law authorizes psychiatrists and county jails to obtain an involuntary medication order for persons in custody who are a danger to themselves and or others are suffering from grave disabilities and unable to give consent. SB 1317 also would require counties that elect to use this authority to submit specified reporting information.

Maintaining this authority is addresses the needs of those in county jails with the most severe mental health treatment needs. I respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Any discussion on the item? We are on a roll with bipartisan support. This item is also eligible for unanimous roll call. Any objection? Aye's 30. Any objection? Are you utilizing unanimous rope? Aye's 39. No's zero. Measure passes. File item 209. Senator Wahab is prepared again. Secretary, please read.

Senate Bill 1356 by Senator Wahab, an act relating to the judiciary.

Senator Wahab.

Thank you. I rise to present SB 1356, gender perspective judging. This bill would ensure trainings offered by judicial counsel, consider the role of gender in court proceedings, including strategies to counter stereotypes and take into account inequities in power and their intersection with gender, and meet the needs of litigants in unique situations of vulnerability.

SB 1356 builds upon existing law to ensure we continue to eliminate discrimination and bias in our judicial system. This is systemic change.

Any discussion on file item 209? Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call]

Please call the absent members.

[Roll Call]

Ayes 32, noes zero measure passes. File item 214. Senator Laird, Senator Laird is prepared.

Secretary, please read Senate Bill 1440 by Senator Laird and accurately into water quality.

Senator Laird.

Thank you, Madam President. Senate Bill 1440 increases legislative oversight for the Water Board by requiring the board to report to the Legislature regarding stormwater permitting compliance. Recent data has shown a decline in annual compliance and this will ensure the Legislature has an active role in the protection of water quality.

The Bill has no registered opposition, has received unanimous support, and has a support support recommendation. I respectfully ask for an iPhone.

Thank you, Senator. Any discussion? Fired on 214 item is also eligible for unanimous roll call. Any objection? I is 39. No zero measure passes. Next three we have is file item 216217 and 223. Senator Jurasso, are you prepared for final item 216?

Secretary, please read.

Senate Bill 1488 by Senator Durazo an act related to outdoor advertising.

Senator Durazo.

Thank you, Madam President. SB 1488 directs Caltrans to support arena advertising displays in their current negotiations with the Federal Highway Administration. This Bill would also reduce the length of time for a marketing contract from one year to 120 days, which more accurately reflects outdoor advertising opportunities.

It provides stadiums and arenas revenue streams that do not rely on public funding. Stadiums create thousands of permanent local good, Construction jobs and permanent jobs generate millions in taxes. These message boards also play a vital role in helping direct traffic around the stadium and public safety alerts.

The updated marketing agreement reflects the ever changing models of advertising and enables stadiums to continue to provide civic engagement, jobs, and economic impact. With Los Angeles, in my case, hosting the Olympics and World cup, our stadium and arena infrastructure will need updating.

Bringing marketing agreements closer to the standards of the industry will keep stadiums modernized and ready to meet the needs of these world events. I respectfully ask for your aye vote.

Senator Jones you're recognized.

Thank you, Madam President. Members, I'm going to vote no on this Bill, but I think that we should be taking a serious look at reforming this entire system and come back with more robust reforms on this. So thank you very much.

Thank you, Senator. Any further discussion? Senator Durazo, you may close.

Thank you. I just want to remind my colleagues that the marketing plan provisions are within the State of California's purview. We are not including anything that falls under the Federal Government's purview. And with that, I respectfully ask for your aye vote.

Thank you, Senator. Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call]

Secretary, please call the absent Members.

[Absent Roll Call]

Ayes 31, Noes eight, measure passes. Moving on to file item 217. The Senator is prepared.

Secretary, please read Senate Bill 1175 by. Senator Ochoa Bog and Acri Lanes organic waste.

Senator. Thank you, Madam President. Members, in order to provide more flexibility to local governments in reaching emission reduction goals, SB 1175 will require Cal recycle to consider alternatives in addition to census tracts, when deciding the boundaries of a jurisdiction eligible for a waiver of some or all of the collection requirements of SB 1383.

These alternatives include established boundaries of cities and census designated places, as well as boundary maps submitted by local governments who develop waste management routes. SB 1175 passed the Senate Environmental Quality Committee unanimously. Amendments to delayed implementation until the next update to SB 1383 regulations have addressed all all remaining concerns. I respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Senator Grove, you're recognized.

Thank you, Madam President. I, too, rise in support of SB 1175 when SB 1383 by Senator Laura passed in 2016, it required Cal recycle to implement organic waste plan disposal or disposal plans. Complying with the proposal often consists counties of imposing new property owners as high tax fees as $600 a year.

Since SB 1383 passed, several bills have tried to create exemptions for policy for rural communities that have struggled to comply with the original Bill.

From Senator Laura I myself introduced SB 1232 this year, which have created an exemption for Prop 18 for those that were sexually protested in rural communities to not have to sustain the high cost of the fee of almost $600.

Unfortunately, it failed in local government, but I'm really happy that SB 1175 is made to the Senate Floor requiring Cal recycle to consider alternatives to the census tracts when reviewing Low population and elevation waivers from the state's organic waste requirement is important to our rural communities Members. A lot of people that live in these communities are seniors.

The population area is above 65 years old, and they're on a fixed income. To impose this on Low level populated areas where mostly our seniors are living is just not a good thing, and there needs to be an off ramp for these people who really, truly can't afford these plans. Respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Thank you, Senator. Senator Blakespear, you're recognized.

Yes, thank you. I wanted to rise and express that I will be voting no on this, and the reason is that in this legislative session, there are currently 10 bills, including this Bill, that seek to amend, streamline, or extend various requirements of calorie cycles regulations for SB 1383.

I think it's important to look at the SB 1383 bills all in the universe and not in isolation. And fundamentally, I think it's important that we stick to the print the ambitious principles of SB 1383. I do not agree with the premise of exempting more jurisdictions from SB 1383.

151 jurisdictions are already exempted from SB 1383, and last year it was only 54 jurisdiction. So we are expanding the reach of those areas that are not required to participate in the really important protections of SB 1383. Thank you.

Seeing no further discussion, Senator, you may close.

Thank you, Madam Chair. In addressing some of the concerns that have been expressed, I just want to highlight the fact that current regulations allow for local governments to apply for waivers for some or all of SB 1383 collection requirements for areas that are high elevation and sparsely populated and or rural.

However, these waivers are not based on well established boundaries like city or county lines, but on census tracts, census tracts which are geographic regions currently used only for census purposes. The result is that these boundaries of areas eligible for a waiver make little sense for the purposes of disposing organic waste.

For example, in my district, running Springs is an unincorporated town in San Bernardino mountains. It's split between two census tracts, one with Low population waiver and one with an elevation waiver. This means that neighbors literally living across the street from each other have to comply with different collection requirements, which also imposes different fees.

This also poses logical challenges for waste management entities. I respectfully ask for an aye vote. Thank you, Senator. Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call]

Eyes 361 no. Measure passes. File item 223. Senator Eggman is prepared. Secretary, please read.

Senate Bill 1051 by Senator Eggman. An act relating to tendencies.

Thank you very much. Members, this bill will standardize existing tenant protections by updating laws to ensure that people who are victims of domestic violence can get their locks changed and not be penalized for that. I ask for your aye vote.

Thank you, Senator. Any discussion on this item? Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call]

Secretary, please call the absent members.

[Roll Call]

Ayes 38. No's, zero. Measure passes. Next three is file item 228, 231 and 233. Senator Wiener looks prepared. Secretary, please read file item 228.

Senate Bill 966 by Senator Wiener and accurately to pharmacy benefits.

Senator.

Thank you, Madam President. Colleagues, I'm presenting Senate Bill 966, which will require pharmacy benefit managers, or PBMs, to be licensed by the Department of Insurance and also to create certain legal requirements around transparency, accountability and consumer protections. PBMs are intermediaries between health insurers or among health insurers, pharmacies and pharmaceutical companies.

The role of PBMs, which perform services like creating formularies, negotiating drug pricing and their role has grown from processing claims to a much, much broader array of services. They've also grown dramatically in size and play a very, very prominent role in the health care, their space.

And yet, in California, they don't have to be licensed, and there are few, if any, rules governing their behavior. There are over 60 PBMs in the US, but a huge majority of prescription drug claims are processed by a mere three PBMs.

25 other states already require PBMs to be licensed, and various states require aspects of the regulations that SB 966 creates. Colleagues, it's time to start regulating PBMs, and I respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Any discussion of file item 228? Seeing none Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call]

Please call the absent members.

[Roll Call]

Ayes 39, no's zero. Measure passes. Going back to Senator Wiener, he's prepared for file item 231. Secretary, please read.

Senate Bill 988 by Senator Wiener. An act relating to independent contractors.

Senator Wiener?

Thank you, Madam President and colleagues. SB 988 is the Freelance Worker Protection Act, which provides very basic protections for freelance workers. It's actually shocking that this is not already the law. Most freelancers lack even the most basic of worker protections, most notably the right to be paid on time for their work.

According to the freelancers union, 71% of freelance workers experience late or nonpayment, 59% report living paycheck to paycheck, and only 25% report that they consistently have written contracts for their work. In 2023, similar versions of this bill were enacted in both Illinois and New York. And in February of this year, LA County adopted similar legislation.

It's time to take it statewide. The bill will require written contracts, 30-day payment terms, unless the contract provides for a different payment schedule, payment agreement protections, anti-retaliation measures, and damages protections, making sure that these workers actually get paid. I respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Thank you, Senator. And discussion on file item 231. Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call]

Please call the absent members.

[Roll Call]

Ayes 33, noes 3, measure passes. File item 233. Senator Padilla, are you prepared?

Secretary, please read.

Senate Bill 990 by Senator Padilla, an act relating to state government.

Thank you, Madam President. I rise to present SB 990. As natural disasters become a more regular occurrence, recent data from UC Irvine found that LGBTQ+ individuals, particularly LGBTQ+ patients of color, are displaced at nearly double the rate of cisgender and heterosexual individuals.

LGBTQ people are more at risk of experiencing water and food insecurity, security, unsanitary conditions, and fear of crime following a disaster. This is because state and federal agencies continue to lack a clear strategy on how to integrate LGBTQ people into disaster preparedness, planning and emergency response.

SB 990 would require the California Office of Emergency Services to consult with representatives of the LGBT community to create policies and best practices to more equitably serve the community of Californians during natural disasters.

This bill would require these policies and practices to be included in the next update to the state Cal OES planning and understanding how to better serve LGBTQ Californians when disaster strikes. This bill is sponsored by Equality California Insurance Commissioner Lara and the LGBTQ Caucus. I would respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Discussion or debate on this item? Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll call]

Please call the absent members.

[Roll call]

Aye's 32, no's one. Measure passes. Next three on deck is file item 234, 236 and 237. Majority leader, you prepared for 234?

Senate Bill 991 by Senator Gonzalez, an act relating to school districts.

Thank you, Madam President. I rise today to present SB 991, which will remove the sunset date from current law to allow the LAUSD office of Inspector General to continue its transparent oversight responsibilities in perpetuity.

A district as large and diverse as LaOSD is extremely unique and deserves especial attention to ensure there is no waste, fraud or abuse, and it simply removes the sunset the 2025 sunset date and allows LAUSD to maintain a meaningful authority to ensure that the construction of contracts, procurement contracts, student services and other important programs do not fall victim to poor performance or illegal activity.

I respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Any discussion on this item? Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call]

Please call the absent members.

[Roll Call]

Ayes 31, no's eight. Measure passes. File item 236. Senator Dodd, are you prepared? Secretary, please read.

Senator Dodd an act relating to electricity.

Senator Dodd.

Madam President and members, SB 1003 directs the Office of Electrical Infrastructure Safety to consider timeliness and cost-effectiveness of investor-owned utility infrastructure upgrades when reviewing wildfire mitigation plans. We are all aware of the $13.5 billion rate increase the CPUC approved for PG and E.

The CPUC has also recently approved an additional rate increase, allowing PG and E to recover past expenditures made in 2020 and 2022. Together, these rate increases will add more than $400 annually to a typical PG and E electric bill.

Most of these rate increases are attributable to wildfire prevention and in particular, the undergrounding of electric cable undergrounding costs $3 million a mile, while alternatives such as covered conductor cost less than a third of that.

Ratepayers want to know if the wildfire protection they are paying for in utility bills is being provided in the shortest amount of time at the most reasonable cost. SB 1003 simply directs the IOUs to perform that analysis when they update their wildfire mitigation plans every three years.

SB 1003 is supported by Tern, the Planning Conservation League, the California Farm Bureau, and others, and I'm unaware of any formal opposition. Respectfully ask for your aye vote.

Any discussion on file item 236? Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call]

Please call the absent members.

[Roll Call]

Ayes 39, noes zero, measure passes. Moving on to file item 237. Senator Padilla, are you prepared? He is prepared.

Senate Bill 1006 by Senator Padilla, an act relating to electricity.

Thank you, Madam President. Colleagues, I rise to present SB 1006, which would require utilities to prepare a grid enhancing technology strategic plan to cost effectively increase transmission capacity. As we well know, the Cal ISO estimates that we will need more than 7000 transmission capacity every year for the next decade to meet our energy demands.

However, California is far from achieving this estimate, threatening our clean energy goals. Grid enhancing technologies can increase capacity, decrease congestion, improve reliability in a cost effective way, such as redirecting energy away from overloaded lines and onto underutilized ones, which can enhance the existing grid. They are far cheaper and faster to install than new lines.

The bill requires transmission utilities to complete a strategic plan for grid enhancing technologies and an evaluation of what these lines, which lines can be reconducted in a cost effective manner every four years. Every year, California loses $1.5 billion to grid congestion, and these strategies can help save $650 million.

California should take advantage of these new technologies and upgrade existing transmission lines to expand capacity and deliver reliable energy at lower costs. This bill has no registered opposition. I would respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Any discussion? Seeing none. Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call]

Please call the absent members

[Roll Call]

Ayes 39, no's zero. Measure passes. Senators, we're doing an amazing job. Zooming through these. Next three up are two file item 247,252 and 255. Senator Padilla, back to you. You are prepared. Secretary, please read.

Secretary, please read

Senate Bill 1105 by. Senator Padilla and accrual a pay sick leave.

Thank you, madam President. I present SB 1105, which would require that paid sick leave be granted to agricultural workers. Can also be utilized to avoid smoke, heat, or flooding conditions created by a local or state emergency.

Workplace conditions expose farm workers to several adverse environmental conditions and hazards resulting from extreme weather events that endanger their health, safety, and economic livelihood, including working under extremely high temperatures, exposure to smoke from wildfires and rain. Agricultural workers are 35 times more likely to die from heat related stress than workers in any other industry.

Industry in the United States. Agriculture is one of the most hazardous industries in the United States, and the rapidly changing climate will only make matters worse. As average temperatures increase and heat waves, wildfires and extreme rain events increase, farmworkers will be at a continued risk of losing their lives.

While the State of California has taken some of the nation's most proactive steps to adopt occupational safety safety hazards, excuse me, related to heat and smoke. Farm workers need to know that during climate emergency, they are not risking their personal financial disaster by choosing their safety.

SB 1105 is a Latino Caucus priority, and I respectfully ask for your aye vote.

Any discussion of item 247 Seeing none. Secretary, please call the roll.

Roll Call

Please call the absent Members.

Roll Call

Ayes 34, noes 3, measure passes. File item 252. Senator Bradford, are you prepared? He is ready. Secretary, please read.

Senate Bill 1130 by Senator Bradford, an act relating to electricity.

Senator Bradford.

Thank you, madam President.,1130 would expand the eligibility criteria for family electric rate assistance, better known as the fair program, and require the state's three largest Invest Your Own utilities to report on their efforts to enroll customers in the FARA program.

Both the FARA and the care program are grossly under-enrolled, and this would just bring attention to these badly needed programs as utility prices go up. And I respectfully ask for your aye vote.

Any discussion on file item 252, seeing none, secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call]

Please call the absent members.

[Roll Call]

Ayes 35, noes 3, measure passes. File item 255. Senator Cortese, are you prepared? He is ready.

Secretary, please read Senate Bill 1162 by. Senator Cortese, an act relating to public contracts.

Senator Cortese.

Thank you, Madam President. Colleagues, I'm pleased to present SB 1162. This Bill enables labor management cooperation committees, otherwise known as LMCCs, to accurately verify workers have the appropriate training by requiring employers to include a workers date of birth in their monthly certified payroll reports submitted to labor management cooperation committees.

By ensuring accurate identification data, we can verify whether the worker meets the eligibility criteria in alignment with state regulations. The bill has strong support and no known opposition. I respectfully ask for your aye vote.

Discussion and debate of item 255? Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call]

Please call the absent members.

[Roll Call]

Ayes 39, no's zero. Measure passes. Senators, we are 2 hours in, and we've done 44 bills. Great job. We're zooming through. Next three are file item 265, 272 and 281. Senator Allen, are you prepared for file item 265. Senator Allen, are you prepared for fire item 265. Secretary, please read.

Secretary, please read.

Senate Bill 1297 by Senator Allen an aquiline to vehicles.

Senator Allen.

Thank you, madam President. Members, on the evening of October 17, 2023 a young man speeding at 104 miles an hour on the Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu lost control of his vehicle and killed four Pepperdine University students standing on the side of the highway.

Since 2010, 60 people have been killed in vehicle accidents along this very same stretch of beautiful but exceedingly dangerous roadway. Malibu only has about 10,000 people, but it ranks in the top 25 small cities with the worst crash fatality rates in the country. 2023.

Crash data from the LA County Sheriff reports 127 property damage collisions, 93 injury collisions, 7 deaths. A primary factor in all of these incidents was high vehicle speed. One very proven way to slow down drivers is automated speed camera enforcement.

The NTSB, Centers for Disease Control, Federal Highway Administration, have all recommended using this tool to enforce speed limits. In fact, the FHA, the Federal Highway Administration data shows that they can reduce crashes on urban streets by 54%. And NTSB review of speed camera programs around the world found cameras to be effective in reducing fatal collisions.

This Bill expands upon an existing pilot program, Assembly Member Friedman's legislation that was passed last year, and it would basically apply in a limited manner to this one city, to this one stretch of road.

This is all about trying to slow people down and save some lives, and I respect for you ask for your aye vote on this Bill.

Any discussion or debate on file item 265. Secretary, please call the roll.

Roll Call

Please call the absent Members.

Roll Call

Ayes 36 no's three measure passes, file item 272 is next. Senator Archuleta looks prepared. Secretary, please read.

Senate Bill 1330 by Senator Archuleta and agrilaine to water.

Senator, please proceed.

Thank you, Madam President. Members, I rise today to present Senate Bill 1330. Senate Bill 1330 would enact changes to the 2018, making water conservation way of life laws based on recommendations from the Legislative Analysis Office report from earlier this year.

The 2018 laws established a framework for long term improvements in urban water use efficiency and drought planning as California adapts to climate change and impacts. The State Water Board, in coordination with the Department of Water Resources, was required to adopt long term standards variances guidelines methodologies for calculating urban water usage objectives by June of 2022.

Due to the COVID and other factors, we are still awaiting those regulations.

The purpose of my Bill is to extend the deadlines of the 2018 laws to match the State Water Board's current schedule, to adapt final regulations, to require the Department of Water Resources to update landscape data in the future, and to give water suppliers the option of reporting their data on either a calendar or fiscal year basis.

Quite simply, Senate Bill 1330 will provide flexibility and cost savings for water suppliers to comply with the 2018 laws and pending state board regulations. Senate Bill 1330 has no opposition, has not received any no votes. For these reasons, I would ask for your aye vote. Thank you.

Any other discussion or debate, this item is eligible for unanimous roll call. Any objection? Ayes 39, noes 0, measure passes. Moving on to file item 281. Senator Allen, you got the next two. Senator Allen.

Secretary, please read.

Senate Bill 1406 by Senator Allen, an act relating to residential care facilities.

Thank you, Madam President and members. Today I rise to present SB 1406, which addresses the affordability crisis that seniors are facing in assisted living facilities. We know that seniors are the fastest growing population of people experiencing homelessness. In fact, by 2030, our seniors, the number of seniors experiencing homelessness is expected to triple.

And amidst this growing challenge, assisted living facilities have been serving many, many people. But there are some unscrupulous folks in this space. Unfortunately, they've been raising the rates they charge residents like never before and profiting at rates like never before.

In fact, an industry survey shows that half of assisted living operators earn returns of 20% or more above the cost to run the facilities, while their residents life savings are rapidly drained to keep up with the cost of care.

And unlike most residents of nursing homes, where care is generally paid for by MedicAid, assisted living residents or their families are the ones that usually shoulder the full cost.

So, despite the requirement that these facilities include comprehensive supervision and observation, one to one care, and as a basic service, is a common add on imposed on residents, and it can cost tens of thousands of dollars more per month.

There's no process to dispute these add on charges, no requirement that these services be reviewed by a primary care provider. And so this is ultimately all about trying to address this affordability challenge that is oftentimes sprung on families and at a moment where they're most vulnerable.

We're trying to put some limits on some of this usurious behavior, and I respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Thank you, Senator. Any discussion on file item 281? Seeing none, secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call]

Please call the absent members.

[Roll Call]

Ayes 31, noes zero, noes 7, measure passes. Moving on to file item 282. Senator Allen again. Secretary, please read

Senate Bill 1450 by Senator Allen an act relating to elections.

Senator Allen.

Thank you, Madam President. Back in 2016, I authored SB 450, which is the Voters Choice Act, which offers counties a new way to conduct elections by increasing access and convenience for voters.

As most of you know, under the VCA, counties can choose to switch from the traditional neighborhood polling places on election day to a system that offers several days of early voting, vote by mail for all voters, same day voter registration, accessible voting machines for voters with disabilities, additional language support services, and the ability for voters to vote at any location in the county.

And I know that so many of us have been able to take advantage of this. You're in another part of the county a couple days before election day. Hey, there's a center there you can vote.

So something like 20 million voters, 77% of the eligible voting population, live in one of the 29 counties that have adopted the VCA. Now, there have been a lot of beneficial aspects, including increased transparency, community engagement with the election process, as well as far fewer reported voting problems at vote centers, and increased access for bilingual poll workers.

But there are a number of issues that have been raised by county clerks and others hurdles of conducting elections under this model. So this bill seeks to Streamline Administration, improving election management under the VCA while protecting vital voter access requirements. And with that, I respect for your aye vote.

Any discussion on file item 282? Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call]

Please call the absent members.

[Roll Call]

Ayes 32. No's zero. Measure passes. All right, Senators, the good news is we finished the list. The good news is the other good news is there's another list, so we can shave time and the other days that come.

So give us a couple of minutes, we can take a pause, stay in the area, and we'll get back to you. 30 seconds. We're just stretching our arms. 30 seconds. That's all you get. All right, 30 seconds is up. We are moving on with business.

All right, Senators, if we have any conversations, we're going to take them off the floor. We're going to now take up the following three file item 190, file item 229, and file item 157. Senator Pedilla, are you ready to kick us off with file item 190, SR 91. Secretary, please read.

Senate Resolution 91 by Senator Padilla relative to Harvey Milk Day.

Thank you, Madam President. I rise to present SR 91, which will recognize Wednesday on May 22, Harvey Milk Day. We will honor Harvey Bernard Milk, a hero in the LGBTQ community who dedicated his life to fighting for the rights of all people.

He was the first openly gay elected official in California and in any major us city. He is a global figure, an icon, and a pioneer in the LGBTQ civil rights movement. This was not always the case, however.

Milk unsuccessfully ran in several local elections, but his presence was finally rewarded in 1977 when he was elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. His unprecedented election victory and the power of his advocacy as an elected leader continue to inspire us today as LGBTQ representation continues to grow across California, the country, and the world.

His voice was often loudest to fight against homophobia and other forms of discrimination at a time when many were afraid to just simply be themselves. He actively encouraged Members of the LGBTQ community to show pride and expressed their true identities. He was adamant that our community must be visible, "for invisible," he said, "we remain in limbo."

"A myth. A person with no parents, no brothers, no sisters, no friends who are straight, no important positions in employment." His life was tragically cut short after a former colleague on the Board of Supervisors assassinated him and San Francisco mayor George Moscone.

His killer was convicted of manslaughter instead of murder, an injustice that serves as a stark reminder that we must always be vigilant in ensuring fairness and equity in our justice system in a world without ensuring equality for all. His impact as a trailblazer and civil rights advocate moves us to continue the fight and finish what we started.

Colleagues, I respectfully urge your aye vote on SR 91.

Senator Wiener, you're recognized.

Thank you, Madam President. I rise in support of Sr 91. As a gay Jew, like Harvey Milk was a gay Jew, I also had the honor of representing the supervisorial district that Supervisor Milk represented, and he is. Harvey's memory is deeply ingrained in San Francisco of so many core values that he stood for.

And I also just want to note that one of the things in the short time that Harvey was in office before he was murdered, he played a key role campaigning against Proposition 6, which would have banned LGBTQ people from being teachers in the State of California. A completely hateful ballot measure targeting and demonizing our community.

And I just want to tie that to today, because once again, nearly almost 50 years later, we are once again seeing a resurgence of these hateful ballot measures, hateful legislative proposals around the country targeting our community.

And so Harvey, I know, is both smiling down on us and also looking intently at us to make sure that we're going to fight for our community, and we will absolutely do so. I ask for an aye vote.

Senator Atkins, you're recognized.

Thank you, Madam President. I just wanted to add a little bit. Before Supervisor Milk made his way to San Francisco, he spent a little time in San Diego. Many of us are wearing red, white, and blue today, you know, to give us a little bit of enthusiasm and energy.

Today, Harvey Milk served in the US Navy, and he was very patriotic. And I want to make sure the record reflects his service to country. And one of the best times I was able to go to the Bay Area as the Administration came out and acknowledged that they were going to name a ship after Harvey Milk.

And then that ship was built in San Diego. So all of those things as someone growing up in Southwest Virginia and I actually sold, saw on TV the tragedy when he died. And I don't know, for some of us, it's very personal, having grown up and come out as a member of the LGBTQ community in southwest Virginia.

Very difficult place to do that. But to see how history embraces us all and to know that his nephew, Stuart Milk, carries on this work in honor of his uncle so that a life that was taken way too soon is really a continuation of a legacy that we all get to participate in and celebrate.

So thank you for bringing the resolution forward. Ask for your support today of a really great man.

Thank you, Senator. Senator Caballero, you're recognized.

Thank you, Madam President. Members, on behalf of the Latino caucus, it's my honor to rise today and strong support of SR 91. It's, I think, really important that we have the opportunity to stand up on this floor and recognize an individual who changed history. And he changed history because he was the first.

And being the first means that you're out there. It means at a time when people have bad thoughts and they're free to say them, and there's a misunderstanding of the community, it's tough to be the first. And he was the first, the first to run for elected office.

And as you know, he ran and was successful at winning a seat on the Board of Supervisors in San Francisco. And he was able, through his dedication and his talent and his perseverance, to make a statement that cost him his life to make. To live by example and do so many great things.

And it's hard to believe that it was only in 1977 that this happened. He knew his position would come with almost certain danger. Yet he was establishing. He was challenging the established norms, and he pushed forward.

While he was in office, he worked to pass a gay rights ordinance in San Francisco, as my good colleague from San Francisco said, helped to defeat a statewide initiative that would have banned gay teachers from working in state public schools.

He encouraged LGBTQ people to be visible in society and forge coalitions with other minority leaders to fight against all forms of oppression. But as we know, danger eventually found him, and he was assassinated by a former colleague after serving just 11 meaningful months in office.

With chilling foresight, Milk made a tape recording with instructions to have it read only if he died by assassination. And, you know, it's chilling because many leaders, civil rights leaders, have had premonitions, and it's scary to think about that. In it says, "if a bullet should enter my brain, let that bullet destroy every closet door."

A really powerful statement about who he was and what he was willing to do in order to be out there and to be the first. The legacy left by the mayor of Castro street and the courage he showed continues to be appreciated and felt today.

His recognition as one of Time magazine's most influential people of the 20th century and the numerous institutions and organizations named after him attest to his impact in California, in the United States, and, quite frankly, all over the world.