Senate Floor
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
The Senate will come to order. Will the secretary please call the roll.
- Committee Secretary
Person
[Roll call]
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Members, a quorum is present. Good morning. Welcome to the Senate Floor session. Today. I see we have a number of twins in the House. We want to acknowledge and recognize them. I'd like to ask Members and guests beyond the rail and in the gallery to please rise.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
We will be led in prayer this morning by our chaplain, Sister Michelle, after which, please remain standing for the pledge of allegiance to the flag. Sister Michelle.
- Sister Michelle
Person
And also on this world day, for cultural diversity, we pray holy mystery. You the one from whom, on different paths, all of us have come. You the one to whom on different paths, all of us are going make strong in our hearts what unites us. Build bridges across what divides us united. Make us rejoice in our diversity.
- Sister Michelle
Person
Make us one in our witness to your peace, a rainbow to your glory. Amen.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Please join me in the pledge to our flag. I pledge allegiance to the flag. We will begin with privileges of the floor. There are none. Messages from the Governor will be deemed read. Messages from the Assembly will be deemed read. Reports of Committee will be deemed read and amendments adopted.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Members, we're going to move next to motions, resolutions and notices. Seeing no microphones up, we will. Excuse me, Senator Cortese.
- Dave Cortese
Legislator
Mister President, is this the place to move items to the inactive file? Yes, sir. All right, I would. Thank you very much. I would like to move summary Member tings AB 347 from the. From the inactive file. Remove AB 347 from the inactive file today.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Thank you. The desk will note any further motions, resolutions or notices. Members. All right, we'll move on to the consideration. The daily file. I'd like to ask the secretary begin with second reading. Secretary, please read.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Senate Bill 93610504128021414134081494. Senate concurrent reservation.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Second reading file will be deemed read. Thank you. We're going to move next to unfinished business. We're going to take an item up in a few minutes and unfinished. Right. I'm just noting that we're going to come back to unfinished business in a moment. And we're going to move now to Senate third reading.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Members, if you want to know the schedule of activities this morning, I want to give you a heads up so you can be aware that we're going to begin with Senate third reading. We have five bills up. They are file item. If you want to note this, 242-8293 and 34.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Following that, we will move back to unfinished business to take up file item 21 to concur an Assembly amendment. So that's the docket for this morning.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
And Members, because we do have a Member off the floor this morning, we will be going through the roll one time and then putting matters on call, so be aware of that for this morning. Okay, we'll go through the roll one time. All right, so we're going to begin with file item 24.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
This is Senate Bill 1001 by Senator Skinner. She's prepared. Secretary, please read
- Committee Secretary
Person
Senate Bill 1001 by Senator Skinner. An act relating to criminal procedure.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Senator Skinner, the floor is yours.
- Nancy Skinner
Legislator
Thank you, Mister President, Members, pleased to present SB 1000, 1001. Okay, yes. Sorry, I thought I was going with the other one first. All right, please present SB 1001, which establishes a process for a person who has received a death penalty sentence, but who has a developmental or intellectual disability.
- Nancy Skinner
Legislator
I'll refer from this point on as intellectual disability. The ability to provide expert evidence that their developmental disability manifested prior to the age of 25.
- Nancy Skinner
Legislator
Now, under our current law, if you have a diagnosis that you had such a disability before the age of 25 and that diagnosis is present when you face a conviction, you are ineligible for a death sentence. And that is consistent with the 8th amendment.
- Nancy Skinner
Legislator
But we have circumstances where people with these intellectual disabilities, for any number of reasons, did not receive that diagnosis. You could imagine that person didn't have access to healthcare. They weren't at schools that did such testing. There's any number of reasons why they may not have had that diagnosis before the age of 25.
- Nancy Skinner
Legislator
Now, this Bill does not change our current statute in that the presence of the intellectual disability or the developmental disability must have been present in the developmental period. So it must have been present before the age of 25. My Bill does not in any way touch or thwart that. That is still the law.
- Nancy Skinner
Legislator
But what it does do is allow, if a person can provide the credible evidence with experts who do such testing, medical and other experts, then they would avoid the death penalty. They would still have life without parole, but they would not be able to be executed. Now, you may wonder, why am I bringing this Bill?
- Nancy Skinner
Legislator
Now, we have a moratorium on executions, but the fact is, the death penalty is still law in California, and executions could begin again. And what this does is helps us ensure that California is consistent with the 8th amendment and protects against the execution of people with intellectual disabilities. And with that, I ask for your aye vote.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Members, any discussion on this Bill? Any discussion? Seeing none. Secretary, please call the roll.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Allen. Alvarado-Gil, aye. Archuleta, aye. Ashby, aye. Atkins, aye. Becker, aye. Blakespear, aye. Bradford, aye. Caballero, aye. Cortese, aye. Dahle, no. Dodd, aye. Durazo, aye. Eggman. Glazer, aye. Gonzalez, aye. Grove. Hurtado. Jones, no. Laird, aye. Limon, aye. McGuire, aye. Menjivar, aye. Min. Newman, aye. Nguyen, no. Niello, no. Ochoa Bogh. Padilla, aye. Portantino, aye. Roth. Rubio, aye.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Seyarto, no. Skinner, aye. Smallwood-Cuevas, aye. Stern, aye. Umberg, aye. Wahab, Aye. Wiener, aye. Wilk, no.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Members, I've been informed that we do have a full house now, so we're gonna go through the roll one more time. Secretary, please call the absent Members.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Allen. Eggman, aye. Grove, no. Hurtado. Min. Ochoa Bogh, no. Roth.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Secretary, please call the absent Members.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Allen. Hurtado. Min. Roth.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
On a vote of twenty eight to eight, the measure carries. Members, we're going to move next to file item 28. This is Senate Bill 1272 by Senator Laird. He's prepared. Secretary, please read.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Senate Bill 1272 by Senator Laird. An act relating to consumer protection.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Senator Laird.
- John Laird
Legislator
Thank you very much, Mister President. Consumers have had the option to ask stores to redeem the remaining balance of a gift card below $10 for the last 16 years. There's been significant inflation since then, and the buying power has dropped.
- John Laird
Legislator
This Bill would raise the redeemable dollar amount to dollar 25, with an annual adjustment for inflation rounded to the nearest whole dollar. According to the National Retail Federation, there is the most popular gift of the holiday season. CNN reports that there's $21 billion sitting in unused gift cards.
- John Laird
Legislator
This will update it for the first time in the 16 years. There have been a few arguments against this. One is that it would require stores to keep extra cash on hand. Cash is not the requirement for redeeming, and that is not used by everyone. Now, there have been concerns about retail theft, we have asked for data.
- John Laird
Legislator
We have received none. If we receive any, we will look at this. And there is also concern about a federal limit. But Massachusetts has a scheme that has a limit that's higher than the one in this Bill. So it's time to update this for the consumers. I think it's fair. I respectfully ask for an aye vote.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Members, any discussion or debate on this measure? Any discussion or debate? Seeing none. Secretary, please call the roll.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Allen. Alvarado-Gil. Archuleta. Ashby, aye. Atkins, aye. Becker, aye. Blakespear, aye. Bradford, aye. Caballero, aye. Cortese, aye. Dahle, no. Dodd, aye. Durazo, aye. Eggman, aye. Glazer, aye. Gonzalez, aye. Grove, no. Hurtado. Jones, no. Laird, aye. Limon, aye. McGuire, aye. Menjivar, aye. Min, aye. Newman, aye. Nguyen, no. Niello, no. Ochoa Bogh. Padilla, aye.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Portantino, aye. Roth, aye. Rubio, aye. Seyarto, no. Skinner, aye. Smallwood-Cuevas, aye. Stern, aye. Umberg, aye. Wahab, aye. Wiener, aye. Wilk.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Please call the absent Members.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Allen. Alvarado-Gil, aye. Archuleta. Hurtado, aye. Ochoa Bogh. Wilk.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
On a vote of 30 to six, the measure carries. Members, we're going to move next to file item 29. This is Senate Bill 1300 by Senator Cortese. Secretary, please read.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Senate Bill 1300 by Senator Cortese. An act relating to health facilities.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Senator Cortese, the floor is yours. Members, please give Senator Cortese your attention.
- Dave Cortese
Legislator
Thank you, Mister President and colleagues, I'm pleased to present SB 1300. SB 1300 will help communities prepare for the closures of psychiatric units and maternity wards and hospitals. This Bill requires the health facility to provide 120 day public notice of the elimination of its inpatient psychiatric or maternity ward unit.
- Dave Cortese
Legislator
It also requires a health facility to prepare a report that analyzes the impact of the closure on the surrounding community's health system. Finally, the Bill increases public transparency by strongly encouraging each County Board of Supervisors to post a report online and hold a public hearing to provide the community with an overview of the impact report.
- Dave Cortese
Legislator
I respectfully ask for your aye vote.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Members, any discussion or debate on this issue? Any discussion or debate? Seeing none. Secretary, please call the roll.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Allen. Alvarado-Gil. Archuleta. Ashby, aye. Atkins. Becker, aye. Blakespear, aye. Bradford, aye. Caballero, aye. Cortese, aye. Dahle, no. Dodd, aye. Durazo, aye. Eggman. Glazer. Gonzalez, aye. Grove, no. Hurtado, aye. Jones, no. Laird, aye. Limon, aye. McGuire, aye. Menjivar, aye. Min, aye. Newman, aye. Nguyen, no. Niello, no. Ochoa Bogh. Padilla, aye. Portantino, aye. Roth, aye. Rubio. Seyarto, no. Skinner, aye.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Smallwood-Cuevas, aye. Stern, aye. Umberg, aye. Wahab, aye. Wiener, aye. Wilk, no.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Please call the absent Members.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Allen. Alvarado-Gil, no. Archuleta, aye. Atkins, aye. Eggman. Glazer. Ochoa Bogh. Rubio, aye. Dodd I had a no.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
On a vote of 27 to nine, the measure carries. We're going to move next to file item number 30. This is SB 1401. By Senator Blakespear. Secretary, please read.
- Unidentified Speaker
Person
Senate Bill 1401 by Senator Blakespear and Aquilina Childcare. Senator Blakespear, the floor is yours.
- Catherine Blakespear
Legislator
Thank you. President and colleagues, I rise to present SB 1401, which waives state licensure requirements for family child care providers who exclusively care for children of military personnel if they are already certified by the US Department of Defense.
- Catherine Blakespear
Legislator
This Bill is sponsored by the US Department of Defense and addresses a 50% shortage of in home child care providers for military families by creating new military childcare spots. SB 1401 will also help alleviate long child care waitlists for all Californians as fewer military families will need to use civilian options.
- Catherine Blakespear
Legislator
This Bill has no registered opposition and very much supports our military families. I respectfully ask for your Aye vote.
- Unidentified Speaker
Person
Members, any discussion on this measure? Any discussion? Seeing none. Secretary, please call the roll.
- Unidentified Speaker
Person
Allen. Alvarodo- Gil, Aye. Archuleta, Aye. Ashby, Aye. Atkins, Aye. Becker, Aye. Blakespear, Aye. Bradford, Aye. Caballero, Aye. Cortese, Aye. Dahle, Aye. Dodd, Aye. Durazo, Aye. Eggman. Glazer, Aye. Gonzalez, Aye. Grove, Aye. Hurtado, Aye. Jones, Aye. Laird, Aye. limon, Aye. McGuire, Menjavar, Aye. Min, Aye. Newman, Aye. Nguyen, 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.
- Unidentified Speaker
Person
Please call the absent Members. Allen, Eggman, Aye. McGuire. On a vote of 38 to zero, the measure carries. We're gonna move next to file item 34. This is Senate Bill 924 by Senator Bradford. Secretary, please read.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Senate Bill 924 by Senator Bradford. An act relating to tenancy.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Senator Bradford.
- Steven Bradford
Legislator
Thank you, Mister President. 924 simply removes the sunset date of July 1, 2025 from a measure I passed in 2020, SB 1157, that requires landlords of subsidized assistance developments to offer the option to renters to have their credit report reported and effectively make this permanent.
- Steven Bradford
Legislator
Our rent reporting has helped individuals establish credit and helps individuals with non prime credit improve their credit scores as a straightforward measure. And I simply ask for your aye vote.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Any further discussion or debate on this measure? Any further discussion or debate? Okay, Secretary, please call the roll.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Allen. Alvarado-Gil, aye. 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. Laird, aye. Limon. McGuire. Menjivar, aye. Min, aye. Newman, aye. Nguyen. Niello, no. Ochoa Bogh, no. Padilla, aye. Portantino, aye. Roth, aye. Rubio aye.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Seyarto. Skinner. Aye. Smallwood-Cuevas, aye. Stern, aye. Umberg, aye. Wahab, aye. Wiener, aye. Wilk, aye.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Please call the absent Members.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Allen. Dahle. Grove, aye. Jones, aye. Limon, aye. Mcguire. Nguyen. Seyarto, no.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
On a vote of 33 to three, the measure carries. Members, we're going to move back to unfinished business. We have one item to take up. This is file item 21 again on unfinished business. This is SB 233 by Senator Skinner.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Secretary, please read Senator Bill 233 by Senator Skinner. An act relating to hailing arts and declaring the urgency thereof to take effect immediately. Senator Skinner.
- Nancy Skinner
Legislator
Thank you, Mister President. Members, pleased to present SB 233, which will temporarily allow licensed medical professionals, specifically Arizona doctors, to be able to get a temporary medical license in California in order to practice in California to provide abortion care to their Arizona patients who travel to California. These provisions sunset on November 30, 2024.
- Nancy Skinner
Legislator
Arizonans, beginning on June 6, face a total abortion ban based on an 1864 law. That ban triggers two to five year prison sentences for doctors who provide care and other sentencing for any woman who receives such care. Now, while I'm sure you've read the Arizona Legislature has now rescinded the 1864 law.
- Nancy Skinner
Legislator
And I guess you're wondering, why do we need this law today? Because, like California, you know when we pass a law, even when the Governor signs it, it doesn't come into effect until. Until a certain period of time after our session. In most cases in our session, it would start in January 1 of the following year.
- Nancy Skinner
Legislator
In Arizona, bills take effect 90 days after the end of their session. Their session is not scheduled to end until the end of July. Thus, Arizonans will not have such protection until at least the end of October or November. This is why SB 233 is still needed.
- Nancy Skinner
Legislator
And under 233, the Arizona Doctor must hold and verify that they have a medical license in good standing from Arizona and must have performed at least one abortion under their Arizona license within the last two years. This Bill also provides protection, privacy protection, for those physicians and surgeons. And with that, I ask for your aye vote.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Thank you, Senator Skinner. That's an aye vote on Assembly amendments to be concurred in. Right, Senator Niello?
- Roger Niello
Legislator
Thank you, Mister President. Everything that my colleague from Berkeley just said is true, but she left something out. And that is that the Governor of Arizona, through Executive order, is prohibiting local district attorneys from prosecuting under the civil war era law, and only the Attorney General can.
- Roger Niello
Legislator
And the Attorney General has said that their office will decline to enforce that civil war era law. So the relevant period of this enablement is about four weeks, but in Arizona, it's not going to be needed.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Thank you, Senator Niello, Senator Wahab, thank you.
- Aisha Wahab
Legislator
I rise in support of SB 233. I will say that this is life saving care for many women. We cannot overstate this enough. More specifically, I want to highlight the fact that as much as possible, as much as we talk about women's rights, the decision over one's body is still in question here in the United States.
- Aisha Wahab
Legislator
Maternal mortality rate in the United States is so much worse than nearly any other developed country. In 2022, there were 22.3 deaths per 100,000 live births. These rates are far worse when we shift our lens to women of color.
- Aisha Wahab
Legislator
Specifically, California is the state where we try to provide for every single community, including our neighbors, who are struggling. It was also the Arizona attorney general's call to action that prompted this effort from a neighboring state, like the State of California. So I respectfully ask for an aye vote.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Any further discussion or debate? Seeing none. Senator Skinner, you may close.
- Nancy Skinner
Legislator
Thank you. In response to my colleague from Fair Oaks, and I hope I have the correct jurisdiction, I think, as he well knows and all of us know, and I know that governors would like their Executive orders to have the force of statute. They unfortunately do not.
- Nancy Skinner
Legislator
And while in most cases, entities like prosecutors or others will follow an Executive order, the Executive order does not have the force of law.
- Nancy Skinner
Legislator
And so one could imagine there could be circumstances where there would be prosecutors in Arizona who do not agree with the Governor, as you had a court in Arizona who allowed the upholding of a, as you mentioned, a civil war era law, a law which I will note was passed when women could not vote, when women could not own property, when it was legal for husbands to beat women, and a variety of other things I could list.
- Nancy Skinner
Legislator
But I won't go further. So this, our law is still needed. I hope that the cases the. That there is no prosecutor who chooses to defy the Governor of Arizona's Executive order.
- Nancy Skinner
Legislator
But at least we will be acting in such a way that Arizona doctors will be able to determine how best to meet their medical obligations to their patients, and Arizona women who require this essential health care would be able to obtain it. And with that, I ask for your I vote.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
All debate having ceased. Secretary, please call the roll.
- Committee Secretary
Person
[Roll Call]
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Please call the absent Members.
- Committee Secretary
Person
[Second Call]
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
On a vote of 30 to eight on the urgency, 30 to eight on the measure. The Assembly amendments are concurred in.
- Caroline Menjivar
Legislator
Members, we have some of our colleagues off the floor. So for the next couple bills, we're going to be doing the roll call just once and then putting it on call until our Members come back. Next on the file item list, we have file item number 35. Senator Laird, are you prepared? Secretary, please read.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Senate Bill 1280 by Senator Laird, an act relating to waste management.
- Caroline Menjivar
Legislator
Senator Laird?
- John Laird
Legislator
Thank you very much, Madam President. And at the beginning, I respectfully request permission to use a prop during this presentation.
- Caroline Menjivar
Legislator
Without objection.
- John Laird
Legislator
Okay, I heard Mike object, so I'm going to move ahead. Senate Bill 1280 simply transitions California to more sustainable outdoor recreation by requiring small propane cylinders sold in the state to be reusable or refillable starting on January 1st 2028. Many of you may think this Bill looks familiar. This Bill in this form has passed this house twice before.
- John Laird
Legislator
And the problem is, the problem is this: right now, cities, counties, parks, beaches, everybody has to dispose of these themselves. This is a picture of Yosemite National Park, where they have collected these and put them in trucks and carted off. Cost them $75,000 a year to do this. The cities and counties across the state have to do the same thing.
- John Laird
Legislator
There's a reason that the League of Cities, the Association of Counties, rural counties all support this Bill. Because while it costs $5 to $10 to buy these on the marketplace, the cost varies from $15 to $30 or higher to dispose of them or take them away.
- John Laird
Legislator
Many times we have here decided that the market is the best place to deal with these, and that's what this does. When I was in the Assembly, the latest version of more efficient toilets failed when it was going to be put in the building code.
- John Laird
Legislator
But when it gave the market a few years to phase it in, it passed, and that worked for businesses and that worked for the environment. That's what this does. We are in 2024, and this Bill will not take effect until 2028.
- John Laird
Legislator
The opponents say a number of things - that somehow you'll have to cart many canisters into the parks. When it's refillable and you have one, it is really one. It is not multiple ones. Opponents say this is a ban. This is not a ban.
- John Laird
Legislator
This establishes a requirement for refillable and allows a number of years for the market to catch up and make it work. It is really, right now, a burden on taxpayers across the state and those of us that have beaches or state parks.
- John Laird
Legislator
And I rival Senator Mcguire in having as many state parks as, as any Senator on this floor. You just go and you see them in trash cans, and if there's propane left in them, that's hazardous. And so, the real issue here is to have some extended producer responsibility by having a recyclable propane cylinder.
- John Laird
Legislator
It has passed this house twice. It is supported widely. I respectfully ask for an "Aye" vote.
- Caroline Menjivar
Legislator
Senator Blakespear, you're recognized.
- Catherine Blakespear
Legislator
Yes, thank you. Colleagues, I also rise in strong support of SB 1280. It is estimated that in California alone, there are 4 million of those single canister, one pound propane cylinders that are sold. And as the author just said, the cost is borne by taxpayers, but it's also borne by the environment.
- Catherine Blakespear
Legislator
If you backpack, you see piles of these cylinders out in the backcountry because they are heavy and they're not refillable, and people leave them in nature. So, this is a form of preventable waste. And I strongly urge your "Aye" vote.
- Caroline Menjivar
Legislator
Any further discussion or debate? Senator Laird, you may close.
- John Laird
Legislator
Thank you. I really appreciate the comments, and I just remind you, this picture is of the status quo. If we don't have any solution, this continues across our parks and beaches, in cities and counties, at the expense of our taxpayers. I respectfully ask for an "Aye" vote.
- Caroline Menjivar
Legislator
Secretary, please call the roll.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Allen. Alvarado-Gil.
- Marie Alvarado-Gil
Legislator
Aye.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Aye. Archuleta. Ashby.
- Angelique Ashby
Legislator
Aye.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Aye. Atkins.
- Toni Atkins
Legislator
Aye.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Aye. Becker. Aye. Blakespear.
- Catherine Blakespear
Legislator
Aye.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Aye. Bradford.
- Steven Bradford
Legislator
Aye.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Aye. Caballero.
- Anna Caballero
Legislator
Aye.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Aye. Cortese.
- Dave Cortese
Legislator
Aye.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Aye. Dahle. Dodd. Durazo.
- Maria Elena Durazo
Legislator
Aye.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Aye. Eggman.
- Susan Talamantes Eggman
Legislator
Aye.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Aye. Glazer. Gonzalez.
- Lena Gonzalez
Legislator
Aye.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Aye. Grove.
- Shannon Grove
Legislator
No.
- Committee Secretary
Person
No. Hurtado.
- Melissa Hurtado
Legislator
Aye.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Aye. Jones
- Brian Jones
Legislator
No.
- Committee Secretary
Person
No. Laird.
- John Laird
Legislator
Aye.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Aye. McGuire. Menjivar. Min.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Aye. Limón.
- Monique Limon
Legislator
Aye.
- Dave Min
Legislator
Aye.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Aye. Min. Excuse me, Newman.
- Josh Newman
Legislator
Aye.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Aye. Nguyen.
- Janet Nguyen
Legislator
No.
- Committee Secretary
Person
No. Niello.
- Roger Niello
Legislator
Aye.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Aye. Ochoa Bogh. Padilla.
- Steve Padilla
Legislator
Aye.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Aye. Pontantino. Roth.
- Richard Roth
Legislator
Aye.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Aye. Rubio. Seyarto.
- Kelly Seyarto
Legislator
No.
- Committee Secretary
Person
No. Skinner
- Nancy Skinner
Legislator
Aye.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Aye. Smallwood-Cuevas.
- Lola Smallwood-Cuevas
Legislator
Aye.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Aye. Stern.
- Henry Stern
Legislator
Aye.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Aye. Umberg. Wahab.
- Aisha Wahab
Legislator
Aye.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Aye. Wiener.
- Scott Wiener
Legislator
Aye.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Aye. Wilk.
- Scott Wilk
Legislator
Aye.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Aye.
- Caroline Menjivar
Legislator
Member moves to call. Next on the list is file item 38. Senator Caballero, are you prepared? The Senator is prepared. Secretary, please call. Please read.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Senate Bill 1140 by Senator Caballero, an Act relating to local government.
- Anna Caballero
Legislator
Senator Caballero? Good morning, Madam President, and Members. Thank you for the opportunity to present SB 1140, which will reform enhanced infrastructure, financing districts, eifDs, and climate resilient districts, or crds, to streamline and create efficiencies in the formation process and expand the types of projects these tools can finance.
- Anna Caballero
Legislator
SB 1140 will reduce the mandatory meetings from four to three. It broadens the alternative mailing and notification methods to incorporate it all, EIF deformation meetings, annual reports, and potential amendments. SB 1140 eliminates the mandate for the public financing authority to publish meeting notices and newspaper.
- Anna Caballero
Legislator
Instead, it enables the forming district to electronically submit its resolution of intention to establish the district to other taxing entities. Furthermore, it removes the requirement to mail annual report notices via first class mail. As you can tell, this is an efficiency and a reorganization of the way the process works.
- Anna Caballero
Legislator
SB 1140 expands a type of projects that EIFDs and CRDs can finance to include projects that improve air quality. These benefits will significantly improve the ability for EIFDs and CRDs to advance their mission to support economic development and spur climate change resiliency and communities across the state.
- Anna Caballero
Legislator
This Bill has no opposition, and I respectfully ask for your aye vote any. Discussion on file item 38.
- Committee Secretary
Person
[Roll Call]
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
The Senator moves to call. Moving on to file item 3039. Senator Dodd, are you prepared? He is ready.
- Caroline Menjivar
Legislator
Secretary, please read Senate Bill 904 by Senator Dodd an accolade to transportation.
- Bill Dodd
Legislator
Senator, Madam President, Members, Today I'm presenting SB 904. This is a district Bill that updates the enabling legislation of the Sonoma Marin Area rail Transit District, or smart train as they call it, and authorizes smart special district to utilize a voter initiative in order to ensure greater financial stability.
- Bill Dodd
Legislator
The Smart train is an incredible example of a public transit project that advances many of our state's top goals, increased rail and bicycle use, transit oriented development and collaboration by local governments at a regional scale. Since coming into service in 2017, Smart has overcome wildfires, floods and a global pandemic that devastated public transit.
- Bill Dodd
Legislator
Despite those obstacles, they keep chugging along and at the end of 2023 became the first transit system in the Bay Area to recover to their pre pandemic ridership numbers. This Bill also empowers the voters of this special district for the first time to pursue their own ballot measures through a voter initiative.
- Bill Dodd
Legislator
A voter approved, qualified initiative process will provide an opportunity to enhance community engagement and ensure greater accountability and direction for how to best dedicate future resources to operate a small system. I respectfully ask your Aye vote.
- Caroline Menjivar
Legislator
Any discussion on file item 39. See none. Secretary, please call the roll.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Allen. Alvarado- Gil. Archuleta, Aye. Ashby, Aye. Atkins, Aye. Becker, Aye Blakespear, Aye. Bradford, Aye. Caballero, Aye. Cortese, Aye. Dahl, No. Dodd, Aye. Durazo, Aye. Eggman, Aye. Glazer. Gonzalez, Aye. Grove, No. Hurtado, Aye. Jones, No. Laird, Aye. Limon, Aye. Mcguire. Menjavar, Aye. Min. Newman, Aye. Nguyen, No. Niello, No. Ochoa Bogh, No. Padilla, Aye. Portantino, Aye Roth, Aye. Rubio. Seyarto, No. Skinner, Aye. Smallwood-Cuevas, Aye. Stern, Aye. Umberg. Wahab, Aye. Wiener, Aye Wilk. No.
- Caroline Menjivar
Legislator
Senator Dodd, move sika. Moving towards file item 40. Senator Becker. He is prepared.
- Caroline Menjivar
Legislator
Secretary, please read
- Committee Secretary
Person
Senate Bill 1018 by Senator Becker. An act relating to electricity.
- Caroline Menjivar
Legislator
Senator Becker.
- Josh Becker
Legislator
Thank you, Madam President. This Bill will allow hydrogen producers to use renewable energy directly from solar or wind farms to make green hydrogen and will allow factories to do the same thing to provide heat to run their processes with clean electricity rather than fossil fuels.
- Josh Becker
Legislator
Our scoping plan predicts 10 gigawatts of hydrogen production powered directly from off grid renewables. But there is a problem. You cannot do this today because of something called the over the fence rule. This rule says if you sell power to anyone, you must be regulated as a public utility, which would kill any project.
- Josh Becker
Legislator
There are a few exemptions to this, limited to power produced on the same property as the buyer or a single adjacent property, hence the name over the fence rule. The problem is that to generate enough power to produce hydrogen or electrify a factory, you need a lot more space for solar wind than just a single adjacent property.
- Josh Becker
Legislator
SB 1018 solves this problem by allowing a large solar or wind farm to sell their output directly to a single customer who will use that power for producing hydrogen or providing industrial heat. By limiting this exemption to allow sales to a single customer, we're keeping the consumer protections under current law in place.
- Josh Becker
Legislator
This Bill will support the growth of green hydrogen and industrial electrification using off grid renewables, which will ensure it makes use of clean energy and avoids putting new stress on the grid or impacting electricity rates. I respectfully ask for an aye vote.
- Caroline Menjivar
Legislator
Do we have any discussion on file item 40? Secretary, please call the roll.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Allen. Alvarado-Gil, aye. Archuleta, aye. Ashby, aye. Atkins, aye. Becker, aye. Blakespear, aye. Bradford. Caballero, aye. Cortese, aye. Dahle, no. Dodd. Durazo, aye. Eggman, aye. Glazer. Gonzalez, aye. Grove, no. Hurtado. Jones, no. Laird, aye. Limon, aye. McGuire. Menjivar, aye. Min, aye. Newman, aye. Nguyen, no. Niello, no. Ochoa Bogh, no. Padilla. Portatino, aye. Roth, aye.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Rubio, aye. Seyarto, no. Skinner, aye. Smallwood-Cuevas, aye. Stern, aye. Umberg. Wahab, aye. Wiener, aye. Wilk, no.
- Caroline Menjivar
Legislator
Senator Becker moves to call. The next three items on our list are file item 41, 42 and 43. Senator Roth, you're up first. Is the Senator prepared? He is.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Secretary, please read Senator Bill 1249 by Senator Roth. Enact relating to older adults.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Please proceed, Senator.
- Richard Roth
Legislator
Thank you, Madam President. This Bill seeks to address the needs of California's rapidly aging population by modernizing Californians. California's Older Californians Act.
- Richard Roth
Legislator
The Bill proposes to reform the Older Californians Act to conform to recent changes in federal regulations which implement the federal Older Americans Act and introduces accountability and performance measures, updates governance structures and establishes timeframes for the California Department of Aging to engage in stakeholder consultation. Ask for NY vote.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Any discussion? Secretary, please call the roll.
- Committee Secretary
Person
[Roll Call]
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Senator Roth moves. Leader, are you prepared for item 42? She is ready. Secretary, please read.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Just need a couple of seconds here.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
There we go. Secretary, please read. Fire.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Item 42, Senate Bill 1337 by Senator Gonzalez. Enact relating to elections.
- Lena Gonzalez
Legislator
Please proceed. Thank you, madam President. I rise today to present SB 1337, which will provide greater transparency about the funders of referendum petitions seeking to overturn state law. This Bill will require the top three funders be listed directly on each signature page.
- Lena Gonzalez
Legislator
As we know, direct democracy is an important tool for Californians, but unfortunately, large corporations are abusing this process to overturn legislation passed by this very body.
- Lena Gonzalez
Legislator
And recent petition campaigns to qualify referendums have been rife with examples of paid signature gatherers misrepresenting what a measure would do and refusing to produce the top funders sheet already required under law. SB 1337 will ensure voters can make informed decisions and are aware of who is funding efforts to overturn laws before deciding to sign a petition.
- Lena Gonzalez
Legislator
I respectfully ask for your. I vote on SB 1337. Thank you, Senator.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Any discussion on file item 42 C? None. Secretary, please call the roll.
- Committee Secretary
Person
[Roll Call]
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Senator moves to call. Moving on to fire number 43. Senator Hurtato is prepared. Secretary, please read file item 43.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Senate Bill 1367 by Senator Hurtado an act relating to agriculture and making an appropriation therefore.
- Melissa Hurtado
Legislator
Thank you, Madam President. SB 1367 seeks to safeguard funding for the safe animal feed education program by extending the sunset for the program from January 12025 to January 12031. This Bill has received bipartisan support throughout the Committee process, and I respectfully ask for an aye vote.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Any discussion on the item? I'm seeing none. Secretary, please call the roll.
- Committee Secretary
Person
[Roll call].
- Caroline Menjivar
Legislator
Senator Hurtado moves to call. The next three items on our list are file item 46, 47 and 48. Senator Eggman is prepared.
- Unidentified Speaker
Person
Secretary, please read Senate Bill 1184 by Senator Eggman an accolade to mental health.
- Susan Talamantes Eggman
Legislator
Senator, please proceed. Thank you very much, madam President. This Bill goes to try to ensure that people do not compensate during a hold due to the lack of medication.
- Susan Talamantes Eggman
Legislator
That says that the order and the Reese hearing that was established on the first hold will last until the person regains capacity or the next Reese hearing is held in order to make sure treatment is not disrupted and people are able to return to the highest capacity they can and to make sure their rights are insured.
- Susan Talamantes Eggman
Legislator
I ask for your Aye vote.
- Caroline Menjivar
Legislator
Any discussion on file item 46? Secretary, please call the roll.
- Unidentified Speaker
Person
Allen. Alvarado-Gil, Aye. Archuleta, Aye. Ashby, Aye. Atkins, Aye. Becker, Aye. Blakespear, Aye. Bradford, Aye. Caballero, Aye. Cortese, Aye. Dahle, Aye. Dodd, Aye. Durazo, Aye. Eggman, Aye. Glazer. Gonzalez, Aye. Grove, Aye. Hurtado, Aye. Jones, Aye. Laird, Aye. Limon, Aye. McGuire. Menjivar, Aye. Min, Aye. Newman, Aye. Nguyen, Aye. Niello, Aye. Ochoa Bach, Aye. Padilla, Aye. Portantino, Aye. Roth, Aye. Rubio, Aye. Seyarto, Aye. Skinner, Aye. Smallwood-Cuevas, Aye. Stern, Aye. Umberg. Wahab, Aye. Wiener, Aye. Wilk, Aye.
- Caroline Menjivar
Legislator
Senator Eggman moves to call. Colleagues, that will change in what order I gave you earlier. The next three are file item 47, 52 and 53. Senator Min, are you prepared? He is. Secretary please read.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Please read Senate Bill 1174 by Senator Min. An act relating to elections.
- Caroline Menjivar
Legislator
Senator Minh.
- Dave Min
Legislator
Thank you, madam President. SB 1174 would ensure that local governments cannot implement their own voter identification laws in local elections. It is very clear already as a matter of existing law, that local jurisdictions, including charter cities, are not permitted to impose voter identification requirements that would impact charters, county elections, state elections, or federal elections.
- Dave Min
Legislator
However, there is some ambiguity, as I read it in the law right now, regarding whether charter cities can implement their own voter ID requirements in a different time and place for their own elections. This Bill would close that any ambiguity and make clear that 100 local jurisdictions cannot implement 100 different voter ID requirements.
- Dave Min
Legislator
This should be a state matter decide. And, of course, my local City of Huntington Beach has tried to pass this or has passed a voter ID requirement, purportedly which is under litigation based on reports of voter fraud, such as the big lie, which have been proven to be false.
- Dave Min
Legislator
If evidence was presented to this body of the need for voter identification changes, I think it would be appropriate for us to act. No such evidence has been presented, and Orange County, of course, is known for having some of the safest and most secure voting in the state and in the country.
- Dave Min
Legislator
And so SB 1174 would try to address this matter and ensure that local jurisdictions cannot impose their own voter ID requirements to try to engage in culture wars and try to disenfranchise voters. So with that, I respectfully ask for your aye vote.
- Caroline Menjivar
Legislator
Senators, do we have any discussion on this item? I see none. Secretary, please call the roll.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Allen. Alvarado-Gil. Archuleta, aye. Ashby, aye. Atkins, aye. Becker, aye. Blakespear, aye. Bradford, aye. Caballero, aye. Cortese, aye. Dahle, no. Dodd, aye. Durazo, aye. Eggman, aye. Glazer. Gonzalez, aye. Grove, no. Hurtado, aye. Jones, no. Laird, aye. Limon, aye. McGuire. Menjivar, aye. Min, aye. Newman, aye. Nguyen, no. Niello, no. Ochoa Bogh, no.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Padilla, aye. Portantino, aye. Roth, aye. Rubio, aye. Seyarto, no. Skinner, aye. Smallwood-Cuevas, aye. Stern, aye. Umberg. Wahab , aye. Wiener. aye. Wilk, no.
- Caroline Menjivar
Legislator
Senator Min moves to call. Moving on to file item 52. Senator Skinner, are you prepared? She is prepared.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Secretary, please read Senate Bill 1210 by Senator Skinner. An act relating to utility service.
- Nancy Skinner
Legislator
Senator Skinner, you may proceed. Thank you, madam President. Members, I think you've all been familiar with either individuals who are in the process of building a residential unit. Or even a commercial unit, for that matter. Or large entities who are building such units. And they are then facing very high costs of variety of utility hookups.
- Nancy Skinner
Legislator
Whether for sewage, electricity, water, gas, you name it. And also timelines that can be considered absurd. There are many, many residential units that are ready for occupancy and yet cannot be occupied because they have not yet had that hookup. Now, while my Bill originally tried to address all of that. And I understand that that was. It was.
- Nancy Skinner
Legislator
It's necessary, but it was too ambitious. What I've done instead with this Bill is at least provided some transparency. So that you can contact whichever utility entity, whether it's electricity, gas, or water, that is going to do that. You will need a hookup for. And you can determine in advance what the cost of that hookup will be.
- Nancy Skinner
Legislator
So this is simply and solely a transparency measure. It purely requires those entities, meaning California utilities who provide utility hookup service. To have list their fee schedule. So that we know in advance what we are going to expect as to what this cost will be. And with that, I ask for your. I vote.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Thank you, Senator. Colleagues, do we have any discussion on this item? Going once, seeing none. Secretary, please read Alan.
- Committee Secretary
Person
[Roll Call]
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Senator Skinner moves a call. Senator Skinner, you prepare for the next fire. Item. She is. Secretary, please read.
- Reading Clerk
Person
Senate Bill 1211 by Senator Skinner, an act relating to land use.
- Caroline Menjivar
Legislator
Senator Skinner, you may begin.
- Nancy Skinner
Legislator
Thank you, Madam President, Members. ADUs are one of our California's housing success stories. They are relatively affordable to construct, and I say relatively. They are an official use of existing residential land and existing housing stock.
- Nancy Skinner
Legislator
And they are now, I think, the recent numbers show that since we began to make it easier to remove some of the obstacles for ADUs, some 100,000 in California have been constructed. So that's since about 2018. Current law allows for ADUs on multifamily properties, but it unnecessarily restricts what is called detached ADUs.
- Nancy Skinner
Legislator
So our current law requires the ADUs on a multifamily property to be a conversion of something within the building envelope. But I think all of us are aware that there are some multifamily complexes that have lots of land associated with the complex where it could be appropriate to have a detached ADU.
- Nancy Skinner
Legislator
So what this bill does is provide some flexibility where ADUs can be sited on multifamily properties and allows ministerial approval of up to eight detached ADUs on that multifamily property, as long as it doesn't double the existing units on the bill. So with that, I ask for your aye vote.
- Caroline Menjivar
Legislator
Do we have any discussion on this item? File Item 53? I am seeing none. Secretary, please call the roll.
- Reading Clerk
Person
[Roll Call].
- Caroline Menjivar
Legislator
Secretary, please call the absent Members.
- Reading Clerk
Person
[Roll Call].
- Caroline Menjivar
Legislator
Secretary, please call the absent Members one more time.
- Reading Clerk
Person
[Roll Call].
- Caroline Menjivar
Legislator
Senator Glazer moves to a call. Moves a call. Moving on to File Item 56. We have 56, 57 and 58. All three on deck. Senator Wilk looks prepared.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Secretary, please read Senate Bill 1495 by Senator Wilk and accolade to alcoholic beverages.
- Scott Wilk
Legislator
Senator Wilk. Thank you, Madam President. Members, I present SB 1495, which would allow alcohol licensees to sponsor events or purchase advertising space from the world famous Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Los Angeles. The home venue of the Roastmaster himself. What's his name? Jeff. What, you guys don't know who the Roastmaster is? No, not Jeff Stone.
- Scott Wilk
Legislator
The cemetery is currently a permanent retail on sale license holder with a type 88 license, which doesn't allow for this arrangement. The narrow tidehouse exemption allowed for under this Bill would help generate important revenues for the care, maintenance and improvement of the cemetery grounds and its ability to continue to host many popular cultural events.
- Scott Wilk
Legislator
There is no opposition. The Bill pass out of the Geo Committee 16 to zero. Respectfully ask for an aye vote.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Do we have any discussion or debate on file item 56? I am seeing none. Secretary, please call the roll.
- Committee Secretary
Person
[Roll Call]
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Senator Wilk moves a call. We're gonna go backwards. We're gonna go back to file item 45. Senator Umberg, are you prepared? He is ready. Secretary, please read.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Senate Bill 940 by Senator Umberg. An act relating to civil disputes.
- Caroline Menjivar
Legislator
Senator Humberg, you may begin.
- Thomas Umberg
Legislator
Thank you. Madam President and colleagues, this is a Bill that addresses both consumer arbitration and other kinds of mediation and arbitration. As I think most of us know, it's becoming increasingly evident that disputes are often now being either required to go to arbitration or referred to arbitration. Consumer arbitration is of a different sort.
- Thomas Umberg
Legislator
If you bought a cell phone, you've probably been engaged in a consumer arbitration agreement, whether you know it or not. This Bill simply says that if you've got a dispute that's $12,500 or less, you can opt to go to small claims court rather than going through arbitration.
- Thomas Umberg
Legislator
If you do go to arbitration, that arbitration has to be conducted, for example, in California versus some other place. There are some other elements to the Bill.
- Thomas Umberg
Legislator
One other element of the Bill says that the state bar of California can adopt a process of certifying that arbitration mediation entities, alternate dispute resolution entities, can apply to be certified in that they qualify because they follow certain ethical guidelines, that kind of thing. And it also has provisions that deal with conflict of interest of arbitration firms.
- Thomas Umberg
Legislator
With that, I urge an aye vote.
- Caroline Menjivar
Legislator
Thank you. Senator, any discussion? I am seeing none. Secretary, please call the roll.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Allen. Alvarado-Gil, no. Archuleta, aye. Ashby, aye. Atkins, aye. Becker, aye. Blakespear, aye. Bradford. Caballero, aye. Cortese, aye. Dahle, no. Dodd. Dorazo, aye. Eggman, aye. Glazer. Gonzalez, aye. Grove. Hurtado, aye. Jones. Laird, aye. Limon. McGuire. Menjivar, aye. Min, aye. Newman, aye. Nguyen, no. Niello, no. Ochoa Bogh, no. Padilla, aye. Portantino, aye. Roth, aye. Rubio. Seyarto no. Skinner, aye.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Smallwood-Cuevas, aye. Stern, aye. Umberg, aye. Wahab, aye. Wiener. Wilk, no.
- Caroline Menjivar
Legislator
Senator Umberg moves a call. The next three we have coming up on file are gonna be file items 57, 58 and 62, starting off with Senator Skinner, file item 57. If the Senator is prepared, she is.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Senate Bill 898 by Senator Skinner an act relating to vehicles.
- Nancy Skinner
Legislator
Thank you, Madam President. Members, there's an interesting phenomenon, well documented, of a high incidence of left sided skin cancers on your arms, face. And this is especially dominant within people who drive for a living. The same phenomenon for right sided skin cancers is evident in those countries where you drive, the driver's seat is on the right side of the car for versus the left side of the car.
- Nancy Skinner
Legislator
So what this Bill does is provide for uv window filtering just on the passenger, or, excuse me, the driver side window for commercial vehicles where people are driving for a living to protect those drivers from this skin cancer. And this skin cancer disproportionately affects both bus and truck drivers, who obviously, because it's their living, often receive 6 hours of uv exposure while driving per day. So the Bill purely applies to the windows on the driver's side.
- Nancy Skinner
Legislator
Just that one large window for specified large trucks, commercial trucks, not light duty utility trucks or not passenger cars and trucks. And the effective date is moved to 2032. And with that, I ask for your aye vote.
- Caroline Menjivar
Legislator
Do we have any discussion or debate? Senator Seyarto, you are recognized.
- Kelly Seyarto
Legislator
Thank you, madam President. I just have something for the body to consider here. When you're looking at bills like this, one of them is the main issue I have with this Bill, even though it is now just for trucks and commercial vehicles, is side windows are tempered glass, and tempered glass is easily, when you punch it, it breaks into little bits and falls down.
- Kelly Seyarto
Legislator
So you have really quick access to get inside in the event of an emergency. When you put a laminate inside the window, it makes it much like a windshield. And a windshield. You cannot just punch out the windshield. Takes a while before you can actually get somebody out of a vehicle via the windshield.
- Kelly Seyarto
Legislator
So if we're going to require this type of treatment to the window, not only does it raise the price of the car might not be. I mean, the vehicle might not be that much, but I'm more concerned about quick access, not just by emergency workers, but also by passersby, who are usually the first on scene of any of these accidents.
- Kelly Seyarto
Legislator
And when it makes the most difference is when these vehicles are on fire and the glass hasn't broken out, the quickest way to get to them is to punch out that window. There are aftermarket treatments that can be used for people that are in the business and that are affected by these type of. By the uv rays. And so those can be applied as needed for the people that have concerns that they are being exposed.
- Kelly Seyarto
Legislator
So for those reasons, I'm going to be opposing this Bill and those like it, because those few seconds are few minutes that it takes to gain better access or to go to the other side of the vehicle and try to access it from the other side can mean the difference between somebody surviving a very bad accident and not.
- Kelly Seyarto
Legislator
And so. And I've seen a few of those, and those aren't fun. So with that, I'll be opposing it. And I encourage you to consider that when you're voting on this Bill. Thank you.
- Caroline Menjivar
Legislator
Any further discussion, Senator Skinner, you may close.
- Nancy Skinner
Legislator
Thank you, Madam President. To respond to that. While it is more common for glass manufacturers to use laminate to add that uv protection, tempered glass can also have uv protection, and there are companies who do that.
- Nancy Skinner
Legislator
And you will note that the Bill, this would not go into effect until 2032. So there's plenty of time for more companies to be able to use the uv protection with tempered glass, which addresses the safety concerns. And the Bill does not preempt federal law because it doesn't affect the vehicle safety standards.
- Nancy Skinner
Legislator
There are already 20% of cars that have such uv protection on those side windows. And with that, I ask for your aye vote. Thank you, Senator. Secretary, please call the roll.
- Committee Secretary
Person
[Roll Call]
- Caroline Menjivar
Legislator
Senator Skinner moves a call. File item 58. Senator Durazzo, is ready. Secretary, please read.
- Caroline Menjivar
Legislator
Senate Bill 1350 by Senator Durazo. An accurate into private employment.
- Maria Elena Durazo
Legislator
Senator Durazo? Madam President, SB 1350 simply requires the Department of Industrial Relations to make recommendations to the Legislature on policies the state may adopt to protect domestic workers from work related injuries and illnesses. Despite caring for what we hold most dear, our families in our homes, domestic workers remain without any health and safety protections.
- Maria Elena Durazo
Legislator
A year into the pandemic, domestic workers were three times more likely to have contracted Covid-19 than the General population. Additionally, climate accelerated disasters magnify the vulnerability and dangers that domestic workers and day laborers face on a daily basis.
- Maria Elena Durazo
Legislator
During the wildfires that devastated California, domestic workers were asked to stay behind to fight fires, guard homes or pets, work in smoky conditions, and clean up toxic ash. Beyond these extreme dangers, domestic workers also face the risk of injury and illness in their day to day work related to lifting, chemical handling and repetitive strain.
- Maria Elena Durazo
Legislator
Since the governor's veto last year of my prior legislation removing the exclusion of private pay household domestic service workers from health and safety requirements, I have been in conversation with his office regarding the health and safety of domestic workers.
- Maria Elena Durazo
Legislator
I'm hopeful that those conversations will result in a meaningful step forward this year in addressing the legitimate health and safety risks associated with domestic work. This measure has no opposition. I respectfully ask for your aye vote. Senator Dali, you're recognized.
- Brian Dahle
Legislator
Thank you, Madam President. I must rise in opposition. This is just another opportunity for trial attorneys to have a field day with somebody that's mowing your lawn or working around your property. We have OSHA rules for businesses, and this is just one step further. That's why the Bill got vetoed last year.
- Brian Dahle
Legislator
For those reasons, I will ask for a no vote on this Bill.
- Caroline Menjivar
Legislator
Thank you, Senator. Senator Seyarto, you're recognized.
- Brian Dahle
Legislator
A question for the author, please.
- Caroline Menjivar
Legislator
Will the author take a question?
- Maria Elena Durazo
Legislator
Yes, she will. I'll respond in my closing.
- Caroline Menjivar
Legislator
Yes, Senator Seyarto, please proceed with a question.
- Kelly Seyarto
Legislator
Or did she want to respond later? Okay, the question is, which domestic workers are you talking about? Are you talking about full time workers, or are you talking about the person that might come by and leave their card on your door because they want to trim your palm trees?
- Kelly Seyarto
Legislator
Or are you talking about the person that might clean five or six houses houses a week, but only comes to one house maybe once every couple of weeks, or once every four weeks, once a month? Are we talking about all of them? Is there any further discussion or debate? I'm not done.
- Kelly Seyarto
Legislator
I just needed to answer that question.
- Caroline Menjivar
Legislator
The author mentioned that she would answer in her closing.
- Kelly Seyarto
Legislator
So I'm going to assume that it includes all of them.
- Kelly Seyarto
Legislator
And if that's the case, then we can call this the Domestic Worker Unemployment act, because nobody is going to have OSHA come in and certify their home to be able to hire somebody to come and that wants to come over and trim their palm trees, for instance, because that is a very, that's something that they're seeking.
- Kelly Seyarto
Legislator
They're seeking a temporary work, doing a specific task that they're only going to be there for a little bit. If homeowners are going to be charged with the task or be subject to being sued, as my colleague from Bieber has stated, they're just not going to hire people that probably need that work the most.
- Kelly Seyarto
Legislator
Remember, we're not allowed to be asking people if they are immigrants or illegal or legal or anything like that. You're just left to either hire somebody or not. And if you don't, if you can't because you're afraid of being sued, people that are out there seeking that job, they're not going to have work.
- Kelly Seyarto
Legislator
And so I don't understand how this is going to help them. It certainly isn't going to help homeowners. And it just adds to what is basically a paga issue that we have with businesses, and it exposed them to liability. So for those reasons, I will be opposing this Bill.
- Kelly Seyarto
Legislator
You know, I opposed it last year, and I continue to have concerns about it this year.
- Caroline Menjivar
Legislator
Thank you, Senator. Do we have any other discussion on this item? Senator Durazo, you may close. Thank you.
- Maria Elena Durazo
Legislator
Let me just clarify here. This Bill requires, simply requires the Department of Industrial Relations to make recommendations. There is no vote on changing the law. It's to make recommendations to the Legislature on policies that the state may adopt, may adopt to protect domestic workers from work related injuries and illnesses.
- Maria Elena Durazo
Legislator
This is not, unfortunately, removing the exclusion of domestic workers from what should be something that we all support because we want safe environment in our homes. That's where we live, that's where our kids live. We should want the safest possible place. It is a workplace. There's no disputing that.
- Maria Elena Durazo
Legislator
But more than anything, this Bill is only to make recommendations to the Legislature on policies the state may adopt. I respectfully ask for your vote. Thank you, Senator.
- Caroline Menjivar
Legislator
Secretary, please call the rom file, item 58.
- Committee Secretary
Person
[Roll Call]
- Caroline Menjivar
Legislator
Senator Durazo moves a call. Senators, these are the three next on deck. We still have Members off the floor. Roll call will still be placed on a call after the first round. We have. Up next file item 6465 and 66. Senator Small cuevas is prepared with file item 64.
- Caroline Menjivar
Legislator
Secretary, please read.
- Caroline Menjivar
Legislator
Senate Bill 1137 by Senator Smallwood-Cuevas an accolade discrimination.
- Lola Smallwood-Cuevas
Legislator
Senator? Thank you, madam President, and good morning, Members. I'm pleased to present SB 1137, which would make California the pioneering state to recognize intersectionality and our civil rights laws by clarifying that discrimination is prohibited not only because of one protected trait, but by any combination of two or more protected traits.
- Lola Smallwood-Cuevas
Legislator
Under current law, all individuals are protected from discrimination. But these cases are exacerbated when an individual has experienced discrimination based on a combination of intersections of protected classes. For example, when a black woman brings forward a discrimination case, she may be forced to address her race and gender claims separately.
- Lola Smallwood-Cuevas
Legislator
In cases where intersectional discrimination occurs, the defense may attempt to use the separation of characteristics to defeat the claim entirely. Courts throughout the nation have ruled on these cases inconsistently and largely on a case by case basis.
- Lola Smallwood-Cuevas
Legislator
The intersectional discrimination is not limited to race and gender discrimination can be expressed based on one's age, race, national origin, or any combination of such classes. Those of us who live at the intersections of multiple protected classes know that these experiences cannot always be neatly separated.
- Lola Smallwood-Cuevas
Legislator
We are one whole self, and we carry all of our identities with us at all times. And it is necessary that our laws reflect that. And I respectfully ask for your Aye vote.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Do we have any discussion on this item? I see none. Secretary, please call the roll.
- Unidentified Speaker
Person
Allen. Alvarado-Gil, Aye. Archuleta, Aye. Ashby, Aye. Atkins, Aye. Becker, Aye. Blakespear, Aye. Bradford, Aye. Caballero, Aye. Cortese, Aye. Dahle. Dodd, Aye. Durazo, Aye. Eggman, Aye. Glazer. Gonzalez, Aye. Grove. Hurtado, Aye. Jones, No. Laird, Aye. Limon, Aye. McGuire. Menjivar, Aye. Min, Aye. Newman, Aye. Nguyen, No. Niello. Ochoa Bach. Padilla, Aye. Portantino, Aye. Roth, Aye. Rubio. Seyarto, No. Skinner, Aye. Smallwood-Cuevas, Aye. Stern, Aye. Umberg, Aye. Wahab, Aye. Wiener. Wilk, No.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Senator Smallwood-Cuevas moves the call. Members, we're gonna go back to file item 44. This is Senate Bill 1170 by Senator Menjivar. She's prepared. Secretary, please read.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Senate Bill 1170 by Senator Menjivar, an act relating to the Political Reform Act of 1974.
- Caroline Menjivar
Legislator
Thank you, Mr. President. Getting a little bit of whiplash here. We're going back and forth. I'm rising for SB 1170. When candidates run for office, they face many issues concerning their safety and well being, to threats, harassment, and hostility often received during the campaign.
- Caroline Menjivar
Legislator
These instances can take a toll on a candidate's mental health, and that can all look differently for the candidate, but run the gamut of increased anxiety, sleep disturbance, and panic attacks. SB 1170 will allow non incumbent candidates running for political office to use campaign funds for campaign related mental health care services.
- Caroline Menjivar
Legislator
I think it's appropriate as where May is Mental Health Awareness month that we look to ensure that we're closing the gaps in this area as much as possible.
- Caroline Menjivar
Legislator
A 2023 survey conducted by the California Women's List found that over 100 Californians who ran for office between 2016 and 2023, more than 80% of them reported receiving online abuse, and over 50% experienced harassment in person. Over 50% of women of color and LGB-plus women experienced stalking on the campaign trail, and over one third of them physical violence.
- Caroline Menjivar
Legislator
The coverage would be for services including therapy provided in a group or private setting, either virtually or in person, by a professional license by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences to address mental health issues or by an associate accruing the hours for such a license.
- Caroline Menjivar
Legislator
We can't stop the harassment from occurring by allowing campaign funds to be used for mental health care costs that are directly from related to experiences in the campaign will help strive to increase their diversity of voices in government. With that, I respectfully ask for an aye vote.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Members, any further discussion on this measure? Any further discussion? All right, seeing none. Secretary, please call the roll.
- Committee Secretary
Person
[Roll Call]
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
No. Senator Menjavar moves a call. We're gonna move next to file item 59. This is Senate Bill 1103 by Senator Menjavar. Secretary, please read.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Senate Bill 1103 by Senator Manjavar, an act relating to tenancy.
- Caroline Menjivar
Legislator
Thank you, Mister President. Back up on now. SB 1103. Across California, small communities serving businesses and nonprofits are being displaced and going out of business at an alarming rate. Unclear and unfail lease terms, as well as exorbitant added fees, make it extremely difficult to find and stay in a commercial space.
- Caroline Menjivar
Legislator
After working with a lot of Members and the chair and judiciary, I took a lot of amendments that trimmed this Bill. To be clear. Now, SB 1103 will define what is a qualified commercial tenant. Require the tenant to notify the landlord that they are a qualified commercial tenant.
- Caroline Menjivar
Legislator
Will then require the landlord, as a response, to inform the tenant to review supporting documentation that justifies an increase in CAm fees, which are maintenance fees that can be compared to an HOA fee for residentials.
- Caroline Menjivar
Legislator
It requires the landlord, upon request of the qualified commercial tenant, to provide supporting documentation that justifies an increase in CAm fees to make sure they're being used for what they're supposed to be used for.
- Caroline Menjivar
Legislator
We're going to put certain parameters on how the Cam fees can be charged again, ensuring that they're used for what legally, they're allowed to be used. And finally, we're going to require that the commercial lease contracts are negotiated in five different languages to include Spanish, Chinese, Tagalog, Vietnamese, or Korean.
- Caroline Menjivar
Legislator
This Bill does not limit commercial rent or impose any form of commercial rent control, and it does not impose or change any requirements for other contracts or financial documents. It only affects a very small subset of commercial leases, respectfully asking for an aye vote.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Is there any discussion or debate on this measure. Any discussion or debate seeing none. Secretary, please call the roll.
- Committee Secretary
Person
[Roll Call]
- Reading Clerk
Person
[Roll Call].
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Senator Menjivar moves the call. We're gonna go back to our file order, Members. This--we're gonna start with File Item 65. This is Senate Bill 1223 by Senator Becker. Secretary, please read.
- Reading Clerk
Person
Senate Bill 1223 by Senator Becker, an act relating to privacy.
- Josh Becker
Legislator
Thank you, Mr. President. I'm here today to present a bill about regulating brain data. Yes, brain data. And if that sounds futuristic, I can tell you everyone who was in a Judiciary Committee that day, listening to my experts, including Rafa Yuste, who inspired President Obama's BRAIN Initiative, everyone was paying rapt attention.
- Josh Becker
Legislator
Nobody was on their phones, nobody was reading anything but paying attention to hear him talk about his Oppenheimer moment when he realized that he was able to not just read the thoughts of mice, but to implant thoughts into mice. So this is not science fiction.
- Josh Becker
Legislator
And a lot of this research is happening here in our area, and the experts themselves are the ones raising the red flag on this. There's been about 19 billion dollars invested globally in over 200 neuroscience companies, including a wristband that will attempt to translate information about intentions and gestures from your wrist.
- Josh Becker
Legislator
So, invasive technologies like you've heard of--maybe Elon Musk's neural link--invasive devices like that actually are already regulated as medical devices. However, there's now over 30 class of neurotech companies that are doing noninvasive neurotech products. These devices record brain data using EEG sensors, but because they're not considered medical devices, they're not so tightly regulated.
- Josh Becker
Legislator
So that allows companies to collect and sell user data without consumer permission, and there's just a recent analysis of the privacy policies of all of these companies. And, yes, they have the right to do whatever they want with brain data in almost all cases. And the CCPA protects personal information, but, again, it doesn't cover neural data.
- Josh Becker
Legislator
So what this bill will do will make sure that neural data is covered by our CCPA by defining and classifying it as sensitive personal information and extending CCPA protections to neural data. Regulating neural technology early is crucial to ensure ethical use, protect privacy, establish standards, and address future challenges. Again, if you haven't heard about this, you will in the near future, and we in California have the chance to get ahead of this and respectfully ask your aye vote.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Thank you, Senator Becker. Senator Becker, do you know what I'm thinking?
- Josh Becker
Legislator
Yes.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Any further discussion or debate? Is there any further discussion or debate on this issue? Senator Becker knew that. All right, Secretary, please call the roll.
- Reading Clerk
Person
[Roll Call].
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Senator Becker thinks a call. Moves a call. All right, we're going to move next to File Item 66. This is Senate Bill 1224 by Senator Ochoa Bogh. She is prepared.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Senate Bill 1224 by Senator Ochoa Bogh, an act relating to alcoholic beverages.
- Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh
Legislator
Thank you, Mister President. Members, Senate Bill 1224 will allow the Riverside County fairgrounds in Indio to serve alcohol on site as long as food service is available to the public at all times during the events.
- Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh
Legislator
This change ensures the fair can continue operating as it has for almost two decades, allowing the community to benefit from the substantial revenue that fair events contribute to the local economy. I respectfully ask for an aye vote any discussion or debate on this matter.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Any discussion or debate. Seeing none. Secretary, please call the roll.
- Committee Secretary
Person
[Roll Call]
- Committee Secretary
Person
Niello? Aye.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Senator Ochoa Bogh moves a call. We're going to move next to file item 67 and 68. These are both measures by Senator Min. Start with file item 67, SB 1271. Secretary, please read.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Senate Bill 1271 by Senator Minh an act realting to public safety.
- Dave Min
Legislator
Thank you, Mister President. SB 1271 would enhance the safety and regulatory compliance of electric bicycles and electric scooters by requiring all e bikes and e scooters to be manufactured with batteries that meet the stringent standards of the European Union and underwriters laboratories.
- Dave Min
Legislator
It would also modify the definition of e bike classes to clarify what the appropriate class for a switchable e bike is, if any, helping with safety concerns. In recent years, the sale of e bikes has skyrocketed, and in turn, this has increased the concerns about potential speed and fire risks.
- Dave Min
Legislator
This measure would help consumers by modifying the definition of e bike classes to clarify what constitutes an e bike, as well as removing lower quality, high fire risk personal mobility device batteries from the market. Respectfully ask for an aye vote.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Members, any discussion on this measure? Any discussion on this measure? Seeing none. Secretary, please call the roll.
- Committee Secretary
Person
[Roll call].
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Members, we have a full house again, so we're going to go through the role one more time. Secretary, please call the roll.
- Committee Secretary
Person
[Roll call].
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Here we go. On a vote of 39 to zero, the measure is adopted. We're going to move next to file item 68. This is Senate Bill 1286 by Senator Min. Secretary, please read.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Senate Bill 1286 by Senator Min, an act relating to debt collection.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Senator Min.
- Dave Min
Legislator
Thank you, Mr President. In recent years, we've seen a rise in predatory debt collection practices targeted at small business owners. SB 1286 would try to address this by protecting small business owners under the Rosenthal Fair Debt Collections Act when there are individuals who have personally signed for their business debt.
- Dave Min
Legislator
There are over 3 million small businesses in California run by individuals, and these business owners are operating very similarly to individual consumers when navigating the financial marketplace. This was particularly true after the Covid-19 pandemic, as they struggled to acquire capital, especially for minority-owned businesses that often struggled to find credit.
- Dave Min
Legislator
Providing a personal guarantee for business debt opens the door for small business owners to be subjected personally to abusive debt collection practices of the kind that the Rosenthal Act was meant to prohibit, including threats, contacting borrowers at inconvenient hours, using false statements, or adding unauthorized interest or fees to the amounts owed.
- Dave Min
Legislator
Under SB 1286, borrowers would still be responsible for paying these debts, but would be protected from unfair, deceptive, or abusive collection practices. I respect for your aye vote.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Members, any further discussion on this measure? Any further discussion? Seeing none. Secretary, please call the roll.
- Committee Secretary
Person
[Roll Call]
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Members, we have a full house, so we're gonna go through the role one last time. Please call the absent Members.
- Committee Secretary
Person
[Roll Call]
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
On a vote of 28 to nine, the measure carries. We're going to move next to file item 69. This is Senate Bill 1354 by Senator Wahab. She's prepared.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Senate Bill 1354 by Senator Wahab an act relating to health facilities.
- Aisha Wahab
Legislator
Thank you. I rise to present SB 1354, the Protect Seniors at All Costs Act. SB 1354 aligns the law with regulations regarding skilled nursing facilities and protects the rights of residents regardless of their payment source. SB 1354 also requires residents being transferred or discharged be informed that they may be eligible for Medi Cal's long term care program to help pay for their stay.
- Aisha Wahab
Legislator
Payment source discrimination forces Low income seniors to move away from family, friends and their healthcare providers in order to access a facility that will accept Medi Cal, sometimes hundreds of miles away. This practice only exists so skilled nursing facilities can make space for more lucrative private pay or Medicare residents.
- Aisha Wahab
Legislator
SB 1354 will strengthen and enhance the rights of residents in these facilities and protect against discrimination based on their payment source. I respectfully ask for an aye.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Members any further discussion on this measure, seeing none. Secretary, please call the roll.
- Committee Secretary
Person
[Roll Call]
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
On a vote of 30 to nine, the measure passes. Members, we're about to go into recess to return here to the chambers at 1:30 sharp. 1:30 sharp. Prior to that, I want to recognize the majority leader, Senator Gonzalez.
- Lena Gonzalez
Legislator
Thank you, Mister President. Democratic Members, we're going to have lunch at 12:00 as mentioned by the presiding officer, and then a 12:20 p.m. caucus. Thank you. In the Maddie lounge.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Thank you. And recognizing the minority leader, Senator Jones.
- Brian Jones
Legislator
Thank you, Mister President. Members, same for the Republicans. Lunch is being provided and we will meet in Room 215 for our caucus meeting.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Thank you, Members, for a productive morning. We will be in recess until 1:30 sharp. Good afternoon, Members. The Senate will convene in 30 seconds. Good afternoon, Members. We are back from recess. We're going to go back to third reading, give you a heads-up to the bills that will be coming to you.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
We're going to start with file item 71. Moving on to 77. And then to 177. That's out of order. File item 177. So, with the cooperation of our builders in the vicinity, we're going to begin with Senator Dodds. This is file item 71, SB 1379. Secretary, please read.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Senate Bill 1379 by Senator Dodd, an act relating to public retirement and declaring the urgency thereof to take effect immediately.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Senator Dodd, the floor is yours. Please give him your attention, Members.
- Bill Dodd
Legislator
Thank you, Mister President. Members, today I'm presenting SB 1379. This is a district Bill to temporarily waive the 960 hours limit for retired annuities working for the Solano County sheriff to address a critical staffing need in Vallejo. The Bill will sunset after three years. Can I repeat that? The Bill will sunset after three years.
- Bill Dodd
Legislator
The Vallejo City Council declared a State of emergency last year during a major police officer staffing shortage. Despite being authorized for 132 officers, Vallejo PD currently only has 32 patrol officers and four detectives.
- Bill Dodd
Legislator
As a result, the Solano County sheriff is taxed with responding to emergency calls at Valejo and this Bill is essential to assist them with responding to these calls. The Bill requires the sheriff to try to hire full time active deputies before using a retired annuitant and it requires thorough background checks on anyone being hired.
- Bill Dodd
Legislator
There is precedent for waiving the hour limit when needed. Last year, Governor Newsoms Executive order, in response to winter storms waived this 960 hours limit for retired annuities working for the state recovery rules. Given Vallejo's immediate public safety crisis the city can't afford to wait for more officers to be trained.
- Bill Dodd
Legislator
Without this Bill, the Solano County Sheriff will not be able to respond to the needs of Vallejo. The Bill has broad local support, no recorded opposition. Respectfully ask for your aye vote.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Thank you, Senator Dodd. Any discussion on this measure? Any discussion, Members? All right, we're going to. I'm going to ask the secretary to call the roll. But let me remind Members to please. We're going to go through the roll twice. We have a full house. Please don't shout out your name at the completion of the roll. We'll call back through it another time so you can have the opportunity to respond to your name. So with that, secretary, please call the roll.
- Committee Secretary
Person
[Roll Call]
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Ayes 35, Noes four the measure passes on the urgency. Eyes 35 knows four on the measure. We're going to move to file item 77. This is Senate Bill 1418 by Senator Archuleta. Secretary, please read.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Senate Bill 1418 by Senator Archuleta an act relating to land use.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Senator Archuleta.
- Bob Archuleta
Legislator
Thank you, Mr. President. I rise today to present Senate Bill 1418. Senate Bill 1418 simply streamlines the hydrogen fueling station permitting process in the same way that we do for the battery electric vehicle charging stations. A few considerations were raised in the policy Committee that this streamlined permitting process has the potential to be overburdensome for smaller cities.
- Bob Archuleta
Legislator
We've taken the survey. That is not the case. To address these concerns, I amended the bill on the Senate Floor to delay the compliance period for smaller cities by an additional two years. Additionally, I readjusted the population threshold to extend this extended compliance period to even more cities.
- Bob Archuleta
Legislator
In short, we are going to take advantage of the federal funding coming into California through our successful hydrogen hub application. We are going to need policy in place to expedite and development and deployment of hydrogen infrastructure. SB 1418 is one such policy and will help California transition to a cleaner, more sustainable transportation future. For these reasons, I respectfully ask for an aye vote.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Thank you, Senator Archuleta. Any discussion on this measure? Senator Stern.
- Henry Stern
Legislator
Thank you, Mr. President. Appreciate the Senator's efforts. My concern today about the measure is the inclusion of storage facilities, which can have safety implications. Fueling stations, one thing, but we know hydrogen is an extremely combustible fuel, so just want to make sure there's still local control. So, looking forward to hopefully finding a way to yes in the future, but won't be supporting the measure today. Thanks.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
All right, any further discussion, Members? Any further discussion? Seeing none. Senator Archuleta, you may close.
- Bob Archuleta
Legislator
I respectfully ask for your aye vote.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
All debate having ceased, Secretary, please call the roll.
- Committee Secretary
Person
[Roll Call]
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
On a vote of 33 to zero, the measure passes. We're gonna make a detour and continue with our file one more item before we move to file item 177. This is file item 77. Senate Bill 1418 by Senator Roth. Excuse me, file item 78. This is SB 902 by Senator Roth.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Secretary, please read.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Senate Bill 902 by Senator Roth and act relating to firearms.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Senator Roth.
- Richard Roth
Legislator
Thank you, Mister President. This Bill will add an automatic 10-year firearms prohibition to misdemeanor animal abuse convictions. The Bill passed out of the Senate Public Safety Committee with unanimous bipartisan support.
- Richard Roth
Legislator
As you know, California has a history of ensuring that firearms do not fall into the hands of those who have demonstrated violent tendencies in an attempt to prevent future violence against others. Crimes such as stalking, endangering the health of a child, and endangering the health of an elder or a dependent adult.
- Richard Roth
Legislator
Research reflects that 41% of intimate partner violence offenders had histories of animal cruelty and that individuals who commit animal abuse are five times more likely to commit violent crimes against humans. Based on the connection, in 2016, the FBI amended the National Incident Based Reporting System to start collecting data on animal abuse.
- Richard Roth
Legislator
Now, Senators, we're talking about serious animal cruelty here. Incidents convictions of Penal Code Section 597. Convictions for the malicious and intentional maiming, mutilation, torture, wounding, or killing of an animal.
- Richard Roth
Legislator
Given the numerous studies showing that animal abuse is a predictor of violence against humans, California needs to ensure that people with a history of animal cruelty are prohibited from owning and possessing firearms for at least 10 years.
- Richard Roth
Legislator
We've been engaged with those in support and in opposition to the measure, and we took amendments to remove the felony for non-compliance with the firearms prohibition, thus limiting the penalty to a misdemeanor. I will respectfully ask for an aye vote at the appropriate time.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Thank you, Senator Roth. Any discussion on this measure? Any discussion Members? Seeing none. Secretary, please call the roll.
- Committee Secretary
Person
[Roll call]
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
On a vote of 36 to one, the measure passes.
- John Laird
Legislator
All right, Members, we're going to make sure you're paying attention. We're going to move next to file item 126. Of course. This is Senate Bill 915 by Senator Cortese. Secretary, please read.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Senate Bill 915 by Senator Cortese an accolade to autonomous vehicles.
- John Laird
Legislator
Senator Cortese, the floor is yours.
- Dave Cortese
Legislator
Thank you, Mister President. Colleagues, SB 915 allows cities with a population greater than 250,000 to pass ordinances regulating autonomous vehicle services, or AV's. This is commercial service. Any smaller bordering cities may pass a similar ordinance. These provisions promote a balance between the local control and regional consistency. Currently, the DMV and PUC authorize AB services.
- Dave Cortese
Legislator
They hold proceedings to gather public input, but there's no guarantee the state will consider local concerns or has the capacity to do so. Governance of local streets and roads, of course, has long fallen under the shared jurisdiction of local government and state government. The operations of these vehicles should be no different than any other motor vehicles.
- Dave Cortese
Legislator
Ordinances cannot be used to ban the operation of these services. Per very express language in the Bill, there's literally a no ban cause in the Bill. The Bill also ensures equitable access for people with disabilities and requires all of these vehicles to have an override system for first responders to address recent issues that have occurred. Thank you.
- Dave Cortese
Legislator
And I respectfully ask for your Aye vote. Thank you.
- John Laird
Legislator
Senator Cortese, any discussion or debate on this measure? Members, any discussion or debate? Senator Becker.
- Josh Becker
Legislator
Thank you. Just wanted to say that I know there's been a bunch of concern from the technology industry, some of the companies affected, about some of the provisions. I know there were a number of amendments that were just taken by the author, and I appreciate that. To try to kind of clarify.
- Josh Becker
Legislator
I think there's a concern about kind of creating any kind of patchwork system that would just be. Be really unworkable. But I appreciate the author. I know he's been working diligently to kind of avoid that scenario, and, you know, has we discussed some ideas to continue looking at that going forward.
- Josh Becker
Legislator
So with that, I'll be supporting the Bill and look forward to working with them going forward.
- John Laird
Legislator
Thank you, Senator Becker, any further discussion or debate? Members, any further discussion or debate? Sena and Senator Cortese, you may close. Respectfully ask for your. I vote. Thank you, sir. Secretary, please call the roll.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Allen. Alvarado-Gil, Aye. Archuleta, Aye. Ashby, Aye. Atkins, Aye. Becker, Aye. Blakespear. Bradford, Aye. Caballero. Cortese, Aye. Dahle, No. Dodd. Durazo, Aye. Eggman, Aye. Glazer. Gonzalez, Aye. Grove. Hurtado, Aye. Jones, No. Laird, Aye. Limon, Aye. McGuire, Aye. Menjivar, Aye. Min, Aye. Newman, Aye. Nguyen, No. Niello, No. Ochoa Bach, No. Padilla, Aye. Portantino, Aye. Roth, Aye. Rubio. Seyarto, No. Skinner, Aye. Smallwood-Cuevas. Stern, Aye. Umberg, Aye. Wahab, Aye. Wiener, No. Wilk.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Senator Cortese moves a call. Members, we're going to go back to our Third Reading file order, starting with File Item 79, followed by 80 and 81. We'll first begin with File Item 79. This is SB 907 by Senator Newman. Secretary, please read.
- Reading Clerk
Person
Senate Bill 907 by Senator Newman, an act relating to County Boards of Education.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Senator Newman.
- Josh Newman
Legislator
Thank you, Mr. President. SB 907 is a district bill which will improve representation and electoral participation in Orange County by making two very sensible changes to the Orange County Board of Education; one: increasing the number of trustees from the current five to seven, and two: shifting the Board's election cycle from the primary ballot as currently conducted and into the general election in November.
- Josh Newman
Legislator
Since Orange County's Department of Education was established in its modern form, the population of OC has nearly doubled, from 1.8 million in 1977 to its current population of nearly 3.2 million. That makes it the third largest county by population in the state.
- Josh Newman
Legislator
Of the state's ten largest counties, Orange County is currently one of only four whose County Boards of Education have only five trustees. Of the counties which still have five trustees, the only one comparable in size to Orange County is the County of San Diego.
- Josh Newman
Legislator
In the nearly five decades since the constitution of the Orange County Board of Education, Orange County's population has also become infinitely more diverse. According to the 2000 Census, more than 50 percent of OC's population at that time was White.
- Josh Newman
Legislator
By the time in the most recent census, that share had dropped to less than 37 percent, with OC now having become a resoundingly majority-minority county. Expanding the Board from its current five trustees to seven will ensure that this board more fully reflects that diversity within its elected membership.
- Josh Newman
Legislator
Moving the election of the OCBOE trustees into the November general will ensure higher participation by that more diverse electorate. That would be a positive development in not one, but two directions. First, as mentioned, it will result over time in a board that more closely reflects OC's changing population.
- Josh Newman
Legislator
Secondly, and just as importantly, including the vote for County Board of Trustees on the November ballot will give voters a better opportunity to engage and connect with candidates and the eventual elected board members as part of that critical task of connecting residents to civic institutions about which they are increasingly uninformed and from which they are increasingly disconnected.
- Josh Newman
Legislator
As I've emphasized in my conversations with the opposition and with others, the impetus for this bill does not arise out of politics. Enhancing the responsiveness of a governing body and improving participation in the election of that body are objectively good goals, and that's what the provisions of this bill seek to do. I respectfully ask for your aye vote today.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Thank you, Senator Newman. Discussion and debate? I see microphones up from Senator Min and Senator Nguyen. Start with Senator Min.
- Dave Min
Legislator
Thank you, Mr. President. I rise as a proud co-author of this bill. As many of you know, I authored legislation last year which unfortunately did not make it across the finish line that would have done substantially much of this.
- Dave Min
Legislator
And the problem in Orange County is that this is the only elected body in the county that is decided on a won and done in the primary election. No other election in Orange County is like this. And so voters are genuinely confused when I talk to them about--they--most of them don't understand that the vote that they cast or choose not to cast in the primary is the only vote they'll have for the Orange County Board of Education. There is no runoff. There is no general election. There is no top two, as with other elections.
- Dave Min
Legislator
At the same time, as my author, my colleague from Fullerton has aptly pointed out, Orange County has gotten very big and very diverse, and I think it--given the low turnout in these primary elections, given the confusion among voters, and just by way of context, in the March 2024 Election, we only had 37 percent turnout for Orange County generally. Certainly it was much, much lower for the Orange County Board of Education. So this is not a body that is fully elected with the full representation in mind. So I would urge my colleagues to vote aye on this bill.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Thank you, Senator. Senator Min. Senator Nguyen.
- Janet Nguyen
Legislator
Thank you, Mr. President. I actually rise in opposition, representing majority of Orange County in my district. This bill is peer politics. If it was a good policy bill, it should be a bill for all the counties in the State of California. No, it is specifically targeted to Orange County, and the reason is because of the opposition has continuously lost elections in Orange County through Board of Education. This last election, all the Members were reelected, almost 50--over 50, not--maybe even 60 percent of the total votes.
- Janet Nguyen
Legislator
So I believe that if it's going to be--if it's a good policy, if the author truly believe it's a good policy, let's make it statewide. Let's make it every county's, every Board of Education in California and not just target to Orange County. With that, I ask for an aye vote.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Thank you, Senator Nguyen. Any further discussion or debate? No vote. Senator Nguyen's asking for the no vote. I see Senator Ochoa Bogh.
- Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh
Legislator
Thank you, Mr. President. I do not live in Orange County, but I do--but I am the Vice Chair for the Senate Committee on Education, and this is the second time we've seen this bill in this Committee, and again, I'm going to rise to oppose the bill.
- Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh
Legislator
And the reason being is that Orange County, the people in Orange County have the opportunity to do this locally within their own school board. The people in the Orange County have the ability to request this to be done locally, and they have not requested it to do it locally.
- Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh
Legislator
They have not done so any in the past at all whatsoever, and yet we're taking the step here forward at the state level to say, 'this is what you need to do.' If they did not have an opportunity in the process to be able to do so locally, then perhaps the state should come in and step in and act upon or act for them. But in this case, they have the opportunity. They have chosen not to do this locally.
- Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh
Legislator
And this is why it's an overreach by the state to come in and say, 'this is what you need to do.' And if it were good policy with regards to representation, this would be also applied to the most populous county, which would be Los Angeles, which has a population of ten million residents, and they do not even elect their trustees on the Board of Education, who are appointed by a five-member Board of Supervisors. So if this were actually good policy, it would actually apply to counties such as LA.
- Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh
Legislator
So I have to agree with my colleague from Orange County that it is politics. We should let locals allow to use their local systems to change the systems if they see fit and if they see a need. In this case, they do not. And with that, I respectfully ask for a no vote.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Thank you, Senator Nguyen. Any further discussion or debate? Seeing none, Senator Newman, you may close.
- Josh Newman
Legislator
Thank you, and appreciate the discussion. I don't think it is true to say that the voters of Orange County don't want to see this change. I think it's more accurate that this particular Board would like not to see this change.
- Josh Newman
Legislator
And I would assert, I think you'd all agree, and I think we would all subscribe to the idea that any election that involves more voters is a better election. Any board that results from an election that includes more, not fewer, voters is a more representative public body. That is exactly what we're trying to do here.
- Josh Newman
Legislator
This Legislature has a long history of fixing problems at the district level. In this case, we from Orange County are trying to solve a problem for Orange County, a problem that has support from the voters of Orange County. I respectfully ask for your aye vote.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
All debate having ceased, Secretary, please call the roll.
- Reading Clerk
Person
[Roll Call].
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Please call the absentees one last time.
- Reading Clerk
Person
[Roll Call].
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
On a vote of 29 to nine, the measure passes. Members, we're going to now lift the call on File Item 126. We're going to lift the call. This will be our second time through the roll. This is Senator Cortese's bill. Secretary, please call the absent Members.
- Reading Clerk
Person
[Roll Call].
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
All right, on a vote of 26 to nine, the measure passes. Okay, we're gonna move next to File Item 80, followed by 81 and 82, I think. Actually, File Item 80, 81, and I think we're going to 62 and 63. So let's begin with File Item 80. This is SB 930 by Senator Laird. He's prepared.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Senate Bill 930 by Senator Laird. An act relating to highways.
- John Laird
Legislator
Thank you very much, Mister President. Of the 642 memorial highways and transportation structures in the State of California, 82% are named for men too long. Women who make up half the population, and next year quite likely will make up half of this body, have been woefully disadvantaged in the memorial naming of transportation structures.
- John Laird
Legislator
This Bill establishes the Memorial Highway Signage Fund to promote equity and memorial highway designations. It does not mean we will not continue to name memorial highways for fallen officers, public officials or others who are men. But this Bill just creates a process for equity to make sure that over time, we catch up.
- John Laird
Legislator
Signs cost between $8,000 and $10,000. Sometimes that very cost turns away people from being able to designate it or being part of that equity. For this reason, this Bill builds on continued work and sets up a process where, over time, we can catch up. There's no registered opposition. I respectfully ask for an aye vote.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Thank you, Senator Laird. Any discussion on this measure? Any discussion on this measure? I see microphones up from Senator Grove and Senator Skinner. We'll begin with Senator Grove. Just want to make sure people were paying attention. Senator Grove, let's try that again. Senator Grove, the floor is yours.
- Shannon Grove
Legislator
I think that was a Republican thing that you guys did to me just then. Respectfully, in opposition to this Bill, you know, we designate highway signs and highway memorials. I recently did one for Officer Philip Campas, a SWAT team Member who put his life on the line and lost his life, left his wife and three kids, young kids, because he was saving a young girl from his, her estranged father who had already killed another Member, their family. That's a hero's a hero.
- Shannon Grove
Legislator
Phillip campus is a hero. United States Marine Corps veteran, came back, joined the sheriff's office, became an elite SWAT team Member. A very young age taken from us. And so I think that the policy that we have now is that resources have to be raised, like, we have to continue to raise money for that sign to be replaced by Caltrans every, I think, eight years so that the sign remains in good condition. And I don't, I am unaware, I guess, question of the author. Where is through the chair? Question of the author.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Will the author take a question? I'll take that as a yes. Okay, terrific.
- Shannon Grove
Legislator
So just curious, where are the resources coming from that are going to go in this special Fund that CalTrans will administer? Where do those resources come from?
- John Laird
Legislator
I'm sorry, Mister President, I can't hear. There's a little drilling in the background, which.
- Shannon Grove
Legislator
Are you doing that on purpose? Where do the resources come from that go into the Caltrans Fund to distribute?
- John Laird
Legislator
Under this Bill? It sets up a Fund that would accept donations from interested parties to be able to do that. And it would still leave the designation of any structure to this body as through the traditional process. But it would allow for a funding mechanism because right now there's generally established sources for those, certain of those that are done, and this would make sure there's a funding source for everybody.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Senator Grove, on your time. Go ahead.
- Shannon Grove
Legislator
Thank you. So I guess my understanding is that the funding mechanism now is for individuals to donate to support these projects that they would like to have honored. If there's already a way to make sure that individuals have the opportunity to donate to these projects, I don't see how the Bill is necessary so that it could actually set up a Fund so people could donate to these projects. These projects are put on all over the state.
- Shannon Grove
Legislator
I just shared one that we did last year for Senate or two years ago for Senate for, excuse me, SWAT team Member, campus. And so just respectfully ask for a no vote.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Thank you, Senator Grove, Senator Skinner.
- Nancy Skinner
Legislator
Thank you, Mister President. Members, I rise in support of the Bill. I hope that the result of it is that some more things get named after women. I happen to have done asked our transportation Committee to do a little number crunching for me, and in the past, is it 10 years?
- Nancy Skinner
Legislator
And I'm sure if we did it over a 20 year period, this percent would be even lower. In the past 10 years, the percent of things, roads or highways that the Legislature has named after Omen is less than 7%. If we were to add up and do number crunching on anything that we named, it would even be lower.
- Nancy Skinner
Legislator
And I basically, with no disrespect to the men that we may have named something after, I stopped voting on all of the bills that named something after a man because I felt that before I die, there would be no public space left to name anything after a woman.
- Nancy Skinner
Legislator
And I think that the importance of this is that it does cost money to name and usually, and this is, again, with no disrespect to naming any of our highways after an officer who died in duty, in the line of duty. But oftentimes it is the union of that officer that will pay the costs for the naming of the roadway or highway.
- Nancy Skinner
Legislator
And that as there are less women in sworn officers, and clearly, we should not only be naming things after people that die in the line of duty, since we don't even want anyone to be dying in the line of duty, but rather if we are naming roadways or highways after folks, it is less likely that a woman that we might suggest would have an entity like a labor union or others that is going to cover the costs, which is why such a Fund would be helpful.
- Nancy Skinner
Legislator
But I think the key point is that we should be aware of the dearth of our naming public spaces after women, and we should do better. And with that, I ask for your aye vote.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Thank you, Senator Skinner, Senator Dahle, thank you. Author, take a question.
- Brian Dahle
Legislator
I would like to get some clarification on the. I saw this in transportation. I was under the assumption that it was going to be taxpayer funded. But what I'm hearing you say, and I just want for the record to be clear, that this is people donating into the Fund, and that Fund would be used, then for the people that don't have resources, such as law enforcement and the likes. I will be supporting your Bill. Thank you.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Thank you. Senator Dahle, any further discussion or debate? Members seeing none, all debate having ceased. Senator Laird, you may close.
- John Laird
Legislator
Thank you. I really appreciate the debate. And the Senator from Berkeley, I think, did a lot of what I would have done in a close. Let me just make one comment, which is, I think there was some confusion in the Committee over the fact that there are many, many highways and transportation structures named after people that are not fallen officers.
- John Laird
Legislator
And if you look, there are a number, and I, just sitting here at my desk, pulled out the names of the following Legislature legislators. Achajian, Mello, Johnson, Belotti, Boatwright, Sturgeon, Ferran, Brown, Gibson, Miller, Nejidly. That were all Members, many of them Members of this body, were Members of the Legislature that were named.
- John Laird
Legislator
And I remind everyone, there was not a woman elected to this body until 1976. So if we were naming roads after Senators, we were not. Disproportionately, we were totally naming them after men. And so this is my much broader than fallen officers, which, as I said in my opening statement, will still happen and will still happen as appropriate, with the exact deference that is deserved in the statement of the Senator from Bakersfield.
- John Laird
Legislator
This just makes sure there's equity across the board over time in what we do with our designations that reflects the population of the people of California. I respectfully ask for an aye vote.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Thank you. Senator Laird, the debate has closed. Secretary, please call the roll.
- Committee Secretary
Person
[Roll Call]
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Please call the absent Members. On a vote of 32 to six, the measure carries. The measure passes. All right, Members, we were going to begin next with file item 81.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
We do not have a floor analysis out on that, so we're going to defer that for the moment and instead move to two other bills by Senator Wiener. First, file item 62, followed by file item 63. File item 62 is Senate Bill 961. Senator Wiener is prepared. Secretary, please read.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Senate Bill 961 by Senator Wiener, an act relating to vehicles.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Senator Wiener.
- Scott Wiener
Legislator
Thank you very much, Mr. President. Colleagues, SB 961 is a bill designed to make our roads safer and to make people more aware of speeding and to reduce speeds. Specifically, SB 961 will require new cars manufactured or sold in California to employ an existing technology.
- Scott Wiener
Legislator
It already exists to notify drivers if they go more than 10 miles an hour over the speed limit. Just to be clear, the original version of this bill would have physically prevented people from driving more than 10 miles an hour over the speed limit. The version before you notifies people.
- Scott Wiener
Legislator
Research has shown that this does have an impact in getting people to slow down. Particularly since some people drive over, don't even realize how fast their car is going. Colleagues, we know that 4,000 people a year die on California roads. Speed is a significant contributing factor. And we have technology that will help get people to slow down. It will save lives. And I respectfully ask for an aye vote.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Thank you, Senator Wiener. Any discussion or debate? Members, any discussion or debate on this Bill? Seeing none. Secretary, please call the roll.
- Committee Secretary
Person
[Roll Call]
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Please call the absent Members.
- Committee Secretary
Person
[Roll Call]
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
We're going to go through the role one more time. Secretary, please call the absence members.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Allen. Archuleta. Bradford. Dodd. Mcguire. Roth. Rubio.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Senator Wiener moves to call. We're gonna move next to file item 63. This is Senate Bill 1037, also by Senator Wiener. Secretary, please read.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Senate Bill 1037 by Senator Wiener. An act relating to housing.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Senator Wiener.
- Scott Wiener
Legislator
Thank you very much, Mister President. Colleagues. SB 1037 is a measure that is sponsored by our Attorney General. As you know, we have worked very hard in recent years to enable the construction of the many, many new homes that California needs.
- Scott Wiener
Legislator
We need to make sure that the laws that we pass as a Legislature are actually being followed and enforced. There is a loophole in the law right now where cities can flagrantly violate state housing laws, simply blow them off and refuse to follow them.
- Scott Wiener
Legislator
And if the Attorney General files a lawsuit against those cities, takes it all the way through litigation and prevails, and wins a court judgment, there is no penalty against that city unless they wait many more months before coming into compliance. So a city has very little incentive, other than paying attorneys fees to actually follow the law.
- Scott Wiener
Legislator
SB 1037 will provide that if a city, if the Attorney General sues a city, goes all the way through litigation and wins, then the court can impose penalties on the city.
- Scott Wiener
Legislator
Those fines, those penalties will be placed, held in escrow for that city, for affordable housing in that city, so they're not taken into the General Fund or anything like that. This is a good government measure, and I respectfully ask for an aye vote.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Thank you, Senator Wiener. Senator Dahle.
- Brian Dahle
Legislator
Thank you, Mister President, Members, I respectfully rise in opposition. And this is, I think, one of the fundamental problems with California and the Legislature thinking that if you sue some city, they're going to be able to do the right thing. Well, first off, developers build houses, not cities or counties.
- Brian Dahle
Legislator
And the reason developers don't build houses is because we have a process in California that is so cumbersome and so expensive and so risky. We have CEQA, we have all these design build, we have labor agreements, you name it, to build a home, even if it's low income.
- Brian Dahle
Legislator
And so now the Attorney General is going to go and sue these cities. Again, cities don't build houses, developers do. If we would reduce some of the burdens in California, we could build houses in California, but we continue to increase the cost of housing in California. And quite simply, cities and counties don't build houses.
- Brian Dahle
Legislator
Why are you suing them? Because they can't meet their element. They do a general plan. They say, here's where we're going to build the houses, and if somebody doesn't come and invest and build the houses, we're going to sue them. What's that going to do? It's going to do nothing but just cause litigation.
- Brian Dahle
Legislator
At the end of the day, we need to drive down the cost of housing by reducing the environmental impacts, the cost of building houses and allow developers to build houses in California. For those reasons, I oppose SB 1037.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Further discussion or debate? Seeing none. Senator Wiener, you may close.
- Scott Wiener
Legislator
Yeah, I just thank my colleague across the aisle for those comments. And I agree. The cities are not the ones, sometimes they do, but typically are not the ones building housing.
- Scott Wiener
Legislator
But what this Bill is about is when cities refuse to grant permits to developers who are ready to build housing and are entitled to those permits under state law, and the city says, we're not going to give you the permit to do it.
- Scott Wiener
Legislator
So, yes, city's not the one building the housing, but the city has the power to obstruct developers from building those homes. And that's what this Bill is about, when cities are actually obstructing the ability of people to build new homes.
- Scott Wiener
Legislator
And I want to also stress that this only applies when the Attorney General has taken the extraordinary step of suing a city and when the city has acted arbitrarily or capriciously. This is not about honest mistakes or someone messes up the paperwork.
- Scott Wiener
Legislator
This is when a city has arbitrarily and capriciously refused to, to do something that they're required to do under state law. After, no doubt being told many times, this is what you have to do. They're sued. It goes all the way through the litigation. Judgment is entered.
- Scott Wiener
Legislator
There should be a consequence, and the consequence is that you pay a fine that then gets held in escrow for you as a city to be able to build affordable housing. This is a good Bill, and I respectfully ask for an aye vote.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
All debate having ceased. Secretary, please call the roll.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Allen. Alvarado-Gil. Archuleta. Ashby, aye. Atkins, aye. Becker. Blakespear, aye. Bradford, aye. Caballero, aye. Cortese, aye. Dahle, no. Dodd, aye. Durazo, aye. Eggman, aye. Glazer. Gonzalez, aye. Grove, no. Hurtado, aye. Jones, no. Laird, aye. Limon. McGuire. Menjivar, aye. Min, aye. Newman. Nguyen, no. Niello, no. Ochoa Bogh, no. Padilla, aye. Portantino. Roth, aye Rubio. Seyarto, no. Skinner, aye.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Smallwood-Cuevas, aye. Stern, aye. Umberg. Wahab, aye. Wiener, aye. Wilk, no.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Please call the absent Members.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Allen. Alvarado-Gil. Archuleta. Becker. Glazer. Limon. McGuire. Newman. Portantino. Rubio. Umberg, aye.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Senator Wiener moves a call.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Members, we're going to now move to file item 81, also by Senator Wiener. This is SB 957. Secretary, please read.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Senate Bill 957 by Senator Wiener. An act relating to data collection.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Senator Wiener, the floor is yours.
- Scott Wiener
Legislator
Thank you, Mister President. Colleagues, if this seems familiar, it's because many of you have voted, sometimes repeatedly, to require the California Department of Public Health to collect health data around based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
- Scott Wiener
Legislator
For anyone who accesses the healthcare system and fills out forms, you'll know that it will ask you voluntary questions about what is your age, what is your gender, what is your race? You don't have to provide that information, but most people do, and it allows us to gather important health data relating to different communities.
- Scott Wiener
Legislator
It's the reason why we knew that when Covid-19 hit, that older people were at much greater risk of dying than younger people. Unfortunately, overwhelmingly, healthcare providers are not asking the question about sexual orientation and gender identity. And so, we don't have that data.
- Scott Wiener
Legislator
And we know, based on other data that we have, that we believe that there are some significant health disparities impacting LGBTQ people, but we don't have that coming from our healthcare system in the way that it should. In 2020, we required the Department of Public Health to do more.
- Scott Wiener
Legislator
We then had the State Auditor do an audit which showed that the Department of Public Health was falling short and on the large majority of its forms, was not even asking the question. This Bill will require the Department of Public Health to implement the State Auditor's recommendations. I respectfully ask for an aye vote.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Thank you, Senator Wiener. Any discussion or debate on this issue? Any discussion or debate? Seeing none. Secretary, please call the roll.
- Committee Secretary
Person
[Roll call]
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Please call the absent Members.
- Committee Secretary
Person
[Roll call]
- Scott Wiener
Legislator
On a vote of 30 to eight, the measure passes. Members, we're going to lift the call on file item 62. We're going to lift the call on file item 62. This is SB 961 by Senator Wiener. Secretary, please open the roll for absent Members.
- Committee Secretary
Person
[Roll call].
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
On a vote of 21 to 13, the measure passes. Can we get a clarification on the last measure? Senator Rubio, did you vote on that last measure? What was your vote? Aye. Okay. Properly recorded. Thank you. So that would be a vote of. Rubio? Aye. That would be a vote of 22 to 13. The measure passes. Thank you. We're going to move next to file item 82. This is Senate Bill 983 by Senator Wahab.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Secretary, please read.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Senate Bill 983 by Senator Wahab, an act relating to energy.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Senator Wahab, the floor is yours.
- Aisha Wahab
Legislator
Thank you. I rise to present SB 983, the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Task Force. My ultimate vision is to put alternative fuel options in gas stations to allow for all Californians to be able to use a clean vehicle, even those that don't have access to charging stations.
- Aisha Wahab
Legislator
This task force will determine the fastest and most cost effective path forward for zero emission fuel alternatives while using our existing gasoline infrastructure without putting the finger on the scales or being short sighted regarding technologies of the future. Current investments into alternative fueling infrastructures are only half of what is needed to transition by 2050 or earlier. SB 983 is a crucial step to meet Governor Newsom's mandate to transition vehicles to zero emission sources by 2035. I respectfully ask for an aye vote.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Any discussion or debate on this measure? Any discussion or debate? Seeing none, Secretary, please call the roll.
- Committee Secretary
Person
[Roll Call]
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Let's call the absent Members one more time. If we can ask the conversations that go to the back so Members can hear. Call the roll one more time.
- Committee Secretary
Person
[Roll call].
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
All right, on a vote of 31 to zero, the measure passes. We're going to move now to file item 83. This is Senate Bill 999 by Senator Cortese. Secretary, please read.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Senate Bill 999 by Senator Cortese. An act relating to health care coverage.
- Dave Cortese
Legislator
Thank you, Mister President. Colleagues, I'm pleased to present SB 999. SB 999 will ensure that Californians suffering from mental health and substance use disorders either or can access the level of treatment necessary for a full and lasting recovery.
- Dave Cortese
Legislator
This Bill requires that utilization review determinations for mental health and substance abuse disorders are performed by a reviewer with appropriate training and relevant experience in the clinical specialty. SB 999 requires reviewers to disclose their name, credentials, and basis for a treatment denial, including a citation of the clinical guidelines that were followed.
- Dave Cortese
Legislator
This Bill will save lives by combating overdose deaths and suicides. And I respectfully ask for your aye vote.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Any discussion on this measure, Members? Any discussion? Seeing none. Secretary, please call the roll.
- Committee Secretary
Person
[Roll call].
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
On a vote of 30 to seven, the measure passes. We're going to move next to file item 84. This is Senate Bill 1022 by Senator Skinner.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Secretary, please read.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Senate Bill 1022 by Senator Skinner, an act relating to civil rights.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Senator Skinner.
- Nancy Skinner
Legislator
Thank you, Mr. President, Members. SB 1022 provides our Department of our Civil Rights Department the time needed to effectively investigate and respond to systemic discrimination in workplaces or housing. When I say systemic, I mean multiple complaints over a multiple time period. The Civil Rights Department investigates thousands of these violations annually, and they mediate and settle many cases.
- Nancy Skinner
Legislator
But there are some complaints, these ones we're referencing as systemic, that can come from multiple parties against the same entity over a period of time. And such complaints, once they begin to be investigated as a group, are referred to as directors complaints, and they can be complex and require additional time to investigate.
- Nancy Skinner
Legislator
SB 1022 addresses this circumstance by giving the Department the ability to investigate the director's complaints over no more than a seven year time period. Note that SB 1022 does not change any statute of limitations. So if an individual wants to file a lawsuit about a complaint that they made, the statute of limitation holds.
- Nancy Skinner
Legislator
It does not change any statute of limitations. It purely gives the Office of Civil Rights the ability to investigate these directors complaints or systemic violations over no more than a seven year time period.
- Nancy Skinner
Legislator
It additionally gives the Department time to negotiate and reach settlements rather than only pursuing lawsuits, because under current law, they would have to initiate a lawsuit in just one year.
- Nancy Skinner
Legislator
So if part of our objective is to lessen the number of lawsuits, then giving them more time to investigate and to work with the entities for whom the complaints have been lodged to try to work out agreements, then we will have less lawsuits. And with that, I ask for your aye vote.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Thank you, Senator Skinner. Any debate on this measure? Any debate, Members? Seeing none. Secretary, please call the roll.
- Committee Secretary
Person
[Roll Call]
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Please call the absent Members.
- Committee Secretary
Person
[Roll Call]
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
On a vote of 29 to nine, the measure passes. We're going to move next to file item 85, followed by file item 88 and 89. File item 85 is SB 1045 by Senator Blakespear.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Secretary, please read.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Senate Bill 1045 by Senator Blakespear, an act relating to composting.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Senator Blakespear.
- Catherine Blakespear
Legislator
Thank you, President and colleagues. I rise to present SB 1045, which requires the Office of Planning and Research to develop a model ordinance for siting compost facilities and requires locals to consider this advisory. Developing this much-needed organic waste infrastructure is critical in having us meet our SB 1383 targets, which we are far from achieving.
- Catherine Blakespear
Legislator
In order to meet these targets, CalRecycle estimates that the state needs approximately 50 to 100 new or expanded organic waste recycling facilities. Right now, it's important to provide the needed tools to local governments to be successful.
- Catherine Blakespear
Legislator
A model ordinance will save time and the need for local governments to start from scratch in an area where many lack expertise. This Bill is supported by great organizations like Californians against Waste, League of California Cities, RCRC, Republic Services, Waste Management and more. There is no registered opposition. I respectfully ask for your aye vote.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Thank you, Senator Blakespear. Any discussion on this measure? Any discussion? Seeing none. Secretary, please call the roll.
- Committee Secretary
Person
[Roll call]
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Senator Blakespear moves the call and move on to file item 88. This is SB 1066.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Secretary, please read.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Senate Bill 1066 by Senator Blakespear, an act relating to hazardous waste.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Senator Blakespear.
- Catherine Blakespear
Legislator
Thank you, President and colleagues. I rise to present SB 1066, which would create an extended producer responsibility program to ensure the safe disposal of pyrotechnic marine flares. California's Division of Boating and Waterways estimates 174,000 flares expire in the state each year, but there are no facilities in California that accept and dispose of them.
- Catherine Blakespear
Legislator
Without viable options, expired flares can often end up dangerously left in the trash in front of local government buildings like police or fire stations, or even disposed of in our precious waterways. These costs are localized onto local taxpayers instead of the boaters who use them.
- Catherine Blakespear
Legislator
SB 1066 is supported by a broad coalition of stakeholders, including local governments, park districts, teamsters, firefighters, waste haulers, harbor districts, and environmental and public health organizations. It received unanimous approval in all Committee votes. I respectfully ask for your aye vote.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Any discussion on this measure? Any further discussion, Members? Meeing none, Secretary, please call the roll.
- Committee Secretary
Person
[Roll Call]
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
We have a Member off the floor, Members. So Senator Blakespear moves a call. Next up is file item 89. This is SB 1094 by Senator Limon.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Secretary, please read.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Senate Bill 1094 by Senator Limon, an act relating to people instruction.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Senator Limon, the floor is yours.
- Monique Limon
Legislator
Thank you, colleagues. SB 1094 promotes civic learning in grades one, grade one through eight, by requiring instruction in civic engagement or experience with a governmental institution at the local, state, or national level, at least once between grades one through six and once between grades seven through eight. We respectfully ask for an aye vote.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Any discussion on this measure, Members? Any discussion? Seeing none, Secretary, please call the roll.
- Committee Secretary
Person
[Roll Call]
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Senator Limon moves to call. We're going to move next to file item 93. This is Senate Bill 1142 by Senator Menjivar.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Secretary, please read.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Senate Bill 1142 by Senator Menjivar, and act relating to public utilities.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Senator Menjivar?
- Caroline Menjivar
Legislator
Thank you, Mister President. SB 1142 is seeking to protect California's ratepayers who are behind on their electricity bills and in jeopardy of a shut-off by directing the CPUC to review statute and consider limiting the amount a utility can request from a customer to avoid a shutoff.
- Caroline Menjivar
Legislator
Specifically, we're looking to require an electrical or gas corporation to restore service to a residential customer upon the customer paying the agreed-upon amount decided in the amortization agreement not to exceed 24 hours.
- Caroline Menjivar
Legislator
We're looking to require the CPUC on or before July 1st, 2025, to determine whether to direct electrical and gas corporations to take into account a customer's ability to pay before terminating or reconnecting services. We're also asking the CPUC to determine whether to limit the amount an electrical corporation could collect up to 20% of the customer's outstanding balance.
- Caroline Menjivar
Legislator
Currently, the utilities have no guidance on how much they can and should request from a customer to avoid a shut-off or get reconnected after a shut-off. When customers are not provided with reasonable payment options to keep or restore service, we are putting communities in a compromising situation, the likelihood of families living without energy increases the likelihood of these families will fall into further bad situations.
- Caroline Menjivar
Legislator
With that, respectfully asking your aye vote.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Thank you, Senator Menjivar. Any further conversation, discussion, debate on this measure? Senator Dahle.
- Brian Dahle
Legislator
Just to the question author, if I may?
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Will you take that question, Senator Menjivar?
- Caroline Menjivar
Legislator
I will.
- Brian Dahle
Legislator
So, if they're not able to pay and they turn them back on, then who pays for the gas that was used?
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Senator Menjivar.
- Brian Dahle
Legislator
Or the electricity I guess it is.
- Caroline Menjivar
Legislator
Through the President. So, this is asking after the customer reaches out, has a conversation with the utility company, comes to an agreement on what percentage or what amount can be paid.
- Caroline Menjivar
Legislator
This is only after a certain amount, whatever is agreed upon is paid for the utility company to be able to restore the services within 24 hours, not without paying anything. It's only determined after that agreement has been made.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Senator Dahle.
- Brian Dahle
Legislator
So, maybe just a little more follow-up to get a little more clarification, if I may, through the chair. So, they're getting their. They're not getting it shut off. They're getting it turned on after an agreement. But if they aren't able to pay in the future, does that cost get shifted to the other ratepayers?
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Senator Menjivar?
- Caroline Menjivar
Legislator
The only thing we're looking to do right now is to ensure that after an agreement is made between the customer and the utility company on a percentage, whether that be 10, 20, 15 whatever they agree upon, that the services get connected. That's the only automatic thing that my Bill is looking to do.
- Caroline Menjivar
Legislator
The other things that I mentioned are for the CPUC to consider adopting the other items that the Senator from Bieber has mentioned. Nothing will change. It's only for them to consider. Additionally, they're also required through the legislation to consider how any future changes would impact customers that are impacted in the issues we're looking to address.
- Caroline Menjivar
Legislator
So, it's only for them to start the conversation on these issues. Nothing will change. It's just I want to make sure that these conversations are happening, and they come together with a plan to make some changes to address these issues.
- Brian Dahle
Legislator
Thank you.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Senator Dahle. All right, any further discussion on this measure? Any further debate, Members? Seeing none. Senator Menjivar, you may close.
- Caroline Menjivar
Legislator
Respectfully asking for an aye vote.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Secretary, please call the roll.
- Committee Secretary
Person
[Roll call]
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Senator Menjivar moves the call. We're going to move on next to file item 94. This is Senate Bill 1178 by Senator Padilla. He's prepared. Secretary, please read.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Senate Bill 1178 by Senator Padilla, an act relating to water quality.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Senator Padilla.
- Steve Padilla
Legislator
Thank you, Mr. President and colleagues. I rise today to present Senate Bill 1178, the California Water Quality and Public Health Protection Act. SB 1178 builds off a longstanding existing statute in the water code, signed the law by California Governor Ronald Reagan that explicitly states that any California company that discharges waste outside of California in a manner that could affect the quality of the waters of the state within any region to report those discharges.
- Steve Padilla
Legislator
For generations, sewage and pollution crossing through the Tijuana River have been washing ashore in my district and poisoning our community and state. It is located at the U.S.-Mexico border and was recently named one of the 10 most polluted rivers in the United States.
- Steve Padilla
Legislator
Just this past January, storm surge caused 14.5 billion, with a "B," gallons of raw sewage and pollution to wash up on the banks of the river, as well as to overflow into nearby coastal wetlands, one of the few remaining such ecosystems left in Southern California.
- Steve Padilla
Legislator
The existing sewage treatment facilities have been overwhelmed by the sheer volume of wastewater flowing into the river, a problem that has persisted for years. Meanwhile, the health concerns caused by this sewage have forced cities like Imperial Beach, California to be closed their beaches for more than two years now.
- Steve Padilla
Legislator
But the bacteria present in the sewage hasn't restricted itself to ocean water. Tens of thousands of gallons of raw sewage dumped every day into the river ends up in the ocean, and due to wave activity, that bacteria gets into the air column and floats miles inland.
- Steve Padilla
Legislator
This crisis has been making people sick and subjected to horrible stench that lingers over homes, businesses, and schools alike. More of concern, recent studies conducted by the world renowned Scripps Institute of Oceanography attributed over 34,000 illnesses in 2017 alone to water quality, biological and industrial contamination in this location.
- Steve Padilla
Legislator
Large multinational corporations have taken advantage of free trade agreements, cheap labor, and near non existent environmental protections to build products cheaper and sell them in California. Unlike most California businesses, they discharged heavy metals, industrial waste and chemicals, and, yes, raw sewage into the river, while avoiding any kind of oversight or responsibility.
- Steve Padilla
Legislator
This bill requires large corporations who do not currently have a discharge permit, and I would note that most of our California registered corps are in compliance, but those that are not need to disclose their discharges and would be given the opportunity to basically mitigate, self-mitigate.
- Steve Padilla
Legislator
But this bill would require the board to quantify the cost of mitigation for the state, be able to assess a fee, and utilize those fees to mitigate the impacts to California.
- Steve Padilla
Legislator
The last note I will make is that the corporations that this would apply to who are deliberately engaging in this type of behavior should not have a business advantage over those that are complying with the existing statute.
- Steve Padilla
Legislator
With respect to this part of the state and my district, San Diegans are fed up, and business at the border should be as usual, should be over and done with. We can no longer tolerate this continued poisoning of our waters and our citizens. And I would respectfully ask for an aye vote.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Thank you, Senator Padilla. Any discussion or debate on this measure? Discussion or debate? See no microphones up. Secretary, please call the roll.
- Committee Secretary
Person
[Roll Cal]
- John Laird
Legislator
Senator Padilla moves a call. We're going to move next to file item 95. This is Senate Bill 1213 by Senator Atkins.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Secretary, please read Senate Bill 1213 by Senator Atkins an accolade to healthcare programs. Senator Atkins.
- Toni Atkins
Legislator
Thank you, Mister President. Colleagues are rise to present SB 1213. This would increase the eligibility threshold for the every woman counts program and the Breast and Cervical Cancer Treatment program from 200% of the federal poverty level, which is $30,120 per year for an individual, to 300% of the federal poverty level, which is $45,180 per year.
- Toni Atkins
Legislator
These programs provide free breast and cervical cancer screenings and treatment to eligible Californians, ensuring that women can access the timely quality care that they need.
- Toni Atkins
Legislator
Currently, many lower income women with an income above that 200% of the federal poverty level may not be able to afford insurance or the premiums and out of pocket expenses that can be over $10,000 per year.
- Toni Atkins
Legislator
They may choose to skip screenings altogether or delay care due to cost, and that, of course, increases the risk of late stage cancer and cancer death. The Bill is a critical part of our efforts to decrease cancer deaths and continue making healthcare more accessible. I ask for your support.
- John Laird
Legislator
Thank you. Senator Atkins, any discussion on this measure? Any further discussion? Seeing none. Secretary, please call the roll.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Allen. Alvarado-Gil, Aye. Archuleta, Aye. Ashby, Aye. Atkins, Aye. Becker, Aye. Blakespear, Aye. Bradford, Aye. Caballero, Aye. Cortese, Aye. Dahle, Aye. Dodd, Aye. Durazo, Aye. Eggman. Glazer, Aye. Gonzalez, Aye. Grove, Aye. Hurtado, Aye. Jones, Aye. Laird, Aye. Limon, Aye. McGuire. Menjivar. Min, Aye. Newman. Nguyen, Aye. Niello, Aye. Ochoa Bach, Aye. Padilla, Aye. Portantino, Aye. Roth, Aye. Rubio. Seyarto, Aye. Skinner, Aye. Smallwood-Cuevas. Stern, Aye. Umberg, Aye. Wahab, Aye. Wiener, Aye. Wilk, Aye.
- John Laird
Legislator
Senator Atkins moves a call. I know many of the Members share my thoughts to our neighbors to the north. Let them know we hear them, and we'll take their concerns into consideration. All right, we're going to move on to file item 96. This is Senate Bill 1221 by Senator Min.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Secretary, please read
- Committee Secretary
Person
Senate Bill 1221 by Senator Min. An act relating to gas corporations.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Senator Min, the floor is yours.
- Dave Min
Legislator
Thank you, Mister President. SB 1221 would require the CPUC to evaluate zero emission alternatives to gas pipeline replacement projects, thereby encouraging utilities to pilot cost effective zero emission alternative projects.
- Dave Min
Legislator
Currently, there is no process in place for the CPUC to consider zero emission alternatives to long term investments in the natural gas system. Instead, dollar amounts are approved for spending categories, such as pipeline replacements that can cost ratepayers over $3 million per mile.
- Dave Min
Legislator
That results in California ratepayers committing decades of payments into an energy system that our own mandates and requirements dictate must be obsolete before those expenses are paid off. We need a pathway to decarbonizing our grid.
- Dave Min
Legislator
And this Bill would start to open the doors to that by piloting cost effective zero emission alternative projects, thereby saving ratepayers money, potentially reducing emissions, and better informing the CPU's long term gas planning rulemaking. I respectfully ask your aye vote.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Thank you, Senator Min. Discussion or debate? Senator Dahle.
- Brian Dahle
Legislator
Thank you, Mister President. Members, I rise in opposition. Look, at the end of the day, yes, we have stated goals that we're going to decarbonize California and we're going to supposedly move away from gas. But at the end of the day, this is about safety. If you don't maintain and take care of those pipelines.
- Brian Dahle
Legislator
We saw San Bruno, where we had explosions of pipelines. People died. That was a negligence, obviously, from some of the corporations. But at the end of the day, we're not sure by 2035 if we're really going to be not using natural gas.
- Brian Dahle
Legislator
And so, for those reasons, I think for safety, we need to be very careful in this area and make sure that we take care of those pipelines until there's a sure pathway that we're going to be moving on to some other source of energy. For those reasons, I oppose SB 1221.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Thank you, Senator Daly. Any further discussion or debate? Any further discussion? Seeing none. Senator Min, you may close.
- Dave Min
Legislator
I appreciate the Senator's concerns. Just to be clear, this is a set of pilot programs that would try to deal with aging pipeline infrastructure, addressing the very problem the Senator raises. With that, I respectfully ask your aye vote.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
All debate having ceased. Secretary, please call the roll.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Allen. Alvarado-Gil. Archuleta. Ashby, aye. Atkins, aye. Becker, aye. Blakespear, aye. Bradford, aye. Caballero, aye. Cortese, aye. Dahle, no. Dodd, aye. Durazo, aye. Eggman. Glazer, aye. Gonzalez. Grove. Hurtado. Jones, no. Laird, aye. Limon, aye. McGuire. Menjivar. Min, aye. Newman, aye. Nguyen, no. Niello, no. Ochoa Bogh, no. Padilla, aye. Portantino, aye. Roth, aye. Rubio. Seyarto, no.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Skinner, aye. Smallwood-Cuevas. Stern, aye. Umberg. Wahab, aye. Wiener, aye. Wilk, no.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Senator Min moves a call. Members, our apologies for moving around on the file today, but we're trying to accommodate Members who are on or off the floor. We're going to move back to file item 90. Move back to file item 90. This is Senate Bill 1116 by Senator Portantino.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Secretary, please read.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Senate Bill 1116 by Senator Portantino, an act relating to unemployment compensation and making an appropriation therefore.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Senator Portantino.
- Anthony Portantino
Legislator
Thank you, Mr. President and Members. I rise to present SB 1116, which would extend Unemployment Insurance benefit to striking workers who have been on strike longer than two weeks. We have come off a tumultuous year, the hot labor summer from last year. We've seen across many industries, angst to say the least.
- Anthony Portantino
Legislator
No one goes on strike as a first resort, and strikes are not romantic. I still remember my mother in law talking about the impact that my father in law's strike had on her family 40 years ago. So this idea that somehow strikes are romantic, somehow they're this beautiful, wonderful thing is only something for Hollywood.
- Anthony Portantino
Legislator
In reality, it is families struggling to put food on their table. And if we could provide a modicum of benefits during those long term strikes to help people pay their rent and put food on their table, we should do that. And this bill got off the Senate Floor last year with 27 votes. And I respectfully ask for an aye vote today to provide a modicum of certainty and benefit to those striking families and those striking workers. Thank you.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Thank you, Senator Portantino. I see mics up from Senators Seyarto and Senator Dahle. Senator Seyarto.
- Kelly Seyarto
Legislator
Thank you, Mr. President. Our current UI debt is $21 billion. This time of the year it goes up as our unemployment has gone up. 5.3 is the last number. And we just had to move $100 million away from the workforce development, or that's being proposed, that we're going to move $100 million from workplace development.
- Kelly Seyarto
Legislator
And part of those programs, $10 million for women in the workplace in construction program going away. We're going to eliminate it so that we could make the additional interest payments payment on the UI debt as it stands today by itself. It's a half a billion dollars. That's how much our UI debt is.
- Kelly Seyarto
Legislator
And the reason that UI debt is a half a billion dollars is because instead of taking the $46.8 billion that the Federal Government gave us two years ago to whittle down some of those costs, we didn't use it to pay off our UI debt. Our debt is increasing, increasing every day.
- Kelly Seyarto
Legislator
This is a nice thought for people that want to voluntarily decide not to work, but we can't afford it. Just like a lot of other of our nice thoughts, we simply can't afford this. Members, I urge you to vote no on this.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Senator Dahle.
- Brian Dahle
Legislator
Thank you, Mr. President. Members, I too, as a business owner, rise in opposition. Hey, there's nothing sexy about running a business in California. This is the most horrible state in the union to do business. This basically incentivizes workers to not work and negotiate for higher pay, more time off, you name it.
- Brian Dahle
Legislator
There's a good reason that one of the most liberal governors in this nation vetoed this bill, because this is a bad bill. I urge you, no vote on behalf of all the small business owners and people in California. They actually employ people.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Thank you, Senator. Senator Alvarado-Gil.
- Marie Alvarado-Gil
Legislator
Thank you, Mr. President. I rise today to share a little bit of feedback on this bill. So I've been struggling with this bill for quite some time, including voting no on a similar measure last year, sharing many of concerns around the UI Fund as well as others.
- Marie Alvarado-Gil
Legislator
And I've been sharing these concerns with my colleagues and have now brought it into the district. And since then I've had very a handful of good faith conversations with our local labor leaders and rank and file members of the North Valley Labor Federation.
- Marie Alvarado-Gil
Legislator
I've also heard from my constituents in the Central Valley who continue to express support and solidarity on this bill. So although I continue to struggle, I want to share my support, and I'm willing to give this bill an opportunity to leave our house and continue in the process. I will be monitoring this bill.
- Marie Alvarado-Gil
Legislator
As you know, I'm a fiscally conservative member of our majority party, but I also support workers. And I want to encourage the author and the sponsors to work with the opposition and the Assembly so that we could have a cohesive bill that makes it all the way. Thank you.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Thank you, Senator. Any further discussion or debate on the matter? Any further discussion or debate? Seeing none. Senator Portantino, you may close.
- Anthony Portantino
Legislator
Thank you, Mr. President. I appreciate the comments from my colleagues. Frankly, it was my hope that this bill would stimulate those conversations. We do need a Fund that has long term solvency. We need to look at how the businesses contribute to that Fund. We need to look at how our workforce benefits from that Fund.
- Anthony Portantino
Legislator
And I will say the sheer percentage of workers that this would apply to in the long run is relatively small given to the number of overall workers that benefit from Unemployment Insurance. And for me, I think that is something that the state can afford to do. Certainly those workers who will benefit from it will appreciate it.
- Anthony Portantino
Legislator
And nobody goes on strike because they want to. There's no incentive to drive anybody on strike. A strike is truly a tool of a last resort. And respectfully ask for an aye vote.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
All debate having ceased, Secretary, please call the roll.
- Committee Secretary
Person
[Roll Call]
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Senator Portantino moves a call. All right, Members, we're gonna take up two bills by Senator Eggman next. We have file item 97, followed by file item 91. We'll begin with file item 97. This is Senate Bill 1238. Secretary, please read.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Senate Bill 1238 by Senator Eggman, an act relating to behavioral health.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Senator Eggman, the floor is yours.
- Susan Talamantes Eggman
Legislator
Thank you very much, Mister Speaker. This year the Senate, or last year the Senate, passed gravely disabled SB 43. This is a cleanup Bill to be able to more streamline implement this in working with stakeholders and the Administration. I ask for your aye vote.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
All right. Any discussion or debate on this measure? Any discussion or debate? Seeing none. Secretary, please call the roll.
- Committee Secretary
Person
[Roll Call].
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Senator Eggman moves a call. Move now to file item 90. This is Senate Bill 1116. Excuse me, 91. This is Senate Bill 1118. Secretary, please read.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Senate Bill 1118 by Senator Eggman, an act relating to electricity.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Senator Eggman.
- Susan Talamantes Eggman
Legislator
Thank you very much, Mister President. This Bill simply ensures the SOMA Program that we started some years back is able to also incorporate tribal lands. And I ask for your aye vote
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Any discussion or debate on this measure? Any discussion or debate? Seeing none. Secretary, please call the roll.
- Committee Secretary
Person
[Roll call]
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Wait, hold on. We have a full house now. We're going to go back through the roll one last time, Members. Secretary, please call the absent Members.
- Committee Secretary
Person
[Roll call]
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Secretary, please call the absent Members one last time.
- Committee Secretary
Person
[Roll call]
- Committee Secretary
Person
[Roll Call].
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
On a vote of 32 to three, the measure passes. We're now going to go back to file item. We're going to move ahead to file item 98, followed by 99 and 102, beginning with 98. This is Senate Bill 1255 by Senator Durazo. Secretary, please read.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Senate Bill 1255 by Senator Durazo an act relating to drinking water.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Senator Durazo, the floor is yours.
- Maria Elena Durazo
Legislator
Thank you, Mister President. SB 1255 will require the State Water Board to update its annual needs assessment for water systems under the SAFER program to include the need to make water rates affordable for small water systems with under 3000 service connections. California is at the epicenter of water affordability and access crisis, especially for communities of color.
- Maria Elena Durazo
Legislator
More than 1.6 million households have an average of $500 water and or sewer utility debt, with more than 150,000 of those households having a dangerously higher debt owed of $1,000 or more. In 2022, water - Governor Newsom called on the water utility sector to address the cost burdens on low income members of the community. SB 1255 is taking the Governor's lead by having the state board understand the cost to support disadvantaged communities to achieve water affordability. I respectfully ask for your aye vote.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Thank you Senator Durazo. Any discussion on this measure? Any discussion? Seeing none. Secretary. Excuse me, Senator Grove.
- Shannon Grove
Legislator
Thank you, Mister President. I rise in support of this Bill. I realize that there on the analysis, it says it's just something that's just going to sit on the shelf and not be used by the State Water Resources Control Board, but we have to do something. Our city in McFarland, which is just north of my district, is really struggling with providing adequate water and resources. It's a poor farming community. Probably 99% of the individuals that live there are people of color and work in the fields. It's a farming town. It's where the original McFarland runners come from.
- Shannon Grove
Legislator
And the problem that we have there is the two wastewater treatment plants and the water that they provide to those individuals. Through the wintertime, we were okay, but with the summer and the increased water use, we're going to be in a lot of trouble. And so if anything can help these individuals to have access to clean drinking water, I would support it. So respectfully ask for an aye vote.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Thank you, Senator. Any further discussion, Members? Seeing none. Senator Durazo, you may close.
- Maria Elena Durazo
Legislator
And thank you very much. And thank you to my colleague for her remarks. I respectfully ask for your aye vote.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
All debate having seized, Secretary, please call the roll.
- Committee Secretary
Person
[Roll Call].
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Senator Durazo moves a call. We're going to move now to File Item 99. This is Senate Bill 1289 by Senator Roth. Secretary, please read.
- Reading Clerk
Person
Senate Bill 1289 by Senator Roth, an act relating to Medi-Cal.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Senator Roth.
- Richard Roth
Legislator
Thank you, Mr. President. This bill requires the Department of Health Care Services, DHCS, to collect data and develop standards for call centers operated by the counties to assist people with their Medi-Cal claims and enrollment.
- Richard Roth
Legislator
Federal and state law require that people be able to apply for Medi-Cal, ask questions, turn in information for their Medi-Cal determinations, and call for help over the phone. However, the wait times faced by many Medi-Cal recipients to reach their county workers by phone are way too long. Some people report waiting for hours, some report never getting through at all, and others report calling in only to have the system hang up on them.
- Richard Roth
Legislator
This bill will require counties to submit data regarding call center wait times and will require DHCS to establish standards so that people on Medi-Cal can get the assistance that they need and they deserve. Respectfully ask for your aye vote.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Any further discussion on this measure? Any further discussion? Seeing none, Secretary, please call the roll.
- Reading Clerk
Person
[Roll Call].
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
We have all Members now are back on the floor, so we're gonna call the absent Members one last time. Secretary, please call the absent Members.
- Reading Clerk
Person
[Roll Call].
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
On a vote of 38 to zero, the measure passes. Members, we're going to now go to a special calendar item here on the floor. There are four measures that we're going to hear in order. They will begin with File Item 172, followed by File Item 171, 140, and 148. Special order for those four measures.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Everybody up to speed? Okay, we're going to begin with file item 172. This is Senate Bill 1403 by Senator Bradford. Secretary, please read.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Senate Bill 1403 by Senator Bradford, an act relating to state government.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Senator Bradford, the floor is yours.
- Steven Bradford
Legislator
Thank you, Mister President. I'm here proudly to present 1403, which will establish the California American Freedmen Affairs Agency for the purpose of implementation, oversight and monitoring the policies and laws enacted relating to reparations. It would also require the agency to oversee and monitor existing state agencies and departments tasked with direct implementation of reparations policies.
- Steven Bradford
Legislator
This Bill is a recommendation from the California Task Force Final Report, which was submitted June of last year and is among the most essential of the report's 115 recommendations. During the last two years, I had the honor of serving on the first in the nation's task force, helping us to explore the harms of slavery in this country.
- Steven Bradford
Legislator
The task force work was well documented in great detail the history of slavery in California, the patterns of systemic racial injustice that continued long after slavery ended. People will often say, why California? And why should they provide reparations? California was a free state. It was a free state in name only.
- Steven Bradford
Legislator
California practiced every practice of a slave state. If you came here as a slave, you were treated as such. If you gave birth here as a slave, your child was born a slave. If you ran away, there was a fugitive slave act that returned you to the state ant the plantation that you escaped from.
- Steven Bradford
Legislator
People will also say, I didn't own a slave. Why should I have to pay? But your ancestors did. I would say to them, if you can inherit generational wealth, you can inherit generational debt. This is a debt. Reparations is a debt that's owed to descendants of slavery. These are not a handout or charity by any measure.
- Steven Bradford
Legislator
It is what was promised. It's what is owed and what is 160 years overdue. This agency will be necessary foundation for the implementation and success of reparations. The most important responsibility of this agency will have is determine which individuals are eligible for reparations based on the definition of descendants recommended by the task force.
- Steven Bradford
Legislator
Descendants of chattel slavery are individuals who arrived in this country prior to the 1900s. SB 1403 will create an office of research and confirm an individual's lineage. While in no way does this Bill excuse the Federal Government or local governments from taking their own actions, California still bears great responsibility.
- Steven Bradford
Legislator
The state government permitted and committed grave injustices against African Americans. These injustices include enslavement, legal and public and private segregation, discrimination in state funding and programming, and stigmatizing African Americans. The majority of Californians agree that the harms of slavery are still felt today. The agency is the first step in California can take in righting these wrongs.
- Steven Bradford
Legislator
SB 1403 is about demonstrating our state's commitment to not only recognizing the past, but also taking meaningful actions toward an equitable future. I respectfully ask for your aye vote.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Thank you, Senator Bradford. Any discussion or debate? Seeing no microphones up. Secretary, please call the roll.
- Committee Secretary
Person
[Roll call]
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Please call the absent Members.
- Committee Secretary
Person
[Roll call]
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
On a vote of 30 to seven, the measure passes. We're going to move next to file item 171. This is Senate Bill 1331, also by Senator Bradford. Secretary, please read.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Senate Bill 1331 by Senator Bradford, an act relating to state government.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Senator Bradford.
- Steven Bradford
Legislator
Thank you, Mr. President. This is a follow up. The cost of reparations will be high, but so is the harm to African Americans in this country. The harm and the disparities it created continues to this very day.
- Steven Bradford
Legislator
I've had the privilege of serving again in the Legislature for the last 14 years, and we have voted on dozens of bills about wage theft. There has been 250 years of wage thefts for African Americans who were slaves in this country. The harm of this wage theft still exists today. How will California pay for reparations?
- Steven Bradford
Legislator
SB 1331 would establish a Fund for reparations in reparative justice and authorize it to receive grants from federal, state, local, and private entities. The reparations task force has painstakingly documented California's role in slavery and the decades of systemic discrimination that followed. People can choose to ignore it.
- Steven Bradford
Legislator
They can be uncomfortable with our history, but they cannot deny the truth. Now is the time to face it, to own up to the debt that is owed to the right, the historic wrongs, to restore and repair damage that has been done. With this, I respectfully ask for aye vote for SB 1331.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Thank you, Senator Bradford. Senator Skinner.
- Nancy Skinner
Legislator
Thank you, Mr. President, Members. I rise in support of SB 1331, and I want to thank our colleague from Gardena for bringing these forward and for his work on the reparations task force and also appreciation to the reparations task force.
- Nancy Skinner
Legislator
While as a country or a state, we have not been all that good about reparations for a variety of populations that deserve such, I had the good fortune to, when I was on the Berkeley City Council, to be part of an effort and for our city to pass, where we provided reparations to all of the Japanese Americans who had worked for either the City of Berkeley or the Berkeley Unified School District and then were interned. And so we provided them their back wages for the time for which they were interned.
- Nancy Skinner
Legislator
Now, while this Fund that's being established and the other work that's being doing been being done for reparations for slavery does not have that level of detail, it does acknowledge that the result of chattel slavery has had serious negative economic consequences on all of the descendants of chattel slavery. And thus, it is very important for us to establish mechanisms for us to address that. And with that, I support the bill and ask for your aye vote.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Thank you, Senator Skinner. Any further discussion on SB 1331? Any further discussion? Seeing none. Senator Bradford, you may close.
- Steven Bradford
Legislator
I want to thank my colleague from Berkeley for drawing that comparison. We have provided reparations in funding for so many programs. We often say the budget is a reflection of our priorities. This should be one of our priorities. And I respectfully ask for your aye vote.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
All debate having ceased, Secretary, please call the roll.
- Committee Secretary
Person
[Roll Call]
- Committee Secretary
Person
On a vote of 29 to eight, the measure passes. We're going to move next to file item 140. This is Senate Bill 1050. Secretary, please read.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Senate Bill 1050 by Senator Bradford, an act relating to state government.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Senator Bradford.
- Steven Bradford
Legislator
Thank you, Mister President. This Bill is a priority of the California legislative Black Caucus. SB 1050 creates a pathway for restitution to Californians who had their land or property taken by the state or local governments by racially motivated reasons and no other reason.
- Steven Bradford
Legislator
Many people are now familiar with Bruce's beach, the parcel land, and Manhattan Beach.
- Steven Bradford
Legislator
I was fortunate enough to author that piece of legislation three years ago that led to the return of the property of the descendants of Charles and Willard Bruce, a family that had purchased this property in 1912 with the sole purpose of creating a cafe, a lodge, and an opportunity for African Americans to enjoy beach life just like anyone else in California across this nation.
- Steven Bradford
Legislator
But the City of Manhattan Beach resented the Bruces' success and popularity and the fact that Black folks were recreating and having a good time, just as they did and wanted to put them out of business.
- Steven Bradford
Legislator
The city used the power of eminent domain to take the Bruce's land and do so for far less than a fair market value. Again, in 2022, I authored legislation that allowed the current owners, the LA County, Los Angeles County, I should say, to return the land to the descendants of Charles and Willow Bruce.
- Steven Bradford
Legislator
Just like Bruce's beach, SB 1050 will provide a pathway to justice for others harmed by similar racist policies and practices of the past. We're looking at just now in the City of Santa Monica.
- Steven Bradford
Legislator
A Black business owner by the name of Silas White acquired a piece of property on PICO Boulevard in Santa Monica in 1958 with the sole purpose of creating the Ebony Beach Club for African Americans only for the city to decide two years later. zero, we need this property for a parking lot.
- Steven Bradford
Legislator
Well, here we are 65 years later, after the city acquired it. And know what sits there? A four star hotel that the city owns the land and collects rent from on an annual basis. That revenue, if not the property, should be returned to the descendants of the white family of Silas White.
- Steven Bradford
Legislator
The power of immigrant domain has been used repeatedly to abuse, to move black and brown people off of their land and destroy their homes. We've seen recent examples, even in City of Palm Springs, Section 14, where the Palm Springs Fire Department burned out these families and took the land.
- Steven Bradford
Legislator
These actions have devastated the opportunity for families to build, enter generational wealth through the owning of land. As we all know, generational wealth is passed on in this country through land. SB 1050 will create a way for the state to review claims of abuse and determine what compensation is warranted. I respectfully ask for aye vote.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Thank you, Senator Bradford. I see microphones up from Senator Smallwood-Cuevas and Senator Niello. We'll begin first with Senator Smallwood-Cuevas.
- Lola Smallwood-Cuevas
Legislator
Thank you, Mister President. And I rise as a Member of the Legislative Black Caucus in support of my great colleague, Senator Bradford. And I want to applaud all of his work as part of the task force over these many years to bring reparations to this historic day. Our ancestors are smiling on us in this moment.
- Lola Smallwood-Cuevas
Legislator
I want to say that the Bill that we're talking about, SB 1050, studies have shown that California allowed for early settlers to bring their enslaved Africans to work in, dig for gold. In many cases, these slaves were able to eventually buy their freedom from the gold they found and to purchase land.
- Lola Smallwood-Cuevas
Legislator
But this land, through Jim Crow, through black codes, through institutional racism and racial terror, left so many families bankrupt. Instead of people who had purchased their freedom and their land being able to pass it on to their descendants, it was stolen.
- Lola Smallwood-Cuevas
Legislator
Stolen through systemic racist property laws that have driven our communities off of their land through violence and intimidation by their white neighbors, and also added to more and more atrocities that we see generational harm done today. This was the California Gold Rush. The land. The ability to own property that is worth millions of dollars today.
- Lola Smallwood-Cuevas
Legislator
Land that many White families have built their fortunes on at the peril of Black communities.
- Lola Smallwood-Cuevas
Legislator
My good colleague talked about Bruce's beach and how, in 1924, the Manhattan Beach City Council passed this ordinance 263, claiming eminent domain for this public park land, which allowed the government to seize the properties that were owned by Black residents and eliminated the opportunity for African American families, particularly those who own the African American Bruce's beach resort, to have opportunity of dignity for their families and for generations.
- Lola Smallwood-Cuevas
Legislator
And it was in 2021, with the help of the great senator, along with many leaders here in the state Legislature and the Los Angeles County Board of Super Supervisors, I might say, who voted unanimously to approve the returning of that land to the rightful heirs of Charles and Willa Bruce.
- Lola Smallwood-Cuevas
Legislator
And they were able to sell this land for a profit of $20 million. This is just one story of countless others, of families who have lost wealth. And this Bill is really about how do we restore Black California and restore all of California in the process. And with that, I respectfully ask for your aye vote.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Thank you, Senator.
- Roger Niello
Legislator
Senator Nilou. Thank you, Mister President. I rise to support the principle of this Bill, as I discussed in Committee with my colleague from Cardena, that when I first saw this Bill, it made good sense to me to restore any injustice of property that was taken from anybody motivated at least partially by racial issues, particularly if undercompensated.
- Roger Niello
Legislator
But the concern I have with this Bill is it makes it the responsibility of the state. The injustice of Manhattan Beach under this Bill would be paid for by the taxpayers of Los Angeles, San Diego, Fresno, San Francisco, Modoc County, not directly by the entity that created the injustice in the first place.
- Roger Niello
Legislator
And that seems to me to be a bit of an injustice in and of itself. So, again, the principle, the intent of the Bill, I do support that, and I wish I could support this, but I can't under the way that it's being executed.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Any further discussion or debate on this measure. Any further discussion or debate scene? None. Senator Bradford, you may close.
- Steven Bradford
Legislator
Thank you. And I would thank my colleague from Los Angeles for our words in support of this measure. And just to address the concerns of my colleague from Sacramento, this measure does nothing to impact other jurisdictions that hit nothing to do with the racial taking of land.
- Steven Bradford
Legislator
It has to do specifically, as we gave those examples of Bruce's beach again here in Santa Monica. We can look back in Julian and San Diego County and on and on, hundreds, if not thousands of examples.
- Steven Bradford
Legislator
And if the opportunity presents itself uniquely, like we saw in Manhattan Beach, to return or compensate those families on property that's still controlled either by a local entity or state entity or federal entity, that's what this measure will do.
- Steven Bradford
Legislator
Simply, it's not taking it from private people who might own it now, because sadly, to state, most of that probably, that is taken from African Americans. They're freeways and roads now, believe me. You talk about Sugar Hill on the west side of LA, one of the most prominent African American neighborhoods in this country.
- Steven Bradford
Legislator
A freeway goes through it today. You talk about the 105 freeway that goes in the middle of my district. I took music lessons from a music teacher who was in the LA Philharmonic Orchestra, who lived there, who had his property taken for a freeway that wasn't built for 30 years later.
- Steven Bradford
Legislator
So we have plenty of examples where the government owns this property and where we can provide restitution or some type of payment or return of those lands and where they exist. That's what this Bill intends to do. And I respectfully ask for your aye vote.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
All debate having seized. Secretary, please call the roll.
- Committee Secretary
Person
[Roll Call]
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Please call the absent members.
- Committee Secretary
Person
[Absent Roll Call]
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
On a vote of 32 to five, the measure passes. Next up, members, we're going to move to file item 148. This is Senate Bill 1089. Senate Bill 1089. Secretary, please read.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Senate Bill 1089 by Senator Smallwood-Cuevas. An act relating to food and prescription access.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Senator Smallwood-Cuevas, the floor is yours.
- Lola Smallwood-Cuevas
Legislator
Thank you, Mister President, and good afternoon, colleagues.
- Lola Smallwood-Cuevas
Legislator
I proudly rise today to present SB 1089, which is part of the 2024 California Legislative Black Caucuses Reparation Priority package, restoring Black California as a way to restore all of California. SB 1089 will ensure that local communities and relevant state and local agencies have advanced notice and access to the information they need
- Lola Smallwood-Cuevas
Legislator
in these situations, like job loss, prescription transfers, or decreased food access, SB 1089 requires grocery stores and pharmacies with five or more employees to provide a 60 day notice of closure and a 30 day notice for stores with five or fewer.
- Lola Smallwood-Cuevas
Legislator
In instances of pharmacy closures, this Bill requires pharmacies to tell their patients where their prescriptions will be transferred. This Bill also ensures that employers provide their workers with the information they need from local agencies regarding the benefits, like unemployment in instances where jobs are lost.
- Lola Smallwood-Cuevas
Legislator
Since this Bill has been introduced, we have made amendments to decrease the notice period. We've narrowed the requirements. We worked with our colleagues and the opposition to make sure that we are capping penalties at $10,000 per closure.
- Lola Smallwood-Cuevas
Legislator
And as this Bill moves, I am committed to continue to work to address concerns. Due to the industry's longstanding disinvestment in our communities, I want to be clear that black communities throughout this state are already more than likely to face food insecurity.
- Lola Smallwood-Cuevas
Legislator
They are more than likely to live in food deserts, have limited access to prescription and medication. In my district, the Crenshaw Corridor, one of the most dense populations of African American communities in the state, a predominantly black neighborhood once home to three unionized grocery stores, all of which have closed except for one.
- Lola Smallwood-Cuevas
Legislator
These closures only further exacerbate the disparities in health and wealth of our black and brown communities, and our most disadvantaged communities deserve to know when they may lose access to the services that they rely on for the most basic necessities, food and medicine.
- Lola Smallwood-Cuevas
Legislator
I respectfully ask for your I vote this is a way of addressing the harms that exist in our communities from a historic pattern of mistreatment of black and brown and vulnerable communities when it comes to accessing healthy food.
- Lola Smallwood-Cuevas
Legislator
In Committee, we talked about the ways in which stores determine where their businesses will be located, and it has a lot to do with the wealth and the education level of a community.
- Lola Smallwood-Cuevas
Legislator
And because of historic injustices, because of institutionalized racism, because of Jim Crow and slavery, and all of the things that our reparations task force has laid out in an 1100 page report. We know that access to food and pharmacy necessities are in jeopardy because these stores are not located in our community.
- Lola Smallwood-Cuevas
Legislator
The very least we can do is provide adequate access for our communities, particularly the most vulnerable, to have notification. And with that, I respectfully ask for your aye vote.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Thank you, Senator. Senator Gonzalez.
- Lena Gonzalez
Legislator
Thank you, Mister President. I too, want to rise on behalf of the Latino Caucus on this Bill, an urgent I vote. I know my colleagues have been working so very hard, specifically on the certification piece, but in General, on behalf of the Black Caucus, for the issue of reparations.
- Lena Gonzalez
Legislator
And so with that, I just would like to extend my support. I urge all of our Members to vote aye. Thank you.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Thank you. Any further discussion or debate? Members, further discussion or debate? Seeing none. Senator Smallwood-Cuevas, you may close.
- Lola Smallwood-Cuevas
Legislator
I want to thank my good colleague from Long Beach for her comments. And this is an opportunity for us to act. To act for the grievances of the past and to repair the harm in our most vulnerable communities. And certainly notification of lack of access to food and medicine is something that this Senate can do today.
- Lola Smallwood-Cuevas
Legislator
With that, I respectfully call for your aye vote.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
I'll debate having ceased. Secretary, please call the roll.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Allen. Alvarado-Gil. Archuleta, aye. Ashby, aye. Atkins, aye. Becker, aye. Blakespear, aye. Bradford, aye. Caballero, aye. Cortese, aye. Dahle no. Dodd, aye. Durazo, aye. Eggman. Glazer. Gonzalez, aye. Grove, no. Hurtado, aye. Jones, no. Laird, aye. Limon, aye. McGuire, aye. Menjivar, aye. Min, aye. Newman, aye. Nguyen, no Niello, no. Ochoa Bogh no. Padilla, aye. Portantino, aye.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Roth, aye. Rubio, aye. Seyarto, no. Skinner, aye. Smallwood-Cuevas, aye. Stern, aye. Umberg, aye. Wahab, aye. Wiener, aye, Wilk.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Senator Smallwood-Cuevas. Excuse me, secretary. Please call the absent Members.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Allen. Alvarado-Gil, no. Eggman. Glazer. Wilk, no.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Secretary, please call the absent Members.
- Committee Secretary
Person
[Roll Call]
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
On a vote of 29 to nine, the measure carries. The measure passes. Excuse me. Members, we're going to now move back to under motions and resolutions and recognize Senator Bradford.
- Steven Bradford
Legislator
Yes, Mr. President, I would like to ask for reconsideration on SB 171 and SB 140. File item. I should say file item 171 and file item 140.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
All right, Members, Senator Bradford is asked to reconsider File Items 171. Yeah. We're going to take them one at a time. So, Senator Bradford's asking for reconsideration on File Item 171. This is SB 1331. Is there any objection to reconsideration? Seeing no objections, we're going to now call on a vote of 39 to zero.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
We had a Member off the floor. I think it's the reason why we're bringing these two bills back. All right, so let me just repeat so everybody's up to speed. Senator--under Motions and Resolutions--Senator Bradford is asking that we reconsider File Item 171. That's SB 1331. I'm asking without objection. Without objection, that's 39 to zero. Now we're going to call the roll on that item. This is File Item 171. Secretary, please open the roll.
- Reading Clerk
Person
[Roll Call].
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Please call the absent Members.
- Reading Clerk
Person
[Roll Call].
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Secretary, please call the absent Members.
- Reading Clerk
Person
[Roll Call].
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
On a vote of 30 to seven, the measure passes. Senator Bradford has also risen, under motions and resolutions, ask that we reconsider file item 140. This is Senate Bill 1050. Without objection? Seeing no objection. That's ayes 39, noes zero. So, we're going to. Got it.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
So, we're now going to moment call up file item 140 for another vote on the main motion. On the main resolution. On the main measure. Excuse me. We'll get it right the third time. Members, now we're going to take up the Bill. Senate Bill 1050. Secretary, please call the roll.
- Committee Secretary
Person
[Roll call]
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Please call the absent Members. Secretary, please call the absent Members?
- Committee Secretary
Person
[Roll call]
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
On a vote of 32 to four, the measure passes. Members, thank you for your patience today. We're going to move to file item 185. File 185. This is Senate Bill 1380 by Senator Dodd. Secretary, please, please read the measure.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Senate Bill 1380 by Senator Dodd, an act relating to charter schools.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Senator Dodd.
- Bill Dodd
Legislator
Thank you, Mr. President and Members. SB 1380 is first and foremost about the fiscal responsibility and stability of our California public schools. The bill helps protect school districts against insolvency when evaluating petitions only for new charter schools.
- Bill Dodd
Legislator
Amendments taken in appropriations significantly narrow the bill and focus on districts that are truly in financial distress, adding an additional independent certification that approving a new charter for these districts would harm their budget. So an independent certification that would be needed there.
- Bill Dodd
Legislator
Existing law immediately removes the ability of school districts exiting receivership to consider the impact of a new charter school, even when approving the school would result in the district being pulled back into receivership.
- Bill Dodd
Legislator
There's a five year period after exiting receivership where there's additional requirements on school districts that demonstrates stable finances, and this bill simply mirrors that by allowing districts to consider the financial impact of a new charter school.
- Bill Dodd
Legislator
This ability is further limited by the requirement that the Superintendent, in consultation with the county's independent fiscal crisis and management assistance team, certify that approving the charter would result in qualified or negative interim budget. So that kind of takes out the politics on a school board because it has to be approved by an independent fiscal crisis and management assistance team.
- Bill Dodd
Legislator
Lastly, the bill authorizes fiscally distressed districts who have closed or consolidated schools within the five fiscal years immediately preceding the submission of a petition for a new charter to consider the fiscal impact of the county's fiscal crisis team certifies approving the charter would result in a qualified or negative interim budget.
- Bill Dodd
Legislator
Amendments addressed assertions that the bill was overly broad and made clear that the provisions only apply to new charter petitions and not renewals. Can I repeat that? This bill only applies to new charter schools and not to renewals.
- Bill Dodd
Legislator
And I just feel like it's appropriate at this point in time to just call out to our past esteemed Governor Brown that this bill in no way, shape and form will impact your Oakland Military Academy.
- Bill Dodd
Legislator
And I even offer that if you really do think it is, let's come into the office and let's get some amendments on this because I have 12 high performing charter schools in my district and I do not want to do any harm to any of them. Respectfully ask for your aye vote.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Thank you, Senator Dodd. Senator Umberg.
- Thomas Umberg
Legislator
Well, thank you, Mr. President. I had a question to the author, but I think the author's answered the question. But just to make things clear, that with respect to certain high performing charter schools, for example, in Orange County, we have a school of the arts, which is an absolutely stellar performer, but it's been in existence for quite some time. If they should revise their charter, could it possibly be denied at that point?
- Bill Dodd
Legislator
Not, not because of anything that is in this bill. Currently, if you have revisions, I think, is it 1505? 1505 by a Assembly Member from Long Beach in years gone by that does allow a school district to review them. But nothing in this bill will allow that. In fact, we put language in there just because we have people coming back to us saying we're concerned about that.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Senator Umberg, let me just remind Members we have a process on the floor. If you want to ask the author a question, you first ask for permission and then I get an okay or not from the author and then we proceed from there. Senator Umberg, on your own time.
- Thomas Umberg
Legislator
Well, I wanted to ask the author another question.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Senator Dodd, would you take another question?
- Bill Dodd
Legislator
Absolutely, yes.
- Thomas Umberg
Legislator
Just to, I understand you said that the former governor's been in touch and he's informed me that this is his life's work. In any way, shape or fashion, will this impinge, impair the operation of that military school in Oakland?
- Bill Dodd
Legislator
Absolutely not.
- Thomas Umberg
Legislator
All right. Thank you very much.
- Bill Dodd
Legislator
Excuse me, through the Chair, Mr. President.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Yes. You may answer the question.
- Bill Dodd
Legislator
Absolutely not.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Thank you. Thank you, Senator Umberg, you've completed your views today. Thank you for that. Any other comments, questions, discussion, debate, Members? Senator Dodd, you may close.
- Bill Dodd
Legislator
Members, this is an important bill that we have to look out for school districts that, we're not talking about school districts that are low performing. We're just talking about school districts that have significant declining enrollment and financially aren't able to make it.
- Bill Dodd
Legislator
And I think a lot of people are commingling that idea that these are low performing school districts and they absolutely need charter schools to uplift. I'm talking about only charter schools that have declining enrollment, that are financially distressed, and only by an independent certified. Excuse me, independent third party can make that claim to this to the school board. Respectfully ask for your I vote.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
All debate having ceased, Secretary, call the roll.
- Committee Secretary
Person
[Roll Call]
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Please call the absent Members.
- Committee Secretary
Person
[Roll Call]
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Senator Dodd moves a call. Members, we're going to move next to file item 102. This is Senate Bill 1303 by Senator Caballero. She is prepared.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Secretary, please read.
- Unidentified Speaker
Person
Senate Bill 1303 by Senator Caballero an accolade to public works.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Senator Caballero.
- Anna Caballero
Legislator
Thank you, Mister President and Members, for the opportunity to present 1303, an important Bill to increase accountability on public works projects. The labor code governing local government. Public works projects mandates that all workers receive prevailing wage and public agencies must ensure compliance with these laws.
- Anna Caballero
Legislator
But increasingly, this enforcement is delegated to private, for profit third party compliance companies. If the compliance companies find evidence of a violation, they can take punitive action against the contractor by withholding payment without due process. The compliance companies function with minimal and inconsistent processes despite receiving public dollars to do this work.
- Anna Caballero
Legislator
Additionally, the lack of rules regarding conflicts of interest and prior affiliations with contractors can compromise enforcement integrity. SB 1303 will require third party compliance companies to disclose any conflicts of interest to the division of labor Standards enforcement and to awarding agencies, and will prohibit third party compliance companies from receiving contracts if conflicts of interest exist.
- Anna Caballero
Legislator
The Bill will establish a structured process for third party compliance companies to follow if they believe a violation has occurred. Ensuring fairness and transparency. Finally, the Bill mandates that awarding agencies and third party compliance companies seek resolution of disputed labor law violations by conferring with contractors before withholding funds and stalling public projects. I respectfully ask for your Aye vote.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Thank you, Senator Caballero. Any discussion or debate on this measure? Any discussion or debate? I see No. Microphones up. Secretary, please call the roll.
- Unidentified Speaker
Person
Allen. Alvarado-Gil, Aye. Archuleta, Aye. Ashby, Aye. Atkins, Aye. Becker, Aye. Blakespear, Aye. Bradford, Aye. Caballero, Aye. Cortese, Aye. Dahle, No. Dodd, Aye. Durazo, Aye. Eggman. Glazer, Aye. Gonzalez, Aye. Grove, No. Hurtado, Aye. Jones, No. Laird, Aye. Limon, Aye. McGuire, Aye. Menjivar. Min, Aye. Newman, Aye. Nguyen, No. Niello, No. Ochoa Bach, No. Padilla, Aye. Portantino, Aye. Roth, Aye. Rubio, Aye. Seyarto, No. Skinner, Aye. Smallwood-Cuevas, Aye. Stern, Aye. Umberg, Aye. Wahab, Aye. Wiener, Aye. Wilk, No.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Please call the absent Members.
- Unidentified Speaker
Person
Allen, Eggman, Menjivar.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Members, we're going to call the roll. One last time. I'd like to ask Members, particularly those who are not on the Bill, to pay attention so that they can have the opportunity to vote if they wish. Secretary, please call the absent Members.
- Unidentified Speaker
Person
Allen, Eggman, Aye. Menjavar, Aye.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
On a vote of 31 to 8, the measure passes. We're going to move next to file item 103. File item 103. This is Senate Bill 1304 by Senator Limon. Secretary, please read.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Senate Bill 1304 by Senator Limon an accolade to oil and gas.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Senator Limon.
- Monique Limon
Legislator
Thank you. SB 1304 establishes requirements for state approval of an aquifer exemption by requiring the State Water Resource Control Board to conduct at least one decision-making public hearing, allowing the public an opportunity to speak on an exemption proposal from CalGEM and prior to sending it to the U.S. EPA.
- Monique Limon
Legislator
Requiring that the public has an opportunity to weigh in following the state waterboard findings ensures that the public can offer their opinion on how their potential drinking water may be affected by oil and gas production. I respectfully ask for an aye vote.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Thank you, Senator Limon, any discussion or debate on this measure? Discussion or debate? Seeing none. Secretary, call the roll.
- Committee Secretary
Person
[Roll call]
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Please call the absent Members.
- Committee Secretary
Person
[Roll call]
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Ayes 28, noes 10. The measure passes. Moving on to file item 104. This is Senate Bill 1321 by Senator Wahab. Secretary, please read.
- Reading Clerk
Person
Senate Bill 1321 by Senator Wahab, an act relating to employment.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Senator Wahab.
- Aisha Wahab
Legislator
Thank you. I rise to present SB 1321. SB 1321 will ensure training opportunities, funded through the Employment Training Panel, provide high-quality training opportunities for workers. ETP funds projects that projects that create high wage, high skill career pipelines for workers in manufacturing, construction, clean energy and other industries. This bill promotes a healthy labor market and helps businesses increase their competitiveness to secure federal, private sector, and other non-state funds. I respectfully ask for an aye.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Thank you, Senator Wahab. Any discussion or debate on this measure? Discussion or debate? Seeing none, Secretary, please call the roll.
- Reading Clerk
Person
[Roll Call].
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Please call the absent Members.
- Reading Clerk
Person
[Roll Call].
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
On a vote of 30 to nine, the measure passes. Members, let me give you the next run of show here. We're going to next move to File Item 107, followed by 108, 112, and 113. We'll go next to File Item 107. This is Senate Bill 1340 by Senator Smallwood-Cuevas. Secretary, please read the measure.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Senate Bill 1340 by Senator Smallwood-Cuevas, an act relating to discrimination.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Senator, the floor is yours.
- Lola Smallwood-Cuevas
Legislator
Thank you, Mister President, and good afternoon, Members. I would like to start by thanking all of this great chamber for its support around SB 150, which we passed, and I'm thrilled to present 1340 for you today.
- Lola Smallwood-Cuevas
Legislator
This Bill basically ensures that we use our incoming federal funding for infrastructure investment, such as the Jobs Act, the Inflation Reduction Act, and the CHIPS and Science Act, for workforce development, quality jobs, and most importantly, equity benefits that help ensure all access to these opportunities.
- Lola Smallwood-Cuevas
Legislator
President Biden's guidelines call for California to be competitive and to ensure this, these must be good jobs with real labor standards and have a pathway for underrepresented populations to have access to the opportunity. In order to do that, we have to address existing barriers.
- Lola Smallwood-Cuevas
Legislator
SB 1340 authorizes the Civil Rights Department to partner with local agencies to investigate and enforce cases of employment discrimination. According to our Civil Rights Department's recent reports that there have been over 23,000 employment discrimination complaints just in the last year, 2022, and that is up to 24,000 as we look at this year.
- Lola Smallwood-Cuevas
Legislator
The high volume of these complaints, in addition to the Department's responsibilities, leave CRD overburdened and understaffed.
- Lola Smallwood-Cuevas
Legislator
The Civil Rights Department in my district is staffed and ready to support the state to address claims, but existing law preempts them from investigating the large majority of claims they receive and requires that they forward to the State Department, which is already having an increasing backlog.
- Lola Smallwood-Cuevas
Legislator
With billions of IIJA dollars and other federal funding sources coming to California to create millions of new jobs, the Civil Rights Department will need local partnerships to ensure that workers are able to have their cases heard and to get them to work in a fair and equitable way. This Bill would additionally require contractors to report demographic data to our California Civil Rights Department, which will track and monitor and report this publicly.
- Lola Smallwood-Cuevas
Legislator
And lastly, SB 1340 would establish a public infrastructure task force made up of community and labor workforce experts to act as an intermediary between the state and contractors to ensure that we have strengthened recruitment, retention, and protection for our most vulnerable and underrepresented workers in the infrastructure sector.
- Lola Smallwood-Cuevas
Legislator
Tens of billions of dollars are coming to California to create good jobs and new opportunities, and we want to make sure it reaches our hardest-hit Californians. SB 1340 is a way to ensure that and ensure that historically disadvantaged communities get the opportunity they deserve. And I respectfully ask for your aye vote.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Thank you, Senator. Any discussion or debate on this measure? Any discussion or debate? Seeing none. Secretary, please call the roll.
- Committee Secretary
Person
[Roll call]
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Please call the absent Members.
- Committee Secretary
Person
[Roll call]
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
On a vote of 30 to eight, the measure passes. Members, we're going to move next to file item 108. This is Senate Bill 1375 by Senator Durazo.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Secretary, please read.
- Reading Clerk
Person
Senate Bill 1375 by Senator Durazo, an act relating to workforce development.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Senator Durazo.
- Maria Elena Durazo
Legislator
Thank you, Mr. President. SB 1375 reserves two percent of federal infrastructure money for an equity climate resilience and quality jobs fund to support sector-based workforce development through high-road training partnerships and other quality training programs that reach communities with the highest barriers to economic equity. Again, it sets aside two percent of our federal infrastructure dollars.
- Maria Elena Durazo
Legislator
This bill will assist state agencies with applying high-road standards for the benefit of our communities. California has labor standards in construction. Federal dollars include prevailing wage and project labor agreements, but it leaves us with a gap for manufacturing, operations, maintenance, and services, and there's a pressing need to train the workforce needed to reach our climate goals.
- Maria Elena Durazo
Legislator
These federal dollars are critical to keeping our workforce programs funded, especially during a difficult budget year. SB 1375 will make California competitive for even more federal funding. For example, in Pennsylvania, the Governor created the program by reserving three percent of all the funding it receives from the federal government. We need both investments in training and standards embedded in our public contracts. California tax dollars could go to out-of-state companies instead of benefiting California workers.
- Maria Elena Durazo
Legislator
Our work on high-road labor and equity standards is extremely important, and the current Administration, Biden Administration, has been clear that federal investments are meant to impact jobs, the economy, and poverty. They expect states to include labor standards and equity when using federal dollars. Thank you, and I ask for an aye vote.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Thank you, Senator Durazo. Any discussion or debate on this measure? Any discussion or debate? Seeing none, Secretary, please call the roll.
- Reading Clerk
Person
[Roll Call].
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
On a vote of 31 to 8, the measure passes. We are going to move next to file item 112. This is Senate Bill 1402 by Senator Min. Secretary, please read.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Senate Bill 1402 by Senator Min, an act relating to environmental protection.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Senator Minn.
- Dave Min
Legislator
Thank you, Mister President. SB 1402 would require all state agencies to consider 30 x 30 goals when adopting, revising or establishing plans, policies and regulations that directly affect land use, natural resources management, water use and quality, and biodiversity conservation. This Bill builds on previous actions, including Governor Newsom's Executive Order N8220, as well as my Bill last year, SB 337, that established the 30 x 30 goals as part of California law.
- Dave Min
Legislator
California of course, is home to one of 25 global biodiversity hotspots. But this biodiversity continues to be under threat from climate change, habit loss and fragmentation, invasive species, disease, pests and pollution. We've made critical investments in conservation to further the 30 x 30 goal. And it's important that this goal also be rooted in the plans, policies and regulations of our state agencies. Respectfully ask for your aye vote.
- Caroline Menjivar
Legislator
Thank you, Senator. Do we have any discussion on this item? Do not see any. Secretary, please call the roll.
- Committee Secretary
Person
[Roll Call].
- Caroline Menjivar
Legislator
Secretary please call the absent Members.
- Committee Secretary
Person
[Roll Call].
- Committee Secretary
Person
[Roll Call]
- Caroline Menjivar
Legislator
Ayes 30, noes nine. The measure passes. Colleagues, we're going to have the next two by our presiding officer of the day. File item 113 and file item 178. Senator Glazer, are you prepared? Secretary, please read.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Senate Bill 1404 by Senator Glazer, an act relating to the Political Reform Act of 1974, making an appropriation therefore.
- Caroline Menjivar
Legislator
Senator.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Thank you, Madam President. This bill transfers the duty of performing lobbying audits from the Franchise Tax Board to the Fair Political Practice Commission. And it establishes a lobbyist and lobbyist employer registration fee to cover the cost of the auditing system. Let me give you some background.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Under the Political Reform Act of 1974, for whatever reason, the Franchise Tax Board was required to randomly audit 25% of lobbyists and lobbyists employers every two years. Unfortunately, the Franchise Tax Board has essentially failed to comply with the law, as shown during an oversight Committee of the Senate Committee on Elections and Constitutional Amendments last year.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
In fact, during the testimony, it became clear that almost no audits were being done over a 10 year period. In some years, three or four were done in some years, none. At a time in which they should have audited over 1,000 lobbyists and lobbyist employers. Auditing is an important public accountability tool.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
The failure to hold lobbying firms accountable has major implications for how legislators do their work. This bill will improve its system of honest reporting on money spent to influence legislators and legislation. I know that the vast majority of lobbyists and lobbyist firms practice legally, ethically, and within the spirit of the law. But it is a matter of ensuring public confidence in the work that they do that I ask you to vote aye on this measure today.
- Caroline Menjivar
Legislator
Do we have any discussion? I don't see any. Secretary, please call the roll.
- Committee Secretary
Person
[Roll Call]
- Caroline Menjivar
Legislator
Please call the absent Members.
- Committee Secretary
Person
[Roll Call]
- Caroline Menjivar
Legislator
Ayes 28, noes two. Measure passes. Moving on to file item 178.
- Caroline Menjivar
Legislator
Secretary, please read.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Senate Bill 1482 by Senator Glazer, an act relating to financing.
- Caroline Menjivar
Legislator
Senator Glazer.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Thank you, Madam President. This Bill would require commercial finance providers and brokers to register with the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation before providing services to California's small businesses. The Bill is a response to providers and brokers using exploitive practices to maximize their profits, lending practices that resemble those during the 2008 financial crisis.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
The Bill was recently amended in Senate Appropriations to address financial concerns, changing the scope of the Bill from a licensing scheme to a registration scheme. The Bill passed policy committees with bipartisan support. But that I respectfully asked for your aye vote today.
- Caroline Menjivar
Legislator
Thank you, Senator. Senator Grove, you're recognized.
- Shannon Grove
Legislator
Thank you, Madam Chair. Question to the author.
- Caroline Menjivar
Legislator
Would the author take a question?
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Yes.
- Caroline Menjivar
Legislator
Senator Grove, you may proceed.
- Shannon Grove
Legislator
Just a curious question. Substantial, substantive amendments that were altered in appropriations or minor amendments.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
I would say that there would be considered significant amendments to the extent that we had a licensing scheme in the Bill before, which is a whole regulatory requirement that is more complex now. It's simply. It's been changed to a registration scheme, much more simple and streamlined in response to the concerns from opponents.
- Shannon Grove
Legislator
And those amendments were taken in Appropriations?
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Yes.
- Shannon Grove
Legislator
Thank you, sir.
- Brian Jones
Legislator
Senator Jones, you're recognized.
- Brian Jones
Legislator
Thank you, Madam President. Members, I voted no on this Bill in Appropriations, but because of the amendments, I am voting aye today.
- Caroline Menjivar
Legislator
Thank you, Senator. Any further discussion? Seeing none. Senator Glazer, you may close.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Thank you for the consideration today. We try to be responsive to the concerns that had been raised on this Bill. It's all about trying to protect small businesses, particularly those that don't have the financial wherewithal to make sure they are understanding the cost of financing. And with that, respectfully ask for your support today.
- Caroline Menjivar
Legislator
Thank you, Senator. Secretary, please call the roll.
- Committee Secretary
Person
[Roll call]
- Caroline Menjivar
Legislator
Please call the absent Members.
- Committee Secretary
Person
[Roll call]
- Bob Archuleta
Legislator
Ayes 39, no zero. Measure passes. Next three up, we have 116, 117, and 118. Colleagues, I'm asking that we stay on the floor. We're also going to be lifting the calls. We're going to start with 116. Senator Ashby, are you prepared for file item 116?
- Caroline Menjivar
Legislator
Secretary, please read.
- Reading Clerk
Person
Senate Bill 1498 by Senator Ashby, an act relating to cannabis.
- Angelique Ashby
Legislator
Thank you, Madam President. Rise to present SB 1498: Cannabis Advertising Act. This bill provides a necessary enforcement tool to address the illegal marketing of cannabis and cannabis products that are attractive to children. Current law prohibits cannabis--I'm sorry--cannabis licensees from advertising products that are attractive to children.
- Angelique Ashby
Legislator
However, some cannabis operators choose to willfully violate that law by continuing to advertise these products, leaving the promise of Prop 64 unfulfilled. SB 1498 allows the Attorney General, a district attorney, County Council, or a city attorney to enforce the law when a cannabis operator is in violation of existing youth protection laws. This bill seeks to keep our kids safe and ensure that Prop 64 is implemented. As attended, this bill enjoys bipartisan support and has no registered opposition. Urge an aye vote.
- Caroline Menjivar
Legislator
Thank you, Senator. Any discussion on this item? This item is eligible for unanimous roll call. First item of the day, eligible for unanimous. Secretary, please call the roll.
- Reading Clerk
Person
[Roll Call].
- Caroline Menjivar
Legislator
Please call the absent Members.
- Reading Clerk
Person
[Roll Call].
- Caroline Menjivar
Legislator
Ayes: 38; no: zero, and the measure passes. Senator Durazo, are you prepared? She is prepared for File Item 117.
- Caroline Menjivar
Legislator
Secretary, please read.
- Unidentified Speaker
Person
Senate Bill 1500 by Senator Durazo accolade to housing and making an appropriation therefore.
- Caroline Menjivar
Legislator
Please proceed, Senator.
- Maria Elena Durazo
Legislator
Thank you, Madam President. The cost of housing has become an extremely large burden, especially for our Low and extremely Low income households. To help provide housing opportunities for Low income individuals, cities like Los Angeles provide voucher programs to incentivize developers to house such Low income prospective tenants.
- Maria Elena Durazo
Legislator
Mayor Bass has been working extremely hard to address the homelessness, and this could be one tool. In 2023, US Department of Housing granted waivers to the city and County of LA for greater flexibility to move unhoused, unhoused people into temporary housing. Housing providers, however, have expressed a risk with the current housing voucher systems and rules.
- Maria Elena Durazo
Legislator
For example, if these providers house families based on their current economic situation, once they have formal documentation, they may later find discrepancies. SB 1500 addresses this issue by providing these vouchers with more flexibility to the developers and operators. I ask for your. Aye vote. Thank you.
- Caroline Menjivar
Legislator
Thank you, Senator. See no discussion. Any discussion. See none. Secretary, please call the roll.
- Unidentified Speaker
Person
Allen. Alvarado-Gil. Archuleta, Aye. Ashby, Aye. Atkins, Aye. Becker, Aye. Blakespear, Aye. Bradford, Aye. Caballero, Aye. Cortese, Aye. Dahle, No. Dodd, Aye. Durazo, Aye. Eggman, Aye. Glazer, Aye. Gonzalez, Aye. Grove, No. Hurtado. Jones, No. Laird, Aye. Limon, Aye. McGuire, Aye. Menjivar, Aye. Min, Aye. Newman, Aye. Nguyen, No. Niello, No. Ochoa Bach. Padilla, Aye. Portantino, Aye. Roth, Aye. Rubio, Aye. Seyarto, No. Skinner, Aye. Smallwood-Cuevas, Aye. Stern, Aye. Umberg, Aye. Wahab, Aye. Wiener, Aye. Wilk, No.
- Caroline Menjivar
Legislator
Secretary, please call the absent Members.
- Caroline Menjivar
Legislator
Allen. Alvarado-Gil, Aye. Hurtado. Ochoa Bach, No.
- Caroline Menjivar
Legislator
We're going to take a five second pause.
- Caroline Menjivar
Legislator
Senator Durazo moves the call. Five item 118. Senator Wiener? He is prepared. Secretary please read.
- Caroline Menjivar
Legislator
Secretary, please read.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Senate Bill 951 by Senator Wiener, an act relating to coastal resources.
- Caroline Menjivar
Legislator
Senator?
- Scott Wiener
Legislator
Thank you, Madam President and colleagues. SB 951 relates to the coastal zone. It does two things. First, it aligns the timetable for local coastal plan amendments with the timetable for housing elements.
- Scott Wiener
Legislator
In addition, it clarifies that for purposes of appealability to the Coastal Commission, a city and county will be treated as a city instead of as a county. I respectfully ask for an aye vote.
- Caroline Menjivar
Legislator
Thank you, Senator. Any discussion on file item 118? Here we go. This is eligible for unanimous roll call. We'll keep trying. Secretary, please call the roll.
- Committee Secretary
Person
[Roll call]
- Caroline Menjivar
Legislator
Senator Wiener moves a call. File Item--next three are File Item 121, 127, and 128. Senator Newman, kick us off with File Item 121. He is ready. Secretary, please read.
- Reading Clerk
Person
Senate Bill 1202 by Senator Newman, an act relating to workplace safety.
- Caroline Menjivar
Legislator
Please proceed, Senator.
- Josh Newman
Legislator
Thank you, Madam President. I rise to present SB 1202, which will require CalHR to issue an annual report on workplace assaults against public employees. According to the Department of Justice, public employees experience workplace violence incidents at rates three times higher than private employees. SB 1202 will ensure greater oversight of these incidents by requiring CalHR to report such incidents annually to this Legislature.
- Josh Newman
Legislator
The implementation of SB 553, authored by Senator Cortese and passed last year, will help remedy this issue by mandating workplace violence prevention plans and the maintenance of records related to violent incidents so that union representatives may access and utilize this data.
- Josh Newman
Legislator
SB 1202 seeks to further advance the intent of SB 553 by requiring an annual report of workplace assaults on public sector employees to the Legislature. I am respectfully asking for your aye vote this afternoon.
- Caroline Menjivar
Legislator
Another one bites the dust. This was also eligible for unanimous roll call, but not everyone is here, so, Secretary, please call the roll.
- Reading Clerk
Person
[Roll Call].
- Caroline Menjivar
Legislator
Senator Newman moves a call. Moving on to File Item 127. Majority leader is prepared.
- Caroline Menjivar
Legislator
Secretary, please read.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Senate Bill 934 by Senator Gonzalez, an act relating to transportation.
- Caroline Menjivar
Legislator
Senator.
- Lena Gonzalez
Legislator
Thank you, Madam President. And Members arise today to present SB 934, which will coordinate the infrastructure build-out needed to transition California's freight sector to zero emissions technology. One of the major impediments to the successful implementation of this regulation is the lack of available charging and refueling infrastructure, especially for medium and heavy-duty vehicles.
- Lena Gonzalez
Legislator
SB 934 will help address this barrier to adopt to adoption by establishing a central delivery team for freight zero-emission vehicle infrastructure at the California Energy Commission and the CTC, the California Transportation Commission. I respectfully ask for an aye vote on SB 934.
- Caroline Menjivar
Legislator
Thank you. Any discussion? File item 127. Secretary, please call the roll.
- Committee Secretary
Person
[Roll call]
- Caroline Menjivar
Legislator
Senator Gonzalez moves a call. The next three on deck are file item 128, 129, and 132. Senator Skinner is prepared with file item 128.
- Caroline Menjivar
Legislator
Secretary, please read.
- Reading Clerk
Person
Senate Bill 941 by Senator Skinner, an act relating to greenhouse gases.
- Caroline Menjivar
Legislator
Senator Skinner.
- Nancy Skinner
Legislator
Thank you, Madam President and Members. SB 941 directs our California Air Resources Board too in their next readily scheduled scoping plan. So, part of CARB's statutory responsibilities are to update the Scoping Plan under AB 32 periodically, and the next update would be in 2027, and this would require them to include industrial decarbonization in that next scheduled scoping plan.
- Nancy Skinner
Legislator
The bill does not specify particular aspects of industrial decarbonization that they have to take up, but rather it just acknowledges that as we are moving to reduce emissions from our electricity sector because we are increasing renewable generation, and as we are reducing emissions from our transportation sector, because we are moving off of fossil fuels, then the industrial sector--and these are things like cement and others--their emissions go up. So it's just to bring that attention to ARB, to ask them to incorporate that in their scoping plan, and with that, I ask for your aye vote.
- Caroline Menjivar
Legislator
Senator Grove.
- Shannon Grove
Legislator
Thank you, Madam President. The comments that we are transitioning off of fossil fuels are just incorrect. We consume 1.8 million barrels of oil every single day. We're just getting them from countries like Iraq, Ecuador, Saudi Arabia, Russia, and I just want you to think about the consequences of the policies that come out of this, this building. I mean, our policies create global problems and insecurities when it comes to the domestic energy production that we should have here in the State of California.
- Shannon Grove
Legislator
If you're looking at carbon emissions, which this bill would address CARB in the Scoping Plan, we recently requested some information from CARB because we were concerned about the bunker fuel on these ships that bring this oil product that we use every single day from foreign countries into this state and offload them on our ports. CARB gave us some minuscule--I think it was seven million metric tons.
- Shannon Grove
Legislator
And we know that it takes approximately 126 million metric tons to bring a ship here, so we asked them why we are not--this was not accurate information and where they were getting it. We were informed that they just take the word of the foreign operator. So whoever's bringing us that product that we use every day, they just take the word of the carbon emissions that they spew hundreds of miles, hundreds of thousands of miles across our ecosystem to bring us the oil that we need, and then they also only count 12 miles off our coastline.
- Shannon Grove
Legislator
So they don't even count point of origin to point of destination. So if you're really looking at the carbon emissions reduction and inquiring and having CARB do a true traditional scoping plan on the true carbon emissions that California is actually producing because of their import policies and the cost of importing that which adds to every dollar of gas or every gallon of gas that we sell in this state for import and transportation cost, we need to do a scoping plan or instruct CARB to have the correct and proper data.
- Shannon Grove
Legislator
This does not include the correct and proper data of what these policies create in this state. It is not true data when they produce this scoping plan, because if it was true data, you would incorporate all of these carbon emissions that are being created by policies that get out of this building. Respectfully ask for a no vote.
- Caroline Menjivar
Legislator
Thank you, Senator. Any further discussion? Senator Skinner, you may close.
- Nancy Skinner
Legislator
Apologies that I made the reference to transition off fossil fuels to prompt the particular floor debate, but this bill is not addressing that. It is rather addressing the industrial processes like cement manufacture, food processing, and others, and asking ARB to include those in the updated scoping plan, and with that, I ask for your aye vote.
- Caroline Menjivar
Legislator
Thank you, Senator. Secretary, please call the roll.
- Reading Clerk
Person
[Roll Call].
- Caroline Menjivar
Legislator
Secretary, please call the absent Members.
- Reading Clerk
Person
[Roll Call].
- Caroline Menjivar
Legislator
Ayes: 31; noes: five. The measure passes. File Item 132--sorry--129. 129. Senator Becker is prepared.
- Caroline Menjivar
Legislator
Secretary, please read.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Senate Bill 942 by Senator Becker. An act relating to consumer protection.
- Caroline Menjivar
Legislator
Senator Becker.
- Josh Becker
Legislator
I thank you. I rise present SB 942. This is the California Artificial Intelligence Transparency Act. Bill takes an important step to addressing the proliferation of AI generated content. As AI technology advances, distinguishing between human and machine generated content is becoming increasingly challenging. This ambiguity poses significant societal risks, including disinformation, harassment, and fraud.
- Josh Becker
Legislator
We all know about recent deepfake incidents, including clone voicemails of President Biden, highlighting how easily this can be used for harassment or political manipulation. There's a family in my district. They got a call. They thought it was from their son. And they talked to him for a long time.
- Josh Becker
Legislator
He got into a car accident, put the lawyers on the phone. They wired bail money. It turns out it wasn't him at all. So we have to address this, and clearly, transparency is needed. This Bill is in sync with the recent EU AI act, and it serves to address the ambiguity by doing three things.
- Josh Becker
Legislator
Number one, label AI generated content with visible and imperceptible embedded disclosures. Number two, supply an AI detection tool for users to query whether the content was created by AI. And third, enforce third party licensees to the extent technically feasible to prevent undisclosed content publication. I respectfully ask for your aye vote. Thank you.
- Caroline Menjivar
Legislator
Any discussion on file item 129. Secretary, please call the roll.
- Committee Secretary
Person
[Roll Call]
- Caroline Menjivar
Legislator
Secretary, please call the absent members.
- Committee Secretary
Person
[Absent Roll Call]
- Caroline Menjivar
Legislator
Ayes 32, noes one, measure passes. Senator Portantino, are you prepared for file item 132? He is.
- Caroline Menjivar
Legislator
Secretary, please read.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Senate Bill 971 by Senator Portantino, an act relating to community colleges.
- Caroline Menjivar
Legislator
Senator.
- Anthony Portantino
Legislator
Thank you, Madam President and Members. Sadly, we know there are a number of regional military conflicts around the globe, displacing thousands of refugees. My own district has been quite affected by the 90,000 to 100,000 refugees from Artsakh who have had to flee their home countries.
- Anthony Portantino
Legislator
I was recently invited to a program at Glendale College where the students were raising money to pay for the college education of some of the refugee students who have come to Glendale.
- Anthony Portantino
Legislator
And later, after that very, very powerful experience of seeing California students giving back to their compatriots from Artsakh to help students get educated, I was approached by the college to say, you know what? Why don't we allow these refugees to attend college in California and in-state tuition rates?
- Anthony Portantino
Legislator
And so, this Bill, as it left the Appropriations Committee, has one community college in the southern part of our state, one in the central part of our state, and one in the northern part of our state to try to see if we can provide the educational opportunity to these refugees.
- Anthony Portantino
Legislator
I strongly again, I appreciate the young people who were so altruistic in their approach to life. And respectfully asked for an aye vote.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Any discussion or debate on this measure? Any discussion or debate? Seeing none. Secretary, please call the roll.
- Committee Secretary
Person
[Roll call]
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Please call the absent Members.
- Committee Secretary
Person
[Roll call]
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
On a vote of 33 to four, the measure passes. Going to move next to file item 133. This is Senate Bill 977 by Senator Laird.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Secretary, please read.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Senate Bill 977 by Senator Laird, an act relating to elections.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Senator Laird.
- John Laird
Legislator
Thank you very much, Mister President. Senate Bill 977 will establish an Independent Redistricting Commission in San Luis Obispo County for the five county supervisorial seats that make up the Board of Supervisors. We have taken recent technical amendments that clarify inclusion of all the Elections Code, Section 21130 in regard to the Fair Maps Act to ensure districts are substantially equal in population, adopted boundaries that comply with the constitutions of California and the United States and the federal Voting Rights Act, and that the Commission report on its decisions within 21 days.
- John Laird
Legislator
The Commission is created in alignment with other redistricting commissions such as those in the counties of Los Angeles and Sacramento. This is a priority Bill for the Central Coast Legislative Caucus. The Bill supported by the County of San Luis Obispo and AFSCME. There's no registered opposition. I respectfully ask for an aye vote.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Thank you, Senator Laird, any discussion on this measure? Any discussion? Seeing none. Secretary, please call the roll.
- Committee Secretary
Person
[Roll call]
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Please call the absent Members.
- Committee Secretary
Person
[Roll call]
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
On a vote of 31 to eight, the measure carries. Members, here's the program ahead. First of all, thank you for all your good work today. A lot of serious issues that we've had an opportunity to discuss and act upon. The plan now is to take bills off of call.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
So, we're going to pause for a moment to get everything lined up for the bills off of call. We'd like to ask all the Members to return to the floor, be at your desks. It requires a lot of attention to go through so many bills that are on call that we can resolve before the dinner break.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Okay, Members, we're ready to pull bills off of call. Hopefully, you know how to find your bills that you're not on in your computer there that can create that list for you. We're going to go fairly quickly, so we need everybody's attention. I like to ask all conversations to cease while we take these bills off of call. All right, we're going to begin with file item 35. This is Senate Bill 1280. Secretary, please call the absent Members.
- Committee Secretary
Person
[Roll Call]
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
All right, let's. We're going to try to do this once, but we're going to ask the secretary this time to to call the absent Members one more time. On a vote of 32 to seven, the measure carries. We're going to move next to file item 38. This is Senate Bill 1140 by Senator Caballero. Secretary, please call the absent Members.
- Committee Secretary
Person
[Roll Call]
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
On a vote of 22 to 12, the measure passes. Members, fantastic work today. We are well on our way to completing 110 bills, which is our goal for the evening. We're going to be breaking for 45 minutes for dinner. We'd ask that no Members leave the Capitol grounds to stay here. Please. Dinner will be provided.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Please do not return to your offices. So we're in recess for 45 minutes. We should be back here at 6:30. We'll be back in session. Members, we're in recess. The Senate will convene in 30 seconds. The Senate will be back from recess in 30 seconds.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
All right, Members, welcome back. We are going to continue with third reading. Let me make a couple of mentions before we get to third reading. We have completed 75 bills thus far today. Can I get a yeehaw?
- Unidentified Speaker
Person
Yeehaw
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
I was doing that. I was trying to channel the pro tem there. We're going to work the file this evening until we dispense with a total of 110 bills. Now, everybody has a goal that we can work towards. The more work we do today, the earlier we'll make our work week later, so that hopefully gives some enthusiasm to our work that we're going to now begin with.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Senator Wahab is the first Bill up. This is Senate Bill 984, file item 134. Secretary, please read.
- Unidentified Speaker
Person
Senate Bill 984 by Senator Wahab relating to public contracts.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Senator Wahab, kick us off here in the evening session.
- Aisha Wahab
Legislator
Thank you. Give me 2 seconds. Sorry. Alright.
- Aisha Wahab
Legislator
I rise to present SB 984, project labor agreements. Project labor agreements provide proper compensation, benefits, and opportunities to hardworking Californians, including women, veterans, BIPOC, and juvenile involved individuals in our construction workforce. SB 984 requires the California State University and the California courts to identify three major construction projects to be governed by a PLA beginning in 2029.
- Aisha Wahab
Legislator
SB 984 will also require the Department of General Services to report progress of community benefit goals, apprenticeships, and project labor agreements on their projects. SB 984 ensures that the state's investments in public infrastructure are protected from costly delays and promote high quality jobs. I respectfully ask for Aye vote.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Thank you, Senator Wahab. Discussion and debate. Discussion or debate, Members on this measure. Alright seeing no microphones up, secretary, please call the roll.
- Unidentified Speaker
Person
Allen. Alvarado-Gil. Archuleta, Aye. Ashby, Aye. Atkins, Aye. Becker, Aye. Blakespear, Aye. Bradford, Aye. Caballero, Aye. Cortese, Aye. Dahle, No. Dodd, Aye. Durazo, Aye. Eggman, No. Glazer, No. Gonzalez, Aye. Grove. Hurtado, Aye. Jones, No. Laird, Aye. Limon. McGuire, Aye. Menjivar, Aye. Min, Aye. Newman, Aye. Nguyen, No. Niello, No. Ochoa Bach, Aye. Padilla, Aye. Portantino. Roth, Aye. Rubio. Seyarto, No. Skinner, Aye. Smallwood-Cuevas. Stern, Aye. Umberg, Aye. Wahab, Aye. Wiener. Wilk, Aye.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Members, we're gonna go through the role one more time. We do have a full house, so we're not planning to put anything on call. Secretary, please call the absent Members.
- Unidentified Speaker
Person
Allen. Alvarado-Gil, No. Grove, No. Limon, Aye. Portantino, Aye. Rubio. Aye. Smallwood- Cuevas, Wiener.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Secretary, please call the absent Members.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Allen. Smallwood-Cuevas, Aye. Wiener.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
On a vote of 28 to 10, the measure passes, we're going to move on to file item 135. This is Senate Bill 1016 by Senator Gonzalez.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Secretary, please read.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Senate Bill 1016 by Senator Gonzalez and an act relating to data collection.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Senator Gonzalez?
- Lena Gonzalez
Legislator
Thank you, Mister President and members. I rise today to present SB 1016, which will help uncover trends and disparities that are often hidden in aggregated health data for Latinos and Indigenous Mesoamericans. These distinctions hide in the monolithic term of Latino, which leads to less detailed and nuanced health information.
- Lena Gonzalez
Legislator
SB 1016 will address these shortcomings by requiring that DPH, Department of Public Health, to collect and release disaggregated data for specified Latino subgroups. I respectfully ask for an aye vote of SB 1016.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Thank you, Senator Gonzalez. Does any Senator wish to be heard on this measure? Seeing none. Secretary, please call the roll.
- Committee Secretary
Person
[Roll Call]
- Committee Secretary
Person
[Roll Call]
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Please call the absent Members.
- Committee Secretary
Person
[Absent Roll Call]
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
On a vote of 34 to zero, the measure passes. Next up, file item 136. This is SB 1032 by Senator Padilla. Secretary, please read.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Senate Bill 1032 by Senator Padilla, an act relating to housing.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Senator Padilla.
- Steve Padilla
Legislator
Thank you, Mister President and colleagues. SB 1032 would provide the Department of Housing and Community Development with the authority to forgive loans provided to housing providers if the loans are impeding the borrower's ability to maintain and operate projects for affordable housing or senior housing.
- Steve Padilla
Legislator
In the 1980s and 1990s, HCD provided several loan programs to affordable housing providers to preserve existing units across the state. While it was easy to obtain the loan, repaying them has proven much more difficult. The premise was that housing developers would be able to repay loan balance through high profits made on affordable housing developments.
- Steve Padilla
Legislator
However, there is often little to no profit to be made and providers find themselves carrying long-term debt. SB 1032 will help address the housing shortage by allowing permissively HCD to forgive these loans to help affordable housing providers continue to operate and get more access to capital under specific conditions.
- Steve Padilla
Legislator
This is critical for many of the housing agencies that would benefit from this loan forgiveness serve as the main or sole affordable housing provider in their region. The Bill will maintain the affordability of the units and increase access to capital so developers can maintain the supply they already operate and potentially build more affordable housing options. And I would respectfully ask for an aye vote.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Thank you, Senator Padilla. Any Member wishes to be heard on this measure? Any discussion? Seeing none. Secretary, please call the roll.
- Committee Secretary
Person
[Roll call]
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Please call the absent Members.
- Committee Secretary
Person
[Roll call]
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
On a vote of 31 to seven, the measure passes. We're going to move next to file item 139. This is Senate Bill 1047 by Senator Wiener. Secretary, please read.
- Reading Clerk
Person
Senate Bill 1047 by Senator Wiener, an act relating to artificial intelligence.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Senator Wiener, the floor is yours.
- Scott Wiener
Legislator
Thank you very much, Mr. President. Colleagues, I rise to present Senate Bill 1047. This legislation has two main goals: promoting the responsible development of frontier artificial intelligence models, large, very powerful models, and also supporting competition and innovation in AI. Artificial intelligence has enormous potential to benefit California, our nation, and the entire world in so many ways.
- Scott Wiener
Legislator
At the same time, scientists, engineers, and business leaders at the forefront of this technology, including two of the most cited machine-learning researchers of all time who support this bill, have repeatedly warned policymakers that failure to take appropriate precautions could have severe consequences.
- Scott Wiener
Legislator
With Congress not moving forward, and with the future of the Biden Administration's executive order in doubt, California has an indispensable role to play in ensuring that we can develop this extremely powerful technology with basic safety guardrails so that we can allow society to experience AI's significant, massive benefits in a safe way.
- Scott Wiener
Legislator
SB 1047 sets out clear standards for developers of extremely powerful AI systems. Systems that meet the bill's threshold would currently cost more than 100 million dollars to train, and would be substantially more powerful than any system that exists today. Specifically, SB 1047 clarifies that developers of these models must take basic precautions, such as pre-deployment safety testing and cybersecurity protections.
- Scott Wiener
Legislator
The bill also helps ensure that California remain the world leader in AI innovation, of which we should all be proud, by establishing a process to create a public cloud computing cluster called CalCompute that will conduct research into the safe and secure deployment of large scale AI models.
- Scott Wiener
Legislator
In response to feedback from key stakeholders in the open source and startup communities, I continue to make a commitment to continue soliciting and incorporating constructive feedback as this bill, I hope, moves over to the Assembly to ensure that only the truly largest and most powerful models are affected by the bill, that which has always been our intent. We have the support for this bill from a number of AI startups, from the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce, from AI safety organizations, and I respectfully ask for your aye vote.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Thank you, Senator Wiener. Is there a Member of the Senate that wants to be heard on this measure? Seeing none, Secretary, please call the roll.
- Reading Clerk
Person
[Roll Call].
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Please call the absent Members.
- Reading Clerk
Person
[Roll Call].
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Ayes: 32; noes: one. The measure passes. All right, we're moving on now to File Item 141. This is Senate Bill 1053 by Senator Blakespear.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Secretary, please read.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Senate Bill 1053 by Senator Blakespear, an act relating to solid waste.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Senator Blakespear.
- Catherine Blakespear
Legislator
Thank you. President and colleagues, I rise to present SB 1053, which will finally eliminate those thick plastic film bags that we see at grocery stores to carry home our groceries. It was a decade ago when this very body passed SB 270, and voters voted to approve making California the first state to phase out single use plastic bags.
- Catherine Blakespear
Legislator
But unfortunately, a loophole in the definition of reusable and recyclable opened the door to thicker plastic bags, which are impossible to recycle in any facility in California. It is clear from the data that we have fallen short.
- Catherine Blakespear
Legislator
We have seen a 47% increase in annual plastic bag waste into our landfills since the original law was passed in 2014 compared to 2022. This is unacceptable, and why SB 1053 is important to address this plastic waste throughout the state.
- Catherine Blakespear
Legislator
Globally, we use an estimated 5 trillion plastic bags a year, with the average American using one plastic bag a day. Day. A plastic bag has an average lifespan of just 12 minutes, and then it is discarded, often clogging sewage drains, contaminating our drinking water, and degenerating into tiny microplastics that fester in our oceans and landfills.
- Catherine Blakespear
Legislator
And if we only account for coastal regions alone, some 18 billion pounds of plastic waste flows into our oceans from these regions. This is the equivalent of five grocery bags sitting on every foot of coastline around the world. We deserve better, and we must demand better.
- Catherine Blakespear
Legislator
This is now a bipartisan effort, and International Paper has recently come on in support. Our coalition of support ranges from strong environmental groups to the Grocery Association and other businesses who want to do better for our environment. I respectfully urge your aye vote. Thank you.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Thank you, Senator Blakespear. I see microphones up from Senator Limon and Senator Durazo. We'll begin first with Senator Limon.
- Monique Limon
Legislator
Thank you. Thank you, Members. I rise as a co-author in support of SB 1053. SB 54 was intended to only apply to single-use packaging. The thick plastic grocery bags available at stores are not included in SB 54.
- Monique Limon
Legislator
For these thick plastic bags to be used in the state, they must be certified by multiple useful and be recycled in California. While these bags are legally considered reusable, we know consumers rarely return them to the store to use them again, and we know they are not recycled.
- Monique Limon
Legislator
Manufacturers have asked to amend SB 1053 to add these thick plastic bags to SB 54 instead of banning them outright. Members, when SB 270 passed, the Legislature voted to ban single-use plastic bags at grocery stores. Voters then upheld this policy at the ballot box. Californians were clear in asking stores to sell reusable recyclable bags.
- Monique Limon
Legislator
After 10 years, these bags have failed on both accounts. Adding these bags to SB 54 now would draw out the use of these unwanted bags longer, undermining the will of the voters.
- Monique Limon
Legislator
These bags are a contaminant in the recycling stream, precisely the type of material we want out of the system to improve the recycling potential of truly recyclable material. We have had these thicker bags for a decade, and they have not been collected and recycled successfully. We don't need to wait another 10 years.
- Monique Limon
Legislator
I respectfully ask for an aye vote.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Thank you, Senator Limone. Senator Durazo, the floor is yours.
- Maria Elena Durazo
Legislator
Thank you. A question to the author.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Will the author take a question?
- Catherine Blakespear
Legislator
The author will.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Okay, Senator Durazo, please proceed.
- Maria Elena Durazo
Legislator
Thank you. I just want to say before my question that I totally agree with what you're doing in this Bill. There's no disagreement there.
- Maria Elena Durazo
Legislator
What was brought to my attention by the grocery workers is about the information on the reusable bag sales and that we would be able to aggregate the information per retailer and also remove local preemption to allow jurisdictions to require reporting of reusable bag sales. So, if you could respond to that concern. Thank you.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Senator Blakespear, you may respond.
- Catherine Blakespear
Legislator
Yes, thank you. So, the question of where is the cents going? Which is essentially the question being, being posed to me by my colleague. I see that as a completely unrelated issue to banning plastic bags.
- Catherine Blakespear
Legislator
So, at the grocery store, when you buy your groceries, if you bring your reusable bag, you can take them home in that, or you could buy a 10-cent paper bag and take them home. This is, Trader Joe's is already doing this.
- Catherine Blakespear
Legislator
The question of eliminating plastic as an option is unrelated to the issue of what is happening with that 10 cents. I'll also note that that was a standalone Bill last year that was vetoed by the Governor. So, inserting that into this Bill, which is essentially about plastic reduction, is a poison pill that we were unwilling to accept. So, hopefully that answers the question.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
It seems to have. Senator Durazo's mic is down. I see Senator Dahle to be heard next.
- Brian Dahle
Legislator
Thank you, Mister Speaker.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Speaker, no.
- Brian Dahle
Legislator
Mister President. Excuse me, Mister President. I just want to maybe add a little light to this. I saw this Bill in EQ and I was somebody who was, I don't like plastic bags blowing around. I care about the environment and quite frankly, paper bags are good for my district because we grow trees and paper's great with me.
- Brian Dahle
Legislator
But what really, I think frustrates me about the battle over plastic bags is the money part of it. I happened to be in the Assembly when we had the debate over plastic bags and the grocers fought the plastic bag ban until they got to make a lot of money.
- Brian Dahle
Legislator
They buy the bags for a couple cents, and they were able to sell them as high as 25 cents and that money went in their pocket. And then my friends on the environmental side supported that. It didn't do anything for the environment and the money actually went to the store so they could profit.
- Brian Dahle
Legislator
So, for me, I was very frustrated because I don't want to see the bags blown around and I'm also frustrated with my friends on the environment because they just want to drive the cost up.
- Brian Dahle
Legislator
That's what they do in housing, that's what they do in all kinds of things is just drive the cost up, so we can't afford it, and that's one way of stopping it. So, this Bill, let's talk about this Bill for a moment.
- Brian Dahle
Legislator
This Bill still allows the grocer to make money off of the paper bag at your expense. There's no money going to the environment here. And so for me, that's the problem. It's like, what are you doing? We're just forcing people with money to make the decision instead of doing the right thing for the environment.
- Brian Dahle
Legislator
For that reason, I'm going to oppose the Bill.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
All right, Members, any further discussion or debate from Members? I don't see any microphones up. Senator Blakespear you may close.
- Catherine Blakespear
Legislator
Yes. Thank you. So, 10 years ago, 10 cents might have resulted in a profit for grocers, but many grocers say that bags are costing more than 10 cents and they're actually losing money on this. The other thing is that everything in that grocery store is sold for a profit.
- Catherine Blakespear
Legislator
So, the idea that they would sell a bag along with selling every other item in the grocery store, to me, it doesn't seem as if that's a reason to oppose this. So, our hope is that more people bring their reusable bags. And part of the original, the original compromise was that the money was being used for education.
- Catherine Blakespear
Legislator
So, the money was collected from the bags and part of it was being used for training and education. And then we had Covid hit and we returned to using single use plastics in much greater numbers.
- Catherine Blakespear
Legislator
So, there are still signs around these grocery stores, if you look, that, say, bring your reusable bag, there are fewer of them, of course, because it's been many years. But the bottom line is that the grocery stores are over deciding between plastic and paper. They are in favor of this Bill because it simplifies their life.
- Catherine Blakespear
Legislator
They're only stocking one type of bag. So, the question of where is that 10 cents going? That is a separate question, which I think could be a separate Bill. Again, if somebody wanted to run that Bill and the Governor, of course, vetoed it, but maybe there would be a different way to analyze it.
- Catherine Blakespear
Legislator
But this Bill is about plastic reduction. This Bill is, there is a good alternative for people, which is paper. This Bill is not about the way grocery stores run their business.
- Catherine Blakespear
Legislator
So, I urge my colleagues to vote yes on this because we are drowning in the scourge of plastic, and we do not need to be collecting so many plastic bags that are used only one time for 12 minutes before they end up in our landfills, in our ocean and microplastics in our bodies and in the mountains and everywhere else.
- Catherine Blakespear
Legislator
So, with that, I respectfully ask for your. I vote.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
All debate having ceased. Secretary, please call the roll.
- Committee Secretary
Person
[Roll call]
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Please call the absent Members.
- Committee Secretary
Person
[Roll call]
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
All right, we're going to call the absent Members one last time. Members, please stay engaged. Secretary, please call the absent Members.
- Committee Secretary
Person
[Roll call]
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
All right, on a vote of 30 to seven, the measure passes. We're going to move next to file item 155. This is Senate Bill 1180 by Senator Ashby, excuse me, Senate Bill 1180. Secretary, please read the Bill.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Senate Bill 1180 by Senator Ashby and act relating to health care coverage. Senator Ashby.
- Angelique Ashby
Legislator
Thank you. Mister President, rise to present SB 1180 Emergency Medical Services Reimbursement act. This Bill requires that health plans establish a process to reimburse essential services, such as community paramedicine, triage, to alternate destinations, and mobile, integrated health for our EMS providers. It also requires Medi Cal to cover these programs.
- Angelique Ashby
Legislator
SB 1180 ensures that our EMS providers can receive reimbursement for transports to sobering centers to mental health facilities. Prioritizes appropriate healthcare for some of our most vulnerable populations. Recent amendments make the bill's medi Cal reimbursement contingent on federal approvals and appropriations. I urge and I vote.
- Unidentified Speaker
Person
Thank you, Senator Ashby. Does any Member want to be heard on this Bill? Seeing none, secretary, please call the roll.
- Committee Secretary
Person
[Roll call]
- Committee Secretary
Person
[Roll call]
- Unidentified Speaker
Person
Please call the absent Members.
- Committee Secretary
Person
[Roll call]
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
On a vote of 34 to 0, the measure passes. Moving on to file item 156. This is Senate Bill 1182 by Senator Gonzalez. Secretary, please read.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Senate Bill 1182 by Senator Gonzalez. An act relating to school facilities.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Senator Gonzalez.
- Lena Gonzalez
Legislator
Thank you, Mister President. Members, I rise today to present SB 1182, which will require cross agency collaboration and communication on how California can keep its schools safe in an era of extreme impacts from climate change. California maintains over 125,000 acres of school ground, 730 million sqft of facility space and over 10,000 school facilities that are among over 50 years old.
- Lena Gonzalez
Legislator
SB 1182 will establish a statewide plan that will better position California school districts to to tackle the generational challenge of transitioning to climate resilient facilities. I respectfully ask for an aye vote on SB 1182.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Thank you, Senator Gonzalez. Does any member want to be heard on this Bill? See no microphones up. Secretary, please call the roll.
- Committee Secretary
Person
[Roll Call]
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Please call the absent members.
- Committee Secretary
Person
[Absent Roll Call]
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
On a vote of 35 to zero, the measure passes. We'll move next to file item 157. This is Senate Bill 1188 by Senator Laird. Secretary, please read.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Senate Bill 1188 by Senator Laird an act relating to drinking water.
- John Laird
Legislator
Thank you very much, Mister President. Senate Bill 1188 would require the State Water Board to develop and adopt minimum standards related to technical, managerial and financial capacity of small water systems with less than 3000 connections. I have a poster child for the reason this Bill is necessary in my district.
- Steve Bennett
Legislator
Senator Laird.
- John Laird
Legislator
When the CZU fire ripped through my district, and particularly the area covered by the Big Basin Water district, it cut off access to water for residents. It exacerbated the fundamental failings within the district. Residents were forced to go to temporary fill stations to access water to cook and shower with.
- John Laird
Legislator
It was later revealed the system did not know where their service territory was or who their customers were, or even how to contact or Bill their customers. Due to this failing for this one particular water system, $900,000 was contributed by the state and local government to try to mitigate it.
- John Laird
Legislator
What this Bill does is just basically says there should be fundamental administrative capabilities to run a water system. That's a small water system. We took amendments in the Senate Appropriations Committee, and they addressed the main issues raised by opponents. As a result, they are reevaluating their opposition to this Bill.
- John Laird
Legislator
It's supported by safe water and environmental justice groups. I respectfully ask for an aye vote.
- Steve Bennett
Legislator
Thank you, Senator Laird, does any Member want to be heard on this Bill? Seeing none. Secretary, please call the roll.
- Committee Secretary
Person
[Roll Call]
- Steve Bennett
Legislator
Please call the absent Members. Excuse me, we have a Member off the floor, so at the request of Senator Laird, we're going to put this on call. We're going to move next to file item 159. This is Senate Bill 1201 by Senator Durazzo. Secretary, please read.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Senate Bill 1201 by Senator Durazo. An act relating to corporations.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Senator Durazo.
- Maria Elena Durazo
Legislator
Thank you, Mister President. SB 1201, which requires corporations and limited liability companies to report information about their beneficial owners when those business entities file with the Secretary of State's office. This good governance Bill is supported by over 130 housing, environmental, legal services organizations, labor, as well as the Oakland, San Diego and San Francisco city attorneys.
- Maria Elena Durazo
Legislator
Under existing law, LLC's and similar entities provide legal protection for assets not owned by the LLC. This is important and can protect an owner's family from liquidation during a business bankruptcy, for example. However, owners can abuse LLC's to shield not only their assets, but also their identities.
- Maria Elena Durazo
Legislator
Many LLC's are owned in the name of another LLC, which creates additional layers of anonymity. None of this is necessary to achieve the legal and financial protections afforded by forming the LLC in the first place. The ability for LLC's to abuse the structure to remain anonymous, ends up presenting numerous issues and even enables dishonest and illegal practices.
- Maria Elena Durazo
Legislator
The lack of owner transparency enables unscrupulous and illegal practices. For instance, some business owners use LLC's to skirt worker protection laws or avoid accountability for substandard housing. It can take years for enforcement agencies to connect the dots to show that a single person is responsible for repeated violations across multiple LLC's.
- Maria Elena Durazo
Legislator
It drains public resources and allows abuses to continue largely unimpeded, which often happen among the lowest paid industries. The lack of owner transparency also provides an avenue to skirt responsibility for substandard housing when property owners can hide behind a web of LLc's,
- Maria Elena Durazo
Legislator
Tenants and local enforcement officials are often frustrated in their attempts to obtain repairs because they cannot find the true owner responsible for the property. AB 1201 will make it easier to enforce existing laws to protect the people who live and work in our communities across the state, increase government efficiency, and ultimately save taxpayer dollars.
- Maria Elena Durazo
Legislator
I respectfully ask for your aye vote.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Thank you, Senator Durazo. Senator Dahle.
- Brian Dahle
Legislator
Thank you, Mister President. Members, I have to rise in opposition to this Bill. Why do we have LLC's in California? Limited liability. The word liability is very important in California. If you're a sole proprietor and you don't have a limited liability company as your front, their laws are not in your favor.
- Brian Dahle
Legislator
You can be sued and you want to be able to protect your house and your, and things that aren't related to your business. That's why we have LLC's. This Bill is another attack on small businesses and the ability to be able to insulate yourself from frivolous lawsuits. There may be some abuses in some areas. Absolutely.
- Brian Dahle
Legislator
There's abuses in every business. There's bad farmers, there's great farmers, there's bad doctors, there's good doctors, and there's some abuses. I'm sure there's some abuses necessary, but California's environment for business is horrible. Just in the Senators district that represents this Bill, 53 companies left her district last since 2018 and 19. 680 businesses left California.
- Brian Dahle
Legislator
That's the reason we have a budget deficit here in California is because we are not business friendly in California, and we are killing the people that actually pay the taxes. So this Bill, I think, goes way too far. It's allowing you to report if you have 25%, why do we have to report?
- Brian Dahle
Legislator
You can go after the LLC's. There's a structure in place already. This is just another attack on business owners. And I respectfully ask the no vote on SB 1201.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Thank you, Senator. Any other discussion or debate from Members? Any other Member want to be heard on this Bill? Seeing none. Senator Durazo, you may close.
- Maria Elena Durazo
Legislator
Thank you. I appreciate the comments. I'm going to have to look into my district and see the status of all these businesses, because I see far more coming in than leaving. But what this, today's Bill is about is those who are unscrupulous and the ones that hide behind the LLC's.
- Maria Elena Durazo
Legislator
It does nothing to change the purpose and the protections of an LLC. Colleagues, ask your aye vote.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
All debate having ceased secretary, please call the roll.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Allen. Alvarado-Gil. Archuleta. Ashby. Atkins. Becker, aye. Blakespear. Bradford, aye. Caballero. Cortese. Dahle, no. Dodd, no. Durazo, aye. Eggman. Glazer. Gonzalez, aye. Grove, no. Hurtado, aye. Jones, no. Laird, aye. Limon, aye. McGuire. Menjivar. Min, aye. Newman, aye. Nguyen, no. Niello. no. Ochoa Bogh, no. Padilla, aye. Portantino, aye. Roth. Rubio. Seyarto, no. Skinner. Smallwood-Cuevas, aye.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Stern, aye. Umberg, aye. Wahab, aye. Wiener, aye. Wilk, no.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Senator Durazo, ask, what's the call? Still have one member off the floor, members. Okay, we're going to now move to file item 161. This is Senate Bill 1220 by Senator Limon. Secretary, please read.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Senate Bill 1220 by Senator Limon an act relating to public contracts.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Senator Limon.
- Monique Limon
Legislator
Thank you, President and colleagues. SB 1220 will ensure that call centers that serve our most vulnerable Californians, enrolling and calling programs like CalWORKS, Calfresh, Medi-Cal, Healthy Families, and Covered California, or calling local, state funded programs that provide similar benefits, have the ability to reach and connect with a human to troubleshoot problems.
- Monique Limon
Legislator
This Bill requires there is human assistance and workers available when people are calling to receive help, but does not preclude AI from being used. This Bill has no opposition, and I respectfully ask for an aye vote.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Thank you, Senator Limon, any discussion or debate on this measure? Any discussion or debate? Seeing none. Secretary, please call the roll.
- Committee Secretary
Person
[Roll Call]
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Senator Limon moves to call. We're going to move now to file item 162. This is Senate Bill 1253 by Senator Gonzalez. Secretary, please read.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Senate Bill 1253 by Senator Gonzalez an act relating to firearms.
- Steve Bennett
Legislator
Senator Gonzalez.
- Lena Gonzalez
Legislator
Thank you, Mister President and Members, I rise to present SB 1253, which makes essential updates to the firearms safety certificate program to keep Californians safe. California has made great strides in recent decades to reduce gun violence.
- Lena Gonzalez
Legislator
However, accidental and unintentional shootings continue to be a lead cause of firearm related incidents in the state, particularly for children, contributing to roughly 30% of all firearm related deaths and injuries. From 2016 to 2022, SB 1253 will increase firearm safety by requiring individuals who move into California and report their firearms to also obtain a valid certificate.
- Lena Gonzalez
Legislator
This will ensure that all firearm importers have the necessary safety skills and comprehension, and are up to date on all of the laws and best practices, including safe handling and storage. I respectfully ask for an aye vote of SB 1253.
- Steve Bennett
Legislator
Thank you, Senator Gonzalez. Does any Member want to be heard on this Bill? Seeing none. Secretary, please call the roll.
- Committee Secretary
Person
[Roll Call]
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Senator Gonzalez moves a call. Next up is file item 165. This is Senate Bill 1263 by Senator Newman. Secretary, please read.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Senate Bill 1263 by Senator Newman. An act relating to teacher credentialing.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Senator Newman?
- Josh Newman
Legislator
Thank you, Mister President. Members, I'm pleased to have the opportunity to present SB 1263, which will eliminate the requirement for teacher candidates in California to undergo a formal teacher performance assessment, generally referred to as a TPA.
- Josh Newman
Legislator
Teacher candidates in California are required to fulfill multiple requirements as a condition being issued a preliminary teaching credential, including subject matter proficiency, teacher preparation course requirements, 600 hours of clinical practice, reading instruction competency, and a teacher performance assessment.
- Josh Newman
Legislator
The TPA has become an unduly onerous portfolio assessment, which has often has the net impact of detracting from teacher candidates ability to focus on applying the concepts and skills of teacher preparation coursework in real classrooms, as overseen by mentor teachers during supervised clinical practice.
- Josh Newman
Legislator
While well intentioned, the demands currently placed upon teaching candidates in preparing for the TPA have had the perverse impact of actually reducing the overall quality of teacher preparation in California by undermining the capacity of teacher candidates to focus on their clinical practice. As a practical matter, the teacher performance assessment and clinical practice assessments are effectively duplicative.
- Josh Newman
Legislator
The TPA assesses teacher performance expectations that are already assessed through coursework, content, and assessment, as well as during clinical practice. And there are obvious negative impacts on teacher preparation, and these impacts are having a disproportionate impact on teachers of color.
- Josh Newman
Legislator
In light of that, and considering the broader challenges associated with expanding and improving California's educated workforce, particularly with respect to diversity, removing the TPA will emphasize the value of clinical practice and ultimately support the growth of a better prepared, more diverse teaching workforce in the State of California. Thank you. I respectfully ask for your aye vote today.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Thank you, Senator Newman. Discussion or debate? Discussion or debate. Senator Ochoa Bogh.
- Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh
Legislator
Thank you, Mister President and Members, colleagues. I rise in respectful opposition to SB 1263. I supported this Bill in education Committee because it originally sought to repeal teacher performance assessment.
- Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh
Legislator
During the hearing, we heard many education stakeholders express how TPA's are burdensome and duplicative of existing assessment placed on teachers, such as the Reading Instruction Competence Assessment, which is referred to as RICA. However, the amendments taken in Appropriations Committee take this Bill one step further by removing the RICA now.
- Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh
Legislator
Given the fact that the majority of students are unable to meet the state standards in English language arts, shouldn't teacher candidates be assessed to ensure they're competent in literacy instruction? So, basically, we are now currently removing both. Both assessments for teachers.
- Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh
Legislator
So we were replacing the TPA with the RICA, or, I'm sorry, we were giving the TPA instead of the RICA, and now we're removing the RICA as well, based on what happened in the Committee. So I respectfully ask for a no vote on this measure, just based on the amendments that were recently added. Thank you.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Thank you, Senator. We'll recognize Senator Rubio.
- Susan Rubio
Legislator
Yes. Thank you, Mister President, ladies and gentlemen of the Senate. I stand just with concerns. I was the author of the Bill that would walk away from RICA to give teachers the opportunity to have success as it pertains to passing the test and having real life experience, actually having classroom experience.
- Susan Rubio
Legislator
But I know that we spent three years trying to perfect that Bill. We met with stakeholders, teachers, including teachers unions, just to make sure that we got it right, trying to make sure that teachers had a voice, parents had a voice, and other education advocates had a voice.
- Susan Rubio
Legislator
And so, again, my Bill was the one that walked away from RICA to ensure that it was easier, that we pushed for diversity, made it easier to ensure that we have qualified teachers.
- Susan Rubio
Legislator
And so I'm not opposing the Bill today, but I do want to encourage the author to continue to work on this, because I also do have a concern that now we're removing even more requirements. And at the end of the day, we just want to make sure that there are qualified teachers in the classroom.
- Susan Rubio
Legislator
So, again, I would ask the author to consider what I just said. We worked three years to try and get it right, and we engaged all stakeholders, and now we're moving from that to something different. And, you know, we worked hard on it.
- Susan Rubio
Legislator
And so with that, I'll just say that I will be supporting it, but I hope he continues to consider it. Thank you.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Thank you, Senator Rubio, any further discussion on this measure?
- Josh Newman
Legislator
Close. Senator Newman, you may close the debate.
- Josh Newman
Legislator
Thank you. So I do appreciate the comments, particularly input of my colleague from Baldwin park. This is a work in progress, and I am actually glad to and will commit to continue to work with the senate and with others to make sure that we do get this right.
- Josh Newman
Legislator
As I mentioned, we've included a whole host of requirements for teaching candidates in California, often, I think, in many ways, overloading them to the detriment of the quality of that practice.
- Josh Newman
Legislator
And we're trying to revisit this in a way that one provides for excellence in teaching, particularly with respect to literacy skills, but also make sure that we're not unintentionally dissuading precisely the people that we want to become teachers in California, particularly those teachers who best reflect the diversity of the students that they would teach.
- Josh Newman
Legislator
So glad to continue that conversation, but asking for your aye vote this evening.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
All debate having ceased. Secretary, please call the roll.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Allen. Alvarado-Gil. Archuleta, aye. Ashby, aye. Atkins. Becker. Blakespear, aye. Bradford, aye. Caballero, aye. Cortese, aye. Dahle, no. Dodd, aye Durazo, aye. Eggman. Glazer, aye. Gonzalez, aye. Grove, no. Hurtado, aye. Jones, no. Laird, aye. Limon, aye. McGuire. Menjivar, aye. Min, aye. Newman, aye. Nguyen, no. Niello, no. Ochoa Bogh, no. Padilla, aye. Portantino. Roth, aye. Rubio. Seyarto, no.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Skinner, aye. Smallwood-Cuevas, aye. Stern, aye. Umberg, aye. Wahab. Wiener. Wilk, no.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Members, we have everyone back here on the floor, so we're going to ask the secretary to call the absent Members one more time. Secretary, please call the absent Members.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Allen. Alvarado-Gil, aye. Atkins, aye. Becker, aye. Eggman, aye. McGuire. Portantino. Rubio, aye. Wahab. Wiener, aye. Wahab, aye.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
On a vote of 29 to 8, the measure passes. We're going to move next to file item 168. This is Senate Bill 1318 by Senator Wahab. She's prepared.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Secretary, please read.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Senate Bill 1318 by Senator Wahab. Enact relating to people health.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Senator Wahab.
- Aisha Wahab
Legislator
Thank you. SB 1318. Child suicide prevention, ensures that students experiencing a mental health crisis on school campus receive care from a qualified behavioral health professional. We are experiencing an unprecedented surge in child self harm, and it's time for California to take action.
- Aisha Wahab
Legislator
SB 1318 requires the Department of Education to revise their model youth suicide prevention policy to include crisis intervention procedures that prioritize behavioral health professionals, clarify that law enforcement, including resource officers, should only be involved where there is an imminent threat to the student's life.
- Aisha Wahab
Legislator
SB 1318 is a step towards the protection of our children, connecting them to the resources and professionals they need. I respectfully ask for an aye vote.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Thank you, Senator Wahab, any discussion on this measure? Any further discussion on this measure? Seeing none. Secretary, please call the roll.
- Committee Secretary
Person
[Roll Call]
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Please call the absent members.
- Committee Secretary
Person
[Absent Roll Call]
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Please call the absent Members one last time.
- Committee Secretary
Person
[Absent Roll Call]
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
On a vote of 31 to seven, the measure passes. Next up is file item 179 by Senator Eggman, 179 by Senator Eggman. SB 1491. Secretary, please read.
- Reading Clerk
Person
Senate Bill 1491 by Senator Eggman in accolade to post secondary education.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Senator Eggman.
- Susan Talamantes Eggman
Legislator
Thank you very much, Mister Speaker, President. 1491 will inform students about if their college they're attending is exempt from the Higher Education Act and Title IX and requires to designate a LGBTQ person for confidential services. I ask for your. aye vote.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Thank you. Senator Eggman, any discussion on this measure? Any Senator want to be heard on this measure? Seeing none, secretary, please call the roll.
- Reading Clerk
Person
[Roll Call]
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Please call the absent members.
- Reading Clerk
Person
[Roll Call]
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
On a vote of 30 to eight, the measure passes. Members, I'm going to give you a heads up of the next five measures we're going to deal with today. Tonight we're going to start with file item 25, followed by file item 26, 36, 49, and 54, if you're following along at home.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
So let us begin with file item 25. This is SB 1209 by Senator Cortese. Secretary, please read Senate Bill 1209 by Senator Cortese and accurately into local government.
- Dave Cortese
Legislator
Thank you. Mister President and colleagues, I rise today to present SB 1209, which would explicitly authorize local agency formation commissions LAFCO's to add indemnification agreements to their contracts with applicants. For most applications to public agencies, such as those for land use, private parties do indemnify the involved city or county.
- Dave Cortese
Legislator
Lafcos also were indemnified by applicants until the second District Court of Appeals determined that Lafcos could not require identification because it's not expressly authorized in the Cortese Knox Hertzberg Global Government Act of 2000.
- Dave Cortese
Legislator
Allowing LAFCO's to use indemnification will prevent the expense of one entity from being shifted, excuse me, the expense of one entity from being shifted to all representative agencies that Fund LAFCO. With that, I respectfully ask for your Aye vote.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Any discussion or debate on this measure. It is eligible for unanimous roll call without objection. Aye's 38. No, zero. The measure carries. What's that.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Okay, we're going to keep the momentum going here. We're going to next turn to item 26. File item 26 SB 1225 by Senator Jones. Secretary, please read.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Senate Bill 1225 by Senator Jones an act relating to real estate appraisers.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Senator Jones, the floor is yours.
- Brian Jones
Legislator
Thank you, Mister President. It is an honor to rise and present a Bill to this body. I am presenting Senate Bill 1225, which allows the Bureau of Real Estate appraisers to remove notices of disciplinary action from their website if certain conditions are met.
- Brian Jones
Legislator
In order to be eligible for removal of disciplinary information must be at least 10 years old and determined by the bureau to no longer be necessary to ensure consumer protection. Outdated disciplinary records draw attention away from the current ones that are useful in identifying active threats to consumer protection.
- Brian Jones
Legislator
SB 1225 will give the bureau the authority it needs to declutter and streamline its database. I ask for your.aye vote.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Thank you, Senator Jones, does any Member want to be heard on this measure? It is eligible for unanimous roll call without objection Ayes 38, Noes 0. The measure passes. Next up, with this great momentum we have going file item 36. This is Senate Bill 1490 by Senator Durazo.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Secretary, please read.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Senate Bill 1490 by Senator Durazo an act relating to food delivery.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Senator Durazo, the floor is yours.
- Maria Elena Durazo
Legislator
Thank you, Mister President. I rise to present SB 1490, which will strengthen the Fair Food Delivery Act by requiring food delivery platforms to disclose to restaurants and customers additional information in connection with their services. This Bill will allow restaurants to request removal from the delivery platform in a timely manner, subject, of course, to any pre existing contractual obligations between the platform and a food facility.
- Maria Elena Durazo
Legislator
It also requires platforms to provide restaurants details on the process for disputing erroneous charges and platform errors, and it requires the food delivery platforms to provide timely and transparent communications. Customers want to know when their food will arrive and if it doesn't, who is responsible.
- Maria Elena Durazo
Legislator
These changes ensure transparency and provide additional opportunities for restaurants to have clear information about food delivery processes. I look forward to continued engagement and working with the stakeholders to strike the right balance when needed to protect small restaurants from being unfairly treated on the apps. Thank you, and I ask for your aye vote.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Thank you. Senator Durazo, is there a Member who would like to be heard on this measure? Seeing none. Secretary, please call the roll.
- Committee Secretary
Person
[Roll Call].
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Please call the absent Members.
- Committee Secretary
Person
[Roll Call].
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
On a vote of 30 to 8, the measure passes. Next up is file item 49. This is Senate Bill 1251 by Senator Stern.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Secretary, please read.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Senate Bill 1251 by Senator Stern, an act relating to mosquito abatement.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Senator Stern.
- Henry Stern
Legislator
Thank you, Mr. President. Members, mosquitoes just may seem like a pesky issue, but I assure you, this bill is anything but. It's dead serious. In 2023, we saw 428 cases of West Nile in 34 counties across California. In October, Pasadena reported the first case of locally transmitted dengue fever.
- Henry Stern
Legislator
And 12 days later, a second case was made in Long Beach. This is one of four states in the nation with cases of locally transmitted dengue, and mosquito borne illness is really at the center of this disease and illness crisis. Utility vaults are at the center of this bill. Those are under manhole covers around many of our homes and on our streets. They're often tough to get to. And standing water has been an ongoing issue that mosquito control professionals report access issues.
- Henry Stern
Legislator
This would require our electrical corporations to enter into jointly developed vector management agreements with these mosquito control agencies so that they can treat and post, treat, and inspect these potentially very dangerous pieces of our lost infrastructure. I did commit to making sure that our publicly owned utilities would also be included in this legislation. And I'm...
- Henry Stern
Legislator
I want to assure Members, those of you who do not have an IOU in your area, but a publicly owned utility, like I do with EWP, that we will be making that amendment in the Assembly. So I want to provide my commitment on that, and respectfully ask for your aye vote.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Thank you, Senator Stern. Does any Member wish to be heard on this measure? Seeing none. Secretary, please call the roll.
- Committee Secretary
Person
[Roll Call]
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Please call the absent Members.
- Committee Secretary
Person
[Roll Call]
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
On a vote of 38 to zero, the measure passes. Moving on to file item 54. This is SB 1216 by Senator Blakespear.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Secretary, please read.
- Reading Clerk
Person
Senate Bill 1216 by Senator Blakespear in accolade to transportation.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Senator Blakespear.
- Catherine Blakespear
Legislator
Thank you. President and colleagues, I rise to present SB 1216, which will improve safety for bicyclists on our roadways by limiting the overuse of share rows and class three bikeways. The active transportation program, or ATP, helps fund safe bike infrastructure throughout the state. Unfortunately, ATP is expected to face significant cuts due to the deficit.
- Catherine Blakespear
Legislator
These limited funds shouldn't be used for projects that don't actually make biking safer, like simply adding sharrows without including other features, for example, slowing traffic to safer speeds. SB 1216 will prohibit ATP funds from being used to create sharrows when the design speed is greater than 25 MPH.
- Catherine Blakespear
Legislator
It will also prohibit sharrows on highways with a posted speed limit over 30 MPH. Biking needs to be considered a viable option. And when there is limited physical separation or actually the mingling of bicycles and fast moving vehicles together in one lane, it makes it less likely that people will feel safe biking. I respectfully ask for your aye vote.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Thank you, Senator. Any Member want to be heard on this this measure? Any Member want to be heard? Okay, we do have a member off the floor, so we'll be going through the roll only one time, and then it'll be put on call. Secretary, please call the roll.
- Reading Clerk
Person
[Roll Call]
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
We have a full house again, so we will call the roll the absent members one last time. So, secretary, please call the absent members.
- Reading Clerk
Person
[Roll Call
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
On a vote of 29 to nine, the measure passes. We're going to next move to file item 72, followed by 73, 87 and 110. So file item 72.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Senate Bill 1410 by Senator Ochoa-Bogh. An act realting to pupil instruction.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Senate Bill 1410 by Senator Ochoa-Bogh. Secretary, please read.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Senator Ochoa Bogh.
- Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh
Legislator
Thank you, Mister President and Members. I'm proud to present SB 1410, which requires the board of education at its next mathematics curriculum framework revision, to recommend that algebra one and mathematics one courses be offered to 8th graders.
- Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh
Legislator
Last summer, the board approved a revised mathematics curriculum framework that suggests that algebra courses are advanced and should only be taught in high school.
- Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh
Legislator
Because CSU requires five years of math for incoming freshmen entering a math intensive major, that decision to not offer algebra to 8th graders immediately put students who want to pursue a STEM related major at a disadvantage. In 2014, San Francisco Unified was the first to experience with moving algebra one exclusively to high school.
- Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh
Legislator
In March, after nearly 10 years of declining results, San Francisco's Proposition G, which urged the school district to offer algebra one to 8th graders, passed with 81% support. Delaying algebra until high school doesn't serve all students well, especially those who want to attend college.
- Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh
Legislator
So it's critical that the framework's current suggestion to delay algebra until high school is reversed. SB 1410 has received unanimous bipartisan support, and with the amendments taken in Appropriations Committee, the Bill has no opposition. For these reasons, I respectfully ask for an aye vote.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Thank you, Senator Wiener.
- Scott Wiener
Legislator
Thank you. First, I want to thank my colleague for advancing this legislation. You know, in San Francisco, we went through a decade long, ridiculous situation where our board of education a decade ago eliminated 8th grade algebra. It didn't achieve any of the equity goals that the district had claimed it would achieve.
- Scott Wiener
Legislator
Instead, what it meant was that 8th graders from wealthier families were simply able to pay for private tutoring or to go to community college or some other way to access algebra. And lower income kids were not able to access that.
- Scott Wiener
Legislator
So I was very proud that the voters of San Francisco spoke, as the author mentioned, with over 80% of the vote in favor of 8th grade algebra. If a child is wanting and able to access accelerated math, they should be able to. And I ask for an aye vote.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Any further debate on this measure, it is eligible for unanimous roll call. See no objection. Aye's 38 No's zero. The measure passes. We're going to move next to file item 73. This is Senate Bill 1441 by Senator Allen. Senator Umberg is going to take it up.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Senate Bill 1441 by Senator Allen. An act relating to petitions.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Secretary, please read.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Senator Humberg.
- Thomas Umberg
Legislator
Thank you, Mister President. Colleague. Senator Allen is not here. Apparently, he is birthing a baby, or at least in the process of participating in the birthing of a baby right now. And I understand that he's actually watching us. So I would suggest he turn off his computer and focus on the task at hand.
- Thomas Umberg
Legislator
But meantime, we'll focus on the task at hand concerning SB 1441, which would provide clear timelines in the election petition review process to help governments handle the costs from added workload. When a petition fails to qualify for the ballot due to insufficient signatures, proponents have the right to examine the petition and the reasons for the signature rejections.
- Thomas Umberg
Legislator
State law currently establishes a timeline for the initial review process, but is silent on the timeline for concluding the examination. While most petition reviews take between a few days to a couple weeks, one recent case in Los Angeles lasted 14 months and cost the county $1.5 million.
- Thomas Umberg
Legislator
The lack of a clear deadline in law allowed for this review to be dragged on for a significant period of time. SB 1441 addresses this issue by establishing a reasonable 60 day time limit for proponents to examine a failed enabling county elections officials to recover the costs associated with additional personnel and resources.
- Thomas Umberg
Legislator
I urge on behalf of Senator Allen, an aye vote.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Thank you, Senator Unberg. Does any Member of the Senate want to be heard on this measure? Any further discussion? Seeing none. Secretary, please call the roll.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Allen. Alvarado-Gil, aye. Archuleta, aye. Ashby, aye. Atkins, aye. Becker, aye. Blakespear, aye. Bradford, aye. Caballero, aye. Cortese, aye. Dahle. no. Dodd, aye. Durazo, aye. Eggman, aye. Glazer, aye. Gonzalez, aye. Grove, no. Hurtado, aye. Jones, no. Laird, aye. Limon, aye. McGuire. Menjivar, aye. Min, aye. Newman, aye. Nguyen, no. Niello, no. Ochoa Bogh. Padilla, aye. Portantino, aye. Roth, aye.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Rubio, aye. Seyarto, no. Skinner, aye. Smallwood-Cuevas, aye. Stern, aye. Umberg, aye. Wahab, aye. Wiener, aye. Wilk, no.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Please call the absent Members.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Allen. McGuire. Ochoa Bogh, no.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
On a vote of 30 to eight, the measure passes. We're going to move next to file item 87. This is Senate Bill 1061 by Senator Limon.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Secretary, please read
- Committee Secretary
Person
Senate Bill 1061 by Senator Limon in accolade to consumer debt.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Senator Limon.
- Monique Limon
Legislator
Thank you. President and colleagues, I present to you SB 1061, which would remove medical debt from consumer credit reports and improve our understanding of the effects of medical debt collections litigation. Medical debt is often driven by factors completely outside of our control. This bill does not forgive debt. Rather, it removes it just from credit reporting.
- Monique Limon
Legislator
While this bill does not solve all the problems with medical debt, removing medical debt from credit reports will give consumers a better chance to restore their financial health while they take care of their physical and mental health. I respectfully ask for an aye vote.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Any further discussion or debate on this measure, secretary, please call the roll.
- Committee Secretary
Person
[Roll Call]
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
On a vote of 31 to 8, the measure passes. We're going to move next to file item 110, followed by 111, 114 and 120. 110 is SB 1396 by Senator Alvarado-Gil.
- Unidentified Speaker
Person
Secretary, please read Senate Bill 1396 by Senator Alvarado-Gil and accolade into public social services.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Senator Alvarado-Gil, the floor is yours.
- Marie Alvarado-Gil
Legislator
Thank you so much, Mister President and fellow Members. I want to thank you for the opportunity to present Senate Bill 1396. This is a Bill that will unlock the full potential of the CalWORKS home visiting program at the Department of Social Services.
- Marie Alvarado-Gil
Legislator
Research shows that the critical importance of the first five years of a child's life in their overall development. In fact, 90% of the child's brain develops by age five.
- Marie Alvarado-Gil
Legislator
Senate Bill 1396 will guarantee that pregnant individuals, parents, caretaker relatives, and children receive that support for a minimum of 24 months, aligning with the duration of the respective home visiting program model. This Bill has received zero no votes and has no recorded opposition. I respectfully ask for your I vote.
- Unidentified Speaker
Person
Any further discussion or debate on this item.
- Steven Bradford
Legislator
Members, this is eligible for unanimous roll call. Is there any objection to using unanimous roll call on this item? Hearing and seeing none. Ayes 38, noes zero. The measure passes. Now, next up, Members, is file item 111, SB 1400 by Senator Stern. He's prepared. Secretary, you may read.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Senate Bill 1400 by Senator Stern, an act relating to criminal procedure.
- Steven Bradford
Legislator
Senator Stern, the floor is yours.
- Henry Stern
Legislator
Thank you, Mr. President. Members, in 2021, I passed a bill called SB 317 that offered misdemeanor defendants who were found incompetent to stand trial due to severe mental illness the ability to get credit for time and treatment in lieu of jail time. But the bill also removed the ability to ensure that these folks would find treatment.
- Henry Stern
Legislator
And in fact, there was what I consider a loophole in my own legislation that has now resulted in thousands of Californians with severe mental illness having their cases dismissed, being sent out on the streets without treatment, and recycling back through the system in what is an incredibly inhumane cycle.
- Henry Stern
Legislator
These folks are also not being provided medical treatment while they're in jail. And that decompensation, whether you're suffering from acute psychosis or schizophrenia disorder, only gets worse. And then when you end up on the street without any treatment and the county has no way to contact you, you fall into deep homelessness, or even worse.
- Henry Stern
Legislator
We're hoping to remedy those loopholes in this legislation, which I admit was a fault of my own in failing to see how this would play out. That the easy way out is just dismissal and forget about these folks. But we can't afford to do that. SB 1400 would hopefully start to close that loophole.
- Henry Stern
Legislator
And as the bill moves forward, we'll be looking at other ways to ensure medical treatment's delivered while folks are in prison. And most importantly, that we find diversion and other alternative treatments besides the jail system, which is really the worst place to put someone who's suffering severe mental illness other than back on the street. So I would urge your aye vote today, and look to all your counties and ask them what they're doing about misdefendants. This is a huge, growing crisis, and we need to move. Respectfully ask for an aye vote.
- Steven Bradford
Legislator
Thank you. Any further discussion or debate on this item? Any further discussion or debate? Hearing and seeing none. Secretary, please call the roll.
- Committee Secretary
Person
[Roll Call]
- Steven Bradford
Legislator
Senator Stern moves the call. Now, Members, we're moving on the file item 114 by Senator Durazo. She's prepared. Secretary, you may read.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Senate Bill 1460 by Senator Durazo in accolade to broadband.
- Steven Bradford
Legislator
Senator Durazo, the floor is yours.
- Maria Elena Durazo
Legislator
Thank you, Mister President. SB 1460 will help establish standards for access to high paid jobs and safe working conditions in our broadband build out. This bill supports agreements between state agencies for the creation or retention of high quality jobs in the communications sector and equitable access through high quality training.
- Maria Elena Durazo
Legislator
These are the workers who run the fiber optic lines, who splice the lines and connect the broadband network to homes. And a major part of this need is for workers who can maintain and repair the fiber optic lines and network once there is connectivity.
- Maria Elena Durazo
Legislator
When California rolled out billions of taxpayer dollars and funded middle mile projects, labor standards were not included in the statutory language. Experiences in other states shows us that without strong labor standards, these contractors, who often come from out of state, bring workers from out of state without adequate training.
- Maria Elena Durazo
Legislator
This threatens the safety of workers and the quality of the broadband network itself. If we do not take steps now to get people into this workforce through an interagency coordination, we run the risk of the network not being built out on the front end or not having enough workers to keep it running and repaired.
- Maria Elena Durazo
Legislator
In the long run, we need local hires to not only build out broadband, but to build out the middle class. I ask for your aye vote.
- Steven Bradford
Legislator
Thank you. Any further discussion or debate on this item? Any further discussion or debate, hearing none. Secretary, please call the roll on a file item 114.
- Committee Secretary
Person
[Roll Call]
- Steven Bradford
Legislator
Senator Durazo moves the call now. Members were moving on to file item 120. Senator Newman? He's prepared. Secretary, you may read.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Senate Bill 1119 by Senator Newman. An act relating to hospitals and declaring the urgency thereof to take effect immediately.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Senator Newman.
- Josh Newman
Legislator
Thank you, Mister President. I rise to present SB 1119, which would authorize a limited number of narrow, case specific extensions of the 2025 seismic compliance deadlines mandated by AB 2190. For three hospitals which are part of the Providence Health Group, each of which is actively working to achieve compliance. More specifically, SB 1119 would authorize extensions of two additional years for Providence St. Jude Medical Center in Fullerton and Providence St. Joseph Hospital in Eureka and an extension of one additional year for Providence Cedars-Sinai Tarzana Medical Center in Los Angeles.
- Josh Newman
Legislator
As within so many other areas, the Covid-19 pandemic caused substantial changes in the financial priorities and conditions of hospitals across the state, requiring many hospitals to focus on ensuring adequate capacity and patient care, in many cases at the expense of other priorities or mandates. This was the case with respect to the three providence facilities covered by this Bill. Without the extensions provided for by this legislation, as a result of failing to meet the prescribed deadlines, these hospitals will lose their licensure and the communities they serve will lose access to vital care.
- Josh Newman
Legislator
The limited extensions provided for by this Bill are narrowly tailored to ensure that none of these three important area hospitals are forced to close vital infrastructure while maintaining the requirements that this Legislature has rightfully placed on hospitals across the state. This Legislature has previously recognized that such extensions are reasonable and will allow for the completion of this type of essential infrastructure work while ensuring continuous patient care at each facility in communities where that care is desperately needed. I am respectfully asking for your aye vote this evening.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Any further discussion or debate on this item? Any further discussion or debate? Hearing and seeing none. Secretary, may you call the roll on file item 120.
- Committee Secretary
Person
[Roll Call].
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Senator Newman moves the call. Now Members were moving on to file item 131. Senator Menjivar, she is ready. Secretary, you may read.
- Unidentified Speaker
Person
Senate Bill 959 by Senator Minjavar enact relating to Trans inclusive care. Senator Minjavar? Senator.
- Caroline Menjivar
Legislator
Thank you, Mister President. SB 959 will establish a website resource for transgender, gender diverse and intersex people and their families to access reliable information about access to Trans Inclusive healthcare. Existing legal protections for patients and healthcare providers, along with other support services.
- Caroline Menjivar
Legislator
Identifying healthcare providers who offer gender affirming care within their health plan can be very hard for individuals in this population.
- Caroline Menjivar
Legislator
These access issues exacerbate existing health and disparities among TGI Californians, who are more likely to experience chronic health conditions and experience higher rates of health concerns related to HIV, substance use, mental illness, and and sexual and physical violence.
- Caroline Menjivar
Legislator
The website will showcase existing legal protections for patients and healthcare providers how to access health plan provider directories for gender affirming care payment support resources, including coverage options and financial assistance programs support services, including transportation and family engagement support respectfully asking for an I vote thank you.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Any further discussion or debate on this item? Hearing C none secretary, please call the roll on file line 131.
- Committee Secretary
Person
[Roll call]
- Committee Secretary
Person
[Roll call]
- Committee Secretary
Person
Senator Minjavar moves the call. Next up, Members under filing order will be taking up file item 137150 and 151. Senator Lamone, she's prepared. Secretary, you may read.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Senate Bill 1036 by Senator Limon. An act relating to greenhouse gases.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Senator Limon.
- Monique Limon
Legislator
Thank you, Mister President and Members, I rise to present SB 1036, which would establish protections for purchasers of carbon offsets. Carbon offsets are tradable financial instruments that claim to represent a reduction of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
- Monique Limon
Legislator
Academic researchers and investigative reporters have uncovered many examples of offsets projects that simply fail to deliver the claimed carbon reductions or removals. Low quality offsets harm the purchaser of the offset as well as undermine our climate mitigation efforts.
- Monique Limon
Legislator
With such a steep hill to climb to address our climate challenges, we simply cannot allow for Low quality offsets to get in the way. SB 1036 provides legally enforceable standards for voluntary carbon offsets, not compliance offsets, a policy that is long overdue for California consumers and climate. I respectfully ask for an aye vote.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Thank you. Any further discussion or debate on this item? Hearing, seeing none. Secretary, please call the roll on file item 137.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Allen. Alvarado-Gil, No. Archuleta, aye. Ashby, aye. Atkins, aye. Becker, aye. Blakespear, aye. Bradford, aye. Caballero, aye. Cortese, aye. Dahle. Dodd, aye. Durazo, aye. Eggman, aye. Glazer. Gonzalez, aye. Grove, aye. Jones, no. Laird, aye. Limon, aye. McGuire. Menjivar, aye. Min, aye. Newman, aye. Nguyen, no. Niello, no. Ochoa Bogh. Padilla, aye. Portantino, aye. Roth, aye.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Rubio. Seyarto, no. Skinner, aye. Smallwood-Cuevas, aye. Stern, aye. Umberg. Wahab, aye. Wiener, aye. Wilk, aye.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Senator Limon moves a call. Next up is Senator Gonzalez. Secretary, you may read.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Senate Bill 1131 by Senator Gonzalez in accolade to MediCal.
- Steven Bradford
Legislator
Senator Gonzalez.
- Lena Gonzalez
Legislator
Thank you, Mister President. Members, I rise to present SB 1131, which will ensure access to essential family planning services for low income Californians across the state. SB 1131 will streamline the program by clarifying that the PAC program by clarifying that a site certifier can be any clinician that oversees family PAC services at the site.
- Lena Gonzalez
Legislator
A provider shall, at least six months shall at least use six months to complete program orientation after enrollment, and that DHCs must offer trainings virtually on a monthly basis. These are critical changes to ensuring that family planning services for low income Californians are accessible. I respectfully ask for an aye vote on SB 1131.
- Steven Bradford
Legislator
Thank you. Any further discussion or debate on this item hearing and seeing none. Secretary, you may call the roll on file item 150.
- Committee Secretary
Person
[Roll Call]
- Steven Bradford
Legislator
Please call the absent members.
- Committee Secretary
Person
[Roll Call]
- Steven Bradford
Legislator
We're going to ask you to call the absent members one more time.
- Committee Secretary
Person
[Roll Call]
- Steven Bradford
Legislator
Senator Glazer, are you. Secretary, please call the absent members one more time.
- Committee Secretary
Person
[Roll Call]
- Steven Bradford
Legislator
Ayes 31, Noes 8, the measure passes. Next up, we have Senator Skinner for Senator Allen. Well no, I'm sorry. I'm sorry. My bad. Senator Skinner, we have. First up, we have Senator Becker with file item 151, followed by 152 by Senator Skinner for Allen, and then 163 by Becker again. So, Senator Becker.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Senate Bill 1133 by Senator Becker. An act relating to bail.
- Steven Bradford
Legislator
Secretary, please read.
- Josh Becker
Legislator
Thank you. I rise to present SB 1133. The Reasonable Reconsideration act Bill takes a common sense approach to improving the pretrial system in California. When a person appears before the court for the first time, a judge typically sets their bail in a matter of minutes or even seconds without much information in front of them to inform that decision.
- Josh Becker
Legislator
Thank you. As a result, there are many circumstances that can arise after the initial hearing that may justify a modification of the initial bail amount. But it's not always easy to get back into court and argue for that to happen. This Bill does two things.
- Josh Becker
Legislator
Number one, it aligns the evidentiary standard for bail review with the California Supreme Court standard. And two, creates an automatic review of non monetary pretrial conditions. I respectfully ask for your aye vote.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Thank you, Senator Becker. Any Member want to be heard on this measure? Secretary, please call the roll.
- Committee Secretary
Person
[Roll Call]
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Please call the absent Members.
- Committee Secretary
Person
[Roll Call]
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Ayes 28 Noes nine. The measure passes.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Next up is file item 152, Senate Bill 1143 by Senator Allen. Senator Skinner, presenting. Secretary, please read.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Senate Bill 1143 by Senator Allen. An act relating to hazardous materials.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Senator Skinner.
- Nancy Skinner
Legislator
Thank you. I'm pleased to present SB 1143 on behalf of Senator Allen. And almost arrived baby. All of us know that we, anytime we're at home and we open a cupboard, we open that cupboard under the sink or in our laundry room. We have many, many goods or materials that are classified as household hazardous waste. But most of us don't know what we're supposed to do with those products.
- Nancy Skinner
Legislator
And while those of us who may know that we're supposed - we can't throw them in the trash, we're supposed to bring them to a, either have them collected in the household hazardous waste collection or bring them to a proper disposal site. It's not easy. Sometimes our communities don't have that collection. Some of our communities don't have those disposal sites, and it's getting increasingly difficult. But if they're put in the trash and they go to our regular landfills or other facilities, they can create great problems.
- Nancy Skinner
Legislator
Now, CalRecycle offers grants to communities to build new facilities, but the funding has fallen far short of what's needed. CalRecycle's grant program is capped at 5 million a year. And, for example, the expected construction of a new facility in Sonoma is between $13 to $16 million. So to address both the crushing costs and the lack of convenient access to a proper disposal system.
- Nancy Skinner
Legislator
SB 1143 requires producers of the most toxic consumer products to form a producer responsibility organization that will be tasked with enhancing the accessibility and fully funding the safe collection, transportation, and disposal of our household hazardous waste. It allows producers to cost effectively improve access to convenient household hazardous waste disposal. They can either fund an improved local system or create an alternative system. It's an outcomes based approach, and it gives producers flexibility.
- Nancy Skinner
Legislator
SB 1143 also requires robust education and outreach to ensure that we all know which products are toxic and how to handle them properly. SB 1143 encourages producers to invest in less toxic alternatives. And if a producer would prefer not to participate in the producer responsibility organization, they can reformulate their product to a non toxic alternative.
- Nancy Skinner
Legislator
Household hazardous waste products are too widespread to tackle this problem product by product. SB 1143 establishes a comprehensive program to address the most dangerous consumer products and shifts the burden of paying their end of life management away from our local counties and cities, which is us, and to the producers. And with that, I ask for your aye vote.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Thank you, Senator Skinner, on behalf of Senator Allen. Senator Dahle.
- Brian Dahle
Legislator
Thank you, Mister President and Members. I saw this Bill in EQ and I opposed the Bill. The new theme now, polluter pays. That's what you're called. That's what the talk was in the committees. Polluter's pay. These are household products we use every day. These are ... This is bleach. These are things that we need to keep sanitary. These are products we use every day in our homes. And this Bill is another reason why California is unaffordable. This is going to trickle down to the consumer.
- Brian Dahle
Legislator
At the end of the day, there's going to be a mandate put on by this Bill, and there's going to be some action taken, another regulation that's going to force Californians to have to pay for the things they consume. So I just want to go on record saying this is another high cost of living California Bill, which in my mind, won't do much for the environment. So for those reasons, I oppose the Bill.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Thank you, Senator Dahle. Any further discussion or debate? Any further discussion or debate? Senator Skinner, you may close.
- Nancy Skinner
Legislator
Thank you. I think I gave a pretty good explanation. And with that, I ask for your aye vote.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
All debate having ceased. Secretary, please call the roll.
- Committee Secretary
Person
[Roll Call].
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Please call the absent Members.
- Committee Secretary
Person
[Roll Call].
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Ayes 30. Noes 7. The measure passes. Next up is file item 163 by Senator Becker, SB 1254. Secretary, please read.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Senate Bill 1254 by Senator Becker, an act relating to public social services.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Senator Becker.
- Josh Becker
Legislator
Ladies and gentlemen of the Senate, SB 1254 will allow incarcerated people to sign up for CalFresh benefits up to 90 days before their release. Enough said. I ask for your aye vote.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Does any Member want to be heard on this measure? Does any Member want to be heard on this measure? All debate having ceased. Secretary, please call the roll.
- Committee Secretary
Person
[Roll Call]
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Please call the absent Members.
- Committee Secretary
Person
[Roll Call]
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
On a vote of 33 to 5, the measure passes. Next up is file item 164. This is SB 1261 by Senator Alvarado-Gil. Secretary, please read.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Senate Bill 1261 by Senator Alvarado-Gil in accolade to horse racing.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Senator Alvarado-Gil.
- Marie Alvarado-Gil
Legislator
Thank you, Mister President. I've waited all night for this one. Senate Bill 1261 would adjust the percentage of the Department of Food and Agricultural's budget that's dedicated to fairs and exposition fund from three fourths of 1% to 3%. This is not new money. This is a reallocation of money that's already in existence.
- Marie Alvarado-Gil
Legislator
The Fares and Exposition Fund supports project of the fairs that address deferred maintenance, emergency services, protection of fair property and the health and safety of all its visitors. I just came back from the fair this weekend and only half of them lived in my district. The other half, yes, about 50% lived in all of your districts.
- Marie Alvarado-Gil
Legislator
So I was very happy to host them at our annual fair. Without the adjusted percentage dedicated to the fairs and exposition Fund, California's fairs will run a risk of not receiving the necessary funding they need. And I respectfully ask for your aye vote. This is not new money. This is not taking money from previous cuts.
- Marie Alvarado-Gil
Legislator
This is readjusting monies within the Department. Thank you,
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Senator Eggman on this measure.
- Susan Talamantes Eggman
Legislator
Just a question of the author.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Will the author take a question?
- Marie Alvarado-Gil
Legislator
Yes.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Senator Eggman.
- Susan Talamantes Eggman
Legislator
So it's just a fiscal effect. This bill is estimated to result in an additional $8.5 million from the General Fund to CDFA. So you're saying.
- Marie Alvarado-Gil
Legislator
What's the question? I'm sorry.
- Susan Talamantes Eggman
Legislator
The question is, this is not. You're saying this is not new money? Where is it coming from?
- Marie Alvarado-Gil
Legislator
Yeah, it's not new money. So the money was already in existence. These are already revenues that are generated at the fair level.
- Marie Alvarado-Gil
Legislator
So when fair goers go to the fair and they purchase items, they purchase their crafts and they contribute to taxes, those taxes then get shifted over to the state and get allotted to the fairs and allocation fund. Right. So this is a shift of that money that's already moving to that fund.
- Susan Talamantes Eggman
Legislator
I don't understand. Okay, thank you.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Thank you, Senator Eggman, any further discussion on this matter? Senator Dahle?
- Brian Dahle
Legislator
I may try to help address that issue. The bean counters don't count the money coming in, and so it's. The issue is that they do generate the money, but it goes into the fund, into the General Fund, and then has to be allocated out. But it is fair money that comes in.
- Brian Dahle
Legislator
That's, I think, a better way to look at it. And that's something we've been arguing for many years. Somebody who represents now 15 counties and 15 fairs, or actually, more than that. I support the bill.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Thank you. Senator Dahle, any further discussion on this measure?
- Marie Alvarado-Gil
Legislator
Ask for an aye vote.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
This is eligible for unanimous roll call. There is an objection. Secretary, please call the roll.
- Committee Secretary
Person
[Roll Call]
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Ayes 37. Noes 0. The measure passes, Members, at least I'm showing up here that we have about four measures left to consider tonight, plus measures on call. So that can change subject to change. But that's what I show here on my docket.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
The four items that we're scheduled to still here tonight are file item 176, followed by file item 177, file item 180, and file item 223. Okay, so we're going to begin with file item 176. This is Senate Bill 1433 by Senator Limon. She is prepared. Secretary, please read.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Senate Bill 1433 by Senator Limon, an act relating to oil and gas wells.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Senator Limon?
- Monique Limon
Legislator
Thank you, Mr. President and colleagues. The California Energy Commission has projected that we will need about 52,000 megawatts of energy storage capacity by 2045 to meet electricity demand. To reach this goal, we would need a variety of types of energy storage, large and small, across the state. The state also has 39,000 idle oil wells.
- Monique Limon
Legislator
This bill would create a pilot program to study the use of gravity wells and how this technology can use idle oil wells to create more energy storage. This bill will allow the permitting of gravity wells with appropriate testing and reporting afterwards to determine the impacts of this new technology. I respectfully ask for an aye vote.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Thank you, Senator Limon. Any Member want to be heard on this measure? Does any Member want to be heard? Seeing none. Secretary, please call the roll.
- Committee Secretary
Person
[Roll Call]
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Please call the absent Members.
- Committee Secretary
Person
[Roll Call]
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Ayes 32, noes 4. The measure passes. Next up is file item 177. This is Senate Bill 1446 by Senator Smallwood-Cuevas. Secretary, please read.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Senate Bill 1446 by Senator Smallwood-Cuevas, an act relating to private employment.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Senator Smallwood-Cuevas.
- Lola Smallwood-Cuevas
Legislator
Thank you, Mister President, and good evening, colleagues. I am pleased to present SB 1446, the retail theft prevention and safe staffing act. This act will protect workers and the public by ensuring safe staffing levels at stores which utilize self checkout and establish guardrails to prevent worker displacement when employers adopt new technologies.
- Lola Smallwood-Cuevas
Legislator
As amended, this Bill would require stores as defined in the labor code, including Walmart, Target, Raley's, and any retail drug establishments with 75 stores or more, to enact safe staffing measures, including ensuring at least one manual checkout lane is open before self checkout stands. Require staffing ratios of two checkout stands under the supervision of a single employee.
- Lola Smallwood-Cuevas
Legislator
This Bill requires that it only be the policy of the store to adopt a 15 item limit policy that does not require workers to police customers to ensure safety in the checkout. We have been working on this Bill tonight, and I want to make sure that.
- Lola Smallwood-Cuevas
Legislator
And I want to recognize Senator Humberg for his time, and I want to make sure that the provisions in the Bill that had to do with the assessments, that we remove that language from the Bill and what we have come to some understanding on, is that if an employer intends to implement consequential workplace technology that significantly impacts, eliminates, or automates the job functions agreed upon between an employer and employee upon hire or following a subsequent change in position or Department, the employer must notify the workers, their collective bargaining representative, and the public 60 days in advance with a General description of the technology and the intended purpose.
- Lola Smallwood-Cuevas
Legislator
Consequential workplace technology includes, but is not limited to, self checkout. Robotics, sensors, scale or electronic monitoring. In recent years, automation in our retail, grocery and drug stores have dramatically cut workers, contributing to chronic understaffing in our stores.
- Lola Smallwood-Cuevas
Legislator
Loan frontline clerks are forced to serve customers while monitoring several self checkout stands, leaving these stores easy targets for theft and workplace violence. All the while, retailers retailers continue to express concerns that rising rates of theft continue to happen in our communities.
- Lola Smallwood-Cuevas
Legislator
Data and reporting have shown that self checkout has contributed to the rise in retail theft in our state. An estimated 20 million Americans have stolen from a self checkout kiosk, with another 8.8 million saying they plan to do it again.
- Lola Smallwood-Cuevas
Legislator
Studies and reports by the retail industry also find that there is far less loss if there is a staff present observing the checkout lanes and aisles. Congressional testimony from the Computer and Communications Industry Association stated that merchandise loss through self checkout causes more shrink than organized retail crime in many stores.
- Lola Smallwood-Cuevas
Legislator
Many stores, including Walmart and Target and Dollar General, have recognized these challenges and have begun to, to regulate and eliminate self checkout altogether.
- Lola Smallwood-Cuevas
Legislator
I want to conclude again by saying that I have continued to work up until, through dinner, up until the very minute on this Bill, because it really is about the most important thing, making sure that consumers and workers are safe, making sure that we are addressing retail theft upstream as well.
- Lola Smallwood-Cuevas
Legislator
As, you know, we are dealing with it, and we're going to take a lot of those bills on tomorrow, deal with it downstream, but that we do it in a way that brings everyone to the table. And I think we came to a point today that, and I appreciate again, Senator Umberg, the most important point here as we think about this technology is how do we protect folks against job loss?
- Lola Smallwood-Cuevas
Legislator
That is the main thing. It's not about the topic of AI. It's not about the topic of what the General impacts will be. But when we are introducing that technology, that we are doing so recognizing that that technology has an impact on workers. And so for me, I feel that we have done all the work that we could possibly do on this Bill. We will continue to work on it as it moves to the Assembly.
- Lola Smallwood-Cuevas
Legislator
I hope that you all are trusting in this compromise that we struck tonight and that we continue to see it through. And with that, I respectfully ask for your.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
I vote thank you. Discussion and debate. I see a microphone up from Senator Umberg. First, Senator Umberg.
- Thomas Umberg
Legislator
Thank you, Mister President and colleagues, and my colleague from Los Angeles is correct that we have been working up to the last 10 minutes on this issue with a robust discussion concerning the various components of the Bill. The component. This Bill has two significant elements to it.
- Thomas Umberg
Legislator
One is with respect to kiosks and how that personnel will be addressed in terms of operation of kiosk and so forth. And the second component, as the Bill in print addressed, was artificial intelligence. Artificial intelligence, as we've heard here today, is of great consequence to the people that we represent, it's of great consequence to the economy of California.
- Thomas Umberg
Legislator
I had some concerns about the artificial intelligence components of this Bill. The reference to artificial intelligence has been removed. The assessment pre the employment of artificial intelligence intelligence has been removed.
- Thomas Umberg
Legislator
Senator Smallwood-Cuevas, my colleague from Los Angeles, is correct that the Bill now, and I recognize, no, no one has seen it in print, but this is my colleague from Los Angeles. Commitment is to amend the Bill in the Assembly to remove those provisions and insert a notice provision that, as you heard, Senator Smallwood-Cuevas review that notice provision.
- Thomas Umberg
Legislator
This Bill still has some challenges, but I am going to support the Bill with the commitment. And Senator Smallwood-Cuevas has worked in good faith with the commitment to take those amendments in the Assembly. And with that commitment, I would urge an aye vote.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Any further discussion and debate on this measure. Senator Dahle and Senator Seyarto. Senator Dahle.
- Brian Dahle
Legislator
Thank you, Mister President. Members. Unfortunately, we're voting on some stuff we haven't seen. But I don't think that would convince me to vote for the Bill anyway. I just want to say, as somebody who runs a business in California, I don't know how many of you on this floor have employees.
- Brian Dahle
Legislator
I know there's at least one other Member that actually runs a business and has employees. But our businesses are about competition, and our businesses are about the bottom line, and our businesses are about service. We have to compete against each other.
- Brian Dahle
Legislator
And this Bill is what we've seen in the past couple of years or last eight or nine years, is that two technology and regulations change. Quite frankly, more regulations than technology. And we have to compete. We have to stay with it. So when we downsize or upsize, we use. We make our businesses more efficient to be competitive.
- Brian Dahle
Legislator
And then we come back with bills that say, no, you can't lay these people off, and you can't make your business efficient. So we legislate then to control, you know, certain size of businesses have to do these things. We saw that with the $20 an hour for fast food restaurants just last year.
- Brian Dahle
Legislator
Members, it is very difficult in California to run a business as businesses are leaving California and the cost of all products in California are going up, I don't think that I'm the only one that's hearing from my constituents.
- Brian Dahle
Legislator
We talk about inflation and it is happening, and this type of regulation drives it up even more when you talk about theft, the author talked about theft in this Bill. Proposition 47 causes theft. People go in the store steal 950 dollars. And we've seen videos of that. We all pay for that.
- Brian Dahle
Legislator
That drives up the cost of the bottom line for the store. We pay for that. And yes, they do make. I've made an accident at the trying to buy the fruit and getting the right number in the self checkout. Caught it, thankfully, was able to rectify it.
- Brian Dahle
Legislator
But I know that there's people that steal and use that as an opportunity. But at the end of the day, the business makes the decision whether it's cheaper to have, lose some of the product or put a body there.
- Brian Dahle
Legislator
And quite frankly, if you lose some of, some of your product and you don't have a person there, people in business, employees are the biggest liability. They can sue you. They don't show up on time sometimes. There's all kinds of reasons that people, persons are very difficult. A machine, you turn the button on and it works.
- Brian Dahle
Legislator
If it's broke down, you fix it. It doesn't show up late, it doesn't get sick. That's competition. So we shouldn't be getting in the middle of all that.
- Brian Dahle
Legislator
Let the businesses figure out how to run their businesses, drive the cost of products down so Californians can afford to live here, and we can have thriving businesses that will stay in California. So for all those reasons and many more, I will be voting against an urgent no vote on SB 1446. Thank you, Senator.
- Kelly Seyarto
Legislator
Senator Seyarto. Thank you, Mister President. I too, am rising in opposition to this Bill. First, it's important to understand this Bill has nothing to do with retail theft.
- Kelly Seyarto
Legislator
This has everything to do with trying to fix the damage that we have done to the employment of a lot of people by creating employment laws that remove their jobs and make it more profitable. But from a survivability for businesses, it's imperative that they switch over to something else that doesn't cost as much as an employee does.
- Kelly Seyarto
Legislator
And what are some of these expenses? Workers comp disability, high minimum wage demands, Unemployment Insurance is going up, PAGA. And that's basically, it's the legal environment that we are creating for our businesses.
- Kelly Seyarto
Legislator
The exposure that we are giving those businesses makes it a lot less expensive to invest in expensive machinery, but that machinery is not going to sue them later on. So also increasing leave time, we've shifted the burden of raising families and finding babysitters and things like that to the employer.
- Kelly Seyarto
Legislator
So there's another cost that they are bearing that is making it more expensive for them to have employees than to invest in machines to do the job for them. I've been to several markets, the ones that there's a lot of markets that have incorporated these in. And, yes, there's a lot less people there. And that's sad.
- Kelly Seyarto
Legislator
I like to interact with people. And in fact, in the last two weeks, I've been in several of these different districts belonging to my colleagues in here. And you know what people are talking about out there?
- Kelly Seyarto
Legislator
They're talking about how much it costs for them to pay for a meal, for them to go through the register at a store. I heard one young man talking about he's just saving enough money to get out of town because he can't afford to live here. All day long. You've seen me vote. No, no, no.
- Kelly Seyarto
Legislator
You know why? Because everything we do in this building is about raising the cost of living on our constituents. And that's the number one thing that they are talking about. I was standing in a restaurant down by the beach the other day. Beach clothes. Nobody knows me from Adam. This lady walks up to me and says, hey.
- Kelly Seyarto
Legislator
She goes, are you next? And I said, no. And she goes, that's what I was afraid you were saying. And I said, why? She said, because I hate going up the register. I'm terrified of what they're going to be charging me. And I looked at her and I thought, why are you telling me this?
- Kelly Seyarto
Legislator
I'm a complete stranger. And the same thing happened at the store. That's when I talked to that young man who's going to leave town as soon as he saves up. They don't know that I'm a Senator. They're talking about it out there. Folks. Listen to them. Stop doing this to them. This is about labor.
- Kelly Seyarto
Legislator
This is about trying to save more jobs. While we keep increasing the amount that it costs for us to employ people, we're making it impossible for businesses to employ the amount of people that we need them to employ.
- Kelly Seyarto
Legislator
And if we force them via this type of legislation, if we force them to hire people, well, then those businesses go out of business and we don't have any employees, and everybody moves out. Folks, we're collapsing the economy with this kind of legislation. We have to stop at some point.
- Kelly Seyarto
Legislator
We have to let this settle so we can see what the damage is and fix it. Because if we don't, it's going to be too late pretty soon. So with that, I would urge that you vote no on this.
- Kelly Seyarto
Legislator
And we take a hard look at all of the bills that we are passing because every single one of them has a cost to it. And it's going up and up and up and pretty soon none of us will be able to afford here to live here. I urge you, no.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Members, any further discussion or debate on this measure. Any further discussion or debate seeing no microphones up. Senator Smallwood-Cuevas, you may close.
- Lola Smallwood-Cuevas
Legislator
Thank you, Mister President. And I want to thank my good colleague from Orange County for his, his comments. Senator Humberg, it's sad that our colleagues from across the aisle seem to think that people are the problem.
- Lola Smallwood-Cuevas
Legislator
It's sad that our colleagues seem to think that ensuring that workers and working people in our communities that we rely on to work every day, the majority of Californians are the problem. That is what this Bill is simply doing is to say that we have to protect workers.
- Lola Smallwood-Cuevas
Legislator
We have to make sure that as we look at technologies and we know that they have to be integrated into our work sites, that we do it in a way that lifts up the human asset, the human asset that pays property tax, the human asset that pays income tax, the human asset that pays sales tax, that actually sustain our economy along with business.
- Lola Smallwood-Cuevas
Legislator
This is about making sure that the people of California who work for a living are protected when they are shopping in the stores. We want our consumers to have an in store experience. We know the competition that exists online.
- Lola Smallwood-Cuevas
Legislator
But when they come into a store, that they be safe when they come into a store, that the workers who are there are safe when they come into a store, that there is a place where folks can actually buy the goods that they need to buy in a safe manner.
- Lola Smallwood-Cuevas
Legislator
And that ensures that the worker and the consumer and our society is addressing what has been labeled as our crisis of retail theft, that we are also addressing that as well. I think this Bill is a win, win, win.
- Lola Smallwood-Cuevas
Legislator
I think the conversations that I had and the compromise that we have worked so hard for and will continue to work toward on this Bill are accomplished in this vote for tonight. And let's vote for the people.
- Lola Smallwood-Cuevas
Legislator
Let's vote for the people of California who work, who we believe in, and who we know this Bill ultimately will protect. And with that, I ask and call enthusiastically for an aye vote.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
I'll debate having seats. Secretary, please call the roll.
- Committee Secretary
Person
[Roll Call]
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Please call the absent Members.
- Committee Secretary
Person
[Roll Call]
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
On a vote of 25 to 12, the measure passes. Members, we have two measures left on our docket tonight. Next one up is file item 180. This is Senate Bill 1504 by Senator Stern. Secretary, please read.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Senate Bill 1504 by Senator Stern, an act relating to social media platforms.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Senator Stern.
- Henry Stern
Legislator
Thank you, Mr. President and Members. Bipartisan measure here to tackle the issue of cyberbullying to require a reporting mechanism to be prominently shown on a platform. So if there are incidents of cyberbullying, not only can you report it, but a teacher could report it, a parent could report it, and that the platforms will be required to actually require written confirmation of receipt of the report within 36 hours, as well as a statement of determination within 10 days of receipt of the report.
- Henry Stern
Legislator
And then if that report is actually not responded to, or if that click goes nowhere, parents and teachers and guardians will have some kind of recourse. This is the bare minimum kind of response we need for an epidemic that's going on on our platforms, with our children. This bill has received no no votes. Bipartisan support. Respectfully ask for your aye vote.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Thank you, Senator Stern. Does any Member want to be heard on this bill? Secretary, please call the roll.
- Committee Secretary
Person
[Roll Call]
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Please call the absent Members.
- Committee Secretary
Person
[Roll Call]
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
On a vote of 34 to zero, the measure passes. Members, we have one last item on our docket for tonight before we go to measures on call. That's file item 223, Senate Bill 1262 by Senator Archuleta. Secretary, please read.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Senate Bill 1262 by Senator Archuleta an act related to supervised release.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Senator Archuleta.
- Bob Archuleta
Legislator
Thank you, Mister President. I rise and bring you Senate Bill 1262 to make modest changes to the California Post Release Supervision law to allow local law enforcement and public safety professionals additional resources to make the best decision in determining the proper response for repeat offenders.
- Bob Archuleta
Legislator
Enhancing oversight and transparency within the post release community supervision would help all law enforcement agencies to successfully facilitate transition of formerly incarcerated individuals back into the community life. The Bill prioritizes accountability to prevent repeat offenders on community supervision and needed oversight information to ensure the appropriate persons receive this type of release. I respectfully ask for your aye vote.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Does any Member want to be heard on this measure? Any discussion on this measure? Seeing none, secretary, please call the roll.
- Committee Secretary
Person
[Roll Call].
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Please call the absent Members.
- Committee Secretary
Person
[Roll Call]
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Ayes 39, noes 0. The measure passes. All right, Members, we're going to now go back to bill's on call. Like to ask everyone to take their seats because it can get a little confusing here. I'm going to just take a moment.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
All right, we're going to begin first with file item 157. This is Senate Bill 1188 by Senator Laird. Secretary, please open the roll. Please call the absent Members. Excuse me.
- Committee Secretary
Person
[Roll Call]
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Ayes 29, noes 8. The measure passes. Next up is file item 159 by Senator Durazo. This is SB 1201. Secretary, please call the absent Members.
- Committee Secretary
Person
[Roll Call]
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Please call the absent Members.
- Committee Secretary
Person
[Roll Call]
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
On a vote of 23 to 10, the measure passes. Next up is file item 161 by Senator Limon. This is SB 1220. Secretary, please call the absent Members.
- Committee Secretary
Person
[Roll Call]
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
On a vote of 32 to 7, the measure passes. Next up is file item 162, Senate Bill 1253 by Senator Gonzalez. Please call the absent Members.
- Committee Secretary
Person
[Roll Call]
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
On a vote of 26 to 9, the measure passes. Next up is file item 111. This is SB 1400 by Senator Stern. Please call the absent Members.
- Committee Secretary
Person
[Roll Call]
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
That measure passes, 39 to zero. Next up is file item 114, SB 1460 by Senator Durazo. Please call the absent Members.
- Committee Secretary
Person
[Roll Call]
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
On a vote of 30 to 9, the measure passes. Next up, file item 120. This is SB 1119 by Senator Newman. Secretary, please call the absent Members.
- Committee Secretary
Person
[Roll Call]
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
That's 39 to zero on the urgency, 39 to zero on the measure. Next up, file item 131. This is SB 959 by Senator Menjivar. Secretary, please call the absent Members.
- Committee Secretary
Person
[Roll Call]
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
That passes with a vote of 31 to 8. Next up, file item 137 by Senator Limon. This is SB 1036.
- Committee Secretary
Person
[Roll Call]
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
On a vote of 31 to 5, that measure passes. Senator McGuire, the desk is clear.
- Mike McGuire
Legislator
Wow. First and foremost, thank you so much, Mr. President. And to all the Senators, it's been one heck of a day. Cannot say thank you enough for the tremendous work. And we continue to run a bit ahead of schedule. 113 were dispensed with today, which we are incredibly grateful for.
- Mike McGuire
Legislator
If we do the same tomorrow, Thursday, Friday, everyone knock on wood. If we do the same tomorrow, we will be in good shape. I want to say thank you to the Majority Leader. I want to say thank you to the Assistant Majority Leaders.
- Mike McGuire
Legislator
I want to say thank you to the floor team and, of course, the desk staff for all of their work, and the presiding officers. We got a big day ahead of us tomorrow. The next floor session is scheduled for Wednesday, May 22, at 10:00 a.m. Nice work, Mr. President.
- Steven Glazer
Legislator
Thank you, Mr. Pro Tem. The Senate is adjourned. We will reconvene Wednesday, May 22, 2024 at 10:00 a.m.
Bill SB 1224
Alcoholic beverage control: on-sale general license: County of Riverside.
View Bill DetailCommittee Action:Passed
Next bill discussion: June 5, 2024
Previous bill discussion: April 23, 2024
Speakers
Legislator