Senate Floor

Allen. Alvarado-Gil, Archuleta, Ashby, Atkins, Becker, Blakespear, Bradford, Caballero, Cortese, Dahke, Dodd, Durazo, Eggman, Glazer, Gonzalez, Grove, Hurtado, Jones, Laird, Limon, McGuire, Menjivar, Min. Newman, Nguyen, Niello, Ochoa Bogh, Padilla, Portantino, Roth, Rubio, Seyarto, Skinner, Smallwood-Cuevas, Stern, Umberg, Wahab, Wiener, Wilk.

Members, a quorum is present. Would our Members and our guests beyond the rail and in the gallery please rise. We'll be led in prayer today by our chaplain, Sister Michelle Gorman. After which we're going to ask you to remain standing. For the pledge allegiance to the flag. Sister Gorman.

Let us center ourselves in God's presence. If you wish to draw near to God, the Sufi poet Abu Sa'id tells us how. If you wish to draw near to God, seek God in the hearts around you, speak well of all, present or absent. If you would be a light for others. Be like the sun.

Show the same face to all. To bring joy to a single heart is better than building countless shrines for worship. To capture one heart through kindness is better than setting a thousand free. This is the true lover of God. Who lives with others. Rises and eats and sleeps like others. Gives and takes in the bazaar.

Yet never forgets God, even for a moment. And on this 80th anniversary of D Day, Gracious God, fill us with your joy. As we continue to grow closer to you. And work for peace in our world. Amen.

Members, please join me in the pledge of allegiance to the flag. Members, today marks the 80th anniversary of D-Day. So I'm going to ask that all Members for a moment of silence. In remembrance of the brave individuals who lost their life. On that historic, impactful day. Here in America and across the world. Thank you, Members.

Now we're moving to privileges of the floor. I want to recognize both Senator Skinner and Senator Atkins. Senator Skinner, are you prepared?

Mister President, I am. Members, thank you. The Senator from San Diego and I rise today to introduce and present Senate resolutions to five individuals who have been instrumental in supporting policies to address the extreme disparities in the allocation of venture capital. Now, why is that relevant? Because, as we know.

We're the fifth largest economy in the world. We are the innovation economy. And venture funds are much what fuel that. And so, if you are one of the entrepreneurs or innovators. Who want to add to this innovation economy. And yet you are excluded from such sources of capital.

Then, often that excellent economic activity that we could all benefit from is excluded additionally. So, first up, I want to introduce Tracey Warren, who is the founder of the F5 Collective. The F5 Collective is a pioneering woman led investment firm that is committed to catalyzing generational change for 1 billion women worldwide.

Miss Warren is passionate about elevating the investment opportunities that exist from backing exceptional women founded ventures with an ambition, excuse me, with an ambitious mission to fund 1000 female funders by 2030, Miss Warren and her colleagues at the F5 Collective are dedicated to closing the gender funding gap and paving the way for a more inclusive and equitable future.

Congratulations.

Next up is Marquesa Finch. Some of you have heard Marquesa testify. She came to a number of committees last year and she is an entrepreneur and impact investor who is focused on alternative finance and equitable access to venture capital and entrepreneurship.

She is the founder and CEO of Pyrium, a marketplace for angel investing that is designed to create greater access to generational wealth for BIPOC and other communities who have historically been excluded from investing opportunities. Marquesa Finch is also a founding Member of the F5 Collective.

Congratulations.

Now let me turn it over to my colleague from San Diego.

Thank you to my colleague from Berkeley. I want to introduce our next honoree. This is Divya Reddy. Miss Reddy is an entrepreneur and impact investor. She is also a founding partner of the F5 Collective as well as the product lead and chief compliance officer at Pyrium.

Miss Reddy leverages her extensive background in banking and capital markets to mentor emerging companies on growth and fundraising. She also mentors tech innovators through Harvard's D-Cubed foundry. Next, I'd like to introduce Allison Byers.

She is the founder of Scroobious, a tech company working to change the startup landscape by fostering diversity through widespread connections among founders, investors and service providers via scalable online education, community and data driven curation. Miss Byers is a champion for equitable capital distribution.

With over 20 years of experience in startups and the tech industry, she uses her extensive knowledge to be a catalyst for change, especially in regards to gender bias in empowering marginalized communities. Let's welcome her. And now I'm going to pass it back over to my colleague from Berkeley.

Last but not least, Derek "MixedByAli" Ali, a four time Grammy winning recording and mixing engineer who has turned tech entrepreneur. He hasn't abandoned his music, but he is also a tech entrepreneur. And he is the founder of EngineEars, a vertical software platform for artists, audio engineers, recording studios, producers and record labels.

He provides innovative solutions for music production professionals that reflect his dedication to mentorship and community empowerment. He runs workshops that share his expertise and train people in his skills all across the country and the world.

Colleagues startups run by women and people of color are often overlooked by traditional venture capitalist firms, and they have much more trouble, as I mentioned in the beginning, from getting off the ground. Fortunately, those we've introduced you today were able to defy those obstacles, but they are rare.

These individuals that stand before us today are committed to helping level the playing field and change the biased, male dominated culture in the entrepreneurial and tech sectors.

They have been fierce advocates for last year's SB 54, which we all passed, and the Governor signed into law, which mandated accurate data collection on venture capital allocation in the hopes of fostering accountability and and promoting progress.

The innovative companies that they all represent are elevating startups founded by people of color and women and creating partnerships that promote growth and mutual benefits. But let us first give Derek Ali his resolution, and then I will close and then we can do other photos.

All of those who we've given resolutions to today are joined by their proud families and colleagues on the floor and in the gallery. Please join me in welcoming and honoring these incredible individuals.

On behalf of the California State Senate, we say welcome and congratulations to our five amazing honorees. Now is the time if other Members want to join in on the photo again. On behalf of the California State Senate, we say congratulations to our five honorees. Members, without objection, we will be taking up file item, resolution out of order.

The following I should say resolution out of order. File item 31, SJR 12. Senator Min, are you prepared? He is. Secretary, please read.

Senate Joint resolution 12 by Senator Min. Relative to oil and gas leases.

Senator Min.

Thank you, Mister President. SJR 12 requests the Federal Government revised current bankruptcy rules to ensure that the oil industry cannot use existing rules to push the cost of decommissioning oil and gas wells onto state taxpayers. As you all know, in 2021 we had a major oil spill off the coast of Huntington Beach, which I represent.

Those responsible for that spill are being held to account financially. Unfortunately, further up the coast, other operators have found it in their best interest to declare bankruptcy and walk away from dozens of unplugged oil wells and associated equipment and infrastructure with a $200 million hit to the General Fund resulting.

This is unfortunately part of an established industry model where major oil well producers or owners sell their wells to an independent producer, who then sells to a smaller one, and so on until the last company declares bankruptcy. Walking away with and leaving state taxpayers on the hook for what can be multimillion dollar well cleanups.

This resolution asks the Federal Government to make sure that an oil well bankruptcy will not adversely affect California State taxpayers. I respectfully ask for your Aye vote.

Any further discussion or debate on this item. Any further discussion or debate. Hearing and seeing none. Secretary, please call the role.

[Roll Call]

Secretary, please call the absent Members.

[Roll Call]

Ayes. 29. No. The measurement passes now, Members, we're moving on. Messages from the Governor will be deemed read. Messages from the Assembly will be deemed read, reports of committees will be deemed read, and amendments adopted. Now we're moving on to motions, resolutions, and notices. I want to recognize Senator Wiener for motions under motions, resolutions.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. President. Colleagues, I move adoption of authors amendments for budget bills and budget trailer bills that cross the desk on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, June 7 to 9th, 2024. These amendments will be adopted, published, and the bills returned to the Committee.

Senator Neal, for what purpose?

To object and recommend a no vote.

Senator Caballero.

I'm just waiting to. I'm not getting in the middle of this fight, but I just have a bill I'd like to pull off it when it time's appropriate.

All right, Senator. Members, we're trying to call the row Senator Weiner is asking for aye vote. Senator Niello is asking for no vote. Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call]

Ayes 27, nos seven. Motion to amend is adopted. All right now Members, it's time if any Member wants to remove item from the consent count, now would be the time. Senator Minn.

Thank you, Mr. President. On behalf of Assemblymember Low, I'd like to request to remove AB 996 from the inactive file.

Desk will note. Senator Nguyen.

Thank you, Mr. President. I would like to request to remove item A-6 SCR 103 from the act of file. Thank you.

Thank you. The desk will note. Senator Caballero.

Mr. President, I rise to remove file item A-2 SR 44 from the inactive file.

Thank you. The desk will note. Senator Newman.

Thank you, Mr. President. I'd like to request to pull AB 1953 from the consent file at the request of the author.

The desk will note. Senator Skinner.

Thank you, Mr. President. On behalf of Assemblymember Bonta, please move item A-22 AB 1186 from the inactive file. Thank you.

Thank you. The desk will note. Any other Members wishing to move an item from active to inactive file? Seeing none now, we'll move on to. All right Members, pursuant to Senate Rule 29.10 C, the following bills are referred to the Committee on Rules File item 20 AB 347.

Pursuant to Senate Rule 29-10 B, the following bills are referred to the committees on rules file item 21 AB 1768. Now Members, we're moving on to consideration of the daily file. Second reading file items one to 23. Secretary, please read.

[Reading]

Second reading is deemed read now. Members were moving to governor's appointments, Senator Grove. She's prepared. We have two items. File item 25 and 26. Senator Grove, the floor is yours.

Thank you, Mr. President. Colleagues, file item number 25 is a confirmation of Lou Paulson to the reappointment of the Public Employee Relations Board. Prior hit his initial appointment in the board of 2019. Mr. Paulson served for 14 years as the President of the California Professional Firefighters and the Chair of the California Fire Foundation.

He was approved at the Rules Committee on May 29 on a 50 vote. Respectfully ask for your I vote.

Any further discussion or debate on this appointment hearing. Cena and secretary, please call the roll.

Allen Albraudegil. Aye. Archuleta I. Ashby I. Atkins I. Becker Blakespear I Bradford. I Caballero. I Cortese dali I Dodd tharazo. I Eggman. I Glazer Gonzalez Grove I otado. I Jones. I Laird. I Limon Mcguire. I minjabar I Min I Newman. I wing I Niello. I ochobo Padilla.

I Portantino I Roth I Rubio I say arto I Skinner I smalled cuevas. I Stern I umber I Wahab. I Wiener.

I wilt. I Ayes 33, noes zero. The appointment is confirmed. Now we're moving on to file item 26. Senator Grove.

Thank you, Mr. President. Colleagues, file item number 26 is the confirmation of Chief Daniel Berlant as a state fire marshal for the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Chief Berlant has over 20 years of service with CAL FIRE. Prior to his appointment, he was the Deputy Director of the department's Community Wildfire Mitigation and Preparedness Division.

Chief Berlant took a lot of serious and pretty tough questions from the Rules Committee. Regarding the overlay of our fire prone areas and the mitigation standards that need to be done in order to make sure that our communities in the rural mountain areas, where we're fire prone areas have the ability to get insurance.

And he is working directly with the Insurance Commissioner to make sure that those constituents in California that live in rural areas have an opportunity to get insurance for their homes. And not at a huge price, but they can do things that will mitigate some of that cost.

He also is very much informed on the second chancellors working with the CCC. So that those individuals that are exiting the prison system have an opportunity to get a job that will teach them soft skills, allow them to develop the skill and a talent.

And be able to be elevated to the next position of a full firefighter position. So he has got a great perspective. He is widely, widely respected. Respectfully asked for an aye vote.

Any further discussion or debate on this appointment. Hearing and seeing none. Secretary, you may call the roll.

[Roll Call]

Secretary, please call the absent Members.

Allen Becker, Dodd, Glazer Gonzalez, Limon.

[Roll Call]

Ayes, 33. No, zero. The appointment is confirmed. Now we're moving on to Senate Third Reading. We have file item 41. Senator Ashby is prepared. Secretary, you may read.

Senate Concurrent Resolution 154 by Senator Ashby relative to California Aerospace Day.

Senator Ashby, the floor is yours.

Thank you, Mister President. I rise to present SCR 154, which designates June 5 as aerospace day and recognizes the contributions of California's air aerospace industries. Our aerospace industry supports more than 500,000 high paying jobs, generates more than $100 billion in annual economic activity, and generates 7 billion in state and local taxes.

California is home to three NASA research and engineering centers, one in Mountain View, one in Edwards, and one in Pasadena. Many other key sites of aerospace activity call California home, including right here in Senate district eight. The Aerospace Museum of California sits on the grounds of the former McClellan Air Force Base, now known as McClellan Business park.

The museum focuses on delivering educational programs in science, technology, engineering, and math to over 30,000 students each year, inspiring our future leaders to pursue a career in STEM.

California sets the standard for progressive our scientists, engineers, and innovators lead the nation in developing new technologies, including unmanned, battery powered aircraft, spacecraft design, commercial satellite advancements, navigation systems, and, of course, advanced robotics. Together, we can ensure that our state continues to lead in the innovation by increasing awareness of California's aerospace contributions.

Please join me in designating June 5 is California Aerospace Day, by voting aye on SCR 154.

Any further discussion or debate on this item?

Senator Grove, I, too, rise in support of SCR 154. Having the Mojave air and spaceport in my district. You know, think about that. In the middle of a desert. We have a spaceport where Virgin Atlantic operates, where the spaceship one is operated, where many things have been tested and proven to be a value to the United States of America. Regarding the space program, in my district, it does employ quite a bit of people.

It is an incredible sight to see when you go out there and you see some of the technology and the things that are going on, and we're producing that right here in California. So respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Thank you, Senator Portantino.

Thank you, Mister President. Members, I rise to strongly support SCR 154 as the district that has jet propulsion laboratory proudly in the center of it with spirit, Opportunity, all of those wonderful Mars rovers, Voyager, and many, many exciting cutting edge projects, and a longtime earth sciences division that has been mapping global warming and providing wonderful technical advice to the great State of California.

I strongly support this, but I do want to make one notation that my constituents would chastise me if I did not. Correct. Jet Propulsion Laboratory is physically located in the City of La Canada Flintridge, though it has a Pasadena post office and address.

So I do want to make sure that the proud folks of La Canada get their due. Thanks.

Thank you. Any further discussion or debate on this item, Senator Ahsby, would you like to close?

I urge an aye vote. Thank you.

Members, this is eligible for unanimous roll call. Is there any objection to using a unanimous roll call on this item? Hearing and seeing None. Ayes 32 no, zero. The measure passes. Now, Members, it's. We're moving to the consent calendar. Now is the time for any Member wishing to remove an item from the consent calendar to do so now.

Hearing seeing none. Secretary, please read all items on the consent calendar and special consent.

[Reading]

All right, Members, please call the roll on the consent calendar.

[Roll Call]

Secretary, please call the absent Members.

[Roll Call]

Ayes 32, noes zero on the consent calendar. Ayes 32, nos. Zero on the special consent calendar. Now, Members, we're returning to motions and resolutions. Now is the time for adjournment. Memories. We have Senator Cortese. First up. Is he prepared? Senator Cortese, the floor is yours.

Thank you, Mister President. I rise to adjourn in memory of Tim Quigley Junior, who passed away on March 15 at the age of 78. Today with us in the gallery, we have Tim's son, Aaron Quigley, daughter in law Jenny Quigley, and two of his grandchildren, Mara and Bridget.

I want to thank them all for traveling from Santa Clara County to join us today. And of course, I and so many others are sorry for your tremendous loss. It's our loss as well. Known affectionately as Tim, he was a cherished father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend.

His life was defined by his commitment to his family, community, and his country. He was very, very committed to his form of public service. He was born in Wabasha, Minnesota in 1945. He graduated from the US Naval Academy, US Naval Academy in 1967 and embarked on a nearly 30 year career in the Navy.

Hoping I can have attention, Mr. President, this is a distinguished veteran and a great leader, not just for my area, but for the entire country. After his 30 year career in the Navy, he served as a P3 pilot, undertook three combat tours during the Vietnam War, and held several senior leadership positions in the military.

He found his way to San Jose during his naval career, a city that would become his home for nearly 50 years. In addition to attending the US Naval Academy, he also graduated from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, and he was a former course President at the NATO Defense College from 1991 to 1992.

After retiring from the Navy as a captain in 1994, he returned to San Jose to pursue a career as a corporate nonprofit Executive.

He held positions such as CEO of the Silicon Valley Defense and Space Consortium, the CEO of the Silicon Valley Global Trading Center, the Program Director of Green Change California, which is the place I first met Tim.

He was highly engaged in the community, serving as a Board Member for both the San Jose Symphony and also the San Jose Police Foundation. His regular presence at local government meetings and community events earned the reputation of a respected civic leader known for his tireless commitment and boundless energy.

Tim's real claim to fame as I got to know him in the place, I think he was most comfortable was Sister Cities International. On March 14 of this year, Sister Cities International mourned his loss as a remarkable member of our community.

He had been Chairman of the honorary board of directors, Chairman emeritus, global envoy, and first Chairman of the Sister Cities International Foundation. He left an incredible mark on that organization.

He served as country representative to Australia, Ireland, Italy, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, and Ukraine, as well as regional representative to North Africa and the Middle East and international organization representative to NATO. His contributions were invaluable.

In tribute to Tim's legacy, Michael Hyatt, the Chair emeritus of Sister Cities International, and Kevin O'Donnell, the country representative liaison, spoke very, very eloquently about Tim's enduring legacy, his long term legacy in terms of international relations and peace during that memorial on March 14.

I got to know him there as a member of the Sister Cities International board myself and to see Tim in action. He was truly a global leader, not just in words, but in deeds. He was a very, very close friend of former, the late former Secretary Norman Y. Mineta, who was one of the founders of sister cities in the San Jose area.

Tim is going to be sorely missed. He already is. His son Aaron again, who's in the gallery, and I talk about him frequently. I receive more text messages and email messages after his passing than anyone in my lifetime, after their passing, including my own family members.

His legacy of service lives on. His son Aaron, who I've mentioned a couple times, is one of our leaders at the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority. Tim's service was an inspiration to many.

I know it'll continue to be an inspiration to his son, to the family members who are here, who are here, and to the extended family as well. He has survived. Tim is survived by his partner, Siyoshi has five siblings, four children, seven grandchildren and a great grandchild.

And again, he's already been dearly missed and he will continue to be. Thank you, Mr. President.

Thank you on behalf of the California State Senate, we extend our deepest condolences to the Quigley family and ask that you bring his name forward so he can be properly memorialized. Next up is Senator Portantino.

Members, I rise today sadly to adjourn in the memory of Raul Porto. After immigrating from Manzanilla, Cuba, in search of a better life, he settled in Los Angeles. Raoul and his late wife, Rosa, who was also a baker and co-founder of their wonderful bakery, which they started their chain in 1976.

Together, they helped generations of Cuban immigrants find a taste of home and popularize regional specialties such as stuffed and fried potato balls and pressed Cuban sandwiches. Later on, the Porto's expanded their business beyond Cuban pastries to serve treats that appealed to a number of cultures, including Danishes, fruit tarts, muffins and many, many more.

In 1982, Porto's relocated to Glendale and eventually further expanded to Burbank, Buena Park, West Covina and Northridge. Known for his humble nature, Raul balanced his roles as a devoted husband, father and businessman, inspiring all who knew him with his passion and his commitment.

In his later years, Raul found immense joy in spending time with his grandchildren and watching the next generation of his family grow and excel. Raul and Rosa are survived by generations of Porto's, including many grandchildren. Their three children, Beatrice, Raul, Junior, and Margarita, all grew up helping their parents in the bakery and went on to run the businesses themselves.

He had a tremendous love for family and truly an American success story at American Dream.

He came here to pursue a better life for his family, and through his hard work and perseverance, he created that work, passed it on to his children. Beatrice is a fixture in Glendale. I just was at an event the other day in Burbank, and there was the Porto family, donating food to support the community.

This is a family that came here to do good things, succeed, and turn that success into community service. And I proudly stand to ask this body to adjourn in his memory.

Please send our condolences to the family and bring his name forward to the desk. Senator Durazzo. I'm sorry. I didn't see you were going to speak.

I just want to add a couple of words to what my colleague said. The first location of the Porto's bakeries was an echo park, my district, which is home to thousands of Cuban refugees.

And I just want to thank the Porto family because of their civic and their business contributions to Los Angeles, and end by telling you that the lines at the Porto bakery are long, all day into the evening, and leave you with this thought. Guava cheese, strudels, potato balls, res leches, Plato De lechon, Ropa, Viejas, Empanadas. And, of course, the cortex coffee. Thank you.

Please bring his name forward to the desk so he can be appropriately memorialized. Senator Bradford.

Thank you, Madam President. Today I rise in the memory of a great Californian, a great Texan, and a great American, that in the person of James Johnson, who is an amazing son, brother, husband, father and grandfather.

Mr. Johnson was born in Texas, in Clarksville, Texas, and he was the fifth of seven children born to his late parents, George and Willie Mae Johnson. And as even as a young child, he was known as being a masterful storyteller, engaging folks in all kind of stories and accolades, and just amazing person to know.

Mr. Johnson was also a veteran. He served in the navy, and he did two tours of duty, and he was stationed in Japan. And while stationed in Japan, Mr. Johnson opted not to stay on base and live in the community so he could get emerged in the culture, both he and his family.

Mr. Johnson, during his life, visited over 32 countries, and he encouraged his family to explore and experience the world as well. What makes Mr. Johnson so special to me as a young kid, his family was the second African American family to move on my street as a young kid.

And he moved there with his late wife, Mildred, and his four daughters, Francine, Annette, Yolanda, and Carla. Mr. Johnson was the original girl dad.

And even though there was not a single boy for me to play with as a young kid, we welcomed him nonetheless, because Mr. Johnson was always there, encouraging all of us, regardless if we were boys or girls, to be the best that we could be. As stated, they were the second black family on our street.

We have lived across the street from each other for 55 years. Mr. Johnson always shared his wisdom and encouraged many young people and adults to be the best that they could be in our community. He was well respected and always eager to help people become the best of themselves with integrity and purpose.

I stand here today because of the many discussions and encouragement that he gave me during my challenges of becoming an elected official, being involved in the community. And he was always quick to say, put a sign in my yard. I never had to ask him. He would just say many times, where is my sign?

And that's who Mr. Johnson was. Again, he served in the military, but after retiring from the military, he worked for the US Postal Service, Norris Industries, and he retired from Reynolds Metals. Again, he was a calm and quiet, but commanding and respected individual whenever he entered a room or any discussion.

I'm blessed to have known him for the last 55 years. And though his presence will be greatly missed, his legacy will live on through the many lives he's touched. His four amazing daughters, his grandkids, and now great grandkids. Members, I ask you to join in memory a journey in memory of James Johnson. Thank you.

Senator, please accept the Senate condolences to the family and the friends. And please bring his name forward to the desk so he can can be appropriately memorialized. There is no other business. Senator Mcguire, the desk is clear.

Thank you so much, Madam President and colleagues. I just want to take a moment before we adjourn today to be able to acknowledge what we did in the beginning. It's the 80th anniversary of D-Day in Normandy, France. 150,000 Members of our brave allied troops joined together in the largest seaborne invasion in military history.

4000 died on that first day defending our democracy and our freedoms. And all those who continue to serve this nation and our veterans, including those who serve the people of California, the great Senators from Pico Rivera, Stockton, Bakersfield, San Fernando Valley, Fullerton, Riverside, and Santa Ana. We thank you.

Members, enjoy your friends, your families, all the district events this week and the next floor session is scheduled for Monday, June 10, at 02:00 p.m.

The Senate will be in recess until 03:30 p.m. at which time the adjournment motion will be made. We will reconvene Monday, June 10 at 02:00 p.m.