Senate Floor

Allen, Alvarado-Gil, Archuleta, Ashby, Atkins, Becker, Blakespear, Bradford, Caballero, Cortese, Dahle, Dodd, Durazo, Eggman, Glazer, Gonzalez, Grove, Hurtado, Jones, Laird, Limon, Maguire, 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 the members and our guests beyond the rail and in the gallery please rise? We will be led in prayer this afternoon by our chaplain Sister Michelle Gorman after which please remain standing. We will be led in the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag by Senator Alvarado-Gil.

Let us remember that we are in the presence of mystery. Despite the devastating shootings at the beginning of lunar New Year people continue to celebrate in many parts of the world this year, celebrating the Year of the Rabbit. With celebration comes joy. And joy is a sign of enlightenment. The Buddhist monk Tiknadhan says, enlightenment is always there. Small enlightenment will bring great enlightenment. If you can breathe in and are aware that you are alive that you can touch the miracle of being alive then that is a kind of enlightenment. And so today, we pray may we be enlightened enough to notice the blessings of each day to value all persons for their presence their gifts, their contributions to the ongoing evolution of our civilizations. May we banish from our hearts fear, prejudice, arrogance and all that would prevent us from appreciating the beauty of creation and the joy we can share in truly encouraging one another. Amen.

Honorable members of the Senate and guests please join me in honoring the glorious colors of our flag. Insane. I pledge allegiance of the United States. Of America which stands one nation under God.

Individual members, we would like to wish a big happy birthday to Senator Portantino whose birthday was yesterday. Happy birthday, Senator. Senator Laird.

Thank you, Madam President. I'm pleased to welcome representatives of California Polytechnic State University, Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo to the Senate floor. I am joined on the Senate floor by Cal Poly President Jeff Armstrong and 17 students who've won individual team awards. We are joined in the gallery. Standing in the gallery are Mrs. Sharon Armstrong and three associated student representatives from the student body. For those of you that don't know and I believe we have some graduates here Cal Poly is part of the 23 campus California State University system. It's located on San Luis. In San Luis? Obispo, on California's central coast, about halfway between Los Angeles and San Francisco. The locations give students access to opportunities for hands on research in agriculture, winemaking and distinctive coastal ecosystems. With their close proximity to that and the tech industry and the culture hubs in Southern California and the Bay Area Cal Poly students have an opportunity to do work that makes an impact around the globe. Cal Poly consistently has received high rankings from major publications for the past 30 years. The university's been named the best public master's level university in the west by the US. News and World Report. Forbes also continues to name it as one of the top 25 public and private universities in the west. We're here to celebrate and recognize the achievements of these exceptional students. The students present representing each of Kalpali's six colleges are among the best and brightest. They reflective of the learn. By doing education, each has distinguished himself or herself or their self as an individual on a team that has received a national industry award or in other high profile events. For example, Heather Migdall from Cupertino and her team won the 2022 American Society of Civil Engineers concrete canoe competition. Trevor Jones from Santa Rosa and his team earned first place in the prototype battery electric category at the 2002 Shell Eco marathon competition. And Annie Duty from Glendale and her Rose float team were recognized for building the most extraordinary float at the 134th Tournament of Roses parade. I'd like to thank Jeff Armstrong, his administration and the faculty of Cal Poly for educating such an amazing group of students, many of whom will go on to secure employment in highly skilled industries important to our California economy. I ask that my colleagues give a warm welcome to the representatives of Cal Poly.

Welcome to the Cal Poly students. We're very proud of you, and we're glad you're here to join us today. Thank you. Finishing the privileges of the floor, Senator Gonzalez.

Thank you. Madam President, members, today I'm really pleased to recognize the achievements of one of our most accomplished and notable public servants, Amanda Ray, who retired at the end of last year as a Commissioner of California Highway Patrol, its highest ranking official. I'm also here today with Acting Commissioner Sean Duryee. Thank you so much for being here, as well as her wonderful son Kyle, and many family members and friends who are here today. Commissioner Ray is a California native, born and raised in Oakland. She was an all American basketball player at UC Berkeley, graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology before joining the CHP. As a cadet in 1990. At the CHP, she steadily rose through the ranks, serving in both Southern and Northern California, becoming Commissioner of the California Highway Patrol in 2020. During her tenure, she presided over the CHP's response to high profile events, of course, such as COVID-19 pandemic, as well as many catastrophic wildfires and so much more to keep us many Californians, safe. She has consistently worked to ensure that the CHP remains committed to its mission of providing the highest level of safety, service, security and trust. It's especially notable that Commissioner Ray was a pioneer for women in law enforcement. As the first woman, and, of course, as the first African American woman to lead the CHP in its 93 year history. Senators, please join me in thanking Commissioner Amanda Ray for her exemplary service to the people of California and wishing her the best in her future endeavors. I heard that there's a lot of travel ahead for her, so we're excited. If anybody else would like to take a picture, now is your time. We'll take a short pause so we can take pictures.

Thank you, Commissioner, for joining us here today. And congratulations on your retirement. You want me to gavel Senator Atkins.

Thank you. Madam President, colleagues, I rise today with the honor of highlighting one of our state and nation's heroes, joseph Escanasi, a Redondo Beach resident. And I'm doing this on behalf of our senator, also from Santa Monica, which is where Joseph lives. And he is not with us today. But it is our hope that we can share this video with him and his family and you'll understand why in a moment. Mr. Eskenazi turns 105 years old today, making him the oldest living survivor of the attack on Pearl Harbor. He was a 22 year old private first class in the army and stationed at Schofield Barracks, about 17 miles from Pearl Harbor. When the attack occurred on December 1741, he was nearly thrown out of his bed, and he ran outside just as a low flying Japanese airplane dropped a bomb about 150ft from where he stood. The bomb did not detonate, but another plane strapped the barracks, killing a friend as he ran from a mess hall. When a commanding officer asked for volunteers to drive a bulldozer and clear the bombed out railroad tracks so soldiers could move heavy equipment and repair the airfield, he raised his hand as he worked. Another plane flew by and machine gunfire exploded all around him. He was not hit. More than 2300 service members were killed in the attack on Pearl Harbor, which brought the United States, of course, into World War II. Earlier this month, Mr. Eskenazi and eight other veterans were honored for their service during a ceremony at the National World II Museum in New Orleans. Accompanied by his daughter, he made the cross country journey by Amtrak train after his doctor told him that a heart condition would keep him from flying, but he wanted to attend this ceremony anyway. There, his oral history was added to the museum's archives, along with those of his fellow Army, Navy and Marine veterans. Mr. Asanazi and his service to our country is really a testament to courage. And it's with much esteem and gratitude that I ask us to recognize him on his hundred and fifth birthday with a warm Senate welcome. And we will make sure he gets our message. Happy birthday, Mr. Eskenazi.

Members, we would like to welcome former Senator Leyva, who joins us today with the California Public Television, who are here in the gallery for their legislative days. Please give them a warm welcome to the California State Senate. Welcome, Senator Leva. Members. We would also like to welcome former Assemblymember Gray, who joins us today on the floor. Assemblymember Gray. Members, we'd also like to welcome Senator Alvarado-Gil's daughter, Carmen Ivanias, who is here to join us today. It's always great to have our kids join us. And so, welcome to the California Senate. 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. Members are going to move on to motions, resolutions and notices. Without objection. The Senate journals for January 23, 2023 through January 26, 2023 will be approved as corrected by the Minute Clerk members. We're going to move on to introduction and first reading of bills. Madam Secretary, please read Senate Bill 251 252 to 53 to 54 to 55 to 56, 257 to 58 and 259. Moving on to consideration of the daily file, we're going to start with the governor's appointments item number one. Senator Grove.

Thank you, Madam President. Colleagues, file item one is the confirmation of Matthew Atchley. He's an Associate Director of High Security Male Institutions of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Prior to his role, Mr. Atchley has been serving as a warden of Salinas Valley State Prison, and he started a career with CDCR as a correctional officer. In 2002, he's implemented programs that encourage prisoners to interact with prison guards and staff in a positive way to improve safety conditions in these facilities. He's an out of the box thinker, and he was voted by the Rules Committee on a 50 vote. And I respectfully asked for an I vote.

Is there any discussion or debate on this item? Any discussion or debate? Seeing none. Please call the roll.

Allen, Alvarado-Gil, Archuletta, Ashby, Atkins. Aye Becker. Aye Blakespear. Aye Bradford. Aye Caballero Aye Cortese. Aye Dahle. Dodd Dahle. Aye Dodd. Aye Durazo. Aye Eggman. Aye Glazer? Aye Gonzalez. Aye Grove. Aye Hurtado. Aye Jones. Aye Laird. Aye Limon. Aye Maguire. Aye Menjivar. 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. Please call the absent members. Allen Alvarado Gil. Aye. Archuletta Ashby. Aye. Wilk. Aye.

Ayes 38. No. Zero. The appointment is confirmed. Moving on to file item number three. Senator Grove.

Thank you. Madam President and colleagues, please forgive me, as I may do not the correct pronunciation of these names. I will do my very best. But all of these members were approved by the Rules Committee on a 5-0 vote on June 8. File. Item number three is a confirmation of Xochitl Carrion and David Huebner for appointment to the Law Revision Commission. And Alan Guy, Diana Pryor Love and Mary Teichert to the appointment of the Contractor State License Board. And Juan Cruz to the Commissioner of Teacher Credentialing respectfully asked for an Aye vote.

Is there any discussion or debate on this item? Discussion or debate saying none. Please call the roll.

Allen, Alvarado-Gil, Archuletta, Ashby, Atkins. Aye Becker. Aye Blakespear. Aye Bradford. Aye Caballero Aye Cortese. Aye Dahle. Dodd Dahle. Aye Dodd. Aye Durazo. Aye Eggman. Aye Glazer? Aye Gonzalez. Aye Grove. Aye Hurtado. Aye Jones. Aye Laird. Aye Limon. Aye Maguire. Aye Menjivar. 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. Please call the absent members. Allen Alvarado Gil. Aye. Archuletta Ashby. Aye. Wilk. Aye.

Thank you. Madam President, members, on behalf of the Asian Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus, it's my honor to rise and wish you all a happy Lunar New Year. Lunar New Year is a joyous occasion of new beginnings and celebrating with loved ones. This year, however, we all saw that the start of Lunar New Year was met with tragedy. So I want to take a moment of silence to remember the victims of the January 21 Monterey Park shooting. I hope we can keep these families of the victims in our thoughts. Now, to many Asian Americans in California, lunar New Year is one of the most important holidays of the year, as it represents long standing cultural traditions across a wide array of Asian cultures. With the passage of AB 25 96, last year, california officially became the first state in the nation to make Lunar New Year an official state holiday. To celebrate this occasion, we want to share some of the traditions associated with the new Year. So in your office, you should have received a traditional decorative plant and possibly and we're still working on this, mandarin oranges and red envelopes with commemorative quarters. The quarters, if they arrive, and we're working on that, are from the American Women's Quarters program, and they feature Anna Mae Wong, the first Chinese American film star in Hollywood. Anna May Wong is the first API person to be featured on US. Currency. She appeared in more than 60 movies and is remembered as an international film star who continues to inspire actors and filmmakers today. Now, this year is recognized by many Asian cultures as the Year of the Rabbit, by some others as the Year of the Cat. But it's a year that is seen as very lucky, a year that is supposed to be one of peace and joy. And so as we celebrate Lunar New Year, I invite you to wear some red for good luck, like the tie I have on. Pleased to see so many of you wearing red today. And to maybe get some good Asian food dumplings, noodles, something else from your local Asian restaurants to celebrate the New year. Happy lunar New Year.

Thank you, Madam President. I also rise in support of SR. Seven that recognizes January 22 as the beginning of the lunar new year and year of the Water Rabbit. All across our great and diverse state, we are celebrating from various backgrounds and nationalities on this important holiday. In my own district includes several historically recognized Asian Pacific American communities, including Thai town, Koreatown, Filipino town, Chinatown, and others. I was able to participate in the 124th annual Golden Dragon Parade in Chinatown on Saturday. I wish you all good health and prosperity to everyone as we welcome this new year.

Thank you, Madam President. I rise today on behalf of the Legislative Woman's Caucus in support of Senate Resolution Seven, commemorating the Lunar New Year and recognizing this year as the Year of the Rabbit and also the Year of the Cat. Lunar New Year has always been a time full of light and colors, of hope and excitement for the future. Common traditions that take place during the celebrations of the new year includes distributing small red envelopes with small amount of money, lantern, festival line dances, dragon dances, fireworks, clean up homes to remove bad luck, and religious ceremonies. However, this year's celebrities have been mirrored by a tragedy following the recent events that happened in Monterey Park, Half Moon Bay, and also Oakland. While there is a noticeable tension and sense of uneasiness among the AAPI community, now is the time to gather and mourn and heal, but also a time to be optimistic that we can rise above this together. As a proud Vietnamese American, I ask that you listen to the stories of the AAPI community, learn about our struggles and challenges, and celebrate our triumphs and victories as we work to understand one another and work to heal and grow in this coming new year. I respectfully ask for your support on this measure. And I ask for your Aye vote.

Thank you, Madam President. Ladies and gentlemen of the Senate, today I rise on behalf of the Latino Caucus. It is my pleasure to rise in support of SR. 7, which celebrates the beginning of the lunar new year. All across our state, there are millions of people celebrating this wonderful time of the year, the Year of the Rabbit for our Chinese friends, and the Year of the Cat for our Vietnamese friends. This rich culture holiday is filled with various traditions that are rooted in the hope for good fortune and prosperity. As we wish each other prosperity, each, we should wish health and success and let us go beyond individuals. Let us work towards a new filled year of prosperity and success for each individual, our communities that make up California. I want to take a moment also, if I may, to acknowledge my large API community, which includes the city of Monterey Park. And I've had the honor and privilege of going all across my district to celebrate along with them. And as we know, we've had a tragedy, and we want to take a moment to acknowledge that. But yesterday in particular, I had the privilege to recognize and honor, as did the community, the individual who stepped up when a gunman approached to tackle the gun away. And just to see this young man demeanor and his encouragement and continue to celebrate and heal and come together as a community gives me hope, gives me hope for the future and our youth. And he wanted us to continue to heal as a community and move forward in celebration. So in his honor, I wanted to share those words. But again, this lunar new Year, may we all be filled with blessings, family, friends, neighbors, and constituents. I respectfully ask for your Aye vote.

Thank you, Madam President. Colleagues, I rise as co chair of our legislative Jewish Caucus in support of the resolution and in solidarity with our API communities as we enter new year lunar new year's season. And also with respect to the horrific tragedies that we've seen recently in California impacting the community so profoundly. It's hard to imagine the trauma caused by a mass shooting at this massacre, literally at an event welcoming lunar new year's season when people were simply going out to enjoy themselves and to celebrate and join together as a community. It's a deeply traumatic event. I have the honor of representing a district that is nearly 40% API. And it's a community where lunar new year is celebrated very, very intensely and beautifully every year. It's exhausting, but exhilarating for everyone in the community on an annual basis. And I will say that I have been so deeply impressed by the resilience of our API community in San Francisco, in northern San Mateo County, as we have this terrible tragedy. And people mourn. And we had vigils, and at the same time, people said, you know what? We are not going to let this prevent us from celebrating as a community. And that strength and resilience is what's going to get the community through this very tough time, which, frankly, it's been a few tough years with all the hate and violence directed at our API communities. But this community is so tough, and I'm proud to represent it. And I urge an Aye vote.

Senator Bradford.

Thank you, Madam President. As vice chair of the legislative black caucus, I stand in strong support of SR 7 as we recognize the celebration of the lunar new year this year, we're deeply conflicted as we mourn the innocent lives lost in the senseless shooting in Monterey Park, half Moon Bay, as well as Oakland. At the same time, we recognize the year of the Rabbit and the year of the Cat as being a time for joy and celebration. This celebration is meant to be a time when our API brothers and sisters share good wishes for health for happiness and for prosperity. Instead, we're grieving another act of gun violence here in California, where we offer our deep condolences to the victims of this crime and to their families and loved ones. While we do not know the motivation behind the horrible crime, the California Legislative Black Caucus stands shoulder to shoulder with our proud and strong API community across California. We stand with you in mourning. We stand with you in healing. We stand with you in hope. Hope for a nation that will be free of these all too often in common acts of mass violence that we don't see anywhere else in the world but here. These acts that shatter the sense of safety that we all deserve to enjoy, especially during a joyous cultural celebration of a new year. May this violence in no way be a marker for the new year to come. Instead, let us lift up our voices in solidarity and strength, that we can create solutions to keep our loved ones safe, and that our wishes for health and prosperity can ring true for this new year. I respectfully ask for Aye vote on SR 7.

Senator Grove.

Thank you, Madam President. I too rise in support of SR 7. Just a little History the Lunar New Year or Spring Festival celebrates the first moon of the lunar calendar and ends on the first full moon of the lunar calendar 15 days later. While its origins are slightly different, the Lunar New Year festivities date back nearly 3500 years ago when it was celebrated heavily around agricultural traditions. And being a member of the agricultural community myself and representing the top three food producing counties in the world, I found this very interesting. It's agricultural traditions like tilling the soil to ensure the best harvest. Many farmers knew the optimal times each year to plow the field and plant the crops, and especially when to harvest the crops. This grand harvest generally coincided with the arrival of spring, which then allowed farmers to rest from their work in the fields and celebrate the harvest that they had worked so hard for and pray for good times to come. So family members from near and far would travel home to reunite with their immediate and extended family members and to gather at the great feast of abundance for their crops. Since then, many traditions have emerged, including the Lunar New Year's Eve Celebration Dinner, which kicks off this holiday with accompanied by various foods and decorations to symbolize prosperity, abundance and togetherness. Many households believe that whatever happens on the first few days of the year would happen for the rest of the year. So the cooking and cleaning was always set aside and done prior to this because they didn't want to have to cook and clean for the rest of the year. Houses are thoroughly cleaned and decorated with bright and lucky colors with red and gold, which I wear today, allowing for open spaces to bring in good luck. Elders gave out envelopes of money for children, and the home was filled with warmth, thankfulness and laughter. My district director, Vivian Cowell, is Vietnamese, and she made caramelized pork and eggs, a staple comfort food in her culture for her family to eat for the first few days of this celebration. She also decorated her home with beautiful blossoms and lanterns and colorful flowers and had her family dress in the traditional dress called Al Yai. There was a table full of stuffed animals, one for each zodiac animal, and that was she shared with her kids, Carissa and Kingston. To make sure that they understand the importance of this long tradition, they called their family members and wished each of their family members warm blessings and health and prosperity for this year. Each year, the lunar calendar is represented by one of twelve Zodiac animals that have different personality characteristics. This year, many are celebrating the Year of the Rabbit, but in Vietnam, they're celebrating the Year of the Cat. But both of these animals represent a year of longevity, peace and prosperity. And may we also wish that over California as well. Thank you, Madam President, for allowing me to share a few words.

Any further discussion or debate saying none. Senator Min, you may conclude.

I want to thank my colleagues who spoke for your thoughtful and zealous support of this resolution. I also wanted to acknowledge my assembly colleagues in the API Legislative Caucus, who visited earlier, but unfortunately had to leave. But we do have oranges and I believe quarters for you on the way out. So thank you so much, and I respectfully ask for your I vote members.

This is eligible for unanimous roll call. Is there any objection to unanimous roll call saying none? Ayes 38. No. Zero. The resolution is adopted. Moving on to file item number six, Senator Alvarado-Gil. Madam Secretary, please read Senate Resolution Eleven by Senator Alvarado Gill. The floor is yours.

Is there any discussion or. Debate on this item? Seeing none. Senator Maguire request an I vote. All those in favor of the resolution, say aye. All those opposed, say no. The Ayes have it. The resolution is adopted. If there is no further business, the first extraordinary session will stand in recess upon call of the President. Pro temporary, and we will reconvene in regular session. There's no other business. Senator Atkins, the desk is clear.

Thank you, Madam President. I rise today to present Senate Resolution Eleven to recognize the month of January as 2023, as Cervical Cancer Awareness Month. The colors I wear today, teal and white, represent the banner of women that have undergone this preventable disease. As a cancer survivor myself, this hits home, and I have invited my daughter Carmen to join me in presenting this resolution. Because, like it or not, carmen took on the role of my caregiver, my nurse, my supporter, and all the wonderful things that no daughter should ever have to do for their mother. Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women worldwide, with an estimated 600,000 new cases, and 342,000 of them die. According to the American Cancer Society, there will be approximately 14,000 new cases in the US. This year, and nearly 30% of those cases will be fatal. Additionally, cervical cancer disproportionately affects women of color. The risk of hispanic women developing cervical cancer is one and a half times greater than it is for non Hispanic white and Asian Pacific Islander women. While the rates of cervical cancer are similar between black black women and white women, the death rate for black women with cervical cancer is twice as high as it is for white women. Cervical cancer starts as an abnormality of cells in the surface of the cervix. For those of you who don't know where the cervix is, it is the neck that holds the womb. The womb that brings life. Life to a child and life to this world. There are usually no signs or symptoms of early cancer, though most cervical cancer can be stopped if caught early. But that's only if we demand education and awareness for this preventable disease. Regular screenings that help medical professionals catch the cervical cancer cells before they turn cancerous. We all have important women in our life. Our mums, our sisters, our daughters, our aunties, ours, our friends. And no woman is immune to the risk of cervical cancer. I urge you all to learn about HPV cervical cancer and how it affects the women in your life, in your district and in our state today's. Resolution SR Eleven proclaims that 2023 January as Cervical Cancer Awareness Month. And although we are at the waiting end of the month, this gives us an opportunity to encourage all Californians, the State Department of Public Health, the State Department of Healthcare Services to conduct appropriate activities that support prevention, health promotion, screening to all eligible Californians. So, on behalf of the women, the men who love them, their families, I urge you to vote yes on this resolution and respectfully ask for avoid. Thank you. There any discussion or debate on this item. Any discussion or debate saying none. Please call the roll. This is eligible for unanimous roll call. Is there any objection to using the unanimous roll call? Seeing none eyes 38 no, zero. The resolution is adopted. Members, that concludes our Senate third reading. At this time, the regular session will stand in recess and the first extraordinary session will be convened. The prayer and pledge will be deemed complete. Members, the next order of business will be SRX first. SR one first x by Senator Maguire. Secretary, please read the resolution. Senate resolution one by Senator Maguire relative to the standing rules of the Senate for the 2023 24 1st extraordinary session. Senator Maguire, the floor is yours. Thank you so much and good afternoon, Madam President. Members, rise to present SRX one in the first extraordinary session. This bill establishes the following standing committees in the first extraordinary session. Number one the Senate Appropriations Committee. Two Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee. Three. The Senate Rules Committee. Now, members of the committees designated in the first extraordinary session are identical to those who currently serve within our 2023 2024 legislative session. I would respectfully ask for an Aye vote.

Thank you, Madam President. Our next floor session will be scheduled for this Thursday, February 2, 2023, at 09:00 A.m..

The Senate will be in recess until 03:30 P.m., at which time the adjournment motion will be made. We will reconvene Thursday, February 2, at 09:00 A.m..