Senate Standing Committee on Education

The Senate Education Committee will come to order. Good morning. The Senate continues to welcome the public in person and via the Teleconference Service for individuals wishing to provide public comment. Today's participant number is 877-226-8216 and the access code is 621-7161 again, that's 877-226-8216 and the access code is 621-7161 we are holding our committee hearings here in the O-Street building. I ask all Members of the Committee to be present in Room 2100 so we can establish a quorum and begin our hearing.

I ask the testimony today of main witnesses in support of opposition be limited to two people per side with two minutes for each witness. All others may add on and simply state your name, your organization, and your position on a particular piece of legislation. We have 15 bills on today's agenda. Seven bills are on consent. Those bills are Item number two, AB 72. Item number four, AB 226. Item number eight, AB 934. Item number nine, AB 694. Item number 10, AB 1352.

Item number 11, AB 1352. And item number 15, AB 1745. We do not yet have a quorum, so we will begin this Committee hearing as a Subcommitee and proceed to the first measure. I see Assembly Member Lowenthal is here, a proud Member of the Josh Caucus. There are four of us. I am the senior Member and the self appointed chair of that caucus, and you are presenting AB 10 whenever you're ready.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. And Senators, very pleased to present AB 10, which will require the Department of Education to develop a model policy and resources about body shaming that schools may use to educate staff and students about this issue. This Bill additionally encourages LEAs to inform teachers, staff, parents and pupils about these resources. I'd like to start by accepting the Committee amendments and would like to thank the Committee staff for their work on this Bill.

As legislators, we take on a myriad of issues through the legislation we carry, some of which have little tangible connection to our own lives. But some bills hit us right at home. AB 10 hits home for me. I'm here before you today not only as a Legislator, but as a stakeholder and as a parent whose family has been impacted by body shaming. Body shaming is complex. I want to make sure we're viewing it through the appropriate lens.

While body shaming can be targeted at obesity and used as a bullying tactic, it comes in many forms that often do not fall into either of these categories.

Body shaming can be directed at anyone's immutable characteristics, such as their height, their weight, hair disability, among other characteristics that are beyond the power of an individual to change or that are fundamental to personal identity that intentionally or unintentionally make someone feel uncomfortable, out of place, like an outsider and more broadly like quote the other, or as though they do not belong amongst their peers. What we have found is that body shaming is most often not a bullying tactic.

It comes in the form of innocent comments that an individual may not recognize as being hurtful, critical, unwanted by someone else. Body shaming often has an insidious, rippling effect on the lives of those who are being subjected to it. For children and adolescents who are still developing or forming their identities, the impact of body shaming can have devastating long term effects, often causing impacted individuals to have diminished self esteem to question their own self worth, which can carry over into adulthood.

Today, the negative impacts of body shaming that children and adolescents are facing are being compounded by the pervasive narrative and portrayal of body images in pop culture, magnified by TikTok and Instagram, amongst others, that are unrealistic, sometimes completely unhealthy. And in the school setting, body shaming frequently leads to negative impacts on student mental health, which can cause students to withdraw from their friends, from activities, from classroom participation, and result in increased absenteeism, sadness, depression, and suicidal thoughts and actions.

All of these impacts can cause students to fall even further behind academically. Our schools need to be environments where children feel safe, supported. They want to learn and be amongst their friends and peers. By developing policies and resources on body shaming, teachers, faculty, students and parents will be better equipped to deal with this issue when it inevitably arises and how to make it a teaching moment for everybody that's involved.

I am pleased to be joined by Camille Butts, a high school history teacher at Grant Terrace High School in the Colton Joint Unified School District, to testify in support of this Bill.

Thank you. Good morning, Ms. Butts. Welcome.

Good day, chair and Members. My name is Ms. Camille Butts. She her, hers, and I am a high school history teacher in Colton Joint Unified School District. Urge you to vote aye for this Bill so that our future generations of influencers, educators, leaders and lawmakers can be connected with resources that edify them in the further development of healthy body images.

When I think back to school age, me comments about my appearance sometimes made me want to diminish who I was, who I was meant to be, wanting me to diminish my power and my abilities because I stood out too much, because I was different from someone's ideal, or perhaps because my shirt was too short to cover my longer than average torso. All of these comments and doubts made me question my innate power as a high school teacher.

I unfortunately see some of our students going through these same self doubts. I might hear a student make a snide body shaming comment to another student, or I might hear a student engage in negative self talk about their body. Unfortunately, as a teacher, I sometimes see our dress code policies perpetuating some of these comments that lead to these self doubts. And these sometimes biased dress code policies lead to disciplinary actions partially based in these body shaming beliefs.

Yet, fortunately, as I speak here today, I feel and see hope that these negative comments and policies based on body shaming will cease. Schools should develop policies about body shaming to ensure that all students feel safe and accepted in their learning environment. School stakeholders should be connected with resources to support said policies. These resources can help to create environments that are more inclusive and respectful of all body types and can provide students with tools to further develop healthier relationships with their bodies.

I applaud Assembly Member Lowenthal for this Bill and I encourage you to support it. AB 10 thank you.

Thank you very much. Do we have any other witnesses here in support of AB 10? If so, please. Morning, Mr. Bramble. Good morning. Seth Bramble here on behalf of the California Teachers Association. Pleased to support. Thank you. Anybody else here in the hearing room would like to testify in support of AB 10? Does anybody here would like to testify in opposition to the measure? Good morning.

Good morning. My name is Aaron Friday. I'm a mother, a Democrat, and lead of Our Duty. We oppose this Bill unless amended. We wholeheartedly agree that no child should be bullied about their natural body, from their noses to their thighs to their breasts to their genitalia. The model policy needs to clearly state that everybody is perfect without the need to stop puberty, inject wrong sex hormones, or remove healthy body parts. Pupils need to be proud of their hair growth, their deep or soft voices.

They should never be told that they might have been born in the wrong body. Lesbian girls should never be told that to be their authentic selves. They must remove their breasts or grow facial hair. Schools should never partner with gender spectrum or gender surgeons like aligned surgery that agrees that gay boys penises are shameful and must be turned into never healing wounds. We want schools to hold natural body pride days. Why?

Flags that celebrate natural bodies have clubs that teach pupils to be secure in their unaltered female and male bodies. Affirming that a child could be born wrong in the wrong body is the ultimate body shaming. Also, I caution that policing children's words maybe violate the First Amendment. Thank you.

Thank you. Is anybody else here like to testify in opposition to the measure?

Hello. My name is Ariane Adam Chakova, a San Francisco resident, a high school Spanish teacher in a public high school in San Bruno, California. I am a lifelong progressive Democrat and LGB ally. I am here to oppose the amendment unless amended to also include that telling a student that they are born in the wrong body is a form of body shaming and bullying as well.

My own son, as a detransitioned young man, started to question his own puberty and the correctness of his body as he entered 6th grade and was given the curriculum that many people may be born into the wrong body. He questioned the shape of his face, his secondary sexual characteristics. As they grew slowly, he questioned all that it is to be a person and his personality characteristics and whether they matched the gender ideas that we have today that correspond with the sexed body.

I strongly, strongly support amending this to include that telling students who are at a very precarious place in their lives as they grow into puberty, when they are most uncomfortable with their bodies and when they are most uncomfortable with their sexual same sex attraction or sexual attraction in General, that this can be very, very harmful, a very harmful message. My son, sadly, was caught in this for over a year and a half, hating his body, wanting to change his sexual characteristics through hormones and sexual surgeries.

I strongly, strongly believe that we need to recommit to telling students that their bodies are perfect and beautiful at the way they are in all aspects, no matter their personality, same sex attraction, and how their bodies develop over time. It took my son quite a bit of time for us as parents to acknowledge that his body was perfect, to help him understand that, and to kind of change his framing that he had been taught differently in public schools.

We have always taught him, you can love whoever you love, you can dress however you dress, but please love your body the way that it is. Thank you very much.

Thank you. Is anybody else here who'd like to testify in opposition to AB 10? Seeing none, let's go to the teleconference line at and T Moderator Good morning. If you could please query the line and solicit testimony either in support of or in opposition to AB 10. And that opposition should include name, organization and position on the measure. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair, and good morning, ladies and gentlemen on the phone line, if you wish to testify in support or opposition to AB 10, go ahead and hit one followed by zero. At this time. One followed by zero. And we will begin with line 12. Please. Go ahead, Mr. Chair. And Members of the Committee, Brandon Marchey with the California Medical Association in support.

Thank you. Next, please.

Anybody else? Go ahead and hit 10 if you're in support or opposition to AB 10. And line 18, you are open.

Chair and Member is Laura Wasco. On behalf of Long Beach Unified School District in support of AB 10.

Thank you. Next.

Nobody else is queued up, Mr. Chair.

All right. And I see we do have some witnesses. Please go ahead to the podium. Sorry I missed you earlier.

My name is Sieg Smith. I am the founder of Mom army and dad army, and I oppose AB 10.

Thank you. Next, please.

I'm David Bolland from the organization All People are Born Perfect in opposition unless amended.

Thank you. Next, please.

My name is Sabrina Williams. I am a captain of Mom Army Sacramento, and I oppose.

Thank you. Is anybody else seeing? None. Let's bring it back to the deus, which is just me. And I want to be clear. The reason some folks aren't here today is we have not one, but two other Committee hearings going on simultaneously. So, it's not for lack of interest. There's a budget hearing that's about to start. Labor Committee will go on simultaneously, so that creates challenges for the Members.

Assembly Member Lowenthal, I'd ask you to speak to some of the opposition, which I'm sure was not expected, at least not to that degree. So if you wouldn't mind.

Well, I think one of the things that the comments illustrate is that every family has an individual experience. I would want to make sure that the chair knows and the Members know that there is nothing specifically delineated in the legislation requiring the Department to develop specific rules or guidelines along any specific issue around body shaming, body image, identity, and so forth. But it's for the Department to create its own policies and curricula.

And I certainly think that there would be opportunity for the public to weigh in on that. And I also believe that that will be, as all of their policy and curriculum, a living, breathing document. Over time, that will continue to be amended.

I appreciate that. Senator Wilk. Anything?

Not really, other than this is a really important issue. I know we had a school shooting a number of years ago at the high school, and then one of the teachers came and asked me to talk to his class from one of the feeder schools from the junior high. I said, I'm not going to talk, but I'll come and listen. And I left there very depressed. What these kids go through, and this is certainly one of the challenges that they have.

And I know for my wife, who looks perfect to me, she still has issues because in her brain. So this is something that can affect you your entire life. So I think it's good to have policies. I agree that there will be an opportunity for the public to weigh in as it goes through this. And I heard the parents concerns share those concerns, but I think we can address that as we move forward.

Thank you, Senator. And if I may comment as well, I'm one of those parents. And without disrespecting the privacy of my children, I can say that we too had very similar issues in our own family. And once we went to the school, went to teachers, administrators that were completely and totally not only ill equipped, but desiring some policy and curricuLA so that they could get on the exact same page, very, very tough issue.

As a matter of fact, if we look at the CDC data, that has just come out in regards to eating disorders, suicide, depression, anxiety, for girls, 65% higher than it was 10 years ago. So teachers, administrators are on the front lines of combating the things that children are seeing and dealing with in social media, and we just need to make sure that they are armed and equipped to deal with it the right way.

And we should be including all of the comments, all of the individual stories of any family that wishes to participate in this should all be validated and heard. And I insist upon that.

I appreciate that. Would you like to close, or can.

We take that as you close, simply just to say that AB 10 is enjoyed? Broad bipartisan support has zero opposition.

I think it's a little higher than zero at this point. But I want to emphasize that what the Bill does requires the California Department of Education to develop a policy, and that policy will include public input.

Mr. Chair, I meant zero opposition in Committee or on the floor of the Assembly.

I appreciate that. So this conversation will obviously continue in several venues, but especially with respect to this policy if it moves forward. We are convened as a Subcommitee right now, so we'll take that up once we get established a quorum. But thank you.

Thank you so much.

All right, next up we have Assemblymember Hoover, yet another Member of the Josh Caucus.

Welcome. The bipartisan Josh Caucus is well represented here. All right. Assemblymember Hoover, welcome. Good morning.

Thank you for having me today. Appreciate the theme we got going with the Josh Caucus today in Senate Education Committee. I am here to present Assembly Bill 95. As everyone here knows, California was the first state in the nation to implement a universal school meals program for many students. This is one of the only meals that they will have throughout the day. My Bill is just a very simple clarification.

There isn't clarity on whether or not a school, after they provide the first entree to a student, can actually sell a second entree to a student who may be growing, who may be hungry. As someone with a 14 year old teenager going into high school, I know very well that as kids continue to grow, sometimes they need some extra food. And so this Bill would simply clarify in the law that schools can sell that student a second entree.

Just to clarify, this does not have anything to do with competitive food, such as chips or snacks. This is the actual entree itself. So would love your support for this legislation and would respectfully ask for an aye vote.

I appreciate that. Any witnesses in support of the Bill here in the hearing room? Seeing none. Any opposition to this measure in the hearing room? I see none. I cannot answer that question. I do not know. Let us go to the full nights. Ms. Moderator, is there anybody on the line who, like, testify in opposition to or in support of AB 95?

Thank you, Mr. Chair. If you are in support or opposition to AB 95, please press 10 at this time. One. Followed by zero. Bye.

And nobody is queuing up. Okay, let's bring it back. Senator Welk, any other comments for Assembly Member Hoover? I'm glad to support the Bill. When the moment arises. We have a quorum. We'll establish a quorum. We'll vote on the Bill. Would you like to close?

Nope. Just respectfully ask for an aye vote. And thank you for the Committee's consideration, Mr. Chair. Appreciate that. Thank you. All right, thank you. Moving forward, our next Bill to be heard is AB 230 from Assembly Member Rayes. Welcome and good morning.

Thank you, Mr. Chair Member. Today I'm pleased to present AB 230. The Bill would require schools serving third through fifth grade to stock restrooms with free and accessible menstrual products. AB 230 expands on the Menstrual Equity act of 2021, which required schools serving 6th through 12th grade to stock menstrual products in their restrooms. There are currently over 2400 schools that serve third through fifth grades, which are not required to provide free menstrual products for students.

Recent data from the United States Department of Health and Human Services shows a trend toward early onset of menstruation. Our students should have the necessary products to care for themselves when they are on their periods. These products should be free and easily accessible to them. The truth is, AB 230 is very special to me. This is an idea that came to me from Girl Scouts in my district.

They've been doing incredible work in the community and making menstrual kits which are available to students in their schools for those students who started their period early. So here to testify in support of this Bill are Ava Ferncos and Jillian Mendoza of Girl Scout Troop 76 of San Gregonio Council, who are sponsoring our Bill.

Welcome, Ms. Ferncos. Welcome, Ms. Mendoza. This is your opportunity. So there's the podium. Each of you has up to two minutes. We welcome your testimony.

Hi, I'm Jillian Mendoza, and I'm here with my friend, Ava Francos. We are Girl Scouts representing troops 76 from Grand Terrace, we are here to present AB 230, Girl Scout Period Equity Act. This journey all started due to our own experiences of starting an early menstrual cycle. I was attending elementary school when I started my period. My family and I were not aware that this could happen at such a young age. I was not prepared, nor did I have the proper supplies.

This is not a comfortable subject to speak on, and we need to normalize the fact that it does happen to young girls. For our Girl Scout Silver Project, we had the idea to help and support younger girls who might experience an early menstrual cycle. As we did, we created emergency period kits that would supply our local elementary schools with the proper supplies for girls menstrual cycles.

We also created a pamphlet that provides information on a girl's period tips and affirmations, so the girl knows she is not alone, which made our project sustainable. AB 230 will benefit students whose families cannot afford menstrual supplies. Providing access to vital supplies while at school would help them not miss school, allowing them to receive the best education possible.

While researching for this project, it has led us to discover the Bill, AB 367, which requires all public schools from six and up to carry menstrual supplies in bathrooms. We ask, why just the 6th grade and up? Why not younger students as well? We need to be inclusive. Younger students need to be included so they can have the necessary supplies and know that this is normal. This Bill should be passed so the younger generation will have the support and supplies needed.

So let's help the well being of our younger generations. Thank you for allowing me to speak.

And thank you, Ms. Francos. Good morning. Welcome.

Good morning. Hello. My name is Ava Francos from Girl Scout Troop 76. Thank you to everyone for having Jillian and I to be here. When Jillian and I started our silver project to make emergency menstrual kits for girls who start their period in elementary school, it was because we both started early at age 9 and 10, and There weren't any supplies or resources available in the restroom that we knew of. In fact, no one at school is even talking about it.

Starting your first period at a younger age can be very scary and unexpected for some girls. We wanted to help make it an easier transition for girls while at school. As Jillian had mentioned, we made 500 emergency kits that included a pair of underwear inside, a washcloth, wipes, several menstrual pads, and a pamphlet we created explaining what to expect during your period and tips on how to manage your period while at school.

We held the presentation at our city hall and we also met with the third, fourth, and fifth grade teachers at our former elementary school. We gave the teachers a menstrual kits to keep in their classrooms so that any student who needed one while at school without the support and resources necessary to get through the school day.

No girls in 3rd, 4th, or fifth grade should have to worry about how they will get through the school day without any menstrual supplies when all they should be focused on is learning. Having adequate supplies at school could also make the difference for the student whose family is struggling. I would much rather see that student come to school and get the help they need rather than stay home and miss school.

I had a friend tell me she used toilet paper as a pad because she didn't want to miss school. The emergency kits we made for our local school are a great resource to help those girls who start early like we did. But AB 230 can do even better by helping all the girls in the entire State of California. Thank you so much for giving us time to speak today.

Talking about menstruation is not always easy or comfortable, but we feel it is important, especially when school attendance can be affected.

Thank you. Thank you for your testimony. Thank you for your courage in coming here, and I commend you on your poise in your testimony. Before we continue, let's take an opportunity to establish a quorum, because we do have one present. Madam Consultant, if you please call the role.

Newman? Here. Newman, here. Ochoa Bogh? Here. Ochoa Bog, here. Cortese? Glazer? Here. Glazer, here. Mcguire? Smallwood-Cuevas? Wilk? Present. Wilk, present.

Quorum is established. Let's move forward. Is anybody else in the hearing room would like testify in person on behalf of the measure? If you could please come forward with your name, your organization, your position on the Bill, and this is in support. When you're ready.

Good morning, chair and Members, Achilles Hernandez speaking on behalf of Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis, as a proud co-sponsor of AB 230, I respectfully request your support for this Bill.

Thank you. Next, please.

Good morning, Mr. Chairman, Members. Seth Bramble here. On behalf of the California Teachers Association, we are in support. Thank you, Mr. Bramble. Next.

Hello again. Camille Butts, teacher in Colton Jet Unified School District, in support.

Thank you. Next, please.

Good morning. Leilani Aginaldo, on behalf of Fresno Unified. School District, in support.

Thank you. Next, please.

Good morning. Jenny Trice, on behalf of the County of Santa Clara, in support.

Thank you. Next, please.

Good morning. Jennifer Robles with Health Access California, in support.

Next, please.

Good morning. Ellie Mendoza and Lauren Mendoza, proud mother of a Girl Scout, and we support the Bill.

Thank you and welcome. Next, please.

Sydney Doty, cousin of Julia Mendoza, in support.

Thank you and welcome. Next, please.

Good morning. Julia Francos. I am the proud mother of Ava Francos and the Proud Girl Scout Leader of Troop 76 of Ava and Julian, and I am 100% in support of AB 230.

Thank you and you should be proud. Thank you. Next, please.

Mark Mendoza, proud parent of. Excuse me. Proud parent of Julian and, of course, Ava, in full support. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Medoza. Next, please.

Good morning. Trevor Francos, brother of Ava Francos, in support of Ava 230.

Thank you. I'm seeing a trend here. Next, please.

Good morning. John Abatten, cousin of Ava Francos and in support.

Next, please. Awesome. I would urge you all to go out for lunch for a family reunion after this. Is there anybody else in the hearing room in support? Is anybody here in opposition to the measure? If so, please step forward.

Good morning. My name is Sabrina Williams. I'm a mother of seven children and two grandchildren. On the way, I also belong to an organization called Mom Army. We're a national organization with over 25 battalions nationally. I've been a lifelong resident of Sacramento county, and throughout my life I've moved my families several times through several districts within the Sacramento area. I have several concerns about AB 230.

This Bill creates an inappropriate conversation between parent and child because if we're talking about feminine products, we are then talking about periods. If we are talking about periods, we are talking about pregnancy. If we are talking about pregnancy, we are talking about sex. I myself have a son who is eight years old, almost eight years old. I can't imagine having to explain why there are tampons in the boys bathrooms. It's baffling to me. In addition, it doesn't just leave feminine products available to third graders.

Plus, because typically when you are in a public school after kindergarten, you share the bathroom first through 6th grade. That is my experience in three different school districts. Why are we spending tax dollars on tampon dispensers when the state is clearly in financial mayhem? I have a statistic I would like to read. So sorry. It's going to cost California taxpayers 2.4 million to install the dispensers, 610,000 to buy the products, and 300,000 in maintenance. We are 50th in the nation for academics.

I don't know if you all are aware, but in the State of Oregon, several men's or boys bathrooms, they found the dispensers in the toilets. It's a viral picture that's been floating around and the caption is, "Boys will be boys". I can't imagine what it's going to cost to put these dispensers back on in addition to what we already spend.

Ms. Williams would ask you to finish up.

Yes, it would feel foolish if the taxpayer's money that you spent to install these feminine products dispensers ended up in the toilets. Not only could it offend boys, but also start questioning why, who they are? Why are these in our bathroom? It can create a whole nother set of problems. I'm asking that this Bill is amended.

Thank you. Thank you very much. Does anybody else here in the Committee hearing, like, testify in opposition to the measure? And to be clear, since Ms. Williams went over, you have a minute and a half.

My name is Erin Friday. I'm an attorney, Lead of Our Duty. I'm also a mother of a daughter who used to think that she was a boy. When my daughter thought that she was a boy, she would never step foot into the boy's bathroom. She knew that she was actually a female body. And she would never go into the boy's bathroom to get any type of feminine product. And she was in high school. Placing these dispensers into boys' bathrooms is nonsensical.

The boys take these tampons and they throw them up on the ceiling and they stick. They use them for hopscotch. They use them to clog up the toilets. There is no basis for having any of these products in boys bathrooms. Let's be clear. We don't want to encourage female bodies to be in boys bathrooms. What is the most dangerous place in a school?

I'll answer it for you. The bathroom. So you're going to entice and invite female bodies to go into boys bathrooms to get their feminine products? That is nonsensical. We have to be rational. Look at me. I know that you have brains. Be rational. Female bodies need tampons need menstrual products. Boys, do not amend this Bill. Stop spending money on foolish stuff and concretizing that a child can change sex. It is impossible. Every cell in our body is XX or XY, except for about 2%.

Thank you. Thank you. Anybody else who'd like to sign opposition to the measure? If so, your name, your organization, your position on the Bill?

My name is Sik Smith. I'm the founder of Mom and Dad army, and I oppose this, Bill. Thank you.

I'm David Bolog from the organization. All Bodies Are Born Perfect. In opposition unless amended. Thank you.

Thank you.

Greg Burr for the California Family Council. In opposition unless amended.

Thank you. Thank you. Next, please.

Arian Adam Chekova, parent and high school public school teacher. I, too, oppose this unless amended. I see nothing but mayhem in the bathroom.

I appreciate that. Anybody else seeing? None? Let's go to the teleconference line. Mr. Moderator, if you could please query the line for anybody who'd like testify in support of or opposition to the measure. Thank you. If you are in opposition or support, please press one followed by zero at this time. One followed by zero. And we're going to begin with line 13. You are open.

Association of Social Workers California chapter in support.

Thank you. Next, please. Line 17, please. Go ahead.

Chairon Members, this is Aaron Evans. On behalf of the California Nurse Midwives Association and Mayoral Pro Choice California, both in support of this Bill. Thank you.

Thank you. Next, please. Line 15, please. Go ahead. Sharon Members, Gregory Kramer, on behalf of Disability Rights California in support. Thank you. Next, please. Line 25. You are open, 25. One more shot. Line 25, moving along. Go to line 20. Anybody else? Go and hit one, followed by zero.

Good morning, chair Members. Ruth Dawson with ACLU California Action in support of this measure. Thank you.

Thank you. Next, please.

Mr. Chair. Nobody else has queued up. Thank you. Let's bring it back to the DEUs. Any Members wishing to comment on the Bill, go ahead, Senator Ochoa Bogh.

I guess it's going to be up to me to have the conversations today. Welcome and good morning, Leader Reyes. Grateful to have you here today. First of all, a couple of comments and then questions. So I was reading this Bill, and I was very intrigued by it because of the support and the opposition on that myself, having daughters, two girls, 23 and 21. I also have a son who's 17, by the way. So we've gone through the whole school system.

First of all, let me commend you on the work for creating those kits for your fellow friends at school. That was very thoughtful and very service minded, which is the epitome of what Girl Scouts do. You see a need and you provide a service, and that is commendable. I am so proud of you. And the fact that you had the courage to be up here and speak was just very brave of you. And I just see leadership in your path, just natural leaders there.

I want to just express some concerns, though, and I think the opposition had valid points today with regards to. The difference between this Bill. Three, fourth, and fifth graders and then 6th to 12th. And I share the concerns about. Well, let me just begin by asking, have you considered, or did you consider at all the need to have these products in the boys' bathrooms at the schools? Have there been any considerations or comments or conversations with maybe amending the Bill? So, it's just in the girl's bathroom, but even that. Well, let me start with that first.

If you don't mind. Let me interjection. I want everybody to be clear on something. So the requirement that the menstrual products be provided in at least one men's restroom in the school, that's a feature of existing law. That's not an element of Member Reyes's Bill.

So please, just for clarification then isn't this Bill expanding that particular Bill to include three to six through fifth or 6th?

She'll speak to it, but I want everybody to be clear that that's not a provision of this Bill. That's a feature of existing law. But go ahead.

You are absolutely correct, Mr. Chair. That is a feature of the original Bill, which was AB 367 by Assembly Member Christina Garcia, and that was menstrual products in 6th through 12th grade. And it did include all of the girls bathrooms and at least, or not at least and one boys bathroom. That is existing law. And our law simply extends. Instead of beginning at 6th grade, we begin at third grade for the very reasons that our Girl Scouts have mentioned.

They also, when they had the hearing or the sort of a hearing for the Girl Scouts, they had the personnel, they had a Doctor from Loma Linda University Medical center who talked about early puberty and the need for these products.

Zero, I have no question that. I was just referring specifically to the fact that this Bill would also include, because you're expanding it. So are there any amendments that you're considering that would only require it in female bathrooms or are you excluding the male bathrooms? Because when you say expand, I'm assuming it's also including everything that's in the first Bill except from between three to fifth grade. Is that correct?

That is correct.

So we are expanding it. Has there been any considerations on perhaps removing that component?

I think we have to be mindful of what we're trying to do. It's to make sure that any person who menstruates is covered. And this is going to include girls, women, transgender, non-binary, beginning in third grade. And if there are students, they cannot be excluded. And there was a comment about, "boys will be boys". We do need to teach our boys to be more respectful of property that isn't theirs so that they're not destroying things that they shouldn't be destroying.

There are lots of teachable moments here.

I think, and I completely agree with you. But the reality is, and I'm speaking from a mom of a boy who is currently in high school and has at one point come home and just really upset. And just some people are just mean, mom, and disrespectful. And he comes home and says, he explains that they're in the high school bathrooms.

Sometimes they don't even have toilet paper because they take away the toilet paper because they grab the toilet paper and they make a mess in the bathroom. Here's another consideration, and I think, speaking from experience in volunteering in the schools and being in the schools. There was also a time and prior to Senator or Assembly Member Christina's Bill that we had these products available at the schools as needed for our students, teachers item, our nurses in school.

Has there been any considerations in limiting these products to be still available at our schools through the nurses instead of putting them in the bathroom and sending the children? Because, I mean, when I was a teacher and when I was volunteering in the schools, normally teachers would say, "You know, honey, let's go to the nurse's office", and they would gently and kindly take them to the nurse's office to get them set up.

So has there been any considerations about maybe, perhaps just narrowing it, the Bill to the nurses, making sure that the schools have it for the nurses, so that, one, we don't have it in boys bathrooms where kids are just going to make a mess of it. And number two, it's still readily available for our girls or for anyone that may need it in the nurse's office as the emergencies happen.

I'm sure that you would agree that not every school has a nurse. First of all, there are many schools that do not have nurses, and it wasn't the testimony today, but our Girl Scouts have talked about the fact that the nurses did not have this available. So I would beg to differ that when we say readily available, then we're going to do an inspection of every school.

What we are doing simply is we are saying, the law says beginning at 6th grade, we are saying in response to the fact that young girls are beginning puberty at a younger age, we need to protect them.

Also not disputing that at all, ma'am. At all. I completely understand that. Completely not disputing. It's the way that we make this Bill a reality, pragmatically and available within and understanding the maturity level of the students at different capacities and the conversations that, I think, valid points that are going to be had. So I was just thinking of maybe that a nurse, and I'm not sure whether or not, I don't know. I haven't heard any concerns about not having nurses at schools.

But we do have somebody that facilitates anything that's medically available or medically needed or as necessary at schools.

So, Senator Ochoa Bogh I think you've asked a question. Has the author considered an amendment? I think Assembly Member raised. I think you've answered the question.

I have.

I'm not finished yet, so give me a second. We have a lot of parents. We're addressing concerns.

I appreciate that. We have a lot of bills to hear. So please proceed.

Now, I have to think. Give me a second. Now, if I may be very specific, these concerns are recent concerns. I think that what's important is to be sure that we are being inclusive. And although there may be some parents and some children that would feel uncomfortable, some boys specifically, I do think that we have to be as inclusive as possible. So I would not seek to amend the prior, the law.

As it stands, I am simply wanting to extend it so that whatever is being offered to 6th graders is being offered to third, fourth and fifth graders. And that does include that one boy's bathroom in the school is going to have the menstrual products.

Okay, fair enough. And then the other question and concern that I had for this particular Bill is the cost. So right now, the way that it's written, you would be mandating it for schools to implement, especially our small rural schools who have expressed a concern with the financial impact that it would have on them. So what is your plan to accommodate those concerns financially for those schools that are not being provided the means to implement this?

Thank you, Senator. We did receive the opposition unless amended from the small schools, and we have met with them. So those conversations just started, and we will continue those conversations. This will not take effect until 24-25 school year. And once it takes effect, if it is something that's going to cause a financial hardship, we certainly have to then include more money into the budget, without a doubt.

Okay. And with the budget deficit of forecast, I'm just nervous about that. So I'm going to just share my thoughts right now, my final thoughts on it. So you Folks understand what I'm considering when I'm looking at this. I understand the merit of the Bill. Do not dispute the need that we have girls that are menstruating earlier, especially Latina girls who are starting at, 31% of the Latina girls are starting their periods at 11 years old or younger. So I don't dispute that.

But I think that we could do better in devising the Bill to consider the age of the child, the maturity of the child in these schools, and also the cost. And so at this time, I'm not going to support the Bill. I look forward to seeing what the final language looks like when it comes for a final vote, but I'm going to abstain. But it's not because I don't believe that you folks have a good idea and good heart intended in there.

But there are some concerns that I would like to see addressed before I fully give my support to the Bill. But thank you for your advocacy. Very brave.

And thank you, Senator Ochoa Bogh. I just want to touch on one point that was made so with respect to the idea, which is, I give you credit for it, for assigning this responsibility to nurses. I would assume that would create a level of stigma, or at least discomfort for students who, when they were menstruating, wouldn't have to excuse themselves, go to the nurse, thereby calling attention to themselves. So, I assume that at least implicit in the Bill is addressing that, removing that stigma.

I'm glad to support the Bill today. I do appreciate some of the concerns. I would argue some of those concerns are inherent in raising kids when we confront certain kind of biological facts. And that is an important conversation to be had between parents and their children at some point. Assembly Member Reyes, would you like to close? I'm sorry, Senator Glazer, did not see you. I apologize. Please.

Okay. I won't speak to your site issues, but thank you for the author, for bringing the Bill forward. I certainly want to thank the scout leaders for their articulate presentation today. Very impressive. We talk a lot about following Science, and along with that, I think it's following biology. And I think this Bill takes both into account on many issues here in the Education Committee.

You'll find me raising the issue of local control, that we have school districts, thoughtful people there, and I'm always concerned about a one size fits all law that we sometimes consider. But I think in this case, because it really is about science and biology, I think there is a compelling case for the Bill, and I'm happy to move it at the appropriate time.

Thank you. Anything else, Senator Glazer? Seeing nothing. Would you like to close? And before you do close, let me commend the Girl Scouts to both young women. Ms. Mendoza, Ms. Francos, thank you for coming. Right. It is always encouraging to see young people come and advocate on behalf of important issues like this. Would you like to close?

And I'd also like to thank our teacher from Colton High School, my Alma mater, which is right next to Grand Terrace. So I've got Southern California in the House, Mr. Chair. But I think that one of the comments is destigmatizing menstrual young girls'period, and making sure that we're not sending them to the nurse as if they're ill. They aren't ill.

They are simply trying to receive products that are going to make them feel comfortable for the rest of that school day so that, as was mentioned in the testimony, they don't take time off from school and with that, I would respectfully ask for your aye vote.

Thank you. And with that, Madam Consultant, please call the roll file.

Item five, AB 230. Rayes motion is do pass. But first, we refer to the Committee on Appropriations. Newman? Aye. Newman, aye. Ochoa Bogh? Cortese? Glazer? Glazer, aye. Mcguire? Smallwood-Cuevas? Wilk?

That Bill currently has two votes. We will hold it open. And next up, we have another Bill from Assemblymember Reyes. AB 278, please proceed.

Thank you, Mr. Chair and Members. AB 278 is the Bill that will create the DREAM Resource Center Grant program administered by the California Department of Education to ensure publicly funded high schools have the opportunity to establish a DREAM Resource Center on their campus. Publicly funded high schools will be defined as traditional public schools, dependent public charters, and independent public charters.

I will commit to ensuring the Bill has language indicating an equitable opportunity for students regardless of whether they attend a traditional public school, a dependent charter public school, or an independent charter public school. I believe in equity for all of our students and will work to incorporate language so the grant program is available for public schools operating inside and outside of school districts, while maintaining an equitable application process for school districts representing multiple schools.

California is home to approximately 40% of the nation's total undocumented youth and has one of the highest enrollments of undocumented students in the country. There are over 25,000 undocumented high school students in California striving for educational success while navigating a complex immigration system impacted by federal policies, inconsistent rhetoric, and various court decisions.

For example, recent changes to the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, otherwise known as DACA, has led to a halt on DACA access, creating a generation of students without protections or work authorizations despite their roots in the United States. By establishing DREAM Centers and high schools, AB 278 will provide students, particularly immigrant and undocumented students, with resources such as financial aid assistance, social services assistance, immigration legal services, and guidance towards higher education opportunities.

Here to testify in support are Idlia Valencia Merida, a student from Edward R. Roibal Learning Center, and Cynthia Gomez, policy advocate with CHIRLA.

Good morning to both of you and welcome. Each of you has up to two minutes. Proceed at your leisure.

Good morning, Mr. Chair and Members. My name is Cynthia Gomez, State Policy Advocate with the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights CHIRLA. CHIRLA is proud to sponsor AB 278 and are thankful for the leadership of Majority Leader Reyes on this Bill. California has had a long history of working to ensure that all students, irregardless of their immigration status, have access to higher education.

For example, we've opened access to in state tuition for undocumented students, have created programs like the DREAM Loan to help students finance their education, and have also created DREAM Resource Centers in California college campuses. AB 278 builds upon the success of DREAM Resource Centers on college campuses by supporting the creation of these centers in California high schools.

According to the Campaign for College Opportunity, 27,000 undocumented students graduate from a California high school every year, and students should not have to wait until stepping foot on a college campus to have guidance from a trusted advisor who understands their unique circumstances. Tomorrow is the 11th anniversary of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Act, a monumental change which helped bring opportunities to undocumented students. However, DACA is a temporary solution and one that is currently on pause and at risk in our courts.

Changes to the DACA program have created confusion among students about what programs are available to help support them and what programs they qualify for. Through our Wiseup network of high school students, we work to empower the next generation of leaders and support in ensuring that all students have access to the resources they need to be successful.

Oftentimes, students from our Wiseup network, or high schools in General, come to CHIRLA and to our organizers to seek support as they navigate the application process and decisions that they are faced with after high school, 278 seeks to bridge a gap of information and ensure that students have access to information sooner in their academic journey. This Bill includes a reporting component so that we can successfully build out in the future with lessons learned from this as a first step.

Investing in resources at this stage in a student's career will also help parents and guardians understand the opportunities and options so that they may better support their students. We thank you for your consideration and ask for your support on AB 278.

Thank you and our next witness, welcome.

Hello. Good morning. My name is Idlia Valencia. I'm a recent graduate from Roybal Learning Center, a public high school that serves the Belmont community in Los Angeles. I came here at the age of eight and since then I have worked endlessly to gain access to as many resources as I could to excel academically. Being fully undocumented and without access to DACA, my path to college has not been easy as I often find myself having to tackle the financial burden alone and with limited support.

Now, as I get ready to attend college, I am constantly pointed to scholarships or resources, but when I look closer, they turn out to be catered for DACA recipients or citizens, making the search seem endless. While my school serves a great number of immigrant students like me, there's still a lack of resources for us. There is a misunderstanding that prevails with undocumented students in higher education.

I was never aware that financial aid was available for me until my junior year of high school, and I know other students may not have the privilege to understand this prior to making the final decision about college. There's a great need for special programs that are geared towards providing support and information to these students and their families regarding higher education and financial aid. One example of where I needed support was when it came down to financial aid.

I didn't know I needed to turn in the AB 540 affidavit to see my offer for the Cal State University. I felt like I had two choices then, going to a Cal State blindly and hope my financial aid was good enough or going to a UC even though it was more expensive, but I knew exactly how much I needed to pay. I'm thankful that my experience allowed me to access the resources available like the California DREAM Act.

But the truth is many students cannot do this and don't have that privilege. For example, one of my friends at my school who followed the California DREAM Act would log back into the application and panic when she struggled to read the updates and application format.

She needed to talk to her college counselor, but she was just one of the 250 college seniors, so her time was stretched thin. Having the resources to provide a DREAM Resource Center or programming on our campus would have helped myself and my friends as well. This Bill would be historic as it would allow for many undocumented students in California to have an opportunity to get advice on their status and understand that college is not out of reach for them.

It would allow for closer interactions with parents on the future of their kids and improve the involvement of parents across California. There seems to be a sense of solitude as college becomes imminent, as it almost feels like I'm tackling the financial burden alone. If it were not for the support of my parents, CHIRLA's resources and time I've had with my college counselor at school, I would look at college as a mere dream unable to be fulfilled.

I thank you for your time and I hope we can count with your support on AB 278.

And I thank you for your testimony. Is there anybody else here in the hearing room would like to testify on behalf of the measure? If so, please state your name, your organization and your position.

Thank you. Mr. Chair, Alice Kessler. I'm here on behalf of the California Charter Schools Association. I wanted to thank the author for the clear statement of including charter schools in this grant program. We appreciate the work you've done with us. We appreciate the Committee's work as well. We will look forward to continuing those discussions and hopefully get to a place where we can support the Bill for undocumented students.

And I just wanted to allow, I have here with me today Lourdes Cologne, who's with Aspire Public Schools, just to give you a little bit of information about the type of work they're doing with this population at Aspire.

And to be clear this is just additive.

We had the opposed position, but with the author's commitment, we're removing that, and we will look forward to continue working together.

Okay, I appreciate that. I'm sure the author does as well. So please, Ms. Cologne, briefly.

Hi. Good morning. Thank you for allowing me to speak this morning. I am definitely also in support of AB 278, so thank you so much for including charter schools. I've been working for Aspire 18 years, and we serve this vulnerable population as well. So we have an inclusive community within our schools. We service 15,000 across our Central Valley, LA, and Bay Area. But this is a vulnerable population that we embrace. We have open-door policies for them.

We support their families, but lack of resources is always a challenge. So this particular Bill, I think, will allow us to have the opportunity to provide additional support for our vulnerable newcomer DREAMER families. So we at Aspire, we believe in supporting all students, especially our most vulnerable population, in this case, is our undocumented students. So I just wanted to again say thank you for including our charters.

Thank you. Okay, next in support, name, organization and your position, please.

Arian Adam Chakova, San Francisco High School public Spanish teacher, proud daughter of a Mexican immigrant, and an early adopter of bringing resources to my DREAMER students. I strongly support this Bill. Thank you.

Thank you. Next, please.

Good morning. Chair and Members, Rita Medina, Deputy Director of Policy and Advocacy at Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights, CHIRLA. We're a proud sponsor of AB 278 and hope for your support. Thank you.

Thank you. Next, please.

Good morning. My name is Kimberly Martinez, CHIRLA member and I am in support of AB 278.

Thank you. Next, please.

Hello, my name is Christina Batos, and I am a CHIRLA member, and I fully support AB 25. No, sorry. I'm sorry. AB 278.

Thank you. Next, please.

Hi, my name is Shantaya Jeans, daughter of immigrant parents and I fully support this Bill.

Thank you. Next, please.

I'm Santonio Carion, and I'm also an undocumented student at Chira College and CHIRLA member, and I will strongly support this Bill.

Thank you. Next, please.

Good morning. My name is Gloria Valen. I'm the Central Valley organizer for the Coalition of Human Rights, CHIRLA. And I strongly support AB 278.

Thank you. Next, please.

Good morning. My name is Caesar Salinas. I'm a migrant from El Salvador going to San Diego State and I'm in support of 278 Bill.

Thank you. Next, please.

Hi, my name is Katia Garcia. I am a DACA recipient and CHIRLA member and I strongly support this Bill. Thank you.

Thank you. Next, please.

Hi, my name is Kimberly Sanchez on behalf of NextGen California, in support of this Bill.

Thank you. Next, please.

Hi, Christopher Sanchez, policy advocate at the Western Center on Law and Poverty, no relation and strong support.

Thank you. I was about to ask. Next, please.

Good morning. Dorothy Johnson of the Association of California School Administrators. Pleased to support.

Thank you. Next, please.

Good morning. My name is Guadalupe Varon. I am a representative of Lupe from Bakersfield College. I'm also a Member of CHIRLA and I am in strong support of this Bill as well.

Thank you. Next, please.

Morning, Chair, Members. Tristan Brown, CFT Union of Educators and Classified Professionals. Happy to support. Thank you.

Thank you. Is there anybody here in the hearing room would like to testify in opposition to AB 278? Seeing none, let us go to the teleconference line. Mr. Moderator, if you could query any participants who'd like to testify in support of or in opposition to AB 278.

Thank you very much. As Mr. Chair stated, if you're in support or opposition to AB 278. Please press one zero. Line 23, please go ahead.

Hello. Katrina Linden, on behalf of the California Undocumented Higher Education Coalition, in strong support of AB 278. Thank you.

Thank you. Next, please.

Line 13, you are open.

Good morning. Rebecca Gonzales with the National Association of Social Workers, California chapter, in support.

Thank you. Please go ahead. Line 29.

My name is Fatima. I am a Member CHIRLA from the City of Victorville, and I support AB 278.

Thank you. Next, please. You are open. Line 32.

Hello, my name is Kimberly Lopez, and I'm with CHIRLA. And I am support of AB 278. Thank you.

Thank you. Anybody else? And as a final reminder, one followed by zero. If you're in support or opposition to AB 278, please go ahead. Line 19.

Hi, this is Alex Zucco from the California Student Aid Commission in strong support. Thank you.

Thank you. And, Mr. Chair, we did clear the queue.

All right, well, thank you, Mr. Moderator. So let's come back to the hearing room. Any of my colleagues... your mic.

Grateful for the testimony shared today. Grateful for all the support that's been here. And Leader Reyes, thank you for taking the lead on this and working collaboratively with those that were opposed unless amended on that Bill. That's how we come to balanced policy in the legislatures when we come together and address everybody's concerns and try to find that middle ground, or what I call consensus. So thank you for working on that, and I'm happy to support the Bill.

I'm bouncing between committees, as you know, we all do. So I apologize to everybody in the room. I just wanted to hear from owners that. What is the amendment? Dependent and independent charter schools.

That is correct.

Okay. That is great. I'll be happy to support the Bill this morning. Thank you.

I appreciate it. So, for my part, glad to support the Bill. I want to commend you for all the work you've done, not just on this Bill, but for bringing resources to Dreamers who are as deserving as any. And in so many cases, as the young man who testified often find themselves in a really sort of delicate spot, even as they aspire to do what we all would hope for our kids.

And I do appreciate you being so thoughtful as we move forward. I am also glad to support the Bill. We have a motion from Senator Ochoa Bogh. Madam Consultant. Please call the roll. Oh, I'm sorry. If you'd like to close.

Respectfully ask for your aye vote.

Yes I sort of closed for you. Thank you. Please call the roll. And thank you for correcting me.

File item seven. Excuse me. File item six, AB 278 Reyes. Motion is do pass. But first be re referred to the Committee on Appropriations. [Roll call vote]

That measure has three votes. We will leave it open. And thank you, Assembly Member Reyes

Thank you all.

Next we have Assembly Member Marutsuchi. Welcome, sir. I appreciate your patience. And you will be presenting AB 247. And thank you to everybody who participated in the last Bill. And you're only talking about funding California's K through 12 systems. Little thing.

All right. Good morning, Mr. Chair and Senators. I am proud to present, along with my colleagues, Assemblymember Mike Fong and Assemblywoman Lori Wilson, Assembly Bill 247, the Transitional Kindergarten through Community College School Facilities Bond Act.

I know that the Senate has its own bond vehicle, and so I think we are in complete agreement that the need for a statewide school bond to support our local school districts, whether with new construction or whether with modernization, the need, is overwhelming. We know that it's been since 2016 that we last passed a statewide school bond measure, Proposition 51.

And in recent budget hearings and the Assembly Budget Subcommitee on Education Finance, the Department of Finance had indicated that all funds have already been committed and that there is a growing list of unfunded backlog of projects. In fact, there's a backlog of $3.6 billion in applications for over 900 projects. And in particular, we know that as we are pursuing our aspirations, our goals of achieving universal transitional kindergarten and expanding early education programs.

There was recent testimony from the Department of Finance that the latest round of applications for early childhood education for TK facilities projects, while the funding available was $360,000,000 available in funding, the applications were for $1.5 billion. And so we know that whether it's Universal TK, whether it's for natural disaster responses, one out of five school districts in the State of California are facing flooding risk. They're going to need funding for portables and other emergency measures.

Whether we talk about continue to build on our aspiration of universal access to high speed internet, whether we're talking about lead abatement to make sure that we're protecting our most vulnerable children, and whether we're talking about the growing realities of climate change as it affects our kids, especially in situations of extreme heat. We know that the need to not only construct new schools to meet the needs in growing population areas, but also to modernize our schools to meet our 21st century educational needs, are compelling.

I think this Committee is well aware that over a third of classrooms throughout the State of California are over 50 years old, with over 10% being over 70 years old. These clearly are not classrooms equipped for the 21st century. And so, again, I saw Senator Glazer here earlier. I'm hoping that we can have a good conversation on how our houses can work together on this important need.

I'll be sticking around to answer any questions, but I'd like to now turn the mic over to my colleague, the Chair of the Assembly Higher Education Committee, Assembly Member Mike Fong.

Thank you. Welcome, Assembly Member Fong.

Thank you so much. Good morning, Mr. Chair and Members, and thank you so much to Chairman Muratsuchi and Senator Lori Wilson, proud to join as joint author of Assembly Bill 247. As you heard from my colleague, the Assembly Chair of Education, we know that facilities are so critical to meet the needs of our educational systems here in California.

And as a former Trustee for the Los Angeles Community College District, representing nine community colleges in the greater LA area, I worked on placing a local bond on the ballot in early 2022, a $5 billion bond that was ultimately passed. But we know that before students enter our higher education systems, we need to ensure that our TK through twelveth grade facilities are safe, upgraded and conducive for learning. And is so eloquently stated by our Chair of Assembly, Education, Mr. Muratsuchi.

And we know that this bond is important not just for the 13 school districts in my district, but for all school districts in California for children throughout our great state. And this bond will have a lot to offer in our higher education system as well, and to highlight the needs for our CTE and career technical education facilities going forward as we look forward to putting workforce career pathway programs in our community colleges.

AB 247 is not the same bond that voters failed to pass in 2020. That bond was numbered 13. I believe voters will again show their support for bonds as to shore up our school's infrastructure so that students can focus on learning going forward. And we know there's a lot more work to be done on these issues. And here to testify in support are Dorothy Johnson with the Association of California School Administrators and David O'Brien with the California Community College Chancellor's office.

And thank you so much again to Mr. Muratsuchi and Ms. Wilson and my colleagues for their leadership and efforts on this. Thank you so much.

Thank you. Is there anybody here? I think there is. The witness room would like to testify on behalf of the measure. You have up to two minutes. Please proceed.

Thank you, Mr. Chair Members. Dorothy Johnson with the Association of California School Administrators and on behalf of the 17,000 California educators that we represent, very pleased to support this effort with AB 247, and we extend our appreciation to the authors for bringing forward this really critical funding opportunity. So this is the necessary framework to provide resources that our students and employees have, high quality, dependable facilities.

For nearly four decades, the state has shared in this responsibility for building new schools and modernizing existing facilities with our local school districts and the developer community. And through this partnership, we've been able to maximize every dollar invested to ensure students have a safe place to grow and learn. We have 6 million students in our state and 10,000 K through 12 school sites.

This is not an easy lift, and that's why we are so pleased to see this effort to help us beyond the wear and tear of the last five decades. As was mentioned, we need to make sure our schools are 21st century ready and capable to make sure again that we have a long term investment for not only the well established current need, but the long term future needs, so that we can strive to provide ourselves and our students a world class education. And we urge your support today. Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Johnson. Is anybody else here like to speak in support? There he is. Please proceed.

Thank you, Mr. Chair Members. David O'Brien with the California Community College's Chancellor's office, very pleased to be in support, and we want to thank the authors for their support of this critical measure. As you know, California has 115 physical community college campuses throughout the state, as well as 81 approved educational centers. We serve over 1.8 million students and are the largest provider of workforce training in the State of California.

And as we look to recover from the enrollment declines that were exacerbated by the COVID pandemic and look to the future of an equitable economic recovery for California. It is critical that we have up to date facilities and labs and community colleges in order to ensure that our students are receiving that quality education that will enable them to continue to power California's workforce, the need is great.

We have identified over $30 billion in deferred maintenance needs for our community colleges, and our concern is that if we're not able to meet these needs and our facilities, unfortunately continue to decline, that we will lose students to more up to date for profit colleges or just to other states altogether. So I want to thank the authors for their support and please answer any questions. Thank you. Thank you. Next, please.

Good morning, chair and Members. Rico Mastrodonato with the Trust for Public Land and we are here in support. I'm grateful to the author for recognizing the impact the climate is having on our public schools. Luskin School of Innovation in Los Angeles did a study in Watts on elementary schools that had the same debt, temperature readings day and night as the 405 freeway. We are in trouble. The reason we have flooding is because they're all hardscaped. That's why there's heat.

Our public school, we're working with the author to make sure there's an explicit pot of money to Fund CAL FIRE's new Green Schoolyard program, which will run out of money at the end of this month and is oversubscribed by over 300%. There are schools ready and a program ready and hope to work with you to make sure that there's ample funding for that program. Thank you.

I appreciate that. So all other witnesses, support, please. Your name, your organization, your position.

Mr. Chairman, Members Mike West, on behalf of the State Building and Construction Trades Council, also in support. Thank you.

Barrett Snider on behalf of the Small School Districts Association and the School Employers Association, all in support.

Thank you. Next, please.

Thank you.

Nick Romley on behalf of San Francisco Unified School District, San Bernardino County District Advocates for Better Schools and also California IT in Education, all in strong support.

Thank you. Next, please.

Good morning, Chair and Members. Sasha Horwitz, Los Angeles Unified School District, in support.

Good morning, Chair and Members Nancy Chaires Espinoza, on behalf of the Coalition for Adequate School Housing, California Statewide School Facilities Association, and also the School Energy Coalition in support.

Thank you. Next, please.

Good morning, Mr. Chair and Members. Rebekah Kalleen on behalf of the Community College Facility Coalition and the County School Facilities Consortium and support. Thank you.

Thank you. Next, please.

Morning, Mr. Chair. Members. Andrea Ball here on behalf of four entities in support, the Orange County Department of Education, the California Association of Suburban School Districts, the Central Valley Education Coalition and the Long Beach Unified School District. Thank you.

Thank you. Next, please.

Good morning. Audrey Ratajczak from Cruz Strategies, on behalf of the California Building Industry Association and the California Business Properties Association, in support.

Thank you. Next, please.

Mr. Chair Member. Sarah Noceto, on behalf of the Sacramento Regional Builders Exchange and the California Builders Alliance, in support.

Thank you. Next, please.

Good morning, Chair and Members. Blake Johnson, on behalf of the State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Tony Thurman, in strong support.

Thank you. Next, please.

Thank you, Mr. Chair and Members. Tristan Brown with the CFT, in strong support. And as a student whose high school was built by the FDR, strong support.

Next, please.

Good morning, Mr. Chair and Members. Mishaal Gill on behalf of California Association of School Business Officials, in support.

Thank you. Next, please.

Good morning, Chair and Members. Derick Lennox, on behalf of the California County Superintendents representing the 58 county superintendents of schools in support.

Thank you. And next, please.

Mr. Chair and Members. Chris Reefe on behalf of the California School Boards Association in strong support.

Thank you. Next, please.

Hi, my name is Ellen Madill. I'm here on behalf of both the Northern and Southern California chapters of the International Interior Design Association in full support. Thank you.

Thank you. Is anybody else here likes to testify in support? Seeing none. Is anybody here in the hearing room like testify in opposition to AB 247? Seeing none. Let's go to the teleconference line. Mr. Moderator, if you could please query any participants who, like, testify in support of or in opposition to AB 247.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. If you're in support or opposition to AB 247. Please press 10 at this time. 10. Line 16, please. Go ahead.

Good morning, Mr. Chair. Members Xong Lor with the California School Employees Association. We're in support.

Thank you. Line 37, you are open.

Good morning, Mr. Chair and Members. I'm Wendy McCaskill here on behalf of Corona-Norco, Oakland Unified San Diego Unified and Torrance Unified School districts, and Schools for Sound Finance in support.

Thank you. Next, please. Go ahead. Line 41.

Good morning, Mr. Chairman and Members. Martha Zaragoza Diaz representing the Delta Kappa Gamma California. And we are in support of the Bill. Thank you.

Thank you. Next, please. Line 42, you are open.

Members Angelina Guterres on behalf of the Los Angeles County Office of Education, in support.

Thank you. Next, please. Go ahead. Line 39.

Good morning, Mr. Chair. Committee Members Carlos Rojas, representing the Kern County Superintendent of School's Office and the 46 School district Superintendents in Kern County in strong support of AB 247. Thank you.

Thank you. Next, please. We'll give a final reminder to testify in support or opposition to AB 247. Go ahead and hit 10 at this time. Line 38, you are open.

Hi. Leticia Garcia, on behalf of the Riverside County Superintendents of Schools in support.

Thank you. And we have exhausted the queue.

Very good. Thank you, Mr. Moderate. So let's bring it back to the dais. Senator Ochoa Bogh.

I know you're probably cringing.

I am not cringing. I welcome your participation.

I am not. I'm not even cringing on the inside.

You're cringing.

I'm the only one here, so I'm going to comment. I'm just going to thank you for the work that you've done on this front. I have the privilege to sit on Budget One, which is our Educational Budget Committee. And I've been privy to the conversations about the deferred maintenance that many of our schools have and understanding how the state, we've expanded TK and the concerns that we have on that front, with our schools not being properly designed to tend to those little ones.

So I am grateful for this Bill. I'm grateful for the work that you're doing this. And I'm excited for the California schools that are in so much need right now for infrastructure upgrades as well as building. So thank you.

Thank you.

I'll be happy to support the Bill and move the, I'll make a motion when appropriate.

I think that's helpful under these circumstances. So for my part, appreciate the work you've done and continue to do, and appreciate one of the points you made. Senator Wilk and I are among those who are appointed to represent the Legislature at the School Allocations Board, and we've exhausted the bond monies available, but there's a massive list of highly deserving projects. So we need to refill the resources to do that. Senator Glazer has asked me to touch on something.

So in the Bill, there's a schedule for some of the things you mentioned. Assembly Member, new construction of schools, modernization schools, replacement of facilities over 50 years old. To Mr. Brown's point, remediational led some other things. But one thing that's not included in your measure is four year universities. Right? So this is all subject eventually negotiation. But if you wouldn't mind just speaking to that as know why in your case versus know your Bill does not include four year institutions, although Senator Glazer's does.

Yes, I fully appreciate Senator Glazer's leadership in addressing the needs of our University of California and our California State University. Just to clarify for the audience, I know you well, know that our Bill is TK through community college. We recognize that our great UC's, I'm a proud Cal Bear and UCLA Bruin. And so I definitely want to support our great institutions of higher education also.

I appreciate that. So for my part, glad to support this. Today we have a motion from Senator Ochoa Bogh for anybody who got here late. I want to point out that there's at least two other committees meeting right now, hence the sort of sparse attendance here on the dais. But everybody will be back to vote, and so having that motion. Madam Consultant, if you could please. Oh, I'm sorry. Would you like to close?

But the bottom line is that we need to pass a school know a lot of our efforts is going to be driven by what voters are willing and ready to support. And so I look forward to continuing to engage with Senator Glazer. We also engaged in discussions with the governor's office. I mean, clearly this is going to need all three major players here in the state Capitol to get this done, to get it passed by voters. And so while we acknowledge the need, the bottom line is getting a school bond passed.

Respectfully ask for an aye vote.

That's an awesome close. So please call the roll.

Item seven, AB 247. Muratsuchi motion is do passed. But first we refer to the Committee on Governance and Finance. [Roll call vote]

That measure. Thank you Assemblymember Muratsuchi. That measure has two votes, we'll hold it open. And next we go back to Assemblymember Fong. You are going to present AB 1354.

Good morning, Mr. Chairman, Members. Assembly Bill 1354 requires the Instructional Quality Commission during its next revision of the history Social Science curriculum framework to consider including the historical, social, economic, and political contributions of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders in the United States, and examples of racism, discrimination, and violence perpetrated against this community during the pandemic. Innocent individuals of Asian American descent were harassed, attacked, and even killed while going about their daily lives.

Seniors in San Francisco and Oakland were pushed while grocery shopping or simply walking around their neighborhood. One third of residents surveyed in the San Gabriel Valley in my district experienced some form of hate or hate incident. And we know that young men and women were killed in Atlanta and New York for no other reason than the way they looked. Between March 2020 and March 2022, there were over 11,500 hate incidents against Asian Pacific Americans that were reported to the Stop AAPI Hate Reporting Center.

Despite our long history in America, Asian Americans continue to be targets of hate, violence, and discrimination and treated as foreigners. Assembly Bill 1354 will update our curriculum frameworks to include a more comprehensive perspective of the contributions of Asian Americans, aid of Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders in the United States, and the harm caused to this community due to anti Asian sentiments throughout history. Only through education can we create a more inclusive learning environment for students and a more inclusive society for all.

Here to testify and support are Nicholas Gee Representing Stop AAPI Hate, and Henry Chang, representing the Asian Pacific Islander American Public Affairs Association. Thank you so much.

Thank you. Anybody here would like testify on behalf of the measure seeing a witness? Please welcome.

Thank you. Good morning, Mr. Chair and Members of the Committee. My name is Nick Gee I'm an advocacy manager with Chinese for Affirmative Action, a civil rights organization based in San Francisco's Chinatown, CAA, AAPI Equity Alliance, and the Asian American Studies Department at San Francisco State University are cofounding partners of the National Coalition Stop AAPI Hate.

I am pleased to testify in support of AB 1354, a Bill authored by Assembly Members Fong and Ting to require the Instructional Quality Commission to consider including in the history social science curriculum framework, the contributions of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders, as well as the racism, discrimination, and violence faced by our communities, which have been on the rise since the start of the pandemic.

Since March 2020, Stop AAPI Hate has received more than 11,000 reports of hate from AAPIs across the country, including more than 4000 reports in California. Many more acts of hate continue to go unreported, making the actual number much higher, potentially in the millions. The vast majority of reports to stop AAPI hate do not involve a crime, let alone a hate crime. Instead, they are hate incidents involving harassment, bullying, shunning, and discrimination. AANHPIs want comprehensive solutions to hate.

Good morning, Mr. Chair and Members. I'm Henry Chang. I'm a National Executive Director for APIAPAA, the Asian Pacific Islander American Public Affairs Association. We're a nonprofit headquartered in Sacramento, and next week we're opening our 50th chapter in Hawaii. Our mission, and I'll be there.

We conducted a nationally representative survey showing that a majority of AANHPIs see education equity as an effective solution along with civil rights and community based solution. That's why Stop AAPI hate advocates for education equity, including ethnic studies, to ensure all students learn about racism and develop empathy across racial lines and to get at the root causes of hate. We are proud to support AB 1354, which would help ensure the curriculum in California is more inclusive and representative of AANHPIs histories, experiences, and voices.

We thank Assembly Members Fong and Ting for their important leadership in uplifting our community and appreciate the Committee's support. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Gee. Next witness, please.

And our mission is to empower the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities through increased leadership and civic engagement. So we have mobilized nationwide to get Asian American history into our K through 12 schools because we believe it's vital in eradicating Antiasian hate at its roots. So the forever foreign stereotype is a form of systemic racism used against AA and HPIs.

Despite the earliest Senators having come to the US around the 1750s and a long history of contributions to US history, we're still stereotype as foreigners in the United States. No matter how long we lived here or whether we are American born, this stereotype allows for dangerous scapegoating of our community. Thus, we cannot eliminate AANHPI hate without eliminating the forever foreign narrative that plagues our communities.

This detrimental narrative persists because AANHPI individuals and community contributions to the economic, cultural, social, and political development of the United States are unknown to most Americans. This lack of knowledge is rooted in our K through 12 education system and near invisibility of our AANHPI in our curriculum. So we're asking for your unanimous vote on this Bill today because it will send a powerful message to California's Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islander communities. Thank you.

Thank you. And it's very altruistic of you to go to Hawaii for the opening of that. I respect your work ethic. Anybody else like to testify in support of the measure?

Annie Chou at the California Teachers Association, in support.

Thank you. Next, please.

Blake Johnson, on behalf of State Superintendent Public Instruction, Tony Thurman, in strong support.

Thank you. Next, please.

Leilani Aguinaldo on behalf of Torrance Unified School District, in support.

Thank you. Is anybody here who would like testify in opposition to the measure? Seeing none, let's go to the teleconference line. Mr. Moderator, if you please query any participants who'd like to testify either in support of or in opposition to AB 1354.

Thank you. If you are in support or opposition to AB 1350, please press one followed by zero. One followed by zero. And line 46, you are open.

Good morning. Angelina Guterres, on behalf of the Los Angeles County Office of Education in support. Thank you.

Thank you. And we have another one queuing up. One moment, Mr. Chair. Anybody else? Go ahead and hit one followed by zero. Testify in support or opposition. And line 45, you are open.

Good morning. This is Hoang Nguyen from AAPI Equity Alliance in support. Thank you.

Thank you. Next, please.

Next, we will go to line 47. Please. Go ahead.

Good morning. Carlos Machado with the California School Board Association in support of the Bill. Thank you.

Thank you. Next, please.

And nobody else is queued up. Mr. Chair.

Very good. Let's come back to the Committee hearing room here. Is any Members like to speak?

I'd like to move the Bill?

Got a motion from Senator Wilk. Anybody else? Very good. Assembly Member Fong. I'm glad to support the Bill today. Appreciate the work you're doing. Please appreciate the work that APIAPAA is doing and others, of course. So would you like to close?

Thank you so much to Nick and to APIAPAA and to Henry, to all of you for your uplifting the Asian American community. We know these are very challenging times. I really respectfully ask for your aye vote. Thank you so much.

Thank you. So we have a motion from Senator Wilk. Madam Consultant, please call the roll.

Final item, 12, AB 1354, Assembly Member Mike Fong. Motion is do passed, but first be re referred to the Committee on Appropriations. [Roll call vote]

And if you could just recall the roll for the Senators just joined us.

On file item 12, AB 1354. [Roll call vote]

I'm sorry. We can leave it open, Senator. We're going to have to go back a whole bunch anyway, so thank you. So that measure has four votes, and we'll leave it open for the time being. Which brings us to the next measure. It's 18, 1445 from Assemblymember Arambula.

Thank you so much.

Thank you, Assembly Member Fong.

Good morning, Mr. Chair and members

I'll begin by thanking the Committee staff for the recommended amendments, which I accept. AB 1445 advances drowning prevention by connecting all California public schools, children and their parents and caregivers with water safety knowledge through schools and local organizations. This measure, which is known as the Neng Thao Drowning Prevention act, in honor of a young constituent.

Neng was an 18 year old senior preparing to graduate as valedictorian of Edison High School in Fresno, my alma mater, when he tragically drowned in a local river in 2017. His death impacted not only his family, but the community he was becoming a leader in. By increasing awareness of swim safety and drowning prevention at an early age, AB 1445 can help save lives of Californians. Thank you. And I respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Thank you. Do you have any witnesses in support?

Testifying in support is Sher Moua with the Youth Leadership Institute.

Thank you very much. Welcome, sir.

Good morning. Chair Newman and Members of the Senate Committee on Education. My name is Sher Moua. I am here to speak on AB 1445, the Neng Thao Drowning Prevention Act. I am with the Youth Leadership Institute, and we are honored to sponsor this Bill. I first met Neng at the swearing in the City of Fresno Youth Commission. It was from there that Neng joined the Fresno Boys and Men of Color program, and we began working closely together.

Nang jumped right into the work, whether it was advocating for youth jobs, protecting the most vulnerable, or for more and better parks, he readily volunteered to take the lead. Neng, along with his peers, advocated for youth jobs, a youth job summer program for a safe schools resolution that would protect undocumented students.

He inspired many other young people to advocate for more green space, safe and well equipped parks, and for more investments in local transportation campaigns, which continued after his untimely death and which resulted in an estimated $1.2 billion investment in City of Fresno Parks over the next 30 years, and which continues to fuel a grassroots movement to reimagine transportation across Fresno County. Neng made his presence felt at the school board, the City hall, and here in the Capitol.

And his legacy endures through this Bill, through this work. Excuse me. What made Neng truly special was his power to bring others along. His peers gravitated to him. What Neng did, they did. When Neng spoke, they listened. In May 2017, when Neng drowned in the river, his life ended too soon, and we lost a powerhouse, and we hope this never happens again. Neng is speaking through this Bill and on behalf of the Youth Leadership Institute, I ask for your support. Thank you.

Thank you very much. Any other witnesses in support?

Hello. Leilani Aguinaldo, on behalf of Fresno Unified School District in support.

Thanks very much. Anybody else seeing? None. Is anybody here in the hearing, like, testifying? Opposition AB 1445. Mr. Barrow? Good morning.

My name is Steve Barrow, and I'm the State Program Director for the California Coalition for Children's Safety and Health. We have worked really hard over the last 30 years and established many of the drowning prevention laws in California, including one that the Chair authored. We really appreciate the Assembly Member raising the issue of drowning. It's the first cause of death for one to four year olds in California.

It's the second cause of death for five to 14 year olds, and it's the third cause of death of 15-24 year olds. It's an incredibly important issue, but we are here to oppose the current form of the Bill. It does not authorize the schools to work with the drowning prevention organizations because of the amendments that the Assembly Education Committee thrust on the author. It does not also took away what the author was trying to do.

And what we've been trying to do is the Secretary of Health and Human Services of California in 2021, because swim skills will reduce drowning by 88%. The Secretary of our state said, look it, we're going to determine that swim lessons that bring those swim skills are essential public health services. That's an incredibly important thing. But it needs to be codified so that the public health officers in the 58 counties can lean back on a codification of that determination. Right now, they can't.

And we have some public health officers that will close down swimming programs unless they're only working with infants. So you need swimming lessons for all ages of children. So we started out with a very good Bill. It is now a Bill that we have to oppose.

And I'm here representing groups like the Jasper Ray Foundation, based out of Orange County, the Drowning Prevention Foundation, which is the nation's largest and longest drowning prevention organization, Children's Advocacy Institute, University of San Diego, Prevent Drowning Foundation of San Diego, United States Swim School Association, California Pool and Spa Association, and Stop Drowning Now. All respectfully oppose the passage of this Bill. We would say, because of the flaws in the current Bill, please do not pass this Bill. We need to come back in '24.

And if we want to honor Thao, who is an important member of our community that we all lost, along with all the other affected families that are heading up these organizations, they all lost children, too.

We need to come back in 2024 with a correctly structured Bill that establishes a Neng Thao Drowning Prevention act that actually authorizes the schools to work with the organizations that are preventing drowning and also to codify the importance of swim skills in the law so that the public health officers have something to lean on and keep our swimming lessons open at the YMCAS, at the Park and Rec at the swim schools all across our state.

So again, we appreciate the work that the author has done, but we really strongly ask you, and these are the leading drowning prevention organizations of the nation and our state, and they're saying, don't pass this Bill. You're going to push us backwards. Two years. Took us two years to get to this point, and now we have to go back.

If you pass this Bill, please don't pass the Bill, but let us come back working with the author and working with others to have a very strong Neng Thao Drowning Prevention Act that actually does something, and not just naming an act after a very important person.

Thank you, Mr. Barrow. Is anybody else who'd like to testify in opposition to the measure? Seeing none, let us now go to the teleconference line. Mr. Moderator, if you please query any participants on the conference line who like, testify in support of an opposition to the measure, AB 1445.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. If you are in support or opposition to AB 1445, please press 10 at this time. One followed by zero. And one moment. We have one queuing up. Anybody else? Please take this opportunity? Press one followed by zero for AB 1445.

Hello, this is Marcia Kerr.

Go ahead, all.

Hi, I'm Marcia Kerr with the Drowning Prevention Foundation, and I'm also an affected parent. My two year old son drowned in our backyard pool in 1988. The Drowning Prevention Foundation is in opposition to AB 1445 due to language discrepancies that may actually set background prevention in California rather than carrying it forward. Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Kerr. Is anybody else on the line?

We have line 14. Please go ahead.

Hi. Thank you. My name is Jonathan St. Clair. I am the co founder of the Jasper Ray Foundation here in Orange County, California. I also am in opposition of AB 1445 for the same reasons that Marcia Kerr just mentioned. Thank you.

Thank you. No one else is in queue, Mr. Chair.

Let's bring it back to the Committee hearing room here. So, for my part, actually, as Mr. Barrow mentioned, I'm very proud of the work that I did in 2017 on SB 442. And I'm actually grateful for the work of many, including Ms. Kerr and Mr. St. Clair and their families. I do want to get to this question, starting with the author, is this notion that this would, I guess there's two pieces. One is there was an amendment reference that was taken in the Assembly that would have prohibited authorization work with drowning prevention organizations? Can you speak to that?

Yeah, I'm happy to. Oftentimes we find that perfect is the enemy of good, and the Bill that you have before you is a good Bill that moves forward drowning prevention. Through this process, we oftentimes have to engage with committees and staff and take amendments. We heard clearly through the Assembly Education Committee that there wasn't the interest to work during school hours with drowning prevention and instead wanted to focus the efforts after school.

And so our compromise to move the Bill through Assembly Education was to allow for these drowning prevention activities to be after school and not during school hours. The concern that many of the organizations are having is that doesn't allow them then to partner with those local educational agencies to do it during school hours. But regardless, I think students need access to drowning prevention, whether it's through school hours or after school.

I will highlight, if I can, the last time we had a wet year like this was 2017, when Neng drowned. And too many of our kids right now who come from poor communities don't have access to swim safety and drowning prevention and believe it's important for us to increase access during school or after school. I'm just happy to move the Bill. But part of the process is accepting amendments to move the conversations forward.

And then for clarity's sake. So, to the extent that there wasn't support for including drowning prevention during school hours, is it true that then you're still prevented or privileged working with these drowning prevention organizations after school hours?

No, it has nothing to do about what time of day. What they did is they took authorizing drowning prevention organizations, working with schools. Authorizing. That's an important legal term of art.

All right, so it's the shall versus the may.

They change it to May.

Okay.

And so when they say may, that puts us right back where we are now, where we have to spend a year, and the school districts have to spend a year going through a local authorization just to be able to work to reach the parents. And it also took away, the amendment, took away the codification that swim skills are an important way to stop drowning. And we need to tell public health officers that they cannot shut down swim lessons because it's like vaccinating kids.

88% reduction in drowning simply by having a swim skill. It's like vaccinating kids against drowning. And what they did in the Assembly Education Committee is they removed that.

Again, Mr. Barrow, if it's shall versus may, and the amendment...

Authorizes the word that...

Understand, if it, if it's may. So they're not required, but they're still. Would a local education agency be allowed to, in this case, if they support at the local level, to include drowning prevention as part of the school day?

My understanding is, yes, we heard from Fresno Unified School District the ability for them to do it, it's a way to increase awareness and to have more local educational agencies participate.

So the challenge presented to us as one of the committees hearing this Bill, is that that amendment, having been taken in the other house, sort of defines the Bill moving forward, and so share your concern. And so I guess the next question for the author is, to the extent that Mr. Barrows raised his concerns, and I do appreciate them, is, is the work you're doing, does it preclude some of the other work that he's mentioned? Is it mutually exclusive to that?

I don't see it as mutually exclusive. I understand him wanting the urgency and was working hard to try and bring that urgency to this issue. And yet we must move a Bill forward that is advancing water safety and drowning prevention and think this is a good Bill for this Committee to consider. I don't think they're mutually exclusive.

I appreciate that, Senator Cortese.

I'm just wondering, having, of course, not been involved with the evolution of the Bill up to this point and just wondering. Question for the author through the Chair, was there ever any discussion about just putting in the Bill a time certain that each LEA has to make a decision? I mean, what I'm hearing is somebody wanted to put an emphasis on local control.

So we have may, which as a former school board member, I could totally understand, at the same time, putting a requirement that they have to make that decision on a time certain, their first meeting of the calendar year, the first meeting of the fiscal year or something like that would get on a cycle where folks wouldn't be able to kick the can down the road, it seems. I'm just wondering if that's been thought of or if that was rejected at some point.

I understand that Committee staff, both on the Assembly and Senate, met with Mr. Barrows recently to discuss some potential amendments. I'm more than happy to consider through the Chair, should the Bill move forward, how we can improve upon the Bill, but would like to make sure that we're moving a product forward in this year when we're seeing as much water as we are in our local rivers.

I appreciate that.

Any of the Members like to comment. I appreciate that. And we'll sort of take you up on your offer to continue working with the other advocates. Senator Ochoa Bogh, go ahead.

So I just went for clarification for both the public and for us Members. But I believe, and actually, I don't know. I just want to confirm once amendments are accepted through the Bill process, through a Committee process, in a previous Committee or in the previous house, we don't have the capacity to undo those amendments, do we?

That is correct.

So the only option that we have at this point for this particular Committee is to accept or amend what you have, which does not undo what has previously been done, and then move forward the following year in a new capacity, from a new angle. So right now, as it stands, this is the best that we've got at the table at this time.

That is correct.

That is correct. For my part, with reservations, I support the Bill because I do appreciate not only the concerns, but the broader imperative, the urgency of addressing childhood accidental drownings. So this is probably the single most preventable accidental death that affect California youth. And it is a shame to Mr. Barrow's point, there's some things that we could do, like including water safety as part of the curriculum, that would effectively solve this problem, at least substantially.

Okay.

And so I would agree with others that this is an urgent matter that we should continue to pursue. Having said that, I respect what you're trying to do. And I'm comfortable with moving the Bill today. Something else? No. Looking for a motion. Okay. If you'd like to close.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I appreciate the hearty discussion and look forward working with your office and Committee staff. Should this Bill go forward. Respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Thank you. So we do have a motion for Senator Cortese. Madam Consultant, please call the roll.

Final item 13, AB 1445, Arambula. Motion is do pass as amended. [Roll call vote]

That measure now has six votes. We'll leave it open for the time being. Thank you, Assembly Member. And to our last measure of the day, AB 1651. Assemblymember Sanchez, welcome. Thank you for your patience.

Please proceed when ready.

Sure. Thank you, Mr. Chair and Members. AB 1651 is a common sense Bill that will help reduce the likelihood of lethal allergic reactions on school campuses. Nearly 6 million children in America have food allergies. And 40% of these children have experienced a severe allergic reaction. And many of these reactions happened on school campuses. These reactions can be life threatening. Anaphylaxis is a potentially lethal allergic reaction that can happen within minutes if not properly treated, can be fatal. Epinephrine autoinjectors, or AEIs, are the first, EAIs, are the first line of treatment for someone who is experiencing anaphylaxis.

EAIs are easily administered and help prevent allergic reactions from becoming lethal if administered quickly. No student should feel unsafe on campus. And no parent should have to worry about whether their child's school is prepared to protect them. That's why I introduced AB 1651 which will require EAIs to be stored in accessible and known locations on campus for emergency use, notify all staff of the locations of EAIs in an annual notice,

publicly post information related to the prompt use of EAIs on school campuses, and permit certified volunteers to be able to undergo training to administer EAIs on campus during emergencies. This is a common sense measure that could help save lives and prevent tragedies. Today, testifying in support of the Bill is Zachy and Priscilla Hernandez.

Mr. Hernandez, welcome. I've heard a lot about you. Please proceed when ready.

Good morning, Senate Education Committee. My name is Zachy Munoz. A year ago, I was speaking to this Committee. That was a great day because this Committee helped me move the needle for food allergies. And today I ask you to push us a little further. You see, if you have food allergies, you know that epinephrines are your only chance during anaphylactic reaction. At six years old, I knew that. My mom told me if I ever felt bad, I would need to get this shot.

It would make me feel better. In first grade, my safe bread was switched out for sesame. It made me feel bad. God was telling me to go to a nurse, so I did. I knew I needed help. I needed epinephrine. It hurt, but made me feel better real fast. Five years later, I'm old enough to know how serious it is to get that feeling of anaphylaxis. I know that there's no cure for food allergies. I know that epinephrines are only a form of intervention during anaphylaxis.

But most importantly, I know an auto injector can save my life. I'm not going to lie. It's scary to know that I can have a reaction by eating something like a candy that has walnut or a bread that has sesame. I don't take a lot of chances because of that. It's also scary and sad to know that some kids didn't get epinephrine on time or at all and didn't make it. I wear red sneakers as a nod to Oakley, who didn't make it.

I know that Denise is not here, but her mama supports us because her daughter cannot. They were both 11, like me. I am their voice today. That is why AB 1651 is so important. It makes sure that this clear communication of where the epinephrine is located, it allows more people to be trained to administer epinephrine. And it also makes sure epinephrine is accessible at all times. I come here today to ask you to push us forward in making schools safer for kids with food allergies.

Together, we can make a difference. Together we will make a difference. So let's do this. Thank you.

Thank you, sir. Is there anybody else who'd like to testify and look bad compared to Zachy when they do it here. I'm sure you'll do just fine. Welcome.

Hello, everyone. My name is Priscilla Hernandez, and I am mom to a son who has severe, life threatening food allergies, Zachy. As a mother, our greatest responsibility is to ensure that our children's safety. With health issues like food allergies, it's our responsibility to not only equip ourselves, but those around us with the tools and information needed to ensure their safety continues outside of our nucleus. Therefore, today, I ask you to pass AB 1651, the Munoz Safe Act.

Epinephrine is a life saving measure for kids who experience anaphylaxis. Access to this lifesaving medication is critical. AB 1651 is a common sense piece of legislation that takes into consideration our very real situation in our schools. It ensures that epinephrine is easily accessible in an unlocked location as recommended by the CDC. It calls for communication about the location during emergency. And finally, it provides the potential for a greater safety net for our kids by giving the school the option to train more individuals.

The reality is, anaphylaxis doesn't have a set time or location in which it happens. Nor will it only happen when a medical professional is available. However, what we do know is that if we administer epinephrine with delay or not at all, the consequences have proven to be fatal. We have seen this most recently in our state with the death of a high schooler without access. Prompt injection of epinephrine within minutes of anaphylaxis is crucial.

As a mom of a child who has experienced anaphylaxis in school twice before I want to make sure that everyone knows where the auto injector is and have as many people train on it as needed. That way, it will give me and the hundreds of thousands of other California parents of students with food allergies a better sleep at night. Therefore, I respectfully ask you to support AB 1651, the Munoz Act.

Thank you very much. Is anybody else here like to testify in support of AB 1651? Welcome.

Good morning. I'm a grandmother of a 10 year old grandson with life threatening food allergies. And I am full support of this Bill. Thank you.

Thank you. Is there anybody here in the hearing like to testify in opposition to the measure AB 1650? Still support? We'll find out. You look nice. I think it's support. Welcome.

Good morning, Senate Education Committee. My name is [unidentified] and I am a student with several life threatening food allergies. The Munos AB 1651 has the potential to save my life because it would provide quick and easy access to EpiPens and make sure that a lot of people know how to use EpiPens at school. Thank you.

Thank you. Anybody else? Welcome.

Good morning. My name is [unidentified] and I'm also from San Francisco. I'm a mom of two children with several life threatening food allergies. And I'm in full support of Munoz. AB 1651. Thank you.

Thank you. Anybody else in support? Seeing none. Anybody in opposition? Seeing opposition here in the hearing room. Mr. Moderator, if you please query the conference line for anybody like to testify in support of or in opposition to AB 1651.

Thank you. If you are in support or opposition to AB 1651, go ahead and hit 10. At this time, put yourself in queue. Line 25, you are open. Line 25, you might hit 10 again. Go ahead and hit 10 again. Line 25. If you would like to queue up, please press 10. And there you go. Please go ahead.

Mr. Chair, Members of the Committee this is Tony Trigeuiro on behalf of the California Teachers Association and I'm representing our credentialed school nurses, classified LVNs, health aides and our classroom teachers. CTA has internal organizational policies in opposition to non medically trained volunteers being authorized to administer medications. We believe the importance of student safety lies with medically trained personnel being responsible for the delivery of all medications. This is a CTA policy, and for consistency purpose, we must oppose. Thank you.

Thank you. Other opposition.

Let's give one more reminder. One followed by zero. If you're in support of opposition to AB 1651 and line 51, you are open. Please go ahead.

Jason Linde. I'm the Senior Vice President of Advocacy for FARE which stands for Food Allergy Research and Education. We're the nation's largest patient advocacy organization for the more than 33 billion Americans with life threatening food allergies. And we stand in full support of AB 1651. Just as a rejoinder to the CTA, please know that a child as young as four or five can easily administer epinephrine. This is a life saving Bill, and we encourage a yes vote. Thank you.

Thank you. Any other witnesses on the teleconference line?

Andnot at this time, Mr. Chair.

All right. Thank you, Mr. Monterey, and thank you for your work today. Let's come back to the Committee dais. Let me say, as one who has friends who have life threatening food allergies glad to support it.

Including my district Director, who's probably watching right now and embarrassed who has a very intense peanut allergy and has lived under the fear as Mr. Munoz spoke so articulately. This is a big deal. Epinephrine is actually easily administered. And to provide greater access, better education, I think, is a worthy endeavor. So glad it's for your Bill today. Senator Glazer.

I would just add to the Chair's remarks. I just finished my 8th year in the Senate and I can't remember a hearing where I've seen two more articulate presentations. Zachy, you were terrific. And of course, the Girl Scouts earlier. Really, really impressive. I love the shoes. Is it, Denise, that you're wearing the shoes? For who is it? Oakley. Red Shoes for Oakley. Right, Oakley. Well, you truly were her voice today. Really, really impressive. And you were voice for more than just her, but so many others that are at risk.

I would note that the Bill is clear that there is a training requirement that is required to be able to administer it. Not just for anyone. For the school nurses that have raised some concerns. And with that, I'm happy to move the Bill at the appropriate time.

Thank you. Senator Ochoa Bogh.

Once again. Zachy, it's great to see you again this year. You left an impression, I think, last year. And you are someone that literally will be here one day if your heart desires. You are an amazing young man, and we're so grateful to have you here as an advocate. Mom and dad, great job. So proud. And as someone who really appreciates, what's the word I'm looking for, effort in the way that you dress yourselves, I absolutely love the color coordinating that you've done today. I notice it. I see you. Great job. You guys look good.

Okay. Yeah. Let me just add my voice to those who commend you for your matching ties. So, Assembly Member Sanchez, we do have a motion from Senator Glazer. I suspect you have ample support here. Would you like to close?

Thank you. By helping train more volunteers to administer EAIs and ensuring that the location and use of on campus EAIs are known and accessible to school staff, the Bill will help all students be safer at school. I respectfully ask for your aye vote.

Thank you. We do have a motion from Senator Glazer, Madam Consultant, please call the roll.

File item 14, AB 1651, Sanchez. Motion is do pass but first be re referred to the Committee on Appropriations. [Roll call vote]

Excellent. So that completes the bills to be heard today. Let's go back first, starting with AB 10, which we heard prior to establishing a quorum. That was from Assembly Member Lowenthal, Madam Consultant. We need a motion on AB 10.

Since I was here. I will move it.

Thank you, Senator Wilk. So, motion for Senator Wilk. I appreciate that.

[Roll call]

That measure currently has six of us. We'll leave it open for Senator McGuire. Let's now move to number three on the agenda, AB 95 from Assembly Member Hoover. We need a motion for that measure.

Again. I was here. Happy to move it.

Thank you. Senator Wilk, a motion from Senator Wilk. Madam Consultant.

[Roll Call]

Let's move now to measure number five. After having established a quorum. AB 230 from Assembly Member Reyes.

[Roll Call]

That measure currently has four votes. We'll leave that open for time being as well. Next up is agenda item number six. AB 278 from Assembly Member Reyes.

[Roll Call]

That measure has six votes as well. We'll leave it open. Let's now go to measure number seven, AB 247 from Assembly Member Muratsuchi.

[Roll Call]

That measure has six votes. Oh look he snuck in. Welcome, Senator McGuire. That was so subtle. That measure has seven votes and moves out. Thank you. Let us now go to measure item number 12 on the agenda, AB 1354 from Assembly Member Fong.

[Roll Call]

That measure moves out with seven votes. Next up, AB 1445 from Assembly Member Arambula.

[Roll Call]

And then next up is item number 14, AB 1651 from Assembly Member Sanchez.

[Roll Call]

That measure is out with seven votes. Let's go to the consent calendar. And I think we need a motion for the consent calendar. It's moved by Senator Glazer, who is in the sprinter's position.

[Roll Call]

Alright, the consent calendar passes out with seven votes. Thank you, colleagues. Let's go through the roll one more time for Senator McGuire

*Soft Laughter*

No, it's okay. You're a busy guy. It's fine. They support your extension, Madam Consultant.

[Roll Call]

That measure moves out seven to zero.

[Roll Call]

That measure also has seven votes to zero. Moves out. Next, please.

[Roll Call]

All right, that measure moves out of five to zero. Next, please.

[Roll Call]

That measure also moves out, seven to zero. Next, please. Or is that it?

That's it.

That is it. So thank you to staff, thank you to everybody who makes this possible, thank you especially to our witnesses today, and with that, the Senate Community of Education is adjourned.