Senate Floor

Secretary will call the roll.

[Roll Call]

A quorum is present. Where the Members and our guests beyond the rail and in the gallery, please rise. We'll be led in prayer this afternoon by our chaplain, Sister Michelle Gorman, after which, please remain standing as we will be led in the pledge of allegiance to the flag by Senator Archuleta.

We pray today. God of the small, the subtle, the unimportant, god of the vague, the cloudy, the ambiguous. Open our hearts to your presence. Open our ayes to the little signs, our ears to the soft murmurs. Slow us down to listen and hear the cry of the unspoken. Awaken us to the losses that are blessings. Awaken us to the wounds that are openings. Awaken us to the weaknesses that are the sources of your strength. Wake us up from the stupor of busyness, the days of desire to witness your drawing near, to behold your presence even in these ordinary moments we offer these feeble prayers, these beating hearts. Amen.

Ladies and gentlemen, the gallery. Put your hands over your heart. Senators, please follow me. I pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation individual, with liberty and justice for all.

Members, we're going to move to privileges of the floor. And up first is our illustrious Pro Tem with an introduction.

Mr. President. Thank you so much. Colleagues, today is one of those bittersweet moments. It's a good moment, but it is not without some bittersweet feelings. Let me as folks come up ask you to join me in honoring our friend and Senate photographer Laurie Shelley as she begins her new journey into retirement after 37 years of service. And, of course, with her today is someone we don't really know.

Tim. Oh, Tim Shelley. And of course, I know they're going to hate this when I say it, but two of the triplets Miley and Jared. Many in this chamber actually have watched them grow up, so it's a real thrill to have the family here. Laurie first came to work at the Senate in 1986 after graduating magna cum laude from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Over the years, she served in numerous positions, including receptionist, research and legislative aid, speech writer, and finally, as head of the Senate rules, photography and office that she helped to create.

Through her lens, Laurie has captured countless historic voices or countless votes voices as well. Passionate debates, special ceremonies, important visits and treasured moments during the tenure of seven Pro Tems and six Governors. Forward thinking and never scared to try something new, lori completely revamped how the Senate keeps photographic records by spearheading the creation of the Senate Pictorial Archive.

The archive is an incredible feat, with photographers or photographs of senators spanning all the way back to 1870, a record of structural changes to the Capitol and Annex over the last hundred years. Oh, we had a brief moment of silence. I can't help but note the noise today, which I noticed earlier before you came up.

You must have some special powers, Laurie. The noise from some of the newest structural changes oh, there, it's back. But hundreds of thousands of action photos taken during her years in the Senate.

She also coauthored a textbook many of you may not know this with one of her college professors called State Politics and Public Policies in California, which some of the younger folks in this room may have even read in their political science courses. Laurie is everywhere, whether it be on the floor, in committees and press conferences, or at events. She has diligently served so many Senators during her decades of service.

Her work has allowed us to preserve important moments. She created our treasured end of session yearbooks and the commemorative photo folio frames that allow us to share pictures with honored guests and visitors almost instantaneously. It's true.

You know, you get those pictures back really quickly so you can hand them right to our special visitors. And despite her devotion to black and white film, lori also brought us into the new century by creating the protocols that have allowed us to keep a precise record of all digital pictures. She's trained numerous high school and college students.

Always a mentor on photography, printing, and archiving, she has served the Senate with distinction, compassion, enthusiasm, and she will be missed. She is, has been, and will continue to be a vital Member of the Senate family. And, Laurie, I want to thank you for everything you've done for us and for your service to this incredible institution.

We hope that in retirement, it provides you more time to enjoy your favorite places like Hawaii with him and your kids, if they're able to join you. And I would just say, he's coming back. So you may be in Hawaii on your own, but I know that's not true. But the family wants to acknowledge you and say thank you for everything. And we have a resolution to show our love for you.

I know all the Members want to take a photo with our star, which we can do, but before we do that no. Okay. Senator Jones says no. Okay. Yeah. Allow you to make comments.

Thank you, Mr. President, for the recognition. I appreciate that. And what I meant to say is, yes, I agree with the Pro Tem Wholeheartedly in her comments regarding Michelle and her service here on the Senate floor.

One of the great experiences I've had is coming from the Assembly to the Senate as soon as we got here. I think even before the very first day, she was adamant that she'd take us out onto the portico and get our proper headshots done. And that was on a day when there was a lot of smoke in the air.

And believe it or not, it's actually one of the better headshots I've seen of a lot of us, to tell you the truth. But she's always been the consummate professional on the floor and around the Capitol, and I really appreciate all of her hard work and diligence. And one of the things I also took note of as somebody that has studied leadership and done my very best to bring up folks behind me is the number of people that you've brought onto the floor to mentor.

That you've brought in as interns and the compassion and compassion that you have exhibited in making sure that you demanded the very best from all of them but also encouraged them in a loving manner to help them reach their reach and do their best. So I just want to say thank you for that as well. There's a generation of photographers coming up behind you that are going to owe their success because of the mentorship that they received here on the Senate floor. So thank you very much.

Very festive in here today. Up next to make an introduction from the Majority leader's desk is Senator Ashby. Senator Ashby, the floor is yours.

Okay. Thank you very much, Mr. President. Today I have the distinct honor to present to all of you here on the Senate floor the 2023 Division One AA National Champion men's rugby team from right here at the California State University of Sacramento. I can't even tell you how proud I am to present them to you today. My own son played for this team a few years back and is part of the vast array network of alumni who helped them fundraise to do what they do. And so having them here on the Senate floor with me today is very exciting.

Sac State had to beat all their West Coast rivals in order to make it to the national championship. Beating Reno and San Jose and Fresno and all of that was on the way to meeting Florida State. I have to take my shots where I can. All right. They made it all the way to the national championship game where they played against Florida State. It was an incredible game that was riveting all the way up to the last moment.

And so that you understand the underdog nature of this team, first of all, they haven't won a championship in some 23 years, so before any of them were alive. And they are not a super well funded team. They have to work really hard themselves to Fund their own travel and like I said, their alumni network.

They also had some tough breaks on injuries this year, but none of that stopped them from winning their match 28 to 24 against Florida State to become the national champs. So please join me colleagues in congratulating Sac state men's rugby.

Congratulations to the Sac state rugby.

Rugby Stingers up, which is hard for this Aggie. But with the permission of President, with me here on the floor is their coach, Steve Seafort. And players, go ahead and raise your hands. Fellows. Want to say your name? Miles Brown, Kellen Fish, Amir Fraser, Ozzy Jimenez, mason Lafon, Carlos Lopez, Ryan Maves, Michael New, Marcos Romero, and the rest of their team up there in the gallery. Very excited to be here. Thank you

All, right, once again, Sac State men's rugby team national champions. And before we proceed, I want to acknowledge that we have former Senator Martha Escuda in the house. Escudia. Excuse me. And also on behalf of Senator Min, we'd like to recognize Congressman Ted Lieu's wife Betty, his son Austin, and friend Harvey. So please give a warm California Senate welcome to the Lieu family. Up next, we have Senator Bradford at the majority leaders desk. Whenever you're ready. The floor is yours.

Thank you, Mr. President. I have the distinct honor of introducing 25 amazing individuals from 14 different countries on the continent of Africa. They are the US. Department of State's Mandela's Washington, fellows.

They're hosted by UC Davis and their leadership of public management institute. They're amazing individuals from environmentalists to agricultural to engineers to medical professionals, doctors, you name it. They run the gamut. They are really engaged. They come here, I think, for five weeks. And this is like the fourth time we've had opportunity to greet them and welcome while they're here in California. So without further ado, let's give a warm welcome to the United States Department of State Mandela Washington fellows.

Any other Members would like to join? Senator Bradford said it was okay. So, continuing our parade, like to invite Senator Jones up to the majority leader's desk for an introduction. Senator Jones, the floor is yours.

Thank you. Mr. President. Members, I am honored today to introduce Ambassador Rick Grenell. Ambassador Grenell has spent decades dedicated to public service and is a resident of California. He has served as the US. State Department spokesperson at the United Nations, the ambassador to Germany the US. Ambassador to Germany and the acting Director of National Intelligence where he became the first openly gay person to serve in a US. President's cabinet. Members, please help me in welcoming Ambassador Grenell to the Senate chambers.

Moving on to the next introduction is Senator Wilk at the majority leader's desk. Senator Wilk, the floor is yours.

Thank you, Madam President. For the last 100 years, the Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of Commerce has played a vital role in transforming Santa Clarita into the city that it is today. In 1923, Coca Cola had just invented the six pack.

The model T was the biggest car in America and the Hollywood sign first popped up at the same time in Hollywood's back lot, the new Hall Chamber of Commerce served a dusty western town of just a thousand residents, an assortment of stores and churches, one K eight school, and only four saloons in the Lockheed's. Decision to base a major Tesla facility in the Santa Cruz Valley led to a wave of other aerospace manufacturing businesses to follow suit and helped develop the area into a major industrial center in 1953. The chamber's leaders were instrumental in creating the area's public water utility, which six decades later would become the Santa Creta Valley Water Agency.

I carried the legislation to make that happen, and many of you on this floor voted for that, so we thank you. The addition of Valencia to the new Hall Sagas region would eventually cultivate in the creation in corporations of the city of Santa Cruta in 1987. Today, the Santa Cruta Valley Chamber of Commerce represents businesses in the incorporated and unincorporated areas of a vibrant community now numbering more than 300,000 residents.

Throughout its history, the chamber has been proactive in attracting more businesses to the region to help meet the needs of the community now and in the future. Today, with us is my pleasure to recognize President and CEO Ivan I always get I know. Bull skank. I got it. It's not spelled that way, but that's how it's pronounced. He's from South Africa, originally Chief advocacy officer John Musala. Vice President Peter Warda and Chair of the Board, Becky Rob. And with that, if you could all congratulate them on a hundred years.

Moving on, I'd like to take this opportunity on behalf of Senator Skinner. I'd like to recognize Debbie A. Reddy and Marquessa Finch from Purium and the F five collective and LA based Grammy Award winner Derek Ally, who founded community education initiative called Engineers. But wait, there's more. I learned a lot about Mr. Ally very recently. So, Derek Ally, he is the product of Mr. Bradford's district, and he's better known as Senator Bradford. Your writing is horrible. Oh, mixed by ali.

Okay. As a mixing engineer. And he has worked with Dr. Dre, who's a former constituent of mine, kendrick Lamar, Nipsey Russell, and of course, the legendary Snoop Dogg, to name a few. I showed my age. Nipsey Russell was my Nipsey Hussle. Different generation. Okay, thank you for that. Hey, you want to come up and read this? Okay.

And he also runs this is the most important part. Maybe he runs an amazing nonprofit called Engineers that trains young people in in the art of musical mixing and engineering. With that, please give a warm Senate welcome on messages from the Governor will be deemed red.

Messages from the Assembly will be deemed red. Reports of committee will be deemed red and amendments adopted. Now moving to motions, resolutions, and notices without objection, the Senate journals for June 19, 2023 through June 22, 2023, will be approved as corrected by the Minute Clerk at this time, like to recognize Senator Eggman.

Thank you very much. Mr. President and Members. I move Joint Rule 62 a be way for the Select Committee on Infrastructure Streamlining and Workforce Equity to meet on Tuesday, June 27, 2023, without the four day notice in the Daily file.

May I ask the motion maker a question, please.

Senator Eggman, you will need to take a question.

My understanding the bills are not in print yet. Would you be able to let us know when we expect them to be in print?

The Assembly and the Senate and the Governor's office are still in negotiations. We intend to have the bills done and in print and ready to go by our constitutional deadline, and we're all working as fiercely as possible. I ask for your aye vote Senator Jones.

Thank you, Mr. President. With that, first of all, I want to thank the motion maker and the Pro Tem, on these separating these infrastructure bills from the budget. I do appreciate that. I was hoping that they'd be in print today so we'd have time to review them before this motion was made. So with that, I'll ask for a no vote on the motion.

Okay with that? Clerk, please call the roll.

[Roll Call]

Ayes 29. Noes, seven. Joint rules are suspended. Now, once again recognizing Senator Eggman.

Thank you very much, for Senator Limon, I request unanimous consent to return SB 639 to the Assembly for further action.

Such will be the order. Now, moving on to consideration the Daily File

You failed to recognize under motions and resolutions. Having some vision issues?

Not on my script.

Microphone's up.

Okay, we'll go back to motions. Senator Glazer. You are recognized.

Thank you, Mr. President. At the request of the author, I'd like to pull file item number 99 AB 1762.

Duly noted. Any other Member? Going once, going twice. Okay, good. With that, with the indulgence of Senator Glazer, we're going to move on to second reading file. Hold on for 1 minute moment, Members. All right. Moving on to consideration of the Daily File second reading file, please read

Senate Constitutional Amendment Seven with amendments Assembly Bill 660 with Amendments 767 with Amendments 904 with Amendments 1057 with second reading file, will be deemed red. Moving on to Senate third reading, item 34. Yeah.

Secretary, please read

Senate Resolution 38 by Senator Durazo relative to nonviolence movement curriculum framework.

Yes. Senator Durazo?

Thank you, Mr. President. I am very proud today to present Senate Resolution 38, which will encourage each local education agency to include in its curriculum the study of the principles of nonviolence that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Practiced and championed throughout the civil rights movement. Dr. King adopted his principles in part based on Mahatma Gandhi, who used nonviolence resistance to lead the successful campaign for India's independence.

It is important for younger generations to learn about the principles of nonviolence and to promote peaceful solutions to create a two democracy. Which is why I want to thank two young women, jasmine Maruquin and Esperanza Ross, who led the work on this resolution. And this is especially important as threats of violence against the API Latino black, LGBTQIA plus communities are on the rise.

In 2020, hate crimes in the US. Rose to the highest level in more than a decade. Federal officials also recorded the highest number of hate motivated killings since the FBI began collecting that data.

It is important to teach our students about the philosophy of nonviolence and affirm our commitment to reject hatred and promote peace and justice. Throughout my life, as a daughter of Farmworkers and a former union organizer, I have practiced nonviolence alongside Reverend James Lawson, Cesar Chavez, dolores Huerta, and countless others through peaceful demonstrations, marches, sit ins, and fasts for health care, for the humane workload in the workplace, good wages, workers rights, the rights of women, and LGBTQIA plus Americans. Everyone that heard has heard reverend James Lawson understands the power that comes with these teachings.

Reverend James Lawson is the person that Dr. King recruited to teach the power of nonviolence to eliminate segregations. And he once said, nonviolence has power that we have never tapped. And if we use it, we can transform not only our own lives, but we will transform the earth in which we live.

By teaching our students about nonviolence principles, we can help future generations move towards racial healing, overcome hate and division, and build, as Dr. King taught us, a beloved community. Thank you. And I respectfully ask for your aye vote.

Thank you, Senator Durazo, Senator Smallwood Cuevas. Thank

you, Mr. President. I want to thank the Senator from Los Angeles for raising this important motion and those that work with her on this important curriculum that we need in our state as an example to teach nonviolence in our schools. I have the honor to work with Reverend James Lawson, with Senator Durazo, and a number of community and labor activists and organizers in transforming our local economy by using collective action and voice.

What I appreciate most about this principle is it is about defeating injustice, but not defeating people. That the spirit of nonviolence is about how do we build the understanding. We often talk about those who've lost their lives.

We look at what's happening in Russia and other places, all because we don't do enough to build the understanding and to practice the principles of peace that allow us to get to a resolution through our ideas. And I think this curriculum is important not just for continuing this sacred practice of nonviolence, but also helping us get to a place where we can resolve our disagreements without losing life and shedding blood. And with that, I respectfully ask for your aye vote.

Thank you. Senator Alvarado Gil.

Thank you. I would like to acknowledge the Senator from Los Angeles, not only as a colleague, but as someone who I have followed since her very early teachings of nonviolence. Today, on our desk, we have a book that exemplifies some of the movements and prominent personas in the nonviolent social movement advocacy sector.

And I want to highlight on page 86 for all my colleagues to please turn to page 86 to honor one of the women that I looked up to as I was training to become a young activist in the who I am so honored to serve alongside today. And I also urge for an aye vote to help shape our future students, our future leaders, and to ensure that history teaches us not to step backwards, but to step forward with courage and with honor. Thank you.

Thank you. Seeing no other mics up, Senator Durazo, you may close.

Thank you, colleagues. And just think about the enormous power that comes with collective nonviolence. And I know that here in California, with the Deloris Huerta and Cesar Chavez, they would not allow anything other than nonviolence in their actions. In fact, Cesar did a very long, month long strike, I mean fast, when there was violence taking place on the picket lines. And he said, we will have none of it. No matter what anybody does to us, we will not participate in violence.

And so he went on this fast, sacrificing his own health and his life for the power of to communicate the power of nonviolence. So I respectfully ask for your vote. Thank you.

With that secretary call the roll

[Roll Call]

Ayes 39. No zero resolution is adopted. Returning to privileges of the floor, we have Senator Durazo at the majority leader's desk. Senator Durazo.

Thank you, Mr. President. I'd like to ask my colleagues to please join me in welcoming Kent Wong to the California State Senate. He is the Director of the UCLA Labor Center, where he teaches courses in labor and Asian American Studies. But for the past 20 years, he has taught a course at UCLA on nonviolence and social movements alongside Reverend James Lawson. Together they contributed to the book that my colleague talked about. They contributed to the book.

And it describes the power of nonviolence. It describes the power of being able to make social change, of being able to create justice in our communities through nonviolence. He previously served as staff attorney for the Service Employees International Union.

He was the founding President of the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance and of the United Association of Labor Education. He is currently a vice President of the Calif Federation of Teachers. He is also a long time lifelong friend of mine.

He continues to inspire me with his commitment for human rights. More importantly, he has taught thousands of young people through his classes. Members, please join me in welcoming Kent Wong and recognizing his years of service and dedication to the philosophy and practice of nonviolence. Thank you.

If any other Members want to join Senator Durazo, now would be the time. All right, Members. Now we're going to move on to the consent calendar.

Senator Glazer, earlier this afternoon, cut it in half so we have one item on the consent calendar. Would anybody like to pull that from the consent calendar? Seeing none. Secretary, please call the roll. Please read.

Assembly Bill, 1752.

All right, Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call]

All right. Ayes 37, no, zero. The consent calendar is adopted. Now moving to committee announcements. Senator Skinner.

How easy to forget I'm the only committee that has to make the announcement. Or maybe I'm not the only. But anyway, Budget Committee will be upon call of the chair this afternoon.

Thank you, Senator Skinner. If there's no other business Senator Atkins, the desk is clear. Mr.

President, thank you so much for presiding today. It's a little chaotic, but you did a great job, and I want to say thank you, colleagues, thank you. Our next floor session is scheduled, and this is different. It's for Tuesday, tomorrow, June 27, 2023, at 12:30 P.m.

All right, thank you, Members. Again, the Senate will be in recess until 03:30 P.m., at which time the adjournment motion will be made. We will reconvene tomorrow, Tuesday, June 27, at 12:30 P.m.