Senate Floor

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

A quorum is present with the members and our guests beyond the rail and in the gallery. Please rise. We'll be led in prayer this morning by our Chaplain, Sister Michelle Gorman, after which, please remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag.

And let us remember we're always in God's presence. Heart of love, source of all kindness, teacher of the ways of goodness, You are hidden in the pockets of daily life waiting to be discovered. Heart of comfort, sheltering wings of love, refuge for sad and lonely ones, You embrace all who bear loss, gathering our tears with care. Heart of understanding, one who gazes upon the imperfect, the incomplete, the flawed, the weak, You never stop extending mercy. Heart of generosity, abundance of insight and hope.

Daily You offer us gifts of growth leading to continual transformation. And heart of deepest peace, resting place at the core of our being. You are waiting always for our return to this sacred home. Amen.

Thank you, Sister Gorman. Please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance to our flag. I pledge allegiance.

All right. We'll begin with privileges of the floor. There are none. Messages from the Governor will be deemed read. Messages from the Assembly will be deemed read. Reports of committee will be deemed read and amendments adopted. We're going to move next to motions, resolutions and notices. Pursuant to Senate Rule 2910, file item 284, AB 7876 will be referred to the Committee on Rules. Without objection, pursuant to joint rule 31.1.

Joint Rule 61A12 will be suspended to allow Assembly Bills 389 and 876 to be heard in the in Committee next week. This request has been approved by the Rules Committee. Members, without objection, measures reported from the Appropriations Committee with the recommendation do pass as amended will be given their second reading. Amendments adopted and returned to second reading upon being reported. Senator Roth.

Thank you, Mr. President. Request we move file item number 49SCR80 from the active to the inactive.

Desk will note. Under motions and resolutions, Senator McGuire.

Thank you so much, Mr. President. On behalf of Senator Limone, I request unanimous consent to return SB 639 to the Assembly for further action.

Without objection.

All right, Members, under motions and resolutions, this would be an opportunity for you to remove any item from the consent calendar that we're taking up today. Any member want to be recognized for that purpose? All right. Seeing none, we're going to move to consideration of the daily file. We're going to begin with items one through four. Second reading. If the Clerk would read, please.

Assembly Bill 1377. AB 1620. AB 37. AB 1285.

Thank you. We're going to move next to Governor's appointments. This is file items six, seven and eight. I'm going to recognize Senator from Bakersfield. Senator Grove.

Sorry, Mr. President. Thank you. Colleagues, file item number six is the confirmation of Karen Douglas to the appointment of the California Public Utilities Commission. Prior to the disposition, she was serving as the Governor's Office of Senior Advisor on Energy. She previously served as a member of the California Energy Commission from 2008 to 2022. She was approved on the Rules Committee on a unanimous vote. Respectfully, I ask for your aye vote.

Any discussion or debate on this nomination? Seeing none. Secretary, please call the roll.

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

Please call the absent Members one more time.

Blakespear. Dahle. Durazo. Aye. Hurtado. Jones. Limon. Nguyen. Niello. Seyarto. Stern.

Aye voted 31 to zero. The nomination is confirmed. Senator Grove, you have another nominee to present. File item seven. Floor is yours.

I do. Thank you, Mr. President. Colleagues, file item seven is a confirmation of Angelina Galiteva for the appointment to the California Independent Systems Operating Governing Board. Why someone would want to be on this board is beyond me. But I just am grateful that this Member came forward and accepted this appointment and asked for her confirmation. If you don't know, the Cal ISO Board is responsible for making sure that when our constituents flip the light switch, there is power at the other end.

And what a very difficult problem that they have now with everything going on with our energy system. She's the President of Energy Options, Incorporated and the founding Board Chair of the Renewables 100 Policy Institute. She was approved on the Rules Committee on July 12th. A unanimous vote. Respectfully, I asked for an aye vote.

Thank you, Senator Grove. Senator Newman.

I'm glad to support this nomination. Ms. Galiteva is one of the smartest people you ever meet. She has done wonderful work, especially recently, in her role as the leader on the ARCHES Proposal submitted to the Department of Energy and I heartily support her confirmation. I recommend an aye vote.

Any further discussion or debate? Seeing none. Senator Grove, would you like to close? All right. Senator Grove has closed. Secretary, please call the roll.

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

Please call the absent Members one more time?

Blakespear. Dahle. Hurtado. Jones. Limon. Menjivar. Aye. Nguyen. Niello. Seyarto. Stern. Hurtado, aye.

On a vote of 32 to zero, the nomination is confirmed. Senator Grove, you have another item, item eight.

I do. Thank you, Mr. President. Colleagues, file item number eight is a confirmation of Kimberly Gallagher, no relation to the Assembly Republican leader that I am aware of, and Fern Steiner for the reappointment of the California Water Resources Commission. And also on this vote, colleagues, you will be voting for Sandra Matsumoto for reappointment to the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Conservancy Board. These appointees were approved by the Rules Committee on July 12th. Respectfully, I ask for an aye vote.

Thank you, Senator Grove. Any discussion or debate on these nominations? Seeing none. Secretary, please call the roll.

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

Please call the absent Members one more time?

Blakespear. Limon. Padilla. Aye. Stern.

On a vote of 37 to zero, the nominees are confirmed. Members, we're going to move back to motions and resolutions. I recognize Senator McGuire.

Thank you so much and good morning, Mr. President. Members, there's a resolution at the desk requesting permission to suspend Joint Rule 61 for the purpose of allowing the Assembly Bill 1373 to be heard in committee after the deadline. These requests have been approved by the Rules Committee. Would respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Thank you, Senator McGuire. Will the Secretary please read the resolution.

Resolve that Joint Rule 61A12 be dispensed with as requested.

Senator Dahle.

Thank you, Mr. President. Members, 29 pages of amendments to central procurement is the issue here. Independent body is going to be able to buy power in California, and you're not going to have any control over it. I request a no vote on this rule waiver. All right. Senator McGuire is asking for an aye vote. I think we've heard from Senator Dolly asking for a no vote. Secretary, please call the roll.

Senator Dahle, pardon me. Senator Dahle, this is not a debate.

I request a no vote on this rule waiver.

All right. Senator McGuire is asking for an aye vote. I think we've heard from Senator Dahle asking for a no vote. Secretary, please call the roll.

Allen. Aye. Alvarado-Gil. Archuleta. Aye. Ashby. Aye. Atkins. Aye. Becker. Blakespear. Bradford. Aye. Caballaro. Aye. Cortese. Aye. Dahle. No. Dodd. Aye. Durazo. Aye. Eggman. Glazer. Aye. Gonzalez. Aye. Grove. No. Hurtado. Aye. Jones. No. Laird. Aye. Limon. McGuire. Aye. Menjivar. Aye. Min. Aye. Newman. Aye. Nguyen. No. Niello. No. Ochoa Bogh. No. Padilla. Aye. Portantino. Aye. Roth. Aye. Rubio. Aye. Seyarto. No. Skinner. Aye. Smallwood-Cuevas. Aye. Stern. Umberg. Aye. Wahab. Aye. Wiener. Aye. Wilk. No.

Please call the absent Members.

Alvarado-Gil. Aye. Becker. Aye. Blakespear. Eggman. Aye. Limon. Stern.

On a vote of 29-8, the motion carries. The joint rules are suspended. Members, we're going to move back to Senate, third reading. Next up, we have three resolutions we're going to deal with under this category. The first one is file item number 47, SCR 71 by Senator Rubio. She's prepared. Clerk please read.

Senate Concurrent Resolution 71 by Senator Rubio, childhood cancer, relative to Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.

Senator Rubio.

Thank you, Mr. President. Ladies and gentlemen of the Senate, today I rise to present SCR 71, a resolution declaring the month of September 2023, as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month in the state of California. Cancer is the leading cause of death, by disease, for children in the United States. 20 percent of our children diagnosed with cancer will not survive. And for their children who do survive, they spend a lifetime with many ailments.

Many are at risk of lifelong side effects from their cancer treatments that will negatively affect their health and well being. Cancer takes away their dreams, their laughter, and the future of too many children and our families. That is why I urge everyone to support SCR 71 today. By spreading awareness, we can simultaneously support those Californians who are fighting cancer, honor those who we've lost, and express our gratitude to the researchers, healthcare professionals and organizations that lead the way in the fight against cancer.

So many of our families have experienced a loss. So many of our neighbors have experienced a loss. And so, today, I want to take a moment of privilege to highlight Andrew Hirschman, who was my best friend's son, who passed last year on New Year's Day. His name was Andrew Hirschman. I want to also honor the life of my cousin, who passed last week of cancer, Angelica Soto. She was just 55 years old.

And to all of your family members that are struggling with cancer, my heart goes out to every single one of you who have experienced this devastating disease. I want to thank all my colleagues who have joined as co-authors. In particular, I want to point out the Senator from Riverside for joining as a principal co-author on this measure. And with that, I respectfully ask for an aye vote. Thank you.

Thank you, Senator Rubio. Any discussion or debate? Senator Grove.

Thank you, Mr. President. I would like to echo my colleague's comments, the author of this bill, and thank her for bringing this resolution forward. We just celebrated a ribbon cutting in Bakersfield for the first pediatrics intensive care unit surgery center. The Lauren Small Children's Hospital, inside of the Bakersfield Memorial Hospital, was established when Lauren Small, a young child, lost her life to cancer. This family had wealth. They went all over the world trying to find a cure.

And some of the things that they realized is like, going down to Los Angeles, and there were families living in their car, brushing their teeth out of a spigot, so that they could be with their child that was receiving cancer treatments. In Kern County, we had no availability to have pediatrics intensive care services, until this family stepped up and actually donated the resources to touch every family in our community that is struggling with some of these situations.

We just recently, this past week, did the ribbon cutting for the new facility that will allow us to have a ... six bed surgery center, so none of our children will have to ever go north or south, again, in the state, and you can get treatment for your child right at home. Cancer is a devastating thing. It attacks everyone. Doesn't matter your race, doesn't matter your wealth, your socioeconomic status. It's an evil disease and it affects everyone, and especially, my heartfelt empathy goes out to families that have children that die of this disease.

The original donor and patriarch of that family, Kenneth Stewart Small, passed away two weeks ago. And I can only imagine that when he got to heaven, Lauren met him at the gates and said, "Welcome, Papa, there's no cussing here." And so I applaud the author for bringing this bill forward and would respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Thank you, Senator. Any further discussion or debate? Seeing none. Senator Rubio, you may close.

Just want to thank everyone, again, for joining on this cause, and we hope to continue the fight to find a cure for cancer. And with that, I respectfully ask for an aye vote. thank you.

All debate having ceased. Secretary, please call the roll.

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

Please call the absent Members.

Atkins. Blakespear. Eggman. Aye. Limon. Menjivar. Aye. Stern.

On a vote of 36-0, the resolution is adopted. We're going to move next to file item 48, SR 43. Senator from Bakersfield is recognized.

Thank you, Mr. President. Colleagues, today I'd like to recognize September 24 as Gold Star Mothers and Families Day. As a first female veteran -- excuse me-

I neglected to have the Secretary read the resolution, so let's begin there. Secretary, please read the resolution.

Senate Resolution 43 by Senator Grove, relative to Gold Star Mothers and Families Day.

Senator Grove?

Thank you, Mr. President. Today, colleagues, I'd like to recognize September 24th as Gold Star Mothers and Families Day. As a first female veteran, and joined by my colleagues also that are female veterans and other veterans on this floor, I think it's important that we recognize our Gold Star and Blue Star families. Gold Star Mothers and Families Days honors the practice of military families hanging a service flag outside of their homes or on their property or throughout their town.

A Blue Star reflecting the member of their family who's currently serving this country in the United States military and a Gold Star for a member of their family who has lost their life during military service. By enhancing public recognition for the loss of children that have given their life and served admirably for their country, military service organizations like Gold Star Mothers have become the backbone of support for countless families enduring traumatic hardship.

Commemorating the last day of September has become a further demonstration of a support in the nation's commitment to their families and our current service members. The strength of the United States Armed Forces is built upon these men and women who serve and proudly wear a uniform to protect this country and the families that support them while they're serving and after they're grieving at the loss of one of their children.

It's essential that the state supports these families not only in the days that follow the loss, but in the years to come. SR 43 commemorates September 24, 2023 as Gold Star Mothers and Families Day in California and recognizes immense long-term impacts of losing a loved one and the service to our community. I don't know what you guys do in your districts, but we line the Amtrak station in a corridor with pictures of our fallen military and of those Blue Star families that are still serving.

And we honor them every year so that when people drive down Truxtun Avenue or they drive to the train station or they drive down Chester Avenue, a major corridor in Bakersfield, they see pictures and flags posted on polls so that people can remember those that gave the ultimate sacrifice for this country and the families they left behind. Respectfully, I ask for an aye vote.

Thank you, Senator Grove. Any discussion or debate? Seeing none. This is eligible for a unanimous roll call. Seeing no objection. 36 yes, zero no. The resolution is adopted. We'll move next to file item 51, SCR 75. Secretary, please read.

Seeing the concurrent Resolution 75 by Senator Ochoa Bogh relative to California Emergency Preparedness Month.

Senator Ochoa Bogh. The floor is yours.

Thank you, Mr. President and members. I'm pleased to present SCR 75 which recognizes September 2023 as California Emergency Preparedness Month. This is aligned with FEMA's annual National Emergency Preparedness Outreach Campaign. National Preparedness Month aims to educate and empower Americans to prepare for and respond to all types of emergencies and natural disasters. This year alone, hundreds of thousands of Californians have experienced mandatory evacuations and displacements due to natural disasters and emergencies. In my district, the mountain communities were devastated by an unprecedented winter snowstorm earlier this year.

And more recently, we experienced another emergency with substantial rainfall from the hurricane, which generated another round of severe mudslides. It is vital that all levels of government and all households have a comprehensive plan in place before an emergency or natural disaster strikes. These plans should include access to adequate shelter, reserves of food, water, medical supplies, backup power sources, strategies for protecting animals, access to transportation, and a mode of communication.

I'm thankful to all of my local governments that have stepped up to the plate in recent months to evaluate their processes and plan for future emergencies. I'd also like to thank the Governor's Office of Emergency Services for their unwavering commitment to safety of my constituents. I'm committed to ensuring that my district has every resource it needs to plan for the future. SCR 75 encourages Californians to acknowledge the importance of planning for emergencies in order to protect themselves, their families, and their communities. I respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Thank you, Senator. Any discussion or debate on this resolution? Senator Seyarto.

Thank you, Mr. President. I rise today as a proud coauthor in support of SCR 75, declaring September as California Emergency Preparedness Month. Having served my entire career as a public safety professional, I've seen firsthand how important it is to adequately prepare for emergencies and the difference it makes when people make a plan for the unimaginable. Having a plan for shelter, communication, and transportation saves time, which in turn saves lives.

With hundreds of thousands of Californians facing evacuations, wildfires mudslides and rolling blackouts every year, and of course, with the ever present danger and future of having an earthquake, at some point, it is more critical than ever before that we all plan for emergency situations. With all this in mind, I respectfully ask for your aye vote.

Thank you. Senator Becker.

I thank the Senator for bringing forward this resolution. Unexpected weather conditions and natural disasters are becoming more frequent and intense as a result of emissions in our state. Last week, when Tropical Storm Hilary touched down in Southern California, bringing record breaking torrential rain and flooding to the region, we were sent an ominous reminder of that fact. But let's not lose sight of hope.

We can acknowledge the role of climate change in fueling these disasters. We can then take a crucial step towards collective action. Last year, besides investing billions into climate mitigation to prevent these disasters from getting worse and more frequent.

The Senate will go into a short recess.

Our apologies to Senator Becker. We're at file item 51. Senator Becker, you may continue. Senator Becker.

Thank you, Mr. President. I know this is an emotional topic about emergency preparedness, but I did want to note that how we as a body have invested 378 million for coastal resilience, 2.7 billion for wildfire preparation and health, 404 million into extreme heat mitigation, and a one time 436 million for families in the Tulare Basin. But we can do more.

By putting additional resources into community resilience and climate mitigation, and spreading awareness about climate change and disaster prep in our communities, we'll be better equipped to handle these inevitable disasters. I respectfully ask for your aye vote on SCR 75.

Thank you, Senator Becker. Any further discussion or debate on this item, on this resolution? Seeing none. Senator Ochoa Bogh, you may close.

I respectfully ask for an aye vote.

All debate having ceased, this item is eligible for a unanimous roll call. All right, without objection, ayes 36. No zero. The resolution carries. Members, we're going to move next to Assembly third reading. We have four items on the agenda this morning. First one up is file item 76, Assembly Bill 1445. Clerk, please read.

Assembly Bill 1445 by Assembly Member Arambula and accolading to public schools.

Senator Newman, you're going to present. The floor is yours.

Thank you, Mr. President. I rise today to present AB 1445, the Neng Thao Drowning Prevention Act, on behalf of Assembly Member Arambula. Neng was an 18 year old senior preparing to graduate as valedictorian of Edison High School in Fresno when he tragically drowned in a local river in May 2017, in a year just like this year, when our rivers are so full. AB 1445 will increase awareness of swim safety and drowning prevention at an early age, thereby saving countless young lives in California, especially young people like Neng. On behalf of Assembly Member Arambula, I respectfully ask for your aye vote this morning.

Any discussion or debate on this item? Seeing none. This is eligible for a unanimous roll call. Seeing no objection, ayes 37. No zero. The resolution carries. We're going to move next to file item 198, Assembly Bill 1109. The floor manager is prepared. The Secretary, please read.

Assembly Bill 1109 by Assembly Member Connolly and accolating into health and safety.

Recognized the Senator from Sacramento.

Thank you, Mr. President. I rise today to present Assembly Bill 1109 on behalf of Assembly Member Connolly. AB 1109 is known as Tyler's Law. It will prohibit the sale of sodium nitrite to minors under the age of 18. Sodium nitrite has no legitimate use at concentrations above 10%. It's sold online at concentrations above 90% with no safeguards. The ease of availability online has become an all too common method of suicide for teenagers around the country.

AB 1109 addresses this issue by prohibiting the sale of sodium nitrite to minors and prohibiting its sale to adults at purities above 10%. AB E1109 has bipartisan support and has received no no votes. I respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Any further discussion or debate on this item? Seeing none. This measure is eligible for a unanimous roll call, seeing no objections. Ayes 37. No zero. The resolution is adopted. We're going to move next to file item 203. This is ACR 17. The Floor manager is prepared. The Secretary, please read.

Assembly Concurrent Resolution 17 by Assembly Member Ramos relative to California Native American Day and the California Indian Cultural Awareness Conference.

Senator Gonzalez?

Thank you, Mr. President. I rise to present ACR 17 on behalf of Assembly Member Ramos, which recognizes the importance of California Native American Day, celebrated every year on the fourth Friday of September. ACR 17 also recognizes the importance of the annual California Indian Cultural Awareness Conference, which will be held on the same day as California Native American Day and provide important resources to our state's teachers.

In June 2019, Governor Newsom issued an apology to the state's California Native American tribes and condemned the genocide and heinous atrocities of previous administrations and legislatures. Dealing with the trauma of the past begins with knowledge and acknowledgment of that history. That is why it's so important that educators are provided the resources in California to ensure that we understand our rich and diverse language and culture. I respectfully ask for an aye vote on ACR 17.

Thank you, Senator Gonzalez. Any further discussion or debate on this item? Seeing none. This is eligible for a unanimous roll call. Seeing no objections. ayes 37. No, zero. The resolution is adopted. We're going to move next to file item 227. This is AB 478. Floor Manager appears to be ready. Secretary, please read.

Assembly Bill 473 by Assembly Member Aguiar-Curry, and accolade to motor vehicles.

Senator Umberg?

Thank you, Mr. President and colleagues. AB 473 will update the rules governing the relationship between auto dealer franchises and the manufacturing franchisors under California's new motor vehicle franchise law. The author has taken dozens of amendments, including stripping entire portions of the Bill governing warranty, reimbursements, EV charger banking, rights of first refusal of dealership sales, venues for lawsuits, and others.

The two biggest remaining provisions protect franchisees from direct competition from their franchisor, and protect consumers from hidden costs by restricting which features of a car manufacturers or dealers can charge subscription fees for. I urge an aye vote.

Any further discussion or debate on this item? Seeing none. Secretary, please call the roll.

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

Please call the absent Members.

Blakespear. Dodd. Aye. Limon. Niello. Stern.

On a vote of 36 to zero, the measure carries. Measure is adopted. Members, we're going to move next to our special consent calendar. Prior to taking up the special consent calendar, I want to ask one more time if a Member would like to remove an item from the special consent calendar. Seeing no microphones up. Secretary, please read the special consent calendar.

Senate Bill 374, 413, 421, 475, 595, 612, 617, 669, 706, 808, 883. Assembly concurrent resolution 90, 95, 103, 104, 105. Senate concurrent resolution 56, Senate resolution 40, Senate concurrent resolution 4, 11, 26, 83, 89, 90. Senate resolution 48, Senate concurrent resolution 91, Senate resolution 49.

Secretary, please call the roll.

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

That's a vote. 37-0 on file item 314, 37-0 on the remainder of the consent calendar. Thank you, members. We're going to go next to committee announcements. Senator Portantino, I think you have some announcement to make.

I was thinking of postponing the suspense hearing, but my colleagues have lobbied me to go forward. But yes, immediately upon, so we're 10:00 at 10:15 the Appropriations Committee will convene in Room 2200.

Thank you, Senator Portantino. 10:15 in Room 2200. Senate Appropriations Committee. Seeing no further committee announcements, we're going to move next back to resolutions and motions. This is the time for adjourned memories. I want to first recognize Senator Ochoa Bogh.

Thank you, Mr. President, members. It is with great sadness that I rise to adjourn in memory of Laura Ann Carleton, a resident of Cedar Glen community in my district. Laura, or Lauri, as she was affectionately known, was fatally shot by a man who made disparaging remarks about the Pride flag displayed at her clothing store, Magpie. When she opened Magpie, her clothing store in Cedar Glen two years ago, she hung a Pride flag at the entrance.

Lauri's commitment to inclusivity was exemplified by this simple yet profound act. It wasn't just a flag. It was a symbol of her unwavering support for the LGBTQ community. Whenever that flag was torn down, Lauri raised it once more, demonstrating her dedication to the values of love and equality. But tragically, these values would cost her dearly. Lauri, at the age of 66, was taken from us in a senseless act that has shaken the community to its core.

Lauri's life was marked by a remarkable achievements and unwavering dedication. She began her journey in the fashion industry as a teenager at her family's business, Fred Segal, in Los Angeles. After graduating from the Arts Center College of Design in Pasadena, she worked at Kenneth Cole for over 15 years as an executive. In 2013, she fulfilled her dream by opening Magpie on Ventura Boulevard in Studio City. This venture's success led her to open a second store in Cedar Glen in 2021.

Yet, Lauri's contributions extended far beyond the world of fashion. She was a passionate advocate for LGBTQ rights. Lauri was one of the largest donors to the Lake Arrowhead LGBTQ community and actively participated in their events, including the Pride Boat Parade. Inside Magpie, a dedicated section displayed rainbow collared products, and rainbow candles adorned the cash register. Her message was clear, love knows no bounds. Lauri's dream was to make Cedar Glen a more inclusive place. We find ourselves in a time marked by contention.

Too frequently, violence takes place of civil discourse and reasoned debate. The prevailing trend of vilifying those who hold deferring viewpoints is a perilous approach that can lead to tragic outcomes. Lauri will forever be remembered as a symbol of love, acceptance, and the unbreakable spirit of those who fight for equality, regardless the cost. In the face of adversity, let her legacy inspire us to find common ground and embrace the power of respectful dialogue and understanding in order to help foster a more perfect union.

Our children truly do deserve it. She survived by her husband of 28 years, Bort Carleton, and their nine beautiful children. I wish Lauri's family and friends peace and comfort during this time of deep sorrow.

On this item, recognize Senator Eggman.

Thank you very much, Mr. President and members. I also rise as the chair of the LGBT Caucus to also speak in memory of Lauri and to talk about the courage that she had for always trying to stand with her ally. She was not a member of our community, but she was an ally. And I'd like to just say, since I have been in the Legislature, we have had adjournment and memories of at least two mass shootings at LGBTQ venues.

We have had adjourns and memories for Jewish people, people going into their congregation and shooting. We have had adjourns and memories for African American churches where people have gone in and shot and killed people. And I guess I would like just to be able, on the record, to say rhetoric has consequences. Your silence has consequences. If people see others as less than them and as the enemy, it makes them less human.

And if people are less human, it is more easy to kill and to be violent and to vilify. If you stand silent for Pride resolutions, if you stand silent for people's equality in marrying and everything else, if you feed rhetoric about grooming, if you feed rhetoric about drag queens and banning books and all the ways that people have just released anger and hate, to vilify others and to create division, it has deadly consequences. Deadly consequences.

And I think when we talk about what it means to be an American, we talk about what it means to live in this country. Again, since I've been in Legislature, I've heard people make a lot of noise about you're taking our guns, you're taking our Bibles, you're taking our parental rights. Nobody's taking anything. Everybody is just trying to live and to be their full selves.

I wish, as we adjourn in memory to this brave woman who stood by us, who stood by our community out of love, that that's what we're all supposed to be standing here doing together, is standing together out of love. And often it is not the voices of those who scream and shoot, but is the silence of our friends who stand by quietly and do nothing about it. It's not enough. We must do more. And I ask that we adjourn in the memory of Lauri and make sure that we recommit to actually standing with our allies and standing for peace and love and the acceptance that all of us should enjoy.

On the adjournment motion. Senator from San Francisco, Senator Wiener is recognized.

Thank you, Mr. President. I also rise to ask that the Senate adjourn in memory of Lauri Carleton, who I did not know her, but everything I've seen and read about her indicates that she was an absolutely wonderful human being who was doing great things and an amazing member of the community.

And she was murdered in cold blood, and she died because she stood with the LGBTQ community and because she didn't back down when a violent bigot attempted to tear down a rainbow flag, a Pride flag, from her store. And I just need to say that this is not a situation, it's not a both sides situation. This is not a situation where everyone just needs to be nicer to each other. Of course, everyone should be nice to each other.

But this is a situation where a group of people from one political faction has systematically, strategically engaged in a brutal campaign of demonization of LGBTQ people. A deliberate, strategic campaign to demonize LGBTQ people, saying that we are, quote on quote, groomers and pedophiles, that we're trying to steal people's children and, quote on quote, trans them or make them gay, that schools are trying to steal kids and trick them, that we are trying to, quote on quote, mutilate children.

We have high ranking political officials, including running for President, doing things like passing a law that you're not allowed to even talk about LGBTQ people in school because it might somehow be harmful to children to learn about LGBTQ people, that there is something so wrong with LGBTQ people that even a child learning about our community is somehow harmful to that child. We have laws targeting children saying that they can't use the restroom or they can't play sports. Law after law after law.

And it's not just these laws. It's also the specific targeting of the Pride flag, of the rainbow flag. The specific targeting of that flag. What this individual did in walking into that store, tearing down the flag, and then shooting and killing Lauri Carleton because she objected. That wasn't random. The Pride flag has been so targeted as a way of targeting and demonizing our community.

In May, Governor DeSantis launched his presidential campaign at the Church of Jesse Newman, a pastor who recently referred to Pride flags as, quote, rainbow sex cult flags, end quote. Last June, the Texas Republican Party amended its platform to call homosexuality a, quote, abnormal lifestyle choice, and then stated, quote, it's time to reclaim the rainbow.

Fox News printed quote, however, some critics have taken issue with the New Progress Pride flag, with some even saying that, in their opinion, it appears to be a reference to a cult of pedophilia infecting many institutions and represents an unwanted takeover of traditional gay symbolism. Multiple Republican lawmakers in Washington, DC attacked President Biden for putting up the pride flag at the White House. Senator Roger Marshall called it a disgrace. The Orange County Board of Supervisors banned pride flags on county buildings in June of this year.

Supervisor Andrew Do said, today, flags in General have become symbols that invite controversy and division in our community. Chair Wagner forthrightly admitted that the Pride flag, quote, specifically was at the heart of Tuesday's vote, calling that banner divisive. Republicans in Congress have attempted to ban in statute the hanging of Pride flags on any government property or national monument, which would include the Stonewall Inn in New York City. I could go on and on and on, but I won't.

The Pride flag has been specifically targeted as part of this concerted attack on LGBTQ people to make us disappear. And it's happening even in this building. There was a bill introduced this year to mandate that teachers out LGBTQ kids to their parents, even if it's unsafe, even if that kid would become homeless or commit suicide as a result. And we now have three different potential ballot measures moving forward, targeting trans children and their families. Imagine that once again.

Didn't we learn from 1978, when they put a ballot measure on to ban gay teachers, or 2008, when they put a ballot measure on to ban marriage equality? That putting a community's civil rights on the ballot, putting up for a vote of whether a community has humanity or not is dangerous and absolutely instigates violence. That's what this is about. Lauri Carleton, rest in peace. We will not forget you, and we will fight for the values that you embodied.

Thank you, Senators. On the adjourn in memory, Senator Padilla.

Thank you very much, Mr. President. I also rise as a Member of the LGBTQ caucus to adjourn in the memory of Laura Ann Carleton. Clearly, all the stories we've heard about Laura tell us exactly the kind of woman that she was. Proud mother of nine children, community leader, someone who not only taught love and acceptance and equality, but lived that message as well.

She is exactly the kind of individual that we hope now and in the future make up our communities loving, thoughtful people looking for ways to give back. This was an ally. The LGBTQ community is close knit. We build bonds formed often from shared experiences, pain, hardship, and joy. We depend on one another to rise together. But it is always important to recognize the impact that allies like Laura have. It truly takes a community to make change.

And without members of that broader human family, the broader community, preaching love and respect as she did, the path toward equality in society and before the law, a very American value would be so much steeper. She was stolen from her family and her friends and her community in a senseless act of hate all over, displaying a flag. A flag that, in its own proud way, also represents that very American value of equality.

Laura's message of love and passion for people lives on in the lives that she touched and in the community that she uplifted. Mr. President and colleagues, for those reasons, I ask that the Senate adjourn in her memory.

Thank you, Senator Padilla. Senate extends their condolences to Laura Ann Carleton's family and friends. And if the Senator would bring her name forward so she can be properly memorialized in the Senate journal. Members, there is no other business before the Senate. Senator Atkins, the desk is clear.

Mr. President. Thanks so much, colleagues. Thank you. I think we know we have an extra day this weekend to go home and be in our communities and do the community work that we want to do. I just want to say, I know that our hardest days are ahead of us in the session. This next two weeks will be very busy and difficult. Yet again, we will get through it. We will do the work that we need to do for our constituents and for California.

I urge you to get the rest you need this weekend so that we come back prepared for this next two very full, very long weeks and give some thought about what it means to serve. Because this is the moment where we get to shine, be civil with each other, and do the work that we need to do for California.

And I know and believe very much in this body I believe very much in this body and the work that we do together, despite some of our differences of opinion or some of the comments that we feel compelled to make. So with that, I wish everyone a good Labor Day weekend, take a rest from labor. And with that, Mr. President, always enjoy your presiding. Our next session is scheduled for Tuesday, September 5th, 2023, at 2:00 P.M.

Thank you, Senator Atkins. The Senate will be in recess until all legislative business has been received. We will reconvene Tuesday, September 5th, 2023, at 2:00 P.M.