Assembly Floor

The Assembly is now in session. Assembly Member Lowenthal notices the absence of a quorum. Sergeant Arms will prepare the chamber and bring in the absent Members. The Clerk will call the role.

[Roll Call]

Members, a quorum is present. We ask our guests in the gallery and in the rear of chambers to please stand for today's prayer and pledge. Our day's prayer will be offered by Assemblymember Esmeralda Soria, Assembly Member Soria.

Father God, we thank you for the gift of life and blessings you've bestowed upon us. We thank you for all of our moms and mother figures who we celebrated yesterday. May they continue to remind us that we are loved today. I ask that you give us wisdom, discernment, and strength to make decisions that will help us meet the needs of the people we serve. Help us be open to listen to the different perspectives and bring us together to give hope to those that are afflicted. Lord, grant us grace and humility to lead today and tomorrow with love. Amen.

We ask that you remain standing for the nation's. Salute. Please join Assemblymember Gipson as he leads us in the pledge.

Thank you very much. Ready? Begins.

Thank you. You may be seated. Reading of the previous day's journal

Assembly Chamber Sacramento. On Thursday, April 132023 the Assembly met at 09:00 A.m.. The honorable Christopher M. Ward, speaker pro-tem, employee of the Assembly, presiding chief clerks who park at the desk. Reading Clerk David Ebon. Reading roll call. The following replaced tomorrow morning.

Roll call 74 [Roll Call]

Mr. Hart moves. Mr. Flora seconds that the reading of the previous day's journal be dispensed with presentations and petitions. There are none. Introductions and references of bills will be deferred. Reports of committees will be deemed read and amendments deemed adopted. Messages from the Governor there are none. Messages from the Senate there are none. Moving to motions and resolutions the absences for the day for legislative business Assembly Member Friedman and for illness, Assembly Member Waldron and Assistant Majority Leader Hart. You are recognized for your procedural motions.

I request unanimous consent to suspend Assembly Rule 45.5 to allow Assembly Members Gallagher, Vince, Fong and Baines to speak on an adjournment in memory today.

Without objection. Such shall be the order.

I request unanimous consent to suspend Assembly Rule 118 A to allow Assemblymember Bonta to have guests and photographers on the floor today.

Without objection. Such shall be the orders. We have a former Member of this body with us today. Would you please welcome back Assembly Member and Senate Minority Leader Gene Fuller back to the Assembly. All right, Members, we're going to move to business on the daily file second reading, the Clerk will read .

Assembly Bills 936 and 854.

All bills are being read. All amendments will be adopted. Next, we'll be taking up file item three by Assemblymember Ramos.

The Clerk will read.

Assembly Bill 341 by Assemblymember Ramos and others, an accolade to gambling.

And Assembly Member Ramos, you may open for purposes of concurrence on Senate amendments.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This Bill is back on concurrence that moved out of this floor on a 68 to one vote. Minor amendments were taken in the Senate that changed from tables to fewer than 20. That was the minor amendment. I ask for your aye vote.

Thank you, Mr. Ramos. Seeing no other Members wishing to discuss this Bill, Clerk will open the roll. All those vote who desire to vote. All those vote who desire to vote. All those vote who desire to vote.

Clerk will close the roll. Tally the votes. Ayes 57, nos one. Senate amendments are concurred in. Next, we will take up on Senate third reading by Ms. Addis. This is file item 116, SJR one.

Clerk will read.

Senate Joint Resolution One by Senator Cortese and others relative to Social Security Act benefits.

And Assemblywoman Addis, you may open on the resolution.

Thank you, Members. Today I'm here to present Senate Joint Resolution one authored by Senator Cortese. This important resolution urges Congress to pass and the President to sign the repeal of the government pension offset and the windfall elimination provision, which are two penalties applied to earned Social Security benefits. Many of California's public servants are unfairly penalized by Social Security offsets that reduce or eliminate their earned Social Security benefits or spousal benefits.

These unjust penalties harm some of California's most essential workers: public school educators, firefighters, police and many other dedicated public servants, professions and positions that are already short staffed. Similarly, these penalties affect their spouses, widows, and widowers, often forcing them into significant financial hardship and poverty. These problems hinder California's ability to attract workers to these jobs, including teachers from the private industry who can bring their skills and knowledge to California's classrooms and second careers.

The California Legislature and numerous members of the California Congressional Caucus have consistently requested that Congress repeal these offsets with bipartisan support. The California Retired Teachers Association, the California State Teachers Retirement System, CTA. AFSME, the California Professional Firefighters, the California Association of Highway Patrolmen, and many more support SJR one. So, thank you Chair, and I respectfully ask for your aye vote.

Thank you, Ms. Addis. And seeing no other Members wishing to discuss the resolution, Clerk will open the roll. All those vote who desire to vote. All those vote who desire to vote. All those vote who desire to vote.

Clerk will close the roll. Tally the votes. Ayes 64, nos zero. The resolution is adopted. We are back on file. Next by Mr. Haney. This is file item seven, AB 816.

Clerk will read.

Assembly Bill 816 by Assembly Member Haney, an act relating to minors.

And Assembly Member Haney, you may open on the bill.

Mr. Speaker and Members, I know that all of us, regardless of what part of the state we come from, what side of the aisle we are on, are deeply concerned about the fentanyl epidemic. This is an epidemic that is ravaging our state. It's now taking the lives of over 6,000 people each year. It's also an epidemic that tragically is impacting our children. Right now in California, one in five deaths of children are from overdoses.

This is a number of deaths that has increased by 200%, doubled, in just the last two years alone. We should be able to find common ground to make it a lot harder to access fentanyl and a lot easier to access treatment. Right now there is a treatment for opioid addiction that can save lives. This is a treatment that reduces the likelihood of overdose deaths by over half. It's a treatment, medication assisted treatment, that replaces the physical withdrawal symptoms associated with opioids and saves lives.

It's a treatment that is safe to use. It includes Naloxone, means it's not something that you can overdose from. But sadly and tragically, right now, far too few people who are addicted to opioids have access to it. Over 80% of people who are addicted to opioids are not enrolled in medication assisted treatment. It's even worse for our young people. Right now, in order to enroll in buprenorphine or medication assisted treatment, you're authorized to do so if you're 16 or 17 years old.

And the large majority of 16 and 17 year olds who want to get on this treatment, do the right thing and get off of deadly drugs, will talk to their parents about it. But sadly, some of the most vulnerable teenagers are not able to have that conversation with their parents. Some are homeless. Some have parents themselves who are addicted. Some may actually be at fear that they will be kicked out of their home or have violence if they do talk to their parents about this.

We should not be turning away these teenagers from getting the help they need that can save their lives. This is about ensuring that teenagers who are at risk of overdose, who are addicted to the most deadly drug in our state, can get help, that they can help themselves and not hurt themselves.

And so this bill would do something very similar, which is that this FDA approved drug that is safe under the supervision of a physician, that a 16 and 17 year old can enroll in that treatment without consent. Most will have that conversation. Those who don't are often the most vulnerable. This bill has the support of our physicians. It's sponsored by our state's pediatricians. It's received no no votes in Committee.

And we have a lot that we have to do to confront the fentanyl and opioid epidemic in our state. A lot of solutions that we have to pursue. Getting more people into treatment should be common ground. And I hope that we can all support this bill to save lives. Today, I respectfully ask for your aye vote.

Thank you, Mr. Haney. And seeing no other Members wishing to discuss the bill, Clerk will open the roll. All those vote who desire to vote. All those vote who desire to vote. All those vote who desire to vote. Clerk will close the roll. Tally the votes. Ayes 54, noes zero. Bill is passed. We will next take up file item two, AB 854 by Mr. Ramos. For purpose of amendments. Clerk will read.

Assembly Bill 854 with amendments by Assembly Member Ramos.

Assemblymember Ramos, you may open on the amendments.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I rise to present amendments for AB 854, which is a tribal gaming compact between the nation of Redding Rancheria and the State of California. AB 854. And we're putting amendments to add an urgency clause. I ask for your aye vote.

Thank you, Mr. Ramos. Seeing no other members wishing to speak on the amendments, without objection, we'll take a voice vote on the amendments. All those in favor say aye. All those opposed say nay. The ayes have it. Amendments are adopted. The bill is out to print and back on file. Next by Mr. Jones-Sawyer. This is file item eight, AB 852. Clerk will read.

Assembly Bill 852 by Assemblymember Jones-Sawyer. An act relating to crimes.

Assemblymember Jones-Sawyer, you may open on the bill.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise to present AB 852, a legislative vehicle that would codify necessary changes in law as recommended by the California reparations task force this June. Last year, the task force released its interim report and is scheduled to publish its final report next month. In the initial report, the task force studied all aspects of government, including specifically the unjust legal system.

In preparation for the final report, AB 852 declares the Legislature's intent to correct the racial bias within our criminal justice system and requires courts to consider disparate impact on historically disenfranchised populations when imposing sentences. AB 852 is a work in progress and will be updated to instead codify necessary changes in law as recommended by the task force. This bill will come back for final approval by this body. AB 852 has received no no votes and no registered opposition. Thank you, and I respectfully ask for your aye vote.

Thank you, Mr. Jones-Sawyer. And seeing no, Mr. Essayli, you're recognized on the bill.

Yes, Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to this bill. I think this bill does what we've never done as a government, and that's consider people's race in government actions. I think justice is blind. As a former prosecutor, we made a strong effort to proceed accordingly to the facts of the case and the merits of the case. We've never considered people's race in the criminal justice system. We consider conduct. Lady Justice is blind.

Asking her to take off the blindfold to look at someone's race, I think is wrong, and I believe it's unconstitutional. And I just want to say, growing up, listening to Dr. King's speech asking us to be a colorblind society, I think is the right way to go. He wanted his kids to be judged by the content of their character and not the color of their skin. I do not believe skin color should be considered in sentencing. So I will oppose this, and I'll ask this body to reject injecting race considerations into sentencing. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Essayli. There are no other members wishing to discuss or debate the bill. Mr. Jones-Sawyer, anything further to close?

Thank you. And if you have an opportunity to read the interim report, you will read that it has nothing to do with race. It's based on the injustices of enslaved people and the wrongs that were foisted on African Americans in this country. We knew we could not bring forth a Prop 209 type of bill.

This had nothing to do with race, has everything to do with what chattel slavery has imposed upon African Americans over the last 400 years, and the impacts that California has foisted in policies, procedures, and other principles in this country. And most important, in California. How do we reverse that so that we do become what we're talking about, Lady Justice? Make it equal for all, not unequal for some. I respectfully ask for your aye vote.

Thank you, Mr. Jones-Sawyer. Clerk will open the roll. All those vote who desire to vote. All those vote who desire to vote. All those vote who desire to vote. Clerk will close the roll. Tally the votes. Ayes 54, noes 11. Bill is passed. Next again, Mr. Jones-Sawyer. This is file item 11, AB 1486. Clerk will read.

Assembly Bill 1486 by Assemblymember Jones-Sawyer. An act relating to law enforcement agencies.

Assemblymember Jones-Sawyer, you may open.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise to present AB 1486, which will ensure that law enforcement agencies comply with existing reporting requirements and transparency laws when purchasing assault weapons through surplus military programs. In 2021, the Legislature approved AB 481, establishing specific procedures for law enforcement agencies to follow when acquiring and using military equipment. That Bill now in statute made an exception to its reporting requirements for standard issue service weapons without defining those weapons.

AB 1486 clarifies that assault weapons cannot be considered standard issue service weapons and must be subject to the same local government approval process as other surplus military equipment. To be clear, AB 1486 does not prevent the purchase of any weapon. It only requires approval from the local elected body and reporting on weapons use as was intended by AB 481.

By defining standard issue service weapons, AB 1486 will preserve the intent of AB 481, improve law enforcement, accountability, transparency and compliance with existing the law. I respectfully ask for your aye vote.

Thank you, Mr. Jones. Sawyer. And seeing no Members wishing to discuss or debate the Bill, Clerk will open the roll. All those vote who desire to vote all those vote who desire to vote all those vote who desire to vote. Clerk will close.

Clerk will close the roll, tally the votes. Aye's 41, No's 16. Bill is passed. Members, we have some guests with us today. Ms. Quirk-Silva, I'll turn it to you to introduce guests joining us in the Assembly today.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker and Members, it is my great pleasure this afternoon to extend a warm welcome to the participants of the prestigious 2023 California Poetry Out Loud competition, who are present here in the gallery up there, if you want to stand up. We are honored to have in our midst 21 of the 58 county champions, including the remarkable state champion Alex Yue from Sacramento County. Alex competed in the national Poetry Out Loud competition just last week and was a semifinalist.

Accompanying this group is California Poet Laureate Lee Herrick, appointed by Governor Newsom in 2022, who I'm honored to welcome as well. The California Poetry Out Loud program, initiated in 2005 by the California Arts Council, has opened doors to participation for high school students statewide. Our state's competition is the largest event of its kind in the United States and has grown steadily since its inception.

Poetry Out Loud is an inspiring initiative by the National Endowment for the Arts, encourages high school students to explore the world of poetry through memorization, performance and friendly competition. Participants master public speaking skills, build self confidence, and learn about literary history and contemporary life. The Poetry Out Loud program has the goal of kindling the boundless potential of students through the captivating power of poetry. This art form serves as an invaluable medium for empowering students to raise their voices and express themselves.

Members, please join me once again in welcoming this amazing group of talented students.

Thank you, Ms. Quirk-Silva. And welcome to the California State Assembly. And Members, we just have two birthdays to announce today. We wish to wish a happy birthday to Assemblymember Wallis. And coming up this Wednesday, May 17, let's wish an early happy birthday to Assemblymember Arambula. And we'll be back on file. This is file item 16, AB 812. Clerk will read.

Assembly Bill 812 by Assemblymember Boerner and others, an act relating to housing.

And Assemblywoman Boerner, you may open on the Bill.

Good afternoon, Mr. Speaker and Members. I rise to present AB 812, which would allow a city, a county, or a city and county to set aside up to 10% of very low or moderate income, deed-restricted housing within a state or locally designated cultural district for artists. Artists are the lifeblood of our cultural communities and help preserve the cultural footprint of these regions.

Last fall, I toured a number of cultural districts throughout the state, and every single one was struggling with housing and how to keep their artists that made the cultural district what it is in the area. And so they asked us to solve this part of their problem, and so we came back, and this is what AB 812 is. Many instincts and counties don't think they have the authority to set aside deed restricted housing units for artists in cultural districts.

AB 812 would provide local governments the flexibility necessary to set aside affordable units for low income artists to help prevent further displacement of artists that is occurring in cultural districts across the state. This Bill has no opposition. I respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Thank you, Ms. Boerner. And seeing no other Members wishing to discuss the Bill, Clerk will open the roll. All those vote who desire to vote, all those vote who desire to vote, all those vote who desire to vote. Clerk will close the roll. Tally the votes. Aye's 58, No's five. Bill is passed. Next by Mr. Bryan. This is file item 22, AB 819. Clerk will read.

Assembly Bill 819 by Assembly Bryan and act relating to crimes.

And Assemblymember Bryan, you may open on the Bill.

Thank you. Mr. Speaker and colleagues arise to present AB 819. Currently, right now, if you evade the fare of public transportation, at its most extreme, you can be hit with a $400 ticket or 90 days incarcerated in the county jail. You can also be hit with a $400 ticket and the 90 days in jail, it's selective. The problem is, who's selected for that 90 days of incarceration? You can imagine. Also, for the cost of that 90 days of incarceration, you could have just bought that poor person a Metro pass in LA for 37 years. It's government inefficient. It's wasteful. When you can't afford your parking meter, you just get another ticket. We are treating public transit riders different than we are treating drivers. This Bill brings us back to parity. I respectfully ask for your aye vote.

Thank you, Assembly Member Bryan. And Assembly Member Lackey, you are recognized on the Bill.

Is my mic on? Yes. Thank you. It's with great respect that I stand before you as a person who just took public transportation recently to attend a play, and I took my wife with me. And I'm telling you, folks, public transportation is dangerous. And when we pass bills that enable those who pose threats, and I'm sympathetic to those who are having difficulty, but to what extreme? Who are we protecting here? I think it's very, very important that we be measured in the way that we apply our public policy. Because I could tell you that my last experience on public transportation, I felt very threatened. And there's also public health issues. And when you have somebody that's a repeat offender like this, they truly do need services, but they also need not to be enabled and to be pacified in a way that I believe that this Bill encourages. So I respectfully cannot stand in support of this measure, and I hope you'll vote no.

Thank you, Mr. Lackey. And Assembly Member Hoover, you're recognized on the Bill.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. With respect to my colleague, I just wanted to rise in support of this Bill today. I absolutely agree with my colleague that enforcement is critical and we need to continue to have enforcement. As a lifelong transit writer, when our county increased enforcement on our trains and on our buses, we saw a decrease in crime. We saw a decrease in trouble and an increase in ridership. And so that is absolutely critical, and I could not agree more. However, I think this Bill is a reasonable one. This is an infraction. There is still a consequence here. I think having a misdemeanor on a penalty like this is overkill. And so I strongly would encourage a support on this legislation.

Thank you, Mr. Hoover and leader Gallagher, you're recognized on the Bill.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker and Members, talking to the author about this Bill, and I think the intent is a good one, as my colleague just mentioned. But, look, there's been many articles written recently, some great articles actually, from calm matters, San Francisco chronicle talking about mass transit. And it is a major problem that people are not riding because there is criminal vagrancy going on on mass transit. There's open drug use going on, and it has definitely decreased ridership. So as we're thinking about this policy and then, look, people are asking taxpayers now to bail out those mass transit systems. And that's a debate and a discussion that we're going to have in the budget and in other policy discussions here. But we need to find the right balance here, because if you want to encourage people to ride mass transit, then you're going to have to do something about the problems that are going on therein. And our policy should be thinking about how we ensure that there is enforcement. There is enforcement against criminal vagrancy, against crimes that are being committed on mass transit, against open drug use that is going to discourage people from using mass transit. And unless we get those things figured out, it doesn't matter how much money you bail out a mass transit system, people are not going to want to use it. So there does need to be a balance. And it's something I think we should be thinking about as we discuss these different policies dealing with mass transit and ridership and quite frankly, getting on top of the crime wave that we are experiencing in California.

Thank you, Mr. Gallagher and assemblywoman Bonta, you're recognized on the Bill.

Members, I rise in support of AB 819. I totally agree with my colleague from Paradise that it makes sense for us to be able to dedicate our law enforcement efforts to ensure that people have the ability to ride without having to face issues related to crimes, a crime of having drugs, of using drugs, of drug transactions. Absolutely. The ability to be able to have safety be something that is considered highly on our public transit system is one of the reasons why we have low ridership that is very distinct from actually the toll evasion that we are talking here now. So I believe that if we actually don't criminalize the toll evasion to the extent that we need to, in this very reasonable day way, we will actually have our law enforcement people be able to do what they can do and create greater public safety on our transit system. With that, I respectfully request your aye vote.

Thank you, Ms. Bonta. And seeing no other Members wishing to be recognized on the Bill, Mr. Brian, you may close.

Thank you. I want to thank my colleagues for this bipartisan support and debate. Right now, we're asking our transportation infrastructure to bear the weight of other system failures. A lack of affordable housing, schools that are underfunded with kids not returning, a public health pandemic that changed culture in terms of how we move around or whether we move around at all. We know that the average rider of public transit is significantly less better off financially than the average person who owns and drives a car. Which is why fair evasion exists at all, because poor people ride public transportation. This doesn't change accountability. There is still a civic and fracture. It removes a criminality element that is disproportionately applied only to specific kinds of writers, and it's cost ineffective. You want to talk about resource allocation and bailing out infrastructure, I promise you this is one of those measures that costs us more than we get back for it. If I can't afford my fare and you incarcerate me for 90 days, you could have just bought me a metro pass for 37 years. I'm not even 37 years old. That's how long you could have kept somebody riding. I respectfully ask for your aye vote.

Thank you, Mr. Brian. Clerk will open the roll. All those vote who desire to vote. All those vote who desire to vote. All those vote who desire to vote. Clerk will close the roll. Tally the votes. Ayes 57, noes 11. Bill is passed. Next by Ms. Wicks. This is file item 24, AB 1021. Clerk will read.

Assembly Bill 1021 by Assembly Member Wicks and others an act relating to controlled substances.

Assembly Member Wicks, you may open.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Members, AB 1021 eliminates confusion for prescribers and pharmacists in California and prevents a gap in access to potentially life saving legal medications. Upon FDA approval and subsequent DEA rescheduling, California medical professionals acting under all applicable law and regulations of the state would be authorized to prescribe legal medications approved by the Federal Government. This Bill had bipartisan support in Policy Committee and is supported by Kaiser Permanente and the California Medical Association. It has no opposition on file. Respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Thank you, Ms. Wicks. And seeing no Members wishing to discuss this Bill, Clerk will open the roll. All those vote who desire to vote. All those vote who desire to vote. All those vote who desire to vote. Clerk will close the roll. Tally the votes. Aye's 63, No's one. Bill is passed. Next to file item 27 for purpose of amendments, AB 706. Clerk will read.

Assembly Bill 706 with amendments by Assemblymember Luz Rivas.

And Assemblywoman Rivas, you may open on the amendments.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. These amendments that are presented today are technical in nature. They delete two obsolete provisions related to marking lands subject to a prospecting permit and make minor conforming changes. Thank you. And I respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Thank you, Ms. Rivas. Seeing no Members wishing to discuss the amendments. Without objection, we'll take a voice vote on the amendments. All those in favor say aye. All those opposed say nay. Ayes have it. Amendments are adopted. The Bill is out to print and back on file. Next, by Mr. Hart. This is file item 33, AB 557.

Clerk will read.

Assembly Bill 557 by Assembly Member Hart and others, an act relating to local government.

And Mr. Hart, you may open on the bill.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm pleased to present AB 557, a measure to continue giving local governments the flexibility to teleconference during state of emergencies. The COVID-19 pandemic and recent storms have underscored the ongoing need to provide local agencies with the ability to meet remotely. This bill will simply remove the sunset on existing law to continue giving local governments the option to teleconference during emergencies declared by the Governor.

AB 557 will ensure our local elected bodies can do the essential work they were elected to do without jeopardizing their health and safety. The bill has had bipartisan support and no opposition. I respectfully urge an aye vote on this measure.

Thank you, Mr. Hart. And seeing no members wishing to be recognized on the bill, Clerk will open the roll. All those vote who desire to vote. All those vote who desire to vote. All those vote who desire to vote, Clerk will close the roll. Tally the votes. Ayes 71, no zero. The bill is passed. Next, this is file item 35, AB 1034.

AB 1034, Clerk will read.

Assembly Bill 1034 by Assembly Member Wilson and others, an act relating to law enforcement.

And Assemblywoman Wilson, you may open on your bill.

Mr. Speaker. Good afternoon, Members. I am pleased to present AB 1034, the Freedom From Face Surveillance Act. This would prohibit a law enforcement agency or officer from installing, activating, or using any biometric surveillance system in connection with an officer camera or data collected by an officer for three years. Police body cameras were intended to guard against police misconduct, not to grant police officers the power to identify and track us whenever we're in public.

Adding face recognition technology to body cameras would transform a device meant for accountability into a powerful mass surveillance network that would exacerbate racial profiling and erode our civil rights. From 2020 to 2023, a California law prohibited law enforcement from using biometric surveillance systems in connection with an officer camera, thereby protecting people going about their daily lives, upholding the constitutional guarantees of freedom of speech, of movement, and of preventing misidentification. Unfortunately, these important protections expired at the beginning of this year on January 1, 2023.

We need to do all that we can to avoid worsening racial disparities in policing, repressing freedoms of speech, undermining the right to protest, and violating our privacy. With that, I thank you, Members, and I respectfully ask for your aye vote.

Thank you, Ms. Wilson. And seeing no Members wishing to be recognized on the bill, Clerk will open the roll. All those vote who desire to vote. All those vote who desire to vote. All those vote who desire to vote. Clerk will close the roll. Tally the votes. Ayes 41, noes 16. The bill is passed. Next by Mr. Gipson. This is file item 36, AJR 5.

The Clerk will read.

Assembly Joint Resolution 5 by Assembly Member Gipson and others, relative to the expulsion of the Tennessee state representatives.

Assembly Member Gipson, you may open on the resolution.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker and Members. Thank you for allowing me to present AJR Five, which seeks to denounce the inexcusable action of the Tennessee Legislature from expelling Representative Justin Pearson and Representative Justin Jones. The resolution already have a number of co-authors. I want to say thank you very much to Members not only on this floor, but also in the State Senate. Even though that these representatives have been reinstated, they were reinstated not by the Tennessee Legislature. Let me say that again.

They were not reinstated by the Tennessee Legislature. They was reinstated by the city and the county who intervened. The fact that this occurred is a threat to democracy, not only in Tennessee, but across this nation. I would like to thank Representative Jones for being here in California, in our House. I want to thank him for coming back home. You see? He's from Oakland, California. And so what do we do? We surround our family. We support our family members.

And I'm grateful that he is here on our floor, in this House, because we support our democracy in this state. In addition, we all know what took place that led the situation taking place on March the 27th, March 27th, you remember. I stood on this floor and I called out three children's names as well as three adults who were involved in a mass shooting in Tennessee. We will never forget. More than 1000 peaceful protesters rallied around the Tennessee State Capitol.

But on March 3rd, 2023, they called for stricter gun laws, the same thing that we advocate for in California. Their constituency empowered them to go to the State Legislature and advocate on their behalf. And what happened? Representative Jones, Representative Pearson and Representative Johnson were threatened, threatened by being expelled from the House of Representatives that the people, that the people voted for them to go to and represent their constituency, their community.

On an April the 6th, 2023, democracy was violated. Have any of you ever been violated? Well, that's what happened in the Tennessee Legislature. They were raped. Not the same rape that we see men and women facing violence, but they were stripped of their constitutional rights. They were stripped as being an elected official in that house by the State Legislature, by the majority party. Pearson and Jones. Two African American men were expelled.

One of their colleagues was not expelled, even though that Representative Johnson herself acknowledged that it might have been due to the color of their skin, is the reason why they were expelled in the Tennessee Legislature. I wish to draw to everyone's attention to this undemocratic issue to help prevent this practice from catching like wildfires throughout this country. California is positioned because we have been on the front line of change when it comes down to gun violence in America.

We have stood on the front line to raising red flag laws, passing legislation on sensible background checks. That's the work that we have done. And we cannot remain silent on the things that matter. And let me tell you, even though they're thousands of miles away, California matters, and they matter. We cannot have our democracy eroded.

30 seconds.

Okay. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. fought for our civil rights, as well as Thurgood Marshall and Rosa Parks. Members, let me simply say this as I close. California is positioned to allow and stand up to making sure that other states follow in our footsteps. We will stand up for the voiceless. We will stand up for the disenfranchised. We will stand up because we've been empowered to do that work. And I respectfully ask for a strong aye vote on AJR five.

Thank you, Mr. Gipson. Dr. Jackson, you are recognized.

Thank you very much, Members. I want to thank the Member from Carson for bringing up this resolution. I stand in solidarity with those who were expelled. What's most important, I think about this occurrence that we should learn from and something that which this body should never fall prey to, and that is the lack of moral compass or the dysfunction of a moral compass that legislative bodies throughout this nation are falling prey to. These Members were expelled fighting for gun safety.

At the same time, what's more importantly is what Members have done in the Tennessee body but were not expelled for. There are Members of the Tennessee body who have been admitted child molesters, were not expelled. Members who actually urinated on each other's office chairs but were not expelled. Members who have illegally prescribed drugs to other family members' and mistresses' and were not expelled. Members, we have to be careful when we do things like this to each other.

And the message that it sends that even though many Members have actually done things that in many people's judgment should have been expelled, we cannot fall prey to trying to teach each other lessons, trying to do power moves in a house of democracy. And so it's our hope that as Members of Tennessee have been reinstated, that we no longer see these things happen again. Although we continue to see these happen in other state houses throughout the nation.

No matter how heated conversations get, no matter how much we disagree, may we not fall prey to the things that we are seeing throughout the nation. Let the California Legislature stand up for something bigger than ourselves. I respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Thank you, Dr. Jackson. Assemblymember Ramos, you're recognized.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I rise today on behalf of the California Native American Caucus of the State of California, to stand up, to stand in solidarity where we shouldn't use democracy to drown out a voice. A voice should not be drowned out of those that have been oppressed. A voice of an elected leader whose constituents voted them in should not be drowned out.

We share a common thread within the Native American community that has been left out of conversations that have built this nation and this state. But we're here today to let people know that that voice is not silent anymore, that we come together and stand in solidarity to ensure that our voices are being heard. Being heard today, the State of California comes together to say no more should voices be left out.

We need to stand together and let all voices of diversity be heard in debates moving forward in our nation and in the State of California. I urge your aye vote for AJR 5.

Thank you, Assemblymember Ramos. Assemblymember Bryan, you're recognized.

Thank you. I stand in support of AJR 5, and I want to thank my colleague from Carson, Compton, Willowbrook, for bringing this forward. There's a lot of fair things you can do in a legislative body. You can vote no. You can whip against an idea you don't like. You can poorly cite Dr. King to undo work that is about racial justice and equity. That is all fair.

What you can't do is expel duly appointed Members of a body who are fighting for change, fighting for justice, fighting for opportunity, fighting against a massacre that happened in their state, in districts they represent. That's wrong. And the way we address that being wrong here in California is recognizing that what happens in Tennessee happens to all of us. Every state has to condemn those actions. Now it's California's turn to show that solidarity isn't just a word, it's an action. And I respectfully ask your aye vote.

Thank you, Assemblymember Bryan. Assemblymember Cervantes, you are recognized.

Thank you, Madam Speaker and Members. Today I rise as a proud joint author of AJR 5 and thank our colleague from Carson for bringing this vital resolution onto this Assembly floor. I also rise as chair of the California Latino Legislative Caucus. Members, what happened to the Tennessee Three is not only concerning in its own right, but it's also a system of a greater sickness.

The two black legislators, Justice Jones and Justice Pearson, who were expelled from the Tennessee House of Representatives, did nothing more than peacefully protest in solidarity with their constituents in favor of common sense gun safety laws. The resulting vote to expel two black legislators and a narrow vote against expelling a white Legislator for the same actions is a manifestation of an anti-Democratic ideology and systemic racism plaguing the Tennessee Republican Party.

Unfortunately, the GOP seems more concerned with the exercise of power and imposing its moral imperative on the rest of the country at any cost, even if it means undermining our country's bedrock principles of both free and fair elections and representative government. The Latino Caucus stands strongly in solidarity with the Members of the Tennessee Three and with the Black Caucus and many diversity caucuses against the blatant attacks on our democracy.

We are grateful that the Representatives Jones and Pearson have since been reinstated to the Tennessee House of Representatives and that their constituents continue to have a voice to uplift and amplify their voices. Nonetheless, this incident is a reminder of how vigilant we must remain in safeguarding our democracy, even if only one of the two political parties is truly dedicated to doing so. And with that, colleagues are respectfully asked for an aye vote on AJR Five.

Thank you, Assemblymember Cervantes. Assemblymember Low, you are recognized.

Thank you very much, Madam Speaker and colleagues. I also thank our colleagues for allowing us an opportunity to recognize, in this month of May Asian Pacific Islander Heritage Month and Representative Jones identifying as Filipino, and a proud member of the Asian Pacific Islander community, that we also will lend our voice on helping to ensure the integrity of our democracy and also not subscribe to this model minority myth and help to ensure that we lend our voice in this effort. And I respectfully ask for aye vote.

Thank you, Assemblymember Low. Leader Gallagher, you are recognized.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker and Members. I rise as a Republican to denounce the expulsion of Representative Jones and his colleagues from the Legislature because I believe that all of us, when we are elected to the legislative body, have the right to come and bring our ideas, to bring our input to passionately fight for the things that we believe in.

But it will probably not surprise you that I also rise, because the lecturing that I'm hearing from some of my Members in this body falls a little flat when you continue to allow bills not to even get a hearing in your committees. Important bills, life saving bills, crisis situations where you've denied my right and my colleagues right to have a hearing, to have people testify to allow democracy to happen in this building. And it's no small thing. My colleague incorrectly said that I'm from paradise.

I'm not from paradise, but I represent paradise. That was incinerated by a wildfire. I lost 85 members of my community, and I brought legislation because we needed to get better on top of this issue. We need to get into our forest. We need to do something about wildfire prevention. And I was denied a hearing, not just then, but then again this year denied a hearing where my constituents and stakeholders that care about this issue didn't get to come in and talk. That's not democracy.

Let's bring it home to today. 110 people a week are dying from fentanyl in this state, and yet you continue to not hear bills, proposals that we brought forward, that Republicans brought forth. We have ideas, too. So when you tell me, 'oh, we want all the ideas and we want to make sure that everybody has input'. No, you don't. And you haven't shown it by your actions. So don't get up here and preach to me about democracy and talk about other states.

The message of Representative Jones is not just for Tennessee. It's for you. It's for everybody in this room. He's in the super minority in Tennessee. He's trying to get his ideas heard. He's passionate about them. I am too. I'm about ready to get a megaphone and come onto this floor when it comes to these crisis issues like wildfire and fentanyl and kids dying every week right now as we speak and not seeing the urgency that I think is needing.

That's not really my style, but I guess I can expect if I do, I hope that you guys live up to your preaching. If I break decorum, I hope you live up to your preaching to me. Bottom line is, if we want to ensure democracy, then we better do it right here at home, and we better allow hearings on bills. Everybody is an elected Member of this body.

They have a right to have their Bill heard, to speak on this floor, to have a chance to convince people of the rightness of their position. And we're not doing that under the current rules. So do a little soul searching first before you make this into a day to pander. Do a little soul searching about what's going on right here in this body, and let's make sure that we have real democracy and real representation in our own house. Thank you, Members.

Thank you, Leader Gallagher. Seeing and hearing Mr. Bennett, you're recognized.

I appreciate this debate today. But I think we can all agree that the one thing that should unify all of us is the fact that democracy is under threat. And the most fundamental aspect of democracy is making sure that the representative who is elected by the people actually gets to sit in their seat and do exactly what Mr. Gallagher just did, raise his voice passionately and speak.

And so I hope everybody will support this motion and at the same time, listen carefully to each one of us talking, because that's democracy. But we should all be unified on that fundamental point that we should not expel people simply because they passionately raise their voice. They passionately speak on something. Thank you very much.

Thank you, Assemblymember Bennett. Seeing and hearing no others wishing to speak. Assemblymember Gipson, would you like to close and would you like the first roll to be open for co-authors?

Yes, I would like to have the first roll to be open for co-authors, as well as I want to thank my colleagues for raising their microphone and speaking in support of AJR 5, as well as those who spoke about democracy. Certainly in this body, we want to make sure that we protect the democracy in the State of California and rising up and standing up for when things doesn't take place.

We don't want to be found guilty of the things that matter because silence is a form of betrayal. And so I want to thank each and every one of you for standing up and showing your support. I ask for a strong aye vote for AJR five.

Thank you, Assemblymember Gipson. The Clerk will open the roll. All those who desire to vote, vote. This is for co-authors. All those who desire to vote, vote. All those who desire to vote, vote. Once again, this is for co-authors. The Clerk will close the roll. There are 56 co-authors. Without objection, we will take a voice vote on- Oh, I'm sorry. The Clerk will open the roll. The Clerk will close the roll. Aye's 60. No's zero. The resolution is adopted.

Moving on to item 37, AB 36- Mr. Gipson, you are recognized for your guest introduction.

Thank you very much. Madam Speaker and Members, I rise to recognize, if they can please stand, Moms Demand Action as well as the Brady campaign, who is in a gallery. Both Moms Demand Action and the Brady plays a critical role in attacking gun violence across America by spearheading and also advocating on behalf of public for public safety and safe communities.

In light of AJR 5 being presented today on the floor, Moms Demand Action and the Brady Campaign are here in support, drawing to attention the fact that Representative Jones is here with us today on the floor, fighting for stricter gun laws, gun safety, gun control. Members, can you please help me welcome Moms Demand Action and the Brady Campaign.

Member Bonta, you are recognized for your guest introduction in conjunction to AJR 5.

Thank you, Madam Speaker and Members. I am so proud to be able to welcome a son of Oakland, Tennessee House of Representatives Justin Jones. On April 6, Mr. Jones was one of two black legislators expelled from the House of Representatives for his participation in a peaceful protest after six people were brutally gunned down at an elementary school. The dead include three 9 year old children.

The decision to expel Mr. Jones was entirely political and a tragic example of how much more we value guns over people. Yet days later, the people chose to put Mr. Jones back in the Legislature because his voice matters. His voice is valued, and his voice is needed. Mr. Jones is using his experience to continue to advocate for sensible gun reform actions and the need to move beyond divisive political discourse. His advocacy is making a difference.

It is making a difference, in fact, even here on this green carpet, there is now positive chatter about enacting red flag laws in the State of Tennessee. Representative Jones, California stands with you in preserving our democracy and speaking out against gun violence. We invite Members of the Legislature to meet Mr. Jones at 01:00 p.m. In the Willie Brown room or as soon as we can. Staff are also invited later on. Please welcome Mr. Jones.

Next, we will take file item number 37, AB 361. The Clerk will read.

The Clerk will read Assembly Bill 361 by Assembly Member Ward, an act relating to vehicles.

Mr. Ward, you may open on your Bill.

Members, going back to file item 37, AB 61. Mr. Ward, you are recognized at majority leaders. The clerk will read.

Assembly Bill 361 by Assembly Member, Ward an act relating to vehicles.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. AB 361 establishes an optional pilot program to allow cities to more efficient site cars parked in bike lanes. As city centers become more congested with vehicle traffic and parking, using a bicycle for transportation has become a more viable and convenient option for urban downtown travel. Therefore, significant investments have been made by city leaders to improve bike infrastructure. However, a common problem in city centers is the cars parking in bike lanes. This blocks travel for bicycles and often forces them to swerve into car lane traffic or to ride on the sidewalks. And this problem deters users from utilizing these bike lanes. Due to safety concerns, AB 361 would permit tickets to be issued using front facing cameras paired with image processing technology that is already available for city parking, enforcement vehicles. This program seeks to ensure that bike lanes are safe and functioning pieces of our transportation infrastructure. There is no opposition on file and I respectfully ask for your aye vote.

Seeing no others wishing to speak on this item, the Clerk will open the roll. All those who vote desire to vote. All those vote who desire to vote. All those votes who desire to vote, vote. All those vote who desire to vote, vote. The Clerk will close the roll. Ayes 55, noes zero. The Bill is, noes nine. The Bill is passed.

Next by Dr. Wood. This is file item 38, AB 1256. Clerk will read.

Assembly Bill 1256 by Assembly Member Wood, an act relating to taxation.

Assembly Member Wood, you may open on the Bill.

Thank you, Mr. Chair and Members. Earlier this year, Humboldt County's Board of Supervisors unanimously voted to approve a resolution asking the state Legislature to pass a Bill allowing the county to put a proposed roads tax on the local ballot. If approved by voters, would surpass the 2% limit on California has on local transaction and use taxes. AB 1256 would authorize the Board of Supervisors to impose a transaction and use tax for the support of countywide transportation programs at a rate of no more than 1% if an ordinance proposing the tax is approved by the voters. I respectfully ask for your aye vote.

Thank you, Dr. Wood. And seeing no other members wishing to discuss the Bill, Clerk will open the roll. All those vote who desire to vote. All those vote who desire to vote. All those vote who desire to vote. Clerk will close the roll. Tally the votes.

Tally the votes. Ayes 50, noes 12. Bill is passed. We will pass temporarily on file item 41. Bringing us to file item 43. This is AB 246. Clerk will read.

Assembly Bill 246 by Assembly Papan and others and act relating to product safety.

Assemblywoman Papan, you may open on the Bill.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, AB 246 takes a critical step towards protecting women's health and reducing the amount of PFAS in the environment by eliminating these substances from menstrual products. These compounds have been linked to severe health problems, including breast and other cancers, hormone disruption, kidney and liver damage, and immune system disruption. In light of these findings, California has moved to eliminate PFAS class chemicals from clothes, children's toys, cookware, and food packaging. Even with all of this progress towards eliminating our everyday PFAS exposure, our most intimate products, menstrual products, remain unregulated. In a recent study, 48% of padliners tested were found to contain PFAS, as were 22% of Tampons. AB 246 has two main components. First, it would prohibit any person in California from manufacturing, distributing or selling a menstrual product that contains regulated PFAS. It will also prohibit unintentionally added PFAS above 10 parts per million beginning in 2027. California's pursuit for gender equity requires us to take action and ensure that feminine hygiene products are safe, clean, and free from forever chemicals. This Bill has the proud support of the Women's Caucus. I would like to have an aye vote.

Thank you, Ms. Pappin. And seeing no other Members wishing to discuss the Bill, Clerk will open the roll. All those vote who desire to vote. All those vote who desire to vote, all those vote who desire to vote. Clerk will close the roll. Tally the votes. Ayes 64, noes 0, the bill is passed.

Tally the votes. Ayes 64 noes zero. The Bill is passed. Next by Mr. Gabriel. This is file item 44, AB 418. Clerk will read.

Assembly Bill 418 by Assembly Member Gabriel and others an act relating to food.

And Assembly Member Gabriel, you may open on the Bill.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am pleased today to present AB 14. And I want to start by stating for the record that I love Skittles, and I would vote against a Bill that would ban Skittles. And now that I have your attention, I want to share a little bit of some basic information about this Bill, because I know that there's been a little bit of confusion. Here's the bottom line, this Bill would ban five toxic and dangerous chemicals from our food supply. Here's a little bit of background. All five of these chemicals have been banned by the 27 nations in the European Union. Many of them have been banned by other nations in other jurisdictions, including Canada, the UK, Argentina, Brazil, Nigeria, South Korea, Peru, Sri Lanka, China and India. And it is not just governments that are acting. Many of the most iconic brands and companies in the United States. Companies like Coke and Pepsi and Gatorade, Papa John's, Pizza, Panera and Dunkin'Donuts, and many, many others have voluntarily taken these chemicals out of their products because they understand that they are harmful to kids and harmful to consumers. So here's the question how is it that the US can be so far behind the rest of the world? That was the question I asked when I was first presented with this issue. And what I came to understand is that there is a fundamental flaw in the FDA approval process here in the United States. That we have something called the Grass Loophole, which stands for generally recognized as safe. This was originally developed for common household items like vinegar and sugar, but unfortunately has been exploited such that 99% of the new chemicals that go into our food supply have no independent, meaningful review by the FDA. And this is why we get absurd outcomes in our food regulation process. Just to give you one example, red dye three, which is one of the chemicals that is the subject of this Bill, has been banned in cosmetics since 1990. 33 years ago, the FDA said this chemical was too carcinogenic to put on your skin and yet, 33 years later, it is still in our food supply and is primarily in food and beverages that are targeted towards kids. You do not need a PhD in biochemistry to understand how absurd that result is. Here's some additional context. This Bill is very narrowly tailored, and this is not about any items coming off the shelf. There are over 3000 food additives in the United States. This Bill targets five. We chose those five because they are the worst of the worst. In every case, there is well documented scientific evidence linking these chemicals to harms, primarily to children, to cancer, to reproductive harms, to developmental and behavioral issues in kids. We also chose them because they are nonessential ingredients. Most of these are things that affect the color or the texture of food and in all cases there are readily available, safer, and in many cases cheaper alternatives. And I want to thank our Health Committee chair and his excellent staff, the Assembly Health Committee analysis laid out for every single one of these ingredients what the alternatives are that are in use. And in many cases, those ingredients are actually cheaper. So this is not about any items coming off the shelf. And that's not a guess, because we know, we know that all of these products that we love and enjoy here in the United States, they make them in Europe, they make them in these other countries. They just make very, very minor modifications to their recipes. And we feel that that is not too much to ask these companies to do the same thing to protect kids and to protect consumers here in the State of California. This Bill is supported by doctors, nurses, environmentalists, children's advocates, consumer protection organizations and numerous organizations that are dedicated to fighting cancer. This is a Bill that is straightforward, common sense measure that will protect our kids and protect our communities. Respectfully request your aye vote on AB 418.

Thank you, Mr. Gabriel. And Senator Fong. Vince Fong, you are recognized on the Bill.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I certainly have deep respect for the author and the work that he has put into this Bill. I do believe that this Bill is premature. There are three petitions pending in the regulatory system right now, with all three still accepting comments, and the petitions were actually filed by the proponents of this Bill. Members, scientists and health experts are part of these review processes at the state and federal levels. They should review the science and make policy recommendations to us, the Legislature, not we shouldn't put the cart before the horse. Therefore, I urge a no vote.

Thank you, Mr. Fong. And seeing no other Members wishing, Ms. Wicks, you're recognized on the Bill.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, members, I rise as a proud joint author of this Bill. But really, also just as a mom. I mean, our number one responsibility is to keep our kids safe. These are five chemicals we know are hazardous to their health. We know that these chemicals cause nervous system damage, harm to hormonal reproductive and immune systems, and can damage our kids DNA. This is a very simple Bill. This isn't about banning foods. It's about eliminating five toxic ingredients that can easily be replaced with other less harmful ingredients. So I would prefer not to wait around while my child has access to these types of foods. I prefer to ban these terrible chemicals so our kids can remain safe and respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Thank you, Ms. Wicks. And Dr. Wood, you're recognized on the Bill?

Yes, I rise as a co author of the Bill. I want to thank the author for bringing it forward. There's nothing wrong with California taking a bold step in public safety and health. We've done a lot of things in the state. Well, before the Federal Government gets around to doing things, let's talk about surprise billing. Bill passed in this house, signed by the Governor to protect people from going to a facility they thought was covered by their insurance, what it was, and having a Doctor come in and charge them an out of network fee. A lot of money. We did that here in California in 2017. That went into law in 2017. It took the Federal Government another five years to catch up with us. Meanwhile, a lot of people in a lot of states got costs, a lot of money that they didn't need to. But we took that step here in California, and we've done that in a number of other arenas as well, removing the flavors from vaping products, flavored tobacco, all to try to make people safer, healthier moving forward. So I respectfully ask your aye vote, and I commend the office for his efforts to bring this forward.

Thank you, Dr. Wood. And seeing no other Members now wishing to speak on the Bill, Mr. Gabriel, you may close.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to thank our colleagues who spoke and supported the Bill, and just to our colleague from the other side of the aisle. Part of the reason that we felt necessary to move forward with this is because the FDA has been dragging its feet not for months, not for years, but for decades. As you heard in the example of red dye three, the FDA has been making noise about regulating red dye three for 33 years. And what I would offer to any of my colleagues who might be on the fence about this measure, there really is no downside here. The science is irrefutable. Other nations around the world have looked at this. They have all come to the same conclusion. The companies that use these products, the big, and I would say responsible companies that use these products, have determined that they really can make all of these things that we know and love with alternative ingredients. And many of these modifications were made years ago. Dunkin Donuts took titanium dioxide out of its donuts in 2015. Papa John's made changes right around the same time. Coke, Pepsi, Gatorade, all of these companies have been able to make these products with these other ingredients instead of using these toxic additives. So we're not going to forego any products. It's not like anything is going to come off the shelf. It's not going to cost anything. It's not going to cost more to have any of these products. We are simply asking for a modest step forward to take things that have proven to be toxic, proven to cause cancer, proven to cause reproductive harms, and developmental issues in children. Let's take them out of our food products. We don't love our kids here in California any less than they love our kids in Europe. And I think the law should reflect that. With that, I respectfully request an aye vote.

Clerk will open the roll. All those vote who desire to vote. All those vote who desire to vote. All those vote who desire to vote. All those vote who desire to vote.

Assembly Concurrent Resolution 68 by Assemblymember Petrie-Norris relative to National Fentanyl Awareness Day.

And assemblywoman Petrie-Norris. You may open on the resolution.

Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr speaker and members, I rise today to present ACR 68 to recognize National Fentanyl Awareness Day. The scourge of fentanyl is poisoning our kids and killing our communities. Fentanyl is one of the most dangerous and deadly substances in the world. And in the last six years, the total number of fentanyl related deaths here in California has skyrocketed. From 239 in 2016 to 5722 in 2021. That is an increase of more than 2000%. Today and every day, more than 17 Californians will die because of fentanyl poisoning. And let's remember, these are not just numbers and statistics. These are our moms and our dads, our aunts and our uncles. These are our friends, community leaders, coaches, teachers, and these are our kids. As we recognize Fentanyl Awareness Day today, I want to share four simple things. Permission, Mr. Speaker, to use props. First, fentanyl is poison. Just two milligrams. That's two grains of sand is enough to kill. To put that a different way, here's a packet of sugar. This packet of sugar contains 1000 lethal doses of fentanyl. So fentanyl is poison. Number two, fentanyl is everywhere and in everything, laced into street drugs and increasingly being sold in counterfeit prescription pills; Adderall, Oxycodone, Percocet, and increasingly it's being sold online where dealers are targeting our kids in what the DEA describes as a drug superhighway. So number three is get Narcan and know how to use it. Narcan is available for free with private insurance and with Medi Cal in pharmacies all across California. And number four, use this opportunity to talk to your kids about fentanyl, about the prevalence, about the dangers. I've got two boys at home. They are 14 and 16 years old. And I will tell you, as a mom, this scares the hell out of me. Absolutely scares the hell out of me. And as a Legislator, like so many of you, I am committed to doing something about it, committed to combating this crisis and committing to action to keep our kids and our communities safe. So with that, I respectfully ask for your support today for ACR 68 recognizing National Fentanyl Awareness Day. Thank you.

Thank you. Ms. Petrie Norris and Assembly Member Mathis. You're recognized on the resolution.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Members, today I rise to the Assembly floor to ask this body to pass ACR 68, a resolution that would declare May 9 as National Fentanyl Awareness Day in the State of California. The fentanyl crisis is an issue that has touched every corner of our state. Almost everyone here has either been impacted or knows someone affected by the fentanyl crisis. Today we'll hear a lot of data from many of my colleagues on how the fentanyl crisis impacts our state. So I wanted to go a little bit of a different route. I want to tell you the story of the Mclaughlin family in Visalia, California, whose lives were fractured by fentanyl a few years ago. Jonah Mclaughlin was a 21 year old kid who was recovering from addiction. He went through multiple recovery programs and he was actually getting the help that he needed. Things were really looking up for him and his family. But during his recovery, he asked a local dealer for a xanax anxiety pill. What Jonah did not know is that the xanax pill he was given was laced with a small amount of fentanyl. He overdosed and he was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival. Jonah was getting his life back on track and he had plans for the future. But a deadly drug Jonah had no idea he was consuming cut his life short and shattered the Mclaughlin family. The story of the Mclaughlin family is unfortunately all too common throughout our state and throughout our nation. Many, if not most of users of fentanyl are not actually looking for fentanyl. They are looking for something else. And what they get happens to be laced with fentanyl. Stories like those of the Mclaughlin family show us why this body needs to take this crisis seriously. Once beautiful cities in our state are being decimated by fentanyl trafficking and the problems are getting worse and worse. So yes, I hope the assembly passes this resolution to declare May 9 as national Fentanyl awareness Day. But we must also take concrete action to fight this deadly fentanyl crisis. The Public Safety Committee has already passed a Bill that would boost cooperation between state and local police to combat fentanyl trafficking. But there is much more we need to do, members. We must enhance penalties for dealers whose fentanyl laced products kill and injures persons they are distributing them to. We should absolutely boost criminal penalties for those possessing large quantities of fentanyl while also investing in substance abuse facilities to help people who are recovering. These aren't extreme proposals that I am promoting. In fact, many of these proposals are supported by legislators from both parties. Fentanyl impacts everyone, regardless of politics. It is up to us to decide if we want to take on this urgent problem or to continue to sweep it under the rug for cartels. Let us put our differences aside and work together to ensure that not one California family has to go through the pain that the Mclaughlin family was forced to go through.

30 seconds.

I urge my colleagues to vote yes on this resolution. Thank you.

Thank you. Mr. Mathis and Senator Wallis, you're recognized on the resolution.

Thank you Mr. Speaker and Members. I want to thank the author for bringing this resolution forward. I voted on a number of these recognition days and have a few in the pipeline myself. But I honestly believe this one may be the most important. Reading this resolution, I was horrified to learn that only 31% of our teens are knowledgeable about the dangers of fentanyl. So far in 2023, the DEA has seized over 4000 pounds of fentanyl, which is equivalent to 119,000,000 deadly doses. It's critically important that we increase the awareness of fentanyl. It's approximately 50 times more potent than heroin and 100 times more potent than morphine. Just two milligrams, the equivalent of a few grains of salt, can kill a person. This isn't a Republican issue. This isn't a Democratic issue. This is a California issue. A life and death California issue. I urge an aye vote on ACR 69 and our continued commitment to working together to protect Californians from this dangerous drug. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Wallace and Assembly Member Jim Patterson, you're recognized on the resolution.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, members, I rise in support of ACR 68, but I think we need to recognize something that is very sinister and is a huge part of the problem that we are facing. While we are deliberating and while we are voting, there are fentanyl dealers up and down the State of California who have two and 3000 pills in their possession and they may sell one or two to somebody's child. That child dies. We have law enforcement that would interdict and arrest that dealer. But because that dealer has less than the amount of kill potential, a kilo, that individual will receive no penalty. A misdemeanor, out in two days. In Fresno, California, where we have a cross section of freeways and easy Egress and outgo to the fifth largest city in the state. We have fentanyl coming in and it's destroying families and destroying lives. Our District Attorney, our sheriff's Department, our police officers, they're on the streets and they're interdicting and they are arresting the dealers. But because the dealers have this wonderful loophole in the law, they don't spend a significant time in prison. And when you see a kill capacity of cocaine or heroin and the kill capacity of a fentanyl, which is an amount that's a few grains of salt. Members, we do not live up to the hopes and dreams of this resolution unless we commit ourselves to holding the dealers responsible for when they deal to our kids and they are caught. This needs to be a felony, not a misdemeanor. We say we care about those who are hurt and killed and yet we're taking the side of dealers by letting them out with misdemeanors and not closing this loophole. And so it's a bit disingenuous for us to sort of pat ourselves on the back for doing something when in fact I'm not convinced that we are doing enough with respect to the dealers that knowingly are sending this poison out to our kids. And so I think we need to be very, very cognizant that there is, yes, our responsibility to help and to encourage and to get drug treatment to those that are using so that they are not in that pipeline that the dealer hopes to access. I passed a Bill last session. There are now six pilot projects funded in the budget and in the May revise to educate, to put organizations together. Law enforcement, the schools, the hospitals, addiction counseling organizations. We do that in Fresno County right now. So on the one side we are informing, we are educating, we are helping those who are addicted. We are tracking fentanyl deaths in hospitals and tracking it back to dealers and suppliers. And yet when we track it back to the dealer and the supplier, our District Attorney, the most they can do is charge a misdemeanor right now. And so I urge us to think seriously about whose side are we on? Do we care more about the dealer and maybe having to go to prison for a few years? That's certainly a way to separate that dealer from their victims. Or are our hearts broken by the stories of death caused by these dealers?

30 seconds.

Where is our sympathy? I think it needs to be for those who have been hurt, killed, and I think our outrage and our cry for justice needs to be dedicated to the dealer who knowingly is distributing this poison. So I ask for us to do more than just resolutions. Let's act and keep these dealers in prison for a good long time.

Thank you, Mr. Patterson. And Assemblywoman Bains, you're recognized on the resolution.

Thank you so much. There's a whole lot of talking that happens on this floor, but there's a lot of action that does not happen. As a physician, as a Doctor that has been working on the front lines of fentanyl, not just today, but for years. We are here, what, eight to five? And then everybody goes home. I'm, on my telehealth actively rehabilitating people from their addiction on fentanyl. That's what I do in my evenings. I am holding the hands of kids that have died. I have held the hands of parents that have died. But we didn't get here overnight. The failures in this Legislature has been present for years. I just got here. There is a lot of work to be done. People need help. The other side. Let me share a story. I got a call last week, Dr. Baines. We responded to in person that overdose. When we reached the home, there were 10 empty Narcans on the floor, and we responded with an 11th dose. Think of what that means. We want to put so much money into Narcan distribution. America is losing its war on drugs. Narcan is not the only solution because we have high powered, high potency benzodiazepines hitting the street. Xylazine, trank Narcan is ineffective, too. I have firefighters that are telling me, dr. Baines, we've been responding to overdoses and we're not resuscitating victims right now. We are losing this war. And I'm not just talking. This is a problem. Hold people accountable, but get people the help they need. People are dying daily. I'm not here to just talk. I actively live the fentanyl crisis day in, day out.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I also rise in support of today's resolution. I want to share the story of a Californian who lost their life to this epidemic. Amber Royer lost her son, Richard Royer, to fentanyl and asked me to share his story. Richard was 18 years old, one month shy of starting barber school in Riverside County. Late one night, Richard's baby brother heard a thud in their bathroom. He rushed in to find his older brother unresponsive. Richard's mother began performing CPR until help arrived. The paramedics performed CPR for an hour in her living room as she watched her son die before her eyes. Richard left behind a devastated family and a beautiful three month old daughter who will never know her dad. The person who sold him the fentanyl was never pursued, tried or punished. Richard, like many victims of fentanyl, never intended to die. It was not a suicide. He was poisoned. I think it's time to recognize that the days of recreational drug use are over. You can no longer experiment, any drug can contain fentanyl and one pill will kill you. That also means the days of recreational drug dealing are also over, and we must hold these dealers accountable. Every dealer must be on notice. If you sell a pill that could be laced with fentanyl and you could kill somebody, and yes, you are responsible for their death. And so, we have to put everyone on notice and we must pass legislation in kind. And the other thing we need to do; where is this fentanyl coming from? It's coming from China. China manufactures the synthetics that go to Mexico to lace the fentanyl. We have to do more to hold China accountable, they could stop this today, this is killing our people. So thank you, and I support this, and thank the author for bringing the resolution.

Thank you, Dr. Baines. And Assembly Member Essayli, you're recognized on the resolution.

Thank you, Mr. Essayli. And Assembly Member Haney. You're recognized on the resolution.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker and Members. I first just want to on National Fentanyl Awareness Day in honor of this day, to send our condolences and my condolences to the tens of thousands of residents that we represent who have lost loved ones to this epidemic. I also want to extend my gratitude to everyone who is in the front lines of this epidemic, including Dr. Baines. Thank you for your work and your service to our law enforcement professionals, to our public health professionals, our firefighters. There are so many people who are out there every single day saving lives. But this epidemic is unlike anything that we've ever seen in our state. We are now losing 10,000 people to overdose. More than 10,000 people to overdose every single year. That is double the number of people who died overdose five years ago. And frankly, what we are doing right now is not working. Our state is losing this fight. Every single year it gets worse. More and more people are dying. So I appreciate the comments that folks have made, because this should not be viewed as a political issue. This is not something to point fingers at each other over. This is an opportunity and a desperate, urgent opportunity for us to come together and lead. We are not doing enough and we are not being effective in stopping these drugs from coming into our communities. We have to do better at that. We are not doing enough making sure that people can access treatment. I just had a Bill right now that we voted on that I wanted, I hoped that all of us could have supported to get young people into treatment that can save their lives. So we're not doing well enough there, and we're not doing well enough to make sure that emergency interventions like Narcan are everywhere that they need to be. So we have over 25 bills that folks in this chamber have introduced. I hope we can pass those bills this year. I hope we can prioritize this issue in our budget. I want to thank my colleague from Irvine for her leadership, a tremendous leadership on this. I want to thank each and every single one of you who have stepped up on this issue. We know we have to do more. And I want to say thank you to the speaker. We have now for the first time, a Select Committee on fentanyl and overdose. This is something that is a space where we can all meet together and work together to come up with solutions. Our first meeting will be next Wednesday, May 24. It's a Joint Hearing with the Public Safety and Health Committees, and I want to thank those chairs as well. And this is a space that we can come together in a bipartisan way with comprehensive, holistic solutions that we hope and we pray because our residents are relying on us. Those family Members that have lost loved ones are relying on us to come forward with solutions at the scale of this public health and public safety epidemic we are experiencing. With that, I thank the Member from Irvine and respectfully ask for your aye vote.

Thank you, Mr. Haney. And Assembly Member Joe Patterson. You're recognized on the resolution.

Thank you very much. December 27, 2020. Zach Didier, Forever 17, was poisoned by fentanyl. But not only did the lives of his family members change and unfortunately he lost his life, but the lives of many people within Placer County and throughout the state have changed dramatically as well. In fact, Laura Didier and Chris Didier have testified on many pieces of legislation through this building for many of my colleagues here in this chamber, and they have also been to many of your districts educating your constituents on the dangers of fentanyl poisoning. Unfortunately, I'm sure, and I know I've talked with Laura and Chris on many occasions, they would do anything to have Zach back. And I know all the victims and the parents of those victims in your districts would do anything. I wish Laura and Chris did not have to be testifying on my bills or your bills. I wish they didn't have to go to our districts, all of our districts, and talk about the dangers of fentanyl, but I'm thankful they are doing that. And I believe that they are saving thousands of lives. And just to give a little anecdote to that, I have four children, in case you haven't heard me say that before. Two of them, 9 and 7 years old, already know about the dangers of fentanyl. And it's a sad state that we live in that I had to teach my nine year old and my seven year old about the dangers of fentanyl. Just taking things from your friends, taking things from people you don't know. I firmly believe that there are three ways, and I've talked about this a lot to prevent fentanyl deaths, and one of them is awareness and education. And I believe that's what this resolution is doing today. I believe that's what Laura and Chris have been dedicating their lives to this ever since the tragedy. But also treatment, treatment. I have legislation on that and that's been successful, and I appreciate people's support on that, but also holding people accountable. And I just want to give a little example that was given to us by our District Attorney in Placer County. And if somebody were to experiment underage and they were drinking a beer and they go they grab the can of beer and they pour it in a cup or they just drink it from the can and it ends up being cyanide. You would 100% hope that that District Attorney would charge the person that put that beer in that person's hand, that put the poison into that can with murder. Because that's exactly what it is. When you're walking around with 14,000 lethal doses of fentanyl, 28.5 grams, 1oz, 14,000 lethal doses, that's a potential murderer. And so I do think it's important that we have to educate everybody. And I'm thankful to the Didier family for doing that, because I do believe it's going to save lives and we're never going to be able to quantify how many lives they've saved. I think Laura was just telling me a few days ago that I think she was in LA at high school rallies, talking about fentanyl. Somebody's life will be saved, at least one life, probably thousands of lives. And so I'm very thankful for that. But I hope we can really come together. This is not like the war on drugs. This is a poison. They are poisoning you with the cyanide and that's murder. And so I'm thankful for everybody in this body because I know I'm assuming this is going to get unanimous support and I hope this is transmitted publicly. I hope everybody is tweeting about this later because I think my colleague identified it's not just fentanyl. There are other drugs hitting the street and people have to know that there are poisons out there. And hopefully we can bring down the number. I don't want 110 deaths a week. I want zero from these poisons. I respectfully ask for your aye vote.

Thank you, Mr. Patterson. And Assemblywoman Dixon, you're recognized on the resolution.

Thank you, Chair. Excuse me. I don't know if I'm going to be adding anything new, but just more emphasis and appreciation to my colleague from Orange County. Am I on? We're all creating awareness here, but as has been said, we have to do so much more. This is simply a resolution. My colleague from Irvine actually has a Bill that we need to move forward. This is a compelling bipartisan desire, a fervent desire to tell our constituents, to tell our residents, to tell people in the State of California that we care about this problem. I, too have in Orange County. It has impacted us significantly. We all know the national data that this is a leading cause of death of Americans aged 18 to 45. In Orange County, in my district, 717 fentanyl deaths in 2021. The numbers are still counting for 2022 and into 2023. Nobody has that actual data yet. This is like a plane crash every week and we just keep going on and thinking, who caused this plane crash? Why aren't we going after the people that got through TSA or got through security? Those people must be prosecuted. Why aren't we dealing with the root cause of this crisis? This is shocking to me. We know we need legislation. There are pending bills on both sides. We know they're going to be heard in the Special Select Committee. We have to move them out this year. People are demanding this and it's tearing our communities apart. We've all heard you've known about the press conference we had a couple of weeks ago where family Members came up to Sacramento at their own expense. The one family Member from Seal Beach in my district, she sent me a statement and may I have permission to read her testimonial?

Without objection.

Thank you. If there are no objections. PerLA Mendoza of Seal Beach lost her son Elijah on September 15, 2020. And I'm proud to share her experience. I'm honored to share her experience. My son Elijah struggled with addiction. He was a student, had a full time job and was loved. But he deserves justice. We need to stop talking about the war on drugs. We all agree on that. Can't we see that this is a war on our children. Elijah unknowingly took a pain pill that contained Fentanyl. Treatment is necessary for people struggling with addiction. Do you know how difficult it is to get adequate treatment? Those struggling need medical detox and aftercare. Most families are not equipped to be able to handle the level of care needed to overcome addiction. How many people have to die before we start holding Fentanyl dealers accountable? I'd rather have my she is I'm quoting her. I'd rather have my son in prison than have him dead. Do you know how many people have felt that going to prison saved their life? I do. My father is spending most of his life in prison and his life has been saved. I wish I had a warning. I wish I could have warned my son about Fentanyl. And that's the end of her statement. Perla created Project Eli upon the death of her son to educate young adults and teens in Orange County about the devastating effects and help direct people to community resources. Education is a start, but it is not enough. We must provide justice for these families. All these victims would be with us today. These are young people in our communities that may have been involved in drugs and they're trying to get well. We talk about rehabilitation, we talk about this all the time. We need to get to the root cause and get these people the help that they need if they're addicted. But we have to deal with the dealers who are preying on the addicted. That is their business model and that is what's killing our children. I enthusiastically support my colleague in supporting ACR 68. But we have to do more than just pass a resolution. The people of California demand more of us than simply pass a resolution. This is important. I fully support it, but we must do much more. Thank you. I respectfully urge your support. Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Dixon. And Assembly Member Hoover, you're recognized on the resolution.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I just wanted to rise today. Thank my colleague from Irvine for bringing this resolution forward. Today I rise as a parent in support of this resolution. I'm the father of an 8th grader, my oldest son, who is about to go into high school. And I think the author stated it exactly. She channeled my feelings on this. It is terrifying right now to be a parent, to have a child that is going into this environment, into an environment that is being infiltrated with deadly fentanyl. And I would agree with a number of my colleagues, and I strongly support getting more Narcan into our schools. When I was on the school board prior to the Assembly, I fought to make sure we had Narcan in every single classroom. But that is simply not enough to address this crisis. We need to get more proactive, we need to do more education, and we need to do more to get to the heart of the issue. And as some of my colleagues have already mentioned, I truly believe that that means more accountability and more consequences for people who would put our children at risk. And so I want to rise in strong support of this resolution. We cannot bring back the lives that we have already lost, but we can take meaningful action to ensure that we do not lose more lives to this deadly crisis. I urge an aye vote thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Hoover and Assembly Member Jones Sawyer. You're recognized on the resolution.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And I want to thank my colleague from Irvine for ACA 69[ACR 68]. I think this has been the best discussion of this problem that this floor has had over the last few months. It encourages me to believe that we may be at a tipping point where we can finally unite the fight to stop substance abuse and fentanyl deaths. I feel more encouraged today because of your resolution and what you've done than I ever had before that we wouldn't be fighting two different styles or two different methodologies, either public health or public safety. That I look at it as a three legged problem, a three legged stool. And we really should be looking at prevention, protection and suppression. Prevent it at the beginning, protect people now, which is what we're hearing urgently coming up with ways to do that. And then suppression. Stop the demand from coming in into our borders. It is vitally important that next week when we come together I do mean when we come together, when we finally unite to talk about this at this level that I hear today. We all care about all children. I care about African American children. I care about white children, Latinos, API, because it affects them all. But what keeps me up at night, which I know this is about fentanyl, but what keeps me up at night is the fact that we're behind the eight ball on fentanyl and trank is right around the corner and it's just as addictive, it's flesh eating. It is worse than this, what we're facing right now. That's why it's so important to get up to speed to this because next year, not only are we going to be talking about trank, but we still will be behind even further on that. What concerns me and keeps me up at night is that which is coming very soon. What also concerns me and keeps me up at night is when I hear stories of individuals who are giving out fentanyl to people and I hear these stories about they only get one day or they only DAs or law enforcement are not prosecuting them when there are laws on the books to do that. And if they're not, if there are loopholes where they are getting through, then we need to close those damn loopholes today and now and forever. In Los Angeles Times article. It says, haven't we? Learned yet harsher penalties won't save us from fentanyl. We need to have that discussion because we went from morphine to heroin to cocaine to crack to fentanyl, and soon we're going to have trank. Let's look at this not as a war on drugs. Let's finally have a war on addiction. That is what the medical community is telling us. At least bring them up both public safety and public health, bring them up at the same. That is what I think you're saying in your ACR. Let's bring it all together to come together, because if we keep fighting, the other side will win. We need to stop fighting with one another, stop yelling at one another and come together, because if we come together, we're going to win. If we stay apart, we're going to continue to lose. We got to come together to win this war, and this war is the war on addiction because that will stop the supply side. Once you can curb the demand side and the supply side, it's a three legged stool. If you leave one out, the stool will fall. It will fail. We've got to do everything comprehensively to be successful. Whether you're Democrat, Republican, moderate, I don't care. We've all got to come together to make this happen, and I'm here to do whatever I need to do to make sure we can get it done this time and not move it down the line. I respectfully ask for your aye vote.

Thank you, Mr. Jones Sawyer and Assembly woman Davies, you are recognized on the resolution.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. And I want to thank my colleague from Irvine for bringing this resolution up. For the last 13 years, I've been working with parents, doctors, teachers, therapists, and making sure that our kids are educated. We started out with opioids, and now we're at fentanyl, and education is everything. But you may not be aware that it's not mandated, and the fact that we have not mandated education on drugs is amazing. I did a survey over the weekend again in my district and said, do you think we should have mandated drug education classes in our school? And overwhelmingly they said, yes. But this is a frustration I have up here. I came here knowing that I have the opportunity and I've been able to get some bills with Narcan and with testing strips through. But when we talk about education, my Bill went forward and they said, well, we're going to move this Bill as education from one category to health. But the problem is we only update our curriculum every 10 years, and recently it was updated in 2019, which means we can do this in 2029. I mean, this is insane. We've got an addiction problem. We've got kids dying right and left. So I urge every member on this floor to go to the Governor and say, please use your executive decision and go ahead and get the curriculum back for fall. There are many schools and districts that have this. It's already there. You can use it however you need to do it. But the fact that we literally would have to wait to 2029 to put education mandate this, it's ridiculous. So I ask for your help, please, out there, Californians, please contact the Governor. We need to have education. It's beyond time. So I thank you. I thank you for bringing this. And we really do need to come together and we need to make sure that it's not just a few or a handful holding back these bills. It's time we actually do something. Californians deserve much better and our time is running out. Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Davies. And seeing no other Members wishing to be recognized on the resolution, Ms. Petrie Norris, you may close.

Thank you. And I want to say thank you to all of my colleagues who have stood today to speak in support of ACR 68. From both sides of the aisle and from every corner of California. We know that fentanyl does not discriminate. This is not a rural issue or an urban issue. This is a California issue. This is not a red state issue or a blue state issue. This is an American crisis. And I want to thank everyone who is working to combat this crisis in California. As my colleague from Los Angeles noted, we all need to be working together in order to win this war. And with that, I respectfully ask for an aye vote on ACR 68 and to recognize May 9 as National Fentanyl Awareness Day and would respectfully request the first role be open for co authors. Thank you.

Thank you. Ms. P Norris. The first role will be open for co authors. The Clerk will open the role. All those wishing to be a co author, please signify by casting your vote on ACR 68. There are seven. Clerk will close the roll. There are 78 co authors. If there's no objection, we'll take a voice vote on the resolution. All those in favor say aye. All those opposed say nay. The ayes have it. The resolution is adopted. Next. This is file item 45 by Dr. Weber, AB 727. The Clerk will read.

Assembly Bill 727 by Assembly Weber, an act relating to product safety.

And Assembly Weber, you may open on the Bill.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise to present AB 727, which prohibits the sale, distribution and manufacturing of cleaning products containing PFAS. PFAS are synthetic chemicals that are usually used to create nonstick water resistant or stain repellent coating on products. Yet they are extremely stable and very difficult to break down. Decades of use of PFAS have resulted in contamination of water, soil, and the blood of people and animals all over the world.

The Environmental Working Group found that approximately half of industrial grade floor polishes contain PFAS, and one in six household cleaning products do also. PFAS floor polishes can expose janitorial workers and the public to airborne PFAS. This also enters wastewater when floors are mopped and clean. Water and wastewater operators are proactively working to reduce sources of PFAS in their system, but source control is the most effective approach. For these reasons, AB 727 prohibits the sale, distribution and manufacture of cleaning product containing PFAS chemicals.

This Bill was amended coming out of the Environmental Safety Committee to add enforcement provisions. I respectfully ask for your aye vote.

Thank you, Dr. Weber. And seeing no Members wishing to discuss this Bill, Clerk will open the roll. All those vote who desire to vote. All those vote who desire to vote. All those vote who desire to vote.

Clerk will close the roll. Ayes 60, noes 0. Next is file item 46, AB1013, for purposes of amendments, clerk will read.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Members, pleased to present amendments to AB 1013. These amendments clarify that type 48 licensees will not be held liable for inaccurate test results and that they must ensure that devices they're offering to customers are not expired.

Assembly Bill 1013 with amendments by Assembly Member Lowenthal

Assemblymember Lowenthal, you may open on the amendment.

Thank you, Mr. Lowenthal. Seeing no Members wishing to speak on the amendments, without objection, we'll take a voice vote on the amendments. All those in favor say aye. All those opposed say nay. The ayes have it. Amendments are adopted.

The Bill is out to print and back on file. Next. Moving forward to file item 60 by Ms. Pellerin. This is ACR 70. Clerk will read.

Assembly Concurrent Resolution 70 by Assembly Pellerin and others relating to Maternal Mental Health Awareness Month

Assemblywoman Pellerin You may open on the resolution.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker and Members. As a Member of the Legislative Women's Caucus and the Vice Chair of the Select Committee on California's Mental Health Crisis. I rise today in support of ACR 70 which proclaims May 2023 as Maternal Mental Health Awareness Month. Maternal mental health is a topic that is often overlooked, yet it is a critical issue that affects millions of people worldwide. Members, in our discussion of maternal mental health, we would be remiss if we do not acknowledge that it's not only women who become pregnant. I want to recognize our LGBTQ plus parents in this resolution. Pregnant people's mental health can be affected during pregnancy, childbirth, and during the postpartum period. Unfortunately, many people suffer in silence due to the stigma attached to mental illness. This stigma can prevent people from seeking help because they may fear losing custody of their children or being seen as unfit parents if they admit to struggling with mental health. Maternal mental health is a growing concern in the United States. Approximately one in five people experience a mental health disorder in the first year after giving birth. These mental health conditions can range from mild anxiety and depression to severe postpartum psychosis. In addition, perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, including depression, anxiety, and post traumatic stress disorder, affect up to 20% of people during pregnancy and in the first year after childbirth. Struggling with mental health during or after pregnancy is not a sign of weakness or indicative of a lack of a love for one's child. Maternal mental health not only impacts the mother, but also has long term effects on a child's development, including cognitive, social and emotional development. It is essential that we address maternal mental health not only for the mother's well being, but also for the health and development of the child. It is crucial to break the stigma associated with maternal mental health issues. Those who are pregnant or postpartum should feel comfortable seeking help without fear of judgment or shame. We must recognize that seeking help is a sign of strength and courage, and it can help prevent long term negative outcomes for both the mother and their child. Maternal mental health issues do not discriminate based on race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, or any other factor. They affect people of all backgrounds, and we must address it as such. By addressing these issues, we can help ensure the well being of mothers and their children and create a healthier and more equitable society for everyone. ACR 70 acknowledges the importance of maternal mental health and highlights the need for increased access to mental health care for pregnant and postpartum people. Maternal mental health is a critical issue that affects not only the well being of mothers and parents, but also their children and families. The stigma surrounding mental health, especially maternal mental health, can prevent people from seeking the help they need, resulting in serious consequences. So last week we celebrated Mexican Mother's Day on May 10 and Mother's Day yesterday. And let us acknowledge that all those who celebrate these days with joy and also those who find these days very difficult to get through. I ask that you open the first roll call for co authors. Thank you very much. And I ask for your aye vote.

Thank you, Ms. Pellerin and Assembly Member Jackson, you're recognized on the resolution.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. We'd like to thank the Member for Santa Cruz and also a Member of the Select Committee on the Mental Health Crisis to reiterate the need to making sure that we activate all people who are part of the support system of those who are pregnant. Everyone has a role to play to ensuring that the pregnant person has all the support that they need, particularly for those who are surrounded and are part of that support system. It's important that they understand that they have a role to making sure that the home is healthy, that the home is not one that is toxic, that is one that is not filled with anxiety, filled with stress, and making sure that we pay particular attention to those warning signs and helping the pregnant person get the help and support that they need. So this is not just on the onus of the people who are pregnant to making sure that the baby is healthy. It is the responsibility of all people that plays a role in the support system as well. So I urge an aye vote an ACR 70.

Thank you, Dr. Jackson. And seeing no other Members wishing to discuss the resolution, is there anything further to close?

No. I asked for your aye vote and the first vote to be for co authors.

Thank you. The first role is for co authors. Clerk will open the roll. All those wishing to be a co author on ACR 70, please signify by casting your vote button. Clerk will close the roll. There are 77 co authors. Without objection, we'll take a voice vote on the resolution. All those in favor say aye. All those opposed say nay. The ayes have it. Resolution is adopted. We'll be going back to Ms. Rubio file item 41. This is AB 1171. Clerk will read.

Assembly Bill 1171 by Assembly Member Blanca Rubio and others, an act relating to cannabis.

Assemblywoman Rubio. You may open on the Bill.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker and Members for the opportunity to present AB 1171, which would empower the licensed cannabis market to seek injunctive release against unlicensed operators. Since the passage of Prop . 64, many of us present here on the floor have sponsored, supported and advocated for additional enforcement against illicit operators in the cannabis market. Unfortunately, the illicit market has continued to grow despite the additional enforcement steps we have taken in the past years. Illegal operators continue to survive while driving licensed and unionized businesses from the state. It has become abundantly clear that our existing solutions are not working, and a unique solution is needed to protect the legal businesses trying to make ends meet in California. AB 1171 provides that unique support that provides that unique support by simply empowering licensed operators to seek inductive relief against nonlicensed operators. I do not take this type of legislation lightly. However, this industry is at a crisis point, and we must provide them with the tools to ensure that they can compete. This measure simply imposes additional pressure on illicit operators and encourages them to either seek a license or leave the market to legal operators. AB 1171 is a unique solution to an incredibly complex problem, and as such, it has no opposition. I respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Thank you, Ms. Rubio. And seeing no Members wishing to discuss the Bill, Clerk will open the roll. All those vote who desire to vote. All those vote who desire to vote. All those vote who desire to vote. Clerk will close the roll. Tally the votes. Ayes 64, no zero. Bill is passed. Next, we are moving forward to Ms. Wilson file. Item 51, AB 233. Clerk will read.

Assembly Bill 233 by Assembly Member Wilson an act relating to local government.

Assembly Member Wilson, you may open on the Bill.

Mr. Speaker, Members, I know the day is long, so I will be extremely brief. This is AB 233 which I rise to present, which allows local governments to have the option of implementing an ordinance that would require horse riders to clean up their orchement if they so choose. It's a permissive language Bill. Doesn't make anybody do anything. It just allows them to have the discussion if they want to. Thank you. I respectfully ask for your aye vote.

Thank you, Ms. Wilson. Seeing no Members wishing to discuss the Bill, Clerk will open the roll. All those vote who desire to vote. All those vote who desire to vote, Clerk will close the roll. Tally the votes. Ayes 65, noes two. The Bill is passed. Next again by Ms. Wilson. This is file item 53, AB 592. Clerk will read

Assembly Bill 592 by Assembly Wilson an act relating to vehicles.

And Ms. Wilson, you may again open on the Bill.

Thank you. I'm also pleased to rise to present AB 592, which is another Bill dealing with waste, which is an issue in the State of California. As we can see, this is about illegal dumping and allows counties to adopt an ordinance to regulate the transport of solid waste by non franchise solid waste haulers on public roads and incorporated areas. It prevents violators who really do cause an issue in our great state and make it look terrible. So with that, I respectfully ask for your aye vote.

Thank you, Ms. Wilson. Senior Members wishing to discuss or debate the Bill Clerk will open the roll. All those vote who desire to vote. All those vote who desire to vote. All those vote who desire to vote, Clerk will close the roll. Tally the votes. Ayes 69, no, zero. The Bill is passed. Mext back to Ms. Pellerin. This is file item 54, AB 939.

Assembly Bill 939 by Assembly Member Pellerin an act relating to the Santa Clara Valley Water District

And Assemblywoman Pellerin, you may open on the Bill.

I too will be brief. Thank you, Mr. Speaker and Members. AB 939 is a district Bill that updates a state law that applies only to the Santa Clara Valley Water District, also known as Valley Water. It fixes the water district's revenue bond authority, allowing the agency to issue revenue bonds based on the net revenue of their water system, which is favored by bond markets and is in the best interest of the water ratepayers. These bond reforms will save millions of dollars and unnecessary financing costs just by giving Valley Water the same bond authority as other regional water agencies already have. I respectfully ask for your aye vote.

Thank you, Ms. Pellerin. Seeing no Members wishing to discuss the Bill, Clerk will open the roll. All those vote who desire to vote. All those vote who desire to vote, Clerk will close the roll. Tally the votes Ayes 73, noes zero. The Bill is passed. Next by Ms. Bauer Kahan. We are going to be moving forward to file item 78 for purpose of amendments. This is AB 521.

Assembly Bill 521 with amendments by Assembly Member Bauer-Kahan.

And Ms. Bauer Khan, you may open on the amendments.

Thank you. Mr. Chair, these amendments simply add Dr. Weber, as a co author, I respectfully ask for your aye vote.

Seeing no Members wishing to discuss the amendments, without objection, we'll take a voice vote on the amendments. All those in favor say aye. All those opposed say nay. The ayes have it. The amendments are adopted. The Bill is out to print and back on file. Next, Mr. Valencia will be moving forward to file item 103 AB 1483 for purpose of amendments, Clerk will read.

Assembly Bill 1483 with amendments by Assembly Member Valencia

And Mr. Valencia, you may open on the amendments.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Buenas Tardes, Members, Assembly Floor amendments for AB 1483 will provide private party transfers of firearms as part of an estate settlement or equiptment. Gracias, I respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Thank you, Mr. Valencia. Seeing no Members wishing to discuss the amendments, all those in favor say aye. All those opposed say nay. The ayes have it. Amendments are adopted. The Bill is out to print and back on file. Members, we will be moving on to our adjournments in memory and we ask that you give respectful attention to those granted prior permission to speak on an adjournment in memory. We ask that you take your conversations off the floor. And in the meantime, I'll be entertaining vote changes beginning with Ms. Calderon. Vote change.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Calderon, AB 1021 aye to not voting.

Vote change. Assembly Member Calderon. Assembly Bill 1021. Aye to not voting.

Calderon AB 1034, aye to not voting.

Vote change. Assembly Member Calderon, Assembly Bill 1034 aye to not voting.

And Dr. Arambula. Vote change. Vote change. Arambula AB 1034, aye to not voting.

Vote change. Assembly Member Arambula. Assembly Bill 1034, aye to not voting.

And Mr. Gipson. Vote change.

Mr. Speaker, Assembly Bill 1034 from aye to not voting.

Vote change. Assembly Member Gibson. Assembly Bill 1034 aye to not voting.

Members, we will be moving on to our adjournments in memory. We'll begin with assemblymember Vince Fong. You're recognized at your desk for your adjournment and memory.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Members, many of us found inspiration to public service through our upbringing, our education and community mentors. Larry Hallam was that inspiration to generations of Kern County residents. He was a teacher, a natural leader, a combat veteran, a coach and a dear friend to many. I consider myself blessed to have known and worked with Larry Hallam. Larry lived out the California dream. A son of migrant farm workers who came to settle in California from Oklahoma. He was a brother to six other siblings and he was constantly involved in athletics and student government in the farming town of Arvin. Upon returning to Arvin after attending the University of Oklahoma, he began his venture of giving back to his community accepting a teaching job at Arvin High School. His service to his country extended overseas after Larry volunteered for the draft, serving in reconnaissance in South Vietnam during the Vietnam War. To honor the sacrifice of his friends that lost their lives in the conflict, Larry joined the honor flight to Washington, DC. Visiting the Vietnam Memorial wall. After Larry's military service, he returned back to Kern County. His more than 40 years of teaching enshrined his legacy as a dedicated educator, a gifted athletic coach and the tremendous successful coach and assistant coach of the we the People constitutional teams at Arvin High School. Every single year, I would eagerly await his phone call to work with the students of his We the People teams. Such a successful and inspirational local icon, Larry's accolades included the Teacher of the Year Award, Arvin Chambers Citizen of the Year, and his selection as one of the 100 outstanding alumni at Beggarswood College. Larry passed away last month and has survived by his wife Brenda of 46 years, his sons Drew and Ryan, grandchildren Abigail and Wesley, and his sisters Virginia and Joni. Larry Hallam was a tremendous inspiration and a dear friend. I ask that the Assembly adjourn in his memory today. Thank you, Members.

Thank you, Mr Fong. And Assembly Member Bains, you're recognized for your adjournment in memory.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thank you to my colleague from Bakersfield. I also today rise to honor the legacy of Mr. Larry Hallam. Mr. Hallam was a husband, father, teacher, coach, Vietnam War veteran, and a cornerstone of his community. Mr. Hallam served as an educator in many athletic and academic programs during his decades in teaching and inspired thousands of Arvin High School students to pursue their dreams. He taught the importance of empathy, character and civic responsibility. I had the privilege of joining Mr. Hallam and his students this past winter here in the Capitol during their trip to Sacramento for the We the People Championship. I also had the extreme pleasure of joining him in his classroom in Arvin just a couple months ago. As a coach for We the People, Mr. Hallum instilled a deep appreciation for our democracy through rigorous debate and scholarship. Mr. Hallam and his team brought what has been described as the kind of pride the whole town of Arvin could bask in. Mr. Hallam also served in the Vietnam War and would share his experience with the community. He spoke powerfully and responsibly on patriotism and service to his country. Mr. Hallam was a rare once in a generation kind of person who uplifted everyone he met. Undoubtedly, his legacy will live on through every single student he has touched family and the countless lives he touched in his community. Thank you for helping me honor the amazing life of Mr. Hallm.

Thank you, Dr. Bains and Leader Gallagher, you're recognized at your desk for your adjournment in memory.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker and Members. I rise to adjourn in memory of Caesar Trinidad Sandoval, who passed away on April 132023. He was an amazing public servant, law enforcement officer in my district. Born to Trinidad and Maria De La Luz Lopez Sandoval on June 14, 1972 in Apazol Zacatecas, Mexico. Caesar moved with his family to Willows, California, and graduated from Willows High School. He attended Butte College and then the college of the Redwoods Law Enforcement. He began his law enforcement career in 1993 as a police officer for the Colossa Police Department before moving back to Willows where he served as a police officer and school resource officer for two years. Then Caesar went to the Chico Police Department where he served as a patrol officer, school resource officer, detective, patrol sergeant and the target team supervisor for over 22 years. Early in his life, Caesar met Jessica, the love of his life, sharing 28 years and 21 years of marriage together raising two wonderful children, Shayla and Connor. Caesar was known as a loyal, hardworking and committed family man. He always expressed his gratitude to his family for their support and sacrifice of his career in law enforcement. In Caesar's free time, he would be found spending time with friends, taking trips to the beach with his family and telling stories with a bright smile and a contagious laugh. Caesar will be remembered as someone who was admired and appreciated for his love of family, his wonderful sense of humor, generosity of spirit, and passion for working to make the world a better place. He survived by his mother Maria, his wife, Jessica, his children and his grandson, Mason. Caesar was a kind and loving man. He lived a life that should be an inspiration to us all and his loss is felt deeply by the community that he served. Therefore, today I ask that the Assembly adjourn in memory of Officer Caesar Trinidad Sandobal. Thank you Members.

Thank you Mr. Gallagher. At this time our quorum call is lifted and Members, we ask that you bring the names to the desk to be printed in the journal. All requests to adjourn in the memory will be deemed read and printed in the journal. Moving to announcements, our Committee hearings. Budget Subcommitee one on Health and Human Services meets upon the call of the chair in a room TBD to be determined. Budget Subcommitee two on Education Finance meets upon a German session today in swing space room 1100. Budget Subcommitee three on Climate, Crisis, Resources, Energy and Transportation meets upon the call of chair in a room to be determined. Budget Subcommitee four on State Administration meets upon a German obsession in room 444. And Budget Subcommitee Five on public safety meets at 230. Well upon upon German obsession in room 437. Session schedule is as follows Tuesday, May 16 check in session. Wednesday, May 17 check in session. Thursday, May 18, 4th session at 09:00 A.m.. Seeing and hearing. No further business. I'm ready to entertain. A motion to adjourn Mr. Nguyen moves and Mr. Gallagher seconds at this house. Stand adjourn until Thursday, May 18. At 09:00 A.m., we are adjourned.