Senate Floor

Madam Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll call].

A quorum is present. Members, we're going to get ready to start. If you could please take your seats. Would the Members and our guests beyond the rail and in the gallery please rise.

We will be led in prayer this afternoon by our guest chaplain, arch-priest Father Datev Harutyunian. After which, please remain standing for the presentation of the colors by the Homenetmen Color Guard, followed by the pledge of allegiance to the flag, led by Senator Deruzo. Father.

Almighty God, we lift up our prayers to you with reverence and trust to guide us and strengthen us all in our calling to serve and protect the people of God. We praise you for blessing us with a gift of life, bestowing upon us all bounties of the world and challenging us to become your good hands in our communities.

Almighty God, we know well that the honorable Members of this Senate have responded to your call to bring their wisdom for the well-being of the State of California. We are here today with dual responsibilities to guard and cherish their God-given gifts. And we are also here as citizens of United States of America, wheeled with the spirit of the founding fathers of this great nation to become exemplary leaders of our communities.

The United States of America has inspired us to cherish the true value of democracy and freedom, as well as the universal respect for humanity as the reflection of God's love. Today we pray for the 120,000 Armenians, including women, children, the elderly, and the disabled, who have been under the blockade for over 100 days in our homeland of Artsak, cut off from life's most basic necessities, including food, fuel and medicine. We pray for world peace and beseech you, guidance and mercy.

Enlighten our hearts with your love and compassion in order that we may serve with the justice and prudence in mind. Almighty God, bless this Senate with their Members and their mission. Grant them divine wisdom and love to carry on their duties diligently, to uphold from justice for the past, and be the part of the justice for all generations to come. Amen.

Color Guard, please post the colors. We will now be led in the pledge of allegiance to the flag by Senator Durazo.

Colleagues and guests, please join me. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, liberty, and justice for all.

Color guard, please retire the colors. How about a Senate welcome to the Color Guard for joining us here today. Members, without objection, we will now move to Senate third reading to take up file item 70, Senate Resolution 28 by Senator Portantino. Madam Secretary, please read.

Senate Resolution 28 by Senator Portantino relative to the commemoration of the anniversary of the Armenian genocide of 1915 through 1923.

Senator Portantino, the floor is yours.

Thank you, Madam President and Members, it is an honor to commemorate, sad honor to commemorate the 108th anniversary of the Armenian genocide and to be one of the authors of Senate Resolution 28, which reaffirms California's recognition of the Armenian genocide. Some of us have heard the first-hand accounts of the genocide, and some of us may not. And so I will share some of those observations from genocide survivors. With your permission, Madam President.

It was a nightmare in Dalvor when a 12-year-old's family were warned of the proximity of the Ottoman soldiers. She fled with her mother and her eight-year-old brother to a hill above the village to hide their valuables and wait for the rest of their family to join them. But as dawn came, a massacre erupted. They watched as soldiers beheaded her father and stabbed her two-year-old nephew before turning on the boy's mother, who was seven months pregnant.

The three of them returned to the village the following night to bury the dead. Quote, the scene was hellish. We put the killed baby on my sister's chest and covered them with stones, but we couldn't find my father's corpse, wrote the woman, recounting the story told to her by her grandmother. When asked about his mother, a survivor said, my dreams cannot mourn her. They are deferred. I did not have enough energy to mourn her.

Another survivor said she didn't shed a tear when her family was slaughtered. And years later, when she was asked why, she said, have you ever seen a stone crying? Have you ever seen a stone crying? These are just a few firsthand experiences that were published in the Guardian in 2015, and many of them are similar to what the people of Artsakh have been experiencing since the 2020 war.

108 years later, the successor states of the genocide perpetrators, Turkey and Azerbaijan, continue their aggression against the Armenian people. While Armenia and Artsak have tried to recover from the 2020 war. Attacks on the border and violations of human rights have not stopped the imprisonment of Armenian POWs and civilians and the systematic destruction of Armenian cultural and religious sites is part of this ongoing, brutal campaign and frankly, ethnic cleansing against the indigenous Armenian population of Artsakh. Artsakh has been under blockade for over 90 days.

And just yesterday, just yesterday, on the eve of April 24, which is the day the genocide started 108 years ago, on the eve, Azerbaijan set up their own checkpoint at the Lashian corridor, the only road connecting Armenia with Artsakh, to continue this inhumane blockade. Now, as the only state or federal elected representative from the U.S., who has actually gone to Artsakh since the 44-day war, I witnessed firsthand the destructive impact of the war had on a peaceful people.

I met with wounded soldiers and I prayed at memorials sadly filled with weeping mourning families. It was a deeply emotional experience that has me angry and determined to speak up. And earlier this year, I worked with colleagues in the Armenian community to lead efforts calling on the White House to take action against Azerbaijan by immediately ending military assistance and requesting humanitarian aid.

So the lessons from 108 years ago, the lessons of the genocide, the reason why we're here today to again commemorate and proclaim California's solidarity, is critical that we move beyond these words and take action to help. Now, California is home to the largest Armenian American population in the country. And this community has made significant contributions to the 25th Senate District and our great state. And I'm honored to represent this vibrant community and stand in solidarity with all those who continue to advocate for justice and peace.

We have a moral obligation to not only condemn all genocides and violations of human rights, but also to hold the perpetrators accountable in order to have a more peaceful and just world for generations. This one and future ones. He shumenk yev bahanjum oddsvats orna. With that, I respectfully ask for an Aye vote on Senate resolution 28.

Senator Archuleta.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Senators, those with us this morning, this afternoon, I rise today as a proud co-sponsor of Senate Bill Resolution or Senate Resolution 28, commemorating the anniversary of the Armenian genocide. As you've heard the atrocities, but as a member of the California Armenian Legislative Council and Caucus, I am grateful and proud that our nation now formally recognizes the Armenian genocide. Sanctioned by the Ottoman Empire, 1915, the Armenian genocide was the first state-sponsored genocide in modern times.

Entire communities were forcibly marched to their deaths or murdered in an attempt to erase their presence from a region they had peacefully resided in for over 4,000 years. California is home to the largest Armenian American population in the United States. We must continue to support the Armenian community to ensure future generations learn from this genocide and prevent any atrocity like this ever to happen again.

I am eternally grateful to the Armenian American community and the descendants of the survivors across the globe for their perseverance and their dedication to the Armenian cause. In order for us to present and present the future generations to them to learn about the injustices that has befallen their ancestors, we must be in complete and accurate account of history. And as you heard earlier, it is happening as we speak. Only then can we prevent the issues of today from compounding and developing into the injustices of tomorrow.

For these reasons, I respectfully ask your Aye vote.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I rise in support of SR 28, and I thank the author on this 108th anniversary of the Armenian genocide. My heart is with the Armenian people as they continue their struggle for justice and peace. Despite the lessons of history, Azerbaijan's ongoing ethnic cleansing campaign in Artsakh serves as a stark reminder of the need for unwavering solidarity.

Senator Durazo.

As we stand together, I am proud to represent little Armenia and to reaffirm California's commitment to the Armenian people, as demonstrated by our recognition of Artsakh's Independence in 2014. Thank you.

Senator Menjivar.

Thank you, Madam President. Good afternoon, colleagues. I rise today as a proud coauthor of SR 28, commemorating the 105 million lives lost of the 1915 Armenian genocide. And often, when we speak about these horrific events, we don't speak about it in present terms - present tense. But that's exactly what's happening right now. About 120,000 Armenians right now are being blocked in Artsakh by the Azerbaijanian government. They're being blocked from water, food, and medicine, necessary items to survive.

We spoke last week regarding the Holocaust memorial and how Hitler got his idea, if you will, from this very incident, the Armenian genocide. And we often say, and we repeat, if we don't know our history, we're going to repeat it. But it's happening again right now to the Armenian population. I am so honored to represent a large Armenian population in my district. I thank them for sharing their rich culture with us, for their extensive advocacy work performed by many Armenian organizations in my district.

That is why I ask, and I ask all of my Members to stand with Armenians as they continue to endure oppression in Artsakh. And I respectfully ask for your aye vote on SR 28.

Senator Wiener.

Thank you, Madam President. I rise as co-chair of the Legislative Jewish Caucus in support of SR 28. Every genocide is completely unique, and the hatreds are unique. But there are some commonalities, and one of those commonalities is that after the fact, there are people who try to convince the world that it never happened. You have huge number of people in Armenia massacred, just massacred, murdered, and then you have people years later saying, well, it never really happened. It's all made up.

It's happening with the Holocaust, too. People who say, it never really happened. It's all made up. And people do that for a number of different reasons to try to reduce their own or their community's culpability. But it is so incredibly harmful and toxic, and it makes it more likely that genocides will happen in the future when you try to have that kind of erasure. So I urge an aye vote.

Senators, is there any further discussion or debate? Senator Bradford?

Thank you, Madam President. I, too, rise as vice chair of the Legislative Black Caucus in strong support of SR 28. And as my colleagues have stated, if we do not know our history, we're doomed to repeat it. And for so long, many of the tragedies, not only here in America but around the world, have been denied, as we've heard and learned about this Armenian genocide.

So, I think it's imperative that we all take this opportunity to educate ourselves of some of the horrific incidents that have happened around the world. And it parallels much of what we've seen here in this country with the annihilation of our Native Americans, the enslavement of blacks, and the exploitation of our Asian communities. So, we do ourselves a great service by educating ourselves and not letting the whitewashing of history continue.

So bringing recognition to this tragedy will hopefully put us in a better position to make sure that it never repeats itself. So, I respectfully ask for aye vote.

Is there any further discussion or debate on this item saying, none. Senator Portantino, you may conclude.

Thank you, Madam President, and thank you, colleagues, for your words of support and recognition of this important resolution. As my colleagues have referenced, genocide denial continues. Just last week, many of our offices received a letter from the Turkish consulate denying that this happened. So when people say, why are we doing this?

That's why we're doing this, because there is the perpetrator out there, continuing to deny a historical fact, continuing to deny that 1.5 million people were put to death during the first generation - genocide of the 20th century. And that phrase we've often used, the first genocide of the 20th century, is implicit, that there were genocides to follow.

And had we learned the lesson during World War I, we wouldn't have had the holocaust of World War II, we wouldn't have had Rwanda, we wouldn't have had the genocides that came subsequent to that historic lesson. And so it's appropriate that California stands in solidarity, speaks out, and I appreciate the comments and respectfully ask for an aye vote on SR 28.

Madam Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call]

Please call the absent Members.

[Roll Call]

Aye, 39, No, 0. The Senate Resolution is adopted. Members, we're going to move on to privileges of the floor. Senator Portantino at the majority leader's desk.

Thank you. Madam President and Members, it is indeed an honor to acknowledge our special guests who have joined us today for this important 108th commemoration of the Armenian genocide. First, we were joined by Archpriest Father Datev Harutyuian, Reverend Father Krikor Zakaryan, Reverend Father Mesrop Ash, Reverend Father Yeghishe Ksachikyan, and Father Smpd Saboudjian. So we want to acknowledge our clergy. We also want to acknowledge the Homenetmen Scouts who provided our color guard.

And on a special note, all of those who are supportive, our young people, in particular, our special needs young people. The Homenetmen created a scouting chapter just for children of special needs, and they called it the Hrashq Chapter, which means miracle. And when you go to their jamborees and you see 150 special needs scouts marching alongside the other children, it is a sight to see. So I always have a soft spot for the Homenetmen for their recognition of our children with special needs.

We also have with us Armenian Assembly of America, Valina Agbabian, Norjan Kevranian, Lori Agbabian. We have, from the Armenian National Committee of America, Pasadena, David Gavorkyan, Armenian National Committee of America, Matt Senekeremian from San Francisco. Armenian National Committee of America, Aram Sarkisian, who's from Sacramento, Armenian National Committee of America, Khatchig Tazian. Armenian National Committee of America, Western Region Chair Nora Hovsepian. We have from the California Armenian Legislative Caucus Foundation, the Sahabi family, and the Carpetian family.

And we have many additional guests up in the gallery representing multiple Armenian American organizations. So please give a warm Senate welcome to our special guests. Maybe indulge in a photo.

Absolutely. Members who would like to be included in the photo. Now's your opportunity to join. Members, we're ready to proceed with our floor session and Senator Portantino at his desk.

Thank you, Madam President. Under privileges of the floor, I would just like to thank the floor staff, the Majority Leader staff, the Pro Tem staff, and my staff as we come back to normal and reengage the community. It was wonderful to see and thank you, everybody, for making this happen today.

Thank you very much. We're going to move on to privileges of, continued privileges of the floor. Senator Cortese at the Majority Leader's desk with guests.

Thank you, Madam President. And with your permission, Senator Wahab is joining me to make very brief comments on this recognition. We want to recognize the Indo-American Community Federation, also known as IACF, which is present for its annual Unity Day. The IACF members are here with us today in the gallery and if I can ask for them to be acknowledged before we continue with some very brief comments. They are here in the gallery.

If you'd like to stand up.

They will be presented this resolution very shortly as we reconvene with them. But the organization is a nonprofit organization. It's based in Fremont, actually in Senator Wahab's district. Founded in 1993 by Jeevan Zutshi, it encourages Indo-Americans to work together to address issues that impact their community. The organization works to promote unity and embrace diversity through seminars, conventions, and even financial assistance.

It is engaged in many fundraising efforts to support those kinds of initiatives and others that help local youth, people in refugee camps, and even an orphanage in India. IACF's Unity Day serves to highlight the importance of unity. This year's theme is unity and diversity with a focus on reclaiming a sense of connection. Since 2002, they've hosted an annual unity dinner which occurred last Friday night. And there they discussed youth mental health and gun violence.

I want to thank them for all of their work and service to the community. And I want to turn the microphone over to Senator Wahab at this.

Thank you, Senator Cortese. You know, I just want to highlight the fact that this organization has been hosting a Unity Day dinner for years and it's incredibly important. So I'm proud to support the Indo-American Community Federation's celebration of Unity Day. When I consider this year's theme of unity and diversity, I think of all the ways the Indo-American community is integrated across the fabric of our communities.

From involvement in local education, youth programs, civic engagement as well as their efforts to support small businesses across the district. The Indo-American community demonstrates a level of community involvement I both respect and admire. I extend my gratitude to the Indo-American Community Federation's commitment to their community and look forward to continued collaboration and engagement with their work. Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you, Madam President. Members, while the players are lining up, you may have heard references to Oakland being referred to as the City of champions because of Oakland's various NBA and World Series championships. And speaking of the NBA, we're all watching with bated breath that yesterday was a nail biter with first time California's four teams competing in the basketball champions, or championships, meaning NBA. But today we have California champions right here in the Senate's house, in the house of the people.

And today I ask you to join me in honoring Oakland's two newest champions. The California State high school basketball championship winners, Oakland, Tex Lady Bulldogs and Oakland highs Wildcats. Now, we've got here behind me, the starting five players from each team, along with their coaches. But up in the gallery, we have more of the coaches, more of the players. So welcome them in the gallery also. And those of us, my friends here behind me on the floor, from Oakland Tech Lady Bulldogs, we have Nia Hunter.

You can wave. Mari Somvichian, Erin Sellers, Sophia Askew Gonzalez, Jada Williams and coach Jasmine Bragg. And from the Oakland High Wildcats, we have Anthony Lacey, money Williams, Joshua Clark, Tayshan Gamble, Jamone Campbell and coach Angel Macedon. So let me tell you a little bit first about the Wildcats. Oakland High has a storied basketball history. Its most famous alumnus, Damon Lillard. And Damien. Damien, yes, Damien. Thank you for that correction. He's an all star guard now for the Portland Trailblazers.

But this 2023 group is very, very special because it is the first Oakland High boys team to ever win a state title. Wildcats, you deserve to be very proud of your accomplishment. You had some struggles this year, but you never gave up. And that hard work paid off with a 5943 victory over Buena High of Ventura in that state championship game. Now, I'd like to quote Oakland High star player money Williams, who scored a game-high 22 points and nine rebounds in that title game.

Money said, we did this for Oakland, for the youth. I want the youth to look at this and be like, I can do this. Don't let nobody tear you down. Stay true to yourself. Trust God and you can accomplish your goals. And Lady Bulldogs, we've welcomed you to the Capitol before because this is your third state championship. The last time you were here, four years ago, prior to the pandemic, you and the Oakland High girls team came after you both won state championships that year.

So this is your third straight title. It's amazing achievement. The Oakland Tech seniors never lost a playoff game. You are truly the best high school girls basketball team in Oakland and in the state, and either has ever produced. And I wouldn't be surprised to see if to see many of you who are carrying on to play again next year, to be back here as state title championships again. So these student athletes, their coaches, their families, their fans, they deserve huge congratulations. Senate, join me in saying, go, Wildcats. Go, Bulldogs. Go, Oakland.

Congratulations to the players and their coaches and the family members that are here. And if you'd like to take a picture with them, now would be a good time. One, two. Thank you very much for joining us here today. Congratulations to all of the team players.

Senator McGuire, want to ask Members to please take your seats. We're not finished with session yet. Senator McGuire, the floor is yours.

Thank you so much, Madam President and Members, ladies and gentlemen of the Senate, we are so thrilled to be able to welcome Francisco Hernandez Valdez to the Senate today. Francisco, out of literally thousands of California Conservation Corps Members, has been selected as the 2022 Corps Member of the Year for the entire Golden State. Francisco is a true California success story, and I think that you will agree he is an inspiration to all of us. He's always known what he's wanted.

Francisco came to the United States at the age of 17 in search of a better life. Like so many before him, he migrated to the United States without his parents or his siblings. He did it by himself. He's a self-starter. Since arriving, he's now put himself through school and has always focused on giving back. He's the former President of the Solano California Conservation Corps Advisory Board. He's been a leader in the Forestry Corps program.

And now, which we are so thrilled to announce, he's about to graduate from the Santa Rosa Junior College Fire Academy this Friday and will be serving this state as a Member of the fire service. He is. Just give him a round of applause, please. Francisco is tenacious. He's dedicated, hardworking, and committed to California. And, Members, please join all of us in congratulating Francisco Hernandez Valdez on this well-deserved honor as Corpse Member of the Year.

Members, if you would like to join the awardee in the picture, you can join Senator McGuire as well. Congratulations to Jose Francisco Hernandez Valdez for his work with the Conservation Corps. Members, we're going to move on to. Messages from the Governor will be deemed read, messages from the Assembly will be deemed read. Reports of Committee will be deemed read, and amendments adopted. Members moving on to motions, resolutions, and notices.

Without objection, the Senate journals for April 172023 through April 202023 will be approved as corrected by the minute Clerk. Senator Nguyen.

Thank you, Madam President. Under motion resolution, I wish to remove SCR f5 and SCR 7 from the inactive file and place onto second reading, please.

So ordered. Thank you, Senator Seyarto

Thank you, Madam President. I would like to remove item number five, SR 15, from the inactive file.

So ordered. Remember, we're going to move on to consideration of the daily file, second reading file, please read.

Senate Bill 625 with amendments 47. With amendments 770. With amendments 67. With amendments 786. With amendments 85, with amendments eight.

Members, we're going to move on to the Senate, third reading. We'll start with file item number 31, SB 467 by Senator Portantino. Madam Secretary, please read.

Senate Bill 467 by Senator Portantino. An act relating to community colleges.

Senator Portantino, the floor is yours.

Thank you, Madam President and colleagues, today I'm presenting SB 467 which will prohibit a California community college from denying a student access to an internship or an apprenticeship training program based on their use of an individual tax identification number when applying for these programs. In the past, we've made great strides to increase access to education for undocumented students, making significant investments that incentivize completion and promote job placement.

The Faculty Association for California Community Colleges brought to our attention that some colleges have denied admission to students into certain career, technical, education, or workforce programs because of their immigration status, resulting in not being able to complete the program and secure employment. This Bill provides an important next step in correcting this inequity and ensures immigration status does not present a barrier to obtaining a higher education for all our students. And I respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Is there any discussion or debate on this item? Any discussion or debate saying none. Please call. This item is eligible for unanimous consent. Is there any objection? Unanimous roll call. I don't know what I said. Ayes 39. No, zero. Moving on to file item number 32, SB 486 by Senator Hurtado. She is prepared. Please read.

Senate Bill 486 by Senator Hurtado in accolade to interscholastic athletics.

Senator Hurtado, the floor is yours.

Thank you, Madam President. I rise here today to present SB 486, which requires the California Interscalastic Federation to hold all state football championship games for all divisions at comparable neutral locations. Under CIF, California currently holds 15 state football championship games for our high school football teams.

However, only a select few games, those typically reserved for schools from top divisions that will bring in bigger crowds and drive up ticket revenue, were played at neutral facilities with updated fields and almost perfect field conditions which made for a memorable and positive experience for the students. The rest of the CIF state championship games were played at schools of the higher ranking team, with facility and field conditions that varied across the board.

While all winning teams can equally claim to be a California State champion, the conditions under which the games were played are less than equal. SB 486 aims at providing an equitable experience for all student athletes who have earned the opportunity to compete and be forever known as a California State champion. I respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Is there any discussion or debate on this item? Any discussion or debate saying none. This is eligible for unanimous roll call. Is there any objection? Saying none. Ayes, 39. No, zero. The measure is adopted. Members, we're going to move on. Okay, we'll move on to file item number 36, SB 457 by Senator Menjivar. She is prepared.

Senate Bill 457 by Senator Menjivar in accolade to minors.

Senator Menjivar, the floor is yours.

Thank you, ma'am. President, Members, they arise on behalf of SB 457 looking to create a simple fix. Right now, unaccompanied homeless minors cannot access vision care. Current law allows them to get medical and dental care, but because of this missing piece, they are unable to get vision care. Again, these are only for unaccompanied homeless minors who are 15 years and older and are managing their own financial affairs.

It closed the gap because at schools, they're not meeting near half the percent of, or catching near half of the percent of items when doing an eye care exam. SB 457 will make it clear that an unaccompanied homeless minor is able to consent to vision care services. I respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Is there any discussion or debate on this item, Senator Ashby?

Thank you, Madam President. I rise as joint author of SB 457 and thank the author for her leadership. State law already allows for youth aged 15 and older to consent to medical and dental care without their parent or Guardian's consent. SB 457 simply adds vision to the list. A child's ability to see and access regular eye exams are foundational needs that are vital to a child's learning and reading comprehension.

If a child cannot see and cannot consent to their own vision care, it will impact their education heavily. California has the lowest literacy rate in the nation, and we cannot allow another barrier to learning to stay on the books. For youth in our state, it's important that unaccompanied youth, and especially foster youth or youth experiencing homelessness, have the agency to consent to their own care, particularly vision care, should be no different. I respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Is there any further discussion or debate? Further discussion or debate? Saying none, this is eligible for unanimous roll call. Is there any objection? Any objection? Seeing no objection. Ayes 39 no, zero. The measure is adopted. Moving on to file item number 41. Senator Laird, SB 280. He has prepared.

Senate Bill 280 by Senator Laird in accolading to conservatorships.

Senator Laird, the floor is yours.

Thank you very much, madam President. Senate Bill 280 will require a conservator to submit a care plan in certain instances. I've taken amendments to address a lot of the concerns. There's support on both sides. I respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Is there any discussion or debate on this item? Any discussion or debate? Seeing none. Ayes 39, zero no. I guess I have to ask you if there's any objection to a unanimous roll call. First, is there any objection to unanimous roll call? Saying none. Ayes 39 no, zero. The measure is adopted. Moving on to file item number 55. Senator Jones is ready. Please read.

Senate Bill 654 by Senator Jones in accolade to aviation.

Senator Jones, the floor is yours.

Thank you, Madam President. Members, current law prohibits a local agency from offering a lease on an airport for longer than 50 years. Unfortunately, some counties misrepresent the law to mean that they are unable to have a lease for 50 years total. Not at a time. This Bill provides much needed clarity and will encourage new investment in our local airports. I ask for an aye vote.

Is there any discussion or debate on this item? Any discussion or debate saying none? This is also eligible for a unanimous roll call. Is there any objection to using a unanimous roll call? Saying none. Ayes 39 no, zero. The measure is adopted. Members, we are returning to privileges of the floor, and we have Senator Durazo with introductions at the majority leader's desk. Senator Durazo.

Thank you, Madam President. Good afternoon. It's such a pleasure to introduce to the Senate Floor a delegation of Members from the 2022 Major League Soccer support Shield and league champion Los Angeles Football Club. Yes, we are joined today by goalkeeper Max Crippu, former player Jordan Harvey, owners Bennett Rosenthal, Brandon Beck and Peter Goober, co presidents John Thorrington and Larry Friedman, CFO and COO Stacey Johns, Executive Vice President of corporate strategy Bennett Tran, Director of communications Crystal Ryder and Senior Vice President of communications Seth Burton.

One of the newest sport teams in Los Angeles kicking off in 2018, the LAFC has quickly captured the support and the imagination for the world's game in Los Angeles. There have been a number of football superstars whom have donned the now-famous black and gold and contributed to the already rich history of this club. Mexican superstar and club captain Carlos Vela.

Max Crepe's late game heroics in the MLS Championship match helped secure the title as he stopped a potential game winning goal for Philadelphia Union in stoppage time. Despite sustaining a major injury, he helped rally his team to win the match in an exciting penalty kick finish. Jordan Harvey, whom helped build the strong culture of the club and was pivotal to helping the club secure one of the club's first major titles, the 2019 supporters shield for having the best regular season.

In addition to the ownership and management whom have dedicated themselves to providing a team that we can all be proud of, I do want to take a moment to highlight those who are not here, but just as important and those are the fans. The 12th man led by the famous Section 3252 who if they were here, they would have probably have the capital jumping with the same energy and passion that they provide to this football club. Jumping and chanting the whole match.

Dale, dale, dale, black and gold. Above all, with what is the first of many more titles, I want to highlight how this football club has captured the heart and the soul of a fierce and passionate, diverse fan base composed of peoples from all walks of life. They brought people together to cheer for this team unity across the diversity of our great, wonderful city.

Further, they are also contributing to help build the women's game by supporting their sister club, Angel City FC, which is in their second season and has us just as excited about the ongoing growth of popularity of the women's game moving forward. Overall, we are excited to be hosting them here today to show off that trophy and to celebrate their success, their contributions to our community. We wish the club much, much more success as they have just begun the 2023 season. Congratulations to our black and gold.

Members. If we can take the first picture with Senator Durazo, if the first picture can be with Senator Gerazzo, and then the second picture can be for the LA delegation, that is just they want to get in there right away. And then the third picture is the plebe. Anybody who wants to join? Okay, now anybody from the LA delegation? So if there's anyone else who would like a picture, now's your time. It okay.

If we can get ready to return to business Members, we celebrate the black and gold and are getting back to the red carpet. Now. Moving on in the file, we're actually going to move back in the file to file item number 34, SCR 44 by Senator Caballero Senator Caballero.

Senate Concurrent Resolution 44 by Senator Caballero, relative to sexual assault.

Thank you, Madam President. I rise to present Senate Concurrent Resolution number 44, which declares the month of April a sexual assault awareness month and recognizes April 26 as denim Day in California. In 1998, the Supreme Court of Cassette in Italy overturned the conviction of a man who sexually assaulted an eight year old woman.

The court determined that, quote, because the victim wore very tight jeans, she had to have helped him remove them, and by voluntarily removing the jeans, it was no longer rape, but a consensual act. Enraged by the court decision, the women in the Italian parliament launched into immediate action and protested by wearing jeans to work and called for a demonstration and a day of action.

In opposition to this ruling, women all over the world have followed the lead of the women in the Italian parliament and designated a denim day to raise public awareness about rape and sexual assault and the lack of consent involved in those actions. This month long observation is a time to increase the awareness of sexual assault and highlight the importance of prevention and recovery to support the well being of those affected. In 202144,000 individuals received intervention services from California Rape Crisis Center. 44,000 people. Individuals.

Sexual assault and rape impact people of all racial, cultural and economic backgrounds, and moreover, all genders and age groups. Nearly one in two women and one in five men experience sexual violence other than rape during their lifetime. It is our responsibility to support all survivors by treating them with dignity, compassion and respect. Furthermore, it's crucial to hold perpetrators responsible for sexual attacks and to prevent sexual violence at every opportunity.

For these reasons, we recognize the month of April as sexual assault Awareness Month and designate April 26, 2023 as Denim Day in California and encourage everyone to wear jeans on that day and stand in solidarity with survivors. I respectfully ask for your aye vote. Thank you, Senator Skinner. You are recognized.

Thank you, Madam President. Members, I rise on behalf of the Legislative Women's Caucus in support of the Senator from Mercedes resolution and as she described to you what the origins of Denim Day, which is to show solidarity to survivors of sexual assault. We know that, as she mentioned, that women, girls, gender-inclusive and everyone has endured some form of sexual assault. I don't mean each of us as individuals, I mean every demographic.

And we are still in a circumstance where people have to worry whether they are walking to school, doing their jobs, caring for their families, or going about their daily lives, whether they will be harassed or assaulted. Rape, one form of sexual assault, is still pervasive, and it is underreported. So the number that the Senator mentioned regarding the number of people who have approached rape crisis centers is larger than the number who've reported a rape. And why? Because victims do not, by and large, report rapes.

They do not because they feel that oftentimes they're treated dismissively by law enforcement. Their evidence, if they go to the trouble of going to a hospital and getting it collected, which is a very intrusive exam, is then not always put in the national database. So there's little to no hope to find their persecute or prosecute their rapist. And this discourages then that reporting. And yet, for those who are convicted of rape, we find often that it's an average of six or more rapes that they've committed.

So this is essential that we create conditions for people to feel comfortable reporting their sexual assault to make sure that law enforcement takes it seriously and that the evidence is put in that national database and that sexual assault perpetrators are caught and convicted. Permission to read this is an excerpt from you asked for it by Julia Francisco Rodis. Overwhelmed, ashamed, and feeling guilty. She believed she was filthy. So I lifted her chin, reassured her she hadn't sinned, told her it wasn't your fault.

It wasn't your clothes, it wasn't your friendliness, it wasn't your response, it wasn't you. You did not ask for it. She did not ask for it. He did not ask for it. They did not ask for it. We did not ask for it. No one ever asks for it because there is never an excuse or invitation to harass, abuse, assault, or rape. And with that, I ask for your aye vote.

Senator Rubio, you are recognized.

Thank you, Madam President and ladies and gentlemen of the Senate, today I rise as a proud co author to SCR 44, which proclaims April 2023 as Sexual Assault Awareness Month. The National Intimate partner in Sexual Violence Survey reports that there are over 22 million survivors of rape, with 2 million of those survivors living in the State of California. As already shared, in 1998, the Italian Supreme Court overturned the conviction of a man who sexually assaulted an 18 year old young woman because she wore tight jeans.

It is never okay to blame a victim, and clothing is never an invitation to sexually assault anyone. Nations and states throughout the world have followed the lead of the Italian parliament by designing their own denim day to raise public awareness about rape and sexual assault. And I'm glad California continues to highlight this issue and supports victims. This resolution encourages all Californians to wear jeans on Denim Day, which helps communicate the message that there is no excuse for and never an invitation to commit rape.

Rape and sexual assault impacts everyone, not just the person assaulted, but their families as well. Harmful attitudes about rape and sexual assault allowed these crimes to persist and forced survivors to be revictimized through victim blaming attitudes. Denim Day is an opportunity for people to wear jeans for a purpose, to support survivors and educate themselves about the different forms of sexual assault. Thank you. And I respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Thank you. Seeing no other Members wishing to be recognized, Senator Caballero, you may close.

Thank you very much to my colleagues who joined in making a statement, and I appreciate your support and ask for your aye vote today.

Thank you very much. This is eligible for unanimous roll call if there are no objections. Seeing none, 39 to zero. Measure confirmed. That concludes Senate third reading. Moving on now to Committee announcements. Senator Bradford, you are recognized.

Thank you. Senate Committee on Energy, Utilities and Communications. Will meet in room 1200 at three, let's say 3:40.

Senator Wiener?

The Senate Committee on Housing will meet in room 2200, also at 3:40.

Senator Alvarado-Gil.

Human Services Committee will be meeting in room 2100 at 3:40. Actually, less than 3 hours. 2 hours and a half. Yeah.

If there is no other business. Senator Atkins? The desk is clear.

Madam President. Thanks so much. Our next floor session, colleagues, will be this Thursday, April 272023 at 09:00 a.m. The Senate will be in recess until 330, at which time the adjournment motion will be made. We will reconvene Thursday, April 27, at 09:00 a.m.