Assembly Floor

[Roll Call]

Members, please make your way to the chamber so we may begin our session. Members, a quorum is present. We ask our guests and visitors in the rear of the chamber and in the gallery to please stand for the prayer and the flag salute. Members, the day's prayer will be offered by our Assembly chaplain, Imam Yasir Khan. Imam.

In the name of God, the most gracious, the most merciful, Almighty God, we thank you for the continued preservation of our blessed state and all who uphold civil duties of leadership within our borders. We pray today for all the Members of the State Assembly and their staff. May they be endowed with wisdom as they serve with the authority of government in our land. Bless their daily work and encourage our leaders of this state to fulfill their elected duties with mercy and justice. Bless us all with sincere and joyful hearts of service as we serve this state. We seek you with all our hearts, knowing full well that you hear our prayers. Amen.

Thank you. Please join Assembly Member Calderon who will lead us in the pledge.

Members, please join me in the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, which stands one nation.

Reading of the previous day's journal.

Assembly Chamber of Sacramento Thursday, September 14, 2023 the Assembly met

Mr. Gallagher seconds that the reading of the previous day's journal be dispensed with. Presentations and petitions there are none. Introduction and reference of bills will be deferred. Reports of Committee will be deemed and read and amendments deemed adopted. Messages from the Governor? There are none. Messages from the Senate? There are none. I want to wish you all a happy National Irish Coffee Day. Maybe you can sip that while you're looking at the Wolf full Moon tonight.

Moving on to motions and resolutions, the absences for the day will be deemed read and printed in the journal. Majority Leader Aguiar Curry, you are recognized for your procedural motions. Members, please give your respectful attention to Majority Leader Aguiar Curry for her procedural motions.

Good morning Members. I request unanimous consent to suspend Rule 45.5 to allow Assembly Members Mike Fong, Rodriguez, Joe Patterson, Ortega, Pappin and Wicks to speak on an adjournment in memory today.

Without objection. Such shall be the order.

I request unanimous consent to suspend Assembly Rule 1118 to allow Assemblymember Pellerin to have guests in the rear of the chamber today.

Without objection. Such shall be the order.

I request unanimous consent to return AB 1770 Committee on Emergency Management to the Senate for further action.

Without objection, such shall be the order.

Pursuant to Assembly Rule 98, I request unanimous consent to strike 29 vetoes from the file at the request of the authors. The list of bills is at the desk. I would ask the Clerk to read the bills to be stricken.

[Vetoes striken]

Members, please join me in wishing a happy birthday to Assemblymember Calderon happy birthday. And today is her actual birthday, by the way. And let us also wish happy birthday to Assemblymember Reyes who celebrates on Saturday. It's a very nice tiara. Assembly Member Lee, you are recognized for your guest introductions. Members, your respectful attention to Assembly Member Lee.

I would like to welcome Members of the Fremont Chamber of Commerce today to the Assembly floor, including the President, Jasmine Basrai. Please give your warm welcome to Members of the Fremont Chamber of Commerce.

Thank you Mr. Lee, and welcome to your guests. Mr. Haney, you are recognized for your guest introduction and announcement.

Thank you Mr. Speaker and Members. I am honored to welcome a guest and also to acknowledge Ed Roberts Day, which is a day of celebration, renewal and commitment to equal access for people of all abilities. Often called the father of the living independent movement, Ed Roberts was born on January 231939 and contracted polio at the age of 14, which left him with significant respiratory muscle and limb weakness, which caused him to use a wheelchair for the rest of his life.

When a high school administrators threatened to deny him his diploma on the grounds of non completion of driver's education and physical education, Ed Roberts fought back and that battle against discrimination led him to a life of activism. Not only did he graduate high school, he eventually became the first student using a wheelchair to attend the University of California. Ed successfully sued the State of California to be admitted and convinced the University to accept more students with disabilities.

When disabled students started to arrive on campus, they joined with Ed to establish the disabled student union. He was responsible for establishing the first Center for independent living in Berkeley, California, and his special one of a kind wheelchair now rests in his memory at the Smithsonian Museum. His legacy lives on and is an inspiration to the many differently abled people who fight for their rights and equal access in our state today.

Here with us today is his dear friend, a disability advocate himself, and my constituent who continues on Ed's legacy, Mr. Mike Boyd, who is up with us in the balcony. Thank you, Mike.

Thank you, Mr. Haney. Moving to business on the Daily File, concurrence and Senate amendments. File item number 1 has been dispensed with. Governors vetoes. Pass and retain on file items number 2 through 103. On reconsideration, all items shall be continued. Pass and retain on file items 106, 107, and 108. Pass and retain on file items 109 and 110. Moving on to file item 111, ACR 125 by Assembly Member Pellerin. The Clerk will read.

Assembly Concurrent Resolution 125 by Assembly Member Pellerin and others relative to National Human Trafficking Awareness Month.

Assembly Member Pellerin, you are recognized.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Members, I rise to present ACR 125 in partnership with our colleague from Stockton, which will designate the month of January 2024 as National Human Trafficking Awareness Month. Human trafficking is a crime that involves the use of coercion to recruit and harbor a person for their forced labor or commercial sexual exploitation. Traffickers will often use violence, fraudulent employment agencies, and fake promises of education and job opportunities to trick, coerce, and deceive their victims. This heinous crime can come in many forms.

Victims of labor trafficking are often forced to work in factories, on construction sites, or in the agriculture sector without pay or with an inadequate salary, living in fear of violence and often in inhumane conditions. Victims of sex trafficking frequently work in industries where they are coerced to perform sex acts for money, such as illicit massage business or for adult entertainment. Additionally, anyone under the age of 18 who is forced or coerced to exchange sex for anything of value is also a victim of human trafficking.

Traffickers employ a variety of control tactics, most commonly including physical and emotional abuse and threats, isolation from friends and family, and economic abuse. They make promises aimed at addressing the needs of their target to impose control. As a result, victims become trapped and fear leaving for a myriad of reasons, including psychological trauma, shame, emotional attachment, or physical threats to themselves or their family. Human trafficking rarely conforms to the stereotypical image of kidnapping. Instead, it frequently occurs through discrete networks and interpersonal relationships.

Individuals, families, and businesses who exploit others often seem legitimate. In fact, according to the Polaris Project nonprofit, many people in active sex trafficking situations do not recognize themselves as being victims because they have been expertly groomed by a trafficker to believe they have chosen to participate in commercial sex or labor. The strategic methods of human trafficking are what make it so difficult to track.

So we must recognize that people of all genders, ages, and backgrounds can become victims of this crime, which occurs in every region of the world. Moreover, all ages, genders, and backgrounds can be human traffickers. With that, we must also recognize that people who experience trafficking are often among the most socially and economically vulnerable.

Many survivors are disproportionately racial and ethnic minorities, indigenous populations, women and girls, members of the LGBTQ plus community, and migrants, people who are more extremely vulnerable to exploitation due to social, legal, and cultural marginalization. Even if they have the opportunities to report their situation, victims of trafficking may not report it for fear of retaliation or violence.

Human trafficking is an affront to human dignity, and as we think about this horrific crime impacting people locally and globally in our own communities, we must remember that this is the survivor's story, and it is our duty to listen and act.

That is why ACR 125 emphasizes the antitrafficking movement as a movement of survivors and states that here in California, we are committed in partnering with and learning from survivors, the many advocacy groups who give their insight into policy solutions. Programs like Rising Worldwide, Safe and Sound. A first in the nation, survivor created and led training for schools and businesses teach youth, educators, community members how to identify human trafficking, how to prevent it, and how to stay safe, and how to end it.

One of their projects is creating bracelets. Survivors of human trafficking will create these Safe and Sound bracelets. I'm wearing one today in their honor. And all of you have received a poster I hope you will put on your door proclaiming January as Human Trafficking Month. ACR 125 will further express California's commitment to combating all forms of human trafficking, supporting the recovery and empowerment of victims and survivors, prosecuting offenders, and raising community awareness. In solidarity with survivors and human trafficking leaders on this resolution, I respectfully ask for your support and co-authorship of ACR 125.

Thank you, Assembly Member Pellerin. Assembly Member Villapudua, you are recognized.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Members, I'm proud to rise today and join author of ACR 125 to recognize January as Human Trafficking Awareness Month. And I want to thank all of my colleagues who joined us this morning out of the West Steps with our coalition of stakeholders in recognizing. Nobody needs to be convinced on how horrendous this crime against humanity is.

What's imperative is that we recognize the complexity of this issue and collaboration it will need between state and local agencies, public and private partnerships to end human trafficking once and for all. It requires a united front because victims. Because for victims, this vicious cycle can seem impossible to escape from. They need support, resources, and viable pathway to economic stability and opportunities that will pull them out of this for good.

And critically, the need of education, vigilant and aware society that can recognize the signs of danger and provide the need and support that they need. So this resolution and declaration of human trafficking awareness will always be a sorrow one that we find ourselves in need and recognizing this. But it is all more important that we take this message and expand it beyond these chambers so that we can put the end of human trafficking. I thank you and I respectfully ask for an aye vote today.

Thank you, Mr. Villapudua. Assembly Member Davies, you are recognized.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Members, today I rise in support of ACR 125. Human trafficking is not just a crime, it's a heinous act that robs someone of their freedom and ability to make their own decisions. Unfortunately, this is an issue and a business that is only growing. The federal Department of Justice saw a 49% increase and arrests made for johns between 2011 and 2021. This is just wrong.

Last year, we as a collective body reached a bipartisan agreement on a tremendous bill known as SB 14. We truly put our money where our mouth is when it came to putting victims first. As we honor National Human Trafficking Awareness month, I hope as we are all finalizing our legislator packages and are considering bills on this issue area, we truly put victims first and go after the johns and the pimps who depraved their victims for sexual and monetary purposes. Let's show the rest of nation California will bring down the hammer when it comes to these abusers. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I ask for an aye vote.

Thank you, Assembly Member Davies. Assembly Member Reyes, you are recognized.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I thank my colleague. I stand in strong support of ACR 125. Last week, I had the privilege of speaking on a panel with our Police Chief and a number of other advocates. And what was most interesting is the statistics that were provided, and I'd like to share those with you all. Did you know human trafficking is among the world's fastest growing criminal enterprises and is estimated to be a $150 billion a year global industry?

Did you know the United States is widely regarded as a destination country for human trafficking? Federal reports have estimated that 14,500 to 17,500 victims are trafficked into the United States annually. According to the National Human Trafficking Hotline, California is one of the largest sites of human trafficking in the United States. Indigenous people make up only 1.1% of the United States population, yet they account for nearly 25% of human trafficking victims. 60% of youth who were sex trafficked had involvement in the foster care system.

In the United States, 20% of homeless youth are LGBTQ, and 58% of them are exploited through sex trafficking. And as a public service announcement, the National Human Trafficking Hotline is 1-888-373-7888. Thank you.

Thank you, Assembly Member Reyes. Seeing and hearing no further debate, Assembly Member Pellerin, you may close.

I respectfully ask for your vote, and I like the first roll call to be open for co-authors. Thank you.

Thank you, Assembly Member Pellerin. All debate having ceased, the Clerk will open the roll for co-authors. Members, this is for co-authors. All those vote who desire to vote. All those vote who desire to vote. All those vote who desire to vote. There are 69 co-authors added. Without objection, we will now take a voice vote on the resolution. All in favor say aye. All those opposed say no. The ayes have it. Resolution is adopted. Assembly Member Pellerin, you are again recognized for your guest introductions.

Yes, thank you, Mr. Speaker. This morning I'd like to welcome staff members of Rising Worldwide to the floor. Rising Worldwide is founded and led by survivors of gender-based violence and human trafficking. Its mission is to disrupt poverty and exploitation through education and entrepreneurship. Jess Torres is a survivor leader at Rising who manages Rising Safe and Sound, a human trafficking prevention program for youth. This innovative program was launched in California schools in 2015 in my district.

It's one of the first prevention programs, maybe the only one in the nation, to be created and led by survivors of trafficking. When Jess came to Rising, they were not new to the anti-trafficking movement. Jess Torres is a trans indigenous writer, educator, and organizer dedicated to community building, direct action, and policy work for the marginalized and criminalized. Jess is a systems impacted youth with lived experience of child trafficking. They have 15 years of advocacy experience in the anti-trafficking movement.

Today, it is my honor to announce that that resolution, ACR 125, that we just passed, was written by Jess Torres with support from other survivors. Thank you, Jess and Rising Worldwide for bringing your voice and wisdom to the State Assembly. And I also want to introduce Maricruz Baldwin, who's a peer counselor and resource manager for Safe and Sound. And we welcome Joanna Friedman, who is a documentary filmmaker, on the floor today. Thank you colleagues, for giving them a warm welcome.

To file item 112, AB 817 by Assembly Member Pacheco. The Clerk will read.

Assembly Bill 817 by Assembly Member Pacheco and others, an act relating to local government.

Hold for just a minute.

Okay, Members, your respectful attention to Assemblymember Pacheco. Assembly Member Pacheco, you are recognized Members, your respectful attention to Assembly Member Pacheco, you are recognized, Assembly Member Pacheco.

Thank you and good morning. Mr. Speaker and Members, I rise to present Assembly Bill 817. AB 817 is a simple Bill that does one main thing. It reduces barriers to entry for civic participation, opening the pipeline to public engagement and future elected office to include more diverse and inclusive variety of Californians.

Amendments have included the sunset of January 12026 and you have my commitment that I will be aligning ABH 17 with all the teleconferencing requirements established last year in Senate Bill 544 that apply to state advisory bodies in the next house. AB 817 achieves this by allowing nondecision making advisory only bodies at the local level to participate remotely while maintaining public access and transparency in governance through requiring the use of two way audiovisual technology for all meetings utilizing this authority. The goal is to bring parity among the new state standards for advisory bodies and for nondecision making advisory bodies.

AB 817 is an equity and diversity measure that would enhance attendance, increase transparency, reduce costs, foster better attendance at meetings, and accommodate disproportionate health and safety challenges for those with physical or economic limitations, including seniors, persons with disabilities, single parents and or caretakers, economically marginalized groups, and those who live in rural areas and face prohibitive driving distances and align local government requirements for civic engagement with the state's standards for advisory bodies.

Thank you, Assembly Member Pacheco. Assembly Member Wilson, you are recognized.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Good morning, Members. I'd like to thank our Assembly Member, our colleague from Los Angeles, for her leadership on this Bill. I signed on as a coauthor to support her efforts in addressing inequities in current law, which can limit the ability of willing community Members to participate and provide valuable input. AB 817 will increase civic participation and diversify the voices at the table by aligning local advisory body participation with the new state standard.

Colleagues, our body has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to address institutional systems that unfairly impact our most vulnerable and underrepresented voices. This is a good governance Bill which strengthens inclusivity. So with that, I ask for your support by passing AB 817 with an aye vote. Thank you.

Thank you, Senate Member Wilson. Seeing and hearing no further debate, Assembly Member Pacheco, would you like to close?

Thank you. I respectfully ask for an aye vote.

All debate having ceased, the 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 and tally the votes. Ayes, 47. noes seven. Measure passes, pass and retain on file item 113. Moving on to file item 114. Assembly Member Jackson.

Clerk will read Assembly Bill 637, by Assembly Member Jackson an act relating to air pollution.

Assembly Member Jackson, you are recognized.

Thank you very much. Mr. Speaker, I'm presenting AB 637, seeking to encourage fleets subject to advanced clean fleet regulations to rent zero emission vehicle trucks over diesel trucks. I respectfully ask for an aye vote.

All debate having ceased, 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 and tally the votes. Ayes, 57. noes, three. The measure passes.

File Item 115: AB 667 by Mr. Maienschein. Clerk will read.

Assembly Bill 667 by Assembly Member Maienschein, an act relating to firearms.

You are recognized, Mr. Maienschein.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. California's successful red flag laws allow the court to issue a gun violence restraining order to temporarily restrict access to firearms and ammunition for individuals deemed a significant risk of self-harm or harming others. If after a hearing the judge concludes there is clear and convincing evidence, the court will issue a restraining order prohibiting the respondent from accessing or acquiring firearms or ammunitions for anywhere from one to five years.

AB 667 requires the court to issue a gun violence restraining order for a mandatory five years if the court finds evidence that someone is at extreme risk of violence, including repeated offenses of specified facts within the past 12 months. These are powerful tools to prevent gun violence. They use awareness of those who are the first to notice when someone is in crisis or behaving dangerously, and provide a tool for proactive intervention.

AB 667 will further protections against gun violence by assuring those with egregious patterns of violent behavior are prevented from possessing a firearm for a mandatory five years. Thank you, and I respectfully request an aye vote.

Thank you, Mr. Maienschein. All debate having ceased, the 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 and tally the votes. Ayes: 52; noes: zero. Measure passes. Pass and retain on items number 116 through 119. File Item 120: AB 990 by Assembly Member Grayson.

Clerk will read.

Assembly bill 990 with amendments by Assembly Member Grayson.

Member Grayson, you are recognized on the amendments.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. AB 990 amends are technical in nature. Respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Any objection to taking a voice vote on the amendments? Seeing none, all those in favor say aye. Opposed say no. The ayes have it. Amendments are adopted. The Bill is out to print and back on file. Pass and retain on file item 121. Moving on to file item 122 by Assembly Member Fong, the Clerk will read.

Assembly Bill 1142 by Assembly Member Mike Fong and others, an act relating to postsecondary education.

Assembly Member Fong, Mike Fong, you are recognized.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker and Members. Assembly Bill 1142 establishes the coordinating commission for postsecondary education in California. Prior to 2011, California had an independent body called the California Postsecondary Education Commission to coordinate both public and private postsecondary education in California. CPEC provided independent analyses and recommendations to the Legislature. Unfortunately, their budget was reduced over time and CPEC shut down in the fall of 2011. California is one of only two states without a statewide oversight and coordinating body.

In the meantime, higher education stakeholders and legislators have acknowledged the absence of a body to help guide policy through an independent, holistic lens. Assembly Bill 1142 is a vehicle to continue the discussion of what a coordinating body should look like. The Assembly Higher Education and Senate Education Committee plan on holding informational hearing on this very topic in February. I respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Thank you, Assembly Member Fong. All debate having ceased, the 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 and tally the votes. Ayes: 62; noes: zero. Measure passes. Pass and retain on File Item 123. Moving on to File Item 124: AB 1252 by Assembly Member Wicks.

The Clerk will read.

Assembly Bill 1252 by Assembly Member Wicks and others, an act relating to public safety.

You are recognized.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. AB 1252 codifies the Attorney General's Office of Gun Violence Prevention in statute and establishes a commission to end gun violence tasked with issuing a public report identifying top priorities to improve the implementation, coordination, and effectiveness of gun violence prevention-focused laws and programs. The creation of a commission to end gun violence will foster more coordination and planning across different state and local agencies and help cement the new office's central role in advising and shaping policymakers' response to this complex problem.

We have more gun violence prevention laws on the books here in California than most states, and the proof's in the pudding. We also have a reduction in gun violence, and it's time that we have a hard look at those policies and make sure we fix what's not working and support the programs that are working. And with that, I respectfully ask for an aye vote.

All debate having ceased, the 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: 53; noes: zero. Measure passes. File Item 125: AB 1260 by Assembly Member Joe Patterson.

Clerk will read.

Assembly Bill 1260 by Assembly Member Joe Patterson, an act relating to parole.

Assembly Member Patterson, you are recognized.

Great. Thank you. Good morning, Mr. Speaker and Members. Under current law, CDCR has been able to award various credits to inmates that reduces sentences such as good conduct credits. While I think there are a lot of issues pertaining to the awarding of credits, all AB 1260 does is add transparency and updates the inmate locator with the date of release so prosecutors, victims, and the families know when an inmate is going to be released. With that, I respectfully ask for your aye vote.

All debate having ceased, the 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 and tally the votes. Ayes: 60; noes: zero. Measure passes. Pass and retain on File Item 126. Moving on to File Item 127: AB 846 by Assembly Member Bonta. Mr. Bryan, I believe for a purpose of amendments.

Clerk will read.

Assembly Bill 846 with amendments by Assembly Member Bryan.

Assembly Member Bryan, you are recognized.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker and colleagues. On behalf of Assembly Member Bonta, I rise present amendments to AB 846. The amendments limit rent increases to low income housing tax credit properties in any 12 month period. They limit those increases to 5% plus the percentage change in the cost of living or 10% per year, whichever is lower. These amendments represent the ongoing conversations that Assembly Member Bonta and her office have been having with affording housing developers and other stakeholders. Thank you, and on behalf of our colleague from the Town, I respectfully ask for your aye vote on these amendments.

Like to take a voice vote on the amendments. Without objection, all in favor say, 'aye.' Those against say, 'no.' Ayes have it. Bill is out to print and back on file. Moving on to File Item 128 by Assembly Member McCarty: AB 747. The clerk will read.

Assembly Bill 747 with amendments by Assembly Member McCarty.

Assembly Member McCarty, you are recognized.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Also rise to present amendments this morning. This takes out some of the major opposition related to training repayment agreements with non-competes clauses. Now, this measure solely focuses on enforcement. I respectfully ask for your aye vote on the amendments. Thank you.

Thank you, Assembly Member McCarty. Any objection to taking a voice vote on the amendments? Seeing none, all those in favor say, 'aye.' All those opposed say, 'no.' Ayes have it. The amendments are adopted.

The bill is out to print and back on file. Pass and retain on file items 129 through 142. File item 143, AB 1516 by Assembly Member Kalra for the purpose of amendments. Clerk will read.

Assembly Bill 1516 with amendments by Assembly Member Kalra.

Assembly Member Kalra, you're recognized on your amendments.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Amendments to AB 1516 update the timelines in the bill from July 1, 2024 to July 1, 2025 and add an organization representing employers to the working group. I respectfully ask for an aye vote on the amendments.

Any objection to taking a voice vote on the amendments? Seeing none, we will ask for all those in favor say aye. All those opposed say no. A little louder next time. I can't hear you, but I'm going to say the ayes have it. The amendments are adopted. The bill is out to print and back on file. Aye. Members, we are on Senate third reading, File item 144, SB 400, Senator Wahab by Assembly Member Ortega for the purpose of amendments. The Clerk will read.

The Clerk will read.

Senate Bill 400 with amendments by Assembly Member Ortega.

Good morning, Speaker. I rise to present amendments to SB 400 by Senator Wahab related to transparency between law enforcement agencies. These are effectively chaptering out amendments. The substance of the bill remains the same. On behalf of Senator Wahab, I respectfully ask for your aye vote.

Thank you, Assembly Member Ortega. Are there any objection to taking a voice vote on the amendments? Seeing none, all those in favor say, 'aye.' All those opposed say, 'no.' The ayes have it. The amendments are adopted. The bill is out to print and back on file. Members, we are now moving on to the second-day consent calendar. Before we vote, we will first take up a resolution on the consent calendar for the purpose of adding coauthors. The clerk will now open the roll to allow any--excuse me--clerk will read the resolution--that would be a better approach--on the consent calendar.

House Resolution 64 by Assembly Member Bennett relative to World Wetlands Day.

The Clerk will now open the roll to allow any Member to add on as a co-author to the resolution. All Members vote who desire to vote. All Members vote who desire to vote. All Members vote who desire to vote. Clerk will close the roll. There are 63 co-authors. Moving to a vote on the Consent Calendar. Does any Member wish to remove an item from the Consent Calendar? Seeing none, Clerk will open the roll on the Consent Calendar. All Members... I'm sorry. Clerk will read it first, then we'll open the roll on the second day Consent Calendar.

Assembly Bill 1274 by Assembly Member Connolly, an act relating to the state government.

Now the Clerk will open the roll on the Consent Council. All Members vote who desire to vote. All Members vote who desire to vote. All Members vote who desire to vote. Ayes 65, noes zero. The Consent Calendar is adopted. The Clerk will read the remaining item on the Consent Calendar.

Assembly Bill 1316.

Ayes 65, noes zero.

Assembly Bill 1725.

Ayes 65, noes zero.

And House Resolution 64

Ayes 65, noes zero.

Members, the quorum call is lifted. I would ask that you give your respectful attention to those granted prior permission to speak on an adjournment memory, and we will pause and give Members a chance to move on if they choose. While we're waiting for Members to clear the chamber, we're going to go ahead and entertain vote changes. Mr. Lee.

Yes, thank you, Mr. Speaker. Vote change for AB 1260, aye to not voting.

Mr. Lee, vote change AB 1260. Oh, I'm sorry. Clerk does that.

Vote change, Assembly Member Lee, Assembly Bill 1260, aye to not voting.

Thank you, Mr. Lee. I'm just trying to do all the jobs here. Okay, Members, Mr. Patterson, you are recognized. Vote change.

Yes. Thank you. Vote change, file item 114, AB 637, no to aye.

Vote change, Assembly Member Joe Patterson, Assembly Bill 637, no to aye.

Assembly Member Waldron, you are recognized for a vote change.

Waldron, file item 114, AB 637, no to aye.

Vote change, Assembly Member Waldron, Assembly Bill 637, no to aye.

Thank you. Very quickly, Mr. McCarty. From your desk. You can find a desk, any desk. You're recognized, Mr. McCarty.

Yes, wanted to recognize a former. Well, recognize the kids first. The kids from Phoebe Hearst Elementary School visiting our State Capitol with a parent as well, former Assembly Member from the San Fernando Valley, Assembly Member, former Assembly Member Lloyd Levine. Welcome to our State Capitol.

Thank you, Mr. McCarty. Okay, Members. Mr. Essayli, you are recognized.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Vote change, file item 114, AB 637, no to aye.

Vote change, Assembly Member Essayli, Assembly Bill 637, no to aye.

Thank you. Okay. Please, Members, give your respectful attention to those who were granted prior permission to speak on an adjournment in memory. Assembly Member Ortega, you are recognized.

Thank you, Speaker and Members. I rise today with a heavy heart to ask that we adjourn in the memory of Lloyd Edwards of Oakland. Lloyd Edwards was a pioneer, breaking the color line as a person a mixed black and Native American ancestry, and opening doors to help build a diverse and inclusive California. He co-founded the Lew Edwards Group with his wife, Catherine Lew, who is in the gallery today.

He preferred to work behind the scenes, bringing his media savvy to the successful adoption of California ballot measures, generating over $42 billion in revenue for local schools and community colleges. His work is one of the reasons I sit as an Assemblywoman today. He began his career as a Bay Area broadcaster, writer, and producer, breaking the color barrier at KSFO radio in San Francisco, covering local and state politics. He went on to own two media companies, KMPX Radio in San Francisco and KFOX in Seattle.

He founded and served as Chairman of the Board of First Enterprise, the first black owned independent bank in Northern California, and served on the board of the California Bankers Association. Lloyd believed in giving back to the community, serving on the Oakland Alameda County Coliseum board, the board of KQED Television, and as Chairman of KQED FM Radio.

He was repeatedly honored for his years of service by the City of Oakland, Alameda County, and the State Assembly and Senate for his many years of service to the East Bay. His legacy is not just about his accomplishments. It is also about the example he set and his mentorship in lifting up those around him.

Today we remember Lloyd Edwards as a man who was devoted to the love of his life, with Catherine and family broke barriers that needed to be broken, and faithfully served the Oakland area community and the State of California. It was an honor to know and work with him. He was a dear friend and will be missed by many. Thank you.

Thank you, Assembly Member Ortega. Assembly Member Papan, you are recognized for your adjournment in memory.

Thank you so much, Mr. Speaker. It's my honor to join Assembly Member Ortega in honoring and memorializing Lloyd Edwards, a true renaissance man, a lifelong committed community booster, an astute business person, and an amazing mentor, and, as Assembly Member Ortega mentioned, trailblazer. Lloyd Edwards has impacted many lives and communities, not the least of which is mine, because of my work with the Lew Edwards group, a political consulting group who I've relied on in every election I've ever participated in.

And I've come in first in every election I've ever participated in. So that ought to tell you something about their expertise, certainly. And I will say that Lloyd impacted the lives of so many, and so many, I'm sure, he probably wouldn't have even been aware of. Having had a diverse career in media, community affairs, in the private sector, he broke numerous racial barriers as a person of mixed black and Native American ancestry.

And I want to highlight his founding of the first black owned bank because we talk a lot about generational wealth. And the fact that he had the fiscal savvy to recognize the import of starting a bank cannot be underscored when we're talking about promoting generational wealth. He should be honored in perpetuity, in my mind, for his efforts in that regard.

So it's a privilege to have worked with the Lew Edwards Group, and I am just so grateful to have this opportunity to recognize Lloyd Edwards' contributions to the State of California. We are all better for his lifelong commitment to service and his trailblazing legacy. Thank you so much for this opportunity.

Thank you. Assembly Member Papan. Assembly Member Wicks, you are recognized for your adjournment memory.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Members, I want to add to the chorus of my colleagues, Assembly Member Ortega, Assembly Member Papan, in honoring Lloyd. Lloyd was really a pillar of our East Bay community who broke numerous racial barriers during his decades of work in media and civic life and more. And as a person of mixed black and Native American ancestry, he broke ceilings that opened doors for others in industries that he didn't even touch.

It was just the fact that he existed as a leader in the community that demonstrated to other people, if you see it, you can be it. And I think that was an important part of his legacy. You know, Oakland has such a rich cultural fabric, and he was really pivotal in helping to create that and foster that. And it's such an important part of our community in the East Bay. Much has been said about the work that he has done.

So I don't want to be repetitive. But I was talking to a friend of mine, Zach Wasserman, who's a longtime Oakland civic leader. And he said, I remember Lloyd Edwards from both his time on the Oakland Chamber Board and his civic leadership through the Bank of Oakland. He always brought a gentle wisdom to discussions. I just love that term, gentle wisdom. That to me really demonstrates true leadership about who you are. He had a smile that made connections and a twinkle in his eye. He was a quiet giant in bringing black leadership to the Oakland business community. And with that, I respectfully ask that we adjourn in his memory.

Thank you, Assembly Member Wicks. I would note we have family in the gallery. Thank you for being here. We're sorry for your loss. Assembly Member Mike Fong, you are recognized.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker and Members. It is with a heavy heart that arise to request that we adjourn in memory of the honorable former Mayor of the City of Alhambra, Mayor Stephen Sham. Mr. Sham passed away on November 29, 2023 after a courageous battle with cancer. Mr. Sham was a friend who served as the first Chinese American Mayor of the City of Alhambra and Council Member for the City of Alhambra.

Stephen was born in Beijing, China and immigrated to the United States when he was just a teenager and went on to graduate from Cal State University Los Angeles. For more than 25 years, Stephen and his wife Rebecca owned Plaza Printing, their small business in the City of Alhambra. A lifelong public servant, Stephen was an active member of the Alhambra Chamber of Commerce and a graduate of the Alhambra Citizens Police Academy.

He served the people of Alhambra for 12 years as Mayor and a member of the City Council. As mayor, the honorable Mayor Stephen Sham worked to uplift and foster a more inclusive community. Most notably, he pushed for the city and Alhambra Police Department to use bilingual social media platforms to better connect with the Chinese speaking community.

Stephen always had a warm smile on his face and will be remembered by friends and his family for his ability to, not only be a strong advocate for his community, but for his ability to bring people together. Today we send our deepest condolences to them. I ask that our Assembly adjourn in the memory of the honorable mayor Stephen Sham. Thank you.

Thank you Mr. Fong. Assembly Member Rodriguez, you are recognized for your adjournment in memory.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker and Members. I rise to adjourn in memory of Lawrence Larry Egan, a dedicated leader of the downtown Pomona community. Larry Egan was born on August 31, 1943 and raised in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He was the youngest of seven children. After moving to California and attending high school, Larry enlisted with the United States Navy where he served a tour of duty for his country as a hospital corpsman.

Following his service, he began a long career in the sales industry where he met his future wife, Pamela Bush. The two moved Alta Loma, California to raise their family, where he held sales and leadership positions at Gallo Winery, Remy Morne, along with other companies in the beverage industry. As an entrepreneur, Larry had many successful ventures, including his very own concession business, SNS Concessions. In 2007, he began his distinguished tenure as the Executive Director of the Downtown Pomona Owners Association.

As Executive Director for 13 years, Larry oversaw many revitalization efforts for the City of Pomona, including the return of the Pomona Christmas Parade and downtown trolley. He was affectionately given the nickname Downtown Pops. In 2020, Larry retired from his position after leading the resurgence of downtown Pomona and the city as a whole.

Larry survived by his older sisters Marianne and Teresa of Oklahoma, his daughters Shannon and Sally, his son in laws Kabric and Oscar, his grandchildren Lawrence, Courtney, Christopher, and Penelope, along with many nieces, nephews, grand nieces, and grand nephews.

He leaves behind a legacy of distinguished and caring individual who lived the life to the fullest, whose generosity was extended to everyone without hesitation or expectation of reward, and whose spirit will live forever in the hearts and memories of all his loved ones, especially the folks in downtown Pomona. I respectfully ask that this body adjourn in his memory. Thank you.

Thank you, Assembly Member Rodriguez. Assembly Member Joe Patterson, you are recognized for your adjournment and memory.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Members, I rise to adjourn in the memory of my friend and neighbor, Karen Hamilton Lane, who lost her six year battle to cancer in October. If you knew Karen, you know she's not the type of person who does things halfway. Everything she did was with precision and her full self.

In 2015, before I was elected to office, I met Karen when we both got involved in a citizen movement in Rockland, specifically in our neighborhood. Karen was in the leadership of our group and was instrumental to changing the entire direction of our own community. We have a different community in 2024 because of groundwork she helped lay in 2015. She was also the founder of a company called School Aptitude, which allowed schools and parents to engage with each other.

I use it on a regular basis to report my kids' absences from school. Karen is preceded in death by her father, Richard Hamilton, and sister, Denise Hamilton, both of whom had the same genetic disorder. Karen leaves behind many loving family members and friends, but especially two very special people, her daughters, Bridget and Courtney Lane. Members, please join me today in adjourning in the memory of Karen Hamilton Lane.

Thank you, Assembly Member Patterson. Members, please bring the names to the desk to be printed in the Journal. All requests to adjourn in memory will be deemed read and printed in the Journal. Moving on to announcements, the session schedule is as follows. Friday, January 26, no floor session, no check in session. Monday, January 29, floor session at 1:00 PM. All items remaining will be passed and retained. All motions shall be continued. Seeing and hearing no further business, I'm ready to entertain a motion to adjourn. Ms. Aguiar-Curry moves, Mr. Patterson seconds that the house be adjourned until Monday, January 29, at 1:00 PM. The house is adjourned.

Vote change, Ting, AB 1260, aye to not voting.

Vote change, Assembly Member Ting, Assembly Bill 1260, aye to not voting.