Senate Floor

[Roll Call]

Members, good afternoon, everyone. A quorum is presences. I'd like to invite the members and guests beyond the rail and in the gallery to please rise. We will be led in prayer this afternoon by Senator Niello, after which, please remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance. Senator Niello.

Thank you, Mr. President, for the expanding grandeur of creation. We give thanks this day for this fragile planet earth. We give thanks this day for the joy of human life, its wonders and surprises.

We give thanks this day for our human community, our oneness transcending all separation. We give thanks this day for faith without fanaticism, for understanding of views not shared. We give thanks this day for all who have labored and suffered for a fairer world.

We give thanks this day for opportunities to change and grow, to affirm and choose. We give thanks this day. We pray that we may live not by our fears, but by our hopes, not by our words, but by our deeds. Amen.

Thank you, Senator Niellon. Members, please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance.

[Pledge of Allegiance]

Members, we're going to begin at privileges of the floor. This is an opportunity for us to introduce the nine, 2024 Irvine Foundation Leadership awardees, and I want to recognize Pro-Tem Mcguire.

Thank you so much, Mr. President, and good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen of the Senate. Today I rise to recognize several outstanding Californians that received this year's James Irvine Foundation Leadership Award for their innovative and effective solutions, candidly to our state's most pressing challenges.

From hundreds of nominations, the Irvine foundation selected nine extraordinary leaders from six organizations to receive this prestigious leadership award.

This is a diverse group, a diverse group of grassroots heroes who are improving the lives of hundreds of thousands of Californians and communities across the Golden State.

They're tackling issues such as our teacher shortage, AAPI hate, our youth justice system reform, working to expand college access, and, of course, expanding resources for the LGBTQ community.

These awardees are a shining light and promising new ways to uplift under resourced communities and are laying the groundwork for a more prosperous, sustainable California.

And we're excited to be able to honor them here today. And we want to offer them our heartfelt congratulations. So, ladies and gentlemen, to kick off this extraordinary ceremony, if we could please turn the floor over, Mr. President, to Senator Becker, to be able to lead us off.

Senator Becker at the majority leader's desk.

Well, thank you. Pro-Tem Mcguire. It is my honor to introduce two leaders, Elizabeth Bayem and Hector Camacho, Jr. Who are receiving this award for their pioneering work at Reach University to address California's teacher shortage.

In our state, we are facing a teacher shortage, a crisis, as many of you know, with 10,000 vacancies and 20% of the workforce planning to leave in the next three years. This undermines the quality of our educational system, puts our educational system really at risk and our future as a state.

At Reach University, Elizabeth and Hector tackle this issue head on, providing on the job degree and credential programs for aspiring teachers. So for anyone at the school, many of them are already working the school's aides or other non teaching roles.

They're making the past to become a teacher more affordable, more attainable by removing the financial and time constraints and enriching the learning experience for students by providing with teachers who are already part of the community there at that school.

So this work offers a beacon of hope and a model for how we can make the pathway to teaching more accessible, more equitable, and more reflective of California's diverse student body. And I'll say point of privilege, especially with Mr. Camacho.

We've worked for many years at the local level in education and his work on the county board of education in San Mateo county. So, members, please join me in celebrating Elizabeth Bayum and Hector Camacho Jr. of Reach University.

We're going to do individual pictures with the Senators and the awardees first, and at the end of the whole ceremony, we'll do a group picture. All right.

Congratulations to you both. We'd now like to invite Senator Skinner to the majority leader's desk.

Thank you, Mr. President, members and I have the privilege to highlight the transformative work of Frankie Guzman, a leader who embodies the spirit of resilience, redemption, and unwavering commitment to youth justice reform.

As a leader of the youth justice program or the leader of the youth justice program at the National Center for Youth Law, Frankie is advocating for a justice system that is more rehabilitative than punitive and that sees the potential in every young person rather than their worst mistake.

By mentoring youth and including them in reform campaigns and decision making processes, Frankie empowers these young people and ensures that the system reflects the needs and realities of those that it serves.

His advocacy has led to the significant legislative achievements, including his pivotal role in the passage of Prop 57, which fundamentally shifted the landscape for youth justice in California.

Frankie's relentless pursuit of justice and equity, especially for the most marginalized among us, serves as an inspiration and a call to action for all of us. So, members, please join me in celebrating Frankie Guzman of the National Center for Youth Law.

We'd like to next invite Senator Durazo to come to the majority leaders desk for purposes of presentation.

Thank you, colleagues. Members, I have the distinct honor of introducing two leadership award recipients. The first leader is Manjusha Kulkarni, who is recognized for her efforts to address hate and discrimination against Asian American and Pacific Islander communities in Los Angeles and throughout and across California.

Manju's leadership at the AAPI Equity Alliance and guidance as co-founder of Stop AAPI Hate has grown both organizations into powerful forces for change that leverage data collection, policy advocacy, and community mobilization to shed light on the injustices AAPI communities face.

Her coalition partners have been at the forefront of civil rights advocacy. Securing major wins. Recently, the coalition joined with the Asian Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus to champion a historic $166,000,000 state investment in our AAPI communities, securing funding dedicated to hate prevention and support for victims.

Her work with Stop AAPI Hate has provided a platform for thousands to share their experiences and drive legislative action to address hate crimes and harassment.

Her work champions the rights of AAPI communities, serves as a testament to the impact of dedicated leadership and the pursuit of a just society. Members, please join me in celebrating Manjusha Kulkarni of AAPI Equity Alliance and Stop AAPI Hate.

Let's celebrate the visionary leadership of Michele Siqueiros, who I have known for many, many years as she did this extraordinary work as President of Campaign for College Opportunity. Michelle is a champion for college accessibility and student success.

We know that many Californians, including Latino, black, and first gen students, are underrepresented in higher education. This is largely due to socioeconomic barriers and unequal access to college preparation.

Under Michelle's leadership, the campaign has facilitated significant advancements in educational equity, from advocating for the development of a seamless transfer between community colleges and the CSU system to leading the charge against the use of standardized testing in University Admissions.

Her work illuminates the path forward and calls on each of us to contribute to a future where every student, regardless of their background, can pursue higher education and achieve their fullest potential. Let's reward them for doing the hard work.

Members, please join me in celebrating Michele Siqueiros of Campaign for College Opportunity.

We, next want to invite Senator Hurtado to the majority leaders desk for purposes of introduction of the next awardees. Senator Hurtado, the floor is yours.

Thank you, members. It is my honor to introduce two leaders from my district, Brian Poth and Nick Vargas. They are the co-founders of the sourced LGBTQ+ Center in Visalia.

Brian and Nick have created a space for the LGBTQ+ community and have ignited a movement towards understanding, acceptance and inclusion in a way that leads to greater advocacy and representation.

In just eight years, they have built the largest LGBTQ+ Center between Los Angeles and Sacramento. Last year alone, they served roughly 24,000 individuals.

Their efforts to address the unique challenges faced in rural areas, particularly around health disparities and access to culturally competent care, are groundbreaking. The establishment of a clinic to serve people living with HIV is a critical step forward in healthcare accessibility in the Central Valley.

As we face a rise in anti LGBTQ+ legislation in other states and an increase in targeted hate crimes, the work of the source is more crucial now than ever before.

Thank you Brian and Nick, for your dedication to creating a safe, inclusive environment that celebrates diversity and fosters hope. I look forward to seeing your continued efforts will further shape our community in the years to come. Colleagues, please join me in celebrating Brian Poth and Nick Vargas.

We'd like to invite Senator Atkins to the majority leader's desk for purposes of presentation. Senator Atkins, the floor is yours.

Thank you, Mr. President. Colleagues, I have the honor of welcoming two of our final 2024 Irvine Award recipients today. So please allow me to introduce Blanca Melindres and Amina Shaq Mohammed. These incredible, inspiring leaders are advancing health equity through collaborative, community led initiatives.

Blanca and Amina's immigrant backgrounds give them unique insights into the challenges faced by newcomers to our state, and their solutions resonate deeply with the communities that they serve.

At the UC San Diego Center for Community Health, Blanca and Amina champion a community led transformative model, or transformation model, also transformative, that elevates community designed solutions to address social determinants of health.

This model reflects their belief that those most affected by health disparities are best positioned to identify effective solutions. Their work with the center's Refugee Health unit has been instrumental in creating a support system for refugee families, which includes the establishment of the San Diego Refugee Communities Coalition.

This coalition has achieved success through collaboration, bringing together 12 ethnic community based organizations to enhance the well being of refugees through unified programming and funding opportunities.

To date, their work has activated $80 million for communityled initiatives and the establishment of programs that directly benefit more than 40,000 households monthly.

They have built a framework not just for health intervention, but for community empowerment, collaboration and resilience for their visionary work to ensure a healthier, more equitable future for all Californians.

I ask that you join me in celebrating Blanca and Amina from the UC San Diego Center for Community Health.

To conclude our ceremony today, we'd like to invite Senate Minority Leader Senator Jones to share his thoughts at the majority leader's desk.

Thank you, Mr. President, Members, it's been an incredible honor today to celebrate the remarkable achievements of these organizations. Each organization has dedicated its time to a community focused leadership approach to addressing the critical issues that are facing their neighborhoods, their communities and our entire state.

Let's all take inspiration from these organizations and go back to our own districts with the continued spirit to make California a better place for everyone. Thank you, everyone for joining us in this celebration. Let's give one more round of applause to the 2024 James Irvine Foundation Leadership Award recipients.

Like to invite all the Members of the Senate to join the awardees for a group photo if you would like.

Continuing on to privileges of the floor, we'd like to now recognize Senator Cortese at the majority leader's desk. Senator Cortese, the floor is yours.

Thank you, Mr. President. Senators, it's my pleasure to recognize West Valley Community Services, a nonprofit serving the communities of West San Jose, Cupertino, Los Gatus, Montessorino and Saratoga.

And if you're wondering, that's what we call the West Valley side of Senate District 15, the non San Jose portion. Founded in 1973, West Valley Community Services fights hunger and homelessness by providing a continuum of basic needs for the West Valley population.

Their services encompass a range of offerings, including an in house food market, a mobile food market, housing and transportation services, and financial assistance. Additionally, they provide case management and special programs such as back to school and holiday initiatives to support families.

Each year, this organization distributes over 800,000 pounds of food to people in need in the West Valley of Santa Clara County. They own and operate two apartment complexes, and these complexes offer permanent housing solutions for Low income individuals and families.

Led by the values of compassion, dignity, integrity, service and diversity, the organization has positively impacted the quality of life for about 22,000 people experiencing poverty again in the West Valley portion of Senate District 15.

I'd like to commend the leadership of the organizations, including Executive Director Sujatha Vin Katraman. Sujatha has been with West Valley Community Services since 2008, and she has 25 years of experience in the nonprofit sector.

Here today is a group of folks with her, including my good friend and former San Jose City Councilman Chappie Jones, who was the vice mayor of the city just recently before leaving the council, and also community organizer Jocelyn Arenas and assistant manager of Public Policy and Advocacy program Cassandra Majana.

In addition, our other board Members that have joined today as part of this ceremony, I will tell you that since my days as a city vice mayor and then as a county supervisor for a dozen years, this is one of the most impactful organizations and continues to be, of course, right through the pandemic. They did not miss a step and they have continued their good work.

I would ask you to join me in giving them a greeting today on behalf of all their meaningful service and dedication to the community. Thank you.

Congratulations. Welcome to the Senate. I'd like to remind Senators that the conversations on the floor can be a little distracting. We would like to invite you to go to the back of the room if you need to have a conversation during these presentations. I'd like to now recognize Senator Jones at the majority leader's desks for purposes of introduction.

Thank you, Mr. President and Members. It's a great honor for me this afternoon to rise and recognize Paulette Donnellan from Senate District 40 for winning the Department Fish and Wildlife photo of the year award, which you can be seen here of four juvenile burrowing owls.

Joining her on the floor today are two members of her family, Laura Donnellyn and Brittany Linder, as well as Erica Fisk Sanders from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

In the gallery are representatives from outdoor California watchable Wildlife and the Sierra Nevada Conservancy.

Paulette's winning image was captured in the Sunny Bono Sultan Sea National Wildlife Reserve and showcases the beautiful nature we are all blessed to enjoy here in California. Colleagues, please join me in congratulating Paulette on this prestigious honor of the statewide photo award recognition. Thank you.

Senator Jones.

Thank you, Mr. President. I forgot to mention that we did have a resolution for Paulette, which you all saw, but the photo. Paulette has announced today that I will have the honor of displaying this in my capitol office for a period of time.

So anybody that wants to come see it until we return it back to her are welcome to come and look at the display. Thank you very much.

Thank you, Senator Jones.

Members, we're going to continue on to privileges of the floor, but we'd like to invite all the Members on the floor to take their seats. If there's a conversation to be had, please take it outside the Senate, back of the Senate chambers. All the Senators, please take their seats. Please.

All right, continuing with privileges of the floor, we'd like to invite Senator Bradford to make a presentation today. Senator Bradford, the floor is yours. Thank you, Mr. President.

It is truly my honor and pleasure to introduce 18 amazing businesses that we are honoring through the legislative Black Caucus in conjunction with the California Black Chamber of Commerce.

At this morning's black business brunch, businesses arranged from probably the oldest black mortuary in the State of California, and Woods and Valentine, located in Pasadena, to amazing barbecue with Woody's, it's an institution in LA, or Sal's gumbo in Long Beach, or the oldest black distributor in the State of California, a beer distributor, Beauchamp distributors, in Los Angeles, now located in Compton.

These business leaders have been chosen by Members of the California Legislative Black Caucus, along with the Black Chamber of Commerce for their commitment and service and professionalism.

The annual Black Business Brunch provides an opportunity for us to come together to recognize and honor black owned businesses and allies, creating jobs and opportunities, closing the racial wealth gap, and empowering local communities. Thank you for the positive impact that you've had on your communities in the State of California.

I would ask all those business owners who are here today to stand up in the gallery so this body can recognize you and give you a round of applause. Welcome them to the California State Center.

Welcome. Great to have you here. Congratulations.

Next we're going to recognize, under privileges of the floor, Senator Newman. Senator Newman. Yeah, I see. We're going to do that later on in the agenda. So sorry about that, Senator Newman. All right, that concludes our privileges of the floor.

Seeing no other microphones up. Okay, we're going to move next to messages from the Governor. They'll be deemed read. Messages from the Assembly will be deemed read, reports of Committee will be deemed read, and amendments adopted under motions, resolutions, and notices.

Without objection, the Senate Journal for February 1, 2024 through February 8, 2024 will be approved as corrected by the Minute Clerk. We're going to move next to introductions and first reading of bills.

Secretary, please read.

[1st reading]

Bills will be deemed read. We're going to move next to consideration of the daily file. First up is second reading. Secretary, please read.

Senate concurrent Resolution 99.

Very good. We're going to move next to senate third reading. We're going to do three bills under third reading today. Members, we're going to begin with file item number six, followed by file item number eight and nine.

We'll begin first with file item number six, SR 54. The secretary, please read.

Senate Resolution 54 by Senator Min relative to the Lunar New Year.

Senator Min, the floor is yours.

Chuc Mong Nam Moi Gung Hay Fat Choy Sehe Bookmani Badassil. Thank you, Mr. President. Members, happy Lunar New Year. And so, on behalf of the Asian American and Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus, I'm so pleased to present SR 54, which recognizes Lunar New Year, which began on February 10 and will end on February 24. To many Americans of Asian descent, Lunar New Year is one of the most important holidays of the year. It represents long-standing cultural traditions and welcomes luck and prosperity.

Today we celebrate Lunar New Year alongside the two and a half million Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese and Lumian residents of California that observe this holiday. Thanks to many of you, California was the first state in a nation to recognize Lunar New Year as an official state holiday. 2024 is the Year of the Dragon, an animal that represents strength, bravery, and innovation. And I was actually born in the Year of the Dragon a few cycles ago.

More specifically, this year is the Year of the Wood Dragon with the wood element symbolizing growth, flexibility, and creativity. On each of your desks, the AAPI Legislative Caucus has provided a traditional, popular decorative plant to celebrate the new year. A Chinese money tree. And no, there is no money actually inside there. In Feng Shui, the Pachira Aquatica Money Tree is a symbol of wealth, harmony, and good fortune, and is given as a symbol of friendship.

We hope that this gift will help you to welcome in the new year and that everyone will celebrate this year. Enjoy and harmony. Happy Lunar New Year, and I respectfully ask for your Aye vote on SR 54.

Thank you, Senator Min. We have microphones up from Senator Nguyen, Senator Wahab, Senator Bradford, Senator Durazo. Senator Nguyen.

Thank you, Mr. President. I, too, rise today to present, to support SR 54, which recognizes this past Saturday, February 10, as also Vietnamese Lunar New Year, or known as Tet. In the Vietnamese communities around the world, Tet celebrates the arrival of a new spring where families unite, enjoy each other's company, forget about the troubles of the previous year, and look forward to a new year filled with prosperity, happiness, and good health.

Tet is observed on the first day of the first month of the Vietnamese lunar calendar and ranges between late January and mid-February. During this Lunar New Year, for us, it's actually a three-day celebration. So today is our third year. A third day. We are marking this as the Year of the Dragon. I too am also born of the Year of the Dragon. The dragon is a reverb symbol of power and thought to be among the most promising and successful of the zodiac signs.

Common traditions that take place during the celebrated Lunar New Year, including distribution of small red envelopes with small amounts of money, lantern festivals, line dances, fireworks, firecrackers, cleaning homes to remove bad luck and religious ceremonies. I'm so proud to be able to share my family's culture and my heritage with everyone I meet. And I'm especially proud to teach my children their heritage, including the tradition of Tet and Lunar New Year. I would like to wish everyone a happy Lunar New Year.

Dong meng son dut Janet Gumson tai Makyadan Kinchuku yo yao sukwei. Thank you.

Thank you, Senator Nguyen. We'll next turn to Senator Wahab.

Thank you. I rise on behalf of the Legislative Women's Caucus in support of SR 54, celebrating Lunar New Year, the Year of the Wood Dragon. I know many of our colleagues have stated that they've been born in the Year of the Dragon. I'd also like to state that I was born in the Hour of the Dragon. Lunar New Year is an opportunity to gather with friends and family, cleanse homes and spirits, and lay foundations for prosperity and luck in the coming year.

I'm proud to represent a district that is not only majority Asian, but also has the largest AAPI population across the state. Today, I want to uplift the strength and resiliency I see across the Asian American community. The past few years has been a challenge for us all and in many ways continues to challenge us. Last year's celebrations were tarnished by the senseless violence in Monterey Park. One in three AAPI individuals surveyed last November reported having been confronted with racial abuse.

And across the AAPI community, we still see complete different outcomes in health, pay, and college admissions. But we've also seen greater solidarity and cross-community affirmation which strengthens and empowers our communities and the American dream. As we welcome the Year of the Dragon, I want to wish you all a year filled with prosperity, luck, happiness, and continued resiliency and strength. Happy Lunar New Year. I respectfully ask for an Aye.

We'll turn next to Senator Bradford, followed by Senator Durazo. Senator Bradford.

Thank you, Mr. President. As Vice Chair of the Legislative Black Caucus, I support SR 54, recognizing February 10, 2024, as the beginning of the Lunar New Year. Lunar New Year is an annual celebration estate of renewal, prosperity, and family. 2024 is the beginning of the Year of stated the Wood Dragon.

The Wood Dragon is a symbol of strength and abundance and is fitting representation of the resilience of roughly 6 million Asian and Pacific Islanders who call California home. It speaks to the enormous contribution that the AAPI community has to the social, cultural, economic, and academic success of this state. It is fitting that both Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Maya Angelou were born in the Year of the Dragon.

Those born as a dragon are known for their strong leadership and tireless work ethic and taking on all challenges and overcoming them all. As this new year begins and we start our work in the Legislature, let us embrace these qualities and overcome the challenges California faces together. We wish all in the AAPI, our brothers and sisters a happy new year and wish you luck and prosperity to all of us. With that, I ask for your Aye vote.

Thank you, Senator Bradford. We're going to turn the floor over to Senator Durazo, followed by Senator Menjivar. Senator Durazo.

Thank you, Mr. President. On behalf of the Latino Caucus, I rise in support of SR 54 as we celebrate the beginning of the Lunar New Year across our great and very diverse state. Millions of Californians of all backgrounds and nationalities ring in this important time and celebrate the Year of the Wood Dragon. This rich cultural holiday encompasses traditions that are rooted in the hope for good fortune, prosperity. They include family-oriented gatherings that are colorful, culturally significant, energetic, and full of life.

Let us work harder towards a new year of finding ways for all Californians to thrive. My district in the City of Los Angeles includes several historically recognized Asian American communities, including Thai Town, Koreatown, Filipinotown, and Chinatown. Latinos live within all of these communities. They work together, they live together, they go to the restaurants together, they go to school together, and they respect each other's culture. The Latino Caucus joins you all in wishing everyone good health and prosperity. Thank you.

Thank you. Senator Durazo. Turn next to Senator Menjivar, followed by Senator Wiener. Senator Menjivar.

Thank you, Mr. President. Colleagues, I stand today on behalf of the LGBTQ Caucus in celebration of Lunar New Year, the Year of the Dragon. In the spirit of the dragon, we embrace the transformative energy it represents in our communities, including our diverse, resilient and powerful API LGBTQ-plus community. We draw inspiration from the dragon's symbolism to advocate for change, strength, and unity within our society. And we honor visionaries like Dr. David Ho, a trailblazer in AIDS research symbolizing the dragon's courage and wisdom.

His profound contributions, particularly to the LGBTQ-plus community, underscore the remarkable potential within us all to affect transformative change. This celebration is a testament to the rich tapestry of traditions that the API community brings to California, and I respectfully urge your Aye vote on SR 54.

Thank you, Senator Menjivar. Senator Wiener.

Thank you, Mr. President. I rise as co-chair of our Legislative Jewish Caucus and also as someone who represents one of the largest API communities in the state, nearly 36% of our district is API, to wish a very happy Lunar New Year to our neighbors. And to really just stress that, yes, there have been some real challenges for our API communities around API hate around violence, and we've had some terrible attacks, particularly on our API seniors in San Francisco and other parts of the Bay Area.

So many challenges. But what I see on a daily basis is an incredibly beautiful array of communities and just incredible joy and love. On Saturday, I was in Chinatown for a day-long celebration of Lunar New Year, and it was just incredibly joyous. And so I'm very proud to represent this community. I'm proud that California really is embracing and lifting up our API neighbors, and I wish everyone happy new year. Sonim failo kong hei fa choi.

Thank you, Senator Wiener. All debate having ceased. Senator Min, you may close.

Thank you, Mr. President. I want to thank my colleagues for their strong support today for Lunar New Year, as well as for the AAPI community, generally throughout their districts and throughout California. I also want to apologize to my colleague from Garden Grove for my butchering of the Vietnamese Lunar New Year greeting. I'll get it right one of these days. I think I got the Cantonese and Korean all right.

And I want to just point out that red is the traditional color of Lunar New Year, which is why I'm wearing my wife's favorite jacket today. Or least favorite jacket. It symbolizes good fortune and joy. Finally, just before closing, I want to point out that I was incorrect in stating that there's no money in your money tree. There's actually a penny in there for good luck. So with that, I respectfully ask your Aye vote.

Senator Min. Thank you for clearing the record and for wearing that beautiful jacket today. Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll call].

On a vote of 35 to zero, the resolution is adopted. We're going to move next to file item number eight. This is SR 64. Senator Laird is prepared. Secretary, please read.

Senate Resolution 64 by Senator Laird relative to the election of Members of the Senate Committee on Rules.

Senator Laird.

Thank you very much, Mr. President. I rise to present Senate Resolution 64, which will add the Senator from Stockton and the Senator from Santee to the Senate Rules Committee. I want to personally thank the Senators from Los Angeles and Yucaipa for their recent service on the Senate Rules Committee. And neither one is here, so I will, in addition, thank them personally when I next see them. I look forward to working with the new elected Senators as well. I respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Any further discussion or debate on this resolution? It is eligible for a unanimous roll call. Without objections, ayes 35, no, zero. The resolution is adopted. We're going to move next to file item number nine. This is SR 65. Senator Gonzalez. Secretary, please read.

Senate Resolution 65 by Senator Gonzalez relative to the standing rules of the Senate for the 2023, 2024 Regular Session.

Senator Gonzalez.

Thank you, Mr. President. I rise today to present Senate Resolution 65, which amends the rules of the Senate to add the local government and Revenue and Taxation Committees. Currently, these two subject areas are under the jurisdiction of the Senate Governance and Finance Committee. Prior to 2011, the Senate had a separate local governance and Revenue and Taxation Committee. So SR 65 simply reverts back to the previous organization of these subject areas by establishing two different committees.

Having two distinct committees will ensure that these issues are thoroughly examined and discussed by Senators and the public. Most importantly, I respectfully ask for an aye vote on SR 65.

Thank you, Senator Gonzalez. Any discussion or debate on this resolution? Discussion or debate? This is eligible for unanimous roll call. There's an objection. Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call]

Please call the absent Members.

[Roll Call]

On a vote of 34 to one, the resolution is adopted. Members, we're going to return back to Motions and Resolutions. This is the time to address an adjournment in memories, but want to first recognize Senator Newman. Please give Senator Newman your attention, Members.

Thank you, Mr. President. I rise to adjourn in memory of Lance Larson, a loving husband and father, dentist, and famously, the rightful winner of one of the most controversial gold medals in Olympic swimming history, who passed away on January 19 at the age of 83.

Lance Melvin Larson was born in 1940, the son of Monterey Park dairy farmers, a true product of Southern California, with its sunny skies, balmy weather and beach boy culture, it's said that Lance took to swimming as a means of washing off the dirt and grime that comes with running the dairies that once dotted the region's rolling hills.

While he may not have realized it at the time, Lance's gravitational swimming would not only redefine the limits of the sport, but would indelibly shape the evolution of modern competitive swimming as we know it. Lance Larson's remarkable swimming career began at El Monte High School, where he had the distinction of becoming the first high school swimmer to complete the 100 yard freestyle in less than 50 seconds.

Lance would continue to hone his abilities at the University of Southern California, where he earned two NCAA titles, six time all American honors, and where he became the first known man to break the 1 minute barrier in the 100 meters butterfly, as well as the first to complete the 200 meters individual medley in under two minutes and 25 seconds.

By the time Lance Larson arrived in Rome in 1960 as a member of the US men's Olympic swim team, he was already the holder of not one but two world records, firmly establishing the young American as among the favorites to unseat the defending Australians, a perennial swimming powerhouse in those days, in the 100 meters freestyle. The 100 meters freestyle was, in fact, a matchup that was so anticipated that when it came time for the event, the stadium's lights were dimmed for dramatic effect. At the start, the swimmers dove off the blocks and into the water, with Lance pulling just ahead alongside Australian's John Devitt.

As the crowd watched breathlessly, neither man could break away from the other. With 15 meters still remaining, the two lead swimmers appeared to be matching each other's strokes exactly, and as they converged at the wall, any difference between the two was visually imperceptible. This all took place in the era before precision timing. According to the official timer's stopwatches, the Australian's time was 55.2 seconds, with the American a 10th of a second faster at 55.1 second.

According to those stopwatches, Lance Larson of the USA was by all indications the Olympic winner. But then, in an unprecedented and hugely controversial move, the President of the International Swimming Federation intervened personally, not only overruling the stopwatches, but retroactively adding half a second to Lance Larson's official time and unilaterally declaring the Australian John Devitt the winner. That race lives on in the history books as what the International Olympic Committee itself calls the most controversial Olympic swim race ever.

The outcry which subsequently ensued over Lance Larson's stolen gold would ultimately force the IOC to adopt electronic touchpads for more precise timing and evolution of the sport that continues to this day. His stolen gold in the 100 freestyle notwithstanding, Lance Larson would still return to California as a gold medalist, having combined with his teammates to set yet another world record in the four by 100 medley relay.

But before that, and in keeping with his sunny SoCal demeanor and fun loving nature, all of the acrimony surrounding his contested medal not only did not tarnish Lance's experience as a young Olympian in Italy as he traveled the country prior to flying home, it also got him an untold number of free drinks. Lance Larson's prolific contribution to the sport, having set 12 national and five world swimming records, cemented his legacy as one of the most revered and iconic athletes in California's sporting history.

In his post swimming career, Lance Larson would go on to graduate from USC in 1962 and earn his dental degree from the University of the Pacific in 1964. In keeping with his affinity for water, Lance enlisted in the United States Navy Dental Corps, subsequently opening up his own dental practice in the City of Orange upon the completion of his military service. Lance Larson was, above all else, a devoted husband and father.

He has survived by his wife, Sherrie, four sons, two daughters, three stepdaughters, and many, many grandchildren. One of his sons, Lance Jr. who serves as Executive Vice President of Governmental Relations at the Orange County Transportation Authority, is here with us in the gallery this afternoon. We offer our condolences to you and your whole family, and I ask that the Senate adjourn in Lance Larson's memory today.

Thank you, Senator Newman, on this item. Senator Min.

Thank you, Mr. President and colleagues. I want to thank my colleague from Fullerton for adjourning in memory of Mr. Larson. I think my colleague aptly expressed the history of his great accomplishments, including the fact that he was, indeed, robbed. Robbed. He was robbed. But he went on to live a tremendous life. And I just want to note that he lived a full life, dying at the age of 83 in the City of Orange and set a real, I think, benchmark for so many athletes.

Of course, Orange County is known for all the swimmers that have come out of our ranks, and certainly he was one of the pioneers in this regard. So I also ask that we adjourn in memory and thank my colleague from Fullerton for bringing this forward.

Thank you, Senator Min, Senator. Mr. Larson's son, we welcome you here to the Senate chambers. Our condolences to you, your family and friends. Senator Newman, if you bring his name forward so he can be properly memorialized in the Senate Journal. Next up, Members, for an adjourn in memory. Senator Niello, the floor is yours.

Thank you, Mr. President. I rise to adjourn in the memory of Sharon Ruffner, a very distinguished community leader and devoted, very devoted, volunteer in the Carmichael area and beyond, whose good deeds earned her the respect and admiration of her colleagues and the many individuals whose lives she touched. Sharon was born and raised in Sacramento, graduated from El Camino High School, where she excelled in computer science, and after graduation, accepted a position with the San Juan Unified School District in its Technologies Services Department.

Here she mastered electronic processing and later trained administrators, clerical workers, and teachers in her characteristic style and patience, always putting her students first. After retiring in 2014, following a 37 year career with the San Juan School District, she continued teaching yoga and exercise classes and dedicating her time to community service and serving as co-president of the Kiwanis Club of Carmichael. And at the time of her passing, she held the position as president of the Carmichael Parks Foundation.

The extraordinary number of volunteer projects she orchestrated led the community to initiate a Sharon Ruffner Community Service Day to honor her efforts. Sharon will be remembered for her compassion, friendliness, and sense of humor. She worked tirelessly to better her community and was recognized for her service by many organizations. For those who knew her, she will always be remembered as a symbol of perpetual sunlight. Sharon leaves to mourn her passing and celebrate her legacy.

Her husband, Bob, a member of our Senate family, and here with us today, her sister in law Robin, her niece and four nephews, and many, many close friends. Please join me in celebrating her many accomplishments and the legacy of a distinguished and caring individual who lived life to the fullest and whose spirit will forever be in the hearts and memories of her loved ones.

Thank you, Senator Niello. The Senate extends their condolences to the friends and family of Sharon Ruffner. If there are no other business before the Senate, Senator McGuire, the desk is clear.

Thank you so much, Mr. President. Thank you for the wonderful ceremony of the Irvine Foundation. The next floor session is scheduled for Friday, February 16, 2024 at 9:00 a.m. in anticipation of the upcoming three day weekend. Unfortunate night for 49er fans, but we're always going to be faithful. Thank you so much, Mr. President.

Thank you, Senator McGuire. The Senate will be in recess until 3:30 p.m. At which time the adjournment motion will be placed. We will reconvene Friday at 9:00 a.m.