Assembly Floor

The assembly is now in session. Assembly Member Aguiar-Curry notices the absence of a quorum. Sergeant at Arms will prepare the chamber and bring in the absent members. The clerk will call the roll.

[Roll Call]

Members, a quorum is present. We ask our visitors and guests in the rear of the chamber and in the gallery to please stand for the prayer and the flag salute. Today's prayer will be offered by Assemblymember Wilson.

To the only wise God, we thank you. We praise you for this beautiful day. We thank you for giving us the opportunity to come here and serve the people of California. We ask for your wisdom, for your grace. We ask for peace to reign not only in our hearts and minds but throughout this land. Father, we ask for unity. We thank you for all the wonderful ways you show up strong in our lives, for you are great and mighty and wonderful and gracious. And we recognize your power not only in this chambers but in this great state. To the creator, we ask these things. Amen.

Members, please join us in the pledge being led by Assemblymember Rodriguez.

Ready, begin. I pledge allegiance to the Flag and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for all. Thank you.

Thank you, Members. Reading of the previous day's journal.

Assembly Chamber Sacramento Friday, January 12, 2024. The Assembly.

Ms. Aguiar-Curry moves. Mr. Flora, seconds that the reading of the previous day's journal be dispensed with. Presentations and petitions, there are none. Introduction and references of bills will be deferred. Reports of committees will be deemed read and adopted. Messages from the governor, there are none. Messages from the Senate, there are none. Moving on to motions and resolutions, the absences of the day will be deemed read and printed in the journal. I'd just like to note that today is National Almond Day.

It's also national do a grouch a favor day. So I suggest almonds as a possibility there. Anyway. Moving on to procedural motions, Majority Leader Aguiar-Curry, you are recognized for your procedural motions.

Good morning. I request unanimous consent to suspend Assembly Rule 45.5 to allow Assemblymembers Lackey, Baines, and Wilson to speak on adjournments in memory today.

Without objection. Such shall be the order.

I request unanimous consent to suspend Assembly Rule 118 A to allow Assemblymember Wicks to have a guest seated at her desk today.

Without objection, such shall be the order. Members, please join me in wishing a happy early birthday to Assemblymember Jim Patterson, who celebrates on Sunday. Assemblymember Nguyen, you are recognized for your guest introductions.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Members, we have with us today students from the law academy. This academy is only one of six here in California that is designated as the official partner to the California Bar Association. These students are here to not only partner with our local and statewide governments to learn about a career in law, but also to be advocates for their own community out there. And we have a few students and a few schools with us here today up in the gallery.

Not only in the gallery, but some of these students are also here in the capitol, and you may see them because some of them belong in your district. Mr. Speaker, we have with us here members C.K. McClatchy High School. If you could please stand and be recognized. And on my left side, we have with us Luther Burbank High School. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. Assemblymember Nguyen. Moving to business on the daily file governor's vetoes pass and retain on file item one. Pass and retain on all third reading this morning. Members, we will now move to the second-day consent calendar. Before we vote, we will first take up the resolution on the consent calendar for the purpose of adding co-authors. Clerk will read the resolution on the consent calendar.

Assembly Concurrent Resolution 138 by Assemblymember Essayli, relative to World Cholangiocarcinoma Day.

The Clerk will now open the roll to allow any member to add on as a co-author of the resolution. Members, this vote 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. Clerk will close the roll. There are 48 co-authors moving to a vote on the consent calendar. Does any Member wish to remove an item from the consent calendar? Seeing and hearing none. The Clerk will read the second-day consent calendar.

Assembly Concurrent Resolution 138 by Assemblymember Essayli, relative to Cholangiocarcinoma Day.

The Clerk will open the roll on the consent calendar. All those vote who desire to vote. All those vote who desire to vote. All those vote who desire to vote, the Clerk will close the roll and tally the vote. Ayes 51, noes zero. The consent calendar is adopted. Members, the quorum call is lifted. Please give your respectful attention to those who have previously been given permission to speak on an adjournment. Memory take your conversations off the floor. If you choose not to stay, please take your conversations off the floor, Members or have a seat. Please take your conversations off the floor. Members, please give your respectful attention to those who were granted prior permission to speak on an adjournment in memory. Assemblymember Lackey, you are recognized for your adjournment in memory.

Mr. Speaker and members, I rise to join in adjourning in the memory of Palmer Andrews, who passed away Thursday, January 11. Palmer Andrews was a Marine Corps veteran and he earned the Purple Heart for his combat in World War II. He also served as an Air Force reservist during the Korean War. Despite his dedicated service, Palmer was known to say, I was not a hero, but I served with heroes. He embraced unwavering moral values and unparalleled wisdom, even until his passing at age 98.

His passing is a major loss for Palmdale and the entire Antelope Valley. Palmdale survived by his son, Larry Andrews, and two daughters, Jeannie Quinton and Christine Johnson. He had nine grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, and nine great-great-grandchildren. Members, I seek, I sincerely ask that you join me in a journey in the memory of Palmer Andrews and keep his spirit of service and legacy and kindness alive today. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Lackey, Assemblymember Bains, you are recognized for your adjournment in memory today.

I respectfully ask you all to join me to adjourn in memory of Mr. Steve Schilling. Steve was a dear friend and mentor, and I cannot imagine where my life would be without his guidance. Steve passed away at his home last weekend, leaving behind a body of work that should inspire us all. For decades, Steve was a central figure in the healthcare system in the South San Joaquin Valley.

He was a bold defender of healthcare access and a visionary, fighting to ensure care for those most in need. From the early 1970s, he turned a small, struggling clinic in Lamont into one of the largest community health networks in the country, Clinica Sierra Vista. Mainly serving vulnerable and neglected populations, he fought for those suffering from HIV AIDS in the get them financial help for AIDS medications. He rescued a struggling health center in 2009 and saved tens of thousands of people access to health care.

By the time he retired in 2018, Clinica Sierra Vista had offered maternal and prenatal services. He added dental clinics and pediatric medicine and expanded preventative efforts and treatment for teen mothers and unsheltered individuals. Steve touched the lives of so many, but for me, he rescued the clinic that allowed me to come back and serve my community and attend my residency after medical school. I am forever grateful for his commitment to healthcare access, Kern County, and California's poor and underserved communities. Thank you to all of you for helping me honor the legacy of Mr. Steve Schilling.

Thank you, Dr. Bains. Assemblymember Wilson, you are recognized for your adjournment in memory.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, honorable members of the Assembly, I rise today to request that we adjourn in memory of Robert Warren Dittmer, a constituent who left an indelible mark on our community and whose life exemplified resilience, service, and dedication to his country and community. Robert Ditmer, aged 103, passed away on February 12024 at Paradise Valley Estates in Fairfield after a brief illness.

Born on November 111920 in Oakland, Robert grew up on the family ranch in Cordelia and remained a steadfast resident of the local area throughout his life. As a member of the greatest generation, Robert's early years were marked by the hardships of the Great Depression. However, when the nation called upon its citizens during World War II, Robert answered without hesitation.

At the age of 22, he joined the United States Army Air Forces and served as a bombardier on B-17s, completing an astonishing 35 combat missions over Germany. His bravery and dedication earned him an air medal, and he was honorably discharged as a second lieutenant on June 9, 1944. Following the war, Robert continued his commitment to service by entering the fire service.

He became an assistant fire chief an assistant chief of the Fairfield Sasoon Army Air Base Fire Department Fire Department, now known as Travis Air Force Base. His valor and leadership were tested during the Korean War when he led his team in responding to a crash involving AB 29 carrying Brigadier General Robert F. Travis. Despite the perilous circumstances, Robert's actions saved lives, although he himself sustained severe injuries and burns in the line of duty.

Beyond his distinguished military and firefighting career, Robert was a pillar of his community. He married Lois, his beloved wife, in 1951, and together they raised two children, Jeff and Suzanne. Robert's entrepreneurial spirit led him to various business adventures, including operating the family ranch, owning and operating Fairfield grass and plant for over two decades, and engaging in local real estate endeavors.

He was deeply involved in the downtown Fairfield business community and was a member of several organizations, including the Green Valley Country Club, Kiwanis, and the Solano County Farm Bureau. Robert Dittmer's legacy of courage, resilience, and service will continue to inspire us all as we reflect on his remarkable life and contributions. Let us honor his memory by striving to emulate his dedication to family, community, and country. I ask that we adjourn today's session in memory of Robert Warren Dittmer and extend our deepest condolences to his family, friends, and loved ones during such a difficult time. Thank you.

Thank you, Assemblymember Wilson. Members, please bring the names to the desks to be printed in the journal. All requests to adjourn in memory will be deemed read and printed in the journal. Moving to announcements. Today is the bill introduction deadline. The desk will be held open until 5:00 p.m. or upon receive the last bill from Legislative Council. Session schedule is as follow. Monday, February 19 is President's Day. Tuesday, February 20 floor session at 1:00 p.m. All other items will be passed and retained. All motions will be continued. Seeing and hearing no further business, Ms. Aguiar-Curry moves and Ms. Wilson seconds that the house stands adjourned until Tuesday, February 20 at 1:00 p.m. The house is adjourned.