Senate Floor

Secretary, please call the role [Roll Call] Members a quorum is present with the Members and our guests beyond the rail and in the gallery. Please rise. We'll be led in prayer this afternoon by our chaplain, Sister Michelle Gorman, after which we're going to ask you to remain standing for the pledge allegiance to the flag.

Gracious and ever loving God, we pray for the strength and courage to continue to ensure the fundamental rights and essential needs of our people in this time and place. With your help, we will work together to accomplish our deepest desires for liberty and justice for all. And in the words of Judy Chicago, then all that has been divided will merge. And then compassion will be wedded to power. And then softness will come to a world that is harsh and unkind.

And then both men and women will be gentle. And then both women and men will be strong. And then no person will be subject to another's will. And then all will be rich and free and varied. And then all will share equally in the Earth's abundance. And then all will care for the sick and the weak and the old. And then all will nourish the young.

And then all will live in harmony with each other and the earth, and then everywhere will be called Eden once again. Merciful God, may we have the strength and courage to work towards those ends. Amen.

Members, join me in the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance of America, which stands one nation. All right, Members, now we're moving to privileges of the floor. Senator Durazo and Senator Atkins will be recognized at this time.

Thank you, Mr. President. Colleagues, I rise to welcome Dr. Robert K. Ross and Members of the California Endowment to the Senate chamber. Today we are celebrating Dr. Ross, who after many years of public service is embarking on retirement. He has an extremely extraordinary resume.

After receiving his undergraduate and master's in public Administration and medical degrees from the University of Pennsylvania and Philadelphia Dr. Ross began his career in public service first serving as Director of Health and Human Services Agency in San Diego County and as Commissioner of Public Health in the City of Philadelphia. He was then appointed as President and Chief Executive Officer for the California Endowment in September of 2000.

Under his leadership, the endowment has awarded more than 22,000 grants totaling almost $3 billion to community based organizations throughout California. He has uplifted a new vision of health equity where all peoples, all communities have a right to develop their full potential. This includes advocating and funding efforts in support of a health for all, a campaign I helped in the Legislature to lead, which I am proud to say expanded health coverage for 1.2 million Californians.

He championed strengthening diversity in the health workforce he advanced wellness driven school climate reforms, improved health advocacy for young men and women of color, and he provided leadership for health oriented criminal justice reform. He was also a founding board Member of Covered California and successfully implemented the Affordable Care Act in California.

More recently, he served as chair of the Los Angeles County Task Force on Alternatives to Incarceration and developed a strategic roadmap for the county to reform the criminal justice system by supporting health focused strategies to reduce incarceration. In 2021, Dr. Ross worked in partnership with the board of directors to raise $300 million for a first ever social bond by philanthropy in California, which was designed to build support for grassroots activists in social justice.

Through all of these efforts, in addition to his work as a public health administrator and clinician, Dr. Ross has exemplified a true commitment to strengthening California's commitment to ensuring health for all for everyone. He led broad philanthropic and nonprofit collaboration. By inviting organizations to come together, he connected the .s between equity, diversity and health. He's been actively involved in community and professional activities both at the local and the national level.

He served on the boards of grant Makers Health, San Diego, United Way, and the Jackie Robinson YMCA. He's a diplomat of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Chairman of the National Boost for Kids Initiative, and served on the President's Summit for America's Future. He was honored by the Council on Foundations as distinguished Grant maker and also received the American Public Health Association's highest award in 2020. Dr. Ross most recently served as Stanford University's Distinguished visiting Professor for the 2023 academic calendar.

On a personal note, he has been a very good friend to me, always providing advice, laughter, vision, you name it, he's there. He's there for many of us. He has touched the hearts and the lives directly of hundreds of people. He is not too high up in his status to be meeting with formerly incarcerated, to be meeting with youth who want to become organizers.

He is there for everyone and therefore he has personally touched the lives of thousands of people and helped them to become leaders in our community. He will now have time to spend with family and with other and friends, and I hope he really gets to enjoy himself, although I know we will be calling on him again. Colleagues, please join me in celebrating Dr. Robert K. Ross for his dedication to serving California and America and wishing him a happy retirement.

Congratulations, Senator Atkins. You're recognized on this issue.

Thank you so much, Mr. President. And I actually think my colleague said it all, and it's a lot. He deserves incredible recognition for so much. But I particularly wanted to thank him for a few things.

One, she mentioned that he was our Director of health and human services at the County of San Diego, and I had just become a City Council Member, and we had some issues with our Lesbian and gay men's community center in which there was a transition of power, a nonprofit, a new board. And he really stepped in to help save the Mental Health Services Program at the gay and Lesbian center.

And on behalf of the community there, I want to thank you for that all those years ago. But that wasn't enough. Then he went on to serve, obviously, at Cow endowment. I want to say thank you to the board Members that are here also. The Building Healthy Communities program was a 10 year, $1 billion comprehensive community change initiative launched by the Endowment in 2010 to advocate state policy and really focus on 14, transform and focus on 14 of California's communities devastated by health inequities.

And I was a City Council Member, and they took on one of our community's city heights, 90,000 people in one community, one of the most diverse communities in the country, more than almost 200 languages and dialects spoken, Sudanese, Somali, Irish, on and on. And they really embraced that community for more than a decade, then went on to work with Mid City can, another nonprofit.

These organizations doing real work on the ground that needed recognition by a foundation, by a leader that understood that they really needed to be able to have access to services and to have a voice and power in their community. And that's what calendowment did for them.

In recognizing city heights as one of those communities, I would like to also acknowledge that both the Governor and his appointment of you to the California for all Commission, and certainly the appointment of the Senate under Pro Tem Steinberg, appointing you to Covered California, were wise decisions because an individual that cares so much, you heard the long list of accomplishments and engagement, all of that was work. It wasn't as a figurehead, it wasn't as something to make a resume look good.

It involved real work with real people on the ground. And I would say, in acknowledgment of all of that, I thank you for your incredible expertise, your intelligence, but also your heart. And to the board that allowed you to be in that role, to do so much good for so many people in California. I wish you the best in retirement. I wish you the best at the opportunity of actually doing it, and we shall see if that comes to pass. But thank you on behalf of my community in San Diego, but also all of California, thank you.

On behalf of the California State Senate. We want to thank Dr. Ross for his steadfast, visionary leadership to all of California. For those Members who are wishing to take a picture, we'll pause at this time and afford you that opportunity. All right, continue with privileges of the floor. Next up is Senator Hurtado.

Thank you, Mr. President. Members, I rise today to recognize the mayor of Mcfarland, Saul Ayon. Mayor Ayon has been a relentless fighter and advocate for the people of Mcfarland. The mayor has also been an exceptional partner in SD 16 as we strive to bring water security, public safety, infrastructure and additional economic opportunities to the people of our region. He is joined this afternoon up in the gallery, but with the Mcfarland High School, early college education, CTE, career training, educators. And it is a pleasure to acknowledge him today on this floor.

Thank you, colleagues. I know that this is Mcfarland is definitely in Senator Hurtado's district, but this is an extraordinary man that stands before you. He is third in line of 12 kids. He is a USA wrestler, made it to the trials and had a sensational victory at Centennial Garden.

And he actually did the US Olympic train tiles and then trials and then came back to Mcfarland where he wanted to invest in the next generation so that they could stay out of the, I guess, the pathway to penitentiary. I'm just going to say it. There's a lot of kids that don't have opportunities in McFarlane. And this man standing behind me creates those opportunities.

And he does it with a, I don't want to say with an iron fist, but he gives them privilege and opportunity and shows them what success looks like. But he also holds them accountable. And I think that's something our youth misses today. And he really wraps his arms around a whole community of youth. And he's the father of the entire high school youth. And I just want you to tell you that he is really the pride of Mcfarland.

He's a mayor who fights for water, he fights for his constituents. He fights for parks and safe places for kids to play. And he really is an extraordinary individual. So I'm going to sort of adopt him today along with my colleague who she really represents him. But I just want to make sure I was able to share with you that this is an extraordinary man standing on this floor with you guys today.

Thank you. California State Senate. Welcome to Mayor Ion. Members, if you'd like to take a picture, we'll pause at this time and afford you this opportunity. Thank you. Continuing under privileges of the floor, next up is Senator Laird. Purposes of introduction?

Thank you, Mr. President. It is my pleasure to introduce to you the Cal Poly San Luis Obispo agricultural leadership class who are joining us today. From the gallery, you can see them standing.

Because of their impressive backgrounds and academic accomplishments, these students were selected to participate in this leadership development program and to research significant issues impacting California agriculture. This program includes the class visiting the state capitol and surrounding agencies for firsthand exposure to the development of public policy, which includes witnessing us today from the gallery. Since established in 2001, the class has visited us annually, and I'm pleased to report that several alums have been chosen over the years for internships in the state capitol.

Also joining the students is their Professor, Anastasia Telestsky, who should be congratulated for her dedication to developing the next generation of agricultural leaders. Senators, please give a warm welcome to the State Senate, to the AG leadership class of Cal Poly.

Welcome to the California State Senate. All right, Members, now we're moving to. Messages from the Governor will be deemed read. Messages from the Assembly will be deemed read. Reports of committees will be deemed read and amendments adopted, motions and resolutions and notices without objection.

The Senate journals for February 26, 2024 through February 292024 will be approved as corrected by the minute Clerk. Now, Members, we're moving on to consideration of the daily file. First up is government appointments. File item one. Senator Grove, she's prepared.

Thank you, Mr. President. Colleagues, file item one is the confirmation of Gregory Young for appointment as senior deputy Commissioner at the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation. Mr. Young has a long career of financial services. He's held numerous Executive positions covering community lending, retail sales, market growth and development, and a corporate social responsibility for entities such as Bank of America, Wells Fargo, and American Express.

And contrary to what you might think, because of the run we had on a bank of last year or the year before, he has assured us over and over again in the Committee hearing that our financial institutions are healthy, and they do have plans to keep them healthy. And so I just urge an I vote, because he was confirmed on the Rules Committee on February 21 with a 50 vote.

Thank you. Any further discussion or debate on this item, Senator Glazer?

Thank you, Mr. President. Members, I had the opportunity to talk with Mr. Young, and I concur with the Rules Committee representative, that he does come well prepared to oversee the safety of our financial institutions. He understands that our growth and prosperity and our economy is dependent upon that. He's someone that has assured me, and I believe him, is quite sensitive to the issue of small business and responsible lending.

And I know he'll do a good job overseeing banks, brokers and commercial lenders. And with that, I concur and respectfully ask for a support of his nomination.

Thank you. Any further discussion or debate on this item? Hearing seeing none. Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call]

The appointment is confirmed. Now, Members, we're moving on to Senate third reading. First up is file item four. Senator Umberg, are you prepared? secretary. You may read

Senate Concurrent Resolution 98 by Senator Umberg relative to public health. Senator Umberg?

Thank you, Mr. President. Colleagues, I rise and ask for your recognition in support of SCR 98, which memorializes the month of March as traumatic brain injury awareness month. TBIs are a major issue. 2.8 million Americans sustain traumatic brain injury annually.

In just 2022 alone, over 84,000 Californians were hospitalized and over 161,000 visited the emergency room due to TBI. This doesn't just impact adults. According to the National Institute of Health, about 475,000 children sustain a TBI annually. These injuries can be sustained anywhere in the military, in combat, interscalastic sports, or even at home. One notable item is that tbis are actually even more frequent in the military today than they used to be.

The good news is that there are fewer fatalities because of better body armor and protection. But the bad news is there are more tbis. In fact, according to the US Department of Veterans affairs, nearly 414,000 veterans sustained a TBI from the years 2000 to 2019. Traumatic brain injuries can negatively impact a person's ability to hold a job, maintain relationships, or even care for themselves. TBI can be devastating to a person's family.

Awareness, early screening, diagnosis and care for Californians who sustain a traumatic brain injury are necessary to support lifelong health for Californians living with TBI and their caregivers. TBI, unfortunately, is often not diagnosed immediately and which causes further harm and damage. Therefore, SCA 98 proclaims the month of March proclaims march as traumatic Brain Injury Awareness Month. To educate and spread awareness to the public on the large impact that tbis have on a sizable portion of our state's population, I respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Any further discussion or debate on this item? Any further discussion or debate? Hearing and seeing none. Members, this is eligible for a unanimous roll call. Is there any objection to using a unanimous roll call on this measure? Hearing and seeing none. Ayes, 34, noes, zero. The resolution is adopted. Now, Members, we're moving on to file item 10. Once again, Senator Umberg, he's prepared. Secretary, you may read,

Senator, Concurrent Resolution 112 by Senator Umberg relative to black balloon day.

Colleagues, I rise and ask for your recognition support of SCR 112, which moralizes Wednesday, March 6, as black balloon day, a day to recognize the lives lost to overdose from opioids. Opioid overdose is a leading cause of accidental death, with the impacts of fentanyl only making matters worse. According to the CDC, more than 112,000 people have died due to drug overdose or poisoning over the past year. 2021 fentanyl and synthetic opioids were involved in 80% of drug induced deaths of those aged 14 to 23.

Today, more Americans are likely to die of an overdose from opioids than they are from a car accident or from a gun, and fentanyl is a leader in causing these preventable deaths. With that said, a recent study in 2022 found that only around 47% of young Americans and around 31% of teens consider themselves knowledgeable about fentanyl. Prevention is the best tool to address drug abuse. I'm sure we all know someone who has been impacted by the harm caused by opioids.

SCR 112 proclaims March 6, 2024 as black balloon Day to commemorate the lives lost to opioid overdose and bring public attention to the atrocities of the overdoses taking place in California. I urge your. I vote any further discussion or debate on this item.

Thank you, Mr. President and ladies and gentlemen of the Senate. Today I also rise in support of SCR 112, and I want to thank the great Senator from Orange County for introducing this important measure. Los Angeles County has experienced a dramatic upswing in overdoses from fentanyl and across our state and our country. According to the La County Department of Public Health, accidental fentanyl deaths increased over 1500% between 2016 and 2022, including in my backyard, my district, almost 500 deaths in the Sangero Valley.

As a longtime advocate for prevention of accidental opiate overdose, it breaks my heart every time we sit with families who've lost a loved one. We hear the stories all the time in the news, and it just keeps going and going. We're losing too many of our children. And awareness is important. And as the great Senator stated earlier, prevention is the best tool, and we need to bring awareness and make sure that parents are vigilant. All of us are vigilant because it will continue.

So please join me in supporting this resolution declaring March 62024 as black balloon day, a day to remember and celebrate life's loss to overdoses by opioid. I also urge, an aye vote. Thank you.

Thank you. Any further discussion or debate? Hearing and seeing none. Senator Umberg, would you like to close? Members, this is eligible for a unanimous roll call. Is there any objection to applying a unanimous roll call to this measure? Hearing and seeing none. Ayes, 34, noes, zero. The resolution is adopted. Now we're moving on to file item six. Senator Niello, he is ready. Secretary, you may read.

Senate Concurrent Resolution 109 by Senator Niello Relative to Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month.

Senator Niello, the floor is yours.

Thank you, Mr. President. Members, I rise to recognize the month of March 2024 as Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States among men and women combined, and is estimated to be the number one killer for people ages 20 to 49. By 2030, African Americans are 20% more likely to be diagnosed with colorectal cancer and are about 40% more likely to die from the disease than other groups.

Colorectal cancer is also expected to account for 11% of cancer deaths among Hispanic men and 9% of cancer deaths among Hispanic women. In 2023 alone, there were approximately 153 new cases and about 52500 deaths from colorectal cancer in the United States. Now, as deadly as this disease is, it is one of the few types of cancers that can be prevented with timely screenings. But one in three eligible Americans are not up to date on their screenings.

Raising awareness about colorectal cancer, along with offering education on the importance of early detection and timely screenings, could potentially save the lives of thousands of Californians. Members, please join me today in raising awareness to this deadly disease by voting aye on SCR 109, recognizing the month of March 2024 as Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month.

Thank you. Any further discussion or debates on this item. Any further discussion or debate? Hearing and seeing none. Members, this is eligible for unanimous roll call. Is there any objection to applying the unanimous roll call to this measure? Hearing and seeing none. Ayes, 34. noes, zero. The resolution is adopted. Now we're moving back to motions and resolutions for that.

Mr. President. Privilege to floor. I'm sorry? Privilege of the floor. Thank you very much. Joining me today in the gallery in connection with this resolution is Mr. Dan Drydock Shockley, a retired navy, Operation Desert Storm, enduring freedom, and Iraqi freedom veteran and a 12 year hereditary colon cancer warrior. I almost said survivor.

He's a warrior. He's up in the gallery. He is a resident of my district, and he's joined today by other colorectal cancer awareness advocates, including a Member of the Galt City Council in the gallery.

Welcome to the California State Senate. Thank you for your service. Thank you, Mr. President. And before we move back to motions and resolutions, we want to take this opportunity to recognize a birthday celebration of one of our Members. Senator Hurtado is celebrating her birthday today. Happy birthday. Let's wish her a happy birthday now. Back to motions and resolutions. Now it's the time for adjourn in memories. Senator Atkins.

Thank you, Mr. President. Colleagues, I rise today to adjourn in memory of a very good friend and a mentor, Geraldine Jerry Dilno, who passed away on February 14. She was 87. Jerry was born and raised in San Diego. She served in the Air Force from 1958 until 1961, when she received a dishonorable discharge after being investigated for being gay, an affront to her civil rights and service to our nation.

Never one to be kept down, she fought successfully to have her discharge changed from dishonorable to honorable, just one of the many fights for the LGBTQ plus rights that she would undertake in her life. And she's proudly displayed on the wall in our community Center for her service to country. As a veteran, she helped found the first organized San Diego Pride March in 1975, back when the event numbered about 400 people.

To put that in perspective, last year's San Diego Pride parade drew more than 300,000 spectators. The growth of San Diego Pride would not have been possible without early activists like Jerry, who risked their very careers to fight for their right to live and love openly. She served as the first female Executive Director of the gay center in 1975, a position she held for a few years.

In fact, it was at her insistence that the center added Lesbian and community into its name, becoming the Lesbian and gay men's community center. She participated in local democratic politics, served as the President of the San Diego Democratic Club, now called San Diego Democrats for equality, from 1987 to 1991. In fact, I met her in 1987 when I joined the club. She was co chair of the state's democratic LGBTQ caucus from 1989 through 1991.

Her tireless activism is part of the reason that I'm standing in front of you here today. She never stopped working to get women and Members of the LGBTQ plus community elected to office. She supported Christine Kehoe when she ran for San Diego City Council and became San Diego's first open LGBTQ plus elected official. Chris Kehoe's victory paved the way for me and so many others, including many of our legislative colleagues.

Now, thanks to Jerry and advocates like her, San Diego County has more out LGBTQ plus elected representatives of any county in the nation. I could fill countless pages describing every board that she served on, every honor she was awarded for her service to San Diego, to the women's community, and to the LGBTQ plus community and every life she changed through her work for equality for LGBTQ people.

But I want to make sure that Jerry is known not just for her accolades and her activism, but for her heart. I had the incredible honor and privilege of knowing Jerry personally for 37 years. She was a friend, a mentor, and a steadfast supporter, someone that I could always go to for advice and an encouraging word. She was a true optimist with a quick wit and a hearty laugh, an incredible storyteller. She was wicked smart, and she loved to dance.

I was able to go to San Diego to visit her the day that she passed away. It's a memory that I will always cherish. As difficult as it was from the Sunday that she ended up in the hospital, her room was never empty. Through February 14, the day that she left us, there was a steady stream of community Members there to see her and to say goodbye and to tell her what she meant to each and every one of us.

She left an important mark on my life and the lives of so many others. It's my sincere hope that we will continue celebrating her legacy, remembering her through the causes she dedicated her life to. Colleagues, I ask that we adjourn today in memory of my friend Jerry Dilno, a trailblazing champion for the LGBTQ plus community, the women's community, and my treasured friend. Thank you.

On behalf of the California State Senate, we extend our most sincere condolences and ask that you bring. All right, Senator Laird. On this measure as well.

Thank you very much, Mr. President. It is hard to add to what the Protem emeritus did, but I knew her for a similar amount of time. And while it was listed, what she did, it's hard to remember the trailblazing that was going on when that happened.

When she was active in the caucus in the 1980s and into the 1990s, the National Party wouldn't even sanction it. It was something that had to be stepped up. She was one of the first out delegates to many of the party conventions. And I recall having she had that heart and she had that sense of humor so that she was a delegate in 1992 for Jerry Brown for President. And the chant was to let Jerry speak.

And I remember I made the mistake of walking over to see her and Charlie McCain in the delegation wearing a button of another candidate when everybody started chanting, let Jerry speak. And I said, it's really nice, Jerry, that's a tribute to you, that everybody wants you to speak. She liked that, but that's not what it was about. And it is just that those quiet trailblazers.

At the time that convention happened, Charlie was the one that was working on the redistricting for San Diego that led to the seat that Christine Kehoe won. And people like Jerry were among the organizers in the campaigns, among the activists, to make sure that the people were actually elected. And as was said, many of us are here for the work that was done then. And she was one that didn't seek the limelight, unless, of course, you were trying to take some right away from her.

And then she would be in the front row, strong, with a backbone of steel. And that is why is such a tribute to be able to recognize her here today. Jerry Dilno, a trailblazer, a leader in our state and in San Diego. Thank you.

We ask that you bring her name forward so she can be properly memorialized by the California State Senate. Next up is Senator Hurtado.

Thank you, Mr. President. Good afternoon, Mr. President. Members, I rise today to adjourn in the memory of Steve Schilling, a visionary leader who transformed the Central Valley. Born in 1946, Steve's journey began with humble roots, but his thirst for knowledge and passion for service propelled him forward. A graduate of Chico State University, Steve's educational pursuit slayed the foundation for a lifetime dedicated to rural development and humanitarianism.

Venturing beyond borders, Steve spent 27 months as a Peace Corps volunteer in Venezuela, where he embraced diverse cultures and forged bonds of understanding. For over 45 years, Steve served as a guiding force behind Clinica Sierra Vista, a beacon of hope, providing healthcare accessibility to all in the Central Valley. Under his leadership, Clinica Sierra Vista expanded to include multiple healthcare centers dental clinics and a bubble medical van spanning over 1200 sq. Mi.

Steve's inclusive approach to healthcare and unwavering commitment to the underserved made Clinica Sierra Vista one of the nation's largest community health networks. Steve is survived by his beloved spouse, Deidre, their children and grandchildren who carry on his legacy of compassion and service. Therefore, I urge you all to join me in honoring the memory of Steve Schilling by adjourning this meeting in celebration of a life dedicated to making a difference. I respectfully request the Senate to adjourn in his memory.

Thank you. On behalf of the California State Senate, we extend our sincere condolences and ask that you bring the name forward so he can be properly memorialized. All right, if there's no other business, Senator Mcguire. Okay, I'm sorry. I'm going to back up for a minute. We recognize today as Senator Hurtado's birthday. There also will be cake in room 7310 for everyone, even those in a gallery. Come get some cake. If there's no other business, Senator Mcguire. The desk is clear.

Thank you so much, Mr. President. Happy birthday to Senator Hurtado. And I'm hoping it's buttercream, as that is the best frosting on any cake. The next floor session is scheduled for this Thursday, March 7, at 09:00 a.m. Have a good week, Members.

The Senate will be in recess until 03:30 p.m. At which time an adjournment motion will be made. We'll reconvene on Thursday at 09:00 a.m.