Assembly Floor

[Roll Call]

We ask our guests and our visitors in the rear of the chamber and then in the gallery to please stand for the prayer and the flag salute. Today's prayer will be offered by our Assembly Chaplain, Imam Yasir Khan. Imam Yasir.

In the name of God, the most gracious, the most merciful, all powerful God, you know the hearts of all people and guide all things under your powerful protection. Help us to always acknowledge your greatness in comparison to our own weakness and guide us as we continue to work to make your will to be done on this earth. Bless our State of California.

Make us always grateful for the freedoms and blessings we enjoy in this great land of prosperity, and mindful of the principles of liberty and justice for all which our founding fathers and mothers have instilled within us. In your divine mercy, guide our leaders, our elected officials, and especially these Assembly Members here today, always keeping in mind that these amazing principles upon which our country is expected from us.

Never to forget that you call us all not to work for self glory, but to serve the greater good and always make them worthy of the work entrusted to them. We ask you, o God, to give us the courage to work for peace, that the example we give may lead others to sincerely desire the furtherance of the right to the pursuit of happiness for all humankind. Amen.

We ask that our guests remain standing for the flag salute. Please join Assemblywoman Ortega as she leads us in the nation's pledge.

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, and liberty and justice for all thank you.

You may be seated. Reading of the previous day's journal.

Assembly Chamber Sacramento Thursday, February 22, 2023 the Assembly met at 09:00 a.m..

Mr. Flora seconds that the reading of the previous day's journal will be dispensed with. Presentations and petitions there are none. Introductions and references of bills will be deferred. Reports of committees will be deemed read and amendments deemed adopted. Messages from the Governor there are none. Messages from the Senate? There are none. Moving to motions and resolutions. The absences of the day for personal business. Assemblymember Lowenthal and Majority Leader Reyes, you're recognized for your procedural motions.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I request unanimous consent to suspend Assembly Rule 45.5 to allow Assembly Members Mccarty, Joe Patterson, and Ramos to speak on an adjournment in memory today.

Without objection, such shall be the order.

I request unanimous consent to suspend Assembly Rule 118 A to allow the speaker to have guests and photographers on the floor today and to allow Assemblymember Ortega to have a guest seated at her desk.

Without objection, such shall be the order. And Majority Leader Reyes, you are recognized for your guest introductions.

Members, I have a very special introduction to make. Motions aren't always the most important, but I do want to introduce some very special people, and these are my district staff Members who are visiting us today. I'd ask that they please stand. Michael, Maha, Lucy, Maria, Ivana, and Prince.

And Assemblywoman Ortega, you are recognized at your desk for your guest introduction.

Members, good morning. I would like to introduce one of the most important person in my life, my mama, Maria Eva Ortega.

Welcome to the California Assembly. And Assemblywoman Soria, you are recognized at your desk for your guest introductions.

Thank you. Members also please join me this morning in welcoming Members from the California Association of Research Specialists, CARS plus, which. They're seated in the gallery, so I'll ask for them to stand. I did want to do a special introduction of two of my constituents, the residents of Merced county. We have Jerome Raspberry and Dr. Patrick. So CARS plus is the only Association whose sole purpose is to represent the unique needs of resource specialists and other special education teachers.

They were founded in 1981 as a nonprofit Association dedicated to the support of resource specialists. In 1996, the organization voted to expand its active membership to include all special education teachers. The Members work with special education students and include resource specialists, special day class teachers, inclusion specialists, parents, paraprofessionals, administrators, and others. Very important folks in our community. Thank you for the work that you do, and thank you for visiting your home, the state capitol.

Thank you Ms. Soria. Members, we will have another guest introduction shortly, but in the meantime, we'll move on to business on the daily file. We'll begin with file item one. This is ACR 8 by Ms. Rivas. The Clerk will read

Assembly Concurrent Resolution 8 by Assembly Member Luz Rivas relative to Introduce a Girl to Engineering day.

And, Assemblywoman Rivas, you are recognized at your desk for your opening.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And Members, I'm excited to present ACR 8, which recognizes today as introduce a girl to Engineering day. Despite recent progress, women continue to be severely underrepresented in engineering fields. As a woman engineer, I know this underrepresentation all too well. When I worked as an electrical engineer after graduating from college, I was often the only woman in the room and always the only woman of color.

Throughout my career, I have often heard people say that young women do not pursue engineering careers because they're not interested in STEM. But I know that's not true. As a founder of DIY Girls, a nonprofit with the mission to spark interest in technology and engineering among young girls, I can tell you that young women are just as interested in STEM as young men. We simply need to give them continuous exposure, encouragement, and the tools they need to be successful and tap into their passion for STEM.

As a leader in engineering and as a champion of gender equality, California can continue to lead the way in empowering young women to pursue careers in engineering. Please join me in celebrating introduce a girl to engineering day. I respectfully ask for your. Aye vote on ACR 8 and ask that the first role be open for coauthors. And I also ask you to encourage a young girl in your life to explore engineering. Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Rivas. And seeing no other Members wishing to speak on this resolution, Ms. Rivas has asked that the first roll be open for co authors. The Clerk will open the roll. All those wishing to be a co author on ACR 8, please signify your intent by pressing your vote button. Members, this is for co authors. The Clerk will close the roll. There are 74 co authors, and without objection, we will take a voice vote on the resolution. All those in favor say aye.

All those opposed say nay. The ayes have it. The resolution is adopted. Members, we will now take up file item two. This is ACR 9 by Ms. Irwin. The Clerk will read

Assembly Concurrent Resolution 9 by Assembly Member Irwin and others relative to Engineers Week.

And Assembly Member Irwin, you may open.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker and Members, I'm excited to present ACR 9, which recognizes the contributions engineers have made to our society and asks all of us to encourage students to engage in engineering. This year's engineer Week theme, creating the future, should remind all of us of the opportunities that the opportunities for engineers begin at an early age at home.

My dad, who was also an engineer, always talked about the importance of getting a technical degree, which said because he thought it would be good training for any career, apparently even politics. I know firsthand that investing in our kids and ensuring that they are introduced and involved in STEM early on in their education is one of the best ways to create a better future for all Californians.

I remember, just as Ms. Rivas, oh, my colleague from the San Fernando Valley, that there were very few women in my engineering classes, and even fewer when I worked as a systems engineer at Johns Hopkins University, applied physics lab and Teledyne. It is critically important for the state to continue to uplift and support diversity within the engineering workforce because it has been shown to lead to more creativity and inclusivity.

We rely on engineers to work together to develop practical solutions for some of California's most pressing issues like housing, energy and cybersecurity. Let's inspire the next generation by celebrating all the ways engineers create the future. I ask that the first roll call be open for co authors. Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Erwin. And seeing no other Members wishing to discuss this resolution, Ms. Irwin has asked that the first roll be open for co authors. The Clerk will open the role. All those who wish to be a co author on ACR nine, please signify by casting pressing your vote button. Members, this is for co authors. The Clerk will close the roll. There are 73 co authors, and without objection, we will take a voice vote on the resolution. All those in favor say aye. All those opposed say nay. The ayes have it. The resolution is adopted. And Assembly Member Irwin, you're again recognized for your guest introductions.

Yes, I have some special guests up in the gallery who came here to support the adoption of ACR 9 on behalf of the California Council of Engineering Companies California. Two constituents from my district, Miranda Patton, and with MNS engineers serving as the immediate past President of ACEC California and Miranda's four year old daughter, Praya Patton, who is a future engineer Raul Laboran of WSP, serving as President of ACEC Roll's daughter, Hope, who is an engineer.

On behalf of the American Society of Civil Engineers, Region nine, we have Gabrielle Rigo, senior geotechnical project engineer with Gannett Fleming, serving as ASCE Sacramento section treasurer. On behalf of the California Geotechnical Engineering Association, we have Courtney Zellman, Grubbs, civil engineer with WSP, serving as General Member with Cal Geo. On behalf of the board of Professional Engineers, land Surveyors and geologists, we have Natalie King, senior registrar, civil engineer. And finally, on behalf of the Girl Scouts heart of Central California, we have Adriana Pedroza, community partnership manager. Let's welcome all of them.

Thank you Ms. Irwin and Assembly Member Kalra, you're recognized at the rear of the chamber for your guest introduction.

Thank you so much. Mr. Speaker and Members, I'm honored to have the opportunity to introduce our guests from Canada who are here today in recognition of the growing importance of the California Canada relationship at a moment of great global change. I'm thrilled, along with Speaker Rendon, to welcome Consul General Rana Sarkar to the floor today. Mr. Sarkar was appointed as Consul General of Canada in San Francisco Silicon Valley in 2017 with accreditation for Northern California and Hawaii.

Throughout his tenure, Mr. Sarkar and the team at the consulate have worked to deepen collaboration with public and private sector contacts in California, and I know he's really built a wonderful relationship with our speaker and many of us here in the Legislature over that time. Over the last couple of days, a number of us have had the pleasure of joining the Consul General and the Consulate office for numerous meetings and events to strengthen and celebrate the long standing Canada California relationship.

I'd also like to make a special recognition of Consul General Mr. Zaib Shaikh of Los Angeles, who unfortunately was unable to join us here today, but I know is also sending his best wishes. As the only Canadian born in the California Legislature at this moment, I know that Consul General Sarkar joins us in the belief that our interests are mutual and that the California Canada relationships destinies are forever connected with that. Please join me in welcoming Rana Sarkar to the Assembly.

Thank you Mr. Kalra. Members, we will now be moving to our second day consent calendar. Before we vote, we will first take up resolutions on the consent calendar for the purposes of adding co authors. The Clerk will read the resolutions on the consent calendar.

Assembly Concurrent Resolution 13 by Assemblymember Stephanie Nguyen relative to California Science and Technology Week, Senate Concurrent Resolution 15 by Senator Newman and others relative to Stand Against Hate Action Day and Senate Concurrent Resolution 18 by Senator Menjivar and others relative to Wear red and American Heart Month.

The Clerk will open the roll to allow any Member to add on as a co author to the resolutions. All those who wish to be a co author on the resolutions on the consent calendar please signify by casting your vote button. Clerk will close the roll. There are 72. Co authors moving to a vote on the consent calendar. Does any Member wish to pull an item from the consent calendar? Seeing none, the Clerk will read the second day consent calendar.

Assembly Concurrent Resolution 13 by Assembly Member Stephanie Nguyen relative to California Science and Technology Week.

Clerk will open the roll on the consent calendar. All Members vote who desire to vote on the consent calendar. All Members vote who desire to vote. All Members vote who desire to vote. Clerk will close roll tally the votes. Ayes 75, no zero. The consent calendar is adopted. Clerk will read the remaining items on the consent calendar.

Senate Concurrent Resolution 15 Ayes 75, no zero and Senate Concurrent Resolution 18 Ayes 75, no zero.

Members, we will now move to our adjournments in memory, and we ask that you give respectful attention to those Members granted prior permission to speak today on an adjournment in memory. At this time, we ask that you take any conversations off the floor and Members, we will begin with Assemblymember McCarty. You are recognized at your desk for your adjournment in memory. Thank you.

Thank you. Mr. Speaker. I'd like to adjourn in memory of a dedicated public servant who served on this green carpet in the distinguished California State Assembly. A dedicated individual, a lifelong sacramentan, Eugene Gualco recently passed away in December. He leaves behind his family up in the gallery and his wife of 60 plus years, Dorothy, again, Gene Gualco grew up here in Sacramento in the Foothill Farms area, the district now represented by my colleague from Folsom.

He attended local public schools, UC Berkeley and McGeorge School of Law, passed the bar in 1958, the same year he married his wife, Dorothy. Again, she's up in the gallery with her family and her extended family and friends from the area. When he was 34, he decided to get involved in public service and ran for the County Board of Supervisors and won, representing district four.

It's in the same time that he began raising his two young children, Gina and Larry, in a one story home in the Foothill Farms neighborhood in the north part of Sacramento. He fought to increase access to public parks and won as a leader in creating and expanding our beloved American River Parkway. And he was very pleased, the fact that we are doing the same thing in this day, to expand access to our parkway.

In 1974, he announced that he would run for the California State Assembly, representing the fifth district, representing that area until 1978, I was told by his family. His seatmate back here was Loopappin, who his daughter, of course, is serving with us today. He was the chair of the Water Parks and Wildlife Committee. The AP called him California's strongest advocate of the environmental protection of the Tahoe basin. In 1978, our local Congress Member passed away. Had one of those congressional races where everybody jumped in.

The Mayor of Sacramento, a guy named Phil Eisenberg, a first term City Council Member named Bob Matsui, and the Assembly Member here from Sacramento, Gene Gualco. It was a big race, a big talk of the town. He didn't win that race. But a few months later, he ran into a young Governor named Jerry Brown, who says, you know what? I have other ideas for you. Why don't you serve on our Sacramento Superior Court?

And later on, he said that loss and that race was the best thing that ever happened to him because he loved serving in the judiciary. He was an outstanding Member of the California Superior Court, known for upholding workers'rights, reproductive care for women, and he was involved with the banning of the assault rifles in our state. He was often said he was a tough judge because he insisted that the attorneys were prepared and ready to serve in the courtroom.

After retiring from a judge in 1994, he still wanted to serve. And so he was tapped to help the Sacramento County Child Protective Services Agency and reform that agency and look at their systemic failures for our kids. In retirement, he and Dorothy continued traveling abroad, spent more time with their family in the greater Sacramento area.

I had the pleasure of going to a senior center about a year ago, and there was a gentleman in the back of the room kept asking me all these questions, like, really detailed questions. And I said, how does this gentleman know all this information? What's his deal? And afterwards, he came up and he said, I served in your seat. And I knew his name, but I never made the connection. So he was very active until the end. Again, we want to honor his memory here today with his family, and we ask this great house adjourn in his memory. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. McCarty. Members, without objection, the quorum call is lifted. We still have additional adjournments in memory. And Assembly Member Joe Patterson, you are recognized for your adjournment in memory.

Thank you. Members, today I rise in the memory of a pillar of the Rockland youth baseball community and my friend, Maggie Lloyd. Maggie passed away on November 20 after a short yet courageous battle with cancer. She left us too early at the young age of 40. For the past five years, Maggie served as President of the Tricity Little League, where she led one of the most successful Little League programs in the nation.

Under her tenure, Tricity Little League was at the doorstep of the Little League World Series on two separate occasions in 2018 and 2022. In 2018, they were the top team in California. But her community involvement went much deeper than countless hours on the baseball diamond and in the concession shack. When I was on the Rockland City Council, I would regularly see her and her husband in the council chambers lurking in the back. Just curious what was going on in the community.

She was also a key contact for the city whenever we were discussing recreational programs and anything regarding our city's fields. There were 450 kids in the Tricity Little League program, and I guarantee you that she knew every single one of their names. They were all family. If you don't believe me, look no further than the meal train set up by her friends in September to support her when she was sick. It is continued to this day.

Three months after she passed away, people are still bringing her family home cooked meals. Maggie's big heart and compassion extended right into her professional life, doing what she loved, working with children. She served as a special education aide for the Rockland Unified School District, most recently working at Whitney High School. Working with kids was not a job, it was a passion, and she dedicated her life to it. When I checked in with her husband, Jeff last month, I asked him how he was doing.

It would be understandable if he was downright sad and dejected, but that is not in his dna. He paused a bit and he said, you know, we had a really great summer. Apparently their families spent the summer after the Little League Season, of course, touring various baseball parks throughout the country and enjoying each other. Maggie survived by her husband Jeff and her two sons, Connor and Cody, as well as her mother, Connie Humphrey and sister, Sarah Bentley.

Maggie was a special person, and while she was taken far too early, her legacy will live on not only through her family, but also the thousands of families that were touched by her sense of pride, dedication and love of children. We can't replace Maggie, but we can remember her. I ask that you join me in adjourning in the memory of Maggie Lloyd. Thank you.

Thank you. Assembly Member Patterson and Assembly Member Ramos, you're recognized for your adjournment in memory.

Thank you. Mr. Speaker, I rise to request that we adjourn in the memory today for Steve Campos, who passed on February 11. Steve was a lifelong resident of San Bernardino and attended San Bernardino City Unified schools and graduated from San Gorgonio High School.

His friends and families described him as full of life with a smile that lit up the room and had the gift of making anyone feel as though they were a part of his family. Steve was always inquisitive and loved learning. Despite struggling with reading as a young student, he used this struggle to fuel his drive, perseverance and lifelong learning. Steve furthered his education at Crafton Hills College and Cal State University, San Bernardino.

At Cal State University San Bernardino, he earned a bachelor's of arts degree in business with a minor in music. He took great satisfaction from spending over 34 years at the San Manuel Indian casino, now called Yamava, especially working as a manager in the risk management Department. Steve did make a difference for his coworkers and the entire enterprise. He also loved music and received his first guitar when he was in the 8th grade. With guidance from his uncle, Steve became a self taught musician.

His passion for music never wavered. He played in the local bands system, Marmalade that included his cousin Jesse Marquez and a brotherhood. He was also part of brotherhood for the better part of almost three decades sharing his love of music. Steve is survived by his daughter Jaylin, son Jaren, two brothers and three sisters. We extend our condolences to his family and friends. Please join me in adjourning in his memory.

Thank you Mr. Ramos. Members, please bring the names to the desk to be printed in the journal. All requests to adjourn in the memory will be deemed read and printed in the journal. We are moving to announcements. The session schedule is as follows. Friday, February 24, no check in session, no floor session and Monday, February 27, floor session at 01:00 p.m. Seeing and hearing no further business, I am ready to entertain a motion to adjourn. Mr. Fong moves and Mr. Ta Seconds that this house stands adjourned until Monday, February 27 at 01:00 p.m. We are adjourned.