Assembly Floor

Good morning, Members. The Assembly is now in session. Assembly Member Lowenthal notices the absence of a quorum. The sergeant of arms will prepare the chamber and bring in the absent Members. Clerk, roll call, please.

[Roll Call]

Members, a quorum is present. We ask that our guests and visitors in the rear of the chamber and the gallery to please rise and stand for the prayer. The day's prayer will be offered by Assembly chaplain Imam Yasir Khan.

In the name of God, the most gracious, the most merciful, almighty God, please always keep us mindful that every good thing we have, every possession, every talent, every relationship, our health and very life itself is a gift from you. Mindful of these blessings, make us always generous. Look now upon this Assembly and fill us with the spirit of your wisdom. May every decision made reflect your goodness, promote and protect the dignity of every Member of our society, especially the weakest and most vulnerable among us.

And be for the peace and well being of all. Bless this legislative body with clear vision, deep insight, and courage to seek and do what is right in your gracious mercy, Lord, may each strive to see the best in everyone else. It is then that they can discern what is best for all here and in the world around us. Amin.

We ask that you remain standing as assemblymember Reyes leads us in the pledge of allegiance from the back of the room. Please join me in the pledge. I pledge allegiance to the flag. One nation under God, indivisible. You may be seated. Reading of the previous day's journal.

Assembly Chamber Sacramento Thursday, January 52023 the Assembly met at 09:00 a.m. The Honorable Christopher M. Ward.

Mr. Hart Moves, and Mr. Flora seconds that the reading of the previous day's journal be dispensed with. Presentations and petitions there are none. Introduction and references to 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 illness is Assembly Member, warden for legislative business, Assembly Member Vince Tong, Assistant Majority leader. Mr. Hart, you are recognized for your procedural motions.

I request unanimous consent to suspend Assembly Rule 45.5 to allow Assembly Members Ramos, Gabriel, Quirk, Silva and Ward 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 Assembly Members Ramos to have guests and photographers on the floor today without objections. Such shall be the orders. We're going to move to guest introductions. Members, we are going to move to guest introductions.

Assemblymember Ramos, you are recognized for your guest introductions from the rear.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Please join me in welcoming my guests to the floor today. They're Members of the Tribal Council of the Chukchansi tribal government. With us today is tribal chairperson Janet Bill, Vice Chair Laurie Arriaga, and Secretary Pam Coronado. Please join me in welcoming California's first people, Chukchansi people.

Members, we're going to continue with guest introductions. Mr. Gipson, you are recognized for your guest introduction.

Thank you very much. Madam Speaker and Members, I rise to introduce the light of the World church Youth group from my district, and I want to give a special shout out to Commissioner Ricardo Ortega, who leads this youth group. The light of the World church was founded on April 61926 in Mexico and has grown as an international church with over now 5 million Members. The church has historically fostered strong and empowering the community through charitable initiatives and social action activities worldwide.

In fact, during the pandemic, they opened their doors and made it a vaccination site in Los Angeles. Please, would you please welcome to the floor the youth group from the light of the World church to our chambers today. That's in the rafters. Thank you very much.

And only because they're a youth group. I think they allow a WHOOP WHOOP to show them that we're still young at heart. Right, Members? Great. Thank you. Assembly Member Kalra, you are recognized for your guest introductions.

Thank you. Madam Speaker, I would like to introduce Kate Schindle, President of Actors Equity, a union representing more than 51,000 professional actors on stage managers in live theater across the country. Ms. Shindle is the youngest Member ever to hold the office of President and the third woman President in equities history. She has starred in numerous Broadway productions, including Jekyll and Hyde, Legally Blonde, and in Frank Wildhorn's Wonderland and has appeared on various television series including Law and Order, SBU, and Gossip Girl.

Ms. Schindle is in town to advocate for further investments for the creative economy workforce. Please join me in welcoming Kate Schindle to the Assembly.

At this time, I'm going to ask that you all find your seat, take a seat and cease your conversations as we return to remarks and moments of silence. Okay, I'm glad you all took your seats. We're going to move to birthdays. We've got some birthdays in the house. Happy birthday to Assemblymember Mia Bonta, whose birthday is today's. Happy birthday to Majority Leader Reyes, whose birthday is tomorrow, Friday, February 27. And happy birthday to Assemblymember Ramos, whose birthday is on Sunday, January 29.

And Members, in honor of their birthday, there is cake in the Members Lounge, courtesy of our majority leader. There are also cupcakes in the swing space, conference room 8010 courtesy of Assembly Member Ramos for his birthday. How about that. At this time we are going to do remarks and moment of silence for victims of the Half Moon base shooting. Assemblymember Berman you are recognized for your remarks.

Thank you, Madam Speaker and colleagues. It is with anger and frustration and sadness that I rise to mourn the seven residents of Half Moon Bay that were senselessly murdered this past Monday afternoon. Less than 72 hours ago, I was standing with many of you on the steps of the Capitol, mourning the victims of the Monterey Park mass shooting.

I'm embarrassed to admit it, but in the back of my mind I was getting frustrated with myself as I could begin to feel that I was getting desensitized to these deplorable events. Not more than 10 minutes after I got back to my office, I got the message no one ever wants to receive. There's another mass shooting. We don't have a lot of details yet, but it's in one of your communities. Half Moon Bay is one of the most unique communities in my district.

I know many of you have been there for functions, but you probably haven't had a lot of time to just stroll down Main street and visit the many eclectic shops and cafes. Half Moon Bay is the closest thing the Bay Area has to small town America. It's 30 minutes south of San Francisco and 30 minutes west of Silicon Valley, but when you get there, you feel like you're in a different world.

It truly is a coastal oasis of calm and tranquility from the fast paced life all around it. On Monday afternoon, that tranquility was shattered by yet another mass murder the gunman, killing seven farm workers and injuring an 8th at two different farms before being apprehended by San Mateo county sheriff's deputies. I want to thank the first responders and sheriff's deputies who responded to these horrific scenes. I spoke with a few of them on Tuesday and I know they will be forever impacted by what they saw.

I also want to thank the community organizations, the City of Half Moon Bay and the County of San Mateo, that immediately mobilized to provide care and comfort to the families that were impacted. 40 families have been displaced because the farm worker housing they lived in, which has been described as squalor by local officials, is now a crime scene. Some of them, including children, were present and witnessed the murders of their friends and family.

They didn't have locks on their doors, and some of them had to resort to hiding in Porta potties. These senseless and untimely deaths will not be in vain. They will lead to change. This shooting has shown a light on the deplorable living conditions and the stress and mental health challenges farm workers suffer under every day in California. They have also underscored once again the scourge of senseless gun violence that is ravaging our communities.

While this morning is not the time for policy debate, that time is coming soon, and I am eager for it. I want to thank all of my colleagues who reached out to extend prayers and support. The residents of Half Moon Bay are strong. They are resilient. They've already been through a lot in the first few weeks of 2023, from flooding to power outages to a massive sinkhole on the main road into town. The community will get through this, but they shouldn't have to.

No community should have to. I pray that none of you find yourself in the position that I am this morning. It is with deep sadness in my heart that I ask for a moment of silence to honor the lives that were lost, the family and friends that were impacted by the senseless mass shooting, and the beautiful half Moon Bay community that will never be the same.

Thank you, Mr. Berman. We ask that you all please rise as we observe a moment of silence for the victims of this tragedy. Okay, moving on to business on the daily file. There is no business on the daily file today. And moving to adjournments in memory. Members, we will now be moving to adjournments in memory. Please give your respectful attention to those who were granted prior permission to speak in adjournment of memory. Assembly Member Ramos.

Thank you, Madam Speaker and colleagues. It is with great sadness that I rise to request that we adjourn today in the memory of my father, James R. Ramos, known as Jaime. He passed on September 8th surrounded by family who loved him dearly. My dad's life was a life of service. He proudly served in the United States army and was a certified marksman. He was a Member of the American Legion Post 421.

And after retiring from the San Bernardino City schools, my dad and my mother began a legacy of philanthropic to local community charities and organizations. The many organizations that he supported included the Unforgettables Foundation, Time for Change Foundation, SIBA charities, the Loma Linda University Children's Hospital, and many more. His soft spots were veterans and children. My dad grew up in a place that we called the Ranchito East Highlands, and he picked oranges in that area in the agricultural field, like many did to survive.

And most of all, he loved my mother, my mother, Rowena Ramos. They were married for over 57 years and he loved all his family, especially the grandchildren. My father came from a big family and was the youngest of nine siblings after family, his greatest love. He loved playing pranks, music, fishing, and the Rams. He liked the Rams and the Dodgers, as well as jelly donuts, pancakes, family's barbecues and old movies. He loved life and loved celebrations with family in the community.

In addition to my mother, Rowena Ramos, our siblings, my brothers and sisters, we have an uncle, Santos Ramos, his brother, and the children of my dad, my brother Ken, my sister Elena and James, Chico Ramos and my brother Tommy, 17 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren and many nieces, nephews and cousins, and a large extended family. Along with my brother Ken is Sean, along with James, Chico Ramos is Terry Ramos, and along with my brother Tommy is Maria.

My father will always be in our hearts and especially in the things that we do to live according to his teachings. I also want to thank the many Members of this body who text me during that time and took the time to attend the services for my father.

My father passed away in September and I'm doing this AIM now, but it's an AIM that will continue to live in all of our hearts and minds, and it is the character that's instilled in us that we move forward. I want to thank you and ask this body to adjourn in the memory of my father, James R. Ramos. Jaime.

Assembly Member Gabriel, you're recognized for your adjournment.

Thank you. Madam Speaker, I rise today to request that we adjourn in memory of my grandmother, Lillian Gabriel, who passed away on October 22 at the age of 92. My grandma Lillian was a strong, confident, outspoken, warm, and immensely loyal woman who was a pillar of our family and her community for more than nine decades.

Born into a poor immigrant family during the Great Depression, my grandma was asked at a young age to assume major responsibilities for her family, many of whom, including her own father, were undocumented and lack language skills and formal education. These childhood experiences deeply impacted my grandma and instilled in her a strength and confidence that she carried with her throughout her life.

Shortly after graduating from high school, Lillian married my grandfather Lester, her beloved partner of almost 60 years, and they moved from Brooklyn, New York, here to Sacramento to start a new life in California. My grandparents found new opportunities and worked hard to establish a family and support their community.

Despite caring for two children with serious and chronic health challenges that often left them hospitalized, my grandma was determined to earn a college degree and ultimately graduated with both a bachelor's and a master's degree from Sacramento State University. Undeterred by barriers and social norms that kept many women of her generation out of the workforce, Lillian enthusiastically pursued her passions for art history and teaching.

A lifelong learner with an entrepreneurial spirit, my grandma was an instructor at two local community colleges and later owned and ran her own small business, a successful art gallery that she operated out of a spare bedroom in my grandparents'home in Carmichael. My grandma was also deeply connected to her Jewish identity and devoted countless hours to volunteer leadership positions in numerous Jewish civic and charitable organizations.

In particular, she was always concerned with the welfare of the poor and the vulnerable and was passionate about civil rights and social justice, what we refer to in Hebrew as Tikunolam. Whether it was exploited farm workers in the Central Valley or persecuted Jews in the Soviet Union, she always made a point to work for causes and issues that mattered to her and challenged our entire family to think about how we could play a role in addressing society's most pressing inequities.

Lillian was also passionate about politics and a talented campaigner. Fortunately for me, after my grandfather's passing, she moved to a retirement community in the San Fernando Valley, which inevitably became my top performing precinct. In election years, my grandma would walk the halls and stop people at meals, ensuring no matter how her fellow residents felt about national politics, it was understood they were going to vote for her grandson for State Assembly.

Unsurprisingly, I attribute much of my own interest in politics and government to my grandma's influence, and I'd like to think that had she been born into a different family at a different moment in history, she might have been a Member of this body. In addition to being a deep thinker and a passionate activist, my grandma was also wonderfully warm and engaging, with a playful and sometimes rebellious spirit.

As a young child, I remember sitting in synagogue with her during the high holidays where we would discreetly play poker and other card games during the services, hiding the cards in between the pages of the prayer book while others prayed. She was also a talented cook and baker, a woman who loved opera, art, theater, good books, good meals, and especially time with family. Ultimately, my grandma was blessed with a long, full and rich life.

She traveled widely, argued passionately, and built deep bonds with a wide circle of friends and family, including her three great grandsons. I feel immeasurably blessed to have had her by my side as a friend, confidant, travel companion, role model, and teacher for over 40 years. My grandma Lillian will be deeply missed, but I know that her memory will be a blessing for our family and her community, and I respectfully request that we adjourn today in her memory.

Assembly Member Quirk-Silva you're recognized for your adjournment

Today. I rise in memory of former Assembly Member Bruce Young, who passed away peacefully in Vancouver, Washington, his home on Saturday, October 1, 2022. Bruce was born in Chicago, Illinois on July 5, 1946. As a child, he moved with his adoptive parents to Southern California and graduated from Lakewood High School. After attending Kell State University of Long Beach, Bruce began his career in journalism at the Long Beach Press Telegram as a sports reporter.

He then went on to write for the American Hot Rod Association before switching career paths to marketing and public relations. Bruce worked for Walt Disney Productions in Disneyland, ultimately as a supervisor of creative marketing from 1967 to 1971. This was a job that he truly enjoyed and made for great stories told throughout his life. His political service began when his eldest daughter was born.

Wanting to have a hand in shaping public education, Bruce was elected to the ABC School board in 1970 and was an active Member through 1976 when he ran for the California State Assembly representing the 63rd district. Bruce was a passionate politician and thrived in serving the community that elected him and the State of California at large. During his time in the Assembly from 1977 to 1984, he held many appointments, but Bruce was most proud of being the Chairman of the Assembly Transportation Committee.

Bruce's legislative colleagues would remember him as wanting to be at the center of important dialogues and always ready to battle for the initiatives and bills that would make a difference to his constituents. After retiring from the Legislature, Bruce left Southern California for Sacramento to become a lobbyist. Notably, Bruce represented the California Retailers Association and number of private clients for many years. He was larger than life and a connector, always looking to help and enable people.

Everybody that he met loved his story, his charm, his sharp wit and command of the English language and keen sense of humor, and he will always be remembered and appreciated. Bruce is survived by his wife, Diane Johnson, and her daughters Caitlin Kimberly, his children Tracy Wells, Jeremy, Christian, Cameron Young, his grandson Jackson well, and his beloved cooker hound, Miles. Please join me in wishing condolences to the young family and friends for their loss and adjourn in his memory.

Assembly Member Ward, you're recognized for your adjournment.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Members, I ask that we rise and adjournment in memory of an influential and effective San Diego and a former staff Member of the Assembly, Deanna Spain Deanna was a constituent in the Tierra Santa community in San Diego and someone that I've looked up to for two decades as a true problem solver for some of our biggest projects and policies to benefit our community and our state for generations.

She served most recently as a senior policy advisor to Senate President pro temporary Atkins until her passing in November, and previously served with then Speaker Atkins here in the Assembly and for our predecessor, Christine Kehoe, as well as several roles in the City of San Diego. For over a decade, she developed an unparalleled respect from local environmental, civic, military, tribal, business, labor and other leaders over her command of issues and a commitment to see important work completed.

Democrats, Republicans and independents sought her advice because she listened. She knew the history and the sticking points, the technical detail and the bigger picture, and could find a pathway through to solve that problem. She was brilliant. She was the rare and sometimes singular resource we could go to when we were thinking about how to make challenging ideas a reality. She helped establish the San Diego River Conservancy and was involuntarily given the name the grand dame of the river by some.

She led the development of the city's landmark multiple species conservation Plan, which was an acclaimed document that brought together environmental conservationists and developers to direct smart growth and preserve precious open space. She helped expand the old town state park recently to include the land of the first people exhibit area called the Ipe Tipe Kumiyai mut Niipak. Deanna was engaged in projects in our beloved Balboa park, has been outlining our strategies to move the train tracks off the collapsing Delmar bluffs, and so much more.

She served on the City of San Diego Civil Service Commission and on the side edited and co published a free community newspaper, the Tierra Santa Times, to give neighbors resourceful updates. I treasured every chance that I had to talk to her and learn how she accomplished so much. And if you'd seen her office, it was a trove of background documents and maps and eirs and sometimes the originals from the 1970s or the 1980s. But I knew that she had read all those documents cover to cover.

She spoke softly and pointed out people and organizations maybe I ought to try to consider as partners. And on water transportation, fire safety regulations, fairgrounds, you name the issue. Deanna knew how to connect the .s, build coalitions, find the money, and break through inertia. Most importantly, I enjoyed her conversations about her trips to be able to see her daughter and her grandchildren. Deanna survived by her husband, Richard, their daughter Michaela, son in law and two granddaughters.

And we are thankful for her contributions and her example and will miss her while we remember her through her work around us every day. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Members, please bring the names to the desk to be printed in the journal. All requests to adjourn and memory will be deemed read and printed in the journal. Moving to announcements the session schedule as follows. Friday, January January 26. No check in session. No floor session. Monday, January 30, floor session at 01:00 p.m. Moving to adjournment. Seeing and hearing no further business. I'm ready to entertain a motion. Mr. Hart moves. Mr. Flora seconds.

This house stands adjourned until Monday, January 30, at 01:00 p.m. The quorum call is lifted. The house is adjourned, and.