Senate Floor

We will be led in prayer this afternoon by Senator Niello, after which, please remain standing for the pledge of allegiance. Senator Niello

Our prayer today is from Psalm 20. May the one who created you in wholeness meet your needs when you call. May the name of love be your protection and rise up in your heart as a tower of strength. May all you have given in gratitude and with open hands be returned to you a hundredfold. May your heart's desires and all you planned be fulfilled in due season. Let us shout for joy as love triumphs over fear. Let our thankful hearts sing aloud.

Acclamation to the beloved who answers our prayer. Felt our heartfelt prayers. O beloved, you have created us. Hear our call and make your home in our hearts. Amen.

Members. Please join me in the pledge of allegiance to the flag. I pledge allegiance to the flag for which it stands. Members, we are privileged to have with us here in our gallery today Mr. Osumi yo. General counsel of Japan, based in San Francisco. We welcome you to the Senate. California has enjoyed a very long standing relationship with the country of Japan. Many of our cities have sister city relationships with cities in Japan. And we welcome you. Gracious arms here. Thank you for being with us. Senator Allen, for purposes of introduction. Senator Allen.

Yes, thank you. Thank you, Mr. President. I rise this afternoon with the great honor of recognizing the dedication and success of California's best and brightest young people, particularly in the arts. As many of you know, this morning marked the culmination of the 19th annual Poetry out loud state competition, which was hosted by California Arts Council and California poet laureate Lee Herrick. In fact, it took place right over in the swing space, so we hosted it as a Legislature.

Since 2005, the California Arts Council has partnered with the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry foundation to give students the opportunity to discover their voices and add them to the generational conversation of art and culture. And over the last two days, we've had county champions from all over the state, from high schools. And they came here to Sacramento to compete in performances of poetic works that they memorized and made their own. Now, let me first welcome all of the county champions to Sacramento.

The hard work and commitment required to make it this far was no small achievement. As students who choose to engage with the arts on this level, studying the intention of our literary history and investing in the skills necessary to express it personally, these competitors represent the next generation of cultural and community leaders in our state.

So just a few hours ago, in the swing space, those student leaders delivered their recitations in a bid to earn the chance to represent our state at the national competition in Washington, DC at the end of April. And after a long weekend of competition, our champions unfortunately had to begin their travel home. And they can't be with us on the floor today, partly because of the changing schedule with the State of the State.

But I did want to make a point of recognizing their achievement here nonetheless. So it's my honor to announce our top three competitors in this year's poetry out loud state finals, each of whom performed three works over the last few days. This year's honorable mention went to Seala Johnson, La County's champion. The runner up from Riverside County was Mirabelle Lee. And from Sonoma county, the champion, Riley O'hara.

Right after St. Patrick's Day, the newly minted 2024 poetry out loud state champion Riley will be competing on behalf of California at the national finals. So this is obviously a personal victory for each of them and all the competitors, but it's their courage and their artistic expression that really helps to contribute to the rich tradition of the arts here in California. Members, please join me in recognizing the incredible work of these dedicated students from all around our state.

Thank you, Senator Allen, and congratulations to those finalists. Members. Baseball season is just around the corner, and we have an equivalent right here on the Senate Floor. We have a triple header right here in the Senate. Let me note that today is the birthdays of Senators Wilk, Allen and Grove. Please join me in wishing them a happy birthday. I don't know if there's a triple header in baseball, but I was trying that out. All right. Messages from the Governor will be deemed read. Messages from the Assembly. Would the secretary please read?

Mr. President, I am directed to inform your honorable body that the Assembly on this day passed Assembly Bill 1887. Sue Parker, chief Clerk of the Assembly.

Thank you. Reports of Committee will be deemed read and amendments adopted. We'll move next to motions, resolutions, and notices it without objection. The Senate journals for March 11, 2024 through March 14, 2024 will be approved as corrected by the minute Clerk.

Members without objection. Joint Rule 62 A will be waived for the education Committee and the Appropriations Committee. To hear AB. 1887. Without the 4 and 2 day notice in the daily file. Members without objection. Assembly Bill 1887 will be given a second reading upon being reported from the Appropriations Committee on Wednesday, March 20, 2024. And finally, Members without objection. The following Bill with floor amendments will be deemed read and amendments adopted. That's file item 10, SCR 119 by Senator Umberg. We're going to move next to consideration of the daily file. First up is Governor's appointment. Item number one. Senator Grove is prepared.

Thank you, Mr. President. Before I start, colleagues, did you drop this on the way in? Now that I have all your attention. I learned that on Southwest flight this morning. It was actually pretty entertaining. We laughed and clapped. File item one is the confirmation of Joseph Eto. For appointment to the California independent Systems operator governing board. Mr. Ito has been a staff scientist at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory since 1982. This guy's wicked smart.

He deserves to operate all those little computers that keep the power on if we can supply it to him. He's also a Member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, and he was approved by the Rules Committee on March 6 on a 50 vote. Respectfully ask for your aye vote. Thank you, Senator Grove. Any discussion on this nominee? Any discussion? See none. Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call]

On a vote of 40 to zero, the nominee is confirmed. Members, we're actually going to move to Senate third reading. And following that, Assembly, third reading. This is a total of six measures that we're going to hear this afternoon. If you want to follow along on your scorecard, these are file items 7, 8, 12, 13 and 14. And number 21. So we'll begin first with file item number seven.

This is SCR 116 by Senator Jones. Secretary, please read.

Senate Concurrent Resolution 116 by Senator Jones, relative to Frontotemporal Degeneration Awareness Week.

Senator Jones, the floor is yours.

Thank you, Mr. President and Members. I rise today to present File Item Seven, which is SCR 116. Frontotemporal generation is a terminal and incurable neurodegenerative disease. It causes impairments to speech, personality, behavior, and motor skills. Frontotemporal degeneration primarily affects individuals in their 40s to 60s, but has been diagnosed in individuals as young as 14.

The disease accounts to five to 15 percent of all dementia cases and affects an estimated 60,000 people in the U.S. Despite its prevalence, it is often misdiagnosed and overlooked due to its wide range of symptoms and lack of awareness among the public and health care professionals. Frontotemporal Degeneration Awareness Week is crucial as it shines a spotlight on this often misunderstood disease and emphasizes the importance of early detection, accurate diagnosis, and access to appropriate care and support services. I ask that we all support today SCR 116. Thank you, Mr. President.

Thank you, Senator Jones. Any discussion on this resolution? Any further discussion? Seeing no microphones up, this is eligible for a unanimous roll call. Without objections, ayes: 40; noes: zero. The resolution is adopted. We're going to move next to File Item Eight. This is SR 67 by Senator Dodd. He's prepared. Secretary, please read.

Senate Resolution 67 by Senator Dodd, relative to National Gambling Awareness Month.

Senator Dodd.

Thank you, Mr. President and Members, as chair of the Senate GO Committee, I'm proud to present the State Resolution 67, which recognizes March 2024 as Problem Gambling Awareness Month in the State of California. Although most people are able to gamble responsibly, for some it becomes a devastating addiction that affects not only the individual, but their loved ones. Fortunately, gambling addiction is treatable.

That is why, during the month of March, organizations throughout the state come together to educate the public and healthcare professionals about the warning signs of problem gaming. This resolution will raise awareness about the help that is available, both locally and nationally, for problem gamblers and their families. I want to thank the Members of the Senate GO Committee for coauthoring this resolution. I respectfully ask for your Aye vote.

Thank you, Senator Dodd. Any further discussion on the resolution? Any further discussion? Seeing none. This is eligible for unanimous roll call. Seeing no objections. Ayes 40. Noes zeros. The resolution is adopted. We're going to move next to file item 12. This is SR 70 by Senator Atkins. Secretary, please read.

Senate Resolution 70 by Senator Atkins. Relative to Transgender Day of Visibility.

Senator Atkins?

Thank you, Mr. President. Colleagues, arise today to present SR 70, which celebrates transgender week of visibility in the Capitol and proclaiming March 31 as transgender day of visibility commemorated each year, the international transgender Day of visibility encompasses an expansive community of people who identify as two spirit transgender, gender, nonconforming, or nonbinary or intersex. If you're keeping track of the initials, that would be two stgnic.

And while our LGBTQ plus caucus and our community, as well as our allies, honor the transgender Day of Remembrance, which is a painful day where we memorialize our Trans siblings, we've lost due to Trans hate and gender violence, it's critically important that we also commemorate transgender day of visibility to celebrate our two STG and IC siblings. With joy, with hope, and with support, the California legislative LGBTQ Caucus reaffirms its unwavering support to our two spirit transgender, gender, nonconforming, nonbinary, and intersex siblings.

Our community is united in our pursuit for equity and equality for all people. Our caucus is proud to highlight the representation of the TGI community in elected offices nationwide with more than 98 officials that we know of, including none in California, such as one of my own supervisors in San Diego, County, Tara Lawson Reamer. And of course, we've all heard and seen the national work of Lisa Middleton, who serves on the Palm Springs City Council.

Now more than ever, it's critically important that we celebrate during this week and further affirm our support for our Trans siblings and their right to live visibly, openly, authentically and unapologetically. So, colleagues, thank you. I would respectfully ask for an aye vote on SR 70 reaffirming our support for our community members.

Thank you. Senator Atkins, I see microphones up from Senator Padilla and Wiener. Senator Padilla, floor is yours.

Thank you, Mr. President and Members, I rise today on behalf of the Latino Caucus in support of SR 70 to celebrate our transgender siblings and transgender day and week of visibility. Celebrations like this give us an opportunity to uplift the voices and the stories of peoples in our communities working to make this state more equitable for all.

Stories of people like Bambi Salcedo, an activist known for her passionate advocacy as the CEO of the Translatin Coalition, which has worked to address the issues of the transgender Latina community throughout the nation. Or the story of Adela Vasquez, a Cuban transgender HIV AIDS activist. Her work supporting Trans women battling AIDS has been instrumental in San Francisco since the early 1980s.

There are so many stories of community and progress that happen every day in the state, stories of our neighbors and family working to make a better life for themselves and their loved ones. But while we celebrate, we cannot ignore the sad and alarming rise of open aggression and bigotry directed at the LGBTQ community throughout our country, especially towards Trans children. Every day in this country, Trans rights are under attack as extremists try to slander, shame, and even physically attack Trans individuals for simply existing.

This year alone, over 400 pieces of antitrans, anti LGBTQ legislation have been introduced in city halls and state houses, and even in our nation's capital. There are those that seek to strip Members of the community of their dignity, indeed, their humanity, one right at a time. Harvey Milk said that when the LGBTQ community stays in the shadow, we perpetuate our invisibility. And he was right, which is why recognitions and acknowledgments are visible and important and vital.

Trans Day and week of visibility are a way for us to demonstrate our support in our Trans communities because they deserve happiness, safety, and the ability to live openly as their true and authentic selves. We must dedicate ourselves, frankly, colleagues, to the work of educating and fostering understanding. We have to lift up the beating hearts of every human being as precious and build more direct human conditions and connections. It remains a basic human trait. We fear what we don't understand and fear often devolves into hatred. It is our duty to help others see the humanity in one another. Colleagues, I respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Thank you, Senator Padilla. Next, want to recognize Senator Wiener, followed by Senator Bradford. Senator Wiener.

Thank you, Mr. President. Colleagues, I rise today as co chair of the legislative Jewish Caucus, as a gay man, and as a staunch supporter of our Trans community in support of SR 70. At a time when the Trans community is under attack across the country, it's of utmost importance that we recognize and reaffirm that Trans people are loved, seen, and entitled to the same decency and respect as anyone else. We must take action to protect our Trans siblings and make clear that we will not abandon them. Sorry. Within the Jewish tradition, there's a rich history of transgender recognition. A Jewish legalistic tradition recognizes six genders, and the fluidity among them.

Talmudic and kabbalistic study identify important figures within our faith as living their lives in ways that might be considered Trans or nonbinary in modern terms. Even as we celebrate this community, it's important to recognize that Trans people, particularly Trans women of color, are more likely to experience violence, that violence must be recognized and called out so that we don't lose any more of our Trans siblings.

Last year was the deadliest year ever on record for the Trans community, something I hope I never need to say again, and we must condemn the way that Trans kids are cruelly, viciously, and cynically used to score political points. These attacks have real consequences. When treatment is denied, lives are lost. 81% of Trans individuals have considered and 42% have attempted suicide. That number is 56% among Trans youth, almost 630% of the rate among the entire youth population.

In terms of attempting suicide, 56% of Trans adults have engaged in non suicidal self injury in their lifetime. Next. Benedict is just the latest instance in which we have seen vile rhetoric and bullying and intimidation against the Trans community turn into real life harm. Children are losing their lives because of the hate preached against them. Let's be clear that playing political games with people's lives is despicable and must never be the norm in American politics.

Whether it's bad faith, bathroom bills, or those seeking to discriminate, our voices must be clear. There is no place for this disgusting and deadly hatred in our community. These groups and individuals who are engaging in this deadly form of politics towards Trans people, they're not actually interested in reality. The facts that they claim are often not true and are simply cover for bigotry.

They're weaponizing hate and discomfort to engage in a mythological culture war that distracts from the true crimes and violence actually being committed against Trans people in our society. They treat Trans people as if they are not full human beings, as if they're just making it up, as if they're just trying to scam their way into a space where they, according to these folks, shouldn't be.

Is it any wonder that the Trans community struggles when, day in and day out, they have to listen to that kind of vile, dehumanizing rhetoric? The Jewish community, according to surveys, has been more accepting of Trans people and gender diverse people than any other group. I'm proud of our Trans community. I'm proud of our Jewish community, and I am proud to vote aye on SR 70.

Thank you, Senator Wiener. Senator Bradford.

Thank you, Mr. President. As Vice Chair of the California Legislative Black Caucus, I support Sr 70. Recognizing March 312024 as transgender day of visibility, and this week as transgender week of visibility. It is important to acknowledge that Members of this transgender community have overcome many obstacles and challenges to build a place for themselves. These obstacles include mental and physical harassment, discrimination, and attacks on their very identity.

Black, transgender, and nonbinary youth, in particular, experience a unique set of challenges because of the intersection between their race and their gender identity. 77% of black, transgender, and nonbinary youth suffer discrimination based on their gender identity. 40% of them have been physically threatened or harmed because of their gender identity. These numbers show that we must all do what we must all do to make our state and our country a more welcoming and accepting place.

We can continue to look at the examples set by people like Marsha P. Johnson, who was a central figure of the Stonewall uprising, and Miss Major Griffin Gracie, who led the San Francisco based transgender variant and intersex justice project to advocate for incarcerated Trans women. I would like to thank our President pro tem emeritus Atkins for bringing this measure forward, and I respectfully ask for. aye vote.

Thank you, Senator Bradford. I have a microphone up from Senator Laird, followed by Senator Skinner. Senator Laird

Thank you very much, Mr. President. There was a time early in my own career where I was one of the few out elected officials, if you can believe it. I had many constituents that thought I was the only gay person they knew. It's because there were lots there, but that wasn't true, and they weren't out to them.

And it took this changing of people realizing who was around them and what the community was to sort of get what the real LGBT community was and to get the struggles that actually were going on. That was the reason that they didn't think there were many other people around them. And as we advance to discussing this resolution and the subject of Trans people, it is very similar. It is very similar in that people do not understand who's around them.

But I had this experience that was all of us have had to understand and learn. I am among the older Members here. For the first 20 or 30 years of my life, it never occurred to me once I had mentally programmed somebody's gender that I had to adjust in how I addressed them. And I have someone who was a staff Member in the Assembly when I was an Assembly Member that transitioned, that is now an elected official in Santa Cruz County.

And I am mortified to confess that for the first year, I would slip periodically and call him she until I totally reprogrammed in a way that I wasn't used to having to do. And that is true for families. And there's somebody in my community that is a Member of the LGBT community that in her own right, was an incredible trailblazer. A leader, ascended to a position that not many women had ever ascended to in the law enforcement ranks.

And she and her partner have a few kids, and this one kid's doing really well in school and then gets, for two or three years is, like, really crashing. And they go to counseling, and they understand that this is the issue and that kid gradually starts to adjust to who they think they are, and they are succeeding in school. They are doing really well. And it was interesting because the parents had to make the adjustment just as much as the kid had to make the adjustment.

And so I talk about these because then we have the laws that were referred to, and it's sort of at a very high level politicizing this situation and trying to force people into, whether it's bathrooms or bedrooms or families, when it's individuals struggling to sort of do what is right for them, it is families struggling to do what's right for the individual. And it's up to us in the awareness and recognition to make sure we allow for that to happen in a good, positive, constructive way. And I think this resolution is part of that discussion. And I respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Thank you, Senator Laird, Senator Skinner.

Thank you, Mr. President Member as I rise as the chair of the Women's Caucus in support of SR 70. And I greatly appreciate the very eloquent comments by our colleagues that I probably would not be able to articulate as well. But I wanted to give thanks to the text of the resolution in that it cites these historical, real things within our cultural history and within the canons of our western civilization.

When you look at the Greek and Roman and the other citations that are made in SR 70, and of course, to our colleague from San Francisco's reference to the tradition, the Jewish tradition in the Torah and the other studies, that the political fixation now denies the fact that this has been a reality within our human culture from day one and has been by most cultures accepted.

And it has been much more recently where we have tried to categorize people in such a way that we then mistreat them, discriminate against them, and other horrible consequences where they feel they can have no feelings of self worth and self confidence, which is the absolute worst thing to do to any person. So as a woman's caucus chair, I stand in great thanks that this is being brought before us.

And I also am very proud to represent a district that has really been at the forefront of many of these issues. We were the first area that I am aware of to have elected an openly Trans person when in 2010, we elected Vicky Kolakowski as a judge. And we also have had, our Trans community has held a public vigil to read the names out loud of every Trans person that died in that year. And they have been holding that public vigil since earlier than 2008. So I am so proud to represent a district like that.

And I'm also proud that culturally, now, when we look at whether it's our, and there's some stereotypes, but whether we look at TV shows, movies and such like that, that in entertainment there is much more acceptance of Trans people and projection of Trans people, again, with, unfortunately, some stereotypes in certain cases, but much more a reflection of what we should all be welcoming and engaged in, rather than the politicalization and the demeaning that we see too often. And we see so many other states in engaging in the laws that they've passed. So again, I thank the author for bringing this forward, and I urge an aye vote on SR 70.

Thank you, Senator Skinner. Want to now recognize Senator Jones.

Mr. President, Members, I just wanted to rise briefly and explain why I'll be voting no on SR 70. And while I know this is a very personal decision by each one of all 40 of us here on the Senate Floor, and there's many things in this resolution that are supportable.

And I also want to agree with our colleagues that have raised the concern of the culture war and the hate filled speech and treatment that our Trans community is experiencing across the United States. And certainly I do not support any of those words and or actions that are meant in a hateful, demeaning, or any way such as that. The challenge I have is I have three children. I have two boys and a girl. My girl is in the middle.

All three of them have played collegiate level volleyball. My boys are six foot four. My daughter is five foot four. Most female college volleyball players are six foot tall or taller. Most male college volleyball players are six foot seven or taller. And when we are seeing the impacts on female sports around this country, both at the high school level and the college level, the brief reference to sports in the resolution is what is causing me to vote no today and appreciate the ability to be able to share those sentiments today.

But I think we've got to come to a place where we're protecting women in women's sports and allow women to accomplish every dream that they have set out since they were little girls to compete at those levels and be able to win, and win the prize that they've worked for. Thank you very much.

Senator Min.

Thank you, Mr. President. As Vice Chair of the API Legislative Caucus, I want to thank my colleague from San Diego for bringing this forward. This is such an important Bill. The message it sends is so important. We obviously live in a time when there is just rampant hate of all kinds. My community has seen a spike in anti Asian hate. It has left many Members of my community feeling vulnerable, scared. We've seen a rise in anti black hate, Islamophobia and antisemitism. But we know that antitrans hate is the most vitriolic, most violent, and the most pervasive in our society. And we need to stand.

So on behalf of the API legislative caucus, I want to say to the Trans community out there, we see you. We recognize your struggles. We stand with you because we are better and stronger when we stand together against hate. And yes, even in California, we see too much hate. Thank you.

Thank you, Senator Min, Senator Grove.

Thank you, Mr. President. I, too, respectfully rise in opposition of SR 70. I'd like to echo some of my colleagues comments that were said. There's no room for hate. There's no room for the persecution of individuals who are transgender or Jewish or white or black or Asian. There's no room for that in the State of California. And I think that takes me back to a little song when I was in school. Know, it's like red and yellow, black and white. They are precious in his sight.

And when you think about just treating people with decency and respect. But I do think that the language in the resolution does take it further than it did last year. When you look at transgenderism and you have to think about our biological girls that are competing against biological males, they're also having to dress in dressing rooms with biological males. You get our biological females that are in grade school and high school are getting hurt.

Because let's just face it, ladies, I mean, we're really good at what we do, but biological males are just a lot of times more stronger than us, and especially in an adolescent world. Like I said, I don't think there's any room for hate. I don't think there's any room for accusations or fear and all of those things. I think there should be a safe space. But for transgender individuals who are choosing that, or in some cases, by my colleagues, definitions designed by that.

But I just want to say that we have to also create a safe space for our biological females that are struggling in all of our districts. And that's evident with the poll that just came out that 64% of California voters believe that biological males should not play sports with biological females because some of our girls are being brutally hurt in these situations, because it's just a fact that males are obviously stronger than females. And so just with that in the resolution, respectfully ask for a no vote.

Members, any further discussion or debate. For the second time. Senator Wiener.

Thank you, Mr. President. I wasn't planning, obviously, to speak a second time, but some comments were made that I think need a response, particularly about transgender kids who simply want to play sports, something that kids want to do and are being told by politicians, no, you're not allowed to play sports.

We need to be very clear that the narrative that's being painted around Trans kids playing sports as if it's a bunch of LeBrons going to the local high school to play the high school kids, that's what they paint it as. And we know that that is not what is actually happening in the real world.

And so many of these Trans kids may not even be very good at sports, just like many of us may have been not very good at particular sports that we wanted to play, and they're not dominating. And there are plenty of examples of Trans kids who compete and don't do well and finish in 8th or 10th or twelveth place. That doesn't make the press, that doesn't get blasted out on social media.

There was one famous situation, a swimmer from Kentucky who complained that a Trans woman tied her and because of a tiebreaker, came in ahead of her. What she neglects to mention is that they tied for 6th place because five cisgender women finished ahead of the Trans woman who was swimming. And that became a cause celeb as some sort of argument against Trans participation in sports. There are kids in General, and particularly Trans kids. They just want to live their lives.

And some trans kid in the Midwest who just wants to run cross country and doesn't want to have people have to examine their genitalia because that's something that they're trying to require. Imagine some, like, 13 year old who just wants to run cross country and now has to submit to some humiliating physical examination because politicians have decided that that's what's necessary. Do you wonder why these kids are in such a bad place?

The constant attacks, and we know, yes, the polling shows, because we know how it works, that after the right wing lost the battle on marriage equality, that was no longer a winning issue. They did focus groups and evaluation and decided, what's the next group that we can target? It was trans kids. And we know from the polling that trans kids in sports, that can be a strong issue for the hard right. So be it. So be it.

We have to do what the right thing is, which is making sure that these kids are able to be who they are, live their lives, play whatever sports they want to play, and just leave them alone.

Senator Seyarto.

Thank you. Just a brief follow up to that, we were not talking about intramural sports when we were talking about this issue, and that's why it's a difficult issue. We're talking about people, kids that are competing for scholarships, the opportunity to go to college and have that paid for, and intramural sports have been around forever. I played intramural sports because I'm one of those that was a little small to be playing on the football team.

And I know the good Senator from Gardena would probably find that surprising, but anyway, when you're talking about that, we're talking about kids that are in high school or college playing competitively, and that competitiveness is what's going to get them into college. And if they are not allowed to play--my daughter played tennis. If she was playing against a biological male, she would not have played tennis, and she got so much from just being on one of the best tennis teams in the state.

This is not an attack on not allowing trans kids or any other kids to play with people of the opposite sex. We've been doing that forever. It's about competitive sports. That's what it's about. We wish no harm to anybody. The folks that are concerned about this issue with our females in sports and males in sports. The women fought so hard, so hard to get the rights to Title IX, to be able to compete and make money like the guys are doing.

They finally got there, and now we have this issue that is challenging some of that, and we have to come to grips with that, and if we're going to put a controversial issue like that into a great resolution otherwise, that it makes it non-supportable, then maybe we should be looking at that one thing and saying, 'hey, you know what? Maybe this shouldn't be in here.' So I will be joining my colleagues and voting no on behalf of all the young ladies that are competing like heck to excel in sports. Thank you.

Thank you. Senator Eggman.

Thank you very much, Mr. President and Members. I rise as the Chair of the LGBTQ Caucus. We spent a lot of time talking about what this resolution is not. I want to remind everybody this is the day of trans visibility, when we're saying to our trans brothers and sisters, 'we see you, you belong here, we welcome you here,' and I respectfully ask for your aye vote.

All right. All debate having ceased, Senator Atkins, you may close.

Thank you, Mr. President. Colleagues, thank you. Clearly, discussion will continue on a number of these issues in society, which is even more the reason we need to stand in support of visibility and the right to be who we are. I would point out--gosh, I was a kid when Billie Jean King actually won that tennis match that has resonated for decades still, and she was honored by the Women's Caucus or the Gay Caucus, maybe both caucuses. I can't remember at this point.

And let's talk about Caitlin Clark. And then I'm going to get off the sports analogies because I think that as we see society change, we rise to the occasion in different ways, and we become the very best that we can, whoever we are, in whatever way we do what we enjoy doing in life, and that includes sports.

But I wanted to, like my colleague from Stockton, bring it back to really the point of the broader resolution is about support and visibility for a community that has made great strides over these last several decades, and yet right now, because of those strides and the ability to have some equality and some success in gaining rights, there is a backlash, which is why we end up having the Day of Remembrance, where we pay tribute to those who've died.

And typically, as my colleague from Gardena says, they're typically people of color that are more targeted. You've heard me say on the floor, I grew up in Southwest Virginia in a very conservative community, a very church-going community. My mom was a part of that. And when I was a kid and at age 17 realized that I was a little bit different, there were no role models around me.

But I was thinking about this resolution last night and standing on the floor and anticipating this dialogue, and it occurred to me I was wrong. I actually did have an example that I ran into one day. My sister and I, when we were ten, 11 years old, used to pass her on the street in our neighborhood and community. She would be going home from the night shift at work. And I say 'she' because that's how she presented.

And at that time, my sister and I finally realized there was something a little different about her. And today, what I would say and what we realized is that she was likely transgender 50 years ago. What courage that must have taken. And it bore out. It was true.

I remember talking to my mother, and my mother, who will always be the role model of acceptance and kindness--next to Dolly Parton--my mother, who said to me in her--I mean, she was Pentecostal Holiness till the day she left us, and she said to my sister and I, 'you be kind. She is different, and God loves all of his children.' And I never forgot that because for me, it really set the tone in my life. And so when I came out to my mother, the acceptance was there.

She really didn't understand, much like my colleague from Santa Cruz was explaining what we've had to learn over the last 20, 30, 40 years, how language and culture change, and how we have to maybe recognize and adjust that we're a little behind occasionally. My mother never was. Not in the area of kindness, not in the area of acceptance. And so today, when I stand up, I have had to learn so much in the last couple of decades.

But I stand here strongly supportive of this resolution and the fact that we should be supporting verbally to counter all that's going on across this country for those who have been brave enough to tell us who they are and to make those transitions despite everything against them. And so I urge you, I know dialogue will continue.

I just hope in the way of how we educate each other, that that's what we take away from this today, that many of us have a lot to learn, obviously, in every direction, and so I thank my colleagues for their conversation. I still respectfully ask for your support for SR 70 today.

Senator Atkins has closed the debate. Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call].

Please call the absent Members.

[Roll Call].

On a vote of 32 to five, the resolution is adopted. Members, we're going to move next to file item 13, followed by file item 14 and 21. File item 13 is SCR 121 by Senator Wahab. Secretary, please read.

Senate concurrent Resolution 121 by Senator Wahab relative to International Women's Day.

Senator Wahab, the floor is yours.

Thank you. I rise to present SCR 121, International Women's Day. International Women's Day is a celebration of the achievements of women.

While continuing to call for gender parity and equity, International Women's Day gives us a chance to look back on our successes and recommit to the work that still needs to be done. I recently celebrated International Women's Day by honoring women in my district.

These are women who are involved and engaged in their communities, who are filled with kindness and compassion, who give forward by modeling for younger generations what it means to give back, who speak up and speak out when the voices of others go unheard, who show others all the ways in which they can use their own voices to affect change, who create spaces built around uplifting other women, who advocate for civil rights for all, and who never shy away from standing in their own power as women leaders and change makers.

While we still have a long way to go to achieve gender parity and equity, I am humbled by the women in my district and in this chamber and around the world who demonstrate that women have been leaders capable of changing the world. I respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Thank you, Senator. Any further discussion on this resolution? Any further discussion? It is eligible. Senator Skinner?

Thank you, Mr. President. Members, I also rise in support of SCR 121. Thank the author. And I will note that it is looking highly likely that after November's election, this house will have parity, gender parity.

Thank you, Senator Skinner. Any further discussion on this resolution? Seeing none, Senator Wahab, you may close.

Respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Members, this is eligible for a unanimous roll call. Without objection. Ayes 40. Noes zero. The resolution is adopted. We're going to move next to file item 14 by Senator Allen. This is SCR 123. Secretary, please read.

Senate Concurrent Resolution 123 by Senator Allen. Relative to Arts Education Month.

Senator Allen.

Well, thank you, Mr. President. Obviously, we learned about our wonderful Poetry Out Loud young people earlier, and that's why this is a wonderful segue. We're presenting SCR 123 which declares March 2024 as Arts Education Month. We know that arts education is a keystone element of our curricula, fostering young Californians' creativity, critical thinking skills, and language mastery. Students with access to robust arts education programs benefit across experience, benefits across the board, from increased academic performance to elevated community engagement.

One of the kind of sad but very important truths is that an arts education can oftentimes be the key differentiator for kids that might otherwise be at risk or at risk of dropping out. There's something about an arts curriculum that connects to a lot of those kids that may not be easily connected to the traditional curriculum.

So by equipping young people with the tools for self-confident self-expression and a diverse set of media through which to explore ideas and human stories, we can accelerate their academic and social development and open countless doors for their futures. We know the arts serves as a unifying force, connecting all those who participate to a shared tradition and collective experience, regardless of age, background, or any other factor. As the next generation takes leadership of our industries and societal conversations in an era of generative AI, human creativity will be more vital than ever in guiding the use of bridging technologies in the arts.

And for a perfect representation of the value of arts education, look no further than the talented students that we talked about earlier today. Programs like Poetry Out Loud and so many others that we know exist across our arts curriculum and our schools have immeasurable, lifelong impact for participating students and deserve to be a part of every Californian's education.

As Vice Chair of our Legislature's Joint Committee on the Arts, I'm very proud to emphasize the incalculable contributions of the arts on California's position as a nexus of culture, innovation, and economic prosperity. It's also incumbent upon us as a Legislature to continue supporting programs to ensure that students like Riley and Maribel and Sila, who we honored this morning, continue to have world-class opportunities across the state. And it's in that spirit that I ask you to ask for your AYE vote on SCR 123.

Thank you, Senator Allen. Senator Rubio

Thank you, Mr. President, ladies and gentlemen of the Senate, I also rise in strong support of SCR 123, recognizing the month of March as Arts Education Month, as a Member of the Joint Committee on the Arts, also as a Member of the California Creative Economy Working Group to expand those opportunities in the creative sector here in California.

I want to also piggyback on the author's comments in terms of what it means to some of our students in the classrooms, especially in our city communities where arts gives the opportunity for our students to express. There's so many with so many issues, and they don't have a creative outlet to let some of those emotions out or what they're feeling. And many choose the arts, or they don't have access to the arts. They'll choose gangs. And so I know how important it is in our classrooms.

Last year, I worked tirelessly to bring funding into our classrooms and our communities because I believe that in years past, the arts used to be for those that are privileged, with funding, with affluent parents. And it shouldn't be that way. Every child in California should have access to the arts, be able to participate, and be able to have access to in the classrooms. As the author stated, arts education furthers academic goals.

And I know that firsthand, as a 20-year teacher veteran, and I know that I did that and I incorporated the arts in our classrooms, but it wasn't always part of the curriculum. And I know what it did to our students. They become better humans, well-rounded students. They are able to express themselves. They're able to feel confident. It just brings so many opportunities and value to our little human beings. And I think it's important that we continue to push the arts in our classrooms.

Every student has the right to grow up in a well-rounded situation, and it includes the benefits that the arts brings. These benefits include everything from problem-solving, being better communicators, being team players in an arts performance. And so with that, I also wholeheartedly, strongly support SCRC 123. Thank you, Mr. President.

Thank you, Senator Rubio. Any further discussion on the resolution? Further discussion? Seeing none. Senator Allen you may close.

I really appreciate my colleagues comments. I appreciate the long standing support for this issue of this body, and I respectfully ask for an Aye vote.

Members, this is eligible for unanimous roll call. Seeing no objections. Ayes 40, Noes zero on the resolution. Resolution is adopted. We're going to move next to Assembly third reading. This is file item 21. Secretary, please read.

Assembly Concurrent Resolution 86 by Assembly Member Kalra. Relative to animals.

Senator Eggman.

Thank you very much, Mr. President. I'm not celebrating anybody's week or year or anything. I want to talk about animals and our overpopulation in our towns. Just this last week in the district I shared with Senator Alvarado-Gil, there was a case of somebody with a mental health issue with hoarding, had almost 40 chihuahuas living in one house. In that same city, there was a truck that was confiscated.

They were breeding dogs and over 30 more dogs that found us living in a van out on the streets. So we have a huge problem which causes our pounds to be overrun. So one of the options that we should really work on is spaying and neutering.

That's right, friends. Spaying and neutering. And we understand this is a huge issue. Exasperated by our lack of veterinarians, but we really need to work at every issue we can, local nonprofits, our towns, everybody else, to bring awareness and programs.

Next time there's extra money in the budget to be able to help our communities. Let's all think about setting up programs for spaying and neutering, especially in areas that have higher degrees of poverty. We know that the overpopulation of pets tends to be even higher.

So as we go about our time, let's think about ACR 86, where we're really encouraging every level to work together to spay and neuter our pets, to cut down on the overpopulation of animals in our pounds. I ask for your aye vote.

Thank you, Senator Eggman. Any further discussion on the resolution? Any further discussion? Seeing none. This is eligible for unanimous roll call. Without objection. Ayes 40. No, zero. The resolution is adopted. Members, we're going to now move back to motions and resolutions.

This is the time to address adjourn in memory from Members of the Senate. I want to ask everyone to please give us the speaker your attention on adjourn in memories. First up, we'll recognize Senator Atkins. Senator Atkins.

Thank you, Mr. President. Colleagues, I rise today to adjourn in memory of Candace Carroll, a trailblazer for women in the legal field in San Diego who passed away last month at the age of 79. Candice came from a humble background. She was born in Ohio, but spent most of her childhood in Washington, DC. She worked to put herself through college at George Washington University, and later she received a full ride scholarship to Duke law school.

While attending law school, she met Lynn Simon, her husband of nearly 50 years. Together they had three children. In addition to being a wife and a mother, Candace worked hard to establish her legal career in what was a very male dominated field at the time. After graduating law school in 1974, she completed a clerkship with the US Court of Appeals DC circuit and then began working as an appellant attorney for the National Labor Relations Board.

When she moved with her family to San Diego in 1983, she joined the law firm now known as Sullivan Hill and remained with that firm for the rest of her life. She's remembered by US district Judge Barry Ted Moskowitz, who served as chief federal judge in San Diego for seven years. As a giant in our legal community who overcame a male dominated bar and became a partner in a well regarded law firm, she was an advocate for women in the legal profession, particularly for young women.

Juggling motherhood along with a demanding career, she was deeply committed to equality and fairness for all people. She was especially supportive of women of the LGBTQ plus community, workers, immigrants, refugees, and anyone else she felt was disadvantaged or being treated unfairly. Candice put her beliefs into action by volunteering her time in many organizations, both statewide and local, to San Diego.

She served as President of the San Diego County Bar Association in 1998, President of California Women Lawyers in 2003 and 2004, and she was Chairwoman of Senator Barbara Boxer's San Diego Advisory Committee for Federal Judge and US Attorney nominations. She served on boards of the American Civil Liberties Union, the San Diego Opera, the local chapter of the International Rescue Committee, the San Diego Convention center, and the San Diego Volunteer Lawyers program.

Her dedication to fighting for those less fortunate, to her community and to her family was inspirational, and she accomplished a great deal in her 79 years of life. On a more personal note, I think you've heard me say before when we've lost incredible civic leaders from San Diego, that there are those when we run for office or aspire to leadership that are a rite of passage. You have to go talk to them before you decide to move forward.

In 199394 my predecessor, Christine Kehoe, ran for City Council. She had to take a few minutes and meet with Candace Carroll. In 19992000 when I ran for City Council, she was one of those civic leaders that I had to meet with. And if you wanted the support again, it was really a rite of passage. And why is it that those people always have piercing eyes and can look right into your very soul to determine if you're the real deal or not?

That was Candice. She survived by her husband Lynn, their sons Daniel, Matthew and David, her sister Glover, Carol, and many in laws, nieces, nephews, grand nieces and nephews, and frankly, a huge community of people that adored her. Colleagues, I ask that we adjourn today in memory of Candice Carroll, a humanitarian, a brilliant legal mind, a true feminist who left an admirable legacy on San Diego and the legal profession.

Thank you, Senator Atkins. The Senate extends our condolences to her many friends and family. Please bring her name forward so she can be properly memorialized in the Senate journal as we adjourn in her memory. Next up, Senator Archuleta.

Thank you, Mr. President. It's ironic. Today we're honoring women. We have women heroes in our home cities and counties that we don't even know about. Some of them are part of the greatest generation. And I have one to share with you today. Mr. President and Members, I rise today to adjourn in memory of Marge via a trailblazing female baseball star from Montebello in my district.

Born December 211924 Marge played sports from a young age growing up in Montebello, which at the time was largely a Mexican American farming community, Marge began playing sports professionally. Listen to this. At the young age of 13, she snuck in, got a few dollars, brought it home because she played for a team called the Orange County Lionettes, fast pitched softball and she was being paid for it.

Marge attended Montebello High School during this time as well, but ultimately quit school to work in the United States rubber plant to support the war effort. In 1946, Marge joined the all American Girls Professional Baseball League, featured in a league of their own as a Member of the Koinesha.

Comments Marge was one of 39 players born in California to join the league in its 12 year history and played catcher, second base and shortstop additionally, she was one of 11 Latinas and one of only two American Latinas that played in the all American Girls Professional Baseball League. How about that? On June 1946, Marge made history when she drove in nine runs, collected 11 total bases in the contest, setting two single game league records that would never be surpassed or broken.

Marge was also honored as part of a permanent display titled Women in baseball in the Baseball hall of Fame and the museum in Cooperstown in New York. Marge married Daniel Cryon during the 1950s, moving to Whittier and later to La Marada before returning to Montebello. Her husband, Cryon passed in December of 2020. After baseball, Marge took up golf and won numerous tournaments at the Hacienda Golf Club in Lahabra Heights here in California.

In addition to her talent on the field, Marge's commitment to her community, her heritage and her identity is an inspiration to all young women who aspire to play sports. Her legacy extends beyond the baseball career. Marge's lasting impact is a fearless and her dedication to uplifting others, whether they took the form of blazing a trail for future Latino athletes, mentoring young players, or pushing for fairness and equality in sports, Marge was always there to help young people who shared her passion for athletics.

In honor of her contributions to sports and the Montebello community, Montebello named the city's youth Softball League Stadium Marge via field in 2021. I had the honor to meet her entire family, as well as all of us who applauded her dedication and passion for her community and children everywhere. Marge is survived by her son John, a daughter Renee, her grandson Josh Dallas drew and her great grandson Cole. For these reasons, I ask to adjourn in her memory. Marge Villa thank you, Mr. President.

The Senate extends its condolences to the many friends and family of Ms. Villa. Please bring her name forward so she can be properly memorialized in the Senate journal, Senator Archuleta, so we may adjourn in her memory. Next up, we want to recognize Senator Umberg.

Thank you, Mr. President and colleagues. I rise to honor the life and memory of Judge Francisco Pedro Paseno passed away at the age of 85 surrounded by his family and loved ones. The Orange County Register's headline when he passed said he was the gold standard of judicial integrity, and I think that aptly describes Judge Brisenio, praised by Paul Meyer, that was his quote, and prosecutors and other judges. He was a beloved judge, colleague and friend of the Hispanic Bar Association and the entire bench and bar.

At age 17, Judge Brazenio joined the United States Marine Corps after seeing a poster of a young marine officer at El Camino Junior College with a motto, you too can become an officer if you have a degree. Despite struggling financially to afford college, Judge Brazeno's determination to become an officer pushed him to finish. He joined the Marine Marine Corps for the first time, serving from 1957 to 1961. In 1961, Judge Brazenio received his bachelor's degree from California State University, Long Beach, as well as his Commission.

He then began what would become a military career that spanned three decades by serving a three year tour as an infantry officer with the second of the 9th Marines and the first of the third Marines, including a 16 month tour with the Marines in Okinawa. He was later assigned as provost marshal at the Marine air station in Tustin.

Thanks to his station assignment, he was given permission by the Marines to stay at one assignment after the breakout of the Vietnam War so he could attend Knight law school at Loyola Law School with the provision that he had one opportunity to pass the bar exam and then would be shipped to Vietnam. In 1964, Francisco Brazenio married his wife and had two daughters, one in 19651 in 1967. Judge Brazenio took the bar exam in August of 1968 and was then immediately deployed to Vietnam.

He recalled that the most difficult time for him was not going to Vietnam, but saying goodbye to his daughters and wife when they were 1 and 3 years old. Prime time when you're a young father. Despite being an infantry officer with self described little mechanical training or background, he was assigned to the first tanks to serve as co commanding officer of a company.

Within three months, he was promoted to major and assigned company commander of the H and S Company first tanks, where he received word that he had passed the bar and his tank battalion commanding officer swore him in in Vietnam. In December 1968 for his service in Vietnam, he received the Bronze store Star and joint Commendation Medal. He returned to Orange County in 1969 and rejoined the Marine Reserve, serving as a JAG officer with the Fourth Marine Air Wing at El Toro.

Upon his admission to California bar, Judge Brisenio became a Member of the first generation of Latino lawyers at Orange County and served as an Orange County deputy District Attorney for eight years, heading the District Attorney's homicide unit from 197051977. He was appointed to Santana Municipal Court by Governor Jerry Brown in 1977 and was one of the youngest lawyers, excuse me, youngest judges in the state at that time. He was then elevated to Orange County Superior Court in 1979 by Governor Brown.

Judge Brazenia was highly regarded for taking great care to treat others with respect and courtesy both in and out of the courtroom, spending his own time, energy and resources to have a positive impact on young people's lives, whether presiding in juvenile court or inviting busloads of Orange County students to participate in a celebration of law day held on the steps of the old courthouse.

In 2010, Judge Brazenio was awarded the Orange County Hispanic Bar Association's Lifetime achievement award, and in January 2011, Judge Brazeno began his 6th six year term as a judge, having the distinction of serving longer than any other judge in the 121 year history of Orange County. In 2014, he retired. Judge Brazenio is preceded in death by his loving wife, Maria, of 53 years, who passed away in 2018.

He has survived by his two daughters, Linda and Deborah his son in law, Peter and five grandchildren, Sophia, Cruz, Dudley, Jacob, Francisco, Jeffrey Carroll and Kendall Toomey. I ask that we adjourn in memory of Judge Bersenho.

The Senate extends its condolences to the many friends and family of Judge Perseno. Please bring his name forward, Senator Umberg, so we can be properly memorialized in the Senate journal and that we may adjourn in his memory if there is no other business before the Senate. Senator Mcguire, the desk is clear.

Thank you so much, Mr. President. Great job today. The next floor session is scheduled for tomorrow, Tuesday, March 19, at 03:30 p.m.. A. Reminder that we're going to gavel in at 330. Then the Senate will walk over together as one team over to the Assembly for the State of Judiciary. Thank you so much, Mr. President.

The Senate will be in recess until 04:00 p.m. At which time the adjournment motion will be made. With that, we are adjourned.