Assembly Standing Committee on Governmental Organization

We have some new Members and I'm excited to be able to share the dais with them. So for today, for each Bill heard, there will be the opportunity for two witnesses in support and two witnesses in opposition to each to provide two minutes of testimony and sergeants, if you could call maybe some authors. We don't have any authors. Hopefully we can get started and then we do not have a quorum.

As soon as Mister Lackey gets here, we can start as a Subcommitee, but I wanted to make sure we open the hearing and hopefully folks will run down here. Thank you. Hi, I'm calling from the Geo Committee here in swing 1100. It looks like your Member Vince Fong is the first one to present the Bill. Just wanted to get an update. Is he close by? Yeah, because two of them are on consent. Yes. Thank you. It. Can you bring me on there for Mister Valencia?

We don't have authors right now, so if you would like to take the podium, we would really appreciate it so we can get started as a Subcommitee. And you know that for each Bill you have two minutes, witnesses and support, witnesses and opposition. So you can get started as soon as you wish.

Wonderful. Thank you, Madam Chair. Buenas tardes everyone. AB 2991 requires the use of electronic fund transfers for all transactions between alcohol retailers and distributors. This change will address a few of the safety, inefficiency, and financial security issues that are currently present in the system that's currently used. The current diversity in payment methods possesses several challenges. Delivery drivers carrying cash face significant safety risks due to the potential of theft.

Operational inefficiencies arise from the need to collect cash or checks at the point of delivery, slowing down the distribution process. Another example of inefficiencies is the financial security is compromised when checks are used as the detection of insufficient funds can be delayed. So moving to an EFT system directly addresses issues of safety, inefficiency, and financial security. And with me to provide testimony is Kevin Luckey, Executive Director for the California Family Beer Distributors.

And to answer any technical questions, Miss Wendy Turk, VP of Regulatory Affairs for Fintech, who is an EFT provider.

Thank you. My name is Kevin Luckey. Sorry about that. My name is Kevin Luckey. I am the Executive Director of the California Family Beer Distributors here in support of AB 2991. Pretty simple. We believe that requiring EFT is a common sense solution to modernize our industry that benefits retailers, wholesalers and the entities that regulate our industry alike. First and foremost, benefits for the drivers and the wholesalers. We just want to get rid of cash.

We think that drivers carrying around large quantities of cash, one, makes their jobs less safe, and quite frankly, class-A drivers are hard to recruit right now. So anything to make this job more appealing, make them feel more comfortable in the work, we think would be a tremendous benefit. Past that, it's going to expedite the payment process and save time for delivery. When we talk about the retailers, we believe the benefits. First off, checks represent a less safe way to pay.

The account numbers are exposed. There's this opportunity for our driver or salesperson to lose a check that's been given to them to pay for alcohol. That allows the retailer to be exposed. And to tell you the truth, excuse me, check fraud is at an all time high. So beyond that, we also believe that these efficiencies and working faster are beneficial for the retailer. It's more time for the retailer to be dealing with our customer. Less time our big trucks taking up their valuable parking spaces.

We believe there's a significant benefit for the retailer as well. And finally, our regulators can use this information via EFT when doing audits. When doing investigations, whether it's CalABC or CalRecycle. Remember, wholesalers collect all the CRV in the state if they need to do an audit. Having everything digital will make life a lot easier for them. So generally, I appreciate your time and I'm happy to answer any questions, but we ask the Members of the Committee for an aye vote.

Thank you. Do you have another witness in support?

No, just here for any technical questions.

Perfect. Are there any witnesses in opposition? Nope. Any comments from the public on the Bill? Wow, this is easy. Oh. Comments in support?

To Committee. I'm Sarah Pollo Moo with the California Retailers Association. We are opposed unless amended, and we are in conversations on language with the author. Thank you.

Thank you. Any other comments from the public? No hearing none? Any questions from the Members? Okay, we'll go ahead and stop and establish a quorum so that we can move forward. Can you, secretary, can you call the roll?

[Roll call] We have a quorum.

Thank you. All right. Okay, we can continue. Any other comments, questions or concerns, Mister Patterson?

I just would appreciate the Bill. We had good conversation in my office about it. If possible, I'd like to be added as a co-author.

Absolutely.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Move the Bill.

Thank you. Okay. Motion by Mister Gipson, second by Miss Soria. Okay. Would you like to close?

Sure. Thank you. The retailers did approach our office yesterday with some concerns, and my team and I are happy to address those concerns as the Bill moves forward, in addition to some of the concerns that the Grocers Association also has. So with that, I appreciate your time, and ask for a yes vote. Thank you.

Okay, please. And Madam Secretary, can you call the vote?

File item 12, AB 2991, Valencia. The motion is do pass to the Committee on Appropriations. [Roll call]

How many votes? Okay, so at the moment you have the votes, but we'll leave the roll open for other Members to add on. Thank you. Okay, I saw. Mister Fong. Mister Fong? Motion by Miss Davies and second by Mister Lackey. You may begin.

Thank you.

Thank you chair and members, I am here to present Assembly Bill 2094, a district bill that will help generate critical revenue for Bakersfield College. Community colleges, as you all know, are the bedrock of local higher education as they open countless doors for Californians pursuing degrees and certificates. AB 2094 creates parity between community colleges and other higher education institutions through expanding business opportunities and community engagement for Bixel College to drive funding for student services and academic programs.

A memorial stadium at Bixel College offers a large capacity with the potential to bring more attention and events to campus. The stadium regularly hosts sporting events, concerts, and community events and can seat over 19,000 attendees, making it one of the largest stadiums on a community college campus in the state. Allowing alcohol to be sold at the stadium will bring revenue to benefit the college's academic programs, foundation, and student clubs and organizations. I'm joined by Doctor Steven Bloomberg, the new chancellor of the Kern Community College District.

Thank you.

Good afternoon. Chair Rubio and committee members. Doctor Steven Bloomberg proudly serving as the chancellor of the Kern Community College district. In my 32nd day, I am here in support of AB 2094. AB 2094 would provide for a narrow exception to state law that prohibits alcohol sales and their consumption on community college property and in their facilities.

The bill, as currently configured, would allow the consumption of alcohol only at Bakersfield College's Memorial stadium due to its size and capacity, which is able to accommodate crowds of more than 19,000. Memorial Stadium, if you've ever been in Bakersfield, is an important gathering place that helps shape the identity of the neighborhoods that we serve as the Kern Community College district. The stadium is a historic venue that has hosted sporting events and other events for over 70 years.

It is in high demand for events like commencements, concerts, speaker series, art series within the community. However, the current law makes it difficult at best for us to accommodate all of our potential vendors and uses of the stadium. AB 2094 would enable Memorial Stadium at Bakersfield College to sell alcoholic beverages for sporting events, concerts and other events. The change would incentivize outside vendors to utilize the space for their events, bringing in additional revenue to the community college district.

Memorial Stadium, again, is one of the largest events venues in the San Joaquin Valley and easily accommodates large events that may otherwise pass our community by in the end. Thank you for your consideration this important measure for our community.

Thank you. Do you have any other witnesses in support? Any witnesses in opposition? Yes.

Thank you. My name is Raul Verdugo. I'm speaking on behalf of Alcohol Justice and we are opposed to AB 20094 because it seemingly makes it easier to sell and advertise alcohol to kids. According to the National Institutes of Health, over 1500 college students between the ages of 18 and 24 die from alcohol related injuries, including motor vehicle crashes. In addition, 52% of the student body at the community college location where this may be intended is currently 19 years of age or younger.

We oppose this bill for those reasons. Thank you.

Thank you. Any other comments from the public and support any others in opposition? Any questions from members of the committee? Mr Jones Sawyers.

Oh, there you go. You know, the University of Southern California stopped alcohol consumption at the Coliseum when an inebriated student threw up all over the President of the University's dress and shoes immediately after they stopped all alcohol sales at the venue. I adamantly disagree with that because of what one student did.

And I would hope that I think you will do that, that you'll make sure there are some regulations and checking ids and things of that nature, and also just making sure that so people don't drink too much inside the stadium. Obviously, there's not any controls you can do outside, but to be sure that you put the proper precautions inside because those things do happen.

Yes. There will, of course, be safeguards to prevent anyone under 21 from drinking, and this will only allow alcohol sales at specific events at the stadium, many of which will not take place during normal class hours.

Thank you. And just for reference, if the bill gets out, it's double referred to higher education, so there'll be another opportunity for further discussion. Thank you. Any other comments? No. Thank you. With that, you may close.

This narrow exemption offers a great opportunity for the college to bring more events to Bakersfield and generate revenue to reinvest in the community's educational needs. I respectfully ask for your aye vote.

Thank you. And we already have a motion in a second. Secretary, can you please call the roll.

File, item three, AB 2094 Fong. The motion is do passed to the Committee on Higher Education. [Roll Call]

Thank you. The measure passes and we'll leave the row open for members to add on. Thank you. And then before we continue, Mr Ting, if we can just take action on the consent calendar.

I need a motion. Motion by Mr. Gipson, second by Ms. Waldron, and everybody else. Can you please call the roll?

On the consent calendar, we have file item one, AB 1940, Villapudua. The motion is do pass to Appropriations, recommended consent. File item number two, AB 1946, Alanis, do pass, recommend consent. File item number four, AB 2177, McKinnor. The motion is do pass to Appropriations, recommend consent. File item five, AB 2322, Hart, do pass to Appropriations, recommend consent.

File item six, AB 3017, Hart, do pass to Appropriations, recommend consent. File item 10, AB 2797, Rubio, do pass to Appropriations, recommend consent. File item 11, AB 2849, Rubio, do pass to Appropriations, recommend consent. File, item 15, AB 3179, Rubio, do pass, recommend consent. [Roll Call]

Okay, the consent calendar is out. I will keep the roll open for other Members to add on. Mr. Ting, thank you for patiently waiting. You may.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you Madam Chair. Here to present AB 2359 which is a district bill. It expands upon a Bill that I did a number of years ago around type 87 liquor licenses, allows for 30 affordable licenses. We're asking for an expansion to 40 simply because it's been so popular in our neighborhoods. It's really helped grow our restaurants and we respect for us for aye vote on AB 2359.

Thank you. Yeah. Witness in support.

Thank you, Chair Rubio and committee members. Good afternoon. Ben Van Houten, on behalf of the City and County of San Francisco, really appreciate you taking up the bill. And thank you to Assemblymember Ting for his leadership, continued leadership on this. As he mentioned, the type 87 has really been a lifeline for outer neighborhood commercial corridors. Otherwise they would be forced to buy a liquor license on the secondary market for $200,000 or more, which is just not feasible for our small businesses in our neighborhoods.

This program has helped support a variety of now really important neighborhood and community restaurants, and our Excelsior and Bayview neighborhoods are asking for five more licenses apiece to continue that positive momentum and keep it going forward. So, yeah, respectfully ask for your aye vote.

Thank you. Do you have any other witnesses in support? Okay. Any witnesses in opposition? Okay. Members of the public in opposition.

Good afternoon. And for the record, my name is Raul Verdugo, director of Advocacy and Alcohol Justice. We are opposed to AB 2359 because the City of San Francisco currently has among the densest concentrations of alcohol outlets in the state. Setting limits to outlet density is one of the core strategies acknowledged and endorsed by the World Health Organization. The American Public Health Association and the CDC convened Community Preventive Services Task Force, among others.

And lastly, according to the Center for Alcohol Policy, 56% of us residents agree that adding more alcohol outlets would create more problems and then provide benefits. Thank you.

Thank you. Any other members of the public in support? Any other members of the public in opposition? Okay, bringing it back up to the dais. Any questions from committee members? Assemblymember Gipson.

Thank you very much. Want to thank the author for bringing this forward because it's almost like a test pilot program, and you have shown one through your leadership that has been positive. That's why you're asking for this. Because of the growth in restaurants being supported, our restaurant industry, hospitality industry, because of the pandemic, has been hit small. Mom and pop businesses have been hit and this is certainly an innovative way to try to bring those businesses back and keep providing the kind of services these restaurants need.

And for me, it seems like it's been doing well, and so I'll be supporting it. I think it's moving in the right direction. And please consider me, I'm not from San Francisco, from LA. If you would take me as a co author of the bill, I'll be more than happy to roll with you in this way. Thank you.

Thank you. Happy. Any other comments from committee members? No. Okay. Thank you. You may close.

Thank you. Happy to add my colleague from Carson as a co author and just respect transfer aye vote. Thank you.

Thank you. And then we do have a motion by. It was Mr Gipson and a second by Ms Papan, and the recommendation is do pass to Committee on appropriations secretary. Can you call on the roll, please?

[Roll Call]

Thank you. The measure passes and we'll leave the roll open for additional members to sign on. Thank you. Okay, Mr Lowenthal.

You can begin.

Thank you, Madam Chair and members. I want to start by accepting the Committee amendments and thank the chair and the staff for their collaboration and thoughtful, thoughtful approach to the bill. I am pleased to present AB 2375 which is part of a larger package of bills that I am caring to address the ongoing and underreporting issue of roofing that is taking place across California, across the United States, across the world.

Roofing, or drink spiking, occurs when perpetrators incapacitate their victims through slipping date rape drugs such as rufenol, bless you, GHB ketamine into the victim's drinks when they are not aware. Typically, drink spiking is not an independent crime. Rather, it is done to make more other horrific crimes, such as rape and sexual assault, easier to commit. And while anyone can turn victim to roofing, women and members of the LGBTQ communities are targeted the most. And dare I say, we have allowed this to go on so long.

Specifically because it is women and members of the LGBTQ community that are targeted. Drink spiking can take place anywhere. However, it is most common places where it takes place are restaurants, bars and nightclubs where alcoholic beverages are being served when someone has been roofied. Not only do the drugs cause memory loss, but they also pass through the body extremely fast, making it very difficult for the victim to seek justice after the fact.

This is why preventative measures such as the one this bill establishes are especially important when seeking to tackle this issue. AB 2375 simply requires restaurants, bars and nightclubs to provide a lid to a patron's drink upon their request. Allowing patrons to have access to lids is a common sense measure to deter perpetrators from attempting to commit these crimes, reducing levels of drink spiking, and in turn, sexual assault and rape.

As a restaurant and a bar owner myself, I'm extremely sensitive to this issue and know how important it is to be able to provide a safe and inclusive environment for our guests. Preventative measures such as this one will not only help combat these crimes, but also increase business as people will be more and more willing to go out, be social with a stronger sense of security. Before I introduce speakers to speak in advocacy of this, I just want to show you.

Here's an example of what's out there. Now, there's an entire industry of products to deter roofing. These are drink lids. These are stickers that can go on any glass, any container, right away. This does not have to be complex. It does not have to be costly to provide safety for anyone who wants it. I am pleased to be joined by Raul Verdugo, director of advocacy for Alcohol Justice, and Alexis Sanchez of Sacramento's LGBTQ center, who are here to testify in sport.

Thank you, Mr Verdugo.

Thank you. Today I'm speaking on behalf of the California Alcohol Policy Alliance, a project of Alcohol Justice. We're a statewide alliance representing 50 organizations with a mission to unite diverse communities to prevent and reduce alcohol related harm. We support AB 2375 because drink spiking is an underreported but ever present hazard for people who drink. Lid for any drink held at a bar and or nightclub would dissuade anyone attempting to pray and or victimize patrons.

It would also provide a clear indication that the drink has been tampered with. We sincerely thank Assemblymember Lowenthal for initiating the effort to reduce this type of alcohol related harm. Thank you.

Thank you.

Hi, my name is Alexis Sanchez. I'm the deputy chief program officer at the Sacramento LGBT Community Center and also an LGBTQ plus person who's been doing advocacy in her communities for over a decade. We at the Sacramento LGBT Community Center are in strong support of this bill. I think providing individuals the tools to keep themselves safe while they are seeking community is a common sense measure, and it's something that should be provided to people, regardless of gender, regardless of sexual orientation.

That being said, for the LGBTQ community, this bill is. It carries particular importance. Prior to 2003, for LGBTQ people, bars and restaurants were some of the only places that they could find community. Right? The LGBTQ culture carries a rich history of community organizing and just finding community in places that serve alcohol. Because of this, our culture has grown up alongside and inside bars and restaurants, and when LGBTQ people go to seek community.

When I first moved to Sacramento, one of the first places that I knew that I could find events, that I could find community, that I could build community, was in our local bars and nightclubs. Right? When I first came out, I was living in Los Angeles, and I gravitated right to West Hollywood and would start to find community and events there. But in those spaces, there was the undertone of just kind of be careful, right? You never know what could happen.

You want to make sure that you always put a napkin or put something on top of your drink. You never let that drink out of your hand. And that was a narrative that has. That I've grown up with. I think this bill would provide a common sense measure to ensure that individuals can continue to find that community. And because of that, I strongly support this bill. Thank you.

Thank you. Any members of the audience in support of the measure. Okay. Anyone in opposition? Okay. Bringing it back up to the dais. Any comments or questions from members? Assemblymember McKinnor?

Yes, I'd like to thank the assemblymember for bringing this forward. This is a super important bill. As a black woman soon to be in her sixties, I was raised not to ever take my drink out of sight. Like, keep my drink in sight. Don't take a drink from someone because they can spike it.

Well, I would say it, about 10 years ago, I was on the Hollywood Boulevard and I got spiked. I don't know what it was. Thank God I was with my family members, because I didn't. No harm came to me except for I was so sick the next day. I don't remember getting in the car, getting in the lift that night. I don't remember going home. My family said that I was passed out on the front lawn. This has never happened to me. I am a lady.

And so, but I was so severely sick. Seriously, this was so bad, you guys. Like, if I wouldn't have been with my family, I don't know what would have happened to me because I have no idea what happened. So thank you so much for bringing this bill forward. I will always be in the bar with lid and you have my vote. And I would love to be a co author as well.

Thank you, Assemblymember Low and then Assemblymember Gipson.

Thank you very much, Madam Chair. I just want to echo the comments. Similarly, I remember, Assemblymember Lowenthal, you being here last year and giving a very impassioned speech on this similar topic and coming back on the subject matter as a father and also acknowledging the importance of those most vulnerable in our populations as well. And I also want to commend those who are also testifying with you and also like to be added as a joint author or co author, if you'll allow me.

Yes, thank you. To thank you, Assemblymember Gipson. And then assemblymember Bains.

Yes. Let me just echo what my colleagues have already said. I remember you speaking last year in this very room on your bill about roofing. And I also at the time, I shared that my cousin didn't have the same narrative. He didn't have the same narrative of waking up the next morning. He was found in his bed where he had passed as a result of the bar that was around the corner that someone placed a roof.

And it was my first funeral that I've ever gone to. And it's always an etched in my mind. And so I always share with young people as well as my own family Members, how important it is. And I never wondered why people would take their drinks in the restroom, but I understand very much so why this happens. And thank you for one, bringing this awareness to us all on a greater level. And I believe what you're doing is saving people's lives.

So I want to commend you on your journey. And I would also ask that you please consider me as a joint, not a co, but a joint, of this bill. Thank you.

Thank you, Assemblymember Bains and then Assembly Member Dixon.

Thank you, Assemblymember Lowenthal, for this bill. Super important with the rise of drugs and the different poly substances that are hitting the streets, this is super, super important. Love to join on as a co author as well. You know, fentanyl can also be thrown into a drink as well. So this is very important work. Thank you.

Thank you, Assemblymember Dixon. And then Assemblymember Davies.

Thank you, chair. And all these fine words have been spoken. So I want to commend you also for a common sense solution. When I first read the bill, I was trying to conceive in my mind the visual of how manufacturers would have different lid sizes. And as a restaurant owner, I knew you would have thought of a more common sense solution, which you did.

And I think saving lives and saving unfortunate experiences is so simple with a common sense solution. And thank you for bringing this forward. Thank you.

Thank you, Assemblymember Davies.

Thank you once again, just so proud. And I think as legislators, it's bills like this is why we're here. Public safety, making sure people, you know, can be out there. But I love this. You know, we had the opportunity to basically just allow testing strips to get off the paraphernalia category so that we could actually do something like this. And then you're able to do the ketamine testing, and we have the fentanyl testing strips as well. And then this. So keep it up.

We'd love to be a co author, and congratulations on that.

Thank you, Assemblymember Lackey.

Yeah, I'm just joining the chorus here and would like to say thank you first of all. But I do have a question as to what is going to qualify as a lid. I think some parameters probably need to be established a little bit because the napkin was actually had the same solve the same purpose. Would that actually, would that comply with what you're proposing?

I think the Assembly Member is spot on, is there is some clarity that needs to take place in this bill, and we're going to be working on that very issue.

Yes, and thank you for, thank you for bringing that up.

Yes, the author has agreed to work with ABC to come up with a clear definition as to what that means. So we're working on it as we move forward.

And I'd like to join that long, well, list of co authors, please.

Thank you.

Any other comments from other members? No. All right, so thank you very much. It really is a common sense measure. When I saw it, I was like, zero, kind of like the Boba libs where they just put the strip across it, so I didn't visualize it either. So thank you for bringing the props. I am a visual person and I really appreciate you bringing the measure before us and also appreciate you working with the committee in making sure that this is a foolproof measure. Thank you.

Any other comments? Questions?

Okay, the recommendation is do pass, as amended, to the Assembly Appropriations Committee. Can you please take the roll? Oh, I'm sorry. I need a motion. Okay, a motion by Mr Lackey, second by miss. Yes. Okay, motion by Mr Lackey, second by Mr Gipson. And can you please close?

Very briefly, I just want to acknowledge the members who brought forward their stories today and how critically important it is that we do so. You know, sexual assault goes underreported. We need. It is not the fault of the victims. Everybody should have the right to go out and be safe in that environment. So I thank you to the Members that bringing that up. And I would also like to particularly acknowledge Assemblymember Davies, who has been working on this issue as well for some time.

Thank you very much. And I respectfully ask for your aye vote.

Thank you. Now we author close. I have a motion in a second. Can you please call the roll?

[Roll Call]

Thank you. The measure passes and we'll leave the roll open for other members to add on. Thank you. Okay, and now we are waiting on calling on assemblymember Calderon, Alvarez, Aguiar Curry, or Assemblymember Wilson to come down and help us out. While we're waiting, can we consider add ons, please.

On the consent calendar. [Roll Call]

File item number three. Three AB 2094 by Assemblymember Fong. [Roll Call]

File item seven, AB 2359 Ting [Roll Call]

Thank you.

File item 12, AB 2991 Valencia [Roll Call]

Thank you.

Move the Bill.

Second.

Thank you. And if you can say semiquincentennial, then you're good. I heard a couple of you mention that. Thank you, Madam Chair. Appreciate the opportunity and the patience, as I ran over from the Capitol building. This is AB 3099 which advocates for the California Commission on the United States Semiquincentennial. The commission would prepare for the 250th anniversary of the United States along the national America 250 event that is happening throughout our country.

Inspired by the national America 250 initiative, this bill presents an opportunity for California to participate in this commemoration of the 250th anniversary of our country. Although we were the 31st state admitted into the nation, there has been 43 states who have already established their America 250 commissions. We have not yet. This bill seeks to do that. California's commission would create a unified effort to honor our state's unique heritage, including our rich and diverse histories, migration patterns.

And I think, like all of you, you can agree that California has a lot to present. Its story, its history, is rich, its unique, it is as diverse as can be. And we must make sure that as our country's history is remembered and celebrated at its 250th anniversary, that California should be part of that celebration, and thats what the Commission is seeking to do. California's historical role is really a focal point primarily on issues like migration and innovation.

And this commission will help educate and empower Californians to celebrate the journeys of migration from its first people, migration and innovation that goes on in our state today that makes it such a strong powerhouse and such a strong state. AB 3099 will also provide a foundation for executing educational components as a celebration is desired. We have California State Librarian, lucky to have our State Librarian with us, Greg Lucas, who will testify and answer any questions regarding the initiative and its origin.

Thank you. Thank you, Members, Madam Chair. Like the Assembly Member said, anytime California can talk about its unique story and its unique diversity is a good occasion. I can tell you that the Governor and the Administration is committed to participating in America 250. In fact, he's excited about doing that. It may not take exactly the form of this commission, but it's certainly going to be just as committed to the inclusivity that Assembly Member Alvarez has in the composition of his commission.

Thank you. Thank you. Any witnesses in opposition? Any members of the public in support? Seeing none. Any Members of the public in opposition. Okay, any comments or questions from the Committee? Assembly Member Lackey.

Yeah, as one of the Members up here, we were just talking about this. I still remember the bicentennial. I was still in high school, unfortunately. I would ask that you consider that seven syllable term to something simple like quarter millennial. So much easier to say. But, nonetheless, very supportive of this and very proud of this great country. Thank you.

Thank you. Any other comments? Yes, Assembly Member Dixon.

I certainly am very supportive of this. I'm surprised that there were no support or opposition. I think we all need to focus on this, and I hope the Commission will elevate this, and the Governor and your office too, to make people aware. This is something to have survived for 250 years. Democracy survives for 250 years, that's a big deal. And I'm very proud to support this. So thank you very much for carrying the bill. Thank you.

Thank you. Any others? Okay, Mr. Alvarez, you may close.

Thank you very much again for the opportunity. Agree with the comments made. We cannot not be part of such an important celebration of our democracy. It's an experiment that's far outlived many others, and we should be very proud of that. And California should play a central role in that celebration. That's what this commission attempts to do. So thank you and I appreciate your support on this bill.

Thank you. And we have a motion by Assembly Member Bryan, a second by Assembly Member Jones-Sawyer. And Secretary... Oh this, the motion is do pass to Committee on Appropriations. Secretary, can you please call the roll?

AB 3099, Alvarez. [Roll Call]

The motion passes, and we'll leave the roll open for other Members to add on.

Thank you very much.

Assemblymember Wilson. Welcome.

All right. Madam Chair, good afternoon, and members, I'm excited about the opportunity to present AB 3117 in front of this committee today. AB 3117 will make a mobile or digital driver's license or identification card evidence a majority. And I'm sorry, let me say that. Let me start over.

It will make a mobile or digital driver's license or identification card evidence of a majority and identity of a person if the DMV authorized the use of those licenses or ID cards without the possession of a card. The DMV first introduced a pilot program in September of 2023 that allowed residents of California to utilize digital alternatives to driver's licenses and identification cards.

DMV is currently testing the mobile driver's license at select locations and airports as a part of the pilot, and certain locations have begun accepting the digital IDs for alcohol purchases. The bill in front of you today will modernize California's law to make it explicitly clear that a digital driver's license approved by the DMV can also be used as a bona fide evidence of majority and identity of a person when purchasing alcohol.

Current law today was written well before digital identifications were contemplated and should be updated to provide clarity for thousands of stakeholders it impacts. With the bill being dual referred to Transportation Committee, I plan on continuing to work with my committee staff and stakeholders to address the policy considerations in the analysis to require ABC and DMV to work together to ensure there is clarity and coordination with that. I respectfully ask for your vote on the measure. I have no witnesses with me today. Thank you.

Okay, any members of the public in support? Any members of the public in opposition? Seeing none. Any questions by the committee members? Assemblymember Dixon?

Thank you, Assemblywoman Wilson. Just curiously, how far advanced is DMV on this project? I know last September, I recall that notice. I tried to get on and do it, and I must have, within hours been too late. So maybe there's a crush of people getting their digital licenses processed, but are they fully ready and able to move us forward?

Absolutely, they are and have been issuing them. And to date there's been no issues as far as hacks or anything related to it. It's actually more secure to have a digital ID than it is to have an actual driver's license, which can be, you know, imitated by people who do that sort of thing.

Yeah, they are absolutely ready, and it's already being taken at quite a few retailers already, including Circle K. If you go to Circle K right now, people can use their digital identification to be able to prove who they are or make alcohol purchases.

What about airports at TSA?

They are, I think they are allowed. I don't recall if the airport is using them yet. I don't recall, but I can find that out and get back to your office.

All right, thank you.

So actually we do have that LAX and San Jose are currently using for TSA.

They're the pilots, right? Two of them are, but it's not like you couldn't go to Sacramento, you couldn't go everywhere. But they are the two pilot programs. Thank you. Thank you, Chair.

Thank you. Mr. Lackey.

Yeah, I hate to rain on the parade, but I'm actually one of the people that I've seen too much behavior manipulation, and I believe that this. We're too vulnerable to AI manipulation. There's some very smart people out there that are highly motivated to jeopardize public safety and there would be a market for this manipulation, in my opinion, and so I'm too hesitant. I don't think we're quite ready for this yet because I think there's too many mysteries about AI and I think the public safety has to overshadow any kind of convenience. So I'm unfortunately not in a position to support.

Thank you for your comments and make sure I understand them clearly. Just in case this does get out to this committee and go on to the next one. I want to be able to address them. So your concern is, although it's actively used, as it relates specifically to being able to expand the use for, or provide clarity to the law, expanding the use for alcohol purchases, you think that because it can be potentially manipulated versus because it can be similar to like a regular ID where you can duplicate it on a phone, that's why you're opposed?

Yes.

Okay. Thank you.

Assemblymember McKinnor.

Yes. Thank you for bringing this bill forward, Assemblymember Wilson. Do I have to go to the DMV? I know I'm asking this question now, but I can't just get it from an app. I actually have to go into the DMV to get.

You have to interact with the DMV to be able to get a digital driver's license, just like you would if you were to get a physical one. So there has to be some interaction with the DMV to be able to do that. You can't get it from just a third party.

Thank you.

Thank you. Any other? Yes. Assemblymember Davies.

Would that then update it as a California ID, which we have a deadline expiration on? Would that be the California ID then? Digitally?

Yes. You can get both the driver's license and a California ID digitally, as I understand. Yes.

Any other comments or questions? I do want to comment. I appreciate the comments about the manipulation, which is true, but I'm from Los Angeles, and there's a place called MacArthur Park where I can go and easily obtain any kind of document that I like for sometimes $20, sometimes 50, depending on the vendor. And so obviously, the manipulation can happen to actual driver's licenses as well as to digital.

And so I appreciate the pilot program. So. And I was just commenting that my Costco card is also digital. So I think that's the direction we're moving in, and hopefully we can get some data to see how well it works from the DMV. And I also appreciate the fact that you do have to interact with the DMV. You know, that way somebody at home can't just create it. So thank you. And with that. Yes, Assemblymember Davies.

Yeah. If I just let me clarify, I was thinking of the federal ID, the one that we've got to, like 2025, 2026.

Real ID. The real ID, yes.

That's where I'm wondering if that would then be just like the driver's license. We're going to have to have that. Is that what would be digital like that then, too.

So you can. So the digital driver's license is like your driver's license. So whether it's. We don't issue anymore, the old one. We only issue the real ID. So your digital driver's license would be your real ID.

The federal ID that it has to be across the country?

Yes. That is what's currently being issued. It's not the previous. Once we stopped issuing that and moved to real ID, both the digital ID is consistent with the parameters required for the real ID.

Thank you.

So that same level of verification. Thank you.

And then just for clarification, the pilot program is active until June 30, 2026. So we're still in that same.

Still in that phrase. And this just provides to, through the chair. This just provides that opportunity. Right now, some retailers are taking it and some are not because there's not clarity in the law related to the pilot program.

And so this provides that clarity so that retailers don't have to be concerned in terms of liability, that if it matches just like a regular ID, if they do their inspection on a regular physical ID, you know, and verified it, even if someone did, the fake that would be on that person, not the retailer. The same thing would happen with the digital ID. Thank you.

Assemblymember Dixon.

I guess that was kind of my question. Why did the pilot start with alcoholic beverages? Is that because that's a common usage and that's the way to verify the legitimacy of the digital driver's license?

No. So the pilot is just about the ability to have a digital ID instead of a physical ID, to use it for driving, to use it to determine your identification for law enforcement. So because it is during the pilot program, the digital ID is equivalent to having a physical ID. So it is the same.

So if an officer was to pull you over and ask you to produce an ID during this time period and you produce a digital ID, they cannot say that. Or a digital driver's license. They couldn't say that you don't have a driver's license. Right? Because the digital ID is that equivalent. That is the pilot program. What this does is provide clarity in the law that that digital ID cannot also be used to verify your age if you were to purchase alcohol as well.

Some retailers take it, some don't. And part of the ones that don't is because it's a pilot program and weren't sure of the liability in order to take the physical ID. But we're saying as a state that during this pilot program that a digital ID is the same as a physical ID for any use that you would use.

And I'm trying to take out not my military ID, but of course I'm going to go through everything in my phone, but this is my ID and let's say I had it and I wish now I wouldn't register for it if I had a digital ID, that this is the equivalent, and you can, there is no distinction between the two for proper use.

Thank you. Any other comments? Questions? All right, the recommendation. Oh, we need a motion in a second. Okay, moved by who was second? Moved by Assemblymember Gipson, second by Assemblymember Bryan. Okay, and the recommendation is do pass to the Assembly Transportation Committee. Can you, Secretary, can you please call the roll?

[Roll Call]

Thank you. The measure passes and we'll leave the roll open for other members to add on. Majority Leader Aguiar-Curry, come on up.

Move the bill.

Welcome. We're ready.

Hey. Good afternoon, Madam Chair and members. AB 3203 would allow California craft distillers to continue selling online and shipping their products directly to consumers, just like the wine and beer industries do. There are more than 200 craft distillers in California, the vast majority of which are family-owned small businesses that employ five to ten people.

During the height of the COVID pandemic, Governor Newsom and the Department of Alcohol Beverage and Control authorized direct-to-consumer shipping for California craft distillers from March 2020 to March 2022. The Legislature extended this privilege until 2023 and again until 2024. Madam Chair and I did those bills. Unfortunately, the online sales and shipping authorization expires to end of to end in 2025. AB 3202 simply extends the authorization to January 2026.

Members, this privilege has been a lifeline, allowing distilleries in the state to offset revenues lost due to the impacts of COVID and increased their presence in the market, where they simply don't have access to the shelf space in most retail outlets. I hope you will support this effort to help the craft distilling industry for one more year. With me to testify today and support, I have Nate Solov on behalf of the California Craft Distillers Guild, and Steve Wallauch from on behalf of UPS.

Thank you. Go ahead.

Nate Solov on behalf of the California Craft Distillers Association. Just want to thank the chair and the author for really keeping our industry alive these last few years. After COVID, you know, prior to COVID, we could only sell our products in our tasting rooms. We were not really able to get on store shelves because typically we're such small businesses, and it's hard to get into that space.

The flexibility of the online sales that we've been able to do during COVID and now these last couple years has really allowed us to keep our doors open, even though we have had some closures these last few months, because, again, it's a hard market out there when it's hard to get on store shelves. The flexibility of this bill allows is that we can still do our tasting room sales, but we could also do online sales and ship directly to consumers.

And so we appreciate you allowing us to continue to do that. We're working hard with all the different stakeholders in the alcohol industry. We're hoping to make this permanent at some point, but it's as other folks in the wine and beer space can currently do, so we hope to be coming back to you in future years with a permanent solution. But again, appreciate this temporary solution to allow us to keep our doors open, to keep these small businesses thriving, and to keep people employed in California. So appreciate your support. Thank you.

Thank you.

Good afternoon. Steve Wallauch here on behalf of Bruce DD Mac Rae and UPS, urging your support for this bill. UPS was pleased to support prior efforts in this area and urge you to vote aye on AB 3203 this year. Thank you.

Thank you. Are there any witnesses? In opposition. Okay, members of the public in opposition. Members of the public in support.

Good afternoon, Chair and members. Melissa Werner, on behalf of the Family Winemakers of California, in support. Thank you.

Thank you. Any other members of the public in support or opposition? Okay, members of the committee, any questions, comments, concerns? Assemblymember Davies.

I want to thank you for bringing this forward. I know again with COVID how tough it is, and we've got a lot of small markets out there when it comes to craft beer, and it gives. It gives them the opportunity to at least have it out there. So thank you for this, and I would love to co-author. Thanks.

Any members of the committee. Any other members of the committee, comments? Concerns? Okay, thank you. You may close.

I respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Thank you. And we have a motion by Assemblymember Bryan, second by Assemblymember Low. And the recommendation is do passed to the Committee on Appropriations. Secretary, can you please call the roll? Oh, I'm sorry. It was a motion by Assemblymember Papan. Thank you. We'll flip a coin.

Thanks, Diane.

[Roll Call]

Thank you. The measure passes and we'll leave the roll open for other Members to add on. Thank you.

Thank you, Chair and Members.

We just have one more by Assembly Member Calderon.

She's on her way.

Assembly Member Calderon, welcome. Welcome.

Thank you. All right. Apologies for the delays. It's a busy afternoon. Good afternoon, Chair and Members. I'm here to present Assembly Bill 2378, which would allow students in a registered bartending apprenticeship program to taste but not consume an alcoholic beverage as part of their curriculum.

Current law authorizes a student who is at least 18 years of age and enrolled in an accredited associate's or bachelor's degree program in hotel management, culinary arts, or oenology to taste an alcoholic beverage in a required course. However, this is not extended to students in accredited bartending and mixology apprenticeship programs. The practice of tasting is an essential part of learning the science behind the flavors, textures, and strength of these beverages.

AB 2378 ensures that the next generation of hospitality workers are fully trained and equipped with the knowledge they need to advance in their careers. With me in support of the bill are Adine Forman and Mitchell Frieder of the Hospitality Training Academy.

Thank you.

Hi, I'm Adine Forman, Executive Director of the Hospitality Training Academy. We're the training arm of Unite Here, Local 11 and its contributing employers. We have four registered apprenticeship programs with the US Department of Labor and the State of California Division of Apprenticeship Standards. It is our goal to take folks who are reentry, at risk of homelessness, veterans, foster youth and put them into our training programs and then elevate them up the career ladder into good union jobs with good wages and benefits.

So this program will allow us to run our apprenticeship program, and I'm going to turn it over to our Lead Culinary Instructor, Chef Mitchell Frieder, to discuss why it's important. The only other thing I want to add is, in this program, we will not be taking anybody less than the age of 21. We don't believe that that should be happening for anybody who is in a program.

Also, we can't get anybody hired if there are less than 21 in any of our employers, which are everything from the Ritz-Carlton to the Fairmont to the JW Marriott and Four Seasons. So that, for us, this is a bill for 21 and above.

Thank you.

I'm Mitchell Frieder. I'm the Director of Food and Beverage Training for Hospitality Training Academy. The current law allows 18 to 20 year olds to attend classes where alcohol is tasted. We will not be doing that, again, as Adine said. Tasting is an integral part of a bartender's job. You're all familiar with these little - I brought props as well - You're all familiar with these little tasting straws or these little stir straws.

This is the straw that's used to take the taste of a spirit or an alcoholic beverage by a bartender. They place this in a drink, lift it up. This contains about 1/16th of a teaspoon. So it's really a very tiny taste. And a bartender typically would taste 20, 30, 40 times during the course of a day and, of course, not get intoxicated. It's not enough alcohol to do so.

It's important that the bartender is able to know that the beverage is properly balanced, that it's not too strong, and that's it's properly constructed. So a very important thing to do. This little tiny, a quarter teaspoon would contain four of these straws. So really a tiny little quantity. And we hope that you'll consider that in your vote. We appreciate your help. Thank you.

Thank you. Do we have any witnesses in opposition? Any members of the public in support? I'll call on you in a second.

Elmer Lizardi from the California Labor Federation in support.

Thank you. Any other members in support? Okay, any members of the public in opposition?

Good afternoon, Members. Fred Jones, California Council on Alcohol Problems. We are a member of a statewide coalition, California Alcohol Policy Alliance. Our partners are having conversations with Unite Here, and we would love to see the 21 age on these apprenticeship programs memorialized in statute. But given our good faith conversation, we're removing our opposition today. Thank you.

Thank you. Any other comments from the public? Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair and Mr. President. We've had the privilege of being in conversation with the sponsors of the bill, and we anticipate the amendments will be added to the bill. And with that we'd like to remove our opposition to the bill. Thank you very much.

Thank you. Any Members of the Committee? Assembly Member Bryan.

I just want to thank the author for bringing this bill. Something I actually know, none of my colleagues know, is I was actually a bartender for four years and started when I was 18 and recognize all of the complexities needed to do the job effectively. Also, just a lot of respect for the training that you all do and the work that you all do. So happy to support the bill today, and thank you for bringing it forward.

Thank you. Assembly Member Waldron.

Thank you. I'm always interested in programs that help people coming out of incarceration settings, and I was wondering how you outreach to get folks to come in to do the training or is it done through somehow the prison system or...

So we work with the Probation Department in LA County. We also have a relationship with many of the halfway houses that have sent people into our programs, particularly in the culinary program. In one of our last classes, we had three folks in ankle bracelets that we got jobs for. So we have really no problem with that as long as the folks successfully complete our program. We partner with about 120 community and faith based organizations.

We also text out information to the program to all of Unite Here Local 11's 32,500 members for friends and family. We just go everywhere and anywhere. Job fairs, many of your district offices have invited to job us to job fairs, and we continue to do that. Our goal is to get as many folks that need a helping hand. Our program is free. It's funded by the federal government, the state, local governments, and our goal is to get them all good union jobs.

Thank you. Any other comments or questions from the Committee? Assembly Member Lackey.

My question is this, you indicated that your program doesn't hire anybody unless they're 21 years of age. So where's the demand for this particular measure? If there's no job available, where's the demand for them to be tested? I think I heard somebody say, you don't hire anybody...

No, no. We don't take anybody into our program that's less than 21. So no student can be less than 21 training to be a bartender.

We will take students who are over 21 up to...

But doesn't this allow people that are under 21?

The current law allows it. We will not take someone between the ages of 18 and 20. We don't want the liability, and our employers won't take the liability as well.

The purpose of this bill is to allow registered apprenticeships programs to allow people to taste the alcohol in the program. That's the purpose of the bill. There's the current law that allows students at community colleges and four year institutions to taste alcohol if they're 18, if they're above 18. We don't agree with that.

Okay.

Assembly Member Dixon.

Thank you, Chair. So this changes the current law so no one under 21 can taste or be trained?

No, this is only dealing in our world with registered apprenticeship programs. We're trying to add registered apprenticeship programs into the law that allow people to taste. Now, the current law allows people from 18 to 21 to taste. We're encouraging the author to, for the registered apprenticeship program that we are dealing with, we don't want to see anyone below 21, and we don't believe anybody else should see people below 21. But there's the community college aspect of which we're not really digging into. We just want to talk in our world about approved registered apprenticeship programs.

Okay. All right. Thank you.

Assembly Member Jones-Sawyer.

And I want to thank you, Assembly Member Calderon, for bringing this because this is so important to provide jobs. And I know Ms. Forman personally will make sure that it's done right and that the appropriate age level is instituted so that, not only that we have the appropriate age, but these individuals will be able to be hired almost immediately after they finished. So thank you.

Absolutely.

Thank you. Any other questions or comments? Okay, hearing none, you may close.

Thank you. I respectfully ask for an aye vote.

We have a motion by Assembly Member Davies, second by Assembly Member Gipson, and the motion is do pass to Committee on Appropriations. Secretary, can you please call the roll?

AB 2378, Calderon. [Roll Call]

Okay, measure passes. Thank you very much. That was our last bill, and if we can take... We're opening the roll for add ons.

On the consent calendar [Roll Call]. The consent calendar is out with 21 votes.

[Roll Call]

Thank you. And that concludes our. Thank you. That concludes our meeting. Thank you.