Senate Floor

Secretary, call the roll.

[Roll Call]

Aquarm is present. Colleagues, Members, please go back to your desk. We are beginning right now where the Members and our guests beyond the rail and the gallery, please rise. We will be led in prayer this morning by our chaplain, Sister Michelle Gorman, after which, please remain standing for the pledge of allegiance to the flag.

Let us remember that we are always in God's presence. And today I'd like to pray in gratitude for all those who are, or have been fasting for Ramadan and Lent, as well as Members of the Baha'I faith. We are inspired by the outer manifestation of their interior dispositions. For the benefit of humanity. And for those of us who may have slipped up a bit, like myself, we take comfort from our God's invitation in these words of Rumi. Come, come, whoever you are.

Wanderer, worshipper, lover of leaving, it doesn't matter. Ours is not a caravan of despair. Come, even if you have broken your vows a thousand times, come yet again. Come, come. And so, gracious God, we thank you for loving each of us as if there were only one of us. You Delight in the uniqueness of our being, each one a spark of your creativity. You allow us to bring the whole of ourselves to all our encounters with you. May we do this honor for one another. We ask this in your name. Amen.

Someone called a 10 hut. I couldn't move after that. Members, we're going to defer privileges of the floor. But I do. If you did not know, if you haven't celebrated. We had two birthdays yesterday. Yesterday, Senator Ashby and Senator Gerazzo celebrated their 22nd birthday yesterday. Please congratulate them. So, without objection, we will be moving on to unfinished business. File item 24, SB 136. If the Senator is ready. Secretary, please read.

Senate Bill 136 by Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review, an act relating to MediCal and declaring the urgency thereof to take effect immediately.

Senator Wiener, you may proceed. And, colleagues, if you could please stop talking.

Thank you, Madam President. Colleagues. SB 136 is the managed care organization, or MCO, tax legislation. This Bill modifies the tax on managed care organizations that we authorized in last year's budget by increasing the amount assessed on Medi Cal health plans with annual enrollment between 1.25 million and 4 million people to $205 per enrollee. It allows the state to draw down nearly.

The Bill allows the state to draw down nearly $1.5 billion of additional federal matching funds that will help offset the nonfederal share of expenditures in the medical program by relieving the General Fund of costs related to medical. These changes to the MCO tax, as well as the use of Reserve funds from the existing tax, will help shrink our budget shortfall by approximately $3.8 billion. The Bill does not include any language governing expenditures of the increased revenue from the MCO tax that issue. The expenditures will be addressed in a trailer Bill to be considered by this body in the June budget. I respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Thank you, Senator, colleagues. Any discussion or debate you want to share what you were talking with your colleague about, Senator Grove, you're recognized.

Thank you, Madam Chair. You know, colleagues, a deal was made last year on the MCO tax. There are a lot of us with financially distressed hospitals, providers that provide excellent health care to our communities. We're promised these resources in order to be able to maintain quality health care in this state.

I have huge concerns regarding this mechanism to draw down the federal dollars and use the MCO tax that was generated and voted on by all of us to provide dollars to, again, our medical providers that provide services to our constituents and the hospitals. And now it's going to be used to draw down federal dollars to address the budget deficit. I realize we do have a budget deficit, and we need to make sure that that is addressed.

But I do have huge concerns about this particular piece of legislation giving you a reason why I'm laying off on the Bill until I can see some details that the people who provide care and services and medical services, OBGYN services, and all the services that all of our constituents use in order to maintain excellent health care, their rates are still protected and that we have the rates that were promised to us last year when we voted on this tax. Thank you.

Thank you, Senator Grove. Senator Dahle, you're recognized.

Thank you, Madam President. You're doing a great job today. I also, too, was in Budget Committee and wanted to rise and speak about the MCO tax. I actually have supported every single MCO tax in the past, and the reason I supported those was because the money actually went to healthcare. Some of it did go in the past to the General Fund. I will acknowledge that.

But in the circumstances we're faced with today, where we have hospitals on the verge of closing, and I tried to get some answers during our budget hearing from the LAO and the Administration on how this money is going to be spent. And unfortunately, I didn't get a very good answer. I did find out that approximately $3.6 billion will be going to undocumented folks coming into our state that haven't participated in our tax programs.

And at the same time, we have many local hospitals, and we have Medicare and Medicaid issues where the rates aren't high enough. So I'm actually going to be voting no today. I didn't want to vote no. I think this is a great opportunity for us to draw down federal dollars.

But if we're just going to put it in the General Fund and we're going to put it towards things that don't actually increase the reimbursement for health care and actually help keep our health care systems open, then I think we need to have a deeper discussion about that. So today I'll be voting no.

Hopefully, between now and the time we actually do the full budget, we can flush out some of these, I think, big issues where we're spending money on project, on using a healthcare tax to Fund things that aren't health care. So for those reasons, I will actually be voting no today.

Thank you, Senator Laird. You are recognized.

Thank you, Madam President. I feel like we're rehashing old ground, but it needs to be rehashed. In the light of the comments that were made. And I represent a very high profile, distressed hospital, this action today will not affect that in any way. When this was enacted the first time when I was in the Assembly and I was chair of the Budget Committee, it went 100% to the General Fund. Why did it go to the General Fund?

Because every other program was being cut, and this is our way to not cut medical at all. Now, with what we adopted last year, for the first time in years, we are raising rates in some medical categories, something that is long overdue, that is not touched by this Bill in any way.

And the fact that the difference between last year and this year is we are increasing the amount of the tax that even the people that it applies to stood up in the Budget Committee and supported because it draws down more money than they will put out for the tax. And so this is our way, once again, of not cutting Medi Cal in the time of a deep budget crisis and our way to preserve the rate increases that were there.

And it is traditional to not necessarily allocate the tax at the time you adopt it. You are doing the revenue. We are on the path to balancing the budget. This is one step on the path to balance the budget. Then when we come back after, hopefully early actions, after the break, and look at the hard decisions we have to make in May and June, this will be in place. This will protect us from making some substantial cuts by enacting this.

And we have to do it by the first of the month so that it goes into effect and we can count it in the budget. This is a good proposal. Voting yes will be a good vote. It does not hurt hospitals. It is something we need to do to balance the budget. I ask for an aye vote.

Thank you, Senator. Senator Alvarado. Heal. You're recognized.

Thank you, madam President. I rise today to speak in support of Senate Bill 136. Typically, you would not hear me speaking in support of a tax. However, this is a self imposed tax by the healthcare industry. This is supported by the people and would pay the tax would be paid by the healthcare industry. There is no opposition to this Bill. We are supporting this because of a significant drawdown of federal tax dollars that match, that will benefit our healthcare system. And we need this in the rural communities. We need this in rural health. And that's why I would ask for an aye vote.

Thank you, Senator. Colleagues, any further discussion or debate on this item? Seeing none. Senator Wiener, you may close.

Thank you, Madam Chair. First of all, I want to thank the Senator from Santa Cruz for his very detailed and articulate remarks. Just to be clear, this Bill and this MCO tax and the changes we're making are going to strengthen Medi Cal they will strengthen Medi Cal and make sure that we stabilize it and that we are providing the funding for health care that we need. And we have a track record now of doing that. In addition, this is the responsible thing to do.

And the idea that we would delay this critical piece of our path towards a ballot budget I think would be irresponsible. We should pass this. And I respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Thank you, Senator. Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call]

Secretary, please call the absentee Members.

[Roll Call]

On the urgency. Ayes 29, noes three. The Assembly amendments are concurred in Members. Without objection, we will move to Assembly third reading file item 48, AB 1887. Senator Wiener, are you prepared? Secretary, please read.

Assembly Bill 1887 by Assembly Member Cervantes an act relating to student financial aid and declaring the urgency thereof to take effect immediately.

Senator Wiener, you may proceed.

Thank you, Madam President. Colleagues. AB 1887 is a Bill related to the free application for federal student aid, or FAFSA. Most significantly, the Bill extends for the 2024 to 25 award year only. The priority application deadline for state financial aid programs administered by the California Student Aid Commission extends it to May 2. And for context, the recent rollout of the new free application for federal student aid is causing delays, barriers, and accessibility issues for many California students.

Most prominently, it impacts students seeking to access Cal grant and middle class scholarship awards. There's a problem with the system, so a whole bunch of students are not able to actually submit it. And so we need to do this extension to make sure that they can apply. I respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Senator Laird, you're recognized.

Thank you, Madam President. I just want to add that the Senate budget Subcommitee number one heard this issue on March 7, and basically, we were able to hear it together with all other programs on student aid. And this is necessary for students to know what they're getting and apply. And as a result, UC has delayed their application deadline. And I think other colleges will as well.

And this will allow for the feds to finally tell us what they're going to do and students to have time to know if they're fully funded by the application. But I just wanted to make sure that everybody knew that this was heard and discussed at length. And at the time, the Legislative Analyst said, you may wish to do exactly what's in this Bill, so I would request an I vote.

Thank you, Senator. Colleagues, any further discussion or debate? Senator Wiener, you may close.

I respectfully ask for an ivote secretary.

Please call the roll.

[Roll Call]

Secretary, please call the absent Members. On the urgency ayes 37 no, zero. The measure passes. Members, we're going to be moving back to our privileges of the floor. I'd like to recognize if the Senator is ready from the majority leader's desk or right here from his desk. Senator Umberg, you are recognized.

Thank you, madam President. Colleagues, today we're pleased to be joined with folks from the German Marshall Fund and the Mercador foundation. They're joining us today as part of the Digital Innovation and Democracy Initiative. And I want to introduce our honored guest. Dr. Mohammed Shahim is a Member of parliament for the Dutch Social Democrats, focusing on environmental, health and energy policies, and is key advocate for the European Green Deal and the carbon border adjustment mechanism.

Miyapitri Kumpala Natri is from Finland and is a Member of a parliament emphasizing digital cooperation, sustainable climate solutions and an EU US relationship with a digital and climate advocacy background. Dragos Tudor I'm sure I messed that up from Romania with my apologies. Is a Member of parliament and Vice President of Renew Europe. Has a background in law in EU institutions. He focuses on artificial intelligence, security and transatlantic relations.

Peter Vitanov, as a Member of parliament from Bulgaria, works on transport, tourism, environmental policies with a significant interest in artificial intelligence legislation. Zayana Zolkov is from the Republic of Croatia, Member of parliament. Zolkov has a diplomatic background and is dedicated to strengthening EU US relations and has extensive experience in international diplomacy. The foundation fosters a mutual understanding of technology policy, building on relationships between policymakers, innovators, industry and civil society. Please welcome these five European Parliament Members with us today in the back of the chambers. Thank you.

Welcome. First, we're going to have Senator Umberg take that photo with his honored guests, and then we'll invite Members. Members, I now invite you if you wish to take a photo with our guests in the back. Members, let's gather together if you wish for this photo. That's a keeper. Members. Messages from the Governor Governor will be deemed read, messages from the Assembly will be deemed read, reports of Committee will be deemed read, and amendments adopted.

Senate Bill 1025 with the minutes 1032 with Amits, 1095 with the minutes 118 with the minutes 1291046 with amendments, 1113 with the minutes 971 Senate Resolution 69 by Senator Menjivar relative to Caesar Chavez Day.

Senator Menjivar, the floor is yours.

Thank you, Madam President. Colleagues, today I'm rising on behalf of the California Legislative Latino Caucus and the California Legislative LGBTQ caucus in honor in the life of legacy of Cesad E. Chavez. Chavez's life serves as an extraordinary example of how one person can have a huge impact on all of our lives. He was a symbol of justice, an educator of civil and human rights, and a role model. He understood the value in unity and the power of solidarity.

He forged a national support coalition of union, church groups, students, minorities and consumers. Through the use of Boycotts and spiritual fasts, Cesar was able to gain invaluable rights for some of the most vulnerable people in our state, including our farm workers. Today, the role of farm workers is just as vital to the future of California as it was when Chavez began his efforts.

Our farm workers continue to feed our state and nation, and they have enabled California to become one of the largest no economies in the world through the development and growth of the agriculture industry. These invisaligns always cause me to stutter. Cesar Chavez used to say, we cannot seek achievement for ourselves and forget about progress and prosperity for our community. Our ambitions must be broad enough to include the aspirations and needs of others for their sakes and for our own.

Just this last weekend, my district celebrated the life and legacy of Mr. Chavez by doing a rally in our community. And one of the journalists came up to me and asked, why do you think there's not enough energy, enough energy in rallying, addressing injustices.

And I challenge my Members to remember this quote by Chavez that we must not forget, regardless of how far our ambitions take us of the community and their roots, from where we come from, that we must always turn back and uplift as many people as possible. Because that question that the journalist asked me challenged me to ensure that I further engage and empower and energize as many people as possible in my district.

Lastly, please find a special print on your desk on behalf of the Latino caucus by artist Ignacio Gomez. Ignacio is the artist who painted El Pacheco, which was used as the poster for the first Chicano play on Broadway. Zoot suit by Luis Valdez. He is also the designer and sculptor behind the Ceside Chavez Riverside memorial.

Thank you, Senator Smallwood-Cuevas.

Thank you, Madam President. And I rise in support of this resolution, Sr 69, on behalf of the legislative black caucus and on behalf of so many of the residents in my district who come from the spirit of Cesar Chavez. One in which we put the most vulnerable communities in the center. One in which those most impacted stand together and lift their voice. One in which one community speaks for justice for all.

As we reflect on his legacy, Cesar Chavez not only had a profound impact on the rights of farm workers, but also on the broader struggle for civil rights and justice in this country. He understood that the fight for justice and equality transcends race. He stood in solidarity with all Americans struggling from the injustices of oppression, including and particularly so with black Americans and those from marginalized communities of color.

His commitment to nonviolent resistance and civil disobedience was an inspiration for so many, particularly leaders like Dr. Martin Luther King and the NAACP, who recognized that the farm workers and black working communities shared the same fight against discrimination and inequality. In a 1966 telegram to Cesar Chavez, Dr. King wrote, the fight for equality must be fought on many fronts, in the urban slums, in the sweatshops, and in the factories and fields. Our separate struggles are really one. A struggle of freedom for dignity and humanity.

A year after that telegram, Dr. King launched the Poor People's Campaign, which brought Puerto Ricans and Mexican Americans, black and poor whites, together to fight for economic justice. We honor Cesar Chavez, his extraordinary contributions to the social justice movement and the legacy of that struggle, and organizations today that continue the fight, particularly for farm workers. As leaders of this state, we must always remember that resistance is how we create change, and doing it through care and love is how we transform generations.

And with that, I'd like to thank the great Senator from San Fernando Valley for bringing this forward. And I respectfully ask for your aye vote.

Senator Rubio.

Thank you, Madam President, ladies and gentlemen of the Senate, today I rise in support of SR 69 on behalf of the California Jewish Legislative Caucus, and also as a daughter of a former bracero farm worker. Today we honor a tireless crusader for justice and the rights of workers. Cesar Chavez was the founder of the National Farm Worker Association, and his activism continues to be a guiding light for the movement.

And he was instrumental in just bringing peace and hope to so many in that era that really just found themselves struggling to get respect and dignity in the workplace, the labor movement has deep ties with the Jewish community. Many pivotal labor leaders are Members of the Jewish caucus, and Jewish community has long supported organized labor and the rights of workers. When the National Farm Workers Association and others took to strike, the Jewish community supported and joined them in so many of their endeavors.

Rabbis declared the non union graves a violation of the religious tenants not to steal. And activists participated in strikes and rallies, some even losing their lives in that struggle. With that said, I want to remember Nan Freeman, an 18 year old Jewish student who joined the picket lines in solidarity and was killed by a truck purposefully driven unsafely through the picket line. Not just Jewish people, but many other diverse communities also made sacrifices in solidarity with Caesar Chavez and farmworkers.

As a daughter of a former bracero worker who did very heavy labor, and who tells me stories of just not having water, working late hours in the sun, many hours, has hands just full of calluses, I can't thank enough all those that stood in solidarity, not only the Jewish Members, but all those who sacrificed at that time as well. And they paid the ultimate price, so many of them. And so with that, I thank them, because that brought somewhat dignity to my own father.

The Jewish community is also proud today to reaffirm its support for the labor movement, to continue to fight for equity and dignity, and, of course, remember the legacy of Caesar Chavez. May Caesar Chavez memory be a blessing, and may we all continue to expand on his work as a proud co author. And on behalf of the Jewish caucus, I urge and I vote on Sr 69.

Thank you, Senator Cortese.

Thank you, Madam President. I rise in support of this resolution today, and particularly on behalf of the City of San Jose, which I represent approximately 80% of, and share that representation with two colleagues here in the Senate, who also represent parts of the City of San Jose. Cesar lived in the Mayfair neighborhood of San Jose, in the heart of the east side, in the heart of Senate District 15.

It was in that neighborhood, the Mayfair neighborhood, at a church that's still there, known as our lady of Guadalupe, a Catholic church, where he met a franciscan priest, Father Soto, who mentored Cesar and helped him create the community service organization, which was the predecessor, of course, to his work and founding of the United Farm Workers with Dolores Huerta and others. Mcdonald Hall sits on that site. It was the site of organizing then, it's the site of organizing now.

And it's been recognized by this Legislature with a state historic marker, and by the federal park system in kind. Several of Cesar's family Members still live in San Jose. Many of them maintain the San Jose tradition of the legacy of Cesar Chavez through the nonprofit called the Chavez family vision, and that includes his one surviving sibling, his sister Rita Chavez Medina.

And of course, the family is extremely proud of that legacy of the movement, including the first launch of the great boycott at the Safeway story in King in San Jose. So I wanted to get that on the record and appreciate the author bringing forward the resolution, appreciate the opportunity to participate in the acknowledgement today. And I would urge an I vote on the resolution.

Thank you, Senator Durazo.

Thank you, Madam President. Cesar Chavez was an extraordinary human being. I had the privilege of knowing him, walking with him and marching with him. But it was mostly through his personal example that he taught us how to live our lives in connection with each other, in love of one another and in love for our world, in love of our country, in love of family, and through his deep Catholic faith.

He was best known for workers rights, that working people ought to get paid fair wages and not live in poverty. He taught us how to, through workers rights, how to get fair working conditions. But there are many, many other causes that he integrated into the struggles. For example, he was a true environmentalist. Nobody really talks about him as an environmentalist, but through a union contract, DDT was banned. The only and the first time that that was done through a union contract, not through government.

He also taught us how to work together, and that's demonstrated by the many remarks that are made by the different caucuses here. But there are probably hundreds of thousands of people who worked on his campaigns and the farm workers campaigns, whether in coalition, Jewish community, the black community, women's movement, the youth movement. He spurred and triggered a civil rights movement amongst the Latino and Mexican Americans in this country. So I rise to also support this resolution and want to say Gaviva Cesar Chavez.

Senator Min.

Thank you, Madam President. On behalf of. As Vice Chair of the Asian American Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus, I rise today in strong support of Sr 69 and want to thank my colleague from San Fernando Valley for bringing this forward and appreciate my colleagues prior remarks on this great man. This holiday was, of course, first proclaimed by President Barack Obama in 2014 to acknowledge and celebrate the legacy and contributions of Cesar Chavez.

Now, there's a long history of collaboration between Cesar Chavez and many Asian Americans, in particular with the Filipino American community, including under the leadership of Larry Itlion, to form the United Farm Workers of America. Cesar Chavez's collaboration with Filipino organizers points the importance of intersectionality and the collaboration that is possible to achieve a common goal between different communities. Now, this day, I think, celebrates more than just Cesar Chavez.

It really is a tribute to several really important ideas that I think we need to really acknowledge clearly here in California. First, that workers matter, that farm workers'rights matter, and that immigrant rights matter. And these are touchstones that I think we still need to emphasize today. At a time when workers and immigrants are being demonized across the country. I also just want to acknowledge the personal role that Cesar Chavez has played in my life. My wife would not have existed without Cesar Chavez.

My mother in law was a Catholic nun who left the order to go work for Cesar Chavez in Kansas City. And met her future husband at a fundraiser for the United Farm Workers. Apparently, she was throwing up money in the air because they'd raised so much. And it was kind of an exciting thing. And the young man next to her kind of recognized her celebratory mood and introduced himself.

And that began a long courtship that ended up with them getting married and having my wife so really appreciate what he has done, including personally. With that in mind, I just want to acknowledge that this day of public service is one where we should remember that the use of nonviolent, peaceful protests are so important during these times. And so it's my privilege in joining my colleagues today in honoring Cesar Chavez and asking for your aye vote on SR 69.

Any further discussion or debate. Senator Menjivar, you may conclude.

Thank you so much for everyone's comments. Respectfully ask for your aye vote.

Please call the roll. [Roll Call] Aye. 37, no, zero. The resolution is adopted. Members, we're going to move on to file item number 37. Senator Wahab, she is prepared. Please read

Senate Concurrent Resolution 126 by Senator Wahab, relative to Nowroz.

Senator Wahab, you may proceed.

Thank you. President and colleagues, I rise to present SCR 126, Nowroz. I want to thank my staff, and especially my Chief of Staff. For creating these sweet gift boxes that are placed for each Member and other staff, as well as the partnership with the Iranian American Democrats of California for setting up the Hafsin room in room 317, which all of you are welcome to postsession. Thank you for your dedicated work to this beautiful cultural celebration.

Nowroz, which directly translates to new day and is a cultural celebration of the first day of spring and our New Year's. It's celebrated on the vernal equinox, which varies from year to year and across the globe. In 2010, the United nations declared March 21 as International Day of Nowroz. The new day symbolizes a commitment to springtime renewal, peace, and overall solidarity between generations, families and communities. Nowroz commemorates the new year for many Afghan and central Asian communities all over the world.

Nowroz is celebrated by more than 300 million people around the world for more than 3000 years in over 23 countries, including the United States, where Nowroz is celebrated by Americans of all backgrounds, regardless of religion, including those with Baha'I faith, Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Zoroastrian and nonreligious backgrounds. The United States census reports the largest populations of Afghans outside of Afghanistan to live here in California.

And that 54% of Iranian immigrants in America live in California and Nowroz serves to remind us all of the many lasting contributions of the persian civilization to the world. We are not what is depicted in the media. We are more than that and the noteworthy impact of Afghan Americans to the social and economic fabric of society in the United States and the world. Where Afghanistan was home to the oldest oil paintings in the world. Where the world's best selling poet is Rumi from Balkh in Afghanistan.

And including one of the earliest expressions of human rights in the world, the Cyrus cylinder of Cyrus the great, which called for the freedom of slaves, reparations, the right to choose and practice your own faith and racial equity. As well as the contributions of Iranian Americans to the ever growing social and economic tapestry of our country. After thousands of years in the making, Nowroz remains beloved, universal, and deeply embedded in Persian culture. It is a celebration of peace and neighborliness.

These ideals we must strive and fight for. Peace is not a passive state, but an active commitment to each other. To choose a path that may require more work, more consensus building, but that yields rewards far greater than we can imagine. On this Nowroz, I look forward to a new year. A new day filled with peace. May you always be happier than Diros yesterday, luckier than ImRos today, and blessed Nowroz every day. I respectfully ask for an aye vote thank you, Senator.

Senator Min, you're recognized.

Thank you, Madam Chair. And thank you, colleagues. As Vice Chair of the API Legislative Caucus and as a co author of SCR 126, I'm proud to rise in support of this resolution recognizing Nowroz, or Nowroz, as it said in Farsi, the beginning of Persian new year. Now, I want to acknowledge the terrible events that are happening right now in Iran. The death and murder of Masa Amini, the crackdown on women's rights, the horrible tortures, abductions, rapes and murders of so many women and girls.

This is a horrific set of events and one that we need to continue acknowledging here in this country. I think it's appropriate in many ways that no ruse this year falls, as every year during women's history Month. And we must do all we can to try to restore women's rights there. And I just want to say, women, life, freedom, or as they say in Farsi, Zendegi Azadi. This is a very, very important message that we need to reinforce here.

But no ruse is a celebration of rebirth and of peace, as my colleague mentioned. And I think it's also a time of celebration. It's a time when people from all walks of life are supposed to come together in a spirit of inclusivity, diversity, unity, prosperity and joy. And I think that, as my colleague mentioned, California is a reflection of this wonderful diversity that we appreciate here. And so I ask that you support me in join me in supporting SCR 126.

I also want to acknowledge several of my constituents who came up from Orange County to help celebrate. Nowroz here. Several Iranian Americans. We have Faye Hazar, Alex Mahajer, and Sudi Froknia who came up to celebrate here. So thank you all for coming up. And Nauruz Mabarak.

Thank you, Senator. Any further discussion or debate. Senator Wahab, you may close.

Thank you. Nowroz Mobarak. I respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Members, this item is eligible for unanimous roll call. Is there any objection to utilizing the unanimous roll call? Seeing none. Ayes 37. No, zero resolution is adopted. Moving on to special consent calendar Members, is there anyone that would like to remove an item from the consent calendar? See none. Secretary Senator Glazer, for what purpose do you rise?

Point of order, Madam President.

Senator, may you state the point of order.

Earlier today, we adopted two measures on our unfinished business, both of them urgency measures. After the completion of the vote, you announced that there was a two thirds vote on the urgency, but you said nothing about the underlying measure. And whether it passed or not on both measures like to make sure that those important measures are appropriately approved and would last that we check to make sure the rules have been properly followed. Actually true.

Senator Glazer, thank you so much for bringing up those points of order. I'd like to reassure you on both measures, on their urgency. I announced the ayes and the noes. And following that, I did announce the amendment. Concurrent amendments. Assembly amendments were concurred in, so order was followed.

Terrific. Thank you. Madam President.

Do we have any Members who would like to Senator Caballero, you're recognized.

Yes, Madam President. Just wanted to see if an adjournment motion is appropriate at this time.

Not at this time. Coming up soon. Senator. Colleagues, going back to the consent calendar, is there any Member that would like to remove an item from the consent calendar? Seeing none. Secretary, please read.

Assembly Concurrent Resolution 139. 143. Assembly Concurrent Resolution 145.

Secretary, please call the roll on the first item.

[Roll Call]

Eyes 37. No, zero. Consent calendar is approved. Members, we're going to be jumping backwards a little bit and going to. Privileges of the floor. Senator, I'm forgetting everybody's name. Senator Becker, for what reason do you rise?

Thank you, Madam President. It's come to my attention today is International Forest Day. It's also national Common Courtesy Day, and also world Poetry Day. So, in honor of that, I'd like to read a series of poems. And I'd like the permission to read.

Senator, given the fact that I was also a sub three chair Member, and then we're probably going to be here till the wee late hours of the night. I will not be granting that permission. And we will be moving back to Committee announcements.

This is an honor of your presidency today. I had written a poem for you, but. All right.

Senator Dahle, for what purpose do you rise?

Thank you, Madam President. I'd like to speak on condition of the file.

Senator. Dahle, the proper time to speak on the condition of the file is right before we adjourn.

I'll take that opportunity then. Thank you.

Senator Glazer, you're recognized.

Thank you, Madam President. I'd like to call a caucus, please just.

Senator, we would not be able to caucus right now. We are going to be moving back to Committee announcements and if we all wish to stay here longer, I welcome you to join my sub three meeting that will be here till probably seven or 08:00 p.m. Moving on to Committee announcements. Are there any Members who would like to speak on this issue? Senator Becker, you are recognized, Madam President.

Budget sub two will room in meeting room 2200 in the swing space 15 minutes after adjournment.

Budget Subcommitee number three will meet 15 minutes after session in room 1200. Senator Wahab, you're recognized.

Thank you. Sub five will meet in the state capitol, room 112, 15 minutes after adjournment.

Colleagues, we're moving back to motions and resolutions. This is the time where we're going to be doing our adjournment memories. I asked respectfully if we can go back to our seats. The faster we do this again, the faster we go to our subcommittees. You can all enjoy your spring recess. We're going to start first with Senator O'Neillo.

Thank you.

Colleague. Senator Niello is going to start with his adjournment memory. I ask once again if we can take our conversations off the floor or remain in our seats silent. Thank you, Senator Niello, you may proceed.

Thank you, Madam President. And let me add that you have been taking this abuse from our fellow colleagues with grace and dignity. And all of that notwithstanding, you're doing an outstanding job. So I am adjourning today in the memory of Fred Harold, local car dealer. Fred, really known by his friends as Fritz Harold, passed away this last October 18. He was born in Atascadero, but he spent most of his life in Sacramento. He was a loving and loved husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, and really good friend to a lot of people.

And he was truly a pillar of our community. After serving in the Army Air Corps at the end of World War II, he attended the College of Pacific, now the University of Pacific, after which he and his brother Edwin founded the Northern Engineering Company, an engine remanufacturing company. After some years in partnership with his brother, he joined his other brother Elmer, to run Harold Ford, founded by their father, Ellsworth, in 1911. That dealership actually still exists here in Sacramento under different ownership on Howe Avenue.

As I said, he was truly a pillar of our community. Having served on boards and boards of local nonprofit organizations such as the Sacramento Children's Home, the Sacramento SPCA and the Sacramento Metro Chamber, and a few local businesses such as Patterson Aircraft and Capitol bank of Commerce. He was also named, significantly as a Paul Harris Fellow. Fellow Rotarians will know that that is a significant achievement. Of special importance to him was his church home pioneer Congregational Church, where he served as President.

I knew Fritz because I went to high school with his son, Fritz Jr. Who I will be introducing in a moment. He is in the gallery, but I really got to know Fritz as a fellow car dealer and later still as a fellow Member, along with my dad, of the informal old, I can't say that. Let's just say old fellows Flatulence Club. His obituary said he had a special way about him, listened well and made people feel special. I knew and experienced that firsthand.

Of particular note about Fritz was his immeasurable compassion. He showed that most in his work with Sutter Hospice, where he spent precious hours, his and the patients volunteering with end of life care patients. Now, each of you may learn about this by a viewpoints column that I emailed to each one of you was not, unfortunately, not able to put it on the desks.

And if you haven't had a chance to read that, I do have a few extras here, but I challenge you to read that and not be emotionally moved. That was Fritz Herald. He was preceded in death by his loving wife of 62 years, Erda, his siblings, Edwin, Elmer and Martha Mcbride, with whom he was particularly close. And by the way, Martha's husband, Tom Mcbride, was a Member of our State Assembly in the 1950s.

He's survived by two sons, Fritz Jr. And Chris, and their wives, Ritu and Judy. Also two grandchildren and five great grandchildren. And now allow me to introduce to you Fritz, Ritu and Chris, who are here with us today in the gallery. Thanks for being here again. Join me in a journey in memory of Fred Fritz. Harold.

Thank you, Senator, for those beautiful words. Please bring his name up so that he may be properly memorialized in the journal. Senator Ashby, you're recognized on this.

Thank you. I just want to rise as the other Senator from Sacramento. And while I do not know the Harold family as well as the Niello family, does my colleague, also from Sacramento, I know how important this family is to you. I want to thank you for sharing the article with us. I read it. It was incredible.

Senator from Napa and I were just discussing what an incredible life, a person who would spend their spare time going to hospice to help other people with transition and to find true joy and enlightenment in that process. And I just want to thank the family for all they do for the Sacramento region, for the many associations and organizations that you all are involved with. And thank you, Senator from Sacramento, my friend and colleague, for helping us honor your friend.

Thank you. Moving on to our second adjournment memory, if Senator Cortese is prepared. Please proceed, Senator.

Thank you. Madam President, if I may, on a personal point of privilege, I wanted to acknowledge you for your nonviolent forbearance in the spirit of Caesar Chavez. Not having come down on the floor to accost anybody earlier. Thank you for that. I rise to adjourn in memory of Benton White, a longtime San Jose resident who passed peacefully in December at the age of 92. He was born in Birmingham, Alabama, and met the love of his life, Mary Lou, in Nebraska.

In 1961, they moved to San Jose together. He took on the role of Methodist campus minister for San Jose State University. I think he'd be justifiably proud to be recognized on Cesar Chavez Day. He was a progressive civil rights activist, recruiting students to join the Freedom Summer of 1964. Benton's role as an organizer and the involvement of these students in voter registration drives were valuable to communities of color in the south. This impact extended nationwide and contributed to a shifting narrative for civil rights.

He was from the south, so he grew up seeing these inequities. Ben was not only San Jose State's first ombudsman in 1967, he was the nation's first. The role was created in response to housing discrimination complaints from students of color. At the time, the campus had segregated sororities and fraternities. He acted as a liaison between students and the Administration. He played a vital role in promoting institutional change to serve marginalized students. Benton also established the school's religious studies program in 1970.

He was an accomplished scholar whose education included attending the Chandler School of Theology at Emory University and Pacific Lutheran Theology Theological Seminary. He was an air Force chaplain in the strategic Air Command as well. Ben retired from San Jose State in 1992 after 31 years of service to the campus. Even in his retirement, he continued to serve his community. He spent his time teaching as an adjunct Professor at Santa Clara University, and he loved to travel and spend time with his family.

Ben's relationships included several of my family Members and his own. One of his sons, Tom White, is well known around the Capitol. He is a former Chief of Staff of my own father, Assemblyman Dominic Cortese. And of course, Tom has served in several positions admirably here in the Capitol. Over the years, Benton was first and foremost a constituent.

I represented him as a state Senator, of course, but before that, as a county supervisor, before that, as a resident of my City Council district, and before that, as a constituent of my school district, going back to 1992. But the relationships, of course, go back before. Even then, as they just noted, he will be remembered for his contributions to San Jose State and the broader community in my district. When Benton called, you returned his phone call. I'll miss his calls.

But his activism and the role model he set as an activist, constituent, and leader in our district will be forever remembered. He had a lasting and profound impact on the lives of everyone around him. He has survived by his wife, in addition to his son, Tom, another son, three grandchildren, and one great grandchild. He will be greatly missed. Thank you. And I would respectfully ask that we adjourn to his memory today.

Thank you, Senator, for those lovely words. Please bring his name forward so he may be properly memorialized in the journal. Senators, before we adjourned, there is Nowroz reception in room 317. Following this reception, thank you for your energetic vibes this morning. As I presided for the first time. I welcome them back. Moving forward. Maybe not Bernie, so much. If there is no other business. Senator Mcguire, the desk is clear.

Thank you so much, Madam President. First and foremost, I want to say, Madam President, fantastic job today. And I know this is out of order, but I think we need to give President Menjivar a round of applause, ducking and diving and holding firm the entire time. So thank you so much, Madam President. Members, hope that you have a wonderful break. You're able to spend time with friends and family.

I know most of you are going to be out in the communities doing the good work each and every day. Thank you for your commitment to the people of California. Madam President, the next floor session is scheduled for Monday, April 1, at 02:00 p.m. No fooling. Turn it back over to you.

The Senate will be in recess until 03:30 p.m. At which time the adjournment motion will be made. We will reconvene Monday, April 12024 at 02:00 p.m. Thank.