Assembly Standing Committee on Emergency Management

Good afternoon, everybody. We'll go ahead and get ready on Emergency Management. I'm Assemblymember Freddie Rodriguez, Chair of the Emergency Management Committee. Welcome to today's hearing. At today's hearing, we will take public comments from those in the room. Members of the public may also submit to testimony to the Committee at AEM.assembly.ca.gov, and I believe we can. Secretary, would you like to establish a quorum and call roll?

Thank you. Quorum call. [Roll Call].

And we do have a quorum, have an established quorum. The next order of business is a Consent Calendar. The following bills are on Consent: AB 2232 Maienschein, regarding warming centers for people with pets, the motion is do pass; AB 2660, Committee on Emergency Management, to increase grant funding to our local partners, the motion is do pass to the Committee on Appropriations; and AB 3150 Quirk-Silva, regarding wildfire severity zoning, the motion is do passed to the Committee on Appropriations. Secretary, call the roll.

On the Consent Calendar, AB 2232 Maienschein. The motion is do pass. AB 2660, the motion is do pass to the Committee on Appropriations. AB 3150 Quirk-Silva, the motion is do pass to the Committee on Appropriations. [Roll Call].

And with that, the consent calendar is out. We'll leave the roll open for missing members. So with that we'll go on to bills and file order. With that, we do have assembly member Bains, item number four, AB 3027. When you're ready, Assemblymember, go ahead.

Thank you, honorable Chairman and members. AB 3027 addresses an issue that is not well known and unfortunately not well understood by most transnational repression. Neither state nor federal law defines transnational repression, yet it is a tactic that has grown increasingly common given the rise of social media as a tool of harassment and intimidation. Transnational repression is employed by foreign governments to prevent the exercise of human rights by a diaspora and exile communities living abroad.

It can take many forms, but in all cases, it is designed to intimidate, silence, coerce, harass, or harm. By definition, employing transnational repression against a person residing in the United States is a violation of our nation's sovereignty. State actors like China, Russia, and India do not care about our constitutional freedoms. They seek to silence dissidents, erase criticism, and even murder their critics. We have seen numerous recent examples of foreign governments committing acts of transnational repression against people living in California and elsewhere in the United States.

In my own Sikh faith, an outspoken community leader was shot dead in Canada, and the Canadian prime minister has stated that there is credible evidence that the Indian government is responsible for the killing. India has denied the accusation while also refusing to support the investigation to identify those responsible for the assassination. Federal law enforcement foiled two similar assassination plots targeting Sikh leaders in New York and California that were also linked to India.

These crimes occurred just last year and the same year the Indian prime minister was honored with a state dinner at the White House. AB 3027 represents a historic first step toward California, recognizing the dangers of transnational repression while providing law enforcement with the training they need to protect the freedoms of all Californians. This bill does three important things to shape California's response. Number one, it defines transnational repression in law, creating a foundation for an organized response.

It requires the Office of Emergency Services to work with the Commission of Peace Officer Standards and Training to help our local law enforcement recognize and use best practices to respond to transnational repression. Number three, it sets state policy to protect Californians from transnational repression and hold foreign governments accountable for committing those acts. The United States, and especially California, should be a haven to anyone who has fled persecution in search of a safer home.

The refugee, exile and diaspora communities we have welcomed in our state deserve to know that we will support them and protect them as they exercise their rights as Californians. AB 3027 sends a very clear message that when you are here in California, we've got your back. AB 3027 is supported by the California State Sheriff's Association, as well as the Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund. On behalf of SALDEF, I am honored to be joined today by Chairman Kavneet Singh.

Okay, so when you're ready, proceed.

Sure. Is that all right? Okay, perfect. Thank you, Senator Bains, Chair Rodriguez, other esteemed members of the committee. Thank you for your time on behalf of the Sikh American community, both here in California and nationally. SALDEF thanks you for this opportunity to talk about AB 3027. I'm currently serving as the acting executive director of the nation's oldest Sikh American civil rights and advocacy organization.

And I hope today my testimony and written remarks, which were submitted to the community in advance, will shed some light on the Sikh American experience with transnational repression and the deadly and damaging consequences, really, the silencing of Sikh activism and community intimidation that we see across communities that are affected by this. This bill addresses an important gap in the current approach to addressing TNR, or transnational repression, the need for a robust and coordinated federal-state cooperation effort.

By placing the responsibility of addressing TNR within the Office of Emergency Services, or OES, you ensure that incidents in education are addressed in a consistent and a coordinated fashion across the state. I think that's something we've seen in a parallel in hate crimes, that without this coordinated and really connected response and partnership, that these things get lost in the shuffle. TNR takes many forms today.

In some cases, as Assemblymember Bains said, it's an immediate threat in a person's life, such as the murder of Canadian citizen Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was alleged, who it is alleged now by the Canadian government, was targeted in an assassination attempt by the Indian state. Excuse me. Additionally, there's an attempted murder of Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, an American resident in New York, that the United States Department of Justice has now brought a case against an Indian national for having organized and tried to fund his alleged assassination.

In others, as demonstrated by our report, virtually vulnerable where social media and online expression is targeted by these foreign actors and a number of companies headquartered here in California are coerced into stifling the voices of other Americans. A significant note, both the State Senate and the Assembly acknowledged in a unanimous vote last year that these events are among the many examples targeting the Sikh community and occurring in a historic context of a 1984 genocide in a unanimous vote in 2023.

Disturbingly, individuals warned by the FBI about these incidents, as somebody said again, at least we know of six, and probably there are more, but the FBI has rightfully kept this under wraps unless those folks have come forward. So these folks who have been warned about the threats to their safety posed by the Indian state live across the State of California and across the country in Central, Northern, and Southern California.

For the folks that we know again, and as detailed in our written remarks that I submitted, these folks really received limited support from law enforcement and security agencies for their further safety. I spoke with the exec of the FBI in Sacramento, excuse me, San Francisco, last week, and while sympathetic to the cause, ultimately resources are really limited or really significant concern here of telling someone, hey, you're being targeted by a foreign actor.

Here are things that you can do, but regrettably, because of resources, we can't provide you any more support. AB 3027 offers a strong roadmap for a state-level response to transnational repression that does not interfere with federal authority and enhances community safety and security. As demonstrated by the preceding scenarios, coordination and education are two particularly important components of any response to incidences TNR. By centralizing responsibility to address TNR within Cal OES, AB 3027 ensures that we'll be consistent coordination between federal, state, and local agencies.

As TNR involves a significant federal response and related incidents occur around the state. As evidenced by the Sikh American experience, having a statewide agency leading the effort is the most appropriate way to ensure a consistent response and marshal the appropriate resources necessary for victims, communities and organizations. Creating additional resource, excuse me, creating educational resources in coordination with post is an appropriate way also to ensure that impacted agencies receive the understanding of TNR that they need to be correct advocates and protectors of peace.

As SALDEF experience and research indicates, there's a significant gap in the ability of law enforcement to identify, prevent, document and appropriately respond to incidences of TNR and post as a track record of collaboration with the Sikh American community, one of the better ones we've seen across the country. In conclusion, TNR is a grave threat to our democracy and puts our basic constitutional rights at risk. AB 3027 is a step in the right direction to help Americans of all backgrounds and diaspora groups live in the state freely. Thank you again for your time and consideration.

Would you have a motion and second? Motion by Arambula, second by Calderon or Boerner? I'm sorry. And with that, is there anyone else in the room in support? Anyone in opposition seeing them? We'll bring them back to Committee Members. Any questions? Comments? So we do have a motion and a second. Thank you very much, member, for bringing this forward. I do have aye rec and thank you for bringing this bill forward. And so with that secretary called the room. Oh, I'm sorry, before we do that, would you like to close?

I, of course, respectfully asked for it. I hope at the same time I am a proud daughter of immigrants who so many immigrants have come to America to escape persecution and, you know, they deserve to feel safe. This is something that has rocked my Sikh community for the past year. And as I wrote this bill, I have been reached out to by people from very many other diasporas and communities that have been targeted by different countries and different foreign governments. So this hopefully will be the first step in bringing some recognition to transnational repression. Thank you. Respectfully ask for your aye vote thank you again.

The motion do pass the Committee on Appropriations. Secretary, call the roll.

[Roll Call]

That motion is out. We'll keep the roll open for missing members. Thank you. We'll just do my file order, I'll do Bryan's first and then my Vice Chair. Would you like to take over?

Sure.

All right. So with that, members, I'll be presenting for Assemblymember Bryan and Gabriel, the first two, and then myself. So let me go over to the Hudson.

Assemblymember, you can begin.

Thank you. Good afternoon, chair Members. I'm here to present AB 2684 on behalf of Assemblymember Bryan. This Bill would require the city or county to account for extreme heat in their local hazard mitigation plans or safety elements. Strategic planning response to extreme heat will allow our local jurisdictions to be prepared as possible to protect our residents from extreme heat. Looking ahead to 2050, over 200 California cities will experience average temperatures surpassing 90 degrees fahrenheit.

The height of this heat surge is anticipated in the City of Coachella, where temperatures may soar to 116 degrees. Meanwhile, Pomona, a city currently lacking explicit provisions for extreme heat, will grapple with an average temperature of 105 degrees, while Los Angeles will have an average of 98 degree heat. At a time when the state is facing a deficit, we should be looking at all the ways we can to set our communities up for success.

By mandating the exclusion of extreme heat considerations in our local mitigations plans, we also may lay the groundwork for local governments to access crucial federal funding. California has made commendable strides in factoring extreme heat into the state plan, with over half of our cities and counties following suit. However, there remain communities throughout the state that are currently experiencing, and will soon confront the urgency of addressing extreme heat.

It is unwise to leave federal dollars on the table when local governments can utilize these funds by including extreme heat in their plans. Joining me today to provide testimony is Michael Jarred on behalf of the Climate Resolve, and former Assemblymember Roger Dickerson, representing CivicWell.

Thank you. Good afternoon. My name is Michael Jarred. I'm here on behalf of Climate Resolve. Climate Resolve is a nonprofit in Los Angeles that's based in Los Angeles that builds collaborations to champion equitable climate solutions.

Climate resolve connects communities, organizations, and policymakers to address the global problem with local solutions. Climate resolve is proud to be the sponsor of AB 2684 which supports local planning efforts on extreme heat. One of climate resolve's areas of focus is extreme heat because it is a silent killer that disproportionately impacts the elderly, children, low income households, those with preexisting medical conditions, and communities of color. Extreme heat is growing in intensity, frequency, and duration, and our communities are not prepared.

As the analysis states, extreme heat is responsible for more deaths than any other disaster in California and the nation. AB 2684 looks to support local governments by making more local communities eligible for FEMA pre hazard mitigation funds. Extreme heat impacts some communities every year, and others can be impacted in a rare extreme heat domes that communities face like Portland. Climate resolve believes it is good government for every local government to have a plan for extreme heat. We respectfully ask for your aye vote on AB 268. Thank you.

Madam Vice Chair and Members, I'm Roger Dickinson. I'm the policy Director for CivicWell, which formerly was the local government Commission. In light of the fact that you have a motion and a second, I'm going to abbreviate my remarks, but I do want to share something with you about this that I think is notable.

We talked about the particular consequences of, of extreme heat, and the value of AB 2684 is it will allow local communities to build on the state's extreme heat action plan and extreme heat and communities resilience program through the Office of Planning and Research, by incorporating an extreme heat component in the safety element of their General plans. And so doing, communities can use hazard mitigation planning and funding to address extreme heat conditions.

AB 2684 also provides a complement to SB 852 by Senator Dodd from 2022, which CivicWell co sponsored, that authorizes local governments to establish climate resilience districts. It addresses a major threat to our cities and counties throughout our state. And I respectfully urge your aye vote. Thanks very much.

Thank you. Do we have anyone in support in the room? Do we have anyone in opposition? Committee Members?

I just want to thank the author and the chair for bringing this forward. When I was assistant majority leader for policy and research, one of the things we did was an internal white paper on the impacts of the climate crisis. And clearly, in communities like mine, representing coastal San Diego, our biggest threat is sea level rise. But when you look inland, where I grew up in Riverside, extreme heat is going to be entirely the biggest thing that they're going to have to face next to wildfires.

So, you know, making sure that local governments can take advantage of this, get the federal dollars while we don't have them, is super important. And if it's appropriate, I'd like to be added as a co-author at the appropriate time.

Thank you, Miss Waldron.

Thank you. I supported this Bill and Health Committee. I think it's important. You know, as my colleague just said, I represent an inland community, which is an older city incorporated in 1888. When you look at urban renewal in those areas.

It would be great to be able to get rid of some of that concrete, maybe plant more trees, do more to alleviate, you know, the heat, heat hazards, because that extreme heat, and there's nowhere to go, there's no way to get out of it unless you go to a library or something like that. They're not open 24 hours. So, you know, it's something that I think cities should be looking at. It's a quality of life issues. So I urge an aye vote on it.

Miss Calderon.

Yes. I just want to thank the author for bringing this forward. You know, most of my district is inland, it's all inland, I don't have any coastal, and it gets really, really hot. And so I think this is an important step forward and I'd also like to be added as co author. Thank you.

Members. Any more comments? All right, I see that we do have a motion by Doctor Arambula. And did we have a second by Miss Boerner?

All right, would you like to like.

I would like to be added as a co author also please?

Thank you Mister Bennett.

Great Bill.

Mister Rodriguez, if you'd like to close.

Okay. With that respect for aye vote. And thank you to the colleagues who want to be added as co authors. Thank you.

Okay, that motion is do passed to the Committee on Appropriations. And we will go ahead. Yes, we'll go ahead and leave the row open. All right, Mister Rodriguez, keep it going.

AB 2684 the motion is do pass to the Committee on Appropriations. Rodriguez? Rodriguez, aye. Davies? Davies, aye. Arambula? Arambula, aye. Bennett? Bennett, aye. Boerner? Boerner, aye. Calderon? Calderon, aye. Carrillo? Waldron? Waldron, aye.

Okay. I don't know, I wasn't sure if they didn't read it. Thank you again, Chair and Members. I'm pleased today to present AB 2700 on behalf of Assembly Member Gabriel. AB 2700 will help address our state's critical behavioral health crisis by making sure individuals in distresses can get the right care at the right time, in the right place. Currently, state law limits where ambulances can transport people experiencing a behavioral health crisis.

As a result, people in crisis are frequently taken to overcrowded emergency rooms that often lack the appropriate resources to address their behavioral health needs. Over the last few years, researchers have studied the impact of several pilot programs that have allowed ambulances to transport individuals to alternative destinations better suited for those experiencing a behavioral health crisis.

The pilots have produced encouraging results, notably, an independent evaluation of those programs by the University of California, San Francisco found that transport to alternate destinations considerably lowered ambulance patient offload times, meaning ambulance crews could respond more quicker to 911 calls. Similarly, law enforcement spent less time on behavioral health transports, allowing them to focus on other important public safety responsibilities. Currently, tens of thousands of individuals battling addiction and mental health illness are trapped by a relentless cycle cycling through hospitals, jails and homelessness.

Our hospitals are stretched beyond capacity. This Bill will ensure that we identify the needs at the local level to make us off safer medical and treatment options to address the behavioral health crisis in our state. By analyzing the facilities in every county, we can serve as an alternative destination for those experiencing a behavioral health crisis. This Bill will help ensure better outcomes in every jurisdiction in the state.

With most of the recent round of amendments, opposition has been removed from the California for the Emergency Room Physicians and the California Nurse Association. With these amendments, the Bill is now supported by the professional firefighters, California Professional Firefighters. With me today and testify in support of this measure are Tara Gamboa-Eastman, Director of Government Affairs at the Steinbrook Institute, and Shannon Smith Bernadeen, Associate Professor with UCSF School of Nursing.

Good afternoon Committee Members Tara Gamboa-Eastman with the Steinberg Institute proud spot sponsor of AB 2700. California is in the process of fundamentally transforming our response to behavioral health crises, ensuring people get the right care at the right time, and the Legislature has been leading the way. You passed AB 988 to implement the new national behavioral health crisis line. You have invested billions of dollars into building these alternate destinations through the BHCIP program, with billions more coming as part of Proposition 1..

You have passed legislation ensuring commercial insurance coverage for these crisis services offered at alternate destinations, and Medi-Cal is covering more of these services as part of CalAIM. The next step in transforming our behavioral health crisis response is integrating our systems so that people can access the services we spent years and billions of dollars developing. Right now, access to behavioral health crisis care is hampered by the fact that ambulances aren't taking people to these locations when that care would be appropriate.

In 2019, California established a triage to alternate destination opt-in program. This allowed local emergency services agencies to choose to allow firefighters to transport individuals in behavioral health crises to alternate destinations to the emergency rooms, such as crisis stabilization units and sobering centers. However, since that time, no additional local emergency services agencies have opted into the program. AB 2700 will provide critical information about the gaps and barriers in our triage to alternate destination infrastructure so that we can ensure these programs are actually scalable.

Statewide, AB 2700 represents the next step in ensuring people in a behavioral health crisis always get the help they need when they need it. Respectfully request your aye vote. Thank you.

Good afternoon. My name is Shannon Smith-Bernadin, and I'm a registered nurse and a PhD. For 17 years, I have worked in and published research on sobering centers as an alternative emergency department, alternative to the emergency department. I have also operated the San Francisco Sobering Center that was part of the original state pilots. How do triage to alternate destinations work? James comes to mind. He's a 50-year-old gentleman in San Francisco. On a Tuesday, he's found down and passed out on a sidewalk. 911 is called.

The paramedics follow triage protocols to determine that James primary medical need is alcohol intoxication, and they bring him to the Sobering Center. James and the paramedics are met by registered nurses and support staff who take vital signs and perform an initial assessment. While giving him a shower and a bed to safely sober, they also talk with him about his options if he's ready to decrease his drinking or enter a detox or rehab facility.

As James rests, he might have some food or electrolytes, while social workers and sober coaches check in with him to see if he's eligible for social benefits or is ready to apply for housing. Nursing staff monitor him regularly, using physician and nurse approved protocols to ensure that he doesn't have a more serious issue requiring a transfer to the Emergency Department. This level of coordinated care and trained specialized attention is rarely available to a person like James when he's brought to the ED.

The vast majority of our patients and others like them nationwide sober safely and are discharged without incident, and many of them are connected with further care to longer-term housing, case management, or treatment. Triage to alternate destination programs are effective and beneficial. Yet despite this, since these pilots were expanded to a statewide opt-in program, no additional counties have begun these triage services. It's critical that we identify any barriers to implementation so that we can expand statewide access to high-quality behavioral health crisis care.

AB 2700 will provide this critical information. Thank you.

Do we have anyone in support?

Thank you, Madam Vice Chair. Doug Subers of the California Professional Firefighters. Really appreciate the author taking the amendments, and we are now in support. Thank you.

All right, anyone in opposition?

Thank you, Chair and Members Tim Madden, representing the California chapter at the American College of Emergency Physicians. We actually were previously in an opposed unless amended position. With the amendments we have removed, our opposition are now neutral. I just wanted to thank Assembly Member Gabriel for all his time, specifically with his staff and also the sponsors, for really listening to us and working together and coming, coming up with a resolution that works for all. Thank you.

Members. Questions? Comments? I'd like to make a comment. I was really happy to see this Bill come up. Speaking to our fire captains in Camp Pendleton and nearby. This is one of the biggest concerns is that they're having to go to the ER to take a lot of these cases when they could go somewhere else. And it opens up more timing for them to get to where they have to be, especially when they have distance going through the rural area.

So it's great to see, and I'm looking forward to seeing it implemented. All right, I know that we have a motion from Doctor Arambula, and we have a second by Miss Boerner. Would you like to close?

I respectfully ask for your aye vote. Thank you.

AB 2700. Gabriel. Motion is do pass to the Appropriations to the Committee on Appropriations. Rodriguez, aye. Rodriguez, aye. Davies, aye. Davis, aye. Arambula, aye. Bennett? Bennett, I. Berner, aye. Berner, I. Calderone. Calderon, I. Carrillo. Waldron. Waldron, I.

Okay, this motion will go do pass to the Committee on Appropriations, and we'll leave it open for any calls. Okay gotcha. You're getting pretty good at this. Why don't we give you one more.

One more. Three and you're out. Okay? Thank you, Committee Members. I'm pleased to present our Committee Bill AB 2727 which establishes the Maritime Firefighting Mutual Aid Program at CalOES. This Bill, upon appropriation, will require CalOES to conduct an all-risk maritime response capabilities assessment to identify local and regional gaps in maritime firefighting capabilities in responding to major vessel fires, fires following earthquakes, and other emergencies as specified.

The Bill also authorizes CalOES to acquire and provide fire boats to local fire departments to mitigate preparedness gaps identified in the all-risk assessment. This Bill would augment CalOES Fire Engine Replacement Program and provide additional firefighting and search and rescue capabilities to fire departments in our coastal communities and inland waterways. With me today to present to support is Battalion Chief, Chad Willenberg from the San Diego City Fire Department.

Good afternoon, Chairman Rodriguez, esteemed Members of this Committee. My name is Chad Willenberg. I'm a battalion chief with San Diego Fire Rescue Department. The City of San Diego strongly supports Assembly Bill 2727 which seeks to establish the Maritime Firefighting Mutual Aid Program under the California Office of Emergency Services. This legislation is essential given the unique challenges we face, including our responsibility to protect not only our residents, but the nearly 32 million visitors and over 60 strategic naval assets that are in our city.

This enhancement is vital as our city has experienced some of the significant maritime fires such as USS Bonhomme Richard, one of the largest U.S. military losses on U.S. soil. We've had commercial fishing vessel fires, large private yacht fires, and now the shipment of lithium ion batteries and EV vehicles coming into our city. These incidents illustrate the need for specialized maritime response capabilities that an OES fireboat would directly address throughout ports in California.

San Diego Bay is a critical asset in our region, and the introduction of an OES fireboat would significantly enhance our capabilities. Such a vessel will not only bolster our firefighting and rescue operations, but for the first time provide paramedic services directly on the waterway. Furthermore, it would serve as an essential platform for coordinating mutual aid safety activities, responding promptly to any mutual aid requests along the California coastline, reinforcing our commitment to the statewide safety and preparedness.

AB 2727 proposes that California Office of Emergency Services conduct a comprehensive assessment of maritime response capabilities to identify and address critical gaps, both local and regional levels. This is a necessary step forward in ensuring that all communities, particularly those near ports or coastal waterways, are protected adequately. In conclusion, I urge your support for AB 2727.

By backing this measure, we can significantly enhance our maritime response framework, ensuring comprehensive safety and preparedness for every Californian, whether they are residents, visitors, or traveling through our waterways. Thank you for considering our perspective and for your ongoing commitment to the security of Californians.

All right, do we have support in the room?

Thank you, Madam Chair and Members. Doug Subers, on behalf of the California Professional Firefighters in support.

Good afternoon. Elizabeth Espinosa here today on behalf of. The Board of Supervisors and the County of Ventura, in support. Thank you.

Do we have any opposition? All right, going to bring it back to the Members. Any questions or comments?

I'd like to be listed as a co-author of the Bill.

I would like to be co-author as well listed.

All right, looks like we have a motion.

If we're all adding on co-authors, I'll be a co-author, too. We can have another co-author fest.

Good bills. All right, it looks like we have a motion with Miss Berner. Is that correct? And then Miss Calderon your second. Great. Would you like to close?

Yes. I want to thank Committee Members for listening to how important this Bill is. I think unless you really realize what these firefighters go through in these ports. As I toured, personally toured San Diego and San Francisco, the uniqueness and challenges they face and the more the reason why they need these fireboats out there and the personnel to maintain them, especially, as it was mentioned, the increase of these batteries coming in through our ports, the more we need to protect these ports and protect the people.

So once again, I appreciate your support and respectfully ask for your aye vote. Thank you.

Okay, can this motion be do passed to the Committee on Appropriations,?

AB 2727. Committee on Emergency Management. The motion is do pass to the Committee on Appropriations. [Roll call]

Okay, that passes and we'll leave the roll call open.

Thank you.

I'll second it. Did you catch that? We have a motion on consent with Doctor Arambula. And a second with Davies.

Okay, there is a motion, a second for the consent calendar. Secretary would you like to call the roll for the consent?

Yes. On the consent calendar, Arambula. Arambula, aye. zero, all of them. Okay. Okay. On the consent calendar, AB 2232. Do pass. The motion is do pass 2660. The motion is do pass to the Committee on Appropriations, AB 3150. The motion is do pass to the Committee on Appropriations. So. [Vote].

All right, consent calendars out. Now we just have one more bill, file item number five, AB 3065. Can we just reach out to Assembly Member Garcia's office. Okay, thank you. Which one's wrong? Okay, secretary, we're going to lift the call on AB 3027. Assembly Member Baines, open the roll call and call the missing Members.

Okay. We are going to lift the call on AB 3027, Assemblymember Bains. Open the roll call and call the missing members.

[Roll Call]

That motion is out. We'll go ahead and continue to leave the roll open for the missing members. And as we'll wait for a few more minutes for Assemblymember Garcia.

Did you miss out?

Yes. And.

And with that Secretary, we're going to lift the call on file number one, AB 2684, Bryan. Call the missing Members.

Yes. AB 2684, Bryan. [Roll call]

Okay, that motion is out. We'll continue to leave the roll open for missing Members. Yes, sir. So now we'll go continue to file item number five, AB 3065, Garcia. When you're ready, sir.

Yes, sir. So now we'll continue to file item number five, AB 3065. Garcia, when you're ready, sir.

Mr. Chair and colleagues, AB 3065 seeks to permit the sale of state fire marshall-approved fireworks from 9:00 a.m. on December 26 to midnight on January 1, contingent upon a local jurisdiction choosing to participate. In other words, it's an opt-in approach. Communities face dangerous illegal fireworks and gunfire during New Year's every single year.

And we've seen that escalate throughout many communities in the state, including ours, that is adjacent to the Nevada and Arizona border, which is very convenient for folks to go there and bring in these illegal fireworks. There's a need for, of course, additional funding for the enforcement of the illegal fireworks and for the local jurisdictions who opt-in to oversee these projects. And this committee and many of you, I think, got to vote on a bill last year. I can't remember the number.

Now, if I reference it, I should remember the number, but it creates an opportunity for enforcement and funds for the local communities to do so. The sale of safe and sane fireworks would only be legally permissible if a community adopts a separate ordinance and or resolution permitting the sale and use for the holiday period between Christmas and New Year's Eve. Respectfully ask for your aye vote. I appreciate the opportunity to present this bill.

I recognize that there's a non-reco from the chair, and so thank you at least for giving us this venue to have this discussion. With us is Chris Johnson, executive director of Bread of Life in Stockton. And we have. Yeah, that's who we'll be talking to you today.

Okay. When you're ready, sir.

Well, thank you so much, esteemed members of the Assembly Emergency Management Committee. My name is Chris Johnson. I'm the executive director of Bread of Life. Bread of Life's brief history has been around since 2008. It was begun by a single mother of two who at 1.0 in her life struggled to feed her children, even despite working two jobs. During the downturn, she decided she wanted to do something for the community.

So she, through humble beginnings with an old pickup truck and collecting groceries and distributing groceries to families that really needed them. Bread of Life has continued to grow for the past 16 years. Last year, Bread of Life gave away $5 million worth of groceries in San Joaquin County. We gave these not to the homeless population, although we never would turn them away. But our focus is those people that work but can't make ends meet.

Single families, single parent families, children, single moms, senior citizens, immigrants, veterans, and anyone that's struggling to make ends meet. It's not breaking news to anybody here that we're facing unprecedented times and challenges. Decreased donations, severe cuts in government funding, soaring demand for the critical social services like Bread of Life produces, along with education, youth programs that we provide, and so many other nonprofit providers. Over 2700 nonprofits across 296 California communities rely heavily on selling the state fire marshal-approved fireworks during the 4th of July season.

We raise that money for crucial funds to enable our programs to continue. In these challenging times, nonprofits across the state are struggling to keep their doors open and to serve their communities effectively. The revenue generated from fireworks sales during 4th of July period is a significant portion to many of these organizations annual budgets, allowing us to continue providing essential services and support in our communities. By passing AB 3065, you're not just granting permission, but you are giving hope.

And you're bestowing the power of choice upon the cities. From our rural home in Lodi, I can see the Stockton skyline. And every New Year's Eve, my kids and I, we climb up on the roof and we watch all the fireworks, the illegal fireworks. It's a pretty spectacular display. But what it tells me is that people are spending money on fireworks. They are. They're unregulated and potentially unsafe.

AB 3065 will give good people great choices to buy legal fireworks and support nonprofits like Bread of Life and so many others. We will then reinvest those dollars to uplift those who need it the most among us. Today, I appear on behalf of over 1100 California nonprofits who are not just seeking a new tradition, but a lifeline. We urge you to consider the profound impact of this decision could have on the survival of organizations and the communities that we serve. Please pass AB 3065.

With your support, we can ensure that these nonprofits have the resources that they need to thrive and continue making a difference in the lives of all Californians. And I just want to say thank you so much for your attention to this vital issue.

Okay, thank you. You have next witness support?

Yes, my name is Dennis Revell with Revell Communications, representing TNT Fireworks, and I'd be happy to respond to any technical questions the committee may have.

Okay with that. Anyone else in the room for support?

Chairman and members of the committee, Jason Gonsalves, also representing TNT Fireworks. We want to thank the author for his leadership. This legislation comes on the heels, as the author said, of two consecutive bills going after enforcement of illegal fireworks. And this effort isn't entirely unprecedented as we did have safe and sane New Year's Eve fireworks offered during the millennium. And again, we want to thank the author and the Committee and respectfully request your support.

Thank you, Mr. Chair and members. Evan Corder on behalf of Phantom Fireworks, in support.

Anyone else in support? Anyone in the room in opposition? Seeing none, we'll bring it to committee members. Any questions? Comments? Assemblymember Boerner?

Yes, I just want to confirm, cities that already have a ban on fireworks, this bill would not apply to them, is that correct?

That's correct.

And when we look at those who are using the fireworks, there are often, every year, I know in my community, illegal fireworks because we banned fireworks in my community, and there are always injuries associated with them. Are there certain types of fireworks that are allowed that will not see those injuries? And what do we do about the urban wildlife interface?

There was a 13-year study done by Los Angeles County Fire Department. It probably, of any department across the state, has the best fire and injury data collection of any fire or law enforcement agency. For the last 13 years, in the there are 60 contract jurisdictions plus the unincorporated area of Los Angeles County. 31 of those contract jurisdictions permit 4th of July state-approved fireworks use and sale. In those 31 jurisdictions, there were no safe and sane injuries or fire losses.

Any other questions, Committee Members? Assembly Member Calderon.

Thank you. Assemblyman, I think you. Were you referring to AB 1403, your Bill from last year?

Yes, that's AB 1403. That does some analyzing of exactly the question that was just asked. Really kind of like an update by the state fire marshals and allows for a 7%, up to a 7% assessment on the sales to be able to use that money for local enforcement and other associated costs to facilitate the sale of these safe and sane fireworks in those communities that opt in to sell.

So I have a lot of organizations from my district that are supporting this Bill. Under your Bill from last year, it's collecting data. There's a report due in January of 2025.

That is correct.

So we don't yet have all the data.

We don't have the data. What we do have is the study that was just made reference to by Dennis from LA County. This would give us up-to-date data. We've seen an escalating amount of communities concerned with the illegal fireworks, and we're talking about the ones that literally are competing with 4 July events in our communities. We've seen these fireworks being launched from specific neighborhoods in our district that are of great concern. You know, someone blowing this up from their garage backyard area.

And these resources would allow for additional enforcement of that. This up to 7% assessment on the safe and sane fireworks.

So CAL FIRE just told my staff that 40% of my district is in the WUI. So I'd much rather see the safe and sane fireworks than the illegal ones, which are more worrisome. Okay. Thank you.

Thank you for the questions.

Any other questions? Yes, Vice Chair.

Thank you. Just looking at, I know that you have it that they would be available for sale starting on December 26, starting at 9:00 a.m. to January 1, midnight. It's fairly small, but I guess my concern is if you can sell them up to midnight, they could be shooting them off past that 12:00 even 9, 10, 11 going into that. So I don't know if you guys were looking at just that timing right there and that date.

So I think we could be flexible with those timeframes. I would imagine that the local community opting in will also want to have their own, you know, imposition on the hours. But I think it's important to talk about what exactly are these safe and sane fireworks and what would they be shooting off. Right? And you know, from my experience and what is sold in our community in the City of Coachella, Indio, these are sparkling type of you know, fireworks.

These are colorful smoke, I don't know what you officially call them, fountains. And so I want to make sure that at least from an optical standpoint, and that we're talking about exactly what the safe and sane fireworks are versus those nice big fireworks that get shot up during the 4th of July event by a city, by a county that is overseen by the entire fire Department. I'll let Dennis elaborate on that bit.

As with the ordinances in the 296 communities that have 4th of July fireworks sale and use, local jurisdictions can enact any limitations on that. Time of day, locations of use, number of days of sale. So that is all up to the local jurisdiction to make those choices.

Thank you.

Any additional comments, concerns with that? I just had a couple words of just want to talk about. Obviously as a career first responder myself, I'm always mindful of legislation coming forward that affects our first responders. Obviously. I think you all know I've spent over 30 years in the ambulance industry and one of the busiest times was 4th of July, unfortunately.

Yeah, granted that there are the areas that sell the safe and sane, but then there's also the, the bad part with the illegals that come about because of they're going to be illegals as well, and how that day was very busy or the time leading up to 4th of July. And I'm mindful with the Member looking at the opt-in option for cities to want to sell fireworks during the New Year's, but then also look at New Year's.

That's also a very busy day where we're dealing with a lot of folks in car accidents, a lot of stuff with alcohol-related injuries, illnesses. Now fireworks could be also another issue that would strain our EMS system, depending where you work.

So with that, I do have a, I don't have a rec on this because I'm torn about it because I can see already once again, we're really busy during the 4th of July. Granted, bringing now New Year's Eve that can cause other issues specifically towards our EMS systems and our first responders. So with that, once again, I said I didn't provide a recco. So, with that, there's no more questions. Secretary would like to call the, oh, I'm sorry. Assembly Member, would you like to close?

Thank you, Mister Chair. And thank you to the Members for your questions. I want to bring attention to two things right in our district, the cities have to put out PSAs to one, warn people that those illegal fireworks have serious consequences, not just if you're caught, you know, shooting those off, but also the question of damage to, you know, person's health and safety and damage to potential property. Right? And so there's PSAs being sent out. Cities are spending money, letting people know they're illegal.

Don't do it. If we catch you, you're gonna get in trouble. Right? And then on the New Year's, we find our cities.

And maybe it's different in your cities and other places, doing PSAs, reminding people that it is not smart and safe and legal, that at midnight, you pull out a gun and you start shooting up in the air, because it's New Year's Day, and we're having to spend money in doing PSAs, reminding people that that is not a good thing to do, putting a lot of people in harm's way. We've had conversation with local folks that this simple opportunity could be an alternative to all of that.

And perhaps people be conscious that these fireworks, our families and children celebrating these particular occasions, that pulling out a gun and shooting up in the air at midnight because it's New Year's is not the smart thing to do. And then, of course, the issue of the illegal fireworks, trying to curtail that as much as possible for purposes of avoiding any damage and, of course, any loss of life.

For those reasons, we're before you, I can't emphasize enough how important it is to the nonprofit world in California. You've heard from the witness. But also, we just want to make sure that the safe and sane fireworks continue to be able to be the first option and the only option for these holidays. Respectfully ask for your aye vote.

Thank you. With that, do we have a motion and a second? We have a motion by Assembly Member Carillo. Seconded by Calderon. Secretary would like to call the roll.

AB 3065, Garcia. The motion is do pass to the Appropriation to the Committee on Appropriations. [Roll call]

That motion will be on hold as we still have couple missing Members, so thank you. With that, Sergeant, can you call the missing Members, see if they could come over so we can continue? I'll leave the roll open for hopefully another five minutes, and hopefully we can get some more folks out.

Vote change on AB 3065. Davies. Davies from not voting to aye.

So on the first. First three. Okay, we're gonna go ahead and open the roll on file number one. AB 2684. Secretary can call the missing Members.

Yes. AB 2684. [Roll Call]. AB 2700, [Roll Call]. AB 2727. It's an emergency management. [Roll Call]. AB 3027. [Roll Call].

I'll go ahead and open up for a consent calendar. Secretary called the missing Member.

On the consent calendar. Missing Members. AB 2232 the motion is do pass. AB 2660. Motion is do pass to the Committee on appropriations. And AB 3150. The motion is do pass to the Committee on appropriations. Carrillo. Carrillo, aye.

Okay, we'll go ahead and leave the roll open for a few more minutes. And if not, we'll go ahead and close, but we'll hold on. So you're gonna present for us? Yeah, as long as he's gonna do it. zero, you're here. Why don't you do that? I'm gonna try to think what I have. Good. Yeah, that's why I came early. Jeepers. Yeah, sorry. Got it all.

Works on purpose. So with that, we'll go ahead and close on emergency management as we have everybody accounted for. So thank you, everybody. This meeting is adjourned.