Assembly Floor
- Jim Wood
Person
The Assembly is now in session. Assemblymember Aguiar Curry notices the absence of a quorum. The Sergeant at Arms will prepare the chamber and bring in the absent Members. The Clerk will call the roll.
- Committee Secretary
Person
[Roll Call]
- Jim Wood
Person
Members, a quorum is present. We ask our guests and visitors in the rear of the chamber and in the gallery to please, please stand for the prayer and the flag salute. Please to welcome back for today's prayer our Assembly chaplain, Imam Yasir Khan.
- Imam Khan
Person
In the name of God, the most gracious, the most merciful, divine God. As this Assembly gathers, grant them wisdom, empathy and courage. May their decisions promote equity and welfare for all. Foster unity and respect among them, guiding their actions for the benefit of every californian. Ameen.
- Jim Wood
Person
Thank you. Assembly Member Bryan will lead us in the pledge.
- Isaac Bryan
Legislator
I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States. [Pledge of Allegence].
- Jim Wood
Person
Thank you. You may be seated. Reading of the previous day's journal.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Assembly Chamber Sacramento Thursday, May 2nd, 2024 the-
- Jim Wood
Person
Thank you Mister Clerk, Mister Curry moves, Mister Gallagher seconds that the reading of the previous day's journal be dispensed with. Presentations and petitions there are none. Introduction and reference of bills will be deferred.
- Jim Wood
Person
Reports of committees will be deemed and amendments deemed adopted. Messages from the Governor there are none. Messages from the Senate, there are none. Moving to motions and resolutions, the absences for the day will be deemed read and printed in the journal. Majority Leader Aguiar-Curry.
- Jim Wood
Person
Members, your attention please, to the procedural motions from our majority leader Aguiar-Curry. You are recognized.
- Cecilia Aguiar-Curry
Legislator
Good morning, Mister Speaker. I request unanimous consent to suspend Assembly Rule 45.5 to allow Assembly Members Reyes, Rubio and Ramos to speak on the adjournments in memory today.
- Jim Wood
Person
Without objection. Such shall be the order.
- Cecilia Aguiar-Curry
Legislator
I request unanimous consent to suspend Assembly Rule 118A to allow Assembly Members Davies, Hoover, Grayson and Connolly to have guests in rear of the chamber today.
- Jim Wood
Person
Without objection such shall be the order.
- Cecilia Aguiar-Curry
Legislator
At the request of the authors please remove item 162, AB 2115 Haney and item 168, AB 2194 Joe Patterson from the consent calendar.
- Jim Wood
Person
Clerk will note.
- Cecilia Aguiar-Curry
Legislator
I move to suspend Assembly Rule 63 to allow all bills heard today, Thursday, May 15, 2024 and reported to the appropriate by the Appropriations Committee with amendments to the desk today or Monday, May 20 or Tuesday, May 21, to be read a second time and amended, then ordered to the second reading file one legislative day prior to the day required under the Assembly rule.
- Jim Wood
Person
Miss Davies, you are recognized.
- Laurie Davies
Legislator
Mister speaker, we withhold unanimous consent and ask for a roll call vote.
- Jim Wood
Person
Majority leader is asking for an I vote on this procedural motion. Miss Davies asking for a no vote. Clerk will open the roll. Miss Aguiar-Curry, asking for an I vote. All those vote who desire to vote. All those votes who desire to vote on this procedural motion. All those vote who desire to vote. Procedural motion Members Clerk will close the roll and tally the votes. Ayes 43 nos 9. without objection. Such shall be the order.
- Cecilia Aguiar-Curry
Legislator
I request unanimous consent to suspend joint rule 62 A and file notice requirements to allow the Appropriations Committee to hear several bills at their hearing upon adjournment of session today in swing space room 1100. The list of bills is at the desk. I ask that the reading Clerk read the list of bills.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Assembly Bill 177717 Assembly Bill 1825 Muratsuchi Assembly Bill 1826 Holden Assembly Bill 1860 Bauer-Kahan Assembly Bill 1865 Jim Patterson Assembly Bill 1893 Wicks Assembly Bill 1907 Pellerin Assembly Bill 1925 Rendon Assembly Bill 1932 Ward Assembly Bill 1961 Wicks Assembly Bill 1973 Lackey Assembly Bill 2022 Addis Assembly Bill 2052 Joan Sawyer Assembly Bill 2061 Wilson Assembly Bill 2066 Reyes Assembly Bill 2075 Alvarez Assembly Bill 2086 Schiavo Assembly Bill 2097 Berman Assembly Bill 2113 Garcia Assembly Bill 2128 Ta Assembly Bill 2155 Ting Assembly Bill 2180 Weber Assembly Bill 2200 Calra Assembly Bill 2203 Mccarty Assembly Bill 2206 Addis Assembly Bill 2221 Juan Carrillo Assembly Bill 2223 Aguiar-Curry Assembly Bill 2233 Schiavo Assembly Bill 2239 Banta Assembly Bill 2247 Wallace Assembly Bill 2254 Blanca Rubio Assembly Bill 2256 Friedman Assembly Bill 2271 Ortega Assembly Bill 2290 Freedman Assembly Bill 2312 Wallace Assembly Bill 2320 Erwin Assembly Bill 2324 Alanis Assembly Bill 2353 Ward Assembly Bill 2355 Wendy Carrillo Assembly Bill 2365 Haney Assembly Bill 2368 Petri Norris Assembly Bill 2369 Jim Patterson Assembly Bill 2383 Wendy Carrillo Assembly Bill 2385 Alanis Assembly Bill 2390 Arambula Assembly Bill 2400 Luz Rivas Assembly Bill 2427 Mccarty Assembly Bill 2452 Quirk-Silva Assembly Bill 2466 Wendy Carrillo Assembly Bill 2473 Committee on Education Assembly Bill 2476 Bonta Assembly Bill 2479 Haney Assembly Bill 2485 Juan Carrillo Assembly Bill 2489 Ward Assembly Bill 2498 Zbur Assembly Bill 2510 Arambula Assembly Bill 2524 Ward Assembly Bill 2528 Arabula Assembly Bill 2539 Connolly Assembly Bill 2549 Gallagher Assembly Bill 2552 Friedman Assembly Bill 2555 Quirk-Silva Assembly Bill 2558 Hart Assembly Bill 2559 Peach Minorus Assembly Bill 2564 Burner Assembly Bill 2575 Burner Assembly Bill 2583 Berman Assembly Bill 2614 Ramos Assembly Bill 2627 Pelerin Assembly Bill 2642 Berman Assembly Bill 2643 Wood Assembly Bill 2657 Arambula Assembly Bill 2660 Committee on Emergency Management Assembly Bill 2666 Burner Assembly Bill 2667 Santiago Assembly Bill 2670 Shiavo Assembly Bill 2674 Shiavo Assembly Bill 2683 Burner Assembly Bill 2696 Rendon Assembly Bill 2699 Wendy Carrillo Assembly Bill 2701 Villapudua Assembly Bill 2702 Chen Assembly Bill 2704 Zbur Assembly Bill 20711 Ramos Assembly Bill 2726 Flora Assembly Bill 2727 Committee on Emergency Management Assembly Bill 2728 Gabriel Assembly Bill 2732 Papen Assembly Bill 2742 Sanchez Assembly Bill 2756 Burner Assembly Bill 2762 Friedman Assembly Bill 2774 Grayson Assembly Bill 2775 Gibson Assembly Bill 2783 Alvarez Assembly Bill 2786 Banta Assembly Bill 2789 Wallace Assembly Bill 2795 Arambula to Assembly Bill 2808 Wicks Assembly Bill 2813 Aguiar-Curry Assembly Bill 2828 Baines Assembly Bill 2830 Robert Reavis Assembly Bill 2839 Pelerin Assembly Bill 2845 Robert Rivas Assembly Bill 2893 Ward Assembly Bill 2906 Bryan Assembly Bill 2927 Mccarty Assembly Bill 2942 Villapudua Assembly Bill 2945 Alvarez Assembly Bill 2949 Rendon Assembly Bill 2956 Burner Assembly Bill 2977 Jackson Assembly Bill 2986 Wendy Carrillo Assembly Bill 2999 Schiavo Assembly Bill 3023 Papen Assembly Bill 3055 Banta Assembly Bill 3061 Haney Assembly Bill 3079 Ting Assembly Bill 3107 Connolly Assembly Bill 3131 Mccarty Assembly Bill 3141 Gibson Assembly Bill 3145 Brian Assembly Bill 3150 Quirk-Silva Assembly Bill 3156 Joe Patterson Assembly Bill 3160 Gabriel Assembly Bill 3161 Bonta Assembly Bill 3218 Wood Assembly Bill 3256 Irwin Assembly Bill 3263 Calderon Assembly Bill 3275 Soria Assembly Bill 3291 Committee on Human Services and Assembly Constitutional Amendment 10 Haney.
- Jim Wood
Person
Without objection such shall be the order. Sense the excitement in the air. Today must be a big day in the Legislature. Members, let's wish Doctor Arambula an early happy birthday. He celebrates tomorrow. We're moving on to our guest introductions here. Assemblymember Nguyen, you are recognized for your guest introductions.
- Stephanie Nguyen
Legislator
Thank you Mister speaker. And you are absolutely right. There is a lot of excitement here today on the floor. Please join me in welcoming and honoring girls on the run of greater sacrament on the Capitol. You cannot miss them. They are up there wearing their bright pink t shirts.
- Stephanie Nguyen
Legislator
Founded in 1996, girls on the run has been a vital foundation across North America, serving over 2 million girls. Young women today face social pressures, conflicting messages about how they should act and who they should be. Many of us that have your young girls see this every single day as adolescents.
- Stephanie Nguyen
Legislator
It's so hard to know who you are between the ages and the grades of third and 8th grade. Girls on the Run is a nonprofit organization that helps these girls with life skills development, managing emotions, fostering friendship, and expressing empathy.
- Stephanie Nguyen
Legislator
They pave the way for girls to thrive and flourish with confidence, empowering them to recognize their strengths and support one another. Members, they have a run this Sunday with over 620 girls participating. Yes, I think that deserves a round of applause. Yes. And they are across 42 teams throughout placer, Sacramento and Yolo counties. Please join me in giving them a huge, tremendous round of applause for girls on the run. Right up there.
- Jim Wood
Person
Thank you Assemblymember Nguyen. And I see that one of them ran all the way down to the floor. Thank you assembly and welcome to your guests. Assemblymember Connolly, you are recognized for your guest introductions.
- Damon Connolly
Legislator
Thank you Mister speaker and Members. Good morning. In honor of World Community Land Trust Day 2024, I have with me a number of special guests in the back of the chamber.
- Damon Connolly
Legislator
Tameka Lacluse, Executive Director, Sacramento Community Land Trust Yaynicut Franco, Director of culture and land stewardship with the Wacomne tribe Shekinah Shimaya, resident and board Member, Oakland Community Land Trust Shirley Kawafuchi, program manager, California Community Land Trust Network and Lydia Lopez, co Director for organizing and partnerships, California Community Land Trust Network.
- Damon Connolly
Legislator
This event is a chance to spotlight our diverse CLT community, showcase impactful projects to peers worldwide, and celebrate affordable housing, land justice and community development. Please join me in welcoming these special guests.
- Jim Wood
Person
Thank you Mister Connolly, welcome to your guests. Mister Hoover, you are recognized for your guest introduction.
- Josh Hoover
Legislator
Thank you Mister speaker and Members. I am very excited that joining us today in the back of the chamber is Melissa Moya, founder and Executive Director of Lyme Fight. The Lyme Fight foundation works to support those diagnosed with Lyme disease and raise awareness in our communities.
- Josh Hoover
Legislator
Every year there are an estimated to be more than 400,000 new cases of Lyme disease in the United States, and yet many people are still unaware of the risks. I'm proud to author ACR 170 which recognizes may as Lyme Disease Awareness Month.
- Josh Hoover
Legislator
And I would like to thank Melissa for being an ongoing advocate in my district and in our state for those fighting Lyme disease. My office even has kits to test ticks if you're ever bitten by one. And so she's doing a lot of work in our community. Please join me in welcoming Melissa to the floor. Thank you.
- Jim Wood
Person
Thank you Mister Hoover, and welcome. Welcome to your guest. Selma Member Davies, you are recognized for your guest introductions.
- Laurie Davies
Legislator
Okay, thank you, Mister speaker. Members, as the Vice Chair of the Military and Veterans Affair Committee, and as a representative for the Marine Corps base, Camp Pendleton, it gives me great honor to introduce outgoing commanding General from the base, Brigadier General Jason Woodworth, in introducing the incoming commanding General, Brigadier General Nick Brown.
- Laurie Davies
Legislator
Prior to his service at Camp Pendleton, Brigadier General Woodworth has served in various billets in the Fleet Marine Force as a FA 18 pilot, primarily at Miramar where he commanded the VMFA 323 from 2011 to 2013 and was the air Station commanding officer from 2015 to 2018.
- Laurie Davies
Legislator
His joint tour was an armed control inspection team chief with Defense Threat Reduction Agency in Germany, and he also served as a Marine aviation weapons and tactics squadron instructor in Yuma, Arizona. Brigadier General Woodworth participated in multiple contingency operations during the deployment to the Middle East.
- Laurie Davies
Legislator
Finally, incoming commanding General Nick Brown was a commanding officer Breenwink Support Squadron 172 Okonomi from 2013 to 2015. Served as the assistant Chief of Staff for logistics, First Marine Division. It was a commanding officer Combat Logistic Regiment 17 at Camp Pendleton, California from 2018 to 2021.
- Laurie Davies
Legislator
His personal decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit with gold stars, meritorious service medals with three golden stars, and service accommodation medals, and the Navy Achievement Medal with one gold star. I want to say thank you personally for your leadership and sacrifice, for we all know that freedom isn't free. Members, please help me give a round applause for these two fantastic heroes.
- Jim Wood
Person
Thank you Assembly Member Davies. A warm welcome to your guests and a sincere thanks for their service Members. Your attention please to Assembly Member Berman for his guest introductions. He's up in the front here from the majority leader's desk. So your attention to Mister Berman for the introduction of his guests.
- Marc Berman
Legislator
Thank you Mister speaker. And thanks majority leader, for letting me borrow your desk. It is my pleasure to welcome a huge contingent of fourth grade students, parents and teachers from Covington Elementary School who are up in the gallery right now. They've come to watch their democracy in action.
- Marc Berman
Legislator
I think some of them were picking out the desks that they want to sit at in the future when they're Assembly Members. And I'm so glad that all of you are here in Sacramento. I hope you have a fantastic visit.
- Marc Berman
Legislator
Members, please join me in welcoming these outstanding fourth graders, their parents and their teachers to the California State Assembly.
- Jim Wood
Person
Thank you Mister Berman. Welcome to your guests. Welcome to Sacramento. We'll now be moving to business on the daily file, second reading file items one through 45 the Clerk will read.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Assembly bills 1820, 2234, 2433, 2441, 2672, 2697, 2749, 3093, 3138, 3177, 3217, 1837, 2186, 2198, 2235, 2291, 2293, 2343, 2574, 2580, 2632, 2637, 2680, 2692, 2723, 2765, 2767, 2859, 2871, 2879, 2897, 2905, 2979, 2998, 3012, 3045, 3062, 3111, 3116, 3134, 3168, 3268, 3278, 3287 and Assembly Bill 2698 with amendments.
- Jim Wood
Person
All bills will be deemed read and all amendments will be deemed adopted under reconsideration. File item 46 through 48. All items shall be continued. Moving to Assembly third reading Members, we're gonna be bouncing around a little bit today, so keep your keys your keep your eyes and ears open.
- Jim Wood
Person
We will first go to file item 85. Hang on a second. Return my page. Excuse me. File item 86 AB 2863 by Assemblymember Schiavo Kirk will read Assembly Bill 2863 by Assembly Member Schiavo and others and acclating to business Member Schiavo will be presenting from the majority leader's desk and Selma Member Schiavo, you are recognized.
- Pilar Schiavo
Legislator
Thank you Mister speaker and Members. I am proud to present AB 2863 which is bipartisan support because I imagine we have all experienced the frustration around trying to cancel an app subscription.
- Pilar Schiavo
Legislator
As we know, you know, we all have personal stories of intense frustration and attempting to cancel unwanted autumn renewal services, whether it's gym memberships, streaming services, online publications and computer software, or our kids apps. And the list of services is endless and the frustration grows. The subscription economy is projected to become a $1.5 trillion market by 2025.
- Pilar Schiavo
Legislator
While automatic subscription renewals can offer convenience, in too many instances, consumers are being built for services they no longer want. 2022. Research found that on average, 42% of consumers forgot they were still paying for subscriptions they no longer used. In addition, the research demonstrated that consumers underestimated their monthly spending on subscriptions by $133.
- Pilar Schiavo
Legislator
If you're lucky enough to find customer service phone numbers to call, good luck. If you can actually get a person on the phone, you can negotiate the tree maze or actually can with a live person. And we know that these systems are designed to keep customers locked into plans.
- Pilar Schiavo
Legislator
So for individuals, many of these charges are relatively small sums if you take them piece by piece, but when you add them up, it makes a huge difference. And frankly, I appreciate the convenience of auto renew. However, if I decide to end a service, it should be as easy to cancel as it is to sign up.
- Pilar Schiavo
Legislator
AB 2863 simply seeks to make it easier for consumers to unsubscribe or cancel as it is to sign up, requiring affirmative consent for automatic renewal, providing notice of the amount or range of the cost to the consumer and prohibiting businesses from obstructing or delaying the request to cancel.
- Pilar Schiavo
Legislator
AB 2863 has received bipartisan support and I respectfully ask for an aye vote.
- Jim Wood
Person
All debate having ceased, the Clerk will open the roll. All those vote who desire to vote. All those vote who desire to vote. All those vote who desire to vote. Clerk will close the roll and tally the votes. Ayes 57 no zero measure passes. Moving to file item 87.
- Committee Secretary
Person
AB 2017 by assembly member Grayson. The Clerk will read Assembly Bill 2017 by Assembly Member Grayson, an act related to financial institutions.
- Timothy Grayson
Legislator
Assembly Member Grayson, you are recognized. Thank you Mister speaker.
- Timothy Grayson
Legislator
Members, I am pleased to present Assembly Bill 2017, which will help prevent fee creep in the banking industry by prohibiting state chartered financial institutions from charging a non sufficient Fund or NSF fee to a consumer for transaction declined instantaneously or near instantaneously.
- Timothy Grayson
Legislator
AB 2017 is straightforward measure that will rein in junk fees and protect financially vulnerable consumers from charges that they cannot afford. I respectfully ask for an aye vote.
- Jim Wood
Person
Seeing and hearing no further debate, the Clerk will open the roll. All those vote who desire to vote. All those vote who desire to vote. All those vote who desire to vote, Clerk will close the roll and tally the votes. Eyes 53 knows zero measure passes moving back to guest introductions.
- Jim Wood
Person
Assemblymember Viapudulla, you are recognized for your guest introductions.
- Carlos Villapudua
Person
Thank you, Mister speaker. Where are they? Up there. Okay, Members, please join me in welcoming from my district, the 38 students and guests from Alcorn elementary school today their annual capitol day. They're here to learn more about government, so let's please give them a warm welcome.
- Jim Wood
Person
Thank you, Mister Villapudua. As I said, we're bouncing around a little bit here. We're going to move to file item 147, ACR 174 by assemblymember Grayson.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Clerk will read Assembly Concurrent Resolution 174 by Assembly Member Grayson and others relative to firefighter suicide awareness, prevention and sand down week.
- Timothy Grayson
Legislator
Good Morning Mister speaker and Members.
- Timothy Grayson
Legislator
ACR 174, which proclaims the week of May 19 through May 25 as firefighter suicide awareness and Prevention stand down week. Firefighting is an inherently dangerous and physically demanding profession that requires that the men and women of the fire service to routinely put themselves in harm's way for the good of the communities that they serve.
- Timothy Grayson
Legislator
To add to the physical demands of the profession, firefighters must also navigate some of life's most emotionally intense moments. According to the Firefighter Behavioral Alliance, 82 firefighters tragically lost their lives to suicide in 2022, followed by 79 in 2023. And sadly, this year we've already lost 23 firefighters to suicide.
- Timothy Grayson
Legislator
Additionally, research has shown that one in three firefighters will grapple with post traumatic stress injuries during their career and are 10 times more likely than the General public to contemplate suicide.
- Timothy Grayson
Legislator
It's incredibly imperative that we shatter the stigma surrounding mental health struggles and post traumatic stress and ensure that firefighters, paramedics and emergency medical personnel receive the care and resources that they deserve.
- Timothy Grayson
Legislator
Peer support programs and confidential discussions with trusted colleagues and peers with similar work and life experiences provide not only an outlet for these struggles, but also facilitate access to life saving resources.
- Timothy Grayson
Legislator
ACR gives us an opportunity to bring awareness to one of the most significant challenges faced by California firefighters, while also recognizing the existing resources that are available for supporting mental health.
- Timothy Grayson
Legislator
Friends and colleagues, thank you for your attention and recognition of firefighters suicide awareness and Prevention stand down week, and I respectfully ask for an aye vote on ACR 174 requesting a roll to be open for co authors.
- Jim Wood
Person
Thank you, Assemblymember Grayson seeing and hearing no further debate. zero, I'm so sorry. I didn't see you, Assembly Member Bonta. Assembly Member Bonta, you are recognized Members. Please throw your microphone up high. Sometimes it's hard to see you. Julie. Well done, Mister Rodriguez.
- Timothy Grayson
Legislator
Duly noted, Mister speaker, Mister speaker. Members, as a joint author, I join my colleague from Concord to rise in strong support of ACR 174.
- Mia Bonta
Legislator
In April, I asked this body to adjourn in the memory of Alameda firefighter Patrick Michael Corder, the son of Alameda, the shining light of a human being, died tragically after a difficult battle with post traumatic stress injury from his years of service as a firefighter and first responder.
- Mia Bonta
Legislator
His death highlights for us that our first responders are exposed to incidents that impact not only their physical health, but also their mental health and well being. Many of us view firefighters as invincible heroes. After all, they are the ones running after and towards fire and danger and injured individuals when everyone else is running away.
- Mia Bonta
Legislator
We have to remember they are humans, too, and they come sometimes and can suffer, sometimes in silence. So please reach out to the firefighters at your local stations and ask if they are okay. Listen to the signs that they actually may not be.
- Mia Bonta
Legislator
It's up to all of us to look, to look after those that rescue us when we make the calls for help. Bring them cookies, bring them treats, bring them love, and bring them recognition and recognize that they hurt, too. I respectfully ask for your I vote on ACR 174.
- Jim Wood
Person
Thank you, assemblymember Bonta. Assembly Member Rodriguez you are recognized.
- Freddie Rodriguez
Person
Yes. Thank you, Members. And I want to thank the Member from Concorde here to support ACR 174 as a prior first responder. Over 30 years, when I first started in 1984, we never had the services that provided to our first responders now.
- Freddie Rodriguez
Person
So now more than ever, let's make sure we take care of our first responders and make sure we take care of the people that are there to take care of us. So thank you for bringing it forward. Look forward to supporting us on the floor. Thank you.
- Jim Wood
Person
Thank you. Assembly Member Rodriguez, seeing and hearing no further debate, would you like to close, Mister Grayson?
- Timothy Grayson
Legislator
I respectfully ask for an aye vote and first roll call to be open for co authors. Thank you, Mister Grayson. The Clerk will open the roll for co authors.
- Jim Wood
Person
All those vote who desire to vote as a co author. All those vote who desire to vote. All those vote who desire as a co author Clerk will close the roll and tally the votes. There are 67 co authors added without objection. We'll take a voice vote on the resolution. All in favor say aye. Opposed say no.
- Jim Wood
Person
The ayes have it. The resolution is adopted. And Mister Grayson, you are recognized for your guest introductions.
- Timothy Grayson
Legislator
Thank you, Mister chair. And in the rear of the chamber, I'd like to introduce past President of Contra Costa County Public Safety Support Services, deputy chief in advanced planning for Contra Costa County Fire Protection District, Brian Helmick. Up in the gallery, if you would stand.
- Timothy Grayson
Legislator
We would like to welcome Members of engine 26, Members of squad 24, and also Members of Sacramento area firefighters. Local 522 Members. Let's welcome them to our house.
- Jim Wood
Person
Once again, thank you Mister Grayson, welcome to your guests and thank you for everything you do for us. Moving on to file item 8989 AB 2705 by Assemblymember Ortega. The Clerk will read.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Assembly Bill 2705 by Assemblymember Ortega in accolading the public works.
- Jim Wood
Person
Assemblymember Ortega, you are recognized.
- Liz Ortega
Legislator
Good morning Speaker and Members. I am proud to present AB 2705 which will ensure that the labor Commissioner has time to recover unpaid wages for workers who are subject to wage theft on public works projects. Under x 16 law.
- Liz Ortega
Legislator
When the labor Commissioner finds a violation of prevailing wage requirements on a project, the labor Commissioner has 18 months to determine the amounts of fines and penalties to be assessed, but only six months to collect the wages.
- Liz Ortega
Legislator
AB 2705 simply aligns the two statutes of limitations so that the labor Commissioner has up to 18 months to both make the assessment and recover the wages. I respectfully ask for an aye vote.
- Jim Wood
Person
Seeing and hearing no further debate, the Clerk will open the roll. All those vote who desire to vote. All those vote who desire to vote. All those vote who desire to vote. Clerk will close the roll and tally the votes. Aye 62, no zero measure passes. Moving to file item 91, AB 3089 by Assemblymember Jones-Sawyer.
- Committee Secretary
Person
The Clerk will read Assembly Bill 3089 by Assemblymember Jones-Sawyer and others and accolades the state government.
- Jim Wood
Person
Assemblymember Jones-Sawyer, you are recognized.
- Reginald Byron Jones-Sawyer
Person
Thank you Mister Speaker. I proudly represent probably present Assembly Bill 3089, the California Apology Act for the perpetration of gross human rights violations and crimes against humanity, with special consideration for African slaves and their descendants.
- Reginald Byron Jones-Sawyer
Person
In 2020, California created the first in the nation state Level Task Forces study and develop reparations proposals with a special consideration for African Americans. Along with our Senate colleague from Gardena, I had the privilege of sitting on that task force and being part of the groundbreaking report that resulted.
- Reginald Byron Jones-Sawyer
Person
For more than two years, the nine member task force heard countless hours of testimony and received thousands of pages of documents from state agencies, historians, archivists, economists, private businesses, legal experts, families of former slave owners and the descendants of slaves and sharecroppers.
- Reginald Byron Jones-Sawyer
Person
Based on the testimony and documentation, the task force issued his report to the Legislature, a painstaking recitation of the horrible treatment of African slaves and the ways in which this state and the nation benefited from forced human slave labor, and how we continue to to subjugate black Californians well into recent times.
- Reginald Byron Jones-Sawyer
Person
As required by statute, the task force was required to include in its findings how the State of California will offer a formal apology on behalf of the people of California for the perpetration of gross human rights violations of crimes against humanity on African slaves and their descendants.
- Reginald Byron Jones-Sawyer
Person
This body has already heard and passed a measure on this subject, ACR 135 Weber a resolution that outlined and acknowledged the horrific acts against African slaves throughout our history.
- Reginald Byron Jones-Sawyer
Person
If within our state where resolution sets the stage in acknowledgement of the harms, AB 3089 provides a former apology on behalf of the State of California for its complicity in the human chattel slavery of our nation's past and the lasting badges and harms of slavery systems.
- Reginald Byron Jones-Sawyer
Person
This Bill offers the next step in the truth and reconciliation process by offering a formal policy for past wrongs. California will join nine other states that have offered some form of apology for their role in slavery.
- Reginald Byron Jones-Sawyer
Person
Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Maryland, New Jersey, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia have all enacted some form of apology for their role in the slave trade. Even though our state entered the union as a free state, every branch of government has had a hand in perpetrating the oppression of Black folks.
- Reginald Byron Jones-Sawyer
Person
This Bill is an opportunity to confront those tough truths in a meaningful way. It is long past for the state to acknowledge its role and responsibility for the atrocities that promoted and facilitated the institution of slavery.
- Reginald Byron Jones-Sawyer
Person
The State of California is and should continue to affirm its role in protecting and uplifting the descendants of enslaved people who have been harmed by a legacy of state sanctioned policies.
- Reginald Byron Jones-Sawyer
Person
I would like to thank the members of this body for acknowledging the fact that if we continue to ignore our past, we are doomed to repeat those failures.
- Reginald Byron Jones-Sawyer
Person
For those who would question why we need to move this measure, why we need to formally address acts of the distant past, I would simply say this, we cannot possibly move forward without acknowledging our role in an evil behavior.
- Reginald Byron Jones-Sawyer
Person
Every young child will tell you, if you, in this case, in this state, did something wrong, then you must apologize before making amends. Today starts that long overdue process. Thank you speaker and members. And I respectfully ask for an aye vote
- Committee Secretary
Person
Thank you Mister Jones-Sawyer, Assembly Member McKinnor, you are recognized.
- Tina McKinnor
Legislator
Mister speaker, I rise in support of AB 3089. To the Assembly Member from South Los Angeles. I want to thank you for authoring AB 3089 and for bringing this legislation forward as a part of the California Legislative Black Caucus reparation legislative package.
- Tina McKinnor
Legislator
And as this is your last year in the California State Assembly, I want to personally thank you, Reggie, for your wisdom, courage and fearlessness in tackling some of the most challenging issues facing Black Californians.
- Tina McKinnor
Legislator
Members, AB 3089 is part of a multi year effort to address the negative legacy and impacts from slavery and to the harm that was caused, not just to enslaved persons but to the descendants of enslaved persons, harms that continue to this day.
- Tina McKinnor
Legislator
Following the end of apartheid in South Africa, that nation formed a Truth and Reconciliation Commission, a public effort to speak truth to the horrors of apartheid and to allow those in government to take responsibility for their actions and to allow for the public to heal.
- Tina McKinnor
Legislator
AB 3089 recognizes the harm that slavery had and continues to have on black Californians, and take the important step of acknowledging and formally apologizing for the state's role in harming the descendants of enslaved people.
- Tina McKinnor
Legislator
Members, as we begin this journey to repair the harm caused by slavery, we must start by accepting responsibility for those in powers that prompted discrimination and those that developed systemic structures of discriminations that still remain to this day.
- Tina McKinnor
Legislator
The journey ahead will not be easy, my friends, but I am proud to be working with Members of the State Assembly, the State Senate, and our Governor shoulder to shoulder, crown to crown, to ensure that all descendants of slavery are granted the dignity and justice they deserve. I respectfully ask for your aye vote on AB 3089. Thank you.
- Jim Wood
Person
Thank you, Assemblymember McKinnor. Assemblymember Rendon, you are recognized.
- Anthony Rendon
Person
Thank you, Mister speaker. The author asked me to speak on behalf of this Bill, I think as a thank you for my appointing him to this Committee. But I want to turn things around and thank him in his own words. He spent countless hours on this effort.
- Anthony Rendon
Person
Also want to thank our public appointee who did an amazing job as well. I think this comes at an interesting time. Last week, the Shenandoah Virginia School District, which two years ago decided to strip two confederate titles from their schools, this past week decided to put those confederate names back on those schools.
- Anthony Rendon
Person
It's hard in any one moment, to think about the tide of history and the progress we are or are not making in any given stolen moment. It's hard to. To isolate the tide of history in Virginia.
- Anthony Rendon
Person
Obviously, the tide of history, in my opinion, seems to be going in a very different way than it is in this body. This is a statement of our values. This is a statement of who we are and what we think at this moment. And that's why it's so important to all of us. Thank you.
- Jim Wood
Person
Thank you, Mister. Assemblymember Rendon moving to Doctor Weber. You are recognized.
- Akilah Weber
Legislator
Thank you, Mister speaker. Good morning Members. I rise in support of my colleague and AB 3089, which will provide an apology for the perpetuation of gross human rights violations related to human enslavement and the state's perpetuation in the lasting badges and incidents of slavery within our territories.
- Akilah Weber
Legislator
As we all know the California Reparations Task Force was created in this body through AB 3121 in 2020, authored by now Secretary of State Doctor Shirley Weber. And this very task force identified, compiled, synthesized the relevant copious of evidentiary documentation of these badges of slavery that existed within California.
- Akilah Weber
Legislator
I have asked many times on this floor, and I hope that by now you have actually read the report, or at a minimum, read the Executive summary so that you understand what we are talking about and what we have been talking about.
- Akilah Weber
Legislator
This apology is a part of repairing the moral, physical, and dignity harms that we as a state have caused. An apology is not a new thing, and it's not anything that really should be complicated nor controversial, because it's the right thing to do. When you have done a wrong, you first acknowledge it and you apologize.
- Akilah Weber
Legislator
The second is that you apologize. And then the third thing is that you do better. And we have done this as a state. In 2019, Governor Newsom rightfully issued an apology to California's native people for the many instances of violent mistreatment and neglect inflicted upon them throughout California's history. In 2020, this legislative body unanimously.
- Akilah Weber
Legislator
Let me say that again. In 2020, this legislative body unanimously voted to apologize for its role in the incarceration of persons of Japanese descent into the internment camps. AB 3089 apologizes for California's role in perpetuating the badges of slavery. To quote a social and civil activist, Angela Davis, I am no longer accepting the things I cannot change.
- Akilah Weber
Legislator
I am changing the things I cannot accept. Let's change the wrongs by first apologizing for them. And for that, I respectfully ask for your vote on AB 3089. Thank you.
- Jim Wood
Person
Thank you, Doctor Weber. Assemblymember Wilson, you are recognized.
- Lori Wilson
Legislator
Thank you, Mister speaker. Members, as chair of the California Legislative Black Caucus, I rise today with the support of our affinity caucus to express our unwavering support for AB 3089, the Apology Act for gross human rights violations, with a special consideration for slavery descendants.
- Lori Wilson
Legislator
For centuries, the stain of slavery has marred the fabric of our nation's history, inflicting immeasurable suffering and enduring consequences on generations of African Americans. The legacy of slavery continues to reverberate throughout our society, manifesting in systemic injustices and disparities that persist to this day.
- Lori Wilson
Legislator
AB 3089 represents a significant step towards acknowledging the profound injustices inflicted upon slaved individuals and their descendants. By issuing a formal apology, California reaffirms its commitment to truth, reconciliation, and healing. Moreover, by providing special consideration for slavery descendants, this legislation acknowledges the unique hardships faced by those whose ancestors endured the horrors of bondage.
- Lori Wilson
Legislator
As representatives of the people, it is our moral imperative to confront the injustices of the past with honesty and humility. AB 3089 embodies our collective responsibility to reckon with the sins of history and pave the way for a more just and equitable future. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this vital piece of legislation.
- Lori Wilson
Legislator
Let us stand on the right side of history and send a powerful message of solidarity and redemption to all those whose lives have been touched by the legacy of slavery.
- Lori Wilson
Legislator
And I'll note, as my seatmate and my colleague from Contra Costa regularly whispers in my ear when the black caucus or other affinity caucuses bring up these types of issues, he says, we are in the right place and this is the right time to do the right thing. With that. Colleagues, I urgent aye vote on AB 3089.
- Jim Wood
Person
Thank you Assemblymember Wilson. Assemblymember Bonta, you are recognized.
- Mia Bonta
Legislator
Thank you Mister speaker and Members. As the joint author, I rise in strong support of AB 3089 and very thankful to my colleague from south LA for doing so. California's history is marred by grave injustices inflicted on Black Californians.
- Mia Bonta
Legislator
Despite the abolition of slavery upon our state's inception into the union in 1850, systemic oppression persisted due to the failure to enforce this provision in this state. From denying fundamental liberties to establishing insurmountable racial barriers, states history bears the scars of discriminatory practices that have deeply wounded descendants of slaves in California.
- Mia Bonta
Legislator
We must acknowledge how these past injustices continue to reverberate through our lived experiences today. Discriminatory housing policies, segregation laws, unjust zoning ordinances have entrenched housing segregation and economic disparities among Black Americans. These structural inequities have perpetuated persistent inequalities in education, economic opportunity, and wealth generation for our communities.
- Mia Bonta
Legislator
The legacy of slavery requires Black Californians to continue to endure discrimination in healthcare, facing inaccurate diagnoses and a lack of culturally concordant care, it is incumbent upon us as representatives of the people to recognize and accept responsibility for the harms and atrocities committed against our communities.
- Mia Bonta
Legislator
The 1000 plus page report released by the reparation Task Force lays out a myriad of policy recommendations to remedy these wrongs. At the most basic level is a formal acknowledgment, a formal apology request for California's role in enslavement. An apology will not erase the history. It will not automatically correct the harms Black Californians are suffering through today.
- Mia Bonta
Legislator
But an apology does this. It acknowledges the painful truth that California was wrong, creates a path towards healing, holds all of us, everyone with the power to influence policies accountable today, this body can take a significant step towards injustice or towards justice and reconciliation. And I respectfully ask for an aye vote on AB 3089.
- Jim Wood
Person
Thank you, Assemblymember Bonta. Doctor Jackson, you are recognized.
- Corey Jackson
Legislator
Thank you very much, Mister Speaker. I think it's important to understand why an apology. And as we are debating this, we're not debating this as individuals. We're debating this as the state. The state is us. And so we are not talking about what any particular person may have done or not done.
- Corey Jackson
Legislator
We're talking about what the people that was in this chamber voted on and authorized to be done to descendants of slaves. So as the state, what is in an apology? An apology is meant to help a people, to heal a people, to overcome trauma.
- Corey Jackson
Legislator
An opportunity for people to be able to move on, to begin their journey to thrive. So just like any healing process, first you acknowledge a wrong has been done.
- Corey Jackson
Legislator
And once you have acknowledged a wrong has been done, you apologize to help that person or that community or that people to heal from the harm that has been done. And once we move from acknowledgment to apology, then on this floor we will move to atonement to rectify those harms. So what is an apology?
- Corey Jackson
Legislator
An apology is to recognize that you as a human being, has been hurt by a state. And your harm is important to acknowledge and to apologize for that harmony.
- Corey Jackson
Legislator
There is no greater thing that we can do as a people on this floor than to ensure that we as a state, has declared our wrongdoings and our commitment to rectify those. I want to thank one of our elders in our caucus, the Member from South Los Angeles, in supporting AB 3089.
- Jim Wood
Person
Thank you, Doctor Jackson. Assemblymember Bauer-Kahan, you are recognized.
- Rebecca Bauer-Kahan
Legislator
Thank you, Mister Speaker and Members. I also rise on behalf of AB 3089. One of the most powerful experiences I had in my first year as a Legislator was on public safety. Our colleague from Los Angeles, the one near Dodger Stadium.
- Rebecca Bauer-Kahan
Legislator
I don't know the parts of Los Angeles I apologize brought before us a Bill to help rectify the forced sterilization of women in our prison system. And it was the first time in my legislative career that I had someone sitting before me who'd been harmed, not by me directly, but by this state.
- Rebecca Bauer-Kahan
Legislator
And she told her story and I felt compelled to apologize to her. I was one of the only women sitting there. I'm a mother. We had taken that away from her. And it felt like I was sitting in this seat.
- Rebecca Bauer-Kahan
Legislator
And it's like most of the women and people of color, we've been excluded from these seats for so long, and here we were. And I could express to her how sorry I was that we did this to her. And we, as a body, are being given another opportunity to do that today.
- Rebecca Bauer-Kahan
Legislator
And I wanted to rise because, as a Jewish woman, one of the most important things that I am taught is the power of apologizing. Once a year, none of us show up.
- Rebecca Bauer-Kahan
Legislator
We all go home, and we spend 10 days apologizing to the people we've wronged on Yom Kippur, when the gates close, we know it's our obligation to have looked the people in the eyes who we've wronged in that year to make amends with them, to say, I'm sorry, to ask forgiveness.
- Rebecca Bauer-Kahan
Legislator
We know that they may not give it to us. That's their choice. But it's on us to apologize, to say we're sorry for what we did. And the power of an apology is so strong, and that's what our faith teaches us. And so to be given this opportunity today feels like a privilege.
- Rebecca Bauer-Kahan
Legislator
And so I want to thank you, because this state has wronged people of Black people for longer than it ever should have. And as was mentioned by our colleague from San Diego, so many of the other ethnic caucuses have benefited from apologies like this.
- Rebecca Bauer-Kahan
Legislator
And so it is important for each and every one of us to stand up and say, we're here to support an apology for your community as well. And as our colleague from Oakland said, I live in the midst of the ongoing ramifications of these policies.
- Rebecca Bauer-Kahan
Legislator
I live in a community that is not as diverse as this great state because it had housing policies that excluded black people for a very, very long time. And so my community still reflects those policies, even though they're not legal anymore.
- Rebecca Bauer-Kahan
Legislator
We haven't fixed the problems because that will take far longer than any of us will be here. But we can start with this apology. We can follow it up with the work, the work to try to make right these wrongs, and we can never wholly make it right.
- Rebecca Bauer-Kahan
Legislator
I know I recently got an apology from the Austrian government for what happened to my family. I cried when I got it. And yet they can never make it wholly right, but they can apologize, and they can do their best.
- Rebecca Bauer-Kahan
Legislator
And that is what is incumbent upon us today, is to understand the power of an apology, to look people in the eyes, to say, I am so sorry that we did this, that we continue to do this, and to also say that we will work for a better and more just California, for every b=Black Californian. And with that, I respectfully ask for your aye vote on AB 3089.
- Jim Wood
Person
Thank you, Miss Bauer-Kahan. Mister speaker, you are recognized.
- Robert Rivas
Legislator
Thank you, Mister speaker. And I too, want to thank our colleague from Los Angeles for bringing forward this important legislation. In 1966, it was Doctor Martin Luther King junior who wrote a letter to Cesar Chavez, who had recently marched from Adeleno to Sacramento.
- Robert Rivas
Legislator
It was nearly a 300 miles walk, and he had marched to bring attention to the mistreatment of farmworkers. In his letter, Doctor King stated, as brothers in the fight for equality, I extend the hand of fellowship and of goodwill and wish continuing success to you and your Members. Our separate struggles are really one.
- Robert Rivas
Legislator
A struggle for freedom, for dignity, and for humanity. History matters. And it's because of our history and the courageous leaders like Doctor King, Cesar Chavez, Dolores Huerta, so many others. Because of the values instilled in me by my Mexican immigrant farmworking family.
- Robert Rivas
Legislator
And because of their experiences, their struggles, their sacrifices, that I stand before all of you, not only in recognition, but in complete understanding that our separate struggles are really one. And as we know, it is undeniable that our systems of government have been complicit in the oppression of African Americans. Our courts, our schools, even this Legislature.
- Robert Rivas
Legislator
California's history is tarnished by the subjugation of black people nearly 200 years ago. As has been stated a few times this morning, California prided itself on being a free state. Yet this very legislative body enacted the California Fugitive Slave act of 1852.
- Robert Rivas
Legislator
Enslaved Black men and women right here in California were stripped from their families, forced to work in mines, and do so at the disposal of their white owners. And today, slavery and oppression are often described as a scar on our history. A difficulty, yet undeniable history. It is a wound that still needs to heal.
- Robert Rivas
Legislator
And this legislation, this formal apology from the State of California, recognizing and accepting responsibility is a very crucial step. I applaud our California Legislative Black Caucus, the reparations task force, for their work. And as speaker, I urge all Californians to recognize, to accept, and to memorialize our formal apology for these harms and atrocities. Thank you, Mister speaker.
- Jim Wood
Person
Thank you, Mister speaker. Seeing and hearing no further debate. Mister Jones-Sawyer. Would you like to close?
- Reginald Byron Jones-Sawyer
Person
And I would like to thank the Members of the Black Caucus who all got up to speak and who are standing now, who standing behind me to make sure that this apology gets the. For Members who stood up, who may not be part of the Black Caucus, but understand.
- Reginald Byron Jones-Sawyer
Person
But most important to the unity of both speakers getting up and speaking on behalf, the one that appointed me to this Commission, to the task force, because it was a life changing thing for me, something that I can tell my ancestors. Long after that, I was part of something that was transformational.
- Reginald Byron Jones-Sawyer
Person
And I want to thank the present speaker for continuing that obligation that we do what we need to do to make sure we fulfill the dream of reversing racism. I just want you to know that the governors of this state, the courts, and even this Legislature have been complicit in a lot of the atrocities here in Canada.
- Reginald Byron Jones-Sawyer
Person
California. Peter Burnett, whose portrait is somewhere in this building, believed in the exclusion law. The exclusion law said, let's not make sure that no African Americans, no black people lived in your state. And he pushed us out. But most important, you need to know, he advocated the last law LASH.
- Reginald Byron Jones-Sawyer
Person
Where black people were lashed and beaten every six months until they left the state that they were in. It was that kind of mentality early on, that was difficult. We had legislatures that outlawed African Americans testifying or being involved in testifying against white people. Interracial marriage between black white was illegal in this state until recently.
- Reginald Byron Jones-Sawyer
Person
They excluded us from homesteading and moving here to California, refused state funding for African American children to attend white public schools. The California State Supreme Court says segregation in schools did not violate the 14th Amendment, which gave us the right to be full citizens. In the town square of San Jose, an African American was beaten.
- Reginald Byron Jones-Sawyer
Person
And when they brought it to court, the court said that that person could not be prosecuted because that person was an enslaved person, which means that was his property. We were people's properties in this state. And it was defended by the State Supreme Court and other courts.
- Reginald Byron Jones-Sawyer
Person
California dems, unfortunately, back then in 1867, promised white voters that they would fight against Reconstruction and giving African Americans, Native Americans, Chinese Americans, the right to vote. We've been dealing with gerrymandering and other things preventing us to vote. And then lastly, racial terror, which is probably something that a lot of us don't believe happened.
- Reginald Byron Jones-Sawyer
Person
But the KKK was firmly implanted in this state and was firmly doing their bidding all across this state. They were part of the judicial system, they were part of this Legislature, and they were part of other places that made sure that they kept us down.
- Reginald Byron Jones-Sawyer
Person
In 1920, the Los Angeles Police Department actively recruited KKK Members to be police officers. And you can imagine what impact that had on the black community.
- Reginald Byron Jones-Sawyer
Person
And so as we look at the political disenfranchisement, housing, segregation, not being able to live where you want to live, lining and ultimately places like where I live, which is Sugar Hill, where actresses like the first woman to receive an Oscar lived. They split us with freeways. That they did in up in Northern California.
- Reginald Byron Jones-Sawyer
Person
Making sure that when an African American community started to thrive, they use whatever measures to disenfranchise them, to make sure they didn't have the political power that could grow and benefit. This is why we're doing this. This is why an apology is so important.
- Reginald Byron Jones-Sawyer
Person
It's like someone who does something and then it's okay that you apologize and it's okay that you put in the writing and scope, as you say it. But most important, not only is the apology letter important, it's what we do after.
- Reginald Byron Jones-Sawyer
Person
It's whether or not we go ahead and fulfill the dream of what my ancestors wanted, which is the full, fully making us part of the American dream. But most important, get rid of that river of racism that has been running through our communities for so many decades and centuries. And so with that, I ask for your aye vote on AB 3089. Thank you.
- Jim Wood
Person
Thank you, Mister Jones-Sawyer. The Clerk will open the roll. All those vote who desire to vote. All those vote who. Who desire to vote. All those vote who desire to vote. Clerk will close the roll and tally the votes.Aye 62 no, zero measure passes.
- Jim Wood
Person
Moving back to further business on the daily file. Assemblymember Wilson, file item 92, AB 2257 by Assemblymember Wilson. The clerk will read.
- Reading Clerk
Person
Assembly Bill 2257 by Assemblymember Wilson, an act related to local government.
- Jim Wood
Person
Assemblymember Wilson, you are recognized.
- Lori Wilson
Legislator
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Good morning, members. I'm pleased to present AB 2257, a bill designed to enhance the transparency, efficiency, and fairness of the rate-setting process for water and sewer services in California. At its core, AB 2257 is about fostering a constructive dialogue between public agencies and the people they serve.
- Lori Wilson
Legislator
Under existing law, Proposition 218 requires public agencies to provide advance notice to property owners, a public hearing for protests, and restricts the imposition of fees unless they represent the actual cost of of services. However, the increase in Proposition 218 litigation challenges local agencies' abilities to set fair rates to cover operational and investment costs.
- Lori Wilson
Legislator
Often, these legal challenges come without prior objections being raised during the public comment period, leading to costly and unforeseen lawsuits that strain the financial resources of these agencies. AB 2257 represents a balanced approach to rate setting. This bill is about more than just procedural adjustments.
- Lori Wilson
Legislator
It's about ensuring our public agencies and our communities can work together more effectively to tackle the challenges we face. This bill aims to resolve disputes early and reduce the frequency of litigation, which can be costly and time-consuming for both parties. Amendments to the bill have largely been technical in nature.
- Lori Wilson
Legislator
The amendments help clarify the public noticing process, the fees that would be subject to the provisions of the bill, and specify the bill is not intended to preclude lawsuits related to local agencies' failure to implement a fee or assessment in compliance with existing law.
- Lori Wilson
Legislator
Importantly, this bill will protect the right to litigate against ongoing failures by an agency to implement rates and compliance with the substantive requirements of Proposition 218. This ensures that agencies cannot misuse fees for purposes other than those explicitly stated. Thank you. By promoting early and meaningful dialogue between public agencies and ratepayers, this bill lays the groundwork for more equitable and effective water and sewer service rates in California. I respectfully ask for your aye vote.
- Jim Wood
Person
Seeing and hearing no further debate, the clerk will open the roll. All those vote who desire to vote? All those vote who desire to vote. Oh, I strike. We're going to strike the roll. Sorry, Mr. Gallagher, you are recognized.
- James Gallagher
Legislator
Yes, Mr. Speaker and members, I rise in opposition to this bill. And look, why do we continue to try and put hurdles in the way of our taxpayers to deal with the issue of gross, abusive taxation in this state? Here yet again, we're going to put hurdles.
- James Gallagher
Legislator
We're going to put obstacles in the way of taxpayers from bringing a lawsuit when they say, look, this did not comply with the law. It did not comply with Proposition 218, which was passed by the voters. When are we going to begin to respect the voters of this state again and the taxpayers of this state again?
- James Gallagher
Legislator
Here's why this is a problem also. You know, we say, oh, these are abusive lawsuits. Many times these taxes or things could be passed at meetings that are held during the day when people are working, when they're working at jobs and income, that they need to pay all the bills in this state and all the taxes in this state, and they can't actually be there.
- James Gallagher
Legislator
And so we're putting in place now a process where they've got to know before you can bring and protect your rights, you've got to come to the government and you've got to make clear your opposition to that before. You've got to exhaust your remedies before you can exercise your rights as a taxpayer and as someone who says, look, enough is enough, you've been taxing us enough. And it's lost on no one that as we talk about this bill, the governor and the democratic leadership of these houses are trying to deny people the right to vote on the Taxpayer Protection Act that's going on the ballot of November. We need to stop this. Let the people vote.
- James Gallagher
Legislator
Let the people protect their rights when there are violations of our tax protections in this state, including Proposition 13, including Proposition 218, and let people have the right to bring their legal case and let them have the right to vote on these things. I ask you, members, do not pass this today. Give people their rights.
- James Gallagher
Legislator
Give them the ability to protect themselves against abusive taxation. And it is happening. People are paying far too much in this state and they're working at jobs and the wages don't cover those costs. Those costs have far surpassed the income that they're making right now. And they should have a right to protect and make their case against those kind of taxes. And that's why this bill should not pass this house today. Thank you.
- Jim Wood
Person
Thank you, Mr. Gallagher. Assemblymember Wilson, would you like to close?
- Lori Wilson
Legislator
I would. Thank you, members. Thank you to my colleague for bringing up his concerns. That is a part of the debate process. I would like to note that there were some things that were brought up that weren't consistent with the bill that's bringing forth today.
- Lori Wilson
Legislator
I won't speak to the tax issue as this bill does not address the tax issue in any way. But what it does say is that there is an administrative process for, as it relates to Prop 218 notices and all it does is clarify that members of the public should exhaust those administrative processes.
- Lori Wilson
Legislator
There are protections within Proposition 218 that this bill does not touch, and as I noted during my testimony, is that there are technical amendments that address the concerns that were brought up to be sure that the protections that were in Prop 218 were not negated or any way hindered by this particular law. We've addressed those and provided greater clarification.
- Lori Wilson
Legislator
And so what this bill essentially does is it ensures that members of the public exhaust the administrative remedies when there is still time to make those changes, instead of letting that go through the whole process, and then at the end when it's all done, file a lawsuit when it was something that could have been addressed during the public process and if it was valid, corrected so that you wouldn't have to go through litigation.
- Lori Wilson
Legislator
And so with that, members, I respectfully ask for your aye vote to ensure that we keep our costs down in the state and we keep our costs down, especially for those agencies who are operating within the Prop 218 notice, which essentially goes right back to the ratepayers if those costs are not dealt with. Thank you.
- Jim Wood
Person
Thank you, Assemblymember Wilson. The clerk will open the roll. All those vote who desire to vote. All those vote who desire to vote. All those vote who desire to vote, Clerk will close the roll and tally the votes. Ayes 44, noes 11, measure passes. Moving to file item 93, AB 2715 by Assemblymember Berner.
- Reading Clerk
Person
Assembly Bill 2715 by Assemblymember Boerner, an act relating to the local government.
- Jim Wood
Person
Assemblymember Boerner, you are recognized.
- Tasha Boerner
Legislator
Good morning. Good morning, Mr. Speaker and members, I rise to present AB 20715 which would simply add threats to cybersecurity, to the list of closed session exemptions in the Brown Act. Currently, local agencies can already hold closed session to discuss threats to the security of public buildings, the security of essential public services, or the public's right of access to public services, or public facilities. However, current law does not explicitly list threats to cybersecurity as a reason to meet in closed session.
- Tasha Boerner
Legislator
As a result, local agencies are potentially forced to discuss cybersecurity threats and potential solutions in open session. This could leave local agencies open to more cybersecurity attacks. This measure has enjoyed a bipartisan support and zero no votes. I respectfully ask for your aye vote.
- Jim Wood
Person
Seeing and hearing no further debate, the clerk will open the roll. All those vote who desire to vote,. All those vote who desire to vote. All those vote who desire to vote. We'll close the roll and tally the votes. Ayes 60, noes zero, measure passes. Moving back to guest introductions, Mr. Hart for Ms. Addis.
- Jim Wood
Person
Mr. Hart, you are recognized for your guest introduction.
- Gregg Hart
Legislator
Thank you, Mister Speaker, colleagues, and guests. Tt's my honor and privilege to welcome San Luis Obispo's very own Del Pilar Leadership Academy to the California State Assembly on this historic day on behalf of Assemblymember Addis. Joining us in the gallery is Greg Gillette, creator of the Del Pilar curriculum, as well as 25 of his fantastic students and future leaders.
- Gregg Hart
Legislator
The Del Pilar Leadership Academy is a program at San Luis Obispo High School in District 30 that recognizes the students socioeconomic circumstances and ethnic backgrounds while aiming to effectively integrate them in their school community and promote holistic change in the educational environment.
- Gregg Hart
Legislator
Additionally, the program helps them develop confidence and learn life skills like organization and accountability, all of which will be value to them as they grow and develop as young adults in our great state. Today they're joining us in Sacramento to immerse themselves in our state's government and to learn about what is possible for them in the future. Colleagues, please join me with hearty applause to welcome and appreciate these amazing students and their leader.
- Jim Wood
Person
Thank you Mr. Hart, and welcome to the students. Moving now to file item 100, AB 3080 by Assemblymember Alanis. The clerk will read.
- Reading Clerk
Person
Assembly Bill 3080 by Assemblymember Alanis and others, an act related to consumer protection.
- Jim Wood
Person
Assemblymember Alanis, you are recognized.
- Juan Alanis
Legislator
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Colleagues, I present to you today AB 3080, which will provide needed protections for our children against exposure to online pornographic material. This bill has had a long journey to get here and has been both bipartisan and bicameral support. Thanks to constructive collaboration between committee staff and my team, who I'm very thankful for, this bill has passed privacy and judiciary committees without any votes against it. We took good amendments in both committees that helped make this bill better, more narrow, and overall a much stronger policy.
- Juan Alanis
Legislator
I want to thank my colleagues, the honorable member from Orinda, the chair of the Privacy Committee, and the honorable member from San Jose, the chair of the Judiciary Committee, for their work and wisdom on this proposal as well. Moving into areas of new policy and uncharted territory can be both challenging and sensitive.
- Juan Alanis
Legislator
That is why staff and I have made an honest effort to reach out to the 79 other offices to discuss and educate this bill and what it does. I have heard very clearly the concerns about privacy and constitutionality, and I take those concerns very seriously. I have also heard a lot of encouraging support from many of you, especially from the strong women in this room who are some of the most respected and influential leaders in this body. I am both thankful and humbled by that support.
- Juan Alanis
Legislator
I sincerely thank those of you who have reached out for your feedback and for the engagement on this very personal bill. For me, as a father, as a grandfather, and as a former crimes against children's detective, I can assure you that I want to get this policy right, and I want to make sure that we do it the right way. I want to note my conversations with my colleagues in the LGBTQ caucus.
- Juan Alanis
Legislator
Your concerns matter to me, and you have my commitment to continue working on those concerns in the Senate. I do not want this bill to harm your community at all. I have also heard from my colleagues who have First Amendment and privacy concerns. I do not want this bill to fail any constitutional tests.
- Juan Alanis
Legislator
To that end, I'd also like to point out recent decisions by the Supreme Court that denied a stay on a far broader age verification law that Texas had upheld in the Fifth Circuit. That denial of the stay against the Fifth Circuit court has no dissenting opinions attached to it from the Supreme Court.
- Juan Alanis
Legislator
There was another one also recently, from another state also. But I don't want to get into all that because this is going to take a while. Despite the apparent health of a much broader Texas law, I remain committed to all of you that I will continue working on the concerns regarding both privacy and free speech.
- Juan Alanis
Legislator
I understand that California is different from the other states that have passed similar laws, and I believe that California requires its own tailored approach. That's why my team and I have worked closely with the staff in both policy committees to craft a workable bill using existing statute that California has long used to protect our children from other types of harm. I want to be clear. This bill is not about harming the adult entertainment industry or attacking those that work for it.
- Juan Alanis
Legislator
This bill is simply about protecting children and the harmful exposure to increasingly available and increasingly violent sexual material online. Again, this is about protecting our kids. This is not a new precedent to ask retailers on consumer spaces to ensure that age-appropriate items or materials are only available to adults.
- Juan Alanis
Legislator
For a long time, we have held retailers to the same standards for the sales of alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, fireworks, and dangerous items for children. I believe that the same standards should exist with the adult entertainment websites. We know there are serious negative effects on young people who are exposed to this type of material, who regularly consume it, and who become addicted to it at far too young of an age. We also know that the consequences of those effects ripple out both into future generations and across our entire society.
- Juan Alanis
Legislator
Again, this bill is about protecting our kids. Colleagues, I hope I have earned the reputation in this body for striving to be a consensus builder and working to find common-sense solutions that bring people together. Should my bill earn the support today, I promise to further amend this bill on the Senate if needed.
- Juan Alanis
Legislator
If this bill clears the Senate, it will come back here in a final form for this body to give its final consideration. I have made this promise to some of our colleagues who have expressed concerns to me, and I will follow through with those promises. I met this week with the lead opposition in my office. Those meetings with the opposition are not just some box that I want to check off. These are serious meetings, and my desired outcome is to make a better bill that we all can be proud to support. If there's any pathway to consensus, friends, I promise you I will work on it.
- Juan Alanis
Legislator
For those of us, like myself, who have sadly seen firsthand the tragic effects that the status quo has had on society, our families, and on younger generations, doing nothing is unacceptable. We must do something. So I humbly ask that today you once again give me your trust on a politically sensitive issue, which I admit has uncommon alliances on both sides of the political spectrum. I ask that you allow us to continue working so we can bring back to this chamber a final proposal that is the best policy and again, is to protect our children. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
- Jim Wood
Person
Thank you, Mr. Alanis. Assemblymember Bauer-Kahan, you are recognized.
- Rebecca Bauer-Kahan
Legislator
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And members, I rise in support of AB 3080. Maybe I am the uncommon alliance that was mentioned, but I don't think so. This bill came to committee in a way that, to be frank, when it was introduced, I had concerns about the constitutionality of how broad the definitions were, and I really want to thank the member for Modesto because he worked incredibly closely with both the Privacy Committee but also the Judiciary Committee to really tighten those definitions to do what we felt made it a lot closer to constitutional.
- Rebecca Bauer-Kahan
Legislator
When I sent my son off to middle school, one of the other moms warned me that that's what people were looking at on the bus. And I better warn him, because even if he wasn't accessing it, other kids would be around him. That is how ubiquitous this is in our children's lives.
- Rebecca Bauer-Kahan
Legislator
I'm happy to report he says he's never been exposed to it on the bus. It is really critical that we think about this, and we realize that when we were growing up, the only way to get this was to go into a store where they would make you show an ID. We made sure that people who were accessing this material were of age. And not only is it something that was just accepted before the Internet was the way to access this material, but it is getting more and more dangerous.
- Rebecca Bauer-Kahan
Legislator
And just days before we heard this bill in Privacy Committee, the New York Times put out an article that discussed what was an incredibly disturbing finding in research, that 40% of college-age girls are reporting being choked during sexual encounters. And they attribute that to the prevalence of violent pornography in children's lives.
- Rebecca Bauer-Kahan
Legislator
That they are young, they are seeing violent pornography, and then they think that that is normal and they are harming their partners. And the article went on further to talk about how this is leading to brain damage in our young women. And so we may think we just this is a purity issue, but it goes well beyond that. It is about the safety of our children. It is about making sure that they learn healthy behaviors. They learn it from us, they learn from sex ed in school, and that they're not learning it from dangerous content on the Internet.
- Rebecca Bauer-Kahan
Legislator
And so I really want to thank the author, both for making sure this is constitutional for protecting our kids, but also for going so far as to work incredibly closely with the privacy community. One of the issues with this has been that people are worried that sharing this information when you are an adult and want to go to one of these sites, which this bill does not ban, that it ensures that there is no violation of one's privacy in that encounter.
- Rebecca Bauer-Kahan
Legislator
And Europe, which has much stronger privacy laws than our country, has done this, they have found a way to put the verification of your age on your phone. A token is sent to the website without your personally identifiable information, and then you, if you're an adult, can access legal pornography.
- Rebecca Bauer-Kahan
Legislator
And so the member from Modesto has gone far to bring that to the committee to work hard to make sure those are the technologies that we're pursuing through this. And so, at the end of the day, I think that it isn't surprising that you have people from opposite sides of the aisle standing up in support of this, because at the end of the day if anything is going to bring us together on this floor, I hope it is protecting our kids.
- Rebecca Bauer-Kahan
Legislator
I believe it is the most important job we have in this body is to keep our communities safe and our most vulnerable communities. And there is nobody more vulnerable than our children. And their access to this in the way they have it today is so dangerous. Dangerous for the way that they will interact in the future.
- Rebecca Bauer-Kahan
Legislator
And we need to make sure that they get this when they're ready, able to understand, and that we have the ability to ensure that that is the time at which they get to access this material. I also want to thank my colleague for his partnership with the LGBTQ caucus.
- Rebecca Bauer-Kahan
Legislator
As many of you know, well, before I came to this body, LGBTQ rights have been a passion of mine, and there is never a chance that I would do anything that would put our LGBTQ community at risk. And I know the author is committed to that, and I look forward to those conversations continuing. And with that, I respectfully ask for your aye vote.
- Jim Wood
Person
Thank you, Assemblymember Bauer-Kahan. Assemblymember Hoover, you are recognized.
- Josh Hoover
Legislator
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise as a joint author of this legislation in support. I actually introduced a similar bill last year, and things were still getting worked out in the court system. This year, we have a lot more clarity on the constitutionality of policies like this one.
- Josh Hoover
Legislator
I want to thank my colleague from Modesto for all of his work that he has done to narrow this bill to make it as workable as possible. And I think my colleague from Orinda really hit it on the head. This is about also about supporting parents. Parents, if anyone in here is a parent, they are doing a lot of work to protect their kids from a number of things, and this provides them with the assist that they need to really help protect their kids from adult websites. Today, our kids cannot purchase a mature video game. They cannot buy a ticket to an R-rated movie. This bill simply extends those protections to adult websites. I strongly urge your aye vote. Thank you.
- Jim Wood
Person
Thank you, Mr. Hoover. Seeing and hearing no further debate, the clerk will open the roll. All those vote who desire to vote. All those vote who desire to vote. All those vote who desire to vote. Clerk will close the roll and tally the votes. Ayes 56, noes zero, measure passes. Madam Majority Leader, you are recognized.
- Cecilia Aguiar-Curry
Legislator
I move that we take a single voice vote to adopt pending floor amendments at the desk. Item 50 AB 2493 Pellerin, AB. Excuse me. Item 51, AB 1849 Grayson. Item 72, AB 1843 Rodriguez. And item 103, AB 2146 Rodriguez.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Assembly Bill 2493 with amendments by Assemblymember Pellerin. Assembly Bill 1849 with amendments by Assemblymember Grayson. Assembly Bill 1843 with amendments by Assemblymember Rodriguez and Assembly Bill 2146 with amendments by Assemblymember Rodriguez.
- Jim Wood
Person
All those in favor of adopting the amendments say aye, opposed say no. The ayes have it. The amendments are adopted. They are out to print and back on file. Members we will now move to the second day consent calendar. Before we vote, we will take up first take up resolutions on the consent calendar for the purpose of adding co authors. The Clerk will read the resolutions on the consent calendar.
- Committee Secretary
Person
[Consent Calendar]
- Jim Wood
Person
All those vote who desire to vote as a co author for the resolutions. All those vote who desire to vote Clerk will close the roll and tally the vote. There are 64 co authors added. Moving to a vote on the consent calendar, we have removed items number 162 and 168.
- Jim Wood
Person
Does any Member wish to remove an additional item from the consent calendar? Seeing and hearing none, the Clerk will read the second day consent calendar.
- Committee Secretary
Person
Assembly Bill 1790 by Assembly Member Connolly and others an act relating to public post secondary education
- Jim Wood
Person
Clerk will open the roll on the consent calendar. All those vote who desire to vote all those vote who desire to vote on the consent calendar, all those vote who desire to vote Clerk will close the roll and tally the votes. Error I 68 no zero Clerk will the consent calendar is adopted. The Clerk will read the remaining items on the consent calendar.
- Committee Secretary
Person
[Consent Calendar]
- Jim Wood
Person
I ask that you take your conversations off the force so we can give our respectful attention to those who were granted prior permission to speak on an adjournment. Memory please take your conversations off the floor or have a seat. Please take your conversations off the floor. Members, please take your conversations off the floor. Assembly Member Reyes, you are recognized for your adjournment and memory.
- Eloise Gómez Reyes
Legislator
Thank you Mister speaker. Members, I rise to adjourn in the memory of Kenneth Kapirsky, a veteran, a noble Member of the community, a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother in law, uncle, godfather and friend.
- Eloise Gómez Reyes
Legislator
A born and raised New Yorker from Buffalo, he would take his next step in life in the US Air Force in 1966, accomplishing the rank of sergeant ground power support. In 1968, while stationed at March Air Force Base and Riverside, Ken met the love of his life, my friend, my relative Anita.
- Eloise Gómez Reyes
Legislator
In 1976, after spending much time and experience in the Air Force, he pursued an education at Long Beach City College, earning his aa in science. While pursuing his degree, he worked various jobs including at Long Beach Naval Shipyard, warehouser, distribution Colton cement plant and retiring from fruit grower supply in Ontario after 20 years.
- Eloise Gómez Reyes
Legislator
Throughout his time in Colton, he actively participated in the community around him. He was a dedicated Catholic and a Member of Immaculate Conception Church in Colton for over 47 years, served as Colton's citizen of the year in 1983 and eventually as a councilman for the City of Colton in his final years.
- Eloise Gómez Reyes
Legislator
He was proud of his city and deeply involved in organizations like the American Legion Post 155 Colton, Knights of Columbus and fraternal Order of Eagles in Riverside. After enjoying 53 beautiful years of marriage, Ken passed away on April 2, 2024.
- Eloise Gómez Reyes
Legislator
Ken is survived by his beloved wife Anita, his children Mike, Gabe, Lisa and Renee, his 14 grandchildren and five great grandchildren. I respectfully ask that we adjourn in memory today of my dear friend Kenneth Kopersky.
- Jim Wood
Person
Thank you Assembly Member Reyes, Assembly Member Rubio, you are recognized for your adjournment in memory.
- Blanca Rubio
Legislator
Thank you Mister speaker and Members for allowing me to rise today in memory of Humberto Monty Montenegro. A longtime community Member and electrician of Baldwin park and veteran of the Marine Corps, Monty was born in the island of Santa Catalina, California, a fact not many can claim and that he took great pride in.
- Blanca Rubio
Legislator
After graduating from high school, Monty felt it was his duty to enlist with the Marines and fight for his country in the Korean War. After being honorably discharged from the Marines, Monty worked as a maintenance engineer, ensuring Assembly line machines were running efficiently.
- Blanca Rubio
Legislator
Having married his longtime partner Anna and fathering five children, Monty somehow still found time for his passion of electrical work on the side. Monty's work ethic and knowledge of his trade started to boost his reputation. Before long, he had earned his electrical contractor's license and founded Monty's Electric.
- Blanca Rubio
Legislator
Monty took a passion that had started while he was a young man with only a bicycle and three tools and turned it into a successful business that served the community of Baldwin park for 57 years. Extending his work as an electrician beyond service calls, Monte gave back to his community by participating in a mentorship program for disadvantaged youth, providing them with tangible skills for electrical work as well as invaluable life lessons.
- Blanca Rubio
Legislator
Having also been a hunting enthusiast, Monty became the 36th person ever to be licensed by the State of California as a hunting educational instructor and spent over 60 years teaching his community safe hunting practices. Monty's knowledge and passion for his community and for his electrical work led him to being the resident expert on Baldwin Park's electrical infrastructure and frequently partnering with the city.
- Blanca Rubio
Legislator
As he got older and took on less business, Monty always made time for his main customer the City of Baldwin park, feeling an obligation to continue giving back to his community until he was almost 94 years old, commemorating an exceptional, well lived life full of family and service to his community. Members, I respectfully ask that we adjourn in memory of Humberto Monty Montenegro. Mister Baldwin Park, thank you.
- Jim Wood
Person
Thank you Assembly Member Rubio Members, please take your conversations off the floor. Member Ramos, you are recognized for your adjournment and memory.
- James Ramos
Legislator
Thank you Mister speaker, today I rise to request that we adjourn in the memory of Mike Gallo, a longtime resident and San Bernardino City Unified School Board of Trustees Member and pillar of the community of the City of San Bernardino. Mike passed on April 3 after a brief illness at the age of 65.
- James Ramos
Legislator
Mike was born in Massachusetts and settled in San Bernardino in 1980 after service in the United States Air Force as a first lieutenant. By profession, he was an aerospace engineer. In 1993, he and Mike Kelley co founded Kelley Space and Technology, an aerospace and technology development firm. There, Mike served as the firm's President and CEO.
- James Ramos
Legislator
It is a company that creates and commercializes technologies that seeks to apply space technologies for beneficial uses here on Earth. That personal and company that personal company vision led him to help the San Bernardino region create successful tracks for young students and others by combining academic and career pathways.
- James Ramos
Legislator
In 2012, Governor Jerry Brown appointed Mike to the California Workforce Development Board where he chaired the Career Path and Education Committee and was a Member of the Executive board. Mister Gallo served on the San Bernardino City Unified School District board from 2011 to 2020 and on the County Board of Education from 2021 to 2022.
- James Ramos
Legislator
He also founded Technical Employment Training, Inc. And served as board Chairman for a number of educational and workforce institutions and foundations.
- James Ramos
Legislator
He also laid the pathway for making sure that we continue to move forward with Cradle two career in San Bernardino county to afford those that were interested in the aerospace industry, also being able to lift them up to show them the path forward. We owe a great gratitude to Mister Gallo and his family.
- James Ramos
Legislator
He also served on the time for change board and a founding Member for so many things in San Bernardino City and the county. He was honored in 2014 with a humanitarian award. Mister Gallo and his family will deeply miss his presence in the City of San Bernardino in San Bernardino. county. Our prayers go out to his family and to all those with a great loss in our community. Thank you so much.
- Jim Wood
Person
Thank you Mister Ramos. Members, please bring the names to the desk to be printed in the journal. All requests to adjourn in memory will be deemed read and printed in the journal. Moving to announcements a reminder Members expect and plan for longer floor sessions starting next week. Committee hearings happening upon adjournment.
- Jim Wood
Person
Appropriations meets in swing space, room 1100. Budget Subcommitee two meets in Capital, room 126. Budget Subcommitee three meets in Capitol Room 437. Budget Subcommitee five meets in Capital, room 447. The session schedule is as follows. Friday, May 17. No floor session, no check in session. Monday, May 20, floor session at 01:00 p.m.
- Jim Wood
Person
All other items remaining will be passed and retained. All motion shall be continued. Seeing and hearing no further business. I'm ready to entertain a motion to adjourn. Mister Valencia moves. Mister Joe Patterson seconds that this house be adjourned until Monday, May 20, at 01:00 p.m. And the house is adjourned.
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