Senate Floor

Secretary will call the roll.

[Roll Call]

A quorum is present. Senators, if we can return to our desk, we're going to be led in prayer by Senator Padilla, after which, please remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance. Senator, give us 1 second. Turn it on. You're on.

Well, we're on. Thank you, madam President. Colleagues, please join me in reflection and prayer. The noted lyricist penned, Dale Turner penned, "Dreams are renewable. No matter what our age or condition, there are still untapped possibilities within us and new beauty waiting to be born."

Glorious God, today we thank you for the work of our Senate as we bring the dreams and hopes of many to a workable reality. May we continue to discover untapped possibilities through our conversation and collaboration. May we nurture our dreams to fulfillment through patient exploration and courageous discovery.

May we not grow tired of our efforts to bring peace, health, and prosperity to the constituents whom we serve. Amen.

Members and guests, please join me in the pledge. Good job to the kids in the gallery, Members, we have a lot of introductions today. We have a total of five introductions today, so let's make sure we are running as smooth as possible. We're ready.

Senator Jones, are you ready to kick us off under privileges of the floor with your introduction? Not yet.

Good morning, Madam President and Members and guests in the gallery. It's an honor to kick off our presentations this morning. As you have said, we've got several introductions, so let's get going.

Colleague, Senators, earlier this year, you all joined me in passing SCR Senate Concurrent Resolution 116 to recognize September 22 to September 29 as Frontotemporal Degeneration Awareness Week. Today I rise to recognize some advocates who work tirelessly to bring awareness to this terminal and incurable neurodegenerative disease that causes impairments to speech, personality, behavior, and motor skills.

One of the folks that we are very familiar with that is currently suffering from this disease is Bruce Willis.

Joining us this morning is Emma Willis, here on the Senate Floor, and joining her are Susan Dickinson from the Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration, and Wanda Smith, a constituent of mine in the district who brought this important issue to our attention.

In the gallery, joining us upstairs are Members of the Willis family and other advocates that are very familiar with this situation and working every day to find cures. These first advocates are up here today to witness the passing of SCR 116 in the Assembly. Assemblymember Maienschein will be carrying the SCR in the Assembly chambers in just a few moments.

Please join me this morning, please, in welcoming this group of fierce fighters to the California Senate Chambers. I appreciate your attention this morning.

Welcome. Welcome to the State Senate. If any other Member wishes to join in a group photo, now is the time. Our second introduction of the day is led by Senator Nguyen and Senator Wahab from the Majority Leaders act desk. Senator Nguyen, you are recognized.

Thank you, Madam President. I'm pleased to introduce Quinn Hartman from Huntington Beach, my district, who recently received the honor of being named the California Interscholastic Federation's 2024 Scholar athlete of the year.

But before I bring him on here with his family, I want to also recognize the board Members and staff of CIF as well who are here to join us. They're up there. As a three sport athlete, Quinn has demonstrated leadership and character as the captain of the soccer team, cross country and baseball teams at Marina High School.

He also has served in leadership roles in the Science National Honor Society and the California Scholarship Federation. He's also a founding Member and President of the Marina Math Club and as the Vice President of the medical Career Club.

Apart from being all these accomplished on the field, his achievement in the classroom, including completing all 17 AP classes at Marina High School by his junior year, he has also was acknowledged by the college board as an AP scholar in 2022 and an AP scholar with distinction in 2023.

On top of all this, Quinn is also an avid volunteer in his community, working youth sports and as a bilingual interpreter for the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach. Outstanding young Californians like Quinn, who admirably represent their generation through their talents, dedication, determination, leadership, and poses the initiative drive to succeed in their pursuit.

So please join me in congratulating Quinn Hartman and his parents. His mom is here with him today, Alison Hartman and his younger brother, Owen Hartman, who is a freshman in high school.

And join me in congratulating them in raising such a bright and intelligent young man who has a bright future ahead of him and all his dedication, contribution to our community.

Congratulations, Quinn, and welcome to the State Senate.

We'll have Senator Nguyen take this photo first with her special guest. I welcome any other Member who wishes to participate in a group photo. Continuing with our introduction, Senator Wahab, are you ready to present our next scholar athlete of the year?

Yes.

Please proceed.

Thank you. I first want to also highlight that the Milpitas principal is here in the gallery, Greg Wohlman. Not exactly sure where, but thank you. I just wanted to honor him as well. But I'm proud to introduce our next CIF scholar athlete, Keryssa Li. Keryssa is a bit of a renaissance woman.

She's the captain of the cross-country team at Milpitas High School, where she also participates in track and has been a varsity-level athlete for four years. Beyond that, she's a mathematics buff, president of the math club, math competition participant and proctor, three-time qualifier for the American Invitational Mathematics Exam.

So, all of you guys who love math, you know she's your girl. A scholar, having earned two time AP Scholar with Distinction. National Merit finalist, a community leader. A board of the Leadership Experience Opportunity Club at Milpitas High School. Founded a local nonprofit providing education services for students in grades K through 12.

She plays four instruments and possesses a quality that cannot be taught: curiosity. A personal project, she analyzed the data behind K-pop survival reality show Boys Planet to predict which contestants are most likely to win and debut. She gathered raw data from public sources, cleaned and processed data manually, and filtered data based on contestant.

Through sportsmanship, she has honed her sense of trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, caring, fairness, and citizenship. Those six pillars and her innate curiosity will take her far. Congratulations to Keryssa and her entire family.

Congrats, Keryssa, and welcome to the State Senate. Members, now is the time to join if you wish to participate in the group photo. Senator Newman has our third introduction. Senator, please proceed.

Thank you, Madam President. Colleagues, I'm very pleased to welcome to the State Senate chamber this morning the fourth grade Dual Immersion class from Pantera Elementary School in Diamond Bar. They're in Sacramento today as part of their annual trip to learn about state government and California history. They're directly above me.

Let's give them a warm California State Senate welcome.

Welcome, Pantera Elementary School. Senators, if we can take our conversations off the floor, it's getting a little loud. Without objection, Members, we will take up the following resolutions. Out of order. File item 35, SCR 147, and file item 36, SCR 148.

After adoption of each resolution, we will return to privileges of the floor for each respective author to introduce their guests. Senator Ashby, are you prepared for file item 35? She is ready.

Secretary, please read.

Senate Concurrent Resolution 147 by Senator Ashby, relative to Foster Youth Awareness Month.

Senator Ashby.

Thank you, Madam President. I rise to present SCR 147 today, which designates the month of May as Foster Youth Awareness Month. In every corner of our state there are countless foster youth growing up in loving, wonderful homes, but there are also foster youth in extremely traumatizing situations.

California's providers and foster families work tirelessly to deliver these caring homes, resources, and supportive services to nearly 45,000 children and youth every day. Children of color, LGBTQ youth, and youth with disabilities are disproportionately represented in our foster care system. However, no matter the demographic, half of all children in foster care have endured four or more adverse childhood experiences which negatively impact their development.

Many foster youth age out of the system without the necessary life skills, education, or support network they need to help them navigate the challenges of adulthood, and as a result, they deal disproportionately with housing insecurity, addiction, and poverty as adults. In California, 93 percent of foster youth say that they would like to attend a four-year college.

Only four percent of former foster youth will actually obtain their bachelor degrees. I'm proud to say that last year, we, the Senate, took a big step forward by making college debt-free for former foster youth in the State of California, including their housing and food, but in order to change the trajectory of the lives of foster youth, we must be intentional, focused, and insist on meaningful opportunities on their behalf. Colleagues, please join me in designating May as Foster Youth Awareness Month, voting aye on SCR 147 and the following 148.

And more importantly, committing to view each piece of legislation that we face through the lens of creating pathways to success for our most vulnerable youth. I ask for your aye vote.

Senator Wahab, you're recognized.

Thank you. I rise in support of SCR 147, Foster Youth Awareness Month. As the only person in the Senate who is a former foster youth of a unique perspective, I see our system from all sides, the good and the bad, and I know our system historically, and I will say even today, has issues, no issues separating a child from their parents, which leads to disproportionate number of families of color being separated. But I'm also aware that there are instances where the best interest of the child is to be removed from their home.

For example, those children that become the responsibility of the state, a ward of the state, as I was, these children deserve better. And as my colleague stated, roughly less than three percent of foster youth obtain a bachelor's degree. Roughly 18 percent graduate high school. And this, of course, shrinks when they're trying to pursue a higher education degree.

And I've heard it in the Senate, I've heard it in the Assembly, I've heard it even outside in the regular world where people talk about foster youth as the only, you know, situation that they're going to have is that they end up incarcerated or they have a drug addiction problem or they become a sex worker.

These are the statistics and the beliefs that many people believe that foster youth end up being a part of from a government-backed system. And it's frustrating when you see that over 40 percent of school-age children in foster care have educational difficulties and behavioral health issues. And some people say they're emotionally stunted.

I've heard this here in the Senate, and it's incredibly frustrating to hear that that's how we talk about people. When it's our children, our system, that has consistently failed, and we are making strides in the right direction of trying to ensure that access to education is available, but that's the bare minimum.

It's roughly 60,000 foster youth in the State of California, and I personally believe every single one of them should be housed their entire life, a home of their own. We talked in Covid that, hey, you know, my kid, my cousin, my nephew, my whatever, is moving back in with their parents because Covid hit. They lost their job.

Foster youth and aged-out youth don't have that luxury, and we continue to, again, give a lot to a lot of community members, including our veterans, and yet we don't think about the kids that have been in the system for years, no fault of their own, but their circumstance, and so our foster system should provide stability and safety and support that they had missing as they grew up. And we should also continue to help that child as they have aged out of the system. And right now, we're looking at budget cuts.

And the first thing that I'm always looking at is what are we doing for the foster youth that don't have the safety nets, that don't have family that are stepping in? And in my personal opinion, we are still not doing enough. They should be the very first when we're talking about vulnerable communities because they don't have advocates. They don't have people in their lives that are rooting them on.

And yes, there are some foster youth that get lucky and beat the system, beat the statistics, some that get adopted into homes that actually do care about them, but that's not everybody. So I asked my colleagues to support Foster Youth Awareness Month, and let's not paint a rosy picture. The entire point of highlighting Foster Youth Awareness Month is to highlight the work that we still have to do. So I respectfully ask for an aye. Thank you.

Thank you, Senator. Do we have any further discussion or debate on this item? Senator Ashby, you may close.

Respectfully urge an aye vote.

Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call].

Please call the absent members.

[Roll Call].

Ayes: 37; no: zero. The resolution is adopted. Senator Ashby, please proceed with your introduction of your special guest today.

Thank you, Colleagues. You all obviously already know one fierce former foster youth advocate in our Senate, colleague from the East Bay. I would like to introduce you to a couple more.

First, though, let me start by saying these three amazing young ladies are former foster youth and now serve as youth advocates for an organization you all know well: the John Burton Advocates for Youth. First up, Tranecia Jones. Tranecia attends Sacramento State University. She's pursuing her degree in criminal justice.

She was previously a youth ambassador in Stanislaus County and is working toward obtaining a master's in social work. Also welcome Wednesday Pope. Wednesday attends Folsom Lake Community College. She's pursuing her degree in business administration, and she previously advocated to expand support services for all foster youth at her college. She plans to transfer to a four-year university.

And Roesella Wilhem attends American River College, is pursuing a degree in funeral directory. She strongly believes in ensuring that our loved ones experience dignity and honor, even in their passing. Colleagues, please join me in honoring and recognizing these three outstanding young ladies who have demonstrated incredible perseverance, as well as the other young people that you will meet today during Foster Youth Awareness Month.

The State Senate welcomes these three fierce advocates. Group photo time if you wish to participate. Senator Ashby, I believe you have one more introduction.

I do, Madam President. Thank you. In conjunction with SCR 147, I would like to recognize a few very important people and organizations who work tirelessly to advocate for foster youth services. In our gallery today, we have Adrienne Shilton, the Vice President of Public Policy and Strategy for the Alliance of Child and Family Services.

We have Kat Best, Policy and Regulatory Analyst for the Alliance of Child and Family Services, we have Amanda Kirchner, the Director of Legislative Advocacy for the Child Welfare Directors Association, Eileen Cubanski, Executive Director for the California Welfare Directors Association, and Simone Tureck Lee, Director of Housing and Health for the John Burton Advocates for Youth. I'd like to ask my colleagues to please join me in welcoming to the Senate.

Thank you for joining us today.

Now moving on to File Item 36. Senator Alvarado-Gil prepared. She is ready. Secretary, please read.

Sitting Concurrent Resolution 148 by Senator Alvarado-Gil relative to Foster Care Awareness Month.

Senator.

Thank you, Madam President, and my colleague from Sacramento with a wonderful introduction. I am here today to present Senate Concurrent Resolution 148, which will declare the month of May 2024 as Foster Care Awareness Month.

This resolution raises awareness about California children navigating the complexities of our foster care system and declares that every child deserves a safe, stable home with nurturing, responsible adults as their protectors. I also want to acknowledge the life experiences and shared wisdom of my colleague from Hayward.

According to UC Berkeley's California Child Welfare Indicators Project, nearly 100 times a day a child in California is placed in foster care. This contributes to an average of 60,000 children in our foster care system. In fact, in any given year, 700,000 children in California are in contact with a child welfare system.

Children who are forcefully removed from their homes are more likely to experience abuse, neglect, and other adverse childhood experiences, or ACEs, leading to chronic school absenteeism, homelessness, encounters with the juvenile justice system, employment challenges, and both immediate and long term health complications.

And it is no secret that in order for us to help to fund these programs, we must rely on allocations through our budget, which this year we're having to make very difficult decisions. California has spearheaded profound reforms by enhancing assessments for personalized support in prioritizing family based care, fostering a more compassionate and effective system.

These efforts reflect a commitment to providing essential services and stability for our foster youth and families, driving positive change across the state.

As chair of Senate Human Services and on behalf of all of my colleagues, please join me in designating May 2024 as Foster Care Awareness Month to ensure supportive and effective programs continue to be developed and improved throughout California.

I would also like to thank my colleague from the San Fernando Valley for her hard work on our budget as our budget chair in having to help navigate how our funding this year will help to support our programs. I'd like to acknowledge the California Youth Connection, a youth led organization that develops young leaders to transform foster care through community led organizing, legislative advocacy, and policy guidance to implement real and impactful change.

Thank you to the California youth connections advocacy over the last 30 years and to tell all of the organizations and foster families working to better the lives of all foster youth here in the State of California. I kindly ask for your aye vote on SCR 148.

Thank you, Senator. Do we have any discussion or debate on file item 36? This item is eligible for unanimous roll call. Do we have any objection? Ayes, 37. No, zero. The resolution is adopted from the majority leader's desk. Senator Alvarado-Gil, you may proceed with your presentation.

Thank you so much. With me today, I'd like to acknowledge the California Youth Connections legislative team. Our lead, Christopher Hernandez, and California Youth Connection members Clarissa Pena, Eliana Pena, Jessica Fuentes, Amber Way, Sheila De La Majorie, Ethan Benavidez, Malachi Peterson, and Tyler Zeno. Thank you so much for your leadership.

Our youth here is carrying the flag for all foster youth and helping to bring the voice of foster youth to the legislative floor and in policy decisions. Thank you so much for joining us today.

Welcome to our young warriors. Our young warriors here. If anyone else wishes to be in this photo, now is the time.

Are you up? Okay. At the request of the author, please remove the following bill from consent: AB 1946, which is Item 66.

The desk will note. Pursuant to Senate Rule 29.10c, the following bills are referred to the Committee on Rules: File Item 21: AB 1359. Now into consideration of the Daily File. Under Second Reading file, we have items one through 21. Secretary, please read.

[Second Reading].

Second Reading will be read. Under unfinished business, we have one item only: File Item 23. Senator Durazo, are you prepared?

Secretary, please read.

Senate Bill 828 by Senator Durazzo, enact relating to employment and declaring the urgency thereof to take effect immediately.

Thank you, Madam President. Members, I am here today to present SB 828, which is an urgency measure that moves the start date of the healthcare minimum wage by one month from June 1 to July 1, 2024.

Senator Durazo.

SB 525, as you recall, provided a wage increase to more than 400,000 healthcare workers, mainly women and people of color, who take care of us, took care of us, and keep our healthcare system functioning. It is clear that these workers need this in order to help support their families.

I also want to give great appreciation to the healthcare employers that recognize this and have already begun to increase wages. This Bill aligns SB 525 with the budget year. Thank you, and I respectfully ask for your aye vote.

Thank you, Senator. Do we have any discussion or debate on file item 23? Senator Niello, you're recognized.

Thank you, Madam President. I guess one could say this is puzzling, but then again, maybe not. This is horrible policy.

As I articulated when the original Bill was introduced, this not only causes an increase in wages at the lowest end of healthcare institutions, but all the way up the chain because of the reality of wage compaction, number one, and the fact that exempt employees have to be guaranteed double the minimum wage rate, calculating it on a 2080-hour annual pay.

That, by the way, is $104,000 a year minimum wage for exempt employees. I have to say I was puzzled when the Governor signed this Bill in the first place because he had vetoed other bills that had an impact on the state budget. Frankly, arguably, a lower impact than this Bill eventually will.

And then it was shortly after that that I remember he kind of said, oops, and now we're working to delay these wage increases. Now, for somebody like me, it's difficult to know whether to vote yes or no. Yes meaning delay it because it's bad policy in the first place.

No, because I was opposed to the policy and therefore I oppose this. I don't know if anybody else is similarly confused, but this is just bad policy, and frankly, the only route is to completely repeal the Bill altogether. So I will just be laying off.

Do we have any additional discussion or debate? Senator Durazo, you may close. Senator Wilk, apologize. Senator Wilk, you're recognized.

Thank you, Madam President. I know it's Thursday, so I'm not going to go on and on, but I want to line my comments with the Budget Vice Chairman. I have a little bit different take, though.

Out of the seven hospitals in my district, two of them are quite confident if this is fully implemented, they will be out of business within a year.

So even though I didn't support the original policy, and it'd be nice to just watch the Governor dangle, this is going to allow my hospitals to stay open at least another month. So I'm going to support this today, but very conflicted about it. Reluctant aye vote.

Thank you, Senator. Any additional comments? Discussion? I am seeing none, hearing none. Senator Durazo, you may close.

Thank you, and I appreciate the comments by my colleagues. Again, today is not about any particulars of SB 525. Today is simply to move the start date from June 1 to July 1. And with that, I respectfully ask for your aye vote.

Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll call]

Please call the absent members.

[Roll call]

Ayes 31, noes zero, on the urgency. Ayes 31, noes zero. Assembly amendments are concurred in. We have two items under Senate third reading file items 30 and 39. Senator Rubio prepared for file item 30. She is ready.

She's ready. Secretary, please read.

Senate Resolution 92 by Senator Rubio, relative to Lupus and Fibromyalgia Awareness Month.

Senator Rubio.

Thank you, Madam President, ladies and gentlemen of the Senate. Today I rise to present SR 92, which proclaims May 2024 as Lupus and Fibromyalgia Awareness Month. Both lupus and fibromyalgia are chronic, long-lasting disorders that cause severe pain throughout the body.

In the United States, there are an estimated 1.5 million people diagnosed with lupus and over four million people diagnosed with fibromyalgia. Research has shown that women who have experienced sexual assault or domestic abuse are almost twice as likely to develop fibromyalgia. Unfortunately, at this time, there is no cure for either one of them.

SR 92 will help to expand public awareness and education of lupus and fibromyalgia with the hope of providing patients with better treatment and future care. I want to highlight at Looms4Lupus, an organization in my district who works tirelessly to not only bring awareness, but really provide resources that are critically important to those in need.

And I want to thank all my co-authors, which it does have bipartisan support. They've joined me in supporting this important resolution, and I respectfully ask for an aye vote. Thank you.

Thank you, Senator. Any discussion and debate on File Item 30? Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call].

Please call the absent members.

[Roll Call].

Ayes: 37; no: zero. Resolution is adopted. File Item 39. Senator Alvarado-Gil, are you prepared?

Secretary, please read.

Senate Resolution 97 by Senator Alvarado-Gil, relative to California Fairgrounds Appreciation Month.

Senator.

Thank you, Madam President. Permission to use a prop?

Without objection.

Thank you. All right, all right. Thank you, Madam President. I rise to present Senate Resolution 97, which gives thanks to California fairs by designating May 2024 as Fairground Appreciation Month. Now, you might wonder how you, here in the Senate, can earn a beautiful tejana, or hat, or a belt buckle.

Well, these are trophies that are given out at the fair for sometimes lasting 8 seconds on a ride, sometimes having the winning livestock in the arena, and other times to show leadership. Well, as a freshman Senator, I think I've earned my 8 seconds being bucked. With a "B."

All right, so California is home to 76 different fairgrounds that serve the entire state. In Senate district four, whether it's boots, barrows, and bling in El Dorado, Zinfandel and Zinnias in Amador, or as we know, life happens at the fair in Stanislaus County.

Our fairs generate hundreds of millions of dollars for nonprofits, youth organizations, schools, cities, counties, small businesses, and the state. Did you know that the livestock auction generates hundreds of thousands of dollars for youth scholarships?

These are youth that, as young as elementary school, are dedicated to raising livestock, steer, swine, turkeys, rabbits, and other goats and sheep in order for them to earn money for college, in order for them to earn money for trade school.

It gives our young people an opportunity to be entrepreneurs, and it gives the community some really great healthy meat. There's also competitions, where, if your competitive spirit comes out and you want to bring your best floral arrangement or your best baked goods and jams, you can do that as well in my office.

We've won several ribbons for our baked good and jams. And me, myself, have won several ribbons in table setting. Yes, I am a California awarded table setting competitor. However, our fairgrounds are so much more than just an annual event where you can find the very best kettle corn.

Our fairgrounds also serve as makeshift hospitals, evacuation centers during fires and other natural disasters, vaccination sites, and so much more. Our county fairs embody our community, and I ask that you join me in recognizing the importance of this to our state.

Now, many of you are probably asking me, what's this book that we have on our desk today? The Celebrated Jumping Frog by Mark Twain. Well, Mark Twain himself visited Calaveras County in my district in Angels Camp and heard the story of the jumping frog.

And many of you have now participated in our annual event here at the Capitol. Now, I see our President over there smiling. That's because my colleague from San Fernando Valley, for the very first time, jockeyed her frog here at the Capitol. And along with that, my colleague from Los Angeles was also, for the very first time, was able to jockey her first frog. Which yes, is it means you touch a frog, and you let it leap forward for the competition.

Well, this year I want to congratulate Assembly Member Los Angeles Luz Rivas and her team, which won with their frog, Dua Lipa, the competition with a jump of 12ft, nine inches. And this is the second year that they hold this title. So Members in the Senate, we've got some competition in the Assembly.

I also want to acknowledge that we have had the international frog team finals in Calaveras and an 89 year old grandmother of Gustine. This is six generations of families jumping frogs. The team from Merced won the bragging rights for the farthest jumping frogs.

So congratulations to my colleague from Merced for the bragging rights of California for the farthest jumping jockey in California. Now, I know that this is a lot of fun, and I'm hoping that you will enjoy what I'm sharing with you today and take it to your own fairs.

Like my colleague from Los Angeles shared today that for the first time since COVID, she and her family went to the Los Angeles County Fair and had a wonderful time. So remember, the fairs are not just about, not just about centers for community, but it's the embodiment of family.

Now, I want to invite all of you to visit our display in Room 215, which is a quilt designed and sewn by the Sierra Quilt Guild of Tuolumne County in Sonora. The men and women of Tuolumne County have put together a beautiful scenic display of California Sierras, and this will also be auctioned at the upcoming Mother Lode Fair. Thank you so much, and I respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Thank you, Senator, for your very colorful presentation on your item. Senator Eggman, you're recognized.

Thank you very much, Madam President. I rise also in support of this resolution. And also to announce, if people have had your interest piqued by that conversation, this weekend, starting Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, it's a San Joaquin County Fair resurgence. You may have seen it on TV. Wine, beer, the Mary Jane Blige girls. We're going to have it all. So please come on out to San Joaquin County Fairgrounds this weekend.

Senator Menjivar? Senator Dahle, you're recognized from Senator Menjivar.

Thank you, Madam President. I'm pulling a pro tem move. He never gives his bills from his own desk. I want to also rise in support of SR 97. Somebody who represents 15 counties, 15 county fairs, and several district fairs. It's a great community driver. They actually generate money for the state. That's another debate for another day. We've went down that road many times, but also stand in support. Thank you for bringing it forward.

Senator Grove, you're recognized.

President, I, too, rise in support of this resolution. You know, most of these fairs throughout our districts have rodeos in them where the legendary Cotton Rosser is a stock contractor for the majority of these fairs that provide rodeo entertainment. His son, Reno, has taken over that wonderful business.

They actually do a lot of exhibits here on the State Capitol. When we have Farm and Ag Day or Ag Day at the Capitol, and they raise some of the most phenomenal livestock that entertains millions of people around the state and our neighboring states as well.

And I can tell you that just recently, recently, and I'm not trying to get off this subject matter, but Reno Rosser, I called him because there was a group of human trafficking survivors that wanted to ride a horse. And we recently took them out to the ranch, just here in Marysville, and they were able to get on a 1200 pound animal and ride a horse, and they had the best day. I know that they do things like that. They also do a lot of things with foster youth.

When they had the fires down in Los Angeles, there was a lot of individuals that come up from the LA area to work for the Rosser family, and they provided them great wages. They promote those individuals to pursue a rodeo career when they have the skill and ability to do so, and it creates jobs for them.

And I just appreciate you bringing this bill forward because we need to protect our fairs and we need to protect our rodeos. And they do provide a wonderful source of entertainment and a wonderful source of income and revenue to our districts. So thank you for bringing this forward.

Thank you, Senator. Senator Blakespear, you're recognized.

Yes, thank, thank you. Thank you, President.

Sorry, mic is not on yet.

Hello.

Still not working. Give us a minute, Senator.

Okay. Okay. Thank you. Okay. Thank you, President. I also rise in support of the fairgrounds and say thank you for bringing this forward today. I have a prosperous one in my district at Del Mar. A million people visit there. There's a fair, there's a thoroughbred race club, and I went there as a child.

And we have all sorts of music that's there. And we're also about to have a recycling center and a really important circular economy portion on the fairground. So I'm really excited about this, and I want to say thank you again for bringing it up.

Senator Durazo.

I just want to add a little bit to the comments of my colleague. When I went this weekend, I saw everything from a lowrider parade throughout the fair to the concert of Los Tucanes, for anybody who knows them. And of course, great food. And then there's greasy food, deep fried batch, piece of butter.

So imagine what that would taste like. And all kinds of goodies like that. I got on the roller coaster with my grandkids. So you can do all sorts of things that get your mind off. I'm glad I made it before it closed. Thank you.

Any other Members wish to speak on their fair in their county? Senator Rubio, you are recognized.

Well, we cannot leave out Pomona Fairplex. One of the, respectfully, best in our state. And so I invite all of you to come and visit. It does provide a lot of opportunity for food, games, family. And, boy, do you see generations come together just to be with each other. So, what a wonderful resolution. And thank you, and I add my voice to it.

Seeing all discussion and debate end, Senator Alvarado-Gil, you may close.

Thank you so much to my colleagues for recognizing their fairs, and I await invitations to their county fairs. And I always have an open invitation to anyone who wants to come to our county fairs. I've got tickets for you. And I will make sure that you come and have the best time of your year.

I would be remiss if I did not also thank the Turner family with the famous 20 mule cart, 20 pull mule cart in Inyo County, which I was able to ride this last weekend. And my fellow riders, who continue to make our fairs part of community, part of the ag community, part of the livestock community, and our wonderful riders. Thank you so much, and I respectfully ask for an aye vote.

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

[Roll Call]

Ayes 37, noes zero. The resolution is adopted. On deck, colleagues, is a special consent calendar number 37 with items 68 through 76. Is there any item a Member would like to remove from the consent calendar? Secretary, please read all items 68 through 76.

Senate Resolution 87. Assembly Concurrent Resolution 146, 159, 161, 179, 183, 185, 188, 189.

Secretary, please call the roll on the first item.

[Roll call]

I will please call the absent Members.

[Roll call]

Ayes 37. No, 0. The consent calendar is approved. Moving on to Committee announcements. We have five sub budget committees meeting after. Senator Laird, you're recognized.

Thank you, Madam President. Budget Subcommitee Number One on Education will meet upon adjournment in room 2100 in the swing space.

Senator Becker, you're recognized

Hi. Budget Sub Two will meet in room 2200 fifteen minutes after adjournment. Thank you.

Budget Sub Three will meet in room 1200 fifteen minutes after session. Senator Padilla, you're recognized.

Thank you, Madam President. Budget Subcommitee Bumber Four on State Administration and Government will convene here in the Capitol, room 113, fifteen minutes following adjournment.

Senator Wahab, you're recognized.

Thank you. Budget Sub Five will meet in room 112, roughly 10 minutes after close of session.

Senators, we have another item that we will need everyone here for if we can return back to our desk. Members, we are returning to motions resolutions for Senator Gonzalez for her procedure motion.

Is there a motion? Majority Leader, you're recognized.

Thank you, Madam President, Members. I move to withdraw AB 1955 from the Health Committee and re-refer the measure to the Appropriations Committee, please.

Thank you, Senator. Senator Wilk, you're recognized.

Thank you, Madam President. I rise to amend that motion on the floor to have AB 1955 to be referred to the Senate Committee on Judiciary. AB 1955 has a direct impact on the fundamental rights of parents to oversee and control the upbringing of their children and should properly be heard in Senate Judiciary Committee before being considered in Senate Approps.

This bill was heard yesterday in the Education Committee and was quite clear that there's very important constitutional and privacy issues involved, and it's appropriate to go to the Judiciary Committee.

Madam President--

Thank you, Senator. Senator Wilk has made a motion to move AB 1955 to Judish. Senator Wilk is asking for an aye vote. Majority Leader Senator Gonzalez is asking for a no vote.

Correct. Thank you.

Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call].

Please call the absent members.

[Roll Call].

Ayes: seven; 30 noes. The motion fails. Moving back to the motion from Majority Leader Senator Gonzalez. Senator Gonzalez is asking for an aye vote. Secretary, please call the roll.

Senators, this is eligible for unanimous roll call. Is there any objection? Seeing none, ayes: 37; no: zero. The motion passes. Now we're returning back to Motions and Resolution. This is a time for our adjourn in memories. Senator Becker, you're recognized. Colleagues, Senator Becker, give me a minute.

Senators, we are now moving into our adjournment memories for respect of the families of the lost individuals that we will recognize today. Please return to our desk or take our conversations off the floor. Senator Becker, you're recognized.

Good morning, Madam President and colleagues. I rise today to honor former Peninsula congressman Paul Norton "Pete" McCloskey, who passed away earlier in May. He was elected as a Republican representing the Peninsula in 1967, and Pete represented the best part of politics. He was known as a man of principle, locally as well as nationally.

He graduated from Stanford and then served our country in the Marine Corps in Korea, taking bullets in the leg while leading bayonet charges in that war. Prior to entering Congress, he was an attorney who took on cases for those without a voice. Congressman McCloskey centered his work on the community.

He spoke for peace, even when it was unpopular to do so and loudly came out against the Vietnam War. He spoke up against corruption as well. He was actually the first Congressmember to call for President Nixon's impeachment after the news of Watergate broke. He also, and again, as a Republican representative of Peninsula.

He was very much in favor of the environment and climate and actually established the very first Earth Day in 1960s. He was co founder of the very first Earth Day. He was also very involved in good government. And that's really where I had the chance to work with him, working with clean money campaign and clean money initiatives.

And that was really important to him all throughout the last couple decades. Pete joined the Cochett Law Firm in early two thousands, which is one of the most respected firms in our area, working in the public good.

He worked as a lawyer representing those that were taken advantage of, and he was passionate about protecting the environment and social well being. I hope you will join me in sending condolences to his wife, Helen, and their families. May Pete's memory forever be a blessing.

Senator Laird, you're recognized.

Thank you, Madam President. I joined in adjourning in memory for former Congressman Pete McCloskey. I've heard many of us talk privately, and we all seem to have summer internship experiences in Washington, DC. Mine was with Pete McCloskey, and it was not just any internship. It was in his presidential campaign.

He chose to run in the Republican primaries against Richard Nixon. And I worked for him in New Hampshire and in Washington, DC. And it was very principled stand at the time. He and my future boss, Congressman Jerry Waldie, both traveled to Southeast Asia and came back and thought we were in a situation that could not go forward.

And so he not only became one of the first Republican members of Congress to oppose the war, he took the principled step of challenging Richard Nixon in the presidential primaries. And while he got washed out big time, he planted the flag in a way that was very important and on which history reflects very well.

And part of his experience was, as was mentioned, he fought in Korea. And he has written a book that I have somewhere on his specific battlefield experience with his platoon. And the other thing that didn't get mentioned very clearly is when he was first elected to Congress.

The person he beat in the Republican primary was former child actor Shirley Temple. And the book about that race was called the Sinking of the Lollipop. It was written by someone whose family members still live in my district. And it was just true to form. Staking a flag, running on a principled stand, winning the impossible race.

And in his later years, he was on a farm in the Capay Valley, was a neighbor of my brothers, was a well known presence at the almond festival. They both had to fend off fires. And just overall, he was a patriot. He was a family man. He was principled. He was a good neighbor.

He was a good friend. I think he will live in history as one of the finer profiles in courage in the United States Congress. I join in the memory of Pete McCloskey.

Semper fidelis, Congressmember. Senator, please bring his name forward so that he may be properly memorialized. Senator Hurtado, you're recognized. Not yet, Senator. We're going to try a different mic. We're having some difficulties with mics today.

Thank you, Madam President. Fellow members, it is with great sadness that I rise to ask that we adjourn today's floor session in loving memory of my dear friend John Vigna, who tragically passed away on April 29, 2024. John had a long and successful career in the Capitol and in the Democratic Party.

He spent a career fighting for workers and the underdog, working for Speaker John A. Perez, Lorena Gonzalez, Fiona Ma, and eventually the California Democratic Party.

He served as President of the California Young Democrats, the Sac County Department of Health and Human Services Alcohol and Drug Advisory Board, the City of Sacramento Racial Profiling Commission, was a founding member of the Capital LGBTQ Association, as well as many other posts. John Vigna's story began in Redding, California, where he was born and raised.

He first stood out in high school as a brilliant student of history and government. John always listens before he speaks, said Mike Moynihan, his high school government and economics instructor, who called Vigna one of his all time top student students.

But before his astronomical rise as a capital staffer, Vigna astounded his north state neighbors by mounting a credible campaign for Redding City Council. He was an 18 year old shoe salesman at Mervyn's fresh out of Enterprise High School who chose themes that resonated with electorate.

He finished in the middle of a crowded field, earning over 3500 votes, leaving an impression on former Record Searchlight editor Tom King, who penned an editorial calling Vigna savvy beyond his years. John first came to the Capital region in 2003 when he left writing to complete a bachelor's degree at California State University, Sacramento.

He further blossomed during his time here, living as an openly gay man for the first time in his life. He landed an internship with then Secretary of State Kevin Shelley, learning the ropes firsthand and parlaying the experience into a career that saw him serving multiple members from Carol Mignone to Nicole Parra.

I first crossed paths with John Vigna around this time when I too came to Sac State for my undergraduate degree in political science. We immediately bonded over being Democrats from rural California. John was my guiding light.

He helped me land my first internship at the Capitol, encouraged me to further get involved, and mentored me along the way as I entered into public service. His commitment to fight for clean water further united us.

When reflecting on a bill he once worked on in 2009, which required working class city of Maywood to cleanse its drinking water of magnates and other contaminants, John said, a lot of the time government does things and you don't see the benefit. This time, the benefit was clear and unambiguous.

That commitment to meaningful, tangible improvement in the lives of Californians is what made John so uniquely influential in the life of so many of us coming up through public policy circles, and it will stay with me for the rest of my life.

In addition to his numerous professional personal successes, he would want you to know that he put his expansive knowledge of history and trivia to use as a champion on Jeopardy, both as a one day champion and as a wild card quarter finalist.

Because of John's constant desire to help others in advocacy for organ donation, his family graciously donated his organs to allow others another chance at life.

John's legacy and long list of accolades during his time in Sacramento and beyond will forever live on in the hearts and minds of many of his friends, but also in the hallways of this capital. We miss him dearly, mourn his absence, and we will cherish our time spent him for the rest of our days. For these reasons and so many more, I ask that we adjourn in the memory of John Garrett Vigna.

Thank you for sharing his story with us, Senator. Please bring his name forward so that we may properly memorialize him. Senator Atkins, you're recognized.

Thank you, Madam President. I want to join my good colleague and rise to adjourn in memory of John Vigna. Also, I first met John when I was in the Assembly, and he was working for then speaker John A. Perez.

And as someone who also worked for an elected official previously, I have to say that John, or Vigna, as we affectionately called him, was a staff person's staff person. Talented, hardworking, and committed. He was tremendously gifted, as my colleague already said, as a writer. And he was thoughtful, caring as a person to everyone.

And those are the reasons he was so effective in his work, whether it was helping people get, as already indicated, safe drinking water or helping more students afford college.

Although a young man himself, John was also a dedicated mentor to others, particularly through young Democrats and by becoming a founding member of the Capital LGBTQ Association, and to our colleague who represents the city of Redding, John was a proud son of that community and spoke about it often.

I know that there was a wonderful celebration of his life at the end of last week week and appreciate so much all of us being able to adjourn in his memory today. Thank you.

Thank you, Senator. Senator Gonzalez, you're recognized.

Thank you, Madam President and members, I rise today to adjourn in the memory of a local hero and baseball legend, Sean Burroughs. Sean Burroughs was a star athlete at just 12 years old in Long Beach.

A two time Little League world champion who pitched back to back no hitters in the Little League World Series, Burroughs was launched into the spotlight as a kid just for that reason. His Long beach squad's wins in 1992 and 93 made them the first American team to win the LLWS back to back. In 2000, Sean played baseball in the Summer Olympics, winning a gold medal with the US team.

Drafted with the 9th overall pick in the 1998 MLB draft by the San Diego Padres, Sean would play seven MLB seasons with the Padres, the Tampa Bay Rays, then known as the Devil Rays, Arizona Diamondbacks, and Minnesota Twins, finishing a career 0.278 batting average, 12 home runs, and 143 runs batted in.

He was just recently passed away as he was actually at a Little League game for his young child, about 6-7 years old, about the same age as my child, just in a park. He was found, unfortunately, unresponsive. And so his family mourns him.

The Long Beach community mourns him, and the Long Beach Little League baseball community mourns him. And I ask that we adjourn in his memory and offer deep condolences to his family.

Thank you, Senator, for sharing his story with us. Please bring his name forward so that we may properly memorialize him. Senators, we're asking for a one to two minute break. If we can stay on the floor one to two minutes, we will reconvene in a couple minutes.

Senators, we have one final introduction today of a special guest. Under privileges of the floor, we have Senator Portantino. Please proceed.

Thank you, Madam President. It is indeed an honor, colleagues, and a great pleasure that I introduce actor, director, producer, and dedicated arts advocate, the incomparable Danny Glover. While Mister Glover may be well known for starring in Lethal Weapon and its subsequent sequels, he has a long history of taking part in and supporting the arts.

Mister Glover studied acting at San Francisco State and trained at the Black Actors Workshop of the American Conservatory of Theater.

From theater, he made the jump to film and television and has had a career full of honors, including multiple Primetime Emmy Award nominations, Screen Actors Guild nominations, and he recently received the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award from the Academy of Motion Picture and Arts.

Mister Glover has that rare distinction as an actor of being well known and successful in action movies, dramatic movies, comedic movies, and has brought to life many wonderful animated characters as well. As you know, I like trivia.

And Mister Glover is one of only three actors, one of only three actors to have survived hand to hand combat with the Predator. Think of that. Only three people have gone toe to toe with the Predator and survived, and he's one of them. Can anyone name the other two? Former Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and Adrian Brody.

Mister Glover and I also have a fun connection. Can anyone guess what that might be? Now, I have not been in any films nominated for best picture like Mister Glover, but he appeared in the film The Color Purple in 1985. And last year my daughter worked on The Color Purple, the musical.

Mister Glover is here today as an advocate for the arts. He has been part of that successful arts culture in our great state. And it is with wonderful distinction and pride that I introduce Mister Danny Glover to the California State Senate. Please give him a big round.

Mister Glover, thank you for coming and joining us. Welcome to the State Senate. Alright, group photo time. If there is no other business, Senator McGuire, the desk is clear.

Thank you so much, Madam President. We're going to continue to take pictures with the legendary Danny Glover and we are grateful that he is here and for his advocacy. Ladies and gentlemen, the Senate's next floor session is scheduled for Monday, June 3 at 02:00 p.m. let's kick off the weekend and celebrate this American icon, Danny Glover. Thank you, Madam President.

The Senate will be in recess until 03:30 p.m. at which time the adjournment motion will be made. We will reconvene Monday, June 3, 2024 at 02:00 p.m.