Senate Floor

Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call]

Members, a quorum is present. Would our Members and our guests beyond the rail and in the gallery please rise. Please rise. We'll be led in prayer this afternoon by our chaplain, Sister Michelle Gorman, after which we're going to ask you to remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag.

Let us gather in the presence of our God. Merciful God, we gather again after rest and relaxation to continue the ongoing work of government. In the words of the poet Brendan Kennelly, let us begin again to the summoning birds, to the sight of the light at the window. Begin to the roar of morning traffic all along N Street.

Every beginning is a promise, born in light and dying in dark. Determination and exaltation of the seasons flowering the way to work. Begin to the pageant of queuing constituents. The arrogant loneliness of crows downtown, bridges linking the past and future.

Old friends passing, though with us still. Though we live in a world that dreams of ending, that always seems about to give in, something that will not acknowledge conclusion insists that we forever begin. And so may we continue to trust in the presence and guidance of our God. Amen.

Please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Members, welcome back. We have a full agenda, so we want to get moving, so we're going to ask Members to be prepared at their desks. First off, we're moving to privilege of the floor. First up, we have Senator Nguyen.

We'll see you next week.

Senator Nguyen, the floor is yours when you're ready.

Thank you. Thank you, Mr. President. Today I want to highlight a contribution to democracy that is long overdue. As everyone knows, the fall of Saigon and the end of the Vietnam War were decades ago. But most people do not know that a brave group of individuals escaped to America and founded media companies to promote democracy and educate us about the ongoing threat of communism. These media outlets are still in existence today, 50 years later. They flourish in Little Saigon in my district in Orange County.

These companies, in comparison, is what we, you can say they're Fox, they're CNN, they're Washington Post, they're New York Times, you name it. These are the pillar and the media of the Vietnamese community worldwide. In fact, these companies have become worldwide news powerhouses and are read in dozens of countries around the world. I want to recognize the founders of the Vietnamese newspapers, radio, and TV companies. As I said, again, I'm so blessed.

Even though they get to broadcast across the world and across this country, particularly, especially in California, their home base is in my district. Let me tell you what they've accomplished. As hundreds of thousands of Vietnamese escape and immigrated to America, it was a challenge to communicate with one another as a community. I was in that group.

My family fled. I came here when I was five years old, spoke zero English. Most of us spoke no English and feared for friends and families that were left behind and that were still in the refugee camps. But we had journalists and we had business, entrepreneur leaderships among our population and they began forming media company in our native language. These founders loved our new American home and the democratic form of government.

They were fiercely protective of it and began delivering the news about what was happening in Asia, including human and religious rights and prosecution of communism regimes. They also aided refugees in their quest to assimilate in America by giving them much needed advice and information to start over in this great country.

They have continued to be the voice of the Vietnamese community and our political process here in America. Little Saigon in my district is the largest population of Vietnamese nationals outside Vietnam, and one of its primary sources of news has come from these individuals here. They are the founders, the CEO, the general manager of all the stations. If one of them cover you, you're covered across the world.

We are sadly, though, seeing an era where shrinking media number of medias company because of the covering of the news is so expensive. So I want to honor and treasure these companies, these founders and entrepreneurs, and thank them for bringing together the news, the good, the bad, and the ugly, to the community so they can understand not what's happening just in Little Saigon or in Vietnam, but what's happening around the world and what's happening in America and particularly what's happening in California.

Today, I have here with me from AVA TV, Jenny Do. Actually some of these folks are here today. If not, I still want to recognize them as well. IBC TV, Dwit Nao Mai. From Little Saigon Radio and Honviet TV, Derrick Nguyen, Katherine Mai Khan Nguyen. From Little Saigon TV, Tai Sundin and Joseph Deng. From Saigon Radio, Hai Wai Wuktai Nguyen. From SBTN TV, Jup Ho Nguyen and Yu Gwin Nguyen. There's no relationship, want to make that clear. From Viet USA TV, Nop Ping Nguyen. VNA TV, Linh Pham, Milan Pham, Huang Nguyen. VNCR, Son Van Nguyen. VBS TV, Father Joseph Nguyen.

Please join me in honoring and thanking these heroes for dedication and commitment to human rights, religious freedom, democracy, and being the voice of the Vietnamese community around the world. I wish these companies more and more success, and thank you for your 50 years of dedication to our community.

On behalf of the California State Senate, we say welcome. Thank you for your service.

And at this time, I would like to present them a resolution, and we have one for all of them heading back to the district office, but I would like to be able to take the pictures with them. Thank you, Mr. President.

If any other Members would like to be in the photo, now is the time.

Thank you very much. Welcome.

Next up, we have Senator Wilk for introductions. Senator Wilk, the floor is yours.

Thank you, Mr. President. Appreciate that. Thank you. I'm here to introduce my personal friends from Santa Clarita Valley, Brian and Laura Kirchhoff, which, right up here. They're enjoying the balmy weather here in Sacramento because it's way better than it is in Southern California currently. Laura has been a longtime nonprofit sector leader in the Santa Clarita Valley.

In fact, very involved in a very successful nonprofit that catered to those going through the struggles of cancer. Her leadership and her organization personally touched the lives of my family. Many of you know that my wife Vanessa has leukemia, and my son, Scott Jr., went through a bout of cancer, which he's now been clean for almost five years.

For some of my Senate colleagues, our loss, because she's no longer there, is your gain, because she now works with the Northridge Medical Center in the San Fernando Valley with their foundation, and is going to do great things there as well. So if you could please give the Kirchhoffs a warm Senate welcome, I'd appreciate it. Thank you.

Welcome to the California State Senate. Next up, we have Senator Archuleta for introductions. Senator, floor is yours.

Thank you, Mr. President. Members, it's with great admiration and heartfelt gratitude that I rise to introduce the Deputy Under Secretary of the United States Army, Mr. Mario Diaz. From my hometown of Whittier, Montebello, and the surrounding areas that we all grew up together, and he is now the man who supports us in the United States Army.

Mario Diaz was appointed as the 21st Deputy Under Secretary of the United States Army on October 10, 2021, and serves as the Principal Civilian Senior Advisor to the Secretary and Under Secretary of the Army. With a distinguished 30 year military career, Mr. Diaz held key leadership roles in his time of service, including combat command in Iraq and Afghanistan, and strategic assignments such as the Military Assistant to the Secretary of the Army.

Formative strategic assignments included Military Assistant to the Secretary of the Army and Senior Military Assistant to the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy. He is a graduate of West Point and a National War College graduate. And he holds a master's of arts in history and is married with three adult daughters. Please join me in giving him a warm Senate welcome to the Deputy Under Secretary of the United States Army, Mr. Mario Diaz.

Welcome to the California State Senate, and thank you for your service. If Members want to join in on pictures, now would be the time.

Thank you and welcome.

Next up for introductions, we have Senator Umberg. Senator, the floor is yours.

Thank you, Mr. President and colleagues. Mr. President and colleagues, I'd like you to welcome the future leaders of California. The folks that are going to be taking our seats, the folks that are going to be running this state and running this country, and those are the Young Senators from the 34th Senate District who are all here in Sacramento to see us perform. So if we'd all say hello to the 34th Senate District Young Senators, I'd be grateful. And thank you, Mr. Secretary, excuse me, Mr. President, for recognizing them.

Welcome to the Young Senators from the 34th Senate District. Thank you. Next up, we have Senator Skinner.

Yeah, you can sit here. Members, I'm very pleased to introduce my guest on the floor. You want to talk, too? Okay, you can say hi to everybody. My guest today is Ronan Helene O'Rourke, my granddaughter. Ronan, would you like to say, "Hello, Senators?"

I don't want to.

Okay, you don't have to. You don't have to. But you're happy to be here? Yeah. You like it? Okay. And also my husband Lance, her Grampy, is also here in the back. And Ronan wanted to come and see you all before her nana gets termed out. So that's why you came to visit me at work, right? Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Thank you.

Welcome to the California State Senate. Members, without objection, we'll now go to the Senate third reading and take up the following resolutions out of order today. First, we'll have file item 46, SR 95, by Senator Newman, followed by file item 49, SR 102 by Senator Min. And finally, file item 50, SCR 164 by Senator Durazo. After the adoption of each resolution, we'll move to privileges of the floor for the author to introduce their guests. Senator Newman, the floor is yours. Oh, yes. Secretary, please read.

Senate Resolution 95 by Senator Newman relative to literacy.

Senator Newman.

Thank you, Mister President. Colleagues, I rise to present Senate Resolution 95, which recognizes literacy as a fundamental right essential to individual empowerment, economic opportunities, and societal progress. Literacy, as it has always done, continues to open doors to higher education, meaningful careers, and civic engagement.

According to the National Institute for Literacy, individuals with proficient literacy skills can expect to earn anywhere from 30% to 42% more than those with lower literacy skills.

The National Assessment of Adult Literacy, a nationally representative assessment of English literacy among American adults aged 16 and older, sponsored by the National Center for Education Statistics, has found that higher literacy rates correlate with increased economic productivity and reduced poverty rates. Conversely, where literacy is not present, it perpetuates poverty and limits upward mobility.

The Literacy Project Foundation reports that three out of five people in America's prisons are unable to read and that illiteracy is one of the single strongest predictors of future incarceration. Hence the recent rise of the phrase the illiteracy to prison pipeline.

A substantial body of research has found that addressing literacy challenges at an early stage through evidence based practices can significantly improve educational outcomes and help break intergenerational poverty cycles. To that end, collaborative efforts among educational institutions, community organizations, and government agencies are vital to developing effective literacy strategies that serve every community and leave no californian behind.

SR 95, in the larger effort to promote and enable literacy across the broadest possible, swath enjoys broad support from community organizations, schools, nonprofits, and families. Allocating resources to support comprehensive literacy initiatives tailored to diverse populations is crucial. That's why it's so important for this Legislature to recognize literacy as a fundamental right. I respectfully ask for your aye vote for SR 95 today.

Thank you. Any further discussion or debate? Senator Wilk.

Thank you, Mister President. I, too, Stanley, in support of SR 95. I want to thank the Senator from Orange County for bringing this forward. I think I'd be remiss without acknowledging the work and the leadership of our Senator from Burbank on these issues, particularly as it relates to dyslexia.

California, believe it or not, was not screening young people for dyslexia, which is one of the leading causes of being illiterate. And as shared by the Senator, it is one of the data points that demographers use to project future prison population is the literacy rate of third graders.

So I know he's going to be leaving here at the end of the year, and I just wanted. I know that was a tough slog for three years to get it done, but it was the right thing to do.

I'm glad the Governor signed off on it, and you're going to make the difference in millions of young people's lives. So I want to thank you for that. Please support SR 95.

Thank you. Any further discussion or debate? Hearing and seeing none, Senator Newman, would you like to close?

I appreciate my colleagues comments, and I will reaffirm my admiration for the efforts of the Senator from Burbank in all of his work to combat illiteracy and dyslexia. I respectfully ask your aye vote today.

Thank you. Secretary, please call the roll on file item 46.

[Roll Call]

Please call the absent members.

[Roll Call]

Is she over on the Assembly floor for that.

Secretary, please call the absent member.

[Roll Call]

Ayes 39, noes zero. The measure passes. Now under privilege of the floor, Senator Newman.

Thank you Mr. President. I'd like to acknowledge some of the folks and organizations have been so instrumental to bringing this measure to the floor today. Joining us today in the gallery is a coalition of community organizations, nonprofits, schools and education partners who have traveled here to show their support of SR 95.

They include the California Alliance of Child and Family Services, Families that Can Own Oakland, Families that Can Oakland, the Lighthouse Community Charter Schools, the Oakland Unified School District, School Board, the Seneca Family of Agencies, and Love Never Fails Us. Let us give them a warm and grateful California State Senate welcome today.

Thank you. And welcome to the California State Senate. All right, next up, we have file item 49 by Senator Min. Secretary please read.

Senator Resolution 102 by Senator Min relative to Kimchi Day.

Senator Min, the floor is yours.

Thank you, Mr. President and members, SR 102 would designate November 22, 2024 as Kimchi Day here in California. Now, as many of you are aware, kimchi is a classic Korean dish made of fermented vegetables, traditionally prepared through a process called Kimchang, where community members come together to prepare enough kimchi to last through the winter.

In 2013, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization officially recognized Kimchang on its representative list of the intangible cultural heritage of humanity. This designation led to the establishment of the kimchi Day holiday in Korea and the celebration of kimchi Day here in the United States.

Now, for me, growing up and being able to celebrate Kimchi Day is really an emotional moment, because growing up as a Korean kid in this country, in California, there were no other Koreans in my class. And back then, unlike with my kids today, being Korean was decidedly not cool.

And so for me, growing up, kimchi was kind of the embodiment of everything that I kind of was led to feel ashamed of about my own culture. It was a stinky food that nobody knew, and, like, everyone made fun of it. No one wanted to eat it. Gross. Yuck.

Those were all the terms I heard whenever people saw kimchi. To see it celebrated today, to see people actually eat it is really an amazing thing, and it's very good for you. It's got lots of probiotics, and, like your favorite Korean American Legislator, the only Korean American Legislator.

It's tangy, it's unique, and it's more than a little bit spicy. So I ask that you join me in vote aye on SR 102.

Thank you. Any further discussion or debate on this item hearing CNN secretary, you may call the roll.

[Roll Call]

Please call the absent members. Ayes40, noes zero. The measure passes. Senator Min, now. Privilege to the floor. You have introductions.

Thank you. I just wanted to say that today we're joined this afternoon in the gallery to help celebrate Kimchi day in California by Sonia Harris from Sage Strategies. If we could give Sonia a big round of applause, welcome her to the Senate.

Welcome to the California State Senate.

Sanya and Sage Strategies, alongside Volcano Kimchi and Blue House Korean Restaurant, have been instrumental in working to increase the visibility of Kimchi Day here in California. And I want to thank you for all of your hard work and incredible support.

And so, to celebrate Kimchi Day, you each have a jar of kimchi on your desks from Blue House barbecue. It's a Korean barbecue. Just to be clear, it's not North Carolina style or Memphis style, but Korean style. We hope you'll enjoy it. And just want to mention that this Wednesday evening, August 7, at 05:00 p.m.

We'll be holding a Kimchi Day reception with Korean food from Blue House as well as entertainment, including a kimchi-making demonstration at the Leland Stanford mansion. All members and staff are welcome to attend, and we hope to see you there. Thank you.

Now moving on to file item 50. Senator Durazo. All right, she's there. She's ready.

Secretary, you may read.

Senate Concurrent Resolution 164 by Senator Durazo relative to National Health Center Week.

Senator Durazzo, the floor is yours.

Thank you, Mr. President and members. Today I rise to present SCR 164 as the National Health Center Week. Health centers across the nation play a vital role in providing accessible and affordable healthcare services, especially to our underserved, vulnerable communities. In my district, I have had the opportunity to collaborate with several health clinics on community events.

Queen's Care, a local nonprofit dedicated to low income residents, has been instrumental in providing vision, screenings and constituents with free prescription glasses at the event itself, including our own recent Echo Park Earthfest.

Our office has also partnered with LA Care Blue Shields Community Resource centers and Clinica Romero on annual backpack giveaways, distributing as many as 1000 backpacks with school supplies to local families. Our office also hosted one of our very first vaccination clinics in partnership with St. John's Community Health centers.

I also want to take a moment to recognize the community clinic workers themselves who are the lifeblood of the health center movement. We recognize them as essential workers during the pandemic, but they continue to be essential to our communities. From the janitors medical assistance to case managers.

Let us recognize the sacrifice and wisdom that they bring to health centers across the state. I am proud also to see the growing movement of clinic workers organizing in SEIU Community Clinic Workers United to have a voice on the job.

With clinic workers having a seat at the table, health centers across the state will undoubtedly have a stronger and brighter future. Today also serves as a reminder that we need to support initiatives and partnerships between labor and health centers. I'm proud that two health centers in my district, Clinica Romero and St.

John's, are a part of the statewide SEIU Community Health Center labor management committee, showing us how through partnership, we can invest in our workforce. Join me in recognizing the National Health center week as an opportunity to celebrate the contributions of health centers healthcare workers in improving our health outcomes, and I respectfully ask for your aye vote.

Any further discussion or debate on this item. Senator Smallwood-Cuevas.

Thank you, Mr. President and members, I rise today also in strong support of SCR 164 celebrating California's community health centers. I too claim a St. John's clinic as well as the UMA Clinic and the healthcare for everyone clinicians that serves so many vulnerable families.

In my district, clinics in our state serve one in three of our Medi-Cal patients and are a critical part of our healthcare safety net and system, providing everything from mobile treatment.

I remember during COVID coming out into some of the most vulnerable communities at hours where communities could be reached and served to also providing mental health services and all of the things that help to prevent illness in the first place.

These clinics serve a crucial role in areas like my district, many of which have been designated medically underserved. And I'm so proud to work with so many of the clinics who were one of the first to say that healthcare workers deserved a living wage and ensured that they got their dollar 25 an hour.

And also in support of those who stand with me on a Bill that I have 1067 which is helping to expedite those licenses for those medical practitioners that we so need in our underserved communities. I want to thank my good Senator Durazo from Los Angeles for bringing this forward. And I respectfully ask for your aye vote.

Thank you, Senator Atkins.

Thank you, Mr. President. I want to thank the two senators who've spoken and certainly the one sponsoring the resolution today. I appreciate so much the work of clinics in our community.

Many of these clinics, if you look at their history and you talk to their CEO's and the administration, these clinics grew out of community need in various underserved communities from San Ysidro all the way to the far north. These communities came about. Community clinics came about because of the dire need in communities. And that exists even today.

So I know that the good Senator from Los Angeles is going to recognize a few people in a minute.

But I want to say thank you to those who have stood in this work for decades and decades and continue to provide critical care because we've done so much in California to provide healthcare to as many people as possible.

But were it not for the community clinics we wouldn't be able to meet the need that we are meeting. And clearly we have work to do. But I want to lend my voice to the appreciation to the clinic workers, to those who founded these clinics and those who continue to work in them today.

It's right that we take time to acknowledge them. And I thank you senator, for that. I urge and aye vote on SCR 164.

Thank you any further discussion or debate on this item. Hearing and seeing none. Senator Durazo, elect to close.

I respectfully ask for your vote.

Members, this is eligible for a unanimous roll call. Is there any objection to applying unanimous roll call to file item 50? Hearing c none. Ayes 40, noes zero. The measure passes. Now we're going to return to privilege of the floor. Senator Durazo, you have guests you would like to introduce?

Yes, thank you, Mister President. I'd like to introduce Francisco Silva, who is President and CEO of the California Primary Care Association. They represent 1400 nonprofit community health centers across our state. California's health centers treat over 7 million patients a year, the majority of which are MediCal and low-income.

With the expansion of health for all health centers, work will only become even more crucial. Mister Silva is a first-generation American whose parents immigrated from Mexico. He got his bachelor's at Santa Clara, his JD at UCLA law, and MBA at USC Marshall School. He took over leadership of CPCA in the spring of 2022.

I'm proud to have Mister Silva with us today on the Senate Floor to also recognize National Health Center Week and all the good work clinics and federally qualified health centers do for our vulnerable communities. Join me in thanking Mister Silva.

Thank you and welcome to the California State Senate.

Thank you so much. I think I want to say, joining us in the gallery today, I want to introduce some mothers and some of our young people from the San Diego chapter of Jack and Jill of America who've joined us in the gallery today.

And like my colleague from Santa Ana, I want to say that these are current and future leaders in California. The person sponsoring this today couldn't leave the Assembly floor, but I want to acknowledge Assemblymember Aquila Weber, who was here earlier today.

And I don't know if her sons, Kadir and Jalil, are still with her on the floor or if they've joined the folks up top. So I wanted to call them out because I've known them for a very long time.

Jack and Jill, for those of you that may not be aware, is a national, nationwide organization of mothers focused on uplifting future black leaders through community service, legislative advocacy, and philanthropy. You may not know this.

I was really interested to learn that Jack and Jill of America was founded in 1938 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and today it boasts more than 240 chapters nationwide, representing more than 40,000 family members from Alaska to Florida. Each chapter plans annual programming activities guided under a national theme.

Through service projects, each Jack and Jill of America chapter creates an opportunity for children to stimulate their growth, development, and leadership capabilities. I am proud that the San Diego chapter was founded in 1955 and represents more than 100 current and future leaders.

They've traveled from San Diego to spend the day at the Capitol, learning about our legislative process and hearing from some of our constitutional officers and meeting with members of our San Diego delegation. I know they've already enjoyed their visit today, and I know that some of them will be returning in future years as Assemblymembers and Senators.

So please join me in giving them a wonderful, warm Senate welcome.

On behalf of the California State Senate, we say welcome. Thank you for being here today. Next up, for purposes of introduction is Senator Padilla. Senator, the floor is yours.

Thank you very much, Mister President and esteemed colleagues. Great to be back. It is a distinct honor and pleasure. With great pride, I rise to introduce one of my constituents, Abby Carter, who is the champion of American Idol for season 22 in 2024.

Abby is a native of Indio, California, and quickly set herself apart from the other contestants this year with her initial audition of "What Was I Made For?" by Billie Eilish. One judge even commented early on, right then and there, that she may be the one to win American Idol.

Abby is the first woman in over four years and truly one of America's finest vocalists. Just last year, Abby graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor's degree in marriage and family therapy from Cal State University, San Bernardino Palm Desert campus.

Abby and her mother, Andrea, who is also a singer, have performed together at several regional competitions in the past. She says her mother's constant support is what has inspired her love for singing and her love for music.

Her music, her voice and her story inspired both judges and viewers across the country, and the Imperial Valley is very proud of all of Abby's accomplishments. If you would all please give American Idol champion Abby Carter a great State Senate welcome.

On behalf of the California State Senate, we say welcome and congratulations. Thank you for being here.

If other members would like to join in, now would be the time for the photo.

Moving on. Messages from the Governor will be deemed read. Messages from the Assembly will be deemed read. Reports of committees will be deemed read and amendments adopted. Motions and resolutions and notices. Without objection, the Senate journals for July 1, 2024 through July 3, 2024 will be approved as corrected by the minute clerk.

Floor Amendments there are four amendments at the desks. They will be deemed adopted. We're going to ask members to return to your seats, please. Without objection. Pursuant to Journal Rule 33.1, joint rule 61 will be suspended to allow the Judiciary Committee to report AB 2496 after the deadline. This request has been approved by the Rules Committee.

Without objection, the following governor's appointee, Doctor Haringa De Hingra, as a member of the Medical Board of California, will be stricken from the file. Senator Wilk, you're recognized.

Thank you, Mister President. I request unanimous consent to return file item 40, SB 1146, to the Assembly for further action. And at the request of the author, please remove file item 208, AB 2807 from the consent calendar.

Desk will note, thank you. Senator Smallwood-Cuevas.

Thank you, Mister President. On behalf of the author, I would like to request that AB 3168 be pulled off consent for the purposes of amendments.

Thank you. The desks will note. Senator Jones.

Thank you, Mister President. At the request of the author, please remove file item A-43 ACR 182 by assembling Member Dixon from the inactive file and placed back on file. And at the request of the author, please remove file item 212, AB 2745 by Assembly Member Mathis from the consent calendar for further amendments.

The desk will note. Senator Atkins.

Thank you. I would request that at the request of the author to remove AB 2424 from the consent agenda for purposes of amendments.

Desk will note. Senator Laird.

Thank you, Mister President. At the request of the author, please remove file item 211, AB 2628 from the consent calendar for the purpose of amendments.

Thank you. The desk will note. Senator Wiener.

Thank you, Mister President. At the request of the author, please remove AB 598, which is file number 25 from the consent calendar.

Desk will note. Senator Allen.

Thank you, Mister President. I've got two items. First of all, AB 2599 which is file item 210, we ask that it be removed from the consent calendar the request of the author for the purposes of amendment.

Secondly, AB 2885 file item 213, we ask that be removed from the consent calendar at the request of the author for the purposes of chaptering amendments.

Desk will note. Are there any other further actions by members? Hearing and seeing none, now we'll move to consideration of the daily file. We have Senate May 2nd reading file items one to 29. Secretary, please read.

Senate Concurrent Resolution 80, Assembly Bill 2488 with amendments, 2729 with amendments, 2553, 2593, 2712, 3057, 2481 with amendments, 2741 with amendments, 3080 with amendments, 2424, 1971, 16.

2nd reading is deemed read. Thank you. Now we're moving to governor's appointments file item 33. Senator Grove, she's prepared. You may read. The floor is yours.

Thank you, Mister President. Colleagues, file item 33 is a confirmation or, excuse me, reconfirmation of the following appointments.

Joseph Countryman, Mary Jane Griego, and Brian Johnson for the Central Valley Flood Protection Board; Tommy Randall and Roger Salazar for the off Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Commission; and Doctor Marc L​os Huertos and Doctor Zia Zafir for the State Mining and Geology Board. These individuals were approved by the Rules Committee on a 5-0 vote on June 26.

Respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Any further discussion or debates on the appointment? Hearing and seeing none. Secretary, please call the roll on file item 33.

[Roll Call]

Ayes 40, noes zero. The appointments are confirmed. Now, members, we're moving on to Assembly third reading, file item 54.

Secretary please read.

Assembly Bill 1770 by Assemblymember Rodriguez and equaling to emergency services.

Senator Dodd, the floor is yours.

Yes. Colleagues, I rise today to present AB 1770, a bill authored by Assemblymember Freddie Rodriguez and the Assembly Committee on Emergency Management.

The bill codifies a project that the Seismic Safety Commission recently approved to identify fire stations vulnerable to earthquakes and assess the extent to which stations are using earthquake early warning technology to help keep their crews safe. It makes sure our first responders are in a position to quickly respond following an earthquake. And I ask for your aye vote.

Any further discussion or debate on this item? Any further discussion or debate hearing or seeing none. Secretary, please call the row. Is this eligible? Members, this is eligible for unanimous roll call. Is there any objection to using the unanimous roll call on file item 54, hearing or seeing none. Ayes 40, noes zero. The measure passes.

Now, members, we're moving to the consent calendar. Now would be the time for any member wishing to remove an item from the consent calendar. Any members wishing to move an item from the consent calendar hearing seeing none. Secretary, please read the consent calendar.

Assignment bill 2154, 2948, 2985, 2987,3010.

Secretary, please call the roll on the consent calendar.

[Roll Call]

Please call the absent members.

Wiener, aye.

It's a vote of 40 to zero. The consent calendar is adopted. All right, members, we're going to move next to committee announcements followed by motions and resolutions for adjourning memory. So on committee announcements, members, are there committee announcements? Senator Caballero.

The Senate Appropriations Committee will-is in recess and will go back to business right after we're done today in room 2200.

Thank you, Senator Caballero. Senator Limon.

Thank you. The Joint Committee on Emergency Management will be meeting in room 1100.

All right, members, we're going to move next to motions and resolutions for adjourning in memory. I'd like to ask members to return to their desks so we can give our colleagues the attention of the floor. First up, we want to recognize Senator Archuleta.

Thank you, Mister President. Members, I rise today to adjourn in memory of Haig Papaian, former President and Chief Executive Officer of the Commerce Casino, the City of Commerce, right outside Los Angeles.

And Haig Papaian was a missionary leader whose contributions were critical in the growth and advancement the card room industry, which also affects the entire State of California. His impact and leadership at the Commerce Casino and Hotel were instrumental in shaping the commerce casino into the outstanding entertainment destination in today throughout Los Angeles area.

Mister Haig Papaian became a Director of the board of directors in 1995, was elected Chairman of the board in the year 2000, and became the President CEO of the company in June of 2009.

During his tenure as President and CEO from 2009 to 2021, Mister Papaya led initiatives and transformed the card room industry, enhanced the player experience and fostered a culture of excellence and integrity in the industry.

A respected leader in the community, he was forever championing various efforts to give back to the community and those in need and ensuring that the commerce casino and hotel was a positive force in the city and surrounding areas in the greater Los Angeles. Haig Papaian was a visionary and a mentor and a friend to me for years.

And he started. When he started, I started politics. He was instrumental in creating environmental an environment where he and the employees felt they could be part of the community, their company. And he set the example of excellence when it comes to management, ownership and working with employees.

He considered the people who worked at the Commerce Casino to be his family. Under his leadership, the Commerce Casino became a place where everyone worked hard and devoted their time and their performance to lead the market and focus on compliance. In serving the State of California as well.

He will always be cherished and a member of the commerce family. His focus in fostering teamwork, promoting excellence, led the company to the name an annual employee of the year awards in honor of those who worked at the casino surrounding areas. Mister Haig, the card room industry work together as a family.

Haig is survived by his wife and his children. For these reasons and many, many more, I ask that we adjourn in his memory. And I thank you.

Thank you, Senator Archuleta. On this adjourn in memory, we recognize Senator Bradford.

Thank you, Mister President. And I too rise and join my colleague from Pico Rivera and adjourning in the memory of my dear friend, Mister Haig Papaian. I know the Senator spoke of his esteemed career in the card industry, but that's not how I met Haig.

I met Haig because his family was in the trash business and I was a young recycling coordinator with LA Conservation Corps. And then I became the solid waste Director for the City of Compton. And it was through trash that I got to know Mister Papaian.

And he was a dedicated individual in implementing recycling and most of the municipalities that he had contracts with. He was a visionary in this field. And I had opportunity when I served on Gardena City Council because of Mister Papaian's commitment not only to cities making sure they had great services. We formed a private partnership, public public-private partnership.

And the only reason I led that effort is because Mister Papaian was part of that. He was committed to making sure that the city had the best rates, but also what sold me on it. He made sure two African Americans were part of that ownership of that company. And that's unheard of in the trash business.

That's who Haig Papaian was. He's been a dear friend and I enjoyed our time at Friendly Hills. Even though we always joke. There was nothing friendly about those heels at his golf course. But we always had a good time playing golf and telling stories. He was deeply involved with contract cities and independent city Association.

He supported all those organizations when I was a local City Council person. And he cared about the community and many folks know I have a jazz festival that I started 22 years ago. Haig Papaian was the first sponsor of that event and he still sponsors it to the day through his waste company.

And he was again just a good human being. Got to know his kids, got to know his wife. And just shortly a few years ago he moved to Texas to be closer to his medical treatment at MD Anderson. But again he established himself in that community by opening a restaurant named Savor.

And everyone in a short period of time that it was open had rave reviews. Not only on the food, but more importantly on this type of quality service that it provided. Because that's what Haig was. It was about giving back. He was just a down to earth guy with no pretense about him and generous to a fault.

And he would give the shirt off his back to any of his friends or any community organization. And I can list all the organizations that he was part of but I would be here all day. But he was just a tremendous friend to so many. A great husband, amazing father.

And I ask that we adjourn in memory of Haig Papaian.

Thank you Senator Bradford and Senator Archuleta. The Senate extends its condolences to Mister Papaians family and friends. Please bring his name forward so he may be properly memorialized in our journal and that we may adjourn in his memory. Next up, we want to recognize Senator Niello.

Members, please join me in a journey in memory of Aldo Pineschi Jr., who I was very fortunate to have as a friend and a supporter. Aldo was raised in a family with passion for community, local politics, and philanthropic service, and his upbringing truly influenced his life's work. He was born in Roseville on December 13, 1957. Attended St.

Rose Catholic School, Roseville High School, and Sierra College, later transferring to UC Davis to pursue a degree in political science. Throughout his time in school, he excelled both academically as well as athletics in the track and field.

He returned home to Roseville after graduation, where he reconnected with Leslie Goto, his childhood friend and neighbor, on a more intimate basis, if you know what I mean. They were married in 1986 and later had a daughter of Angeline and a son, Anthony. Professionally, Aldo Pineschi Consulting quickly grew reputation, truly valued for his key keen instinct.

Very few, and really only the unwise would run for political office or place a measure on the ballot without first finding out what Aldo thought. His unique understanding of the fabric of Placer County made him an asset to any team he was part of during his 40 year career.

Some of Aldo's contributions in the region include his work with the Roseville, Rockland and Lincoln Chambers of Commerce, the Placer Business Alliance, Lighthouse Consulting Counseling and Family Resource Center. Visit Placer, the Health Education Council, the American Leadership Forum, the Placer Breast Cancer foundation, and many more.

And he created the very successful Santucci Golf tournament, which raises scholarship money for students within the Roseville Joint Union High School District. If there was a scholarship Fund, a local community group or nonprofit, Aldo was most certainly a part of it.

Despite his many accomplishments, Aldo really was a very humble guy with an aversion to the limelight, preferring to work behind the scenes. And he thought unnoticed, though, of course, he was anything but unnoticed. Aldo was 66 years old when he passed away on May 28 of this year after a year-long battle with cancer.

He's survived by his wife of 38 years, Leslie, and their children of Angeline and Anthony, as well as his sister and brothers, all of whom are here with us today in the gallery. He's preceded in death by his father, Aldo, and mother, Claire Marie.

He will be remembered as a wise leader, a selfless humanitarian, and a true pillar of his community. He will be greatly missed by me and a lot of other people.

Thank you, Senator Niello. The Senate extends its condolences to the family and friends of Aldo Pinishi, please bring his name forward so he can be properly memorialized in our journal and that we may adjourn in his memory. Now I'd like to recognize Senator Roth.

Thank you, Mister President. Senators, I ask that you join me this afternoon in a journey in memory of Tom Hunt. Tom was a dear friend of mine for many, many years and a tireless and devoted public servant. He was a product of the Riverside public schools and was the very ideal of what a community leader should actually be.

He served with distinction as a member of the Riverside Unified School District Board of Education for over 15 years and took the helm as its President during one of the most challenging times for that school district and all of the school districts in our State of California.

Frankly, the Covid-19 pandemic. His calm, experienced and steady hand steered the district through this enormous crisis and into a much brighter future. He was a delegate representative to the California School Board's Association for many years and was also a Member of the Riverside County Commission on School District organization.

Tom was a renowned businessman and a top leader in the world of communications and government relations, founding and directing Hunt Public Relations. This June, I was privileged to sit with Tom and help honor him when he received the 2024 Artpic Distinguished Alumni of the Year award by the Greater Riverside Chambers of Commerce and its Leadership Riverside program.

And that was just one week before his untimely passing. On June 22. This week, his family and friends will gather to celebrate his incredible life. And although we all say goodbye to Tom, I know he will live forever in our hearts and in our memories.

Cindy and I send our love and our prayers to Tom's wife, Jerry, and their daughters, Whitney and Taylor. And I will say this. Tom was a true gentleman in a world that seems at times to have no further use for gentlemen, he will be missed a lot.

Thank you, Senator Roth. The Senate extends its condolences to the family and friends of Mister. Mister Hunt. Please bring his name forward so he can be properly memorialized in the Senate journal and that we may adjourn in his memory. Members, we're going to move back to privileges of the floor.

Going to recognize Senator Bradford at the majority leader's desk. Senator Bradford.

Thank you, Mister President. And it gives me a great honor to introduce someone who really needs no introduction. A legend of basketball. A five time NBA champion with the Los Angeles Lakers. None other than Michael Cooper.

Mister Cooper is a native of Pasadena, and he was selected as the 60th overall pick by the Los Angeles Lakers in 1978. Coop became an indispensable part of the Lakers during their Showtime era.

By the end of his career, he had been named to the NBA All Defensive team eight times, including five first team selections, and was a 1987 NBA Defensive player of the year. After his exemplary play in the NBA, Mister Cooper transitioned to coaching first as assistant coach to the Lakers.

In 2000, he became the head coach of LA Sparks and guided that team to their first WNBA championship in 2001 and won the championship again in 2002. He has coached at the University of Southern California, the Big Three League, Chapwick School, and Culver City High School, and is now assistant head coach at Cal State LA.

This year, Mister Cooper was elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. He joins 13 members of that class that will be enshrined in the NBA Hall of Fame on August 17, and he will be joined by Chauncey Billups, Vince Carter, and Walter Davis, amongst others.

He has also had an extreme career on sports analysts, joining his former colleague Norm Nixon and giving NBA analysis after games on a local TV station. And he's just all around guy, always present in the community, always wanting to do good things. We had the privilege of flying up here this morning.

So without any great hesitation, please welcome Michael Cooper to the California State Senate. Members, we will also invite you to a reception for Mister Cooper at the California Museum starting at 3:30.

Thank you, Senator Bradford. Mister Cooper, welcome to the Senate. Now I'd like to invite members to join Senator Bradford and Mister Cooper for a photograph.

Thank you all. Congratulations, Mister Cooper.

Members, if there's no other business before the Senate, Senator McGuire, the desk is clear.

Thank you so much, Mister President. The next floor session is scheduled for Thursday, August 28 at 09:00 a.m. and as a Golden State warriors fan, it is an honor to be able to have such a Lakers fan, a Lakers legend, in the House today.

Thank you, Senator Mcguire. The Senate will be in recess until 03:30 p.m. at which time the adjournment motion will be made. We will reconvene Thursday, August 8 at 09:00 a.m.