Assembly Floor
- Josh Lowenthal
Legislator
Assembly is now in session. Assembly Member Rogers notices the absence of a quorum sergeant. Arms will prepare the chamber and bring in the absent Members. Clerk will call the roll.
- Committee Secretary
Person
[Roll Call]
- Josh Lowenthal
Legislator
Quorum is present. We ask our guests and visitors in the rear of the chamber and in the gallery to please stand for the prayer. Today's prayer will be offered by Assemblymember Dixon.
- Diane Dixon
Legislator
May the Creator bless our nation and those who serve it with the courage to appreciate the differences amongst us that make our country great. And may we work to preserve a nation that is bound together by liberty, justice and tolerance for all citizens. May that be God's will. Amen.
- Josh Lowenthal
Legislator
We ask our guests and visitors to remain standing to join us in the flag salute. Assemblymember Fong will lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance.
- Mike Fong
Legislator
Members, please join us as we honor our nation's flag. Ready? Begin. I pledge allegiance.
- Josh Lowenthal
Legislator
You may be seated. To our guests and visitors today, state law prohibits persons in the gallery from interfering with legislative proceedings or disrupting the orderly conduct of official business. Persons disrupting legislative proceedings are subject to removal, arrest or other appropriate legal remedies. Reading of the previous day's Journal.
- Reading Clerk
Person
Assembly Chamber, Sacramento, Monday, January 6, 2025. The Assembly met at 1:00pm. The Honorable Josh Lowenthal - Speaker Pro Temporary of the Assembly.
- Josh Lowenthal
Legislator
Mr. Garcia moves and Mr. Flora seconds that the reading of the previous day's journal be dispensed with. Presentations and petitions, there are none. Introduction and reference of bills will be deferred. Reports of committees will be deemed read and amendments deemed adopted. Messanges from the Governor, there are none. Messages from the Senate, there are none. Moving to motions and resolutions. The absences for the day will be deemed read and printed in the Journal. Assistant Majority Leader Garcia, you are recognized for your procedural motions.
- Robert Garcia
Legislator
I request unanimous consent to suspend Assembly Rule 45.5 to allow Assemblymember Gibson to speak on an adjournment in memory today.
- Josh Lowenthal
Legislator
Without objection.
- Robert Garcia
Legislator
I request unanimous consent to suspend Assembly Rule 118A to allow Assemblymember Pellerin to have guests in the rear of chamber today.
- Josh Lowenthal
Legislator
Without objection.
- Robert Garcia
Legislator
I request unanimous consent to order ACR 14 Michelle Rodriguez to the second reading file.
- Josh Lowenthal
Legislator
Without objection, Such shall be the order. Members, it was our dear friend Assemblymember Ash Kalra's birthday. It is now - let's all wish him a very happy birthday. I also need to point out that yesterday was Assemblymember Schiavo's birthday. The ripe age of 27 years old. Tomorrow, excuse me, the ripe age of 26. I remember 26. Moving on to the business on the daily file. Members, please give your attention. File item 1. Assembly Concurrent Resolution 9 by Assemblymember Pellerin.
- Unidentified Speaker
Person
The Clerk will read.
- Gail Pellerin
Legislator
Assembly Concurrent Resolution. 9 by Assembly Member Pellerin and others. Relative to National Human Trafficking Awareness Month.
- Gail Pellerin
Legislator
Thank you, Mr. Speaker and Members. I rise to present ACR 9, which will designate the month of January as National Human Trafficking Awareness Month. The language in this resolution was drafted in close partnership with human trafficking survivors from across the state.
- Gail Pellerin
Legislator
Human trafficking is a crime that involves the use of coercion to recruit and harbor a person for their forced labor or commercial sexual exploitation. Traffickers will often use violence, fraudulent employment agencies, and fake promises of education and job opportunities to trick, coerce and deceive their victims. This heinous crime can come in many forms.
- Gail Pellerin
Legislator
Victims of labor trafficking are often forced to work in factories, on construction sites or in the agricultural sector without pay or with an inadequate salary, living in fear of violence and often in inhumane conditions.
- Gail Pellerin
Legislator
Victims of sex trafficking work in industries where they are coerced to perform sex acts for money, such as an illicit massage business or for adult entertainment. People who experience trafficking are often among the most socially and economically vulnerable.
- Gail Pellerin
Legislator
Many survivors are disproportionately racial and ethnic minorities, indigenous population, women and girls, Members of the LGBTQ community and migrants, people who are more often extremely vulnerable to exploitation due to social, legal and cultural marginalization. Even if they have the opportunities to report their situation, victims of trafficking may not report for fear of retaliation or violence.
- Gail Pellerin
Legislator
Human trafficking is an affront to human dignity. And as we think about this horrific crime impacting people locally and globally in our own neighborhoods, we must remember that this is the survivor's story and it is our duty to listen and act.
- Gail Pellerin
Legislator
That is why acr9 emphasizes the anti trafficking movement as a movement of survivors and states that here in California we are committed to partnering with and learning from survivors and the many advocacy groups who give their insight into public solutions.
- Gail Pellerin
Legislator
Programs like Rising Worldwide's Safe and Sound, A First in the Nation Survivor created and led training for schools and businesses teach youth educators and community Members how to identify human trafficking, how to prevent it and how to stay safe and how to end it.
- Gail Pellerin
Legislator
ACR9 will further express California's commitment to combating all forms of human trafficking, supporting the recovery and empowerment of victims and survivors, prosecuting offenders and raising community awareness in solidarity with survivors and human trafficking leaders on this resolution. I respectfully ask for your support and and co authorship of Acr9.
- Josh Lowenthal
Legislator
Thank you, Assemblymember Pellerin. Assemblymember Jeff Gonzalez. You are recognized.
- Jeff Gonzalez
Legislator
Good afternoon, colleagues. I rise in support of ACR 9, National Human Trafficking Awareness Month. Human trafficking is a heinous crime and a direct assault on human Dignity affecting millions of lives around the world. It is not just a distant issue. It's happening in our own communities, including the district I represent that sits along the border with Mexico.
- Jeff Gonzalez
Legislator
These vibrant communities are being exploited by trafficking networks that prey on vulnerable individuals crossing our borders. Women and children are particularly at risk, coerced into unimaginable situations that strip away their innocence and their future. We must shine a light on this dark reality. While human trafficking is a universal threat, it often targets the most vulnerable.
- Jeff Gonzalez
Legislator
Children are lured with false promises of safety and women are manipulated through fear and desperation. Our response must be strong, as these crimes are cruel. Awareness is only the beginning.
- Jeff Gonzalez
Legislator
We also need to work together to support law enforcement efforts to dismantle these networks, ensure survivors have the resources they need to heal and pass legislation that strengthens protections for individuals.
- Jeff Gonzalez
Legislator
This is a fight that requires all of us to take action to support survivors, speak up to educate others, and push for change needed to end this modern day slavery. Let National Human Trafficking Awareness Month serve as a rallying cry not just for awareness, but for justice and real change.
- Jeff Gonzalez
Legislator
I also believe it's important to say this in my heart. Language. Buenas tardes, colegas. Me levanto en apoyo DEI Hace e re nueve el mes nacional De conscientias. You can't even say that word. Conscienti sacion sobre latrata De Personas.
- Jeff Gonzalez
Legislator
La trata De Personas esun crimen atros y attacke Director Amigiones De vidas mundo no solom problem que se in largo De La frontera con Mexico. Estas comunidadas vibrantes Estanciendo Explotadas por redes De trafico que se a provechan De Las Personas bunerables que cruzan nuestras fronteras. I rise in support of my colleague and ACR9.
- Josh Lowenthal
Legislator
Thank you, Assemblymember Gonzalez. Assemblymember Rubio, you are recognized.
- Blanca Rubio
Legislator
Good afternoon, Members and thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise as a proud co author of ACR9, recognizing the estimated 27.6 million adults and children in the United States who have fallen victims to both labor and sex trafficking. According to our State Department of Justice, California is one of the largest sites of human trafficking in the United States.
- Blanca Rubio
Legislator
In 2005, California was one of the first states to enact legislation combating human trafficking. And we must continue to vocalize this issue and demand justice for our victims. Victims of human trafficking can be any gender, race, religion and socioeconomic status. The women represent 91% of the trafficking Victims in California.
- Blanca Rubio
Legislator
The heinous impact human trafficking has on our most vulnerable populations is both alarming and a call to action. We have a responsibility to protect those who may not be in a position to protect themselves through legislation and advocacy. With your support, ACR9 will ensure critical awareness and protections of all Californians. Thank you.
- Blanca Rubio
Legislator
And I respectfully ask for an aye vote on ACR 9.
- Josh Lowenthal
Legislator
Thank you, Assemblymember Rubio. Assemblymember Krell, you are recognized.
- Maggy Krell
Legislator
Thank you. 2025 is really a milestone year for the movement to eradicate human trafficking. Because it all started in 1995 with the Brave escape from a garment factory in Almonte, California of a woman who was being enslaved. This led to the discovery of 72 more workers who were working behind barbed wire fence.
- Maggy Krell
Legislator
That really led to the modern movement to eradicate modern day slavery. It led to the federal Trafficking Victims Protection act. And it led to the legal framework here where California led the way. And a lot of that happened right in this building, right in this room.
- Maggy Krell
Legislator
Starting with Assemblymember Sally Lieber's AB22, the first human trafficking protection law that California passed, the Commercially Sexually Exploited children CSEC framework that was created and the codification of Holly Mitchell's no Such thing as a Child prostitute law in 2016.
- Maggy Krell
Legislator
To the more recent fight spearheaded by Senator Shannon Grove, to treat child sex trafficking and those who buy children for sex as the serious crimes that they are. And meanwhile, a few blocks away from here, prosecutors like me and my colleagues at DOJ were using these legal tools to try and help victims and prosecute predators.
- Maggy Krell
Legislator
I met with survivor leaders all along the way. And in those meetings, those survivor leaders taught me the value of bringing victim service providers on operations. Those survivor leaders pushed me and my colleagues to shut down the biggest sex trafficking operation in America. Those leaders pushed me in so many ways.
- Maggy Krell
Legislator
They pushed me to help free a human trafficking survivor who was wrongfully incarcerated in a California State prison. And ultimately those survivor leaders have been on my journey as I got here. And so today I want to say that without survivor leaders, there would be no anti human trafficking movement.
- Maggy Krell
Legislator
Deepest thanks and recognition, not just to the dozens of victims who have trusted me with their stories over the years, but but to all the leaders of this movement who have made great sacrifices to insist on dignity and justice for all. Toni Morrison said, the function of freedom is to free somebody else.
- Maggy Krell
Legislator
In recognition of all of the work of the survivors have done to free others, I ask my colleagues to join in support of ACR9. Thank you.
- Josh Lowenthal
Legislator
Thank you, Assemblymember Karel. Assemblymember Tangipa, you are recognized.
- David Tangipa
Legislator
So I also stand in support in strong solidarity with ACR9 because I think about the victims and the survivors and the families that have gone through this. I think about my family Member that was trafficked at 14 years old by a teammate and a former teammate of mine less than five miles away from these steps.
- David Tangipa
Legislator
I listened earlier today to many people who shared their personal story and I relate to them how hard it must have been. I grew up less than five miles away from here off of Watt Avenue and a street, one of the most trafficked areas in the State of California, where I saw it every day.
- David Tangipa
Legislator
I worked at a Mcdonald's off of Watt and Myrtle where I got to witness my high school classmates trafficked. I got to see it. I got to read about legislators that would get caught on Watt Avenue and would partake in it.
- David Tangipa
Legislator
And I hope that we all stand today in support of ACR9 to realize that awareness is needed now more than ever, but also action is needed by us here to protect those less than five miles away, to stand and recognize the family Members, the survivors and those most beautiful, that we have a duty today to make sure that we can protect them and protect the future.
- David Tangipa
Legislator
So I ask all of you to join us today in supporting ACR9. I thank the Assemblywoman for bringing this and I ask that you vote aye on this.
- Josh Lowenthal
Legislator
Thank you Assemblymember Tangipa. Assemblymember Gipson, you are recognized.
- Mike Gipson
Legislator
Thank you very much Mr. Speaker and Members. I want to thank the Representative from Santa Cruz. I rise in support of Acr9. I was not going to speak but something inside me told me to speak to elevate for our new Members. Young girl in my district.
- Mike Gipson
Legislator
Her name is Tione Theus, 16 years old and some of the Members who've been here before heard me elevate her name in 2022 in January she was shot in the neck at 16 years old.
- Mike Gipson
Legislator
Her body was placed in a Glad trash bag and her body was dumped on the 110 freeway off the Manchester on ramp in Los Angeles. Her mother who tried to do everything she could to protect her daughter. At 16 years old she was pulled into human trafficking. Her mother a paraplegic.
- Mike Gipson
Legislator
She tried to do everything she could to protect her daughter. But her assailant went after her at 16 years old and did the unimaginable and treated her and her body like trash and threw her body out on the freeway.
- Mike Gipson
Legislator
Me and the LA Members got together and I want to thank our Governor for a special Fund that was used to punish post $50,000, we were able to raise $120,000 leading to the apprehension and the arrest of the individual.
- Mike Gipson
Legislator
We believe that the person is in jail right now on another charge, not this charge, even though we have reason to believe that the DNA that they found was his. And I really just reference this to say that this very situation is absolutely going to rampant in our State of California.
- Mike Gipson
Legislator
And mothers and families, fathers, do everything that you can to making sure that your children are safe. And there were signs after the fact that led everyone to believe that something was troubling her spirit, that something was wrong.
- Mike Gipson
Legislator
But it was something that she could not talk about because her assailant said, if you tell, I will kill your mother and kill your family. And that's the intimidation that these young people are up against.
- Mike Gipson
Legislator
And so I rise to one continue to elevate and raise the name of Tione Theus, a Compton resident at 16 years old who should be getting ready to graduate and experience love. But yet still she's lying in the cemetery, lying, let this not happen to not another child in the State of California.
- Mike Gipson
Legislator
We have a great responsibility because it's on our shoulders that we do everything we can to protect our children. I ask for an aye vote.
- Josh Lowenthal
Legislator
Thank you, Assemblymember Gibson, Assemblymember Davies, you are recognized.
- Laurie Davies
Legislator
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. First of all, I want to thank my colleagues from Sacramento and Santa Cruz for putting on the human trafficking and labor trafficking forum that we had today. It was extremely enlightening. And I think what people don't realize coming from Orange County and north San Diego, this is a huge issue in Orange County.
- Laurie Davies
Legislator
It's not like it's just in certain areas, this is something that happens across California. And it's time that we start informing our constituents and letting them know that it's everywhere. And, you know, we've been working hard for the last four years. I've been here working with domestic violence victims, putting bills out there to protect them.
- Laurie Davies
Legislator
But these teens, these children, these adults don't get the same protection. Why don't they get the same protection? Why aren't they under the same statute of these bills that we are doing in helping domestic violence victims? It's about time.
- Laurie Davies
Legislator
And I think we need to really focus this year because we do know we have the Olympics coming up. We have major sports things coming up, and that's when most sex trafficking has happened. And we have to say no more. I mean, this is just crazy. And basically they're being held Hostage.
- Laurie Davies
Legislator
It's time that we get strong with those that are doing this and let them know that it is not acceptable and giving them reform out here. I'm sorry, but when you're teaching something like this, our victims need to feel safe. They need to know that, guess what?
- Laurie Davies
Legislator
They're not going to see their assailant in the street or over in another area. They need to know that, you know what, they can have restraining orders that will help them as well, but they need to be treated just like any other victim. So I thank all of those that were here for enlightening me.
- Laurie Davies
Legislator
And we also talk about labor trafficking because it's something you don't hear a lot here, but it's really going on a lot in the restaurant associations and different furnitures. But we need to really get down and see what's happening and stop this, because we have the power.
- Laurie Davies
Legislator
But it really is up to us on this floor if we want to do something. Because I've been here for four years and I know we've had bills such as sex trafficking a minor making it a felon has gone before this area here as well as in the Senate four years.
- Laurie Davies
Legislator
And it was no because they didn't have the stomach to do it. You know what? It's time. If I have to, I will shame everybody that will not stand up for these victims. It's time we do the right thing. And I don't care what others are going to say. It's just not okay.
- Laurie Davies
Legislator
And I will stand up for all of you that are there and everyone else in California. Thank you.
- Josh Lowenthal
Legislator
Thank you, Assemblymember Davies. Assemblymember Demaio, you are recognized.
- Carl DeMaio
Legislator
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I also rise in support of ACR9. Who can be against this resolution? Who can be for human trafficking? Unfortunately, I think that there is a massive disconnect between rhetoric and policy. And I urge my colleagues and I take you at your word that you're sincerely interested in combating human trafficking.
- Carl DeMaio
Legislator
I urge all of you to examine the policies of the State of California that contribute to human trafficking. Let's talk about the elephant in the room. You cannot talk about ending human trafficking if you don't talk about securing the US Border. There's a reason why California has such a significant crisis with human trafficking.
- Carl DeMaio
Legislator
Why it's off the charts in our state compared to other states is because we in California have policies that aid and abet the human traffickers. And that's on our shoulders. That's in this body, this institution that has an obligation to do Better for these victims.
- Carl DeMaio
Legislator
And so, yes, we're all going to support this wonderful resolution with lofty language. We're all going to beat our chests and say we're against those awful, evil human traffickers.
- Carl DeMaio
Legislator
But I would encourage all of us on every single Committee, in every single office, in every single district to look at California State law, policies, regulations that help human traffickers inflict damage on these victims. I urge you to come down to my district, to Assemblymember Alvarez's district, the border districts, to Assemblymember Gonzalez's district.
- Carl DeMaio
Legislator
I will help arrange a ride along with a Border Patrol unit. I want you to hear firsthand what the men and women of Border Patrol witness every day and what eats at their soul, encountering young girls and boys who are being trafficked whose identity is unknown.
- Carl DeMaio
Legislator
This body should probably pass a resolution calling on the Trump Administration to allow for DNA testing of minors at the border so that we can protect them. I urge you to look at the percentage of sex workers in Southern California that are illegal immigrants. No one chooses to be trafficked.
- Carl DeMaio
Legislator
There are many people who are manipulated into it, yes, but a disproportionate number are trafficked because they can't afford to pay the coyotes the seven or $8000 to come across the border illegally. How can we talk about ending human trafficking if this body doesn't talk about securing the border?
- Carl DeMaio
Legislator
I welcome President Trump's Executive orders this week dealing with border security. It's not enough. We have a lot more to do. A lot of those policies could be enacted here.
- Carl DeMaio
Legislator
But recognize this body is going to be taking up in the next several weeks, according to the leaders, according to our Governor, Funding for lawyers to make it harder for the President to combat human trafficking. Let that sink in a moment as you vote on this resolution. Again, I take all of you at your word.
- Carl DeMaio
Legislator
I believe everyone in this body is sincerely interested in combating human trafficking. But it's not enough to vote for an honorary resolution. The victims deserve more than resolutions. They deserve reality. And only this body can make an impact on reality. Thank you.
- Josh Lowenthal
Legislator
Thank you, Assemblymember Demaio. Assemblymember Bonta, you are recognized.
- Mia Bonta
Legislator
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today in support of ACR 9. I do so because of the women and people who are part of Missy and Baywar and Sisters Run and Justice at Last and Claire's House and Cast, all located and working tirelessly as frontliners in my district, where I so proudly get to represent.
- Mia Bonta
Legislator
Oakland, the third largest hotspot for trafficking in the State of California. In the State of California and in Alameda County, we have had a history and a tradition of treating our victims and survivors of trafficking as criminals.
- Mia Bonta
Legislator
And that pains me more than anything when we ask our colleagues to stand up for policies that place at the center this idea that people who are trafficked, people who are survivors, people who support the survivors, are criminals by virtue of who they are.
- Mia Bonta
Legislator
We've taken action on this floor that I vehemently opposed because we did not focus on the survivor, because we allowed ourselves to have this false narrative that we could somehow separate the act of survival and the act of being called by law enforcement a criminal.
- Mia Bonta
Legislator
That is what we have done through our policies in the State of California.
- Mia Bonta
Legislator
And while I know that we need to uplift always and center the experience of our survivors, I do call on this Legislature to make sure when we're pushing narratives of crime and punishment, when we're pushing narratives of anti immigration, when we're pushing narratives around border control or whatever you have, that you actually stop and focus on the impacts to the survivors, the impacts of our rhetoric and of our language and of our justifications of terrible policies as we say that we are focusing on survivors.
- Mia Bonta
Legislator
These people, our Trans community, are women who, by the way, are largely black Latina people. They are the most impacted by the false justifications that we place before them when we say it's okay to criminalize, while we also need to center.
- Mia Bonta
Legislator
So I ask us, as a Legislature, as we continue to lift up our survivors, that we not do so just with the resolution, but we also do so in holding true to the commitment that we mean that in every step of the way, as we said, policies around anti poverty, as we look at policies around shared safety, as we look at the ways in which we continue to use our criminal legal system to push down and hold down those who are doing the basic thing of trying to survive.
- Mia Bonta
Legislator
With that, I request your. I vote on ACR 9.
- Josh Lowenthal
Legislator
Thank you, Assemblymember Bonta. Assemblymember Berman, you are recognized.
- Marc Berman
Legislator
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise in support of ACR9. Want to thank my colleague from Santa Cruz for bringing this forward. Want to thank my colleague from Oakland and all of my colleagues for the remarks they've made. I'm heartened to hear the bipartisan support for this resolution.
- Marc Berman
Legislator
I'm heartened to hear the unequivocal opposition to sex trafficking to people who. To the sex traffickers and support for the victims. I'm heartened to hear that in the Legislature in California because that's very different than what we've heard from the Donald Trump Administration and from President Donald Trump himself.
- Marc Berman
Legislator
That's very different from one of the first things that President Trump did soon after he got elected in nominating Matt Gaetz, Congressman Matt Gaetz from Florida, to be Attorney General of the United States, somebody who was being investigated for sex trafficking of minors. Out of all the people, out of.
- Marc Berman
Legislator
330 million people that Donald Trump could have chosen to be Attorney General to be the Chief Justice officer of the United States, Donald Trump chose somebody who was being investigated for sex trafficking of minors. What kind of message did that send to everybody who's committing sex trafficking across our country and across the world?
- Marc Berman
Legislator
What kind of message did that send to the victims of sex trafficking? That Donald Trump chose somebody who was being investigated for sex trafficking minors to be Attorney General. So I'm glad that we have the bipartisan support in this room.
- Josh Lowenthal
Legislator
One moment. Mr. Flora, you're recognized for your point of order.
- Heath Flora
Legislator
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. To my dear colleague, I appreciate your. Concerns, but I would just ask you. To keep it to the merits of. The resolution and keep it on task. Appreciate it.
- Marc Berman
Legislator
Absolutely. I definitely will. Just like all the other colleagues have, in talking about all the macro issues around sex trafficking, I will definitely keep it to the issues. So it is great to hear the unanimous bipartisan support for this resolution, especially in light of the support of sex traffickers that we've seen from the Donald Trump Administration.
- Marc Berman
Legislator
Respectfully ask for. I vote for A nine.
- Josh Lowenthal
Legislator
Thank you, Assemblymember Berman. Seeing and hearing no further debate, Assemblymember Pellerin, would you like to close?
- Gail Pellerin
Legislator
I'd like to thank the Members who have shared their life work, their personal experiences and their advocacy for ACR9. This is about the survivors. And with that, I ask that the first roll be open for co authors. And I ask for your I vote. Thank you.
- Josh Lowenthal
Legislator
Thank you, Assemblymember Pellerin. All debate having ceased, the author has asked for the role to be open for co authors. Clerk will open the roll for co authors. All Members vote who desire to vote. Members, this is for co authors. All those vote who desire to vote. All those vote who desire to vote.
- Josh Lowenthal
Legislator
Clerk will close the roll. There are 69 co authors added without objection. We will now take a voice vote on the resolution. All those in favor say aye. All those opposed no. The ayes have it. The resolution is adopted. Assemblymember Pellerin, you are recognized for your guest introductions.
- Anamarie Farias
Legislator
Assemblymember Krell and I were honored to have hosted a roundtable this morning where we heard directly from survivors and we're very excited to welcome human trafficking survivors and advocates to the California State Assembly. I'm going to share in the introduction of these warriors today with Assemblymember Krell.
- Anamarie Farias
Legislator
So joining us at the rear of the chamber are Josie Feimster, Preventing and Addressing Child Trafficking Regional Coordinator, Child and Family Policy Institute of California. Mercy Gray, Senior Gender Bias Violence Specialist, Restorative Justice Trainer and Facilitator, Family Violence Law Center. Sumata Jane, Anti Trafficking Initiative. April Grayson, Senior Policy Manager, Sister Warriors Freedom Coalition. And then, if I could.
- Josh Lowenthal
Legislator
Assemblymember Krell. You are also recognized for your guest introductions, please.
- Maggy Krell
Legislator
Sure. Sawan Vaden, Executive Director of Community Against Sexual Harm here in Sacramento. Jess Torres, Director of Programs at Preventing and Addressing Child Trafficking and also Rising Worldwide. And Jimmy Lopez, Survivor Advocate, Preventing and Addressing Child Trafficking PACT consultant. Thank you so much for being here today. And also sorry. And also I want to thank and recognize the many survivors who are up here in the gallery. We're going to be honoring more than 50 survivor leaders in the movement today. We appreciate them being here with us. Thank you.
- Josh Lowenthal
Legislator
Welcome to the California Assembly. Thank you. Thank you, Members. Thank you. Members, we will now recess the regular session to convene the First Extraordinary Session. We are now in the First Extraordinary Session. Without objection, we will substitute the prayer pledge and other orders of business from the 2025/26 regular session for those items in the First Extraordinary Session. Assistant Majority Leader Garcia, you are now recognized for your procedural motions.
- Robert Garcia
Legislator
Mr. Speaker, I move. Mr. Speaker, I move to order AB4 Gabriel and AB5 Gabriel to the second reading file.
- Josh Lowenthal
Legislator
Without objection. Clerk will open the roll. Oh, I take that back. The Clerk will not open the roll. There was no objection, so we will move forward. Seeing and hearing no further business. I'm ready to entertain a motion to adjourn Majority Leader Garcia - Assistant Majority Leader Garcia moves and Mr. Hart seconds that the extraordinary session stands adjourned under the call of the Speaker. Members, we are now back in the regular session. The quorum call is still in place. Please give your respectful attention to those who were granted prior permission to speak on their adjournment in memory. Members, please take all conversations off the floor. Members, I ask you to take all conversations off the floor, please.
- Unidentified Speaker
Person
Assemblymember Gipson. You're recognized for your adjournment in memory.
- Mike Gipson
Legislator
Thank you very much. Madam Speaker and Members, I rise to ask this body to adjourn in memory of Gilbert D. Smith. Gilbert D. Smith was a husband, a father, champion for the City of Carson. Gil Smith began his career as an art agency, excelling in every pursuit of his endeavor.
- Mike Gipson
Legislator
He stood up against racial discrimination that exists during his time, he established his own art gallery agency enterprise called the Gil Smith Enterprise. Gil Smith paved the way for so many people of color to rise to leadership and throughout the community, becoming the first African American mayor of the City of Carson.
- Mike Gipson
Legislator
As a matter of fact, Gil Smith was the founder of the City of Carson. Not only was he the founder of the City of Carson, but also the founder of Cal State University, Dominguez Hills. Not only was he the founder of Cal State University, Dominguez Hills, Gil Smith was the first elected mayor of the City of Carson and also became the first city manager for the City of Carson.
- Mike Gipson
Legislator
When I was elected to the California State Assembly, during the celebration by the voters for voting for me in 2014, he grabbed my coattail and says, when you get to Sacramento, if you can just do something in the space of sickle cell disease. You see, Gil Smith's son died of sickle cell disease at 26 years of age.
- Mike Gipson
Legislator
His mother cared for him while he was a patient in the Children's Ward at Martin Luther King Community Hospital where she served as a nurse. So to have his mother serve him and take care of him as part of her duties and responsibilities as a nurse at a local hospital, that really said something.
- Mike Gipson
Legislator
And so back in the legislative, California Legislative Black Caucus in 2017, at that particular point in time, we did a budget allocation for $15 million, allocating and opening up nine sickle cell centers throughout the State of California. And that was by and large, through the support of the California Legislative Black Caucus.
- Mike Gipson
Legislator
In 2019, we opened the first outpatient for sickle cell disease in the name of Jeffrey Smith. And so, Members, the City of Carson is in mourning. We lost a great drum major for justice. I was at his 90th birthday where cars passed by as he was on the sidewalk in his wheelchair and everyone just honked - from law enforcement to just every average everyday citizens of the City of Carson. Appreciate this great man and his long legacy. Rest in peace and rest in power. Gil Smith, you will be missed. Thank you.
- Unidentified Speaker
Person
Thank you. Assemblymember Gipson. Assemblymember Lowenthal, you are recognized for your adjournment in memory.
- Josh Lowenthal
Legislator
Thank you, Madam Speaker. Members, I want to join my colleague from Carson and rise to adjourn in the memory of the man commonly known as Mr. Carson, Gilbert "Gil" Smith. I proudly stand here as a representative of Carson, a city that exists because of the relentless work of Mr. Smith.
- Josh Lowenthal
Legislator
And to be a representative of that great city is no easy undertaking. And that is because the bar has been set so high by the legacy that Gil Smith leaves behind. A giant in the community, Gil Smith showed everyone day in and day out what it has meant to be a leader. He was one of the early homeowners in the area and he began a life of civic engagement right away, becoming the President of local homeowners association.
- Josh Lowenthal
Legislator
Seeing the need of his community and having the vision to provide local representation and an increased quality of life, he began to organize and lead the push for the incorporation of the City of Carson. Upon being successful with this mission, Gil Smith did not stop there.
- Josh Lowenthal
Legislator
He became Carson's first black mayor and later a founder of the city's crown jewel, California State University, Dominguez Hills. Go Toros. His commitment to his community, his ability to listen, learn and compromise is why Gil Smith became such an incredible role model for public servants across Carson, Los Angeles and the great State of California. Gil Smith led a consequential life. A true champion for what is good, for what is right. His accomplishments will continue to be enjoyed just as example will continue to be followed for many, many years to come. Members, I respectfully ask that we adjourn in the memory of Gil Smith.
- Josh Lowenthal
Legislator
Members, please bring all names to the desk to be printed in the Journal. All requests to adjourn in memory will be deemed read and printed in the Journal. Moving on to announcements. Session schedule is as follows. Wednesday, January 22, check in session. Thursday, January 23, floor session at 9am. Seeing and hearing no further business, I'm ready to entertain a motion to adjourn. Mr. Garcia moves and Mr. Flora seconds, but this House stands adjourned until Thursday, January 23rd at 9am. The quorum call is lifted and we are adjourned.
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