Assembly Standing Committee on Governmental Organization

Good morning. We'll go ahead and start the government organization Committee hearing at 10:35am and we don't have a quorum so we'll start as a Subcommitee. And being that we have an author here, would like to call it majority leader Aguiar Curry up to for the first Bill. But I wanted to make an announcement.

Assembly Member Gabriel is absent today. So Assembly Member Lenthal is substituting for. I'm sorry, excuse me. Assembly Member Gabriel is absent and then assem. Assembly Member Lo is substituting for Assembly Member Brian today. Thank you.

Good morning, Madam Chair. Members, I want to start by stating that I will be accepting the Committee's amendments. This Bill is very important to Colusa County, a rural part of my district. Under the current licensing system, Calusa County hasn't qualified for any new alcohol beverage licenses for over 20 years.

As a result, the demand exceeds the availability of licenses in the county and small businesses are forced to pay up to $400,000 for licenses. This Bill will grant Calusa County 10 on sale liquor licenses to support local economic development and empower small community rooted business. Thank you. Do you have any witnesses in support? You're looking at her.

Thank you. Any other witnesses in support? Yes. Anyone in opposition Bringing it back up to the Committee for questions or comments? No, none.

We don't have a quorum so we will have a motion in the second when appropriate. Assembly Member, you may close.

I respectfully ask for your aye vote and to support my rural Calusa county. Thank you. Thank you.

And we'll take a vote when. When we have a crime. Great. Thank you. Thank. We're waiting for two more authors. If as quickly as they can get here we can continue. I know it's a busy afternoon today, so currently we have five Members present. We need seven more to establish quorum.

So absent Members if you are available please join us so we can get out of here as quickly as possible.

Thank you. I see Assembly Member Sharp Collins with us. If you can come up and present your Bill and. And we don't have a quorum so you'll present and when we have a quorum we'll continue with business. Okay. Welcome. Yes, you may open and then your witnesses will have Two minutes each and you may begin.

Good morning Chair and Members. I am here today to present Assembly Bill 766, which is a black A Black Caucus priority Bill. This Bill requires that Allstate agencies and departments to undertake an equity analysis prior to the implementation of and also budget or before any any other the regulation actually take take full effect.

This follows on the heels of a similar Executive order from the Governor back in 2022 which requires an equity review for all departments in their overall planning process.

This Bill also requires that the review be performed by the DEIA coordinator at each Department or when no such position currently exists, a person who who have similar qualifications will be deemed eligible to do that.

In this way, this Bill actually enshrines the DEIA role within the State of California, actually pushing back against the trend nationally of running, of running from what makes us a great nation. So what is deia? What is this boogeyman term that has become such a pretty much a little third rail, right?

DEIA programs are much more than race. They include discussions of gender, sexual identity, language, age and also disability. In fact, the DEIA Executive orders from the Biden Administration, though not rescinded, reference much, much, much more under diversity. They also reference those living in rural spaces, veterans, parents, caregivers and those experiencing poverty, and also first generation professionals.

So removing DEIA programs turned a true blind eye to all of these particular groups. DEIA programs do not violate civil rights because they do not require the specific hiring of an of an actual individual over another.

DEIA programs are in fact potentially cost savings in that they can protect companies and governments from costs associated with workplace culture or the liability stemming from discrimination. The current mission from the Federal Government is uniformity and also error, sure. But the fact is that we are not better off if we are all in the same category.

Instead, we should focus on ensuring that everyone has the same rights and opportunity. And even though the roads we all have taken to achieve, they don't always actually look the same. Everyone deserves a seat at the at the table in DEIA programs truly help to guarantee that particular process.

So once again, DEIA is making sure that wildfire evacuation notices are being delivered in a timely manner to all communities within by requiring the languages to be issued out to make sure that folks are being accommodated. DEIA is also handicapped parking and being intentional about the real word of accessibility, meaning the a DEIA is also translation services.

DEIA is also responsible, meaning that we are doing everything we can to accommodate for different types of learning styles. And DEIA truly is also the Electoral College, meaning that ensuring that all states have an adequate voice. So in conclusion, DEIA is so much more of our daily lives. It is a program and also initiative that is so ingrained in us that we often take the programs truly for granted.

So with me to provide additional testimony in regards to DEIA and what it truly means, I do have Darice Lucian, who was a registered nurse and Doctor of Nursing Practice, who was also a Professor of nursing at Sacramento City College, and Dr. Franklin Garrett, dean of Student Support Services at San Diego College of Continuing Education, to give you more insight in regards to what DEIA means not only for them, but for the institutions they currently serve.

Thank you. You each have two minutes.

As the Dean of Student Support Services at the San Diego College of Continuing Education, SDCCE, I'm here today to express my strong support for AB766, which enforces the importance of diversity, equity, inclusion and access. Our DEIA within our public institutions.

At SDCCE, student support services are built to help students succeed, but we recognize that students do not start from the same place. Systemic barriers, historical inequalities and recent policy rollbacks have widened the gaps.

AB1 766 directly addresses these challenges by requiring all state departments to conduct a racial equality analysis before implementing, excuse me, implementing any regulation or budget request. This ensures that policies do not inadvertently disadvantage underrepresented groups and that equity remains a central consideration in decision making.

This Bill calls for the analysis to be led by a designated DEIA officer, further institutionalizing equity work and protecting DEIA specific roles. This is essential at a time where federal efforts have rolled back DEIA programs and created uncertainties for both public and private private institutions.

AB 766 provides a state level safeguard anchoring racial equality as a permanent, non negotiable value. In California. Diversity enriches learning, equity ensures fairness, Inclusion builds belonging and access removes barriers, whether they be financial, academic or structural. But these are not abstract ideals. These must be embedded into how we make decisions, allocate resources and serve students.

AB766 moves us in that direction. It doesn't just preserve DEIA, it operationalizes it. I urge that you support this Bill and help California lead the way in building equitable and inclusive institutions for all. Thank you.

Good morning Chair. Good morning Members. I am Darreis Lucien, a registered nurse. I teach in the classroom and clinical setting and also Assistant Director of Sacramento City College Nursing.

I speak in strong support of AB766 because this Bill embeds diversity, equity and inclusion and access into State agency practices, and that it matters deeply in health care, where black and brown and all diverse communities of color, disability, socioeconomic and all of that all face equal treatment and outcomes.

As a black nursing instructor, I often see how few students of color make it into the nursing program and even through the nursing program, not because they don't have the passion or ability, but because the system itself is designed not always to support them. AB766 gives us the tools to start changing that.

When we have diverse nursing faculty, we inspire to diverse nursing students. When we build equity and decision making, we change outcomes and we open doors to more diverse instructors who look just like me. We are few. We prepare more nurses and more culturally competent care for our future.

I came here wanting to talk about some examples, but this past week, two examples hit me hard, and I think they kind of just summarize my point. First of all, we give our students an assignment to do a poster presentation looking at the community social determinants. Our students are assigned in groups.

They presented their topic on hypertension in the black community. When I heard that presentation, it really took me aside. What our students know. These are senior nursing students. In their presentation, they talked about they their compliance is poor, their statistics are poor. Hypertension is in the black community.

Without acknowledging other communities that you would find high rates of hypertension. They were all over the place with they and them and those. And I was just floored. I did have to consult with those students. I stopped that presentation. That's an example of the need for teaching a diversity equity and inclusion. And that we need that. Thank you.

Thank you.

Is that it? Thank you.

Before we continue, we'll go ahead and establish quorum. Madam, can you call please.

[Roll Call]

Wallace. Here. Thank you. Okay, now that we've taken care of business, anybody else in the in support of the Bill? Anyone in the audience? In support. Okay. Is there any opposition to the Bill case? Seeing none. I'll bring it back up to the Committee and Members. Any questions, comments or concerns? Okay.

I have a motion by Assembly Member Nguyen. A second by Assembly Member Rodriguez. Okay. Assemblymember, you may close.

All right. Thank you guys so much. Thank you, Madam Chair. And also Members again for Indulging me and in both reminding each other what Deia is by truly being able to uplift the overall need and the overall concern that we have within the actual state.

I won't go into this long, drawn out closing, but just once again, thank you guys for the opportunity to have this dialogue and I respectfully ask for your aye vote.

Thank you. I know. Assembly Member Carrillo, I think I missed your wanting to.

That's okay. Just wanted to thank the author for bringing such an important Bill. Inclusion, equity and diversity is what we care about in California, despite what's going on elsewhere. Thank you for bringing this up and appreciate you bringing this issue to us. Thank you.

Thank you. Okay, if there are no other comments, we'll go ahead and call the roll. I have a motion by Assembly Member Nguyen, second by Assemblymember Rodriguez. Madam Secretary, can you please call the roll?

[Roll Call]

. Okay. That measure has 11 votes. You need 12. So we'll leave the roll open for absent Members. Thank you. Okay, Assembly Member Alvarez, if you are ready. Assembly Member, as soon as you're ready, you may begin.

Thank you.

Turn on the microphone, please. Thank you.

Thank you. Madam Chair and Committee Members appreciate the opportunity to present before you today on AB971. As some of you might be aware, the County of San Diego is home to the largest number of tribal nations in the entire country.

Actually, it's the county with the most and particularly significance is the Kumeyaay Nation. And this Bill would ensure that the San Pascobana Mission Indians is able to undo some of the historic, unfortunate injustices that you are all very familiar with the history of California.

Land that belonged to the tribe many, many years ago that unfortunately was taken away. The land that we're talking about is roughly 3.83 acres of land is currently under the ownership of the City of San Diego. And what this Bill would allow is for the City of San Diego, if they so choose to.

And they have to take affirmative action to do so, would would allow them allow the. The land to then be turned over to the San Pascal Band of Mission Indians. We think this is a right step for us to try and again, to undo some of the unfortunate injustices in the past. There are many throughout the state.

I think we were very familiar with this, but this is particularly important to the California, Baja California region. The Kumeyaay people were part of this region much more before there was a border there. It crosses the border and certainly goes all the way to this part of San Diego.

And for that reason, we are before you today, and I like to turn it over to our witnesses for their testimony.

You each have two minutes. Thank you. Johnny Bear Contrerasqua. Hello, everyone. My name is Johnny Bear Contreras. I'm grateful to speak to you all today. I'm Kumeyaay from the Sampasqua Band. I want to acknowledge that we, the Kumeyaay people, have a continuous presence and maintain care for our land.

Thank you.

That this process will recognize the effort that's been made for some time of our people to have a place. The story that is connected with this particular lanterner is very well known within our people and within our culture. So I'm grateful for this time and this place and the presence here today. Aye Ahan. My heart is good.

Thank you.

Thank you. Chair Members. My name is Ryan Kroll of Solomon Saltsman Jameison. I'm an attorney that represents the San Pasqual Band of Mission Indians. I would like to echo the comments of Mr. Johnny Bear Contreras.

I've represented this tribe for over 20 years now and have a General sense of how important this is to the tribe to undo some of the historical wrongs and to provide for future generations.

This is something that every tribal Member talks a lot to me about, and it's an honor and a privilege that they allow me to participate here. But I also want to focus that the benefit is not just to the tribe or to the Native American community, but also to the local community. Right now, this is a state park that is closed, has been closed, and there's no expected opening date.

The tribe is committed to funding, reopening, operating, maintaining a historical park museum that focuses not just on the battlefield, which it is now, but also on that tribe itself, the local community, its contributions to it, and other Native American tribes.

And so it'll go from being a closed park that no one can utilize, to an open and operating park that is funded and operated by the tribe itself.

And as it's been noted, that part of this is owned by the City of San Diego, just Want to note that we are in continuing discussions with the city as two tracks at the same time. So with that, I respectfully ask for the support, support of AB971 and happy to answer any technical questions that you might have.

Thank you. Any others in support? Members of the audience in support for this? There you go.

Good morning. On behalf of the San Luis Rey. Indian Water Authority and support.

Thank you. Any others in support? Okay. Anyone in the audience in opposition or any witnesses in opposition? Okay. Seeing none. I'll bring it back up to the Committee for questions, comments or concerns. Okay. I have a motion by Assembly Member Macedo, second by Assemblymember Berman and Assemblymember Dixon.

Thank you for presenting this for our interest. I'm just curious, it's speculation only. Why haven't we heard from the city. Of San Diego Member Alvarez? Why are they reluctant to give us an opinion?

Well, the City of San Diego has to take affirmative action and to allow this to go through. As a former Council Member, I know that particularly the City Council taking action on some items or speaking up and saying they support something or post something might jeopardize them taking a position.

So I assume there's some issue related to that. But we are having communications with them and we expect that to continue and we hope that they officially take their action, which would be separate than just supporting this Bill. They actually have to have a resolution to adopt this.

Okay. And then you said it was a state park. So it's under the ages of the State of California.

So there are, there's public land and there are several, at least that I know of in San Diego that are state owned land, but that are city parks. In this case, it's city owned land that hosts a state park. And so there's mix, there's. There's partnerships like that throughout the state.

In this case, as was stated, it's a state park. But unfortunately, and that I forgot to mention that in my opening, but I'm glad it was mentioned here, is not only underutilized, it's not utilized.

Is it closed to the public?

Yes.

Oh, really? It's fenced off. Interesting. All right, thank you very much.

Thank you, Assemblymember Ramos.

Well, thank you, Member Sampasqua, for being able to bring this and working with the Assemblymember. This is the first step in getting that land moving forward. So I think this is an area that continues to move forward and it's ancestral territory of your people.

So the land that's theirs is ancestral territory that continues, continues to move forward with the promise of the State of California to atone for its past practices towards California Indian tribes. So I'm wholeheartedly in support of this Bill as the first step to getting this back to your people.

Thank you.

Thank you. And so, yes, we've had conversations with the powers that be, and it's the first step to getting this done. It's basically, they don't want to put the cart before the horse and want to make sure that we do our part so that they can proceed and perhaps come into an agreement for the. For the land.

And with that, if there's no other questions or comments, have a motion and a second. Secretary, can you please call the roll?

[Roll Call]

Okay, that measure enjoys 16 votes. I will leave the roll open for absent Members. And that is the last. zero, yes. So we heard Assembly Member Aguiar Curry's Bill earlier. We need a motion and a second. Okay. Assembly Member Nguyen. And the second by Assembly Member Sanchez. Okay, I have a motion and a second. Secretary, can you call the roll, please?

[Roll Call]

Thank you. And we have a measure on call right now. Assembly Member Sharp Collins. AB766. Assembly or Secretary, can you call the roll for the absent Members?

[Roll Call]

Okay. The measure passes with 13 votes. We'll go ahead and leave the roll open for absent Members. And can you call the roll for absent Members again? Okay. Yes.

[Roll Call]

Thank you. We'll leave the roll open for five more minutes for absent.

[Roll Call] Pesenting.

[Roll Call]

With that, we'll go ahead and adjourn. Thank you. We have Education Committee right after so