OKAY SO GOOD AFTERNOON. UM. WE
WERE GONNA START THIS
SUBCOMMITTEE UNTIL WE GET A
QUORUM. AND THEN WE WILL, UM WE
WILL CALL FOR THAT ROLL CALL
SOME LOGISTICS AND SOME
PROTOCOLS. UM LET'S SEE, UM, FOR
ANY MEMBERS OF PUBLIC PRESIDENT
IS HEARING ROOM WE ARE REQUIRING
PHYSICAL DISTANCING. PLEASE
FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS OF OUR
SERGEANTS AND POSTED GUIDANCE
WILL BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR
PUBLIC COMMENT. COMMENTS MAY BE
MADE IN PERSON IN THIS ROOM OR
BY PHONE. THE PHONE NUMBER TO
MAKE PUBLIC COMMENTS IS, UH,
877. 6928957 AND ACCESS CODE IS
1315437. THAT ACCESS CODE IS
1315437. THIS NUMBER WILL BE ON
DISPLAY THE VIEWERS ON SCREEN
THROUGHOUT THE HEARING AND POST
IT ON OUR ASSEMBLY AGRICULTURE
COMMITTEE WEBSITE. FOR ALL THOSE
WHO WILL BE, UM PROVIDING SOME
COMMENTS THIS AFTERNOON. WE ASK
THAT YOU PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME
. AND IF APPLICABLE, THE
ORGANIZATION YOU REPRESENT, AND
IF YOU SUPPORT OR OPPOSE THE
BILL THAT IS UNDER, UM
CONSIDERATION. THERE IS ONLY ONE
BILL ON THE AGENDA THIS
AFTERNOON. IT'S FILE ITEM ONE,
WHICH IS SB. 490 BY SENATOR UM
ORVIETO, IF IS SHE PRESENT? NO
SO I GUESS WE WILL ASK THE
SERGEANTS TO CONTACT HER OFFICE
AND SEE IF SHE'S ON HER WAY.
I DIDN'T GET SUCKS. SENATOR.
GOOD AFTERNOON. IT'S GREAT TO
HAVE YOU WE ARE STILL WAITING TO
ESTABLISH QUORUM. BUT WHAT
WHAT'S NEXT? WE ARE WE HAVE. UM
WE ARE CONVENED AS A
SUBCOMMITTEE SO WE CAN GO AHEAD
AND HEAR YOUR BILL. AND SO
OBVIOUSLY THERE'S ONLY ONE ITEM
ON OUR AGENDA DAY, WHICH IS A
SENATE BILL FOR 90. AND SO
WHENEVER YOU'RE READY APPRECIATE
YOU BEING HERE. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH FOR THE OFFICE. WOULD
SUPPORT CALIFORNIA'S
AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY AND
PROTECT CALIFORNIA JOBS BY
REQUIRING BUY AMERICAN
PROVISIONS FOR ALL PUBLIC
INSTITUTIONS THAT RECEIVE
FEDERAL REIMBURSEMENT FOR MEALS
. NOW THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
ALREADY HAS A BY AMERICAN
REQUIREMENT, AND AN AUDIT WAS
DONE RECENTLY AND FOUND THAT IN
CALIFORNIA THAT THAT THERE ISN'T
SUFFICIENT PAPERWORK IS PROBABLY
THE NICEST WAY TO PUT IT, BUT,
UM, BUT IT MAY BE THAT MANY OF
THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE JUST
NOT FOLLOWING THE FEDERAL
GUIDELINES THAT REQUIRE THEM TO
JUSTIFY OR SUPPORT THE PURCHASE
OF FOREIGN PRODUCTS. AND UM,
WHEN YOU TAKE A LOOK AT THE
PRODUCTS THAT HAVE BEEN
PURCHASED BY SCHOOL DISTRICTS
UM, IT'S UM IT IS. FISH THAT IS
FISH THAT THAT COMES FROM
RUSSIAN TRAWLERS. IT'S UM UH,
FRESH PRODUCE THAT COMES FROM
CHINA. UM AND IN MANY INSTANCES
, THE QUALITY AND THE LABOR
PROTECTIONS AND THE
ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES ARE ARE
SUBSTANTIAL. SO SB 4 90 WOULD
IMPROVE THE QUALITY AND SAFETY
OF PUBLIC MEAL PROGRAMS AND
PROTECT CALIFORNIA WORKERS.
REWARD THE CALIFORNIA
AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY AND
STRENGTHEN THE FEDERAL BUYBACK
AMERICAN POLICY AT THE STATE
LEVEL. IT REQUIRES ALL PUBLIC
INSTITUTIONS THAT RECEIVE
FEDERAL REIMBURSEMENT TO PROVIDE
PREPARED MEALS, WHICH INCLUDE IN
THEIR BIDS AND CONTRACTS THAT
THEY WILL ONLY PURCHASE
AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS GROWN
PACKED OR PROCESSED IN THE
UNITED STATES UNLESS THE
IMPORTED PRODUCT IS 25% CHEAPER
THAN THE DOMESTIC PRODUCT. THAT
25% PRICE DIFFERENTIAL IS
EXTREMELY IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT
PROVIDES A COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE
FOR AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS BORN
GROWN IN THE UNITED STATES UNDER
ROBUST LABOR, ENVIRONMENTAL AND
FOOD SAFETY STANDARDS. THE BILL
PROVIDES THE FOLLOWING
PROTECTIONS TO ENSURE THAT THE
BUY AMERICAN PROVISIONS ALLOW
FOR AFFORDABLE MEALS, INCLUDING
IT EXEMPTS PRODUCTS NOT GROWN
INSUFFICIENT AND AVAILABLE
QUANTITIES IN THE UNITED STATES
SUCH AS BANANAS, MANGOES AND
OTHERS. IT EXEMPTS ANY FOOD
BOUGHT DIRECTLY FROM THE U. S.
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. IT
DELAYS IMPLEMENTATION A YEAR TO
JANUARY. 1ST 2024 HAS A FIVE
YEAR SUNSET AND INCLUDES
PROTECTION TO PREVENT EXCESSIVE
PRICE INCREASES AND REQUIRES
PRICE MONITORING BY AMERICAN
POLICIES. INSURER RESIDENTS ARE
CHILDREN AND PARTICULAR CONSUME
, CONSUME FOOD OF THE HIGHEST
QUALITY AND SAFETY THAT IS
REFLECTIVE OF OUR VALUES. BY
SUPPORTING LOCAL FARMERS, JOBS
IN OUR ECONOMY AS WELL AS
ENFORCING REINFORCING
CALIFORNIA'S COMMITMENT AS A
WORLD LEADER ON CLIMATE CHANGE,
ENVIRONMENTAL SAFEGUARDS AND
LABOR PROTECTION. MAKES THESE
PROVISIONS OPERATIVE AS I SAID
ON JULY 1ST 2024 24. FINALLY THE
BILL INCORPORATES FINDINGS AND
DECLARATIONS TO REFERENCE THE
PRESIDENT'S EXECUTIVE ORDER.
QUOTE ENSURING THE FUTURE IS
MADE IN ALL OF AMERICA BY ALL OF
AMERICA'S WORKERS, CLOSE QUOTE
WITH ME TO TESTIFY AND SUPPORT
AND ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS IS
SARAH FLOCKS WHO REPRESENTS THE
TEAMSTERS FOOD PROCESSING
DIVISION, AND TRICIA GEHRINGER,
VICE PRESIDENT OF GOVERNMENT
AFFAIRS FROM THE AGRICULTURAL
COUNCIL OF CALIFORNIA, AND THANK
YOU, SENATOR. AT THIS TIME WE
WILL START WITH THIS FLOCKS FOR,
UM, WITH GALLINGER WELCOME. GOOD
AFTERNOON, MR TARYN MEMBERS. I'M
TRICIA GEHRINGER WITH
AGRICULTURAL COUNCIL OF
CALIFORNIA. WE REPRESENT FARMERS
AND FARMER OWNED BUSINESSES ALL
THROUGHOUT THE STATE, INCLUDING
15,000 OF OUR PRODUCERS MAKING
CALIFORNIA GROWN AND PRODUCED
FOOD. WE ARE A SPONSOR OF SB 4
92 FURTHER STRENGTHENED BY
AMERICAN PROCUREMENT POLICIES.
THE BILL WOULD ENACT A POLICY
THAT BENEFITS BOTH AGRICULTURE
AND WORKERS, AS WELL AS THOSE
WHO RECEIVE THE MEALS AND
ENSURING THE FOOD IS NOT ONLY
NUTRITIOUS BUT ALSO THE SAFEST
IN THE WORLD BY ENSURING WE ARE
MEETING EXTRAORDINARY STANDARDS
. SB 4 90 ALSO GALVANIZES
CALIFORNIA INTO THE POSITION OF
LEADING THE NATION BY
STRENGTHENING THE BUY AMERICAN
PROVISIONS. IN THE ADD COMMUNITY
AS YOU ALL KNOW. CALIFORNIA'S
FARMERS AND FOOD PROCESSORS ARE
MEETING MAKING INVESTMENTS TO
MEET EXCEPTIONAL STANDARDS TO
PROTECT THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF
WORKERS PROVIDE FAIR AND
COMPETITIVE WAGES. ENSURE FOOD
SAFETY, MAINTAIN WATER AND
ENERGY YOUTH AND IMPLEMENT
CLIMATE FRIENDLY AG PRACTICES.
THIS IS WHERE SP 4 90 COMES IN.
AN ALLIANCE WITH OUR STRONG
VALUES BY INCLUDING BY AMERICAN
AND BID SOLICITATIONS, WHICH
WILL ENSURE TAXPAYER DOLLARS ARE
USED TO PURCHASE FOOD THAT MEETS
OUR STANDARDS. AND OUR VALUES.
FOR THESE REASONS. WE URGE YOU
TO VOTE AYE. ON THIS VOTE ON
THIS BILL, AND WE APPRECIATE
SENATOR CABALLERO FOR AUTHORING
THE BILL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU
MISS CARRYING ER AND SO NOW WE
WILL GO TO MS BLOCK'S WELCOME,
MR CHAIR MEMBERS, SARAH FLOCKS.
I AM REPRESENTING THE TEAMSTERS
FOOD PROCESSING DIVISION, ONE OF
THE SPONSORS THE BILL AND ALSO
THE CANNERY INDUSTRY LABOR
MANAGEMENT COOPERATION
COMMITTEE. UM WHICH IS A LONG
NAME FOR BASICALLY A PARTNERSHIP
. A VERY, I WILL SAY KIND OF
RARE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN CANNERY
UNION LOCAL SO THE UNIONS THAT
REPRESENT CANNERY WORKERS AND
THEIR EMPLOYERS AND WE HAVE COME
TOGETHER BECAUSE THIS BILL IS SO
IMPORTANT TO ENSURE THAT PUBLIC
DOLLARS GO TO SUPPORT A AMERICAN
INDUSTRY AND A CALIFORNIA
INDUSTRY, AGRICULTURE AND FOOD
PROCESSING, AND IT'S A CRITICAL
MOMENT. BECAUSE WE HAVE SEEN OUR
EMPLOYERS CLOSE SPECIFICALLY
BECAUSE OF COMPETITION FROM
OVERSEAS IMPORTERS. UM AND THEN
JUST STEPPING BACK AS THE LABOR
MOVEMENT. WE REPRESENT BOTH
WORKERS IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR
AND THE PUBLIC SECTOR. AND SO WE
ARE BIG ADVOCATES OF ANY
FUNDING. ANY PUBLIC FUNDING
GOING TO MAKE SURE IT CREATES
GOOD JOBS, UM, AND GOES TO
ENSURE THAT IT CREATES
CALIFORNIA JOBS AND AMERICAN
JOBS AT THE SAME TIME. WE ALSO
WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR
PUBLIC SECTOR IS ABLE TO
FUNCTION THAT PUBLIC WORKERS
HAVE THE BUDGETS TO GET THE JOB
DONE. UM TEAMSTERS ALSO
REPRESENT CLASSIFIED SCHOOL
EMPLOYEES. THE PEOPLE WHO SERVE
LUNCHES TO KIDS OR SERVE MEALS
TO PEOPLE. IN OTHER ER SETTINGS
AND WE REALLY WANT TO MAKE SURE
THAT THIS WORK GETS DONE, AND WE
WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE
UNIVERSAL SCHOOL MEALS PROGRAM
IS A SUCCESS AS WELL. AND SO
THAT'S WHY THERE ARE THESE
PROTECTIONS IN THE BILL. THE
DELAYED IMPLEMENTATION TO ALLOW
SOME TIME A FIVE YEAR SUNSET AND
OTHER MEASURES BECAUSE WE'RE
VERY COGNIZANT ON BOTH SIDES. WE
NEED TO HAVE A ROBUST PUBLIC
SERVICE PUBLIC SECTOR THAT
SERVES THE MOST VULNERABLE. AND
WE NEED PUBLIC DOLLARS TO CREATE
GOOD JOBS TO SUPPORT OUR MIDDLE
CLASS. SO WE URGE DR. OH, THANK
YOU. AND THANK YOU FOR THE
TETIMONY. WE DO HAVE TWO
WITNESSES WHO ARE HERE TO
TESTIFY IN OPPOSITION. UM AND SO
IF WE COULD HAVE YOU RETURNED TO
THE SEATS AND THAT WOULD BE, UM
MISS LEE ANGELA REID WITH THE
CALIFORNIA SCHOOL NUTRITION
ASSOCIATION. AND CHERYL I'D WITH
THE CALIFORNIA SCHOOL BOARD
ASSOCIATION. SO WHOEVER IS WOULD
LIKE TO OFFER THEIR TESTIMONY
FIRST. PLEASE FEEL FREE.
I NEED TO SHOULD BE LIKE. THANK
YOU, MR CHAIR AND MEMBERS LEE
ANGELA REID ON BEHALF OF THE
CALIFORNIA SCHOOL NUTRITION
ASSOCIATION AND THE ASSOCIATION
OF CALIFORNIA SCHOOL
ADMINISTRATORS IN OPPOSITION TO
SENATE BILL 4 90. WE RESPECT,
SUPPORT AND FOLLOW THE FEDERAL
BUY AMERICAN PROVISIONS ALREADY
IN LAW. WE DO WE DO OUR BEST TO
BUY LOCALLY WHENEVER POSSIBLE TO
SUPPORT OUR NEIGHBORING FARMERS
AND GROWERS. WE FEED THEIR
CHILDREN AND THOSE OF THEIR
EMPLOYEES. HOWEVER THERE ARE
INSTANCES WHERE WE MUST PURCHASE
THAT COUNTRY. THAT'S WHY THERE
ARE EXEMPTIONS IN THE FEDERAL
BUY AMERICAN CLAUSES. THE USDA
RECOGNIZES THAT SCHOOL MEAL
PROGRAMS NEED TO BE ABLE TO
ADJUST TO ENSURE OUR STUDENTS
ARE FIT, HIGH QUALITY MEALS THAT
MEET ESTABLISHED NUTRITIONAL
STANDARDS. OFFERED FOOD SERVICE
DIRECTORS MAKE THEIR BIDS AND
PLACE THEIR ORDER FOR PRODUCTS
SEVERAL MONTHS PRIOR TO WHEN
THEY PLAN TO SERVE THEM AS
BEFORE. 90 DELAYS IMPLEMENTATION
UNTIL JANUARY, 2024 WHICH SOUNDS
GREAT, EXCEPT THAT WE WILL BE
PERPETRATORS SING FOR 2024 THIS
COMING FEBRUARY, 2023. THERE ARE
SEVERAL OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THE
BILL. THE SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES
THAT ARE BEING FELT ACROSS THE
COUNTRY HAVE PROFOUNDLY AFFECTED
OUR PROGRAMS. PRODUCTS ARE
FREQUENTLY DELAYED, OFTEN
REMAINING AT PORTS AND FOR WEEKS
AT A TIME, CAUSING THE COST OF
PRODUCTS TO RISE TO ASTRONOMICAL
LEVELS. THE COMMITTEE ANALYSIS
REITERATES THIS POINT. THE
LANGUAGE REQUIRING THE BID OR
PRICE OF A NON DOMESTIC
AGRICULTURAL PRODUCT TO BE MORE
THAN 25% LOWER. IT'S 5% NOW.
THEN A DOMESTIC PRODUCT IS MUCH
TOO RESTRICTIVE AND WILL PREVENT
VIRTUALLY ALL NON DOMESTIC
PURCHASES. IT WILL ALSO ALLOW
PRODUCERS OF DOMESTIC FOODS TO
RAISE THEIR PRICES ALREADY MUCH
HIGHER THIS YEAR THAN LAST
SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY CAN. THE
ANTI GOUGING CLAUSE IN THE BILL
STILL ALLOWS SCHOOLS TO BE
CHARGED UP TO 24.99% AND
PROVIDES NO REAL RECOURSE IF
THEY ARE CHARGED ABOUT 25. SP 4
90 NOT ONLY CURTAILS ANY
COMPETITION, IT ENCOURAGES
DOMESTIC PRODUCERS TO GREATLY
INCREASE THEIR PRICES. ALL THE
WHILE THE FEDERAL REIMBURSEMENT
RATE FOR SCHOOL MEALS HAS
REMAINED UNCHANGED ABOUT $4 A
MEAL. IF SB 4 90 PASSES, WE WILL
BE UNABLE TO PROVIDE CHILDREN
WITH SCHOOL MEALS WITHOUT GOING
INTO DEBT UNDER FEDERAL LAW WHEN
A SCHOOL MEAL PROGRAM HAS A DEBT
, THAT DEBT MUST BE REPAID NOT
BY THE MAIL PROGRAM BUT THROUGH
THE SCHOOLS GENERAL FOR THE
DISTRICT'S GENERAL FUND. THIS
MEANS SCHOOL PROGRAMS WOULD BE
CUT OR ELIMINATED, AND SOME
EMPLOYEES, MANY OF THEM UNION
MEMBERS. UM WILL HAVE TO BE
GIVEN NOTICE TO MEET THE DEAD.
FINALLY AS BEFORE. 90 CONTAINS
EXTENSIVE ADDITIONAL REPORTING
REQUIREMENTS. THE ADMINISTRATIVE
REVIEW CONDUCTED OF EVERY
DISTRICT ENROLLED IN THE
NATIONAL SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAM,
AND THE SCHOOL BREAKFAST PROGRAM
IS ALREADY SEVERAL DAYS AND
EXTREMELY ONEROUS AS BEFORE. 19
GREATLY ADDS TO THE BURDEN ON
MEAL PROGRAMS, TAKING RESOURCES
AWAY FROM STUDENTS IN CLASSROOMS
AND PLACING SCHOOL MEAL PROGRAMS
IN A NO WIN SITUATION, AS THE
REPORTING WILL BE IMPOSSIBLE TO
PERFORM. AS A RESULT, ALL SCHOOL
MEAL PROGRAMS WOULD BE
PENALIZED. S BEFORE 90 BENEFITS
THE SPONSORS AT THE DETRIMENT OF
STUDENTS WHOM THE BILL NOTES ARE
THE MOST VULNERABLE AMONG US.
THE EXEMPTION FOR PROGRAMS UNDER
A MILLION WERE VERY, VERY FEW
ARE SCHOOL PERSONNEL
ADMINISTRATORS, FOOD SERVICE
DIRECTORS AND FOOD SERVICE
WORKERS AND TEACHERS WERE THE
FIRST ON THE LINE WHEN COVID HIT
AND THEY'VE NEVER RETREATED.
THEY MADE SURE STUDENTS WERE
RECEIVING SCHOOL MEALS BECAUSE
THEY KNEW THAT MANY WOULD NOT BE
ABLE TO EAT OTHERWISE. THEY
CONTINUE TO ENSURE OUR STUDENTS
CAN FOCUS ON THEIR EDUCATION
INSTEAD OF THEIR NEXT MEAL.
PLEASE DON'T MAKE IT MORE
DIFFICULT FOR US TO TAKE CARE OF
OUR STUDENTS AND VOTE NO ON
THIS, BILL. THANK YOU. GOOD
AFTERNOON, SHIRLEY DOWN ON
BEHALF OF THE CALIFORNIA SCHOOL
BOARDS ASSOCIATION, JUST LIKE TO
ADD THAT THE SURVEY THAT WAS
MENTIONED EARLIER WAS BACK IN
2017, AND SINCE THEN, THE
SCHOOLS THAT WERE CITED IN THERE
HAVE ALL MADE CORRECTIVE ACTION
SENSE SO IN THIS PAST FIVE
YEARS, WANTED TO ADD THAT ALSO
FOR A POLICY THIS LARGE, WE
REALLY APPRECIATE THE STAFF'S
WORK ON MENTIONING HOW MUCH THAT
THIS WOULD REALLY COST AND HAD
THE MEMBERS TALK TO US PRIOR, WE
COULD HAVE GIVEN THEM AN
ESTIMATE IN ORDER TO REFLECT
THAT IN THE BUDGET ASK THAT WAS
NOT. THAT DID NOT HAPPEN SO AS A
RESULT, THIS IS GOING TO IMPACT
OTHER MEMBERS THAT MY COLLEAGUE
JUST MENTIONED, INCLUDING OUR
TEACHERS ARE OTHER CLASSIFIED
EMPLOYEES. BUT MOST OF ALL OUR
STUDENTS, AND WE HIGHLY NOTE
THAT THIS BILL IS GOING TO COST
AT LEAST HALF A BILLION DOLLARS
IN ORDER TO IMPLEMENT WITH NO
APPROPRIATION. AND THANK YOU FOR
THAT TESTIMONY. APPRECIATE IT.
AT THIS TIME. WE'RE GOING TO
HOLD ANY QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS
AND JUST OPEN IT UP. TO PUBLIC
COMMENTS, AND WE'LL START WITH
THOSE THAT ARE HERE IN THIS ROOM
TO OFFER COMMENTS IN SUPPORT OF
SENATE BILL FOR 90, SO PLEASE
LIST YOUR NAME. UM YOUR
AFFILIATION AND YOUR SUPPORT MR
CHAIR AND MEMBERS, ANTHONY
MOLINA ON BEHALF OF THE
ASSOCIATION OF CALIFORNIA EGG
FARMERS CALIFORNIA PEAR GROWERS
ASSOCIATION IN CALIFORNIA.
CHERRY GROWS ASSOCIATION AND
SUPPORT. THANK YOU. GOOD
AFTERNOON, MR CHAIRMAN MEMBERS
MICHAEL GERRARD ON BEHALF OF THE
COMMUNITY ALLIANCE WITH FAMILY
FARMERS IN SUPPORT. THANK YOU.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MR CHAIRMAN,
MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE SHANE
GUSSMAN ON BEHALF OF THE
CALIFORNIA TEAM SEARCH PUBLIC
AFFAIRS COUNCIL ON BEHALF OF ALL
OF OUR FOOD WORKERS AND ARE
CLASSIFIED SCHOOL EMPLOYEES. WE
STRONGLY SUPPORT THE BILL AND
ALSO MENTIONED THE UFCW SUPPORTS
THE BILL. THEY COULDN'T BE HERE
BUT ASKED ME TO MENTION THEM.
OKAY ANYONE ELSE IN THIS ROOM TO
OFFER? UM SUPPORT FOR ASSEMBLY
OR FOR SENATE BILL 4 90. AT THIS
TIME WE WILL GO TO THE OPERATOR
. OPERATOR ARE YOU WITH US? IS
THERE ANYONE IN THE QUEUE TO
OFFER UM SUPPORT FOR SENATE BILL
FOR 90? YES LINE 33. HER LINE IS
OPEN. THANK YOU. MR CHAIR,
REMEMBERS MITCH STEIGER WITH THE
CALIFORNIA LABOR FEDERATION,
ALSO IN SPORT. LINE 20. OKAY.
I'M SORRY. NEXT CALLER, PLEASE.
HOPPER. I'M 28. YOUR LINE IS
OPEN. HOW HAVE YOU BEEN
ELIZABETH ESCOBAR AT THE
CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL
BUSINESS OFFICIALS WERE ACTUALLY
IN OPPOSITION TO THE BILL. THANK
YOU. OPERATORS ANYONE ELSE IN
SUPPORT? YES I'M SORRY. LYING
13. YOUR LINE IS OPEN. GOOD
AFTERNOON RICH HUDGENS WITH THE
CALIFORNIA CAN IMPEACH
ASSOCIATION. WE STRONGLY SUPPORT
SB 4 90. NEXT CALLER. LINE 21,
YOUR LINE IS OPEN. GOOD
AFTERNOON, KATHY MANCINI ON
BEHALF OF THE CALIFORNIA SCHOOL
EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION, AND
SUPPORT THANK YOU. RIGHT. NEXT
CALLER, PLEASE. 9 17. YOUR LINE
IS OPEN. HI YES, THIS IS BLAKE
MAKE CAMP WITH WATER FROZEN
FOODS, AND I SUPPORT SP 4 90
NEXT CALLER. LINE 16. YOUR LINE
IS OPEN. YES MY NAME IS DARREN
HOFF. MR CHAIRMAN. I'M A
CALIFORNIA RAISIN FARMER IN
FRESNO COUNTY AND A MEMBER OF
SUNDAY GROWERS OF CALIFORNIA
WHERE WE PROCESS THE MARKET ARE
CALIFORNIA GROWN RAISING CROP
AND HAVE FIVE SEPARATE LOCAL
UNIONS THAT HELP US IN THAT
PROCESS. I AM IN SUPPORT OF SB 4
90 BY SENATOR CABARET HELLO AND
ITS PROVISIONS AS AMENDED ON
AUGUST 25TH. AS A CALIFORNIA
FARMER. WE PRODUCE THE HIGHEST
QUALITY. THANK YOU, SIR. WE'RE
JUST TAKING. UH UM WE'RE JUST
REGISTERING YOUR SUPPORT FOR THE
LEGISLATION. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
OPERATOR. NEXT CALLER, PLEASE.
YEAH. THANK YOU. LINE 11. YOUR
LINE IS OPEN. I AM ADAM, STROKE
WITH PACIFIC COAST PRODUCERS AND
THE PRODUCERS ALLIANCE OF
CALIFORNIA AND I SUPPORT SB 4 90
BY SENATOR CABALLERO. THANK YOU.
OPERATOR NEXT CALLER. LINE 18.
YOUR LINE IS OPEN. GOOD
AFTERNOON CHAIRMAN WILLIAM SMITH
CAMP CLOVIS, CALIFORNIA
REPRESENTING QUITE SIMPLE FOOD
PRODUCTS SLASH SUMMER PRIZE. I'M
ALSO A PEACH GIRL HERE IN CLOVIS
, CALIFORNIA I SUPPORT SB 4 90
BY SENATOR MORRELL. AND THANK
YOU FOR CALLING YOU OPERATOR
NEXT CALLER. LINE 30. YOUR LINE
IS OPEN. HI I'M JENNIFER
STANDARDS FROM TURKEY FARMING
AND I AM IN SUPPORT OF SENATE
BILL 4 90. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
CALL OPERATOR. NEXT CALLER.
THERE ARE NO MORE IN QUÊ.
FANTASTIC SO THOSE IN THIS ROOM
WISHING TO OFFER UM OPPOSITION I
WOULD LIKE TO REGISTER THEIR
OPPOSITION TO SENATE BILL 490.
NOW IS THE TIME TO DO SO. SEEN
NONE. UM MADAM OPERATOR ARE
THEIR COLLARS IN THE QUEUE WHO
WISH TO REGISTER OPPOSITION TO
SENATE BILL 490.
OPERATOR. ARE YOU STILL WITH US?
YES I AM. I'M LINE. 27, PLEASE
GO AHEAD. 27 YOUR LINE IS OPEN.
THANK YOU, MR CHAIR MEMBERS,
ANDREA BALL ON BEHALF OF THE
CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF
SUBURBAN SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN
OPPOSITION. AND THANK YOU FOR
YOUR CALL. NEXT CALLER. YES LINE
15, PLEASE GO AHEAD. CHRISTINA
MARCELLUS, SOMEBODY WE HAVE A
SMALL SCHOOL DISTRICT
ASSOCIATION AND OPPOSITION.
THANK YOU. NEXT CALLER, PLEASE.
THERE ARE NO MORE IN CUBA AT
THIS TIME. WELL THANK YOU, MADAM
OPERATOR. AND SO WITH THAT WE
WILL BRING IT BACK TO THE
COMMITTEE FOR QUESTIONS FROM
MEMBERS. TIME TO GO. OKAY WE
STILL NEED, UH, QUORUM. AH. BUT
IF YOU'D LIKE TO OFFER SOME
CLOSING REMARKS THANK YOU, MR
CHAIR AND MEMBERS FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT THIS
BILL. UM AND THE HAPPY TO ANSWER
ANY OF YOUR QUESTIONS. UM YOU
KNOW, I HAD EXTENSIVE
CONVERSATIONS WITH THE
OPPOSITION AND TOOK A NUMBER OF
AMENDMENTS, WHICH NOW SEEMS TO
BE CREATING SOME OF THE CONFLICT
. UM THEY ASKED FOR AN EXTENSION
ON THE IMPLEMENTATION DATE AND
WE EXTENDED IT HAD THEY SAID,
WELL, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO BUY
AND IN, UM FEBRUARY OF THE YEAR
BEFORE WE COULD HAVE EXTENDED IT
FURTHER, BUT BUT WE PICKED THAT
DAY BECAUSE IT GAVE HIM AN
ENTIRE YEAR PLUS TO GET
THEMSELVES ORGANIZED. THEY ALSO
WERE CONCERNED ABOUT THE UM. UH
BASICALLY BEING IN A POSITION
WELL, AND SO LET ME JUST ALSO
SAY THAT THERE'S NO PENALTY.
THERE'S NO THERE'S NO
REPERCUSSION IF THEY DON'T
FOLLOW THIS. WE VERY
SPECIFICALLY, THIS IS SOMETHING
THAT WE WANT THEM TO GET USED
TO, AND VOLUNTARILY DO ON THEIR
OWN BEHALF. UM AND THIS WAS
REALLY IN RESPONSE TO A PLANT
CLOSURE IN THE CITY OF MODESTO.
PEACH PROCESSING FACILITY THAT
CLOSED DOWN BECAUSE OF DIRECT
IMPORTATION OF CHINESE PEACHES
LAID OFF 300 FULL TIME WORKERS
AND CLOSE TO 7 800, PART TIME
WORKERS DURING THE PEAK OF THE
SEASON. AND IF THERE'S ONE THING
THAT WE KNOW IS THAT AMERICAN
MADE PRODUCTS PRODUCT AND IN
CALIFORNIA. WHAT WE KNOW IS THAT
WE HAVE THE HIGHEST QUALITY
PRODUCT EVER AND, UM, THE
ABILITY TO BE ABLE TO FEED OUR
CHILDREN. HIGH QUALITY PRODUCT
IS REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT. THE
OTHER ISSUE THAT THEY THAT THEY
BROUGHT UP WAS THE 25% RICK THE
REQUIREMENT THAT THAT YOU BUY
AMERICAN UNLESS IT'S 25% CHEAPER
AND SO THE LANGUAGES IN THE
CONTRACT THAT THEY WOULD
ACTUALLY DO WITH A VENDOR, AND
IF THE VENDOR CAN'T FIND THAT
PRODUCT, OR HAS TWO OR
SUBSTITUTE SOMETHING AT THE LAST
MINUTE, UM, IT IT IS. THERE IS
THERE IS NO PROBLEM WITH THAT.
WE UNDERSTAND THAT THAT'S AN
EXCEPTION TO THE TO THE RULE AS
WELL. THE WHOLE IDEA THAT YOU'RE
GOING TO END UP WITH FARMERS
THAT GOUGE? UM BECAUSE OF THIS
REQUIREMENT, QUITE FRANKLY, IS
LUDICROUS. IT'S NOT THE WAY THE
SYSTEM WORKS. UM AND THERE'S AN
ANTI GOUGING PROVISIONS AS WELL
. AND THAT'S PART OF THE
REPORTING IS SO WE CAN FIND OUT
EXACTLY HOW THIS IS WORKING IN
THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.AND SO WE CAN
CHANGE IT IF WE NEED TO CHANGE
IT. SO UM, THEY ASKED FOR SOME
AMENDS. WE LISTENED VERY
CAREFULLY. AND I THINK
ACCOMMODATED THAT AND QUITE
FRANKLY. THE EDUCATION IS
GETTING FUNDING FUNDED AT THE
HIGHEST LIBERAL IN THE HISTORY
OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA. AND
I, AND I JUST THINK THAT WE
OUGHT TO BE FAIRLY BE THINKING
ABOUT WHETHER WE WANT TO, UM,
US. WHETHER WE WANT OUR COUNTRY
TO BE IN CHARGE OF FEEDING
OURSELVES. IT'S A NATIONAL
SECURITY ISSUE. IT IS A HEALTH
SAFETY ISSUE, AND I RESPECTFULLY
ASK FOR YOUR VOTE. AND THANK YOU
FOR THAT CLOSING, BUT WE WILL GO
BACK TO SOME OF THEM. WILSON WHO
DID HAVE A QUESTION? THANK YOU.
IT ACTUALLY WASN'T A QUESTION. I
WANTED TO MAKE A COMMENT BECAUSE
I DID HEAR FROM SEVERAL OF MY
LOCAL SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS THIS
WEEKEND. THEY ALL HAVE MY CELL
PHONE NUMBER, SO THEY CALLED AND
I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK
WITH THEM ABOUT THEIR CONCERNS
ABOUT THE BILL AND I AND I
EXPLAINED THE REASON FOR MY
SUPPORT FOR IT, AND I DO THINK
IT'S KEY. UM LIKE YOU SAID THAT
WE HAVE FUNDING. THE EDUCATION
SYSTEM THIS YEAR AT THE HIGHEST
LEVEL, AS WE HAVE IN THE HISTORY
OF, UM, OUR LITTLE STATE, AND AT
THE SAME TIME, THIS IS REALLY
IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE THAT
WE'RE FEEDING HIGH QUALITY FOOD
TO OUR CHILDREN AND THAT THE
CHILDREN'S PARENTS HAVE JOBS
THAT ARE LOCALLY SOURCED NEAR
WHERE THEY GO TO SCHOOL AT AND
SO I THINK IT ALL FEEDS INTO THE
ECONOMY, AND I DO UNDERSTAND
THAT UM, A LOT OF SCHOOL BOARDS,
ELECTED SCHOOL BOARDS JUST
SEEING THIS AND NOTING THAT HEY
, I HAVE A CONCERN ABOUT MY
BUDGET. BUT AT A TIME, WHEN WERE
YOU KNOW HISTORICALLY GIVING A
SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MONEY IT
ALLOWS FOR AN ADJUSTMENT. I
BELIEVE IN THE ECONOMY OVER THE
NEXT FEW YEARS, AND SO I WANTED
TO JUST TELL YOU HOW MUCH I
APPRECIATE THIS BILL AND
RECOGNIZE THAT YOU KNOW, OUR
SOME OF OUR LOCAL ELECTED ARE
STRUGGLING WITH IT, BUT I THINK
AT THE END OF THE DAY WE'LL GET
THE JOB DONE AND OUR KIDS WILL
BE BETTER FOR IT. OUR ECONOMY
WILL BE BETTER FOR IT. AND AS A
RESULT, OUR STATE WILL BE BETTER
FOR IT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. THANK YOU, SAM LAMAR
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS
MEMBERS? THAT'S YOUR MATHIS.
I'LL MAKE THIS BRIEF, WHERE BUSY
TRYING TO DEFEND 30% OF THE OIL
PRODUCTION IN THE STATES, SO
THESE AG WORKERS CAN GET TO WORK
. UM SO I DO APOLOGIZE WITH
SENATOR. I'VE BEEN, UH, CO
AUTHOR ON SEVERAL OF THESE AND
EVERYTHING ELSE, AND I JUST WANT
TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK TO
GET THIS THROUGH THIS YEAR. OUR
KIDS DESERVE THE BEST FOOD WE
CAN POSSIBLY GET THEM. PERIOD
IT'S THAT SIMPLE. UM CONCERNS
WITH LOCAL SCHOOL. BOARD MEMBERS
. MY LOCAL SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS
WERE FARMERS AND APPRECIATE THIS
BILL. UM AND APPRECIATE KNOWING
THAT WHAT THEY POUR THEIR
LIVELIHOOD INTO IS GOING TO GET
ON THE TABLE OF STUDENTS AND
THAT OUR STUDENTS ARE GOING TO
GET SOMETHING HEALTHY TO EAT.
YOU KNOW, WE STILL LIVE IN A
STATE WHERE WHAT ARE WE AT ONE
AND EIGHT KIDS GO HUNGRY EVERY
NIGHT. IF YOU LOOK AT THE
AVERAGE, YOU KNOW 35 PEOPLE IN A
CLASSROOM. THAT'S THAT'S 4 TO 5
STUDENTS IN THAT CLASSROOM, AND
THIS IS WHERE THEY'RE GETTING
THEIR FOOD. SO BY DOING THIS, WE
ENSURE THAT THEY GET QUALITY
MILLS. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU,
MR VICE CHAIR, AND SO WITH THAT,
LET'S ESTABLISH SCORE. MM.
SECRETARY. RIVAS MATHIS. HERE.
AGUIAR-CURRY CUNNINGHAM, FLORA
GRAY IRWIN, JOAN SAWYER WILSON
HERE, WOULD WE HAVE A QUORUM?
OKAY AND SO WITH THAT, IS THERE
A MOTION TO MOVE? SO THERE'S A
MOTION DEVICE SHOW MATH IS
SECOND BY A NUMBER OF JOHN
SAWYER. AND IF YOU CAN CALL THE
ROLL STOLE IT FROM SP 4 90
MOTION AS DO PASS, REBUS. I WAS
I. MATHIS MATHIS. I AGUIAR-CURRY
CUNNINGHAM. FLORA LARA. I GRAY
IRWIN, JOHN SAWYER, JOHN SAWYER
. IVY. VALLAPUDUA VALLAPUDUA.
AYE WILSON WILSON, I WOULD WOULD
I OKAY, THAT BILL IS OUT AND
APPRECIATE ONE'S TIME. MADAM
SENATOR. THANK YOU SO MUCH, AND
WE ARE ADJOURNED.
CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. MY
PLEASURE. YEAH, I WANTED TO MAKE.