MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE.
WELCOME TO THE FIRST POLICY
HEARING OF THE ASSEMBLY
COMMITTEE ON INSURANCE IN 2023.
BUT WE'RE GOING TO BEGIN AS A
SUBCOMMITTEE AS WE WAIT FOR
OTHER MEMBERS TO ARRIVE. SO WE
ARE READY FOR OUR FIRST AUTHOR.
ASSEMBLYWOMAN IRWIN WHENEVER
YOU'RE READY, TO PRESENT A B 6
21. GOOD MORNING. AH MADAM CHAIR
AND MEMBERS. UH, I'M PLEASED TO
PRESENT A B S 6 TO 1 TODAY ONE
OF PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICER LIKE A
FIREFIGHTER, A PEACE OFFICER
FALLS IN THE LINE OF DUTY. IT
CAN LEAVE AN IRREPARABLE HOLE IN
THEIR COMMUNITIES. THE SURVIVING
FAMILIES OF THOSE FALLEN
OFFICERS MUST QUICKLY ADAPT TO
THE SUDDEN LOSS OF THEIR LOVED
ONE WHILE FACING MANY NEWFOUND
CHALLENGES, INCLUDING A
SIGNIFICANT IMPACT TO THEIR
FINANCES. GENERALLY BOTH THE
CALIFORNIA WAS CALIFORNIA
WORKERS' COMPENSATION SYSTEM AND
THE PUBLIC EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT
SYSTEM PROVIDE FINANCIAL BENEFIT
FOR THE SURVIVORS OF THOSE
TRAGEDIES. HOWEVER WHILE THE
FAMILIES OF LOCAL PUBLIC SAFETY
OFFICERS MAY RECEIVE THESE
BENEFITS THE FAMILIES OF CERTAIN
CLASSES OF STATE PUBLIC SAFETY
OFFICERS, INCLUDING FIREFIGHTERS
AND PEACE OFFICERS ARE NOT
ALLOWED TO RECEIVE BOTH. 86 TO 1
ADDRESSES THIS INEQUITY BETWEEN
LOCAL AND STATE BY ALLOWING A
VARIETY OF STATE PUBLIC SAFETY
OFFICERS, INCLUDING THE
FIREFIGHTERS AND PEACE OFFICERS
, OFFICERS WHO ARE CURRENTLY
EXCLUDED TO RECEIVE BOTH
BENEFITS. I THINK SPEAKING FIRST
TODAY IN SUPPORT OF THIS BILL IS
MEGAN SUPERS, REPRESENTING THE
CALIFORNIA PROFESSIONAL
FIREFIGHTERS. THANK YOU, MADAM
CHAIR MEMBERS. MEGAN SUPERS ON
BEHALF OF THE CALIFORNIA
PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTERS. WE
ARE PROUD TO SPONSOR THIS BILL
AND APPRECIATE THE AUTHOR
BRINGING IT FORWARD IN DEFERENCE
TO OUR LOCAL LOCAL 28 81 THAT IS
ALSO HERE REPRESENTING OUR STATE
FIREFIGHTERS. I WILL DEFER MY
TIME TO TERRY MCHALE, BUT WOULD
JUST EXPRESS OUR SUPPORT FOR
THIS BILL AND ASK FOR YOUR VOTE
AT THE RIGHT TIME. MADAM CHAIR
TERRY MCHALE, WITH AARON REID
AND ASSOCIATES REPRESENTING CAL
FIRE LOCAL TO 881 PLEASED TO BE
HERE WITH ASSEMBLYWOMAN IRWIN
AND ALTHOUGH OBVIOUSLY WITH CAL
FIRE CAL FIRE IS NOT ONLY THE
LARGEST FIRE DEPARTMENT IN THE
UNITED STATES, IT IS THE LARGEST
FIRE DEPARTMENT IN NORTH
AMERICA. AND THERE IS THIS
ODDITY FROM THE 1959 SURVIVORS
ACT. THAT HAS CONTINUED THAT
DOES NOT ALLOW A STATE
FIREFIGHTER TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF
BOTH WORKERS, COMP AND CALPERS.
WITH AN ONLINE DUTY DEATH. THE
CONSEQUENCES THAT FAMILIES NOT
ONLY LOSE THE FIREFIGHTER THEY
LOVE. THEY ALSO LOSE SECURITY,
THEY LOSE FINANCIAL ABILITY TO
PLAN FOR THE FUTURE. IT DOESN'T
MAKE SENSE. OBVIOUSLY I WOULD
NOT SAY THAT CAL FIRE
FIREFIGHTERS OR ANY BRAVER THAN
ANY OTHER FIREFIGHTER. YOU HAVE
TO BE COURAGEOUS TO DO THEIR JOB
, BUT THERE ARE NO LESS
CERTAINLY, AND IT MAKES SENSE TO
SUPPORT THIS BILL TO VOTE FOR
THIS BILL AND TO MOVE THIS BILL
FORWARD. SO THANK YOU,
ASSEMBLYMAN IN AND THANK YOU.
MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE. THANK
YOU. DO WE HAVE ANY WITNESSES.
OTHER WITNESSES IN SUPPORT.
THANK YOU, MADAM. CHAIR MEMBERS
AND STAFF MITCH STEIGER, WITH
CALIFORNIA LABOR FEDERATION,
ALSO IN SUPPORT. OKAY. DO WE
HAVE ANY OPPOSITION TO THIS
BILL. OKAY SEE YOU. NONE WE ARE
OPERATING AS A SUBCOMMITTEE. SO
AS SOON AS WE HAVE A QUORUM WILL
COLORADO. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
OKAY NEXT, WE'RE READY FOR
ASSEMBLED WOMAN REVIS TO TAKE UP
A B 9 70.
GOOD MORNING, MADAM CHAIR AND
MEMBERS. I WANT TO START BY
THANKING CLAIRE FOR HER WORK ON
THIS ANALYSIS, UH, CALIFORNIA'S
MOST VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES
DISPROPORTIONATELY SUFFER FROM
THE IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE.
EXTREME WEATHER, SUCH AS FROM
ATMOSPHERIC STORMS OR EXTREME
HEAT EVENTS BRINGS THE POTENTIAL
FOR THE LOSS OF LIFE AND
PROPERTY. OFTENTIMES LOW INCOME
INDIVIDUALS, HOMEOWNERS, RENTERS
AND SMALL BUSINESSES HAVE THE
MOST TO LOSE BECAUSE THEY DO NOT
HAVE THE RESOURCES SUCH AS
INSURANCE TO FINANCIALLY
RECUPERATE A B 1970 RECTIFIES
THIS BY CLOSING INSURANCE
PROTECTION GAPS TO ENSURE THAT
COMMUNITIES HAVE THE TOOLS. FOR
RESILIENCY AND FUTURE WEATHER
EVENTS. ADDITIONALLY A B 9 70
ESTABLISHES SIX PILOT PROJECTS
WERE VULNERABLE AND
DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES FROM
THE BAY AREA TO THE US MEXICO
BORDER WILL RECEIVE $1 MILLION
GRANTS FOR PILOT PROJECTS,
PROTECTING RESIDENTS FROM
FLOODING AND HEAT WAVES FROM THE
DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE. IN 2017
, CALIFORNIA EXPERIENCED THE
LARGEST AND MOST DESTRUCTIVE
WILDFIRE SEASON AND ITS HISTORY
WITH 9000. WILDFIRES REPORTED
AND 1.2 MILLION ACRES BURNED. AS
A RESULT. FORMER SENATOR NOW
INSURANCE COMMISSIONER RICARDO
LARA AUTHORED SB 30, WHICH
CONVENED A CLIMATE INSURANCE
WORKING GROUP TO IDENTIFY AND
ASSESS MECHANISMS THAT PROMOTE
AND CREATE INCENTIVES TO REDUCE
THE RISK OF CLIMATE CHANGE,
PARTICULARLY FOR VULNERABLE
COMMUNITIES. IN 2021. I AUTHORED
A B 20 TO 38, WHICH TOOK
RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE CLIMATE
INSURANCE WORKING GROUP. AND
ESTABLISHED THE DEVELOPMENT OF A
STATEWIDE HEAT RANKING PROCESS.
A B 1970 BUILDS ON THE PROGRESS
MADE IN A B 20 TO 38 IN
ACHIEVING THE GOALS OF THE
CLIMATE INSURANCE WORKING GROUP
TO ENSURE THAT INSURANCE
PROTECTION GAPS ARE FILLED TO
BUILD RESILIENT COMMUNITIES.
TODAY I HAVE WITH ME TO PROVIDE
TESTIMONY. MIKE PETERSON, DEPUTY
INSURANCE COMMISSIONER ON
CLIMATE AND SUSTAINABILITY.
THANK YOU AND GOOD MORNING
CHERRY CALDERON, VICE CHAIR SLE
AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE. I
AM MIKE PETERSON AND I SERVED AS
A DEPUTY COMMISSIONER FOR
CLIMATE AND SUSTAINABILITY AT
THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF
INSURANCE AS A SPONSOR FOR 89 70
INSURANCE COMMISSIONER RICARDO
LARA. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S REVIS FOR HER
LEADERSHIP AND AUTHORING THIS
IMPORTANT MEASURE THAT WILL
STRENGTHEN COMMUNITY RESILIENCE
ACROSS OUR STATE. BY
ESTABLISHING CLIMATE INSURANCE
PILOT PROJECTS AND A GRANT
PROGRAM AT THE DEPARTMENT OF
INSURANCE TO SUPPORT PROJECTS
THAT IMPROVE RISK COMMUNICATION
, COMMUNITY RISK REDUCTION AND
TEST NEW INSURANCE CONCEPTS. AS
CLIMATE IMPACTS ACCELERATE
VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE
HISTORICALLY BEEN UNINSURED OR
UNDERINSURED WILL FACE
CHALLENGES FROM THE ACUTE
IMPACTS AND ALSO FROM THE LACK
OF TIMELY RESOURCES TO REBOUND.
INSURANCE PLAYS A CRITICAL ROLE
IN COMMUNITY RESILIENCE, BUT
LESS THAN 2% OF HOUSEHOLDS HAVE
FLOOD INSURANCE STATEWIDE AND
THE IMPACTS OF HEAT WAVES AND
SEA LEVEL RISE LARGELY LACKING
THE INSURANCE COVERAGE. THIS
MEANS THAT COSTS FALL ON
HOUSEHOLDS AND LOCAL AND STATE
GOVERNMENTS WITHOUT NEW TOOLS
FOR RESILIENCE. COMMUNITIES ARE
LIKELY TO FACE LINGERING
FINANCIAL IMPACTS, EXACERBATING
INEQUITY. 89 70 WILL HELP CLOSE
IN CALIFORNIA'S INSURANCE
PROTECTION GAPS BY DEVELOPING
CLIMATE INSURANCE PILOT PROJECTS
, WHICH IS A KEY RECOMMENDATION
OF COMMISSIONER LAURA'S CLIMATE
INSURANCE REPORT, THE FIRST OF
ITS KIND SET OF 40
RECOMMENDATIONS PUBLISHED IN
2021. THE PILOT PROJECTS
PROPOSED IN 89 70 WILL
DEMONSTRATE HOW LOCAL
JURISDICTIONS CAN REDUCE THE
CLIMATE INSURANCE IS THE
INSURANCE PROTECTION GAP. OF
THEIR RESIDENTS AND INTEGRATE
NATURE BASED SOLUTIONS TO REDUCE
FUTURE LOSSES, THEREBY
INCREASING COMMUNITY RESILIENCE.
EXAMPLES OF POTENTIAL PILOT
PROJECTS INCLUDE COMMUNITY WIDE
, FLOODING, EXTREME HEAT
INSURANCE APPROACHES THAT
COMBINE RISK REDUCTION AND
ASSISTANCE TO VULNERABLE
RESIDENTS AND ENSURING NATURE
BASED SOLUTIONS LIKE URBAN
FORESTS THAT PROVIDE COOLING IN
PUBLIC HEALTH BENEFITS.
CALIFORNIA HAS BEEN A GLOBAL
LEADER ON CLIMATE POLICY,
INCLUDING EMISSION REDUCTIONS
AND CLIMATE ADAPTATION INSURANCE
AS PART OF CLIMATE RESILIENCE IS
AN AREA WHERE WE NEED TO
CONTINUE TO BE A LEADER
DEVELOPING NEW WAYS TO PROTECT
THE MOST VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES
INVEST IN NATURE AND SUPPORT
RECOVERY AFTER DISASTERS. I
RESPECTFULLY REQUEST YOUR I VOTE
ON A B 9 70 HAPPY TO HELP WITH
ANY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU. OKAY, SO WE'RE GONNA
ESTABLISH A QUORUM. UM PLEASE
CALL THEM. CALDERON. CALDERON,
PRESIDENT, PRESIDENT S¼ LEE HERE
, BERMAN CERVANTES. CHEN CHEN
HERE, DIXON DIXON HERE, GIBSON.
GRAYSON. JOAN SAWYER. ORTEGA
HERE. RODRIGUEZ SORIA. SORRY I
HEAR VALENCIA VALENCIA HERE
WOULD WOULD HEAR CORN. OKAY,
THANK YOU, AND WE'RE GOING TO
TAKE A MOMENT TO ADOPT THE
COMMITTEE RULES. UM WE'RE GOING
TO CONSIDER SEVEN BILLS. FOUR OF
THESE BILLS ARE RECOMMENDED FOR
CONSENT. AND I JUST WANT TO NOTE
THAT ASSEMBLYWOMAN DIXON IS
FILLING IN FOR A SIMILAR
OFFENSE, FONG, SO THANK YOU. UM
HAPPINESS. GO AHEAD. CALDERON. I
CALLED HER OWN. I SAY LEE BERMAN
CERVANTES CHEN CHEN, I DICKSON
DICKSON. I GIBSON GRAYSON. JOHN
SAWYER ORTEGA. ORTEGA? AYE. JOHN
SAWYER. I RODRIGUEZ SORIA. SORIA
VALENCIA, LINDSEY A. I WOULD
WOULD I ADOPTED OKAY. COMMITTEE
RULES ARE ADOPTED. OKAY NEXT,
WE'RE GOING TO CONSIDER THE
CONSENT CALENDAR. THE FOLLOWING
ITEMS ARE CONSENT. CONSENT
CALENDAR IS ITEM NUMBER ONE A. B
451 CALLED ROUND ITEM NUMBER 2
84 89 CALDERON. NUMBER THREE A B
13 89 WENDY KOREA NUMBER FIVE
FILE ITEM 5 83 37 JIM PAT
PATTERSON. DO WE HAVE A MOTION?
OKAY? PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
CALDERON I SILLY BERMAN.
VERMONT. CHAN. AYE DIXON GIBSON.
GRAYSON. FIRE ORTEGA RODRIGUEZ.
SORIA. SORRY I'VE VALENCIA. YES,
I WOULD. ALL RIGHT. OKAY NEXT. I
WANT TO GO BACK TO THE ASSEMBLY
WOMAN, IRWIN'S BILL, UH, A B 6
21. DO YOU HAVE EMOTION? THANK
YOU. PLEASE CALL THE RULE ITEM
NUMBER FOUR. A B 6 21 MOTION IS
DO PASS THROUGH APPROPRIATIONS.
CALDERON CALDERON, I SALI
LEIBERMAN CERVANTES CHEN CHEN I
DICKSON DICKSON I GIBSON
GRAYSON, JOHN SAWYER. JOHN
SAWYER. I ORTEGA ORTEGA. I
RODRIGUEZ RODRIGUEZ. I SORIA
SORRY I VALENCIA VALENCIA. I
WOULD WOULD I. OKAY NEXT. THANK
YOU FOR YOUR PATIENTS. DO WE
HAVE ANY WITNESSES IN
OPPOSITION? S¼ NONE. DO WE HAVE
ANY ADDITIONAL, UM SUPPORT OR
OPPOSITION PUBLIC COMMENT. THIS
IS FOR A B 1970. MADAM CHAIR,
REMEMBERS JOHN NORWOOD ON BEHALF
OF THE INDEPENDENT INSURANCE
AGENTS AND BROKERS OF CALIFORNIA
. APPARENTLY, WE DIDN'T GET OUR
LETTER IN QUITE QUICK ENOUGH.
THERE ARE MEMBERS SELL INSURANCE
THROUGHOUT CALIFORNIA AND EVERY
COMMUNITY. AS WE'VE PREVIOUSLY
TESTIFIED THERE IS A CRISIS
DEVELOPING IN THE STATE IN
AFFORDABILITY AND AVAILABILITY
OF INSURANCE. I THINK THESE
TYPES OF PILOT PROGRAMS THAT
LOOK AT RESILIENCY AND
COMMUNITIES, YOU KNOW, HELP
ADDRESS THOSE THOSE AREAS AND,
UM, FOR THAT REASON WE SUPPORT
THE BILL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THANK YOU. HI SAMANTHA SAMUELSON
FOR AUDUBON, CALIFORNIA AND
SUPPORT. MARK EAST KING MASON
WITH ENVIRONMENT VOTERS AND FULL
SUPPORT. THANK YOU. OKAY I'LL
BRING IT BACK TO THE COMMITTEE.
DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? FOR
THE AUTHOR, OKAY? SOME WOMEN
VALENCIA. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR
AND GOOD MORNING, SOME MEMORY
BUS AND DEPUTY INSURANCE
COMMISSIONER. RECENTLY, THE
COMMITTEE HELD AN INFORMATIONAL
MEETING. THAT RAISED QUESTIONS
ABOUT CALIFORNIA'S CURRENT
PROHIBITION AGAINST THE USE OF
CLIMATE CATASTROPHE MODELS BY
HOMEOWNERS, INSURERS FOR RAPE
MAKING. WE LEARNED THAT
CALIFORNIA IS THE ONLY STATE IN
THE NATION, UH, THAT DOES NOT
ALLOW FOR SUCH MODELS. WOULD
THIS PILOT PROGRAM BENEFIT FROM
CATASTROPHIC MODELS? AND IT
SOUNDS LIKE THE INTENT OF THIS
BILL IS TO REPLICATE OR MIMIC
SOME OF WHAT'S ALREADY IN PLACE
IN OTHER STATES, OR JUST OUT OF
CURIOSITY, IF THERE IS
SIMILARITIES BETWEEN THE TWO OR
ONE WOULD BENEFIT FROM THE
OTHER. THE DEPUTY INSURANCE
COMMISSIONER TO RESPOND. THANKS
FOR THE QUESTION. THESE PILOT
PROJECTS ARE FOCUSED LOCALLY AND
SO LOCAL RISK ASSESSMENT. LOCAL
RISK REDUCTION IS MORE THE
EMPHASIS OF THESE PILOTS RATHER
THAN SORT OF A STATEWIDE
INSURANCE APPROACH. AND SO I
THINK THROUGH THOSE LOCAL RISK
ASSESSMENTS, WE MAY WE MAY LEARN
DATA AND IMPORTANT THINGS, BUT
BUT THEY'RE SEPARATE ISSUES AT
THIS AT THIS STAGE. THANK YOU,
UM AND JUST FOR MY EDUCATIONAL
PURPOSE IS THEIR DIFFERENCES IN
IN THE FIRE THREATS THROUGHOUT
THE STATE, OR IS IT BRUSH
FORESTRY? OR OR WHY IS IT
SPECIFIC TO LOCAL COMMUNITIES?
EACH LOCAL COMMUNITY HAS THEIR
OWN PARTICULAR RISK. AND SO
THERE ARE DIFFERENCES, SOME OF
THEM, YOU KNOW, COMMUNITY
CERTAINLY LEARN FROM EACH OTHER,
AND THERE ARE OVERARCHING
FACTORS. BUT I THINK IN THIS
CASE WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO
FOCUS ON WHAT CAN WE DO ON A
COMMUNITY WIDE BASIS IN A
PARTICULAR LOCALITY? AND THEN
HOW CAN THAT INFORM OTHER PILOT
PROJECTS THROUGHOUT THE STATE?
DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS
FOR THE AUTHOR? OKAY. SEE? NONE.
UM WE HAVE A MOTION AND A
SECOND. NO, WE DON'T HAVE A
SECOND. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. VILE ITEM
NUMBER. 6 89 70 MOTIONS DO PASS
TO APPROPRIATIONS. CALLED AROUND
CALDERON. I SALI. BERMAN
CERVANTES. CHEN CHEN, I DICKSON
DICKSON. I GIBSON GRAYSON, JOAN
SAWYER. JOHN SAWYER I ORTEGA
ORTEGA RODRIGUEZ RODRIGUEZ I
SORIA SORIA I VALENCIA. LET'S
SEE HOW I WOULD WOULD I? OKAY
THE CHAIR SUPPORTS THIS MEASURE
AND THE MOTION IS DO PASS THE
APPROPRIATIONS. THANK YOU, MISS
REVIS. THANK YOU. ASSEMBLYWOMAN
WEBER WHENEVER YOU'RE READY TO
PRESENT ON A B 699, PLEASE COME
UP.
GOOD MORNING, MADAM CHAIR AND
MEMBERS. I WANT TO START BY
THANKING THE CHAIR AND COMMITTEE
STAFF FOR THE THOUGHTFUL
CONVERSATIONS LEADING UP TO THIS
HEARING. I'M HERE TO PRESENT A B
699, WHICH WOULD EXPAND
PRESUMPTIVE COVERAGE FOR HERNIA
, PNEUMONIA, HEART TROUBLE.
CANCER TUBERCULOSIS, BLOOD BORN
INFECTION DISEASE. MM. R S A
MENINGITIS RELATED DISEASE AND
ILLNESSES OR INJURY RELATED TO
POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER
OR EXPOSURE TO BIOCHEMICAL
SUBSTANCES TO A FULL TIME SAN
DIEGO LIFEGUARD EMPLOYED BY THE
CITY OF SAN DIEGO FIRE RESCUE
DEPARTMENT AND WORKING IN THE
BOAT SAFETY BOATING SAFETY UNIT.
SAN DIEGO. LIFEGUARDS ARE HIGHLY
TRAINED AND WATER RESCUE AND ARE
ALSO MARINE FIREFIGHTERS THAT
COMBAT SHIPBOARD VESSEL AND
MARINA FIRES. THIS JOB EXPOSES
AN EAGLE LIFEGUARDS TO A
CONSIDERABLE DEGREE OF HAZARDOUS
RISK THROUGH EXPOSURE TO
CHEMICALS AND MATERIALS THAT
FREQUENTLY IGNITE DURING
FIREFIGHTING. SAN DIEGO.
LIFEGUARDS ALSO PERFORMED SWIFT
WATER AND FLOOD RESCUES, MAKING
THEM AN INDISPENSABLE ASSET TO
THE CITY, COUNTY AND STATE.
PRESUMPTIONS INCLUDED IN MAYBE
699 ARE ALREADY INCLUDED FOR THE
CITY OF SAN DIEGO FIREFIGHTERS
THAT WORK ON LAND. THIS BILL
WILL PROVIDE THE SAME COVERAGE
FOR LIFEGUARDS ALSO PRACTICE
FIRE SUPPRESSION. THIS BILL IS
ABOUT EQUITY AND ENSURING THAT
INDIVIDUALS PARTICIPATING IN THE
SAME FIREFIGHTING ACTIVITIES
HAVE THE SAME PROTECTIONS UNDER
WORKER'S COMPENSATION LAW IN
CALIFORNIA. THERE ARE ONLY 59
LIFEGUARDS EMPLOYED BY THE CITY
OF SAN DIEGO. SO WE'RE TALKING
ABOUT A VERY SMALL NUMBER OF
ELITE INDIVIDUALS. THIS BILL HAS
SUPPORT FROM SAN DIEGO CITY
COUNCIL MEMBERS WERE ALL COMPANY
Ó. UH LACAVA AND VON WILL PART
THE TEAMSTERS, CALIFORNIA NURSES
ASSOCIATION AND THE CALIFORNIA
LABOR FEDERATION WITH ME HERE TO
TESTIFY. I HAVE SHANE GUZMAN,
DIRECTOR OF THE CALIFORNIA
TEACHERS, TEAMSTERS PUBLIC
AFFAIRS COUNCIL, AND CONNOR
ROBBINS, A LIFEGUARD SERGEANT
WITH THE CITY OF SAN DIEGO FIRE
RESCUE DEPARTMENT LIFEGUARD
DIVISION. OKAY? MADAM CHAIR
MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE SHANE
GUSSMAN, ON BEHALF OF THE
CALIFORNIA TEAMSTERS PUBLIC
AFFAIRS COUNCIL WILL BE VERY
BRIEF AT FIRST JUST WANT TO
THANK THE COMMITTEE AND IN
PARTICULAR STAFF FOR WORKING
WITH US FOR ABOUT THREE YEARS.
UM AS WE HAD DISCUSSED THIS BILL
AND CAME UP WITH THIS PROPOSAL,
UM, CURRENTLY THAT THE, UM THE
LIFEGUARDS IN THE BOATING SAFETY
UNIT GET AH, FIVE OF THESE
PRESUMPTIONS AND COLLECTIVE
BARGAINING. THIS ONLY WOULD
EXTEND A FEW MORE, AND IT'S VERY
IMPORTANT FOR EQUITY REASONS FOR
THEM TO GET THIS. THEY SHOULDN'T
HAVE TO GIVE UP THINGS THAT
THEIR FELLOW POLICE OFFICERS AND
FIREFIGHTERS DON'T HAVE TO GIVE
UP IN COLLECTIVE BARGAINING TO
GET THESE, UM, TO GET THESE COM
PROTECTIONS, SO WITH THAT I'LL
TURN IT OVER TO OUR WITH US FROM
THE LIFEGUARDS. THANK YOU.
HONORABLE ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S THANK
YOU FOR CONSIDERING A B 699. I'M
CONNOR ROBBINS AND I CURRENTLY
SERVE AS A LIFEGUARD SERGEANT
WITHIN THE CITY OF SAN DIEGO
FIRE RESCUE DEPARTMENT OF WHICH
I'VE BEEN A PART OF FOR THE LAST
13 YEARS. I'M HERE TODAY AS THE
CHIEF STEWARD OF TEAMSTERS LOCAL
9 11, REPRESENTING SAN DIEGO
CITY GUARDS. I WOULD LIKE TO
EXPRESS HOW IMPORTANT THE
PASSING OF THIS BILL IS. THE 59
LIFEGUARDS WHO WORK OUT OF THE
BOATING SAFETY UNIT ARE BOTH
PEACE OFFICERS AND MARITIME
FIREFIGHTERS. ALTHOUGH
CALIFORNIA LAW PROVIDES
PRESUMPTIVE COVERAGES FOR MOST
FIREFIGHTERS AND PEACE OFFICERS
, THESE LIFEGUARDS ARE NOT
COVERED. THE BOATING SAFETY UNIT
. LIFEGUARDS UM, HAVE SOME
CURRENT PRESUMPTIONS LIKE WE
STATED, BUT THE ADDITIONAL ONES
THAT WE WOULD RECEIVE FROM THIS
BILL ARE RELATED TO HEART
TROUBLE AND CANCER. UM THESE
LIFEGUARDS ARE EXPOSED TO A
VARIETY OF ENVIRONMENTS THAT ARE
KNOWN TO OR SUSPECTED TO CAUSE
AILMENTS THAT I JUST MENTIONED.
YOU MAY BE FAMILIAR WITH THE
PHRASE A TRIPLE F, WHICH IS, UH,
TYPE OF FOAM WIDELY USED IN
MARITIME FIREFIGHTING. IT'S
EXTREMELY EFFECTIVE IN FIGHTING
FIRES, BUT IT'S ALSO WIDELY
KNOWN AS A FIREFIGHTER KILLER
BECAUSE OF ITS CARCINOGENIC
PROPERTIES. NOW FOR THE SAKE OF
TIME, I WON'T LET STAFF EVERY
EXAMPLE OF HAZARDOUS EXPOSURE
EXPOSURES THAT LIFEGUARDS
EXPERIENCE, BUT I'LL SHARE A
QUICK STORY. 11 DAYS AGO.
LIFEGUARDS WORKING THE 24 HOUR
SHIFT AT THE BOATING SAFETY
UNIT. WERE SUDDENLY AWOKEN
AROUND MIDNIGHT. THE DISPATCHER
REPORTED THAT MULTIPLE MIGRANT
BOATS HAVE CAPSIZED ON A BEACH
NEAR LA HOYA. AND THAT PEOPLE
WERE IN THE WATER. THAT NIGHT,
SAN DIEGO WAS COVERED IN DENSE
FOG. THE WATER WAS COLD. AND THE
TIDE WAS HIGH. LIFEGUARDS
IMMEDIATELY RESPONDED AND
ARRIVED TO WHAT WAS AN
UNTHINKABLE SCENE. THE TWO BOATS
HAVE CAPSIZED OFF A BEACH THAT
SITS BELOW 300 FT CLIFFS. AND
STRETCHES ON FOR MILES. THE TIDE
WAS SO HIGH THAT THE OCEAN
EXTENDED ALL THE WAY UP TO THE
BASE OF THE CLIFFS, MAKING THE
BEACH INACCESSIBLE BY VEHICLE.
LIFEGUARDS RESPONDED BY BOTH BY
BOAT AND ON FOOT. THEY WAITED
THROUGH GASOLINE FILLED OCEAN.
THROUGH THE BOAT DEBRIS IN HOPES
OF SAVING LIVES. THESE GUARDS
DID EVERYTHING THEY COULD TO
GIVE THESE PEOPLE A CHANCE AT
LIFE. BUT SADLY, THEY FOUND AND
RECOVERED EIGHT MIGRANTS WHO HAD
ALREADY PERISHED. THESE
LIFEGUARDS RESPOND TO MANY TYPES
OF EMERGENCIES, BUT INCIDENTS
LIKE THIS EXPOSED LIFEGUARDS,
TOO POLLUTED WATERS SON SLEEP
INTERRUPTIONS, BOTH OF WHICH ARE
LINKED TO HEART TROUBLE AND
CANCERS. I CAN'T THANK YOU
ENOUGH FOR CONSIDERING THIS
BILL. I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT
PASSING THIS WILL GIVE PEACE OF
MIND TO ALL INVOLVED, AND
ULTIMATELY, IT'S THE RIGHT THING
TO DO FOR THESE LIFEGUARDS.
THANKS. THANK YOU, MR ROBBINS.
DO WE HAVE ANY WITNESSES IN
OPPOSITION? NO OKAY. IS THERE
ANY ADDITIONAL SUPPORT? MITCH
STEIGER WOULD COME AND SUPPORT.
I GUESS I'M DOING THIS NOW.
THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR MEMBERS.
MEGAN SUPER IS ON BEHALF OF THE
CALIFORNIA PROFESSIONAL
FIREFIGHTERS AND SUPPORT THANK
YOU. I'LL BRING IT BACK TO THE
COMMITTEE. ARE THERE ANY
QUESTIONS? SOMEONE WANTED. THANK
YOU. CHAIR. CURIOUSLY IN YOUR
RESEARCH AND PUTTING THIS
TOGETHER, DID YOU FIND ANY OTHER
CITIES? AH WHO HAVE LIFEGUARD
OPERATIONS? OBVIOUSLY THAT DON'T
INCLUDE THESE ADDITIONAL
DISEASES. UM THE PARTICULAR
BOATING SAFETY UNIT THAT THIS
BILL, UM AFFECTS IS THE ONLY
UNIT LIKE IT IN THE WORLD. SO UM
, THAT IF YOU SEE FOLKS DOING
THE SAME SORT OF ACTIVITIES AND
OTHER PARTS OF CALIFORNIA
THEY'RE WORKING FOR THE FIRE
DEPARTMENT. THERE FIREFIGHTERS
EVERYWHERE ELSE IN THE WORLD.
THEY DO THE SAME THING. YOU
KNOW, I AND I AM SUPPORTIVE OF
THE BILL. IT'S JUST THAT COMING
FROM A CITY WHERE I REPRESENTED
THE LIFEGUARDS, WHO ARE PART OF
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, AND SO THEY
THERE WAS NEVER ANY DEBATE. UM
IN TERMS OF THOSE COVERED
BENEFITS, I JUST YOU'VE MADE
COMPELLING POINTS TODAY. I JUST
WANT TO BE SURE THAT WE'RE
PROTECTING OUR LIFEGUARDS IN THE
STATE OF CALIFORNIA. SO THAT'S
WHERE I'M COMING FROM. SO THANK
YOU VERY MUCH. SOME OF THEM.
RODRIGUEZ YES, I WANT TO THANK
THE MEMBER FOR BRINGING THIS
VERY IMPORTANT BILL FORWARD.
WE'VE GOT TO DO EVERYTHING AND
EVERYTHING WE CAN TO PROTECT OUR
FIRST RESPONDERS OUT THERE. AND
WITH THAT SAID LAST YEAR I WAS
OUT AND TOURED THE DEPARTMENT
AND HURT FIRST TIME FROM SOME OF
THE LIFEGUARDS AND THE
CHALLENGES AND UNIQUENESS WHAT
THEY DO, SO I'M GLAD WE HAVE
THIS BILL FORWARD AND HOPEFULLY
GETS OUT. I LOOK FORWARD TO
SUPPORTING IT. THANK YOU. JONES
WHERE I ALSO WANT TO THANK YOU
FOR THIS, UM I SPENT 10 YEARS OF
MY YOUTH AS A MORTICIAN. OH,
GOD. AND I DEALT WITH FAMILIES.
THAT WOULD COME AND TRY. TO BURY
THEIR LOVED ONES AFTER A TRAGEDY
, AN ACCIDENT OR DEATH. AND, UM
A LOT OF TIMES THEY WEREN'T
FINANCIALLY ABLE TO DO THAT, SO
THEY THE BURIAL FEES. DEATH
BENEFIT. UM, I DON'T THINK YOU
UNDERSTAND HOW BENEFICIAL THAT
WILL BE, BECAUSE THE THREE MOST
DRAMATIC THINGS OR STRESSFUL
THINGS YOU COULD EVER HAVE IS
BUYING A HOME GETTING MARRIED IN
A DEATH. AND WE NEVER REALLY
PREPARE. FOR WHEN, WHEN A LOVED
ONE OR A FAMILY MEMBER, UM,
PASSES ON TO THE NEXT. EVEN IF I
ASKED EVERYONE HERE HAVE ANY
PILL PICKED OUT THERE. THEIR
FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS. PROBABLY
NO ONE. ONLY ME. I HAVE A 22 OF
US HAVE DONE THAT. UM AND SO I'M
GLAD YOU HAVE THAT PROVISION IN
THERE BECAUSE WE REALLY DO NOT
THINK ABOUT HOW TO TAKE CARE OF
THE FAMILIES. AS YOU WERE SAYING
AFTER SOMETHING TRAGIC HAPPENED
, SO THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT,
ESPECIALLY FOR OUR OUR FIRST
RESPONDERS BECAUSE WE NEED TO DO
JUST DO MORE WHEN THINGS HAPPEN.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ASSEMBLING
GIVES HIM THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO ALIGN MY
COMMENTS WITH THE PREVIOUS
SPEAKERS. UM I THINK IT'S A GOOD
BILL. I KNOW THIS UNIT. UM I'M A
SCUBA DIVER MYSELF. SO I ENJOY
THE WATER AND I KNOW THAT THESE
INDIVIDUALS ARE ABSOLUTELY
UNIQUELY EQUIPPED TO DO THE WORK
THAT THEY'RE DOING AND AGAIN.
WHAT MY COLLEAGUES THAT WE
SHOULD BE PROTECTING OUR FIRST
RESPONDERS. AND THIS, UH, UNIT
RISES AT ELEVATION AND WE I
SUPPORTED AND THANK YOU VERY
MUCH FOR HAVING THE VISION TO
BRING IT BEFORE US. OKAY WE HAVE
A FIRST AND A SECOND MOTION. SO,
SECRETARY, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
FILE ITEM NUMBER SEVEN MAYBE 699
WEBER MOTION IS DUE PAST
APPROPRIATIONS CALDERON. I
CALLED HER OWN EASILY. I BERMAN
CERVANTES CHEN CHEN, I DICKSON
DICKSON. I GIBSON I GRAYSON,
JOHN SAWYER. JOHN SAWYER. I
ORTEGA ORTEGA I RODRIGUEZ
RODRIGUEZ. I SORIA SORRY I'VE
VALENCIA VALENCIA. I WOULD WOULD
I. THANK YOU, MR WEBER. THANK
YOU. OKAY NOW WE'RE GONNA GO
BACK OVER SOME OF THE BILLS THAT
WE BROUGHT UP EARLIER TO MAKE
SURE WE HAVE EVERYBODY. HMM I
LIKE DR WEBBER'S CONVERSE. SO
THE COMMITTEE RULES. GIBSON I.
RODRIGUEZ RODRIGUEZ. AYE.
CONSENT CALENDAR. GIBSON I.
RODRIGUEZ RODRIGUEZ. AYE. FILE
ITEM NUMBER FOUR. GIBSON GIBSON.
AYE. FILE ITEM NUMBER SIX. SALIH
I. OKAY THANK YOU. WE'RE GOING
TO LEAVE THE ROLE OPEN. UM CAN'T
YOU TIP FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES? SO
ANYONE KNOWS WHERE MR BERMAN IS
ASKED HIM TO PLEASE COME TO THE
INSURANCE COMMITTEE SAID YOU CAN
TELL THAT LOOK LIKE WATCHING YOU
DO IT. MORTICIAN'S ALWAYS
EVERYDAY PUBLICATION. THANKS.
OH, THAT'S NOT GOOD. YEAH, YEAH,
HE'S A UNIQUE LEADER. IT ALL
MAKES SENSE, RIGHT? LIKE THAT
PERFECT.
GIVE YOU ENOUGH POWER FOR NOW,
YOU.
NEGATIVE FOR EVERYONE. I WAS 21.
SHE'LL BE THERE. HE WAS THAT.
MHM.
WELCOME. COMMITTEE RULES. BERMAN
BERMAN. AYE. CONSENT CALENDAR.
BERMAN BERMAN I CONSENT CALENDAR
IS 12 0. FILE ITEM NUMBER FOUR.
A B 6 21 IRWIN BERMAN. I VOTE IS
12 0. FINAL ITEM NUMBER 6 89 70
THREE OF US. BERMAN BERMAN I
VOTE IS 12 0. ITEM NUMBER SEVEN
A. B 699 BERMAN BERMAN I VOTE IS
12 0. THANK YOU, UH, INSURANCE
COMMITTEE IS ADJOURNED. THANK
YOU. NO, YOU DON'T.