WELL WELCOME EVERYONE TO THE
ASSEMBLY, LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT
COMMITTEE HEARING. TESTIMONIES
AND PERSON. BUT WE DO ACCEPT
WRITTEN TESTIMONY THROUGH THE
POSITION LETTER PORTAL ON THE
COMMITTEE'S WEBSITE. WE ALSO
HAVE AN EMAIL ADDRESS SET UP
THAT YOU CAN USE TO EMAIL US
YOUR TESTIMONY. THE EMAIL IS AL
BR DOT COMMITTEE AT ASSEMBLY DOT
CA.GOV. MADAM SECRETARY CAN TAKE
WALL PLEASED TO ESTABLISH
QUORUM. CHOLERA. LARA. CHEN.
HANEY ORTEGA RAISE AWARD
ESTABLISHED.
ALL RIGHT. WE DO HAVE A QUORUM.
AND THE FIRST ITEM OF BUSINESS.
I WANT TO ASK IF WE COULD HAVE
UH, A MOTION ON ADOPTING THE
ADOPTION OF THE CONSENT CALENDAR
WITH A B 10, 50 ARAMBULA AND A B
11 21 HANEY. EMOTION SECOND
MADAM SECRETARY IF YOU TAKE MORE
ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR. CONSENT
CALENDAR IS A B 10 50 A B 11 21
. THE MOTION IS DUE PASS CONSENT
TO APPROPRIATIONS. CHOLERA
CHOLERA, FLORA CHEN HANEY.
HANEY. I ORTEGA. OR TAKE THAT I
RAISE. BOARD. I. ALRIGHT SO
CONSENT CALENDARS PAST AND UM,
WE'LL GET TO THE BILL
PRESENTATIONS. I DO WANT TO MAKE
ONE ANNOUNCEMENT REGARDING THAT
SUMMARY, AGUIAR-CURRY. WE WILL
BE PRESENTING HER BILL 83 38 OUT
OF FOUL ORDER AT APPROXIMATELY 2
30 PM SO WE'LL HAVE TO START
TIME AT 2 30 YEARS CLOSEST
POSSIBLE, DEPENDING UPON IF
WE'RE FINISHING UP ANOTHER ITEM.
AND SO LET'S GO AHEAD TO THE
FIRST ITEM ON THE AGENDA A B 2
35 ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S RUBIO. AND
JUST AS A REMINDER WITNESSES, UM
UP TO TWO MINUTES FOR EACH SIDE.
THAT'S GOING TO APPLY TO EVERY
HEARING THIS AFTERNOON. YOU
OBVIOUSLY DON'T HAVE TO USE ALL
THE TIME OR HAVE TWO WITNESSES.
BUT THAT IS THE MAXIMUM TWO
WITNESSES EACH SIDE AND SUPPORT
AND OPPOSITION TWO MINUTES EACH.
THANK YOU, MR CHAIR AND MEMBERS
. THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THE
OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT TO 35 82
35 ESTABLISHES A LABOR
TRAFFICKING UNIT WITHIN THE
CIVIL RIGHTS DEPARTMENT, WHICH
WOULD PROVIDE MUCH NEEDED
GUIDANCE AND ENHANCED
ENFORCEMENT TO ADDRESS LABOR
TRAFFICKING. THIS MEASURE WILL
PROVIDE THE MUCH NEEDED
COORDINATION WITH THE LABOR
ENFORCEMENT TASK FORCE, THE
CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION UNIT, THE
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE AND THE
DIVISION OF LABOR STANDARDS
ENFORCEMENT WITHIN THE
DEPARTMENT OF INDUSTRIAL
RELATIONS. THIS COMMITTEE IS AT
THE FOREFRONT OF FIGHTING
AGAINST LABOR TRAFFICKING, AND
WE ALL KNOW TOO WELL. HOW ARE
MOST VULNERABLE POPULATIONS ARE
MOST IMPACTED. UNFORTUNATELY NO
SPECIFIC CALIFORNIA STATE ENTITY
IS RESPONSIBLE FOR LABOR
TRAFFICKING, ACCORDING TO STATE
STATUTE, AND SIMILARLY, THERE IS
NO AGENCY REQUIRED TO KEEP, UM
DATA ON THE NUMBER OF LABOR
TRAFFICKING CASES, ENSURING
CONSISTENT DIRECTION AND
STATISTICS FROM THE STATE AND IN
REGARD IN REGARDS TO OUR
ENFORCEMENT EFFORTS AGAINST
LABOR TRAFFICKING WOULD PROVIDE
A CRITICAL TOOL DIRECTLY
BENEFITING CONSTITUENTS ACROSS
THE STATE. NOT ONLY WILL THIS
HELP AS WAGES WILL BE RECORDED,
LEADING TO MORE REVENUE THROUGH
THE FORM OF TAX FOR THE STATE,
BUT VICTIMS OF LABOR TRAFFICKING
WILL GET THE RESOURCES THAT THEY
DESERVE. THE CIVIL RIGHTS
DEPARTMENT MUST SPEARHEAD THIS
UNIT TO ENSURE THAT VICTIMS DO
NOT STAY VICTIMS, BUT RATHER IT
CAN BECOME SURVIVORS. THE
GOVERNOR AGREES WITH THIS FACT
AS SEEN IN HIS VETO MESSAGE OF A
SIMILAR BILL. MAYBE 18 20 FROM
LAST YEAR. JUST WANT TO MAKE
SURE THAT YOU KNOW THAT WE
TALKED ABOUT THE VETO MESSAGE,
AND WE CRAFTED THIS BILL TO MAKE
SURE THAT THAT WAS ADDRESSED. I
DO NOT WANT TO READ ANYMORE. L A
TIMES STORIES, ARTICLES ON THESE
TERRIBLE ACTS OF EVIL AND WILL
CONTINUE TO WORK WITH ALL
PARTIES ON THIS LABOR
TRAFFICKING UNIT. I WANT TO TAKE
A MOMENT TO THANK THE SUPPORT.
UH THANK THE SUPPORT AND CO
AUTHORSHIP OF THIS BILL THIS
BILL HAS RECEIVED FROM
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S DAVIES,
GRAYSON, RODRIGUEZ AND SANTIAGO.
I HAVE TWO WITNESSES IN SUPPORT
HERE TODAY. OUR SPONSOR, LEILA
CHAPPELLE, ON BEHALF OF THE
COALITION AGAINST SLAVERY AND
TRAFFICKING AS WELL AS ETHAN
RARICK ON BEHALF OF THE LITTLE
HOOVER COMMISSION. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU SO MUCH EACH WITNESS
UP TO TWO MINUTES EACH, SO
PLEASE PROCEED. THANK YOU.
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S RUBIO. MY NAME
IS LELA CHAPPELLE. AND I'M, THE
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF SURVIVOR
ADVOCACY WITH THE COALITION TO
ABOLISH SLAVERY AND TRAFFICKING
WHERE ONE OF THE NATION'S OLDEST
AND LARGEST COMPREHENSIVE ANTI
TRAFFICKING SERVICE PROVIDERS
DESPITE THE STAGGERING RATES OF
HUMAN TRAFFICKING THAT WE SEE IN
OUR STATE, THERE IS NO STATE
ENTITY THAT IS TASKED WITH
TRACKING DATA OR RESPONSIBLE FOR
HANDLING THESE LABOR TRAFFICKING
CASES. AND ALTHOUGH VARIOUS
STATE AGENCIES DO CURRENTLY
RESPOND WHAT WE'VE SEEN
FIRSTHAND AS THAT THERE'S
JURISDICTIONAL ISSUES AND A LACK
OF COMMUNICATION. THAT MEANS THE
SURVIVORS ARE LEFT BEHIND. AND
THEY'RE NOT TREATED THE WAY THAT
THEY SHOULD BE WITHIN OUR
SYSTEMS. I'M HERE TODAY TO URGE
YOU TO SUPPORT 235, WHICH WOULD
ESTABLISH THE LABOR TRAFFICKING
UNIT WITHIN THE CIVIL RIGHTS
DEPARTMENT TO RECEIVE,
INVESTIGATE AND PROSECUTE
COMPLAINTS ALLEGING LABOR
TRAFFICKING AND TAKE STEPS TO
PREVENT IT ULTIMATELY. THIS UNIT
WOULD ALSO COORDINATE WITH
VARIOUS STATE DEPARTMENTS AND
FOLLOW ALL PROTOCOLS TO ENSURE
THAT SURVIVORS OF LABOR
TRAFFICKING OR NOT FURTHER
VICTIMIZED BY THE PROCESS OF
PROSECUTING TRAFFICKERS. THE
CIVIL RIGHTS DEPARTMENT IS THE
IDEAL PLACEMENT FOR THIS UNIT AS
THEY WILL ENSURE THAT
INVESTIGATIONS UTILIZE A HUMAN
RIGHTS APPROACH THAT'S TRAUMA
INFORMED AND CENTER SURVIVORS
AND SHIELDS THEM FROM
CRIMINALIZATION AND RE
VICTIMIZATION. MAYBE 235
POSITIONS STATE TO TAKE A
COORDINATED APPROACH TO THE
PREVENTION INVESTIGATION OF
LABOR TRAFFICKING WHILE WORKING
TO PROTECT SURVIVORS BY
INFORMING THEM OF THEIR RIGHTS
AND CONNECTING THEM TO
APPROPRIATE SOCIAL AND LEGAL
SERVICES. CALIFORNIA HAS AN
URGENT OPPORTUNITY TO BE THE
GLOBAL LEADER IN ANTI
TRAFFICKING EFFORTS, BUT THAT
STARTS BY PROTECTING OUR MOST
VULNERABLE PEOPLE. IN CLOSING. I
WANT TO THANK THE ASSEMBLY AND
ALSO ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S RUBIO FOR
STANDING IN SOLIDARITY WITH
LABOR TRAFFICKING SURVIVORS.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR
CHAIRMAN. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY
NAME IS ETHAN RARICK. I'M THE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE LITTLE
HOOVER COMMISSION IN 2020. THE
COMMISSION CONDUCTED A SERIES OF
HEARINGS ON THE STATE'S RESPONSE
TO LABOR TRAFFICKING AND ISSUED
A SERIES OF REPORTS, INCLUDING
ONE OF WHICH WAS ENTITLED LABOR
TRAFFICKING STRATEGIES TO HELP
VICTIMS AND BRING TRAFFICKERS TO
JUSTICE ON DURING OUR STUDY, WE
FOUND THAT ON AVERAGE, THERE ARE
FEWER THAN 30 CONVICTIONS FOR
LABOR TRAFFICKING IN CALIFORNIA
EACH YEAR, DESPITE THERE BEING
HUNDREDS OR MORE CASES EACH
YEAR, PROBABLY THOUSANDS OF
CASES. THESE CASES ARE RESOURCE
INTENSIVE. THEY TAKE REQUIRE
WELL TRAINED STAFF WITH THE
CAPACITY TO DEVOTE SUFFICIENT
TIME TO EACH CASE. THEY'RE
COMPLEX AND YET, AS THE ASSEMBLY
MEMBER NOTED, NO STATE AGENCY AT
THIS POINT IS TASKED WITH
PURSUING LABOR TRAFFICKING. UH
THOUGH, SOME THERE ARE SOME
REFERRAL MECHANISMS IN PLACE. WE
LACK FORMAL AGREEMENTS, THE
STATE LACKS FORMAL AGREEMENTS
AND OTHER PROCEDURES NECESSARY
FOR HOLISTIC RESPONSE TO LABOR
TRAFFICKING. THE COMMISSION
FOUND THERE IS NO CENTRALIZED
REFERRAL TOOL FOR SERVICE
PROVIDERS AND SURVIVORS. THERE
WERE SEVERAL SERVICES ARE
AVAILABLE TO HELP LABOR
TRAFFICKING SURVIVORS. WE LACK
THE MEANS TO CENTRALIZE
INFORMATION REGARDING SURVIVORS
AND RESOURCES STATEWIDE, AND WE
BELIEVE THIS BILL BY CREATING
THIS UNIT WILL ADDRESS THESE
ISSUES AND WE RESPECTFULLY
REQUEST YOUR I VOTE. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. ARE THERE ANY
WITNESSES IN THE ROOM IN
SUPPORT? OF A B 2 35. IS THERE
ANYONE HERE IN OPPOSITION? MAYBE
2 35. ALRIGHT SO WE'LL BRING IT
BACK TO THE COMMUNITY FOR ANY
QUESTIONS, COMMENTS OR MOTIONS.
WE HAVE A MOTION BY, SAY, REWARD
. IT'S AFTER LUNCH, SO WE'RE
JUST GETTING YOU KNOW, ARE VERY
OUR BEARINGS BACK TOGETHER AGAIN
, LETTING THE SECOND CUP OF
COFFEE KICK IN, BUT WE HAVE A
MOTION OF SOME OF THE REWARD
SECONDED BY THE MEMBER ORTEGA.
IF THERE'S NO FURTHER CLIMATE, I
JUST WANT TO THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR RUBIO FOR BRINGING THIS
FORWARD, UM, CLEARLY, LABOR
TRAFFICKING IS A MAJOR EPIDEMIC
IN OUR COUNTRY, FRANKLY, BUT
CERTAINLY HERE IN CALIFORNIA,
AND I APPRECIATE YOUR EFFORTS TO
TRY TO REALLY HAVE US VERY
CONSCIOUSLY FOCUS ON ON THIS
PERVASIVE ISSUE, AND SO FOR
THAT, I'M VERY GRATEFUL AND
GRATEFUL OF WITNESSES FOR BEING
HERE AS WELL. WOULD YOU LIKE TO
CLOSE? JUST WANT TO THANK YOU
AND THE COMMITTEE FOR ALL YOUR
HELP AND RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR MY
VOTE. THANK YOU, MADAM SECRETARY
IF WE CAN HAVE WALL TAKEN ON A B
2 35. MOTION IS DUE PASS TO
PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE. CHOLERA
CHOLERA I FLORA CHEN CHEN, I
HANEY ORTEGA. OR TAKEN. I RAISE.
WARD. WARD. I. ALL RIGHT THERE.
BILL IS OUT. THANK YOU SO MUCH,
AND WE'LL KEEP THE ROLE OPEN FOR
ABSENT MEMBERS. AND
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S ORTEGA.
TYPICALLY AND FOR THE. TYPICALLY
WE HAVE OUR COMMITTEE MEMBERS GO
LAST, BUT THE EXCEPTION IS WHEN
THERE IS NO OTHER AUTHOR IN THE
ROOM, WHERE MORE THAN HAPPY TO
HEAR FROM OUR COMMITTEE MEMBERS.
AND SO WE'LL BE DOING THAT RIGHT
NOW, UM, SENATOR ORTEGA WITH
LINE ITEM 10 A B. 10 1007.
GOOD AFTERNOON CHAIR AND MEMBERS
FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT A
B 10 07. TODAY A B 10 07 WOULD
REQUIRE THE USE OF PLUME
SCAVENGING SYSTEM AND ALL
SETTINGS THAT PERFORM ELECTORAL
OR LASER SURGERY TO PROTECT
HEALTHCARE WORKERS AND PATIENTS
FROM SURGICAL SMOKE. SURGICAL
SMOKE IS A BYPRODUCT PRODUCED
DURING SURGICAL PROCEDURES.
SURGICAL SMOKE CONTAINS TOXIC
CHEMICALS, INFECTIOUS PARTICLES
AND GASSES, WHICH POSED A THREAT
TO THE HEALTH OF OUR HEALTHCARE
WORKERS AND PATIENTS ALIKE.
PROTECTION FROM SURGICAL SMOKE
IS RELATIVELY SIMPLE. IT'S SMOKE
EVACUATION DEVICE SHOULD BE USED
EVERY TIME ELECTORAL OR LASER
SURGERY IS PERFORMED, AND
SURGICAL SMOKE IS GENERATED. A B
10 07 WOULD REQUIRE THAT A SMOKE
EVACUATION DEVICES ALWAYS USED
DURING ELECTORAL AND LASER
SURGERY. TODAY I HAVE WITNESSES
TESTIFYING, TESTIFYING AND
SUPPORT JOHN SHABAAN WITH THE
CALIFORNIA NURSES ASSOCIATION
AND GABRIELLE FONDLE UNEARTHED
WITH KAISER. THANK YOU, JOHN.
SHIPMENT PLEASE. CALVIN NURSES
APPRECIATE YOU HEARING AND
SPONSORING THIS FILM MEMBER
ORTEGA. WHAT WHAT YOU JUST LAID
OUT IS BASICALLY IN MY SUPPORT
LETTER, SO I'M NOT GOING TO TAKE
UP A BUNCH OF TIME TODAY, BUT I
DO WANT TO GIVE SEED THE
REMAINDER OF MY TIME TO
GABRIELLE TO SPEAK ABOUT HER
PIECE. OKAY GOOD AFTERNOON,
CHUCK. CHOLERA AND DISTINGUISHED
BOARD. MY NAME IS GABRIELLE
FONDLE. UM, I WORKED AS A
REGISTERED NURSE SINCE 2008 AND
IN THE NAME OF PATIENTS AND
STAFF WHO WORK IN OPERATING
ROOMS. I'M ASKING YOU TO ADVANCE
A B 1007 TO MAKE SURGICAL SMOKE
EVACUATIONS MANDATORY IN THE
OPERATING ROOM. MY STORY IS A
CAUTIONARY EXAMPLE OF HOW
EXPOSURE TO AIRBORNE TOXINS IN
THE OPERATING ROOM CAN DESTROY A
LIFE. WHEN TISSUE WAS CUT,
CAUTERIZED OR DESTROYED. THIS
SMOKE AND PLUME EMITS TOXIC
GASSES AND VAPORS, WHICH CONTAIN
HUMAN TISSUE. CARCINOGENS BLOOD
DRUG RESISTANT BACTERIA, FUNGI,
VIRUSES, PATHOGENS AND EVEN
MALIGNANT CANCEROUS CELLS.
SURGICAL PLUME CAN CONTAIN MORE
THAN 135 CHEMICALS AND 17 KNOWN
CARCINOGENS. STAFF CAN BREATHE
THIS PLUME INTO THEIR LUNGS,
WHICH CAN CAUSE MULTIPLE HEALTH
IMPACTS LIKE ICE SKIN AND
RESPIRATORY IRRITATION. ASTHMA
PNEUMONIA, INFECTIOUS DISEASE
TRANSMITTED TRANSMISSION AND
POSSIBLY EVEN CANCER. THIS IS A
PICTURE OF A SMOKE. EVACUATE,
ER. UM, THESE DEVICES. HAVE BEEN
AVAILABLE IN THE OPERATING ROOM
FOR MANY YEARS AND CAN BE USED
TO REMOVE SURGICAL PLUME FROM
THE AIR BEFORE STAFF CAN BREATHE
IT IN BUT SMOKE EVACUATE EAR'S
ARE RARELY USED IN PRACTICE. THE
SURGICAL MASKS WE WEAR PROTECT
CERTAIN PATIENTS. SURGICAL SITES
FROM CONTAMINATION, BUT DON'T
PROTECT STAFF AND US FROM
BREATHING AND HAZARDOUS AEROSOLS
AND GASSES. I WAS A CERTIFIED
OPERATING ROOM NURSE FOR 14
YEARS THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA, BUT I CAN NO LONGER
WORK AND FUNCTION IN THIS
CAPACITY AFTER BEING POISONED
WHILE WORKING. THERE WERE TOXINS
IN THE ERA OF THE O R, JUST LIKE
SURGICAL PLUME. IN 2018 19. I
INHALED TOXINS WHILE WORKING IN
THE O R. I BECAME WOOZY,
NAUSEATED AND CONFUSED. MY BRAIN
WAS SPINNING AND I HAD SEVERE
HEAD PAIN. MY BREATHING FELT
RESTRICTED. I WAS JUST ORIENTED
AND I STARTED HAVING UNRELENTING
RETCHING, VOMITING AND DIARRHEA.
OTHER STAFF ARE ALSO ILL CALLED
FOR ENGINEERING AND MANAGER
HELP. BUT NONE EVER CAME BECAUSE
JUST LIKE SURGICAL PLUME THAT
TOXIC GAS ASSAULTED OUR BODIES,
AND IT'S INVISIBLE, BUT IT'S
STILL HARMFUL. DEVOTED TO MY JOB
. I TRIED TO WORK THE NEXT DAY
THAT I WAS TOO ILL. I LEFT AND I
NEVER RETURNED TO THE O. R MY
CAREER AS AN OR NURSE WAS OVER.
RECOVERY OR IS CRUEL. EVENTUALLY
I WAS DIAGNOSED WITH EXPOSURE TO
CARBON MONOXIDE, GAS AND SEVERAL
EMPATHY, BRAIN INFORMATION AND
PTSD. THEY INSTALL FILL APATHY
TOOK MY WILL AWAY AND I HAD
SLURRED SPEECH. MY MEMORY WAS
IMPAIRED. IT TOOK ME MULTIPLE
YEARS OVER TENS OF THOUSANDS OF
DOLLARS OF MY OWN MONEY WE COULD
WEEKLY DOCTOR VISITS, DIAGNOSTIC
IMAGING AND BASIC PROCEDURES.
MEETING WITH NUMEROUS SPECIALIST
TO RETURN MY BROKEN BODY ANY
SEMBLANCE OF NORMALITY SO I
COULD RESUME MY WORK AS A NURSE.
YOU SEE THE TOXIC GASSES AND
PLUME AFFECT PRACTICALLY EVERY
ORGAN IN THE BODY. WELL, I WAS
EXPOSED TO A HIGH LEVEL OF
CARBON MONOXIDE. I'M SHARING MY
STORY. SO YOU CAN UNDERSTAND
THIS SERIOUS IMPACTS OF BEING
EXPOSED TO TOXIC ERROR IN THE
WORKPLACE AS O R STAFF. I DON'T
WANT ILLNESS, FINANCIAL RUIN AND
LIFETIME HEALTH AND CERTAINTY TO
HELP INTO ANYBODY ELSE. THERE'S
NO MISTAKING THE FACT THAT
SURGICAL PLUME IS DANGEROUS
BECAUSE MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES IN
THE OR HAVE EXPERIENCED HEALTH
IMPACTS. UM MANY OF MY
COLLEAGUES IN THE O. R HAVE
EXPERIENCED HEALTH IMPACTS
BECAUSE EXPOSURE TO SURGICAL
PLUME NOT ONLY DOES SIENNA STAND
BEHIND THE USE OF SMOKE EVACUATE
AS THE JOINT COMMISSION AND
ASSOCIATION OF OPERATING ROOM
NURSES HAVE ISSUED STATEMENTS
AND SUPPORT SEVERAL STATES HAVE
ALREADY PASSED LEGISLATION TO
MAKE SMOKE EVALUATORS AND THAT
MANDATORY AND I ASKED WHY HASN'T
CALIFORNIA IT'S NOT NECESSARY TO
CAUSE FURTHER HARM WHEN THEY
EQUIPMENT AND TECHNOLOGY IS
READILY AVAILABLE. YOU HAVE THE
POWER. PLEASE MAKE THE OPERATING
ROOM SAFER FOR THE STAFF AND
ESPECIALLY FOR PATIENTS WHO
DESERVE THE GREATEST PROTECTION
. IT'S AN EASY CHOICE. MAKE IT
RIGHT FOR US. AND THANK YOU FOR
LETTING ME TELL MY STORY. THANK
YOU SO MUCH. IS THERE ANYONE
ELSE IN THE ROOM HERE IN
SUPPORT? OF A B 10 07 PLEASE
JUST STATE NAME ORGANIZATION IN
YOUR POSITION ON THE
LEGISLATION. IF WE CAN HAVE THE
MICROPHONE, THANK YOU. ONE
MOMENT. THANK YOU, MR CHAIR
MEMBERS AND STAFF MITCH STEIGER
, WITH THE CALIFORNIA LABOR
FEDERATION. ALSO IN SPORT. THANK
YOU. ANYONE ELSE? PEOPLE COMING
UP. THERE'S ANYONE ELSE PLEASE
LINE UP AT THE MICROPHONE. THANK
YOU. AND JULIE BARRETT, AND I'M
AN O R AND O R. NURSE. PARDON ME
KAISER IN SACRAMENTO. THANK YOU.
KAREN BOXLEY, NURSE AT MERCY SAN
JUAN, AND PACK YOU AND RECOVERY
ROOM. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. IS
THERE ANY IS THERE ANYONE HERE
IN OPPOSITION TO 10 07? PLEASE
MAKE YOUR WAY UP BECAUSE YOU CAN
SIT IN THE FRONT UP HERE. THANK
YOU CHAIR, GOOD AFTERNOON CHAIR
AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE
RONNIE BARDUGO HERE ON BEHALF OF
THE CALIFORNIA HOSPITAL
ASSOCIATION. UM, AND I HAVE MY
COLLEAGUE HERE. GIDEON BELEM
WITH C H A AS WELL.
UNFORTUNATELY WE NEED TO TAKE AN
OPPOSED UNLESS AMENDED POSITION
ON THIS BILL. WE DEFINITELY HEAR
THE AUTHOR AND THE SPONSOR AND
THEIR CONCERNS AROUND SURGICAL
PLUME. UM I WOULD SUGGEST THAT
OUR AMENDMENTS ARE, UM WE'RE
TRYING TO FIND A REASONABLE
PLACE TO LAND ON ON THE BILL. WE
ARE IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE AUTHOR
AND THE SPONSOR ABOUT THE GOALS
OF THE LEGISLATION. HOWEVER WE
BELIEVE THAT IT'S CURRENTLY
WRITTEN, THE LANGUAGE IS OVERLY
PRESCRIPTIVE, UM, AND COULD
CREATE PATIENT SAFETY ISSUES. WE
RECENTLY SHARED AMENDMENTS WITH
THE AUTHOR, UM, AND THEY WERE
VERY RECENTLY SHARED. AND SO WE
DO APOLOGIZE FOR THE TIMING ON
THAT. IT JUST TOOK A WHILE TO
GET THE FEEDBACK THAT WE NEEDED
FROM OUR MEMBERS TO TRY TO LAND
ON SOME COMMON GROUND. UM, BUT
WE, UH YOU KNOW WE HOPE THAT YOU
KNOW. ART LANGUAGE. UM WILL
ADDRESS SOME OF THE CONCERNS TO
ENSURE THAT, UM A PLUME
REGULATORY PROCESS DOES MOVE
FORWARD. WE KNOW THAT THE AUTHOR
AND SPONSOR CURRENTLY REVIEWING
THE LANGUAGE THAT WE SUBMITTED
AND LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING
THAT CONVERSATION, SO THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. WE HAVEN'T SEEN THAT.
LANGUAGE YET, SO I CAN'T
COMMENT. SURE. YEAH, ABOUT WELL.
ALLOW FOR THOSE CONVERSATIONS TO
CONTINUE. IF THIS BILL WERE TO
PASS TODAY, I WOULD HOPE THAT
EVERYONE WILL CONTINUE THOSE
CONVERSATIONS ANYONE ELSE IN THE
ROOM IN OPPOSITION. AT A B 10
07. GOOD AFTERNOON, MR CHAIR AND
MEMBERS ROBERT MOOD TREE FOR THE
CALIFORNIA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
AND ALIGNMENT WITH THE
AMENDMENTS FROM THE HOSPITAL
ASSOCIATION. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH. WE'LL BRING IT
BACK TO THE COMMITTEE SUNDAY
MEMBER AWARD. THANK YOU. I WANT
TO THANK THE AUTHOR FOR BRINGING
THIS BEFORE. CONGRATULATIONS ON
YOUR FIRST BILL IN YOUR TENURE
HERE IN THE LEGISLATURE EXCITED
TO HAVE YOU HERE TODAY, AND I
KNOW THAT WE ALL SHARE AN
APPRECIATION THAN A AN EFFORT TO
BE ABLE TO SUPPORT WORKPLACE
STANDARDS THAT ARE ADVANCING,
GIVEN NEW TECHNOLOGIES AND
CERTAINLY CONSISTENT WITH OUR
COMMITMENT TO MAKE SURE THAT
WORKPLACE SAFETY IS FOREMOST FOR
THOSE THAT ARE DOING THE
IMPORTANT WORK THAT YOU DO DO IN
YOUR COLLEAGUES DO AND I
RECOGNIZE THAT I'D BE EXCITED TO
LEARN A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT
HOW THESE AMENDMENTS MIGHT
ACTUALLY BE ABLE TO HELP
SOMETHING PLAY OUT IN PRACTICE
AS WELL. UM, WHY? I THINK THINGS
HAVE GENERALLY GOTTEN BETTER
WITH VENTILATION SYSTEMS. AND,
OF COURSE, OUR INCREASED. UM UH,
RELIANCE OR OR MAYBE HEIGHTENED
STANDARDS WHEN IT COMES TO
MASSING REQUIREMENTS AND OTHER
ELEMENTS OF SAFETY. HOW THESE
ALL GEL TOGETHER AND COUPLING
WITH MAYBE THE ADVANCED
TECHNOLOGY THAT WOULD BE A
STUDY. THROUGH UNDER THIS BILL,
THEY COULD BE VERY, VERY SMART
TOWARDS THE SAME OUTCOMES. UM SO
GOOD LUCK WITH THOSE ONGOING
CONVERSATIONS. I'M HAPPY TO MOVE
THE BILL AND SUPPORT THIS
MEASURE TODAY. FOR A SECOND. ALL
RIGHT. WE HAVE A MOTION AND
SECOND ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR
QUESTIONS? I ALSO WANT TO THANK
THE AUTHOR FOR BRINGING THIS
FORWARD WE HAVE KNOWN DANGERS OF
SURGICAL SMOKE SINCE THE 19
NINETIES. OUR FRIEND WHO IS NOW
THE SUPERINTENDENT PUBLIC
CONSTRUCTION AND WAS IN SOME
MEMBER TONY THURMAN INTRODUCED A
BILL IN 2016 AND 2017 AND 2018 C
. N A OPTED TO INSTEAD
PETITIONED FOR HIS STANDARDS AND
LEGISLATION WASN'T ABLE TO MOVE
FORWARD AT THAT TIME. AND NOW
HERE WE ARE IN 2023 STILL TRYING
TO GET STANDARDS IN PLACE. IF
THIS BILL IS APPROVED, WE'RE
TALKING ABOUT STANDARDS BEING IN
PLACE BY 2025. THAT'S NINE YEARS
AFTER THE FIRST EFFORTS, AND SO
I THINK THE NURSES HAVE BEEN
VERY PATIENT IN ASKING FOR WHAT
I BELIEVE IS REASONABLE
ACCOMMODATIONS FOR A HEALTHY
ENVIRONMENT AS THEY'RE DOING THE
WORK TO PROTECT AND HEAL ALL OF
US, AND I APPRECIATE THE
OPPOSITION BEING HERE AND THE
BULLY NOUS MY HOPE FOR ALL
PARTIES. TO SIT DOWN AND TAKE A
LOOK AT THAT AND SEE IF THERE
ARE ANY ISSUES THAT COULD BE
RESOLVED. GOING FORWARD. SO
THANK YOU VERY MUCH TOMORROW.
TAKE IT. WOULD YOU LIKE TO
CLOSE? I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK
YOU TO THE CHAIR AND THE
COMMITTEE STAFF FOR YOUR DID
DILIGENT WORK. I ALSO WANT TO
GIVE A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO
GABRIELLE FROM HAVING THE
COURAGE TO SHARE HER STORY TODAY
, AS WELL AS THOUSANDS OF OTHER
REGISTERED NURSES. FOR WAITING
ON THIS IMPORTANT PIECE OF
LEGISLATION TO BECOME LAW. I AM
OPEN TO CONTINUING THAT
CONVERSATION, AND I RESPECTFULLY
ASK FOR YOUR RIVAL. THANK YOU,
MADAM SECRETARY. TAKE A ROLL
CALL ON A B 10 07. MOTION IS DUE
PAST EXCUSE ME TO APPROPRIATIONS
CHOLERA I FLORA FLORA NO, CHEN
CHEN? NO, HANEY. HANEY I ORTEGA
BY TÔI REYES WARD WARD. AYE.
ALRIGHT THE BILL IS OUT, PEOPLE
WILL OPEN FOR ABSENT MEMBERS.
TREVOR. AND UP NEXT ITEM THREE A
B 5 87. ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S REVIS.
SO WHENEVER YOU'RE READY, UM,
YOU MAY BEGIN. MR CHAIR MEMBERS
. THANK YOU. AND THIS
LEGISLATION PROPOSES TO MAKE AN
IMPORTANT CLARIFICATION STATE
LAW REGARDING ACCESS TO
CERTIFIED PAYROLL RECORDS FROM
PUBLIC WORKS PROJECTS UNDER
CURRENT LAW, CONTRACTORS ON SUCH
PROJECTS ARE REQUIRED TO KEEP
ACCURATE PAYROLL RECORDS. IT
MAKES SUCH RECORDS AVAILABLE TO
MULTI EMPLOYER TAFT HARTLEY
TRUST FUNDS AND JOINT LABOR
MANAGEMENT COMMITTEES. WITH THE
PURPOSE OF HELPING ENSURE
COMPLIANCE WITH ALL RELEVANT
LABOR LAWS HERE IN OUR STATE, WE
HAVE MADE SIGNIFICANT STRIDES IN
MAKING THESE RECORDS ACCESSIBLE
AND EASY TO REVIEW BY ALLOWING
THE ELECTRONIC SUBMISSION OF
THESE THESE PAYROLL RECORDS TO
THE STATE LABOR. UM, THE
COMMISSIONER WILL ALSO REQUIRE
CONTRACTORS TO MAINTAIN A
PHYSICAL COPY OF THESE RECORDS.
UNFORTUNATELY MANY LABOR
COMPLIANCE ENTITIES HAVE
REPORTED THAT WHEN THEY COME
ACROSS A SUSPECTED AND ACCURACY
AND THE ELECTRONIC RECORD AND
REQUEST TO REVIEW THE PHYSICAL
OR TRADITIONAL RECORD, WHICH IS
THE SOURCE MATERIAL. THEY ARE
JUST PROVIDED THE ELECTRONIC
COPY AGAIN. HINDERING THEIR
ABILITY TO PROTECT WORKERS ON
CALIFORNIA'S PUBLIC WORKS
PROJECTS. AND SO THIS
LEGISLATION SEEKS TO CORRECT
THIS PROBLEM BY PROPOSING THAT
LABOR COMPLIANCE ENTITIES ARE
ENTITLED TO REVIEW THE
TRADITIONAL CERTIFIED PAYROLL
RECORD WHEN NECESSARY, AND THAT
A COPY OF THE ELECTRONIC
CERTIFIED PAYROLL RECORD ALONE
IS INSUFFICIENT. SO WITH ME HERE
TO TESTIFY THIS AFTERNOON TO
ANSWER ANY. UH SOME SOME TEXT OF
QUESTIONS IS MATT CRIMMINS, WHO
IS HERE ON BEHALF OF THE
CALIFORNIA NEVADA CONFERENCE OF
OPERATE ENGINEERS. THANK YOU, MR
CHAIR. THANK YOU. MR KRAMER'S
THANK YOU, MR CHAIRMAN AND
MEMBERS MATT CREMINS HERE ON
BEHALF OF THE CALIFORNIA NEVADA
CONFERENCE OF OPERATING
ENGINEERS. WE ARE THE PROUD
SPONSORS OF 85 87, WHICH WILL
PROVIDE A SMALL YET IMPORTANT
CLARIFICATION RELATED TO PUBLIC
WORKS. CERTIFIED PAYROLL RECORD
ACCESS. BY WAY OF BRIEF
BACKGROUND EXISTING LAW PROVIDES
TWO REQUIREMENTS ON CONTRACTORS
AS IT RELATES TO MAINTAINING AND
MAKING AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION
CERTIFIED PAYROLL RECORDS. THE
FIRST CAN BE FOUND IN LABOR CODE
SECTIONS. 17 76, WHICH MANDATES
THAT ALL CONTRACTORS AND PUBLIC
WORKS PROJECTS MUST MAINTAIN AT
THEIR PRINCIPAL OFFICE,
CERTIFIED PAYROLL RECORDS AND
ALSO MAKE THOSE RECORDS OUT
THERE. PRINCIPAL OFFICE
AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION AND
EXISTING LAW DICTATES THAT THEY
MUST MAKE THOSE RECORDS
AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION TO
LABOR REPRESENTATIVES TO THE
AWARDING AGENCIES TO THE LABOR
COMMISSION, AND, ADDITIONALLY TO
THE PUBLIC, ALTHOUGH THE PUBLIC
MUST MAKE THE REQUEST TO GET
THOSE RECORDS THROUGH THE
AWARDING AGENCY, ADDITIONALLY,
LABOR CODE SECTIONS 17 71.4
PROVIDES A SEPARATE RECORDS SOME
MIDDLE REQUIREMENT THAT MANDATES
THAT CONTRACTORS MUST ALSO
SUBMIT ELECTRONIC CERTIFIED
PAYROLL RECORD TO THE LABOR
COMMISSION ON A MONTHLY BASIS.
AND THESE RECORDS ARE ALSO
ACCESSIBLE TO JOINT LABOR
MANAGEMENT COMMITTEES AND THE
PUBLIC. UM IT'S IMPORTANT TO
NOTE ON THE ELECTRONIC CERTIFIED
PAYROLL SIDE WHILE THIS SYSTEM
HAS STREAMLINED AND ENHANCE THE
WAY THAT JOINT LABOR MANAGEMENT
COMMITTEES ACCESS THESE RECORDS
THE ELECTRONIC SIDE IS HAND DATA
ENTERED BY THE CONTRACTOR AND
QUITE OFTEN CAN CONTAIN AN
ACCIDENTAL ERROR OR EMISSION OR
SOMETHING THAT COULD CAUSE
CONCERNS. SO IN THESE SITUATIONS
ARE JOINT LABOR MANAGEMENT
COMMITTEES WILL NEED TO MAKE A
RECORDS REQUEST PURSUANT TO 17
76 FOR THE IN HOUSE RECORDS IN
ORDER TO VERIFY AND THEY HAVE
RECENTLY COME ACROSS AN ISSUE
WHEREBY THERE SIMPLY JUST BEING
PROVIDED THE SAME EXACT
ELECTRONIC COPY THAT THEY
ALREADY HAVE ACCESS TO SO IN
ORDER TO CLARIFY THIS, THIS BILL
WOULD PROVIDE THAT, UM, A COPY
OF A COPY OF A CERTIFIED PAYROLL
RECORDS SHALL NOT SATISFY
RECORDS REQUEST MADE BY A JOINT
LABOR MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE AND
WOULD SIMPLY ALSO CLARIFIED THAT
THE RECORDS IF REQUESTED UNDER
17, 76 SHALL BE PROVIDED IN THE
MANNER SPECIFIED IN THAT CODE
SECTION. HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY
QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS. THIS IS
INTENDED TO BE A
NONCONTROVERSIAL CLARIFICATION
OF EXISTING LAW AND RESPECTFULLY
REQUEST THAT I BE CAREFUL WHEN
YOU START SEEING THE BILLS
NONCONTROVERSIAL. YEAH THANK YOU
SO MUCH. ANYONE ELSE HERE IN
SUPPORT? THANK YOU, MR CHAIR
TODD BALLOON STEIN, REPRESENTING
THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION AND
SUPPORT. THANK THANK YOU. GOOD
AFTERNOON. SHANE GUZMAN ON
BEHALF OF THE TEAMSTERS AND
SPORT. THANK YOU. MITCH STEIGER
, WITH THE CALIFORNIA LABOR
FEDERATION. ALSO IN SPORT. THANK
YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON, MR CHAIR
NICOLE CHARKHI ARISE ON BEHALF
OF THE STATE BUILDING AND
CONSTRUCTION TRADES COUNCIL IN
SUPPORT. THANK YOU. IS THERE
ANYONE HERE IN OPPOSITION? MAYBE
5 87. THERE'S NOT WE'LL BRING IT
BACK TO COMMITTEE. WE DO HAVE
EMOTION, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS. MADAM SECRETARY, OR
ACTUALLY, MR RIVAS, WOULD YOU
LIKE TO CLOSE? RESPECTFULLY ASK
FOR MY VOTE. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
MADAM SECRETARY, IF YOU TAKE
ROLL ON 85 87 MOTION IS DUE PASS
TO APPROPRIATIONS. CHOLERA I
FLORA FLORA I CHEN CHEN I HANEY
ORTEGA. ORTEGA. I REYES. WARD
WARD. I BILL IS OUT, AND WE'LL
KEEP THE ROLE OPEN FOR ABSENT
MEMBERS. ON THE ITEM. FOUR A B 6
47 ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S HOLDEN. THE
. WHENEVER YOU'RE READY. THANK
YOU, MR CHAIR AND COMMITTEE FOR
YOUR WORK AND ASSISTANCE ON A B
6 47, THE GROCERY WORKER
PROTECTION ACT. DURING THE COVID
19 PANDEMIC GROCERY STORE
EMPLOYEES WERE AMONG THE
ESSENTIAL FRONTLINE WORKERS HOPE
HELPING OUR COMMUNITIES RECEIVE
THE RESOURCES THEY NEEDED.
DESPITE THEIR CONTINUED SERVICE
. MANY OF THESE WORKERS HAVE
BECOME COLLATERAL DAMAGE IN THE
WAKE OF MEGA GROCERY STORE CHAIN
MERGERS. MOST RECENTLY, THE WELL
KNOWN CHAINS KROGER ALBERTSONS
ARE GEARING UP FOR AN
UNPRECEDENTED $25 BILLION
MERGER. AS A CONSEQUENCE, WE
WILL LIKELY SEE LARGE SCALE
LAYOFFS. AND AN EXACERBATED
EXACTLY ACCESS ABRASION OF
EXISTING FOOD, DESERTS AND SOME
OF OUR MOST VULNERABLE
COMMUNITIES. A B 647 SEEKS TO
PREVENT THIS BY STRENGTHENING
EXPANDING STATEWIDE GROCERY
WORKER PRETENSION AND HIRING
LAWS. THIS BILL WILL CLOSE A
LOOPHOLE THAT INCENTIVIZES
PROLONGED GROCERY STORE CLOSURES
AFTER A MERGER. EXPAND GROCERY
WORKER RETENTION LAW TO INCLUDE
WAREHOUSE EMPLOYEES AND INCREASE
THE WORKER RETENTION PERIOD FROM
90 DAYS TO 120 DAYS. IN
ADDITION, THIS BILL PROVIDES
ENFORCEMENT PROVISIONS THAT WILL
ALLOW FOR THE LABOR COMMISSIONER
TO ENFORCE AND GRANT A PRIVATE
RIGHT OF ACTION FOR AGGRIEVED
EMPLOYEES. I'VE HEARD THE
CONCERNS RAISED BY THE
OPPOSITION WITH REGARD TO THE
RETENTION INCREASE INCLUSION OF
WAREHOUSE EMPLOYEES AND FOOD
DESERTS. LET ME BEGIN BY SAYING
THAT AS AMENDED THE SECTION,
REFERRING TO FOOD DESERT
REGULATIONS HAS BEEN REMOVED. AS
FOR THE 40 DAY RETENTION
INCREASED, PRIVATE EQUITY
COMPANIES HAVE PLAYED A LARGE
ROLE IN GROCERY STORE
CONSOLIDATIONS. THIS HAS
RESULTED IN THE OVERALL HEALTH
OF THE FIRM BEING JEOPARDIZED
FOR A LONGER PERIOD OF TIME.
MAYBE 6 47 EXPANDS THE RETENTION
PERIOD BY 40 DAYS TO ALLOW FOR
THE NEW CONSOLIDATED AND
ACQUIRED COMPANY TO ADJUST AND
RETURN ALLOW FOR THE WORKERS TO
MAINTAIN SECURITY DURING THIS
TRANSITION PERIOD. THIS BILL
EXPANDS PROTECTIONS TO WAREHOUSE
EMPLOYEES FOR THE SIMPLE REASON
THAT THESE MURDERS ARE NOT
SOLELY FOCUSED ON THE RETAIL
STORES, BUT ALSO INCLUDE THE
COMPANY'S DISTRIBUTION
FACILITIES. DISTRIBUTION CENTERS
. CENTER WORKERS ARE ALSO AT
RISK FOR FACILITY CLOSURES AND
MASS LAYOFFS AND ARE DESERVING
OF THE JOB PROTECTIONS PROVIDED
IN A B 6 47 WITH THAT SAID, WITH
ME TO TESTIFY AND SUPPORT OF A B
6 47 IS JAZZY GREENWALL FROM THE
UNITED FOOD WORKERS, FOOD AND
COMMERCIAL WORKERS AND BRIAN
BAXLEY, PRODUCE MANAGER AT
ALBERTSON'S. AND CLOSING A B 6
47 WILL PROTECT WORKERS BY
PREVENTING MASS LAYOFFS AND
ENSURING CONSISTENCY IN FOOD,
SAFETY AND PHARMACEUTICAL
KNOWLEDGE WITHIN OUR COMMUNITIES
. I RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOUR
VOTE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. EACH
WITNESS HAS UP TO TWO MINUTES.
GOOD AFTERNOON CHAIR AND
COMMITTEE MEMBERS. MY NAME IS
JESSE GRAY WALL, LEGISLATIVE
DIRECTOR WITH UFCW WESTERN
STATES COUNCIL AND I'M HERE
TODAY TO TESTIFY AND STRONG
SUPPORT OF A B 647 THAT PROTECT
GROCERY WORKERS JOB ACT AND
THANK ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S HOLDEN
FOR AUTHORING THIS IMPORTANT
BILL UFCW AS A PRIVATE SECTOR
UNION REPRESENTING WORKERS IN
THE FOOD AND RETAIL SECTORS.
UFCW MEMBERS ARE YOUR LOCAL
GROCERY STORE CLERICS, WAREHOUSE
WORKERS AND FARM WORKERS WHO
MAKE SURE YOUR FOOD IS SAFE AND
ACCESSIBLE AND THE RETAIL
WORKERS WHO SHOT PACKAGE AND
DELIVER ESSENTIAL FOOD AND
GOODS. THESE ARE THE SAME
WORKERS WHO PUT THEIR LIVES ON
THE LINE DURING THE PANDEMIC TO
MAKE SURE CALIFORNIANS REMAIN
FED. NOW THE SAME WORKERS ARE
ASKING THE LEGISLATURE TO
PROTECT THEIR JOBS FROM ANY
FALLOUT. EVERY MURDERER
ACQUISITION IN THE GROCERY
INDUSTRY. IN OCTOBER 2022
PROGRAM, ALBERTSONS ANNOUNCED
PURSUING A $24.6 BILLION
MEGAMERGER, JOINING TOGETHER THE
1ST AND 2ND LARGEST GROCERY
CHAINS IN THE COUNTRY.
CALIFORNIA HAS MORE OF THESE TWO
GROCERY CHAINS THAN ANY OTHER
STATE IN THE COUNTRY, SO OUR
STATE WILL UNDOUBTEDLY FEEL THE
EFFECTS OF THE POTENTIAL MERGER
THE MOST. THE MERGER THREATENS
TO SUSTAINABLY TO SUBSTANTIALLY
REDUCE THE WORKFORCE OF THE TWO
GROCERY CHAINS, EMPLOYEE LAYOFFS
DUE TO THE ELIMINATION OF
COMPETITION. THE COMPANIES HAVE
SAID THEY MAY HAVE TO DIVEST UP
TO 650 STORES NATIONWIDE TO
SECURE ANTITRUST APPROVAL FROM
THE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION OR
THE FTC. THE FTC USES VARIOUS
MILE MARKERS LIKE 123 MILES TO
DETERMINE IF GROCERY STORES OF
THE SAME EMPLOYER OR DIFFERENT
EMPLOYER ARE CLOSE ENOUGH TO
ENCOURAGE COMPETITION IN A
SPECIFIC AREA. IF THERE ISN'T
ENOUGH COMPETITION THAN THE FTC
WILL MANDATE A SPECIFIC NUMBER
OF GROCERY STORES TO BUY TO BE
DIVESTED OFF OR CLOSED DOWN IN
LONG BEACH IN ANAHEIM. THERE ARE
54 OF 61 PROGRESS STORES WITHIN
2.5 MILES OF AT LEAST ONE
ALBERTSON STORE THAT IS 88% OF
THE TOTAL STORES IN THIS AREA
THAT ARE THAT ARE AT RISK FOR
DIVESTITURE OR CLOSER. IN LOS
ANGELES, 110 OF 138 KROGER
STORES ARE WITHIN 2.5 MILES OF
AT LEAST ONE ALBERTSON STORE, OR
80% OF THE TOTAL STORES IN THE
AREA THAT ARE RISK FOR
DIVESTITURE OR CLOSURE. FROM THE
FTC'S PERSPECTIVE, THE PROPOSED
MERGER WOULD GIVE THE COMBINED
COMPANY TOO MUCH POWER AND HAVE
A VERY NEGATIVE IMPACT ON
CONSUMERS AND WORKERS IN THESE
AREAS, LEADING TO CLOSE DOORS
AND HIGHLY CONCENTRATED AREAS,
ADDING ONTO THE CLOSED DOORS. WE
KNOW THE FIRST CASUALTIES OF THE
REMOVAL OF COMPETITION WILL BE
THE EMPLOYEES WHO ARE ONLY
NEEDED WHEN COMPETITION EXISTED.
STAFFING NEEDS WILL DECREASE
LEADING TO JOB LOSS WERE
SURFACED WORSE SERVICE FOR
CONSUMERS AND WORSE PAY BENEFITS
AND WORKING CONDITIONS FOR THE
REMAINING WORKERS. KNOWLEDGE
ABOUT THE STORE'S CUSTOMER AND
COMMUNITIES WILL ALSO BE LOST
WITH JOB TURNOVER. OUR
COMMUNITIES DEPEND ON THESE
COMPANIES. WHEN GOOD JOBS ARE
LOST. THE STANDARD OF LIVING
GOES DOWN FOR EVERYONE, NOT JUST
THOSE WHO LOST THEIR JOBS. IN
ORDER TO AVOID MASS LAYOFF,
TRAINED AND SKILLED GROCERY
STORE AND PHARMACY WORKERS AND
ENSURE A LEVEL OF CONSISTENT
FOOD SAFETY AND PHARMACY
KNOWLEDGE IN OUR COMMUNITY
GROCERY STORES, IT IS IMPERATIVE
THAT THE LEGISLATURE STRENGTHEN
STRENGTHEN THE EXISTING GROCERY
WORKER RETENTION LAW AND ADOPTED
PROCESS FOR GROCERY WORKERS TO
BE RECALLED AND REHIRED. IT IS
FOR THESE REASONS AND MORE UFCW
STRONGLY URGES YOUR VOTE ON 86
47. THANK YOU. HELLO CHAIR AND
COMMITTEE MEMBERS. I'M BRIAN
BAXLEY PRODUCED MEASURED
ALBERTSONS AND LA MORADA. I
WORKED FOR ALBERTSONS FOR 32
YEARS, AND DURING MY TIME I'VE
SEEN FAR TOO MANY ACQUISITIONS
OF THE GROCERY INDUSTRY. I WENT
THROUGH THE HOUR SINCE
ACQUISITION OF LUCKY'S IN 1999,
AND THEN AGAIN THE COMPANY BUT
SAFELY IN 2015 GOT WORSE EVERY
TIME. I'VE SEEN JUST HOW BAD
MERGERS CAN AFFECT THE WORKERS
IN OUR COMMUNITIES. AND I'M HERE
TODAY TO ASK CALIFORNIA
LEGISLATURE TO HEED THE LESSONS
OF THESE MERGERS AND PROTECT
WORKERS, COMMUNITIES AND
CALIFORNIA BYPASSING 86 47 BY
ASSEMBLYMAN HOLDEMAN I'VE BEEN
LUCKY DURING THE PAST MERGERS.
MY STORE WASN'T CLOSED AND OR
SOLD. TO HAGEN. BUT I KNOW LOTS
OF PEOPLE THAT SUDDENLY WE'RE
OUT OF A JOB AND HAD TO WORK FOR
A NEW COMPANY. THEY DIDN'T KNOW.
WHEN I STARTED WORKING OVER
SINCE 1992. IT WAS A GOOD JOB. I
NEEDED A PLACE WHERE I COULD GET
BENEFITS AND I CAN SUPPORT MY
CHILDREN. THIS. THEY WERE LIKE A
FAMILY STORE. I MET JOE
ALBERTSONS, SO IT WAS LIKE A
REALLY CLOSE KNIT KNIT. AS THESE
PRIVATE COMPANIES HAVE BONDED AS
CHANGED GREATLY. BUT BY NOW THE
CAR MY COWORKERS AND ARE
STRUGGLING TO GET BY ALBERTSONS
PROPERTY EQUITY OWNERS ONLY CARE
ABOUT MAKING MONEY AND GETTING
OUT OF THEIR LOSING INVESTMENT.
OUR SENTENCES, NOT BUILDING A
FAMILY. IF THE PROBLEM PROS
MERGER BETWEEN OURSELVES AND THE
GROCERY GIANT KROGER DOES GO
THROUGH OUR PRINCIPLES,
AUSTRALIA LOOKING AT SELLING OUT
THE INVESTMENT, AND THAT'S BAD
FOR ME AND MY CO WORKERS BECAUSE
WE HAVEN'T CERTAIN FUTURE. WE
DON'T KNOW WHO'S GOING TO
PURCHASE US. BUT WE HAVE SEEN
MANY OF THESE STORE CLOSED. OR
SOLD TO NEW COMPANIES. IT'S
TYPICALLY THE UNION STORES THAT
ARE CLOSED FIRST. MY BROTHERS
AND SISTERS AT LOCAL 400 IN
WASHINGTON, D. C ARE GOING
THROUGH THIS PROCESS RIGHT NOW
WITH KROGER. BUILDING A
WAREHOUSES WILL ALSO SIT EMPTY.
EIGHT YEARS AFTER HAGEN. SOME OF
THOSE STORES STILL SIMPLY LIKE
THE ONES IN TUSTIN REMAIN CLOSE
TODAY. AND NOT JUST GOING TO THE
GROCERY STORES. BUSINESSES WHO
RELY ON THE ANCHOR OF OUR STORES
WILL BE FAILED. TO INSTEAD OF
CALIFORNIA. ALMOST 6000 WORKERS
COULD BE OUT OF A JOB IN THIS
MERGER GOES THROUGH THAT 6000
JOBS THAT KEEP COMMUNITIES
STANDARD OF LIVING HIGH. I SPENT
OVER 30 YEARS WORKING MY WAY UP
TO PAY SCALE AND ALBERTSONS AND
IF MY STORE CLOSED BECAUSE OF
THE MERGER WITHOUT PROTECTIONS,
I'M AT RISK OF LOSING MY HARD
WORK BENEFITS HAVE EARNED AND I
WOULD START OVER AT THE BOTTOM
WHERE I SHOULD BE INSTEAD OF
FOCUSING ON MY RETIREMENT. MY
NEED. WE NEED THE CALIFORNIA
LOCATIONS STEP UP AND PROTECT
WORKING JOBS IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
STORE CLOSURES WOULD COME AT THE
LOSS OF KNOWLEDGE WORKERS HAVE
IN STORE. GENERAL I'M SORRY
PRACTICES, GROCERY INDUSTRY,
OSHA AND OUR GENERAL SKILL LEVEL
THAT WE HAVE LEARNED OVER THE
THERE ARE TIME IN THE STORES.
MAYBE 6 47 IS CRITICAL
LEGISLATION THAT TO ENSURE THE
SKILLED TRAINED WORKERS LIKE
MYSELF WILL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE
OUR COMMUNITIES WITH ACCESS TO
SAFE FOOD, GOOD AND MEDICINE.
RETRAINING AND RE HIRING.
SKILLED KNOWLEDGEABLE WORKERS
ARE COMMITTEES WILL BE CERTAIN
TO BE HEALTHY AND THRIVED. FROM
ALL THE ESSENTIAL GROCERY
WORKERS LIKE MYSELF. I
RESPECTFULLY REQUEST YOU TO VOTE
A VOTE. UH, A ON A B 6 47. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THOSE IN
SUPPORT, PLEASE COME ON UP AND
EXPRESS NAME ORGANIZATION AND
YOUR POSITION. MITCH STEIGER,
WITH THE CALIFORNIA LABOR
FEDERATION, ALSO IN SUPPORT.
THANK YOU. SHANE GASSMAN WITH
THE TEAMSTERS IN SUPPORT. THANK
YOU. CHRISTOPHER SANCHEZ WITH
THE WESTERN CENTER IN LONG
POVERTY AND STRONG SUPPORT.
THANK YOU. IS ANYONE HERE IN
OPPOSITION? THESE YOU CAN COME
UP HERE TO THIS TWO CHAIRS IF
YOU WOULD LIKE TO HAVE YOUR
TESTIFYING IN OPPOSITION. YEAH.
YEAH. HMM. MR CHAIR AND MEMBERS
OF THE COMMITTEE, LOUIS BROWN
TODAY ON BEHALF OF THE
CALIFORNIA GROCERIES ASSOCIATION
IN OPPOSITION TO A B 6 47.
THERE'S BEEN MUCH MADE ABOUT
THIS BILL AND ITS FOCUS ON A
PENDING MERGER. THAT MERGER IS
PENDING, AND IT'S BEFORE THE
FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION, WHICH
IS A HIGHLY REGULATED PROCESS
THAT WILL ANALYZE ANY NUMBER OF
ISSUES BEFORE APPROVING OR
DENYING, UH WHETHER OR NOT THAT
MERGER TAKES PLACE. ONE OF OUR
BIGGEST CONCERNS WITH THIS BILL
ISN'T IT JUST DOESN'T IMPACT THE
COMPANIES INVOLVED IN A MERGER.
THIS BILL IMPACTS ANY CLOSURE.
ANY TRANSFER OF OWNERSHIP OF ANY
STORE? AND FRANKLY, HAS A
DISPROPORTIONATE IMPACT ON THESE
SMALL RETAILERS IN THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA. THE MINORITY OWNED
RETAILERS IN THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA AND REALLY GIVES A
DISADVANTAGE OR DISINTERESTED
INCENTIVE, FURTHER OPPORTUNITY
FOR GROWTH. THE ANALYSIS
DISCUSSED AND AS THE WITNESSES
BROUGHT UP THE IDEA OF THE LAST
MERGER, AND HAGEN COMING INTO
THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AND HOW
THAT DIDN'T WORK, IT DIDN'T
WORK. HAGEN CAME IN. THEY BOUGHT
OFF MORE THAN THEY CAN CHEW.
THEY DECLARED BANKRUPTCY. AND
THEN ALBERTSONS REPURCHASED SOME
OF THOSE STORES AND THEN A
NUMBER OF OTHER GROCERS
PURCHASED THOSE STORES. AT THE
END OF THE DAY. THERE WERE NO
MORE THAN FIVE MAYBE 10 STORES
OUT OF THAT MERGER THAT ACTUALLY
RESULTED IN THE CLOSURE IN THE
STATE OF CALIFORNIA. WE ARE A
HEALTHY INDUSTRY. FOR THE LAST
FIVE YEARS. WE'VE HAD STEADY
GROWTH. WE HAVE 350,000
EMPLOYEES IN THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA OVER 8000 STORES.
THERE'S BEEN NO JUSTIFICATION OR
DATA PROVEN AS TO WHY THE
CHANGES IN THIS BILL ARE NEEDED.
I STATED THAT IT HAS A
DISPROPORTIONATE IMPACT ON THE
SMALL RETAILERS. THERE'S OTHER
ELEMENTS OF THE BILL. THAT JUST
KIND OF SHOW UP. UM WE NOW HAVE
THIS ISSUE DEALING WITH THE
SEPARATED EMPLOYEE AND WHETHER
OR NOT THEY HAVE TO HAVE A 15
MILE COMMUTE. IT'S A BIG STATE.
15 MILES IN ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S
FLOORS. DISTRICT IS MUCH
DIFFERENT THAN 15 MILES IN YOUR
DISTRICT, MR CALERA. IN SOME
AREAS OF THE STATE, YOU MAY HAVE
TO TRAVEL 25 30 MILES JUST TO
GET TO ANOTHER GROCERY STORE.
AND SO WHAT? MAGIC DOES 15 MILES
HAVE? AND WHY IS THAT NOW? AN
ELEMENT OF IT. WE MENTIONED THE
NEW ENFORCEMENT ELEMENTS A
REBUTTABLE PRESUMPTION THAT
ANYONE WHO WAS ACTUALLY LET GO
FROM A GROCERY STORE IN THE PAST
12 MONTHS HAD BEEN LET GO FOR AN
ECONOMIC REASON, MEANING THEY
NOW ARE BACK ON THE REHIRING
LIST. SO NOT ONLY DOES THE
SUCCESSOR EMPLOYER HAVE TO LOOK
AT THE CURRENT LIST OF EMPLOYEES
HAS TO GO BACK AND LOOK AT ANY
OF THOSE THAT WERE IN THE
BUSINESS. UM WITHIN SIX MONTHS
OR A YEAR OF THAT, BECAUSE THE
REBUTTABLE PRESUMPTION AGAIN. WE
HAVE THE EXISTING LAW ON THE
BOOKS. THE EXISTING LAW HAS
SHOWN THAT IN THIS LAST MERGER,
WE DID NOT HAVE A SIGNIFICANT
DECLINE IN THE GROCERY INDUSTRY
IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA. OUR
CONCERN IS IF WE ALLOW THIS BILL
TO GO FORWARD IT WILL
DISINCENTIVIZE EXPANSION, IT
WILL ACTUALLY CREATE MORE FOOD
DESERTS, NOT LESS FOOD, DESERTS
IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AND
SIMPLY NEEDS TO BE RETHOUGHT. WE
ASKED FOR A NO VOTE. THANK YOU.
IS ANYONE ELSE HERE IN
OPPOSITION? A B 647. GOOD
AFTERNOON, ASHLEY HOFFAN ON
BEHALF OF THE CALIFORNIA CHAMBER
OF COMMERCE AND OPPOSITION.
SARAH PALOMO WITH CALIFORNIA
RETAILERS ASSOCIATION AND
OPPOSITION. THANK YOU. WE'LL
BRING IT BACK TO COMMITTEE FOR
ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS,
MOTIONS. THE MOTION TO MOVE THE
BILL. SIMILAR TICKETS FOR A
SECOND. SECOND FROM SENATOR
HEANEY. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS. WELL I WANT TO SHOW MY
APPRECIATION TO THE AUTHOR FOR
BRINGING THIS FORWARD. I THINK
IT IT'S A VERY BIG BILL IN TERMS
OF ITS IMPACT. BUT THE REALITY
IS THAT THE STORES HAVE A BIG
IMPACT ON A BIG FOOTPRINT IN OUR
COMMUNITIES. I THINK ABOUT THE
GROSSEST OR DOWN THE STREET
WHERE I LIVE, WHERE IT'S A UNION
SHOP, AND I'VE SEEN PEOPLE THEY
HAVE BEEN THERE FOR 30 YEARS
THAT HAVE RAISED THEIR KIDS AND
THEIR KIDS TO COLLEGE AND HAVE
MADE A DECENT LIFE FOR
THEMSELVES IN ONE OF THE MOST
EXPENSIVE PLACES TO LIVE IN THE
NATION. I THINK THAT THERE'S
GOOD PUBLIC POLICY THAT REALLY
HAVE THESE CONSIDERATIONS IN
PLACE ON THE IMPACT ON THE
WORKFORCE CERTAINLY ENCOURAGED
THE OPPOSITION IF THEY FEEL THAT
THE MILEAGE OR SOME OF THESE
OTHER ISSUES. UM YOU KNOW, CAN
BE IMPROVED UPON OFFER UP
SUGGESTIONS AND AMENDMENTS AND
CONVERSATION WITH OUR AUTHOR AND
THE SPONSOR BECAUSE I KNOW THIS
AUTHOR TO BE ONE THAT CERTAINLY
IS MORE THAN WILLING TO COME TO
THE TABLE SO THAT THAT WOULD YOU
LIKE TO CLOSE SER. I THINK YOU
JUST DID MY CLOTHES, SO I WOULD
CONCUR WITH EVERYTHING THAT YOU
SAID. I THINK THAT, UM. THERE
ARE ALWAYS OPPORTUNITIES TO
THINK ABOUT THE FULLNESS OF
IMPACTS, AND BUT WE JUST
FUNDAMENTALLY, THE BILL IS DOING
ALL THE RIGHT THINGS FOR ALL THE
RIGHT REASONS. BECAUSE IT IS TOO
EASY THAT WHEN THESE MERGERS DO
GO THROUGH THAT THERE WILL BE
VICTIMS IN THAT AND THOSE WHO
ARE GOING TO BE WORKERS, NOT TO
MENTION THE FACT THAT IT HAS A
DESPERATE IMPACT ON THE
CUSTOMERS AS WELL BUT NOT HAVING
THE SAME NUMBER OF CHOICES. SO
WITH THAT, I WOULD RESPECTFULLY
ASK ME OR I VOTE. THANK YOU,
MADAM SECRETARY IF WE COULD TAKE
A WALL ON MAYBE 6 47. MOTION IS
DUE PASS TO JUDICIARY. CHOLERA
FLORA FLORA NO, CHEN CHEN NO,
HANEY. HANEY. I ORTEGA. ORTEGA.
I RAISE WARD. SO WHAT? PLACE
THAT BILL ON COLT AND AWAIT THE
ABSENT MEMBERS. THANK YOU SO
MUCH. THANK YOU. BY ITEM TWO.
MAYBE 338. YOU'RE A CURRY.
WHENEVER YOU'RE READY. YEAH. ALL
RIGHT. WE HAVE A MOMENT AGO. WE
HAD NO AUTHORS. NOW WE HAVE ALL
THE AUTHORS HERE. FANTASTIC
EVERYONE STAY PUT. GOOD
AFTERNOON, MR CHAIR AND MEMBERS.
MAYBE 338 EXPANDS THE DEFINITION
OF PUBLIC WORKS TO INCLUDE FUEL
REDUCTION ACTIVITIES PERFORMED
AS PART OF A WILDFIRE MITIGATION
PROJECT. THIS WILL BETTER
PROTECT COMMUNITIES FROM
WILDFIRES BY ENSURING THAT
WORKERS RESPONSIBLE FOR THESE
PROJECTS ARE WELL TRAINED, USING
THE SAFEST PRACTICES AND ARE
PAID PREVAILING WAGE. MEMBERS I
UNDERSTAND AND RESPECT THE
OPPOSITION'S CONCERN FOR PROJECT
DELIVERY. IN THE SHORT TERM.
WHICH IS WHY I UNILATERALLY
ADDED A PHASED IMPLEMENTATION.
NOBODY IS MORE COMMITTED TO
DELIVERING THESE PROJECTS. SINCE
AT ONE POINT IN THE FALL OF 2020
. I HAD EVERY ONE OF THE SIX
COUNTIES IN MY DISTRICT ON FIRE.
MAYBE 338 MAKES CLEAR THE LOCAL
WORKERS PERFORM PERFORMING
HAZARDOUS LABOR INTENSIVE WORK
DESERVE TO BE TO BE PROPERLY
PREPARED FOR THEIR JOBS AND BE
PAID A LIVABLE WAGE FOR THEIR
DUTIES. AND IT ESTABLISHES A
STRUCTURE FOR ATTRACTING
EMPLOYEES TO JOBS THAT CAN BE A
CAREER PROTECTING THE TOWNS THAT
THEY LIVE IN. BUT EVERY ONE OF
OUR OPPONENTS HAS ALSO CITED A
WORKFORCES SHORTAGE. I'M NO
ECONOMIST, BUT YOU DON'T FIX THE
LABOR SHORTAGE BY PAYING PEOPLE
LESS. AS WE RAMP UP THIS WORK
OVER THE COMING YEARS, I WANT TO
PREVENT A PROJECT DELIVERY
CRISIS IN THE FUTURE BY
PROVIDING TRAINING, WELL, PAYING
JOBS AND BENEFITS FOR THIS
DANGEROUS WORK. WITH ME TODAY TO
TESTIFY AND SUPPORT IS TIM
CRIMMINS FOR THE NEVADA
CALIFORNIA CONFERENCE OF
OPERATING ENGINEERS AND JAMES
THER WAY, DIRECTOR FROM THE
CALIFORNIA STATE COUNCIL OF
LABOUR'S THANK YOU, GENTLEMEN.
THANK YOU. MR CHAIRMAN AND
MEMBERS. THANK YOU, TIM CREMINS,
INTERNATIONALLY OPERATING
ENGINEERS. I THINK YOU HEARD THE
AUTHOR LAYOUT. THE RATIONALE OF
THE BILL. THINK IT MIGHT BE
HELPFUL IF I MENTIONED A COUPLE
OF THINGS THAT BILL DOES NOT DO
TO GIVE FOLKS SOME EASE AND SOME
CLARIFICATION. IT DOESN'T APPLY
TO VOLUNTEER WORK. UM, IT
DOESN'T APPLY TO CONSERVATION
CORPS WORK. UM IT DOESN'T APPLY
TO INDIAN LANDS. UM IT ALSO, UM
ONLY APPLIES TO OCCUPATIONS
WITHIN THE BUILDING, TRADES
APPRENTICE, IT'LL CRAFTS AND
PERFORMANCE OF THIS WORK. AND IT
APPLIES TO CONTRACTS ONLY OVER
100,000. SO IT EXEMPTS, UH
SMALLER CONTRACTS, AND I THINK
THAT'S THAT'S A NOD TO SOME OF
THE WORK THAT NONPROFITS DO AND
WORK IN SOME OF THE SMALLER
COMMUNITIES, AND I THINK WE VIEW
THIS AS KIND OF A RATIONAL
EXTENSION OF PREVAILING WAGE LAW
THAT YOU EVOLVED, DEBATED AND
VOTED FOR IN THIS COMMITTEE. UH,
THESE ARE TRADES THAT UH, SAME
TRADES THAT ARE PERFORMING THIS
WORK SHE WOULD DO ON A
TRADITIONAL PUBLIC WORKS
PROJECTS AND PAID FOR ON PUBLIC
FUNDS AND WORKING ON PUBLIC
ASSETS, SO WE BELIEVE THIS IS
JUST A NATURAL EXTENSION. NEXT
NATIONAL IRRATIONAL EXTENSION OF
PUBLIC WORKS POLICY. UM AND I
ALSO MENTIONED ALSO UM AS A
COMMITTEE QUITE OFTEN DEAL WITH
CLIMATE CHANGE AND IMPACT ON THE
WORKFORCE, AND SOME FOLKS ARE
CALLING IT JUST TRANSITION. UM
AND I THINK YOU COULD FAITHFULLY
SAY AND LOOK AT THIS. UM THIS
COULD BE THE GOLD STANDARD FOR
JUST TRANSITION. IN THAT YOU CAN
LEAVE. UH PROJECT. YOU KNOW IF
YOU'RE WORKING ON A ROAD
PROJECT, AN OIL REFINERY, YOU
TAKE THOSE EXACT SAME WAGES
THOSE EXACT SAME HEALTH BENEFITS
THE EXACT SAME TRAINING AND
PROGRAM. LEAVE THAT PROJECT AND
GO AND GO RIGHT UP TO A CLIMATE
CHANGE PROJECT LIKE WE'RE
ADDRESSING HERE AND SO I THINK
IT'S ACTUALLY EXCELLENT PUBLIC
POLICY AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THANK YOU. MR CHAIR MEMBERS.
GOOD AFTERNOON, JAMES
THURWACHTER WITH THE CALIFORNIA
STATE COUNCIL OF LABORERS PROUD
CO SPONSOR HERE, UM, COMPRISED
OF ABOUT 70,000 MEN AND WOMEN
WHO, LIKE THE OPERATORS BUILD
CALIFORNIA'S WATER, ENERGY AND
TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE.
80% OF OUR MEMBERS IDENTIFY AS A
PERSON OF COLOR, AND MANY OF
THEM COME DIRECTLY FROM THE
CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, AND
THAT'S ALL RELEVANT AND
IMPORTANT, BECAUSE WHAT WE'RE
DOING IS PROVIDING THE PATHWAYS
INTO THE MIDDLE CLASS. THEY HAVE
GOOD PAYING JOBS, RETIREMENT
PLANS, PENSIONS, AND MANY OF
THEM ARE BECOMING HOMEOWNERS. SO
WE'RE VERY PROUD OF THAT. THIS
BUILDING IS TOO IMPORTANT THINGS
FIRST. IT CREATES. YOU DON'T
WANT TO BE TOO REDUNDANT, BUT IT
CREATES A REAL PATHWAY INTO INTO
GREEN JOBS. WE'VE HAD A LOT OF
CONVERSATIONS ABOUT JUST
TRANSITION AND WHAT THAT MEANS
FOR POLICYMAKERS FOR WORKERS AND
FOR THE ECONOMY. WE'VE BEEN
INCREASING OUR PRESENCE IN THE
RENEWABLE ENERGY SPACE. WE
SUPPORT SOLAR, WIND AND HYDROGEN
PROJECTS AMONGST OTHERS, AND
WILDFIRE MITIGATION WORK IS
DANGEROUS WORK, BUT IT'S NOT
DIRTY WORK. IN FACT, IT'S THE
WORK THAT POLICYMAKERS OFTEN
REFERENCED IN THEIR
CONVERSATIONS WHEN THEY'RE
TALKING ABOUT A GREEN ECONOMY.
THE REALITY IS WILDFIRES AREN'T
GOING ANYWHERE. IT'S CRITICAL
THAT WE BOTH CREATE AND RETAIN
JOBS IN THIS SPACE. AND THIS
BILL DOES BOTH. HMM THE SECOND
THING IS THAT A B 338
PRIORITIZES WORKERS' SAFETY. NOW
OPPONENTS ARE GOING TO ARGUE
THAT SMALLER COMPANIES AREN'T
ABLE TO REACH THE PREVAILING
WAGE STATUS AND THUS WILL BE,
UH, PRICED OUT OF THE MARKET.
BUT THIS BILL IS ABOUT SETTING
STANDARDS TO PROTECT WORKERS.
THE UNFORTUNATE TRUTH. IS THAT
SOME NOT ALL BUT SOME OF THESE
SMALLER CONTRACTORS HAVE CUT
CORNERS BY NOT PROVIDING THE
PROPER PPE IN TRAINING FOR THEIR
WORKERS. AND THAT NEGLIGENCE HAS
RESULTED IN EGREGIOUS WORKPLACE
INJURIES. ARE SELF FUNDED
APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS ARE BOTH
FLEXIBLE AND ROBUST. THEY
PREPARE OUR WORKERS. THE RIGHT
TRAINING AND HANDS ON EXPERIENCE
TO AVOID THESE KINDS OF
INJURIES. I WANT TO BE
UNEQUIVOCAL AS I AS AN
EQUIVALENT UNEQUIVOCAL AS I CAN.
THE HEALTH AND SAFETY AND WELL
BEING FOR OF OUR WORKERS IS NOT
UP FOR NEGOTIATION. SO WITH THAT
WE ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I'M
GONNA ACTUALLY I HAVE TO GO
PRESENT IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT. AND
SO I'LL BE BACK. I'M GOING TO
HAND OVER THE GAVEL TO OUR VICE
CHAIR. AND RIGHT NOW THOSE IN
SUPPORT, PLEASE COME UP AND
EXPRESS YOUR SUPPORT. THANK YOU,
MR. CHAIR MR VICE CHAIR TODD
BLUMSTEIN, REPRESENTING THE
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CONTRACTORS
ASSOCIATION IN SUPPORT AND CO
SPONSOR OF HB 3, 38. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. MR CHAIR, NICOLE
TRUJILLO WRITES ON BEHALF OF THE
CALIFORNIA STATE BUILDING
CONSTRUCTION TRADES COUNCIL. WE
ALIGN OUR COMMENTS WITH THE BILL
CO SPONSORS. WE ARE IN STRONG
SUPPORT AND ALSO PROUD TO CO
SPONSOR THIS. MITCH STEIGER,
WITH THE CALIFORNIA LABOR
FEDERATION, ALSO IN SPORT. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH. ANYBODY ELSE IN
SUPPORT? MAYBE 3 38 SEEN NONE.
ANYONE IN OPPOSITION? TWO, MAYBE
3 38 COME ON UP. YOU'RE READY
WHEN YOU ARE. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. MR CHAIR MEMBERS OF THE
COMMITTEE. GOOD AFTERNOON, STACY
HEATING WITH THE RURAL COUNTY
REPRESENTATIVES OF CALIFORNIA
REPRESENTING 40, WORLD COUNTY
STATEWIDE 80% OF OUR STATES. U S
FOREST SERVICE LAND RESIDES IN
OUR MEMBER COUNTIES AND OUR
COUNTIES. THE VAST MAJORITY ARE
FORESTED COUNTIES AND THE VAST
MAJORITY OF OUR COUNTIES HAVE
SUFFERED FROM CATASTROPHIC
WILDFIRE IN THE PAST 15 YEARS.
OUR MEMBER COUNTIES OFTEN HAVE
TIGHT BUDGETS REPRESENT SOCIO,
ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED
COMMUNITIES. AND ARE HEAVILY
DEPENDENT ON STATE AND FEDERAL
GRANT DOLLARS TO DO A FUELS
TREATMENT PROJECTS ENFORCED
RESILIENT PROJECTS IN ORDER TO
SAFEGUARD THEIR COMMUNITIES FROM
THE IMPACTS OF THESE WILDFIRES.
WE APPRECIATE THE AUTHOR'S
INTENT WITH THIS BILL. THE
FOREST RESILIENCE WORKFORCE IS
CRUCIAL TO COUNTIES RESOURCE
CONSERVATION DISTRICTS, FIRE,
SAFE COUNCILS AND COLLABORATIVE
IN ORDER TO GET THESE PROJECTS
DONE AND TO HELP CALIFORNIA MEET
ITS FOREST, RESILIENCE, PACE AND
SCALE GOALS, WHICH ARE VERY
IMPORTANT. OUR CONCERN IS THAT
THE BILL WILL NOT HAVE THE
INTENDED EFFECT BUT WILL
ACTUALLY DO THE OPPOSITE FOR
LOCAL WORKFORCE. PUBLIC WORKS
WORKS PLACES SMALL LOCAL
CONTRACTORS AT A DISADVANTAGE
DUE TO NECESSARILY NECESSARY
RESOURCES TO BECOME PREVAILING
WAGE EMPLOYERS. AND THESE ARE
CONTRACTORS WHEN WE'RE TALKING
TREE REMOVAL AND WHERE WE'RE
TALKING FOREST RESILIENCE THAT
HAVE DECADES OF EXPERIENCE. A
LOT OF THEM ARE FAMILY OWNED
BUSINESSES AND ARE EXPERTS AT
THEIR CRAFT, SO I WANTED TO MAKE
SURE I THREW THAT IN THERE. WHEN
WE'RE TALKING PREVAILING PUBLIC
WORKS PROJECTS PROJECTS OFTEN
BECOME DEPENDENT ON OUT OF VERY
CONTRACTORS BECAUSE LOCAL
CONTRACTORS DO HAVE TROUBLE
COMPETING FOR THE BIDS. AND THAT
MIGHT BE OKAY FOR SOME PROJECT
TYPES, BUT IT'S NOT IDEAL FOR
CRUCIAL FUELS TREATMENT
PROJECTS. UH THIS BILL WE
BELIEVE WILL NOT ONLY CAUSE
DELAYS, BUT WE'LL PUT SMALL
LOCAL CONTRACTORS OUT OF
BUSINESS WHEN YOU FACTOR IN
SUBSTANTIAL ADDED COSTS FOR
THESE PROJECTS BECAUSE OF
PREVAILING WAGE. AND UNLESS THE
STATE IS GOING TO MAKE A MUCH
MORE ROBUST FOREST RESILIENCE
COMMITMENT IN ITS GRANT PROGRAMS
TO MEET THE PATIENT SCALE OF
COMMUNITY HARDENING GOALS. WE
FEEL THAT THIS BILL WILL NOT
ONLY DELAY PROJECTS, BUT IT WILL
ALSO SHRINK THE PACE AND SCALE
OF CALIFORNIA'S FOREST
MANAGEMENT GOALS. WE'RE
COMMITTED TO WORKING WITH THE
AUTHOR, AND WE'RE ALREADY
FACILITATING DISCUSSIONS WITH
LOCALS TO HELP BETTER KIND OF
COMMUNICATE AND UNDERSTAND THE
CHALLENGES OF THE SPILL. AND
WITH THAT WE RESPECTFULLY
OPPOSED THE BILL TODAY AND WOULD
ASK FOR YOUR NO VOTE. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE IN
OPPOSITION TO A B 3 38 NAME AND
ORGANIZATION, PLEASE. CHRIS ROSE
ON BEHALF OF CAL FORESTS AND
OPPOSITION. MR CHAIR CHRIS
MAKELELE ON BEHALF OF HUMBOLDT
REDWOOD COMPANY IN RESPECTFUL
OPPOSITION AND LOOK FORWARD TO
WORKING WITH THE AUTHOR ON
AMENDMENTS. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU. IS HE SWIMMING ON BEHALF OF
CURRENT COUNTY BOARD OF
SUPERVISORS AND OPPOSITION. GOOD
AFTERNOON, JASON BRYANT ON
BEHALF OF THE MOUNTAIN COUNTIES.
WATER RESOURCES ASSOCIATION WERE
IN OPPOSITION. THANK YOU.
THANKS. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR
MARK FINSTER, MAKER FOR THE
CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF
RESOURCE CONSERVATION DISTRICTS
. WE DON'T HAVE AN OFFICIAL
POSITION AT THIS TIME. WE DO
HAVE SOME CONCERNS WITH OUTLINED
IN OUR LETTER AND LOOK FORWARD
TO WORKING WITH THE AUTHOR ON
THOSE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
ANYONE ELSE IN OPPOSITION? SEE?
NONE BRING IT BACK TO THE
COMMITTEE. ANY QUESTIONS FROM
THE COMMITTEE? AND A MOTION AND
SECOND QUESTION, MR CHEN THANK
YOU, MICHEL. FOR THE OPPORTUNITY
. REMEMBER CAREER I WANT TO SAY
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BRINGING
THIS BILL FORWARD LAST YEAR. I
SUPPORT THE BILL, AND I'M
HONORED TO SUPPORT IT AGAIN. AND
I'M A FIRM BELIEVER THAT THE
SKILLED AND TRAINED WORKFORCE,
AS WELL AS THE APPRENTICESHIP
PROGRAMS AT THE TRADES PROVIDER
SECOND TO NONE, SO I'M VERY,
VERY HONORED TO SUPPORT THIS
BILL ALSO WANTED TO ASK A
QUESTION TO YOU. YOU KNOW, I'VE
HAD SOME LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
CONTACT ME IN TERMS OF SAYING
THAT BASED ON THE BILL, SOME OF
THE IMPACTS OF THE BILL WOULD
MEAN THAT THEIR INABILITY TO
REDUCE THE POTENTIAL IMPACT OF
WILDFIRES AND THEIR INABILITY TO
MEET ITS FUEL REDUCTION AND
WILDFIRE PREVENTION GOALS. AS
YOU KNOW, THERE IS A PROJECTED
BUDGET DEFICIT COMING THIS YEAR
AGO AROUND AND SOME OF THAT
BUDGET DEFICIT WOULD BE GOING
TOO WELL. FIRE FUNDING, SO I
RESPECTFULLY ASK YOU TO CONTINUE
WORK WITH THE STAKEHOLDERS TO
SEE IF THERE'S A WAY TO PROVIDE
SOME ADDITIONAL FLEXIBILITY FOR
OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND OR
NONPROFITS. THERE ARE IN THIS
AREA. ENSURE THEY CAN MAXIMIZE
THEIR LIMITED GRANT FUNDING AS
MUCH AS POSSIBLE TO MAKE SURE
THAT FUNDING GOES TOWARD PROJECT
IMPLEMENTATION, AS OPPOSED TO
ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS. SO UM, ANY
TYPE OF ATTITUDE WITH THAT I'D
BE GRATEFUL WITH THAT REALLY
HONORED TO SUPPORT YOUR BILL.
THANK YOU ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S IF I
DON'T IF YOU DON'T MIND ME JUST
RESPONDING THAT UM THERE'S NO
DOUBT ABOUT IT THAT WE HAVE MADE
THE AMENDMENTS ARE TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE IMPLEMENT THIS CORRECTLY
. AND SO WE EXEMPT CONTRACTS
LESS THAN $100,000 PROTECT
SMALLER ENTITIES DOING THIS WORK
AND SPECIFY THE PUBLIC WORKS
ONLY APPLIES TO APPRENTICE
CRAFTS UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF
THE BILL. WE ALSO ENSHRINES
TRIBAL SOVEREIGNTY BY EXEMPTING
WORK DONE ON INDIAN LANDS, AND
WE ALSO DID TO MAKE SURE THAT
STATE DEPARTMENTS AND NONPROFITS
RESPONSIBLE FOR WELFARE
MITIGATION HAVE TIME TO
IMPLEMENT NEW PREVAILING WAGE
REQUIREMENTS. SO WE DELAYED THE
IMPLEMENTATION FOR ONE YEAR FOR
SPECIFIED ENTITIES AND FOR TWO
YEARS FOR NONPROFITS. SO WE
LISTENED, BUT WE ARE CONTINUALLY
GOING TO WORK WITH THE
OPPOSITION. THANK YOU. ANYBODY
ELSE FROM THE COMMITTEE? ANY
QUESTIONS? WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE
TO CLOSE OR TAKE IT OUT OF YOUR
CLOTHES? THAT WILL BE MY
CLOTHES. I RESPECTFULLY ASK
THREE. I THANK YOU SO MUCH.
MADAM SECRETARY, PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL. MOTION IS PASSED TO
APPROPRIATIONS CHOLERA. FLORA
FLORA, NOT VOTING. CHEN CHEN, I
HANEY HANEY. I ORTEGA ORTEGA. I
RAISE WARD THAT BILL IS ON CALL.
OH, NO, THAT'S WEIRD. KALRA I
BILL IS OUT THAT BILL IS OUT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. YEAH. YEP.
ALRIGHT WE HAVE ITEM 56 85
REMEMBER RAMOS.
WHENEVER YOU'RE READY. THANK
YOU, MR CHAIR AND MEMBERS. A B 6
85 WILL EXPAND THE CALIFORNIA'S
FOR ALL YOUTH JOB CORPSE PROGRAM
TO YOUTH AND ALL AREAS OF THE
STATE OF CALIFORNIA. WHEN THE
PROGRAM WAS ANNOUNCED ONLY 20
CITIES OF THE 482 IN CALIFORNIA
AND ONLY EIGHT OF THE STATE'S 58
COUNTIES WERE SELECTED TO
PARTICIPATE IN THE CALIFORNIANS
FOR ALL YOUTH JOB CORPUS
PROGRAM. THE MAIN FOCUS OF THE
PROGRAM IS PLACEMENT AND
SUBSIDIZED WORK EXPERIENCE
OPPORTUNITIES IN KEY SERVICE
AREAS TARGETING LOW INCOME.
FORMER FOSTER. FORMER FOSTER
JUSTICE INVOLVED IN UNEMPLOYED
YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS BETWEEN
THE AGES OF 16 AND 30.
CALIFORNIANS FOR ALL INCLUDES
WRAPAROUND SERVICES LIKE CASE
MANAGEMENT, RESUME PREPARATION
AND SPECIAL JOB TRAINING TO HELP
ENSURE BOTH THE SHORT AND LONG
TERM SUCCESS OF THE YOUTH
ENROLL. IN ITS CURRENT FORM.
THIS PROGRAM LEFT OUT THOUSANDS
OF UNDERSERVED, UNDERSERVED
YOUTH IN ALL AREAS OF THE STATE
AND WAS NOT ACCURATE TO THE
DIVERSITY OF OUR LARGE STATE.
DISADVANTAGED YOUTH IN
CALIFORNIA HELD HOWLED IN THE
SOCIAL, ECONOMIC AND STABILITY
CAN CRITICALLY UTILIZE PROGRAMS
LIKE THIS. MY BILL AIMS TO
EXPAND OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUTH TO
GREAT GAIN CRITICAL JOB SKILLS
WHILE MAKING A POSITIVE LASTING
IMPACT IN ALL OF OUR
COMMUNITIES. THIS PROGRAM WILL
OPEN UP OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH
YOUNG ADULTS, PROVIDING THEM
WITH A LARGE VARIETY OF
VOCATIONAL AND EDUCATIONAL
OPPORTUNITIES. WITH ME.
TESTIFYING IN SUPPORT OF THIS
BILL IS ISIS MEDINA ORIANA,
POLICY ANALYST FOR THE
CALIFORNIA WORKFORCE
ASSOCIATION. THANK YOU. CHAIRMAN
KAGERA MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE
. MY NAME WAS ISIS MEDINA
RHIANNA, POLICY ANALYST WITH
CALIFORNIA WORKFORCE ASSOCIATION
. FIRST WE WANT TO THANK
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S RAMOS FOR
BRINGING THIS BILL FORWARD. WE
ALSO WANT TO THANK
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S GARCIA, WHO
JOINED AS A JOINT AUTHOR AND TO
THANK THE BIPARTISAN GROUP WHO
JOINED AS CO AUTHORS. CWS
MISSION IS TO SUPPORT
CALIFORNIA'S 45 LOCAL WORKFORCE
DEVELOPMENT BOARDS THROUGH
STRATEGIC ADVOCACY, PARTNERSHIP
, CONVENING AND CAPACITY
BUILDING. CW WANTS TO EXPRESS
ITS FULL SUPPORT FOR THE
CALIFORNIANS FOR ALL YOUTH JOB
CORPS PROGRAM. THE CALIFORNIANS
FOR ALL THE JOB CORP IS AN
INNOVATIVE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN
THE STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
TO HELP UNDERSERVED YOUTH FIND
AND FIND EMPLOYMENT A B 6 85 BY
EXPANDING THE PROGRAM FOR ALL OF
CALIFORNIA YOUNG PEOPLE IN ALL
AREAS OF THE STATE, PARTICULARLY
IN ROLLING MILL INCOME AREAS
WILL GAIN CRITICAL JOB SKILLS.
AS PART OF GOVERNOR. NUISANCE
CALIFORNIA COMEBACK PLAN THE
CALIFORNIANS FOR ALL UTAH COURT
PROGRAM CREATED A $185 MILLION
INVESTMENT IN YOUTH WORKFORCE
DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES. AS
REPORTED ON MARCH 17TH
SACRAMENTO BEE, THE CITY OF
SACRAMENTO LAUNCHED ITS JOB
PROGRAM AIMED AT EMPLOYING AIMED
AT EMPLOYING 600 YOUTH WITHIN
TWO YEARS BY EXPANDING THE
PROGRAM THROUGH FORMULA BASED
FUNDING PROCESS. ALL CITIES AND
COUNTIES WILL HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE CAREER
PATHWAYS TO UNDEREMPLOYED YOUTH
POPULATIONS. CALIFORNIA
VOLUNTEERS PROJECTS HAVE THE
POTENTIAL TO EXCEED OUTCOMES
PRODUCED BY THE COMPARISON
PROGRAM. CALIFORNIANS FOR ALL
PROJECTS SERVE A MUCH BROADER
POPULATION AGES 16 TO 30
COMPARED TO THE WORKFORCE,
INNOVATION AND OPPORTUNITY FOR
VIOLA AGES 14 TO 24,
ADDITIONALLY, WELL WITH FUNDING
FOR WORK EXPERIENCE IS
INSUFFICIENT TO MEET THE NEEDS.
MOST PAID WORKER EXPERIENCES
UNDER WELL ARE VERY LIMITED IN
TERMS OF THE HOUR AND THE NUMBER
OF HOURS THEY HAVE TIME IN FULL
TIME POSITIONS FUNDED THROUGH
CALIFORNIA VOLUNTEERS FAR
SURPASSES WHAT IS AVAILABLE AND
WE OWE AND FILLS A MUCH NEEDED
GAP. LASTLY, THE CALIFORNIA
VOLUNTEERS FUND OVERCOMES SOME
OF THE RESTRICTIONS AND
LIMITATIONS OF WE? OH WE
THEREFORE RESPECTFULLY REQUEST
ER I VOTE ON A B 68. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. IS THERE
ANYONE ELSE HERE IN SUPPORT? OF
A B 6 85. IS ANYONE HERE IN
OPPOSITION TO A B 6 85. ALL
RIGHT. WE'LL BRING IT BACK TO
THE COMMUNITY ANY QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS OR MOTIONS? EMOTION AND
WE HAVE A SECOND. ANY OTHER
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS. SOMETHING
WE'RE RAMOS IS SOMEONE
REPRESENTS ONE OF THE CITIES
THAT DID IT HAS BENEFITED FROM
THE INCREDIBLE YOUTH HAVE BEEN
PART OF THIS PROGRAM. I DON'T
THINK ANY YOUTH SHOULD BE DENIED
PARTICIPATION SIMPLY BECAUSE
THERE'S A CODE AND SO I REALLY
APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING THIS
FORWARD. I WOULD LOVE TO JOIN ON
AS A CO AUTHOR, UH AS WELL AND
PLEASE GIVE YOU THAT. PLEASE. UM
LIKE TO GIVE YOU THE OPPORTUNITY
TO CLOSE. THANK YOU. AND I LOVE
THE OPPORTUNITY TO OFFER THAT
EXTENSION TO ANY OTHER COMMITTEE
MEMBERS TO COME ON AS A CO
AUTHOR ON THIS BILL IS VERY MUCH
NEEDED IN ALL OF OUR
COMMUNITIES. MR HANEY IS TAKING
YOU UP ON THAT. YEAH. ALL RIGHT.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, MADAM
MAJORITY LEADER. WELL THANK YOU
FOR THAT, AND CERTAINLY IT'S
MUCH NEEDED AND I ASK FOR YOUR
VOTE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. MADAM
SECRETARY, IF WE COULD TAKE ROLL
ON A B 6 85, PLEASE. MOTION IS
DUE PASS TO APPROPRIATIONS. CORA
CORA I FLORA. CHEN. CHEN I
HANEY. HANEY. I ORTEGA. ORTEGA I
RAISE MY WARD. ALRIGHT THE BILL
IS OUT, AND WE'LL KEEP THE ROLE
OPEN FOR ABSENT MEMBERS. THANK
YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. UP NEXT
ITEM BY ITEM EIGHT. MAYBE 13 81
IS SUDDENLY MEMBER WEBER. OKAY?
WHENEVER YOU'RE READY. GOOD
AFTERNOON CHAIR AND MEMBERS.
THANK YOU. COMMITTEE CHAIR AND
STAFF EXCEPT THE RECOMMENDED
AMENDMENT. I'M HERE TO PRESENT A
B 13 81, WHICH AIMS TO PROTECT
CALIFORNIA'S CALL CENTER WORKERS
BY RETAINING JOBS IN CALIFORNIA.
CALL CENTERS ARE IMPORTANT
ECONOMIC LIFELINE FOR MANY
COMMUNITIES IN CALIFORNIA.
ACCORDING TO THE U. S BUREAU OF
LABOR STATISTICS. THERE ARE MORE
THAN 200,000 CALL CENTER
REPRESENTATIVES IN CALIFORNIA.
CALL CENTER WORK IS ACCESSIBLE
AND PROVIDES A PATH TO A CAREER
FOR MANY INDIVIDUALS FROM
HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED AND
MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES. LAST
YEAR. MY ASSEMBLY BILL 60. NO
ONE WAS PASSED AND SIGNED BY THE
GOVERNOR, WHICH PREVENTS PRIVATE
COMPANIES THAT OUTSOURCE COSTING
HER JOBS FROM RECEIVING ANY
STATE GRANTS OR TAX CREDITS FOR
FIVE YEARS. THIS BILL EXTENDS
THE SAME INTENT TO INCLUDE STATE
AGENCIES AND DEPARTMENTS.
HISTORICALLY CALIFORNIA USED TO
REQUIRE ALL COST CENTERS,
CUSTOMER SERVICE JOBS TO BE
CONDUCTED ENTIRELY IN THE STATE.
AND EXISTING LAW REQUIRES ANY
STATE AGENCY AUTHORIZED TO ENTER
INTO CONTRACTS RELATING TO
PUBLIC BENEFIT PROGRAMS TO BE
SOLELY WITH WORKERS EMPLOYED IN
CALIFORNIA. HOWEVER. THIS DOES
NOT APPLY TO OTHER PROGRAMS
ADMINISTERED BY VARIOUS STATE
AGENCIES AND DEPARTMENTS,
RESULTING IN MANY CONTRACTS WITH
VENDORS WITH CENTERS OUTSIDE OF
CALIFORNIA. A B 13 81 SIMPLY
REQUIRE STATE AGENCIES THAT
ENTER INTO A CONTRACT WITH A
PRIVATE VENDOR AFTER 2025 TO
HAVE A MAJORITY OF ITS CALL
CENTERS IN CALIFORNIA. I
UNDERSTAND THAT SOME STATE
PROGRAMS HAVE CONTRACTS WITH
PRIVATE ENTITIES THAT ARE NOT
EXCLUSIVELY FOR CALL CENTERS BUT
ARE INCLUDED. THIS BILL ALLOWS
FLEXIBILITY TO FACE IN THE
REQUIREMENT OF NO LESS THAN 75%
OF COSTS, AND OUR WORK BE
CONDUCTED IN CALIFORNIA AFTER
2027. THIS BILL IS SPONSORED BY
THE COMMUNICATION WORKERS OF
AMERICA AND SUPPORTED BY THE
CALIFORNIA LABOR FEDERATION.
HERE WITH ME TO SPEAK AND
SUPPORT OF A B 13. OH, ONE
AGNOSIA HERNANDEZ, REPRESENTING
THE COMMUNICATION WORKERS OF
AMERICA. THANK YOU. THANK YOU,
MR CHAIR MEMBERS, IGNACIO
HERNANDEZ ON BEHALF OF C W. A
DISTRICT NINE, WHICH IS THE
HEADQUARTERS FOR CW LOCALS
COVERING CALIFORNIA, NEVADA AND
HAWAII. WE ARE THE SPONSORS OF
THE BILL. LET ME JUST ADD THAT
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE BEEN HAVING
DISCUSSIONS WITH WORKERS, UM, IN
CALL CENTERS HERE IN CALIFORNIA
, AND WE KEEP HEARING STORY UPON
STORY. HOW THE CALL CENTERS USED
TO HAVE 203 100 EMPLOYEES, AND
NOW IT'S DOWN. THERE WAS ONE
THAT WE SPOKE TO A FEW DAYS AGO
DOWN TO 20. AND THESE ARE CALL
CENTERS THAT ARE SERVERS SEEN
STATE DEPARTMENTS OF STATE
AGENCIES. THERE WAS ONE STORY
WHERE THE CALL WOULD GO TO
FLORIDA. AND THEN IF THERE WAS A
PROBLEM AND HAD TO MOVE UP THE
CHAIN, THEN THE CALL WOULD BE
REROUTED BACK TO CALIFORNIA. BUT
THE BULK OF THE WORKERS CALL
CENTER WORKERS WERE IN FLORIDA,
WHILE THE VERY SMALL PERCENTAGE
OF FOLKS WHO HANDLE THE NEXT
LEVEL OF CALLS ARE IN
CALIFORNIA. SO REALLY, THIS IS
ABOUT PROTECTING TAXPAYER
DOLLARS IF CALIFORNIA IS GOING
TO BE SPENDING PUBLIC DOLLARS
TAXPAYER DOLLARS ON COULSON
WORKFORCE, STATE AGENCIES AND
DEPARTMENTS, LET'S CREATE THE
JOBS HERE IN CALIFORNIA. LET'S
NOT PAY FOR JOBS AND OTHER
STATES. WHICH WE USED TO DO, AND
NOW WE WANT TO MOVE TOWARDS
THAT. I WANT TO APPRECIATE I
APPRECIATE THE WORK OF THE
COMMITTEE AND WORKING WITH US ON
SOME AMENDMENTS AND LOOK FORWARD
TO THE SUPPORT OF THIS BILL.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ANYONE ELSE
HERE IN SUPPORT? PLEASE APPROACH
THE MICROPHONE. MITCH STEIGER,
WITH THE CALIFORNIA LABOR
FEDERATION. ALSO IN SUPPORT.
THANK YOU. IS ANYONE HERE IN
OPPOSITION?
HI GOOD AFTERNOON, ASHLEY
HOFFMAN ON BEHALF OF THE
CALIFORNIA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
WE JUST HAVE ONE VERY SMALL KIND
OF CONCERN WITH THE BILL. I'M
SPECIFICALLY PROVISIONS. A TWO
SO AS MENTIONED, THIS BILL ALSO
REQUIRES CONTRACTS THAT ARE NOT
PRIMARILY ABOUT CALL CENTER
SERVICES CONTRACTS WERE CALL
CENTER SERVICES ARE MERELY
INCIDENTAL TO ALSO HAVE IT. 1ST
50% OF CALL CENTER JOBS BEING
CALIFORNIA AND THEN 75. AND SO
WE HAVE SOME MEMBERS THAT HAVE A
LOT OF CONCERN BECAUSE THEY HAVE
EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE OF CALL
CENTERS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY,
WHERE THEY FUNNEL A LOT OF WORK
COMING FROM VARIOUS CONTRACTS OR
THEIR OWN CUSTOMERS WOULD HAVE
YOU TO THOSE CALL CENTERS AND SO
BY ENACTING THIS REQUIREMENT, IT
WOULD SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASE THE
COST OF BEING ABLE TO ACTUALLY
PROVIDE THE SERVICES TO THE
STATE OF CALIFORNIA. TO HAVING
TO POTENTIALLY BUILD A CALL
CENTER HERE OR HIRE ADDITIONAL
STAFF TO BE ABLE TO MEET SOME OF
THE REQUIREMENTS AS FAR AS HOW
QUICKLY CALLS MUST BE ANSWERED
UNDER THESE CONTRACTS, SO WE
WOULD LIKE TO TRY TO WORK WITH
THE AUTHOR'S OFFICE ABOUT THOSE
CONTRACTS SPECIFICALLY THAT ARE
NOT REALLY FOCUSED ON CALL
CENTERS. SO I DO HAVE A MEETING
COMING UP WITH AUTHOR STAFF. SO
REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. JUST
WANTED TO EXPRESS THAT CONCERN
TODAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO
MUCH. ANYONE ELSE HERE IN
OPPOSITION? ALL RIGHT. WE'LL
BRING IT BACK TO THE COMMITTEE.
ANY QUESTIONS? COMMENTS?
EMOTIONS? YES, SOME OF MARIA'S
THANK YOU, MR CHAIR. DR WEBBER.
THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK THAT
YOU'RE DOING IN THIS SPACE ARE
COMMUNICATION WORKERS OF AMERICA
ABSOLUTELY NEED THIS TYPE OF
PROTECTION. CALIFORNIA TAXPAYERS
NEED THIS KIND OF PROTECTION. SO
I THANK YOU FOR DOING THIS, AND
WITH THAT I WOULD MOVE THE BILL
MOTION. AND A SECOND OF OUR VICE
CHAIR. GOOD. OKAY, ANYBODY ELSE
ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? YES,
THAT WAS THE ONE TO THANK YOU,
DR WEBBER FOR CONTINUING YOUR
MOVEMENT IN THIS IN THIS AREA. I
THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT. UH AS
OUR MAJORITY LEADER INDICATED
FOR OUR STATE FOR OUR WORKERS
AND FOR OUR TAXPAYERS, PLEASE
WOULD LIKE TO CLOSE. I JUST
THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO
PRESENT THIS BILL. I LOOK
FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO WORK
WITH THE CHAMBER TO ADDRESS
THEIR CONCERNS, AND I
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOUR VOTE.
THANK YOU. MADAM SECRETARY, IF
WE COULD TAKE ROLL ON A B 13 81
THE MOTION IS DUE PASS TO
APPROPRIATIONS. CHOLERA CHOLERA
, FLORA FLORA, NOT VOTING. CHEN
CHEN NOT VOTING. HANEY. HANEY, I
, ORTEGA ORTEGA. I RAISE HI,
RES. I WARD. ALRIGHT THAT BILL
IS OUT AND WE'LL KEEP THE ROLE
OPEN MEMBERS. THANK YOU. AND, UM
OUR LAST BILLS. ITEM SIX A. B 3
80. ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S ARAMBULA.
WHO'S OTHERS? BILL ALREADY WENT
OUT ON CONSENT. SO YOU ALREADY
ONE FOR ONE. WHENEVER WHENEVER
YOU'RE READY, DOCTOR, AMBULANCE!
THANK YOU, MR CHAIR AND MEMBERS.
UM WITH THAT IN MIND, I WILL
MAKE SURE I HAVE. UM OUR
COLLEAGUES AND PRESENTERS HAVE
OPPORTUNITY, BUT I WOULD
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR AN OVER.
THANK YOU. AND SO EACH WITNESS
UP TO TWO MINUTES, SO PLEASE,
WHENEVER YOU'RE READY, GOOD
MORNING, MR CHAIR MEMBERS,
CHRISTOPHER SANCHEZ POLICY
ADVOCATE THE WESTERN CENTER IN
LAW AND POVERTY, PROUD TO BE A
COSPONSOR FOR EVERY 3 80 THAT
WOULD FURTHER CONVERT COMBAT
LABOR TRAFFICKING IN CALIFORNIA
, AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, THE ROOT
CAUSE FOR LABOR TRAFFICKING AS
POVERTY. NUMEROUS STUDIES HAVE
SHOWN THE CORRELATION BETWEEN
INDIVIDUALS. OUR FAMILIES WERE
IN EXTREME POVERTY AND WORK IN
LOW WAGE SECTORS ARE MORE
VULNERABLE TO LABOR TRAFFICKING
, ESPECIALLY UNDOCUMENTED
IMMIGRANTS WHO LACK ACCESS TO
CRITICAL SOCIAL SAFETY NETS AND
SOME INSTANCES, INDIVIDUALS WHO
ARE LURED INTO LABOR TRAFFICKING
HAVE BEEN PROMISED IN ROMAN AND
EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS OR JOB
TRAINING ARE ARE SECURE JOB.
UNFORTUNATELY SOME INDIVIDUALS
WILL TAKE THESE PROMISES AT
THEIR FACE VALUE. AND FALL INTO
FORCED LABOR AND HOPES TO MOVE
THEM THERE THEMSELVES AND THEIR
FAMILIES OUT OF POVERTY. MAYBE 3
80 IS A CRITICAL MEASURE TO
ENSURE THAT CALIFORNIA HAS
MULTIPLE AGENCIES COMPANY LABOR
TRAFFICKING, SO WORKERS ARE
EXPLOITED FOR THESE REASONS. WE
ASK FOR YOUR VOTE. GOOD
AFTERNOON MEMBERS OF THE
ASSEMBLY'S LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT
COMMITTEE. I AM ANNABELLE
MARTINEZ, THE POLICY ASSOCIATE.
FOR THE SUNITA JANE ANTI
TRAFFICKING INITIATIVE, A LEGAL
A LOT SCHOOL WHERE WE FOCUS ON
SURVIVOR FOCUS POLICY WORK ON
THE LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL
LEVEL. I'M HERE TODAY TO ASK THE
MEMBERS OF THIS COMMITTEE TO BOY
I ON A B. 3 80 TANK
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S DOCTOR ARAMBULA
FOR AUTHORING THIS BELT. 83 80
WILL PROTECT LABOR TRAFFICKING
VICTIMS SPAN INSURING THE MORE
LABOR TRAFFICKING CASES ARE
THOROUGHLY INVESTIGATING
CALIFORNIA AS MOST LAW
ENFORCEMENT AND SOCIAL SERVICES
EFFORTS HAVE FOCUSED ON SEX
TRAFFICKING, MORE MUST BE DONE
TO IDENTIFY VULNERABLE LABOR
TRAFFICKING VICTIMS. A LABOR
TRAFFICKING UNIT WITHIN THE
DEPARTMENT OF INDUSTRIAL
RELATIONS WILL GO A LONG WAY TO
ENSURING THE MORE LABOR
TRAFFICKING VICTIMS ARE
SUPPORTIVE. TOO OFTEN. LABOR
TRAFFICKING VICTIMS ARE NOT
CORRECTLY IDENTIFIED. ARE NOT
SEEN AS CRIME VICTIMS. OR ARE
ARRESTED FOR THEIR OWN VICTIMS
STATION AS WE SAW LAST YEAR,
VICTIMS OF LABOR TRAFFICKING
WERE ARRESTED DURING A RAID ON
BLACK CANNABIS FARM IN THE
MOJAVE DESERT. THESE ARRESTS AND
OTHERS LIKE IT HAPPENED TO THE
LACK OF UNDERSTANDING OF THE
COMPLEX DYNAMICS OF LABOR
TRAFFICKING. DYNAMICS THAT ARE
FAR EASIER FOR AN AGENCY LIKE D
I. R TO INVESTIGATE AND
ADEQUATELY HANDLE DO TO THEIR
EXPERTISE AND WORKPLACE
VIOLATIONS IN THE COMPLEX
DYNAMICS OF DIFFERENT
WORKPLACES. WITH 83 80,
CALIFORNIA WILL BE GIVEN THERE
ARE THE POWER TO INVESTIGATE
LABOR TRAFFICKING CASES AND
SURVIVORS ANOTHER AVENUE TO
REPORT THEIR CASES. WE'RE
THANKFUL FOR THE WORK THE CIVIL
RIGHTS DEPARTMENT IS ALREADY
DOING TO ADDRESS HUMAN
TRAFFICKING. HOWEVER WE NEED TO
ENSURE THAT ALL AGENCIES WITH
WORKER EXPERTISE ARE ENGAGED ON
THIS ISSUE. SINCE THE I, R HAS
THE LARGEST INVESTIGATIVE
CAPACITY AND IT'S VERY LIKELY TO
INITIALLY ENCOUNTER LABOR
TRAFFICKING VICTIMS. ER MUST BE
ENCOURAGED TO TAKE A LEADERSHIP,
BRO. IN IDENTIFYING AND
PREVENTING TRAFFICKING ON
COLLECTING DATA ON LABOR
TRAFFICKING AND IN COORDINATING
REFERRALS TO SERVICES FOR
SURVIVORS. THE FORMATION OF A
LABOR TRAFFICKING UNION WITHIN
THIS VITAL AGENCIES URGENTLY
NEEDED TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF
ALL LABOR TRAFFICKING VICTIMS IN
CALIFORNIA. FOR THESE REASONS, I
RESPECTFULLY URGE THE MEMBERS OF
THIS COMMITTEE TO VOTE AYE ON 83
80. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ANYONE ELSE
HERE IN SUPPORT? MR CHAIRMAN,
ETHAN RARICK WITH LITTLE HOOVER
COMMISSION IN SUPPORT OF THE
BILL. THANK YOU. THAT'S RIGHT.
GOOD AFTERNOON, JAMES MICHAEL
PALETTE WITH THE AMERICAN
FEDERATION OF STATE COUNTY
MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES. ALSO IN
SUPPORT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
MITCH STEIGER WITH THE
CALIFORNIA LABOR FEDERATION.
ALSO IN SPORT. THANK YOU.
CULTURE HERE. RICE WITH THE
CALIFORNIA STATE BUILDING,
CONSTRUCTION TRADES, COUNCIL AND
SUPPORT THANK YOU. MARVIN
PANETTA ON BEHALF OF CHURLA, THE
COALITION FOR HUMAN IMMIGRANT
RIGHTS AND SUPPORT. THANK YOU.
IS THERE ANYONE HERE IN
OPPOSITION? TWO, MAYBE 3 80.
OKAY WE'LL BRING HIM BACK TO THE
COMMITTEE. AND THERE'S ALREADY A
MOTION ON THE TABLE. ANY
COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? SOME OF
THE RAIDERS. DR ARAMBULA. I WANT
TO THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS
BACK AGAIN. UM, YOUR A B 18 20
MADE IT TO THE END. ALMOST UM
AND I APPRECIATE THAT YOU
BROUGHT IT BACK, AND I THINK IT
IS IMPORTANT WHERE IT'S HOUSED.
I HOPE THAT I WASN'T HERE WHEN
OUR COLLEAGUE WAS PRESENTING HER
BILL, AND I'M CERTAIN THAT THE
TWO OF YOU WILL BE ABLE TO CHAT
ABOUT HOW TO MOVE FORWARD. BUT
THERE DEFINITELY NEEDS TO BE A
PLACE TO HOUSE THIS AND I
SINCERELY APPRECIATE YOUR WORK
THROUGHOUT THE YEARS. THANK YOU
. THANK YOU FOR THAT. AND I WILL
JUST SAY, I BELIEVE THEY'RE
COMPLEMENTARY AND NOT COMPETING
MEASURES. IT SIMPLY PROVIDES
ANOTHER AVENUE. AN AVENUE,
THOUGH, THAT OUR WORKERS ARE
USED TO GOING TO GO TO D I. R
FOR LABOR RIGHTS AND FOR WAGE
VIOLATIONS, AND SO WE'RE JUST
TRYING TO BE CONSISTENT. THANK
YOU ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS? YEAH I THINK THAT HAS
OUR MAJORITY LEADER ALLUDED TO
YOU MAY HAVE NOTICED. WE HAVE
TWO SIMILAR BILLS THAT WOULD
ESTABLISH LABOR TRAFFICKING
UNITS IN SEPARATE DEPARTMENTS
THAT WE'VE HEARD TODAY. I
DECIDED TO HAVE BOTH BILLS HEARD
TODAY TO ADVANCE THIS IMPORTANT
POLICY DISCUSSION AND GIVE THE
AUTHOR SUFFICIENT TIME DID NOT
ONLY WORK WITH ONE ANOTHER. THIS
IS GOING TO OTHER POLICY
COMMITTEES. IT'S ALL YOU KNOW,
AND ALSO WORKING WITH THE
ADMINISTRATION. OF COURSE, THERE
WAS A BEETLE LAST YEAR, BUT I
THINK GIVING THE OPPORTUNITY FOR
MORE DIALOGUE IS IMPORTANT. I
DIDN'T WANT TO END THE FIRST
POLICY COMMITTEE MAKE THE
DETERMINATION MYSELF. I THINK
THAT WE CAN ALLOW FOR THAT
FURTHER. DIALOGUE BETWEEN THE
AUTHORS MOVING FORWARD, BUT
WE'RE HERE TO HELP. MY STAFF IS
HERE CERTAINLY TO HELP IN ANY
WAY THAT WE CAN IN THAT
DIALOGUE. UM OBVIOUSLY, LABOR
TRAFFICKING IS A SERIOUS ISSUE
IN CALIFORNIA, AND IT IS
CRITICAL THAT WE PASSED A
LEGISLATION TO COMBAT IT AND
ENSURE THAT VICTIMS RECEIVE
APPROPRIATE SUPPORT SERVICES AND
IN PROPER RESTITUTION, WHICH IS
FRANKLY, NOT HAPPENING TODAY,
AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE SEEING SO
MUCH INTEREST IN THIS AREA WITH
THAT, DR. EMILY WOULD YOU LIKE
TO CLOSE? THANK YOU, MR CHAIR. I
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR AN I VOTE.
THANK YOU. MADAM SECRETARY. IF
WE CAN CALL THE ROLL ON A B 3
80, THE MOTION IS DUE PASS TO
PUBLIC SAFETY CORA CORA I FLORA
FLORA I CHEN CHEN I HANEY HANEY.
I ORTEGA. ORTEGA. I RAISE RAISE
I AWARD. RIGHT, SO THAT BILL IS
OUT AND WE'LL KEEP THE ROLE
OPEN. PERHAPS SOME MEMBERS AND
WE'RE GONNA GO BACK NOW. DOES
ONE BILL ON CALL ITEM FOUR A. B
6 47 HOLDEN AND SO, MADAM
SECRETARY IF WE CAN CALL THE
ROLL ON THE ABSENT MEMBERS ON A
B 6 47 RAISE RAISE I AWARD SO
THAT BILL IS OUT. AND LET'S JUST
GO THROUGH THE ROLE OR THROUGH
THROUGH THE VOTES HERE, FIRST OF
ALL IN THE CONSENT CALENDAR.
ABSENT MEMBERS, PLEASE, MADAM
SECRETARY. FLORA. THIS CONSENT
CALENDAR? YES I CHEN CHEN, I
RAISE I RAISE HIGH ALRIGHT. UM.
LET'S JUST GO ONE BY ONE AND SEE
IF WE HAD SOME ABSENCES ON SOME
OF THEM. ITEM NUMBER TWO A. B 3
38. I DON'T NUMBER TWO OR NUMBER
. NUMBER ONE SORRY. NUMBER ONE.
A B 2 35 FLORA FLORA? AYE. HANEY
HANEY. I RAISE RAISE I OKAY?
ITEM. █25 CURRY. MAYBE 338
REYES. REYES I WARD. OKAY THREE.
MAYBE 587. HANEY. HANEY. I RAISE
REYES. AYE. I AM. FOR ABC SPORTS
THAT WE JUST DID. ITEM FIVE D 6
85. FLORA FLORA? AYE. WARD. THE
ITEM SIX. WE JUST DID. AND WE'RE
JUST WAITING FOR SOMETHING
REWARD ON THAT ONE. AND THEN UM,
UM, ITEM EIGHT. MAYBE 13 81
WEBER. WARD. AND THEN ITEM 10
ORTEGA AT 10 07. REYES. REYES?
AYE. OKAY, SO THAT ONE'S DONE.
ALRIGHT SO WE'RE JUST GONNA HOLD
OUT AND WAIT FOR SOME MEMBER
AWARD, BUT YOU WERE ALL
COMPLETELY COMPLETED YOUR TASK
FOR THIS AFTERNOON AND LABOR
COMMITTEE. OKAY, I'LL HANG OUT A
LITTLE BIT. EXACTLY. HE'S COMING
BACK FOR A SHADES FOR SURE. I
DON'T KNOW WHAT HIS BINDER YEAH.
LET'S JUST GO THROUGH THE ONES
FOR WHICH ARE AWARD WAS ABSENT
SO HE CAN POST HIS VOTE. A B 338
WARD WARD? AYE. A B 6 47 WARD
WARD? AYE. MAYBE 6 85 WARD WARD?
AYE. MAYBE 3 80 WARD WARD? AYE.
MAYBE 13 81 WARD WARD? AYE. YOU
DON'T. 6 85. I THINK YOU WERE
ALL THANK YOU VOTED ON THAT.
WE'LL DOUBLE CHECK THAT HE WAS
ALREADY YEAH. YEAH. ALRIGHT
WE'RE ADJOURNED. THANK YOU.