ALL RIGHT. GOOD AFTERNOON,
EVERYONE AND WELCOME TO OUR
ASSEMBLY BUDGETS OF FOUR
COMMITTEE HEARING. FOR MEMBERS
OF THIS COMMITTEE. WE ARE IN
ROOM 447. THIS HEARING IS TAKING
PLACE AGAIN IN ROOM FOUR FOR
SEVEN. WITH A FEW EXCEPTIONS,
THE PANELISTS LISTED ON THE
AGENDA ARE APPEARING IN PERSON.
WILL BE ACCEPTING PUBLIC COMMENT
AT THE END OF THIS HEARING, BOTH
IN THE HEARING ROOM AND ON THE
PHONE. THE PHONE NUMBER TO
CONNECT IS ON THE COMMITTEE
WEBSITE AND SHOULD BE DISPLAYED
ON THE SCREEN. IF YOU'RE
WATCHING THIS ONLINE, THE PHONE
NUMBER TOLL FREE IS 87769289.
AND THE PUBLIC ACCESS CODE IS
1315447. IF YOU ENCOUNTER ANY
PROBLEMS, PLEASE CONTACT THE
ASSEMBLY BUDGET COMMITTEE AT
916. 319209. AND A STAFF MEMBER
WILL ASSIST YOU. WE ENCOURAGE
THE PUBLIC TO PROVIDE WRITTEN
TESTIMONY BEFORE THE HEARING.
PLEASE SEND YOUR WRITTEN
TESTIMONY TO BUDGETS FOR AT SM
DOT CA.GOV AND WITH THAT CLUB,
PLEASE. ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S KOREA
PRESENT ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S EARLY
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S PATTERSON.
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S RAISE. HERE.
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S WICKS. WE WILL
BEGIN ON THE VOTE ONLY CALENDAR
. WE HAVE 35 ITEMS FOR
CONSIDERATION, WHICH ARE LISTED
ON THE AGENDA FOR YOUR
REFERENCE. WE WILL HAVE THREE
MOTIONS FOR THE VOTE ONLY
CALENDAR. THE FIRST MOTION IS ON
THE FOLLOWING VOTE ONLY ISSUES
15. NINE THROUGH 21. 25 27 28 30
31 32 33 35 THE CHAIR RECOMMENDS
ADAPTING ADAPTING THE STAFF
RECOMMENDATIONS. CAN I GET A
MOTION? THANK YOU. REAL CALL,
PLEASE. CAREER CARILLO. I LEAVE
PATERSON. PATERSON. I READ IT.
REYES. AYE, WICKS. WICKS. AYE.
THE SECOND MOTION IS ON THE
FOLLOWING VOTE ONLY ISSUES 2 TO
46 THROUGH 8 22 THROUGH 24 26,
THE CHAIR RECOMMENDS ADOPTING
THE STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS. CAN I
GET A MOTION? THANK YOU ROLL
COPLEY'S KOREA. I LIED.
PATERSON. PATERSON NO RAISE.
REYES AYE WIX WEBSITE. AND THE
FINAL MOTION IS ON THE FOLLOWING
VOTE ONLY ISSUES 29 34. THE
CHAIR, RECOMMENDS ADOPTING THE
STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS. CAN I GET
A MOTION IN A SECOND? THANK YOU.
ROLL CALL, PLEASE. COURIER, HIÂU
I LI PATERSON. HARRISON, NOT
VOTING RAISE. REYES AYE WIX
WEBSITE. THANK YOU. WE WILL
LEAVE THE ROLE OPEN FOR
ADDITIONAL MEMBERS TO SIGN ON.
AND WE CAN BEGIN. WE HAVE AN
EXCITING BUDGETS OF FOR AGENDA
TODAY. LOOK AT ALL YOU BEAUTIFUL
PEOPLE HERE IN THE LOVELY
CAPITAL AND ROOM FOR 47. LET'S
BEGIN WITH OUR FIRST ORDER OF
BUSINESS ISSUE ONE. CAROL AXIS
REPLACEMENT SYSTEM PROJECT
UPDATE. FOR OUR FIRST ISSUE, WE
WILL HEAR AN UPDATE ON THE
STATE'S EFFORTS TO REPLACE THE
TELL AXIS SYSTEM, OUR STATE'S
CAMPAIGN DISCLOSURE AND LOBBYING
FINANCIAL ACTIVITY PORTALS. VERY
EXCITING STUFF. FOR THIS UPDATE
. WE ARE JOINED BY OUR SECRETARY
OF STATE DOCTOR SHIRLEY WEBER.
WELCOME MADAM SECRETARY AND
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.
PLEASE, IF EVERYBODY CAN TAKE
THEIR SEATS. GOOD AFTERNOON,
MADAM CHAIR AND THOSE OF YOU
HERE ON SUBJECT. UM SUBCOMMITTEE
FOR I'M REALLY HONORED TO BE
WITH YOU TODAY. IT'S GOOD TO SEE
YOUR FACES. UH AND SO I'M HERE.
REALLY NOT BECAUSE MY STAFF
COULDN'T ANSWER ALL THOSE
QUESTIONS BECAUSE THEY CAN, BUT
I NEEDED TO SEE YOU GUYS, SO
IT'S GOOD TO BE WITH YOU TODAY
AND GOOD TO BE ABLE TO COME AND
UPDATE YOU ON CARS. WE DID A
SIMILAR PROGRAM OF WITH THE WITH
THE SENATE. EARLIER THIS YEAR,
SO OR LAST YEAR, SO I'M HAPPY TO
BE ABLE TO SHARE THIS WITH YOU.
SOMEONE THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING
ME TO PARTICIPATE. I WILL BE TRY
TO BE BRIEF AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE,
BECAUSE I KNOW THAT YOU HAVE A
LONG AGENDA. AND YOU HAVE A LOT
OF FOLKS THAT I'VE BEEN ON THIS
COMMITTEE BEFORE AND I KNOW HOW
LONG IT CAN TAKE. SO I'M GOING
TO TRY TO BE BRIEF. I WANT TO
THANK YOU FOR INVITING US TO BE
HERE TODAY TO BE WITH YOU. LET
ME FIRST MAKE A DISTINCTION
BETWEEN CARS AND CARS ACCESS
BECAUSE THEY ARE CAL ACCESS.
THEY ARE TWO DIFFERENT SYSTEMS.
THE CAL ACCESS SYSTEM IS THE
CALIFORNIA AUTOMATED LOBBY
ACTIVITY AND CAMPAIGN
CONTRIBUTIONS AND EXPENDITURES
SURF SYSTEM KNOWN AS CALLE
ACCESS, AND THAT'S THE THAT'S
THE CURRENT SYSTEM THAT WE HAVE.
THAT IS, THAT IS THAT HAS BEEN
USED. MOST OF YOU GO ON INTO
LOOK WHO'S CONTRIBUTED TO
CAMPAIGNS AND LOOKING AT
LOBBYISTS. ARE THERE THOSE KINDS
OF THINGS THE CARS PROJECT IS
THAT LONG NAME SYSTEM
REPLACEMENT SYSTEM? AND SO THIS
IS THE NEW EFFORT TO TRY TO
REPLACE THE CURRENT SYSTEM.
THAT'S THERE. I DRAW THIS
DISTINCTION BECAUSE I KNOW WHEN
I WAS HERE, WE'D SAY CARS, THE
CARS ACCESS. WE DIDN'T REALLY
PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT THE
DIFFERENCE IS THAT WE WERE
MAKING. BUT WHEN WE THINK ABOUT
IT, THE CAL ACCESS IS OUR
CURRENT SYSTEM THAT'S BEING USED
CARS IS THE FUTURE SYSTEM AND
EFFORTS TO TRY TO IMPROVE THAT
SYSTEM WHEN I BECAME SECRETARY
OF STATE IN JANUARY OF 2021 THE
CAR'S SYSTEM WAS IN THE PROCESS
OF TRYING TO UPDATE ITSELF AND
TO PRESENT A NEW SYSTEM TO US.
UM AFTER REVIEWING, HOWEVER, WE
DISCOVERED VERY QUICKLY AFTER
LOOKING AT THE TESTING THAT HAD
BEEN DONE IN THE KIND OF THINGS
THAT WILL THEREFORE CARS THAT
THIS WAS AN AND THEN EVENTUALLY
HIRING AN INDEPENDENT ASSESSMENT
ASSESSOR. IT WAS CLEAR THAT THE
CURRENT CARS PROJECT WAS NOT
READY FOR TO BE REVEALED IN JUNE
OF 2021, WHICH IS WHEN WE WERE
SUPPOSED TO HAVE IT GO LIVE IT
HAD NOT BEEN ADEQUATELY TESTED.
IT HAD NOT HAD VERY GOOD TESTING
IN TERMS OF BEING MORE MORE THAN
30 TO 40% EFFECTIVE AND, UH AND
SO IT WAS CLEAR THAT WE HAD TO
HAVE SOMETHING ELSE DONE. WE DID
AN INDEPENDENT ASSESSMENT AND IT
WAS DISCOVERED THAT THIS SYSTEM
THAT WE HAVE BEEN PUT TOGETHER
HAD BEEN MOVED FROM PERSON TO
PERSON PROGRAM. THE PROGRAM
DIFFERENT INDIVIDUALS. UM WAS
NOT READY TO GO LIVE AND DID NOT
HAVE THE CORRECT PLATFORM TO BE
ABLE TO DO ALL THE THINGS THAT
THE LEGISLATURE HAD REQUESTED.
SO I HAD TO MAKE A DECISION
EITHER TO JUST LET IT GO AND
FAIL OR THE BASICALLY STOP
SPENDING THE MONEY AND FIND
OURSELVES AND RIGHT SIZE IT TO
MAKE SURE IT WOULD FUNCTION SO
WE DID THAT WE DID THE LATTER.
WE WAS THE HARDEST DECISION I
HAD TO MAKE AS A AS A SECRETARY
OF STATE TO START THE PROCESS,
BUT I DISCOVERED AFTER LOOKING
AT ALL THE THINGS THAT THOSE WHO
WERE WORKING ON THE PROJECT
AGREED THAT IT NEEDED TO THAT IT
COULD NOT GO FORWARD. THAT WAS
NOT PREPARED, AND THAT WAS AND
THAT WE NEEDED A DIFFERENT KIND
OF SYSTEM. THAT WAS THERE. WE
DISCOVERED THAT AND THEN WE HAD
TO RESTRUCTURE IT. SO AS A
RESULT OF THAT WE NOW HAVE A NEW
CARS PROJECT THAT IS UNDER UNDER
UNDER WAY AND BEING AND BEING
HOPEFULLY RESPONSIVE TO THE
KINDS OF THINGS THAT WE NEED. WE
HAVE DONE A NUMBER OF THINGS.
THE CURRENT PROJECT STARTED IN
JUNE IN JUNE OF 21 JULY, 1 2020.
22 IT HAS IMPLEMENTED A NUMBER
OF GUARDRAILS AND BEST PRACTICES
TO ENSURE THAT THE PROJECT CAN
BE COMPLETED ON SCHEDULE AND
AVOID THE PROJECT RESTART. BUT
ONE AND WE MADE CERTAIN THAT
RESTARTED PROJECT WAS
IMPLEMENTED WITH THE
RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE
INDEPENDENT ASSESSMENT REPORT
THAT WAS GIVEN TO US RATHER THAN
TAKING IT THROWING IT ASIDE. WE
BASICALLY DECIDED THAT WE WOULD
BASICALLY IMPLEMENT THE PROJECT
AND THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT
WERE THERE FOR THOSE WE ALSO HAD
HAD DEAL WITH OUR RISK
ASSESSMENTS AND ISSUE MANAGEMENT
PROCESS THAT INCLUDES
STAKEHOLDERS FROM ALL OF THE
DIFFERENT PROJECTS THAT THAT
DEAL WITH THE CALIFORNIA
DEPARTMENT OF TECHNOLOGY. THE
PROJECT IS ALSO RECRUITING
EXPERIENCED STAFF MEMBERS TO
AVOID OVERRELIANCE ON CONTRACTS
I CONTRACTORS AND DEVELOPING A
REALISTIC PROJECT SCHEDULE BASED
ON THE FORM OF SCHEDULING BEST
PRACTICES AND ENSURING THAT DATA
PREPARATION PREPAREDNESS AND
TESTING ACTIVITIES OCCUR AS SOON
AS POSSIBLE. THE SECRETARY OF
STATE HAS ALSO ENTERED INTO A
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH
THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF
TECHNOLOGY. I WAS SURPRISED THAT
WE HAD NOT DONE THAT EARLY ON,
BECAUSE THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE
THE REASON WHY WE HAVE A CDT. SO
THAT THEY CAN OVERSEE PROJECTS
AND THEY WERE NOT INVOLVED OR
ENGAGED IN OVERSEEING THIS, AND
SO WE THIS GET ALLOWED US TO
ENGAGE THEIR EXPERTISE AND
LEVERAGE. INFORMAL REVIEWS
APPROVAL PROCESS DURING THE
PROJECT LIFE CYCLE, THE VERY
FOUR STAGES AND OVERSIGHT
PROJECT DURING THE PROJECT
EXECUTION PHASE, SO THE PREVIOUS
VERSION OF THE PROJECT EXCLUDED
CDT. WE HAVE INCLUDED CDT AS A
PARTNER ON THIS PROJECT.
ADDITIONALLY WE HAVE ACQUIRED A
RETIREMENT NEW TINT WITH DECADES
OF ST I T EXPERIENCE ON LARGE
AND SMALL AUTOMATED PROJECTS TO
SERVE AS A SPECIAL PROJECT
CONSULTANT. THE PROJECT IS.
FINALLY THE PROJECT IS
COMPLETING ITS ACQUISITION AND
INDEPENDENT VERIFICATION. SO
RESOURCE. THE CONTRACTOR WILL
PROVIDE AN OBJECTIVE THIRD PARTY
ANALYSIS ON A MONTHLY BASIS TO
ALL PROJECT STAKEHOLDERS THAT
VERIFIES THAT THE REQUIREMENTS
ARE CORRECTLY DEFINED AND
VALIDATES. THE NEW SYSTEM IS
CORRECTLY IMPLEMENTING THE
REQUIRED FUNCTIONALITIES AT EACH
STEP IN THE IN THE DEVELOPMENT
PROCESS. THE CURRENT COWS
PROJECT IS ON SCHEDULE AND ITS
OPERATING WITHIN ITS APPROVED
BUDGET. PROJECT IN THE PROJECT.
END DATE IS NOT YET KNOWN AND
WILL BE DETERMINED WHEN A SYSTEM
INTEGRATOR IS REQUIRED IS
ACQUIRED AND PROVIDES AN
ESTIMATED PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION
DESKS, DATE AND THE SYSTEM
INTEGRATORS SPECIALIZES IN
IMPLEMENTING PLANNING,
COORDINATING SCHEDULING, TESTING
AND IMPROVING AND SOME AND
SOMETIMES MAINTAINING THE IT
SYSTEMS. BASED ON INFORMATION
CONTAINED IN THE INDEPENDENT
ASSESSMENT THAT WE DID THE
DURATION OF THE PROJECT
DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION
ACTIVITIES IS ESTIMATED AT 27
MONTHS. IN TERMS OF THE
PROJECT'S BUDGET. UM S O S
REQUIRED AS REQUESTED 12.31
MILLION IN FISCAL 2023 24 TO
FUND THE REMAINING PLANNING
EFFORTS IN THE FIRST MONTHS OF
PROJECT EXECUTION. OF THAT
AMOUNT. 6.9 MILLION IS NEW
FUNDING AND 5.39 MILLION IS
EXISTING FUNDING BECAUSE ONCE WE
STOP THE PROJECT, WE DID NOT
CONTINUE TO EXPLAIN THE MONEY.
WE KEPT THE MONEY SO THAT WE
COULD USE IT AS A NEW PROJECT.
2023 BUDGET REQUEST IS UNDER
VIEW UNDER REVIEW WITH THE
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE. ALTHOUGH
THE PROJECT HAS ESTIMATED ITS
PLANNING COST FOR BOTH FISCAL
2022 23 FISCAL YEAR, 23 24 THE
TOTAL ONE TIME COST TO IMPLEMENT
THIS CURRENT ITERATION OF CARS
SOLUTION WOULD NOT BE KNOWN
UNTIL THE SYSTEM INTEGRATOR IS
ACQUIRED AND PROVIDES ITS
ESTIMATE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT AND
IMPLEMENTATION ACTIVITIES. SINCE
HIS LAST REPORT TO THE JOINT
LEGISLATIVE BUDGET COMMITTEE IN
JANUARY OF 2023, THE CARS
PROJECT TEAM CONTINUES TO MAKE
SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS IN A NUMBER
OF AREAS. UH IT HAS SUBMITTED
ITS FINAL STAGE TO ALTERNATE
ALTERNATIVE ANALYSIS. WE WERE
TOLD BY THE DEPARTMENT OF
TECHNOLOGY THAT THEREFORE PHASES
THAT WE ARE PROJECT APPROVAL OF
LIFE CYCLE AND THEY HAVE
IDENTIFIED FOURTH PLACES WE HAVE
COMPLETED PHASE ONE, WHICH IS
THE BUSINESS ANALYSIS PHASE TWO,
WHICH IS THE ALTERNATIVE
ANALYSIS AND WE WERE LOOKING FOR
APPROVAL ON THAT. AND THEN
THERE'LL BE SPACE THREE, WHICH
IS A SOLUTION DEVELOPMENT PAGE H
FOUR, WHICH IS A PROJECT
READINESS AND APPROVAL. UM THE
PROJECT IS CURRENTLY DEVELOPING
THE FORMAL REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL
DOCUMENTS NEEDED TO ACQUIRE THE
CAR SOLUTION SYSTEM INTEGRATOR.
THIS DOCUMENT IS A PART OF THE
PALS PROJECT. STAGE THREE, SO
IT'S GOING INTO STAGE THREE. THE
PROJECT IS ON SCHEDULE TO
COMPLETE ITS THIS STAGE IN
NOVEMBER OF 2023. THE FINAL
PALACE STAGE RAISED FOUR PROJECT
READINESS AND APPROVAL,
INCLUDING SOLICITATION, DOCUMENT
RELEASE AND VENDOR SELECTION IS
SCHEDULED FOR COMPLETION IN THE
FOURTH QUARTER OF FISCAL YEAR.
23 24 THE PROJECT IS CONTINUING
TO BOTH RECRUIT STATE STAFF AND
CONTRACTORS TO ACQUIRE THE
EXPERTISE NEEDED TO ENSURE THAT
THE PROJECT IS SUFFICIENTLY
STAFFED. SINCE THE START OF THE
PROJECT IN JULY. 2022 THE
PROJECT TEAM HAS CONTINUOUSLY
ENGAGED IN STAKEHOLDERS WHO RELY
ON CALLE ACCESS TO ENSURE THEIR
INPUT IS IDENTIFIED AND TRACKED
THROUGHOUT THE PROJECTS,
PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT PHASE.
FOR EXAMPLE, DURING THE MARKET
RESEARCH PHASE, THE PROJECT MET
REGULARLY WITH WITH SEVERAL
EXTERNAL STAKEHOLDER WORKGROUPS
TO OBTAIN THEIR COMMENTS AND
CONCERNS. THIS FEEDBACK IS
INFORMED HAS INFORMED THE
PROJECTS REQUIREMENTS GATHERING
EFFORTS. THE PROJECT IS HOLDING
REGULAR MONTHLY CAL ACCESS
REPLACEMENT SYSTEM PROJECT
STATUS MEETINGS DESIGNED TO
IMPROVE EXTERNAL STATE TO
PROVIDE EXTERNAL STAKEHOLDERS
PROJECT STATUS AND A FORUM FOR
ANY QUESTIONS THEY MAY HAVE. ALL
FEEDBACK GATHERED FROM
STAKEHOLDERS EITHER BY WRITTEN
COMMUNICATION OR OBTAINED VIA
THE OUTREACH MEETINGS HAS BEEN
DOCUMENTED AND IS BEING TRACKED
THROUGHOUT THE PLANNING PHASE TO
ENSURE ITS CONSIDERATION DURING
THE REQUIREMENT. FINALIZATION
EFFORTS BEFORE CLOSING. I LIKE
TO SIMPLY ADDRESS THE WHAT WOULD
HAPPEN IN ADVERSE EFFECT. IF S
O. S IN THE STATE WOULD
EXPERIENCE IF THE DECISION WAS
MADE TO DEFER OUR BUDGET REQUEST
FOR AT LEAST 12 MONTHS. FIRST
THE IN FOR MOST OF CARS. PROJECT
FUNDING IS DEFERRED. IF IT'S
DIFFERED BY 12 MONTHS, THE NEW
IMPLEMENTATION EFFORT WOULD BE
FURTHER DELAYED BY AN ADDITIONAL
6 TO 12 MORE MONTHS, MAINLY DUE
TO THE LOSS OF THE PROJECT'S
CURRENT EXPERT CONSULTANT STAFF
WHO ARE DRAFTING THE SYSTEM
INTEGRATOR REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL
AND THE NECESSITY OF BOTH
REQUIRING THESE SERVICES AND
THEN REGAINING THE MOMENTUM OF
THE VARIOUS PROJECTS, STREAM
WORK STREAMS. ALSO IDENTIFYING
THE RIGHT SOLUTIONS IS A LIMPY
AND CHALLENGING PROCESS. THE
CORRECT SOLUTION PROVIDER CAN
MEAN SUCCESSFUL LONG TERM
OUTCOMES AND HELP TO AVOID
COMMON PITFALLS. ABSENT THIS
EFFORT, THE PROJECT WOULD
EXPERIENCE UNNECESSARY DELAYS IN
CERTAIN DIFFICULTIES. EXTENDING
THE PROJECT BY AN ADDITIONAL 18
TO 24 MONTHS WOULD INCREASE THE
PROJECT'S OVERALL COST BY
SEVERAL MILLION DOLLARS, BASED
ON THE ESTIMATED PROJECT BUDGET.
DEFERRING FUNDING WOULD ALSO
NECESSARILY EXTEND STAKEHOLDERS
RELIANCE ON THE LEGACY CAL
ACCESS SYSTEM, WHICH HAS REACHED
ITS END OF LIFE AND CANNOT BE
MODIFIED TO MEET THE NEW
REPORTING DEMANDS OF THE
LEGISLATURE OR OTHER
STAKEHOLDERS. THE LONGER
STAKEHOLDERS MUST RELY ON THE
LEGACY SYSTEM, THE LONGER IT
WILL REMAIN UNRESPONSIVE TO ITS
CAMPAIGNS AND LOBBIES, FILINGS
AND DISCLOSURE REPORTING NEEDS
AS MENTIONED EARLIER, THE
CURRENT CAL CAL PROJECT CARS
PROJECT HAS MADE A SIGNIFICANT
EFFORT TO COLLABORATE WITH
STAKEHOLDERS AND 18 TO 24 MONTHS
, DELAY WOULD UNDERMINE THEIR
LEVEL OF CONFIDENCE. IN THE
PROJECT, ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING
THE HISTORY OF THIS PROJECT, AND
IT'S TWO FAILED PRIOR ATTEMPTS.
DELAYING THE PROJECT WOULD ALSO
STALL AN EFFORT UNDERWAY TO
ACQUIRE A PRIME VENDOR, WHICH
RISKS UNDERMINING POTENTIAL
INTEREST FROM THE VENDOR
COMMUNITY. 12 MONTH, DEFERMENT
IN FUNDING WOULD SIGNAL TO THE
VENDOR COMMUNITY THAT THIS
PROJECT MAY NOT BE ONE TO
CONSIDER BIDDING ON AS IT
APPEARS TO BE SUBJECT TO
RECURRENT OF FUTURE DELAYS IN
TIMES OF TEMPORARY ECONOMIC
DOWNTURN, THIS MESSAGE WOULD
RESULT IN INFERIOR BEINGS. ONCE
THE RFP IS FINALLY RELEASED TO
THE VENDOR COMMUNITY IN A
DEFERMENT SCENARIO. I JUST WANT
TO THANK UH C D T. FOR IT'S THE
ROLE OF THIS PLAYED IN THIS
PROJECT THUS FAR AND THE FACT
THAT IT'S HELPED US TO STAY ON
COURSE AND TO WRITE THE COURSE
AND TO DO WHAT IS NECESSARY. I
WANT TO THANK MY STAFF US
SECRETARY OF STATE BECAUSE ONE
OF THE THINGS I DISCOVERED WHEN
I CAME INTO OFFICE, AND I ASKED
ALWAYS A CRITICAL QUESTION WHO'S
RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS? NO ONE WAS
NOW THEY HAVE TAKEN OWNERSHIP OF
IT. AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT
WE'VE DONE, OF COURSE, IS TO
MAKE SURE THAT OUR THAT OUR
TECHNICAL INDIVIDUALS ARE
INTEGRALLY INVOLVED AND ENGAGED
IN THIS PROJECT THAT IS NOT
OUTSIDE VENDORS IS NOT PEOPLE
COMING FROM OUTSIDE WHO ARE
BASICALLY LEADING US THAT WE ARE
LEADING IN THEIR SUPPORTING, AND
THAT BECOMES IMPORTANT WITH MANY
OF OUR I T PROJECTS THAT
HAPPENED HERE AT THE CAPITAL
THAT THEY DO ARRIVE BECAUSE WE
RELY COMPLETELY ON OUTSIDE
INDIVIDUALS. WE ARE WORKING TO
BASICALLY ACQUIRE AND HIRE THE
STAFF THAT WE NEED TO NOT ONLY
ASSISTS WITH THE PROJECT BUT TO
MAINTAIN THE PROJECT WHEN IT IS
OVER. I'M CONSTANTLY CONCERNED
THE FACT THAT WE CREATE PROJECTS
AND THEN WE TURN THEM OVER TO
OTHER THAN OTHERS TO MAINTAIN IT
FOR US FOR 15 $20 MILLION A YEAR
, OUR FOLKS ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE
FOR MAINTAINING IT AND KEEPING
IT RUNNING. AND AS A RESULT, WE
FIND OURSELVES ONCE AGAIN IN
THIS SITUATION, WHEREAS
EXPENDING A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF
MONEY AND NOT GETTING WHAT WE
NEED TO GROW, SO THIS TEAM HAS
TAKEN THE CHARGE OF THIS PROJECT
THAT THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR
IT, AND THEY WILL TELL YOU THAT
THEY'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR WHEN
SOMETHING GOES WRONG. WE HAVE
THE OLD CARS PROJECT AND I
DIDN'T READ ALL THE DETAILS ON
THAT. BUT JUST SO YOU UNDERSTAND
THE CAL ACCESS PROJECT OFTEN
GOES UP AND DOWN. AND IT'S AND
IT'S BASICALLY AN OLD SYSTEM
THAT WE'RE THAT WE'RE KIND OF
PIECING TOGETHER. I'M PROUD OF
THE FACT THAT MY STAFF HAS
DECIDED THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE
RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT PROJECT. SO
THEY HAVE A 24 7 TEAM THAT WORKS
AROUND THE CLOCK TO KEEP ACCESS
WORKING FOR YOU SO THAT WE DON'T
EXPERIENCE A LOT OF DOWNTIME. WE
DON'T FEEL A LOT OF BREAKING
BREAK TIME, AND THEY ARE
LEARNING THEIR MAINTAINING ITS
SYSTEM. THEY'VE ALSO CREATED
OTHER THINGS THAT COULD GIVE US
ADDITIONAL, UM, TECHNOLOGY THAT
CAN WORK TO MAKE SURE WHEN THE
SYSTEM GOES DOWN. WE HAVE
SOMEWHERE TO STORE THE MATERIAL
TO TAKE. GET BACK OUT, AND SO
THEY HAVE TAKEN RESPONSIBILITY
FOR THE SYSTEM. WHERE BEFORE NO
ONE TOOK RESPONSIBILITY FOR
ANYTHING, AND SO NOW, THIS TEAM
WORKS AS A TEAM ACROSS THE BOARD
WHETHER IT'S DEALING WITH THE R
R ELECTIONS WHERE THIS DEALING
WITH ALL OF THE KINDS OF THINGS
THAT HAPPENED TO ELECTION WHEN
ITS FUNDING WHETHER IT'S
LOBBYISTS. ALL THOSE PROJECTS.
THEY ARE REALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR
THIS PROJECT. SO I CAME TODAY
NOT BECAUSE I'M YOU KNOW, I'M
ULTIMATELY RESPONSIBLE, AND I'VE
COMMITTED MYSELF TO COMPLETING
THIS PROJECT, BUT I ALSO WANT TO
MAKE SURE THAT MY STAFF IS AS
WELL AND THAT THEY KNOW I'M
BEHIND THEM AND THAT THE
COMMUNITY IS ENGAGED. WE HAVE
STAKEHOLDERS THAT ARE ENGAGED
ARE WORKING VERY HARD ON THIS
PROJECT. SO WE ARE COMMITTED TO
THIS BECAUSE THIS IS AN
EXTREMELY IMPORTANT PROJECT FOR
CALIFORNIA. IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN
DONE 50 YEARS AGO. WE ALL KNOW
THE HISTORY OF HOW LONG IT'S
BEEN WORKING ON THIS PROJECT AND
THE AND THE UPS AND DOWNS IN THE
LAST FEW YEARS HAVE REALLY BEEN
UNACCEPTABLE. AND SO WE'VE
GOTTEN A CONFIDENCE NOW OF OUR
COMMUNITY. OUR STAKEHOLDERS
COMMUNITY BELIEVE THAT IT'S
GOING TO HAPPEN. UH THEY'RE
WORKING WITH US TO MAKE IT
HAPPEN. OUR STAFF HAS TAKEN
RESPONSIBILITY FOR IT. AND THE
BUDGET NOW THOSE AND CDT NOW IS
ENGAGED IN THIS PROJECT. SO THIS
IS A MAJOR PROJECT. AND I JUST
WANTED TO THANK MY STAFF. THANK
YOU FOR HEARING US TODAY AND
THANK THE STATE FOR CONTINUING
TO SUPPORT AND FUND THIS PROJECT
BECAUSE IT IS EXTREMELY
IMPORTANT FOR MANY OTHER PIECES
OF LEGISLATION YOU CREATE THAT
WE'RE NOT ABLE TO IMPLEMENT AND
HAVE TO DELAY BECAUSE THIS
PROJECT IS NOT READY. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, MADAM SECRETARY AND
JUST A POINT OF PERSONAL
PRIVILEGE IN YOUR PREVIOUS ROLE
AS CHAIR OF BUDGET AND THE
ASSEMBLY AS WELL AS CHAIR OF A
COUPLE OF THE SUBCOMMITTEE'S I
APPRECIATE YOUR YOU'RE OUT, TAKE
AND LOOK TOWARDS BUDGET AND YOUR
RESPECT TO WE'RE STILL
LEGISLATURE. SO I JUST WANT TO
SAY THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR
SHOWING UP AND GIVING A
PRESENTATION. ON SUCH AN
IMPORTANT ISSUE SPECIFICALLY HOW
HOW DO AGENCIES AND DEPARTMENTS
TAKE BACK OWNERSHIP AND
RESPONSIBILITY OF THE VARIOUS
DIFFERENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS
THAT WE HAVE AND THAT WE SHOULD
HAVE BETTER CONTROL OF SO I
TRULY APPRECIATE THAT. I'M GONNA
GO FOR COMMENTS AND THE
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS FROM THE
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND THE
YELLOW SAY IT ON RECORD. CHARLES
LASALLE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE,
NO COPS NO ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
AT THIS TIME. NICK SCHROEDER
FROM THE L A. OH, NO COMMENTS.
THANK YOU. ANY COMMENTS FROM THE
DICE? MAJORITY LEADER. THANK
YOU, MADAM CHAIR. IT'S GREAT TO
HAVE YOU HERE, MADAM SECRETARY.
I ALWAYS GREAT TO SEE YOU. I YOU
MADE A FEW COMMENTS. THIS TEAM
WORKS AS A TEAM. IT TAKES A
GREAT LEADER TO GET THE TEAM TO
WORK AS A TEAM, AND I APPRECIATE
YOUR LEADERSHIP IN THAT. I
WANTED TO ASK SOME SPECIFIC
QUESTIONS IF I MAY. THE INITIAL
, UM WHAT WAS THE INITIAL BUDGET
FOR THE ORIGINAL CARS? THIS IS
TOMORROW, JACK. UH I HAVE A
WHOLE BUNCH OF TAMARA'S AND
TOMORROW'S IN MY OFFICE. I'M NOT
TELLING YOU I HAVE A LOT OF THEM
, SO I THINK WE JUST MAYBE
GETTING RID OF ONE, BUT WE GOT
MORE OF TOMORROW'S IN TOMORROW'S
COME. THIS IS TOMORROW. JOHNSON
OKAY? YES MA'AM. GOOD AFTERNOON
TOMORROW. JOHNSON, CHIEF
FINANCIAL OFFICER WITH THE
SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE, SO
THE TOTAL EXPENDITURES FOR THE
PRIOR CARS EFFORT WAS ABOUT
APPROXIMATELY 39.4 MILLION. AND
OF THE 39.4. THERE WAS
11,000,010 MILLION LEFT, OR IT
WAS 39. PLUS THE 10.3. THAT WAS
THAT WAS LEFT OVER. SO IT WOULD
BE THE 39 PLUS THE 10 THAT WAS
LEFT OVER AND THEN REPURPOSING
THAT 10 SO BASICALLY CUTTING OUR
LOSSES. UM WITH SOME MONEY THAT
WAS BEING SPENT ON SOMETHING
THAT JUST WAS NOT GOING TO WORK.
SO THE 1ST 10.3 MILLION AND THEN
AN ADDITIONAL ONE MILLION TO GET
STARTED WITH THE PRE PLANNING.
FOR THE PRE START. FOR STAGE
TWO, WHICH WHICH IS COMPLETED IN
NOVEMBER. OF THIS YEAR. DO YOU
ALREADY HAVE THE FUNDING THROUGH
NOVEMBER? WE LOOK, WE DO HAVE
THE FUNDING AND THE CURRENT YEAR
CORRECT. AND SO WHAT SECRETARY
WEBER MENTIONED IS THE WHAT WE
WHAT ARE ESTIMATED COSTS ARE OR
THE PROPOSAL THAT WE HAVE WITH
THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE OF
WHAT WE WOULD NEED IN THE BUDGET
YEAR, SO STAGE THREE, THEN
REQUIRES. DO WE KNOW HOW MUCH
STAGE THREE REQUIRES NOW? WE DO
NOT HAVE THAT COST AT THIS TIME
UNTIL THE SYSTEM INTEGRATOR
COMES ON BOARD, THEN WE WOULDN'T
KNOW WHAT THAT CONTRACT WOULD
BE. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU. THERE ARE NO ADDITIONAL
COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS. WE WILL
MOVE ON TO ISSUE NUMBER TWO
SECRETARY WEBER THANK YOU SO
MUCH. THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING.
AND I LOVE SEEING YOU. THANK
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. WE WILL BE
MOVING ON TO ISSUE TO COVERING
BUDGET CHANGE PROPOSALS
REQUESTED BY THE OFFICE OF THE
SECRETARY OF STATE. FOR THIS
PANEL. WE ARE JOINED BY
REPRESENTATIVES OF THE SECRETARY
OF STATE'S OFFICE, THE
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND THE
ELIO, PLEASE TAKE A MOMENT TO
INTRODUCE YOURSELF AS YOU BEGIN.
PLEASE BEGIN. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU, MADAM CHAIR ONCE AGAIN
TOMORROW. JOHNSON SECRETARY OF
STATE'S OFFICE, UM, THE ELECTION
STAFF ENHANCEMENTS. THERE HAS
BEEN AN UNPRECEDENTED INCREASE
IN ATTENTION TO ELECTION
ADMINISTRATION IN RECENT YEARS.
THAT'S REQUIRING AN INCREASE IN
THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S ABILITY
TO EFFECTIVELY RESPOND AND
PROVIDE THE MOST UP TO DATE
INFORMATION, TIMELY AND
ACCURATELY TO A VARIETY OF
STAKEHOLDERS, INCLUDING VOTERS.
CANDIDATES, CAMPAIGNS AND MEDIA.
AND IN THAT EVERY ASPECT OF
ELECTIONS IS IMPACTED. FROM
ACCESS TO VOTER INFORMATION.
BALLOT CREATION, POLLING PLACE.
INFORMATION CANDIDATE
INFORMATION VOTING SYSTEMS AND
THE RESULTS OF THOSE OF THE
ELECTIONS. ELECTIONS DIVISION IS
RESPONSIBLE FOR COMPLEX IS
COMPLEX AND STRUCTURE AND HIGHLY
VISIBLE TO THE MEDIA AND PUBLIC.
DUE TO EXTREME WORKLOAD AND
REQUIRED OVER TIME AND IN PERSON
WORK. THERE ARE CHALLENGES WITH
MAINTAINING CONSISTENT, WELL
TRAINED STAFF, WHICH IS
NECESSARY TO ENSURE PROPER
ADMINISTRATION OF THE ELECTIONS.
ADDITIONAL POSITIONS WILL ALLOW
THE ELECTIONS DIVISION TO
BALANCE THE WORKLOAD
DISTRIBUTION AMONGST MORE STAFF
TO PREVENT BURNOUT, EXCESSIVE
OVERTIME AND ATTRITION, WHERE
MOST OTHER SIMILAR CIVIL SERVICE
JOBS ARE ENTIRELY REMOTE OR DO
NOT REQUIRE OVERTIME. UM
APPROVAL OF THIS PROPOSAL WOULD
PROVIDE THE RESOURCES NECESSARY
TO ADEQUATELY SUPPORT
CALIFORNIA'S INCREASE YEAR ROUND
ELECTION RESPONSIBILITIES AND
PROVIDE ACCURATE AND TIMELY
INFORMATION AND SERVICES TO THE
PUBLIC TO MEET THE WORKLOAD WITH
ME TODAY IS THE CHIEF OF OUR
ELECTIONS DIVISION, JANICE SHE
WOULD BE ABLE TO PROVIDE ANY, UM
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION YOU MAY
NEED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU AND
JUST TO BE CLEAR ISSUE TWO WILL
BE PRESENTED ON FOUR BUDGET
CHANGE PROPOSALS RELATED TO
ELECTION STAFF AUDITS, NOTARIES
AND THE STATE MET REQUIREMENTS
TO ASK THIS FEDERAL FUNDS. DID
YOU HAVE SOMETHING ADDITIONAL
CHAT? NO MA'AM. OKAY, WE'RE
GONNA GO WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF
FINANCE. CHARLES LYSOL
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE. NO
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS AT THIS
TIME. YEAH LEO SCHROEDER. ELLA.
OH, WE HAVE NO ISSUES WITH THE
PROPOSALS. OKAY? ONE MOMENT.
UH JUST FOR THE PURPOSE OF TIME,
AND WE HAVE A REALLY HEAVY
AGENDA. CAN YOU PRESENT ON THE
ADDITIONAL THREE BUDGET
PROPOSALS AS WELL? SO WE HAVE
AUDITS, NOTARIES AND THE STATE
METRIC WIRELESS. YES, MA'AM. THE
NEXT PROPOSAL IS THE INTERNAL
AUDIT OFFICE. STAFFING NEEDS THE
SCOPE OF THE SECRETARY OF
STATE'S RESPONSIBILITY HAS GROWN
IN RECENT YEARS WHILE THE
CAPABILITIES OF THE INTERNAL
OFFICE AUDIT OFFICE HAVE NOT.
THE INTERNAL OFFICE AUDIT OFFICE
CURRENTLY CONSISTS OF ONE SENIOR
MANAGEMENT AUDITOR AND ONE
ASSOCIATE MANAGEMENT AUDITOR,
CURRENTLY RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL
WORKLOAD RELATED TO THE AUDITING
FUNCTION AT THE SECRETARY OF
STATE. THIS REQUEST WILL AUGMENT
THE CURRENT STAFF BY FOUR
POSITIONS, WHICH WILL GIVE US A
TOTAL OF SIX ARTIST STAFF WITH
HIS, WHICH IS WITHIN THE RANGE
OF STAFFING LEVELS FOR INTERNAL
AUDIT FUNCTIONS AT STATES STATE
ENTITIES OF COMPARABLE SIZE.
THIS REQUEST WILL HELP ADDRESS
THE RISKS POSED BY THE INCREASED
SIZE AND COMPLEXITY OF THE
SECRETARY OF STATE'S OPERATIONS
. EXPAND THE SCOPE OF THE AUDIT
FUNCTION THROUGHOUT THE S O S
AND HELP ENSURE ANY EFFECTIVE
OPERATION OF INTERNAL CONTROLS
AND COMPLIANCE WITH ALL
APPLICABLE LAWS, REGULATIONS AND
POLICIES AND STANDARDS. THIS
REQUEST DECREASES THE
PROBABILITY THAT THE US WILL
FALL SHORT. AND OF ITS AUDITING
GOALS AND RESPONSIBILITIES,
OPERATE WITHOUT EFFECTIVE
INTERNAL CONTROLS AND FAILED TO
PREVENT OR DETECT FRAUD, MISUSE
OR ABUSE OF PUBLIC FUNDS OR
ASSETS. THAT'S REDUCING ANY
RESPONSE TO ANY POSSIBILITY OF
NEGATIVE IMPACT STATEWIDE. THE
NEXT PROPOSAL IS OUR NOTARY
AUTOMATION PROGRAM REPLACEMENT
PROJECT. THE S O. S CURRENTLY
UTILIZES AN ANTIQUATED LEGACY.
UH, NOTARY PUBLIC SYSTEM, WHICH
IS APPROXIMATELY 30 YEARS OLD,
THE SYSTEM STORES AND MAINTAINS
NOTARY PUBLIC COMMISSION DATA.
CURRENT TECHNOLOGY HAS EVOLVED
SIGNIFICANTLY SINCE THE CURRENT
SYSTEM WAS CREATED. SO
INTEGRATION OF THE LEGACY SYSTEM
WITH CURRENT AND FUTURE
TECHNOLOGY AND POSSIBLY THIRD
PARTY SYSTEMS WOULD BE
CHALLENGING. CREATING A NEW
SYSTEM WILL ALLOW THE S O S TO
STREAMLINE BUSINESS PROCESSES
AND OFFER MORE EFFICIENT ONLINE
SERVICES TO NOTARIES AND THE
PUBLIC. UPDATING THE SYSTEM WILL
ALLOW FOR EASIER AMENDMENTS IN
THE FUTURE. SHOULD THE NOTARY
LAWS CHANGE THIS REQUEST WILL
PROVIDE PLANNING RESOURCES FOR
BUILDING A NEW SYSTEM, WHICH
SUPPORTS ALL OF THE
FUNCTIONALITIES OF THE LEGACY
NOTARY SYSTEM AND INCORPORATES
ONLINE APPLICATION AND
COMMISSION MANAGEMENT, A
SEARCHABLE PUBLIC DATABASE AND
NOTARIES OF PUBLIC AND
ELECTRONIC ACTIVE STEALS. UM C D
T HAS APPROVED THE STAGE GATE.
ONE BUSINESS ANALYSIS AND THIS
REQUEST IS TO CONTINUE THE STAGE
GATE PLANNING AS WELL AS BEGIN
DATA CLEANUP. UM, AND READINESS.
AND FINALLY, WE HAVE THE HELP
AMERICA VOTE AT ELECTION
SECURITY. FEDERAL GRANT AWARD
THE S O S RECEIVED A GRANT AWARD
FROM THE US ELECTION ASSISTANCE
COMMISSION AUTHORIZED UNDER THE
UNDER THE CONSOLIDATED
APPROPRIATIONS ACT OF 2022 TO
IMPROVE THE ADMINISTRATION OF
ELECTIONS FOR FEDERAL OFFICE,
INCLUDING TO ENHANCE ELECTION
TECHNOLOGY. AND MAKE ELECTION
SECURITY IMPROVEMENTS TO ADHERE
TO ALL FEDERAL APPLICABLE
REQUIREMENTS. WE ARE REQUESTING
APPROXIMATELY 6.9 MILLION IN 23
24 AS FOLLOWS 5.8 APPROXIMATELY
5.8 MILLION IN FEDERAL TRUST
FUND AUTHORITY TO ACCEPT AND
EXPAND THE GRANT AWARD AND AN
ADDITIONAL APPROXIMATELY 1.2
MILLION GENERAL FUND TO MEET THE
20% STATE MATCH REQUIREMENT. UM
THE STATE HAS TWO YEARS TO
SECURE THAT MATCH UNTIL MARCH,
2020 34 AND THE FUNDING REQUEST
IS TO SUPPORT COUNTY
IMPLEMENTATION OF ELECTION
SECURITY SAFEGUARDS AND
INFRASTRUCTURE AGAINST PHYSICAL
AND CYBER RISK AND
VULNERABILITIES AND ALSO WILL
SUPPORT POLLING PLACE
ACCESSIBILITY THROUGH COUNTY
TRAINING ON ACCESSIBILITY
REQUIREMENTS AND MITIGATIONS, IN
ADDITION TO PROVIDING FUNDING TO
COUNTIES TO APPROVE TO IMPROVE
ACCESSIBILITY OF POLLING PLACES
. THOSE ARE THE FOUR PROPOSALS
THAT ARE BEFORE YOU TODAY AND
WE'RE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY
QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE. THANK
YOU FOR THAT. ANY ADDITIONAL
COMMENTS FROM DEPARTMENT FINANCE
CHARLES LYSOL DEPARTMENT OF
FINANCE NO ADDITIONAL COMMENT AT
THIS TIME. THANK YOU. NICK
SCHROEDER. NO COMMENTS. THANK
YOU. JUST I WANT TO. JUST, UM
GIVE A PRE FENCE OF WHAT I'VE
SEEN IN THE LAST TWO ELECTION
CYCLES. SO I'M A I'M YOU KNOW
WHAT'S NATURALIZED CITIZENS? MY
PARENTS. MY MOM LOVES GOING TO
VOTE. THE DAY OF UH, COVID WAS
THE FIRST TIME THAT WE THIS THIS
STATEMENT AND INVESTMENT IN
SENDING BY MAIL. VOTER VOTE BY
MAIL CARD TO EVERY REGISTERED
VOTER ACROSS THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA. IN L. A COUNTY.
SPECIFICALLY WE HAVE GONE FROM
THE LOCAL LOCATION THAT'S BEEN
IN EFFECT FOR A LONG TIME. MY
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL BEING ONE OF
THEM TO NOW, REGIONAL CENTERS,
AND SO MY CONCERN WITH
NATURALIZED CITIZENS OR EVEN
VOTERS IN GENERAL, ESPECIALLY
OUR SENIOR VOTERS. SENIOR
POPULATION OF VOTERS IS THAT
THEY'RE USED TO GOING TO THE DAY
OF WE'VE HAD TO CHANGE EVEN HOW
WE TALK ABOUT VOTING RIGHT? THE
ELECTION IS NOT ON THE TUESDAY
OF THAT DATE. IT'S BEGINS WHEN
YOU GET YOUR VOTE BY MAIL BALLOT
TO THE DAY OF THE ACTUAL
ELECTION. I'M CURIOUS IF YOU'VE
THOUGHT ABOUT THE IMPACT TO SOME
COMMUNITIES WHO ARE NOT USED TO
VOTING BY MAIL. AND WHAT THAT
COULD POTENTIALLY LOOK LIKE IF
WE WERE TO INVEST IN THE
CAMPAIGN. RELATED TO VOTER
EDUCATION AND VOTING BY MAIL.
AND I SAY THAT, UM, WOULD ALSO
THE CAVEAT THAT EVERY COUNTY IS
DIFFERENT. EVERY BALLOT IS
DIFFERENT, AND SO THAT ALSO
PRESENTS A CHALLENGE. BUT IF THE
GOAL ESPECIALLY IN THE LATTER
PORTION OF YOUR PRESENTATION AND
MATCHING FUNDS FROM THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT WHAT CAN WE PUT IN
PLACE THAT IS CULTURALLY
SIGNIFICANT LANGUAGE SIGNIFICANT
AND REALLY ALLOWS FOR AN
OPPORTUNITY. FOR MORE PEOPLE TO
VOTE, ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT ARE
SO USED TO VOTING THE DAY OF BUT
MAY NOT BECAUSE OF CENTERS HAVE
CHANGED, ETCETERA. YES, MA'AM.
SO HI. THIS IS JOHN ALLEN,
SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE
CHIEF OF ELECTIONS, SO I CAN
ANSWER THAT HOPE. SO ONE THING
THAT WE ARE DEFINITELY LOOKING
FOR IS TO FIND THE COMMONALITY
BETWEEN ALL OF THE COUNTIES.
RIGHT. SO WE DO HAVE A UNIFORM
APPLICATION OF THE LAW IS WHAT
WE ALWAYS STRIVE TO DO, EVEN IF
SOME COUNTIES ARE GOING TO
REGIONAL CENTERS TO VOTE, OR IF
THEY HAVE THE TRADITIONAL POINT
LOCATION. THERE ARE SOME, THERE
ARE SOME THINGS THAT ARE
STANDARD ACROSS THE BOARD, TOO.
ALL VOTERS AND THE VOTERS WILL
GET THE VOTE BY MAIL BALLOT AND
WE SUGGEST THAT THEY GO AHEAD
AND TAKE A LOOK. TAKE THEIR TIME
READ THROUGH IT READ THROUGH THE
VOTER INFORMATION GUIDE IN THE
COUNTY AND THE STATE ONE AND TO
MAKE THEMSELVES AS MUCH EDUCATED
AS THEY CAN READING THROUGH ALL
THE MATERIALS. HOWEVER I THINK
IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE DO
GET THE MESSAGE OUT, NOT ONLY IN
ENGLISH BUT TWO LANGUAGES AND
MAKE SURE THAT WE LOOK AT ALL
THE DIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AND
TRANSLATE AND SEND THOSE
MESSAGES, NOT JUST IN A POSTCARD
OR IN PRINTED MATERIAL. BUT
THROUGH THE MEDIA. I THINK THAT
WAS ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS
THAT ASSISTED IN 2020 WAS TO GET
THAT INFORMATION OUT TO MEDIA
MARKETS, ALL MEDIA MARKETS, NOT
JUST ENGLISH MEDIA MARKETS, AND
I THINK THAT'S THE BEST WAY TO
DO IT. ONE IS TO EDUCATE FOLKS
THAT YOU NOT ONLY HAVE THAT THAT
TIME IN WHICH YOU GET YOUR MAIL,
EVERYBODY HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO
GO IN PERSON. AND WITH THOSE
VOTING CENTERS, THEY HAVE AN
OPPORTUNITY TO GO IN PERSON FOR
MANY MORE DAYS THAN JUST
ELECTION DAY. SO IT'S GETTING
THAT MESSAGE OUT TO GOING NOT
JUST IN PUTTING IN THE MEDIA
MARKETS BUT GOING TO COMMUNITY
GROUPS GETTING IN FRONT OF
TRUSTED SOURCES RIGHT IN FRONT
OF CHURCHES IN FRONT OF
COMMUNITY GROUPS AND TO MAKE
SURE THAT THEY'RE INVOLVED AND
SO I THINK ONE OF THE BIG
INVESTMENT THAT WE COULD DO IS
TO PROVIDE THAT KIND OF FUNDING
SO THAT WE DO HAVE NOT JUST WITH
THE STATE OF THE COUNTY SO THAT
WE CAN ACTUALLY GET IN FROM IN,
YOU KNOW, INFORMATION AND MONEY
DOWN TO THEM, BUT WHAT WE DO AT
THE STATE IS THAT WE DEVELOP.
THE STRUCTURE FOR THAT, SO WE
DO, UM, A STANDARDIZED
MESSAGING. AND THEN WE CAME UP
WITH TOKENS IS WHAT WE'VE DONE
IN THE PAST ELECTION CYCLES,
TRANSLATE THEM AND GET THEM TO
COUNTIES AND SAY, WILL YOU
PLEASE MAGNIFY WHAT WE'RE
SENDING OUT, SO IT'S A TRUSTED
MESSAGE COMING FROM THE STATE
AND THE COUNTIES THAT PEOPLE CAN
UNDERSTAND THIS IS WHAT YOU NEED
TO LISTEN TO. AND HERE'S WHERE
YOU NEED TO GO TO VOTE. IT
SOUNDS INCREDIBLY CHALLENGING TO
BE ABLE TO PIVOT. AN ENTIRE
STATE TO VOTE BY MAIL,
ESPECIALLY WITH COMMUNITIES THAT
HAVEN'T DONE THAT BEFORE. UM I
TRADITIONALLY VOTE BY MAIL AND
EVEN THAT IS VERY DAUNTING. I
THINK MY LAST BALLAD WAS 17
PAGES LONG. GOING PAGE BY PAGE
TRYING TO READ EACH SEVERAL
THINGS AND I DECIDED TO GO VOTE
IN PERSON FOR THE FIRST TIME AND
HAD JUNIOR HIGH HIGH SCHOOL PTSD
TRAUMA WITH THE SCANTRON LIKE
THE ONE TO MAKE SURE FILLING IT
RIGHT. AND I HAD SOMEBODY I
LITERALLY DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO PUT
IT IN THROUGH THE MACHINE AND
HAD TO HAVE SOMEONE COME HELP ME
AND I'M LIKE HOW DO I DO THIS
RIGHT, SO I CAN IMAGINE THAT
IT'S VERY INTIMIDATING TO FOLKS
THAT ARE NOT TECHNICALLY
TECHNICALLY SAVVY. AND HOW DO WE
DO THAT? SO AGAIN? THANK YOU FOR
THE RESPONSE, BUT WE'RE HOPING
TO FIGURE OUT A WAY THAT MAKES
JUST VOTING EASIER. THANK YOU.
WE'RE GONNA MOVE ON TO ISSUE
NUMBER THREE. SO WE'RE GOING TO
KEEP THIS THIS ITEM OPEN FOR NOW
. WE'RE GONNA MOVE ON TO
POLITICAL REFORM EDUCATION
PROGRAM. WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO
ISSUE NUMBER THREE FOR THIRD
ISSUE, WE WILL HEAR A
PRESENTATION ON THE POLITICAL
REFORM EDUCATION PROGRAM. TO
SAVE. WAIT. HOLD UP FOR THIS
PANEL. WE ARE JOINED BY, UM
LARISSA HAN, THE CHIEF
ADMINISTRATOR, CHIEF
ADMINISTRATION AT THE F. PPC
GILINA WEST EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
AT THE F P P C AS WELL AS THE
REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND LEO.
LET'S BEGIN. AND WHEN YOU ARE AT
THE MIC, PLEASE INTRODUCE
YOURSELF. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY
NAME IS LAURIE SAHAN CHIEF
ADMINISTRATION OF PPC AND TO MY
RIGHT, IT'S OUR EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR ALINA WEST. I'M GOING
TO BEGIN. IS THIS BETTER? OKAY
POLITICAL REFORM ACT GOVERNS
GOVERNMENTAL ETHNIC, INCLUDING
THE AREAS OF CAMPAIGN FINANCE,
CONFLICT OF INTEREST, LOBBYING,
DISCLOSURE, POST GOVERNMENTAL
EMPLOYMENT AND GIFTS THE ACT
PROVIDES THE COMMISSION BROUGHT
AUTHORITY TO ADMINISTER AND
IMPLEMENT THE ACT AND THE
RESPONSIBILITY, EDUCATE OFFICIAL
ON THEIR DUTIES AND TO ENFORCE
THE ACT. AS PART OF HIS DUTY TO
EDUCATE THEIR FREE PC HAVE
DEVELOPED VARIOUS PROGRAMS,
MATERIALS RESOURCES TO HELP
OFFICIALS COMPLY WITH THEIR
DUTIES, INCLUDING IN PERSON AND
ONLINE TRAINING. DETAILED
CAMPAIGN MANUAL FACT SHEETS,
OTHER EDUCATIONAL MATERIAL, AS
WELL AS EMAIL AND PHONE ADVICE
SERVICE. TO CONTINUE AND TO
IMPROVE THE COMMISSION WORKS AND
EDUCATING OFFICIAL AND FORCE OF
THE LAW OF THE ACT. THE
COMMISSION LAUNCHED A PILOT
PROGRAM KNOWN AS THE POLITICAL
REFORM EDUCATION PROGRAM, OR AS
YOU CALL PREPPED. THE PROGRAM
COMBINES THE COMMISSION DO DO TO
ENFORCE EDUCATED BY OFFERING A
TRAINING AND EDUCATION OPTION IN
LIEU OF ENFORCEMENT, ACTION AND
MONETARY PENALTIES FOR
INDIVIDUAL WHO COMMITTED LOWER
CRIME VIOLATION AND HAVE LESS
EXPERIENCE WITH THE POLITICAL
REFORM ACT FOR THE PAST FEW
YEARS, THE ENFORCEMENT DIVISION
WORKLOAD HAS INCREASED
EXPONENTIALLY, SO TRANSFERRING
THOSE LOWER LEVEL VIOLATION TO
THE PREP. UM CASES CAN BE
HANDLED MORE EFFECTIVELY AND
EFFICIENTLY AND IT WILL FREE UP
TIME FOR THE ENFORCEMENT STAFF
TO RESOLVE THE MORE SERIOUS
VIOLATIONS. AND ITS CURRENT
LIMITED PILOT PROGRAM FOR THE
PROGRAM INCLUDES ONE COURSE AND
ON STATEMENT. ECONOMIC INTERESTS
, ALSO KNOWN AS FORM 700. THE
PROGRAM HAS SO FAR BEEN VERY
SUCCESSFUL SINCE JUNE OF LAST
YEAR. 51 INDIVIDUAL HAVE
COMPLETED THE PROGRAM AND 16 ARE
CURRENTLY IN BRO. THE BUDGET
REQUEST IS FOR 455,000 IN FISCAL
YEAR 2023 2024 421,000 IN THE
SUBSEQUENT BUDGET YEAR. WHICH
INCLUDED THREE PERMANENT
POSITIONS, WHICH WOULD ENABLE
THE COMMISSION TO MAKE PREP IN
THE LINGERING PROGRAM AND TO
EXTEND TO EXPAND. SORRY THE
PROGRAM FOR ADDITIONAL SUBJECT
THAT WE WANTED TO, UM DO
EDUCATION ON AND THIS CONCLUDES
MY PRESENTATION. THANK YOU.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS FROM
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND ELIO.
CHARLES LYSOL DEPARTMENT OF
FINANCE. NO ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
AT THIS TIME. NICK SCHROEDER.
ELIO. WE HAVE NO ISSUES WITH THE
PROPOSAL. THANK YOU. JUST ONE
QUESTION FOR ME. UH WHEN DOES
THE PPC ANTICIPATE LAUNCHING
ADDITIONAL COURSES THROUGH THE
PROGRAM? SURE WE KNOW AS
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR. WE
ANTICIPATE HOPEFULLY AUGUST FOR
LOCAL CAMPAIGNS AND THEN AT THE
END OF THE YEAR, EXPANDING OUT
TO STATE CAMPAIGNS AND THEN NEXT
YEAR, ADDING ADVERTISING SO
THAT'S THE CALENDAR. WE'RE GONNA
TRY TO FOLLOW WHEN WE GET FULLY
STAFFED ON THIS. DOES THAT
PROVIDE, UM SUFFICIENT TIME FOR
THE 2024 EARLY MARCH PRIMARY. IT
DOES. WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO HAVE
CAMPAIGN ALREADY IN EFFECT. SO
THEN THAT WAY AS REFERRALS COME
IN FOR THE SEMIANNUAL, THEN
WE'LL BE ABLE TO PUSH THE
MINISTER THEIR PROGRAM AND TAKE
CARE OF THAT WHOLE BATCH OF
REFERRALS BEFORE THE PRIMARY.
EXCELLENT THANK YOU. EXCITING
THINGS ARE MOVING UP IN
CALIFORNIA. THANK YOU. WE'RE
GOING TO KEEP THIS ITEM OPEN.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE'RE GOING
TO NOW MOVE ON TO ISSUE NUMBER
FOUR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
PROGRAMS, REDUCTIONS AND FUNDING
PAUSES. THIS FOUR PANEL WILL BE
DISCUSSING FUNDING REDUCTIONS
AND FUNDING PROCESS IMPACTING
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS
MOVING ON TO OUR LABOR ISSUES
LAST YEAR, THE 2022 BUDGET
INCLUDED SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENTS
IN WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT. THESE
INVESTMENTS AIM TO SUPPORT
VARIOUS TRADES AND INDUSTRIES
ACROSS A DIVERSE RANGE OF
DEMOGRAPHICS. THE GOVERNOR'S
PROPOSED BUDGET INCLUDES SEVERAL
PROPOSED CUTS AND FUNDING PAUSES
TO THESE PROGRAMS FOR THIS PANEL
. WE ARE ASKING OUR PRESENTERS
TO OUTLINE THESE PROPOSED
REDUCTIONS FOR DISCUSSION AND
CONSIDERATION. WE ARE JOINED BY
ANDREW MARCH AND PATRICK TOP IN
FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE.
CHAZ ALAMO FROM L A. OH, THANK
YOU. CHAIR. YES THANK YOU.
CHAIRMAN ALSO JOINED BY MEMBERS
OF THE DEPARTMENT'S IF THERE ANY
PROGRAMMATIC QUESTIONS THAT YOU
GUYS MAY HAVE, UM AS AN OVERVIEW
OF THE SOLUTIONS THAT ARE BEING
PROPOSED AS PART OF THE
GOVERNOR'S BUDGET. UM THERE ARE
FIVE IN THIS AREA FOR THE
TARGETED EMERGENCY MEDICAL
TECHNICIAN TRAINING AT THE UNION
. DE WE ARE PROPOSING A
REDUCTION OF 10 MILLION IN 2023
24 2023 24 2024 25. 10 MILLION
AS WELL FOR THE CALIFORNIA YOUTH
LEADERSHIP, COURT ORDER AND
LEARN PATHWAY ALLOCATIONS IN
2022 23 2023 24 24 25. A
REDUCTION OF $20 MILLION IN BOTH
ABOUT A YEAR AND ABOUT A YEAR
PLUS ONE FOR THE APPRENTICESHIP
INNOVATION FUNDING PROGRAM AT
THE DEPARTMENT OF INDUSTRIAL
RELATIONS. AND A PAUSE IN. NEXT
YEAR AND THE FOLLOWING YEAR FOR
THE WOMAN IN CONSTRUCTION
PROGRAM AT THE I, R. UM, TO
HIGHLIGHT UM THOSE PROPOSALS.
THERE'S ALSO A REDUCTION NEXT
YEAR OF THE COVID 19 WORKPLACE
OUTREACH PROJECT. UM AT DE IR
AGAIN $25 MILLION TO SOLVE THE
BUDGET PROBLEM. UM. BRIEF
OVERVIEW HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY
QUESTIONS ABOUT THOSE REDUCTIONS
AND AGAIN JOINED BY DEPARTMENTAL
STAFF HAS THANK YOU. THIS. UM
THIS ROOM HAS A WEIRD ECHO. SO
SOMETIMES IT'S DIFFICULT TO HEAR
YOU ON THIS END, SO JUST FOR ALL
THE FUTURE, FOLKS PRESENTING TRY
TO SPEAK AS CLOSELY AS YOU CAN
TO THE MICROPHONE. YOU'RE YOU'RE
FINE, BUT IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF
AN ECHO ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
FROM THE YELLOW GOOD AFTERNOON,
CHAZZ ALAMO WITH L A. OH, NO
COMMENTS ON THIS, ADAM. THANK
YOU. OKAY I HAVE SOME SPECIFIC
QUESTIONS. UM IS THERE A
PARTICULAR REASON WHY THE
ADMINISTRATION SELECTED THESE
SPECIFIC PROGRAMS FOR REDUCTIONS
AND FUNDING PROCESS? THANK YOU.
UM AND AGAIN, PATRICK TOPPING
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE, UM, SORT
OF HAS MENTIONED SORT OF
THROUGHOUT THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET
DOCUMENTS. THESE PROPOSED
SOLUTIONS ARE PART OF A BALANCED
PLAN TO REDUCE THE ONE TIME IN
IN A MINUTE, RECENT ONE TIME IN
LIMITED TERM INVESTMENTS
PRESERVED CORE DEPARTMENTAL
PROGRAMS WITHOUT TOUCHING THE
STATE'S BUDGET RESERVES. AND IN
THIS WORKFORCE SPACE,
PARTICULARLY OUR GOAL WAS TO
METHODICALLY SPREAD OUT THE
REDUCTIONS. TO MAKE SURE THAT
THESE PROGRAMS, UM COULD KEEP
SERVING CALIFORNIANS. ONE THAT'S
INCREDIBLY ALARMING THAT I'M
GOING TO ASK YOU SPECIFICALLY ON
IS THE COVID 19 WORKER OUTREACH
. ORIGINALLY 25 MILLION IN 2023
NOW CUT ENTIRELY. EXCUSE ME,
CHAIR. IS THERE A QUESTION IN
THERE OR QUESTION IS WHY WAS THE
COVID 19 WORKER OUTREACH? PLAN
COMPLETELY IN THE ELIMINATED
FROM THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSALS
AGAIN, UM SORT OF GOING BACK TO
PREVIOUS ANSWER. I MEAN, REALLY
SORT OF JUST ABOUT TAKING A SORT
OF BALANCED APPROACH. GIVEN THE
AMOUNT OF FUNDING LAST YEAR AS
WELL AS THIS YEAR, WE FIELD AND
THAT'S A REASONABLE BUT ALSO
HAPPY TO ENGAGE IN CONVERSATION
ABOUT THESE REDUCTIONS IF THEIR
CONCERN FOR THE LEGISLATURE WELL
, WE'LL GET INTO IT A LITTLE BIT
MORE IN DETAIL, BUT IT JUST IT
JUST SEEMS THAT AFTER THE PAST
2.5 YEARS OF WHAT THE STATE HAS
GRAPPLED WITH AND WHAT WE FACED
, REALLY ACROSS THE WORLD THAT
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT WORKER
OUTREACH AND THE IMPACT THAT
COVID 19 HAD ON CERTAIN FOLKS
LIKE YOU KNOW, HAVING BEEN A
PRIORITY TO THE LEGISLATURE AT
25 MILLION JUST YOU KNOW NOW TO
SEEING IT CUT ENTIRELY AND JUST
FOR ME PERSONALLY JUST GIVES ME
A LOT OF PROCESS TO HELP THINGS
WERE PRIORITIZED. SEVERAL OF THE
IMPACT OF PROGRAMS ARE SUBJECT
TO A TRIGGER. DOES THE
ADMINISTRATION HAVE A SPECIFIC
THRESHOLD OR TARGET NUMBER THAT
IF MET WILL GUARANTEE RESTORING
FUNDING? AT THIS TIME. SORRY
PATRICK TOPPING DEPARTMENT OF
FINANCE. UM AND THIS TIME WE DO
NOT HAVE A NUMBER FOR THE
TRIGGER, AND GIVEN THAT AS PER
THE CONTROL SECTION RELIES ON A
LOT OF CALCULATIONS THAT WILL BE
DETERMINED THROUGHOUT THE BUDGET
DEVELOPMENT PROCESS, THE
ENROLLMENT CASELOAD AND
POPULATION ADJUSTMENTS. OTHER
BASELINE BUDGET ADJUSTMENTS THAT
ARE DONE THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER
AND THE FALL. AND SO, UM, NOT IN
THIS TIME WHEN YOU'RE NOT HAVING
NUMBER OKAY AGAIN. JUST
SOMETHING FOR YOU TO CONSIDER IN
YOUR REPORT BACK ONE OF THE
PROGRAMS ALSO CUT IS WOMEN IN
CONSTRUCTION, WHICH WAS A
PRIORITY AGAIN. 15 MILLION PER
YEAR. NOW IT'S COMPLETELY PAUSED
UNTIL WE HAVE MORE FUNDING WITH
THE HOUSING CRISIS, HOMELESSNESS
CRISIS, OUR ABILITY AND ALL THE
ISSUES BEING IMPLEMENTED ALL THE
POLICY BEING MOVED FORWARD TO
CREATE MORE HOUSING.
OPPORTUNITIES FOR WOMEN AND
CONSTRUCTION ARE A PRIORITY TO A
LOT OF US AND SO SEEING THAT UH,
BECAUSE AH, YOU KNOW, AGAIN,
SOMETHING FOR US TO CONSIDER AS
WELL AND THE ADDITIONAL
QUESTIONS, BUT, UM, MAJORITY
LEADER. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
I WANT TO LEND MY VOICE TO YOUR
CONCERNS. THIS IS OF GREAT
CONCERN. ALSO THE YOUTH
LEADERSHIP PROGRAM. $20 MILLION
REDUCTION. 10 10 MILLION IN BOTH
THIS YEAR. 23 24 24 25 THAT IS
OF GREAT CONCERN. THE
APPRENTICESHIP INNOVATION FUND,
THE E M T TRAINING FUND. THESE
ARE ALL THINGS THAT MANY OF OUR
COLLEAGUES FOUGHT VERY HARD FOR
TO GET THEM INTO THE BUDGET AND
TO NOW HAVE THEM. PAUSED OR
REDUCED IS OF GRAVE CONCERN FOR
MANY OF US BECAUSE THESE WERE
OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE'RE GOING
TO BE PROVIDED. WE TALKED ABOUT
HAVING A WORKFORCE THAT IS
DIVERSE. THE VERY PROGRAMS WERE
CUTTING YOUNG PEOPLE ARE WOMEN
ARE THE VERY PROGRAMS THAT WE
SHOULD NOT BE CUTTING. SO I LEND
MY VOICE TO THE CONCERNS VOICED
BY OUR CHAIR. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU, MADAM MAJORITY
LEADER. I WILL NOTE THAT ANOTHER
HIGH PRIORITY WAS A JOINT
HEARING THAT WE HAD WITH UM BUT
IT'S UP TO SUBSTANCE OF ONE.
SOMEONE BUDGET SUB ONE ON HEALTH
AND HUMAN RESOURCES WITH
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S ARAMBULA, WHERE
THE LEGISLATURE ALSO PRIORITIZED
EMERGENCY EMERGENCY MEDICAL
TECHNICIAN TRAINING IN TRAINING
. MORE HEALTH CARE WORKERS.
ORIGINALLY 60 MILLION NOW CUT TO
40 MILLION SO APPRENTICESHIP
INNOVATION PROGRAMS. UM YOU
KNOW, I THINK THE QUESTION
RELATED TO WHAT WILL TRIGGER
POTENTIAL REINSTATEMENT OF THESE
FUNDS WOULD BE IMPORTANT TO
ANSWER MOVING FORWARD. WE'RE
GOING TO KEEP THESE ITEMS OPEN
AND MOVE ON TO ISSUE NUMBER FIVE
AGAIN. THANK YOU, GENTLEMEN. UM
. ISSUE FIVE ON E D D EMPLOYMENT
DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT FOR THIS
NEXT PANEL. WE ARE JOINED BY ED
DIRECTOR NANCY FERRIES AND HER
TEAM TO PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON
EDDIE OPERATIONS. DIRECTOR OF
AREAS. THE GOAL OF THIS PANEL IS
TO ASSESS E. D. D S READINESS IN
THE EVENT THAT A RECESSION WOULD
PUT PRESSURE ON THE STATE SAFETY
NET PROGRAMS ONCE AGAIN. AND SEE
IF LESSONS LEARNED FROM THE
PANDEMIC HAVE BEEN INCORPORATED
INTO THE DEPARTMENT'S OPERATIONS
FOR THIS UPDATE WE ARE ASKING
NEEDED TO PRESENT THE RECESSION
PLAN PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON EDDIE
FRAUD PREVENTION ACTIVITIES AND
OUTLINED THE RECENT WORK TO
IMPROVE LANGUAGE ACCESS. AT THE
DEPARTMENT. LET'S BEGIN. GOOD
AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR MEMBERS
OF THE COMMITTEE, PATRICK
CHRISTIAN. GOOD TO SEE EVERYBODY
. GOOD AFTERNOON. THANK YOU FOR
INVITING US HERE TODAY. FOR THE
RECORD. MY NAME IS NANCY FERRY
IS THE DIRECTOR OF THE
EMPLOYMENT DEVELOPMENT
DEPARTMENT. I KNOW THERE'S A LOT
ON THE AGENDA, SO I'M JUST GOING
TO GIVE A VERY HIGH LEVEL
OVERVIEW OF A FEW OF THE ISSUES
THAT WERE IN THE AGENDA, UM,
INCLUDING IMPROVEMENTS TO
CUSTOMER SERVICE, THE
MULTILINGUAL RESOURCES FRAUD
PREVENTION AND FRAUD PREVENTION
AND HOW WE ARE PREPARING FOR A
POSSIBLE RECESSION. I'M GOING TO
START WITH RECESSION PLANNING,
SO THERE WERE 20 MILLION CLAIMS
FOR UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS DURING
THE PANDEMIC, COMPARED COMPARED
WITH 3.8 MILLION DURING THE
GREAT RECESSION, AND I KNOW I
REPEAT THAT AT EVERY HEARING,
BUT IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT POINT
TO MAKE. WE LEARNED MANY LESSONS
FROM THAT EXTREME DEMAND LEVEL
AND EMERGED BETTER PREPARED FOR
FUTURE RECESSIONS. HE COMPLETED
MORE THAN 200 INFORMATION
TECHNOLOGY PROJECTS DURING THE
PANDEMIC, BASICALLY AUTOMATING
THINGS THAT WERE NOT AUTOMATED
PRE PANDEMIC IN WHICH CAUSED
DELAYS DURING THE VERY BEGINNING
OF THE PANDEMIC. THAT WORK PUTS
US IN A GOOD POSITION TO WHETHER
A FUTURE ECONOMIC DOWNTURN BY
IMPLEMENTING SENATOR LAIRS. SB 3
90. WE DOCUMENTED THOSE KEY
LESSONS LEARNED AND DEVELOPED A
STRONG PLAN FOR ANY FUTURE
RECESSIONS. WE ALSO ESTABLISHED
AND UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE
COMMAND CENTER TO HELP FORECAST
WORKLOAD, VOLUMES, CUSTOMER
SERVICE DEMANDS AND STAFFING
LEVELS. UNDER OUR NEW RECESSION
PLAN E. D. D TAKES ACTION BASED
ON THREE POTENTIAL PHASES OF
ACTIVITIES THAT TRIGGER
DEPENDING ON THE STATE'S
UNEMPLOYMENT RATE AND OTHER
FACTORS. THE FIRST PHASE BEGINS
BY INCREASING STAFF LEVELS WHEN
UNEMPLOYMENT REACHES 6% OVERTIME
LEVELS, INCREASED TRAINING
SCHEDULES SHIFT AND PREPARATIONS
BEGIN FOR POTENTIAL PHASE TWO
ACTIONS. THE SECOND PHASE BEGINS
WHEN UNEMPLOYMENT HITS 8% THIS
TRIGGERS MORE STAFFING INCREASES
BY BORROWING WORKERS FROM OTHER
BRANCHES OR AGENCIES. MORE
HIRING, RETIRED IN NEW EDEN
RECRUITMENT AND PREPARATION FOR
POSSIBLE AND POTENTIAL VENDOR
SUPPORT. PHASE THREE BEGINS AT
12% UNEMPLOYMENT, WHICH TRIGGERS
A POTENTIAL NEED FOR VENDOR
STAFFING WHERE THE DEPARTMENT
WOULD RELEASE A REQUEST FOR
PROPOSAL AND EXECUTE A CONTRACT
FOR TEMPORARY VENDOR STAFFING
RESOURCES. TO ADDRESS THE
INCREASE IN WORKLOAD. DESPITE
LAYOFFS IN TECH AND OTHER
INDUSTRIES, CALIFORNIA'S
UNEMPLOYMENT RATE REMAINS VERY
LOW AT 4.3% DOWN FROM THE PEAK
OF 16% DURING THE PANDEMIC.
NEVERTHELESS WE CONTINUE TO
PROACTIVELY MONITOR CONDITIONS
AND REMAIN PREPARED TO RESPOND
SHOULD CONDITIONS CHANGE, FOR
EXAMPLE. AND PREPARATION FOR THE
SEASONAL WORKLOAD INCREASES AND
THE NEED TO HAVE SKILLED TRAINED
STAFF READY TO RESPOND TO
INITIAL INCREASES IN CLAIMS THAT
MAY BE ATTRIBUTED TO SIGNS OF
RECESSION. E. D. D HIRED
APPROXIMATELY 300 PERMANENT
INTERMITTENT EMPLOYEES. THESE
EMPLOYEES BEGIN BEGAN TRAINING
IN MID FEBRUARY. HE CONTINUES TO
CLOSELY MONITOR THE NATIONAL
ECONOMY AND ECONOMIC INDICATORS
SUCH AS THE U. S JOB NUMBERS.
INFLATION RATES OUR OWN
UNEMPLOYMENT RATE HERE IN
CALIFORNIA AND NEW CLAIMS FILED
AND OBJECTIVE ECONOMIC FORECASTS
TO ASSESS THE NEED TO RECRUIT
ADDITIONAL STAFF. TOUCH ON
FRAUD. DURING THE PANDEMIC,
EVERY STATE IN THE COUNTRY
EXPERIENCED AN UNPRECEDENTED
SURGE OF FRAUD ATTEMPTS,
PARTICULARLY IN THE NEW FEDERAL
PANDEMIC BENEFIT PROGRAMS PASSED
UNDER THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.
THOSE EMERGENCY FEDERAL PROGRAMS
LACKED THE SAFEGUARDS PRESENT IN
TRADITIONAL STATE UNEMPLOYMENT
INSURANCE IN CALIFORNIA
RESPONDED BY DEVELOPING AND
IMPLEMENTING A STRATEGIC PLAN TO
DETECT AND FRAUD, PREVENT FRAUD
. INVESTIGATE AND PROSECUTE
CRIMINALS RECOVER LOST FUNDS AND
HELP IDENTIFY THEFT VICTIMS. WE
CONTINUE TO USE SUCCESSFUL FRAUD
FIGHTING TOOLS SUCH AS I'D ME
AND THOMPSON, REUTERS TO ENSURE
LEGITIMATE CLAIMANTS ARE
RECEIVING THEIR BENEFITS WHILE
PROTECTING THE SYSTEM FROM
FRAUDULENT SCHEMES AND THE
FRAUDULENT SCHEMES ARE STILL OUT
THERE. AS SUCH, WE ENCOURAGE
CALIFORNIANS TO REMAIN VIGILANT
AND SAFEGUARD FINANCIAL AND
PERSONAL INFORMATION TO HELP
PREVENT FRAUD, INCLUDING
IDENTITY THEFT. WE HAVE A VALUE
WE HAVE VALUABLE INFORMATION ON
OUR HELP FIGHT FRAUD WEBSITE AS
WELL AS INFORMATION ABOUT ED'S
RESPONSE TO FRAUD, INCLUDING
DETAILS ABOUT OUR EFFORTS TO
HOLD CRIMINALS ACCOUNTABLE. I'M
GOING TO TOUCH ON THE CALL
CENTER AND ENDED NEXT CALLS TO
THE UI BRANCH ARE DOWN NEARLY 10
MILLION UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE
CALLS ARRIVED THE SECOND WEEK OF
JANUARY. 2021 LAST WEEK IT WAS
60,000 REPEAT, CALL ATTEMPTS
HAVE NEARLY ENDED AND E. D D HAS
BEEN ABLE TO ANSWER THE INCOMING
CALLS. BASED ON WHAT WE LEARNED
DURING THE PANDEMIC, INCLUDING
THE EXTREME LEVEL OF DEMAND. WE
ARE INVESTING IN NEW SYSTEMS TO
HANDLE FUTURE EMERGENCIES. WE
CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH
ED. NEXT WE ARE MAKING
INCREMENTAL IMPROVEMENTS
EVERYDAY PRIORITIZING THOSE
IMPROVEMENTS THAT HAVE THE
GREATEST IMPACT ON THE PUBLIC.
FOR EXAMPLE, WE ARE IMPLEMENTING
A NEW SHARED CUSTOMER PORTAL IN
JUNE OF THIS YEAR. THIS WILL
MAKE THE PROCESS OF APPLYING FOR
BENEFITS ONLINE, MUCH SIMPLER.
AT THE SAME TIME, WE ARE
MODERNIZING OUR CONTACT CENTER
TO IMPROVE THE CUSTOMER
EXPERIENCE. THE PUBLIC SHOULD
HAVE THEIR CALLS, ANSWERED MORE
QUICKLY AND BE AUTOMATICALLY
ROUTED TO THE RIGHT SUPPORT
PERSON. FOR EXAMPLE, MOST
CLAIMANTS USED THE UI ONLINE
CLAIMS STATUS TRACKER, WHICH WAS
CREATED LAST YEAR. BUT FOR THOSE
THAT DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO
ONLINE SERVICE, THEY SHOULD
STILL BE ABLE TO GET THE STATUS
OF THEIR CLAIMS AND GET THAT.
DONE QUICKLY BY OVER THE PHONE.
THE NEW CONTACT CENTER WILL BE
INTEGRATED WITH OUR SHARED
CUSTOMER PORTAL TO MAKE IT
EASIER FOR CLAIMANTS TO GET THE
HELP THEY NEED. WE'VE SUBMITTED
OUR ROADMAP ON ED NEXT. OUR
EXPENDITURE PLAN AND QUARTERLY
REPORT TO THE LEGISLATURE
SHOWING EACH OF THE WORK STREAMS
, THE TIMEFRAMES AND THE
PERCENTAGE OF COMPLETION AND
COSTS. WE HEARD THE LEGISLATURE
AND WE HEARD THE PUBLIC AND
INTEND THAT HE DID NEXT IS A
COMPLETELY TRANSPARENT PROCESS.
HE BEGAN OVERHAULING ITS
BENEFITS SYSTEM AND DESIGNING
AND TESTING THESE SYSTEMS BASED
ON CUSTOMER FEEDBACK. DIDN'T E.
D D IS NOW ONE OF THE ONLY STATE
DEPARTMENTS WITH A TEAM
DEDICATED TO HUMAN CENTERED
DESIGN FOR USABILITY? THROUGH
THE NEXT PROJECT. WE BEGAN
PARTNERING WITH USABILITY
EXPORTS EXPERTS TO TRANSFORM THE
CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE ACROSS
UNEMPLOYMENT, DISABILITY AND
PAID FAMILY LEAVE PROGRAMS. IN
2022. WE CONTINUE TO IMPROVE THE
CALL CENTER, EXPAND MULTILINGUAL
RESOURCES AND REDESIGNED FORMS
AND APPLICATIONS ARE EXPANDED.
CALLBACK FEATURE INCLUDES
SCHEDULED CALLBACKS FOR UI
CUSTOMERS, AND WE ADDED CUSTOMER
SATISFACTION SURVEYS TO THE CALL
CENTER. WE ALSO IMPLEMENTED A
CALL TOPIC CODING PROCESS TO
BETTER CATEGORIZE LIMP CLAIMANT
CALLS AND PAVED THE WAY FOR
TECHNOLOGY TECHNOLOGY
ENHANCEMENTS. WE ARE PUTTING THE
CUSTOMER FIRST AT EDITING. WE
ARE PREPARING TO LAUNCH TEXT
MESSAGE SERVICE CAPABILITIES FOR
THE PAID FAMILY LEAVE AND
DISABILITY INSURANCE PROGRAMS
AND IMPROVED ONLINE SECURITY.
USING MULTI FACTOR
AUTHENTICATION FOR THE NEW
SHARED CUSTOMER PORTAL, WHICH WE
ARE CALLING MY EDDIE D. IT IS
MULTILINGUAL RESOURCES CONTINUE
TO GROW. E D D NOW HAS CLAIMANT
RESOURCE IS TRANSLATED INTO THE
NINE MOST COMMONLY SPOKEN
LANGUAGES IN CALIFORNIA. WE ALSO
OFFER NO COST LANGUAGE
INTERPRETATION SERVICES FOR ALL
CUSTOMERS AND OVER 150 OVER 150
LANGUAGES. WE ARE CURRENTLY
WORKING WITH COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATIONS TO ESTABLISH A
MULTILINGUAL ACCESS ADVISORY
COMMITTEE. WHICH WILL HELP
PROVIDE DIRECT INPUT AND
COMMUNITY REVIEW OF EADS
MULTILINGUAL SERVICES. WE REMAIN
ON TRACK TO ADD SIMPLIFIED AND
TRADITIONAL CHINESE, KOREAN
VIETNAMESE IN ARMENIAN ONLINE
APPLICATIONS BY NEXT YEAR. WE
CAN. WE WILL CONTINUE OUR HAPPY
TO CONTINUE TO UPDATE THE
LEGISLATURE ON THE STATUS OF THE
PROJECTS, INCLUDING OUR NEXT
QUARTER QUARTERLY LEGISLATIVE
UPDATE THAT'S DUE NEXT MONTH. I
APPRECIATE THE PARTNERSHIP. YOUR
SUPPORT HAS HELPED US PUT E D D
ON A NEW PATH FORWARD FOR SURE.
THANKS FOR YOUR TIME. WE'RE
PREPARED TO ANSWER ANY
QUESTIONS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU,
DIRECTOR. VARIOUS UH, YOU JUMPED
. YOU JUMPED AHEAD TO ISSUE
NUMBER SIX. SO IT'S A COMBINED.
IT DIDN'T MEAN IT. SORRY
COMBINED ET DE OPERATIONS AS
WELL AS E D D MODERNIZATION
EFFORTS, WHICH WHICH WAS ISSUE
NUMBER SIX, BUT I'M GLAD YOU GOT
INTO IT. SO LAST YEAR, THE
BUDGET PROVIDED 136 MILLION TO
BEGIN THE FIRST PHASE OF THE
NEXT AND THE DEPARTMENT OF
FINANCE IS REQUESTING 197
MILLION IN 2023 TO LAUNCH THE
SECOND PHASE OF THIS
MODERNIZATION EFFORTS. BECAUSE
WE HAVE COMBINED BOTH FIVE AND
SIX. I'M JUST GOING TO ASK THE
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND THE
LAO TO RESPOND. THE DEPARTMENT
OF FINANCE PATRICK TOBIN. NO
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS RIGHT NOW.
CHAZ ALMA, WITH THE L A. OH, UM,
ONLY GENERAL COMMENTS RELATED TO
EDDIE NEXT HAVE TO DO WITH
REPORTING LANGUAGE THAT WAS
PASSED AS PART OF THE BUDGET ACT
LAST YEAR, THE DEPARTMENT OF
FINANCE IN AND THE DEPARTMENT
ARE SHARING INFORMATION BOTH
WITH OUR OFFICE AND WITH THE
COMMITTEE ON A REGULAR ONGOING
BASIS. IT'S HELPED US STAY MORE
CONNECTED TO THE NEXT PROJECT
GOING FORWARD AS WE OTHERWISE
WOULD BE SO JUST KIND OF AN
UPDATE THANKS. THANK YOU. I
KNOW. I JUST WANT TO GIVE A JUST
A THANK YOU TO DIRECTOR FERRY AS
I KNOW IT HAS BEEN CHALLENGING
TO WORK WITH ANTIQUATED SYSTEMS
WHILE IT FELT LIKE THE WORLD WAS
COLLAPSING AROUND US. AND SO
THERE ARE THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF
CALIFORNIANS WHO WERE DELAYED
AND RECEIVING ASSISTANCE. BUT
EVEN MORE SO, THOUSANDS OF WHICH
DID RECEIVE SUPPORT FROM OUR
STAFFS IN THE DISTRICT WHO ARE
MANAGING INCREDIBLE HIGH LOADS
OF CASEWORK RELATED TO
UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS.
DISABILITY ETCETERA AMID COVID,
SO I KNOW THINGS ARE SHIFTING,
AND IT'S UNDER YOUR LEADERSHIP
THAT THAT'S BEEN ABLE TO HAPPEN
AND THE SUPPORT OF YOUR STAFF
AND YOUR TEAM. SO THANK YOU
GETTING INTO SOME OF THE NEXT
PHASE OF THE TT NEXT. CAN YOU
SHARE WITH US HOW YOU WERE ABLE
, HOW YOU MANAGE OR PRIORITIZED
THE LANGUAGE ACCESS NEEDS. THAT
WAS A HUGE COMPLICATION AMID
COVID SO CURIOUS AS TO HOW
THAT'S BEING IMPLEMENTED. YEAH,
I MEAN, BASICALLY, YOU KNOW, I
KID YOU NOT WHEN I SAY LESSONS
LEARNED FROM THE PANDEMIC, AND
WE LEARNED THAT IT WAS THAT 56%
THAT COULDN'T GET THROUGH THAT
WERE PROBABLY THE MOST NEEDY
THAT REALLY NEEDED TO GET
THROUGH TO E. D. D. AND WE WITH
OUR CUSTOMER USER EXPERIENCE. UM
UH, BRANCH THAT WE HAVE NOW AS
WELL AS WE MEET WITH
STAKEHOLDERS CONSTANTLY. UM WE
HAD A BILL FROM LAST YEAR. I
BELIEVE OR THE YEAR BEFORE. ABBY
1 38 THAT WAS SUPPORTED BY YOU
AND THIS COMMITTEE. UM AND WE
PRIORITIZE THE CUSTOMER FIRST,
SO LANGUAGES WE THE WAY THAT WE
DEAL WITH LANGUAGE ACCESS IS WE
LOOK TO THE TOP LANGUAGES SPOKEN
IN CALIFORNIA, AND THOSE ARE THE
ONES THAT WE WORK ON. FIRST YOU
REPEAT WHAT THOSE WERE AGAIN.
HOW MANY OF THOSE THERE WERE. I
BELIEVE EITHER EIGHT OR NINE AND
I IT IS, UM TRADITIONAL CHINESE
. I'M GONNA I'M JUST GONNA RON
HUSTON. CAN WE MAKE SURE HIS
MICROPHONE IS ON ONE MOMENT?
SORRY RON. USE FOR ME, D D SO
THE EIGHT LANGUAGES ARE ENGLISH
. SPANISH. TRADITIONAL CHINESE
SIMPLIFIED CHINESE. VIETNAMESE
KOREANS ARE MEANING AND TAGALOG.
AND THESE LANGUAGES ARE
AVAILABLE. YOUR HOW IS IT BEING
DIVIDED UP IN TERMS OF WHAT'S
AVAILABLE WHEN FOLKS CALL AND
WHAT'S AVAILABLE ONLINE? SO
THOSE LANGUAGES WILL BE ONLINE
IN THE SHARED CUSTOMER PORTAL.
THEY ARE CURRENTLY NOT ONLINE
RIGHT NOW, BUT WE ARE IN THE
PROCESS OF TRANSLATING DOCUMENTS
THAT ARE ONLINE. THERE IS THE,
UM WHAT DO YOU CALL IT? THE CALL
THE LANGUAGE ACCESS LINE. THAT
HAS, UM, WHERE THERE'S ACCESS TO
OVER 150 LANGUAGES. SO IF YOU
CALL EDDIE D. THERE'S A LANGUAGE
ACCESS LINE AND WE CAN TRANSFER
. WE WORK AT THE THIRD PARTY
THAT TRANSLATES OVER 100 INTO
150 LANGUAGES. THANK YOU. JUST A
NUP DATE ON. RELATED TO THE E D
D OPERATIONS, ACCORDING TO YOUR
CALL CENTER DATA. THE CALL
CENTER WAIT TIMES ARE ON AVERAGE
40 TO 45 MINUTES AND PERCENTAGE
OF CALLS ANSWERED BETWEEN 30 TO
46. FOR FOLKS CALLING ABOUT
DISABILITY INSURANCE AND PAID
FAMILY LEAVE PROGRAMS. WHAT ARE
THE FACTORS CAUSING THE LONG
WAIT LINES AND THE LOW
PERCENTAGE OF CALLS ANSWERED BY
RELATED TO THE ISSUES. I'M GOING
TO HAND IT OVER TO MELISSA, WHO
RUNS OUR D I BRANCH. GOOD
AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS MELISSA
STONE, DEPUTY DIRECTOR FOR THE
DISABILITY INSURANCE BRANCH. SO
FOLLOWING THE PANDEMIC, E. D D
DID UNFORTUNATELY EXPERIENCE A
FRAUD ATTACK ON THE DISABILITY
INSURANCE PROGRAM, SO IN 2020
END OF 2021 INTO 2022. WE SAW A
VERY LARGE SURGE OF CLAIMS COME
INTO OUR BRANCH THAT WE HAD TO
STOP TO TAKE THE TIME TO SORT
THROUGH TO DETERMINE WHICH WERE
IMPOSTOR CLAIMS WHICH WERE
FRAUDULENT AS WELL, AS YOU KNOW
, PAYING THE LEGITIMATE CLAIMS.
UNFORTUNATELY THAT DID PUT US
BEHIND IN OUR PROCESSING IN 2022
. WE GOT OUR ARMS AROUND IT
QUICKLY, AND WE'RE WORKING TO
HAVE BEEN WORKING TO GET ON THE
OTHER SIDE OF THAT. UM AND THEN
OUR HOLIDAY SURGE HIT, WHICH IS
TYPICAL FOR PAID FAMILY LEAVE
CLAIMS DISABILITY INSURANCE AS
WELL. THERE ARE INDIVIDUALS WHO
PRIORITIZE TAKING THEIR CLAIMS
AT A CERTAIN TIME OF YEAR SO
THAT THEY CAN SPEND TIME WITH
THEIR FAMILY. AND SO AND WHILE
WE NORMALLY CAN CAÑADA. THAT
HOLIDAY SURGE BECAUSE WE WERE ON
THE HEELS OF THE FRAUD. IT DID
PUT US INTO A BAD PLACE COMING
INTO 2023. WE HAVE BEEN WORKING
REALLY HARD IN 2023 REDIRECTING
RESOURCES WORKING OVERTIME TO
ADDRESS THE UNDERLYING ISSUE,
WHICH IS THE BACKLOG CLAIMS.
THAT'S WHY PEOPLE ARE CALLING
THE CALL CENTER. SO WE HAVE BEEN
BEEN WORKING THAT GETTING VERY
CLOSE TO BEING BACK WITHIN OUR
FIRST PAID TIME LAPSE, WHICH IS
OUR COMMITMENT TO THE PUBLIC ON
HOW QUICKLY WE PAY CLAIMS. AND
SO WE'RE SEEING CALLS IN OUR
NUMBERS COME DOWN SIGNIFICANTLY
AS WE GET CLOSER AND CLOSER TO
THAT NUMBER. THANK YOU
APPRECIATE THAT. YOU UM I DON'T
HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS RELATED TO BOTH ISSUE
FIVE OR SIX, BUT WE'RE GOING TO
KEEP THIS ITEM OPEN AND MOVE ON
TO ISSUE NUMBER SEVEN CAN THANK
YOU. UM, ISSUES SEVEN RELATED TO
REPAYING THE FEDERAL
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE LAWN
RECEIVED DURING THE COVID 19
PANDEMIC. CALIFORNIA OWES
APPROXIMATELY 18 BILLION IN
DEPTH THAT WAS BORROWED FROM THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO HELP SHORE
UP OUR UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE
PROGRAM DURING THE PANDEMIC LAST
YEAR. THE BUDGET INCLUDED ONE
BILLION TO BEGIN PAYING DOWN
THIS FEDERAL DEBT. AN ADDITIONAL
500 MILLION WAS EARMARKED TO
SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESSES AND
OPPOSITE INCREASED FEDERAL
UNEMPLOYMENT TAX RATES. THE
GOVERNOR'S BUDGET IS PROPOSING
TO WITHDRAW 1707 150 MILLION
THAT WAS ALLOCATED TO PAY OFF
THE DEBT. THE BUDGET ALSO
ELIMINATES THE 500 MILLION IN
SMALL BUSINESS SUPPORT. FOR THIS
PANEL. WE ARE JOINED BY ANDREW
MARCH AND PATRICK TOPPING FROM
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AS WELL AS
CHINA'S ALAMO FROM THE L A. OH,
TO DISCUSS THE PROPOSED CUTS.
LET'S BEGIN. THANK YOU CHAIR.
YEAH AS YOU SAID PATRICK TOPPING
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AS YOU
SAID 2023 GOVERNOR'S BUDGET
PROPOSALS TO WITHDRAW THE $750
MILLION GENERAL FUND PAYMENT IN
23 24. THE $500 MILLION FOR UI
TAX RELIEF IN 2024 25. AS PART
OF THE WAY OF, UM, SOLVING THE
BUDGET CAP. HELLO. L. A. OH NO
SPECIFIC COMMENTS ABOUT THE
ADMINISTRATION'S PROPOSAL HERE
IN THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET DID
WANT TO PERHAPS ADDRESS ONE OF
THE QUESTIONS IN THE AGENDA,
HAVING TO DO WITH THE PROJECTED
TIMELINE FOR FULL REPAYMENT OF
THE LOANS. UM, THE LAST TIME OR
OFFICE ASSESSED. SORT OF THE
TIME PERIOD UNDER WHICH WE
THOUGHT IT PROBABLE THAT THAT
BUSINESSES WOULD ULTIMATELY
REPAY THE FEDERAL THE
OUTSTANDING FEDERAL LOAN. OUR
BEST PROJECTION AT THE TIME,
WHICH WAS ABOUT A YEAR AGO
WHETHER IT WOULD TAKE AT LEAST
10 YEARS TO REPAY THE
OUTSTANDING $18 BILLION. WE
POINTED THAT NUMBER OUT AT THE
TIME AS A ILLUSTRATION OF A
LIKELY OUTCOME. BUT GIVEN THE
UNCERTAINTY ABOUT THE TRAJECTORY
OF THE ECONOMY, UM AND OTHER
FACTORS, INCLUDING FEDERAL
INTEREST RATES, THAT NUMBER
COULD CHANGE DRAMATICALLY, YOU
KNOW, SO WE'RE NOT TIED TO 10
YEARS BUT DIDN'T WANT TO PROVIDE
IT FOR CONTEXT. THANK YOU PIVOT
BACK TO THE DEPARTMENT OF
FINANCE AND ON THE SIMILAR
SIMILAR APPROACH. WHAT IS THE
ADMINISTRATION'S ANTICIPATED
TIMELINE TO REPAY THE UI FEDERAL
DEBT WITHOUT THE 750 MILLION
PRINCIPAL PAYMENT? THANK YOU.
CHAIR PATRICK TOPPING DEPARTMENT
OF FINANCE. UM, SORT OF SENATE
EARLIER ADMINISTRATION DOES NOT
HAVE A PROJECTED DATE THAN WHICH
THE REPAYMENT OF THE DEBT, UM DO
DO THROUGH THE AFOREMENTIONED
UNCERTAINTY AROUND THE ECONOMY.
INTEREST RATES, UM THE RATE OF
EMPLOYMENT, EMPLOYMENT
CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE FUND AND
OTHER FACTORS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO
THE ECONOMIC HEALTH AND THE
STATE. UM, IN 10 YEARS THAT THEY
BROUGHT UP, UM IT WAS MENTIONED
LAST TIME AROUND AND DURING THE
BUDGET PROCESS, AND WE ALWAYS
BRING UP THE BORROWING DURING
THE GREAT RECESSION IN WHICH
PEAKED AT 11 BILLION IN 2011
THAT TOOK UNTIL 2018 TO PAY OFF
SORT OF HIS CONTEXT, BUT WE
DON'T HAVE A DATE. ARE THERE ANY
EFFORTS TO WORK WITH THE FEDERAL
ADMINISTRATION TO DETERMINE IF
ANY ALTERNATIVE SOLUTIONS ARE
POSSIBLE AT THIS TIME? PATRICK
DOBBIN DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE.
WE'VE CERTAINLY BEEN IN CONTACT
, UM WITH THAT, AND I CAN DEFER
TO INDONESIA ON THE EFFORTS WITH
NOW AS WELL, AND THINGS LIKE
THAT. NANCY FERRIS. I MEAN, I
WOULD SAY THAT WE OBVIOUSLY ARE
CLOSELY MONITORING. UM THE
PRESIDENT'S BILL THAT HE HAS ON
BASICALLY REFORMING UNEMPLOYMENT
INSURANCE THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY
. UM THERE IS SOME MONEY IN
THERE, SO THAT WOULD BE
SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD YOU KNOW
, WE'RE OBVIOUSLY KEEPING OUR
EYE ON. AND AS PATRICK MENTIONED
, WE DO WORK WITH NOW AS WELL,
WHICH IS THE NATIONAL
ASSOCIATION OF STATE WORKFORCE.
AGENCIES. UM. AND UM YOU KNOW,
WE ARE WE BANNED. WE ALL THE
STATES SORT OF HAVE COME
TOGETHER ON THIS ISSUE BECAUSE
IT'S AN ISSUE IN EVERY STATE.
KANSEN EMILIO. NO SPECIFIC
RESPONSES. UM I WILL NOTE THAT
SEVERAL STATES HAVE. SINCE THE
DIRECT PANDEMIC UNEMPLOYMENT
INSURANCE AID PROGRAMS ENDED
HAVE USED EITHER STATE RESOURCES
OR FEDERAL COVID RELIEF FOR
RESOURCES TO BE DOWN A PORTION
OF THEIR DEBT. UM BUT OBVIOUSLY
, CALIFORNIA'S OUTSTANDING LOAN
BALANCE WAS THE LARGEST IN THE
COUNTRY. THAT'S NO SURPRISE WITH
THE STATE'S LARGEST ECONOMY. UM
SO MANY OF THE OTHER STATES WHO
HAVE TAKEN THOSE STEPS. THE
AMOUNT THAT THEY PAY DOWN WAS
MUCH SMALLER THAN WHAT
CALIFORNIA IS FACING. ONE FINAL
QUESTION. AND JUST, UM POINT OF
PRIORITIES. THE LEGISLATURE
ALLOCATED $500 MILLION TO
SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESSES AND
INDEPENDENT EMMICK. HUGELY
IMPORTANT AND CRITICAL FOR
ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR THOSE
HIT THE HARDEST. YET THE
ADMINISTRATION IS ELIMINATING
THE 500 MILLION IN SUPPORT OF
SMALL BUSINESSES. WHAT IS THE
ADMINISTRATION'S, UM,
ALTERNATIVE TO SUPPORT SMALL
BUSINESSES OR PROVIDE RELIEF?
AMID INCREASED INSURANCE TAX
RATES. THANK YOU, PATRICK
TOPPING DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE.
UM YOU KNOW, I THINK THE
ADMINISTRATION'S PUT A LOT OF
MONEY HORNS, UM PREVIOUS BUDGET
INVESTMENTS TOWARDS SUPPORTING
SMALL BUSINESSES AND A LOT OF
THOSE REMAIN IN THE PROPOSED
POINT OF THIS YEAR IN THE $4
MILLION FROM THE SMALL BUSINESS
COVID 19 RELIEF GRANT PROGRAM
SMALL BUSINESS CREDIT INITIATIVE
. THAT WAS 1.1 MILLION AS WELL
AS UM, SIGNIFICANT DOLLARS FOR
THE COVID 19 SUPPLEMENTAL PAGE.
SIMPLY GRANTS FOR SMALL
BUSINESSES AND SO ON, NOT
NECESSARILY TAX RATES. THE
SUPPORT FOR SMALL BUSINESSES HAS
BEEN THERE. RIGHT BUT ALL OF
THAT ADDS UP TO A MUCH SMALLER
PERCENTAGE THAN THE 500 MILLION
ALLOCATED BY THE LEGISLATURE TO
SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESSES. SELF
CURIOUS AS TO HOW THAT WEALTH IS
SPREAD OUT WHEN THE NUMBER IS SO
LITTLE BASED ON WHAT YOU JUST
DESCRIBED. THE FOUR MILLION FOR
I'M SORRY. CAN YOU REPEAT THE
QUESTION? I'M NOT SURE. I
UNDERSTAND. WE PRIORITIZED 500
MILLION RIGHT? AND IT WAS AND IT
WAS HIGHLY, UM UH, CELEBRATED.
AND IN THIS BUDGET, WE'RE SEEING
THE ELIMINATION OF 500 MILLION,
SO A SMALL BUSINESSES TRY TO
RECOVER CURIOUS AS TO THE
ADMINISTRATION'S APPROACH. TO
NOT HAVING THAT FUNDING
AVAILABLE. ANDREW PARTS
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE. I THINK
IT WAS JUST NOTE THAT CAN YOU
SPEAK CLOSER TO THE ANDREW
MARCH? DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE? I
WOULD JUST NOTE THAT EXACTLY HOW
THE 500 MILLION WAS ANTICIPATED
TO BE SPENT, AND THE PROGRAM
THEREFORE, WAS NOT SORT OF IT
HASN'T BEEN AGREED TO YET. SO
EXACTLY HOW FAR THE 500 MILLION
WILL GO. HOW MANY BUSINESSES IT
WOULD HELP IS UNKNOWN AT THIS
TIME, SO GIVEN THE BUDGET
PROBLEM THAT THE STATE IS FACING
, AND THE SIGNIFICANT SORT OF
PREVIOUS INVESTMENTS TO SMALL
BUSINESSES UM, YOU KNOW, THE
ADMINISTRATION THOUGHT IT
PRUDENT TO, UM, TO ELIMINATE
THIS FUNDING AND IN BUDGET YOUR
PLUS ONE ANY ADDITIONAL
COMMENTS. OKAY NO ADDITIONAL
COMMENTS FROM THE DIETS. WE WILL
MOVE ON TO ISSUE NUMBER EIGHT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WELCOME.
HOLD THIS ITEM OPEN AT THE
MOMENT. LET'S MOVE ON TO OUR
NEXT ISSUE. OUR NEXT PANEL WILL
COVER TWO BUDGET CHANGE
PROPOSALS ON A TRAILER BILL
REQUESTED BY D. D. IN ADDITION
TO THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND
LAO, WE ARE JOINED BY CALEB
CAROL, WITH CHIEF FINANCIAL
OFFICER AT THE D D AND MELISSA
STONE, DISABILITY INSURANCE
DEPUTY DIRECTOR AT THE D. D
PLEASE PRESENT ON THE TWO BUDGET
CHANGE PROPOSALS ON THE
REQUESTED TRAILER BILL. LET'S
BEGIN. GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM
CHAIR MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE.
I AM CALEB HORRELL, CHIEF
FINANCIAL OFFICER FOR THE
EMPLOYMENT DEVELOPMENT
DEPARTMENT. THANK YOU FOR
INVITING ME HERE TODAY TO TALK
ABOUT SEVERAL DEPARTMENTS BUDGET
REQUESTS INCLUDED IN THE
GOVERNOR'S BUDGET. THE FIRST
PROPOSAL, AS YOU MENTIONED WAS
BEFORE THE ACCOUNTING AND
BUSINESS SERVICES RESOURCES.
THIS PROPOSAL REQUESTS 5.1
MILLION IN 23 24 24 25, THEN
THREE MILLION ONGOING BEGINNING
IN 25 26 SPLIT EQUALLY BETWEEN
THE UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION
DISABILITY FUND AND THE
CONTINGENT FUND. THIS REQUEST
WILL PROVIDE IMPORTANT STAFF
RESOURCES TO SUPPORT CASH
MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE
AND PAYABLE. GENERAL LEDGER,
FINANCIAL REPORTING, PROCUREMENT
AND BANK RECONCILIATION
OPERATIONS AT E. D. D. THESE
RESOURCES ARE NEEDED TO ADDRESS
THE PERMANENT, ONGOING WORKLOAD
ASSOCIATED WITH THE DEPARTMENT'S
TRANSITION FROM IT'S LEGACY
ACCOUNTING SYSTEMS TO THE
STATEWIDE FINANCIAL INFORMATION
SYSTEM FOR CALIFORNIA, OTHERWISE
KNOWN AS FISCAL THE RESOURCES
WILL CONTINUE TO ALLOW THE TO
COMPLY WITH STATEWIDE. AND
FEDERAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND
PROCEDURES AS WELL AS ALLOW
STAFF TO PERFORM CRITICAL DAILY
ACCOUNTING AND BUSINESS
OPERATION FUNCTIONS. LASTLY I
SHOULD MENTION THESE RESOURCES
ARE A CONTINUATION OF TEMPORARY
FUNDING RECEIVED AND PASSED
BUDGET CYCLES, INCLUDING 6.9
MILLION IN 18, 19 AND 1923
MILLION FROM 2021 THROUGH THE
CURRENT FISCAL YEAR. THE SECOND
PROPOSAL, WHICH IS SENATE BILL 9
51 STATE DISABILITY INSURANCE
CONTRIBUTION RATES, REQUESTS 4.2
MILLION, AND 23 24 24 25 FROM
THE UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION
DISABILITY FUND TO IMPLEMENT THE
CHANGES REQUIRED BY CHAPTER 8 78
STATUTES OF 2022 OR SP 9 51. SB
9 51 EXTENDED THE CURRENT 60 AND
70% WAGE REPLACEMENT RATES IN
THE DISABILITY INSURANCE AND
PAID FAMILY LEAVE PROGRAMS UNTIL
DECEMBER. 31ST 2024 EFFECTIVE
JANUARY. 1ST 2025 THE WAGE
REPLACEMENT RATES FOR D I AND
PFL INCREASED PERMANENTLY TO
EITHER 70% OR 90% DEPENDING UPON
AN INDIVIDUAL'S WAGES. IT ALSO
LOWERS THE MINIMUM AMOUNT OF
WAGES NEEDED TO RECEIVE A $50
MINIMUM WEEKLY BENEFIT PAYMENT
IN ADDITION TO REMOVING THE
TAXABLE WAGE CEILING THAT IS
SUBJECT TO S D I CONTRIBUTIONS
EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1ST 2020 2024.
FUNDING WILL SUPPORT STAFFING
AND CONTRACT SERVICES TO
IMPLEMENT THE NECESSARY SYSTEM
AND BUSINESS PROCESS CHANGES. AS
A RESULT OF THE CHAPTER
LEGISLATION. AND I WILL DEFER TO
MY COLLEAGUES THE DEPARTMENT OF
FINANCE TO GIVE A BRIEF OVERVIEW
ON THE TRAILER BILL LANGUAGE.
THANK YOU. HENRY TOP IN
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE, JUST THE
TRAILER WILL LANGUAGE TO ALIGN
THE UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE AND
DISABILITY INSURANCE FUND REPORT
RELEASED WHEN THE BUDGET
TIMELINE CHANGES THE EXISTING
LAW, WHICH REQUIRES THE ANY NEED
TO PUBLISH ITS FUND FORECAST IN
OCTOBER, AND MAY. I MEAN HERE TO
JANUARY IN MAY, WHEN THE LINE
THERE WERE SORT OF THE FALL
WINTER RELEASE WITH THE OTHER
IMPORTANT BUDGET DOCUMENTS. THAT
IS DONE IN AREAS LIKE
CORRECTIONS AND HHS. HELIO. OH,
CHAZ ALAMO. WE HAVE NO ISSUES
WITH ANY OF THE THREE PROPOSALS.
THANK YOU. I JUST HAVE A COUPLE
OF QUESTIONS, DISABILITY
INSURANCE AND PAID FAMILY LEAVE
ARE AVAILABLE TO INDIVIDUALS,
REGARDLESS OF IMMIGRATION
STATUS, INCLUDING UNDOCUMENTED
WORKERS. HOW IS E D D ADDRESSING
THE UNIQUE CHALLENGES OF
IMMIGRANTS AND UNDOCUMENTED
WORKERS WISHING TO APPLY FOR D I
OR PFL BENEFITS? FOR EXAMPLE,
HOW CAN AN INDIVIDUAL WITHOUT A
SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER APPLIED
FOR THE BENEFITS? GOOD AFTERNOON
MELISSA STONE DISABILITY
INSURANCE STRUCTURE AGAIN, UM SO
DISABILITY INSURANCE CURRENTLY
SUPPORTS UNDOCUMENTED WORKERS.
IMMIGRATION STATUS HAS NO
BEARING ON THEIR QUALIFICATIONS
INTO THE PROGRAM. LIKE ALL OTHER
APPLICANTS, THEY NEED TO HAVE
WORKED AND PAID INTO THE PROGRAM
AS WELL HAVE QUALIFYING LIFE
EVENT, SO WE WORK WITH THEM
RIGHT NOW, THROUGH A PAPER
APPLICATION PROCESS BECAUSE OUR
ONLINE SYSTEM DOES CURRENTLY
REQUIRE SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER.
SOMETHING WE ARE WORKING TO
ADDRESS THROUGH, HEADED NEXT TO
INCREASE ACCESSIBILITY FOR ALL
CLAIMANTS. UM SO WE WORK WITH
THEM. THEY HELP HELP THEM VERIFY
THAT THEY HAVE WAGES THAT THEY
WERE CONTRIBUTING WAGES INTO THE
PROGRAM. AND THEN THEY GO TO THE
NORMAL APPLICATION PROCESS THAT
ANY OTHER CLAIMANT WOULD AND YOU
VERIFY THEM THROUGH AN ITIN OR
HOW HOW IS WHAT'S THE
VERIFICATION PROCESS.
VERIFICATION IS ACTUALLY RELATED
TO THE THEIR WAGES. SO WE'RE
LOOKING AT THAT THEY HAVE WAGES
THAT CONTRIBUTED INTO THE
PROGRAM AS WELL AS THAT THEY
HAVE THE MEDICAL CERTIFICATION
TO SUPPORT THE QUALIFYING EVENT.
AND GIVEN THE NUMBER OF THEIR
PARTY VENDORS INTEGRATED INTO
EDED SYSTEMS. HOW DOES INDEED
COMMUNITY HOW DOES HE DID
COMMUNICATE TO APPLICANTS THAT
SENSITIVE PERSONAL INFORMATION
INFORMATION SUCH AS THEIR
IMMIGRATION STATUS IS KEPT
CONFIDENTIAL. SO WE DO HAVE
LANGUAGE ON OUR WEBSITE AS WELL
AS IN SOME OF OUR FORMS WHERE WE
DO CLARIFY FOR THEM THAT
IMMIGRATION STATUS DOES NOT PLAY
A FACTOR IN THEIR ELIGIBILITY.
SIMILAR TO PERSONAL HEALTH
INFORMATION, AS WELL AS A PERSON
OF PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE
INFORMATION ET DE DOES RESPECT
THE CONFIDENTIALITY OF OUR
CLAIMANTS AND WORKS TO KEEP ALL
THAT INFORMATION CONFIDENTIAL.
SO WE HAVE THAT SAME EXPECTATION
OF EVERY VENDOR THAT INTERACTS
WITH US THAT THEY UPHOLD THE
SAME STANDARDS. SO JUST SO THAT
I'M CLEAR YOU IF YOU ARE AN
UNDOCUMENTED WORKER AND YOU
QUALIFY FOR D I OR PFL BENEFITS
YOU'RE ABLE TO GO TO THE WEBSITE
GRABBED THE FORM PRINTED I
IMAGINED BUT NOT SUBMITTED
ONLINE. AND YET, ALL THERE ALL
THE INFORMATION RELEVANT TO
THEIR PRIVACY IS ALSO AVAILABLE
ON ONLINE. CURRENTLY PAID FAMILY
LEAVE IS NOT AVAILABLE ONLINE TO
THE SAME DEGREE, AND THEY
WOULDN'T HAVE AN ONLINE ACCOUNT
IF THEY'RE APPLYING VIA PAPER,
SO THEY THE CURRENT TIME THEY'RE
NOT ABLE TO ACCESS THEIR
INFORMATION THROUGH ONLINE SO WE
WOULD JUST WORK BACK AND FORTH
WITH THEM THROUGH THE MAIL OR
PHONE CALL IF WE NEEDED MORE
INFORMATION. I GUESS I'M JUST
TRYING TO PICTURE PROCESS. SO IF
YOU ARE IF YOU WORK AT A
RESTAURANT, RIGHT? AND YOU
QUALIFY FOR D I BENEFITS. HOW DO
I APPLY? HOW DO I GET IT? DO I
GO TO THE WEBSITE AND DOWNLOAD A
FORM OR DO I GO TO AN E D D
OFFICE LIKE IT? SEEMS LIKE THE
ACCESS IS A LITTLE BIT MORE
CHALLENGING OR LIMITED. SO
CURRENTLY THEY CAN EITHER ORDER
AND APPLICATION THROUGH THE
WEBSITE BY CALLING OUR CALL
CENTER. THERE'S AN INTERACTIVE
MENU THAT THEY CAN SELECT AND
REQUEST ONE WITHOUT SPEAKING TO
SOMEONE, OFTENTIMES THEY GET
THEM FROM THEIR DOCTORS, OFFICES
AS WELL. WE DO ACTIVELY DO
OUTREACH WITH DOCTORS, OFFICES
AS WELL AS WITH EMPLOYERS SO
THAT THEY OFTEN KEEP THEM ON
HAND. SO THEY DO HAVE ACCESS
THROUGH A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT
CHANNELS AS WELL AS THEY CAN
COME INTO ANY E D. D OFFICE,
REGARDLESS OF WHICH BRANCH IT IS
AND HAVE ACCESS TO AN
APPLICATION THERE AS WELL. SO
YOU THEY WOULD GO ONLINE AND
REQUESTED AND THEN IT'S MAILED
TO THEM MAILED TO THEM WITHIN 48
HOURS. CORRECT. IS THAT EASIER
THAN JUST HAVING IT AVAILABLE
ONLINE TWO PRINTS OR IS THERE A
PARTICULAR REASON WHY IT'S
MAILED ITS A SYSTEM LIMITATION
RIGHT NOW, BECAUSE THE FORM HAS
TO BE READ BY OUR OCR, WHICH I
APOLOGIZE. I'M NOT GOING TO DO
YOU KNOW THE ACRONYM OPTICAL
CHARACTER RECOGNITION? THANK YOU
. SO IT IS A RED FORM. CURRENTLY
THAT HAS OUR SYSTEM HAS TO BE
ABLE TO READ IT OR SCANNING
SYSTEM. WE ARE LOOKING TO
MODERNIZE A LOT OF THINGS WITH
OUR FORMS THROUGH EATING THE
NEXT, SO I'M SURE THAT WILL BE
LOOKED AT AS PART OF THAT
PROCESS. OKAY I'M JUST THINKING
IN TERMS OF PROCESS WHAT MAKES
IT EASIER FOR SOMEBODY TO
RECEIVE BENEFITS AND LIKE A
SAFETY NET OPPORTUNITY VERSUS
THE BARRIERS OR CHALLENGES
CURRENTLY INTEGRATED AND SYSTEMS
THAT ARE OUTDATED. SO THERE'S AN
OPPORTUNITY THERE WOULD LOVE TO
DISCUSS THAT MORE. THANK YOU FOR
THE SUGGESTION. IT'S ABSOLUTELY
SOMETHING THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT
THROUGH. INDEED, NEXUS. WE WANT
TO HAVE THE SAME ACCESSIBILITY
TO ALL OF OUR CLIMATE GROUPS.
EXCELLENT. BUT THERE ARE NO
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS
FROM MEMBERS OF THE DIESS. NO,
SEEING NONE. WE'RE GONNA HOLD
THIS ITEM OPEN. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH, AND WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON
TO ISSUE NUMBER NINE. OUR NEXT
PANEL WILL PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW
OF THE UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE
PROGRAM IN CALIFORNIA AND
EXAMINE OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPAND
IT TO WORKERS WHO HAVE
HISTORICALLY BEEN EXCLUDED FROM
IT. THE COVID 19 PANDEMIC.
HIGHLIGHTED. LET ME BEGIN AGAIN
. THE COVID 19 PANDEMIC
HIGHLIGHTED THE CRITICAL
IMPORTANCE OF UNEMPLOYMENT
INSURANCE FOR THE FOR OUR
ECONOMY AS BUSINESSES SHUT DOWN
, AND WORKERS LOST THEIR JOBS,
SAFETY NET PROGRAMS LIKE
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE ALLOWED
INDIVIDUALS TO PAY RENT, FEED
THEIR FAMILIES REPAY LOANS AND
WHETHER ONE OF THE WORST GLOBAL
CRISIS IS OF OUR TIME. BUT THE
PANDEMIC ALSO HIGHLIGHTED HOW
SOME OF OUR MOST VULNERABLE
WORKERS ARE SHUT OUT FROM
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE PROGRAMS
TODAY UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS,
SELF EMPLOYED WORKERS AND
INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS CONTINUE
TO BE INELIGIBLE FOR YOU. I
DESPITE THEIR EXTENSIVE
CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUR ECONOMY TO
ADDRESS THIS EXCLUSION, SEVERAL
STATES HAVE TAKEN STEPS TO
CREATE PROGRAMS. TO PROVIDE
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE BENEFITS
TO TRADITIONALLY EXCLUDED
WORKERS, INCLUDING NEW YORK AND
COLORADO. OUR NEXT PANEL WILL
PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW ON HOW YOU I
WORKS IN CALIFORNIA WHAT OTHER
STATES HAVE DONE TO EXPAND
ELIGIBILITY OF THEIR PROGRAM AND
EXPLORE VARIOUS POLICY OPTIONS
AVAILABLE TO CALIFORNIANS. WE
ARE JOINED BY THE L A AS WELL
AS, UM KIM, YOU LET FROM LEGAL
AID AT WORK. WE ARE ALSO JOINED
BY ANYBODY IN THE DEPARTMENT OF
FINANCE WHO ARE AVAILABLE TO
ANSWER TECHNICAL QUESTIONS.
LET'S BEGIN. THANK YOU, MADAM.
CHAIR MEMBERS AGAIN. CHAZ ALAMO
WITH THE LEGISLATIVE ANALYST'S
OFFICE, UM, COMMITTEE. THE
COMMITTEE ASKED US TODAY TO SORT
OF SET UP THIS ISSUE RELATED TO
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE AND THE
POSSIBILITY OF EXTENDING IT TO
CURRENTLY EXCLUDED WORKERS. SO
OVER A BRIEF OVERVIEW, WE'VE
PREPARED A HANDOUT THAT I HOPE
YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU. HAND
OUT IS AVAILABLE ON OUR WEBSITE.
AND AS LONG AS WELL AS WITH THE
COMMITTEE AGENDA MATERIALS. UM
THE AGENDA ITSELF IS RATHER
DETAILED REGARDING THIS TOPIC,
SO I'LL BE BRIEF BEFORE MOVING
FORWARD WITH THE REST OF YOUR
PANEL. UM AS YOU ALL KNOW, THE
STATE'S UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE
PROGRAM IS A STATE FEDERAL
PARTNERSHIP. UM THAT PROVIDES
TEMPORARY WAGE RELIEVED TO
UNEMPLOYED WORKERS WHO QUALIFY
FOR THE PROGRAM. A FEW QUICK
SORT OF DETAILS ABOUT THE
PROGRAM THAT OFFERS BENEFITS FOR
UP TO 26 WEEKS, UM AND THE
CURRENT STATE MAXIMUM WEEKLY
BENEFIT IS $450 A WEEK. UM THE
INTENTION OF THE PROGRAM IS TO
REPLACE HALF OF THE WORKERS
TYPICAL WAGES WHILE THEY'RE
UNEMPLOYED, BUT BECAUSE OF THE
CAP ON SOMETHING ABOUT AROUND
40% OF CURRENT UM CURRENTLY
UNEMPLOYED WORKERS ARE ELIGIBLE
TO RECEIVE THE CAP, UM AND
WHEREAS IF THEY WERE TO RECEIVE
HALF OF THEIR NORMAL WAGES,
THEIR WEEKLY UI BENEFIT WOULD BE
GREATER THAN THE CAP, SO THE CAP
SORT OF IS LIMITING IN THAT
REGARD FOR ALMOST HALF OF
WORKERS IN THE STATE, UM, THE
AVERAGE WEEKLY BENEFIT IN RECENT
YEARS. HAS BEEN ABOUT $330 A
WEEK. AND THE U I PROGRAM IS
FUNDED BY PAYROLL TAXES PAID BY
EMPLOYERS. THERE'S A STATE
PORTION AND THE FEDERAL PORTION
THE AVERAGE STATE PORTION RIGHT
NOW IS 3.6% OF THE 1ST $7000 IN
WAGES, WHICH COMES OUT TO ABOUT
$250 A YEAR PER WORKER. UM. THE
FEDERAL PORTION IS SMALLER AND
HELPS IS COLLECTED BY THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THEN
REDISTRIBUTED TO STATES TO COVER
THE COSTS OF ADMINISTERING THE
PROGRAM. UM SORT OF. MOVING ON
TO ELIGIBILITY MOST BUT NOT ALL
OF THE STATES. WORKERS ARE
ELIGIBLE UNDER THE STATE'S
CURRENT UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE
PROGRAM. UM WE CALCULATE THAT
ABOUT 82% OF WORKERS IN THE
STATE ARE COVERED THE REMAINDER.
UM UM, PRIMARILY INDEPENDENT
CONTRACTORS, SELF EMPLOYED
WORKERS, INFORMAL WORKERS AND
THE STATES. 1.6 MILLION
UNDOCUMENTED WORKERS ARE NOT
CURRENTLY ELIGIBLE FOR
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE. UM, AND
TO GO INTO THE SORT OF THE
BACKGROUND OF WHY THIS IS THE
CASE AS I MENTIONED EARLIER. THE
PROGRAM IS A STATE FEDERAL
PARTNERSHIP. THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT PROVIDES OVERSIGHT
AND SOME ADMINISTRATIVE FUNDING
AND ALSO SETS THE BROAD
GUIDELINES FOR HOW THE PROGRAM
IS TO WORK AND ONE OF THE
REQUIREMENTS FOR ELIGIBILITY
UNDER FEDERAL LAW IS AN
UNEMPLOYED WORKER IS ABLE AND
AVAILABLE TO TAKE A JOB IF IT
WERE TO COME UP. UM AND BECAUSE
UNAUTHORIZED WORKERS ARE NOT
LEGALLY ABLE AND AVAILABLE TO
WORK WITHOUT FEDERAL WORK,
AUTHORIZATION, UNDOCUMENTED
WORKERS DON'T MEET THIS FEDERAL
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS ARE
THEREFORE INELIGIBLE FOR THE
STATE'S PROGRAM. UM MOVING
THROUGH TO SORT OF RECENT YEARS
AND SORT OF THE BACKDROP OF
TODAY'S PANEL. AS YOU ALL KNOW,
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT STEPPED
IN DURING THE PANDEMIC TO EXPAND
UI TO WORKERS WHO ARE TYPICALLY
EXCLUDED FROM THE PROGRAM, AND
THIS IS IN THE FORM OF THE
PROGRAM. P U A. THE PANDEMIC
UNEMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE WHICH
PROVIDED FLAT WEEKLY BENEFITS TO
PRIMARILY SELF EMPLOYED WORKERS
, WHO WOULDN'T OTHERWISE BE
ELIGIBLE FOR UI. THAT PROGRAM
ENDED IN 2021. BUT EVEN THOUGH
THE FEDERAL PROGRAM EXPANDED UI
ACCESS TO SELF EMPLOYED WORKERS
, IT DID NOT EXPAND UNEMPLOYMENT
INSURANCE TO UNDOCUMENTED
WORKERS FOR THE SAME REASONS I
MENTIONED EARLIER ABOUT THIS
SORT OF ROOT ELIGIBILITY ISSUE
OF BEING ABLE TO WORK WITHOUT
FEDERAL WORK AUTHORIZATION. SORT
OF AT THE SAME TIME THAT THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT EXPANDED THE
P U. A PROGRAM FOR SELF EMPLOYED
WORKERS. SEVERAL STATES TOOK
OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPAND AND SET
UP STATE RUN PROGRAMS SIMILAR TO
YOU, I BUT SPECIFICALLY FOR
UNDOCUMENTED WORKERS, UM, AT
MOST RECENT COUNT 12 STATES AND
ACTED SOME FORM OF ASSISTANCE OR
RELIEF FOR UNEMPLOYED
UNDOCUMENTED WORKERS DURING THE
PANDEMIC. UM THE LARGEST OF
THOSE PROGRAMS WAS WAS A PROGRAM
RUN OUT OF NEW YORK STATE. THE
SECOND LARGEST WAS WASHINGTON
STATE'S AND THE THIRD LARGEST
WAS CALIFORNIA'S, UM, A BIT
ABOUT CALIFORNIA'S PROGRAM.
SPECIFICALLY IT WAS THE DISASTER
RELIEF ASSISTANCE FOR IMMIGRANTS
PROGRAM AREA THAT PROVIDED $125
MILLION. IN ONE TIME $500 GRANTS
FOR UNDOCUMENTED WORKERS WHO
HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY THE
PANDEMIC. THAT PROGRAM WAS IN
ONE OUT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF
SOCIAL SERVICES. SO D S S AND
NOT THE STATES. E G. D. HMM UM,
ANDREA PROVIDED THOSE BENEFITS
TO ABOUT 150,000 UNDOCUMENTED
WORKERS. UM I DID WANT TO POINT
OUT, THOUGH, THAT THIS OVERALL
PROGRAM WAS $125 MILLION, SO
RELATIVELY SMALL COMPARED TO THE
MAGNITUDE OF OTHER PANDEMIC
RELIEF EFFORTS, BUT THE STATE
DID INCLUDE ITIN FILERS, UM, SO
UNDOCUMENTED WORKERS WHO FILE
TAXES IN THE STATE. UM AS
ELIGIBLE RECIPIENTS OF BOTH THE
1ST AND 2ND ROUNDS OF THE GOLDEN
STATE STIMULUS. THE MOST RECENT
FISCAL ESTIMATES PROVIDED BY THE
ADMINISTRATION SHOW US THAT
ABOUT $950 MILLION WENT OUT IN
THOSE STIMULUS PAYMENTS TO, UM
UNDOCUMENTED TAXPAYERS. THESE
ARE AGAIN I TEND TAX FILERS WHO
MAKE UP ABOUT HALF OF THE STATES
UNDOCUMENTED WORKFORCE. THE. THE
VAST MAJORITY OF THE STATE RUN
PROGRAMS FOR UNDOCUMENTED
WORKERS DURING THE PANDEMIC HAVE
ENDED, SO THEY WERE ONE TIME IN
NATURE, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF A
PROGRAM THAT'S BEEN STARTED IN
COLORADO. UM THE COLORADO
PROGRAM IS CALLED THE BENEFIT
RECOVERY FUND. IT IS A YOU. I
LIKE BENEFIT AVAILABLE TO
UNDOCUMENTED WORKERS. THE
PROGRAM IS CAPPED AT $30 MILLION
A YEAR, AND COLORADO OFFICIALS
ESTIMATE THAT UNDER THAT CAP
THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO PROVIDE
YOU. I LIKE BENEFITS TO ABOUT
2500 UNDOCUMENTED WORKERS EACH
YEAR, SO IT'S RELATIVELY SMALL
AND SCOPE. THE PROGRAM IS
ONGOING IN NATURE AND IS FUNDED
BY AN EXISTING SURCHARGE ON
EMPLOYERS. UI PAYROLL TAXES THAT
HAD PREVIOUSLY FUNDED SOME
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS.
UM AND I THINK IMPORTANT CONTEXT
TO PROVIDE HERE FOR THE
COMMITTEE IS THAT THE ONGOING
COLORADO PROGRAM WAS ENACTED AS
PART OF A SERIES OF OTHER
CHANGES, WHICH INCLUDED THE
STATE OF COLORADO, CONTRIBUTING
$600 MILLION TOWARD THE STATE'S
OUTSTANDING FEDERAL UI LOAN. UM
AND THIS HAS THE EFFECT OF
RELIEVING COLORADO EMPLOYERS
FROM HIGHER PAYROLL TAXES TO
REPAY THAT $600 MILLION SO THIS
IS THE SORT OF A PACKAGE IN
ESSENCE THAT WAS AGREED TO IN
COLORADO TO REPAY A PORTION OF
THE STATE'S UM OUTSTANDING
FEDERAL LOAN AND ALSO CREATE AND
ONGOING FUNDING SOURCE FOR A
RELATIVELY SMALL, UI LIKE
PROGRAM FOR UNDOCUMENTED WORKERS
. UM I'M HAPPY TO STAY ON THE
PANEL, ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT
YOU MIGHT HAVE FOR OUR OFFICE OR
WORK WITH MEMBERS OF THE
COMMITTEE? OR THE CHAIR ON
QUESTIONS GOING FORWARD. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MR
ALAMO. WE'RE GOING TO HEAR FROM
KIM ALOUETTE WHEN LEGAL AID AT
WORK AND ALSO PART OF THE
COALITION SAFETY NET FOR ALL
WHICH HAS JUST EARLIER TODAY,
THIS PROCESS AND THIS POTENTIAL
PEACE. PEACE MOVING FORWARD AS A
LATINO CAUCUS PRIORITY. SO
PLEASE GO AHEAD. THANK YOU SO
MUCH. MY NAME IS KIM BULLET. I'M
AN ATTORNEY AT LEGAL AID AT WORK
. LEGAL AID AT WORK IS A
NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION BASED IN
SAN FRANCISCO THAT ADVOCATES ON
BEHALF OF LOW WAGE WORKERS
ACROSS CALIFORNIA. UM SO I'D
LIKE TO START BY JUST VERY
BRIEFLY SHARING A RECENT STORY
FROM OUR WORKER THAT I THINK
ILLUSTRATES THE REAL LIFE
IMPACTS OF THIS PROBLEM THAT
WE'RE FACING. UM SO THIS
INDIVIDUAL'S NAME IS MARIO. HE
IMMIGRATED TO UNITED STATES IN
THE 19 EIGHTIES FROM MEXICO, AND
HE SPENT OVER 30 YEARS WORKING
IN THE FIELDS IN CALIFORNIA.
TODAY HE LIVES IN MADEIRA AND,
UM, ABOUT TOWARDS THE END OF THE
END OF LAST YEAR. HE
UNFORTUNATELY WAS LAID OFF FROM
HIS JOB PICKING AND PACKING
KIWIS. UM YOU KNOW, HE HAS TRIED
HARD TO FIND WORK AGAIN. UM HE'S
BEEN LOOKING FOR JOBS, BUT HE'S
BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL SO FAR. MANY
WORKS HAVE NOT MET. MANY FARMS
HAVE NOT HAD WORK AVAILABLE DUE
TO THE PERSISTENT RAINS OVER THE
LAST SEVERAL MONTHS. UM MARIO IS
NOT ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE
UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS BECAUSE HE
IS UNDOCUMENTED. UM HE IS THE
PRIMARY PROVIDER FOR HIS WIFE,
WHO IS UNABLE TO WORK DUE TO A
SERIOUS MEDICAL CONDITION, AND
SO BOTH OF THEM HAVE GONE
WITHOUT INCOME SINCE LAST YEAR.
UM, SO MARIO'S STRUGGLING, HE'S
TAKEN OUT LOANS TO PAY HIS RENT
AND ELECTRICITY BILLS, AND HE
HAS NO IDEA HOW HE'S GOING TO BE
ABLE TO PAY THEM BACK. UM AND HE
SAYS HE'S LIVING DAY TO DAY. UM
HAVE HE'S ABLE TO HAVE FOOD ONLY
WHEN HE CAN FIND SOME, UM, GOING
TO FOOD BANKS AND CHARITIES FOR
ASSISTANCE. SO DESPITE HAVING
SPENT OVER 30 YEARS UH, YOU KNOW
, GROWING AND HARVESTING THE
PRODUCE THAT FEEDS FAMILIES
ACROSS THE COUNTRY TODAY. FACED
WITH UNEMPLOYMENT, MARIO CAN'T
FEED HIS OWN FAMILY, AND THIS IS
THE PRODUCT OF POLICY DECISIONS
THAT HAVE LEFT MANY WORKERS
EXCLUDED FROM OUR STATE SAFETY
NET. UM MARIO'S STORY IS NOT
UNIQUE. AS HAS BEEN MENTIONED.
IT'S MENTIONED THAT IT IS
ESTIMATED THAT THERE'S OVER ONE
MILLION. UM AH, UNDOCUMENTED
INDIVIDUALS PERFORMING WORK AS
EMPLOYEES IN CALIFORNIA. UM AND
UNDOCUMENTED WORKERS MAKE UP
OVER 6% OF THE TOTAL WORKFORCE
IN CALIFORNIA. CERTAIN
INDUSTRIES RELY MORE HEAVILY ON
UNDOCUMENTED WORKERS THAN OTHERS
. UM SO JUST AS ONE EXAMPLE
AGRICULTURE IS ONE AREA WHERE
IT'S MOST HEAVILY CONCENTRATED
59% OF AGRICULTURAL WORKERS ARE
ESTIMATED TO BE UNDOCUMENTED IN
CALIFORNIA. UM OTHER INDUSTRIES
THAT HAVE HEAVY CONCENTRATIONS
OF THESE WORKERS INCLUDE
CAREGIVING HOSPITALITY.
MANUFACTURING WAREHOUSING AND
CONSTRUCTION. ALL INDUSTRIES
THAT ARE CRITICAL TO THE
CALIFORNIA ECONOMY AND THE
FUTURE OF WORK IN THE STATE. IN
TIMES OF CRISIS AND ECONOMIC
DOWNTURNS, UNDOCUMENTED WORKERS
AND THE INDUSTRIES WHERE THEY'RE
CONCENTRATED, ARE ALSO
DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED BY
UNEMPLOYMENT. SO JUST ONE
EXAMPLE DURING THE HEIGHT OF THE
PANDEMIC, THE DEMOGRAPHIC GROUP
THAT FACED THE HIGHEST RATES OF
UNEMPLOYMENT IN CALIFORNIA WAS
NONCITIZEN WOMEN WHO IN 2020
WERE UNEMPLOYED AT A RATE OF 36.
UM ADDITIONALLY IN THE FACE OF
NATURAL DISASTERS LIKE FIRES,
DROUGHTS AND FLOODS, WE KNOW
THAT IMMIGRANT WORKERS ARE
SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACTED. SO FOR
INSTANCE, THE STORMS THAT WE'VE
BEEN EXPERIENCING, UM OVER THE
LAST MONTHS HAVE FLOODED HUGE
AREAS OF FARMLAND ACROSS
CALIFORNIA, DAMAGING CROPS AND
PUT MANY FARM WORKERS OUT OF
WORK. UM WE KNOW TOWNS LIKE
PLANETA AND PANCARO HAD TO BE
COMPLETELY EVACUATED DUE TO
FLOODING. AND UM, BOTH OF THOSE
TOWNS HAVE SIGNIFICANT
UNDOCUMENTED POPULATION. SO
THESE ARE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE
NOW WITHOUT HOMES WITHOUT JOBS
AND HAVE NO SOURCE OF FINANCIAL
SUPPORT. UM CLIMATE CHANGE WILL
ONLY INCREASE THE FREQUENCY AND
INTENSITY OF THESE STORMS. UM
AND SO WE KNOW THAT IT WILL
INCREASE THE FREQUENCY OF JOB
LOSS AS WELL. I WANT TO MAKE
SURE AND EMPHASIZE THAT THESE
WORKERS AND THEIR EMPLOYERS ARE
CONTRIBUTING TO THE EXISTING
SYSTEM, SO TAXES ON THE LABOR OF
UNDOCUMENTED WORKERS HERE IN
CALIFORNIA CONTRIBUTE AN
ESTIMATED $485 MILLION EVERY
YEAR TO THE UI SYSTEM. HOWEVER
THESE WORKERS CAN NEVER SEE A
CENT OF THE BENEFITS. SO
ESSENTIALLY, THESE WORKERS AND
THEIR EMPLOYERS WHO ARE
CONCENTRATED IN SOME OF THE
LOWER WAGE INDUSTRIES IN THE
STATE ARE SUBSIDIZING THE SYSTEM
FOR EVERYONE ELSE. UM AS WAS
MENTIONED DUE TO FEDERAL
RESTRICTIONS. CALIFORNIA CAN'T
EXPAND OUR EXISTING UI
INFRASTRUCTURE TO INCLUDE THESE
WORKERS. HOWEVER CALIFORNIA CAN
CREATE A SEPARATE STATE FUND TO
PROVIDE A SIMILAR BENEFIT TO
THESE WORKERS WHO ARE
EXPERIENCING JOB LOSS. BUT WHO
CANNOT ACCESS A REGULAR UI DUE
TO THEIR STATUS. UM AS HAS BEEN
MENTIONED. ALREADY SEVERAL
STATES HAVE PROVIDED FINANCIAL
BENEFITS DIRECTLY TO
UNDOCUMENTED WORKERS. AND SO WE
KNOW THIS IS SOMETHING THAT CAN
WORK. THERE ARE, OF COURSE, SOME
UNIQUE, UNIQUE CIRCUMSTANCES
THAT HAVE TO BE ACCOUNTED FOR IN
DESIGNING A PROGRAM FOR
UNDOCUMENTED WORKERS, UM, FOR
INSTANCE, IN ORDER TO ACCESS
BENEFITS WORKERS WOULD BE
REQUIRED TO SUBMIT DOCUMENTATION
TO PROVE THEIR IDENTITY DIRECT
THEIR RESIDENCY AND THEIR WORK
HISTORY. WORK HISTORY CAN BE
PROVED, UM, USING A NUMBER OF
DIFFERENT WAYS. FOR EXAMPLE,
MANY WORKERS WHO HAVE INDIVIDUAL
TAXPAYER IDENTIFICATION NUMBERS
OR 10 NUMBERS CAN APPLY USING
THEIR ATTACKS, DOCUMENTATION,
WHICH IS EASILY AND QUICKLY
VERIFIABLE. OTHER WORKERS WHO
DON'T HAVE THAT COULD USE PAY
STUBS. TIME RECORDS ARE COMEDY
COMBINATION OF OTHER DOCUMENTS
THAT CAN BE CROSS REFERENCED TO
ESTABLISH THEIR WORK HISTORY
HERE IN THE STATE. UM A STATE
INVESTMENT IN UNEMPLOYMENT
BENEFITS FOR EXCLUDED WORKERS
WOULD HELP TO PREVENT
INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES FROM
GOING INTO DEBT, EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS SUFFERING FROM FOOD
INSECURITY WHEN THEY LOSE THEIR
JOB. BUT IT ALSO WOULD HELP TO
STABILIZE A CRITICAL IN
INDUSTRIES. UM IMPACTED BY JOB
LOSS BY ENSURING THAT THE
WORKERS ARE STILL HATE HERE WHEN
BUSINESSES ARE ABLE TO REHIRE
AND WE ALSO KNOW THAT FOR EVERY
DOLLAR SPENT ON U. I BENEFITS IT
GENERATES APPROXIMATELY A DOLLAR
AND 61 CENTS IN ECONOMIC
STIMULUS IN THE ECONOMY, BECAUSE
THE WORKERS ARE THEN SPENDING
THAT MONEY IN THEIR LOCAL
COMMUNITIES. UM AS A STATE THAT
IS HEAVILY RELIANT ON THE LABOR
OF UNDOCUMENTED WORKERS. ENDING
THIS EXCLUSION FROM UNEMPLOYMENT
INSURANCE IS A NECESSARY STEP
TOWARDS ENSURING ECONOMIC
RESILIENCE FOR THE STATE AND
EQUAL PROTECTION FOR ALL WORKERS
. THANKS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO
PRESENT AND I'M HAPPY TO TRY AND
ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU
FOR THE PRESENTATION. I WANT TO
JUST MAKE A NOTE THAT IT IS.
UNTRADITIONAL TO HAVE PANEL
DISCUSSIONS LIKE THE ONES WE'RE
HAVING NOW. IT IS UP TO THE
PRIVILEGE OF THE CHAIR AS TO
WHAT WE PUT ON THE AGENDA, AND I
SAY THAT BECAUSE LAST YEAR AMID
PANDEMIC I MYSELF HAD TO
TRANSLATE FROM SPANISH SPEAKING
COLLARS INTO ENGLISH SO THAT
THEY WERE RECORDED ONTO OUR
CONVERSATION FOR INDIVIDUALS
THAT WERE, UM IMMIGRANT
UNDOCUMENTED EXCLUDED WORKERS
THAT WE'RE NOT RECEIVING ANY
ADDITIONAL SUPPORT AMID THE
COVID 19 PANDEMIC AND WHO ARE
CALLING IN ASKING TO BE SEEN AND
RECOGNIZED AND ENSURING THAT
EVERY CALIFORNIAN REGARDLESS OF
IMMIGRATION STATUS IS
REPRESENTED IN THE PEOPLE'S
HOUSE. AND SO THE SAFETY NET
COALITION BOTH IN COLLABORATION
WITH THE ASSEMBLY AND THE
SENATE. ARE OPEN TO THOSE
CONVERSATIONS AND AN ASSEMBLY
BUDGETS OF FOUR. WE WANTED TO
INCLUDE THIS CONVERSATION AS
PART OF THE RECORD. WITHIN OUR
WITHIN OUR CALIFORNIA STATE
BUDGET CONVERSATION, SO THANK
YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. I'M
GONNA OPEN IT UP TO MEMBERS OF
THE COMMITTEE IF THEY HAVE
QUESTIONS, BUT LET'S LET'S UH, A
FEW A FEW COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS
ON MY OWN. UM I'M VERY CURIOUS
AS TO HOW OTHER STATES ARE
PUTTING FORWARD A PROGRAM TO
SUPPORT EXCLUDED WORKERS.
WONDERING IF, UM MAYBE THE L A O
OR OR YOURSELF CAN TALK ABOUT
HOW IS THE ELIGIBILITY BEING
VERIFIED IN STATES THAT
CURRENTLY HAVE A PROGRAM THAT'S
LOOKING TO INCLUDE EXCLUDED
WORKERS. SURE YEAH, I CAN TALK
ABOUT NEW YORK IS JUST A
COMPARABLE EXAMPLE BECAUSE THEY
DID HAVE THE LARGEST PROGRAM SO
IN NEW YORK TO PROVE RESIDENCY,
THEY THERE WAS A NUMBER OF
DIFFERENT DOCUMENTS THAT COULD
BE USED. NEW YORK SIMILAR TO
CALIFORNIA, UNDOCUMENTED
RESIDENTS ARE ABLE TO ACCESS THE
STATE DRIVER'S LICENSE, SO THE
DRIVER'S LICENSE WAS USED. NEW
YORK ALSO HAS A NON DRIVING ID
CARD. TAX RETURNS. UM AND
UTILITY AND BANK BILLS WERE ALL
USED, UM FOR BOTH, UM, IDENTITY
AND WORK HISTORY. WHAT NEW YORK
USED WAS THEY DEVELOPED A POINT
SYSTEM WHERE CERTAIN DOCUMENTS
LIKE TAX RETURNS WHERE THE STATE
CAN RECEIVE THAT EASILY VERIFY
THAT INFORMATION. A SINGLE
DOCUMENT WAS SUFFICIENT TO, UM,
SATISFY THAT CATEGORY TO PROVE
WORK HISTORY. UM, BUT WE ALSO
KNOW THAT SOME WORKERS DON'T
HAVE THOSE DOCUMENTS. AND SO
WHAT? THEY DID IS, UM, CREATED
OTHER OPTIONS THAT IF YOU
PRODUCED A NUMBER OF DOCUMENTS
THEY WOULD ADD UP TO A
SUFFICIENT POINTS TO SHOW THAT
YOU HAD ESTABLISHED THAT
CATEGORY. SO FOR EXAMPLE FOR
WORK HISTORY. HIGHER POINTS WERE
GIVEN TO WAGE STATEMENTS,
LETTERS FROM EMPLOYERS, TAX
RETURNS OR TAX DOCUMENTS. AND
THEN LESSER POINTS WERE
AVAILABLE FOR COMMUNICATIONS
BETWEEN WORKER AND EMPLOYER
ESTABLISHING THE RELATIONSHIP
AND THE WORK HISTORY COMMUTE
RECORDS PAYMENT. TRANSACTION
LOGS ARE OUR BANK RECORDS, SO
THAT'S SORT OF ONE OF THE WAYS
THAT NEW YORK STRUCK THAT
BALANCE, AND THE VAST MAJORITY
OF APPLICANTS USED SORT OF THOSE
SIMPLER METHODS RIGHT LIKE USING
THE TAX DOCUMENTS, BUT THEY
STILL WERE ABLE TO MAKE SURE
THAT THE FUND WAS BROADLY
INCLUSIVE OF ALL WORKERS. DID
YOU WANT TO ADD SOMETHING? I
THINK AGAIN, CHAZ ALAMO WITH THE
L A. OH A BIT OF CONTEXT THAT
MAYBE I SHOULD HAVE EMPHASIZED
MORE HEAVILY. THE 12 STATES,
INCLUDING CALIFORNIA, WHO
INITIATED TEMPORARY PROGRAMS
DURING THE PANDEMIC TENDED TO
MODEL THE FEDERAL PROGRAM. AND
BY THAT I MEAN THAT THE BENEFITS
WERE FLAT AMOUNTS PER WEEK FOR
ANYONE WHO WAS DEEMED ELIGIBLE.
IT DIDN'T HAVE A CLOSE NEXUS OR
WASN'T RELATED TO HOW MUCH YOU
HAD EARNED. AH SORT OF OVER THE
PAST 12 OR 16 MONTHS IN THE WAY
THAT THE STATE'S UI PROGRAM IS
AND FOR THOSE DATES AND FOR
CONTEMPLATING A PROGRAM GOING
FORWARD. THAT ELEMENT OF
SIMPLICITY GREATLY REDUCES THE
AMOUNT OF INFORMATION YOU NEED
TO COLLECT FROM WORKERS AND
VERIFY ESPECIALLY IF THOSE
WORKERS AS IN MANY CASES HERE
HAVE SORT OF A TYPICAL WORKING
RELATIONSHIPS WITH THEIR
EMPLOYER, GIVEN THEIR
UNDOCUMENTED STATUS, UM TO THIS,
POINTING OUT THAT A SIMPLE
PROGRAM IS EASIER TO VERIFY, AND
THAT'S WHAT ALL STATES DID
DURING DURING THE PANDEMIC. THE
DRY A PROGRAM WAS 125 MILLION,
UH, PARTLY THROUGH THE STATE
BUDGET. IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY,
THE GENERAL FUND AND PARTLY IN
ADDITION TO PHILANTHROPY AND
ORGANIZATIONS THAT PUT MONEY IN
THE POT. THAT FUNDING THEN WAS
DIRECTED TO, UM ON THE GROUND
NONPROFITS TO CONNECT WITH
INDIVIDUALS THAT COULD
POTENTIALLY QUALIFY. THE THING
THAT I FLAGGED WHEN WE WERE
HAVING THIS ORIGINAL
CONVERSATIONS WAS THAT
INDIVIDUALS HAVE TO BE CONNECTED
TO A NONPROFIT TO EVEN BEGIN THE
CONVERSATIONS ABOUT POTENTIALLY
BEING ELIGIBLE. RIGHT SO IF YOU
ARE NOT CONNECTED IF YOU'RE
SIMPLY GOING ABOUT AND LIVING
YOUR LIFE AND JUST TRYING TO
PROVIDE FOR YOUR FAMILY, AND
YOU'RE NOT A PART OF A NONPROFIT
THAT WAS SELECTED TO BE A PART
OF THE DRILL PROGRAM, THEN
YOU'RE ALSO ESSENTIALLY LEFT
OUT. SO THOSE ARE JUST SOME OF
THE THINGS THAT I THINK ABOUT
WHEN ESTABLISHING WHEN THINKING
ABOUT IDEAS ABOUT HOW TO
ESTABLISH SOMETHING NEW AND
LOOKING AT WHAT OTHER STATES
HAVE DONE IS WHAT IS THE
CONNECTION WITH THE NONPROFITS
ON THE GROUND? HOW DO WE EXPAND
THAT POTENTIAL ACCESS IF THERE
ARE ALSO POTENTIALLY ONE MILLION
UM UNDOCUMENTED AND EXCLUDED
WORKERS IN THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA. IF I REMEMBER
CORRECTLY FROM LAST SESSION AND
ANOTHER BUDGET HEARING OUT OF
THE ONE MILLION UNDOCUMENTED
WORKERS, THERE'S ONLY ABOUT
60,000 OF WHICH HAVE AN ITEM
NUMBER. PART OF WHAT WE WERE
HOPING TO BE ABLE TO ACHIEVE
THIS. HOW DO WE HOW DO WE EXPAND
ON ACCESS TO HEIGHTEN
RECIPIENTS? UM AND ALSO THIS
IDEA THAT YOU CAN TRUST YOU CAN
TRUST THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
WITH AN ITEM. AND YOU CAN TRUST
THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AND WHAT
WE DISCUSSED IN THE PREVIOUS
PANEL, WHICH WAS PRIVACY AND
CONFIDENTIALITY OF IMMIGRATION
STATUS ARE THOSE WHAT ARE SOME
OF YOU CAN SHARE WITH SOME OF
THOSE CONVERSATIONS ARE LIKE
WITH THE COALITION IN GENERAL,
IN TERMS OF WHAT WORKED AND THAT
PROGRAM AND WHAT CAN BE DONE
DIFFERENTLY. SURE SO.
CALIFORNIA'S PROGRAM WAS
ACTUALLY, UM, QUITE UNIQUE AND
REQUIRING CONTACT THAT I'M
REFERRING TO THE DISASTER RELIEF
ASSISTANCE FOR IMMIGRANTS
PROGRAM WAS ACTUALLY QUITE
UNIQUE AND REQUIRING CONTACT
THROUGH A CBOS AND THAT CREATED
QUITE A BOTTLENECK WHERE SO MANY
WORKERS HAD URGENT NEED AT THAT
TIME. UM AND I THINK IT WAS ONLY
13 CBOS COMMUNITY BASED
ORGANIZATIONS THAT WERE
DISTRIBUTING THE BENEFITS. UM
AND SO THAT THAT CREATED A REAL
BOTTLENECK. MOST OTHER STATES
HOW THEY'VE DONE IT IS IT'S IN
AN ONLINE APPLICATION. FOR
INSTANCE, IN NEW YORK, YOU COULD
APPLY ON A PHONE OR A COMPUTER.
THE VAST MAJORITY OF APPLICANTS
DID IT THAT WAY. BUT THERE WAS
ALSO A CBO COMPONENT. WHERE
ESPECIALLY FOR WORKERS, YOU KNOW
WE HAVE SOME WORKERS WHO ARE
ILLITERATE, RIGHT? IT'S GOING TO
BE MORE DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO
APPLY USING THAT, UM NOTHING. UM
YOU COULD GO THROUGH, UH,
TRUSTED CBOS, UM, TO DO THE
APPLICATION, SO IT'S SORT OF
PROVIDED BOTH OPTIONS, AND I
THINK THAT'S BEEN SEEN AS VERY
SUCCESSFUL RIGHT WHERE, UM, IT'S
EASIER FOR THE VAST MAJORITY OF
APPLICANTS. THEY ARE GOING TO BE
ABLE TO DO IT ONLINE. UM, BUT
THERE ARE THESE OTHER WAYS. UM,
FOR WORKERS TO DO THAT, UM ON
THE ITUNES COMMENT. I WILL JUST
NOTE THAT ONE OF THE INTERESTING
YOU KNOW THE NEW YORK PROGRAM
WAS IMPLEMENTED IN 2021. THERE'S
BEEN A LOT OF INTERESTING
RESEARCH ABOUT THE IMPACT OF THE
PROGRAM. UM AND ONE OF THE
THINGS THAT WORKERS COULD DO AT
THAT TIME WAS TO APPLY WITH, I
THINK, UM THEY HAD THEY HAD ONLY
SUBMITTED THEIR APPLICATION FOR
AN ITIN. UM BUT THAT ACTUALLY
HELPED ENCOURAGE WHAT STUDIES
SHOWED IS THAT ACTUALLY HELPED
ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO APPLY FOR
ITUNES AND TO BE MORE INTEGRATED
, SO THE PROGRAM ITSELF ACTUALLY
HELPED. TO BUILD TRUST IN
GOVERNMENT INSTITUTIONS. AND YOU
YOU SAW THAT WITH SORT OF THE
INTERVIEWS FROM WORKERS WHO
PARTICIPATED IN THE PROGRAM.
WHEN I OPENED IT UP TO THE
DIETS, MAJORITY LEADER THANK YOU
. I APPRECIATE THE COMMENT THAT
YOU MADE EARLIER. THAT SEEMS
LIKE THE BEST WAY TO DO THIS
WOULD BE TO PUT TOGETHER A
SEPARATE STATE FUND FOR THOSE
WHO CAN'T ACCESS THE REGULAR
FUND. AND YOU'VE GIVEN US SOME
IDEAS ON THE KIND OF
IDENTIFICATION THAT CAN BE USED
. MADAM CHAIR. UM WOULD IT BE
POSSIBLE TO ASK OUR DIRECTOR TO
JOIN US FOR JUST A SECOND.
ABSOLUTELY, UM THEY'RE HERE FOR
10. ANSWER ANY TECHNICAL
QUESTION DIRECTOR FERRIES MAY OR
MAY NOT BE ABLE TO ANSWER THIS
RIGHT MAY HAVE TO CONGRESS THE
UP. ALRIGHT MADAM DIRECTOR.
HERE'S MY QUESTION. UM THIS IS
AN ISSUE THAT HAS, UM IT IS A
LATINO CAUCUS PRIORITY. IT IS A
PRIORITY FOR SOME OF OUR OTHER
CAUCUSES. UM THERE HAVE BEEN
ATTEMPTS AND AS WE TALKED ABOUT
THE DISASTER RELIEF PROGRAM, UM
I'M NOT SAYING IT WAS A
DISASTER, BUT IT WASN'T THE BEST
WAY TO DO IT, AND THE MONEY RAN
OUT VERY QUICKLY. MANY PEOPLE
COULDN'T GET THROUGH THE LINES
AND NOW HEARING ABOUT WHAT NEW
YORK HAS DONE WITH THIS ONLINE
APPLICATION AND THAT THE CBO
COMPONENT MY QUESTION IS THIS
SHOULD THE. BUDGET INCLUDE THE
AMOUNT AH! THE AMOUNT BEING
REQUESTED WAS I SAW IT
SOMEWHERE. 297. $356 MILLION.01
TIME GENERAL FUND. SHOULD THAT
BE INCLUDED IN THE BUDGET? IS E
D. D. DOES HE D D HAVE THE
CAPACITY NOW TO PUT TOGETHER A
SEPARATE STATE FUND. FOR THOSE
WHO CAN'T ASK THE ACCESS THE
REGULAR FUND SO WE WOULD HAVE TO
BUILD THAT OUT BECAUSE THE
FEDERAL REGULATIONS. YOU CAN'T
CO MINGLE RIGHT? THE UI HAS TO
BE FOR YOU KNOW YOU I SO WE
WOULD HAVE TO BUILD THAT OUT.
YES, BUT IT IS SOMETHING THAT E
D D SHOULD IT BE IN THE BUDGET E
. D D WOULD BE PREPARED TO
IMPLEMENT THIS. WELL, WE HAVEN'T
ACTUALLY LOOKED AT ALL OF THE
DETAILS OF WHAT IT WHAT IT WHAT
THIS ACTUALLY LOOKS LIKE, BUT IT
WOULD COST TIME RESOURCES.
PEOPLE AND TIME IS PROBABLY THE
BIGGEST FACTOR BECAUSE WE DO
HAVE E D D NEXT THAT WE'RE DOING
AS WELL. WHICH IS A BIG I T
PROJECT THEY OFTEN SAY WHERE
THERE IS A WILL. THERE IS AWAY.
I'M ASKING IF THERE IS A WILL TO
IMPLEMENT THIS PROGRAM SHOULD BE
INCLUDED IN THE BUDGET. I DON'T
THINK I COULD ANSWER THAT RIGHT
NOW. THE DIRECTOR OF E, D D AND
I'M ASKING YOU AND YOUR CAPACITY
IF THE LEGISLATURE WERE TO
INCLUDE THIS IN THE BUDGET.
ASKING THAT WE PROVIDE BENEFITS
TO EXCLUDED WORKERS. AND IF THE
LEGISLATURE AND IN THE SIGNED BY
THE GOVERNOR IF IT INCLUDES
THESE BENEFITS FOR EXCLUDED
WORKERS, SAYING THEY SHOULD BE
INCLUDED, THEY HAVE BEEN PAYING
INTO THE SYSTEM. THE EMPLOYERS
HAVE BEEN PAYING THEIR THEIR
PART OF IT. MHM NUMBER THAT WAS
GIVEN $485 MILLION CONTRIBUTED
ANNUALLY TO THIS PROGRAM. YET
NONE OF THOSE WORKERS RECEIVE
ANY OF THE BENEFITS. QUESTION TO
YOU IS IF THIS IS INCLUDED IN
THE BUDGET. AND WE SAY WE NEED
TO INCLUDE THESE EXCLUDED
WORKERS. IS E D. DID PREPARED TO
PUT TOGETHER A PROGRAM THAT WILL
ALLOW THESE EXCLUDED WORKERS TO
RECEIVE THE BENEFITS ONCE AND
FOR ALL. THANK YOU. YES SO I
WOULD SAY THAT WE IF WE HAD THE
TIME, THE RESOURCES, THE STAFF
AND THE MONEY THAT WE WOULD BE
ABLE TO DO IT SURE, JUST LIKE
WE'VE DONE WITH THE FEDERAL
PANDEMIC PROGRAM OR ANOTHER
PROGRAM. MY MOTHER OFTEN SAYS
THAT IF SOMETHING IS JUST IT IS
CORRECT. AND IF IT IS CORRECT,
IT IS JUST IF WE HAVE WORKERS
WHO HAVE BEEN PAYING INTO A
SYSTEM AND DURING THIS PANDEMIC
HAD TO BEG FOR THIS SMALL THE
SMALL BENEFIT OF $500 PER PERSON
, MAXIMUM 1000 MAXIMUM PER
FAMILY. AND YET THEY HAVE BEEN
PAYING ALMOST HALF A BILLION
DOLLARS ANNUALLY INTO A PROGRAM.
IT IS JUST THAT THEY RECEIVE
BENEFITS BECAUSE IT IS THE
CORRECT THING TO DO. I THANK YOU
FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO MAKE SURE
THAT IF IT IS INCLUDED IN THE
BUDGET THAT WE WILL MAKE EVERY
EFFORT TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE
EXCLUDED WORKERS RECEIVE THEIR
BENEFITS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
MAJORITY LEADER. ANY OTHER
COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FROM THE
DIOCESE? MR ALAMO? DID YOU WANT
TO RESPOND TO YEAH. UM I WILL
WILL CLOSE UP THIS PANEL BY
SAYING THAT EVEN THE. THE FACT
THAT WE'RE HAVING THIS
CONVERSATION RELATED TO EXCLUDED
WORKERS THAT IT'S PART OF THE
AGENDA THAT IT'S PART OF OUR
PRIORITIES THAT JUST THIS
MORNING IT WAS ANNOUNCED AS A
LATINO CAUCUS PRIORITY FOR THIS
LEGISLATIVE CYCLE IN TERMS OF
WHAT THIS COULD POTENTIALLY LOOK
LIKE, AND THEY WERE HAVING THIS
THESE CONVERSATIONS AND BUDGET
SHOWS A COMMITMENT FROM THE
LEGISLATURE ON FIGURING THIS
OUT. THERE'S BEEN TOO MANY TIMES
, OFTEN WITH THIS PROGRAM AND
OTHERS WHERE THE CONVERSATION
HAS BEEN. THAT'S NOT POSSIBLE.
IT'S NOT WHAT WE'VE DONE IN THE
PAST WERE NOT SURE THAT WE COULD
MOVE IN FULL. WE CAN MOVE IT
FORWARD. BUT IF I LEARNED
ANYTHING FROM COVID 19 PANDEMIC
IS THAT THE LEGISLATURE WILL
MAKE THE IMPOSSIBLE POSSIBLE AND
THERE IS A COMMITMENT. TO ENSURE
THAT ARE MOST VULNERABLE
COMMUNITIES. FARM WORKERS IN THE
CENTRAL VALLEY WHO NOT ONLY HAD
TO WORK WEARING MASKS AMID
COVID. TO FEED AMERICA AND SO
THAT MOST OF US COULD STAY HOME
AND BE SAFE AND QUARANTINE. THEY
ALSO DO IT DID IT AMID WILD LIKE
WILD FIRES. AND THERE'S AN
INCREDIBLE PHOTO BY AN
ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTOGRAPHER
WHERE THERE WAS FARM WORKERS IN
THE CENTRAL VALLEY WITH MASKS
SEPARATED AT A DISTANCE, EVEN
OUTSIDE WHILE THERE WAS MASSIVE
MASSIVE WILDFIRE RAGING IN THE
BACK, AND THE AIR WAS SMOKY AND
DARK AND BLACK, AND MANY PEOPLE
COMPLAINED ABOUT NOT BEING ABLE
TO BREATHE PROPERLY. THIS IS
HAPPENING IN CALIFORNIA, AND SO
IF WE CAN FIGURE OUT A WAY THAT
WE CAN BE COMMITTED TO OUR MOST
VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES AND
ENSURE THAT WE HAVE AN
OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE PROGRAMS
THAT MAKE IT POSSIBLE. THAT'S
WHERE WE WANT TO BE. THAT'S
WHERE WE WANT TO GET AT, AND I
THINK THAT'S THE ULTIMATE GOAL.
NOW THE CHALLENGES WITHIN THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS
AND WHAT OTHER STATES ARE DOING
. THAT'S VERY REAL. RIGHT AND I
HEAR YOU, DIRECTOR FERIA SAID.
YOU NEED THE RESOURCES TO BE
ABLE TO MAKE THE PROGRAMS
POSSIBLE THAT INCLUDES STAFF
TECHNOLOGY AND EVERYTHING ELSE
IN BETWEEN. AND AS WE GO INTO
OUR PREVIOUS, UH, ISSUE AREA,
WHICH WAS E D D NEXT. AND
ENSURING THAT WE HAVE CULTURAL
COMPETENCY LANGUAGE ACCESS FORMS
AVAILABLE ONLINE OVER THE PHONE
AND EVERYWHERE IN BETWEEN. THIS
IS A CENTRAL PART OF THE
CONVERSATION AS WELL. AND WE GET
TO FIGURE THAT OUT TOGETHER. SO
I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THIS
ITEM REMAINS OPEN. WE'RE GONNA
GO INTO ISSUE NUMBER 10. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO
THE DEPARTMENT OF INDUSTRIAL
RELATIONS. OUR NEXT ISSUE WILL
COVER LANGUAGE ACCESS AT THE
LABOR COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE AND
CAL OSHA LANGUAGE ACCESS
CONTINUES TO BE A PRIORITY FOR
THE SUBCOMMITTEE TO ENSURE THAT
ALL CALIFORNIANS REGARDLESS OF
LANGUAGE SPOKEN, CAN ACCESS
CRITICAL GOVERNMENT SERVICES.
THIS PANEL IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO
EXAMINE LANGUAGE ACCESS
CAPABILITIES AT TWO OF THE MOST
CRITICAL DIVISIONS DEALING WITH
WORKER RIGHTS AND WORKPLACE
HEALTH AND SAFETY. FOR THIS
PANEL. WE ARE JOINED REMOTELY
VIA LABOR COMMISSIONER. LILIANA
GARCIA BAUER, AS WELL AS JEFF
PHILIP, CHIEF AT CAL OSHA. WE
ARE ALSO JOINED BY DEANNA PINK,
CHIEF DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF THE
DEPARTMENT OF INDUSTRIAL
RELATIONS. LET'S BEGIN. HOLD ON
ONE MOMENT. ONE SECOND. I'VE
LOST MY PAGE HERE, OKAY, TO
PROVIDE ADDITIONAL PERSPECTIVES
OF HOW TO IMPROVE LANGUAGE
ACCESS FOR CALIFORNIA WORKERS.
WE ARE JOINED BY DANIELA URBAN,
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR THE
CENTER FOR WORKERS' RIGHTS, AND
GEORGIA TRANG, CHIEF OF STAFF
AND EQUITY AT WORK SAFE, LET'S
START WITH THE LABOR
COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE.
COMMISSIONER GARCIA SHOULD BE
ONLINE. WE ARE HOPING YOU COULD
PROVIDE THE SUBCOMMITTEE WITH AN
OVERVIEW OF THE LABOR
COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE LANGUAGE
ACCESS CAPABILITIES, INCLUDING
THE NUMBER OF BILINGUAL STAFF
AND OVERVIEW OF TRANSLATED
MATERIALS AVAILABLE AND WAYS
THAT NOT ENGLISH SPEAKERS. CAN
INTERACT WITH YOUR OFFICES. THE
COMMISSIONER READY YES. GOOD
AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR. CAN YOU
HEAR ME? YES, PLEASE BEGIN.
GREAT GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM
CHAIR AND MEMBERS OF THE
COMMITTEE. I'M ACTUALLY IN SANTA
MARIA TODAY FOR OUR MONTHLY WAGE
THEFT WORKSHOP THAT WE ARE DOING
TO IMPACT 30,000 INDIGENOUS
FARMWORKER FAMILIES WITHIN A ONE
MILE RADIUS OF A COMMUNITY
PARTNER WE'RE WORKING WITH AT ST
PETER'S FISCAL PEOPLE CHURCH. SO
I'M JOINING YOU REMOTELY FOR
THAT REASON. MY OFFICE HAS
APPROXIMATELY 61 BILINGUAL E
CERTIFIED PROFESSIONALS, 59 OF
WHICH ARE CERTIFIED IN SPANISH,
ONE IN CANTONESE AND WON IN
KOREAN IN 2021. WE RECEIVED OVER
2600 REQUESTS FOR INTERPRETATION
SERVICES STATEWIDE. PRIOR TO THE
PANDEMIC BETWEEN 2018 AND 2021.
WE RECEIVED OVER 19,000 REQUESTS
. THE TOP LANGUAGES WERE SPANISH
, MANDARIN AND CANTONESE. IN
2021. WE ALSO HANDLED MORE THAN
19,000 CALLS ON OUR PUBLIC
INFORMATION LINE IN NON ENGLISH
LANGUAGE. THESE WERE
OVERWHELMINGLY. FOLLOWED BY
MANDARIN, CANTONESE AND KOREAN
IN 2022. WE CONDUCTED AN
ANALYSIS OF LANGUAGE NEEDS AND
STATE STAFFING CAPABILITIES,
WHICH IDENTIFIED A DECREASE IN
SEVEN BILINGUAL PROFESSIONALS
FROM 2018 TO 2022, GIVEN THIS
DECREASE OF BILINGUAL E
CERTIFIED STAFF AND THE REQUEST
FOR INTERPRETER, SERVICES AND
PUBLIC CONTACTS. IN NON ENGLISH
LANGUAGES. WE ARE PRIORITIZING
SPANISH LANGUAGE SKILLS IN ALL
OFFICES IN PARTICULAR READING,
SAN FRANCISCO, SAN JOSE, SANTA
BARBARA AND SANTA ROSA, WHICH
ALL HAVE ZERO NON ENGLISH
LANGUAGE CAPABILITY. WE HAVE
BILINGUAL RECRUITMENT AND
PROCESS TO INCREASE OUR
CAPACITY. IN ADDITION, GIVEN THE
RESULTS OF THE 2018 LANGUAGE
SURVEY CONDUCTED BY THE
DEPARTMENT, WE ARE ALSO
INCREASING BILINGUAL RECRUITMENT
IN EL CENTRO, FRESNO, LOS
ANGELES, LONG BEACH, SANTA ANA
AND SAN BERNARDINO. DATA ALSO
DEMONSTRATES THE NEED TO HIRE
MANDARIN SPEAKERS IN SAN
FRANCISCO AND SAN JOSE AND IN
SEVEN OFFICES IN SOUTHERN
CALIFORNIA. IN ADDITION, WE'RE
LOOKING TO HIRE A PUNJABI
SPEAKER AND FRESNO AND KOREAN
AND VIETNAMESE IN SOUTHERN
CALIFORNIA OFFICES WITH
VIETNAMESE SPECIFICALLY FOR OUR
SANTA ANA OFFICE. MY OFFICE HAS
SEVERAL EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS
AVAILABLE IN VARIOUS LANGUAGES,
INCLUDING SPANISH KOREAN TO
GARLIC, CHINESE, MANDARIN,
PUNJABI, RUSSIAN AND ARMENIAN.
WE HAVE CLAIMED FORMS AVAILABLE
IN SPANISH, VIETNAMESE, KOREAN,
CANTONESE, MANDARIN AND TWO
GARLIC. LASTLY WE PROVIDED OVER
235 OUTREACH A RENT EVENTS LAST
YEAR, MOST OF THEM WERE IN
SPANISH. WE PROVIDE KNOW YOUR
RIGHTS WORKSHOPS. AS I MENTIONED
I'M TODAY IN SANTA MARIA WERE
HERE EVERY MONTH TO CONDUCT A
NO. YOU'RE RIGHT WORKSHOP IN
MIXTEC. OH WE ALSO HAVE, UM, DO
OURS. FARM LABOR FARMWORKER
CARAVANS, AS YOU KNOW THAT WE
HAVE A DIGITAL TRUCK THAT
COMMUNICATES IN MIXTEC Ó TRICKY
SUPPORT TECH AND PERU. IN
ADDITION TO OUR STAFF CAPACITY
AND WORKING WITH OUR COMMUNITY
PARTNERS, WE HAVE 19 UNIQUE
CONTRACTS. THE LANGUAGE SERVICES
WHEN WE DON'T CAPABILITY. I'M
AVAILABLE TO ANSWER ANY
QUESTIONS. THANK YOU,
COMMISSIONER. WHY DON'T WE GO TO
THE STAKEHOLDERS TO PROVIDE SOME
PERSPECTIVE? MS URBAN CAN YOU
OUTLINE WHAT YOU'VE SEEN ON THE
GROUND AND HOW YOU COULD IMPROVE
LANGUAGE ACCESS AT THE LABOR
COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE? YES THANK
YOU, MADAM CHAIR. MY NAME IS
DANIELLA URBAN, EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR OF THE CENTER FOR
WORKERS' RIGHTS. WE REPRESENT
LOW WAGE WORKERS AND SUPPORT
THEM THROUGH THEIR WAGE CLAIMS,
MOSTLY AT THE SACRAMENTO LABOR
COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE, AS WELL
AS READING AND STOCKTON'S THE
LABOR COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE HAS
MADE SIGNIFICANT EFFORTS. TO
PROVIDE LANGUAGE ACCESS SERVICES
TO THOSE THAT IT SERVED. IT
CONTINUALLY ASK CLAIMANTS THEIR
PREFERRED LANGUAGE AND ENSURES
THAT THEY ARE ABLE TO GET
INTERPRETATION SERVICES AS
NEEDED. STAFF IS GENERALLY AWARE
AND USE THE PHONE INTERPRETATION
SYSTEMS IN THE CONTRACTS THAT
THE COMMISSIONER JUST DESCRIBED
. IT IS INFREQUENT THAT WE
RECEIVE REPORTS FROM CLAIMANTS
THAT THEY'RE UNABLE TO CONNECT
IN LANGUAGE OVER THE PHONE ON
THEIR FIRST ATTEMPT. THIS EARLY
IDENTIFICATION OF LANGUAGE NEEDS
IS REALLY WHAT SETS THE LABOR
COMMISSIONER APART FROM MANY OF
THE OTHER AGENCIES THAT WE
SUPPORT WORKERS IN THEIR CLAIMS
PROCESS. IT IS ON THE INITIAL
CLAIM FORM THAT THEY NEED AN
INTERPRETER, AND THAT
INFORMATION IS TRANSFERRED
THROUGHOUT THE PERIOD OF THEIR
CLAIM SO THAT THEIR CLAIM IS
ASSIGNED AS NEEDED TO BILINGUAL
STAFF. THE LOCATION OF BILINGUAL
STAFF IS AVAILABLE IN THE
OFFICES AS COMMISSIONER
DESCRIBED. WE SEE IN SACRAMENTO
THAT EVEN WHEN THE FRONT DESK IS
STAFFED BY A NON BILINGUAL STAFF
MEMBER, THE STAFF DOES KNOW WHO
THOSE BILINGUAL STAFF MEMBERS
ARE TO CALL UPON THEIR NEEDS
WHEN REQUESTED BY CLAIMANTS IN
THE OFFICE. ENGLISH AND SPANISH
AVAILABILITY OF INFORMATION IS
SEAMLESS THROUGH THE LABOR
COMMISSIONER, SO THERE'S ALMOST
NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE ACCESS
NEEDS FOR PUBLIC INFORMATION
BASED ON ENGLISH AND SPANISH,
AND WE SEE MOST, IF NOT ALL
PUBLICATIONS OFFERED IN BOTH
LANGUAGES. IN ADDITION, HEARING
OFFICERS AS WELL AS ALL STAFF IN
THE WAGE CLAIMS PROCESS IS ARE
TRAINED NOT TO ALLOW HEARINGS TO
PROCEED WITHOUT A QUALIFIED
INTERPRETER, ENSURING THE DUE
PROCESS RIGHTS OF THE CLAIMANTS
AND HAVING THEIR DAY TO CLAIM
THE WAGES THAT THEY ARE SEEKING
THROUGHOUT THE CLAIMS PROCESS.
NOW WHERE THE LABOR COMMISSIONER
CONTINUE CONTINUE TO IMPROVE ON
ITS LANGUAGE ACCESS SERVICES.
THIS INCLUDES THAT, UH, THE
HEARING INTERPRETERS. WE WOULD
RECOMMEND THAT THERE BE
ADDITIONAL SCREENING AND QUALITY
AND, UM, CONTROL ON THESE
INTERPRETERS, INCLUDING THE
OPPORTUNITY FOR VARIANT MATCHES
. WE OFTEN SEE INTERPRETERS THAT
ARE CALLED IN FOR A GENERAL
GENERAL LANGUAGE LIKE TO COLLEGE
OR SPANISH. WITHOUT ANY
REFERENCE TO THEIR REGIONAL
DIALECT, CAUSING CONFUSION ON
THE GROUND. WE RECENTLY HAD A
LABOR COMMISSIONER CASE WHERE
OUR CLIENT WAS THE CHILE AND
SPEAKER. THE INTERPRETER WAS
MEXICAN, AND THERE WAS A WORD
THAT CONTINUED TO BE TRANSLATED
AND APPROPRIATELY AND CAUSED
CONSIDERABLE CONFUSION UNTIL
THAT WAS ADDRESSED. THE LACK OF
PROPER INTERPRETERS ALSO
EXACERBATE THE DELAY ISSUE ON
THE HEARINGS. SO AS YOU'LL HEAR
ON THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM, THERE
ARE SIGNIFICANT DELAYS AT THE
LABOR COMMISSIONER ALREADY AND
THE INABILITY TO ACCESS
QUALIFIED INTERPRETERS QUICKLY
PROVIDES CONTINUED DELAY. WE HAD
A HEARING TO SPANISH SPEAKING
CLIENTS SCHEDULED FOR HEARING IN
JANUARY. BUT WHEN THE
INTERPRETERS DID NOT SHOW THERE
WASN'T THE IMMEDIATE ABILITY TO
HAVE BACKUP INTERPRETERS
PROVIDED AND SO THAT HEARING HAS
BEEN CONTINUING, AND WE STILL
ARE WAITING FOR A NEW HEARING
DATE. SO WE PROPOSE THAT LOCAL
OFFICES IN ADDITION TO HAVING
THEIR OWN RESOURCES TO GET THE
HEARING THE HEARING INTERPRETERS
THAT THEY ALSO BE PROVIDED
SUPPORT FROM THE BROADER
INTERPRETER TRACKING SYSTEM
WHICH WILL CONTINUE TO SCREAM
GOOD FOR GOOD INTERPRETERS AND
ALLOW DEDICATED STAFF TO BE
FUNDED IN ORDER TO PROVIDE THIS
SCREENING AND VARIANT CHECK
PROCESS. ANOTHER WAY THAT THE
LABOR COMMISSIONER CAN IMPROVE
IS THAT THEY OVERUSE THEIR
CURRENT BILINGUAL STAFF. THIS
HAS TO DO WITH THE SEVERE
SHORTAGE OF BILINGUAL STAFF AND
STAFFING IN GENERAL AT THE LABOR
COMMISSIONER THAT WE CONTINUE TO
SEE. SO AS I MENTIONED, FOR
EXAMPLE, WHEN A STAFF MEMBERS
WORKING THE FRONT DESK AND THEY
ARE NOT BILINGUAL, THEY WERE
INTERRUPTED A BILINGUAL STAFF
MEMBERS DAY IN ORDER TO HAVE
THEM COME. AND PROVIDE THOSE
LANGUAGE ASSISTANCE. AND WHILE
WE THINK THAT LANGUAGE
ASSISTANCE IS IMPORTANT, IT'S
UNFAIR TO OUR BILINGUAL STAFF
MEMBERS TO THE LABOR
COMMISSIONER'S BILINGUAL STAFF
MEMBERS TO HAVE TO SERVE TWO
ROLES AT ONE TIME, OFTEN TAXING
THEIR STRAIN TIME AND NOT
ALLOWING THEM TO COMPLETE AS
MUCH OF THEIR INDIVIDUALIZED
WORK AS NEEDED. IN ADDITION,
BILINGUAL STAFF ARE NOT TRAINED
INTERPRETERS. SO ALTHOUGH
THEY'RE NOT USUALLY SCHEDULED
FOR HEARINGS, SOMETIMES THEY'LL
BE CALLED ON TO INTERPRET IN
SITUATIONS THAT ARE
INAPPROPRIATE. AND THOUGH THEY
MIGHT BE BILINGUAL
INTERPRETATION IS ITS OWN SET
SKILL AND TRAIN STAFF
INTERPRETER STAFF SHOULD BE USED
FOR THAT PURPOSE. IN ADDITION,
UM WE SEE THAT THERE ARE
SIGNIFICANT BARRIERS TO ADDING
NEW BILINGUAL STAFF. I MYSELF
HAVE RECOMMENDED SEVERAL PEOPLE
TO APPLY TO THE LABOR
COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE AS
BILINGUAL STAFF MEMBERS AND THEY
HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO, UH, PASS
THROUGH THE SCREENING SYSTEM
REQUIRED OF THOSE STAFF MEMBERS
, AND THAT'S SIGNIFICANTLY
IMPACT THE ABILITY OF THE LABOR
COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE TO RISK TO
RESPOND ON THE BROAD, DIVERSE
NEEDS OF OUR LANGUAGE ACCESS
COMMUNITIES. THE THIRD WAY WE
CAN SEE WHERE THE LABOR LABOR
COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE CAN
IMPROVE. THEIR WORK IS, UM, WITH
THEIR CONSISTENT POLICIES
REGARDING WRITTEN NOTICES. SO
WHILE SPANISH AND ENGLISH OR
PUBLISHED RELATIVELY SMOOTHLY
AND ALL LANGUAGES THE
DISSEMINATION OF THAT
INFORMATION IN LANGUAGES NOT
ALWAYS CONSISTENT. SOME HEARING
OFFICERS OR DEPUTIES WILL SEND
INFORMATION PARTIALLY IN SPANISH
AND PARTIALLY IN ENGLISH. DO THE
TRANSLATION SYSTEMS THAT ARE
USED? SOME OFFICES WILL NOT SEND
IN SPANISH AND ONLY SENT IN
ENGLISH. IN ADDITION, LANGUAGES
OTHER THAN SPANISH AND ENGLISH,
ENGLISH ARE NOT ABLE TO BE
PROVIDED IN WRITING. SO THOUGH A
CLAIMANT CAN SUBMIT THEIR CLAIM
FORM IN OTHER LANGUAGES, AS IS
ESTABLISHED IN THE REPORT. THEY
THEN GET MATERIALS ONLY IN
ENGLISH BACK, SO THIS IS ANOTHER
WAY THAT AUTOMATED SYSTEMS AND
STATIC TRANSLATED DOCUMENTS CAN
BE PROVIDED IN LANGUAGES OTHER
THAN ENGLISH AND SPANISH TO
EXPAND THE LANGUAGE ACCESS OF
THE LABOR COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE.
WE KNOW THAT THE LABOR
COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE IS
COMMITTED TO THESE IMPROVEMENTS
AND WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITY
PARTNERS AND STAKEHOLDERS TO
IDENTIFY AREAS OF IMPROVEMENT.
WE MEET WITH THEIR THEIR OFFICE
REGULARLY TO DISCUSS THE AREAS
OF IMPROVEMENT THAT CAN ALLOW
CLAIMANTS TO BETTER ACCESS THE
LABOR COMMISSIONER RESOURCES AND
I'M AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS.
THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THAT IN
DEPTH. UM, PERSPECTIVE RELATED
TO Tð LANGUAGE ACCESS BEFORE WE
MOVE ON TO THE NEXT PRESENTER. I
DO WANT TO SAY HOW IMPORTANT
INTERPRETATION ISTS
INTERPRETATION TO YOUR POINT IS
A SKILL ON ITS OWN. I'VE WORKED
FOR THE PAST FEW YEARS ON
RECOGNIZING WOMEN AND
INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE FORCIBLY OR
UNKNOWINGLY STERILIZED AND STATE
INSTITUTIONS IN PARTICULAR
COUNTY, USC GENERAL HOSPITAL AND
IN MY DISTRICT, A GRAVE
INJUSTICE THAT HAPPENED TO
MOSTLY IMMIGRANT MEXICAN LATINA
WOMEN IN THE LATE 19 SIXTIES TO
THE EARLY 19 SEVENTIES. THERE
WAS ONE WORD THAT WAS TRANSLATED
AND INTERPRETED WRONG. AND THAT
WAS STERILIZATION. THE ACTUAL
WORDS. STERILIZATION. IN SPANISH
STERILIZATION. STERILIZATION CAN
ALSO MEAN TO CLEAN SO IF YOU ARE
A SPANISH SPEAKER, IMMIGRANT
WOMAN, RIGHT, AND SOMEONE ASKED
IF YOU WANTED SOMETHING CLEANED
OR STERILIZED, THE ANSWER WAS
YES. THEY DID NOT KNOW THAT THEY
WERE POTENTIALLY BEING ASKED TO
BE STERILIZED AND HAVE A
HYSTERECTOMY PERFORMED ON THEM,
AND THAT IS A GRAVE INJUSTICE
THAT IN MY COMMUNITY, WE HAVE
BEEN FIGHTING FOR DECADES TO
MAKE RIGHT, ESPECIALLY AS THE
HOSPITAL WAS PRACTICING UNDER
CALIFORNIA EUGENICS LAWS
ESTABLISHED IN THE EARLY 19
HUNDREDS. THERE WERE ABOUT
ACTUALLY. MONITORING
REPRODUCTION ACROSS VARIOUS
DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES. AND SO
IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'VE
DISCUSSED AND BUDGET. IT'S
SOMETHING LANGUAGE ACCESS AND
CLEARLY INTERPRETATION CAN LEAD
TO VARIOUS DIFFERENT
CIRCUMSTANCES AND OUTCOMES. AND
SO THIS IS AN IMPORTANT PIECE
THAT I JUST SIMPLY WANTED TO
SHARE, JUST BASED ON DECADES
LONG PAST AND JUSTICE THAT WE
ARE, WE'RE TRYING TO WORK
TOWARDS AND HOW DO WE ESTABLISH
PARODY WHEN IT COMES TO
LANGUAGE? SO THANK YOU FOR THAT
? WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO, UM
KELO SHOW. UH CHIEF PHILIP, CAN
YOU PROVIDE THE SAME OVERSIGHT
AND OVERVIEW OF LANGUAGE ACCESS
CAPABILITIES AT CAL OSHA,
INCLUDING THE NUMBER OF
BILINGUAL INSPECTORS,
AVAILABILITY OF TRANSLATED
MATERIALS. IN WAYS THAT NON
ENGLISH SPEAKERS CAN INTERACT
WITH YOUR OFFICE. ABSOLUTELY,
MADAM CHAIR. BEING ABLE TO REACH
WORKERS TO PROMOTE WORKPLACE
SAFETY AND HEALTH. IS A PRIORITY
FOR CAL OCEAN. WE NEED TO REACH
WORKERS, ESPECIALLY VULNERABLE
WORKERS WITH IMPORTANT WORKPLACE
SAFETY AND HEALTH INFORMATION TO
PREVENT WORKPLACE INJURIES AND
ILLNESSES. CURRENTLY CAL OSHA
HAS 48 CERTIFIED BILINGUAL
EMPLOYEES DIVISION WIDE. 45 OF
THOSE ARE CERTIFIED BILINGUAL
SPANISH, ONE CANTONESE, ONE
MANDARIN AND ONE VIETNAMESE. AND
WE NEED TO GET MORE BILINGUAL
PROFESSIONALS ON OUR TEAM. WE'RE
EXPANDING OUR RECORD RECRUITMENT
EFFORTS TO ATTRACT BILINGUAL
CANDIDATES TO OFFER RIGHT. THESE
RESOURCES TO WORKERS AND MORE
LANGUAGES SO THEY CAN ACCESS
THIS IMPORTANT INFORMATION.
GALOSHES SEEKING TO EXPAND
INTERNAL MULTI LANGUAGE ACCESS
CAPACITY TO INCLUDE ADDITIONAL
LANGUAGES SUCH AS SPANISH
CHINESE THAT INCLUDES
TRADITIONAL AND SIMPLIFIED
KOREAN, VIETNAMESE, PUNJABI AND
VARIOUS INDIGENOUS LANGUAGES
SUCH AS MIXTEC Ó. UM AND
TRICKY, AMONG OTHERS. IN
FEBRUARY OF THIS YEAR, WE SENT
SEVERAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING
MATERIALS TO A VENDOR TO
TRANSLATE THEM INTO MULTIPLE
LANGUAGES, AND WE HAVE SINCE
POSTED FORTUNATELY, 14 OF THESE
DOCUMENTS ON OUR WEBSITE FOR
WORKER SAFETY AND HEALTH.
DEPARTMENT OF INDUSTRIAL
RELATIONS HAS CONTRACTS IN PLACE
NOW TO ALLOW FOR REAL TIME
TRANSLATION IN THE FIELD
INSPECTOR SHOWS UP IN THE FIELD
TO ENSURE THAT THE SITE IS SAFE
AND HEALTHY FOR THE WORKER. UM
AND TO TRANSLATE EDUCATIONAL
TRAINING MATERIALS INTO MULTIPLE
LANGUAGES. IN JANUARY OF THIS
YEAR. CALLOW SHOULD DEVELOP THE
SURVEY FOR ALL INTERNAL STAFF TO
TAKE AND LEARN THAT WE HAVE MANY
INTERNAL BILINGUAL STAFF WHO ARE
FLUENT IN SEVERAL DIFFERENT
LANGUAGES. AND THEY WANT TO
LEARN ABOUT BECOMING CERTIFIED
AND PROVIDE TRANSLATION
ASSISTANCE. AND SO WE'RE
ENCOURAGING AND TRYING TO
LEVERAGE THAT RESOURCE ALREADY
THAT'S ON OUR TEAM. HAS AN
OUTREACH COORDINATION PROGRAM
WITH BILINGUAL FIELD STAFF AND
HIS AND HIS HIRING. WE HAVE TWO
BILINGUAL UM. COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT LIAISONS B CELLS, AND
WE'RE WE WANT TO HIRE FOUR MORE
. IN ADDITION TO A STATEWIDE
MANAGER FOR THAT TEAM. AND THEY
WILL BE STRATEGICALLY LOCATED
THROUGHOUT THE STATE TO PARTNER
WITH COMMUNITY BASED
ORGANIZATIONS TO REACH WORKERS
WHO NEED VULNERABLE WORKERS WHO
NEED OUR ASSISTANCE. MOST AND
THESE STAFF MEMBERS ARE
DEDICATED TO WORKING DIRECTLY
WITH COMMUNITY BASED
ORGANIZATIONS, UM AND LABOR.
ABDIC LABOR ADVOCACY GROUPS,
CONSULATES AND WORKERS DIRECTLY.
IN APRIL OF 2021 COLOSIO
ESTABLISHED RESOURCE CALL
CENTER. AND WE RECENTLY EXPANDED
THE HOURS FROM NINE AM TO SEVEN
PM, AND THOSE PEOPLE THAT ARE
ARE MONITORING THOSE CALLS ARE
BILINGUAL. AND, UM. AND SO WE
ALSO WANT TO EXPAND THAT TEAM TO
BE ABLE TO SPEAK. LANGUAGES
OTHER THAN THAN JUST ENGLISH AND
SPANISH. UM CALLUSES ALLIANCE
PROGRAM IS, UH, IS ALSO FOCUSING
ITS EFFORTS ON DEVELOPING AND
LEVERAGING COMMUNITY
PARTNERSHIPS IN ORDER TO SHARE
OUR RESOURCES, AND IN ADDITION
TO BEING ABLE TO TRANSLATE OUR
RESOURCES AND TRAININGS INTO
OTHER LANGUAGES, ESPECIALLY FOR
VULNERABLE WORKERS, AND, UM, ARE
ENHANCED. YOU KNOW OUR ABILITY
TO ENHANCE THE ENBRIDGE THIS
THIS LANGUAGE ACCESS CHALLENGE
REMAINS A PRIORITY FOR CAL OSHA.
AND SO WE CAN REACH AS MANY
WORKERS AS POSSIBLE, ESPECIALLY
VULNERABLE WORKERS, AND WE
INVITE SUGGESTIONS AND
OPPORTUNITIES. TO EXPAND ON WHAT
WE'RE ALREADY TRYING TO DO WITH
THE RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE, BUT
THIS IS A BIG PRIORITY FOR US,
AND, UH IT'S VERY IMPORTANT AND
WE INVITE WAYS THAT WE CAN DO
THIS BETTER. UM THANK YOU FOR
ALLOWING ME TO SHARE THIS
IMPORTANT INFORMATION. AND I'M
HAPPY TO TAKE QUESTIONS THAT YOU
MAY HAVE. THANK YOU, MR PHILIP.
WE'RE GOING TO GO TO YOUR
COLLEAGUE REMOTELY MISS GEORGIA
TRANG WHO SHOULD BE ON THE
WEBSITE. WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO
PROVIDE SOME OF YOUR PERSPECTIVE
TO IMPROVE THE LANGUAGE ACCESS
AT CAL OSHA TRANG? YES AND CAN
YOU HEAR ME? OKAY. YES. PLEASE
CONTINUE. I MUST BE ON ANOTHER
SCREEN BECAUSE I CAN SEE THE
LABOR COMMISSIONER WITHOUT ME,
ALL RIGHT, SO LET ME TELL YOU A
LITTLE BIT ABOUT ME. I AM THE
CHIEF OF STAFF IN EQUITY AT WORK
SAFE, AND WE PROVIDE ASSISTANCE
AND LEGAL SUPPORT SERVICES,
MULTI LINGUAL AND MODERN LEGAL
WORKERS WITH CAL OSHA AND ALSO
WITH THE LABOR COMMISSIONER'S
OFFICE BECAUSE THEY HANDLE
RETALIATION IN OCCUPATIONAL
SAFETY AND HEALTH CASES. SO I'M
GOING TO TALK ABOUT BOTH
OFFICERS. UM WORK STATE HAS
SPECIFICALLY HELPED MONOLINGUAL
VIETNAMESE, CANTONESE, SPANISH
FOR ME, MOM AND FARSI WORKERS.
SO WE HAVE THE DIRECT EXPERIENCE
WITH THIS. UM NOW I LISTENED TO
DANIELLA URBAN'S PRESENTATION,
AND SHE LAID OUT A LOT OF ISSUES
AND THAT WE ALSO EXPERIENCE THE
COALITION'S I DON'T WANT TO
REPEAT THEM. UM I DO WANT TO
AMPLIFY WHAT DANIEL HAS SAID,
AND ALSO, I WANT TO FOCUS MORE
ON WHAT OKAY, CHIEF, PHILLIPS
SAID THE VERY LAST ONE. THE
ALLIANCE. UM THIS IS SO KEY, SO
I'M GOING TO BE REFERENCING TWO
EXAMPLES OF EXCELLENT
PARTNERSHIP PROGRAMS. BETWEEN
CAL OSHA AND THE LABOR
COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE AND
COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS
THAT ENSURED INCLUSIVITY AND
TRUE ACCESSIBILITY IN LANGUAGE
JUSTICE FOR WORKERS IN
CALIFORNIA, AND THEY DID THIS
WHILE ALSO SUPPORTING AN
AMPLIFYING THE STATE AGENCIES
EFFORTS TO ENFORCE THE LAWS IN
CALIFORNIA TO PROTECT CALIFORNIA
WORKERS. WE CAN'T WE NEED TO
WORK TOGETHER, RIGHT? IT TAKES
AS A TAKES COMMUNITY. UM SO LET
ME HIGHLIGHT THOSE TWO PROGRAMS
. THOSE ARE BECAUSE I'M GONNA BE
REFERENCING THEM. SO I WANT YOU
TO KNOW WHAT THEY ARE. THE FIRST
IS THE DOMESTIC WORKER AND
EMPLOYER EDUCATION AND OUTREACH
PILOT PROJECT. THE LABOR
COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE, AND THE
SECOND IS THE CALIFORNIA
COVID-19 WORKPLACE OUTREACH
PROJECT WITH CAL OSHA EARLIER
TODAY, I THINK IT WAS ITEM
NUMBER FOUR. UM IT WAS DISCUSSED
THAT THE THAT THE LATTER PROGRAM
WHICH WE REFER TO A C WALK WILL
BE CUT SIGNIFICANT COVID 19
PROJECT. AND I DON'T QUITE KNOW
THAT ALSO INCLUDES THE DOMESTIC
WORKER UNEMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION
OUTREACH PILOT PROJECT, BUT I
HOPE NOT BECAUSE THESE PROJECTS
ARE REALLY CHEAP. UM AND THEY
DON'T HAVE TO BE APPLIED JUST TO
COVID 19. THEY CAN BE EXPANDED.
UM THE FIRST PROJECT WAS A
PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE LABOR
COMMISSIONER AND 14 COMMUNITY
BASED ORGANIZATIONS TO CREATE
OVER 60, DIFFERENT DOMESTIC
WORKER RIGHTS AND EMPLOYEE
RIGHTS, RESPONSIBILITY MATERIALS
AND SIX OR MORE LANGUAGES. THIS
INCLUDED WHEN PAGES SOCIAL MEDIA
GRAPHICS POCKET GUIDES. WE'VE
LOST HER AUDIO. ONE MOMENT, MISS
CHENG. WE SEEM TO HAVE LOST YOUR
AUDIO. TELL US WHAT YOU HAD FOR
BREAKFAST UNTIL WE FIGURE THIS
OUT SO THAT WE CAN HEAR YOU.
WHEN I USED TO WORK IN RADIO FOR
MANY YEARS, WE WOULD DO AUDIO
CHECKS, AND WE JUST ASK PEOPLE
WHAT THEY HAD FOR BREAKFAST
UNTIL WE HEARD THEM AT THE RIGHT
LEVELS. BAGELS COFFEES, DONUTS,
OMELETS. SOMEONE WORKING ON HER
AUDIO. CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES
PLEASE CONTINUE. OKAY ALRIGHT. I
APOLOGIZE. WHAT WAS THE LAST
THING YOU HEARD? HMM. THE ONE
PAGE YOU TALKED ABOUT THE ONE
PAGE ALRIGHT, ALRIGHT, IT
ALLOWED FOR BASICALLY MASSIVE,
MULTI LINGUAL PERIOD APPEAR
EDUCATION AND OUTREACH EFFORTS
IN LANGUAGE, TRAINING
OPPORTUNITIES AND IN LANGUAGE.
ONE ON ONE SUPPORT FOR WORKERS
TO SOUTH ADVOCATE IT REACHED
TENS AND THOUSANDS OF DOMESTIC
WORKERS AND EMPLOYERS ACROSS
CALIFORNIA. THIS IS THIS IS A
PARTNERSHIP PROJECT WITH CAL
OSHA WITH THE LSC. WITH THE
LIBERAL COMMISSIONER. YOU KNOW
YOU CAN'T DO IT BY YOURSELF.
THAT'S PART OF THE PROBLEM.
RIGHT THE A C AGENCIES UNDER
RESOURCED YOU NEED YOUR
COMMUNITY PARTNERS, THE SAME
WITH SEAWATER THAT WAS THE
PROJECT WITH OVER 100 PARTNERS.
THAT WAS THE CALIFORNIA COVID
WORKPLACE OUTREACH PROJECT, AND
WE WORK SAY FOR THE BAY AREA
REGIONAL LEAD FOR THAT PROJECT.
WE PARTNERED WITH THE CALIFORNIA
LABOR AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
AGENCY AND OVER 100 COMMUNITY
BASED ORGANIZATIONS. SOME OF YOU
ARE ON THIS CALL RIGHT NOW. I
CAN SEE YOU SPIRITUALLY. THANK
YOU FOR JOINING AND SUPPORTING
THIS. WE WERE ABLE TO CREATE
WORKPLACE RIGHTS IN 46 LANGUAGES
THROUGH THAT PARTNERSHIP.
AMAZING. AND THOSE WERE YOU
REALLY USED THE COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATIONS, LINGUISTIC AND
CULTURAL EXPERTISE WORK SAFE IN
PARTICULAR PRODUCER MATERIALS
AND AFRICAN LANGUAGE. SWAHILI
I'M HAJRIC TO GREENER HAITIAN,
CREOLE AND FRENCH. UM AND THOSE
ARE ON A VERY SPECIAL SITE. I
BELIEVE IT'S A SEPARATE WORK
SITE, WHICH IS A PART OF THE
STATE AGENCIES. THEY ARE, THEY
CAN BE ACCESSIBLE IN THE FUTURE
FOR ANYBODY SEE WHAT REPRESENTS
THE BEST WAY TO ADDRESS LANGUAGE
CAPACITY LIMITATIONS, BOTH SHORT
TERM AND LONG TERM SO IN THE
SHORT TERM BECAUSE ENSURING
WORKERS RIGHTS THAT THEY'RE
RECEIVING VALUABLE INFORMATION
FROM TRUSTED MESSENGERS TO
SUPPORT THEM, AND THOSE
MESSENGERS ARE ALIGNED WITH AND
PARTNERING WITH KALUSHA. AND THE
L. C AND YOU ALSO HAVE LONG TERM
SUPPORT BY CREATING A PIPELINE
OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZERS WHO HAVE
EXPERTISE IN ENFORCING WORKERS,
RIGHT SO WE BUILT THIS
INCREDIBLE INTEGRATED NETWORK.
BOTH OF THESE PROGRAMS.
CALIFORNIA HAS SO MUCH
LINGUISTIC AND ETHNIC DIVERSITY
AND OUR AGENCIES JUST ARE NOT
FULLY RESOURCED ADEQUATELY MEET
THE LANGUAGE NEEDS OF OUR
WORKFORCE IS JUST THE REALITY.
BUT THE WORK THAT WE DID IN
DURING THE PANDEMIC REALLY
ALLOWED US TO THESE TWO PROGRAMS
TO CREATE, LIKE A REALLY STRONG
INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WE CAN
EXPAND ON. SO NOW THAT I'VE TOLD
YOU THAT THE GREAT THINGS LET ME
LET ME KIND OF GO INTO SOME OF
THE ISSUES THAT ADVOCATES HAVE
AND HOW, UM CBOS AND PROGRAMS
LIKE THE ONES I'VE TOLD YOU CAN
HIGHLIGHT THAT. SO THE FIRST ONE
CAL OSHA THAT'S VERY CHALLENGING
IS THE AND ALL OF THIS ACTUALLY
DEPENDS ON HAVING SOMEONE
BILINGUAL WHO'S AN ADVOCATE TO
HELP YOU BECAUSE THERE'S NO ONE
IN COLLAGE, TOO, CAN DO IT SO
COMMUNITY BASED PARTNERSHIP I
MEAN, COMMUNITY BASED
ORGANIZATION LIKE WORK SAY, FOR
EXAMPLE, IS ESSENTIAL LIKE THEY
JUST CAN'T DO IT WITHOUT US.
SOME OF THE FIRST IS A LACK OF
ACCESS TO MULTILINGUAL HELP
LINE. WHEN I CALL KELO SHIRT. I
ALWAYS TALK TO ENGLISH SPEAKING
PERSON. FIRST I CAN PRESS TO GET
TO SPANISH. YOU ALL KNOW THIS,
BUT I'LL TELL YOU ANYWAY, HAVE
AFTER I LISTENED TO ENGLISH FOR
A WHILE, THEN THEY'LL SAY
PROSTITUTE FOR SPANISH, BUT
THERE'S NOTHING ELSE. AND IF I
CALL COLLISIONS SPEAK TO DUTY
PERSON OR SOMEBODY DIRECTLY. I
HAVE TO BE ABLE TO SAY, CAN I
SPEAK TO A YOU KNOW SPANISH AND
THE VIETNAMESE? PERSON OR
INTERPRETER. IF I CANNOT SAY
THAT ENGLISH THEN I DON'T QUITE
KNOW HOW THE WORKER IS ABLE TO
TALK TO SOMEBODY AT COLLEGE TO
SO IT'S REALLY CRITICAL AGAIN TO
HAVE THOSE PARTNERSHIPS SO THAT
THE ADVOCATES CAN SERVE AS A
LIAISON. SECONDLY THE WEBSITE
HAS A PLETHORA OF MULTI LINGUAL
MATERIALS. YOU COULD GO ON THE
WEBSITE, YOU CLICK A BUTTON, YOU
GO TO A SPANISH INDEX. SO THE
SPANISH INDEX IS GREAT, BUT IT'S
AN INDEX. IT'S NOT THE SAME AS
INFORMATION SO THAT THE WEBSITE
IS NOT FULLY MULTILINGUAL SO
AGAIN, FALLING BACK UPON THE
IMPORTANCE OF HAVING ADVOCATES
OR AN ALLIANCE PARTNERSHIP AS
CHIEF KILLED MENTIONED. UM. IN
ADDITION, IF I WANTED TO GET
MULTI LANGUAGE MATERIALS, I HAVE
TO KNOW HOW TO READ WHAT I
WANTED ENGLISH FIRST, BECAUSE
THEN YOU'LL SAY, FOR EXAMPLE,
HEALTH AND SAFETY PARENTHESES
SPANISH PARENTHESES TO GARLIC'S
BUT PARTICIPATE VIETNAMESE,
RIGHT SURVIVE. DON'T UNDERSTAND
THE ENGLISH. I CAN'T GET TO THE
VIETNAMESE AND SO AGAIN CRITICAL
TO HAVE A COMMUNITY BASED
ORGANIZATION. THIRDLY CALISTA
DOESN'T HAVE WHAT THE DEPARTMENT
OF WORKERS' COMPENSATION HAS
SOMETHING SIMILAR TO ENGLISH AND
SPANISH WORKSHOPS. THE
INFORMATION ASSISTANCE KIND OF
PROCESS. AND SO IF A WORKER
WANTS TO CALL INTO HELLISH, THE
FACT COMPLETE, THEY DO HAVE TO
SPEAK TO DUTY LINE PERSON AND
AGAIN ALL THOSE LANGUAGE
PROBLEMS THAT I'VE UM, LISTED
COME UP, UM. LASTLY THE
INCREASING FUNDING FOR BILINGUAL
STAFF. THAT'S AMAZING. I THINK
THAT'S GREAT, BUT ALSO REALLY RE
SOURCING AND BUILDING AN
AMPLIFYING ON WHAT I WAS JUST
TALKING ABOUT IS CRITICAL. LET
ME GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE OF AN
EXPERIENCE THAT I HAD WITH CAL
OSHA. THAT WAS VERY POSITIVE. I
ONCE REPRESENTED A 40 WORK
WORKER WHO SPOKE FARSI. UM AND I
AND I DON'T SPEAK FOR US, BUT
THE WORKER WAS ABLE TO
COMMUNICATE PARTIALLY WITH ME IN
ENGLISH. SO I MET WITH CALISTA
AND AN INSPECTOR AND WE WERE
ABLE TO HAVE A FULL INSPECTION.
I MEAN, AN INTERVIEW. WITH THE
MULTILINGUAL TRANSLATOR ON THE
PHONE, AND IT WAS REALLY HELPFUL
TO MY CLIENT BECAUSE IT MADE
THEM FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE TO
SPEAK IN THEIR LANGUAGE. I FELT
LIKE THE PROCESS OF CALLING THE
MULTILINGUAL LINE WAS VERY EASY
, EFFICIENT AND HELPED INSPECTOR
ALSO, UM RELATE WITH MY CLIENT.
SO I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT
EXPERIENCE, AND I WOULD
ENCOURAGE MORE. THE BUILD OUT OF
SOME KIND OF SYSTEM LIKE THAT.
THAT'S A BIT MORE ROBUST, ROBUST
AND JUST AT THE INSPECTION PHASE
THAT SOMEHOW STARTS AT THE WHEN
A PERSON FIRST CALLS INTO
COLLEGE AND LIKE AN ACTUAL,
MULTILINGUAL LINE. UM. SO I
THINK I'VE TALKED A LOT LIKE TO
CONCLUDE BY SAYING WE SUPPORT
THE STATE AGENCIES. THE AMAZING
WORK THAT, UM THE LABOR
COMMISSIONER'S DOING KELIS IS
DOING TO INCREASE. UM LANGUAGE
ACCESS THE L. W D, A PROJECT
THAT WILL PROJECT AND THE
DOMESTIC WORKER PROJECT I TALKED
ABOUT WERE JUST AMAZING
COLLABORATIONS THAT SHOULD
CONTINUE. AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE
EXPANDING UPON THESE PROGRAMS TO
HELP RESOURCE CALA SHIP AND
BUILD A PARTNERSHIP THAT REALLY
ENSURES TRUE LANGUAGE,
ACCESSIBILITY AND JUSTICE FOR
WORKERS ACROSS THE RANGE OF
ISSUES. THANK YOU. MR CHANG.
APPRECIATE YOUR IN DEPTH,
KNOWLEDGE AND PERSPECTIVE ON
THIS ISSUE TO PERMANENT FINANCE.
PATRICK TOBIN DEPARTMENT OF
FINANCE NOTHING NO FURTHER
COMMENTS AT THIS TIME. THANK
YOU. HELLO. NO COMMENT FROM THE
YELLOW. THANK YOU. UM OKAY. JUST
A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS FOR ME. UH
AND JUST FOR SOME, WHAT'S IT
CALLED MAINTENANCE JUST
SUBCOMMITTEE MAINTENANCE. AH! I
SHOULD BE IN HEALTH COMMITTEE
RIGHT NOW. BUT I'M NOT BECAUSE
I'M CHAIRING THIS ALSO SO TO MY
COLLEAGUES AND HEALTH COMMITTEE
I'M NOT IGNORING YOU. I'M HERE
AND BUDGET BUT UNABLE TO GO AND
I HEAR THAT IT'S ALSO RAINING
REALLY HARD AND IT'S IN THE
OTHER BUILDING. SO WE'RE GOING
TO CONTINUE ON WE WILL HAVE TO
RECESS AROUND 4 20 FOR ABOUT 30
MINUTES, BUT WE'RE GONNA TRY TO
GET THROUGH THIS PANEL IN THE
NEXT AND A COUPLE OF ITEMS
BEFORE WE HAVE TO RECESS FOR
ABOUT 30 MINUTES. QUESTION FOR
THIS PANEL DOES THE LABOR
COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE AND CAL
OSHA HAVE A LONG TERM LANGUAGE
ACCESS PLAN IN PLACE?
COMMISSIONER YOU'RE WELCOME TO
TAKE IT OFF. YES THANK YOU,
MADAM CHAIR IN MY COMMENTS I
IDENTIFIED UM THE OFFICES THAT
WE ARE PRIORITIZING TO REGAIN
THE STAFFING LEVELS THAT WE HAD
PRE PANDEMIC IN 2018. AND THEN
WE'VE ALSO IDENTIFIED ADDITIONAL
OFFICES THROUGH OUR ANALYSIS OF
2022 DATA WHERE WE NEED TO GO
BEYOND THOSE 2018 NUMBERS, SO
THAT IS OUR INITIAL PLAN TO GET
US THROUGH FOR THIS YEAR. YES
THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. WE HAVE
A LONG TERM LANGUAGE AS ACCESS
PLANNED AND THAT INCLUDES REALLY
FOCUSING ON ADDING MORE PEOPLE
TO OUR TEAM THAT ARE BILINGUAL.
AND IN ADDITION TO LEVERAGING
THOSE THAT ARE THAT HAVE
INDICATED THROUGH A RECENT
SURVEY THAT THEY'RE BILINGUAL
WHO ARE INTERESTED IN EXPANDING
, UM, THAT INTO A CERTIFIED
BILINGUAL CAPACITY, WHICH WOULD
REALLY HELP US. AND. WE'RE ALSO
INCREASING, INCREASING OUR
ABILITY TO TRANSLATE. UM, OUR
MATERIALS. THROUGH UM, THE
ALLIANCE PROGRAM PARTNERSHIPS
THAT THAT I MENTIONED. UM FOR
INDIGENOUS LANGUAGE. TRANSLATION
UM AND ALSO CONTRACTING WITH
VENDORS WHO CAN PROVIDE
TRANSLATION SERVICES FOR FIELD
STAFF THAT ARE CONDUCTING
INSPECTIONS IN REAL TIME AND FOR
OUR WRITTEN EDUCATION AND
TRAINING MATERIALS, MATERIALS
FOR WORKERS AND FOR EMPLOYERS.
MADAM CHAIR. COULD I ADD? YES,
PLEASE. DEANNA PING, CHIEF
DEPUTY DIRECTOR FOR D I R. I
JUST THOUGHT I'D BE HELPFUL TO
TALK ABOUT SOME DEPARTMENT WIDE
INITIATIVES RELATED TO LANGUAGE
ACCESS THAT DOVETAIL INTO WHAT
LABOR COMMISSIONER GARCIA BRAUER
AS WELL AS, UH, CALISTA CHIEF
JEFF PHILIP MENTIONED I ALSO
JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO
OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS, DANIEL
AND DORA FOR SPEAKING TODAY, SO
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. SO
LAST YEAR, WE ACTUALLY KICKED
OFF A D I R LANGUAGE ACCESS
WORKGROUP, AND WE ACTUALLY HAVE
ALREADY SOME INITIATIVES THAT
WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO PUT FORWARD
THEIR SO BECAUSE WE WANT TO MAKE
SURE THAT WHETHER IT'S IN THE
FIELD AROUND THE OFFICE THAT OUR
TEAM HAS ACCESS TO THE RESOURCES
THAT THEY NEED, AS WELL AS
WORKERS ARE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE
IN A LANGUAGE THAT THEY FEEL
COMFORTABLE COMMUNICATING IN.
AND SO IN THAT WORK, WE ACTUALLY
DID A COMPLETE EVALUATION OF ALL
OF OUR LANGUAGE AND TRANSLATION
CONTRACTS, WHICH WERE REFERENCED
HERE AND IN THAT WE SAW THAT
THERE WAS A NEED FOR SOME TYPE
OF DEPARTMENT WIDE
INTERPRETATION, AND, UH,
BILINGUAL SERVICES CONTRACT
WHICH WERE ACTUALLY IN THE FINAL
STAGES OF IMPLEMENTING AND SO
THAT'S GOING TO INCLUDE IN
PERSON TELEPHONIC, AS WELL AS
VIRTUAL TRANSLATION, BOTH
SIMULTANEOUS AS WELL AS SOME OF
THE RESOURCES THAT WERE
REFERENCED IN GETTING THOSE
TRANSLATED MORE LANGUAGES. IT
IS. AND IN ADDITION TO THAT,
WE'RE ACTUALLY REVIEWING OUR TOP
20 PUBLICATIONS ACROSS ALL OF
OUR DIVISIONS. AND SO THAT
INCLUDES KALUSHA, THE LABOR
COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE, THE
DIVISION OF WORKERS COMP, AS
WELL AS THE DIVISION OF
APPRENTICESHIP STANDARDS, AND SO
WE'RE REVIEWING THE TOP 20 MOST
POPULAR PUBLICATIONS WERE
LOOKING TO SEE WHAT LANGUAGES
THAT ARE TRANSLATED IN IF THAT'S
ACCURATE, AS WELL AS IDENTIFYING
OPPORTUNITIES FOR WHAT LANGUAGES
TO HAVE THOSE TRANSLATED AND
POSTED IN AS WELL. AND IN
ADDITION, JUST LOOKING
DEPARTMENT WIDE AND HOW WE CAN
BE REALLY THOUGHTFUL ABOUT
RECRUITING MORE BILINGUAL TALENT
, AND SO I JUST WANTED TO
MENTION AN ECHO THAT THAT WE ARE
THINKING OF THIS REALLY IN THE
SHORT TERM. WHAT CAN WE DO TO
SEE QUICK RESULTS? UH AND ALSO,
WHAT CAN WE DO MORE LONG TERM TO
REALLY BUILD IT INTO OUR
OPERATIONS? THANK YOU FOR THAT
ONE. FOLLOW UP QUESTION THAT I
HAD AND RELATED TO A POINT THAT
WAS BROUGHT UP. UM, EARLIER, I
THINK BIÂU MISS URBAN, AND THAT
IS THE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE NOT
ABLE TO TEST INTO BECOMING
POTENTIAL INTERPRETERS. UM.
SPANISH AND I'LL JUST SPEAK ON
THE SPANISH LANGUAGE SPANISH
LANGUAGE THAT IS SPOKEN BY
EVERYDAY PEOPLE, INCLUDING MY
OWN FAMILY MAY OR MAY NOT BE
RELATED TO THE ACTUAL EXAM. AND
THAT IS CURRENTLY IN SPANISH AND
HOW PEOPLE SPEAK AND SO I'M JUST
CURIOUS IF THERE ARE CHALLENGES
BASED ON WHAT THAT QUALIFICATION
COULD POTENTIALLY LOOK LIKE. AND
I SAY THIS ONLY AS I'M THINKING
BACK ON. TAKING AP SPANISH IN
HIGH SCHOOL THE AP SPANISH EXAM
WAS VERY DIFFERENT THAN THE APE,
THEN THE SPANISH THAT I SPOKE AT
HOME. AND SO I'M CURIOUS AS TO
IF THERE ARE CHALLENGES JUST
BASED ON WHAT THOSE PUT THOSE
EXAMS LOOK LIKE AND LIKE THE
ENTRYWAY OF FOLKS BEING ABLE TO
COME IN I'M DEANNA PING DE IR.
I'M HAPPY TO TAKE THE LEAD ON
THAT. AND THEN IF MY COLLEAGUES
HAVE ANYTHING THAT THEY WOULD
LIKE TO ADD SO, AS YOU
MENTIONED, MADAM CHAIR THE THERE
IS A REQUIREMENT. I'LL FOR
CALLIE CHAR FOR SOMEONE TO TEST
AND TO BE ABLE TO OCCUPY A
BILINGUAL POSITION. AND SO WHAT
YOU MENTIONED IT IS A THERE'S A
WRITTEN COMPONENT AS WELL AS A
VERBAL COMPONENT. AND SO LIKE
YOU MENTIONED, IT COULD BE THEIR
VARIATION, DEPENDING ON THE
LANGUAGE RELATIVE TO CERTAIN
TERMINOLOGY, BUT ALSO HAPPY TO
CIRCLE BACK TO GET MORE DETAILS
ON THE SPECIFICS OF THE EXAM, IF
THAT'D BE HELPFUL. DID YOU WANT
TO ADD SOMETHING? OKAY THAT
WOULD BE THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
SO, FOR EXAMPLE, JUST BAIT AND
BASIC READING COMPREHENSION THE
L A TIMES AND NOW BINION USED
EIGHTH GRADE READING AS A AS A
AS THE TEAR. OF INTERPRETATION
ON THEIR READERSHIP. AND SO I'M
CURIOUS AS TO THE TYPE OF EXAMS
THAT WE IN THE STATE HAVE,
WHETHER IT'S UM IN ALIGNMENT OR
PARALLEL OR WHETHER IT'S JUST A
COMPLETELY DIFFERENT LANGUAGE
SPOKEN ALL TOGETHER TO THE POINT
THAT WAS MADE EARLIER ABOUT. I
THINK IT WAS A CHILEAN, SPANISH
VERSUS MEXICAN SPANISH, RIGHT.
NOT ALL SPANISH IS THE SAME.
RIGHT SO IT'S JUST I'M CURIOUS
AS TO WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE, BUT
THAT'S FOR A LATER CONVERSATION.
HAPPY TO CIRCLE BACK WITH YOUR
TEAM. IF THERE ARE NO ADDITIONAL
COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS, WE ARE
GONNA JUMP OUT OF ORDER. AT THE
MOMENT WE HAVE TIME. YEAH. WE'RE
GONNA GO TO ISSUE NUMBER 14.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND WE'RE
DOING THIS BECAUSE THIS IS A AH
REQUIRES A VOTE. DO YOU HAVE TO
LEAVE? SIX.
OKAY LET ME LET ME READ THROUGH
THIS AND THEN WILL CONTINUE WITH
THE MOTION, SO WE'RE GOING TO
MOVE ON TO ISSUE 14 THAT
REQUIRES A VOTE. THIS IS RELATED
TO THE AGRICULTURAL LABOR LABOR
RELATIONS BOARD. FOR OUR NEXT
ISSUE. WE WILL REVIEW THE
CLARIFYING LANGUAGE AGREED UPON
BY THE GOVERNOR AND STAKEHOLDERS
TO MAKE CHANGES TO 21 83, THE
BILL THAT PROVIDES ADDITIONAL
PATHWAY TO FARM WORKERS TO
SELECT A UNION REPRESENTATIVE IN
THE INTERESTS OF IMPLEMENTING
THE PROVISIONS OF THE BILL
QUICKLY AND ENACTING THOSE
CLARIFYING CHANGES. THE
AGREEMENT LANGUAGE IS A
CANDIDATE FOR BUDGET EARLY
ACTION. IT REQUIRES A MOTION IN
A SECOND. I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE
ISSUE NUMBER 14. THANK YOU. DO
GO FOR A VOTE. WE CAN GO FOR A
BIT, THEN CARILLO HIÂU I LI
PATERSON. REYES. REYES AYE WIX
WEBSITE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU,
LADIES. UM IT'S CHALLENGING
ISN'T WHERE 22 DIFFERENT
BUILDINGS. THERE'S ALL KINDS OF
STUFF HAPPENING AT THE SAME
TIME. UM AND SO I'M JUST GONNA
ASK BECAUSE WE DO HAVE TWO RACES
AND ABOUT 10 MINUTES IF WE CAN
CONDENSE THE PRESENTATION,
PLEASE. AND WE ARE JOINED BY
VICTORIA HAS ITS SHARE OF THE
AGRICULTURAL LABOR RELATIONS
BOARD, AND JULIA MONTGOMERY,
GENERAL COUNSEL FOR THE
AGRICULTURAL LABOR RELATIONS
BOARD. WE'RE ALSO JOINED BY
DANIEL, BRENDAN AND COURTNEY
MASSAGE, ANGELUS. MATH AND GAIL
AND CHAOS, APOLOGY FOR THE
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND CHESS
ELMO WITH ELIO. WE ARE ASKING
OUR PANELISTS TO PRESENT TO THE
AGREEMENT LANGUAGE AS WELL AS TO
BUDGET CHANGE PROPOSALS RELATED
TO THE BILL'S IMPLEMENTATION ON
AND OUR FARM WORKER OUTREACH FOR
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC. PLEASE
NOTE THAT THE AGREEMENT LANGUAGE
IS AVAILABLE AS AN AMENDMENT TO
ADDENDUM. APOLOGIES. TO TODAY'S
AGENDA AND CAN BE VIEWED ON THE
ASSEMBLY SUBCOMMITTEE. WEBSITE.
LET'S BEGIN. OKAY THANK YOU,
MADAM CHAIR AND MEMBERS OF THE
COMMITTEE FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO
PRESENT HERE TODAY. I WILL BE
QUICKLY DISCUSSING THE CHANGES
PRESENTED BY THE R N IN A
TRUNCATED FASHION, UH, TO GIVE
AN OVERVIEW OF A B TWO AND 83.
THERE WERE THREE PRIMARY
COMPONENTS ONE COMPONENT
CHANGING THE ELECTION PROCESS
FOR ELECTIONS UNDER THE
AGRICULTURAL LABOR RELATIONS ACT
. THE OTHER WAS TO ESTABLISH AN
APPEAL BOND FOR VARIOUS MATTERS.
AND THE OTHER WAS TO CREATE NEW
CIVIL PENALTIES UNDER OUR ACT
UNDER THE NEW RN LANGUAGE THAT'S
CLARIFY SOME OF THESE PROVISIONS
. THE CIVIL PENALTY PROVISION
WAS UNTOUCHED, AND THE CHANGES
ARE WITH AGAIN THE ELECTION
PROCESS AND THE APPEAL BOND. IN
REGARDS TO THE ELECTION PROCESS
. A B 2183 CREATED A NEW
ADDITIONAL, UM FRAMEWORK FOR HOW
TO THINK OF ELECTION SO IT
OFFERED EMPLOYERS THE ABILITY TO
BECOME A LABOR PEACE AGREEMENT.
LABOR OR ENTER LABOR PEACE
COMPACT ESTABLISHED BY STATUTE,
AND IF THEY DID SO THEY WERE
COMMITTING TO CERTAIN
REQUIREMENTS ESSENTIALLY TO, UM
NOT GETTING INVOLVED OR SPEAK
OUT AGAINST ANY UNION ACTIVITY
OR ANY PARTICULAR UNION. AND
THEN EXCHANGE THERE WOULD BE A
SECRET BALLOT ELECTIONS, AS WAS
, AS WAS THE LAW PRIOR TO BE
2183, WITH THE OPTION TO ALLOW
MAIL AND VOTING. IF AN EMPLOYER
DID NOT SIGN ON TO A LABOR,
PEACE COMPACT, THEN, UM, WORKERS
UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS COULD,
UM, PURSUE A MAIL BALLOTS, OR,
UH, UH, ESSENTIALLY A CAR CHECK
TYPE PROCESS. IT ALSO
ESTABLISHED A BOND A PROCESS
WHERE WHEN EMPLOYERS APPEALED
MATTERS DETERMINED BY THE BOARD
TO THE COURT OF APPEAL OR OTHER
HIGHER COURTS, THEY HAD TO PUT
UP A BOND. UM FOR THE VALUE OF
THE JUDGMENT THAT THE BOARD OR
THE REMEDY THAT THE BOARD HAD
ASSERTED THE RN LANGUAGE, UM
CHANGE. THE MOST SIGNIFICANT
CHANGES TO THE FOREIGN LANGUAGE
ARE TO THE ELECTION PROCESS. IT
ELIMINATES THE LABOR PEACE
AGREEMENT. FRAMEWORK THAT A B
2183 ESTABLISHED AS WELL AS THE
MAIL IN BALLOT OPTION. AND
INSTEAD AS ADOPTS A NEW CAR
CHECK PROCEDURE THAT'S LARGELY
BASED ON THE ONE IN 82 183. BUT
WITH SOME TECHNICAL CHANGES
REGARDING WHO MAY USE, THIS
PROVISION IS AVAILABLE ONLY TO
CERTAIN UNIONS. UM IT'S SET TO
SUNSET IN 2028. IT CAPS THE
NUMBER OF CAR CHECK
CERTIFICATIONS AT 75 FROM THE
TIME THE R AND WOULD BE
EFFECTIVE. THROUGH THE SUNSET
DATE. THE APPEAL. BOND LANGUAGE
IS ALSO FURTHER CLARIFIED THAT
THE APPEAL BOND APPLIES TO
EMPLOYERS FOR APPEALS OF BOTH
UNFAIR LABOR PRACTICE CASES AS
WELL AS MMC CASES AND MAINTAINS
THAT COMPLIANCE PROCEEDINGS OR
BEAUTY INCLUDED WITHIN ONE YEAR.
AND THAT THE NLRB ISSUES THE
DECISION SETTING THE AMOUNT OF
BACK PAY OR OTHER MONETARY AWARD
AND THE EMPLOYER MUST THEN POST
A BOND IN THE AMOUNT OF THE
MONETARY AWARD AS A CONDITION OF
SEEKING JUDICIAL REVIEW OF BOTH
LIABILITY AND BACK PAY FINDINGS.
AND THAT CONCLUDES, THAT'S THE
LIGHTNING OVERVIEW OF THE RN
CHANGES. THANK YOU APPRECIATE
THAT DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE
COURTNEY MASSENGALE DEPARTMENT
OF FINANCE. WE HAVE NOTHING TO
ADD AT THIS TIME. ELIO. I DON'T
KNOW. ELIO. NOTHING, DAD.
THANKS. JUST A QUESTION BEFORE
WE GO ON A QUICK RECESS. DOES
THE LRB ANTICIPATE MEETING
DIFFERENT OR ADDITIONAL
RESOURCES PROVIDED IN THE A B 21
83 BUDGET CHANGE PROPOSALS?
SHOULD THE AGREEMENT BE ENACTED
? NO, WE DO NOT. WE BELIEVE THE
REQUEST MADE IN THE BUDGET
CHANGE PROPOSAL WILL ADEQUATELY
ALLOW US TO IMPLEMENT THE
CHANGES PROPOSED IN THE R N
THANK YOU. EASY PEASY. RIGHT GET
IT. GET IT ALL DONE. WE'RE GONNA
SINCE WE DID TAKE A MOTION. THE
MOTION WAS TO ADAPT THE
PLACEHOLDER CHILL LANGUAGE
TRAILER BILL LANGUAGE TO
IMPLEMENT THE PROPOSED CHANGES
TO A B 21 83 APPROVED A BUDGET
CHANGE PROPOSALS FOR A B ONE.
MAYBE 21 83 IMPLEMENTATION ON
FARM WORKER OUTREACH. WE WILL
LEAVE THE ROLE OPEN TO MEMBERS
TO SIGN ON AS SOON AS WE
RECONVENE. THANK YOU. AND THE
REASONS. WE ARE IN RECESS FOR
THE NEXT 30 MINUTES. THANK YOU.
YOUR LABOR. I DON'T ARE YOU
DOING, MOM? ARE WE GOING? ALL
RIGHT. I KNOW.
FOLLOWING IT.
BASICALLY BATTALION. WE ARE BACK
FROM RECESS BACK TO BUDGETS OF
FOUR AND WE WILL CONTINUE. WITH
OUR ISSUES. WE'RE GOING TO START
WITH ISSUE 11. THANK YOU AGAIN
FOR ALL OF YOUR PATIENTS. UH
THIS ISSUE IS RELATED TO WAGE
CLAIM. ADJUDICATION WAGE CLAIM
ADJUDICATION TIMELINES HAVE A
LONGSTANDING PROBLEM AT THE
LABOR COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE.
THIS IS CRITICAL. THIS IS A
CRITICAL PROCESS TO ADJUDICATE
CLAIMS ON BEHALF OF WORKERS. WHO
FILED CLAIMS FROM NON PAYMENT OF
WAGES, OVERTIME OR VACATION PAY.
UNDER STATE LAW WAGE CLAIM CASES
ARE DUE ARE TO BE ADJUDICATED
WITHIN 100 AND 20 DAYS. BUT IN
2018, THE AVERAGE CLAIM TOOK
ALMOST 400 DAYS BY THE END OF
2022. THE AVERAGE WAIT. TIME WAS
803 DAYS, WELL OVER TWO YEARS.
OUR NEXT PANEL WILL PROVIDE AN
UPDATE ON WHAT HAS BEEN DONE TO
DATE TO REDUCE THESE TIMELINES.
WE WILL ALSO REVIEW A BUDGET
CHAIN PROPOSAL INCLUDED IN THE
GOVERNOR'S BUDGET TO ALLOCATE
RESOURCES DEDICATED TO
DECREASING WAGE CLAIM
ADJUDICATION CASE PROCESSING
TIMES. FOR THIS PANEL. WE ARE
JOINED REMOTELY BY THE LABOR
COMMISSIONER, MS LILIA GARCIA
BAUER AND IN PERSON. BY ANDREW
MARCH, AND PATRICK THOMANN FROM
THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND
CHAZ ALAMO FROM THE LAO, LET'S
BEGIN, COMMISSIONER. GOOD
AFTERNOON. GOOD EVENING, MADAM
CHAIR. THANK YOU FOR THIS
OPPORTUNITY TO BRIEF YOU ON OUR
WAGE CLAIM ADJUDICATION PROCESS
AND OUR BUDGET CHANGE PROPOSAL
SPECIFICALLY, SO JUST THIS AS
BACKGROUND. I JUST WANT TO, UM
KNOWLEDGE THAT THE BUT THE 98 8
BERMAN PROCESS WAS ESTABLISHED
STATUTORILY IN 1976 WHEN THE
LABOR CODE WAS SIGNIFICANTLY
QUITE SIMPLE, AND THE LABOR CODE
STAYED PRETTY SIMPLE UNTIL ABOUT
2012 THE LEGISLATURE THAN
STARTED TO PURSUE OTHER THEORIES
OF LIABILITY AND WE STARTED TO
SEE, UM MORE COMPLEX LABOR CODE
STATUTES. BE ENACTED THOSE
STATUTES OF INDIVIDUAL LIABILITY
OF THE CHAIN LIABILITY WHICH WE
COMPLETELY AGREE WITH AND SEE
THAT THEY'RE NECESSARY TO HOLD
PREDATORY EMPLOYERS ACCOUNTABLE
, ESPECIALLY IN LOW WAGE
INDUSTRIES, BUT IT IS IMPORTANT
TO SET THAT AS THE BACKDROP OF
THIS ISSUE THAT WE'RE STRUGGLING
WITH. AS OUR BACKLOG IN OUR WAGE
CLAIM ADJUDICATION PROGRAM IS
INFORMED BY THESE CUMULATIVE
FACTORS THAT HAVE TO DO WITH IN
ADDITION TO VACANCIES AND ALSO
THE IMPACT OF THE PANDEMIC. SO
SPECIFICALLY, THIS YEAR'S BCP. I
REQUEST ADDITIONAL STAFFING TO
ADDRESS A BACKLOG THAT WAS
CREATED BY INCOMPLETE CLAIMS
BEING FILED IN THE ONLINE WAGE
CLAIM PROGRAM. IN NOVEMBER OF
2021, WE LAUNCHED AN ONLINE WAGE
PLAYING PROGRAM. WITH THE
INTENTION OF CREATING ACCESS TO
ALL MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC,
INCLUDING THOSE WHO MAY HAVE LOW
COMPUTER LITERACY.
UNFORTUNATELY, WHAT. ENDED UP
HAPPENING IS MOST OF THE WORKERS
WHO FILED CLAIMS WITH US CHOSE
TO FILE IT WITH VERY LIMITED
INFORMATION. AND THAT MEANT THAT
THEY WERE RENDERING A CLAIM THAT
CANNOT MOVE FORWARD IN THE
PROCESS, WHICH CREATED A NEW
BACKLOG FOR US AND TO DATE 75%
OF THE CLAIMS BEING FILED EVERY
DAY SINCE THE LAUNCH OF THE
ONLINE WAGE CLAIM PROCESS ARE
BEING FILED ONLINE. SO IN THIS
PCP WE REQUEST 32 INDUSTRIAL
RELATIONS REPRESENTATIVES, WHO
WILL FOCUS ON ADDRESSING THE
BACKLOG CREATED BY THIS NEW
ONLINE SYSTEM. THESE 32 IR RS
WILL FOCUS ON CONTACTING
CLAIMANTS QUICKLY UPON FILING TO
CONNECT ANY MISSING INFORMATION
AND ADVANCE THE CLEAN FORWARD.
TO IMPROVE HIRING OUTCOMES. THIS
PCP REQUEST TO ASSOCIATED
GOVERNMENTAL POLICY ANALYSTS FOR
MY OFFICES IRON UNIT, WHICH WE
ARE JUST NEWLY CREATING IN
ADDITION TO ONE A G P, A AND ONE
STAFF SERVICES MANAGER FOR D I.
R S H R UNIT THAT WILL FOCUS
SPECIFICALLY ON MY OFFICE'S
HIRING NEEDS. WHILE WE
PRIORITIZE FILING VACANCIES, WE
ARE ALSO MAKING A COUPLE OF ONE
TIME REQUESTS TO ESTABLISH A
COMMUNITY NAVIGATOR AND
EDUCATIONAL ENHANCEMENT PROGRAMS
. BOTH OF THESE PROGRAMS
LEVERAGE LEVERAGE COMMUNITY
RESOURCES TO PROVIDE TAILOR
SUPPORT FOR LOW WAGE EARNERS TO
PERFECT WAGE CLAIM FILINGS AND
PREPARED TO ADVOCATE FOR
THEMSELVES THROUGHOUT THE
PROCESS. THIS PCP REQUEST ONE
TIME FUNDING TO OBTAIN A VENDOR
TO CONDUCT A BUSINESS PROCESS.
REVIEW OF THE WAGE PLAN PROCESS
. THE GOAL IS TO CRITICALLY
EXAMINE THE PROCESS AND IDENTIFY
ADDITIONAL DEFICIENCIES AND TO
FURTHER IMPROVE THE WAGE CLAIM
PROCESS. LASTLY, WE REQUEST ONE
TIME FUNDING TO AUTOMATE THE
PRODUCTION OF THE ORDER DECISION
AWARD AND THE JUDGMENT INTEREST
CALCULATOR. AUTOMATION OF THE O
D. A WILL STANDARDIZE THE
PREPARATION OF O D. A S TO
HANDLE VOLUME AND FACILITATE
WRITING COMPLEX DECISIONS. THE
SECOND AUTOMATION PROJECT IS IN
AN I T IMPROVEMENT CONTRACT TO
DESIGN AND DEVELOP A JUDGMENT
INTEREST CALCULATOR. THIS
PROJECT WILL FACILITATE ENTRY OF
JUDGMENTS WITH SUPERIOR COURT
AND CALCULATE INTEREST ON
OUTSTANDING BALANCES. THE GOAL
OF THIS BCP IS TO REDUCE WAIT
TIMES BY AT LEAST 200 DAYS IN
THE FIRST YEAR AFTER
IMPLEMENTATION OF THESE ITEMS
WITH ADDITIONAL REDUCTIONS EVERY
YEAR THEREAFTER. I'M AVAILABLE
FOR QUESTIONS. THANK YOU,
COMMISSIONER, DEPARTMENT OF
FINANCE AND FOLLOWED BY THE ELIO
PATRICK TOPPING DEPARTMENT OF
FINANCE. NO ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
AT THIS TIME BUT HAPPY TO ANSWER
ANY QUESTIONS ON THE PROPOSAL.
DREW SODERBERGH LEGISLATIVE
ANALYST'S OFFICE AND COMMENTS ON
THE PROPOSAL. THANK YOU. JUST A
COUPLE OF QUESTIONS FOR ME. THIS
IS THIS. THE DEPARTMENT HAVE
PROJECTIONS ABOUT HOW MUCH THE
ADJUDICATION PROCEED. PROCESSING
TIMES WOULD DECLINE SHOULD THE
32 POSITIONS SPEED PROVIDED. WE
ESTIMATE THAT THE 32 IR RS WILL
BE ABLE TO REDUCE DELAYS BY 200
DAYS IN THE FIRST INITIAL YEAR.
COMMISSIONER WOULD YOU MIND
GOING THROUGH THE TIMELINE ON
THAT? SO INITIALLY IN MY
COMMENTS IT WAS SAID THAT IT
SHOULD TAKE NO MORE THAN 120
DAYS, HOWEVER, AND 2018 THERE
WAS ALMOST 400 DAYS. AND AS OF
LAST YEAR, IT WAS CLOSE TO WELL
OVER TWO YEARS. SO WHAT IS, UM,
THE INTRODUCTION OF POTENTIALLY
THESE THESE NEW POSITIONS? WHAT
IS THE I'M SORRY. WHAT IS THE
LENGTH OF TIME THAT YOU THINK
HOW FAST THAT CASELOAD WOULD BE
REDUCED? THAT'S DIFFICULT FOR ME
TO SAY, UM, WITH MORE DETAILED
THAN WHAT I JUST SHARED. I CAN'T
COME BACK TO YOU WITH MORE
INFORMATION. WE ARE CURRENTLY
NOW, UM, HIRING ONTO THE BLANKET
INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS
REPRESENTATIVES FOR THIS PURPOSE
BECAUSE WE HAVE SEEN THE
EFFECTIVE OUTCOMES. WHEN WE HAVE
EARLY ENGAGEMENT WITH CLAIMANT
TO PERFECT CLAIMS. SO IN GENERAL
, AS YOU KNOW, HIGHER INTAKES US
, UM, A SINKING SIGNIFICANT
AMOUNT OF TIME. WHICH IS WHY NOW
WITH THE RECRUITMENT THAT WE'RE
RUNNING ON OUR CURRENT VACANCIES
, WE ARE LOOKING TO HIRE
INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS
REPRESENTATIVES ONTO THE BLANKET
SO THAT WE CAN START THIS NEW
STRATEGY TO RELIEVE BACKLOG AS
QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. AND WE
EXPECT THEM TO BE ABLE TO
DECREASE DAYS BY 200. BUT THANK
YOU, COMMISSIONER THAT ACTUALLY
LEADS TO MY FOLLOW UP QUESTION.
THE REQUEST INCLUDES A DEDICATED
HUMAN RESOURCES POSITION. HOW
WILL THIS POSITION IMPROVE THE
EXISTING HIRING PROCESS IS THAT
THE LABOR COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE
TO BEGIN WITH QUESTION ONE. AND
THEN THE SECOND FOLD TO THAT
QUESTION. WHAT ARE SOME OF THE
CHALLENGES THAT YOU'VE SEEN IN
TERMS OF HIRING LIKE WE'VE
DISCUSSED IN? AND CONVERSATIONS
AND IN THIS HEARING ANY
CHALLENGES RELATED TO WHAT THAT
APPLICATION PROCESS LOOKS LIKE,
UH, AND WHAT CAN BE DONE TO
EXPEDITE HIRING AND IMPROVE THE
HIRING PROCESS. ABSOLUTELY THANK
YOU VERY MUCH, MADAM CHAIR AS
WE'VE DISCUSSED PREVIOUSLY WE AS
AN EMPLOYER FACE SIMILAR
BARRIERS THAN ALL EMPLOYERS ARE
FACING RIGHT NOW WITH
COMPETITIVE WAGES AND BENEFITS
AND ALSO WITH COMPETITION OF THE
DELAYS IN HIRING LOSING VIABLE
CANDIDATES BECAUSE OF THAT LAPSE
IN TIME, SO THESE HR
PROFESSIONALS THAT WERE
REQUESTING ARE GOING TO CREATE.
UM HIRING UNIT WITHIN MY
HEADQUARTERS UNIT TO BE ABLE TO
FOCUS WORKING WITH OUR HIRING
MANAGERS TO PERFECT PACKAGES AND
WORK WITH D I R AND BEING ABLE
TO MOVE THOSE PACKAGE JUST MORE
QUICKLY SO THAT WE CAN GET BACK
TO CANDIDATES MORE QUICKLY AND
HOPING THAT WILL HELP US
SOLIDIFY MORE JOB OFFERS. WE'RE
ALSO ASKING FOR TWO POSITIONS
FOR THE DEPARTMENT FOR THEIR
HIRING UNIT. AS YOU CAN IMAGINE
, THAT DEPARTMENT SERVES SEVERAL
DIVISIONS. WE ARE JUST ONE OF A
COUPLE OF THEM. HOWEVER WE HAVE
VERY COMPLEX JOB CLASSIFICATIONS
, AND IT TAKES A LOT OF
ATTENTION AND TIME TO ENSURE
THAT WE'RE COMPLIANT. SO THESE
TWO PROFESSIONALS THAT WE'RE
BRINGING ON FOR D I R ARE GONNA
BE ABLE TO FOCUS ON THE LABOR
COMMISSIONER'S PACKAGES, AND
THEY'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO WORK
QUICKLY WITH OUR HIRING TEAM
WITHIN THE LABOR COMMISSIONER'S
OFFICE TO EXPEDITE HIRING. I DO
WANT TO KNOW, UH, FOR THE CHAIR
THAT WE DO NOT CURRENTLY HAVE A
FULLY OPERATING HIRING TEAM
WITHIN THE LABOR COMMISSIONER'S
OFFICE. WE'VE ACTUALLY HAVEN'T
HAD ENJOYED THAT LUXURY,
REDIRECTED SEVEN ENFORCEMENT
PROFESSIONALS TO BE ABLE TO
OVERSEE HIRING FOR THEIR
SPECIFIC PROGRAMS. SO WITH THESE
ADDITIONAL POSITIONS ARE DOING
IT'S THEY'RE BUILDING OUR
CAPACITY TO BE ABLE TO BE
CONSISTENTLY HIRING AND DEVELOP
THAT EXPERTISE OF THE STATE
REGULATIONS. AND ALSO THE D I R
PROTOCOLS. CAN YOU SHARE A BIT
RELATED TO THE INDIVIDUALS THAT
COULD POTENTIALLY BE HIRED IN
TERMS OF LANGUAGE ACCESS
CULTURAL PROFICIENCY WHEN IT
COMES TO THE WAGE CLAIM.
CLAIMANTS IN PARTICULAR. HOW
WHAT IS THE CHALLENGE RELATED TO
LET'S SAY YOU HAVE SOMEONE THAT
SPEAKS AN INDIGENOUS LANGUAGE
THAT WANTS TO FILE A CLAIM. HOW
QUICKLY CAN YOU FIND
INTERPRETATION SERVICES OR WHAT
IS YOUR DEPARTMENT NEEDS TO BE
SUCCESSFUL IN THE LANGUAGE FOR
IT? THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT
IMPORTANT QUESTION, MADAM CHAIR
, WE ACTUALLY HAVE GAINED A
SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF EDUCATION
OVER THE PANDEMIC. AS YOU WELL
KNOW, UM WITH OUR FARM WORKER
CARAVANS. WE'VE PARTNERED WITH
COMMUNITY PARTNERS WHO PROVIDED
INTERPRETATION SERVICES FOR US,
AND WE EXPECT OH, AND THREE KEY
AS I GO OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY,
I'M UNABLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH
THESE WORKERS. SO IT'S THE
COMMUNITY LEADERS WHO INTERPRET
FOR ME AND ALLOW US TO MAKE THAT
CONTACT. THE DEPARTMENT HAS
ACTUALLY JUST RECENTLY
ESTABLISHED A CONSOLIDATED
CONTRACT WHERE THEY ARE BRINGING
IN MORE OF LANGUAGES THAT WE
HAVE ACCESS TO, AND THEY'VE ALSO
INCREASED THE TYPE OF SERVICES
THAT WE HAVE. SO IT'S NOT ONLY
FOR OUR CONFERENCES AND HEARINGS
, BUT AS I'M OUT IN THE FIELD IN
MEETING WITH THE COMMUNITY, ABLE
TO THROUGH THIS CONTRACT,
SOLICIT SUPPORT. FOR WHATEVER
LANGUAGE SERVICES THAT WE HAVE.
SO WE ARE DOING BETTER TODAY,
MADAM CHAIR THAT WE WERE TWO
YEARS AGO, BUT BY NO MEANS ARE
WE ARE WHERE WE NEED TO BE, SO
WE WILL CONTINUE TO BUILD THAT
OUT. WITH RESPECT TO YOUR
QUESTION AROUND HIRING
PROFESSIONALS FROM THESE
IMPACTED COMMUNITIES WHO HAVE
THESE LANGUAGE SKILLS. I THINK
THE PREVIOUS PANEL OF COMMUNITY
LEADERS SPOKE QUITE ELOQUENTLY
ABOUT THE CHALLENGES. UM, THE
STATE PROCESSES PRESENT A LOT OF
WHAT I'M TRYING TO DO, AS YOU
KNOW, THROUGH MY COLLABORATION
WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF
CALIFORNIA. IS TRYING TO DISMISS
DEFIED THE STATE HIRING PROCESS
. UNFORTUNATELY SO MANY OF OUR
COMMUNITIES, ESPECIALLY OUR
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR ARE
IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES. THEY
DON'T KNOW HOW TO APPLY FOR
STATE SERVICE, AND IT IS A
CHALLENGING PROCESS. SO WE ARE
WORKING WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF
CALIFORNIA TO ESTABLISH A CAREER
PIPELINE. WHERE AT WHERE
REACHING OUT TO THEIR LABOR
STUDIES, PROGRAMS AND OTHER
SIMILAR PROGRAMS WHO REFLECT OUR
COMMUNITY AND WHO HAVE THE
LANGUAGE SKILLS THAT WE NEED TO
BRING INSIDE TO HELP THEM
UNDERSTAND? WHAT IS THE STATE
HIRING PROCESS AND CREATE AH,
UM, UNDERSTANDING WITHIN THESE
COMMUNITY PARTNERS SO THAT THEY
COULD PROVIDE SUPPORT TO
POTENTIAL CANDIDATES AS THEY GO
THROUGH THAT PROCESS. I AM
CONFIDENT ABOUT OUR PARTNERSHIP
WITH UCL A. WE'VE CONDUCTED TO
JOB FAIRS WERE ABOUT WE'RE
DEVELOPING CURRICULUM ON THE
PROCESS AND GOING TO BE DOING A
SERIES OF WORKSHOPS. WE ARE
SATURATING THEIR NETWORKS WITH
EXAM AVAILABILITY AND JOB
BULLETINS. ONCE WE PERFECT THIS
MODEL WITH èC L A. WE WILL
PROVIDE THAT THROUGHOUT THE UC
SYSTEM AND AS YOU INDICATED IN A
PREVIOUS CONVERSATION WE'RE
INTERESTED IN GETTING TO THE CAL
STATE SYSTEM AS WELL AS THE
COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM. AH
THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER.
EVERYTHING WAS GOING SO GREAT
UNTIL YOU SAID U C L A AND AS A
TROJAN, I MAY HAVE TO JUST
REEVALUATE THIS ENTIRE PROPOSAL
. BUT THEN YOU SAID CSU AND AS A
CS CALIFORNIA STATE STATE L A
ALUMNI. YOU BROUGHT ME BACK. SO
HERE WE GO OUT OF THE OUT OF THE
PERCENTAGES OF, UM, WAGE CLAIMS
THAT YOU CURRENTLY HAVE. I'M
CURIOUS AS TO HOW MANY REQUIRE
LANGUAGE INTERPRETATION. AND IF
YOU CAN, OR IF YOU KNOW, OFF THE
TOP OF YOUR HEAD, UM OUT OF
THOSE THAT REQUIRE, UH, DUAL
LANGUAGE ASSISTANCE. DO YOU
CURRENTLY HAVE THE STAFF AND
YOUR DEPARTMENT TO MANAGE THAT?
OR HOW MUCH ARE WE? HOW MUCH ARE
YOU? POTENTIALLY, UM USING A
THIRD PARTY FOR SOME CURIOUS AS
TO HOW MANY OF THEM ARE SPANISH
. HOW MANY OF THEM ARE MANDARIN,
CANTONESE OR ANY OTHER LANGUAGE
THAT'S NECESSARY AND WHAT ARE
SOME OF THE CHALLENGES
ASSOCIATED WITH TÌM STAFF IS NOT
AVAILABLE. ABSOLUTELY MADAM
CHAIR. UM, WE HAVE 19 UNIQUE
CONTRACTS FOR INTERPRETATION
SERVICES. I DO NOT HAVE A NUMBER
FOR YOU RIGHT NOW OF THE REQUEST
WE RECEIVE. WE RECEIVED ABOUT
20,000 REQUESTS LAST YEAR. I
CAN'T GO BACK AND LOOK AT THAT
DATA AND SEE IF WE CAN BREAK
THAT DOWN FURTHER FOR YOU. IN
CATEGORIES AND IDENTIFY OF OUR
INTERPRETER SERVICES TRY AND PUT
IN AN AMOUNT FOR EACH LANGUAGE
THAT WE UTILIZE. THANK YOU. I'M
JUST TRYING TO PAINT A PICTURE
IF YOU HAVE 20,000 WAGE CLAIM.
REQUEST AND ONLY A SMALL
PERCENTAGE OF THAT ARE IN THE
LANGUAGE NECESSARY CURRENTLY
AVAILABLE ON STAFF. WHAT ARE THE
DELAYS ASSOCIATED? NOT ONLY IN
THE GENERAL CASES, CASES THAT
NEED INTERPRETATION, AND IT
SEEMS LIKE THERE'S SOME
OPPORTUNITY THERE. YES AND THANK
YOU. LET ME CLARIFY THE 20,000
REQUESTS WE RECEIVED WASN'T JUST
WAGE CLAIM THAT WAS ON PUBLIC
INFORMATION AND INTERPRETER
SERVICES REQUEST SO I WILL HAVE
TO BREAK DOWN THAT NUMBER AND I
DON'T HAVE THOSE CATEGORIES
BEFORE ME NOW, BUT I CAN'T COME
BACK TO YOU. OF THOSE 20,000
REQUESTS HOW MANY OF THEM WERE
FOR WAGE CLAIM ADJUDICATION?
HEARINGS. THANK YOU, MADAM
COMMISSIONER IF THERE ARE NO
OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM
THE DIET, WE ARE GOING TO MOVE
FORWARD TO THE NEXT ISSUE. AND
WE'RE GOING TO HOLD THIS ITEM
OPEN. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE'RE
GONNA GO NOW TO ISSUE 12 HOUSING
CONSTRUCTION WORKFORCE. THIS
ISSUE IS ON THE IMPLEMENTATION
OF SB SIX AND A B 2011. OUR NEXT
PANEL WILL REVIEW A BUDGET
CHANGE PROPOSAL AND A TRAILER
BILL RELATED TO THE HOUSING
CONSTRUCTION WORKFORCE,
PREVAILING WAGES AND SKILLED AND
TRAINED REQUIREMENTS. IN
ADDITION TO THE DEPARTMENT OF
FINANCE AND THE LAO, WE ARE
JOINED BY DEANNA PINK, CHIEF
CHIEF DEPUTY DIRECTOR AT THE
DEPARTMENT OF INDUSTRIAL
RELATIONS, AND CAN LOWER
ASSISTANT CHIEF COUNSEL AT THE
DEPARTMENT OF INDUSTRIAL
RELATIONS, AND BEFORE WE BEGIN
JUST A LITTLE MAINTENANCE. UM WE
WILL BE. WE WILL BE DOING ISSUES
23 24 WITH OPR AT A LATER DATE,
UM AT A LATER FUTURE HEARING, SO
WITH THAT, LET'S BEGIN. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I
WANT TO SAY APOLOGIES. YOU ONLY
HAVE ME SO FOR D I R BUT THANK
YOU SO MUCH. GOOD EVENING. UH
I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT OUR BCP
THAT REQUESTS 30 POSITIONS AND
5.8 MILLION IN 2023 THROUGH 2024
5.4 MILLION IN 2024 2025 ONGOING
FROM THE STATE PUBLIC WORKS
ENFORCEMENT FUND, AND THESE ARE
TO FUND THE IMPLEMENTATION OF
TWO BILLS. THAT'S A B 2011 AS
WELL AS SB SIX, AND SO I'M GOING
TO BE VERY QUICK BECAUSE I KNOW
YOU HAVE A FULL DOCKET. AND SO
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY. BOTH OF THESE NEW
LAWS APPLIED TO PROVISIONS SUCH
AS PREVAILING WAGE AND SKILLED
AND TRAINED WORKFORCE
REQUIREMENTS ON SPECIFIED
HOUSING DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS. SO
THESE ARE AREAS THAT FALL WITHIN
THE JURISDICTION OF THE LABOR
COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE OF PUBLIC
WORKS. UH AND THEY ARE THE ONES
WHO SERVE CIVIL WAGE AND PENALTY
ASSESSMENTS WHEN THERE ARE
PREVAILING WAGE OR SKILLED AND
TRAINED VIOLATIONS, AND SO THIS
PROPOSAL IN FRONT OF YOU PROVIDE
THE LABOR COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE
WITH THE ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
NEEDED TO SUPPORT THE
ENFORCEMENT OF THESE NEW LABOR
STANDARDS. AND WE ALSO HAVE A
TRAILER BILL THAT PROVIDES THE
DEPARTMENT THE AUTHORITY TO HAVE
THESE CONTRACTORS REGISTER AND
PAY THE APPLICABLE REGISTRATION
FEE, WHICH FUNDS THE UNITS
ENFORCEMENT AND EDUCATION
EFFORTS. AND SO ALSO JUST WANT
TO NOTE THAT THIS REGISTRATION
REQUIREMENT IS ALSO ESSENTIAL
FOR TRACKING OF PROJECTS AS WELL
AS FACILITATING THE SUBMISSION
OF ELECTRONIC PAYROLL RECORDS,
WHICH IS A REQUIREMENT
SPECIFICALLY UNDER A B 2011 AND
SO HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY
QUESTIONS. THANK YOU. DEPARTMENT
OF FINANCE, FOLLOWED BY ELLIOTT
PATRICK DODSON DEPARTMENT OF
FINANCE. NO ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
RIGHT NOW HAVING TO ANSWER ANY
QUESTIONS. NO COMMENTS FROM DO
YOU WANT TO STATE YOUR NAME AND
DREW SODERBERGH, LEGISLATIVE
ANALYST'S NO ADDITIONAL
COMMENTS. JUST ONE MOMENT. I
HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS. JUST
KIDDING. I'M READY TO GO BACK TO
VOTING. UM, I'M SORRY. WHERE AM
I? REAL CALL, PLEASE. FIRST
MOTION IS TO ADOPT STAFF
RECOMMENDATION ON THE VOTE ONLY
CALENDAR FOR ISSUE 15 93 21 25
27 28 30 31 32 33 35
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S EARLY, AYE. HE
I. SECOND MOTION IS TO ADOPT
STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE
VOTE ONLY CALENDAR FOR ISSUE TWO
THROUGH 46 THROUGH 8 22 THROUGH
24 26 ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S EARLY I
LI I THIRD MOTION IS TO ADOPT
STAFF RECOMMENDATION FOR, UH,
VOTE ONLY CALENDAR FOR ASIA
NUMBER 29 34 ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S
HIGH WE AYE. FINAL MOTION IS TO
ADAPT PLACEHOLDER TRAILER AVAIL
LANGUAGE TO IMPLEMENT PROPOSED
CHANGES TO A B 21 83 APPROVED
THE BUDGET CHANGE PROPOSALS FOR
A B 21 83 IMPLEMENTATION AND
FARMWORKER OUTREACH.
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S I LI I. THANK
YOU ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S. WE'RE
GOING TO CONTINUE. HMM. WHERE
WAS I? OKAY? HERE. JUST A COUPLE
OF QUESTIONS BEFORE WE MOVE ON
TO THE NEXT ISSUE AREA. THE
PROPOSED TRAILER BILL WILL
ACCEPT THE CONTRACTOR
REGISTRATION FEE FROM THE
RULEMAKING PROCESS. IF THIS
CHANGE IS GRANTED, THE
DEPARTMENT WOULD HAVE AUTHORITY
TO ADJUST THOSE FEES WITHOUT
HAVING TO SOLICIT PUBLIC INPUT.
UM WHY DOES THE ADMINISTRATION
NEED THIS AUTHORITY? HAPPY TO
TAKE A FIRST PASS. AND THEN MY
COLLEAGUES AT FINANCE CAN FOLLOW
UP IF THEY HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD,
SO THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION,
MADAM CHAIR AS YOU MENTIONED, WE
DO EXEMPT THE FEE FROM THE ÁP
RULEMAKING PROCESS. AND WHILE MY
COLLEAGUES AT DEPARTMENT OF
FINANCE CAN GIVE MORE CONTEXT AS
TO WHERE THIS ALIGNS FOR OTHER
DEPARTMENTS, I DO WANT TO NOTE
THAT THE LANGUAGE DOES SET
PARAMETERS. ON THE ALLOWABLE FEE
ADJUSTMENTS. AND SO IT DOES
MENTION THAT THE FEE NEEDS TO
JUST REMAIN SUFFICIENT TO
SUPPORT APPROPRIATIONS THAT ARE
APPROVED BY THE LEGISLATURE. AND
SO I ALSO WANT TO NOTE THAT THE
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT PROCESS IS
VERY IMPORTANT TO US, AND WE
RECOGNIZE THE VALUE OF
TRANSPARENCY. AND SO WE BELIEVE
THAT BASED OFF THE EXISTING FUND
BALANCE, AS WELL AS THE PROPOSED
JAN 10 BUDGET WE COULD EVALUATE
IF THE FEE WOULD NEED TO HAVE
ANY ADJUSTMENTS AND THAT THAT'S
SOMETHING WE COULD POST ON OUR
WEBSITE. WE HAVE A LIST SERVE
THAT INCLUDES CONTRACTORS
ASSOCIATIONS, ETCETERA THAT ARE
IN THE STAKEHOLDER COMMUNITY SO
THAT THEY COULD BE AWARE IF ANY
SUCH CHANGES WOULD BE NECESSARY
IN THE FUTURE, AND THEN THEY
COULD ENGAGE IN THE PROCESS
THERE. THANK YOU FOR THAT. YES
THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE. WE
JUST, UM PART OF THE REASON
WE'RE PROPOSING THIS IS THAT IT
ALIGNS IN A LOT WITH SORT OF THE
OTHER FEES. UM THROUGHOUT THE
ADMINISTRATION, UM AND SORT OF
THROUGHOUT THE GOVERNMENT, LIKE
THE CALCIUM PER BARREL FEE AND
AS WELL AS THE REST OF THE I. R
S EMPLOYER ASSESSMENT, WHICH
FUNDS? UM, THERE NUMEROUS
SPECIAL FUNDS. ASSEMBLING
RELATED TO COMMENT QUESTIONS. I
JUST WANT TO CLARIFY ON THAT. SO
I UNDERSTAND THAT THE REASON WHY
YOU'RE RAISING IT BY UNDERSTAND
WHAT FOR WHAT PURPOSE? LIKE,
WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO BE USING
THE EXPENSE FOR? THE MONEY
COLLECTING FOR? YEAH HAPPY.
THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION. AND
SO THE FEE IS WHAT FUNDS THE
PREVAILING THE PUBLIC WORKS
UNITS, ENFORCEMENT AND EDUCATION
EFFORTS. SO THAT WOULD BE ONE
JUST THE ENFORCEMENT LIKE THE
CIVIL WAGE AND PENALTY
ASSESSMENTS AND ALSO THE VERY
HARDWORKING TEAM AS WELL. DOES A
LOT OF EMPLOYER EDUCATION WITH
THEM, BUT WITHOUT THE INCREASE.
THAT AMOUNT WAS INSUFFICIENT TO
GO FOR THAT GOT TO CARRY OUT
THAT GOAL. WITHOUT THE INCREASE.
IT WOULD NOT BE ENOUGH MONEY IS
THAT WE'RE SAYING ANDREW MARSH
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE, SO
CURRENTLY THERE IS NO PROPOSAL
INCREASE TO THE FEE. UM THE WAY
THAT THE TRAILER BILL IS WORDED
THE AUTHORITY TO INCREASE THE
FEE WOULDN'T BEGIN UNTIL 2026 SO
AT THAT TIME, DEPENDING ON WHAT
THE LEGISLATURE APPROPRIATES
FROM THIS FUND THAN DE IR WOULD
DO AN ASSESSMENT WHETHER THE FEE
NEEDED TO BE INCREASED OR NOT.
OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. THERE ARE NO
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS
. WE ARE GOING TO HOLD THIS ITEM
OPEN. THANK YOU, AND WE ARE
GOING TO MOVE ON TO ISSUE
NUMBER. 13 IS THAT RIGHT? THANK
YOU. THE NEXT PANEL WILL DISCUSS
FOR BUDGET CHANGE PROPOSALS
REQUESTED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF
INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS. THREE OF
THEM ARE RELATED TO INFORMATION
TECHNOLOGY PROJECTS, AND ONE OF
THEM WILL IMPLEMENT A B 257
RELATED TO FOOD FACILITIES AND
EMPLOYMENT. IN ADDITION TO THE
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND THE
LÀ, WE'RE JOINED BY BED, MONTY.
UH CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER OF
THE DEPARTMENT. DEBRA LEE,
DEPUTY CHIEF OF SAFETY AT CAL
OSHA. GEORGE PERSO TO
ADMINISTRATIVE DIRECTOR FOR THE
DIVISION OF WORKERS'
COMPENSATION AND PAGE LEVI LEVY
, CHIEF JUDGE OF THE DIVISION OF
WORKERS' COMPENSATION IF YOU CAN
PLEASE PRESENT ALL FOUR BCPS
BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO ANY
QUESTIONS. PATRICK TOPPING
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE. I'LL TAKE
THE BRIEF OVERVIEW AND THEN A
FRIEND OF MINE DEPARTMENTAL
COLLEAGUES. THE PROPOSAL IN
FRONT OF US THE FIRST THE CATTLE
OCEAN DATA MODERNIZATION, UM,
ADMINISTRATION IS PROPOSING 12.6
MILLION IN 23 24 FROM THE
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH
FUND TO START THE DEVELOPMENT. I
MEAN, CAL OSHA DATA MANAGEMENT
SYSTEM TO IMPROVE THEIR
EFFICIENCIES AND ENFORCING
CALIFORNIA HEALTH AND SAFETY
LAW. UM. THE NEXT PROPOSAL IS
THE WORKERS CONFERENCE
INFORMATION SYSTEM, WHICH
INCLUDES SPECIAL FUNDING FOR THE
INTERVENTION OF WORKERS'
COMPENSATION TO UPDATE THE MOST
RECENT DATA LAYOUT, UM IN
ACCORDANCE WITH STATE LAW, WHICH
REQUIRES IT TO BE, UM, UPDATED
TO THE MOST RECENT VERSION
OUTLINED BY THE AND FINGER ME
FOR THIS ONE. INTERNATIONAL
ASSOCIATION OF INDUSTRIAL
ACCIDENT BORNS AND COMMISSIONS.
SO KNOWN AS THE I A. I A B C, UM
NEXT. THE BUDGET INCLUDES
RESOURCES FOR THE NEXT YEAR OF
FUNDING FOR THE ELECTRONIC AND
UNIFICATION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM,
WHICH IS ALSO FOR THE DIVISION
OF WORKERS' COMPENSATION. THIS
IS THE EAMES PROJECT RESOURCES
WERE PREVIOUSLY PROVIDED TO
START THIS UM, AND THIS IS THE
CENTRAL CASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
FOR THE MISSION OF WORKERS'
COMPENSATION IN THE BUSINESS
SIDE. AND THEN, LASTLY IN THE
BUDGET INCLUDES RESOURCES TO
IMPLEMENT, UM AND THE GOVERNOR'S
BUDGET, INCLUDING RESOURCES TO
IMPLEMENT, UM AMY TO 57, WHICH
WAS THE FAST FOOD COUNCIL MILL.
UM, AS PASSED BY THE
LEGISLATURE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH
PRINCIPAL AUTHOR OF A B 257.
GREAT TO SEE YOU HERE. WHAT ARE
THE ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS FROM
ELIO? DREW SODERBERGH,
LEGISLATIVE ANALYST'S OFFICE. NO
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS. JUST A
QUESTION FOR ME. WHAT ARE THE
ANTICIPATED TIMELINES FOR THE
FINAL IMPLEMENTATION OF THE
THREE MODERNIZATION PROJECTS? ON
THE FROM THE EXACT TIMING TO THE
DEPARTMENT. UM RIGHT? GOOD
EVENING. THIS IS BEN DONTE. I'M
THE CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER
FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF INDUSTRIAL
RELATIONS. UM AND SO WE ARE AT
STAGE TWO. WE HAVE STAGE TWO
APPROVAL FROM CDT. WE'RE WORKING
ON STAGE THREE. SO WE'RE
CONTINUING THE PLANNING PROCESS
. UM THE TIMELINE THAT STAGE TWO
FOR THE ALOSHA PROJECT, AND THE
PROJECT WERE BOTH TO START IN,
UH, 2023 EARLY 24 2024 TO
COMPLETE IN THE 26 27 FISCAL
YEAR AGAIN. THOSE ARE THE PAGE
TWO ESTIMATES AND WILL CONTINUE
TO REFINE THE ESTIMATES AS WE GO
THROUGH THE PALATE PROCESS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH SEEN NO
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS
BECAUSE I'M ALL BY MYSELF.
WORKING TO MOVE ON TO OUR NEXT
ISSUE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND
SINCE WE ARE ALREADY DISPENSED
WITH ISSUE 14 THAT'S SO MUCH
PAPER UP HERE. OKAY? FOUR. 15.
OKAY WE'RE GOING TO ISSUE 15
DEPARTMENT OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS.
HMM. WE'RE STILL AWAKE AND
CAFFEINATED AND READY TO GO. FOR
OUR NEXT ISSUE. WE WILL REVIEW
THREE BUDGET CHANGE PROPOSALS
RELATED TO THE DEPARTMENT'S
ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING IT
MODERNIZATION REGULATIONS AND
ORGANIZATIONAL. IMPROVEMENT. OUR
PANEL INCLUDES SEVERAL
REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE
DEPARTMENT OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS,
AS WELL AS THE DEPARTMENT OF
FINANCE AND THE L A. OH, IF YOU
CAN PLEASE PRESENT ON THE THREE
BUDGET CHANGE PROPOSALS BEFORE
WE MOVE ON TO QUESTIONS. LET'S
BEGIN. GOOD EVENING, SIR KOREA.
MY NAME IS TAYLOR SCHICK AND I'M
THE CHIEF FISCAL OFFICER FOR THE
DEPARTMENT OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS.
AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR
HAVING US HERE TODAY. THE
DEPARTMENT HAS THREE PROPOSALS
BEFORE YOU TODAY, ALL OF WHICH
EXTEND EXISTING FUNDING FOR
EXISTING PROGRAMS. OUR FIRST
PROPOSAL REQUESTS $6 MILLION IN
BUDGET YEAR AND $2.5 MILLION ON
GOING TO CONTINUE THE BUSINESS
MODERNIZATION EFFORTS OF OUR
COHORT ONE AND COHORT TO
PROGRAMS. THAT PROPOSAL WILL
ALLOW THE PROGRAMS TO CONTINUE
IMPLEMENTING AND REFINING THEIR
SELECTED BUSINESS MODERNIZATION
SOFTWARE, ALSO KNOWN AS CONNECT
AND WOULD FUND AID EXISTING
POSITIONS WITHIN THE
DEPARTMENT'S OFFICE OF
INFORMATION SERVICES TO SUPPORT
THAT PLATFORM. THIS PROPOSAL
ALSO INCLUDES CREDIT CARD
FUNDING FOR CREDIT CARD
PROCESSING FEES. UH PAID FOR ON
BEHALF OF CONSUMERS THAT UTILIZE
ONLINE CREDIT CARD PAYMENTS. I
WILL NOTE THAT THE ONGOING
FUNDING IS ONLY FOR COHORT ONE,
WHICH IS IN MAINTENANCE AND
OPERATIONS STAGE, AND THE COHORT
TWO'S REQUEST IS ONLY ONE YEAR
LIMITED TERM FUNDING DUE TO THEM
STILL BEING ON THE PROJECT
PHASE. OUR SECOND PROPOSAL
REQUEST 1.8 MILLION IN BUDGET
YEAR AND ONGOING TO SUPPORT
EIGHT POSITIONS PERMANENTLY AND
FUND THE DEPARTMENT'S REGULATION
UNIT WITH 36 BOARDS AND BUREAUS
. THE DEPARTMENT PROMULGATES A
SIGNIFICANT VOLUME OF
REGULATIONS ANNUALLY. AND THIS
UNIT IS VITAL TO CONTINUE THE
PROCESS TO CONTINUE TO PROCESS
REGULATIONS TIMELY AND AT A
HIGHER RATE THAN BEFORE THE UNIT
WAS ESTABLISHED. THIS UNIT ALSO
PROVIDES PROGRAM STAFF WITH
INCREASED TRAINING AND RESOURCES
TO HELP DEVELOP MORE
COMPREHENSIVE AND QUALITY
REGULATORY PACKAGES. AND THEN
FINALLY, THE DEPARTMENT HAS
REQUESTED 1.2 MILLION BUDGET
YEAR AND ONGOING TO SUPPORT
SEVEN POSITIONS AND PERMANENTLY
FUND THE DEPARTMENT'S
ORGANIZATIONAL IMPROVEMENT
OFFICE. THIS UNIT CONDUCTS
BUSINESS ANALYTICS AND
ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE MANAGEMENT
ACTIVITIES FOR THE DEPARTMENT'S
36 PROFESSIONAL LICENSING
ENTITIES AND THE CENTRALIZED
SERVICE DIVISIONS. THE UNIT HAS
DEMONSTRATED SIGNIFICANT VALUE
WORKING WITH PROGRAMS AND
DIVISIONS TO DOCUMENT THEIR
BUSINESS PROCESSES AND FIND
PROCESS STEP IMPROVEMENTS. LET
ME JUST A SECOND HERE, WHICH
RESULTS IN WORK BEING COMPLETED
FASTER AND APPLICANTS AND
CONSUMERS RECEIVING QUICKER
RESPONSES OR ACTIONS FROM
PROGRAMS. WHILE THE DEPARTMENT
DOESN'T HAVE DATA SPECIFIC TO
COST SAVINGS RESULTING FROM ITS
EFFORTS, THERE ARE OBJECTIVE
BENEFITS AND DOCUMENTING AND
STREAMLINING BUSINESS PROCESSES
FOR THE DEPARTMENTS, BOARDS,
BUREAUS AND CENTRALIZED SERVICES
DIVISIONS. WE WANT TO THANK YOU
FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION
OF OUR PROPOSALS, AND I'M JOINED
WITH MY COLLEAGUES HERE AND ARE
HAPPY TO ADDRESS ANY QUESTIONS
THAT YOU MAY HAVE. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. DEPARTMENT
OF FINANCE, FOLLOWED BY ELIO AMY
ASCENCIO DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE
FOR THE FIRST ISSUE FOR BISMUTH
. I HAVE NO COMMENTS FOR THE
SECOND ISSUE ABOUT THE
REGULATIONS PACKAGE. I HAVE NO
COMMENTS. UM AND THEN THE THIRD
FOR THE ORGANIZATIONAL
IMPROVEMENT OFFICE. UM I DON'T
WANT TO GET AHEAD OF THE L A S
COMMENTS. BUT I DO HAVE SOME
THINGS TO SAY, UM, SINCE 2017
THE ORGANIZATIONAL IMPROVEMENT
OFFICE WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF
CONSUMER AFFAIRS. HAS BEEN A
HEIDI HIGHLY UTILIZED RESOURCE
THAT HAS IMPROVED LICENSING
PROCESSES ENFORCEMENT
ACTIVITIES. BUSINESS PROCESSES,
CHANGES IN ORGANIZATIONAL
STRUCTURE AND ACCEPTANCE OF NEW
I T SYSTEMS. THE SEVEN ONGOING
REQUESTED POSITIONS WILL ALLOW
DC A TO EFFECTIVELY COMPLETE ITS
PLANNED PROJECTS, WHICH INCLUDE
BUSINESS MODERNIZATION
IMPROVEMENTS, PROCESS
IMPROVEMENTS AND CENTRAL SERVICE
REVIEWS. THE DEPARTMENT
CONTINUES TO CLOSELY MONITOR THE
HEALTH OF THEIR FUNDS AND DECIA
AS TAKEN A PROACTIVE APPROACH TO
ADDRESS FUTURE FUND CONDITIONS.
UM, WHILE REQUESTED SOURCES MAY
CONTRIBUTE TO THE STRUCTURAL
DEFICIT OF SOME OF THE DCS
SPECIAL FUNDS, UH, D C HAS A
COMBINATION OF PROJECTED CURRENT
YEAR SAVINGS. CORRECT FEE
STUDIES AND ANTICIPATED FEE
STUDIES, AS WELL AS THE
DEPARTMENT PLANS TO INCREASE
FEES THROUGH THE REGULATORY AND
LEGISLATIVE PROCESS TO SUSTAIN
THEIR FUND BALANCES. UM, THAT'S
LIMITED TERM FUNDING WILL BE A
BARRIER FOR D. C. A TO IMPLEMENT
THEIR LONG TERM STRATEGIC GOALS
, PLANNING GOALS AND FINALLY,
THE ORGANIZATIONAL IMPROVEMENT
OFFICE HAS GAINED INSTITUTIONAL
KNOWLEDGE WHICH MAY BE LOST IF
THE LIMITED TERM FUNDING ENDS.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. HELLO
THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR JARED
CIVIL WITH THE LEGISLATIVE
ANALYST'S OFFICE, SO WE HAVE NO
COMMENTS ON THE FIRST TWO BCPS.
WE JUST HAVE A FEW BRIEF
COMMENTS ON THE ORGANIZATIONAL
IMPROVEMENT OFFICE BCP. SO FOR
THIS PARTICULAR PROPOSAL, WE
MAKE A FEW RECOMMENDATIONS FOR
YOUR CONSIDERATION. FIRST WE
RECOMMEND THAT THE LEGISLATURE
REDUCED THE PROPOSED FUNDING
IMPOSITIONS TO MATCH OHIO'S
CURRENT AUTHORIZED FUNDING
LEVELS OF 894,005 POSITIONS. IN
ADDITION, WE RECOMMEND THAT THE
LEGISLATURE APPROVED THESE
FUNDINGS REDUCED OR REVISED
LEVEL OF FUNDING AND POSITIONS
FOR THREE YEARS, AS OPPOSED TO
ONGOING AS PROPOSED BY THE
GOVERNOR. AND THEN FINALLY, WE
RECOMMEND THAT OI OI REPORT OR
THAT THE LEGISLATURE REQUIRE
OHIO TO QUANTIFY HOW ITS WORK
HAS GENERATED BENEFITS AND
SAVINGS FOR THE BOARDS AND
BUREAUS AND TO REPORT THESE
RESULTS TO THE LEGISLATURE. BY
JANUARY 10TH OF 2026. WE
BASICALLY RECOMMENDATIONS ON
JUST A FEW THINGS, YOU KNOW, IN
OUR VIEW, IT'S UNCLEAR IF OHIO'S
EFFORTS HAVE LED TO MEASURABLE
BENEFITS AND SAVINGS TO THE
BOARDS AND BUREAUS. SO THE OIL
REPORTS A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT
OUTCOMES, AS WELL AS ANECDOTAL
EXAMPLES OF IMPROVED EFFICIENCY
. HOWEVER THE OIL HAS NOT
QUANTIFIED HOW ITS WORK HAS LED
TO MEASURABLE NET BENEFITS OR
SAVINGS TO THE BOARDS AND
BUREAUS. IN ADDITION, THE
GOVERNOR'S PROPOSAL DOES
REPRESENT AN INCREASE OF
$294,000.02 POSITIONS FROM
CURRENT AUTHORIZED LEVELS. BUT
IT'S UNCLEAR FROM THE PROPOSAL
WHETHER THIS ADDITIONAL
RESOURCES WOULD RESULT IN AN
INCREASED WORKLOAD OUTCOMES. AND
SO WITH THOSE POINTS IN MIND, WE
RECOMMENDED THE LEGISLATURE KEEP
THE FUNDING AT CURRENT
AUTHORIZED LEVELS. FOR THREE
YEARS AND AGAIN REQUIRE THE OHIO
TO REPORT ON ITS MEASURABLE NET
BENEFITS AND SAVINGS TO THE
BOARDS AND BUREAUS. WE THINK
THAT WITH THIS ADDITIONAL TIME
IT WOULD GIVE THE LEGISLATURE
ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO MONITOR
THE IOS OUTCOMES, AS WELL AS THE
REQUIRED REPORTING WOULD GIVE
THE LEGISLATURE INSIGHT INTO
WHETHER OHIO'S BENEFITS OUTWEIGH
ITS COSTS TO THE BOARDS AND
BUREAUS. AND WITH THAT, I'M
HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS
YOU MAY HAVE. THANK THANK YOU
FOR THAT. HAS THE REGULATIONS
UNIT BEEN ABLE TO REDUCE THE
AMOUNT OF TIME IT TAKES FOR THE
DEPARTMENT TO PROMULGATE
REGULATIONS. I THINK THAT'S A
QUESTION FOR ME. I'M RYAN MARK
CROFT. I'M THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR
OF LEGAL AFFAIRS AT THE
DEPARTMENT OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS.
AND I THINK THE SHORT ANSWER IS
YES. UM THE I THINK WE SEE THIS
, UH, MOST POIGNANTLY IN THE
RATE THAT REGULATIONS HAVE
INCREASED OVER THE LAST THREE
YEARS SINCE THE LEGISLATURE
FIRST APPROVED THE UNIT AND A
QUICK SIDE NOTE, SO THE
LEGISLATURE IS TWICE BEFORE
APPROVED THIS UNIT ON A LIMITED
TERM BASIS, AND WE'RE HOPING
THAT BASED ON WHAT WE HAVE BEEN
ABLE TO SHOW OVER THE LAST THREE
YEARS THAT THIS WOULD BE SORT OF
THE PERMANENCY FOR THAT
REGULATIONS UNIT IN THE YEAR
BEFORE THE LEGISLATURE APPROVED
THE UNIT. THE DEPARTMENT WITH
THOSE EXISTING RESOURCES WAS
ABLE TO GENERATE 18 REGULATIONS.
UH AND SO THE NEXT YEAR, THE
LEGISLATURE FIRST AUTHORIZED THE
UNIT AND THAT SHOT UP TO 60,
WHICH MEANS, UM ABOUT A 40
REGULATION DIFFERENCE. WITH
EXISTING RESOURCES COMPARED TO
THE UNIT IN YEAR. ONE IN YEAR
TWO. WE SAW THE SAME OUTCOME
WITH EXISTING RESOURCES. IT
WOULD HAVE BEEN SOMETHING LIKE
18, BUT IN REALITY, IT WAS MORE
LIKE CLOSE TO 60. SO IN TWO
YEARS NOW WE'VE HAD 80 THAT WERE
COMPLETED THAT OTHERWISE WOULD
NOT HAVE BEEN. AND THEN IN YEAR
THREE AGAIN THE SAME OUTCOME.
THIS WAS JUST LAST YEAR, WHERE
AGAIN WITH THOSE PRE AUTHORIZED
RESOURCES THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN
18. BUT INSTEAD IT WAS NEARLY
60. SO TOTAL OVER THREE YEARS.
WE HAVE 120 REGULATIONS THAT'S
SITTING HERE TODAY WOULD NOT
HAVE BEEN COMPLETED BUT FOR THE
UNIT, SO I DO THINK IN SHORT, WE
HAVE SEEN AN INCREASE AND WE'RE
HOPING THAT WE'LL JUST KEEP
CONTINUE CARRYING THIS ON. THANK
YOU APPRECIATE THAT. ANY
RESPONSE FROM THE JARED SAID
BOTH ELEANOR COMMENTS. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE'RE
GONNA HOLD THIS ITEM OPEN. THANK
YOU FOR BEING PATIENT. WE'RE
GOING TO MOVE ON TO ISSUE NUMBER
16. THIS WILL BE THE CANNABIS
CONTROL APPEALS PANEL. WE WILL
REVIEW ONE BUDGET CHANGE
PROPOSAL. FOR THE PANEL
PRESENTED BY AN HOLLY, THE
PANELS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR. LET'S
BEGIN.
THIS WAS ON CONSENT PREVIOUSLY.
SO YOU'RE WELCOME TO KEEP YOUR
REMARKS SHORT. YES, WILL DO. UM
THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR FOR
ALLOWING ME TO DRESS YOU THIS
EVENING. MY NAME IS ANNE HOLLI,
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR THAT CANNABIS
CONTROL APPEALS PANEL FIRST, I'D
LIKE TO PROVIDE JUST A BRIEF
OVERVIEW OF THE PANELS,
STRUCTURE AND PURPOSE. THE PANEL
IS A QUASI JUDICIAL BODY THAT
WAS ESTABLISHED BY THE PASSAGE
OF PROPOSITION 64. THE FIVE
MEMBERS OF THE PANEL ACT AS
JUDGES. IN REVIEWING APPEAL
CASES. THREE MEMBERS OF THE
PANEL ARE APPOINTED BY THE
GOVERNOR WENT BY THE SPEAKER OF
THE ASSEMBLY AND ONE BY SENATE
RULES. THE PANEL IS AUTHORIZED
TO REVIEW DECISIONS BY THE
DEPARTMENT OF CANNABIS CONTROL
RELATED TO ADVERSE ACTIONS
AGAINST AN ANNUAL LICENSE HOLDER
OR APPLICANT. THE PANEL'S
MISSION IS TO ENSURE FAIR
TREATMENT ABOUT THE LICENSEE IN
THE DEPARTMENT. STREAMLINE THE
APPEALS PROCESS AND PROVIDE
EXPERTISE AND DUE PROCESS TO THE
REVIEW OF ANY LICENSING
DECISION. CALIFORNIA IS
TRANSITIONING FROM THE USE OF
PROVISIONAL LICENSES. OVER WHICH
WE HAVE NO JURISDICTION. TWO
ANNUAL LICENSES OVER WHICH WE DO
FURTHER WORKLOAD LEVELS CANNOT
BE KNOWN WITH CERTAINTY, BUT
THERE ARE LIKELY TO INCREASE
CONCURRENTLY AS THE NUMBER OF
ANNUAL LICENSES INCREASE. FOR
THIS REASON, THE PANEL REQUESTS
THREE YEAR EXTENSION OF FUNDING
TO SUPPORT THE LEVIN EXISTING
POSITIONS TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE
SUFFICIENT OPERATIONAL AND LEGAL
RESOURCES. TO CARRY OUT ITS
STATUTORY FUNCTIONS AND BASELINE
NEEDS. SO THANK YOU FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO YOU
TODAY, AND I WILL BE HAPPY TO
ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU.
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE, FOLLOWED
BY ELIO. ANDREW KHÔNG DEPARTMENT
OF FINANCE, NO ADDITIONAL
COMMENTS. GERALD, SUPPORT THE
LAYOUT OF COMMENTS. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU KNOW, COMMENTS OR
QUESTIONS ON MY BEHALF, EITHER,
BUT I WILL SAY FOR THE RECORD IF
THERE IS ANY MEMBER OF THE
BUDGETS OF FOUR COMMITTEE THAT
PULLS THE ITEM OF THE CONSENT
CALENDAR. MY EXPECTATION OF
CHAIR OF THIS COMMITTEE IS THAT
THAT MEMBER IS PRESENT. OKAY,
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU.
WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO OUR
NEXT ISSUE. WE'RE MOVING ALONG.
WE'RE FOLLOWING ALONG. WE HOPE
TO BE HERE BEFORE EIGHT O'CLOCK,
MAYBE LET'S DO ISSUE NUMBER 17.
17 HMM. AH FOR NEXT ISSUE WILL
RECEIVE A PRESENTATION FROM THE
DEPARTMENT OF THE STATE'S
TRANSITION FROM TEMPORARY
PROVISIONAL LICENSES TO FULL
ANNUAL LICENSES. JOINING US FOR
THIS PANEL IS RUSSIA SALAMA,
CHIEF DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF THE DCC
AND ANGELA HILL, DEPUTY DIRECTOR
OF GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS AT THE
DCC, WHERE ALSO JOINED BY THE
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND THE
LET'S BEGIN. GOOD EVENING CHAIR
. AND TONIGHT YOU WILL JUST HAVE
ME, UM FROM THE DEPARTMENT. UM
SO. GOOD EVENING CHAIR AND
MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE. MY
NAME IS RUSSIA. SALAMA AND I
SERVICE, THE CHIEF DEPUTY
DIRECTOR AT THE DEPARTMENT OF
CANNABIS CONTROL. AH, THANK YOU
FOR HAVING US HERE TODAY TO TALK
ON THIS ISSUE. UM I WOULD LIKE
TO START WITH JUST A SHORT
OVERVIEW OF HOW WE GOT HERE. UM
ON THE CITY, OUR STATUS ON
PROVISIONAL LICENSES. AFTER THE
PASSAGE OF PROPOSITION 64 TO
ONRAMP EXISTING LEGACY OPERATORS
INTO THE LEGAL MARKET. STATE
LICENSING ENTITIES WERE
AUTHORIZED HAVING A HARD TIME
HEARING YOU CAN YOU SPEAK A
LITTLE CLOSER TO THE MIC? IS
THIS ANY BETTER? OKAY THANK YOU
. ACOUSTICS IN THIS ROOM ARE NOT
GREAT, BUT UM. I'LL START FROM
THE TOP IF THAT WORKS FOR YOU,
OKAY AFTER THE PASSAGE OF
PROPOSITION 64 TO ONRAMP
EXISTING LEGACY OPERATORS INTO
THE LEGAL MARKET, UM STATE
LICENSING AND TEAS WERE
AUTHORIZED BY STATE LAW TO START
ISSUING TEMPORARY LICENSES.
TEMPORARY LICENSES WERE INTENDED
TO PROVIDE OPERATORS QUICK ENTRY
INTO THE LEGAL MARKET, WHILE
ALSO ALLOWING THEM TO GATHER AND
SUBMIT THE APPROVALS AND
DOCUMENTS NECESSARY TO MEET
ANNUAL LICENSURE REQUIREMENTS AS
A TEMPORARY SUNSET DEADLINE OF
JANUARY, 1ST 2019 APPROACHED, IT
BECAME APPARENT THAT THE
TIMELINE TO ACCOMPLISH ANNUAL
LICENSURE WAS UNREALISTIC. WHEN
TRANSITIONING TO MARKET THE SIZE
OF CALIFORNIA'S. THE STATE TOOK
SWIFT ACTION TO BRIDGE TEMPORARY
WITH ANNUAL LICENSURE BY
CREATING PROVISIONAL LICENSES
THAT WOULD BE PHASED OUT BY
JANUARY. 1ST 2020 THE HOPE WAS
THIS INTERIM SOLUTION WOULD
PROVIDE THE NECESSARY TIME FOR
LICENSING ENTITIES, STATE AND
LOCAL TO PROCESS PERMIT
APPLICATIONS ONCE AGAIN AS THAT
DEADLINE APPROACHED, IT BECAME
CLEAR THAT MORE TIME WAS NEEDED.
IN THE DEADLINE AND STATE LAW
FOR PROVISIONALS WAS EXTENDED TO
MORE YEARS TO JANUARY. 1ST 2022
, THEN AGAIN ON JULY 12TH 2021
ASSEMBLY BILL 1 41, WHICH
ESTABLISHED THE DEPARTMENT SET A
SUNSET DATE OF JANUARY. 1ST 2026
FOR PROVISIONALS. ADDITIONALLY
THE BILL ESTABLISHED A PHASE OUT
DEADLINES FOR THE ISSUANCE AND
RENEWAL OF PROVISIONALS AND
CREATED SPECIFIC AND DETAILED
SECRET BENCHMARKS FOR EACH
RENEWAL PERIOD OF A PROVISIONAL
SO AS YOU CAN SEE EACH EXTENSION
TO THE PROVISIONAL LICENSING
PROCESS HAS NOT JUST EXTENDED
THE SUNSET DEADLINE BUT ALSO
SOUGHT TO REQUIRE A HIGHER LEVEL
OF DELIVERABLES FROM LICENSES.
FURTHER COMPLICATING THE
LICENSING FRAMEWORK. TO SUPPORT
PHASING OUT OF PROVISIONALS THE
STATE INVESTED IN THE
DISTRIBUTION OF $100 MILLION TO
17 LOCAL JURISDICTIONS HOLDING
THE HIGHEST PERCENTAGE OF
PROVISIONAL LICENSES. IN JANUARY
, 2022. THE DEPARTMENT AWARDED
THESE FUNDS TO 17 CITIES AND
COUNTIES IN AMOUNTS RANGING FROM
$400,000 TO $22 MILLION. LATER.
UM THE DEPARTMENT WILL PROVIDE A
MORE DETAILED UPDATE ON THE
LOCAL JURISDICTION ASSISTANCE
GRANT. UM, OVERALL, THE
DEPARTMENT HAS SEEN AN INCREASE
IN THE NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS
RECEIVED LICENSE RENEWALS ISSUED
AND PROVISIONALS TRANSITIONING
TO ANNUALS. WE'VE TRANSITIONED
NEARLY 1600 PROVISIONALS TO
ANNUALS AND PROCESSED OVER 4600
APPLICATIONS. UM THE DEPARTMENT
CURRENTLY HAS OVER 11,000 ACTIVE
LICENSES. 5100 OR ANNUALS AND
6600 ARE PROVISIONALS. CAN YOU?
CAN YOU REPEAT THAT NUMBER
AGAIN? YES, SURE. THE DEPARTMENT
HAS OVER 11,000 ACTIVE LICENSES.
OVER 5100 ANNUALS AND 6600
LITTLE OVER 6600 THAT ARE
PROVISIONALS CAN GET EXACT
NUMBERS, BUT I THINK THEY'RE,
UM, IN THE BRIEFING DOCUMENT. UM
57% OF THOSE PROVISIONALS ARE
LOCATED, UM, TWO IN
JURISDICTIONS THAT HAVE RECEIVED
LOCAL JURISDICTION GRANT FUNDS.
SO IN CLOSING. I JUST WANT TO
SAY THAT THE DEPARTMENT
CURRENTLY IS PRIORITIZING
PROCESSING NEW APPLICATIONS,
ESPECIALLY FOR EQUITY APPLICANTS
, BECAUSE THERE'S AN UPCOMING
STATUTORY DEADLINE. AND THIS, UH
, FOCUS ON TRANSITIONING
PROVISIONALS TO ANNUALS. UM DUE
TO THE SOME OF THE BENCHMARKS
THAT ARE COMING UP THIS SUMMER
IN STATUTE UM AND I'M HAPPY TO
ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE.
PERMANENT FINANCE, FOLLOWED BY
ELIO ANDREW HONG DEPARTMENT OF
FINANCE AND ADDITIONAL COMMENTS.
JARED SIMPLE WITH THE L A. AND
NO ADDITIONAL COMMENTS. THANK
YOU. MORE THAN HALF OF THE
CANNABIS LICENSE APPEARED TO
STILL BE OPERATING UNDER
PROVISIONAL LICENSE, AND I
APPRECIATE YOU GETTING INTO SOME
OF THOSE NUMBERS. THIS THE
DEPARTMENT ANTICIPATE THAT THESE
LICENSES LICENSES WILL BE ABLE
TO OBTAIN THE ANNUAL LICENSE.
BEFORE THE PROVISIONAL LICENSE
ARE FACED OUT. AND IF SO, WHAT'S
THE TIMELINE? THANK YOU FOR THAT
QUESTION. UM SO WE CAN PROVIDE
LIKE A GENERALIZED UM, STATEMENT
ON THAT BECAUSE THIS WILL VARY
FROM JURISDICTION TO
JURISDICTION. UM THERE ARE THREE
KEY COMPONENTS THAT HAVE TO BE
MET FOR ANNUAL LICENSURE
COMPLETE ANNUAL APPLICATION. UM
ALL REQUIREMENTS FOR SEQUA OR
THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL
QUALITY ACT HAVE TO BE MET. UM
IN ORDER FOR THE DEPARTMENT TO
ISSUE AN ANNUAL LICENSE, AND
LASTLY, THE OPERATOR HAS TO BE
IN COMPLIANCE WITH ALL LOCAL
RULES AND REGULATIONS IN WHICH
THEY'RE AUTHORIZED IN THAT
JURISDICTION, SO IF THEY DON'T
MAKE THESE THREE COMPONENTS, THE
DEPARTMENT CANNOT ISSUE AN
ANNUAL LICENSE. WHAT I CAN TELL
YOU IS THE ONE MOST PEOPLE
STRUGGLE WITH JESSICA. THAT'S
WHERE MOST OF OUR APPLICANTS,
UM, ARE STRUGGLING OR GETTING
HELD UP. WHICH IS WHY IT'S SO
CRITICAL THAT WE CONTINUE TO
MONITOR THE IMPACTS OF THE LOCAL
JURISDICTION GRANT PROGRAM.
THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THAT. I
KNOW IT'S A COMPLICATED PROCESS
ACROSS THE STATE. HMM SO RELATED
TO RELATED TO SEQUA AND SOME
CHALLENGES THAT SOME MAY MAY
FACE. FROM WHAT YOU HAVE SEEN
HAVE PROVINCIAL PROVISIONAL
LICENSE HAS BEEN ABLE TO
DEMONSTRATE THE SECRET
COMPLIANCE. SO UM, IF THE
PROVISIONAL LICENSEE OR IF THE
LICENSEE HAS NOT COMPLETED SEQUA
. THEY HAVE TO RETAIN THEIR
PROVISIONAL LICENSE. THEY CAN'T
BE TRANSITIONED INTO AN ANNUAL
WE HAVE SEEN LICENSES WHO ARE
ABLE TO ACHIEVE THAT. ONCE AGAIN
, IT'S GOING TO MATTER IN THE
JURISDICTION THAT THEY'RE IN IF
THAT JURISDICTION HAS MANAGED TO
STREAMLINE THEIR PROCESS, WE
FIND THAT THOSE LICENSES TEND TO
MOVE THROUGH THAT PROCESS
QUICKER. UM IF THEY HAVEN'T,
THERE'S MORE CHALLENGES THERE.
YOU IDENTIFIED 17 LOCAL
JURISDICTIONS. DO YOU HAVE DATA
AS TO WHICH OF THE 17 ARE MOVING
FASTER OR ARE MORE SUCCESSFUL
THAN OTHERS AND ARE THEIR
MEASUREMENTS OF SUCCESS THAT CAN
BE IMPLEMENTED AROUND THE 17
JURISDICTIONS TO BETTER ASSIST
IN IN THE PROVINCIAL VERSUS
DANIEL? UM, THAT'S A REALLY
GREAT QUESTION. I WILL SAY SOME
OF THE CHALLENGES WE'VE OBSERVED
OUR REGIONAL RIGHT. SO THERE ARE
JURISDICTIONS THAT HAVE MADE
GREAT PROGRESS HUMBLED, FOR
EXAMPLE, HAS BEEN ABLE TO
STREAMLINE THEIR PROCESS. UM
THEY HAVE A CONTRACTOR IN PLACE
THAT SUPPORTING LICENSES TO MOVE
THROUGH THAT PROCESS AND THROUGH
THE FUNDING THAT THE STATE HAS
ISSUED TO THEM IS SUPPORTING
LICENSES TO MITIGATE. WITH THE
CONTRACTORS HAVE IDENTIFIED AS
ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES THAT NEED
TO BE MITIGATED. UM SO THERE ARE
SOME JURISDICTIONS THAT ARE
DOING THIS REALLY WELL AND WE'RE
SEEING PROGRESS. UM AND THERE'S
SOME JURISDICTIONS THAT ARE A
LITTLE SLOWER, UM, AND THEY'RE
IN THEIR PROCESS. UM, WE DO HAVE
A SPACE WHERE JURISDICTIONS GET
TO MEET, UM, AND WORK WITH THE
DEPARTMENT AND SHARE BEST
PRACTICES AND LESSONS LEARNED. I
THINK THAT WOULD BE IMPORTANT. I
THINK IF THERE'S IF THERE'S ANY
FOLLOW UP THAT WE CAN DO ON THE
SEVEN JURISDICTIONS IN TERMS OF
MEASUREMENTS OF SUCCESS, OR WHAT
COULD BE DONE DIFFERENTLY, HAD
NO SEEK WISE RELATIVE TO THE
REGION. UM BUT I THINK THAT
MIGHT BE HELPFUL. AND I'M
GETTING TO THE GOAL. YEAH I WANT
TO JUST HIGHLIGHT. WE DO HAVE AN
ANNUAL REPORT ON OUR WEBSITE. UM
THAT SPEAKS TO THIS AS WELL AS A
SUPPLEMENTAL REPORT THAT WAS
PROVIDED TO THE L A EARLIER THIS
YEAR. WHERE WERE SENSITIVE AND
SO FAR ABOUT GOING TO WEBSITES
FOR INFORMATION, BUT WE'RE HAPPY
TO PROVIDE ANY IMPORTANT NATION
YOU NEED. THANK YOU. I
APPRECIATE THAT. UM I DON'T HAVE
ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS OR
QUESTIONS, SO WE'RE GOING TO
KEEP THIS ITEM OPEN AND MOVE ON
TO ISSUE NUMBER 18. LAST YEAR,
THE LEGISLATURE MADE SEVERAL
CHANGES TO CALIFORNIA'S CANNABIS
TAX STRUCTURE, INCLUDING
ELIMINATING THE CULTIVATION TAX
AND CHANGING THE POINT OF TAX
COLLECTION AT RETAIL. CANNABIS
TAXES ARE AN IMPORTANT REVENUE
STREAM FOR CALIFORNIA AS IT
FUNDS YOUTH PROGRAMS,
ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVES. AND
CHILDCARE SLOTS. THE 2022 BUDGET
ALLOCATED 150 MILLION TO
BACKFILL ANY REVENUES LOSS AND
MAINTAIN BASELINE FUNDING FOR
THOSE PROGRAMS. JOINING US TO
PROVIDE A CANNABIS TAX REVENUE
UPDATE SET CURSING FROM THE L. A
S OFFICE AS WELL AS KOBE WHITE
AND CHARLENE MADAM FROM THE
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE. LET'S
START WITH THE ELIYAHU WILL
PROVIDE THE REVENUE PROJECTIONS.
LET'S BEGIN. THANK YOU, MADAM.
CHAIR SETH KIRSTEIN WITH THE L
A. I THINK YOU PROVIDED A PRETTY
GOOD AMOUNT OF BACKGROUND JUST
NOW, UM AND SO FOLLOWING UP ON
ON WHAT YOU COVERED, UM. OR
MAYBE JUST RECAPPING A FEW OF
THE POINTS YOU MADE. UH
CALIFORNIA FOR SEVERAL YEARS,
HAD A STATEWIDE CULTIVATION, TAX
AND STATEWIDE RETAIL EXCISE TAX
ON CANNABIS. UM RECENT RECENT
LEGISLATION ELIMINATED AND
ELIMINATED THE CULTIVATION TAX,
EFFECTIVE JULY 1ST OF LAST YEAR
AND, UH, THE SAME LAW ALSO SET
ASIDE 150 MILLION THAT CAN BE
DISPERSED BY THE CONTROLLER. UH,
AND A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT, UM AT
A COUPLE DIFFERENT POINTS IN
TIME COMING UP IN THE NEXT
COUPLE OF FISCAL YEARS. UM SO,
UH, AS FAR AS WHAT WE'VE BEEN
TRACKING RECENTLY. RETAIL EXCISE
TAX REVENUES, WHICH IS SORT OF
THE ONE REMAINING STATEWIDE
CANNABIS TAX, UM, HAVE BEEN
DECLINING FOR SIX STRAIGHT
QUARTERS. UM THE JANUARY
GOVERNOR'S BUDGET ESTIMATED THAT
2022 23 CANNABIS TAX REVENUES
WOULD BE 642 MILLION. AND 23 24
REVENUES WOULD BE 715 MILLION.
UM. WE PUBLISHED OUR OWN
FORECAST. UH, UH, A COUPLE OF
MONTHS AFTER THAT LATE FEBRUARY
THAT INCORPORATED US. UH UH, AN
ADDITIONAL QUARTER OF REVENUE
DATA THAT WAS NOT VERY PROMISING
. AND SO OUR PROJECTIONS AT THAT
TIME AS OF ABOUT A MONTH AGO
WERE AND STILL AT THIS POINT,
GIVEN THAT WE HAVEN'T SEEN NEW
DATA ARE 4 484,000,022 23 543
MILLION FOR 23. 24 SO HAPPY TO
ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS? YEAH.
THANK YOU. DEPARTMENT FINANCE. I
THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR KOBE
WHITE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE. SO
UM, SO MR KERSTEIN NOTED THAT
OUR REVENUE FORECAST WHICH WAS
THE 6 42 MILLION IN 22, 23 715
MILLION AND 23 24. THIS FORECAST
WAS DONE. WE WERE CLOSING THAT
DOWN AROUND MID NOVEMBER. AND UH
AND SO THE GOVERNMENT
PROJECTIONS ACCOUNTED FOR THE
RECENT CHANGE TO THE TAX LAW,
WHICH ELIMINATED THE CULTIVATION
TAX SO THAT ELIMINATED ABOUT 20%
OF TOTAL TAX REVENUES. AND WE
WILL BE UPDATING OUR FORECAST AS
PART OF THE REVISION PROCESS
WILL BE COMPLETING THAT IN IN
AND AROUND LATE APRIL, AND AT
THAT TIME WE WILL BE TAKING INTO
ACCOUNT THE NEWS TAX DATA THAT
MR KIRSTEIN REFERENCE AS WELL AS
WE WILL ALSO BE LOOKING AT
CURRENT PRICING DATA, WHOLESALE
PRICING DATA IN PARTICULAR, AND
ALSO THE FIRST TO MONTHLY
REPAYMENTS FOR THE THIRD QUARTER
WILL BE AVAILABLE BY THAT TIME.
AND SO WE'LL BE LOOKING AT ALL
THE DATA THAT'S AVAILABLE AND WE
WILL UPDATE OUR PROJECTIONS AT
THAT TIME. THANK YOU FOR THAT.
JUST A QUESTION BASED ON
CANNABIS TAX REVENUE PROJECTIONS
. WHAT ARE THE ANTICIPATED
IMPACTS TO ALLOCATION THREE
FUNDING ENTITIES. CHARLENE
MANNING DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE.
I'M HAPPY TO GIVE YOU A OVERALL
SUMMARY OF HOW ALLOCATION THREE
FUNDING WORKS AND ADDRESS YOUR
QUESTION. UM PROPOSITION. 64
SPECIFIES THE ALLOCATION OF
RESOURCES IN THE CATTLE TAX ONE
WHICH ARE CONTINUOUSLY
APPROPRIATED. EXPENDITURES ARE
PRIORITIZED FOR REGULATORY,
ADMINISTRATIVE WORKLOAD
NECESSARY TO IMPLEMENT AND
MINISTER AND ENFORCE THE
CANNABIS ACT, FOLLOWED BY
RESEARCH AND ACTIVITIES RELATED
TO THE LEGALIZATION OF CANNABIS
IN THE PAST EFFECTS OF HIS
CRIMINALIZATION. ONCE THESE
PRIORITIES HAVE BEEN MET THE
REMAINING FUNDS AVAILABLE FROM
THE BALANCE OF THE PREVIOUS
FISCAL YEAR ARE DIRECTED TO
ALLOCATION THREE WHICH WORKERS
IS ON THREE AREAS. 60% OF
ALLOCATION. THREE FUNDING IS
DISPERSED FOR THE EDUCATION
PREVENTION AND TREATMENT OF
YOUTH, SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS
AND SCHOOL RETENTION. WHICH WE
ESTIMATE AT FOR 23 24 AT 401.8
MILLION. 20% OF ALLOCATION THREE
IS THEN DISPERSED FOR THE CLEAN
UP REMEDIATION AND ENFORCEMENT
OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS CREATED
BY A LEGAL CANNABIS CULTIVATION.
FOR 23 24. WE ESTIMATE 133.9
MILLION AND THEN THE REMAINING
20% OF THIS FUNDING IS DISPERSED
FOR PUBLIC SAFETY RELATED
ACTIVITIES, WHICH WE ALSO
ESTIMATE AT 133.9 MILLION FOR 23
24. MAYBE 1 95 REFORM CANNABIS
TAXES TO SIMPLIFY THE TAX
STRUCTURE AND REMOVE
ADMINISTRATIVE BURDENS AND
COSTS, WHICH REDUCES BARRIERS TO
ENTRY INTO THE LEGAL REGULATED
CANNABIS MARKET. MAYBE 1 95 ALSO
REQUIRES THAT ALLOCATION. THREE
PROGRAMS ARE FUNDED AT A
BASELINE OF 670 MILLION TOTAL IN
23 24 24 25 WITH 150 MILLION
GENERAL FRIEND APPROPRIATED TO
BACKFILL THE TEXT FUND TO MEET
THE BASELINE OF REVENUES FALL
SHORT. TO MEET THIS REQUIREMENT.
THE BUDGET INCLUDES 95.4 MILLION
GENERAL FUND IN 23 24. TO
BACKFILL THE ESTIMATED DECLINE
IN CANNABIS TAX REVENUES. THIS
RESULTS IN THE FUNDING FOR
ALLOCATION THREE REMAINING
UNCHANGED FROM AMOUNTS
DISTRIBUTED IN 21 22 22 23. I'LL
NOTE THAT THE REMAINDER OF THE
150 MILLION GENERAL FUND TO
BACKFIELD. THE CANNABIS TAX ONE.
WHICH COMES OUT TO BE 54.6
MILLION IS AVAILABLE TO BACKFILL
IN 24 25. AND I WOULD NOTE THAT
THIS AMOUNT IS BASED ON
ESTIMATES THAT THE GOVERNOR'S
BUDGET AND MAY BE ADJUSTED IN
THE MAY REVISION AS WE UPDATE
OUR REVENUE PROJECTIONS. THANK
YOU FOR THAT. LEO, WOULD YOU
CARE TO RESPOND? YES UM, SO
UNDER OUR FORECAST, UH, SO OUR
UNDERSTANDING OUR UNDERSTANDING
IS THAT THE 150 MILLION IF THAT
PARTICULAR AMOUNT WERE TO BE THE
ACTUAL CANNABIS TAX REVENUES, UM
WE? THE 150 MILLION WOULD NOT BE
SUFFICIENT IN THAT CASE TO, UH,
KEEP FUNDING AT THE BASELINE
LEVELS. AND THEN AT THAT POINT,
THE IMPACTS WOULD VERY ACROSS
THE ALLOCATION THREE ENTITIES,
DEPENDING ON A VARIETY OF
CIRCUMSTANCES, THE ONE THAT I'M
MOST FAMILIAR. I'M NOT. YOU
KNOW, THE MY COLLEAGUES ARE IN
VARIOUS PROGRAM AREAS ARE MORE
FAMILIAR WITH THE PARTICULARS.
BUT THE ONE THAT HAS, UH, CAUGHT
MY ATTENTION A BIT IS CHILDCARE
, WHICH RECEIVES THE LARGEST
PORTION OF THE ALLOCATION. THREE
FUNDING, AND MY UNDERSTANDING IS
THAT ACTUALLY, THERE IS, UM UH,
QUITE A BIT OF FUNDING THAT
CHILDCARE SLOTS HAVE RECEIVED
FROM FROM ALLOCATION THREE
ALREADY THAT HAS NOT YET BEEN
EXPENDED. AND SO EVEN IF THE
ALLOCATION FROM THE CANNABIS TAX
FUND WERE TO DECLINE BELOW
BASELINE, OUR UNDERSTANDING IS
IN THE NEAR TERM, THERE WOULDN'T
BE A WHOLE LOT OF DOWNSTREAM
IMPACT IN TERMS OF THE AMOUNT OF
FUNDING THAT WOULD BE AVAILABLE.
FIRST SLOTS, AND, UH 23 24, BUT
THAT IS THAT SEARCH SET OF
CIRCUMSTANCES IS SPECIFIC TO
CHILDCARE. OTHER PROGRAMS THAT
RECEIVE ALLOCATION THREE FUNDING
MIGHT NOT BE QUITE SO FORTUNATE
IN THAT SCENARIO. THANK YOU
APPRECIATE THAT. NO ADDITIONAL
COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS. WE'RE
GOING TO LEAVE THIS ITEM OPEN
AND MOVE ON TO ISSUE 19 UPDATE
ON CANNABIS GRANT PROGRAMS FOR
OUR NEXT PANEL, WE WILL RECEIVE
AN OVERVIEW OF THE VARIOUS
CANNABIS GRANT. PROGRAMS
ADMINISTERED BY THE DEPARTMENT
OF CANNABIS CONTROL AND GO BIZ.
WE WILL REVIEW THE RECENTLY
ANNOUNCED LOCAL JURISDICTION
RETAIL ACCESS GRANT PROGRAM,
WHICH AIMS TO PROVIDE LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS WITH RESOURCES TO
IMPLEMENT CANNABIS RETAILER
LICENSING PROGRAMS. WE WILL ALSO
REVIEW THE LOCAL JURISDICTION
ASSISTANT GRANT PROGRAM, WHICH
AIMS TO ASSIST LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
WITH THE HIGHEST AMOUNT OF
PROVISIONAL LICENSES TO
TRANSITION TO FULL ANNUAL
LICENSES, AND FINALLY, WE WILL
REVIEW THE CANNABIS EQUITY GRANT
PROGRAM, WHICH PROVIDES FUNDING
TO LOCAL JURISDICTIONS IN
CALIFORNIA. THAT HAVE BEEN
DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED BY
CANNABIS PROHIBITION AND THE WAR
ON DRUGS. OUR PANELISTS INCLUDES
WILLIAM, THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF
THE COMMUNITY AND LOCAL EQUITY
GRANTS UNIT AT GÓMEZ, RUSSIA,
SALAMA AND ANGELA HILL AT THE
DCC, ANDREW ANDREW HUANG AND
CHARMING MAN IN WITH THE
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE. AND JARED
ZIPPEL FROM THE LA LET'S BEGIN.
LET'S HAVE DCC START WITH THEIR
GRANT PROGRAMS, FOLLOWED BY
GÓMEZ. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I
WILL START PROVIDING A QUICK
UPDATE ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF
THE CANNABIS WHEN YOU START. CAN
YOU PLEASE REINTRODUCE YOURSELF
YOUR NAME AND YOUR AGENCY,
PLEASE? YES UH, GOOD EVENING,
MADAM. CHAIR RUSSIA, SALAMA
DEPARTMENT OF CANNABIS CONTROL.
UM. I WILL PROVIDE A QUICK
UPDATE, STARTING WITH THE LOCAL
JURISDICTION RETAIL ACCESS
GRANT. UM THIS GRANT WAS CREATED
LAST YEAR THROUGH THE 2022
BUDGET ACT THAT DEDICATED $20
MILLION IN FUNDING FOR LOCAL
JURISDICTIONS THAT DO NOT
CURRENTLY HAVE A LOCAL CANNABIS
RETAIL LICENSING PROGRAM. AS OF
NOW, NEARLY TWO THIRDS OF
CALIFORNIA CITIES AND COUNTIES
DO NOT ALLOW LEGAL CANNABIS
RETAILERS LIMITING CONSUMER
ACCESS TO LEGAL REGULATED
TESTING PRODUCTS. AS SUCH, THIS
GRANT PROGRAM PRIORITIZES
FUNDING TO JURISDICTIONS THAT
PROPOSE TO ASSIST CANNABIS
EQUITY BUSINESSES OR PLAN TO
PERMIT CANNABIS RETAILERS
THROUGH EXISTING BUSINESS
PERMITTING PROCESSES TO ADDRESS
GAPS IN CONSUMER ACCESS. TO
INFORM THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE
GRANT REQUIREMENTS AND
GUIDELINES, THE DEPARTMENT
CONSULTED WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENT
ASSOCIATIONS. SOLICITED INPUT
FROM THE CANNABIS ADVISORY
COMMITTEE AND DIRECTLY SURVEYED
ELIGIBLE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.
PRIORITY WILL BE GIVEN TO
JURISDICTIONS IN WHICH
CONSUMPTION OF CANNABIS AND
CANNABIS PRODUCTS EXCEEDS THAT
COUNTIES. PROPORTIONAL SHARE OF
LEGAL CANNABIS RETAILERS.
PRIORITIZES EQUITY APPLICANTS
AND JURISDICTIONS WHO WILL
LICENSE RETAIL BUSINESSES
THROUGH EXISTING NON CANNABIS
LICENSE PROCESSES AND
JURISDICTIONS THAT CATEGORICALLY
EXEMPT RETAIL BUSINESSES UNDER
THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL
PROTECTION ACT. ON MARCH 10TH.
THE DEPARTMENT OPENED THE
APPLICATION PERIOD WHICH WILL
CLOSE ON APRIL 28TH 2023 GRANT
FUNDS MUST BE EXPENDED BY JUNE
30TH 2026 UM, THE DEPARTMENT
WILL SHARE WITH THE COMMITTEE
AND THE LEGISLATURE, WHICH LOCAL
JURISDICTIONS WERE SELECTED AND
CONTINUE TO KEEP YOU APPRAISED
OF PROGRESS MADE VIA THE
STATUTORILY MANDATED ANNUAL
REPORT. NEXT I'LL SPEAK TO THE
LOCAL JURISDICTION ASSISTANCE
GRANT PROGRAM THIS GRANT WAS
ENACTED DURING THE 21 22 BUDGET
CYCLE AND PROVIDED $100 MILLION
IN ONE TIME FUNDING TO AID LOCAL
JURISDICTIONS AND MORE SWIFTLY
TRANSITIONING PROVISIONAL
LICENSES INTO ANNUAL LICENSES.
IN JANUARY, 2022 THE DEPARTMENT
AWARDED THE 17 CITIES AND
COUNTIES WITH THE HIGHEST NUMBER
OF PROVISIONAL LICENSES AND
AMOUNTS RANGING FROM 400,000 TO
22 MILLION. TO DATE. THIS
FUNDING HAS BEEN USED TO, AMONG
MANY THINGS HELP STREAMLINE AND
MORE EFFECTIVELY ADMINISTER
LICENSING PROCESSES, CONTRACTING
OR HIRING SEQUEL, CONSULTANTS
AND HELP FINANCE LICENSES FOR
SEQUEL MITIGATION REQUIREMENTS.
IT HAS BEEN A LITTLE OVER A YEAR
SINCE THE FUNDS HAVE BEEN
AWARDED AND WE HAVE OBSERVED
WHILE MANY JURISDICTIONS HAVE
EXPENDED GRANT FUNDS WITH GREAT
SUCCESS. OTHER JURISDICTIONS
HAVE BEEN SLOWER TO USE THIS
MONEY TO MOVE THEIR PROVISIONAL
LICENSE PIPELINE. THE DEPARTMENT
CONTINUES TO WORK CLOSELY WITH
GRANTEES TO ALIGN DELIVERABLES
WITH THE OBJECTIVES OF THE GRANT
TO SUPPORT STEADY PROGRESS IN
THE TRANSITION OF PROVISIONAL
LICENSES. GRANT FUNDS MUST BE
EXPENDED BY MARCH 31ST 2025 UM,
THE DEPARTMENT WILL KEEP THE
LEGISLATURE APPRAISED OF
PROGRESS MADE VIA THE
STATUTORILY MANDATED ANNUAL
REPORT. AND I'M HAPPY TO ADDRESS
ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE. LET'S UH
HERE FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF
FINANCE, FOLLOWED BY ELENA.
ANDREW HONG DEPARTMENT OF
FINANCE. NO ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
AT THIS TIME. AND JARED CIVIL
WITH THE LAO. NO ADDITIONAL
COMMENTS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
LET'S HAVE GÓMEZ PRESENT,
PLEASE. GOOD EVENING, MADAM
CHAIR. MY NAME IS WILL COOK AND
I'M, A DEPUTY DIRECTOR WITH THE
GOVERNOR'S OFFICE OF BUSINESS
AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, ALSO
KNOWN AS GÓMEZ. MY TEAM
ADMINISTERS THE CANNABIS EQUITY
GRANTS PROGRAM FOR LOCAL
JURISDICTIONS UP, PROVIDE A
BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE PROGRAM
AND THEN BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY
QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE. THE
PROGRAM WAS STATUTORY
STATUTORILY CREATED BY THE
CALIFORNIA CANNABIS EQUITY ACT
TO PROVIDE FUNDING TO LOCAL
JURISDICTIONS TO DEVELOP AND
OPERATE CANNABIS EQUITY
PROGRAMS. THAT FOCUS ON
INCLUSION. AND SUPPORT OF
INDIVIDUALS IN CALIFORNIA'S
CANNABIS INDUSTRY WHO ARE LINKED
TO POPULATIONS OR NEIGHBORHOODS
NEGATIVELY OR DISPROPORTIONATELY
IMPACTED BY CANNABIS
CRIMINALIZATION. GÓMEZ PROVIDES
GRANTS TWO TYPES OF GRANTS TO
JURISDICTIONS UNDER THIS
PROGRAM, THE FIRST TYPE, WHICH
WE'VE COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS
TYPE ONE GRANTS ARE FOR
JURISDICTIONS TO CONDUCTING A
CANNABIS EQUITY ASSESSMENT OR
DEVELOP AN CANNABIS EQUITY
PROGRAM. EACH JURISDICTION MAY
HAVE THEIR OWN UNIQUE HISTORY
AND CIRCUMSTANCES WITH REGARD TO
CANNABIS PROHIBITION, AND THE
ASSESSMENT INCLUDES THINGS SUCH
AS HISTORICAL RATES OF CANNABIS
ARRESTS AND CONVICTIONS, IMPACTS
OF PRIOR CANNABIS POLICIES THAT
IMPACTED COMMUNITIES AND
POPULATIONS WITHIN THE
JURISDICTION. AND THEN THE IDEA
IS THAT THE ASSESSMENTS ARE THEN
USED TO INFORM THE JURISDICTIONS
CREATION OF THEIR EQUITY
PROGRAM. THE OTHER TYPE TO THE
OTHER TYPE OF FUNDING, WE REVERT
TO TYPE AS TYPE TWO GRANTS,
WHICH WE PROVIDE FUNDS TO
JURISDICTIONS TO PROVIDE DIRECT
SUPPORT TO THEIR EQUITY
APPLICANTS AND EQUITY LICENSES
THROUGH TWO PRIMARY WAYS, THE
FIRST OF WHICH IS PROVIDING
LOANS AND GRANTS FOR THE EQUITY
APPLICANTS AND EQUITY LICENSES
START UP AND ONGOING COSTS FOR
THINGS LIKE RENT LEASES, LOCAL
AND STATE APPLICATION LICENSING.
REGULATORY COMPLIANCE, TESTING
OF CANNABIS FURNITURE, FIXTURE
AND OTHER SIMILAR COSTS, AND
THEN ALSO TO PROVIDE, UH DIRECT
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, WHICH
REFERS TO SUPPORT TO HELP
CANNABIS EQUITY APPLICANTS AND
LICENSES, ACQUIRE THE KNOWLEDGE
AND SKILLS NECESSARY IN ORDER TO
GAIN ENTRY TO AND SUCCESSFULLY
OPERATE IN THE STATE'S REGULATED
CANNABIS MARKETPLACE. DIRECT
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE INCLUDES
THINGS LIKE ONE ON ONE
CONSULTING AND TRAINING, SMALL
BUSINESSES, SUPPORT SERVICES,
TRAINING AND EDUCATION REGARDING
THE STATE'S CANNABIS LICENSING
AND REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS, AND
SO ON AND SO FORTH. WE TYPICALLY
EXCEPT GRANT APPLICATIONS
BETWEEN OCTOBER AND DECEMBER
EACH YEAR AND ANNOUNCED A GRANT
AWARDS GENERALLY IN LATE
FEBRUARY OR MARCH OF EACH YEAR.
WE HAVE A DETAILED SCORING
CRITERIA AND FUNDING FORMULA IN
OUR GRANT SOLICITATION THAT EACH
ISSUED EACH YEAR IN WHICH WE
THEN USE TO MAKE OUR FUNDING
DECISIONS AND AWARD AMOUNT
DETERMINATIONS. THANK YOU, AND
I'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY
QUESTIONS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE.
ANY COMMENTS FROM DEPARTMENT OF
FINANCE OR ELLIOTT, ANDREW KHÔNG
DEPARTMENT FINANCE NO ADDITIONAL
COMMENTS AT THIS TIME. AND JARED
SYMBOL WITH THE L A. OH, NO
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. ONE QUESTION FOR ME.
UM HOW WAS HOW WAS FUNDING
PRIMARILY USED BY CITIES FOR THE
LOCAL JURISDICTION. ASSISTANCE
UH, GRANT PROGRAM HAS THERE BEEN
DEMONSTRATED IMPROVEMENTS
TOWARDS MEETING SEQUEL
REQUIREMENTS. UM THANK YOU,
MADAM CHAIR. UH, THERE ARE
VARIOUS UTILITIES. UM FOR HOW
FUNDS CAN BE USED OR ELIGIBLE
USES FOR THE GRANT FUNDS. A KEY
ONE THAT WE SEE IS FIRST SEQUA.
SO EITHER LOCAL JURISDICTIONS
WILL HIRE A CONTRACTOR TO CREATE
THEIR ENVIRONMENTAL EVALUATION
DOCUMENT FOR THEM OR UTILIZE
FUNDS TO RESOURCE LICENSES SO
THAT THEY CAN MITIGATE THE
FINDINGS THAT COME OUT OF THE
ENVIRONMENTAL VALUATION. THEY'RE
ALSO FREQUENTLY USED TO HIRE
MORE STAFF SO THAT THEY CAN
PROCESS APPLICATIONS QUICKER OR
PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO
LICENSES. UM ESPECIALLY OUR
EQUITY LICENSES TO NAVIGATE THEM
THROUGH THE LOCAL PROCESS AND
THE STATE PROCESS. SO THOSE ARE
SOME OF THE FREQUENT, UH, USES
THAT WE'VE SEEN THROUGH THE
GRANT APPLICATIONS. THE SECOND
PART OF THE QUESTION WAS THE
SEQUEL REQUIREMENTS. THERE'S UH
, BEEN DEMONSTRATED IMPROVEMENTS
TOWARDS MEETING THE SEQUEL
REQUIREMENTS. YES SO, UM, WE
HAVE SEEN FOR JURISDICTIONS THAT
HAVE ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO HAVE
EITHER IDENTIFIED AS SEQUEL
PATHWAY IN THEIR PLANNING
DEPARTMENT. FOR THESE COMMERCIAL
CANNABIS LICENSEES, THEY TEND TO
PROCESS THEM QUICKER THROUGH
THEIR LOCAL PERMITTING PROCESS.
OR THEY WILL HIRE A CONTRACTOR
THAT WILL DO THAT, SO WE'VE SEEN
PROGRESS WITH THOSE WHERE WE'VE
SEEN AREAS, UM OR SOME
JURISDICTIONS THAT ARE TAKING
LONGER IS IF THEY STARTED THAT
PROCESS LATER. AND SO THOSE
LICENSES TEND TO BE STAYING IN
THE Q AND THE PROVISIONAL
LICENSE QUÊ A LITTLE BIT LONGER.
UM AND SO WE'RE UTILIZING THE
GRANT AND MEETING WITH THESE
JURISDICTIONS TO SUPPORT THEM IN
MOVING THEIR PIPELINES. UM
FORWARD SO THAT THOSE LICENSES
CAN MEET THE STATUTORY
DEADLINES. I'LL JUST SHARE THAT
I HAVE A ISSUE IN MY DISTRICT,
UNINCORPORATED EAST LOS ANGELES
WHO HAS SEEN VERY DIFFERENT
POLICIES ON CANNABIS, THEN THE
CITY OF LOS ANGELES EAST L, A.
LIKE MANY UNINCORPORATED AREAS
DON'T HAVE THEIR OWN LOCAL
GOVERNMENT, SO IT'S RELIANT ON
COUNTY AND STATE. AND WE'RE
SEEING A LOT OF UNLICENSED POP
UP POP UP CANNABIS SHOPS. THAT
DON'T HAVE OR PUT FORWARD THE
REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION, SO EVEN
FOR THOSE THAT ARE TRYING TO
FOLLOW PROCESS, THEY'RE
COMPETING AGAINST UNLICENSED POP
UP CANNABIS SHOPS THAT YOU HAVE
A YOU HAVE AN EMPTY STOREFRONT,
AND SOMEONE CAN SAY I'M GONNA
I'M GONNA MAKE IT INTO X KIND OF
STORE, BUT IN FACT IT ENDS UP
BEING AND UNLICENSED CANNABIS
SHOP AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE
ARE HEARING A LOT. FROM OUR
COMMUNITIES. I ONLY SHOW THAT TO
SAY LIKE I RECOGNIZE SOME OF THE
CHALLENGES, ESPECIALLY THOSE
THAT ARE TRYING TO YOU KNOW,
FOLLOW PROCESS AND FOLLOW SEQUA
AND FOLLOW ALL OF THESE WHILE AT
THE SAME TIME COMMUNITY IS
SEEING IT THROUGH A DIFFERENT
APPROACH, RIGHT? LIKE A POP UP
UNLICENSED SHOP RIGHT ACROSS THE
STREET FROM IN JUNIOR HIGH
SCHOOL. NOT OKAY. YEAH SO THOSE
ARE I BELIEVE SOME CHALLENGES
THAT YOU MAY ALSO SEE FROM
VENDORS. ABSOLUTELY UM AND ALSO,
I THINK WHAT? WHAT YOU SAID, IS
REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT IT
SHOWS THE COMPLEXITY OF THE
PROCESS BECOMES A FACTOR WHERE
PEOPLE AREN'T EXCITED ABOUT
COMING INTO THE LEGAL SPACE. SO
A BIG CONVERSATION WE'RE HOPING
TO HAVE IS HOW DO WE BEGIN TO
STREAMLINE THIS PROCESS? HOW DO
WE MAKE IT EASIER? WHAT ARE OUR
LESSONS LEARNED? UM SO THAT WE
CAN MAKE THE PATHWAY TO LICENSOR
NOT SO BURDENSOME. UH, AT BOTH
THE STATE AND THE LOCAL LEVEL.
UM I THINK IT'S THERE'S AN
OPPORTUNITY THERE. EVERY
JURISDICTION IS DIFFERENT. YEAH
WE'RE GONNA LEAVE THIS ITEM
OPEN. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE'RE
GOING TO MOVE ON TO ISSUE NUMBER
20. STILL US, RIGHT? OKAY
CANNABIS ENFORCEMENT AND CAN
CONTINUATION OF IMPLEMENTATION
OF THE DEPARTMENT OF CANNABIS
CONTROL. FOR THIS PANEL. WE WILL
RECEIVE AN UPDATE ON ENFORCEMENT
ACTIVITIES AT THE DEPARTMENT.
ALL THIS IS MY QUESTION AROUND
EAST L A AND ALSO REVIEW A
BUDGET CHANGE PROPOSAL TO
CONTINUE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF
THE DEPARTMENT OF CANNABIS
CONTROL. FOR THIS POINT THIS
PANEL WE ARE JOINED BY UH, MISS
WASHER SALAMA AND SEAN O'CONNOR
FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF CANNABIS
CONTROL AS WELL AS THE
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND THE
LAO. LET'S BEGIN. RIGHT? GOOD
EVENING, MADAM CHAIR. MY NAME IS
RUSSIA. SALAMA AND I'M HERE
REPRESENTING THE DEPARTMENT OF
CANNABIS CONTROL. JOINING ME
TODAY IS SEAN O'CONNOR, CHIEF
INFORMATION OFFICER FOR THE
DEPARTMENT. UM WE HAVE THREE
BUDGET PROPOSALS IN FRONT OF YOU
THIS EVENING. OUR FIRST PROPOSAL
IS A RESULT OF THE PASSAGE OF A
B 18 85 BY ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S
CHOLERA CURRENTLY, THE MEDICINAL
AND ADULT USE CANNABIS
REGULATION AND SAFETY ACT ONLY
ADDRESSES CANNABIS PRODUCTS
INTENDED FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION.
A B 18 85 ALLOWS PET PRODUCTS TO
BE MANUFACTURED AND SOLD WITHIN
THE COMMERCIAL CANNABIS MARKET.
IT REQUIRES THE DEPARTMENT TO
STAB LIST. SH SPECIES SPECIFIC
PRODUCT STANDARDS FOR PET
PRODUCTS TO MAKE CERTAIN THEY'RE
FREE OF SUBSTANCES THAT ARE
TOXIC AND HARMFUL TO ANIMALS TO
MEET THIS, UH TO CREATE THESE
STANDARDS IN THESE REGULATIONS
BY JULY, 1ST 2025. THE
DEPARTMENT IS REQUESTING
$155,000 IN FISCAL YEAR 23 24 1
47 ONGOING FOR ONE G P A. I
APOLOGIZE. ONE ASSOCIATE
GOVERNMENTAL PROGRAM ANALYST. UM
OUR SECOND PROPOSAL IS A RESULT
OF THE PASSAGE OF SB 13 26 BY
SENATOR CAVIAR. OH EXISTING
STATE LAW PROHIBITS THE EXPORT
OF CANNABIS GOODS TO OTHER
STATES. AND THIS BILL CREATED A
LIMITED EXCEPTION TO
CALIFORNIA'S EXISTING STATE LAW
PROHIBITION AGAINST EXPORTING
CANNABIS TO OTHER STATES AND
ALLOWANCE THE GOVERNOR TO ENTER
INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH ONE OR
MORE STATES AUTHORIZING
INTERSTATE COMMERCIAL CANNABIS
ACTIVITY. SB 13 26 REQUIRES
SIGNIFICANT PREPARATORY LEGAL
WORK BEFORE THE DEPARTMENT CAN
BEGIN TO WORK ON SUPPORTING
POTENTIAL STATE TO STATE TRADE
AGREEMENTS. SO THE DEPARTMENT IS
RISK QUESTING 264,000 IN FISCAL
YEAR 23 24 256,000, ONGOING FOR
ONE ATTORNEY FOR POSITION.
LASTLY OUR THIRD AND FINAL
PROPOSAL BEFORE YOU TODAY IS FOR
THE CONTINUED OPERATIONAL
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DEPARTMENT
. AH THE DEPARTMENT WAS
ESTABLISHED IN JULY 2021 TO
CREATE STABILITY AND CONTINUITY
OF SERVICES TO OUR LICENSES AND
STAKEHOLDERS IN THE FIRST YEAR
OF IMPLEMENTATION. WE ENTERED
INTO CONTRACTS WITH THE
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH, THE
DEPARTMENT OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS
AND THE DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND
AGRICULTURE TO RETAIN IMPORTANT
SERVICES. SUCH AS INFORMATION
TECHNOLOGY FACILITIES AND HUMAN
RESOURCES. FUNDING FOR THESE
INTERAGENCY AGREEMENTS IS
AUTHORIZED THROUGH THIS WAS
THROUGH FISCAL YEAR 23 24. AT
THE CONCLUSION OF THIS IS THE
FIRST YEAR THE DEPARTMENT
CONDUCTED A BASELINE ASSESSMENT
OF ITS INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY,
OPERATIONAL, PROGRAMMATIC AND
ADMINISTRATIVE NEEDS TO IDENTIFY
GAPS AND NECESSARY RESOURCES SO
THAT WE COULD INDEPENDENTLY RUN
AND ADMINISTER THE FUNCTIONS OF
THE DEPARTMENT'S INFORMATION
TECHNOLOGY DIVISION, POST
CONSOLIDATION. WE'RE REQUESTING
11 INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
POSITIONS TO TRANSITION. THE
WORKLOAD THAT WAS CONDUCTED BY
THE LEGACY DEPARTMENTS. THESE
POSITIONS WILL ESTABLISH A
MINIMUM LEVEL OF TECHNOLOGY
INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THE
DEPARTMENT TO ADMINISTER ITS
PROGRAMS AND HAVE THE NECESSARY
I T SECURITY TO MEET THE
DEPARTMENT'S REGULATORY
MANDATES. LASTLY IN THIS
PROPOSAL, WE ALSO REQUEST 1.6
MILLION AND FISCAL YEAR 23 24
FOR ONE TIME COSTS ASSOCIATED
WITH THE LEASE AND TENANT
IMPROVEMENTS FOR THE CENTRAL
CALIFORNIA DISTRICT FIELD
OFFICE. THIS DISTRICT OFFICE FOR
OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT TEAM WILL
SUPPORT AND ENHANCE THE OVERALL
EFFORTS AND EFFICACY OF THE
DEPARTMENT AND ADDRESSING
UNLICENSED ACTIVITY IN THE
CENTRAL CALIFORNIA REGION. AS A
DEPARTMENT. WE HAVE WORKED
DILIGENTLY TO INCREASE OUR
ENFORCEMENT EFFORTS TO TACKLE
THE ILLEGAL MARKET AND OUR
SUCCESS RELIES ON OUR ABILITY TO
MAINTAIN AN ENFORCEMENT PRESENCE
THROUGHOUT STATE. MOST
CRITICALLY, THE ESTABLISHMENT OF
THIS OFFICE WILL REDUCE TRAVEL
COSTS WHEN CONDUCTING FIELD
OPERATIONS AND PROVIDE THE
NECESSARY SPACE FOR STORING
SEIZED PRODUCTS AND STRENGTHEN
OUR ENFORCEMENT PARTNERSHIPS.
AND THIS PROPOSAL. WE ALSO
INCLUDE PROVISIONAL LANGUAGE. AS
A YOUNG DEPARTMENT THAT IS STILL
ASSESSING ITS OVERALL
IMPLEMENTATION NEEDS WHILE
AGGRESSIVELY WORKING TOWARDS
MEETING ITS MANDATE AND MISSION
. THIS PROVISIONAL LANGUAGE WILL
ALLOW US TO SUBMIT A LETTER TO
THE JOINT LEGISLATIVE BUDGET
COMMITTEE MIDYEAR OUTLINING THE
RESOURCE NEEDS FOR THE
DEPARTMENT TO CONTINUE ITS
IMPLEMENTATION EFFORTS. THIS
CONSERVATIVE APPROACH ALLOWS US
TO CONTINUE OUR STREAMLINING
EFFORTS WHILE AFFORDING US A
PATH TO REQUEST CRITICAL
RESOURCES, SUCH AS ADDITIONAL
ENFORCEMENT, COMPLIANCE OR
LICENSING RESOURCES. THANK YOU
FOR YOUR TIME AND HAPPY TO
ADDRESS ANY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU
. WE'LL GO WITH THE DEPARTMENT
OF FINANCE, FOLLOWED BY THE ELIO
ANDREW KHÔNG DEPARTMENT OF
FINANCE. I DON'T HAVE ANY
COMMENTS FOR THE ALLEGED
PROPOSALS THAT WERE SHARED, BUT
I DO HAVE COMMENTS FOR THE
CONTINUATION OF IMPLEMENTATION
OF THE DEPARTMENT OF CANNABIS
CONTROL. UM, AND TO RESPOND TO
SOME OF THE AND TO SOME OF THE
COMMENTS THAT THE ALLEY WILL
MAKE ON THAT PROPOSAL. THE
DEPARTMENT OF CANADA'S CONTROL
IS A RELATIVELY NEW DEPARTMENT
THAT WAS CREATED IN FISCAL YEAR.
2021 HAS MADE A LOT OF PROGRESS
SINCE THE DEPARTMENT IS
CONTINUING ITS ASSESSMENT OF
OPERATIONAL PROGRAMMATIC AND
ADMINISTRATIVE NEEDS TO IDENTIFY
OPPORTUNITIES TO STREAMLINE
CENTRALIZED FUNCTIONS AND
ADDRESS RESOURCE GAPS TO MORE
EFFECTIVELY AND STRATEGICALLY
ADMINISTER THE FUNCTIONS OF THE
DEPARTMENT POST CONSOLIDATION.
THE DEPARTMENT ANTICIPATES THERE
WILL BE GAPS IN STAFFING DURING
THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR. AND THE
PROVISIONAL LANGUAGE WILL ALLOW
THE DEPARTMENT TO ADDRESS THOSE
GAPS WITH THE MID YEAR FISCAL
AUGMENTATION WITH NOTIFICATION
TO THE JOINT LEGISLATIVE BUDGET
COMMITTEE. THE PROVISIONAL
LANGUAGE ALSO REQUIRES THAT THE
DEPARTMENT CONSIDER THE AMOUNT
OF FUNDING AVAILABLE WITHIN THE
CANNABIS CONTROL FUND ONE MAKING
A REQUEST FOR AUGMENTATION AND
ALSO LIKE TO NOTE THAT THE JOINT
LEGISLATIVE BUDGET COMMITTEE
WILL HAVE OVERSIGHT AND THE
OPPORTUNITY TO RAISE ANY
QUESTIONS THEY HAVE PRIOR TO
APPROVING THE REQUEST. UM YEP.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, LEO. THANK
YOU, MADAM CHAIR, JARED. SIMPLE
WITH THE LOW. UM WE JUST HAVE A
FEW COMMENTS ON THE SPECIFIC TO
THE PROVISIONAL LANGUAGE IS PART
OF THE CONTINUATION BCP FOR THAT
PARTICULAR LANGUAGE. WE JUST
RECOMMEND THAT THE DEPARTMENT
HAS NOT PROVIDED ANY ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION IN TERMS OF HOW MUCH
FUNDING IT MAY NEED TO ACCESS AS
PART OF THAT PROVISIONAL
LANGUAGE OR HOW SUCH FUNDING
WOULD BE USED. SO WE RECOMMENDED
TO THE LEGISLATURE THAT YOU
REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT TO REPORT
AT THIS BUDGET HEARING OR
SUBSEQUENT BUDGET HEARINGS ON
HOW THAT FUNDING ON HOW MUCH
THEY MAY NEED TO ACCESS AND WHY
THEY WOULD NEED TO ACCESS THAT
FUNDING AND TO THE EXTENT THAT
THEY HAVE IDENTIFIED SPECIFIC
NEEDS FOR FUNDING, WE WOULD
RECOMMEND THE LEGISLATURE DIRECT
THE DEPARTMENT TO SUBMIT THOSE
PROPOSALS AS PART OF THE
TRADITIONAL BUDGET PROCESS. WE
ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE PROVISIONAL
LANGUAGE DOES INCLUDE
NOTIFICATION TO THE J. L. B. C.
HOWEVER THAT THE NOTIFICATION
PROCESS DOES NOT PROVIDE AS MUCH
LEGISLATIVE OVERSIGHT AS THEY
ARE TRADITIONAL PROCESS. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU APPRECIATE THAT
THAT GOES TO MY QUESTION. ARE
THERE CIRCUMSTANCES OR THE NEED
FOR URGENT RESOURCES WOULD
NECESSITATE CIRCUMVENTING THE
REGULAR BUDGET PROCESS? ANDREW
HOGG DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE. AS
NOTED EARLIER. THE DEPARTMENT IS
RELATIVELY NEW AND HAS MADE
PROGRESS TOWARDS STAFFING THE
DEPARTMENT. THE DEPARTMENT
EXPECTS THERE WILL BE STAFFING
SHORTAGES IN AREAS THAT WILL
IMPACT THE DEPARTMENT'S ABILITY
TO CARRY OUT THE ENHANCE
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE MEDICINAL
AND ADULT USE, CANNABIS
REGULATION AND SAFETY ACT. AND
FOR THAT REASON, UM THERE ARE
SITUATIONS THAT CIRCUMVENT THE
REGULAR BUDGET PROCESS. THANK
YOU FOR THAT. I DON'T HAVE ANY
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS
AT THIS TIME. WE'LL LEAVE THE
ITEM OPEN AND MOVE ON TO OUR
NEXT ISSUE. ISSUE NUMBER 21,
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. 20. FOR
THIS ISSUE. WE ARE REVIEWING THE
STATE'S MASSIVE INVESTMENT IN
BROADBAND. FOR THIS PANEL. WE
ARE JOINED BY ROB OSBORNE WITH
THE CALIFORNIA PUBLIC UTILITIES
COMMISSION. JONATHAN UH,
LACKRITZ ALSO THE CPUC. MARK
MONROE, THE CALIFORNIA
DEPARTMENT OF TECHNOLOGY. AND
THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND
THE ELIO LET'S BEGIN. AND IF YOU
CAN, PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELVES
WHEN YOU BEGIN.
I START TO START ALRIGHT. UM
MARK MONROE. I AM THE DEPUTY
DIRECTOR FOR THE MINIMUM
BROADBAND INITIATIVE AT THE
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF
TECHNOLOGY, AND I WAS GOING TO
PROVIDE JUST A BRIEF UPDATE IS
ON THE STATUS OF THE MIDDLE MILE
PROJECT. UM AS I THINK MOST
PEOPLE ARE AWARE THE LEGISLATURE
HAS PROVIDED OVER SEVERAL YEARS
. $3.8 BILLION TO DEVELOP THIS
MIDDLE MILE. THE CONCEPT LARGELY
WAS TO CONSTRUCT AS MUCH AS
POSSIBLE ALONG THE STATE HIGHWAY
SYSTEM AND KIND OF USE THE
EFFICIENCIES OF CALTRANS, UM, TO
DO SO. UM AND BUT BECAUSE MOST
OF THE FUNDING IS FEDERAL
FUNDING IT HAS THAT HAS TO BE
ENCUMBERED BY 2024 HAS TO BE
LIQUIDATED BY DECEMBER 2026. SO
THOSE ARE THAT THAT TARGETS THAT
WE ARE ARE ARE THE DEADLINES
THAT WERE TARGETING, UM, IN
TERMS OF, UH, WHAT WE'VE DONE SO
FAR, WE'VE WORKED WITH THE
PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION AND
OUR THIRD PARTY ADMINISTRATOR TO
DEVELOP A 10,000 MILE MAP THAT
TARGETS THE UNSERVED AND
UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES THAT
WERE IDENTIFIED BY THE PUBLIC
UTILITIES COMMISSION. WE'VE GOT
CALTRANS STARTED DOING THE
RECONSTRUCTION WORK LIKE
PERMITTING. AND UM AND, UM, THE
DESIGN WORK ON THAT 10,000 MILES
. WE'VE UH, PURCHASED GONE OUT
AND PURCHASED 3000 MILES OR MORE
OF FIBER TO GET AHEAD OF ANY
SORT OF SUPPLY CHAIN
CONSTRAINTS. UM, WE HAVE
DEVELOPED FOR STATE PERMITTING,
WORKED WITH CALTRANS AND THE
PERMITTING AGENCIES TO DEVELOP
PROGRAMMATIC PERMITTING
PROCESSES AND INTERAGENCY
AGREEMENTS TO FUND POSITIONS TO
FURTHER ACCELERATE THAT
PERMITTING WORK FROM AN AVERAGE
OF 17 MONTHS DOWN TO AN AVERAGE
OF, I THINK, 11 MONTHS IS WHAT
CALTRANS IS ESTIMATING, UM, WE
HAVE WORKED WITH OUR FEDERAL
PARTNERS. ROUGHLY 17% OF THE
NETWORK WOULD CROSS FEDERAL
LANDS. AND SO WE'VE WORKED TO,
UM, WITH WITH OUR FEDERAL
PARTNERS TO, UM, DEVELOP SIMILAR
INTERAGENCY AGREEMENTS THAT
WE'RE WORKING ON THAT WOULD JUST
CLARIFYING NIPPER ROLES AND
AGAIN ACCELERATE THAT PROCESS.
WE STARTED CONSTRUCTION ON ONE
OF OUR DIG SMART PROJECTS. IT'S
A TRANSPORTATION PROJECT. WE'RE
ADDING FIBER TO IT DID THAT LAST
OCTOBER, AND WE'VE GONE OUT TO,
UM TO, UH, TO BID ON
CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTS FOR
STANDALONE CONSTRUCTION, JOINT
BUILD CONSTRUCTION, AND, UM IN
THE FEASIBLE RIGHTS OF USE, OR I
ARE USED AS A FORM OF
CAPITALIZED LEASES. UM AND SO,
UH, THAT'S JUST RECENTLY
CALTRAIN SIGNED A CONTRACT FOR
CONSTRUCTION OF UP TO 5200
MILES. AND THEN CITY T RECENTLY
SIGNED A JOINT BUILD CONTRACT
FOR CONSTRUCTION OF 306 MILES.
UM AND SO IN LOOKING FORWARD
HERE WE HAVE THE NEXT QUARTERLY
MIDDLE MILE ADVISORY COMMITTEE
MEETING IS APRIL 21ST. THAT'S A
GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PUBLIC
AND FOR MEMBERS TO GET UPDATES
ON THE PROJECT, AND, UM WE'RE
CURRENTLY EVALUATING BIDS FOR
LEASES AND JOINT BUILDS AND
EXPECT TO ROLL OUT IN THE MONTHS
TO COME AND OPTIMIZED NETWORK
ARCHITECTURE. AND SIMILARLY
CULTURE AND PLANS TO START
ROLLING OUT CONSTRUCTION AS
EARLY AS THE SUMMER ON SOME
SEGMENTS, SO UM, WOULD YOU PLAN
TO MEET THE FEDERAL DEADLINES,
THE 2024 2026 DEADLINES AND
WITHOUT HIM HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY
QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE. THANK
YOU. WE'RE GOING TO GO WITH THE
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE, FOLLOWED
BY ELIO. YEAH I HAVE NOTHING TO
ADD. THANK YOU. I WOULD JUST
ASK. MAYBE WE WANT TO COMPLETE
THE PRESENTATIONS OF THE PUC. UM
MIKE ON. I CAN BARELY HEAR YOU.
SORRY DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE
AYMAN MELBOURNE. NOTHING TO ADD
, BUT I WOULD JUST REQUEST
POTENTIALLY, UH, PUC POSSIBLY
PRESENT BEFORE WE GO TO COMMENT
IN QUESTIONS. YOU'RE NOT DONE
WITH YOUR PRESENTATION. I'M
SORRY, SIR. I'M WITH THE
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF
TECHNOLOGY. WE DO THE MIDDLE
MILE PROJECT AND MY COLLEAGUE
HERE. ROB OSBORNE IS WITH THE
PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION, AND
THEY HANDLE THAT LAST MILE
ASPECT, SO HE'S ALSO GOING TO BE
PREPARED TO GIVE A PRESENTATION
. THANK YOU. PLEASE CONTINUE.
AND IF YOU CAN, I'M HAVING I'M
ACTUALLY HAVING A HARD TIME
HEARING A BIT BECAUSE OF THE
ECHO. IF YOU CAN JUST SPEAK
DIRECTLY INTO THE MIC, PLEASE.
THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING, MADAM
CHAIR. I'M ROBERT OSBORNE,
DIRECTOR, THE COMMUNICATIONS
DIVISION AT THE PUBLIC UTILITIES
COMMISSION WITH ME AS JONATHAN
LACKRITZ, WHO'S THE PROGRAM
MANAGER OF THE BROADBAND
REGIONAL INITIATIVES BRANCH.
GIVEN THE FULL AGENDA, I'M GOING
TO PROVIDE A FEW KEY UPDATES ON
THE CPU CS LAST MILE BROADBAND
PROGRAMS, AND AFTER THAT, WE'LL
BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY
QUESTIONS. THE CPC IS ACTIVELY
IMPLEMENTING THE NEW BROADBAND
GRANT FUNDING PROGRAMS, AS WELL
AS UPDATING EXISTING PROGRAMS
THAT WERE ENACTED WITH SENATE
BILL 1 56 ASSEMBLY BILL 14 AND
SENATE BILL FOR THESE INCLUDE
THE LOCAL AGENCY TECHNICAL
ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. THE LOAN
LOSS RESERVE GRANT PROGRAM LONG
LAST RESERVE PROGRAM. EXCUSE ME
, THE FEDERAL FUNDING ACCOUNT
AND THE CALIFORNIA ADVANCED
SERVICES FUND. FIRST I WANT TO
PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON THE FEDERAL
FUNDING ACCOUNT BROADBAND
MAPPING. SO THE FEDERAL FUNDING
ACCOUNT PROGRAM IS BUDGETED FOR
$2 BILLION FOR LAST MILE
BROADBAND PROJECTS FOR UNSERVED
COMMUNITIES AS DEFINED BY HAVING
. ACCESS NOT HAVING ACCESS TO
SPEEDS OF AT LEAST 25 MEGABITS
PER SECOND DOWN AND THREE
MEGABITS PER SECOND UP. UM USING
RELIABLE WIRE LINE TECHNOLOGY.
THROUGH THE BROADBAND FOR ALL
PROCEEDING, THE CPC ADOPTED
PROGRAM RULES FOR THE FEDERAL
FUNDING ACCOUNT AND HAS BEEN
HIRING STAFF DEVELOPING A GRANT
APPLICATION INTERFACE SYSTEM AND
ELIGIBILITY MAP AND FEDERAL AND
STATE FUNDING REPORT FORMATS.
THE CPC PUBLISHED A FIRST
VERSION OF THE ELIGIBILITY MAP,
WHICH SHOWED LOCATION OF AND
DATA ABOUT POTENTIAL LAST MILE
BROADBAND PROJECTS. AFTER
PUBLISHING A FIRST VERSION OF
THE MAP, THE CPUC BEGAN
SOLICITING FEEDBACK AND INPUT
FROM STAKEHOLDERS AND IN
RESPONSE TO THIS FEEDBACK AND
INPUT, THE CPC IS UPDATING AND
REDOING THE MAP. SPECIFICALLY WE
HEARD FROM STAKEHOLDERS THAT THE
UNSERVED LOCATIONS WERE NOT
APPEARING CORRECTLY ON THE MAP.
WE ALSO HEARD THAT THE EQUITY
MEASURES NEEDED TO BE MORE
DEEPLY INCORPORATED INTO THE
PROCESS AND THAT APPLICANTS
NEEDED TO BE ABLE TO DRAW THEIR
OWN PROJECTS ON THE MAP. UM AND
THAT THE CPC SHOULD PROVIDE MORE
DATA TO ENABLE APPLICANTS TO
EVALUATE AREAS SO IN RESPONSE,
UM WE ARE NOW GOING TO BE
REMOVING THE PRIORITY AREAS FROM
THE MAP. UM, WE'RE UPDATING THE
UNDERLYING DATA TO BETTER
REFLECT THE NUMBER OF UNSERVED
LOCATIONS AND WE ARE ADDING MORE
SOCIOECONOMIC INDICATORS TO THE
MAP TO CAPTURE MEASURES OF
POVERTY, UNEMPLOYMENT,
EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT,
LINGUISTIC ISOLATION. AND
PERCENT OF INCOME SPENT ON
HOUSING AS WELL AS CRITERIA SET
BY KELLY P. A AND MEDIAN
HOUSEHOLD INCOME. WE PLAN TO
HAVE THE VERSION TWO OF THE MAP
AVAILABLE SHORTLY, FOLLOWED BY
THE APPLICANT TOOL AT THE END OF
APRIL, AND WE WILL LAUNCH THE
GRANT APPLICATION PORTAL TO
BEGIN TRAINING APPLICANTS ON HOW
TO SUBMIT AN APPLICATION FOR A
WINDOW OPENING IN JUNE.
SOMETHING THAT WE DID NOT
COMMUNICATE. CLEARLY WHEN WE
LEAST VERSION ONE OF THE MAP WAS
THAT THE SCORING OF APPLICATIONS
WORKS IN THE CONTEXT OF THE
COUNTY APPLICATIONS THAT ARE
STIPULATED IN SENATE BILL 1 56.
THE SENATE BILL 1 56 DIVIDED THE
$2 BILLION EVENLY AMONG EQUALLY
AMONG URBAN AND RURAL COUNTIES,
WITH $5 MILLION ALLOCATED TO
EACH COUNTY AND THE REMAINDER
ALLOCATED BASED ON THE COUNTY'S
PROPORTIONATE SHARE OF UNSERVED
HOUSEHOLDS. SO UM, THAT'S
SPECIFIED NOW IN THE DECISION OF
HOW MUCH EACH COUNTY IS
ALLOCATED OUT OF THAT TWO
BILLION, SO ALL UNSERVED
LOCATIONS THAT APPEAR ON THE MAP
ARE DEEMED ELIGIBLE FOR THE
PROGRAM IF THE FUNDING FOR
FUNDING REQUESTS FOR SPECIFIC
COUNTY EXCEED THE AMOUNT THAT'S
IN THE ALLOCATION, THEN, UM THE
COMMISSION SCORING RUBRIC WOULD
PRIORITIZE PROJECTS BASED ON THE
VARIOUS COUNTY PROPOSALS THAT
COME FORWARD. AND NOW I'D LIKE
TO PROVIDE IT JUST A QUICK
UPDATE ON THE BROADBAND EQUITY
ACCESS AND DEPLOYMENT PROGRAM,
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE BEAD
PROGRAM. THIS IS THE LAST MILE
GRANT PROGRAM CREATED BY THE
BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE
INVESTMENT AND JOBS ACT AND
ADMINISTERED BY THE NATIONAL
TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND
INFORMATION ADMINISTRATION. IN
DECEMBER LAST YEAR, THE CPC WAS
AWARDED 4.9 MILLION IN INITIAL
PLANNING FUNDS TO DO PLANNING
ACTIVITIES LEADING UP TO A FIVE
YEAR ACTION PLAN. THE CPC IS
COURTING, COORDINATING WITH THE
DEPARTMENT OF TECHNOLOGY IN
PLANNING A SERIES OF OUTREACH
ACTIVITIES AND ALIGNING THE
DIGITAL EQUITY PLANNING. THAT'S
UNDER THIS, UM C D. T S RIVER.
AS WELL AS THE BEAD, WHICH IS
UNDER THE BUCS. RUBRIC UM AND,
UM SO LAST MONTH, WE OPENED AN
ORDER INSTITUTING RURAL MAKING
SO REAL MAKING FOR CREATING THE
PROGRAM RULES FOR THE BEAT
PROGRAM, UH, TO DEVELOP THE
GRANT FUNDING ELIGIBILITY
CRITERIA AND COMPLIANCE WITH THE
VARIOUS BEAD RULES THAT ARE SET
IN THE FEDERAL NOTICED THE
FUNDING NOTICE THE FUNDING
OPPORTUNITY. UM THE N T. I PLANS
TO MAKE THEIR BEAT ALLOCATIONS
TO EACH STATE IN JUNE THIS YEAR
, AND AT THAT TIME WE'LL KNOW
HOW MUCH MONEY WILL BE AVAILABLE
FOR THE LAST MILE GRANT PROGRAM.
AND THEN FINALLY, ON THE RP
LIQUIDATION QUESTION. WE ARE
STILL ON TRACK TO MAKE THE
ENCUMBRANCE AND LIQUIDATION
DEADLINES THAT ARE ESTABLISHED
IN THE RELEVANT BUDGET ACTS AND
WE'RE HAPPY TO FOLLOW UP WITH
ANY ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THAT.
NOW WE'LL GO TO THE DEPARTMENT
OF FINANCE FOLLOWED BY L. A. OH
THANK YOU. DEPARTMENT OF
FINANCE. AYMAN MELBOURNE. JUST
RESPOND TO ONE COMMENT IN THE L.
A. O S PHIL FREE TO PULL THE
MICROPHONE CLOSER TO YOU. IT HAS
YEAH, I'LL JUST RESPOND TO ONE
COMMENT FROM THE L. A S
RECOMMENDATIONS THAT YOU SHORTLY
HERE AND THAT THE ADMINISTRATION
GENERALLY PRIORITIZES THE
DRAWDOWN OF FEDERAL FUND AND
MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE
MAXIMIZING THE USE OF THIS
FEDERAL FUNDS. AS A MATTER OF
PRACTICAL IMPLEMENTATION, IT
WOULD BE LIKELY THAT DEPARTMENTS
OR IN ACTUAL PRACTICE DEPARTMENT
WOULD SPEND THOSE MONEYS WHICH
HAVE THE EARLIEST ENCUMBRANCE
STATES FIRST, WHICH WOULD BE THE
RP FUNDS APPROPRIATE AND THEN
2021 BUDGET ACT SO. BRIAN
METZGER. L A. OH UM AS NOTED, WE
RECOMMEND THAT THE LEGISLATURE
DIRECTLY ADMINISTRATION TO
PRIORITIZE THE ENCUMBRANCE AND
EXPENDITURE OF THE AMERICAN
RESCUE PLAN FISCAL RELIEF FUNDS
, AND THAT IS, UH AS NOTED IN
THE AGENDA $2.91 BILLION OF THE
6.55 BILLION TOTAL FOR BROADBAND
INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDING. UM GIVEN
THE FEDERAL DEADLINES THAT ARE
IN THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN OF
DECEMBER 31ST 2024 FOR
ENCUMBRANCE AND DECEMBER 31ST
2026 FOR EXPENDITURE. WE WOULD
ALSO RECOMMEND THAT THE
LEGISLATURE REQUEST MORE
FREQUENT UPDATES ON THE
ENCUMBRANCE AND EXPENDITURE OF
THOSE FUNDS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
ARE ON TRACK TO ACTUALLY
ENCUMBER AND EXTENDED THOSE
FUNDS ON TIME. AND ALSO, AS
NOTED IN THE AGENDA, THE TOTALS
FOR THE GENERAL FUND AND THE
FEDERAL FUNDING HAVE CHANGED
SINCE THE LEGISLATURE FIRST
ADOPTED, UH, SPENDING PLAN FOR
BROADBAND INFRASTRUCTURE IN 2021
2021. IT WAS $4.3 BILLION IN
FEDERAL FUNDS. NOW IT'S 2.91
BILLION AND 2021. IT WAS 1.7
BILLION GENERAL FUND, AND NOW
IT'S UP TO 3.64 BILLION GENERAL
FUND. AND SO BECAUSE THE NEW
SPENDING PLAN IS MAJORITY
GENERAL FUND. IT'S INCUMBENT ON
THE LEGISLATURE TO MAKE SURE
THAT ITS PRIORITIES THAT IT'S
SET IN SP 1 56 ARE REALIZED, UM
, USING THE STATE'S RESOURCES WE
KNOW THERE'S ADDITIONAL FEDERAL
FUNDING FROM THE INFRASTRUCTURE
INVESTMENT AND JOBS ACT THAT'S
FORTHCOMING, AND SO IT WILL BE
IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE THOSE
FUNDS SUPPLEMENT WHAT HAS
ALREADY BEEN APPROVED THROUGH
THE SPENDING PLAN. BUT AGAIN,
GIVEN THE CURRENT AND PROJECTED
BUDGET PROBLEMS THAT WE'RE
FACING, IT WILL BE IMPORTANT
THAT THE LEGISLATURE LOOK AT ITS
CURRENT GOALS AND PRIORITIZE
AVAILABLE GENERAL FUND TO
ACCOMPLISH THESE PROJECTS AND
PROGRAMS. THANK YOU FOR THAT. I
THINK THE WHAT WE ALL SAW AND
LEARNED FROM THE PAST 2.5 YEARS
OF THE PANDEMIC. THERE'S ONE
PHOTO THAT COMES TO MIND THAT
WAS WIDELY SHARED. THAT WAS TOO
YOUNG STUDENTS SITTING IN THE
PARKING LOT OF A FAST FOOD
RESTAURANT AS A WAY FOR THEM TO
ACCESS INTERNET FOR THEM TO BE
ABLE TO DO THEIR HOMEWORK. THE
INEQUALITIES AND INEQUITIES
FACED BY LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES
, COMMUNITIES OF COLOR IN
PARTICULAR ACROSS THE STATE.
WHETHER IT'S URBAN, I REPRESENT
A VERY URBAN AREA THAT STILL HAS
CHALLENGES IN ACCESSING
BROADBAND TO RURAL AREAS. YOU
CAN BE DRIVING DOWN ANYWHERE IN
THE CENTRAL VALLEY, AND YOU
HAVEN'T PUT YOUR GOOGLE MAPS ON
YOUR GONNA EASILY GET LOST, AND
I'VE BEEN ONE OF THOSE FOLKS
THAT HAVE GOTTEN LOST BECAUSE OF
A LACK OF CONNECTIVITY, SO I
THINK WE'VE LEARNED A LOT IN THE
LAST 2.5 YEARS. BROADBAND AND
BROADBAND, FOR ALL WAS PRIORITY
TO THE LEGISLATURE. AND IT'S
INCUMBENT UPON US TO FIGURE OUT
HOW DO WE PRIORITIZE THE NEEDS
OF AND DESIRES OF THE
LEGISLATURE. WITH THE CURRENT
FUNDING THAT WE HAVE UM, I WANT
TO THANK THE ASSEMBLY WOMAN
EVENTS. ANITA'S WHO IS THE CHAIR
OF COMMUNICATIONS AND CONVEYANCE
FOR THE ASSEMBLY FOR BEING SO
INVOLVED IN THIS PARTICULAR
ISSUE IN TERMS OF
IMPLEMENTATION. AND SO I DO HAVE
SOME QUESTIONS FOR YOU. HOW WELL
DO THE PUC IN THE DEPARTMENT OF
TECHNOLOGY COORDINATE OUR
BROADBAND EFFORTS AS A STATE? I
CAN START SURE AND ANY MIDDLE,
WHILE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT'S
FUNDED BY THE CALIFORNIA EVENTS
SERVICES FUND PROGRAM MUST BE
MADE AVAILABLE TO, YOU KNOW,
UNEQUAL AND REASONABLE TERMS, SO
IT HAS TO BE OPEN ACCESS. UM
THEIR REQUIREMENTS FOR CSF
APPLICANTS THAT ARE SEEKING
FUNDING. FOR MIDDLE MILE TO
CONSULT WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF
TECHNOLOGY BEFORE THEY CAN
IMPLEMENT IT, SO THERE'S A
REQUIREMENT THAT THERE IS
CONSULTATION IN PLACE BEFORE
THAT THE PROJECT CAN GO FORWARD
. ON TOP OF THAT. THE FEDERAL
FUNDING ACCOUNTS. SCORING ALSO
ENCOURAGES APPLICANTS TO CONNECT
TO THE STATEWIDE MIDDLE MILE AND
AS AS IN THE CASE OF THE CSF
PROGRAM. THERE'S THIS
REQUIREMENT, CONSULT WITH CD T,
UM PRIOR TO CONSTRUCTION. YES
AND, UM I'LL JUST ADD TO THAT.
YOU KNOW, I HAD MENTIONED THAT
THE STATE'S 10,000 MILE MAP IS
REALLY DEVELOPED ON THAT, UM,
THE TARGETING THE UNCERTAIN
LEADERSHIP COMMUNITIES THAT WERE
IDENTIFIED BY THE PUBLIC
UTILITIES COMMISSION AS THEY
WENT THROUGH THERE, THE PUBLIC
PROCESS AND 2021. SO I THINK
THERE'S A VERY STRONG LINKAGE
BETWEEN THE TWO TO MAKE SURE
THAT THEY DO TIE UP. ONE OF THE
BIGGEST CRITIQUES THAT THE PC
RECEIVED FOLLOWING THE INITIAL
MAPS AND LOCATIONS WHERE THEY'RE
ACTUALLY YOU KNOW COMMUNITIES
LIKE MALIBU OR CONSIDERED, YOU
KNOW, AT FIRST RATE, NOT HAVING
ACCESS TO BROADBAND AND WERE
PRIORITIZED OVER OTHER
COMMUNITIES THAT CLEARLY HAVE
MORE NEED THAN MALIBU DOES SO
THOSE MAPS AND THAT INPUT A LOT
OF US SAW AS INACCURATE. YOU'VE
MENTIONED SOME OF THE STEPS THAT
YOU'VE TAKEN TO ADDRESS THOSE
INEQUITIES AND THOSE, UH,
POTENTIALLY, UM INITIALLY WRONG.
MAPS FOR LACK OF A BETTER WORD.
BUT I STILL DON'T KNOW WHO'S IN
CHARGE. SO OUT OF BOTH
DEPARTMENTS, WHETHER IT'S THE
PUC OR THE DEPARTMENT OF
TECHNOLOGY. WHO IS THE LEAD AND
SETTING THE STATE'S OVERALL
BROADBAND STRATEGY. WHO TAKES
RESPONSIBILITY. BUT WITHIN THE
ADMINISTRATION, I WOULD SAY IT
IS THAT THE CALIFORNIA
DEPARTMENT OF TECHNOLOGY HAS HAD
THAT BROAD POLICY QUESTION. UM
ARE AT THAT, BUT POLICY
PERSPECTIVE WHEN IT COMES TO, UM
THE. THE WAY THAT WE'RE
APPROACHING THIS SOLUTION. IT'S
REALLY BEEN BROKEN INTO MIDDLE
MILE IMPLEMENTATION AND LAST
MILE IMPLEMENTATION. SO THINK OF
THE MIDDLE MILE. I WOULD THINK
OF IT AS THAT, LIKE IT'S THE
HIGHWAY SYSTEM THAT CONNECTS ALL
OF THE LOCAL AREAS THAT THAT ARE
UNSERVED AND UNDERSERVED. THAT
IS WHAT IN TERMS OF
IMPLEMENTATION THAT IS WHAT
DEPARTMENT OF TECHNOLOGY IS
OVERSEEN. UM THE COMMUNITIES
THAT WE'RE TARGETING. THEY'RE,
THOUGH, WERE DEVELOPED
SPECIFICALLY THAT THAT LIST AND
IDENTIFYING THEM WAS BASED ON
PUBLIC UTILITY COMMISSIONS
ANALYSIS. SO THEY HAVE. THE
PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION HAS
THAT LONG STANDING RELATIONSHIP
THAT WITH TELECOMMUNICATIONS
COMPANIES AND REALLY HAS THAT
IT'S KIND OF BEEN THE BEST
SOURCE FOR IDENTIFYING WHERE THE
NEEDS ARE. AND THEN WHEN IT
COMES TO MIDDLE MILE WE'RE
TARGETING THOSE NEEDS WITH KIND
OF CREATING THAT, THAT BACKBONE
THAT CONNECTS ALL OF THEM AND
THEN WHEN IT COMES TO FUNDING
THOSE LAST MILE PROJECTS AND
IDENTIFYING THE QUANTIFYING THE
NEED AS WELL AS IDENTIFYING, UM
WHICH, UH, UM HOW TO ALLOCATE
THOSE LAST MILE FUNDING THAT
REALLY FALLS INTO THE PUBLIC
UTILITIES COMMISSIONS AREA?
MADAM CHAIR. YOU'RE CORRECT
ABOUT THE MAP ABOUT THE PREVIOUS
VERSION, NOT BEING ACCURATE AND
IDENTIFYING THE UNSERVED
LOCATIONS AND AS I WAS SAYING
EARLIER, WE HAVE UPDATED THE
DATA SETS TO BE MORE ACCURATE.
WE WERE USING AN OLD DATASET.
WE'VE UPDATED THAT WE'VE ALSO
ADDED A NUMBER OF SOCIOECONOMIC
INDICATORS. SO THAT COUNTY
EXCUSE ME. KENNY'S ARE ABLE TO
LOOK AT THE MAP AND FIGURE OUT
WHERE THE MOST UNDERSERVED
COMMUNITIES ARE. THE MOST
UNDERREPRESENTED COMMUNITIES ARE
THE MOST AFFECTED BY POVERTY.
AND THEN TARGET THOSE FOR THE
HIGHER PRIORITY FOR THEIR
APPLICATIONS. THERE'S BEEN AN
ONGOING EFFORT TO TRY TO. SO
BASICALLY WHAT I'M HEARING, YOU
SAY IS THAT THE PUC IS
RESPONSIBLE AND FIGURING OUT THE
LOCATIONS. AND THE DEPARTMENT OF
TECHNOLOGY IS RESPONSIBLE IN THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF NEXT STEPS OF
WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE FOR THAT
COMMUNITY TO BE ABLE TO RECEIVE
ACCESS. IS THAT ACCURATE? I
WOULD, UM I WOULD SEPARATE IT
BECAUSE WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE
PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION,
LET'S GO BACK TO THE ROADS
ANALOGY. SO UM, C D T IS, UM, IS
DEVELOPING THIS MIDDLE MILE THIS
BACKBONE. THAT'S KIND OF YOUR
HIGHWAY SYSTEM, RIGHT? BUT YOU
KNOW, YOU TAKE A HIGHWAY TO GET
YOUR HOUSE. THAT DOESN'T MEAN
THAT YOU CAN GET YOUR HOUSE. YOU
STILL NEED THOSE LOCAL ROADS.
THAT'S WHAT ACTUALLY YOU'RE
GOING TO USE TO GET THERE. SO
WHEN YOU WERE BUILDING THAT
HIGHWAY SYSTEM, UM, BUT THE
PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION IS
FUNDING. THOSE LAST MILE
PROJECTS ARE KIND OF THE LOCAL
ROADS FOR THE INTERNET. THEY'RE
THE ONES WHO ACTUALLY PROVIDE
THAT CONNECTIVITY. SAD BECAUSE
THAT KIND OF HELP YES AND NO,
I'M I'M TALKING IN TERMS OF THE
INITIAL MAPS THAT CAME OUT THAT
WE HAVE FOUND TO BE PROBLEMATIC
, RIGHT THEY HAD THEY DID NOT
INCLUDE UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES
THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED.
THAT WAS A DIRECTION BY THE PUC
, RIGHT? THAT'S SOMETHING THAT
THAT DEPARTMENT IN PARTICULAR HE
DID. THE DEPARTMENT OF
TECHNOLOGY IS IN RESPONSIBLE FOR
THE IMPLEMENTATION OF WHAT THE
PUC PUTS TOGETHER. IS THAT
RIGHT? NO, NO. NO GOOD THING.
YEAH. SO UM, WHEN YOU THINK
ABOUT THE IMPLEMENTATION, THE PC
WILL BE PROVIDING GRANTS TO
BROADBAND PROVIDERS OR COUNTIES
OR LOCAL AGENCIES TO BUILD THAT
LAST MILE. THOSE LOCAL ROADS
SORT OF THE ROAD AS A METAPHOR
FOR BROADBAND CONNECTIVITY AND
AS MARK WAS SAYING THE C D T
FUNCTION IS LOOKING MORE AT THE
HIGHWAY. PART OF THAT SO
CONNECTING BACK TO THE INTERNET
FROM THOSE LOCAL ROADS. THANK
YOU FOR THAT. IT HELPS. I THINK
FOR ME AND FOR OTHERS TO KIND OF
THINK ABOUT PROCESS. BUT IT ALSO
STILL DOESN'T ANSWER MY QUESTION
AS TO WHO'S RESPONSIBLE. LIKE IT
SEEMS LIKE THERE'S THE ROADS AND
THE HIGHWAYS, RIGHT? BUT EACH OF
THEM HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO
PROVIDE BROADBAND TO THE
COMMUNITIES THAT IT'S BEEN
ASSESSED. SO WHO IS RESPONSIBLE
IF THOSE COMMUNITIES DON'T
RECEIVE THE BROADBAND THAT THEY
SHOULD RECEIVE. IF THEY. IF
THERE IS NO, UM LAST MILE
SERVICE, RIGHT, THEN I SHOULD
HAVE STEPPED BACK. LARGELY THIS
IS, UM. THIS HAS BEEN A PRIVATE
INDUSTRY UNTIL NOW, AND TO
REALLY, YOU KNOW, PRIVATE
INDUSTRY HAS BUILT SOME LEVEL OF
BACKBONE. THEY'VE BUILT SOME
LEVEL OF LAST MILE. BUT WHEN IT
COMES TO TRYING TO MEET THE
UNMET NEEDS, UM THE LEGISLATURE
HAS BROKEN IT REALLY INTO THOSE
TWO PIECES. RIGHT SO, UM, IF I
CAN GO TO THE TRANSPORTATION
ANALOGY AGAIN. CALTRANS OVERSEES
THE HIGHWAY SYSTEM. THEY DON'T
OVERSEE LOCAL ROADS RIGHT AND TO
THE LOCAL ROADS ARE OVERSEEN BY
THE LOCALS. SO WHEN IT COMES TO
THIS LAST MILE, THE LAST MILE
PROVIDERS UM THEY PROVIDE THAT
LAST MILE SERVICE THAT ACTUALLY
CONNECTS TO HOMES AND JUST NOW,
RATHER THAN HAVING TO BUILD BACK
, BUILD THEIR OWN DUPLICATE
MIDDLE MILE TO GET BACK TO THE
CORE. THEY CAN JUST USE WHAT THE
STATE IS BUILDING AND THAT'S
GOING TO SUBSTANTIALLY REDUCE
THEIR COST OF INVESTMENT. AND
THEN WHEN IT COMES TO ACTUALLY
FUNDING THOSE LAST MILE PROJECTS
, SOME WILL BE FUNDED CONTINUE
TO BE FUNDED BY INDUSTRY BECAUSE
NOW THEY CAN AFFORD IT BECAUSE
THEY'LL HAVE A LAST MONTH MIDDLE
MILE TO CONNECT TO BUT WHEN IT
COMES TO THE TO USING THE STATE
FUNDING FOR THE FEDERAL FUNDING
FOR LAST MILE PROJECTS THOSE ARE
ALLOCATED BY THE PUBLIC
UTILITIES COMMISSION. THANK YOU
. I THINK I THINK I'M GETTING A
BIGGER PICTURE IN TERMS OF. I
STILL ASK THE QUESTION, AND I
DON'T THINK IT'S BEEN ANSWERED,
LIKE COOL IS RESPONSIBLE. SO IF
WE WERE TO USE YOUR
TRANSPORTATION ANALOGY AND SAY,
LIKE YOU. YOU KNOW? WE DO THAT
THE HIGHWAY VERSION RIGHT? WHAT
HAPPENS WHEN THE HIGHWAY VERSION
ACTUALLY DOESN'T GET TO
COMMUNITY? I'M SORRY. WHAT
HAPPENS WHEN THE HIGHWAY VERSION
YOU'RE SAYING CALTRANS IS IN
CONTROL OF THE HIGHWAYS? THE
FREEWAYS, RIGHT. CORRECT PUTTING
ACCESS ON THE FREEWAY DOESN'T
CONNECT TO THE SMALLER ROADS
LEADING TO TOWNS. IT'S TOO FAR.
WHATEVER IT LOOKS LIKE, RIGHT?
RIGHT YOU PUT IT. YOU PUT THE
LINE THERE. YOU PUT THE ACCESS
THERE, BUT IT ACTUALLY DOESN'T
GET TO ANYONE. WELL, YES, SO
IT'S GOING TO RIGHT. SO WHEN YOU
FUND THOSE LAST MILE PROJECTS
THAT PART OF THE FUNDING HAS TO
BE USED FOR THAT. THAT'S BECAUSE
BECAUSE WE C D T ONLY HAS THE
AUTHORITY TO BUILD ALONG THE
STATE HIGHWAY SYSTEM, RIGHT, SO
WE'RE GOING TO CREATE THAT THAT
BACKBONE, BUT BUT THAT'S
ABSOLUTELY CORRECT. IF YOU HAVE
A COMMUNITY THAT'S 25 MILES OFF
OF THE STATE HIGHWAYS. THEN AS
THEY PURSUE FUNDING EITHER
THROUGH PRIVATE INVESTMENT OR
THROUGH, UM, APPLYING FOR THE
PUBLIC, YOU KNOW, CAST OFF OR
OTHER, YOU KNOW, PUBLIC
UTILITIES. UM, FUNDS. UM THEY
WOULD. THEY WOULD HAVE TO
INCLUDE THAT AS PART OF WHAT
THEIR NEED IS TO BE ABLE TO
BUILD BACK TO THE STATE SYSTEM.
WHAT IS THE ROLE OF THE PUC AND
HELPING THAT COMMUNITY THAT'S 25
MILES AWAY FROM THE HIGHWAY? GET
ACCESS TO BROADBAND. YES THANK
YOU FOR THAT QUESTION, MADAM
CHAIR. I THINK THE CONFUSION IS
WHO'S RESPONSIBLE. THERE'S NOT A
SINGLE RESPONSIBLE PARTY THAT IT
SHARED RESPONSIBILITY. AND IN
FACT, UM, WITH CDT, BEING IN
CHARGE OF THE MIDDLE MILE AND
BUILDING THAT OUT WITH CAL TRANS
BèC PROVIDES FUNDING TO LAST
MILE PROVIDERS. THOSE CAN BE
PRIVATE COMPANIES, AS HAS BEEN
DONE IN THE PAST. THEY COULD
ALSO BE LOCAL AGENCIES OR LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS. SO THERE'S A THIRD
PARTNER IN THERE FOR THE TO
CONNECT EVERYBODY THAT'S
NECESSARY THAT THE PUC IS NOT IN
CONTROL OF IT. WE'RE REALLY
PUTTING GRANT MONEY OUT AND
ASKING APPLICANTS TO APPLY. SO
WITH THAT THIRD PIECE THAT
MISSING PIECE, WHICH IS EITHER
LOCAL AGENCY OR COMPANY, OR SOME
COMBINATION, LIKE A PUBLIC
PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP THAT THEN
COMPLETES THE WHOLE PROJECT, SO
YOU'RE ABLE TO ACTUALLY CONNECT
TO PEOPLE'S HOMES. THEN CONNECT
TO THE MIDDLE MILE. SO WHAT
HAPPENS IN A COMMUNITY IN A VERY
RURAL AREA ACROSS CALIFORNIA
THAT MAY NOT HAVE A FULL TIME
CITY COUNCIL FOR FULL TIME MAYOR
THEY'RE PART OF CONTRACT CITIES
OR LEAGUE OF CITIES, AND THEY'RE
VERY SMALL AND THEY DON'T HAVE
ACCESS LIKE WHAT IS THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA DOING TO REACH THEM?
AND I GUESS, IN MANY WAYS,
ASSIST. FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO
APPLY FOR THE GRANT AND GET
CONNECTED IN THE LARGER SCALE.
THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION, AND
I'M CHAIR. THAT'S AN EXCELLENT
QUESTION, AND THAT'S A PROBLEM
THAT WE'VE REALLY BEEN A LARGE
WAVE TRYING TO SOLVE THROUGH THE
LOCAL AGENCY TECHNICAL
ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, SO WE'VE
RECEIVED GRANT APPLICATIONS. WE
HAVE $50 MILLION TO AWARD GRANTS
TO LOCAL AGENCIES. THAT COULD BE
COUNTY IS IT COULD BE
MUNICIPALITIES. AND THAT THAT
PUTS THEM IN A POSITION WHERE
THEY CAN ACTUALLY HIRE EXPERTS
TO DO THE BROADBAND PLANNING TO
DO THE INITIAL WORK BEFORE THE
CONSTRUCTION CAN START. AND SO
THAT'S PARTICULARLY APPLICABLE
FOR PLACES LIKE YOU JUST
MENTIONED THAT WHERE THEY DON'T
HAVE PEOPLE WHO CAN SPEND FULL
TIME PLANNING OUT OF BROADBAND
PROJECT OR GO FIND A CONSULTANT
ACTUALLY GIVES THEM THE MONEY TO
GO HIRE THOSE PEOPLE TO DO THE
WORK FOR THEM. RIGHT THANK THANK
YOU FOR THAT. I'M SORRY THAT YOU
WANT TO ADD SOMETHING. YOUR
CASEWORK ROUTINE. MAYBE. WE CAN
TALK ABOUT THAT TOO, YOU KNOW.
DID YOU WANT TO ADD SOMETHING
JUST SUGGESTING TO THE DIRECTOR
TO SPEAK ABOUT THE PCS STRONG
CASEWORKER TEAM AS WELL. SO THIS
IS SOMETHING NEW THAT WE STARTED
WITH SENATE BILL 1 56 IS HAVING
LOCALLY ASSIGNED CASEWORKERS TO
REGIONS TO ACTUALLY WORK WITH
LOCAL LOCAL OFFICIALS AND
BROADBAND PROVIDERS TO REALLY
BRIDGE THE GAP, SO WE PROVIDE
THE TECHNICAL EXPERTISE ON HOW
TO FILE AN APPLICATION TO FOLLOW
UP WITH THEM TO HELP THEM WITH
THE MAPPING FOR THEIR LOCAL
AREA. WHERE ARE THE ANSWER
SERVED HOUSEHOLDS? WHAT'S THE
ISSUE IS A MATTER OF
CONNECTIVITY BECAUSE PEOPLE
CAN'T AFFORD IT, OR IS IT THEY
ACTUALLY DON'T HAVE ACCESS TESS
PHYSICAL ACCESS TO THE HOUSE.
THANK YOU. I THINK WE'VE LEARNED
A LOT IN THIS JUST CONVERSATION
IN TERMS OF HOW CHALLENGING AND
DIFFICULT IT IS TO GET TO THOSE
COMMUNITIES THAT ARE NOT AS
CLOSE TO THE HIGHWAY OR DON'T
HAVE THE LOCAL REPRESENTATION TO
BE ABLE TO APPLY FOR THE GRANT
OR BE MORE IN TOUCH WITH WHAT
THE BUCS DOING TO GO ONLINE. I
MEAN, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
BROADBAND ACCESS, AND THEY MIGHT
NOT ACTUALLY HAVE THE ACCESS TO
EVEN GO ONLINE, AND I THINK
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE, UH WE
LEARNED THAT LAST 2 2.5 YEARS OF
PANDEMIC. ONE FINAL QUESTION.
DOES THE ADMINISTRATION PLAN TO
GIVE THE LEGISLATURE ANY CHANCE
TO GIVE INPUT ON THE USE OF THE
PROJECTED ONE BILLION AND NEW
FEDERAL FUNDS FOR BROADBAND? YES
SO AM IN MELBOURNE DEPARTMENT OF
FINANCE. SO CLOSER TO THE MIC,
PLEASE. AYMAN ALBUM, DEPARTMENT
OF FINANCE. THE REQUEST FOR
THEIR USE OF THOSE FEDERAL
FRIENDS WILL COME TO THE
LEGISLATURE, ULTIMATELY FOR THE
REQUIRED INCREASE IN FEDERAL
AUTHORITY NEEDED TO EXPEND THE
FUNDS. THE PROCESS FOR THAT IS
STILL BEING DETERMINED, HOWEVER,
LIKELY FOLLOW ONE OF THE CONTROL
SECTIONS AVAILABLE WITHIN THE
BUDGET, SUCH AS CONTROL SECTION
8.75 OR SECTION 28. BOTH WHICH
REQUIRE JAIL. BC NOTIFICATION.
THANK YOU FOR THAT. ANY FINAL
COMMENT OR RESPONSE FROM THE LEO
. THANK YOU. WE'RE GOING TO KEEP
THIS ITEM OPEN. THANK YOU,
GENTLEMEN. AND WE ARE MOVING ON
TO THINK ARE LOST. OUR LAST ITEM
OF THE EVENING. THANK YOU AGAIN
. VEHICLE LICENSE FEE BACKFILL.
FOR THIS ISSUE WE WILL HEAR FROM
THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND
THE PROPOSAL TO NOT BACKFILL
COUNTIES THAT DO NOT HAVE THE
LOCAL PROPERTY TAXES TO COVER
THE LOST REVENUES FROM THE VLF
DECREASE. LET'S BEGIN. GOOD
EVENING, MADAM CHAIR, CHRIS.
STILL, THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE
. I HAVE A PRESENTATION WILL
TAKE ABOUT 5 TO 10 MINUTES TO GO
THROUGH SOME PREPARED REMARKS IF
THAT'S OKAY. OKAY. UM WE LIKE
THE FIVE MINUTE VERSION A BIT
BETTER, QUICK AS I CAN. TO START
MY PRESENTATION. I'D LIKE TO
PROVIDE A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE
EDUCATIONAL REVENUE AUGMENTATION
FUND IN THE 2003 VEHICLE LICENSE
FEE REDUCTION. EACH COUNTY HAS
AN EDUCATIONAL REVENUE
AUGMENTATION FUND OR AN EAR OFF.
THEY WERE CREATED BY STATUTES IN
1991 AND 1992. EACH YEAR,
ACCORDING TO STATUTORY FORMULAS
, PROPERTY TAX REVENUES ARE
SHIFTED FROM CITIES, COUNTIES
AND SPECIAL DISTRICTS AND
REPLACING THE GRAPH. THE FUNDS
AND THE RAPPER THEN SHIFTED TO K
14 SCHOOLS, WHICH GENERALLY
RESULTS IN PROPOSITION 98
GENERAL FUND SAVINGS FOR THE
STATE. AH, FOR DISCUSSION. THERE
ARE TWO TYPES OF K 14 SCHOOLS,
BASIC AID AND NON BASIC AID
SCHOOLS. BASIC EIGHT SCHOOLS ARE
FILLED WITH THEIR PER PUPIL
MINIMUM FUNDING LEVEL ONLY WITH
THEIR PROPERTY TAX REVENUE.
BASIC AGE SCHOOLS RECEIVE ONLY A
VERY MINIMAL AMOUNT OF
PROPOSITION 98 GENERAL FUND FROM
THE STATE. AND IT'S ALSO VERY
IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT BECAUSE
PROPERTY TAX REVENUES OUR MAIN
SOURCE OF FINANCING BASIC AGE
SCHOOLS, UM PROPERTY STATUTE
DOES NOT ALLOW PROPERTY TAX
REVENUE TO BE SHIFTED FROM BASIC
AID SCHOOLS TO LOCAL AGENCIES.
ONE OTHER THING THAT I'D LIKE TO
NOTICE THAT BASIC AID SCHOOLS
ARE INELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE THE
RAF. THE RAP THAT THE BASIC AGE
SCHOOLS WOULD OTHERWISE HAVE
RECEIVED THAT THEY CAN'T ABSORB
IS RETURNED TO THE CITIES TO THE
COUNTY INTO THE SPECIAL
DISTRICTS. NON BASIC AGE SCHOOLS
. MEANWHILE OUR SCHOOLS THAT
REQUIRE STATE GENERAL FUND IN
ADDITION TO THEIR PROPERTY TAX
TO GET THEIR MINIMUM PUPIL PER
PUPIL FUNDING LEVELS. UM IT IS A
NON BASIC GAUGE SCHOOLS THAT
RECEIVED THE GRAPH. UM THE RAIL
STATUES OPERATED ROUGHLY ALONG
THESE LINES FROM THE EARLY 19
NINETIES UNTIL 2003 IN 2003
GOVERNOR, SCHWARZENEGGER REDUCED
THE VEHICLE LICENSE FEE FROM 2%
TO 065% THE EXECUTIVE ORDER.
THIS RESULTED IN A SIGNIFICANT
REVENUE LOSS FOR CITIES AND
COUNTIES BECAUSE OF THE L. F WAS
A PRIMARILY A LOCAL REVENUE
SOURCE. SUBSEQUENT STATUTES
ENACTED IN 2004. REQUIRES CITIES
AND COUNTIES BE BACKFILLED FOR
THEIR LOSS. VLF REVENUE BY
GETTING BACK THE PROPERTY TAX
THEY PAY INTO THE EU GRAPH. THIS
IS REFERRED TO AS THE DLF SWAP.
IF THERE'S NOT ENOUGH PROPERTY
TAX IN THE RAFT, FULLY BACKFILL
, THE LOST VLF REVENUE AND
PROPERTY TAXES SHIFTED FROM NON
BASIC AID K 14 SCHOOLS TO THE
CITIES AND THE COUNTIES TO MAKE
THEM WHOLE. THE STATE, THEN BACK
FILLS IN ON BASIC AID SCHOOLS
WITH GENERAL FUND. AS NOTED
EARLIER. PROPERTY TAX REVENUE
MAY NOT BE SHIFTED FROM BASIC
AID SCHOOLS TO BACKFILL LOST VLF
REVENUES. AND NOW MOVE ON TO THE
EXCESS SERAPH AND INSUFFICIENT
ERA OF SITUATIONS THAT ARE THE
ROOT OF THIS DISCUSSION. AGAIN
AS NOTED EARLIER, BASIC AGE
SCHOOLS ARE FILLED WITH THEIR
PER PUPIL MINIMUM FUNDING LEVELS
SOLELY WITH PROPERTY TAX REVENUE
, AND THEY ARE NOT ELIGIBLE TO
RECEIVE THE RALPH INSTEAD THAT
IRAQ HAS RETURNED TO THE CITY'S
INTO THE COUNTIES AND THE
SPECIAL DISTRICTS. WE REFER TO
THIS MONEY IS EXCESSIVE GIRAFFE.
AND THIS EXCESS SERAPH WHEN IT
WAS RETURNED TO THE CITIES IN
THE COUNTIES DOES NOT COUNT
TOWARDS PAYING OFF THE V L S
SWAP AMOUNTS OWED TO THE CITY'S
INTO THE COUNTY. THIS IS A
STATUTORY REQUIREMENT HAS
EXISTED SINCE 2004. FOR EXAMPLE
, ASSUME A COUNTIES OWED $2
MILLION UNDER THE VLF SWAP. IF
THAT COUNTY RECEIVES $1 MILLION
IN EXCESS, A RAFT. THAT $1
MILLION IS NOT COUNT TOWARDS
PAYING THE AFTER $2 MILLION BILL
OF SWAP OBLIGATION. INSTEAD THE
COUNTY AUDITOR RECORD QUARTER
COUNTY AUDITOR RECORDERS
REQUIRED TO SHIFT $2 MILLION
FROM THE NON BASIC EIGHT
SCHOOLS. THE STATE IS REQUIRED
TO BACKFILL THAT $2 MILLION A
GENERAL FUND UNDER PROPOSITION
98. THIS RESULTS IN THE COUNTY
AND OUR HYPOTHETICAL EXAMPLE
RECEIVING ONE MILLION IN EXCESS,
THE RAFT AND ANOTHER TWO MILLION
FROM NON BASIC EIGHT SCHOOLS TO
BACKFILL THEIR LOSS. VLF REVENUE
AND THE FINAL PIECE PUZZLES
INSUFFICIENTLY RAF. AS NOTED
BEFORE WHEN THERE'S NOT ENOUGH
HEREAFTER FULLY BACKFIELD OF THE
LS SWAP. THE COUNTY AUDITOR
CONTROLLER SHIFT PROPERTY TAX
REVENUE FROM THE NON BASIC AGE
SCHOOLS TO THE CITIES AND THE
COUNTY. TO FULLY BACKFILL THE
LOSS PLF REVENUE. ALSO, IT IS
NOT ALLOWED. BACKFIELD OF VLF
SWAP BY SHIFTING PROPERTY TAX
REVENUE FROM BASIC EIGHT
SCHOOLS. WHEN THERE'S NOT ENOUGH
HEREAFTER FULLY BACKFILL THE VLF
SWAP AND WHEN THERE WAS NOT
ENOUGH BASIC AID SCHOOLS FROM
WHICH TO TAKE UP FROM WHICH TO
TAKE PROPERTY TAX AND MAKE UP
THE DIFFERENCE, WE HAVE AN
INSUFFICIENT EAR OFF SITUATION.
CURRENT LAW DOES NOT PROVIDE A
MECHANISM FOR WHAT TO DO IN AN
INSUFFICIENT EAR OUT SITUATION.
I BELIEVE THIS IS BECAUSE THE
DRAFTERS OF THE BLS SWAP
STATUTES 20 YEARS AGO AND NEVER
ENVISIONED, SUCH A SITUATION
WOULD ARISE. EVEN THOUGH IT IS
NOT STATUTORILY REQUIRED TO DO
SO. THE STATE HAS PROVIDED
ANNUAL GENERAL FUND BUDGET ACT
APPROPRIATIONS SINCE 2012 13 TO
BACKFILL THE INSUFFICIENT THE
RAFT THE APPROPRIATED SUMS HAVE
GROWN FROM $1.5 MILLION GENERAL
FUND IN 2012 13 TO $96 MILLION
GENERAL FUND IN THE CURRENT
YEAR. THE OVERALL AMOUNT
PROVIDED OVER THIS 12 FISCAL
YEAR PERIOD IS $165 MILLION. FOR
2023 24. THE ADMINISTRATION
RECEIVED REQUESTS FROM THREE
COUNTIES FOR APPROXIMATELY $36
MILLION GENERAL FUND AND
BACKFILL. THOSE THREE COUNTIES
ARE OUTLINED MONO AND SAN MATEO.
IN VIEW OF THE CURRENT FISCAL
SITUATION. THE ADMINISTRATION
DID NOT INCLUDE THE SOME IN THE
2023 24 GOVERNORS BUDGET.
THERE'S AGAIN THERE'S NO
STATUTORY REQUIREMENT THAT IT BE
INCLUDED AND THE ADMINISTRATION
DETERMINE THIS WAS NOT SOMETHING
THAT WAS ABSORBABLE WITHIN THE
CONTEXT OF OUR SPENDING PLAN.
AND WITHOUT I'D BE HAPPY TO. UM
I THANK YOU FOR THIS. ALLOW ME
TO MAKE THIS PRESENTATION. I'M
HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS
YOU MAY HAVE THANK YOU VERY
MUCH, ELIO. GOOD EVENING, MADAM
CHAIR LOADED THIS MORALES WITH
THE LEGISLATIVE ANALYST'S OFFICE
. I JUST WANTED TO PROVIDE A BIT
MORE CONTEXT ABOUT THE
IMPLICATIONS TO THE STATE
GENERAL FUND OF CONTINUING THE
CURRENT PRACTICE OF BACKFILLING
COUNTIES FOR THEIR INSUFFICIENT
HEREAFTER. SO DEVELOPING A
PRECISE ESTIMATE OF COUNTIES IN
FUTURE INCEPTION, ERECT IS
DIFFICULT FOR A VARIETY OF
REASONS. COUNTIES HAVE DIFFERENT
CALCULATION METHODOLOGIES STATE
COLLECTS LIMITED DATA AND SOME
FLUCTUATIONS AND PROPERTY TAX
REVENUE CAN HAVE REALLY LARGE
EFFECTS ON THE SIZE OF THE
SHORTFALL. IN ADDITION, STATE
LEVEL DECISIONS ABOUT SCHOOL
DISTRICT FUNDING CAN AFFECT THE
NUMBER OF BASIC AID DISTRICTS
MENTIONED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF
FINANCE THOSE DISTRICTS THAT
MEET ALL OF THEIR MINIMUM
FUNDING REQUIREMENTS JUST
THROUGH LOCAL PROPERTY TAX, SO
HAVING MORE BASICALLY, DISTRICTS
IN THE COUNTY REDUCES PROPERTY
TAXES AVAILABLE TO SHIFT FOR
WHAT WAS KNOWN AS THE VLF SWATH.
THEREFORE CALCULATIONS FOR
INSUFFICIENT YOUR F ARE
PARTICULARLY SENSITIVE TO THE
SMALL CHANGES IN FUNDING FOR A
HANDFUL OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT
WOBBLE BETWEEN BASIC AID AND NON
BASIC AID PRIMARILY MOST
RELEVANT TO THIS CONVERSATION,
SAN MATEO AND NAPA COUNTIES AS
WELL. SO IN GENERAL, LARGE
INCREASES IN SCHOOL FUNDING
WOULD RESULT IN SMALLER
SHORTFALLS. WELL MORE MODEST
GROWTH AND FUNDING FOR SCHOOLS
OR DECLINES IN SCHOOL FUNDING
DUE TO ECONOMIC SHORTFALLS. UM
OR SORRY DUE TO ECONOMIC
DOWNTURNS WOULD RESULT IN LARGER
COUNTY SHORTFALLS, MEANING
LARGER STATE BACKFIELDS SHOULD
THE STATE CONTINUE ITS CURRENT
PRACTICE? THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
JUST A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS
BEFORE WE CONCLUDE FOR THE
EVENING ON THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE
WHEN THE STATE REDUCED THE VLF
IN 2004 PROVIDED ASSURANCES TO
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS THAT THEY
WOULD BE MADE WHOLE. NOT
INCLUDING THEM IN THE
ADMINISTRATION'S BUDGET
PROPOSAL, UM GIVES THE
IMPRESSION THAT WE'RE GOING BACK
ON THEIR COMMITMENT ON THIS
COMMITMENT. WOULD YOU AGREE? UM
THAT THE ADMINISTRATION OF
RESPECTFULLY DISAGREE WITH THAT,
BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN PROVIDING
THESE BACK PILLS. PRIOR PRIOR TO
THIS, BUT IT'S NOT STATUTORILY
REQUIRED. AND BECAUSE IT'S NOT
TOUCH FOIL REQUIRED
DISCRETIONARY EXPENDITURE THAT
THE ADMINISTRATION DETERMINED
WAS NOT ABSORBABLE WITHIN THE
CURRENT FISCAL SITUATION, GIVEN
OUR MULTI BILLION DOLLAR DEFICIT
WHEN WE BACKFILLED THIS LOST
REVENUE LAST YEAR, WE ALL ASSUME
THAT THE ISSUE WOULD HAVE BEEN
RESOLVED. IS THERE A PARTICULAR
REASON WHY THE DEPARTMENT OF
FINANCE? UM IS NOT INCLUDING
THIS BACKFILL AND CONTINUANCE
AND IN THE PROPOSAL THE DECISION
OR NOT INCLUDE THE BACK PILLS
ABSOLUTELY DRIVEN BY THE FISCAL
CIRCUMSTANCES. I WILL NOTE AND
I'M SURE THAT THIS UM YOU KNOW,
THE IMPACTED COUNTIES PROBABLY
NOTED THIS AS WELL. LAST YEAR,
THE ADMINISTRATION DID PROPOSE
TRAILER BILL TO PROVIDE A
CONTINUOUS APPROPRIATION FOR
THESE SITUATIONS. CONTINUOUS
GENERAL FUND APPROPRIATION. IN
EXCHANGE FOR THAT WE ASKED THAT
THE GROWTH IN EXCESS HEREAFTER
BE HELD STEADY, SO WE WOULD HAVE
HELD ALL CAR ALL COUNTIES
HARMLESS. THEY WOULD HAVE LOST
NO MONEY, BUT THEY WOULD HAVE
SEEN NO GROWTH IN THEIR EXCESS,
SEE RAFT AND EXCHANGE WITH THE
CONTINUOUS APPROPRIATION. AND
THAT TRAILER BILL WAS REJECTED
BY THE IMPACT OF COUNTIES. AND
EVEN THOUGH THAT TRAILER BILL
WAS REJECTED, WE STILL DID
PROVIDE IN THE CURRENT BUDGET,
THE $96 MILLION REQUESTED BY THE
IMPACTED COUNTIES TO BACKFILL
THEM. AND IT'S POSSIBLE THAT
THIS WOULD HAVE CONTINUED EVEN
IN THE FUTURE. BUT FISCAL
CIRCUMSTANCES RIGHT NOW ARE SUCH
THAT GIVEN THE VARIETY OF
PROGRAMS THAT ARE BEING CUT
ACROSS THE STATE. THIS WAS JUST
ANOTHER ONE WHERE IT WAS THE
ADMINISTRATION DETERMINED THIS
WAS AN UNSUSTAINABLE
EXPENDITURE. THANK YOU ANY
ADDITIONAL FEEDBACK? THANK YOU
APPRECIATE THE CONVERSATION IS
DEFINITELY SOMETHING FOR US TO
CONSIDER MOVING FORWARD AS WELL
. NO ADDITIONAL COMMENTS OR
QUESTIONS OF THIS. IT STAYS
OPEN. AND WE ARE DOING ISSUE 23
24 AT A LATER DATE, SO WE WILL
NOW COMMENCE WITH PUBLIC
COMMENT. WE WILL BE ACCEPTING
PUBLIC COMMENT HERE IN THE
HEARING ROOM AND ON THE PHONE.
THE PHONE NUMBER TO CONNECT IS
ON OUR COMMITTEE WEBSITE AND
SHOULD ALSO BE ON THE SCREEN. IF
YOU'RE WATCHING OVER THE
INTERNET, THE NUMBER IS
877692895. THE PUBLIC ACCESS
CODE IS 1315447. LET'S BEGIN
WITH PUBLIC COMMENT IN THE ROOM.
AND I BELIEVE YOU ARE LIMITED TO
ONE MINUTE PER INDIVIDUAL.
PLEASE BEGIN. OKAY GREETINGS
COMMITTEE MEMBERS. I AM DALLAS
FOWLER. I'M THE DIRECTOR OF
PUBLIC PUBLIC AFFAIRS FOR THE
CALIFORNIA COALITION FOR WORKER
POWER. UM WE ARE A COALITION OF
OVER 26 LABOR ENTITIES. WORKER
CENTERS, UM, GALORE. WE WANT TO
ADDRESS THE COVID 19 WORKER
OUTREACH PROGRAM BUDGET. AND IN
THE MIDDLE OF THE PANDEMIC IN
2021, THE CALIFORNIA SAW THE
ISSUE THAT WAS HAPPENING WITH
WORKERS AND TOOK SWIFT ACTION TO
PROTECT WORKERS BY CREATING THIS
OUTREACH PROGRAM, COMMITTING $50
MILLION OVER TWO YEARS. WE'VE
BEEN THROUGH THE FIRST YEAR WITH
25 MILLION. IT WAS WILDLY
SUCCESSFUL. OVER SIX MILLION
WORKERS IN OUR STATE WERE
OUTREACHED THROUGH THIS PROGRAM.
UM, AND THIS TYPE OF
INFRASTRUCTURE HAS NOT EVER BEEN
DONE. THIS WAS UNPRECEDENTED AND
IT YET AS SUCCESSFUL AS IT WAS
BARELY SCRATCHED THE SURFACE. UM
THIS ITERATION OF THE BUDGET
THAT WAS PRESENTED BY THE
GOVERNOR'S OFFICE DOES NOT HAVE
THE 25 MILLION FOR THE NEXT
ROUND. WE ALSO SEE THIS AS A
PROGRAM THAT IS FULLY
SUSTAINABLE AS IT HAS BEEN
PROVIDING. WORKER OUTREACH IN A
MANNER OF OVER 46 LANGUAGES,
WHICH IS SOMETHING WHEN WE TALK
ABOUT LANGUAGE ACCESS.
ACCESSIBILITY THESE COMMUNITY
BASED ORGANIZATIONS ARE THE
TRUSTED FACE, UM FOR WORKERS IN
THEIR AREAS, AND THEY ARE THE
ONES THAT ARE DOING THE WORK AND
DOING THIS CRITICAL OUTREACH. SO
WE'RE ASKING THAT, UH,
CALIFORNIA KEEP ITS COMMITMENT
NOT ONLY KEEP ITS COMMITMENT,
BUT CONTINUE THIS WORK, THANK
YOU KEEP ITS COMMITMENT AND
EXPAND THIS TO THE CALIFORNIA
WORKER OUTREACH PROGRAM. THANK
YOU. MY NAME IS SHERRY ARCHOS G
I'M, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF
THE WAREHOUSE WORKER RESOURCE
CENTER, MOST OF PART OF THE
CALIFORNIA COALITION FOR WORKER
POWER. CCW P. ALSO SPEAKING ON
THE COVID 19 OUTREACH PROJECT.
WE ARE PART OF SWAP AND WE HAVE
BEEN DOING THIS WORK IN THE
INLAND EMPIRE OF SOUTHERN
CALIFORNIA FOR THE LAST COUPLE
OF YEARS. IT'S REALLY A COUPLE
OF YEARS AGO WAS A TIME WHEN
WE'RE GETTING THOUSANDS OF CALLS
EVERY DAY OR EVERY EVERY MONTH
ACROSS THE STATE FROM FROM
WORKERS WHO REALLY DIDN'T KNOW
WHAT WAS GOING ON WHO ARE REALLY
WORRIED ABOUT THEIR SAFETY
AROUND HOW COVID WAS IMPACTING
THEM WHAT THEIR RIGHTS WERE, UM
, AND THIS PROGRAM ALLOWED US TO
COMMUNICATE WITH WITH FOLKS,
PEOPLE REACHING OUT TO US, BUT
ALSO TO PROACTIVELY REACH OUT IN
COMMUNITIES. AT WORKPLACES TO
PEOPLE WHO TRUST US BECAUSE
WE'RE IN THE COMMUNITY. NOW
WE'RE IN A MOMENT WHERE COVID
CONTINUES TO BE A PROBLEM WITH
THEIR OTHER ISSUES. WE COME
ACROSS WORKERS WHO WE ENGAGE
AROUND COVID, BUT THEY HAVE
ISSUES OF WAGE THEFT. THEY
HAVEN'T BEEN PAID IN THEIR LAST
COUPLE OF PAYCHECKS. THEIR
CHECKS ARE BOUNCING. THEY HAVE
HELPED AND SAFETY ISSUES. THIS
POSITIONS US TO ENGAGE WITH
WORKERS IN OUR COMMUNITIES IN
OUR WORKPLACES IN A WAY THAT IS
CULTURALLY COMPETENT,
LINGUISTICALLY COMPETENT. AND
IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE BELIEVE
SHOULD CONTINUE. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. GREETINGS MY NAME IS
ALEXANDRA. PSA I'M EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR OF CUBA WORKER CENTER
IN LOS ANGELES. WE HAVE A
MAJORITY OF LATINO AND KOREAN
WORKERS AS OUR AS OUR MEMBERS.
I'M ALSO CO PRESIDENT OF THE
CALIFORNIA COALITION FOR WORKER
POWER, AND IT'S AN HONOR TO BE
WITH YOU TODAY. UM I WANTED TO
SHARE THAT IN JUST ONE KIWA
REACHED OUT TO OVER 8000 PEOPLE
IN THE LAST SEVEN MONTHS. AS
PART OF THE PROGRAM AND AT ONE
OF THE WORKPLACES THAT WE
REACHED OUT TO DURING THE
PANDEMIC. UM OVER 60% OF THE
WORKERS IN A ETHNIC GROCERY
STORE CONTRACTED COVID. ONE
PERSON DIED AND WHEN PEOPLE
CONTRACTED COVID, THE MANAGEMENT
WAS NOT INFORMING WORKERS WHAT
HAD HAPPENED. PEOPLE WHO HAVE
BEEN WORKING NEXT TO SOMEONE
THAT PERSON WOULD JUST DISAPPEAR
AND PEOPLE WEREN'T TOLD ANYTHING
. WE WERE ABLE TO DO OUTREACH TO
PEOPLE IN KOREAN AND SPANISH AND
LET THEM KNOW THAT THERE ARE
RIGHTS THAT THEY HAVE RIGHTS
THAT THERE ARE RULES FOR PAID
SICK LEAVE FOR ANTI RETALIATION
, AND MANY OF THEM TOLD US THAT
THEY HAD NOT HAD ANY ACCESS TO
THIS INFORMATION. WE WERE ABLE
TO PROVIDE THIS THROUGH THE SEE
WHAT PROGRAM AND IT IS NOT JUST
US. IT IS 62 ORGANIZATIONS
ACROSS THE ENTIRE STATE. 38
KONY'S 46 LANGUAGES. WE HAVE
BUILT AN AMAZING INFRASTRUCTURE
FOR OUTREACH NOT ONLY ABOUT
COVID. BUT AS SHAHARYAR SAID
ABOUT WORKERS' RIGHTS IN GENERAL
, NOW IS THE TIME TO ACTUALLY
EXPAND THIS PROGRAM AND CONTINUE
IT. WE HAVE THIS INFRASTRUCTURE
. LET'S MAKE USE OF IT FOR ALL
OF THE GOOD THAT IT CAN DO FOR
OUR STATE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
GOOD EVENING, MADAM CHAIR CHRIS
MAKELELE ON BEHALF OF THE
HOLLYWOOD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE,
MANY IN THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY
WORK DILIGENTLY LAST SUMMER, AND
THE LEGISLATURE APPROVED IN THE
GOVERNOR SIGNED A BUDGET THAT
INCLUDED A ONE TIME $750 MILLION
PAYMENT ON THE UI FUND, AS WELL
AS $500 MILLION IN TAX CREDITS
FOR SMALL BUSINESSES.
UNFORTUNATELY THE G AND 10
BUDGET WOULD ELIMINATE BOTH OF
THOSE AS YOU WELL KNOW, THE
CALIFORNIA THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA OWES THE INTEREST ON
THAT FEDERAL LOAN TO THE TUNE OF
SEVERAL $100 MILLION ANNUALLY.
AND, OF COURSE, THE EMPLOYER
COMMUNITY ON A PER EMPLOYEE
BASIS, RATCHETING UP EACH YEAR
HAS TO PAY BACK THE PRINCIPAL.
IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF 18, PLUS
BILLION DOLLARS. IT'S
PARTICULARLY HARD HITTING FOR
SMALL EMPLOYERS IN THIS STATE,
AND WE WOULD LIKE YOU TO GIVE
CONSIDERATION TO REINSTATING
THOSE PROVISIONS FROM LAST
SUMMER'S BUDGET. THANK YOU,
MADAM CHAIR. THANK YOU. MADAM
CHAIR BEN, TRIPLE WITH LEGAL
CALIFORNIA CITIES AFTER NEARLY
TWO DECADES OF MAKING CITIES AND
COUNTIES HALL AND FULFILLING ON
THE GOOD FAITH SPIRIT OF THE
2004 BUDGET COMPROMISE NOW IS
NOT THE TIME TO HALT
REIMBURSEMENTS FOR THE IN LIEU
VLF SHORTFALLS. FAILURE TO MAKE
THE FULL PAYMENT WILL RESULT IN
DRAMATIC LOSSES OF LOCAL GENERAL
REVENUE THAT WOULD HARM JOBS AND
CRITICAL LOCAL SERVICES AND
PERCEIVABLE FUTURE THAT OUR
COLLECTIVE BECAUSE COLLECTIVE
CONSTITUENTS RELY ON THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. AND IF I COULD ASK,
SPEAK AS CLOSE AS YOU CAN TO THE
MIX SO THAT WE CAN HEAR YOU. BUT
THE FOLKS THAT ARE WATCHING CAN
ALSO HEAR YOU. OKAY WHEN I
STARTED THESE NOMBRES WANNA
FLORES DEMÓCRATAS. REPRESENT
AMOS HAMAS. THIS THING CALLED
MILL BORAS, SAN FRANCISCO
ALAMEDA CONTRA COSTA FOR MAMA'S
PARTY THE QUALITY OF THE
CALIFORNIA BUT I DEFENDED. AREAS
IN MIRANT IS COLOR, TO YELL
RACES, MØT. ARE SOLOS, RUIDOSO
PROTECTION NECESSARY
OCCUPATIONAL LOCAL. CALIFORNIA
TÍNH CERTIFICATE S TERRORIST
HISTORICAL. YEAH KEEP PROQUEST
IMPLEMENTED. RECOMMENDATIONS
COMMITTEE ASSESSED OR THE
COLLAGE TO THE VETERANS DOSE,
YOU KNOW, EXCLUSION RACHEL'S DAD
AM BERTIER DRAMAS, CELL CAN'T
LEARN MISSED ROSARY CHOSE DEL
ASAMBLEÍSTA WHEN THE CARILLO
PRESIDENT COMMITTEE PERSONALLY.
KNOWABLE MØT, SEAMUS. GRACIAS.
BENITA, WILL YOU BE TRANSLATING?
OKAY, PLEASE CONTINUE. HELLO MY
NAME IS WANDA FLORES. I'M THE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR MUJERES
ZINNIAS ACTIVISTS WE REPRESENT
OVER 5000 DOMESTIC WORKERS AND
THE COUNTIES OF SAN FRANCISCO,
ALAMEDA AND CONTRA COSTA. WE ARE
PART OF THE CALIFORNIA DOMESTIC
WORKERS COALITION AND WE ARE
FORMED TO DEFEND THE RIGHTS AND
DIGNITY OF DOMESTIC WORKERS, THE
MAJORITY OF WHOM ARE IMMIGRANT,
WOMEN AND WOMEN OF COLOR TO THE
LONG LEGACY OF SLAVERY AND
RACISM. IN THIS COUNTRY.
DOMESTIC WORKERS ARE THE ONLY
WORKERS EXCLUDED FROM
OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY
PROTECTIONS UNDER CAL OSHA. THIS
YEAR. CALIFORNIA HAS THE
OPPORTUNITY TO RECTIFY THIS
HISTORIC WRONG. I'M HERE TO
SUPPORT THE PROPOSAL TO
IMPLEMENT THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF
THE SP 321 CAL OSHA ADVISORY
COMMITTEE TO END THE EXCLUSION
OF DOMESTIC WORKERS FROM HEALTH
AND SAFETY RIGHTS AND INVEST IN
OUTREACH AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS
THAT MAKE OUR RIGHT TO REALITY
IN OUR LIVES. WE ARE GRATEFUL TO
THE ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S WENDY
CARILLO, WHO SHARES THIS
COMMITTEE FOR HER LEADERSHIP AND
SUPPORT FOR OUR COMMUNITIES.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. GOOD
EVENING, SIR CARILLO KIMBERLY
ALVARENGA, DIRECTOR FROM THE
CALIFORNIA DOMESTIC WORKERS
COALITION. WHERE THE LEADING
VOICE FOR THE MORE THAN 300,000
HOUSE CLEANERS, NANNIES, HOME
CARE WORKERS THAT WORK IN
PRIVATE HOUSEHOLDS IN THE STATE
OF CALIFORNIA. WE SUPPORT THE
BUDGET PROPOSAL TO IMPLEMENT THE
RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE SP 321
HOUSEHOLD DOMESTIC SERVICE,
EMPLOYMENT, HEALTH AND SAFETY
COMMITTEE. IN 2021 GOVERNOR
GAVIN NEWSOME SIGNED THEIR SPEED
3 TO 1, WHICH CREATED AN
ADVISORY COMMITTEE CONVENED BY
CAL OSHA COMPOSED OF DOMESTIC
WORKERS, EMPLOYERS AND
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH
EXPERTS TO CREATE THE FIRST IN
THE COUNTRY HEALTH AND SAFETY
GUIDELINES FOR THE DOMESTIC WORK
INDUSTRY. AND TO MAKE POLICY
RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE IN ORDER
TO STRENGTHEN THE OCCUPATIONAL
HEALTH AND SAFETY OF DOMESTIC
WORKERS IN CALIFORNIA. THE
DOMESTIC WORK HEALTH AND SAFETY
BUDGET PROPOSAL PRIORITIZES
IMPLEMENTING THOSE
RECOMMENDATIONS. WE ASKED THAT
YOU SUPPORT THE PROGRESS THAT'S
BEEN MADE TO PROTECT THE HEALTH
AND SAFETY OF DOMESTIC WORKERS.
BECAUSE EVERYBODY DESERVES A
SAFE WORKPLACE. THANK YOU.
CHAIR. HELLO CHAR CARILLO. MY
NAME IS MEGAN WHELAN. I'M WITH
THE CALIFORNIA DOMESTIC WORKERS
COALITION IN SUPPORT OF THE
BUDGET PROPOSAL TO IMPLEMENT THE
RECOMMENDATIONS OF SP 321
ADVISORY COMMITTEE. BACK IN 2019
, THE CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE AND
GOVERNOR GAVIN NEWSOM TOOK
ACTION TO ADDRESS THE UNIQUE
CHALLENGES THAT DOMESTIC WORKERS
FACE WORKING IN ISOLATION. ONE
ON ONE AND BEHIND THE CLOSED
DOORS OF PRIVATE HOMES THROUGH
THE APPROVAL OF LANDMARK FUNDING
OF ABOUT ONE MILLION PER YEAR
FOR THE STATEWIDE DOMESTIC
WORKER AND EMPLOYER EDUCATION
AND OUTREACH PILOT PROGRAM. THE
PROGRAM IS HOUSED WITHIN THE
DIVISION OF LABOR STANDARDS,
ENFORCEMENT AND WORKS IN
PARTNERSHIP WITH COMMUNITY BASED
ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS CALIFORNIA.
AND JUST OVER TWO YEARS, THE
PILOT PROGRAM HAS REACHED TENS
OF THOUSANDS OF DOMESTIC WORKERS
AND DOMESTIC EMPLOYERS WITH
INFORMATION AND TRAINING ABOUT
THEIR RIGHTS AND
RESPONSIBILITIES AND HAS
RESULTED IN MORE THAN A QUARTER
MILLION DOLLARS OF STOLEN WAGES
BEING RETURNED BACK INTO THE
HANDS OF WORKERS. WITH THE PILOT
SET TO END IN JUNE. 2024 WE
SUPPORT THE IMPLEMENTATION OF
THE SP 321 ADVISORY COMMITTEE
RECOMMENDATION TO EXPAND THIS
PROGRAM AND TO GROW ITS SCOPE TO
INCLUDE INFORMATION AND SUPPORT
FOR DOMESTIC WORKER OCCUPATIONAL
SAFETY AND HEALTH. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING, MADAM
CHAIR. MY NAME IS LINDSAY E. MY
HONG AND I AM THE CALIFORNIA
DIRECTOR FOR HAND IN HAND. THE
DOMESTIC EMPLOYERS NETWORK. WE
REPRESENT MORE THAN 700,
EMPLOYERS OF HOUSE CLEANERS,
HOME CARE WORKERS AND NANNIES
ACROSS CALIFORNIA, AND WE'RE THE
ONLY ORGANIZATION THAT'S
ENGAGING IN EDUCATING DOMESTIC
EMPLOYERS. THE TWO MILLION
HOUSEHOLDS ACROSS OUR STATE.
WE'RE HERE TO FULLY SUPPORT THE
BUDGET PROPOSAL TO IMPLEMENT THE
RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE SP 321
ADVISORY COMMITTEE. OUR HOMES,
OUR WORKPLACES AND JUST LIKE
OTHER WORKERS WHO SHOW UP TO JOB
SITES ARE EMPLOYEES DESERVE.
SAFETY PROTECTIONS WHILE ON THE
WORLD WELL WHILE ON THE JOB. WE
RECOGNIZE THE DOMESTIC EMPLOYERS
ARE DIVERSE AND ARE UNLIKE ANY
OTHER KIND OF EMPLOYERS. TODAY
ANY CALIFORNIAN CAN HIRE A NANNY
HOUSE, CLEANER OR PERSONAL
ATTENDANT WITHOUT HAVING ANY
PRIOR KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THEIR
RESPONSIBILITIES AS EMPLOYERS.
IN ORDER TO SUPPORT SUPPORT
EMPLOYERS TO ADHERE TO
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH
GUIDELINES AND OTHER LABOR LAWS.
EMPLOYERS NEED WIDELY AVAILABLE
INDUSTRY SPECIFIC HOW TO GUIDES,
CHECKLISTS AND TRUSTED RESOURCES
LIKE HAVE BEEN PROVIDED THROUGH
THE DOMESTIC WORKER OUTREACH.
DOMESTIC WORKER AND EMPLOYER
EDUCATION OUTREACH PROGRAM MADE
POSSIBLE BY THE STATE. ALSO
NEEDED IS ADDITIONAL TECHNICAL
AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR LOW
RESOURCED EMPLOYERS. EVERYONE
DESERVES A SAFE WORKPLACE. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU. UH GOOD EVENING,
MADAM CHAIR AND THANK YOU TO YOU
AND YOUR STAFF FOR STICKING IN
THERE TODAY. I KNOW IT'S BEEN A
REALLY LONG DAY. TAYLOR, RUSSIAN
ON BEHALF OF VARIOUS
AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATIONS WERE
OPPOSED TO THE TRAILER BILL
PROPOSED IN ITEM 14 ISSUES
RELATED TO THE BONDING
REQUIREMENTS, AND SOME OF THE
PENALTIES WERE RAISED IN THE
POLICY DEBATE OF A B 21 83 LAST
YEAR AND REMAIN IN THE TRAILER
BILL. WE ASKED FOR CONSIDERATION
OF THOSE ITEMS. WE'D ALSO LIKE
TO EXPRESS OUR DISAPPOINTMENT AT
THE LACK OF TRANSPARENCY OF THE
PROCESS IN THE 2022 DURING THE
VETO PROCESS OF 21 83, A
SIGNIFICANT STAKEHOLDER BASE WAS
EXCLUDED FROM NEGOTIATIONS AT
THE TIME OF WHAT IS NOW IN THE
TRAILER BILL, AND WE
RESPECTFULLY ENCOURAGE THE
LEGISLATURE TO PURSUE A
TRANSPARENT AND INCLUSIVE DEBATE
ON THESE IMPORTANT POLICY
MERITS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
MADAM CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS OF
THE COMMITTEE STAFF. I'M BRIAN
LITTLE WITH THE CALIFORNIA FARM
BUREAU FEDERATION. COMMENTING
WITH REGARD TO ITEM NUMBER 8955
THE E D D BUDGET IN THE UI FUND
ITEMS THAT WERE PROMISED IN LAST
YEAR'S BUDGET, SPECIFICALLY A
$500 MILLION TAX CREDIT TO HELP
COVER UI TAX INCREASES WERE
SMALL EMPLOYERS AND $750 MILLION
TO HELP REDUCE THE FUND
INSOLVENCY. WE HOPE THE
LEGISLATURE WILL HELP ENSURE
THIS CRITICAL AID IS ADDED BACK
IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET TO HELP
PREVENT THESE UI TAXES FROM
HURTING CALIFORNIA'S ECONOMY.
ALSO WITH REGARD TO ITEM NUMBER
7300 REVISIONS TO A B 21 83
AGREED UPON IN SEPTEMBER 2022 BY
THE GOVERNOR, THE UNITED FARM
WORKERS IN CALIFORNIA LABOR
FEDERATION. I URGE THE BUDGET
COMMITTEE TO REVISE THIS
LANGUAGE TO RESTORE AGRICULTURAL
EMPLOYEES RIGHT TO FREELY CHOOSE
UNION REPRESENTATION OR
INDEPENDENCE AND THE ABSENCE OF
COERCION BY ANY INTERESTED
PARTY. THE SO CALLED MAJORITY
SUPPORT PETITION PROCESS
ENVISIONED BY THIS LANGUAGE
FAILS TO PROTECT EMPLOYEES FROM
SUCH COERCION BECAUSE THE
AGRICULTURAL LABOR RELATIONS
BOARD WILL BE UNAWARE OF ANY
EFFORT BY UNION SEEKING
EMPLOYEES SIGNATURES TO SUPPORT
SUCH A PETITION UNTIL THE UNION
SUBMITS THE PETITION TO THE LRB
. THE LRB WILL THEREFORE BE
UNABLE TO INHIBIT COERCIVE
BEHAVIOR. DIRECTED AGAINST
TARGET EMPLOYEES THAT YOU WRAP
UP I WILL FARE SHORTLY. IT IS
VITAL THAT THE LEGISLATURE
REVISIT THIS ISSUE TO ENSURE
AGRICULTURAL EMPLOYEES ENJOY THE
RIGHT TO A SECRET BATTLE
ELECTION SUPERVISED BY THE LRB.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. SEE YOU
KNOW ADDITIONAL PUBLIC COMMENT
IN THE ROOM. WE'RE GOING TO GO
TO THE PHONE LINE. OPERATOR.
PLEASE BEGIN AND I'M GOING TO
ASK. OH PARTICIPANTS OVER THE
PHONE TO KEEP YOUR COMMENTS TO
UNDER ONE MINUTE. LET'S BEGIN.
ALL RIGHT, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN
, IF YOU HAVE A PUBLIC COMMENT,
PLEASE PRESS 10 ON YOUR PHONE.
IF YOU'RE USING A SPEAKERPHONE,
PLEASE PICK UP THE HANDSET
BEFORE PRESSING THE NUMBERS.
ONCE AGAIN, THERE'S ONE THAN
ZERO FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. AND IT
LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE ABOUT 28
PEOPLE IN Q YEAR SO WE WILL
START WITH LINE NUMBERS. 63,
PLEASE GO AHEAD. GOOD EVENING,
NICOLE WOULD ULLMAN ON BEHALF OF
THE CHILDREN'S PARTNERSHIP,
SPEAKING TO ISSUE NINE AT THE
CHILDREN'S PARTNERSHIP, WE
BELIEVE THAT PROVIDING
UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS WITH
UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS IS AN
ESSENTIAL INVESTMENT TO CREATE A
RESILIENT, EQUITABLE ECONOMY
THAT WORKS FOR EVERYONE, AND
THAT INVESTS ADDITIONAL
RESOURCES FOR THE WELL BEING OF
CHILDREN IN IMMIGRANT FAMILIES.
NEARLY HALF OF CALIFORNIA'S NINE
MILLION CHILDREN ARE PART OF
IMMIGRANT FAMILIES AND AN
ESTIMATED 20% OF ALL
CALIFORNIANS UNDER 18 LIVED WITH
AN UNDOCUMENTED FAMILY MEMBER OR
ARE UNDOCUMENTED THEMSELVES AND
DOCUMENTED WORKERS ARE A
CRITICAL PILLAR FOR CALIFORNIA'S
ECONOMY. BUT THE STATE CONTINUES
TO PERPETUATE INJUSTICE BY
EXCLUDING THEM FROM UNEMPLOYMENT
BENEFITS FULLY BECAUSE OF THEIR
STATUS. THEREFORE THE CHILDREN'S
PARTNERSHIP URGES THE
LEGISLATURE AND ADMINISTRATION
TO SUPPORT THE REQUEST TO
ESTABLISH A SAFETY NET FOR ALL
WORKERS PROGRAM. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. NEXT WE WILL GO TO
LINE NUMBER 89, PLEASE GO AHEAD.
JUST LINE NUMBER 89. THANK YOU.
TIFFANY WHITE, NORTH FBI, YOU
CALIFORNIA AND SUPPORT TO
PRESERVE THE 25 MILLION IN THE
BUDGET TO THE PREVIOUSLY
COMMITTED FUNDING TO CONTINUE TO
COVID 19 WORKPLACE OUTREACH
PROJECT AND THEN LOOK FORWARD TO
THE FUTURE HEARING WHERE YOU
GUYS WILL DISCUSS THE 3.8
MILLION FOR OPR TO IMPLEMENT THE
RACIAL EQUITY COMMISSION. THANK
YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. NEXT, WE
WILL GO TO LINE NUMBER 91,
PLEASE GO AHEAD. ANYTHING AUDREY
WITH HIGH CHECK FROM KRIS
STRATEGIES HERE TODAY ON BEHALF
OF CEMETERY COUNTY, THE CITY OF
SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO AND THE CITY
OF HALF MOON BAY TO REQUEST THAT
THE VEHICLE LICENSE FEE
SHORTFALL AMOUNT OF 32 MILLION
FOR OUR COUNTY AND CITY TO
INCLUDED IN THIS YEAR'S SPEECH
BUDGET. HISTORICALLY THE STATE
HAS MADE COUNTIES AND CITIES
POLL BY REIMBURSING THE DLF
SHORTFALL. SPECIAL APPROPRIATION
IN THE STATE BUDGET. THIS
APPROPRIATION ENSURES THAT ALL
COUNTIES AND CITIES RECEIVE
THEIR FULL IN LIEU VLF PAYMENT
REQUIRED BY THE LAW, HOWEVER, AN
APPROPRIATION FOR SAN MATEO
SHORTFALL THIS YEAR WAS NOT
INCLUDED IN THE GOVERNOR'S
JANUARY BUDGET. THESE SHORTFALLS
WILL BE ON THE COUNTIES AND
CITIES CONTROL AND CAUSED CLASS
ISSUES AND SIGNIFICANT HARM
UNTIL REIMBURSED BY THE STATE.
FAILURE TO MAKE THE PAYMENT WILL
CAUSE SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL HARM
TO OUR COUNTY AND CITY THAT RELY
ON THESE REVENUES TO FUND
ESSENTIAL LOCAL PUBLIC SERVICES
AT A TIME WHEN WILL BE BEING
GIVEN MORE AND MORE
RESPONSIBILITIES FOR LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS. WE RESPECTFULLY
URGES SUPPORT TO INCLUDE THIS
APPROPRIATION IN THE STATE
BUDGET THIS YEAR HAS ALWAYS BEEN
DONE IN THE PAST. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. NEXT, WE WILL GO LINE
TO 100. PLEASE GO AHEAD. GOOD
EVENING. MY NAME IS SASHA
FELDSTEIN AND ON BEHALF OF THE
CALIFORNIA IMMIGRANT POLICY
CENTER. I WANT TO EXPRESS
SUPPORT FOR THE BUDGET PROPOSAL
TO IMPLEMENT THE RECOMMENDATIONS
OF THE SP 3 21 ADVISORY
COMMITTEE AND THE PROPOSAL TO
CONTINUE FUNDING FOR SEAWATER
AND ON BEHALF OF THE 160
ORGANIZATIONS THAT MAKE UP THE
SAFETY NET FOR ALL COALITION. I
WANT TO STRONGLY URGED THE
ASSEMBLY TO PRIORITIZE
UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS EXCLUDED
IMMIGRANT WORKERS, ESPECIALLY
GIVEN THE HISTORIC FLOODING THAT
OUR COMMUNITIES ARE FACING RIGHT
NOW. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK
YOU. BUYING IT NUMBER 97, PLEASE
GO AHEAD. GOOD EVENING, MADAM TE
REMEMBER JESSICA SENDER ON
BEHALF OF EQUAL RIGHT THAT THE
CAKE WE STRONGLY SUPPORT THE
BUDGET PROPOSAL TO IMPLEMENT THE
RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE F B. 3 TO
1 ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND ALSO
STRONGLY SUPPORT THE SAFETY NET
FOR ALL BUDGET PROPOSAL.
DOMESTIC WORKER SECTOR OF STAFF
PRIMARILY BY IMMIGRANT WOMEN OF
COLOR WHO FUEL THE CARE INDUSTRY
IN CALIFORNIA, ACTING AS A
BRIDGE INDEPENDENT LIVING FOR
SENIORS AND PEOPLE WITH
DISABILITIES. WE STRONGLY URGE
LEGISLATURE TO ADOPT THE BUDGET
PROPOSAL TO ENSURE THAT ARE
IMMIGRANTS. MOSTLY INTERNET
WORKERS WORKING IN THE DOMESTIC
TERROR POSITIONS ARE ADEQUATELY
PROTECTED AND THE KIND OF
CHAMBER LEGACY OF OUR COUNTRY'S
PAST EXCLUSION OF THESE WORKERS.
SOMEBODY THAT PROTECTION THANK
YOU. THANK YOU NEXT WEEK. WE'LL
GO TO LINE ONE. ALL THREE.
PLEASE GO AHEAD. HI MY NAME IS
CAITLIN BELLA'S, UM AND I AM
WITH THE NATIONAL IMMIGRATION
PROJECT AND ALSO WITH THE BIG
ENOUGH ATTENTION, COALITION AND
INVEST IN LONG BEACH IN DISTRICT
NUMBER 69. I WANT TO STRESS MY
SUPPORT FOR ITEM 0559 ISSUED
FOR, UM. ECONOMIES THAT RELY ON
ICE DETENTION AND INCARCERATION
. SYSTEMIC ABUSES DO NOT MOVE
THE COURT. WE CAN INVEST
DIRECTLY IN OUR COMMUNITIES, AND
I HOPE THAT THE STATE WILL
PROVIDE THE SUPPORT THAT THOSE
COMMUNITIES NEED TO TRANSITION
AWAY FROM ECONOMIES THAT RELY ON
PRIVATE PRISON COMPANIES AND
INSTEAD INVEST IN THE FUTURE
THAT ALL CALIFORNIANS CAN ENJOY.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT WE
WILL GO TO LINE NUMBER 88,
PLEASE GO AHEAD. GOOD AFTERNOON
, MADAM CHAIR. GOOD EVENING,
MADAM CHAIR UNLESS THEY'RE STILL
HIGH ON BEHALF OF THE CITY, THE
SPELL MARK REDWOOD CITY, FOSTER
CITY AND THE TOWN OF POST BURROW
AND IN REGARD TO ITS 22 THE
ATTORNEY VEHICLE LICENSE FEE
REVENUE SHORT HAUL, FALL BACK
BELT, AND I'LL MAKE MY COMMENTS
SHORT AND TRY NOT TO REPEAT
THOSE OF MY COLLEAGUES AND AS
HAS BEEN SAID THESE FUNDS ARE
RELIED UPON TO FUND ESSENTIAL
PUBLIC SERVICES, INCLUDING
PUBLIC SAFETY, STREET
MAINTENANCE, STORM MAINTENANCE
AND A TIME WHEN THIS TYPE OF
INFRASTRUCTURE IS MORE IMPORTANT
THAN EVER TO SELECT
NEIGHBORHOODS AND REDUCED BLOOD
DRINK, FOR EXAMPLE, JUST THE
CITY OF REDWOOD WOULD EXPERIENCE
AT $1.5 MILLION LOSS, WHICH
WOULD EQUATE TO LOSING FOUR
POLICE OFFICERS, FIREFIGHTERS OR
EIGHT LIBRARIANS LOCALLY AND SO
WE JUST RESPECTFULLY ASKED US
CALLED THE 2004 AGREEMENT WITH
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND FULLY FUND
AT 32.9 MILLION SHORTFALL. AND
THAT'S ALL PAYMENTS. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. NEXT
DOABLE 1 13. HI THERE. MY NAME
IS BIANCA BLONDE PERSON POLICY
DIRECTOR FOR SMALL BUSINESS
MAJORITY. WE ADVOCATE FOR
APPROXIMATELY 85,000 SMALL
BUSINESS OWNERS NATIONWIDE.
20,000 HERE IN CALIFORNIA. I
WANTED TO EXPRESS MY SUPPORT FOR
FEW ITEMS TODAY. THE FIRST IS,
OF COURSE TO SAFETY NETS FOR ALL
COALITION. BUT YOUR PROPOSALS TO
INCORPORATE UNEMPLOYMENT
BENEFITS FOR CURRENT EXCLUDED
WORKERS BECAUSE EMPLOYERS ARE
CURRENTLY PAYING ON BEHALF OF
THESE EXCLUDED WORKERS, WHATEVER
UNABLE TO STOP BENEFITS FROM THE
FUND. I ALSO WANTED TO EXPRESS
SUPPORT FOR, UM TBD AND
ENCOURAGE THE NEED TO CONTINUE
WORKING WITH ADVOCATES TO MAKE
SURE THAT THE FAMILY LEAVE AND
STATE DISABILITY INSURANCE.
PAYMENTS ARE ABLE TO WITHDRAW
FROM THEIR BENEFITS. UM WITH
THESE AND ADDRESS SOME OF THE
BARRIERS THAT HAVE BEEN OUTLINED
IN THE STATES. LARRY, THANK YOU
SO MUCH. I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.
THANK YOU NEXT TO WILL GO TO
LINE NUMBER 1 16, PLEASE GO
AHEAD. THAT EVENING KING NGUYEN
DEAN WITH CALIFORNIA STATE
ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES, WHICH
REPRESENTS ALL 58 COUNTIES,
COMMENTING ON ISSUES 22. WE
RESPECTFULLY URGED THE STATE TO
UPHOLD THE SPIRIT OF THE 2004
VEHICLE LICENSE. THE AGREEMENT
WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENTS FAILING
TO PROVIDE AN APPROPRIATION TO
COVER THE SHORTFALL FOR FISCAL
YEAR 21 TO 22 IN THE GOVERNOR'S
JANUARY BUDGET PROPOSAL THIS
YEAR IS UNACCEPTABLE. IN THE
2004 BUDGET, COMPROMISE THE
STATE GUARANTEED COUNTIES AND
CITIES IN LIEU VLF PAYMENT FOR
LOSS OF REVENUE, AND IT'S NOT
LIGATION THAT SHOULD NOT BE
NEGO. ELECTED AND COUNTY
SHOULDN'T HAVE TO EXPERIENCE
THIS SHORTFALL. DID THAT
RESPECTFULLY URGES YOU TO
INCLUDE THE SHORTFALL AMOUNTS IN
THIS YEAR'S BUDGET TO ENSURE
THERE'S NO FISCAL IMPACT ON OUR
LOCAL GOVERNMENT. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. THAT'S BECAUSE OF
LINE NUMBER 90, PLEASE GO AHEAD.
NUMBER 90. GOOD EVENING, MADAM
CHAIR AND MEMBERS JEAN HEARST
CALLING IN TONIGHT REGARDING
ITEM 20 TO THE COUNTY VEHICLE
LICENSING REVENUE REVENUE
SHORTFALL. BACKFILL ON BEHALF OF
THE URBAN COUNTIES OF CALIFORNIA
AND THE RURAL COUNTY
REPRESENTATIVES OF CALIFORNIA I
WOULD LIKE TO ENCOURAGE YOUR
CONSIDERATION OF STATE FUNDING.
TOBACCO LOCAL AGENCY LOSSES
STUDENT SPECIAL AMOUNTS OF
PROPERTY TAXES TO FULLY FUND
THEIR LEFT BACK SO THIS ISSUE
OBVIOUSLY IMPACT THE COUNTIES OF
ALPINE MOTO AND CAN MATEO IN THE
CITIES THERE IN DRAMATICALLY NO
FAULT OF THEIR OWN. WE STRONGLY
URGE YOUR SUPPORT FOR THIS
IMPORTANT FUNDING TO ENSURE THAT
THESE COMMUNITIES ARE HEALTH
HARMLESS FOR THE LEFT WALK IN
THE SAME MANNER THAT ALL OF
THEIR LOCAL AGENCY COUNTERPARTS
ARE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU NEXT
TO A VOTE TO LINE NUMBER 96,
PLEASE GO AHEAD. HELLO. MY NAME
IS MARIA GALVAN ORGANIZING AND
TULA LIES AND ORGANIZATION THAT
REPRESENTS AH, IN COMMUNITY
IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY SUPPORT THE
PROPOSALS TO IMPLEMENT THE
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE HILLS
AND SAFETY COMMITTEE OF SB 3 TO
1 EARLIER THIS YEAR PUBLISHED
GUIDELINES FOR THE HEALTH AND
SAFETY OF THE DOMESTIC WORKERS
INTERESTING. NOW CALIFORNIA MUST
TAKE THE NECESSARY NEXT STEP. TO
ENSURE THAT EMPLOYEES COMPLETE
WITH THIS GET LINE WITHOUT
TAKING THIS OPPORTUNITY TO
EXTEND HEALTH AND SAFETY
PROTECTIONS AND CONTINUED
STATION AND AVERAGE OF DOMESTIC
WORKERS AND EMPLOYERS.
CALIFORNIA LIVED SCARED ECONOMIC
. ECONOMY VULNERABLE TO CONSIDER
EXPLOITATION, INSULATION AND
LIFE TREATING WORKING CONDITIONS
APPLIED. IT'S TIME FOR
CALIFORNIA TO LEAD THE WAY AND
PROVIDE DIGNITY AND SECURITY FOR
HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF
CALIFORNIA WORKERS. CAN I
ASSEMBLY WOMEN WHEN THEY CARILLO
FOR HER LEADERSHIP AND
SUPPORTING THE DIGNITY ON RIGHT
OF CALIFORNIA? DOMESTIC WORKERS?
THANK YOU. THANK YOU NEXT TO
WILL GO TO LINE NUMBER 1 15,
PLEASE GO AHEAD. MY NAME IS
JULIANA FRANCO. AND I'M GONNA
STOP ATTORNEY WITH THE CENTER
FOR WORK LIKE LAW. THANK YOU TO
THE COMMITTEE FOR YOUR TIME. I
LIED THAT I LOSE A PROJECT TO
SUPPORT PREGNANT AND POSTPARTUM
FARMWORKERS AND ACCESSING THEIR
WORKPLACE LEGAL RIGHTS AND
INCOME REPLACEMENT, SUCH AS THAT
ADMINISTERED BY THE E D. D WE
REGULATE HERE FROM CLAIMANTS AND
THEIR HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS
ABOUT THE ONGOING ADMINISTRATIVE
BARRIERS THEY FACE WHEN
NAVIGATING THE FBI APPLICATION
PROCESS. THESE CHALLENGES
GREATLY IMPACT IMMIGRANT, LOW
WAGE AND MINORITY WORKERS IN THE
ALREADY OVEREXTENDED HEALTHCARE
PROVIDERS WHO SERVE THEM SP 9 51
WILL BE FULLY INFLICTED IN 2025
MAKING LEAVE MORE AFFORDABLE FOR
MANY LOW WAGE WORKERS ACROSS
CALIFORNIA. WE LOOK FORWARD TO
WORKING WITH THE E D. D ON
EFFECTIVE STRATEGIES TO ADDRESS
ADMINISTRATIVE BARRIERS SO THAT
WE ARE PREPARED FOR AN
ANTICIPATED INCREASE IN FBI AND
PFL PLANES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
TIME. QUÊ NEXT. WE WILL GO TO
LINE NUMBER 83. GOOD EVENING,
MADAM CHAIR, AND I WILL JUST SAY
ROBERT MCCRIE, CALIFORNIA
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. I APPLAUD
YOUR ENDURANCE AND I HAVE TO
BUDGET AND FIND SOME FUNDS FOR
COFFEE TO KEEP YOU GOING THIS
LATE AT NIGHT, UM MORE SERIOUSLY
THAT TOUCH ON TWO BUDGET ITEMS
UNDER EDIE ADAMS, SIX AND SEVEN,
AND WE'RE GLAD TO SEE THE
ONGOING FRAUD PROTECTION AS A
GOAL AS PART OF THE NEXT AND
WOULD URGE THE INCLUSION OF
MEETING THE FEDERAL I'IL TO
VERIFICATION LEVEL TO MAKE SURE
PROTECTION GOING FORWARD OF THE
PANDEMIC IS MAINTAINED. ON A
PERSONAL NOTE. I WILL SAY IT
PRODUCTS. CERTAINLY NOT OVER. I
RECEIVED THREE FRAUDULENT
NUDITY, FISHING TEXTS. THE LAST
TWO DAYS. THE SECOND ON BUDGET
ITEM SEVEN WERE DISAPPOINTED TO
SEE THE REMOVAL OF THE BUDGET.
ANGELA D¯ÚI FUND AID FROM LAST
YEAR'S BUDGET, AS WELL AS THE
TAX RELIEF FOR SMALL BUSINESSES
, AND SPECIFICALLY WOULD LIKE TO
THANK THE CHAIR FOR A QUESTION
REGARDING AND THEIR STATEMENT
REGARDING THE IMPORTANCE OF THAT
SMALL BUSINESS TAX RELIEF IN
LAST YEAR'S BUDGET, THE
LEGISLATURE PUSHED WE WOULD URGE
THEIR RETURN TO THE BUDGET.
THANK YOU AND GOOD LUCK. THANK
YOU. NEXT, WE WILL GO TO LINE
NUMBER 1 20, PLEASE GO AHEAD.
GOOD EVENING. THIS IS ON MICHAEL
MILLER WITHIN ONE YEAR
ASSOCIATION OF WINE GRAPE
GROWERS ABOUT ELECTORAL ON
OURSELVES IN THE COMMENTS JUST
MADE THE REMARK TREE.
ADDITIONALLY I'D LIKE TO SPEAK
TO ISSUES PAGE NINE. THE MAYBE
22 FROM THE STATION. WE WOULD
ASK THAT THAT BE REJECTED. 23 43
ACTUALLY CALLS ON THE OFFICIAL
SAFETY HEALTH STANDARDS BOARD TO
ADOPT REGULATION STANDARDS THAT
ARE IN LECTURE. AND THEY HAD
ALREADY EXIST IN THE FEDERAL LAW
. INSTEAD WE'D ASK HIM FOR MONEY
TO BE DIRECTED THAT GETTING 3441
OF THE CAFES OF HELLA
REGULATIONS. TO UPDATE THE
REGULATIONS ARE TIPPED TO
SAFETY, AUTONOMOUS TRACTORS,
TEXTBOOK OR SAFETY. ADDITIONALLY
RELATIVE TO NUMBER 89 95 BUDGET
YOU LIKE FUN? WE'D ASKED THE
GOVERNOR AND I MEAN YOU'RE.
RESTORE THE CANADIAN LAST YEAR'S
BUDGET. WE FEEL THAT LIST EASY.
ICON ARTICLES OF THE FUND. COVID
SHOULD NOT BE THE BAXTER
EMPLOYERS SHOULD BE NOT REWARDED
FOR MISMANAGEMENT AND THAT
SHOULD BE WORN BY GENERAL FROM
INSTEAD. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THANK YOU. NEXT WE WILL GO TO
LINE NUMBER 1 17, PLEASE GO
AHEAD. HI. MY NAME IS NATASHA
HOSPITAL, AND, UM, WITH THE
CALIFORNIA WORKING FAMILY
COALITION. WE ARE A STATEWIDE
COALITION OF COMMUNITY ADVOCATES
THAT ARE DEDICATED TO HELPING
CALIFORNIAN FAMILIES THRIVE. WE
LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE
E. D. D ON EFFECTIVE STRATEGIES
TO ADDRESS THAT MINISTRY
BARRIERS TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE
READY FOR AN INCREASE IN PAID
FAMILY LEAVE AND DISABILITY
INSURANCE CLAIMS SP 951 IS FULLY
IMPLEMENTED. IN 2025. WE'RE
HEARING FROM CLAIMANTS THAT THEY
FACE ONGOING AND URGENT
ADMINISTRATIVE BARRIERS DURING
THE P F L AND D I APPLICATION
PROCESS THAT PREVENTS THEM FROM
ACCESSING THE BENEFITS QUALIFY
FOR IN OUR WORK. WE ARE HEARING
FROM CLAIMANTS ABOUT THE LACK OF
INFORMATION ABOUT CLAIMS AND
THEIR INABILITY TO GET THROUGH
ON THE PHONE WHEN THEY NEED
SUPPORT. THANK YOU TO THE
COMMITTEE FOR HEARING THESE
IMPORTANT ISSUES. THANK YOU NEXT
WEEK. WE GO TO LINE 106, PLEASE
GO AHEAD. HI UM MY NAME IS SARAH
POLO NEW AND I'M WITH THE
CALIFORNIA RETAILERS ASSOCIATION
, AND WE'RE CALLING ON ITEM
NUMBER 8955 ISSUES. SEVEN THE E
D. D BUDGET AND THE U. I FIND
ITEMS THAT WERE PROMISED IN LAST
YEAR'S BUDGET. $500 MILLION TAX
CREDIT HELP TO COVER YOU. I TAX
INCREASES FOR SMALLER BUSINESSES
AND 750 MILLION TO HELP REDUCE
THE FUND INSOLVENCY. WE HOPE THE
LEGISLATURE WILL HELP ENSURE
THAT THIS CRITICAL AID IS ADDED
BACK IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET. TO
HELP PREVENT THE VIEW I TAXES
FROM HURTING CALIFORNIA'S
RECOVERY. THANKS SO MUCH. THANK
YOU. NEXT WE GO TO LINE NUMBER 1
14, PLEASE GO AHEAD. YES. GOOD
EVENING, MADAM CHAIR AMY JENKINS
ON BEHALF OF THE CALIFORNIA
CANADA INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION AND
CANNOT CRAFT I APPRECIATED THE
PRESENTATION TODAY FROM THE
DEPARTMENT OF CANNABIS CONTROL
ON THE VARIOUS CANNABIS GRANT
PROGRAMS. HOWEVER MY COMMENTS
PERTAIN TO THE PRESENTATION BY
THE L. A O ON THE CANNABIS TAX
REVENUE FORECAST. 81 95 THE
BUDGET TRAILER BILL ON CANNABIS
APPROVED LAST JUNE REDUCED
CANNABIS TAXES BY ELIMINATING
THE CULTIVATION TAX, WHICH WAS A
CRITICAL PRIORITY FOR THE
BROADER CANNABIS IN STREET. THE
TRAILERS ALSO PROVIDED THAT THE
15% CANNABIS EXCISE TAX BE
MAINTAINED FOR THREE FISCAL
YEARS UNTIL JUNE 30TH 2025. IN
OTHER WORDS, IT ENSURED THERE
WAS NO TAX INCREASE IN THE
EXCISE TAX WOULD BE MAINTAINED.
HOWEVER THE LEGISLATION DID
PROVIDE THAT AN INCREASE UP TO
19% COULD OCCUR BEGINNING JULY 1
2025 TO ENSURE THAT EXISTING
BENEFICIARIES OF THE TAX FUNDS
DID NOT EXPERIENCE ANY REVENUE
LOSSES. THERE WAS THE BASELINE
GUARANTEE IS DISCUSSED TODAY,
HOWEVER, UM WHAT WAS AN
ANTICIPATED WHAT? AS THE
CONSISTENT DROP IN CANNABIS TAX
REVENUES. SO, WITH THE REVENUE
OUTLOOK CURRENTLY UNCERTAIN, IT
IS IMPERATIVE THAT THE INTEGRITY
OF 81 95 BE MAINTAINED THE
CANNABIS INDUSTRY CANNOT SUSTAIN
A TAX INCREASE AT THIS TIME. AND
WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR
CONSIDERATION, MADAM CHAIR. GOOD
EVENING. THANK YOU. AND IT LOOKS
LIKE WE GOT ABOUT 16 STILL IN. Q
HERE. WE WILL GO NEXT TO LINE
NUMBER 1 23. GOOD EVENING, MADAM
CHAIR AND MEMBERS K¾T DAVEY WITH
THE CALIFORNIA RESTAURANT
ASSOCIATION RESTAURANTS WERE
CLOSED BY GOVERNMENT ORDER
DURING THE COVID 19 PANDEMIC AND
WE'RE FINANCIALLY DEVASTATED. AS
A RESULT, THE INDUSTRY IS STILL
WORKING ITS WAY OUT OF THE
DAMAGING FINANCIAL IMPACTS AND
THE DEATHS INCURRED DURING THE
PANDEMIC. WE WOULD LIKE TO
KINDLY ASK YOU TO REINSTATE D¯ÚI
FUND ITEMS AND LAST YEAR'S
BUDGET, SPECIFICALLY THE $5
MILLION TAX CREDIT TO COVER TAX
INCREASES FOR SMALL RESTAURANTS
AND THE $750 MILLION UH, A LOT
BETTER TO HELP REDUCE THE FUND.
INSOLVENCY PAYMENTS ARE CRITICAL
TO HELP PREVENT TAXES FROM
HURTING RESTAURANT RECOVERY IN
CALIFORNIA. THANK YOU. THANK YOU
NEXT TO GO TO LINE NUMBER 1 19,
PLEASE GO AHEAD. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. GOOD EVENING, MADAM CHAIR
NICOLE. TRUE HERE RIGHT ON
BEHALF OF THE CALIFORNIA STATE
BUILDING CONSTRUCTION TRADES
COUNCIL, SPEAKING ON ISSUE FOR
WE WERE DISAPPOINTED TO SEE THE
PAUSE IN FUNDING FOR THE WOMEN.
THAT CONSTRUCTION UNIT IN THE
JANUARY BUDGET REPEATS AND
REMAIN STRONGLY OPPOSED THE
PROPOSAL. THE STATE BUILDING
CONSTRUCTION TRADES COUNCIL
REPRESENTS NEARLY 500,000
WORKING MEN, WOMEN AND NON
BINARY INDIVIDUALS WITHIN THE
CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY. THIS
INCLUDES ROUGHLY 70,000 ENROLLED
IN OUR SAVIOR APPRENTICESHIP
PROGRAMS AROUND THE STATE, AND
OF THOSE CURRENTLY A ROLLED IN
AN APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM. ONLY
3.5% ARE WOMEN. AS WE WORK TO
INCREASE THAT NUMBER. WE'RE
THANKFUL TO THE LEGISLATIVE
WOMEN'S COST CAUCUS, SENATOR
SKINNER AND ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S
TEAM FOR THEIR WORK IN PREVIOUS
BUDGET CYCLES TO HELP ADDRESS
THIS DISPARITY AND SECURE
FUNDING FOR THE CREATION OF THE
WOMEN IN CONSTRUCTION UNIT AT
THE D I. R. THAT WORK HAS
ALREADY BEGUN IN EARNEST TO THIS
YEAR WITH THE RELEASE OF THE
EQUAL REPRESENTATION AND
CONSTRUCTION APPRENTICESHIP, THE
ERIKA GRANT PROGRAM AND THE
CHILDCARE STIPENDS THAT WILL
PROVIDE WOMEN AND PARENTS
ENROLLED IN STATE APPROVED.
APPROVED APPRENTICESHIP
CONSTRUCTION PROGRAMS. WE
RESPECTFULLY ASK THAT YOU REJECT
THE PROPOSAL. THE PATH AND THE
WOMEN CONSTRUCTION UNIT FUNDING
AND WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. I
HOPE YOU ALL HANG IN THERE. IT'S
BEEN A VERY LONG EVENING. AND WE
THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO.
THANK YOU. NEXT YEAR WE GO TO
LINE NUMBER 1 10, PLEASE GO
AHEAD. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING,
MADAM CHAIR. EVERYTHING FROM THE
CALIFORNIA ATTRACTIONS AND PARKS
ASSOCIATION, REPEAT PARKS, WATER
PARKS AND FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT
CENTERS. I ALIGN MY COMMENTS TO
THE CALIFORNIA CHAMBER OF
COMMERCE REGARDING THE DVD
BUDGET SPECIFICALLY ABOUT FRAUD
PROTECTION AND THE UNEMPLOYMENT
INSURANCE FUND ITEMS THAT WERE
APPROVED IN LAST YEAR'S BUDGET.
GOVERNMENT. DOWN FOR MORE THAN A
YEAR DUE TO THE PANDEMIC AND TAX
HIKES TO REPAIR THE U. S FUND
WILL HURT OUR ECONOMIC RECOVERY
. WE HOPE THE LEGISLATURE WILL
KEEP THE PLACE. THANK YOU.
CONSIDERATION. THANK YOU NEXT TO
GO TO LINE NUMBER ONE. OH, ONE
HELLO. MY NAME IS CORINNE. I'M
FREE SENIOR STAFF ATTORNEY AT
WORKSPACE WORKSPACE IS A
NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION DEDICATED
TO PREVENTING WORKER INJURY,
ILLNESS AND DEATH. WORK SAFE
SUPPORTS THE BUDGET PROPOSAL TO
IMPLEMENT THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF
SP 321 ADVISORY COMMITTEE. THE D
I R AND TELL OSHA TOOK A
HISTORIC STEP FORWARD THE
DEVELOPMENT OF THE VOLUNTARY
SAFETY AND HEALTH GUIDELINES AND
POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE
DOMESTIC WORK INDUSTRY. NOW
CALIFORNIA HAS THE OPPORTUNITY
TO PUT ACTION BEHIND OUR WORDS
BY TAKING THE NEXT STEP IN
IMPLEMENTING THOSE
RECOMMENDATIONS. ALL CALIFORNIA
WORKERS DESERVE PROTECTED RIGHTS
THAT THEY CAN RELY ON WHEN THEIR
HEALTH OR SAFETY IS AT RISK. WE
ALL DESERVE SAFE WORKPLACES. AND
THEN I ALSO LIKE TO MENTION OUR
SUPPORT, UM FOR THE SAFETY NET
FOR ALL BUDGET REQUEST, AND, UM
C WEBB. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
NEXT WE GO TO LINE NUMBER 1 21.
HELLO MY NAME IS A CULINA STORY.
ANNA SOSA AND THE EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR OF THE FILIPINO WORKERS
CENTER, AND WE REPRESENT OVER
4000 FILIPINO CAREGIVERS ACROSS
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. WE SUPPORT
THE PROPOSAL TO IMPLEMENT THE
RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE SP 321
ADVISORY COMMITTEE, UM, TO
IMPLEMENT THE GUIDELINES FOR
HEALTH AND SAFETY PROTECTION.
FOR ALL DOMESTIC WORKERS, UM, AN
ADDITION, DOMESTIC WORKER AND
EMPLOYER EDUCATION AND OUTREACH
PROGRAM AND BECOME A SUCCESSFUL
MODEL FOR THE INDUSTRY WITH
CITIES AND STATES ACROSS THE US
FOLLOWING THE EXAMPLE AND AT THE
PILOT PROGRAM COMES TO AN END IN
2024, CALIFORNIA MUST CONTINUE
TO DEDICATE FUNDS ADVANCED. THE
PROGRESS THAT HAS BEEN MADE FOR
THE INDUSTRY. IN ADDITION,
REALLY URGENT LEGISLATURE TO
KEEP ITS PROMISE TO FUND WORKER
OUTREACH AND FULLY FUND THE
CALIFORNIA WORKPLACE FOR
OUTREACH PROJECT, WHICH IS ALSO
A MODEL FOR THE FUTURE THAT HAS
BEEN BUILT ALREADY A WELL
INFORMED AND INTEGRATED NETWORK
OF ORGANIZATIONS ADEPT AT
CONNECTING WITH AND SUPPORTING
THE MOST VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES.
UM AND AS WELL SUPPORT THE
UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS FOR
EXCLUDED WORKERS SAFETY NET FOR
ALL BUDGET REQUESTS AS WELL.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. LINE
NUMBER ONE. OH, TWO. OH, MY NAME
IS JAKE JACK ABOUT THE EMPLOYER
HOUSE CLEANER AND A HOME CARE
WORKER IN WOODLAND HILLS, AND
I'M A MEMBER OF HAND IN HAND.
I'M DISABLED AND DOMESTIC
WORKERS MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR ME
TO LIVE IN MY HOME INSTEAD OF
FACILITY. I LIVE WITH CHRONIC
PAIN AND FATIGUE AND STRUGGLE
WITH MOBILITY. SO I CAN'T COOK
CLEANER BABE ON MY OWN, AND THAT
WORKERS HELP ME WITH THESE BASIC
NEEDS AND CALLING TO SUPPORT THE
RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE SP 321
ADVISORY COMMITTEE. I NEED THE
SUPPORT AND GUIDELINES THAT
WOULD PROVIDE WITH THIS PROPOSAL
AND JAVIER IN THAT DAY THAT YOU
DOMESTIC WORKERS I EMPLOY
DESERVE THE RIGHTS AND
PROTECTIONS THAT WOULD PROVIDE
THEIR LABOR MAKES MY LIFE
POSSIBLE. THEY TAKE CARE OF ME
AND THEY SHOULD BE TAKEN CARE OF
AS WELL. I AM UNABLE TO WORK
BECAUSE OF MY DISABILITY FUNDING
, EDUCATION AND FINANCIAL
ASSISTANCE FOR LOW INCOME
EMPLOYERS LIKE ME IS A CRITICAL
PART OF THIS PROPOSAL AND WOULD
ALLOW ME TO MAKE MY HOME A SAFER
WORKPLACE. I THINK FERTILITY FOR
YOUR LEADERSHIP AND ASK FOR YOUR
SUPPORT TO INVEST IN THE
DOMESTIC WORK INDUSTRY. THANK
YOU. NEXT BLIND NUMBER 1 27.
HELLO. MY NAME IS MARTY. MY
EMISSARY MARTINEZ, AND I'M, THE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR WITH CENTRAL
NATIONAL, A COMMUNITY BASED
ORGANIZATION THAT WORKS WITH
INDIGENOUS FARMWORKERS. I GREW
UP TO MAJOR AGRICULTURAL REGIONS
, THE CENTRAL VALLEY AND THE
CENTRAL COAST. AND WE'RE ALSO A
MEMBER OF THE TAPING AIRPORT,
ALL COALITIONS ON BEHALF OF THE
FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES FROM
OUR COMMUNITIES. HAVING
DEVASTATED BY THE RECENT STORMS
. I ASKED, UM, THAT THE ASSEMBLY
TIRED ISIS MUCH, MUCH NEEDED
UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS PROGRAM
FOR EXCLUDED UNDOCUMENTED
WORKERS AND ALSO, UM AND THE
SECOND ITEM TWO. I STRONGLY
SUPPORT THAT CONTINUED FUNDING
OF THE PROGRAMS FOR THE PAST TWO
YEARS WILL BE PROVIDING MUCH
NEEDED INFORMATION IN INDIGENOUS
LANGUAGES TO WORKERS THAT HAVE
NOT RECEIVED INFORMATION IN THE
NATIVE LANGUAGE. AND THAT THANKS
TO THE FUNDING OF THE WORKS, AND
I KNOW YOU'RE ALSO TALKING ABOUT
LANGUAGE TAXES WITHIN OTHER
AGENCIES, SO WE STRONGLY SUPPORT
FOR THE CONTINUATION OF THE
PROGRAM AS WELL. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU BOTH NEXT TO THE LINE
NUMBER 1 11. GOOD EVENING
CHAIRWOMAN, CARILLO LETICIA
GARCIA WITH THE CALIFORNIA
GROCERIES ASSOCIATION. I'M
CALLING ON ITEM. NUMBER 8955 THE
BUDGET AND THE UNEMPLOYMENT
INSURANCE FUND ITEMS THAT WERE
PROMISED IN LAST YEAR'S BUDGET.
A $50 MILLION TEST CREDIT. HELP
COVER YOU, I TAX INCREASES FOR
SMALL BUSINESSES AND 750 MILLION
TO HELP REDUCE THE FUNDING.
OBVIOUSLY. I JUST WANT TO POINT
OUT THAT EVERY YEAR THAT THEY
BALANCES OWED TO THE FEDERAL
UNEMPLOYMENT TRUST ACCOUNT,
CALIFORNIA EMPLOYERS PAID A
HIGHER TAX THAT GOES TO PAY DOWN
THE DEBT FOR THE FEDERAL
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE ZONE. WE
HOPE THAT THE LEGISLATURE WILL
HELP ENSURE THAT THIS CRITICAL
AID IS ADDED BACK TO THIS YEAR'S
BUDGET AND HELP PREVENT THESE
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE TAXES
FROM HURTING CALIFORNIA'S
GROCERY INDUSTRY. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU NEXT WEEK TO LINE
NUMBER 71, PLEASE GO AHEAD. GOOD
EVENING. HONORABLE COMMITTEE
MEMBERS. MY NAME IS JAY
HARDLINER ON BEHALF OF THE
IMMIGRANT LEGAL RESOURCE CENTER
AND THE DIGNITY, NOT POTENTIALLY
COALITION. I AM HERE TO SPEAK ON
ITEMS. 559 ISSUE NUMBER FOUR
SPECIFICALLY AND SPEAKING HERE
IN SUPPORT OF THIS HEALTHY
ECONOMIES, ADAPTING THE LAST
PROPOSAL, WHICH IS REQUEST FOR
CONSIDERATION BEFORE THIS
COMMITTEE FOR AN ALLOCATION OF
$15 MILLION TO THE CALIFORNIA
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BOARD.
THIS PROPOSAL WOULD SUPPORT
CITIES THAT CLOSED DETENTION
CENTER. AND AS AN IMMIGRATION
ATTORNEY. I'VE WORKED WITH THE
TEAM IMMIGRANTS. AND I KNOW THAT
WHEN WE INVEST IN RESOURCES FOR
OUR COMMUNITY, WE CROSS FOR YOUR
CONSTITUENTS FOR APPRECIATE THAT
YOU ARE MAKING OUR COMMUNITIES
HEALTHIER AND INCREASING JOBS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK
YOU. NEXT WE GO TO LINE NUMBER 1
29, PLEASE GO AHEAD. GOOD
EVENING. KAREN MEMBERS THEY
FORGE IS CALLING ON BEHALF OF
THE FAMILY BUSINESS ASSOCIATION
OF CALIFORNIA, CALLING ON ITEM
8955 PERTAINING TO THE DVD
BUDGET AND UI FUND ITEMS THAT
WERE INCLUDED IN LAST YEAR'S
BUDGET, PARTICULARLY THE $500
MILLION TAX CREDIT TO COVER YOU.
I TAX INCREASES FOR SMALLER
BUSINESSES AND $750 MILLION TO
HELP REDUCE THE FUNDING SOLVENCY
. WE HOPE THE LEGISLATURE WILL
SHOW SUPPORT TO BUSINESSES IN
YOUR COMMUNITIES BY PRIORITIZING
RE, ADDING THESE NEEDED
RESOURCES. IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET
TO HELP PREVENT TAXES ON
EMPLOYERS WORKING DILIGENTLY TO
CONTINUE EMPLOYING CALIFORNIANS
AND WORKING TOWARDS ECONOMIC
RECOVERY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU
NEXT WEEK ABOUT TO LINE NUMBER
98, PLEASE GO AHEAD. HI. GOOD
EVENING COMMITTEE MEMBERS. MY
NAME IS HERNANDEZ, PRESIDENT OF
THE 48TH DISTRICT IN ORGANIZING
DIRECTOR AT DETENTION WATCHING
NETWORK, A COALITION OF MORE
THAN 100 ORGANIZATIONS, MANY
BASED IN CALIFORNIA, AND ALSO
PART OF THE CALIFORNIA
TECHNOLOGY, NOT TO MENTION
COALITION. I AM HERE TO SPEAK ON
FAVOR OF ITEMS BY 59 ISSUE
NUMBER FOUR IN SUPPORT OF THE
HILL PROGRAM. I HAVE WORKED WITH
THE TI¾N IMMIGRANTS AND ALSO MY
FAMILY HAS BEEN PREVIOUSLY
DETAINED AT IMMIGRANT DETENTION
CENTERS. I KNOW THIS
REALLOCATION WILL HELP INVEST IN
RESOURCES FOR OUR COMMUNITIES TO
PROSPER, AND THIS MODEST
INVESTMENT WILL HAVE MADE A
RETURN IN THE YEARS TO COME AND
HELP LOCAL ECONOMIES PROSPER.
AND BE STRONGER AND MORE
RESILIENT WITHOUT RELYING ON
PERSON ECONOMY. THANK YOU FOR
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MADAM
CHAIR. WE GOT ABOUT FIVE LEFT
AND QUÊ HERE. WE HAVE LINE
NUMBER 54. HELLO MY NAME IS JUAN
GUERRERO. AND I'M GONNA ORGANIZE
YOU WITH KENNEDY ACROSS
GENERATIONS, AND I'M A PROUD
MEMBER OF THE CALIFORNIA ARE
WORKING FAMILY COALITION. START
OFF THAT THING. THANKS FOR THE
COMMITTEE FOR HEARING THE
IMPORTANT ISSUES. I REALLY DO
IMPACT WORKING FAMILIES IN
CALIFORNIA AND ALSO TO EXTEND A
SPECIAL THINGS TO THE CHAIR FOR
GETTING INTO TODAY'S AGENDA. THE
APPROACH MY 25. WE REALLY DO
LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE
D D TO EFFECTIVELY ADDRESS THE
ONGOING AND FUTURE
ADMINISTRATIVE BARRIER.
SURROUNDING THE ROBUST ROLLOUT
OF SP NINE BY ONE. CALIFORNIA'S
REALLY NEEDED THESE SONGS
YESTERDAY, SO ANYTHING WE CAN DO
TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY GET
RESPONDED TO THE POSSIBLE
WITHOUT OBSTACLES IS IN OUR
COLLECTIVE INTEREST. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU NEXT WEEK ON THE LINE
NUMBER 1 30, PLEASE GO AHEAD.
GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS LISA
RODRIGUEZ SPIN YET I'M AN
ATTORNEY. AND WHAT THE
WATSONVILLE LAWCENTER NUMBER
LAWCENTER AND NON PROFIT IN THE
CENTRAL COAST THAT PROVIDES FREE
LEGAL AID TO LOW INCOME WORKING
FAMILIES TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO
HEALTH, HOUSING, EMPLOYMENT,
ECONOMIC STABILITY AND
IMMIGRATION JUSTICE. WE ARE HERE
TO COMMENT ON ISSUE NUMBER SIX.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUE
WORKING WITH YOU ALL ANYTHING TO
ADDRESS THE BARRIERS THAT LOW
INCOME COMMUNITIES FACE WHEN
APPLYING FOR US STATUS ABILITY
AND PAID FAMILY LEAVE,
ESPECIALLY THE VULNERABLE
FARMWORKERS PREGNANT WOMAN THAT
SPEAK INDIGENOUS. LANGUAGES SUCH
AS MISTAKE, CØNG. TO ENSURE THAT
THEY ALL HAVE EQUAL ACCESS TO
THE EARNED PUBLIC BENEFITS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK
YOU. NEXT, WE WILL GO TO LINE
NUMBER 1 31, PLEASE GO AHEAD.
YES. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. MY
NAME IS DAVID GRIFFITH. I'M A
COUNTY SUPERVISOR HERE AT ALPINE
COUNTY AND HERE TOO. REQUEST TO
REQUEST REGARDING THE COUNTY
VEHICLE LICENSE FEE RENEWAL,
REVENUE SHORTFALL. BACKFILL UM,
YOU KNOW, PLAYING COUNTY, UM,
BETWEEN FUNDS THAT WERE
PREVIOUSLY ALLOCATED BUT NOT
EXPANDED, AND WHAT WE HOPE TO
RECEIVE THIS YEAR IS BUT
$475,000. I KNOW THERE'S NOT A
LOT OF MONEY WHEN YOU CONSIDER
THE STATE BUDGET, BUT IT'S ABOUT
6% OF OUR GENERAL FUND HERE. AND
WE USE THAT MONEY TO PUBLIC
SAFETY. POLICE FIRE FOR SEARCH
AND RESCUE, KEEPING THEIR ROADS
OPEN, ETCETERA, TOUGH WINTER
LIKE THIS, AND I BELIEVE YOU
RECEIVED A LETTER. UM ABOUT OUR
SITUATION, AND I WOULD HOPE THAT
YOU WOULD CONSIDER HAVING
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE PAYOUT.
THESE FUNDS THAT WERE AGREED TO
MANY YEARS AGO. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH FOR YOUR TIME VERY MUCH
APPRECIATED. HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND OUR
LAST COMMENT COMES FROM THE LINE
OF 1 28. GOOD EVENING. HONORABLE
COMMITTEE MEMBERS. MY NAME IS
REBECCA MARTIN WITH FREEDOM.
CRIME AGAINST THE DIGNITY, NOT
ATTENTION COALITION, ALSO
RESIDENT OF THE 18TH DISTRICT.
HMM SPEAK ON ITEMS. 0559 ISSUE
NUMBER FOUR AND SUPPORT THE HELL
PROGRAM REQUEST UNDER
CONSIDERATION BY THE COMMITTEE
ECONOMIES THAT RELY ON DETENTION
FACILITIES, WHICH ARE RIGHT WITH
THE SYSTEMATIC ABUSES. DO NOT
MOVE US FORWARD RATHER THAN
ALLOW ENTIRE CON AMIS TO REVOLVE
AROUND MY ATTENTION AND
CONTINUES HARMING CALIFORNIANS
TO STATE CAN HELP OUR
COMMUNITIES KILLED. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. AND THERE ARE NO ONE
ELSE IN QUEUE FOR PUBLIC
COMMENTS. YOU MAY GO AHEAD,
MADAM JIM. THANK YOU, OPERATOR.
MUCH APPRECIATED. THANK YOU. TO
ALL OF THE INDIVIDUALS THAT
CALLED IN OVER FOREIGN PHONE
LINE AS WELL AS THOSE THAT
TESTIFIED, AND COMMITTEE AS WELL
AS THE MARATHON OF PANELS AND
ISSUES THAT WE DISCUSSED TODAY.
APPRECIATE EVERYONE'S AH
PATIENTS WHILE WE GOT THROUGH A
VERY HEAVY AGENDA, AND AGAIN A
BIG THANK YOU TO MY TEAM AS WELL
IN OUR BUDGET STAFF. THIS BUDGET
FOR HEARING IS ADJOURNED.
OH,