GOOD MORNING,
MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE AND THE
PUBLIC. WELCOME TO THE ASSEMBLY
COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT
AND RETIREMENT. BEFORE WE BEGIN
. I WILL TAKE A FEW MINUTES TO
GO THROUGH A FEW OPTIONS AND
PROTOCOLS FOR THIS HEARING TODAY
FOR THIS HEARING THE PUBLIC AND
PARTICIPATE IN PERSON OR ON THE
PHONE, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER
YOU'RE PARTICIPATING IN PERSON
OR ON THE PHONE. WE WILL BE
LIMITED TO TWO TESTIMONY TO 222
PRIMARY WITNESSES ON EACH SIDE
OF THE BILL, AND EACH WILL HAVE
THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK. ALL
OTHERS MUST MUST ONLY SAY THEIR
NAME ORGANIZATION AND POSITION
IF ANY, FOR WITNESSES AFTER THE
ARTHUR OF A BILL PRESENTS THE
BILL WE WILL HEAR FROM PRIMARY
WITNESSES AND SUPPORT SUPPORT
FIRST, THEN OTHERS IN SUPPORT IN
THE ROOM. THEN THOSE WHO ARE ON
THE PHONE LINE AFTER SUPPORT
TESTIMONY IS TAKEN. WE WILL
REPEAT THE SAME ORDER IN THE
PROCESS FOR OPPOSITION
TESTIMONY. THE PHONE LINES THAT
WITNESSES WILL CALL ON, UM, IS
MODERATED EXCEPT FOR PRIMARY
WITNESSES, AND THERE'S TIME
LIMITS FOR TESTIMONY. IF YOU SAY
MORE THAN YOUR NAME,
ORGANIZATION AND POSITION ON THE
BILL, WE WILL ASK THE MODERATOR
TO MOVE ON THE NEXT ON TO THE
NEXT CALLER ON THE LINE. THE
CALLING NUMBER FOR THIS HEARING
IS 877 69289. AGAIN. THE CALL IN
FOR THIS HEARING IS 877692. AND
THE ACCESS CODE IS 1315. AGAIN.
THE ACCESS CODE IS 1315. YOU'LL
FIND THIS PHONE NUMBER ON THE
BOTTOM OF YOUR TV SCREEN OR
OTHER VIEWING DEVICE. IF YOU'RE
CALLING IN, PLEASE DO SO, AS THE
AUTHOR OF THE BILL BEGINS
PRESENTING THE BILL, THE
OPERATOR ON THE LINE WILL GIVE
YOU INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO BE
PLACED IN THE QUEUE. DEPENDING
ON WHETHER YOU SUPPORT OR OPPOSE
THE BILL. IF YOU'RE CALLING IN,
PLEASE ELIMINATE ALL BACKGROUND
NOISE SUCH AS MUTING YOUR TV
LIVESTREAM BROADCAST OTHER SMART
DEVICES OR OTHER NOISE TO REDUCE
INTERRUPTIONS AND SOUND. UM,
JUST AERATION. DISTORTION IF
YOUR MAIN WITNESS PROVIDED
PROVIDING SUBSTANTIVE TESTIMONY
, YOU REMAIN ON A LIVE LINE AND
WILL NEED TO MUTE YOURSELF INTO
YOUR CALLED TO. YOU CALLED ON TO
SPEAK OTHERWISE, EVERYONE
WATCHING AND LISTENING TO THIS
HEARING, WE'LL HEAR YOU IN
ANYTHING AUDIBLE IN THE
BACKGROUND. SO THAT EVERYONE IS
ALSO AWARE THIS COMMITTEE
ACCEPTS WRITTEN TESTIMONY
THROUGH THE POSITION LETTER
PORTAL ON THE COMMITTEE'S
WEBSITE AND ENCOURAGES THOSE WHO
HAVE ANY TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES
TO USE THIS OPTION. THE ASSEMBLY
HAS EXPERIENCED AND EXPERIENCED
A NUMBER OF DISRUPTIONS TO
COMMITTEE AND FLOOR PROCEEDINGS
IN THE LAST FEW YEARS, SO THAT
EVERYONE IS CRYSTAL CLEAR.
CONTACTED THAT DISRUPTS,
DISTURBS OR IMPAIRMENTS IMPEDES
THE ORDERLY CONDUCT OF THIS
HEARING IS PROHIBITED. IF YOU'RE
JUST YOU'RE DISRUPTED. I WILL
DIRECT YOU TO STOP AND GIVE ONE
WARNING. IF THE DISRUPTION
CONTINUES, I WOULD ASK THAT YOU
BE REMOVED FROM PARTICIPATING IN
THIS HEARING. REGARDLESS OF YOU
BEING ON THE PHONE OR IN PERSON.
IF NECESSARY. WE MADE
TEMPORARILY RECESS THE HEARING.
THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR
CORPORATION IN ADVANCE. FOR THIS
HEARING. WE HAVE FOUR ITEMS ON
THE AGENDA THAT WILL WORK THAT
WILL WORK THROUGH IN SIGNING
ORDER. BEFORE WE BEGIN. WE NEED
TO ESTABLISH A QUORUM SECRETARY.
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL TOOK
STAIRS. ESTABLISH A CORE. YOU
CAN HEAR PRESENT LUCKY HERE.
LUCKY PRESIDENT VINCE VAUGHN.
HERE. THANKS, MOM. PRESIDENT. IN
THE PRESENT. SECONDLY, NGUYEN
SHE HAS SHE EVER BEEN. WE HAVE A
QUORUM. WE'RE GONNA START WITH
FILE ITEM NUMBER. THREE AND I'LL
HANDLE GIVE OVER TO
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S HANGING.
THE OTHER OFFERS AREN'T HERE, SO
YEAH, OKAY. SURE. ALRIGHT, SO WE
HAVE ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S MAKIN HER
HERE TO PRESENT ON A B 16 77.
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S WHENEVER YOU'RE
READY. 18 15 77 THIS MORNING
BILL SPONSORED BY THE CALIFORNIA
ASSOCIATION OF PROFESSIONAL CAPS
, IS THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING
UNIT FOR MORE THAN 4000
SPECIALLY TRAINED, HIGHLY
EDUCATED STATE SCIENTIST WHO
WORKED THROUGHOUT STATE
GOVERNMENT. THESE WORKERS
SAFEGUARD OUR WILDLIFE AND
NATURAL RESOURCES, ENSURE THE
SAFETY OF OUR FOOD SUPPLY AND
PROTECT OUR AIR AND WATER FROM
TOXIC WASTE AND POLLUTION. BUT
UNFORTUNATELY THEIR SALARIES LAG
THEIR COUNTERPARTS DOING SIMILAR
WORK IN THE STATE AND FEDERAL
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT BY UP TO 40%
IN SOME CLASSIFICATIONS, THE
CONTRIBUTIONS TO HIGH EMPLOYEE
TURNOVER AND LOW MORALE AND
THREATENS THE VITAL PUBLIC
HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL
PROTECTION STATE SCIENTISTS
PROVIDE EACH DAY. A B 16 77 IS
THE FIRST STEP TO ENSURE THAT
THESE WORKERS ARE RECEIVING A
COMPETITIVE WAGE. A B 16 77
WOULD REQUIRE THE UNIVERSITY OF
CALIFORNIA BERKELEY LABOR CENTER
TO EVALUATE THE EXISTING STATE
SCIENTISTS SALARY STRUCTURE AND
PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS IF
APPROPRIATE FOR ALTERNATIVE
SALARY MODELS FOR RANK AND FILE.
CALIFORNIA STATE SCIENTISTS
CURRENTLY COVERED BY A
COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT.
THE U. C BERKELEY LABOR CENTER
WILL PROVIDE THE REPORT TO THE
DIRECTOR OF FINANCE, THE
CHAIRPERSON OF THE JOINT
LEGISLATIVE BUDGET COMMITTEE AND
THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE
APPROPRIATE LEGISLATIVE POLICY
AND BUDGET COMMITTEE. CAPS AND H
R WILL BOTH BE CONSULTED AND
IDENTIFYING THE STUDIES,
PERIMETERS AND OBJECTIVES. THIS
WILL ALLOW CAPS AND THE STATE TO
ENTER INTO CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS
WITH THE MORE INFORMED
UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT IS AN
APPROPRIATE STARTING 4.4
EMPLOYEES, CHAU ARIES. I'M
JOINED TODAY WITH MY FOLKS FROM
CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF
PROFESSIONAL SCIENTISTS. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU. GO AHEAD, MR
CHAIRMAN MEMBERS, PAT MORAN WITH
AARON READING ASSOCIATES
REPRESENTING THE CALIFORNIA
ASSOCIATION OF PROFESSIONAL
SCIENTISTS. FIRST WE'D LIKE TO
THANK ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S MCKENNA
FOR AUTHORING THE BILL. HER
STAFF HAS DONE A FANTASTIC JOB
AND HELPING US MOVE THE BILL
ALONG IN THE THOUGHTFUL ANALYSIS
PREPARED BY MICHAEL BOLDON, UH,
WITH ME TODAY IS MIA ROBERTS.
SHE'S A SENIOR. ENVIRONMENTAL
SCIENTIST SPECIALIST AND THE
CAPS BOARD MEMBER TO OFFER
FURTHER TESTIMONY. THANK YOU.
BUT THANK YOU. THANK YOU, PAT.
LIKE PAT SAID. MY NAME IS MIA
ROBERTS, SENIOR ENVIRONMENTAL
SCIENTIST SPECIALIST. STATEWIDE
TRAINING COORDINATOR AND OIL
SPILL RESPONDER. FOR THE
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FISH
AND WILDLIFE OFFICE OF SPILL
PREVENTION AND RESPONSE. THANK
YOU FOR CONSIDERING THIS VERY
IMPORTANT BILL. AS YOU'VE HEARD.
A B 1677 IS THE FIRST STEP TO
ENSURE THAT STATE SCIENTISTS ARE
VALUED EQUITABLY TO THEIR PEERS
BOTH IN AND OUTSIDE OF STATE
SERVICE. IT IS WELL KNOWN AND
ACUTELY FELT BY MYSELF AND BY MY
SCIENTIFIC COLLEAGUES THAT OUR
SALARIES LAG BEHIND THOSE OF OUR
CONTEMPORARIES THAT PERFORMS
SIMILAR DUTIES BY NEARLY 40. WE
ATTENDED THE SAME MEETINGS AND
PROVIDE THE SAME VALUE,
EXPERTISE AND KNOWLEDGE AS OUR
COUNTERPARTS IN BOTH STATE
GOVERNMENT AND OTHER
GOVERNMENTS, SECTORS. AND YET WE
ARE APPARENTLY VALUED
APPROXIMATELY 40% LESS. WITH
INCREASINGLY FREQUENT
CATASTROPHIC EVENTS AND ISSUES
PROMPTED BY THE 21ST CENTURY
LIFE, SUCH AS THE COVID 19
PANDEMIC. MULTIPLE AVIAN FLU
OUTBREAKS. HISTORIC DROUGHT,
FOLLOWED BY HISTORIC RAINFALL.
CREATION OF TOXIC SITES AND
CONTINUAL FIRES IN CALIFORNIA IT
HAS BEEN IT HAS BECOME
INCREASINGLY CLEAR THAT
SCIENTIFIC EXPERTISE IS NOT ONLY
NECESSARY BUT ESSENTIAL TO
SAFEGUARDING CALIFORNIA'S PUBLIC
HEALTH, FOOD SUPPLY AND
AGRICULTURE, WILDLIFE AND
ENVIRONMENT. BUT AT OUR CURRENT
RAGES, WAGES WE SEE A SCIENTIFIC
EXODUS TO HIGHER PAYING
POSITIONS ELSEWHERE. I'M HERE
TODAY TO GIVE MY AND MY
COLLEAGUES ARDENT SUPPORT FOR
THIS BILL. AS IT IS A STEP IN
THE RIGHT DIRECTION TO HELP
RESOLVE THIS SCIENTIFIC DEARTH
IN CALIFORNIA STATE CIVIL
SERVICE, WHICH WILL HELP US
COUNTER ACT THE ISSUES I JUST
DISCUSSED FOR THE FUTURE OF
CALIFORNIA. A B 1677 WILL ALLOW
BOTH CAPS AND THE STATE TO ENTER
INTO NEGOTIATIONS WITH A MORE
INFORMED UNDERSTANDING OF THE
APPROPRIATE COMPARATOR Z IN
SALARY NEGOTIATIONS, WHICH WILL
LEAD TO FINDING CONCRETE
SOLUTIONS TO OUR LONGSTANDING
SALARY ISSUES. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU TO THE WITNESSES. ARE THERE
ANY OTHER WITNESSES IN THE ROOM
AND SUPPORT NOT SEEING ANY OTHER
ANY ON THE PHONE. SO ARE THERE
ANY WITNESSES AND OPPOSITION?
NOT SEEING ANY ANY QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS FROM COMMITTEE MEMBERS.
WE HAVE A SECOND ON THE MOTION.
AH ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S YOU MAKE
CLOTHES. I RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR
AN I VOTE. GREAT. THANK YOU.
COVER SECRETARY. THE MOTION IS
DO PASS AND WE REFERRED TO THE
COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
MCKINNA MCKINNA. AYE LACKEY
VOTING, NOT VOTING. ADDIS I,
VINCE FANG. I KNOW. VINCE WONG.
NO ANY ANY I STEPHANIE NGUYEN.
STEPHANIE WHEN I SHABO SHABO?
AYE. WE HAVE 51 W OUT GREAT. WE
ARE OKAY. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU. NOW ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S
WE HAVE, UH MCKENNA TO PRESENT
ON A B ONE. SECOND. PROMOTION
AND SECOND.
OKAY AND WE'RE STILL WAITING FOR
THE OTHER OFF AUTHORS, BUT WE'RE
GOING TO PROCEED WITH MAYBE ONE.
FAMILY MEMBER. I WOULD LIKE TO
BEGIN BY COMMITTING TO TAKE
AMENDMENTS IN THE ASSEMBLY
APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE TO
CLARIFY THAT BARGAINING UNITS
REFERENCED IN THIS BILL CANNOT
BE BASED UPON POLITICAL PARTY
REGISTRATION, AND I WOULD LIKE
TO THANK MY REPUBLICAN AND
DEMOCRAT SISTERS AND BROTHERS
FOR COLLABORATING FOR THEIR
COLLABORATIVE WORK ON THIS BILL
, MR CHAIR AND MEMBERS MAYBE ONE
WILL GIVE NONSUPERVISORY A
LEGISLATIVE STAFF. THE CHOICE TO
JOIN A UNION AND TO COLLECTIVELY
BARGAIN FOR WAGES, BENEFITS AND
WORKPLACE CONDITIONS. MEMBERS
OUR STAFF AREN'T LOOKING FOR
SPECIAL TREATMENT. THEY'RE
LOOKING FOR THE SAME DIGNITY AND
RESPECT AFFORDED TO ALL
REPRESENTED WORKERS PERIOD. TO
THE STAFF IN OUR DISTRICT
OFFICES, CAPITAL STAFF THAT
HONORABLY SERVED THE PEOPLE OF
CALIFORNIA EVERY DAY. NO THIS WE
SEE YOU AND WE RESPECT YOU. AND
WITH A B ONE. WE'RE TAKING
ACTION TO MAKE SURE THAT CURRENT
AND FUTURE LEGISLATIVE STAFF
REGARDLESS OF THEIR MEMBERS,
POLITICAL AFFILIATION OR
AFFORDED A SAFE, EQUITABLE AND
FAIR OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD A
NOBLE CAREER IN PUBLIC SERVICE.
IT IS HYPOCRITICAL AS
LEGISLATORS THAT WE ASK OUR
EMPLOYEES TO STAFF COMMITTEES
AND WRITE LEGISLATION THAT OFTEN
EXPANDS COLLECTIVE BARGAINING
RIGHTS FOR OTHER WORKERS IN
CALIFORNIA, BUT WE INTENTIONALLY
PROHIBIT OUR OWN WORKERS FROM
THAT SAME RIGHT. THE LEGISLATURE
HAS FAILED TO SHOW THE POLITICAL
WILL TO RESPECT ITS STAFF FOR
LONG ENOUGH. TODAY. TODAY IS THE
OPPORTUNITY FOR THE LEGISLATURE
TO STAND UP FOR THEIR OWN
WORKERS. AND I'M PROUD TO STAND
HERE TODAY WITH THE BAR, PART
BIPARTISAN COALITION OF 41. OH,
AUTHORS FROM THE ASSEMBLY AND
SENATE SUPPORTING A B ONE. AS A
FORMER LEGISLATIVE STAFF MYSELF
AND AN ORIGINAL SIGNER OF THE WE
SAID ENOUGH LETTER THAT SPARKED
THE ME TOO. MOVEMENT I KNOW HOW
CHALLENGING A PLACE LIKE THE
LEGISLATURE CAN BE TO WORK. BUT
IF WE ARE TRULY COMMITTED TO
RECRUITING AND RETAINING THE
BEST STAFF POSSIBLE IF WE ARE
TRULY COMMITTED TO CREATING A
SAFE AND INCLUSIVE WORKPLACE,
AND IF WE'RE GOING TO SHOW OUR
STAFF THAT WE SEE THEM AND
RESPECT THEM AND RESPECT THEIR
CONTRIBUTION TO CALIFORNIA'S
DEMOCRACY, I RESPECTFULLY
REQUEST THAT YOU SUPPORT A B ONE
TODAY. THIS MEASURE HAS NO
OPPOSITION. THE WITNESSES I HAVE
HERE TODAY. OUR ALMA MOVE,
BESTIE! IS A FORMER STAFFER AND
BAN GAY DOMO COSTS. FROM THE FOR
THE CALIFORNIA LABOR FED AND
FORMER STAFFER. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU SO MUCH. ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S
WILL GO TO YOUR PRIMARY
WITNESSES. THANK YOU, MR CHAIR
AND MEMBERS FOR ALLOWING ME TO
TESTIFY TODAY. MY NAME IS ALMA
MICHELLE. SHE AND I'M FORMALLY A
LEGISLATIVE ASSISTANT AND FELLOW
IN THE ASSEMBLY. I'M GOING TO BE
HONEST, EVEN THOUGH I DON'T WORK
IN THE LEGISLATURE ANYMORE. I'M
STILL NERVOUS AND SCARED TO BE
HERE. SO IMAGINE HOW MY FORMER
COLLEAGUES WHO ARE STILL
LEGISLATIVE EMPLOYEES FEEL BUT
I'M TESTIFYING HERE ON BEHALF OF
MY FORMER COLLEAGUES, BECAUSE I
UNDERSTAND HOW IMPORTANT THIS IS
TO LEGISLATIVE STAFF. WITHOUT
QUESTION. I CAN SAY THAT THIS
BUILDING HAS INTRODUCED ME TO
SOME OF THE SMARTEST, MOST
COMPASSIONATE, HARDEST WORKING
PEOPLE HAVE EVER MET, AND THEY
DESERVE THE RIGHT TO UNIONIZE.
THE RIGHT TO UNIONIZE GOES
BEYOND BEING IN A BAD OFFICE OR
HAVING A BAD EXPERIENCE IN THE
WORKPLACE. FUNDAMENTALLY THE
RIGHT TO UNIONIZE IS ABOUT
HELPING WORKERS FACILITATE
PRODUCTIVE CONVERSATIONS WITH
THEIR EMPLOYERS WITHOUT FEAR OF
RETALIATION. THE LEGISLATURE IS
A UNIQUE PLACE. BUT LIKE EVERY
OTHER CERTAIN SECTOR, IT IS ALSO
A WORKPLACE AND THAT COMES WITH
THE SAME ISSUES THAT WORKERS AND
OTHER SECTORS FACE LIKE LONG
HOURS AND LOW WAGES. IN SHORT,
LEGISLATIVE STAFFERS ARE NOT
OKAY. THEY ARE TIRED. THEY'RE
BURNT OUT AND THEY FEEL LIKE
THERE'S NO WAY FOR THEM TO
ADVOCATE FOR THEMSELVES WITHOUT
FEAR OF RISKING THEIR JOBS. AND
THESE FEELINGS ARE EVEN MORE
PRONOUNCED FOR BLACK STAFFERS
AND OTHER STAFFERS OF COLOR. IT
IS EVIDENCED BY THE NUMBER OF
PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD TO
RELUCTANTLY AND UNFORTUNATELY
LEAVE THEIR POSITIONS IN PURSUIT
OF JOBS THAT CAN OFFER THEM THE
BASIC PROTECTIONS THAT
LEGISLATIVE STAFF HAVE BEEN
DENIED. HONESTLY THIS IS
UNSUSTAINABLE AND THE
LEGISLATURE IS ALREADY BEING
FORCED TO GRAPPLE WITH HOW HOW
MUCH TALENT HAS BEEN LOST
BECAUSE THERE ISN'T A WAY FOR
LEGISLATIVE STAFF TO EXERCISE
THEIR RIGHT TO COLLECTIVELY
VOICED THEIR CONCERNS. THIS BODY
NOT ONLY UNDERSTANDS WHY THE
RIGHT TO UNIONIZE IS SO
IMPORTANT, BUT IT ALSO
PRIORITIZES IT AND CONSISTENTLY
VOTES TO PROTECT THE RIGHTS FOR
WORKERS ACROSS THE STATE TO
UNIONIZE. IT IS TIME TO EXPAND
THAT RIGHT TO LEGISLATIVE
STAFFERS TO LEGISLATIVE STAFF
ARE WORKING OVERTIME TO HELP
PROTECT THE RIGHT OF THE RIGHTS
OF OTHER WORKERS. DON'T THEY
DESERVE THE SAME? THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. THANKS. WITNESS. GOOD
MORNING, MR CHAIR AND MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS MARIELA FRIAS, AND
I'M A FELLOW FOR THIS FOR
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S BONTA. AND I AM
PROUD TO BE HERE TODAY IN
SUPPORT OF A B ONE MEMBERS. I AM
NOT A LEGISLATIVE EMPLOYEE, BUT
I AM PART OF THE FUTURE OF
LEGISLATIVE EMPLOYEE PIPELINE.
MY PARTICIPATION IN THE ASSEMBLY
FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM IS HELPING ME
LEARN DIRECTLY ABOUT THE STATE
LEGISLATURE AND THE CRITICAL
ROLE OF STAFF IN THE BILL
DRAFTING PROCESS, STAFFING
LEGISLATION, STAFFING. POLICY
COMMITTEES DRAFTING TALKING
POINTS, MEETING WITH
CONSTITUENTS, BUILDING
COALITIONS AND ADVISING MEMBERS
ON THE LEGISLATION THAT THEY
WILL VOTE ON. AND I HAVE HEARD
FROM CURRENT AND FORMER STAFF
THAT I HAVE TAUGHT THAT HAVE
TOLD ME THAT THEIR DESIRE TO
SERVE IN THE NOBLE PROFESSION
MEANT THAT THEY HAD TO ACCEPT
JOBS IN THE LEGISLATOR.
LEGISLATURE PAYING WAGES SOLO
THAT THEY QUALIFIED FOR COW
FRESH FOOD ASSISTANCE LIVE IN
SUBSTANDARD HOUSING OR RELY ON
FINANCIAL SUPPORT FROM THEIR
FAMILY JUST TO PAY THEIR BILLS
EVERY MONTH. WHILE I AM NOT YET
IN THE LEGISLATIVE YET A
LEGISLATIVE EMPLOYEE I HAVE
LEARNED THIS MUCH SINCE THE
BEGINNING OF MY FELLOWSHIP. I
HAVE NOT. I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO
CHOOSE BETWEEN WANTING TO PURSUE
A CAREER IN THE STATE
LEGISLATURE AND MAKING SURE I AM
PAID A FAIR AND COMPETITIVE WAGE
THAT I AM RESPECTED IN THE
WORKPLACE AND THAT I HAVE A
VOICE IN BUILDING A SAFE AND
INCLUSIVE PLACE TO WORK. AND
MEMBERS. I DO NOT HAVE TO CHOOSE
THANKS TO THE COLLECTIVE
BARGAINING PROCESS AUTHORED.
UNDER A AUTHORIZED UNDER A B
ONE, LED BY ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S
MAKIN ER UNDER A B ONE. ALL NON
SUPERVISION SUPERVISORIAL STAFF
IN THE ASSEMBLY AND THE IN THE
SENATE WILL BE GIVEN THE CHOICE
TO JOIN A UNION AND BE ABLE TO
COLLECTIVELY BARGAIN FOR OUR
WAGES, BENEFITS AND WORKPLACE
CONDITIONS. THE RESULT OF
PASSING A B ONE WILL BE THE
LEGISLATURE'S ABILITY TO BETTER
RECRUIT AND RETAIN THE BEST AND
BRIGHTEST STAFF IN CALIFORNIA.
THE RESULT OF PASSING A B ONE
WILL BE THAT I CAN BEGIN MY
CAREER WORRIED LESS ABOUT
KNOWING IF I AM GOING TO BE ABLE
TO PAY MY RENT ON ANY GIVEN
MONTH AND WORRY MORE ABOUT
HELPING TO GET MY BOSSES BILL
OUT OF A DIFFICULT COMMITTEE OR
OFF THE ASSEMBLY FLOOR. A B ONE
IS GOOD FOR LEGISLATURES, GOOD
FOR THE LEGISLATURE AND GOOD FOR
OUR LEGISLATIVE STAFF THAT
DEDICATE THEMSELVES EACH AND
EVERY DAY TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY
OF LIFE FOR EVERYONE THAT CALLS
CALIFORNIA HOME. I RESPECTFULLY
REQUEST YOUR I VOTE AND THANK
YOU. MR CHAIRMAN, MEMBERS
SHABANGU DEMÓCRATAS FOR THE
CALIFORNIA LABOR FEDERATION,
PROUD TO SPONSOR THIS
LEGISLATION AND HERE AS A
TECHNICAL WITNESS, IF YOU HAVE
ANY QUESTIONS, THANK YOU SO
MUCH. THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE
WITNESSES. WE APPRECIATE YOU ARE
THERE OTHER WITNESSES HERE IN
THE ROOM AND SUPPORT JUST NAME
POSITION AND ORGANIZATION,
PLEASE. MR CHAIR MEMBERS. MATT
BROUGHT ON BEHALF OF THE
TEAMSTERS AND STRONG SUPPORT.
THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING, MR
CHAIR MEMBERS, JONAS O'MALLEY
WITH THE AMERICAN FEDERATION OF
STATE COUNTY MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES
AND SUPPORT AND ALSO ON BEHALF
OF MY COLLEAGUE CHRISTOPH MAYER,
FORMER ALLEGED STAFF HERE IN THE
BUILDING. THANK YOU. GOOD
MORNING CHAIR AND MEMBERS
JESSICA HEY WITH THE CALIFORNIA
SCHOOL EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION AND
SUPPORT AND ON BEHALF OF MY
COLLEAGUE, KASIE. MANCINI FORMER
ALLEGED HALF IN SUPPORT. THANK
YOU. GOOD MORNING. SHANNON
SWANSON. FORMER ASSEMBLY STAFF
IN STRONG SUPPORT. THANK YOU.
FELICIA BENAVIDEZ LEWIS HERE AS
A FORMER CHIEF OF STAFF TO THE
ASSEMBLY AS A CO FOUNDER OF WE
SAID ENOUGH, AND ALSO EXPRESSING
SUPPORT BY THE CALIFORNIA INCOME
CONSUMERS COALITION. THANK YOU.
MR CHAIR AND MEMBERS LOUIS COST
A WITH THE INTERNATIONAL
ASSOCIATION OF SHEET METAL, AIR,
RAIL AND TRANSPORTATION WORKERS
TRANSPORTATION DIVISION IN
SUPPORT. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING
CHAIR AND MEMBERS CULTURE HERO
RIGHTS ON BEHALF OF THE
CALIFORNIA STATE BUILDING
CONSTRUCTION TRADES COUNCIL
REPRESENTING NEARLY 500,000,
MEN, WOMEN AND NON BINARY
INDIVIDUALS IN THE CONSTRUCTION
INDUSTRY, PROUD TO SUPPORT THIS
BILL. VICTORIA STEWART FORMER
LEGISLATIVE STAFF IN SUPPORT OF
THE LEGISLATION, 10 YEARS.
MEMBERS, LISA LAMONT ON BEHALF
OF THE ORANGE COUNTY LABOR
FEDERATION, AND OUR 200,000
MEMBERS STRONGLY SUPPORT THIS
BILL. GOOD MORNING, MR CHAIR AND
MEMBERS GREGORY CRAMER, FORMER
SENATE AND ASSEMBLY STAFF AND
SUPPORT. CHAIR AND MEMBERS
MICHELE TURAN WOLF WORK WITH THE
CALIFORNIA COMMISSION ON THE
STATUS SO MANY GIRLS AND STRONG
SUPPORT. THANK YOU TO THE
AUTHOR. GOOD MORNING CHAIR AND
MEMBERS ANTHONY REYES, ASSEMBLY
STAFF AND STRONG SUPPORT. THANK
YOU. GOOD MORNING CHAIRMAN
MEMBERS JENNIFER FEARING
LONGTIME MEMBER OF THE CAPITAL
COMMUNITY HERE IN MY PERSONAL
CAPACITY AND SUPPORT, THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. MR CHAIR, REMEMBERS
MEGAN SUPERS ON BEHALF OF THE
CALIFORNIA PROFESSIONAL
FIREFIGHTERS AND SUPPORT. SANDRA
BARRERA ON BEHALF OF SCR YOU
CALIFORNIA IN SUPPORT. GOOD
MORNING. JOHN SHOVEN, CALIFORNIA
NURSES REPRESENTING OVER 100,000
MEMBERS. STRONG SUPPORT. THANK
YOU. GOOD MORNING. DO YOU HAVE A
MORRIS AND MY PERSONAL
CAPACITIES? DRUNK SUPPORT. GOOD
MORNING, GLENN BACCHUS FOR THE
ELLA BAKER CENTER FOR HUMAN
RIGHTS AND SUPPORT. GOOD MORNING
, SHADALOO HORI FUTURE
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S AND STRONG
SUPPORT. GOOD MORNING, DANIEL.
CHERYL. WITH S E I U LOCAL 1000
AND STRONG SUPPORT. GOOD
MORNING, TED TOPPING FOR THE
CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF
PROFESSIONAL SCIENTISTS. STATE
BARGAINING UNIT 10 IN FULL
SUPPORT. MORNING GRACE DO SET
ASSEMBLY STAFF AND SUPPORT. GOOD
MORNING CANDLE. JACK GRAY CURTIS
AND WE FELLOW AND STRONG
SUPPORT. GOOD MORNING. TERRY.
SHAWN'S CHIEF OF STAFF, IS
CALIFORNIA STATE ASSEMBLY AND
STRONG SUPPORT. GOOD MORNING,
JESSICA LAWRENCE ASSEMBLY,
CURRENT ASSEMBLY STAFF AND
FORMER PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER IN
STRONG SUPPORT. YESENIA JIMENEZ
, FORMER SENATE, FORMER SENATE
FELLOW AND FORMER ASSEMBLY STAFF
AND STRONG SUPPORT. GREAT THANK
YOU SO MUCH. NOW WE'LL GO TO THE
PHONES FOR OTHERS IN SUPPORT.
JUST NAME ORGANIZATION IF ANY
AND POSITION ON THE BILL
OPERATOR. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
IF YOU YES, IF YOU HAVE SUPPORT
AT THIS MOMENT, PRESS ONE AND
ZERO ON YOUR TELEPHONE KEYPAD
WILL GO TO LINE SEVEN. PLEASE GO
AHEAD. LINE SEVEN DISCONNECTED.
WE'LL GO TO MY INTENT. PLEASE GO
AHEAD. IS THAT FROM MERCADO ON
BEHALF OF THE CALIFORNIA
TEACHERS ASSOCIATION AND STRONG
SUPPORT. WE WILL GO TO LINE 16,
PLEASE GO AHEAD. GOOD MORNING,
ALSO ROSCOE ON BEHALF OF SIERRA
CLUB, CALIFORNIA IN SUPPORT OF A
B ONE. THANK YOU. WE WILL GO TO
LINE 27, PLEASE GO AHEAD. THIS
IS OMINOUS. ZANOTTI I'M CALLING
ON BEHALF OF WESTCHESTER REPLY
DEMOCRATIC CLUB AND WE ARE IN
SUPPORT. WE'LL GO TO LINE 44,
PLEASE GO AHEAD. GOOD MORNING.
THIS IS LIZ CANE LÀ, USD
EDUCATOR AND ADMINISTRATOR AND
ALSO PRESIDENT OF THE
WESTCHESTER PLAY A DEMOCRATIC
CLUB IN STRONG SUPPORT OF THIS
BILL. THANK YOU TO THE AUTHOR.
WILL NOW GO TO LINE NUMBER 50.
PLEASE GO AHEAD. JUMBO THIS IS
DIAMOND BRANDON, FORMER DISTRICT
STAFF FOR FIVE YEARS AND STRONG
SUPPORT. WE WILL NOW GO TO LINE
61, PLEASE GO AHEAD. AH HI. GOOD
MORNING. MY NAME IS SELMA GONDA
. CHAVEZ AND I'M ALSO CALLING IN
STRONG SUPPORT OF THE FORMER
ASSEMBLY CONTEND DIEGO. THANK
YOU. WE WILL NOW GO TO LINE 52,
PLEASE GO AHEAD. HI. MY NAME IS
MARCO AND I'M A FORMER ASSEMBLY
STAFF CAN DIEGO REGION AS WELL?
AND I BELIEVE EVERY CALIFORNIAN
AS LONG AS WELL AS THESE WORKERS
DESERVE A RIGHT TO CHOOSE A
UNION. I RESPECTFULLY REQUEST
YOUR SUPPORT FOR EVERYONE. WHO
NOW GO TWO LINES. 60, PLEASE GO
AHEAD. GOOD MORNING MEMBERS.
MALIK BEYNON WITH UNITED
DOMESTIC WORKERS ASKED ME LOCAL
39 30 CALLING AND STRONG
SUPPORT. THANK YOU. WE NOW GO TO
LINE 73, PLEASE GO AHEAD. GOOD
MORNING AND DRAMA THAT STEP.
FORMER SENATE STAFFER AND STRONG
SUPPORT. WE NOW GO TO LINE 29,
PLEASE GO AHEAD. STANDARD
NAKAZAWA, FORMER ASSEMBLY AND
SENATE COMMITTEE AND PERSONAL
STUFF FOR FIVE YEARS, CALLING IN
AND STRONG SUPPORT OF 81. GO TO
LINE 51, PLEASE GO AHEAD. GOOD
MORNING, CARRIE RODGERS, FORMER
ASSEMBLY STAFF AND SUPPORT. NOW
GO TO LINE. 22, PLEASE GO AHEAD.
GOOD MORNING, REVEREND EDDIE
ANDERSON NEAR PATRICK MCCARTHY.
CHURCHES. LÀ VOICES CALIFORNIA
AND STRONG SUPPORT. WHEN I GO TO
LINE 53, PLEASE GO AHEAD. GOOD
MORNING. BRANDON STANZEL,
CURRENT DISTRICT STAFFER AND
STRONG SUPPORT. NOW GO TO LIONS
76, PLEASE GO AHEAD. GOOD
MORNING SAMMY DIEGO'S FORMER
ASSEMBLY STAFF CALLING INSTRUCT
SUPPORT FOR EVERYONE. THANK YOU.
NOW GO TO LINE. 24, PLEASE GO
AHEAD. GREETINGS CAROLYN FOWLER
. I AM LOCAL 1932 STRONG
SUPPORT. WELL, NOW GO TO LINE.
54, PLEASE GO AHEAD. GOOD
MORNING, KEVIN SORBO, FORMER
LEGISLATIVE STUFF FOR STRONG
SUPPORT FOR YOU. WHEN I GO TO
LINE 48, PLEASE GO AHEAD. GOOD
MORNING, ALEJANDRO BERRIO,
CURRENT DISTRICT, PEPPER AND
STRONG SUPPORT. NOW GO TO LINE.
14, PLEASE GO AHEAD. HI MY NAME
IS KAREEM CASTRO. I'M WITH THE
WESTCHESTER APPLY A DEMOCRATIC
CLUB AND I'M ALSO CALLING IN FOR
STRONG SUPPORT OF THIS BILL.
THANK YOU. WE'RE NOT GOING TO
LINE 39, PLEASE GO AHEAD. GOOD
MORNING. MY NAME IS HALEY HUT,
CURRENT DISTRICT STAFFER, AND I
MEAN VERY STRONG SUPPORT OF THIS
BILL. WHEN I GO TO LINE 28,
PLEASE GO AHEAD. WELL IS IT
ANGULO MANAGEMENT BUSINESS
SERVICES PRESIDENT IN SUPPORT.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO LINE 77,
PLEASE GO AHEAD. GOOD MORNING
MEMBERS. FORMER LEGISLATIVE
SUPPER STRONG SUPPORT FOR A B
ONE. THANK YOU. WE NOW GO TO
LINE EIGHT. PLEASE GO AHEAD.
THIS IS DALLAS FOWLER GREETINGS
, DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS FOR
THE CALIFORNIA COALITION FOR
WORKER POWER. I'M ALSO
REPRESENTING THE LOS ANGELES
AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMEN'S PUBLIC
POLICY INSTITUTE. THE HELPING
EMPOWERED IN THE INDIVIDUALS
REACH SUCCESS PACK ALL STANDING
AND STRONG SUPPORT OF A B ONE.
THANK YOU TO THE AUTHOR. AND
WILL NOW GO TO LINES. 63, PLEASE
GO AHEAD. HELLO THIS IS MARY
GONZALEZ. I'M WITH THE
WESTCHESTER PLY DEMOCRATIC CLUB
AND I FULLY SUPPORT A B ONE.
WHEN I GO TO LINE 65, PLEASE GO
AHEAD. HI THIS IS DR DIFFERENT
SENATE STAFFER AND I'M IN
SUPPORT OF MAYBE ONE. THANK YOU.
NOW GO TO 75. PLEASE GO AHEAD.
YOU HAVE A SALARY? HI THIS IS
DANA ALPERT, YOUR ASSISTANT IN
THE CALIFORNIA STATE ASSEMBLY
AND STRONG SUPPORT OF 81. OH, MY
GOD. NOW GO TO LINE. 58, PLEASE
GO AHEAD. GOOD MORNING MEMBERS
MONTHLY, A FORMER ASSEMBLY
LEGISLATIVE STAFFERS AND STRONG
SUPPORT. THANK YOU. WE'RE NOT
GOING TO LINE 55, PLEASE GO
AHEAD. WILLIAM MITCHELL,
DISTRICT STAFFER AND STRONG
SUPPORT. WE NOW GO TO LINE 19,
PLEASE GO AHEAD. GOOD MORNING.
CHARLOTTE BLAND NATIONALIST
POLITICAL CAUCUS. GREATER
PASADENA AREA IN SUPPORT OF A B
ONE. THANK YOU. WE NOW GO TO
LINE 79, PLEASE GO AHEAD. HI
MARY BRITTANY, WATCH THEM
CURRENT ASSEMBLY STUFF FOR
STRONG SUPPORT. ALL WORKERS
PROVIDES THE PERFECT. YOU KNOW,
GO TO LINE. 45, PLEASE GO AHEAD.
MORNING MEMBERS STATION, A
DISTRICT OFFICE STAFFER IN
STRONG SUPPORT. YOU KNOW, GO TO
LINE 69, PLEASE GO AHEAD. HI
LAUREL BRODZINSKY CALLING IN MY
PERSONAL CAPACITY AS FORMER
ASSEMBLY STAFF AND STRONG
SUPPORT. AND WE HAVE QUITE A FEW
OTHERS QUEUING UP. WOULD YOU
LIKE TO PROCEED? YES. OKAY
PERFECT. WELL, WE'LL GO TO LINE
31. PLEASE GO AHEAD. GOOD
MORNING. DIANA LOVED COMMUNITY
AT THIS TO THIS IN FULL SUPPORT,
AND THANK YOU TO THE AUTHOR.
WE'LL GO TO LINE 68, PLEASE GO
AHEAD. CAME IN BELOW FORMER
ASSEMBLY, FELLOW FORMER STAFF
AND STRONG SUPPORT. WE NOW GO TO
LINE 64, PLEASE GO AHEAD. GOOD
MORNING. REVEREND ZACHARY HOOVER
, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF L, A
VOICE REPRESENTING 70
CONGREGATIONS ACROSS THE LAKE
COUNTY AND SUPPORT. WHEN I GO TO
LINE 12, PLEASE GO AHEAD. GOOD
MORNING, HONORABLE MEMBERS. HUGO
ROJAS SCHOOL BOARD VICE
PRESIDENT. CENTINELA VALLEY
UNION HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT AND
STRONG SUPPORT OF MAYBE ONE.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO LINE 21,
PLEASE GO AHEAD. YEAH HI. MY
NAME IS MICHELLE CHAMBERS,
FORMER ASSEMBLY STAFFER AND
FORMER ELECTED OFFICIAL AND
TOTALLY SUPPORT LIFE. A B ONE.
THANK YOU TO THE AUTHOR. WE'LL
GO TO LINE 66, PLEASE GO AHEAD.
HI OR NOTHING COULD PEEL FORMER
STATE BENEFITS. AND CURRENTLY IN
GOLD SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER AND
FULL SUPPORT. THANK YOU FOR THE
OFFICE. WHEN I GO TO LINE 62,
PLEASE GO AHEAD. HELLO THIS IS
CHRISTINE K¾T, CURRENT ASSEMBLY
STAFF AND SUPPORT OF 81. THANK
YOU. WE DON'T GO TO LINE 70,
PLEASE GO AHEAD. HI JANE, RIGHT
PARTNER OF A LEGISLATIVE
STAFFING AND STRONG SUPPORT. ÁP
POINT. WE'RE NOW GOING TO LINE
93. PLEASE GO AHEAD. GOOD
MORNING CHAIR MEMBERS. ANTHONY
DEMARTINO, FORMER ASSEMBLY
STAFFER IN STRONG SUPPORT, THINK
THEY OFFER IT? NOW GO TO LINE.
96, PLEASE GO AHEAD. DOMINIC.
THERE'S A DISTRICT STAFF STRONG
SUPPORT. WHEN I GO TO LINE 94,
PLEASE GO AHEAD. ELIANA ENTRY,
DAUGHTER OF LEGISLATIVE STAFF
STRONGLY SUPPORT. WHEN I GO TO
LINE 30, PLEASE GO AHEAD. HELLO
MY NAME IS CHEF BASIL KIMBROUGH
. I AM THE CHAIR OF THE CAUCUS.
BUT MY TITLE IS FOR NAME
IDENTIFICATION. ONLY I'M IN
STRONG SUPPORT AND THANK YOU TO
THE SPONSORS. GO TO LINE 42,
PLEASE GO AHEAD. MY NAME IS
SUSAN ROBINSON. I'M CALLING FROM
THE WESTCHESTER PLY A DEMOCRATIC
CLUB AND I OFFERINGS DRUNK
SUPPORT FOR A B ONE. NOW GO TO
LINE NUMBER 90, PLEASE GO AHEAD.
GOOD MORNING CHAIRMAN MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS LESLIE BRIZUELA,
CURRENT POLICY ANALYST FOR THE
STATE SENATE. AND I URGE YOUR
SUPPORT ON THIS FILM. THANK YOU.
NOW GO TO LINE. 82, PLEASE GO
AHEAD. GOOD MORNING. MRS ARE
PRETTY RODRIGUEZ ASSEMBLY STEP
FOR THE PAST EIGHT YEARS AND I
DESERVE ER VOICE IN MY
WORKPLACE. THANK YOU. STRONG
SUPPORT. IN OUR LAST ONE IS
LINE. 106, PLEASE GO AHEAD. GOOD
MORNING. MY NAME IS DAN OCON
SOUGHT SOME OF FORMER
LEGISLATIVE STAFFER IN SUPPORT.
AND WE HAVE SOMEBODY ELSE THAT
JUST HAD QUEUED UP. WE'LL GO TO
LINE NUMBER 1 11. PLEASE GO
AHEAD. HI MY NAME IS AMANDA
MURATSUCHI, UH, SIBLING OF
SOMEONE, A FORMER STAFFER, AND
I'M CALLING IN STRONG SUPPORT.
AND WE'LL GO TO LINE SEVEN.
PLEASE GO AHEAD. MY NAME IS
MONICA MADRID, FORMER ASSEMBLY
STAFFER ALSO BARGAINING, UM,
WITH CURRENTLY BARGAINING WITH
THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF
MACHINISTS, 7 50 IN STRONG
SUPPORT. AND WE HAVE NO FURTHER
PARTICIPANTS IN SUPPORT AT THE
MOMENT. GREAT. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU. WE WILL CLOSE THE CLOSE THE
LINE AND THANK EVERYONE WHO
CALLED IN. THERE ARE OTHERS IN
THE ROOM WHO ARE HERE IN
SUPPORT. GOOD MORNING BRIAN HAD
WITH THE CALIFORNIA FACULTY
ASSOCIATION WERE IN STRONG
SUPPORT. THANK YOU. ROBERT
CREWS, LEGISLATIVE STAFFER IN
SUPPORT. AUDREY DEBT MARKER AND
STAFFER IN SUPPORT. STEPHANIE
ESPARZA, CURRENT LEDGE, STAFFER
AND SUPPORT. CANDICE RILEY.
CURRENT LEGISLATION FOR AND
SUPPORT THANK YOU SO MUCH, AND
WE HAVE ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S ORTEGA.
GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING,
CHAIR AND MEMBERS. I'M HERE TO
MAKE A SURPRISE APPEARANCE. UM
FINISHED EARLY IN MY OTHER, UM,
HEARING ROOM STRONG SUPPORT OF A
B ONE AS A FORMER EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR OF THE ALAMEDA LABOR
COUNCIL AND AS A STATE ASSEMBLY
MEMBER, I BELIEVE THAT WORKERS
HAVE A RIGHT TO ORGANIZE. I
BELIEVE EVERY WORKER HAS A RIGHT
TO A VOICE ON THE JOB. HEALTH
BENEFITS, GOOD WAGES, AND
THEREFORE, UH, I WANTED TO COME
IN HERE AND MAKE SURE THAT ALL
THE SUPPORT WAS GIVEN TO THE
AUTHOR OF THIS BILL AND OUR
WORKERS, UM, DESERVE THE SAME
THINGS THAT WE FIGHT FOR EVERY
SINGLE DAY IN OUR DISTRICTS FOR
OUR CONSTITUENTS BECAUSE THE
WORKERS IN THIS CAPITAL ARE THE
ONES THAT ARE MAKING IT HAPPEN.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
JOINING US. UH ALRIGHT. ARE
THERE ANY WITNESSES IN
OPPOSITION TO THE BILL? NOT
SEEING ANY. ARE THERE. OPERATOR
ARE THERE ANY WITNESSES IN
OPPOSITION ON THE LINE? AT THIS
MOMENT IF YOU ARE AN OPPOSITION
PRESS 10 ON YOUR TELEPHONE
KEYPAD. AND WE HAVE NOBODY THAT
IS AN OPPOSITION ON THE PHONE,
GREAT HEARING AND SEEING NO. ONE
IN OPPOSITION. WE HAD A MOTION
AND A SECOND ON THE BILL AND NOW
OPEN IT UP TO THE COMMITTEE FOR
QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS. UM, MR
FONG. THANK YOU, MR CHAIR. I
JUST HAVE JUST WANTED SOME
CLARIFYING, UH, INFORMATION. I
KNOW THAT YOU AND THE VICE
SHERIFF HAD SIGNIFICANT
CONVERSATIONS, UM, ON PROPOSED
AMENDMENTS, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT
COMES TO GUARANTEED
REPRESENTATION OF PROTECTIONS
AND NOT HAVING ANY SEPARATION
BASED ON POLITICAL AFFILIATION.
I JUST WANTED TO KIND OF SEE. I
KNOW THAT THE CONVERSATION IS
STILL ONGOING AND THAT THEY'RE
GOING TO BE AMENDMENTS IN
APPROPRIATIONS. BUT CAN YOU SHED
SOME LIGHT IN TERMS OF EXPENSE?
I WAS NOT PART OF THE
CONVERSATIONS THAT WHAT WHAT
WOULD BE PUT INTO THE BILL AND
WHAT THOSE AMENDMENTS WOULD LOOK
LIKE. I DON'T HAVE THE
AMENDMENTS IN FRONT OF ME, BUT
IT IT REALLY IT REALLY WILL SAY
THAT, UM, THIS BARGAINING UNIT
REFERENCE TO IN THIS BILL CANNOT
BE BASED UPON POLITICAL PARTY
REGISTRATION AND SO THAT IT WILL
BE NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A
REPUBLICAN STAFF OR DEMOCRATIC
STAFF. THE BARGAINING UNIT WHEN
WE START COLLECTIVE BARGAINING,
IT WILL BE FOR ALL STAFFERS AND
THAT WILL BE PLACED INTO THE
BILL. OKAY? AND THEN DO YOU
ENVISION? OR MAYBE THERE'S THIS
BILL OFFER ANY RECOURSE FOR ANY
PAY INEQUITIES BASED ON
POLITICAL AFFILIATION? OR IS
THAT JUST A MOOT POINT?
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S COULD ANSWER
YOUR QUESTION. SO BECAUSE UNDER
THE AMENDMENTS THAT THE ASSEMBLY
WOMAN WAS REFERENCING PERV WOULD
NOT BE ABLE TO USE POLITICAL
AFFILIATION AS A FACTOR IN
DETERMINING THE BARGAINING
UNITS. THEREFORE ONCE MOU WAS
BARGAINED FOR, IT WOULD APPLY
EQUALLY TO EVERY SINGLE STAFFER
. IT WOULD NOT DIFFERENTIATE,
THEREFORE, THAT WOULD ALSO GO TO
WAGES AS WELL. WHATEVER WAS
BARGAINED IN THE CONTRACT. I
DON'T REMEMBER THEY WILL HAVE A
SORRY. A REPRESENTATIVE, LIKE
ONE OF THE STAFFERS WILL BE A
SHOP STEWARD. THEY WILL HAVE A
SHOP STEWARD ON SITE. SO WHETHER
YOU'RE REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRAT,
IF YOU HAVE A PROBLEM, YOU GO TO
YOUR SHOP STEWARD AND THEN AND
THEN THERE'S A PROCEDURE TO MAKE
A COMPLAINT. SO YEAH, THERE IS A
WAY TO COMPLAIN. IF YOU'RE NOT
GETTING TREATED FAIRLY, OKAY, I
KNOW EVERY STAFF OF MOVING PARTS
RIGHT NOW, SO I JUST I JUST WANT
TO MAKE SURE YOU KNOW. WE ONLY
CAN VOTE FOR WHAT'S IN FRONT OF
US. THE AMENDMENTS POPULATE I'M
SURE I CERTAINLY WON'T SPEAK
ABOUT THE MEMBERS, BUT I WILL
CERTAINLY TAKE A LOOK AT THAT.
JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE AS WE
HAVE THIS DEBATE NOW, JUST TO
CLARIFY THOSE SPECIFIC THINGS AS
WE MOVE FORWARD. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. THANK YOU. THE QUESTIONS
AND COMMENTS. MR. LIKE, HMM.
OKAY JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT
NOTHING HAS CHANGED. FROM OUR
DISCUSSION WE HAD YESTERDAY
BASICALLY SEVEN AND EIGHT OF THE
ARTICULATED ITEMS ARE STILL
AGREED TO BE ADAPTED, RIGHT?
ABSOLUTELY OKAY. WELL CERTAINLY
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR,
UH ATTENTION ON THIS ISSUE AND
THE PRODUCTIVE DIALOGUE THAT
WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO HAVE. UM I'M
DISAPPOINTED. OBVIOUSLY, THAT I
DIDN'T GET EVERYTHING WE ASKED
FOR. BECAUSE WE BELIEVE THAT WE
PUT A LOT OF TIME AND EFFORT AND
WE BELIEVE THAT WHAT WE'RE
ASKING FOR WAS FAIR, BUT THAT'S
A PART OF THE NEGOTIATION. AND
I'M GLAD THAT THROUGH OUR
DIALOGUE THAT WE CAN
ACKNOWLEDGE. THAT THERE IS A
REAL CHALLENGE OF POLITICAL
DISCRIMINATION AND OUR
INSTITUTION. MINORITY PARTY
STAFFERS HAVE BEEN TREATED
INEQUITABLY IN THIS INSTITUTION
FOR MANY YEARS WITH UNEQUAL PAY
FOR THE SAME TITLES AND ABILITY
TO PARTICIPATE IN CERTAIN
LEGISLATIVE SANCTION CAUCUSES.
AND EQUAL ACCESS ACCESS TO
COMMITTEE CONSULTANTS. BUT THESE
AMENDMENTS THAT WE HAVE AGREED
TO WILL PROVIDE ASSURANCES THAT
STAFF FROM ALL POLITICAL
AFFILIATIONS CONFORM COLLECTIVE
BARGAINING UNITS FREE FROM FEAR
THAT THEY WILL BE EXCLUDED
PURELY ON THE BASIS OF THEIR
POLITICS. UM I HOPE YOU CONTINUE
THIS RELATIONSHIP AND I'LL TELL
YOU THAT I'M I'M VERY, VERY
EXCITED TO SEE THAT SOME
BARRIERS HAVE BEEN BROKEN. AND I
THINK THAT IT SETS AN EXAMPLE
FOR OPTIMISTIC. RELATIONSHIPS IN
THE FUTURE AND THE PROTECTIONS.
THAT, UH, I THINK THAT WE'RE
GOING TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE FOR
STAFF ARE LONG IN COMING. AND
I'LL BE HAPPY TO SUPPORT THE
BILL TODAY. WITH THE TRUST THAT
OUR CONVERSATIONS WILL CONTINUE
TO COME TO FRUITION. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. I JUST WANT
TO THANK THE AUTHOR AND, UM,
THOSE SPEAKING IN SUPPORT TODAY,
AND EVERYONE WHO CAME AND SPOKE
IN SUPPORT TODAY BECAUSE I KNOW
THAT CAN BE A SCARY SITUATION
AND POSITION THAT PEOPLE ARE
PUTTING THEMSELVES IN. UM AS YOU
KNOW, SOMEONE WHO COMES OUT OF
THE LABOR MOVEMENT 20 YEARS IN
THE LABOR MOVEMENT. I ALSO HAVE
BEEN A UNIONIZED STAFFER AND
EVERY SINGLE JOB THAT I'VE HAD
I'VE NEVER HAD A 9 TO 5 JOB.
I'VE WORKED TILL TWO IN THE
MORNING SOMETIMES BECAUSE WHAT?
THAT'S WHAT THE JOB DEMANDS. UM
I KNOW THAT WE HAVE INCREDIBLY
DEDICATED STAFF HERE, UM, WHO
SACRIFICE A LOT TO DO THIS WORK
AND I HAVE SO MUCH RESPECT FOR
FOLKS WHO DO THAT BECAUSE I KNOW
THAT YOU CAN GO ACROSS THE
STREET AND GET PAID A LOT MORE A
LOT OF TIMES. AND WHILE I'M NOT
SURE THAT WE CAN COMPETE WITH
CORPORATE LOBBYISTS, SALARIES,
UM WE CAN DO A LOT BETTER THAN
WE'RE DOING RIGHT NOW. UM, BUT I
THINK MOST IMPORTANTLY ABOUT
THIS BILL IS THAT IT'S SO
CRITICAL FOR OUR STAFF TO HAVE
ADVOCATES. TO HAVE PEOPLE WHO
HAVE THEIR BACK WHEN THEY'RE IN
REALLY DIFFICULT POSITIONS. UM.
WHICH I KNOW HAS A DEEP HISTORY.
CARE IN THIS BODY. AND, UM. AND
I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE
SACRIFICED A LOT TO SPEAK UP.
AND THEY SHOULD HAVE PROTECTIONS
DOING THAT. AND THAT IS EXACTLY
WHAT A UNION WILL DO. AND SO.
OUR STAFF SHOULD ABSOLUTELY HAVE
THE RIGHT TO CHOOSE A UNION.
INTO BARGAINING CONTRACT. AND TO
HAVE THE SAME RIGHTS THAT SO
MANY WORKERS PIPE FOR AROUND THE
STATE. UM I'M HAPPY TO SUPPORT
IT HAPPY TO BE A CO AUTHOR AND
FIGHT WITH YOU, SISTER. IS WHEN
. THANK YOU, MR CHAIR, AND I
WANT TO THANK THE AUTHOR FOR
BRINGING THIS FORWARD. AS WELL,
I YOU KNOW, I COME FROM A LINE
OF WORK WHERE EVERY SINGLE LABOR
LAW THAT CAME THROUGH MY TEAM
AND I, MY LEADERSHIP TEAM AND I
WOULD COMB THROUGH IT TO MAKE
SURE THAT WE FOLLOWED EVERY
SINGLE THING, WHICH MEANS NOBODY
WORKS MORE THAN EIGHT HOURS A
DAY 40 HOURS A WEEK, THEY GET TO
BREAKS, THEY GET THEIR LUNCH.
AND WE FOLLOWED IT TO THE T. AND
IT WAS TO MY SURPRISE THAT
THAT'S NOT WHAT WE DO HERE. AND
HEARING SO MANY CURRENT TEAM
MEMBERS WHO WORK FOR MEMBERS AND
A LEGISLATOR HERE TODAY. ON THE
PHONE. FORMER BUT A LOT OF
DISTRICT STAFF AS WELL TO
SPEAKING OUT TO TALK ABOUT HOW
THEY WANT THIS. AND WHAT I'VE
LEARNED IS THAT THE DISTRICT
OFFICE STAFF WORK, NOT JUST THE
TYPICAL 9 TO 5 MONDAY THROUGH
FRIDAY, BUT THEY'RE EXPECTED TO
ALSO BE IN THE EVENING AT
EVENING EVENTS AND WEAKENED
EVENTS COUNCIL MEETINGS. COUNTY
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETINGS,
YOU KNOW, SPECIAL DISTRICT
MEETINGS. AND WE'RE NOT PAYING
THEM THAT THAT OVER TIME. AND
WHILE I UNDERSTAND THE JOB
REQUIRES THAT BECAUSE WE HAVE TO
BE OUT THERE IN THE COMMUNITY TO
SERVE OUR CONSTITUENTS, I DIDN'T
UNDERSTAND WHY THAT WAS
SOMETHING THAT WE WEREN'T TAKING
A LOOK AT. HOW DO WE ENSURE THAT
THEY ARE BEING PAID FOR THOSE
HOURS THAT THEY HAVE TO
SACRIFICE WITH THEIR FAMILY? AT
HOME, AND THEN I SAW THE
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE CAPITOL
OFFICE AND THE DISTRICT OFFICE
IN THE WHITE WASN'T A LINE AND
I'M I'M IN A REALLY UNIQUE
SPECIAL SITUATION THAT I'M HERE
LOCALLY AND SO I'M ABLE TO
COMBINE MY OFFICES. BUT WHAT I
CHALLENGE EVERYBODY HERE AS WELL
AS THIS IS WONDERFUL. I THINK
THIS IS GREAT COMING FROM
SOMEBODY WHO COMES FROM A
COMMUNITY THAT NEVER SPEAKS OUT.
AND DOESN'T REALLY FIGHT FOR OUR
COMMUNITY. LIKE I SEE HER TODAY,
WHICH MAKES ME PROUD TO SEE
PEOPLE FROM MY COMMUNITY, UM,
COMING OUT TO SPEAK BECAUSE IT'S
NOT TYPICAL ABBAS, BUT I ALSO
WANT TO ENSURE THAT IF THIS GOES
THROUGH UM, THAT WE HOLD EACH
OTHER ACCOUNTABLE, AND THAT
MEANS MEMBERS AND CHIEF OF
STAFFS WHO I'VE HEARD IN THIS
BUILDING WERE FORCING PEOPLE TO
WORK THOSE EXTRA HOURS. AND SO
WE'RE ALL HERE TO ADVOCATE AND
TO FIGHT FOR THEIR LIVING WAGES.
AND THEIR WORK CONDITIONS THAT I
WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE
HOLDING ALL OF US ACCOUNTABLE
THAT WE'RE NOT CALLING STAFF. AT
SEVEN O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING ON
A SATURDAY OR AT NINE O'CLOCK AT
NIGHT AND ASKING THEM WHERE
THEY'RE AT, AND THEY NEED TO BE
AT THIS EVENT BECAUSE THAT DOES
HAPPEN. AND IF YOU'RE HERE TODAY
AND YOU'RE SAYING THAT THAT'S
NOT OKAY. AND YOU'RE NOT BEING
TREATED FAIR. I'M GOING TO HOLD
YOU ACCOUNTABLE TO THAT BECAUSE
YOU CAN'T YOU CAN'T CALL THEM
AND MAKE THEM DO SOMETHING FOR
YOU. AFTER HOURS ON A WEEKEND ON
A HOLIDAY. AND BE HERE TO SAY
YOU WERE IN SUPPORT OF THIS BILL
IN SUPPORT OF THIS PIECE OF
LEGISLATION BECAUSE THAT'S NOT
OKAY TO ME. THAT'S NOT OKAY TO
ME COMING FROM SOMEBODY WHO MADE
SURE THAT IF I CALLED ANYBODY ON
A WEEKEND FOR JUST FIVE MINUTES,
I OWE THEM OVER TIME. RIGHT AND
I THINK WE NEED TO MAKE SURE
THAT AS WE PUT THIS TOGETHER, WE
LOOK AT ALL OF THOSE PIECES. WE
LOOK AT ALL OF THOSE PIECES AND
WE MAKE SURE THAT WE FOLLOW WHAT
WE SAY WE'RE GOING TO DO. I DO
WANT TO ALSO SAY THAT THERE ARE
A LOT OF MISSING PIECES IN THIS
AND THERE IS A LOT OF DETAILS
THAT WE NEED TO PUT TOGETHER.
AND I, UM I LOOK FORWARD TO
SEEING HOW THAT ALL IS DRAWN OUT
. MY TEAM IS VERY SUPPORTIVE OF
THIS, BUT THEY ALSO HAVE
CONCERNS AS HOW IT WILL
NEGATIVELY IMPACT HIM IF IT
WOULD AND I KNOW THAT I HAD
FOLKS IN MY OFFICE TALKED ABOUT
IN SITUATIONS LIKE THIS. IT
NEVER GOES DOWN. IT ALWAYS GOES
UP. RIGHT BUT I DON'T WANT TO
SAY THAT IF WE'RE ASKING, YOU
KNOW FOR MORE PAY, WHICH IS
ALWAYS GREAT BECAUSE I KNOW THAT
WE HAVE FOLKS THAT ARE MAKING
LESS THAN $20 AN HOUR THAT WORK
IN THIS BUILDING THAT HAVE
FAMILIES. LESS THAN $20 AN HOUR.
HAVE A FAMILY AT HOME. THEY HAVE
TO FEED THAT BLOWS MY MIND AND
IT SHOULD ALL OF YOU AS WELL
TOO. RIGHT BUT I WANT TO MAKE
SURE THAT IT DOESN'T IN ANY WAY
AFFECT THOSE. THAT ARE ALREADY
HERE. THAT HAVE PUT THEIR TIME
AND THEIR EFFORT IN HERE. THAT
WHILE WE CONTINUE TO PROTECT ALL
THE NEW FOLKS THAT WANT TO BE
HERE, AND THE FOLKS THAT ARE
ALREADY HERE THAT WE'RE NOT
ROBBING FROM ONE TO PAY THE
OTHER, AND THAT'S REALLY
IMPORTANT TO ME BECAUSE A LOT OF
FOLKS HAVE PUT IN THEIR TIME AND
I'VE BEEN REALLY COMMITTED.
COMMITTED TO ALL OF US. TO THIS
BUILDING. TO THE COMMUNITY, AND
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT
THEY'RE NOT GOING TO MISS OUT ON
ANYTHING AS WELL. IT NEEDS TO BE
A FIGHT AND THE FIGHT FOR ALL.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK
YOU, MISS ALICE. WELL. FIRST I
WANT TO THANK THE AUTHOR FOR
BRINGING THIS FORWARD AND TO THE
WITNESSES. YOU HAVE VERY BRIGHT
FUTURE CLEARLY AND THANK YOU FOR
SPEAKING UP, EVEN THOUGH IT'S
REALLY HARD IN THESE SITUATIONS
AND ALSO BEING A LONGTIME UNION
ORGANIZED OR SOME OF THESE
FIGHTS TAKE A VERY LONG TIME.
WE'RE JUST AT THE BEGINNING.
I'VE BEEN IN FIGHTS THAT TOOK A
DECADE OR MORE. BEFORE WE
FINALLY SAW THE WINDS. I AM
HOPEFUL. I THINK THIS IS GOING
TO, UM, YOU KNOW, PASS THROUGH.
BUT THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING
OF THE WORK AND SO THE
ORGANIZATION THAT IT'S TAKEN
FROM ALL THE FOLKS IN THE ROOM
FROM EACH OF YOU UP HERE TODAY.
I REALLY APPLAUD THAT. AND I
HOPE YOU HOLD THAT CLOSE BECAUSE
YOU'RE JUST ON THE VERY FRONT
END. AFTER THIS COMES THE REAL
WORK OF COMING TOGETHER AS A
COMMUNITY OF PEOPLE WHO ARE
BARGAINING RIGHT? MAKING SURE
THAT YOU HAVE LEADERSHIP THAT
YOU APPRECIATE THAT YOU'RE
WILLING TO WORK FOR THAT YOU'RE
WILLING TO COME TOGETHER WITH
AND SO I WOULD START THINKING
ABOUT THOSE PIECES AS YOU'RE
GOING THROUGH THIS PROCESS. WHAT
ARE THE LESSONS GAINED? WHAT
HAVE THE CHALLENGES BEEN? AND
HOW CAN YOU LEVERAGE THAT MOVING
FORWARD TO GET THE MOST FOR WHAT
YOU'RE HERE FOR TODAY, RIGHT?
THE BEST QUALITY OF LIFE. THE
BEST MIDDLE CLASS JOBS TO ME.
THIS IS REALLY ABOUT
STRENGTHENING OUR MIDDLE CLASS.
THAT'S WHAT THE LABOR MOVEMENT
HAS ALWAYS BEEN ABOUT. AND SO
NOW THIS BODY CAN BE A PIECE OF
THAT IN A WHOLE NEW AND
DIFFERENT WAY. SO THANK YOU
AGAIN. I'M INCREDIBLY OPTIMISTIC
JOB VERY WELL DONE TODAY. I
THINK I THINK WE'RE STARTING OFF
IN A REALLY GOOD POSITION. THANK
YOU. AND UH, I WANT TO THANK
THAT THE AUTHOR. I'M VERY GLAD
THAT THIS CAME BACK THIS YEAR,
AND YOU'VE DONE AN EXTRAORDINARY
JOB STEERING IT TO THIS POINT TO
SEE ALL OF THE STAFF THAT CAME
OUT IN SUPPORT AND NO OPPOSITION
. WE KNOW THAT THIS BILL CAME
FORWARD IN A DIFFERENT FORM LAST
YEAR AND UNFORTUNATELY DID NOT
MAKE IT THROUGH. I THINK DUE TO
SOME SHENANIGANS THERE, BUT YOU
BROUGHT IT BACK WITH A HUGE
COALITION. I'M VERY PROUD TO BE
A JOINT AUTHOR. I THINK IT'S
QUITE POETIC THAT IT'S A B ONE.
BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT NOTHING
HAPPENS IN THIS BUILDING WITHOUT
OUR STAFF. AND SO IF THERE WERE
NOT OUR STAFF TO DO THE
INCREDIBLE WORK THAT THEY DO,
THERE WOULD BE NO ABE'S. AFTER
THIS, UH, THIS WOULD BE THE ONLY
A B. WE NEED THEM FOR EVERYTHING
THAT HAPPENS HERE FOR ALL THE
THOUSANDS OF BILLS ARE NOT ONLY
OUR LEGISLATIVE STAFF, OUR
DISTRICT STAFF, OUR COMMITTEE
STAFF. EVERYONE HERE IS SO
ESSENTIAL TO WHAT HAPPENS NOT
ONLY IN THIS BUILDING BUT FOR
OUR DEMOCRACY IN THIS STATE.
WE'VE FOCUSED, OF COURSE, A LOT
ON THE WORKING AND LIVING
CONDITIONS OF THE PEOPLE WHO
WORK HERE, BUT THIS IS ALSO
ABOUT WHAT WE ARE ABLE TO
DELIVER FOR THE PEOPLE OF
CALIFORNIA WHEN WE OVERWORK OUR
STAFF WHEN WE DO NOT GIVE THEM A
VOICE WHEN WE DO NOT GIVE THEM
ADEQUATE SUPPORT. WAGES BENEFITS
PROTECTIONS. THE PEOPLE OF
CALIFORNIA ALSO SUFFER. THEY
THEY THEY DO NOT GET THE
DEMOCRACY THAT THEY DESERVE WHEN
THE PEOPLE WHO ARE TASKED TO
WORK ON THEIR BEHALF. I DO NOT
HAVE A COLLECTIVE VOICE. AND SO
WE GIVE THAT RIGHT TO ALL OF OUR
STATE WORKERS AND WE GIVE AND WE
NEED TO GIVE THAT RIGHT TO OUR
WORKERS HERE IN THIS BUILDING
WHO WRITE THE LAWS THAT ALL OF
US ARE ARE ARE HONORED TO
PARTICIPATE IN AND FOLLOW. I
ALSO WANT TO AND WE DIDN'T HEAR
ANY OF THE CONCERNS AND
OBJECTIONS TO THIS, WHICH I
THINK AGAIN AS A TESTAMENT TO
THE LEADERSHIP AND THE COALITION
THAT YOU BROUGHT FORWARD, BUT I
DO WANT TO SAY THAT I COME FROM
A LEGISLATIVE BODY IN SAN
FRANCISCO CITY HALL WHERE WE
HAVE UNIONIZED STAFF. AND I
THINK NOT COINCIDENTALLY, THOSE
STAFF ARE PAID MUCH BETTER THAN
THE STAFF HERE IN THIS BUILDING
, BUT NOT ONLY ARE THEY PAID
BETTER. THEY HAVE A COLLECTIVE
VOICE. THEY HAVE PROTECTIONS AND
THAT HELPS THEM DO THEIR JOB AND
DO THE WORK THAT WE TASK THEM TO
DO, UH, THE CONCERNS THAT ARE
RAISED ABOUT PARTISANSHIP OR
OTHER TYPES OF THINGS. HAVE HAVE
NOT BEEN AN ISSUE IN IN SAN
FRANCISCO CITY HALL OR IN OTHER
PLACES WHERE THEY HAVE UNIONIZED
STAFF. I THINK IT ONLY HELPS THE
FUNCTIONS OF GOVERNMENT. IT ONLY
HELPS AND SUPPORTS THE PEOPLE
WHO DO THE ESSENTIAL WORK EVERY
DAY ON THE BEHALF OF THE PEOPLE
OF OUR STATE. I'M VERY PROUD TO
SUPPORT THIS AND THANKFUL ALSO,
THAT YOU WORKED WITH OUR OUR
COLLEAGUES ON THE OTHER SIDE OF
THE AISLE BECAUSE ULTIMATELY
THIS IS NOT PARTISAN. THIS IS
ABOUT SUPPORTING EVERY MEMBER OF
STAFF AND THE WORK OF GOVERNMENT
WHETHER THEY'RE REPUBLICAN
DEMOCRAT COMMITTEE CONSULTANT,
DISTRICT STAFF AND EVERYONE AND
EVERYONE ELSE. SO WITH THAT
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S MAKIN, ER, YOU
MAY CLOSE WELL, I'M EXTREMELY
PROUD TO SERVE IN THE CALIFORNIA
STATE LEGISLATURE TODAY. UM
WE'RE SETTING AN EXAMPLE FOR THE
REST OF THE COUNTRY BY WORKING
TOGETHER BOTH DEMOCRATS AND
REPUBLICANS TO COME UP WITH A
COMPREHENSIVE, COMPREHENSIVE
SOLUTION FOR EMPLOYEES TO
COLLECT A BARGAIN FOR WAGES,
BENEFITS AND WORKPLACE
CONDITION. YOU KNOW WHAT THEY
SAY. AS CALIFORNIA GOES, SO GOES
THE NATION. I RESPECTFULLY ASK
FOR YOUR I VOTE. ALL RIGHT. WE
HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. I
THINK THE MOTION WAS FROM MS MS
ADDIS AND SECONDED BY MASSIVE.
OH AND MADAM SECRETARY. PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL. THE MOTION IS DO
PASS, AND WE REFERRED TO THE
COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
MAKIN, ER I MAKIN HER. I LACKEY
LUCKY I ATIS VINCE FONG. NO
VINCE VAUGHN. NO, HANEY, I
STEPHANIE NGUYEN STEPHANIE WHEN
I SHIAVO VÚI THAT BILL IS OUT
WITH 61 VOTES. ALL RIGHT, THANK
THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS.
WE HAVE ONE BILL A B 14 93
CARILLO THAT WAS PULLED BY THE
AUTHOR. AH AND WITH THAT WE'RE
GOING TO TAKE A BRIEF RECESS.
WELL, THE CHAIR TAKES BACK OVER.
ALL RIGHT. THERE YOU GO.
KEEP IT UP QUICK MOMENT FROM
MEMBERS TO GET BACK. BIGGEST
NGUYEN. WE'RE BACK. AND WE'LL
HEAR SJ R ONE COURTESY. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MADAM
CHAIR AND MEMBERS. UM, I'M HERE
TO PRESENT SENATE JOINT
RESOLUTION ONE, AND I'M GRATEFUL
FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE IT
HURT. THIS IMPORTANT RESOLUTION
URGES CONGRESS TO PASS AND URGES
THE PRESIDENT TO SIGN THE REPEAL
OF THE GOVERNMENT PENSION OFFSET
SOMETIMES KNOWN AS THE GPO AND
THE WINDFALL ELIMINATION
PROVISION, ALSO KNOWN AS THE WPP
, WHICH ARE TWO PENALTIES
APPLIED TO EARN SOCIAL SECURITY
BENEFITS. THESE AREN'T JUST
PENALTIES HARM CALIFORNIA'S
PUBLIC SCHOOL EDUCATORS,
FIREFIGHTERS, POLICE IN MANY
OTHER DEDICATED PUBLIC SERVANTS
, MANY OF CALIFORNIA'S PUBLIC
SERVANTS ARE UNFAIRLY PENALIZED
BY THE SOCIAL SECURITY OFFICE
SETS THAT REDUCE OR ELIMINATE
THEIR EARNED SOCIAL SECURITY
BENEFITS OR SPOUSAL BENEFITS.
THE WP IS A POLICY THAT
DECREASES THE SOCIAL SECURITY
BENEFITS RECEIVED BY RETIREES
WHO PREVIOUSLY WORKED IN JOBS
COVERED BY SOCIAL SECURITY, SUCH
AS PRIVATE SECTOR JOBS WILL ALSO
RECEIVE A GOVERNMENT ANNUITY
FROM THE NON SOCIAL SECURITY
COVERAGE. GOVERNMENT EMPLOYMENT
THIS SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCES THE
ABILITY TO RECRUIT PRIVATE
INDUSTRY WORKERS INTO SECOND
PUBLIC SERVICE CAREERS SUCH AS
TEACHING, FOR EXAMPLE. SO THAT
THEY CAN BRING THEIR SKILLS AND
KNOWLEDGE TO CALIFORNIA'S
CLASSROOMS. SIMILARLY THE GPO
EFFECT SPOUSES, WIDOWS AND
WIDOWERS, OFTEN FORCING THEM
INTO SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL
HARDSHIP AND POVERTY. WOMEN ARE
DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACT BY THE
WP AND THE GPO IN CALIFORNIA.
THAT'S A FACT. THE CALIFORNIA
LEGISLATURE HAS CONSISTENTLY
REQUESTED THAT CONGRESS REPEALED
THESE OFFSETS. REPEALING THE GPO
IN THE W P HAS EARNED BIPARTISAN
SUPPORT. THE FEDERAL SOCIAL
SECURITY FAIRNESS ACT, KNOWN AS
H. R 82 IS CO AUTHORED BY BOTH
REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS,
INCLUDING REPRESENTATIVES STEEL
SHIFT. KYLIE REPRESENTATIVE
CHUBU REPRESENTATIVE OVER NAULTY
AND REPRESENTATIVE NAPOLITANO.
FORMER AUTHORS OF THIS
RESOLUTION S J. R ONE IN OUR
LEGISLATURE INCLUDES SENATOR
WILK. CALIFORNIA RETIRED
TEACHERS ASSOCIATION IN
CALIFORNIA STATE TEACHERS
RETIREMENT SYSTEM TO ASK ME THE
CALIFORNIA PROFESSIONAL
FIREFIGHTERS KNOWN AS CPF AROUND
HERE, THE CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION
OF HIGHWAY PATROLMAN AND MANY
MORE SUPPORT SJ R ONE HERE TO
TESTIFY IN SUPPORT OF THE BILL.
WITH US JENNIFER BAKER,
CALIFORNIA RETIRED TEACHERS
ASSOCIATION. THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN
. THE APPROPRIATE TIME I'D
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOUR VOTE.
THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. MY NAME
IS JENNIFER BAKER. I REPRESENT
THE CALIFORNIA RETIRED TEACHERS
ASSOCIATION, PROUD SPONSOR OF
THIS IMPORTANT RESOLUTION LIKE
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S AT US WITH
STATING EARLIER. SOMETIMES IT
TAKES A DECADE OR MORE TO
ADDRESS AN ISSUE. WE'VE BEEN
WORKING ON THIS SINCE THE 19
EIGHTIES TO TRY TO ELIMINATE
THESE UNJUST PENALTIES IN OUR
STATE BECAUSE WE HAVE SUCH A
LARGE POPULATION OF TEACHERS AND
72% OF OUR TEACHERS ARE WOMEN.
THIS DOES HAVE A
DISPROPORTIONATE IMPACT. AND ARE
RETIRED TEACHERS IN CALIFORNIA
AND DOES IMPACT OUR ABILITY TO
RECRUIT AND RETAIN EDUCATORS
ACROSS THE STATE. THIS HAS BEEN
ONE OF THOSE BIPARTISAN ISSUES
THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO GARNER A
SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF SUPPORT
BOTH ON THE LEFT AND PULSE ON
THE RIGHT AND WE APPRECIATE THE
SUPPORT THAT WE HAVE CONTINUED
TO HAVE BY THIS LEGISLATURE IN
THIS THIS COMMITTEE REGARDING
THIS LEGISLATION JUST TO GIVE
YOU AN EXAMPLE OF THE GOVERNMENT
PENSION OFFSET TYPICALLY, WE'RE
SEEING THIS IMPACT WOMEN WHO ARE
IN THEIR SEVENTIES AND EIGHTIES
WHO HAVE MOST LIKELY ALREADY
LOST THEIR SPOUSE. THEY'RE ALSO
IMPACTED BY THE WINDFALL
EMANATION PROVISIONS SO THEY
ALREADY HAVE A REDUCED AMOUNT OF
SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS AND
DIDN'T REALIZE THAT BY VIRTUE OF
THEM WORKING IN CAL STIRS WHEN
THEIR SPOUSE WHO HAS WORKED IN
THE PRIVATE SECTOR PASSES. THEY
THEN LOSE THOSE SOCIAL SECURITY
BENEFITS, LITERALLY. UM UH,
ELIMINATING THEIR ABILITY MANY
TIMES TO BE ABLE TO LIVE IN A
FINANCIALLY SECURE ENVIRONMENT.
SO WE'RE SEEING A LOT OF RECENT
WIDOWS THAT ARE LOSING THEIR
HOMES HAVING TO GO MOVE IN WITH
THEIR KIDS, AND THIS IS AT A
TIME WHEN WE'RE ALREADY SEEN A
NUMBER OF ECONOMIC FACTORS
THAT'S MAKING IT VERY HARD FOR
THESE OLDER WOMEN TO LIVE. WE
ASK FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT
AND APPRECIATE YOUR
COLLABORATION ON THIS ISSUE. IS
THERE ANYONE IN THE ROOM AND
SUPPORT? PLEASE COME UP AND
STATE YOUR NAME ORGANIZATION IN
YOUR POSITION. MADAM CHAIR
MEMBERS, TED TOP AND FOR THE
CALIFORNIA STATE RETIREES AND
THE ASSOCIATION OF CALIFORNIA
STATE SUPERVISORS STRONGLY IN
SUPPORT OF YOU TO VOICE YOUR
SUPPORT FOR FUNDAMENTAL FAIRNESS
BY APPROVING THIS MEASURE.
JANICE O'MALLEY, THE AMERICAN
FEDERATION OF STATE COUNTY
MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES AND STRONG
SUPPORT. THANK YOU. GOOD
MORNING, MEREDITH BARTELS WITH
THE CALIFORNIA STATE TEACHERS
RETIREMENT SYSTEM, AND WE ARE IN
SUPPORT. THANK YOU. AND NOW
WE'LL GO TO THE LINE. IS THERE
ANYONE IN SUPPORT ONLINE? IF YOU
DO HAVE SUPPORT PRESS ONE AND
ZERO ON YOUR TELEPHONE KEYPAD.
WE HAVE NOBODY QUEUING UP FOR
SUPPORT ON THE PHONE. IS THERE
ANY WITNESSES AND OPPOSITION?
SEEING THE WITNESSES AND
OPPOSITION. IS THERE ANYONE AND,
UM TO TESTIFY AND OPPOSITION? ON
THE PHONE. SORRY, ONLINE.
OPPOSITION AT THIS MOMENT, PRESS
ONE, THEN ZERO AND KEYPAD. AND
WE HAVE NOBODY IN OPPOSITION
HERE IN NO OPPOSITION, WE WILL
BRING IT BACK TO THE COMMITTEE.
IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS? MOVED BY
ASSEMBLY MEMBER WHEN AND
SECONDED BY ASSEMBLY MEMBER
HANEY. SECRETARY CALL THE VOTE.
I'M SORRY. WOULD YOU LIKE TO
CLOSE? RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOUR
I VOTE. THANK YOU. THE MOTION IS
ADOPTED MAKIN ER I MCKENNA I
LUCKY LUCKY I ATIS AT HIS
EVENTS. FONG FONG I HANEY ANY I
STEPHANIE NGUYEN, STEPHANIE WENT
SHIAVO. PLACE IT ON CALL. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU GUYS.
ITEM NUMBER FOUR S. JR ONE
CURRENT MOTION IS BE ADOPTED.
CURRENT VOTE IS 6 TO 0 SHIAVO
VÚI. DODGEVILLE IS OUT 7 TO 0. I
LOVE YOU.
MAYBE 14 93 WAS PULLED BY THE
AUTHOR. WE ARE ADJOURNED. THANK
YOU. THAT'S RIGHT. THANK YOU TO
SIGN.