AND. WELCOME TO THE ASSEMBLY
PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE MEETING.
UM ALL WITNESSES ARE WITNESS
TESTS IN NORMANDY WILL BE IN
PERSON. THERE WILL BE NO PHONE
TESTIMONY OPTION FOR THIS
HEARING. YOU CAN FIND MORE
INFORMATION ON W W DOT ASSEMBLY
DOT C A DOT GOV BACKSLASH
COMMITTEES. SEE I BELIEVE WE'RE
WAITING FOR MR SANTIAGO AND ONE
OF THE MEMBER BUT WE CAN CALL
THE ROLL. ESTABLISHED WAR. JOAN
SAWYER. HERE KNEES HERE TO BRIAN
. LACKEY ORTEGA SANTIAGO ZIPPER.
SO WE HAVE A RECONSIDERATION
ITEM. AS IT WAS ANNOUNCED
PREVIOUSLY DURING FLOOR SESSION
. WE HAVE BEEN GRANTED
PERMISSION TO HEAR A B 701 THEY
HAVE PUT TO WA I HAVE DECIDED TO
TAKE THIS BILL UP FIRST THIS
VOTE. THIS MEASURE IS THE VOTE
ONLY THERE WILL BE NO NO AUTHOR,
PRESENTATION OR WITNESS
TESTIMONY. IS THERE A MOTION?
CALLED ROLE. ON A B 701 BY SOME
MEMBER VÆ VALLAPUDUA. THE MOTION
IS DUE PASTOR THE APPROPRIATIONS
COMMITTEE JOHN SAWYER. JUMP SO
YOUR EYE ELONIS? AYE, BONTA.
BRIAN BRIAN, NOT VOTING LACKEY.
LUCKY I, ORTEGA ORTEGA I
SANTIAGO ZABAR A I. THAT MEASURE
PASSES WILL NOW DO AS A SPECIAL
CONSIDERATION. TO THE CHAIRMAN
OF THIS YEAR. THE COMMITTEE. MR
PATTERSON. IF YOU DON'T MIND,
WE'RE GONNA TAKE MR MAIENSCHEIN.
FIRST. A B 10 58 ITEM NUMBER.
SIX. THE TIGHT TIMELINE, TOO.
WITNESS, THE PASTOR. I THINK WE
CAN GET THROUGH THIS FAIRLY
QUICK. I HOPE. BABY I'M SORRY.
83 67 ITEM NUMBER TWO YOU MAY
BEGIN. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR
CHAIR AND MEMBERS. THE FENTANYL
CRISIS IS RAPIDLY SWEEPING
CALIFORNIA. THE CENTERS FOR
DISEASE CONTROL IS NAMED
FENTANYL, THE DEADLIEST DRUG IN
THE UNITED STATES. FENTANYL
ISN'T JUST ANY DRUG. IT'S AN
EXTREMELY POWERFUL OPIOID THAT
IS ESTIMATED TO BE 50 TIMES
STRONGER THAN HEROIN AND 100
TIMES MORE POTENT THAN MORPHINE.
SADLY THE EFFECTS OF FENTANYL
OVERDOSES HAVE BEEN ESPECIALLY
DEVASTATING FOR THE STATE'S
YOUNG PEOPLE, ONE IN FIVE DEATHS
AMONG 15 TO 24 YEAR OLDS IN
CALIFORNIA AS A RESULT OF
FENTANYL OVERDOSE. WHILE OUR
EFFORTS COULD NEVER REPAIR THE
LOSS OF LIFE, MAYBE 3 67
RECOGNIZES THAT ENTRY TO HUMAN
LIFE OR DEATH DESERVES
CONSIDERATION AT THE MINIMUM.
HAVE A THREE YEAR SENTENCE
ENHANCEMENT. PREVIOUSLY IN
CALIFORNIA PERSON WHO SOLD
FURNISHED, ADMINISTERED OR GAVE
AWAY A PROHIBITED NARCOTIC THAT
RESULTED IN DEATH OR SERIOUS
INJURY COULD BE CHARGED WITH A
GREAT BODILY INJURY ENHANCEMENT
. THIS GAVE THE COURT THE OPTION
TO IMPOSE A THREE OR FIVE YEARS
ENHANCEMENT TO THE SENTENCE.
HOWEVER IN A 2021 RULING, THE
CALIFORNIA SUPREME COURT LIMITED
THE APPLICABILITY OF THIS
ENHANCEMENT. BY THIS STANDARD,
MOST DRUG DEALERS COULD ESCAPE
PUNISHMENT WHEN THE DRUGS THEY
SELL CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY OR
DEATH. AFTER TALKING WITH MANY
PEOPLE, I'VE LEARNED THAT
WITHOUT THE OPTION TO CHARGE
THIS ENHANCEMENT THEY'RE HAVING
TO ACCOUNT FOR THIS LOSS OF LIFE
BY FINDING MORE SERIOUS MURDER
CHARGES. MAYBE 3 67 WILL HELP
CALIFORNIA TAKE A MULTIFACETED
APPROACH TO THE FENTANYL
EPIDEMIC BY ALLOWING PROSECUTORS
TO ADD THIS IN ENHANCEMENT TO
SENTENCES FOR SELLING FURNISHING
GIVING AWAY OR ADMINISTERING
FENTANYL THAT IT'S RESULTED IN
SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. THIS IS
NOT AN AUTOMATIC ENHANCEMENT,
PROSECUTORS WOULD BE ABLE TO
CHOOSE BASED ON THE FACT OF THE
FACTS OF THE CASE. WHETHER TO
CHARGE AND ENHANCEMENT. THE
CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE ENHANCEMENT
WAS THEN BE PROVEN TO A JURY
BEYOND A REASONABLE DOUBT. I DO
NOT WANT TO REVERT BACK TO THE
HARSH POLICIES OF THE WAR ON
DRUGS. WITH THIS IN MIND, I HAVE
LIMITED THE BILL IN THE
FOLLOWING WAYS. THE ENHANCEMENT
ONLY APPLIES TO FENTANYL AND ITS
ANALOGS. TO THE ENHANCEMENT
CANNOT BE APPLIED TO JUVENILE
OFFENDERS AND THREE SIMILAR TO A
SENTENCE ENHANCEMENT BILL PASSED
BY THIS COMMITTEE A FEW WEEKS
AGO. THIS BILL CONTAINS A FEW
FIVE YEAR SUNSET. THIS WILL
ALLOW THE LEGISLATURE TO REVIEW
THE IMPACTS ON THIS POLICY AND
MAKE A DECISION ON WHETHER IT
SHOULD CONTINUE. SHOULD THIS
BILL MOVE FORWARD TODAY, I
COMMIT TO FURTHER CONVERSATIONS
WITH THE CHAIR COMMITTEE MEMBERS
AND STAKEHOLDERS TO REFINE THE
BILL AND LIMIT ANY POTENTIAL
UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES. MEMBERS
ARE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ARE
STRUGGLING, AND THEY ARE ASKING
FOR OUR HELP. FAMILIES WHO HAVE
LOST LOVED ONES ARE ASKING FOR
OUR HELP. FAMILIES WHO ARE
TERRIFIED OF LOSING THEIR LOVED
ONES ARE ASKING FOR OUR HELP.
IT'S CRITICAL THAT WE TAKE
ACTION AT ALL LEVELS OF
GOVERNMENT TO PROTECT OUR
COMMUNITIES FROM THIS DEADLY
SUBSTANCE. 83 67 WILL HOLD
DEALERS ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE
DESTRUCTION FENTANYL CAUSES TO
SO MANY FAMILIES ACROSS
CALIFORNIA WITH ME TO TESTIFY
AND SUPPORT IS ADRIAN GRONDAHL,
THE DIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENT
AFFAIRS FOR THE CITY OF SAN
DIEGO ON BEHALF OF THE BILL'S
SPONSOR, MAYOR TODD GLORIA.
WELCOME, SIR. THANK YOU FIVE
MINUTES. THANK YOU.
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S MAIENSCHEIN AND
HONORABLE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
SAFETY COMMITTEE. MY NAME IS
ADRIAN GRAND. UM THE DIRECTOR OF
GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS FOR THE CITY
OF SAN DIEGO, SERVING UNDER THE
OFFICE OF MAYOR TODD GLORIA, THE
SPONSOR OF THIS BILL. I
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOUR
PASSAGE OF HB 3 67 TODAY I
COMMON SENSE BILL TO HELP IMPOSE
HIGHER PENALTIES ON SALES OF
FENTANYL RESULTS IN SOMEONE'S
DEATH. ROUGHLY 6000 CALIFORNIANS
DIE EACH YEAR DUE TO FENTANYL IN
SAN DIEGO COUNTY, FENTANYL
OVERDOSE DEATHS HAVE GROWN
EXPONENTIALLY FROM FEWER THAN 50
IN 2017 TO OVER 820 21. VIETNAM
IS ALSO THE NUMBER ONE KILLER OF
UNSHELTERED INDIVIDUALS IN THE
CITY OF SAN DIEGO. WE THINK
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S MAIENSCHEIN FOR
AUTHORING THIS IMPORTANT MEASURE
, 83 67 WILL DETER THE SALES AND
TRAFFICKING OF FENTANYL AND SAVE
LIVES BEING LOST TO THESE DRUGS
THAT CAN CAUSE GREAT BODILY
INJURY OR DEATH. THIS BILL DOES
NOT ADD A NEW ENHANCEMENT INTO
LAW, BUT RATHER CLARIFIES WHEN
THE PROVISIONS CAN APPLY. IN
2021, THE SUPREME COURT RULING
SET OF STANDARD THAT DEALER MUST
PHYSICALLY PLACED THE DRUG AND
SOMEONE'S MOUTH IN ORDER TO USE
THIS ENHANCEMENT. THIS IGNORES
THE FACT THAT MANY OF THE PEOPLE
DYING FROM FAKE PILLS HAVE NO
IDEA THEY'RE TAKING FENTANYL AT
ALL. AS WE'VE HEARD FROM OUR
WE'LL LIKELY HEAR FROM MANY
MOURNING FAMILIES TODAY, AND
I'VE HEARD THROUGH, UH, HEARING
OF SIMILAR BILLS. 83 67 WOULD
PROVIDE CLARITY FOR PROSECUTORS
SO THAT THE CRIME OF CAUSING
SOMEONE'S DEATH COULD BE
CAPTURED THROUGH ADDITIONAL
PENALTIES AND THE CONSEQUENCES
WOULD NOT BE THE EXACT SAME AS
THOSE FOR A SIMPLE SALES CRIME.
WE KNOW THAT TACKLING THE
FENTANYL CRISIS WILL TAKE MANY
DIFFERENT POLICIES LIKE MAKING
THE LUXAN AS MORE READILY
AVAILABLE. EDUCATING THE PUBLIC
THAT ONE PILL CAN KILL. UM BUT
KIDS DYING ALONE IN THEIR ROOMS
HAVE NO ONE TO ADMINISTER NARCAN
TO THEM, NOR DO THEY HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO SEEK TREATMENT.
PUBLIC SAFETY MEASURES ARE
NEEDED TO THIS DRUG IS RAVAGING
OUR CITIES, WHICH IS WHY LEAGUE
OF CITIES AND LARGER CITIES AS
DIVERSE AS SAN DIEGO, RIVERSIDE
, SAN JOSE, IRVINE, BAKERSFIELD
AND FRESNO ARE ALL IN SUPPORT. I
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOUR I VOTE
ON A B 3 67 FOR THE VICTIMS FOR
THE FAMILIES AND FOR OUR
COMMUNITIES. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU ANY OTHER WITNESSES AND
SUPPORT. GOOD MORNING, MR CHAIR
AND MEMBERS. COREY CELLS L ON
BEHALF OF THE CALIFORNIA STATE
SHERIFF'S ASSOCIATION AND
SUPPORT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU,
SIR. KIM STONE STONE ADVOCACY ON
BEHALF OF THE CALIFORNIA
DISTRICT ATTORNEYS ASSOCIATION
AND SUPPORT THANK YOU, SIR. MR
CHAIRMAN, REMEMBERS CARL LONDON
ON BEHALF OF CRIME VICTIMS
UNITED IN SUPPORT. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING, PAT
ESPINOSA ON BEHALF OF THE
STANDING ROCK COUNTY DISTRICT
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. STRONG
SUPPORT. THANK YOU, SIR. GOOD
MORNING. MORGEN GAYER PLASTER
COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY IN
SUPPORT. THANK YOU, SIR. GOOD
MORNING. I'M THE FATHER OF TALIA
NEWMAN. VICTIM FROM FITTING ALL
AND I DO SUPPORT THANK YOU, SIR.
THANK YOU FOR COMING. MY NAME IS
SANDRA NEWMAN AND I DO SUPPORT
THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. ANGELA
WEB CEO OF ARRIVAL LIVE
CALIFORNIA AND I SUPPORT YOU.
GOOD MORNING, LAURA FRAGOSO FROM
ARRIVAL OF CALIFORNIA AND I
STRONGLY SUPPORT LARA DEAR
MOTHER EXACTED HERE FOREVER. 17
KILLED BY A COUNTERFEIT PILL IN
2020 AND STRONG SUPPORT. THANK
YOU, MA'AM. HOST SACRAMENTO
DISTRICT ATTORNEY AND STRONG
SUPPORT AS WELL. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, SIR. NATALIE PAGE,
TEACHER PARENT AND MY BROTHER
PASSED. I'M A VICTIM SUPPORT.
THANK YOU. KELLY CAMEROON
WILLOWS, CALIFORNIA SO WE CAN
HEAR YOU SORRY ABOUT THAT. KELLY
AMARU FOR WILLOWS, CALIFORNIA
AYE. I HOPE YOU GUYS SUPPORT IT.
I LOST MY SON THREE MONTHS AGO.
SIGNAL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU,
MA'AM. 20 ARNS PASTURE AND
FOLSOM. MY 19 YEAR OLD DIED
SEPTEMBER 30TH 2021 DEFECT
NORTH. THANK YOU. TONY YARNS.
ELDORADO HILLS ARE SENATE
TENDED. FOLSOM HIGH SCHOOL HE
WAS A FOOTBALL PLAYER DIED. 19
I'M IN FULL SUPPORT. THANK YOU,
PHIL. ONE BLUE PILL. AND
MEMBERS, JONATHAN FELDMAN ON
BEHALF OF THE CALIFORNIA POLICE
CHIEFS ASSOCIATION, AND STRONG
SUPPORT. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING
CHAIR AND MEMBERS ELISA
ARCIDIACONO WITH THE LEAGUE OF
CALIFORNIA CITIES AND STRONG
SUPPORT. THANK YOU. HI STEPHANIE
HERRERA WITH THE E IN OUR
PROJECT AND BTS COMMISSION IN
STRONG SUPPORT. MR CHAIRMAN
MEMBERS MATTHEW CYBERLINK ON
BEHALF OF THE ASSOCIATION FOR
LOS ANGELES DEPUTY SHERIFFS AND
THE CALIFORNIA PEACE OFFICERS
ASSOCIATION. BOTH AND STRONG
SUPPORT. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING
CHAIR AND COMMITTEE MEMBER,
STEPHANIE STRONG ON BEHALF OF
THE ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT
ATTORNEY AND SUPPORT THANK YOU.
THE NEEDLE ON BEHALF OF THE
CITIES OF BAKERSFIELD IN CORONA
AND CARLSBAD AND SPORT. GOOD
MORNING. CHIMBONDA WORTH FOLSOM
, CALIFORNIA I'M A CONCERNED
CITIZEN. WHAT'S GOING ON IN OUR
STATE AND I AM IN FAVOR OF A YES
VOTE FOR THIS BILL. THANK YOU,
SIR. MY NAME IS J. C CARPENTER
AND I AM A RECOVERED ADDICT AND
KNOW MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE DIED
FROM THIS DRUG AND STRONGLY URGE
YOU TO SUPPORT THESE BILLS.
THANK YOU, MA'AM. MY NAME IS
LEE. SERGEANT I LOST A BROTHER
TO FENTANYL OVERDOSE. I STRONGLY
SUPPORT THIS BILL. THANK YOU. IN
THE OTHER WITNESS DIDN'T SUPPORT
AND HE WITNESSES AN OPPOSITION.
GOOD MORNING, CHAIR CHAIRMAN
JOHN SAWYER AND ASSEMBLED
MEMBERS HERE. MY NAME IS CARL
TANNENBAUM AT THE TABLE. I SEE.
YEAH. I KNOW IT'S YOUR FIRST
TIME OKAY? BUT YOU STILL DON'T
GET TWO MINUTES APIECE OR FIVE
MINUTES ALTOGETHER. DEDUCT THAT
FROM MY TWO MINUTES OH, MY NAME
IS CARL TANNENBAUM AND I'M
RETIRED SAN FRANCISCO POLICE
SERGEANT. I'M HERE TODAY TO
RESPECTFULLY VOICE MY OPINION,
AN OFFICER CLOSER TO THE MIC AND
OPPOSITION OF SENATE BILL 3 67
ASSEMBLY BILLS, EXCEPT I'M
SORRY. I'M A SECOND GENERATION
CALIFORNIA AND I SPENT 32 YEARS
IN THIS ENDOSCOPE POLICE
DEPARTMENT IN 1987. I WAS
ASSIGNED TO THE NARCOTICS BUREAU
OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IN
DIRECT RESPONSE TO THE CRACK
EPIDEMIC THAT WAS SWEEPING THIS
COUNTRY AT THAT TIME THEY
INCREASE THE SIZE OF THE
NARCOTICS UNIT 120 OFFICERS.
SINCE THEN, WE HAVE DONE NOTHING
BUT THROW MONEY AND RESOURCES AT
THE FAILED WAR ON DRUGS AND IN
SPITE OF WHAT'S BEEN SAID
EARLIER TODAY. THIS ENHANCEMENT
DOES NOTHING TO IMPROVE THE
QUALITY OF LIFE FOR INCREASED
PUBLIC SAFETY FOR THE PEOPLE OF
THIS STATE. IT LOCKS UP AND
VICTIMIZES INNOCENT PEOPLE WHO
MAY OR NOT THE DRUG KINGPINS
THAT THIS IS TARGETED FOR I
RESPECTFULLY ASK YOU TO VOTE
THIS BILL DOWN. IT DOES NOTHING
TO ENHANCE PUBLIC SAFETY AT ALL.
THANK YOU. YES SIR. GOOD MORNING
CHAIR MEMBERS OF THIS COMMITTEE.
THANK YOU. MY NAME IS SAM LEWIS.
AND I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
OF A R. C. THE ANTI RECIDIVISM
COALITION CRIMINAL JUSTICE,
NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS
SUPPORTED THOUSANDS. OF
CALIFORNIA'S THAT HAVE OVERCOME
TRAUMA ADDICTION IN MANY
BARRIERS FACED BY PEOPLE WHO
HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY LEGAL
JUSTICE SYSTEM. WITH THE RIGHT
KIND OF SUPPORT, HAVE SEEN A R C
MEMBERS BUILD LIVES AND LOVE AND
COUNTRY CONTRIBUTE TO THEIR
FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES. BY
DOING SO, THEY ALSO REDUCE
RECIDIVISM. AND ENHANCE PUBLIC
SAFETY. 30 YEARS AGO. 30 YEARS
AGO, WE WERE FACED WITH THE
CRACK EPIDEMIC. I WAS A
TEENAGER. THE SOLUTION IS BODY
ARRIVED AT THEN WAS THE
INCREASED SENTENCING AS SOMEONE
WHO WAS INCARCERATED FOR A TOTAL
OF 24 YEARS IN THE DEPARTMENT OF
CORRECTIONS IN THE WAKE OF THIS
DECISION I HAVE SUPPORTED PEOPLE
AND WATCH THEM AS THEY COME HOME
FROM INCARCERATION. MY POSITION
IS AT A R C HAS ALLOWED ME TO BE
ABLE TO SEE FIRSTHAND WHAT
RESEARCH HAS DEMONSTRATED TIME
AND TIME AGAIN. INCREASED
SENTENCING DOES NOT CURB DRUG
USE AND OVERDOSE. IT JUST
DOESN'T HERE IS WHAT HERE'S WHAT
ENHANCED SENTENCING. DOES IT
DESTABILIZES FAMILY AND THE
ENTIRE GENERATION WAS STRIPPED
FROM OUR COMMUNITIES 30 YEARS
AGO. IT LIMITS THE POTENTIAL FOR
SOMEONE WHO WANTS TO SEEK HELP.
THE COST OF THE STATE COULD BE
SPENDING ON TREATMENT. BUT WE
WILL BE BUILDING PRISONS.
PREVENTATIVE SUPPORT SERVICES
WOULD BE ELIMINATED BECAUSE WE
WILL BE SPENDING MONEY TO LOCK
UP PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY NEED
TREATMENT AND HELP.
DISPROPORTIONATELY BLACK AND
LATINO COMMUNITIES WOULD BE
WOULD BE SENT TO THESE PLACES.
THAT'S A SIMPLE FACT. WE DID
THIS BEFORE THAT PLAYBOOK
DOESN'T WORK. IT'S IMPORTANT TO
NOTE THAT A B 3 67 PRIMARILY
FOCUSES ON PEOPLE WHO SHARE
DRUGS, NOT DEAL DRUGS. LET'S GO
AFTER THE KINGPINS, THE PEOPLE
THAT ACTUALLY MAKE THIS STUFF.
WHY ARE WE GOING AFTER MHM
MIDLEVELS AS AS SOME PEOPLE
WOULD DESCRIBE MID LEVEL
DEALERS. KIDS AND WHEN I SAY
KIDS, I UNDERSTAND IT MAY NOT
AFFECT JUVENILES. BUT 1920 21
YEAR OLD DATA SHARING DRUGS,
WHICH IS DUMB. THAT'S NOT
SOMETHING WE SHOULD BE PUTTING
PEOPLE IN PRISON FOR THEY NEED
TREATMENT. I RESPECTFULLY URGE
THESE MEMBERS OF THIS COMMITTEE
TO VOTE NO ON A B 3 67. LET'S
NOT GO BACKWARDS. LET'S TREAT
OUR COMMUNITIES WITH THE
COMPASSION AND TREATMENT THAT
THEY NEED, NOT LOCK THEM UP AND
THROW AWAY THE KEY. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU ALREADY IN TOGETHER,
WITNESSES AND OPPOSITION. DANICA
ROAD ARM ON BEHALF OF INITIATE
JUSTICE. GOOD MORNING, MARCO
GEORGE ON BEHALF OF THE
CALIFORNIA PUBLIC DEFENDERS
ASSOCIATION AND STRONG
OPPOSITION. THANK YOU. BRENDAN
WOODS PUBLIC DEVELOPMENT COUNTY
, ALSO CALIFORNIA, PUBLIC FROM
THE ASSOCIATION BOARD MEMBER AND
OPPOSITION. IS WITH THE ANTI
RECIDIVISM COALITION SOCIAL
CHANGE, AND IT'S LIKE GARDEN
PROGRAM AND STRONG OPPOSITION.
THANK YOU. ALICIA BENAVIDEZ
LEWIS ON BEHALF OF DRUG POLICY
ALLIANCE IS STRONG OPPOSITION.
KARMA NICOLE COX A C O U CAL
ACTION AND STRONG OPPOSITION
BECAUSE THIS BILL FOCUSES AS
MUCH, IF NOT MORE PEOPLE WHO
DIDN'T EVEN KNOW PEOPLE WHO
SHARED US. THANK YOU. DAVID
GOODMAN MEZA, PHYSICIAN,
RESEARCHER AND OPPOSITION.
WESLEY SAVER HEALTH, RIGHT? 3 60
STRONG OPPOSITION. AND IRWIN
SMART JUSTICE, CALIFORNIA IN
STRONG OPPOSITION. ANDREW IN
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR. INSIDE
GARDEN PROGRAM. STRONG
OPPOSITION. GOOD MORNING, GLENN
BACCHUS FOR THE L. A BAKER
CENTER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS IN
OPPOSITION. AMY DUNKEL BROKEN A
MORE IN STRONG OPPOSITION. JIM
LINDBERG FRIENDS COMMITTEE ON
LEGISLATION THAT CALIFORNIA
OPPOSED. ROBERT CUMMINGS. I
OPPOSE 83 67. RUBY CUMMINGS. I
OPPOSE A B 3 67. SEAN ENGAGE
ANTI RECIDIVISM COALITION
OPPOSED. BUT YOU HAVE MCDUFFY A
R. C. I OPPOSE THIS BILL.
CANDICE LEWIS ANTI RECIDIVISM
COALITION OPPOSED. MAYBE I WROTE
THIS BILL. THANK YOU. MY NAME IS
GARY BERT WITH ANTI RACISM
COALITION AND I OPPOSED A B 367.
MY NAME IS JOHNNY CHATUMONGOL
REPRESENT A R C AND I STRONGLY
OPPOSED THIS BILL. MY NAME IS
JAMIE CARPER. I'M WITH A R. C
AND I OPPOSE THE BILL. EMILY
WONDER ON BEHALF OF THE SISTER
WARRIORS, FREEDOM COALITION AND
YOUNG WOMEN'S FREEDOM CENTER IN
OPPOSITION TO 367. HI. MY NAME
IS LEON BURNS AND WITH OUR A R.
C AND I STRONGLY OPPOSE THIS
BILL. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS
JUNIOR VARGAS. I'M WITH THE ANTI
RECIDIVISM COALITION AND I
OPPOSE THIS BILL THERE. FILM
LANDERS WAS SMART JUSTICE,
CALIFORNIA IN OPPOSITION. LITTLE
ON BEHALF OF CALIFORNIA'S FOR
SAFETY AND JUSTICE AND
RESPECTFUL OPPOSITION. GOOD
MORNING. MY NAME IS GINA PERRY
AND WHAT IT'S NOT OK, MOMS FOR
CHANGE, AND I OPPOSE THIS BILL.
WE DON'T NEED MORE ENHANCEMENTS.
WE NEED MORE PROGRAMS. GOOD
EVENING. MY NAME IS WALLY WOOD'S
I STRONGLY OPPOSE THIS BILL.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. GOOD
MORNING, JOHN VASQUEZ ON BEHALF
OF COMMUNITIES UNITED FOR
RESTORING JUSTICE STRONGLY
OPPOSE. THANK YOU. CHAIR MEMBERS
REGULAR HERE ON BEHALF OF LEGAL
SERVICES FOR PRISONERS WITH
CHILDREN ALSO HERE ON BEHALF OF
ALL OF US OR NONE AND STRONG
OPPOSITION. THANK YOU. HENRY
ORTIZ, LEGAL SERVICES OR
PRISONERS WITH CHILDREN ALL OF A
SUDDEN, NONE. STRONG OPPOSITION.
GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS
CHAUNCEY COX. I'M WITH A R. C
AND I STRONGLY OPPOSE THIS.
THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. TUNISIA
CANNON WITH LEGAL SERVICES FOR
PRISONERS WITH CHILDREN AND ALL
OF US ARE NONE STRONGLY OPPOSE
THIS BILL. MY NAME IS SHAWN
ROBINSON AND I WORK WITH ANTI
RECIDIVISM COALITION AND ARE
STRONGLY OPPOSED. MY NAME IS
LAWRENCE COX LEGAL SERVICES FOR
PRISONS WITH CHILDREN. ALL OF US
ARE NONE AND STRONGLY OPPOSED.
HELLO MY NAME IS SCARLET MOOSE.
I BRING MY PARENTS INTO THIS
SPACE AND THINK CANNOT BE HERE.
PARISIAN MY, MY ALEX. WELL, THE
MOST STRONGLY OPPOSE THIS BILL.
MY NAME IS TOMMY DI LUNA WITH
ANTI RECIDIVISM COALITION AND I
STRONGLY OPPOSE THIS BILL.
MORNING EVERYBODY. MY NAME IS
JILL SVIDANIYA, MEMBER OF R C
STRONGLY OPPOSES BILL. HI MY
NAME IS SAMUEL KING. I'M WITH A
R. C AND I STRONGLY OPPOSE THIS
BILL. MY NAME IS MBULELO THOMAS
. I'M WITH A R. C AND I STRONGLY
OPPOSE THIS BILL. MY NAME IS
BRIAN HERNANDEZ AND I STRONGLY
APPROACHES. UH. MY NAME IS JERRY
MORAN RESIDENT FOLSOM. I'M A
GRATEFUL RECOVERING ADDICT AND
ALSO A MEMBER OF THE ANTI
RECIDIVISM COALITION, AND I
STRONGLY OPPOSE THIS BILL. MY
NAME IS CHARLES GREEN. ARC. AND
I STRONGLY OPPOSE THIS BILL.
THANK YOU. RICARDO LONDON STAFF
MEMBER OF A R C RECOVERING
ADDICT. I STRONGLY OPPOSE BILL.
THANKS RICHARD, WASH. PART OF
OUR C STRONGLY OPPOSE THIS BILL.
MY NAME IS JACOB LUNAR, UM, WITH
THE ANTI RACISM COALITION ARE
STRONGLY OPPOSE THIS BILL. MY
NAME IS MALIK SPOONER ANTI
RECIDIVISM COALITION AND I'M IN
OPPOSITION OF THIS BILL.
MORNING. MY NAME IS HARVEST
DAVIDSON. I'M WITH THE ANTI
RECIDIVISM COALITION. NOT
STRONGLY OPPOSE THIS, BILL.
THANK YOU. MY NAME IS JUAN
MARTINEZ AND I POSED THIS BILL.
THANK YOU. MY NAME IS JACK
CASTLE. OH I'M A MEMBER OF THE
ANTI RECIDIVISM COALITION AND I
STRONGLY OPPOSE THIS BILL. MY
NAME IS JENNIFER LUCAS. I'M WITH
AIR SEA AND I STRONGLY OPPOSE
THIS BILL. HELLO MY NAME IS
TYSON OWEN. I'M WITH ANTI
RECIDIVISM COLLEGE AND ARE
STRONGLY UH, OPPOSE THIS BILL.
MARCO GEORGE AGAIN ON BEHALF OF
THE SAN FRANCISCO PUBLIC
DEFENDER AND OPPOSITION. THANK
YOU. HI I'M WITH YOU COUNTY, THE
NARCAN ANGELS, AND I THINK WE
NEED MORE PROGRAMS I OPPOSE.
YEAH. I'M WITH MY NAME IS
RAPHAEL AND I'M WITH ANTI
RECIDIVISM COALITION AND I'M
PLEADING FOR A NO VOTE ON THIS
BILL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
WE'LL NOW BRING IT BACK TO THE
COMMITTEE. MR MR LAKIN. YEAH, I
WOULD LIKE FIRST OF ALL TO THE
DEFENSE WITNESS THE OPPOSING
WITNESS. UM, THIS IS CLEARLY A
DIFFERENT PLAYBOOK. THEN UH,
DEALING WITH THE CRACK COCAINE
CRISIS IN THE NINETIES, FENTANYL
IS NOT AKIN TO CRACK. THESE
VICTIMS OF THIS DRUG. DIE. THEY
DON'T HAVE A CHANCE. FOR
REHABILITATION. THIS IS A
COMPLETELY DIFFERENT TOXIN. AND
SHOULD BE TREATED AS SUCH. AND
THEREFORE. WHEN YOU CONSIDER
THAT THESE VICTIMS HAVE A FINAL
OUTCOME FINAL, THEY'RE GONE.
THAT DESERVES DIFFERENT
CONSIDERATION AND PENALTY
ENHANCEMENTS ARE MORE THAN
DESERVED, AND I WILL CLEARLY BE
SUPPORTING THIS VERY RESPECTABLE
BILL. THANK YOU. THE OTHER. I
RESPECT THAT YOU'RE ALSO
SERGEANT WITH THE SAN FRANCISCO
POLICE DEPARTMENT, AS YOU HAVE
TWO SERGEANTS ALSO APPEAR AS
WELL. AND AS MY COLLEAGUE, MR
LUCKY ALSO DID MENTION IT. IT'S
DIFFERENT. THIS IS DIFFERENT
THAN COCAINE DAYS. AND, UH, IT'S
THE ONE PILL. EVERYBODY'S BEEN
TALKING ABOUT IT. IT'S KILLING
THEM, AND IT'S UNFORTUNATE AND
THE OTHER THING THAT WAS COME UP
THAT CAME UP FROM THE OPPOSITION
WAS DISPLACING FAMILIES. UH AND
I GET THAT, BUT WE ALSO NEED TO
THINK ABOUT THE VICTIMS AND
WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THEM?
YEAH, YOU MAY JUST DISPLACED
SOME FAMILIES OF THOSE THAT ARE
GIVING OR SELLING THE DRUGS, BUT
WE ALSO GOT TO REMEMBER THE
NUMEROUS VICTIMS WHOSE FAMILIES
HAVE ALSO BEEN HURT BY THIS.
THEY DIDN'T ASK FOR THIS. THESE
PEOPLE WHO ARE SELLING AND
GIVING THESE DRUGS MADE A CHOICE
TO DO THAT, AND THAT COMES WITH
THE CONSEQUENCES. I WILL BE
SUPPORTING THIS AS WELL. AND
THANK YOU TO THE AUTHOR FOR
DOING THIS AND FOR YOUR WITNESS
AS WELL. UH SAYING THAT THIS WAS
A COMMON SENSE, BILL. I
COMPLETELY AGREE. THANK YOU
GUYS. THANK YOU, MISS BARTON.
ONLY THAT WE HAVE A NEED TO BE
ABLE TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF THE
NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO ARE DYING
BECAUSE OF FENTANYL USE, SO I
THINK IN SAN DIEGO, ACCIDENTAL
OVERDOSE WAS THE LEADING CAUSE
OF DEATH. ACCORDING TO 2021,
DATA AND 70% OF THOSE DEATHS.
UH, INVOLVED FENTANYL. AND. THE
WAY THAT I THINK ABOUT POLICY IS
WHAT KIND OF POLICY CAN WE PUT
IN PLACE THAT'S GOING TO CHANGE
BEHAVIOR. WHEN WE THINK ABOUT
THE HIGH INCIDENCE OF ACCIDENTAL
OVERDOSE AND DEATH THAT COMES
WITH MENTION ALL BECAUSE IT'S
LACED IN. TO THE DRUGS OFTEN
UNKNOWINGLY, RIGHT? AH! I'M
THINKING ABOUT THE KID SITTING
NEXT TO THEIR FRIEND AT A PARTY
WHO THINKS THAT THEY'RE TAKING
ONE DRUG. AND THAT DRUG HAPPENS
TO BE LACED WITH FENTANYL. AND.
I'M CONCERNED THAT THE
UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCE OF THIS
SPILL WOULD BE THAT THAT PERSON
YOU MIGHT CHOOSE TO NOT ACTUALLY
CALL THE POLICE. OR TO OR THE
PEOPLE AROUND THEM MIGHT NOT
ACTUALLY CALL THE POLICE TO TRY
TO GET CARE THAT THEY NEED WHILE
THERE THERE'S THEIR FRIEND IS
EXPERIENCING AN OVERDOSE. IT'S
INCREDIBLY AH! IMPORTANT THAT WE
RECOGNIZE THAT ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S
ORTEGA HAS A BILL THAT WOULD
ACTUALLY ALLOW US TO HAVE NO
OXYGEN IN AVAILABLE ACTIVELY
AVAILABLE FOR PEOPLE. I'M
CONCERNED ABOUT THIS BILL AS IT
RELATES TO THE ISSUE OF GREAT
BODILY HARM AND THE
VOLUNTARINESS OF VICTIMS
INGESTION IN THIS INSTANCE
BECAUSE THE INSTANCE THAT I JUST
GAVE THE VICTIM WOULD HAVE
VOLUNTARILY INGESTED. UM BUT IT
HAS AN IMPACT ON THEIR FRIEND
THAT WOULD POTENTIALLY KEEP THEM
FROM CALLING THE POLICE BECAUSE
THERE COULD POTENTIALLY BE
WORRIED ABOUT UM, FALLING UNDER
THIS LEGISLATION. UM AND I'M
ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT THE UM WHAT
THIS DOES TO AN ALREADY
DETERMINED CASE WITH PEOPLE THE
ALOE SO I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN
SPEAK TO THAT ISSUE. SO FOR ME,
I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT
WE'RE TRYING TO GET AT IS WHAT
KIND OF A CHANGE IN BEHAVIOR DO
WE NEED? YEAH AND I'M REALLY
WONDERING YEAH. THE INITIAL
INSTINCT TO THE CHAIR WAS TO
MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE HAVING
THESE KINDS OF CONVERSATIONS
WITHIN THE BROADER CONTEXT OF
HOW OUR POLICIES CAN IMPACT AND
CHANGE BEHAVIORS RELATED TO
FENTANYL. UM, SO I'M WONDERING
IF THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO
PERHAPS LOOK AT THIS LEGISLATION
WITHIN THAT BROADER CONTEXT AT A
AT A AT A TIME THAT ACTUALLY
ALLOWS US TO HAVE THAT
CONVERSATION FROM A PUBLIC
HEALTH. AND PUBLIC SAFETY
PERSPECTIVE, SO IT'S MORE A
QUESTION TO THE CHAIR, BUT ALSO
JUST A COMMENT. AROUND
SPECIFICALLY TO THE AUTHOR
RELATED TO THE ESSENTIAL
OVERTURNING OF PEOPLE BEALL Ó.
IN THIS LEGISLATION. THAT
APPROACH. I'LL LET THE OTHER
MEMBERS SPEAKING IN OUR
SOMETHING, I THINK MY BEST HEAR
ME CHIME IN ALSO OKAY? SO I
SHARE A LOT OF THE SAME CONCERNS
THAT THE ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S FROM
OAKLAND EXPRESSED WHEN I YOU
KNOW, I THINK THAT, UM YOU KNOW,
WE WANT ALL OF OUR YOU KNOW
EVERYONE OUR LOVED ONES
COMMUNITIES TO BE SAFE AND
HEALTHY, AND WE ALL ARE
CONCERNED ABOUT THE
UNPRECEDENTED NUMBER OF PEOPLE
DYING FROM PREVENTABLE DRUG
OVERDOSES. AND I DO BELIEVE THAT
FENTANYL IS DIFFERENT THAN OTHER
DRUGS AND NEEDS A DIFFERENT KIND
OF RESPONSE. BUT I ALSO THINK
THAT, YOU KNOW, REALIZE THAT
STUDIES SHOW THAT, UM INCREASING
CRIMINAL PENALTIES, AT LEAST FOR
LARGE CHUNKS OF THOSE THAT ARE
OUT THERE FOR STREET LEVEL
POSSESSION. DOESN'T REALLY
DETER. DETER THINGS I JUST VOTED
FOR. I THINK MANY OF US JUST
VOTED FOR A BILL THAT WAS REALLY
FOCUSED ON THOSE PEOPLE THAT ARE
PUTTING THIS IN THE STREAM OF
COMMERCE, UM, THAT THAT OTHER
BILL THAT WE VOTED FOR WAS ONE
THAT REALLY FOCUSES ON THE DRUG
KINGPINS THAT ARE MAKING THE
DECISIONS TO LACE THESE PILLS.
WITH THAT? NOT ALL. AND THAT WAS
A DISTINGUISHING FACTOR FOR ME.
WHEN I LOOK AT THIS BILL, ONE OF
THE THINGS THAT CONCERNS ME IS
THAT UM, IT BASICALLY, UM.
PROVIDES THE CRIME ENHANCEMENT.
UH WHEN ANY PERSON WITH ANY WHEN
, WHEN IT'S SOLD, FURNISHED OR
ADMINISTERED OR GIVEN, AND THE
CRIME AND IT RESULTS IN A
SIGNIFICANT BODILY INJURY, AND
SO YOU COULD HAVE A KID THAT IS
BASICALLY HAS A PILL THAT HE
THINKS IS SOMETHING ELSE AND
GIVES THAT TO A FRIEND AND ALL
OF A SUDDEN THAT BECOMES NOT
ONLY A POTENTIAL DRUG OFFENSES,
BUT ALSO IT HAS A PENALTY
ENHANCEMENT. AND THIS
AUTOMATICALLY DOES THAT. SO I
THINK THIS IS THE KIND OF THING
THAT IS SORT OF TWO BROAD IN MY
MIND. UM AND, YOU KNOW, I THINK
WE DO NEED TO THINK ABOUT THIS
AS A PUBLIC HEALTH. EMERGENCY
AND LOOK AT THE THINGS THAT ARE
GOING TO PREVENT THE DEATHS. I
THINK, UM, THERE'S
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S TO MY RIGHT HAS
, UM, A BILL THAT REALLY AND
THERE ARE A NUMBER OF BILLS THAT
ARE MOVING THEIR WAY THROUGH
THAT. LEGISLATURE THAT ARE
FOCUSED ON PROVIDING NARCAN IN
MORE PLACES LOOKING AT HOW WE
HAVE FASTER RESPONSE TEAMS
LOOKING AT PUBLIC EDUCATION FOR
KIDS AND PEOPLE AND PEOPLE IN
OUR COMMUNITIES ABOUT THE RISK
OF FENTANYL, AND I THINK THOSE
ARE PART OF THE SOLUTION. BUT I
ALSO THINK THAT WHEN WE'RE
LOOKING AT INCREASES IN
PENALTIES THAT WE NEED. THEY
NEED TO BE VERY FOCUSED AND
TARGETED AND REALLY NOT RESULT
IN ENHANCEMENTS WHEN PEOPLE DO
NOT KNOW THAT WHAT THEY ARE
ACTUALLY POSSESSING OR TAKING
THEMSELVES HAS SPENT AND ALL IN
IT AND THAT IS, THAT IS I THINK
THE THING THAT IS DIFFICULT, BUT
I DON'T SEE THIS BILL. I THINK
IT'S OVER BROAD FROM THAT
PERSPECTIVE, SO WITH ORTEGA.
THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS BILL
FORWARD TODAY. I APPRECIATE YOUR
EFFORTS, UM, AS A MOTHER. AND
THE LEGISLATOR. THIS FENTANYL
CRISIS HAS BEEN KEEPING ME UP AT
NIGHT. I'VE ALSO BEEN MEETING
WITH A LOT OF THE VICTIM'S
PARENTS WHO HAVE LOST CHILDREN.
UM WHICH IS WHY I INTRODUCED A B
10 60 BECAUSE I THINK IT'S A
TWO. WE NEED TO TAKE A TWO
PRONGED APPROACH. IT'S A PUBLIC
SAFETY ISSUE, BUT ALSO PUBLIC
HEALTH. AND I WENT TOWARDS THE
PUBLIC HEALTH FIRST, UM, MY
BILLS ABOUT SAVING LIVES. WE
NEED TO SAVE LIVES. TODAY WE
CANNOT ALLOW OUR MORE AND MORE
CHILDREN. UM WHICH IS
UNFORTUNATELY RIGHT NOW,
FENTANYL IS THE LEADING CAUSE OF
DEATHS AMONG BABIES. AND WE NEED
TO TAKE CARE OF THAT FIRST. BUT
I ALSO UNDERSTAND THE CRY FOR
HOLDING THOSE WHO ARE DEALING
THIS DRESS ACCOUNTABLE. WHICH IS
WHY I WAS AN ORIGINAL SUPPORTER
OF A B 701. THAT BILL ACTUALLY
DOES TAKE THE APPROACH OF
HOLDING HIGH LEVEL DEALERS. WHO
ARE MURDERING OUR KIDS
ACCOUNTABLE. AND IT TAKES A
BALANCED APPROACH BECAUSE IT
AGAIN IT ADDRESSES HIGH LEVEL
DEALERS, THE ONES WHO ARE
RESPONSIBLE FOR BRINGING THIS
POISON INTO OUR COMMUNITIES. I'M
ACTUALLY A CO AUTHOR OF THAT
BILL NOW AND I ASKED MY
COLLEAGUES ACROSS THE AISLE TO
WORK WITH US ON THESE ISSUES
WILLING FORWARD. UM I HOPE THAT
EVERYONE SIGNS ON TO THESE BILLS
BECAUSE AGAIN, IT TAKES A TWO
PRONGED APPROACH AND WE NEED ALL
HANDS ON DECK. WITH THIS CRISIS.
UM BUT AT THE SAME TIME WE
CANNOT GO BACKWARDS. AND FILL
OUR PRISONS WITH KIDS OF COLOR
WHO DIDN'T KNOW OR DON'T KNOW.
WE NEED TO REMOVE SO MUCH
FURTHER AND MAKING SURE THAT WE
ADDRESS THE ISSUES OF THE PAST.
AH WHICH IS WHY I CAN'T SUPPORT
TODAY'S BILL. UM. BUT LOOK
FORWARD TO WORKING WITH EVERYONE
ON THIS ISSUE OF THAT NOT
POISONING IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
ONE. SURE. SO I APOLOGIZE FOR
NOT SAYING THIS EARLIER. BUT
THIS IS SOMETHING I WANTED TO
ADDRESS PRIOR TO US GETTING ONTO
THIS CONVERSATIONS AND WE'VE
ALREADY STARTED AND I WANTED TO
THANK THE CHAIR FOR ALLOWING US
TO HAPPEN AS WELL. THAT THESE
THESE CONVERSATIONS THAT WE'RE
GOING TO HAVE IN TODAY THEY'RE
CRITICAL, AND WE ALL HAVE SHARED
DESIRES TO SOLVE THE CRISIS. AS
A COMMITTEE. WE HAVE A
RESPONSIBILITY TO WORK
COLLABORATIVELY. TO MAKE
PROGRESS TOWARDS IMPLEMENTING
POLICIES THAT REDUCE THE SUPPLY
OF FENTANYL PROVIDE RESOURCES
FOR ADDICTION, TREATMENT AND
SUPPORT. AND THIS IS TO SAVE
LIVES OF CALIFORNIANS. THIS IS
NOT A PARTISAN ISSUE. AND WE
MUST SET ASIDE OUR DIFFERENCES
TO FIND COMMON GROUND AND
MEANINGFUL SOLUTIONS THAT
PROTECT OUR COMMUNITIES. ALL OF
OUR COMMUNITIES. ULTIMATELY, OUR
SUCCESS. AND TACKLING FENTANYL
CRISIS WILL DEPEND ON OUR
ABILITY TO WORK TOGETHER IN THE
SPIRIT OF COLLABORATION.
RESPECT. AND SHARED PURPOSE.
SOMETHING I BELIEVE WE HAVE
ACCOMPLISHED TOGETHER. DESPITE
OUR DIFFERENCES IN THIS
COMMITTEE AT DIFFERENT TIMES
THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, WE'VE DONE
THAT IF YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN
WATCHING THIS ISSUE BY ANY
MEASURE IS CRITICAL. AND WE MUST
ACCOMPLISH SOMETHING REAL AND
IMPACTFUL TODAY. HUNDREDS OF
CALIFORNIANS ARE DYING EACH WEEK
AND WE MUST DO MORE NOW. THIS
CANNOT WAIT FOR TOMORROW NEXT
MONTH NEXT YEAR. THE TIME IS
NOW. COLLEAGUES. WE MUST DO MORE
ON THE FRONT END. AND NOT THE
BACK END. WE MUST DO THIS FOR
PREVENTION AND FOR ENFORCEMENT.
I WANT TO THANK THE CHAIR AGAIN.
FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO ALLOW ME
TO SPEAK AND I LOOK FORWARD. TO
WORKING WITH ALL OF YOU. AND
THIS COMMITTEE ON FINDING
PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS. AND MAKING
A REAL DIFFERENCE AGAIN TO SAVE
LIVES OF OUR CALIFORNIANS. THANK
YOU, AND TO ALSO HELP WITH THE
SITUATION IN REGARDS TO IMMUNITY
FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE CALLING 11-3
11-3 76.5 OF THE HEALTH AND
SAFETY CODE ACTUALLY PROVIDES
IMMUNITY TO PEOPLE WHO ARE
REACHING OUT FOR HELP FOR
MEDICAL REASONS. IF THEY'RE IN
POSSESSION OF DRUGS LECTURE. I
JUST IF I'M ABLE TO I JUST WANT
TO READ YOU GUYS A LITTLE BIT
BECAUSE I FEEL THE SAME WAY AS
WELL. UH BUT THIS THIS RIGHT
HERE JUST REAL QUICK, SAYS MRS
11-3 76.5 NOTWITHSTANDING ANY
OTHER LAW, IT SHALL NOT BE A
CRIME FOR A PERSON TO BE UNDER
THE INFLUENCE OF OR POSSESS THE
PERSONAL USE A CONTROLLED
SUBSTANCE CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE,
ANALOG OR DRUG PARAPHERNALIA. IF
THAT PERSON IN GOOD FAITH SEEKS
MEDICAL ASSISTANCE FOR ANOTHER
PERSON EXPERIENCE A DRUG RELATED
OVERDOSE. AND THAT THAT PERSON
IS RELATED TO THE POSSESSION OF
CONTROL SURFACES, AND IT GOES ON
AND GOES ON. BUT I URGE YOU GUYS
ALSO TO LOOK AT THAT. IT ALSO
HELPS I KNOW THAT THE CHAIR
PRIOR TO FROM WHAT? I KNOW THE
HISTORY OF THIS COMMITTEE HAD
THEY HAD CONCERNS ON THAT AS
WELL. AND I THINK THAT'S WHY
THAT THAT LAW WAS BROUGHT INTO
EFFECT. THANK YOU, MR CHAIR.
THANK YOU. YOU KNOW WHAT
HAPPENED USUALLY WAIT UNTIL THE
ENDS UP. DO THE THOUGHT OF ORDER
AND REALLY, BECAUSE THERE MAY BE
AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO SOMETHING
THAT THIS COMMITTEE NORMALLY
DOESN'T DO. BUT BEFORE THE
AUTHOR HE'S SO INCLINED TO WANT
TO DO SO THAT WE CAN KEEP THE
DISCUSSION GOING. BECAUSE I CAN
KIND OF COUNT. BUT NO UM, BUT
THE MOST IMPORTANT THING, AND
THIS IS WHY I WANTED TO DO.
HEARINGS. I KNOW, I SAID FALL
UNTIL I MOVED UP TO JUNE AND NOW
IT'S PRETTY CERTAIN THAT WE'LL
BE DOING THESE HEARINGS AND IN
MAY TO TALK ABOUT THE FINANCIAL
CRISIS. BECAUSE IT'S REALLY
TIME. IT'S REALLY TIME. TO
UNITE. THE FIGHT. AGAINST THEM.
NO. AND DRUG ABUSE. IT'S TIME TO
UNITE. OUR EFFORTS. AND NOT
DIVIDE OUR EFFORTS. WE CAN NO
LONGER BE IN PARTISAN CAMPS
ANYMORE. WE CAN NO LONGER SIT IN
ONE SIDE VERSUS THE OTHER. WE'VE
GOT TO HAVE AN HONEST DIALOGUE
WITH ONE ANOTHER. REALLY THE
DIFFERENCE. BETWEEN A SPEED
ACTION. VERSUS VERSACE
INEFFECTIVE PROCESS. SPEEDY
ACTION DOESN'T GET YOU WHAT YOU
WANT IS JUST AN ACTION. BUT
INEFFECTIVE PROCESS THAT WE
BRING EVERYTHING TOGETHER. WE
MAY FINALLY FINALLY GET A
HANDLE. ON ON THE DRUG PROBLEM.
WE ALL HAVE THE SAME SHARED
VALUES. THAT'S WHAT PROBABLY
BOTHERS ME MORE THAN ANYTHING
ABOUT ELSE ABOUT THIS
DISCUSSION. WE ALL HAVE THE SAME
SHARED VALUE TO END. FENTANYL
DEATHS AND DRUG ABUSE. AND TO
SAY THAT ONE SIDE OF THE AISLE
TO THE OTHER DOESN'T UM DOES NOT
GIVE US CREDIT. ONE OF THE
REASONS WHY I WENT AHEAD AND
DECIDED TO HAVE THIS HEARING. SO
THAT YOU COULD SEE HOW
COMPLICATED IS TO GO THROUGH ALL
THE MASTER NATIONS OF WHAT WE
NEED TO DO. BUT I DIDN'T KNOW
THAT EVERYBODY ON THIS PANEL
GIVING THIS A DELIBERATIVE
PROCESS. BUT A LOT OF TIMES IN
THIS PROCESS IS NOT LONG ENOUGH
FOR US TO TALK ABOUT IT FULLY.
MHM LIKE YOUR BILL. LOOK, I WAS
A MORTICIAN. DOING A CRACK
COCAINE CRISIS. I'M NOT A
MURDERER MORTICIAN RIGHT NOW
BECAUSE OF THE CRACK COCAINE
CRISIS. TO SEE A LITTLE BABY.
CASKET. BECAUSE OF CRACK
COCAINE. GOOD. BECAUSE OF WHAT
THE PARENTS DID OR DIDN'T DO.
THE FACT THAT IT WENT OFF LIKE A
BOMB. IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY.
THERE ARE PEOPLE HERE. MOSTLY ON
THIS SIDE. THAT YOU LOOK AT. I
KNOW WHERE MOSTLY PEOPLE OF
COLOR BUT WHERE PEOPLE OF COLOR
THAT WERE HURT. OUR COMMUNITY
WAS DECIMATED. BY THE WAR ON
DRUGS. WE CAN TEACH YOU WHAT
IT'S LIKE TO GO THROUGH THIS. I
KNOW FOR A LOT IN SUBURBIA.
RIGHT NOW. YOU'RE EXPERIENCING
THIS FOR THE FIRST TIME. PEOPLE
HERE. CAN TELL YOU HOW
DEVASTATING IT WAS. AND HOW
DEVASTATING IT STILL IS TODAY IN
THEIR COMMUNITIES. THE LONG
LASTING EFFECT. IT'S TREMENDOUS.
AND. TO LOSE LOVED ONES LIKE I
THINK EACH OF US HERE I CAN TELL
YOU LOVED ONES THAT WE'VE LOST.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE REALLY SAYING IS
GIVE US AN OPPORTUNITY. TO SHARE
THAT WITH YOU. SO THAT WE CAN
HAVE A SHARED UNDERSTANDING OF
WHAT NEEDS TO MOVE FORWARD. I'M
LOOKING AT ALL THE IMMEDIATE
THINGS THAT WE CAN DO, AND
THAT'S WHAT I WANTED TO TALK
ABOUT. IN MAY WHETHER IT'S
TESTING ILLEGAL SUBSTANCES
WITHOUT THE FEAR. AS WE SAID FOR
MY VICE CHAIR ABOUT THE FEAR OF
PROSECUTION, PROVIDE BROAD
ACCESS TO OVERDOSE ANTIDOTES
SUCH AS NARCAN FOR FENTANYL SO
WE CAN IMMEDIATELY REDUCE
IMMEDIATELY REDUCE THE NUMBER OF
PEOPLE WHO DIE OF FENTANYL
DEATHS. WE COULD PROMOTE HARM
REDUCTION TECHNIQUES. PROVIDE
MORE RECOVERY CLINICS. BUT MOST
IMPORTANT. LET'S TALK ABOUT
MASSIVE FUNDING. TO PROMOTE
THESE EFFORTS. TO ENSURE. BUT
THE NEXT GENERATION LONG AFTER
ALL OF US ARE GONE. BUT THE NEXT
PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE THAT
MEETS 10 YEARS 20 YEARS, 30
YEARS FROM NOW. NOT HAVING THE
SAME. DISCUSSION. WHAT YOU'RE
HEARING FROM ALL OF US ON BOTH
SIDES. WE WANT TO END THIS. WE
REALLY DO WANT TO END THIS ONCE
AND FOR ALL. AND SO I STILL I
WOULD LIKE TO I INVITE YOU, UM
AS THEY OFFERED TO BE PART OF
THE DISCUSSION. AS WE MOVE
FORWARD TO ME. UM I BEG YOU TO
BE PART OF THAT DISCUSSION. AND
YOUR WITNESSES. BECAUSE IT'S
GOING TO TAKE ALL HANDS ON DECK
TO GET THIS, UH TO MOVE THIS
FORWARD. AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU
ENTERTAIN. EVEN HAVING US TAKING
THIS YOUR YOUR BILL TO AN
INTERIM STUDY. SO THAT WE CAN BE
PART YOU CAN BE PART OF THAT MAY
DISCUSSION. UM BUT IF YOU'RE NOT
SO INCLINED, AND YOU WANT TO DO
AN UP OR DOWN VOTE, I
UNDERSTAND, UM BUT AS YOU CAN
SEE, WE ALSO, UM WE'RE NOT WE'RE
NOT THE KIND OF COMMITTEE THAT
JUST SAYS WE'RE GOING TO THROW
AWAY IN THE IDEA. UM TODAY WE
RESURRECTED AN IDEA. THAT DIED
IN THIS COMMITTEE AND WE BROUGHT
IT BACK. AND WE WERE ABLE TO
MOVE IT FORWARD WITH SOME MORE
EXAMINATION STUDY. ON IT. SO, UM
. WHERE WE'RE JUST TRYING TO
MAKE SURE THAT THIS IS NOT AS AS
MY VICE CHAIR IS SAYING. LET'S
TAKE DOWN THE TEMPERATURE.
BECAUSE THE ONLY PEOPLE THAT
WHEN THEY WERE FIGHTING ARE THE
DRUG DEALERS. THEY'RE THE
WINNERS WHEN WE GO AT ONE
ANOTHER. THEY TRULY ARE. SO
LET'S FIGURE OUT A WAY. THAT WE
CAN WORK TOGETHER. FINALLY. TO
PUT THEM OUT OF BUSINESS. REALLY
WORK ON THE DEMAND SIDE. BECAUSE
I THINK WHAT YOU'RE HEARING FROM
A LOT OF MEMBERS HERE. WELL WE
GOT TO PUT MORE RESOURCES IN THE
DEMAND SIDE. SO THAT WE CAN
EFFECTIVELY IN THIS FOREVER. UM
SO I'M GONNA GET OFF MY SO FAR.
BUT I THOUGHT IT WOULD LEAST PUT
THAT OUT THERE. UM, ACTUALLY I
THINK I'VE SEEN HOW, UM MEMBERS
OF THIS COMMITTEE FEEL AND I
ALSO THOUGHT IT WAS VERY
IMPORTANT FOR EVERYONE TO
UNDERSTAND. THE MEMBERS, TRUE
FEELINGS AND THAT THEY HAVE A
HEART ABOUT THIS, AND THEY DO
CARE ON BOTH SIDES. GENERALLY DO
CARE. WE ALL HAVE MAY HAVE
DIFFERENT IDEAS OF HOW TO
RESOLVE IT. BUT WE WANT TO
RESOLVE IT. AND WITH THAT, I
WILL. CAN I JUST BACK TO THE
CONCEPT OF THE INTERIM STUDY? UM
I'M LOOKING AT AND HAVE KIND OF
TALKED TO MY COLLEAGUES ON THE
IN THE PUBLIC HEALTH SPACE IN
THE PRIVACY, SPACE AND OTHERS. I
THINK WE HAVE SOMETHING LIKE 20
TO 25 BILLS THAT ARE GOING
THROUGH OTHER COMMITTEES
DIRECTLY TO THE FENTANYL CRISIS
. SO FOR US TO NOT TAKE A MORE
COMPREHENSIVE LOOK AT YOU KNOW?
THIS PARTICULAR BILL, WHICH I
BEGAN BACK TO BEHAVIOR. THERE
ARE DIFFERENT APPROACHES TO
CHANGE BEHAVIOR. UM, I BELIEVE
THAT THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO
LOOK AT THIS. WHAT THE AUTHOR IS
NOBLY TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH
WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF HOW WE
CHANGE BEHAVIORS FROM A PUBLIC
HEALTH PERSPECTIVE. AS WELL.
WHICH IS WHY I WOULD ALSO
IMPLORE THE AUTHOR TO THINK
ABOUT. THIS INTERIM STUDY.
CONCEPT THAT THE CHAIR HAS
OFFERED. I KNOW. NEVER PUT ME ON
THE SPOT. SORRY. OKAY? SO I'VE
TRIED TO TAKE BEAUTIFUL NOTES OF
WHAT? MY COLLEAGUES YOU KNOW WHO
I HAVE WORKED TO GET, MOST OF
WHICH I'VE WORKED TOGETHER FOR
MANY YEARS. UM AND I APPRECIATE
THE CONCERN WHERE THE COMMITTEE
IS COMING FROM. IT'S THE SAME.
YOU KNOW, I'VE STRUGGLED WITH
THIS ONE, TOO. IS YOU KNOW, HOW
DO WE GET AT THIS PROBLEM? FROM
A HOLISTIC STANDPOINT? UM I MADE
A FEW NOTES AND I'LL GO THROUGH.
TRY TO RESPOND TO SOME OF THE
COMMENTS. YOU KNOW, I RAISED MY
DAUGHTERS. AS A SINGLE DAD. UM I
HAVE TWO DAUGHTERS WHO ARE IN
THIS AGE GROUP, AND THIS IS
TERRIFYING. IT'S TERRIFYING THAT
THEY COULD GO OUT TO A PARTY. UM
AND JUST TAKE A TYLENOL. YEAH.
AND THAT'S IT. THE LAST TIME I
SEE HIM SO YOU KNOW? WHERE I
STARTED WITH. THIS WAS AS A
SINGLE FATHER. AND THE
CONVERSATIONS I WAS HAVING TO
HAVE WITH MY DAUGHTERS. YOU KNOW
, WE TALK ABOUT DRUGS. WE TALK
ABOUT ALCOHOL FROM A VERY YOUNG
AGE LIKE WE'RE SUPPOSED TO DO,
BUT FENTANYL HAS BROUGHT A WHOLE
NEW AVENUE TO IT. BECAUSE NOW IT
MAKES ANYTHING YOU INGEST
WHATSOEVER. POSSIBLY KILL YOU,
INCLUDING TOM, REGULAR
PAINKILLER THAT MOST OF US TAKE
EVERY DAY TAKE QUITE OFTEN. SO
THAT'S WHERE THIS STARTED. I
AGREE TO. IT'S IT IS A PUBLIC
HEALTH ISSUE. NO QUESTION. I
DON'T THINK WE NEED TO TAKE AN
EITHER OR APPROACH. I DO THINK
WE CAN DO. YOU KNOW, KIND OF
WALK INTO GUM AT THE SAME TIME.
I THINK THAT'S PART OF IT. I
THINK THAT'S PART OF SOMETHING
THAT THIS COMMITTEE IN THIS
LARGER BODY IS GOING TO HAVE TO
CONSIDER ALL OF US. ALL 80 OF US
ARE GOING TO HAVE TO CONSIDER AS
WE MOVE FORWARD ON THIS I WANT.
YES I ABSOLUTELY WILL BE A PART
OF THE FURTHER DISCUSSION. MR.
CHAIR THANK YOU FOR THE
INVITATION. I'D LOVE TO DO THAT,
AND I'D LOVE TO LOOK AT IT FROM
ALL ALL THE DIFFERENT WAYS WE
ARE GOING TO HAVE TO LOOK AT
THIS. THERE'S NOT A SILVER
BULLET THAT'S GOING TO SOLVE
THIS. THERE'S JUST NOT UM, IT
DOESN'T. YOU KNOW, A COUPLE OF
THE COMMENTS ARE MADE. I DO WANT
TO RESPOND TO JUST IN THE ERA OF
THOROUGHNESS. I UNDERSTAND. I
ALSO CAN COUNT. I COULD COUNT AS
I STARTED THIS BILL AS CERTAINLY
CAN COUNT HERE TODAY. THE
ALTHOUGH CASES DIFFERENT, IT'S
ACTUALLY DIFFERENTIATED ON ITS
FACTS THAT THIS THIS FOR CLARITY
THIS DOES NOT IN ANY WAY AFFECT
THAT CASE. IT DOES NOT AFFECT
JUVENILES, AND THERE'S NO
NOTHING AUTOMATIC ABOUT IT.
THERE'S NO THERE'S NO THIS. THIS
ISN'T AN AUTOMATIC ENHANCEMENT.
THERE'S A NUMBER OF PRECAUTIONS
ALONG THE WAY TO MAKE SURE THAT
THIS DOESN'T CONTINUE ON ANY
SORT OF BASIS WITHOUT AN
OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW IT BASED
ON THE INDIVIDUAL FACTS OF
CERTAIN CASES, I DO APPRECIATE
MAYOR GLORIA BEING IN SUPPORT. I
HAVE TO STICK UP FOR MY CITY A
LITTLE BIT. WE'RE NOT A LITTLE
BACKWATER CITY WHERE THE SEVENTH
LARGEST CITY IN THE COUNTRY. AND
THESE ARE VERY REAL PROBLEMS
HAPPENING ON THE GROUND. MAYBE
YOU DODGER FANS. YOU THINK THAT
, BUT, UM WE'RE A LARGE CITY,
VERY DIVERSITY, LARGE CITY WHO'S
STRUGGLING WITH THIS UP AND DOWN
NORTH TO SOUTH EAST TO WEST
ACROSS SAN DIEGO, AND CERTAINLY
I THINK, YOU KNOW, HAVING
PARTNERED WITH THE MAYOR ON THIS
IN THE THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S
IMPORTANT TO OUR CITY INTO OUR
REGION. I LOOK FORWARD TO BEING
A PART OF UH, PART OF THE
DISCUSSION, YOU KNOW? ASKING TO
SORT OF AMENDED ON THE FLY. I
MEAN, I SORT OF FEEL LIKE, YOU
KNOW, LOOK, I CAN COUNT TO WE'RE
HERE. UM I HAVE A PRETTY GOOD
IDEA HOW THIS IS GOING TO GO. UM
I'M HAPPY THAT THIS CONTINUES TO
BE STUDIED. BUT YOU KNOW, I
THINK AT THE POINT WE'RE AT NOW
HAD BEEN APPROACHED ON THIS
EARLIER. MAYBE YOU KNOW, MAYBE
WE COULD WORK SOMETHING OUT. BUT
SORT OF SITTING HERE TODAY. I'VE
HAD MY WITNESS COME UP, I THINK
IN FAIRNESS TO THE MAYOR, AND AH
MIRROR GLORIA AND THE CITY OF
STANDING GOES WELL, I THINK YOU
KNOW, I JUST ASSUME I GUESS
WE'LL GO AHEAD AND VOTE ON IT.
UM AND THEN WE CAN BE A PART OF
YOU KNOW, WHATEVER STUDY YOU
WANT TO BE A PART OF? I
CERTAINLY WILL PARTICIPATE IN
CERTAINLY WILL, UH, PROVIDE THE
RESOURCES FROM MY OFFICE AND MY
CITY TO BE HELPFUL ON THAT. OKAY
BUT WITH THAT I DO. THANK YOU,
MR CHAIR. YOU KNOW, I DO ENJOY.
WORKING WITH YOU. EVEN WHEN
SOMETIMES THE RESULTS DON'T GO
THE WAY MAYBE THAT I WOULD LIKE
I DO APPRECIATE WORKING WITH YOU
APPRECIATE THE COMMENTS OF THIS
COMMITTEE AND MY COLLEAGUES. AND
WITH THAT, I GUESS THAT WOULD BE
MY CLOTHES. TO MAKE CALLED ROYAL
THE WHAT? OH I GUESS I GET A
MOTION. HE WANTS TO VOTE, OKAY?
WE NEED A MOTION IN YOUR SECOND.
ON A B 3 67 BY SOME REMEMBER
MAIENSCHEIN. THE MOTION IS DUE
PASTOR, THE APPROPRIATIONS
COMMITTEE JOHN SAWYER, JOHN
SAWYER. NO COLONIES. BONTA
VOTING, NOT VOTING. BRIAN BRIAN
, NOT VOTING LACKEY. I ORTEGA OR
TAKEN, NOT VOTING. SANTIAGO
SANTIAGO NOT VOTING FOR ZIPPER,
NOT VOTING CHANGE, MIND NOT
VOTING. JOHN SAWYER NO TO NOT
VOTING MEASURE FAILS. THANK YOU,
YOUR HONOR WITH THE
RECONSIDERATION. SURE. AND
RECONSIDERATION. JOHN SAWYER, I
ELONIS. I BEGAN TO BUT ER I
BRIAN, BRIAN, I LAKI LAKI. AYE,
ORTEGA. ORTEGA I SANTIAGO
SANTIAGO EISENBERG ZUBER. AYE.
CONSIDERATION, BUT GRANTED.
THANK YOU, MR PATTERSON. I KNOW
YOU'VE BEEN PATIENT. I APOLOGIZE
. I KNOW YOU WERE HERE. FIRST
ITEM NUMBER SIX. I'M SORRY. YES
I HAVE TWO PATERSON SITTING
HERE. WHICH ONE IS THIS? JIM
PAIR. MAYBE. 10 58 ITEM NUMBER
SIX.
AGAIN. I THANK YOU FOR WAITING.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.
UH, TO PRESENT TO PUT A LITTLE
CONTEXT TO MY WORK AND CONCERNS
WITH RESPECT. DEFENDING THOUGH I
WOULD LIKE TO REMIND THIS
COMMITTEE OF A B 23 65. IT
PASSED OUT OF THIS COMMITTEE AND
WENT TO THE FLOOR SIGNED BY THE
GOVERNOR. THIS CREATED SIX AREAS
TO IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA TO AND
CENTRAL CALIFORNIA. AND TWO IN
THE, UH NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
AREA. UH THE GOVERNOR SIGNED THE
BILL. WE ASKED FOR $3 MILLION
FOR THESE GRANTS. WE GOT FIVE
MILLION THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
IS VERY INTERESTED IN IT. THEY
APPRECIATE AND SO I WANTED YOU
TO KNOW THAT I COME AT THIS IN A
MORE HOLISTIC APPROACH. YEAH. A
B 23 65 WAS BASED ON A
COOPERATION OF NOT JUST LAW
ENFORCEMENT BUT OF EDUCATION,
HEALTHCARE. PEOPLE WHO ARE
TRYING TO GET ADDICTS FREE. UH
AND COMMUNICATING. Tð
PARTICULARLY KIDS IN THE IDIOM
AND IN THE MARKETPLACE. THAT
THEY UNDERSTAND AND THEY WILL
HEAR AND LISTEN TO AND SO I
THINK IT IS IMPORTANT. THAT WE
DO HOLISTIC KINDS OF THINGS. BUT
WE FACED WITH SOMETHING IN
FRESNO AND OTHER PLACES. WHICH
IS BECAUSE FENTANYL HAS SUCH A
HIGH KILL POWER WITH SUCH A
SMALL AMOUNT. OFTEN TIMES WHEN A
DEALER WHO HAS 2000 PILLS. IS UH
, INTERDICTED, AND THERE ARE
ARRESTS THAT ARE BEING MADE. UH,
THEY CAN'T. GET TO A FELONY.
IT'S A MISDEMEANOR, AND SO WE
HAVE INSTANCES IN FRESNO COUNTY
, WHERE SOMEONE WITH 1000 PILLS
OR 1500 PILLS ARE THERE OUT IN
TWO DAYS. SO WHAT WE'VE TRIED TO
DO WITH THIS BILL IS TO
RATIONALIZE THE KILL POWER. OF
FENTANYL AND THE KILL POWER, FOR
EXAMPLE OF A KILO, UM AND IT'S
IMPOSSIBLE TO GET TO A WEIGHT.
UM IF WE DON'T MOVE, MOVE,
CHANGE THAT WEIGHT. UM AND SO WE
TRIED WITH PROFESSIONALS AND, UH
PEOPLE IN IN IN ADDICT.
TREATMENT, THOSE KINDS OF THINGS
TRY TO COME UP WITH A WITH A
RATIONALIZATION OF THIS. AND
WHAT WE MEAN BY THAT. IS WE
DON'T WANT TO TOUCH THE ADDICT.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME WE DON'T
WANT THAT ADDICTS. DRUG DEALER.
TO HAVE A MISDEMEANOR WITH 2000
PILLS IN THIS POSSESSION. AND SO
WE TRY TO FIND A BALANCE HERE.
WHAT AND SO WHAT? WE ARE REALLY
WANTING TO DO IS TARGET DRUG
DEALERS HERE AND YOU HAVE HEARD
KINGPINS AND ALL OF THAT SAID
BEFORE AND SO IF THERE IF A
DEALER IS UH, DETAINED WITH, SAY
28, OR 30 MG. FENTANYL. THAT
TRANSLATES INTO MAYBE 200 PILLS
A LITTLE OVER 200 PILLS. SO TO
BE CLEAR THE TYPICAL OPIOID
ADDICTED INDIVIDUAL IT ISN'T
CARRYING AROUND 200 PILLS. THEY
HAVE A COUPLE OR MAYBE THEY'RE
PICKING IT UP FROM CIRCUMSTANCES
AND PARTIES OR WHATEVER. HAPPENS
SO WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT
WE GOT TO A PLACE WHERE IT WAS
CLEAR. THAT THE PARTICULAR
DEALER IS ONE OF THESE. GANG
MEMBER CARTELS ENGAGED IN THIS
FOR PROFIT AND SET THAT BAR AT
220 SOME ODD PILLS, SOMETHING
LIKE THAT. AND WE WERE ABLE TO
TALK WITH, UH PEOPLE WHO HELP
ADDICTS ALL THE TIME IN FRESNO
THAT FLINT ANDERSON IS HERE THAT
WONDERFUL PROGRAM. UM AND SO
WHAT WE HAVE BEFORE YOU AND I
WANTED TO PUT IT IN CONTEXT WITH
23 65. THAT WE CAN DO BOTH. AND
WE CAN WISELY. UH JUDGE HOW MUCH
IS A DEALER? UH, WITH 1000 PILLS
, HURTING PEOPLE AND KILLING
THEM. BUT AT THE SAME TIME WE
WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T
TURN THE ADDICT IN INTO, UM.
YEAH AND HAVE A HAVE A FELONY
PENALTY. BUT AT THE SAME TIME,
YOU CAN UNDERSTAND THE PAIN OF
PEOPLE AND THE HERD OF PEOPLE.
WHOSE KIDS ARE LOVED ONES HAVE
BEEN TAKEN. BY A DRUG DEALER WHO
HAS 2000 PILLS, 3000 PILLS. AND
YET CAN'T GET TO THAT KILO
WEIGHT. AND THEY'RE INTERDICTED
AND THERE. ON A MISDEMEANOR AND
THEY'RE RIGHT BACK. SO IF WE
CARE ABOUT THE ADDICTS THEN I
THINK WE NEED TO ALSO CARE THAT
WE SHELTER THEM A BIT FROM UH,
BEING TOSSED INTO A FELONY. BUT
AT THE SAME TIME TAKE A GOOD
HARD LOOK AT THOSE WHO HAVE A
LOT. AND IN THEIR POSSESSION. UM
. AND SO THAT'S THAT'S THE
FRAMEWORK HERE. AND SO I'M
ASKING YOU TO THINK A LITTLE BIT
IN TERMS OF IT IS PART OF CARING
FOR ADDICTS. PUTTING SOMETHING
TOGETHER THAT MAYBE SEPARATES
THEM SIGNIFICANTLY FROM. THE
VICTIMS THAT THEY'RE THEY'RE
SELLING THIS TOO, AND SO WE
TRIED TO FIND A SWEET SPOT WHICH
PROTECTED ADDICTS. BUT AT THE
SAME TIME IF YOU'VE GOT 34 500
PILLS OR MORE THEN I THINK THAT
THERE IS A RATIONAL AH CASE TO
BE MADE THAT THAT OUGHT TO KICK
OVER INTO AH! THAT'S THE KIND OF
PENALTIES THAT THAT I THINK DRUG
DEALERS DESERVE BUT WITHOUT
TOUCHING THOSE THAT ARE VOTE WE
AND I THINK I BRING A B 23 65 IN
FRONT TO REMIND YOU THAT THIS IS
A PART OF MY HEART AS WELL.
WHICH WAS TO EDUCATE TO HAVE
HELPED PEOPLE WORKING ON IT.
THOSE KINDS OF THINGS. UM AND SO
I'M ASKING YOU TO CONSIDER. THIS
MAY BE A REACH A STEP FOR SOME
OF YOU. BUT I HOPE THAT YOU WILL
UNDERSTAND THAT WE TRIED TO
NARROW THIS IN A WAY, WHICH DID
NOT CAPTURE THE. OH OCCASIONAL
USER WITH 23 PILLS AND THE LIKE.
WE THINK THE THRESHOLD WORKS. UM
COULD BE OPEN TO RAISING THE
THRESHOLD A LITTLE BIT MORE. WHO
KNOWS? BUT I DO THINK THAT THERE
HAS TO BE A PLACE. FOR THE DRUG
DEALER WITH LOTS OF PILLS WITH
LOTS OF KILL POWER TO HAVE TO
HAVE SOME CONSEQUENCES WITH
RESPECT TO WHAT IS HONESTLY, UH
, A CRIME THAT I THINK DESERVES.
AH! FELONY STATUS AND THAT
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO.
AND I HOPE YOU UNDERSTAND THAT
THAT WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE THAT
DISTINCTION. UM I HAVE WITH US
TO TESTIFY, SUPPORTED THE PAMELA
SMITH DEPARTMENT. YEAH PD? YEAH
PAMELA SMITH WITH PARENTS AND
ADDICTS IN NEED. DEAN CARDINAL
IS A MEMBER OF THE PRESIDENT,
PRESIDENT, POLICE DEPARTMENTS.
FENTANYL OVERDOSE RESOLUTION
TEAM AND, IN FACT, A LOT OF WHAT
MR CARDINAL DOES AND WHAT PAIN
DOES HAS BEEN PART OF THIS
COMPREHENSIVE, EDUCATIONAL, UH,
WORK ON MAKING SURE THAT THAT WE
COULD TAKE CARE OF ADDICTS AND
HELP THEM BUT ALSO WORN AND
INSTRUCT AND INFORM YOUNG PEOPLE
, PARTICULARLY AN IDIOMATIC
SETTINGS AND MEDIA THAT THEY
UNDERSTAND AND THEY AND THEY GET
THEY GET THE MESSAGE. ONE PILL
CAN KILL, SO I THINK THERE'S A
HARMONY COMBINATION. OF EFFORTS.
WE JUST CAN'T LET THE DRUG
DEALERS WITH 2000 PILLS AND PART
OF A BIG SUPPLY. JUST CONTINUE
TO DO IT. IT'S SORT OF THIS
PERVERSE. INCENTIVE. AH, FOR
COCAINE AND HEROIN DEALERS TO
THINK. WELL, WHY DON'T I GET
INTO THE BUSINESS OF FENTANYL?
BECAUSE I CAN DO A WHOLE LOT
WITH WITH A LOT OF THIS.
THOUSANDS OF PILLS AND ONLY FACE
A MISDEMEANOR, SO THAT'S WHAT
WE'RE TRYING TO DO. I HOPE
THERE'S A SENSITIVITY WITH WITH
WITH RESPECT TO THE SHARPENING
THE PENCIL AND TRYING TO WORK
THIS THROUGH. UM AND WITH THAT,
I'M GOING TO ASK PANEL. SMITH
TOO. TESTIFY TWO MINUTES AS I
UNDERSTAND 2.5 2.5, AND THEN YOU
CAN DO THREE AND HE HAS TO, THEN
WHATEVER YOU WANT TO $5 TOTAL,
UH, BECAUSE I THINK HE HAS A
SIGNIFICANT HISTORY IN FRESNO
WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AS
WELL AS THE FENTANYL OVERDOSE
RESOLUTION TEAM, AND SO MUCH OF
WHAT YOU SEE IN A B 23 65 HAS
COME ABOUT WITH THIS
COLLABORATION IN FRESNO. THAT IS
A WHOLE LOT MORE THAN JUST
INCARCERATION. THANK YOU, MR
PRESIDENT. WE'RE ANXIOUSLY
WAITING. MAYBE THAT THANK YOU.
MEMBERS OF THE WITH PAMELA
FIRST, OKAY? WELL, FIRST OF ALL,
I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU, UM TO THE
COMMITTEE FOR SETTING THE
HEARING AND LISTENING TO THESE
VERY IMPORTANT FENTANYL BILLS
TODAY. MY NAME IS PAMELA SMITH.
AND I'M FROM FRESNO. MY SON,
JACKSON SMITH. DIED FROM A
FINANCIAL OVERDOSE ON JULY 3RD
2016 AT THE AGE OF 22. IN THE
EARLY MORNING HOURS OF JULY,
3RD. I RECEIVED A CALL. FROM THE
PERSON THAT WAS WITH HIM WHO
TOLD ME THAT SHE HAD TO CALL
911. BECAUSE HE WASN'T
BREATHING. SO WE RACED DOWN TO
SAINT AGNES HOSPITAL EMERGENCY
ROOM WHERE I MET WITH THE ER,
DOCTOR. WHO TOLD ME WE HAVE BEEN
WORKING ON HIM. FOR OVER AN
HOUR. AND THERE'S NOTHING MORE
WE CAN DO. HE THEN ASKED ME IF I
WANTED TO SEE JACKSON. AND OF
COURSE, I SAID YES. SO HE
ESCORTED ME INTO TRAUMA ROOM
ONE. THE ROOM THAT HAS ALL THE
LIFESAVING EQUIPMENT IN IT. AND
IT WAS FILLED WITH DOCTORS AND
NURSES. AND THERE WAS A VERY
LARGE MALE NURSE STRADDLING MY
SON, GIVING HIM CHEST
COMPRESSIONS TRYING TO SAVE HIS
LIFE. WITHIN. SECONDS OF ME
ENTERING THAT ROOM. THE DOCTOR
SAID. TIME OF DEATH. 3 18. I
URGE YOU TO PASS A B 10 58. SO
DEALERS WHO SELL FENTANYL WILL
FACE THE PENALTIES THAT THEY
DESERVED. I SUPPORT THIS BILL
BECAUSE IT'S SPECIFICALLY
DOESN'T TARGET ADDICTS OR CASUAL
USERS LIKE MY SON, JACKSON. HE
ONLY BOUGHT ONE PILL THAT DAY.
AND IT COST HIM HIS LIFE. THESE
DRUG DEALERS AND MANUFACTURERS
OF FENTANYL DON'T CARE. HOW MANY
PEOPLE THEY KILL OR HOW MANY
LIVES THEY RUINED. SINCE
JACKSON'S DEATH HAVE MADE IT MY
MISSION TO FIGHT AGAINST
FENTANYL AND THE OPIOID CRISIS
TO EDUCATE OUR COMMUNITY THAT
THIS CAN HAPPEN ANYWHERE TO ANY
FAMILY. I WORK AT A NONPROFIT IN
FRESNO CALLED PAIN PARENTS AND
ADDICTS AND NEED ALONG WITH
FOUNDER FLINT ANDERSON. AND
WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING IN OUR
POWER TO SAVE LIVES. AND I HOPE
TODAY. THAT YOU'LL DO THE SAME.
BECAUSE NOW IS THE TIME TO ACT.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. MEMBERS OF
THE PUBLIC SAFETY ASSEMBLY. MY
NAME IS DEAN CARNALLY. I'M A
DETECTIVE WITH THE FRESNO POLICE
DEPARTMENT AND HAVE BEEN THERE
FOR 27 YEARS. I WORKED IN THE
FIELD OF NARCOTICS FOR THE PAST
16 YEARS. I'VE SEEN THE DAMAGE
AND DESTRUCTION THAT DRUGS HAVE
DONE TO NEIGHBORHOODS, FAMILIES
AND INNOCENT LIVES LOST BECAUSE
DEALERS SEEK TO MANIPULATE AND
EXPLOIT INNOCENT PEOPLE FOR
FINANCIAL GAIN. I LEAD A TASK
FORCE CALLED THE FENTANYL
OVERDOSE RESOLUTION TEAM BETTER
KNOWN AS FORT, WHICH IS THE
FOCUS TO RESPOND OUT TO FENNEL
OVERDOSE AND OVERDOSE DEATHS
WHEN THEY HAPPEN ALMOST LIKE A
HOMICIDE SQUAD, 24 7. WE
RESPONDED OUT TO AND NORMALLY
RESPOND OUT TO KIDS BETWEEN THE
AGES OF 16 AND 21. OVER THE PAST
THREE YEARS, THE FORCES
RESPONDED OUT TO OVER 100,
FENTANYL, 180 FENNEL OVERDOSE
AND OVER 90 DEATHS. THE TEAM HAS
MADE OVER 80 ARRESTS, WHICH
INVOLVED THE DEALS, PROVIDING
FITTING ON NARCOTICS TO THE
VICTIMS FOR FINANCIAL GAIN.
JOURNEYS ARRESTS AND INTERVIEWS
NONE OF THESE DEALERS OR DRUG
ADDICTS. THE DEAL IS WE ARE
FOCUSING ON ARE NOT USERS, THEY
SEEK TO MAKE MONEY AT THE
EXPENSE OF PEOPLE'S AGONY AND
ADDICTION. IN MARCH, 2020 THE
FIRST CASE THAT LED TO THE
CREATION OF THE 14, THE FEDERAL
OVERDOSE RESOLUTION TEAM BEGAN,
WHICH INVOLVED A HIGH SCHOOL
SENIOR SELLING FENTANYL PILLS TO
FELLOW STUDENTS AND CAUSING
STUDENTS TO OVERDOSE. BUILDING A
CASE AGAINST THIS DEAL OR LEAD
TO THE SOURCE WHO SOLD FENTANYL
PILLS AND FIREARMS OVER SOCIAL
MEDIA. THIS SOURCE WAS TIED TO
THE SINALOA DRUG TRAFFICKING
ORGANIZATION WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR
HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF LIVES
LOST TO DRUGS SUCH AS FENTANYL
AND METH. A STATEMENT MADE THIS
FENTANYL DEALER FOUND FOUND IN
HIS PHONE, WHICH WE FOUND IN HIS
PHONE STATED WE ARE GOING TO
MAKE AS MANY OPIOID AND HOMELESS
KIDS AS POSSIBLE. ANOTHER
MISSION OF THE FORT IS TO
EDUCATE THE PUBLIC AND THE
VICTIMS OF THE DANGERS OF
FENTANYL. WE ACCOMPLISHED THIS
THROUGH PRESENTATIONS AT SCHOOLS
, BILLBOARDS, PIZZAS AND
NOMINATED DOCUMENTARY CALLED
KILLER HIGH, THE SILENT CRISIS.
ON APRIL, 21ST GOVERNOR GAVIN
NEWSOM ANNOUNCED A NEW
PARTNERSHIP WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT
TO ASSIST WITH THE ONGOING
EFFORTS TO ADDRESS THE STATE'S
FINANCIAL FENTANYL CRISIS,
ACCORDING TO THE GOVERNOR OF THE
AGREEMENT BETWEEN ALL FOUR
AGENCIES WILL FOCUS ON
DISMANTLING FENTANYL TRAFFICKING
AND DISRUPTING THE SUPPLY OF THE
DAILY DRUG IN THE CITIES BY
HOLDING OPERATORS OF LARGE SCALE
DRUG TRAFFICKING OR OPERATIONS
ACCOUNTABLE. PASSING A B 10 58
WILL ASSIST THE GOVERNOR AND HIS
MISSION WOULD STOPPING THE
FENTANYL CRISIS BY HOLDING
FENTANYL DEALERS ACCOUNTABLE. I
WANT TO THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
ANY OTHER WITNESSES IN SUPPORT.
NAME AND ORGANIZATION. MR CHAIR
MEMBERS, COREY SPOUSAL ON BEHALF
OF THE CALIFORNIA STATE
SHERIFF'S ASSOCIATION AND
SUPPORT. KIM STONE STONE
ADVOCACY ON BEHALF OF THE
CALIFORNIA DISTRICT ATTORNEYS
ASSOCIATION AND SUPPORT. JEREMY
CARL LONDON ON BEHALF OF CRIME
VICTIMS UNITED IN SUPPORT. THANK
YOU. MORGAN GUY OR PLASTER
COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY IN
SUPPORT. FLINT ANDERSON, FOUNDER
OF PAIN IN SUPPORT. JOE
PATTERSON ON BEHALF OF MY COUSIN
WHO LOST HIS LIFE IN SUPPORT OF
THIS BILL. CHRIS DID HERE ON
BEHALF OF MY LATE SON, ZACHARY
DID HERE REPRESENT VICTIMS OF
ILLICIT DRUGS IN SUPPORT. THANK
YOU, SIR. SANTA NEWMAN ON BEHALF
OF MY STEPDAUGHTER, TALIA
NEWMAN. I SUPPORT THANK YOU.
FATHER OF VICTIM OVERDOSE. IT'S
MY BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTER. TODAY OR
NOT DO SUPPORT. THANK YOU, SIR.
HOST SACRAMENTO DISTRICT
ATTORNEY IN SUPPORT. THANK YOU.
LARA FRAGOSO WITH ARRIVAL LIVE
CALIFORNIA IN SUPPORT. ANGELA
WEB. THERE ARE ARRIVAL AT
CALIFORNIA AND MY SUPPORT. LARA
DEAR MOTHER EXACTED HERE FOREVER
17 IN SUPPORT. KELLY. I'M RUINED
SUPPORT. RICHARD AMARU AND
SUPPORT. NATALIE PAGE FOR MY
BROTHER PAGE WHO LOST HIS LIFE.
STEPHANIE HERRERA WITH THE IN
OUR PROJECT AND SUPPORT. TONY OR
IS THE PASTOR AND WHOLESOME IN
MY 19 YEAR OLD DIED SEPTEMBER
30TH 2021. SO LET'S GET HER
DONE. TONY IRONS, MOM OF JOSH
ARNS, WHOSE DEALER IS STILL ON
THE STREETS. I MEAN SUPPORT.
LISA SMITH CAMP, FRESNO COUNTY
DISTRICT ATTORNEY IN SUPPORT.
MICHAEL ORDO ALAMEDA COUNTY
NARCOTICS TASK FORCE AND SUPPORT
. NICOLE WARD ULLMAN ON BEHALF
OF THE ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF
SUPERVISORS AND SUPPORT IS HE
SWIMMING ON BEHALF OF THE FRESNO
COUNTY BOARD OF SURPRISES AND
SUPPORT? THANK YOU. CHAIR
MEMBERS, JONATHAN FELDMAN ON
BEHALF OF THE CALIFORNIA POLICE
CHIEFS ASSOCIATION AND SUPPORT
MATTHEW CYBERLINK ON BEHALF OF
THE ASSOCIATION FOR LOS ANGELES
DEPUTY SHERIFFS AND THE
CALIFORNIA PEACE OFFICERS
ASSOCIATION. BOTH IN SUPPORT.
THANK YOU. J C. CARPENTER
RECOVERED DRUG ACT AND UM,
REPRESENTING MANY FAMILIES WHO
HAVE LOST THEIR LIVES OF THEIR
LOVED ONES IN SUPPORT. THANK
YOU. NOW ARE THERE ANY WITNESSES
AND OPPOSITION? Dð MAKE.
GOOD MORNING CHAIR AND MEMBERS.
I WANT TO START BY ACKNOWLEDGING
JACKSON AND SAYING, I'M SORRY
FOR YOUR LOSS AND FOR EVERYBODY
ELSE IN THE ROOM. WHO'S LOST
SOMEBODY? AND THAT I UNDERSTAND
VERY DEEPLY. THE DESPERATION AND
THE DESIRE DESIRE TO DO
SOMETHING, AND I WANT TO SHARE
ALSO THAT I RECENTLY HAD A YOUNG
LOVED ONE IN MY FAMILY WHO TOOK
A DRUG AND HAD A SEIZURE AND
VERY THANKFULLY, DID NOT DIE.
BUT IT'S ALSO NOW SUFFERING FROM
PARANOIA AND WON'T GO GET HELP
BECAUSE HE'S AFRAID HE WILL BE
IN TROUBLE AND THAT IS ALSO ONE
OF THE CONSEQUENCES OF YOU KNOW,
INCREASING PENALTIES AND USING
THE CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM. AS A
RESPONSE IS THAT PEOPLE ARE ALSO
AFRAID TO DO ANYTHING TO GET ANY
KIND OF HELPER APPROACH. ANYBODY
UM FOR FURTHER ASSISTANCE. IF
THE GOAL OF. MAYBE 10 58 IS TO
SAVE LIVES. THERE ARE MANY OTHER
RESPONSES WHICH HAVE ALREADY
BEEN NAMED HERE TODAY. MANY
THINGS THAT MEMBERS OF THIS
COMMITTEE ARE EITHER CO
AUTHORING HAVE ALREADY SUPPORTED
I HAVE THE LIST OF 22 BILLS HERE
THAT ARE ADDRESSING THE FENTANYL
CRISIS IN OTHER WAYS, MANY OF
THEM AUTHORED BY REPUBLICAN
AUTHORS IS OBVIOUSLY IN MANY BY
DEMOCRATS. THERE'S MANY PEOPLE
IN THIS LEGISLATURE THAT ARE
TRULY TRYING TO DO SOMETHING,
AND I APPLAUD EVERYBODY FOR THE
WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING TO TRY
TO RESPOND TO THIS BECAUSE IT IS
IT IS NOT AN EASY ONE SIZE FITS
ALL SOLUTION. VERY CLEARLY. UM.
BUT WE ALSO KNOW THAT INCREASED
CRIMINAL PENALTIES HAVE NOT BEEN
SHOWN TO DETER DISTRIBUTION IN
PARTICULAR, AND AS THE ANALYSIS
POINTED OUT, MAYBE EVEN LESS
EFFECTIVE IN DETERRING DRUG
DEALING IN PART BECAUSE WHERE
THERE IS A MARKET THERE WILL BE
SUPPLY. RIGHT PARTICULARLY I
UNDERSTAND THE, UM SENTIMENT
THAT THIS IS TRYING TO GO AFTER
DEALERS AND NOT PEOPLE JUST IN
POSSESSION, BUT THAT IS STILL
YOU KNOW WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT
701 AND THE AMOUNT OF DRUGS
THERE THAT IS OBVIOUSLY VERY
HIGH LEVEL DISTRIBUTION. THIS IS
PRETTY MID LEVEL DISTRIBUTION.
THOSE ARE THE KINDS OF PEOPLE
DEALING DRUGS ON THE STREET THAT
ARE QUITE EASY TO REPLACE IF WE
SCOOP THEM UP AND PUT THEM IN
JAILS. SO WE DO DESPERATELY NEED
TO FOCUS ON THE DEMAND HERE AND
UNDERSTANDING. HOW DO WE EDUCATE
? HOW DO WE SAVE LIVES WITH MANY
OF THE THINGS THAT YOU ARE DOING
IN YOUR COMMUNITY? UM BUT ALSO,
WHY ARE SO MANY PEOPLE SO
DESPERATE FOR DRUGS IN OUR
SOCIETY? I MEAN, THERE ARE LIKE
COLD, DEEP CULTURAL THINGS HERE
THAT ARE NOT EASY TO SOLVE. AND
I JUST IT WON'T BE SOLVED WITH
BILLS LIKE THIS, UM I FORGOT TO
INTRODUCE MYSELF DANICA ROAD,
UM, ON BEHALF OF INITIATE
JUSTICE AND URGING OPPOSITION TO
THIS BILL. GOOD MORNING CHAIR
AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE. MY
NAME IS DR DAVID GOODMAN. I'M AN
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR AT THE
DIVISION OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
AND THAT DAVID GEFFEN SCHOOL OF
MEDICINE AT U. C. L. A UM, I'M
HERE TODAY IN RESPECTFUL
OPPOSITION OF A B 10 58. MY
VIEWS ARE THOSE OF MY OWN
EXPERTISE AND NOT OF THOSE OF MY
INSTITUTION OR THOSE OF MY
FUNDERS. I'M BOTH A CLINICIAN
AND RESEARCHER AND IN BOTH
SPEARS I SEE THE DEVASTATING
IMPACT THAT CRIMINALIZATION OF
DRUG USE HAS IN PEOPLE. THE
RESULTS ARE CLEAR LAWS LIKE ÁP
10 58 ONLY RESULT IN MASS
INCARCERATION, MATH DEATHS AND
HIGH RATES OF INFECTIOUS
DISEASES LIKE HIV AND HEPATITIS
C AND THE LIKELY OUTCOME OF A
BILL LIKE A B 10 58 PASSING IS
28.5 G RIGHT, SO DRUG DEALERS
ARE SMART. THEY HAVE GOOD
CHEMISTS. THEY'LL JUST CREATE
MORE LETHAL DRUGS, MORE POTENT
DRUGS, SMALLER DRUGS THAT WILL
BE UNDER THIS RADAR. SO BE
CAREFUL WITH THAT. AT THE SAME
TIME. THAT ALL OF MASS
INCARCERATION AND MASS OVERDOSES
ARE OCCURRING ONLY 20% OR LESS
OF PEOPLE WITH A SUBSTANCE USE
DISORDER ACTUALLY GET TREATMENT.
THIS IS DISMAL. IMAGINE IF WE
EVER SAW THIS IN BREAST CANCER,
DIABETES OR HEART DISEASE. WE
ONLY SEE THIS IN SUBSTANCE USE
DISORDERS AND WHY? BECAUSE WE
THINK IT'S SOMETHING VOLUNTARY
OR IT'S SOME KIND OF MORAL
FAILURE. ABOUT THE RESEARCH IS
CLEAR. WE KNOW THAT IT ISN'T
VOLUNTARY. PEOPLE WHO WIND UP
USING DRUGS HAVE SO MANY FACTORS
ABOVE THEM THAT LEAD THEM TO
THEIR DRUG USE WHERE THEY WERE
BORN. WHO WERE THEIR PARENTS?
WHAT WERE THEIR GENES? WHAT IS
THEIR SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS? IN
ORDER TO REDUCE THE HARM THAT
FENTANYL USE. WE NEED TO SHIFT
TO EVIDENCE BASED STRATEGIES
LIKE LOW BARRIER, EASY ACCESS TO
HEALTHCARE AND OTHER BEHAVIORAL
SERVICES. WE PROVIDE LESS
SERVICES TO PEOPLE WHO USE DRUGS
WERE, IN FACT, DO THE DECADES OF
TRAUMA THAT THESE PEOPLE FACE.
THEY NEED MORE SERVICES AND MORE
THAN JUST THE QUANTITY THEY NEED
. QUALITY OF SERVICES, DIGNIFIED
, NON STIGMATIZING SERVICES.
THAT IS WHERE WE NEED TO BE
PLACING OUR RESOURCES. I LEAD A
NIGHT OF FUNDED STUDY IN LOS
ANGELES, WHERE WE'RE EVALUATING
MOBILE HEALTH CLINICS TO TRY TO
HELP PEOPLE WHO USE DRUGS. FOR
MANY OF THESE PEOPLE. THIS IS
THE FIRST HEALTH ENCOUNTER THAT
THEY'VE EVER HAD. SO IN
CONCLUSION WE REALLY NEED TO
INVEST IN MAKING IT EASIER FOR
PEOPLE TAXES, METHADONE OR
BUPRENORPHINE OR NALOXONE. THERE
IS NO DISEASE IN AMERICA THAT
HAS MORE RESTRICTIONS FOR
TREATMENT AND SUBSTANCE USE
DISORDERS MADE UP RULES THAT
MAKE IT HARDER FOR PEOPLE TO GET
BETTER. MAYBE 10 58 ONLY INVEST
IN MORE CRIMINALIZATION, AND
THIS IS ONLY GONNA MAKE THINGS
WORSE. THANK YOU ANY OTHER
WITNESSES IN OPPOSITION?
MARCO GEORGE ON BEHALF OF THE
CALIFORNIA PUBLIC DEFENDER'S
OFFICE AND THE SAN FRANCISCO
PUBLIC DEFENDER AND OPPOSITION.
THANK YOU. AMY DUNKEL FROM
BROKEN NO MORE IN STRONG
OPPOSITION. BRENDAN WOODS,
ALBANY COUNTY PUBLIC DEFENDER
AND CALIFORNIA PUBLIC DEFENSE
ASSOCIATION IN OPPOSITION. AND
IRWIN SMART JUSTICE, CALIFORNIA
IN STRONG OPPOSITION. GLENN
BECK, ACELA BAKER CENTER FOR
HUMAN RIGHTS AND OPPOSITION.
ALICIA BENAVIDEZ LEWIS ON BEHALF
OF DRUG POLICY ALLIANCE AND
STRONG OPPOSITION. KARMA NICOLE
COX VOEPEL ACTION AND STRONG
OPPOSITION. WESLEY SAVER HEALTH
RIGHT THROUGH 60 AND OPPOSITION.
THANK YOU. ANDREW IN EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR. INSIDE GARDEN PROGRAM.
STRONG OPPOSITION. IF NOT SEE
HERNANDEZ ON BEHALF OF THE
CALIFORNIA ATTORNEYS FOR
CRIMINAL JUSTICE STATEWIDE
ASSOCIATION OF DEFENSE LAWYERS
AND OPPOSITION. MELINDA SMART
JUSTICE, CALIFORNIA IN
OPPOSITION.
SAM LEWIS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF
A R C TO ANTARCTICA POSITION AND
OPPOSITION. MY NAME IS GARY.
BERT I'M A LIFE COACH WITH ANTI
RACISM COALITION AND I'M UP IN
OPPOSITION TO A B 10 58. WOULD
YOU WOULD MCDUFFIE AND TIRED
CITIZEN COALITION OPPOSED THIS
BILL? FROM JR VARGAS WITH A R C
AND I OPPOSE THIS BILL. CARL
TANNENBAUM, RETIRED CENTER
SCHOOL POLICE OFFICER AND FOOT
SOLDIER IN THE WAR ON DRUGS. I
ADAMANTLY OPPOSE THIS BILL. I'M
RICARDO LONDON. I'M A JUVENILE
LIFE COACH FOR ANTIVIRUS
CITIZENS COALITION AND I
STRONGLY OPPOSES BILL.
RESPONDING TO THOSE WITH THE
ANTI RECIDIVISM COALITION INSIDE
GARDEN PROGRAM AND SOCIAL CHANGE
IN OPPOSITION. THANK YOU.
LAURENCE COX LEGAL SERVICES FOR
PRISONERS WITH CHILDREN. ALL OF
US ARE NON STRONGLY OPPOSED. JIM
LINDBERG FRIENDS COMMITTEE ON
LEGISLATION OF CALIFORNIA
OPPOSED. EMILY WONDER ON BEHALF
OF THE SISTER WARRIORS FREEDOM
COALITION AND YOUNG WOMEN'S
FREEDOM CENTER IN OPPOSITION.
CHARLES GREEN A R. C. I OPPOSE
THIS BILL. BURNS WITH THE ANTI
RECIDIVISM COALITION STRONGLY
OPPOSED. MELISSA COZY WITH
CALIFORNIANS FOR SAFETY AND
JUSTICE, RESPECTFUL POSITION.
SEAN GAUGE ANTI RECIDIVISM
COALITION OPPOSED. JOHN VASQUEZ
, AND WE HAVE A COMMUNITIES
UNITED FOR RESTORATIVE JUSTICE
STRONGLY OPPOSED. TYSON. THE WIN
WITH A R C STRONGLY OPPOSED.
CANDACE LEWIS WITH THE ENTIRE
CITIZEN COALITION AND I OPPOSE
JUAN MARTINEZ WITH A R C. I
OPPOSE. WE WOULD AND TYRA
CITIZEN COALITION OPPOSED.
CHANCEY COX WITH AN ANTI RACISM
COALITION. I OPPOSE. TOMMY
DELUCA WITH THE ANTI RECIDIVISM
COALITION AND I OPPOSE THIS
BILL. DURING WAR RESIDENT OF
FOLSOM TO A LITTLE OVER TWO
YEARS CLEAN FULL TIME SINGLE
FATHER, MEMBER OF ANTI
RECIDIVISM COALITION STRONGLY
OPPOSED. THEY DON'T GET OUT HERE
ON BEHALF OF LEGAL SERVICES FOR
PRISONERS WITH CHILDREN. ALSO
HERE ON BEHALF OF ALL OF US ARE
KNOWN AND STRONG OPPOSITION.
THANK YOU. PARTIES WITH LEGAL
SERVICES FOR PRISONS FOR
CHILDREN, AND ALL OF US ARE NON
SACRAMENTO CHAPTER STRONGLY
OPPOSED. THANK YOU. HELLO I'M
CHRISTINA ROBINSON. UH, I'M WITH
ALL OF US OR NONE AND COMMUNITY
ALORS. AND VICTIM OF MASS
INCARCERATION IS AMONGST
EVERYBODY ELSE IN OPPOSED THIS,
BILL. THANK YOU. MY NAME IS JACK
CASTELLO. I'M A MEMBER OF A R. C
AND I AM A STRONG OPPOSITION OF
THIS BILL. NAME IS BRIAN NANNIES
AND WHAT THEY ARE SEEING A
STRONG LOOK. I'M JAMIE CARPER,
MEMBER OF A R. C. OPPOSE THIS
BILL. MY NAME IS JOHNNY. CHAD
YVONNE. I'M WITH A R. C AND I
OPPOSE THIS BILL. THANK YOU NOW
BRING IT BACK TO COMMITTEE
MEMBERS. BRITAIN. COMMENTS OR
QUESTIONS. OH, IT'S LACKING. IF
I COULD ASK ONE OF THE WITNESSES
WITH REFERENCE TO, UH THE AMOUNT
THAT THIS BILL REFERS TO AN 28.3
G THE REFERENCES THAT MID LEVEL
UH, POSSESSION CAN YOU KIND OF
ARTICULATE IS THAT CLEARLY ABOVE
THE CELL AMOUNT. WHERE IT'S
CONSIDERED POSSESSION FOR SALE.
COULD YOU KIND OF EXPLAIN
BECAUSE MOST PEOPLE ARE REALLY
KIND OF UNFAMILIAR WITH WHAT
THAT MEASUREMENT MEANS?
ABSOLUTELY SIR, SO THAT THAT IS
MID LEVEL DRUG DEALER AND ADDICT
IS NOT GOING TO HAVE THAT MUCH
FENTANYL ON HIM AND AVERAGE
FEDERAL ADDICT NORMALLY NORMALLY
USES ABOUT 6 TO 7 FENTANYL PILLS
A DAY JUST SO THEY WON'T GET
SICK. THE AMOUNT OF FENTANYL
ANNOUNCE WITH WITH THAT WOULD BE
OVER 400 PILLS OF FENTANYL,
YOU'LL BE IN POSSESSION OF IF
YOU HAD AN OUNCE OF FENTANYL,
THAT'S WHEN IT EQUATES TO. SO
OBVIOUSLY THAT IS NOT A USABLE
AMOUNT. THAT'S THAT'S A THAT'S A
SELLABLE AMOUNT THAT SOMEBODY
THAT'S THAT'S OUT THERE SELLING
THIS STUFF TO OUR VICTIMS. YET
TO ME MID LEVEL. IS BELOW 400
PILLS. I MEAN, THAT'S A LOT
ANYWAYS, THAT I'M NOT HERE TO
ARGUE THAT POINT, BUT WHAT I DO
WANT TO STATE IS SOMETHING VERY,
VERY IMPORTANT THAT I AGREE IN
RESPECT WITH WITH THE REMARKS OF
MY COLLEAGUE OVER THERE, AND I
HIGHLY RESPECT THAT THAT WE
ACTUALLY FOCUS ON BEHAVIOR. AND
. HOWEVER LET'S BE HONEST, LACK
OF CONSEQUENCES. FOR PEDDLING
THAT NO CLEARLY WILL NOT CHANGE
BEHAVIOR AGAIN. LACK OF
CONSEQUENCES IS SOMETHING THAT'S
VERY, VERY CRITICAL. YOU CAN SAY
ALL YOU WANT THERE, SIR. BUT I
WOULD ARGUE. THAT INCREASED
CONSEQUENCES. OUR RESPONSE TO
JUSTICE DEMANDS. YOU KNOW, WE
TALK ABOUT THE ARGUMENT ABOUT
DETERRENCE. WE ALL WANT
DETERRENCE. BUT SATISFYING
FAIRNESS. IS ALSO A
CONSIDERATION AND JUSTICE. AND
TOO LITTLE CONSIDERATION IS
GIVEN TO THAT PIECE, AND IT'S
VERY FRUSTRATING. I'M VERY, VERY
EXCITED THAT I HEAR THAT WE WANT
TO UNITE ON THIS, UH, FIGHT
AGAINST FENTANYL. BUT I'M READY
TO UNITE AS LONG AS WE ARE
ACTUALLY READY TO FIGHT. FIGHT
AGAINST THE POISON. THIS IS NOT
LIKE ALL THE OTHER DRUG
CIRCUMSTANCES THAT WE'VE FACED
IN OUR SOCIETY BEFORE. THIS IS A
POISON AND MOSTLY USERS, MOST OF
THE USERS HAVE NO IDEA WHAT
THEY'RE INGESTING. THAT'S A
COMPLETELY DIFFERENT MATTER, AND
WE NEED TO FOCUS ON THIS
BEHAVIOR IN A VERY SERIOUS WAY.
AND ADDING CONSEQUENCES IS NOT
TOO MUCH TO ASK FOR. SO I WILL
BE SUPPORTING THIS BILL. NEXT.
BRYANT. THANK YOU, MR CHAIR.
FIRST. I'M INCREDIBLY SORRY FOR
YOUR LOSS. AND TO ALL THE
FAMILIES WHO ARE HERE, AND IT
TAKES A LOT OF COURAGE TO COME
TO THE CAPITAL TO TESTIFY AT
ALL. UM AND SO THANK YOU FOR
BEING WILLING TO BE A PART OF
THIS CONVERSATION AND THE MANY,
MANY CONVERSATIONS THAT THIS
BODY AND THE STATE IS GOING TO
HAVE TO HAVE GOING FORWARD.
SUBSTANCE ABUSE IS ALONG.
HISTORY IN MY FAMILY. AND WHEN I
SAY LIKE A LONG HISTORY, I MEAN
, I HAVE A LITERAL HALF DOZEN
SIBLINGS OR FETAL COCAINE OR
FETAL ALCOHOL EXPOSED. I WAS
TOLD MY ENTIRE CHILDHOOD THAT MY
GRANDMOTHER LIKELY PASSED AWAY.
FROM AN OVERDOSE. I MET HER WHEN
I WAS 18. I HAVE BEEN ADOPTED AS
A KID. SHE HAD ACTUALLY BEEN
CLEAN FOR 18 YEARS BECAUSE NOT
BEING ABLE TO KEEP ME AND RAISED
ME WAS A PART OF DRIVING FORCE
FOR HER SOBRIETY. VERY PROUD OF
THAT. AND NOW FINN NOW HAS
PLAYED A ROLE IN MY FAMILY AS
WELL. MEMBERS OF THIS COMMITTEE?
NO, I HAVE A YOUNGER BROTHER,
WHO WAS FOUND FACE DOWN IN NORTH
PARK. BECAUSE SOMETHING HE HAD
GOT WAS LACED THANKFULLY, HE
SURVIVED. BECAUSE IN THE LOCKS
AND NARCAN AND OTHER LIFE SAVING
MEDICATIONS, DO HAVE A ROLE AND
HAVE A HUGE ROLE TO PLAY IN
MAKING SURE THAT WE MITIGATE
THIS AND GET PEOPLE ACCESS TO
LIFE SAVING MEDICATION WHEN AND
IN THE EVENT OF AN OVERDOSE. I'M
GLAD WE'RE SHIFTING AWAY FROM
THE CRIMINALIZATION OF SUBSTANCE
ABUSE. ALTHOUGH NOT FOR
EVERYBODY. BUT WE KNOW THAT
CRIMINALIZING PEOPLE WHO ARE
SUFFERING FROM TRAUMA ANXIETY
AND THE STRUGGLES THAT LEAD TO
SUBSTANCE USE AND ABUSE IS NOT
THE SOLUTION. DISRUPTING THIS
CRISIS IS LETHAL E IMPORTANT BUT
WE KNOW THAT THE REPEATED
INCARCERATION HAS NOT PROVEN TO
BE THE ANSWER. FOR EVERY PERSON
YOU TAKE OFF THE STREET IF YOU
HAVEN'T DISRUPTED THE SUPPLY OR
THE DEMAND, ANOTHER PERSON WILL
FILL THAT GAP. AND LET'S BE
CLEAR. 28 G IS ONE OUNCE YOU
WILL BE TAKING A LOT OF PEOPLE
OFF THE STREET. FOR AN OUNCE IN
FACT, I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF WE
CAN CALL YOU A DRUG DEALER. IF
YOU HAVE LESS THAN AN OUNCE OF
SOMETHING ON YOU. THERE'S A LOT
THAT WE HAVE TO DO. PART OF IT
REQUIRES MASSIVE INVESTMENTS
INVESTMENTS WE'RE NOT MAKING WE
SPEND OVER $15 BILLION JUST ON
OUR STATE PRISON INFRASTRUCTURE.
THAT'S NOT COUNTING OUR JAIL
INFRASTRUCTURE. OUR LAW
ENFORCEMENT INFRASTRUCTURE, JUST
OUR PRISON INFRASTRUCTURE. $15
BILLION. WE DON'T SPEND NEARLY
THAT MUCH IN MENTAL HEALTH
SUPPORT AND CARE AND PUBLIC
HEALTH SUPPORT AND ECONOMIC
MOBILITY AND OPPORTUNITY. WE
HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO. I
CAN'T SUPPORT ANY MEASURES
TODAY. THAT FEEL LIKE AIMLESS
PATCHWORK SOLUTIONS ROOTED IN
FAILED STRATEGIES OF THE PAST.
WHEN THE PEOPLE ARE CALLING FOR
COMPREHENSIVE AND INNOVATIVE
SOLUTIONS. I SIT ON THE SELECT
COMMITTEE. IT IS LOOKING AT THIS
THROUGH ALL OF THESE
INTERSECTIONS. AS WAS MENTIONED.
THERE'S OVER TWO DOZEN BILLS
THAT ARE MOVING THROUGH THE
LEGISLATURE AND OTHER COMMITTEES
MAINLY ROOTED IN PUBLIC HEALTH.
WE'RE GONNA HEAR A BILL TODAY
THAT REQUIRES ANOTHER TASK FORCE
BE CREATED THAT BRINGS LAW
ENFORCEMENT COMMUNITY AND PUBLIC
HEALTH STAKEHOLDERS ALL TO THE
TABLE. IT BRINGS SCHOLARS TO THE
TABLE. I'M NOT GONNA DISCREDIT
YOUR WORK. I KNOW WHAT IT MEANS
TO BE AN ACADEMIC, HAVING WORKED
AT UCLA PRIOR TO BEING AN OFFICE
THAT SCHOLARSHIP THAT DATA IS
IMPORTANT IN OUR DECISIONS
SHOULD BE DRIVEN BY THAT, IN
ADDITION TO THE LIVED EXPERIENCE
OF THE FAMILIES AND THOSE WHO
HAVE BEEN IMPACTED I APPRECIATE
THE AUTHOR AND ALL WHO ARE
BRINGING LEGISLATION BEFORE THIS
BODY FOR US TO CONSIDER. AND I'M
HOPING THAT EVERYONE WILL BE A
PART OF THE CONVERSATIONS THAT
NEED TO HAPPEN. GOING FORWARD.
MY FRIEND AT U. C L. A JOHN
WOODEN, WHICH SAID DON'T MISTAKE
ACTIVITY FOR ACHIEVEMENT. THIS
BILL IS ACTIVITY. AND THE PEOPLE
DESERVE MORE. THANK YOU. WHAT
ELSE? YES. WELL, FIRST I WANT TO
THANK THE AUTHOR FOR BRINGING
THIS. BILL FORWARD, AND, UH.
MA'AM ALSO, THANK YOU FOR COMING
IN, AND I'M SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS
AS WELL AND ALL THE OTHERS. A
QUESTION CAME UP FROM THE
OPPOSITION THAT WHY WHY ARE
PEOPLE SO DESIRING THESE DRUGS?
AND I DON'T KNOW IF WE KNOW THAT
QUESTION RIGHT NOW, BUT I THINK
SITTING ON OUR HANDS RIGHT NOW
AND DOING NOTHING IS NOT THE
ANSWER. UH, I KNOW WE'VE TALKED
ABOUT MASS INCARCERATION A LOT,
AND I'VE I'M LEARNING THAT MORE
AND MORE ON THIS COMMITTEE AS
WELL. BUT I STILL THINK WE NEED
TO DO SOMETHING. AH YOU
MENTIONED, SIR, THAT LESS PEOPLE
ARE IN DRUG REHAB OR TAKING DRUG
COURSES OR DRUG. HOWEVER THEY
CAN TO GET OFF DRUGS AND I AGREE
WITH YOU. USUALLY PEOPLE GOT
DRUG TREATMENT NOT BECAUSE THEY
VOLUNTEERED, BUT BECAUSE THEY
WERE INCARCERATED. AND WE HAVE A
PROPOSITION THAT BASICALLY
ELIMINATED THAT AND I HAVE SEEN
IN MY EXPERIENCE AND MY OTHER
PROFESSIONAL CAREER THAT THAT
THEY HAVEN'T GOT THE HELP THAT
THEY NEEDED, AND THAT'S WHEN
THEY GOT THEIR HELP. I'VE
ACTUALLY BEEN THANKED FOR
ARRESTING PEOPLE BECAUSE THAT
HELPED THEM THEY WERE HITTING
THE ROCK BOTTOM AND THEY GOT THE
HELP THAT THEY NEEDED. THEY
DON'T ALWAYS KNOW THEY NEED THE
HELP. AND USUALLY THAT THE LAWS
THAT ARE MADE HERE HELPED REMIND
THEM THAT HEY, YOU'RE GONNA NEED
SOME HELP NOW, SO THAT'S WHAT I
BELIEVE THAT IS DOING, BUT I
THINK THE BIG PICTURE THAT WE'RE
MISSING HERE. ARE THE VICTIMS
RIGHTS? WE. WE? WE DON'T THINK
TOO MUCH ABOUT THE VICTIMS. WE
HAD SO MANY PEOPLE COME UP HERE
THAT SHE HOLDING PICTURES OF
THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS WHO DIDN'T
KNOW THAT WHAT THEY WERE TAKING
WAS GOING TO KILL THEM THAT DAY,
AND I THINK WE NEED TO REMEMBER
THAT ALSO BECAUSE THEY NEED TO
HAVE A STRONG VOICE IN THIS ROOM
AS WELL. I THINK WE HAVE
PROGRAMS THAT CAN HELP SOME OF
THESE PEOPLE THAT ARE
INCARCERATED. IF THEY'RE ALLOWED
TO GIVE THE TIME I HAVE SEEN
MANY PEOPLE TURN THEIR LIVES
AROUND, AND I TOTALLY BELIEVE IN
THAT AS WELL. BUT I THINK WE
NEED TO GET THEM THERE AND BY
DOING THAT IS UNFORTUNATELY
BRINGING IN SOME CONSEQUENCES.
SO I WILL BE SUPPORTING THIS
BILL. THANK YOU. THIS IS A BIRD.
I'M SORRY I SHARE A LOT OF THE
COMMENTS FROM MY COLLEAGUE
SITTING TO MY LEFT. I AM YOU
KNOW? AND FIRST OF ALL, I'M SO
SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS. I KNOW HOW
HARD IT MUST BE FOR YOU TO BE
HERE TODAY. AND LISTEN TO. US
DEBATE THESE REALLY VERY, VERY
DIFFICULT ISSUES. UM, YOU KNOW,
I UH, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU
KNOW, I THINK IS THAT WE NEED TO
BE MAKING DECISIONS THAT ARE
BASED ON RESEARCH AND DATA AND
FACTS AND WE KNOW FROM. THE WAR
ON DRUGS AND THE FAILURE THERE
THAT, UM EXTRA ENHANCEMENTS
DON'T GENERALLY HAVE AN IMPACT.
MUCH OF AN IMPACT ON, UM ON
STREET LEVEL DRUG DEALING. THEY
JUST DON'T. UM, AND THIS ISN'T
IN THE CONTEXT OF THERE. NOT
BEING ANY CONSEQUENCES. I MEAN,
THE EXISTING LAW ALREADY
PROVIDES PUNISHMENTS OF UP TO
FOUR YEARS FOR POSSESSION. OF
THAT NOVEL FOR UP TO WHAT IS IT
FIVE YEARS FOR SALE FOR UP TO
NINE YEARS FOR TRANSPORT, AND I
KNOW THOSE NUMBERS OF YEARS CAN
NEVER BE ENOUGH FOR ANYONE WHOSE
FAMILY IS AFFECTED BY THAT, BUT
IS ADDING ANOTHER NUMBER OF
YEARS ON TOP OF THAT? IS THAT
REALLY GOING TO CHANGE THAT
UNDERLYING BEHAVIOR FROM SOMEONE
WHO IS BASICALLY YOU KNOW,
SELLING 200 PILLS ON THE STREET
? UM YOU KNOW, I QUESTION
WHETHER OR NOT MOST OF THOSE
FOLKS KNOW THAT THEY'RE SELLING
A PILLS, WASTE AND FENTANYL. AND
SO THAT'S WHY I ACTUALLY I'M NOT
GONNA BE ABLE TO SUPPORT THIS
BILL TODAY. IT'S WHY I SUPPORTED
A B 701. I THINK THAT IS THE
RIGHT APPROACH. REALLY LOOKING
AT MAKING SURE THAT THE
CONSEQUENCES ARE REALLY FOCUSED
ON THE PEOPLE THAT ARE MAKING
DECISIONS TO LACE THE PILLS AND
I DON'T THINK THAT THAT'S WHAT
THIS WHAT THIS BILL, UM, FOCUSES
ON, SO I WANT TO THANK THE
AUTHOR FOR BEING PART OF THE
DIALOGUE ON THIS. I ALSO KNOW
THAT THERE ARE 20 SOMETHING
OTHER BILLS THAT ARE FOCUSING ON
MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE AN
ABILITY TO RESPOND QUICKLY THAT
WE'VE GOTTEN ARE COMMON IN THE
COMMUNITY THAT WE ARE EDUCATING
OUR KIDS. I AM THE DAUGHTER OF
AN 18 YEAR OLDS. AND YOU KNOW, I
. WHERE EVERY DAY ABOUT WHAT SHE
MIGHT INNOCENTLY BE DOING AND
HAVE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH HER
ABOUT THIS. AND SO THIS ISN'T
SOMETHING THAT I TAKE LIGHTLY
AND I, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW
WHAT YOU'VE GONE THROUGH
YOURSELF. BUT I HAVE A SENSE
JUST THINKING ABOUT MY OWN KID.
AND WHAT COULD HAPPEN TO HER OR
TO MY 2 14 YEAR OLDS, BUT I DO
THINK THAT WE NEED TO BE
FOCUSING ON WHAT IS GOING TO BE
EFFECTIVE TO PROTECT OUR
COMMUNITY. I THINK IT'S THE
HEALTH APPROACHES. I THINK IT'S
FOCUSING ON THE PEOPLE THAT ARE
MAKING DECISIONS TO LACE THE
THOUSANDS OF PILLS THAT ARE
GOING OUT INTO THE STREETS. UM
AND I THINK THAT THE STUDIES
THAT WE'VE THAT WE'VE SEEN OUT
THERE HAVE JUST SHOWN THAT
ADDING MORE CRIMINAL PENALTIES
TO THIS LEVEL OF POSSESSION JUST
DOESN'T REALLY HAVE MUCH OF AN
IMPACT. BUT I DO WANT TO THANK
YOU FOR BRINGING THE BILL
FORWARD TODAY. THIS BUCKET. I
JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR ABOUT WHAT
WE ARE DOING. WE ARE DOING
SOMETHING IN THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA. NOT ENOUGH. WE HAVE
BEEN DOING SOMETHING WE HAVE IN
THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET PROPOSAL.
FOCUSING ON INCREASING FREE
DISTRIBUTION OF NALOXONE
DISTRIBUTION OF FENTANYL STRIPS
AND DEVELOPING INNOVATIVE WAYS
OF DELIVERING DRUG TREATMENT AND
HARM REDUCTION SERVICES TO THOSE
MOST IN NEED RIGHT NOW IN THE
STATE BUDGET, REVIEWING A
CALIFORNIA OVERDOSE AND HARM
REDUCTION INITIATIVE THAT WOULD
HAVE $61 MILLION OF ONE TIME
FUNDING OVER FOUR YEARS AGO TO
HARM REDUCTION PROGRAMS FOR
STAFF AND COSTS RELATED TO
DELIVERY OF NEW LOCKS AND
FENTANYL STRIPS AND DRUG
TREATMENT. NAVIGATION WE ALSO
HAVE A $40 MILLION APPROPRIATION
IN THE GENERAL FUND TO EXTEND
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PILOT PROJECT
WHICH WOULD PROVIDE GENERAL
ACUTE CARE HOSPITALS WITH GRANTS
TO HIRE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
COUNSELORS AND PEER NAVIGATORS
FOR THEIR EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS.
TO HELP PATIENTS WITH ADDICTION
AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH NEEDS,
STARTING TREATMENT AND
CONTINUING THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT
20/20 BILLS RELATED TO
ADDRESSING THE FENTANYL HEALTH
CRISIS. IN THIS CYCLE. WE LOOKED
AT OVER A DOZEN BILLS IN THE
LAST LEGISLATIVE CYCLE TO BE
ABLE TO DO THAT WE ARE NOT DOING
NOTHING. WE ARE TRYING TO MEET
THE URGENCY OF THIS MOMENT, THIS
PAINFUL MOMENT. I MYSELF HAVE
FAMILY MEMBERS WHO WERE A PART
OF THE WAR ON DRUGS ON BOTH
SIDES. PEOPLE WHO WERE SUBJECT
TO A ONE A ONE DOSE THAT GOT
THEM ADDICTED TO CRACK COCAINE
THAT GOT THEM ADDICTED TO METH,
AMPHETAMINE. IT'S A WAS A
TERMINAL ILLNESS THAT LASTED FOR
A VERY LONG TIME. INSTEAD OF ONE
DOSE THAT KILLED THEM
IMMEDIATELY. IT'S DEATH. WHETHER
IT HAPPENS INSTANTANEOUSLY OVER
THE COURSE OF MANY, MANY YEARS
AS. TERMINAL CANCER MIGHT, FOR
INSTANCE. WE'RE NOT DOING
NOTHING. I CANNOT DO THIS THING
RIGHT HERE, THOUGH, BECAUSE I
ACTUALLY DON'T THINK IT IS
MOVING THE BALL FORWARD IN ANY
WAY THAT IS DIFFERENT FROM THE
WAR ON DRUGS JUST TO KIND OF
SPEAK TO THIS BILL.
SPECIFICALLY, WE HAVE THIS BILL
HAS 28.35 G, WHICH IS ONE OUNCE
THAT'S SIX PACKETS OF SUGAR. UM
THAT'S SEVERAL PILLS. THAT'S NOT
TOO BECAUSE IT'S CAN CONTAIN
SOME FENTANYL. THAT'S NOT 200 OR
400 BILLS THAT JUST WANTED TO BE
CLEAR ABOUT WHAT WE'RE TALKING
ABOUT, BECAUSE IN OUR RUSH TO DO
SOMETHING UM WE ALSO NEED TO BE
UNCLOUDED AND MAKE SURE THAT
WE'RE DOING THE RIGHT THING. AND
FOR ME. GIVEN THE FACT THAT WE
ALREADY HAVE EXISTING LAWS
MAKING POSSESSION OF A
CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE FOR THE
PURPOSE OF SALE AND SUBSTANCE
PUNISHABLE BY IMPRISONMENT IN
THE COUNTY JAIL FOR A PERIOD OF
23 OR FOUR YEARS, WE ALREADY
HAVE EXISTING LIVES, MAKING
TRANSPORTATION AND SALE OF
CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES PUNISHABLE
BY IMPRISONMENT IN THE COUNTY
JAIL FOR A PERIOD OF 34 OR FIVE
YEARS. UH AND TRANSPORTATION TO
A CONTIGUOUS COUNTY, WITH THE
STATE PUNISHABLE BY IMPRISONMENT
IN THE COUNTY JAIL FOR A PERIOD
OF 36 OR NINE YEARS. WE ARE
ALREADY HAVE LEGISLATION AND
STATUTE. AND IN OUR CRIMINAL
CODE THAT ALLOWS US TO BE ABLE
TO ADDRESS WHAT I BELIEVE. THE
AUTHOR AGAIN IS NOBLY TRYING TO
ENSURE THAT WE FOCUS ON RIGHT
HERE. SO FOR THOSE REASONS, I
CANNOT BE SUPPORTIVE OF THIS
BILL. TODAY. ANYONE ELSE? YOU
MAKE CLOTHES, MR PATTERSON. WELL
I DO UNDERSTAND THE CONCERNS
THAT HAVE BEEN THAT HAVE BEEN
RAISED HERE. I DO. UM YEAH, AND
, YOU KNOW, I CAN UNDERSTAND THE
. ISSUES AND ACADEMIA, THOSE
THOSE KINDS OF THINGS BUT THE
REALITY IS THAT WE HAVE DEALERS
IN FRESNO. WITH 2000 PILLS. THAT
. THE WORST YOU CAN DO IS A
MISDEMEANOR. THEY'RE OUT IN TWO
DAYS. I MEAN, IF WE REALLY CARED
ABOUT THE ADDICTS WOULDN'T WE
ALSO CARE THAT THEIR DEALERS ARE
ARE ON THE STREET, TURNING MORE
AND MORE. AND SO THAT'S WHY WE
WERE. WE WERE TRYING TO BE
SENSITIVE ABOUT. THE USERS AND
UH, HAVING SMALL AMOUNTS ISN'T
GONNA KICK THAT INTO THE FELONY.
BUT THE COUNTERPOINT TO ALL OF
THIS, THOUGH IS IF THERE ARE NOT
CONSEQUENCES. THERE WILL BE A
REPEAT. SUPPLY AVAILABLE AND I
AGREE WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE
DEMAND. THERE ARE OTHER ASPECTS
AND ALL OF THIS THAT I
APPRECIATE. BUT AT THE SAME TIME
. I HOPE YOU FEEL AND UNDERSTAND
THE ANGST OF THE HURT THE ANGER.
TO KNOW THAT A DEALER THAT.
MIGHT HAVE KILLED JACKSON. WOULD
NOT HAVE BEEN SUBJECT TO A
FELONY MISDEMEANOR WITH A 2 TO 3
DAYS ARE OUT. AND SO, YEAH, I
AGREE. SUPPLY IS IMPORTANT
DEMAND. IS IMPORTANT. I DON'T
THINK IT'S EITHER OR AND THEN I
WANT TO FINISH WITH THIS. MY
WIFE, SHARON FOR 25 YEARS HAS
BEEN THE WEST COAST REGIONAL.
DIRECTOR FOR A PRISON MINISTRY.
UM, CALLED PRISON FELLOWSHIP.
I'VE BEEN TO PRISONS. I'VE SEEN
PEOPLE WHO. ARE CHANGING, WHO
ARE LEARNING WHO ARE HAVING AHA
MOMENTS ABOUT GETTING CLEAN AND
. THAT ORGANIZATION HELPS TO
PLACE THEM IN HALFWAY HOUSES AND
IN HOMES AND IN CARING CHURCHES.
THAT HELPED THEM STEP THROUGH
AND GET FREE FROM WHAT GOT THEM
INTO THE PRISON IN THE FIRST
PLACE. SO I'M NOT EITHER OR BUT
I DO THINK THERE HAS TO BE SOME
DEGREE. OF JUSTICE. BUT MIXED
WITH MERCY. AND I THINK WHAT'S
WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO HERE.
OKAY THANK YOU AND THE DARK. I
ALSO WANT TO THANK YOU WITNESS
FOR BEING HERE TODAY AND REALLY
NOT. TOO THAT'S THE BAIT YOUR
PAIN, BUT I THINK IT WOULD
REALLY BE POWERFUL. WHEN WE HAVE
ARE MADE HEARING. DEFINITELY
WILL INVITE YOU TO COME, BUT I
KNOW IT. EXTREMELY DIFFICULT,
BUT WHAT YOU SHARED WITH US, IT
WAS ALSO EXTREMELY POWERFUL.
VERY, VERY POWERFUL. AND SO, UM
. IT'S JUST REALLY IMPORTANT
THAT WE HEAR FROM EVERYONE AND
ALL SIDES SO WE CAN COME TO SOME
RESOLUTIONS. OH, WE. DID GIVE
MAKE SOME SUGGESTIONS. TO MODIFY
THIS BILL. UM, THE AUTHOR
REFUSED THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS.
AND NORMALLY THIS COMMITTEE.
WHEN WE MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO
HELP GET THIS THROUGH. UM THEIR
LIKELIHOOD OF THEM GETTING
THROUGH. UM ARE EXTREMELY HIGH.
SOMETIMES. NOT THAT MAKE
EVERYBODY HAPPY. BUT WE? WE.
WHEN THAT DOES HAPPEN, WE GO
OUT. WE TRY TO GO OUT OF OUR WAY
THE COMMITTEE AS A WHOLE TO TRY
TO MAKE THINGS HAPPEN. AND SO IF
THIS DOESN'T MAKE IT, I MEAN,
THAT'S PROBABLY WHY IT DIDN'T
GET OUT OF THIS COMMITTEE
BECAUSE WE COULDN'T WORK.
COLLABORATIVELY TO MAKE THIS
HAPPEN. THAT'S 12. AH LET'S MAKE
IT CLEAR RIGHT NOW AND JUST
STOP. THE DISCUSSION ABOUT ONE.
NOTHING IS BEING DONE. AS MY
COLLEAGUE FROM THE BAY AREA SAID
QUITE A BIT. BEING PROPOSED AND
BEING DONE. AND I JUST THINK
IT'S A DISSERVICE. WHEN YOU KNOW
THE GOVERNOR IS DOING THINGS AT
THE BORDER OF THE NATIONAL GUARD
GOVERNMENT TIME PROVIDE NARCAN
IN HIGH SCHOOLS. THE ATTORNEY
GENERAL HAD THE TASK FORCE THAT
WE HAVE CHP WORKING ON THIS
RIGHT NOW. TODAY AS WE SPEAK.
AND THE SAY WE'RE NOT DOING
ANYTHING. I THINK IT'S A
DISSERVICE TO THE PEOPLE WHO ARE
WORKING ON IT, INCLUDING LAW
ENFORCEMENT THAT'S WORKING ON IT
RIGHT NOW. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW.
AND I CAN JUST COMMITTEE WOULD
LIKE TO KNOW. IF THERE ARE DRUG
DEALERS THAT ARE NOT BEING
PROSECUTED, WHICH SEEMS TO BE
THE STORY BEING TOLD OVER AND
OVER AGAIN. THIS COMMITTEE WOULD
LIKE TO HAVE THAT DISCUSSION.
BECAUSE THAT IS A REAL
DISCUSSION. WE SHOULD HAVE.
ABOUT PEOPLE SLIPPING THROUGH
THE CRACKS, AND THIS COMMITTEE
IS VERY OPEN TO HOW THE CLOSING
THAT SO NO ONE GETS THROUGH. UM
YOU SHOULD NOT IF WE HAVE THE
EVIDENCE. ENFORCEMENT HAS IT TO
GIVE IT TO THE D. A JUDGE SHOULD
THE SYSTEM SHOULD WORK. SO THAT
PERSON THERE'S NO LONGER ON THE
STREET. WITH THE EXISTING LAWS.
THERE IS A. A SERIOUS PROBLEM.
WE NEED THAT NEED TO BE BROUGHT
TO US AND BROUGHT TO US
IMMEDIATELY SO WE CAN GET ON IT
AND PLUG THAT HOLE IMMEDIATELY.
AND I WAS SICK. I CAN'T SPEAK.
FOR EVERYBODY ON THIS COMMITTEE
. UM BUT I FEEL PRETTY
COMFORTABLE THAT WE WOULD DO
WHATEVER IT TAKES. TO PLUG THAT
HOLE. MR CHAIR WITH RESPECT THAT
WITH THAT WE HAVE A MOTION
SECOND, OKAY? COLORADO. ON A B
10 58 BY SOME MEMBER JIM
PATTERSON. THE MOTION IS DUE
PASS TO THE APPROPRIATIONS
COMMITTEE. JOHN SAWYER SAWYER NO
ELONIS BAN TO BAN TO KNOW BRIAN
BRIAN KNOW BLACKIE I ORTEGA OR
TAKEN NO SANTIAGO. SANTIAGO NO
ZIPPER, ALBERT. NO I'M SORRY
THAT MEASURE PHASE YEAH. REQUEST
RECONSIDERATION ABOUT.
RECONSIDERATION JOHN SAWYER,
ELONIS BANTA BANTER. I BRIAN,
BRIAN, I BLACKIE BLACKIE. I
ORTEGA OR TAKE AN ICE. SANTIAGO
SANTIAGO EYES ZIPPER. ROBERT I
CONSIDERATION HAS BEEN GRANTED
RECONSIDERATION HAS GRANTED
APPRECIATE THAT. AND AS THAT
PROCESS MOVES FORWARD, I WOULD
LIKE TO HEAR MORE ABOUT WHAT
POSSIBLE AMENDMENTS. WE COULDN'T
ACCEPT THE OTHER ONES. FOR
REASONS I DIDN'T GET A CHANCE TO
EXPLAIN WITH THAT. THANK YOU.
BUT THANK YOU WOULD LIKE TO WORK
ON THAT. BUT YOU GET ANOTHER
JUST LET'S TALK ABOUT IT. MR
RODRIGUEZ, MR RODRIGUEZ? THAT
WOULD BE REMEMBER 3 84 74.
WHENEVER YOU'RE READY. THANK YOU
, MR CHAIRMAN MEMBERS. I'M PROUD
TO PRESENT A B 4 74 A BILL
REQUIRING THE STATE THREAT
ASSESSMENT CENTER AT THE
CALIFORNIA OFFICE OF EMERGENCY
SERVICES TO SUPPORT STATE AND
LOCAL FINANCIAL TASK FORCE. AS
YOU KNOW, TRANSNATIONAL CRIMINAL
ORGANIZATIONS ARE SUPPLYING THE
DRUGS THAT ARE ADDICTING AND
KILLING OUR CHILDREN. AS PART OF
THE OVERALL STRATEGY COMBATING
THE ILLEGAL UPWARD CRISIS. WE
MUST DISTRICT DISRUPT THESE
NETWORKS OF CRIMINALS AND GET
OPIOIDS OFF OUR STREETS. IT IS
CRITICAL THAT WE DO EVERYTHING
WE CAN TO PROTECT OUR STATE FROM
THREATS TO OUR PUBLIC HEALTH.
THIS BILL WILL ALSO COMPLEMENT
THE GOVERNOR'S MASTER PLAN FOR
TACKLING DEFENDER IN OPIOID
CRISIS, WHICH INCLUDES THE 30
MILLION TO EXPAND CALIFORNIA.
NATIONAL GUARDS WORK TO PREVENT
DRUG TRAFFICKING AND 15 MILLION
OVER TWO YEARS TO ESTABLISH AND
OPERATE THE FENTANYL ENFORCEMENT
PROGRAM WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF
JUSTICE TO COMBAT MANUFACTURING.
DISTRIBUTION AND TRAFFICKING.
ADDITIONALLY THIS BILL WAS
STRENGTHENED INITIATIVE RECENTLY
ANNOUNCED BY THE GOVERNOR. AND
SAN FRANCISCO TO ESTABLISH A
PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE
CALIFORNIA HOW WE PATROL THE
CALIFORNIA NATIONAL GUARD, SAN
FRANCISCO POLICE DEPARTMENT AND
THE SAN FRANCISCO DISTRICT
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO COMBAT DRUG
TRAFFICKING. AGAIN FENTANYL AND
OTHER UPWARDS ARE KILLING
CALIFORNIANS AND RELATED DEATHS
CONTINUE TO INCREASE. OUR
CHILDREN HAVE BEEN SEVERELY
AFFECTED BY THIS CRISIS ARE
DYING FROM DRUGS, THEY LIKELY
KNOW LITTLE TO NOTHING ABOUT FOR
ALL THESE REASONS, I
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR I VOTE. MY
VOTE WITH ME TO TESTIFY AND
SUPPORT AS COREY SELL ZILLOW
FROM THE CALIFORNIA STATE
SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND ALICIA FROM
THE LEGAL CITIES. THANK YOU. YOU
MADE IT AGAIN. GOOD MORNING
CHAIR AND MEMBERS ELISE, OUR
CITY KANO, WITH THE LEAGUE OF
CALIFORNIA CITIES, SPEAKING ON
BEHALF OF CITIES ACROSS THE
STATE IN STRONG SUPPORT OF 84
74. THIS MEASURE WOULD STEM THE
TIDE OF ILLICIT SUBSTANCE
RELATED DEATHS IN CALIFORNIA
THROUGH INCREASED COLLABORATION
WITH STATE AND LOCAL AGENCIES TO
ILLUMINATE, DISRUPT, DEGRADE AND
DISMANTLE CRIMINAL NETWORKS
TRAFFICKING OPIOID DRUGS THAT
POSE A THREAT TO CALIFORNIA.
LOCAL COMMUNITIES EXPERIENCE THE
REALITIES OF THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC
EACH DAY THROUGH THE INCREASING
TOLL ON FAMILIES, FIRST
RESPONDERS, EDUCATORS, CHILD
WELFARE AGENCIES, PUBLIC SAFETY
OFFICIALS, HEALTH PROFESSIONALS
AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS,
AMONG OTHERS. STATEWIDE TRAGEDY
THAT CITY THIS IS A STATEWIDE
TRAGEDY THAT CITIES CANNOT SOLVE
BY THEMSELVES. AS COMMITTED
PARTNERS IN FINDING SOLUTIONS TO
ADDRESS THE GROWING FENTANYL
CRISIS IN OUR STATE. WE URGE YOU
TO SUPPORT THIS MEASURE. NOW
MORE THAN EVER, IS THE TIME TO
TAKE ACTION ON MEASURES THAT
WILL PRESERVE HUMAN LIFE AND
IMPROVE THE SAFETY AND WELL
BEING OF ALL CALIFORNIANS.
POISONINGS AND RISING DEATH TOLL
ILLUSTRATE A COMPLEX ISSUE
REQUIRING COMPLEX MULTIFACETED
SOLUTIONS. HEALTH CITIES POLICY
SUPPORTS ADDITIONAL FUNDING AND
RESOURCES TO ADDRESS THE
FENTANYL CRISIS THROUGH
APPROPRIATE PREVENTION AND
INTERVENTION EFFORTS,
EDUCATIONAL AWARENESS CAMPAIGNS
AND INCREASED ACCESS TO
LIFESAVING OVERDOSE TREATMENT
AIDS. CITIES NOT ONLY WELCOME
COLLABORATION WITH OUR STATE AND
FEDERAL PARTNERS, BUT WE TRULY
REQUIRE IT IN ORDER TO
MEANINGFULLY ADDRESS THE
FENTANYL CRISIS FACING OUR
COMMUNITIES. I RESPECTFULLY ASK
FOR YOUR VOTE. THANK YOU, MR
CHAIR MEMBERS, COREY SOESILO ON
BEHALF OF THE CALIFORNIA STATE
SHERIFFSASSOCIATION. UH NOT TO
BELABOR WHAT THE AUTHOR AND
PREVIOUS WITNESS SAID, BUT
PARTNERSHIPS ARE KEY FACET. WHAT
OUR APPROACH SHOULD BE TO
COUNTERING ILLEGAL DRUG
TRAFFICKING COORDINATED
INVESTIGATIONS ENFORCEMENT
ACTIONS PROSECUTIONS BETWEEN
STATE AND LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT
PARTNERS WILL ELIMINATE BARRIERS
AND LEVERAGE AUTHORITIES AND
RESOURCES TO IDENTIFY,
INVESTIGATE, DISRUPT AND
DISMANTLE AT EVERY LEVEL OF
OPERATIONS, THE ABILITY OF
CARTELS AND OTHER CRIMINAL
NETWORKS TO SMUGGLE DRUGS,
ESPECIALLY ILLICIT FENTANYL INTO
CALIFORNIA. SO BECAUSE OF THIS
MULTI PRONGED APPROACH TO
ADDRESS THIS HUGE PROBLEM, WE'RE
HAPPY TO SUPPORT THIS BILL.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER.
IN SUPPORT. ANY OTHER OVER.
ANYONE ELSE IN SUPPORT. ANYONE
IN OPPOSITION.
BECCA CRAMER MATTER ON BEHALF OF
A C L U CALIFORNIA ACTION IN
RESPECTFUL OPPOSITION 84 74
FURTHER ENTRENCHES THE WORK THE
FUSION CENTER KNOWN AS THE STATE
THREAT ASSESSMENT CENTER, OR
STACK IN WAYS THAT EXACERBATE
THE HARMS OF FUSION CENTERS.
FUSION CENTERS FUNCTION LIKE
GOVERNMENT RUN DATA BROKERS,
ENABLING PROBLEMATIC
SURVEILLANCE AND FACILITATING
THE DANGEROUS SHARING OF
PEOPLE'S DATA WITHOUT OF STATE
AUTHORITIES, WHILE ALSO
EXACERBATING HARMFUL POLICING
PRACTICES. FUSION CENTERS ARE
SUSCEPTIBLE TO ABUSE AND
UNDERMINE THE RIGHTS AND SAFETY
OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS, INCLUDING
LABELING PARA CHOICE ACTIVISTS
AS VIOLENT EXTREMISTS.
UNFORTUNATELY A B 4 74 BUILDS ON
THIS PROBLEMATIC AGREEMENT OF
FUSION CENTERS, INCLUDING THE
TARGETING OF PARTICULAR
COMMUNITIES. THE BILL'S FINAL
LEGISLATIVE FINDING MEDALS,
OPIOID DISTRIBUTION WITH
IMMIGRATION AND THEFT OF
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, SINGLES
OUT PEOPLE FROM A PARTICULAR
COUNTRY AND USING HEATED
RHETORIC THREATENS TO FURTHER
EXACERBATE IMPROPER TARGETING
BASED ON NATIONALITY OR FAMILY
ANCESTRY. MAYBE 4 74 HAS OTHER
PROBLEMS AS WELL. OPERATIVE
LANGUAGE MANDATE STACK TO TAKE
ACTION AGAINST UNSPECIFIED
CRIMINAL ORGANIZATIONS WHILE
PROVIDING NO BASIS FOR ASSUMING
THESE UNSPECIFIED ORGANIZATIONS
CAUSED THE PROBLEMS THE BILL
HOPES TO REMEDY NOR PROVIDING
ANY METRICS OR GUIDANCE TO
ESTABLISH WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS
LIKE IN THIS ENDEAVOR. RATHER
THAN APPRECIATING THE DOMESTIC
CAUSES OF OPIOID ADDICTION IN
THE FENTANYL CRISIS OR PROVIDING
SUPPORT FOR PROVEN NON LAW
ENFORCEMENT APPROACHES TO
CURTAILING THE DEMAND FOR THESE
DRUGS, THE BILL ASSUMES THAT
TRANSNATIONAL CRIMINAL
ORGANIZATIONS ARE THE CAUSES FOR
THESE CRISIS AND FURTHER
ENTRENCHES THE MISGUIDED
ASSUMPTION THAT WE CAN POLICE
AND CRIMINALIZE OUR WAY OUT OF
DRUG CRISES. WE HAVE TRIED THIS
BEFORE WITH THE FAILED WAR ON
DRUGS AND SEEN THE DEVASTATING
CONSEQUENCES ON PEOPLE'S LIVES.
HOW IT HARMS COMMUNITIES MOST
IMPACTED BY DRUG ADDICTION
WITHOUT ADDRESSING THE PUBLIC
HEALTH ISSUES THESE LAWS WERE
MEANT TO SOLVE. WE URGE YOU TO
INSTEAD APPROACH DRUG CRISES IN
RESTORATIVE AND LIFE AFFIRMING
PUBLIC, HEALTH ORIENTED WAYS
THAT DO NOT HAVE DANGEROUS
COLLATERAL CONSEQUENCES ON
PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES OF COLOR
AND OF LOWER INCOMES. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE IN
OPPOSITION? HELLO CHAIRMAN
MEMBERS. THEY DON'T EVEN GET OUT
HERE POLICY ANALYST WITH LEGAL
SERVICES FOR PRISONERS WITH
CHILDREN HERE ON BEHALF OF ALL
OF US OR NONE AND STRONG
OPPOSITION. THANK YOU. PARTIES
WITH ALL OF US IN AN AND LEGAL
SERVICES FOR PRISONERS WITH
CHILDREN OPPOSING THANK YOU. AT
LEAST HE BENAVIDEZ LEWIS IN
OPPOSITION ON BEHALF OF THE
FOLLOWING ORGANIZATIONS,
IMMIGRANT LEGAL RESOURCE CENTER,
SOUTH BAY PEOPLE POWERING
COMMUNITIES UNITED FOR
RESTORATIVE YOUTH JUSTICE. ASIAN
AMERICANS ADVANCING JUSTICE
ASIAN LAW CAUCUS. ASIAN
AMERICANS ADVANCING JUSTICE,
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. THEN WHEN
CASINO IN VENTURA COUNTY INLAND
COALITION FOR IMMIGRANT JUSTICE
AND CALIFORNIA IMMIGRANT POLICY
CENTER. KARMA NICOLE COX RIGHT
NOW ON BEHALF OF OAKLAND PRIVACY
FOUNDATION IN STRONG OPPOSITION.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ANYONE
ELSE IN OPPOSITION'S SCENE AND
BRING IT BACK TO COMMITTEE
MEMBERS AND QUESTIONS, COMMENTS.
YOU WILL GIVE US TRY. GO, MR
LACKEY. YEAH, I JUST REAL
QUICKLY. I KEEP HEARING THE TERM
AND THE OPPOSITION TO THESE
MEASURES. UM THAT WE NEED TO BE
CONSIDERED CONSIDERING
RESTORATIVE JUSTICE. THAT'S
COMPLETELY VOID OF CONSIDERING
THE VICTIMS AND THE BALANCE THAT
LADY JUSTICE CHRIST FOR WHEN YOU
CONSIDER BOTH THE VICTIM AND THE
OFFENDER. BECAUSE WHEN YOU HAVE
A DEAD VICTIM, THERE'S NO
RESTORING THAT. THEY'RE GONE.
THAT'S PRETTY FINAL. AND SO I
THINK THAT LADY JUSTICE IS
CRYING FOR CONSEQUENCES. IN
ORDER TO MEET BALANCE. AND
THAT'S ALL I HAVE. I WILL BE
SUPPORTING THIS MEASURE. YOU
TOO. RIGHT YEAH, I MEAN,
RESPECTFULLY. I THINK THERE'S A
FUNDAMENTAL MISUNDERSTANDING OF
WHAT RESTORATIVE JUSTICE MEANS
AND WHO IT'S FOR. AND AS WAS
MENTIONED ALL DAY TODAY, THE
VICTIMS ARE NOT JUST THE PEOPLE
DIRECTLY IMPACTED, BUT EVERYBODY
IMPACTED AROUND THEM WHO ARE
LOOKING FOR HEALING AND
ACCOUNTABILITY. RESTORATION IS
FOR THEM. ALSO JUST WANT TO
REJECT THE PREMISE THAT I HEARD
EARLIER ON A SEPARATE BILL. THIS
NOTION THAT YOU NEED TO BE
LOCKED UP TO GET SERVICES AND
CARE. BECAUSE WE'VE DIVESTED
FROM INSTITUTIONS OF CARE AND
WELL BEING IN THE COMMUNITY THAT
THE ONLY PLACE YOU CAN GET
SUBSTANCE ABUSE, TREATMENT AND
CARE IS HAVING BEEN ARRESTED OR
INCARCERATED. I THINK THAT IS A
FUNDAMENTAL PROBLEM WITH THE
INVESTMENTS WE'VE MADE THROUGH
THE DECADES IN RESPONSE TO THIS
BILL. THE AUTHOR CHAIRS ARE
EMERGENCY SERVICES. AND HAS A
DEEP HISTORY IN THIS WORK. AND A
LOT OF RESPECT FROM ME AND MANY
OTHERS. RIGHT NOW IS A MOMENT
THAT CALLS FOR THOUGHTFUL
SOLUTIONS THAT INTERTWINED
HOLISTIC APPROACHES. THIS IS AN
OPPORTUNITY TO BRING MULTIPLE
PEOPLE TO A TABLE TO LOOK AT
THIS AT A BIGGER SCALE. IT'S THE
FOUNDATIONAL TYPE OF THINKING
THAT WE NEED IN THIS PROBLEM. SO
THANK YOU FOR BRINGING IT
FORWARD. I'M HAPPY TO SUPPORT
YOU TODAY. THANK YOU. OKAY?
ANYONE ELSE? YOU MAY CLOSE.
THANK YOU WITH THAT,
RESPECTIVELY, ASTRONAUT. THANK
YOU. THERE ARE MOTION SOME OF
THE SECOND CALLED ROLE. AND
MAYBE 4 74 BY SOME MEMBERS.
RODRIGUEZ THE MOTION IS DUE
PASTOR, THE APPROPRIATIONS
COMMITTEE JOHN SAWYER JOHNSON,
ELONIS BANTA CONTACT I BRIAN,
BRIAN, I LACKEY I ORTEGA ORTEGA
I SANTIAGO SANTIAGO. I SOBER
SUPER. AYE. MEASURE PASSAGE. MR
CORREA. A B 675. SORRY ITEM
NUMBER FOUR.
OKAY? GOOD AFTERNOON CHAIR AND
MEMBERS. CAN I BEGIN? YES,
PASSING OUT. SOME AMENDMENTS
BECAUSE I THINK WE NEED
CLARIFICATION ON THAT. WHO CAN
BEGIN GOOD AFTERNOON CHAIR AND
MEMBERS FIRST AND FOREMOST, I
WANT TO THANK THE CHAIR FOR
PROVIDING THIS FORUM TO HAVE AN
HONEST CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT
WE NEED TO DO TOGETHER TO ENSURE
THAT WE'RE ADDRESSING THIS
CRISIS THAT IS IN FRONT OF US,
WHICH IS THE FENTANYL CRISIS. I
ALSO WANT TO THANK THE STAFF. UM
AND THE CHAIR FOR WORKING WITH
US ON AMENDMENTS. I BELIEVE THAT
YOU GUYS ALL NOW HAVE A COPY OF
THOSE. I AM PREPARED TO ACCEPT
THOSE AMENDMENTS. UM. THE ONE
THAT WE KEPT GOING BACK AND
FORTH BACK WELL FOR PEOPLE IN
THE PUBLIC. WE'VE BEEN GOING
BACK AND FORTH AND WHAT THE
AMENDMENT THE AMENDMENTS WILL BE
, UM AS RECENT AS TWO HOURS AGO
, AND SO TO MAKE SURE WE'RE ALL
READING FROM THE SAME OKAY.
SCRIPT. WHICH YOU ALL ALSO IN
THE INTEREST OF TRANSPARENCY,
BECAUSE THERE'S LIKE LITERALLY
JUST HAPPENED. OKAY PERFECT. SO
DO YOU WANT ME TO READ THE
SUBSECTION THAT WAS ADDED
SUBSECTION B, WHICH IS
HIGHLIGHTED IN? BOLD UM, THAT
SAYS, WHERE THE SUBSTANCE
POSITION POSSESSED IS ONE
CONTAINING FENTANYL OR
CONTAINING FENTANYL ANALOGS. THE
PERSON MUST HAVE KNOWLEDGE THAT
THAT SPECIFIC CONTROLLED
SUBSTANCE POSSESS FENTANYL OR
FENTANYL ANALOG. THAT WAS THE
LANGUAGE PROVIDED BY YOUR
COMMITTEE STAFF STAFF IS
CONCERNED THAT THE INDIVIDUAL
NEEDED TO KNOW THAT THEY
ACTUALLY HAD FENTANYL. SO
PERFECT. THANK YOU. CHAIR A B 6
75 UPDATES CURRENT LAW TO
PROHIBIT POSITION OF FENTANYL
AND A LOADED FIREARM. IF WE LOOK
AT EXISTING LAW, WHICH YOU HAVE
IN FRONT OF YOU, IT CLEARLY
STATES THAT POSITION OF ANY
AMOUNT OF A SUBSTANCE CONTAINING
COCAINE BASED COCAINE, HEROIN,
METHAMPHETAMINE OR PCP, WHILE
ARMED WITH AN OPERABLE FIRE ON
THAT IS LOADED IS A FELONY.
WHILE FENTANYL IS UP TO 50 TIMES
STRONGER THAN HEROIN. IT IS NOT
CLEARLY DELINEATED AND STATUE
AMONG THE LIST OF CONTROLLED
SUBSTANCES FOR WHICH POSITION
WHILE ARMED WITH A LOADED
OPERABLE FIREARMS. FIREARM IS A
FELONY WHEN THE HEALTH AND
SAFETY CODE 11 11-3 170.1 WAS
WRITTEN IN 1996 FENTANYL WAS NOT
A PROBLEM, SO NO ONE KNEW THAT
THE WORLD FINANCIAL NEEDED TO BE
INCLUDED IN THE STATUE. FAST
FORWARD TODAY, FENTANYL
POISONING IS THE NUMBER ONE
KILLER FOR INDIVIDUAL AGES, 18
TO 45 NATIONWIDE OVER 150 PEOPLE
DIE EVERY SINGLE DAY FROM
FENTANYL OVERDOSES AND POISONING
IS AS WE'VE ALSO HEARD TODAY.
FOR MANY OF THOSE THAT HAVE
TESTIFIED IN THE THREE COUNTIES
THAT I REPRESENT, WHICH ARE
FRESNO, MADERA AND MERCED. THERE
HAVE BEEN OVER 130 DEATHS LINKED
TO FENTANYL AND JUST 2021 ALONE
, MOST OF THEM BEING YOUNG
PEOPLE IN SAN FRANCISCO, AS YOU
ALL KNOW, JUST RECENTLY
ANNOUNCED GOVERNOR NEWSOM HAS
DECLARED WAR ON FENTANYL AND HAS
CALLED IN THE NATIONAL GUARD TO
CRACK DOWN ON THE CRIME LINKED
TO THE FENTANYL CRISIS. AND I
QUOTE TO HOLD THE POISON
PEDDLERS ACCOUNTABLE. THAT IS
WHAT THE GOVERNOR SAID. A B 6 75
REMEDIES THE INCONSISTENCY AND
CURRENT LAW BY ADDING FENTANYL
BY CLOSING THIS LOOPHOLE IN OUR
CURRENT LAW, THE BILL WILL HOLD
ACCOUNTABLE THOSE, UM THAT
GOVERNOR NEWSOM HAS ACCURATELY
DESCRIBED AS POISONED PEDDLERS.
UM THIS WOULD BE A TOOL IN THE
TOOLBOX, UM TO THE OTHER
SOLUTIONS, AS HAS BEEN DISCUSSED
IN THIS COMMITTEE AND IN OTHER
COMMITTEES, INCLUDING THOSE THAT
ARE, YOU KNOW, PUBLIC HEALTH
SOLUTIONS. UM, SO THIS IS NOT
GONNA SOLVE THE ENTIRE PROBLEM,
BUT IT BEGINS TO HELP US ADDRESS
THE ISSUE THAT WE ARE FACED IN
OUR LOCAL COMMUNITIES WITH ME
TODAY TO TESTIFY IN SUPPORT OF A
B 6 75 IS OUR MERCED COUNTY
DISTRICT ATTORNEY NICOLE
SILVEIRA. UM GOOD MORNING. THANK
YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK
TODAY. MY NAME IS NICOLE SILVERA
IN THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY IN
MERCED COUNTY, CALIFORNIA. I AM
HERE TO SUPPORT A B 6 75. I
THINK YOU ALL ARE AWARE OF THE
ARGUMENT THAT ALLOWING SOMEONE
TO HAVE A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE
IN A LOADED OPERABLE FIREARM
CREATES A PUBLIC SAFETY RISK,
AND THAT IS TRUE. AND THERE'S NO
REASON THAT FENTANYL SHOULD BE
TREATED DIFFERENTLY THAN OTHER
DRUGS, WHICH ARE ALREADY
CODIFIED IN THIS LAW, ESPECIALLY
GIVEN HOW DANGEROUS THIS DRUG
IS. BUT I WOULD ASK YOU TO ALSO
CONSIDER ANOTHER EFFECT THAT
THIS LAW CAN HAVE. AND THAT IS
THE PATHWAY TO TREATMENT. LAST
WEEK, I SAT DOWN WITH THE JUDGE
IN CHARGE OF OUR COLLABORATIVE
COURTS AND MERCED COUNTY IN OUR
PUBLIC DEFENDER, AND I ASKED HIM
WHY WE WERE NOT ACCEPTING PEOPLE
WHO HAD MISDEMEANOR CONVICTIONS
INTO OUR DRUG TREATMENT OR
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH TREATMENT
COURTS. THE JUDGE GAVE ME A
COUPLE OF REASONS WHY, HE SAID
ONE. THE PROBATION PERIOD IS NOT
LONG ENOUGH. ONE YEAR UNDER
MISDEMEANORS IS NOT LONG ENOUGH
FOR A SIGNIFICANT TREATMENT PLAN
FOR SOMEONE WHO IS SUFFERING
FROM A SERIOUS ADDICTION. HE
ALSO SAID THAT THERE IS NO
FORMAL SUPERVISION OR MEANINGFUL
CONSEQUENCES ON MISDEMEANOR
PROBATION. WHEN ADDICTS ARE
GOING THROUGH TREATMENT. THERE
WILL BE RELAPSES. THERE WILL BE
MISTAKES AND WE NEED IMMEDIATE
CONSEQUENCES TO REDIRECT THAT
BEHAVIOR. YOU CANNOT GET THAT
WITH MISDEMEANOR PROBATION. I
DID READ THE STATISTIC THAT SAID
IN 2020, THAT 54% OF GUN RELATED
DEATHS WERE DUE TO SUICIDE. IF
THAT IS TRUE THAT THIS LAW WOULD
ALSO HELP SOMEONE WHO IS IN A
DOWNWARD SPIRAL, SUFFERING FROM
DRUG ADDICTION AND DEPRESSION,
WHO HAD A LOADED OPERABLE
FIREARM. I ALSO HEAR A LOT OF
RHETORIC ABOUT CRIMINALIZING ARE
DRUG ADDICTED OR MENTAL HEALTH
THOSE SUFFERING FROM MENTAL
HEALTH PROBLEMS. I WOULD LIKE TO
I WOULD LIKE US TO REMEMBER THAT
OUR JUSTICE SYSTEM IS PUNITIVE,
BUT IT'S IT IS ALSO
REHABILITATIVE, AND WE NEED TO
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT WHEN WE
CAN THIS IS NOT JUST A PUBLIC
SAFETY CRISIS. IT IS A HEALTH
CRISIS. IT HAS BROUGHT TOO MANY
TRAGEDIES TO MERCED COUNTY
FAMILIES. IN THE LAST TWO YEARS,
WE HAVE HAD 22 DEATHS TWO YEARS
IN A ROW. AND THOSE ARE NUMBERS
THAT ARE STARTING TO RIVAL OUR
MURDER RATE. SO WE MUST ALL DO
WHAT WE CAN TO STOP THIS RISING
FENTANYL DEATHS AND PRIORITIZE
PUBLIC SAFETY. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU. KIM STONE OF
STONE ADVOCACY ON BEHALF OF THE
CALIFORNIA DISTRICT ATTORNEYS
ASSOCIATION AND SUPPORT THANK
YOU TO THE AUTHOR OF FOR
ADDRESSING THIS IMPORTANT ISSUE
AND THANK YOU FOR THE CHAIR FOR
HOLDING THIS HEARING. THE
DISTRICT ATTORNEYS ASSOCIATION
HAS THE SUPPORT POSITION AS TO
THE BILL, UM IN PRINT, WHICH
DOESN'T INCREASE ENHANCEMENTS,
BUT CLOSES A LOOPHOLE THAT, UM,
AS THEY BOTH EXPLAINED, EXCLUDED
FENTANYL FROM THE LIST OF DRUGS
FOR WHICH SIMULTANEOUSLY
CARRYING A LOADED OPERATOR BULL
FIREARM. WAS THAT IN AND OF
ITSELF SEPARATE CRIME. THIS BILL
FIXES THAT LOOPHOLE AND
RECOGNIZES THAT GUNS AND DRUGS
TOGETHER IS MORE DANGEROUS THAN
THAN DRUGS ALONE. THE DISTRICT
ATTORNEYS ASSOCIATION THEREFORE
SUPPORTS AND URGES YOUR I VOTE.
THANK YOU. ANY OTHER WITNESSES
AND SUPPORT MR CHAIRMAN,
MEMBERS. CORY SOUNDS ALONE. WE
HAVE THE CALIFORNIA STATE
SHERIFFSASSOCIATION SUPPORT.
THANK YOU. LARA DEAR MOTHER OF
FENTANYL POISONING VICTIMS ACTED
HERE AND SUPPORT. NATALIE PAGE
BROTHER POISONED BY FENTANYL.
CHRIS DID YOUR FATHER OF
FENTANYL POISONING VICTIMS THAT
DID HERE AND STRONG SUPPORT.
CHAIR MEMBERS, JONATHAN FELDMAN
ON BEHALF OF THE CALIFORNIA
POLICE CHIEFS ASSOCIATION AND
SUPPORT GOOD AFTERNOON MATS,
EVERYTHING ON BEHALF OF THE
ASSOCIATION FOR LOS ANGELES
DEPUTY SHERIFFS AND THE
CALIFORNIA PEACE OFFICERS
ASSOCIATION AND SUPPORT PAMELA
SMITH, MOTHER OF JACKSON SMITH,
WHO DIED OF FENTANYL IN STRONG
SUPPORT. ARE ANY OF WITNESSES IN
OPPOSITION.
HOW WAS THAT?
GOOD MORNING. OR GOOD AFTERNOON.
MY NAME IS BRENDAN WOODS. I'M A
BOARD MEMBER OF THE CALIFORNIA
PUBLIC DIFFERENT ASSOCIATION AND
THE CHIEF PUBLIC DEFENDER OF
ALAMEDA COUNTY. AND I AM ONLY
ONE OF TWO BLACK CHIEF PUBLIC
DEFENDERS IN THE ENTIRE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA. I AM IN A RESPECTFUL
OPPOSITION OF THIS BILL. I
REQUEST THAT WE NOT ADD A NOTE
OF LAW. THAT WOULD INCREASE JUST
PUT DISPROPORTIONATELY
INCARCERATION OF BLACK AND BROWN
PEOPLE. THE LAW DOES NOT REQUIRE
THAT THE INDIVIDUAL EVEN KNOW
THAT THE FIREARM WAS OPERABLE
AND LOADED. THIS COULD LEAD TO
SOMEONE WHO MIGHT BE SUFFERING
FROM ADDICTION. THEY MIGHT HAVE
KNOWLEDGE OF A PILL THAT'S IN
THEIR HOUSE. THEY COULD BE
ROOMMATES WITH SOMEONE AS A
SECURITY GUARD. WHO CAN OWN A
GUN LEGALLY. HAS IT STORED
SAFELY. AND THAT WILL MAKE THEM
ELIGIBLE TO BE CONVICTED OF THIS
CRIME. WHAT YOU WILL GET. IS A
LAW. THAT OTHERWISE ENSURES THAT
LAW ABIDING CITIZENS, FAMILY
MEMBERS, FRIENDS, NEIGHBORS,
PEOPLE WHO ARE ADDICTED WILL NOT
BE ELIGIBLE FOR DRUG DIVERSION.
THEY WILL NOT EVEN BE ELIGIBLE
FOR COUNTY JAIL. THEY WILL GO TO
PRISON FOR 23 OR FOUR YEARS.
WE'VE ALREADY DISCUSSED TODAY
THAT THERE ARE OTHER SOLUTIONS.
THAT WE FOCUS ON IMPROVING
SERVICES TO ADDICTION PREVENTION
, TREATMENT AND RECOVERY SUPPORT
SERVICES, INCREASING THE
AVAILABILITY OF OVERDOSE,
REVERSING DRUGS, SUPPORTING
CUTTING EDGE RESEARCH AND
TREATMENT. SO I STARTED MY
CAREER AS A PUBLIC DEFENDER IN
THE 19 NINETIES DURING THE
HEIGHT OF THE DRUG WAR. I'VE
SEEN PEOPLE SUFFERING FROM
ADDICTION. GET SENT TO PRISON
FOR SELLING 1 TO 2 OR POSSESSING
1 TO 2 CRACKS OF COCAINE. I'VE
SEEN PEOPLE SUFFERING FROM
POVERTY. GET SENTENCED TO
PRISON. FOR SELLING ONE TO
CORRECT 1 TO 2 ROCKS OF CRACK
COCAINE. JUST TO SUPPORT THEIR
FAMILY. I'VE SEEN THE EXPANSION
OF JAILS AND PRISONS AND THE
FUNDING OF OUR HUMAN PRISON
INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX. AND I'VE
ALSO SEEN THE SUFFERING. OF OUR
BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITY HAVE
BEEN DEPLETED OF THEIR MOST
VALUABLE RESOURCE. HUMAN BEINGS.
WE CANNOT INCARCERATE OUR WAY
OUT OF A PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS. I
ASKED YOU NOT TO REPEAT THE
MISTAKES OF THE PAST. AND VOTE
NO. THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON.
GLENN BACCHUS FOR ELLA BAKER
CENTER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS, A
POLICY GROUP DEDICATED TO RACIAL
AND ECONOMIC JUSTICE, BASED IN
OAKLAND. I'D LIKE TO REMIND THE
COMMITTEE THAT POSSESSION OF A
CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE ONE THAT
YOU KNOW WHAT IT IS, IS A
MISDEMEANOR IF IT'S FOR PERSONAL
USE. AND IT'S LEGAL TO OWN A
FIREARM. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY
WE HAVE A BILL OR A LAW ON THE
BOOKS. NOW THAT SAYS, I HAVE A
SMALL AMOUNT OF DRUGS. THAT'S A
MISDEMEANOR AND I HAVE A LEGAL
FIREARM. AND NOW I HAVE A FELONY
THAT PUTS ME IN PRISON FOR FOUR
YEARS. HOW DOES THAT MAKE ANY
SENSE? SO I WENT INTO EFFECT IN
1989 SIGNED BY DEUKMEJIAN. IT
WAS AMENDED IN 96 SIGNED BY PETE
WILSON. I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD
EXPAND THIS SECTION OF LAW. IT
DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO PERSONAL
USE INTO A FELONY JUST BECAUSE
THERE'S A GUN THERE'S NO WEIGHT
THRESHOLD IN THIS SECTION. SO
WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT STASH
HOUSES OR DEALERS. WE'RE TALKING
ABOUT ONE PILL. THERE'S NOT FIVE
PILLS OR 15 PILLS OR 25 1.
THERE'S NO REQUIREMENT THAT THE
PERSON HAD THE GUN IN THEIR HAND
THAT THEY BRANDISH IT. THEY USE
IT INAPPROPRIATELY. NO
REQUIREMENT THAT THEY HAVE IT ON
THEIR PERSON. IT CAN BE IN THEIR
CAR. IT CAN BE IN THEIR HOUSE.
SO LITERALLY. ONE PILL. IN THE
BATHROOM. A GUN IN THE CLOSET
AND YOU'RE LOOKING AT FOUR YEARS
. IN ADDITION TO ANY OTHER
CRIMES THEY'VE CHARGED YOU WITH
, SO THIS IS REALLY ABOUT
LEVERAGE DURING A PLEA DEAL.
I'VE GOT YOU FOR MISDEMEANOR
DRUGS. I'VE GOT YOU FOR THIS.
THIS THIS AND THIS. LET'S LET'S
MAKE A DEAL. BY THE WAY. THE
EXAMPLE OF A DRUG IN THE
BATHROOM, A GUN IN THE CLOSET.
THAT WAS UPHELD BY THE
CALIFORNIA SUPREME COURT OR
APPELLATE COURT. EXCUSE ME. IN
THE CIRCUMSTANCES WAS THE
DEFENDANT CAME TO THE LIVING
ROOM WITH HIS HANDS UP WHEN THE
POLICE CAME THEY FOUND A SMALL
AMOUNT OF METHAMPHETAMINE IN HIS
BATHROOM FOR PERSONAL USE. AND
HE FOUND A GUN IN THE CLOSET
STORED IN A LOCKED BOX. IT WAS
LOADED. IN THE SENSE THE CLIP
WAS FULL. THE CHAMBER WASN'T BUT
IT WAS IN A LOCKBOX, BUT THE
COPS GET OPEN IT WITHOUT A KEY.
THEREFORE IT WAS OPERABLE AND
WITHIN REACH, ACCORDING TO THE
LAW THAT DEUKMEJIAN AND WILSON
GAVE US SO TODAY WE'RE
DISCUSSING SOMEONE HAVING A
SMALL AMOUNT OF FENTANYL FOR
PERSONAL USE, LOOKING AT FOUR
YEARS BECAUSE THEY ALSO HAVE A
GUN IN THE HOUSE DOESN'T HAVE TO
BE A GHOST GUN DOESN'T HAVE AN
UNREGISTERED GUN. IT'S A GUN. SO
THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN AND THANK
YOU FOR THE SIGNAL THAT I WAS
GETTING WORKED UP AND RUNNING
ON. BUT AS WE KNOW, AFTER 25
YEARS, THERE'S NO EVIDENCE THAT
THE EXISTING LAW WORKS TO REDUCE
GUN VIOLENCE OR DRUGS. THERE'S
PLENTY OF EVIDENCE THAT WE HURT
FAMILIES WHEN WE TAKE THEIR MOM
OR DAD OUT AND PUT THEM IN
PRISON FOR A LONG TIME, AND THEY
MAKE THE FAMILY SEND MONEY TO
THEIR LOVED ONES TO SUPPORT THEM
INSIDE. IT'S A WRECK FOR
FAMILIES AND SO RECKFORD
COMMUNITIES. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU. ARE THERE ANY OTHER
WITNESSES AND OPPOSITION TO THE
BILL? LAURENCE COX LEGAL
SERVICES FOR PRISONS WITH
CHILDREN. ALL OF US ARE NONE
STRONG OPPOSITION. GILAD, POLICY
ANALYST WITH LEGAL SERVICES FOR
PRISONERS WITH CHILDREN AND
STRONG OPPOSITION. THANK YOU.
MARCO GEORGE ON BEHALF OF THE
CALIFORNIA PUBLIC DEFENDERS
ASSOCIATION AND THE SAN
FRANCISCO PUBLIC DEFENDER AND
OPPOSITION. THANK YOU. AMY
DUNKEL BROKEN NO MORE IN STRONG
OPPOSITION. DANA GROWED ARM ON
BEHALF OF INITIATE JUSTICE AND
OPPOSITION. APRIL GRAYSON POLICY
ASSOCIATE WITH THE SISTER, WHERE
FREEDOM COALITION AND STRONG
OPPOSITION. AT LEAST YOU
BENAVIDEZ LEWIS ON BEHALF OF
DRUG POLICY ALLIANCE IS STRONG
OPPOSITION. AND IRWIN SMART
JUSTICE, CALIFORNIA IN STRONG
OPPOSITION. AS BANANAS WITH THE
ANTI RECIDIVISM COALITION INSIDE
GARDEN PROGRAM AND SOCIAL CHANGE
AND STRONG OPPOSITION. THANK
YOU. HENRY ORTIZ, LEGAL SERVICES
FOR PRISONERS WITH CHILDREN AND
ALL OF US ARE NONE IN
OPPOSITION. THANK YOU. KARMA
NICOLE COX VOEPEL ACTION AND
STRONG OPPOSITION. WESLEY SAVER
HEALTH RIGHT 368 OPPOSITION.
EMILY WONDER ON BEHALF OF THE
YOUNG WOMEN'S FREEDOM CENTER IN
OPPOSITION. JIM LINDBERG FRIENDS
COMMITTEE ON LEGISLATION IN
CALIFORNIA OPPOSED. FINLAND IS
MORE JUSTICE, CALIFORNIA IN
OPPOSITION. SAM LEWIS, EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR OF A R. C IN
OPPOSITION. LICCARDO LONDON
STAFF MEMORY OR SEEN IN
SACRAMENTO STRONGLY OPPOSED.
LEON BURNS WITH ANTI RECIDIVISM
COALITION. I OPPOSE THIS BILL
STRONGLY. THANK YOU. CHARLES
GREEN ARC. I OPPOSE THIS. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU. WE'LL NOW BRING
IT BACK TO COMMITTEE MEMBERS.
COMMENTS. I'LL KEEP IT. BRIEF
CHAIR. THANK YOU. UH SO IN
RESPECT FOR THE OPPOSITION,
WE'RE NOT ARGUING WHAT THE LAW
IS ALREADY ON THE BOOKS FOR THE
AUTHOR. IF YOU COULD JUST MAYBE
ANSWER THIS, AND I'M SORRY I
CAME IN A LITTLE LATE. MAYBE
ALREADY DID. BUT I BELIEVE THIS
JUST BESIDE THE AMENDMENTS THAT
WERE ADDED, THIS IS JUST ADDING
FAT ENOUGH TO THE BILL. CORRECT
YES, THAT'S ALL WE'RE DOING.
OKAY, SO THAT WE'RE JUST AND
WE'RE PROBABLY GONNA BE BACK
HERE IN 10 YEARS FROM NOW,
ADDING A DIFFERENT DRUG THAT WE
HAVE NO IDEA THAT EXISTS. I
MEAN, IT'S PROBABLY GONNA BE TWO
YEARS FROM NOW. WE'RE CONSTANTLY
EVOLVING. JUDGE DRUGS ARE
CHANGING. SOME COMMENTS WERE
MADE EARLIER, UH AND OTHER BILLS
THAT WERE BEING PRESENTED ABOUT
THE GRAMS AND STUFF THAT GO ON
WITH THAT WILL THE CHEMISTS KNOW
THEY CAN JUST CHANGE THE
MOLECULAR MOLECULAR STRUCTURE OF
THE DRUG SO THAT WE WERE
CONSTANTLY CHANGING, CHANGING
WHAT WE NEED TO DO ON OUR END,
AND WE'RE ALWAYS BEHIND. SO I
SEE WHAT YOU'RE COMING FROM. BUT
I DON'T SEE THE QUITE THE
ARGUMENT BECAUSE WE NEED TO
EVOLVE WITH THE DRUGS AS WELL.
AND UH, AUTHOR THANK YOU FOR
BRINGING THIS AND I WILL
DEFINITELY SUPPORTING US. YES,
MR BRYANT. PART OF THE REASON
I'M STRUGGLING IS GRABBING THIS
QUESTION OF WHETHER WE'RE
EXPANDING SOMETHING THAT WAS
ALREADY FOUNDATIONAL BAD, BUT
EVEN MORE SO GETTING AMENDMENTS.
I DON'T EIGHT MINUTES AGO.
WITHOUT A RECORD FROM THE CHAIR
WITH THESE AMENDMENTS. I THINK
THIS IS A PRIME EXAMPLE FOR
NEEDING. IN TERMS STUDY FOR
NEEDING MORE DISCUSSION, UM, AS
A COURTESY TO THE AUTHOR FOR THE
WORK THAT SHE HAS PUT IN AND THE
IMPORTANCE OF THIS ISSUE. SO MY
QUESTION MR CHAIR SIMILAR TO THE
BILL EARLIER. IS THIS POTENTIAL
CANDIDATE FOR THAT KIND OF AN
OPTION? YES. I WOULD, UM, I HAVE
CONCERNS ABOUT EXPANDING SO. TWO
THINGS ONE. I APPRECIATE THAT.
THE AUTHOR HAS WORKED SO HARD
AND HAS WORKED WITH THE
COMMITTEE. OBVIOUSLY. WE WERE
INVOLVED WITH THE STAFF BECAUSE
IT WAS HAPPENING SO QUICKLY, AND
SO I HAVE A LOT OF CONCERN ABOUT
NOT BEING ABLE TO SUPPORT A BILL
THAT YOU'VE WORKED SO HARD AND
WORKING WITH THE STAFF ON ON THE
OTHER HAND, I AM UM, YOU KNOW,
HEARING THINGS ABOUT THE
EXISTING LAW THAT ARE A PROBLEM
GENERALLY DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM.
MOVING FENTANYL INTO CATEGORIES
WITH DRUGS THAT ARE CONSIDERED
THE MOST HARMFUL BECAUSE I THINK
IT IS ONE OF THE MOST HARMFUL
DRUGS, BUT I ALSO UM I HAVE REAL
CONCERNS ABOUT THE FACT THAT YOU
KNOW YOU CAN HAVE A LAWFUL GUN
AND ONE PILL. UM, AND THAT THE
UNDERLYING ISSUES OF SMALL
AMOUNTS OF COCAINE OR HEROIN
POSSESSION WITH WITH A GUN. TO
ME. IT JUST SEEMS LIKE THE
UNDERLYING LAW IS FLAWED AS WELL
. I WOULD HOPE THAT MAYBE THE
AUTHOR WOULD SORT OF TAKE THIS
AND AS SOMETHING AND ALLOW IT
TO, YOU KNOW, WORK ON SORT OF
FIXING THE UNDERLYING LAW AND
THEN MOVING THAT AND ALL INTO IT
BY NARROWING THE UNDERLYING LAW
SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE THE ISSUES
THAT THE ELEVATOR CENTER HAS HAS
RAISED. SO I WOULD SUPPORT THAT
IF THE AUTHOR WOULD BE WILLING
TO DO THAT, BECAUSE I DO THINK
THAT THAT ALL SHOULD BE
CATEGORIZED WITH ALL OF THE
WORST DRUGS ON THE LAWS. BUT
THIS UNDERLYING THE UNDERLYING
LAW I THINK IS REALLY FLAWED. SO
I WON'T BE ABLE TO SUPPORT THE
BILL TODAY UNLESS IT WAS MOVED
INTO SORT OF INTERIM STUDY. JUST
A QUESTION TO THE CHAIR.
HONESTLY, ABOUT THIS. CONCEPT
THAT YOU RAISED AROUND INTERIM
STUDIES. SO WHAT DOES THAT MEAN
FOR THIS MOMENT AND REVIEW OF
THIS BILL? BASICALLY A HOLDING
THAT'S A CERTAIN AGENCIES TO DO
IT FOR OUR RESEARCH BUREAU. MAKE
THOSE REQUESTS INFORMATION THAT
WE LEARN. PIMCO'S. PROBABLY THE
SWIFT AS QUICK AS WAY FOR TWO I
BELIEVE OUR COLLEAGUE
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S HANEY. IS
PLANNING TO HAVE HEARINGS ON
FENTANYL IN MID MAY. HE WILL
ALSO HAVE. WHO WERE JOINED BY,
UM. THE CHAIR OF HEALTH. CHAIR
OF PUBLIC SAFETY, MR HANEY,
BRINGING IN ALL EXPERTS OF LAW
ENFORCEMENT PUBLIC HEALTH.
MEDICAL FIELD JUSTICE ADVOCATES
BRINGING THEM ALL TOGETHER. IN
THAT FIRST MEETING, AND WE CAN
STUDY IT THERE. TALK ABOUT ALL
THE DIFFERENT PERMUTATIONS
AROUND THE CATIONS. MAYBE EVEN
DO LIKE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
DISCUSSING. SOME SOLUTIONS SO
THAT WE CAN THEN MOVE THE BILL,
MAYBE HAVE ANOTHER SPECIAL
PROBABLY TALKING AHEAD OF PEOPLE
TELL ME HOW TO DO THAT, BUT THEN
BE ABLE TO MOVE THE BILL LATER.
SO IT ESSENTIALLY BE
INFORMATIONAL IN A VERY ROBUST
WAY. AND THEN AS. BUT IT MAKES
IT MORE EXPANSIVE AND GIVES YOU
MORE TIME TO ASK MORE QUESTIONS
, BUT ALSO GIVES US ANOTHER.
MONTH OR SO. TO WORK THROUGH ALL
THE DISCUSSIONS THAT'S COMING
OUT IN THIS COMMITTEE AND
QUESTIONS THAT MEMBERS HAVE
RIGHT NOW WHERE THERE MAY BE A
LITTLE RETICENT TO VOTE ON IT
NOW, BUT THEY MIGHT BE MORE
INCLINED TO DO IT, UM AT A LATER
DATE AND NOT A LATER LATER DATE
, NOT FALL. BUT MAYBE, BUT.
WELL. OKAY, I'M GETTING ALL
DIFFERENT. SO. NOW I'M BEING
TOLD YOU AFTER GETTING THEM IN.
OKAY, SO NOPE. NOPE. WE CAN
FIGURE IT OUT. I THINK WE CAN
BECAUSE I'VE KNOWN WE'VE DWARFED
THINGS BEFORE. FOR PEOPLE WHO
DON'T KNOW WHAT WORK MEANS
WITHOUT REFERENCE TO FILE WE'VE
DONE THAT QUITE A BIT BEFORE.
AND I WOULD THINK THE MEMBERS
HERE WOULD MIND COMING BACK TO
VOTE FOR THIS BILL. IF WE'RE
ABLE OR OTHER BILLS WERE ABLE TO
MOVE THINGS ON I THINK WE'D BE
ABLE TO FIGURE IT OUT. MR
ORTEGA. I WANNA MY LITTLE, UM
FRUSTRATED. I ACTUALLY BEEN
TALKING TO ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S
SORIA ABOUT HER BILL, AND, UM
YOU KNOW, WE STARTED OUT WITH
YOU KNOW, LET'S TALK ABOUT
AMENDMENTS. I KNOW SHE'S BEEN
WORKING REALLY HARD TO PUT IN
THESE AMENDMENTS. TO WORK WITH
THE COMMITTEE CONSULTANTS TO
WORK WITH. SOME OF US TO TRY TO
GET IT TO A GOOD PLACE. I
UNDERSTAND THAT WE JUST GOT THE
INFORMATION EIGHT MINUTES AGO,
WHICH MAKES IT DIFFICULT FOR YOU
KNOW FOR MANY OF YOU TO MAKE A
DECISION AND EVEN MYSELF. UH,
BUT AS A COMMITTEE. WE NEED TO
FIGURE THIS OUT IN TERMS OF YOU
KNOW AMENDMENTS WHEN THEY COME
HOW THEY COME? BECAUSE WE CAN'T
CONTINUE TO SAY, YOU KNOW, WE'LL
WORK WITH YOU IF YOU WORK WITH
WITH THE RECOMMENDED AMENDMENTS,
AND THEN I'LL BE ABLE TO Tð YOU
KNOW, MOVE FORWARD. IT'S JUST
I'M A LITTLE, UH, FRUSTRATED
WITH THIS PROCESS, ESPECIALLY
UNDERSTANDING HA HARD, UM, THE
AUTHOR TRIED TO WORK WITH US, UM
BUT UNFORTUNATELY I WON'T BE
ABLE TO SUPPORT YOUR BILL TODAY.
CHEERS. YES. UH FOR THE
OPPOSITION. IS THERE ANY OTHER
CASE THAT YOU CAN COME UP WITH
THAT THAT HAD SOME NEGATIVE
IMPACTS WITH IN REGARDS TO JUST
THAT LAW. I KNOW WE'RE HUNG UP
ON THIS. IN THE BATHROOM, ONE
PILL, BUT THAT'S ONE OF MANY
OTHER CASES AND WE HAVE A THING
CALLED SPIRIT OF THE LAW AND
LETTER OF THE LAW. AND I WOULD
HOPE THAT THOSE JUDGES WOULD
REFER TO THAT WHEN THAT IS BEING
DONE, SO I I'M I FEEL BAD FOR
ALL MY COLLEAGUES BECAUSE YOU
PRESENTED ONE BILL OR 11 CASE.
THAT HAD TO DO AND IT SOUNDS
TERRIBLE. I AGREE TO, BUT THAT
ONE CASE RIGHT NOW WE'RE
DEBATING ON RIGHT NOW, AND
YOU'RE TALKING HUNDREDS, IF NOT
THOUSANDS OF CASES. THAT WE'VE
BEEN ABLE TO SUCCESS
SUCCESSFULLY PROSECUTE PEOPLE ON
AND IF I CAN? UNFORTUNATELY THE
LAW ENDED UP ITSELF PROBABLY FLY
BECAUSE WE SEE THIS HAPPENING
OVER AND OVER AGAIN WHERE
SOMEONE IS REALLY FACED WITH AN
ADDICTION PROBLEM, BUT DUE TO
THE FACT THERE COULD BE A GUN IN
THE HOUSE ARE LOCATED. THAT
INCREASES THE PENALTY. WAY
BEYOND THE FACT THAT WE THINK IT
SHOULD BE. SO THEN THAT REALLY
HAS GLENN SAYS, COERCES PEOPLE
INTO PLEA BARGAINING. AND THEN
WHEN YOU ELIMINATE THE
POSSIBILITY OF TREATMENT UM,
IT'S NOT GETTING TO WHAT WE I
THINK NO, WE SHOULD BE DOING
NOW. WHAT IS CORRECT WITH
REGARDS TO HOW WE TREAT PEOPLE
SUFFERING FROM ADDICTION. OKAY
AND I GET YOUR GUYS POINT. I
DON'T THINK WE NEED TO ARGUE
THAT LAW HERE WE'RE DOING IS
BASICALLY UPDATING. BY ADDING
FENTANYL TO THE LIST OF
SOMETHING THAT DIDN'T EXIST WHEN
THIS LAW WAS ORIGINALLY MADE. SO
I DON'T I DON'T KNOW IF THAT
HELPS MY COLLEAGUES OUT OR NOT,
BUT THAT'S THAT'S REALLY ALL
SHE'S DOING. IS ADDING A SIMPLE
ONE WORD FENTANYL AND THE
OBVIOUSLY THE AMENDMENTS THAT
WERE ADDED, AND I'M SORRY IF I
TOOK SOME OF YOUR CLOSING, BUT
THAT'S JUST SOMETHING I WANTED
TO MAKE SURE I SHARED. THANK
YOU. WELL. ANOTHER STATED THAT.
THE GOOD THING ABOUT THIS
DISCUSSION. HOPEFULLY IT SHOWS
THE PUBLIC HOW EXTREMELY
DIFFICULT IT IS. FOR THESE
BILLS. BUT HOPEFULLY ALSO SHOWS
HOW WE INTERACT. AND ACTUALLY
HAVE A DEBATE. I'M SORRY. YOU
HAVE TO SUFFER THROUGH THE
INTERACTION, BUT I THINK IT'S UH
IT'S GOOD FOR THE PUBLIC TO SEE.
THAT. WE'RE NOT JUST MONOLITHIC
IN OUR IN OUR BELIEFS AND THAT
WE ARE WE ACTUALLY THINK THROUGH
THESE THINGS IN A DELIBERATIVE
FASHION, SO I THINK THIS PART OF
HIM WANTED TO SPEAK FIRST AGAIN
. THANK YOU TO MR ELONIS. I
WOULD LIKE THIS TO BE ABLE TO
CONSIDER THIS LEGISLATION ONE
WITHIN THE BROADER, MORE ROBUST
CONVERSATION, WHICH WE ARE
ALREADY COMMITTED TO HAVING IN
MAY, UH I DO HAVE CHALLENGES
WITH BUILDING EVEN IF IT'S A WAR
CHANGE WITH BUILDING ON A LOT. I
WANT TO GIVE THE AUTHOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO GO
LOOK AT THE BASELINE OF THAT LAW
AND MAKE SURE THAT THERE IS AN
OPPORTUNITY TO REFINE EVEN MORE
. THE LEGISLATION THAT THE
UNDERLYING LAW THAT THIS IS
EXTENDING SO THAT IT CAN MEET
THE. THE INTENTION OF WHAT THE
AUTHOR IS TRYING TO ACHIEVE
RIGHT NOW. MY HOPE IS THAT WE
WOULD BE ABLE TO FIND A MEANS TO
BE ABLE TO DO THAT, WITHOUT
HAVING TO ESSENTIALLY
POTENTIALLY RISK NOT HAVING THIS
BOOK. THIS BILL GETS THE, UH THE
FURTHER OPPORTUNITY TO BE
REVIEWED AND CONSIDERED. VICTOR
DECEMBER. PROCEDURE EARLIER
TODAY. BEALL ALIVE. WOW. OKAY SO
WHAT WE'VE DONE IN THE PAST IT
DEPENDS ON IT. NOT TO PUT YOU ON
THE SPOT, BUT IT DEPENDS ON THE
AUTHOR. WE'VE HAD AUTHORS WHOM
WE WHICH. THE REPUBLICANS HAVE
STATED OVER AND OVER AND OTHERS
HAVE STATED OVER AND OVER THAT
WE'VE LET OUT BILLS. THAT MAY
NOT COMPORT WITH WHAT WE
NORMALLY DO. BUT WE'VE DONE THAT
BECAUSE THAT AUTHOR HAS MADE A
COMMITMENT THAT IF IT IF WE'RE
NOT ABLE TO COME TO SOME
AGREEMENT WITH THE MEMBERS HERE
THE MAJORITY OF MEMBERS HERE.
THE BILL WOULD STOP. AND IT
WOULDN'T MOVE FORWARD THAT
WOULDN'T MOVE TO APPROACH WOULD
MOVE TO THE FLOOR. IT JUST
WOULDN'T MOVE. IT WOULDN'T GO TO
THE OTHER SIDE TO THE SENATE.
AND, UM THIS COMMITTEE HAD
COMFORT. THAT THAT MEMBER WOULD
KEEP THEIR WORD. BECAUSE ONCE I
THINK PART OF THE REGISTERED
ONCE IT LEAVES THIS COMMITTEE
KIND OF OUT OF OUR HANDS. AND SO
IT'S YOUR WORD. SPOT BUT YOU
KNOW, IT'S THE WORD OF THE
AUTHOR. THAT NOTHING WILL WILL
MOVE AND THAT USED THAT AUTHOR
UT GAVE IT. THE OTHER THING IS
AND I'M GLAD WE'RE TALKING
ABOUT. THIS IS WHAT I ALSO SAID.
ALL THESE BILLS IF THEY'RE GONNA
INTERIM STUDY WHETHER IT WAS MAY
JIM. OR THE FALL. COME THEY'RE
NOT GOING TO BE ENACTED. UNTIL
JANUARY. 2024. SOMEHOW THAT GOT
MIXED MESS LIKE WE GOTTA ACT.
NOW IT CAN'T BE ACTED UPON RIGHT
NOW. STILL GOTTA GO THROUGH HERE
TO THE SENATE GOVERNOR GETTING
SIGNED AND THAT, DOESN'T WE IF
WE APPROVE SOMETHING TODAY
YOU'RE NOT GONNA LOCK SOMEBODY
UP TODAY. SO THAT'S A FALLACY.
THAT HAS BEEN IRRITATING ME TO
KNOW HIM. IF WE DID A COME
JANUARY ONE. IF WE HAVE GOT
EVERYONE IN AGREEMENT, WE DID
URGENCY CLAUSE. WE COULD GET IT
DONE THEN. WHICH IS GUESS WHAT?
THE SAME TIME AS IF WE HAD
APPROVED IT NOW. THAT WHEN IT
WOULD BE AN ACTIVE AND HOPEFULLY
THAT PERMEATES THROUGH EVERYONE
THAT WE'RE NOT HOLDING UP
ANYTHING. SO. IF IT DIES, THOUGH
IT COULD BE PROBLEMATIC. THAT
MEANS YOU GOT TO WAIT UNTIL
WHENEVER YOU YOU CAN. HOPEFULLY
MR. BRYANT HAS AN ANSWER. IT'S
GOT THAT LOOK. YEAH FIRST. I
MEAN THE REASON THIS COMMITTEE
IS SO IMPORTANT. IT'S BECAUSE
THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A BILL THAT
WAS SUPPORTED BY BRIAN AND
LACKEY OUT OF THIS COMMITTEE
THAT DIDN'T GO TO THE GOVERNOR.
THAT'S HOW THAT WORKS APPEAR. MR
LACKING KNOWS THAT TOO. SO
LETTING BILLS OUT TOGETHER,
LETTING BILLS OUT THAT WE CAN
FEEL CONFIDENT. UM, ARE GOING TO
DO GOOD. UM AND NOT HARM IS
IMPORTANT, WHICH IS WHY THIS HAS
BECOME SUCH AN IMPORTANT
COMMITTEE. I THINK YOU HAVE BEEN
MESSED UP BY A PROCESS THIS
YEAR. THAT IS NOT YOUR FAULT.
FROM BILLS BEING HELD BILLS
BEING RE HEARD. BILL'S NOT
HAVING A RECOMMENDATION
AMENDMENTS COMING OUT THE LAST
MINUTE. ALL OF THESE THINGS ARE
NOT YOUR FAULT, WHICH IS WHY I
THINK DEFERRING FOR INTERIM
STUDY. IT'S FAIR AND RESPONSIBLE
SO THAT WE CAN GET TO A POINT.
PERHAPS MR LACKEY AND I SUPPORT
SOMETHING THAT WE CAN BOTH
BELIEVE IN. I ALSO CAN TELL YOU
BECAUSE THIS HAS BEEN A VERY
SPECIAL PROCESS. THAT I WOULD
SAY, AND I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK
FOR THE CHAIR. BUT I WOULD BET
THAT EVERYBODY ON THIS COMMITTEE
WOULD BE WILLING TO SUGGEST TO
LEADERSHIP THROUGH WHATEVER
MEANS OR MEASURES ARE NECESSARY
TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU CONTINUE
TO MOVE THIS FORWARD BECAUSE I
DON'T BELIEVE THIS IS AT YOUR
FAULT. THIS IS A SPECIAL HEARING
. THIS CAN BE A SPECIAL
CIRCUMSTANCE. THERE IS A MAJOR
HEARING THAT'S GOING ON BY THE
SELECT COMMITTEE ON FENTANYL BY
MR HANEY NEXT MONTH, THERE IS
WORK THAT WE CAN DO HERE AND I
KNOW THAT YOUR HEART AND
INTENTIONS ARE GOOD. AND SO I
DON'T WANT TO SEE THIS DIE.
TODAY. BUT I ALSO CANNOT SUPPORT
SOMETHING. THAT WAS AMENDED NOW
15 MINUTES AGO. UM WITH THAT
ALSO DOESN'T HAVE KIND OF THE
FULL REVIEW OR RECOMMENDATION
FROM THE COMMITTEE. CHAIR IF I
MAY, AND I APPRECIATE EVERYONE'S
COMMENTS, AND THANK YOU
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S, UH JUST BRIAN
FOR YOUR COMMENTS. I APPRECIATE
IN TERMS OF THE PROCESS, THE
PROCESSES THAT WE DO HAVE
DEADLINES. AND SO YEAH, YOU KNOW
, I GOT UNFORTUNATELY STUCK IN
THIS KIND OF, YOU KNOW,
DIFFERENT TYPE OF PROCESS. THE
FACT IS, I WILL SAY AMENDMENTS
AND WE ALL KNOW HERE IN THIS
ROOM THAT AMENDMENTS A LOT OF
TIMES COME AT THE 11TH HOUR, AND
THAT'S THE REALITY. UM AND YOU
KNOW I MY COMMITMENT AND WHICH
IS WHY I'VE BEEN, YOU KNOW,
TALKING TO HIS TO YOU, CHAIRMAN
, UM TO WORK WITH YOU GUYS TO
FIGURE OUT WHAT WOULD THE
COMMITTEE BECOME COMFORTABLE,
ESSENTIALLY WITH OR THE
COMMITTEE STAFF AND YOU BE
COMFORTABLE WITH, AND SO THAT'S
WHY I YOU KNOW, I TOOK YOUR GUYS
RECOMMENDATION. I WOULD LIKE TO
CONTINUE IN THE PROCESS, BUT THE
FACT IS THAT EVEN IF IT'S AN
INTERIM STUDY, UNLESS THERE'S
LIKE A SENSE OF, YOU KNOW,
URGENCY OR URGENCY, CLOTH, UM
THE BILL WOULDN'T BE IN THE
NORMAL PROCESS. AND SO THAT'S
WHAT I'M CONCERNED WITH. AND SO
I'D LIKE TO HAVE A VEHICLE AS,
UH, YOU KNOW, ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S
CHAVEZ SUBURB MENTIONED A
VEHICLE TO BE ABLE TO, UH,
CONTINUE TO HAVE THIS DIALOGUE.
JUST TWO DAYS AGO, THE SENATE
APPROVED ACTUALLY THIS SAME BILL
WITH NO AMENDMENTS WITH
BIPARTISAN SUPPORT. AND I THINK
THAT YOU KNOW, IN THAT SAME VEIN
, WE ARE SEEING OUR COLLEAGUES
ACROSS THE OTHER SIDE THAT HAVE
MADE A RECOGNITION THAT THIS IS
A CRITICAL ISSUE AND THAT WE
HAVE TO START SOMEWHERE IN TERMS
OF ON THE PUBLIC SAFETY, PEACE
SUPPORT. UH YOU KNOW ALL THE
EFFORTS THAT ARE HAPPENING
ALONGSIDE FOR THE PUBLIC HEALTH
, THE PUBLIC HEALTH REASONS THAT
ALSO EXISTS, BUT I ALSO BELIEVE
THAT WE NEED TO HAVE A FAIR SHOT
IN TERMS OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY
CONVERSATION. AND SO I WOULD
LIKE, UM, YOU KNOW TO ASK, IF
YOU KNOW IF YOU GUYS WOULD ALLOW
ME TO ATTEMPT TO MOVE FORWARD IN
THE SAME PROCESS THAT EVERYONE
ELSE HAS BEEN GIVEN THROUGH THIS
COMMITTEE PRIOR TO THIS HEARING
, AND SO THAT WOULD BE MY
REQUEST TODAY. UH, FOR ALL YOU
ORTEGA. HEARING THE AUTHOR'S
COMMENTS ABOUT WILLIE HER
WILLINGNESS TO MOVE FORWARD AND
WORK WITH US. AH AH! AH! AND
RECOGNIZING OUR RECENT HISTORY
IN TERMS OF SUPPORTING OTHER
BILLS, UH, THAT WE MIGHT HAVE
CONTINUED QUESTIONS ABOUT. UM UM
, ACTUALLY RECONSIDERING MY
POSITION AND WILLING TO IF THE
AUTHOR IS COMMITTED TO WORKING
WITH THIS COMMITTEE AND ALL OF
US MOVING FORWARD. YES. YOU HAVE
MY COMMITMENT. ONLY THING I
WOULD ASK. ONE MORE. IT WAS JUST
SO I'M CLEAR THAT THE EARLIER
BUILDING YOU MENTIONED WAS THAT
JESSE GABRIEL ENHANCEMENT BILL.
AND DO IT AND HANEY. UNTIL UM I
THINK PART OF THAT. WORK WITH IS
IF WE HAVE NOW COME TO SOME KIND
OF UNDERSTANDING OR RESOLUTION
THAT YOU WOULD NEED TO HOLD THE
BELL AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE
WILLING TO DO THAT. THAT'S
THAT'S THE OTHER PART OF IT.
THAT THEY ALL AGREE TO WELL, I'M
WILLING TO WORK WITH YOU GUYS,
AND I WANT TO GET TO MAKE SURE
THAT THIS BILL GETS ACROSS, YOU
KNOW BOTH. SO I'M WILLING TO
WORK WITH YOU GUYS THROUGH THE
PROCESS, AND IF IT'S YOU KNOW,
SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TO HOLD
BACK UM, YOU KNOW, IF WE CAN'T
COME TO AN AGREEMENT, I'M
WILLING TO ALSO DO THAT. THEN
I'M WAITING FOR A MOTION WITH
THAT UNDERSTANDING. SOME OF
SECOND CALLED ROLE. ON A B 6 75
BY SOME MEMBER STORY OF THE
MOTION IS DUE PASS AS AMENDED TO
THE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE
JOHN SAWYER ELONIS AYE, BONTA.
AYE. I, BRIAN. NOT VOTING TO
BRIAN, NOT VOTING. LACKEY
MACKEY, I ORTEGA EYES SANTIAGO.
SANTIAGO, NOT VOTING ZIPPER.
ZIPPER, NOT VOTING. THAT MEASURE
PASSES. THANK YOU. ITEM NUMBER.
FIVE. KB 955 PETRIE-NORRIS.
WE'RE WRESTLING. OH,
WHENEVER YOU'RE READY, ALRIGHT,
MR CHAIR AND MEMBERS. UH LET ME
BEGIN MR CHARGES FOR THANKING
YOU FOR CONVENING TODAY'S
HEARING AND BRINGING US TOGETHER
TO DISCUSS THIS INCREDIBLY
IMPORTANT TOPIC AND TO CONSIDER
AH, THE BILLS THAT MY COLLEAGUES
AND I HAVE INTRODUCED TO, UH, TO
TRY TO COMBAT THE FENTANYL
CRISIS AND AS WE HAVE DISCUSSED
TODAY, FENTANYL THE SCOURGE OF
FENTANYL IS RAVAGING OUR
COMMUNITIES AND KILLING OUR KIDS
. FUNCTIONAL IS ONE OF THE MOST
DANGEROUS AND DEADLY SUBSTANCES.
IN THE WORLD, AND IN RECENT
YEARS, THE TOTAL NUMBER OF
FENTANYL DEATHS HERE IN
CALIFORNIA HAS ABSOLUTELY
SKYROCKETED TODAY AND EVERY DAY
15 CALIFORNIANS 15 CALIFORNIANS
WILL DIE BECAUSE OF FENTANYL
POISONING. AND I SAY, FUNCTIONAL
POISONING BECAUSE I THINK, UM
AND I'VE LISTENED TO OBVIOUSLY
ALL THE DISCUSSION AND DEBATE
THAT WE'VE HAD HERE TODAY, AND I
KNOW WE'VE HAD A LOT OF
DISCUSSION ABOUT, UH COMPARISONS
TO OUR FAILED WAR ON DRUGS AND
IN MY OPINION IN MY ASSESSMENT,
INTENTIONAL IS FUNDAMENTALLY
DIFFERENT, BECAUSE WHAT WE ARE
TALKING ABOUT AND WHAT WE ARE
SEEING IN OUR COMMUNITIES ARE
RARELY OVERDOSED US. MORE AND
MORE FREQUENTLY. WE ARE SEEING
PEOPLE WHO ARE BEING POISONED.
UH AND TWO TRENDS TO VERY
DISTURBING TRENDS HAVE REALLY
ACCELERATED AT THINK THE DANGER
OF FENTANYL IN CALIFORNIA AND
FRANKLY, I THINK INCREASED THE
URGENCY FOR OUR OUR ATTENTION
AND RESPONSE. AND UM, THOSE TWO
TRENDS ARE NUMBER ONE. WE ARE
SEEING DRUG TRAFFICKERS ABUSE
SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS. TO SELL
INCREASINGLY TO OUR KIDS, SO
DRUG DEALERS DO NOT NEED TO
STAND ON STREET CORNERS OR IN
DESERTED PARKING LOTS. NOW THEY
ARE CONNECTING WITH YOUNG PEOPLE
WITH TEENAGERS WITH PRE
TEENAGERS ON PLATFORMS LIKE
SNAPCHAT, INSTAGRAM, FACEBOOK
AND WHATSAPP. UM, ACTUALLY, A
RECENT EXAMPLE IN FACT, IS THE
FORMER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE
SAN JOSE POLICE OFFICERS
ASSOCIATION, WHO WAS THE
COORDINATOR OF A SOPHISTICATED
FENTANYL STRIPPING AND
DISTRIBUTION NETWORK. ACTUALLY
USING OFFICE COMPUTERS TO DO
THAT. WORK AND TO TRAFFIC THIS
POISON TO OUR KIDS, BUT THE
SECOND SCARY TREND TO ME, UM AND
IT'S TERRIFYING TO ME AS MOM HAS
REALLY BEEN THE PROLIFERATION OF
COUNTERFEIT FENTANYL. SO UH,
DRUG TRAFFICKERS ARE DECEPTIVELY
CUTTING COUNTERFEIT PRESCRIPTION
MEDICATIONS LIKE XANAX.
OXYCODONE PERCOCET WITH FENTANYL
AND OUR KIDS ARE BUYING WHAT
THEY THINK OR A XANAX, PERCOCET
AND OXY AND. DYING BECAUSE OF
FENTANYL POISONING. AND AS I'VE
SAID, TOO MANY OF YOU AS A MOM,
THIS ABSOLUTELY SCARES THE HELL
OUT OF ME. AND AS A LEGISLATOR,
I'M ABSOLUTELY COMMITTED TO
PUSHING FOR ACTION TO COMBAT
THIS CRISIS AND, UM WE HAVE ALSO
TALKED A LOT TODAY ABOUT THE
NEED FOR A COMPREHENSIVE
APPROACH AND I CERTAINLY
WHOLEHEARTEDLY AGREE WITH THAT.
WE ABSOLUTELY NEED MORE
INVESTMENT IN TREATMENT IN
EDUCATION IN REHABILITATION. UM
AND I ALSO THINK THAT WERE
APPROPRIATE. WE NEED TO
STRENGTHEN PENALTIES WE NEED TO
HOLD TRAFFICKERS WHO ARE
MURDERING OUR CHILDREN
ACCOUNTABLE AND WE NEED TO SEND
A STRONG MESSAGE THAT
TRAFFICKING ONLINE. TARGETING
CHILDREN WILL NOT BE TOLERATED
HERE IN CALIFORNIA. SO UH, WITH
THAT, UH, MAYBE 9 55. WAS
INTRODUCED TO HELP COMBAT AS I
SAID THE DANGEROUS AND DEADLY
PROLIFERATION OF FENTANYL SALES
ONLINE. UM AND WHAT THE BILL
DOES IS, UH, TO ALIGN THE
PENALTIES FOR ONLINE SALES AND
DISTRIBUTION OF FENTANYL WITH
PENALTIES THAT ALREADY EXIST FOR
INTERCOUNTY SALES AND
DISTRIBUTION OF FENTANYL. SO
WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO WITH
THIS BILL IS A LINE PENALTIES
FOR TRAFFICKING IN THE VIRTUAL
WORLD, WITH PENALTIES THAT DO
EXIST ALREADY IN THE REAL WORLD.
AND PLEASED TO BE JOINED TODAY
BY CHRISTIE EARLIER, WHO IS THE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR. AVOID AND BY
JONATHAN FELDMAN, WHO IS HERE
WITH THE CALIFORNIA POLICE
CHIEFS ASSOCIATION, TO PROVIDE
ADDITIONAL TESTIMONY. OKAY YOU
HAVE FIVE MINUTES AND YOU
DIVIDED ANYWAY, THE TWO OF YOU
WANT TO THANK YOU, MR CHAIR AND
COMMITTEE MEMBERS. MY NAME IS
CHRISTY. DEAR I AM A MEMBER OF
THE VOID, AND I'M VERY GRATEFUL
TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK
WITH YOU TODAY. THIS IS MY SON,
ZACH. 28 MONTHS AGO TODAY, ZAK'S
MOTHER LARA, WHO'S WITH US HERE
TODAY. AND I UM. LOST OUR
YOUNGEST CHILD FROM ILLICIT
FENTANYL POISONING. OUR STORY IS
VERY PERSONAL, AND IT CUTS TO
THE VERY CORE. AS A HIGH SCHOOL
SENIOR. ZACH WAS INCREDIBLY
SUCCESSFUL IN ALL ASPECTS OF
LIFE. A STRAIGHT A STUDENT I
RESPECTED ATHLETE ACTIVE IN
SCOUTING, THEATER AND COMMUNITY
SERVICE. THREE MONTHS AFTER HIS
ACT DIED, HIS MOTHER AND I
OPENED HIS ACCEPTANCE LETTERS
INTO FIVE U. C. S, INCLUDING
UCL, A. WE NEVER GOT TO SEE ZACH
CELEBRATE. THE JOYS OF
ACCEPTANCE INTO UCS AND INSTEAD
OF IS AN EXACT AND COLLEGE WE
HAVE TO VISIT HIM AT A CEMETERY
HERE IN SACRAMENTO. WHAT AS WHO
ARE CONFUSION IS THAT ZACK HAD
NO KNOWN HISTORY OF SUBSTANCE
USE. OUR FIRST RESPONDERS NEVER
FOUND PRODUCTS OR PARAPHERNALIA
IN HIS POSSESSION OR HIS
BEDROOM. TWO MONTHS BEFORE ZACH
DIED. THE DEALER WAS CONVICTED
OF DIFFERENT DRUG OFFENSES AND
SENTENCED TO ONLY FIVE YEARS OF
PROBATION WITH NO JAIL TIME.
ZACH WAS SOLD A FAKE PILL FROM A
STRANGER THROUGH SNAPCHAT. IT
WAS MADE OF ILLICIT FENNEL AND
DISGUISED AS PERCOCET.
UNREGULATED DESIGNS OF SOCIAL
MEDIA, MAKE IT RIGHT FOR
DANGEROUS CONTENT AND BOLSTERS
NEFARIOUS DRUG ACTIVITY BY
DEALERS. SO LET'S GET THIS
STRAIGHT. THESE DEALERS ARE
ILLEGALLY PURCHASING COUNTERFEIT
PILLS FROM AN ILLEGAL SOURCE.
THEY ILLEGALLY POSSESS THESE
PILLS, NOT KNOWING WHERE THEY
ACTUALLY CAME FROM WRONGFULLY
CLAIMED THAT THESE WERE HARMLESS
PRESCRIPTION PILLS. THESE
DEALERS ARE NOT DOCTORS. THEY'RE
NOT PHARMACISTS, AND THEY ARE
WILLINGLY AND INTENTIONALLY
EXPLOITING SOCIAL MEDIA. THERE
NEEDS TO BE APPROPRIATE
ACCOUNTABILITY TO THOSE WHO
PEDDLE POISON FOR PROFIT.
SOMEONE DIED SEVEN MINUTES AGO
FROM ILLICIT FENTANYL IN OUR
COUNTRY. SO MY SIMPLE QUESTION
TO THE COMMITTEE IS THIS WHAT
DOES IT TAKE TO HOLD A DEALER
ACCOUNTABLE WHO PROFITS ON THE
LIVES OF OUR CHILDREN, YOUR
CHILDREN? REALLY THINK ABOUT IT
. PLEASE SUPPORT A B 9 55. THANK
YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION AND
YOUR I VOTE. THANK YOU, SIR.
THANK YOU CHAIR AND MEMBERS
JONATHAN FELDMAN ON BEHALF OF
THE CALIFORNIA POLICE CHIEFS
ASSOCIATION AND STRONG SUPPORT
AS THE AUTHOR AND THE WITNESSES
SAID, I MEAN, WE'RE TALKING
ABOUT DEALERS USING SOCIAL MEDIA
PLATFORMS, EXPOSING CHILDREN
MARKETING THE CHILDREN. I HAVE
TWO DAUGHTERS. UH THESE STORIES
BREAK MY HEART AND SCARES THE
HELL OUT OF ME. AND THAT'S ONE
OF THE REASONS WE'RE IN SUCH
LONG SUPPORT OF THIS PARTICULAR
BILL BECAUSE IT'S REALLY
FOCUSING ON THOSE THAT ARE GOING
OUT AFTER THE MOST VULNERABLE
KIDS WHO DON'T KNOW BETTER. YOU
KNOW, AS WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IN
THIS COMMITTEE, YOU KNOW
PREFRONTAL CORTEX DEVELOPMENT.
THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND THE
CONSEQUENCES OF THE DECISIONS
THAT THEY'RE MAKING. THAT'S WHY
THE FOCUS OF THIS BILL SO
IMPORTANT. AND I WANT TO SAY
SOMETHING MORE GENERALLY. YOU
KNOW, I'VE BEEN IN THIS
COMMITTEE FOR THE BETTER PART OF
A DECADE. UH, YOU KNOW, I'M I'M
EMPATHETIC AND I UNDERSTAND AND
SORT OF THE POLICE CHIEFS THE
ARGUMENTS ABOUT NOT GOING BACK
TO THE WAR ON DRUGS. THAT EFFORT
WAS FAILED. BUT THIS IS NOT THE
19 EIGHTIES. IT'S NOT THE 19
NINETIES. IT'S NOT EVEN THE
EARLY TWO THOUSANDS. IT'S 2023.
FOR A DECADE. NOW WE HAVE BEEN
PASSING REFORMS ON EARLY RELEASE
PROTECTING RACIAL BIAS IN OUR
COURT SYSTEM, RECIDIVISM EFFORTS
REHABILITATION EFFORTS IN OUR
JAILS AND OUR PRISON SYSTEMS.
YOU KNOW ANYBODY THAT GOES INTO
THE SYSTEM NOW THEY'RE GOING TO
SERVE HALF THEIR TIME TO GOOD
CONDUCT CREDIT. THEY'RE GONNA
HAVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR
REHABILITATION, EDUCATION
PROGRAMS, SUBSTANCE ABUSE DRUG
COUNSELING. WE'RE NOT JUST
TRYING TO PUNISH INDIVIDUALS FOR
HARMING OUR COMMUNITIES WERE
TRYING TO REHABILITATE THEM.
THAT'S OUR EFFORTS HERE. SO I
UNDERSTAND INCREASING SENTENCES
IS NOT THE DIRECTION THAT THIS
COMMITTEE WANTS TO GO. BUT I
JUST WANT YOU ALL TO UNDERSTAND
THIS IS NOT. IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT
PUNISHING AND LOCKING PEOPLE UP.
THIS IS ABOUT CHANGING THEIR
BEHAVIOR, AND THAT'S THE EFFORT
THAT WE HAVE ALL UNDERTAKEN OVER
ALL THESE YEARS TO MAKE THAT
DIFFERENCE AND MAKE THAT CHANGE.
UM AND YOU KNOW, I READ THE
ANALYSIS HAS A LOT OF DIFFERENT
STUDIES THAT SHOW LONGER
SENTENCES DON'T WORK, BUT
THEY'RE LOOKING AT STUDIES.
THEY'RE LOOKING AT DATA FROM
OTHER STATES NATIONWIDE. THEY'RE
NOT LOOKING AT WHAT WE'RE DOING
HERE TODAY IN CALIFORNIA. I
DON'T AGREE WITH THOSE STUDIES
AND THOSE JUST BEING THE BASIS
IN EVERY ARGUMENT THAT WE HAVE
ABOUT INCREASED SENTENCES THAT
THEY DON'T WORK, RIGHT. JUST TO
SAY THE LONGER SENTENCES DON'T
WORK DOESN'T UNDERSTAND. THE
NUANCES OF IT. AND IF YOU
ACTUALLY READ THOSE STUDIES,
THEY ACTUALLY PICK APART A LOT
OF WHAT THEY SAY THAT YOU KNOW.
IT DOESN'T WORK IN CERTAIN
CIRCUMSTANCES. IT DOESN'T WORK
UNDER CERTAIN CRIMES. I MEAN, I
AGREE, JUST LOCKING THEM UP AND
THROWING AWAY. THE KEY AS A
SOLUTION IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN,
AND IT'S NOT GOING TO WORK AND
IT'S NOT WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR.
BUT DID YOU USE THAT AS AN
EXCUSE EVERY SINGLE TIME TO JUST
SAY WE CAN'T INCREASE SENTENCES?
I THINK AGAIN DOESN'T UNDERSTAND
THE NUANCES OF WHAT WE'RE DOING
IN CALIFORNIA NOW HOW THINGS
HAVE CHANGED UP TO THIS POINT,
THANKS TO SOME OF THE GREAT WORK
THAT'S BEEN DONE HERE IN THIS
COMMITTEE AND THROUGH THE
PARTNERSHIP EVEN WITH THE POLICE
CHIEFS ASSOCIATION. UM SO WHEN A
BILL LIKE THIS THAT COMES
FORWARD THAT'S REALLY FOCUSING
ON THOSE THAT ARE HARMING OUR
CHILDREN. UH YOU KNOW, I JUST
REALLY HOPE THAT WE THINK OF ALL
OF THAT CONTEXT AND CAN MOVE
SOMETHING LIKE THIS FORWARD. SO
WE RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOUR
VOTE. THANK YOU AND THE OTHERS
AND SUPPORT MR CHAIRMAN MEMBERS
. COREY SELLS ALOT ON BEHALF OF
THE CALIFORNIA STATE
SHERIFFSASSOCIATION SUPPORT.
THANK YOU. CHAIRMAN REMEMBERS
CARL LONDON ON BEHALF OF CRIME
VICTIMS UNITED IN SUPPORT. KIM
STONE STONE ADVOCACY FOR THE
CALIFORNIA DISTRICT ATTORNEYS
ASSOCIATION AND SUPPORT GOOD
AFTERNOON CHAIR AND MEMBERS
ELISE ARCIDIACONO WITH THE
LEAGUE OF CALIFORNIA CITIES IN
SUPPORT. MORGAN JR. PLASTIC
COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY IN
SUPPORT. PAMELA SMITH, MOTHER OF
JACKSON SMITH, WHO DIED OF
FENTANYL IN STRONG SUPPORT.
STEPHANIE HERRERA IN OUR PROJECT
AND SUPPORT. TONY IRONS, MOM OF
JOSH ARNS 19 YEAR OLD. THIS IS
WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE TO BE ON LIFE
SUPPORT. FROM FENNEL. IT'S
IMPORTANT, BUT. KELLY EMERALD, I
SUPPORT MY SON, RYAN LOST HIS
LIFE THREE MONTHS AGO POISONING.
TONY OREN'S FATHER OF JOSHUA,
WHO DIED SEPTEMBER 30TH 2021. ON
MY LIVING ROOM FLOOR FROM
FENTANYL. THANK YOU. THAT THERE
ANYONE IN OPPOSITION?
WATCH YOURSELF, HMM.
YOU HAVE FIVE MINUTES. YOU CAN
BREAK IT UP ANY WAY YOU WANT.
THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY
NAME IS AMY DUNKEL. SADLY I'M
EXTREMELY FAMILIAR WITH THE PAIN
IN THIS ROOM, HAVING LOST MY OWN
20 YEAR OLD SON, BEN TO AN
OVERDOSE. IN HIS MEMORY, I
CREATED THE SOLAS FOUNDATION OF
ORANGE COUNTY AND UNFUNDED
NALOXONE DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM
THAT HAS RECORDED OVER 2500
OVERDOSE REVERSALS. I'M ALSO ON
THE BOARD OF BROKEN NO MORE, A
CALIFORNIA NONPROFIT WITH OVER
4000 MEMBERS. MOSTLY PARENTS WHO
HAVE LOST A CHILD LIKE ME. WE
STRONGLY OPPOSED. MAYBE 955. A B
955 WILL DO NOTHING TO STOP
YOUNG PEOPLE FROM PURCHASING
PILLS THAT CONTAIN FENTANYL FROM
SOCIAL MEDIA. IF YOU ARREST
SOMEONE FOR SENDING ONLINE THAT
JUST MEANS MORE CUSTOMERS FOR
SOMEONE ELSE, AND THERE WILL
ALWAYS BE SOMEONE ELSE. DECADES
OF OBSERVATION HAVE DEMONSTRATED
THAT IF YOU ARREST SOMEONE FOR
SELLING DRUGS, THEY ARE QUICKLY
REPLACED. RESEARCH HAS SHOWN
THAT PUNITIVE DRUG LAWS SUCH AS
A B 955 DO NOT DECREASE DRUG USE
DRUG SALES OR OVERDOSE DEATHS IF
THE GOAL IS TO SAVE LIVES, WE
MUST DISCARD OUR BELIEF THAT
MORE PUNISHMENT IS THE ANSWER
AND INVEST IN INTERVENTIONS THAT
WILL SAVE THE LIVES OF THESE
YOUNG ADULTS. NO ONE WANTS TO
SEE YOUNG PEOPLE USE DRUGS, BUT
SOME WILL. SOME WILL BUY PILLS
THAT MAY CONTAIN A LETHAL DOSE
OF FENTANYL. HOW CAN WE KEEP
THEM SAFE? NALOXONE SHOULD BE IN
EVERY HOME WHERE YOUNG PEOPLE
ARE PRESENT IN CASE OF AN
OVERDOSE. YOUNG PEOPLE SHOULD BE
INFORMED ABOUT THE NEVER USE
ALONE HOTLINE WHERE THE PERSON
RECEIVING THE CALL IS INTERESTED
ONLY IN THE SAFETY OF THE PERSON
CALLING AND CAN INTERVENE IN THE
CASE OF AN OVERDOSE. YOUNG
PEOPLE SHOULD BE PROVIDED WITH
PENCIL TEST STRIPS AND TAUGHT
HOW TO PROPERLY TEST THEIR
PILLS. A POSITIVE TEST WILL
INFORM THEM THAT THE PILL
CONTAINS FENTANYL AND SHOULD BE
DISCARDED. UNLIKE A B 955. THESE
INTERVENTIONS ARE USED. THEY
WILL SAVE LIVES. EVERY DOLLAR
SPENT ON THE INEFFECTIVE
STRATEGIES OF ARRESTING,
PROSECUTING AND IMPRISONING IS A
DOLLAR NOT SPENT ON HARM
REDUCTION INTERVENTIONS AND
FACTS, SCIENCE BASED TREATMENTS
THAT HAVE BEEN PROVEN TO SAVE
LIVES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MR CHAIR AND
COMMITTEE MEMBERS. MY NAME IS
WESLEY SAVER, AND I AM THE
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC POLICY AND
AFFAIRS FOR HEALTH. RIGHT? 3 60
ON BEHALF OF THE ORGANIZATION.
WE OPPOSE ASSEMBLY BILL 955. AS
THE SUBSTANCE USE TREATMENT
PROVIDER AS A FORMER E M T AS
SOMEONE WHOSE CAREER HAS BEEN
FOUNDED IN WORKING WITH YOUTH OF
ALL BACKGROUNDS AND STAGES OF
DEVELOPMENT AND AS AN OLDER
BROTHER OF SOMEONE WHOSE LIFE
WAS TOUCHED BY OVERDOSE. I SPEAK
WITH INTIMATE KNOWLEDGE OF THE
PERSISTENT AND SOMETIMES
DESTRUCTIVE CHALLENGES OF DRUG
USE THAT CONFRONT OUR CHILDREN
LOVED ONES AND THE COMMUNITY.
THESE ARE SENSITIVE ISSUES AND,
INDEED PERSONAL TO US ALL. AND I
APPRECIATE THE GENTLEMAN SHARING
SEX MEMORY AND ALL OF THE OTHER
LOVED ONES WHO SHARED THERE'S
BUT WE KNOW THE
COUNTERPRODUCTIVE HARMS OF THIS
PROPOSAL IN THIS BILL AND
SIMILAR SENTENCING ENHANCEMENTS
OR THE SAME REGRESSIVE
STRATEGIES THAT HAVE BEEN TRIED
CONSISTENTLY FAILED AND
EXACERBATE OVERDOSE MORTALITIES.
WE CANNOT INTERDICT OR
INCARCERATE OUR WAY OUT OF THE
OVERDOSE CRISIS AND DESPITE THE
AUTHOR'S NOBLE INTENT, WE
STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT THIS BILL
WILL NOT HAVE ANY DETERRENT
EFFECT ON A SALE OR AVAILABILITY
OF DRUGS THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA
PLATFORMS, AND IT DOES NOT OFFER
ANY ADDITIONAL SERVICES TO OUR
YOUTH. FROM SENTENCING
ENHANCEMENT TO SENDING IN THE
NATIONAL GUARD. ENFORCEMENT,
NEVER DISSUADES DEMAND. MAYBE
955 WOULD SUBJECT TO PERSONAL,
LENGTHY PERIODS OF INCARCERATION
, INCREASED DISPARATE RACIAL
OUTCOMES IN PUBLIC HEALTH AND
SENTENCING WITHOUT ADDRESSING
ANY ROOT CAUSES. THE PROBLEM. TO
ADDRESS SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER
AND OVERDOSE, MORTALITY, ROBUST
PUBLIC HEALTH INFRASTRUCTURE AND
HUMANE ENGAGEMENT IS THE
SOLUTION. THIS INCLUDES READILY
AVAILABLE DRUG ADULTERATE
TESTING BROAD ACCESS TO OVERDOSE
REVERSAL, MEDICATION, HARM
REDUCTION PRACTICES, SUCH AS
SAFER SUPPLY AND SUPERVISED
CONSUMPTION AND A FULL CONTINUUM
OF LOW THRESHOLD VOLUNTARY
TREATMENT OPTIONS AS
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S BONTA AND BRIAN
MENTIONED COMPARED THE BUDGETS
OF THESE DIGNIFIED,
COMPASSIONATE AND STIGMA FREE
PROGRAMS WITH THOSE OF THE
INEFFECTIVE AND EXPENSIVE
CRIMINAL LEGAL STRATEGIES. YOU
CANNOT SAY SOMETHING DOES NOT
WORK WHEN IT HAS NEVER BEEN
FULLY IMPLEMENTED OR FUNDED WITH
FIDELITY. 89 55 DOES NOTHING TO
PREVENT YOUTH AND OTHERS FROM
BEING TARGETED WITH SOCIAL MEDIA
CONTENT THAT FACILITATES THE
PURCHASE OF DRUGS. INSTEAD WILL
LEAD TO FURTHER HARM HIS PEOPLE
WOULD BE AFRAID TO ASK FOR
SUPPORT DUE TO FEAR OF
PROSECUTION. ISOLATION IS WELL
KNOWN TO BE CONSISTENT DRIVING
FACTOR IN OVERDOSE, AND THIS
BILL DOES NOT HOLD OUR CHILDREN
CLOSE. RATHER IT WILL FURTHER
MARGINALIZED PEOPLE WHO USE
DRUGS, ESPECIALLY YOUNGER PEOPLE
WHO MAY USE IN SECRECY AND SHAME
WITHOUT BEING FULLY INFORMED.
MAYBE 955 IS WITHOUT AN EVIDENCE
BASE AND PUTS UP FURTHER
BARRIERS AND PENALTIES THAT
RAISE THE RISK OF OVERDOSE.
KNOWING THIS WE OPPOSE 89 55,
AND WE RESPECTFULLY URGE YOU TO
VOTE NO ON THIS, BILL. THANK
YOU, THANK YOU AND THE OTHERS IN
OPPOSITION. NAME AND
ORGANIZATION, PLEASE. MARGO
GEORGE, ON BEHALF OF THE
CALIFORNIA PUBLIC DEFENDERS
ASSOCIATION AND THE SAN
FRANCISCO PUBLIC DEFENDER AND
STRONG OPPOSITION. DON'T EVEN
REGULAR POLICY ANALYST WITH
LEGAL SERVICES FOR PRISONERS
WITH CHILDREN HERE. ALSO ON
BEHALF OF ALL OF US ARE NOT AS
STRONG OPPOSITION. THANK YOU.
DANICA RIGHT ARM ON BEHALF OF
INITIATE JUSTICE AND OPPOSITION.
DAVID GOODMAN, MAZEL, PHYSICIAN,
RESEARCHER AND OPPOSITION. GLENN
BECK IS ELLA BAKER CENTER FOR
HUMAN RIGHTS AND OPPOSITION. AT
LEAST YOU BENEFIT AS LEWIS ON
BEHALF OF THE FOLLOWING
ORGANIZATIONS DRUG POLICY
ALLIANCE TO HARM REDUCTION,
COLLECTIVE DIGNITY AND POWER NOW
HARM REDUCTION INSTITUTE CARE.
FIRST CALIFORNIA A NEW PATH
NATIONAL HARM REDUCTION.
COALITION TREATMENT ON DEMAND
COALITION, SAN FRANCISCO AND
REACH L A. THANK YOU. JEANETTE
SUNNY 14 ON BEHALF OF THE
FOLLOWING ORGANIZATIONS IN YSTAD
HUMAN SERVICES CENTER FOR LIVING
AND LEARNING FACE TO FACE SONOMA
COUNTY AIDS NETWORK, BERKELEY
NEEDLE EXCHANGE, EMERGENCY
DISTRIBUTION OR NEED MY SECOND
CHANCE. FROM LONG BEACH FACE TO
FACE ANY POSITIVE CHANGE
INCORPORATED AND, UM, SAN
FRANCISCO GLADE CENTER. THANK
YOU. APRIL GRAYSON SISTER WHERE
FREEDOM COALITION AND OPPOSITION
TO THIS BILL. EMILY WONDER ON
BEHALF OF THE YOUNG WOMEN'S
FREEDOM CENTER IN OPPOSITION.
AND IRWIN SMART JUSTICE,
CALIFORNIA IN OPPOSITION. GOOD
AFTERNOON. CARMEN WILLCOX TH¤U
COLLECTION AND OPPOSITION. GOOD
AFTERNOON ESPANA NUNEZ WITH THE
ANTI RECIDIVISM COALITION INSIDE
GARDEN PROGRAM IN SOCIAL CHANGE
IN OPPOSITION. THANK YOU.
CHARLES GREEN ART I OPPOSE THIS.
THANK YOU. SEAN GAUGE ANTI
RECIDIVISM COALITION STRONGLY
OPPOSED. SAM LEWIS, EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR OF A R C ANTI
RECIDIVISM COALITION, STRONGLY
IN OPPOSITION. ONE MARTINEZ,
PART OF A R. C. I OPPOSED. WELL,
HE WAS AND TYCO AUDITION ANTI.
I'M TRYING DIFFERENT COALITION
STRONGLY OPPOSED. RICARDO LONDON
FROM A R. C. I STRONGLY OPPOSES.
BURNS I'M WITH AIR SEA AND I
OPPOSE THIS. MY NAME IS BRIAN
HERNANDEZ, WHERE SHE AND I
STRONGLY OPPOSED. MY NAME IS
JOHNNY CHAPTER BOND AND WITH THE
ANTI RECIDIVISM COALITION AND I
ALSO OPPOSE THIS BILL. MY NAME
IS JAMIE CARPER. I'M A MEMBER OF
ANTI RECIDIVISM COALITION. I
OPPOSE THE BILL. TANISHA CANON
LEGAL SERVICES FOR PRISONERS
WITH CHILDREN AND ARE STRONGLY
OPPOSE THIS BILL. HELLO I'M
CANDICE LEWIS WITH A R. C AND I
OPPOSE THIS BILL. WOULD YOU HAVE
MCDUFFIE ANTI RECIDIVISM
COALITION AND I OPPOSE THIS
BILL. PARTIES ALL OF US SOON AN
ILLEGAL SERVICES FOR PRISONERS
FOR CHILDREN. I OPPOSED THIS
BILL AND I MAKE A MOTION FOR
LUNCH SOMETIME SOON. SECOND THAT
SECOND OH, CHRISTINA ROBINSON.
I'M WITH ALL OF US ARE NONE AND
COMMUNITY HEALERS AND I OPPOSE
THIS BILL AS WELL. THANK YOU.
HER NAME IS GARY BURTON AND MY
LIFE COACH WITH THE ANTI RACISM
COALITION. I OPPOSE ASSEMBLY
BILL 955. MY NAME IS JACK
CASTELLO. I'M A MEMBER OF A R. C
AND I STRONGLY OPPOSE THIS BILL.
FILM LENDERS WITH SMART JUSTICE,
CALIFORNIA IN OPPOSITION. WITH
THAT WE'LL NOW BRING IT TO
COMMITTEE. MR LASKY. YEAH. I AM.
COMPLETELY IN SUPPORT OF THIS
BILL, BUT I DIDN'T HAVE A
QUESTION ABOUT THE DEFINITION OF
SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM AND THE
CRITERIA THAT YOU HAVE
DESIGNATED AT 30 MILLION ACTIVE
MONTHLY USERS AND WINTERED. WHAT
THE JUSTIFICATION FOR THAT
METRIC IS. AND I KNEW THAT THERE
WAS A PROPOSED AMENDMENT FROM
FROM YOUR CONSULTANT TO MODIFY
THAT SECTION TO READ TIP TO
REMOVE THAT THRESHOLD AND NOW
NOW READS FOR THE PERSON
PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION. SOCIAL
MEDIA PLATFORM HAS THE SAME
MEANING AS IN PARAGRAPH THREE OF
SUBDIVISION A OF SECTION 2 TO
945. THE BUSINESS AND
PROFESSIONS CODE. SO WE HAVE
LINKED IT TO AN EXISTING
DEFINITION OF SOCIAL MEDIA
PLATFORM. THANK YOU FOR THAT
CLARIFICATION. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS. HI.
MOVE IT, I GUESS. YEAH, WE'LL
GET AHEAD OF IT. I WANT TO THANK
THE AUTHOR FOR BRINGING THIS UP
AS YOU GUYS ALL KNOW, OUT THERE
, SOCIAL MEDIA AND FACEBOOK
EVERYTHING ELSE. IT'S IN EVERY
ONE OF OUR CHILDREN'S HANDS FOR
THE MOST PART. AND SO THESE
DEALERS HAVE ACCESS TO ALL OF
THEM. AND I THINK THIS HELPS
ADDRESS THAT I HAVE A QUESTION
FOR HIS EX FATHER. THE REASONS
THAT THE OPPOSITION WERE GIVING
DO YOU FEEL THAT MAYBE THAT
WOULD HAVE HELPED HIS AC WHAT HE
STILL BE HERE TODAY. THANK YOU.
FOR THAT ACTUALLY WROTE THOSE
NOTES DOWN. UM I THINK MOST
YOUTH THAT I KNOW I WAS A HEAD
COACH FOR ZACH'S TEAM FOR SIX
YEARS. I KNOW THESE THESE MEN
VERY WELL. THEY WANT TO DO THE
RIGHT THING. THEY'RE SMART, TOO
CAPABLE AND IF THEY'RE
INTERESTED IN EXPLORING LIFE'S
NEW BOUNDARIES, YOU KNOW WHAT'S
THIS BEER LIKE? WHAT'S THE SAME
VAPE LIKE? WHAT'S HIS EDIBLE
LIKE? THEY'RE LIKELY NOT GOING
TO CALL OR GO TO A SAFE
INJECTION SITE. HAVING NO
HISTORY THEY'RE GONNA JUST THINK
. WELL I'M TOLD THIS IS HARMLESS
. WHAT'S THIS BEER REALLY LIKE?
OR WHAT'S THIS PRODUCT LIKE? AND
IF THEY'RE TOLD, IT'S HARMLESS
AND NOT LETHAL. I REALLY DON'T
SEE HOW THAT COULD HELP. I DO
WANT TO RESPECT THEIR POSITION
WITH THOSE WHO ARE ALREADY GOING
DOWN THAT SLIPPERY SLOPE OF
ADDICTION DEPENDING ON THE
PRODUCT. UM THERE NEEDS TO BE
FAIR AND APPROPRIATE TREATMENT
OFFERED TO THEM. UM AND I THINK
THAT'S A DEMOGRAPHIC THAT'S
IMPORTANT, BUT A NEW CATEGORY OF
VICTIM HAS EMERGED WHERE A
PERSON LITERALLY CAN TIPTOE ONE
TIME DOWN THAT SLIPPERY SLOPE.
AND NOT, AND IT'S LIGHTS OUT.
THAT'S A DIFFERENT LANDSCAPE.
WHEN WE GREW UP WHEN WE GREW UP
, THE WORST THING WAS GET
NAUSEOUS. WE PROBABLY HAVE A
HANGOVER. WE'D BE EMBARRASSED.
BUT NOW IT'S JUST LIGHTS OUT.
THE OTHER POINT TO THAT IS THE
DEALER HAD ALREADY BEEN
CONVICTED HERE IN SACRAMENTO
COUNTY. TWO MONTHS LATER, HE MET
ZACK AND SEX FRIENDS AND WAS
STILL YOU KNOW, DURING BUSINESS
TRYING TO PEDDLE POISON FOR
PROFIT. HE WAS ARRESTED A MONTH
LATER IN OUR COUNTY AND WENT OUT
ON BAIL THAT DAY. A MONTH LATER,
HE WAS ARRESTED AGAIN THIRD TIME
IN EIGHT MONTHS AND HAD IN
POSSESSION, OTHER CONTROLLED
SUBSTANCES, FIREARMS AND
AMMUNITION HE WASN'T ALLOWED TO
HAVE AND 40 XANAX BARS SO
DEALERS AREN'T GONNA CALL A
PLACE TO HELP THEM WITH THEIR
THEIR DESIRE TO MAKE MONEY, SO
AS GOOD AS THOSE PROGRAMS ARE
FOR CERTAIN DEMOGRAPHIC, IT
DOESN'T ADDRESS THE NEW CATEGORY
VICTIM AND IT DOESN'T REALLY
APPROPRIATELY ADDRESS THOSE WHO
ARE INTENTIONALLY WANTING TO
PEDDLE POISON SO THEY CAN MAKE
MONEY. IF THAT HOOKS DOWN AND
THANK YOU AND FOR THE
OPPOSITION, AYE. HAVE YOU TO
EITHER ONE OF YOU. IF YOU GUYS
CAN ANSWER THIS HAVE EITHER ONE
OF YOU MAY BE INTRODUCED A BILL
TO THAT IT WOULD ADDRESS ANY OF
THE PROGRAMS THAT YOU GUYS
BROUGHT UP TODAY. I DON'T
UNDERSTAND YOUR QUESTION. SO YOU
YOU BOTH HAD REASONS FOR
OPPOSING THIS BILL AS FAR AS
HAVING PROGRAMS MORE FOR OUR
KIDS AND FOR DEALERS OR WHOEVER
ELSE HAVE YOU GUYS APPROACHED
ANY ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S WITH WITH
ANY OF THOSE IDEAS TO PRESENT AS
A BILL? YES CERTAINLY THERE WAS
SB 57 LAST YEAR, WHICH ACTUALLY
THE LEGISLATURE SUPPORT AND
WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL FOR THOSE
UNFORTUNATELY VETOED BY THE
GOVERNOR, WHICH WOULD HAVE
ALLOWED FOR PILOT PROGRAMS OF
OVERDOSE PREVENTION PROGRAMS IN
SAN FRANCISCO, OAKLAND AND LOS
ANGELES. AND UH, THE AND THE
EPIDEMICS, THE $61 MILLION
BUDGET REQUESTS THAT
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S BANTA
REFERENCED IS ANOTHER ONE OF
THOSE PROGRAMS AS WELL. YES
THANK YOU. THAT DIDN'T GO
THROUGH THE Ó. THAT IS STILL IN
THE PROCESS, ALTHOUGH I KNOW
THIS IS NOT A FISCAL COMMITTEE,
SO GOTCHA. THANK YOU. SO UH, I
JUST I HAVE AN ISSUE, MA'AM,
WITH ALL DUE RESPECT WITH YOUR
CHILD AS WELL, I HAVE HUNDREDS
OF PARENTS IN MY DISTRICT WHO
HAVE ALSO LOST THEIR THEIR
CHILDREN. AND I WOULD DISAGREE
WITH THIS. WOULD THIS BILL WOULD
DO NOTHING. WE NEED TO DO
SOMETHING WE NEED TO AT LEAST
ACT SOMEHOW. I'M I'M HAPPY TO
HEAR THAT. YOU GUYS ARE GOING ON
THE REACHING OUT AND DOING
SUPPORTIVE STUFF. BUT WE ALSO
NEED TO WORK ON AS THE CHAIR.
ARE THEY SORRY AS THE AUTHOR
BROUGHT UP? THAT WE NEED TO HAVE
CONSEQUENCES. CAN I RESPOND? YES
PLEASE. WE ARE IN A WORLD OF
HURT. WE ALL RECOGNIZE THAT
WE'RE IN THE WORST DRUG SUPPLY
IN U S HISTORY. OF COURSE, WE
HAVE TO DO SOMETHING. BUT WE
HAVE TO DEAL WITH WHERE WE'RE AT
RIGHT NOW, AND WE CAN'T PRETEND
THAT WE'RE GOING TO ARREST OUR
WAY OUT OF THIS. THE WAY FORWARD
IS TO EDUCATE AND WE HAVE TO
SWIM UPSTREAM, AND WE HAVE TO
EDUCATE CHILDREN THAT WHENEVER
THEY PURCHASED AN ILLICIT
SUBSTANCE, WHETHER IT'S ONLINE
OR ON THE STREET, AND IT IS AN
ILLICIT SUBSTANCE, ANY PILL THAT
YOU BUY THAT IS NOT PRESCRIBED
TO YOU. YOU ARE LITERALLY PLANE
, RUSSIAN ROULETTE, AND THAT IS
WHERE WE'RE AT. AND THAT'S WHERE
WE MUST BEGIN AND IT BEGINS WITH
EDUCATION. I DON'T THINK THERE'S
ANYBODY HERE THAT WOULD DISAGREE
WITH THE EDUCATION PORTION, AND
I DON'T EITHER, BUT I THINK WE
CAN ATTACK THIS ON TWO DIFFERENT
FRONTS, THE EDUCATION AND THE
CONSEQUENCES AS WELL. AND SO
AGAIN, JUST SAYING THAT THIS
DOES NOTHING. IT JUST IT'S STILL
ECHOES IN MY HEAD RIGHT NOW THAT
THIS DOES DO SOMETHING, AND I
THINK WE DO NEED TO DO
SOMETHING. AND I DO AGREE WITH
YOU. EDUCATING IS GREAT AND IT
IS, BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO HAVE THE
CONSEQUENCES THAT COME AND I'M
SORRY, AUTHOR GO AHEAD. I WAS
JUST GONNA SAY THAT I ABSOLUTELY
SUPPORT EVERYTHING THAT YOU THAT
YOU SAID. AND WE ALONGSIDE THIS
SPELL WE HAVE BEEN PUSHING FOR
WE PUSHED IN LAST YEAR'S BUDGET
FOR THE FUNDING TO CREATE THE
FUNCTIONAL TASK FORCE. UH WE ARE
ROLLING OUT A STATEWIDE
EDUCATION AND AWARENESS CAMPAIGN
. LEVERAGING THE D E. A S ONE
PILL CAN KILL PROGRAM AND I
THINK UH, THE REALITY. IN MY
VIEW IS THAT WE NEED WE NEED
MORE AND BETTER EDUCATION. WE
NEED MORE AND BETTER
REHABILITATION AND TREATMENT,
AND I DO THINK WE NEED MORE AND
BETTER ENFORCEMENT, WHICH I
THINK IS CERTAINLY THE PLACE
WHERE MHM. THAT'S YOUR CLOTHES.
AGREE ON A LOT. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU. I JUST, UH I REALLY WISH
THAT THE WITNESS FOR THE
OPPOSITION HAD NOT BROUGHT INTO
THIS PARTICULAR CONVERSATION. A
CONVERSATION ABOUT UM. THE WAR
ON DRUGS AND THIS BEING
DIFFERENT AND THIS BEING A
DIFFERENT TIME AND THAT WE KNOW
NOW THAT. UH ADDITIONAL
ENHANCEMENTS AND TIME IN JAIL.
LIKE ALL OF THAT, FOR ME, FELT
LIKE REALLY NOT FACING THE
REALITY. I THINK IN THIS VERY
SAME ROOM, UH, WE AND BUDGETS OF
FIVE. HEARD FROM A MOTHER. WHO
LOST HER SON BECAUSE HE IS ONE
OF THE OVER 50% OF PEOPLE WHO
ENTERED INTO OUR CAR, SURREAL
SYSTEM. FOR A LOW LEVEL CRIME
ESSENTIALLY AND ENDED UP DYING
FROM SUBSTANCE ABUSE. SO THERE
ARE THINGS HAPPENING IN OUR
ARSENAL SYSTEM RIGHT NOW THAT
ARE ABSOLUTELY UNACCEPTABLE. AND
THAT IS THE PLAIN HARD TRUTH OF
WHAT HAPPENS RIGHT NOW. SO FOR
ME, IT IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT
THAT WE LOOK VERY HARD ABOUT
WHAT WE'RE DOING WHEN WE'RE
INCREASING PUNISHMENT OR
ENHANCEMENTS THAT WILL PUT
PEOPLE INTO PRISON. WHERE WE
KNOW THEY ARE NOT GOING TO GET
BASED ON HOW OUR CULTURAL SYSTEM
IS RUN RIGHT NOW GOING TO HAVE
THE OPPORTUNITY TO READABILITY.
AND GET OUT ALIVE. THAT IS THE
REALITY RIGHT NOW. SO IN WITHIN
THE CONTEXT I'M GOING TO TAKE
THAT WHOLE THING ASIDE. JUST AS
A SIDE NOTE AND REALLY SPEAK TO
THE AUTHOR RIGHT NOW AROUND THIS
PROPOSAL, AND THIS BILL THAT YOU
HAVE MOVING FORWARD, WE'VE SPENT
A LOT OF TIME TALKING AS MOTHERS
ABOUT WHAT IT MEANS TO HAVE ME
WITH MY 14 AND 17, YEAR OLD AND
23 YEAR OLD RIGHT IN THE POCKET
OF BEING PEOPLE WHO COULD WHO
HAVE FRIENDS OR COULD FALL
VICTIM TO POTENTIALLY PURCHASING
SOMETHING THROUGH SNAPCHAT OR
ANYTHING THAT THIS IS THE
DEMOGRAPHIC THAT WE ARE TALKING
ABOUT RIGHT NOW. AND I'M SO
INCREDIBLY SORRY. I'VE HEARD
YOUR STORY. AND YOUR SON'S STORY
SO MANY TIMES, AND I KNOW THAT
THIS IS, UH, THIS IS INCREDIBLY
HARD FOR YOU TO HAVE TO KEEP ON
COMING HERE AND SHARING HIS
STORY. I JUST WANT TO
ACKNOWLEDGE THAT AS WELL. AND I
APPRECIATE I APPRECIATE YOU FOR
DOING THAT, BECAUSE I KNOW THAT
YOU ARE HERE TO TRY TO HELP TO
SEEK JUSTICE FOR YOUR SON AND IN
A PATHWAY FORWARD SO THAT THIS
DOESN'T HAPPEN TO ANY MORE
CHILDREN. I KNOW THAT. UM THE
CHALLENGE FOR ME WITH THIS WITH
THIS LEGISLATION. AND I'VE
SHARED THIS WITH YOU. IS THAT
IT? IT FALLS ON THE SIDE OF NOT
NECESSARILY MAKING SURE THAT WE
HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS
THE LARGER PROBLEM OF EVEN HOW
PLATFORMS ARE USED TO TRAFFIC.
LET'S GO AFTER THAT. I KNOW THAT
YOU HAVE A LEGISLATION RIGHT NOW
MOVING FORWARD THAT WOULD
ACTUALLY GET AT THAT. AND THAT
FEELS TO ME LIKE WHERE WE NEED
TO TAKE SOME OF THE SOLUTIONS
THAT ARE CRIME BASED IN ORDER TO
BE ABLE TO SOLVE THE INCREDIBLE
AMOUNT OF FENTANYL THAT IS OUT
THERE ON OUR STREETS, AND I'M
INCREDIBLY SUPPORTIVE OF MAKING
SURE THAT WE ARE TAKING THESE
DRUGS OFF OUR STREETS THAT WE
ARE FOCUSING ON THE UH, MASSIVE
DISTRIBUTION AND THE
DISTRIBUTORS WHICH I INCLUDE THE
PLATFORMS WHO ARE NOT DOING
THEIR JOB AND CREATING AN
OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE FEWER AH,
EASIER WAYS FOR THIS TO PASS
INTO OUR KIDS HANDS. THEY DO IT
ALREADY, IN THE INSTANCE OF
CHILD PORNOGRAPHY, THAT IS NOT
THE CASE RIGHT NOW, UM AND WE
NEED TO HOLD THEM TO ACCOUNT AND
I AM WITH YOU EVERY SINGLE STEP
OF THE WAY ON THAT. I CANNOT BE
WITH YOU TODAY AS I'VE SHARED
BECAUSE I DON'T THINK THAT
THAT'S NECESSARILY ADDRESS IS
ANYTHING BUT MAKING SURE THAT WE
HAVE MORE KIDS. YEAH NOT OFF OF
THE STREETS, BUT IT'S THROUGH
THE INTERACTIVE AND SOCIAL MEDIA
BEING PUT INTO INTO A SYSTEM
THAT I KNOW IS GOING TO
POTENTIALLY KILL THEM. AND
THAT'S NOT OKAY FOR ME, EITHER.
SO FOR THOSE REASONS AGAIN,
MAYBE THIRD TIME'S A TIME HERE.
I DO HOPE CHAIR THAT YOU WOULD,
UH HAVE AN AUTHOR AN OPPORTUNITY
FOR US TO CONSIDER THIS
LEGISLATION AND, QUITE FRANKLY,
THE EARLIER LEGISLATION WITHIN
THE BROADER CONTEXT OF WHAT WE
ALL NEED TO BE DOING INTENTIONAL
, AND I ENCOURAGE YOU IF IT'S AN
OPTION THAT THE CHAIR IS WILLING
TO PUT ON THE TABLE TO CONSIDER
HOLDING THIS BILL SO THAT WE CAN
REVIEW THAT WITHIN THE CONTEXT
OF AN INTERIM STUDY. BECAUSE WE
BOTH WANT TO ACHIEVE. WE ALL DO
ACHIEVE THEIR THE SAME GOAL OF
MAKING SURE THAT OUR KIDS AND
OUR FOLKS ARE SAFE. I JUST DON'T
THINK THIS POLICY AS STATED
RIGHT NOW, WITH YEAH. INCREASED
PUNISHMENT WHEN WE ALREADY HAVE
QUITE FRANKLY EXISTING LAWS ON
THE BOOK. THAT THAT ARE THERE
RELATED TO FENTANYL RELATED TO
POSSESSION RELATED TO
TRAFFICKING. UM WOULD ARE
ALREADY ACHIEVING WHAT, WHAT I
BELIEVE AND KNOW IN YOUR HEART
YOU'RE TRYING TO ACHIEVE WITH
THIS LEGISLATION. FUN THANK YOU
FOR THOSE COMMENTS, AND, UM YES
, I AM ABSOLUTELY FOCUSED ON
ENSURING THAT OUR SOCIAL MEDIA
PLATFORMS AND I R. ONLINE MEDIA
COMPANIES. DO YOU STEP UP? AND
DO MORE TO BE PART OF THE
SOLUTION. AND AS YOU HIGHLIGHTED
, WE DO HAVE A BILL MOVING THAT
IS LOOKING TO DO THAT. BUT 100%
WE NEED TO BRING THEM TO THE
TABLE IN A VERY REAL AND
MEANINGFUL WAY. UM, AND THAT, IN
MY VIEW IS A REALLY, REALLY
IMPORTANT PART OF THE
COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH THAT I
KNOW WE ARE ALL LOOKING TO
ACHIEVE AS WE CONFRONT THIS
URGENT AND PRESSING CRISIS.
SUPER. I WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR
BRINGING THE BILL FORWARD. I'M
NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO SUPPORT IT
TODAY FOR I THINK SOMEWHERE
REASONS AS MY COLLEAGUE FROM
OAKLAND ARTICULATED I DO WANT TO
JUST RECOGNIZE THAT I KNOW THAT.
YOU ARE. YOU KNOW, UM.
APPROACHING THE CRISIS OF THAT
IN ALL IN A COMPREHENSIVE WAY,
AND THAT YOU ARE SUPPORTING MANY
OF THE UM, THE HEALTH BASED IN
EDUCATION BASED STRATEGIES THAT
I THINK HAVE BEEN ADVOCATED BY
THE OPPOSITION. SO I WANT TO
THANK YOU AND WANT TO RECOGNIZE
THAT YOUR APPROACH ISN'T JUST
BEEN ON THIS, UM I KNOW I LOOK
AT THE IT'S JUST THAT THIS IS
THE RANGE OF THE TOOLS UNDER
EXISTING LAW, WHICH I THINK DO
APPLY TO THE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT
THIS BILL DOES, WHICH INCLUDES,
UM YOU KNOW, PENALTIES UP TO
FOUR YEARS FOR POSSESSION FIVE
YEARS FOR SALE UP TO NINE YEARS
IN A HOST OF DIFFERENT
CATEGORIES FOR BASICALLY
PROVIDING FENTANYL TO CHILDREN,
OR INDUCING OR EVEN COAXING, SO
I THINK THAT THERE IS A REGULAR
THERE'S A CRIMINAL JUSTICE
SCHEME THAT FAIRLY ROBUST THERE
AND I SHARE THE VIEW THAT THERE
NEEDS TO BE MORE FOCUSED ON
SOCIAL MEDIA, BUT I THINK IT'S
REALLY SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS
THAT YOU'RE FOCUSING ON AND
WOULD LOOK FORWARD TO, UM,
SEEING HOW THAT PLAYS OUT, AND I
WOULD ALSO IF THERE IS AN
OPPORTUNITY TO SORT OF MOVE THIS
TO A STUDY BILL IN THE AUTHOR
WOULD BE AMENABLE TO THAT. I
THINK THAT WOULD BE A GOOD
APPROACH FOR TODAY. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. WHAT ORTEGA. I ALSO
WANT TO THANK THE AUTHOR AND, UM
THE FAMILIES THAT HAVE COME IN
TODAY. WORKING ON MINE ARE CAMP
BILL. I'VE GOTTEN TO MEET A LOT
OF THE FAMILIES THAT HAVE LOST
LOVED ONE AND UNDERSTAND THE
CRISIS THAT WE'RE UNDER. UM AS I
DISCUSSED WITH THE AUTHOR, WILL
WE TALKED ABOUT THIS BILL? I
REALLY THINK WE SHOULD DO
SOMETHING ABOUT THE SOCIAL MEDIA
GIANTS THAT ARE ALLOWING THIS TO
HAPPEN. THAT ARE CONTINUOUSLY
FEEDING OR SOMEHOW ALLOWING OUR
CHILDREN TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS
ONLINE WITHOUT ANY, UM YEAH.
ACCOUNTABILITY. AND I WANT TO
SEE THEM IN HERE. I WANT TO HOLD
THEM ACCOUNTABLE. UM SO I JUST
WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU. THIAGO
THIS TIME I'LL KEEP MY MIND MY
COMMENTS BRIEF, BUT I WANT TO
THANK YOU FOR RAISING THE ISSUE,
AND ALL THE AUTHORS HAVE COME
BEFORE BECAUSE THERE'S NO DOUBT
THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST
IMPORTANT ISSUES FACING
CALIFORNIA THE COUNTRY. UH AND
PARTICULARLY IN OUR OWN
BACKYARDS, AND THEY'RE TOUGH
CONVERSATIONS TO HAVE ITS ITS
TREND THAT NEEDLE TO MAKE SURE
WE DON'T GO BACK TO THE TYPE OF
POLICIES THAT HAVE DEVASTATED
OUR COMMUNITIES AT THE SAME
TIME, CREATING THE KIND OF
POLICIES THAT PREVENT
DEVASTATION ON THE ON THE
FENTANYL CRISIS THAT WE'RE
FACING TODAY, SO I WANT TO THANK
YOU FOR BRINGING THIS IMPORTANT
CONVERSATION BECAUSE IT'S
SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO FACE
WITH A HEAD ON AND I AND I AGREE
WITH MY COLLEAGUES ABOUT ABOUT
HOW DID THIS HAPPEN ON SOCIAL
MEDIA? HOW DO PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO
DO THIS WITHOUT TAKING AH,
TAKING THOSE KIND OF THOSE KIND
OF ADVERTISING DOWN OR THAT SORT
OF LIKE I CALL IT ADVERTISING
LOOSELY RIGHT, BUT THAT'S SORT
OF PHENOMENON THAT IS HAPPENING
BECAUSE THERE'S A LINE TO WHAT
YOU WOULD CONSIDER A FREE SPEECH
AS IT RELATES TO THE SELLING OF
THE DRUGS OR OR ALLOWING OR
MOVING FORWARD TOWARDS THAT IN
WHICHEVER FACE OR WHATEVER
LANGUAGE WE USE TO DESCRIBE IT.
SO THANK YOU FOR RAISING THE
CONVERSATION AND ALL THE
DIFFERENT AUTHORS IN THE CHAIR
WHO HAS HOSTED THIS VERY
IMPORTANT COMMITTEE HEARING, AND
ALL THE DIFFERENT COMMENTS HAVE
BEEN MADE. THANK YOU FOR THAT.
YEAH. YOU MAKE CLOTHES. ALL
RIGHT. WELL, THANK YOU TO MY
COLLEAGUES FOR YOUR COMMENTS AND
CERTAINLY LOOK FORWARD TO
CONTINUING TOUR WITH ALL OF YOU
AS WE DISCUSSED ON THE OTHER
BELL THAT IS MOVING FORWARD. UM
AND I GUESS SORT OF IN THE
CONTEXT OF THE BILL THAT'S
BEFORE US TODAY. AND SOME OF THE
CONVERSATION THAT WE'VE HAD
ABOUT THE WAR ON DRUGS AND THE
IMPACTS OF MASS INCARCERATION.
UM I'M GONNA SHARE SOMETHING.
THAT'S THE FIRST TIME I HAVE
HAVE SHARED PUBLICLY. SO UM, 22
YEARS AGO. MY THEN 16 YEAR OLD
BROTHER WAS ARRESTED FOR GROWING
TOO LITTLE POT PLANTS AND, UH,
CHARGED AS AN ADULT WITH A
FELONY. AND THAT SET HIM OFF ON
A MORE THAN TWO DECADES LONG.
JOURNEY AND HE HAS BEEN IN AND
OUT OF JAIL IN AND OUT OF PRISON
. MOST RECENTLY, HE WAS RELEASED
FROM PRISON A LITTLE OVER A YEAR
AGO, AND, UH, IS SOBER FOR THE
FIRST TIME IN A VERY LONG TIME,
AND, UH, EMPLOYED FOR THE FIRST
TIME IN HIS LIFE, AND WE ARE
HOPING AND PRAYING THAT WE CAN
WORK WITH HIM TO AH, AT THE AGE
OF 37. START A NEW CHAPTER. AND
I SHARE THAT BECAUSE I THINK
IT'S IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO
UNDERSTAND, UM, THAT I ACTUALLY
AND I KNOW AND HAVE EXPERIENCED
THE IMPACT OF THE WAR ON DRUGS
AND AH! THE WAYS IN WHICH IT HAS
TURNED INNOCENT KIDS INTO
CRIMINALS AND RUINED PEOPLE'S
LIVES. AND, UM I SHARE THAT
BECAUSE AS I SAID TO ME AND I,
YOU KNOW I WANT TO CONTINUE TO
MOVE THIS CONVERSATION FORWARD
WITH YOU. THIS IS DIFFERENT TO
ME. THIS IS THE EQUIVALENT OF IF
SOMEONE COMES SOME IF I WAS
DRINKING COCKTAIL AT A BAR AND
SOMEONE PUT CYANIDE. IN MY
DRINK. NO ONE WOULD BE TALKING
ABOUT THE FACT THAT I HAD JUST
YEAH, DRUNK A LITTLE TOO MUCH.
THAT'S MURDER. AND THIS. IS NOT
A DRUG. THIS IS A POISON. AND SO
I THINK THAT AS WE MOVE FORWARD
, AND AS WE FIGURE OUT AS A
LEGISLATIVE BODY. HOW WE ARE
GOING TO RESPOND WITH URGENCY TO
INVEST MORE IN EDUCATION IN
TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION.
AND TO COMBAT THE TRAFFICKERS
AND DEALERS. I THINK IT'S
IMPORTANT FOR US TO TAKE THAT
CONTEXT FORWARD AS WE GO BECAUSE
I THINK THAT'S THE ONLY WAY THAT
WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO
DEVELOP A STRATEGY AND APPROACH
THAT'S GOING TO KEEP OUR KIDS IN
OUR COMMUNITY SAFE. SO WITH THAT
, I WOULD RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR
AN I VOTE ON THE MEASURE. BEFORE
YOU TODAY AND LOOK FORWARD TO
CONTINUING THIS WORK WITH YOU
AND OUR COLLEAGUES. AND I WOULD
THANK YOU BECAUSE YOU KIND OF
SHOWN WHAT I'VE BEEN TRYING TO
SHOW EVERYBODY ELSE RIGHT NOW.
UM, I WANT TO THANK THE TWO
FAMILIES THAT CAME HERE TODAY.
UM. TWO FAMILIES THAT ARE
ADVERSELY IMPACTED. BITE THAT
NO. TWO FAMILIES WHO SHARE THE
BURDEN OF HAVING A LOVED ONE
LOSS. I THINK THIS IS THE FIRST
TIME I'VE BEEN ON THIS COMMITTEE
10 YEARS. AND IT'S THE FIRST
TIME I'VE HAD PICTURES. AND
STORIES. FROM TWO FAMILIES. WITH
TWO DIFFERENT ROADS TO A REMEDY.
TWO DIFFERENT WAYS TO CURE THIS.
YOU. HAVE NOW SHOWN HOW
DIFFICULT IT IS. FOR US TO
LISTEN. EXACT STORY INTO YOUR
STORY. AND THEN WE'VE GOT TO
GIVE EACH OF YOU. YOU KNOW, UM,
A FAIR HEARING. AND
UNDERSTANDING, WHICH IS WHAT I
WAS TRYING TO DO NOT JUST GIVING
YOU 2.5 MINUTES TO GIVE YOU MORE
TIME. TO EXPRESS YOURSELF NOT TO
BE QUIZZED. OR TO BE
INTERROGATED, BUT TO BE ABLE TO
HAVE AN HONEST CONVERSATION. I
WISH I COULD PUT THE TWO OF YOU
IN THE ROOM. WHAT TIME TO WILL
BE THERE YOU TWO COULD WE'LL GET
YOU LUNCH AND EVERYTHING. I
THINK THE TWO OF YOU PROBABLY
COULD COME UP. WITH SOME GREAT
SOLUTIONS. THAT'S ESSENTIALLY
WAS TRYING TO GET TO WHEN I WAS
TRYING TO HOLD ALL THE BILLS TO
GET US TOGETHER. SO WE HAVE A
CONVERSATION THAT'S NOT
POLITICIZED. IT'S NOT ALL ABOUT
THE PRESS AND ALL ABOUT WHICH
GROUPING. CAN EMBARRASS THE
OTHER. BUT THIS IS NOT THAT TYPE
OF EMERGENCY. THIS EMERGENCY IS
ABOUT UNITING AND FIGHTING
TOGETHER. YES, SIR. THAT'S WHY I
SAID, IF I COULD GET YOUTUBE IN
A ROOM. AND LET YOU TELL US
TOGETHER, WHICH YOU THINK JOINT
SOLUTIONS. SHOULD BE. BECAUSE
NOT ONLY DO YOU HAVE CREDIBILITY
YOU HAD THE PAIN. STILL I CAN
SEE IN YOUR SEEING BOTH OF YOU.
YOU STILL HAVE THE PAIN. YOUR
PAIN IS EXACTLY THE SAME. EVEN
THOUGH HE JUST SOLUTIONS MAYBE A
LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT. AND THAT'S
REALLY WHERE WE ARE. AND SO I
DON'T THINK. MISS CARNEY KNEW IT
WOULD GET TO THIS WAY. BUT I
THANK YOU FOR SOMETIMES YOU DO
THINGS YOU BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER
THAT DON'T NORMALLY COME
TOGETHER. AND SO I'M OFFERING
YOU YOU BOTH THE SAME. UM AND IF
WE COULD FIGURE OUT A WAY TO GET
THE TWO OF YOU, THE TO WORK
TOGETHER TO COME UP WITH SOME
SOLUTIONS. I THINK IT WOULD BE
MOUNTING INSTRUCTIVE FOR ALL OF
US. BUT IT MAY TAKE US TO THAT
NEXT LEVEL, WHICH I THINK
EVERYBODY'S TRYING TO GET TO.
WE'RE TRYING TO GET BEYOND THIS.
LEVEL DOWN HERE. WE'RE TRYING TO
GET UP HERE. YOU KNOW, I DID A
RESOLUTION TODAY FOR DR MARTIN
LUTHER KING AND PASSING AWAY.
AND WE TALKED ABOUT WHEN HE DID
NOT VIOLENCE. WHEN HE TALKED
ABOUT NONVIOLENCE. WHEN YOU TRY
TO IMPLEMENT IT HERE IN THIS
COUNTRY, PEOPLE THOUGHT HE WAS
CRAZY, AND HE'S GOT A LOT OF
PUSHBACK. WE NEED A NEW IDEA. WE
NEED A NEW STRATEGY ON HOW THAT
BITE THIS BECAUSE THE OLD
STRATEGY REALLY DIDN'T WORK. AND
THIS IS A NEW EMERGENCY, SO WE
NEED NEW STRATEGIES. AND WE NEED
TO COME TOGETHER TO CREATE THAT.
THIS IS THE TIME TO DO IT. AND
SO, UM I THINK THAT'S WHY UM.
THE AUTHOR WAS OFFERED AN
OPPORTUNITY TO JOIN THAT
DISCUSSION. IN MAY. UM HOPEFULLY
THE KEEP THE BILL ALIVE. DURING
THAT TIME THAT WE MIGHT BE ABLE
TO DO SOMETHING SOONER THAN
LATER. UNFORTUNATELY DON'T KNOW
WHAT THAT MECHANISM RIGHT NOW.
WE JUST STARTED TALKING ABOUT
IT. AND SO. UH I THINK WE CAN GO
AHEAD AND HAVE THE MOTION AND GO
AHEAD AND VOTE. BUT, UM I'M
TRYING TO TRYING TO KEEP IT
ALIVE. BEST I CAN. THAT WAS THE
WHOLE PURPOSE OF HAVING Dð. OF
AN INTERIM STUDY, WHICH I DIDN'T
CALL AN INTERSTATE. I JUST
WANTED TO BRING IT ALL TOGETHER.
AND, UH, CAN I MAKE SURE
TOGETHER IN A ROOM TO BE ABLE TO
DO THAT, SO THAT I THINK YOU
WANT TO GO AHEAD AND HAVE A
VOTE? IS THAT WHAT YOU WANT? YOU
I'M CLARIFYING WITH. I DON'T
KNOW THAT I UNDERSTAND. AND I
APOLOGIZE. YOUR ALTERNATIVE
PROPOSAL IS SO YOUR ALTERNATIVE
PROPOSAL IS TO SOMEHOW TURN THIS
INTO A STUDY INTERIM INTERIM
STUDY AND THEN WE COULD MOVE IT
TO PUT IT INTO INTERIM STUDY.
OKAY. THE FIRST PROBABLY MEETING
WHERE WE CAN REALLY DISCUSS.
YOUR BILL. AND THE IMPLICATIONS
AND THINGS THAT NATURE WILL BE
IN MAY WILL GET ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION QUESTIONS FROM THE
COMMITTEE MEMBERS HERE. CAN BE
ANSWERED. AND IF THERE ARE
AMENDMENTS SUGGESTIONS. FOR WAYS
WE CAN GET TO THE HEART OF WHAT
YOU WANT. WHICH IS, UM. THE
SOCIAL MEDIA ASPECT AND GET TO
THE BECAUSE I'M HEARING SOME
IDEAS, WHICH I THINK YOU COSIGN
TO ABOUT GETTING TOO TO THE
INDIVIDUALS WHO SHOULD BE
RESPONSIBLE FOR MAKING SURE THAT
YOUNG PEOPLE DON'T GET THESE
DRUGS ON SOCIAL MEDIA. THERE MAY
BE SOME NEW WAYS TO GET TO THAT
. AND UH, I THINK THAT'S WHAT I
DON'T WANT TO SPEAK FOR. FOR THE
MEMBER FROM OAKLAND, BUT I
BELIEVE THAT'S WHERE YOU WERE
GETTING TOO. SO IS THIS
SUGGESTION, DO YOU DO YOU WANT
ME TO THEN? AH REQUEST EMOTION
TO PUT THIS INTO AN INTERIM
STUDY AND THEN ASK FOR A VOTE ON
THAT. THEY'RE ASKING ME TWO. I
CAN GO AHEAD AND ASK TO HAVE
THIS GO TO AN INTERIM STUDY.
TAKE IT UP FOR A VOTE. UM BUT
I'M ALWAYS RESPECTFUL OF OFFICE
. I MEAN, IT JUST DON'T WANT,
YOU KNOW, FORCE YOU INTO
ANYTHING. UH AND BECAUSE I DON'T
THINK IT WILL MAKE IT OUT OF
THIS COMMITTEE WITH THE VOTE
RIGHT NOW, THIS WAY. AFTER THE
WAY WE CAN WE CAN MASSAGE THIS
OR DO SOMETHING WITH IT LATER.
IT KEEPS IT ALIVE. I'M SORRY.
WE'RE SORT OF WE'RE DOING THIS.
WE'RE DOING THIS IN REAL TIME.
BUT THIS TIME ON THE FLY, I KNOW
SO I WOULD SAY THAT IF THE. THE
STUDY IS ON THE BILL ITSELF. AND
THEN THE BILL. AH! MOVE FORWARD
THEN. THAT'S. TERRIFIC BUT IF
WE'RE JUST GONNA HOLD IT HERE,
THEN I THINK THE SAME VOTE. IT
KIND OF HOLDS IT HERE. SO THAT'S
THE SAME AS TAKING A VOTE AND
THEN REQUESTING RECONSIDERATION,
CORRECT. EXCEPT THAT ONE MAY NOT
HAPPEN UNTIL JANUARY. THIS, WE
MIGHT BE ABLE TO DO SOMETHING
SOONER. THE JANUARY. AH! OKAY UH
, I KNOW THAT IT'S THIS. I THINK
IT'S I THINK IT'S PROCEDURALLY.
I'M NOT. I DON'T KNOW IF TURNING
IT INTO AN INTERIM STEADY BILL.
IS IT STUDIES A NEW TERM? NEW TO
US TOO? OKAY? OKAY UM SO. I
THINK THAT WE THEN SHOULD JUST
PROBABLY VOTE ON THE BILL, AND
THEN I'LL REQUEST
RECONSIDERATION FROM THE
COMMITTEE. WE COULD ALWAYS DO
THIS. LET'S JUST DO THAT. OKAY?
RIGHT? RIGHT SHE KNOWS IT'LL BE
JANUARY, OKAY? GO AHEAD. CALL
THE ROLE. WELL, SORRY. IS IT
BECAUSE I'M JUST CONFUSED ABOUT
THE OFFICIAL? I THIS THIS NEW
INTERIM STUDY THING THAT'S NOT A
IT'S NOT ACTUALLY. A PROCEDURE
THAT I'M FAMILIAR WITH. I DON'T
THINK WE MIGHT HAVE. IT IS AN
INTERNAL MOTION MS PETRIE-NORRIS
FOR THE COMMITTEE. IT IS
MAJORITY OF THOSE PRESENT AND
VOTING AS WELL. OKAY SO IF WE
MAKE A MOTION TO TURN IT INTO IN
TERMS STUDY WITH THE
UNDERSTANDING THAT IT WOULD BE
RECONSIDERED IN MAY THAT IT WAS
WHAT WE WOULD BE ESSENTIAL VOTE
BEING TAKEN ON THE BILL ITSELF.
IT'S JUST BASICALLY IN A HOLDING
PATTERN IN THE COMMITTEE. IT'S
BEING HELD ITS JUST FOR US TO
JUST KIND OF PARK IT ESSENTIALLY
AND AS THE CHAIR HAS MENTIONED,
TAKE IT TO STUDY. YES SIR,
CALLED UPON EARLIER AS I GUESS
IT'S OKAY, SO THEN WE GO THROUGH
THE REGULAR RULES AND FOR
MOTIONS, BUT WE WITH THE
UNDERSTANDING THAT, UH, WE WILL
INCLUDE THIS AS PART OF THE
CONVERSATION THAT WE ARE HAVING
IN MAY IN TERMS OF A
COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH AND WHAT
A INTEGRATED PACKAGE OF
LEGISLATION MIGHT LOOK LIKE TO
TACKLE THIS CRISIS. I WOULD BE
VERY HAPPY TO HOLD IT FOR OUR
INTERIM STUDY IN MAY ARE SUCH
THAT SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE THE
CONVERSATION AND REOPEN THE
DISCUSSION IN MAY RATHER THAN
WAIT UNTIL THE NEXT JANUARY WITH
IT BECAUSE I THINK YOUR PORTION
OF THAT MAY DISCUSSION WILL BE
ABOUT SOCIAL MEDIA CORRECT
BECAUSE I ALREADY HAVE A BELT
ALREADY HAVE A BILL. THAT'S
ABOUT WHAT I FEEL ABOUT HOLDING
THE SOCIAL MEDIA COMPANIES
ACCOUNTABLE. AND THEN THIS BILL
IS ABOUT HOLDING. TRAFFICKERS
ACCOUNTABLE ON SOCIAL MEDIA. SO
WE HAVE FIVE TO SPLIT IT UP,
OKAY? YES. GO AHEAD. THANK YOU
FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP IN THIS
PROCEDURAL CONUNDRUM THAT FOLKS
ARE WORKING THROUGH. UM, I THINK
YOU UNDERSTAND THIS CORRECTLY. I
THINK YOU ARE IN LINE WITH THE
THINKING OF MEMBERS OF THIS
COMMITTEE. I THINK YOU'RE GOING
TO GET TO A PLACE THAT YOU WANT
TO GET TOO SOONER. UM BY
ACCEPTING THAT PROCESS, AND I
WANT TO BE A WILLING PARTNER.
AND MOVING THROUGH THAT PROCESS
WITH YOU SHOULD GO THROUGH IN
TERMS STUDY, SO THANK YOU FOR
YOUR WILLINGNESS TO WORK WITH
THE COMMITTEE AND THINK THROUGH
HOW BEST WE CAN MOVE FORWARD. I
APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU, SAM.
REMEMBER? THAT'S ORTEGA. YOU
HAVE MY COMMITMENT AS WELL. I
WANT TO CONTINUE THE
CONVERSATION, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT
COMES TO HOLDING AS SOCIAL MEDIA
GIANTS ACCOUNTABLE. THANK YOU.
OKAY ARE YOU WAITING FOR? I JUST
WANTED TO CLARIFY FOR THE PUBLIC
MOTION AND A SECOND HAS BEEN
MADE ON THE BILL, AS IS AND
SINCE WE ARE NOW DOING A
SUBSTITUTE MOTION TO REPLACE IT
WITH THE MOTION TO TAKE TO STUDY
WE HAVE TO TAKE VOTE ON THE
SUBSTITUTE MOTION FIRST, WHETHER
WE'RE WILLING TO TAKE A
SUBSTITUTE THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION
OF SENDING IT TO STUDY UH, BUT
WE HAVEN'T HAVE WE MADE EMOTION
AND SECONDED THAT. BUT THE STUDY
NO EMOTIONAL COMMOTION, TOO. FOR
THE SUBSTITUTE SUBSTITUTE
MOTION. THE MIC. MAYBE I JUST
CAN BE CLEARED UP RIGHT? JUST TO
MAKE IT A LITTLE BIT CLEANER.
YES, SIR. I BELIEVE THAT THAT
THAT THEY ALSO HAVE THE ABILITY
TO WITHDRAW THEIR MOTIONS. AH
BECAUSE THERE WOULD BE NO ABOUT
THE NOT SUGGESTING, YOU KNOW,
I'M NOT SAYING BUT I'M SAYING
FOR FAIRNESS OF PROCESS MAYBE
WE'LL GET SOME CLARIFICATION ON
THAT BECAUSE I BELIEVE THEY CAN
ALSO JUST WITHDRAW THEIR MOTION.
OR ONE OF THEM COULD ONE OF THE
PERSONS MAKING THE MOTION CAN
WITHDRAW AND THEN YOU COULD HAVE
A NEW FRESH MOTION AS WELL, IF
I'M NOT MISTAKEN FOR VIOLATED
PROCEDURES SAKE, I'M SAYING THAT
REALLY LOOKS OUT OVER THE IT'LL
BE THE SAME, BUT HE'S WORRIED
ABOUT ROBERT'S RULES OF ORDER
VIOLATION ORGASMS. OKAY
SUBSTITUTE MISSIONS ARE
PERFECTLY ACCEPTABLE COMMITTEE.
WHAT WE'RE OFFERING NOW IS
BECAUSE THE MILK BILL'S BEEN
PROPERLY MOVED IN SECTION TWO IS
THE SUBSTITUTE IS TO TAKE UP A
SUBSTITUTE MOTION IN ITS PLACE,
AND THEN WE VOTE ON THAT
SUBSTITUTE MOTION, WHICH IS TO
STAND AND TO STUDY. EVERYONE
CLEAR. YES, LIZ. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR
CHAIRMAN. SUBSTITUTE MOTION
MOTION BY MS BENTO. IS THERE A
SECOND ON THIS TO TAKE UP A
SUBSTITUTE MOTION BY MR BRIAN?
JOHN SAWYER. ELONIS HE'S NOT
VOTING BONTA BUTTER. I BRIAN
BRIAN, I LACKEY LUCKY NOT
VOTING. ORTEGA ORTEGA I SANTIAGO
SANTIAGO, I ZIPPER. ZIPPER I
SUBSTITUTE MOTION CARRIES AND
THEN WE WILL TAKE UP THE MOTION
TO TAKE TO MOVE THE BILL TO
ENTER IN STUDY. THIS IS ALSO A
MAJORITY OF THOSE PRESIDENT
VOTING SAWYER, SIR. I ELONIS
ELONIS. AYE. BANTER BANTER. I,
BRIAN. BRIAN I LACKEY LUCKY
ORTEGA ORTEGA I SANTIAGO
SANTIAGO EYES THE BURR. ER I
THAT BILL JUST MOVES TO THE
INTERIM STUDY. THANK YOU FOR
TEACHING US HOW TO DO INTERIM
STUDY. AND THANK YOU. YOU CAN
TEACH AN OLD DOG NEW TRICKS. AND
NOW DR BAINES. AND OUR LAST
BILL. MOVE THE BILL. DR BAINES.
I HEARD A FIRST AND THE SECOND.
I WISH ALL DAYS WERE LIKE THIS.
WHENEVER YOU'RE READY, AWESOME.
THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS.
LET ME START BY ACCEPTING THE
PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO ABBY 33
THAT ADD ADDITIONAL EXPERTS TO
THE TASK FORCE. MAYBE 33 IS THE
FIRST BILL I INTRODUCED ON MY
VERY FIRST DAY AFTER BEING SWORN
IN I HAVE BEEN LIVING THE
FENTANYL CRISIS FIRSTHAND AS A
PHYSICIAN AND AN ADDICTION
SPECIALIST AND CURRENT COUNTY. I
HAVE BEEN FIGHTING FENTANYL FOR
SEVERAL SEVERAL YEARS IN MY
CAREER AS AN ADDICTION, DOCTOR.
IN SOME OF THE MOST RURAL IST
AREAS OF CALIFORNIA. IN ADDITION
TO BEING MEDICAL DIRECTOR OF A
RESIDENTIAL BASED TREATMENT
FACILITY FOR PEOPLE UNDERGOING
RECOVERY FROM SUBSTANCE USE
DISORDERS. I HAVE SEEN FIRSTHAND
HOW OUR EFFORTS TO COMBAT THE
CRISIS HAVE FALLEN SHORT. AND
HAVE ALLOWED FENTANYL TO BECOME
THE SINGLE DEADLIEST DRUG THREAT
IN OUR NATION'S HISTORY. THERE
WAS ENOUGH FENTANYL SEEDS BY THE
DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION
LAST YEAR TO KILL EVERY MAN,
WOMAN AND CHILD IN AMERICA.
THAT'S £28,000 OF FENTANYL,
REPRESENTING MORE THAN 370
MILLION LETHAL DOSES. FENTANYL
IS INCREASINGLY BEING LACED AND
CUT INTO OTHER DRUGS LIKE HEROIN
AND COCAINE TO BULK THEM OUT
WITH CHEAP FILLERS, EXPOSING
PEOPLE TO LETHAL DOSES WHO DO
NOT EVEN KNOW THEY'RE USING THE
DRUG. ALL OF THIS HAS LED TO THE
SOBERING REALITY THAT FENTANYL
OVERDOSE WAS FOUND TO BE THE
LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH FOR
AMERICANS BETWEEN THE AGES OF 18
AND 45, 2019 AND 2020. FENTANYL
KILLS TWICE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE
THAT DIE IN CAR ACCIDENTS OR
FROM GUN VIOLENCE OVER 100 AND
50 PEOPLE A DAY DIE FROM FENCING
ALONG THE U. S. AND IT'S NOW
RESPONSIBLE FOR ONE IN FIVE
YOUTH DEATHS IN CALIFORNIA. WE
HAVE TO DO BETTER, AND MAYBE 33
IS A STEP IN THAT DIRECTION. AS
A DOCTOR. I HAVE BEEN WORKING ON
VERY MANY. PROGRAMS IN MY
COMMUNITY, NARCAN DISTRIBUTIONS
EDUCATIONAL AWARENESS GOING TO
HIGH SCHOOL, SPEAKING TO YOUTH
DOING ALL OF THAT, AND ABOVE AS
A DOCTOR ACTIVELY PROVIDING
SUBSTANCE USE. TREATMENT. TWO
PEOPLE IN RECOVERY. I'VE BEEN
THERE. I KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING.
I AM AN EXPERT ON THIS SUBJECT,
NOT TODAY. BUT FOR SEVERAL YEARS
I HAVE BEEN FIGHTING FENTANYL
SINGLEHANDEDLY IS THE REASON I
DECIDED TO RUN FOR OFFICE. IT IS
THE REASON WHY I'M SITTING IN
FRONT OF YOU. AND DOING NOTHING
IS NOT THE ANSWER. THIS BILL
ESTABLISHES THE FENTANYL
ADDICTION AND OVERDOSE
PREVENTION TASK FORCE CO CHAIRED
BY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND THE
CALIFORNIA SURGEON GENERAL. THE
FENTANYL CRISIS IS A
MULTISECTORAL PROBLEM AS WHAT WE
HAVE SEEN TODAY AND ALL THE
COMMENTS FROM EVERYONE MAKING
THIS TASK FORCE WILL BRING
TOGETHER EXPERTS FROM MEDICINE.
PUBLIC HEALTH, PUBLIC SAFETY
ADDICTION, HUMAN SERVICES AND
GOVERNING BACKGROUNDS TO PROMOTE
COLLABORATION INTEGRATE DECISION
MAKING. THE TASK FORCE WILL
FOCUS ON INCREASING ACCESS TO
OVERDOSE, REVERSING DRUGS AND
CRAFTING STRATEGIES TO REDUCE
THE AVAILABILITY OF ILLICIT
FENTANYL. IT WILL WORK TO RAISE
PUBLIC PUBLIC AWARENESS ABOUT
THE DANGERS OF FENTANYL AND
IDENTIFY BETTER WAYS TO CONNECT
PEOPLE WITH SUBSTANCE USE
DISORDER TREATMENT AND RECOVERY
SUPPORT. WORKING WITH LAW
ENFORCEMENT AND PUBLIC HEALTH
OFFICIALS. THE TASK FORCE WILL
MONITOR DRUG DISTRIBUTION AND
DEVELOP STRATEGIES TO PREVENT
THE USE MANUFACTURING AND
DISTRIBUTION OF ILLICIT
FENTANYL. BY FOCUSING ON
STRATEGIES TO REDUCE THE
AVAILABILITY OFFENSE, NO WHILE
WORKING TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO
TREATMENT, THE TASK FORCE CAN
HELP TO REDUCE THE DEVASTATING
IMPACT THAT FENTANYL IS HAVING
ON OUR COMMUNITIES. IMPORTANTLY
THE TASK FORCE WILL TELL US IN
THE LEGISLATURE. WHAT TOOLS WE
NEED TO MAKE AVAILABLE. TO
AFFECTIVELY COMEBACK. THIS
CRISIS. THEY WILL TELL US WHAT'S
WORKING. WHAT'S NOT, AND WHERE
DO WE NEED TO GO FROM HERE?
FENTANYL HAS BEEN KILLING
AMERICANS FOR YEARS. BUT IT'S
ONLY IN RECENT YEARS THAT THIS
CRISIS HAS BEEN WEAPONIZED BY
PARTISANS. DEMOCRATS BLAME
REPUBLICANS. REPUBLICANS BLAME
DEMOCRATS. THE TRUTH IS THAT
THIS CRISIS HAS HAPPENED UNDER
ALL OF OUR WATCH. WE AS
DEMOCRATS HAVE HAD COMPLETE
CONTROL OVER THE STATE'S
RESPONSE TO THIS CRISIS AND HAVE
FAILED TO STOP REPUBLICAN
CONTROLLED LEGISLATURES HAVE
ALSO FAILED TO MAKE A DENT IN
OTHER STATES AS WELL. CONGRESS
AND THE WHITE HOUSE HAVE BOTH
CHANGED HANDS AS THIS CRISIS
THAT HAS UNFOLDED AND BOTH
PARTIES HAVE FAILED TO ADDRESS
FENTANYL WHEN THEY HAD THE
CHANCE. PARTISAN TALKING POINTS
, SCAPEGOATING THE OTHER SIDE OR
THE EQUIVALENT OF BLAMING THE
DOG FOR EATING YOUR HOMEWORK.
REGARDLESS OF WHOSE FAULT IT IS.
WE ALL ARE GETTING AN F. WE NEED
TO GET COMFORTABLE ADMITTING OUR
FAILURES. BUT ADMITTING FAILURE
IS A HARD THING FOR ELECTED
OFFICIALS TO DO. RARELY DO OUR
CONSTITUENTS PADDLES ON THE BACK
FOR HAVING THE HUMILITY TO ADMIT
WHEN WE DON'T HAVE ALL OF THE
ANSWERS, BUT MAKE NO MISTAKE. IF
WE DID, THERE WOULD NOT BE A
CRISIS TODAY. WE NEED TO BRING
EXPERTS TOGETHER WHO CAN
INTEGRATE ALL OF THE TOOLS WE
HAVE AT OUR DISPOSAL FROM LAW
ENFORCEMENT, HEALTH CARE,
EDUCATION GOVERNMENT AND MORE.
WE NEED TO GIVE THEM THE SPACE
AND THE RESOURCES TO DEVELOP A
COMPREHENSIVE CRISIS RESPONSE
STRATEGY, AND THEN WE NEED TO
LISTEN TO THEM. TRUST THAT THEY
KNOW THINGS THAT WE IN THE
LEGISLATURE DO NOT IMPLEMENT
THEIR PLAN. THAT MAY MEAN THAT
DEMOCRATS HAVE TO STOMACH
IMPLEMENTING ADDITIONAL
PENALTIES FOR DEALERS AND REPEAT
OFFENDERS. AND THAT MAY ALSO
MEAN THAT REPUBLICANS HAVE TO
SUPPORT DIVERSION PROGRAMS AND
OTHER STRATEGIES THAT PREVENT
THE OVER INCARCERATION OF BLACK
AND BROWN COMMUNITIES. IT MEANS
WE NEED TO THINK OUTSIDE OF OUR
PARTISAN BOXES AND RECOGNIZE
THAT WE ARE ALL GUILTY OF
ALLOWING THE DEADLIEST DRUG
OUTBREAK IN OUR NATION'S HISTORY
TO TRANSPIRE ON ALL OF OUR
WATCHES. PUT SIMPLY THE LATTER
WE TAKE TO HUMBLE OURSELVES, THE
MORE PEOPLE WILL DIE. EVERY
SECOND SOMEBODY IS WITNESSING
AND EXPERIENCING THE EFFECTS OF
FENTANYL. AS A DOCTOR AND NOW AS
AN ASSEMBLYWOMAN, CONTINUING TO
PRACTICE AS A DOCTOR. THIS IS
EVERY REASON WHY I'M HERE TODAY.
WITH ME TODAY IN SUPPORT OF THE
BILL IS POLICE BAKERSFIELD
POLICE CHIEF GREG TERRY.
WELCOME. YOU HAVE FIVE MINUTES.
GOOD AFTERNOON. MEMBERS OF THE
COMMITTEE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH
FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
AND I AM HERE IN SUPPORT OF A B
33. IN COMMUNITIES ACROSS OUR
STATE, AS WE'VE HEARD FOR MANY
HOURS TODAY AND SEE EVERY DAY ON
THE NEWS AND THE NEWSPAPER
FENTANYL OVERDOSES ARE
OCCURRING. ACROSS OUR STATE. FOR
A LOCAL PERSPECTIVE IN
BAKERSFIELD IN 2022. OVER 250
MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY LOST
THEIR LIVES DUE TO FENTANYL.
THIS WAS DOUBLE THE NUMBER OF
DEATHS THAT WE SAW IN 2020. AND
WE WILL CONTINUE TO SEE THESE
RISING DEATH RATES UNLESS WE
ENGAGE AT EVERY LEVEL OF OUR
COMMUNITY AND GOVERNMENT TO
COMBAT THIS CRISIS. TO HIGHLIGHT
THE PREVALENCE OF THIS AND THE
COMPLEXITY AS WELL. LAST
SEPTEMBER IN BAKERSFIELD. OVER
150 PILLS CONTAINING LETHAL
DOSES OF FENTANYL. WERE SEIZED
FROM A 13 YEAR OLD ON A MIDDLE
SCHOOL CAMPUS IN BAKER'S VILLE.
THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT WE FACE
MANY SIGNIFICANT AND COMPLEX
HEALTH AND SAFETY CHALLENGES IN
OUR COMMUNITIES. THE VIETNAM
CRISIS WE ARE EXPERIENCING
CANNOT BE OVERCOME OR SOLVED BY
A SINGLE ENTITY OR SECTOR OF OUR
SOCIETY. TO EFFECTIVELY COMBAT
THIS CRISIS AND I AM CONFIDENT
THAT WE CAN ALL PUBLIC AND
PRIVATE. PARTNERSHIPS AND
STAKEHOLDERS MUST BE DEVELOPED.
AND WE MUST WORK TOGETHER. AND
UTILIZE ALL THE AVAILABLE
RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE TO
PROVIDE OUR COMMUNITIES, THE
NECESSARY HELP AND THE RESOURCES
THAT THEY NEED TO KEEP PEOPLE
ALIVE. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER
WITNESSES AND SUPPORT NAME AND
ORGANIZATION, PLEASE. HALF OF
THE CALIFORNIA SOCIETY OF
ADDICTION MEDICINE. THIS IS THE
FIRST BILL HERE. I'M SORRY, I'LL
JUST MAKE ONE LITTLE ADD HARMON.
THIS SOCIETY LOOKED AT ALL THE
BILLS ABOUT FENTANYL AND DECIDED
THIS IS ONE THAT WE NEED TO DO
BECAUSE WE HAVE TO WORK
TOGETHER. THANK YOU, SIR. MR
CHAIRMAN, MR. CHAIRMAN MEMBERS
COREY SOESILO HAVING THE
CALIFORNIA STATE
SHERIFFSASSOCIATION SPORT. CHAIR
MEMBERS, JONATHAN FELDMAN ON
BEHALF OF THE CALIFORNIA POLICE
CHIEFS ASSOCIATION AND SUPPORT
CAROLINE CIRINCIONE ON BEHALF OF
THE LEAGUE OF CALIFORNIA CITIES
IN SUPPORT. GOOD AFTERNOON CHAIR
MEMBERS MASON VEGA HERE ON
BEHALF OF THE CALIFORNIA
PARTNERSHIP FOR HEALTH, THE
CENTRAL VALLEY HEALTH NETWORK
AND SUPPORT. GOOD AFTERNOON
CHAIR AND MEMBERS AMBER SHADE
WITH THE COUNTY BEHAVIOR. HEALTH
DIRECTORS ASSOCIATION OF
CALIFORNIA LOOKING FORWARD TO
SEEING THE UPDATED VERSION IN
PRINT, WHICH WILL SHIFT US TO
SUPPORT THANK YOU. GOOD
AFTERNOON CHAIR AND MEMBERS ERIC
TURNER WITH NORMAL PATTERSON
ASSOCIATES ON BEHALF OF THE CITY
OF DOWNEY IN SUPPORT. TONY ARNS
, ELDORADO HILLS, OBVIOUSLY IN
SUPPORT. PAMELA SMITH, MOTHER OF
JACKSON SMITH, WHO DIED OF
FENTANYL. STRONG SUPPORT. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU. ANYONE IN
OPPOSITION. ANYONE IN OPPOSITION
, SEEING NONE BRING IT BACK TO
COMMITTEE. ANY QUESTIONS,
ANSWERS. THANK YOU, DR BAINES.
UM I WOULDN'T BE HAPPY TO JOIN
YOU AS A CO AUTHOR, AND THANK
YOU TO ALL OF. THEIR VOICE AND
THEIR EXPERIENCE. I MEAN THEIR
HISTORY ON THIS ISSUE. MANY
MOTION TO MOVE THE BILL. THANK
YOU, MISS BONTA. AND THEN MR
LACKING. THIS BILL OBVIOUSLY IS
VERY SIMILAR TO FIRST BILL THAT
WE GOT TO HERE LAST YEAR, AND WE
WERE ABLE TO VOTE ON
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S SEYARTO THEN
SEYARTO BILL A B 16 73. UM AND I
THINK, UH, TO YOUR POINT AROUND
DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS
WORKING TOGETHER TO BE ABLE TO
SOLVE THIS. I ALSO KNOW THAT
CENTER NOW, SENATOR SEYARTO HAS
SB 19, WHICH IS AGAIN A VERY
SIMILAR BILLS. SO I AM CURIOUS
ABOUT WHERE THE TWO SHALL MEET
BECAUSE THEY'RE ESSENTIALLY VERY
SIMILAR BUILT TO LAST YEAR THAT
THEY ARE TOOK CARRIED IS GOING
THROUGH ON THE SENATE SIDE. WE
HAVE ONE AFTER YOU GOING THROUGH
ON THE ASSEMBLY SIDE AND THE
FACT THAT WE HAD TO COME
TOGETHER TO HEAR THESE, UH THESE
, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE A SPECIAL
HEARING THIS SET OF BILLS, THE
FACT THAT THERE ARE 24 OTHER
BILLS THAT ARE RELATED THAT ARE
GOING THROUGH OUR VARIOUS
COMMITTEES OBVIOUSLY
DEMONSTRATES THAT THERE IS
CERTAINLY IT'S AN URGENCY
AMONGST THE LEGISLATURE TO
ADDRESS THIS CRITICAL ISSUE AND
THE BUDGET REQUEST AND
EVERYTHING THAT WE HAVE OUT
THERE TO BE ABLE TO TAKE ON THE
FENTANYL CRISIS AS IT STANDS IN
THE SPIRIT OF COLLEGIALITY I AND
ALL WORKING TOGETHER. I WOULD
CERTAINLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO WORK
WITH SENATOR SARTO, UM, IN
MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE ABLE TO
MOVE FORWARD WITH ONE POLICY AND
ALIGN, BILL. UM, SO WITH THAT I
WILL BE SUPPORTING THE BILL OUT
OF OUT OF OUT OF PUBLIC SAFETY.
I WILL BE VERY CURIOUS ABOUT HOW
WE RESOLVE THE FACT THAT WE
ESSENTIALLY HAVE TWO BILLS
RUNNING THROUGH. UM AND HOPE
THAT YOU CAN WORK THAT TOGETHER
WITH THE WITH THE OTHER AUTHOR.
MR HAPPY YEAH, I JUST WANTED
FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR
BRINGING YOUR EXPERTISE. TO THE
FOREFRONT BECAUSE I THINK
THERE'S A NATIONAL INTEREST. UH
FROM THE HEALTH SIDE. UH THERE
ARE SOME VERY STRONG HEALTH
CONSIDERATIONS AND WHO BETTER
THAN A DOCTOR TO ACTUALLY, UH
EXPOSED AND ALLOW. PROPER FOCUS
FROM A HEALTH PERSPECTIVE. THIS
PARTICULAR PROBLEM. IT'S
KILLING. WHAT I READ ABOUT 200
AMERICANS EVERY DAY. 15
CALIFORNIANS IS A LOT 200
AMERICANS, SO THIS SHOWS THAT
THIS IS NOT JUST A CALIFORNIA
EPIDEMIC. IT IS A NATIONAL ONE.
AND WE'RE VERY, VERY THANKFUL.
WE HAVE A DOCTOR IN OUR MIDST.
THAT'S GOING TO HEAD UP THIS
TASK FORCE AND THANK YOU FOR
HAVING THE COURAGE TO DO SO. MR
THE BIRTH. I ALSO WANT TO THANK
THE AUTHOR. I THINK IT'S A
TERRIFIC BILL AND I'D BE HONORED
TO A CO AUTHOR OF THAT WOULD BE
WELCOME SO MUCH. BUT YOU MAKE
CLOTHES. THANK YOU SO MUCH. UM
THIS HAS BEEN SUCH A NEAR AND
DEAR TOPIC TO MY HEART. AS I HAD
SAID BEFORE, AS A DOCTOR WORKING
ON THE FRONT LINES OF THIS
FENTANYL CRISIS, NOT TODAY, BUT
FOR SEVERAL SEVERAL YEARS I'VE
BEEN THERE. I'VE DONE THAT. I'VE
CREATED THE NORTH HAND
DISTRIBUTION DRIVES. I'VE
CREATED THE EDUCATIONAL
AWARENESS. WE ARE LOSING THE
WAR. ON DRUGS TODAY. BUT WE ALSO
HAVE TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION
WHAT IS IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF
OUR COMMUNITIES. SO I THINK FOR
ALL THE SUPPORT THAT'S COMING
THROUGH, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO
WORKING WITH ALL OF MY
COLLEAGUES ON MAKING SURE THAT
THERE IS A STRONG PUBLIC HEALTH
VOICE WHEN IT COMES TO DECISIONS
WHEN IT REGARDS THE HEALTH OF
OUR STATE. AND I RESPECTFULLY
ASK FOR IOWA. THANK YOU NOW
CALLED ROLE. ON A B 33 BY SOME
MEMBER BEANS. THE MOTION IS DUE
PASS AS AMENDED TO THE
APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE JOHN
SAWYER ELONIS I BEGAN TO I BRIAN
, BRIAN, I LACKEY BLACKIE. I
ORTEGA ORTEGA I SANTIAGO
SANTIAGO EISENBERG. SUPER. AYE.
THE MEASURE PASSES. OUR CALL.
THAT NEXT, WE'LL DO ANY ADD ON
LIFTING OF CALLS AND VOTE
CHANGES SECTOR THROUGH ALL THE
MEASURES TAKEN UP TODAY. ON A B
33 ITEM ONE. THIS MEASURE WAS
JUST DISPENSE WITH THAT PAST.
ITEM NUMBER TWO, MAYBE 367. THAT
MEASURE HAS BEEN DISPENSED WITH
ITEM NUMBER THREE, MAYBE 4 74 BY
SEVEN MEMBER RODRIGUEZ. ALANIS
ALANIS. AYE. ITEM NUMBER FOUR. A
B 6 75 BY ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S SORIA
. THAT MEMBER SURE HAS BEEN
DISPENSED WITH ITEM NUMBER 5 89
55 PETRIE-NORRIS. THAT MEASURE
HAS BEEN DISPENSED WITH ITEM
NUMBER SIX. MAYBE 10 58 BY SOME
MARGIN PATERSON. THAT MEASURE
HAS BEEN DISPENSED WITH ITEM
NUMBER SIX A. B 79701 BY SEVEN
MEMBER VÆ VALLAPUDUA BANTA.
SANTIAGO. VOTE ONLY AND IT DID
PASS ALREADY YESTERDAY JUST FOR
YOU TO ADD ON SANTIAGO I ON ABC
701 V VALLAPUDUA ON 87, A ONE
FAMILY MEMBER BONTA
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S MONTA, NOT
VOTING. OPEN THE DOOR. WE'RE
DONE. THAT CONCLUDES THE PUBLIC
SAFETY HEARING COMMITTEE.