ALL RIGHT. GOOD AFTERNOON.
EVERYBODY AND WELCOME TO THIS
HEARING OF THE ASSEMBLY
COMMITTEE ON REVENUE AND
TAXATION, AS ALWAYS, UH, PLEASE
MAKE SURE TO SUBMIT POSITION
LETTERS AT LEAST ONE WEEK PRIOR
TO THE COMMITTEE HEARING IN
ORDER FOR THEM TO BE REFLECTED
IN THE BILL'S ANALYSIS.
ADDITIONALLY PURSUANT TO OUR
COMMITTEE RULES BILLS WITH
FISCAL IMPACT OF PLUS OR MINUS
150,000 WILL BE REFERRED TO OUR
SUSPENSE FILE, WHICH WILL BE
TAKEN UP AT A LATER MEETING. IT
LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE A QUORUM. MR
R, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. IRWIN
HERE, IRWIN HERE TALK HERE TO
HERE. VEINS. GIBSON HERE,
GRAYSON. AND HERE, JIM
PATTERSON. PATTERSON HERE, LO
RES. YOU HAVE A ALL RIGHT. WE
HAVE A QUORUM AND GOOD TIMING.
MR. MATHIS, YOU ARE UP. SO. UH,
THIS IS FILE ITEM TWO A B. UH
2006 BY ASSEMBLY MEMBER MATHIS
ASSEMBLY MEMBER. WHENEVER YOU
ARE READY, PLEASE BEGIN. OK? ALL
RIGHT. WELL. GOOD AFTERNOON.
CHAIR AND MEMBERS. I'M HERE
TODAY TO PRESENT A B. 2006 A
2006 IS A COMMON SENSE MEASURE
TO ADDRESS THE INCREASING
FINANCIAL HARDSHIP. FACING MANY
FAMILIES ACROSS CALIFORNIA. A B
2006 WOULD EXPAND THE CURRENT
STATE SALES TAX EXEMPTION FOR
PRESCRIPTION MEDICATION TO ALSO
ENCOMPASS ALL OVER THE COUNTER
MEDICATIONS. CALIFORNIA HAS THE
HIGHEST STATEWIDE SALES TAX.
RATE IN THE COUNTRY AT SEVEN
POINT 2 5. AND IS RANKED NINTH
BY THE TAX FOUNDATION AND
COMBINED STATE AND LOCAL CELLS.
TAX RATES. THE IMPACT OF SUCH A
HIGH TAX RATE IS COMPOUNDED
SIGNIFICANTLY BY THE INCREASED
COST OF LIVING CRISIS. WITH DATA
FROM CAL MATTER SHOWING THAT IT
COSTS 46.8% MORE TO LIVE IN
CALIFORNIA ON THE NATIONAL
AVERAGE. AND THAT CALIFORNIA HAS
THE NATION'S HIGHEST RATE OF
FUNCTIONAL POVERTY. AS MEASURED
BY THE U S¼ CENSUS BUREAU. OVER
THE COUNTER MEDICATIONS AREN'T
AN AFFORDABLE ALTERNATIVE TO
PRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS,
OFFERING CONSUMERS THE OPTION TO
SELF TREAT MILD TO MODERATE
SYMPTOMS IN PLACE OF VISITING. A
HEALTH CARE PROVIDER. THIS
OPTION HAS THE NET BENEFIT OF
SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCING THE COST
INCURRED BY OUR HEALTHCARE
SYSTEM. ACCORDING TO THE
CONSUMER HEALTH CARE PRODUCTS
ASSOCIATION, EVERY DOLLAR SPENT
ON OVER THE COUNTER MEDICATION
SAVES THE U S¼ HEALTHCARE SYSTEM
. $7.30 THREE CENTS RESULTING IN
AN OVERALL ANNUAL SAVINGS OF
167. $0.1 BILLION. THE RECENT
AFFORDABILITY OF SOME OVER THE
COUNTER MEDICATIONS HAS BECOME A
BARRIER TO ACCESS FOR SOME
CALIFORNIANS. THIS BARRIER IS
COMPOUNDED BY THE CONSIDERABLE
STATE SALES TAX IMPOSED DURING
THE PURCHASE OF THESE NECESSARY
PRODUCTS. THE STATE HAS A
RESPONSIBILITY TO PROVIDE THE
NECESSARY RELIEF. FOR LOW INCOME
, DISADVANTAGED AND VULNERABLE
FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES THAT
ARE ALREADY STRUGGLING. A 2006
HELPS ALLEVIATE THE FINANCIAL
BURDEN FACING MILLIONS OF
CALIFORNIANS AND ENSURES THAT
FAMILIES ARE NOT BEING PLACED.
IN THE PREDICAMENT OF FORCE TO
FOREGO PROVIDING POTENTIALLY
LIFE SAVING AND LIFE CHANGING
MEDICATIONS FOR THEIR FAMILIES.
WITH ME TODAY WAS SUPPOSED TO BE
LINDSAY GOLAR OF CAPITAL
ADVOCACY, SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF
CAL REALTORS, I DON'T KNOW.
THERE SHE IS. HE CALLED ME UP
QUICK. NEED IT. CAN YOU HEAR ME
QUICKLY IN THIS COMMITTEE? GOOD
AFTERNOON LINDSAY GOLD HORN WITH
CAPITAL ADVOCACY HERE TODAY ON
BEHALF OF THE CALIFORNIA
RETAILERS ASSOCIATION'S
COMMUNITY PHARMACY COALITION.
UH, PLEASED TO SUPPORT A B 2006
1 OF THE PRIMARY GOALS OF THE
COMMUNITY PHARMACY COALITION IS
TO INCREASE ACCESS TO
MEDICATIONS AND HEALTH CARE
SERVICES AT PHARMACIES FOR
CALIFORNIANS. NEARLY 90% OF
CALIFORNIANS LIVE WITHIN FIVE
MILES OF A COMMUNITY PHARMACY.
THIS IS WHERE THEY GET A LOT OF
THEIR HEALTH CARE SERVICES. UM
MEDICATIONS, CONSULTATIONS,
VACCINATIONS, TESTING A NUMBER
OF OTHER SERVICES, AND MANY OF
THEM ALSO OBTAIN THEIR OVER THE
COUNTER MEDICATIONS AT THEIR
LOCAL PHARMACY. UM, AS HAS BEEN
DISCUSSED, CALIFORNIA HAS THE
HIGHEST STATEWIDE SALES TAX RATE
IN THE NATION, WHICH HAS A
DISPROPORTIONATE NEGATIVE IMPACT
ON LOW INCOME CALIFORNIANS.
EVERY CONSUMER IN CALIFORNIA
PAYS THE SAME SALES TAX RATE,
REGARDLESS OF THEIR INCOME LEVEL
, AND WE NEED MORE SOLUTIONS
THAT REDUCE FINANCIAL PRESSURE
ON LOW INCOME HOUSEHOLDS, UM AND
ENSURE THAT THEY CAN GET THE
GOODS AND SERVICES THEY NEED AND
BY EXPANDING THE EXISTING SALES
TAX EXEMPTION FOR PRESCRIPTION
MEDICATIONS TO OVER THE COUNTER
MEDICATIONS. UH, A B 2006 IS ONE
OF THESE SOLUTIONS AND WILL HELP
ENSURE CALIFORNIANS CAN OBTAIN
THEIR NECESSARY MEDICATIONS. SO
FOR THESE REASONS, UH, WE ARE
PLEASED TO SUPPORT A B 2006.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. DO WE HAVE
ANY OTHER WITNESSES IN SUPPORT?
THE WITNESSES IN OPPOSITION. ALL
RIGHT QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM
THE COMMITTEE. I. I JUST HAVE
ONE QUESTION THE PRICE TAG ON
THIS LOOKS LIKE IT'S UM, ABOUT
100 AND 80 MILLION SO WHAT IS
YOUR RESPONSE TO THIS POLICY
BEING? YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY WE
ARE HAVING BUDGETS, BUDGET
ISSUES, UH, THIS YEAR. WELL,
MADAM, SURE, THAT'S VERY SIMPLE.
THERE'S TWO THINGS. THE OVERALL
ANNUAL SAVINGS IS ONE 100 AND 67
BILLION OUR HEALTH CARE SYSTEM
IS IN DIRE NEED. WE HAVE S¼ THAT
ARE SHUTTING DOWN. WE HAVE
HOSPITALS THAT ARE SHUTTING DOWN
. WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT CAN'T GET
IN TO SEE THE DOCTOR. AND IF WE
CAN REDUCE THIS TAX AND GET RID
OF IT, SO YOU KNOW, FAMILY
SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY ADDED
TAXES FOR YOU KNOW IF YOUR KID
NEEDS A TYLENOL IF YOUR PARENT
NEEDS AN ASPIRIN, UM IF YOU GOT
A BUM KNEE WHY ARE YOU BEING
TAXED ON THAT? AND SO I SEE THIS
AS A WAY TO HELP THE HEALTHCARE
SYSTEM OVERALL AND HELP REDUCE
COSTS ON FAMILIES THAT ARE
ALREADY OUT THERE, STRUGGLING
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
AND WOULD YOU LIKE TO CLOSE?
I'LL TAKE THAT AS MY CLOSE. ALL
RIGHT. THANK YOU. AND SO WITHOUT
OBJECTION. THIS BILL IS GOING TO
BE REFERRED TO OUR SUSPENSE
FILE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ALL
RIGHT. NEXT UP. WE HAVE FILE
ITEM ONE AND THAT IS ASSEMBLY
MEMBER AT A B 2197. WELCOME. UM
WELL, THANK YOU, UH, CHAIR STAFF
AND ADVOCATES THAT ARE HERE
TODAY. UH, I AM HERE TO PRESENT
2197, THE WHALE TAIL GRANT ACT,
WHICH HELPS FOSTER COASTAL
PROTECTION, PRESERVATION AND
STEWARDSHIP, THE PROTECT OUR
COAST AND OCEANS VOLUNTARY TAX
FUND ALLOWS CALIFORNIANS TO
DIRECT TO DIRECTLY CONTRIBUTE TO
THE CALIFORNIA COASTAL
COMMISSIONS. WHALE TAIL GRANT
PROGRAM. THIS GRANT IS USED TO
SUPPORT EXPERIENTIAL EDUCATION
AND STEWARDSHIP OF CALIFORNIA'S
COAST AND WATERSHEDS THROUGH
PROJECTS SUCH AS PROGRAMS,
CLIMATE CHANGE AWARENESS AND
SHORELINE CLEANUP AND
ENHANCEMENT WITH COMMUNITY
INVOLVEMENT. ADDITIONALLY THE
CALIFORNIA COASTAL COMMISSION
AIMS TO INCLUDE COMMUNITIES THAT
HAVE HISTORICALLY HAD FEW
OPPORTUNITIES TO ENGAGE WITH
THESE KINDS OF PROJECTS DUE TO
GEOGRAPHIC OR SYSTEMIC BARRIERS.
FOR EXAMPLE OF THE 56 GRANTS
AWARDED IN THE 2022 2023 FISCAL
YEAR, 13 WENT TO INLAND
COMMUNITIES, 49 WENT TO GROUPS
FOCUSED ON LOW INCOME AND
SOCIOECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED
COMMUNITIES, AND 39 WENT TO
GROUPS FOCUSED ON BLACK,
INDIGENOUS AND PEOPLE OF COLOR
OR B¢O COMMUNITIES. THE TAX FUND
PROVIDES A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF
MONEY FOR THE GRANT WITH IT,
GENERATING OVER THREE POINT
THREE BILLION DOLLARS FROM
AROUND 248,000 INDIVIDUAL
DONATIONS SINCE ITS CREATION IN
2013. AND WITHOUT FURTHER ACTION
, THE FUND IS SET TO EXPIRE ON
JANUARY 1ST 2025, CAUSING THE
WHALE TAIL GRANT PROGRAM TO
POTENTIALLY LOSE HUNDREDS OF
THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS OF SUPPORT
EACH YEAR. UM SO 2197, A B 2197.
THE WHALE TAIL GRANT ACT WILL
EXTEND THE OPERATIVE DATE OF THE
PROTECT OUR COASTS AND OCEANS
VOLUNTARY TAX FUND THROUGH
JANUARY 1ST 2032, AND WE HAVE
TWO WITNESSES HERE. TODAY SARAH
CHRISTIE OF THE CALIFORNIA
COASTAL COMMISSION AND CHRIS MAD
OF THE WEST MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL
ACTION COMMITTEE AND TURN IT
OVER TO THEM. GOOD AFTERNOON
CHAIR AND MEMBERS. I'M SARAH
CHRISTIE WITH THE CALIFORNIA
COASTAL COMMISSION. AND I'D LIKE
TO THANK THE AUTHOR FOR HER
SUPPORT OF THE PROTECT OUR COAST
AND OCEANS TAX. CHECK OFF OR
POCO AS WE LIKE TO CALL IT. UM,
AS YOU HEARD THIS VOLUNTARY
OPTION PROVIDES A SIMPLE WAY FOR
CALIFORNIANS WHO LOVE AND
APPRECIATE OUR STATE'S
MAGNIFICENT COASTLINE TO MAKE AN
ANNUAL CONTRIBUTION TOWARD IT AT
TAX TIME. 100% OF THE FUNDS GO
DIRECTLY TO THE NONPROFIT
SCHOOLS AND TRIBES THROUGH THE
COMMISSION'S WHALE TAIL GRANT
PROGRAM, WHICH IS CALIFORNIA'S
LONGEST RUNNING OUTDOOR
ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION GRANT
PROGRAM. POCO FUNDS AUGMENT
MONIES RAISED THROUGH THE SALE
OF WHALE TAIL LICENSE PLATES TO
SUPPORT OCEAN SCIENCE, EDUCATION
, COASTAL HABITAT RESTORATION,
BEACH CAMPS AND DAY TRIPS, SURF
LESSONS AND COUNTLESS OTHER WAYS
TO CONNECT WITH AND LEARN ABOUT
THE COAST AND OCEAN. WHALE TAIL
GRANTS DON'T JUST BENEFIT
COASTAL GROUPS. THEY PRIORITIZE
UNDERSERVED AND INLAND
COMMUNITIES BECAUSE THE COAST
BELONGS TO EVERYONE, NOT JUST
THOSE FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO LIVE
THERE OR ABLE TO VISIT REGULARLY
WITH THEIR OWN RESOURCES. ALL
CALIFORNIA. VOLUNTARY TAX
CHECKOFFS MUST GET REAUTHORIZED
BY THE LEGISLATURE EVERY EIGHT
YEARS. THIS WILL BE THE SECOND
REAUTHORIZATION FOR POCO, WHICH
HAS RAISED OVER $3 MILLION SINCE
2013. THE COMMISSION IS LOOKING
FORWARD TO EIGHT MORE YEARS OF
FUNDING INNOVATIVE OUTDOOR
EXPERIENCES THROUGH POCO AND
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOUR I
VOTE. THANK YOU. YOUR HONORABLE
MEMBERS. THANK YOU FOR HEARING
OUR TESTIMONY ON A B 2197. MY
NAME IS CHRISTOPHER MELWOOD, AND
I'M A LEGISLATIVE FELLOW WITH
THE ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION
COMMITTEE OF WEST MARIN OR E, A
èC. AND TODAY I'M SPEAKING IN
SUPPORT OF A B 2197, WHICH
RENEWS THE TAX PROGRAM FOR THE
AFFECTIONATELY NAMED WHALE TAIL
GRANTS, AND I'D LIKE TO START
WITH A PERSONAL NOTE. UH I AM 24
YEARS OLD AND THE WAY THE WHALE
TAIL GRANT PROGRAM HAS BEEN
ACTIVE FOR 25 YEARS, AND I AM
PROUD TO BE SPEAKING ON THIS
BILL TODAY BECAUSE I'M THE
PRODUCT OF AN ORGANIZATION WHO
HAS RECEIVED WHALE TAIL GRANT.
FUNDING IN THE PAST. I GREW UP
INLAND COMMUNITY ON THE BORDER
OF LOS ANGELES AND SAN
BERNARDINO COUNTIES. AND WHEN I
WAS IN EIGHTH GRADER AT RAMONA
MIDDLE SCHOOL, UM I GOT THE
CHANCE TO PARTICIPATE IN A CLASS
TRIP TO CATALINA ISLAND THROUGH
AN EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM BY THE
CATALINA ISLAND MARINE INSTITUTE
, OR èC. ME AND TO THIS DAY
THAT EXPERIENCE IS ONE OF THE
TWO TIMES THAT I VISITED
CATALINA ISLAND AND IS THE FIRST
TIME THAT I PUT ON A WETSUIT. UH
AND I REMEMBER OUR FIELD
TEACHERS BRINGING US TO AN OLD
CAR, A BEAUTIFUL MODEL. THAT WAS
PAINTED RED AND I WAS IN AWE AS
I SAT INSIDE OF IT, AND THEY
EXPLAINED THAT THAT WAS THE SIZE
OF WHALE HEART. UM AND, UH, YOU
KNOW, SPEAKING SPECIFICALLY
ABOUT THIS PROGRAM, YOU KNOW, E,
A èC IS FAMILIAR WITH THE WORK
THE WT GRANTS FUND. UH, THIS IS
DEMONSTRATED BY BY OUR WORK BY
PROVIDING FOR EDUCATIONAL FIELD
TRIPS FOR Kò THROUGH 12 STUDENTS
TO VISIT AND LEARN ABOUT DUXBURY
REEF AND ROY'S WE REDWOOD
PRESERVE. IMPORTANTLY AND AS MY
COLLEAGUE FROM THE COASTAL
COMMISSION SHARED THE WHALE TILL
GRANTS BRING AN INLAND
COMMUNITIES SUCH AS THOSE LIVING
IN KERN COUNTY AND KINGA TO
RECREATE AND EXPERIENCE THE
COAST. AND I WOULD LIKE TO ADD
THAT EVEN WHILE SERVING COASTAL
COMMUNITIES, THE WHALE TAIL
GRANTS EXEMPLIFY THE PROMOTION
OF EQUITY BY SERVING
HISTORICALLY EXCLUDED GROUPS. IN
2022 TO 2023 ALONE. 82% OF THE
PROJECTED PARTICIPANTS WERE FROM
B¢O COMMUNITIES. AN EXAMPLES OF
SUCH PROGRAMS INCLUDE. IN
OAKLAND AND RICHMOND. THE
COMMISSION SUPPORTED A SELF
DIRECTED MARINE RESEARCH PROJECT
FOR NINTH GRADE STUDENTS AND
SEPARATELY FUNDED THE ENTIRE
ROOSEVELT MIDDLE SCHOOL TO TAKE
A FIELD TRIP TO THE COAST TO
LEARN HOW SEA LEVEL RISE IMPACTS
IMPACT INTERNATIONAL PACIFIC
ISLANDER COMMUNITIES. QUEER SURF
RECEIVE FUNDS FOR COMMUNITY SURF
LESSONS AND THE ALSO PARTNERED
WITH JUSTICE OUTSIDE WHEN
DISTRIBUTING GRANT FUNDS IN
ORDER TO OFFERING TRAINING ON
LEADERSHIP. IN ADDITION, THE
WHALE TAIL GRANTS HAVE
INCREASINGLY INCLUDED PROGRAMS
AIMED AT INDIGENOUS COMMUNITY
EDUCATION AND CONNECTION. FOR
EXAMPLE, THE BIG LAGOON UNION
SCHOOL DISTRICT IN HUMBOLDT AND
DEL NORTE COUNTIES RECEIVE FUNDS
TO CONNECT NATIVE STUDENTS WITH
THE CULTURAL PRACTICES. THE DRY
CREEK RANCHER BAND OF POMO
INDIANS, AND SO NOMO IN SONOMA,
MENDOCINO AND LAKE COUNTIES
RECEIVE FUNDS FOR TRADITIONAL
HARVESTING AND COMMUNITY WETLAND
RESTORATION TECHNIQUES. THE
STOCKTON UNIFIED NATIVE AMERICAN
INDIAN CENTER RECEIVED FUNDS FOR
A STUDENT FOR A SUMMER PROGRAM,
WHICH ENGAGES INDIGENOUS
STUDENTS WITH CULTURAL KNOWLEDGE
ON MANAGING THE DELTA AND THE
COAST. AND FINALLY, THE ATOM PON
IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY RECEIVE
FUNDS TO ENGAGE YOUTH AND THEIR
FAMILY IN COURSEWORK RELATED TO
CLIMATE CHANGE AND WETLANDS AND
ON A FINAL NOTE OVER THE LIFE OF
THE WHALE TAIL PROGRAM. 501 èC
THREE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS,
INDIVIDUAL SCHOOLS, ENTIRE
SCHOOL DISTRICTS, FEDERALLY
RECOGNIZED AND NON FEDERALLY
RECOGNIZED CALIFORNIA TRIBES
HAVE BENEFITED IMMENSELY FROM
THIS PROGRAM. THE GOALS OF THOSE
ORGANIZATIONS WHO RECEIVE THESE
GRANTS ARE CONNECT OR TO CONNECT
CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY TO YOUTH
AND THEIR FAMILIES TO OUR SHARED
COAST. THE COAST IS A MAGICAL
PLACE AND SOMETHING THAT WE
SHOULD ALL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY
TO EXPERIENCE AS DEMONSTRATED BY
THE GRANT PROGRAMS, RECIPIENTS.
THE WHALE TAIL GRANTS CREATE
THOSE OPPORTUNITIES, ESPECIALLY
FOR COMMUNITIES WHO MAY NOT BE
ABLE TO OTHERWISE. AS A RESULT,
WE RESPECTFULLY ASK YOU TO VOTE
YES TO ADVANCE A B 1297. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. DO WE
HAVE ANY OTHER WITNESSES IN
SUPPORT? ME WITNESSES IN
OPPOSITION. COMMENTS FROM THE
COMMITTEE. ALL RIGHT, UM WOULD
YOU, UH, LIKE TO CLOSE. I
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOUR I VOTE
ON A B 2197, RIGHT? OK ALL RIGHT
. SO WE HAVE A, UM, A MOTION BY
ASSEMBLY MEMBER GRAYSON AND
SECOND BY ASSEMBLY MEMBER GIBSON
. THE MOTION IS TO PASS TO
APPROPRIATIONS. MR. PLEASE CALL
THE ROLL. IT BE 2100 AND 97. THE
MOTIONS DO PASS TO
APPROPRIATIONS. IRWIN IRWIN, I
TALK I BANES. AINS I GIBSON
GIBSON, I GRAYSON RACING I JIM
PATTERSON. JIM PATTERSON, I LUCE
REVS. 60. THAT BILL IS OUT.
CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. RIGHT, MR WALLACE.
TIMING WAS ALMOST PERFECT. I
THINK YOU WERE OFF BY ABOUT 30
SECONDS. SO SORRY ABOUT THAT.
BUT WE ARE NOW ON FILE ITEM
THREE A B 2219. WHENEVER YOU'RE
READY, HØI GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM
CHAIR AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS I
HAVE BEFORE YOU TODAY ASSEMBLY
BILL 2219. AS WE ALL KNOW,
CALIFORNIANS FACE SOME OF THE
HIGHEST COST OF LIVING IN OUR
COUNTRY. MANY ALSO FACE THE
INCREASED FINANCIAL BURDEN OF
LIVING IN HIGH RISK NATURAL
DISASTER ZONES ACROSS THE STATE,
AND OVERALL SAFETY IS A BIG
CONCERN FOR FAMILIES TO REMEDY
THESE ISSUES. MANY RESIDENTS
INSTALL SECURITY CAMERAS SO THEY
CAN MONITOR THEIR HOMES WHILE
THEY'RE AWAY TO HELP DETER
PROPERTY CRIMES OR QUICKLY
DETECT NATURAL DIS. HOWEVER HOME
SECURITY CAMERAS CAN BE COSTLY
TO PURCHASE AND INSTALL IN MANY
MAINSTREAM SYSTEMS INCLUDE
MEMBERSHIP OR SUBSCRIPTION FEES
TO ACCESS FOOTAGE. A B 2219 WILL
ADDRESS THESE CONCERNS BY GIVING
RESIDENTS OF SINGLE FAMILY HOMES
UP TO $250 IN A TAX CREDIT TO
OFFSET THE COST OF PURCHASING
AND INSTALLING A SECURITY CAMERA
FOR THEIR HOMES. THE BILL WILL
MAKE HOME SECURITY MORE
AFFORDABLE AND ACCESSIBLE, AND
IT WILL ALLOW BOTH HOME OWNERS
AND RENTERS TO CLAIM THE CREDIT.
IT WAS OUR INTENT TO MAKE THIS A
ONE TIME TAX CREDIT AND, WELL,
THE BILLS ON SUSPENSE WILL AMEND
THE LANGUAGE TO CLARIFY THAT I'D
LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE
COMMITTEE STAFF FOR THEIR
ANALYSIS, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO
CONTINUE OUR WORK ON THIS BILL
TOGETHER FOR ANY OTHER POTENTIAL
ISSUES THAT ARISE WHILE THIS
BILL IS ON SUSPENSE, THANK YOU
VERY MUCH, MR. WALLACE. UH, DO
WE HAVE ANY OTHER WITNESSES IN
SUPPORT? WITNESSES IN
OPPOSITION. HØI KATIE HARDIN
WITH THE CALIFORNIA TEACHERS
ASSOCIATION. UNFORTUNATELY IN
OPPOSITION DUE TO THE IMPACT ON
GENERAL FUND REVENUES AND
PROPERTY THANK YOU, MS. HARMAN
UH QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM
THE COMMITTEE? ALL RIGHT, MR.
WALLACE WOULD YOU LIKE TO CLOSE?
I JUST RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR AN I
VOTE WHEN THE TIME IS
APPROPRIATE. ALL RIGHT. THANK
YOU. AND WITH THAT OBJECTION,
THIS BILL WILL BE REFERRED TO
OUR SUSPENSE FILE. THANK YOU.
ALL RIGHT. WE ARE ON OUR LAST
ITEM.
OVER IN TRANSPORTATION. SHE
KNOWS THAT.
THIS IS YES.
SOMEONE RUNNING YOUR COMMITTEE?
YES. AND THANKFUL TO ASSEMBLE A
MEMBER CARO WHO IS FILLING IN
FOR ME RIGHT NOW, OK, UM,
WHENEVER YOU ARE READY, UH, ON A
B 2061 THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON
, EVERYONE. THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR YOUR PATIENCE. YOU CAN CATCH
YOUR BREATH. I KNOW, RIGHT?
THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR, SO I'M
PLEASED TO PRESENT A B 2061.
THIS WILL ESTABLISH A NEW
EXEMPTION FROM THE STATE PORTION
OF THE SALES AND USE TAX FOR THE
PURCHASE OF ZERO EMISSION VARIES
BY PUBLIC TRANSIT AGENCIES SUCH
AS LONG BEACH TRANSIT WEA AND
GOLDEN GATE FERRY THROUGH 2030.
THIS WILL REDUCE THE COST OF
DEPLOY ZERO EMISSION FERRIES AND
TO HELP THEM COMPLY WITH THE
CALIFORNIA AIR RESOURCES BOARD,
COMMERCIAL HARBOR CRAFT
REGULATION. THE CALIFORNIA AIR
RESOURCES BOARD APPROVED
AMENDMENT TO THE COMMERCIAL
HARBOR CRAFT REGULATIONS AND
2023 AND IT WOULD REQUIRE PUBLIC
TRANSIT AGENCIES TO DEPLOY ZERO
EMISSION VARIES BY 2026. WHEN
CALIFORNIA PUBLIC
TRANSPORTATION'S, UH TRANSIT
FERRY OPERATOR SPACE IMPEDING
TRANSIT OPERATIONS, FUNDING
SHORTFALLS, UM, DUE TO THE
PANDEMIC'S IMPACT ON PARTNERSHIP
, THIS BILL WOULD PROVIDE
CAPITAL OUTLAY COST SAVINGS,
ALLOWING ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO
BE MAINTAINED FOR TRANSIT
OPERATIONS, EXHIBITING ZERO
EMISSION FERRIES PURCHASED BY
PUBLIC AGENCIES FROM STATE SALES
AND USE TAX IS ESTIMATED TO SAVE
CALIFORNIA. PUBLIC TRANSIT
FERRIES, OPERATORS MILLIONS OF
DOLLARS AND WOULD HELP US REACH
CALIFORNIA'S GREENHOUSE GAS
REDUCTION GOALS. WE RECOGNIZE
THE BUDGET ENVIRONMENT WE'RE IN,
UM AND HOW THIS WOULD SAVE OUR
OPERATORS AT SOME COST TO THE
STATE. UM BUT REALLY, WE, UM,
PUSH TO HAVE EARLY ADOPTERS OF
OUR, UM AND WE HAVE GOALS AND
THIS ALLOWS FOR THEM TO HAVE
EARLY ADOPTION BY WITNESS. UH
LAUREN. UH, G GARTY WITH THE
WATER EMERGENCY TRANSPORTATION
AUTHORITY BOARD, WHICH I'VE BEEN
CALLING. IS HERE TO BE ABLE TO
PROVIDE TESTIMONY. THANK YOU. OK
IT'S ON, UH, AFTERNOON. UH,
CHAIR IRWIN AND COMMITTEE
MEMBERS. MY NAME IS LAUREN GARDI
MANAGE, UH, MANAGER OF
GOVERNMENT AND REGULATORY
AFFAIRS FOR THE WATER EMERGENCY
TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY, THE
AGENCY THAT OPERATES SAN
FRANCISCO BAY FERRY SERVICES. W
Tð IS A REGIONAL PUBLIC TRANSIT
AGENCY TASKED WITH OPERATING AND
EXPANDING FERRY SERVICE IN THE
SAN FRANCISCO BAY AND WITH
COORDINATING THE WATER TRANSIT
RESPONSE TO REGIONAL EMERGENCIES
. WE CARRY ABOUT THREE MILLION
PASSENGERS A YEAR USING 17 HIGH
SPEED. UH, PASSENGER ONLY FERRY
VESSELS. UH, WE ARE CO COSPONSOR
OF A B 2061, WHICH WOULD
ESTABLISH A NEW PARTIAL SALES
AND USE TAX EXEMPTION FOR ZERO
EMISSION FERRIES PURCHASED BY
PUBLIC BY CALIFORNIA TRANSIT
AGENCIES. THIS PROPOSED SALES
TAX EXEMPTION WOULD ASSIST THE
THREE TRANSIT AGENCIES IN THE
STATE THAT OPERATE A TOTAL OF 28
FERRIES IN ACCELERATING THE
TRANSITION TO ZERO EMISSION
TECHNOLOGY AND REDUCE THE COST
OF COMPLY WITH CARBS èC HÌ èC,
OR COMMERCIAL HARBOR CRAFT
REGULATIONS. A TRANSITION TO
ZERO. EMISSION TECHNOLOGY
REQUIRES SIGNIFICANT CAPITAL
INVESTMENT AT A TIME WHEN FERRY
OPERATORS ARE WORKING TO RECOVER
FROM THE DEVASTATING FINANCIAL
IMPACTS OF THE PANDEMIC. IN FACT
, WE Tð, A HAS ESTIMATED THAT IT
WILL TAKE ABOUT 500 TO $700
MILLION TO UPGRADE ELECTRICAL
CAPACITY AT FERRY TERMINALS
REPLACE OLDER DIESEL VESSELS
WITH NEW ZERO EMISSION VESSELS
AND CONVERT SOME NEWER DIESEL
VESSELS TO ZERO EMISSION
TECHNOLOGY. WE ARE WORKING HARD
TO SECURE COMPETITIVE GRANT
FUNDING, ADVOCATING FOR NEW OR
EXPANDED GRANT, FUND SOURCES AND
OTHER MEANS TO REDUCE THE COST
OF IMPLEMENTATION OF OUR PLAN.
INCLUDING SEEKING THIS TAX
EXEMPTION. IF THIS BILL WERE
ENACTED, IT WOULD GO INTO EFFECT
IN 2025 AND SUNSET IN 2030 W Tð
IS EXPECTING THE DELIVERY OF 50
EMISSION VESSELS DURING THIS
TIME FRAME. IF THIS BILL WAS
APPROVED THE ESTIMATED SAVINGS
FOR WE Tð A WOULD BE
APPROXIMATELY $4 MILLION. THESE
SAVINGS COULD BE P COULD BE USED
TO PURCHASE ADDITIONAL ZERO
EMISSION VESSELS TO PROVIDE EVEN
GREATER EMISSION REDUCTIONS FOR
THE STATE IN 2019 AND 2022
SIMILAR BILLS, A B 784 AND A B
2622 WERE PASSED TO PROVIDE
PUBLIC TRANSIT BUS OPERATORS.
WITH THE SAME SALES TAX
EXEMPTION FOR THE PURCHASE OF
ZERO EMISSION BUSES THROUGH THIS
BILL WE Tð A IS PROPOSING TO
MAKE THE SAME BENEFIT AVAILABLE
FOR PUBLIC TRANSIT FERRY
OPERATORS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION OF THIS
PROPOSAL, AND I'D BE HAPPY TO
ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. UH, DO WE
HAVE ANY OTHER WITNESSES IN THIS
PARK? HØI. GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M
ERIC LÀ ON BEHALF OF THE
CALIFORNIA STATE ASSOCIATION OF
COUNTIES REPRESENTING ALL 58
COUNTIES IN THIS STATE. UH,
WE'RE PROUD TO SUPPORT THIS
BILL. THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON
BEN TRIP WITH THE LEAGUE OF
CALIFORNIA CITIES AND SUPPORT
ALL RIGHT. ANY WITNESSES IN
OPPOSITION. HØI KATIE HARDIMAN.
THE CALIFORNIA TEACHERS
ASSOCIATION OPPOSITION DUE TO
THE IMPACTS TO THE GENERAL FUND
AND PROPERTY. RIGHT. DO WE HAVE
ANY COMMENTS FROM THE COMMITTEE?
UH, I JUST JUST HAVE ONE
QUESTION THIS, UH, BILL DID PASS
THROUGH. UM OUR COMMITTEE THE
LAST GO AROUND. ARE YOU DOING
ANYTHING TO LOWER THE PRICE?
GIVEN THE CURRENT BUDGET
SITUATION? I KNOW IT WAS HELD IN
APPROPRIATIONS, RECOGNIZING THAT
AND BEEN TALKING ABOUT THE YEAR
THAT IT THIS WOULDN'T IMPACT OUR
BUDGET TILL 2025. SO WE'RE STILL
A COUPLE. IT'S NOT THIS BUDGET
YEAR OR THE NEXT. THE ONE THERE
AFTER THAT IT WOULD REALLY
IMPACT BASED ON THE TIMING OF
THE PURCHASES. SO WE THINK THAT
BECAUSE IT'S A DEFERRED
BASICALLY A ACTION TO OUR BUDGET
. UM WE WEREN'T UM WHAT AM I
TRYING TO SAY? BECAUSE IT'S A
DEFERRED ACTION. WE DIDN'T THINK
THE IMPACT TO THIS YEAR'S BUDGET
OR WHAT WE COULD EXPECT NEXT
YEAR IN TERMS OF UM, A
CONTINUING DEFICIT TO BE AS
LARGE AND LOOMING. ALL RIGHT.
AND THEN, UH WOULD YOU LIKE TO
CLOSE? WELL I THANK YOU FOR THE
QUESTION. UH, MADAM CHAIR AND
YOU KNOW, THIS IS EXTREMELY
IMPORTANT WHEN WE THINK ABOUT
OUR GOALS. UM IN TERMS OF ZERO
EMISSIONS. WE'VE DONE THIS
ALREADY FOR OUR OTHER TRANSIT
OPERATORS. AND SO IT'S BRINGING
IN LINE. UM, WHAT WE'VE DONE FOR
OUR OTHER TRANSIT OPERATORS. UM
AND SO IT'S YOU KNOW, IT'S
EXTREMELY IMPORTANT WHEN YOU
THINK ABOUT OUR, UH, OUR MISSION
GOALS, BUT ALSO, UM, WE WANT TO
BE CONSIS CONSISTENT AND WE WANT
OUR OPERATORS TO BE ABLE TO
RECOVER FROM THE PANDEMIC. OUR
FERRY OPERATORS THEY STRUGGLED
IN THAT, UM THEY DO HAVE SOME
RESOURCES, BUT THIS WOULD GIVE
THEM A BOOST. UM, TO BE ABLE TO
ENSURE THAT NOT ONLY DO WE MEET
OUR GOALS, BUT THEY ALLOW THEM
TO CONTINUE TO RECOVER. AND WITH
THAT, I RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR AND
I VOTE. ALL RIGHT. SO UH,
WITHOUT OBJECTION. THIS BILL
THEN WILL BE REFERRED TO OUR
SUSPENSE FILE. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. THANK YOU, AND WE ARE
GOING TO MOVE BACK TO ALLOW
ASSEMBLY MEMBER TO REGISTER OR
VOTE ON FILE ITEM ONE. ADD ONS
ON FILE ITEM ONE A B 2197. THE
MOTION WAS PASSED TO
APPROPRIATIONS AND THE MEASURE
IS PASSED. LUCE REVS. BRUCE RES.
I THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. AND WITH
THAT, UH, THIS MEETING OF THE
REVENUE AND TAXATION COMMITTEE
IS ADJOURNED.