WHAT ARE WE LOOKING FOR? AND I
CAN GO. GOOD AFTERNOON. I CALL
THIS HEARING OF THE ASSEMBLY
COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES TO
ORDER. I WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME
EVERYONE TO THE APRIL 2ND
HEARING. AND I'D ALSO LIKE TO
WELCOME ASSEMBLY MEMBER TOM, WHO
WILL BE REPLACING ASSEMBLY
MATHIS FOR TODAY'S HEARING. NOW
FOR LITTLE HOUSEKEEPING FILE
ITEM SEVEN AB 1968. JACKSON WAS
AMENDED ON MARCH 21ST, 2020 FOR
AND IS NO LONGER IN THE ASSEMBLY
REVENUE AND TAXATION COMMITTEE
JURISDICTION SHOULD THE BILL
PASS OUT OF THIS COMMITTEE, IT
WILL BE REFERRED TO THE ASSEMBLY
APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE ALSO
FILED ITEM 13, AB 2343. SCHIAVO
AND FILE ITEM 15 2452
QUIRK-SILVA VÀ HAVE BEEN PULLED
BY THEIR AUTHORS ONCE WE HAVE
ESTABLISHED QUORUM, WE'LL HAVE
17 BILLS ON THE AGENDA. FOUR
BILLS ARE ON CONSENT. PLEASE
NOTE THAT WE LIMIT TESTIMONY TO
TWO WITNESSES IN SUPPORT AND TWO
WITNESSES IN OPPOSITION. EACH
WITNESS HAS TWO MINUTES TO
TESTIFY. ALL ADDITIONAL
WITNESSES WILL BE LIMITED TO
STATING THEIR NAME, ORGANIZATION
IF THEY PRESENT ONE AND THE
POSITION ON THE BILL. I ALSO
WANT TO NOTE THAT WE ARE
ACCEPTING WRITTEN TESTIMONY
THROUGH THE POSITION LETTER
PORTAL ON THE COMMITTEE'S
WEBSITE. THANK YOU. ONCE WE HAVE
QUORUM, WE WILL TAKE ROLL. BUT I
KNOW THAT ASSEMBLYMEMBER JACKSON
ON THIS COMMITTEE HAS
VOLUNTEERED TO GO FIRST WITH ONE
OF HIS BILLS. ACTUALLY, MADAM
SECRETARY, LET'S TAKE THE ROLL.
SINCE WE DO HAVE QUORUM HERE. OH
LEE, HERE IS SALLY, HERE.
CALDERON GIBSON HERE. JACKSON
HERE TO ORTEGA. QUORUM IS
ESTABLISHED. ASSEMBLY. JACKSON
YOU MAY PROCEED. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. FIRST, I WOULD LIKE TO
START BY ACCEPTING THE
COMMITTEE'S AMENDMENTS AND
COMPLIMENTING THIS COMMITTEE AND
ITS FANTASTIC STAFF FOR THEIR
WORK WITH MY OFFICE ON THIS
MEASURE. AB 1968 SEEKS TO
REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL
SERVICES TO CREATE A SYSTEM TO
AUTOMATICALLY ENROLL BY
QUALIFYING INDIVIDUALS AGED 60
OR OLDER WHO MEET THE
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS OF SSI,
SSP AND THOSE WHO MEET THOSE
REQUIREMENTS BUT ARE NOT
ELIGIBLE SOLELY DUE TO THEIR
IMMIGRATION STATUS AND CALFRESH
BY JANUARY 1ST, 2026, THIS BILL
IDEA CAME FROM A REPORT LAST
YEAR ABOUT THE NUMBER OF SENIORS
WHO QUALIFY FOR CALFRESH BUT ARE
NOT ENROLLED, AND WE KNOW THAT
SENIORS ARE REPRESENTING SOME OF
THE, MOST HARD PRESSED
POPULATIONS, CERTAINLY IN TERMS
OF HOMELESSNESS AND OTHER ISSUES
AND FOOD INSECURITY. AND SO THIS
BILL IS TO TRY TO SCOOP UP AS
MANY SENIORS AS POSSIBLE TO
ENSURE THAT THEY ARE STABLE AND
TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS DOES NOT
BECOME A CRISIS IN THE FUTURE. I
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR AN AYE VOTE
. THANK YOU, DOCTOR JACKSON. AND
ACCORDING TO YOU, THERE ARE NO
PRIMARY WITNESSES IN, PRIMARY
SUPPORT WITNESSES TO TESTIFY
TODAY? NO. DO WE HAVE ANY
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC IN THE
HEARING ROOM WHO WISH TO TESTIFY
IN SUPPORT? PLEASE COME UP TO
THE MICROPHONE. KEVIN CALLISTER,
CALIFORNIA ORGANIZATION SUPPORT.
THANK YOU. AMBER KING WITH
LEADINGAGE, CALIFORNIA IN
SUPPORT. ALL RIGHT. GABBY
DAVIDSON, ON BEHALF OF THE
CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF FOOD
BANKS AND END CHILD POVERTY,
CALIFORNIA. GRACE, THANK YOU AND
SUPPORT JASON GARBER WITH THE
ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION IN
SUPPORT. LISA COLEMAN WITH THE
CALIFORNIA COMMISSION ON AGING
IN SUPPORT. THANK YOU. NOW, DO
WE HAVE ANY WITNESSES IN THE
ROOM WHO WISH TO TESTIFY IN
OPPOSITION TO THIS BILL, SEEING
NONE, BRING IT BACK TO
COMMITTEE. ANY QUESTIONS FROM
COMMITTEE MEMBERS? ANY
QUESTIONS? VICE CHAIR SALLY.
THANK YOU, MR. JACKSON, YOUR
PROGRAM SEEKS TO EXPAND,
CALFRESH. BENEFITS TO ILLEGAL
IMMIGRANTS IN THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA. DO YOU KNOW WHAT THE
COST OF THAT WILL BE TO THE
BUDGET, NO, THERE HAS NOT BEEN,
SCORED YET. THAT WILL HAPPEN IN
APPROPRIATIONS. OKAY, BUT YOU
OBVIOUSLY KNOW IT'S GOING TO
HAVE A LARGE COST TO THE STATE.
SO WHEN WE'RE FACING A $73
BILLION BUDGET, WHERE DO YOU
WHERE DO YOU PROPOSE THAT WE GET
THE FUNDS TO COVER THIS? I THINK
FIRST WE HAVE TO FIND OUT HOW IT
SCORED. AND THEN ONCE THAT
HAPPENS, IT'S MY RESPONSIBILITY
AS ALSO CHAIR OF THE BUDGET
SUBCOMMITTEE, TO SEE WHERE WE
COULD BE ABLE TO FIND THOSE,
DOLLARS. OKAY. THANK YOU. ANY
OTHER QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS?
ALL RIGHT. I WOULD LIKE TO
INVITE THE AUTHOR TO CLOSE,
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR AN AYE
VOTE. VERY GOOD. I THINK THAT
ESTABLISHING AN AUTOMATIC
ENROLLMENT SYSTEM FOR FOOD
ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS PLAYS A
CRUCIAL ROLE IN COMBATING FOOD
INSECURITY AMONG SENIORS.
SENIORS, OF COURSE, WHO ARE
RESIDENTS OF THE STATE, NO
MATTER THEIR DOCUMENTATION
STATUS. THANK YOU FOR BRINGING
THIS BILL FORWARD AND I WILL BE
SUPPORTING THE BILL. THE BILL
HAS BEEN MOVED. THE BILL IS
MOVED. AND I WILL SECOND IT AS A
COURTESY, MADAM SECRETARY,
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. THE MOTION
IS DUE. PASS, AS AMENDED TO THE
ASSEMBLY APPROPRIATIONS
COMMITTEE. LI I LI I EASILY KNOW
EASILY. NØ CALDERON. GIBSON
GIBSON I JACKSON, I JACKSON I TO
ORTEGA. THAT'S 3 TO 1. IT IS ON
CALL. THANK YOU, DOCTOR JACKSON.
I SEE THAT SPEAKER EMERITUS
RENDON HAS COME TO BRING US
HAPPINESS IN THIS COMMITTEE WITH
YOUR THREE BILLS TODAY. SO
WHENEVER YOU'RE READY. THANK YOU
. APOLOGIZE FOR BEING LATE.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
JUST SO YOU KNOW, PRIVACY IS
MEETING DOWNSTAIRS. I SAT IN
THERE, REALIZED IT WAS A WRONG
COMMITTEE. AND I HAVE TALKING
POINTS HERE. I KNOW I MUST BEAR
STRONG RESEMBLANCE TO THAT
CHAIR. YEAH YEAH, YEAH, I
THOUGHT IT WAS YOU. THEY PASSED
THE BILL, TOO, SO YOU GUYS,
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR AND
COMMITTEE MEMBERS, AB 1925,
WE'LL START WITH THAT ONE. WE'LL
FACILITATE ACCESS TO EARLY
LEARNING AND CARE FOR FAMILIES
OF INFANTS AND TODDLERS WITH
DISABILITIES, ESPECIALLY IN
PROGRAMS THAT BLEND FEDERALLY
FUNDED EARLY HEAD START AND
STATE FUNDED GENERAL CHILD CARE.
AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS.
CURRENTLY, IN ORDER FOR A FAMILY
TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE CHILD
GENERAL CHILD CARE AND
DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS IN
CALIFORNIA, BOTH PARENTS MUST
MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF BEING
EMPLOYED IN SCHOOL. WHEN THE
CHILD HAS A DISABILITY, ONE
PARENT MUST OFTEN REDUCE WORK
HOURS OR LEAVE THE WORKFORCE IN
ORDER TO PROVIDE THE CHILD CARE.
THE CHILD WITH THE CARE THEY
NEED, HERE TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT
OF THIS BILL IS LUIS BAUTISTA,
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF LOS
ANGELES COUNTY OFFICE OF
EDUCATION AND EARLY LEARNING,
DIVISION, AND SARAH ORTH, CHIEF
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF THE
BLIND CHILDREN'S CENTER. THANK
YOU SO MUCH. TWO MINUTES EACH,
PLEASE. GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR
LEE AND MEMBERS. MY NAME IS LUIS
BAUTISTA. I'M THE EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR FOR THE HEADSTART EARLY
LEARNING DIVISION AT LA COUNTY
OFFICE OF EDUCATION, OR LACOE.
LACO SERVES NEARLY 8000 YOUNG
CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN EARLY
LEARNING PROGRAMS ANNUALLY
THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH NINE
LOCAL NONPROFITS. ONE OF THEM IS
HERE AND SEVEN SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
WE ALSO WORK TO STRENGTHEN
QUALITY AND CAPACITY PROVIDERS
COUNTYWIDE THROUGH OUR QUALITY
START LOS ANGELES AND THE
INCLUSIVE EARLY EDUCATION
EXPANSION PROGRAM, AS WELL AS
OTHER STATE AND FEDERALLY FUNDED
INITIATIVES. TODAY I'M HERE TO
SPEAK ON A PROPOSAL THAT WOULD
BUILD ON YOUR TREMENDOUS
INVESTMENT IN EARLY EDUCATION
OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS. IN
2021, RECOGNIZING THAT ONLY A
SMALL FRACTION OF INFANTS AND
TODDLERS HAVE ACCESS TO
SUBSIDIZED CARE IN CALIFORNIA,
THE LEGISLATURE ADDED 200,000
ADDITIONAL SLOTS TO SERVE OUR
YOUNGEST LEARNERS. YET, AS YOU
KNOW, MANY OF THOSE REMAIN
UNUSED. IN OUR EXPERIENCE,
PROVIDERS ARE CHOOSING NOT ONLY
TO APPLY, NOT TO APPLY FOR
SLOTS, OR STRUGGLING TO FILL
CONTRACTED SLOTS DUE TO THE
CHALLENGES OF MEETING BOTH THE
ELIGIBILITY AND NEED CRITERIA,
ESPECIALLY WHEN COMBINED WITH
THE MUCH DIFFERENT ELIGIBILITY
REQUIREMENTS OF PROGRAMS LIKE
HEAD START. IN FACT, FUNDING
APPROPRIATED TO SUPPORT CHILDREN
AND FAMILIES IS RETURNED TO THE
STATE UNUSED EACH YEAR. DESPITE
SIGNIFICANT DEMAND. IN 2023, THE
STATE INVESTED IN YOUNG CHILDREN
WITH DISABILITIES BY GRANTING
AUTOMATIC ELIGIBILITY FOR STATE
PRESCHOOL VIA AB 210. AS EXPERTS
HAVE SHOWN, AND YOU RECOGNIZE,
ENROLLING CHILDREN IN HIGH
QUALITY EARLY LEARNING PREPARES
THEM FOR SUCCESS IN SCHOOL AND
IN LIFE. THE EARLIER WE CAN
REACH THEM WITH A SUPPORTIVE,
INCLUSIVE EDUCATIONAL
EXPERIENCE, THE MORE THE BENEFIT
IS MAGNIFIED. AB 1925 WOULD
REMOVE BARRIERS TO ENROLLMENT
FOR INFANTS AND TODDLERS WITH
DISABILITIES. IT WOULD NOT
REQUIRE ADDITIONAL FUNDING, BUT
RATHER ENSURE THAT FUNDING
ALREADY APPROPRIATED IS USED FOR
ITS INTENDED PURPOSES. RESEARCH
SHOWS THAT FAMILIES OF CHILDREN
WITH DISABILITIES ARE
SIGNIFICANTLY MORE LIKELY TO
BOTH ENCOUNTER CHALLENGES IN
ACCESSING CARE, AND TO RELY ON
MULTIPLE SOURCES OF CARE THAN
THEIR TYPICALLY DEVELOPING
PEERS. OFTEN, ONE PARENT,
ESPECIALLY THE MOTHER, WILL
REDUCE WORK HOURS OR LEAVE THE
WORKFORCE TO CARE FOR THEIR
CHILD. THIS PRECLUDES ENROLLMENT
DUE TO THE PROGRAM'S
REQUIREMENTS THAT BOTH PARENTS
BE ENGAGED IN WORK OR SCHOOL
DURING HOURS OF CARE, JUST AS
FAMILIES EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS ARE EXEMPTED FROM
THE WORK OR SCHOOL REQUIREMENT.
WHILE THEY STRIVE TO IMPROVE
THEIR SITUATION, WE ASK THE SAME
FOR FAMILIES OF CHILDREN WITH
EXCEPTIONAL NEEDS, AND FOR THESE
REASONS, I URGE YOU TO SUPPORT
AB 1925. THANK YOU SO MUCH. ALL
RIGHT. OUR NEXT WITNESS, THANK
YOU VERY MUCH, CHAIR LEE AND
ASSEMBLY MEMBERS, MY NAME IS
SARAH ORTH, AND I'M WITH THE
BLIND CHILDREN'S CENTER IN LOS
ANGELES, THE BLIND CHILDREN'S
CENTER WAS FOUNDED IN 1938 TO,
FILL A CRITICAL GAP IN EARLY
LEARNING PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN 0
TO 5 WHO ARE BLIND AND HAVE
VISION LOSS. TODAY, 75% OF THOSE
CHILDREN HAVE MULTIPLE
DISABILITIES AND COMPLEX MEDICAL
NEEDS. AND BC BEGAN WORKING WITH
LACOE IN 2021. SO WE'VE SEEN
FIRSTHAND THE STRESS AND THE
GRIEF THAT PARENTS EXPERIENCE
WHEN THEY GET A DIAGNOSIS OF A
CHILDREN OF A CHILD'S
DISABILITY. BC HAS ALSO SEEN THE
FINANCIAL TOLL ON FAMILIES,
BASED ON AN ANALYSIS FROM DATA
FROM THE NATIONAL SURVEY OF
CHILDREN'S HEALTH, RESEARCHERS
FOUND THAT 40% OF CAREGIVERS OF
CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS
REDUCE THEIR WORK HOURS OR LEAVE
JOBS ALTOGETHER TO CARE FOR
THEIR CHILD. MOST OFTEN, THIS
CAREGIVER IS THE MOTHER AND
RESEARCH HAS ALSO FOUND THAT
HAVING A CHILD WITH DISABILITIES
CAN NEGATIVELY AFFECT A MOTHER'S
OWN HEALTH. I'D LIKE TO TELL YOU
ABOUT THE MANSILLA FAMILY, MR.
MANSILLA, MIGUEL AND HIS WIFE,
HOLLY, WHEN THEY HAD, THEY.
EXCUSE ME, MR, MANSILLA MIGUEL
WORKS TWO JOBS WHILE MRS.
MANSILLA HOLLY CARES FOR THEIR
THREE CHILDREN UNDER FIVE YEARS
OLD. WHEN THE MANSILLA TWINS
WERE BORN, HOLLY AND MIGUEL
LEARNED THAT THEIR DAUGHTER MIKA
HAD A GENETIC SYNDROME,
RESULTING IN VISUAL AND HEARING
IMPAIRMENTS AS WELL AS FACIAL
STRUCTURAL ANOMALIES. HOLLY
DEDICATED ALL OF HER ENERGY TO
THE CARE OF HER TWINS, AND
MANAGING MIKA'S FREQUENT
DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENTS, MULTIPLE
SURGERIES, AND THERAPIES. SHE
RARELY LEFT HOME. SHE WAS
ISOLATED AND OVERWHELMED WITH
STRESS AND HER OWN HEALTH
CONCERNS. THANKFULLY, THE
MANCILLA'S FOUND THE BLIND
CHILDREN'S CENTER AND HOLLY HAS
EXPRESSED SO MUCH GRATITUDE FOR
THE CARE AND SUPPORT THAT SHE'S
RECEIVED IN OUR PROGRAMS.
UNFORTUNATELY ACCESS TO PROGRAMS
LIKE BCC OR CTR FOR CHILDREN
WITH DISABILITIES IS LIMITED.
K¾T ARE A REQUIREMENT THAT BOTH
PARENTS BE WORKING OR IN SCHOOL,
DOES NOT CONSIDER THE CHALLENGES
AND NEEDS OF FAMILIES WITH
CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES.
REYES. FURTHERMORE, THE INCOME
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS OF CTR
DO NOT CONSIDER THE ECONOMIC
REALITIES AND LONG TERME COSTS
ASSOCIATED WITH CARING FOR A
CHILD WITH DISABILITIES. AS LUIS
SHARED AB 1925 WOULD REMOVE
BARRIERS TO ENROLLMENT FOR
INFANTS AND TODDLERS WITH
DISABILITIES, SUPPORTING
FAMILIES LIKE THE MANCILLA'S. IT
WOULD ALLOW CTR TO BE PART OF
THE NETWORK OF SUPPORT FOR
CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES AND
THEIR FAMILIES, THEREBY
PROVIDING EARLY INTERVENTION,
MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT AND
RESPITE FOR PARENTS, ESPECIALLY
MOTHERS WHO STRUGGLE EVERY DAY
TO DO THE BEST THEY CAN FOR
THEIR CHILDREN ON BEHALF OF
PARENTS WITH CHILDREN WITH
DISABILITIES THROUGHOUT
CALIFORNIA. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
CONSIDERATION OF AB 1925. THANK
YOU, THANK YOU, DO WE HAVE ANY
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC IN THE
HEARING ROOM WHO WISH TO TESTIFY
IN SUPPORT OF THE BILL? PLEASE
COME FORWARD TO THE MIC IF YOU
WISH TO TESTIFY IN SUPPORT. TONY
ANDERSON, THE ASSOCIATION OF
REGIONAL CENTER AGENCIES AND
SUPPORT. JIM FRAZIER WITH THE
ARC OF CALIFORNIA UNITED
CEREBRAL PALSY COLLABORATIVE AND
FULL SUPPORT. THANK YOU. ALL
RIGHT. DO WE HAVE ANY MEMBERS OF
THE PUBLIC IN THE HEARING ROOM
WHO WISH TO TESTIFY IN
OPPOSITION TO THE BILL? PLEASE
COME FORWARD TO THE MIC NOW IN
OPPOSITION. THÀNH SEEING NONE.
I'M GOING TO BRING IT BACK TO
THE COMMITTEE. THE BILL HAS BEEN
MOVED AND SECONDED, BUT ARE
THERE ANY QUESTIONS? MR. GIBSON?
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I JUST
WOULD LIKE TO OFFER THE, THE
AUTHOR OF THE BILL, IF HE WOULD
BE SO KIND TO ALLOW ME TO BE A
COAUTHOR OF THE BILL. I WOULD
ABSOLUTELY LOVE TO BE ABLE TO
NOT ONLY SUPPORT IT, BUT ALSO
RAISE ON THE FLOOR AND SUPPORT
IT AS WELL. THANK YOU, ASSEMBLY
MEMBER. THANK YOU ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU. ARE THERE ANY FURTHER
QUESTIONS? IF NOT, I'LL INVITE
THE AUTHOR TO CLOSE,
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOUR I
VOTE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
REMOVING BARRIERS TO ACCESS.
CHILD CARE FOR FAMILIES OF
CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES IS A
STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS BILL
FORWARD. I'LL BE RECOMMENDING AN
AYE VOTE. THE BILL HAS BEEN
PROPERLY MOVED AND SECONDED.
MOVED BY MR. GIBSON. SECONDED BY
SENATOR JACKSON, MADAM
SECRETARY, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL
FINAL ITEM FOR AB 1925. THE
MOTION IS DUE PASSED TO THE
ASSEMBLY APPROPRIATIONS
COMMITTEE. LI LI AYE. EASILY.
EASILY NOT VOTING. CALDERON
GIBSON. GIBSON. AYE. JACKSON TO
ORTEGA. THAT IS 2 TO 0. IT IS ON
CALL AT THE MOMENT. WOULD YOU
LIKE TO PRESENT YOUR NEXT BILL?
YES. THANK YOU. DO AB 1948.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU.
I'M GOING TO GET THE VICE CHAIR
ON THIS ONE. HE'S EXCITED ABOUT
THIS ONE. HE'S READY. READY.
MAYBE MAYBE MAKE MAKE MAKE THE
MOTION ON THIS ONE, AB 1948.
THANK YOU, CHAIR AND COMMITTEE
MEMBERS, AB 1948 REMOVES THE
JANUARY 1ST, 2025 SUNSET DATE ON
AB 7 TO 8 OF 2019 BY MY JOINT
AUTHOR, ASSEMBLY MEMBER,
SANTIAGO. SO THIS BILL ALLOWS
MULTIDISCIPLINARY PERSONNEL
TEAMS OR MDTS AND AGENCIES
CONNECTED TO MDTS AND SELECT
COUNTIES TO EXCHANGE THE
PERSONAL INFORMATION OF
INDIVIDUALS IDENTIFIED AS BEING
AT IMMINENT RISK OF BEING
UNHOUSED. AND THIS INFORMATION
SHARING FACILITATES EARLY
INTERVENTION WITH COUNTY
SERVICES AND PREVENTS NEW AND
RECURRING INCIDENCES OF
HOMELESSNESS. WITHOUT THIS
SUNSET REMOVAL, MDTS AND THE
SPECIFIED COUNTIES WILL NO
LONGER BE ABLE TO UTILIZE THIS
AUTHORITY TO COORDINATE HOUSING
AND RESOURCES FOR INDIVIDUALS AT
RISK OF HOMELESSNESS. THIS BILL
WOULD ELIMINATE AN IMPORTANT
MEANS THIS EXTENSION OF THIS
WOULD ELIMINATE CONTINUE TO
ELIMINATE AN IMPORTANT MEANS OF
CONNECTING, CONTACTING, AND
IDENTIFYING PEOPLE WHO ARE
LIKELY TO BENEFIT FROM THESE
SERVICES. AB 1948 WILL
INDEFINITELY EXTEND THE
AVAILABILITY OF CRITICAL
INTERVENTION ASSISTANCE AND
ALLOW THESE COUNTIES TO STOP
HOMELESSNESS BEFORE IT CAN
OCCUR. HERE TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT
OF THE BILL IS DANA VANDERFORD,
ASSOCIATE ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF
HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION AT LOS
ANGELES COUNTY, DEPARTMENT OF
HEALTH SERVICES. SECOND. OH,
THERE WE GO. WHEN IT SAYS TWO
MINUTES. PEACE, PLEASE. THANK
YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR LEE.
AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE. MY
NAME IS DANA VANDERFORD, AND I'M
THE ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF
HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION WITH LA
COUNTY'S DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
SERVICES. I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF
THE COUNTY TO TESTIFY FOR AB
1948, A BILL THAT L.A. COUNTY
PROUDLY SPONSORED. THIS BILL
WOULD ALLOW JURISDICTIONS LIKE
LOS ANGELES COUNTY TO CONTINUE A
DATA SHARING AGREEMENT THAT
ENHANCES COORDINATION ACROSS
MULTIPLE PROGRAM AREAS BY
REMOVING THE WALLS BETWEEN
PROGRAMS, FACILITATING A NO
DONG, NO WRONG DOORS APPROACH,
AND STREAMLINING
MULTIDISCIPLINARY CARE FOR
CLIENTS WHO ARE AT RISK OF
HOMELESSNESS. FIRST, I WANT TO
THANK SPEAKER EMERITUS RENDON
FOR ADVANCING THIS IMPORTANT
BILL. MY PROGRAM, THE
HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION UNIT,
UTILIZES THE DATA SHARING
AGREEMENT TO ESTABLISH INITIAL
CONTACT WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE AT
IMMINENT RISK OF BECOMING
HOMELESS, CONNECTING THEM WITH
RESOURCES TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY
CAN REMAIN SAFELY IN THEIR
HOMES. ASSEMBLY BILL 1948 BUILDS
ON SEVERAL PAST BILLS AB 210 AND
728 TO CREATE A MORE FLUID AND
SEAMLESS EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION
BETWEEN AGENCIES SUPPORTING
CLIENTS WHO ARE, EXCUSE ME,
CURRENTLY HOMELESS OR AT RISK OF
BECOMING HOMELESS WHILE I'LL
FOCUS ON THE IMPACT TO OUR
HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION WORK,
THE ABILITY TO ACCESS
INFORMATION THAT LIVES OUTSIDE
OF OUR INTERNAL DEPARTMENTAL
SYSTEMS HAS RESULTED IN TANGIBLE
BENEFITS FOR SOME OF THE HIGHEST
NEED IN L.A. COUNTY. WITHIN
HOUSING FOR HEALTH, THE
HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION UNIT IS
A PROACTIVE DATA DRIVEN PROGRAM
THAT LAUNCHED IN JULY 2021 TO
IDENTIFY CLIENTS AT HIGH RISK OF
BECOMING HOMELESS IN THE NEXT 12
MONTHS. ONCE PARTICIPANTS ARE
IDENTIFIED, HPD STAFF PERFORM
OUTREACH TO CLIENTS AND WORK
WITH THEM OVER 4 TO 6 MONTHS TO
HELP STABILIZE THEIR HOUSING AND
IMPROVE THEIR OVERALL HEALTH. IN
ADDITION TO FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
, OUR CLIENTS AND FAMILIES ARE
ALSO LINKED TO HEALTH, MENTAL
HEALTH SERVICES, SUBSTANCE USE,
TREATMENT, BENEFITS, ADVOCACY,
LEGAL AID, EMPLOYMENT
ASSISTANCE, AND EDUCATION. TO
ESTABLISH CONTACT WITH
INDIVIDUALS IDENTIFIED AS BEING
IN NEED OF SERVICES, WE MUST
FIRST PERFORM INTENSIVE OUTREACH
TO OUR CLIENTS. HOWEVER, WE HAVE
INCREDIBLE CHALLENGES IN
CONNECTING TO OUR CLIENTS,
LOSING UP TO 75% OF OUR
PROSPECTIVE CLIENTS DUE TO LACK
OF CONTACT ABILITY. WE USE THE
DATA SHARING PROTOCOLS THAT
WOULD BE EXTENDED THROUGH AB
1948 TO IDENTIFY CRUCIAL CONTACT
INFORMATION THAT LIVES
THROUGHOUT OR INSIDE OUR
COUNTY'S INTEGRATED DATA SYSTEM.
ONE THIRD OF OUR HP PARTICIPANTS
HAVE PHONE NUMBERS PROVIDED TO
US UNDER AB 1948, IF YOU COULD
WRAP UP, PLEASE. YEAH, THANKS.
OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, DO
WE HAVE ANY MEMBERS OF THE
PUBLIC WHO WISH TO, TESTIFY IN
SUPPORT? I'M SORRY, WITNESS. DID
YOU ALSO HAVE. OKAY THERE WE GO.
AMY BROWN, ON BEHALF OF THE CITY
OF LONG BEACH IN SUPPORT JOHN
DREBINGER ON BEHALF OF THE
STEINBERG INSTITUTE IN SUPPORT.
CHAIR MEMBERS BRENDAN EPP, ON
BEHALF OF THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY
SHERIFF AND SUPPORT. GOOD
AFTERNOON, KELLY MCMILLAN, ON
BEHALF OF THE COUNTY OF SAN
MATEO. GOOD AFTERNOON, JOSH
GAGER, ON BEHALF OF THE BOARDS
OF SUPERVISORS OF VENTURA COUNTY
AND RIVERSIDE COUNTY, IN SUPPORT
DANIELLE BRADLEY ON BEHALF OF
THE CALIFORNIA STATE
ASSOCIATIONS AND SUPPORT. THANK
YOU, ARE THERE ANY MEMBERS OF
THE PUBLIC IN THE HEARING ROOM
TESTIFY IN OPPOSITION TO THE
BILL? IN OPPOSITION, SEEING
NONE, BRING IT BACK TO THE
COMMITTEE. ANY COMMITTEE
COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? ASSEMBLY.
GIBSON, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND
FOR THE BENEFIT OF US GETTING
THESE BILLS. BUT ON COMMITTEE
AND HEARING THE BILLS AND
HEARING THE WITNESSES, CERTAINLY
THAT MOTIVATES ME TO WANT TO ASK
THE AUTHOR TO BE A JOINT AUTHOR
ON THIS BILL, BECAUSE I THINK
IT'S VERY IMPORTANT, THIS IS A
POLICY THAT I CAN WRAP MY ARMS
AROUND, BUT ALSO SUPPORT ON THE
FLOOR. ABSOLUTELY, ABSOLUTELY.
THANK YOU. ASSEMBLY MEMBER
SOMMER. SALLY. THANK YOU, MR.
CHAIR. I THINK ANYTIME WE ARE
MOVING A PROGRAM FROM BEING A
PILOT PROGRAM TO A PERMANENT
PROGRAM, IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW
IF THE PROGRAM IS WORKING. AND
SO, I REACHED OUT TO MY COUNTY
WHO IS IN THE PILOT PROGRAM,
RIVERSIDE COUNTY, AND THEY HAD
NOTHING BUT GREAT THINGS TO SAY
ABOUT THE PROGRAM. THEY SAID
IT'S REALLY HELPED THEM TO
REDUCE REDUNDANCIES, IMPROVE
EFFICIENCIES, AND MOST
IMPORTANTLY, PROVIDE CARE TO
THOSE THAT NEED IT. WITH LESS
CONTACT. AND SO ANYTIME WE CAN
MAKE GOVERNMENT WORK BETTER AND
SMARTER, I'M IN FAVOR. AND SO A
LOT OF TIMES WE LOOK FOR MONEY
TO FIX PROBLEMS, BUT A LOT OF
TIMES IT'S POLICIES. SO I
SUPPORT THIS IF YOU LIKE IT TO
BE BIPARTISAN, I'M HAPPY TO BE A
COAUTHOR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU,
MR. VICE CHAIR. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. GOOD TO SEE, BIPARTISAN
SUPPORT THIS BILL. WOULD YOU
LIKE TO CLOSE? I RESPECTFULLY
ASK FOR YOUR VOTE. ALL RIGHT,
MADAM SECRETARY, PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL THE BILL. THE BILL HAS BEEN
MOVED BY MR. GIBSON, SECONDED BY
MR. SALIH. FINALLY. ITEM FIVE,
AB 1948. THE MOTION IS DUE
PASSED. LEE LI AYE. EASILY.
EASILY. I CALDERON. GIBSON.
GIBSON. I JACKSON TO ORTEGA.
WE'LL LEAVE THAT BILL ON CALL,
WOULD YOU LIKE TO PRESENT YOUR
LAST BILL, 20 2360? I WILL.
THIS IS ITEM 14 AB 2360. YES,
2360. THANK YOU. CHAIR AND
COMMITTEE MEMBERS AB 2360 WOULD
HELP THE FAMILY MEMBERS OF
CHILDREN WITH INTELLECTUAL AND
DEVELOPMENTAL DEVELOPMENTAL
DISABILITIES, OR IDS, BY
ESTABLISHING A PILOT PROGRAM TO
PROVIDE THEM WITH COUNSELING AND
SUPPORTIVE SERVICES. FAMILY THAT
HAVE A CHILD, FAMILIES THAT HAVE
A CHILD WITH SPECIAL NEEDS FACE
POTENTIALLY LIFELONG CHALLENGES
THAT IMPACT THE MENTAL HEALTH,
THE MENTAL AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
OF EVERY MEMBER OF THE FAMILY.
WHEN PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS SEEK
MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT THROUGH
THEIR INSURANCE OR COUNTY MENTAL
HEALTH SERVICES, THEY OFTEN HAVE
HAVE TO WAIT FOR LONG PERIODS OF
TIME TO SEE A SPECIALIST WHO MAY
NOT BE FAMILIAR WITH THE
PARTICULAR CIRCUMSTANCES THEY
FACE. AB 2360 WOULD REQUIRE THE
DEPARTMENT OF DEVELOPMENTAL,
DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES TO
ESTABLISH A WELLNESS PILOT
PROGRAM, UNDER WHICH THE 21
REGIONAL CENTERS ACROSS
CALIFORNIA WOULD PROVIDE
COUNSELING AND PEER SUPPORT
SERVICES TO THE FAMILIES OF
INDIVIDUALS WITH IDD WHO ARE
SERVICED BY THE REGIONAL CENTERS
. THIS WILL PROMOTE A MORE
STABLE HOME ENVIRONMENT FOR ALL
MEMBERS OF A FAMILY WHO CARE FOR
A SPECIAL NEEDS INDIVIDUAL. HERE
TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF THE BILL
IS FORMER ASSEMBLY MEMBER JIM
FRAZIER, DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC
POLICY AT THE ARC OF CALIFORNIA,
AND CLAIRE LAZZARO, CLINICAL
DIRECTOR AT VALLEY MOUNTAIN
REGIONAL CENTER. THANK YOU. TWO
MINUTES, WITNESS, PLEASE PROCEED
WHEN YOU'RE READY. GREETINGS.
HONORABLE CHAIR ALEX LEE AND
MEMBERS OF THE CALIFORNIA STATE
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON HUMAN
SERVICES. I'M DOCTOR CLAIRE
LAZARO, A PARENT ADVOCATE AND
CLINICAL DIRECTOR AT VALLEY
MOUNTAIN REGIONAL CENTER. I
SERVE AND REPRESENT PEOPLE WITH
INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL
DISABILITIES, OR IDD, AND THEIR
FAMILIES AND I'M TESTIFYING IN
SUPPORT OF THE AB 2360, THE
FAMILY WELLNESS PILOT PROGRAM,
AS A PARENT ADVOCATE OF TWO
CHILDREN WITH IDD, I HAVE NEEDED
MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT AT SOME
POINT IN MY LIFE. FURTHERMORE
FOR ONE OF MY CHILDREN HAVE
NEEDED MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT AT
A TENDER AGE OF 11. FAMILIES
UNDERGO A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF
STRESS, ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY
RECEIVE A DIAGNOSIS OF IDD FOR A
FAMILY MEMBER, MENTAL ILLNESS IS
MORE PREVALENT THAT ONE THAN ONE
COULD IMAGINE. 1 IN 5 ADULTS
EXPERIENCE MENTAL ILLNESS, WHILE
1 IN 5 YOUTH HAVE, OR AT SOME
POINT HAD A SERIOUSLY
DEBILITATING MENTAL ILLNESS THAT
COULD LEAD INTO CRISIS.
INDIVIDUALS WITH ID, LIKE MY
CHILDREN, CAN HAVE CO-OCCURRING
MENTAL ILLNESS AND MENTAL
ILLNESS IS 3 TO 4 TIMES MORE
COMMON IN PEOPLE WITH IDD THAN
THE GENERAL POPULATION. AB 2360,
THE FAMILY WELLNESS PILOT
PROGRAM WILL ADDRESS THE CURRENT
GAPS IN OUR MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEM
FOR FAMILIES WITH IDD,
SPECIFICALLY THE LONG WAIT TIMES
OF UP TO SIX MONTHS. THE
PROMOTION OF INNOVATION AND
HEALTH CARE EQUITY WILL HELP
PEOPLE OF COLOR LIKE ME TO Ã TO
ACCESS MUCH NEEDED MENTAL HEALTH
AND EXPANDING SERVICES TO
FAMILIES AND CHILDREN LIKE MINE
WOULD KEEP THEM FROM GOING INTO
CRISIS AND DECREASE
PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRESS IN
FAMILIES. THERE ARE 19 TIMES
MORE AMERICANS WITH MENTAL
ILLNESS THAN THOSE WITH OPIOID
USE DISORDER. YET WE HAVE NOT
CLASSIFIED MENTAL ILLNESS AS AN
EPIDEMIC IN THE US WITH THIS
MUCH PREVALENCE AND EFFECT ON
OUR IDD POPULATION, ADDRESSING
MENTAL HEALTH IS OF UTMOST
IMPORTANCE. THE FAMILY WELLNESS
PROGRAM IS A TEMPLATE OF HOW OUR
GOVERNMENT AND SOCIETY CAN WORK
TOGETHER TO ADDRESS MENTAL
HEALTH IN A HOLISTIC, EVIDENCE
BASED PRACTICE. INTERVENTION AND
THIS WOULD LESSEN THE BURDEN ON
FAMILIES AND THE HEALTH CARE
SYSTEM, AND MILLIONS OF HEALTH
CARE COSTS RELATED TO MENTAL
ILLNESS FOR FAMILIES LIKE MINE.
PLEASE SUPPORT AB 2360. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU SO MUCH
, MR. CHAIR AND MEMBERS. IT'S
IMPORTANT FOR PARENTS OF
CHILDREN WITH DEVELOPMENTAL
DISABILITIES TO PRIORITIZE,
EXCUSE ME? THEIR MENTAL HEALTH
AND SEEK SUPPORT WHEN NEEDED.
THIS MAY INCLUDE ACCESSING
MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES,
ATTENDING SUPPORT GROUPS,
PRACTICING SELF-CARE, AND
REACHING OUT TO HEALTH CARE
PROFESSIONALS FOR ASSISTANCE.
CGRTS RESEARCH HAS FOUND THAT
MOTHERS OF CHILDREN WITH AUTISM
HAVE PHYSIOLOGICAL STRESS
PROFILES SIMILAR TO THOSE OF
COMBAT SOLDIERS. WE MADE A
PROMISE IN 1969 WITH THE
LANTERMAN ACT TO TAKE CARE OF
THE DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED,
BUT WE FORGOT ABOUT THE FAMILIES
. WE CAN MAKE THAT RIGHT. TODAY,
I REQUEST YOUR I VOTE. THANK
YOU. DO WE HAVE ANY MEMBERS OF
THE PUBLIC IN THE HEARING ROOM
WHO WISH TO TESTIFY IN SUPPORT
OF THE BILL? PLEASE COME UP TO
THE MICROPHONE IF YOU WISH TO
TESTIFY IN SUPPORT. TONY
ANDERSON, ASSOCIATION OF
REGIONAL CENTER AGENCIES AND
SUPPORT. NOW, DO WE HAVE ANY
WITNESSES IN OPPOSITION TO THE
BILL? PLEASE COME UP TO THE
MICROPHONE. IF YOU'RE IN THE
ROOM TO TESTIFY IN OPPOSITION,
SEEING NONE, I'LL BRING IT BACK
TO COMMITTEE MEMBERS. ANY
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM
MISTER GIBSON? I MEAN, COMMITTEE
MEMBERS. OKAY. ALL RIGHT, I'LL
INVITE THE AUTHOR TO CLOSE. I
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOUR. I
VOTE FAMILY SUPPORT PLAYS AN
IMPORTANT ROLE IN CARE FOR THOSE
WITH DISABILITIES, AS THE BILL
PROPOSES TO HELP FAMILIES AND
WILL ULTIMATELY LEAD TO BETTER
CAREGIVING. THANK YOU. BRING
THIS BILL FORWARD. I RECOMMEND
AN AYE VOTE. THE BILL HAS BEEN
MOVED BY MR. GIBSON, SECONDED BY
ASSEMBLYMEMBER CALDERON, MADAM
SECRETARY, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
FINAL ITEM 14 AB 2360. THE
MOTION IS DUE PASSED TO THE
ASSEMBLY APPROPRIATIONS
COMMITTEE. LI LI I EASILY I
EASILY I CALDERON. CALDERON I
GIBSON A GIBSON I JACKSON TO
ORTEGA. THAT'S 4 TO 0. WE'LL
LEAVE THE, BILL ON CALL. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU. MEMBERS. THANKS
VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. I THINK I
SEE A MEMBER. REYES. YES. REYES
IN THE BACK TO PRESENT. THAT'S
NOT HER. OH TO PRESENT. ASSEMBLY
BILL, 1911. WHENEVER SHE'S READY
.
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. AND
MEMBERS. AB 1911 WILL IMPROVE
RESIDENTIAL CARE FACILITY FOR
THE ELDERLY OR FACE THEIR
COMPLAINT INVESTIGATIONS, SO
THAT THEY CAN BE PERFORMED BY
THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF
SOCIAL SERVICES. FIRST, I DO
WANT TO NOTE THAT I'M HAPPY TO
ACCEPT THE COMMITTEE'S PROPOSED
AMENDMENTS. CURRENTLY, THE
EXPERIENCE FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO
FILE COMPLAINTS AGAINST AN RQF
IS INADEQUATE AND DISCOURAGES
MANY FROM FILING COMPLAINTS.
OFTENTIMES, CDSS DETERMINATIONS
ON COMPLAINTS ARE NOT
COMMUNICATED TO COMPLAINANTS,
LEAVING THEM WITHOUT THE
INFORMATION THEY NEED TO FOLLOW
UP ON COMPLAINTS AND UNAWARE OF
WHETHER THEIR COMPLAINTS WILL BE
INVESTIGATED. THIS BILL ENSURES
THAT COMPLAINANTS RECEIVE A
WRITTEN NOTICE TELLING THEM THAT
THEIR COMPLAINT HAS BEEN
RECEIVED AND WHAT TO EXPECT
DURING THE INVESTIGATION IF AN
INVESTIGATION IS WARRANTED. IT
WOULD ALSO REQUIRE CDSS TO
NOTIFY COMPLAINANTS WHEN THEIR
COMPLAINT WILL NOT BE
INVESTIGATED, AND WOULD GIVE THE
COMPLAINANT THE RIGHT TO SEEK A
REVIEW OF THAT DECISION. THE
BILL ALSO IMPOSES DEADLINES OF
60 TO 120 DAYS FOR COMPLETING
THE COMPLAINT INVESTIGATIONS,
AND REQUIRES EXPEDITED
INVESTIGATIONS IF THEY INVOLVE A
THREAT OF IMMINENT DANGER OF, OR
OF DEATH OR SERIOUS HARM.
FINALLY, THE BILL PROVIDES AN
APPEALS PROCESS FOR COMPLAINANTS
WHO ARE DISSATISFIED WITH THE
RESULTS OF CDS'S INVESTIGATION
AND ENFORCEMENT ACTION IN
ESSENCE, AB 1911 WILL IMPROVE
THE COMPLAINANTS PROCESS BY
IMPROVING CDSS COMMUNICATION
WITH COMPLAINANTS AND BY
IMPOSING CLEAR DEADLINES ON
COMPLAINT INVESTIGATIONS. SHE'S
HERE TO TESTIFY IN SUPPORT OF
THE BILL ARE JACQUELINE FLORES
AND JENNIFER HOLLOWAY,
JACQUELINE FLORES IS THE
CONSUMER AND POLICY ADVOCATE
WITH THE CALIFORNIA ADVOCATES
FOR NURSING HOME REFORM.
JENNIFER HOLLOWAY HAS FILED A
COMPLAINT AGAINST A RESIDENTIAL
CARE FACILITY IN THE PAST AND
HAS FIRSTHAND EXPERIENCE WITH
THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL
SERVICES COMPLAINT PROCESS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. TWO MINUTES
PER PERSON, PLEASE. GOOD
AFTERNOON, COMMITTEE MEMBERS. MY
NAME IS JACQUELINE FLORES AND
I'M A CONSUMER AND POLICY
ADVOCATE WITH CALIFORNIA
ADVOCATES FOR NURSING HOME
REFORM, ALSO KNOWN AS KANNER,
FOR OVER 40 YEARS, KANNER HAS
ADVOCATED AND WORKED TO IMPROVE
CALIFORNIA'S LONG TERME CARE
SYSTEM FOR OLDER AND DISABLED
ADULTS. AB 1911 WILL IMPROVE THE
COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION PROCESS
FOR RESIDENTS OF RESIDENTIAL
CARE FACILITIES FOR THE ELDERLY,
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS RCA. FEES.
UNDER CURRENT LAW, THE
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES,
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING
DIVISION, OR CLD, IS NOT
REQUIRED TO SEND WRITTEN NOTICES
TO COMPLAINANTS ON WHETHER THEIR
COMPLAINT WILL BE INVESTIGATED.
INFORMATION ON WHAT TO EXPECT
THROUGHOUT THE INVESTIGATION
PROCESS. NO DEADLINES ON WHEN
THE COMPLAINT SHOULD BE
COMPLETED AND THERE IS NO
APPEALS PROCESS. HOWEVER,
LICENSEES ARE GIVEN FOUR LEVELS
OF APPEAL WHEN THEY ARE UNHAPPY
WITH THE CLD ENFORCEMENT
DETERMINATION. RECENTLY, I FILED
A COMPLAINT FOR A RESIDENT ABOUT
AN UNLAWFUL EVICTION. MY
COMPLAINT CITED LAWS AND
REGULATIONS THAT WERE CLEARLY
VIOLATED, BUT I NEVER RECEIVED A
RESPONSE FROM CLD ABOUT WHO
WOULD BE INVESTIGATING WHEN I
COULD EXPECT THE COMPLAINT TO BE
INVESTIGATED, OR IF MY COMPLAINT
WOULD EVEN BE INVESTIGATED.
AFTER CONTACTING THE REGIONAL
OFFICE, I WAS INFORMED CLD WOULD
NOT BE INVESTIGATING MY
COMPLAINT BECAUSE THE RESIDENT
FILED ONE HERSELF PREVIOUSLY AND
CLD DETERMINED IT UNSUM
INTIATED. MY COMPLAINT WAS NEVER
CONSIDERED AND CLD NEVER
COMMUNICATED WITH ME ABOUT THE
RESIDENT'S UNSUBSTANTIATED
COMPLAINT AND HOW IT RELATED TO
MY OWN. AFTER MANY EMAILS WITH
AN ASSISTANT PROGRAM
ADMINISTRATOR AND A REGIONAL
MANAGER, MY COMPLAINT WAS
REEVALUATED, INVESTIGATED AND
ULTIMATELY SUBSTANTIATED. BASIC
COMMUNICATION DEADLINES AND
OPTIONS TO FORMALLY APPEAL THE
OUTCOME. OUTCOME OF AN
INVESTIGATION ABOUT AN RCA FEE
SHOULD BE THE DEFAULT. AB 1911
SEEKS TO IMPLEMENT GUIDELINES
THAT ARE ALREADY IMPLEMENTED IN
NURSING HOMES, AND WOULD PROVIDE
COMPLAINANTS GREATER ASSURANCE
THAT THEIR COMPLAINT WILL BE
TAKEN SERIOUSLY ON BEHALF OF
CANR AND ADVOCATES ACROSS
CALIFORNIA, WE RESPECTFULLY
REQUEST YOUR I VOTE ON AB 1911
TO IMPROVE REGULATORY COMPLIANCE
AND THE DELIVERY OF CARE FOR A
VULNERABLE POPULATION. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU. HI, I AM
JENNIFER HOLLOWAY. OH THANK YOU.
HI I'M JENNIFER HOLLOWAY AND
THANK YOU TO THE COMMITTEE FOR
HEARING AB 1911. MY FATHER,
DWIGHT YOAKAM'S, WAS IN MEMORY
CARE ASSISTED LIVING FACILITY.
THE FACILITY DID NOT ADEQUATELY
KEEP US INFORMED OF HIS HEALTH
CHANGES, THE FACILITY OR WHEN HE
FELL ILL. WE WERE NOT INFORMED
FOR NEARLY A WEEK BY THE
FACILITY. TRAGICALLY, MY DAD
PASSED AWAY FROM HIS ILLNESS
APPROXIMATELY A WEEK AFTER THAT,
ONLY AFTER REQUESTING RECORDS
FROM THE FACILITY DID I FIND OUT
HE HAD SUFFERED A SEIZURE. AND
DAYS LATER, AFTER AND RELYING ON
BEING FED BY STAFF MEMBERS, IT'S
CLEARLY SHOWED A CHANGE IN
HEALTH CONDITION. I FEEL AS
THOUGH THESE LAPSES IN
COMMUNICATION FROM THE FACILITY
WERE NOT TAKEN INTO
CONSIDERATION BY THE CLD
INVESTIGATOR. AGAIN, THESE
CHANGES IN HEALTH CONDITIONS
WERE NEVER COMMUNICATED TO OUR
FAMILY. I FILED A COMPLAINT TO
THE CLD AND IT TOOK NINE MONTHS
FOR THE INVESTIGATION TO BE
COMPLETED. NO UPDATES OR FOLLOW
THROUGH WERE PROVIDED UNLESS I
CALLED NØ UP. NÓ REPORT. THE
REPORT FINALLY STATED THE
COMPLAINT WAS UNSUBSTANTIATED
BUT NOT UNFOUNDED. I TRIED TO
APPEAL IT AND THEY SAID IT WAS A
CLOSED COMPLAINT AND WOULD NOT
BE REVIEWED AGAIN. EVEN IN LIGHT
OF THE ABOVE INFORMATION IN
WRITING FROM THE FACILITY, IT IS
MY FEELING THAT THE COMPLAINT
PROCESS FINDINGS SHOULD BE MORE
TIMELY AND THE LINE OF
COMMUNICATION BE KEPT OPEN.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
NOW, DO WE HAVE ANY MEMBERS OF
THE PUBLIC IN THE HEARING ROOM
WISH TO TESTIFY IN SUPPORT OF
THE BILL? PLEASE APPROACH THE
MICROPHONE IF YOU WISH TO
TESTIFY IN SUPPORT OF THE BILL.
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. DAVID
FEINBERG REPRESENTING AARP. WE
ARE FIRMLY IN SUPPORT OF THE
BILL AND HAVE WORKED VIGOROUSLY
TO REFORM NURSING HOMES AND
RESIDENTIAL CARE FACILITIES TO
IMPROVE CARE. RIGHT. THANK YOU
SO MUCH. ALL RIGHT. DO WE HAVE
ANY PRIMARY OPPOSITION
WITNESSES? PLEASE COME UP TO THE
DESK IF WE HAVE OPPOSITION
WITNESSES. ALL RIGHT. OH, THEY
CAN COME UP HERE. DO YOU WANT ME
UP HERE OR.
OOPS. SORRY ABOUT THAT. THAT WAS
NOT VERY GRACEFUL, I'M HEATHER
HARRISON. I'M WITH THE
CALIFORNIA ASSISTED LIVING
ASSOCIATION. WE REPRESENT
LICENSED RESIDENTIAL CARE
FACILITIES FOR THE ELDERLY AND
CONTINUING CARE RETIREMENT
COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE STATE
. WE ARE OPPOSED, UNLESS
AMENDED. I WANT TO THANK THE
AUTHOR AND HER STAFF AND THE
SPONSORS FOR THE CONVERSATIONS
WE'VE HAD SO FAR AND THE
AMENDMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN TAKEN
ALREADY. OUR REMAINING CONCERN,
OUR PRIMARY CONCERN HAS TO DO
WITH THE REQUIREMENT THAT DSS
ESTABLISH AND MANAGE A NEW
APPEAL PROCESS. THEY'RE FACING
BACKLOGS RIGHT NOW AND OTHER
CORE AREAS. SO OUR CONCERN IS
WITH THEIR CAPACITY TO DELIVER
SOMETHING NEW WHEN THEY'RE
STILL, RUNNING BEHIND IN OTHER
AREAS. SO THAT'S WHERE WE STAND
AT THIS POINT. WE HAVEN'T TALKED
TO THE DEPARTMENT. I KNOW THERE
ARE ONGOING CONVERSATIONS, AND
WE'RE HAPPY TO BE PART OF THOSE.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU SO MUCH,
ARE THERE PEOPLE IN THE ROOM WHO
WISH TO TESTIFY IN OPPOSITION TO
THE BILL? PLEASE COME UP TO THE
MICROPHONE. THANK YOU. AMBER
KING WITH LEADINGAGE, CALIFORNIA
, ALSO HERE WITH AN OPPOSED,
UNLESS AMENDED POSITION. REALLY
APPRECIATE THE CONVERSATIONS
THAT WE'VE HAD WITH THE AUTHOR'S
OFFICE SO FAR AND LOOK FORWARD
TO CONTINUING THOSE
CONVERSATIONS. THANK YOU.
AFTERNOON, BOB NEIL,
REPRESENTING SIX BEDS, INC, AN
ASSOCIATION OF SMALL ASSISTED
LIVING HOMES. WE HAVE THE SAME
POSITION AS CARLA ON THIS
OPPOSED UNLESS AMENDED BECAUSE
OF CONCERNS ABOUT STAFFING. OKAY
ALL RIGHT. BRING IT BACK TO THE
COMMITTEE MEMBERS. ANY QUESTIONS
COMMENTS? YES, MR. GIBSON RIGHT,
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR.
CHAIRMAN, AND THANK THE AUTHOR.
I WAS READING THE ANALYSIS AND
I'M SUPPORTIVE OF THIS, AND I
UNDERSTAND THAT THE OPPOSITION
IS ASKING FOR MORE TIME TO GET
THINGS TOGETHER, YOU KNOW, I HAD
TO PUT A LOVED ONE IN A FACILITY
NINE DAYS AGO. NINE DAYS AGO,
AND IT'S REALLY CHANGED THE
TRAJECTORY, AND OUR ELDERS DON'T
HAVE TIME, TO WAIT. THEY NEED
FACILITIES UP AND RUNNING TO, TO
BE ABLE TO ADDRESS THEIR NEEDS
RIGHT AWAY. SO CAN YOU GIVE ME
MORE THAN JUST SAYING YOU NEED
MORE TIME? WELL, YEAH. SO THE
CONCERN IS. WELL, CERTAINLY WE
NEED MORE CARE FACILITIES. I
THINK THAT'S, SOMETHING WE ALL
AGREE ON. THE DEPARTMENT OF
SOCIAL SERVICES. RIGHT NOW, OUR
CONCERN IS WITH THEIR CAPACITY
TO DELIVER A NEW PART OF WHAT
WOULD BE THEIR THEIR LICENSURE
SYSTEM, FOR EXAMPLE, THE,
ADMINISTRATOR, WE'RE EVERY RCF
IS REQUIRED TO HAVE A CERTIFIED
ADMINISTRATOR. IT'S TAKING
ANYWHERE BETWEEN 7 TO 9 MONTHS
TO GET THOSE ADMINISTRATORS
CERTIFICATIONS APPROVED. RIGHT
NOW, THERE'S THERE ARE SOME
BACKLOGS AND OTHER CORE AREAS.
AND THAT'S WHAT OUR CONCERN IS,
IS WITH THE DEPARTMENT'S ABILITY
TO DELIVER THE BILL INCREASES
THE BILL REQUIRES THAT IT'S KIND
OF A DOUBLE WHAMMY BECAUSE IT
REQUIRES THE DEPARTMENT OF
SOCIAL SERVICES TO DO COMPLAINTS
FASTER, WHICH I'M NOT. WE'RE NOT
SAYING IS A BAD THING AT ALL,
BUT IT ALSO REQUIRES THEM TO. SO
IT REQUIRES THEM TO DO
COMPLAINTS FASTER AND THEN ALSO
SET UP AN ENTIRELY NEW APPEAL
SYSTEM. OUR CONCERN IS THAT THEY
DON'T HAVE THE CAPACITY TO DO
THAT, AND THEN WILL IT BACKLOG
AND SLOW DOWN OTHER FUNCTIONS
THAT THEY NEED, LIKE ANNUAL
INSPECTIONS, LIKE THE
ADMINISTRATOR CERTIFICATION. SO
THOSE ARE JUST THOSE ARE
UNANSWERED QUESTIONS RIGHT NOW.
HAVE YOU REACHED I'M JUST
CURIOUS, HAVE YOU GUYS HAD
CONVERSATIONS WITH THE
DEPARTMENT TO SEE WHERE YOU CAN
FIND THAT MIDDLE GROUND TO HELP
EXPEDITE SOME OF THE CONCERNS
THAT YOU'VE RAISED THUS FAR?
YEAH, WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH
THEM ON THE ADMINISTRATOR
CERTIFICATION, FOR EXAMPLE. WE
HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THEM AND
THEY ARE TRYING TO RECRUIT NEW
STAFF AND SET UP SOME TECHNOLOGY
TO HELP, SO THAT'S IN PROCESS.
BUT WE HAVEN'T ENGAGED IN
CONVERSATIONS WITH THEM ON, ON
THIS BILL IN PARTICULAR AT THIS
POINT YET. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
AGAIN, I WOULD I MEAN, I THINK
THIS IS ABSOLUTELY NEEDED
BECAUSE WE HAVE A GROWING AGE,
YOU KNOW, ELDERLY POPULATION
THAT'S GROWING, MY, I WAS ON
AGING IN LONG TERME CARE AND
THERE WAS A SAYING, IN TERMS OF
OUR AGING, BUT NONETHELESS, IT
IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TO
LOOK AT AND WE HAVE A POPULATION
THAT'S GROWING. I WE, I HAVE IN
MY DISTRICT IN THE MONTH OF MAY,
WE'LL BE CELEBRATING FOUR
INDIVIDUALS WHO LIVE IN MY
DISTRICT JUST SHARING, TWO OF
THEM ARE 104 AND ONE IS 101 IS
ONE IS 103 AND THREE IS 105. AND
THEY'RE ALL IN ONE FACILITY.
THAT'S WONDERFUL. HAPPY
BIRTHDAY. THAT'S GOING TO BE A
GOOD. SO I JUST DESCRIBED THAT
AND ELEVATE THAT THAT WE HAVE TO
DO EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN FOR
THAT POPULATION. AND TOMORROW
FOR SOME OF THEM CAN'T WAIT. WE
HAVE TO ADDRESS IT NOW. SO THANK
YOU VERY MUCH. I'LL BE
SUPPORTING THE BILL. AND DID WE
MOVE IT ALREADY. OH I LIKE I
THOUGHT I DID I MOVED THE BILL.
YEAH. AND YOU SECOND IT I KNOW,
I KNOW IT'S BEEN A LONG DAY. YOU
DID MOVE IT. APOLOGIES. ANY
OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM
COMMITTEE MEMBERS? ALL RIGHT.
SEEING NONE I INVITE THE AUTHOR
TO CLOSE. THANK YOU. I
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOUR AYE
VOTE. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK
YOU AND YOUR STAFF FOR WORKING
WITH THE COMMITTEE TO WORK ON
SOME AMENDMENTS TO CLARIFY THESE
TIMELINES AND MAKE SURE THAT IT
IS PRACTICAL AND WITH URGENCY
AND SPEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE
INVESTIGATIONS HAPPENED IN A
TIMELY MANNER, ESPECIALLY AS OUR
POPULATION CONTINUES TO AGE,
IT'S SO IMPORTANT THAT THE CARE
OF OUR AGING INDIVIDUALS ARE
DONE SO WITH DIGNITY AND
RESIDENT SAFETY IN MIND. SO
THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS BILL
FORWARD. AND I'M RECOMMENDING
AYE, AS AMENDED, MADAM
SECRETARY, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL
FOR ITEM THREE AB 1911. THE
MOTION IS TO PASS, AS AMENDED,
TO THE ASSEMBLY APPROPRIATIONS
COMMITTEE. LEE LI AYE. EASILY.
EASILY. AYE. CALDERON CALDERON.
AYE. GIBSON. GIBSON. AYE JACKSON
TO ORTEGA. THE BILL IS PASSED
AND WILL LEAVE THE ROLE OPEN FOR
ABSENT MEMBERS. THANK YOU, THANK
YOU, THANK YOU ALL. OUR SIMILAR.
DIXON, I THINK I SEE YOU OUT
THERE, DIXON. I SEE YOU THOUGH
OUT THERE, THOUGH, MR. GIBSON.
EVERY TIME YOUR NAME. EVERY TIME
YOUR NAME IS CALLED, I THINK. OF
COURSE. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU. MAY I
PROCEED? GOOD AFTERNOON. CHAIR.
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. AND
MEMBERS, I'M HERE TODAY TO
PRESENT ASSEMBLY BILL, 1952
1952. ADDRESSES A LACK OF
SUPPORT FOR YOUNG PARENTS WHO
ARE DEPENDENT UPON THE FOSTER
CARE SYSTEM. THIS IS AN AREA
THAT I NEVER KNEW EXISTED UNTIL
THIS MATTER WAS BROUGHT TO MY
ATTENTION. THE INFANT SUPPLEMENT
IS CURRENTLY OFFERED TO
PARENTING FOSTER YOUTH TO HELP
CARE FOR THEIR CHILD, WHILE THE
PARENTING FOSTER YOUTH IS A WARD
OF THE STATE, THEIR CHILD IS
NOT. THE INFANT SUPPLEMENT IS
ONE OF ONLY TWO FOSTER CARE
SUPPLEMENTS THAT ARE NOT
AUTOMATICALLY INCREASED YEARLY
BY A CALIFORNIA NECESSITIES
INDEX, ALSO CALLED CNI, BASED ON
COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT. THE
INFANT SUPPLEMENT HAS NOT BEEN
INCREASED SINCE 2016. AB 1952
WILL INCREASE THE SUPPLEMENT FOR
$1,379 A YEAR TO. $1,896 A YEAR
TO ACCOUNT FOR INFLATION SINCE
ITS LAST INCREASE PER CHILD.
CORRECT ADDITIONALLY, 1952 WILL
ADD THE INFANT SUPPLEMENT TO THE
LIST OF FOSTER CARE PROGRAMS
THAT INCREASE ANNUALLY FOR CNI.
WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY AS THE
STATE OF CALIFORNIA TO TAKE CARE
OF THESE CHILDREN. THE INFANT
SUPPLEMENT SHOULD RECEIVE THE
SAME SUPPORT AS OTHER FOSTER
CARE SUPPLEMENTS. THIS IS A VERY
UNIQUE AND VULNERABLE POPULATION
OF CALIFORNIA TODAY I HAVE WITH
ME JILL DOMINGUEZ, WITH MARY'S
PATH AND ADRIAN SHELTON WITH THE
CALIFORNIA ALLIANCE OF CHILD AND
FAMILY SERVICES TO FURTHER
EXPLAIN THE GREAT WORK THEY DO
AND HOW IMPACTFUL THIS FUNDING
IS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO
MUCH. PLEASE PROCEED, AS TWO
MINUTES PER WITNESS, PLEASE.
GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR LEE AND
MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE. I AM
JILL DOMINGUEZ, EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR OF MARY'S PATH. WE ARE
A SHORT TERME RESIDENTIAL
THERAPEUTIC PROGRAM, ALSO KNOWN
BY OUR ACRONYM STRP. AND WE ARE
LOCATED IN ORANGE COUNTY,
CALIFORNIA. OUR PROGRAM SERVES A
VERY SPECIAL POPULATION.
PREGNANT AND PARENTING TEENS IN
THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM WITH A
MENTAL HEALTH DIAGNOSIS. AS WE
ARE ONE OF ONLY FIVE AGENCIES
THAT SERVE THE ENTIRE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA, THE TEEN MOMS WE
SERVE ARE AGED 12 TO 21,
ALTHOUGH THE VAST MAJORITY ARE
12 TO 18. THE AVERAGE AGE OF THE
MOTHER AT BIRTH IS 15.5 YEARS
OLD. 90% ARE VICTIMS OF
COMMERCIAL SEXUAL EXPLOITATION
OF CHILDREN. SEE SEX, WHICH IS
CHILD SEX TRAFFICKING. 100% ARE
FROM VERY LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES
, 66% ARE LATINX, 33% ARE
AFRICAN AMERICAN, 100% OF THE
TIME, THE BABY EQUATES TO THE
FAMILY THEY WERE NOT BORN INTO,
AND THE UNCONDITIONAL LOVE THAT
THEY SO DESPERATELY SEEK. AT
MARY'S PATH, WE PROVIDE AROUND
THE CLOCK SUPPORT AS THEY
NAVIGATE BEING NEW MOMS AND WORK
ON DEALING WITH THE TRAUMA THAT
LED THEM TO MARY'S PATH IN A
SAFE SPACE, WE PROVIDE MENTAL
HEALTH TREATMENT OUR OWN SCHOOL
SO MOMS CAN CONTINUE WITH HIGH
SCHOOL AND EDUCATION, DOULA
SUPPORT, BIRTHING CLASSES,
PARENTING CLASSES, AND ON SITE
CHILD CARE. WE ARE STRUGGLING TO
PROVIDE THE MOST BASIC CARE AND
SUPERVISION FOR THESE BABIES.
OUR RATE FOR THE CARE FOR THE
BABIES HAS NOT BEEN INCREASED
SINCE 2016. DESPITE DESPITE THE
ANNUAL RISE IN INFLATION, THE
COST OF DIAPERS HAS GONE UP BY
OVER 90% IN THE LAST TWO YEARS
AND FORMULA OVER 11. WE FEED,
HOUSE, CLOTHE AND TRANSPORT
BABIES TO AND FROM DOCTOR'S
APPOINTMENTS, BABY WELLNESS
VISITS AND COMMUNITY OUTINGS. WE
PROVIDE EXTRA STAFF SO THAT WHEN
THE MOMS ARE OVERWHELMED, WE CAN
TAKE A MOMENT AND HOLD THAT BABY
FOR THEM AND YET, WE HAVE BEEN
NEGLECTED AND IGNORED IN OUR
REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDS IN
THE INFANT SUPPLEMENT RATE, WE
ARE ONLY ASKING THAT THIS RATE
BE RISEN TO MEET THE RATE OF
INFLATION AND BE INCLUDED IN THE
CNI. I AM RESPECTFULLY ASKING.
ASKING FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF AB
1952 TO INCLUDE THE ONE TIME
CURRENT RATE TO THE INFANT
SUPPLEMENT TO A RATE THAT
REFLECTS THE CURRENT RATE OF
INFLATION, AND ENSURE THE RATE
IS INCLUDED IN THE CNI IN FUTURE
YEARS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR AND
MEMBERS. I'M ADRIAN SHELTON,
REPRESENTING THE CALIFORNIA
ALLIANCE OF CHILD AND FAMILY
SERVICES. WE REPRESENT 165
NONPROFIT, COMMUNITY BASED
ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS CALIFORNIA
THAT ARE SERVING CHILDREN AND
YOUTH AND FAMILIES IN PUBLIC
SYSTEMS, INCLUDING FOSTER YOUTH
AND THEIR CAREGIVERS. AND THE
PROGRAMS THAT SUPPORT THEM. AND
WE ARE PROUD TO SUPPORT ASSEMBLY
BILL 1952 TODAY. THIS PROPOSED
INCREASE THAT WE'RE TALKING
ABOUT WOULD ENSURE THAT
QUALIFIED PROGRAMS HAVE THE
RESOURCES THAT THEY NEED TO CARE
FOR VULNERABLE MOTHERS AND THEIR
BABIES. CALIFORNIA HAS A HUGE
STAKE IN THE SUCCESS Tê WITHOUT
INTERVENTION, ROUGHLY HALF OF
CHILDREN THAT ARE BORN TO FOSTER
YOUTH WILL BE THE SUBJECT OF A
CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES
REPORT. BY THE TIME THEY ARE
THREE, AND NEARLY 20% WILL BE
REMOVED FROM THEIR PARENTS.
THERE IS A HUGE NEED FOR THESE
PROGRAMS ACROSS THE STATE. AS
YOU'VE HEARD, AND SO WE ARE
PROUD TO SUPPORT THIS BILL TODAY
AND ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT. THANK
YOU SO MUCH. ARE THERE ANY
WITNESSES IN THE ROOM WHO WISH
TO TESTIFY IN SUPPORT OF THE
BILL? PLEASE COME UP TO THE
MICROPHONE NOW. WITNESSES IN THE
ROOM. THANK YOU. KIM LEWIS
REPRESENTING US, BARONET IN
SUPPORT. COLLEEN PACHTER, ON
BEHALF OF FIRST PLACE FOR YOUTH
AND SUPPORT, TONY ANDERSON
ASSOCIATION OF REGIONAL CENTER
AGENCIES AND SUPPORT K¾T WITH
CALIFORNIA YOUTH CONNECTION IN
SUPPORT. THANK YOU. AND NOW DO
WE HAVE ANY WITNESSES IN THE
ROOM WHO WISH TO SPEAK IN
OPPOSITION TO THIS BILL?
OPPOSITION. SEEING NONE BRING IT
BACK TO THE COMMITTEE. ANY
COMMITTEE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?
YOU DON'T HAVE TO. YOU DON'T
HAVE TO. OKAY I MEAN, I THINK
THE I THINK THE TOPIC IS SO
RIGHT NOW, AND I THINK THAT I
JUST HAD A TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCE
IN PUBLIC SAFETY. ANYWAY, WE
WON'T TALK ABOUT THAT, BUT WE
NEED TO WE NEED TO ADDRESS THIS
ISSUE, ESPECIALLY WITH OUR
CHILDREN BEING EXPLOITED FOR
HUMAN SEX TRAFFICKING, AND I
WOULD JUST ASK THAT YOU CONSIDER
ME BEING PART OF YOUR OF YOUR
BILL. THANK YOU. I'M GRATEFUL.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THANK YOU. IT'S TOTALLY YOUR
OPTION. I'M JUST GIVING YOU THE
VENUE TO DO SO. THANK YOU, MR.
GIBSON. SYLVIA DIXON, WOULD YOU
LIKE TO CLOSE? WELL, I'M VERY
GRATEFUL. AND THANK YOU FOR MY
GUESTS FOR COMING UP TO SPEAK
TODAY. I'D BE HONORED TO HAVE
YOUR RISK, RESPECTFUL. I VOTE.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
ENSURING THAT OUR PARENTING
FOSTER YOUTH ARE ABLE TO MEET
THE NEEDS OF THEIR CHILDREN IS
AN IMPORTANT AS THESE YOUNG
PARENTS TRY TO STABILIZE AND
ACHIEVE INDEPENDENCE, THE STATE
HAS AN OBLIGATION TO ENSURE THE
PROPER CARE OF FOSTER YOUTH, AND
I APPRECIATE YOU ELEVATING THE
NEEDS OF THIS VULNERABLE
POPULATION. I'M RECOMMENDING AN
AYE VOTE, AND THIS BILL HAS BEEN
MOVED BY ASSEMBLY ROSSELLI AND
SECONDED BY SENATOR GIBSON, YOUR
NEW COAUTHOR, MADAM SECRETARY,
PLEASE READ CALL THE ROLL FINAL
ITEM SIX AB 1952. THE MOTION IS
TO PASS TO THE ASSEMBLY
APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE. LI I
LI I AZALI CALDERON. CALDERON I,
GIBSON I, GIBSON I JACKSON TO
ORTIZ TO. THAT BILL HAS THREE
VOTES 3 TO 0. IT'S ON CALL.
THANK YOU. ASSEMBLY ARAMBULA.
WHEN YOU ARE READY, PLEASE COME
UP. THIS WILL BE FOR FILE 11
2150.
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR, FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT ON
ASSEMBLY BILL 2150 TODAY.
STUDENTS SHOULD BE SUPPORTED BY
SOCIAL SERVICES TAILORED TO
THEIR UNIQUE NEEDS. AB 2150
ESTABLISHES A STATEWIDE
KNOWLEDGE SHARING NETWORK OF
BASIC NEEDS. COORDINATORS AND
COUNTY LIAISONS OF HIGHER
EDUCATION IN A RECENT STUDENT
AID COMMISSION SURVEY OF
CALIFORNIA STUDENTS, OVER HALF
ARE EXPERIENCING HOUSING
INSECURITY AND OVER TWO THIRDS
ARE EXPERIENCING FOOD INSECURITY
. FOR STUDENTS ACCESSING SAFETY
NET PROGRAMS, RAIMES IS FRAUGHT
WITH COMPLICATIONS AND STEPS
THAT ARE SOMETIMES NOT WELL
UNDERSTOOD, EVEN BY THE
ADMINISTRATORS OF THESE
PROGRAMS. TO HELP STUDENTS
NAVIGATE THESE COMPLICATIONS, I
AUTHORED ASSEMBLY BILL 1326 AND
2021 THAT ESTABLISHED A SINGLE
POINT OF CONTACT IN EVERY COUNTY
CALLED A COUNTY LIAISON OF
HIGHER EDUCATION, THAT
INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION
COULD CONTACT FOR GUIDANCE AND
FORTUNATELY, STUDENTS IN
DESPERATE NEED OF FOOD OR
FINANCIAL SUPPORT ARE
EXPERIENCING INCONSISTENT
SUPPORT ACROSS COUNTIES. AB 2150
ESTABLISHES QUARTERLY MEETINGS
TO SHARE INFORMATION, IDEAS AND
BEST PRACTICES TO ENSURE THAT
COUNTIES AREN'T LEFT ON THEIR
OWN. TO CREATE THIS EXPERTISE IS
IN A SILO, TESTIFYING IN SUPPORT
OF ASSEMBLY BILL 2150 IS GABBY
DAVIDSON WITH THE CALIFORNIA
ASSOCIATION OF FOOD BANKS. THANK
YOU. PLEASE PROCEED. TWO
MINUTES. HI, GABBY DAVIDSON WITH
THE CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF
FOOD BANKS COLLEGE IS HARD
ENOUGH WITHOUT WORRYING ABOUT
WHERE YOUR NEXT MEAL WILL COME
FROM OR HOW YOU WILL AFFORD
RENT. YET THE CALIFORNIA STUDENT
AID COMMISSION FOUND THAT 66% OF
STUDENTS ARE FOOD INSECURE AND
53% ARE HOUSING INSECURE, WITH
STUDENTS ACROSS INTERSECTIONAL
IDENTITIES SUCH AS RACE, CLASS,
GENDER AND IMMIGRATION STATUS
EXPERIENCING DISPROPORTIONATELY
HIGHER LEVELS OF NEED. WHEN
STUDENTS DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO OR
THEY FACE BARRIERS TO RECEIVING
RESOURCES TO MITIGATE THESE
CHALLENGES, THE TOXIC STRESS OF
POVERTY, HUNGER, AND
HOMELESSNESS THAT MAY FOLLOW HAS
DEVASTATING SHORT AND LONG TUM
CONSEQUENCES FOR STUDENTS. MANY
COLLEGES HAVE ESTABLISHED FOOD
PANTRIES AND BASIC NEEDS
CENTERS, BUT THESE ALONE CAN
ADDRESS HUNGER AND HOMELESSNESS.
PROGRAMS LIKE MEDI-CAL, CALWORKS
, AND CALFRESH ENSURE STUDENTS
CAN ACCESS THE RESOURCES NEEDED
TO STAY FED, HEALTHY AND HOUSED,
WHILE ALSO BRINGING FUNDING TO
COUNTY SOCIAL SERVICE TEAMS AND
IMPROVING BOTH THE LOCAL AND
STATE ECONOMY. STUDIES
CONSISTENTLY FIND THAT THESE
SOCIAL SERVICE PROGRAMS
POSITIVELY IMPACT STUDENTS AND
COMMUNITIES. I KNOW THIS
FIRSTHAND AS ENROLLING IN
CALFRESH WHEN I WAS A COLLEGE
STUDENT MADE A BIG DIFFERENCE IN
. COUNTLESS STUDENTS HAVE SAID
THE SAME WHEN I HELPED THEM
ENROLL WHEN I USED TO BE A
CALFRESH OUTREACH ASSISTER.
HOWEVER, MANY STUDENTS, DESPITE
BEING ELIGIBLE, ARE NOT ENROLLED
IN THESE VITAL PROGRAMS. AN
ESTIMATE FROM CDSS SHOWS THAT
ONLY ABOUT 18 TO 30% OF LIKELY
ELIGIBLE STUDENTS ARE ENROLLED
IN CALFRESH. WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR
THE IMPORTANT WORK DONE TO
ESTABLISH COUNTY LIAISONS AS THE
POINT OF CONTACT FOR HIGHER
EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS IN THE
COUNTIES, WE BELIEVE AB 2150
WILL BUILD ON THIS TO ENSURE
THAT COUNTIES, INSTITUTIONS OF
HIGHER EDUCATION AND
STAKEHOLDERS ARE TRAINED ON THE
COMPLEX ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
AND CAN MAXIMIZE THE OPPORTUNITY
TO LEARN FROM EACH OTHER,
IDENTIFY BEST PRACTICES, AND
INCREASE AWARENESS OF THESE
PROGRAMS SO THAT STUDENTS ACROSS
CALIFORNIA CAN RECEIVE THE
SAFETY NET BENEFITS THAT THEY
DESERVE. CFP IS PROUD TO
CO-SPONSOR AND WE ASK FOR YOUR
AYE VOTE. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. ARE THERE ANY
FOLKS IN THE ROOM WHO WISH TO
TESTIFY IN SUPPORT OF THE BILL?
PLEASE COME UP TO THE
MICROPHONE. YEAH. KEVIN ESTÁN
COALITION, CALIFORNIA WELFARE
RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS. STRONG
SUPPORT. THANK YOU. REBECCA
GONZALEZ, WESTERN CENTER ON LAW
AND POVERTY AND SUPPORT. HEATHER
WILLOUGHBY, FORMER STUDENT,
PARENT ON CALWORKS AND STRONG
SUPPORT. ANNA MATTHEWS FACULTY
ASSOCIATION OF THE CALIFORNIA
COMMUNITY COLLEGES IN STRONG
SUPPORT. THANK YOU. JOHNNY VÀ
WITH THE CALIFORNIA STUDENT AID
COMMISSION AND SUPPORT. THANK
YOU. AND THEN I WAS ALSO ASKED
TO GIVE SUPPORT FOR CALIFORNIA
COMPETES. GOOD AFTERNOON. JUST
QUICKLY, MAGGIE WHITE WITH THE
CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY IN
STRONG SUPPORT. THANK YOU SIR.
GREAT. ARE THERE ANY WITNESSES
IN OPPOSITION THAT WAS TO
TESTIFY WHO WERE IN THE ROOM?
PLEASE COME FORWARD. ANY
WITNESSES? OPPOSITION YEAH.
THANK YOU. AND GOOD AFTERNOON.
MY NAME IS EILEEN KUBINSKI. I'M
WITH THE COUNTY WELFARE
DIRECTORS ASSOCIATION. WE ARE
REGRETFULLY IN OPPOSITION TO
THIS BILL. WE HAVE A FEW
CONCERNS WITH IT, IN PARTICULAR,
WE ARE ONLY RECENTLY
IMPLEMENTING THE BILL THAT
ESTABLISHED THE COUNTY LIAISONS,
AND COUNTIES ARE IN THE PROCESS
OF COMPLETING THE PROTOCOLS THAT
WERE REQUIRED TO BE DEVELOPED BY
THAT BILL. I THINK THERE'S A LOT
OF EXCITING WORK, AND I DO
REGRET THAT THE ROLLOUT OF THAT
HAS BEEN SLOW. IT HAS BEEN ABOUT
A YEAR THAT WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO
GET THOSE PROTOCOLS IN PLACE AND
IMPLEMENT IT. I'LL JUST NOTE
THAT COUNTIES HAVE BEEN DOING A
LOT OF THAT WORK, WE'VE ABSORBED
A LOT OF THAT. WE NEVER RECEIVED
FUNDING FOR THAT. AND SO
CERTAINLY SOME OF THAT C¢M K¾T
CONSTRAINTS HAS LED TO PERHAPS
THIS TAKING LONGER TO ROLL OUT
THAN WE INTENDED. FURTHERMORE,
WE ARE HAVING TO CONSULT WITH
EVERY PUBLIC COLLEGE, UNIVERSITY
, COMMUNITY COLLEGE IN THE STATE
AND DEVELOP INDIVIDUAL PROTOCOLS
WHICH WITH EACH OF THEM. AND
THAT DOES TAKE TIME. I GUESS THE
POINT I'M TRYING TO MAKE IS
THAT, NOTWITHSTANDING, SOME OF
THESE IMPLEMENTATION CHALLENGES,
WE DON'T KNOW THAT THIS PROCESS
HASN'T YET BEEN SUCCESSFUL. AND
SO, LETTING THE PROTOCOLS
PROCESS COMPLETE ITSELF AND
ALLOW THOSE RELATIONSHIPS TO BE
ESTABLISHED, WHICH I THINK IS
VERY KEY, TO US FEELS LIKE A
MORE PRODUCTIVE, IMMEDIATE USE
OF OUR COUNTY RESOURCES AND
TIME. WE DO HAVE CONCERNS WITH
THE TIME INVOLVED AND THE
TRAINING, ADDITIONAL TRAINING
THAT'S REQUIRED BY THE BILL AND
THE WORKGROUP MEETINGS, JUST
TAKING AWAY FROM SOME OF THE
FURTHER WORK THAT WE HAVE TO DO
AROUND IMPLEMENTING THE
PROTOCOLS AND ESTABLISHING THOSE
RELATIONSHIPS. SO THOSE ARE THE
SOURCES OF OUR CONCERN AT THIS
TIME. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, ARE
THERE ANY OTHER WITNESSES WHO
WISH TO TESTIFY IN OPPOSITION TO
THE BILL IN THE ROOM? SEEING
NONE. I'LL BRING IT BACK TO THE
COMMITTEE. ANY QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS FROM THE COMMITTEE
MEMBERS? ALL RIGHT. I'LL INVITE
YOU TO CLOSE IF YOU'D LIKE TO
CLOSE. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I'M
JUST GOING TO ECHO THE COMMENTS
OF OUR WITNESS TODAY THAT THERE
ARE 70 TO 80% OF STUDENTS WHO
QUALIFY FOR CALFRESH WHO ARE NOT
RECEIVING THAT ASSISTANCE.
RATHER THAN HAVING EACH COUNTY
DEVELOP THEIR OWN PLAN, WE
SHOULD HAVE THOSE THAT ARE DOING
IT WELL HELP TO INFORM AND TRAIN
OTHER COUNTIES SO THAT WE CAN
LEARN THOSE BEST PRACTICES AND
INCREASE PARTICIPATION INTO OUR
SOCIAL SAFETY NET. ULTIMATELY
WE'LL BENEFIT AS A STATE AND
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR AN AYE VOTE
. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WORKING
IN THIS SPACE TO ENSURE THAT OUR
STUDENTS DON'T GO HUNGRY AND
MAKE SURE THERE'S LESS FRICTION
IN THE SYSTEM, ESPECIALLY FOR
ELIGIBLE STUDENTS. I'LL BE
RECOMMENDING AN AYE VOTE ON THE
BILL. DO I HAVE A MOTION AND A
SECOND? MOTION'S THERE'S ONLY
ONE WORD. THE BILL'S BEEN MOVED
IN. SECONDED MADAM SECRETARY,
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. FILE ITEM
11 AB 2150. THE MOTION IS DUE
PASSED TO THE ASSEMBLY HIGHER
EDUCATION COMMITTEE. LI LI. AYE.
AZALI. CALDERON. CALDERON AYE.
GIBSON. GIBSON. AYE. JACKSON TO
ORTEGA. EASILY. EASILY. AYE THE
BILL HAS FOUR VOTES. WE'LL KEEP
THE ROLL OPEN FOR ABSENT
MEMBERS. OKAY. SIMILAR BANES,
YOU HAVE FILE ITEM 1820 AB 2828.
WHEN YOU ARE READY.
WHENEVER YOU ARE READY, YOU MAY
BEGIN. AWESOME GOOD AFTERNOON,
CHAIR LEE AND MY COLLEAGUES ON
THE ASSEMBLY. HUMAN SERVICES
COMMITTEE. TODAY I'M PRESENTING
MY BILL AB 2828, WHICH MAKES
LONG OVERDUE AND CRITICAL
CHANGES TO HOW KIDS PLATES FUNDS
ONE OF THE STATE'S SPECIALTY
FUNDS SOURCES FOR CHILDREN'S
SAFETY PROGRAMS ARE DISTRIBUTED
THROUGHOUT THE STATE. AT ITS
CORE, THE AB 2828 IS A BILL THAT
MODERNIZES A VERY SUCCESSFUL
PROGRAM. VEHICLE OWNERS
CONTRIBUTE TO THE KIDS PLATES
FUND BY PURCHASING A SPECIALTY
LICENSE PLATE. YOU HAVE LIKELY
SEEN ONE ON THE ROAD WITH A
HEART OR A HANDPRINT OR A PLUS
SIGN, FORMER CONGRESSWOMAN
ASSEMBLY MEMBER, AND NOW
SUPERVISOR ELECT JACKIE SPEAR
CREATED THESE SPECIAL LICENSE
PLATES. PLATES TO STRATEGICALLY
FUND CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION,
CHILD CARE SAFETY, AND CHILDHOOD
INJURY PREVENTION. THE FUNDING
AND PRICING FOR THE KIDS PLATES
IS ESTABLISHED 30 YEARS AGO, DO
NOT MEET THE CURRENT NEEDS TO
ENSURE THAT ALL 58 COUNTIES
RECEIVE THEIR FAIR SHARE OF THE
FUNDING FOR ESSENTIAL CHILD CARE
AND CHILD SAFETY SERVICES. THIS
UPDATE TO THE EXISTING LAW
ADDRESSES THREE CORE ISSUES
WITHIN THE KIDS PLATES PROGRAMS.
NUMBER ONE, THE ORIGINAL BILL
SET THE DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR
VEHICLES PRICING FOR KIDS PLATES
IN 1992, AND HAS NOT BEEN
UPDATED SINCE. AB 2828 WILL
ALIGN KIDS PLATES PRICING WITH
SIMILAR SPECIALTY PLATES LIKE
SAVE THE WHALES AND YOSEMITE
PARK FOUNDATION, AMONG OTHERS.
MODERNIZING THE PRICE WILL
DOUBLE THE FUNDING AVAILABLE FOR
CHILD SAFETY PROGRAMS AND ALLOW
FOR THE DISTRIBUTION,
DISTRIBUTION CHANGES IN MY BILL.
THE DISTRIBUTION OF THESE FUNDS
SHOULD BENEFIT ALL 58 COUNTIES,
BUT CURRENTLY IT DOES NOT DOES
NOT. AB 2828 CORRECTS THE
DISTRIBUTION PROBLEM. IT
LEVERAGES EXISTING PROGRAMS IN
ALL 58 COUNTIES, RESULTING IN NO
NEW COSTS AND A MORE EQUITABLE
DISTRIBUTION OF THESE FUNDS. FOR
EXAMPLE, MY BILL USES THE
EXISTING COUNTY LEVEL CHILD CARE
RESOURCE AND REFERRAL NETWORKS
AND THE 58 FIRST FIVE COUNTY
COMMISSIONS TO ENSURE ALL
COUNTIES GET THEIR FAIR SHARE OF
THESE CONTRIBUTED FUNDS. IT IS
ALSO WORTH NOTING THAT THE BILL
DOES NOT CHANGE THE CHILD ABUSE
PREVENTION FUNDING DISTRICT,
ROUTED THROUGH THE 58 CHILD
ABUSE TRUST FUNDS. NUMBER THREE,
OUR STATE CHILD CARE LICENSING
AND DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH
INJURY PREVENTION PROGRAMS
DEPEND ON A PORTION OF KIDS
PLATES FUNDING TO CONTINUE THEIR
CHILD SAFETY RESPONSIBILITIES.
AB 2828 ENSURES THESE AGENCIES
RECEIVE THE KIDS PLATES FUNDING
THEY NEED TO KEEP CALIFORNIA
CHILDREN SAFE. IN SUMMARY,
SUPPORTING AB 2828 WILL DOUBLE
THE FUNDS TO HELP WITH
CHILDREN'S SAFETY AT NO COST TO
THE STATE'S GENERAL FUND AND
MAKE COMMON SENSE CHANGES TO
ENSURE EQUITY IN DISTRIBUTING
THESE FUNDS FOR ALL 58 COUNTIES.
SINCE THE KIDS PLATES HIT THE
ROADS IN CALIFORNIA, THIS
SPECIAL LICENSE PLATE PROGRAM
HAS RAISED MORE THAN 80 MILLION
FOR CHILD SAFETY PROGRAMS. BY
PASSING AB 2828, WE CAN DOUBLE
THAT AMOUNT, SUPERVISOR ELECT
JACKIE SPEAR SUPPORTS THESE
CHANGES TO THE KIDS PLATES.
FUNDING PROGRAM, AS DO THE TWO
ORIGINAL CO-SPONSORS OF THE 1992
LEGISLATION, THE CHILDREN'S
ADVOCACY INSTITUTE, BASED AT THE
UNIVERSITY OF SAN DIEGO SCHOOL
OF LAW AND THE CALIFORNIA
COALITION FOR CHILDREN SAFETY
AND HEALTH, THE FIRST FIVE
ASSOCIATION OF CALIFORNIA VÀ,
REPRESENTING THE 58 FIRST FIVE
COUNTY COMMISSIONS, ALSO
SUPPORTS THIS BILL. MY WITNESSES
TODAY ARE STEVE BARROW WITH THE
CALIFORNIA COALITION FOR
CHILDREN'S SAFETY AND HEALTH,
AND WAS ONE OF THE ORIGINAL TEAM
MEMBERS WHO HELPED WITH ASSEMBLY
MEMBER SPEAR TO DRAFT THE 1992
KIDS PLATE LEGISLATION, AND WE
HAVE LUCAS FRERICHS FROM
DISTRICT TWO, YOLO COUNTY
SUPERVISOR AND MEMBER OF THE
FIRST FIVE YOLO COUNTY
COMMISSION, AND CAN SPEAK TO ALL
THREE CHILD SAFETY ISSUES CHILD
CARE, CHILD HOOD AND INJURY
PREVENTION, AND CHILDHOOD ABUSE
PREVENTION. LOCAL NEEDS. THANK
YOU DOCTOR. MAINS, TWO MINUTES
PER WITNESS, PLEASE. HI, MY NAME
IS STEVE BARROW. I'M THE STATE
PROGRAM DIRECTOR FOR THE
CALIFORNIA COALITION FOR
CHILDREN'S SAFETY AND HEALTH,
WHICH IS A 30 YEAR OLD
ORGANIZATION OR COALITION IN
CALIFORNIA THAT HELPS, PASS
SUCCESSFUL. WE PASS A NUMBER OF
OUR, OUR SAFETY BILLS, THE
HELMET LAW, THE POOL SAFETY ACT,
CHILD SAFETY, CAR SAFETY, ETC, I
WAS ON THE TEAM THAT HELPED,
THEN ASSEMBLYWOMAN JACKIE SPEAR
DRAFT THE, 1992 BILL AB 3087
AND, EVERYTHING WORKED REALLY
WELL. THEN THE LANDSCAPE AS THE
AUTHOR HAS SAID, HAS GREATLY
CHANGED IN 30 YEARS. THIS IS
LONG OVERDUE. WE REALLY
APPRECIATE IT, THE
ASSEMBLYWOMAN, CARRYING THE BILL
TO GET THESE CHANGES BROUGHT UP
TO DATE. WE STRONGLY SUPPORT
CHANGING THE PRICING. WE SET THE
PRICING THAT GOVERNOR WILSON
WANTED US TO SET BACK IN 1991.
HASN'T BEEN OR 92. AND WE
HAVEN'T CHANGED IT SINCE, LIKE
SHE SAID, IT'S GOING TO DOUBLE
THE AMOUNT OF MONEY IN THIS
FUND, AND IT'S ALL CONTRIBUTIONS
FROM VEHICLE OWNERS WANTING TO
BUY THESE PLATES TO DRESS UP
THEIR CAR OR THEIR TRUCK, AND
HELP OUT CHILDREN'S SAFETY. IT'S
ONLY IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THIS
BILL PASSES TO MAKE SURE THAT
THE MONEY GOES BACK TO ALL 58
COUNTIES. CURRENTLY, IT DOES
NOT. AND SO THERE'S NO EQUITY IN
HOW THE MONEY IS REDISTRIBUTED
TO THESE PEOPLE THAT MAKE THESE
THESE DONATIONS. SO WE SUPPORT
THE CHANGE OF USING EXISTING
FIRST FIVE, THE CHILD CARE
RESOURCE AND REFERRAL NETWORKS
IN ALL 58 COUNTIES. AND WE ALSO
SUPPORT LEAVING THE CHILD ABUSE
PREVENTION THROUGH THE CHILD
ABUSE PREVENTION TRUST FUNDS. WE
ALSO SUPPORT LEAVING ENOUGH
MONEY TO HELP THE DEPARTMENT OF
SOCIAL SERVICES, CHILD CARE
LICENSING STAKEHOLDERS AS FAR AS
HOW MUCH MONEY IT GETS. SO
ASKING FOR YOUR I VOTE. I'M HERE
TO ANSWER ANY TECHNICAL
QUESTIONS. THANK YOU. GREAT.
GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR LEE AND
ASSEMBLY MEMBERS. MY NAME IS
LUCAS FRERICHS. I'M A YOLO
COUNTY SUPERVISOR AND I'M ALSO
FORTUNATE TO SERVE AS THE CHAIR
OF THE YOLO FIRST FIVE
COMMISSION AS WELL, AS HAS BEEN
ELOQUENTLY STATED ALREADY,
THERE'S BEEN NEED TO UPDATE THIS
PROGRAM FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS
NOW. AND SO REALLY APPRECIATE
DOCTOR BAINES WILLINGNESS TO
TAKE THIS ISSUE ON THIS YEAR.
THE REFORMS IN AB 2828 ENSURE
THAT ALL 58 COUNTIES WILL HAVE
SOME ACCESS TO SOME OF THESE
FUNDS. SO WE REALLY APPRECIATE
THAT, AND REACHING THOSE
CHILDREN AND FAMILIES MOST AT
RISK, I THINK IT'S ALSO JUST
IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT EVEN
SMALL AMOUNTS OF FUNDING LIKE
THIS WILL BE STRATEGICALLY USED
TO HELP LEVERAGE, ADDITIONAL
FUNDING. SO A LITTLE BIT OF
MONEY FROM THIS PROGRAM COULD
ACTUALLY BE USED TO LEVERAGE FOR
A LOT OF BENEFIT ACROSS,
CALIFORNIA'S 58 COUNTIES, WE'RE
GRATEFUL FOR CONGRESSWOMAN
SPEARS ORIGINAL LEGISLATION
CREATING THE KIDS PROGRAM PLATE
PROGRAM OVER 30 YEARS AGO. AND
WE APPRECIATE DOCTOR BAIN'S
LEADERSHIP NOW IN AUTHORING AB
2828, RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR AYE
VOTE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. ARE
THERE ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
IN THE HEARING ROOM WISH TO
TESTIFY IN SUPPORT OF THE BILL?
PLEASE COME UP TO THE MICROPHONE
NOW. MR. CHAIR MEMBERS KATHY
BARANKIN, CALIFORNIA
COLLABORATION FOR YOUTH. WE
STRONGLY SUPPORT AND WE WERE
ALSO ON THAT ORIGINAL TEAM TO
CREATE THE KIDS PLATE. SO
ENCOURAGE YOU TO SUPPORT THE
BILL. FANTASTIC, ANY WITNESSES
IN OPPOSITION TO THE BILL?
PLEASE COME FORWARD TO THE
MICROPHONE. ANY WITNESSES IN
OPPOSITION SEEING NONE. I'LL
BRING IT BACK TO THE COMMITTEE.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM
COMMITTEE MEMBERS? SEEING NONE.
I WOULD LIKE TO OFFER DOCTOR
RAINES A CLOSE, MERELY SAYING,
YOU KNOW, KEEPING CALIFORNIA'S
CHILDREN SAFE SHOULD BE A
PRIORITY FOR EVERYONE.
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOUR AYE
VOTE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR
BRINGING THIS BILL FORWARD. I'M
RECOMMENDING AN AYE VOTE. DO I
HAVE A MOTION? MOVED, MOVED AND
SECONDED. MADAM SECRETARY,
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL FINAL ITEM
18 AB 2828. THE MOTION IS Dð
PASSED TO THE ASSEMBLY
TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE. LEE LI
AYE. EASILY. EASILY. AYE.
CALDERON CALDERON. AYE. GIBSON.
GIBSON. AYE. JACKSON TO ORTEGA.
ORTEGA AYE. 5 TO 0. THAT BILL'S
OUT. WE'LL LEAVE THE ROLL OPEN
FOR ABSENT MEMBERS. ASSEMBLY
MEMBER KALRA, SINCE WE'RE GOING
INTO FILE ITEM ORDER, YOU ARE
NEXT. AND I APPRECIATE THE
PATIENCE OF OUR OTHER MEMBERS.
IT'S ALL TIMING. SIMILAR CALL.
THIS IS, ITEM EIGHT, AB 1993.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, MR. CHAIR. AB
1993 WOULD WOULD HELP ADDRESS
THE HOUSING NEEDS OF
CALIFORNIA'S GROWING AGING
POPULATION BY EXPANDING THE
NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS,
RESIDENTIAL CARE FACILITIES FOR
THE ELDERLY OR RSF'S CAN SERVE
BY REPLACING THE SIX BED CAP
WITH THE TEN OR FEWER CAP. RC
FEES ARE COMMUNITY COMMUNITY
BASED HOMES THAT OFFER HOUSING
ARRANGEMENTS FOR VARIOUS LEVELS
OF NON-MEDICAL CARE AND
SUPERVISION. OLDER ADULTS ARE
THE FASTEST GROWING POPULATION
OF UNHOUSED INDIVIDUALS IN
CALIFORNIA, AND ARE AT GREATER
RISK OF BECOMING HOMELESS. THEY
OFTEN HAVE A HARDER TIME FINDING
ACCOMMODATIONS THAT CAN MEET
THEIR SPECIALIZED CARE NEEDS IN
A SETTING BEST SUITED FOR THEM.
EXISTING LAW CAPS SMALL CAPS TO
SIX OR FEWER RESIDENTS. IN ORDER
FOR THESE FACILITIES TO EXPAND
BY JUST ONE BED IF THEY'RE AT
THE MAX OF SIX BEDS, THEY MUST
OBTAIN A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT
FROM THE PERMIT FROM THEIR CITY
OR COUNTY, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER
THEY ALREADY HAVE THE SPACE. AND
IF ANYONE'S WORKED AT THE CITY
LEVEL, YOU KNOW HOW HARD IT CAN
BE TO GET A CONDITIONAL USE
PERMIT. UNFORTUNATELY, THESE
TYPES OF PERMITS ARE RARELY
ISSUED AND CAN BE A COMPLICATED
PROCESS FOR SMALL RCF OPERATORS,
WHICH LIMITS THEIR ABILITY TO
EXPAND AND AS A RESULT IS A
BARRIER TO AN OTHERWISE
AVAILABLE BED. BY ALLOWING OUR
CDFIS TO EXPAND AND SERVE MORE
PEOPLE. AB 1993 CAN HELP ENSURE
OLDER ADULTS WHO CHOOSE AN
ASSISTED LIVING HOME CAN REMAIN
IN THEIR COMMUNITIES, WHILE ALSO
RECEIVING THE 24 HOUR
NON-MEDICAL CARE THEY NEED.
ADDITIONALLY ENSURING THESE
HOMES MEET THE SAFETY AND
BUILDING STANDARDS TO EXPAND IS
A PRIORITY. SO UNDER THIS BILL,
OUR CFBS WOULD STILL BE REQUIRED
TO BE CONSISTENT WITH THE
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
AND COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING
WITH ME TO PROVIDE A TESTIMONY
AND SUPPORT IS MIA KANG,
CALIFORNIA COMMISSION ON AGING
AND GEORGE KUSHNER AND SENIOR
VICE PRESIDENT FOR SIX BEDS. ALL
RIGHT. THANK YOU. TWO MINUTES
PER WITNESS, PLEASE. THANK YOU
TO THE CHAIR AND MEMBERS. MY
NAME IS GEORGE KUSHNER, AND I'M
HERE WITH SIX BEDS, WHICH IS A
STATEWIDE TRADE ASSOCIATION
REPRESENTING THE SMALL
RESIDENTIAL CARE FACILITIES FOR
THE ELDERLY OR RVS SERVING SIX
OR FEWER RESIDENTS. I'D LIKE TO
START BY THANKING ASSEMBLY
MEMBER KALRA FOR CONTINUING TO
CHAMPION THIS IMPORTANT PUBLIC
POLICY ISSUE. THE ORIGINAL
STATUTE THAT THIS BILL SEEKS TO
AMEND WAS ENACTED BACK IN 1986,
ALMOST 40 YEARS AGO. AT THE TIME
, IT WAS A GROUNDBREAKING PIECE
OF LEGISLATION THAT SPAWNED THE
CREATION OF WHAT IS TODAY A SIX
BED RCF ECOSYSTEM COMPRISING
APPROXIMATELY 5500 FACILITIES.
HOWEVER TIMES HAVE CHANGED, OUR
POPULATION HAS CHANGED. BY 2030,
THERE WILL BE 10.8 MILLION OLDER
ADULTS IN CALIFORNIA, COMPARED
TO ONLY 3,000,000 IN 1990. 1.8
MILLION CALIFORNIANS 60 AND OVER
LIVE ALONE AND OLDER.
CALIFORNIANS ARE LIVING LONGER
WITH MORE CHRONIC ILLNESSES, NOT
ONLY IS CALIFORNIA'S POPULATION
CHANGED, SO HAVE THE ECONOMICS
OF AGING. WITH OVER 2 MILLION
CALIFORNIANS AGED 60 PLUS BEING
ECONOMICALLY INSECURE, FACING
RISING COSTS OF HOUSING, HEALTH
AND CARE IN FACT, AMONG THE
UNHOUSED, OLDER CALIFORNIANS ARE
THE FASTEST GROWING AGE GROUP.
CALIFORNIA'S SMALL CDFIS, LIKE
THE OLDER CALIFORNIANS THEY SEEK
TO SERVE, ARE FACING SOME OF THE
SAME CHALLENGES, SUCH AS HIGHER
THAN EVER HOUSING COSTS.
UNFORTUNATELY, THE CURRENT
STATUTE HAS FALLEN BEHIND. THE
TIMES AB 1993 CAN CHANGE ALL OF
THAT BY ALLOWING OUR CDFIS THE
OPTION TO GO UP TO TEN BEDS
WITHOUT BEING SUBJECTED TO THE
COMPLICATED, TIME CONSUMING AND
HIGHLY DISCRETIONARY CONDITIONAL
USE PERMITTING PROCESSES THAT
ARE OFTEN FRAUGHT WITH NIMBYISM
THAT HAS THE EFFECT OF LIMITING
HOUSING AND CARE ACCESS FOR
OLDER CALIFORNIANS. LEVERAGING
AN EXISTING SUPPLY OF SIX BED
CDFIS, MANY OF WHICH ALREADY
HAVE THREE OR MORE BEDROOMS AND
CAN CURRENTLY HOUSE MORE THAN
SIX RESIDENTS, AB 1993 COULD
RESULT IN THOUSANDS OF
ADDITIONAL BEDS IN A VERY SHORT
AMOUNT OF TIME. TODAY, THIS
COMMITTEE HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO
TAKE A STEP TOWARDS CALIFORNIA
ONCE AGAIN TAKING A LEADERSHIP
ROLE BY ADVANCING INNOVATIVE
LEGISLATION THAT FURTHERS THE
PUBLIC POLICY GOAL OF CALIFORNIA
IMPROVING ACCESS TO HOUSING FOR
ALL AGES AND STAGES. WE
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOUR AYE
VOTES. I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY
OF THE COMMITTEE'S QUESTIONS.
THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR
LEE AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS. MY
NAME IS MIA CØNG AND I'M A
COMMISSIONER ON THE CALIFORNIA
COMMISSION ON AGING. WE'RE A
PROUD CO-SPONSOR OF THIS BILL.
HOUSING HAS BEEN ONE OF OUR
MAJOR PRIORITIES IN THE
CALIFORNIA COMMISSION ON AGING.
AND WE CAN, I CAN ATTEST, FROM
MY EXPERIENCE AS AN AFFORDABLE
HOUSING DEVELOPER, BUILDING MANY
SENIOR COMMUNITIES, THAT THE
NEED OF THE OLDER ADULT
POPULATION, IS IN GREAT, GREAT,
GREAT NEED. MANY OLDER ADULTS
HAVE FINANCIAL RESOURCES THAT
DON'T QUALIFY THEM FOR IN-HOME
SUPPORT SERVICES. OTHERS REQUIRE
MORE CARE THAN WHAT IN-HOME
SUPPORTIVE SERVICES CAN PROVIDE,
AND OTHERS HAVE INSUFFICIENT
RESOURCES TO AFFORD. THE
EXTRAORDINARY COST OF 24 HOUR
IN-HOME CARE. ANY OF THESE
INDIVIDUALS MAY DECIDE THAT
LIVING IN A RESIDENTIAL CARE
HOME MAY BE THEIR VERY BEST
OPTION. IN CALIFORNIA, THE
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES,
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING, CCL
INSPECTS, REGULATES AND
DETERMINES THE NUMBER OF BEDS
THE RCF IS APPROVED FOR. THIS
DETERMINATION BASED ON THE
LICENSING SKILLS, STAFF ABILITY
AND BUILDING FEATURES, AMONG
OTHER THINGS. REQUIRE THAT NO
MORE THAN TWO PERSONS ARE
ALLOWED PER BEDROOM CURRENTLY IN
MOST CITIES AND COUNTIES,
PRIVATE HOME RCF OPERATORS ARE
LIMITED BY LOCAL ZONING AND USE
LAWS, AND THIS LIMITS THE
PRODUCTIVITY OF THE HOMES. OUR
CDFIS CAN SERVE MORE THAN SIX
BEDS. THEY MUST, GET THOSE
CONDITIONAL USE PERMITS THAT ARE
OFTEN IMPOSSIBLE TO GET. AB 1993
WOULD CHANGE THE SIX BED CAPS TO
TEN OR FEWER TO ALLOW PRIVATE
HOMES, RVS WHEN APPROVED BY CLE
L TO EXPAND THE NUMBER OF
INDIVIDUALS THEY CARE FOR WHILE
STILL BEING CONSIDERED A
RESIDENTIAL USE, WHICH IS
CRITICAL SO THESE FOLKS CAN
REMAIN HOUSED IN THE VERY
COMMUNITIES IN WHICH THEY HAVE
BEEN LIVING, THIS INCREASE IN
CAPACITY WILL ALLOW MORE OLDER
ADULTS AND THEIR FAMILIES WHO
CHOOSE TO LIVE IN ASSISTED
LIVING TO REMAIN IN THESE VERY
FAMILIAR NEIGHBORHOODS. ALSO
RECEIVING THE 24 HOUR
NON-MEDICAL CARE THEY NEED. WE
WANT TO THANK ASSEMBLY MEMBER
KALRA FOR AUTHORING AB 1993,
WHICH PRIORITIZES OLDER ADULTS
AND THEIR FAMILIES. AND WE
RESPECTFULLY ASK THIS COMMITTEE
FOR AN AYE VOTE. THANK YOU. NOW,
DO WE HAVE ANY WITNESSES IN
SUPPORT IN THE ROOM? WISH TO
COME EXPRESS THEIR SUPPORT?
PLEASE COME TO THE MICROPHONE,
PLEASE. GOOD AFTERNOON. LISA
COLEMAN WITH THE CALIFORNIA
COMMISSION ON AGING. I WANT TO
THANK THE MEMBER AND STRONG
SUPPORT, HEATHER HARRISON WITH
THE CALIFORNIA ASSISTED LIVING
ASSOCIATION IN STRONG SUPPORT.
AND WORKING WITH LEADING AGE
CALIFORNIA IN SUPPORT JASON
GABBERT WITH THE ALZHEIMER'S
ASSOCIATION IN SUPPORT. ALL
RIGHT. NOW, DO WE HAVE ANY
OPPOSITION TO THIS BILL? PLEASE
COME FORWARD. ANY MEMBERS OF THE
PUBLIC SEEING NONE I'LL BRING IT
BACK TO COMMITTEE. ANY QUESTIONS
OR COMMENTS? VICE CHAIR SALLY, I
HAD A QUESTION, MY UNDERSTANDING
IS THESE ARE KIND OF LIKE HOMES
THAT HAVE BEEN CONVERTED INTO
RESIDENTIAL FACILITIES. SIX
PEOPLE SEEMS LIKE, YOU KNOW, A
LOT. SO IF WE INCREASE IT TO
TEN, ARE THERE GOING TO BE SOME
SAFEGUARDS TO MAKE SURE THAT
SOME UNSCRUPULOUS PEOPLE AREN'T
JUST PACKING A BUNCH OF SENIORS
AND LIKE, BUNK BEDS AND LITTLE
ROOMS? I'M. IS THERE SOME
SAFEGUARDS TO MAKE SURE THAT
WE'RE JUST NOT GOING TO PACK
SENIORS INTO SPACES THAT CAN'T
REALLY YES. GIVE THEM DIGNITY
AND SPACE. YEAH, CERTAINLY. I
UNDERSTAND THE CONCERN, TITLE
22, ALREADY REGULATES THIS, SO
THERE'S A MAX OF TWO RESIDENTS
PER BEDROOM. COMMUNITY CARE
LICENSING IS IN THE BUILDINGS
EVERY YEAR INSPECTING. SO THIS
IS ALREADY AN AREA OF OVERSIGHT
FOR THEM. OKAY SO THESE ARE
ALREADY IT'S ALREADY IN PLACE
VIA TITLE 22 REGULATIONS. THAT'S
RIGHT. THAT'S ALL IT. ANY OTHER
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE
COMMITTEE? SEEING NONE. I'LL LET
THE AUTHOR CLOSE. RESPECTFULLY
ASK FOR YOUR VOTE. THANK YOU.
BRINGING THIS BILL FORWARD, I AM
RECOMMENDING AN AYE VOTE. DO I
HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND? SO
MOVED AND SECONDED. MOVED BY
SENATOR ORTEGA. SECONDED BY
SENATOR CALDERON, MADAM
SECRETARY, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL
FILE. ITEM EIGHT AB 1993. THE
MOTION IS TO PASS TO THE
ASSEMBLY APPROPRIATIONS
COMMITTEE. LI LI I EASILY,
EASILY I CALDERON. CALDERON I
GIBSON, GIBSON I JACKSON TO
ORTEGA. ORTEGA I 5 TO 0. THAT
BILL IS PASSED. WE'LL LEAVE THE
ROLL OPEN FOR ABSENT MEMBERS NOW
ASSEMBLY AND BRIAN, IF YOU ARE
READY, PLEASE COME UP TO PRESENT
FILE ITEM 17 AB 2664. MOVE THE
BILL SECOND. GOOD AFTERNOON.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MR. CHAIR AND
COLLEAGUES. TODAY I RISE TO
PRESENT AB 2006 64, A BILL THAT
WOULD CLARIFY FAMILY
REUNIFICATION TIMELINES IN THE
CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM. ONCE A
CHILD IS REMOVED FROM THEIR
PARENT'S CARE AND ENTERS, THE
CUSTODY OF THE COURT. PARENTS
TYPICALLY HAVE 18 MONTHS BEFORE
THEIR PARENTAL RIGHTS ARE
PERMANENTLY TERMINATED, AND THEY
ARE FOREVER SEPARATED FROM THEIR
CHILD. IN MOST CASES, THE COURT
WILL ORDER THE PARENT TO
COMPLETE FAMILY REUNIFICATION
SERVICES WITHIN THAT 18 MONTHS
TO ASSIST WITH REHABILITATION
AND TO WORK TOWARDS A SAFE
REUNIFICATION FOR THE CHILD.
HOWEVER A RECENT APPELLATE COURT
DECISION HAS LED TO SOME
CONFUSION ABOUT WHEN THE
TIMELINE BEGINS AND ENDS. IN
THAT CASE, A CHILD WAS
TEMPORARILY DETAINED, BUT SOON
AFTER RETURNED HOME WITH NO
ORDERS FOR REMOVAL AND NO
REUNIFICATION. THÀNH SERVICES
PROVIDED OR REQUIRED. LATER,
CHILD WELFARE OFFICIALS REMOVED
THE CHILD. 26 MONTHS LATER FROM
THE HOME AND ENTERED THEM INTO
THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM AND
TERMINATED PARENTAL CUSTODY ON
THE SPOT FOR FAMILIES. IN THESE
CIRCUMSTANCES, UNCERTAINTY ABOUT
TIMING CAN NOW LEAD TO
SITUATIONS WHERE COURT
PREMATURELY, PREMATURELY
TERMINATES PARENTAL RIGHTS
BECAUSE A JUDGE DETERMINES THE
TIMELINE FOR REUNIFICATION
BEGINS AT THE INITIAL TEMPORARY
DETAINMENT, EVEN THOUGH THE
CHILD WAS NOT YET ORDERED INTO
FOSTER CARE, WAS STILL RESIDING
AT HOME WITH THE PARENT, AND THE
PARENT WAS NOT RECEIVING ANY
REUNIFICATION SERVICES IN THAT
TIME PERIOD. THIS RUNS COUNTER
TO DECADES OF GENERAL PRACTICE
IN THE FIELD, WHAT WE WOULD LIKE
TO DO IS CODIFY THAT PRACTICE IN
STATE LAW. ESSENTIALLY, YOUR 18
MONTH SHOT CLOCK OR SO SHOULDN'T
START UNTIL THE COURT HAS
ORDERED THE CHILD TO BE REMOVED
FROM YOUR CUSTODY AND ORDERED A
REUNIFICATION PLAN, STARTING AT
ANY SOONER THAN THAT DATE ROBS
FAMILIES OF THE VALUABLE TIME
THEY NEED TO POTENTIALLY HEAL
AND STAY CONNECTED, WITH ME TO
TESTIFY TODAY IS JULIA HANNIGAN,
A POLICY DIRECTOR FOR DEPENDENCY
LEGAL SERVICES, AND DAVE
SCHUSTER, A MENTOR WITH THE
DEPENDENCY ADVOCACY CENTER.
THANK YOU. TWO MINUTES EACH.
WITNESS, PLEASE. THANK YOU. GOOD
AFTERNOON, HONORABLE CHAIR AND
MEMBERS OF THIS COMMITTEE. MY
NAME IS JULIA HANNIGAN, AND I'M
THE POLICY DIRECTOR FOR
DEPENDENCY LEGAL SERVICES. WE
REPRESENT PARENTS AND CHILDREN
IN CHILD WELFARE PROCEEDINGS IN
SIX COUNTIES IN CALIFORNIA. WE
ARE CO-SPONSORING THIS BILL TO
ENSURE THAT FAMILIES ARE NOT
NEEDLESSLY, PERMANENTLY
SEPARATED. DEPENDENCY CASES ARE
CONTROLLED BY TIMELINES. PARENTS
ARE GIVEN A TINY WINDOW TO
REUNIFY AND UP UNTIL RECENTLY,
CONSENSUS WAS THAT IF A CHILD
WAS TEMPORARILY DETAINED BUT
RETURNED SHORTLY THEREAFTER WITH
A FAMILY MAINTENANCE ORDER AT
DISPOSITION. THE 18 MONTH
TIMELINE REQUIREMENTS WERE NOT
TRIGGERED. THE CHILD HAD NOT
BEEN LEGALLY REMOVED, NOR HAD
THE FINAL SORRY FORMAL FOSTER
CARE ORDERS BEEN MADE. THIS
APPLICATION OF THE LAW MADE
SENSE WITH THE STATUTORY SCHEME.
THE TIMELINES WERE MEANT TO
PREVENT CHILDREN FROM
LANGUISHING IN FOSTER CARE, AND
THESE CHILDREN WERE NOT
LANGUISHING IN FOSTER CARE. THEY
WERE HOME. MOREOVER THE STANDARD
FOR A TEMPORARY DETENTION OF A
CHILD IS QUITE LOW. CHILDREN CAN
BE TEMPORARILY DETAINED BASED ON
VERY LITTLE EVIDENCE, A
MISTRANSLATION FROM A NURSE THAT
DIDN'T REALLY SPEAK SPANISH OR A
SUBSTANCE ABUSE TEST THAT TURNED
OUT TO BE A FALSE POSITIVE. THE
PROTECTIONS THAT FAMILIES HAVE
AGAINST THESE SITUATIONS IS THE
SUBSEQUENT HEARING REQUIRES THE
AGENCY TO ACTUALLY PROVE THAT
CHILDREN CANNOT BE WITH THEIR
PARENTS BY CLEAR AND CONVINCING
EVIDENCE. THE REMOVAL AT THOSE
HEARINGS IS WHAT TRIGGERS THE
APPLICATION OF THE TIMELINE.
HOWEVER, WITH DAMIEN L, THE
COURT MAY NOW BE REQUIRED TO
CONSIDER THESE CHILDREN RESIDING
AT HOME ON FAMILY MAINTENANCE AS
IF THEY WERE IN FOSTER CARE FOR
THE 18 MONTH TIMELINE.
CONSEQUENTLY, A FUTURE REMOVAL
MAY MEAN PERMANENT SEPARATION
FOR THE FAMILY WITHOUT ANY
OPPORTUNITY TO REUNIFY. IT ALSO
PRESENTS A BASIC DUE PROCESS
PROBLEM FOR THE NON-CUSTODIAL
PARENT WHO IS NOT ENTITLED TO
SERVICES WHILE THE CHILD WERE AT
HOME, CHILDREN WERE AT HOME WITH
THE CUSTODIAL PARENT, BUT COULD
BE TIMED OUT OF SERVICES WITHOUT
EVER GETTING THESE SERVICES. WE
DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THIS WAS THE
INTENT OF THE LEGISLATURE, AND
WE ARE ASKING FOR THIS FIX TO
ENSURE THAT FAMILIES GET THE
HELP THAT THEY ARE ENTITLED TO.
WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND
ASK YOU FOR YOUR AYE VOTE. THANK
YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON, HONORABLE
CHAIR LEE AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS DAVE SCHUSTER AND I
WORK FOR THE DEPENDENCY ADVOCACY
CENTER AS A MENTOR, PARENT,
PROGRAM MANAGER. I HAVE LIVED
EXPERIENCE IN THE CHILD WELFARE
SYSTEM AS A PARENT WHOSE CHILD
WAS REMOVED AND WHO SUCCESSFULLY
REUNIFIED AND NOW HAS SUPPORT,
PARENTS AS THEY NAVIGATE THE
JUVENILE DEPENDENCY, AS THEY
NAVIGATE THEIR JUVENILE
DEPENDENCY CASE. WHAT I'VE
LEARNED WORKING IN THE SYSTEM
FOR THE PAST 12 YEARS AND HAVING
BEEN IN RECOVERY NOW FOR 15
YEARS, IS RECOVERY IS A
DIFFICULT AND UNIQUE PROCESS.
WITHOUT SET TIMELINES, THE
ESSENTIAL PART OF RECOVERY
PROCESS IS HONESTY AND TAKING
ACCOUNTABILITY AND ASKING FOR
HELP WHEN NEEDED. HOWEVER IN
SOME CASES WHEN A PARENT DOES
THIS, THEY PAY THE ULTIMATE
PRICE. THEY LOSE THE RIGHT TO
PARENT THEIR CHILDREN AT AND THE
PARENT. THE CHILD LOSES THE
RIGHT TO BE PARENTED BY THEIR
PARENTS. AND THIS IS A LIFE
SENTENCE, UNDER THE CURRENT LAWS
INTERPRETATION, WHEN A CHILD IS
REMOVED, EVEN FOR JUST ONE DAY
AND THEN QUICKLY RETURNED, THE
CLOCK FOR REUNIFICATION SERVICES
CONTINUES TO TICK EVEN THOUGH
THE CHILD IS WITH THE PARENT AND
NO REUNIFICATION SERVICES ARE
BEING PROVIDED, THE RECOVERY AND
CHANGE PROCESS IS NOT ALWAYS
LINEAR. SOMETIMES PEOPLE DO GET
IT ON THE FIRST TRY, BUT MANY
DON'T, AND HOWEVER LONG TERME
RECOVERY IS STILL POSSIBLE, WITH
THE RIGHT SERVICES AND SUPPORTS
IN PLACE, THE CURRENT SYSTEM
ENCOURAGES PARENTS TO HIDE THEIR
STRUGGLES AND NOT ASK FOR HELP
WHEN THEY MAY NEED IT THE MOST.
30S. THIS IS IN DIRECT CONTRAST
TO RECOVERY MODEL, WHICH
PROMOTES HONESTY, TAKING
ACCOUNTABILITY AND TALKING ABOUT
YOUR STRUGGLES, STRUGGLES AND
ASKING FOR HELP. AB 2664 WILL
CLARIFY THAT WHEN THE CHILD IS
RETURNED TO THE PARENT AT
DISPOSITION, THIS SHOULD BE A
SUBSEQUENT REMOVAL. THE PARENT
OR PARENTS WILL STILL HAVE THE
RIGHT OF REUNIFICATION SERVICES.
I HAVE SUPPORTED MULTIPLE
PARENTS WHO HAVE BEEN ABLE TO
SUCCESSFULLY REUNIFY. REUNIFY
AFTER SERVICES WHEN ORDERED
SERVICES FOLLOWING A 387
REMOVAL. EVEN WHEN THEY
ORIGINALLY THE NON-CUSTODIAL
PARENT WAS NOT RECEIVING
SERVICES AT FAMILY MAINTENANCE.
INSTEAD OF GIVING UP ON THESE
FAMILIES, LET'S GIVE THEM THE
ONGOING SUPPORT THEY NEED TO
CHANGE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME
AND I RESPECT ORPHALI ASK Ã I
VOTE ON 2664. THANK YOU. NOW,
ARE THERE ANY MEMBERS OF THE
PUBLIC IN THE HEARING ROOM WHO
WISH TO TESTIFY IN SUPPORT?
PLEASE COME TO THE MICROPHONE.
YEAH. KEVIN ESTÁN, COALITION OF
CALIFORNIA WELFARE RIGHTS
ORGANIZATIONS, MISTER WONG
SUPPORT. THANK YOU. JULIE
MCCORMICK, PROUD CO-SPONSOR FROM
THE CHILDREN'S LAW CENTER OF
CALIFORNIA. THANK YOU. RACHEL
CLIFF, LAW STUDENT IN SUPPORT.
THANK YOU. NOW, DO WE HAVE ANY
WITNESSES IN OPPOSITION TO THE
BILL? PLEASE COME UP TO THE
MICROPHONE. ANY WITNESSES IN
OPPOSITION? ALL RIGHT. SEEING
NONE. I'LL BRING IT BACK TO THE
COMMITTEE. ANY QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS? SHOULD THE DECISION.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? ALL
RIGHT. SEEING NONE. I'LL INVITE
THE AUTHOR TO CLOSE. THANK YOU,
MR. CHAIR. ALL OF THE LITERATURE
SHOWS THAT WHEN WE ARE ABLE TO
PROVIDE THE SUPPORT OF NETWORK
OF RESOURCES AND ACCOUNTABILITY
THAT ALLOWS FOR FAMILIES TO STAY
WHOLE, IT'S IN THE BEST INTEREST
OF THE FAMILY, THE COMMUNITY,
BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, THE CHILD,
THE CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM, HAS TO
BE A LAST RESORT. AND IN THIS
INSTANCE, THE CONFUSION IS
LEADING TO WHERE CHILDREN ARE
BEING PERMANENTLY SEPARATED FROM
THEIR BIOLOGICAL FAMILIES
WITHOUT FAMILY REUNIFICATION
OFFERINGS AND WITHOUT THE
POTENTIAL FOR HEALING, FOR
ACCOUNTABILITY, FOR RESTORATION,
AND THAT IS, THAT IS THAT IS
COUNTER TO THE GOALS THAT WE'VE
SET AS A STATE, THIS IS A BILL
THAT CODIFIES BEST PRACTICES,
HAS NO OPPOSITION. AND I
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOUR I
VOTE. THANK YOU. IT IS VITAL
THAT ALL FAMILIES INVOLVED WITH
THE CHILD WELFARE SERVICE SYSTEM
ARE GIVEN ADEQUATE TIME TO
REUNIFY. THANK YOU FOR BRINGING
THIS BILL FORWARD AND YOUR
CONTINUED WORK ON THESE ISSUES.
I AM RECOMMENDING I VOTE THIS
BILL WAS MOVED BY A SIMILAR
GIBSON AND SECONDED BY SENATOR
ORTEGA, MADAM SECRETARY, PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL. FINAL ITEM 17 AB
2664. THE MOTION IS Dð PASSED TO
THE ASSEMBLY JUDICIARY
COMMITTEE. LEE LI AYE. EASILY.
EASILY. AYE. CALDERON CALDERON.
AYE. GIBSON. GIBSON. AYE.
JACKSON TO ORTEGA. ORTEGA. AYE.
THANK YOU. 5 TO 0. THAT BILL IS
OUT. WE'LL LEAVE THE ROLL OPEN
FOR ABSENT MEMBERS. ASSEMBLY
MEMBER PELLERIN, IF YOU WOULD
LIKE TO COME UP. THANK YOU FOR
MEMBERS FOR BEING FLEXIBLE AND
YOUR PATIENCE, THIS IS FILE ITEM
19, AB 2866 BY ASSEMBLY
PELLERIN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
I'M DONE. OKAY, SO THANK YOU,
MR. CHAIR. MEMBERS, FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT AB 2866.
THIS IS ACTUALLY A REALLY
CRITICALLY IMPORTANT BILL IN MY
DISTRICT ON MONDAY, OCTOBER
SECOND, 2023, ONE YEAR OLD
PAYTON COBB AND 18 MONTH OLD
LILLIAN HANNON LOST THEIR LIVES
IN A HORRIFIC ACCIDENT, THESE
CHILDREN WERE AT A LICENSED HOME
DAYCARE LOCATED IN SAN JOSE WHEN
THREE TODDLERS ACCESSED THE
SWIMMING POOL LOCATED ON THE
PREMISES THAT WERE UNSUPERVISED.
AFTER BEING TRANSPORTED, THE
HOSPITAL IN CRITICAL CONDITION.
TWO OF THE CHILDREN WERE
PRONOUNCED DEAD. I INTRODUCED AB
2866 TO TRY AND PREVENT THIS
TRAGEDY FROM EVER HAPPENING
AGAIN. THE DAYCARE HAD MET THE
CURRENT REQUIREMENTS FOR POOL
SAFETY. THE POOL WAS DEEMED SAFE
UNDER CURRENT SAFETY STANDARDS
BY CALIFORNIA CODE REQUIREMENTS.
THE CURRENT POOL SAFETY CODE
REGULATIONS ARE OUTDATED, HAVING
BEEN ENACTED IN 1996. THE
SWIMMING POOL SAFETY ACT
REQUIRES A 2 TO 2 STAGE SAFETY
SYSTEM TO BE INSTALLED IN A HOME
POOL. HOWEVER, THE SWIMMING POOL
SAFETY ACT HAD LEFT AN EXEMPTION
FOR ANY FACILITY WHICH WAS
REGULATED BY THE STATE
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES,
WHICH INCLUDES DAYCARE
FACILITIES, GROUP HOMES AND
SENIOR FACILITIES. THE STATE
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
ONLY REQUIRES A FENCE TO PREVENT
ACCIDENTAL DROWNING. THE MAIN
ISSUE ARISES FROM THE POTENTIAL
HAZARDS ASSOCIATED WITH THE
SINGLE SAFETY MECHANISM. THE
ABILITY FOR A SINGLE MECHANISM
TO BE BYPASSED, OR A FAILURE
ALLOWS FOR A DROWNING HAZARD. IN
THE CASE OF THE DAYCARE
RESPONSIBLE FOR LILLIAN AND
PAYTON, THE HOMEOWNER THE
PREVIOUS NIGHT HAD BYPASSED THE
GATE AND PROPPED IT OPEN. THIS
RESULTED IN THE GATE BEING
UNABLE TO SERVE THE INTENDED
SAFETY FUNCTION. AB 2866 WILL
CREATE A MULTIFACETED SAFETY
REQUIREMENT TO UPDATE THE
EXISTING STANDARDS TO ALLOW FOR
BETTER DROWNING PREVENTION
STANDARDS. THE BILL WOULD
REQUIRE AN UPDATED SAFETY
REQUIREMENT IN ADDITION TO THE
FENCE THAT MEET CURRENT
STANDARDS. AS WELL AS EITHER A
POOL COVER OR AN ALARM SYSTEM.
THIS WOULD CREATE A TWO STEP
SYSTEM THAT, IN THE EVENT OF A
FAILURE OF A SECONDARY SAFETY
PRECAUTION, WILL BE ABLE TO
PREVENT A DROWNING. ADDITIONALLY
AB 2866 WILL CREATE A
REQUIREMENT FOR A DAILY
ASSESSMENT LOG TO DOCUMENT THAT
THE POOL AT FACILITIES ARE BEING
SECURED BY THE TWO STEP SYSTEM,
IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAW
BEFORE THE CENTER OPENS. THANK
YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO PRESENT
THIS BILL TO YOU TODAY. THANK
YOU. SENATOR, DO YOU WITNESS
WITH YOU OR NOT? TODAY I, I'M
NOT SURE. I DON'T THINK THEY
MADE IT. THAT'S OKAY, ARE THERE
ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO
WISH TO TESTIFY IN SUPPORT OF
THE BILL? PLEASE COME UP TO THE
MICROPHONE. MR. CHAIRMAN,
MEMBERS. JOHN NORWOOD, ON BEHALF
OF THE CALIFORNIA POOL AND SPA
ASSOCIATION AND THE POOL AND HOT
TUB ALLIANCE NATIONAL
ASSOCIATION. WE'RE PLEASED TO
SUPPORT THE BILL. THANK YOU.
TONY ANDERSON WITH THE
ASSOCIATION OF REGIONAL CENTER
AGENCIES. WE SUPPORT THIS BILL.
THANK YOU. NOW, ARE THERE ANY
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC IN THIS
HEARING ROOM WHO WISH TO TESTIFY
IN OPPOSITION TO THIS BILL?
OPPOSITION? SEEING NONE, I'LL
BRING IT BACK TO THE COMMITTEE.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?
ASSEMBLY. CALDERON YES. I JUST
LIKE TO THANK THE AUTHOR FOR
BRINGING THIS BILL FORWARD, AND
I WOULD LOVE TO BE A COAUTHOR.
THANK YOU. SEEING NONE, I'LL
INVITE ASSEMBLY MEMBER PELLERIN
TO CLOSE, I RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR
YOUR I VOTE. ALL RIGHT. UPDATING
SWIMMING POOL SAFETY STANDARDS
AND DAYCARE FACILITIES. A LIFE
SAVING MEASURE WHILE THE
INSTALLATION OF ADDITIONAL
SAFETY FEATURES MAY
SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASE COSTS FOR
LICENSED CHILD DAYCARE
FACILITIES, ESPECIALLY THOSE IN
UNDER-RESOURCED COMMUNITIES, THE
BENEFITS OF THESE INVESTMENTS
FAR OUTWEIGH THE COSTS, WHICH IS
PREVENTING ACCIDENTAL DROWNING
RELATED INJURIES AND DEATHS.
THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS BILL
FORWARD. OUR COMMITTEE AND I
VOTE WE DON'T YET HAVE A MOTION
A SECOND. BEALL BILLS WERE MOVED
IN, SECONDED. MOVED BY MR.
GIBSON, SECONDED BY SENATOR
ORTEGA, MADAM SECRETARY, PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL. FINAL ITEM 19 AB
2866. THE MOTION IS DUE PASSED
TO THE ASSEMBLY HEALTH
COMMITTEE. LI I LI I AZALI.
AZALI I. CALDERON. CALDERON I,
GIBSON. GIBSON I JACKSON TO
ORTEGA. ORTEGA I FIVE ZERO. THE
BELLS OUT. WE'LL LEAVE THE ROLL
OPEN FOR ABSENT MEMBERS. THANK
YOU. NOW, ASSEMBLY MEMBERS WERE.
THANK YOU FOR MAKING SURE. THANK
YOU. THIS PHYLUM 16. WHENEVER
YOU ARE READY, PLEASE PROCEED.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MR. CHAIR.
MEMBERS I FIRST WANT TO THANK
THE COMMITTEE FOR ALL ITS HARD
WORK AND YOUR STAFF AND I WOULD
LIKE TO ACCEPT THE COMMITTEE'S
PROPOSED AMENDMENTS. AB 2477
WILL UPLIFT OUR YOUTH BY
ALLOWING THEM TO TRANSITION FROM
FOSTER CARE INTO ADULTHOOD WITH
THE CHANCE TO GROW THE BEST
FINANCIAL SAFETY NET. EXISTING
LAW STATES THAT FOSTER YOUTH,
THAT YOUTH IN FOSTER CARE ARE
ONLY ALLOWED TO SAVE UP TO
$10,000 SHOULD THEIR SAVINGS
SURPASS THIS AMOUNT. YOUTH MAY
UNDERGO A REDETERMINATION
ASSESSMENT AND POTENTIALLY LOSE
THEIR BENEFITS DUE TO INCOME OR
RESOURCE INELIGIBLE K¾T. WHILE
MANY FOSTER YOUTH NEVER
ACCUMULATE THAT MUCH IN SAVINGS,
SOME DO, AND HAVING A FINANCIAL
SAFETY NET IS SOMETHING WE
SHOULD ENCOURAGE FOSTER YOUTH TO
BUILD. TO HELP WITH THIS
PROBLEM. NEW GUIDELINES ISSUED
BY THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL
SERVICES HAVE CHANGED HOW THE
COUNTIES SHOULD LOOK AT EXISTING
LAW BY ALLOWING FOSTER FORMER BY
ALLOWING FOSTER YOUTH TO SAVE
MORE THAN $10,000 WITHOUT
WORRYING ABOUT LOSING THEIR
SUPPORT IN FOSTER CARE. HOWEVER,
BECAUSE THIS IMPORTANT POLICY
CLARIFICATION HAS NOT BEEN
CODIFIED IN STATUTE, BUSY
CASEWORKERS WHO ARE UNAWARE OF
THE NUANCE OF THIS POLICY CAN
STILL CITE THE $10,000 SAVINGS
CAP AS A TRIGGER FOR
REDETERMINATION OF ELIGIBILITY.
IN ADDITION, NOT HAVING IT IN
STATUTE, THE GUIDELINES CAN
CHANGE. AB 2477 CLARIFIES
AMBIGUITIES BY ALLOWING STATE
LAW WITH RECENT DEPARTMENTAL
GUIDANCE REMOVING ANY SUGGESTION
THAT YOUTH CANNOT ACCUMULATE
CASH ASSETS WHILE IN FOSTER
CARE. LGBTQ PLUS YOUTH AND
CHILDREN OF COLOR ARE OVER
REPRESENTED IN OUR FOSTER CARE
SYSTEM DUE TO GREATER RATES OF
FAMILY REJECTION AND SYSTEMIC
INEQUALITIES. SO THIS BILL IS
ABOUT INCREASING FINANCIAL
SECURITY AND EQUITY FOR ALL OUR
YOUTH IN FOSTER CARE, AND ABOUT
THE LEGISLATURE'S DUTY TO
SUPPORT MARGINALIZED POPULATIONS
UNDER THE STATE'S CARE. WITH ME
TODAY ARE KIM LEWIS,
REPRESENTING THE CALIFORNIA
COALITION FOR YOUTH AND KRISTEN
POWER FOR THE ALLIANCE FOR
CHILDREN'S RIGHTS. SPONSORS OF
THE BILL PROVIDE ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION AND ASSIST WITH
QUESTIONS. THANK YOU SO MUCH,
PLEASE PROCEED. TWO MINUTES PER
WITNESS. GOOD AFTERNOON. KIM
LEWIS, REPRESENTING THE
CALIFORNIA COALITION FOR YOUTH,
AND WE APPRECIATE THE WORK OF
THE COMMITTEE STAFF WITH US AND
ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE LEADERSHIP
OF ASSEMBLYMEMBER ZUBER ON THIS
ISSUE. FINANCIAL CAPABILITY FOR
ALL OUR YOUNG PEOPLE
TRANSITIONING TO IS ADULTHOOD IS
IMPORTANT, BUT IT'S CRITICAL FOR
OUR YOUNG PEOPLE TRANSITIONING
OUT OF FOSTER CARE WHO HAVE
ALREADY FACED NUMEROUS OTHER
CHALLENGES. FOR YOUTH WHO HAVE
EXPERIENCED FOSTER CARE,
TYPICALLY, THEY HAVE GREATER
ECONOMIC HARDSHIPS, LIKE NOT
HAVING AVAILABLE RESOURCES TO
PAY FOR HOUSING DEPOSITS, RENT
OR UTILITY BILLS, OR BUYING A
CAR FOR TRANSPORTATION TO WORK
OR SCHOOL. IN ONE STUDY OF
OUTCOMES FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE
TRANSITIONING OUT OF FOSTER
CARE, 45% OF PARTICIPANTS
REPORTED EXPERIENCING AT LEAST
ONE OF FIVE MATERIAL HARDSHIPS
DURING THE PAST YEAR, COMPARED
TO 18% OF THEIR PEERS AND MANY
FAMILIES. YOUNG ADULTS HAVE A
PARENT EXTENDED FAMILY MEMBER, A
SIBLING THAT THEY CAN REACH OUT
TO WHEN THEY NEED ASSISTANCE. A
STRONG AND SECURE SAFETY NET CAN
BE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A
CRISIS BEING RESOLVED OR TURNING
INTO A CHRONIC STRESSOR, AND
THIS IS A SIMPLE AND EFFECTIVE
MEASURE, AND WE ASK FOR YOUR
VOTE. THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON,
CHAIR AND MEMBERS, KRISTEN POWER
AT THE ALLIANCE FOR CHILDREN'S
RIGHTS. WE'RE PLEASED TO
CO-SPONSOR AB 2477. AS THE
ASSEMBLYMEMBER NOTED, EXISTING
LAW STATES THAT YOUTH IN FOSTER
CARE CAN ONLY SAVE UP TO
$10,000, WHILE MANY YOUTH IN
FOSTER CARE CAN NEVER ACCUMULATE
THAT MUCH IN SAVINGS. SOME DO.
AND OF COURSE, THAT'S SOMETHING
WE WANT TO ENCOURAGE. AS YOU
KNOW, THE COST OF LIVING IN
CALIFORNIA IS VERY HIGH AND JUST
ONE LIFE CRISIS CAN SET A YOUTH
BACK TENS OF THOUSANDS OF
DOLLARS. STATE LAW HAS BEEN
INTERPRETED OVER THE PAST DECADE
TO EXCLUDE YOUTH FROM EXTENDED
FOSTER CARE. ONCE THEY HIT THE
$10,000 MARK, LUCKILY, THE STATE
GUIDANCE IS ASSEMBLYMEMBERS
MENTIONED. RELEASED IN 2022,
CLEARLY STATES THE YOUTH IN
FOSTER CARE CAN SAVE MORE THAN
10,000. BUT THAT IMPORTANT
POLICY CHANGE HAS NOT REALLY
BEEN CODIFIED INTO LAW AND
MEANING THAT WE HAVE NOT MADE
EFFECTIVE USE OF THAT POLICY
CHANGE. TO PUT A FACE ON THIS
ISSUE, I'D LIKE TO SHARE A STORY
OF ONE OF OUR CLIENTS, ALYSSA IS
A SINGLE MOTHER OF TWO WHO
RECENTLY EXITED THE FOSTER CARE
SYSTEM AT THE AGE OF 21. SHE HAS
STRUGGLED TO MAINTAIN STABLE
HOUSING, CHILDCARE AND
EMPLOYMENT BECAUSE SHE WAS NOT
ABLE TO SAVE A FINANCIAL SAFETY
NET TO SUPPORT HER THROUGH THAT
TRANSITION. IN AB 2477 WOULD
CODIFY THE STATE GUIDANCE AND,
BY ALIGNING STATUTE WITH POLICY,
ENSURE GREATER CONSISTENCY IN
IMPLEMENTATION SO THAT WE CAN
SUPPORT OUR YOUTH AS THEY
TRANSITION OUT OF FOSTER CARE.
THANK YOU. WE RESPECTFULLY ASK
FOR YOUR AYE VOTE. THANK YOU. DO
WE HAVE ANY MEMBERS OF THE
PUBLIC WHO WISH TO ADD THEIR
SUPPORT TO THIS BILL? PLEASE
COME UP TO THE MICROPHONE,
KEVIN, AS THE COALITION
CALIFORNIA WELFARE RIGHTS
ORGANIZATION, STRONG SUPPORT.
THANK YOU. REBECCA GONZALEZ,
WESTERN CENTER ON LAW AND
POVERTY AND SUPPORT. CRAIG
PULSIPHER, EQUALITY CALIFORNIA,
IN SUPPORT. GOOD AFTERNOON,
LIZZY KUTSUNA HERE ON BEHALF OF
THE CALIFORNIA ACADEMY FOR CHILD
AND ADOLESCENT PSYCHIATRY AND
SUPPORT. THANK YOU, COLLEEN
PACHTER, ON BEHALF OF FIRST
PLACE FOR YOUTH AND SUPPORT,
AMANDA KIRSHNER IN SUPPORT. GOOD
EVENING. MY NAME IS CAROLYN
TRAVIS. I AM REPRESENTING
CALIFORNIA YOUTH CONNECTION AS
WELL AS MYSELF. AS A FORMER
FOSTER YOUTH WHO RECEIVED
PAYMENTS, THIS IS CRITICAL
BECAUSE I HAD TO PAY OVER
$10,000 SIMPLY TO SECURE A ONE
BEDROOM, ONE BATHROOM APARTMENT
ON MY OWN AS A FOSTER YOUTH AND
BEING ABLE TO SAVE SOAP PAYMENTS
PAST 10,000 WILL BE ESSENTIAL TO
ENDING CHRONIC HOMELESSNESS
AMONGST FOSTER YOUTH. THANK YOU.
HI EVERYONE. CHRISTOPHER
HERNANDEZ, CALIFORNIA YOUTH
CONNECTION IN SUPPORT. HI, MY
NAME IS KATE. I'M WITH
CALIFORNIA YOUTH CONNECTION.
CURRENTLY ONE OF THE CIC MEMBERS
THAT I WORK WITH IS BEING
HARASSED BY HER CASEWORKER
BECAUSE SHE HAS SAVED OVER
$10,000. AND APPARENTLY, AS
SHE'S 20 AND GETTING READY TO
EXIT FOSTER CARE, SHE WAS
PREPARING FOR THIS BY SAVING
MONEY, AND HER CASEWORKER IS
THREATENING TO EXIT HER EARLY
AND SO ASK FOR HER SUPPORT IN
THIS BILL. IT'S CRITICAL THAT
PEOPLE BE ABLE TO SAVE UP IN
ORDER TO FOR LIFE AFTER FOSTER
CARE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU,
THANK YOU. NOW, ARE THERE ANY
WITNESSES IN OPPOSITION IN THE
ROOM? PLEASE COME FORWARD TO THE
MIC IN OPPOSITION. SEEING NONE.
DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS?
COMMENTS FROM THE COMMITTEE
MEMBERS. ALL RIGHT, LIKE THE
ASSEMBLYMEMBER TO CLOSE, THE
AUTHOR TO CLOSE. JUST THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. ASK FOR AN AYE VOTE.
ALL RIGHT. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT
THERE ARE NO THEY'RE NOT
INCONSISTENCIES IN THE
INFORMATION. YOUTH ARE BEING
TOLD ABOUT THE AMOUNT THEY CAN
KEEP IN THEIR SAVINGS. AND IT'S
CRUCIAL THAT WE DO WHAT WE CAN
TO SUPPORT YOUTH WITH A
SUCCESSFUL TRANSITION TO
INDEPENDENCE. THANK YOU FOR
BRINGING THIS BILL FORWARD. I
REMEMBER WHAT IT WAS LIKE A
COUPLE OF YEARS AGO TO FINALLY
HAVE $10,000 IN MY ACCOUNT, SO I
CAN UNDERSTAND THE MONUMENTAL
ACHIEVEMENT IT IS FOR FOSTER
YOUTH TO DO THE SAME THING. I'M
RECOMMENDING AN AYE VOTE. IT HAS
ALREADY BEEN MOVED BY SENATOR
GIBSON, SECONDED BY SENATOR.
ORTEGA MADAM SECRETARY, PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL. FINAL ITEM 16 AB
2477. THE MOTION IS TO PASS, AS
AMENDED, TO THE ASSEMBLY
APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE. LEE LI
AYE EASILY. I EASILY I CALDERON.
CALDERON, I GIBSON. GIBSON I
JACKSON TO ORTEGA. ORTEGA I FIVE
ZERO. THAT BILL IS OUT. WE WILL
LEAVE THE ROLL OPEN FOR ABSENT
MEMBERS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
SENATOR GIBSON, WOULD YOU LIKE
TO PRESENT YOUR BILL? THIS WILL
BE Kò FILE ITEM TEN. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. THANK YOU FOR
ALLOWING ME TO PRESENT A SIMILAR
BILL, 2141, THANK YOU FOR THE
FOR MOVING THIS BILL, THIS IS A
REAL COMMON SENSE, BILL, I
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR AN AYE VOTE
AND DEFER TO MY WITNESS FOR
TESTIMONY, IN SUPPORT OF THE
BILL. ASSEMBLY. GIBSON. I'M WITH
COALITION CALIFORNIA. ONE
SECOND, PLEASE. ASSEMBLY.
GIBSON, DO YOU ACCEPT THE
COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS? I DO, AND
THANK THE COMMITTEE FOR WORKING
HARD ON THIS BILL. THANK YOU SO
MUCH. NOW, YOUR WITNESS, PLEASE.
TWO MINUTES. OKAY. AGAIN, MY
NAME IS KEVIN. KEVIN COALITION
CALIFORNIA WELFARE RIGHTS
ORGANIZATIONS. AND IT'S KIND OF
PERPLEXING THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE
GET THEIR MONEY ON THE EBT CARD.
THEN IT GETS SKIMMED AND THERE'S
ABOUT $60 MILLION A YEAR THAT IS
BEING SKIMMED. SO THIS BILL
WOULD BASICALLY MAKE SURE TO
TELL PEOPLE THAT THEY HAVE AN
OPTION. IF THEY HAVE AN ACCOUNT,
THEY COULD HAVE THAT DIRECT
DEPOSIT, JUST LIKE MY PAYCHECK
AND YOUR PAYCHECK IS DIRECT
DEPOSITED CALWORKS RECIPIENTS
SHOULD HAVE THE SAME OPPORTUNITY
K¾T. AND WE ASK FOR AN AYE VOTE.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU. DO WE HAVE
ANY OTHER MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
WHO WISH TO ADD THEIR SUPPORT TO
THIS BILL? PLEASE COME UP TO THE
MICROPHONE. HI, GABBY DAVIDSON
WITH THE CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION
OF FOOD BANKS AND SUPPORT. THANK
YOU. REBECCA GONZALEZ WESTERN
CENTER ON LAW AND POVERTY IN
SUPPORT. MR. CHAIR MEMBERS
MONICA MILLER, REPRESENTING THE
NATIONAL COUNCIL OF JEWISH
WOMEN, L.A. CHAPTER IN SUPPORT.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU. NOW, DO WE
HAVE ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
WISH TO TESTIFY IN OPPOSITION TO
THE BILL? Ó, PLEASE COME
FORWARD. GOOD AFTERNOON. EILEEN
KAMINSKY AGAIN WITH THE COUNTY
WELFARE DIRECTORS ASSOCIATION. I
JUST WANT TO START BY SAYING
THAT THE COMMENTS I'M ABOUT TO
MAKE ARE THE VERSION OF THE BILL
IN PRINT. WE HAVE A COPY OF THE
AMENDMENTS AND ARE LOOKING AT
THOSE AND GOING OVER. THEM WITH
OUR COUNTIES TO SEE IF THOSE
ADDRESS OUR CONCERNS. SO JUST
WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT THIS
ALL MAY BE OUTDATED, BUT OUR
ISSUES WITH THE BILL ARE WITH
RESPECT SPECIFICALLY TO THE
GENERAL ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS
THAT ARE IN THE BILL. STATE LAW
DOES REQUIRE COUNTIES TO OFFER
GENERAL ASSISTANCE TO RESIDENTS,
BUT THE LAW ALSO PROVIDES
EXPLICITLY FOR INDIVIDUAL COUNTY
DISCRETION IN TERMS OF THE
AMOUNT, DURATION AND LOCAL RULES
FOR RECEIVING GENERAL
ASSISTANCE, WE READ THE CURRENT
LANGUAGE OF THE BILL AS
REQUIRING US NOW TO PROVIDE A
DIRECT DEPOSIT OPTION FOR
RECIPIENTS OF GA, AND THAT IS
THE CRUX OF OUR CONCERNS AROUND
THE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THAT
REQUIREMENT AND THE IMPOSITION
OF THOSE KIND OF STATEWIDE
MANDATES AROUND THAT PROGRAM,
WITH THAT, AGAIN, WE ARE LOOKING
AT THE RECENT LANGUAGE AND HOPE
THAT THAT ADDRESSES OUR CONCERNS
, OUR ANY OTHER MEMBERS OF THE
PUBLIC WISH TO EXPRESS THEIR
OPPOSITION TO THE BILL. PLEASE
COME FORWARD TO THE MICROPHONE.
GOOD AFTERNOON. JOSH, ON BEHALF
OF THE URBAN COUNTIES OF
CALIFORNIA AND RURAL COUNTY
REPRESENTATIVES OF CALIFORNIA
ALSO OPPOSED. THANK YOU. NOW
BRING IT BACK TO THE COMMITTEE.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, VICE
CHAIR SALLY. SO IT COSTS MORE
MONEY TO DIRECT DEPOSIT INTO
PEOPLE'S ACCOUNTS THAN IT IS TO
PRINT AND MAIL A CARD, RIGHT
NOW, NOT ALL COUNTIES, OFFER
DIRECT DEPOSIT FOR GENERAL
ASSISTANCE, SO WE'D HAVE TO
ESTABLISH THAT, HELP RECIPIENTS
SET UP THOSE ACCOUNTS. AND IT'S
THE NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
AROUND THEIR RIGHT TO HAVE A
DIRECT DEPOSIT OPTION. IT IS
DICTATING TO COUNTIES HOW THEY
HAVE TO PROVIDE THE BENEFITS.
AND THAT'S SOMEWHAT SOMEWHERE
THE COST IS. BUT THE AMENDMENTS,
THE AMENDMENTS BASICALLY LEAVE
IT AS COUNTY OPTION. SO THERE'S
NO COST. IT'S UP. IT'S UP TO
THEM. OH SO NOW IT'S OPTIONAL.
IT'S OPTIONAL. ABSOLUTELY. YEAH
I JUST I JUST THINK LONG TERME
IT MAKES SENSE TO GET AWAY FROM
PLASTIC AND MAIL AND ALL THAT
STUFF. AND SO I WAS JUST
CONFUSED BY THAT. BUT, WE DO NOT
DISAGREE. AND, WE ARE SIMPLY
LOOKING TO PRESERVE THE COUNTY
ABILITY TO HAVE FLEXIBILITY AND
DISCRETION IN TERMS OF HOW THEY
OPERATE. THIS GENERAL ASSISTANCE
PROGRAMS. OKAY. THANK YOU. NO
OTHER QUESTIONS. ALL RIGHT. ANY
OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?
SEEING NONE, I'LL INVITE THE
AUTHOR TO CLOSE, THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. ASSEMBLY BILL 2141 WILL
EXPAND THE ABILITY OF DIRECT
DEPOSIT FOR GENERAL ASSISTANCE,
BENEFICIARIES. IT WOULD ALSO
REQUIRE THE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF
HUMAN ASSISTANCE TO INFORM
APPLICANTS OF THEIR PARTICULAR
OPTIONS. AGAIN, I THINK THE
AMENDMENTS WILL ADDRESS THE
OPPOSITION'S, CONCERNS, I
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR AN AYE
VOTE, WITH THIS BILL, A SIMILAR
BILL. 2141. THANK YOU FOR
BRINGING THIS BILL FORWARD. I
UNDERSTAND ET SKIMMING IS A BIG
PROBLEM FOR RECIPIENTS AND
COUNTIES, AND A DESIRE FOR
DIRECT DEPOSIT TO BE USED AS AN
ALTERNATIVE. HOWEVER, EBT CARDS
OFFER PROTECTIONS AGAINST BANK
FEES, SO IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT
WE MAKE SURE RECIPIENTS ARE
AWARE OF THEIR CHOICE TO USE AN
EBT CARD OR DIRECT DEPOSIT. I
APPRECIATE SIMILAR GIBSON'S
OFFICE WORKING WITH THE
COMMITTEE ON THE AMENDMENTS THAT
I THINK WILL ADDRESS SOME OF THE
CONCERNS YOU HEARD TODAY, SO
WITH THAT, I AM RECOMMENDING I
VOTE AS AMENDED, I ALREADY AND
THE BILL HAS BEEN MOVED BY
SENATOR CALDERON, SECONDED BY
SENATOR ORTEGA. MADAM SECRETARY,
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. FINAL ITEM
TEN AB 2141. THE MOTION IS Dð.
PASS AS AMENDED TO THE ASSEMBLY
APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE. LEE I
LI I EASILY, EASILY I CALDERON
CALDERON I GIBSON I GIBSON I
JACKSON TO ORTEGA. ORTEGA I FIVE
ZERO. THAT BILL IS OUT. WE'LL
LEAVE THE ROLL OPEN FOR ABSENT
MEMBERS. MEMBERS. WE WILL NOW
MOVE ON TO THE CONSENT CALENDAR.
THE CONSENT CALENDAR HAS BEEN
MOVED BY SENATOR GIBSON,
SECONDED BY ASSEMBLY MEMBER
CALDERON. MADAM SECRETARY, CAN
YOU PLEASE READ THE CONSENT
CALENDAR AND THEN WE'LL TAKE A
VOTE FILE ITEM ONE AB 1808 BY
STEPHANIE NGUYEN Dð. PASS TO THE
ASSEMBLY APPROPRIATIONS
COMMITTEE FILE ITEM TWO AB 1876.
JACKSON TO PASS TO THE ASSEMBLY
JUDICIARY COMMITTEE FILE ITEM
NINE AB 2108 RAMOS TO PASS TO
THE ASSEMBLY APPROPRIATIONS
COMMITTEE. FILE ITEM 12 AB 2317
STEPHANIE NGUYEN Dð PASS TO THE
ASSEMBLY EDUCATION COMMITTEE.
MADAM SECRETARY, PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR. ON
THE CONSENT CALENDAR. LI LI AYE
AS-SALIH AS-SALIH AYE. CALDERON.
CALDERON. AYE GIBSON. GIBSON,
AYE. JACKSON TO ORTEGA. ORTEGA.
AYE 5 TO 0. THE CONSENT CALENDAR
IS OUT. I'LL LEAVE THE ROLL OPEN
FOR ABSENT MEMBERS. MEMBERS,
THANK YOU FOR STICKING THROUGH
IT, Ó. AND WE'RE GOING TO DO.
THANK YOU. I WAS GOING TO SAY
THANK YOU FOR THE MEMBERS WHO
HAVE STUCK AROUND. WE'RE GOING
TO DO VOTE ADD ONS FOR MEMBERS
WHO ARE PRESENT. SO, MADAM
SECRETARY, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL
FOR ABSENT MEMBERS. FILE ITEM
THREE AB 1911. CURRENT VOTE IS 4
TO 0. JACKSON TO ORTEGA. ORTEGA.
AYE. CURRENT VOTE 5 TO 0. FILE
ITEM FOUR AB 1925. THE CURRENT
VOTE IS 2 TO 0. JACKSON TO ORDER
VEGA. ORTEGA I CURRENT VOTE 3 TO
0. FILE ITEM FIVE AB 1948.
CURRENT VOTE IS 3 TO 0.
CALDERON. CALDERON I JACKSON TO
ORTEGA. ORTEGA I. CURRENT VOTE 5
TO 0. FILE ITEM SIX AB 1952.
CURRENT VOTE IS 3 TO 0. EASILY.
EASILY I JACKSON TO ORTEGA.
ORTEGA I CURRENT VOTE 5 TO 0.
FILE ITEM SEVEN AB 1968. THE
CURRENT VOTE IS 3 TO 1.
CALDERON. CALDERON I TO ORTEGA.
ORTEGA I CURRENT VOTE 5 TO 1.
FILE ITEM EIGHT AB 1993. THE
CURRENT VOTE IS 5 TO 0. JACKSON
TO. FILE ITEM TEN AB 2141.
CURRENT VOTE 5 TO 0. JACKSON TO.
FILE ITEM 11 AB 2150. CURRENT
VOTE 4 TO 0. JACKSON TO ORTEGA.
ORTEGA I. CURRENT VOTE 5 TO 0.
FILE ITEM 14 AB 2360. CURRENT
VOTE 4 TO 0. JACKSON TO ORTEGA.
ORTEGA I CURRENT VOTE 5 TO 0 TO
FILE ITEM 16 AB 2477. CURRENT
VOTE 5 TO 0. JACKSON TO FILE
ITEM 17 AB 2664. CURRENT VOTE 5
TO 0 JACKSON TO FILE ITEM 18 AB
2828. CURRENT VOTE 5 TO 0.
JACKSON TO. FILE ITEM 19 AB
2866. CURRENT VOTE 5 TO 0.
JACKSON. TO.
Þ ALL RIGHT. WE WILL LEAVE THE
ROLL OPEN FOR ABSENT MEMBERS,
BUT WE CAN CALL THE ROLL ONCE
AGAIN FOR A SIMILAR TIE. IS THAT
ALL RIGHT? YES. ALL RIGHT. ON
THE CURRENT, ON THE CONSENT
CALENDAR. CURRENT VOTE 5 TO 0.
TO A TO A CURRENT VOTE 6 TO 0.
FILE ITEM THREE AB 1911. CURRENT
VOTE 5 TO 0 TO AYE. CURRENT VOTE
6 TO 0. FILE ITEM FOUR AB 1925.
CURRENT VOTE 3 TO 0 TO NOT
VOTING TO NOT VOTING. CURRENT
VOTE 3 TO 0. FILE ITEM FIVE AB
1948. CURRENT VOTE 5 TO 0 TO A
TO A CURRENT VOTE 6 TO 0. FILE
ITEM SIX AB 1952. CURRENT VOTE 5
TO 0 TO A CURRENT VOTE 6 TO 0.
FINAL ITEM SEVEN AB 1968.
CURRENT VOTE 5 TO 1 TO NOT
VOTING TO NOT VOTING. CURRENT
VOTE 5 TO 1. FILE ITEM EIGHT AB
1993. CURRENT VOTE 5 TO 0 TO A
CURRENT VOTE 6 TO 0. FINAL ITEM
TEN AB 2141. CURRENT VOTE 5 TO 0
TO A TO A CURRENT VOTE 6 TO 0.
FILE ITEM 11 AB 2150. CURRENT
VOTE 5 TO 0 TO A CURRENT VOTE 6
TO 0. FILE ITEM 14 AB 2360.
CURRENT VOTE 5 TO 0 TO A TO A
CURRENT VOTE 6 TO 0. FILE ITEM
16 AB 2477. CURRENT VOTE 5 TO 0
TO A TO I. CURRENT VOTE 6 TO 0.
FILE ITEM 17 AB 2664. CURRENT
VOTE 5 TO 0 TO A TO A CURRENT
VOTE 6 TO 0. FILE ITEM 18 AB
2828. CURRENT VOTE 5 TO 0 TO A
CURRENT VOTE 6 TO 0. FILE ITEM
19 AB 2866. CURRENT VOTE 5 TO 0
TO A TO A CURRENT VOTE 6 TO 0.
THANK YOU. I WILL ALLOW FOR FIVE
MORE MINUTES FOR MEMBERS TO ADD
ON BUSINESS FOR THE ASSEMBLY.
HUMAN SERVICE COMMITTEE IS
COMPLETE. THE HEARING IS NOT
YET. WELL, I'LL LEAVE IT OPEN.
OKAY? OKAY. I WILL ALLOW FOR
FIVE MORE MINUTES FOR MEMBERS TO
ADD ON. OKAY AFTER THE.
STOP.
I'LL.
WE. SO I THINK TIME IS OFF.
MEETS ALL.
MADAM SECRETARY, PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL FOR THE ABSENT MEMBER.
HATER, HATER. IT'S ACTUALLY,
LIKE, 20 MINUTES. THAT'S RIGHT.
I GOT ONE MORE VOTE AGAIN.
ACROSS THE NEXT DOOR. OH, COME
ON, COME ON IN. COME ON IN. ON
THE CONSENT CALENDAR, JACKSON.
JACKSON, I FINAL VOTE ON THE
CONSENT CALENDAR. 6 TO 0. I FILE
ITEM THREE AB 1911. CURRENT VOTE
6 TO 0. JACKSON JACKSON I FINAL
VOTE 7 TO 0. FILE ITEM FOUR AB
1925. CURRENT VOTE 3 TO 0.
JACKSON. JACKSON I. FINAL VOTE 4
TO 0. FILE ITEM FIVE AB 1948.
CURRENT VOTE 6 TO 0. JACKSON
OAN JACKSON I. FINAL VOTE 7 TO
0. FINAL ITEM SIX AB 1952.
CURRENT VOTE 6 TO 0. JACKSON.
JACKSON I. FINAL VOTE 7 TO 0.
FILE ITEM EIGHT AB 1993. CURRENT
VOTE IS 6 TO 0. JACKSON JACKSON
I. FINAL VOTE 7 TO 0. FILE ITEM
TEN AB 2141. CURRENT VOTE 6 TO
0. JACKSON. JACKSON I. FINAL
VOTE 7 TO 0. FILE ITEM 11 AB
2150. CURRENT VOTE 6 TO 0
JACKSON. JACKSON I. FINAL VOTE 7
TO 0. FILE ITEM 14 AB 2360.
CURRENT VOTE 6 TO 0 JACKSON.
JACKSON I. FINAL VOTE 7 TO 0.
FILE ITEM 16 AB 2477. CURRENT
VOTE 6 TO 0. JACKSON JACKSON I.
FINAL VOTE 7 TO 0. FILE ITEM 17
AB 2664. CURRENT VOTE 6 TO 0.
JACKSON JACKSON I. FINAL VOTE 7
TO 0. FILE ITEM 18 AB 2828.
CURRENT VOTE 6 TO 0. JACKSON.
JACKSON I. FINAL VOTE 7 TO 0.
FILE ITEM 19 AB 2866. CURRENT
VOTE 6 TO 0. JACKSON JACKSON I.
FINAL VOTE 7 TO 0. VÌ. THANK
YOU. WE WILL CONTINUE TO LEAVE
THE ROLL OPEN. EARLIER. RIGHT. I
THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO BE
LONGER. NO, NO, I JUST YEAH,
YEAH. I HEAR THEY CALL YOU THE
UNDERTAKER NOW. OH COME ON, MORE
. MONEY. I WANT. I LOVE IT MY
MOM
.
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL FILE. ITEM
FOUR AB 1925. CURRENT VOTE 4 TO
0. CALDERON CALDERON. FINAL VOTE
5 TO 0. I ADDED ON TO THE BILL.
YEAH, YOU'VE ADDED ON TO
EVERYTHING. OH, YEAH. NO, I
MEAN, YES, YOU COAUTHORED A ONE
OF THEM. PELLERIN. PELLERIN I
GOT, I GOT THAT OKAY. THANK YOU.
OKAY THANK YOU. NOW NOW. YES,
THIS IS FOR THE ASSEMBLY. HUMAN
SERVICE COMMITTEE IS COMPLETE.
THE HEARING IS NOW ADJOURNED TO
OUR