GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. WELCOME
TO THE ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON
INSURANCE. I'D LIKE TO BEGIN BY
WELCOMING OUR NEWEST COMMITTEE
MEMBERS, ASSEMBLY MEMBER GREGG
WALLACE AND ASSEMBLY MEMBER JOSH
LOWENTHAL. TODAY, WE'RE GOING TO
CONSIDER EIGHT BILLS. FILE ITEM
5AB2167 WAS PULLED AT THE
REQUEST OF THE AUTHOR. THE
FOLLOWING TWO BILLS ARE
RECOMMENDED AND CONSENT FILE
ITEM NUMBER TWO AB 1933 CALDERON
AND FILE ITEM SIX AB 2337 DIXON.
WE'RE GOING TO BEGIN AS A
SUBCOMMITTEE UNTIL WE HAVE A
QUORUM, AND I'M GOING TO HAND
THE GAVEL OVER TO MY VICE CHAIR,
ASSEMBLYMAN CHEN. RIGHT NOW.
WELCOME, INSURANCE COMMISSIONER
Þ, AND WELCOME TO OUR INSURANCE
COMMISSIONER, RICARDO LARA
.
MADAM CHAIR, A PLEASURE AND
WELCOME TO GOT TO SEE YOU.
ALL RIGHT. GOOD MORNING, MEMBERS
OF THE COMMITTEE. THIS BILL
WOULD HELP TO PROVIDE A MUCH
NEEDED PAY INCREASE FOR
INVESTIGATORS AT THE CALIFORNIA
DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE. THE PAY
INEQUITY BETWEEN CDI AND OTHER
DIVISIONS HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS
A MAJOR FACTOR IMPACTING
RETENTION OF SWORN OFFICERS AT
CDI. DUE TO THE IMPORTANCE AND
COMPLEXITY OF INSURANCE FRAUD
CASES, IT IS VITAL THAT WE SEEK
A COMPARABLE WAGE TO SUPPORT THE
STAFFING OF THESE PUBLIC SAFETY
POSITIONS WITH EXPERIENCED
INVESTIGATORS HERE TO SPEAK MORE
ABOUT THE NEED FOR THIS BILL IS
THE BILL SPONSOR, INSURANCE
COMMISSIONER RICARDO LARA. HE IS
JOINED BY DEPUTY COMMISSIONER
GEORGE MILLER FROM CDI'S
ENFORCEMENT BRANCH. GREAT THANK
YOU. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
MEMBERS IT'S GOOD TO BE BACK IN
THIS PART OF THE BUILDING. I
MISSED IT, I'M HERE TODAY TO
DISCUSS AB 2872 BY OUR
CHAIRWOMAN, LISA CALDERON, WHICH
I PROUDLY, PROUDLY IS SPONSORING
, THE BILL REALLY SEEKS TO
SUPPORT THE CRITICAL WORK OF MY
DEPARTMENT'S FRAUD
INVESTIGATION. INVESTIGATORS AND
PROTECT PUBLIC SAFETY. OUR FRAUD
INVESTIGATORS ARE THE STATE'S
LEADERS IN PREVENTING AND
STOPPING INSURANCE FRAUD. AND
THEY ARE REALLY THE BEST AT WHAT
THEY DO, THESE CASES, AS THE
CHAIRWOMAN WAS SAYING, ARE VERY
COMPLEX TO INVESTIGATE AND ARE
ALSO SOME OF THE COSTLIEST TO
BOTH BUSINESSES AND CONSUMERS.
TWO RECENT INVESTIGATIONS OF, OF
THESE TYPE OF INVESTIGATIONS ARE
WERE WITH, IN TANDEM. I SHOULD
SAY, WITH THE CALIFORNIA
DEPARTMENT OF INDUSTRIAL
RELATIONS, IN WHICH WE FOUND
MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN
UNREPORTED PAYROLL. THESE
COMPANIES WERE NOT PAYING THEIR
EMPLOYEES FOR THEIR WORK. ONE
COMPANY FORCED EMPLOYEES TO
CLOCK OUT FOR BREAKS AND
CONTINUE TO WORK, DID NOT PAY
THE EMPLOYEES OVERTIME PAY FOR
WORK IN EXCESS OF 40 WEEKLY
HOURS, AND FALSIFIED EMPLOYEE
PAY STUBS IN BOTH THESE CASES.
IN BOTH CASES, WE WERE ABLE TO
RETURN HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF
DOLLARS TO EMPLOYEES WHO WERE
WRONGED. WE ARE THE LEAD AGENCY
IN INVESTIGATING HEALTH CARE
INSURANCE FRAUD THAT PUTS
PEOPLE'S LIVES AT RISK. OUR
DEPARTMENT HAS UNCOVERED SOME OF
THE LARGEST HEALTH CARE
INSURANCE FRAUD SCHEMES IN
CALIFORNIA'S HISTORY, INCLUDING
WHERE THEY UNCOVERED THE PAYMENT
OF OVER $50 MILLION IN BRIBES
AND KICKBACKS BETWEEN HOSPITAL
EXECUTIVES, LAWYERS AND DOCTORS
IN CONNECTION WITH UNNECESSARY
SPINAL SURGERIES. THOUSANDS OF
INJURED WORKERS, SOME WHO COME
FROM IMMIGRANT AND OTHER
VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES, WERE
VICTIMS OF THIS DANGEROUS FRAUD.
OUR INVESTIGATIONS, OUR
INVESTIGATORS FIGHT FOR THE
VICTIMS OF THIS FRAUD AND STOP
IT BEFORE MORE PEOPLE BECOME
VICTIMS. YET WE ARE LOSING
INVESTIGATORS TO OTHER
DEPARTMENTS SIMPLY BECAUSE WE
CAN'T PAY THEM WHAT THEY'RE
WORTH. THEY ARE IN THE SAME
BARGAINING UNIT AS THE
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
SWORN INVESTIGATORS, BUT THEY
EARN 20% LESS THAN THEIR
COLLEAGUES. AB 2872 WOULD FIX
THAT PROBLEM, GIVING FRAUD
INVESTIGATORS A RAISE WOULD HAVE
MINIMAL OR NO IMPACT TO THE
STATE BUDGET, AS MY DEPARTMENT
IS SPECIFICALLY FUNDED,
SPECIFICALLY FUNDED AGENCY, WE
ARE FUNDED BY THE FEES WE
COLLECT THROUGH OUR ENFORCEMENT
OF INSURANCE LAW. THE REALITY IS
SIMPLE. THIS CHANGE WOULD
LITERALLY SAVE CALIFORNIANS
MONEY. INSURANCE FRAUD IS A
MULTI-BILLION DOLLAR DRAIN ON
CALIFORNIA'S ECONOMY THAT
CONTINUES TO RISE, RESULTING IN
THE INCREASE OF COST FOR ALL OF
US CALIFORNIA CONSUMERS AND
BUSINESSES PAY THE PRICE FOR
THESE CRIMES THROUGH HIGHER
INSURANCE PREMIUMS AND MORE
EXPENSIVE GOODS AND SERVICES.
FRAUD AND FRAUD. INFLATION IS
REAL, AND WE ARE WORKING TO STOP
IT. THE COALITION AGAINST
INSURANCE FRAUD ESTIMATES THE
NATIONAL ECONOMIC IMPACT OF
INSURANCE FRAUD IS AROUND THREE
$300 BILLION EACH YEAR, ALMOST
$1,000 PER EVERY SINGLE
AMERICAN. MY DEPARTMENT
CURRENTLY EMPLOYS UNDER 200
SWORN OFFICERS TO DETECT,
INVESTIGATE AND RESPOND TO
INSURANCE FRAUD STATEWIDE, OUR
FRAUD DIVISION RECEIVES OVER
18,000 SUSPECTED FRAUD CLAIM
REFERRALS EACH YEAR, WHICH
REPRESENTS OVER 600 MILLION IN
SUSPECTED LOSSES. BUT WE HAVE TO
CLOSE THOUSANDS OF SUSPECTED
FRAUDULENT CLAIMS EACH YEAR
SIMPLY BECAUSE WE DO NOT HAVE
STAFF TO WORK ON THESE CASES. WE
DO THE BEST TO INVESTIGATE AS
MANY CASES AS WE CAN TO PROTECT
AS MANY CONSUMERS AND BUSINESSES
AS POSSIBLE. JUST LAST YEAR, WE
WERE ABLE TO SUBMIT 860 CASES TO
OUR DISTRICT ATTORNEY OFFICE
PARTNERS ACROSS THE STATE WHO WE
WORK WITH TO PROSECUTE THESE
CRIMES. HOWEVER, CURRENT PAY
INEQUITIES AMONG THE
INVESTIGATOR CLASSIFICATIONS
HAVE MADE IT VERY DIFFICULT FOR
US TO RETAIN AND RECRUIT
EXPERIENCED FRAUD INVESTIGATORS.
THE DEPARTMENT'S CURRENT VACANCY
RATE FOR THIS CLASSIFICATION IS
NEARLY 32% LESS. INVESTIGATORS
MEANS LESS PROTECTION AGAINST
FRAUD IN THE WORLD'S LARGEST
SECOND INSURANCE MARKET, AND
NEARLY 75% OF THE TIME WHEN AN
INVESTIGATOR LEAVES OUR
DEPARTMENT, THEY ARE GOING TO
THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
BECAUSE THEY PAY MORE. THIS HAS
BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM AT OUR
DEPARTMENT FOR ALMOST TWO
DECADES. MULTIPLE INSURANCE
COMMISSIONERS HAVE ATTEMPTED TO
ADDRESS THIS PAY INEQUITY,
PURSUING VARIOUS ADMINISTRATIVE
AND OTHER AVENUES. AND I'M NOW
SPONSORING THIS LEGISLATION IN
HOPES OF SOLVING THIS PROBLEM
ONCE AND FOR ALL. THIS PROPOSED
LEGISLATION WOULD RAISE THE
COMPENSATION FOR OUR
DEPARTMENT'S SWORN PEACE
OFFICERS TO MATCH THAT OF THE
COMPENSATION OF SWORN PEACE
OFFICERS AT THE DEPARTMENT OF
JUSTICE WHO ARE DOING WHO ARE IN
THE SAME BARGAINING UNIT. THIS
WILL CLOSE THE 20% PAY GAP
BETWEEN TWO DEPARTMENTS AND HAVE
THE DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE
RECRUIT AND RETAIN MORE FRAUD.
INVESTIGATORS OUR DEPARTMENT
DOES INCREDIBLE WORK WITH THE
RESOURCES WE HAVE. THIS IS THIS.
THIS LEGISLATION WILL ALLOW US
TO GREATLY EXPAND THOSE EFFORTS
AND ENSURE MORE CASES HAVE BEEN
WORKED ON TO INCREASE PUBLIC
SAFETY AND FURTHER PROTECT
CONSUMERS AND OUR BUSINESSES.
AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME
AND WE'D APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT
ON THIS IMPORTANT BILL. THANK
YOU. GOOD MORNING ALL. MY NAME
IS DEPUTY COMMISSIONER GEORGE
MUELLER. I'M WITH THE
ENFORCEMENT BRANCH THAT OVERSEES
THE FRAUD DIVISION INVESTIGATION
VISION. I'M GOING TO SPEAK FROM
MY HEART A LITTLE BIT THIS
MORNING. THIS HAS BEEN VERY,
VERY TROUBLING. I'VE BEEN WITH
THIS DEPARTMENT NOW NINE YEARS.
AND YOU CAN SEE WITH OUR STAFF
THAT'S HERE TODAY WHO IS
SUPPORTING THIS AS WELL. I
WORKED WITH LOCAL LAW
ENFORCEMENT, COUNTY LAW
ENFORCEMENT AND STATE LAW
ENFORCEMENT AND NEVER HAVE I
SEEN THIS TYPE OF PAY PARITY IN
MY ENTIRE CAREER. OUR MISSION IS
TO PROTECT ALL CALIFORNIANS
UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES, AND I
CAN'T THANK THE COMMISSIONER AND
THE ASSEMBLYWOMAN ENOUGH FOR
WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO HERE
TODAY. WE CANNOT DO THIS WORK.
WE HIRE THESE PEOPLE. WE PUT
THEM THROUGH A LONG BACKGROUND
PROCESS. SIX MONTHS, THEY HAVE
TO GO THROUGH THE PSYCH MED
PHASE. ONCE THEY GET THROUGH
THAT, WE THEN PUT THEM THROUGH A
LONG FIELD TRAINING OFFICER
PROGRAM. THAT'S ANOTHER SIX
MONTHS TO A YEAR AS WELL. OUR
DEPARTMENT PUTS SO MUCH INTO
TRAINING THESE FOLKS. WE
ACTUALLY GOT THE POST PEACE
OFFICER STANDARDS TRAINING
ORGANIZATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT
AWARD. THE ONLY OTHER STATE
AGENCY THAN CHP THAT HAS GOTTEN
THAT AWARD IN THE LAST 20 YEARS.
THAT'S HOW MUCH WE INVEST IN OUR
EMPLOYEES. WE PUT THEM THROUGH
THE ACADEMY. THEN THEY COME OUT.
WE GET THEM EXPERIENCED, THEY
WRITE MORE SEARCH WARRANTS AND
DO MORE CRIMINAL FILINGS WITH
OUR DA PARTNERS. FOR EXAMPLE,
THE COMMISSIONER TALKED ABOUT
THE MONEY JUST ALONE. THE LAST
THREE YEARS, WE GOT $230 MILLION
RESTITUTION FOR CRIME VICTIMS,
THE INDUSTRY ACROSS THE BOARD AS
WELL. THIS PROBLEM HAS TO BE
SOLVED BECAUSE WE CONTINUE TO
HIRE OUR VACANCY RATE AT ONE
POINT WAS 24. AND NOW IT'S UP TO
32% BECAUSE, AS THE COMMISSIONER
SAID, 75 ARE 75% OF OUR PEOPLE
ARE GOING TO DOJ. I CAN'T BLAME
YOUNG PEOPLE THAT 21% IS A LOT
IN TODAY'S DAY. THEY HAVE TO
MAKE THIS RIGHT AND THEY HAVE TO
FIX THAT ACROSS THE BOARD FOR
EVERYBODY. SO I'M JUST SPEAKING
FROM MY HEART. THIS MORNING I
HAD SOME NOTES, BUT I JUST WANT
YOU TO KNOW THAT THIS IS HURTING
OUR DEPARTMENT AND IT'S HURTING
CONSUMERS AND CALIFORNIANS
ACROSS THE STATE. SO THANK YOU.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR
TESTIMONY. DO WE HAVE ANY
ADDITIONAL WITNESSES IN SUPPORT?
I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT.
WE JUST NEED YOUR NAME, YOUR
POSITION AND THE ORGANIZATION
THAT YOU'RE REPRESENTING. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH. MR. CHAIRMAN,
MEMBERS JOHN NORWOOD ON BEHALF
OF THE INDEPENDENT INSURANCE
AGENTS AND BROKERS OF CALIFORNIA
AND WE SUPPORT THIS LEGISLATION.
THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. CHAIR
MCHUGH, ON BEHALF OF THE PACIFIC
ASSOCIATION OF DOMESTIC
INSURANCE COMPANIES, IN SUPPORT
OF THE BILL. THANK YOU. GOOD
MORNING. ALISON. EDDIE, ON
BEHALF OF THE PERSONAL INSURANCE
FEDERATION OF CALIFORNIA, VERY
HAPPILY IN SUPPORT OF THE BILL,
MARK CIGNA, AN AMERICAN PROPERTY
CASUALTY INSURANCE ASSOCIATION,
STRONGLY IN SUPPORT OF THE BILL.
MR. VICE CHAIR, MADAM CHAIR, MR.
COMMISSIONER SHANE LEVINE, ON
BEHALF OF THE CALIFORNIA
STATEWIDE LAW ENFORCEMENT
ASSOCIATION, THE BARGAINING UNIT
FOR THE CDI INVESTIGATORS, WE'D
LOVE TO SUPPORT THE BILL,
SEEKING PAY BENEFITS SUPREME AND
GREAT WORKING CONDITIONS AND PAY
AND BENEFITS FOR OUR MEMBERS OF
OUR BARGAINING UNIT, OUR TOP
PRIORITY. THE THING THAT WE
CAN'T SUPPORT AT THE MOMENT IS A
PARITY FORMULA WITH DOJ, BUT
OTHERWISE WE WOULD BE GLAD TO
SUPPORT THIS BILL AS IT MOVES
FORWARD. THANK YOU. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH, NOW, DO WE HAVE ANY
Kò WITNESSES IN OPPOSITION, ANY
WITNESSES, OPPOSITION IN THE
AUDIENCE, WITH THAT, MADAM
CHAIR, WOULD YOU LIKE TO, CLOSE?
YES. I THANK YOU. AND AT THE
APPROPRIATE TIME, I'D LIKE TO
ASK FOR AN AYE VOTE WHEN IT'S
APPROPRIATE. WE DON'T HAVE A
QUORUM YET, BUT THANK YOU SO
MUCH FOR YOUR ENTHUSIASM, WE'LL
GO AHEAD. AND, MADAM SECRETARY,
WITH THAT, WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE
NEXT BILL. NO QUESTIONS. OKAY.
THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, VICE CHAIR
AND MEMBERS. I'D LIKE TO PRESENT
AB 1844, WHICH ALLOWS THE SENATE
PRO TEM AND THE SPEAKER OF THE
ASSEMBLY TO SIT ON THE FAIR PLAN
GOVERNING COMMITTEE. THIS WOULD
ALLOW THEM TWO NEW APPOINTEES
WHO WILL BE NON-VOTING MEMBERS,
SIMILAR TO THE FOUR APPOINTEES
THAT THE GOVERNOR HAS. THIS
COMMITTEE HAS HELD TWO OVERSIGHT
HEARINGS ON THE FAIR PLAN. THE
MOST RECENT HEARING BROUGHT TO
LIGHT THE DIRE FINANCIAL
STANDING OF THE FAIR PLAN. IT'S
BECOME VERY APPARENT HOW
IMPORTANT THE ROLE OF THE FAIR
PLAN IS TO THE OVERALL HEALTH OF
THE INSURANCE MARKET AND, MORE
IMPORTANTLY, TO OUR
CONSTITUENTS. THE SPEAKER AND
SENATE PRO TEM SHOULD HAVE A
SEAT AT THE TABLE, AND I DON'T
HAVE ANY WITNESSES. WOULD YOU,
YEAH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. MR.
CHAIR. AND I WANT TO THANK THANK
YOU FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD,
MADAM CHAIR, I'VE BEEN SITTING
FOR PROBABLY, I THINK, TWO AND A
HALF YEARS ON THE MIDDLE MILE
BROADBAND ADVISORY COMMITTEE,
RELATING TO THE BROADBAND
INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WE'RE
ATTEMPTING TO BUILD IN
CALIFORNIA, THAT WE ARE BUILDING
IN CALIFORNIA. AND I JUST WANT
TO SAY THAT HAVING A MEMBER OF
THE LEGISLATURE HERE, INVOLVED
IN THAT PROCESS, MAKES A
DIFFERENCE. AND WHEN WE'RE
TALKING ABOUT THE FAIR PLAN AND
THE IMMENSE RESPONSIBILITY REYES
THAT THIS PLAN HAS, I THINK IT'S
MORE THAN APPROPRIATE THAT WE
HAVE SOMEONE THERE AND SOMEONE
WHO WILL BE THERE EVERY MEETING
AND SOMEONE WHO WILL ENGAGE
BECAUSE THIS IS A REALLY
CRITICAL COMPONENT OF OUR
INSURANCE SYSTEM RIGHT NOW. SO I
THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THE BILL
FORWARD. THANK YOU. THANK YOU,
DOCTOR WOOD. DO WE HAVE ANY
OTHER QUESTIONS FROM THE
COMMITTEE, ANY FOLKS IN THE
AUDIENCE FOR WITNESSES IN
SUPPORT? GOOD MORNING. VICE
CHAIR MEMBERS PETER ANSEL,
CALIFORNIA FARM BUREAU IN
SUPPORT. GOOD MORNING, ASSEMBLY
MEMBERS. MY NAME IS CLAUDIA
MILDNER. I'M THE ASSISTANT
DEPUTY LEGISLATIVE DIRECTOR AT
THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF
INSURANCE AND WE ARE IN SUPPORT
OF THIS BILL. WITNESSES IN
OPPOSITION. SEEING NONE, MADAM
CHAIR, WOULD YOU LIKE TO CLOSE,
YES, THANK YOU. AND AT THE
APPROPRIATE TIME, I RESPECTFULLY
ASK FOR AN AYE VOTE. THANK YOU,
MADAM CHAIR. I BELIEVE YOU HAVE
ONE LAST BILL. ONE MORE BILL.
OKAY. VICE CHAIR AND MEMBERS,
I'M PRESENTING AB 2260, FIRST,
I'D LIKE TO START OFF BY SAYING
THAT I'M GOING TO ACCEPT THE
COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS OUTLINED IN
THE ANALYSIS AS AUTHOR'S
AMENDMENTS. I'D ALSO LIKE TO
THANK THE CALIFORNIA INDEPENDENT
INSURANCE AGENTS AND BROKERS FOR
WORKING WITH MY STAFF ON THIS
VERY IMPORTANT ADDITION TO THE
BILL. AS I MENTIONED IN MY
PREVIOUS STATEMENT, THIS
COMMITTEE HAS HELD SEVERAL
HEARINGS ON THE FAIR PLAN. I
THINK WE'D ALL PREFER FOR THE
FAIR PLAN TO BE THE INSURER OF
LAST RESORT. UNFORTUNATELY, THIS
ISN'T THE CASE AT THIS POINT IN
TIME. AB 2260 WILL REQUIRE THE
FAIR PLAN TO PROVIDE A REPORT TO
THE RELEVANT POLICY COMMITTEES
WITH IMPORTANT INFORMATION.
THÀNH. THIS BILL WILL PROVIDE US
WITH TRANSPARENCY, WHICH WE NEED
TO FURTHER OUR OVERSIGHT EFFORTS
. THANK THANK YOU. THANK YOU,
MADAM CHAIR. DO WE HAVE ANY
WITNESSES IN SUPPORT? ANY
QUESTIONS FROM COMMITTEE MEMBERS
? NGUYEN IS IN SUPPORT. SEEING
NONE. WENDY'S IS IN OPPOSITION.
SEEING NONE, MADAM CHAIR WOULD
YOU LIKE TO CLOSE? OH, SORRY.
DOCTOR, WOULD. I'M SORRY. I
THOUGHT I SAW A COUPLE OF PEOPLE
WHO MIGHT WANT TO SPEAK IN
SUPPORT. THANK YOU. WANT TO
SUPPORT? THANK YOU. DOCTOR.
WOULD GOOD MORNING. VICE CHAIR
MEMBERS PETER ANSEL, CALIFORNIA
FARM BUREAU AND SUPPORT. GOOD
MORNING AGAIN. VICE CHAIR AND
MEMBERS CLAUDIA MILNER.
DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE. AGAIN
IN SUPPORT. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU. WITNESSES AND OPPOSITION.
SEEING NONE, MADAM CHAIR, WOULD
YOU LIKE TO CLOSE? YES. THANK
YOU. AND AT THE APPROPRIATE
TIME, I RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR AN
AYE VOTE
.
MEMBER ORTEGA, WOULD YOU LIKE TO
PRESENT YOUR BILL? THANK YOU.
PLAY MUSICAL CHAIRS. GOOD
MORNING.
OKAY. THE NEXT ITEM IS AB 1870
BY BY ASSEMBLYWOMAN ORTEGA.
WHENEVER YOU'RE READY. THANK
YOU, MADAM CHAIR. AND MEMBERS,
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO
PRESENT AB 1870 TODAY. THIS BILL
IS SIMPLY INFORMS INJURED
WORKERS OF THEIR RIGHT TO
CONSULT AN ATTORNEY DURING THE
WORKER'S COMPENSATION PROCESS
VIA INCLUDING A NOTICE ON THE
EMPLOYEE'S RIGHT POSTER. THERE
IS AN EXTREMELY LARGE DISPARITY
IN SUCCESS OF WORKER'S COMP
CASES BETWEEN APPLICANTS WHO HAD
ACCESS TO A LAWYER AND THOSE WHO
DID NOT. IN THE LAST SIX YEARS,
AN AVERAGE OF 145,000 INJURED
WORKERS WHO HAD A LAWYER PER
YEAR HAD ASKED TO HAVE THEIR
DENIAL OF BENEFITS OVERTURNED.
DURING THE SAME PERIOD, AN
AVERAGE OF ONLY 1800
UNREPRESENTED INJURED WORKERS
PER YEAR ASKED TO HAVE THEIR
DENIAL OR BENEFITS OVERTURNED IN
CASES IN WHICH WORKERS DO NOT
HAVE AN ATTORNEY, IT IS FAR LESS
LIKELY THAT THEY WILL RECEIVE
EITHER TREATMENT OR WORKER'S
COMPENSATION BENEFITS FOR THEIR
WORKPLACE INJURIES BY SIMPLY
ADDING A NOTICE TO THE
EMPLOYEE'S RIGHTS POSTER,
ADVISING EMPLOYEES THAT THEY
HAVE THE RIGHT TO CONSULT AN
ATTORNEY THROUGH THE WORKERS
COMP PROCESS. AB 1870 WILL
ENSURE THAT WORKERS HAVE AN
EQUAL, FAIR JUSTICE AND BENEFITS
TO THE ACCESS TO THE BENEFITS
THAT THEY ARE OWED, TESTIFYING
AND SUPPORT WITH ME TODAY IS
JASON MARCUS WITH THE CALIFORNIA
APPLICANTS ATTORNEY ASSOCIATION.
GOOD MORNING, MADAM CHAIR,
COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND
ASSEMBLYMEMBER ORTEGA. AGAIN, MY
NAME IS JASON MARCUS. WITH THE
CALIFORNIA APPLICANTS ATTORNEYS
ASSOCIATION. WE ARE AN
ASSOCIATION OF ATTORNEYS WHO
REPRESENT INJURED WORKERS
THROUGHOUT THE STATE. I AM
CURRENTLY SERVING AS OUR
LEGISLATIVE CHAIR. I SERVED AS
PRESIDENT IN 2018. IN ADDITION,
I AM AN ATTORNEY IN PRIVATE
PRACTICE IN THE GREATER HERE IN
SACRAMENTO, AND I'VE BEEN
REPRESENTING INJURED WORKERS FOR
MORE THAN THE LAST 15 YEARS. I
WANT TO THANK THE AUTHOR. I WANT
TO THANK THE CHAIR AND THE
COMMITTEE MEMBERS OF COMMITTEE
STAFF FOR THEIR WORK ON THIS
BILL. AS ASSEMBLY MEMBER, ORTEGA
SAID, THIS IS A SIMPLE AND
STRAIGHTFORWARD BILL THAT WOULD
SIMPLY ADD A NOTICE TO THE
EMPLOYEES RIGHTS POSTERS THAT
ALL EMPLOYERS ARE REQUIRED TO
POST, THAT A WORKER WHO SUFFERS
A WORKPLACE INJURY HAS A RIGHT
TO SEEK OUT AND CONSULT WITH AN
ATTORNEY, AND TO DO SO AT NO
COST UP FRONT TO THAT WORKER. AS
YOU HEARD, ASSEMBLY MEMBER
ORTEGA SAY, THE DATA CLEARLY
SHOWS THAT WORKERS WITHOUT AN
ATTORNEY ARE AT A SEVERE
DISADVANTAGE IN THE SYSTEM. WHEN
THEIR BENEFITS OR THEIR CLAIMS
ARE DENIED OR DELAYED. THE
WORKER HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO
ADJUDICATE THAT CLAIM AT WHAT IS
CALLED THE WORKER'S COMPENSATION
APPEALS BOARD, WHICH IS OUR
ADMINISTRATIVE COURT SYSTEM THAT
DEALS WITH WORKER'S COMPENSATION
DISPUTES. BUT WORKERS, IF THEY
DON'T KNOW HOW TO DO THAT, HAVE
NO WAY TO CHALLENGE THEIR DENIAL
. AND AS THE DATA SHOWS, IN THE
LAST SIX YEARS, ON AVERAGE, THE
CLAIMS THAT ARE HEARD AT OUR
COURT, 98% OF THOSE CASES
INVOLVE REPRESENTED WORKERS.
LESS THAN 2% OF THOSE CASES
INVOLVE WORKERS WITHOUT AN
ATTORNEY. AND I THINK THE DATA
SHOWS THAT IF FOLKS DON'T HAVE
AN ATTORNEY, THEY SIMPLY CAN'T
ACCESS, THE COURT SYSTEM, THEY
CAN'T ACCESS JUSTICE. I THINK
THE OTHER THING THAT'S IMPORTANT
ABOUT THIS BILL IS ADVISING
WORKERS THAT WHEN THEY CONSULT
WITH AN ATTORNEY, THERE IS NO
COST TO THAT WORKER FOR THE
INITIAL CONSULTATION. AS SOMEONE
WHO MEETS WITH INJURED WORKERS
ON A REGULAR BASIS, ONE OF THE
FIRST QUESTIONS I GET IS, WHAT
DO I OWE YOU? WHAT IS THIS GOING
TO COST? WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO
CHARGE ME? AND THE FIRST THING I
TELL THEM IN THAT CONVERSATION
IS, THERE'S NO CHARGE FOR THIS
TIME. THERE'S NO CHARGE FOR THIS
MEETING. YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET
A BILL FOR ME OR MY OFFICE AT
ANY POINT. AND THAT'S THE SAME
FOR ALL OF US ATTORNEYS THAT
REPRESENT INJURED WORKERS. WE
GET PAID ON A CONTINGENCY FEE IF
THE WORKER GETS BENEFITS AT THE
END OF THEIR CASE, THAT'S WHERE
OUR FEE COMES FROM. THIS BILL
WOULD ADD THAT INFORMATION TO
THE NOTICE SO THAT WORKERS ARE
INFORMED OF THEIR RIGHTS. AND
WHEN THEIR CLAIMS ARE DENIED,
THEY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO
SEEK OUT REPRESENTATION AND
HOPEFULLY GET THE BENEFITS THAT
THEY ARE OWED. SO THANK YOU FOR
THE OPPORTUNITY TO TESTIFY, AND
WE RESPECTFULLY REQUEST AN AYE
VOTE ON AB 1870. THANK YOU. AND
WE'RE JUST GOING TO TAKE A PAUSE
HERE TO ESTABLISH A QUORUM.
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. CALDERON
HERE, CALDERON HERE, CHEN CHEN
HERE. ALVAREZ. BAUER. KHN.
BERMAN GIBSON. JONES-SAWYER.
LOWENTHAL LOWENTHAL, HERE.
ORTEGA. ORTEGA. HERE. JOE.
PATTERSON HERE. JOE. PATTERSON.
HERE. PETRIE-NORRIS. HERE.
PETRIE-NORRIS HERE. RUBIO.
VALENCIA. WALLACE. WALLACE HERE.
WOOD FOR MOTION. WE NEED A
MOTION. SECOND. OKAY. DO WE HAVE
ANY ADDITIONAL SUPPORT IN THE
ROOM FOR THIS BILL? ELMER
LOZADA, ON BEHALF OF THE
CALIFORNIA LABOR FEDERATION IN
SUPPORT. DANIEL PEARL, ON BEHALF
OF THE AMERICAN FEDERATION OF
STATE, COUNTY AND MUNICIPAL
EMPLOYEES IN STRONG SUPPORT.
OKAY. THANK YOU. IS THERE ANY
OPPOSITION IN THE ROOM? OKAY.
SEEING NONE, PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL. OH. I'M SORRY, WOULD YOU
LIKE TO CLOSE? THANK YOU, MADAM
CHAIR. I RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR
YOUR. I VOTE. THANK YOU. FILE
NUMBER EIGHT, AB 1870. MOTION IS
DUE PASSED TO APPROPRIATIONS.
CALDERON I CALDERON I CHEN I
CHEN I ALVAREZ. BAUER. KHN
BERMAN. GIBSON JONES-SAWYER
LOWENTHAL. LOWENTHAL I ORTEGA.
ORTEGA I JO. PATTERSON. JO.
PATTERSON I PETRIE-NORRIS.
PETRIE-NORRIS I RUBIO. I RUBIO I
VALENCIA. WALLACE I. WALLACE. I.
WOOD. WOOD. I THANK YOU, THANK
YOU CALENDAR. THANK YOU THANK
YOU. SECOND THANK YOU THANK YOU.
OKAY. SECRETARY CALL THE ROLL.
CONSENT CALENDAR IS FILE ITEM
NUMBER TWO. AB 1933. MOTION IS
DUE. PASS TO APPROPRIATIONS,
RECOMMENDED CONSENT AND FILE
ITEM NUMBER SIX AB 2337. DIXON.
MOTION ON THAT IS Dð. PASS TO
JUDICIARY RECOMMENDED CONSENT.
CALDERON. AYE. CALDERON. AYE
CHEN. CHEN. AYE. ALVAREZ.
FARRAKHAN BERMAN. GIBSON
JONES-SAWYER. LOWENTHAL.
LOWENTHAL AYE. ORTEGA. ORTEGA.
AYE. JO. PATTERSON JO.
PATTERSON. AYE. PETRIE-NORRIS.
PETRIE-NORRIS. AYE. BLANCO
RUBIO. AYE. BLANCO. RUBIO. AYE.
VALENCIA. WALLACE WALLACE. AYE.
WOOD. WOOD I. OKAY. WE'RE STILL
WAITING FOR TWO AUTHORS, SO
WE'RE GOING TO, OPEN THE ROLL
FOR WE NEED A MOTION, ITEM
NUMBER ONE, 1844 MOVED THE FILM
AGAIN. THANK YOU. PLEASE CALL
THE ROLL. FILE ITEM NUMBER ONE,
AB 1844. CALDERON AYE. MOTION IS
DUE. PASS. CALDERON A CALDERON.
AYE. CHEN. CHEN. AYE. ALVAREZ.
BAUER KHN. BERMAN. GIBSON.
JONES-SAWYER LOWENTHAL.
LOWENTHAL. AYE. ORTEGA ORTEGA.
AYE. JO. PATTERSON. HI. JO.
PATTERSON AYE. PETRIE-NORRIS.
AYE. PETRIE-NORRIS. AYE. BLANCO
RUBIO. BLANCO. RUBIO. AYE.
VALENCIA. WALLACE HI. WALLACE I
WOULD, I WOULD I, I HAVE NUMBER
THREE AB 2260 MOVED THE BILL.
FILE ITEM NUMBER THREE AB 2260
MOTION. MOTION IS DUE. PASS AS
AMENDED TO APPROPRIATIONS.
CALDERON. AYE CALDERON. AYE.
CHEN. CHEN. AYE. ALVAREZ. BAUER
KHN BERMAN. GIBSON.
JONES-SAWYER LOW. ANTAL.
LOWENTHAL. AYE. ORTEGA. ORTEGA
AYE. JO. PATTERSON. JO.
PATTERSON. AYE. PETRIE-NORRIS.
PETRINO AYE. BLANCO. RUBIO.
BLANCO. RUBIO. AYE VALENCIA.
WALLACE. WALLACE. AYE. WOOD
WOOD. AYE. ITEM NUMBER FOUR AB
2872. MOVE THE BILL A SECOND.
FILE ITEM NUMBER FOUR, AB 2872.
CALDERON MOTION IS DUE. PASS TO
PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT AND RETIREMENT
COMMITTEE. CALDERON. AYE.
CALDERON AYE. CHEN CHEN. AYE.
ALVAREZ. BAUER. KHN BERMAN.
GIBSON. JONES-SAWYER Ó. GIBSON
HERE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT. WHAT
ARE WE DOING? FILE ITEM NUMBER
FOUR. YES. AYE. GIBSON. AYE.
JONES-SAWYER LOWENTHAL.
LOWENTHAL. AYE. ORTEGA ORTEGA.
AYE. JO. PATTERSON. JO.
PATTERSON. AYE. PETRIE-NORRIS
PETRIE-NORRIS. AYE. BLANCO.
RUBIO. AYE. BLANCO RUBIO. AYE.
VALENCIA. WALLACE. WALLACE I
WOULD I WOULD I THANK YOU, SO
WE'RE STILL WAITING FOR TWO
AUTHORS. IF I COULD ASK THE
SERGEANT TO PLEASE CALL,
ASSEMBLYMAN HOOVER AND
ASSEMBLYWOMAN PAPIN. THANK YOU.
MR. IT'S TUESDAY. WHILE WE'RE
WAITING, WE'RE GOING TO, ALLOW
MR. GIBSON TO ADD ON TO SOME
BILLS. THANK YOU. CONSENT
CALENDAR. AYE. GIBSON. AYE. FILE
ITEM NUMBER THREE 2260. AYE.
GIBSON. AYE FILE ITEM NUMBER
FOUR. AB 2872. GIBSON. AYE AN
AYE.
ITEM EIGHT. CONSENT SORRY. FILE.
ITEM NUMBER ONE. GIBSON. GIBSON.
AYE.
DID YOU GET. DID YOU GET ME A
FILE? ITEM EIGHT. YEAH I WAS
REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS BILL.
FILE ITEM NUMBER EIGHT. GIBSON.
GIBSON. I THANK YOU
.
YEAH BUT I'M HERE FOREVER. HOW
ARE YOU DOING? ARE YOU GOOD? SO
SORRY. GOOD MORNING, ASSEMBLYMAN
HOOVER. GOOD MORNING. YEAH.
WHENEVER YOU'RE READY, SIR, YOU
CAN PRESENT AB 2227. THANK YOU
SO MUCH, MADAM CHAIR AND MEMBERS
APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO
PRESENT AB 2227. THIS BILL WILL
CLARIFY THE LIMITS OF VENUE FOR
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE FRAUD TO
BE PROSECUTED IN THE COUNTY
WHERE THE DEFENDANT WAS
TRANSACTING BUSINESS. THAT
RESULTED IN THE ALLEGED OFFENSE,
OR WHERE ANY MONEY OR PROPERTY
FROM THE ALLEGED OFFENSE WAS
OBTAINED, SINCE 2020 DUE TO
COVID 19 PANDEMIC AND A RISE IN
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE CLAIMS,
CALIFORNIA'S UNEMPLOYMENT
INSURANCE PROGRAM HAS SUFFERED
LARGE AMOUNTS OF FRAUD ESTIMATED
OVER $31 BILLION. DEFENDANTS WHO
MAY HAVE OBTAINED FRAUDULENT
FUNDS ARE LIKELY TO HAVE
TRAVELED OUT OF STATE OR BE
NONRESIDENTS USING STOLEN
IDENTITIES TO OBTAIN BENEFIT
CARDS. UNFORTUNATELY FOR THE
COUNTY THAT I REPRESENT, CURRENT
LAW LIMITS THE PLACE FOR
VIOLATIONS OF THESE, VIOLATIONS
TO THE COUNTY OF SACRAMENTO. IF
THE DEFENDANT HAS NO RESIDENCE
OR PLACE OF BUSINESS IN
CALIFORNIA, AB 2227 SIMPLY SEEKS
TO AMEND THIS TO ALLOW THESE
TRIALS TO TAKE PLACE IN THE
COUNTIES WHERE THE VIOLATIONS
ACTUALLY OCCURRED. VERY SIMPLE.
BILL WOULD WOULD GREATLY
APPRECIATE AND I VOTE AND WITH
ME TODAY TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT IS
SEAN MCCOY ON BEHALF OF THE
CONFERENCE OF CALIFORNIA BAR
ASSOCIATION. BEALL SECOND.
WHENEVER YOU'RE READY, SIR, THE
CALIFORNIA CONFERENCE BAR
ASSOCIATION SUBMITTED A LETTER
IN SUPPORT, AND I HAVE NOTHING
MORE TO ADD BEYOND THAT. AND
WITH THE ASSEMBLYMAN SAID, THANK
YOU. I'M IN SUPPORT NOW. GOOD TO
KNOW. THANK YOU, DO WE HAVE ANY
WITNESSES IN OPPOSITION? SEEING
NONE. DO WE HAVE ANYONE FOR
PUBLIC COMMENT? ALL RIGHT. BACK
TO THE COMMITTEE. HAVE ANY
QUESTIONS FOR THE AUTHOR? NO.
OKAY AND I THINK WE HAVE A
MOTION AND A SECOND. OKAY WOULD
YOU LIKE TO CLOSE, SIR, JUST
RESPECTFULLY REQUEST AN AYE
VOTE. THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL FILE. ITEM
NUMBER SEVEN, AB 2227. HOOVER
MOTION IS Dð. PASS TO
APPROPRIATIONS. CALDERON I,
CALDERON I, CHEN CHEN I ALVAREZ.
BAUER KHN BERMAN. GIBSON.
GIBSON I JONES-SAWYER LOWENTHAL.
LOWENTHAL I, ORTEGA. ORTEGA I
JO. PATTERSON. JO. PATTERSON I
PETRIE-NORRIS. PETRIE-NORRIS I
BLANCA. RUBIO I BLANCA RUBIO I
VALENCIA. WALLACE WALLACE. I
WOULD WOOD I THANKS SO MUCH.
YOU'RE WELCOME. ASSEMBLYWOMAN
PAPIN WHENEVER YOU'RE READY. SO
NEXT WE'RE GOING TO HEAR AB 2123
PAPIN. THANK YOU. WELL GOOD
MORNING, MADAM CHAIR. AND
MEMBERS. I'M DELIGHTED TO BE
HERE WITH YOU TODAY. THIS BILL
REPRESENTS A PARED DOWN VERSION
OF A BILL I HAD LAST YEAR THAT
RECEIVED BIPARTISAN, UNANIMOUS
SUPPORT FROM THIS COMMITTEE. I'M
HOPING TO GET IT AGAIN. SO THE
BILL RELATES TO, PAID FAMILY
LEAVE. AND THIS IS JUST A MODEST
ADJUSTMENT TO PAID FAMILY LEAVE
IN THAT IT IT SAYS THAT AN
EMPLOYER MAY NOT REQUIRE YOU TO
TAKE TWO WEEKS OF YOUR VACATION
TIME BEFORE YOU CAN PUT IN FOR
PAID FAMILY LEAVE, AND SO MY
BILL WOULD REMOVE THIS PROVISION
SAYING THAT AN EMPLOYER WOULD
ALLOW YOU TO DO THIS. INSTEAD,
AN EMPLOYER MAY NOT ALLOW YOU TO
DO THIS. AS WE ALL KNOW, PAID
FAMILY LEAVE ALLOWS WORKERS TO
TAKE TIME OFF TO CARE FOR A SICK
FAMILY MEMBER OR BOND WITH A NEW
BABY. SOME EMPLOYEES PAY SINCE
EMPLOYEES PAY INTO THIS PROGRAM,
THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO ACCESS
THESE BENEFITS WITHOUT ANY
STRINGS ATTACHED. REMOVING
BARRIERS TO ACCESSING PAID
FAMILY LEAVE ALSO HELPS PROMOTE
GENDER EQUALITY IN THE
WORKFORCE. BY ALLOWING BOTH
MOTHERS AND FATHERS TO TAKE TIME
OFF FOR CAREGIVING
RESPONSIBILITIES. THIS HELPS
REDUCE THE BURDEN OF CAREGIVING
DISPROPORTIONATELY PLACED ON
WOMEN, AND ENCOURAGES GREATER
SHARING OF CAREGIVING. RESPONSE
ABILITIES BETWEEN PARTNERS. AS I
MENTIONED, I HAD A SIMILAR BILL
LAST YEAR. THIS BILL IS PARED
DOWN IN IN IN HONOR OF OUR, OUR
BUDGET SITUATION, AND, SO I'M
LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING
SUPPORT THIS YEAR BECAUSE IT'S A
VERY REASONABLY, MODESTLY
TAILORED BILL WITH ME TODAY. I'M
HONORED TO HAVE QARZI KAMALI,
FROM LEGAL AID AT WORK. GOOD
MORNING. MY NAME IS QAZI KAMALI.
I'M A STAFF ATTORNEY FOR LEGAL
AID AT WORK. LEGAL AID AT WORK
IS A NONPROFIT LEGAL AID
ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO,
EMPOWERING PARENTS, CAREGIVERS,
AND PEOPLE WITH SERIOUS HEALTH
CONDITIONS TO CARE FOR
THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILIES
WITHOUT SACRIFICING THEIR JOBS
OR INCOME. WE HEAR FROM OVER A
THOUSAND WORKING FAMILIES EVERY
YEAR, AND MANY OF THEM REACH OUT
TO US BECAUSE THEY HAVE TROUBLE
ACCESSING PAID FAMILY LEAVE,
PAID FAMILY LEAVE IS 100% FUNDED
BY WORKER'S OWN PAYCHECK
DEDUCTIONS, AND EMPLOYERS DON'T
CONTRIBUTE TO THE PROGRAM AT ALL
. NEVERTHELESS, SOME WORKERS
AREN'T ABLE TO ACCESS IT LIKE
THEY SHOULD BECAUSE OF THE
PROVISION THAT ALLOWS AN
EMPLOYER TO REQUIRE THEIR
EMPLOYEES TO USE UP TO TWO WEEKS
OF ACCRUED VACATION BEFORE THEY
CAN ACCESS FL. SO, AS ANY PARENT
OR FAMILY CAREGIVER WILL TELL
YOU, CAREGIVING AND PARENTING IS
NOT A VACATION, WORKERS PAY FOR
THESE BENEFITS. THEY SHOULD BE
ABLE TO ACCESS THEM WHEN THEY
NEED THEM AND WHEN THEY BECOME
ELIGIBLE, IN FACT, 2023 POLLING
FROM THE SMALL BUSINESS MAJORITY
SHOWS THAT A MAJORITY OF
CALIFORNIA SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS
SUPPORT THIS CHANGE BECAUSE IT
WOULD CLARIFY AND SIMPLIFY THE
PROCESS. AND, AB 2123 MAKES A
SMALL NO COST CHANGE TO THE FL
PROGRAM AND WOULD HAVE POSITIVE
IMPACTS FOR FAMILIES. SO WE
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOUR I VOTE
. THANK YOU. DO WE HAVE ANY,
WITNESSES IN OPPOSITION? NO, WE
HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT,
ADDITIONAL SUPPORT. HELLO. MY
NAME IS SARAH DIAZ WITH THE
CALIFORNIA WILK ASSOCIATION.
WE'RE IN STRONG SUPPORT AND ALSO
TESTIFYING ON BEHALF OF THE
FOLLOWING ORGANIZATIONS AND
SUPPORT THE FOOD EMPOWERMENT
PROJECT. THE LÀ ALLIANCE FOR A
NEW ECONOMY, THE LÀ BEST BABIES
NETWORK, THE NATIONAL
PARTNERSHIP FOR WOMEN AND
FAMILIES, THE ORANGE COUNTY
EQUALITY COALITION, PARENT
VOICES, CALIFORNIA PUBLIC
COUNCIL, WORKING PARTNERSHIPS
USA, WORKSAFE CHILD CARE LAW
CENTER, FRIENDS COMMITTEE ON
LEGISLATION OF CALIFORNIA, SMALL
BUSINESS MAJORITY AND THE
CALIFORNIA CHILD CARE RESOURCE
AND REFERRAL NETWORK. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU. GOOD
MORNING. MY NAME IS GINA CASSIDY
AND I'M WITH THE CALIFORNIA WORK
AND FAMILY COALITION. WE'RE IN
STRONG SUPPORT OF AB 2123. ALSO
TESTIFYING ON BEHALF OF THE
FOLLOWING ORGANIZATIONS IN
STRONG SUPPORT ASIAN LAW
ALLIANCE, BREASTFEED, LA
CALIFORNIA BREASTFEEDING
COALITION, CALIFORNIA COALITION
ON FAMILY CAREGIVING, CALIFORNIA
FEDERATION OF BUSINESS AND
PROFESSIONAL WOMEN CARRYING
ACROSS GENERATIONS, CENTER FOR
COMMUNITY ACTION AND
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE. CENTER
FOR WORKERS RIGHTS, CITIZENS FOR
CHOICE, ELECTRIC UNIVERSE, EQUAL
RIGHTS ADVOCATES, AND FAMILY
CAREGIVER ALLIANCE. DANITA
STROMGREN VOLUNTEER WITH AARP
CALIFORNIA. REPRESENT ING 3.2
MILLION MEMBERS IN CALIFORNIA IN
STRONG SUPPORT. GOOD MORNING,
CHAIR AND MEMBERS KAREN STOUT
HERE ON BEHALF OF REPRODUCTIVE
FREEDOM FOR ALL CALIFORNIA.
WE'RE IN STRONG SUPPORT. SECOND,
THANK YOU. OKAY. DO WE HAVE ANY
QUESTIONS FOR THE AUTHORS?
ASSEMBLYWOMAN ORTEGA, I WANT TO
THANK THE AUTHOR. AND IF SHE
WOULD ALLOW ME, I WOULD LOVE TO.
COME ON AS A COAUTHOR. I'D BE
HONORED. OKAY. MR. GIBSON.
DITTO. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.
WOULD YOU WOULD YOU LIKE TO
CLOSE? RESPECTFULLY REQUEST AN
AYE VOTE. THANK YOU, MADAM
CHAIR. THANK YOU. PLEASE CALL
THE ROLL FILE. ITEM NUMBER NINE,
AB 2123. PAPAN. MOTION IS DUE.
PASS TO APPROPRIATIONS. CALDERON
A, CALDERON. AYE. CHEN CHEN.
AYE. ALVAREZ. BAUER-KAHAN BERMAN
. GIBSON A, GIBSON I,
JONES-SAWYER. LOWENTHAL
LOWENTHAL I. ORTEGA. ORTEGA AYE.
JO. PATTERSON. JO. PATTERSON.
AYE. PETRIE-NORRIS
PETRIE-NORRIS. AYE. BLANCO.
RUBIO. AYE. BLANCO. RUBIO AYE.
VALENCIA. WALLACE. WALLACE. AYE.
WOOD WOOD. AYE. THANK YOU SO
MUCH. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, AT
THIS TIME, WE'RE GOING TO ALLOW.
DOES ANYONE NEED TO ADD ON. NO.
OKAY. WE'RE GOING TO LEAVE THE
ROLL OPEN FOR TEN MINUTES FOR
MEMBERS TO GET HERE. THANK YOU.
NOT TODAY
.
GOOD MORNING. SIR DO YOU JUST
PUT ME DOWN AS THE OPPOSITE OF
THE CHAIR? ECHO. FOR EVERYTHING.
I HAVE YOU ON MIC FOR THAT. JUST
KIDDING. I'M JUST TEASING YOU,
ALL RIGHT? YEAH, YEAH, YEAH.
CONSENT CALENDAR. BERMAN.
BERMAN. I FILE NUMBER ONE, AB
1844. BERMAN. BERMAN. I FILE
ITEM NUMBER THREE, AB 2260.
BERMAN. BERMAN. I FILE ITEM
NUMBER FOUR AB 2872. BERMAN.
BERMAN. I SUCH A GREAT JOB. IT
MAKES IT SO EASY BY ITEM NUMBER
SEVEN AB 2227 BERMAN BERMAN I
FILE ITEM NUMBER EIGHT AB 1870
BERMAN BERMAN I FILE ITEM NUMBER
NINE AB 2123. BERMAN BERMAN I
THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR COMING
.
CONSENT CALENDAR. VALENCIA. YES.
VALENCIA FILE ITEM NUMBER ONE.
AB 1844. VALENCIA YES. VALENCIA.
I FILE ITEM NUMBER THREE AB 2260
VALENCIA. VALENCIA. I. FILE ITEM
NUMBER FOUR AB 2872 VALENCIA.
VALENCIA. YES SORRY. THANK YOU.
FILE ITEM NUMBER SEVEN AB 2227
VALENCIA. VALENCIA. I FILE ITEM
NUMBER EIGHT AB 1870 VALENCIA.
VALENCIA I. FILE ITEM NUMBER
NINE AB 2123 VALENCIA VALENCIA I
. THANK YOU. YEAH. THANK YOU SO
MUCH. YES, I CAN DO IT. OKAY
IT'S NOT OVER YET, SIR. YEAH,
EXACTLY. WE CAN. I JUST WANT TO
IN YOUR. YEAH. YES ALL RIGHT.
THANKS FOR YOUR. JOHN AS FAR AS
LEE AND JOHN WERE. SPECIFICALLY
ON SOME BROAD. NØ. BUT IT'S ON
SO I THINK. YEAH. JUST ME OUT
FOR THAT. CONSENT CALENDAR IS 12
ZERO. FILE ITEM NUMBER 118 4412
ZERO FILE ITEM NUMBER 322 6012
ZERO FILE ITEM NUMBER 428 7212
ZERO. FILE ITEM NUMBER 722 7812
ZERO. FILE ITEM NUMBER 818 7012
ZERO. FILE ITEM NUMBER NINE, 21
2312 ZERO. ASSEMBLY INSURANCE
COMMITTEE IS ADJOURNED