GOOD AFTERNOON.
WELCOME TO THE ASSEMBLY LABOR
AND EMPLOYMENT COMMITTEE
HEARING. AS YOU CAN SEE, MANY OF
OUR OTHER MEMBERS ARE ON THEIR
WAY OR IN OTHER COMMITTEES. SO
WE'RE JUST GOING TO GO AHEAD AND
GET STARTED AS A SUBCOMMITTEE,
ONE OF OUR AUTHORS IS ALREADY
HERE AND READY TO GO. SO WE'LL
GO AHEAD AND START WITH ITEM
NUMBER EIGHT, FOR TODAY'S
HEARING, I ALSO WANT TO ANNOUNCE
THAT ASSEMBLY MEMBER CARLA WILL
BE REPLACING ASSEMBLY MEMBER LEE
FOR EACH BILL, WE WILL TAKE TWO
PRIMARY WITNESSES IN SUPPORT AND
TWO PRIMARY WITNESSES IN
OPPOSITION. EACH PRIMARY WITNESS
WILL GET UP TO TWO MINUTES EACH
FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. WE ASK THAT
YOU JUST STATE YOUR NAME,
AFFILIATION AND POSITION IN,
ASSEMBLY MEMBER THREE OF US,
COULD YOU COME UP?
OKAY. JACK, CHECK. THIS ONE
WORKS, WE HAVE. I KNOW IOZZI IS
HERE. THEY COULD HELP US. THANK
YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM
CHAIR, FIRST, I WOULD LIKE TO
THANK YOUR COMMITTEE STAFF, FOR
WORKING WITH MY STAFF ON THIS
BILL, AB 2738 INCREASES
ENFORCEMENT OF EXISTING LABOR
LAWS IN SEVERAL WAYS. FIRST, IT
MAKES SMALL CHANGES TO A BILL
FROM LAST YEAR THAT GRANTED
LOCAL PUBLIC PROSECUTORS, LIKE
CITY ATTORNEYS AND COUNTY
COUNSEL, THE AUTHORITY TO
ENFORCE STATE LABOR LAW. SECOND,
IT ALLOWS LOCAL PUBLIC
PROSECUTORS TO ALSO ENFORCE THE
LIVE EVENT WORKER SAFETY LAW,
AUTHORED BY ASSEMBLYMAN WARD BY
EXPANDING THEIR AUTHORITY TO
THAT SECTION OF THE LABOR CODE.
LASTLY, IT INCREASES THE
ENFORCEMENT OF THE LIVE EVENT
WORKER SAFETY LAW BY INCREASING
THE TRANSPARENCY OF CONTRACT
AGREEMENTS BETWEEN ENTERTAINER
VENDORS AND PUBLIC VENUES TO
ENSURE THAT STAGE CREWS BEING
HIRED ARE PROPERLY TRAINED.
STAGE PRODUCTION WORKERS WHO SET
UP, OPERATE AND TEAR DOWN LIVE
EVENTS FACE SERIOUS WORKPLACE
HAZARDS. THEY WORK WITH COMPLEX
SYSTEMS IN ALL TYPES OF WEATHER
CONDITIONS. THERE'S A HISTORY OF
ACCIDENTS, INJURIES, AND EVEN
FATALITIES OF WORKERS PERFORMING
SUCH WORK, OFTEN DUE TO A LACK
OF TRAINING OR KNOWLEDGE OF BEST
SAFETY PRACTICES, THE LACK OF
LACK OF SAFETY TRAINING AND
ENFORCEMENT IS DANGEROUS FOR
WORKERS AND EVENT ATTENDEES. IN
2022, AB 1775 SET OUT AN
INDUSTRY WIDE SAFETY STANDARD
FOR STAGING AND LIVE EVENTS.
PRODUCTION BY REQUIRING
ENTERTAINMENT VENDORS THAT
PRODUCE EVENTS SUCH AS CONCERTS
AT STATE OWNED OR OPERATED
FACILITIES TO CERTIFY THAT ALL
ENTERTAINMENT WORKERS HAVE
ADEQUATE AND APPROPRIATE SAFETY
TRAINING. HOWEVER AB 1775 PUT
THE ONUS ON ENTERTAINMENT
VENDORS TO CERTIFY THAT WORKERS
MET THE SAFETY REQUIREMENTS. THE
TEMPORARY NATURE OF SETTING UP
LIVE EVENTS LIKE CONCERTS MAKE
ENFORCEMENT OF THE LAW
CHALLENGING FOR STATEWIDE
ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES THAT HAVE
THOUSANDS OF WORKPLACES TO
INSPECT. AB 2738 STRENGTHENS THE
ENFORCEMENT TO PROTECT STAGE
PRODUCTION WORKERS BY HOLDING
PUBLIC VENUES ACCOUNTABLE AND
INCREASING TRANSPARENCY IN
CONTRACTS TO VERIFY THAT
PRODUCTION COMPANIES ARE USING
TRAINED WORKERS. ADDITIONALLY,
IT EXPANDS THE EXISTING
AUTHORITY OF LOCAL PUBLIC
AGENCIES TO ENFORCE THE LIVE
EVENT SAFETY LAW IN ADDITION TO
OTHER SAFETY. OTHER LABOR LAWS.
LASTLY, IT MAKES A SMALL CHANGE
TO AB 594 FROM LAST YEAR THAT
REQUIRES, RATHER THAN ALLOWS A
COURT TO AWARD REASONABLE
ATTORNEY'S FEES TO THE PUBLIC
PROSECUTOR IF THEY WIN THE CASE
SO THAT LOCAL PUBLIC AGENCIES
ARE ADEQUATELY FUNDED FOR
ENFORCEMENT. TODAY, I HAVE OUR
SPONSOR, STEVE LUTSKY, BUSINESS
MANAGER OF IAC INTERNATIONAL,
AND SARA FLAX, REPRESENTING
CALIFORNIA LABOR FEDERATION, AS
WITNESSES. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY
NAME IS STEVE LUCKY, AND I'M AN
INTERNATIONAL REPRESENTATIVE OF
IATSE AND A MEMBER OF LOCAL 16
STAGEHANDS IN SAN FRANCISCO. I'M
HERE TESTIFYING FOR THE
CALIFORNIA IATSE COUNCIL
REPRESENTING LIVE EVENT WORKERS
THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA. I WOULD LIKE TO
THANK ASSEMBLYWOMAN RIVAS FOR
AUTHORING THIS BILL. ASSEMBLY
BILL 2738 SEEKS TO PROTECT THE
GENERAL PUBLIC, STAGE PRODUCTION
WORKERS AND THE PERFORMING
ARTISTS BY INCREASING THE
TRANSPARENCY OF CONTRACT
AGREEMENTS BETWEEN PUBLIC VENUES
AND ENTERTAINMENT VENDORS TO
ENSURE ENFORCEMENT OF EXISTING
HEALTH AND SAFETY TRAINING
REQUIREMENTS FOR WORKERS.
ESTABLISHED BY ASSEMBLY BILL
1775, AB 2738 WOULD EXPAND THE
EXISTING AUTHORITY OF LOCAL
PUBLIC ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES TO
ENFORCE EXISTING LAWS AND
CLARIFY THAT ALL PARTIES,
INCLUDING PUBLIC VENUES, ARE
ACCOUNTABLE FOR ENSURING WORKER
AND PUBLIC SAFETY AT LIVE
EVENTS. AB 1775 WAS PASSED IN
2022 AND ESTABLISHED A STATEWIDE
INDUSTRY HEALTH AND SAFETY
TRAINING STANDARDS FOR LIVE
EVENT PRODUCTIONS. STAGE
PRODUCTION WORKERS FACE SERIOUS
CHALLENGES. THEY SET UP OPERATE
AND DISMANTLE STAGING EQUIPMENT
IN ALL TYPES OF WEATHER
CONDITIONS AND LOCATIONS. THIS
CAN RESULT IN WORKPLACE INJURIES
AND FATALITIES. AB 1775 CODIFIED
REQUIREMENTS TO ENSURE WORKERS
HAVE THOSE TRAININGS. THE LAW
OFFERS ADEQUATE PROTECTION BUT
LACKS THE TIMELY ENFORCEMENT
MECHANISMS THAT REFLECTS THE
TRANSITORY NATURE OF THE LIVE
EVENT INDUSTRY. THE SHORT TERME
NATURE OF THESE CONTRACTS, AND
THE LACK OF TRANSPARENCY FOR
CERTIFICATION OF EMPLOYEES, MAKE
ENFORCEMENT DIFFICULT. WHEN A
LIVE EVENT IS OVER THE STAGE,
PRODUCTION WORKERS DISMANTLE AND
THE STAGE AND MOVE TO OTHER
VENUES, MAKING ENFORCEMENT,
INVESTIGATION NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE.
AB 2738 STRENGTHENS ENFORCEMENT
TOOLS BY INCREASING TRANSPARENCY
OF CONTRACTUAL AGREEMENTS. THIS
BILL REQUIRES PUBLIC VENUES TO
DISCLOSE THE ENTERTAINMENT VENUE
VENDORS THAT THEY MUST USE
CERTIFIED AND TRAINED STAGE
PRODUCTION WORKERS IN THEIR
CONTRACTS FOR LIVE EVENTS.
ADDITIONALLY, IT EXPANDS THE
EXISTING AUTHORITY OF PUBLIC
LOCAL PUBLIC ENFORCEMENT
AGENCIES TO ENFORCE SECTION OF
THE LABOR CODE AND SECTION SET
FORTH IN AB 534, AB 2730 EXCUSE
ME, AB 2738 CREATES NEW
TRANSPARENCY AND TOOLS TO
INCREASE COMPLIANCE AND
ENFORCEMENT OF AN OF AN
IMPORTANT HEALTH AND SAFETY LAW
TO PROTECT LIVE EVENT WORKERS
AND THE PUBLIC. THANK YOU FOR
THIS REASON, WE URGE YOU FOR
YOUR SUPPORT. THANK YOU MADAM
CHAIR. MEMBER SARA FLOCKS,
CALIFORNIA LABOR FEDERATION WE
WERE THE SPONSORS OF BOTH AB
FIVE, NINE FOUR AND 1775. WE
THINK IT IS A GREAT MODEL TO
HAVE LOCAL ENFORCEMENT OF
STATEWIDE LAW. THIS EXPANDS IT
INTO SOME HEALTH AND SAFETY
PARTS OF THE CODE. WE ALL KNOW
THE CHALLENGES THAT CAL OSHA
FACES. HAVING THAT EXTRA LAYER
OF ENFORCEMENT IS INCREDIBLY
IMPORTANT. BUT WHAT I REALLY
WANT TO FOCUS ON IS WHAT I
BELIEVE THE OPPOSITION IS GOING
TO COME UP AND SAY AFTER ME,
WHICH IS AN OPPOSITION TO THE
CHANGE. WE MADE A VERY SMALL
CHANGE FROM SAYING COURTS MAY TO
COURTS SHALL AWARDS THE
PREVAILING PARTY ATTORNEY'S
FEES. THE REASON FOR THIS, AND
THERE'S A LETTER OF SUPPORT FROM
THE OAKLAND CITY ATTORNEY, IS
THAT THESE ARE PUBLIC
ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES THAT ARE
BEING TASKED WITH A WHOLE NEW
JOB, WHICH IS TO ENFORCE LABOR
LAW. WE WANT THEM TO BE ABLE TO
RECOVER THEIR COSTS. THIS IS HOW
THEY'RE FUNDING THIS WORK. WE
WANT ENFORCEMENT TO WORK. THE
OTHER REASON IS THAT THIS LEVELS
THE PLAYING FIELD SO THAT PUBLIC
ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES ARE ABLE TO
TAKE CASES FOR LOW WAGE WORKERS,
FOR SMALL CASES, TO GET
INJUNCTIVE RELIEF. THE CASES
WHERE THERE AREN'T BIG DAMAGE
AWARDS. THIS IS THE ONLY WAY BY
RECOVERING THEIR COSTS, IT'S THE
ONLY WAY THEY'LL BE ABLE TO
CONTINUE TO DO THIS WORK. AND
THEY'RE GOING TO SAY THAT THIS
IS CONTRACTING OUT TO PRIVATE
ATTORNEYS THAT ARE GOING TO TRY
TO MAKE MONEY ON THIS. THAT IS
GENERALLY WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE A
DEPARTMENT THAT STAFFED TO DO
THE WORK. FRESNO THE CITY OF
FRESNO IS NOW TAKING ADVANTAGE
OF AB 594, AND THEY ARE STARTING
TO ENFORCE LABOR LAW. WE WANT TO
ENCOURAGE THAT ACROSS THE STATE.
AND SO WE URGE YOUR AYE VOTE.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I DO WANT
TO TAKE A MINUTE TO ESTABLISH
QUORUM, SECRETARY, CAN YOU
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL? ORTEGA
HERE. FLORA HERE. ALANIS HERE.
WENDY CARILLO LEE. EXCUSE ME.
CORA WARD. ZIPPER. QUORUM IS.
QUORUM IS ESTABLISHED, DO YOU
HAVE ANY, ANY MEMBERS, OTHER
WITNESSES HERE IN SUPPORT? JUST
NAME ASSOCIATION AND, POSITION.
THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. MEMBERS
DYLAN ELLIOTT, ON BEHALF OF THE
SAN FRANCISCO CITY ATTORNEY
DAVID ESHOO'S OFFICE, ECHOING
THE SENTIMENT WITH RESPECT TO
THE MAY SHALL ISSUE, IN
PARTICULAR IN SUPPORT. THANK YOU
. ELIZABETH MADONIA, IATSE LOCAL
50, SACRAMENTO BUSINESS AGENT.
AND WE ARE IN SUPPORT OF THIS.
GOOD AFTERNOON. SHANE GUZMAN, ON
BEHALF OF THE TEAMSTERS,
SAG-AFTRA AND THE CALIFORNIA
SCHOOL EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION IN
SUPPORT. TOM DAVIS, PRESIDENT,
CALIFORNIA TSC. COUNSEL AND
SUPPORT. THANK YOU. ANY MAIN
WITNESSES IN OPPOSITION? JOHN
CHABOT, CALIFORNIA NURSES
ASSOCIATION IN SUPPORT. OKAY.
GOOD AFTERNOON, ASHLEY HOFFMAN,
ON BEHALF OF THE CALIFORNIA
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, YES, I DID,
MY COLLEAGUE KIND OF, I THINK
ITERATED SOME OF OUR CONCERNS
WITH THE BILL RELATED TO THE
CHANGE TO THE MAIN SHRINE BILL
FROM LAST YEAR, AB 594. WE DID
HAVE CONCERNS WITH THAT BILL,
AND JUST SOME ISSUES THAT WE
HAVE SEEN WHEN WE ALLOW FOR
PUBLIC PROSECUTION OF STATEWIDE
LAWS AND SOME INCONSISTENT
ENFORCEMENT. AND AS MENTIONED,
CONTRACTING OUT TO PRIVATE
FIRMS, SO I THINK OUR CONCERN
WAS LAST YEAR THAT BILL, I
BELIEVE, DID CONTAIN THE SAME
LANGUAGE ABOUT CHAU. AND THEN IT
WAS CHANGED TO MAY, AND NOW IT
IS, I THINK, BEING CHANGED BACK
TO SHALL. SO HAD CONCERNS AND
HAVE REACHED OUT TO TRY AND
UNDERSTAND A LITTLE BIT BETTER
ABOUT THE CHANGE THAT WAS MADE
LAST YEAR AND WHY THE DECISION
TO KIND OF REVERT THAT BACK THIS
YEAR, AND SO LOOK FORWARD TO
CONTINUED CONVERSATIONS ON THAT
ISSUE. AND SOME OF OUR MEMBERS
ARE STILL LOOKING INTO, ANOTHER
PROVISION BILL RELATED TO THE
PUBLIC RECORDS ACT REQUEST, AND
AGAIN, LOOK FORWARD TO
CONTINUING CONVERSATIONS WITH
THE AUTHOR'S OFFICE AND
SPONSORS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER WITNESSES
IN OPPOSITION? THÀNH. BEN
EBBING, ON BEHALF OF THE
CALIFORNIA LEAGUE OF FOOD
PRODUCERS. IN OPPOSITION, JUST
TO THE ATTORNEY'S FEES
PROVISION, NOT THE LIVE EVENTS
PORTION OF THE BILL, GOOD
AFTERNOON, MATTHEW ALLEN WITH
WESTERN GROWERS ALSO OPPOSED.
THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON, BRIAN
LITTLE, CALIFORNIA FARM BUREAU
IN OPPOSITION FOR THE REASONS
DISCUSSED BY THE CHAMBER. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU. SEEING NO OTHER
WITNESSES IN OPPOSITION, I'LL
OPEN IT UP FOR OUR MEMBERS. IF
THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS. THAT'S
IT. HAVE A SEEING. NO QUESTIONS.
WE HAVE A MOTION. A SECOND. TO
CLOSE, DO YOU HAVE ANY CLOSING
COMMENTS. THANK YOU. AND I WOULD
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR AN AYE
VOTE. SECRETARY, PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL. THE MOTION IS DUE. PASS TO
JUDICIARY COMMITTEE. ORTEGA I,
ORTEGA I FLORA. NO. FLORA NO.
ALANIS. NO. ALANIS. NO. WENDY.
CARILLO WENDY. CARILLO. AYE.
CORA. WARD SUBURB. BILLS ON THE
FLOOR. THE BILL IS ON CALL.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU.
SCOTT, I DON'T WANT YOU TO.
OKAY. ASSEMBLY MEMBER HANEY, WE
WILL NOW HEAR ITEM ONE AND TWO.
GREAT, WHICH ONE IS FIRST? DO
YOU WANT TO. WE'LL DO AB 1976.
OKAY, GREAT. THANK YOU, MADAM
CHAIR. YES THANK YOU, MADAM
CHAIR AND MEMBERS, AB 1976
ENSURES WIDESPREAD ACCESS TO
NALOXONE IN CALIFORNIA BY
REQUIRING IT TO BE IN ALL
LOCATIONS THAT ARE REQUIRED TO
HAVE A FIRST AID KIT.
SPECIFICALLY, ALL WORKPLACE
FIRST AID KITS WILL NEED TO
CONTAIN NALOXONE, NASAL SPRAY IN
ORDER TO PROVIDE MORE ACCESS TO
THIS LIFE SAVING MEDICATION AND
TO PREVENT OPIOID OVERDOSES.
DRUG OVERDOSES IN CALIFORNIA ARE
DEADLIER THAN CAR ACCIDENTS AND
HOMICIDES COMBINED. IN 2022,
OVER 7300 DEATHS WERE CAUSED BY
AN OPIOID OVERDOSE, WITH A
GROWING NUMBER OF THOSE DEATHS
BEING YOUTH AND THE DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH WHEN
SOMEONE OVERDOSES CAN BE HOW
QUICKLY THE NALOXONE CAN BE
ACCESSED. FOR NALOXONE TO BE
EFFECTIVE AND SAVE A LIFE, IT
REQUIRES SOMEONE NEAR THE PERSON
OVERDOSING TO HAVE ACCESS TO THE
MEDICATION. BECAUSE OPIOID USERS
WHO ARE IN THE MIDST OF AN
OVERDOSE CANNOT SELF-ADMINISTER
THE MEDICATION ONCE THEY BECOME
UNCONSCIOUS, THE OPIOID CRISIS
IS HURTING OUR SONS, DAUGHTERS,
MOTHERS, AND FATHERS IN EVERY
COUNTY THROUGHOUT THE STATE.
THERE IS NO EXCUSE TO NOT MAKE
THIS LIFE SAVING INTERVENTION
AVAILABLE IN FIRST AID KITS.
WHEN SOMEONE OVERDOSES, JUST
LIKE A FIRE EXTINGUISHER OR
DEFIBRILLATOR, WE HOPE TO. WE
HOPE WE NEVER HAVE TO USE IT,
BUT THE RISK IS GREAT ENOUGH
THAT IT SHOULD BE THERE. IN THE
RARE CASE THAT WE DO, BY
REQUIRING NALOXONE IN ALL
WORKPLACE FIRST AID KITS, WE
WILL ENSURE THAT PEOPLE ALWAYS
KNOW WHERE THEY CAN FIND IT IN
AN OVERDOSE EMERGENCY WHILE
PROTECTING OUR COMMUNITIES WHO
HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY THE
FENTANYL EPIDEMIC. IN FACT, THE
BIDEN ADMINISTRATION JUST
RELEASED A STATEMENT AS PART OF
THEIR PLAN ENCOURAGING LEADERS
TO HAVE NALOXONE IN FIRST AID
KITS, RECOGNIZING THAT EASY
ACCESS TO NALOXONE IS KEY TO
SAVING LIVES. WITH ME TO TODAY,
TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF THE BILL
IS MEREDITH HOLDER, AN EMERGENCY
ROOM NURSE, SPEAKING ON BEHALF
OF THE EMERGENCY NURSES
ASSOCIATION. AND I BELIEVE HONEY
MAHOGANY, OWNER OF THE OLDEST
LGBTQ BAR IN SAN FRANCISCO, THE
STUD, I ALSO WANTED TO THANK YOU
, MADAM CHAIR, FOR YOUR
LEADERSHIP ON EXTENDING AND,
NALOXONE ACCESS. I THINK WE ALL
HAVE TO BE WORKING TOGETHER TO
MAKE SURE THIS CRITICAL, LIFE
SAVING INTERVENTION IS
AVAILABLE. AND I ALSO SAY THAT
MANY OF THE BILLS THAT WERE
PASSED ON NALOXONE ACCESS THIS
PAST YEAR WERE BIPARTISAN,
REPUBLICANS AUTHORING THEM,
DEMOCRATS AUTHORING THEM. THIS
IS SOMETHING WHERE WE SHOULD BE
ABLE TO HAVE COMMON GROUND AND
MAKE SURE THIS LIFE SAVING
INTERVENTION IS AVAILABLE. THANK
YOU. OUR WITNESSES, PLEASE. JUST
A REMINDER, TWO MINUTES EACH.
THANK YOU. CHAIR AND MEMBERS,
FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK TODAY.
MY NAME IS MEREDITH HOLDER. I AM
AN EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT NURSE
FROM SAN FRANCISCO, A CITY THAT
HAS BEEN RENOWNED FOR ITS BEAUTY
AND SPIRIT BUT IS FACING THE
HARSH REALITY OF THE OPIOID
CRISIS THAT IS NOW ONLY GOTTEN
WORSE SINCE FENTANYL IS
EVERYWHERE, SAN FRANCISCO IS NOT
THE ONLY COMMUNITY IN THE STATE
FACING THESE ISSUES. FOR THE
FIRST TIME IN CALIFORNIA, AS
ASSEMBLY MEMBER HANEY SAID,
OVERDOSE DEATHS ARE NOW DEADLIER
THAN CAR ACCIDENTS AND HOMICIDES
COMBINED. AND I'M HERE TODAY
SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF OVER 5000
NURSES OF THE CALIFORNIA
EMERGENCY NURSES ASSOCIATION IN
SUPPORT OF ASSEMBLY BILL, 1976,
THIS BILL IS A PROACTIVE
SOLUTION THAT ACKNOWLEDGES THE
OPIOID EPIDEMIC BY ENSURING
WIDESPREAD ACCESS TO NALOXONE,
OR NARCAN, IN CALIFORNIA, BY
REQUIRING IT TO BE IN ALL
LOCATIONS THAT WOULD HAVE A
FIRST AID KIT. NALOXONE IS A
MEDICATION THAT CAN REVERSE THE
EFFECTS OF AN OPIOID OVERDOSE
WITHIN MINUTES, AND IT IS A
CRITICAL MEDICATION IN MY LINE
OF WORK, THIS IS A LIFE SAVING
DRUG. OVERDOSES CAN HAPPEN
ANYTIME, ANYWHERE BY ENSURING
NALOXONE IS READILY AVAILABLE
AND WORKPLACE FIRST AID KITS
WERE BEING PROACTIVE TO PREVENT
TRAGEDIES, PLACING NALOXONE IN
FIRST AID KITS EQUIPS ORDINARY
CITIZENS WITH THE ABILITY TO
SAVE LIVES, MUCH LIKE THE USE OF
A FIRE EXTINGUISHER OR A
DEFIBRILLATOR FOR OPIOID USERS
IN THE MIDST OF AN OPIOID
OVERDOSE, CANNOT SELF-ADMINISTER
ONCE THEY BECOME UNCONSCIOUS,
THE DRUG MUST BE READILY
ACCESSIBLE AND ADMINISTERED BY
SOMEONE NEAR THE PERSON. AS A
NURSE, MY JOB FIRST AND
FOREMOST, IS TO ENSURE PATIENT
SAFETY AND TO ACT AS A PATIENT
ADVOCATE. TODAY, I ADVOCATE FOR
THOSE WHO I WILL CARE FOR IN THE
FUTURE WHILE THINKING OF THOSE
WHO COULD HAVE BEEN SAVED BY
NALOXONE ADMINISTERED BY A
BYSTANDER. IN THE PAST. PLEASE
SUPPORT CREATING MORE EQUITABLE
ACCESS TO NALOXONE TO PREVENT
OPIOID OVERDOSE DEATHS. THANK
YOU, MADAM CHAIR, AND MEMBERS OF
THE COMMITTEE. MY NAME IS HONEY
MAHOGANY AND I'M A SOCIAL
WORKER, BUT ALSO A CO-OWNER OF
THE STUD BAR IN THE SOUTH OF
MARKET NEIGHBORHOOD IN SAN
FRANCISCO. AS SOMEONE WHO HAS
SEEN FIRSTHAND THE DEVASTATING
IMPACTS OF THE OPIOID OVERDOSES
IN OUR COMMUNITIES, ADDING
NALOXONE IN FIRST AID KITS IS
ABOUT SAFEGUARDING OUR
COLLEAGUES, OUR FRIENDS AND OUR
LOVED ONES AGAINST AN EVER
GROWING EPIDEMIC. SAN FRANCISCO,
LIKE MANY CITIES ACROSS THE
STATE, IS ON THE FRONT LINES OF
AN OPIOID CRISIS. THERE IS A
CRISIS ON OUR STREETS, AND THAT
CRISIS IS FENTANYL. IT HAS
INVADED OUR COMMUNITIES,
AFFECTING PEOPLE FROM ALL WALKS
OF LIFE. MOTHERS FATHERS, YOUNG
PROFESSIONALS, THE ELDERLY, AND
EVEN CHILDREN. IT IS A CRISIS
THAT, LIKE MANY, HAS BECOME
DEEPLY PERSONAL AS WE HAVE
WITNESSED THE DEVASTATING
IMPACTS ON FRIENDS AND FAMILY.
OPIOID OVERDOSES BECOMING MORE
LETHAL THAN BOTH CAR ACCIDENTS
AND HOMICIDES TOGETHER IS VERY
TROUBLING. THE REALITY IS THAT
NO WORKPLACE, NO COMMUNITY, AND
NO FAMILY IS IMMUNE TO THIS
CRISIS. AS ASSEMBLY MEMBER HANEY
SAID, IN 2022 ALONE, OVER 7300
DEATHS WERE ATTRIBUTED TO OPIOID
OVERDOSES. THE NUMBERS ARE
SOBERING BECAUSE BEHIND EACH
NUMBER IS A TRAGEDY THAT COULD
HAVE BEEN PREVENTED. A LIFE THAT
WAS CUT SHORT, A FAMILY THAT WAS
SHATTERED, HOWEVER, THERE IS A
LIFE SAVING MEDICATION CALLED
NALOXONE AND NALOXONE HAS BEEN
PROVEN TO SAVE LIVES. IT CAN
REVERSE AN OPIOID OVERDOSE IN A
MATTER OF 30S, ALLOWING VITAL
TIME FOR EMERGENCY SERVICES TO
ARRIVE. ADDING THEM INTO OUR
FIRST AID KITS ISN'T JUST ABOUT
PROTECTING THE EMPLOYEES, IT'S
ALSO ABOUT ENSURING THAT
BYSTANDERS AND WITNESSES, THOSE
WHO ARE SEEING THIS OVERDOSE
HAPPEN IN REAL TIME ARE
IMMEDIATELY ABLE TO LOCATE A
FIRST AID KIT AND PREVENT A
DEATH. THERE ARE NO DANGEROUS
SIDE EFFECTS, AND THEY ARE
COMPLETELY SAFE TO USE, EVEN IF
THE PERSON WHO RECEIVED THE
MEDICATION ISN'T EXPERIENCING AN
OVERDOSE. EVERY LIFE IS VALUABLE
, AND THE COST OF NALOXONE PALES
IN COMPARISON TO THE VALUE OF A
HUMAN LIFE. THE IMPLEMENTATION
OF THIS POLICY WILL PREVENT
TRAGEDIES AND ENSURE THAT MOST
EFFECTIVE, ENSURE THAT THE MOST
EFFECTIVE TOOL TO STOP OVERDOSES
IS AVAILABLE. THANK YOU. DO WE
HAVE ANY WITNESSES IN SUPPORT?
GOOD AFTERNOON, ADRIAN SHELTON
WITH THE CALIFORNIA ALLIANCE OF
CHILD AND FAMILY SERVICES AND
PROUD SUPPORT. GOOD AFTERNOON,
CHAIR ORTEGA AND MEMBERS BRYANT
MIRAMONTEZ WITH ACP CALIFORNIA
AND SUPPORT. THANK YOU, MADAM
CHAIR. MEMBERS DYLAN ELLIOTT, ON
BEHALF OF THE CALIFORNIA STATE
ASSOCIATION OF PSYCHIATRISTS AND
SUPPORT. THANK YOU. GOOD
AFTERNOON, JOHN SHIBAN,
CALIFORNIA NURSES ASSOCIATION
AND SUPPORT. THANK YOU. GOOD
AFTERNOON, TRENT MURPHY WITH THE
CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF
ALCOHOL AND DRUG PROGRAM
EXECUTIVES AND SUPPORT. THANK
YOU. DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER
WITNESSES IN OPPOSITION SEEING
NONE, I'LL HAND IT OVER TO OUR
COMMITTEE MEMBERS IF THEY HAVE
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS.
ASSEMBLY MEMBER CREEL THANK YOU,
MADAM CHAIR, AND THANK YOU TO
THE AUTHOR FOR BRINGING THIS
VERY IMPORTANT BILL, TO THE
COMMITTEE, A COUPLE OF MONTHS
AGO IN MY DISTRICT, I HOSTED A
MENTAL HEALTH FAIR AT A AT A
LOCAL COLLEGE AT OCCIDENTAL
COLLEGE. AND WE INVITED
INDIVIDUALS FROM VARIOUS
DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS TO DO
NONPROFIT WORK AND REALLY TALK
ABOUT OUR MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS,
OUR HOUSING HOMELESSNESS CRISIS,
AND OUR FENTANYL CRISIS. AND I
GOT A TRAINING ON HOW TO USE,
NARCAN. AND I WAS BOTH
INTIMIDATED, BUT ALSO SURPRISED
AT HOW EASY IT WAS. AND HOW MUCH
JUST KNOWING HOW TO ADMINISTER
AND HELP SOMEONE IN NEED IF
NEEDED. IF I'M EVER IN A
SITUATION THÀNH, I NOW KNOW HOW
TO HELP. AND I THINK
UNFORTUNATELY WE LIVE IN A
REALITY WHERE THAT IS OUR
CURRENT SITUATION ACROSS THE
STATE AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY. SO
I JUST WANT TO COMMEND YOU FOR
THE WORK THAT YOU DO IN SAVING
LIVES. AND IF POSSIBLE, UP TO
JOIN YOU AS A COAUTHOR ON THE
BILL. OF COURSE. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. APPRECIATE THAT. ANY
OTHER COMMENTS? I WOULD LIKE TO
ALSO THANK YOU. AS A COLLEAGUE
ON THE FENTANYL TASK FORCE, THIS
IS AN ISSUE THAT'S VERY CLOSE TO
MY HEART. I SPENT LAST YEAR
EDUCATING, LEARNING, HEARING
COUNTLESS STORIES ABOUT WAYS
THAT PEOPLE ARE LOSING THEIR
LIVES EVERY DAY. BUT ALSO WAYS
THAT WE CAN SAVE LIVES. AND
THAT'S WHAT THIS BILL IS ABOUT
SAVING LIVES. AND, YOU KNOW,
ESPECIALLY IN THE WORKPLACE
WHERE WE SPEND MOST OF OUR TIME.
SO I REALLY THANK YOU FOR
BRINGING THIS FORWARD. WE DO
HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND,
SECRETARY, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
OH. I'M SORRY, WOULD YOU LIKE TO
CLOSE? NO. I THANK YOU SO MUCH,
MADAM CHAIR. AND THANK YOU FOR
THOSE COMMENTS. AND TO EVERYONE,
FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THIS
ISSUE. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I
THINK WE CAN ALL COME TOGETHER
AROUND AND APPRECIATE YOUR
LEADERSHIP AND RESPECTFULLY ASK
FOR YOUR VOTE. THANK YOU. MOTION
IS Dð PASS TO APPROPRIATIONS
COMMITTEE. ORTEGA I, ORTEGA I
FLORA A FLORA I ALANIS I ALANIS
I WENDY CARILLO WENDY CARILLO I
KALRA. KALRA I WARD. SABBIR.
THIS BILL IS OUT. THANK YOU,
THANK YOU. YOU HAVE. OH GO AHEAD
. AB 2374. I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO
WELCOME BACK ASSEMBLY MEMBER
ALCALA, OUR FORMER CHAIR. HE
JUST CAN'T LEAVE. JUST KIDDING.
CAN'T STAY AWAY, THANK YOU SO
MUCH, MADAM CHAIR AND MEMBERS,
AB 2374 STRENGTHENS CALIFORNIA'S
DISPLACED JANITORS ACT
OPPORTUNITY ACT BY EXPANDING
PROTECTIONS FOR LAID OFF
JANITORS. IN 2002, CALIFORNIA
PASSED THE DISPLACED JANITORS
OPPORTUNITY ACT TO PREVENT MASS
LAYOFFS OF JANITORS. WHEN THERE
IS A CHANGE IN THE STAFFING
AGENCY AT THE SAME FACILITY. IF
A JANITORIAL SERVICES CONTRACT
IS TERMINATED. THE ACT CURRENTLY
ALLOWS THE LAID OFF JANITORS TO
CONTINUE WORKING IN THE SAME
POSITION UNDER THE NEW
JANITORIAL STAFFING AGENCY FOR
60 DAYS. HOWEVER, THE RECENT
MASS LAYOFFS ACROSS ALL
INDUSTRIES HAVE EXPOSED THE
SHORTCOMINGS IN THE EXISTING
DISPLACED JANITORS OPPORTUNITY
ACT FOR EXAMPLE, ON DECEMBER
5TH, 2022, X, FORMERLY KNOWN AS
TWITTER, WHICH IS IN MY
DISTRICT, ENDED ITS 12 YEAR
CONTRACT WITH A JANITORIAL
AGENCY. THIS DECISION, BECAUSE
OF THE HOLES IN THIS ACT, LEFT
THOSE JANITORS WITHOUT A JOB
OVERNIGHT, RIGHT BEFORE THE
HOLIDAYS, X WAS ABLE TO EXPLOIT
THOSE LOOPHOLES IN THE CURRENT
LAW TO NOT PROVIDE THE ADEQUATE
TRANSITIONAL EMPLOYMENT PERIOD
TO THE LAID OFF JANITORS.
ADDITIONALLY, THE 60 DAYS OF
TRANSITIONAL EMPLOYMENT IS NO
LONGER ADEQUATE TIME FOR LAID
OFF WORKERS TO TRANSITION
BETWEEN JOBS. THIS IS PARTLY DUE
TO THE FACT THAT A THIRD OF
CALIFORNIANS DON'T HAVE ADEQUATE
SAVINGS TO COVER BASIC
NECESSITIES IN THE EVENT OF AN
UNEXPECTED JOB LOSS, TWO MONTHS
PAY IS OFTEN NOT ENOUGH FOR AN
INDIVIDUAL RELAY INFORMATION ABOUT THEIR
NEWLY HIRED JANITORIAL STAFFING
AGENCY TO THE AGENCY. WITHIN
FIVE DAYS, I ALSO WANT TO SAY
WE'VE HAD PRODUCTIVE
CONVERSATIONS WITH THE
OPPOSITION, ESPECIALLY AROUND
THE LIABILITY PIECES A PAZ EN LA LEY,
PORQUE COMO YO MUCHOS DE
NUESTROS MIEMBROS TAMBIÉN A
TODOS DESAFORTUNADAMENTE POR LA
COMPANIA. TWITTER HA FUERON EN
LAS NINGUNA
AYUDA NI NADA DE ESO. CAN I
TRANSLATE FOR HIM? YES. SO MY
NAME IS JULIO ALVARADO. I AM
PART OF LOCAL 87 JANITOR. I HAVE
BEEN
JUST FINANCIALLY, BUT ALSO,
MENTALLY AS WELL AS FINANCIALLY.
AND WE WERE JUST VERY LOST. WE
TRIED TO HAVE THE NEW COMPANY
HIRE US BACK. THEY ON FORWARD AND HELPS
OBNOXIOUS OUR LOCAL. BUT ALL
THOSE IN THE SAME POSITION THAT
WE WERE, A WHILE BACK AND STOPS
ALL THE INJUSTICES
LAID OFF, TERMINATED ALL OF OUR
JANITORS BEFORE CHRISTMAS, AND
THE CONTRACTOR THAT WAS
TERMINATED DID THAN 25
EMPLOYEES AND DID NOT HAVE TO
HIRE UNION EMPLOYEES, AND THEN
AFTER THEY LAID OFF, THAT
CONTRACTOR AND THEN BROUGHT IN
ANOTHER CONTRACTOR WHICH HAD 60
EMPLOYEES JUST TO OUR MEMBERS, LIKE
CUCA, WHO LIVE PAYCHECK TO
PAYCHECK, DON'T HAVE TO WORRY
ABOUT SORT OF WHERE THE NEXT
CHECK IS GOING TO COME FROM. SO
JUST THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK
YOU, WE WILL NOW MOVE TO
WITNESSES IN SUPPORT. GOOD
AFTERNOON, SHANE GUZMAN, ON
BEHALF OF THE TEAMSTERS
CALIFORNIA SCHOOL EMPLOYEES
ASSOCIATION IN SUPPORT. GOOD
AFTERNOON, JOHN SHIBAN,
CALIFORNIA NURSES ASSOCIATION IN
SUPPORT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
DO WE HAVE ANY WITNESSES IN
OPPOSITION READS NOW, IT WOULD
IMPOSE JOINT LIABILITY IF THE
SUCCESSOR FAILS TO RETAIN AN
EMPLOYEE OR IMPROPERLY
DISCHARGES THEM, EVEN IF THE
AWARDING AUTHORITY DID GIVE THE
PROPER NOTICE. SO WE'RE HAVING
CONVERSATIONS ABOUT AMENDMENTS
TO THAT PIECE, WE'VE ALSO HAD
GOOD CONVERSATIONS ABOUT SOME OF
THE NOTICE OBLIGATIONS THAT
WOULD BE IMPOSED ON THE AWARDING
AUTHORITY. WE THINK THOSE ARE
BEST LEFT TO THE WORKERS
EMPLOYER, WHO IS ALREADY LEGALLY
REQUIRED TO GIVE THEM OTHER
NOTICES THEIR PAYCHECK, ETC, AND
NOTICE TO THE UNION AGAIN, WHICH
THE AWARDING AUTHORITY IS NOT
THE PARTNER IN THE CBA. IN THAT
CASE IT WOULD BE THE CONTRACTOR,
AND THEN FINALLY THE PROVISION
IN THE BILL, ON
BEHALF OF THE LOS ANGELES AREA
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, RESPECTFUL
OPPOSITION. BÀN BEHALF OF THE
CALIFORNIA LEAGUE OF FOOD
PRODUCERS. ALSO IN OPPOSITION.
OAN. RYAN. ELAINE, ON BEHALF OF
THE CALIFORNIA RETAILERS
ASSOCIATION. IN OPPOSITION.
THANK YOU. AMELIA ZAMANI, ON
BEHALF OF THE CALIFORNIA TRAVEL
ASSOCIATION, IN RESPECTFUL
OPPOSITION. RECOGNIZE AS
NECESSARY, AND SO I JUST WANT TO
I WANT TO MOVE THE BILL, I
BELIEVE IF IT MAKES IT THROUGH
HERE, IT'LL BE COMING OVER TO
JUDICIARY. SO WE'LL HAVE ANOTHER
OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT
FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE. BUT I
JUST WANT TO EXPRESS MY
GRATITUDE TOWARDS THE AUTHOR.
THANK YOU. NEED A SECOND,
ASSEMBLY MEMBER, WOULD YOU LIKE
TO CLOSE? SURE. THANK YOU SO
MUCH, CHAIR AND FORMER CHAIR FOR
YOUR SUPPORT. I ALSO WANT TO
THANK, THE OPPOSITION AND TO SAY
THAT I DO THINK THAT ON MANY OF
THE THINGS THAT WERE PUT FORWARD
THERE, THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE
ABLE TO WORK SOME OF THESE
THINGS OUT AND CLARIFY SOME
THINGS. AND SO HOPEFULLY WHEN WE
COME TO JUDICIARY, WE'LL HAVE
DONE THAT. I ALSO REALLY WANT TO
THANK RAMNEEK AND JULIO AND
EVERYBODY FROM SEIU LOCAL 87.
WHEN THEY BROUGHT THIS BILL
FORWARD. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT
I ASKED THEM TO CLARIFY, AS I
SAID. SO TO BE CLEAR, YOU WERE
ABLE TO FIX MOST OF THESE THAT
MEASURE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. WE'LL GO AHEAD AND DO
THE CONSENT CALENDAR. NEXT. IF I
CAN GET A MOTION AND A SECOND
SECRETARY, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR ITEM, AB
3105 AND AB 3234, THE MOTION IS
DUE. PASS CONSENT TO
APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE ON AB
2705. THE MOTION IS Dð. PASS
CONSENT TO JUDICIARY. ORTEGA Ã
ORTEGA. AYE. FLORA ALANIS.
ALANIS. AYE. WENDY CARILLO.
WENDY CARILLO AYE. CORA CORA.
AYE. WARD BY WARD. AYE. DABIR.
CONSENT CONSENT CALENDAR IS OUT.
OKAY. WE WILL NOW GO TO ASSEMBLY
MEMBER KARLA. ITEM NUMBER SIX AB
2602. TODAY YOU ARE FORMER CHAIR
MEMBER AND PRESENTER.
THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. IT'S
GREAT TO BE BACK HERE AT THE
LABOR COMMITTEE AND HONORED TO
PRESENT AB 2602, WHICH WOULD
REQUIRE PERFORMERS WHICH REQUIRE
A PERFORMER'S INFORMED CONSENT
AND PROPER REPRESENTATION WHEN
EXECUTING A CONTRACT FOR ANY
TRANSFER OF RIGHTS TO THAT
INDIVIDUAL'S LIKENESS OR VOICE
AMIDST THE RISE OF THE DIGITAL
AGE, PERFORMERS ACROSS THE
ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY HAVE
INADVERTENTLY BEEN SIGNING AWAY
THEIR RIGHTS TO THEIR DIGITAL
SELVES THROUGH CLAUSES THAT CAN
LOOK LIKE STANDARD COPYRIGHT
LANGUAGE. SPECIFICALLY,
INDIVIDUALS ARE UNKNOWINGLY
AUTHORIZING STUDIOS TO USE THEIR
VOICE AND LIKENESS IN ALL MEDIA
BY ALL CURRENT AND FUTURE
TECHNOLOGIES IN PERPETUITY, AND
WITH NO ADDITIONAL COMPENSATION.
WE HAVE SEEN NUMEROUS EXAMPLES
OF ACTORS IN THE NEWS WHO HAVE
BEEN DIGITALLY REPLICATED, SOME
WITHOUT THEIR CONSENT. FOR
EXAMPLE, THE APPLE TV SERIES TED
LASSO UTILIZED TECHNOLOGY TO
ESSENTIALLY COPY AND PASTE
DOZENS OF BACKGROUND ACTORS IN
AN ATTEMPT TO ARTIFICIALLY FILL
SOCCER STADIUMS OF SPECTATORS,
EFFECTIVELY ALLOWING STUDIOS TO
AVOID PAYING REAL PEOPLE WHILE
AT THE SAME TIME BENEFITING FROM
USING THEIR DIGITAL COPY OR
LIKENESS. AB 2602 STRIKES THE
BALANCE BETWEEN AN INDUSTRY
PROGRESS AND PROTECTING
PERFORMERS RIGHTS TO THEIR
DIGITAL SELF AND LIVELIHOOD.
THIS BILL DOES NOT OUTRIGHT
PROHIBIT THE USE OF DIGITAL
REPLICAS, BUT RATHER ENSURES
THAT Ã PERFORMERS AGREE TO
LICENSE OUT THEIR DIGITAL SELF
THAT THEY ARE FULLY AWARE OF THE
EXTENT OF AND THE INTENTIONS FOR
THAT USE. I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH
OPPOSITION IN RESPONSE TO THEIR
CONCERNS, HAVE TAKEN AMENDMENTS
THAT STRIKE OUT REFERENCES TO
GENERATIVE AI. IF AB 2602 MOVES
FORWARD, THE ASSEMBLY ASSEMBLY
PRIVACY COMMITTEE, I WILL
CONTINUE TO WORK IN GOOD FAITH
WITH THE MOTION PICTURES
ASSOCIATION AND THE RECORDING
INDUSTRY TO ADDRESS REMAINING
CONCERNS AROUND RETROACTIVITY
AND DEFINING DIGITAL REPLICA
HERE TO TESTIFY IN SUPPORT IS
SHANE GUSMAN ON BEHALF OF
SAG-AFTRA AND IVAN FERNANDEZ,
LEGISLATIVE ADVOCATE WITH THE
CALIFORNIA LABOR FEDERATION.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR.
MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE, SHANE
GUSMAN, ON BEHALF OF SAG-AFTRA,
THE CO-SPONSOR OF THE BILL,
ALONG WITH THE TEAMSTERS WHO
SUPPORT THE BILL AND THEIR
PARTNERS IN THE ENTERTAINMENT
INDUSTRY, AS ASSEMBLY MEMBER,
KALRA STATED, WE HAVE SEEN
EXPONENTIAL GROWTH IN THIS
TECHNOLOGY, THE KIND OF
TECHNOLOGY THAT, CAN MAKE IT
VERY DIFFICULT TO TELL WHAT'S
REAL AND WHAT'S FAKE. AND WE ARE
GETTING TO THE POINT NOW, WHERE
AND WE MAY ALREADY BE THERE,
WHERE IT'S VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE
TO TELL WHETHER AN ACTOR OR A
SINGER ARE ANY OTHER PERFORMER
IS THE REAL THING OR A DIGITAL
REPLICA. AND SO WE NEED TO
PROTECT PERFORMERS. THIS IS NOT
JUST ABOUT FOOLING THE PUBLIC,
BUT FOR OUR MEMBERS. IT'S ABOUT
THEIR LIVELIHOOD AND THE ABILITY
TO CONTINUE ON WITH THEIR
CAREERS, SO WE NEED TO GIVE SOME
MEANINGFUL CONSENT. I JUST
WANTED TO RECALL, MENTIONED
WHAT, THE KIND OF, VERY BROAD
KINDS OF AGREEMENTS AND
TRANSFERRING THESE RIGHTS THAT
OCCUR. I JUST WANT TO READ TO
THE COMMITTEE ONE OF THESE,
TRANSFER OFFERS AND HOW HOW
BROAD THEY ARE. JUST SO YOU HAVE
SOME CONTEXT FOR WHY WE NEED
THIS BILL. PLAYER CONSENT TO THE
USE OF THE PLAYER'S NAME, VOICE,
ACTUAL OR SIMULATED LIKENESS,
ACTUAL OR SIMULATED, AND
BIOGRAPHY WITH NO ADDITIONAL
COMPENSATION TO PLAYER IN ANY
AND ALL MEDIA AND BY ALL
TECHNOLOGY USES AND PROCESSES
NOW KNOWN OR HEREAFTER DEVELOPED
THROUGHOUT THE UNIVERSE IN
PERPETUITY. SO I GUESS IF
THEY'RE GOING TO CREATE SHOWS IF NOT,
WELL, MOST IF NOT ALL OF THE
PROBLEMS FOR THE OPPONENTS. AND
WITH THAT, WE ASK FOR YOUR I
VOTE. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU,
MADAM CHAIR. AND MEMBERS OF THE
COMMITTEE, YVONNE FERNANDEZ WITH
THE CALIFORNIA LABOR FEDERATION,
CO-SPONSOR
AB 2602, ARE A MODEL ON HOW TO
REGULATE THE USE OF ARTIFICIAL
INTELLIGENCE TO ENSURE WORKERS
HAVE REAL, MEANINGFUL OVERSIGHT
ON HOW TECHNOLOGY IS USED BY
EMPLOYERS. AB 2602 REQUIRES
PERFORMERS TO HAVE UNION OR
SUPPORT A WIDE VARIETY OF
PROJECTS, BOLSTERING
OPPORTUNITIES FOR ACTORS ACROSS
HISTORY. HOWEVER, THIS ONLY
HAPPENS IF GUARDRAILS ARE PUT IN
PLACE TO ENSURE PERFORMERS ARE
AT THE CENTER OF THE DECISION
MAKING PROCESS. AB?
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, CHAIR
ORTEGA AND MEMBERS OF THE
COMMITTEE, THANK YOU FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO TESTIFY ON AB
2602 ASSEMBLY MEMBER CALDER'S
BILL TO REGULATE AND POTENTIALLY
INVALIDATE PERSONAL SERVICE
CONTRACTS THAT ADDRESS DIGITAL
REPLICAS. MY NAME IS MELISSA
PATAK, AND I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF
THE MOTION PICTURE MIGHT BE
SUBJECT TO THIS BILL'S
REQUIREMENTS, AND IMPOSING NEW
RETROACTIVELY MAKES THE BILL
VULNERABLE TO LEGAL CHALLENGES.
UNDER THE US AND CALIFORNIA'S
CONSENT MOTIONS. PROHIBITIONS ON
LAWS THAT IMPAIR OBLIGATIONS OF
CONTRACTS OR THAT TAKE PRIVATE
PROPERTY WITHOUT JUST
COMPENSATION. SECOND, THE BILL
WOULD REQUIRE SPECIFICITY IN A
CONTRACT THAT MIGHT NOT BE KNOWN
AT THE TIME. THE CONTRACT IS
MADE. FAILURE TO ANTICIPATE AND
INCLUDE COMMON AND ROUTINE
PRODUCTION PRACTICES THAT USE
DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY, SUCH AS
ENHANCING A STUNT OR ADJUSTING A
PERFORMER'S VOICE, COULD BE USED
TO FIND THE CONTRACTUAL
PROVISION UNCONSCIOUS. BEALL.
THIRD, THE BILL LACKS
DEFINITIONS FOR KEY TERMS, WHICH
WILL LEAD TO YEARS OF COSTLY
LITIGATION TO RESOLVE ITS MANY
AMBIGUITIES. FINALLY, THE BILL
WOULD INTERFERE WITH THE RIGHTS
OF COPYRIGHT HOLDERS, MAKING IT
VULNERABLE TO LEGAL CHALLENGE
UNDER THE PREEMPTION CLAUSE OF
THE FEDERAL COPYRIGHT ACT. WE
KNOW THE BILL WAS AMENDED ON
MONDAY TO REMOVE THE PROVISIONS
ON GENERATIVE ARTIFICIAL
INTELLIGENCE. THOSE AMENDMENTS
CLEARLY IMPROVE THE BILL BUT DO
NOT ADDRESS ALL OUR OBJECTIONS.
WE KNOW THERE ARE OTHER
AMENDMENTS UNDER CONSIDERATION.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO STUDYING
THOSE. WE'VE MET WITH THE
AUTHORS, STAFF AND THE SPONSORS.
WE'VE HAD PRODUCTIVE
CONVERSATIONS AND UNDERSTAND TO PEOPLE AND
PREDOMINANTLY FROM CALIFORNIA,
BY THE WAY, I MIGHT ADD. SO
LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS. WE HOPE
IT GETS CORRECTED BY THE NEXT
HEARING. BUT WE'RE WORKING
CLOSELY. THANK YOU. ASHLEY
HOFFMAN, ON BEHALF OF THE
CALIFORNIA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE,
RESPECTFUL OPPOSITION ALIGNED
COMMENTS WITH THE MPAA. THANK
YOU, TRENT SMITH, ON BEHALF OF
THE WALT DISNEY COMPANY, AGAIN,
ASSOCIATING OUR POSITION WITH
THAT OF THE MPAA. THANK YOU.
HELLO, PAT. JOYCE, ON BEHALF OF
NBC UNIVERSAL. RESPECTFULLY
OPPOSED. THANK YOU. JAMIE HOFF,
ON BEHALF OF THE CIVIL JUSTICE
ASSOCIATION OF CALIFORNIA. I
LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU
FURTHER. THANK YOU. GOOD
AFTERNOON, TIFFANY FAN, ON
BEHALF OF SONY PICTURES
ENTERTAINMENT, OPPOSE. THANK YOU
. THANK YOU. SEEING NO OTHER,
OPPOSITION OR TWEENERS, I WILL
PASS IT TO THE COMMITTEE FOR
QUESTIONS. ASSEMBLY MEMBER ZUBER
SO, THANK YOU, MR. COLE, FOR
BRINGING THE BILL. I KNOW THAT,
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE
GRAPPLING WITH IN BOTH FEDERAL
AND CALIFORNIA GOVERNMENT IS HOW
TO DEAL WITH THE RAPIDLY
EVOLVING, CHALLENGES AND ALSO,
BENEFITS OF YOU KNOW, THE FASTLY
EVOLVING AI UNIVERSE, WHICH, YOU
KNOW, IN MY MIND CAN BE A HUGE
BOON AND IMPROVE OUR QUALITY OF
LIFE ON THE ONE HAND, AND ON THE
OTHER HAND, COULD BE DYSTOPIAN
IF WE DON'T MANAGE THESE THINGS
WELL, I LOOKED AT THE BILL,
OBVIOUSLY, COMPLETELY AGREE WITH
THE, WITH THE GOALS OF IT, WHICH
IS, OF COURSE, TO MAKE SURE THAT
EMPLOYEES ARE BEING, COMPENSATED
FOR, FOR THEIR VALUE. RIGHT. AS
PART OF THE THAT ON THE OTHER
SIDE OF THE EQUATION, THIS IS A
REALLY IMPORTANT BILL FOR ME
BECAUSE I REPRESENT FOUR OF THE
MAJOR MOVIE STUDIOS AND A LOT OF
THE RECORDING INDUSTRY IN MY
DISTRICT. AND THAT'S NOT ONLY
THE EMPLOYERS, BUT THE
EMPLOYEES. AND SO I THINK IT'S
REALLY IMPORTANT TO SORT OF GET
THIS RIGHT. YEAH, THE BIGGEST
ISSUE, I THINK ON THIS, I HAVE
SORT OF TWO, ONE SORT OF
QUESTION. I, I'M GOING TO
SUPPORT THE BILL TODAY,
OBVIOUSLY, BECAUSE IT'S
IMPORTANT, IN PART BECAUSE I
KNOW THAT YOU HAVE COMMITTED TO
ME AND TO OTHERS THAT YOU'LL
CONTINUE WORKING WITH BOTH THE
RECORDING INDUSTRY AND THE MPAA
ON SOME OF THESE ISSUES, THE ONE
THING I WILL SAY, THOUGH, IS THE
RETROACTIVITY ISSUE. I'VE
THOUGHT A LOT ABOUT IT. I JUST
CAN'T SORT OF SEE HOW YOU DEAL
WITH IT, AND SO WHEN YOU COUPLE
THAT WITH THE FACT THAT YOU'VE
GOT SOME PRETTY VAGUE LANGUAGE,
WHICH I THINK NEEDS TO BE
TIGHTENED UP, WHICH, YOU KNOW,
IS, UNDERSTANDABLE AT THIS POINT
. BUT WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT WHEN
YOU LOOK AT SORT OF THIS
LANGUAGE, THE PROVISION IS NOT
CLEARLY DEFINED AND DETAIL ALL
THE PROPOSED USES OF THE DIGITAL
REPLICA. SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
A DIGITAL REPLICA OF THE
INDIVIDUAL'S VOICE OR LIKENESS,
OR LIKENESS IN A PLACE OF WORK,
A REPLICA OF THE VOICE. COULDN'T
THAT BE LIKE ANY RECORDING
THAT'S EVER BEEN DONE OF IN
MUSIC, SINGING SOMETHING THAT IS
NOW DIGITALLY BEEN? I MEAN, THAT
COULD BE THAT IS ONE WAY YOU
COULD INTERPRET THAT. AND I'M
JUST RAISING THAT AS AN EXAMPLE
OF THE FACT THAT WHEN YOU MOVE
DOWN THIS, IT'S GOT TO BE I
THINK YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE SOME
SPECIFIC DEFINITIONS. YOU NEED
TO PICK, NOT PICK UP THINGS THAT
ARE SORT OF IN COMMON USAGE. AND
IT'S HARD FOR ME TO UNDERSTAND
HOW GOING BACK ON CONTRACTS THAT
MAY HAVE BEEN NEGOTIATED 20 AND
30 YEARS AGO THAT ARE NOW VIEWED
AS COMMONLY OWNED BY EITHER THE
RECORDING INDUSTRY OR THE MOVIE
INDUSTRY. HOW YOU WOULD UPEND
THOSE? I MEAN, THOSE WOULD BE
THOSE THOSE COULD HURT NOT ONLY
THE MOVIE STUDIOS, BUT THEY
COULD ALSO HURT THE INDIVIDUALS
OR THE FAMILY OR THE ESTATES OF
THESE PEOPLE BECAUSE THEY BECOME
UNCONSCIONABLE AND
UNENFORCEABLE. SO I'M JUST
HOPING THAT YOU'LL PAY ATTENTION
TO ALL OF THOSE THINGS. AND I
JUST WANT TO ASK THAT YOU WORK
WITH BOTH THE, THE MPAA AND THE
RECORDING INDUSTRY TO ADDRESS
SOME OF THESE KINDS OF CONCERNS.
YEAH. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. WE
ABSOLUTELY WILL CONTINUE TO
WORK. I KNOW THAT THIS WAS TAKEN
A LITTLE BIT EARLIER IN THE FILE
ORDER. IN MY INTRO. I DID MAKE
SOME REFERENCE TO DEALING WITH
ISSUES OF DEFINING DIGITAL
REPLICA WITH WITH INDUSTRY AS
WELL AS ISSUES OF RETROACTIVITY.
SO WE DO RECOGNIZE THE CONCERN
AROUND RETROACTIVITY AND ITS
IMPLICATION ON THE WORKLOAD FOR
STUDIOS TO REVIEW AND IDENTIFY
ALL PAST CONSTRUCT CONTRACTS
WOULD BE ENORMOUS. PLUS, THE
ISSUES YOU RAISED RIGHT NOW, SO
MY OFFICE IS WORKING ON
AMENDMENTS THAT WILL HOPEFULLY
ADDRESS THIS CONCERN, BUT ALSO
ENSURE THERE'S CONSENT ON
PROJECTS USING DIGITAL REPLICAS
MOVING FORWARD. SO BOTH ON THE
DEFINITIONS AS WELL AS ON THE
RETROACTIVITY PIECE WE CAN
EXPECT, YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO
EXPECT, ALL OF YOU, THAT THERE
WILL BE WORK ON THAT AND
AMENDMENTS ON THAT IF THIS GETS
THROUGH THE COMMITTEE TODAY
WOULD BE GOING TO PRIVACY
COMMITTEE. AND SO WE WOULD HOPE
BY THE TIME IT GETS TO THE NEXT
COMMITTEE, THERE'LL BE, SOME
LANGUAGE THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO
SHARE, THAT'S SPECIFIC TO,
CERTAINLY TO THE RETROACTIVITY
ISSUE, THE DIGITAL REPLICA ONE
AS WELL, ALTHOUGH I THINK THAT
MIGHT BE A LITTLE BIT MORE
COMPLICATED AND WORKING ON
DEFINITIONS, BUT FULLY COMMITTED
ON BOTH OF THOSE ISSUES TO
ENSURING THAT WE DO TRY TO GET
IT RIGHT, BECAUSE I THINK IT IS
IMPORTANT TO YOUR POINT THAT
EVEN IF WE ALL AGREE WITH THE
UNDERLYING PRINCIPLE OF THE
BILL, THIS ONE IN PARTICULAR, I
THINK IS REALLY GOING TO BE
FOCUSED ON SOME OF THE DETAILED
LANGUAGE, IN ORDER TO NOT TO
CREATE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES.
SO THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT
INDUSTRY FOR ALL OF US,
ESPECIALLY, THOSE OF YOU IN LA,
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. BUT IT'S A
CALIFORNIA INDUSTRY, BOTH ON
THE, RECORDING ARTIST SIDE,
MOTION PICTURE SIDE. AND WE
DON'T WANT TO LOSE IT. WE WANT
TO RESPECT IT. WE WANT TO
RESPECT THE TECHNOLOGY THAT CAN
ENHANCE IT, WHILE AT THE SAME
TIME PROTECTING THE PERFORMERS.
AND SO YOU HAVE MY COMMITMENT TO
CONTINUE AS WELL AS THE
SPONSORS, TO CONTINUE TO WORK TO
RECTIFY SOME OF THESE ISSUES. AS
I MENTIONED ALSO IN, IN MY,
OPENING COMMENTS THAT WE DID
ALREADY TAKE AMENDMENTS THAT
STRUCK OUT REFERENCES TO
GENERATIVE AI. THAT WAS IN
RESPONSE TO CONCERNS FROM
OPPOSITION. SO I HOPE THAT SHOWS
THAT IN GOOD FAITH WE ARE TAKING
ACTIONS, NOT JUST WORDS, IN
TERMS OF CONCERNS BEING RAISED.
AND THE ONE LAST THING I'LL SAY
IS THAT, YOU KNOW, I'VE LEARNED
A LITTLE BIT ABOUT SORT OF HOW,
YOU KNOW, WE DO NEED TO PRESERVE
BOTH FOR THE ECONOMY AND FOR OUR
WORKERS. THE, THE ABILITY FOR
BOTH THE MUSIC INDUSTRY AND THE
MOVIE INDUSTRY TO BE TO CONTINUE
TO BE CREATIVE WITH THE THESE
NEW CREATIVE TOOLS THAT ARE OUT
THERE. SO YOU KNOW, I THAT
COMMENT PLUS I KNOW WE JUST WENT
THROUGH VERY, YOU KNOW, LOW
CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN
THE MOVIE INDUSTRY AND SAG-AFTRA
AND THE AND THE UNIONS. AND I
WOULD HOPE THAT, THAT WHERE YOU
HEAD WILL TRY. I KNOW THAT ONE
OF THE YOU KNOW, NOT EVERYONE IS
UNIONIZED. OBVIOUSLY WE'RE
TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT, YOU
KNOW, IN SOME CASES THE I
NEGOTIATIONS THAT WENT IN THE
UNION NEGOTIATIONS APPLY MORE
BROADLY. BUT I'M HOPING THAT,
THAT YOU'LL, THAT YOU'LL TRY TO
PRESERVE, WHAT I THINK SOUNDED
LIKE SOME PRETTY HARD FOUGHT
NEGOTIATE INS OVER THE LAST FEW
MONTHS SO THAT WE SORT OF DON'T
MESS UP THE, THE AGREEMENTS THAT
HAVE ACTUALLY, THAT'S A FAIR
POINT. THIS BILL WOULD NOT APPLY
TO THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING
AGREEMENT FROM LAST YEAR. AND TO
YOUR POINT, WE DO WANT
CREATIVITY. WE WANT CREATIVITY,
AND YOU WANT COMPENSATION. I
THINK WE CAN WE CAN FIGURE OUT A
PATHWAY FOR BOTH. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. ASSEMBLY MEMBER CREEL.
THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THANK
YOU TO THE AUTHOR FOR THIS BILL
AND THE NEW SPACE OF AI, AND
THANK YOU FOR WORKING WITH THE
RECORDING INDUSTRY TO COME TO A
RESOLUTION AS TO WHAT THEIR
CONCERNS WERE, I KNOW MISS PATEK
QUITE WELL, AND KNOW THAT THE
MPAA IS AN HONEST BROKER, AND I
KNOW THAT YOU WILL FIND WITH OUR
LABOR PARTNERS AS WELL, A
RESOLUTION TO SOME OF THE
CONCERNS AND IN FACT, SOME OF
THE CONCERNS THAT YOU RAISED.
MISS PATEK ON AI, APPLIED TO I'M
ACTUALLY THINKING ABOUT IN A
BILL THAT I HAVE RELATED TO AI
AND ELECTIONS. AND SO THIS IS A
NEW FRONTIER, THAT I THINK I'M
GLAD THAT WE'RE ALL GETTING IN
FRONT OF BEFORE. WE'RE JUST
RESPONDING TO IT, BUT I WILL SAY
IN 2012, WHEN DOCTOR DRE AND
SNOOP DOGG INTRODUCED THE LATE
TUPAC SHAKUR AT COACHELLA IN A
HOLOGRAM, IT MADE ME INCREDIBLY
UNCOMFORTABLE. ALL MAKES ME
UNCOMFORTABLE NOW, AND IN MANY
WAYS, I FOUND IT TO BE JUST
DISRESPECTFUL TO HIM, AND, YOU
KNOW, IN MANY WAYS, LET HIM REST
IN PEACE, RIGHT? I DON'T REALLY
WANT TO SEE A NEW MARILYN MONROE
MOVIE. I WANT TO, YOU KNOW,
THINK ABOUT THE FILMS THAT
THEY'VE ALREADY MADE AND RESPECT
THAT. AND SO IT'S A IT'S A NEW
FRONTIER. AND I TRUST THAT
YOU'RE GOING TO WORK WITH THOSE
THAT ARE CURRENTLY IN OPPOSITION
TO GET TO A GOOD PLACE ON THE
BILL. SO THANK YOU. AND TO YOUR
POINT, THERE MIGHT BE ARTISTS,
PERFORMERS THAT WANT THEIR WORK
TO LIVE IN PERPETUITY, BUT THEY
CAN PUT THAT IN A CONTRACT AND
BE COMPENSATED. BUT THAT SHOULD
BE UP TO BOTH PARTIES TO MAKE
THAT DETERMINATION. BUT I DO
AGREE THAT WE HAVE WE'VE HAD A
GREAT WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH
THE OPPOSITION. THAT'S GOING TO
CONTINUE, AND WE'LL I THINK WE
CAN LAND THIS PLANE. I SEE NO
OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS. IF
I CAN GET A MOTION AND A SECOND.
JUST A QUESTION. I, YOU KNOW,
THINKING THROUGH THIS, I KNOW
THERE'S A FEW OTHER BILLS IN
THIS AREA AS WELL TOO. WHAT?
WHAT MIGHT THIS, SCOPE OF THE
BILL DO FOR PUBLIC FIGURES OR
FOR OR FOR HISTORICAL FIGURES?
OR IS THIS ONLY WOULD THIS ONLY
PROHIBIT ANYBODY THAT HAD
PREVIOUSLY BEEN, SAY, UNDER A
CONTRACT FOR THEIR WORK? YEAH.
THIS IS SPECIFIC TO THE
ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY. RIGHT.
AND WE'RE THE ENTERTAINMENT
INDUSTRY IS MAYBE REACHING BACK
INTO LIKE USING FOOTAGE FROM
FROM HISTORY, IS THAT SOMETHING
THAT COULD BE ENTRAPPED I GUESS
BY BY BY THE WORK YOU DO. AND I
APPRECIATE, BY THE WAY, THE WORK
THAT YOU ARE DOING AND GREAT
FAITH TO BE ABLE TO MAKE SOME OF
THESE TECHNICAL IMPROVEMENTS.
YEAH. NO, I THINK THAT'S A GOOD
POINT. I DON'T KNOW IF SHANE, IF
YOU'VE HAD BECAUSE THAT'S A
YEAH. I THINK THAT'S AN
INTERESTING ISSUE. AND CERTAINLY
IT RAISES, OTHER ISSUES LIKE THE
FIRST AMENDMENT AND THE ABILITY
OF FOLKS TO PRODUCE CREATIVE
WORKS. IN OUR VIEW, THIS BILL
DOESN'T TOUCH THIS. AND WHEN YOU
SEE THE AMENDMENTS, YOU'LL SEE
THAT IT'S PRETTY CLEAR IT
DOESN'T TOUCH THIS BECAUSE IT'S
GOING TO BE ABOUT NEW
PERFORMANCES BY A DIGITAL
REPLICA. SO I THINK I THINK
WE'RE WE'RE SAFE THERE. BUT IT'S
IT IS AN INTERESTING ISSUE. AND
I THINK, YOU KNOW, WE DO NEED TO
PROVIDE PROTECTIONS TO FOLKS IN
THE PAST, AND THERE MAY BE OTHER
LEGISLATION DEALING WITH THAT AS
WELL. RIGHT RIGHT, DEFINITELY.
YOU KNOW, VERY SUPPORTIVE, IN,
IN, FUNDAMENTALLY BECAUSE WE
WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT ANYBODY
THAT THOUGHT, THAT THEY WERE
UNDER CONTRACT FOR CERTAIN
FUNCTIONS, THEY ARE FULLY
SUPPORTED, EVEN IF THAT'S,
REPLICATED IN THE FUTURE AND
THAT WE GET THE TECHNICAL
DETAILS. RIGHT. AND THAT IS
YOU'RE CONTINUING TO WORK
THROUGH SOME OF THESE OTHER
DETAILS AS WELL, I KNOW THAT
YOU'LL DO SO IN GREAT FAITH. SO
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. YEAH YES,
I WAS GOING TO SAY THANK YOU SO
MUCH FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD,
I ALSO SIT ON PRIVACY AND THIS
IS NOT GOING TO BE THE FIRST OR
THE LAST BILL THAT WE SEE.
RELATED TO AI, AS IT'S A NEW
TECHNOLOGY THAT'S MOVING REALLY
FAST, BUT I DO BELIEVE THAT WE
CAN FIND THE BALANCE BETWEEN
PROTECTING WORKERS, HAVING SOME
KIND OF REGULATION AND
INNOVATION, WE ARE THE FIFTH
LARGEST ECONOMY IN THE WORLD,
AND EVERYONE LOOKS TO US, SO
REALLY APPRECIATE WHAT YOU'RE
DOING HERE TODAY, WITH THAT, DO
WE HAVE A SECOND? WOULD YOU LIKE
TO CLOSE? THANK YOU, MADAM
CHAIR. I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK
YOU TO YOU AND THE STAFF, AS
WELL AS THE DIALOG FROM MY
COLLEAGUES. THIS IS GOING TO BE
SOMETHING I KNOW THE ISSUE OF AI
GENERALLY, AND THIS ISSUE
SPECIFICALLY, WILL CERTAINLY BE
SOMETHING THAT I THINK WILL BE
INTERESTING FOR US TO WORK ON
AND WE'LL BE WORKING ON FOR SOME
TIME. SO THANK YOU. WE ASK FOR
AN AYE VOTE. SECRETARY, PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL. THE MOTION IS DUE
PASS TO PRIVACY AND CONSUMER
PROTECTION COMMITTEE. ORTEGA I
ORTEGA I FLORA ALANIS ALANIS.
NOT VOTING WENDY CREEL WENDY
CARILLO I CORA HI CHOLERA I WARD
WARD I BURKE. THAT MEASURE IS
OUT. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT.
YEAH.
ARE YOU OKAY? THANK YOU. WE WILL
NOW MOVE TO ITEM NUMBER SEVEN,
PRESENTING FOR ASSEMBLY MEMBER,
RENDON IS, ASSEMBLY MEMBER WENDY
CARRILLO FOR AB 2696, YOU MAY
OPEN. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
AND MEMBERS, ON BEHALF OF
SPEAKER MEREDITH RENDON, I'M
HERE TO PRESENT AB 2696. THIS
BILL CLOSES A LOOPHOLE THAT
ALLOWS GENERAL CONTRACTORS TO
AVOID WAGE LAW ENFORCEMENT WITH
A COMPLETE JOBS WHEN THEY
COMPLETE PROJECTS WITH THEIR OWN
PERSONNEL, RATHER THAN
SUBCONTRACTING. CURRENT LAW
ALLOWS FOR FEDERALLY CERTIFIED
JOINT LABOR MANAGED COMMITTEES,
OR LMCS, TO HAVE DIRECT
ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITY FOR
SUBCONTRACTOR WAGE VIOLATIONS.
DESPITE THIS, LMCS LOSE THAT
ENFORCEMENT CAPABILITY WHEN THE
GENERAL CONTRACTOR USES THEIR
OWN WORKFORCE OR SELF, PERFORMS
CONSTRUCTION WORK INSTEAD OF
SUBCONTRACTING IT OUT. AB 2696
CLOSES THE LOOPHOLE IN EXISTING
LAW BY EXTENDING LABOR
MANAGEMENT COMMITTEES,
ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITY TO INCLUDE
DIRECT ENFORCEMENT ON
SELF-PERFORMING GENERAL
CONTRACTOR ON A SELF-PERFORMING
GENERAL CONTRACTOR HERE TO SPEAK
IN SUPPORT OF A BILL OF THE BILL
IS DANNY CURTAIN AND PATTY
MCCARRON, WITH THE CALIFORNIA
CONFERENCE OF CARPENTERS. THANK
YOU SO MUCH, MADAM CHAIR, AND
ESPECIALLY YOU, ASSEMBLYWOMAN
CARILLO, FOR DOING THIS. I
APPRECIATE IT, TRULY. SO, I WANT
TO EMPHASIZE A COUPLE OF THINGS.
IT'S A FAIRLY SIMPLE, CLEAR
ISSUE, BUT I WANT TO MAKE IT
CLEAR THAT IT DOESN'T CHANGE THE
LAW IN TERMS OF WAGE THEFT OR
ANYTHING LIKE THAT IN ANY WAY.
AT ALL. IT'S NOT A WAGE CHANGE
OF ANY KIND. WHAT IT IS A LITTLE
CHANGE IN THE ENFORCEMENT
CAPABILITIES THAT WE DEVELOPED
IN WHAT I'LL TELL YOU IN A
MINUTE, THIS IS STILL THE WILD
WEST, ESPECIALLY IN THE PRIVATE
SECTOR, IN THE CONSTRUCTION
INDUSTRY, ALONG WITH AG GARMENT.
AND I BELIEVE THE RESTAURANT
INDUSTRY IS DESCRIBED AS,
RAMPANT WAGE THEFT BY THE
DEPARTMENT OF INDUSTRIAL
RELATIONS. YOUR CHANCES OF
GETTING AN INVESTIGATION ARE
ABOUT ONCE EVERY 300 YEARS. SO
IT'S STILL A VERY HOT TOPIC. SO
WE PASSED THE LEGISLATURE,
PASSED SEVERAL BILLS A FEW YEARS
AGO TO DO JOINT LIABILITY SO
THAT THE GENERAL CONTRACTORS
WOULD SHARE IN THE LIABILITIES
IF THEIR SUBCONTRACTORS WERE
BASICALLY CHEATING. IF THEY
WERE, THERE WAS WAGE THEFT. AND
THAT GOES BACK 100 YEARS IN
HISTORY IN DIFFERENT INDUSTRIES.
SO IT WAS A BIG STEP FORWARD.
WHAT WE DIDN'T CONSIDER AT THE
TIME, WAS THE FACT THAT THE
GENERAL CONTRACTORS OFTEN DO USE
THEIR OWN EMPLOYEES, AND THE
BILL WAS WRITTEN IN SUCH A WAY
THAT IT WAS ONLY EFFECTIVE FOR
SOME CONTRACTING GIANT JOINT
LIABILITY. SO A PROBLEM HERE IS
WE DO NOT HAVE STANDING AS
ASSEMBLY MEMBER CARILLO SAID, TO
GO AFTER THE GENERAL CONTRACTOR
WHO MAY BE ABUSING THEIR
WORKFORCE, BUT THE REAL ISSUE IS
IT ALMOST IS ENCOURAGES GENERAL
CONTRACTOR TO FIND A WAY NOT TO
USE SUBCONTRACTORS, THERE'S
NOTHING WRONG WITH A GENERAL
CONTRACTOR USING THEIR OWN
EMPLOYEES, BUT IF THEY'RE DOING
IT TO AVOID ENFORCEMENT FOR WAGE
VIOLATIONS, THEN THAT'S
INAPPROPRIATE, IF THEY'RE DOING
IT BECAUSE THEY HAVE A GOOD
WORKFORCE IN THAT PARTICULAR
AREA, THAT'S WHAT THEY DO. NO
PROBLEM. EITHER WAY, WE'D HAVE
AN IMPACT. WE WOULD HAVE AN
ABILITY TO GO AFTER THEM IF THEY
VIOLATE THE LAW. SO, THE ONE
THING I DO WANT TO SAY AS WELL
IS IF YOU ARE NOT BREAKING WAGE
LAWS, THIS BILL WILL NOT AFFECT
YOU IN ANY WAY, SHAPE OR FORM.
SO ANY CONTRACTOR THAT IS
COMFORTABLY WORKING WITHIN THE
STATUTES IS GOING TO BE FINE. I
WANT TO TURN IT OVER TO PATTY
MCCARRON, WHO'S THE CHIEF
OPERATING OFFICER NØ DIRECTOR OF
OPERATIONS. I HAVE CO DIRECTOR
OF OPERATIONS. I'M GOING TO HAVE
TO GIVE HER A RANGE. YES, THANK
YOU. PAY HER. BUT I'M SO FOR THE
CALIFORNIA CARPENTERS CONTRACTOR
COOPERATION COMMITTEE, WHICH IS
ONE OF THE LMCS THAT DOES
ENFORCEMENT. SO THEY BROUGHT
THIS ISSUE TO US BECAUSE THEY
WERE RUNNING INTO TROUBLE ON ON
THE JOB. THEY DO MOST OF THEIR
WORK IN, IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR,
NOT IN PUBLIC WORKS, WHICH IS
MUCH BETTER ENFORCED. SO I'M
GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO PATTY.
THANK YOU. SHIRLEY HAS TWO
MINUTES. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU. SO DANNY ALREADY GAVE SOME
OF THE BACKGROUND. SO I'LL JUST
DIVE RIGHT INTO IT. WE HAVE BEEN
GOING ON PROJECTS, PRIVATE
PROJECTS, AND IN FORCING THE
1701, LAW THAT WAS PASSED, AND
WE FOUND WHEN WE GO ON TO THE
PROJECTS THERE, GCS THAT ARE
SELF PERFORMING. SO WE HAVE NO
STANDING. SO WE TALKED TO THE
WORKERS. THE WORKERS DON'T KNOW
WHO THEY'RE WORKING FOR, AND,
OUR, OUR REPS, HAVE FOUND
MULTIPLE VIOLATIONS NONPAYMENT
OF MINIMUM WAGE, NONPAYMENT OF
WAGES, NONPAYMENT OF OVERTIME,
NO DEDUCTIONS ON CHECKS THAT
THEY RECEIVE, WORKERS AREN'T
RECEIVING REST BREAKS, NO MEAL
BREAKS. AND OFTENTIMES THEIR
CASH PAYMENT, WHICH, YOU KNOW,
LEADS US INTO TAX FRAUD, COMP
FRAUD, YOU KNOW, ALL
CONTRIBUTING TO THE UNDERGROUND
ECONOMY, WHICH 1701 WAS SUPPOSED
TO HELP WIPE OUT, AND WE'VE ALSO
ENCOUNTERED A NUMBER OF, CHILD
LABOR VIOLATIONS. SO THERE ARE
CHILDREN WORKING ON THESE
PROJECTS, AND, AND WE DON'T HAVE
ANY STANDING TO DO ANYTHING
ABOUT IT. WE CAN CALL SOMEBODY.
BUT AGAIN, EVERYBODY IS
COMPLETELY OVERWORKED AND UNABLE
TO GET OUT THERE. SO, WE'RE
DOING OUR BEST AND WE WOULD LOVE
TO CLOSE THIS LOOPHOLE SO THAT
WE CAN ACTUALLY TAKE ACTION
INSTEAD OF HAVING TO WAIT FOR
THE LABOR COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE
TO DO ANYTHING, BECAUSE, AGAIN,
THEY'RE COMPLETELY OVERWORKED.
AND, SO LET'S SEE, THE WORKERS
THAT WE TALKED TO ARE PRIMARILY,
LATINO MEN. AND, WE'VE TALKED TO
A NUMBER OF WOMEN. MANY OF THEM
DON'T SPEAK ENGLISH. THEY DON'T
READ OR WRITE ENGLISH. AND SO
THEY'RE GIVEN WHEN THEY ARE
GIVEN CONTRACTS. THEY'RE IN
ENGLISH. SO THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT
THEY'RE SIGNING, YOU KNOW, WITH
THE EXES, AS I MENTIONED BEFORE,
THE WORKERS DON'T KNOW THE NAME
OF THE COMPANY THEY'RE WORKING
FOR. AND, YOU KNOW, WE'RE JUST
WANT TO GET THESE UNSCRUPULOUS
CONTRACTORS TAKEN CARE OF SO
THAT THAT WE CAN ENFORCE THE
LABOR LAWS AND STOP WAGE THEFT.
THIS IS A BIG. YEAH, BIG
PROBLEM. YES. THANK YOU. YEAH,
WITH THAT, I'M GONNA HAVE A
GROUP HERE. I'M GONNA CALL THEM
UP, AND I WILL CALL THEM, SIR. I
WILL CALL THEM UP, THANK YOU, WE
WILL NOW OPEN IT UP TO ANYONE
WHO'S IN THE ROOM FOR SUPPORT.
WELL, I WAS GOING TO SUGGEST I
MOVE THE BILL, STAND UP, AND LET
YOU KNOW THEY'RE HERE, AS
OPPOSED TO ALL MARCHING UP AS
YOU CAN COME UP. THANK YOU.
HELLO. THANK YOU GUYS, DAN
BRANTON FROM LOCAL 109 RIGHT
HERE IN SACRAMENTO IN STRONG
SUPPORT. HOW'S IT GOING? MATT
KELLY, MEMBER OF LOCAL 46 HERE
IN SACRAMENTO IN STRONG SUPPORT.
JESSE PERALEZ, CARPENTERS LOCAL
713 AND STRONG SUPPORT. THANK
YOU. EUGENE MORRIS, CARPENTERS
LOCAL 152. STRONG SUPPORT
REPRESENTING STANISLAUS SAN
JOAQUIN, MERCED, MARIPOSA,
TUOLUMNE, CALAVERAS, AMADOR AND
CONTRA COSTA. OH IMPRESSED SEAN
REESE, LOCAL 1599, REDDING,
CALIFORNIA. STRONG SUPPORT.
CHRIS MARTINEZ, LOCAL 1599
REDDING, STRONG SUPPORT.
MITCHELL VINCIGUERRA, LOCAL
2236, IN OAKLAND. STRONG SUPPORT
. MY NAME IS CARLOS SWARNS, A
REPRESENTATIVE FOR CONTRA COSTA
COUNTY, SOLANO COUNTY AND
EVERYTHING NORTH OF SAN
FRANCISCO. UP TO ONE ONE
CORRIDOR TO THE OREGON BORDER.
LATER CARPENTERS LOCAL 180 OUT
OF SOLANO COUNTY. THANK YOU.
SUPPORT ERLINDA ALVARADO, LOCAL
180 VALLEJO. AND SUPPORT. OSCAR
MAZARIEGOS OUT OF DRYWALL
AUTHORS, 1968. AND LIVERMORE AND
FULL SUPPORT, CESAR PLASENCIA
FROM GILROY, CALIFORNIA, FROM
LOCAL 405, SAN JOSE, IN SUPPORT.
ALEXANDER HAMPTON, LOCAL 46,
SACRAMENTO. STRONG SUPPORT. MARK
ALFARO, SAN JOSE, 9144. STRONG
SUPPORT. HELLO, JOSE MARTINEZ,
CARPENTERS LOCAL 152 IN SUPPORT.
GOOD AFTERNOON, ARMANDO MURILLO,
LOCAL 405, SAN JOSE STRONG
SUPPORT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU,
WE WILL NOW CALL UP ANY, ANYONE
WHO WOULD LIKE TO COME UP FOR AN
OPPOSITION. GOOD AFTERNOON,
MADAM CHAIR. AND MEMBERS, STEVE
CRUZ, ON BEHALF OF THE
CALIFORNIA BUILDING INDUSTRY
ASSOCIATION. WE'RE SORT OF A
TWEENER, WE DON'T HAVE CONCERNS
WITH THE UNDERLYING OBJECTIVE OF
THE BILL. PERHAPS IT'S JUST
DRAFTING AND DIDN'T GET A CHANCE
TO TALK TO DANNY SPECIFICALLY,
BUT DID CALL OVER TO HIS SHOP
AND HAD A CONVERSATION, IN TERMS
OF OUR CONCERNS, WHICH IS
EFFECTIVELY WE DON'T HAVE ANY
PROBLEM WITH GOING AFTER
CONTRACTORS WHO HAVE EMPLOYEES
THAT ARE NOT PAYING THEIR
EMPLOYEES, HOWEVER, THERE WERE
PROVISIONS IN PRIOR LEGISLATION.
SB 727 THAT ALLOWED FOR A SAFE
HARBOR WHEN YOU HAVE
CONTRACTORS, LIKE IN THE CASE OF
BIA, WITH HOME BUILDERS, WHERE
THEY DON'T HAVE EMPLOYEES, AND
THEY ARE TAKING STEPS TO PROTECT
AGAINST WAGE THEFT, LIKE,
GETTING AFFIDAVITS, WITHHOLDING
PAYMENTS TO SUBCONTRACTORS,
DOING PAYROLL CHECKS THAT
ALLOWED FOR A SAFE HARBOR IN
THOSE SITUATIONS. AND SO, AGAIN,
BRIEFLY TALKED JUST YESTERDAY.
SO I, YOU KNOW, THE SHORT
CONVERSATION AND ALSO ALSO WITH
THE, WITH THE AUTHOR'S OFFICE.
AND SO WE'RE JUST HOPEFUL TO
CONTINUE THOSE CONVERSATIONS,
BUT WANTED TO JUST FLAG THAT
ISSUE FOR THE CHAIR AND THE
MEMBERS TODAY. THANK YOU. ANYONE
ELSE IN OPPOSITION? SEEING NONE,
I WILL PASS IT OVER TO OUR
MEMBERS FOR ANY QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS. SEEING NONE, CAN I GET
A MOTION AND A SECOND? OH, WE
DID OKAY. OKAY, OKAY. WE ALREADY
HAD A MOTION AND A SECOND,
SECRETARY, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
OH, I'M SORRY, ASSEMBLYMEMBER
CURRY, WOULD YOU LIKE TO CLOSE
ON BEHALF OF SPEAKER EMERITUS
ANTHONY RENDON, RESPECTFULLY
REQUEST A NO VOTE ON THE BILL.
THANK YOU. THE MOTION IS DUE.
PASS TO JUDICIARY COMMITTEE.
ORTEGA Ã ORTEGA I. FLORA. FLORA
I ALANIS I ALANIS I WENDY.
CARILLO I WENDY. CARILLO I
CHOLERA, CHOLERA I WARD A WARD I
ZABIR. THAT MEASURE IS OUT THAT MEASURE IS OUT. WE
CAN NOW ADD ON TO THE CONSENT
CALENDAR. IF ANYONE WANTS TO ADD
ON. CONSENT CALENDAR, FLORA.
FLORA. AYE. ZABIR. OKAY WE WILL
TAKE. WE WILL TAKE A SMALL PAUSE
AS WE WAIT FOR OTHER AUTHORS TO
COME INTO THE HEARING ROOM. SO
OKAY. MISS SHAH IS ON HER WAY.
THANK YOU..
YES. OKAY. SO.
OKAY.
WOW YOU SAID RIGHT. BUT THERE
WAS SPACE ON THE. SO WHAT ABOUT.
WHAT ABOUT, LIKE, THE HEARINGS
HERE? WHAT ABOUT, LIKE, OUR
HEARINGS? COULD THAT BE
DIGITALIZED? AND THEN WE CAN USE
THEM. AND IT WAS LIKE THEY WERE
JUST STANDING RIGHT NEXT TO YOU,
HAVING A. YOU HAVE WITH THE BILL
THAT THEY HAD, THEY CAN USE
OURS. OR DO I GET LIKE ANY
ROYALTIES OR ANYTHING. AND. THAT
WAS GOOD FUN. I LOVE THEY JUST
STARTED. LIKE THE POLITICIAN.
YEAH. I THINK YOU NEED TO. WE
NEED TO SIGN CONTRACTS. YOU
CANNOT USE MY ANYTHING WITHOUT
CONSENT. RIGHT. WELL, IT SOUNDS
LIKE IF IT'S CLEANED UP, THEN
EVERYTHING. WE HAVE A BREAK. DO
YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT? JUST
LOOKED AT EACH OTHER. IT'S LIKE
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT OUR UNIFORM.
YEAH, YEAH. YEAH, YEAH, WHAT'S
YOUR. WHAT'S YOUR BACKGROUND?
LABOR AGENCY FOR THIS, FOR THAT?
OH, YEAH. YEAH YEAH YEAH, YEAH.
WHAT ABOUT YOU? SO I WAS, IN
PRIVATE PRACTICE BEFORE, SO I
DID LABOR. I DON'T KNOW HOW TO
CARE. YEAH MY HUSBAND WAS
ACTUALLY A FELLOW. WORKED HERE
FOR A WHILE, AND THAT'S HOW I
GOT. YEAH, I KNOW, YEAH, HE WAS,
THERE. YEAH YEAH. AND WELL, I
CLERKED WHEN I WAS. NO WAY. AND
THEN I WAS. WOW. YEAH. WE GOT
MARRIED. HE HAD. YEAH YEAH. SO
OKAY. I FEEL REALLY. DIFFERENT.
YEAH YES. THERE'S A. WIECKOWSKI.
YEAH YEAH. PERFECT. YEAH,
ACTUALLY, CAN WE GET. THAT'S
WHAT I THINK. YEAH IT'S LIKE
WHAT I THINK, I MEAN, THAT Þ.
THE YELLOW ONE ON. THERE WE GO.
OKAY. THANK YOU. ASSEMBLY MEMBER
CARRILLO, YOU WILL NOW BE
PRESENTING ITEM, NINE. ASSEMBLY
MEMBER GARCIA AB 2873. GREAT
BILL. SECOND, THE NEW AI VERSION
OF MEMBERS, WELL, GOOD
AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR. AND
MEMBERS, THANK YOU FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT ON BEHALF
OF ASSEMBLY MEMBER GARCIA AB. AB
28 773, WHICH.
DEVELOPING A MORE EQUITABLE,
MORE FLEXIBLE, AND TWO MINUTES EACH,
SO. YES, CHAIR. AND MEMBERS OF
THE COMMITTEE, THANK WITH THEIR LOCAL
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BOARD TO
PROVIDE SERVICES TO TARGETED
POPULATIONS WHO HISTORICALLY
HAVE DIFFICULTIES IN OBTAINING
AND RETAINING EMPLOYMENT. IN THE
SEVEN YEARS SINCE THE PROGRAM'S
INCEPTION, BREAKING BARRIERS HAS
BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN CONNECTING
THOUSANDS OF CALIFORNIA'S MOST INTEREST IN THE PROGRAM HAS
HAD THE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES
OF CREATING BURDENS. LOCAL
WORKFORCE BOARDS AND CBOS. WHILE
THESE PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN LOCAL
WORKFORCE BOARDS AND CBOS REMAIN
A CRITICAL PIECE TO THE BREAKING
BARRIERS PROGRAM, WE MUST
ACKNOWLEDGE THAT IN SOME
INSTANCES, THE POPULARITY PAIRED
WITH SHORT TIMELINES CREATED BY
THE GRANT HAVE CREATED
BOTTLENECKS, ESPECIALLY FOR
SMALL, SMALL CBOS ATTEMPTING TO IS A
MISSION DRIVEN, COMMUNITY BASED
ORGANIZATION THAT HELPS THOSE
WITH BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT SEEK
MEANINGFUL WORK. WE KNOW THAT
ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY IS
HIGHLY CORRELATED WITH IMPROVED
JOB OPPORTUNITIES AND THAT
ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS IN THE
BAY AREA COMPRISE A POPULATION
WHO HAVE BEEN HISTORICALLY
EXCLUDED FROM QUALITY JOBS. LAST
YEAR, WE ENROLLED A WOMAN NAMED
ANNIE THE YMCA, HER LOCAL
CHURCH, AND THE CHINESE FOR
AFFIRMATIVE ACTION GROUP IN
2023, SHE FINALLY RECEIVED HER
WORK AUTHORIZATION, BUT SHE WAS
VERY WORRIED ABOUT HER LEVEL OF
ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY AND
REALLY NERVOUS ABOUT SPEAKING
DURING A JOB INTERVIEW
SPECIFICALLY. SO SHE ENROLLED IN
GOODWILL'S JOB COACHING FOR
ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS
COURSE, WHERE I TAUGHT HER HOW
TO CREATE A STRONG RESUME, HOW
TO SEARCH FOR JOBS, AND HOW TO
SUCCEED. IN AN INTERVIEW IN JUST
A COUPLE OF HAVE ANY IN
OPPOSITION? SEEING NONE. I'LL
BRING IT TO THE MEMBERS. ANY
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? OKAY,
WOULD YOU LIKE, WE HAVE A MOTION
AND A SECOND MEMBER. WOULD YOU
LIKE TO CLOSE, ON BEHALF OF
ASSEMBLY MEMBER GARCIA,
RESPECTFULLY REQUEST AN AYE VOTE
. SECRETARY, PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL. THE MOTION IS Dð. PASS TO
JOBS, ECONOMIC AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE. ORTEGA I,
ORTEGA I FLORA
THIRD TIME'S A CHARM, SO I AM,
VERY GRATEFUL, MADAM CHAIR. AND
MEMBERS TO FOR THE OPPORTUNITY
TO PRESENT ON AB 2499 TO YOU
TODAY. NO PERSON SHOULD LOSE A
JOB BECAUSE THEY NEED TIME TO
RECOVER FROM A TRAUMATIC EVENT.
AND AB NINE 2499 WILL ENSURE
THAT FAMILY MEMBERS OF LIVING
DIRECT VICTIMS AND SURVIVORS OF
TRAUMA CAN TAKE UNPAID LEAVE AND
TIME OFF TO ADDRESS SAFETY
CONCERNS, HEAL OR SUPPORT THEIR
FAMILIES. 1 IN 6 SURVIVORS OF
VIOLENT CRIMES REPORT LOSING
THEIR JOBS OR BEING DEMOTED
BECAUSE THEY HAD TO TAKE TIME
OFF FOLLOWING A TRAUMATIC EVENT.
90% OF SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE REPORT HAVING TO RESIGN
OR BE FIRED BECAUSE OF THE
ABUSE. SEVEN OUT OF TEN VICTIMS
DESCRIBE FEELING UNSAFE OR
SCARED FOLLOWING THE EVENT, AND
LOW WAGE WORKERS, INCLUDING
IMMIGRANTS, WOMEN, NON-BINARY,
NON-BINARY WORKERS AND WORKERS
OF COLOR WHO ARE ESPECIALLY
VULNERABLE TO ASSAULT ARE ALSO
LEAST LIKELY TO HAVE EXISTING, THEIR SAFETY, AND
HAVING A JOB. WE ARE NOT
REQUESTING MORE SICK DAYS OR A
FASTER ACCUMULATION. THIS IS
SIMPLY FOR UNPAID DAYS TO HEAL
FROM DEVASTATING TRAUMA. AND
IT'S SIMPLE. JOINING ME TODAY IS
STEPHANIE HATTEN FROM CRIME
SURVIVORS AND SAFETY AND
JUSTICE. AND ALSO JOINING ME
TODAY IS STAFF ATTORNEY
KATHERINE, WHICH CHAU WIDGET.
HEY, WITH LEGAL AID AT WORK. AND
I'LL TURN IT OVER TO THEM, JUST
A REMINDER. YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES
EACH. THANK YOU. YES. FEELING,
PRIVILEGED TO BE BEFORE YOU,
MADAM CHAIR. AND YOUR MEMBERS?
I'M STEPHANIE HATTEN FROM
STOCKTON, CALIFORNIA. I'M HERE
IN SUPPORT OF AB 2499. ON JULY
15TH. MY SON ANTOINE WAS
BRUTALLY. MURDERED BY GUN
VIOLENCE AT HIS HOME IN FRONT OF
TWO OF HIS CHILDREN. THE NEXT
DAY, OUT OF ALL THINGS IN OUR
LIVES, WE SAW THAT OUR LIVES HAD
CHANGED. HIS WIFE AND CHILDREN
HAD THREE DAYS TO MOVE. WE WERE
DOING FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS,
STILL HAD TO BE MADE. I WAS
TAKING CARE OF HIS SEVEN VERY,
VERY TRAUMATIZED CHILDREN AND
THE OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS, WHICH
IS HIS SISTER. THAT'S THE ONLY
LIVING SIBLING. LEFT, HAVING TO
MEET WITH DIFFERENT PEOPLE
CONCERNING HIS DEATH, MAKING
FINAL ARRANGEMENTS, AND THEN HIS
WIFE TO BE TOLD THAT SHE HAD
THREE DAYS TO MOVE. AND, SHE WAS
TERMINATED FROM HER JOB BECAUSE
THE INCIDENT TOOK PLACE AT THE
COMPLEX 16 YEARS SHE WAS AT THAT
JOB, HAD THIS BILL BEEN IN
PLACE, WE WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN
ALONE. MORE OF OUR FAMILY COULD
HAVE USED SICK TIME TO SUPPORT
US IN GETTING VICTIM SERVICES.
AS THE STATE BOARD CERTIFIED
ADDICTION SPECIALIST SERVING MY
COMMUNITY FOR OVER 25 YEARS,
COULD COULD NO, I COULD NO
LONGER PERFORM MY DUTIES AT MY
JOB DUE TO THE MURDER OF MY SON.
IT WAS IT WAS DEVASTATING AND I
COULD NOT RETURN AS QUICKLY AS
THEY DEMANDED ME TO. I USE MY
BEREAVEMENT LEAVE. I TOOK A
LEAVE OF ABSENCE, BUT IT STILL
WASN'T ENOUGH. THAT TIME WAS
USED TO SUPPORT ARRANGEMENTS IN
GETTING THE FAMILY RESTORED TO
THEIR MENTAL STATE, AND JUST
GETTING THEM TO BECOME
FUNCTIONAL, TRYING TO GET HIS
KIDS BACK TO COLLEGE AND TRYING
TO GET THE OTHERS BACK TO SCHOOL
AS HE HEADED A FAMILY, I HAD TO
TRY TO GET MY DAUGHTER, WHO'S A
NURSE, BACK TO WORK. SHE'S A
MEDICATIONS NURSE AND THERE IS
NO ROOM FOR ERROR. WHEN I NEEDED
TO FIND SERVICES FOR MYSELF,
THERE WAS NO TIME CAUSING MY
EMPLOYER, AFTER MULTIPLE YEARS
TO ASK FOR MY RESIGNATION WITH
AB 2499 IN PLACE, I WOULD NOT
HAVE BEEN LEFT TO CHOOSE BETWEEN
THE SAFETY AND THE WELL-BEING OF
MYSELF AND MY FAMILY. INSTEAD, I
CHOSE TO LOSE MY JOB BECAUSE I
CHOSE MY FAMILY. THE IMPACT WAS
TREMENDOUS MENTAL AND FINANCIAL.
WE ARE LIVING IN A HOUSE WITH 11
PEOPLE DESIGNED FOR FIVE. I COME
BEFORE YOU HUMBLY TODAY TO ASK
YOU TO CONSIDER THIS BILL THAT
WILL KEEP HARDWORKING,
PROFESSIONAL PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF
THAT ARE IMPACTED OUT OF THE
WELFARE SYSTEM. APPLYING FOR
FOOD STAMPS WAS DEVASTATING FROM
A COLLEGE EDUCATED WOMAN WHO
MADE SURE THAT HER CHILDREN GOT
COLLEGE EDUCATIONS. WE DID THAT
TO SUPPORT OUR FAMILIES, BY
ALLOWING THEM PLEASE ALLOW THIS
BILL TO GO THROUGH AND ALLOW US
TO USE THE SICK TIME FOR VICTIM
SERVICES. I THANK YOU ALL SO
KINDLY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU,
THANK YOU. HI. MY NAME IS
KATHERINE WIDGET AND I'M A
SENIOR STAFF ATTORNEY AT LEGAL
AID AT WORK, AN ORGANIZATION
DEDICATED TO ADVANCING THE
RIGHTS OF LOW WAGE WORKERS. AND
AS PART OF THAT WORK, WE HAVE A
HELPLINE WHERE WE GET CALLS FROM
SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
WHO ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT
WHAT CAN THEY DO FOR THEIR
SAFETY WITHOUT HAVING TO LOSE
THEIR JOB. AND IT'S NOT
SURPRISING, GIVEN THE FACT THAT
1 IN 6 SURVIVORS OF VIOLENCE AND
1 IN 2 SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC
ASSAULT END UP LOSING THEIR JOBS
OR HAVING TO QUIT OR BE DEMOTED
BECAUSE THEY NEED TIME OFF OR
BECAUSE OF THE VIOLENCE. AND
WHILE CALIFORNIA HAS SOME
PROTECTIONS IN PLACE TO SUPPORT
THESE FAMILIES, IT'S NOT NEARLY
WHAT IT NEEDS TO BE, WHICH IS
DEVASTATING GIVEN THE FACT THAT
FINANCIAL DEPENDANCE IS OFTEN
SOMETHING THAT KEEPS PEOPLE WHO
ARE BEING VICTIMIZED AT HOME
FROM LEAVING AND CAUSES PEOPLE
TO RETURN TO DANGEROUS
SITUATIONS. AB 2499 ADDRESSES
SOME OF THESE GAPS, FIRST, BY
ADDING ADDITIONAL SPECIFIC
REASONS THAT PEOPLE CAN TAKE
UNPAID, JOB PROTECTED TIME OFF
FROM WORK. IF THEY HAVE PAID
SICK DAYS, THEY CAN USE THOSE
DAYS, BUT IT'S NOT PAID LEAVE
OUTSIDE OF THAT, AND IT'S ONLY
FOR SPECIFIC REASONS, CAPPED AT
12 WEEKS. SO IT ADDS ADDITIONAL
REASONS AND THEN IMPORTANTLY, IT
ALSO LETS FAMILY MEMBERS TAKE
THAT TIME SO THEY CAN SUPPORT
EACH OTHER. IF SOMEBODY HAS A
DAUGHTER THAT'S LIVING IN AN
UNSAFE HOME, THEY SHOULD BE ABLE
TO TAKE THE DAY TO HELP THEM
MOVE, AND A SIBLING SHOULD BE
ABLE TO GO TO COURT WITH THEIR
LOVED ONE. IF THEY'RE GETTING A
RESTRAINING ORDER FROM THEIR
STALKER, IN ADDITION TO THAT, IT
ALSO EXPANDS REASONABLE
ACCOMMODATIONS AT WORK, SO
ADDITIONAL SURVIVORS OF VIOLENCE
CAN ASK FOR SAFETY
ACCOMMODATIONS AT WORK. SO THESE
ARE JUST CHANGES AT WORK ONLY
RELATED TO SAFETY, AND ONLY IF
IT DOESN'T CAUSE AN UNDUE BURDEN
TO THE EMPLOYER AND ALLOWS
FAMILY MEMBERS TO ASK FOR THOSE
CHANGES AS WELL. AND THEN
FINALLY, IT MAKES IT EASIER FOR
SURVIVORS TO ACCESS THESE
PROTECTIONS BY PLACING THEM ALL
WITHIN ONE STATE AGENCY, IN THE
FAIR EMPLOYMENT AND HOUSING ACT,
WHICH IS ENFORCED BY THE CIVIL
RIGHTS DEPARTMENT, SO THAT
SOMEBODY WHO IS EXPERIENCING
VIOLENCE DOESN'T NEED TO GO TO
MULTIPLE AGENCIES TO ENFORCE
THEIR RIGHTS. FOR THESE REASONS,
WE ASK FOR YOUR VOTE. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, ARE THERE ANY OTHER,
PEOPLE HERE IN SUPPORT OF THE
ITEM? YEAH. NATASHA MINSKER
SMART JUSTICE, CALIFORNIA AND
STRONG SUPPORT. ALI SEGAL WITH
GREENBERG TRAURIG ON BEHALF OF
THE CALIFORNIA PARTNERSHIP TO
END DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. I'M ALSO
REGISTERING SUPPORT FOR THE
FOLLOWING ORGANIZATIONS. EQUAL
RIGHTS ADVOCATES, LA ALLIANCE
FOR A NEW ECONOMY ALI, BEST
BABIES NETWORK, NATIONAL COUNCIL
OF JEWISH WOMEN, LA NATIONAL
PARTNERSHIP FOR WOMEN AND
FAMILIES, ORANGE COUNTY EQUALITY
COALITION, PARENT VOICES,
CALIFORNIA PUBLIC COUNSEL,
WORKING PARTNERSHIPS USA,
CALIFORNIA CHILD CARE RESOURCE
AND REFERRAL NETWORK, FRIENDS
COMMITTEE ON LEGISLATION OF
CALIFORNIA CHILD CARE LAW
CENTER, WORKSAFE, AND OUR
FAMILY. THANK YOU. RYAN
MIRAMONTES WITH ASTI, CALIFORNIA
AND SUPPORT. MELISSA COSIO WITH
CRIME SURVIVORS FOR SAFETY AND
JUSTICE. THE SPONSORS STRONG
SUPPORT AS WELL AS CALIFORNIANS
FOR SAFETY AND JUSTICE IN STRONG
SUPPORT. THANK YOU. SHELLY
KAMALI WITH LEGAL AID AT WORK,
TESTIFYING ON BEHALF OF THE
FOLLOWING ORGANIZATIONS AND
STRONG SUPPORT CALIFORNIA WORK
AND FAMILY COALITION. ASIAN LAW
ALLIANCE, BREASTFEED, CALIFORNIA
BREASTFEEDING COALITION,
CALIFORNIA IMMIGRANT POLICY
CENTER, CALIFORNIA RURAL LEGAL
ASSISTANCE FOUNDATION, CARING
ACROSS GENERATIONS, CENTER FOR
COMMUNITY ACTION, AND
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE, CENTER
FOR WORKERS RIGHTS, CITIZENS, BUT ALSO IN OTHER
FORMS OF LEAVE THAT EXIST, LAST
JUST FOUR YEARS, CALIFORNIA HAS
EXPANDED A NUMBER OF THOSE
LEAVES, AND IN FACT, THERE HAVE
BEEN NINE NEW LEAVES OR
EXPANSION JUST IN THOSE LAST
COUPLE OF YEARS THAT DO ALSO
APPLY TO SMALL BUSINESSES, AS
PART OF THOSE EXISTING LEAVES,
THERE ARE ALSO ROBUST
PROTECTIONS, FOR CARING, FOR
EXAMPLE, A FAMILY MEMBER. AND WE
ALSO AGREED TO AMENDMENTS A
COUPLE OF YEARS AGO THAT WOULD
ALSO INCLUDE WITHIN THAT
DEFINITION, A NON-FAMILY MEMBER
AS WELL, UNDER CURRENT LAW AS
WELL, YOU KNOW, IF THERE IS A
NEED TO, TO MOVE SOMEONE OR
SOMETHING ALONG THOSE LINES FOR
SAFETY, WE BELIEVE THAT IS
COVERED,
WHERE MAYBE THERE SHOULD BE SOME
GUARDRAILS APPLIED UNDER THE
LEAVE EXAMPLE, MAYBE AN HOUR'S
CAP OR SOMETHING ALONG THOSE
LINES, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE THIS
WOULD APPLY TO OUR SMALLEST
BUSINESSES, BECAUSE ONE OF THE
AMENDMENTS WOULD BE DROPPING THE
THRESHOLD ON SOME. GOOD
AFTERNOON, JAMIE HUFF WITH THE
CIVIL JUSTICE ASSOCIATION OF
ASSOCIATION, IN RESPECTFUL
OPPOSITION. LAWRENCE GAYTAN, ON
BEHALF OF THE CALIFORNIA
MANUFACTURERS AND TECHNOLOGY
ASSOCIATION, RESPECTFULLY
OPPOSED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
SEEING NO OTHER WITNESSES,
COMING BACK TO THE MEMBERS, ANY
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? ASSEMBLY
MEMBER CARILLO. THANK YOU, MADAM
CHAIR, THANK YOU TO THE AUTHOR
FOR BRINGING THE BILL FORWARD.
AS YOU CAN SEE, WE ARE SHORT
SOME MEMBERS ON THE COMMITTEE AT
THE MOMENT. I'M WONDERING IF YOU
CAN ADDRESS, THE CONCERNS BY CAL
CHAMBER RELATED TO THE UNCAPPED,
LEAVE AND POTENTIAL SCENARIOS
AND WHAT HAVE THOSE
CONVERSATIONS BEEN LIKE? SO I'M
SURE YOUR BILL IS NOT INTENDED
TO CREATE, WAYS IN WHICH
IDEAL. BUT WE UNDERSTAND THE
HARDSHIP THAT, THAT COULD
PRESENT TO EMPLOYERS. SO YOU
KNOW, I HAVE TO RESPECTFULLY
DISAGREE THAT THERE ARE NOT SOME
LIMITS AND GUARDRAILS ON IT. AND
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANY
ADDITIONS. YEAH, I AGREE WITH
WHAT YOU SAID. AND ADDITIONALLY,
IT'S NOT JUST YOU EXPERIENCE
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE OR SEXUAL
ASSAULT. YOU CAN TAKE TIME OFF.
THERE'S A LIST OF SPECIFIC
REASONS THAT PEOPLE CAN TAKE
THIS LEAVE THAT HAVE BEEN
TAILORED BASED ON THE EXPERIENCE
OF VICTIM ADVOCATES AND
SURVIVORS AND FAMILY MEMBERS,
AND WHAT THEY'VE ENCOUNTERED IN
THE WORKPLACE. AND MY FOLLOW UP
IS FOR THE SMALL BUSINESSES THAT
ARE DON'T HAVE THE LARGER
PROTECTIONS THAT SOME
CORPORATIONS MAY HAVE. WHAT ARE
THE GUARDRAILS FOR THAT SMALL
MOM AND POP EMPLOYER TO BE ABLE
TO HIRE TEMPORARY WORKERS? WHILE
SOMEONE MAY TAKE AN
UNPRECEDENTED UNPAID LEAVE, CAN
THEY, IN TURN HIRE SOMEONE ELSE
TO DO THOSE THAT PARTICULAR JOB?
AND THEN WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THAT
INDIVIDUAL CHOOSES TO COME BACK?
AND WHAT HAPPENS TO THAT JOB
ITSELF? YEAH. SO I'D MAKE THE
POINT THAT THE SMALLER EMPLOYERS
ARE ALREADY COVERED BY OTHER
LEAVE LAWS AS WELL THAT SERVE
DIFFERENT PURPOSES, BUT BECAUSE
OF THAT, THEY DO HAVE PRACTICES
OF FIGURING OUT HOW TO FILL IN.
WHEN SOMEBODY HAS A BABY OR
SOMEBODY HAS A FAMILY MEMBER WHO
HAS A HEART ATTACK. SO THIS
ISN'T DIFFERENT IN CREATING LIKE
A COMPLETELY NEW TYPE OF
OBLIGATION FOR A SMALLER
EMPLOYER. AND ACTUALLY EMPLOYERS
OF ALL SIZES, FROM ONE TO, YOU
KNOW, ANY NUMBER CURRENTLY HAVE
TO PROVIDE LEAVE FOR SPECIFIC
REASONS RELATED TO DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE. SO LEAVE TO GO TO
COURT. SO WHILE THIS DOES EXPAND
ON THE OBLIGATIONS, IT'S
CERTAINLY NOT SOMETHING NEW OR
UNPRECEDENTED OR WILDLY
DIFFERENT FROM WHAT THEY'VE BEEN
DOING BEFOREHAND. I'M SORRY. I'M
NOT SURE THAT ACTUALLY ANSWERS
MY QUESTION. SO MY QUESTION IS,
IF YES, THERE'S ALL THE POLICIES
THAT ALREADY HAVE THE
PROTECTIONS IN PLACE FOR THE
PARTICULAR SCENARIOS THAT
YOU'VE, THAT YOU'VE MENTIONED.
BUT IF THE POLICY IS TO CREATE
AN UNCAPPED AMOUNT OF TIME WHERE
SOMEBODY CAN DO 12 WEEKS, IT'S
CAPPED AT 12 WEEKS. SO WITHIN
THAT 12 WEEKS CAN THE SMALL CAN
AN EMPLOYER HIRE SOMEONE ELSE,
BE PROTECTED AND NOT FACE A
LAWSUIT THAT THAT JOB
OPPORTUNITY MAY NO LONGER EXIST
WHEN THAT EMPLOYEE CHOOSES TO
COME BACK? SO THIS DOESN'T GIVE
ANY THERE'S NO RESTRICTIONS ON
EMPLOYERS BEING ABLE TO HIRE
SOMEONE TEMPORARILY TO COVER THE
WORK IF IT'S LONG TERME. I MEAN,
ALSO, I JUST WANT TO STATE THAT
IT'S NOT ALWAYS A LONG TERME.
IT'S NOT ALWAYS 12 WEEKS. RIGHT?
SOMETIMES IT'S A FEW DAYS,
SOMETIMES IT'S A WEEK, SOMETIMES
IT'S A COUPLE WEEKS. AND SO I
THINK THERE'S A LOT OF VARIATION
WITHIN WHAT THE NEED IS. RIGHT.
AND IT'S CASE BY CASE,
SITUATION. BUT BUT THERE'S NO
RESTRICTIONS ON BEING ABLE TO
HIRE SOMEONE TO REPLACE IT,
THERE'S NOT CURRENTLY LANGUAGE
IN HERE THAT PROTECTS A RETURN,
BUT BECAUSE IT IS PROTECTED
LEAVE THEORETICALLY. AND I WOULD
DEFER TO AN ATTORNEY ON THIS.
THEORETICALLY, IT WOULD BE
PROTECTING THEIR RETURN, YEAH.
THAT'S RIGHT. THE WORKERS HAVE
THE RIGHT TO RETURN TO THEIR
POSITION, BUT EMPLOYERS HAVE THE
RIGHT TO HIRE TEMPORARY
EMPLOYEES AND EMPLOYEES DON'T
HAVE THE RIGHT TO ALWAYS
CONTINUE IN THEIR POSITION
FOREVER. THEY CAN BE HIRED IN A
TEMPORARY POSITION. THANK YOU
FOR THAT. I THINK, THE BILL IS
SET TO GO TO JUDICIARY, WHERE
THIS CONVERSATION CAN CONTINUE.
MY CONCERN, I THINK THE INTENT
OF THE BILL IS, PROFOUND AND
IMPORTANT. I JUST WOULD LIKE TO
SEE THE GUARDRAILS TO ENSURE
THAT A SMALL BUSINESS DOES NOT
WILL FACE WILL NOT FACE ANY
UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES WHEN THE
EMPLOYEE ON LEAVE CHOOSES TO
COME BACK. AND THEN YOU HAVE A
TEMPORARY WORKER THAT THAT
BUSINESS IS INVESTING IN TO BE
ABLE TO DO THAT WORK TEMPORARILY
. AND SO I WANT TO SEE SOME
GUARDRAILS THAT SECURE THAT
OPPORTUNITY IN ITSELF BEFORE IT
GETS TO THE FLOOR. BUT I WOULD I
WILL BE SUPPORTING THE BILL AND
LOOK FORWARD TO THE CONVERSATION
IN JUDICIARY. AND WHEN IT GETS
TO THE FLOOR, THANK YOU. YEAH.
AND WE'RE HAPPY TO HEAR ANY
RECOMMENDATIONS YOU HAVE. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU. I JUST WANT TO
SAY THANK YOU TO MY COLLEAGUE
FOR BRINGING THAT THOSE POINTS
FORWARD ABOUT THE SMALL BUSINESS
OUR FAMILY IS IN SMALL BUSINESS.
AND YOU RAISE A VERY GOOD POINT.
YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT ALWAYS YES,
WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO HIRE FOR
SURE AS A BUSINESS OWNER. BUT AT
TIMES WHEN THAT JOB IS OVER,
IT'S SOMETIMES VERY CHALLENGING.
IF THAT JOB DOESN'T EXIST AND
YOU HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, HOLD IT
FOR THAT INDIVIDUAL COMING BACK,
WHAT DO WE WHAT DO WE DO WITH
THAT EMPLOYEE THAT WE HAVE, THAT
WE HAVE TEMPORARILY? SO IT IS A
HUGE CONCERN. AND IT'S A GREAT
QUESTION. I LOOK FORWARD TO GET
IT FLESHED OUT IN JUDICIAL. I
WOULD JUST SAY, YOU KNOW, I'M A
SMALL BUSINESS OWNER MYSELF. I
COME FROM A FAMILY OF SMALL
BUSINESSES, SMALL BUSINESS
OWNERS WHO, HAD FROM ONE
EMPLOYEE TO 25 EMPLOYEES,
DEPENDING ON HOW BIG THE JOBS
WERE. AND, YOU KNOW, AND I WOULD
SAY THAT I THINK IT'S A, IT'S A
BALANCE, RIGHT, THAT WE'RE
TRYING TO STRIKE. AND WE HAVE TO
FIND THE BALANCE BETWEEN MAKING
SURE THAT WE'RE PROTECTING SMALL
BUSINESSES AND ALSO MAKING SURE
THAT PEOPLE DON'T LOSE THEIR
LIVELIHOODS BECAUSE THEY HAVE
SUFFERED A TRAUMATIC EVENT, AND
I DON'T THINK, I DON'T THINK IT
HELPS ANYONE FOR PEOPLE, TO, YOU
KNOW, LOSE THEIR JOBS AND LOSE
THEIR LIVELIHOOD, LIKE WE HEARD
TODAY. RIGHT? AND PROFESSIONAL,
SOMEONE WHO DEDICATED THEIR
CAREER TO HELPING PEOPLE LOST
HER JOB BECAUSE OF, YOU KNOW,
THE TRAUMA THAT THEIR FAMILY HAD
EXPERIENCED. AND SO, YOU KNOW,
WE HOPE TO STRIKE THAT BALANCE
AND ARE HAPPY TO CONTINUE THE
CONVERSATION. THANK YOU, CAN I
GET A MOTION. A SECOND, WOULD
YOU LIKE TO CLOSE? I JUST WANT
TO THANK, SO MUCH, MISS HATTON,
FOR BEING HERE TODAY AND SHARING
HER STORY. AND MISS WISHART, WHO
? Tð. YES. NO. YES. SO MUCH FOR
HER EXPERTISE. AND RESPECTFULLY
ASK FOR AN AYE VOTE. THANK YOU.
AND I APPRECIATE YOUR
WILLINGNESS TO, CONTINUE WORKING
ON THIS BILL AS IT MOVES
FORWARD. AS STATED TODAY. THANK
YOU, SECRETARY, PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL. THE MOTION IS DUE. PASS TO
JUDICIARY COMMITTEE. ORTEGA I,
ORTEGA I FLORA. FLORA NOT VOTING
ALANIS. ALANIS NOT VOTING.
WENDY. CARILLO. WENDY CARILLO I
CORA WARD. CYBER BELLE'S ON CALL
THE BELLS ON CALL. THANK YOU. WE
WILL NOW CALL ITEM NUMBER THREE.
AB ASSEMBLY BILL 2487. ASSEMBLY
MEMBER MIKE FONG.
ASSEMBLY MEMBER, YOU MAY OPEN.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, MADAM CHAIR
AND MEMBERS. ASSEMBLY BILL 2487
REQUIRES THAT THE DEPUTY
SECRETARY OF CLIMATE TO CREATE
AND MAINTAIN A CALIFORNIA GREEN
JOBS WEBSITE. THIS WEBSITE WILL
BE A CENTRALIZED HUB FOR
CALIFORNIANS TO ACCESS
INFORMATION ABOUT GREEN JOBS AND
OTHER EDUCATIONAL OR JOB
TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES. THE
DEPUTY SECRETARY OF CLIMATE WAS
ESTABLISHED WITHIN THE LABOR AND
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AGENCY,
AND IS ALREADY CHARGED WITH
IDENTIFYING WORKFORCE TRANSITION
NEEDS, RECOMMENDING STRATEGIES
FOR TRAINING AND EDUCATION, AND
TRACKING CLEAN ENERGY JOBS BY
ALLOWING DIRECT ACCESS TO THIS
INFORMATION. THIS WEBSITE
ADDRESSES A KEY PART OF THE
TRANSITION TO A CARBON NEUTRAL
CALIFORNIA AND TRAINING WORKERS
AND FILLING POSITIONS. BUT THIS
IS NOT JUST AN ENERGY
TRANSITION. IT'S ALSO AN
ECONOMIC ONE. AND IT MUST BE A
JUST TRANSITION WHERE WORKERS
ARE NOT LEFT BEHIND OR
COMMUNITIES ARE NOT LEFT BEHIND,
AND WHERE JOBS ARE AVAILABLE TO
EVERYONE. REDUCING SOCIAL AND
ECONOMIC INEQUALITY. ASSEMBLY
BILL 2487 REQUIRES THAT OUR
DEPUTY SECRETARY OF CLIMATE
PROVIDES CALIFORNIA'S THE GREEN
JOBS WEBSITE AND ENSURES THAT
ALL CALIFORNIANS CAN CONNECT TO
A GOOD GREEN JOBS. HERE TO
TESTIFY IN SUPPORT IS FATIMA
IQBAL ZUBAIR WITH THE CALIFORNIA
ENVIRONMENTAL VOTERS. THANK YOU.
HI. HELLO, CHAIR AND COMMITTEE
MEMBERS, I'M FATIMA ZUBIATE WITH
WITH CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL
VOTERS. AND WE'RE HERE TO
RESPECTFULLY ASK THIS COMMITTEE
TO PASS AB 2847 AB 2847
REPRESENTS A SIGNIFICANT STEP
FORWARD IN CALIFORNIA'S
COMMITMENT TO A GREENER ECONOMY
BY MANDATING THE CREATION OF A
CALIFORNIA GREEN JOBS WEBSITE.
THE STATE IS NOT JUST FOCUSING
ON ENVIRONMENTAL GOALS, BUT ALSO
ON DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPLES AND
ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL EQUITY BY
MAKING INFORMATION EASILY
ACCESSIBLE, CALIFORNIA HAS
TRANSITION TO RENEWABLE ENERGY
SOURCES AND ZERO CARBON
RESOURCES BY 2045 IS NOT JUST
ABOUT REDUCING CARBON EMISSIONS,
BUT ALSO ABOUT CREATING NEW
OPPORTUNITIES FOR CALIFORNIANS,
ESPECIALLY IN THIS UNIQUE
OPPORTUNITY AS BILLIONS OF
DOLLARS IN FUNDING IS COMING
DOWN FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
TO CREATE GOOD CLIMATE JOBS,
REQUIRING THE DEPUTY SECRETARY
OF CLIMATE TO MAINTAIN A WEBSITE
SO THAT AVAILABLE GREEN JOBS ARE
EASILY ACCESSIBLE WILL BE A GAME
CHANGER FOR REGULAR WORKING
PEOPLE. TO OBTAIN INFORMATION ON
THESE NEW JOBS CREATED
SPECIFICALLY, AB 2487 ALIGNS
WITH CALIFORNIA'S EFFORTS TO
PHASE OUT COMBUSTION TRUCKS AND
PROMOTE ZERO EMISSION VEHICLES,
WHICH NOT ONLY REDUCES POLLUTION
BUT ALSO DRIVES THE CREATION OF
A CLEAN VEHICLE MANUFACTURING
INDUSTRY. THE STATE'S LEADERSHIP
IN CLIMATE TECHNOLOGY, WITH A
SIGNIFICANT PRESENCE OF CLIMATE
TECH COMPANIES, FURTHER
DEMONSTRATES THE POTENTIAL FOR
JOB CREATION AND ECONOMIC GROWTH
IN THE GREEN SECTOR. THE NEED
FOR AB 2487 STEMS FROM THE
REALIZATION THAT WHILE
CALIFORNIA IS MAKING SIGNIFICANT
STRIDES IN TRANSITIONING ITS
WORKFORCE AND ECONOMY, THERE'S A
LACK OF PUBLICLY SANCTIONED
RESOURCES FOR COMMUNICATION,
COORDINATION AND ACCESSIBILITY.
THE CALIFORNIA GREEN JOBS
WEBSITE WILL BRIDGE THIS GAP,
BUT PROVIDING INFORMATION ABOUT
GREEN JOB OPPORTUNITIES,
TRAINING PROGRAMS, AND SKILL
REQUIREMENTS. THIS ENSURES THAT
ALL CALIFORNIANS, ESPECIALLY
THOSE IN DECLINING INDUSTRIES,
HAVE THE CHANCE TO PARTICIPATE
IN AND BENEFIT FROM THE STATE'S
GREEN ECONOMY. IN ESSENCE, AB
2487 IS NOT JUST ABOUT
ENVIRONMENTAL POLICIES, IT'S
ABOUT EMPOWERING WORKERS,
PROMOTING ECONOMIC EQUITY, AND
FOSTERING A MORE INCLUSIVE
FUTURE FOR ALL CALIFORNIANS.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU. DO WE HAVE
ANY WITNESSES IN SUPPORT? ANY
WITNESSES IN OPPOSITION SEEING
NONE. I HAVE A MOTION. A SECOND
ASSEMBLY MEMBER, FONG, WOULD YOU
LIKE TO CLOSE? THANK YOU SO
MUCH, MEMBERS. THANK YOU, MADAM
CHAIR. I RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR AN
AYE VOTE. SECRETARY, PLEASE CALL
THE ROLL. THE MOTION IS DUE.
PASS TO UTILITIES AND ENERGY
COMMITTEE. ORTEGA I, ORTEGA I
FLORA, I FLORA I ALL IN EAST.
HI. ALL IN EAST I WENDY CARILLO
WENDY CARILLO I KALRA. WARD
ZUBIR. THAT MEASURE IS OUT.
THANK YOU. WE WILL NOW MOVE ON
TO OUR LAST. IS IT OUR FINAL
BILL, ITEM NUMBER FOUR AB 2494.
ASSEMBLY MEMBER CALDERON SECOND.
ALL RIGHT. OKAY. I MADE IT. YOU
MADE IT. THANK YOU. CHAIR AND
MEMBERS, AB 2494 WOULD REQUIRE
LARGE EMPLOYERS TO PROVIDE
EMPLOYEES WITH COBRA ELIGIBILITY
NOTICES AT THE TIME OF
TERMINATION, OR A REDUCTION OF
HOURS IF AN INDIVIDUAL IS FIRED
FROM THEIR JOB OR THEIR WORK
HOURS ARE REDUCED, THEY CAN BE
AT RISK OF LOSING THEIR HEALTH
CARE COVERAGE. THESE
CALIFORNIANS MUST WAIT 14 DAYS
BEFORE RECEIVING A NOTIFICATION
FROM THEIR HEALTH PLAN, WITH
INFORMATION ON HOW TO ACCESS
THEIR COBRA HEALTH BENEFITS, AND
SOMETIMES THIS IS TOO LATE IF
THEIR NOTICE IS LOST OR DELAYED
IN THE MAIL, THE IMPACTED
INDIVIDUAL AND THEIR FAMILY CAN
MISS THE DEADLINE TO OPT IN TO
THESE BENEFITS. THIS BILL
ENSURES THE EMPLOYEES ARE
EQUIPPED WITH THE INFORMATION
THEY NEED TO PREVENT HEALTH CARE
COVERAGE. DISRUPTION AND I DO
NOT HAVE ANY WITNESSES. SO WE DO
WE HAVE ANY ANY WITNESSES IN
SUPPORT OR OPPOSITION? WE DO
HAVE A WITNESS IN OPPOSITION. WE
DON'T HAVE A POSITION, WE ARE
WORKING WITH THE AUTHOR'S OFFICE
JUST ON SOME AMENDMENTS, JUST
BECAUSE THIS IS A FEDERAL
STATUTE, SO WE WANT TO, WORK ON
SOME AMENDMENTS TO KIND OF
CLARIFY DELINEATION OF
RESPONSIBILITY BETWEEN EMPLOYER
AND HEALTH PLAN AND HELP ACHIEVE
THE GOAL THAT THE SUBWAY MEMBER
MENTIONED TODAY. SO THAT'S IT.
THANK YOU. YES THANK YOU, ANY
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE
MEMBERS SEEING NONE, WOULD YOU
LIKE TO CLOSE? YES, YES. AND I
DO WANT TO SAY THAT WE ARE
WORKING. SHE'S ABSOLUTELY
CORRECT. WE ARE WORKING WITH THE
CAL CHAMBER ON IMPLEMENTATION
AND AMENDMENTS. SO I
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR AN AYE
VOTE. THANK YOU. SECRETARY,
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. THE MOTION
IS DUE. PASS TO APPROPRIATIONS.
ORTEGA I, ORTEGA I. FLORA. FLORA
I ALANIZ. ALANIZ I WENDY
CARILLO. HI. WENDY. CARILLO I
KALRA. WARD. ZUBIR THAT MEASURE
IS UP. THAT MEASURE IS OUT.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MADAM
CHAIR. WE WILL NOW, RETURN TO
THE ADDING ON. AB 20 2374.
FLORA. NÓ. FLORA. NØ ZIPPER. AB
2602. FLORA FLORA. NOT VOTING.
ZIPPER THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH.
I WAS EMAILING WITH THE STAFF,
SO I'LL LET THEM KNOW. OKAY
SERGEANT, CAN YOU CALL THE
ABSENT MEMBERS?
YEAH OKAY. AB 1976. WARD. WARD
NOT VOTING. AB 2487. CORRE.
CORRE. AYE. WARD WARD. EYES. BR.
AB 2494. KALRA KALRA. AYE. WARD.
WARD. AYE. SPUR. LIFTING THE
CALL ON 2499. KALRA. KALRA. AYE.
WARD WARD. AYE. SPUR. I'LL GO
BACK THROUGH AND ADDS. AB 2873.
KALRA KALRA. AYE. WARD. WARD.
AYE ZUBER. ZUBER. AYE CONSENT
CALENDAR AB 3105. ZUBER ZUBER
AYE. ZUBER. ITEM 1976. ZUBER.
ZUBER AYE. AB 2374. ZUBER ZUBER
AYE AB 2487 ZUBER. ZUBER AYE AB
2494 ZUBER. ZUBER AYE. AB 2499
ZUBER ZABIR AYE. AB 2602 ZUBER.
ZUBER AYE. AB 2696 ZUBER ZABIR
AYE. AB 2738 ZUBER. ZUBER. AYE.
THAT CONCLUDES OUR BUSINESS FOR
TODAY. WE ARE ADJOURNED. THANK
YOU