GOOD AFTERNOON. I'D LIKE TO CALL
THE ASSEMBLY. HIGHER EDUCATION
COMMITTEE IS NOW CALLED TO ORDER
. WE'LL START AS A SUBCOMMITTEE
AS WE AWAIT QUORUM. WELCOME TO
THE ASSEMBLY HIGHER EDUCATION
COMMITTEE HEARING TODAY. WHETHER
YOU'RE HERE IN PERSON OR
WATCHING VIRTUALLY, I EXTEND A
WARM WELCOME TO EACH AND EVERY
ONE OF YOU. I WILL NOW GO OVER
SOME KEY ELEMENTS OF THE
STRUCTURE OF TODAY'S HEARING.
PLEASE NOTE THAT WHILE THIS
HEARING WILL NOT HAVE PHONE
TESTIMONY, WE ARE ACCEPTING
WRITTEN TESTIMONY THROUGH THE
POSITION LETTER PORTAL ON THE
COMMITTEE'S WEBSITE AT AHEAD DOT
ASSEMBLY CA.GOV. AND BILLS WILL
BE TAKEN UP IN SIGN AN ORDER. I
SEE A NUMBER OF AUTHORS IN THE
AUDIENCE ALREADY. AUTHORS,
PLEASE SIGN IN AT THE SERGEANT'S
DESK IN ROOM 127. ADDITIONALLY,
PLEASE NOTE THAT THE GUIDELINE
FOR BILLS HEARD IN THIS
COMMITTEE IS TO ALLOW TESTIMONY
FROM TWO WITNESSES IN SUPPORT
AND TWO LEAD WITNESSES IN
OPPOSITION TO SPEAK FOR NO MORE
THAN TWO MINUTES EACH.
STAKEHOLDER GROUPS AND ENTITIES
THAT ARE NEITHER IN SUPPORT NOR
IN OPPOSITION WILL BE ALLOWED TO
GIVE TESTIMONY FOR NO MORE THAN
TWO MINUTES. WHEN A CALL FOR
TWEENERS. IF A MEASURE HAS MORE
THAN TWO ENTITIES AND A TWEENER
CATEGORY, ONLY TWO WILL BE
ALLOWED TO SPEAK FOR TWO MINUTES
EACH. FOR MEMBERS OF THE
COMMITTEE MEMBERS. IF YOU'D LIKE
TO RESPOND TO A ROLL CALL, ASK A
QUESTION OR PROVIDE A COMMENT,
PLEASE BE SURE TO ACTIVATE YOUR
MIC AND TO SPEAK INTO YOUR MIC.
FOR AUTHORS OF BILLS UP TODAY
AUTHORS, EACH MEMBER PRESENTING
TODAY WILL PROVIDE AN OPENING
AND A CLOSING STATEMENT. AS
PREVIOUSLY STATED, YOUR TWO LEAD
WITNESSES WILL EACH HAVE TWO
MINUTES TO PROVIDE TESTIMONY AND
TODAY WE HAVE A ROBUST HEARING
OF 19 MEASURES ON THE AGENDA
TODAY, WITH FOUR MEASURES
PROPOSED FOR CONSENT CALENDAR.
AND BEFORE WE TAKE THE CONSENT
CALENDAR, WE'LL HAVE TO WAITING
FOR ONE MORE MEMBER FOR QUORUM.
REALLY APPRECIATE MY COLLEAGUES
THAT ARE HERE RIGHT NOW. THANK
YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE. AND
WITH THAT, WE WILL BEGIN AS A
SUBCOMMITTEE, THE FIRST AUTHOR
I'D LIKE TO WELCOME IS A SIMILAR
GRAYSON. WELCOME A SIMILAR
GRAYSON WILL BE PRESENTING ITEM
15, ASSEMBLY BILL 2821. WELCOME
ASSEMBLY MEMBER GRAYSON, THANK
YOU SO MUCH. GOOD AFTERNOON, MR.
CHAIR. AND MEMBERS. AB 2821
REQUIRES THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS
OF THE CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY
COLLEGES, THE TRUSTEES OF THE
CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, AND
IT REQUEST THE UNIVERSITY OF
CALIFORNIA AND THE GOVERNING
BOARDS OF INDEPENDENT
INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION
TO PROVIDE A DISABILITY ACCESS
AND COMPLIANCE TRAINING PROGRAM.
ALL THOSE STUDENTS WITH
DISABILITIES IN HIGHER EDUCATION
ARE PROTECTED BY STATE, FEDERAL,
AND LOCAL LAWS THAT PROHIBIT
DISCRIMINATION. THEY STILL
CONTINUE TO FACE SIGNIFICANT
BARRIERS IN ACADEMIC SUCCESS.
WHILE MOST POST-SECONDARY
INSTITUTIONS HAVE INCORPORATED
THE BASIC ELEMENTS OF THE
AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT
OR ADA INTO THEIR POLICIES,
THEIR PRACTICES AND PROCEDURES,
THERE IS A LACK OF STATEWIDE A
STATEWIDE FRAMEWORK FOR A
MANDATORY DISABILITY COMPLIANCE
TRAINING IN ORDER TO MEET FOR
FACULTY AND FOR STAFF. SO MANY
SCHOOLS HAVE ESTABLISHED
DISABILITY SERVICE OFFICES TO
HANDLE REQUESTS FOR REASONABLE
ACCOMMODATIONS AND HAVE ASSESSED
THEIR ACCESSIBILITY OF THEIR
CAMPUSES. DESPITE THESE POSITIVE
ACTIONS, THOUGH, MOST HIGHER
EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS HAVE
STILL NOT ACHIEVED FULL
INCLUSION OF STUDENTS WITH
DISABILITIES. AB 2821 SEEKS TO
ENSURE THAT STUDENTS WITH
DISABILITIES NEEDS ARE FULLY MET
AND THAT THEY CAN ACCESS THE
ACCOMMODATIONS AND SUPPORTIVE
SERVICES THEY NEED FOR SUCCESS
AS COLLEGE STUDENTS BY A
STATEWIDE POST-SECONDARY
DISABILITY ACCESS AND COMPLIANCE
TRAINING PROGRAM FOR COLLEGE
PERSONNEL TO BE PROVIDED UPON ON
BOARDING. AND WITH THAT, I WOULD
LIKE TO INTRODUCE MY ESTEEMED
WITNESS, SEN GÓMEZ, ORGANIZING
DIRECTOR, ASSOCIATE STUDENTS OF
THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. WELCOME.
THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH. GOOD
AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS SEN MACIAS
GOMEZ AND I'M A FOURTH YEAR
DISABLED STUDENT AT UC BERKELEY,
AS WELL AS THE ORGANIZING
DIRECTOR FOR THE EXTERNAL
AFFAIRS VICE PRESIDENT'S OFFICE
IN THE ASUC. I'M HONORED TO BE
HERE AND SPEAK WITH YOU ALL
ABOUT AB 2821. AND AS AN
ACTIVIST AND ORGANIZER FOR
COMMUNITY WELLNESS, JUST
DISABILITY ACCESS AND MENTAL
WELLNESS, THIS IS OF UTMOST
IMPORTANCE TO ME THAT WE ARE
HAVING THIS CONVERSATION WHILE
BEING A STUDENT AT CAL, I'VE HAD
TO BATTLE FOR MY ACCOMMODATIONS
TO BE MET EVERY SEMESTER. I'VE
BEEN DENIED REASONABLE
ACCOMMODATIONS TWICE WHILE BEING
AN UNDERGRAD, AND FRANKLY, THIS
IS ILLEGAL AND I AM SHOCKED THAT
IT IS TOLERATED. THE UC IS
CURRENTLY GETTING AWAY WITH
ACTIONS LIKE THIS EVERY
SEMESTER, AND THIS MAKES
LEGISLATION LIKE AB 2021 SO
NECESSARY BECAUSE WE NEED TO
ENSURE THAT WON. THE UC IS HELD
ACCOUNTABLE, AND TWO, THAT ALL
DISABLED STUDENTS ARE NOT HAVING
TO TEACH THEIR EDUCATORS HOW TO
COMPLY WITH THE LAWS THAT WERE
INTENDED TO PROTECT THEM. ANYONE
CAN BE, CAN BE, OR BECOME
DISABLED AND MAKING SURE THAT
HIGHER EDUCATION IS A IS
PROACTIVE ON HOW WE'RE ADAPTING
TO THIS IS TRANSFORMATIVE.
STUDENTS MAY BECOME DISABLED
WHILE IN COLLEGE OR EXPERIENCE
SHORT TUM DISABILITIES WHILE
THEY'RE STUDENTS, AND IT CAN BE
JARRING TO REALIZE THAT YOU ARE
GOING THROUGH THIS STRUGGLE
ALONE. THE FIRST TIME I WAS
DENIED ACCOMMODATIONS, IT TOOK
PLACE WHEN A PROFESSOR REFUSED
MY REASONABLE ONES THAT I HAD
ASKED FOR EITHER CLASS
RECORDINGS OR SHARING CLASS
NOTES. EVEN AFTER SHARING THIS
EXPERIENCE WITH MY DSP ADVISOR,
THEY WERE UNWILLING TO SUPPORT
FURTHER AND I WAS LEFT MISSING.
WICKS OF CONTENT. WHEN I WAS
TEMPORARILY DISABLED AFTER
HAVING TOP SURGERY. THIS WAS AN
INTERSECTIONAL HARM THAT I
EXPERIENCED AS A TRANS STUDENT
AND AS A DISABLED STUDENT. WHY
WAS NOBODY WILLING TO HELP ME?
WE HAVE PROVEN THAT REMOTE
LEARNING IS AN OPTION FOR
ACCESSIBILITY THAT OFTEN
REQUIRES NOTHING MORE THAN
COORDINATION. IT'S FRUSTRATING
TO FEEL LIKE THERE IS NO
REPERCUSSIONS FOR THE
INDIFFERENCE TO THE FACT THAT WE
ARE LOSING OUR EDUCATION, THAT
WE ARE LOSING OUR SENSE OF
COMMUNITY, AND THAT WE ARE
LOSING OUR SENSE OF SAFETY IN A
LEARNING ENVIRONMENT. THIS
CHANGE IS SOMETHING THAT NEEDS
TO HAPPEN NOW. SO I URGE YOU ALL
TO PLEASE VOTE YES TO AB 2821.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. ARE THERE
WITNESSES IN SUPPORT IN THE
HEARING ROOM? ARE THERE
WITNESSES IN OPPOSITION IN THE
HEARING ROOM? ARE THERE TWEENERS
IN THE HEARING ROOM? COLLEAGUES
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? ALL
RIGHT. SEEING NONE. WE'RE
AWAITING A QUORUM. SO ONCE WE
GET A QUORUM, WE'LL TAKE THIS
ITEM UP. I APPRECIATE YOU. THANK
YOU SO MUCH, SENATOR GRAYSON,
FOR BRINGING THIS IMPORTANT
MEASURE FORWARD. WE STRONGLY
SUPPORT THE EFFORTS OF OUR
CAMPUS COMMUNITIES TO SUPPORT
THE PASSING OF KNOWLEDGE OF
FACULTY AND STAFF. AND THIS
PROPOSAL EMPOWERS FACULTY AND
STAFF TO BE ADVOCATES FOR OUR
STUDENTS. THANK YOU FOR BEING
FORWARD. LOOK AT THE APPROPRIATE
TIME. I LOOK FORWARD TO
SUPPORTING THIS. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU.
NEXT UP WE HAVE A SIMILAR BERMAN
PRESENTING ITEM NUMBER 14,
ASSEMBLY BILL 2728. WELCOME,
ASSEMBLYMEMBER BERMAN. THANK
YOU, MR. CHAIR. AND I'M GOING TO
GIVE A MINUTE. I THINK MY
WITNESSES MIGHT BE MAKING THEIR
WAY IN THE ROOM. COMING STRAIGHT
INTO THE FIRE. COME ON IN. HI,
HOW ARE YOU? THANKS FOR BEING
HERE. HELLO. HELLO, HELLO. ALL
RIGHT, MR. CHAIR. AND
COLLEAGUES, CALIFORNIA IS
CURRENTLY EXPERIENCING A GROWING
SHORTAGE OF SPECIAL EDUCATION
TEACHERS. THIS SHORTAGE HAS
IMPACTED BOTH TRADITIONAL SCHOOL
SETTINGS AS WELL AS OUR STATE'S
NONPUBLIC, NONSECTARIAN SCHOOLS.
OUR WITNESSES WILL SHARE MORE
ABOUT NONPUBLIC, NONSECTARIAN
SCHOOLS AND HOW THEY SERVE MANY
OF THE STATE'S MOST VULNERABLE
PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS WITH
EXCEPTIONAL NEEDS. THE GOLDEN
STATE TEACHER GRANT PROGRAM
AWARDS GRANTS OF UP TO $20,000
TO INDIVIDUALS CURRENTLY
ENROLLED IN A PROFESSIONAL
PREPARATION PROGRAM, AND WORKING
TOWARDS EARNING THEIR CREDENTIAL
IN ORDER TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR A
GRANT, A RECIPIENT MUST COMMIT
TO WORK AT A PRIORITY SCHOOL FOR
FOUR YEARS TO HELP ADDRESS THE
SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER
SHORTAGE. AB 2768 WOULD SPECIFY
THAT A, QUOTE, PRIORITY SCHOOL
COULD ALSO INCLUDE A NONPUBLIC,
NONSECTARIAN SCHOOL WITH 55% OR
MORE OF ITS STUDENTS BEING
UNDUPLICATED, MAINTAINING THE
EXISTING THRESHOLD AND FOCUS ON
OUR MOST VULNERABLE STUDENTS.
THIS BILL WOULD PROVIDE A
CRITICAL INCENTIVE TO WORK AT
NONPUBLIC, NONSECTARIAN SCHOOLS
BY ALLOWING GOLDEN STATE TEACHER
GRANT PROGRAM RECIPIENTS TIME
WORKING AT THESE SCHOOLS TO
COUNT TOWARDS MEETING THE
SERVICE REQUIREMENT. I
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR AN AYE VOTE
AND WITH ME ARE LEE ANGELA READ
ON BEHALF OF THE CALIFORNIA
ASSOCIATION OF PRIVATE SPECIAL
EDUCATION SERVICES, AND RANDI
EICHLER, DIRECTOR OF PLACER
LEARNING CENTER. THANK YOU SO
MUCH. WELCOME HI. GOOD
AFTERNOON, MR. CHAIR, AND
MEMBERS, LEE ANGELA BREED, ON
BEHALF OF THE ASSOCIATION FOR
NONPUBLIC NONSECTARIAN SCHOOLS,
OR NPS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
AND THANK YOU, ASSEMBLY MEMBER
BERMAN, FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. NPS
SERVE INDIVIDUALS WITH
EXCEPTIONAL NEEDS PURSUANT TO AN
INDIVIDUALIZED EDUCATION
PROGRAM, OR IEP, AND ARE
CERTIFIED BY THE CALIFORNIA
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. NPS
PROVIDE BOTH EDUCATIONAL
PLACEMENT AND SERVICES TO A
STUDENT WITH EXCEPTIONAL NEEDS
THROUGH CONTRACTS WITH A
STUDENT'S LOCAL EDUCATIONAL
AGENCY, NPS SERVE PUBLIC SCHOOL
STUDENTS AND ARE FUNDED THROUGH
LEAS WITH WITH PUBLIC DOLLARS.
NPS SERVE MANY OF THE STUDENTS
MOST VULNERABLE STUDENTS AS
ALMOST 75% OF THE STUDENTS
SERVED BY AN NPS HAVE EITHER
BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH AUTISM OR
EMOTIONAL DISTURBANCE. AS OUR
STUDENTS ARE PUBLIC STUDENTS
ACROSS THE STATE, SOME OF OUR
SCHOOLS WOULD MEET THE 55%
UNDUPLICATED STUDENT REQUIREMENT
TO BE CONSIDERED A PRIORITY
SCHOOL UNDER THE GOLDEN STATE
TEACHER GRANT PROGRAM. HOWEVER,
THE CALIFORNIA STUDENT AID
COMMISSION, WHICH CURRENTLY
ADMINISTERS THE PROGRAM,
MAINTAINS THAT STATUTORILY NPS
ARE NOT CURRENTLY ELIGIBLE. AB
2768 SIMPLY CLARIFIES THAT FOR
PURPOSES OF THE GOLDEN STATE
TEACHER GRANT PROGRAM, A
PRIORITY SCHOOL INCLUDES AN NPS
PROVIDED THAT NPS MEETS THE 55%
THRESHOLD FOR UNDUPLICATED
STUDENTS, IT WOULD NOT APPLY TO
ANY OTHER NPS THAT DOES NOT MEET
THE THRESHOLD. AB 2768 WILL
ALLOW MORE INDIVIDUALS WHO WANT
TO SERVE OUR ENGLISH LEARNER,
FOSTER AND LOW INCOME STUDENTS
WITH THE MOST COMPLEX AND SEVERE
BEHAVIOR, LEARNING, AND
BEHAVIORAL NEEDS. OUR
FINANCIALLY ABLE TO DO SO. AND I
ASK FOR YOUR I VOTE. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. WELCOME HELLO
AND THANK YOU FOR HEARING ME
TODAY. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME
IS RANDY EICHLER AND I AM THE
DIRECTOR OF PLACER LEARNING
CENTER, A NONPUBLIC SCHOOL IN
GRANITE BAY. ALL OF THE STUDENTS
THAT ATTEND PLC ARE PUBLIC
SCHOOL STUDENTS FROM 28
DIFFERENT SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT
DID NOT HAVE ANY PROGRAMS. TO
MEET THESE STUDENTS SPECIFIC
NEEDS. I'M HERE TODAY IN SUPPORT
OF AB 2768, A BILL THAT WILL
INCLUDE NONPUBLIC SCHOOLS THAT
MEET THE EXISTING 55%
UNDUPLICATED STUDENT
REQUIREMENTS TO BE PRIORITY
SCHOOLS, SO THAT WE MAY HELP OUR
TEACHERS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE
GOLDEN STATE TEACHER GRANT
PROGRAM. AS MOST OF YOU KNOW,
THERE'S AN ACUTE SHORTAGE OF
SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHERS. THE
SITUATION IS NOT GETTING ANY
BETTER. IT'S GROWING WORSE DAY
BY DAY. DESPITE THE STATE SEEING
A STEADY DECLINE IN OVERALL
SCHOOL ENROLLMENT SINCE 2018,
THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS IN
SPECIAL EDUCATION HAS INCREASED
BY MORE THAN 50,000 DURING THE
SAME PERIOD. THE COST OF LIVING
IN CALIFORNIA IS SO HIGH THAT
MANY PEOPLE WHO MIGHT HAVE GONE
INTO EDUCATION, SPECIFICALLY
SPECIAL EDUCATION, WILL NOT,
BECAUSE OF TUITION COSTS, SORRY,
AND INCLUDING THE NONPUBLIC
SCHOOLS AS PRIORITY SCHOOLS WILL
HELP ALLEVIATE THE SHORTAGE OF
SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHERS WHILE
PROVIDING QUALITY EDUCATORS FOR
OUR MOST CHALLENGED STUDENTS.
OUR SCHOOLS ARE SO OFTEN
MISREPRESENTED AND EXCLUDED FROM
MANY OPPORTUNITIES, BUT SEVERAL
YEARS AGO, NONPUBLIC SCHOOLS
WERE INCLUDED IN THE LOCAL
SOLUTIONS GRANT, RESULTING IN
MANY NEW CREDENTIALED SPECIAL
EDUCATION TEACHERS PLC. MY
SCHOOL ADDED EIGHT FULLY
CREDENTIALED TEACHERS THROUGH
THAT GRANT. OUR SCHOOLS ARE
TRAINING GROUNDS AND TEACHING
SCHOOLS FOR MANY. WE ARE
REQUESTING THAT YOU CONSIDER
ADDING NONPUBLIC SCHOOLS WITH
55% OR MORE OF ITS PUPILS BEING
UNDUPLICATED PUPILS AS PRIORITY
SCHOOLS, SO THAT OUR TEACHERS
ARE AFFORDED EQUAL ACCESS TO
FURTHER THEIR EDUCATION. PLEASE
SUPPORT. AB 2768. THANK YOU SO
MUCH. ARE THERE WITNESSES IN
SUPPORT IN THE HEARING ROOM? ARE
THERE WITNESSES AND OPPOSITION
IN THE HEARING ROOM? ARE THERE
TWEENERS IN THE HEARING ROOM?
ALL RIGHT. WELCOME THANK YOU,
MR. CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS. I'M
BRIAN RIVAS SPEAKING ON BEHALF
OF THE EDUCATION TRUST WEST.
WE'RE WORKING WITH THE AUTHOR,
STAFF AND THE SPONSORS ON A DATA
COLLECTION ISSUE JUST TO SEE
WHO'S IN THE EXPANDED CATEGORY
OF SCHOOLS UNDER THIS BILL. AND
WE EXPECT TO BE ABLE TO WORK
THAT OUT. THANK YOU SO MUCH,
COLLEAGUES. ANY QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS? THANK YOU. AUTHOR.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO CLOSE, I
APPRECIATE THE CONVERSATION.
LOOK FORWARD LOVE. TRUST WEST
AND WE WORK TOGETHER ON ON
ISSUES. SO I'M CONFIDENT WE'LL
BE ABLE TO WORK OUT ANY CONCERNS
WITH WITH THIS BILL, AND
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOUR. I
VOTE WHEN THE TIME IS RIGHT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, MR. BERMAN,
FOR BRINGING THIS IMPORTANT
MEASURE FORWARD. I'M PLEASED TO
SUPPORT IT HERE TODAY. WE KNOW
THE TREMENDOUS TEACHER SHORTAGES
OUR STATE IS EXPERIENCING,
ESPECIALLY FOR OUR STUDENTS WITH
SPECIAL AND UNIQUE NEEDS. AND
WITH THE SHORTAGE PREDICTED TO
BECOME EVEN MORE DIRE AND ACUTE,
WE KNOW THE LEGISLATURE MUST DO
WHATEVER POSSIBLE TO CONTINUE TO
ASSIST IN ADDRESSING THE
SHORTAGES AND TO RECRUIT MORE
INDIVIDUALS INTO TEACHING
CAREERS, WHILE WE ALSO KNOW THE
FUNDS IN THE GOLDEN STATE
TEACHER GRANT PROGRAM ARE
ANTICIPATED TO BE EXHAUSTED
SOONER THAN LATER, I HOPE THAT
THIS MEASURE, ALONG WITH ONE
PREVIOUSLY PASSED OUT OF OUR
COMMITTEE, ASSEMBLY BILL 1927,
ALLOWS FOR THE CONVERSATION FOR
US TO KEEP THE PROGRAM GOING AS
LONG AND TO REALLY MAKE SURE WE
HAVE AN AUGMENTATION IN THE
GOLDEN STATE. TEACHER GRANT
PROGRAM. AND WITH THAT, I LOOK
FORWARD TO SUPPORTING THE
MEASURE TODAY. AND WHEN WE HAVE
A QUORUM, WE'LL TAKE THE ITEM
UP. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. THANK
YOU SO MUCH, ASSEMBLYMEMBER.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
NEXT UP, I'D LIKE TO WELCOME A
MEMBER, FRIEDMAN, PRESENTING
ITEM NUMBER. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. ITEM NUMBER 17, ASSEMBLY
BILL 2925. WELCOME. ALL SUMMER.
WELCOME, SUMMER LOWENTHAL AS
WELL. THANK YOU. YES. MY
COAUTHOR IS HERE. YES. WELL I
THINK THAT THEY ARE GETTING OUR
WITNESS. THERE HE COMES. OKAY
GOOD AFTERNOON, MR. CHAIR AND
COMMITTEE MEMBERS. I WANT TO
THANK YOU AND YOUR COMMITTEE
STAFF FOR ALL OF YOUR EXTREMELY
HARD WORK ON THIS BILL OVER THE
PAST TWO WEEKS. THIS BILL IS A
JEWISH CAUCUS PRIORITY PIECE OF
LEGISLATION, AND I'M VERY PROUD
TO BE PRESENTING WITH MY
COAUTHOR, ASSEMBLY MEMBER
LOWENTHAL. I'LL BE ACCEPTING THE
COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS, AS
DISCUSSED BETWEEN OUR STAFF AND
OUTLINED IN THE COMMITTEE
ANALYSIS. IN THE AFTERMATH OF
THE HAMAS TERROR ATTACK ON
OCTOBER 7TH, JEWISH AND
PRO-ISRAELI PRO-ISRAEL STUDENTS
ARE FEELING PRESSURED IN SOME
CASES TO HIDE THEIR IDENTITIES
ON CAMPUS BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN
FEELING SO UNSAFE. AND WE HAVE
HEARD THIS FROM NUMEROUS
STUDENTS FROM ACROSS THE STATE
OF CALIFORNIA. ACCORDING TO THE
ANTI-DEFAMATION LEAGUE, THERE
HAS BEEN A 2,000% INCREASE IN
ANTI-SEMITIC INCIDENTS ON
COLLEGE ON CALIFORNIA COLLEGE
CAMPUSES FOLLOWING OCTOBER 7TH
COMPARED TO A YEAR AGO. OUR
COMMUNITIES ARE ASKING US WHAT
IS BEING DONE TO ASSURE THAT
JEWISH STUDENTS CAN ATTEND
CLASSES AND EXIST IN THE
ACADEMIC SETTING, FREE FROM
DISCRIMINATION. WE ARE ANSWERING
THIS DIFFICULT QUESTION THROUGH
AB 2925, WHICH REQUIRES COLLEGE
CAMPUSES TO INCLUDE TRAINING TO
COMBAT AND ADDRESS ANTI-SEMITIC
ISM AS PART OF ANY ONGOING ANTI
DISCRIMINATION TRAINING OR
DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION
TRAINING THAT IS OFFERED BY THE
INSTITUTION. AND FOR THE PURPOSE
OF THIS COMMITTEE, THE FOCUS OF
THE AMENDMENTS WAS TO ENSURE
THAT THESE TRAININGS ADDRESS THE
RISE IN CASES OF DISCRIMINATION
ON CAMPUS BY FOCUSING THE
CONTENT TO THE TOP FIVE MOST
TARGETED GROUPS. SO WE'RE NOT
CALLING OUT NECESSARILY
ANTI-SEMITISM ON IT BY ITSELF,
BECAUSE OF COURSE, HATRED AND
BIGOTRY CHANGES OVER THE YEARS.
AND WHAT THE BILL SAYS THAT IF
YOU HAVE A DEI PROGRAM, IF YOU
HAVE ANTI DISCRIMINATION
TRAINING, YOU SHOULD MAKE SURE
THAT THE TOP FIVE MOST
DISCRIMINATED AGAINST GROUPS AT
THAT TIME ARE INCLUDED SO THAT
THEY SO THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND
THE UNIQUE CHALLENGES THAT THAT,
THAT, THAT HATRED AND BIGOTRY
MIGHT CAUSE AND UNDERSTAND HOW
THAT EXPRESSES ITSELF, I
UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE
CONCERNS FROM THE UC SYSTEMS
THAT THIS MIGHT CONFLICT WITH
STANDALONE DEI TRAININGS, SUCH
AS TRAININGS AROUND SEXUAL
ORIENTATION, BUT WE ARE MORE
THAN HAPPY TO WORK WITH
STAKEHOLDERS TO ADDRESS THIS
CONCERN, BECAUSE WE WANT TO MAKE
SURE THAT ALL HATRED AND
DISCRIMINATION IS ADDRESSED. AND
TO BE CLEAR, WE'RE NOT REQUIRING
THAT COLLEGES START TO OFFER DEI
TRAINING, BUT RATHER, IF THEY
ALREADY OFFER THAT KIND OF
TRAINING THAT THEY INCLUDE THE
TOP FIVE MOST TARGETED GROUPS
THAT AT THAT PARTICULAR TIME.
CURRENT LAW SAYS THAT ALL
STUDENTS HAVE THE RIGHT TO
PARTICIPATE FULLY IN THE
EDUCATIONAL PROCESS, FREE OF
DISCRIMINATION AND HARASSMENT.
BUT IF THOSE CURRENT
ANTI-DISCRIMINATION TRAININGS
DON'T INCLUDE PEOPLE FROM THOSE
GROUPS THAT ARE BEING TARGETED,
THEY MIGHT NOT UNDERSTAND THE
FORM THAT THAT PARTICULAR HATRED
, IN THIS CASE ANTI-SEMITISM,
THEY MIGHT NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT
THAT LOOKS LIKE AND WHAT THAT
FEELS LIKE TO THE PARTICULAR
STUDENTS THAT ARE BEING
TARGETED. UNFORTUNATELY, THERE
IS NO STANDARD FOR DIVERSITY,
EQUITY AND INCLUSION TRAINING
ACROSS OUR COLLEGE CAMPUSES. BUT
IF CURRENT LAW SAYS THAT
CALIFORNIA'S COLLEGES HAVE AN
AFFIRMATIVE OBLIGATION TO COMBAT
RACISM, SEXISM AND OTHER FORMS
OF BIAS, THEN LET'S ENSURE THAT
HATEFUL ACTS OF DISCRIMINATION
AGAINST THE JEWISH AND OTHER
COMMUNITIES IS NOT LEFT OUT IN
THAT EDUCATIONAL TRAINING
PROCESS, IF IT IS ALREADY BEING
DONE ON THOSE CAMPUSES. WE LOOK
FORWARD TO REFINING THE BILL TO
ENSURE WE ARE EFFECTIVELY
ADDRESSING THE CALL TO ACTION
GIVEN TO US BY OUR COMMUNITY
COMMUNITY MEMBERS. THIS BILL
ALREADY HAS SUPPORT FROM OVER 41
JEWISH ORGANIZATIONS AND NO
KNOWN OPPOSITION TESTIFYING IN
SUPPORT. THIS AFTERNOON IS CLIFF
BERG WITH THE JEWISH PUBLIC
AFFAIRS COMMITTEE OF CALIFORNIA,
AND I WANTED TO SEE IF MY
COAUTHOR, OKAY, ASSEMBLYMAN
LOWENTHAL IS HERE, BUT IF ANYONE
HAS QUESTIONS, HE IS NOT GOING
TO GIVE HIS OWN TESTIMONY AT
THIS TIME. AND AS A PRIORITY
BILL FOR THE JEWISH CAUCUS, I
WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR THOUGHTFUL
CONSIDERATION AND RESPECTFULLY
REQUEST AN AYE VOTE. THANK YOU
SO MUCH. WELCOME. THANK YOU,
CLIFF BERG HERE ON BEHALF OF
JPAC, THE JEWISH PUBLIC AFFAIRS
COMMITTEE, WHICH IS THE LARGEST
SINGLE STATE COALITION OF JEWISH
ORGANIZATIONS IN THE NATION, WE
ARE A SPONSOR OF THIS
LEGISLATION AND URGE YOUR
SUPPORT. I WANT TO THANK US. THE
ASSEMBLYWOMAN AND ASSEMBLYMAN
WHO ARE HERE TODAY WHO ARE
AUTHORING THIS LEGISLATION. I
WANT TO THANK THE JEWISH CAUCUS,
FOR ITS SPONSORING THIS
LEGISLATION. AS I MENTIONED,
JPAC IS A COALITION OF OVER 30
ORGANIZATIONS, BOTH STATEWIDE
AND REGIONAL, INCLUDING
FEDERATION'S COMMUNITY RELATIONS
COUNCILS, ANTI-DEFAMATION
LEAGUE, AMERICAN JEWISH
COMMITTEE, WE HAVE SEEN A
DEVASTATING INCREASE IN ACTS OF
ANTI-SEMITISM AND HATRED SINCE
OCTOBER SEVENTH IN CALIFORNIA,
AS WAS MENTIONED, DATA FROM THE
ANTI-DEFAMATION LEAGUE SHOW A
2,000% INCREASE OF INCIDENTS
SINCE OF ANTI-SEMITISM ON
COLLEGE CAMPUSES, JEWISH
STUDENTS, JEWISH PARENTS AND
JEWISH FAMILIES ARE LIVING IN
TERROR AND FEAR IN OUR COLLEGE
CAMPUSES. THIS LEGISLATION IS
CRITICAL TO ENSURING THAT WE
ADDRESS THE PROBLEM IN A
PROACTIVE WAY, AND THEREFORE, WE
URGE YOUR SUPPORT TODAY. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. OTHER
WITNESSES AND SUPPORT IN THE
HEARING ROOM. GOOD AFTERNOON,
MR. CHAIR. JESSICA DONG WITH THE
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA. WE
HAVE A SUPPORT, IF AMENDED
POSITION. WE'RE REQUESTING
AMENDMENTS THAT ALLOWED TO ALLOW
DEI TRAININGS TO NOT INCLUDE
TOPICS THAT WOULD APPEAR TO BE
UNRELATED TO THE FOCUS. THE
PRIMARY FOCUS OF THE TRAINING.
WE DO LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING
WITH THE AUTHOR'S OFFICE TO
ADDRESS OUR CONCERNS. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. ARE THERE
WITNESSES IN OPPOSITION IN THE
HEARING ROOM? ARE THERE TWEENERS
IN THE HEARING ROOM? COLLEAGUES,
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? A
SUMMER LO, THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
MR. CHAIR. I JUST WANT TO
COMMEND THE AUTHOR AND THE
AUTHORS. I SHOULD SAY, MR.
LOWENTHAL'S WORDS, OF COURSE,
SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES JUST BY
BEING HERE. BUT WHILE WE
RECOGNIZE AND HEARD THAT THIS IS
A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT AND,
COMBATING HATE FOR THE JEWISH
COMMUNITY, PLEASE KNOW THAT
MANY, INCLUDING THE ASIAN
PACIFIC ISLANDER CAUCUS AND SO
MANY OTHERS SHARE IN THE
SOLIDARITY OF HELPING TO MAKE
OUR PUBLIC CAMPUSES VERY SAFE.
AND WITHOUT THE LIVED
EXPERIENCES THAT YOU BOTH BRING,
IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE'RE
HIGHLIGHTING THESE DIFFERENT
ISSUES TOO. SO I'D JUST LIKE TO
ALIGN MY COMMENTS ALONG WITH THE
VICE CHAIR OF THE ASIAN PACIFIC
ISLANDER LEGISLATIVE CAUCUS AND
THE CHAIR OF THIS COMMITTEE,
WHICH I KNOW HE WAS AND
ENCAPSULATE IN HIS COMMENTS. BUT
PLEASE NOTE THAT THERE ARE MANY
OF US IN ADVOCACY AS WELL, TOO,
FOR THE MANY OF THE VOICES WHO
DO NOT FEEL SAFE NOR
COMFORTABLE, TO BE ON CAMPUSES,
BUT TO ALLOWING THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA TO UTILIZE DATA
POINTS IN HELPING TO REFLECT
THAT THE BUDGET SHOULD THEN GO
TO TACKLING THESE ISSUES AS
WELL, TO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
SOMALO ANY FURTHER COLLEAGUES,
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? CNN
ASSEMBLY OR FRIEDMAN LOWENTHAL,
WOULD YOU LIKE TO CLOSE, PLEASE?
WELL, I DO WANT TO THANK THE
COMMITTEE FOR GIVING US VERY
THOUGHTFUL AND VERY HELPFUL
AMENDMENTS TO THIS BILL. I THINK
IT'S MADE IT A BETTER BILL THAN
WE WALKED IN WITH. AND I'M,
REALLY APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT. I
SIMPLY WANT TO SAY THAT THAT
EVERYONE THAT IS BEHIND THIS
BILL DOES NOT WANT TO INHIBIT
WHATSOEVER FREE SPEECH TO TAKE
PLACE ON CAMPUS THAT WE'RE THAT
ENCOURAGED THE DIVERSITY OF
OPINION THAT'S ON CAMPUS RIGHT
NOW. AND THIS IS STRICTLY ABOUT
THE SAFETY OF THE STUDENTS,
PARTICULARLY OF ALL FAITHS, AT
TIMES OF CRISIS. AND SO AND THE
OTHER THING I WOULD SIMPLY WANT
TO ADD IS THAT, THE UNIVERSITY'S
SYSTEM IS CERTAINLY NOT LIMITED
TO THESE FIVE. IT CAN IT CAN
EXTEND AND GO BEYOND THOSE FIVE.
BUT IT'S VEHEMENTLY IMPORTANT
THAT WE HAVE THOSE FIVE
INCLUDED. RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR
YOUR VOTE. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
ASSEMBLY MEMBERS FRIEDMAN AND
LOWENTHAL, FOR BRINGING THIS A
VERY IMPORTANT MEASURE FORWARD
AND WORKING WITH OUR COMMITTEE
STAFF TO ALLEVIATE THE CONCERNS
ON PAGES TEN AND 11 OF THE
ANALYSIS. AND I ECHO THE
COMMENTS OF MY COLLEAGUE,
SENATOR LOWE, AND COLLEAGUES IN
THE LEGISLATURE TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE ARE NOT HAVING ANY HATE
OR DISCRIMINATION. WE KNOW THAT
HAS NO PLACE IN OUR EDUCATION
SYSTEMS. WE KNOW THE CHANCELLOR
OF THE CSU AND THE PRESIDENT OF
UCLA MADE THOSE STATEMENTS AS
WELL. BUT WE KNOW WE NEED TO
CONTINUE TO DO MORE AROUND THESE
EFFORTS, AND I'M HOPEFUL THAT
THIS MEASURE WILL HELP THOSE WHO
TAKE THE ANTI-DISCRIMINATION
TRAINING AT OUR POST-SECONDARY
EDUCATION CAMPUSES ADDRESS AND
COMBAT DISCRIMINATION IN ALL
FORMS IN OUR HIGHER EDUCATION
INSTITUTIONS. AND I LOOK FORWARD
TO SUPPORTING THE MEASURE HERE
TODAY. AND WHEN WE HAVE QUORUM,
WE'LL TAKE THIS MEASURE UP.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU.
OKAY. NEXT UP, I'D LIKE TO
WELCOME A SENATOR JOHN SAWYER
PRESENTING ITEM NUMBER 18, LOS
ANGELES COMMUNITY COLLEGE
DISTRICT, CALIFORNIA MOBILE
CLIMATE CHANGE EDUCATION CENTER.
WELCOME. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.
AND MEMBERS, I PRESENT AB 3142,
WHICH EXPANDS THE CALIFORNIA
CLIMATE CHANGE EDUCATION CENTER
AT WEST LOS ANGELES CITY COLLEGE
BY ADDING A MOBILE UNIT. I
APOLOGIZE. I'M GOING TO TAKE
WE'RE GOING TO ESTABLISH QUORUM
RIGHT NOW. SO AND THEN WE'LL GO,
MADAM SECRETARY, PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL A LOT OF COMMITTEES GOING
ON TODAY, SO I APOLOGIZE. THANK
YOU. PH¢N HERE TO ARAMBULA
BURNER. DR. CHEN ASALI, ERWIN
JACKSON, OAN LOW MURATSUCHI
QUIRK-SILVA. AND, BEFORE WE TAKE
UP MR. JONES MEASURE, WE'RE
GOING TO TAKE UP THE CONSENT
CALENDAR. WE HAVE FIVE ITEMS ON
THE CONSENT CALENDAR. FIVE, ITEM
NUMBER FIVE, ASSEMBLY BILL
20965. ITEM NUMBER EIGHT.
ASSEMBLY BILL 25085. ORDER
NUMBER 9256, SEVEN AND FIVE.
ITEM 11 2588. DO WE HAVE A
MOTION? AND SECOND ON THE
CONSENT CALENDAR? SECOND. ALL
RIGHT. WE HAVE A MOTION BY MR.
LOWE. SECOND BY MR. ERWIN, MADAM
SECRETARY, ROLL CALL, PLEASE.
CONSENT. CALENDAR FILE. ITEM
NUMBER FIVE AB 2096. THE MOTION
IS. DO PASS TO THE
APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE FILE
ITEM NUMBER EIGHT AB 2508. THE
MOTION IS Dð. PASS TO THE HUMAN
SERVICES COMMITTEE. FILE ITEM
NUMBER 92567. THE MOTION IS Dð.
PASS TO MILITARY AND VETERANS
COMMITTEE AFFAIRS COMMITTEE FILE
ITEM NUMBER 11, AB 2588. THE
MOTION IS DO PASS TO
APPROPRIATIONS. OWENS, FONG FONG
I TO ARAMBULA ARAMBULA I BURNER
CHEN CHEN I ASALI IRWIN. IRWIN I
JACKSON. LO I LO I MURATSUCHI
MURATSUCHI I QUIRK-SILVA. TO I
TO. I THANK YOU SO MUCH,
COLLEAGUES, FOR THE CONSENT
CALENDAR. THE ITEM HAS SEVEN
EYES AND IS, OUT. WE'LL KEEP THE
ROLL OPEN FOR ADDITIONAL MEMBERS
TO ADD ON, THANK YOU SO MUCH
AGAIN, WELCOME, SELENA
JONES-SAWYER PRESENTING ITEM
NUMBER 18. WELCOME. THANK YOU.
OKAY AGAIN, CHAIR AND MEMBERS, I
PRESENT AB 3001 42, WHICH
EXPANDS THE CALIFORNIA CLIMATE
CHANGE EDUCATION CENTER AT WEST
LOS ANGELES COLLEGE BY ADDING A
MOBILE UNIT IN ORDER TO IMPROVE
THE REACH OF THE CURRENT CENTER
IN 2022. GOVERNOR NEWSOM AND
COMMUNITY COLLEGE LEADERS AGREED
TO BUILD A ROAD MAP TO HELP
CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY COLLEGES
PREPARE TO MEET FUTURE WORKFORCE
NEEDS IN CLIMATE ACTION. THE
VISION FOR 2030 PLAN INCLUDES A
TARGET TO ADVANCE COMMUNITY
COLLEGE ENGAGEMENT BY OFFERING
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND
CURRICULUM THAT REFLECTS THE
ONGOING NEEDS TO TACKLE CLIMATE
CHANGE. IN ALIGNMENT WITH THIS
EFFORT, THE LEGISLATURE INVESTED
$5 MILLION FOR THE LOS ANGELES
COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT LACCD
TO CREATE THE CALIFORNIA CENTER
FOR CLIMATE CHANGE EDUCATION AT
WEST LOS ANGELES COLLEGE. ITS
MISSION IS TO PROMOTE CLIMATE
CHANGE EDUCATION AT LACCD AND
COMMUNITY COLLEGES STATEWIDE,
AND TO CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR
STUDENTS IN BOTH HIGH SCHOOL AND
ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS TO LEARN
ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE
IMPACT IT HAS ON ON OUR PLANET.
THIS YEAR, AB 3142 HELPS FURTHER
THE GOVERNOR'S PLAN AND BUILDS
UPON THE WORK OF THE CENTER BY
CREATING A MOBILE UNIT TO HELP
REACH STUDENTS IN THE COMMUNITY
WITH HANDS ON LEARNING AND
INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES THAT IS
CURRENTLY UNAVAILABLE, UNABLE TO
DO AB 3142 ALSO CODIFIES THE
CENTER TO ENSURE ITS MISSION AND
PURPOSE ARE ANCHORED IN STATE
LAW, ALIGNED WITH PREVIOUS
COMMUNITY COLLEGE BASED CENTERS
ADOPTED IN THE BUDGET. WITH ME
IN SUPPORT OF THIS BILL, THE
DOCTOR JAMES LIMBAUGH, PRESIDENT
OF WEST LOS ANGELES COLLEGE, ON
BEHALF OF THE BILL, SPONSOR THE
LOS ANGELES COMMUNITY COLLEGE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. WELCOME WELL,
GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR FONG.
HONORABLE MEMBERS OF THE
COMMITTEE AGAIN. MY NAME IS JIM
LIMBAUGH. I'M PRIVILEGED TO
SERVE AS THE PRESIDENT OF WEST
LOS ANGELES COLLEGE. AND I'M
SHARING TESTIMONY ON BEHALF OF
DOCTOR FRANCISCO RODRIGUEZ, THE
CHANCELLOR OF THE LOS ANGELES
COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT,
WHICH IS THE PROUD SPONSOR OF
ASSEMBLY BILL 3142. AS
ASSEMBLYMEMBER JONES-SAWYER
MENTIONED IN HIS OPENING
STATEMENT, THIS BILL ADDRESSES
THE CRITICAL ISSUE OF CLIMATE
CHANGE EDUCATION. WEST LOS
ANGELES COLLEGE IS THE ONLY
COMMUNITY COLLEGE IN THE COUNTRY
THAT CURRENTLY OFFERS A CLIMATE
CHANGE AND ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES
ASSOCIATE OF ARTS DEGREE. TWO
YEARS AGO, THE STATE LEGISLATURE
AMPLIFIED THIS DEGREE AND
SUPPORTED THE ESTABLISHMENT OF
THE CALIFORNIA CENTER FOR
CLIMATE CHANGE EDUCATION AT WEST
, WITH A $5 MILLION ALLOCATION.
SINCE THEN, THE CENTER HAS
RECEIVED NATIONAL RECOGNITION
FROM PRESTIGIOUS EDUCATIONAL
INSTITUTIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY,
SUCH AS YALE UNIVERSITY'S
CLIMATE CONNECTIONS AND
STANFORD'S GLOBAL EDUCATORS
NETWORK. ASSEMBLY BILL 3142 WILL
ADD A MOBILE UNIT TO INCREASE
ACCESS TO THE CENTER'S CLIMATE
CURRICULUM THROUGHOUT THE REGION
AND THE STATE. THE UNIT WILL
TRAVEL TO LOCAL HIGH SCHOOLS AND
ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS AND
THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY TO
PROVIDE HANDS ON EDUCATIONAL
OPPORTUNITIES TO LEARN
ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP AND
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE, WITH A
SPECIAL FOCUS ON SERVING
UNDERPRIVILEGED AND
UNDERREPRESENTED COMMUNITIES.
NOW WE REALIZE THAT THIS IS A
CHALLENGING FISCAL YEAR, SO WE
APPRECIATE THE COMMITTEE'S
RECOMMENDATION THAT FUNDING FOR
THIS UNIT BE CONTINGENT UPON AN
APPROPRIATION. SO IN CLOSING, AB
3142 WILL FURTHER INCREASE
AWARENESS, MODIFY, MODIFY
BEHAVIORS, AND CONTRIBUTE TO THE
PREPARATION OF BOTH A GENERATION
OF WORKERS FOR GREEN AND BLUE
SECTORS, JOBS AND CAREERS
ESSENTIAL TO ALTERING THE
IMPACTS OF GLOBAL WARMING AND
CLIMATE CHANGE. FOR THESE
REASONS, THE LOS ANGELES
COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT
RESPECTFULLY ASKS FOR YOUR AYE
VOTE ON ASSEMBLY BILL 3142.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
ARE THERE WITNESSES IN SUPPORT
IN THE HEARING ROOM? ARE THERE
WITNESSES IN OPPOSITION IN A
HEARING ROOM? ARE THERE TWEENERS
IN A HEARING ROOM? COLLEAGUES,
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? WE
HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. COLLEAGUES
AUTHOR. WOULD YOU LIKE TO CLOSE,
EXPECT TO ASK FOR YOUR VOTE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, SUMMER
JONES-SAWYER, FOR BRINGING THIS
VERY IMPORTANT MEASURE FORWARD.
AND THANK YOU TO PRESIDENT
LIMBAUGH FOR YOUR TESTIMONY AS
WELL. THANK YOU FOR WORKING WITH
COMMITTEE STAFF ON THE
AMENDMENTS. YOU KNOW, IN THE
TIGHT BUDGET YEAR. THANK YOU FOR
WORKING WITH, HOPE MOVING
FORWARD, THE AUTHOR WILL
CONSIDER MAKING THIS MEASURE
CONTINGENT UPON THE BUDGET AS IT
MOVES THROUGH THE PROCESS. AND I
LOOK FORWARD TO SUPPORTING AND
VOTING FOR THIS MEASURE TODAY.
AND WITH THAT ROLL CALL, PLEASE.
FILE ITEM NUMBER 18 AB 3142. THE
MOTION IS DUE. PASS TO THE
APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE. FONG.
FONG I TOR NÓ TOR NØ ARAMBULA
ARAMBULA I BURNER CHEN CHEN I
SALIH IRWIN. IRWIN I JACKSON.
LOW MURATSUCHI MURATSUCHI I
QUIRK-SILVA. THAT MEASURE HAS
FIVE AYES. ONE. NO. AND WE'LL
KEEP THE ROLL OPEN FOR
ADDITIONAL MEMBERS. ADD ON.
THANK YOU. ASSEMBLYMEMBERS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU.
NEXT UP, WE'D LIKE TO WELCOME
DOCTOR ARAMBULA PRESENTING ITEM
NUMBER THREE, ASSEMBLY BILL
1855. WELCOME ASSEMBLY ARAMBULA.
THANK YOU SIR. THANK YOU, MR.
CHAIR AND MEMBERS. STUDENTS
SHOULD BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN
THEIR STUDENT BODY ASSOCIATIONS
WITHOUT THREAT TO SAFETY,
PRIVACY OR ACCESSIBILITY. Kò AB
1855 WILL MODERNIZE THE BROWN
ACT FOR COMMUNITY COLLEGE
STUDENT BODY ASSOCIATIONS DURING
THE COVID 19 PUBLIC HEALTH
EMERGENCY, AUDIO AND VIDEO
TELECONFERENCING WAS
SUCCESSFULLY USED TO INCREASE
PARTICIPATION AND TO PROTECT THE
HEALTH AND SAFETY OF CIVIL
SERVANTS AND THE PUBLIC.
HOWEVER, CURRENT PROVISIONS OF
THE BROWN ACT REQUIRE MEMBERS OF
A LEGISLATIVE BODY TO
PARTICIPATE IN THE MEETINGS OF
THE LEGISLATIVE BODY BY
TELECONFERENCE FOR NO MORE THAN
20% OF THE REGULAR MEETINGS.
THIS IS A BARRIER FOR STUDENTS
WHO ARE DISABLED, WHO HAVE
LIMITED ACCESS TO TRANSPORTATION
, AND WHO OTHERWISE WOULD BE
UNABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE
MEETINGS IN PERSON. AB 1855
PROTECTS PUBLIC ACCESS AND
ALLOWS AND ELIGIBLE LEGISLATIVE
BODY OF A STUDENT ORGANIZATION
TO USE ALTERNATE
TELECONFERENCING PROVISIONS IF
APPROVED BY THE BOARD OF
TRUSTEES AND ADOPTED BY THE
ELIGIBLE BODY, IT IS TIME FOR US
TO UPDATE THE ACT TO REFLECT
MODERN TIMES AND NEW CHALLENGES
FACED BY OUR STUDENTS TESTIFYING
IN SUPPORT OF AB 1855 AS
STEPHANIE GOLDMAN, ASSOCIATE
DIRECTOR FOR THE STUDENT SENATE
AT FOR CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY
COLLEGES, WHO WILL BE READING
TESTIMONY ON BEHALF OF DEBORAH
KNOWLES AND ANNIE KARUGA. THEY
THEM REGION FOR LEGISLATIVE
AFFAIRS DIRECTORS, FOR THE
STUDENT SENATE, FOR CALIFORNIA
COMMUNITY COLLEGES. THANK YOU SO
MUCH. WELCOME THANK YOU. I
FUNDAMENTALLY BELIEVE THAT
STUDENTS LIKE ME DESERVE SAFETY.
AND I SHARED THAT I WAS COMING
TO SACRAMENTO TO TESTIFY. ONE
STUDENT WHO ASKED NOT TO BE
NAMED FOR THEIR SAFETY, SAID
THAT THEY HAD A STORY. SO
INSTEAD OF COMING HERE TO GIVE
YOU STATISTICS OR GIVE YOU THE
ARGUMENTS THAT I KNOW THAT
YOU'VE HEARD, I WANT TO UPLIFT
HER VOICE. HERE'S WHAT SHE WROTE
IN HER OWN WORDS AS A SOPHOMORE
IN COLLEGE, WHEN I FOUND THE
COURAGE TO END A RELATIONSHIP
WITH THE VIOLENCE AND
MANIPULATIVE BOYFRIEND ONLY
AFTER HE LEFT THE STATE DUE TO
AN EXPULSION, I BROKE UP WITH
HIM. HE THREATENED TO RAPE ME
AND BEAT ME. SEVERAL MONTHS
LATER, HE OBTAINED WHAT HE
THOUGHT WAS MY ADDRESS THROUGH
FALSE PRETENSES AND ARRIVED AT
MY SISTER'S HOUSE. THE CAR FULL
OF PEOPLE, SHE TOLD HIM, WAS
VERY SCARY. SHE LET ME KNOW THAT
HE KNEW WHAT KIND OF CAR I
OWNED, AND SO I IMMEDIATELY
DROVE OUT OF TOWN AND SPENT THE
NIGHT IN THAT CAR. THE NEXT DAY,
I PACKED UP EVERYTHING I OWNED
AND GAVE NOTICE TO THE LANDLORDS
OF MY RENTED ROOM AND LIVED OUT
OF MY CAR UNTIL I COULD FIND NEW
HOUSING. DUE TO THE BROWN ACT
AND BEING AN ONLINE ONLY
STUDENT, I'M REQUIRED TO POST MY
OWN PERSONAL ADDRESS OF THAT NEW
PLACE AT WHICH I WILL BE
ATTENDING EVERY STUDENT
GOVERNMENT MEETING. GIVEN THE
RURAL AREA THAT I LIVE IN, THIS
MEANS EITHER POSTING MY HOME
ADDRESS OR GOING EACH MONTH
THROUGH A SERIES OF FRONT LINE
WORKERS, SUPERVISORS AND
MANAGEMENT AT ONE OF THE THREE
FAST FOOD RESTAURANTS IN TOWN,
WHICH ARE THE ONLY PUBLIC PLACES
WITH RELIABLE INTERNET, AND TO
PLEAD THEM FOR PERMISSION TO
ATTEND THOSE MEETINGS. THERE THE
ENVIRONMENTS ARE INCREDIBLY LOUD
AND PHYSICALLY DIFFICULT TO GET
TO, GIVEN MY DISABILITIES, AND
EVEN WITH THIS WORKAROUND, I
KNOW THAT MY VIOLENT
EX-BOYFRIEND NEED ONLY GOOGLE
AND MY NAME. DURING THE 72 HOUR
PERIOD, WHICH AN AGENDA IS TO BE
POSTED TO EASILY IDENTIFY THE
ADDRESSES AS BEING NEAR WHERE I
USED TO LIVE, AND POTENTIALLY
USE THEM TO SEARCH THE STREETS.
FOR ME, I CHOSE TO TAKE THIS
RISK ANYWAY IN ORDER TO
REPRESENT MY FELLOW CLASSMATES
AND STUDENT GOVERNMENT, BUT
SEVERAL CANDIDATES WHO WERE
OFFERED POSITIONS ON OUR BOARD
THIS YEAR CHOSE TO DECLINE THEM
ONCE THEY LEARNED OF THE BROWN
ACT REQUIREMENTS, LEAVING TWO
POSITIONS EMPTY. NONE OF US
SHOULD HAVE TO MAKE THAT CHOICE.
HER STORY SHOOK ME, AND THESE
ARE THE STUDENTS THAT I URGE YOU
TO THINK ABOUT WHEN YOU WERE
CONSIDERING THIS BILL. I URGE AN
AFFIRMATIVE VOTE. THANK YOU SO
MUCH. WELCOME GOOD AFTERNOON.
STEPHANIE GOLDMAN, ASSOCIATE
DIRECTOR FOR THE STUDENT SENATE
FOR CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY
COLLEGES, AND I WILL BE READING
DEBORAH KNOWLES, STUDENT
LEADERSHIP ADVISOR FROM SAC CITY
COLLEGES. TESTIMONY SACRAMENTO
CITY COLLEGE HAS APPROXIMATELY
17,000 STUDENTS. 40% OF THESE
STUDENTS ARE 100% ONLINE. ONLINE
STUDENTS DO NOT COME FROM
CAMPUS. THIS SITUATION IS
ACTUALLY SIMILAR TO MOST OF THE
CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY COLLEGES.
THE CURRENT BROWN ACT MEANS THE
ONLINE STUDENTS ARE EXCLUDED
FROM PARTICIPATING.
PARTICIPATION IN STUDENT
LEADERSHIP. THEY MUST ATTEND IN
PERSON OR PARTICIPATE REMOTELY
WITH A REMOTE ADDRESS POSTED
PUBLICLY. THIS MEANS THE PUBLIC
CAN TECHNICALLY COME TO THEIR
HOME AND JOIN THE MEETING.
DURING THE PANDEMIC, STUDENT
LEADERSHIP WAS ENGAGED, VIBRANT,
INCLUSIVE AND CROSSED ALL
SOCIAL, ECONOMIC AND CULTURAL
BOUNDARIES. THIS INCLUDES
STUDENTS FROM OUTREACH CENTERS
IN THE WEST, SACRAMENTO AND
DAVIS. ANY OF OUR ONLINE
STUDENTS, AND MANY PEOPLE WHO
ARE JUGGLING OF MANY ASPECTS OF
THEIR EDUCATION. STUDENT
LEADERSHIP IS A PART OF STUDENT
ENGAGEMENT. SACRAMENTO CITY
COLLEGE IS A LANDLOCKED, WITH
VERY LIMITED PARKING. TRAVEL
OVER THE CAUSEWAY, FINDING A
PARKING PLACE TO JOIN A ONE HOUR
MEETING, AND THEN GETTING BACK
TO YOUR SATELLITE CAMPUS FOR A
CLASS MADE PARTICIPATING
UNTENABLE FOR MANY OF OUR
STUDENTS. NOW THAT THE PANDEMIC
HAS RESOLVED, THE BROWN ACT
WAIVERS HAVE BEEN LIFTED. THE
STUDENTS ARE STRUGGLING TO
ENGAGE. I HAVE MANY EXAMPLES
SHOWING THE POSITIVE IMPACTS OF
STUDENTS INVOLVED DURING THE
PANDEMIC, RANGING FROM A STUDENT
WHOSE GRANDMOTHER BECAME
TERMINALLY ILL, NECESSITATING
HER TO TRAVEL TO FIJI FOR THE
REMAINDER OF THE TIRM TO ANOTHER
STUDENT WHO HAD TO TRAVEL TO
SOUTH KOREA AFTER THE DEATH OF A
RELATIVE. THOSE STUDENTS WERE
ABLE TO CONTINUE PARTICIPATING
ON STUDENT GOVERNMENT AND WERE
ABLE TO STAY ENROLLED IN THEIR
CLASSES. FOLLOWING IS A
STATEMENT FROM A STUDENT
SACRAMENTO CITY COLLEGE
STUDENTS. HELLO, MY NAME IS
MICHAELA HIGGINBOTHAM AND I'M A
CURRENT STUDENT AT SCC. I
UNDERSTAND THE MENTALITY OF
WANTING EVERYONE IN PERSON.
HOWEVER TRANSPORTATION IS A REAL
ISSUE. WHEN THE BROWN ACT FIRST
STARTED, A STUDENT VOLUNTEERED
TO PICK ME UP AND DROP ME OFF,
AND THAT WAS THE ONLY WAY I WAS
ABLE TO COMPLETE MY TERME. I HAD
A LOT OF FUN IN THE POSITION AND
FELT LIKE I WAS AT REPRESENTING
THE OTHER STUDENTS. IT FELT LIKE
A PLACE TO LET MY CREATIVE AND
LEADERSHIP SKILLS FLOURISH, BUT
I'M NO LONGER ABLE TO DO THAT. I
AM GRATEFUL TO THE TIME I HAD
AND I WISH IT COULD BE LONGER. I
HOPE MY STORY CAN GIVE SOME
PERSPECTIVE TO SOME OF THE
HARMFUL IMPACTS THAT THIS IS
HAVING ON POTENTIAL STUDENT
LEADERS. STUDENT LEADERS MAKE A
GREAT EFFORT TO TRY AND
PARTICIPATE, BUT TRANSPORTATION
IS A REAL ISSUE THAT THEY HAVE
TO OVERCOME. EXCLUDING SO MANY
ONLINE STUDENTS FROM
PARTICIPATING IN THEIR OWN
LEADERSHIP TAKES AWAY THEIR
VOICE. IT'S TIME TO MODERNIZE
THE BROWN ACT AND INCLUDE
TECHNOLOGIES THAT CONTINUE THE
IDEOLOGY OF INCLUDING MORE
PEOPLE AND TRANSPARENCY IN
PUBLIC MEETINGS. THERE ARE 116
COMMUNITY COLLEGES IN
CALIFORNIA. NOW IS THE TIME TO
BE THE LEADING EDGE IN
DEMONSTRATING EQUITY AND
INCLUSION, ESPECIALLY IN
EDUCATION. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
ARE THERE WITNESSES AND SUPPORT
IN THE HEARING ROOM? HI, I'M
CINDY MACIAS, GÓMEZ EXTERNAL
AFFAIRS VICE PRESIDENT
ORGANIZING DIRECTOR FROM UC
BERKELEY, AND I STRONGLY URGE
YOU TO SUPPORT THIS BILL. ANNA
MATTHEWS WITH THE FACULTY
ASSOCIATION OF THE CALIFORNIA
COMMUNITY COLLEGES IN STRONG
SUPPORT OF THIS BILL. THANK YOU.
TIFFANY MARK, WITH CFT, A UNION
OF EDUCATORS, AND CLASSIFIED
PROFESSIONALS IN SUPPORT. THANK
YOU. HEATHER BRANDT, ON BEHALF
OF CITY COLLEGE OF SAN
FRANCISCO, I'M STRONGLY SUPPORT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. ARE THERE OH
GO AHEAD, DARIUS KHANWALA, ON
BEHALF OF SACRAMENTO CITY
COLLEGE, I SUPPORT. THANK YOU SO
MUCH. ARE THERE WITNESSES IN
OPPOSITION IN THE HEARING ROOM?
OH, I'M STILL FOR OKAY. I'M
SORRY. GO AHEAD, I APOLOGIZE. AM
I ALLOWED TO, LIKE, SPEAK FOR
MORE THAN A SECOND? LIKE OR. I'M
SORRY, I'M NOT AWARE HOW THIS
WORKS. AM I ALLOWED TO MAKE A
QUICK STATEMENT OR DO I JUST SAY
I SUPPORT WE CAN STATE YOUR NAME
AND ORGANIZATION IN THE QUICK
STATEMENT SUPPORT. YEAH, SORRY.
THE TWO LANE WITNESSES WERE UP
HERE, I APOLOGIZE. MY NAME IS
MOLLY NIELSEN. I'M FROM
SACRAMENTO CITY COLLEGE, AND I'M
THE STUDENT WHERE I'M THE
STUDENT BODY PRESIDENT, AS
PRESIDENT, I'VE SPOKEN WITH
NUMEROUS STUDENTS WHO WERE
EXCITED ABOUT PARTICIPATING IN
STUDENT GOVERNMENT, BUT WERE
UNABLE TO BECAUSE OF THE CURRENT
BROWN ACT REGULATIONS. STUDENTS
WHO ONLY TAKE ONLINE CLASSES ARE
NOT REPRESENTED, REPRESENTED AT
ALL ON OUR BOARD, WHICH IS 40%
OF OUR STUDENT BODY WHO
CURRENTLY HAVE NO VOICE IN OUR
STUDENT GOVERNMENT. THE CURRENT
BROWN ACT BAR STUDENT VOICES AND
CREATES A NON-INCLUSIVE AND NON
EQUITABLE ENVIRONMENT. SO I AM
IN SUPPORT OF THE THANK YOU
BILL. WE HAVE A MOTION. DO WE
HAVE A SECOND SECOND SECOND.
PERFECT. THANK YOU COLLEAGUES.
GOING TO WITNESSES AGAIN. DO WE
HAVE ANYBODY IN OPPOSITION TO
HAVE ANY TWEENERS IN A HEARING
ROOM. COLLEAGUES. ANY QUESTIONS
OR COMMENTS. THANK YOU, SEEING
NO ADDITIONAL COMMENTS OR
QUESTIONS. AUTHOR. REALLY LIKE
TO CLOSE, PLEASE. THANK YOU. I
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR AN AYE
VOTE. THANK YOU SO MUCH TO
SIMILAR ARAMBULA FOR BRINGING
THIS IMPORTANT MEASURE FORWARD,
THE COMMITTEE SUPPORTED A
SIMILAR PROPOSAL LAST YEAR. I'M
GLAD THAT YOU'RE BRINGING IT
BACK AGAIN THIS YEAR. THE
FLEXIBILITY TO OFFER TO BE AN
OFFER TO COMMUNITY COLLEGE
STUDENT BODY ASSOCIATIONS,
BALANCES THE LINE OF BOTH
OFFERING GREATER ACCESS WHILE
STILL UPHOLDING THE CRITICAL,
IMPORTANT TENETS OF THE BROWN
ACT. APPRECIATE ALL THE
TESTIMONY HERE TODAY. AND WITH
THAT, I LOOK FORWARD TO
SUPPORTING THE MEASURE HERE
TODAY. MADAM SECRETARY, ROLL
CALL, PLEASE FILE ITEM NUMBER
ONE AB 1855. THE MOTION IS Dð.
PASS TO THE ASSEMBLY FLOOR. FONG
FONG I TO NÓ TO NØ. ARAMBULA Ã
ARAMBULA I BURNER CHEN CHEN NOT
VOTING. ASALI IRWIN IRWIN I
JACKSON. LO MÀ CðC MURATSUCHI I
QUIRK-SILVA. THANK YOU, MR.
CHAIR. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THAT
MEASURE HAS FOUR EYES, ONE NOT
VOTING AND ONE NO. WE'LL KEEP
THE ROLL OPEN FOR ADDITIONAL
MEMBERS. ADD ON. THANK YOU SO
MUCH, COLLEAGUES. NEXT UP WE
HAVE ITEM NUMBER, ASSEMBLY BILL
2357 BY ASSEMBLYMAN BAINS.
WELCOME WE HAVE A MOTION AND A
SECOND WELCOME. SUMMER BAINS.
THANK YOU. SORRY. ALL RIGHT.
GOOD AFTERNOON. THANK YOU. CHAIR
FONG AND THE HIGHER EDUCATION
COMMITTEE MEMBERS FOR HEARING MY
BILL. AB 2357, THE GROW YOUR OWN
BILL TODAY WHILE AB 2357 IS
FOCUSED ON MY HOME AND DISTRICT
IN KERN COUNTY, IT'S IMPACT WILL
BE FELT ON A MUCH BROADER SCALE.
THIS BILL IMPROVES HEALTH CARE
ACCESS FOR VALLEY RESIDENTS AND
OUR STATE'S OVERALL HEALTH AND
WELL BEING. THE SAN JOAQUIN
VALLEY IS AMONG CALIFORNIA'S
MOST MEDICALLY UNDERSERVED
AREAS, IN LARGE PART BECAUSE IT
LACKS AN ADEQUATE PHYSICIAN
POPULATION. IN 2021, THE
CALIFORNIA HEALTH CARE
FOUNDATION REPORTED THAT THE SAN
JOAQUIN VALLEY HAD JUST 47
PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIANS PER
100,000 RESIDENTS SHORT OF THE
US DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES RECOMMENDED
SUPPLY OF 60 TO 80 PER 100,000,
AND THE STATE AVERAGE OF 60 PER
100,000. IN ITS RESEARCH, THE
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
IDENTIFIED THE VALLEY AS A
STATE'S FASTEST GROWING, MOST
IMPOVERISHED, AND LEAST HEALTHY
REGION. PEOPLE IN THE VALLEY
LACK ACCESS TO BASIC PRIMARY
CARE. I OFTEN SEE PATIENTS IN
THE MOST ADVANCED STAGES OF
DISEASES THAT COULD HAVE BEEN
PREVENTED OR LIMITED IF THEY
ENJOYED THE HEALTH CARE ACCESS
THAT OTHER REGIONS OF CALIFORNIA
ALREADY HAVE. WHEN I DECIDED TO
BECOME A DOCTOR, I KNEW I WANTED
TO CARE FOR THE COMMUNITY THAT
RAISED ME, BUT I HAD NO CHOICE
BUT TO LEAVE KERN TO GO TO
MEDICAL SCHOOL. WHEN I
GRADUATED, I KNEW I WANTED TO
RETURN HOME TO COMPLETE MY
RESIDENCY, BUT THAT WAS ALMOST
IMPOSSIBLE TO. I FOUGHT TO GET A
RESIDENCY AT THE COMMUNITY
CLINIC RIGHT THERE IN KERN, BUT
MANY DO NOT HAVE THAT
OPPORTUNITY. AB 2350 57 CREATES
AN ENDOWMENT THAT WILL ALLOW US
TO DEVELOP FUNDING AND RESOURCES
TO SUPPORT THE CREATION OF A UC
MEDICAL SCHOOL IN KERN COUNTY.
USING AN ENDOWMENT WILL ALSO
ENSURE THAT WE DO NOT COMPETE
WITH UC'S EXISTING EFFORTS IN
OTHER PARTS OF THE STATE. THE UC
SYSTEM HAS DONE AN ADMIRABLE JOB
OF ADDRESSING SOME OF THESE
HEALTH CARE INEQUITIES, AND ITS
EFFORTS TO BRING A NEW CAMPUS TO
MERCED AND THE UCSF EXTENSION
PROGRAM IN FRESNO. THE REALITY
IS THAT WE NEED BOTH OF THESE
PROGRAMS AND A NEW ONE IN KERN.
WHEN I WAS THE CHAIR OF THE SONG
BROWN COMMISSION, WHICH
SPECIFICALLY LOOKED AT HEALTH
CARE, UNDERSERVED AREAS AND
FUNDS RESIDENCY PROGRAMS IN
UNDERSERVED AREAS, I RECOGNIZED
THAT WE WERE ALLOCATING FUNDING
BASED ON WHETHER A GIVEN AREA
DID OR DID NOT HAVE A SHORTAGE,
BUT TO GET IT RIGHT IN SOME OF
THE WORK THAT I DID WHILE I WAS
CHAIR OF THAT COMMISSION, WAS TO
HIGHLIGHT AND UNDERSTAND THE
SEVERITY OF THE SHORTAGE IN EACH
AREA. MAKE NO MISTAKE, THE
SHORTAGE IN KERN IS SEVERE AND
CANNOT BE SOLVED BY OUR
NEIGHBORS. OUR ONLY SOLUTION IS
TO GROW OUR OWN TRAINING. FUTURE
PHYSICIANS LOCALLY WILL ALLOW US
TO CREATE GOOD PAYING JOBS AND
DIVERSE VÌ OUR ECONOMY. MEDICAL
SCHOOLS ATTRACT SUBSTANTIAL
BUSINESS INVESTMENTS ACROSS
HEALTH CARE AND OTHER SECTORS.
THIS BILL IS AN ESSENTIAL STEP
IN IMPROVING CAREER PATHWAYS IN
THE VALLEY. AB 2357 IS ALREADY
RECEIVING BROAD SUPPORT FROM
EDUCATION LEADERS, HEALTH
SYSTEMS, BUSINESSES AND
STATEWIDE ORGANIZATIONS BECAUSE
THEY ALL SEE THAT KERN COUNTY
NEEDS SOMETHING THAT CAN
GENUINELY ALTER THE COURSE OF
OUR FUTURE. WITH THAT, I
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOUR VOTE.
BUT HERE WITH ME TODAY TO
TESTIFY IN SUPPORT IS KIMBERLY
GRAHAM, AN ADMINISTRATOR WITH
THE KERN COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT
OF SCHOOLS WHO OVERSEES THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE K TO 16
COLLABORATIVE, WHICH WORKS
TOWARDS DEVELOPING CAREER
PATHWAYS FOR OUR STUDENTS. THANK
YOU SO MUCH. WELCOME. THANK YOU.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MR. CHAIR AND
COMMITTEE MEMBERS. MY NAME IS
KIMBERLY GRAHAM FROM KERN
COUNTY, SUPERINTENDENT OF
SCHOOLS. TODAY I ADVOCATE FOR
SIGNIFICANT POPULATION GROWTH,
CAUSING THE DEMAND FOR HEALTH
CARE SERVICES IN KERN COUNTY TO
ESCALATE RAPIDLY, WITH AN
ANTICIPATED JOB GROWTH OF 32%
AND A STAGGERING GAP OF NEARLY
16,000 WORKERS ANNUALLY, THE
ESTABLISHMENT OF A MEDICAL
SCHOOL REPRESENTS A CRITICAL
STEP TOWARDS REVERSING THIS
TREND. THE KERN REGIONAL K 16
EDUCATION COLLABORATIVE IS AN
$18 MILLION, MULTI-YEAR GRANT TO
DEVELOP SEAMLESS TRANSITIONS FOR
STUDENTS FROM HIGH SCHOOL TO
POST-SECONDARY AND TO THE
WORKFORCE. THE K 16
COLLABORATIVE CONSISTS OF EIGHT
INSTITUTIONS WORKING
COLLABORATIVELY TO DEVELOP
OCCUPATIONAL PATHWAYS AND
INCLUSIVE AND EQUITABLE SUPPORTS
FOR OUR STUDENTS IN HEALTH CARE,
EDUCATION, ENGINEERING, AND
COMPUTING. THROUGH ITS EMPHASIS
ON HEALTH CARE, KERN K 16
COLLABORATIVE PLANS TO DIRECTLY
CONFRONT THIS CHALLENGE BY
PREPARING A HOME GROWN, CAPABLE
WORKFORCE READY TO STEP INTO
HIGH QUALITY LIVING WAGE CAREERS
. BY COLLABORATING CLOSELY WITH
OUR INDUSTRY PARTNERS, THIS WORK
HAS RALLIED A ROBUST NETWORK OF
SUPPORT TO DIRECTLY ADDRESS
THEIR URGENT HEALTH CARE NEEDS
IN OUR COMMUNITY. HOWEVER OUR
THE DATA MAKES IT CLEAR THAT
WHILE THESE EFFORTS ARE
NOTEWORTHY, THEY ARE NOT
SUFFICIENT ON THEIR OWN. MANY OF
OUR HIGH SCHOOL AND
POST-SECONDARY STUDENTS WHO ARE
ENGAGED IN PREPARING FOR CAREERS
IN HEALTH CARE MUST LEAVE THE
COUNTY TO PURSUE THEIR MEDICAL
DEGREES, WHICH EXACERBATES THIS
WORKFORCE GAP. THE INTEGRATION
OF A MEDICAL SCHOOL INTO THE
FRAMEWORK OF THE KERN K 16
COLLABORATIVE WILL SUPERCHARGE
OUR EFFORTS TO CREATE SEAMLESS
PATHWAYS FOR STUDENTS IN HEALTH
CARE RELATED FIELDS, SUCH
SUPPORTING ASSEMBLY, TOOTH BILL,
ASSEMBLY, ASSEMBLY BILL 2357
OFFERS A SUSTAINABLE SOLUTION TO
THE LOOMING HEALTH CARE CRISIS
BY ENSURING A STEADY PIPELINE OF
WELL TRAINED MEDICAL
PROFESSIONALS READY TO SERVE OUR
GROWING POPULATION. IN
ESTABLISHING A MEDICAL SCHOOL IN
KERN COUNTY, NOT ONLY DO WE
BRIDGE THE CRITICAL HEALTH CARE
WORKFORCE GAP WITHIN OUR OWN
COMMUNITY, BUT WE ALSO SET A
PRECEDENT FOR HEALTH CARE,
EDUCATION AND ACCESS THAT WILL
BENEFIT THE ENTIRE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA. THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU SO
MUCH. ARE THERE WITNESSES IN
SUPPORT IN THE HEARING ROOM?
GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR AND
COMMITTEE MEMBERS CARLOS ROJAS
WITH THE KERN COUNTY
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS IN
SUPPORT. THANK YOU. GOOD
AFTERNOON. MJ DIAZ, ON BEHALF OF
KAISER PERMANENTE, IN SUPPORT.
JENNIFER SNYDER WITH CAPITAL
ADVOCACY ON BEHALF OF THE
CALIFORNIA LIFE SCIENCES AND
SUPPORT CODY BOYLES ON BEHALF OF
AMERICAN PISTACHIO GROWERS IN
SUPPORT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. ARE
THERE WITNESSES IN OPPOSITION IN
A HEARING ROOM? ARE THERE
TWEENERS IN A HEARING ROOM?
COLLEAGUES, ANY QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS? DID WE HAVE A MOTION
SAYING SORRY? MOTION BY MR.
MURATSUCHI, SECOND BY MISS IRWIN
. ANY FURTHER COMMENTS OR
QUESTIONS SOMEONE WOULD LIKE TO
CLOSE? PLEASE RESPECTFULLY ASK
FOR YOUR I VOTE. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU SO MUCH TO SIMILAR
BANS FOR BEING A CHAMPION OF THE
DIVERSE NEEDS OF YOUR
CONSTITUENTS. THE SAN JOAQUIN
VALLEY REMAINS ONE OF THE
FASTEST GROWING AREAS OF OUR
STATE, BUT ALSO ONE OF THE AREAS
OF HIGHEST NEED, WHICH BRINGS
WITH IT ADDITIONAL NEEDS FOR THE
COMMUNITY. AND THANK YOU FOR
CHAMPIONING THIS EFFORT. I KNOW
IT WILL TAKE TIME AND A GREAT
DEAL OF RESOURCES TO CREATION OF
A KECK SCHOOL OF MEDICINE IN
KERN COUNTY, BUT THIS MEASURE IS
A GOOD AND MODEST STEP. FIRST,
STEP FORWARD AND LOOK FORWARD TO
SUPPORTING THIS MEASURE HERE
TODAY. WITH THAT, MADAM
SECRETARY, ROLL CALL, PLEASE
FILE ITEM NUMBER SIX AB 2357.
THE MOTION IS Dð. PASS TO THE
APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE. FONG I
FONG I TOR. TOR I ARAMBULA
BURNER. CHEN CHAO AN I AZALEE
IRWIN. IRWIN I JACKSON. LO
MURATSUCHI. MURATSUCHI I
QUIRK-SILVA. THAT MEASURE HAS
FIVE AYES AND WE'LL KEEP THEM
OPEN FOR ADDITIONAL MEMBERS. ADD
ON. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU. AT THIS TIME,
WE'LL ENTERTAIN, MOTIONS FOR
THREE ITEMS THAT WE HEARD
EARLIER. ITEM NUMBER 14 BY A
SIMILAR BERMAN ASSEMBLY, BILL
2768 ON THE GOLDEN STATE TEACHER
GRANT PROGRAM. DO WE HAVE A
MOTION? SO MOVED. ALL RIGHT.
MOVED BY MR. MURATSUCHI,
SECONDED BY MR. CHEN, ANY
FURTHER QUESTIONS OR COLLEAGUE,
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?
COLLEAGUES SEEING NONE. ROLL
CALL, PLEASE. FILE ITEM NUMBER
14 AB 2768. THE MOTION IS DUE
PASSED TO THE EDUCATION
COMMITTEE. FONG FONG AYE TO T I
ARAMBULA. BURNER CHEN CHEN AYE.
ASALI IRWIN. IRWIN I JACKSON. LO
MURATSUCHI MURATSUCHI I
QUIRK-SILVA. THANK YOU SO MUCH,
COLLEAGUES. THAT MEASURE HAS
FIVE AYES, AND WE'LL KEEP THE
ROLL OPEN FOR ADDITIONAL MEMBERS
TO ADD ON. NEXT ITEM I'D LIKE TO
ENTERTAIN A MOTION ON IS ITEM
NUMBER 15. ASSEMBLY BILL 2821
BIOSIMILAR GRAYSON ON. THANK
YOU, SENATOR CHEN, WE HAVE A
MOTION. SECOND BY MR.
MURATSUCHI. IT'S ON
POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION,
STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES
COLLEAGUES. ANY QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS? SEEING NONE, MADAM
SECRETARY, ROLL CALL, PLEASE
FILE ITEM NUMBER 15 AB 2821. THE
MOTION IS Dð. PASS TO THE
APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE. FONG I
, FONG I TO T I ARAMBULA BURNER.
CHEN CHEN AN AYE. SALIH IRWIN.
IRWIN I JACKSON. LOW MURATSUCHI
MURATSUCHI I QUIRK-SILVA. THANK
YOU SO MUCH COLLEAGUES. THAT
MEASURES FIVE EYES AND WE'LL
KEEP THE ROLL OPEN FOR
ADDITIONAL MEMBERS TO ADD ON.
NEXT UP IS, ENTERTAIN A MOTION
ON ASSEMBLY BILL 2925 BY
ASSEMBLYMAN FRIEDMAN AND
LOWENTHAL ON POST-SECONDARY
EDUCATION EQUITY AND HIGHER
EDUCATION ACT, PROHIBITION ON
DISCRIMINATION TRAINING AND
NOTICE TO. WE HAVE A MOTION BY
MR. CHEN, A SECOND BY MR. TO AND
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MR. TO ANY
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON ITEM
NUMBER 17 ASSEMBLY BILL 2925
SEEING NONE. MADAM SECRETARY
ROLL CALL PLEASE. FILE ITEM
NUMBER 17 AB 2925. THE MOTION IS
Dð PASS AS AMENDED TO THE
JUDICIARY COMMITTEE. Kò FONG
FONG I TO I TO I ARAMBULA
BURNER. CHEN CHEN I ASALI IRWIN.
IRWIN I JACKSON. LOW, LOW Â I
MURATSUCHI MURATSUCHI I
QUIRK-SILVA. ITEM NUMBER 17.
ASSEMBLY BILL 2925 BY SENATOR
FRIEDMAN LOWENTHAL HAS SIX AYES.
WE'LL KEEP THE ROLL OPEN FOR
ADDITIONAL MEMBERS TO ADD ON.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, COLLEAGUES,
AT THIS TIME, IF THERE'S ANY
ADDITIONAL MEMBERS THAT WOULD
LIKE TO PRESENT, WE ARE
AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME. OH, YES.
I'M SORRY, SENATOR IRWIN,
WELCOME. PRESENTING SUMMER
IRWIN, WELCOME. AND THANK YOU
FOR EVERYTHING YOU'RE DOING.
ASSEMBLY ITEM NUMBER 13,
ASSEMBLY BILL 2723. THE
CALIFORNIA CRADLE TO CAREER DATA
SYSTEM ACT. WELCOME, ASSEMBLYMAN
IRWIN. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND
GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR AND
MEMBERS. I'M PLEASED TO PRESENT
AB 2723, WHICH PROVIDES SOME
CODE CLEANUP FOR THE CRADLE TO
CAREER DATA SYSTEM AS THE
COMMITTEE ANALYSIS OUTLINES.
I'VE BEEN INVOLVED WITH CðC
SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN THE STATE
BUDGET AND CURRENTLY SERVING AS
THE ASSEMBLY MEMBER ON THE
GOVERNING BOARD. CTC CELEBRATED
THE FIRST ROUND OF DATA
SUBMISSIONS FROM DATA PROVIDERS
LAST FALL AND ANTICIPATES MAKING
ITS FIRST ANALYTICAL TOOLS, DATA
DASHBOARDS AVAILABLE LATER ON
THIS YEAR. AS WITH ANY MATURING
STATE ENTITY, THERE ARE ASPECTS
OF THE GOVERNING STATUTE THAT
BENEFIT FROM REFINEMENT, AND
THAT IS WHAT THIS BILL SEEKS TO
PROVIDE A VEHICLE FOR. THIS
YEAR. AS NOTED IN THE ANALYSIS,
THERE ARE ONGOING NEGOTIATIONS
ABOUT ADDITIONAL ISSUES RAISED
BY CTC THAT MAY BECOME RIPE AND
USE THIS POLICY VEHICLE TO,
ADDRESS THEM. THE STAFF OF THIS
COMMITTEE HAS BEEN DIRECTLY
INVOLVED IN NEGOTIATIONS, AND I
COMMIT TO KEEPING THEM INVOLVED
IN ANY DECISIONS THAT ARE MADE
ABOUT THE INCLUSION OF
ADDITIONAL ITEMS. AND WITH THAT,
I RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOUR AYE
VOTE. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
ASSEMBLY MEMBER. ARE THERE
WITNESSES IN SUPPORT IN THE
HEARING ROOM? ARE THERE
WITNESSES AND OPPOSITION IN A
HEARING ROOM? ARE THERE TWEENERS
IN A HEARING ROOM? COLLEAGUES
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? WE
HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. SO
WE'D LIKE TO CLOSE. PLEASE
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOUR VOTE.
THANK YOU. SO MUCH. I LOOK
FORWARD TO SUPPORTING THIS
MEASURE TODAY. THANK YOU SO
MUCH, IRWIN, FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP
AND EFFORTS ON CRADLE TO CAREER
AND THE CLARIFYING CHANGES TO
THE CRADLE CAREER DATA SYSTEM.
LOOK FORWARD TO SUPPORTING YOU
HERE TODAY WITH THAT. MADAM
SECRETARY, ROLL CALL, PLEASE
FILE ITEM NUMBER 13 AB 2723. THE
MOTION IS DUE PASS AS AMENDED TO
THE EDUCATION COMMITTEE. FONG
AYE FONG, EYE TO EYE TO AYE.
ARAMBULA. BURNER BURNER. AYE
CHEN CHEN AYE. ASALI. IRWIN.
IRWIN. AYE JACKSON. LO LO AYE.
MURATSUCHI. MURATSUCHI. AYE.
QUIRK-SILVA VÀ. THANK YOU SO
MUCH, COLLEAGUES. THAT MEASURE
HAS SEVEN EYES, THAT MEASURES
OUT. WE'LL KEEP THE ROLL OPEN
FOR ADDITIONAL MEMBERS TO ADD
ON. THANK YOU SO MUCH. WITH
THAT, I NORMALLY WOULD TAKE, I
WOULD DO THE LAST ONE, BUT I
GUESS I'LL DO IT NOW. SO VICE
CHAIR TO. IF YOU CAN, PRESIDE
MOMENTARILY, PLEASE. THANK YOU.
OKAY. SO ITEM. 27. ALL RIGHT. SO
RIGHT NOW WE HAVE ITEM A B. Þ A
ACTUALLY, ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW
WHAT, I APOLOGIZE. WE HAVE 2707.
OKAY, OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU
SO MUCH, MISTER CHAIR MEMBERS,
ASSEMBLY BILL 20 707 REQUIRES A
LEGISLATIVE ANALYST'S OFFICE TO
CONDUCT A STUDY ON THE HOUSING
NEEDS OF A COMMUNITY COLLEGE.
COMMUNITY COLLEGE STUDENTS OVER
25 YEARS OF AGE AND STUDENTS
WITH DEPENDENTS. OUR COMMUNITY
COLLEGES ENROLL OVER 2 MILLION
STUDENTS EACH YEAR, AND ABOUT
HALF ARE OVER AGE 25. 60% ARE
HOUSING INSECURE, AND 19% ARE
HOMELESS. THERE WAS JUST AN LA
TIMES ARTICLE ON THIS TODAY,
WHERE STUDENTS OVER 25 ARE OFTEN
INDEPENDENT AND FACE GREATER
FINANCIAL OBSTACLES BECAUSE THEY
ARE NO LONGER SUPPORTED BY
FAMILY. THESE STUDENTS ALSO HAVE
AGED OUT OF ELIGIBILITY FOR MANY
STATE PROGRAMS TO HELP WITH THE
COSTS OF LIVING. STUDENT PARENTS
IN PARTICULAR, FACE ENORMOUS
CHALLENGES, AS THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE
HAS FOUND THAT NATIONALLY, ONLY
12% OF STUDENTS WITH DEPENDENTS
COMPLETE A DEGREE IN SIX YEARS,
COMPARED TO 46% OF THOSE WITHOUT
DEPENDENTS. THESE STUDENTS HAVE
THE MOST BENEFIT FROM HIGHER
EDUCATION, BUT THEY ALSO HAVE
SPECIFIC NEEDS AND FACE GREATER
OBSTACLES. WITHOUT BETTER
INFORMATION ON THESE STUDENTS
AND WITHOUT SPECIFIC HOUSING
NEEDS, WE CANNOT CRAFT THE BEST
POLICIES. BEST POLICIES
POSSIBLE. ASSEMBLY BILL 2707
WILL GIVE THE LEGISLATURE THE
NECESSARY DATA TO ENSURE THAT WE
SERVE THESE STUDENTS
APPROPRIATELY, AND HERE TO
TESTIFY TODAY IN SUPPORT IS ANNA
MATTHEWS WITH THE FACULTY
ASSOCIATION OF CALIFORNIA
COMMUNITY COLLEGES AND HEATHER
BRANDT, A STUDENT PARENT FROM
THE CITY COLLEGE OF SAN
FRANCISCO. HELLO, CHAIR, OUR
AUTHOR OF THE BILL AND OUR
MEMBERS. MY NAME IS ANNA
MATTHEWS, ADVOCACY MEMBER OF THE
FACULTY ADVOCACY MANAGER OF THE
FACULTY ASSOCIATION OF THE
CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY COLLEGES,
AND A PROUD SPONSOR OF THIS
BILL. I AM SHARING THE TESTIMONY
OF DOCTOR RUBY CHRISTIAN
BROUGHAM, A PROFESSOR AT LOS
ANGELES COMMUNITY COLLEGES WHO
COULD NOT MAKE IT. TODAY. WE
APPRECIATE THE STATE'S FOCUS ON
HOUSING, COMMUNITY COLLEGE
STUDENTS. 60% OF COMMUNITY
COLLEGE STUDENTS FACE HOUSING
INSECURITY AND 19% ARE HOMELESS.
THESE NUMBERS INCREASE FOR OUR
MARGINALIZED STUDENTS, 76% OF
STUDENTS OVER THE AGE OF 25
EXPERIENCE HOUSING INSECURITY,
AND 26% OF STUDENTS WITH
DEPENDENTS ARE HOMELESS. A
COMMON MISCONCEPTION IS THAT
COMMUNITY COLLEGE STUDENTS ARE
18 STRAIGHT OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL
AND LIVING WITH THEIR PARENTS
BEFORE THEY TRANSFER THE DATA.
PROVEN REALITY IS THAT 48% OF
OUR STUDENTS ARE OVER THE AGE OF
25, AND THEY HAVE NEEDS THAT
VARY SIGNIFICANTLY FROM THAT OF
TRADITIONAL AGED COLLEGE
STUDENTS, COMMUNITY COLLEGE
STUDENTS AGE OUT OF PLACEMENT
FOR YOUNG ADULT HOMELESS
SERVICES AT THE AGE OF 25. THESE
STUDENTS WHO REPRESENT HALF OF
OUR COMMUNITY COLLEGE
POPULATION, BECOME PART OF THE
GENERAL HOMELESS POPULATION AND
IT BECOMES EXCEPTIONALLY
DIFFICULT TO HOUSE THEM IN LARGE
METRO AREAS THAT EXPERIENCE
HIGHER RATES OF HOMELESSNESS.
THESE STUDENTS ARE AT A DISTINCT
DISADVANTAGE IN BEING HOUSED
QUICKLY, AND EVERY DELAY MAY
LEAD TO THEM ABANDONING THEIR
EDUCATIONAL ASPIRATIONS FOREVER.
IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT WE CONDUCT
THOROUGH RESEARCH TO UNDERSTAND
THE NEEDS OF OUR OLDER HOUSING
AND SECURE STUDENTS, AND THOSE
WITH DEPENDENTS. WE MUST ENSURE
THAT THEY DO NOT FALL THROUGH
THE CRACKS. IT IS CRUCIAL THAT
COMMUNITY COLLEGE HOUSING
PROJECTS ARE INCLUSIVE AND
ACCESSIBLE TO ALL THE STUDENTS.
THE COMMUNITY COLLEGES SERVE,
AND THIS CAN ONLY BE ACHIEVED BY
UNDERSTANDING THE DIVERSE NEEDS
OF OUR STUDENT BODY, ESPECIALLY
DURING THIS BUDGET DEFICIT. IT
IS OF THE UTMOST IMPORTANCE THAT
THE REACH OF PUBLIC DOLLARS IS
MAXIMIZED TO ENSURE THAT THE
HOUSING CONSTRUCTED IS WELL
TAILORED TO THE UNIQUE NEEDS OF
THE DIVERSE COMMUNITY COLLEGE
STUDENT BODY. WE HUMBLY ASK FOR
YOUR AYE VOTE. DEAR COMMITTEE
MEMBERS, MY NAME IS HEATHER
BRANDT. I'M CURRENTLY SERVING AS
A STUDENT TRUSTEE ON BEHALF OF
CITY COLLEGE OF SAN FRANCISCO,
AND I'M A PROUD ADULT LEARNER
STUDENT, PARENT OF THREE
CHILDREN THAT WORKS SEVERAL JOBS
TO MAKE ENDS MEET WHILE ALSO
CAREGIVING FOR MY AGING PARENTS
AND MY SIBLING WHO HAS CANCER.
LIKE OVER HALF OF CALIFORNIA
COMMUNITY COLLEGE STUDENTS, I
HAVE FACED HOUSING INSECURITY,
PARTICULARLY WHILE MY SPOUSE WAS
INCARCERATED. I AM PART OF THE
THREE QUARTERS OF PARENTING
STUDENTS WHO ARE ON THE VERGE OF
HOMELESSNESS, JEOPARDIZING BOTH
OURSELVES AND OUR CHILDREN. WHEN
YOU EXPERIENCE HOUSING
INSECURITY WHILE YOU'RE WORKING,
PARENTING, COMMUTING, COMMUTE,
GOING TO A SCHOOL IN A CITY YOU
CAN'T AFFORD TO LIVE IN, AND
TAKING CARE OF OTHER
RESPONSIBILITIES EDUCATION ENDS
UP ON THE BACK BURNER. ACCORDING
TO THE CALIFORNIA STUDENT AID
COMMISSION. HOUSING INSECURITY
STUDENTS ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE
OVER 22 FEMALE, BLACK OR LATINX
AND HAVE INDEPENDENCE. I AM AT
THE INTERSECTION OF ALL OF THESE
DEMOGRAPHIC MIX. IF WE ARE TRULY
COMMITTED TO EQUITY WITHIN
HIGHER EDUCATION, WE MUST
PRIORITIZE HOUSING. OUR
NONTRADITIONAL STUDENTS. IF WE
DON'T, WE WILL HAVE LOWER RATES
OF COMPLETION, THÀNH
PERSISTENCE, CREDIT ATTAINMENT,
AND GOAL ACHIEVEMENT. STUDENT
HOUSING SHOULD BE INCLUSIVE OF
ADULT LEARNERS AND PARENTING.
STUDENTS LIKE MYSELF, WHO ARE
OFTEN IN THE MOST NEED WHEN YOU
SUPPORT PREGNANT AND PARENTING
STUDENTS BY HOUSING THEM
ACCORDING TO THEIR UNIQUE NEEDS,
YOU SUPPORT TWO GENERATIONS,
BOOSTING STABILITY, STIMULATING
SOCIOECONOMIC MOBILITY, AND
DISRUPTING CYCLES OF POVERTY. IT
IS HEARTBREAKING THAT
NONTRADITIONAL STUDENTS LIKE ME,
WHO DESPERATELY NEED TO BE
HOUSED, ARE BEING EXCLUDED FROM
COMMUNITY COLLEGE STUDENT
HOUSING. WE KNOW THAT OUR
STUDENT POPULATION IS INCREDIBLY
DIVERSE AND THEIR LIVED
EXPERIENCE. THIS IS PRECISELY
WHY WE NEED TO STUDY A STUDY TO
IDENTIFY THE UNIQUE NEEDS OF OUR
MOST MARGINALIZED AND
UNDERSERVED STUDENTS, SORRY, AND
ENSURE THAT COMMUNITY COLLEGE
STUDENT HOUSING IS INCLUSIVE AND
ACCESSIBLE TO ALL STUDENTS. FOR
US, AB 2707 IS A NEED, NOT A
WANT. I RESPECTFULLY REQUEST
YOUR I VOTE. THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR THAT. ANY ANYONE HERE WHO
WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF
THE BILL? TIFFANY MOCK CFT, A
UNION OF EDUCATORS AND
CLASSIFIED PROFESSIONALS IN
SUPPORT. THANK YOU, ANNIE
KRUEGER, ON BEHALF OF THE
STUDENT SENATE OF CALIFORNIA
COMMUNITY COLLEGES, PROUD
COAUTHOR OF THE BILL AND STRONG
SUPPORT. SEAMUS GERARDI WITH
LIGHTHOUSE PUBLIC AFFAIRS ON
BEHALF OF POWER CALIFORNIA IN
SUPPORT. KRISTEL PADILLA WITH
THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE LEAGUE OF
CALIFORNIA AND SUPPORT. MARIA
PACHECO, MAYOR FOR THE CITY OF
KERMAN IN STRONG SUPPORT. ANYONE
HERE WHO OPPOSES THE BILL. ARE
THERE ANY OTHER ANY TRAINER IN
THE ROOM? ALL RIGHT. SO I WANT
TO THANK THE AUTHOR FOR DOING
THIS, BILL, I THINK THAT THIS IS
REALLY, REALLY GOOD. BILL, I
THINK THAT WE'RE ALL AWARE THAT
ISSUE OF HOUSING AND
HOMELESSNESS, WE ALL WE ALL HAVE
A CONCERNS, ESPECIALLY THAT THIS
BILL REALLY, REALLY HELPED US
UNDERSTAND ALL THE CONCERNS THAT
THAT A STUDENT IN OUR STATE THAT
THEY HAVE, FACE RIGHT NOW. SO I
REALLY APPRECIATE THAT OTHER SO
COMMITTEE MEMBER OKAY, SO MAY I
HAVE A MOTION. SO MOVED. THANK
YOU SO MUCH. WE HAVE A MOTION
AND A SECOND ON THE FLOOR. FILE
ITEM NUMBER 12 AB 2707. THE
MOTION IS Dð. PASS TO THE
APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE. FONG I
FONG I TAWT I TAW I ARAMBULA.
BERNER. BERNER I CHEN CHEN I
ASSALY IRWIN. IRWIN I JACKSON.
LO LO I MURATSUCHI. MURATSUCHI I
QUIRK-SILVA. SO WE HAVE SEVEN I
AND WE CONTINUE TO ADD MORE
VOTES. THANK YOU SO MUCH,
COLLEAGUES. THANK YOU.
FOR OUTFITS. YES. OKAY. OUTSIDE.
OKAY THANK YOU SO MUCH, THANK
YOU, VICE CHAIR. AND THANK YOU,
COLLEAGUES. NEXT UP, WE HAVE A
SIMILAR ALVAREZ PRESENTING ITEM,
ITEM NUMBER TEN, FOLLOWED BY
ITEM NUMBER 19. ITEM NUMBER TEN,
ASSEMBLY BILL 2586, PUBLIC
POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION AND
STUDENT EMPLOYMENT. WELCOME.
SUMMER ALVAREZ. MISTER CHAIR, IF
IT'S OKAY, MAY I TAKE ACR, WHICH
IS, I THINK ITEM 19 FIRST.
ABSOLUTELY. WE'LL TAKE, ITEM
NUMBER 19, FIRST ACR 147, ITEM
NUMBER 19 ON CALIFORNIA'S FIRST
GENERATION COLLEGE CELEBRATION
DAY. WELCOME. SUMMER ALVAREZ.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MISTER
CHAIR. AND MEMBERS OF THE
COMMITTEE. I APPRECIATE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT ACR 147.
IT'S A TOPIC THAT I THINK WE ARE
ALL VERY FAMILIAR WITH, BUT
REALLY CAME TO MY ATTENTION,
LAST YEAR WHEN I FOUND OUT THAT
WE HAD SUCH A THING AS FIRST
GENERATION DAY IN, THAT WAS
CELEBRATED HERE IN, IN OUR
COUNTRY. I AM A FIRST GENERATION
COLLEGE GRADUATE, A FORMER
STUDENT OF THE PUENTE PROGRAM IN
HIGH SCHOOL, A TRIO MCNAIR
SCHOLAR AT THE UNIVERSITY AND A
FIRST HAND EXPERIENCE OF HOW
THESE REMARKABLE PROGRAMS HELP
TO LEAD STUDENT SUCCESS,
ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE STUDENTS
WHO ARE THE FIRST IN THEIR
FAMILY TO GO TO COLLEGE. I'VE
ALSO WORKED FOR THE TRIO PROGRAM
AND UNDERSTAND THE GENUINE
COMMITMENT THAT STAFF MAKES TO
STUDENTS THAT THEY SERVE ON A
DAILY BASIS. WITHOUT THESE
PROGRAMS AND THESE EFFORTS, MANY
FIRST GENERATION STUDENTS WOULD
NOT BE COMPLETING THEIR
EDUCATION DREAMS. ACCORDING TO A
2018 STUDY FROM THE DEPARTMENT
OF EDUCATION, THE US DEPARTMENT
OF EDUCATION, ABOUT 33% OF FIRST
GENERATION COLLEGE STUDENTS
NATIONWIDE DROPPED OUT OF SCHOOL
AFTER THREE YEARS OF COLLEGE.
THIS IS WHY IT'S IMPERATIVE THAT
WE CONTINUE TO SUPPORT PROGRAMS
SUCH AS THE FEDERAL TRIO
PROGRAM, THE STATEWIDE PUENTE
PROGRAM, RAIMES, EOP, UMOJA, AND
HP, AND OTHERS WHO PLAY AN
IMPORTANT ROLE WITH THOSE FIRST
GENERATION COLLEGE STUDENTS IN
OUR ON OUR CAMPUSES, IN OUR
THREE SYSTEMS OF HIGHER
EDUCATION AND IN OUR PUBLIC HIGH
SCHOOLS. ACR 147 WOULD DESIGNATE
NOVEMBER 8TH, 2024 AS
CALIFORNIA'S FIRST GENERATION
COLLEGE CELEBRATION DAY TO
CONTINUE TO URGE ALL HIGHER
EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS IN THE
STATE TO CELEBRATE THE DAY WITH
THEIR STUDENTS. THIS RESOLUTION
RECOGNIZES THE SIGNIFICANT ROLE
THAT FIRST GENERATION COLLEGE
STUDENTS IN DEVELOPING THE
STATE'S FUTURE WORKFORCE, AS IT
CELEBRATES THE FEDERAL HIGHER
EDUCATION ACT OF 1965 AND
SUPPORTS FIRST GENERATION
COLLEGE STUDENTS WITH
OPPORTUNITIES AND EQUITY IN
COMPLETING THEIR DEGREES, MUST
ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE STATE
LEGISLATURE AT THE STATE
LEGISLATURE, THE IMPORTANCE OF
THESE PROGRAMS, AND WE DO SO
OBVIOUSLY WITH A LOT OF OUR
BUDGETARY ACTIONS, WITH THE
SUPPORT OF EDUCATION THAT WE
PROVIDE TODAY, I HAVE THE HONOR
OF HAVING AS WITNESSES, AND YOU
WILL HEAR FROM THEM,
REPRESENTING MANA, CRISTINA
SANCHEZ KERR AND ALYSSA GÓMEZ
CERMENO, WHO IS A HERMANITA
ALUMNI OF THE MANA PROGRAM,
CURRENTLY PARTICIPATING IN THE
COLLEGE SUCCESS PROGRAM WITH
MANA. I'LL TURN IT OVER TO OUR
FIRST WITNESS, CRISTINA. THANK
YOU SO MUCH. WELCOME, IF YOU
DON'T MIND, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE
A. OH, OKAY. HELLO AND GOOD
AFTERNOON TO ALL. I'M HONORED TO
BE HERE TODAY REPRESENTING MANA
SAN DIEGO AS AN HERMANITAS
ALUMNI. AS A FIRST GENERATION
STUDENT NAVIGATING THE PATH TO
COLLEGE SUCCESS WASN'T ALWAYS
CLEAR AS I FACED MANY CHALLENGES
ALONG THE WAY. FINANCIAL DOUBT,
ALONG WITH STRUGGLING WITH
IMPOSTER SYNDROME, WERE TWO MAIN
FACTORS THAT LIMITED ME. I
THOUGHT THAT BECAUSE OF MY
FINANCIAL CIRCUMSTANCES, COLLEGE
WASN'T AN OPTION FOR ME, AND
WHILE FACING THIS OBSTACLE, I
WAS SIMULTANEOUSLY DOUBTING
WHETHER I WAS WORTHY ENOUGH TO
BE GOING TO COLLEGE DUE TO THE
FEELING OF PRESSURE OF MY
PARENTS SACRIFICES AND THEIR
HARD WORK. I LUCKILY HAD THE
HIGH PRIVILEGE TO BE A PART OF
HERMANITAS AND SUPPORT PROGRAMS
LIKE EOPS, WHERE I FELT SEEN AND
INCLUDED BEING SURROUNDED BY
MENTORS THAT CAME FROM SIMILAR
BACKGROUNDS, FROM MINE, KNOWING
THAT THEY WERE SUCCESSFUL AND
ALLOWED ME TO SET NO BOUNDARIES
ON MY SUCCESS, BEING PRESENTED
WITH MULTIPLE OPTIONS WHEN IT
CAME TO FINANCIAL STABILITY IN
COLLEGE WAS ADDITIONALLY A
HELPFUL TOOL. LEARNING ABOUT
NEED BASED FINANCIAL AID,
SCHOLARSHIPS, AND OTHER
RESOURCES MADE ME REALIZE THAT
COLLEGE WAS AN OPTION TO ANYONE
WHO WANTED IT, INCLUDING MYSELF.
CAÑADA SAN DIEGO IS THE IS ONE
OF THE KEY REASONS TO WHY I. I
AM HERE TODAY AND I AM ON THE
VERGE OF COMPLETING MY FIRST
YEAR AS A COLLEGE STUDENT. AMY
TO BECOME A REGISTERED NURSE.
THIS LEGISLATION CELEBRATE FIRST
GENERATION STUDENTS WOULD BE AN
AMAZING AID IN KEEPING STUDENTS
STRIVING FOR HIGHER EDUCATION.
CELEBRATING OUR WINS AND
MILESTONES MOTIVATES OTHERS AND
FEELING INCLUDED AND
REPRESENTING, AMPLIFYING THE
COMPLETION AND COLLEGE DEGREES
AMONG FIRST GENERATION STUDENTS
OF ALL BACKGROUNDS. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. WELCOME. I WANT TO
COMMEND AISA, WHO I WAS
RECORDING FOR HER COMMUNICATIONS
CLASS BECAUSE SHE WAS ABLE TO
GET THE PROFESSOR TO COUNT THIS
AS CREDIT FOR HER, FOR HER
CLASS. SO I AM CHRISTINA SANCHEZ
KERR AND THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN
FONG AND THE REST OF THE
HONORABLE COMMITTEE FOR HAVING
US HERE TODAY. WE ARE REALLY
GRATEFUL TO ASSEMBLY MEMBER
ALVAREZ FOR HIS SUPPORT. OUR
FIRST GENERATION COLLEGE
STUDENTS, AND HIS RECOGNITION OF
THE TRANSFORMATIVE POWER THAT
BECOMING A FIRST GENERATION
COLLEGE STUDENT AND GRADUATE CAN
HAVE. MANA DE SAN DIEGO, WHO I
AM THE DIRECTOR OF GRANTS AND
RESEARCH FOR, IS A NEARLY 40
YEAR OLD ORGANIZATION THAT IS
FOCUSED ON EMPOWERING LATINAS TO
ACHIEVE UPWARD MOBILITY AND A
BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE. AND WE
KNOW THAT A COLLEGE DEGREE IS A
CRITICAL TOOL IN THAT SEARCH.
COLLEGE GRADUATES EARN UP TO 80%
MORE THAN HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES
OVER THEIR LIFETIME, AND FOR THE
LATINO COMMUNITY IN PARTICULAR,
IT IS VERY PRESSING THAT THOSE
COLLEGE ATTAINMENT GOALS BE
SUPPORTED BECAUSE OF US BEING A
PRIMARILY LOW INCOME POPULATION
IN VARIOUS AREAS OF CALIFORNIA.
AND SO FOR US, SUPPORTING
COLLEGE ATTENDANCE IS VERY
IMPORTANT, AND RECOGNIZING THE
REALLY ARDUOUS WORK THAT IT
TAKES TO BECOME NOT JUST A
STUDENT, BUT AS ASSEMBLY MEMBER
ALVAREZ POINTED OUT, A GRADUATE
OF COLLEGE, WE KNOW THAT THAT
TRANSFORMATIONAL POWER CAN
IMPACT NOT JUST INDIVIDUALS, BUT
FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES,
BECAUSE ONE OF OUR EARLY BOARD
MEMBERS, MAYOR, SORRY, MARY
GARCIA SALAS, WHO WAS A FORMER
ASSEMBLY MEMBER HERE, WAS ALSO
PART OF THAT JOURNEY. SHE BECAME
AS AN ADULT, A FIRST GENERATION
COLLEGE GRADUATE, LEVERAGED THAT
DEGREE. AND HER LEADERSHIP
EXPERIENCE WITHIN MANA TO THEN
GO ON TO THE ASSEMBLY, GO ON TO
BECOME THE FIRST LATINA MAYOR OF
CHULA VISTA, ONE OF THE FIRST IN
OUR REGION AND SHE HAS CONTINUED
TO GIVE BACK TO OUR COMMUNITY
AND SUPPORT THE HUNDREDS OF MORE
FIRST GENERATION COLLEGE
STUDENTS THAT HAVE COME BEHIND
HER AND WHO HAVE RECEIVED THE
SUPPORT NOT ONLY OF MANA, BUT OF
OTHER GREAT PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT
THE STATE. SO WE STRONGLY
SUPPORT ACR 147. WE URGE YOUR
SUPPORT AS WELL, AND WE THANK
YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU SO
MUCH. ARE THERE WITNESSES IN
SUPPORT IN THE HEARING ROOM?
CRYSTAL PADILLA WITH THE
COMMUNITY COLLEGE LEAGUE OF
CALIFORNIA IN SUPPORT. GOOD
AFTERNOON. DANIELA RODRIGUEZ
WITH THE CALIFORNIA STUDENT AID
COMMISSION IN SUPPORT. ANNA
MATHEWS WITH THE FACULTY
ASSOCIATION OF CALIFORNIA
COMMUNITY COLLEGES IN SUPPORT.
MARIA PACHECO, MAYOR FOR THE
CITY OF KERMAN AND FIRST
GENERATION IN SUPPORT. VERONICA
SANDOVAL FROM FOREST, FIRST
GENERATION AS WELL IN SUPPORT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. ARE THERE
WITNESSES IN OPPOSITION IN THE
HEARING ROOM? ARE THERE TWEENERS
IN A HEARING ROOM? COLLEAGUES
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?
LAWCENTER MURATSUCHI I'M PROUD
TO BE A FIRST GENERATION COLLEGE
GRADUATE AND I MAKE THE MOTION
FOR THIS. THIS MEASURE. THANK
YOU SO MUCH. COLLEAGUES. HAVE A
MOTION A SECOND. ANY FURTHER
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? SEEING
NONE A SENATOR ALVAREZ, WOULD
YOU LIKE TO CLOSE, PLEASE? NO.
JUST THANK YOU FOR THE MOTION,
WE ALL COME WITH DIFFERENT LIVED
EXPERIENCES TO THIS BODY, AND
IT'S JUST AN HONOR TO BE ABLE TO
HIGHLIGHT AND UPLIFT, BEING A
FIRST GENERATION, BEING THE
FIRST AND THE ONLY YOUNGEST OF
SIX IN MY FAMILY TO GO TO
COLLEGE AND HOPEFULLY, YOU KNOW,
BE ABLE TO BEGIN A NEW, A NEW,
TRADITION IN OUR FAMILY OF, OF
COLLEGE GOING AND COLLEGE
SUCCESS, JUST LIKE MINE IN SAN
DIEGO DOES WITH SO MANY YOUNG
WOMEN IN SAN DIEGO. BUT PROGRAMS
DO THROUGHOUT THE STATE. I THINK
IF WE DO A COUNT OF LEGISLATORS,
THERE ARE A LOT OF US WHO ARE
HERE, AND WE SHOULD CELEBRATE
THAT. AND I ASK YOU TO SUPPORT
THAT BY SUPPORTING ACR 147.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BRINGING
THIS A VERY IMPORTANT RESOLUTION
FORWARD. WE KNOW THE POWER OF
PROMISE TO TRANSFORM LIVES AND
OUR IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES, AND
CELEBRATING FIRST GENERATION
COLLEGE STUDENTS ACCOMPLISHMENTS
WITH A DESIGNATED DAY IS ONE
STEP THAT WE CAN ALL TAKE TO
HELP CELEBRATE OUR FIRST
GENERATION STUDENTS, TO MAKE
SURE THAT THEY FEEL WELCOMED,
SEEN, AND VALUED ON OUR COLLEGE
CAMPUSES. WITH THAT, I LOOK
FORWARD TO SUPPORTING THE
MEASURE HERE TODAY. MADAM
SECRETARY, ROLL CALL, PLEASE
FILE ITEM NUMBER 19, ACR 147.
THE MOTION IS DUE. PASS TO THE
APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE. FONG.
FONG AYE. TAH TAH. AYE. ARAMBULA
BURNER. BURNER I CHEN CHEN I A
SALLY IRWIN. IRWIN I JACKSON. LO
LO I MURATSUCHI MURATSUCHI I
QUIRK-SILVA. THE MEASURE HAS
SEVEN EYES. IT'S OUT AND WE'LL
KEEP THE ROLL OPEN FOR
ADDITIONAL MEMBERS OUT ON. THANK
YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK
YOU SO MUCH. NEXT UP WE'LL HAVE
ITEM NUMBER TEN, ASSEMBLY BILL
2586 BY SUMMER ALVAREZ. WELCOME.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MR. CHAIR
AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE I
MENTIONED IN THE PREVIOUS ITEM,
WE ALL COME WITH LIVED
EXPERIENCES TO THIS BODY. THIS
BILL ALSO COMES FROM THE LIVED
EXPERIENCE OF MYSELF, AND MY
FAMILY AND MANY IN MY COMMUNITY.
AB 2586 IS A REFLECTION OF MY
EXPERIENCE AS A SON OF IMMIGRANT
PARENTS WHO CAME TO THIS COUNTRY
UNDOCUMENTED, SEEKING REALLY
THAT AMERICAN DREAM THAT SO MANY
SEEK. AND THEY ARE LUCKY ENOUGH
TO LAND IN CALIFORNIA AND IN SAN
DIEGO. THEY SOUGHT THOSE
OPPORTUNITIES, WORKED VERY, VERY
HARD AND TO PROVIDE FOR US. MY
FAMILY HAS ALWAYS BEEN AN
INSPIRATION TO DREAM AND ACHIEVE
BIG. PERSONALLY, I KNOW THE
STRUGGLES THAT MANY MIXED STATUS
FAMILIES AND NON-CITIZENS GO
THROUGH. IT'S NOT EASY. EVEN
WHEN PEOPLE ARE WORKING HARD, AS
HARD AS THEY POSSIBLY CAN, IT'S
STILL NOT EASY. HISTORICALLY,
THOUGH, CALIFORNIA HAS BEEN
DEEPLY DEDICATED TO REWARDING
THAT INVESTMENT BEING MADE BY
INDIVIDUALS WHO WORK HARD BY
INVESTING IN OUR HIGHER
EDUCATION SYSTEMS TO IMPROVE
STUDENT ACCESS, AFFORDABILITY,
EQUITY, AND SUCCESS. HOWEVER,
OUR STATE HAS YET TO FIND A
PATHWAY TO SUPPORT ALL STUDENTS
AND ENABLE ALL STUDENTS TO
SECURE EMPLOYMENT ONCE THEY ARE
SUCCESSFUL WITH THEIR EDUCATION
JOURNEY. THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS
HAVE PLACED THEIR TRUST IN
CALIFORNIA'S PROMISE TO RECEIVE
A BETTER EDUCATION TO HELP THEM
SUCCEED, AND WE HAVE RESPONDED
IN KIND WITH THE PROGRAMS TO
HELP THEM SUCCEED. HOWEVER,
THERE IS ONE GROUP OF STUDENTS,
UNDOCUMENTED STUDENTS WHO ARE
UNABLE TO APPLY FOR JOBS AND
OTHER PAID OPPORTUNITIES THAT
ARE AVAILABLE TO EVERYBODY ELSE
IN THEIR PEER GROUP, WHICH
SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACTS THEIR
ABILITY. THOSE UNDOCUMENTED
STUDENTS ABILITY TO MAKE
PAYMENTS TOWARDS THEIR COST OF
EDUCATION, WHICH INCLUDES
HOUSING AND OTHER BASIC NEEDS,
NOT TO MENTION CONTRIBUTING TO
OUR ECONOMY AS FULLY EMPLOYED
INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE PREPARED. AB
2586. THE OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL
WILL PROVIDE EQUAL ACCESS TO
CAMPUS EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
FOR ALL STUDENTS, REGARDLESS OF
THEIR IMMIGRATION STATUS ON THE
CAMPUS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF
CALIFORNIA, THE CALIFORNIA STATE
UNIVERSITY, AND THE CALIFORNIA
COMMUNITY COLLEGES, CALIFORNIA
HAS PASSED LAWS ADVANCING THE
RIGHTS OF IMMIGRANTS AND THEIR
FAMILIES. RIGHTFULLY SO,
ESPECIALLY IN SPITE OF THE LACK
OF MOVEMENT AND ACTION BY OUR
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. THIS
INCLUDES PROVIDING
IDENTIFICATIONS FOR UNDOCUMENTED
CALIFORNIANS, ALLOWING
FARMWORKERS TO VOTE IN UNION
ELECTIONS, AND EXPANDING
MEDI-CAL SERVICES TO ALL THOSE
WHO NEED AND QUALIFY FOR THOSE
SERVICES. OUR STATE HAS BEEN THE
LEADER AND THE CHAMPION ON THESE
ISSUES. AMERICA HAS ALSO
PROMISED THEM OUR IMMIGRANTS,
THAT IF THEY WORK HARD, THEY
WILL FIND OPPORTUNITIES. MANY OF
THESE STUDENTS THAT YOU WILL
HEAR FROM TODAY HAVE BEEN DOING
THAT AND THEN HAVE BEEN MEETING
THEIR END OF THE BARGAIN BY
WORKING REALLY HARD AND
COMPLETING THEIR EDUCATION. THEY
ARE OUR FUTURE SCIENTISTS,
LAWYERS, TEACHERS, DOCTORS,
ACCOUNTANT CGRTS PUBLIC
SERVANTS. THE SKILLS THAT
CALIFORNIA EDUCATION SYSTEM HAVE
INVESTED IN WILL BE PUT TO USE.
WE'VE INVESTED IN THESE
STUDENTS, AND WE NEED TO GIVE
THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK AND
COMPETE WITH EVERYBODY ELSE TO
PROVIDE FOR THEIR FAMILIES AND
TO PARTICIPATE IN OUR ECONOMY.
WE ARE REALLY PRIVILEGED NOW TO
HEAR FROM TWO STUDENTS WHO HAVE
BEEN WORKING ON THIS, LONG
BEFORE I CAME HERE. WE NEED TO
ACKNOWLEDGE THE WORK THAT THEY
HAVE DONE THAT HAD LED US TO
TODAY. AND YOU WILL BE INSPIRED
AS MUCH AS I AM, I AM SURE, FROM
OUR TWO WITNESSES, WE HAVE CRLA
AMAYA RIOS AND FATIMA ZEFERINO.
I'LL TURN IT OVER TO THEM. THANK
YOU SO MUCH. WELCOME. THANK YOU.
GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS AMAYA
RIOS AND I'VE BEEN UNDOCUMENTED
FOR OVER 20 YEARS. I AM 23. I
HAVE BEEN RAISED IN THE
CALIFORNIA EDUCATION SYSTEM AND
I AM EXTREMELY GRATEFUL FOR THE
EDUCATION I'VE RECEIVED. BUT I'M
HERE TO URGE YOU ALL TO HELP ME
PUT IT INTO PRACTICE. EVEN
THOUGH I'VE BEEN IN THE COUNTRY
SINCE I WAS TWO YEARS OLD, I'VE
NEVER QUALIFIED FOR DACA, NEVER
HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A
DIGNIFIED JOB. I'VE HIT THE
BOOKS DAY AND NIGHT TO MAKE SURE
I COULD BE ADMITTED TO THE
NUMBER ONE PUBLIC UNIVERSITY FOR
WHAT I WAS ADMITTED TO UCLA IN
2018. SINCE THEN, I'VE BEEN
SCRAPING FOR MONEY TO SUSTAIN
MYSELF THROUGH THIS DEGREE. I'VE
APPLIED TO ENDLESS SCHOLARSHIPS
AND FELLOWSHIPS, AND I'VE GOTTEN
THEM. BUT WHEN WHAT I'M AWARDED
WITH IS A RETRACTION OF
FINANCIAL AID RESOURCES BECAUSE
I'VE MET THE CAP OR TOLD YOU CAN
PARTICIPATE FOR THE EXPERIENCE,
BUT WE CAN'T PAY YOU, ANY
DESPERATE STUDENT WILL TAKE IT
TO MAKE SURE WE ARE COMPETITIVE
FOR GRAD SCHOOL, LEAVING ME MANY
TIMES HAVING TO PARE MY
EXPERIENCE WITH THE UNDERGROUND
ECONOMY TO MAKE ENDS MEET AND
MAKING ME VULNERABLE TO LABOR
EXPLOITATION. I'M A GRADUATE
STUDENT AT UCLA STUDYING PUBLIC
POLICY. I'LL BE GRADUATING THIS
JUNE. ALL MY FRIENDS RIGHT NOW
ARE BACK HOME WORKING ON THEIR
MASTER'S THESIS TO THIS THURSDAY
. INSTEAD, I'M OUT HERE FIGHTING
FOR THE RIGHT TO BE GIVEN THE
OPPORTUNITY TO APPLY TO A JOB ON
CAMPUS. PROFESSOR WONG, WHO WILL
BE TESTIFYING LAST, WANTS TO
HIRE ME TO HELP HIM WRITE A BOOK
AND HELP HIM TEACH HIS IMMIGRANT
RIGHTS CLASSES. THIS TO ANY
OTHER STUDENT, WOULD GIVE THEM
TUITION REMISSION AND A
DIGNIFIED WAGE. BUT BECAUSE OF
MY IMMIGRATION STATUS, I AM
BARRED. IT IS NOT FAIR IN FRONT
OF YOU ALL. YOU HAVE THE POWER
TO ADVANCE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR
ALL. ACT THAT WOULD EXPAND
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR
UNDOCUMENTED STUDENTS AT THE
COMMUNITY COLLEGE, CSU AND UC
LEVEL. I HOPE I CAN COUNT WITH
YOUR SUPPORT TO THE ADVANCEMENT
OF HIGHER EDUCATION FOR ALL.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU. WELCOME MY
NAME IS FATIMA ZEFERINO AND I'M
AN UNDOCUMENTED STUDENT AT CAL
STATE UNIVERSITY, LONG BEACH. I
AM ONE OF THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS
THAT HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR THE
DACA PROGRAM TO REOPEN FOR THE
PAST FIVE YEARS. I AM A CSU
STUDENT THAT HAS BEEN ADVOCATING
AND ORGANIZING TO PUSH FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL CAMPAIGN ON
CAMPUS SINCE THE RELEASE OF ITS
FIRST PRESS CONFERENCE BACK IN
FALL 2022. THIS FIGHT BEGAN AT
THE èC LEVEL, BUT WE MUST
EXPAND THIS OPPORTUNITY TO THE
CSU'S AND COMMUNITY COLLEGES
BECAUSE, LIKE EVERY COLLEGE
STUDENT, WE ARE INVESTING IN OUR
EDUCATION. AND SADLY, UNLIKE
MOST STUDENTS, UNDOCUMENTED
STUDENTS ARE NOT GETTING
ANYTHING IN RETURN. WE ARE
GASLIT AND BELITTLED INTO BEING
GRATEFUL FOR THE 1 TO 2
OPPORTUNITIES AND RESOURCES
OFFERED AT OUR UNIVERSITIES. WE
DESERVE MORE UNDOCUMENTED
STUDENTS THROUGHOUT THE CSU
WORKED SO HARD TO GET LESS THAN
HALF OF WHAT OTHER STUDENTS GET.
FOR EXAMPLE, AT CSULB, I HAVE
APPLIED TO DIFFERENT POSITIONS
RANGING FROM INTERNSHIPS,
RESEARCH ASSISTANT FELLOWSHIPS,
AND STUDENT ASSISTANCE. WHEN I
APPLIED TO THESE ROLES, I DO IT
WITH THE HOPE THAT IT WILL HELP
ME DEVELOP PROFESSIONALLY. BUT
MORE IMPORTANTLY, IT WOULD ALLOW
ME TO MEET MY BASIC NEEDS AND
HOUSING, FOOD AND PERSONAL
HEALTH EXPENSES. ALTHOUGH I
EXCEED EXPECTATIONS, I AM
CONSTANTLY PRAISED FOR MY
ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND TOLD MY
EXPERIENCES AND WORK ETHIC IS
DESIRED. IT'S DISCOURAGING TO
GET DENIED AN OPPORTUNITY
BECAUSE OF MY STATUS. I FEAR
THAT ALL OF YOU DO NOT
UNDERSTAND HOW DISAPPOINTING AND
GUT WRENCHING IT FEELS TO BE
DENIED MY HUMANITY AND MY RIGHT
TO ACCESS THE SAME OPPORTUNITIES
AS MY PEERS. WE HAVE BEEN LEFT
STRANDED IN ALL ASPECTS OF OUR
SOCIETY, BOTH ECONOMICALLY AND
POLITICALLY. THIS IS WHY I STAND
BEFORE YOU ALL TODAY. AB 2586
OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL MUST PASS
AND MUST BE IMPLEMENTED. WITH
THE PASSING OF THIS BILL. IT
WOULD CHANGE THE LIVES OF
UNDOCUMENTED STUDENTS AT UCS
CSUS AND COMMUNITY COLLEGES BY
ALLOWING US TO FULLY ACCESS ALL
THE OPPORTUNITY THAT COME WITH
AN EDUCATION. THERE IS NO REASON
THAT AS STUDENTS, WE HAVE TO
STRUGGLE FINANCIALLY TO EARN A
DEGREE THAT WILL ULTIMATELY GO
BACK TO OUR COMMUNITY. YOU AS
LEGISLATORS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY
AND ABILITY TO GIVE JUSTICE TO
ALL UNDOCUMENTED STUDENTS IN
CALIFORNIA. VÀ THANK YOU. THANK
YOU SO MUCH. ARE THERE WITNESSES
IN SUPPORT IN A HEARING ROOM?
CAÑADA DEVINE, ON BEHALF OF THE
CAL STATE STUDENT ASSOCIATION,
WHICH REPRESENTS THE NEARLY HALF
A MILLION CSU STUDENTS IN THE
STATE AND STRONG SUPPORT LÀ DE
LA CRUZ, SACRAMENTO STATE AND
WITH THE CALIFORNIA DREAM
NETWORK IN STRONG SUPPORT.
LILIANA JUAREZ ARMENTA, FOOTHILL
COLLEGE AND UC BERKELEY ALUMNI,
FUTURE LAW STUDENT IN STRONG
SUPPORT. HELLO AGAIN. MARIA
PACHECO, MAYOR FOR THE CITY OF
KERMAN. THIS IS WHAT IT'S ALL
ABOUT, FOLKS. I'M IN STRONG
SUPPORT. THANK YOU. TIFFANY MÀ,
ON BEHALF OF CFT, UNION OF
EDUCATORS AND CLASSIFIED
PROFESSIONALS IN STRONG SUPPORT.
MY NAME IS RONALD SANTIAGO. I'M
THE STATEWIDE ORGANIZER FOR THE
CALIFORNIA DREAM NETWORK, AND
I'M IN STRONG SUPPORT TO GIVE
THE STUDENTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO
HAVE CONTROL OVER THEIR LIVES.
THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON,
THERE'S MORE WITNESSES. VERONICA
SANDOVAL STANDING FOR FIRST
GENERATION AS WELL, BUSINESS
OWNER AND STRONG SUPPORTING YOU
GUYS. THIS LEO RODRIGUEZ,
PRESIDENT OF IDEAS AT UC
BERKELEY AND FORMER COMMISSIONER
TO THE CALIFORNIA STUDENT AID
COMMISSION AND DACA RECIPIENT
WHO DOES NOT KNOW HOW MY FUTURE
LIES HERE IN SUPPORT. SANDRA
IGUCHI, UNDER DOCUMENTED STUDENT
TRAVELING FROM UC SANTA CRUZ.
AND I'M IN SUPPORT. CANDY
SANCHEZ, UNDOCUMENTED STUDENT
FROM UC SANTA CRUZ. I'M IN
SUPPORT OF 2586. JUAN ALVAREZ
ORTIZ I AM AN UNDOCUMENTED
STUDENT WITHOUT DACA TRAVELING
FROM UC SANTA CRUZ, AND I URGE
YOU TO SUPPORT AB 2586 LETICIA
RUIZ, POLICY RESEARCH EXECUTIVE
FOR ASU, SENATOR ANDREA JIMENEZ,
OFFICE, AND I URGE YOU TO
SUPPORT AB 2586. THANK YOU. HI.
MY NAME IS ALMA ESPERANZA
VILLALOBOS. I'M A PHD STUDENT AT
UC SANTA CRUZ, AND I BASS 2586.
THANK YOU. HI. MY NAME IS
ESMERALDA MARTINEZ. I'M AN
UNDOCUMENTED STUDENT FROM UC
BERKELEY. I'M THE INTERNAL
AFFAIRS WITH IDEAS, AND I URGE
YOU TO SUPPORT THIS BILL. GOOD
AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS SHARON. I
AM A SENIOR AT CAL POLY POMONA.
I HAVE BEEN UNDOCUMENTED AND
WITHOUT A PATH TO CITIZENSHIP
SINCE I FIRST CAME TO CALIFORNIA
WHEN I WAS NINE YEARS OLD.
THROUGHOUT MY YEARS IN SCHOOL,
I'VE HAD TO TURN DOWN NUMEROUS
PROFESSIONAL OPPORTUNITIES,
INCLUDING TWO MECHANICAL
ENGINEERING INTERNSHIPS OFF
CAMPUS AND ONE ON CAMPUS
POSITION AS A STUDENT ASSISTANT.
AB 2586 WOULD HELP ME FILL
VACANT JOB OPENINGS ON MY CAMPUS
THAT I AM QUALIFIED FOR. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU. HELLO, MY NAME
IS ANA MARIA ALFARO. I'M A
STUDENT AT UC BERKELEY,
UNDOCUMENTED AS WELL, I'M HERE
WITH THE UNDOCUMENTED STUDENT
LED NETWORK, AND I URGE YOU TO
SUPPORT AB 2596 86. THANK YOU.
HELLO. HOLA. I AM GIANCARLO
PEREZ. HERNANDEZ I'M HERE IN
STRONG SUPPORT OF AB 2586. I'M
AN UNDOCUMENTED STUDENT COMING
FROM UC IRVINE. TRAVELED TO
ABOUT 400 MILES TO BE HERE. AND
I'M TIRED OF THE EXPLOITATION
THAT ALL OF OUR UNDOCUMENTED
STUDENTS GO THROUGH ON A DAY TO
DAY BASIS. AND I STRONGLY URGE
YOU TO SUPPORT AB 2586. THANK
YOU. HI ALL. MY NAME IS FATIMA
MENDOZA. I'M A THIRD YEAR
STUDENT AT UC IRVINE STUDYING
EDUCATION SCIENCES. I'M HERE
TODAY IN STRONG SUPPORT OF BILL
AB 2586. I'M NOT HERE JUST TO
REPRESENT MYSELF, BUT TO
REPRESENT OTHER UNDOCUMENTED
STUDENTS WHO COULD NOT BE HERE.
YOU ASSEMBLY MEMBERS OF
CALIFORNIA HAVE THE COLLECTIVE
RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE IF WE
HAVE ACCESS TO THE OPPORTUNITIES
TO MAKE SURE TO BE VESSELS AND
ENSURE A BETTER FUTURE IS
PROMISED FOR TOMORROW. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON
EVERYONE. HELLO. MY NAME IS
MONSI DAMIAN. I AM A NONDOC
RECIPIENT. I COME FROM UC IRVINE
AND I'M HERE IN SUPPORT OF THE
BILL. AB 2586 OPPORTUNITY FOR
ALL. I BELIEVE MY COMMUNITY
EXCEEDS MORE THAN WHAT AN
AVERAGE CIVILIAN AND IS ASKED
FOR AND IS DESERVING OF AN
OPPORTUNITY TO PROSPER IN HIGHER
EDUCATION. GIVEN THAT THE
SCHOOLS ALREADY GIVE US A LIMIT
OF WHEN RECEIVING TUITION, THIS
BILL WILL COMPENSATE US AND GIVE
US AN EQUAL PLAYING FIELD. WHEN
APPLYING FOR GRAD SCHOOL OR IN
MY CASE, PA SCHOOL, AND JUST A
NOTE,
I'M WITH THE UNDOCUMENTED
STUDENT NETWORK, BUT I'M ALSO
HERE AS A PREVIOUS UNDOCUMENTED
AND AN ALLY. I STRONGLY URGE YOU
ALL TO SUPPORT THE BILL THAT
WILL GIVE SO MANY UNDOCUMENTED
STUDENTS ACROSS HIGHER EDUCATION
THE SAME LEVEL, EQUAL
OPPORTUNITIES IN THE SYSTEM.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. HI, DARBY
KERNAN, ON BEHALF OF GRACE TO
END CHILD POVERTY A STUDENT AT UC
BERKELEY. AND I'M HERE TO
SUPPORT THIS BILL BECAUSE I
BELIEVE IN EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES
FOR ALL STUDENTS. THANK YOU. HI,
MY NAME IS NELSON. I AM A THIRD
YEAR STUDENT AT UC IRVINE AND AN
ALLY OF THE UNDOCUMENTED STUDENT
NETWORK. CITIZEN OR NOT, I
BELIEVE IN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY,
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY OF EMPLOYMENT
FOR MY PEERS AND OTHERS. GOOD
AFTERNOON. I AM MIRIAM RAMIREZ
FROM UC BERKELEY AND
UNDOCUMENTED STUDENT IN ON
CAMPUS, AND I SUPPORT AB 2586.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. GOOD
AFTERNOON. I'M JASMINE, I'M FROM
UC IRVINE, FOURTH YEAR
UNDERGRADUATE. I'M ALSO
UNDOCUMENTED AND I SUPPORT AB
2586. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
HELLO. MY NAME IS FRANCESCA
IBARRA. I'M AN EXECUTIVE LADY IN
AMERICAN SOCIETY AT UC BERKELEY,
AND I'M UNDOCUMENTED STUDENT AND
I URGE YOU TO SUPPORT AB 2586.
SO EVERYBODY IN MY COMMUNITY CAN
GET THE OPPORTUNITY AS EVERYONE.
HI, MY NAME IS SUSAN LOZANO. I
COME FROM UC IRVINE AND I URGE
YOU GUYS TO SUPPORT THIS BILL
BECAUSE, US UNDOCUMENTED
STUDENTS ARE DESERVING OF EVERY
RIGHT AS WELL. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU. ELIA SKYE, ON BEHALF OF THE
UC STUDENT ASSOCIATION, WHICH
REPRESENTS OVER 230,000 UC
UNDERGRADUATES AND STRONG
SUPPORT. CAROLINE NGUYEN, ALSO
HERE WITH THE UCSC AND A UC
IRVINE ALUM IN VERY STRONG
SUPPORT SUPPORT
THIS BILL. SAU I GO TO CSU BAKER
SHOW AND I SUPPORT THIS BILL.
HELLO, MY NAME IS NATALIA
MEDRANO AND I GO TO BAKERSFIELD
COLLEGE AND I SUPPORT TWO, FIVE
EIGHT, SIX OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL.
HELLO, MY NAME IS SUSAN TORRES.
I ATTEND BAKERSFIELD COLLEGE AND
I SUPPORT AB 2586. BILL. MY NAME
IS LINDA. I GO TO COLLEGE. I
SUPPORT OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL.
GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS
ABRAHAM CRUZ. I'M AN
UNDOCUMENTED STUDENT FROM THE
UCLA CAMPUS. AND I URGE YOU ALL
TO SUPPORT AB 2586, BECAUSE ALL
STUDENTS, REGARDLESS OF THEIR
IMMIGRATION STATUS, DESERVE THE
SAME OPPORTUNITY. THANK YOU.
GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS
GLORIA ALLEN. I'M THE CENTRAL
VALLEY ORGANIZER FOR THE
COALITION OF HUMAN RIGHTS CHIRLA
. I'M ALSO A CSU STANISLAUS
ALUMNI, AND I SUPPORT
OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL. GOOD
AFTERNOON, CHAIR MEMBERS CYNTHIA
GÓMEZ WITH THE COALITION FOR
HUMANE IMMIGRANT RIGHTS, TRÊN.
AND ON BEHALF OF CHIRLA
CALIFORNIA IMMIGRANT POLICY
CENTER, IN STRONG SUPPORT I'M AN UNDOCUMENTED,
STUDIED FROM UC IRVINE, AND I'M
IN SUPPORT OF AB 2586. THANK YOU
. MY NAME IS BETHZAIDA SALVADOR,
SECOND YEAR UNDOCUMENTED STUDENT
AT UC IRVINE. AND I STRONGLY
URGE YOU TO SUPPORT AB 2586. HI
EVERYONE. MY NAME IS CATHERINE
AND I AM FROM THE CAMPUS OF UC
IRVINE AND I AM ALSO THE
DIRECTOR OF MARKETING FOR
STUDENTS ADVOCATING FOR
IMMIGRANTS RIGHTS AND EQUITY.
AND I'M HERE TO REPRESENT MY
FELLOW STUDENTS AND FUTURE
UNDOCUMENTED STUDENTS WHO ARE
COMING ON CAMPUS. I STRONGLY
URGE YOU TO SUPPORT AB 2586.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I
APOLOGIZE EVERYONE COME IN. IF
YOU COULD PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME
AND POSITION. THANK YOU. HI
EVERYBODY. I'M CARLOS CASTRO
GÓMEZ COMING FROM UCI SAPPHIRE
AND I'M HERE IN SUPPORT OF AB
2586. I STRONGLY URGE YOU TO
SUPPORT IT AS WELL. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. HELLO EVERYONE. MY
NAME IS JESUS LOPEZ. I'M A UCI
STUDENT. I STRONGLY URGE YOU TO
SUPPORT AB 2586. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU YOU TO
SUPPORT AB 2586. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. HELLO. MY NAME IS
GINA RAMIREZ DEL RIO, AND I'M A
I'M A SENIOR. I'M AN
UNDOCUMENTED SENIOR AT UC
MERCED, AND I'M IN SUPPORT OF AB
2586, NOT ONLY FOR MYSELF, BUT
FUTURE AND CURRENT UNDOCUMENTED
STUDENTS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
HELLO, MY NAME IS BRISA JACKSON
AND I AM CURRENTLY A THIRD YEAR
PUBLIC HEALTH MAJOR AND AN
UNDOCUMENTED STUDENT AT UC
MERCED. AND I PLEASE URGE YOU
TO, SUPPORT AB TWO 586. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU. HELLO. EVA
JIMENEZ WITH THE CALIFORNIA
DREAM NETWORK, A STATEWIDE
PROGRAM FOR UNDOCUMENTED
STUDENTS AND STRONG SUPPORT.
HELLO. MY NAME IS ALEJANDRO PITA
, AND I AM A STUDENT FROM UC
MERCED. AND I STRONGLY URGE YOU
TO SUPPORT AB 2586. HELLO. MY
NAME IS SYLVIA. I'M AN
UNDOCUMENTED STUDENT AT UC DAVIS
, AND I'M TIRED OF SEEING OUR
UNDOCUMENTED STUDENTS BEING,
SEPARATE AND UNEQUAL. WHEN WE
HAD ALL, BEEN SELECTED BY THESE
UNIVERSITIES AND HAVE BEEN ABLE
TO GET THERE. AND I REALLY HOPE
THAT YOU ALL SUPPORT, AB TWO
586. HELLO MY NAME IS FATIMA.
I'M WITH UNDOCUMENTED STUDENT
LED NETWORK AND STUDENT AT UC
DAVIS, AND I'M URGING YOU TO
PASS 2586 BECAUSE IT IS UNFAIR
THAT WE ARE GETTING ADMITTED
INTO THESE CAMPUSES ONLY TO FIND
OURSELVES STRUGGLING
FINANCIALLY, MENTALLY AND
EMOTIONALLY. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU. HELLO. MY NAME IS ANDREA
AND I'M HERE WITH UC DAVIS WITH
UNDOCUMENTED STUDENT LED
NETWORK. I AM ALSO UNDOCUMENTED,
AND I'M HERE ASKING Y'ALL FOR A
BASIC HUMAN RIGHT, NOT FOR A
HANDOUT. THANK YOU. I'M IN
SUPPORT OF AB 2586 AS WELL.
THANK YOU. HI EVERYONE. MY NAME
IS VIRIDIANA HERNANDEZ. I AM AN
UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT FROM UC
MERCED AND I AM ALSO HERE WITH
THE UNDOCUMENTED STUDENT
NETWORK. AND I URGE YOU TO
SUPPORT AB 2586. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. HI EVERYONE. MY NAME
IS NATALIA SOTO ACEVEDO. I AM
WITH THE STUDENT LED NETWORK AS
WELL, AND I AM HERE TO SUPPORT,
AB 2005 86 AND I AM HERE TO BE
THE FACE OF A BILL. I WANT YOU
TO REMEMBER MY FACE AND MY
PEOPLE'S STORIES WHEN YOU'RE
PASSING THE BILL, BECAUSE WE
WANT TO MAKE IT HUMANE AND GIVE
IT THAT LIFE THAT IT THAT IT
DESERVES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU,
ALICIA BENAVIDES, ON BEHALF OF
ACLU CAL ACTION IN SUPPORT. MY
NAME IS GUADALUPE VARON. I AM
FROM BAKERSFIELD COLLEGE. I'M
HERE IN SUPPORT OF AB 2586.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
ARE THERE WITNESSES IN
OPPOSITION IN THE HEARING ROOM
BUT ARE TWEENERS IN THE HEARING
ROOM? GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR.
MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE, MARIO
GUERRERO, ON BEHALF OF THE
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, WE DO
NOT HAVE A POSITION ON THIS
BILL, BUT WE THOUGHT IT WAS
IMPORTANT TO BE HERE TODAY.
THERE IS, WE ABSOLUTELY SUPPORT
THE INTENT OF THE BILL AND THE
INTENT OF ALL OF THESE YOUNG
ADVOCATES. I'M INSPIRED. I HOPE
YOU ARE TOO, THAT BEING SAID, WE
HAVE CONCERNS IN REGARDS TO
IMPLEMENTATION, AND WE'VE SHARED
THOSE, THROUGH A LETTER TO THE
COMMITTEE. AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO
NOTE THOSE. FIRST, WE ARE
CONCERNED ABOUT THE EXPOSURE OF
UNDOCUMENTED STUDENTS AND THEIR
FAMILIES TO THE POSSIBILITY OF
CRIMINAL PROSECUTION AND
DEPORTATION. SHOULD WE IMPLEMENT
THIS BILL, THE POSSIBILITY OF
EMPLOYEES THAT ARE INVOLVED IN
THE HIRING PROCESS, WHETHER
THAT'S OUR FACULTY, HUMAN
RESOURCES, LEGAL PROFESSIONALS
BEING SUBJECT TO CRIMINAL AND
CIVIL PROSECUTION IF THEY WERE
KNOWINGLY PARTICIPATE IN
PRACTICES DEEMED IMPERMISSIBLE
UNDER FEDERAL LAW, CRIMINAL
FINES, CRIMINAL PENALTIES AND
DEBARMENT FROM FEDERAL
CONTRACTING. IF THE UNIVERSITY
IS IN VIOLATION OF THE
IMMIGRATION REFORM AND CONTROL
ACT AND THE POTENTIAL OF LOSS OF
BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN EXISTING
FEDERAL CONTRACTS AND GRANTS ARE
CONDITIONAL ON FOLLOWING, THE
IRCA WE WELCOME WORKING WITH THE
AUTHOR, OPPORTUNITIES WORK WITH
THE AUTHOR AND WITH THE
COMMITTEE TO TRY TO FIND
ALTERNATIVES. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
PROFESSOR WONG, DO YOU WANT TO
MAKE A QUICK COMMENT, KENT WONG
WITH THE UCLA LABOR CENTER. AND
I'M JOINED TODAY BY MY COLLEAGUE
FROM THE UCLA LAW SCHOOL, ELLEN
ARULANANTHAM, WHO IS THE
DIRECTOR OF THE CENTER FOR
IMMIGRATION AND LAW POLICY AT
UCLA. I HAVE BEEN TEACHING AT
UCLA FOR THE PAST 33 YEARS, THE
FINEST STUDENTS IN MY CAREER
HAVE BEEN UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANT
STUDENTS WHO, AGAINST ALL ODDS,
HAVE SUCCEEDED AND ARE
GRADUATING FROM COMMUNITY
COLLEGES, CAL STATE UNIVERSITY
CAMPUSES, AND THE UNIVERSITY OF
CALIFORNIA. AND YET, INDEED,
THERE IS A, UNEQUAL TREATMENT OF
OUR UNDOCUMENTED STUDENTS IN
HIGHER EDUCATION, EVEN THOUGH
THEY HAVE DONE EVERYTHING THAT
WE HAVE ASKED THEM TO DO, THEY
HAVE WORKED HARD, THEY HAVE
STUDIED HARD, THEY HAVE GOTTEN
INTO THIS FINEST COLLEGES AND
UNIVERSITIES IN THE COUNTRY, AND
YET WE ARE PENALIZING THEM
UNJUSTLY. BECAUSE OF SOMETHING
THAT THEY HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO
CONTROL OVER. AND THAT IS THEIR
IMMIGRATION STATUS AND WHERE
THEY WERE BORN. OUR COLLEAGUE,
AHILAN CAN LAY OUT VERY CLEAR,
LEGAL THEORY, WHICH IS AT THE
FOUNDATION OF THIS, ARGUMENT
THAT INDEED, THE STATES OF THE
UNITED STATES WERE NEVER
MANDATED TO ENFORCE EMPLOYER
SANCTIONS AND THAT IT IS THE
RIGHT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF
CALIFORNIA TO THE CALIFORNIA
STATE UNIVERSITY AND THE
COMMUNITY COLLEGES TO EMPLOY OUR
STUDENTS. TODAY, THE CALIFORNIA
STATE LEGISLATURE HAS PLAYED A
HISTORIC AND CRITICAL ROLE IN
ADVANCING THE RIGHTS OF
UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANT STUDENTS
WITH AB 540. WITH THE CALIFORNIA
DREAM ACT, WITH THE PASSAGE OF
DRIVER'S LICENSES AND HEALTH
CARE ACCESS. AND SO WE REALLY
ENCOURAGE MEMBERS OF THIS
COMMITTEE AND THE ASSEMBLY AND
SENATE TO FOLLOW THAT PROUD
TRADITION IN ADVOCATING FOR
STANDING UP FOR CRITICAL FUTURE
LEADERS WITHIN OUR SOCIETY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU
SO MUCH, COLLEAGUES. ANY
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? WE HAVE A
MOTION BY DOCTOR RAMBLA. DO WE
HAVE A SECOND, SECOND BY SENATOR
BERNER? OKAY. WE HAVE A QUESTION
BY SENATOR BERNER, FOLLOWED BY
SENATOR MURATSUCHI. IT'S NOT SO
MUCH A QUESTION AS A COMMENT
WHEN, THE AUTHOR AND I WERE
TALKING ABOUT THIS BILL
YESTERDAY, I ASKED HIM, BECAUSE
I LIVED ABROAD FOR 12 YEARS AND
STUDIED IN GERMANY, AND MY
EX-HUSBAND HAS A GREEN CARD. AND
SO I ASKED HIM, WELL, ALL OF OUR
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS, WHEN
THEY COME HERE, THEY GET A WORK
ON CAMPUS, RIGHT? AND SO WE'RE
ADMITTING THEM TO CAMPUS. AND SO
WHY WOULD WE TREAT OUR
UNDOCUMENTED STUDENTS ANY WAYS
DIFFERENTLY? AND SO WHAT I
BELIEVE THE AUTHOR CAME BACK TO
ME AND SAID, ANYBODY WITH AN F-1
OR AN M-1 VISA CAN WORK ON
CAMPUS. SO ALL WE'RE DOING IS
SAYING WHAT'S GOOD FOR THE GOOSE
IS GOOD FOR THE GANDER. AND SO
WITH THAT, I SECOND THE MOTION
AND SUPPORT THE BILL. THANK YOU,
SENATOR BERNER. SENATOR
MURATSUCHI, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THANK YOU, I, SUPPORT
UNDOCUMENTED STUDENTS, AND I
WILL SUPPORT THIS MEASURE.
HAVING SAID THAT, I DO HAVE SOME
QUESTIONS, AS A LAWYER, FIRST OF
ALL, THERE, CLEARLY SEEMS TO BE,
DIFFERENCES IN LEGAL OPINION IN
TERMS OF WHAT, IF ANY, LEGAL
CONSEQUENCES OR LIABILITY, THERE
THERE ARE WHETHER FOR THE
STUDENTS OR FOR THE UNIVERSITY
AND HIRING
UNDOCUMENTED PERSONS DOES NOT
BIND STATE GOVERNMENT ENTITIES,
BUT IT APPEARS THAT THE, THE
ATTORNEYS, ADVISING THE
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA REGENTS
, IF NOT, YOU KNOW, ARE ARRIVING
A DIFFERENT CONCLUSION, OR AT
LEAST, RAISING DIFFERENT ISSUES,
MY FIRST QUESTION IS, THAT THE
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA IS, BY
STATE CONSTITUTION, A
INDEPENDENT, ENTITY BEYOND THE
JURISDICTION OF THIS LEGISLATURE
. AND ANY THOUGHTS ON THAT?
THANK YOU. AHILAN ARLEN AND
THEM. I'M A PROFESSOR FROM
PRACTICE AT UCLA LAW SCHOOL AND
THE FACULTY CO-DIRECTOR OF THE
CENTER FOR IMMIGRATION LAW AND
POLICY. TO ANSWER YOUR SPECIFIC
QUESTION, WE THINK IT MAY BE
TRUE THAT THE UNIVERSITY OF
CALIFORNIA, IN THIS MATTER,
WHICH IS AN EMPLOYMENT MATTER,
MAY ACTUALLY BE SUBJECT IS A
WAY THAT A NUMBER OF OTHER,
BILLS AB 540 OR THE, YOU KNOW,
THE, ANOTHER BILL THAT PROVIDES
OPPORTUNITIES FOR UNDOCUMENTED
STUDENTS FUNCTIONS. IT'S ONLY A
RECOMMENDATION TO THE UC, BUT
THEY STILL FOLLOW IT. OF COURSE,
THE BILL WOULD STILL HAVE A
DIRECT EFFECT THEN ON THE
CALIFORNIA STATE AND COMMUNITY
COLLEGE SYSTEMS, TO ADDRESS THE
OTHER POINT, YOU MENTIONED, YOU
KNOW, WE SCHOLARS AND THE
MOST KNOWLEDGEABLE.
. IT'S NOT ANY
DIFFERENT THAN THE RISK TO
ANYBODY WHO SIGNS UP FOR DACA,
ANYBODY WHO GETS A DRIVER'S
LICENSE THAT HAS A SPECIAL MARK
ON IT SO THAT YOU CAN TELL IF
THE PERSON YOU KNOW, WHAT
DOCUMENT THEY USE TO GET IT, OR
ANY NUMBER OF OTHER THINGS WHERE
UNDOCUMENTED PEOPLE HAVE TO TAKE
A RISK. THESE ARE NOT CHILDREN,
AS YOU'VE SEEN. THEY HAVE LIVED
AS WITH THEIR WHOLE LIFE,
UNDOCUMENTED, AND THEY CAN
CHOOSE TO MAKE THAT DECISION FOR
THEMSELVES. AND FINALLY, AS TO
THE CONCERN A HUGE AMOUNT OF THE STATE
OF CALIFORNIA'S LAW ENFORCEMENT
FUNDING, AND THAT WAS VACATED,
AND THEY LOST. AND CALIFORNIA
WAS ABLE TO PRESERVE THAT
FUNDING. WHEN THE CALIFORNIA
VALUES ACT PASSED. AND IN OUR
VIEW, THE ISSUES HERE ARE QUITE
SIMILAR TO THE ISSUES THERE. I'M
INTERESTED IN YOUR, ARGUMENT
THAT, THAT, IF
INDIVIDUALS SHOULD BE PROTECTED
FROM CRIMINAL LIABILITY IF THEY
REASONABLY RELIED ON, A STATE
LAW. SAU, WOULD THAT ALSO EXTEND
TO POTENTIAL CIVIL LIABILITY FOR
, ANY OF OUR PUBLIC, CAN ONLY BE IMPOSED
WHEN THERE'S BEEN ADEQUATE
NOTICE THAT THE LAW IS CLEAR
THAT THE CONDUCT IS PROHIBITED.
AND WHAT OUR MEMO SHOWS AND THE
FACT THAT AS I SAID, 29 OF THE
MOST PROMINENT, YOU KNOW,
SCHOLARS IN THIS FIELD HAVE
SHOWN, AT THE VERY LEAST, I ABLE TO DO THAT. YOU
CAN SEE FOR YOURSELF. IT IS A
VERY GOOD ARGUMENT. THE, THE LAW
SAYS NO PERSON OR ENTITY CAN
HIRE AN UNDOCUMENTED PERSON. AND
THEN IT SAYS ENTITY INCLUDES ANY
BRANCH OF THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT. AND IT NOWHERE SAYS
THE STATES. AND IF YOU LOOK AT
THE TITLE SEVEN FAIR LABOR
STANDARDS ACT, FAMILY MEDICAL
LEAVE LAW AFTER LAW, WHEN THEY
WANT TO COVER STATES, THEY SAY
STATES OR POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS
OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. AND SO
WE THINK THAT THAT IS A
LIABILITY AS WELL. BUT, NEEDLESS
TO SAY, WE ARE NOT IN A COURT OF
LAW. WE ARE A POLITICAL BODY
HERE. AND I WILL BE STRONGLY IN
SUPPORT OF THIS MEASURE. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. ANY
FURTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS
FROM COLLEAGUES SEEING NONE ARE
SIMILAR. WE'D LIKE TO CLOSE,
PLEASE. ACTUALLY WOULD. AND
TYPICALLY I KNOW THE CLOSING
COMMENTS FROM AUTHORS ARE VERY
SHORT. I I'M REALLY GLAD THAT
THE LIST OF SPEAKERS WAS AS LONG
AS IT WAS. ALTHOUGH YOU HAD TO
LISTEN TO A LOT OF SPEAKERS. I
WAS, I WAS REALLY OVERWHELMED
WITH EMOTION WITH THE STORIES
AND THE TESTIMONIES. I HOPE THAT
YOU HAD A AT LEAST A LITTLE BIT
OF THE SAME FEELING, IT
CERTAINLY, IS COURAGEOUS AND,
AND INSPIRING AND HOPEFUL THAT
YOUNG PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, CAN HAVE
THE, THE STRENGTH TO COME
FORWARD IN SUCH A PUBLIC WAY AND
ACKNOWLEDGE, SOMETHING THAT
MAKES THEM SO VULNERABLE, AND
THAT'S WHAT THIS BILL IS ABOUT.
IT'S ABOUT, INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE
AT THE SAME TIME VULNERABLE IN
THE LAW, BUT SO STRONG IN WHO
THEY ARE. MÀ. AND THEY'RE
STANDING UP FOR SO MANY
LITERALLY HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS
OF YOUNG PEOPLE IN THIS STATE TO
, TO ATTEMPT TO, TO DO THE RIGHT
THING, NO ONE IN THIS CASE IS
ASKING FOR ANY KIND OF A HANDOUT
OR A LEG UP ON ANYBODY ELSE.
THESE ARE STUDENTS WHO ARE
WORKING REALLY, REALLY HARD, WHO
ARE DEMONSTRATING THAT THEY ARE
WILLING TO PUT IN THE EFFORT, TO
THEN COMPETE FOR THOSE JOBS THAT
ARE AVAILABLE, I WOULD ALSO JUST
LIKE TO AT THIS MOMENT, THANK,
THE SCHOLARS I HAVE WHEN I READ
THE 27 PAGES OF THIS LEGAL
MEMORANDUM THAT THE CENTER FOR
IMMIGRATION LAW AND POLICY AT
UCLA PUT OUT, IT WAS LIKE THE
BEST, MESSAGE DELIVERED THAT
THERE WAS SOME HOPE FOR THOSE
WHO ARE SOME STILL MY FAMILY
MEMBERS WHO WOULD EITHER WHO ARE
STILL UNDOCUMENTED. CERTAINLY MY
NEIGHBORS, PEOPLE WHO I GO TO
CHURCH WITH, MANY OF THE
FAMILIES THAT I REPRESENT THAT
ARE LOOKING TO PARTICIPATE IN
OUR ECONOMY, THEY'RE LOOKING TO
DO THIS THE RIGHT WAY. OUR
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS FAILED.
IT HAS FAILED MISERABLY. I WISH
THEY COULD, SPEND, YOU KNOW, A
MINUTE LISTENING TO THIS
TESTIMONY ABOUT HOW STRONG OUR
FUTURE IS. IF WE DID THE RIGHT
THING FOR THESE INDIVIDUALS. AND
FOR THAT REASON, I AM INCREDIBLY
HONORED TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE
THE WORK THAT'S BEEN STARTED
BEFORE ME, TO PRESENT THIS AS
THE AUTHOR OF THIS BILL. AND I'D
ASK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT. AND I
VOTE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
SUMMER, ALVAREZ, FOR BRINGING
THIS VERY IMPORTANT MEASURE
FORWARD TO REALLY LOOK AT HOW WE
CONTINUE TO EXPAND OPPORTUNITIES
FOR UNDOCUMENTED STUDENTS AND
EMPLOYMENT AND THANK YOU FOR
YOUR LEADERSHIP AND EFFORTS
AROUND THIS ISSUE. WE KNOW THE
CORE ISSUE HAS BEEN BROUGHT UP
HERE AS A QUESTION OF FEDERAL
PREEMPTION REGARDING IRCA, BUT
WE KNOW THAT EVERY DAY THAT WE
DON'T TAKE SOME MEANINGFUL
ACTION, THE STUDENTS PAY THE
PRICE. WE KNOW LEADERSHIP
REQUIRES MAKING HARD CHOICES.
AND I FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT OUR
LEGISLATURE SHOULD CONTINUE TO
LEAD ON THIS ISSUE. THE MORE
THAT WE CONTINUE TO PUSH OUR
PARTNERS HERE TODAY WILL
CONTINUE TO PUSH THE EXECUTIVE
AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO MAKE
SURE THAT WE COME TOGETHER TO
EXPLORE SOLUTIONS AND REALLY
APPRECIATE ALL THE TESTIMONY
FROM ALL THE SPEAKERS HERE
TODAY. THANK YOU FOR MAKING THE
TRIP NEAR AND FAR AND PROVIDING
YOUR POWERFUL TESTIMONY HERE
TODAY TO EXPAND OPPORTUNITIES
FOR OUR UNDOCUMENTED STUDENTS IN
CALIFORNIA'S HIGHER EDUCATION
SYSTEM AND EMPLOYMENT. WITH
THAT, I SUPPORT THE DO PASS
RECOMMENDATION, AND IF IT'S OKAY
WITH THE AUTHOR, I'D LIKE TO BE
ADDED AS A COAUTHOR. THANK YOU.
AND WITH THAT, MADAM SECRETARY,
ROLL CALL, PLEASE FILE ITEM
NUMBER TEN AB 2586. THE MOTION
IS DUE. PASS TO THE
APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE. FONG.
FONG AYE. TAH TAH. NØ. ARAMBULA
ARAMBULA. AYE. BURNER. BURNER
AYE. CHEN ASSALEH. IRWIN. IRWIN
AYE. JACKSON. JACKSON. AYE. LO
LOWE. AYE. MURATSUCHI.
MURATSUCHI AYE. QUIRK-SILVA.
THAT. MEASURE SEVEN. AYE. ONE.
NO. AND WE'LL KEEP THEM OPEN FOR
ADDITIONAL MEMBERS. ADD ON. THAT
MEASURE IS OUT. THANK YOU, THANK
YOU, THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR
OUR MEMBERS FOR BEING PATIENT.
NEXT UP IS ITEM NUMBER FOUR BY
SENATOR CHRIS WARD. WELCOME.
I'M NOT GOING TO STEAL THAT
CREDIT. PREVIOUS BILL DESERVED
ITS APPLAUSE, MR. CHAIRMAN,
MEMBERS, THANK YOU. ACCORDING TO
THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF
HOUSING AND COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT, ONLY 46% OF FACULTY
AND 53% OF STAFF CAN AFFORD A
HOME IN OUR STATE. THIS LACK OF
ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING HAS
INCREASED THE DIFFICULTY OF
RECRUITING AND RETAINING DIVERSE
QUALITY STAFF. CURRENT DATA
SHOWS. OVER 9000 OF OUR CURRENT
CSU FACULTY AND STAFF WOULD BE
ELIGIBLE TO LIVE WITHIN THE
PROSPECTIVE HOUSING BUILT WITH
SOME OF THESE TAX CREDITS THAT
ARE BEFORE US IN AB 2005. AS WE
ALL KNOW, STAFF AND FACULTY ARE
THE BACKBONE OF OUR UNIVERSITY
SYSTEM AND WE MUST CONTINUE TO
PROTECT THE DIVERSITY AND
QUALITY OF OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM,
NOT ONLY FOR OUR STAFF, BUT FOR
OUR STUDENTS. BY ENSURING THAT
THEY ARE TAUGHT BY STAFF AND
FACULTY THAT REPRESENT THEIR OWN
BACKGROUNDS. THIS BILL ALLOWS
THE CSU TO UTILIZE THE LOW
INCOME HOUSING TAX CREDIT TO
CREATE MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING
FOR OUR AMAZING CSU FACULTY AND
STAFF. THROUGH PREVIOUS
LEGISLATION, YOU ALL PROBABLY
REMEMBER, CALIFORNIA HAS
PROVIDED ACCESS TO THE LOW
INCOME HOUSING TAX CREDIT FOR
CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY COLLEGES
AND OUR K-12 SYSTEMS. GIVEN THE
RISING COST OF HOUSING THAT
WE'VE SEEN IN CALIFORNIA OVER
THE LAST FEW YEARS, AB 2005
WOULD PROTECT THESE MEMBERS OF
OUR CSU FACULTY BODY AND
STRENGTHEN OUR UNIVERSITY'S
ABILITY TO PROVIDE THEM WITH
ADEQUATE HOUSING FOR WITNESSES.
I HAVE IN SUPPORT AGNES JUAN
NICKERSON, THE VP FOR BUSINESS
AND FINANCIAL AFFAIRS AND CFO
FOR SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY,
AS WELL AS ADRIANA GÓMEZ FROM
THE CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY
OFFICE OF THE CHANCELLOR. HERE
TO SUPPORT WITH TECHNICAL
QUESTIONS, I RESPECTFULLY ASK
FOR YOUR I VOTE. THANK YOU SO
MUCH. WELCOME. OKAY. YEAH GOOD
AFTERNOON, CHAIR FONG AND
COMMITTEE MEMBERS. MY NAME IS
AGNES NICKERSON, VICE PRESIDENT
AND CFO AT SAN DIEGO STATE
UNIVERSITY. THANK YOU FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO TESTIFY ON AB
2005, A BILL THAT WILL PLAY A
CRITICAL ROLE IN HELPING THE CSU
ADDRESS THE HOUSING NEEDS FOR
OUR 53,000 MEMBERS OF OUR
FACULTY AND STAFF. US NEWS AND
WORLD REPORT RECENTLY LISTED SAN
DIEGO AS THE MOST EXPENSIVE
PLACE TO LIVE IN THE US. THE
AVERAGE RENT OF A TWO BEDROOM
APARTMENT IS AT $2,855 PER MONTH
IN SAN DIEGO. IN COMPARISON TO
NATIONAL AVERAGE, MONTHLY RENT
OF A TWO BEDROOM APARTMENT IS
JUST A LITTLE BIT OVER $1,300.
THE LACK OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING
OPTIONS NEAR CAMPUS NOT ONLY
STRAINED THE FINANCES OF FACULTY
AND STAFF, BUT ALSO CONTRIBUTE
TO LONGER COMMUTES, INCREASED
TRAFFIC CONGESTIONS AND
ULTIMATELY A LOWER QUALITY OF
LIFE AS A SYSTEM, WE ALSO RISK
LOSING TALENTED INDIVIDUALS TO
OTHER STATES AND INDUSTRIES,
POTENTIALLY UNDERMINING THE
ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE AND
INNOVATIVE RESEARCH CAPABILITIES
OF OUR 23 UNIVERSITIES. THIS
BILL SEEKS TO HELP ADDRESS THESE
CHALLENGES BY EXTENDING TO THE
CSU THE SAME ABILITY TO COMPETE
FOR LOW INCOME HOUSING TAX
CREDITS AS K THROUGH 12, AND
COMMUNITY COLLEGES. IT ALSO
ALLOWS THE CSU TO PRIORITIZE
OCCUPANCY OF THE AFFORDABLE
RENTAL UNITS TO FACULTY AND
STAFF. WHEN BUILT ON UNIVERSITY
OWNED LAND, THIS MEASURE WILL
HAVE THE IMPACT OF OPENING UP
LAND ON CSU OWNED PROPERTY FOR
HOUSING DEVELOPMENT IN EFFECT AB
2005. EMPOWER CSU TO TAKE
PROACTIVE STEPS TO BUILD ON OUR
EFFORTS TO PROVIDE AFFORDABLE
HOUSING OPTIONS TO OUR FACULTY
AND STAFF, ALIGNING WITH OUR
COMMITMENT TO FOSTER A STABLE,
SUPPORTIVE AND INCLUSIVE WORK
ENVIRONMENT. ON BEHALF OF THE
SDSU AND THE 22 OTHER CAMPUSES
IN OUR SYSTEM, I RESPECTFULLY
URGE YOU TO SUPPORT THIS BILL,
RECOGNIZING THE PROFOUND IMPACT
THIS AVAILABILITY OF AFFORDABLE
HOUSING WILL HAVE ON THE
VITALITY AND SUCCESS OF OUR
DEDICATED EMPLOYEES. THANK YOU
FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. WELCOME GOOD
AFTERNOON, CHAIR MEMBERS ADRIANA
GÓMEZ WITH THE OFFICE OF THE
CHANCELLOR IN SUPPORT AND HERE
TO SUPPORT WITH ANY TECHNICAL
QUESTIONS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU
SO MUCH. OTHER WITNESSES IN
SUPPORT IN THE HEARING ROOM.
GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR MARTIN,
FOR THE SAN MARTIN RADOSEVICH ON
BEHALF OF THE SAN DIEGO COUNTY
HOUSING COMMISSION IN SUPPORT.
DANIEL PEARL, ON BEHALF OF THE
AMERICAN FEDERATION OF STATE
COUNTY MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES IN
STRONG SUPPORT. THANK YOU SO
MUCH. ARE THERE WITNESSES IN
OPPOSITION IN A HEARING ROOM?
ARE THERE TWEENERS IN A HEARING
ROOM? COLLEAGUES, ANY QUESTIONS
OR COMMENTS? SUMMER BURNER I
THINK THIS IS A WONDERFUL BILL
AND IT ALSO REDUCES GREENHOUSE
GAS EMISSIONS. IF THEY'RE LIVING
ON CAMPUS. SO THAT'S WONDERFUL,
AND I'D LIKE TO BE ADDED AS A
COAUTHOR. THANK YOU, MISS
BURNER. Þ. WITH THAT, I MOVE THE
BILL A MOTION A SECOND.
COLLEAGUES, ANY ADDITIONAL
COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? SEEING
NONE A SIMILAR WE'D LIKE TO
CLOSE, PLEASE RESPECTFULLY
REQUEST YOUR AYE VOTE. THANK YOU
SO MUCH FOR SOME REWARD FOR
BRINGING A VERY IMPORTANT
MEASURE FORWARD. I BELIEVE THE
STATE NEEDS TO BE AS INNOVATIVE
AS POSSIBLE IN ADDRESSING OUR
ONGOING HOUSING CRISIS. BY
ESTABLISHING THE CSU FACULTY AND
EMPLOYEE HOUSING ACT. THIS BILL
WILL ALLOW A PROCESS TO BEGIN
LEADING TO BEGIN LEADING TO
ADDITIONAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES
FOR OUR CSU FACULTY AND STAFF.
BRINGING PARITY TO THAT OF OUR
COMMUNITY, COLLEGES AND STAFF.
WITH THAT, I LOOK FORWARD TO
SUPPORTING THE BILL HERE TODAY.
MADAM SECRETARY, ROLL CALL,
PLEASE FILE ITEM NUMBER FOUR AB
2005. THE MOTION IS Dð. PASS TO
THE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE FOR
I FONG I TO NÓ ARAMBULA ARAMBULA
I BURNER A BURNER I CHEN A SALLY
ERWIN JACKSON. JACKSON I LOW
MURATSUCHI MURATSUCHI I
QUIRK-SILVA. THAT MEASURE HAS
FIVE AYES. ONE NO. WE'LL KEEP
THE ROLL OPEN FOR ADDITIONAL
MEMBERS ADD ON. THANK YOU SO
MUCH. THANK YOU. NEXT UP I'D
LIKE TO WELCOME A SIMILAR ADDIS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR
PATIENCE. ITEM NUMBER TWO
ASSEMBLY BILL 1905 BY ASSEMBLY
DON ADDIS, WELCOME.
OKAY OKAY, OKAY. WELL THANK YOU,
CHAIR, STAFF AND ESPECIALLY OUR
ADVOCATES, AND ESPECIALLY MY
WITNESS, TERRY, WHO'S HERE
TODAY. WE JUST HAD THE
OPPORTUNITY FOR A VERY LENGTHY
CONVERSATION DURING ONE OF YOUR
LAST PRESENTATIONS. WE WERE OUT
IN THE HALL, AND I WAS PRIVY TO
HEAR HIS ENTIRE STORY. AND I
WOULD SAY THIS IS PROBABLY ONE
OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS
THAT I'VE DONE TODAY IS TO COME
PRESENT TO THIS COMMITTEE. SO
TODAY I'M HERE TO PRESENT AB
1905, THE RETREAT RATES REFORM
ACT, WHICH IS A PART OF THE CALL
TO ACTION BILL PACKAGE TO
ADDRESS SEX DISCRIMINATION AND
SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN HIGHER
EDUCATION. AND AS A TEACHER, I
KNOW FIRSTHAND THAT OUR SCHOOL
SYSTEMS AND THEIR LEADERS MUST
PROVIDE SAFE AND AFFIRMING
EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENTS. AND
UNFORTUNATELY, I CAN SAY WITH
SURETY TODAY THAT CALIFORNIA'S
HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM HAS
ABSOLUTELY NOT ONLY FAILED TO
PROTECT ITS CAMPUS COMMUNITIES,
BUT HAS ACTUALLY REWARDED
PERPETRATORS OF SEXUAL
HARASSMENT AND MORE. I'M
OFFERING 1905 THE RETREAT RATES
REFORM ACT, BECAUSE THE TIME IS
NOW TO END THIS MADNESS. THE
TRUTH IS THAT PERPETRATORS OF
SEXUAL HARASSMENT AND MORE WHO
HOLD HIGH LEVELS IN CALIFORNIA'S
HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM, HAVE
LONG BEEN REWARDED WITH THE
RIGHT TO RETREAT TO TEACHING
JOBS WHERE THEY CAN CONTINUE AND
DO CONTINUE TO VICTIMIZE
STUDENTS, FACULTY AND STAFF AND
OR RECEIVE LETTERS OF
RECOMMENDATION THAT DO PROMOTE
THEIR PRIVATE SECTOR CAREERS. AS
THESE REWARDS DISPLAY DELIBERATE
INDIAN UTTERANCE BY OUR HIGHER
EDUCATION CAMPUSES AND FRANKLY,
ARE A SLAP IN THE FACE TO
SURVIVORS. THE SOLUTION IS THE
AB 1905, AND WITH THIS BILL, WE
CAN MAKE URGENTLY NEEDED CHANGE
UNDER 1905. THOSE WITH
SUBSTANTIATED CLAIMS OF SEXUAL
HARASSMENT WILL NOW BE
INELIGIBLE FOR RETREAT RATES AND
INELIGIBLE FOR LETTERS OF
RECOMMENDATION. IT'S WELL PAST
TIME FOR US TO CREATE JUSTICE
FOR SURVIVORS, FOR US TO RESTORE
FAITH IN OUR INSTITUTIONS AND
FOR US TO PREVENT FURTHER ABUSE.
AND SO JOINING ME TO TESTIFY
TODAY IN SUPPORT IS TERRY WILSON
FROM THE CALIFORNIA STATE
UNIVERSITY EMPLOYEES UNION.
WELCOME. THANK YOU, GOOD
AFTERNOON, MR. CHAIR, AND
MEMBERS. THANK YOU FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT
OF AB 1905 TODAY. I WOULD ALSO
LIKE TO THANK THE COMMITTEE FOR
YOUR WORK ON THE CALL TO ACTION
BILL PACKAGE AND THE ASSEMBLY
MEMBER, ADDIS, FOR AUTHORIZING
THIS IMPORTANT BILL. MY NAME IS
TERRY WILSON. I'M THE VICE
PRESIDENT FOR FINANCE FOR THE
CALIFORNIA STATE UNION EMPLOYEES
UNION, WHICH REPRESENTS 36,000
NON-FACULTY STAFF, STUDENT
ASSISTANTS AT THE CSU. IN
ADDITION TO MY ROLE WITH CSU, I
HAVE WORKED AT FRESNO STATE
SINCE 2007 AND I'VE PERSONALLY
EXPERIENCED WITH. I HAVE
PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WITH THE
TITLE NINE SYSTEM. THERE I WAS A
STUDENT AFFAIRS ANALYST IN
FRESNO STATE AND HAD A
SUPERVISOR WHO BEGAN HARASSING
ME ON MY VERY FIRST WEEK ON THE
JOB. HE MADE INAPPROPRIATE
COMMENTS TOWARDS ME, BULLIED,
THREATENED ME BOTH PHYSICALLY
AND VERBALLY. DESPITE MY
CONTINUOUS REPORTS ABOUT HIS
BEHAVIOR, HE WAS NEVER FORMALLY
INVESTIGATED AND I EVENTUALLY
HAD TO ACCEPT THE DEMOTION JUST
TO ESCAPE HIS ABUSE. THE CSU'S
FAILURE TO ADDRESS MY
SUPERVISOR'S BEHAVIOR DERAILED
MY CAREER AT FRESNO STATE. HE
EVENTUALLY RESIGNED AFTER HIS
BEHAVIOR WAS PUBLICIZED, BUT
EVEN THEN, HE RECEIVED A HEFTY
SETTLEMENT FOR RETIREMENT
BENEFITS. A LETTER OF
RECOMMENDATION TO HELP HIM FIND
ANOTHER JOB OUTSIDE OF THE CSU,
A SYSTEM THAT ALLOWS SEXUAL
MISCONDUCT TO BE IGNORED WHILE
ABUSERS ARE REWARDED, IS A
BROKEN ONE, AND THIS MEASURE
WILL HELP CORRECT THE POWER
IMBALANCE THAT HAS LEFT
STUDENTS, FACULTY, AND EMPLOYEES
LIKE MYSELF FEELING UNSAFE AND
UNSUPPORTED AT CAMPUSES. WHILE
RECENT REPORTING HAS HIGHLIGHTED
THE FAILINGS OF TITLE NINE
SYSTEMS, SPECIFICALLY AT THE
CSU, AB 1905 PROVIDES US WITH AN
OPPORTUNITY TO PREVENT THE SAME
SYSTEMIC FAILINGS FROM OCCURRING
ACROSS OUR èC AND COMMUNITY
COLLEGE CAMPUSES, AS WELL.
EVERYONE WHO STEPS FOOT ONTO A
STATE CAMPUS DESERVES TO LIVE,
WORK AND LEARN IN A SAFE
ENVIRONMENT, AND WE BELIEVE THIS
BILL IS AN IMPORTANT STEP TO
ACHIEVING THAT. FOR YOUR REASON,
WE RESPECTFULLY REQUEST AN AYE
VOTE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK
YOU SO MUCH. OTHER WITNESSES IN
SUPPORT AND IN THE HEARING ROOM.
HANNAH DEVINE, ON BEHALF OF THE
CAL STATE STUDENT ASSOCIATION IN
STRONG SUPPORT. THANK YOU. ARE
THERE WITNESSES IN OPPOSITION IN
A HEARING ROOM? ARE THERE
TWEENERS IN A HEARING ROOM?
MARIO GUERRERO, ON BEHALF OF THE
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, CHAIR,
MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE, I JUST
WANTED TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY
TO THANK THE COMMITTEE STAFF
WITH WORKING WITH US TO ADDRESS
IMPLEMENTATION ISSUES. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU COLLEAGUES, ANY
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? MOTION.
AND A SECOND. ANY QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS? SEEING NONE, SOMEONE
WOULD LIKE TO CLOSE I
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOUR I
VOTE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
BRINGING THIS VERY IMPORTANT AND
Kò MEASURE FORWARD. YOU SAID IT
BEST DURING THE PRESS CONFERENCE
DURING OUR CALL TO ACTION BILL
PACKAGE. HAVING THOSE WHO HAVE
COMMITTED SEXUAL HARASSMENT
RECEIVED BENEFITS SUCH AS
LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION AND
RETREAT RIGHTS AND MONETARY
SETTLEMENTS IS A SLAP IN THE
FACE TO OUR VICTIMS AND OUR
CAMPUS COMMUNITIES. I'D LIKE TO
BE ADDED AS A COAUTHOR ON THIS
BILL, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO
SUPPORTING THE MEASURE HERE
TODAY WITH THAT. MADAM
SECRETARY, ROLL CALL, PLEASE
FILE ITEM NUMBER TWO, AB 1905.
THE MOTION IS DUE. PASS TO THE
PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT AND RETIREMENT
COMMITTEE. FONG I PHONG I TO I
ARAMBULA ARAMBULA I BURNER I
BURNER I CHEN EASILY ERWIN.
ERWIN I JACKSON. JACKSON I LO LO
I MURATSUCHI MURATSUCHI I
QUIRK-SILVA. THANK YOU SO MUCH
COLLEAGUES. THAT MEASURES EIGHT
EYES AND IT'S OUT AND WE'LL KEEP
THE ROLL OPEN FOR ADDITIONAL
MEMBERS OUT ON. THANK YOU SO
MUCH. THANK YOU, THANK YOU,
THANK YOU, COLLEAGUES, I WILL BE
PRESENTING A BILL IN THE
COMMITTEE RIGHT NOW, SO I'M
GOING TO PASS IT TO VICE CHAIR
TO THANK YOU, VICE CHAIR. I'LL
BE BACK IN FIVE MINUTES. THANK
YOU.
THERE WE GO. HERE WE GO. ALL
RIGHT, SO RIGHT NOW WE HAVE THE
BILL IN FRONT OF US. AB 1929.
THE BILL? HELLO, CHAIR. AND
MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE, I'M
HERE TO PRESENT AB 1929.
CURRENTLY, THERE EXIST A
CONCERNING UNDERREPRESENTATION
OF DESCENDANTS OF ENSLAVED
PEOPLE WITHIN STEM FIELDS AND
ASSOCIATED CAREER TECHNICAL
EDUCATION PROGRAMS, BOTH AT THE
HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE LEVELS.
REGRETTABLY, EXISTING
LEGISLATION FAILS TO ADEQUATELY
ADDRESS THIS DISPARITY, WHICH
PERPETUATES A SYSTEMIC RACIAL
INEQUALITIES WITHIN STEM
INDUSTRY. AB 1929 SEEKS TO
ADDRESS THIS CRITICAL ISSUE BY
INITIATING THE COLLECTION OF
DATA ON CAREER TECHNICAL
EDUCATION PROGRAMS.
SPECIFICALLY, IT AIMS TO ACCESS
THE ENROLLMENT OF DESCENDANTS OF
SLAVES IN THESE PROGRAMS AND
ANALYZE THE OUTCOMES OF
DESCENDANTS OF US SLAVE,
PARTICIPATE. CGRTS AB 1929 AIMS
TO RECTIFY THE RACIAL DISPARITY
THAT PLAGUES STEM FIELDS AND
THEIR RELATED EDUCATIONAL
PATHWAYS. IT IS IMPORTANT TO
RECOGNIZE THAT A 1929 IS NOT AN
ISOLATED EFFORT, BUT RATHER AN
INTEGRAL PART OF THE LEGISLATIVE
BLACK CAUCUS. 2024 REPARATION
PACKAGE. THANK YOU. I REALLY
WANT TO THANK THE AUTHOR FOR
INTRODUCING THIS BILL. I THINK
THAT'S REALLY HELPFUL FOR ALL
THE STUDENTS AND ALL OF US
UNDERSTAND THAT TECHNICAL
EDUCATION, REALLY IMPORTANT, FOR
ALL OF US. SO IS THERE ANY
WITNESS IN THE ROOM THAT WHO
WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT?
THANK YOU. VICE CHAIR MEMBERS.
AWESOME. WEBSTER WITH STRATEGIES
ON BEHALF OF THE CALIFORNIA
COMMUNITY COLLEGES ASSOCIATION
FOR OCCUPATIONAL EDUCATION, CA
WE REPRESENT ALL OF THE
WORKFORCE, INSTRUCTORS AND
ADMINISTRATORS THROUGHOUT THE
COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM, WITH
THE COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS, WHICH
I UNDERSTAND THE MEMBER IS
TAKING, WE ARE MOVING TO A
POSITION OF SUPPORT. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. AARON TAYLOR, ON
BEHALF OF THE CALIFORNIA DENTAL
ASSOCIATION AND STRONG SUPPORT.
GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR AND
MEMBERS. ANGELINA GUTIERREZ, ON
BEHALF OF THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY
OFFICE OF EDUCATION AND SUPPORT
ANYONE WHO HERE WHO WOULD LIKE
TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION. ARE
THERE ANY TRAINER IN THE ROOM?
THANK YOU SO MUCH. NOW THE
AUTHOR CAN CLOSE. I RESPECTFULLY
ASK FOR YOUR AYE VOTE. THANK
YOU, THANK YOU. COMMITTEE MEMBER
. SO MAY I HAVE A MOTION?
SECOND. SO MOVED. OH, THE MOTION
. BUT I'M A SECRETARY. CAN YOU
DO ROLL CALL? FILE ITEM NUMBER
THREE, AB 1929. THE MOTION IS
Dð. PASS AS AMENDED TO THE
APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE. FONG
TO I TO I ARAMBULA ARAMBULA I
BURNER I BURNER I CHEN EASILY.
IRWIN. IRWIN I JACKSON. JACKSON
I LOW MURATSUCHI MURATSUCHI I
QUIRK-SILVA. WE HAVE SIX I AND
WE KEEP A ROLL OPEN. THANK YOU
SO MUCH. OKAY LISA, ARE YOU HERE
TO SUPPORT ME? I'LL ASK THE GUY
FOR THE CALIFORNIA AFRICAN
AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND
THE GREATER SACRAMENTO URBAN
LEAGUE, THE STRONGEST PORT. I
APPRECIATE THAT, THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. SO, ESTARÁ LAST YEAR.
ALL RIGHT. SO WE HAVE THE ITEM
ITEM NUMBER. SEVEN AB 2395.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE RUNNING BACK AND
FORTH. SO LET ME GET. WHERE AM I
RIGHT NOW? EDUCATION. HIGHER
EDUCATION. OKAY. GOOD AFTERNOON,
MR. CHAIR. AND MEMBERS. TODAY
I'M PRESENTING ASSEMBLY BILL
2395. THIS BILL PROVIDES THE
CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY
SYSTEM INCREASE FLEXIBILITY FOR
HOW IT CAN USE CONTINUING
EDUCATION FUNDS. CALIFORNIA HAS
THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING HOME TO
THE NATION'S LARGEST AND MOST
DIVERSE FOUR YEAR PUBLIC
UNIVERSITY SYSTEM. THE CSU
OPERATES 23 UNIVERSITIES, SEVEN
OFF CAMPUS CENTERS, AND SERVES
NEARLY 460,000 STUDENTS EACH
YEAR. IN 1971, THE LEGISLATURE
ESTABLISHED THE CONTINUING
EDUCATION RESERVE FUND TO HELP
ADULT LEARNERS MEET WORKFORCE
NEEDS NOT MET BY TRADITIONAL
STATE SUPPORTED OFFERINGS OVER
THE YEARS, THE SELF SUPPORT
PROGRAMS, FUNDED BY REVENUES
DEPOSITED IN THE CONTINUING
EDUCATION REVENUE FUND HAVE
EXPANDED. THEY NOW INCLUDE
DEGREE AND NON-DEGREE PROGRAMS,
CERTIFICATES, CREDENTIALS AND
OTHER INNOVATIVE WORKFORCE
RELATED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
OPPORTUNITIES. UNLIKE THE
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SYSTEM,
REVITIVE REVENUES DEPOSITED IN
THE CSU'S CONTINUING EDUCATION
FUND ARE CONSTRAINED BY DATED
REQUIREMENTS TO NARROW PURPOSES.
AS TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENTS
AND HIGHER EDUCATION STRATEGIES
HAVE CHANGED SINCE THE EARLY
1970S, AND EXISTING LAW PREVENTS
THESE FUNDS FROM BEING UTILIZED
FOR BROADER CAMPUS AND ACADEMIC
USES. USES THAT SUPPORT
WORKFORCE PREPARATION DURING THE
CHALLENGES OF THIS BUDGET BUDGET
YEAR, IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE
THAT THE ADDITIONAL FUNDS ARE
NOT THAT ADDITIONAL FUNDS ARE
NOT BEING REQUIRED OR REQUESTED
FROM THE CSU IN THIS BILL.
RATHER, MY BILL WOULD PROVIDE
INCREASED FISCAL FLEXIBILITY FOR
THE CSU TO USE CONTINUING
EDUCATION RESERVE FUND. MORE
EFFECTIVELY SO IT CAN BETTER
SERVE THE STUDENTS AND DELIVER
ON ITS EDUCATION, EDUCATIONAL
AND INSTITUTIONAL MISSION. WITH
ME TODAY TO PROVIDE TESTIMONY
AND ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THE
COMMITTEE MAY HAVE. IS THE BILL
SPONSOR THE CSU OFFICE OF THE
CHANCELLOR AND THEIR
REPRESENTATIVE, CSU LONG BEACH
PRESIDENT JANE CONNOLLY AND
DOCTOR MADARA SAVAGE. ASSISTANT
CHANCELLOR OF PROFESSIONAL AND
CONTINUING EDUCATION PROGRAM.
WELCOME. THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR AND
MEMBERS. I'M JANE CONNOLLY,
PRESIDENT OF CALIFORNIA STATE
UNIVERSITY, LONG BEACH, AND I
SERVE AS CHAIR OF OUR CSU
COMMISSION ON PROFESSIONAL AND
CONTINUING EDUCATION, OR AS WE
CALL IT, PACE. MANY ADULTS WHO
ARE GOING BACK TO SCHOOL SEEKING
A CERTIFICATE OR CREDENTIAL SO
THEY CAN REMAIN IN PROGRESS IN
OR REENTER THE WORKFORCE.
INDUSTRIES ARE EAGER TO PARTNER
WITH THE CSU TO TELL US WHAT
SKILLS, DEPOSITION, DISPOSITIONS
AND KNOWLEDGE ARE VITAL IN THEIR
INDUSTRY SECTORS. THE CSU
ENABLES CONTINUING TO CONTINUOUS
EDUCATION BY BUILDING ON THE
UNIQUE ASPECTS OF OUR
UNIVERSITIES, AND EMBRACES OUR
DUAL MISSION SERVING OUR DEGREE
SEEKERS ALONG WITH CAREER AND
LIFELONG LEARNERS. THE CURRENT
REALITIES OF WORK AND THE FUTURE
OF WORK DEMAND CONTINUOUS
UPSKILLING AND RESKILLING, AND
WE SEE THIS DEMAND IN SURVEY
DATA FROM OUR ALUMNI BASE. IT'S
CRITICAL FOR US TO CONSIDER THE
IMPORTANCE OF A COMPLETED DEGREE
OR ADDITIONAL CREDENTIALS FOR
CAREER ADVANCEMENT. WE SEE THE
STUDENT POPULATION CHANGING
WHILE WE CONTINUE TO EXPAND
ACCESS TO TRADITIONAL AGE
STUDENTS. WE SEE INCREASING
DEMAND AMONG ADULT LEARNERS
NEEDING TO COMPLETE DEGREES, AND
THAT POPULATION IS NOW 6.6
MILLION CALIFORNIANS. THEY ALSO
NEED TO GAIN NEW SKILLS AS THEY
NAVIGATE AN EVER CHANGING AND
INCREASINGLY COMPLEX JOB MARKET.
DEGREE COMPLETION PROGRAMS AND
OTHER POST-SECONDARY CREDENTIALS
ARE MORE NECESSARY THAN EVER TO
ADDRESS STATE WORKFORCE NEEDS.
OUR EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS NEED TO
MEET LEARNERS WHERE THEY ARE,
AND THIS MEANS WE NEED MORE
ONLINE HYBRID PROGRAMS FOR
WORKFORCE THAT NEEDS FLEXIBILITY
TO REMAIN THEIR WORK LIFE
BALANCE. PACE PROVIDES US WITH
THIS FLEXIBILITY. SPEAKING OF
CSU LONG BEACH, WE HOLD TRUE TO
OUR PURPOSE TO SUPPORT THE NEEDS
OF ALL LEARNERS IN OUR REGION,
PARTICULARLY AS OUR ENROLLMENT
GROWTH OCCURS VIA MID-CAREER AND
LIFELONG LEARNERS. THE
FLEXIBILITY THIS BILL PROVIDES
WILL ALLOW US TO INCREASE ACCESS
TO MORE WORK FOR ALL OUR FACULTY
AS WE OPEN MORE FUNDING ACCESS
FOR FACULTY TO DESIGN NEW,
RELEVANT, IN-DEMAND PROGRAMS AND
ADAPT THEM TO THE EVER CHANGING
NATURE OF WORK AND THE JOB
MARKET TO ENSURE A SEAMLESS AND
SUPPORTIVE BEACH EXPERIENCE FOR
ALL LEARNERS, NO MATTER WHERE
THEY ARE. WITH INCREASED
FINANCIAL FLEXIBILITY, WE ARE
PLANNING ON INTEGRATING
CURRENTLY DUPLICATED STUDENT
SERVICES, INCLUDING STRATEGIC
ENROLLMENT, MANAGEMENT, PLANNING
, INTEGRATED ENROLLMENT SERVICES
INCLUDING OUTREACH, RECRUITMENT
AND ADMISSIONS, ACADEMIC AND
CAREER ADVISING, AND THE BASIC
NEEDS OF MANY OF OUR STUDENTS. A
GREAT EXAMPLE OF HOW THIS BILL
IS WORKING AT THE BEACH WILL
HELP US GROW OUR IMPACT IN THE
REGION STARTS WITH THE GLOBAL
LOGISTICS AND SUPPLY CHAIN
INDUSTRY PARTNERSHIPS. AMONG
CSULB LONG BEACH CITY COLLEGE,
LONG BEACH UNIFIED SCHOOL
DISTRICT, AND THE PORT OF LONG
BEACH AND OTHER INDUSTRY
PARTNERS HAVE CREATED A TALENT
PIPELINE THAT OPENS ACCESS TO
CAREERS IN LOGISTICS, EARLY
ACCESS TO CAREER EXPLORATION IN
HIGH SCHOOL BRINGS THESE
PARTNERS TOGETHER TO INTRODUCE
YOUTH TO OPPORTUNITIES IN THE
LOGISTICS INDUSTRY AND THEY
OFTEN MATRICULATE TO LONG BEACH
CITY COLLEGE AND THEN TRANSFER
TO CSULB, WHERE THEY DIRECTLY
MATRICULATE TO CSULB. MANY OF
THESE STUDENTS ENTER THE LOCAL
WORKFORCE AND ENSURE WE RETAIN
TALENT IN OUR REGION AND SERVE
THE NEEDS OF AN INDUSTRY
UNDERGOING CONTINUOUS CHANGE VIA
AUTOMATION AND THE
SUSTAINABILITY GOALS OF THE
STATE. THE FLEXIBILITY IN FUND
USE WILL MAKE IT EASIER FOR US
TO EXPAND TALENT. PIPELINES LIKE
THIS INCLUDE MORE OF OUR FACULTY
IN THE PROGRAMS GROWTH AND
CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT, AND
ENSURE THAT POSITIVE OUTCOMES
INCREASE THE ABILITY OF CSULB TO
RESPOND RAPIDLY TO THE NEEDS OF
OUR COMMUNITY AND INDUSTRY
PARTNERS. I'LL NOW TURN THIS
OVER TO ASSOCIATE VICE
CHANCELLOR MANDARA SAVAGE TO
DISCUSS A SYSTEM WIDE
PERSPECTIVE. THANK YOU. GOOD
AFTERNOON. I AM MENDAROS SAVAGE,
THE ASSISTANT VICE CHANCELLOR
FOR PROFESSIONAL AND CONTINUING
CONTINUING EDUCATION. IN MY
ROLE, I PROVIDE SYSTEM LEVEL
LEADERSHIP IN THE OVERARCHING
VISION AND STRATEGY. THE CURRENT
CODE RESTRICTS THE USE OF
CONTINUING EDUCATION FUNDS
SOLELY TO ACTIVITIES DIRECTLY
LINKED WITH SELF-SUPPORT
INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRAMS. HOWEVER,
ACADEMIC UNITS, DESPITE THESE
BENEFITING FROM REVENUE SHARES,
ARE CONSTRAINED BY EXPENDITURE
LIMITS AND CANNOT ALLOCATE
RESOURCES TO SUPPORT BROADER
ACADEMIC OPERATIONS SUCH AS
STUDENT SERVICES AND ACADEMIC
SUPPORT. THIS LIMITATION HAS
HINDERED THE DEVELOPMENT AND
LAUNCH OF NEW PROGRAMS. PACE
MISSION IS TO MEET STUDENTS
WHERE THEY ARE UNDERSCORES ITS
COMMITMENT TO DESIGNING
INCLUSIVE PROGRAMS THAT CATER TO
INDIVIDUALS SEEKING ALTERNATIVE
ROUTES TO HIGHER EDUCATION. THIS
IS. THERE IS INCREASING
COMPETITION TO SERVE
CALIFORNIA'S EDUCATIONAL NEEDS
WITH THE EMERGENCE OF OUT OF
STATE ENTITIES WHO ARE
AGGRESSIVELY MARKETING THEIR
PROGRAMS IN CALIFORNIA,
EXPANDING AND DEVELOPING DEGREE
AND CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS THROUGH
PACE, WITH A FOCUS ON PROGRAMS
THAT MEET STUDENTS WHERE THEY
ARE IS ESSENTIAL. THE PAST THREE
YEARS HAS EVIDENCED MAJOR SHIFTS
IN BUSINESS, INDUSTRY, AND
EDUCATION. THE RAPID SOCIO
ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL CHANGES
RESULTING FROM TECHNOLOGICAL
SHIFTS IN THE EVERYDAY LIVES
ALSO OPENS VAST NEW
OPPORTUNITIES AND THE LIKELIHOOD
OF MAJOR DISRUPTIONS ACROSS
MULTIPLE PROFESSIONS AND JOBS.
THESE CHANGES WILL CAUSE MANY
CALIFORNIANS TO SEEK NEW SKILLS,
OBTAIN A NEW CERTIFICATE OR
CREDENTIAL SO THEY CAN REMAIN IN
OR REENTER THE WORKFORCE. FOR US
TO BE MORE SUCCESSFUL IN
EDUCATING CALIFORNIANS, WE MUST
ANALYZE OUR OWN PROCESSES TO BE
SURE WE ARE AS EFFICIENT AS
POSSIBLE. IN CONCLUSION, PACE
REPRESENTS A VITAL COMPONENT OF
CALIFORNIA'S EDUCATIONAL
ECOSYSTEM, PROVIDING LIFELONG
LEARNING EXPERIENCES THAT
PROMOTE ECONOMY, ECONOMIC
PROSPERITY, AND PERSONAL GROWTH
BY LEVERAGING PACE, STRENGTH,
THE CSU SYSTEM CAN CONTINUE TO
SERVE AS A PILLAR OF EDUCATIONAL
EXCELLENCE AND WORKFORCE
READINESS. YES. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU SO MUCH. ARE THERE WITNESSES
IN SUPPORT IN THE HEARING ROOM?
ARE THERE WITNESSES IN
OPPOSITION IN THE HEARING ROOM?
ARE THERE TWEENERS IN THE
HEARING ROOM? COLLEAGUES ANY
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? WE HAVE A
MOTION AND A SECOND. ANY
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? SEEING
NONE. ASSEMBLYMEMBER, WE'D LIKE
TO CLOSE. PLEASE RESPECTFULLY
ASK FOR AN AYE VOTE. THANK YOU
SO MUCH. A SIMILAR QUIRK-SILVA
FOR BRINGING THIS VERY IMPORTANT
MEASURE TODAY. AS POINTED OUT BY
THE CSU, THIS MEASURE DOES NOT
SEEK ANY ADDITIONAL FUNDS. IT
ONLY SEEKS FLEXIBILITY WITH
EXISTING CSU FUNDS, WHICH HAS
THE POTENTIAL TO ENABLE THE CSU
TO BE MORE CREATIVE AND INNOVATE
EDUCATION AND MORE FLEXIBLE WAYS
. IF WE JUST HEARD FROM OUR
WITNESSES, I BELIEVE THIS WILL
ASSIST IN AN EVER GROWING
DIVERSE STUDENT BODY WHEN IT HAS
MANY MORE UNIQUE NEEDS THAN WHAT
HAS BEEN A TRADITIONAL FOUR YEAR
DEGREE SEEKING STUDENT. WITH
THAT, I LOOK FORWARD TO
SUPPORTING THE MEASURE HERE
TODAY. MADAM SECRETARY, ROLL
CALL, PLEASE FILE ITEM NUMBER
SEVEN AB 2395. THE MOTION IS Dð.
PASS TO THE APPROPRIATION
COMMITTEE. FONG. FONG AYE TO AYE
TO AYE. ARAMBULA. ARAMBULA AYE.
BURNER CHEN CHEN. AYE. ASALI
IRWIN. IRWIN. AYE. JACKSON.
JACKSON. AYE LO. MURATSUCHI.
MURATSUCHI AYE. QUIRK-SILVA.
AYE. QUIRK-SILVA. AYE THAT
MEASURE IS EIGHT EYES, AND WE'LL
KEEP THE ROLL OPEN FOR
ADDITIONAL MEMBERS ADD ON. THANK
YOU SO MUCH. MEMBER. THANK YOU.
MEMBERS THANK YOU. AND LAST BUT
NOT LEAST, WE'D LIKE TO WELCOME
ASSEMBLY MEMBER, MR. GARCIA
PRESENTING ITEM NUMBER 16,
ASSEMBLY BILL 2852. THANK YOU SO
MUCH FOR YOUR PATIENCE. ALL
RIGHT. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. AND
COLLEAGUES. I WAS, GETTING SOME
TELEPATHIC SIGNALS FROM DOCTOR
JACKSON TO BE SHORT. I GOT, I
GOT, I GOT IT, I GOT IT. TAKE
YOUR TIME, SIR. THANK YOU. MAYBE
2852 WOULD REQUIRE THE COMMUNITY
COLLEGES, THE CSU AND THE UCS TO
ENTER INTO A MEMORANDUM OF
UNDERSTANDING WITH DESIGNATED
INSTITUTIONS IN MEXICO THAT
WOULD CREATE THE HIGHER
EDUCATION, DEVELOPMENT AND
ACADEMIC EXCHANGE PROGRAM AND
PROMOTE A 1 TO 1 EXCHANGE OF
CALIFORNIA AND MEXICO STUDENTS
WITHOUT OUT-OF-STATE TUITION
CHARGED BY EXCHANGING
INSTITUTIONS. NOW, THESE
PROGRAMS EXIST, BUT NOT IN A
FORMALIZED, INSTITUTIONALIZED
WAY IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.
WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH
HERE IS TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE
TYING OUR PROGRAMS WITH THE
GOALS AND OBJECTIVES THAT ARE
TIED TO OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
ACTIVITIES BETWEEN MEXICO AND
CALIFORNIA. AND AS YOU ALL KNOW,
AND YOU'LL HEAR FROM OUR
WITNESSES, CALIFORNIA AND MEXICO
HAS ECONOMIC TIES ARE EXTREMELY
IMPORTANT AND OUR STRONGEST WHEN
IT COMES TO OUR ECONOMY. SO WITH
THAT, MY TIME WILL BE DEFERRED
TO OUR WITNESSES, RESPECTFULLY
ASK FOR AYE VOTE. AND THANK YOU
FOR WORKING WITH US. AND I KNOW
THAT WE'LL CONTINUE TO BE
WORKING ON SOME AMENDMENTS, TO
CONTINUE TO MASSAGE THE BILL AND
HOPEFULLY SEND THIS TO THE
GOVERNOR'S DESK. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. WELCOME.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I AM
PROFESSOR ARMANDO VASQUEZ RAMOS.
I AM RETIRED FROM CAL STATE LONG
BEACH AND ALSO THE FOUNDER OF
THE CALIFORNIA MEXICO STUDIES
CENTER. 30 YEARS AGO, I WORKED
IN THIS IN THE CHANCELLOR'S
OFFICE IN INTERNATIONAL
PROGRAMS. AND SINCE THEN I HAVE
LED ALMOST 50 STUDY ABROAD
PROGRAMS, TO MEXICO, CENTRAL AND
SOUTH AMERICA. BUT MOST
IMPORTANT, DURING THE LAST TEN
YEARS, I HAVE COORDINATED
THROUGH THE CMC 25 STUDY ABROAD
PROGRAMS FOR DREAMERS THAT HAVE
GIVEN OVER 800 OSCAR RECIPIENTS
THE OPPORTUNITY TO RETURN TO
THEIR BIRTHPLACE, RECONNECT WITH
THEIR FAMILIES. THIS COVER AND
STUDY IN MEXICO AS ADULTS AND
UPON REENTERING THE US,
ELIMINATE THE PRIOR UNLAWFUL
ENTRY WHEN THEY WERE BROUGHT
UNDOCUMENTED AS MINORS. BUT
PERHAPS THE MOST LIFE CHANGING
BENEFIT OF THE PROGRAM IS THE
OPPORTUNITY THEY HAVE TO ADJUST
THEIR LEGAL STATUS UPON
REENTERING THROUGH MARRIAGE WITH
A US CITIZEN AND UPON REENTERING
THE US, ADVANCED PAROLE PROVIDED
BY DACA. SINCE THE TRUMP
ADMINISTRATION REFUSED TO
AUTHORIZE ANY ADVANCED PAROLE
PERMITS FOR YEARS AGO, THE CMC
SECURE APPROVAL IN THE SUMMER OF
2021 OF 215 DREAMERS IN SIX
PROGRAMS, AND SINCE THEN WE
PUBLISHED AN ANTHOLOGY WITH 38
OF THE SELECTED ESSAYS THAT WE
THAT WE PUBLISH. THIS IS AN
AWARD WINNING BOOK, FIRST PLACE
IN BEST COLLEGE TEAM AND SECOND
PLACE IN BEST COVER DESIGN.
HOWEVER I'M PROUD TO REPORT TO
YOU THAT WE BOAST A PERFECT
RECORD OF 100% LAWFUL RETURN AND
NO COVID CASUALTIES, THIS WAS
THE GREATEST CHALLENGE THAT WE
HAD BECAUSE IN 2021, AS YOU
REMEMBER, ALL STUDY ABROAD
PROGRAMS WERE SHUTTERED. AND OF
COURSE, WITH THIS BACKGROUND AND
HAVING WORKED WITH THE
INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS FOR MORE
THAN THREE DECADES, WE
APPROACHED THE HONORABLE EDUARDO
GARCIA TO PROPOSE 32,852, WITH
HIS LEADERSHIP AND KNOWLEDGE ON
THE GREAT IMPORTANCE OF THIS
TOPIC. AS CHAIR OF THE ASSEMBLY,
SELECT COMMITTEE ON CALIFORNIA,
MEXICO BINATIONAL AFFAIRS, HE
HAS RESPONDED WITH AB 2852 AS A
COMPREHENSIVE BILL THAT
ENVISIONS A POLICY AGENDA BEYOND
THE IMMEDIATE, THE IMMEDIATE
FINANCIAL AND POLITICAL
PRESSURES. I ASK FOR YOUR
SUPPORT BECAUSE THIS BILL
REFLECTS THE LONG TERME NEED TO
INVEST IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF
HIGHER EDUCATION POLICY AND
PROGRAMS WITHIN CALIFORNIA, AS
THE FIFTH ECONOMY OF THE WORLD
AND ITS NUMBER ONE BUSINESS
PARTNER, MEXICO. THAT IS ALSO
THE 12TH ECONOMY OF THE WORLD IN
ORDER FOR CALIFORNIA AND MEXICO
AS A MEGA REGION TO REMAIN
COMPETITIVE AND THE MOST
PRODUCTIVE ECONOMY IN THE WORLD.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
WELCOME WELCOME. THANK YOU. GOOD
AFTERNOON, HONORABLE CHAIRMAN
MIKE FONG AND THE COMMITTEE
MEMBERS. MY NAME IS SYLVIA
FLORES. I'M CURRENTLY THE CEO OF
MONO'S ACCELERATOR BASED IN
SILICON VALLEY. IN 2012, GOOGLE
FOR ENTREPRENEURS MADE MONO'S
ACCELERATOR A PARTNER. THAT
PARTNERSHIP FUNDED OUR PROGRAM
AND HELPED US BE ONE OF THE ONLY
ACCELERATORS IN THE WORLD TO BE
SOLELY FOCUSED ON STARTUPS LED
BY LATINO AND LATINA FOUNDERS IN
THE US AND LATIN AMERICA. WE
KNOW FIRSTHAND ABOUT HOW A
ACADEMIC EXCHANGE PROGRAMS HAVE
MADE AN IMPACT FOR STUDENTS FROM
MEXICO AND THE US FOR THE PAST
FIVE YEARS, WE HAVE BEEN
OFFERING A UNIVERSITY IMMERSION
PROGRAM THAT BRINGS TOGETHER
STUDENTS FOR A WEEK OF
TRANSFORMATION, LEARNING A DEEP
UNDERSTANDING THROUGH
INTERACTIVE SEMINARS, COMPANY
VISITS, NETWORKING EVENTS,
EDUCATIONAL TOURS THAT GIVE
ACCESS TO A UNIQUE AND VITAL
ECOSYSTEM OF SILICON VALLEY. THE
PURPOSE OF THIS IMMERSION
PROGRAM IS TO LEARN HOW TO
INNOVATE IN SILICON VALLEY WAY,
EDUCATE THEM ABOUT DISRUPTIVE
FORCES AND COMPETITIVE
LANDSCAPES, AND EMPOWER THEM TO
BE CATALYSTS FOR CHANGE.
EXPERIENCE FOR STARTUPS,
CULTURE, AND THE MOST SUCCESSFUL
COMPANIES IN THE WORLD. BY
MEETING FACE TO FACE WITH
SILICON VALLEY HIGH TECH
EXECUTIVES AND INVENTORS,
INVESTORS, STANFORD AND
UNIVERSITY UC BERKELEY
PROFESSORS, THE COST OF THE
PROGRAM IS APPROXIMATELY 6500
PER STUDENT. THIS PROGRAM IS
OFFERED TO PRIVATE UNIVERSITY
CITIES WHERE THE PARENTS PAY FOR
THE PROGRAM. THE PUBLIC
UNIVERSITIES DON'T OFFER THIS
PROGRAM BECAUSE OF STUDENTS,
BECAUSE THE STUDENTS DON'T HAVE
THE ECONOMIC RESOURCE. IN
ESTABLISHING A GOVERNMENT FUNDED
EXCHANGE PROGRAM CAN HAVE
ECONOMIC BENEFITS FOR BOTH
COUNTRIES. IT WOULD BE A CRUCIAL
ROLE IN PROMOTING MUTUAL
UNDERSTANDING, COOPERATION AND
PROSPERITY BETWEEN MEXICO AND
THE US BY INVESTING IN EDUCATION
EXCHANGES, BOTH COUNTRIES CAN
REAP THE BENEFIT OF MORE
INTERNET INTERCONNECTED AND
GLOBALLY ENGAGED SOCIETY,
ESPECIALLY NOW WITH THE
TRANSFORMATION MEXICO IS GOING
THROUGH WITH THE NEARSHORING
OPPORTUNITIES, MEXICO SURPASSED
CHINA TO BECOME THE BIGGEST
EXPORTER OF GOODS TO THE US IN
2023. I URGE YOU TO GIVE YOUR
FULL SUPPORT TO BILL AB 2052 TO
HELP PAVE THE WAY FOR A MORE
EXCLUSIVE AND PROSPEROUS FUTURE
FOR ALL CALIFORNIANS. TOGETHER,
WE COULD BUILD A THRIVING
INNOVATION ECOSYSTEM THAT
REFLECTS THE DIVERSITY AND
RICHNESS OF OUR STATE. THANK YOU
. THANK YOU SO MUCH. ARE THERE
WITNESSES AND SUPPORT IN THE
HEARING ROOM? ANNA MATTHEWS WITH
THE FACULTY ASSOCIATION OF
CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY COLLEGES IN
STRONG SUPPORT. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU SO MUCH. ARE THERE WITNESSES
IN OPPOSITION IN THE HEARING
ROOM? ARE THERE TWEENERS IN THE
HEARING ROOM? COLLEAGUES? ANY
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? I'M
SORRY. GO AHEAD. NO WORRIES.
KRYSTAL PADILLA WITH THE
COMMUNITY COLLEGE LEAGUE OF
CALIFORNIA. WE HAVE A SUPPORT IF
AMENDED POSITION. WE ARE A
SUPPORTIVE, SUPPORTIVE OF THE
PROGRAM AND OUR UNDERSTANDING IS
THAT IT'S NOT THE AUTHOR'S
INTENTION TO USE PROP 98 FUNDS.
BUT WE ASK, RESPECTFULLY ASK,
THAT THERE'S A CLARIFYING
AMENDMENT TO STATE THAT. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH,
COLLEAGUES. ANY QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS SIMILAR? MURATSUCHI
THANK YOU PROFESSOR. GOOD TO SEE
YOU AGAIN. VERY GOOD TO SEE YOU,
I KNOW THE LAST TIME WE MET, IN
TORRANCE, I MY, MY SUGGESTION
WAS TO, APPROACH THE LATINO
CAUCUS AND TO FIND A STRONG
CHAMPION FOR, YOUR, GOAL. AND SO
YOU'VE CLEARLY FOUND OUT WITH,
SOME OF THEM ARE GARCIA, I WOULD
LIKE TO ASK A QUESTION, I'M
STRONGLY SUPPORTIVE OF THIS
MEASURE, BUT I HAVE A QUESTION.
IT SAYS THAT 400 STUDENTS, TO
FROM THE COMMITTEE ANALYSIS,
FOREIGN STUDENTS WHO ATTEND A
UNIVERSITY IN MEXICO TO ATTEND A
CAMPUS IN THE UC, CSU OR
COMMUNITY COLLEGE, EACH YEAR, I,
I KNOW THAT, WE HAD OUR EARLIER.
WELL, WE HAD A, WE'VE HAD
DISCUSSIONS AND ESPECIALLY IN
THE BUDGET SUBCOMMITTEES ABOUT
OUR EFFORT TO ENROLL MORE
CALIFORNIA RESIDENTS, YOU KNOW,
REGARDLESS OF THEIR, NATIONAL
ORIGIN, TO, TO GIVE PREFERENCE
TO CALIFORNIA RESIDENTS. AND SO
I WANTED TO SEE, IS THIS HOW
THIS WOULD IMPACT, IF HAVE ANY
IMPACT, IF ANY, IN TERMS OF OUR
OBJECTIVES TO ENROLL MORE
CALIFORNIANS RESIDENTS? YEAH. WE
DON'T SEE THIS INTERFERING WITH
THOSE OBJECTIVES. RIGHT, WE,
UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ALREADY
EXIST, EXCHANGE PROGRAMS,
THROUGHOUT THE DIFFERENT
UNIVERSITIES, WHAT DOESN'T EXIST
IS A FORMALIZED AND
INSTITUTIONALIZED PROGRAM WHERE
THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA IS
CONTRIBUTING TO THE EFFORT, I
WILL ALSO LIKE TO NOTE THAT WE
ARE WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH
OUR COUNTERPARTS IN MEXICO, WITH
THE STATE AND FEDERAL
LEGISLATURES, WHO ALSO ARE
TAKING UP THE, SAME PROPOSAL.
AND, OF COURSE, THEY'RE VERSION
OF, POLICY. AND ALSO, INITIATING
WHAT IS A BUDGET REQUEST ON
THEIR END TO BE ABLE TO HELP
FACILITATE WHAT WOULD BE THE ONE
FOR ONE EXCHANGE TO MAKE IT
POSSIBLE FOR STUDENTS FROM
CALIFORNIA TO ATTEND THE
UNIVERSITIES OF CHOICE, THAT
WOULD BE PART OF THE PROGRAM
OVER IN MEXICO. AND SO, WE'RE
ASKING THAT THEY DO THEIR PART
AS WE'RE ASKING, THIS
LEGISLATURE AND THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA TO FORMALIZE THIS
EXCHANGE PROGRAM. SO WE DON'T
SEE, THERE BEING AN IMPACT ON
ENROLLMENT OF CALIFORNIA
NATIVES, GIVEN THAT WE ALREADY
KNOW AND SEE THAT THERE IS AN
EXCHANGE PROGRAM THAT EXISTS, IT
JUST ISN'T A FORMAL LIST AND A
PROGRAM THAT THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA CONTRIBUTES TO, TO BE
ABLE TO FOSTER THIS TYPE OF
EXCHANGE. SO THE INTENT IS, IS
TO EXPAND AND FORMALIZE AN
EXCHANGE PROGRAM AND NOT HAVE AN
IMPACT ON, LIKE FIRST YEAR,
UNIVERSITY ADMISSIONS THAT IS
CORRECT. AND, YOU KNOW, FOR MOST
OF THESE EXCHANGE PROGRAMS, WE
DON'T SEE THEM BEING FIRST YEAR
STUDENTS, RIGHT, MANY TIMES
THESE EXCHANGE PROGRAMS ARE,
STUDENTS IN THEIR LATER YEARS,
AND LOOK, WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO
REALLY FORGE IS A STRONGER
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN OUR
PARTNERS AND THE UNIVERSITIES IN
MEXICO. RIGHT. THE VERY POPULAR
EXCHANGE PROGRAMS THAT EXIST AT
OUR UNIVERSITIES FOR STUDENTS
HAPPEN TO BE, THE TRAVEL ABROAD
PROGRAMS IN EUROPE, AND WE OFTEN
HEAR STUDENTS AND WE'VE HEARD
FIRSTHAND, YOU KNOW, WE WENT TO
SPAIN TO LEARN SPANISH FOR, FOR
A SEMESTER, FOR THE YEAR. AND
WHAT A GREAT TIME WE HAD. AND
THESE ARE STUDENTS AND YOUNG
PEOPLE OF MEXICAN DESCENT WITH
STRONG HERITAGE AND CULTURAL
ROOTS RIGHT DOWN THE STREET.
AND, YOU KNOW, BAJA CALIFORNIA
OR FURTHER SOUTH IN MEXICO. WHO
COULD HAVE HAD A VERY EYE
OPENING, EXCHANGE EXPERIENCE,
EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE, THAT
COULD HAVE, AGAIN, CONNECTED
THEM NOT ONLY TO THEIR HISTORY,
THEIR ROOTS, BUT ALSO
POTENTIALLY, FORGE A STRONGER
TIE TO THE ECONOMIC, TIES THAT
THE STATE AND THE COUNTRY OF
MEXICO HAVE. AND THAT'S WHAT
WE'RE TRYING TO REALLY FOSTER
FOR BY HAVING THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA BE MORE ENGAGED IN
THE FORMALIZATION OF THESE
PROGRAMS. SO, LONG ANSWER, BUT
WE ARE NOT TRYING TO INTERFERE
WITH WHAT IS A GOAL, AN
OBJECTIVE OF MAKING SURE THAT
NATIVE CALIFORNIA STUDENTS, HAVE
A SEAT IN OUR UC'S AND CAL
STATES? THANK YOU. THANK WE HAVE
A MOTION. A SECOND, THANK YOU SO
MUCH, COLLEAGUES. ANY FURTHER
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? SEEING
NONE ARE SIMILAR, WE'D LIKE TO
CLOSE, PLEASE. THANK YOU FOR
YOUR ATTENTION ON THE MATTER,
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOUR
APPROVAL. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MR.
GARCIA, FOR BRINGING THIS VERY
IMPORTANT MEASURE FORWARD. AND
THANK YOU FOR WORKING WITH MY
COMMITTEE STAFF AND STAKEHOLDER
GROUPS, IN ORDER TO ADDRESS THE
QUESTIONS RAISED ON PAGE FOUR OF
THE ANALYSIS, AND THANK YOU FOR
YOUR LEADERSHIP AND EFFORTS ON
THE CALIFORNIA MEXICO BINATIONAL
AFFAIRS COMMITTEE. WE MET,
PROFESSOR FERNANDO, JUST MAYBE A
FEW MONTHS AGO HERE, NEXT DOOR,
ONE OF THE ROOMS. AND NOT ONLY
DOES THIS BILL ALIGN TO
DISCUSSIONS HELD BY THE SELECT
COMMITTEE ON INCREASING
PARTNERSHIPS WITH CALIFORNIA,
MEXICO, BUT ALSO CREATES
OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS TO
PARTICIPATE IN A ROBUST EXCHANGE
PROGRAM. AND I LOOK FORWARD TO
SUPPORTING THE MEASURE HERE
TODAY WITH THAT. MADAM
SECRETARY, ROLL CALL, PLEASE
FILE ITEM NUMBER 16 AB 2852. THE
MOTION IS DUE. PASS TO THE
APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE. FONG
I, FONG I TO ARAMBULA ARAMBULA I
BURNER. BURNER I CHEN CHEN. NOT
VOTING EASILY IRWIN IRWIN I
JACKSON. JACKSON I LO MURATSUCHI
MURATSUCHI I QUIRK-SILVA
QUIRK-SILVA I. THAT MEASURE HAS
SEVEN EYES. WE'LL KEEP THEM OPEN
FOR ADDITIONAL MEMBERS. ADD ON.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. AT THIS TIME,
WE WILL ENTERTAIN ADD ONS FOR
THE ITEMS. SO, MADAM SECRETARY,
WE CAN GO THROUGH THE ATOMS. I'M
SORRY. GO THROUGH THE ITEMS FOR
MEMBERS TO ADD ON. THANK YOU. SO
MUCH. AND WE'LL GO TO NUMERICAL
FILE ORDER. THE CONSENT CALENDAR
FOR FILE ITEM NUMBER FIVE AB
2096. THE MOTION IS DUE. PASS TO
THE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE
FILE ITEM NUMBER EIGHT AB 2508.
THE MOTION IS TO PASS TO THE
HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE. FILE
ITEM NUMBER NINE AB 2567. THE
MOTION IS DO PASS TO MILITARY
AND VETERAN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
FILE ITEM NUMBER 11 AB 2588. THE
MOTION IS DO PASS TO THE
APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE. BURNER
FOR A BURNER. I EASILY JACKSON.
JACKSON I QUIRK-SILVA
QUIRK-SILVA I THAT MEASURES TEN
EYES WILL KEEP THEM OPEN FOR
ADDITIONAL MEMBERS ADD ON THANK
YOU FILE ITEM NUMBER ONE AB
1855. THE MOTION IS Dð. PASS TO
THE ASSEMBLY FLOOR BURNER A
BURNER I A SALLY JACKSON.
JACKSON I LO QUIRK-SILVA A
QUIRK-SILVA I. THANK YOU SO
MUCH, COLLEAGUES. THAT MEASURE
HAS SEVEN EYES. ONE NOT VOTING
AND ONE NO. AND WE'LL KEEP THE
MEASURE OPEN FOR ADDITIONAL
MEMBERS. ADD ON. THANK YOU. FILE
ITEM NUMBER TWO AB 1905. THE
MOTION IS Dð. PASS TO THE PUBLIC
AND EMPLOYMENT RETIREMENT
COMMITTEE. CHEN CHEN I
QUIRK-SILVA QUIRK-SILVA. I THAT
HAS MEASURE HAS TEN EYES AND
WE'LL KEEP THE ROLL OPEN FOR
ADDITIONAL MEMBERS ADD ON. THANK
YOU. FILE ITEM NUMBER THREE AB
1929. THE MOTION IS DO PASS AS
AMENDED TO THE APPROPRIATIONS
COMMITTEE. FONG I, FONG I CHEN.
CHEN I A SALIH LO QUIRK-SILVA
QUIRK-SILVA I. THAT MEASURES
NINE EYES AND WE'LL KEEP THEM
OPEN FOR ADDITIONAL MEMBERS. ADD
ON. THANK YOU. FILE ITEM NUMBER
FOUR AB 2005. THE MOTION IS DUE.
PASS TO THE APPROPRIATIONS
COMMITTEE. CHEN CHEN I A SALLY
IRWIN. IRWIN I LO O QUIRK-SILVA
QUIRK-SILVA I. YES. LET'S DO
THIS ONE AND WE'LL DO THE. THANK
YOU MR. I'M SORRY. DO YOU WANT
TO READ THE VOTE ON THIS ONE?
YES. WE'RE 2205. OKAY. YES, I
WILL, MR. CHEN, THANK YOU. HOW
WOULD YOU LIKE TO VOTE ON IT? A
FILE ITEM NUMBER FOUR, AB 2005.
THE MOTION IS TO PASS THE
APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE. CHEN
CHEN, NOT VOTING.
THAT MIRRORS MEASURE A7 EYES
WHEN NOT VOTING. AND ONE. NO.
AND WE'LL KEEP THE MEMBER THE
ROLL OPEN FOR ADDITIONAL MEMBERS
TO ADD ON. THANK YOU. FILE ITEM
NUMBER SIX, AB 2357. THE MOTION
IS DUE. PASS TO THE
APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE.
ARAMBULA ARAMBULA I BURNER
BURNER. I EASILY JACKSON.
JACKSON I LO QUIRK-SILVA I
QUIRK-SILVA I.
THAT MEASURE HAS NINE EYES, AND
WE'LL KEEP THE ROLL OPEN FOR
ADDITIONAL MEMBERS OUT ON. THANK
YOU. FILE ITEM NUMBER SEVEN AB
2395. THE MOTION IS Dð. PASS TO
THE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE.
BURNER BURNER I A SALLY LO. THAT
MEASURE HAS NINE EYES. IT'S OUT.
AND WE'LL KEEP THE ROLL OPEN FOR
ADDITIONAL MEMBERS ADD ON. THANK
YOU. FILE ITEM NUMBER TEN AB
2586. THE MOTION IS DUE. PASS TO
THE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE.
CHEN Ã, SALLY QUIRK-SILVA
QUIRK-SILVA. I THAT MEASURE HAS
EIGHT EYES. ONE. NO. WE'LL KEEP
THEIR OPEN FOR ADDITIONAL
MEMBERS OUT ON. THANK YOU. FILE
ITEM NUMBER 12 AB 2707. THE
MOTION IS DUE. PASS TO THE
APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE.
ARAMBULA ARAMBULA I A SALLY
JACKSON. JACKSON I QUIRK-SILVA
QUIRK-SILVA. I THAT MEASURE HAS
TEN EYES AND WILL KEEP THE WERE
OPEN FOR ADDITIONAL MEMBERS ADD
ON THANK YOU FILE ITEM NUMBER 13
AB 2723. THE MOTION IS DO PASS
AS AMENDED TO THE EDUCATION
COMMITTEE. ARAMBULA ARAMBULA I A
SALLY JACKSON JACKSON I
QUIRK-SILVA QUIRK-SILVA I THANK
YOU SO MUCH COLLEAGUES. THAT
MEASURE HAS TEN EYES AND WE'LL
KEEP THE ROLL OPEN FOR
ADDITIONAL MEMBERS ADD ON. THANK
YOU. FILE ITEM NUMBER 14 AB
2768. THE MOTION IS DUE. PASS TO
THE EDUCATION COMMITTEE.
ARAMBULA ARAMBULA EYE BURNER I
BURNER I A SALLY JACKSON.
JACKSON THÀNH I LO QUIRK-SILVA
QUIRK-SILVA I. THAT MEASURE HAS
NINE EYES AND WE'LL KEEP THEM
OPEN FOR ADDITIONAL MEMBERS ADD
ON. THANK YOU. FILE ITEM NUMBER
15 AB 2821. THE MOTION IS DUE.
PASS TO THE APPROPRIATIONS
COMMITTEE. ARAMBULA ARAMBULA EYE
BURNER BURNER I Ã SALLY
JACKSON. JACKSON I LO
QUIRK-SILVA HI QUIRK-SILVA I
THAT MEASURE IS OUT HAS NINE
EYES AND WILL KEEP THE DOOR OPEN
FOR ADDITIONAL MEMBERS OUT ON.
THANK YOU A FILE ITEM NUMBER 16
AB 2852. THE MOTION IS DUE. PASS
TO THE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE
TO NÓ TO NØ. A SALLY LO THAT
MEASURE IS OUT. HAS SEVEN EYES.
WHEN NO. WE'LL KEEP THEM OR ROLL
OPEN FOR ADDITIONAL MEMBERS THAT
ON. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. FILE
ITEM NUMBER 17 AB 2925. THE
MOTION IS TO PASS AS AMENDED TO
THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE.
ARAMBULA ARAMBULA EYE BURNER
BURNER I A SALLY JACKSON.
JACKSON I QUIRK-SILVA
QUIRK-SILVA I THAT MEASURE IS
OUT AS TEN EYES, AND WE'LL KEEP
THE ROLL OPEN FOR ANY ADDITIONAL
MEMBERS TO ADD ON. THANK YOU.
FILE ITEM NUMBER 18 AB 3142. THE
MOTION IS DUE. PASS TO THE
APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE. BURNER
I, BURNER I Ã SALLY JACKSON.
JACKSON I LO QUIRK-SILVA I
QUIRK-SILVA I.
THAT MEASURE HAS EIGHT EYES AND
ONE. NO. AND WE'LL KEEP THEM
OPEN FOR ANY ADDITIONAL MEMBERS
ADD ON. THANK YOU. FILE ITEM
NUMBER 19 ACR 147. THE MOTION IS
DUE. PASS TO THE APPROPRIATION
COMMITTEE. ARAMBULA ARAMBULA I A
SALLY JACKSON. JACKSON I
QUIRK-SILVA QUIRK-SILVA. I.
THAT MEASURE IS TEN EYES. AT
THIS TIME, MADAM SECRETARY,
THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE'LL GO
THROUGH THE ITEMS, FOR
ADDITIONAL MEMBERS, ADD ON.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND THANK
YOU, EVERYONE, FOR A ROBUST
MEETING HERE TODAY. A LOT OF
GREAT FEEDBACK, COMMENTS AND WORK AND
EFFORTS, WITH THAT, WE WILL DO
THE ADD ONS FOR EACH ITEM. THANK
YOU SO MUCH, MADAM SECRETARY.
ROLL CALL PLEASE. CONSENT
CALENDAR FILE ITEM FIVE AB 2096.
THE MOTION IS DUE. PASS TO THE
APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE FILE
ITEM NUMBER EIGHT AB 2508. THE
MOTION IS DUE. PASS TO HUMAN
SERVICES COMMITTEE FILE ITEM
NUMBER NINE AB 2567. THE MOTION
IS Dð. PASS TO MILITARY AND
VETERAN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE FILE
ITEM 11 AB 2588. THE MOTION IS
DO PASS TO APPROPRIATIONS A
SALIH A SALIH. I THANK YOU SO
MUCH, COLLEAGUES. THE MEASURE
HAS 11 EYES AND, IS OUT. THANK
YOU. FILE ITEM NUMBER ONE, AB
1855. THE MOTION IS DO PASS TO
THE ASSEMBLY FLOOR. Ã SALLY NØ
A SALLY NÓ. THANK YOU SO MUCH,
THAT MEASURE HAS SEVEN EYES, TWO
NO'S AND ONE NOT VOTING. THANK
YOU. FILE ITEM NUMBER TWO, AB
1905. THE MOTION IS DUE PASSED
TO. THE PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT AND
RETIREMENT COMMITTEE. A SALLY A
SALLY, I THANK YOU SO MUCH. THAT
MEASURE HAS 11 EYES AND IS OUT.
FILE ITEM NUMBER THREE AB 1929.
THE MOTION IS TO PASS AS AMENDED
TO THE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE.
Ã. SALLY Ã. SALLY I THANK YOU
SO MUCH. THAT MEASURE HAS TEN
EYES AND IS OUT. FILE ITEM
NUMBER FOUR AB 2005. THE MOTION
IS DUE. PASS TO THE
APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE AS
SALLY NÓ A SALLY NØ. THANK YOU
SO MUCH. THAT MEASURE HAS SEVEN
EYES, TWO NO'S AND MEASURES OUT.
THANK YOU. FILE ITEM NUMBER SIX
AB 2357. THE MOTION IS DUE. PASS
TO THE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE
A SALLY A SALLY, I THANK YOU SO
MUCH. THAT ITEM IS TEN EYES AND
IS OUT FILE ITEM NUMBER SEVEN AB
2395. THE MOTION IS Dð PASS TO
THE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE.
SALLY NÓ A SALLY NÓ. THANK YOU
SO MUCH. THAT ITEM HAS NINE AYES
ONE NO. AND IS OUT. THANK YOU.
FILE ITEM NUMBER TEN AB 2586.
THE MOTION IS Dð. PASS TO THE
APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE. Ã.
SALLY NØ Ã. SALLY NÓ. THAT
MEASURE IS EIGHT A'S, TWO NO'S
AND IS OUT. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
FILE ITEM NUMBER 12 AB 2707. THE
MOTION IS DUE PASSED TO THE
APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE. Ã
SALLY Ã SALLY I. THAT MEASURE
IS 11 A'S. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
FILE ITEM NUMBER 13 AB 2723. THE
MOTION IS DO PASS AS AMENDED TO
THE EDUCATION COMMITTEE. Ã.
SALLY Ã. SALLY, I THANK YOU SO
MUCH. THAT MEASURE IS OUT. FILE
ITEM NUMBER 14 AB 2768. THE
MOTION IS DUE. PASS TO THE
EDUCATION COMMITTEE A SALLY A
SALLY I THAT MEASURE IS TEN EYES
AND IS OUT. THANK YOU. FILE ITEM
NUMBER 15 AB 2821. THE MOTION IS
Dð. PASS TO THE APPROPRIATIONS
COMMITTEE A SALLY A SALLY I.
THAT MEASURE IS TEN EYES AND IS
OUT. THANK YOU. FILE ITEM NUMBER
16 2852. THE MOTION IS Dð. PASS
TO THE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE.
Ã. SALLY NØ A SALLY NÓ. THANK
YOU SO MUCH. THAT MEASURE HAS
SEVEN AYES TWO NO'S AND IS OUT.
FILE ITEM NUMBER 17 AB 2925. THE
MOTION IS DO PASS AS AMENDED TO
THE JUDICIARY COMMISSION
COMMITTEE. I SALLY I SALLY I
THAT MEASURE HAS 11 EYES. THANK
YOU SO MUCH AND IS OUT FILE ITEM
NUMBER 18 AB 3142. THE MOTION IS
TO PASS TO THE APPROPRIATIONS
COMMITTEE. SALLY NOT A SALLY NOT
VOTING. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THE
MEASURE HAS EIGHT EYES ONE NO
ONE NOT VOTING AND IS OUT. FILE
ITEM 19 ACR 147. THE MOTION IS
DO PASS TO THE APPROPRIATIONS
COMMITTEE. Ã SALLY 19 WAS ON
CONSENT. I WAS PUT OFF A CONSENT
WAS PULLED OFF. OKAY I THANK YOU
SO MUCH. THAT MEASURE IS 11
EYES, THANK YOU SO MUCH
COLLEAGUES FOR ROBUST MEETING
HERE TODAY TO EVERYONE WHO
TESTIFIED FOR EVERYONE'S
PARTICIPATION TO THE STAFF OF
THE HIGHER EDUCATION COMMITTEE
AND EVERYONE INVOLVED WITH
TODAY'S HEARING. GREATLY
APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS AND
YOUR INSIGHTS. OUR NEXT HEARING
IS ON TUESDAY, APRIL 16TH AT
1:30 P.M. IN STATE CAPITOL
HEARING ROOM, ROOM 437. AUTHORS
AND STAKEHOLDERS, PLEASE MAKE
SURE YOU'RE ENGAGING EARLY WITH
OUR COMMITTEE STAFF ON YOUR
MEASURES. AND WITH THAT, THANK
YOU GUYS SO MUCH. HAVE A
WONDERFUL REST OF YOUR DAY. THE
ASSEMBLY HIGHER EDUCATION
COMMITTEE IS ADJOURNED.
THANK YOU