GOOD
AFTERNOON. I CALL THIS HEARING
OF THE ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON
HUMAN SERVICES TO ORDER TODAY.
ONCE WE HAVE ESTABLISHED QUORUM,
WE WILL HAVE 24 BILLS ON THE
AGENDA. FIVE BILLS ARE ON
CONSENT. PLEASE NOTE THAT WE
LIMIT TESTIMONY TO TWO WITNESSES
IN SUPPORT AND TWO WITNESSES IN
OPPOSITION. EACH WITNESS HAS TWO
MINUTES TO TESTIFY. ALL
ADDITIONAL WITNESSES WILL BE
LIMITED TO STATING THEIR NAME,
ORGANIZATION, AND IF THEY WERE
PRESENT, ONE THEIR POSITION ON
THE BILL. I ALSO WANT TO NOTE
THAT WE ARE ACCEPTING WRITTEN
TESTIMONY THROUGH THE POSITION
LETTER PORTAL ON THE COMMITTEE'S
WEBSITE. NOW FOR A LITTLE
HOUSEKEEPING FILE. ITEM NUMBER
FOUR, AB 2224. SANTIAGO WAS
AMENDED ON MARCH 12TH, 2024 SO
THAT IT NOW ALSO FALLS WITHIN
JURISDICTION OF THE ASSEMBLY
COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY. SHOULD
THE BILL PASS OUT OF THIS
COMMITTEE, IT WILL BE REFERRED
TO THE ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON
JUDICIARY. FILE ON FILE ITEM 22
AB 3145. BRIAN HAS BEEN PULLED
BY THE COMMITTEE AND WILL NOT BE
HEARD TODAY. THANK YOU. WE DO
NOT YET HAVE A QUORUM, BUT I DO
SEE THAT ASSEMBLY MEMBER ADDIS
IS HERE. SO IF SHE WOULD LIKE TO
PRESENT FILE ITEM THREE AND WE
WILL HEAR THE BILLS, A
SUBCOMMITTEE. WHENEVER YOU AND
YOUR WITNESSES ARE ARE READY
SCELERATUS, YOU CAN COME. THANKS
FOR BEING HERE. HEARING THE BILL
ARE SO GREAT. ABSOLUTELY. WELL,
THANK YOU, CHAIR AND MEMBERS, I
WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO YOUR
STAFF. TO MY STAFF. WE'VE, ALL
BEEN IN A LOT OF CONVERSATION
AND DOING A LOT OF WORK ON THIS
VERY IMPORTANT BILL. AND DODD
MEMBERS. TODAY, I'M HERE TO
PRESENT ASSEMBLY BILL 2206,
WHICH IS THE CHILD CARE
ACCESSIBILITY ACT. AND AS A
FORMER TEACHER OF STUDENTS WITH
SPECIAL NEEDS, I WOULD SAY CHILD
CARE FOR CHILDREN, YOUNG
CHILDREN NEEDS IS ONE OF THE
MOST IMPORTANT THINGS THAT WE
CAN DO. AND NOW MORE THAN EVER,
FINDING AN ADEQUATE CHILD CARE
FOR MANY FAMILIES IS A CONSTANT
STRUGGLE WITH SKY HIGH COSTS,
WORKFORCE ISSUES, AND NOT ENOUGH
OPEN SLOTS TO GO AROUND,
FAMILIES TRULY FEEL LIKE THEY'RE
OUT OF OPTIONS. AND WHEN IT
COMES TO FAMILIES OF CHILDREN
WITH DISABILITIES, THESE ISSUES
ARE ONLY EXACERBATED. AND SO
WITH THESE REALITIES IN MIND, WE
DO NEED A LEGISLATIVE FIX TO
IMPROVE ACCESS FOR ACCESS FOR
CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES TO
CHILD CARE AND ACCESS FOR THEIR
FAMILIES. AB 2206 REVISES
CLEARLY OUTDATED CODE AND
REGULATIONS TO STREAMLINE THE
PROCESS FOR CHILD CARE
FACILITIES TO ENROLL CHILDREN
WITH DISABILITIES. CURRENTLY
CALIFORNIA'S REGULATIONS CREATE
A CONFUSING AND UNCERTAIN
PROCESS WHERE CHILD CARE
FACILITIES MUST OBTAIN A NEW
FIRE CLEARANCE PERMIT PRIOR TO
ENROLLING A CHILD WITH A
DISABILITY, AND THIS CAN TAKE UP
TO 2 TO 4 MONTHS, AND DURING
THAT TIME, THESE FAMILIES ARE
WITHOUT CHILD CARE. THE PROCESS
ALSO HAS TO BE REPEATED EVERY
SINGLE TIME THERE IS A NEW,
CHILD THAT'S GOING TO BE
ENROLLED. IF THAT CHILD HAS A
DISABILITY, REGARDLESS OF WHEN
THE LAST FIRE CLEARANCE PERMIT
WAS APPROVED. SO THIS LAW, AB
2206, WILL EXEMPT CHILD CARE
FACILITIES FROM THE REQUIREMENT
TO OBTAIN THE REVISED CLEARANCE
EVERY TIME A NEW CHILD IS
ENROLLED. TO BE CLEAR, WE ARE
NOT ELIMINATING ANY NEED FOR THE
FACILITIES. THE CHILD CARE
FACILITY IS TO OBTAIN A FIRE
CLEARANCE PERMIT. WE'RE SIMPLY
EXEMPTING THEM FROM ARBITRARY
REGULATION OF OBTAINING A
REVISED CLEARANCE FOR EVERY NEW
APPLICATION. SO WITH ME HERE
TODAY IS DOCTOR MARY ANN DEWAN
OF THE SANTA CLARA COUNTY
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS. AND
DOCTOR WONG. BEFORE WE DO
TESTIMONY, LET'S JUST PAUSE FOR
ONE SECOND AND ESTABLISH QUORUM.
PLEASE, MADAM SECRETARY, PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL. LEE, I HEAR SALIH
HERE. CALDERON HERE. GIBSON IN
JACKSON. MATHIS ORTEGA HERE.
THANK YOU. NOW THAT WE HAVE A
QUORUM. AND JUST TO CLARIFY,
SOME OF US, DO YOU ACCEPT THE
COMMITTEE, AMENDMENTS TO. YES,
WE DO. OKAY. THANK YOU. ALL
RIGHT. PLEASE PROCEED. TWO
MINUTES. THANK YOU. GOOD
AFTERNOON. I'M DOCTOR MARIANNE
DEWAN, COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT OF
SCHOOLS FOR SANTA CLARA COUNTY.
GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIRPERSON LEE
AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE. WE
ARE PLEASED TO CO-SPONSOR
ASSEMBLY BILL 2206 AND
PARTNERSHIP WITH THE SANTA CRUZ
AND MONTEREY COUNTY
SUPERINTENDENTS, AND WENT TO
EXTEND OUR DEEP GRATITUDE TO
ASSEMBLY MEMBER ADIS FOR
BRINGING THIS BILL FORWARD,
WHICH PRIORITIZES THE RIGHT TO
ACCESSIBLE CHILD CARE FOR
CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES.
FAMILIES OF CHILDREN WITH
DISABILITIES HAVE FAR GREATER
DIFFICULTY FINDING A CHILD CARE
PROVIDER, AND ARE THREE TIMES
MORE LIKELY TO EXPERIENCE JOB
DISRUPTIONS BECAUSE THEY ARE
UNABLE TO SECURE RELIABLE CHILD
CARE. DISPROPORTIONATE ACCESS TO
CHILD CARE LIMITS THE YOUNG
PERSON'S EARLY LEARNING AND
SOCIAL EMOTIONAL GROWTH
OPPORTUNITIES, AND CONTRIBUTES
TO THE ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT GAP
FOR CHILDREN. AS THEY PROGRESS
THROUGH SCHOOL. ALTHOUGH MANY
PRESCHOOL AND CHILD CARE
PROVIDERS WANT TO SERVE CHILDREN
WITH DISABILITIES, THEY HAVE TO
NAVIGATE EXTRA BARRIERS AND
REGULATIONS IN ORDER TO DO SO.
ONE SUCH REGULATION, AS WAS
DESCRIBED, REQUIRES PROVIDERS TO
RECEIVE A REVISED FIRE CLEARANCE
EACH TIME THEY WANT TO ENROLL. A
CHILD WHO IS NON-AMBULATORY,
WHICH INCLUDES CHILDREN WHO USE
CRUTCHES, WHEELCHAIRS OR
WALKERS, AND THIS PROCESS CAN
TAKE AN AVERAGE OF 3 TO 6
MONTHS. MEANWHILE, THE CHILD AND
THEIR FAMILY DO NOT HAVE ACCESS
TO CHILD CARE OR EARLY LEARNING
SERVICES. THIS BILL WOULD REMOVE
THESE BARRIERS AND ALLOW CHILD
CARE PROVIDERS TO BE
AUTOMATICALLY INSPECTED AND
APPROVED TO SERVE NON-AMBULATORY
CHILDREN DURING THE REGULAR FIRE
CLEARANCE PROCESS, INSTEAD OF
HAVING TO REQUEST A CLEARANCE
EACH TIME. THIS BILL WOULD
ENSURE THAT CHILD CARE PROVIDERS
CAN DIRECTLY ENROLL AND BEGIN
PROVIDING SERVICES TO
NON-AMBULATORY CHILDREN AND
THEIR FAMILIES IMMEDIATELY. I
URGE YOU TO JOIN THE SANTA CLARA
COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION AND
RESPECTFULLY REQUEST YOUR AYE
VOTE. THANK YOU SO MUCH, DO WE
HAVE ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
IN THE HEARING ROOM WHO WISH TO
TESTIFY IN SUPPORT OF THIS BILL?
PLEASE COME FORWARD TO THE
MICROPHONE AT THIS TIME. ALL
RIGHT. DO WE HAVE ANY PRIMARY?
OH, OKAY. HOW DO I RESET IT, ON
BEHALF OF THE COUNTY
SUPERINTENDENTS ASSOCIATION,
THÀNH, STRONG SUPPORT AND PROUD
TO BE A CO-SPONSOR. THANK YOU.
NOW, DO WE HAVE ANY WITNESSES IN
OPPOSITION TO THIS BILL? PLEASE
COME FORWARD. SEEING NONE, I'LL
BRING IT BACK TO THE COMMITTEE.
COMMITTEE MEMBERS, DO YOU HAVE
ANY QUESTIONS? COMMENTS SEEING?
NONE. ALL RIGHT, SO WE'RE
ARTISTS. DO YOU WANT TO CLOSE?
JUST THAT I RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR
YOUR. AYE VOTE. ALL RIGHT. THANK
YOU, REMOVING BARRIERS TO ACCESS
TO ACCESS CHILD CARE FOR
FAMILIES OF CHILDREN WITH
DISABILITIES IS A LAUDABLE GOAL.
HOWEVER, PROVIDING PROVISIONAL
CARE TO THESE CHILDREN. WHILE
THE STATUS OF AN APPROVED FIRE
CLEARANCE IS UNDERWAY, PUTS
CHILDREN WITH EXCEPTIONAL NEEDS
AND POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD
FACILITIES AND EXPOSES THESE
CHILDREN TO FIRE RELATED
INJURIES OR DEATH. WE CANNOT
INCREASE ACCESS TO CHILD CARE
FOR THESE CHILDREN AT THE
EXPENSE OF THEIR SAFETY. THIS
BILL IS. THIS THIS BILL. I
APPRECIATE YOU WORKING WITH THE
COMMITTEE ON THE AMENDMENTS FOR
THIS BILL. AND SO I WANT TO
THANK YOU FOR WORKING WITH US ON
THAT ONE. I RECOMMEND AN AYE
VOTE IF AMENDED, TO HAVE A
MOTION AND A SECOND ON THIS BILL
HAS BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED,
SECRETARY, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL
ON THIS BILL. THE MOTION IS DO
PASS, AS AMENDED, TO THE
ASSEMBLY EDUCATION COMMITTEE. LI
LI AYE. SALLY. SALLY AYE.
CALDERON. CALDERON. AYE. GIBSON
JACKSON. MATHIS. ORTEGA ORTEGA.
AYE. THAT BILL PASSES 4 TO 0, WE
WILL LEAVE THE BILL OPEN FOR
ABSENT MEMBERS. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH. AND I SEE A
SIMILAR WICKS IS READY TO GO.
FILE ITEM TWO WHENEVER YOU'RE
READY. AND YOUR WITNESSES ARE
READY, YOU MAY BEGIN. THANK YOU,
MR. CHAIR. AND MEMBERS, FIRST, I
WANT TO THANK THE HARD WORKING
COMMITTEE STAFF FOR THEIR WORK
ON THIS BILL. ALWAYS
APPRECIATED. CALIFORNIA IS
CURRENTLY THE WORLD'S FIFTH
LARGEST SUPPLIER OF FOOD AND
OTHER AGRICULTURAL COMMODITIES,
PRODUCING NEARLY HALF OF OUR
NATION'S FRUITS AND VEGETABLES.
HOWEVER, MORE THAN 1 IN 5 ABOUT
8.8 MILLION PEOPLE CURRENTLY
STRUGGLE WITH FOOD INSECURITY,
HUNGER AND LACK OF ACCESS TO
NUTRITIOUS FOOD ARE EXACERBATED
BY RACIAL AND ECONOMIC
INEQUALITIES, WITH 40% OF BLACK
HOUSEHOLDS AND 30% OF LATINO
HOUSEHOLDS BEING FOOD INSECURE
IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA, ONE
OF THE RICHEST PLACES IN THE
WORLD, A FOOD DESERT CAN BE
DEFINED AS ANY REGION IN THE
COUNTRY WITH LIMITED ACCESS TO
AFFORDABLE AND NUTRITIOUS FOOD.
MANY HOUSEHOLDS WITHIN THESE
REGIONS ARE LOW INCOME AND HAVE
INADEQUATE TRANSPORTATION TO AND
FROM THEIR CLOSEST FOOD
RETAILER. IN 2021, FOR EXAMPLE,
65% OF SAN FRANCISCO AND SAN
JOSE METRO AREA NEIGHBORHOODS
WERE CONSIDERED FOOD DESERTS.
65% OF SAN FRANCISCO
NEIGHBORHOODS WERE CONSIDERED
FOOD DESERTS. IN FRESNO, OVER
20% OF THE RESIDENTS LIVE IN
FOOD DESERTS. FURTHERMORE IT WAS
ALSO ESTIMATED THAT OVER 1
MILLION CALIFORNIANS NOW LIVE
WITHIN FOOD DESERTS, AND 45% OF
THOSE RESIDENTS ARE CONSIDERED
LOW INCOME INDIVIDUALS. A.B.
1961 WILL REQUIRE THE STRATEGIC
GROWTH COUNCIL TO ESTABLISH AND
CONVENE THE END HUNGER IN
CALIFORNIA MASTER PLAN TASK
FORCE. THIS TASK FORCE WILL
RECOMMEND FUTURE STRATEGIES TO
ADDRESS ACCESS TO HEALTHY AND
CULTURALLY RELEVANT FOOD FOR ALL
CALIFORNIANS. WE RECOGNIZE THAT
ADDRESSING BARRIERS TO ACCESS,
TO ACCESSING ADEQUATE,
NUTRITIOUS, AND CULTURALLY
APPROPRIATE FOOD REQUIRE A
COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH BEYOND
SHORT TUM FIXES. BY CONVENING
EXPERTS, STAKEHOLDERS, AND
COMMUNITY LEADERS, WE LOOK
FORWARD TO CRAFTING A HOLISTIC
PLAN THAT TACKLES THE ROOT CAUSE
OF FOOD ACCESS AND INSECURITY,
THUS CREATING, IMPORTANT
SOLUTIONS. I WANT TO THANK OUR
SPONSORS, THE UNITED FOOD AND
COMMERCIAL WORKERS UNION,
WESTERN STATES COUNCIL,
CALIFORNIA FOOD AND FARMING
NETWORK, AND GRACE AND CHILD
POVERTY CALIFORNIA. AND WITH ME
HERE TO TESTIFY TODAY ARE JAZZY
GREWAL FROM THE U OF C W WESTERN
STATES COUNCIL AND ANDREW CHANEY
WITH GRACE AND CALIFORNIA FOOD.
SORRY AND END CHILD POVERTY.
CALIFORNIA. THANK YOU. THANK YOU
SO MUCH. TWO MINUTES EACH
PLEASE. GOOD AFTERNOON CHAIR AND
COMMITTEE MEMBERS. MY NAME IS
JAZZY GREWAL, LEGISLATIVE
DIRECTOR WITH THE UNITED FOOD
AND COMMERCIAL WORKERS, WESTERN
STATES COUNCIL HERE TO TESTIFY
IN STRONG SUPPORT AND AS A PROUD
CO-SPONSOR OF AB 1961 THE END
HUNGER IN CALIFORNIA ACT, UFCW
IS A UNION THAT REPRESENTS
WORKERS IN OUR FOOD SECTOR FROM
FARM WORKERS TO GROCERY DELIVERY
DRIVERS. SADLY, IRONIC THE
WORKERS WHO GROW AND DELIVER
FOOD FACE HIGHER LEVELS OF FOOD
INSECURITY THAN THE REST OF THE
US WORKFORCE. EVEN THOUGH FOOD
SURROUNDS GROCERY WORKERS OVER,
EVEN THOUGH FOOD SURROUNDS
GROCERY WORKERS, OVER THREE
FOURTHS OR THREE QUARTERS OF
GROCERY WORKERS ARE FOOD
INSECURE. BASED ON THE US
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE'S FOOD
SECURITY ASSESSMENT TOOL, THAT
IS SEVEN TIMES HIGHER THAN THE
US AVERAGE DURING THE COVID 19
PANDEMIC, 72% OF AGRICULTURAL
WORKERS REPORTED TROUBLE PAYING
FOR FOOD. FOOD. DESERT
COMMUNITIES LACK THE RESOURCES
TO ATTRACT LARGE GROCERY STORE
CHAINS, LEAVING RESIDENTS WITH
CONVENIENCE STORES AND FAST FOOD
RESTAURANTS AS THEIR PRIMARY
FOOD SOURCES. HOWEVER IT IS NOT
JUST THE LACK OF ACCESS TO FOOD
THAT IS DRIVING FAMILIES TO
EXPERIENCE HUNGER. THE COST OF
FOOD HAS SIGNIFICANTLY
INCREASED. IT HAS BEEN OVER 30
YEARS SINCE FOOD WAS WAS THIS
EXPENSIVE, AND CONSUMERS NOW
SPEND OVER 11% OF THEIR
DISPOSABLE INCOME ON FOOD. IN
2022, FOOD PRICES INCREASED
NEARLY 10% FASTER THAN ANY YEAR
SINCE 1979. IN 2023, FOOD PRICES
INCREASED BY 6% AND TODAY FOOD
PRICES REMAIN 19% MORE EXPENSIVE
THAN BEFORE THE PANDEMIC. THIS.
THERE IS NOT A SILVER BULLET
THAT WILL END HUNGER IN
CALIFORNIA, WHICH IS WHY AB 1961
ESTABLISHES A BROADLY INCLUSIVE
TASK FORCE THAT WILL WORK TO
DEVELOP STATEWIDE GOALS,
STRATEGIES AND SOLUTIONS TO
TACKLE THE INEQUALITIES THAT
EXIST WITHIN OUR CURRENT FOOD
SYSTEM AND IMPROVE ACCESS TO
NUTRITIOUS AND AFFORDABLE FOOD
IN ALL COMMUNITIES. UFCW WOULD
LIKE TO THANK THE ASSEMBLY
MEMBER FOR AUTHORING THIS
IMPORTANT LEGISLATION AND
RESPECTFULLY REQUEST YOUR AYE
VOTE ON AB 1961. THANK YOU.
CHAIR MEMBERS ANDREW SHANE FROM
GRACE END CHILD POVERTY
CALIFORNIA, DOESN'T HELP TO
CHANGE JOBS TWICE IN ONE YEAR
FOR PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND WHERE
YOU'RE AT. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR
TIME. SIMPLY PUT, PLANNING WORKS
. WE SAW DURING THE PANDEMIC
THAT WE NEARLY ERADICATED
HUNGER, ONLY TO SEE IT
PREDICTABLY AND SHAMEFULLY RISE
BACK AS WE SAW THE END OF MANY
TEMPORARY POLICIES. AND SO WE
KNOW THAT HUNGER IS A POLICY
CHOICE. IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE
CAN USE. PUBLIC POLICY TO BRING
TO BEAR AND END IT ONCE AND FOR
ALL. JUST A FEW HIGHLIGHTS ON
WHY WE NEED TO KEEP THE PEDAL TO
THE METAL ON PUBLIC POLICY. AS
MUCH AS THE LEGISLATURE AND
GOVERNOR HAVE DONE. WE ARE
LEAVING BILLIONS IN FEDERAL
DOLLARS ON THE TABLE IN CALFRESH
ALONE. WE ARE NEARLY LAST AT 71.
WE ARE LEAVING $1.8 BILLION IN
100% FEDERALLY FUNDED BENEFITS,
WHICH, WHEN CIRCULATED IN OUR
ECONOMIES WITH THE TRUCKERS AND
THE RETAIL WORKERS AND THE REST
OF OUR VITAL FOOD ECONOMY,
THAT'S AS MUCH AS $1.8 IN ROI
FOR EVERY $1 IN BENEFITS,
MEANING THAT 1.8 IS NEARLY $3.3
BILLION. JUST IN CALFRESH IN
WHIC WE'RE EVEN LOWER
PARTICIPATION AT 65. AND WE HAVE
NEW PROGRAMS LIKE SUMMER, EBT,
THE FIRST NEW FEDERAL
ENTITLEMENT IN A GENERATION. SO
WE KNOW THAT THERE'S MUCH WE CAN
DO. AND WHERE DOES CALIFORNIA
NEED TO FILL THE GAPS? FOR
EXAMPLE, THERE ARE HARSH FEDERAL
EXCLUSIONS FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS,
WHICH THE LEGISLATURE HAS DONE
MUCH TO TRY AND ADDRESS WITHIN
THE CALFRESH PROGRAM. AND WE'VE
SEEN THE POWER OF SCHOOL MEALS
FOR ALL, WHERE WE HAVE NEARLY
45% OF STUDENTS WHO ARE
EXPERIENCING FOOD INSECURITY,
WHO WOULD BE INELIGIBLE UNDER
THE FEDERAL RULES. AND THAT
WRAPAROUND APPROACH IS NEEDED.
AND THERE'S PRECEDENT FOR THE
EFFECTIVENESS OF THIS WHOLE OF
GOVERNMENT PLANNING APPROACH. AB
1520 BY ASSEMBLYMEMBER BURKE,
ESTABLISHED THE END CHILD
POVERTY TASK FORCE AND PLAN AND
LED TO RECOMMENDATIONS WHICH WE
CONTINUE TO FULFILL TO THIS DAY.
AND I WOULD OFFER THAT THE
SUPPORT OF THE MULTI
STAKEHOLDERS OF FAMILIES, OF
FARMERS, OF WORKFORCE
REPRESENTATIVES, ANTI-HUNGER AND
ANTI-POVERTY ORGANIZATION SHOW
THE SUPPORT FOR THE VISION
BROUGHT FORWARD BY MISS WICKS.
WE THANK YOU AND ASK FOR YOUR
AYE VOTE. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
NOW, DO WE HAVE MEMBERS OF THE
PUBLIC WHO WISH TO COME TO FIND
SUPPORT OF THE BILL? PLEASE COME
UP TO THE MICROPHONE. YES. KEVIN
ESTÁN COALITION, CALIFORNIA
WELFARE RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS.
STRONG SUPPORT. THANK YOU. ANDY
CHOW WITH THE CALIFORNIA
TEACHERS ASSOCIATION IN SUPPORT.
HI, BETH SMOKER WITH THE
CALIFORNIA FOOD AND FARMING
NETWORK, A PROUD CO-SPONSOR. AND
ALSO, NAMING STRONGER CALIFORNIA
AND EQUAL RIGHTS ADVOCATES AND
SUPPORT. THANK YOU. SAVANNA
JORGENSEN WITH THE LUTHERAN
OFFICE OF PUBLIC POLICY,
CALIFORNIA. AND STRONG SUPPORT.
GOOD AFTERNOON. DENISE
CHOCOLATE, CALIFORNIA COALITION
FOR YOUTH IN SUPPORT. THANK YOU.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. NOW, DO WE
HAVE ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
WHO WISH TO TESTIFY IN
OPPOSITION TO THE BILL? PLEASE
COME FORWARD TO THE MICROPHONE.
SEEING NONE, WE'LL BRING IT BACK
TO THE COMMITTEE. COMMITTEE
MEMBERS, DO YOU HAVE ANY
QUESTIONS? COMMENTS SENATOR
ORTEGA, I JUST WANT TO THANK I
JUST WANT TO THANK THE AUTHOR,
AND, YOU KNOW, FOR BRINGING THIS
FOOD FORWARD. I THINK THE PART
AROUND MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE
RETAIL FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS THAT
PROVIDE HEALTHY FOOD IN
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR IS
ESSENTIAL AND SOMETHING THAT WE
DON'T TALK ENOUGH ABOUT. I GREW
UP IN OAKLAND IN A PART WHERE WE
DID NOT HAVE A GROCERY STORE,
BUT WE HAD FIVE LIQUOR STORES
WITHIN THREE BLOCKS OF EACH
OTHER AND WE HAD FIVE FAST FOOD
ESTABLISHMENTS. SO YOU KNOW,
BEING ABLE TO GET HEALTHY FOOD
IS ALSO PART OF THAT
CONVERSATION. AND APPRECIATE
THAT BEING PART OF THIS BILL. SO
I MOVE THE BILL SECOND, THE BILL
IS MOVED AND SECONDED. ALL
RIGHT. SENATOR WICKS, YOU WOULD
YOU LIKE TO CLOSE? THANK YOU.
AND JUST APPRECIATE THE
COMMENTS, MR. ORTEGA. AND WOULD
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR AN AYE
VOTE. THANK YOU. WELL, I
APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING THIS
BILL FORWARD AND ADDRESSING FOOD
INSECURITY. I AM RECOMMENDING AN
AYE VOTE. THE BILL HAS BEEN
MOVED BY SENATOR ORTEGA AND
SECONDED BY ASSEMBLYMEMBER
CALDERON. MADAM SECRETARY,
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. FINAL ITEM
TWO AB 1961. THE MOTION IS DUE
PASSED TO THE ASSEMBLY
AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE. LI LI I
AZALI. AZALI NOT VOTING.
CALDERON CALDERON I GIBSON.
JACKSON. MATH ES. ORTEGA. ORTEGA
I 3 TO 0. WE'LL LEAVE THAT BILL
ON CALL. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. I
BELIEVE WE'VE. WE HAVE
ASSEMBLYMAN ALVAREZ HERE TO
PRESENT A FILE ITEM FIVE. SO
WHENEVER YOU'RE READY. YES OKAY
.
WHENEVER YOU'RE READY. THANK
YOU, MR. CHAIR. I APPRECIATE THE
OPPORTUNITY. MEMBERS OF THE
COMMITTEE FOR, HEARING ON AB
2241, AGAIN, I WANT TO THANK THE
CHAIR FOR, THE WORK THAT WAS
DONE ON BEHALF OF THE STAFF OR
THE STAFF THAT DID THE WORK, AND
ALSO THE CHAIR FOR COMMUNICATING
WITH ME AND WITH OUR OFFICE, WE,
HAVE AMENDMENTS THAT THE
COMMITTEE HAS PROPOSED AND WILL
BE ACCEPTING THE COMMITTEE'S
AMENDMENTS. THIS BILL IS ABOUT
FAMILIES THAT RELY IN CALIFORNIA
ON PUBLIC BENEFIT PROGRAMS, MANY
OF THEM WHO HAVE TO WORK JOBS
THAT HAVE OBSCURE HOURS OR
DIFFICULT OR CHALLENGING
SCHEDULES THAT AT TIMES THEY
COUNT, THAT TIMES THAT DON'T
WORK OUT WITH ESTABLISHED COUNTY
SOCIAL SERVICE OFFICES AND WHEN
THEY ARE OPEN AND AVAILABLE TO
THE PUBLIC, THE FAMILIES THAT
ARE AFFECTED, THE MOST ARE THE
ONES WHO DO NOT HAVE THE LUXURY
OF HAVING FLEXIBILITY IN THEIR
WORK, AND IN THEIR JOBS TO GET
TIME OFF TO BE ABLE TO, CONTINUE
TO RECEIVE THESE PUBLIC BENEFITS
AND SO THIS BILL IS, IS FOCUSED
ON THAT, WHEN HOUSEHOLDS FAIL TO
REPORT REQUESTED INFORMATION OR
PROVIDE AN UPDATE ABOUT A CHANGE
IN THEIR INCOME OR IN THEIR
ADDRESS OR OTHER PERSONAL
INFORMATION IN A TIMELY MANNER,
SOMETIMES THEIR PUBLIC BENEFITS
CAN BE NEGATIVELY IMPACTED, EVEN
IF THEY DON'T HAVE ANY
SUBSTANTIVE CHANGES. THEY JUST
AREN'T ABLE TO REPORT THE
INFORMATION AS REQUESTED, THE
FAILURE TO REPORT THESE CHANGES
CAN RESULT IN THE RELINQUISHMENT
OF THE PUBLIC BENEFIT PROGRAM
THAT THEY ARE ENTITLED TO AND
THAT THEY ARE PARTICIPATING IN.
SO WE ARE HOPING THAT THROUGH
THIS BILL, WE CAN HELP TO
STREAMLINE AND IDENTIFY VÌ WAYS
THAT GOVERNMENT CAN BE MORE
RESPONSIVE TO THE NEEDS OF REAL
PEOPLE, WE DO NOT WANT TO FORCE
BENEFICIARIES TO JUMP THROUGH
HURDLES TO OBTAIN THE ASSISTANCE
THAT THEY NEED FOR THEIR BASIC
NEEDS, AND THIS BILL WILL ENSURE
THAT BENEFICIARIES ARE DIRECTED
TO A REASONABLE ALTERNATIVE
METHOD FOR RESUBMITTING THEIR
INFORMATION. IF THE COUNTY DEEMS
THE FORM OF SUBMISSION AS
UNSECURE OR INSECURE, AB 2241
SEEKS TO CREATE A STREAMLINED
AND PROVIDE BENEFICIARIES WITH
GUIDANCE ON HOW THEY MAY SUBMIT
THAT INFORMATION SO THAT THEY
CAN CONTINUE TO RECEIVE THEIR,
BENEFITS, THAT THEY ARE ENTITLED
TO. THE CONCERN OF. I WANT TO
IDENTIFY AND ACKNOWLEDGE THE
CONCERN OF OVERPAYMENT, WHICH
STILL EXISTS. AND WE ARE
CERTAINLY WORKING ON AN
AMENDMENT AND LANGUAGE THAT WILL
ADDRESS THAT ISSUE, SO THAT
BENEFICIARIES ARE NOT PENALIZED
AND NOW I'D LIKE TO TURN IT OVER
TO OUR TWO, WITNESSES. WE HAVE
CHRIS SANCHEZ ON BEHALF OF THE
WESTERN CENTER ON POVERTY AND
KEVIN ASLANIAN FROM THE
COALITION OF CALIFORNIA WELFARE
RIGHTS ORGANIZATION. ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU. TWO MINUTES APIECE,
PLEASE, CHRISTOPHER SANCHEZ WITH
THE MESA VERDE GROUP
REPRESENTING THE WESTERN CENTER
ON LAW AND POVERTY, ONE OF THE
ORGANIZATIONS THAT IS PROUD TO
BE A CO-SPONSOR OF THIS
IMPORTANT PIECE OF LEGISLATION.
CLEARLY, IT'S NO SURPRISE IN THE
21ST CENTURY THAT PUBLIC BENEFIT
RECIPIENTS WOULD SEND AN EMAIL,
TO ENSURE THAT THEIR, THEIR,
THEIR IN COMPLIANCE, WE KNOW
THAT THE RECIPIENTS OF THESE
SERVICES ARE TRYING TO MEET
THEIR BASIC NEEDS AND HAVE
ACCESS TO THESE NEEDS BECAUSE OF
THE HECTIC LIVES THAT THEY LIVE
RIGHT NOW AND HOW THEY'RE TRYING
TO SUPPORT THEIR FAMILIES, IT IS
FOR THESE REASONS THAT WE ASK
THE COMMITTEE TO VOTE AYE AT THE
APPROPRIATE TIME. YEAH. KEVIN
ESTÁN COALITION OF CALIFORNIA
WELFARE RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS, IT
IS VERY HARD FOR PEOPLE ON
CALWORKS AND CALFRESH TO GO
THROUGH THE APPLICATION PROCESS.
AND THERE'S A LOT OF BARRIERS.
AND ONE OF THOSE BARRIERS IS, IS
AN ABILITY TO GET THE
INFORMATION TO THE COUNTY
WELFARE DEPARTMENT. SOMETIMES
THEY PUT IT ON THE ONLINE
BENEFITS CAL, WHICH IS A PORTAL,
BUT IT NEVER GETS TO THE WORKER.
OTHER TIMES YOU GO TO THE, GIVE
IT TO THE WELFARE OFFICE, PUT IT
IN A BOX. IT NEVER GETS TO THE
WORKER. SOMETIMES WE GET
COMPLAINTS ABOUT THAT ALL THE
TIME. AND WE HAVE IT, WE PASSED
OUT A CHART THAT SHOWS THAT,
THAT 50 MORE THAN 50% OF
CALWORKS APPLICATIONS ARE NOT
DENIED BECAUSE THEY'RE
INELIGIBLE, BUT THEY DENIED
BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T MEET THE
BUREAUCRATIC COUNTY BUSINESS
PRACTICES OR SOMETHING ELSE.
THEY WERE TOTALLY ELIGIBLE. AND
FOR FOOD STAMPS, IT'S A BILL WE
WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT. IT
COMES TO ABOUT 70 TO, BETWEEN 70
AND 65% THAT PEOPLE ARE DENIED
FOOD STAMPS AND GO HOME HUNGRY
BECAUSE THEY CAN'T MEET THOSE
PROCEDURAL REQUIREMENTS. AND THE
BARRIERS TO REPORTING. THERE'S
ALSO ANOTHER PROBLEM IS THAT THE
WELFARE SYSTEM, IF YOUR INCOME
GOES OVER A CERTAIN AMOUNT, YOU
HAVE TO REPORT THAT TO AVOID
OVERPAYMENT AND IF THERE'S AN
OVERPAYMENT, THEN THE COUNTY
GETS TO COLLECT THAT. WHEN THEY
COLLECT IT, THEY GET A REWARD, A
BOUNTY OF 12 12.5. IN FACT, LAST
YEAR THEY GOT 5 MILLION. THIS
YEAR THEY GOT 4 MILLION. SO WE
WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE
OVERPAYMENTS DO NOT HAPPEN. AND
ALSO TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE
COULD REPORT CHANGES. THANK YOU.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. DO
WE HAVE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
WHO WISH TO TESTIFY IN SUPPORT
OF THE BILL? PLEASE COME FORWARD
TO THE MICROPHONE NOW. ALL
RIGHT. DO WE HAVE ANY MEMBERS OF
THE PUBLIC WHO WISH TO TESTIFY
IN OPPOSITION TO THE BILL?
PLEASE COME FORWARD. OH, PLEASE
COME UP TO THE DESK. PLEASE.
TWO MINUTES PLEASE. HI. GOOD
AFTERNOON, MR. CHAIR. MEMBERS, I
WANT TO THANK YOUR STAFF FOR
EXCELLENT ANALYSIS. THANK THE
AUTHOR FOR ACCEPTING THE
AMENDMENTS. AMANDA KURKJIAN WAS
QUDAH. WE ARE IN OPPOSITION TO.
THE BILL IS CURRENTLY IN PRINT,
OUR LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE WILL
BE ABLE TO REMOVE, REVIEW THESE
AMENDMENTS NEXT WEEK, AND SEE IF
IT WILL REMOVE OUR OPPOSITION,
BUT I DO WANT TO SAY THAT
BECAUSE OF OUR PRIVACY AND
SECURITY AGREEMENTS FOR OUR
SYSTEMS LIKE CAL SOURCE AND SOME
OF THE OTHERS, WE HAVE HAD OUR
COUNTY CITED, WHEN WE HAVE HAD
BREACHES, AND THEY HAVEN'T MET
THOSE SECURITY AGREEMENTS. SO WE
THINK THE ENCRYPTION STANDARDS
ARE A GOOD WAY TO GO FORWARD. SO
APPRECIATE YOUR WORK ON THIS.
AND THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NOW DO
WE HAVE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
WHO WISH TO TESTIFY IN
OPPOSITION TO THE BILL? PLEASE
COME FORWARD TO THE MICROPHONE.
ALL RIGHT. WE'LL BRING IT BACK
TO THE COMMITTEE. ANY QUESTIONS
OR COMMENTS FROM COMMITTEE
MEMBERS? SECOND, I HAVE A
QUESTION. ALL RIGHT. VICE CHAIR
SALLY, I JUST WANT TO UNDERSTAND
THE OPPOSITION IS YOU BELIEVE
THAT IF PEOPLE ARE ALLOWED TO
SUBMIT INFORMATION
ELECTRONICALLY, IN GENERAL, IT'S
NOT SECURE JUST BY EMAIL, SO OUR
PRIVACY AGREEMENTS THAT WE'RE
REQUIRED TO FOLLOW BECAUSE OF
FINES AND OTHER, FEDERAL
REGULATIONS AND STATE
REGULATIONS WITH OUR AGENCIES,
REQUIRE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF
ENCRYPTION TO BE ACCEPTABLE TO
USE BECAUSE OF THE PERSONAL
IDENTIFYING INFORMATION. SO
EMAIL, AS LONG AS IT WOULD BE
ENCRYPTED, WE BELIEVE, WOULD BE
ACCEPTABLE UNDER THOSE
STANDARDS. BUT THAT IS A VERY
HIGH STANDARD FOR MOST OF THOSE
SYSTEMS TO MEET. AND SO TO THE
EXTENT THAT COUNCILS CAN ALLOW
FOR IT, WE'RE FINE WITH THAT,
BUT NOT SURE THAT ALL OF THE
EMAIL SYSTEMS WOULD BE AVAILABLE
TO DO THAT. OKAY WELL, WHETHER
IT'S BY EMAIL OR PORTAL OR
SOMETHING, I THINK THIS BILL
MAKES SENSE, BECAUSE I THINK
IT'S 2024, AND I DON'T KNOW THAT
MOST PEOPLE STILL RELY ON HARD
COPIES FOR STUFF. SO I, I
APPRECIATE EFFORTS TO MODERNIZE
GOVERNMENT AND REDUCE BARRIERS
FOR PEOPLE TO GET ACCESS TO
BENEFITS OR OTHERWISE ELIGIBLE
TO SO, I'LL BE SUPPORTING IT
TODAY. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. ANY
OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM
MEMBERS? IF NOT, I'LL INVITE THE
AUTHOR TO CLOSE. THANK YOU, AND
TO, MR. SALLY'S POINT, WE ARE
TRYING TO FIND WAYS TO MAKE SURE
THAT THOSE THAT, THAT, DO
QUALIFY RECEIVE BENEFITS, BUT
OBVIOUSLY ADDRESS THE CONCERNS
WHICH THE COMMITTEE VERY
APPROPRIATELY OUTLINED OF, OF
PRIVACY CONCERNS. AND SO WE WILL
MAKE SURE THAT THAT CONTINUES TO
BE A PRIORITY. I KNOW SOME OTHER
MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE HAVE
ALSO EXPRESSED THAT. SO I ENSURE
THE PRIVACY IS ADDRESSED, BUT
ALSO THAT WE ARE MORE UPDATED
SYSTEM FOR GOVERNMENT TO
FUNCTION BETTER. THANK YOU.
APPRECIATE YOUR VOTE. THANK YOU
SO MUCH, ASSEMBLYMEMBER, AND
THANK YOU FOR WORKING WITH OUR
COMMITTEE STAFF ON, FIGURING OUT
SOME AMENDMENTS TO THIS BILL,
EXPANDING THE OPTIONS TO SUBMIT
INFORMATION NEEDED TO VERIFY
ELIGIBILITY FOR PUBLIC SOCIAL
SERVICES. KEY TO ERADICATING
POVERTY. BUT AT THE SAME TIME,
AS WE MODERNIZE AND EASE THE
FRICTION SYSTEM, WE DON'T
SACRIFICE PEOPLE'S
CYBERSECURITY. AND, THEIR
PRIVACY AS WELL. SO I'M GLAD WE
WORKED OUT SOME GOOD AMENDMENTS
HERE, I'M RECOMMENDING AN AYE AS
AMENDED VOTE. AND THE BILL HAS
BEEN MOVED BY SAM ORTEGA AND
SECONDED BY SENATOR CALDERON.
MADAM SECRETARY, PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL. FINAL ITEM FIVE AB 2241.
THE MOTION IS TO PASS, AS
AMENDED, TO THE ASSEMBLY
APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE. LEE I
LI I EASILY I EASILY I CALDERON,
CALDERON I GIBSON, JACKSON.
JACKSON I MATHIS ORTEGA ORTEGA I
. IT'S FIVE ZERO. IT'S OUT.
WE'LL LEAVE THE ROLL OPEN FOR
ABSENT MEMBERS. THANK YOU.
EVERYTHING HAS BEEN.
MADAM SECRETARY, WOULD YOU
PLEASE READ THE BILLS ON
CONSENT? WE'LL GO TO THE CONSENT
CALENDAR WHILE WE HAVE A SECOND
FINAL ITEM. ONE AB 1817 ALANIZ
FILE ITEM EIGHT, AB 2423 MATHES
EIGHT. FILE ITEM 19 AB 2949.
RENDON FILE ITEM 20 AB 2982
REYES. FILE ITEM 23 AB 3193.
CALDERON DO I HAVE A MOTION A
SECOND FOR THE CONSENT CALENDAR?
SECOND, THE CONSENT CALENDAR HAS
BEEN MOVED BY SIMILAR ORTEGA,
SECONDED BY SIMILAR CALDERON.
NEXT MADAM SECRETARY, PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL ON THE CONSENT
CALENDAR. LEE I LEE I EASILY
EASILY I CALDERON CALDERON I
GIBSON JACKSON JACKSON I MATHIS
ORTEGA ORTEGA I CONSENT CALENDAR
IS PASSED OUT. WE WILL ALLOW FOR
ABSENT MEMBERS TO ADD ON AT THE
END OF THE HEARING. WE ARE
CURRENTLY WAITING FOR AUTHORS.
SO IF STAFF ARE HEARING THIS AND
YOUR MEMBER HAS A BILL TO
PRESENT IN HUMAN SERVICES,
PLEASE SEND THEM DOWN. WE ARE
WAITING FOR AUTHORS RIGHT NOW
.
I. FORWARD
.
OH, YES. FILE ON. ALL RIGHT, IF I
MAY. WHENEVER YOU'RE READY.
SUPER. GOOD AFTERNOON, MR. CHAIR
AND MEMBERS, I'D LIKE TO THANK
THE COMMITTEE FOR THEIR
IMPORTANT WORK ON THIS BILL. AND
WOULD LIKE TO ALSO ACCEPT THE
COMMITTEE'S SUGGESTED AMENDMENTS
. AB 2774 ESTABLISHES THE CHILD
CARE FOR WORKING A BARRIER TO WORK,
ESPECIALLY FOR MOTHERS WHO
DISPROPORTIONATELY ON CAREGIVING
RESPONSIBILITIES WHEN THEIR
FAMILY CANNOT FIND OR AFFORD
CHILD CARE. CALIFORNIANS
CHILDREN NEED A SAFE PLACE TO
LEARN AND GROW WHILE PARENTS ARE
AT WORK AND CHILD CARE IS AN
ESSENTIAL COMPONENT FOR THE
LIVELIHOOD OF WORKERS AND
COMMUNITIES. I WANT TO
ACKNOWLEDGE THE INCREDIBLE AND
THOROUGH WORK THAT OUR STATE HAS
DONE AND CONTINUES TO DO, NAMELY
WITH THE BLUE RIBBON COMMISSION
AND THE GOVERNOR'S MASTER PLAN
ON EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION. I
DO BELIEVE THAT WE MUST CONTINUE
TO BUILD UPON THIS WORK AND
CONTINUE TO PRIORITIZE
INVESTMENTS IN ORDER TO BUILD A
COMPREHENSIVE, HIGH QUALITY
SYSTEM THAT IS ACCESSIBLE AND
AFFORDABLE TO ALL. SO FURTHER,
THERE IS A GREAT NEED. AS WE ALL
KNOW, FOR A NEW TASK FORCE TO
TAKE A COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT
OF CURRENT ECONOMIC REALITIES OF
CALIFORNIA FAMILIES.
I APPRECIATE YOUR
EFFORTS TO ADDRESS CHILD CARE
.
AND AGAIN, ONCE AGAIN, GOOD
AFTERNOON, MR. CHAIRMAN. MEMBERS
AB 2941 CODIFIES THE CALIFORNIA
PARENT AND YOUTH HELPLINE AND
STRENGTHENS GUIDELINES WHICH
ORGANIZATIONS ARE ELIGIBLE TO
OPERATE THE HELPLINE? IN 2020,
CALIFORNIA ESTABLISHED THE
CALIFORNIA AND PARENT YOUTH
HELPLINE, WHICH IT PROVIDES FREE
AND ACCESSIBLE MENTAL HEALTH
RESOURCES TO PARENTS AND YOUTH
ALL ACROSS THE STATE. SINCE ITS
INCEPTION, THE HELPLINE HAS
RECEIVED OVER 87,000 CALLS,
TEXTS AND LIVE CHATS AND HAS
HELPED PROVIDE OVER 73,000
REFERRALS TO COMPREHENSIVE
RESOURCES AND ALSO OPERATES
WEEKLY ONLINE SUPPORT GROUPS FOR
PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS. THE
HELPLINE HAS BEEN OPERATED BY
PARENTS ANONYMOUS, RECOGNIZED AS
ONE OF THE ONLY CULTURALLY
RESPONSIVE PROGRAMS IN THE
COUNTRY THAT ENHANCES MENTAL
HEALTH, MITIGATES THE IMPACT OF
ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES,
AND IT HELPS ENSURE CHILD SAFETY
RESOURCES FOR A DIVERSE ARRAY OF
FAMILIES. AB 2941 WILL HELP
STRENGTHEN THE HELPLINE BY
ENSURING THAT IT CAN CONTINUE TO
MAINTAIN WEEKLY SUPPORT GROUPS
AND REQUIRE THAT THE
ORGANIZATION THAT OPERATES IT IS
CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE AND HAS A
TRACK RECORD OF ADMINISTERING
SUCH A PROGRAM, I WILL THROUGH
THE CHAIR, HAVE MY WITNESSES
SELFIES IDENTIFY SELF-INTRODUCED
TODAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH, TWO
MINUTES PER WITNESS, PLEASE.
THANK YOU. I WANT TO THANK,
ASSEMBLYMAN GRAYSON FOR
INTRODUCING AB 2941. AND TO YOU,
CHAIRMAN LEE, AND DISTINGUISHED
MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE FOR
TAKING UP THIS IMPORTANT ISSUE.
WE ARE A SPONSOR OF THE BILL. I
AM DOCTOR LISA BERLIN. I'M THE
CEO AND PRESIDENT OF PARENTS
ANONYMOUS FOR THE LAST 32 YEARS.
YES. I WAS A CHILD WHEN THEY
APPOINTED ME AND WE ARE ONE OF
THE OLDEST FAMILY STRENGTHENING
ORGANIZATIONS IN CALIFORNIA,
HEADQUARTERED IN LOS ANGELES
SINCE 1969. I'M HERE TODAY
REPRESENTING THE 13 MILLION
PARENTS, CHILDREN, CAREGIVERS
AND YOUTH, WHICH MAY INCLUDE YOU
WHO ARE IN NEED AND NEED TO
ACCESS EVIDENCE BASED SERVICES
FOR EMOTIONAL SUPPORT FOR ANY
ISSUE THEY FACE ON THE
CALIFORNIA PARENT AND YOUTH
HELPLINE, WHICH THEY CAN CALL,
TEXT AND LIVE CHAT. RIGHT NOW IN
240 LANGUAGES. WE CAN ANSWER
CALLS AND TEXTS AND LIVE CHATS,
AND THAT'S EVERYTHING FROM
EMERGENCY. I DON'T KNOW IF I
WANT TO LIVE TODAY, I'M SO
ANXIOUS. I'VE BEEN PICKED ON AT
SCHOOL. YOU NAME IT, WE'VE
ADDRESSED IT WITH TRAINED
COUNSELORS. THIS UNIQUE PROGRAM
ALSO CONNECTS PEOPLE ON A
CONTINUUM OF SERVICES TO FREE
WEEKLY SUPPORT GROUPS THAT ARE
AVAILABLE IN IS IMPORTANT, AS
THE ASSEMBLYMAN SAID THAT THE
ORGANIZATION THAT RUNS THIS IS
CULTURE. RESPONSIVENESS IS NOT
ABOUT BLAME AND SHAME SO THAT
PEOPLE CAN ASK FOR HELP FREELY
AND GET THAT HELP TO BUILD ON
THEIR STRENGTHS. RESEARCH
DEMONSTRATES THAT EVEN DURING
THE PANDEMIC, CHILDREN WERE
FLOURISHING BETTER THAN THE
AVERAGE IN CALIFORNIA AND
PARENTS WERE IMPROVING THEIR
PROTECTIVE FACTORS AS A RESULT
OF THESE SERVICES. AS HE SAID,
WE'VE GIVEN 60,000 REFERRALS,
800,000 CLICKS ON OUR WEBSITE TO
GET RESOURCES, AND WE'VE TALKED
TO MORE THAN 90,000 PEOPLE TO
DATE. INDEPENDENT RESEARCH ALSO
SHOWS THAT WE'RE USING
WELL-ESTABLISHED TECHNIQUES TO
HELP PEOPLE DEAL WITH STRESS,
DEPRESSION, ANXIETY, YOU NAME
IT, WE ADDRESS IT. WE DON'T TURN
ANYBODY AWAY. AND EVEN THE
RESEARCH SHOWS THAT IN THE FIRST
FEW MINUTES BY INDEPENDENT
RESEARCHERS, FIRST FEW MINUTES
OF A HELPLINE CALL, PARENTS
ANGER DIMINISHES AND THEIR
SENTIMENT RISES OVER TIME. AND
THAT'S GOING TO BE IN PUBLISHED
RESEARCH. SO I URGE YOU TODAY TO
PASS AB 2941 TO ENSURE THAT
THERE IS A FIRST RESPONDER AND A
LIFE SAVING PROGRAM FOR ALL
CALIFORNIA PARENTS, CHILDREN AND
YOUTH. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ASSEMBLY
MEMBER GRAYSON AND CHAIRMAN AND
COMMITTEE MEMBERS, MY NAME IS
ANTONIO RIOS. I AM HONORED TO BE
HERE TODAY TO SHARE MY PERSONAL
STORY OF STRENGTH AND POSITIVE
CHANGE AS A PROUD LATINA AND
INDIGENOUS MOTHER OF SEVEN,
GRANDMOTHER OF FOUR, AND A KIN
PROVIDER WHO EXPERIENCED MANY
CHILDHOOD TRAUMAS AND SOUGHT
HELP AND SERVICES FROM THE
CALIFORNIA PARENT AND YOUTH
HELPLINE AND THE PARENTS
ANONYMOUS ONLINE GROUPS. IT
SAVES LIVES. IT SAVED MY SON'S
LIFE. MY DAUGHTER'S LIFE, AND A
SIXTH GRADERS LIFE FROM MY SON'S
SCHOOL. MY SON AND I HAVE HAD
THE PRIVILEGE TO SHARE OUR STORY
WITH OTHERS ON SPECTRUM ONE
NEWS. DURING THE HEIGHT OF THE
PANDEMIC, WHEN EVERYBODY WAS
ISOLATED, FEELING LONELY AND
FRIGHTENED, MY SON AT THE TENDER
AGE OF 11 WAS SEARCHING WAYS TO
KILL HIMSELF DUE TO HIS ADHD
MEDICATION BEING CHANGED WITHOUT
THE TRAINED COUNSELORS ON
PARENTS, THE CALIFORNIA PARENT
AND YOUTH HELPLINE, AND CARING
AND, COMPASSIONATE GROUP
FACILITATORS AND PARENTS
ANONYMOUS GROUPS, HE WOULDN'T BE
ALIVE TODAY, AND HIS STORY IS
NOT THE ONLY ONE. MY CHILDREN
AND I ARE ONE OF MILLIONS OF
DIVERSE CAL CALIF PARENT
CHILDREN AND YOUTH WHO CALL TEXT
AND LIVE CHAT THE HELPLINE AND
ATTEND FREE WEEKLY PARENTS
ANONYMOUS GROUPS TO BUILD ON OUR
STRENGTHS AS A FAMILY. I AM
RESILIENT TODAY AND MY FAMILY IS
THRIVING TOGETHER BECAUSE OF THE
AMAZING EMOTIONAL SUPPORT WE
HAVE RECEIVED FROM THE
CALIFORNIA PARENT AND YOUTH
HELPLINE AND PARENTS ANONYMOUS
GROUPS. WE BELIEVE THAT ASKING
FOR HELP IS A SIGN OF STRENGTH,
AND THAT THE LEGISLATOR NEEDS TO
PASS AB 2941 SO THAT THE
CALIFORNIA PARENT AND YOUTH
HELPLINE ONLINE PARENTS
ANONYMOUS GROUPS TO CAN I. I
HAVE ONE SENTENCE. OKAY THANK
YOU. CAN'T CONTINUE TO SUPPORT
FAMILIES AND PREVENT CHILD ABUSE
AND NEGLECT AND ENSURE A
POSITIVE FUTURE FOR GENERATIONS
TO COME. NOW HELP IS ON A PHONE
CALL, TEXT OR LIVE CHAT AWAY. I
STAND HERE TODAY 18 YEARS, TWO
MONTHS AND 24 DAYS CLEAN BECAUSE
OF THIS AMAZING ORGANIZATION. I
PLEAD WITH MY HEART, BODY AND
SOUL THAT YOU PASS AB 2941
TODAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO
MUCH. NOW DO WE HAVE MEMBERS OF
THE PUBLIC WHO WISH TO TESTIFY
IN SUPPORT OF THE BILL? PLEASE
COME FORWARD TO THE MICROPHONE.
MR. CHAIR AND MEMBERS, RICK
ROLLINS, REPRESENTING THE
ASSOCIATION OF REGIONAL CENTER
AGENCIES, AKA IN SUPPORT OF THE
BILL. THANK YOU. AND DO WE HAVE
ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
WISHING TO TESTIFY IN OPPOSITION
TO THE BILL? PLEASE COME FORWARD
SEEING NONE, I'LL BRING IT BACK
TO THE COMMITTEE. ANY QUESTIONS
OR COMMENTS FROM THE COMMITTEE
MEMBERS? ALL RIGHT. SO JUST A
QUICK QUESTION. I KNOW A FEW
YEARS BACK WE CREATED THIS NEW
HOTLINE, 988, WHICH IS SUPPOSED
TO BE KIND OF THE NEW THING. NOW
FOR PEOPLE TO SEEK MENTAL HELP.
ARE YOU GUYS TIED INTO THAT OR
IS THIS LIKE A SEPARATE THING?
IT'S TOTALLY SEPARATE, BUT WE
CONNECT WITH THEM. SO MANY
PEOPLE SEE NINE, EIGHT, EIGHT AS
FOCUSING ON ONE THING SUICIDE
IDEATION. WE HAVE PARENTS. ALL
YOU HAVE TO DO IS TYPE IN PARENT
HELP TO YOUR PHONE RIGHT NOW AND
OUR NUMBER WILL COME UP. SO
WE'RE HERE FOR THE BROAD BASED
ISSUES, INCLUDING WHEN PEOPLE
ARE SUICIDAL. WE'RE NOT
ELIMINATING AND WE COORDINATE
WITH THEM ALL THE TIME. IF THERE
ARE MOBILE SITE TEAMS, WE
COORDINATE WITH THEM. IF THEY'RE
IN YOUR COMMUNITIES, IF THERE
ARE POLICE WHO NEED TO GO OUT
AND DO A WELLNESS CHECK, WE
CONNECT WITH THEM. WE DON'T
LEAVE ANY PARENT, CHILD OR YOUTH
HANGING IN ANY CIRCUMSTANCE, OR
EVEN A GRANDMA WHO'S CALLING, OR
AN ABUELA OR AN AUNTIE WHO MAY
BE STRUGGLING IN A NURSING HOME
AND WANT TO KNOW WHY THEIR
GRANDCHILDREN HAVEN'T COME TO
VISIT THEM. WE DON'T LEAVE
ANYBODY BEHIND. SO OUR SCOPE IS
BROADER BUT RELATABLE. OKAY I
THINK MY COMMENT IS JUST MORE
THAT IT'D BE NICE TO FIND A WAY
TO SORT OF TIE ALL THESE THINGS.
SO THERE'S A ONE STOP SHOP.
EVERYONE KNOWS NINE, EIGHT,
EIGHT. IT'S EASY TO REMEMBER.
IT'S LIKE 911. BUT FOR MENTAL
HEALTH. SO IT WOULD BE NICE AT
SOME POINT. I KNOW THAT'S BEYOND
THE SCOPE OF THIS BILL, BUT TO
GET EVERYTHING IN ONE PLACE, I
THINK IT'S PEOPLE DON'T. IT'S
HARD FOR PEOPLE TO KNOW THERE'S
ALL THESE RESOURCES. SO WITH
THAT, I'LL SUPPORT IT. THANK
THANK YOU. ANY SIMILAR ORTEGA
ALL RIGHT. BILL HAS BEEN MOVED
AND SECONDED, ASSEMBLY. GRAYSON,
IF YOU'D LIKE TO CLOSE,
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR AN AYE
VOTE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
YOUR CONSIDERATION. ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BRINGING
THIS BILL FORWARD AND SUPPORTING
PARENTS AND FAMILIES OF ALL
STRIPES. AS NOTED IN THE
ANALYSIS, THE EXISTING FAMILY
URGENT RESPONSE SYSTEM THAT IS
PROPOSED TO BE ELIMINATED IN THE
BUDGET IS STILL INVALUABLE TO
OUR CURRENT FOSTER YOUTH AND
THIS SHOULD NOT SUPPLANT THAT
NEED. SO THANK YOU FOR BRINGING
THIS BILL FORWARD. I'M
RECOMMENDING AN AYE VOTE, AND
THE BILL HAS BEEN MOVED BY
SENATOR ORTEGA AND SECONDED BY
SENATOR CALDERON. NEXT
SECRETARY, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL
FILE ITEM 17 AB 2941. THE MOTION
IS DUE PASSED TO THE ASSEMBLY
APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE. LEE.
LEE. AYE. SALLY. SALLY AYE.
CALDERON. CALDERON. AYE. GIBSON
JACKSON. MATHIS. ORTEGA HI.
ORTEGA. AYE. THE BILL HAS FOUR
VOTES AND IT IS OUT. WE'LL LEAVE
THE ROLL OPEN FOR ABSENT
MEMBERS. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THANK YOU. AND I THINK I SAW
SOME OF OUR LOW. IF HE WANTS TO
COME PRESENT HIS FILE ITEM FILE
NUMBER, FILE ITEM NUMBER 11 AB
2544 BY LOW. OKAY. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH, MR. CHAIR AND
COLLEAGUES, FOR ALLOWING ME TO
PRESENT ASSEMBLY BILL 2544 TO
HELP REDUCE BACKGROUND CHECK
BARRIERS FOR PROSPECTIVE
EMPLOYEES. AND WITH ME TODAY, I
HAVE ADDITIONAL WITNESSES IN
SUPPORT, MR. SHELTON, AND ALSO,
MISS MCGUIRE, RESPECTFULLY ASKED
FOR OUR VOTE. AND WE'LL TURN IT
OVER TO OUR FELLOW COLLEAGUE TO
PRESENT. THANK YOU. TWO MINUTES
PER WITNESS, PLEASE. GOOD
AFTERNOON, CHAIR MEMBERS, ADRIAN
SHELTON WITH THE CALIFORNIA
ALLIANCE OF CHILD AND FAMILY
SERVICES. WE REPRESENT
NONPROFIT, COMMUNITY BASED
ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS CALIFORNIA
THAT ARE SERVING CHILDREN AND
YOUTH AND FAMILIES IN PUBLIC
SYSTEMS. WE ARE THE PROUD
SPONSOR OF ASSEMBLY BILL 2544
TODAY. THIS BILL WILL
SIGNIFICANTLY HELP WITH OUR
WORKFORCE SHORTAGES AND ALSO
HELP SUPPORT AND ADDRESS THE
NEEDS OF OUR FOSTER YOUTH. AB
2544 WILL ALLOW FOR PROSPECTIVE
EMPLOYEES IN LICENSED CHILDREN'S
RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS WHO HAVE
LIVED OUT OF STATE WITHIN THE
PAST FIVE YEARS AND AWAITING THE
OUT OF STATE CHECK TO BE HIRED
PRIOR TO THE COMPLETE BACKGROUND
CHECK COMPLETED, AS LONG AS VERY
SPECIFIC CONDITIONS HAVE BEEN
MET. ONE THAT THE PROGRAM HAS
SUBMITTED A REQUEST FOR THE OUT
OF STATE CHECK. TWO THE
APPLICANT HAS BEEN CLEARED FOR
ALL OTHER ASPECTS OF THE
BACKGROUND CHECKS, INCLUDING
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, FEDERAL
BUREAU OF INVESTIGATIONS, AND
THE CHILD ABUSE CENTRAL INDEX
THROUGH OUR STATE'S GUARDIAN
PROGRAM. AND THEN WE HAVE ALSO
ADDED VERY SPECIFIC LANGUAGE
INTO THE BILL THAT PROHIBITS THE
APPLICANT FROM HAVING
UNSUPERVISED CONTACT WITH THE
RESIDENTS UNTIL THAT COMPLETION
OF THE OF THE FEDERAL CHECK. IS
HAS HAPPENED. SO THE APPLICANT
MUST BE UNDER SUPERVISION UNTIL
THE COMPLETE CAREGIVER
BACKGROUND CHECK HAS BEEN HAS
BEEN DONE. AND OUR SURVEY OF OUR
MEMBERS SHORT TERME THERAPEUTIC
RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS, WHICH IS A
WHICH PROGRAMS PROVIDE CRITICAL
THERAPEUTIC INTERVENTIONS FOR
FOSTER YOUTH WITH HIGH NEEDS.
THEY REALLY DISPLAY HOW ACUTE
THIS CHALLENGE IS. THE AVERAGE
TIME THAT IT TAKES TO CLEAR A
PROSPECTIVE EMPLOYEE COMING FROM
OUT OF STATE IS 71 DAYS. SOME OF
OUR AGENCIES REPORT RECEIVING UP
TO 30% OF THEIR POTENTIAL HIRES
FROM OUT OF STATE. SO WE ARE
LOSING CRITICAL STAFF WHO JUST
SIMPLY CANNOT WAIT THAT LONG. SO
WE ASK FOR YOUR AYE VOTE TODAY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU.
GOOD AFTERNOON. CHAIR AND
MEMBERS. MY NAME IS ALYSSA
MCGUIRE. I'M THE EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR OF PROGRESS RANCH.
WE'RE A MENTAL HEALTH AGENCY. WE
PROVIDE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
AS WELL AS CARE AND SUPERVISION
IN RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS FOR SOME
OF CALIFORNIA'S MOST VULNERABLE
CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES. AS
A PERSON RESPONSIBLE FOR KIDS
WHO HAVE BEEN ABUSED AND
NEGLECTED, I CAN TELL YOU THAT
MY FIRST PRIORITY IS ALWAYS
SAFETY. THERE'S JUST NO DOUBT
ABOUT THAT. THAT'S WHY AB 2544
IS SO, SO IMPORTANT, OUR
STAFFING RATIOS BY
SIX MONTHS THAT IT WILL TAKE FOR
THEIR BACKGROUND CHECKS TO CLEAR
TO BE ABLE TO START WORKING. AND
WE URGENTLY, FOR SAFETY REASONS,
NEED TO HIRE THESE POSITIONS AND
GET THEM FILLED RIGHT AWAY. SO
YOU CAN'T WAIT SIX MONTHS TO
BRING SOMEONE IN FOR THAT,
BECAUSE OF THIS, WE HAVE
SCREENED IN THE LAST THREE
MONTHS ABOUT 40 APPLICANTS.
WE'VE JUST SCREENED THEM OUT
JUST BECAUSE THEY'RE OUT OF
STATE, HAVEN'T EVEN INTERVIEWED
THEM. THAT'S ABOUT 26% OF THE
APPLICANTS WE'VE RECEIVED. SO
YOU CAN SEE IT'S QUITE A
SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGE, IF YOU
COULD PLEASE ANY FOLKS IN THE
HEARING ROOM? MEMBERS OF THE
PUBLIC WISH TO TESTIFY IN
SUPPORT OF THE BILL? PLEASE COME
FORWARD TO THE MICROPHONE. MR.
CHAIR AND MEMBERS. CONNIE
DELGADO, ON BEHALF OF NEWPORT
HEALTH CARE, OPERATING 44
RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT FACILITIES
IN CALIFORNIA IN SUPPORT. THANK
YOU. DO WE HAVE ANY MEMBERS OF
THE PUBLIC WISH TO TESTIFY IN
OPPOSITION TO THE BILL? PLEASE
COME FORWARD. ANY OPPOSITION?
ALL RIGHT. LET'S BRING IT BACK
TO THE COMMITTEE. ANY QUESTIONS
OR COMMENTS FROM COMMITTEE
MEMBERS. 4 TO
0. THAT BILL IS OUT. WE'LL LEAVE
THE ROLL OPEN FOR ABSENT
MEMBERS. NEXT WE'RE GOING TO
HAVE A SIMILAR MAIN SHINE COME
UP TO PRESENT FILE ITEM 15 OUT
OF ORDER. GOOD. HI. HOW ARE YOU?
GOOD ARE YOU ON? WHEN YOU'RE
READY. SO I JUST HAVE ONE. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR.
CHAIR. AND MEMBERS, AS AN
ADVOCATE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS AND
EQUALITY FOR ALL CALIFORNIA, I
PRESENT AB 2802, WHICH SEEKS TO
CREATE MORE GENDER INCLUSIVE
OPTIONS FOR HOUSING ARRANGEMENTS
WITHIN TRANSITIONAL HOUSING
PLACEMENT, OR THP PROGRAMS. THP
PROGRAMS SERVE AS A LIFELINE FOR
CURRENT AND FORMER FOSTER YOUTH
OVER 18 SUFFERING FROM
HOMELESSNESS, OFFERING THEM
TEMPORARY RELIEF AND CRUCIAL
SUPPORT SERVICES TAILORED TO
THEIR NEEDS. HOWEVER, WHEN
IMPLEMENTING THESE PROGRAMS,
PROVIDERS OFTEN ENCOUNTER
CHALLENGES IN PLACING YOUTH
STEMMING FROM EXCLUSIONARY AND
DISCRIMINATORY PRACTICES PRESENT
IN CERTAIN COUNTIES. THESE
CHALLENGES ARISE FROM RIGID,
BINARY, GENDER BASED RULES FOR
HOUSING ARRANGEMENTS. IT'S
IMPORTANT WE ACKNOWLEDGE THE
HARSH REALITIES FACED BY MANY
TRANSGENDER, GENDER
NONCONFORMING, OR NON-BINARY AND
INTERSEX INDIVIDUALS IN THE
STATE. THE STATISTICS ARE
STAGGERING BETWEEN 2019 AND
2023, THE NUMBER OF NON-BINARY
AND GENDER QUESTIONING PEOPLE
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS SURGED
BY AT LEAST 183. CURRENTLY, THE
DESIGNATION OF HOUSING VACANCIES
AS MALE AND FEMALE CREATES
BARRIERS FOR INDIVIDUALS,
SIBLINGS AND CO-PARENTING YOUTH
WHO WISH TO LIVE TOGETHER. BUT
WHO DO NOT SHARE THE SAME GENDER
IDENTITY. AB 2802 AIMS TO
RECTIFY THESE DISPARITIES BY
ALLOWING FOSTER YOUTH AND
TRANSITIONAL HOUSING TO SHARE
ROOMS WITH ROOMMATES, SIBLINGS,
OR CO-PARENTS WHO DO NOT SHARE
THE SAME GENDER IDENTITY WITH
THE APPROVAL OF THE PROVIDER ON
A CASE BY CASE BASIS. IN DOING
SO, THIS BILL PROMOTES
FLEXIBILITY AND GENDER
IDENTIFICATION FOR ROOM
ASSIGNMENTS, ACCOMMODATING THE
DIVERSE NEEDS OF ALL CALIFORNIA
RESIDENTS, IRRESPECTIVE OF THEIR
GENDER IDENTITY OR EXPRESSION.
THIS IS NOT JUST ABOUT
LEGISLATION, IT'S ABOUT
UPHOLDING THE VALUES OF
COMPASSION, INCLUSIVITY AND
EQUITY. BY SUPPORTING THIS BILL,
WE TAKE A SIGNIFICANT STEP
TOWARDS CREATING A MORE JUST
SOCIETY WHERE EVERY INDIVIDUAL,
REGARDLESS OF THEIR GENDER
IDENTITY, FEELS, VALUE AND
SUPPORT. I RESPECTFULLY REQUEST
AN AYE VOTE WITH ME TO TESTIFY.
HERE IN SUPPORT IS ADRIANE
SHELTON OF THE CALIFORNIA
ALLIANCE OF CHILD AND FAMILY
SERVICES AND LEVI NUNEZ OF PENNY
LANE CENTERS. ALL RIGHT. THANK
YOU. TWO MINUTES PER WITNESS
AGAIN, PLEASE. THANK YOU. GOOD
AFTERNOON, CHAIR MEMBERS ADRIAN
SHELTON WITH THE CALIFORNIA
ALLIANCE OF CHILD AND FAMILY
SERVICES. WE REPRESENT
NONPROFIT, COMMUNITY BASED
ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS CALIFORNIA,
MANY OF WHOM ARE OPERATING THE
TRANSITIONAL HOUSING PLACEMENT
PROGRAMS. WE ARE A PROUD SPONSOR
OF ASSEMBLY BILL 2802, WHICH
WOULD ALLOW FOR PROVIDERS AND
PARTICIPANTS TO MAKE THE BEST
MATCHES IN THESE TRANSITIONAL
HOUSING PROGRAMS TO ALLOW FOR
THIS GENDER FLEXIBILITY. THESE
PROGRAMS SERVE A DIVERSE
POPULATION OF YOUTH, INCLUDING
LGBTQ PLUS YOUTH, PREGNANT AND
CO-PARENTING YOUTH AND SIBLING
SETS, LGBTQ YOUTH AND PARENTING
YOUTH ARE OVERREPRESENTED IN OUR
FOSTER CARE SYSTEM, ACCORDING TO
THE CALIFORNIA CHILD WELFARE
INDICATORS PROJECT, ABOUT 30% OF
YOUTH IN FOSTER CARE IDENTIFY AS
LGBTQ PLUS, ACCORDING TO THE
NATIONAL FOSTER YOUTH, YOUTH
INITIATIVE, ALMOST 60% OF GIRLS
IN FOSTER CARE BECOME PREGNANT
BY THE AGE OF 19. DESPITE THE
UNIQUE NEEDS OF THIS POPULATION,
SOME COUNTIES ARE REQUIRING
TRANSITIONAL HOUSING PLACEMENT
PARTICIPANTS TO BE OF THE SAME
GENDER WHEN SHARING A UNIT OR A
ROOM TOGETHER, AND THIS POSES
DIFFICULTIES TO OUR GENDER
EXPANSIVE YOUTH CO-PARENTS WHO
WISH TO RAISE A CHILD TOGETHER,
AND ALSO SIBLINGS WHO ARE OF
DIFFERENT GENDERS. SO BY
IMPLEMENTING THIS POLICY
STATEWIDE THAT ALLOWS FOR
PROVIDERS AND THE PARTICIPANTS
TO JOINTLY DECIDE ON THE BEST
PLACEMENT AND ROOMMATE OPTIONS
FOR THE YOUTH, WE WILL BE ABLE
TO BETTER ACCOMMODATE THE NEEDS
OF OUR OF OUR FOSTER YOUTH. THIS
IS REALLY A YOUTH HOMELESSNESS
PREVENTION BILL FOR A VERY
VULNERABLE POPULATION, AND WE
ARE VERY PROUD TO SUPPORT AND
ASK FOR YOUR. I VOTE. GOOD
AFTERNOON, CHAIR MEMBERS LEVI
NUNEZ WITH PENNY LANE CENTERS, A
FAMILY CENTERED MENTAL HEALTH
AGENCY THAT WORKS CLOSELY WITH
THE DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND
FAMILY SERVICES. I HAVE
EXPERIENCED AS A TRANSITIONAL
AGE YOUTH WHO HAS AGED OUT OF
FOSTER CARE. I NOW WORK AS A
PEER NAVIGATOR AND ADVOCATE FOR
LGBTQ FOSTER YOUTH AND HOMELESS
TRANSITIONAL AGE YOUTH. I'M
CHAMPIONING AB 202 BECAUSE I
HAVE PERSONALLY BEEN AFFECTED BY
THE EXCLUSIONARY PRACTICES
REGARDING GENDER AND PROGRAMS,
WHICH PROHIBITED ME FROM
IDENTIFYING AS MALE TO SECURE
HOUSING IN ORDER TO AVOID
HOMELESSNESS. A FEW YEARS AGO, I
WAS HOMELESS AND COUCH SURFING.
I WAS ACCESSING RESOURCES FROM A
DROP IN CENTER WHO WAS ALSO
PROVIDING ME WITH HOUSING CASE
MANAGEMENT. I'D BEEN WAITING ON
HOUSING FOR A FEW WEEKS WITH NO
RESPONSE. AFTER GETTING KICKED
OUT OF THE PLACE I WAS STAYING
AT WHILE TRYING TO HOLD DOWN A
FULL TIME JOB, I WAS READY TO
GIVE UP WITH ALL MY POSSESSIONS
IN TWO BACKPACKS AND A LARGE
IKEA BAG, I HAD NO HOPE. THE
HOUSING CASE MANAGER, WHO WAS
TRYING TO PULL STRINGS TO GET ME
HOUSED ON A FRIDAY NIGHT, TOLD
ME THAT BECAUSE I WAS SO EARLY
IN MY TRANSITION, PREOPERATIVE
ANYTHING I COULD USE MY IDENTITY
TO MY ADVANTAGE TO GET HOUSING
QUICKER SIMPLY BECAUSE I WAS
ASSIGNED FEMALE AT BIRTH. THE
AMOUNT OF ISOLATION, UNWANTED
SEXUAL ADVANCES, INAPPROPRIATE
QUESTIONS, STRESS, DYSPHORIA AND
CONFUSION THAT I HAD TO UNDERGO
IN ORDER TO RECEIVE PERMANENT
HOUSING SUPPORTIVE SERVICES IS
NOT SOMETHING I COULD HAVE
HANDLED WITHOUT WEEKLY THERAPY.
CASE MANAGEMENT, DROP IN
CENTERS, PAID FOCUS GROUPS,
ALLIES, AND MANY PHONE CALLS TO
THE NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION
HOTLINE. I WAS IN THAT
TRANSITIONAL HOUSING PLACEMENT
FOR SIX MONTHS, AND I DON'T KNOW
IF I WOULD STILL BE HERE TODAY
IF I HAD NOT RECEIVED PERMANENT
HOUSING SUPPORTIVE SERVICES TO
CONTINUE TO ACCESS MENTAL HEALTH
SERVICES. I BELIEVE THAT AS THE
NEEDS AND NORMS OF OUR FOSTER
YOUTH CHANGE AND SHIFT WITH
TIME, OUR POLICIES PROTECTING
THEM HAVE TO AS WELL. WE NEED TO
HOLD SPACE FOR ALL YOUTH,
ESPECIALLY THE ONES THAT DON'T
HAVE CONVENTIONAL EXPERIENCES.
THEIR LIVES DEPEND ON IT. AB 202
ALLOWS FOR YOUTH LIKE ME TO HAVE
EQUITABLE ACCESS TO HOUSING,
REGARDLESS OF PERCEIVED GENDER
OR GENDER IDENTITY, SO OTHERS
WON'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE
SAME HURDLES AS I DID IN ORDER
TO RECEIVE LIFE SAVING
TRANSITIONAL HOUSING PLACEMENTS.
CUMULATIVE DATA FROM A REPORT
MADE BY THE ALTERNATIVE FAMILY
SERVICES SHOWS THAT YOUNG MEN
WHO WERE IN FOSTER CARE WERE 82%
MORE LIKELY TO BECOME HOMELESS.
THIS IS NOT IT'S NOT NEWS THAT
FOSTER YOUTH FACE HOMELESSNESS
AT A HIGHER RATE THAN YOUTH WHO
LIVE WITH THEIR PARENTS. BUT I'M
HERE TODAY TO TELL YOU MY STORY
AND WHY I WOULD LIKE TO
HIGHLIGHT THE GENDER BIAS THAT
OUR YOUNG MEN AND GENDER
EXPANSIVE YOUTH OFTEN FACE WHEN
IT COMES TO SUPPORTIVE HOUSING
SERVICES IN OUR SYSTEM. AB 202
IS A HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION
BILL, AND WE URGE YOUR SUPPORT
TODAY. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU SO
MUCH. NOW, IF THERE ARE FOLKS IN
THE ROOM WHO WISH TO TESTIFY IN
SUPPORT OF THE BILL, PLEASE COME
TO THE MICROPHONE. WITNESSES IN
SUPPORT. KRISTIN POWER WITH THE
ALLIANCE FOR CHILDREN'S RIGHTS
AND SUPPORT KIM LEWIS,
REPRESENTING A BARONET, IN
SUPPORT DANNY CHIASSON ON BEHALF
OF CALIFORNIA COALITION FOR
YOUTH IN SUPPORT. MARTIN
RADOSEVICH, ON BEHALF OF SAN
DIEGO HOUSING COMMISSION AND
SUPPORT. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.
NOW, ARE THERE ANY FOLKS IN THE
ROOM WHO WISH TO TESTIFY IN
OPPOSITION TO THE BILL? PLEASE
COME FORWARD. ANY OPPOSITION TO
THE BILL? SEEING NONE, I'LL
BRING IT BACK TO THE COMMITTEE.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM
THE COMMITTEE? ALL RIGHT. SO,
ROSALIE, THANK YOU. I JUST, I
HAVE SOME CONCERNS ONLY BECAUSE
WHEN IT COMES TO SIBLINGS, I GET
THAT I THINK IT MAKES SENSE TO
KEEP FAMILY UNITS TOGETHER, BUT
I'M A LITTLE CONCERNED ABOUT
HAVING YOUNG WOMEN POTENTIALLY
SHARING ROOMS WITH UNRELATED
BIOLOGICAL BOYS. SO I'M I'M
CONCERNED ABOUT THAT. SO ARE
YOU. DO YOU HAVE ANY CONCERNS AS
WELL OR. I MEAN, I JUST THINK
HAVING A YOUNG GIRL IN FOSTER
CARE, POTENTIALLY SHARING A ROOM
WITH SOMEONE WHO'S TRANSITIONING
OR, YOU KNOW, STILL BIOLOGICAL
COULD POSE A SAFETY ISSUE. AND
MR. SADLER, I'LL START AND THEN
MAYBE I CAN TURN OVER TO THE
SPONSORS. YOU KNOW, FIRST OFF
WE'RE TALKING IN THE NON
SIBLING. I MEAN OBVIOUSLY IT'S
MOSTLY TALKING ABOUT SIBLINGS
AND THE NON SIBLING PERCENTAGE
WISE A VERY SMALL PERCENTAGE OF
CASES THAT REALLY AT THE TAIL
END OF THIS ARE TRYING TO AVOID
HOMELESSNESS IS GOING TO BE
DECIDED ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS
WITH CONSENT OF ALL THE PARTIES.
SO NOT AGAINST ANYONE'S CONSENT.
A SUPERVISOR HAS TO BE ON SITE,
SO YOU KNOW, CERTAINLY
UNDERSTAND THAT. AND NOT IN ANY
WAY, PUTTING THAT DOWN. BUT
HAVING SAID THAT, I THINK HERE
BETWEEN THE FACT OF CONSENT OF
ALL PARTIES INVOLVED, THE FACT
THAT THERE ARE VERY SPECIFIC
RULES IN LEGISLATION, BY THE
WAY, AS TO WHAT INVOLVES PEOPLE
BEING REMOVED FROM THAT HOUSING
AND THEN FINALLY, WITH HAVING ON
SITE INDIVIDUALS, I THINK IT
ACCOMMODATES THOSE CONCERNS.
OKAY. IS THE CONSENT IN PRACTICE
BECAUSE I DON'T REMEMBER READING
THAT IN HERE THAT. YEAH. BECAUSE
THAT CONSENT IS IN PRACTICE. AND
THESE ARE THIS IS ABOUT
PROVIDERS WORKING WITH THE YOUTH
TO MAKE THE BEST MATCHES,
CONSIDERING SAFETY, CONSIDERING
YOUTH CHOICE, CONSIDERING THE
OTHER, YOU KNOW, INDIVIDUALS WHO
ARE IN THE HOUSING UNIT. SO
THESE ARE, THESE ARE MADE WITH
LIKE THAT THAT IN MIND. AND AS
MR. MAIENSCHEIN EXPLAINED, THE
PROVIDER IS ON IS ON SITE. I
APPRECIATE THE FEEDBACK. THANK
YOU. ALL RIGHT. I'LL INVITE THE
AUTHOR TO CLOSE. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH, CHAIR AND MEMBERS AND
RESPECTFULLY REQUEST AN I VOTE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, CAN WE GET A
MOTION FOR THE BILL? BILLS ARE
MOVED. I'LL SECOND, THANK YOU
FOR WORKING WITH US ON THIS
INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT BILL. AND
THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR
TESTIMONY AS WELL. YOU KNOW, OUR
COMMUNITY, LGBT YOUTH ARE
ESPECIALLY OVERREPRESENTED IN
HOMELESSNESS, UNFORTUNATELY. AND
THESE ARE ONE OF THE IMPORTANT
ISSUES TO KEEP OUR YOUNG LGBT
FOLKS HOUSED. SO I WILL BE
RECOMMENDING I VOTE ON AB 2802,
MADAM SECRETARY, PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL. FILE ITEM 15 AB 2802. THE
MOTION IS DUE. PASS TO THE
ASSEMBLY APPROPRIATIONS
COMMITTEE. LI LI I ACELE ACELE
NØ. CALDERON. GIBSON JACKSON.
MATHIS. ORTEGA ORTEGA, I THANK
YOU. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU SO
MUCH. THAT BILL IS ON CALL 2 TO
1, WE'RE GOING TO RETURN TO FILE
ITEM ORDER, AND WE'RE GOING TO
GO TAKE FILE ITEM SIX 2255 BY
ASSEMBLYMEMBER JOE PATTERSON. IF
HE'S READY. GLACIER COUNTY A, HONESTLY, A
PRETTY SIMPLE BILL, BUT RIGHT
NOW, THE ADOPTION ASSISTANCE
PROGRAM FOR, INDIVIDUALS IN
FOSTER CARE ONLY APPLIES TO
THOSE, ADOPT AFTER THE AGE OF
16. AND GENERALLY CAN ONLY LAST
UNTIL THEY'RE 21 YEARS OLD. IF
THEY'RE ACTUALLY EXTENDED. AND
THAT DOES CREATE A DISINCENTIVE,
I THINK A KIND OF A GROSS
DISINCENTIVE TO HELP INDIVIDUALS
WHO ARE IN FOSTER CARE, YOU
KNOW, BECOME SUCCESSFUL. WE
DON'T NEED TO REHASH YOU HEAR IT
ALL DAY LONG IN THESE
COMMITTEES. BUT THE DIFFICULTIES
THAT, CHILDREN AND BECOMING
ADULTS, THEY'RE OVERREPRESENTED
IN HOMELESS POPULATIONS AND
PRISON POPULATIONS. AND THE
ADOPTION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM IS A
IS A WAY TO ASSIST, THOSE
CHILDREN, THROUGH THIS WELL, AND
BECOME ADULTS THROUGH THIS
PROGRAM, IRRESPECTIVE OF WHEN
THEY'RE ADOPTED. AND AND, SO
BOTH MY CHIEF OF STAFF AND ALSO
PHÐ, MY FRIEND AND FELLOW
ELECTED IN PLACER COUNTY, SHANTI
LANDING, WHO'S A COUNTY
SUPERVISOR, COULD EXPRESS SOME
OF THE CONCERNS WITH THE
EXISTING PROGRAM, WHICH IS WELL
INTENDED. BUT REALLY, IF WE CAN
GIVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ASSIST,
MORE, MORE, THAT WOULD BE THAT
WOULD BE OBVIOUSLY A TERRIFIC
SITUATION. SO, I WILL TURN IT
OVER TO THE EXPERT COUNTY
SUPERVISOR. SHANTI LANDON. GOOD
AFTERNOON, CHAIR AND MEMBERS. MY
NAME IS SHANTI LANDON. I SERVE
ON THE BOARD OF THE PLACER
COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS. BUT
I'M HERE TODAY AS A PARENT AND A
MOM. MY HUSBAND AND I ARE
PARENTS TO FIVE CHILDREN. FOUR
OF THEM ARE ADOPTED FROM FOSTER
CARE. ONE OF OUR CHILDREN, WHO I
THANKFULLY HAVE PERMISSION TO
SHARE HIS STORY, WAS BORN
PREMATURELY WITH
METHAMPHETAMINES IN HIS SYSTEM.
HE CAME TO LIVE WITH US AT SIX
MONTHS OLD AFTER BEING PLACED IN
THREE DIFFERENT FOSTER HOMES. AS
OUR SON GREW UP, HE STRUGGLED
WITH IMPULSE CONTROL, FOCUS AND
COMMON SENSE DECISIONS THAT CAME
A LOT EASIER TO HIS PEERS.
ALTHOUGH HE ATTENDED PRIVATE
SCHOOL AND HAD LOVING,
SUPPORTIVE PARENTS AT HOME WHEN
HE TURNED 18, HE WAS FAR FROM
BEING AN ADULT. OUR SON WAS
PHYSICALLY AND SOCIETALLY AN
ADULT, BUT EMOTIONALLY AND
MATURITY WISE, HE WAS STILL NOT.
FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN HE WENT TO GET
HIS DRIVER'S LICENSE AT 18, HE
DIDN'T KNOW HIS SOCIAL SECURITY
NUMBER AND DECIDED THAT HE WOULD
JUST MAKE UP A NUMBER AND PUT IT
IN. WHEN HE RECEIVED BILLS FOR
DRIVING ON TOLL ROADS, HE DIDN'T
UNDERSTAND HOW TO PAY THEM, SO
HE JUST DECIDED TO NOT PAY THEM
UNTIL HE STARTED RECEIVING
COLLECTION NOTICES. HE MEANT BE
BETTER NOT TO BE ADOPTED SO THAT
THEY CAN CONTINUE. TO RECEIVE
BENEFITS UNTIL THEY'RE 20.
THEY
CONTINUE WORKING WITH THE AUTHOR
ON THOSE ISSUES. BUT RIGHT NOW,
FOR THE BILL AS IMPRINT, WE DO
HAVE CONCERNS. THANK YOU. NOW,
ARE THERE ANY MEMBERS OF THE
PUBLIC WHO WISH TO TESTIFY IN
OPPOSITION TO THE BILL? PLEASE
COME FORWARD SEEING NONE,
QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS FROM THE
COMMITTEE MEMBERS. SENATOR
GIBSON, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. TO
THE OPPOSITION. YOU SAID IT'S
BROADLY, DRAFTED. CAN YOU GIVE
ME SPECIFICS? I KIND OF LIKE THE
BILL AS IT IS. I'M JUST CURIOUS.
OF COURSE, SIR. SO RIGHT NOW,
ÁP, IF YOU'RE ADOPTED UNDER 18,
YOU GET ÁP UNTIL YOU TURN 18. IF
YOU DO, HAVE A PHYSICAL OR
MENTAL DISABILITY THAT CAN BE
EXTENDED OUT TO 21 THE WAY WE
BELIEVE THE BILL IS CURRENTLY
DRAFTED IS THAT IF YOU'RE
ADOPTED POST 21. SO YOU'D BE
OUTSIDE OF EXTENDED FOSTER CARE,
THEN THIS WOULD ALLOW FOR THOSE
FOLKS TO THEN RECEIVE ÁP. AFTER
THAT FACT. SO WE WOULDN'T
NECESSARILY BE ABLE TO TRACK
THOSE CHILDREN IN YOUTH BECAUSE
THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN OUTSIDE OF
OUR SYSTEM, POSSIBLY ADOPTED
AFTERWARDS, AND THEN BROUGHT
BACK INTO THE SYSTEM TO GIVE
THEM THE ÁP. SO THAT'S WHY IT'S
REALLY OUTSIDE OF THE SCOPE OF
WHAT WE THINK THEY'RE TRYING TO
DO, WHICH IS SIMPLY EXTEND ÁP
PAST 18 UP TO 26. SO YOU DON'T
OPPOSE THE BILL. YOU JUST WANT
TO MAKE SURE YOU CAPTURE OR HAVE
THE ABILITY TO FOLLOW, TO BE
ABLE TO MAKE SURE THOSE KIDS WHO
ARE OUTSIDE THE TIME IS TRACKED
AND RECEIVE THE BENEFITS. AM I
CORRECT? SO THE UNDERLYING
POLICY OF ÁP WERE VERY
SUPPORTIVE OF. BUT I WOULD NOTE
THIS IS A POLICY COMMITTEE. WE
WILL HAVE FISCAL CONCERNS
BECAUSE THIS IS A REALIGNED
PROGRAM. AND SO THAT MEANS THAT
WE HAVE TO GET THE FUNDING UP
FRONT FOR THE STATE FOR THIS
ADDITIONAL POPULATION BEFORE WE
WOULD BE ABLE TO IMPLEMENT. SO
IF THAT FUNDING GETS IDENTIFIED
WITH US IN THE BUDGET, THEN WE'D
BE HAPPY TO IMPLEMENT AS THEY'RE
ENVISIONING. BUT RIGHT NOW, THAT
HASN'T BEEN IDENTIFIED. SO YOU
SOUND LIKE YOU DO AGREE WITH THE
BILL. IF TO THE EXTENT THERE WAS
FUNDING, YES TO THE INTENT OF
WHAT THEY WANT TO DO, THAT'S
WHAT IF IT'S IDENTIFIED FOR THE
FUNDING AND THE REST OF THE
PROGRAMMATIC ISSUES THAT WE HAVE
TO ADDRESS. WE COULD BE
SUPPORTIVE. COUNTIES ARE HAPPY
TO GIVE ÁP TO THE FAMILIES THAT
QUALIFY. OKAY. THANK YOU, ARE
YOU COMPLETE, MR. GIBSON? ARE
YOU SURE? YEAH. I WANT TO SAY
THANK YOU TO THE AUTHOR, I DON'T
IF THE BILL HAS BEEN MOVED, BUT
I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE THE BILL,
LOOKING AT THE EVEN JUST IN THE
SPACE OF FOSTER YOUTH AND BEING
ABLE TO EXTEND IT, EVEN RIGHT
NOW, FOR A PARENT TO CARRY A
CHILD CAN CARRY A CHILD ON THEIR
BENEFITS UP TO AGE 26, I THINK
IS REASONABLE FOR THAT TO EVEN
TO BE EXTENDED TO 26 YEARS OF
AGE, I WANT TO COMMEND ONE YOUR
WITNESS FOR HER TESTIMONY AND
TAKING ON, CHILDREN THAT ARE NOT
BIOLOGICALLY YOURS, BUT GIVING
THEM THE HOME AND THE NURTURING
THAT YOU HAVE UP UNTIL YOU KNOW,
THE AGED OUT. I THINK IT'S A
VERY NOBLE THING TO DO, BECAUSE
OUR CHILDREN, ESPECIALLY THOSE
WHO ARE ADOPTED, THOSE WHO
FOSTER, REALLY ARE HAVING A
DIFFICULT TIME. AND WE WANT TO
PROVIDE THE KIND OF NURTURING
AND LOVING HOME, THAT, THAT WE
WANT FOR OUR OWN CHILDREN, OUR
OWN BIOLOGICAL CHILDREN. AND SO
YOU AND YOUR FAMILY HAVE DONE
THAT, STEPPED UP. I HAVE, FAMILY
MEMBERS WHO ARE, NOT BLOOD
RELATED, BUT THEY WEAR OUR LAST
NAME AND WE LOVE THEM JUST THE
SAME AND APPRECIATE THEM, AND
GIVING US THE OPPORTUNITY FOR
THEM TO COME INTO OUR HOME AND
TO BE PART OF OUR FAMILY. AND
FOR YOU TO DO THAT, IT'S REALLY,
COMMENDABLE. AND I WANT TO THANK
THE AUTHOR AND ASK THE AUTHOR IF
HE WOULD CONSIDER ME BEING A
COAUTHOR OF THE BILL.
DEFINITELY. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU. AND THE SENATOR, SALLY.
THANK YOU. FIRST OFF, I READ
YOUR OPPOSITION LETTER, YOUR
OPPOSITION IS BASED ON THAT. IT
WOULD BE IT WOULD CAUSE IT
ISSUES TO IMPLEMENT. I JUST I
FIND THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT KIDS HERE
WHO ARE EXPERIENCE BEING
EXTREMELY, DIFFICULT LIFE
CIRCUMSTANCES. THESE ARE OUR
KIDS. THEY'RE THE STATE'S KIDS.
THEY'RE WARDS OF THE STATE. AND
WE'RE TRYING TO GET THEM INTO
LOVING, CARING HOMES. AND YOUR
OPPOSITION IS WORRIED ABOUT IT
ISSUES. I JUST THINK IT'S SO
TONE DEAF AND IT REALLY MISSES
THE MARK. YOU GUYS NEED TO BE
SERVING THESE KIDS AND REMOVING
IMPEDIMENTS AND NOT THROWING UP
THINGS LIKE IT ISSUES. SO AND
THEN YOU ALSO SAID THE BILL GOES
BEYOND WHAT THEY'RE TRYING TO
DO. NO, I THINK THEY KNOW
EXACTLY WHAT THEY'RE TRYING TO
DO. THEY WANT TO EXTEND COVERAGE
TO 26 UP TO AGE 26. BECAUSE IF
YOU'RE CONSIDERING ADOPTING A
FOSTER KID WHO'S 16 OR 17 AND
YOU'RE ONLY GOING TO GET A YEAR
OF ASSISTANCE FROM THE STATE,
THAT CREATES A FINANCIAL
DISINCENTIVE TO ADOPTING OLDER
KIDS WHO ARE THE MOST PROBABLY
DIFFICULT TO FIND HOMES FOR. SO
I SUPPORT THIS, AND I DON'T WANT
TO HEAR ANYTHING ABOUT FISCAL WE
SPEND. SO MUCH MONEY ON SO MUCH
CRAP IN THIS STATE THAT WE CAN
PRIORITIZE MONEY FOR FOSTER
KIDS. SO YOU KNOW, RESPECTFULLY
DISAGREE. AND I LIKE TO THANK
THE AUTHOR, AND I'D LIKE TO MOVE
THE BILL AS WELL. I'D LIKE TO
MOVE THE BILL. YEAH, I'LL COUNT
IT AS A SECOND. Ó DID YOU DO IT
ALREADY? YES I MISSED IT. SORRY.
ALL RIGHT. ANY. MR. TAYLOR, ARE
YOU COMPLETE? I'LL SECOND IF YOU
DID IT. ARE YOU COMPLETE? YEAH.
ANY OTHER? OKAY. I'M DONE.
THANKS. ALL RIGHT, I'LL INVITE
THE AUTHOR TO CLOSE. GREAT WELL,
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. AND THANK
YOU TO MY COLLEAGUES HERE, YOU
KNOW, IT'S MY PLEASURE TO BRING
SUCH UNITY TO THIS COMMITTEE,
AND, BUT BUT LOOK, IN REALITY, I
THINK I DO YOU KNOW WHAT MR.
SALIH SAID, AND IS I THIS IS
INTENTIONALLY A BROAD BILL THAT
DOESN'T MEAN THAT I'M UNWILLING
TO LOOK AT WAYS, TO, YOU KNOW,
NARROW IT IF NECESSARY, IF WE
REALLY HAVE TO. BUT WE'RE GOING
FOR THE HOME RUN, BECAUSE THE
REALITY IS, IF WE CAN
INCENTIVIZE MORE LOVING PEOPLE
TO TAKE ON CHILDREN THAT ARE
MOST LIKELY TO BECOME HOMELESS,
THEN WE OUGHT TO DO THAT. AND,
YOU KNOW, IF THERE'S IT ISSUES
AND THINGS LIKE THAT, WE CAN,
YOU KNOW, NIBBLE AROUND THE
EDGES. BUT THAT CERTAINLY SHOULD
NOT BE A REASON WHY WE'RE NOT
HELPING FOSTER KIDS, AND SO WITH
THAT, I RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR
YOUR AYE VOTE AND LOOKING
FORWARD TO WORK WITH ANYBODY WHO
HAS INPUT ON THIS BILL ON HOW TO
MAKE IT BETTER. ALWAYS AND THANK
YOU, MR. GIBSON, FOR YOUR
COMMENTS. BY THE WAY. ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, EXPANDING
BENEFITS TO FAMILIES FOR LONGER
PERIOD OF TIME IS PART OF A
LARGER DISCUSSION OF HOW TO BEST
SUPPORT CURRENT AND FORMER
FOSTER YOUTH AND FAMILIES WHO
HAVE ADOPTED THESE YOUTH. THANK
YOU FOR BRINGING THIS BILL
FORWARD, ESPECIALLY AS THE
CONVERSATION CONTINUES TO
EVOLVE. PLEASE KEEP MY,
COMMITTEE STAFF INVOLVED, AND I
LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING A
BIPARTISAN, REPUBLICAN LED
EFFORT TO HAVE MORE GOVERNMENT
SPENDING. THERE YOU GO. I'M
RECOMMENDING AN AYE VOTE ON THIS
ONE. MADAM SECRETARY, PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL. FINAL ITEM SIX AB
2255. THE MOTION IS TO PASS TO
THE ASSEMBLY JUDICIARY
COMMITTEE. LI LI I EASILY,
EASILY I CALDERON GIBSON.
GIBSON. I JACKSON. MATHIS
ORTEGA. ORTEGA I FORTIES0. THAT
BUILDS OUT. WE'LL LEAVE THE ROLL
OPEN FOR ABSENT MEMBERS. THANK
YOU, THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.
ASSEMBLY MEMBER WENDY CARRILLO,
COME UP WHEN YOU'RE READY TO
PRESENT FILE ITEM SEVEN 2383. SO
WE LOVE. TO.
SO I'M. USING YOUR. YOUNG MAN.
RIGHT HERE. OKAY.
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. AND
MEMBERS, FIRST, LET ME BEGIN BY
SAYING THAT I ACCEPT THE
COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS, AND I AM
PROUD TO PRESENT AB 2383, WHICH
WILL ENSURE THAT MIDDLE INCOME
FAMILIES WITH DEVELOPMENTALLY
DISABLED CHILDREN ARE INFORMED
ABOUT AVAILABLE PROGRAMS THEY
WOULD LIKE TO QUALIFY FOR
ALLOWING THEIR CHILD TO RECEIVE
MEDI-CAL WITHOUT THEIR PARENTS
INCOME, TAKING INTO
CONSIDERATION DEVELOPMENTALLY
DISABLED CHILDREN ARE THOSE WITH
AN ACUTE OR CHRONIC HEALTH
CONDITION THAT REQUIRES THINGS
LIKE THERAPEUTIC INTERVENTION
AND SKILLED NURSING CARE DURING
ALL OR PART OF THE DAY. AMONG
THESE CONDITIONS ARE SEVERE LUNG
DISEASE REQUIRING OXYGEN OR
VENTILATOR, SPINA BIFIDA, HEART
DISEASE, NEUROMUSCULAR
NEUROMUSCULAR DISEASE, CYSTIC
FIBROSIS, AND SEIZURE DISORDERS.
SUPPORT FOR MEDICALLY FRAGILE
CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES IS
CRITICAL TO MAXIMIZING QUALITY
OF LIFE AND ALLOWING FAMILIES TO
BE WHOLE. FAMILIES MAY HAVE
LIMITED AMOUNT OF TIME WITH
THEIR CHILD, OR MAY STRUGGLE TO
ENSURE THEIR CHILD CAN
PARTICIPATE AT SCHOOL AND IN AGE
APPROPRIATE
. PARENTS AND THE
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH CARE
SERVICES, AS WELL AS WITH
STAKEHOLDER INPUT HERE TO TALK
MORE ABOUT THE NEED FOR THIS
BILL AND ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
ARE ELIZABETH SPENCER OF THE
WEST SIDE FAMILY RESOURCE AND
EMPOWERMENT CENTER, AND CINDY
RUBY RUBIN, MOTHER OF HER SHORT LIFE, I SPENT
AN UNNECESSARY AND UNBELIEVABLE
AMOUNT MAJORITY OF MY TIME IN
DESPERATE SEARCH OF PROGRAMS TO
ASSIST HER IN OUR FAMILY UNIT,
RATHER THAN HAVING THE ABILITY
TO DEDICATE MY ENERGY AND
ENJOYMENT TO THE BRIEF TIME WE
KNEW WE WOULD WHAT
WE DIDN'T KNOW, WHICH WAS VERY
UNFORTUNATE FOR US. MY HUSBAND
AND I CONSISTENTLY ASKED
MEANINGFUL QUESTIONS ABOUT
SERVICES, ONLY TO BE MET WITH
BLANK STARES THAT GAP COST US
EIGHT MONTHS OF MY DAUGHTER'S
LIFETIME UNTIL I FOUND THE RIGHT
PEOPLE. I FOUND THE RIGHT PEOPLE
TO CIRCLE THE WAGONS AROUND US.
CALIFORNIA OPTIONS. WE WERE
ELIGIBLE FOR ALREADY EXISTED
HERE, AND HAD WE MET WITH STAFF
WHO WERE BETTER EQUIPPED WITH
PROGRAMMATIC KNOWLEDGE BARRIERS
2383 WILL ALLOW A CLEARER
.
PEOPLE
HERE IN SUPPORT OF AB 2383. AND THE SYSTEMS
OF CARE
FOR REGIONAL
CENTER SERVICES THROUGH EARLY
START. I IMMEDIATELY ASKED
EITHER THE HOSPITAL OR REGIONAL
CENTER HAD SOCIAL WORKERS AND CARE
COORDINATORS KNEW OF THE
EXISTENCE OF THE WAIVER. I ALSO
LEARNED THAT THE EARLY START
SERVICE COORDINATOR AND HER
MANAGER DID NOT KNOW THAT DARBY
COULD BE ELEVATED TO STATUS TWO
AND WOULD THEREFORE QUALIFY FOR
THE DIDI OR DEVELOPMENTAL
DISABILITIES WAIVER, EITHER
THESE OPTIONS I DO ABSOLUTELY
BELIEVE THEY THÀNH CHILDREN IN
THE COUNTRY. THEY ALREADY EXIST.
WE MUST MAKE CERTAIN THAT
HOSPITALS AND REGIONAL CENTER
PERSONNEL HAVE THE INFORMATION
TO SHARE WITH FAMILIES. THAT'S
ALL WE'RE ASKING, AND I
APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND ASK FOR
YOUR SUPPORT. THANK YOU SO MUCH,
NOW, ARE THERE ANY MEMBERS OF
THE PUBLIC WHO WISH TO TESTIFY
IN SUPPORT OF THE BILL? PLEASE
COME TO THE MICROPHONE.
PLEASE. THANK YOU. AS A FATHER
WHO'S. AS A FATHER WHO'S LOST A
CHILD ON BEHALF OF THE ARC
UNITED CEREBRAL PALSY
COLLABORATIVE, I RESPECTFULLY
ASK FOR YOUR I VOTE. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. NOW, ARE
THERE ANY FOLKS WHO WISH TO
TESTIFY IN OPPOSITION TO THE
BILL? PLEASE COME FORWARD SEEING
NONE. LET'S BRING IT BACK TO THE
COMMITTEE. ANY REMARKS?
QUESTIONS FROM ANY COMMITTEE
MEMBERS. LIMON ORTEGA, I JUST
WANT TO THANK THE AUTHOR AND THE
FAMILY FOR SHARING SUCH A
BEAUTIFUL, HEARTWARMING, BUT
YET, YOU KNOW, TRAGIC STORY THAT
WE NEED TO WORK ON AS A MEMBER
OF THE RARE, A RARE DISEASE
CAUCUS. AND, YOU KNOW, SOMEONE
WHO'S WORKING ON DISABILITY
ISSUES. I APPLAUD YOUR
WILLINGNESS AND YOUR STRENGTH TO
COME BEFORE US TODAY, TO MOVE
THIS FORWARD. SO I MOVED Ã I
MOVED THE BILL SECOND. ALL
RIGHT. I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE
THE AUTHOR TO CLOSE. THANK YOU,
MR. CHAIR, AND APPRECIATE THE
COMMENTS. ASSEMBLY MEMBER AB
2383 IS A NARROW TRAINING
REQUIREMENT THAT WILL MAKE A BIG
DIFFERENCE FOR FAMILIES THAT ARE
ELIGIBLE. ELIGIBLE FOR, BUT
CURRENTLY UNINFORMED OF WAIVERS
AVAILABLE, TO ALLOW THEIR
DEVELOPMENTALLY CHILD TO BE
COVERED BY MEDI-CAL. AGAIN,
THESE ARE PROGRAMS THAT ALREADY
EXIST THAT WE HAVE. THE STATE
HAS FUNDED, THERE'S AVAILABLE
RESOURCES, BUT THERE IS A LACK
IN COMMUNICATION AT HOSPITALS
AND AT REGIONAL CENTERS SO THAT
FAMILIES REALLY GET THE MOST,
MOST CARE. I WANT TO THANK THE
COMMITTEE STAFF FOR WORKING WITH
MY OFFICE, AS WELL AS THE
SPONSOR FOR THE ARC OF
CALIFORNIA AND FORMER MEMBER,
ASSEMBLY MEMBER JIM FRAZIER, WHO
MADE THE CALL DIRECTLY TO ME TO
MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE ABLE TO
MOVE THIS POLICY FORWARD. THIS
BILL HAS NO OPPOSITION. AND ON
BEHALF OF DARBY, HER FAMILY AND
HER OLDER BROTHER DYLAN, I
RESPECTFULLY REQUEST AN AYE
VOTE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
BRINGING THE BILL FORWARD.
ASSEMBLY CARILLO AND DYLAN, I
THINK YOU'RE GIVING MR. GIBSON A
RUN FOR HIS MONEY ON THE BOW TIE
GAME. SO YOU'RE SHOWING HIM UP
OVER HERE. I APPRECIATE YOU
SHARING YOUR STORY AND WHAT
YOU'VE BEEN THROUGH. AND I HAVE
AN EYE RECOMMENDATION ON DARBY'S
LAW AND MADAM SECRETARY. OH, THE
BILL WAS MOVED BY SENATOR
ORTEGA, SECONDED BY SENATOR
GIBSON. MADAM SECRETARY, PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL FILE. ITEM SEVEN
AB 2383. THE MOTION IS Dð PASS,
AS AMENDED TO THE ASSEMBLY
HEALTH COMMITTEE. LEE LEE, I
EASILY, EASILY I CALDERON
GIBSON. GIBSON I JACKSON.
MATHIS. ORTEGA. ORTEGA I
FORTIES0 THAT BILL IS OUT. WE'LL
LEAVE THE ROLL OPEN FOR ABSENT
MEMBERS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. OUR
ASSEMBLY MEMBER ARAMBULA. YOU
ARE NEXT FOR FILE ITEM TEN 2510.
THANK YOU. YOU MAY BEGIN WHEN
YOU ARE READY. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU, MR. CHAIR AND MEMBERS, I
WOULD LIKE TO BEGIN BY THANKING
THE COMMITTEE STAFF FOR THE
CONVERSATIONS, AND I WILL BE
ACCEPTING THE COMMITTEE
AMENDMENTS TODAY. PEOPLE WITH
INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL
DISABILITIES SHOULD HAVE ACCESS
TO QUALITY AND TIMELY DENTAL
CARE TO PREVENT DENTAL DISEASE
ACCESS TO PREVENTATIVE DENTAL
CARE IS CRITICAL FOR THE
PREVENTION OF CHRONIC ILLNESS
DEFERRED OR AVOIDED ORAL HEALTH
TREATMENT IS LINKED NOT ONLY TO
TOOTH DECAY, BUT TO DEPRESSION,
CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE,
DIABETES, RESPIRATORY
INFECTIONS, AND ADVERSE
PREGNANCY OUTCOMES. PEOPLE WHO
HAVE COMPLEX MEDICAL, PHYSICAL,
COGNITIVE, OR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
CHALLENGES ARE THE MOST
VULNERABLE TO DELAYED DENTAL
CARE IN OUR STATE. THIS
COMMUNITY OFTENTIMES REQUIRES
EXTRA TIME AND ATTENTION FOR
ROUTINE TÍNH AND PREVENTATIVE
CARE. YET THERE ARE ONLY THERE
ARE NOT ENOUGH ORAL HEALTH
PROVIDERS WITH THE EXPERTISE TO
SERVE THESE PATIENTS
EFFECTIVELY. THIS HAS LED MANY
PATIENTS WITH DISABILITIES TO BE
PLACED ON WAIT LISTS THAT ARE
MONTHS OR YEARS LONG, OR TO
SIMPLY GO WITHOUT ROUTINE DENTAL
CARE. SPECIFICALLY, AB 2510
ESTABLISHES THE ORAL HEALTH FOR
PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE CENTER TO
PROVIDE TRAINING AND EDUCATIONAL
MATERIALS TO EXPAND THE USE OF
ALTERNATIVE METHODS OTHER THAN
SEDATION OR GENERAL ANESTHESIA
FOR PROVIDING ORAL HEALTH
SERVICES FOR PEOPLE WITH
DISABILITIES THAT ARE NOT
CURRENTLY WIDELY UNDERSTOOD
ACROSS OUR STATE'S REGIONAL
CENTERS. IN SUPPORT OF AB 2510
TODAY ARE OUR TWO LEAD WITNESSES
MS. PAT HORNBAKER, THE BOARD
PRESIDENT FOR THE AAC AND FORMER
ASSEMBLY MEMBER JIM FRAZIER, THE
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC POLICY FOR
THE ARC OF CALIFORNIA. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU FOR ENTERTAINING
THIS BILL, THIS IS MY SON,
JOSEPH. HE IS 43 YEARS OLD. HE
HAS ANGELMAN SYNDROME, AND I'M A
RETIRED DENTAL HYGIENIST. SO
THIS IS RIGHT IN MY UP MY ALLEY.
I HAVE CLEANED HIS TEETH MYSELF
FOR MOST OF HIS LIFE. IT TAKES
THREE OF US TO DO, AND MOST
PEOPLE WOULD BE SEDATED 100. BUT
WHEN I NEEDED FILLINGS DONE OR
ANYTHING ELSE, EVEN MY BROTHER
AND FATHER WHO WERE THE DENTISTS
I WORKED FOR, REFERRED US TO THE
NEAREST DENTAL SCHOOL. I LIVE IN
SAN FRANCISCO. I AM LUCKY ENOUGH
TO BEEN ABLE TO GO TO UOP. THAT
WAS GREAT, BUT JOSEPH WAS PUT ON
A WAITING LIST FOR TWO YEARS
JUST TO BE ASSESSED. I KNEW WHAT
HE NEEDED. I COULD SEE IT. I
KNEW AS A PROFESSIONAL, BUT HE
WAS ON A WAIT LIST FOR TWO YEARS
TO GET AN ASSESSMENT AND IN
THOSE TWO YEARS AFTER THE
ASSESSMENT, THEY SAID, WELL,
HE'S NOT URGENT BECAUSE HE'S NOT
IN PAIN, SO WE'RE GOING TO PUT
HIM ON ANOTHER WAIT LIST TO GET
TREATMENT. THAT TREATMENT TOOK
HIM ANOTHER THREE YEARS. IT WAS
4 TO 5 YEARS BEFORE HE EVER
RECEIVED ANY TREATMENT. HE
NEEDED TOTAL SEDATION. HE
ABSOLUTELY THAT WAS REQUIRED.
BUT THE REASON THE LIST WAS SO
LONG IS BECAUSE MOST, MAYBE HALF
OF THE. THE
DENTIST WHO DID MY SON'S
TREATMENT ULTIMATELY IS THE ONLY
ORAL SURGEON IN NORTHERN
CALIFORNIA, AND I HAPPEN TO LIVE
IN SAN FRANCISCO, SO THAT WAS
LUCKY FOR ME. DO YOU KNOW WHAT
THE FAMILIES DO IN REDDING OR
WHAT THEY DO ANYWHERE ELSE? THEY
HAVE TO COME AND SIT DOWN, DRIVE
ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE CITY TO
RECEIVE SOME TREATMENT. HE WAS
IN THE HOSPITAL ALL DAY, AND HE
ENDED UP LOSING THE TEETH. YOU
SEE, HE LOST ALL OF HIS LOWER
TEETH AND THAT'S THAT'S CRIMINAL
. IT'S. WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO
SHORTEN THESE WAIT LISTS. AND
WHAT THIS BILL WILL DO, IT WILL
CREATE VIRTUAL, DENTAL HOMES AND
USE TRAINED DENTAL HYGIENISTS
LIKE MYSELF TO BE ABLE TO
PROVIDE COMMUNITY CARE. ALL
RIGHT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK
YOU, MR. CHAIR. MEMBERS. LITTLE
HOOVER COMMISSION, THE LÀ, THE
CALIFORNIA STATE AUDITOR HAVE
ALL WEIGHED IN ON MEDI-CAL
DENTAL. AND THEY'VE ALL STATED
SEVERAL SHORTCOMINGS FOR THE
DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITY
COMMUNITY IN THE MEDICAL DENTAL
PROGRAM, YOU KNOW, THERE'S NO
REGISTRY ON THE DCS, OR SMILE
CALIFORNIA WEBSITE FOR DENTISTS
THAT SERVE THE DEVELOPMENTALLY
DISABLED COMMUNITY THAT ACCEPT
MEDI-CAL REIMBURSEMENT. THAT'S
CRIMINAL IN ITSELF. WE CANNOT
HAVE OUR DEVELOPMENTAL
DISABILITIES, DISABLED FAMILIES
WHO HAVE TO SEARCH FOR ALL OF
THESE UNNECESSARY, PROMISES THAT
WERE MADE BY THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA VÀ AND MAKE IT EVEN
HARDER ON THEM, THERE'S ONLY 330
MEDI-CAL DENTAL CLINICS
STATEWIDE. AND IF YOU TAKE THAT,
THE 15 MILLION RESIDENT IN
CALIFORNIA THAT ARE ON MEDI-CAL
DENTAL, THAT'S 45,000 PLUS
PARTICIPANTS PER CLINIC, WE ONLY
HAVE 137 REGISTERED DENTAL
HYGIENISTS IN ALTERNATIVE
PRACTICE. WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO
PROMOTE, THAT'S DOWN FROM 191IN
2018, MANY COUNTIES
MR. CHAIR AND MEMBERS, RICK
ROLLINS, REPRESENTING OUR
ASSOCIATION OF REGIONAL CENTER
AGENCIES AND AS A PARENT OF A 34
YEAR OLD SON WITH AUTISM WHO IS
NONVERBAL, I CAN TELL YOU FROM
PERSONAL EXPERIENCE, IT'S A
TRAGEDY FOR PARENTS TO HAVE TO,
LIVE WITH A SITUATION WHERE YOUR
CHILD CAN'T TELL YOU WHAT'S
WRONG, AND IN MANY CASES, IT'S
THE TEETH. AND WE'VE SUFFERED
FOR MANY YEARS AND WE REALLY
HOPE THAT THIS BILL DOES MOVE
FORWARD. AND WE SERIOUSLY
ADDRESS THE PROBLEM OF DENTAL
CARE FOR PEOPLE WITH
DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR AND
MEMBERS. JENNIFER TANNEHILL WITH
AARON REED AND ASSOCIATES, ON
BEHALF OF THE CALIFORNIA DENTAL
HYGIENIST ASSOCIATION, REALLY
WANT TO THANK THE AUTHOR AND
SPONSORS FOR TAKING ON THIS
ISSUE. THE MEDI-CAL DENTAL FOR
ESPECIALLY FOR THE
DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED, HAS
JUST BEEN A REALLY, REALLY
DIFFICULT THING FOR THEM TO
ACCESS. AND SO WE JUST LOOK
FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU AS
THE BILL MOVES THROUGH THE
PROCESS. THANK YOU, IF WE CAN
STICK TO JUST NAME AND
AFFILIATION, PLEASE. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, DOCTOR PAUL GLASSMAN,
ASSOCIATE DEAN FOR RESEARCH AND
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AT
CALIFORNIA NORTH STATE
UNIVERSITY. HAVING WORKED WITH
REGIONAL CENTERS IN THIS
POPULATION FOR 45 YEARS, WE NOW
HAVE A COMPREHENSIVE SOLUTION
THAT WE KNOW CAN
CONFIRM YOU ACCEPT THE
COMMITTEE'S AMENDMENTS, CORRECT?
THAT'S CORRECT. CORRECT. GREAT,
THE BILL WAS MOVED, MR. GIBSON,
SECONDED BY SENATOR ORTEGA, I
JUST WANT TO SAY THAT DENTAL
HEALTH IS IMPORTANT TO OVERALL
WELL-BEING OF A PERSON. THE
HEALTH COMPLICATIONS RELATED TO
LACK OF ACCESS TO DENTAL CARE
CAN BE DEADLY. AND I WANT TO
THANK YOU, DOCTOR ARAMBULA, FOR
WORKING ON A BILL TO ENSURE
INDIVIDUALS WITH DEVELOPING
MENTAL DISABILITIES HAVE THIS
VITAL ACCESS. I'M RECOMMENDING.
AYE. AS AMENDED. MADAM
SECRETARY, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL
FILE. ITEM TEN AB 2510. THE
MOTION IS DUE PASS AS AMENDED TO
THE ASSEMBLY HIGHER EDUCATION
COMMITTEE. LEE LI AYE ASAELI
CALDERON GIBSON A GIBSON AYE.
JACKSON MATHIS. ORTEGA. ORTEGA.
AYE THREE ZERO. WE'LL KEEP THAT,
ON CALL NOW. ASSEMBLYMAN
O'BRIEN, YOU HAVE TWO ITEMS UP,
AND I APPRECIATE YOUR PATIENCE.
WHICH BILL DO YOU WANT TO START
WITH? LET'S START WITH 32, 70,
3217. THAT'S FILE ITEM 24. SO
WHENEVER YOU'RE READY. THANK
YOU, MR. CHAIR. AND COLLEAGUES,
I'M HERE TO PRESENT AB 3217, A
SIMPLE BILL THAT WOULD ENSURE
THAT COUNTY WELFARE AGENCIES ARE
CONSISTENTLY USING BEST
PRACTICES FOR FAMILY FINDING
WHILE NATIONAL
AVERAGE OF 35.5. AB 17 IS A
STRAIGHTFORWARD BILL THAT PUTS
FORTH TWO DIFFERENT REQUIREMENTS
TO ENSURE THAT COUNTIES ARE
MEETING FAMILY PLACEMENT
EXPECTATIONS. FIRST IS, IT WILL
REQUIRE THAT COUNTIES THAT FALL
BEHIND THE STATEWIDE AVERAGE
CONSULT WITH THE DIRECTORS OF
THE TOP THREE COUNTIES ON BEST
PRACTICES FOR THE PURPOSES OF
THIS BILL. THIS REQUIREMENT CAN
EASILY BE FULFILLED THROUGH AN
EMAIL OR EVEN A PHONE CALL. THIS
SHOULD NOT AND IS NOT AN ONEROUS
RESPONSIBILITY. SECOND, IT WILL
REQUIRE THOSE SAME COUNTIES THAT
ARE FALLING BEHIND TO AGENDIZE
THE TOPIC AT A COUNTY BOARD OF
SUPERVISORS HEARING. THIS WILL
PROVIDE THE ACCOUNTABILITY AND
NECESSARY TRANSPARENCY TO HOLD
WELFARE COUNTY WELFARE AGENCIES
ACCOUNTABLE FOR IMPROVING THE
CONDITIONS OF LIFE FOR THE
CHILDREN AND THE FAMILIES IN
THEIR CARE. WHEN CALIFORNIA
ASSUMES CUSTODY OF A CHILD, WE
ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR MINIMIZING
ANY FURTHER TRAUMA THAT A CHILD
COULD FACE. THIS BILL ENSURES
THAT WE ARE DOING ALL THAT WE
CAN TO PLACE YOUNG PEOPLE AND
FOSTER CARE WITH LOVED ONES,
RATHER THAN STRANGERS, IN TIMES
OF INSTABILITY AND DISTRESS.
JOINING ME TODAY TO PROVIDE
STATEMENTS AND SUPPORT ARE
LORRAINE PRYOR AND SHADE AND
JAHI, A FORMER STUDENT OF MINE
AT UCLA. ALL RIGHT, TWO MINUTES
PER WITNESS, PLEASE. ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON, MR.
CHAIRMAN. MEMBERS. MY NAME IS
SHADE AJAYI A SACRAMENTO COUNTY
FORMER YOUTH, THE GEMS PROGRAM
DIRECTOR FOR UNITED COLLEGE
ACTION NETWORK, UCONN JUSTICE
JOBS ORGANIZER AND THE ESSENCE
OF BLACK GIRLHOOD PROJECT
DIRECTOR AND AN INCOMING ONE LAW
STUDENT AT HOWARD LAW
UNIVERSITY, HOWARD SCHOOL,
UNIVERSITY OF LAW. THANK YOU FOR
ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT
OF THE VITALITY OF THIS BILL. I
WAS FIVE YEARS OLD WHEN MY
SISTERS AND I WERE REMOVED FROM
OUR HOME. WE WERE MOVED TO FOUR
DIFFERENT STRANGERS HOMES, AND
THEN WITHIN ONE YEAR IN TOTAL
WAS BECAUSE THERE WERE NO HOMES
FOR US. LIVING WITH STRANGERS
MADE ME FEEL LIKE I DID NOT
BELONG. IT MADE ME FEEL LIKE I
WAS INCOMPETENT. IF WE DID NOT
FIT INTO THEIR FAMILY
STRUCTURES, CULTURES AND
TRADITIONS, WE WERE REMOVED FROM
THE HOME. I LIVED IN A CONSTANT
STATE OF HYPER VIGILANCE FROM
ABUSE, INSTABILITY, AND RACIAL
MICROAGGRESSIONS. EVENTUALLY, I
FELT RELIEF AFTER BEING PLACED
WITH MY AUNT IN A HOME THAT FELT
LIKE MINE. IT WAS A RELIEF
BECAUSE I COULD RELAX FOR THE
REMAINDER OF FIVE YEARS OF
FOSTER CARE. LIVING WITH MY
AUNT, I COULD LET DOWN MY GUARD,
WHICH HELPED ME BEGIN FOCUSING
ON HEALING MY TRAUMA AND ALLOWED
ME TO FOCUS ON BEING A KID,
WHETHER THAT WAS SCHOOL,
FRIENDS, OR COMMUNITY CULTURAL
CONNECTION. THE FAMILIARITY MADE
ME FEEL SEEN, SAFE, AND
EMPOWERED. BEING AROUND FAMILY
GAVE ME HOPE THAT I WAS A STEP
CLOSER TO BEING REUNITED WITH MY
MOTHER. AS A YOUNG BLACK WOMAN
AND FORMER FOSTER YOUTH, I KNOW
FIRSTHAND THE LONGING AND
DISEMPOWERMENT FOSTER YOUTH
CHILDREN FACE. WHAT TRAJECTORIES
AND EXPLOITATION, PARTICULARLY
FOSTER YOUTH OF COLOR, OFTEN
EXPERIENCE IN THE PERSISTENT
ANXIETY THAT BECOMES A CONSTANT
IN A TRAUMATIZED YOUTH LIFE. ALL
THIS BILL DOES IS ENSURE THAT
THE FOSTER CHILDREN AND THEIR
NEED TO BE PLACED WITH FAMILIES
IS NOT FORGOTTEN, BUT IS INSTEAD
A TOPIC OF ONGOING CONVERSATION
AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL.
RESPECTFULLY, ON BEHALF OF THE
FOSTER CHILDREN WHO ARE
LITERALLY CHILDREN OF THE STATE.
THIS IS NOT TOO MUCH TO ASK.
PLEASE VOTE FOR AB 3217. THANK
YOU, MR. CHAIR, AND MEMBERS.
LORENE PRYOR, PRESIDENT OF NCO
OF BLACK YOUTH LEADERSHIP
PROJECT IN 2013. AS A STAFFER IN
THIS BUILDING, CPS CAME TO MY
HOME WITH THE INTENT TO REMOVE
MY CHILD. THEY MADE SEVERAL
ACCUSATIONS WHILE THEY HAD ME
DETAINED IN MY KITCHEN AS
STRANGERS RUMMAGED THROUGH THE
DRAWERS IN MY CHILD'S BEDROOM
AND WHISKED HER OUT THE FRONT
DOOR WITHOUT LEAVING ANY CARDS
BEHIND OR INSTRUCTIONS OF WHAT
TO DO NEXT. MY DAUGHTER WAS
LEGALLY KIDNAPED UNDER THE GUISE
OF PROTECTION. MY MOTHER, WHO
WAS LICENSED THROUGH SAC COUNTY
AS AN EMERGENCY FOSTER HOME,
DROVE TO THE CHILDREN'S
RECEIVING HOME TO GET
INFORMATION AND TO SEE IF THEY
WOULD RELEASE MY BABY TO HER
INSTEAD OF DOING SO, THEY
FABRICATED ABUSE ALLEGATION
AGAINST HER AS WELL, AND PLACED
MY DAUGHTER INTO A FOSTER
PLACEMENT, WHERE SHE ENDED UP
BEING SEXUALLY ASSAULTED AND.
AFTER THAT ASSAULT, CPS THEN
MOVED MY DAUGHTER TO ANOTHER
FOSTER HOME PLACEMENT AND CUT
OFF CONTACT WITH OUR FAMILY
ENTIRELY. VÆ FORMER ASSEMBLY
MEMBER TIM DONNELLY FOUND OUT
ABOUT MY STORY AND GOT THE MEDIA
INVOLVED. AFTER TWO MONTHS, CPS
ENDED UP RETURNING HER TO OUR
HOME, BUT THE DAMAGE WAS ALREADY
DONE. I AM OF THE OPINION THAT
FORCED REMOVAL FROM PARENTS IS
EXTREMELY TRAUMATIC, AND THAT
KINSHIP PLACEMENTS SHOULD BE
PRIORITIZED. HAD CPS DONE THEIR
JOBS, FOLLOWED THE LAW AND THEIR
OWN POLICIES, MY CHILD WOULD NOT
HAVE BEEN SUBJECTED TO SEXUAL
ASSAULT UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF
COMPLETE STRANGERS. I
RESPECTFULLY REQUEST YOUR AYE
VOTE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NOW,
DO WE HAVE ANY MEMBERS OF THE
PUBLIC IN THE HEARING ROOM
WISHING TO TESTIFY IN SUPPORT OF
THE BILL? PLEASE COME UP TO THE
MICROPHONE. MR. CHAIRMAN,
MEMBERS ED HOWARD, ON BEHALF,
I'M A SENIOR COUNSEL AT THE
CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY INSTITUTE AT
THE UNIVERSITY OF SAN DIEGO
SCHOOL OF LAW. PLEASED TO
SPONSOR THIS IMPORTANT MEASURE
AND RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOUR
ÁP. GOOD AFTERNOON, LYNN BERKLEY
BASKIN, JUSTICE TO JOBS
COALITION THÀNH ASKING FOR YOUR
AYE VOTE. THANK YOU. SUSANNA
KNIFFEN WITH CHILDREN NOW IN
SUPPORT. THANK YOU. NOW, DO WE
HAVE ANY WITNESSES IN OPPOSITION
TO THE BILL? PLEASE COME FORWARD
. EITHER ONE. YOU COULD YOU
COULD STAY. WE GOT ROOM. YEAH.
COME ON. THANK YOU, MR. BRYANT.
OF COURSE. GOOD TO SEE YOU.
AMANDA KERSHAW, ON BEHALF OF
WWDA. ONCE AGAIN, WE VERY MUCH
APPRECIATE THE AUTHOR'S INTENT
WITH THIS BILL. WE ARE
ABSOLUTELY SUPPORTIVE OF ALL
FAMILY FINDING EFFORTS. WE JUST
FEEL THIS IS ACTUALLY
DUPLICATIVE OF ONGOING EFFORTS
THAT ARE CURRENTLY HAPPENING
THROUGH THE CENTERS FOR
EXCELLENCE AND UC DAVIS TO DO
BEST PRACTICES. WE HAVE 17
COUNTIES THAT HAVE CURRENTLY
OPTED IN TO THE $150 MILLION
WORTH OF FUNDING FOR FAMILY
FINDING. WE HAVE THREE MORE THAT
ARE AWAITING APPROVAL, BUT THERE
ARE SOME BARRIERS FOR US TO TAP
INTO THAT FUNDING. ONE OF WHICH
IS THAT YOU HAVE TO HAVE A
DESIGNATED STAFF PERSON. AND WE
KNOW, ESPECIALLY FOR OUR SMALLER
COUNTIES, THAT CAN BE DIFFICULT
BECAUSE THEY SHARE JOB DUTIES,
BECAUSE THERE'S SO MUCH GOING
ON. AND THEN YOU ALSO HAVE TO
PUT UP A 50% MATCH FOR ANY OF
THE FUNDING THAT YOU DRAW DOWN,
WHICH CAN ALSO BE A BARRIER FOR
OUR COUNTIES TO ACCESS THAT
FUNDING IF THEY DON'T HAVE
ADDITIONAL RESERVES TO PUT UP OF
THEIR OWN. BUT, HAPPY TO
CONTINUE WORKING WITH THE
AUTHOR, AS ALWAYS, REALLY
APPRECIATE HIS INTEREST IN THIS
ISSUE, AND THAT'S JUST WE FEEL
IT'S DUPLICATIVE. AND SO THAT'S
OUR CURRENT OPPOSITION. ALL
RIGHT. THANK YOU. NOW, DO WE
HAVE ANY OTHER MEMBERS OF THE
PUBLIC WHO WISH TO TESTIFY IN
OPPOSITION TO THE BILL? SEEING
NONE, LET'S BRING IT BACK TO THE
COMMITTEE. QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS
FROM COMMITTEE MEMBERS. ALL
RIGHT, I'LL ASK. I'LL ASK THE
AUTHOR TO CLOSE. THANK YOU, THIS
IS A REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT
ISSUE. AND HAS BEEN FOR A NUMBER
OF YEARS, ACROSS CALIFORNIA.
IT'S WHY WE HAVE PUT UP MONEY IN
BUDGETS PASSED TO DO ALL THAT.
WE CAN TO ENCOURAGE, MOTIVATE
AND INSPIRE BEST PRACTICES FOR
OUR YOUNG PEOPLE. BUT WE ARE
STILL LETTING OUR CHILDREN DOWN.
AND THE REALITY IS, WE'RE NOT
LETTING OUR CHILDREN DOWN
EQUALLY ACROSS THE STATE. SOME
PLACES ARE LETTING OUR CHILDREN
FALL FAR THROUGH THE CRACKS,
WHILE OTHERS ARE EVEN BEATING
NATIONAL AVERAGES. ALL THIS BILL
IS ASKING IS THAT THOSE WHO ARE
FINDING TREMENDOUS SUCCESS IN
FAMILY PLACEMENT RATES CONFER
WITH THOSE WHO ARE NOT, AND
SHARE THE TRADE SECRETS TO DO
WHAT'S RIGHT FOR OUR CHILDREN.
ACROSS ALL OF CALIFORNIA, I
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOUR VOTE.
THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THE BILL
FORWARD. IT'S IMPORTANT TO
ENSURE THAT ALL FOSTER YOUTH ARE
BEING GIVEN THE SAME OPPORTUNITY
TO BE PLACED WITH RELATIVES,
REGARDLESS OF THE COUNTY THAT
THEY LIVE IN. THE BILL CAN HELP
ENSURE THAT BEST PRACTICES ARE
PLACING YOUTH WITH RELATIVES ARE
SHARED. I'M RECOMMENDING AN AYE
VOTE TODAY. THE BILL WAS MOVED
BY SENATOR ORTEGA AND SECONDED
BY SENATOR GIBSON, MADAM
SECRETARY, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
FINAL ITEM 24 AB 3217. THE
MOTION IS Dð PASSED TO THE
ASSEMBLY APPROPRIATIONS
COMMITTEE. LI LEE I AZALI
CALDERON GIBSON. GIBSON I
JACKSON. MATHIS ORTEGA. ORTEGA I
. THE BILLS ON CALL. AND WE WILL
LEAVE THE ROLL OPEN, WOULD YOU
LIKE TO GO ON WITH THE FINAL
ITEM? 16 SUMMER. RYAN. THANK
YOU, MR. CHAIR, AND COLLEAGUES,
I WANT TO THANK THE COMMITTEE
STAFF FOR THEIR HARD WORK, AS
ALWAYS, WE'LL BE ACCEPTING THE
COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS TODAY. I'M
HERE TO PRESENT AB 2906, A BILL
THAT WOULD REDIRECT THOUSANDS OF
FEDERAL DOLLARS TO OUR STATE'S
MOST VULNERABLE YOUNG PEOPLE,
MILLIONS OF DOLLARS STATEWIDE.
AB 2906 BUILDS ON YEARS OF WORK
FROM ADVOCATES TO EXPAND AND
STRENGTHEN SSA BENEFITS FOR
FOSTER YOUTH, SPECIFICALLY, IT
REQUIRES COUNTIES TO NOTIFY THE
YOUTH AND OTHER APPROPRIATE
STAKEHOLDERS ABOUT THE STATUS OF
THEIR SSA APPLICATION AND
BENEFITS, AND REQUIRES COUNTIES
TO USE SURVIVOR BENEFITS TO PAY
FOR THE CHILD'S CURRENT UNMET
NEEDS AND CONSERVE THE REMAINING
FUNDS FOR THE CHILD'S
FORESEEABLE FUTURE. SURVIVOR
BENEFITS ARE FEDERAL SOCIAL
SECURITY FUNDS THAT YOUR LOVED
ONES PAY INTO. BUT SADLY, IF
YOUR LOVED ONE PASSES AWAY, THEY
ARE INELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE THEM.
FOSTER YOUTH WHO LOSE A PARENT
ARE OFTEN ELIGIBLE FOR THOSE
SURVIVOR BENEFITS. HOWEVER, IN
CURRENT PRACTICE, WHEN COUNTY
PLACING AGENCIES APPLY FOR THOSE
BENEFITS ON THE YOUTH'S BEHALF,
THEY OFTEN FAIL TO NOTIFY THE
YOUTH THEIR LOVED ONES, AND
THEIR ATTORNEYS THAT THEY ARE
DOING SO. INSTEAD AFTER THE
YOUTH QUALIFIES FOR THOSE
FEDERAL BENEFITS DESIGNED
SPECIFICALLY FOR THEM AFTER
THEIR PARENTS HAVE PASSED AWAY.
COUNTIES, AUTOMATICALLY APPLY
FOR THEMSELVES TO BE THE
REPRESENTATIVE PAYEE AND USE THE
MONEY TO RECOUP THE COST OF THE
CHILD'S CARE. ESSENTIALLY,
AGENCIES ARE CHARGING ELIGIBLE
FOSTER YOUTH FOR THE COST OF
THEIR OWN CARE AND FOR THE CARE
OF THEIR PEERS. DESPITE FEDERAL
AND STATE LAW EXPLICITLY PLACING
THE FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY OF
FOSTER CARE ON FOSTER CARE
AGENCIES, AB 2906 WILL END THIS
ARCHAIC PRACTICE IN CALIFORNIA.
WE HAVE ALREADY STOPPED BILLING
PARENTS FOR THEIR CHILD'S TIME
IN FOSTER CARE, SO WHY ARE WE
STILL BILLING CHILDREN FOR THE
COST OF THEIR OWN CARE? SURVIVOR
BENEFITS CAN AMOUNT TO THOUSANDS
OF DOLLARS, WHICH FOR FOSTER
YOUTH COULD BE THE DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN GOING TO COLLEGE OR
BECOMING UNHOUSED. WITH AB 2906,
CALIFORNIA WILL BE JOINING
SEVERAL STATES, INCLUDING THE
PROGRESSIVE NEBRASKA, OREGON,
ARIZONA AND OTHERS THAT HAVE
RECENTLY ENACTED LEGISLATION TO
CEASE OR LIMIT THIS ARCHAIC
PRACTICE HERE TO TESTIFY WITH ME
ARE KRISTIN POWER WITH THE
ALLIANCE OF CHILDREN'S RIGHTS,
MY NEW FRIEND JAMES WOOD, AND
IMPACTED FORMER FOSTER YOUTH,
AND HIS ADOPTIVE FATHER, WAYNE,
WHO'S GOING TO BE STANDING BY
HIS SIDE. SIR, THROUGH THE CHAIR
. HI. MY NAME IS JAMES. I HI, MY
NAME IS JAMES. I AM 16 YEARS
OLD. I'M HERE TO TESTIFY ABOUT
MY SURVIVOR'S BENEFITS. I WAS
ABOUT TEN YEARS OLD WHEN CPS
TOOK ME AWAY FROM MY MOTHER. AND
WHEN I WAS WHEN I GOT BACK WITH
HER, SADLY, I ONLY HAD ONE YEAR
BEFORE SHE PASSED AWAY AND I AM
WHEN I GOT PUT BACK INTO CPS, I
THINK I WAS VERY LUCKY TO BE IN
THE FOSTER HOME OR ADOPTED HOUSE
THAT I AM TODAY WITH WAYNE AND
KIRK CPAS MANAGEMENT HAD TOLD ME
THAT I WOULD BE GETTING MY BACK
PAY FROM MY PASSED AWAY MOTHER,
BUT WHEN I GOT ADOPTED, I WAS
TOLD I WOULD NOT BE GETTING ANY
OF THAT MONEY. I WAS
DISAPPOINTED WHEN OAN THAT I
WOULD NOT GET NONE OF THE MONEY,
BECAUSE I WAS PLANNING TO SPEND
IT ON TRANSPORTATION, GAS
SUPPORT, SPORTS AND EDUCATION.
IF YOU ASK ANYONE. I THINK IT'S
VERY DISRESPECTFUL TO PROMISE
SOMEONE SOMETHING AND TAKE IT
AWAY, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S A KID
WITH A DECEASED PARENT. THANK
YOU FOR LETTING ME TALK ABOUT MY
EXPERIENCE, AND I HOPE YOU WILL
CONSIDER USING AN AB 2906 TO
CHANGE THE LAW SO THAT NO OTHER
CHILD WILL LOSE THEIR BENEFITS
TO PAY FOR FOSTER CARE. THANK
YOU SO MUCH, MR. CHAIR. KRISTIN
POWER WITH THE ALLIANCE FOR
CHILDREN'S RIGHTS ASSEMBLY
MEMBER BRIAN SPOKE ELOQUENTLY TO
THE PURPOSE OF THE BILL. I JUST
WANT TO ADD THAT I WAS RECENTLY
CONTACTED BY A SMALL COUNTY IN
RURAL NORTHERN CALIFORNIA ON
THIS ISSUE, AND IT WAS VERY
CLEAR FROM THE COMMUNICATION
THAT THEY WERE DESPERATELY
TRYING TO DO WHAT WAS RIGHT FOR
THE YOUNG PERSON THEY WERE
CALLING ABOUT, TO. BUT THEY
REALLY NEEDED CLARITY TO ENSURE
THAT THE SURVIVOR BENEFITS WERE
NOT USED FOR THE COST OF THE
CHILD'S FOSTER CARE PLACEMENT.
SO IT REALLY UNDERSCORES THE
NEED FOR THE BILL TO ENSURE THAT
WE HAVE CLARITY AND LAW
REGARDING THESE BENEFITS. THANK
ASSEMBLY MEMBER BRIAN FOR HIS
LEADERSHIP ON THIS ISSUE AND ASK
FOR YOUR AYE VOTE. ALL RIGHT.
ARE THERE ANY MEMBERS OF THE
PUBLIC WHO WISH TO TESTIFY IN
SUPPORT OF THE BILL? PLEASE COME
FORWARD TO THE MICROPHONE. HI.
SALLY CHING WITH THE ALLIANCE
FOR BOYS AND MEN OF COLOR,
CO-SPONSORS AND IN SUPPORT, KIM
LEWIS, REPRESENTING ASPIRE NET
IN SUPPORT SUSANNA KNIFFEN. WITH
CHILDREN NOW IN SUPPORT AT OUR
CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY INSTITUTE IN
SUPPORT DENISE LOCKE CALIFORNIA
COALITION FOR YOUTH IN SUPPORT.
THANK YOU. AND CLARK CHILDREN'S
LAW CENTER OF SACRAMENTO AND
CALIFORNIA. VERY PROUD OF JAMES,
VERY PROUD CO-SPONSOR OF THIS
BILL. GREAT. ARE THERE ANY
WITNESSES IN OPPOSITION TO THE
BILL? PLEASE COME FORWARD. ARE
THERE ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
WHO WISH TO TESTIFY IN
OPPOSITION TO THE BILL? OKAY.
ALL RIGHT. LET'S BRING BACK TO
THE COMMITTEE, QUESTIONS AND
COMMENTS. ASSEMBLYMEMBER GIBSON,
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MR.
CHAIRMAN. I WANT TO THANK THE
AUTHOR FOR BRINGING THIS. I KNOW
WE'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS, EVEN
WITH THE COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES
OVER THIS MATTER, AND I WAS NOT
AWARE. AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH
FOR ONE, HAVING YOUR KEEN EYE ON
THIS SUBJECT MATTER THAT NEEDS
TO BE FIXED, CERTAINLY WHEN YOU
LOOK AT SOMEONE WHO PASSES AWAY,
WE THE LEAST WE CAN DO AS THEY
PAY INTO IS MAKING SURE THAT A
SURVIVOR, IN THIS CASE, JAMES
AND OTHERS LIKE HIM, ARE ABLE TO
DRAW DOWN TO THE POINT WHERE
THEY CAN USE THESE RESOURCES TO
HELP FURTHER THEIR LIVES, AND I
THINK THIS IS A HUGE INEQUITY.
THIS IS A HUGE PROBLEM, AND GLAD
THAT YOU OFFERED THIS BILL TO
CORRECT THE PROBLEM THAT EXISTS
IN CALIFORNIA. SO WITH THAT, I
WOULD BE HONORED IF YOU WOULD
ALLOW ME TO BE A COAUTHOR OF THE
BILL. AND I WANT TO MOVE THIS
PIECE OF POLICY BECAUSE I THINK
IT'S THE RIGHT TIME, AND THEN
YOU'RE IN THE RIGHT PLACE FOR
IT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALL
RIGHT. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS? SEEING NONE, I'LL
INVITE THE AUTHOR TO CLOSE.
YEAH. THERE ARE A LOT OF TRAUMAS
IN THE CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM,
CHILDREN DON'T OFTEN END UP
THERE FOR HAPPY REASONS OR
REASONS OF ABUNDANCE. IF YOUR
BIOLOGICAL PARENTS PAID INTO
SOCIAL SECURITY AND PASSED AWAY.
AND THAT'S PART OF THE REASON
YOU WERE IN THE CHILD WELFARE
SYSTEM, YOU DESERVE THE SAME
SURVIVOR BENEFITS WE ALL ARE
ENTITLED TO. IF WE ARE IN THOSE
SITUATIONS, IT IS UNCONSCIONABLE
BEALL THAT COUNTIES ACROSS
CALIFORNIA ARE DRAWING DOWN
THOSE BENEFITS FOR THESE YOUNG
PEOPLE AND THEN NOT GIVING IT TO
THEM. WE HAD A CHANCE TO FIX
THIS LAST YEAR WITH A BILL THAT
WAS SPONSORED BY LA COUNTY,
ANSWERED BY SAN DIEGO COUNTY,
AND IT WAS VETOED BY THE
GOVERNOR. AND IT WAS WRONG. IT
WAS A MISTAKE. THIS IS A YEAR TO
GET THIS RIGHT. A GOOD YEAR
BUDGETARILY OR A BAD YEAR IN THE
BUDGET. WE CAN'T LET OUR
CHILDREN FALL THROUGH THE
CRACKS. THIS ISN'T EVEN OUR
MONEY TO BEGIN WITH. THIS IS
THEIR MONEY. I RESPECTFULLY ASK
FOR YOUR I VOTE THANK YOU SO
MUCH BRIAN, FOR BRINGING THIS
BILL FORWARD. IT'S SO IMPORTANT
THAT FOSTER YOUTH ARE ALLOWED TO
KEEP THEIR SURVIVORS BENEFITS
AND THAT THEY ARE NOT USED TO
REIMBURSE THE COUNTY FOR THE
COSTS OF THEIR CARE. SO I
APPRECIATE YOUR PASSION OF THIS
ISSUE. AND YOU'RE RIGHT, THE
GOVERNOR GOT IT WRONG LAST YEAR,
SO LET'S FIX IT THIS YEAR. THIS
BILL HAS BEEN MOVED BY SENATOR
GIBSON, SECONDED BY SENATOR
ORTEGA. I HAVE AN AYE AS AMENDED
VOTE RECOMMENDATION, MADAM
SECRETARY, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL
FILE ITEM 16 AB 2906. THE MOTION
IS TO PASS AS AMENDED, TO THE
ASSEMBLY APPROPRIATIONS
COMMITTEE. LI I, LI I EASILY, I
EASILY I CALDERON, GIBSON.
GIBSON I JACKSON. MATHIS.
ORTEGA. ORTEGA I FORTIES0 THAT
BILL IS OUT. WE'LL LEAVE THE
ROLL OPEN FOR ABSENT MEMBERS.
THANK YOU, WE'RE GOING TO RETURN
TO FILE ITEM ORDER. SO THAT
MEANS IT'S FILE ITEM FOR
SANTIAGO, AB 2224. WHENEVER
YOU'RE READY. THANK YOU, MR.
CHAIR.
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR, FOR
ALLOWING ME TO PRESENT AND THANK
YOU FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS BILL
TO HELP US TO IMPROVE IT, VERY
SIMPLY PUT, SPECIAL IMMIGRANT
JUVENILE STATUS COMMONLY KNOWN
AS AS, SIGS, PROVIDES LIMITED
IMMIGRANT RELIEF FOR VULNERABLE
UNDOCUMENTED CHILDREN WHO ARE
YOUNG, WHO HAVE BEEN ABUSED,
NEGLECTED, OR ABANDONED BY
EITHER ONE OF THEIR TWO PARENTS.
WE ARE SIMPLY SEEKING FOR
BENEFITS, FOR THESE, THIS
POPULATION TO BE ABLE TO GET
BENEFITS WHILE THEY'RE GOING
THROUGH THE PROCESS OF
ESTABLISHING, RESIDENCY HERE IN
THE UNITED STATES, SIMILAR TO
WHAT WE THIS BODY HELPED US TO
DO LAST YEAR, WITH VÆ, TÊ VISAS,
UVS AND S VISAS, BUT BUT THE
DIFFERENCE WAS THAT THAT THAT
POPULATION RECEIVES THE
BENEFITS, ALL BECAUSE THEY ARE
UNDERAGE, THEY DO NOT RECEIVE
THIS BENEFIT. AND THAT'S WHAT
WE'RE TRYING TO GET TO. SO I
APPRECIATE THE ABILITY TO
PRESENT. WE HAVE ONE WITNESS.
THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY
NAME IS RACHEL PRANDINI. I'M AN
ATTORNEY WITH THE IMMIGRANT
LEGAL RESOURCE CENTER, WHERE I
SUPPORT ADVOCATES STATEWIDE IN
HELPING THEIR YOUNG CLIENTS
APPLY FOR SPECIAL IMMIGRANT
JUVENILE STATUS, OR SIJS, WHICH
IS A SPECIAL HUMANITARIAN PATH
TO IMMIGRATION STATUS. I'M HERE
TODAY IN SUPPORT OF AND AS A
CO-SPONSOR OF AB 2224, WHICH
WILL HELP VULNERABLE YOUNG
PEOPLE IN CALIFORNIA WHO ARE
ELIGIBLE TO GET IMMIGRATION
STATUS, ATTAIN STABILITY MORE
QUICKLY AND AVOID LABOR
EXPLOITATION. THÀNH SIX IS ONLY
AVAILABLE TO YOUNG PEOPLE WHO
ARE UNDER THE AGE OF 21 WHO HAVE
BEEN ABANDONED, ABUSED OR
NEGLECTED BY A PARENT AND FOR
WHOM A STATE JUVENILE COURT HAS
DETERMINED IT'S NOT IN THEIR
BEST INTEREST TO BE RETURNED TO
THEIR COUNTRY OF ORIGIN.
CURRENTLY, YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE
ELIGIBLE FOR SIJS FACE A
PROTRACTED PROCESS AND A WAIT
TIME OF SEVERAL YEARS BEFORE
THEY CAN ACTUALLY APPLY FOR
THEIR GREEN CARD. THIS IS
BECAUSE OF BOTH BUREAUCRATIC
DELAYS AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, AS
WELL AS VISA CAPS THAT EXIST
UNDER FEDERAL LAW. WHILE YOUNG
PEOPLE WITH SIJS WAIT TO APPLY
FOR THEIR GREEN CARD, THEY'RE
NOT CURRENTLY ELIGIBLE FOR ANY
PUBLIC BENEFITS. UNDER
CALIFORNIA LAW, AND THIS IS IN
CONTRAST TO PEOPLE APPLYING FOR
OTHER HUMANITARIAN PATHS TO
STATUS, LIKE THE U VISA OR THE T
VISA FOR VICTIMS OF CRIME AND
TRAFFICKING. THIS LEAVES YOUNG
PEOPLE IN A VERY VULNERABLE
SITUATION. FOR EXAMPLE, A CLIENT
I'LL CALL SUZY WAS ABANDONED BY
HER PARENTS WHEN SHE WAS A BABY
AND WAS IN AND OUT OF FOSTER
CARE FOR MOST OF HER LIFE.
ALTHOUGH SHE QUALIFIED FOR AND
WAS SEEKING SIJS, SHE WAS NOT
YET ELIGIBLE FOR WORK
AUTHORIZATION OR PUBLIC BENEFITS
BECAUSE OF HER IMMIGRATION
STATUS. AS A RESULT, SHE WAS
LEFT IN AN UNSTABLE LIVING
SITUATION WITH HER TWO SMALL
CHILDREN. SO WHILE MYSELF AND
OTHER ADVOCATES WORK WITH
CONGRESS TO SEEK AN END TO THE
VISA BACKLOGS THAT CREATE THIS
LONG WAIT FOR YOUNG PEOPLE,
THERE ARE IMPORTANT STEPS THAT
THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA CAN TAKE
TO SUPPORT THIS POPULATION. SO
AB 2224 WILL HELP YOUNG PEOPLE
IN THIS SITUATION BY MAKING
THREE CHANGES TO CALIFORNIA LAW.
SO FIRST, IT WILL ENSURE THAT
YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE PURSUING
SIJS CAN GET PUBLIC BENEFITS
WHILE THEY WAIT FOR THEIR GREEN
CARD. SECOND, IT WILL ENSURE
THAT YOUNG PEOPLE ACTUALLY
RECEIVE A COPY OF THE STATE
COURT PREDICATE ORDER FROM THE
STATE JUVENILE COURT ON THE SAME
DAY THAT THE COURT ISSUES IT,
WHICH WILL GET AT DELAYS THAT
EXACERBATE THE YOUNG PERSON'S
WAIT TIME WITH FEDERAL
IMMIGRATION AGENCIES. AND
LASTLY, IT WILL CLARIFY THAT
UNDER CURRENT LAW, A YOUNG
PERSON'S PARENT CAN BE APPOINTED
AS THEIR GUARDIAN IF THEY'RE
BETWEEN THE AGES OF 18 AND 21.
SO I RESPECTFULLY REQUEST YOUR
AYE VOTE ON AB 2224. THANK YOU.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. DO WE HAVE
ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO
WISH TO TESTIFY IN SUPPORT OF
THE BILL? PLEASE COME UP TO THE
MICROPHONE. PRISCILLA, KUDOS
HERE ON BEHALF OF THE CALIFORNIA
FACULTY ASSOCIATION AND SUPPORT.
NOW, DO WE HAVE ANY OPPOSITION
TO THE BILL? PLEASE COME
FORWARD. THE OPPOSITION. ALL
RIGHT. LET'S BRING IT BACK TO
THE COMMITTEE. QUESTIONS
COMMENTS? SECOND ASSEMBLER.
SALLY, YOU HAVE QUESTIONS? YEAH,
I JUST HAD A QUESTION. I WAS
CONCERNED SOME OF THE LANGUAGE
MAY BE BROAD. IT SAYS, IT
EXPANDS THE ELIGIBILITY TO
INDIVIDUALS WHO MADE OR ARE
PREPARING TO MAKE A REQUEST FOR
AN ORDER FROM THE SUPERIOR
COURT. SO IS THERE ANY TIME
CONSTRAINTS ON HOW LONG ONE CAN
PREPARE TO MAKE AN ORDER? I
HAPPY TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT, BUT
I'M HAVING A HARD TIME
UNDERSTANDING THE CONCERN. I
MEAN, IF THERE TAKING FIVE YEARS
TO PREPARE TO SEEK THE COURT
ORDER. I MEAN, I MEAN, THERE
JUST NEEDS TO BE SOME TIMELINE.
SO IF YOU'RE REFERRING TO THE
BENEFITS, WE WOULD HOPE THAT
THEY'D BE ABLE TO REQUEST THE
BENEFITS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE,
HAPPY TO TAKE A LOOK AT
PREPARATION OF IT. BUT I HOPE
THAT ADDRESSES IT. YEAH, I DON'T
THINK, YOU KNOW, I'LL WON'T BE
ABLE TO SUPPORT IT TODAY, BUT IF
THAT LANGUAGE GETS TIGHTENED UP,
I MIGHT BE ABLE TO, BUT I IT
JUST IT'S ON PARAGRAPH C I'M
JUST READING FROM THERE WHERE IT
SAYS YOU KNOW, INDIVIDUALS WHO
MADE OR ARE PREPARING TO MAKE A
REQUEST. SO I'M JUST CONCERNED.
THAT'S VERY, VERY BROAD, IF I
COULD ADD ALSO THAT YOUNG
PEOPLE, REALLY DON'T DELAY IN
MAKING A REQUEST BECAUSE THIS IS
A TIME LIMITED OPTION. YOU HAVE
TO BE UNDER 21 WHEN YOU APPLY.
AND THE LONGER THAT YOU WAIT TO
OBTAIN THE STATE COURT PREDICATE
ORDER, THE LONGER DELAY YOU FACE
AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, BECAUSE
YOU WILL GET A PLACE IN LINE FOR
A VISA THAT'S MUCH FURTHER BACK.
SO WE REALLY DON'T SEE PEOPLE
SITTING ON THESE APPLICATIONS.
IT'S SUPER TIME SENSITIVE. AS
SOON AS SOMEONE IS DETERMINED TO
BE ELIGIBLE, THE DELAYS HAPPEN
IN COURT. AND THEN WHEN YOU GET
TO THE FEDERAL LEVEL. OKAY, I
APPRECIATE YOU ANSWERING MY
QUESTIONS. ALL RIGHT. I'LL ASK
THE AUTHOR TO CLOSE RESPECTFULLY
AND ASK FOR AN AYE VOTE. THANK
YOU, MR. CHAIR AND MEMBERS. ALL
RIGHT. I APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING
THIS BILL FORWARD, STREAMLINING
PROCEDURES, EXPANDING
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA AND
ENSURING THE PROVISION OF
ESSENTIAL SERVICES TO
NON-CITIZENS WHO HAVE
EXPERIENCED ABUSE, NEGLECT OR
ABANDONMENT, INCLUDING THOSE
SEEKING SPECIAL IMMIGRANT
JUVENILE STATUS, REPRESENTS A
CRUCIAL STEP TOWARDS ADDRESSING
THE NEEDS OF MARGINALIZED
POPULATIONS. THANK YOU FOR
BRINGING THIS BILL FORWARD. I'M
RECOMMENDING AN AYE VOTE. THE
BILL HAS BEEN MOVED BY SENATOR
ORTEGA, SECONDED BY SENATOR
GIBSON, MADAM SECRETARY, PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL ON AB 2224. FINAL
ITEM FOR AB 2224. THE MOTION IS
TO PASS TO THE ASSEMBLY
JUDICIARY COMMITTEE. LI I LI I
AZALI. AZALI NOT VOTING.
CALDERON GIBSON. JACKSON. MATHIS
ORTEGA. ORTEGA. AYE. THAT BILL
IS ON CALL. THANK YOU. ALL
RIGHT, LET'S MOVE TO THE
ASSEMBLY. MEMBER WILSON, YOU
LUCKED THE TIMING. IF I LET HIM.
NINE. IT'S A GOOD TIMING.
WHENEVER YOU'RE READY. THANK YOU
. OH, THERE YOU GO. I'M LIKE,
SORRY. NO, IT'S OKAY, IT'S OKAY.
WELL GOOD AFTERNOON, MR. CHAIR.
MEMBERS, I'M PLEASED TO PRESENT
AB 2459. THE BILL AIMED AT
HELPING FOSTER YOUTH RETAIN
MENTORSHIP. I WOULD LIKE TO
START BY THANKING THE COMMITTEE
STAFF FOR THEIR WORK ON THIS
BILL. IT IS VERY MUCH
APPRECIATED. I WILL BE ACCEPTING
THE COMMITTEE'S AMENDMENTS TO
REFINE THE PROVISION OF THE BILL
THAT PASSED ON THE YOUTH
INFORMATION THÀNH TO A MENTORING
AGENCY, ALSO, TO MAKE SURE THAT
WE ARE PROTECTING THE BEST
INTERESTS OF THE CHILD. WE ARE
TAKING AMENDMENTS THAT CLEARLY
STATE THAT WE ARE NOT MANDATING
MENTOR SERVICES, BUT MERELY
ASKING AS WRITTEN. NOW, AB 2459
WOULD REQUIRE THE SOCIAL WORKER
TO ASK THE CHILD WHETHER THE
CHILD WOULD LIKE TO PARTICIPATE
IN A MENTORING PROGRAM AND
INCLUDE WRITTEN VERIFICATION OF
THE CHILD'S CONSENT TO PASS ON
THEIR INFORMATION TO A MENTOR.
THE BILL WOULD AUTHORIZE A COURT
TO REFER THE CHILD TO
PARTICIPATE IN A ONE ON ONE
MENTORING PROGRAM THROUGH A
NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT
MEETS SPECIFIED CRITERIA AND HAS
CONDUCTED APPROPRIATE SCREENING
OF MENTORING VOLUNTEERS. A
WELL-MATCHED MENTOR WHO MAY HAVE
EXPERIENCED SIMILAR TRAUMAS AND
HAS SHARED INTEREST WITH THE
YOUTH, CAN BUILD A TRUSTING
RELATIONSHIP AND IMPROVE THEIR
VIEWS OF POSSIBILITIES THAT CAN
LEAD TO A HAPPY AND PRODUCTIVE
ADULT LIFE. RESEARCH CONTINUES
TO FIND THAT MENTORED YOUTH ARE
LESS LIKELY TO ENGAGE IN RISKY
BEHAVIORS, SUCH AS SUBSTANCE
ABUSE, SKIPPING SCHOOL, AND
HITTING OTHERS. YOUTH FACING
RISK WHO HAVE MENTORS ARE MORE
LIKELY TO ATTEND COLLEGE AND,
PARTICIPATE IN SPORTS AND OTHER
EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES, AND
ARE MORE LIKELY TO TAKE ON
LEADERSHIP ROLES IN SCHOOLS AS
WELL AS VOLUNTEER IN THEIR
COMMUNITIES. HAVING THIS ONE ON
ONE MENTORING WOULD BE LITERALLY
LIFE CHANGING FOR THE KIDS AND
THE JUVENILE SYSTEM, AND WOULD
HELP TO BREAK THE CYCLE OF
RE-OFFENDING, GIVING THEM A
CHANCE AT AN OPTIMISTIC FUTURE.
WITH ME TODAY IS KATHY VAN
AUSTIN REPRESENTS BIG BROTHERS
BIG SISTERS. TO SPEAK MORE ABOUT
THE IMPORTANCE OF AB 2459 HI MR.
CHAIR, YES, OKAY. THANK YOU, MR.
CHAIR AND MEMBERS KATHY VAN
AUSTIN, I REPRESENT BIG BROTHERS
AND BIG SISTERS OF CALIFORNIA
AND FIRST, I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE
AND THANK OUR AUTHOR FOR HER
DILIGENCE AND BRINGING MENTORING
TO YOUTH IN FOSTER CARE, I KNOW
YOU'RE ALL FAMILIAR WITH THE
PLIGHTS OF THE, CHILDREN AND
YOUTH IN FOSTER CARE, MENTORING
IS A AN AMAZING TOOL THAT WE
HAVE AVAILABLE TO US. AND THERE
ARE MANY FOSTER CHILDREN NOW WHO
DO HAVE MENTORS AND, AS WE
LEARNED WHAT HAPPENED THROUGH
THE PANDEMIC, THE PANDEMIC FOR
BIG BROTHERS, BIG SISTERS IS YOU
HAD A NUMBER OF CHILDREN
ENTERING FOSTER CARE DURING THAT
PERIOD BECAUSE PARENTS LOST JOBS
HIGH. YOU KNOW, TENSIONS GOT
HEIGHTENED AT HOME, AND THEY HAD
EXISTING RELATIONSHIPS WITH
MENTORS. BUT WHEN THEY WENT TO
FOSTER CARE, MENTORS COULDN'T
GET INFORMATION ABOUT WHERE THEY
WERE OR WHERE THEY HAD BEEN
MOVED. WE HAD ONE YOUNG WOMAN,
ONE YOUNG GIRL WHO WAS MOVED 11
TIMES IN ONE YEAR, AND THAT
RELATIONSHIP ENDED UP BEING
FRACTURED. AND, BASICALLY JUST
WENT AWAY, WHICH IS MORE
DAMAGING TO YOUTH BECAUSE IT
JUST REAFFIRMS THE FACT THAT
THEY CAN'T TRUST ADULTS. YOU
KNOW, THEY'VE BEEN BURNED BY
ADULTS OVER AND OVER AGAIN. AND
SO IT ACTUALLY DOES MORE DAMAGE
THAN THE MENTORING CAN DO. GOOD
AND SO AS WE WERE LOOKING AT A
WAY TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE, THE
OTHER THING, THE OTHER THING
THAT CAME TO MIND IS WE KNOW
THAT FOSTER YOUTH ARE AN AT RISK
POPULATION. THEY'RE ONE OF OUR
MOST VULNERABLE POPULATIONS.
THEY SUFFER ACADEMICALLY. THEY,
YOU KNOW, THEY SUFFER BY SORT OF
THE TRANSIENT NATURE OF FOSTER
CARE. AND WE THOUGHT ABOUT USING
THE SYSTEM, PARDON THE
EXPRESSION, TO ACTUALLY PROVIDE
RIDE A MENTOR FOR YOUTH WHO CAN
DO NOTHING BUT BENEFIT IT,
MENTORS CAN OPEN THEIR EYES,
ENCOURAGE THEM TO THINK BROADLY,
YOU KNOW, SHAPE GOALS, GO TO
COLLEGE. AND SO FORTH. SO IF YOU
COULD, WRAP UP, PLEASE, I'M
HAPPY TO. I ALWAYS GET
SIDETRACKED, SO ANYWAY, I'LL
JUST MAKE IT SHORT. WE ASK FOR
YOUR VOTE. ALL RIGHT. NOW, DO WE
HAVE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO
WISH TO TESTIFY IN SUPPORT OF
THE BILL? PLEASE COME TO THE
MICROPHONE. DO WE? ALL RIGHT. Þ
IN SUPPORT OF THE BILL.
ACTUALLY, I, ON BEHALF OF
CALIFORNIA CASA, WE DON'T HAVE
AN OFFICIAL POSITION ON THE
BILL, BUT WE HAD VERY POSITIVE
CONVERSATIONS WITH THE SPONSOR
AND AUTHOR'S OFFICE AND LOOK
FORWARD TO CONTINUING THOSE
CONVERSATIONS AND REVIEWING THE
RECENT AMENDMENTS. THANK YOU. DO
YOU HAVE ANY MEMBERS OF THE
PUBLIC WISH TO TESTIFY IN
OPPOSITION TO THE BILL?
OPPOSITION TO THE BILL? CNN
LET'S BRING IT BACK TO THE
COMMITTEE. ANY QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS FROM THE COMMITTEE
MEMBERS? ALL RIGHT. I'LL INVITE
THE AUTHOR TO CLOSE. THEN I, I
THANK YOU AND I RESPECTFULLY ASK
FOR AN AYE VOTE. THANK YOU SO
MUCH FOR BRINGING THE BILL
FORWARD AND WORKING WITH THE
COMMITTEE ON THE AMENDMENTS
TOGETHER, I'M I AM SUPPORTIVE OF
ENSURING FOSTER YOUTH HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO BE INVOLVED IN
MENTORING SERVICES, MENTORING
SERVICES CAN HAVE A POSITIVE
IMPACT ON YOUTH WHO ARE
RECEPTIVE TO THESE RELATIONSHIPS
. APPROACHING MENTORING IN A
TRAUMA INFORMED MANNER INCLUDES
ALLOWING THE YOUTH TO DECIDE
WHAT IS BEST FOR THEMSELVES,
SUCH AS GROUP OR ONE ON ONE
SERVICES IN WHICH ORGANIZATIONS
WORK FOR THEIR NEEDS. THANK YOU
FOR ACCEPTING THE AMENDMENTS
THAT CENTER ON THE YOUTH'S NEEDS
, THE BILL HAS BEEN MOVED BY
SENATOR ORTEGA AND SECONDED BY
SENATOR ROSELLI. AND I'M
RECOMMENDING AN AYE AS AMENDED
VOTE, SECRETARY, PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL. FINAL ITEM NINE AB 2459.
THE MOTION IS DUE. PASS AS
AMENDED TO THE ASSEMBLY
JUDICIARY COMMITTEE. LEE I LEE I
EASILY, EASILY I CALDERON GIBSON
JACKSON. MATHIS. ORTEGA. ORTEGA
I 3 TO 0. THAT BILL IS ON CALL.
NEXT WE WILL GO TO FILE ITEM 12
BY SIR AB 2650. WHENEVER YOU'RE
READY. THANK YOU.
I THINK THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
OKAY THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.
MEMBERS I'M PROUD TODAY TO
PRESENT AB 2650, WHICH IS
SPONSORED BY THE LICENSED ADULT
RESIDENTIAL CARE ASSOCIATION,
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS LAKA.
LICENSED ADULT RESIDENTIAL CARE
FACILITIES PLAY A VITAL, VITAL
ROLE IN THE STATE'S HOUSING
RESPONSE, PROVIDING HOUSING,
FOOD AND MEDICATION MANAGEMENT
TO VULNERABLE POPULATIONS,
INCLUDING INDIVIDUALS RECEIVING
PUBLIC BENEFITS AND THOSE
DIAGNOSED WITH SEVERE MENTAL
ILLNESS. HOWEVER, THE CURRENT
STATE OF THESE FACILITIES IS IN
CRISIS AS MANY ARE CLOSING DUE
TO LIMITED FUNDING. WHEN THESE
FACILITIES CLOSE, RESIDENTS
WITHOUT FAMILY SUPPORT FACE THE
RISK OF FALLING INTO
HOMELESSNESS, INCARCERATION OR
INSTITUTIONALIZATION. INDEED,
DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO
ASSURE THAT ADULT CARE,
RESIDENTIAL, ADULT CARE,
RESIDENTIAL FACILITIES REMAIN
HEALTHY AND OPEN SHOULD BE A KEY
FOCUS IN OUR EFFORTS TO ADDRESS
HOMELESSNESS. CURRENT LAW
REQUIRES THE COLLECTION OF
INFORMATION FOR FACILITIES THAT
ACCEPT PEOPLE WITH SEVERE MENTAL
ILLNESS AND WHO RECEIVE PUBLIC
BENEFITS. HOWEVER, THE NUMBER OF
RESIDENTS WITH SEVERE MENTAL
ILLNESS WHO OCCUPY BEDS IN THESE
FACILITIES AND ARE ELIGIBLE FOR
SSI BENEFITS IS NOT DISCLOSED
AND IS NOT KNOWN. THIS PRESENTS
A SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL
CHALLENGE BECAUSE RESOURCE
ALLOCATIONS TO THESE FACILITIES
ARE FREQUENTLY DETERMINED ON A
PER DAY PER BED BASIS IN
RESPONSE TO THIS PRESSING ISSUE.
AB 2650 PROPOSES A STRATEGIC
SOLUTION BY MANDATING THE
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES TO
COLLECT AND PUBLICLY REPORT
SPECIFIC DATA ON THESE
FACILITIES. THIS COMPREHENSIVE
DATA SET INCLUDES CRITICAL
INFORMATION SUCH AS THE NUMBER
OF FACILITIES CATERING TO
RESIDENTS OR WITH SMI OR
RECEIVING PUBLIC BENEFITS,
DETAILED BED COUNTS AND DATA ON
RESIDENTS RELEVANT BACKGROUNDS.
THE BILL IS A PREVENTIVE STUDY
BILL THAT SEEKS TO UNDERSTAND
HOW WE CAN BEST ADDRESS THE
CHALLENGES A LICENSED ADULT
RESIDENTIAL CARE FACILITIES ARE
FACING, SO THAT WE CAN TAKE THE
STEPS TO ASSURE THAT THEY DON'T
SLIP THROUGH THE CRACKS AND THAT
THE RESIDENTS DON'T FALL INTO
HOMELESSNESS. WITH ME TODAY IS
SALONICA SMITH FROM LAKA,
SPONSOR OF THE BILL, AND BARBARA
WILSON, FOUNDER OF THE MENTAL
HEALTH HOOKUP AND ALAKA BOARD
MEMBER, TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION AND ASSIST WITH
QUESTIONS. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.
TWO MINUTES EACH. WITNESS,
PLEASE. THANK YOU. GOOD
AFTERNOON, MR. CHAIR AND MEMBERS
COMMITTEE. MY NAME IS SALONICA
SMITH AND I AM THE DIRECTOR OF
MEMBER SERVICES FOR LAKA, THE
LICENSED ADULT RESIDENTIAL CARE
ASSOCIATION REPRESENTING MORE
THAN 400 STATE LICENSED ADULT
RESIDENTIAL CARE FACILITIES IN
LOS ANGELES COUNTY. THESE
FACILITIES PROVIDE CRUCIAL
COMMUNITY BASED HOUSING, CARE
AND SERVICES FOR THOSE DIAGNOSED
WITH THE SERIOUS MENTAL ILLNESS
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS SMI, OR ARE
RECEIVING PUBLIC BENEFITS. I
WANT TO BEGIN BY THANKING YOU
FOR HOLDING THIS HEARING ON
ASSEMBLY BILL 2650. IT'S A
CRUCIAL STEP TO BETTER
UNDERSTANDING AND SUPPORTING THE
MOST VULNERABLE POPULATIONS IN
STATE LICENSED FACILITIES. THESE
FACILITIES ARE LAST LINE OF
DEFENSE AGAINST HOMELESSNESS,
INCARCERATION AND
INSTITUTIONALIZATION. MANY ARE
ON THE BRINK OF CLOSURE, AND ONE
OF THE CRITICAL SHORTFALLS TO
UNDERSTANDING THE CHALLENGES
THEY FACE AND ULTIMATELY
SUPPORTING OPERATORS AND THE
RESIDENTS THEY SERVE, RELATES TO
DATA COLLECTED ON THESE
FACILITIES AND THEIR RESIDENTS.
WE NEED TO COLLECT AB 2650 DATA
TO STRATEGICALLY DIRECT SERVICES
AND RESOURCES AND KEEP
SERIOUSLY, MENTALLY ILL OR
PUBLIC BENEFITS. RESIDENTS
HOUSED AND OFF OF THE STREETS,
LAKA IS A PROUD IS PROUD TO
SPONSOR AND SUPPORT AB 2650,
WHICH ADDRESSES THE CRITICAL
DATA SHORTFALL IN THE CURRENT
FRAMEWORK AND MAKES CHANGES TO
BETTER UNDERSTAND AND ASSESS
THIS CRUCIAL, PERMANENT,
SUPPORTIVE HOUSING SOLUTION.
DATA COLLECTED UNDER AB 2650.
SPECIFICALLY, THE NUMBER OF
RESIDENTS OCCUPIED BUYING BEDS
IN LICENSED FACILITIES IN THE
STATE WHO FALL IN THE SERIOUS
MENTAL ILLNESS OR PUBLIC
BENEFITS CATEGORIES IS KEY FOR
THE STATE TO DIRECT AND TARGET
SUPPORT TO FACILITIES AND
RESIDENTS THAT ARE THE MOST
VULNERABLE TO CLOSURE AND ENDING
UP ON THE STREETS, OR WORSE. WE
THANK ASSEMBLY MEMBER ZABIR FOR
HIS LEADERSHIP ON THIS ISSUE AND
FOR STANDING WITH FACILITIES AND
HOUSING PROVIDERS WHO KEEP
VULNERABLE RESIDENTS IN STABLE,
COMMUNITY BASED HOUSING. WE
WOULD APPRECIATE THIS
COMMITTEE'S SUPPORT FOR AB 2650.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, GOOD
AFTERNOON, MISTER CHAIR,
COMMITTEE MEMBERS, I'M BARBARA B
WILSON, AND I'M PROUD TO STAND
ALONGSIDE MY COLLEAGUES AND THE
MENTAL HEALTH COMMUNITY IN
SUPPORT OF ASSEMBLY MEMBERS.
SUPPORTS AB 2650. I AM A
RETIRED, LICENSED CLINICAL
SOCIAL WORKER, MENTAL HEALTH
COUNSELOR, AND A DECADES LONG
ADVOCATE FOR LICENSED ADULT
RESIDENTIAL CARE FACILITIES,
WHICH ARE CRUCIAL HOUSING AND
SUPPORTIVE SERVICE PROVIDERS FOR
THOSE WITH SERIOUS MENTAL
ILLNESS AND WHO ARE RECEIVING
PUBLIC BENEFITS ONLY. THESE ARE
THE PEOPLE WHO OFTEN FALL
THROUGH THE CRACKS AT THE BOTTOM
OF OUR SOCIAL SAFETY NET. I WAS
ALSO INVOLVED WITH AB 1766 BLOOM
BILL, WHICH SET UP THE CURRENT
DATA COLLECTION FRAMEWORK BY
WHICH WE UNDERSTAND AND DIRECT
RESOURCES TO LICENSE FACILITIES.
THAT FRAMEWORK CONTAINS SOME
SIGNIFICANT GAPS, WHICH AB 2650
FAILS AND FIXES. AS YOU MAY
KNOW, AB 1766 MANDATED THE
COLLECTION OF INFORMATION FOR
FACILITIES THAT ACCEPT SMI
RESIDENTS AND WHOSE ONLY SOURCE
OF INCOME IS PUBLIC BENEFITS. IT
ALSO ESTABLISHED NOTIFICATION
REQUIREMENTS WHEN THESE
FACILITIES CLOSE. HOWEVER,
CRITICAL INFORMATION LIKE THE
NUMBER OF RESIDENTS THAT OCCUPY
BEDS IN FACILITIES THAT ARE SMI
AND ARE RECEIVING ONLY SSI AND
SOCIAL SECURITY, SSP PUBLIC
BENEFITS THAT WAS NOT COLLECTED.
THIS IS A HUGE PROBLEM BECAUSE
RESOURCE ALLOCATIONS TO
FACILITIES ARE OFTEN MADE ON A
PER BED PER DAY BASIS.
THEREFORE, IF THIS MISSING
INFORMATION, WHICH AB 2650 WOULD
PROVIDE, RENDERS THE CURRENT
FRAMEWORK USELESS IN MANY WAYS
WE. WE NEED TO KNOW HOW MANY
BEDS ARE ACTUALLY OCCUPIED BY
THE MOST VULNERABLE POPULATION
TO PROVIDE DIRECT SUPPORT AND
ASSISTANCE TO KEEP FOLKS HOUSED
AND OFF THE STREETS, AND ALSO
HELP FAMILIES WHO MANY OF WHOM
ARE AGING PARENTS AND WHO ARE
AFRAID TO DIE, FACILITIES ARE
CLOSING FAST, AND WE NEED
STRATEGIC AND TARGETED HELP TO
THOSE MOST IN NEED. TO BE HONEST
WITH YOU, WHEN AB 1766 PASSED
WITHOUT THE COLLECTION OF THIS
INFORMATION, MANY OF US INVOLVED
WERE SURPRISED AND DISAPPOINTED.
IF YOU COULD WRAP UP, PLEASE,
SORRY. JUST PLEASE DO THIS. I'M
GRATEFUL TO ASSEMBLYMAN ZAVALA
FOR ADVANCING THIS CRUCIAL
CRITICAL FIX. AND THANK YOU ALL
FOR GIVING US THIS TIME. THANK
YOU. NOW, ARE THERE MEMBERS OF
THE PUBLIC WHO SHOULD TESTIFY IN
SUPPORT OF THE BILL? PLEASE COME
TO THE MICROPHONE. ANY
OPPOSITION TO THE BILL, PLEASE
COME UP TO THE MICROPHONE SEEING
NONE. LET'S BRING IT BACK TO THE
COMMITTEE. ANY QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS FROM COMMITTEE MEMBERS?
ALL RIGHT. I'LL INVITE THE
AUTHOR TO CLOSE THEN. SO I THINK
IN CLOSING, THESE FACILITIES ARE
CLOSING VERY RAPIDLY. AND WHEN
THEY CLOSE, IT ACTUALLY FORCES
PEOPLE THAT ARE IN VULNERABLE
POSITIONS INTO EITHER OTHER
KINDS OF INSTITUTIONS OR OUT
ONTO THE STREET AND, I
ORIGINALLY HAD CONSIDERED TRYING
TO BRING A BILL THAT WOULD HAVE
PROVIDED CALFRESH BENEFITS TO
RESIDENTS OF THESE FACILITIES.
BUT KNOWING THE BUDGET SITUATION
THIS YEAR REALIZED THAT THAT WAS
SORT OF A NONSTARTER. AND SO
THIS BILL IS REALLY ONE THAT IS
WILL GIVE US THE DATA AND THE
TOOLS TO UNDERSTAND THE
POPULATIONS IN THESE FACILITIES
MORE AND HOPEFULLY NEXT YEAR OR
THE YEARS AHEAD, AS WE'RE SORT
OF LOOKING AT OUR OUR STRATEGY
WITH RESPECT TO HOMELESSNESS,
WILL, WILL, WE WILL UNDERSTAND
THE ROLES THESE FACILITIES PLAYS
AND WILL GIVE US THE TOOLS WE
NEED TO UNDERSTAND HOW TO SPEND
MONEY STRATEGICALLY TO ADDRESS
THE ISSUE OF HOMELESSNESS AND
PROTECT THESE VULNERABLE
POPULATIONS. SO WITH THAT, I ASK
FOR YOUR I VOTE. THANK YOU FOR
BRINGING BILL FORWARD. THE BILL
HAS BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED AND
I'M RECOMMENDING AN AYE VOTE.
MADAM SECRETARY, PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL. FINAL ITEM 12 AB 2650. THE
MOTION IS TO PASS TO THE
ASSEMBLY HEALTH COMMITTEE. LI I
LI I EASILY, EASILY I CALDERON.
CALDER OAN I. GIBSON. JACKSON.
MÀ MISS. ORTEGA. ORTEGA I 4 TO
0. THAT BILL IS OUT. WE'LL LEAVE
THE ROLL OPEN FOR ABSENT
MEMBERS. NEXT WE'LL GO TO FILE
ITEM 18 BY ASSEMBLY RAMOS
ASSEMBLY BILL 2948. AND YOU MAY
BEGIN WHEN YOU ARE READY.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK
YOU SO MUCH. SECOND. THANK YOU
SO MUCH, MR. CHAIR AND MEMBERS
FOR THE MOTION. AND THE SECOND
ON THAT TODAY I'M PRESENTING AB
2984, WHICH WOULD ALLOW TRIBAL
CHILDREN WHO ARE ADOPTED IN
TRIBAL COURT TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR
THE ADOPTION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
ARP IS A FEDERAL PROGRAM UNDER
TITLE FOUR Â OF THE SOCIAL
SECURITY ACT, WHICH PROVIDES
FUNDS TO FACILITATE THE ADOPTION
OF CHILDREN WHO WOULD OTHERWISE
REMAIN IN LONG TERME FOSTER CARE
. THE ELIGIBILITY FOR THE
PROGRAM'S BENEFITS REQUIRES
EVIDENCE THAT THE CHILD CANNOT
OR SHOULD NOT BE RETURNED TO THE
HOME OF THE CHILD'S PARENTS, PER
A PETITION FOR TERMINATION OF
PARENTAL RIGHTS. BECAUSE TRIBES
TYPICALLY DO NOT TERMINATE
PARENTAL RIGHTS AS PART OF THE
TRIBAL ADOPTION PROCESS AS
RECOGNIZED BY THE INDIAN CHILD
WELFARE ACT, CHILDREN
TRANSFERRING FROM STATE
JURISDICTION TO TRIBAL
JURISDICTION MAY NOT MEET ALL
ELEMENTS OF THE THREE PART
SPECIAL NEEDS DETERMINATION
REQUIRED TO RECEIVE THOSE
BENEFITS. ACCORDING TO THE
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES,
CLARITY IN THE ELIGIBILITY
CRITERIA IS NECESSARY TO ENSURE
THAT TRIBAL CHILDREN WHO ARE
ADOPTED VIA PROCEEDINGS IN
TRIBAL COURT MAY RECEIVE AARP
BENEFITS. WITH ME TODAY TO
ANSWER ANY TECHNICAL QUESTIONS
AND OFFER A BRIEF TESTIMONY IS
DEBBIE DIAZ WILLIAMS, A
REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL
SERVICES. GOOD AFTERNOON, DEBBIE
DIAZ WILLIAMS WITH THE
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL
SERVICES. WHILE THE DEPARTMENT
DOES NOT HAVE ANY OFFICIAL
POSITION ON THE BILL, I AM HAPPY
TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY
HAVE AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE
BILL MOVING FORWARD. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, NOW LET'S MOVE TO THE
COMMITTEE ROOM. IF THERE'S ANY
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WISH TO
TESTIFY IN SUPPORT OF THE BILL,
PLEASE COME UP TO THE MICROPHONE
. AFTERNOON. MR. CHAIR. MEMBERS
ALEX ALANIZ, ON BEHALF OF THE
HABEMATOLEL POMO OF UPPER LAKE
IN SUPPORT. THANK YOU. GOOD
AFTERNOON, ADRIAN SHELTON WITH
THE CALIFORNIA ALLIANCE OF CHILD
AND FAMILY SERVICES AND SUPPORT.
THANK YOU. DO WE HAVE ANY
OPPOSITION TO THE BILL? PLEASE
COME FORWARD. SEEING NONE ANY
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WISH TO
TESTIFY IN OPPOSITION TO THE
BILL. ALL RIGHT. LET'S BRING IT
BACK TO COMMITTEE. ANY QUESTIONS
OR COMMENTS FROM COMMITTEE
MEMBERS? SEEING NONE, I'LL
INVITE THE AUTHOR TO CLOSE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, MR. CHAIR AND
COMMITTEE MEMBERS, I
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOUR AYE
VOTE. THANK YOU FOR BRINGING
THIS BILL FORWARD. IT'S ALWAYS
IMPORTANT TO ENSURE THAT OUR
CHILD WELFARE POLICIES INCLUDE
TRIBAL YOUTH. I'M RECOMMENDING
AN I VOTE, AND THE BILL IS
PROPERLY MOVED AND SECONDED.
MADAM SECRETARY, PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL ON AB 2948, FINAL NUMBER 18
AB 2948. THE MOTION IS DUE
PASSED TO THE ASSEMBLY.
JUDICIARY COMMITTEE. LI I LI I
EASILY, EASILY I CALDERON.
CALDERON I GIBSON. JACKSON.
MATHIS ORTEGA. ORTEGA I
FORTIES0. THAT BILL IS OUT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU SO
MUCH. SO WE WILL BE MOVING TO
OUR FINAL BILL OF THE DAY. THAT
WILL BE RIGHT NOW. OH, WAIT.
ACTUALLY, THERE'S ONE MORE. SO
I'LL WAIT ONE MOMENT. YEAH. SHE
ONE SECOND. YEAH. BUT IF STAFF
ARE WATCHING WE ARE APPROACHING
OUR FINAL TWO BILLS. SO IF YOUR
MEMBER IS ON HUMAN SERVICES,
THIS IS THE TIME TO COME AND WE
CAN RUN THROUGH THE REST OF
THEM. YES BILL.
YES. OKAY. YEAH.
ALL RIGHT. WELL, I WILL TAKE THE
PRIVILEGE OF PRESENTING MY OWN
BILL. FILE ITEM 21, AB 3031, AND
I WILL BE HANDING THE GAVEL OVER
TO THE VICE CHAIR SO EASILY. SO.
I'M JUST KIDDING. IT'S TEASING,
TEASING ME. SAID THAT OUT LOUD.
SO MAKING. Þ. OH, OKAY. OKAY, SO
I WANT TO SAY SO I'LL JUST. YOU
JUST KIND OF FOLLOW IT THROUGH.
OKAY. THANK YOU. YEAH. OH MOVE
THE BILL. SECOND. RELIEF ALL
RIGHT, WELL, THANK YOU,
COLLEAGUES FIRST, RELUCTANTLY, I
MUST ACCEPT THE COMMITTEE
AMENDMENTS SUGGESTED ON PAGE
FIVE OF THE COMMITTEE ANALYSIS.
THIS IN THE NAME OF DIVERSITY.
INCLUSION FOR LGBT COMMUNITY. I
WOULD LIKE TO TURN THE OPENING
COMMENTS ACTUALLY OVER TO MY
SUPPORTING WITNESSES, TODAY WE
HAVE ALI HUGHES WITH BMCC, WHICH
IS LGBT ADVOCACY GROUP FROM MY
HOME COUNTY, AND CRAIG PULSIFER
WITH THE COUNTY EQUALITY
CALIFORNIA. AWESOME. GOOD
AFTERNOON EVERYONE. THANK YOU SO
MUCH. MY NAME IS ALI HUGHES AND
I'M THE SECRETARY TO BAY MAC,
JUST AS ALEX SAID, WE'RE AN
LGBTQ PLUS ORGANIZATION WORKING
IN IN SANTA CLARA, SANTA CRUZ
AND SAN MATEO COUNTIES TO
ADVANCE, THE PROGRESS OF LGBTQ
PLUS PERSONS. SO, AS YOU MAY
KNOW, THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
DOES NOT CURRENTLY HAVE A
COMMISSION ADVISING ON POLICIES
THAT RELATE TO THE WELL-BEING OF
ADULT LGBTQ PLUS PERSONS.
CALIFORNIA'S QUEER COMMUNITY
DESERVES A SPACE WHERE OUR
VOICE, WHERE OUR VOICES ARE
ELEVATED AND EMPOWERED, AS WELL
AS THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH
THE LEGISLATURE TO ADDRESS
ISSUES THAT PARTICULARLY AFFECT
OUR COMMUNITY. CALIFORNIA'S
LGBTQ PLUS COMMUNITY IS
BEAUTIFULLY DIVERSE,
REPRESENTING EVERY SINGLE
CULTURE, RELIGION, BACKGROUND,
AND ETHNICITY WITHIN OUR STATE.
WITH HUNDREDS OF ANTI LGBTQ AND
ANTI TRANS BILLS INTRODUCED IN
OTHER STATE LEGISLATURES ACROSS
THE COUNTRY, THIS COMMISSION
WILL OFFER INVALUABLE
OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE COMMUNITY
TO WORK DIRECTLY WITH THE
LEGISLATURE TO CREATE POLICIES
THAT POSITIVELY ELEVATE THE
LGBTQ PLUS COMMUNITY AND WORK TO
ADDRESS ISSUES THAT ARE
NEGATIVELY IMPACTING US.
CREATING AND PROTECTING SPACES
FOR LGBTQ PLUS PEOPLE ARE
NECESSARY AS WE STRIVE TO CREATE
A BETTER CALIFORNIA FOR ALL.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, GOOD
AFTERNOON, CRAIG PULSIFER ON
BEHALF OF EQUALITY CALIFORNIA,
PROUD CO-SPONSOR OF THIS BILL,
AS YOU ALL KNOW, BECAUSE OF THE
WORK OF THIS LEGISLATURE AND
ACTIVISTS UP AND DOWN THE STATE,
CALIFORNIA HAS BEEN A NATIONWIDE
LEADER IN THE FIGHT FOR LGBTQ
CIVIL RIGHTS, PASSING LAWS TO
PROTECT AND IMPROVE ACCESS TO
GENDER AFFIRMING CARE, CREATE
SAFE AND SUPPORTIVE SCHOOLS FOR
LGBTQ STUDENTS, AND ESTABLISHING
THE STRONGEST NONDISCRIMINATION
PROTECTIONS IN THE COUNTRY. BUT
EVEN WITH THE PROGRESS WE'VE
MADE, OUR COMMUNITY CONTINUES TO
FACE ENORMOUS CHALLENGES, AND WE
APPRECIATE THE COMMITTEE'S
THOUGHTFUL ANALYSIS,
HIGHLIGHTING SOME OF THE MOST
PRESSING ISSUES IMPACTING OUR
COMMUNITY, NOTABLY HATE CRIMES
AND VIOLENCE AGAINST LGBTQ
PEOPLE ARE ON THE RISE WITH 29%
MORE HATE INCIDENTS MOTIVATED BY
SEXUAL ORIENTATION BIAS AND 55%
MORE HATE CRIMES MOTIVATED BY
ANTI-TRANS OR ANTI ANTI GENDER
NON-CONFORMING BIAS. BETWEEN
2021 AND 2022, LGBTQ YOUNG
PEOPLE IN PARTICULAR CONTINUE TO
EXPERIENCE SIGNIFICANT MENTAL
HEALTH CHALLENGES, INCLUDING
HIGHER LEVELS OF DEPRESSION,
ANXIETY, SUICIDE AND NEARLY A
THIRD OF LGBTQ YOUNG PEOPLE.
REPORT HOMELESSNESS OR HOUSING
INSTABILITY AT SOME POINT IN
THEIR LIVES. AND AT THE SAME
TIME, RIGHT WING ACTIVISTS AND
SCHOOL BOARDS ARE MOVING TO
REVERSE HARD FOUGHT CIVIL CIVIL
RIGHTS PROTECTIONS FOR OUR
COMMUNITY, INCLUDING BANNING
ESSENTIAL HEALTH CARE FOR TRANS
YOUTH AND BANNING LGBTQ
INCLUSIVE BOOKS AND CURRICULUM.
ALL THIS AGAINST A BACKDROP OF
GROWING ATTACKS ON OUR COMMUNITY
NATIONWIDE. WITH NEARLY 500 ANTI
LGBTQ BILLS INTRODUCED ACROSS
THE NATION THIS YEAR ALONE IN
THIS DANGEROUS MOMENT FOR OUR
COMMUNITY, THE ESTABLISHMENT OF
A STATEWIDE LGBTQ COMMISSION IS
NOT ONLY AN IMPORTANT
DEMONSTRATION OF CALIFORNIA'S
COMMITMENT TO LGBTQ
CALIFORNIANS, BUT IT WILL ALSO
HAVE ENORMOUS PRACTICAL BENEFITS
EMPOWERING OUR COMMUNITY WITH AN
INDEPENDENT REPRESENTATION TO
ADVISE THE GOVERNOR AND
LEGISLATURE ON POLICY AND
REGULATION. IDENTIFY STATEWIDE
NEEDS, AND HELP LAWMAKERS IN
IMPLEMENTING SUPPORTIVE POLICIES
AND PROGRAMS. AB 3031 IS AN
IMPORTANT AND TIMELY MEASURE TO
ENSURE THAT CALIFORNIA IS LIVING
UP TO OUR VALUES OF ACCEPTANCE
AND INCLUSION AND MAKING SURE
THAT LGBTQ, EVERY LGBTQ PERSON
IN OUR STATE CAN LIVE SAFELY AND
AUTHENTICALLY AS THEIR TRUE
SELVES. AND I RESPECTFULLY URGE
YOUR AYE VOTE. THANK YOU. ARE
THERE ANY WITNESSES IN SUPPORT
WHO WOULD LIKE TO REGISTER? GOOD
AFTERNOON, JOSH GALLAGHER, ON
BEHALF OF THE SANTA CLARA COUNTY
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND
SUPPORT. ALISON RAIMI, ON BEHALF
OF THE CALIFORNIA DENTAL
ASSOCIATION IN SUPPORT. THANK
YOU. SEEING NO OTHER WITNESSES,
DO WE HAVE ANY PRIMARY WITNESSES
IN OPPOSITION? SEEING NONE. DO
WE HAVE ANY MEMBERS OF THE
PUBLIC IN THE HEARING ROOM TO
TESTIFY IN OPPOSITION? OKAY, SO
BRINGING IT BACK TO THE
COMMITTEE, ANY COMMENTS OR
QUESTIONS? YES, MISS CALDERON,
THANK YOU, MR. VICE CHAIR, I
JUST LIKE TO THANK THE AUTHOR
FOR BRINGING THIS BILL FORWARD.
AND, I THINK THE WORK OF THIS
COMMISSION WILL BE REALLY
IMPORTANT TO HELP ELEVATE THE
VOICES OF THE 2.7 MILLION
MEMBERS OF THE LGBTQ PLUS
COMMUNITY IN CALIFORNIA. AND I
WOULD LOVE TO BE ADDED AS A
COAUTHOR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU,
MISS ORTEGA. I WOULD ALSO LOVE
TO BE ADDED AS A COAUTHOR. THANK
YOU. ANYONE ELSE? OR HAS
QUESTIONS? QUESTIONS, I WAS
GOING TO MAKE A COMMENT, BUT I
CAN ALLOW YOU TO CLOSE FIRST.
OKAY? OKAY I JUST WILL SAY THAT,
I, I SUPPORT THE INTENT OF THE
BILL. THE ONLY THING THAT GIVES
ME PAUSE IS THE CHARACTERIZATION
OF SOME OF, THE ACTIVITIES OF
SCHOOL BOARDS AND OTHERS WHERE I
DO THINK THERE'S A GENUINE
DISAGREEMENT ABOUT SOME POLICY
CONSIDERATIONS ABOUT, YOU KNOW,
PARENTS BEING KEPT IN THE DARK
ON SOME DECISIONS THAT ARE BEING
MADE ON CAMPUS. THAT'S IT GIVES
ME PAUSE THAT, THAT THOSE TYPE
OF POLICY DISAGREEMENTS ARE
BEING LABELED OR CHARACTERIZED
AS ATTACKS ON, ON A PARTICULAR
GROUP, WHICH NO ONE SUPPORTS,
THAT NOBODY HAS THE INTENT TO,
TO HARM OR HURT ANYONE. SO, I'LL
PROBABLY JUST LAY OFF TODAY, BUT
I AM GENERALLY IN SUPPORT OF
ERADICATING ANY FORM OF HATE
TOWARDS ANY GROUP MEMBERS,
INCLUDING THE LGBT COMMUNITY.
BUT I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT ON
RECORD. AND WITH THAT, MR. LEE,
YOU MAY CLOSE. ALL RIGHT, I
APPRECIATE THE COMMENTS. TODAY
IN THE COMMITTEE. YOU KNOW, THIS
IS ONE SMALL IMPORTANT STEP TO
INSTITUTIONALIZE THE FEEDBACK
AND VOICES AND LIVED EXPERIENCES
OF LGBTQ PLUS PEOPLE IN OUR
ENTIRE STATE. IT'S, A SMALL
THING, REALLY, TO MAKE SURE THAT
OUR STATE GOVERNMENT WORKS WITH
THE UNIQUE NEEDS OF THE LGBTQ
COMMUNITY, WHETHER IT BE THROUGH
HATE CRIMES, THROUGH OUR UNIQUE
HEALTH CARE NEEDS, OR EVEN OUR
HOUSING NEEDS. AS WE HEARD, EVEN
EARLIER TODAY, LGBT FOSTER
YOUTH, UNFORTUNATELY, ARE
OVERREPRESENTED WHEN IT COMES TO
EVEN HOMELESSNESS RIGHT NOW. SO
THERE ARE LOTS OF WAYS IN WHICH
THE STATE GOVERNMENT OUGHT TO
WORK BETTER AND PAY MORE
ATTENTION TO THE LIVED
EXPERIENCE OF LGBT PEOPLE. AND
RESPECTFULLY, YOU KNOW, IT
DOESN'T MATTER WHAT THE
INTENTION OF PEOPLE HAVE, SO
LONG AS THEIR ACTIONS UNDERMINE
THE EXISTENCE AND THE RIGHTS OF
LGBT PEOPLE, THEY WILL FEEL
ATTACKED BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT IT
IS AT THE END OF THE DAY. SO
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOUR AYE
VOTE, AND I APPRECIATE ALL THE
NEW COAUTHORS ON THE BILL, TOO.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. LEE.
SO WE HAVE A MOTION AND A
SECOND, MOTION BY MISS ORTEGA,
SECOND BY MISS CALDERON, WITH
THEIR AMENDMENTS, YOU ALREADY
ACCEPTED THE AMENDMENTS. YES.
YES. OKAY. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT,
MADAM SECRETARY, CALL THE ROLL.
FINAL ITEM 21 AB 3031. THE
MOTION IS DUE. PASS AS AMENDED
TO THE ASSEMBLY APPROPRIATIONS
COMMITTEE. LEE, I LI I EASILY,
EASILY NOT VOTING CALDERON
CALDERON I GIBSON. JACKSON
MATHIS. ORTEGA. ORTEGA I ALL
RIGHT. GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR AND
MEMBERS, I'M HERE TO PRESENT AB
2671, A BILL TO PROTECT OUR
CHILDREN'S HEALTH AND HOME
DAYCARES IN CALIFORNIA. THERE
ARE APPROXIMATELY 38,000 CHILD
CARE LICENSES, INCLUDING. THANK
YOU BOTH. CHILD DAYCARE
FACILITIES AND DAYCARE HOMES. WE
HAD A BILL FROM ASSEMBLY MEMBER
HOLDEN BACK IN 2018 THAT
REQUIRED CHILD DAYCARE
FACILITIES TO TEST THEIR
DRINKING WATER FOR LEAD
CONTAMINATION, THE TESTING IS
UNDERWAY AND TO DATE, 50% OF THE
LICENSE OWNERS HAVE TESTED THEIR
WATERS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE
LICENSE DIRECTIVES. HOWEVER, THE
LEAD CONTENT RESULTS ARE
ACTUALLY VERY ALARMING. 1 IN 4
CENTERS FOUND WATER LEAD LEVELS
IN EXCESS OF THE ALLOWABLE LIMIT
AND LED IN SOME CENTERS WAS FAR
ABOVE THE LEGAL LIMIT. SOME
FACILITIES SAYS THE LEAD LEVELS
WERE MORE THAN 100 OR EVEN 2000
TIMES THE LEGAL LIMIT. AND
REMEMBER, THE CDC HAS STATED
THAT THERE IS NO SAFE LEVEL OF
LEAD, ESPECIALLY FOR OUR
CHILDREN. LEAD EXPOSURE CAN LEAD
TO HARM A CHILD'S HEALTH AND
CAUSE WELL DOCUMENTED ADVERSE ON
FACTS SUCH AS BRAIN DAMAGE AND
OTHER DAMAGE TO THE NERVOUS
SYSTEM. SLOWED GROWTH AND
DEVELOPMENT, INCLUDING LEARNING
AND BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS IN
CALIFORNIA'S 28,000 LICENSED
FAMILY CHILD CARE HOMES ARE NOT
REQUIRED TO ADDRESS DRINKING
WATER LEAD LEVELS AT ALL. GIVEN
THE STARTLING LEAD LEVELS IN
CHILD CARE, WATER, WE CAN SAFELY
ASSUME THAT CHILD CARE HOMES
HAVE WATER LEAD LEVELS SIMILAR
TO THOSE IN CHILD CARE CENTERS.
STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT
FILTERING WATER FIRST WAS
CERTIFIED LEAD REMOVING FILTERS
IS A COST EFFECTIVE METHOD OF
ENSURING THAT WATER PROVIDED TO
CHILDREN IN CHILD CARE AND
SCHOOL SETTINGS IS NOT AT ABOVE
THE LEGAL LIMIT. THIS APPROACH
IS REFERRED TO AS FILTER FIRST.
FOR THESE REASONS, AB 2671
REQUIRES A LICENSED FAMILY
DAYCARE HOME TO ONLY SERVE WATER
TO CHILDREN OR TO USE WATER IN
FOOD PREPARATION FOR THE FAMILY
DAY CARE HOME THAT HAS BEEN
FILTERED WITH A POINT OF USE
WATER FILTRATION DEVICE
CERTIFIED TO MEET NATIONAL
SANITATION FOUNDATION AND THE
AMERICAN NATIONAL STANDARDS
INSTITUTE STANDARDS FOR WATER
SAFELY, AND IT EXPLICITLY CLAIMS
TO REMOVE LEAD LEVELS. THE BILL
ALSO REQUIRES THAT FAMILY DAY
CARE HOMES TO MAINTAIN RECORDS
AND RECEIPTS, DEMONSTRATING THAT
WATER FILTRATION DEVICE HAS BEEN
MAINTAINED AND THE FILTERS HAVE
BEEN REPLACED. I WANT TO THANK
COMMITTEE CONSULTANTS FROM BOTH
HUMAN SERVICES AS WELL AS SDM
COMMITTEE. MY OFFICE AND THE
SPONSORS HAVE BEEN WORKING
CLOSELY WITH THE COMMITTEES TO
WORK ON AMENDMENTS THAT WILL BE
TAKEN IN THE SECOND COMMITTEE.
THOSE SPECIFIC AMENDMENTS ARE
STILL BEING WORKED OUT, BUT WE
ARE CONTINUING TO COMMIT TO
HAVING THESE CONVERSATIONS AND
IRONING OUT SOME OF THE KINKS IN
THIS BILL. BUT WITH ME TODAY ARE
THE SPONSORS OF THE BILL,
REBECCA MARCUS AND SUSAN LITTLE.
GOOD AFTERNOON. GOOD AFTERNOON,
CHAIR AND MEMBERS. I'M REBECCA
MARCUS ON BEHALF OF CALPIRG.
CALPIRG IS A STATEWIDE PUBLIC
INTEREST GROUP THAT WORKS TO
PROTECT PUBLIC HEALTH AND DEFEND
CONSUMERS. WE'RE PROUD TO
CO-SPONSOR AB 2671, WHICH WILL
ENSURE CHILDREN AND FAMILY DAY
CARE HOMES ARE PROVIDED, LEAD
SAFE DRINKING WATER CALIFORNIA
HAS ALREADY TAKEN ACTION TO
ADDRESS LEAD CONTAMINATION IN
SCHOOLS AND CHILD CARE CENTERS,
BUT THERE IS A GLARING GAP THAT
REMAINS IN FAMILY DAY CARE
HOMES, WHICH WERE EXEMPT FROM
THE PREVIOUS LEGISLATION TO
ADDRESS LEAD IN CHILD CARE
CENTERS, WITH THE ESTIMATED
28,000 LICENSED FAMILY DAY CARE
HOMES ACROSS THE STATE,
CALIFORNIA IS LEAVING A LOT OF
YOUNG CHILDREN WITHOUT ACCESS TO
CLEAN, SAFE DRINKING WATER. AS
THE ASSEMBLY MEMBER MENTIONED,
IT WILL REQUIRE FAMILY HOME, DAY
CARE CENTERS AS PART OF THEIR
LICENSING, HEALTH AND SAFETY
CONDITIONS TO FILTER DRINKING
AND COOKING WATER. WITH THESE
CERTIFIED FILTERS, RATHER THAN
WAITING FOR MORE TESTING TO SHOW
THAT OUR KIDS HAVE BEEN DRINKING
LEAD AND ONLY FIXING OUTLETS
AFTER LEAD HAS BEEN DETECTED
ABOVE A CERTAIN LEVEL, AB 2671
WILL EXPEDITIOUS ENSURE THAT
WATER PROVIDED TO CHILDREN IN
THESE LICENSED HOME IS FREE OF
HIGH LEVELS OF LEAD. THIS
APPROACH ALSO AVOIDS THE
POTENTIAL OF TESTING MISSING
LEAD CONTAMINATION AS LEAD
CONCENTRATIONS IN WATER ARE
HIGHLY VARIABLE AND LEAD MAY NOT
BE DETECTED ONE DAY AND THEN
WILL BE DETECTED ANOTHER DAY.
FILTERS ARE HIGHLY EFFECTIVE AT
REMOVING THE LEAD FROM DRINKING
WATER, EVEN WITH THE HIGH LEVELS
OF CONTAMINATION. IN FLINT,
MICHIGAN AND EPA ANALYSIS
DOCUMENTED THAT THE CERTIFIED
FILTERS PROVED EFFECTIVE.
FINALLY, AB 2671 DIRECTS FEDERAL
FUNDING CURRENTLY RECEIVED BY
THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL
SERVICES THAT WERE USED BY THE
SUIT THAT WERE USED BY THE SOON
TO WRAP UP CHILD CARE TESTING
PROGRAM TO BE USED TO HELP
FAMILY DAY CARE HOMES PAY FOR
FILTERS TO KEEP OUR CHILDREN
SAFE FROM BLOOD. WE URGE YOUR
AYE VOTE. THANK YOU. REBECCA. MY
NAME IS SUSAN LITTLE. I'M WITH
THE ENVIRONMENTAL WORKING GROUP
AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL WORKING
GROUP IS A NATIONWIDE
ORGANIZATION THAT IS WORKS TO
PROTECT BOTH THE ENVIRONMENT AND
PUBLIC HEALTH, ESPECIALLY
CHILDREN'S HEALTH, WE ARE ONE OF
THE CO-SPONSORS OF AB 27, 60,
26, 70, 27, 61. AND I JUST
WANTED TO REITERATE, I KNOW THE
ASSEMBLY MEMBER HAD TALKED ABOUT
THE LEAD TEST RESULTS OUT OF
THAT, CAME OUT OF THE CHILD CARE
CENTER TESTING. BUT I WANT TO
REITERATE THAT THAT TESTING WAS
VERY COMPREHENSIVE. IT WAS DONE
UNDER VERY CONTROLLED METHODS
ESTABLISHED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF
SOCIAL SERVICES AND CONSULTATION
WITH THE WATER BOARD, AND
REQUIRED ALL FAUCETS, POTABLE
FAUCETS IN THE CENTERS TO BE
TESTED, TO BE TESTED BY THIRD
PARTY CERTIFIED THIRD PARTY
WATER SAMPLERS, AND ALSO TO BE
RUN THROUGH A CERTIFIED LABS.
AND SO IT'S PRETTY TIGHT, DATA
THAT WE GOT OUT OF THAT. AND OUT
OF THE 6500 CENTERS THAT WERE
COMPREHENSIVELY TESTED, 1700
HAVE FOUND A FOUND WATER THAT
DID NOT MEET THE ALLOWABLE
LIMIT. AND, TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA,
I KNOW THE ASSEMBLY MEMBER
MENTIONED THIS, BUT TO
REITERATE, THERE WERE 259
CENTERS UP AND DOWN THE STATE
THAT FOUND LEAD LEVELS BETWEEN
50 AND 1000 PARTS PER BILLION,
WHICH IS ESSENTIALLY 10 TO 200
TIMES THE ALLOWABLE LIMIT. AND
THERE WERE EVEN NINE CENTERS
THAT FOUND LEAD LEVELS ABOVE
1000 PARTS PER BILLION. AND THAT
AND THAT IS AND THEN ALSO A
CENTER DISCOVERING LEAD LEVELS
OVER 11,000 PARTS PER BILLION.
AND TO PUT THAT IN PERSPECTIVE,
THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF
PEDIATRICS SAYS THERE SHOULD BE
NO MORE THAN ONE PART PER
BILLION LEAD IN CHILDREN'S
WATER. SO GIVEN THOSE ASTOUNDING
RESULTS AND THE VERY
COMPREHENSIVE NATURE OF THAT
TESTING AND THAT DATA, WE REALLY
FELT LIKE WE NEEDED TO MOVE
FORWARD AND LOOK AT THE
REMAINING CHILD CARE FACILITIES
THAT ARE NOT REQUIRED TO DO
ANYTHING TO ADDRESS, LEAD IN
THEIR DRINKING WATER, BUT ALSO
WHAT WAS CONCERNING THAT CAME
OUT OF THE CHILD CARE CENTER
TESTING IS THAT THE WRAP UP,
PLEASE? OF COURSE, THE PUBLIC
CONTRACTOR THAT WAS CONTACTED,
THE SACRAMENTO STATE UNIVERSITY,
THAT DID THE DID ABOUT A THIRD
OF THE SAMPLING FOUND THAT IN
28% OF THE CASES WHEN THEY WERE
REMEDIATING THE OUTLETS, 28% OF
THOSE OUTLETS WERE NOT THEY WERE
NOT ABLE TO LOWER LEAD LEVELS
BELOW THE ALLOWABLE LIMIT BY
JUST REPLACING FAUCETS AND
DOING, DOING FIXES TO THE
INTERNAL PLUMBING. AND SO THAT'S
WHY, AGAIN, WE'RE BACK TO ASKING
FACILITIES JUST TO GO DIRECTLY
TO, TO, FILTERING THEIR WATER.
SO SO THIS BILL WILL OF COURSE
ENSURE. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
YES. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK
YOU, DO WE HAVE ANY FOLKS IN THE
ROOM WHO WISH TO TESTIFY IN
SUPPORT OF THE BILL OR, MEMBERS
OF THE PUBLIC? YES. PLEASE COME
UP TO THE MICROPHONE. Þ. ALL
RIGHT, DO WE HAVE ANY OPPOSITION
TO THE BILL? PLEASE COME UP NOW.
KIMBERLY ROSENBERGER WITH SEIU,
AND YOU'D CPU COLLABORATION. WE
ARE NOT OPPOSED, BUT WE DO HAVE
CONCERNS, AND WE ARE OPTIMISTIC
THAT WE CAN WORK THOSE OUT WITH
A SPONSOR AND AUTHOR. BUT WE
ARE. WE SHARE THE INTENT. WE
REPRESENT FAMILY CHILD CARE
PROVIDERS THAT OFTEN OPERATE OUT
OF THEIR HOMES OR APARTMENTS,
AND THEY ARE IN THE COMMUNITIES
THAT ARE TARGETED. IN THIS BILL.
WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE A
RESOLUTION THAT DOESN'T PUT THE
COST BURDEN ON PROVIDERS THAT
ARE ALREADY WORKING WITH VERY
NARROW MARGINS, AND MAY PUT THEM
TO THE BREAKING POINT WHERE
THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO OPERATE. WE
THINK THERE'S A SOLUTION. WE'LL
CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THEM.
THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.
ANY OTHER MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
WHO WISH TO TESTIFY IN
OPPOSITION TO THE BILL? SEEING
NONE. LET'S BRING IT BACK TO THE
COMMITTEE. ANY QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS FROM COMMITTEE MEMBERS?
NONE. THEN I'LL INVITE DOCTOR
WEBER TO CLOSE, ONCE AGAIN, WANT
TO THANK, THE COMMITTEE STAFF
HERE. AND ALSO WITH THE NEXT
BILL. AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO WORK
WITH, THOSE WHO STILL HAVE
CONCERNS, BUT I THINK AT THE END
OF THE DAY, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE
THAT OUR MOST VULNERABLE, WHICH
ARE OUR, OUR CHILDREN, ARE SAFE
AND NOT DRINKING WATER THAT
CONTAINS LEAD, WHICH WE KNOW HAS
SIGNIFICANT, LONG LASTING HEALTH
IMPACTS. AND WITH THAT, I
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR AYE VOTE ON
AB 2671. THANK YOU. THANK YOU,
DOCTOR, FOR BRINGING THIS BILL
FORWARD. AS WE KNOW YOU KNOW,
THERE'S NO SAFE AMOUNT OF LEAD
CONSUMPTION FOR A CHILD
WHATSOEVER. AND IT WOULD BE A
REAL SHAME FOR CHILDREN TO
CONTINUE TO BE CONSUMING WATER
AT THEIR OWN DAYCARE FACILITIES
THAT WOULD HAVE LONG,
IRREVERSIBLE DAMAGE TO THEIR
BODIES. BUT DUE TO THE TIMING OF
THE COMMITTEE HEARINGS, THE BILL
STILL NEEDS A BIT MORE WORK TO
BE DONE THAT WAS NOT ABLE TO
TAKEN UP IN THIS COMMITTEE, SO I
LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUE WORKING
WITH YOU, TO SEEING, ACCEPTANCE
ON THE AGREED UPON AMENDMENTS IN
THE SECOND POLICY COMMITTEE AT
AT ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY AND
TOXIC MATERIALS, WHICH I HAD THE
HONOR OF, USED TO BE CHAIRING OF
. SO I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUE
WORKING TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE
OUR CHILDREN HAVE SAFE WATER AT
THEIR DAYCARE FACILITIES. I'M
RECOMMENDING AN AYE VOTE. THE
BILL WAS MOVED BY A SIMILAR
GIBSON AND SECOND BY A SIMILAR
ORTEGA MADAM SECRETARY, PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL ON 2760 OR SORRY
AB 2671. FINALLY. ITEM 13 AB
2671. THE MOTION IS DUE PASSED
TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY AND
TOXIC MATERIALS COMMITTEE. LEE
LI AYE IS SALLY. SALLY AYE.
CALDERON CALDERON. AYE. GIBSON.
GIBSON AYE. JACKSON. MATHIS.
ORTEGA ORTEGA. AYE. 5 TO 0. THAT
BILL IS OUT. CONGRATULATIONS.
Ó. HE'S UP. SO CAN I DO. 1024.
I WOULD JUST ROLL IT. MADAM
SECRETARY, IF YOU COULD, OPEN
THE ROLL ONCE MORE FOR ABSENT
MEMBERS TO ADD ON. AND WE'LL DO
THAT WHENEVER YOU'RE READY. ON
THE CONSENT CALENDAR, CURRENT
VOTE 5 TO 0. GIBSON. GIBSON. AYE
FINAL VOTE 6 TO 0. FILE ITEM TWO
AB 1961. CURRENT VOTE 3 TO 0.
GIBSON GIBSON. AYE. JACKSON
CURRENT VOTE 4 TO 0. FILE ITEM
THREE AB 2 TO 0 SIX. CURRENT
VOTE 4 TO 0. GIBSON. GIBSON AYE.
JACKSON. CURRENT VOTE 5 TO 0.
FILE ITEM FOUR AB 2224. CURRENT
VOTE 2 TO 0. CALDERON. CALDERON.
AYE GIBSON. GIBSON. AYE.
JACKSON. CURRENT VOTE 4 TO 0.
FILE ITEM FIVE AB 2241. CURRENT
VOTE 5 TO 0. GIBSON. GIBSON.
AYE. FINAL VOTE 6 TO 0. FILE
ITEM SIX AB 2255. CURRENT VOTE 4
TO 0. CALDERON. CALDERON. AYE.
JACKSON CURRENT VOTE 5 TO 0.
FILE ITEM SEVEN AB 2383. CURRENT
VOTE 4 TO 0. CALDERON CALDERON.
AYE. JACKSON. CURRENT VOTE 5 TO
0. FILE ITEM NINE AB 2459.
CURRENT VOTE 3 TO 0. CALDERON.
CALDERON. AYE GIBSON. GIBSON.
AYE. JACKSON. CURRENT VOTE 5 TO
0. FILE ITEM TEN AB 2510.
CURRENT VOTE 3 TO 0. EASILY.
EASILY. I CALDERON. CALDERON.
AYE. JACKSON. CURRENT VOTE 5 TO
0. FILE ITEM 11 AB 2544. CURRENT
VOTE 4 TO 0. GIBSON. GIBSON.
AYE. JACKSON CURRENT VOTE 5 TO
0. FILE ITEM 12 AB 2650. CURRENT
VOTE 4 TO 0. GIBSON. GIBSON.
AYE. JACKSON CURRENT VOTE 5 TO
0. FILE ITEM 13 AB 2671. CURRENT
VOTE 5 TO 0. JACKSON CURRENT
VOTE 5 TO 0. FILE ITEM 14 AB
2774. CURRENT VOTE 4 TO 0.
GIBSON. GIBSON. AYE. JACKSON
CURRENT VOTE 5 TO 0. FILE ITEM
15 AB 2802. CURRENT VOTE 2 TO 1.
CALDERON. CALDERON. AYE GIBSON.
GIBSON. AYE. JACKSON. CURRENT
VOTE 4 TO 1. FILE ITEM 16 AB
2906. CURRENT VOTE 4 TO 0.
CALDERON. CALDERON. AYE. CURRENT
VOTE 5 TO 0. FILE ITEM 17 AB
2941. CURRENT VOTE 4 TO 0.
GIBSON. GIBSON. AYE. JACKSON
CURRENT VOTE 5 TO 0. FILE ITEM
18 AB 2948. CURRENT VOTE 4 TO 0.
GIBSON. GIBSON. AYE. JACKSON
CURRENT VOTE 5 TO 0. FILE ITEM
21 AB 3031. CURRENT VOTE 2 TO 0.
GIBSON GIBSON. AYE. JACKSON
CURRENT VOTE. I'M SORRY. CURRENT
VOTES 4 TO 0. FILE ITEM 24 AB
3217. CURRENT VOTE 3 TO 0.
EASILY Ã. EASILY. AYE.
CALDERON. CALDERON. AYE JACKSON.
CURRENT VOTE 5 TO 0. WE'LL
CONTINUE TO HOLD THE ROLL OPEN
FOR TEN MORE MINUTES. SIR THANK
YOU. SIR OF COURSE I HAVE. OF
COURSE I HAVE. YEAH. OH NO. DID
YOU SAY SOMETHING DOWN. OH THANK
YOU, CHAIRMAN AND TÍNH DODD.
WELL DONE. I'LL GIVE YOU THE
FOLDER. THANK YOU
.
ZERO. FILE ITEM 21 AB 3031.
CURRENT VOTE 4 TO 0. JACKSON
JACKSON I. FINAL VOTE 5 TO 0.
FILE ITEM 24 AB 3217. CURRENT
VOTE 5 TO 0. JACKSON. JACKSON I.
FINAL VOTE 6 TO 0. THANK YOU.
BUSINESS BEFORE THE ASSEMBLY
HUMAN SERVICE COMMITTEE IS
COMPLETE. THE HEARING IS NOW
ADJOURNED.