I WANT TO SAY GOOD MORNING TO
EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU. I
WANT TO CALL THE MEETING TO
ORDER OF THE COMMITTEE ON ARTS
AND ENTERTAINMENT AND TOURISM.
BEFORE WE START, I WANT TO JUST
GO OVER A FEW HOUSEKEEPING ITEMS
WITH EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU
IN THE AUDIENCE. WE WILL. WE
WILL BE ACCEPTING IN-PERSON
TESTIMONY AND WITNESS IN SUPPORT
IN OUR OPPOSITION BILLS
BEGINNING THE BILL, INDIVIDUALS
WHO ACTUALLY PRESENT, WILL BE
ABLE TO PRESENT. AND FOR THOSE
IN SUPPORT, WE HAVE TWO MINUTES
ON BOTH SIDES. TWO MINUTES, EACH
IN SUPPORT AND IN OPPOSITION,
AFTER WE HEAR FROM THE PRIMARY
WITNESS, MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
WILL BE GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO
STATE THEIR NAME OR ORGANIZATION
THEY REPRESENT AND THEIR
POSITION ON THE BILL. THAT'S
ALL. SO WHEN YOU APPROACH THE
MICROPHONE, JUST STATE YOUR
NAME, THE ORGANIZATION IN WHICH
YOU REPRESENT AND WHETHER YOU
SUPPORT OR OPPOSE THE PARTICULAR
BILL. ADDITIONAL COMMENTS WILL
BE IN FACT RULED OUT OF ORDER.
ANYONE ACTING INAPPROPRIATELY OR
DISRESPECTFULLY TOWARDS THE
PARTICIPANTS OF THIS HEARING
WILL BE ASKED TO LEAVE. AND I'M
NOT SHY IN TERMS OF DOING THAT.
WE HOPE IT DOESN'T COME TO THAT.
THE COMMITTEE ALSO ACCEPTS
WRITTEN TESTIMONIES THROUGH THE
POSITION PORTAL. AND YOU CAN
FIND THAT ON THE WEBSITE, YOU
FEEL FREE TO SUBMIT YOUR LETTER
OF SUPPORT OR OPPOSITION
THROUGH, THE LETTER PORTAL, WITH
THAT BEING SAID, THE FIRST,
WE'RE WAITING FOR AUTHORS, AS
SOON AS WE GET AN AUTHOR, WE
WILL COMMENCE, WITH,
PRESENTATIONS AND HEARINGS. AND
IF WE DON'T, THEN WE WILL ACT AS
A SUBCOMMITTEE. WE I KNOW THE
SERGEANTS ARE CALLING FOR
AUTHORS. WE'LL WAIT MOMENTARILY
FOR SUCH, AND THEN WE'LL BEGIN
.
IN THE INTEREST OF TIME, WE'LL
ASK, OUR COMMITTEE SECRETARY TO
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL
.
SECRETARY, WE, WE HAVE A QUORUM,
WE SEE OUR FIRST PRESENTER, MR.
ALANIZ, PLEASE, COME AND TAKE A
SEAT AND PROCEED WHEN READY. WE
HAVE FILED ITEM NUMBER ONE,
ASSEMBLY BILL 1996 BEFORE US.
OUR PRESENTER IS HERE. AND
PLEASE BEGIN WHENEVER READY ON
YOUR PRESENTATION. COLLEAGUES
1996 AIMS TO IMPROVE THE
RESPONSE TO OPIOID OVERDOSES BY
ENSURING THE ACCESSIBILITY OF
OPIOID AND AGONIST AND PROPER
TRAINING FOR STAFF IN STADIUMS.
CONCERT VENUES AND IN AMUSEMENT
PARKS. FENTANYL OVERDOSES AT
SPORTS STADIUMS, CONCERTS,
VENUES AND AMUSEMENT PARKS ARE
WIDESPREAD, WITH TRAGIC STORIES
OF FENTANYL LACED SUBSTANCES AND
INDIVIDUALS BEING INJECTED
AGAINST THEIR WILL. MOST NOTABLY
WAS THE NEEDLE SPIKING, THIS WAS
A CASE AT A TRAVIS SCOTT'S
CONCERT IN 2021 WHERE EIGHT
ATTENDEES DIED AND HUNDREDS,
HUNDREDS OF OTHERS WERE INJURED.
MANY OF THOSE WHO SURVIVED WERE
ADMINISTERED NARCAN, INCLUDING A
SECURITY OFFICER WHO WAS
UNKNOWINGLY INJECTED. FURTHER
RESEARCH SHOWS THAT OF ALL THE
DRUG RELATED OVERDOSE DEATHS,
61% HAD AT LEAST ONE POTENTIAL
OPPORTUNITY FOR INTERVENTION AND
A 33.5% OF THOSE INVOLVED
FENTANYL. THIS LEGISLATION
STANDS AS A PROACTIVE APPROACH,
AND TO IDENTIFYING AND TREATING
OVERDOSES. IN ADDITION TO
EXTENDING CURRENT LAW TO MAKE
THE LOCATION OF OPIATE AND
AGONISTS WIDELY KNOWN, THIS BILL
WOULD REQUIRE THE CALIFORNIA
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH TO
DEVELOP AN OVERDOSE TRAINING
TOOLKIT FOR VENUE STAFF TO BE
PREPARED TO RESPOND TO AN OPIOID
OVERDOSE. MEMBERS. WITH THAT, I
ASK FOR YOUR AYE VOTE ON AB 1996
TODAY, THAT'S BASICALLY MAKE
CALIFORNIA A LITTLE BIT BETTER,
A LITTLE SAFER. WE HAVE THE
TOOLS, WE HAVE THE TECHNOLOGY.
SO AGAIN, REQUESTING AN AYE
VOTE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. DO YOU HAVE ANY WITNESSES
IN SUPPORT WITH YOU? THERE
MAKING KITS RIGHT NOW. SOUNDS
GOOD, AT THIS TIME WE WANT
ANYONE WISHING TO REGISTER THEIR
SUPPORT FOR ASSEMBLY BILL 1996.
PLEASE COME TO THE MICROPHONE
AGAIN. JUST YOUR NAME, YOUR
ORGANIZATION. THÀNH HEARING AND
SEEING. NONE. ANYONE IN
OPPOSITION, WOULD YOU PLEASE
APPROACH? HEARING AND SEEING NO
OPPOSITION? WE'LL BRING IT BACK
TO THE COMMITTEE. MOVE THE BILL.
SECOND. THIS IS LIKE STEREO IN
THIS ROOM. I LOVE THAT. WELL, I
JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU VERY
MUCH TO THE AUTHOR FOR BRINGING
THIS LEGISLATION BEFORE US. I
UNDERSTAND THAT THIS BILL GOT
OUT OF THE HEALTH COMMITTEE ON
CONSENT, BUT I FEEL THAT THIS IS
AN IMPORTANT ISSUE, FOR US TO
DISCUSS. THIS VENUE COVERS,
COVERED IN THE BILL INCLUDES
MANY OF THE STATE TOP, TOP
DESTINATIONS FOR TOURISM AND
ENTERTAINMENT, PROVIDING
RESOURCES TO INCREASE SAFETY AND
PREVENT OVERDOSE, AT THE
LOCATIONS IS IN FACT A PRIORITY,
I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU VERY
MUCH FOR WORKING WITH US ON THIS
BILL. AND WITH THAT, IT'S BEEN
PROPERLY MOVED AND PROPERLY
MOVED IN SECOND, MADAM SECRETARY
, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL
ALSO? THIS, ENJOYS A DUE PASS TO
THE ASSEMBLY APPROPRIATION.
MADAM SECRETARY GIBSON, A
GIBSON. AYE. WALLACE WALLACE.
AYE. FONG. FONG AYE. LAKI. LAKI.
AYE. MCKENNA SANTIAGO. VALENCIA
GREAT. WE'LL KEEP THE ROLL OPEN
FOR ADDITIONAL MEMBERS. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU, MR.
CHAIR. THANK YOU. AND HAVE A
GREAT DAY. THANK YOU
.
WE'RE STILL WAITING FOR TWO MORE
AUTHORS, WE ASK IF YOU HAVE A
BILL BEFORE THIS COMMITTEE. ARTS
ENTERTAINMENT, SPORTS, SPORTS
AND TOURISM. PLEASE REPORT TO
444.
ONE OF OUR AUTHORS HAVE JUST
ARRIVED, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
BEING HERE, BEFORE WE BEGIN, I
HAVE A FEW OPENING COMMENTS.
THIS IS FILE ITEM NUMBER THREE,
AB 2808. AND BEFORE WE START,
BEFORE WE BEGIN YOUR
PRESENTATION ON ASSEMBLY BILL
2808, ASSEMBLY MEMBER WICKS, I
JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR
ENGAGING IN THE VERY IMPORTANT,
CONVERSATION ABOUT CONSUMER
PROTECTION AND LIVE
ENTERTAINMENT AND TICKET AND THE
TICKET INDUSTRY. WE HAVE TALKED
ABOUT YOUR BILL AND YOUR INTENT,
AND AS I STATED, IN OUR
CONVERSATION, I AGREE THAT THERE
ARE A NUMBER OF PROBLEMS TO
ADDRESS WITH CURRENT TICKET
SELLING PRACTICES, BOTH IN THE
PRIMARY AND SECONDARY MARKET,
WHERE WE DISAGREE ON THIS BILL
IS ON THE LEGISLATION AND THE
MECHANICS, USED TO ACHIEVE OUR
SHARED POLICY GOALS, AND THE
BROADER DEFINITION THAT CAPTURES
THIS, THE SPORTS, EVENTS, AS I
STATED WHEN I SPOKE, I WANT TO
KEEP WORKING WITH YOU ON THIS
BILL TO STRENGTHEN IT, TO MAKE
IT BETTER, I THINK THAT WE CAN
FIND A WORKABLE SOLUTION AS IT
MOVES THROUGH THIS PROCESS, AS A
PATH FORWARD. THERE ARE
PROPOSALS, PROPOSED AMENDMENTS
IN THE COMMITTEE ANALYSIS THAT
ADDRESS THIS COMMITTEE'S CONCERN
BY REMOVING THE LANGUAGE RELATED
TO, ÁP SYSTEM ACCESS AND
EXEMPTING PROFESSIONAL AND
COLLEGIATE SPORTS EVENTS FROM
THE PROVISIONS OF THIS BILL.
UNFORTUNATELY WE HAVE BEEN WE
HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO, GET THE
LANGUAGE ON THE PROPOSED
AMENDMENTS IN PLACE AS IT WILL
BE VOTED ON TODAY, ASSEMBLY
MEMBER WICKS, DO YOU COMMIT TO
ACCEPTING THE COMMITTEE THESE
AMENDMENTS AND TAKE THEM IN THE
COMMITTEE ON THE POLICY AND
PRIVACY, PROTECTION, SHOULD IT
PASS OUT OF COMMITTEE, TODAY?
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. THERE WE
GO. OKAY. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.
AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR STAFF,
AND FOR YOUR ENGAGEMENT ON THE
BILL AND YOUR COMMITMENT TO
WORKING WITH ME, AS WE WORK ON
THIS, WHAT I HAVE DISCOVERED
VERY COMPLEX ISSUE, SHOULD THE
BILL MOVE OUT OF COMMITTEE
TODAY, I UNDERSTAND THE NEED TO
CLARIFY THE SCOPE OF THIS BILL
AS WE MOVE FORWARD ON THE
PROBLEM OF THE MONOPOLY IN LIVE
TICKETING MARKET AND THE
ANTI-COMPETITIVE PRACTICES THEY
EMPLOY TO MAINTAIN IT, TO KEEP
THE BILL MOVING FORWARD TODAY
AND TO CONTINUE TO WORKING ON
THIS POLICY. I ACCEPT THE
AMENDMENTS PROPOSED IN THE
ANALYSIS THAT WILL REMOVE THE ÁP
SYSTEM LANGUAGE AND EXEMPT LIVE
PROFESSIONAL AND COLLEGIATE
SPORT EVENTS FROM THE BILL,
WHICH I VIEW ARE BOTH VERY BIG
CONCESSIONS. BUT I'VE HAD
NUMEROUS CONVERSATIONS WITH
COLLEAGUES, AND I WANT TO HONOR
THOSE CONVERSATIONS AND MAKE
THOSE CONCESSIONS. BUT I ALSO
WANT TO CLARIFY, MR. CHAIR, THAT
BY REMOVING THE API ACCESS
LANGUAGE, MY HANDS WILL NOT BE
TIED IN THE EYES OF THE
COMMITTEE AS I CONTINUE TO WORK
TO NEGOTIATE A DIFFERENT PATH TO
INCREASE COMPETITION AND THE
PRIMARY TICKETING MARKET, IS
THAT CORRECT, YES. YES, THAT IS
CORRECT. ASSEMBLY MEMBER WICKS,
MY COMMITTEE STAFF AND I WILL
CONTINUE TO WORK WITH YOU ON
THIS BILL TO MOVE OUT OF
COMMITTEE TODAY. AS YOU WORK ON
TO ACHIEVING OUR SHARED GOALS,
TO ADDRESSING THE CHALLENGES
FACED BY MANY CONSUMERS, WHEN
NAVIGATING THE EXISTING MARKET
TO AN OBJECT, OBTAIN TICKETS FOR
LIVE ENTERTAINMENT EVENTS. I
WANT TO SAY THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
AND YOU MAY PROCEED ON
PRESENTING ASSEMBLY BILL 2808.
THANK YOU. AND WITH THAT, WE
WILL REMOVE THE API LANGUAGE.
WE'LL FIGURE OUT ANOTHER
ALTERNATIVE PATH TO ENSURE THAT
WE'RE CREATING COMPETITION AT
THE ORIGINAL POINT OF SALE. BUT
A DIFFERENT MECHANISM, AND WE
WILL REMOVE TEAMS, LIVE, LIVE
SPORTS FROM THIS. SO OKAY. WELL,
THANK YOU FOR THAT, AB 2808 AS
IS PROPOSED TO BE AMENDED AS WE
JUST DISCUSSED, PER MY
COMMITMENTS TO THE CHAIR AND
OTHER FOLKS ON THE COMMITTEE AS
WELL WILL PROHIBIT LIVE
ENTERTAINMENT, FACILITY VENUES
FROM HAVING EXCLUSIVE AGREEMENTS
WITH ONE TICKET PROVIDER. WHILE
THE AMENDMENTS WILL REMOVE THE
LANGUAGE RELATED TO THE API
ACCESS. AS THE CHAIR AND I
CLARIFIED, THE CHANGES WILL NOT
REMOVE THE PROHIBITION ON
EXCLUSIVITY. THESE AMENDMENTS
WILL GIVE ME MORE TIME TO WORK
WITH STAKEHOLDERS AND TO FIND A
DIFFERENT APPROACH TO CREATING
MORE COMPETITION AT THE POINT OF
SALE. THE BILL ALSO PRESERVES
THE ABILITY FOR CONSUMERS TO
TRANSFER THEIR TICKETS AND
ATTEND A LIVE ENTERTAINMENT
EVENT WITH A VALID TICKET,
REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THEY
PURCHASED IT IN THE PRIMARY OR
SECONDARY MARKET. COMPETITION IS
NECESSARY TO INCREASE ACCESS TO
CONSUMERS AND TO IMPROVE THEIR
EXPERIENCE WHILE ATTENDING LIVE
EVENTS IN CALIFORNIA. AS MANY
WILL REMEMBER, WE USED TO BE
ABLE TO BUY TICKETS TO CONCERTS
AND OTHER LIVE ENTERTAINMENT
EVENTS AT THE BOX OFFICE.
REMEMBER THE BOX OFFICE WHERE WE
USED TO GO? I REMEMBER STANDING,
WAITING IN LINE FOR HOURS ON
END, OR AT OTHER PLACES IN OUR
COMMUNITY. NOW WE WAIT ONLINE
AND WE BUY TICKETS FOR MOST
EVENTS FROM ONE WEBSITE BECAUSE
ONE COMPANY, TICKETMASTER,
CONTROLS 80% OF THE TICKETS SOLD
IN THIS COUNTRY, 80% OF THE
TICKETS ARE SOLD BY ONE COMPANY.
IN 2010, 80 MASTER. IN 2010,
TICKETMASTER MERGED WITH LIVE
NATION DESPITE ANTITRUST
CONCERNS AND NOW CONTROLS, AS I
SAID, 80% OF THE TICKETING
CONTROLS, THE CAREERS OF
HUNDREDS OF ARTISTS AND NEARLY
80% OF THE LIVE ENTERTAINMENT
VENUES. ONE COMPANY CONTROLS ALL
OF THOSE THINGS. SINCE THESE
COMPANIES BECAME ONE LIVE EVENT
TICKET PRICING HAS ESCALATED
140, ADJUSTED FOR INFLATION, AS
THE COMPANY'S GRIP ON THE SUPPLY
LOCATION AND THE PRICE OF EVENTS
TIGHTENS, THE COMPANY NOW
DETERMINES WHO WINS AND WHO
LOSES. NOT JUST AMONGST
CONSUMERS BUT AMONGST ARTISTS
AND VENUES. THIS IS NOT JUST A
PROBLEM IN CALIFORNIA, AS
DEMONSTRATED YESTERDAY WHEN THE
FEDERAL DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
FILED AN ANTITRUST LAWSUIT
AGAINST LIVE NATION AND
TICKETMASTER. WHILE IT MAY TAKE
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT YEARS,
THE REALITY OF THIS MONOPOLY IS
A DISTORTED MARKETPLACE IN WHICH
FEW REAL PEOPLE CAN ACCESS THE
ULTRA EXCLUSIVE PRIMARY SALES
AND MARKET, AND MOST PEOPLE ARE
FORCED INTO THE SECONDARY
MARKET. ALSO LARGELY DOMINATED
BY TICKETMASTER OR WHERE
PROFESSIONAL TICKETING
PURCHASERS THRIVE. CONSUMERS
DESERVE BETTER, AND AB 2808 IS
DESIGNED TO ADDRESS THE HEART OF
THE PROBLEM FOR THE CONSUMERS
TICKET BUYING EXPERIENCE. THE
LACK OF COMPETITION AT THE POINT
OF SALE. THIS BILL WILL MAKE
TICKET RESELLERS COMPETE AGAINST
ONE ANOTHER FOR OUR BUSINESS. AT
THE OUTSET OF TICKET SALES, JUST
LIKE THEY DO RIGHT NOW FOR
HOTELS, AIRLINES AND OTHER
ONLINE RETAIL. IN OTHER WORDS,
JUST LIKE THEY DO IN EVERY OTHER
INDUSTRY MEMBERS, THE JUSTICE
DEPARTMENT LAWSUIT IS REAL. IT
WILL ALSO LIKELY TAKE YEARS TO
COME TO CLOSURE. WE CAN TAKE
ACTION NOW TO PROTECT CONSUMERS
IN CALIFORNIA. AND I KNOW WE ALL
BELIEVE THEY DESERVE THAT FROM
US. WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO
THAT, TO DEMAND THAT THERE'S
MORE CHOICE. CHOICE ULTIMATELY
IS GOOD FOR CONSUMERS.
COMPETITION IS GOOD FOR
CONSUMERS. WITH ME HERE TO
TESTIFY ARE JAY KING, THE
PRESIDENT OF THE BLACK CHAMBER
OF COMMERCE, AND A GRAMMY AWARD
WINNING MUSICIAN WHO HAS BEEN IN
THIS BUSINESS FOR DECADES. AND
ROBERT HARRELL, THE EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR OF THE CONSUMER
FEDERATION OF CALIFORNIA, WHO IS
THE SPONSOR OF THE BILL. GOOD
MORNING. THANK GOOD MORNING.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. YOU HAVE
TWO MINUTES EACH AND PROCEED
WHEN READY. MY NAME IS JAY KING.
I AM THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF
THE CALIFORNIA BLACK CHAMBER OF
COMMERCE. I'M ALSO A MUSICIAN,
SINGER, SONGWRITER, AND
PERFORMER. I'VE BEEN IN THE
MUSIC INDUSTRY FOR 40 YEARS.
I'VE WATCHED THE BEHEMOTH WE
CALL LIVE NATION GROW INTO A
FOUR LEGGED MONSTER SO POWERFUL
NOTHING AND NO ONE WOULD DARE
CHALLENGE IT. LIVE NATION
TICKETMASTER CONTROLS THE FOUR
CORNERS OF LIVE ENTERTAINMENT
CONCERT PROMOTIONS, PERFORMANCE
VENUES, RADIO PROMOTIONS AND
TICKET SALES BY CONTROLLING
THESE FOUR ESSENTIAL COMPONENTS
LIVE NATION CONTROLLED AN
OVERWHELMING PORTION OF THE LIVE
ENTERTAINMENT BUSINESS IN THE
UNITED STATES AND AROUND THE
WORLD. JUST IMAGINE BEING A
PROMOTER AND A PROMOTER WHO'S IN
COMPETITION WITH YOU, EARNING
MONEY FROM YOUR CONCERTS WITHOUT
A PENNY INVESTED IN YOUR SHOW.
THAT'S LIVE NATION, BECAUSE LIVE
NATION OWNS TICKETMASTER AND
TICKETMASTER ADDS A 20% FEE FOR
EVERY TICKET SOLD BY ALLOWING
COMPETITION INTO THE
MARKETPLACE, WE GIVE THE TICKET
BUYER THE OPPORTUNITY TO
PURCHASE FROM PLATFORMS AND APPS
THEY ARE MOST FAMILIAR AND
COMFORTABLE WITH. USING THIS
FORCES COMPANIES TO BE MORE
COMPETITIVE BY LOWERING TICKET
FEES AND PROVIDING BETTER
SERVICE. YOU'RE PROBABLY GOING
TO HEAR FROM PEOPLE TODAY WHO
WANT TO KEEP THE STATUS QUO,
EITHER BECAUSE IT BENEFITS THEM
OR THEY FEAR. LIVE NATION,
TICKETMASTER AND ARE TOURING THE
COMPANY LINE. BUT WE CAN'T KEEP
DOING THE SAME THING ON
TICKETING AND EXPECTING A
DIFFERENT RESULT. AND IF YOU
CARE ABOUT FANS AND BELIEVE IN
YOUR PRODUCT, YOU SHOULDN'T BE
AFRAID OF A LITTLE COMPETITION.
I BELIEVE AB 2808 IS THE FIRST
STEP IN CREATING A MORE
COMPETITIVE AND FINANCIALLY
PLEASANT EXPERIENCE FOR THE
TICKET BUYER, AND I BELIEVE IT
DESERVES THIS COMMITTEE SUPPORT.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
NEXT WITNESS TWO MINUTES, GOOD
MORNING, MR. CHAIRMAN, AND
MEMBERS, ROBERT HARRELL. I'M THE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE
CONSUMER FEDERATION OF
CALIFORNIA. WE'RE THE SPONSORS
OF THE MEASURE. AND I'M HERE
REPRESENTING A BROAD COALITION
OF CONSUMERS, ENTREPRENEURS,
PROMOTERS AND ARTISTS IN
SUPPORT. I'D LIKE TO JUST STEP
BACK FOR A SECOND AND TALK ABOUT
HOW WE GOT HERE. MONOPOLY IT'S A
GAME. YOU CAN PLAY IT. IT'S FUN,
BUT MONOPOLY IS THE REASON THAT
WE'RE HERE IN THIS ROOM TODAY.
AND IT'S THE REASON CONSUMERS
HAVE BEEN LEFT HOLDING THE BAG
SINCE 2010, WHEN THE MERGER
BETWEEN LIVE NATION AND
TICKETMASTER WAS APPROVED, THERE
WAS A DOCUMENT ACCOMPANYING
THAT, KNOWN AS A CONSENT DECREE,
THAT IS SUPPOSED TO LIMIT THE
BEHAVIOR OF THE MERGED ENTITIES
IN HOW THEY CONDUCT BUSINESS IN
THE MARKETPLACE. IN THE UNITED
STATES, THAT CONSENT DECREE
DECREE, WE WOULD ASSERT, HAS
BEEN REGULARLY AND ROUTINELY
VIOLATED. SO MUCH SO, IN FACT,
THAT, AS THE AUTHOR MENTIONED
AND I'M QUOTING FROM A WALL
STREET JOURNAL ARTICLE THAT JUST
CAME OUT YESTERDAY AFTERNOON,
THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE IS
PREPARING TO FILE AN ANTITRUST
LAWSUIT AGAINST THE TICKETMASTER
PARENT, LIVE NATION, IN THE
COMING WEEKS THAT WOULD ALLEGE
THAT THE NATION'S BIGGEST
CONCERT PROMOTER HAS LEVERAGED
ITS DOMINANCE IN A WAY THAT
UNDERMINED COMPETITION FOR
TICKETING LIVE EVENTS, ACCORDING
TO PEOPLE FAMILIAR WITH THE
MATTER. SO THAT'S IMMINENT. LIVE
NATION AND TICKETMASTER ARE A
VERTICAL MONOPOLY, AS MR. KING
NOTED, THEY REPRESENT ARTISTS.
MANY ARTISTS AND THOSE THAT THEY
DON'T REPRESENT. THEY STRIKE
FEAR IN THE HEART OF THOSE
ARTISTS TO TRY TO STRIKE AGAINST
THE MONOPOLY. THEY OAN A NUMBER
OF VENUES AND OTHER VENUES THAT
THEY DON'T OWN. THEY HAVE
EXCLUSIVITY DEALS SUCH THAT IF
ANYONE WERE TO TRY TO USE A
COMPETITOR FOR TICKETING AT THAT
VENUE, THEY COULD BE BLACKBALLED
AND THIS IS NOT MADE UP. THERE
ARE EXAMPLES OF ALL OF THESE
MULTIPLE EXAMPLES OF THOSE.
EXCLUSIVITY DEALS REALLY TIE THE
HANDS OF ARTISTS. EVEN A VERY
HIGH PROFILE ARTIST LIKE TAYLOR
SWIFT, WHO WAS SELLING OUT
STADIUMS, ONLY FIVE OF HER
STADIUM TOUR SHOWS LAST YEAR
WERE IN NON TICKETMASTER VENUES.
ONLY FIVE OUT OF, I THINK 5060
ALL SOLD OUT, OF COURSE. THE
MEMBER IN FACT. SO THESE ARE
BULLYING TACTICS IS WHAT THEY
ARE. MONOPOLIES NEVER DO
ANYTHING TO REDUCE THEIR POWER.
THEY ONLY DO THINGS TO EXPAND OR
INCREASE THEIR POWER OR EXTEND
IT INTO PERPETUITY. IN FACT,
EVEN SOME MEMBERS OF OUR
COALITION, NOT MYSELF, BUT OTHER
MEMBERS OF OUR COALITION, HAVE
FELT BULLIED, LEADING INTO
TODAY'S HEARING TO EVEN SPEAK
OUT PUBLICLY, WHICH IS KIND OF
AMAZING WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT.
THIS BILL OPENS THINGS UP SO
THAT CONSUMERS HAVE A FIGHTING
CHANCE. I WOULD JUST LIKE TO
NOTE, AS I WRAP UP, MR.
CHAIRMAN, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR
INDULGENCE, MOST SPORTS TEAMS
HAVE DEALS WITH THE SECONDARY
MARKET PARTICIPANTS. WHY?
BECAUSE IF THEY DID NOT, THEY
WOULD FACE A REVOLT FROM THEIR
OWN SEASON TICKET HOLDERS. SO WE
WOULD URGE YOU TO SUPPORT THIS
BILL. I WOULD JUST LIKE TO CLOSE
BY SAYING THERE IS A REFERENCE
IN PARAGRAPH ONE OF THE LIVE
NATION OPPOSITION LETTER THAT
GIVES ME PROBLEMS, AND I'D LIKE
TO JUST MENTION IT PUBLICLY VERY
BRIEFLY. THEY USE THE WORD
SCALPING. I THINK THAT WORD IS
DEEPLY OFFENSIVE AND IT
SHOULDN'T BE USED, LET ALONE IN
PARAGRAPH ONE OF THE MONOPOLY'S
OWN LETTER. AND I ALSO FEEL LIKE
IF YOU'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT
WHAT THEY TALK ABOUT, WHICH IS
THE SECONDARY MARKET, THE
BIGGEST PLAYER IN THE SECONDARY
MARKET IS LIVE NATION AND
TICKETMASTER ITSELF. THANK YOU,
MR. CHAIRMAN. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH, THOSE IN OPPOSITION.
FIRST, BEFORE WE DO THAT, OPEN
UP FOR QUESTIONS FOR MEMBERS.
ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE AUTHOR OR
THE WITNESSES? SURE. OPPOSITION
FIRST. YEAH. IF I COULD, PLEASE.
I'M CURIOUS IF, RESALE PRICE
CAPS HAVE BEEN PART OF THE
CONVERSATION, OTHER STATES HAVE
LOOKED TO THIS TO PREVENT FANS
FROM PAYING A GREATER THAN FACE
VALUE FOR TICKETS ON THE
SECONDARY MARKET, AS MANY SMALL
VENUES AND NONPROFIT STAGES SEE
A $25 FACE VALUE TICKET GOING
FOR AS HIGH AS $7,080 ON THE
SECONDARY PLATFORM. YEAH I KNOW
THAT WE'VE GOT, AND I'M HAPPY TO
HAVE MY WITNESSES ALSO AT THE,
APPROVAL OF THE CHAIR ALSO
DISCUSSED THIS, BUT, YOU KNOW,
I'M, I'M WILLING TO PUT
EVERYTHING ON THE TABLE BECAUSE
IN THE END OF THE DAY, I WANT TO
MAKE SURE THIS IS FAIR FOR
CONSUMERS. BUT WHAT IS MOST
IMPORTANT TO ME IS ENSURING THAT
WE ALLOW FOR COMPETITION AT THE
ORIGINAL POINT OF SALE. THAT TO
ME IS THE CORE CRUX OF THE ISSUE
IN TERMS OF REALLY ENSURING THAT
THERE'S MORE CONSUMER CHOICE.
BUT I'M HAPPY TO ENTERTAIN OTHER
OPTIONS AS WELL AS THE BILL. IF
THE BILL MOVES THROUGH COMMITTEE
TODAY. OKAY. AND MY LAST
QUESTION IS WHAT'S THE POLICY
RATIONALE FOR CREATING DIFFERENT
TICKETING PRICES FOR DIFFERENT
ENTERTAINMENT TYPES? SORRY. CAN
YOU SAY THAT ONE MORE TIME?
YEAH. THE POLICY. WHAT WHAT'S
THE POLICY RATIONALE FOR
CREATING DIFFERENT TICKETING
PRICES OR I'M SORRY, TICKETING
PRACTICES NOT PRICES PRACTICES
FOR DIFFERENT ENTERTAINMENT
TYPES. Þ, JUST IN TERMS OF THE
TEAMS, IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE
THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE GETTING AT.
YOU KNOW, I MET WITH THE, TEAMS
A COUPLE TIMES OVER THE LAST
COUPLE WEEKS, YOU KNOW, AND
THINKING ABOUT THE DYNAMIC OF A
FAN'S RELATIONSHIP WITH TEAM, I
THINK IS DIFFERENT THAN THESE
LARGE MUSIC EVENTS THAT WE
EXPERIENCE. OFTEN YOU HAVE
SEASON TICKET HOLDERS, AND THAT,
I THINK IS A DIFFERENT
RELATIONSHIP THAN THE SORT OF
ONE OFF EXPERIENCE, YOU KNOW,
THE IT JUST FELT LIKE A
DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE. YOU KNOW,
WHEN I TALKED TO THE MAJOR
LEAGUE BASEBALL FOLKS, YOU KNOW,
YOU'VE GOT, YOU KNOW, MAJOR
LEAGUE BASEBALL TEAMS SELLING
LIKE $10 BLEACHER SEATS. THAT'S
NOT THE PROBLEM, RIGHT? THOSE
AREN'T GOING OUT AND THEN
GETTING SOLD FOR $15 OR $30 OR
$80, RIGHT? TO ME, THAT WAS NOT
THE CRUX OF THE CHALLENGE, THE
CRUX OF THE PROBLEM THAT WE WERE
TRYING TO FIX, SO WE LISTENED TO
WHAT THEY SAID. THE CHAIR AND I
DISCUSSED, I DISCUSSED WITH
MEMBERS ON THE COMMITTEE, AND IT
FELT LIKE A DIFFERENT
EXPERIENCE. AND SO THAT'S WHY WE
CREATED, AN EXEMPTION FOR THEM
TO HONOR THAT EXPERIENCE. THANK
YOU. IF I, IF I COULD, MR. CHAIR
, JUST ON, ASSEMBLYMEMBER
LACKEY'S FIRST QUESTION, I IF I
COULD THE CHAIR'S PERMISSION.
ASSEMBLY MEMBER LACKEY IN
MARYLAND JUST HAD AN EXPERIENCE
THAT I THINK IS ILLUMINATING FOR
YOUR FIRST QUESTION, EVERYTHING
WAS ON THE TABLE AT
THEORETICALLY AT ONE POINT. BUT
AT THE END OF THE DAY, BASED ON
PUBLIC REPORTING AND ALSO FOLKS
THAT I KNOW WHO WORK ON THESE
ISSUES NATIONALLY, INCLUDING OUR
OWN ORGANIZATION AND IN OTHER
STATES, IT WAS THE MONOPOLY
ITSELF THAT, AT THE END OF THE
DAY, OBJECTED TO THE KIND OF
RESALE CAPS THAT YOU'RE
DISCUSSING, AND THAT'S BEEN
DOCUMENTED IN, IN THE MEDIA AS
WELL. SO JUST TO PUT A FINE
POINT ON THAT, THANK YOU. NEXT,
WE GOT MISS MCKENNA. YES I'D
LIKE TO THANK THE AUTHOR FOR
WORKING ON THIS. SO HARD. WE
KNOW HOW SHE WORKS ON HER BILLS,
AND WE KNOW THAT SHE'S GOING TO
WORK WITH ALL SIDES. AND I JUST
LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING HOW YOU
END UP NEGOTIATING. NEGOTIATING
THIS WITH THE STAKEHOLDERS, I
ALSO WANT TO JUST BRING UP THE
LITTLE SMALL THEATERS THAT THAT
WE DISCUSSED. AND SO LIKE THE
WELL, PANTAGES IS NOT SO SMALL,
BUT IT'S STILL A THEATER. THE
THEATER. SO HOW DOES THIS, BILL
ADDRESS THE THEATERS? YEAH, I
THINK, IN THE COMMITTEE ANALYSIS
. YES. GIVE ME ONE SECOND HERE
SO I CAN FIND IT. I JUST FOUND
IT RIGHT BEFORE I CAME IN. GIVE
ME ONE SECOND. THAT CURRENT LAW,
EXEMPTS NON PROFITS, AND SO IT'S
MY SENSE THAT THEY WOULD BE
EXEMPTED ALSO IN THIS BILL AS
WELL. YEAH AND I'VE, I'VE HEARD
FROM MY LOCAL THEATERS TOO. AND
WE WANT TO DON'T WANT TO PUT ANY
UNDUE HARDSHIPS ON THEM. GREAT.
NEXT WE'LL HAVE THE AUDIENCE
PARTICIPATION. SO IF YOU WOULD
LIKE TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT, WE. OH
SORRY. PLEASE, MR. CHAIRMAN,
MISS WICKS REALLY APPRECIATE
YOU, TAKING THE TIME TO HAVE
CONVERSATIONS WITH MANY MEMBERS
ON THIS COMMITTEE REGARDING THE
DIFFERENT POTENTIAL IMPACTS THAT
THIS BILL COULD HAVE WITH
STAKEHOLDERS BACK HOME AND
ACROSS THE STATE, ONE POINT THAT
THAT I WOULD LIKE TO, MAKE NOTE
OF AND JUST HOPE THAT THROUGH
CONVERSATION IS ADDRESSED IS
WHILE I AGREE WITH THE SENTIMENT
THAT COMPETITION THÀNH IS GOOD,
I DO THINK THAT COMPETITION
BRINGS OUT THE BEST IN ALL OF
US, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT
THIS DOESN'T HAVE UNINTENDED
CONSEQUENCES WHEN IT COMES TO
THE ADVANCEMENTS IN TECHNOLOGY
AND ACCESSING THESE TICKETS,
WHETHER IT'S THROUGH BOT
MECHANISMS AND WHEN THE INTENT
OF THE BILL IS TO ENSURE THAT
THE CONSUMER AVERAGE PEOPLE HAVE
BETTER ACCESS THROUGH OTHER
MEANS, THIS DOESN'T OPEN UP A
DOOR FOR THE ABILITY FOR
TECHNOLOGY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF
A SITUATION. SO LET'S JUST BE
MINDFUL OF THAT POINT. I WOULD
APPRECIATE YOUR COMMITMENT TO
ADDRESSING THAT ISSUE AS WELL.
YEAH ABSOLUTELY. AND I KNOW THAT
THAT'S BEEN A HOT TOPIC OF
CONVERSATION, GIVEN THE TAYLOR
SWIFT SITUATION, AND THERE'S
BEEN OTHER ATTEMPTS AT THAT AS
WELL. AND I KNOW THERE'S OTHER
TICKETS TICKETING BILLS IN THE
MIX STILL, BUT IT'S A PRIORITY
OF MINE BECAUSE IT'S A PRIORITY
FOR CONSUMERS. SO AND I KNOW YOU
OF ALL PEOPLE ON OUR
COMPETITION, GIVEN YOUR
BACKGROUND. SO THANK YOU. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH. YES I APPRECIATE
THE OFFER FOR, YOU KNOW, WORKING
IN THIS SPACE. I KNOW HOW
CHALLENGING IT IS. AND, I REALLY
ADMIRE YOU FOR BRINGING THIS
FORWARD. I HAVE ONE QUESTION.
WHAT I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND
HOW IT WORKS IS IF YOU HAVE
MULTIPLE SITES LISTING THE SAME
TICKET ON A ON A PRIMARY, YOU
KNOW, PRIMARY SITE, PRIMARY
SELLER, BUT IT'S THE SAME
TICKET. HOW DO YOU HOW DO YOU
PREVENT FRAUD? HOW DO WE MAKE
SURE CONSUMERS AREN'T, YOU KNOW,
PURCHASING THE SAME TICKET
THROUGH THESE, LET'S SAY, FIVE
VARIOUS SITES THAT ARE LISTING
THE SAME ONE. SO. WELL, THIS IS
WE'VE STRUCK THE API, LANGUAGE
OUT OF THE BILL WITH THE
CONVERSATION I HAD WITH THE
CHAIR TODAY. AND WE HAVE TO
FIGURE OUT THE CORRECT MECHANISM
TO ENSURE THAT WE END THE
EXCLUSIVITY AT THE ORIGINAL
POINT OF SALE, WE HAVE SOME
IDEAS ON THAT, BUT WE NEED TO
FLESH IT OUT AND WE NEED A
LITTLE BIT MORE TIME. AND I ALSO
WANT TO WORK WITH THE CHAIR AND
THE CONSULTANT AND OTHER MEMBERS
OF THE COMMITTEE TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE'RE ACTUALLY DOING THAT
THE RIGHT WAY, SO THAT WE'RE
GUARDING AGAINST FRAUD AND WE'RE
ENSURING THAT THERE'S
COMPETITION, AND WE'RE DOING SO
IN A FAIR WAY, SO THAT'S THAT'S
THE COMMITMENT THAT CHAIR AND I
HAVE MADE IS TO FIGURE OUT WHAT
IS THE RIGHT MECHANISM IN ORDER
TO DO THAT. AND WE'RE EXPLORING
OTHER MODELS, OTHER PLACES DO
THIS. OTHER COUNTRIES DO THIS,
YOU KNOW, I KNOW WE LIKE TO
THINK THAT LIKE WE DO EVERYTHING
FIRST HERE IN CALIFORNIA, BUT WE
ALSO WANT TO SEE IF WE CAN HAVE
SOME LESSONS LEARNED, LESSONS
LEARNED FROM OTHER PLACES THAT
WE COULD THEN INCORPORATE INTO
THIS BILL. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE
THAT. NOW WE'LL OPEN UP FOR THE
AUDIENCE IN SUPPORT. PLEASE COME
TO THE MICROPHONE. STATE YOUR
NAME, POSITION OR ORGANIZATION
YOU REPRESENT. JUST YOUR NAME
ORGANIZATION IN SUPPORT. MR.
CHAIRMAN. MEMBERS. JAMES JACK,
HERE ON BEHALF OF THE COALITION
FOR TICKET FAIRNESS, WE HAVE A
SUPPORT POSITION ON THE BILL AS
IT ENTERED COMMITTEE TODAY, WE
WILL BE LOOKING AT THE
AMENDMENTS MOVING FORWARD. BUT
WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL TO THE
AUTHOR. WE KNOW SHE'S A CHAMPION
ON THIS ISSUE, AND WE'LL
CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THIS EFFORT.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
NEXT WITNESS. GOOD MORNING. I'M
GREG JOHNSON, BOARD PRESIDENT OF
THE ARTS COUNCIL FOR LONG BEACH.
AND ALSO A LONG, LONG, LONG
TERME INDUSTRY VETERAN. THIS IS
ROBUST CONVERSATION. I COMMEND
YOU GUYS FOR HAVING IT. I WOULD
LIKE TO ASK THE COMMITTEE TO.
YES, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE
CONSIDER THE PRICING. EVERYONE
THAT I TALKED TO ACROSS THE
COMMUNITY SAID IT'S TOO DOGGONE
HIGH TO ATTEND TO CONCERT. THE
FEES ARE JUST TOO MUCH. I REALLY
LOVE THAT. OKAY. YES. ALL RIGHT.
I'M IN SUPPORT. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. MY NAME IS JESSICA
GONZALEZ. I'M WITH THE COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATION OF THE PRESIDENT OF
THE CENTRAL VALLEY, AND WE'RE IN
SUPPORT OF THIS BILL. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. NEXT WITNESS. HI,
MISS. YOU CAN BRING IT DOWN, MR.
CHAIRMAN, MEMBERS OF THE
COMMITTEE, MY NAME IS LAURA
DOOLEY. I'M WITH STUBHUB, AND
WE'RE HAPPY TO SUPPORT THE
LEGISLATION TODAY. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. NEXT WITNESS, JOIN
CONNECTICUT, CALIFORNIA HISPANIC
CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE AND SUPPORT
. THANK YOU. MICHAEL ZARAGOZA ON
BEHALF OF HISPANIC 100 AND
SUPPORT. THANK YOU, DOCTOR RUBEN
GUERRA, CHAIR OF THE LATIN
BUSINESS ASSOCIATION AND
SUPPORT. THANK YOU, NÓI FLORES
ON BEHALF OF THE CENTRAL VALLEY
YEMENI ASSOCIATION, AND WE ARE
IN SUPPORT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
NEXT, WE'LL HAVE THOSE IN
OPPOSITION. PRIMARY TESTIMONY IN
OPPOSITION. WOULD YOU PLEASE
COME AND TAKE A SEAT AT THE
TABLE? YEAH WE WILL ASK IF MR.
KING OR SOMEONE CAN PULL THEIR
THEIR MIND RIGHT THERE. YOU HAVE
TWO MINUTES. YES THAT'S RIGHT.
YEAH. TWO MINUTES FOR TWO
PEOPLE. TWO FOR TWO. YES YEAH.
YOU GUYS HAVE TO FIGURE OUT
WHO'S GOING TO SPEAK. BUT TWO
MINUTES. I'M GOING. I'M. YES, I
TOOK THE MIC. PLEASE STATE YOUR
NAME. THANK YOU, MY NAME IS SAM
HUNT AND IS BOTH A
REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE MUSIC
ARTISTS COALITION KNOWN AS MAC
AND A CONSTITUENT OF MISS WICKS.
WE MUST RESPECTFULLY OPPOSE AB
2808. MAC IS A COALITION OF
MUSICIANS AND THEIR RESPECTIVE
FAN COMMUNITIES THAT'S DEDICATED
TO PROTECTING AND PROMOTING
ARTISTS RIGHTS. I'M A MANAGING
PARTNER AND AN AGENT AT
WASSERMAN MUSIC, A MAJOR TALENT
AGENCY REPRESENTING OVER 2500
ARTISTS, ACTS THAT PLAY
EVERYTHING FROM BASEMENTS TO
FOOTBALL STADIUMS. WASSERMAN
MUSIC IS A GLOBAL COMPANY WITH
NEARLY 1000 EMPLOYEES. BUT AS IT
HAPPENS, I MYSELF LIVE IN
OAKLAND AND LIVE IN MISS WICKS
DISTRICT AB 2808 IS DEEPLY
FLAWED AND PUNISHES ARTISTS
UNNECESSARILY ESTABLISHING A
DANGEROUS SYSTEM OR LACK THEREOF
, FOR FANS. ARTISTS AGREE THAT
THE TICKETING PROCESS IS DEEPLY
FLAWED AND IN NEED OF REFORM,
BUT THE MAIN CAUSE FOR
FRUSTRATION AND CONFUSION AMONG
FANS IS UNEQUIVOCALLY
UNREGULATED. BROKERS ANTIQUATED,
REFERRED TO AS SCALPERS AND THE
SECONDARY PLATFORMS THAT ALLOW
THEM TO EXIST AND FLOURISH,
ARTIST VENUES AND THE WORKERS
WHO DEDICATE THEIR LIVES TO
MAKING THESE SHOWS POSSIBLE.
DON'T SEE A PENNY FROM THESE
SECONDARY MARKET SALES TICKET
BROKERS USE SOPHISTICATED
SOFTWARE AND QUESTIONABLE
TECHNIQUES TO GAIN ACCESS TO
INVENTORY BEFORE FANS,
UNDERMINING THE ARTIST FAN
RELATIONSHIP. THESE ACTIONS BY
BROKERS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE
VAST MAJORITY OF FRUSTRATIONS
AMONG THE TICKET BUYING
COMMUNITY. THE TRANSFERABILITY
PROVISIONS THAT ARE INCLUDED IN
AB 2808 WOULD SEVERELY UNDERMINE
OUR ABILITY TO PROTECT OUR FANS
AND TO NURTURE OUR RELATIONSHIP
WITH THEM. THEY WOULD INEVITABLY
RESULT IN THE VERY THINGS THAT
CAUSE SUCH FRUSTRATION.
INSCRUTABLE INVENTORY, FAKE OR
QUESTIONABLE TICKETS, CONFUSION
IN THE CASE OF CANCELLATIONS OR
RESCHEDULES, AND LOGISTICAL
CHAOS AT THE VENUES, WE ARTISTS,
PROMOTERS AND TICKETING
COMPANIES PUT IN TREMENDOUS
EFFORT TO ENSURE THAT OUR FANS
ARE NOT SUBJECTED TO PRICE
GOUGING FAKE TICKETS AND HAVE
FAIR ACCESS TO EVENTS ACROSS THE
COUNTRY. THESE EFFORTS ARE
CONSISTENTLY UNDERMINED BY
SECONDARY BROKERS. OPEN SOURCE
TICKETING ESSENTIALLY
LEGITIMIZES ALL OF THE SCHEMES
THAT BROKERS HAVE BUILT AND
WOULD GIVE THEM, NOT ARTISTS.
ALL OF THE POWER ARTISTS NEED TO
BE ABLE TO ATTACH TERMS AND
CONDITIONS TO THEIR TICKETS, BUT
THIS BILL STRIPS ARTISTS OF
THEIR RIGHTS WITHOUT THEIR
CONSENT AND EMBOLDENS AND
SUPPORTS TICKET BROKERS,
RESELLERS AND ILLEGAL BOTS WHO
ARE ABLE TO ACQUIRE AND SELL
SEATS UNCHECKED. EXORBITANT
PRICES. IT WOULD BE A HUGE STEP
BACKWARDS FOR ARTISTS AND THEIR
FANS, A PARADOXICAL RESULT TO
THE STATED CONSUMER PROTECTION
INTENTION OF THE BILL. WE
UNDERSTAND THE AUTHOR'S INTENT
IS NOT TO HURT ARTISTS, AND I
APPRECIATE OUR CONVERSATION SO
FAR, BUT NO ONE CARES MORE ABOUT
THE FANS THAN THE ARTISTS
THEMSELVES WHO'VE ESTABLISHED
LIFELONG RELATIONSHIPS WITH
THEIR SUPPORTERS. AND NO ONE
STANDS TO LOSE MORE FROM THAT
RELATIONSHIP BECOMING DAMAGED
THAN THE ARTIST THEMSELVES. YEAR
AFTER YEAR. WE, ON BEHALF OF
ARTISTS, COME BACK TO THE
LEGISLATURE WITH THE LIVED
KNOWLEDGE THAT THESE ARE THE
ISSUES THAT ARE HURTING ARTISTS
AND THEIR FANS THE MOST. AND YET
, INSTEAD OF FOCUSING ON THESE
VERY REAL AND PRESSING ISSUES,
WE'RE AGAIN FACING A BILL THAT
REMOVES ARTISTS RIGHTS RATHER
THAN EMPOWERING FANS AGAIN, WE
APPRECIATE THE AUTHOR'S INTENT
HERE, BUT WE MUST RESPECTFULLY
ASK FOR YOUR NO VOTE AT THIS
TIME. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT
WITNESS TWO MINUTES, PLEASE. HI,
MR. CHAIR AND MEMBERS, I'M PETER
WILLIAMS. I'M HERE TODAY. I'M
THE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR AT THE
FREIGHT AND SALVAGE IN BERKELEY,
WHICH IS IN THE AUTHOR'S
DISTRICT. WE'RE A NONPROFIT
VENUE SERVING THE COMMUNITY
SINCE 1968. WE'RE ALSO A MEMBER
OF CALIFORNIA ARTS ADVOCATES, A
LOBBYING ORGANIZATION FOR THE
ARTS, CULTURE AND CREATIVE
INDUSTRIES REPRESENTING
THOUSANDS OF NONPROFIT ARTS
ORGANIZATIONS, ARTISTS AND
CULTURE WORKERS ACROSS THE STATE
AND WE'RE HERE IN OPPOSITION
UNLESS SIGNIFICANTLY AMENDED.
WHILE WE AGREE CONSUMERS SHOULD
HAVE CONTROL OVER HOW AND WHERE
THEY PURCHASE PRIMARY TICKETS
AND HOW OR WHERE THEY MAY WANT
TO RESELL A TICKET THAT THEY
CAN'T USE, UNCHECKED
PROLIFERATION OF THE SECONDARY
TICKET MARKET SYSTEM, AS
CONFIGURED HERE, IS NOT THE
SOLUTION. WE WANT TO EXPRESS OUR
ALIGNMENT WITH NIVEA, THE
NATIONAL INDEPENDENT VENUE
ASSOCIATION REPRESENTING
INDEPENDENT VENUES AND FESTIVAL
PROMOTERS THROUGHOUT THE STATE,
IN ARGUING THAT UNLESS
SIGNIFICANTLY AMENDED, AB TWO
808 WILL HARM NONPROFIT AND
INDEPENDENT VENUES THROUGHOUT
THE STATE. THERE ARE SEVERAL
MAJOR CONCERNS THAT WE HAVE, THE
FREIGHT AND SALVAGE DOES NOT
UTILIZE A TICKET PROVIDER LIKE
MANY NONPROFIT VENUES, WE USE A
CRM TO SELL TICKETS AND UTILIZE
VOLUNTEER STAFF AT OUR LINES.
YET WE STILL RUN INTO FAKE
TICKETS OR TICKETS SOLD WITH
SIGNIFICANT PRICE MARKUPS
REGULARLY FROM NAME PROVIDERS
LIKE STUBHUB AND VIVID, THE GOAL
OF ENDING EXCLUSIVITY IS A BIG
PART OF THIS BILL, WHICH SOUNDS
GOOD IN CONCEPT BUT CREATES REAL
CHALLENGES FOR INDEPENDENT AND
NONPROFIT VENUES. AS I
MENTIONED, EXCLUSIVITY WITH A
TICKET TICKETING PROVIDER IS NOT
A PROBLEM FOR NONPROFIT STAGES.
NEVA CALIFORNIA'S MEMBERS ARE
GENERALLY TOO SMALL TO BE
CLIENTS OF TICKETMASTER, FOR
EXAMPLE, AND THERE ARE ALREADY A
BUNCH OF PROVIDERS THAT CATER TO
INDEPENDENT AND SMALLER VENUES.
EXCLUSIVITY RELATIONSHIPS OFFER
THE STABILITY OF A TRUSTED
TICKETING PROVIDER TO INTEGRATE
INTO THE MARKETING
INFRASTRUCTURE AND PROVIDE
GUARANTEED SECURITY AND
CONSISTENT CONSUMER INTERACTION.
IN MANY CASES, INDEPENDENT
VENUES ARE IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT,
WITH MULTIPLE TICKETING
PROVIDERS COMPETING FOR THEIR
BUSINESS TO OFFER MORE FAVORABLE
TERMS. SECONDLY THE BILL WOULD
MAKE IT UNLAWFUL FOR A VENUE TO
DENY ACCESS TO ANY EVENT BASED
ON A SECONDARY MARKET TICKET. IN
PRACTICE, A VENUE THAT DENIES A
FAN WITH A FAKE TICKET THAT WAS
BOUGHT ON THE SECONDARY MARKET,
ACCESS TO SHOW WOULD NOW HAVE TO
SHOW THAT THE DENIAL WAS BECAUSE
THE TICKET WAS FAKE, NOT BECAUSE
IT WAS SOLD ON A SECONDARY
PLATFORM OR RISK A $2,500 CIVIL
PENALTY. IF YOU CAN COMPLETE
YOUR THOUGHT. I'M SORRY IF YOU
CAN COMPLETE YOUR THOUGHT ANYWAY
, LET ME JUST MOVE TO MY LAST
SENTENCE HERE. WE WOULD PROPOSE
A SIGNIFICANT REDIRECTION OF THE
BILL THAT WOULD EMPOWER FANS,
PROTECT VENUES AND ARTISTS, AND
ALLOW INDEPENDENT AND NONPROFIT
VENUES TO FLOURISH FOR MORE
COMPETITIVE ARTS ECOSYSTEM.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, AT THIS
TIME, WE'LL HAVE THE AUDIENCE
PARTICIPATION. WILL, ASK TO
INVITE YOU TO THE MICROPHONE.
THOSE IN OPPOSITION, WOULD YOU
PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND
ORGANIZATION THEN, AFTER WHICH
WE'LL BRING IT BACK TO THE
COMMITTEE FOR ANY COMMENTS.
QUESTIONS, TIM LYNCH, ON BEHALF
OF TWO, TWO CLIENTS, THE
AMBASSADOR THEATER GROUP IN SAN
FRANCISCO, WHO REMAINS OPPOSED
AND CONCERNS ABOUT THE BILL AND
THE GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS. AND
WE APPRECIATE THE AUTHORS WORK
AND UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THE
SPORTS TEAMS DO. BUT WE'RE, EVEN
WITH THE SPORTS EXEMPTION, WE
THINK IN PRACTICE THAT WON'T
WORK, AND WE'RE PROBABLY REMAIN
OPPOSED TO THE BILL. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH, MR. CHAIR. AND
MEMBERS. ALEX TORRES WITH
BROWNSTEIN HERE ON BEHALF OF THE
NATIONAL INDEPENDENT VENUE
ASSOCIATION OF CALIFORNIA,
REPRESENTING APPROXIMATELY 500
INDEPENDENT BRICK AND MORTAR
VENUES AND FESTIVAL PROMOTERS
THROUGHOUT THE STATE, ALSO HERE
TO REGISTER OPPOSITION
RESPECTFULLY FROM JIM CORNETT,
OWNER OF HARLOW'S, PRESIDENT OF
CALIFORNIA, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
OF THE CALIFORNIA CAPITAL VENUES
COALITION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
NEXT WITNESS, MR. CHAIRMAN AND
MEMBERS ELOY GARCIA FOR LIVE
NATION ENTERTAINMENT IN
OPPOSITION. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
NEXT WITNESS, MR. CHAIRMAN. GOOD
MORNING, I WOULD KIDANI
REPRESENTING THE LOS ANGELES
RAMS AND THE LOS ANGELES
CLIPPERS, ALTHOUGH WE DEFINITELY
APPRECIATE THE AUTHOR'S DILIGENT
WORK AND, MOVING THE BILL IN
THIS DIRECTION. WE REMAIN
OPPOSED TO THE BILL IN PRINT. WE
LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE
AUTHOR, NOODLING THROUGH THOSE
INTRICACIES THAT ARE THAT AFFECT
VENUE OWNERS, WHICH ARE THE RAMS
AND THE CLIPPERS. AND I'M SURE
SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES SHARE THAT
SAME SENTIMENT. THANK YOU SO
MUCH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT
WITNESS, MR. CHAIR, MEMBERS.
GRACE COPELAND BROWNSTEIN.
REGISTERING OPPOSE UNLESS
AMENDED ON BEHALF OF JOE
RINALDI, OWNER OPERATOR OF THE
MUSIC BOX IN SAN DIEGO. THANK
YOU, THANK YOU. NEXT WITNESS.
GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS GABRIEL
DOCTO. I'M CO-FOUNDER OF THE SAN
FRANCISCO VENUE COALITION AND
OPERATOR AT AUGUST HALL IN SAN
FRANCISCO, AND SUBMITTING
OPPOSITION TODAY UNLESS AMENDED.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU. NEXT
WITNESS. HI. I'M JAMES LAWSON
FROM BROADWAY, SACRAMENTO. WE'RE
A NONPROFIT HERE IN SACRAMENTO,
AND WE OPPOSE THE BILL. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT
WITNESS. HI THERE. MCKAY. CARNEY
ON BEHALF OF THE SAN JOSE SHARKS
IN OPPOSITION. REALLY APPRECIATE
THE AUTHOR'S WILLINGNESS TO
CONTINUE CONVERSATIONS. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT WITNESS.
GOOD MORNING. CARLOS SINGER ON
THE ON BEHALF OF THE LOS ANGELES
PHILHARMONIC AND THE HOLLYWOOD
BOWL, THE L.A. PHILHARMONIC, IN
ADDITION TO OPERATING THE
SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA, OPERATES
MANY CHERISHED VENUES WALT
DISNEY CONCERT HALL, THE
HOLLYWOOD BOWL, THE FORD
THEATER, WE REGISTER OUR
OPPOSITION TO THE BILL AS
CURRENTLY DRAFTED AND WOULD LOVE
TO SEE THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS
AS SOON AS WE COULD, BECAUSE WE
WOULD WELCOME THE CHANCE TO
PARTICIPATE IN ADDRESSING SOME
OF THE CONCERNS THE COMMITTEE
SEEKS TO REDRESS. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT
WITNESS, ANDREW, GOVERNOR, ON
BEHALF OF THE SAN FRANCISCO 49
ERS, I'LL ASSOCIATE MY COMMENTS
WITH THE OTHER SPORTS TEAMS. BUT
JUST TO LET YOU KNOW, THE SAN
FRANCISCO 40 NINERS IS A
PUBLICLY OWNED STADIUM. SO THE
EFFECTS OF THIS BILL HAS OTHER
RAMIFICATIONS AS WELL. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. WE'LL BRING IT BACK
TO THE COMMITTEE FOR ANY
QUESTIONS. CONCERNS MISS
MCKENNA. YES. AGAIN, I, I
APPRECIATE THE AUTHOR TAKING ON
THIS ISSUE, I LOVE CONCERTS AND
PEOPLE WHO KNOW ME KNOW THAT I
LOVE TO GO TO CONCERTS, BUT THEY
HAVE GOTTEN REALLY, REALLY,
REALLY EXPENSIVE, AND SO THAT,
THAT IS, THAT IS A PROBLEM FOR
CONSUMERS BECAUSE AS A TEENAGER,
MY FIRST CONCERT I, ATTENDED WAS
AT THE FORUM TO SEE THE JACKSON
FIVE, AND IT WASN'T THAT
EXPENSIVE. WHAT ABOUT FIVE OF US
WENT NOW TO GO SEE A BIG ARTIST
LIKE THAT WOULD BE SO MUCH,
MAYBE $5,000. AND SO WE WANT TO
MAKE SURE THAT IT'S AFFORDABLE
FOR THE CONSUMERS. WE WANT TO
MAKE SURE THAT IT'S SAFE. WE
HAVE BIG VENUES, BIG SPORTS
EVENTS COMING TO MY DISTRICT,
THE OLYMPICS AND THE WORLD CUP
AND SOME OTHER, BIG EVENTS. AND
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S
GOING TO BE SAFE AND THAT THEY,
YOU KNOW, OUR TICKETS WON'T BE
WHAT WE USED TO CALL SCALPED.
BUT I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT YOU
CALL THEM. NOW, IN THE, ON THE
ONLINE MARKET, BUT SO THAT I'M
GOING TO GIVE YOU AN I VOTE
TODAY BECAUSE I KNOW THAT YOU'RE
GOING TO WORK WITH THOSE
STAKEHOLDERS AND WE'LL SEE WHERE
WE GET. THANK YOU. WAS THAT A
MOTION? A MOTION? IS THERE A
SECOND SECOND. THANK YOU. ANY
ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS CONCERNS
FROM THE COMMITTEE HEARING?
NONE. MISS WIX, YOU MAY CLOSE.
THANK YOU. I JUST WANT TO
APPRECIATE THE TESTIMONY OF THE
OPPOSITION WITNESS, BOTH OF WHOM
I THINK ARE CONSTITUENTS OF
MINE. SO APPRECIATE YOU ALL
COMING UP TODAY, YOU KNOW, AND A
LOT OF THE CONCERNS THAT WERE
RAISED, ONE ON THE NONPROFIT
SIDE, AND I DID WE DID FIND THE
MENTION IN THE ANALYSIS THAT
NONPROFITS ARE EXEMPT FROM
CURRENT LAW. WE CAN CERTAINLY
ADD THAT TO THIS. AS WELL, TO
CLARIFY THAT, BECAUSE IT'S NOT
THAT'S NOT THE ISSUE FROM MY
PERSPECTIVE. SO BUT I APPRECIATE
YOU AND HEAR YOU LOUD AND CLEAR.
AND WE'LL WORK TO CLARIFY THAT
IN THE BILL, SECONDLY, I THINK A
LOT OF WHAT THE OPPOSITION
RAISED CONCERNS AROUND WAS THE
SECONDARY MARKET. AND AS ASKED,
I THINK BY I MAYBE MAYBE IT WAS
MR. LACKEY I CAN'T REMEMBER, YOU
KNOW, EVERYTHING'S ON THE TABLE
FROM MY PERSPECTIVE. YOU KNOW, I
WANT TO I WANT TO CREATE A BILL
THAT IS REALLY GOOD FOR
CONSUMERS. AND WE'RE LOOKING AT
ALL THE DIFFERENT MODELS. AND SO
I ASKED THE OPPOSITION TO COME
TO ME WITH IDEAS ON HOW WE CAN
STRENGTHEN THE BILL IN A WAY
THAT THAT YOU ALL THINK, HELPS
REACH THE SAME GOAL, BECAUSE I
DO THINK WE HAVE THE SAME GOALS,
SO LET'S TALK ABOUT WHAT THAT
COULD LOOK LIKE, I STILL HOLD
FIRM, THOUGH, THAT I DO THINK
COMPETITION AT THE PRIMARY POINT
OF SALE IS, IS CRITICAL, AND I
THINK THAT THAT IS IMPORTANT.
AND SO I WANT TO CONTINUE TO
WORK TOWARDS THAT END TO FIGURE
OUT THE RIGHT MECHANISM TOWARDS
THAT. YOU KNOW, I WAS LOOKING
UP, YOU KNOW, RECENTLY JUST THE
FEES QUESTION, WHICH YOU JUST
RAISED, MISS MCKENNA, YOU KNOW,
AND SOME OF YOU, I'M SURE, SAW
THIS THERE WAS A DRAKE CONCERT
LAST YEAR, SOMEONE TWEETED ABOUT
SHOW THE SCREENSHOT OF THEIR
PURCHASE ON TICKETMASTER, THE
TICKETS WERE $544 FOR TWO, BUT
THEN THE SERVICE FEES WERE AN
ADDITIONAL $527, ALMOST DOUBLING
THE PRICE. DOUBLING THE PRICE.
YOU KNOW, THAT IS EXORBITANTLY
EXPENSIVE. THERE'S EQUITY ISSUES
THERE. AND NOT ONLY IN TERMS OF
WHO HAS THE PRIVILEGE TO BE ABLE
TO AFFORD THOSE THINGS, BUT THEN
WHO ALSO HAS THE PRIVILEGE TO
SIT AROUND ON THEIR COMPUTER AND
PRESS REFRESH ALL DAY LONG
TRYING TO GET A TICKET? SO THIS
IS A VERY COMPLEX ISSUE. I FEEL
THAT INHERENTLY, AND I'VE SPENT
A LOT OF TIME WORKING ON THIS
BILL AND WE'RE JUST BEGINNING
THE PROCESS. SO IT'S GOING TO BE
A LOT MORE CONVERSATIONS. I WANT
TO FIND THE RIGHT SOLUTION THAT
ULTIMATELY PROTECTS OUR
CONSUMERS. I WANT TO FIGURE OUT
A WAY TO STRENGTHEN OUR
RELATIONSHIP WITH FANS AND THE
ARTISTS, AND I AND I'M, I'M ALL
PEOPLE CAN MAKE MONEY. THERE'S A
LOT OF CHAINS IN BETWEEN THE
SORT OF ARTIST AND THE FAN AND A
LOT OF PIECES IN BETWEEN. I'M I
THAT'S FINE. BUT I WANT IT TO BE
FAIR, YOU KNOW? AND I WANT THE
CONSUMERS TO HAVE TRANSPARENCY,
TO HAVE COMPETITION, TO HAVE THE
ABILITY TO MAKE REAL CHOICE, AND
FOR THE, THE, THE GREATER GOOD
OF PEOPLE TO BE TO GO OUT AND
ENJOY LIVE ENTERTAINMENT, WHICH
IS SO CRITICAL TO OUR ECONOMY
HERE IN CALIFORNIA. SO I KNOW
THERE'S ISSUES I WILL WORK WITH
ANYONE ON THIS COMMITTEE,
DEMOCRAT OR REPUBLICAN, WHO
CARES ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND WHO
WANTS TO WORK WITH ME ON IT. I
NEED THOUGHT PARTNERSHIP, I
DON'T HAVE A MONOPOLY ON GOOD
IDEAS AT ALL. IN FACT, I NEED
OTHER PEOPLE'S THOUGHTS ON THIS.
THAT'S WHY WE'RE LOOKING AT
OTHER MODELS AND OTHER PLACES AS
WELL. BUT LET'S DO IT RIGHT HERE
IN CALIFORNIA. AND LET'S
ACTUALLY CREATE A SYSTEM WHERE
WE HAVE THAT COMPETITION AND WE
HAVE FAIRNESS IN THE MARKET. SO
WE CAN DEMONSTRATE TO THE REST
OF THE WORLD THAT WE KNOW HOW TO
DO IT HERE. AND IT CAN BE A
MODEL FOR THE REST OF THE
NATION. WHILE THE DEPARTMENT OF
JUSTICE INVESTIGATION IS GOING
ON AND ALL THE OTHER THINGS. AND
WITH THAT, I HONORED TO WORK
WITH YOU, MR. GIBSON, MR. CHAIR
AND I WOULD RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR
AN AYE VOTE. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. WE APPRECIATE THE AUTHOR
FOR ONE, HER ARTICULATION, HER
OF HER WILLINGNESS TO WORK WITH
ALL SIDES, TO TRY TO REACH SOME
KIND OF RESOLUTION TO THIS
ISSUE. THIS ITEM HAS BEEN MOVED
BY MISS MCKENNA AND SECOND, BY
MR. FONG, AND THIS MOTION IS DUE
PASSED TO PRIVACY AND CONSUMER
PROTECTION COMMITTEE. MADAM
CHAIR, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
GIBSON AYE. GIBSON. AYE.
WALLACE. NO. WALLACE NO. FONG
FONG. AYE. LACKEY. MCKENNA AYE.
MCKENNA. AYE. SANTIAGO VALENCIA.
YES VALENCIA. AYE WE WILL KEEP
THE ROLL OVER FOR ABSENT MEMBERS
. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH
. AND NOW WE'RE WAITING FOR OUR
FINAL AUTHOR, MR. MCCARTY. ITEM
NUMBER. CAN. SECRETARY, WOULD
YOU PLEASE OPEN THE ROLL FOR
ABSENT MEMBERS ON FILE ITEM
NUMBER ONE. ALANIS. MCKENNA.
MCKENNA. AYE VALENCIA. ON 28
080. VALENCIA. AYE WE'LL KEEP
THAT ROLL OPEN FOR ABSENT
MEMBERS. THE ROLL. OH, YEAH. NO.
I'M SORRY SIR. I WAS LIKE, I
APOLOGIZE, I'M A DOUBLE. YOU
THAT WAS FOR 1996 IS AN AYE
VALENCIA. AYE. ON 1996 OKAY.
MR. MCCARTY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH
. KNOWS THE CHAIRING A MEETING
AT THE SAME TIME, A HEARING. AND
SO THE FIRST FILE ITEM IS FILE
ITEM NUMBER TWO. ASSEMBLY BILL
2720. YOU MAY PROCEED WHEN
READY. YOU HAVE TWO WITNESSES.
TWO MINUTES EACH. AND THEN WE'LL
GO TO PUBLIC TESTIMONY. THEN
WE'LL BRING IT BACK TO THE
COMMITTEE AND WE'LL GO FROM
THERE. SO WHEN READY. THANK YOU,
MR. CHAIR, FIRST I'M PRESENTING
AB 2720 ART IN PUBLIC PLACES.
ACT AS WE KNOW, THIS IS OUR
STATE CAPITOL. WE HAVE PLENTY OF
STATE BUILDINGS, LOTS OF
CONSTRUCTION GOING ON. SOMETIMES
WHEN THEY DO NEW STATE
BUILDINGS, LIKE OUR STATE
CAPITOL, THEY HAVE SOME TYPE OF
ART INTEGRATED INTO THE BUILDING
. SOMETIMES THEY DON'T. AND YOU
CAN TELL WHEN THEY DO IT AND
WHEN THEY DON'T. SO, ABOUT 40
YEARS AGO, THE CITY OF
SACRAMENTO DEVELOPED A PROGRAM
CALLED ART IN PUBLIC PLACES,
WHICH IS WHEN THEY BUILD, PUBLIC
BUILDING. THEY HAVE A VERY SMALL
SLIVER OF THE PROJECT, DEDICATED
TO PUBLIC ART. AND IT REALLY
MAKES A DIFFERENCE IN THESE
PUBLIC PLACES. AND THIS WOULD BE
BASED UPON THIS MODEL, WHICH
WOULD ASK THE DEPARTMENT OF
GENERAL SERVICES TO ESTABLISH A
PROCESS THAT 1% OF THE PROJECT
BUDGET WOULD GO FOR ART AND
PUBLIC PLACES, WHICH WE WOULD
HAVE A COMMISSION AND A PROCESS
TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE LOCAL
ARTISTS INVOLVED IN APPROPRIATE
ART INVOLVED, THIS WOULD REQUIRE
THE DEPARTMENT OF GENERAL
SERVICES TO CONSULT WITH THE
CALIFORNIA ARTS COUNCIL AS PART
OF THE PROCESS, RESPECTFULLY ASK
YOUR AYE VOTE. AND WITH ME TODAY
IS A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE ART
AND PUBLIC PLACES AND THE
CALIFORNIA ARTS ADVOCATES. THANK
YOU. GREAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
YOU MAY PROCEED WITH YOUR
WITNESS. TWO MINUTES, PLEASE,
GOOD MORNING, CHAIR GIBSON AND
MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE. FIRST,
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR
SUPPORT OF THE ARTS AND FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK BEFORE YOU
TODAY. MY NAME IS JENNIFER LANE,
AND I'M EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF
THE SAN BENITO COUNTY ARTS
COUNCIL, A LOCAL ARTS AGENCY
BASED IN SPEAKER RIVAS DISTRICT.
AND TODAY, I'M SPEAKING ON
BEHALF OF CALIFORNIA ARTS
ADVOCATES, WHICH IS OUR
STATEWIDE ARTS AND CULTURE
ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION IN SUPPORT
OF AB 2720. WE SUPPORT THIS BILL
BECAUSE PERCENT FOR ART PROGRAMS
ARE AN EFFECTIVE WAY FOR STATES
TO FOSTER ACCESS TO THE ARTS AND
INCREASE THE ESTHETIC VALUE OF
STATE OWNED BUILDINGS AND PUBLIC
SPACES IN THE US, THERE ARE MORE
THAN 350% FOR ART PROGRAMS IN 27
STATES AND TERRITORIES. THESE
PROGRAMS CREATE JOBS FOR
ARTISTS, DESIGNERS, AND
FABRICATORS, AND HAVE MUCH
BROADER COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC
BENEFITS. THE NATIONAL GOVERNORS
ASSOCIATION STATES THE QUESTION
OF HOW TO FOSTER HIGH QUALITY
PLACES IS ONE OF THE MOST
IMPORTANT IN ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT TODAY. BY PROVIDING
AMENITIES, CONNECTIVITY AND A
SENSE OF PLACE, PUBLIC ART AND
WELL-DESIGNED PUBLIC SPACES CAN
BE PART OF THE ANSWER. IN MY OWN
EXPERIENCE IN SAN BENITO COUNTY,
PUBLIC ART HAS HAD A SIGNIFICANT
UNIFYING EFFECT. WE RECENTLY
COMMISSIONED A LARGE SCALE
UNDERPASS MURAL AS PART OF THE
CLEAN CALIFORNIA PROGRAM WITH
THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION CALLED THE FABRIC
OF LIFE IN THE VERY SMALL TOWN
OF SAN JUAN BAUTISTA, THIS MURAL
WEAVES DIVERSE IMAGES OF CATTLE
RANCHERS, FOLKLORICO DANCERS,
INDIGENOUS PLANTS AND ANIMALS,
AND CHARACTERS FROM THE WORLD
RENOWNED EL TEATRO CAMPESINO,
CREATING A VISUAL TAPESTRY OF
THE LOCAL COMMUNITY. AS A RESULT
OF THIS MURAL, DOWNTOWN
BUSINESSES HAVE REPORTED
INCREASED FOOT TRAFFIC AND SALES
. THE MURAL HAS CONTRIBUTED
POSITIVELY TO NEIGHBORHOOD
VIBRANCY AND SAFETY, AND MOST
IMPORTANTLY, RESIDENTS ARE ABLE
TO SEE THEMSELVES IN THIS SPACE,
CREATING A SENSE OF COLLECTIVE
IDENTITY, BELONGING AND
COMMUNITY PRIDE. AB 2720 WOULD
UPLIFT THESE OPPORTUNITIES AND
BENEFITS ACROSS ALL OF
CALIFORNIA, FROM RURAL SAN JUAN
BAUTISTA TO DOWNTOWN LA AND
BEYOND. SO FOR THESE REASONS AND
MORE, WE OFFER OUR SUPPORT OF AB
2720 AND ASK FOR YOUR AYE VOTE.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
NEXT WITNESS. THANK YOU CHAIR.
THANK YOU. COMMITTEE. MY NAME IS
DONALD GENSLER. I AM THE ART AND
PUBLIC PLACES MANAGER FOR THE
CITY OF SACRAMENTO AND I'M HERE
APPEARING BEFORE YOU AS A
TECHNICAL WITNESS. I'M NOT GOING
TO SPEAK DIRECTLY OR ANSWER ANY
QUESTIONS DIRECTLY ON THE BILL
ITSELF, BUT WANTED TO GIVE THE
COMMITTEE A SENSE OF THIS
ORDINANCE THAT WE ENACTED HERE
IN THE CITY OF SACRAMENTO IN
1977, IT IT IT PROVIDES A 2% OF
ELIGIBLE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT
PROGRAM FUNDS, THAT ARE
DESIGNATED FOR THE SELECTION
COMMISSION AND PURCHASE OF
PUBLIC ART. HOWEVER IT IT GOES
FAR BEYOND THAT. AND I THINK
THAT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT
I WANTED TO SHARE WITH YOU ALL
TODAY THAT IN FACT, THROUGH THE
HISTORY, THROUGH THE IMPACTS,
BOTH SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC AND
THROUGH THE PLACEMAKING THAT IT
CREATES THROUGHOUT OUR CITY,
THIS ORDINANCE REALLY GIVES
SACRAMENTO A SENSE OF VIBRANCY
IN, IN ART AND CULTURE, BRIEFLY,
IN TERMS OF THE HISTORY IN 1977,
THE VERY FIRST ARTWORK THAT WAS
CREATED WAS A GATEWAY PIECE, BY
GERALD WAHLBERG. HE WAS A
PROFESSOR AT THE TIME AT, CSU
AND CREATED A GATEWAY INTO WHAT
IS NOW DOCO, FROM THERE WE HAVE,
CONTINUED ON WITH OVER 650 WORKS
OF, OF ART, BOTH PERMANENT AND
PORTABLE, IN THE CITY, AT THE
TIME WHEN THE ORDINANCE WAS
ENACTED, WE WERE A DUAL AGENCY
WITH THE CITY AND THE COUNTY,
AND AS OF 2019, WE DID SEPARATE
FROM THE COUNTY BUT STILL
MAINTAIN OVER 500 WORKS OF ART
IN THE CITY AND CONTINUE TO,
CONTINUE TO SUPPORT ARTISTS
THROUGH THAT PROCESS. I WANTED
TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ALSO ABOUT
THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL IMPACTS
THIS ORDINANCE GIVES ARTISTS THE
OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE WORK, TO
EARN A LIVING, TO BE A PART OF
THE SOCIETY IN WHICH THEY LIVE
AND ARE ACTIVE ROLE, PLAYERS IN.
IT ALSO ALLOWS THEM TO CONNECT
WITH THOSE COMMUNITIES AND THOSE
PEOPLE THAT LIVE HERE IN
SACRAMENTO, WHETHER THOSE
ARTISTS ARE HERE FROM SACRAMENTO
OR FROM OUTSIDE OF SACRAMENTO.
IF YOU CAN COMPLETE YOUR THOUGHT
. YES, SIR. AND JUST LASTLY, THE
PLACEMAKING, IT CREATES A SENSE
OF PLACE. MOST RECENTLY, WE'RE
WORKING ON A PROJECT FUNDED
THROUGH THE 2% ORDINANCE. THAT'S
THE HANAMI LINE. IT'S GOING TO
BE RIGHT NEXT TO THE MOSAIC
BUILDING WITH BRINGING IN
JAPANESE AND JAPANESE AMERICAN
COMMUNITIES TO SHARE THE BEAUTY
OF HANAMI AND, SCULPTURE THAT
WILL BE PART OF THAT. THANK YOU
FOR YOUR TIME TODAY. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH, NEXT, WE'LL HAVE
WITNESSES IN SUPPORT FROM THE
AUDIENCE, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME
, ORGANIZATION. IF YOU REPRESENT
AN ORGANIZATION, SEEING AND
HEARING, NONE WILL BRING IT BACK
TO THE COMMITTEE ANY SECOND.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, NEXT, WE'LL
HAVE WITNESSES IN OPPOSITION OF
THE BILL. WOULD YOU PLEASE COME
FORWARD AND TAKE A SEAT AT THE
TABLE, HEARING AND SEEING NO
WITNESS IN OPPOSITION, ANYONE
FROM THE AUDIENCE WISHING TO
REGISTER YOUR OPPOSITION FOR,
2720. THIS IS THE TIME TO DO SO.
HEARING AND SEEING. NONE, WANT
TO BRING IT BACK TO THE
COMMITTEE? IT'S BEEN PROPERLY
MOVED AND SECONDED. ANY
QUESTIONS FOR THE AUTHOR?
HEARING AND SEEING? NONE. MR.
MCCARTHY, WOULD YOU PLEASE CLOSE
OR HAVE. PLACES. IT IS ART IN
PUBLIC PROJECT THERE. THE
SCULPTURE. BUT WHAT WAS THE
PUBLIC PROJECT? OH, IT WAS
ULTIMATELY A DEPARTMENT OF
UTILITIES PROJECT AT THE CITY
PARK. YES THANK YOU, CERTAINLY
WOULD ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT FOR
JUST AN EXAMPLE HERE, YOU TALKED
ABOUT SOME GREAT EXAMPLES HERE
IN SACRAMENTO. MANY OF MY
COLLEAGUES AREN'T FROM HERE,
FROM LOS ANGELES. THE DESERT,
LOS ANGELES COUNTY, LA COUNTY,
MAN, L.A. COUNTY, PEOPLE HERE
AND ORANGE COUNTY. SO THEY MAY
NOT KNOW THESE PROJECTS. BUT
WHEN YOU GO TO THE AIRPORT ON
THURSDAY AND YOU'RE GOING OUT ON
THE WAY ON THE FREEWAY AND
HIGHWAY 50, YOU MAY SEE A
PROJECT BY THE RIVER THERE WHERE
THEY'RE PLANTING A BUNCH OF
JAPANESE, CHERRY TREES, CHERRY
TREES RIGHT THERE. AND THAT IS
THE MATT SUEY PARK HANAMI LINE.
THAT WAS A PUBLIC PROJECT THERE
FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF UTILITIES.
AND THAT'S A CLASSIC EXAMPLE OF
HOW YOU CAN HAVE A PUBLIC
PROJECT AND HAVE A GATHERING
PLACE AS WELL. SO THIS IS THAT'S
EXAMPLE EXHIBIT A OF WHAT WE
WANT TO ACCOMPLISH HERE WITH OUR
STATE PROJECT. SO WITH THAT,
GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE AND
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOUR AYE
VOTE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I'M
VERY HAPPY TO SEE THAT THIS BILL
INCLUDES THE D A G, S, WOULD BE
REQUIRED TO CONSULT WITH THE
CALIFORNIA ARTS COUNCIL. I WOULD
STRONGLY HOPE THAT THE THAT THE
ARTWORK, AND THE PROCUREMENT AS
PART OF THE PROCESS WILL BE
DIVERSE AND CULTURALLY
SIGNIFICANT IN NATURE, AND THANK
YOU VERY, VERY MUCH. AND WE'VE
BEEN PROPERLY MOVED AND
SECONDED, MADAM SECRETARY WOULD
YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL AND
IT'S DUE PASS, TO APPROPRIATION
COMMITTEE. GIBSON I GIBSON I
WALLACE I WALLACE I FONG FONG I
LACKEY. NOT SURE. MCKENNA I
MCKENNA I SANTIAGO VALENCIA.
YES. VALENCIA I. MISS MCCARTY
THAT, OKAY. SIR, THIS IS ON AB
2720 MCCARTY. PLEASE. I WILL SAY
YES. THE SUSPENSE, LACKEY. I
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. KHÎI.
WE'LL KEEP THE ROLL OPEN FOR
ABSENT MEMBERS, YOU HAVE A
SECOND BILL BEFORE US, AND
PLEASE PROCEED WHEN READY. YES.
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. THIS IS
THE SECOND BILL ON A TOPIC THAT
THIS COMMITTEE IS FAMILIAR WITH,
WE HAD A FALL INFORMATIONAL
HEARING ON, YOUTH TACKLE
FOOTBALL AND SAFETY. WE HAD A
ROBUST POLICY HEARING, A FEW
MONTHS AGO AS WELL. AND THIS
CONTINUES THAT CONVERSATION. AND
MAKE SURE THAT WE, KEEP KIDS
SAFE AND HEALTHY WITH SPORTS
LIKE YOUTH, TACKLE FOOTBALL. YOU
KNOW, THERE'S PLENTY OF RESEARCH
THAT COMES OUT THAT, FRANKLY,
RAISES THE SAFETY QUESTIONS OVER
AND OVER, BUT I KNOW THERE ARE
QUESTIONS FROM PEOPLE WHO HAVE
DISBELIEF IN SOME OF THAT
RESEARCH. SO THIS ASK THE STATE
OF CALIFORNIA, VIA OUR SURGEON
GENERAL, TO ENGAGE ON THIS
TOPIC. AND I WILL SAY THAT, AS
YOU MAY RECALL, AFTER OUR
HEARING A FEW MONTHS AGO, OUR
GOVERNOR CAME OUT AND SPOKE UP
ON THIS TOPIC, AND HE ASKED US
HE ASKED ME TO COME FORWARD WITH
A SUBSEQUENT BILL WITH US TODAY
TO DIRECT THE STATE, THE SURGEON
GENERAL, TO STUDY THIS ISSUE AND
LOOK AT THE SAFETY AND LONG
TERME IMPACTS ON YOUNG KIDS
BRAINS RELATED TO YOUTH TACKLE
FOOTBALL. SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE
DOING HERE TODAY. FOLLOWING UP
ON THAT REQUEST, THIS IS A
CERTAINLY A WORK IN PROGRESS.
WE'RE WORKING WITH THE
GOVERNOR'S OFFICE ON SOME WAYS
HOW IT WOULD CRAFT THIS. RIGHT
NOW IT'S THE SURGEON GENERAL. IS
THE TASK, HOLDER FOR THIS
ENTITY, WE COULD YOU KNOW, ALTER
THAT ALONG THE WAY. BUT WITH US
TODAY, WE HAVE A GOOD STARTING
POINT FROM THE BILL THAT WE
HEARD, THREE YEARS AGO. Þ. WE DO
TAKE THE TECHNICAL COMMITTEE
AMENDMENTS. AND THANK YOU FOR
YOUR WORK ON THIS. AND WITH ME
ARE, IS MY WITNESS FROM THE
CALIFORNIA NEUROLOGIST SOCIETY.
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOUR VOTE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE'RE
SPEAKING ABOUT ITEM NUMBER FOUR,
ASSEMBLY BILL 3047, YOUR
WITNESS, YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU. MY NAME IS
STEVE KOTALIK. I AM THE I
REPRESENT THE CALIFORNIA
NEUROLOGY SOCIETY, AND I'M
SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THEIR
PRESIDENT, STELLA LEGARDA.
DOCTOR LEGARDA CAN'T BE HERE
TODAY, BUT WE WOULD LIKE TO
CLARIFY FOR THE COMMITTEE, THE
SURGEON GENERAL, AS WELL AS ALL
HERE PRESENT, THAT THE
IMPORTANCE OF EDUCATION OF
ATHLETES, PARENTS AND THE
GENERAL PUBLIC IS PRIMARY AND
THE INHERENT RISKS ASSOCIATED
WITH REPETITIVE HEAD IMPACTS.
AND TACKLE FOOTBALL,
PARTICULARLY AMONG YOUNG
ATHLETES. PEDIATRIC POPULATIONS
HAVE A HEIGHTENED RISK OF
REPETITIVE HEAD IMPACTS DUE TO
THEIR ANATOMICAL AND
PHYSIOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS.
ALL PARENTS KNOW THAT THEIR
MATURING BODIES PREDISPOSE THEM
TO ACCELERATE AND DECELERATING
INJURIES, EVEN IN THE ABSENCE OF
OVERT TRAUMA. THERE'S NO
QUESTION THAT CUMULATIVE HEAD
IMPACT CAN LEAD TO TRAUMATIC
ENCEPHALOPATHY SYNDROME. TIS A
DISORDER THAT EMERGES WITHIN 10
TO 20 YEARS, CAUSING SEVERE
MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL
DIFFICULTIES FOR AFFECTED
INDIVIDUALS AND THEIR FAMILIES.
THESE CHALLENGES TEND TO WORSEN
OVER TIME AND ARE FREQUENTLY
UNRESPONSIVE TO TREATMENT AND
CAN HAVE FATAL CONSEQUENCES.
AUTOPSIES OF YOUNG ATHLETES WITH
TS HAVE REVEALED FINDINGS
CONSISTENT WITH CHRONIC
TRAUMATIC ENCEPHALOPATHY AND
OTHER EARLY NEURODEGENERATIVE
CHANGES, EVEN IN INDIVIDUALS WHO
ARE NEVER DIAGNOSED WITH A
CONCUSSION IN THEIR LIFETIME.
AUTOPSY AUTOPSY FINDINGS FIND
THAT CTE ACROSS ALL AGE GROUPS
REINFORCES THAT CORRELATION WITH
TÊ TS. THE CNS CHAMPIONS PARENTS
RIGHTS AND THEIR ROLE IN
NURTURING THEIR CHILDREN'S
WELL-BEING. WE UNDERSCORE THE
NEED FOR YOUNG ATHLETES AND
THEIR CUSTODIANS TO BE FULLY
INFORMED ABOUT THE INHERENT
RISKS OF YOUTH TACKLE FOOTBALL,
POTENTIALLY IMPACTING THEIR
YOUNG FUTURE AS ADULTS. SB 304
347 WILL PROVIDE THE SCIENTIFIC
AND EDUCATIONAL BASIS THAT WILL
REDUCE THAT TO AN UNNECESSARY
RISK, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO
YOUR AYE VOTE. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH. WITNESSES AND
SUPPORT FROM THE AUDIENCE. WOULD
YOU PLEASE LINE UP, IN SUPPORT,
SEEING AND HEARING NONE, OKAY.
WE'RE GOING TO MOVE TO
OPPOSITION. ANY OPPOSITION
WISHING TO REGISTER? PLEASE COME
UP AND TAKE A SEAT. YOU HAVE TWO
MINUTES. PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME
AND PROCEED WHEN READY. GOOD
MORNING. GOOD MORNING. I'LL MAKE
MY REMARKS BRIEF. GOOD MORNING,
COMMITTEE MEMBERS. CHAIR GIBSON,
MY NAME IS RON WHITE, AND I AM
THE PRESIDENT OF THE CALIFORNIA
YOUTH FOOTBALL ALLIANCE. I
RESPECTFULLY COME BEFORE YOU
TODAY IN OPPOSITION OF ASSEMBLY
BILL 3047, AS WRITTEN IN ITS
CURRENT FORM, AB 3047 SEEKS TO
BOTH ISOLATE AND INVESTIGATE IN
A VERY DISCRIMINATORY FASHION
THE LEÓN SPORT OF YOUTH TACKLE
FOOTBALL IN ITS VERY NATURE AND
LIMITED SCOPE. AB 3047 FOCUSES
ON A SINGLE SPORT IN CALIFORNIA
AND DOES NOT MENTION NOR
REFERENCE THE RISK ASSOCIATED
WITH PARTICIPATING IN COUNTLESS
OTHER CONTACT SPORTS OR
ACTIVITIES STATEWIDE, SUCH AS
SOCCER, WRESTLING, BASKETBALL,
JUNIOR BOXING, MMA, RUGBY, FLAG
FOOTBALL, LACROSSE, MOTOCROSS,
BICYCLING, AND MANY OTHER SPORTS
OFTEN PLAYED IN MORE AFFLUENT
SETTINGS. AB 3047 IS RIDDLED
WITH AMBIGUOUS LANGUAGE. IT
LACKS TRANSPARENCY AND IN ITS
SCOPE IS EXTREMELY NARROW AND
FIXATED ON THE SPORT OF YOUTH
TACKLE FOOTBALL. RIGHT HERE IN
CALIFORNIA, THERE IS NO
LEGISLATIVE NOR CLINICAL
PRECEDENT FOR ESTABLISHING AN
AGE OF PLAY FOR ANY SPORT OR
ATHLETIC ACTIVITY IN THE STATE
OF CALIFORNIA. WE DO NOT VIEW AB
3047 AS A COMPANION BILL TO AB
ONE, THE CALIFORNIA YOUTH
FOOTBALL ACT, BUT RATHER AN
ATTEMPT BY ITS AUTHOR TO FURTHER
ISOLATE AND ALIENATE THE YOUTH
TACKLE FOOTBALL COMMUNITY WITH
NO REGARD FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE
OF ALL YOUTH OR HIGH SCHOOL
ATHLETES IN CALIFORNIA. TO BE
VERY, VERY CLEAR, THE CALIFORNIA
YOUTH FOOTBALL ALLIANCE WELCOMES
UNBIASED BUT EQUITABLE AND
UNILATERAL STUDY OF ALL YOUTH
SPORTS AND THEIR POTENTIAL
INHERENT RISK. AS CALIFORNIANS,
WE ALL HAVE A COLLECTIVE DUTY TO
ENSURE THE HEALTH, SAFETY AND
PROPER DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATED
WITH PLAYING ALL YOUTH SPORTS.
AB 3047 SIMPLY DOES NOT DO THAT.
FOR THOSE REASONS, WE
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR A NO DATE.
EXCUSE ME, A NO VOTE. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, AUDIENCE.
WE GO TO THE AUDIENCE. ANYONE
WISHING TO REGISTER YOUR
OPPOSITION, TO 3047, PLEASE
REPORT, APPROACH THE MICROPHONE,
HEARING AND SEEING NONE. WE'RE
GOING TO BRING IT BACK TO THE
COMMITTEE. ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE
AUTHOR? HEARING AND SEEING.
NONE. IT'S BEEN. OH I'M SORRY.
YES. MR. VALENCIA, PLEASE. SOME
BRIEF COMMENTS, IF I MAY,
PLEASE. THE PREVIOUS, COMMITTEE
HEARING WHERE WE HEARD, THE
FORMER YOUTH FOOTBALL BILL, I
SHARED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MY
HISTORY AND EXPERIENCE PLAYING
WHAT I BELIEVE TO BE THE MOST
BEAUTIFUL SPORT ON PLANET EARTH,
YET ALSO LIKELY THE MOST VIOLENT
AND DANGEROUS SPORT, CONSIDERING
WHAT WE KNOW TODAY WHEN IT COMES
TO YOUTH FOOTBALL, I THINK THIS
IS A WORTHY CONVERSATION THAT
SHOULD CONTINUE, IT'S MY
UNDERSTANDING THAT MAY NOT BE
THE CASE IN CALIFORNIA, BUT
ACROSS THE NATION, THERE ARE
ALREADY LIMITATIONS TO YOUTH
ACTIVITIES, AND I THINK WE NEED
TO BE MINDFUL OF THE IMPACT THAT
THESE TYPES OF ACTIVITIES HAVE
ON YOUTH MOVING FORWARD, HAPPY
TO SUPPORT THIS BILL TODAY AND
WOULD APPRECIATE BEING A
COAUTHOR ON THE BILL AND
CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION. THANK
YOU. GREAT THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
MISS MCCARTY, YOU MAY CLOSE.
YEAH. THANK YOU. THIS IS
CERTAINLY A, YOU KNOW, AN
EMOTIONAL TOPIC. THIS IS AN
APPLE PIE TYPE THING. I KNOW ONE
OF YOUR COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND I
HAD A BIG CONVERSATION ABOUT
THIS IS WHY IS GOVERNMENT
GETTING INVOLVED? AND THE
QUESTION TO BE RAISED TO THE TO
THE, TO THE CONCERNS OUTLINED
OVER HERE. IS THIS SPORT IS WAY
MORE IMPACTFUL ON KIDS BRAINS
THAN ANY OTHER ACTIVITY. THE
RESEARCH IS CRYSTAL CLEAR. WE
SPENT THREE HOURS IN THE FALL
GOING OVER THIS, ONE OF THE
ACTIVITIES WAS MENTIONED WAS
FLAG FOOTBALL. WELL, BRAIN
INJURIES FOR KIDS 16 TO 14, A
LIFETIME BRAIN IMPACTS ARE
BETWEEN 15 AND 20 TIMES GREATER
WITH YOUTH TACKLE THAN YOUTH
FLAG. AND SO IT'S KIND OF LIKE
THE ISSUE THAT WE TALK ABOUT
SOMETIMES, MR. CHAIR, ABOUT
FIREARMS AND KIDS LIKE WHY DO WE
MAKE POLICIES ON FIREARMS FOR
KIDS AND RESEARCH? WELL BECAUSE
FIREARMS KILL KIDS WAY MORE THAN
BOW AND ARROWS DO. OR AX
THROWING. THERE'S AN EVENT THAT
HAS WAY MORE OF A PROPORTIONAL
IMPACT ON THE LIFETIME HEALTH OF
OUR YOUNGEST ATHLETES, AND THIS
IS WHY IT'S WORTHY TO ZERO IN ON
THIS ACTIVITY. PARENTS ARE
VOTING WITH THEIR FEET LEFT AND
RIGHT. MORE PARENTS ARE PLAYING
FLAG THAN YOUTH TACKLE FOOTBALL
THAN EVER BEFORE, AND RESEARCH
COMES OUT EVERY OTHER MONTH
OUTLINING THE ISSUES HERE. AND
THIS IS CERTAINLY A HEATED
DEBATE, THE GOVERNOR HAS ASKED
THE LEGISLATURE TO FURTHER THIS
CONVERSATION AND DIRECT THE
STATE TO LOOK INTO THIS MORE
WITH OPTIONS. AND SO THIS IS
WHAT WE'RE DOING JUST HERE
TODAY. AND WITH THAT,
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOUR RIGHT
VOTE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH, I WANT TO SAY I WANT TO
ACKNOWLEDGE, YOUR YEARS OF
WORKING ON THIS PARTICULAR PIECE
OF LEGISLATION AND SUPPORT AND
TIME THAT YOU SPENT ON THIS
PARTICULAR TOPIC. I APPRECIATE
YOUR FOCUS ON LOOKING INTO THE
SAFETY CONCERNS AROUND, THE
PARTICIPANTS OF YOUTH TACKLE
FOOTBALL AS I'VE SAID DURING THE
HEARING ON ASSEMBLY BILL, 734
AND BACK IN JANUARY, PARENTS
DESERVE TO HAVE ALL OF THE
INFORMATION BEFORE DECIDING TO
SIGN WAIVERS AND ALLOW THEIR
THEIR CHILDREN TO PLAY A SPORT
THAT HAS HIGH A HIGH DEGREE OF
RISK. I SINCERELY HOPE THAT YOU
COULD, THAT YOU SHOULD, IF THIS
BILL IS SIGNED, CONTINUE TO WORK
WITH THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE,
IN FACT, IN OPPOSITION OF THIS
BILL. SO WITH THAT, I'LL
ENTERTAIN A MOTION. IT'S BEEN
MOVED BY MISTER VALENCIA. IS
THERE A SECOND SECOND BY MISS
MCKENNA, WITH THAT, I, THIS BILL
IS Dð PASS, AND THIS BILL, THE
MOTION IS Dð PASS AS AMENDED TO
APPROPRIATION. MADAM SECRETARY,
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. GIBSON.
AYE. GIBSON. AYE WALLACE. I'M
SORRY, WALLACE NOT VOTING. FONG
FONG. AYE. LACKEY. NOT VOTED.
LACKEY. NOT VOTING. MCKENNA.
MCKENNA AYE. SANTIAGO. SANTIAGO.
AYE. VALENCIA DE VALENCIA. AYE
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. MCCARTY
. I THINK THAT. WILL OPEN THE
ROLL FOR THE ABSENT MEMBERS TO
ADD ON, AND THEN WE'LL REPORT
THE VOTE AND VOTES FOR AB 1996,
SANTIAGO. AYE. SANTIAGO. AYE.
FOR 2720. SANTIAGO SANTIAGO. AYE
AND FOR 28. OH EIGHT. LACKEY.
NOT VOTING. LACKEY NOT VOTING.
SANTIAGO. SANTIAGO. AYE. THAT
WAS ON THOSE ONES. JUST GIVE ME
THE NUMBER SIX. ASSEMBLY BILL,
1990 670. ASSEMBLY BILL 2727
ZERO. ASSEMBLY BILL 20 808 5 TO
1. THAT BILL IS OUT. YES. 3047
3047. HOW MANY? FIVE. ZERO. THAT
BILL IS OUT. I WANT TO SAY THANK
YOU VERY MUCH, TO EVERYONE AND
THE ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT AND
SPORTS AND TOURISM COMMITTEE. IS
NOW ADJOURNED AND COMPLETED.
THANK YOU