GOOD MORNING. MEMBERS OF THE
COMMITTEE AND THE PUBLIC TO THE
ASSEMBLY. COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC
EMPLOYMENT AND RETIREMENT.
BEFORE WE BEGIN, WE'LL PAUSE FOR
A FEW MINUTES TO MAKE SURE THAT
THE AUDIO AND VIDEO IS WORKING.
ALL RIGHT. EVERYTHING IS IN
ORDER. I HAVE A FEW
ANNOUNCEMENTS TO MAKE. WE HAVE A
NUMBER OF ITEMS ON THE AGENDA
TODAY, AND I'LL WALK THROUGH
THEM AND HOW WE WILL PROCEED.
FIRST, THE COMMITTEE WILL HOLD
AN INFORMATIONAL HEARING TITLED
SERVICE DELIVERY AND WORKFORCE
WELL-BEING ADDRESSING THE
VACANCY CRISIS IN LOCAL
GOVERNMENT. WE'RE GOING TO HEAR
FROM A NUMBER OF PANELISTS AND
EXPERTS REGARDING THE TOPIC AND
AFTER THE PANELS ARE COMPLETE,
THERE WILL BE A 15 MINUTE PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD FOR THOSE WHO
WISH TO MAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT
COMMENTS AT THE END, PLEASE BE
MINDFUL DURING THE BRIEF PERIOD
THAT OTHERS BEHIND YOU ALSO MAY
WANT TO SPEAK. IF YOU ARE UNABLE
TO MAKE A MAKE PUBLIC COMMENTS,
YOU MAY SUBMIT WRITTEN COMMENTS
TO THE COMMITTEE VIA THE FREE
LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY PORTAL SIX.
AT THE END OF THE INFORMATIONAL
HEARING, WHICH WILL BE
APPROXIMATELY. 1.5 HOURS LONG,
WE WILL RECESS FOR 5 TO 7
MINUTES BEFORE WE HEAR THREE
BILLS AS A SPECIAL ORDER OF
BUSINESS THAT ARE RELATED TO THE
SUBJECT OF THE INFORMATIONAL
HEARING, THOSE BILLS ARE AB 2489
WARD AB 2557, ORTEGA AND AB 2561
MCKENNA. AFTER THOSE THREE BILLS
WILL PROCEED THROUGH THE REST OF
THE AGENDA TO HEAR THE OTHER
BILLS ON THE FILE OF THOSE OTHER
BILLS, THREE THREE ARE ON
CONSENT. CALENDAR ITEM ONE AB
1905 ADDIS FILE ITEM EIGHT AB
2455 GABRIEL FILE ITEM 11 AB
2474. LACKEY DURING THE HEARING
OF BILLS TESTIMONY WILL BE
LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES TOTAL
ON EACH SIDE OF THE BILL AND TWO
PRIMARY WITNESSES ON EACH SIDE
OF THE BILL. ALL OTHERS MAY ONLY
STATE THEIR NAME ORGANIZATION IF
ANY, AND POSITION ON THE BILL
FOR COMMITTEE MEMBERS WILL TAKE
UP AD ON VOTES AT THE END OF THE
HEARING. IF YOU NEED TO LEAVE
DURING THE HEARING, RETURN OR
COME LATE. PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT
YOU ARE AT THE DAIS ON A
MICROPHONE AND IN THE VIEW OF A
CAMERA FOR PUBLIC VIEW. WHEN
CASTING YOUR VOTE. FINALLY, THE
ASSEMBLY HAS EXPERIENCED A
NUMBER OF DISRUPTIONS TO
COMMITTEE AND FLOOR PROCEEDINGS
IN THE LAST FEW YEARS SO THAT
EVERYONE IS CRYSTAL CLEAR FOR
CONDUCT THAT DISRUPTS, DISTURBS,
OR IMPEDES. THE ORDERLY CONDUCT
OF THIS HEARING IS PROHIBITED.
TO ADDRESS ANY DISRUPTIVE
CONDUCT, I WILL DIRECT THEM TO
STOP AND WARN THE INDIVIDUAL
THAT IF THEY CONTINUE, THEY MAY
BE REMOVED FROM PARTICIPATING IN
THE HEARING OR THE CAPITAL, AND
WILL TEMPORARILY RECESS THE
HEARING TO ADDRESS THE MATTER.
THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR
COOPERATION. LET'S GET STARTED
WITH THE INFORMATIONAL HEARING
AND WELCOME OUR FIRST PANEL. OUR
FIRST PANEL IS ON CIVIL SERVICE
VACANCY AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
WE'LL BRING ON SEAN O'BRIEN, A
POLICY DIRECTOR FROM AFSCME.
SAVANNA HUNTER, PHD, ASSOCIATE
RESEARCH AND POLICY SPECIALIST
FROM UC BERKELEY LABOR CENTER.
PATRICE BARRY, CHIEF OF IMPACT
OFFICER IN POVERTY IN CALIFORNIA
. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING,
GOOD MORNING, CHAIR MCKENNA.
MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE, I
GREATLY APPRECIATE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH YOU
TODAY. MY NAME IS SEAN O'BRIEN.
I'M THE POLICY DIRECTOR WITH THE
AMERICAN FEDERATION OF STATE,
COUNTY AND MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES,
OR AFSCME. OUR UNION REPRESENTS
ABOUT 1.4 MILLION PUBLIC SERVICE
WORKERS THROUGHOUT THE NATION,
MANY OF THEM, ARE HERE IN
CALIFORNIA, ESPECIALLY AS LOCAL
GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, ENSURING
THAT PUBLIC SERVICES ARE WELL
FUNDED AND WELL STAFFED IS A TOP
PRIORITY FOR OUR MEMBERS. DURING
THE PANDEMIC, AFSCME MEMBERS LED
A CAMPAIGN CALLED FUND THE FRONT
LINES, WHICH HELPED SECURE
CRITICAL FEDERAL FUNDING FOR
LOCAL GOVERNMENT AS WELL AS
STATE GOVERNMENT SERVICES. AND
LAST YEAR, AFSCME ALSO LAUNCHED
THE STAFF THE FRONT LINES
CAMPAIGN. ITS PURPOSE HAS BEEN
TO HIGHLIGHT THE NATIONWIDE,
GOVERNMENT STAFFING CRISIS TO
PARTNER WITH EMPLOYERS COMMITTED
TO SOLVING IT, AND ALSO TO
HIGHLIGHT LOCAL AND STATE PUBLIC
SERVICE JOB OPPORTUNITIES AND
TODAY, I'D LIKE TO BRIEFLY COVER
TWO TOPICS. FIRST, I'M GOING TO
GIVE A BRIEF UPDATE ON THE STATE
OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT JOBS ACROSS
THE COUNTRY. AND SECOND, I WANT
TO SHARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT
WE LEARNED ABOUT LOCAL
GOVERNMENT STAFFING, HIRING AND
RETENTION FROM OUR STAFF. THE
FRONT LINES CAMPAIGN. SO FIRST,
LET'S LOOK AT THE NATIONAL
PICTURE FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT
JOBS. AND HERE THERE ARE BOTH
GOOD NEWS AND NOT SO GOOD NEWS
STORIES TO TELL. AND I'LL START
WITH THE GOOD NEWS, THIS PAST
DECEMBER, LOCAL GOVERNMENT JOBS
RETURNED TO WHERE THEY WERE WERE
RIGHT BEFORE THE PANDEMIC BEGAN,
AND THAT RECOVERY, WHICH TOOK 46
MONTHS, IS ACTUALLY QUITE A
SIGNIFICANT SUCCESS, ESPECIALLY
WHEN YOU CONSIDER THAT IT TOOK
NEARLY A DECADE, 116 MONTHS TO
RECOVER FROM THE GREAT RECESSION
THAT HAD BEGUN IN DECEMBER OF
2007, FURTHER, AS PART OF THE
GOOD NEWS, GOVERNMENTS ARE
CONTINUING TO HIRE. ALTHOUGH THE
FEDERAL DATA SOURCES DON'T ALLOW
US TO BREAK OUT LOCAL GOVERNMENT
NUMBERS, WE KNOW STATE AND LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS COMBINED FILLED
336,000 VACANCIES IN FEBRUARY.
THAT'S THE MOST RECENT MONTH FOR
WHICH WE HAVE DATA, AND THEY
ALSO HAD POSTED 773,000 JOBS FOR
HIRE ON NET, IN IN MARCH. WE
KNOW THAT THERE WAS A NET GAIN
OF 31,000 LOCAL JOBS ACROSS THE
COUNTRY. THERE ARE TWO PARTS OF
THE NOT SO GOOD STORY. THE FIRST
IS THAT WE DON'T HAVE NEARLY
ENOUGH LOCAL GOVERNMENT WORKERS
IN PLACE TO DELIVER ADEQUATE
PUBLIC SERVICES IN OUR
COMMUNITIES. OUR POPULATION HAS
GROWN, BUT THE RANKS OF LOCAL
PUBLIC SERVICE WORKERS HASN'T
KEPT UP. IF LOCAL GOVERNMENT
JOBS HAD GROWN RIGHT ALONG WITH
POPULATION SINCE THE START OF
THE GREAT RECESSION, THERE WOULD
BE NEARLY 1.3 MILLION MORE LOCAL
GOVERNMENT WORKERS IN THE US
THAN WE HAVE TODAY. SO WE HAVE A
LONG WAY TO GO TO FILL THAT GAP.
THE SECOND PART OF THE NOT SO
GOOD STORY IS THAT GOVERNMENT
EMPLOYERS CONTINUE TO HAVE
TROUBLE HIRING OVER THE LAST
YEAR, THE AVERAGE NUMBER OF
STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT JOB
OPENINGS EACH MONTH WAS A THIRD
MORE THAN WHAT IT WAS IN THE
YEAR BEFORE THE PANDEMIC. AT THE
SAME TIME, HIRES HAVE BEEN
BARELY UP JUST 3.4% EACH MONTH,
AND THAT'S A DYNAMIC WE'VE SEEN
THROUGHOUT THE GOVERNMENT JOBS
RECOVERY. THE NUMBER OF JOBS
POSTED HAS SURGED, BUT THE
NUMBER OF WORKERS BEING HIRED
EACH MONTH HAS BARELY BUDGED. SO
LET ME TURN NOW TO SOME OF THE
THINGS THAT WE'VE LEARNED FROM
OUR STAFF. THE FRONT LINES
CAMPAIGN. IN 11 CITIES, WE HELD
LISTENING SESSIONS IN WHICH
ELECTED AND APPOINTED GOVERNMENT
LEADERS COULD HEAR DIRECTLY FROM
AFSCME MEMBERS ABOUT THE IMPACT
OF STAFFING SHORTAGES ON THEIR
COMMUNITIES AND THEMSELVES, AND
IN TURN, THAT OUR MEMBERS COULD
HEAR FROM THOSE LEADERS. THESE
INCLUDED, TO RIGHT HERE IN
CALIFORNIA, ONE IN SAN DIEGO AND
ONE IN LOS ANGELES. THROUGH
THESE LISTENING SESSIONS AND
MANY OTHER CONVERSATIONS, WE
WERE ABLE TO GAIN SIGNIFICANT
INSIGHTS INTO THE NATURE AND
CAUSES OF THE STAFFING CRISIS IN
LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND SOME OF
THOSE FINDINGS WERE THINGS YOU'D
EXPECT. OTHERS WERE MORE
SURPRISING. AND I'D LIKE TO JUST
SHARE A FEW OF THOSE THINGS,
FIRST, YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY'S
AWARE THAT PAY IN SOME CASES
BENEFITS HAVE BEEN A PROBLEM AND
MANY LOCAL GOVERNMENTS HAVE PUT
AUSTERITY MEASURES IN PLACE
FOLLOWING THE GREAT RECESSION
AND NEVER REALLY PULLED BACK
FROM THOSE. BY THE TIME WE HELD
OUR LISTENING SESSIONS LAST
YEAR, PROGRESS WAS BEING MADE IN
MANY PLACES, BUT THERE WAS MUCH
MORE WORK TO BE DONE, AND I
THINK THE WORK CONTINUES ON THAT
. THE SECOND THING I WANT TO
POINT OUT IS THAT IN A LOT OF
PLACES, UNDERSTAFFING HAS BEEN
NORMALIZED. IT'S JUST BECOME THE
WAY GOVERNMENTS ARE DOING
BUSINESS. AND SO, FRANKLY,
SIMPLY FILLING ALL OF THE
UNFUNDED POSITIONS THAT
GOVERNMENT HAS POSTED ISN'T
NECESSARILY GETTING YOU TO FULL
STAFFING, THIRD, UNADDRESSED
STAFFING SHORTAGES ARE LEADING
TO MORE UNDERSTAFFING, EXCESSIVE
WORKLOADS LIKE PROLONGED PERIODS
OF 65, 70 AND EVEN 85 HOUR
WORKWEEKS, WHICH I'VE HEARD OF
FROM FROM SOME WORKERS, ARE
PUSHING LONG TENURED WORKERS TO
QUIT, AND IT MAKES IT DIFFICULT
TO RECRUIT AND KEEP NEW WORKERS.
FOURTH, SHORT TERMS AND
EXPEDIENT RESPONSES TO THE
STAFFING CRISES OFTEN END UP
CREATING MORE PROBLEMS FOR LONG
TENURED WORKERS, THIS IS
SOMETHING WE'VE HEARD REPEATEDLY
FROM OUR MEMBERS, MANY OF THEIR
EMPLOYERS HAVE HIRED CONTRACTORS
OR BROUGHT IN TEMPORARY OR
PROVISIONAL EMPLOYEES TO DEAL
WITH BACKLOGS AND FILL GAPS, ALL
TOO OFTEN, CONTRACTOR EMPLOYEES
HAVE BEEN ILL EQUIPPED AND
POORLY TRAINED TO DO THE WORK
THE CONTRACTORS HAVE BEEN HIRED
TO DO, AND OUR MEMBERS ARE LEFT
TO FIX THE MISTAKES, WHICH CAN
BE A SOURCE OF GREAT FRUSTRATION
TO THEM, THE FIFTH AND FINAL
THING I JUST WANT TO MENTION IS,
THE HIRING PROCESS IN MANY
GOVERNMENTS IS UNNECESSARILY
SLOW. SOME MIGHT SAY PAINFULLY
SLOW AND IT MAKES IT VERY
DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO COMPETE
FOR JOB CANDIDATES AGAINST
PRIVATE SECTOR EMPLOYERS. AND
WHILE GOVERNMENTS NECESSARILY
HAVE TO MEET HIGHER STANDARDS
THAN PRIVATE EMPLOYERS IN
HIRING, THAT DOESN'T EXPLAIN
THINGS LIKE TAKING AN AVERAGE OF
180 DAYS OR MORE TO FILL A
VACANCY ONCE IT'S BEEN POSTED,
SO THE GOOD NEWS IS PUBLIC
SERVICE WORKERS, THEIR EMPLOYERS
AND THE PUBLIC HAVE A SHARED
INTEREST IN SOLVING THE STAFFING
CRISIS, ADDRESSING IT, HOWEVER,
WILL REQUIRE A DELIBERATE,
CONCERTED, COMPREHENSIVE EFFORT
THAT INVESTS IN PUBLIC SERVICES
AND INVEST IN PUBLIC SERVICE
WORKERS AND OUR MEMBERS ARE
READY TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN. SO I
APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO
SHARE OUR PERSPECTIVES ON THESE
ISSUES TODAY, AND I'M HAPPY TO
ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY
HAVE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT
SPEAKER, PLEASE. THANK YOU,
MADAM CHAIR, AND THE COMMITTEE
FOR HAVING ME HERE TODAY, MY
NAME IS DOCTOR SAVANNAH HUNTER.
I'M A SOCIOLOGIST WITH EXPERTISE
IN WORK AND EMPLOYMENT, AND I
WORK AS AN ASSOCIATE RESEARCH
AND POLICY SPECIALIST AT THE UC
BERKELEY LABOR CENTER, IN 2022,
THE LABOR CENTER BEGAN TO SEE
INCREASING NUMBERS OF REPORTS
THAT EXCESSIVE JOB VACANCIES IN
LOCAL GOVERNMENT WERE A
SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGE. IN
RESPONSE, WE CONDUCTED RESEARCH
TO UNDERSTAND THE OBSTACLES
LOCAL GOVERNMENT, EMPLOYERS IN
CALIFORNIA WERE FACING, FILLING
VACANT POSITIONS. WE INTERVIEWED
NEARLY TWO DOZEN LOCAL
GOVERNMENT AND UNION LEADERS
ACROSS THE STATE. WE COLLECTED
AND ANALYZED DETAILED VACANT
POSITION DATA FROM THREE
COUNTIES AND WE ANALYZED
PUBLICLY AVAILABLE REPORTS AND
AUDITS ON STAFFING AND
VACANCIES. OUR RESEARCH, WHICH
WE PUBLISHED IN DECEMBER, FOUND
THAT JOB VACANCIES IN LOCAL
GOVERNMENT ARE A WIDESPREAD AND
SIGNIFICANT PROBLEM FOR THE
PUBLIC SECTOR. IN THE 2022 2023
FISCAL YEAR, OUR LOCAL
GOVERNMENT INTERVIEWEES REPORTED
THAT JOB VACANCY RATES RANGED
FROM 5% TO OVER 30. DATA WE
OBTAINED FROM SAN DIEGO COUNTY,
LOS ANGELES COUNTY, SANTA CLARA
COUNTY, THE CITY AND COUNTY OF
SAN FRANCISCO, HÌ, THE CITY OF
OAKLAND AND SURROUNDING BAY AREA
CITIES. ALL REPORTED DOUBLE
DIGIT DIGIT VACANCY RATES, WITH
BETWEEN 12 TO 16% OF ALL JOBS
VACANT. FOR CONTEXT, THAT'S MORE
THAN 1 IN 10 JOBS UNFILLED,
WHILE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS EXPECT
TO HAVE SOME LEVEL OF VACANCIES
AS EMPLOYEES RETIRE OR NATURALLY
TURN OVER. THE VACANCY RATES
REPORTED TO US WERE ABOUT ONE
AND A HALF TO TWO TIMES TYPICAL
EXPECTATIONS. WE ALSO FOUND THAT
HIGH LEVELS OF JOB VACANCIES ARE
NOT LIMITED TO ANY ONE TYPE OF
JOB OR SERVICE. WE FOUND HIGH
JOB VACANCIES IN ADMINISTRATIVE
AND CLERICAL POSITIONS, PUBLIC
HEALTH, NURSING, BEHAVIORAL
HEALTH AND SOCIAL WORK, CRIMINAL
JUSTICE, PUBLIC WORKS, PUBLIC
TRANSPORTATION, AND MANY OTHERS.
SO WHY WERE JOB VACANCIES SO
HIGH? OUR RESEARCH LED US TO
CONCLUDE THAT THERE ARE MULTIPLE
INTERCONNECTING FACTORS THAT CAN
CONTRIBUTE TO HIGH JOB VACANCIES
. SOME OF THE CHALLENGES FILLING
JOB VACANCIES ARE ASSOCIATED
WITH THE AFTER EFFECTS OF THE
COVID 19 PANDEMIC. LAYOFFS,
TURNOVER AND HIRING FREEZES IN
2020 RESULTED IN A 10% DROP IN
THE NUMBER OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT
EMPLOYEES IN CALIFORNIA. AS THE
ECONOMY BEGAN TO REOPEN, SOME
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS STRUGGLED TO
COMPETE IN A TIGHT LABOR MARKET,
WHERE LOW UNEMPLOYMENT RATES AND
HIGH JOB OPENINGS MEANT THAT
WORKERS HAD A LOT OF EMPLOYMENT
OPTIONS, ALONG WITH INCREASED
RETIREMENT COSTS AND TURNOVER
WITHIN LOCAL GOVERNMENTS. THEY
WERE STRUGGLING TO COMPETE.
HOWEVER, THESE CHALLENGES IN THE
PANDEMIC WERE REALLY EXACERBATED
BY LONGER TUM STRUCTURAL ISSUES
WITHIN LOCAL GOVERNMENTS. FIRST,
LOCAL GOVERNMENT HIRING
PROCESSES ARE LONG, COMPLEX AND
CAN BE CUMBERSOME. THEY CAN TAKE
ANYWHERE FROM 2 TO 9 MONTHS TO
COMPLETE. FOR WORKERS WHO NEED
EMPLOYMENT NOW, THEY SIMPLY
CANNOT AFFORD TO WAIT THAT LONG.
SECOND, LONG TIME
UNDERINVESTMENT HAS CAST A
SHADOW OVER LOCAL. THE
GOVERNMENT WORKFORCE SINCE THE
GREAT RECESSION. LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS HAVE STRUGGLED TO
REGAIN PRE-RECESSION EMPLOYMENT
AND REVENUE LEVELS, ESPECIALLY
CONSIDERING POPULATION GROWTH.
THESE DYNAMICS MEAN THAT LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS HAVE HAD TO DO MORE
WITH LESS WORKLOADS HAVE
INCREASED, AND STAFFING LEVELS
HAVE STAGNATED, ALL OF WHICH
DEGRADES THE JOB QUALITY THAT
HAS HISTORICALLY DRAWN PEOPLE
AND RETAINED PEOPLE TO PUBLIC
SECTOR EMPLOYMENT. THIRD, IN
THIS CONTEXT, OUR INTERVIEWEES
EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT THE
ABILITY OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO
COMPETE FOR WORKERS ON
COMPENSATION, PARTICULARLY IN
THE CONTEXT OF HIGH COST OF
LIVING IN CALIFORNIA. WHILE THE
PUBLIC SECTOR TYPICALLY OFFERS
BETTER RETIREMENT AND HEALTH
BENEFITS COMPARED TO THE PRIVATE
SECTOR, WAGE GROWTH IN THE
PRIVATE SECTOR HAS OUTPACED THE
PUBLIC SECTOR FOR MOST OF THE
LAST 14 YEARS, AND TARGETED
COMPENSATION STUDIES HAVE SHOWN
THAT EVEN WHEN ACCOUNTING FOR
TOTAL COMPENSATION, THE PUBLIC
SECTOR OFTEN LAGS HØI JOB
VACANCIES IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR
MATTER BECAUSE THEY AFFECT THE
ABILITY OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO
DELIVER VITAL SERVICES,
INCLUDING HEALTH CARE, SOCIAL
WELFARE, PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION,
PUBLIC HEALTH, LEGAL SYSTEMS AND
MANY MORE. BUT VACANCIES ALSO
IMPACT THE WELL-BEING OF WORKERS
WHO DELIVER THESE SERVICES. BOTH
OUR COUNTY AND UNION LEADERS,
WHO WE INTERVIEWED EXPRESSED
CONCERN IN INTERVIEWS ABOUT A
CYCLE OF OVERWORK DUE TO
UNDERSTAFFING, SUBSEQUENT
BURNOUT AMONG EMPLOYEES, AND
THEN TURNOVER OF WHICH POSITIONS
HAVE TO BE FILLED AGAIN. THERE
ARE A NUMBER OF STRATEGIES THAT
STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS CAN
EMPLOY TO ADDRESS THEIR HIGH JOB
VACANCIES. HOWEVER, THE
EFFECTIVENESS OF ANY PARTICULAR
APPROACH DEPENDS ON HOW WELL IT
ADDRESSES THE UNDERLYING
PROBLEM. FOR EXAMPLE, FOR SOME
OCCUPATIONS, HIGH JOB VACANCIES
MAY BE CAUSED BY HIGH TURNOVER,
DRIVEN BY UNCOMPETITIVE PAY OR
OTHER JOB QUALITY CHALLENGES.
BUT FOR OTHER OCCUPATIONS,
VACANCIES MAY BE DRIVEN BY
INSUFFICIENT WORKFORCE
DEVELOPMENT PIPELINES AND THE
NEED FOR WORKERS WITH SPECIFIC
SKILLS. AS A STARTING PLACE,
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS SHOULD COLLECT
AND PUBLISH DATA ON JOB
VACANCIES AND WORK TO UNDERSTAND
THE SPECIFIC CHALLENGES THEY
FACE. THIS REQUIRES LOOKING AT
DATA POINTS SUCH AS THE NUMBER
AND RATE OF JOB VACANCIES, THE
AMOUNT AND RATE OF TURNOVER FROM
QUITTING OR RETIREMENTS, THE
LEVEL OF COMPENSATION OFFERED,
HIRING PROCESSES AND RETENTION
METRICS, AMONG OTHER FACTORS
WHICH WE DETAIL IN OUR REPORT.
BECAUSE THE UNDERLYING REASON
FOR JOB VACANCIES CAN VARY,
THESE DATA POINTS SHOULD BE
COLLECTED BOTH COUNTY OR CITY
WIDE, BUT ALSO BY JOB
CLASSIFICATION AND AGENCY.
CRITICALLY, LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
SHOULD WORK IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
LABOR UNIONS AND EMPLOYEES WHO
EXPERIENCE AND UNDERSTAND THESE
DYNAMICS OF JOB VACANCIES
FIRSTHAND. TO INVESTIGATE THE
UNDERLYING CHALLENGES, ANALYZE
THE DATA, AND DEVELOP
COLLABORATIVE SOLUTIONS. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER.
THANK YOU, CHAIR. AND MEMBERS OF
THE COMMITTEE. MY NAME IS
PATRICE BERRY. I'M THE CHIEF
IMPACT OFFICER AT AN
ORGANIZATION CALLED IN POVERTY
IN CALIFORNIA, ALSO KNOWN AS
EPIC, FOUNDED BY FORMER STOCKTON
MAYOR MICHAEL TUBBS. AND
ALTHOUGH I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF
EPIC TODAY, I'M ALSO HERE AS THE
DAUGHTER OF A CIVIL SERVANT WHO
SERVED FOR NEARLY 40 YEARS UNTIL
HIS RETIREMENT AND GROWING UP. I
DEFINITELY SAW FIRSTHAND THE
IMPACT OF CIVIL SERVICE ON MY
FAMILY'S ECONOMIC MOBILITY. AND
SO I'M REALLY HAPPY TO HAVE THIS
OPPORTUNITY TO ADVOCATE FOR THE
SECTOR TODAY. EPIC AIMS TO END
POVERTY IN CALIFORNIA BY
ELEVATING THE VOICES OF PEOPLE
EXPERIENCING IT AND ADVANCING A
STATE AGENDA THAT THAT
INTRODUCES BOLD POLICIES ROOTED
IN THEIR NEEDS. AND OVER THE
PAST TWO YEARS, WE HAVE VISITED
OVER 20 COUNTIES ACROSS THE
STATE, LISTENING TO PEOPLE
LIVING IN POVERTY AND TOGETHER
CRAFTING AN AGENDA TO ALLEVIATE
ALLEVIATE IMMEDIATE STRESS, BUT
ALSO IN POVERTY. LONG TERME AND
WHAT WE'VE LEARNED WON'T
SURPRISE YOU. TALENT IS
UNIVERSAL, BUT RESOURCES AND
OPPORTUNITY ARE NOT. SO EPIC HAS
PARTNERED WITH PEOPLE IMPACTED
BY POVERTY AND ADVOCACY
ORGANIZATIONS TO UNLOCK
OPPORTUNITY TO FIGHT POVERTY, TO
BUILD A ROADMAP TO A MORE
INCLUSIVE, EQUITABLE ECONOMY.
AND DRIVEN BY WHAT WE'VE HEARD,
WE'RE FOCUSED ON FIVE STRATEGIES
IMPROVE THE SAFETY NET, IMPROVE
QUALITY JOBS AND WORKER POWER.
ENSURE HOUSING AS A HUMAN RIGHT.
CREATE WEALTH OPPORTUNITIES FOR
ALL AND SECURE, SAFE
COMMUNITIES. AND SECOND CHANCES.
AND I'M PROUD TO SAY THAT
CALIFORNIA, EVEN IN THE MIDST OF
DIFFICULT BUDGET TIMES, IS
IMPLEMENTING SOME OF THE MOST
FORWARD THINKING AND
TRANSFORMATIVE ANTI-POVERTY
POLICIES, POLICIES THAT THE
FOLKS WE WORK WITH. IT TRULY
REFLECTS OUR COLLECTIVE VISION
OF HOW TO ACTUALLY END POVERTY.
BUT TODAY, I'M HERE TO HOPEFULLY
HELP THE LEGISLATURE AND THE
BROADER CAPITAL COMMUNITY
UNDERSTAND EXACTLY HOW
SIGNIFICANT MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT
IS TO ANTI-POVERTY WORK. WHEN
SOMEONE TURNS TO THE SAFETY NET,
IT IS OFTEN BECAUSE THEY'VE
REACHED THE END OF THE LINE OF A
WHOLE HOST OF OTHER OPTIONS
THEY'VE ALREADY CONSIDERED, LIKE
A PERSON FLEEING DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE OR A WORKER WAITING FOR
JUSTICE IN THE WORKERS
COMPENSATION SYSTEM. AND AGING
OUT FOSTER YOUTH WHO HAS NO
OTHER FAMILY TO RELY ON, OR
SOMEONE LIKE MY FORMER STUDENT
WHO COINCIDENTALLY CALLED ME ON
TUESDAY. WAS THAT YESTERDAY? SO
YESTERDAY, SHE AND HER PARTNER
ARE EXPECTING THEIR FIRST CHILD
AND THEY'RE HOMELESS BECAUSE
THEY'RE WAITING FOR AN
INSPECTION ON A UNIT THEY'VE
ALREADY RENTED WITH A SECTION
EIGHT HOUSING VOUCHER. AND ALL
OF THESE STORIES ARE REAL
STORIES THAT WE'VE HEARD FROM
COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE STATE.
AND WHEN THEY SHOW UP ON THE
STEPS OF A COUNTY HUMAN SERVICES
AGENCY, IT IS BECAUSE THEY'RE
THERE TO ASK FOR URGENT HELP,
LIFE SAVING HELP, HOMELESSNESS
AND HUNGER PREVENTING HELP. AND
WITHOUT THIS HELP, SOMETIMES
IT'S MORE THAN A RISK THAT THEY
FALL THROUGH THE CRACKS. AND
SOMETIMES, OFTENTIMES, WE CAN
ALMOST GUARANTEE IT. SO TO HELP
PAINT A PICTURE FOR YOU OF THE
DEMAND FOR COUNTY HUMAN SERVICES
AND WHAT THEY MEAN TO
CALIFORNIANS, OVER 350,000
PEOPLE APPLY FOR CALWORKS EVERY
MONTH. MORE THAN THREE 3 MILLION
PEOPLE APPLY FOR CALFRESH
MONTHLY, AND OVER 14 MILLION
PEOPLE APPLY FOR MEDI-CAL EVERY
SINGLE MONTH. AND PEOPLE TURN TO
THESE SERVICES AND THESE
PROGRAMS BECAUSE THEY ARE A
LIFELINE. CALWORKS PROVIDES CASH
ASSISTANCE THAT SOMETIMES CAN
MAKE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
HOMELESSNESS AND KEEPING A ROOF
OVER YOUR HEAD, DIAPERING A
CHILD, OR MAKING A VISIT TO AN
EMERGENCY ROOM. CALFRESH ALSO
PROVIDES CRITICALLY NEEDED FOOD
ASSISTANCE, MOSTLY TO CHILDREN,
TO FAMILIES IN RURAL COMMUNITIES
WHO, WITHOUT CALFRESH, HAVE NO
OTHER EMERGENCY FOOD NETWORK.
AND ALTHOUGH IN CALIFORNIA, I'M
GLAD THAT WE'RE EXPANDING THE
MEDI-CAL PROGRAM TO EVERY INCOME
ELIGIBLE CALIFORNIAN, REGARDLESS
OF IMMIGRATION STATUS, THIS
PROGRAM AND SO MANY OTHERS HAVE
BEEN BURDENED BY THE EXPIRATION
OF COVID ERA POLICIES, BY THE
GROWTH IN THEIR PROGRAM AND WHY
WE'RE HERE TODAY, SAY, BY THE
LACK OF WORKERS WHO ARE
AVAILABLE TO PROCESS PEOPLE'S
APPLICATIONS AND
RECERTIFICATIONS TWO YEARS AGO,
THIS IS THE LAST THING I'M GOING
TO SAY. EPIC CO-FOUNDED THE
BENEFITS, ACCESS AND EQUITY
INITIATIVE, AND WE CONVENED
COUNTY HUMAN SERVICE WORKERS
WITH COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR THÀNH,
COUNTY ADMINISTRATORS WITH THE
PEOPLE THEY SERVE AND THEIR
ADVOCATES. WE HEARD LOUD AND
CLEAR THAT MORE WORKERS ARE
NEEDED, THAT MORE JOBS ARE
AVAILABLE, AND THAT THE
FINANCIAL RESOURCES ARE
CRITICALLY NEEDED TO HIRE ENOUGH
STAFF TO PROCESS APPLICATIONS.
TIMELY AND ACCURATELY. AND
WITHOUT THESE RESOURCES, THE
IMPACT IS FELT ON ALL FRONTS, AT
EVERY LEVEL. YET THIS IS CLEAR
TO US, AND IT'S CLEAR TO US THAT
OVER AND OVER AGAIN, SOME OF THE
FINANCIAL RESOURCES ALLOCATED TO
HIRE STAFF ARE BEING RETURNED TO
THE GENERAL FUND BECAUSE THEY
WERE UNABLE TO BE SPENT SO AT
THE END OF THE DAY, THE WORLD
CLASS SAFETY NET THAT WE'VE
BUILT HERE THAT YOU ALL HAVE
BUILT HERE IN THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA, THAT GOVERNORS AND
THEIR ADMINISTRATIONS HAVE BUILT
OVER TIME. IT IS ONLY AS GOOD AS
THE QUALITY AND THE QUANTITY OF
THE STAFF WHO ARE ABLE TO
ADMINISTER THE PROGRAMS AND
SERVICES. AND WHEN THESE
PROGRAMS LACK THE STAFF, LACK
THE STAFF, THEY NEED TO
ADMINISTER PROGRAMS. CERTAINLY
THE STATE GETS PENALIZED BY
FEDERALLY SET BENCHMARKS. BUT
MORE IMPORTANT THAN THAT, REAL
CALIFORNIANS SUFFER. AND I PLAN
TO BE HERE TODAY. BEFORE I GOT
THE CALL FROM MY STUDENT THIS
WEEK. BUT I'M REALLY, REALLY
HAPPY THAT I HAVE THIS
OPPORTUNITY TO BE BEFORE YOU
TODAY AND TO THANK YOU FOR
AGENDIZE THIS ISSUE AND FOR
PRIORITIZING IT. AND I WANT YOU
TO KNOW THAT AT IN POVERTY IN
CALIFORNIA AT EPIC, WE STAND
READY TO HELP YOU IMPLEMENT
IDEAS, CREATE SOLUTIONS, AND
GARNER SUPPORT ACROSS THE STATE
TO MAKE SOME CHANGES THAT WE
DESPERATELY NEED. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH, I HAVE A
FEW QUESTIONS. I WAS LOOKING
THROUGH THE SOME OF THE
INFORMATION ON ON STARTING WITH
PAY THESE NUMBERS. I USED TO
WORK FIRST OF ALL, I USED TO
WORK FOR DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL
SERVICES. THAT'S WHERE I STARTED
MY CAREER. AND SO I WAS AN
INTAKE WORKER. AND SO I
REMEMBER, WE COULD HAVE 250
CASES AT THAT TIME. AND THIS IS
IN 1999. AND SO WE WERE SUPPOSED
TO HAVE 250 CASES. AND AT THE
TIME WE PROBABLY HAD 400 EACH
PERSON, WHICH MEANT WE WORKED A
LOT OF OVERTIME. RIGHT, BUT WE
JUST WORKED. WE WEREN'T REALLY
GETTING PAID THE OVERTIME, SO I
CAN IMAGINE NOW THE CASELOADS
HAVE WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE,
THE SOCIAL SERVICES, THE
CASELOADS HAVE PROBABLY EVEN
GONE UP IF THEY'RE NOT GETTING
PAID. BUT I'M LOOKING AT THESE
SALARY INCREASES. WHEN ARE THE
LAST TIME THAT THESE FOLKS HAD
REAL COST OF LIVING SALARY
INCREASES? DO YOU GUYS KNOW SOME
OF THESE FOLKS LIKE YOUR YOUR
YOUR THE EMPLOYEES LIKE THE
INTAKE WORKERS, THE SENIOR
TYPIST? I WAS LOOKING THROUGH
SOME OF THE VACANCIES AND I WAS
JUST LOOKING AT THE SALARIES, I
KNOW THEY'RE NEGOTIATED, BUT DO
YOU GUYS KNOW, LIKE THE LAST
TIME THEY HAD, LIKE, REAL SALARY
INCREASES? YEAH, UNFORTUNATELY,
I DON'T HAVE THE ANSWER TO THAT.
I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE ON A
COUNTY BY COUNTY BASIS. OKAY.
THE CONTRACTING OUT, IS THAT
BECOMING A STANDARD INSTEAD OF
JUST HIRING FOLKS OR IS IT
COMING BECOMING A STANDARD TO
CONTRACT OUT OR HIRE TEMP
WORKERS? I WANT TO SAY
ANECDOTALLY AND I'M NOT THE
EXPERT, SO I WILL LEAVE WITH
THAT. BUT WHAT I AND I WAS
TALKING TO ANOTHER PANELIST OUT
THERE, BUT IT'S NOT ONLY
BECOMING A STANDARD, IT IS JUST
TO WHAT YOU SAID EARLIER. IT IS
PART OF THE NORM. IT IS THE WAY
YOU STAFF PROGRAMS AND SERVICES
AND WHEN AGAIN, WHEN I WAS
GETTING THESE JOBS AT THE FOR
THE COUNTY BECAUSE I WORKED IN
DID MORE THAN ONE POSITION, IT
DID TAKE A LONG TIME. SO YOU SAW
IT, YOU SEE THE ANNOUNCEMENT.
YOU GO IN AND I THINK THIS IS
STILL THE PROCEDURE. YOU GO IN
AND YOU TAKE THE WRITTEN TEST,
YOU COME BACK, YOU WAIT TO SEE
IF YOU PASS THAT, DO YOU GO IN
AND YOU DO AN INTERVIEW. YOU
WAIT A COUPLE OF WEEKS, MONTHS.
DO YOU GET THAT? THEN YOU GET
PUT ON A LIST. ONCE THEY RATE
YOU, IF YOU PASS ALL THE THINGS,
THEY RATE YOU AND THEN THEY
START BRINGING PEOPLE IN. THE
FIRST THREE CANDIDATES, THEY
START AT THE TOP, THEY BRING IN
THE FIRST THREE CANDIDATES THEY
HIRE, BUT I WOULD SAY AT LEAST
WHEN I WAS THERE, WE ALWAYS HAD
A LIST OF PEOPLE. ARE THEY IS
THAT STILL THE PROCEDURE FOR
HIRING? DO YOU KNOW? YEAH, I
BELIEVE IT IS. YOU KNOW, THE,
PART OF WHAT WE'VE FOUND IS THAT
THERE ARE LOTS OF, I THINK,
DECISIONS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE
AND WHO KNOWS WHEN THEY'VE BEEN
MADE ABOUT HOW TO STRUCTURE
THESE PROCESSES, AND THAT
HAVEN'T BEEN, I THINK, LOOKED AT
BUT LEAD TO A, YOU KNOW, A SLOW
PROCESS. FOR EXAMPLE, YOU KNOW,
FOR THE TEST, ARE THEY BEING
ADMINISTERED OFTEN ENOUGH? ARE
THERE OTHER THINGS THAT ARE
BARRIERS TO PEOPLE TAKING THE
TESTS? BECAUSE THE TESTS, YOU
KNOW, ARE IMPORTANT, RIGHT?
BECAUSE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE
THAT QUALIFIED INDIVIDUALS ARE
BEING HIRED, FOR THESE ROLES.
BUT, YOU KNOW, THERE, THERE MAY
BE BARRIERS AROUND THEM THAT
THAT NEED TO BE LOOKED AT. AND
THEN, YOU KNOW, THE I MEAN, ONE,
YOU KNOW, THE 180 DAYS I WAS
REFERRING TO IS DOESN'T COUNT
THE TEST. RIGHT. IT'S ONCE A
POSITION HAS BEEN POSTED AND
PEOPLE HAVE APPLIED FOR THE
POSITION, YOU KNOW THAT IT SORT
OF TO US SORT OF A INEXPLICABLE
IN MANY CASES, I THINK, YOU
KNOW, SOME GOVERNMENTS ARE, YOU
KNOW, TAKING A SERIOUS LOOK AT
THAT AND LOOKING FOR WAYS TO
REDUCE THE TIME IT TAKES. BUT I
THINK THERE'S A LOT OF WORK THAT
STILL NEEDS TO BE DONE THERE.
AND WHO DETERMINES THE TEST? I'M
SORRY, I'M GETTING ALL TECHNICAL
BECAUSE I'M JUST THINKING, LIKE
WHO DETERMINES THE PROCEDURE OF
THE HIRING IS IT THE DEPARTMENT
HEADS THAT DETERMINE OR IS THAT
IN YOUR MOU? LIKE WHO DETERMINES
THE PROCEDURE? THE HIRING
PROCEDURE AT FOR LOCAL
GOVERNMENT, I MEAN, AS, I CAN'T
SPEAK TO SPECIFIC SITUATIONS. I
MEAN, IT'S, IT'S MY
UNDERSTANDING THAT, I MEAN,
THERE'S SORT OF A GENERAL MATTER
THAT IS GOING TO BE, YOU KNOW,
IT'S GOING TO BE IT'S GOING TO
BE THE EMPLOYER TENDS TO BE,
THE, THE PERSONNEL DEPARTMENT
ITSELF. AND SO WOULDN'T
NECESSARILY BE COMING FROM THE
INDIVIDUAL, YOU KNOW, AN
INDIVIDUAL UNIT OR AGENCY WITHIN
GOVERNMENT. BUT THE OVERARCHING
PERSONNEL OPERATION. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH, ANY OF
THE OTHER MEMBERS HAVE ANY
QUESTIONS? ASSEMBLYWOMAN OAN,
THANK YOU GUYS. THANK YOU SO
MUCH. THANK YOU. SO OUR SECOND
PANEL IS THE IMPACT OF LOCAL
GOVERNMENT VACANCIES ON
WORKFORCE AND SERVICES. SYBARITE
WASTEWATER COLLECTION WORKER TWO
CITY OF LOS ANGELES VICE
PRESIDENT, SEIU LOCAL 721,
GEORGE OSBORNE, UNION OF
AMERICAN PHYSICIANS AND DENTISTS
, AFSCME CLAUDIA MCFARLAND, LMFT
, SENIOR MENTAL HEALTH COUNSEL,
COUNTY OF SACRAMENTO. STUART
AFSCME LOCAL 146. WELCOME GOOD
MORNING. GOOD MORNING. YOU MAY
GET STARTED. GOOD MORNING, MADAM
CHAIR AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS,
ONCE AGAIN, MY NAME IS MOYAMOYA
WRIGHT. I AM THE VICE PRESIDENT
OF SERVICE EMPLOYEES
INTERNATIONAL UNION LOCAL 721.
I'M ALSO AN EXECUTIVE BOARD
MEMBER OF SEIU, CALIFORNIA STATE
COUNCIL, THIS IS A VERY
IMPORTANT MEETING. AND I JUST
REALLY, REALLY WANT TO THANK YOU
FOR, HOLDING THIS. I'M ALSO, AS
YOU ANNOUNCED, A PROUD
WASTEWATER COLLECTION WORKER TWO
WITH THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES.
WELL, BASICALLY, I HELP TO
ENSURE, CRITICAL PIECES OF OUR
URBAN INFRASTRUCTURE, WHICH IS A
LARGEST MUNICIPAL WASTEWATER
SYSTEM IN THE NATION, 6700
MILES. THAT FUNCTIONS PROPERLY,
I UNDERSTAND INFRASTRUCTURE, THE
PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE BEHIND
EVERY INFRASTRUCTURE, THERE'S A
HUMAN BEING WORKER, AND THAT'S
THE HUMAN INFRASTRUCTURE. ONE
THING YOU CANNOT I MEAN, YOU
CANNOT NEGLECT INFRASTRUCTURE
BECAUSE IF YOU DO, IT WILL COME
TO BITE YOU WHERE YOU SHOULDN'T
BE BIT. WITH THAT, LET ME GET
WHERE I AM. SO I APOLOGIZE.
OKAY, SO IN CALIFORNIA, PUBLIC
SECTOR, WE ARE REALLY, REALLY,
SUFFERING THE NEGLECT OF BOTH
HUMAN AND, INFRASTRUCTURE AND
THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES. WE HAVE
OVER 200 VACANCIES IN THE COUNTY
OF LOS ANGELES. WE HAVE 10 TO
11,000 VACANCIES. I WANT TO TALK
TO YOU SHORTLY ABOUT WHAT IT
LOOKS LIKE FOR PUBLIC SECTOR
EMPLOYEES ON THE FRONT LINE AND
HOW IT IS WITH, HOW WE SERVE
WITH OUR MISSION. ONE STOP. I'D
LIKE TO TALK ABOUT LÀ ANIMAL
SERVICES AT THE ANIMAL SHELTERS,
ANIMAL CARE AND ANIMAL CONTROL
ARE SEVERELY UNDERSTAFFED IN THE
CITY OF LOS ANGELES AS A RESULT.
UNFORTUNATELY, THE ANIMALS ARE
SUFFERING WHICH VACANCIES ARE
AND CANNOT OPEN UP FACULTIES OR
EXPAND FACULTIES BECAUSE WE DO
NOT HAVE ENOUGH STAFF AND IT
RESULTS IN HUMANE TREATMENT TO
THESE ANIMALS AS OUR SHELTERS
ARE AT 221% CAPACITY, WE. SO
STEP INTO ONE OF OUR SHELTERS
WHERE THE CAGES ARE STACKED ON
TOP OF EACH OTHER WITH MULTIPLE
ANIMALS INSIDE OF THE CAGES, AND
THESE ANIMALS, THE NOISE THAT
YOU HEAR FROM THE ANIMALS IS
JUST, JUST WOULD DRIVE YOU
CRAZY. SO IMAGINE HOW THESE
ANIMALS FEEL. THEY ARE. THEY
FEEL LIKE THEY'RE DRIVING,
THEY'RE GOING CRAZY. AND IT'S
HEARTBREAKING. SO I WANT TO TALK
ABOUT ONE OF OUR OUR MEMBERS,
BONNIE, WHOSE MISSION IS TO
SERVE THESE ANIMALS, HER
COMPASSION. YOU CAN HEAR IT IN
HER VOICE WHEN SHE TALKS ABOUT
HER CAREER AND HER JOB. SHE USED
TO WORK FOR THE SHELTER. WELL,
SHE CANNOT NO LONGER WORK FOR
THE SHELTER BECAUSE SHE, GOT
ATTACKED BY A DOG THAT WAS IN
DISTRESS, AND SHE WAS SERIOUSLY
INJURED. AND SO THAT LEADS TO
ANOTHER VACANCY WITHIN OUR
ALREADY, ARE ALREADY, SYSTEM
THAT HAS BEEN BROKEN. THE LESS
CARE FOR THESE POOR ANIMALS, THE
LESS CARE FOR OUR MISSION TO
SERVE THE WELFARE OF THESE
ANIMALS. THIS IS HOW VACANCIES
WORK. THE CRITICAL IMPACT AND
CONDITIONS WILL NOT HAVE OUR
MISSION TO SERVE ANY OF THESE
AGENCIES OR THE. THE AGENCY'S
MISSION TO SERVE THE PUBLIC.
NEXT, I'D LIKE TO TAKE YOU TO
THE STREETS OF LOS ANGELES,
WHERE THE CRISIS IS REALLY
UNFOLDING. DESPITE ALL THE
LEADERSHIP OF OUR CITY AND OUR
GREAT MAYOR, MAYOR BASS, DESPITE
GOOD DECISIONS, DESPITE THE,
COMMITMENT AND GOOD INTENT, OUR
ABILITY TO ACCOMPLISH THE WORTHY
GOAL OF PROVIDING HELP TO PEOPLE
IN NEED, OUR UNHOUSED HAS TO
CLEAN UP THE STREETS OF LOS
ANGELES THAT THIS HAS BEEN
BECAME A VERY UNSAFE SITUATION
WHERE YOU HAVE SIDEWALKS AND
PEOPLE HAVE TO WALK INTO THE
STREET BECAUSE THEY CANNOT GET
BY BECAUSE OF THE UNHOUSED. YOU
HAVE FOLKS THAT OWN HOMES, PAY
PROPERTY TAXES AND HAVE
UNINSIGHTFUL, SCENES WITH PEOPLE
USING DRUGS AND SO ON AND SO
FORTH. WHO DOES THIS AFFECT? IT
AFFECTS EVERYONE. NOW, I WANT TO
TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT, OUR,
SKID ROW. I THINK I'M ON THAT.
SO SKID ROW HAD 5000, 5000 SOULS
THAT WERE OUT THERE WITH THE
VACANCIES. THEY HAD ONE
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SPECIALIST FOR
5000 PEOPLE. THAT'S IN THE
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES, WHICH THE
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SOCIAL
SERVICES, AS YOU WELL KNOW, THE
VACANCY IS THERE ARE TRIPLED UP
TO FOUR, AT LEAST 400. LIKE I
SAID, IN THE COUNTY OF LOS
ANGELES, UP TO 11,000. SO WE
HAVE TO WE HAVE TO STEP UP TO
THE PLATE, ALL OF US, BECAUSE
THIS IMPACTS ALL OF US WITH THE
WITH THE, UNHOUSED CRISIS. WHEN
IT RAINS, YOU HAVE NEEDLES,
WHATEVER TYPE OF, DEBRIS GO INTO
OUR STORM WATER SYSTEM. AND WHO
DOES THAT IMPACT? IT IMPACTS THE
FISH. SO THIS IS NOT JUST HUMAN,
IT DOES NOT ONLY AFFECT HUMANS,
IT AFFECTS OUR ENVIRONMENT, BUT
WE WE'RE NOT HOPELESS. WE SEE
THAT WE HAVE AN AVENUE. THERE'S
PLENTY OF WAYS THAT WE CAN TAKE
CARE OF THIS. AND OF COURSE,
THAT WILL BE ANOTHER MEETING. SO
WE MUST AND WE CAN REBUILD OUR
HUMAN INFRASTRUCTURE. BUT WE
HAVE TO DO IT TOGETHER. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER,
GOOD MORNING, MADAM CHAIR.
MEMBERS, GEORGE OSBORNE. I'M A
CONTRACT ADVOCATE FOR THE UNION
OF AMERICAN PHYSICIANS AND
DENTISTS, AFSCME LOCAL 206,
DOCTOR BUSSEY SENDS HIS REGRETS
THIS MORNING THAT HE COULDN'T BE
HERE. AND, FRANKLY, I'M A POOR
SUBSTITUTE, BUT I'LL DO MY BEST,
FOR PURPOSES OF THIS HEARING, I
WANT TO FOCUS JUST ON LA COUNTY
AND OUR UPD POSITIONS. THE
VACANCIES UPD EXPERIENCING
CURRENTLY ARE, I GUESS, BEST
DESCRIBED AS OUTRAGEOUS AS, IN
THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
SERVICES, WE HAVE 178 VACANCIES
OUT OF 996 POSITIONS, 18% OUT IN
PUBLIC HEALTH, SEVEN VACANCIES
OUT OF 58, 12% MEDICAL EXAMINERS
, EIGHT OUT OF 14 WHICH IS 57.
AND IN THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT
JAILS, WHERE OUR DOCTORS WORK TO
TREAT AND CASTRATED FOLKS, OUR
VACANCIES ARE 35 OUT OF 50.
THAT'S 70% VACANCIES IN THE
DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH. THE
VACANCY RATE IS 35% AMONG UPD
MEMBERS. THESE HIGH VACANCIES
CAUSE UNNECESSARY JOB STRESS AND
HIGH ANXIETY OVER THE WORKLOAD.
IT MEANS THAT MEMBERS LEAVE OUR
MEMBERS, LEAVE COUNTY EMPLOYMENT
TO FIND EMPLOYMENT ELSEWHERE,
BETTER PAY BETTER WORKING
CONDITIONS, OFTENTIMES LESS
DANGEROUS WORKING CONDITIONS
ÓRDENES AND WHAT IS WHAT DOES
THIS REALLY MEAN? WHAT IT MEANS
IS THAT, YOU KNOW, WHEN SOMEBODY
IS INCARCERATED, THEY BECOME A
WARD, IF YOU WILL, OF THE
GOVERNMENT. WE'RE RESPONSIBLE
FOR THEIR WELL-BEING FROM FROM
THEN ON, AS LONG AS THEY'RE
INCARCERATED. AND THAT MEANS WE
HAVE TO WE SHOULD PROVIDE THEM
WITH FOOD AND SHELTER AND
ADEQUATE HEALTH CARE. AND WE'RE
NOT DOING THAT, WE DON'T HAVE
THE MANPOWER, FEMALE POWER,
WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT. IN
ORDER TO DO THAT. AND WE'RE
FAILING THEM. AND THAT'S WHAT
THESE JOB SHORTAGES REALLY MEAN.
WE'RE UNABLE TO FULFILL OUR
MISSION. WE'RE UNABLE TO SERVE
THE PUBLIC AS THE PUBLIC SHOULD
BE SERVED, RUN, ABLE TO TAKE
CARE OF THOSE WARDS OF THE
GOVERNMENT WHO WERE INCARCERATED
. ED, AS WE HAVE A
CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT
RESPONSIBILITY TO DO SO. THANK
YOU FOR LISTENING. THANK YOU SO
MUCH. NEXT SPEAKER. HELLO. MY
NAME IS CLAUDIA MCFARLAND. I'M A
LICENSED MARRIAGE AND FAMILY
THERAPIST IN CALIFORNIA, BUT I'M
ALSO A SENIOR MENTAL HEALTH
COUNSELOR FOR SACRAMENTO COUNTY.
I'M THE FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE
ACM LOCAL 146 FOR SACRAMENTO
COUNTY AND A CURRENT STUART, I
WANT TO THANK THE CHAIR AND
MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE FOR
HOLDING THIS IMPORTANT HEARING
ON VACANCIES IN THE PUBLIC
SECTOR. AS MANY OF OUR CURRENT
EMPLOYEES ARE WORKING HARD TO
MEET THE DEMAND OF THE SERVICES
THE COUNTY IS RESPONSIBLE FOR,
AND THAT THE PUBLIC EXPECTS
WHILE BEING SHORTHANDED FOR
SEVERAL YEARS NOW, I'VE BEEN
WORKING FOR THE COUNTY FOR 17
YEARS, PROVIDING SERVICES TO LOW
INCOME FAMILIES AS AN
ELIGIBILITY WORKER, PROTECTING
CHILDREN AS A CPS SOCIAL WORKER,
AND NOW PROVIDING MENTAL HEALTH
SERVICES TO YOUTH IN DETENTION
FACILITY. OUR YOUTH DETENTION
FACILITY EACH OF THE ROLES I
HAVE BEEN IN SINCE BEGINNING MY
COUNTY EMPLOYMENT HAS BEEN
REWARDING BOTH IN THE SERVICES I
OFFERED AND IN THE PERSONAL
CAREER DEVELOPMENT I WAS ABLE TO
PURSUE. EACH ROLE PROVIDED
ANOTHER LAYER OF SAFETY AND
SECURITY FOR THE PEOPLE WE
SERVE. WITHOUT US EMPLOYEES
DOING THIS GOOD WORK, MANY
CHILDREN, FAMILIES, ADOLESCENTS,
AND YOUNG ADULTS WOULD HAVE
WORSE OUTCOMES FOR BOTH THEM AND
THEIR COMMUNITIES. WE REPRESENT
AROUND 500 WORKERS WITHIN
SACRAMENTO COUNTY HEALTH
SERVICES. THIS INCLUDES
COUNSELORS, MEDICAL STAFF,
PHARMACISTS ONLY, TO NAME A FEW.
OUR MEMBERS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR
PROVIDING MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
TO PATIENTS IN OUR PSYCHIATRIC
HOSPITALS, JAILS, YOUTH
DETENTION FACILITIES, AS WELL AS
HOMELESS CAMPS AND SHELTERS.
THEIR ROLES ARE CRITICAL TO LAW
ENFORCEMENT, HOSPITALS, AND MANY
OTHER COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS.
THE HIGH VACANCY RATE HAS BEEN A
CHALLENGE TO BOTH MANAGEMENT AND
CURRENT EMPLOYEES. WE ARE LOSING
MANY VALUED STAFF DUE TO BURNOUT
AND AN INABILITY TO CREATE A
WORK LIFE BALANCE THAT IS
SUSTAINABLE. AN EXAMPLE OF SOME
OF THE RIPPLE EFFECTS OF THOSE
OF THESE SHORTAGES IS OUR
INABILITY TO TAKE VACATIONS, OR
EVEN CALL IN SICK. THE WORK WE
DO IS EXCEPTIONALLY DEMANDING ON
OUR PSYCHE AND EMOTIONAL
WELL-BEING. AS WE SEE AND HEAR
EVERY DAY ABOUT THE SUFFERING,
TRAUMA AND HORRIFIC WAYS PEOPLE
ARE BEING VIOLATED, ABUSED AND
EXPLOITED. THIS CAUSES WHAT IS
CALLED SECONDARY TRAUMA, AND IT
IS CUMULATIVE OVER TIME. DURING
THE PANDEMIC, EVERY
CLASSIFICATION I HAVE MENTIONED
EARLIER WAS DEEMED ESSENTIAL AND
HAD TO COME TO WORK. EACH DAY,
WHILE OTHERS WERE ALLOWED TO
WORK FROM HOME. YES THE COUNTY
REWARDED THIS SITUATION BY
PROVIDING US WITH ADMINISTRATIVE
LEAVE. GREATLY APPRECIATED AND
EVERYONE APPRECIATED THIS, BUT
EXPIRES AT THE END OF THIS YEAR
AND MANY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO
UTILIZE IT DUE TO STAFFING
SHORTAGES. WE HAVE LOST NUMEROUS
COUNSELORS DUE TO THEIR
INABILITY TO COPE WITH BOTH THE
EMOTIONAL AND PHYSICAL DEMANDS.
THERE IS NO ONE TO TALK TO WHEN
YOU GET HOME TO YOUR FAMILY. YOU
HAVE TO HOLD IT ALL IN. THE 15
YEAR OLD WHO WAS PROSTITUTING SO
SHE CAN HELP HER MOTHER WITH THE
BILLS, THE 17 YEAR OLD WHO
WATCHED HIS BROTHER DIE FROM A
BULLET THAT HE ACCIDENTALLY SHOT
. TO THE 15 YEAR OLD SWEATING,
SHIVERING, VOMITING IN A FETAL
POSITION DUE TO OPIOID
WITHDRAWAL. I CAN'T GO HOME AND
TELL MY WIFE ABOUT THIS.
RECENTLY, A YOUTH AT IDF
REQUESTED ASSISTANCE WITH MENTAL
HEALTH SYMPTOMS AFTER SUFFERING
A LOSS IN THE FAMILY. NOT AN
UNUSUAL REQUEST, BUT DUE TO THE
SHORTAGE OF STAFF, HE WAS UNABLE
TO BE SEEN AS WE WERE ONLY ABLE
TO ATTEND TO CRISIS SLASH
EMERGENCIES. THIS RESULTED IN
HIM WORSENING AND BECOMING
SUICIDAL BY CUTTING HIS WRISTS.
HAD WE BEEN FULLY STAFFED, WE
MAY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO MITIGATE
THE RISK BY ADDRESSING THE ISSUE
BEFORE IT REACHED THAT POINT. IN
THE PAST, WHEN WE WERE FULLY
STAFFED, THESE TYPES OF
INCIDENCES WERE RARE. IN THE
FACE OF THESE SERIOUS STAFFING
ISSUES, WE HAVE CONTINUED TO
KEEP UP THE HIGH STANDARD
EXPECTED OF US AS PUBLIC
EMPLOYEES SERVING OUR COMMUNITY.
AS A PUBLIC AGENCY, WE ARE
INCREDIBLY RIGID, INFLEXIBLE,
INFLEXIBLE. SCHEDULING AND
REMOTE WORK OPTIONS ARE
DETERRING US FROM GETTING
QUALITY CANDIDATES IN THE DOOR,
PARTICULARLY WHEN THEY CAN WORK
FOR A MORE FLEXIBLE PRIVATE
COUNSELING AGENCY IN LIEU OF
PUBLIC SECTOR BENEFITS LIKE A
PENSION AND HEALTH CARE.
FURTHER, ONCE WE ACTUALLY GET
CANDIDATES IN THE DOOR TO APPLY
FOR THESE POSITIONS, THE LENGTH
OF TIME IT TAKES FOR THE COUNTY
TO PROCESS APPLICATIONS,
INTERVIEW CANDIDATES, AND
ULTIMATELY HIRE CAN TAKE BETWEEN
SIX TO MONTHS TO A YEAR. THIS IS
MUCH TOO LONG TO GET BACK TO AN
APPLICANT, AS THEY ARE
UNDERSTANDABLY AND
UNDERSTANDABLY CONSIDERING OTHER
OPTIONS FOR EMPLOYMENT AND ARE
LIKELY TO ACCEPT OTHER POTENTIAL
JOB OFFERS AS OPPOSED TO WAITING
FOR UNCERTAIN PERIODS OF TIME TO
MAYBE BE OFFERED A POSITION
WHILE THEY'RE. IN CONCLUSION,
WHILE THERE ARE SEVERAL DRIVERS
OF VACANCIES IN THIS FIELD, WE
BELIEVE THAT THERE ARE CERTAIN
CHANGES THAT CAN BE MADE IN THE
SHORT TERME. LOOKING FORWARD, WE
BELIEVE THAT MANAGEMENT COULD
COLLAB GREAT WITH THE EXISTING
WORKFORCE TO CLEARLY IDENTIFY
THE DRIVERS OF VACANCIES. THIS
WOULD START BY LOOKING AT THE
HIRING PROCESS AND FINDING WAYS
THAT CAN BE SHORTENED TO, YET
ENSURE THAT WE GET QUALITY
CANDIDATES TO FILL POSITIONS.
ADDITIONALLY, WE BELIEVE
AGENCIES SHOULD REVISIT THEIR
POLICIES PERTAINING TO
SCHEDULING AND REMOTE WORK
FLEXIBILITY AS WE ARE AWARE THAT
THESE ARE FREQUENT PRIORITIES
FOR PROSPECTIVE EMPLOYEES THAT
WOULD IMPACT THEIR DECISION TO
APPLY FOR THESE POSITIONS IN THE
FIRST PLACE. THESE ARE PRESSING
ISSUES IMPACTING THE CIVIL
SERVICE WORKFORCE IN LOCAL
GOVERNMENT. AS A CIVIL SERVANT
WHO HAS DEDICATED MY CAREER TO
HELPING THOSE IN NEED THROUGH
MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, MY HOPE
IS THAT THE LEGISLATURE AND
PUBLIC EMPLOYERS PROMPTLY TAKE
MEANINGFUL ACTION TO ADDRESS THE
VACANCY CRISIS, THE HEALTH AND
WELL-BEING OF THE PUBLIC DEPENDS
ON IT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU GUYS
SO MUCH. AGAIN, BEING A PUBLIC
EMPLOYEE MYSELF, THE I JUST
CAN'T BELIEVE THAT THE HIRING
PROCESS IS STILL THE SAME AFTER
ALL THESE YEARS. AND WITH ALL
THE NEW TECHNOLOGY THAT WE HAVE
THAT THE HIRING PROCESS IS STILL
KIND OF ARCHAIC, BECAUSE AGAIN,
I WAS DOING THIS IN 1999, AND
THAT'S A LONG TIME AGO, YOU AS I
LISTENED TO YOU GUYS, THE, THE
VACATION TIME, THAT'S ANOTHER
THING THAT USED TO KEEP US
GOING. AT LEAST WE COULD TAKE
OFF. YOU GOT A LOT OF VACATION
TIME, AND YOU CAN USE IT. SO
FROM WHAT I'M UNDERSTANDING NOW,
THEY'RE NOT EVEN REALLY BEING
ABLE TO USE THAT. THAT BULK OF
TIME THAT THEY NEED THAT YOU
NEED TO GO, TO, TO REST AND COME
BACK BECAUSE YOU COULD GET UP TO
FOUR WEEKS IF YOU'VE BEEN THERE
A LONG TIME. RIGHT. SO THEY'RE
NOT ABLE TO TAKE THEIR VACATIONS
LIKE. RIGHT. SO, THE DENIALS
HAVE BEEN HIGHER THAN EVER. IT
DOESN'T MEAN NO ONE EVER GETS
APPROVED. OF COURSE THEY DO. BUT
IT REQUIRES QUITE A BIT OF
JUGGLING TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
AND IT CREATES STRESS ON THE
THOSE THAT ARE NOT ON VACATION.
YEAH. AND THEN LIKE THE FOUR
WEEKS AT A TIME THAT'S PROBABLY
NOT BEING APPROVED. NO, NO NO
THAT'S NOT EVEN AN OPTION. I
DON'T THINK ANY AGENCY IS GIVING
THE FOUR WEEKS BECAUSE WE USED
TO SAVE UP AND DO A WHOLE MONTH,
AND THAT WAS GREAT. YOU KNOW,
THE BENEFITS DO YOU. SO BENEFITS
AND RETIREMENT ARE NOT, NOT,
GETTING PEOPLE TO COME TO THESE
ATTRACTING PEOPLE ANYMORE. SO
I'D LIKE TO, ADDRESS THAT A
LITTLE BIT IN THAT THE MAJORITY
OF APPLICANTS IN THE BEHAVIORAL
HEALTH FIELD ARE BETWEEN 20 AND
30 YEARS OLD. THEY'VE GRADUATED.
THEY FINISHED THEIR HOURS.
THEY'RE AT ABOUT, YOU KNOW, 24,
25 YEARS AT THAT POINT, OLD,
THEY'RE NOT REALLY LOOKING AT 30
YEARS DOWN THE ROAD. THEY'RE
LOOKING AT RIGHT NOW WHAT CAN I
GET MONTHLY TO PROVIDE FOR MY
FAMILY? SO COMPENSATION IS SUPER
IMPORTANT EVEN WITH THE BENEFITS
AS WELL. NOT REALLY. I'M NOT I'M
NOT GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE
RETIREMENT NOW, BUT LIKE THE
MEDICAL BENEFITS THAT THEY GET
THAT'S NOT ATTRACTING FOLKS
ANYMORE EITHER. IT'S REALLY PAY
COMPENSATION AND FLEXIBILITY AND
FLEXIBILITY. FLEXIBILITY IS
HUGE. PEOPLE WILL TAKE LESS
MONEY IF THEY CAN CREATE A WORK
LIFE BALANCE THAT WORKS FOR THEM
. AND MADAM CHAIR, YOU MENTIONED
CONTRACTING, WITH THIS LAST
PANEL. YES. THAT IS A HUGE
ISSUE. OUR DOCTORS WHO WORK IN
THE JAILS, YOU KNOW, WORK FOR
THE COUNTY AND THEY'RE WORKING
NEXT TO CONTRACTORS. OFTENTIMES
WHO ARE MAKING 2 TO 3 TIMES AS
MUCH AS THEY ARE IN DOING THE
SAME JOB, AND THAT REALLY
AFFECTS THE CONTINUITY OF CARE,
DUTY OF CARE THAT PHYSICIANS
HAVE TO THEIR PATIENTS. THESE
CONTRACTORS COME IN AND OUT.
IT'S LIKE A REVOLVING DOOR, AND
A PATIENT GOES IN TO SEE A
DOCTOR. HE'S EXPECTING TO SEE
THE SAME DOCTOR WHO EXAMINED HIM
LAST TIME. AND IT'S. IT'S
SOMEBODY WHO DOESN'T KNOW
ANYTHING ABOUT HIM. LET'S LOOK
AT THE FILE BEFORE I CAN TELL
YOU WHAT TO DO. SO IT'S A THAT'S
A HUGE ISSUE. IT'S THE SAME ON
THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SIDE THAT
I'D LIKE TO PIGGYBACK THAT IN
THAT THE CONTRACT WITH PROVIDERS
FOR MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES THE
YOUNG PERSON OR THE YOUNG ADULT
OR THE ADULT, THAT'S BEEN
GETTING SERVICES FROM A
PARTICULAR INDIVIDUAL, THAT
INDIVIDUAL ISN'T GOING TO STAY
BECAUSE THEY CAN MAKE MONEY
ELSEWHERE, MORE MONEY, OR
BECAUSE THEY'VE GOTTEN THEIR
LICENSE AND NOW CAN GO OUT ON
THEIR OWN, THEY'RE ONLY THERE TO
LEARN AND GROW. SO THE
CONTINUITY OF CARE IS
INTERRUPTED FREQUENTLY. AND THIS
IS ON TOP OF THE STIGMA THAT
SOME OF OUR POPULATIONS HAVE
ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH IN THE FIRST
PLACE. AND THEN THE SAME IN
MUNICIPAL SERVICES SUCH AS,
PUBLIC WORKS. YOU'LL HAVE A
CONTRACTOR DO SOMETHING AND,
THEN THE ALREADY STRESSED, CIVIL
SERVICE EMPLOYEE HAS TO COME
BACK BECAUSE THEY DID IT WRONG
AND REPAIR IT AND DO IT THE
RIGHT WAY. SO IT'S JUST WASTING
MONEY. AND IF YOU LOOK AT MENTAL
HEALTH SERVICES, IT'S THE SAME
THING WITHOUT CONCRETE
MEASUREMENTS, MEASURABILITY IN
THAT IF I COME IN AFTER SOMEBODY
WHO HAS LEFT THEIR CLIENT TO
PICK UP WHERE THEY LEFT OFF, I
GET TO START ALL OVER WITH THAT
CLIENT. THAT CLIENT HAS TO
REPEAT EVERYTHING THEY JUST SAID
TO THE FIRST COUNSELOR, BECAUSE
NOW THEY HAVE A NEW COUNSELOR.
AND SO THE RELATIONSHIP IS
DAMAGED. THE THERAPEUTIC,
HEALING IS INTERRUPTED AND THEY
GET RETRAUMATIZED BECAUSE THEY
HAVE TO TELL THE STORY AGAIN TO
A NEW PERSON. AND THIS HAPPENS
EVERY SIX MONTHS, LET'S SAY, FOR
THAT INDIVIDUAL, EVENTUALLY THEY
SAY THERAPY DOESN'T WORK. AND SO
THE LONG TERME WORKERS, BECAUSE
WHEN I WAS THERE, TWO PEOPLE
WERE RETIRING LIKE 30 YEARS.
THEY'VE BEEN THERE 30 YEARS.
WE'RE REALLY NOT HAVING LIKE 30
YEAR, LOTS OF 30 YEAR EMPLOYEES
ANYMORE. WOULD YOU GUYS SAY
PEOPLE ARE NOT STAYING? THEY'RE
NOT RETAINING THEM. THAT DEPENDS
ON THE AGE OF THE PERSON. WE'RE
TALKING ABOUT THE UNFORTUNATE
THING IS THAT THE COUNTY LOST
OUR LIFE LONG MEDICAL FOR
RETIREMENT, WHICH IS A HUGE
PROBLEM BECAUSE IT MAKES PEOPLE
STAY, WHICH I KNOW IT SOUNDS
LIKE WE WOULD WANT THEM TO STAY
BECAUSE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
VACANCIES, BUT YOU GOT TO THINK
ABOUT IT AS A HEALTHY WORKFORCE
OVER LONG PERIODS OF TIME. IT
MAKES PEOPLE STAY THAT TO 65 TO
GET MEDICARE, EVEN IF THEY'VE
ALREADY BEEN THERE 30 YEARS.
THEY CAN'T RETIRE EVEN IF THEY
PHYSICALLY ARE BARELY MANAGING
THE JOB ANYMORE. SAU MAKES
SENSE. YES. YEAH. AND IT DEPENDS
ON THE ITEM NUMBER OR
CLASSIFICATION, IN CERTAIN
AREAS, PEOPLE ARE JUST NOT
STAYING, THANK YOU GUYS. ANY
MORE QUESTIONS FROM THE MEMBERS?
THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU. OUR THIRD AND
FINAL PANEL, COLLABORATIVE
SOLUTIONS TO ADDRESS CIVIL
SERVICE VACANCIES. IVAN
FERNANDEZ, LEGISLATIVE ADVOCATE
FROM CALIFORNIA LABOR
FEDERATION, TIM DOUGLAS, BOAT
OPERATOR AND CAPTAIN, CITY OF
SAN DIEGO, PRESIDENT, AFSCME
LOCAL 127. SANDRA BARRIO I HOPE
I SAID IT RIGHT. SANDRA,
GOVERNMENT RELATIONS ADVOCATE,
SEIU CALIFORNIA. THANK YOU GUYS.
YEAH ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT, ALL
RIGHT. THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR.
AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE,
YVONNE FERNANDEZ WITH THE
CALIFORNIA LABOR FEDERATION, ALL
OF WHAT HAS BEEN PRESENTED
TODAY, IN TODAY'S INFORMATIONAL
HEARING, IS A TESTAMENT TO ALL
THE WORK THAT HAS TO BE DONE TO
ADDRESS VACANCIES AT THE LOCAL
LEVEL, AS SHARED BY MY
COLLEAGUES IN THE SECOND PANEL,
PUBLIC SECTOR WORKERS ARE BEING
SPREAD THIN AND EXPECTED TO TAKE
ON AN EXORBITANT NUMBER OF
DUTIES AND TASKS, NEGATIVELY
IMPACTING NOT ONLY THE WORKERS,
BUT THE PUBLIC WHO RELY ON THESE
SERVICES, PUBLIC SECTOR JOBS
WERE ONCE CONSIDERED THE
BACKBONE OF THE MIDDLE CLASS,
BUT DECADES OF LOW FUNDING AND
GOVERNMENT AUSTERITY MEASURES
HAVE LED TO THE DECLINE OF THE
STABLE UNION JOBS THAT ONCE
SUSTAINED COMMUNITIES,
WIDESPREAD VACANCIES HAVE LED TO
THE ELIMINATION OF MIDDLE CLASS
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES FOR
RESIDENTS, ESPECIALLY FOR WOMEN
AND BIPOC INDIVIDUALS, THIS HAS
AN IMPACT ON ENTIRE COMMUNITIES
AS LOWER QUALITY PRIVATE
CONTRACTOR JOBS REPLACE GOOD
UNION PUBLIC SECTOR ONES. IT IS
ALSO VERY IMPORTANT TO NOTE THE
AND MENTION THE HARM THAT LOCAL
VACANCIES HAVE ON WORKERS
OUTSIDE OF THE PUBLIC SECTOR.
COUNTIES ACROSS THE STATE HAVE
LOCAL OFFICES TO ENFORCE WORKERS
RIGHTS LAWS SUCH AS MINIMUM
WAGES, PAID SICK DAYS AND
PREVAILING WAGES, WITH VACANCIES
IMPACTING LOCAL LABOR,
ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES. WORKERS
FACE BACKLOGS AND DELAYS WHEN
THEY TRY TO EXERCISE THEIR
RIGHTS UNDER THE LAW.
ESSENTIALLY, PUBLIC SECTOR
VACANCIES CONTRIBUTE TO A LACK
OF LABOR, LAW ENFORCEMENT, AS
WELL AS OTHER CRITICAL LAWS SUCH
AS FOOD FACILITY SAFETY, COUNTY
PUBLIC BENEFIT PROGRAMS, AND
MANY OTHER SERVICES. THE NEED TO
FILL VACANCIES IS INTEGRAL FOR
AN EFFICIENT CALIFORNIA PUBLIC
SECTOR. JOBS ARE AN INVESTMENT
FOR OUR COMMUNITIES AND AS A
VALUABLE INVESTMENT, WE MUST
ENSURE THAT WE PLACE LONG TERME
SOLUTIONS FORWARD. SOLUTIONS MAY
INCLUDE MAKING SURE THAT LOCAL
GOVERNMENT JOBS PAY A LIVING
WAGE WITH GOOD PENSIONS AND
BENEFITS. AS WE HAD PREVIOUSLY
MENTIONED, THE EROSION OF PUBLIC
SECTOR WAGES AND BENEFITS MAKES
IT HARDER TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN
DEDICATED PUBLIC SERVANTS. WE
NEED LOCAL GOVERNMENTS OUGHT TO
ALSO OUGHT TO ALSO CONSIDER
IMPLEMENTING OUTREACH PROGRAMS
TO RECRUIT WORKERS FROM
UNDERREPRESENTED COMMUNITIES.
AS, PUBLIC SECTOR JOBS ONCE
PROVIDED COMMUNITIES,
PARTICULARLY BLACK AND BROWN,
BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES WITH
SECURE UNION JOB, WITH STABLE
INCOME AND BENEFITS, AND A
PATHWAY TO THE MIDDLE CLASS. AS
PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED TODAY,
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS HAVE THE SAME
OPPORTUNITY TO FOSTER A
WORKFORCE BUILT BY THE COMMUNITY
AND FOR THE COMMUNITY, THERE
THERE ARE A WIDE RANGE OF
SOLUTIONS TO ADDRESS THIS
CRISIS, MANY OF WHICH THE
COLLEAGUES ON MY ON THIS PANEL
WILL DISCUSS, HOWEVER, IT'S
CRUCIAL TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE
VACANCY CRISIS CANNOT BE SOLVED
THROUGH SHORT TIME CONTRACTING
OR SWEEPING POSITIONS.
COMMUNITIES AND WORKERS ALIKE
DESERVE SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS TO
ENSURE THESE VACANCIES BECOME
AND REMAIN FILLED. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU. NEXT
SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD MORNING.
CHAIR AND MEMBERS OF THE
COMMITTEE. MY NAME IS TIM
DOUGLAS. I AM THE SENIOR BOAT
OPERATOR FOR THE CITY OF SAN
DIEGO, WHICH IS ONE OF THE
LARGEST OCEAN MONITORING
PROGRAMS IN THE UNITED STATES.
CURRENTLY I HAVE WORKED FOR THE
CITY OF SAN DIEGO FOR OVER 28
YEARS. I AM ALSO THE ELECTED
PRESIDENT OF MY LOCAL 127, AND I
HAVE BEEN THE PRESIDENT OF LOCAL
127 FOR NEARLY THREE YEARS NOW.
ASK ME LOCAL 127 REPRESENTS OVER
2100 ESSENTIAL EMPLOYEES IN THE
CITY OF SAN DIEGO. CITY OF
CORONADO AND THE CITY OF LEMON
GROVE AND THE CITY OF SAN DIEGO
ASKED ME. LOCAL 127 REPRESENTS
OVER 140 JOB CLASSIFICATIONS.
THESE JOB CLASSIFICATIONS RANGE
FROM EQUIPMENT OPERATORS TO
STREETLIGHT, ELECTRICIANS, PATCH
TRUCK DRIVERS, AND SANITATION
DRIVERS. IS JUST AN EXAMPLE OF
SOME. THERE ARE FOLKS WHO MAKE
SAN DIEGO WORK 24 HOURS A DAY,
SEVEN DAYS A WEEK. TODAY I WANT
TO FOCUS MY TESTIMONY ON THE
IMPACTS OF OUR SANITATION
DRIVERS VACANCIES IN THE CITY OF
SAN DIEGO IN 2022, THE
ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICE DEPARTMENT
OF THE CITY OF SAN DIEGO WERE
EXPERIENCING OVER 30% VACANCY
RATE AMONG SANITATION DRIVERS,
WHICH TRANSLATED TO 64 VACANCIES
POSITIONS AS THE NEWLY ELECTED
PRESIDENT, MEMBER AND DEPARTMENT
HEADS HAVE INFORMED ME. SO AS I
WAS NEWLY ELECTED, DEPARTMENT
HEADS WERE COMING IN INFORMING
ME, INFORM ME ABOUT HOW THE HIGH
VACANCY RATES IMPACTED HEALTH
AND WELL-BEING OF THEIR
EMPLOYEES. MANAGEMENT WAS
VOLUNTEERING, BASICALLY TELLING
EMPLOYEES THEY HAD TO WORK,
MANDATING OVERTIME TO COVER MISS
ROUTES, MANAGE MANAGEMENT TO
MEET OPERATIONAL NEEDS, WAS
DENYING TIME OFF REQUESTS FROM
DENIALS. SO IF EMPLOYEES WERE
REQUESTING TIME OFF FOR DOCTOR'S
APPOINTMENTS AND FOR DENTIST
APPOINTMENTS, ANY KIND OF
APPOINTMENTS THEY WERE BEING
DENIED ON A REGULAR BASIS, WHICH
MEANT THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO
CALL OUT SICK AND USE
OCCURRENCES. IT WAS NOT A SYSTEM
THAT WAS SET UP APPROPRIATELY.
MEMBERS WERE MISSING SIERRA'S.
THEY WERE MISSING WEDDINGS THAT
WERE PLANNED BECAUSE THEY WERE
BEING TOLD THAT THEY HAD TO WORK
, WHILE THE SANITATION DRIVERS
WHO REMAINED WERE BEING
STRETCHED THIN. CONSTITUENTS OF
OUR ELECTED LEADERS DOWN IN SAN
DIEGO WERE NOT GETTING THEIR
TRASH COLLECTED. THE CITY COULD
NOT FULFILL ITS LEGAL
OBLIGATIONS UNDER SB 1383,
COMPENSATION FOR A PRIMARY
FACTOR CAUSING THE VACANCIES
AMONG SANITATION DRIVERS WITH
THESE BARRIERS IN MIND, WE
HAND-DELIVERED SUPPORTING
DOCUMENTS TO AND ADVOCATED TO
ALL THE SANITATION ON BEHALF OF
ALL THE SANITATION DRIVERS
BEFORE ALL NINE CITY OF SAN
DIEGO COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THE
MAYOR, TODD GLORIA OF SAN DIEGO.
THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS, WE
CULTIVATED AND DEVELOPED A GREAT
WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH ALL
THE COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THE
OFFICE OF THE MAYOR GLORIA, TO
ADDRESS THESE VACANCY ISSUES
AMONG OUR SANITATION DRIVERS. IN
THE END, WORK COLLABORATIVELY
WITH MEMBERS OF THE DEPARTMENT
HEADS COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THE
OFFICE OF THE MAYOR. WE SECURED
A 24% SPECIAL SALARY ADJUSTMENT
FOR OUR SANITATION DRIVERS. WITH
THE INCREASE IN PAY, WE HAVE
HELPED TO FILL. NOW ALMOST ALL
THE VACANCIES ALONG THE
SANITATION DRIVERS, BRINGING
THEIR VACANCY LEVEL DOWN BELOW
4. AS A LOCAL AGENCY AND PUBLIC
SECTOR WORKERS FORWARD, WE
BELIEVE THAT MEANINGFUL
COLLABORATIONS AND ACTING SHOULD
BE TAKEN TO ADDRESS VACANCIES ON
LOCAL GOVERNMENT, COLLABORATING
WITH THE UNION TO IDENTIFY
BARRIERS, CHALLENGES OR
CORRESPONDING SOLUTIONS TO
RETENTION AND RECRUITMENT IS
CRITICAL TO ENSURE THAT THE
PUBLIC RECEIVES QUALITY, TIMELY
SERVICES. OUR MEMBERS CARE ABOUT
BEING ABLE TO DO THEIR JOBS WITH
QUALITY AND DIGNITY. THEY JUST
NEED THE APPROPRIATE
COMPENSATION TO DO THEIR JOBS.
THANK YOU AND I'M OPEN FOR ANY
QUESTIONS. EXCUSE ME. THANK YOU
SO MUCH. NEXT SPEAKER. GOOD
MORNING. MY NAME IS SANDRA
BORRERO AND I AM A GOVERNMENTAL
RELATIONS ADVOCATE FOR SEIU
CALIFORNIA. MY WORK FOCUSES ON
PUBLIC SECTOR EMPLOYEES, AND I'D
LIKE TO OFFER SOME SOLUTIONS TO
THE VACANCY CRISIS. BASED ON
FEEDBACK I'VE RECEIVED FROM
MEMBERS ACROSS THE STATE. SO
UNIONS DON'T HAVE A RIGHT TO
INFLUENCE THE APPLICATION AND
HIRING PROCESS UNLESS THEY'VE
WON SPECIFIC CONTRACT LANGUAGE
TO DO SO. BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN
THE UNION LEADERSHIP HASN'T
PROPOSED THE SOLUTIONS I'VE
COVERED ALREADY TO THEIR
EMPLOYERS. AND YES, PUBLIC
SECTOR PAY IS A CONTRIBUTING
FACTOR, BUT WE HAVE TO REMEMBER
THAT THE PUBLIC SECTOR HAS
ALWAYS PAID LESS THAN THE
PRIVATE SECTOR, SO IT CAN'T BE
THE ONLY FACTOR WHEN EMPLOYERS
FOCUS ON COMPENSATION. THEY MISS
OPPORTUNITIES TO CHANGE THE
WORKING CONDITIONS THAT THEY CAN
CONTROL. AND ACROSS THE STATE,
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS CONSISTENTLY
UNDERESTIMATE THE ROLE OF
WORKPLACE CULTURE AND RETENTION.
SO DEI TRAININGS, PIZZA IN THE
BREAK ROOM OR WELLNESS PROGRAMS
WITH PEDOMETERS. THEY DON'T
SOLVE INSTITUTIONAL CULTURAL
PROBLEMS. THIS IS AN AREA AREA
WHERE PUBLIC EMPLOYERS CAN BEAT
THE PRIVATE SECTOR BY CREATING
WORKPLACE REYES, WHERE WORKERS
FEEL SUPPORTED. FOR SOME PEOPLE,
LIKE A PREVIOUS PANELIST SAID,
WORK LIFE BALANCE IS ACTUALLY
MORE IMPORTANT THAN PAY. SO THAT
MEANS PUBLIC EMPLOYERS SHOULD
STRIVE TO BEAT THE PRIVATE
SECTOR ON SCHEDULING FLEXIBILITY
WHENEVER POSSIBLE, SO THAT
INCLUDES ACCOMMODATING WORKERS
FAMILIAL OBLIGATIONS, OFFERING
REMOTE OR HYBRID WHEN POSSIBLE,
OR BREAK UP FTES INTO SEVERAL
PART TIME POSITIONS. PART TIME
POSITIONS ARE GROWING IN
POPULARITY NOW THAT HEALTH CARE
IS SO EXPENSIVE, A LOT OF PEOPLE
FEEL IT'S UNAFFORDABLE ANYWAY, A
LONG HIRING PROCESS AND
RECRUITMENT PRACTICES ARE ALSO
CONTRIBUTING TO THE PROBLEM, IT
CAN TAKE, LIKE ANOTHER PANELIST
SAID, SIX MONTHS TO A YEAR AND
EXISTING EMPLOYEES ARE ACTUALLY
LEAVING AT A FASTER RATE. SO THE
RECRUITMENT PROBLEMS START WITH
APPLICATIONS THAT ARE TIME
CONSUMING AND DIFFICULT TO
NAVIGATE. FOR EXAMPLE, EMPLOYERS
COULD STREAMLINE THIS PROCESS BY
CREATING APPLICATIONS THAT CAN
BE COMPLETED BY SMARTPHONES.
ALSO EMPLOYERS CAN NO LONGER
RELY ON THE POST AND PAY MODEL
OF RECRUITMENT. RECRUITMENT
NEEDS TO BE PROACTIVE, ATTEND
JOB FAIRS WITH SAME DAY HIRING
AND ON SITE LIVE SCAN. IT'S
LIKELY THAT SOME HIRING DELAYS
ARE DUE TO INADEQUATE STAFFING
OF HR DEPARTMENTS. SO IF A
EMPLOYER NEEDS TO HIRE NURSES,
THEY MAY NEED TO HIRE MORE HR
PERSONNEL FIRST, NURSES, SOCIAL
WORKERS. ANY POSITION WHERE
THERE'S STEEP COMPENSATION,
COMPETITION IN THE PRIVATE
SECTOR, THE HIRING PROCESS FOR
THOSE JOBS NEED TO BE
STREAMLINED AND BE LIGHTNING
SPEED, LASTLY, OUTDATED MINIMUM
QUALIFICATION CHAINS NEED TO BE
EVALUATED, BUT EMPLOYERS CAN'T
SKIP UNION INVOLVEMENT IN THE
PROCESS. SO, MADAM CHAIR, YOU
ASKED EARLIER WHAT THE PROCESS
IS FOR UPDATING JOB
QUALIFICATIONS. AND TYPICALLY
THERE'S A PERSONNEL BOARD OR
CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION THAT
HAS REGULATIONS THAT HELPS, THAT
DICTATE THE PROCESS. BUT JOB
QUALIFICATIONS FOR EXISTING
POSITIONS ARE CONSIDERED A
MANDATORY SUBJECT OF BARGAINING.
SO IF YOU SKIP THIS STEP, YOU
MIGHT GIVE EXISTING EMPLOYEES
THE PERCEPTION THAT THEIR
POSITIONS ARE BEING DE-SKILLED.
AND THAT COULD EXACERBATE
RETENTION PROBLEMS EVEN MORE SO,
UNIONS PROVIDE PUBLIC EMPLOYERS
WITH A STRUCTURE TO RECOGNIZE
THE VALUE OF EXISTING EMPLOYEES
WHILE WORKING ON SOLUTIONS TO
ATTRACT NEW ONES. EMPLOYERS NEED
TO EMBRACE CREATIVE SOLUTIONS TO
SOLVE THE VACANCY CRISIS AND
THEY'LL FIND WILLING PARTNERS IN
LOCAL LABOR LEADERS. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. LET'S SEE. DO
I HAVE IT? I DO HAVE A COUPLE OF
QUESTIONS. WHEN YOU TALKED ABOUT
THE APPLICATIONS. OH, DID I LET
EVERYBODY SPEAK? YES. I'M SORRY.
YEAH THE APPLICATION, YOU COULD
DO THEM ONLINE THOUGH, RIGHT.
LIKE THEY HAVE ONLINE
APPLICATIONS, BUT ARE THEY USING
THE GOVERNMENT LIKE THE LINKED.
IS IT LINKED THE LINKEDIN LIKE
THE LINKEDIN LIKE THE JOB APPS
THAT PEOPLE WHEN PEOPLE GO TO
LOOK FOR JOBS NOW THE
RECRUITMENT APPS, DO THEY USE
THOSE TOO? I'VE SEEN, JOB
POSTINGS ON LINKEDIN, BUT
SOMETIMES, YOU KNOW, LIKE
SACRAMENTO CITY, FOR INSTANCE,
THERE'S A SEPARATE APPLICATION
YOU HAVE TO FILL OUT WITH REALLY
SPECIFIC INFORMATION, AND I
MEAN, IT'S EASY TO IMAGINE
SOMEONE WOULD GIVE UP HALFWAY
THROUGH THE PROCESS OF
COMPLETING THAT APPLICATION IF
THEY NEED A JOB RIGHT AWAY. IF I
COULD ADD TO THAT, YOU ARE SPOT
ON. EARLIER WHEN YOU SAID IT WAS
ARCHAIC BECAUSE FOR THE CITY OF
SAN DIEGO IT IS VERY ARCHAIC HOW
WE HAVE TO DO OUR APPLICATION
PROCESS FOR THE CITY FOR ALSO
THE CITY OF CORONADO AND CITY OF
LEMON GROVE AND SO THE UPDATES
HAVEN'T NECESSARILY HAPPENED
WHERE PEOPLE CAN REALLY WHERE IT
COULD BE ACCESSIBLE. AND LIKE
YOU MENTIONED, THE SMARTPHONE.
SO YOU CAN'T REALLY FILL THEM
OUT VIA YOUR SMARTPHONES BECAUSE
THEY'RE SO TECHNICAL, YEAH. AND
IT'S THE PERSONNEL BOARDS WHO
SET THESE, THESE THE HIRING
PROCESSES WHERE I'M REALLY
TRYING TO GO. I KNOW WE TALKED
ABOUT THE, THE, THE JOB
CLASSIFICATIONS, BUT LIKE THE
HIRING PROCESS. YES. IS IT THE
PERSONNEL BOARD, IS IT THE
EXECUTIVE AT THE DIRECTORS OF
THE DEPARTMENTS, LIKE WHO ARE
ACTUALLY SETTING THE PROCESS?
CAN I ANSWER THAT? YEAH SO FOR
INSTANCE, THE CITY OF SAN DIEGO
HAS THEIR OWN PERSONNEL
DEPARTMENT, WHICH IS SEPARATE
FROM HUMAN RESOURCES, AND THEY
ARE THE ONES THAT SET THE
GUIDELINES FOR THE HIRING
PROCESS, WHICH SAN DIEGO HAS
DONE HUGE IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
LAST SIX MONTHS WITH THE NEW
PERSONNEL DIRECTOR. AND THEN YOU
DID MENTION THAT THEY, IN SAN
DIEGO, THEY HAD A 24% INCREASE.
SO WE WERE ABLE, THROUGH THE
CIVIL SERVICE PROCESS, GET A 25%
RECOMMENDATION. AND THEN THROUGH
THE MEET AND CONFER PROCESS AND
WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE MAYOR
AND THE NEED WE WERE ABLE TO
FACILITATE A ULTIMATELY A 24%
SALARY INCREASE OVER TWO YEARS,
12% THE FIRST YEAR, 12%
ADDITION, THE SECOND YEAR A
SALARY INCREASES, WHICH FIXED
THIS GROSS VACANCY. THIS
MANDATORY OVERTIME, THESE ISSUES
WHERE PEOPLE WERE ABLE TO TAKE
TIME OFF EVERYTHING THAT THE
OTHER PEOPLE HAVE BROUGHT UP AS
ISSUES WE FOUND WITH THIS SALARY
INCREASE BRINGING PROPER
STAFFING, RECRUITING FROM THE
PRIVATE SECTOR FOR THE FIRST
TIME BACK INTO THE PUBLIC,
PUBLIC SECTOR WE WERE DOING
RIGHT NOW IS BECAUSE OF THESE
SALARY INCREASES FOR OUR
SANITATION DRIVERS. THESE ARE
THE ONLY SECTION THAT WE'RE ABLE
TO DO IT BECAUSE WE WERE ABLE TO
SUSTAIN THAT SPECIAL SALARY
ADJUSTMENT FOR OUR SANITATION
DRIVERS RIGHT NOW, BUT IT WAS
VERY, VERY BENEFICIAL FOR THE
SANITATION DRIVERS. AND IT WAS
BECAUSE THE COMMUNITY. CORRECT.
I'M PRETTY SURE, RAISED UP WHEN
THEY WEREN'T GETTING THEIR TRASH
PICKED UP. CORRECT CORRECTLY AND
THEY ALL KNEW HOW TO GET HOLD OF
THEIR APPOINTED LEADERS, THEIR
COUNCIL MEMBERS OF THEIR
DISTRICT. AND THE COUNCIL
MEMBERS WERE GETTING BOMBARDED
WITH EXCESSIVE PHONE CALLS AND
COMPLAINTS. WHY IS MY TRASH
REFUGE NOT BEING PICKED UP IN
FRONT OF MY HOUSE? I BETTER CALL
MY COUNCIL MEMBER IMMEDIATELY.
AND THEN NOW THE COUNCIL MEMBERS
ARE GOING, WHAT'S GOING ON? I'M
SAYING, WHAT'S GOING ON? AS A
UNION PRESIDENT REPRESENTING ALL
THESE FOLKS? AND THAT'S WHEN WE
REALIZED, HEY, WE HAVE A PROBLEM
HERE AND WE'RE NOT COMPETITIVE
IN OUR SALARIES. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. ARE THERE ANY
MORE QUESTIONS FROM ANY OF THE
OTHER MEMBERS BACK TO THE DAIS?
THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
COUNCILOR SUPPORTING BUSINESSES.
PART OF THE. OPEN UP TO PUBLIC
COMMENT. AND IF THERE'S ANY
CLOSING COMMENTS. AND SO WE'RE
GOING TO OPEN IT UP TO PUBLIC
COMMENTS. WE HAVE 15 MINUTES
TOTAL FOR THIS PORTION. THÀNH.
SO PLEASE TRY TO KEEP YOUR
COMMENTS BRIEF SO THAT WE CAN
HEAR EVERYONE. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU, MADAM CHAIR AND MEMBERS, MY
NAME IS LEE ADAMS. I'M A SIERRA
COUNTY SUPERVISOR AND FORMER
SHERIFF, REPRESENTING THE RURAL
COUNTY REPRESENTATIVES OF
CALIFORNIA. THIS MORNING, IT'S
OBVIOUS THAT SOME PARTS OF URBAN
CALIFORNIA HAVE SOME REAL
ISSUES, BUT I WOULD BEG YOU,
WHEN YOU MAKE FIXES, PLEASE
DON'T RUIN THE WORLD WE HAVE IN
RURAL CALIFORNIA. I DON'T
RECOGNIZE WHAT I HEARD THIS
MORNING. COUNTIES PROVIDE VITAL
PUBLIC PROGRAMS AND SERVICES,
WITH THE STATE TO ACT AS A
SAFETY NET FOR MILLIONS OF
CALIFORNIANS, WE, ALONG WITH OUR
LOCAL AGENCY COLLEAGUES IN RURAL
CALIFORNIA, ARE CONCERNED THAT
AB 2005 57.
I APPRECIATE THE DISCUSSION
TODAY ABOUT WORKFORCE, WORKFORCE
CHALLENGES AND VACANCIES AND
LOCAL GOVERNMENT. UNFORTUNATELY,
NONE OF THE BILLS BEFORE YOU
TODAY ADDRESS THE ROOT CAUSE FOR
HIGH VACANCY RATES IN RURAL
AREAS. WE HAVE A LIMITED
WORKFORCE WITH AN AGING
POPULATION. WE SUFFER FROM SAME
SOME OF THE SAME HOUSING
STRUGGLES THAT URBAN AREAS DO.
RURAL ECONOMIES ARE STRUGGLING,
RESULTING IN REDUCED REVENUE FOR
COUNTIES, MAKING WAGING RAISING
WAGES HIGH ENOUGH TO COMPETE
WITH URBAN AREAS INCREASINGLY
CHALLENGE. IF WE ARE LUCKY
ENOUGH TO RECRUIT AN EMPLOYEE
FROM A SUBURBAN OR URBAN AREA,
THEY OFTEN COME FOR A FEW YEARS
AND THEN LEAVE TO GO BACK TO
THEIR COMMUNITY. WE CALL THIS
TRAIN AND TROT. WE FIND THAT IF
WE CAN RECRUIT SOMEONE LIVING IN
AN AREA INTO PUBLIC SERVICE,
THEY ARE MORE LIKELY TO STAY.
THIS IS WHY THE FOCUS NEEDS TO
SHIFT TOWARD GREATER RESOURCES
DIRECTED TO PIPELINE
DEVELOPMENT, TRAINING, EDUCATION
OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH OUR
COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM, AND TO
HELP STUDENTS AFFORD THE
EDUCATION NECESSARY FOR OUR
POSITIONS. REQUIRE HIGHER
EDUCATION LIKE SOCIAL WORKERS,
PLANNERS, THERAPISTS, AND
NURSES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THANK YOU. MADAM CHAIR,
COMMITTEE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH
FOR HAVING ME HERE. I'M ANEEL
CARMELO. I'M THE CURRENT CITY
MANAGER FOR THE CITY OF SAINT
HELENA, AND FOR OVER 20 YEARS
I'VE SERVED IN FINANCE AND HR
POSITIONS IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR
AS A PROUD PUBLIC SECTOR
EMPLOYEE AND DESIRE TO PROVIDE
EXCELLENT SERVICES TO THE
COMMUNITY IN ALL THE AREAS THAT
WE SERVE. IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT
THAT WE HAVE THE RIGHT SOLUTIONS
. THÀNH TO THE RIGHT PROBLEM, I
HAVE NO ISSUE WITH THE FACT THAT
WE NEED MORE RESOURCES IN THE
PUBLIC SECTOR. WE NEED MORE
MONEY, WHICH WILL THEN ENABLE US
TO PAY COMPETITIVE WAGES. WE ARE
IN A WAR FOR TALENT AND WITH THE
PRIVATE SECTOR. AND OF COURSE,
WE DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES, BUT
THE SOLUTIONS BEING PRESENTED IN
EACH OF THESE BILLS ARE
INCONSISTENT WITH THOSE
PROBLEMS. THEY DON'T SOLVE THEM.
IN FACT, I THINK THEY COMPOUND
THEM. FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOU AGAIN,
I'VE WORKED IN URBAN CITY LIKE
OAKLAND, WHERE I WAS THE HR
DIRECTOR, AND NOW WITH 5000,
5000 EMPLOYEES, AND I WORK IN A
TINY CITY IN THE WINE COUNTRY
WITH 5000 RESIDENTS. SO I
UNDERSTAND THE DIFFICULTIES OF
PUBLIC SECTOR EMPLOYERS. AND
YES, WE DO NEED TO COLLABORATE
WITH UNIONS. WE DO NEED TO FIND
COMMON GROUND, BUT THAT COMMON
GROUND CANNOT BE AT THE AT THE
COST OF INCREASING, BUREAUCRACY
AND COSTS IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR,
I WOULD AGREE THAT ON WAGES, WE
NEED TO PROVIDE COMPETITIVE
WAGES. BUT FRANKLY, IN OAKLAND,
FOR EXAMPLE, THE UNION RULES
PREVENTED US FROM BEING
PROVIDING FLEXIBILITY AND WORK
ENVIRONMENT. THAT WAS. AND IN
FACT, EVEN HIRING RULES THAT
WERE COMPLEX, EMBEDDED INTO THE
LABOR MOUS. YOU WANT TO BAN
THOSE? I'D BE I'D BE FIRST IN
LINE, PROVIDING FLEXIBILITY.
THAT'S NICE, BUT WE NEED TO BE
ABLE TO MANAGE PERFORMANCE,
WHICH MEANS THAT WE NEED TO BE
ABLE TO HOLD PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE
TO WORK FROM HOME. AND AGAIN,
UNION RULES PREVENT US FROM
DOING THAT EFFECTIVELY AND
CONSISTENTLY. AND FINALLY
CONTRACTING OUT, EVEN THOUGH I'M
TALKING ABOUT THE ISSUE OF
VACANCIES AND THE REPORTING,
IT'S NICE TO CREATE DATA AND
GATHER DATA FOR THE PURPOSES OF
ACADEMIC RESEARCH, BUT FRANKLY,
THAT WILL INCREASE OUR WORKLOAD,
MAKE IT MORE COMPLEX FOR US,
INCREASE BURDENS ON US, AND
CONTRACTING OUT, I SHOULD SAY,
WHETHER WE'RE A LARGE CITY LIKE
OAKLAND OR SMALL CITY LIKE SAINT
HELENA IS ESSENTIAL. I REPEAT,
ESSENTIAL TO PROVIDING SAFE,
EFFICIENT AND COST EFFECTIVE
SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU. MADAM CHAIR
MEMBERS, I'M KOBE PEZZATI WITH
THE CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF
PSYCHIATRIC TECHNICIANS. WE
REPRESENT APPROXIMATELY 5500
PSYCH TECHS IN STATE HOSPITALS,
PRISONS AND DEVELOPMENTAL
CENTERS, I WANTED TO TAKE A
MOMENT AND PIGGYBACK ON SOME
COMMENTS MADE BY MR. OSBORNE. AT
DSH ALONE, WE ARE BUDGETED FOR
ABOUT 4500 POSITIONS. ONLY 3000
OF THOSE POSITIONS ARE FILLED.
THIS HAS LED TO ABOUT 1.4
MILLION HOURS OF OVERTIME WORKED
LAST YEAR ALONE, ALSO THAT
EQUATED TO APPROXIMATELY 600,000
HOURS OF MANDATORY OVERTIME. SO
THIS IS INVOLUNTARY OVERTIME.
YOU CANNOT SAY NO TO THIS
WITHOUT BEING SUBJECT TO AN
ADVERSE ACTION. ADDITIONALLY,
THE STATE HAS DECIDED TO
SUPPLEMENT STATE STAFF WITH
OUTSOURCED CONTRACT REGISTRY
MENTAL HEALTH STAFF, AT TOP STEP
, A PSYCH TECH IN THE STATE
MAKES $38 PER HOUR, IN CERTAIN
PORTIONS OF THE STATE, AN
OUTSOURCED REGISTRY EMPLOYEE IS
BEING PAID $59 AN HOUR PLUS $900
A WEEK IN PER DIEM IN TRAVEL,
PER DIEM, WITH 100% MEDICAL AND
EXCELLENT 401 K CONTRIBUTIONS.
SO IF WE LOOK IN THE POST PEPRA
ERA, THERE IS NO LONGER AN
INCENTIVE FOR AN EMPLOYEE TO
BECOME A STATE EMPLOYEE WHEN
LUCRATIVE BENEFITS, PENSION,
HEALTH CARE ARE BEING OFFERED BY
OUTSOURCING STAFFING, OUTSOURCED
STAFFING AGENCIES. SO
UNFORTUNATELY, THESE ARE KIND OF
THE REALITIES THAT WE'RE FACING
AND TRYING TO GET NEW EMPLOYEES
TO COME INTO STATE SERVICE.
THANK YOU. EXCUSE ME, SIR.
EXCUSE ME. CAN YOU COME BACK TO
THE MIC, PLEASE? YES. SO YOU'RE
SAYING THAT THE CONTRACTED
EMPLOYEE, THE TEMPORARY
CONTRACTED EMPLOYEE WHO'S
PUTTING IN THE 401 K, WHO'S THE
EMPLOYER IS. SO IT'S A PART OF
THE STATE'S CONTRACT WITH THE
EMPLOYER. THEY'RE AN ALLOTTED,
YOU KNOW, MILLION DOLLAR OR
LET'S SAY $1 MILLION CONTRACT
FOR THREE EMPLOYEES OR FOUR
EMPLOYEES, WHATEVER THE EMPLOYER
IS PLAYING INTO THE IS PAYING
INTO THE AGENCY, THE STAFFING
AGENCY, THE STAFFING AGENCY IS
GIVING THESE LUCRATIVE BENEFITS
TO RECRUIT STAFF TO WORK IN SAME
FACILITIES SIDE BY SIDE WITH MY
MEMBERS. YEAH. AND YET THE STATE
IS PAYING THIS EXORBITANT AMOUNT
FOR A CONTRACT BUT NOT WILLING
TO NEGOTIATE A CONTRACT WITH
EQUAL OR SAME VALUE WITH US.
THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING, MADAM
CHAIR. MEMBERS. MY NAME IS MILES
MENETREY. I'M A MARIPOSA COUNTY
SUPERVISOR. IT'S BEEN VERY
INTERESTING FOR ME TO HEAR THE
STRUGGLES OF THE URBAN COUNTIES
BECAUSE, AS, SUPERVISOR ADAMS
SAID, IT'S QUITE DIFFERENT IN
RURAL COUNTIES, IN RURAL
CALIFORNIA, WE STRUGGLE TO
RECRUIT AND RETAIN INDIVIDUALS
OUTSIDE OF OUR COMMUNITY. GIVEN
MANY RURAL COUNTIES REMOTE
NATURE TO FILL VACANCIES, WE
MUST BUILD OUR WORKFORCE THROUGH
EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY REYES
FOR EMPLOYEES, STUDENTS AND
RESIDENTS TO CREATE A PIPELINE
INTO PUBLIC SERVICE.
UNFORTUNATELY, RURAL CALIFORNIA
LACKS ADEQUATE ACCESS TO
EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES.
THERE'S FIVE COUNTIES IN THE
STATE, ALPINE, AMADOR, MARIPOSA,
MODOC, AND SIERRA THAT ARE
PARTIALLY OR WHOLLY OUTSIDE OF
CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY DISTRICT
COLLEGE DISTRICTS. IF WE WANT TO
FILL VACANCIES THROUGHOUT
CALIFORNIA, WE MUST ADDRESS THE
GAPS IN EDUCATIONAL
OPPORTUNITIES TO ENSURE THAT
RESIDENTS AND RURAL CALIFORNIA
HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ENTER THE
PUBLIC SERVICE REALM. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. GOOD MORNING,
CHAIR AND MEMBERS. CAITLYN DEAN
WITH THE CALIFORNIA STATE
ASSOCIATION. EXCUSE ME, STATE
ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES, WE ARE
THE VOICE OF ALL 58 COUNTIES AND
CSAC, AND I'M SURE THE OTHER
LEGISLATIVE REPRESENTATIVES IN
THE ROOM WOULD HAVE WELCOMED THE
OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE SAT WITH YOU
AND PREPARED COMMENTS AND
REMARKS TODAY, AND WE WOULD HAVE
WELCOMED THE OPPORTUNITY TO
ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU
MIGHT HAVE HAD, THE STATE WOULD
DO WELL TO KEEP IN MIND THAT
COUNTIES DO DELIVER THE VAST
MAJORITY OF SERVICES ON BEHALF
OF THE STATE, AND THE STATE DOES
HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO PROVIDE
ADEQUATE FUNDING TO THE
COUNTIES. THE ISSUE OF THE LACK
OF FUNDING, BY WAY OF THESE
UNFUNDED BILLS AND MANDATES THAT
WE SEE FURTHER EXACERBATE,
EXACERBATE THE ISSUES OF
WORKFORCE RETENTION AND
RECRUITMENT, WE NEED TO BE
CAREFUL TO NOT PUT FORTH STATE
LEGISLATION THAT EMPLOYS A ONE
SIZE FITS ALL APPROACH AND
COUNTIES POST PANDEMIC HAVE BEEN
CREATIVE TO OFFER UP INCENTIVES
FOR HIRING BONUSES AND HOUSING
STIPENDS AND CREATIVE WAYS TO
TRY AND ADDRESS THESE ISSUES,
AND THEN THE LAST COMMENT I'LL
JUST MAKE IS THAT WITH THE CIVIL
SERVICE COMMENT THAT WAS MADE,
THE CIVIL SERVICE PROCESS THAT
IS IN PLACE RIGHT NOW IS
INHERENTLY SLOW. AND SO COUNTIES
ARE BEING RESPONSIVE TO KIND OF
SOME OF THE PROCESSES THAT
THEY'RE REQUIRED TO FOLLOW.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. AND
MEMBERS, JEAN HURST HERE TODAY
ON BEHALF OF THE URBAN COUNTIES
OF CALIFORNIA, THE STATE'S
LARGEST, 14 COUNTIES, I WANT TO
START BY MAKING CLEAR THAT,
ENSURING THAT THE CURRENT PUBLIC
SECTOR, THAT THE CURRENT PUBLIC
SECTOR WORKFORCE CRISIS IS THE
NUMBER ONE CHALLENGE FACING
COUNTIES ACROSS THE STATE. IT
DIFFERENTIATES ITSELF
GEOGRAPHICALLY, AS YOU'VE HEARD
SIZE WISE. BUT IT IS A CRISIS ON
A STATEWIDE BASIS. AND IT
DIRECTLY IMPACTS OUR CAPACITY
AND ABILITY TO ADDRESS THE
MULTIPLE CRISES OF THE DAY AND
UNFORTUNATELY, UNDERMINES TRUST
IN GOVERNMENT, WHICH OBVIOUSLY,
WE CAN ILL AFFORD AT THIS
MOMENT, I JUST WANT TO GO BACK
QUICKLY TO THE UC BERKELEY LABOR
CENTER STUDY, BECAUSE I THINK
THEY CAREFULLY, DOCUMENTED THE
CHALLENGES THAT LOCAL AGENCIES
FACE WHEN IT COMES TO MEETING
THEIR NEEDS. WE ARE WORKING IN A
VERY TIGHT LABOR MARKET. WE HAVE
INCREASED TURNOVER BY FOLKS WHO
DON'T SEE, THE PUBLIC SECTOR AS
THEIR SORT OF LIFELONG CAREER,
THAT IS OBVIOUSLY GENERATIONAL,
BUT ALSO PROBABLY, A RESULT OF
THE PANDEMIC. WE HAVE CHANGING
LABOR FORCE DEMOGRAPHICS. AND
FRANKLY, A LONG STANDING
UNDERINVESTMENT IN LOCAL
GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS AND
SERVICES. AS MY COLLEAGUE FROM
CSEC MENTIONED PREVIOUSLY, WE
HAVE DIFFICULTY COMPETING WITH
THE PRIVATE SECTOR, AS YOU'VE
HEARD FROM YOUR WITNESSES, THESE
JOBS ARE DIFFICULT. AND, OFTEN
FOLKS CAN EARN, MORE, IN SALARY
AND HAVE MORE BALANCED QUALITY
OF LIFE BY, TAKING THEIR SKILLS
ELSEWHERE, THIS IS PARTICULARLY,
CHALLENGING IN HIGH COST AREAS
OF CALIFORNIA, WE HAVE A HIGH
GROWTH AND DEMAND FOR WORKERS IN
CERTAIN OCCUPATIONS,
PARTICULARLY IN THE BEHAVIORAL
HEALTH SPACE. YOU MAY HAVE HEARD
ELSEWHERE IN, LEGISLATIVE
HEARINGS THAT WE HAVE, A
DRAMATIC SHORTFALL IN BEHAVIORAL
HEALTH WORKERS ON A STATEWIDE
BASIS. AND THE BOTTOM LINE IS
THEY'RE NOT GOING TO SHOW UP
TOMORROW BECAUSE THESE ARE KIDS
WHO ARE IN COLLEGE THAT NEED TO
BE INCENTIVIZED TO MOVE INTO
THESE FIELDS SO THEY CAN BECOME
PUBLIC SECTOR WORKERS. AND
OBVIOUSLY, THAT TAKES A GREAT
AMOUNT OF TIME, AND IT TAKES
RESOURCES AND A FOCUSED
COMMITMENT ON THAT. AND OF
COURSE, WE'VE ALREADY ADDRESSED
THE HIRING PROCESSES, I ALSO
THINK THE LABOR CENTER STUDY
POINTS OUT A NUMBER OF POTENTIAL
SOLUTIONS, TO THE PROBLEM, THAT
I THINK MY COLLEAGUES AND I
WOULD WELCOME ADDITIONAL
CONVERSATIONS ABOUT IT. I WOULD
JUST NOTE THAT, RESPECTFULLY,
THE BILLS BEFORE YOUR COMMITTEE
TODAY, DON'T ADDRESS THE, THE
ISSUES THAT WE HAVE IN MEETING
OUR WORKFORCE NEEDS AND DON'T
REFLECT ANY OF THE
RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE REPORT,
FOR SOLUTIONS. AND I THINK IT'S
IMPORTANT TO POINT OUT SOMEBODY
SAID IT EARLIER, AND IT'S
REALLY, SOMETHING THAT I'VE
TRIED TO THINK ABOUT AS WE
DISCUSS THIS ISSUE. WHAT IS THE
PROBLEM THAT WE ARE TRYING TO
SOLVE? AND IS IT THE RIGHT
PROBLEM? IS THE PROBLEM THAT WE
DON'T HAVE ENOUGH REPORTING ON
OUR CONTRACTS? IS THE PROBLEM
THAT WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH PLANS
TO FILL VACANCIES, MY EDUCATED
GUESS IS THAT THE ANSWER TO THAT
IS PROBABLY NO, WE NEED TO WORK
COLLABORATIVELY TO ADDRESS SOME
OF THESE UNDERLYING ISSUES. AND
THAT'S WHAT WE WOULD,
RESPECTFULLY REQUEST OF YOU, AS
YOU CONTINUE A DIALOG ON THIS
ISSUE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS WENDY
PELLETIER. I'M FROM ASPEN
COUNCIL 57, BUSINESS AGENT,
UNION REPRESENTATIVE CLAUDIA IS
ONE OF MY MEMBERS, I JUST WANTED
TO COME UP HERE TO ADDRESS SOME
OF THE QUESTIONS THAT WERE ASKED
EARLIER ABOUT WAGE INCREASES,
HIRING PROCESS, AND BENEFITS. WE
CAN NEGOTIATE WAGE INCREASES,
BUT THEY DON'T OFFSET THE COST
OF LIVING AND THEY DON'T OFFSET
THE COST OF MEDICAL. FOR EXAMPLE
, SAC COUNTY, WHERE AND I
REPRESENT FROM CARMICHAEL WATER
DISTRICT, YOLO COUNTY, ALL THE
WAY TO SAN JOSE. SO FOR SAC
COUNTY, WE CAN NEGOTIATE 4%
COLAS, BUT COST OF MEDICAL GOES
UP 18, ONE YEAR. SO THEIR THEIR
WAGES ARE GOING TO THEIR
MEDICAL. AND WE DO HAVE PEOPLE
LEAVING BECAUSE OF THAT. SO
THAT'S THAT MIDDLE AGE WHERE YOU
ASKED EARLIER ARE PEOPLE STAYING
25 AND 30 YEARS? THEY'RE LEAVING
IN THAT MIDDLE GAP AGE AREA
BECAUSE THEY COULD GO TO ANOTHER
COUNTY THAT DOES PROVIDE 100%
MEDICAL, BECAUSE THEY ARE OUT
THERE FIVE MINUTE, TEN MINUTE,
15 MINUTE DRIVE AWAY. SO THAT IS
ONE OF THE ISSUES AS FAR AS,
RECRUITING, IT IS A BIG ISSUE.
AND LIKE I SAID, I REPRESENTED
ALL THE WAY FROM FRONT LINE
STAFF, FIELD SERVICE WORKERS,
ALL THE WAY UP TO MANAGEMENT AND
TRANSIT AND THE HIRING PROCESS
IS HORRIFIC. AND IT DOESN'T
HAPPEN QUICK ENOUGH. AND WE'RE
STILL RECOVERING FROM THE 2008
RECESSION. WE STILL HAVEN'T
REPLACED A LOT OF THOSE
POSITIONS FROM THEM. AND SO I
JUST WANTED TO COME UP AND
ANSWER SOME OF YOUR QUESTIONS IN
REGARDS TO THAT. I'M SORRY. DID
YOU HAVE ANY MORE INFORMATION?
I'M SORRY. OH, I COULD TALK TO
YOU ALL DAY, BUT I'M NOT. THAT'S
OKAY. WELL, LATER, BECAUSE I
HAVE EVERYBODY, BUT I'M NOT
GOING TO TAKE EVERYBODY'S TIME.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
WE'LL TAKE THIS ONE LAST
COMMENT. YES. OH, THANK YOU SO
MUCH, MADAM CHAIR. I APPRECIATE
IT, JENNIFER FEARING, I'M THE
SACRAMENTO ADVOCATE FOR THE
CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF
NONPROFITS, AND WE'RE A
STATEWIDE POLICY ALLIANCE OF
ABOUT 10,000 MEMBER
ORGANIZATIONS. AND I JUST WANTED
TO ECHO WHAT I HEARD AS
RESONANCE, PARTICULARLY WITH
WHAT WAS DESCRIBED AS THE
CHALLENGES FACING THE CIVIL
SERVICE, THE PUBLIC SECTOR, ON
WORKFORCE CHALLENGES. WE FEEL
THEM DEEPLY IN THE NONPROFIT
SECTOR AS WELL. MANY OF THE
DESCRIPTIONS I LISTENED INTENTLY
TO THE DESCRIPTION OF THE
CHALLENGES IN ANIMAL SERVICES.
THOSE CHALLENGES ARE BEING FELT,
WHETHER YOU'RE A PROVIDER OF
THOSE SERVICES IN THE PRIVATE
SECTOR, PUBLIC SECTOR OR
NONPROFIT SECTOR, WE ARE ALL
REALLY KIND OF GETTING CRUSHED
UNDER THE WEIGHT OF, OF THERE
BEING LOTS OF ISSUES THAT ARE
AFFECTING VACANCY RATES AND
ATTRACTING THE RIGHT TALENT AND
BEING ABLE TO ADDRESS THE
VARIOUS ISSUES RAISED. AND SO I
COMMEND THE AUTHORS OF THAT
REPORT. I FEEL THERE ARE
RECOMMENDATIONS IN THERE THAT
THE NONPROFIT SECTOR HAS STARTED
TO IMPLEMENT THEMSELVES AND
SHOULD SEEK TO IMPLEMENT TO
ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES. SO THEY'VE
DONE A SERVICE FOR MORE
EMPLOYERS THAN JUST THE PUBLIC
SECTOR WITH THAT. AND I WOULD
JUST ALSO BESEECH THAT WE MOVE
FORWARD, ADDRESSING THINGS AND I
IN A COLLABORATIVE MANNER AND
RECOGNIZING THE INTERDEPENDENCE
OF THE NONPROFIT SECTOR, WHICH
SEEKS TO PARTNER WITH GOVERNMENT
AND DOES INDEED ALL OVER THE
STATE, PARTNER WITH GOVERNMENT
TO SUPPORT COMMUNITY SERVICES.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH,
I'LL COME BACK TO THE DÍAS. IS
THERE ANY MEMBER THAT WOULD LIKE
TO THAT HAS A COMMENT? WELL, I
WOULD JUST SAY, REALLY
APPRECIATE THE TESTIMONY FROM
ALL THE WITNESSES WHO CAME TODAY
AND FROM THE MEMBERS OF THE
PUBLIC WHO I THINK ALL AGREE
THAT THIS IS AN INCREDIBLY,
INCREDIBLY COMPLICATED ISSUE,
THERE ARE SO MANY FACETS TO IT.
I REALLY APPRECIATED, THE KIND
OF SUMMARY THAT THE URBAN
COUNTIES FOLKS MADE ABOUT THE
DEMOGRAPHICS, THE TIGHT LABOR
MARKET, IS FEARING'S POINT ABOUT
HOW BOTH THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND
THE, THE PUBLIC SECTOR AND THE
NONPROFIT SECTOR ARE ALL
STRUGGLING WITH VERY SIMILAR
ISSUES. SO I THINK THERE IS,
THIS THIS HEARING HAS BEEN VERY
VALUABLE TO HIGHLIGHT THOSE
ISSUES AND TO BRING EVERYBODY'S
ATTENTION TO THE CHALLENGES THAT
WE FACE AND THE ANSWERS TO THESE
THINGS, OBVIOUSLY, IS, YOU KNOW,
WORKING COLLABORATIVELY AND
UNDERSTANDING HOW THE SYSTEMS
FIT TOGETHER AND HOW WE CAN BEST
PROVIDE CRITICAL SERVICES TO OUR
CONSTITUENTS. AND I WOULD ALSO
LIKE TO THANK EVERYBODY WHO
TESTIFIED THIS MORNING, REALLY
APPRECIATE YOUR KNOWLEDGE AND
COMING FORWARD TO, GIVE US THIS
INFORMATION, THE RURAL
COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. BECAUSE
IT'S GOOD TO HEAR SOMETHING
DIFFERENT. I'M FROM LA. I WORKED
AT DPS IN LA. AND SO IT IS
DIFFERENT FROM THE URBAN CITIES
AND RURAL COUNTIES. SO WE SHOULD
THINK ABOUT THAT. TAKE THAT IN,
AS WELL. AND I THINK THAT WE ALL
EMPLOYER AND EMPLOYEES AND LABOR
CAN GET TOGETHER AND, AND
LEGISLATORS AND, AND WORK AND
WORK ON SOME OF THIS STUFF
COLLABORATIVELY, COLLABORATIVELY
TOGETHER, TO SOLVE SOME OF THESE
PROBLEMS. BECAUSE THESE ARE,
THESE WERE GOOD MIDDLE CLASS
JOBS. I STARTED WORKING FOR THE
COUNTY AT 19 YEARS OLD. I WENT
BACK TO COLLEGE. IT HELPED ME
PAY FOR MY SCHOOLING, I BOUGHT A
HOME BY WORKING THERE BECAUSE
THE PAY WAS GREAT, BUT THE COST
OF LIVING ALSO HAS GONE UP.
REALLY? REALLY, GOING UP SO MUCH
IN THE. JUST TO LIVE HERE IN
THIS STATE IS REALLY EXPENSIVE.
AND SO WE KNOW THAT OUR PUBLIC
SECTOR, WE HAVE TO KEEP UP WITH
THAT SO THAT WE CAN ATTRACT SOME
GOOD QUALITY FOLKS TO COME AND
WORK FOR US, FOR PUBLIC OFFICE.
AND IT ALSO WHEN WE HAVE PEOPLE
WORKING, IT ALSO HELPS THE
PUBLIC BECAUSE WE SERVE THE
PUBLIC WHEN WE WORK IN PUBLIC
SECTOR. AND SO THESE PROBLEMS
HAVE TO BE SOLVED. AND SO LET'S,
LET'S WORK TOGETHER TO COME UP
WITH SOME SOME GREAT SOLUTIONS.
AND THANK YOU GUYS FOR THIS
HEARING, THIS CONCLUDES OUR
INFORMATIONAL HEARING. THE
COMMITTEE WILL NOW TAKE A 5 TO 7
MINUTE RECESS BEFORE MOVING ON
TO, SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS.
DO I CALL FIRST? COULD I HAVE
THE SERGEANTS PLEASE CALL THE
FIRST THREE, AUTHORS? REWARD IS
HERE. ORTEGA AND. AND ME. I
GOTTA USE THE
.
THE MANY. THE COMMITTEE IS
RECONVENE AND TO RESUME, ITS
HEARING AND WILL NOW PROCEED
THROUGH THE SPECIAL ORDER OF
BUSINESS ON THE AGENDA,
SERGEANTS, PLEASE CALL ABSENT
MEMBERS. WE NEED TO ESTABLISH A
QUORUM. SECRETARY PLEASE CALL
THE ROLL TO ESTABLISH A QUORUM.
MCKENNA. HERE MCKENNA. PRESENT.
LAKI. LAKI. PRESENT. BERNER
VINCE. FONG. GREG. HART HERE.
HART. PRESENT. STEPHANIE.
NGUYEN. HERE. STEPHANIE NGUYEN.
PRESENT. THREE OF US. WE HAVE A
QUORUM. THANK YOU. WE HAVE A
QUORUM. WE'RE ON FILE ITEM
NUMBER ONE. GOOD MORNING, MR.
WARD. GOOD MORNING, MADAM CHAIR
AND MEMBERS. I'M PLEASED TO BE
ABLE TO PRESENT TO YOU TODAY AB
2489. I WANT TO START BY
THANKING THE COMMITTEE STAFF FOR
ALL THEIR HARD WORK ON THIS
BILL. CIVIL SERVICE JOBS ARE
REALLY THE BACKBONE OF BOTH THE
STRONG MIDDLE CLASS AND A ROBUST
LOCAL GOVERNMENT. THEY ARE
SKILLED PROFESSIONALS WHO ARE
HIGHLY QUALIFIED TO FILL THESE
JOBS, AND THEY'RE DEDICATED TO
CIVIL SERVICE, OFTEN FOR THEIR
FULL CAREERS. HOWEVER, SOME OF
THE CONTRACTING OUT OF
GOVERNMENT JOBS HAS BEEN
STEADILY RISING FOR DECADES.
TYPICALLY, THIS IS DONE AT TIMES
WHEN WE'RE TRYING TO ADDRESS
BUDGETARY PROBLEMS, BUT WHAT
WE'VE OBSERVED IS THAT WHEN
THESE JOBS EXIT THE GOVERNMENT
ROLE, THEY RARELY RETURN. PUBLIC
WORK IS THE EXPECTATION OF
TAXPAYERS AND CONSTITUENTS,
ONGOING PUBLIC FUNCTIONS ARE
BEST ADDRESSED WITH A RIGHT
SIZED WORKFORCE TO MEET THE
DEMANDS OF USE. WITH CONTRACTING
OUT OVER TIME, THE GOVERNMENT'S
INSTITUTIONAL TALENT POOL IS
DIMINISHED AND IT HURTS THE
WORKER BECAUSE THEY ARE NO
LONGER ENTITLED TO GOVERNMENT
PAY RATES AND BENEFITS. A
TROUBLING TREND HAS BECOME THAT
HAS BECOME A PART OF CONTRACTING
IS THE LACK OF PARITY OF
QUALIFICATIONS. EVERY CIVIL
SERVICE JOB HAS STATED EDUCATION
AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS AND
SOME OTHER REQUIREMENTS THAT ARE
ALONG IN THEIR PAY SALARIES.
CONTRACTED JOBS OFTEN WILL ASK
FOR LESSER QUALIFICATIONS TO DO
THE SAME JOB THAT THE GOVERNMENT
HAS HISTORICALLY BEEN DOING.
THIS CREATES AN IMBALANCE AND
PITS CIVIL SERVICE EMPLOYEES
AGAINST CONTRACTED EMPLOYEES.
CIVIL SERVICE EMPLOYEES ARE
GETTING UNDERCUT BY LESS SKILLED
CONTRACTED HIRES, WHILE ALSO
HAVING TO COMPETE WITH THEM ON A
LOWER PAY SCALE. GOVERNMENT.
HOWEVER, WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR
THE WORK GETTING DONE,
MAINTAINING A PATTERN OF
RELIANCE ON PRIVATE WORKERS
REDUCES ACCOUNTABILITY, CREATES
A LAYER OF REPORTING AND DELAYS,
DIRECTS PUBLIC DOLLARS TO
SUPPORT MANAGEMENT COMPENSATION
AND COMPANY PROFIT AT THE
EXPENSE OF WORKERS, AND LESS
ASSURANCE THAT THE WORK
DELIVERABLE WILL ACTUALLY
SATISFACTORILY BE PERFORMED,
LEAVING THE GOVERNMENT, THE
TAXPAYERS AND THE
REPRESENTATIVES HOLDING THE BAG.
I'M AWARE OF THE COMMENTS MADE
BY SOME LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND
NONPROFITS, AND TAKE THEM
SINCERELY AND WILL CONTINUE TO
WORK WITH THEM ON THEIR
CONCERNS. IF PASSED OUT OF THIS
COMMITTEE, I WOULD BE AMENDING
AN ASSEMBLY JUDICIARY COMMITTEE
LANGUAGE THAT ALLOWS LOCAL
GOVERNMENT CONTRACTING IN
EMERGENCY SITUATIONS, AND I LOOK
FORWARD TO, OF COURSE, WORKING
WITH ANY OTHER OPPOSITION POINTS
AS THIS MOVES FORWARD. IT'S AN
IMPORTANT ISSUE THAT WE MUST GET
RIGHT IF WE ARE GOING TO BE ABLE
TO GUARANTEE THAT THE WORKFORCE
THAT WE HAVE FOR THE FUTURE IS
GOING TO BE ABLE TO MEET THE
PUBLIC'S DEMANDS AND ESSENTIALLY
THIS BILL, I KNOW THERE'S A FEW
OTHER BILLS IN THIS SPACE IS
ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT APPLES TO
APPLES, WE HAVE EQUAL QUALITY
OPTIONS WHEN WE ARE CONSIDERING
CONTRACTING, WHICH IS IMPORTANT
FOR SOME OF THE OUTCOMES I HAVE.
TESTIFYING IN SUPPORT OF AB
2489, CLAUDIA MCFARLAND, THE
SENIOR HEALTH COUNSELOR FOR THE
COUNTY OF SACRAMENTO AND UNION
STEWARD FOR AFSCME LOCAL ONE,
46, AND YVONNE FERNANDEZ FROM
THE CALIFORNIA LABOR FEDERATION,
MR. WARD, THE THIS BILL ENJOYS
AN I RECOMMENDATION FROM THE
CHAIR AND THE MOTION IS Dð PASS
AND REREFERRED TO JUDICIARY
COMMITTEE. THANK YOU. ASSEMBLY
MEMBER WARD. LET'S HEAR FROM
YOUR WITNESSES AND SUPPORT
AGAIN, WE'RE LIMITING TESTIMONY
TO THREE MINUTES TOTAL FOR TWO
PRIMARY WITNESSES IN SUPPORT.
YOU MAY YOU MAY BEGIN. Þ. THANK
YOU, MADAM CHAIR. AND MEMBERS OF
THE COMMITTEE, YVONNE FERNANDEZ
WITH THE CALIFORNIA LABOR
FEDERATION, A PROUD CO-SPONSOR
OF AB 2489, A BILL THAT WILL
ENSURE CONTRACTORS WHO PERFORM
SERVICES FOR LOCAL PUBLIC
AGENCIES MEET THE MINIMUM
QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED OF
PUBLIC SECTOR EMPLOYEES AS
REFERENCED BY THE AUTHOR. WHEN
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS CHOOSE TO
ENTER CONTRACTS WITH PRIVATE
FIRMS TO PROVIDE SERVICES,
CONTRACTOR WORKERS ARE NOT
REQUIRED TO MEET THE SAME
LICENSING, TRAINING OR
EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS AS
PUBLIC SECTOR WORKERS.
TRADITIONAL PUBLIC PUBLIC
SERVICE JOBS REQUIRE EMPLOYEES
TO MEET A NUMBER OF
QUALIFICATIONS TO ENSURE
SERVICES ARE PROVIDED BY HIGHLY
QUALIFIED PROFESSIONAL WORKFORCE
. FOCUS ON EFFICIENCY AND
EFFECTIVENESS TO ENSURE THAT
SERVICE DELIVERY IS MET TO
MILLIONS OF CALIFORNIANS. THESE
QUALIFICATIONS INCLUDE
BACKGROUND CHECKS, YEARS OF
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE,
EDUCATION AND REPORTING
CERTIFICATIONS ALL VERY CRUCIAL
TO THE SERVICE DELIVERY OF OUR
STATE. WITHOUT THESE
QUALIFICATIONS, THE JOB OF A
PUBLIC EMPLOYEE WITH DECADES OF
EXPERIENCE COULD BE OUTSOURCED
TO A FIRM UTILIZING A STAFF
WITHOUT THE SAME QUALIFICATION.
THIS CREATES AN INEQUITABLE
HIRING ENVIRONMENT FOR HUNDREDS
OF QUALIFIED CIVIL SERVICE
WORKERS AND LEADS TO THE
DEGRADATION OF THE QUALITY OF
SERVICES AT THE LOCAL LEVEL. AB
2489 ADDRESSES THESE CHALLENGES
BY REQUIRING ALL PRIVATE
CONTRACTORS TO ADHERE TO THE
SAME QUALIFICATIONS AND
STANDARDS REQUIRED OF CIVIL
SERVICE EMPLOYEES WHO PERFORM
THE EXACT SAME JOBS. AB 2489
WILL ENSURE THAT COMMUNITIES
RECEIVE QUALITY SERVICES FROM
APPROPRIATELY TRAINED WORKERS,
WHILE INCREASING THE
ACCOUNTABILITY OF PRIVATE
CONTRACTORS AND ADDRESSING THE
INEQUITY PUBLIC SERVICE WORKERS
FACE TODAY. FOR THESE REASONS,
WE RESPECTFULLY URGE YOUR AYE
VOTE AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU
MA'AM. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MY
NAME IS CLAUDIA MCFARLAND. I'M A
SENIOR MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELOR
STILL, AND I STILL AM A ASK ME
LOCAL 146 UNION MEMBER FOR
SACRAMENTO COUNTY. I AM SPEAKING
TODAY IN SUPPORT OF AB 2489,
CONTRACTED PROVIDERS FOR MENTAL
HEALTH SERVICES CLAIM TO BE ABLE
TO PERFORM THE SAME SERVICE AS
SACRAMENTO COUNTY MENTAL HEALTH
SERVICE PROVIDERS. THIS IS JUST
NOT TRUE, NOR IS IT RESPONSIBLE
DUE TO LIMITED OVERSIGHT,
CONTRACTED PROVIDERS CAN USE
LESS QUALIFIED WORKERS TO WORK
WITH THE MOST ILL MEMBERS OF OUR
COMMUNITY. AT PRIVATE MENTAL
HEALTH AGENCIES, INTERNS ARE
FREQUENTLY USED IN PLACE OF
LICENSED THERAPISTS BECAUSE
THEY'RE CHEAPER OR FREE. THIS
VERY REASON IS WHY ONCE INTERNS
EARN THEIR LICENSE, THEY LEAVE
SHORTLY THEREAFTER. IN MY
CURRENT ROLE AT JUVENILE HALL, I
HAVE HEARD MANY YOUTH DESCRIBED
TO ME THEIR COUNSELING
EXPERIENCE WITH ORGANIZATIONS
THAT ARE CONTRACTED WITH THE
COUNTY. THE COMMON THEME I HEAR
OVER AND OVER AGAIN IS THEY
BECOME ATTACHED, BEGIN TO TRUST,
AND BEGIN TO DO THE HARD WORK.
WHEN THEIR COUNSELOR ABRUPTLY
LEAVES THEIR AGENCY. THE IDEAL
THERAPEUTIC MODEL TO REALLY
ASSIST INDIVIDUALS IN MAKING
CHANGES IS SOMEONE THEY CAN
COUNT ON THAT WILL BE THERE
WITHOUT JUDGMENT EVERY WEEK, NO
MATTER WHAT, TO HAVE TO REPEAT
THEIR STORY EACH TIME THEY GET A
NEW THERAPIST IS RETRAUMATIZING
THEM. BESIDES THE LENGTH OF TIME
THE COUNTY TAKES FOR THEIR
HIRING PROCESS, ONE THING THAT
IS EXCELLENT IS THEIR VETTING
PROCESS. IT ENSURES A HIGHLY
SKILLED WORKFORCE. COUNTY
EMPLOYEES ARE AFFORDED JOB
SECURITY BENEFITS AND A
RETIREMENT PENSION. ALL OF THIS
PROVIDES OUR COUNTY MENTAL
HEALTH PROVIDERS THE ABILITY TO
FOCUS ON THEIR JOBS. AB 2489
WILL ENSURE THAT PRIVATE
CONTRACTORS MEET THE MINIMUM
QUALIFICATIONS, REQUIREMENTS AND
STANDARDS EXPECTED OF CIVIL
SERVICE EMPLOYEES WHO PERFORM
THE SAME FUNCTIONS THROUGH AB
2489. THE LEGISLATURE CAN
FURTHER PROTECT THE PUBLIC AND
ENSURE QUALITY DELIVERY OF
SERVICES. WITH THAT, I
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOUR YOUR
VOTE. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. ARE
THERE ANY WITNESSES IN SUPPORT?
PLEASE COME FORWARD AND GIVE
YOUR NAME OR ORGANIZATION AND
POSITION. GUERRERO. ON BEHALF OF
SEIU CALIFORNIA, WE ARE
CO-SPONSORS AND SUPPORT. GOOD
MORNING, JANICE O'MALLEY WITH
AFSCME CALIFORNIA PROUD SPONSORS
AS WELL AND URGE YOUR SUPPORT.
THANK YOU. LET'S MOVE IN.
WITNESSES IN OPPOSITION, PLEASE
COME FORWARD. THANK YOU. YOU
HAVE THREE MINUTES TOTAL. THANK
YOU SO MUCH, MADAM CHAIR, EXCUSE
ME, I'M GENE HURST AGAIN HERE
TODAY ON BEHALF OF THE URBAN
COUNTIES OF CALIFORNIA, WHICH IS
AN ASSOCIATION OF THE STATE'S
LARGEST 14, COUNTIES. WE PROVIDE
SERVICES TO ABOUT 80% OF THE
CALIFORNIA POPULATION ON BEHALF
OF THE STATE AND FEDERAL
GOVERNMENTS. AND I'M HERE TODAY
TO EXPRESS OUR OPPOSITION TO AB
2489, YOU'LL LIKELY HEAR SOME
FRUSTRATION FROM LOCAL AGENCY
OFFICIALS REGARDING THIS AND
RELATED MEASURES THAT SEEK TO
LIMIT LOCALS ABILITY TO CONTRACT
FOR SERVICES. AND THAT'S BECAUSE
LOCAL AGENCIES HAVE BEEN
SIGNIFICANTLY CHALLENGED TO DO
MORE IN OUR COMMUNITIES, TO MORE
EFFECTIVELY ADDRESS THE CRISES
AND CHALLENGES OF OUR TIME,
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, HOMELESSNESS,
IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ARE
JUST A FEW EXAMPLES. AND TO
SERVE INDIVIDUALS IN NEED IN A
MORE EQUITABLE AND CULTURALLY
AWARE MANNER AT THE SAME TIME,
AND AS YOU'VE HEARD IN THE
PREVIOUS PRESENTATION, LOCAL
AGENCIES ARE FACING A PERFECT
STORM OF WORKFORCE CHALLENGES.
THE BABY BOOMERS HAVE REACHED
RETIREMENT AGE AND ARE LEAVING
THE WORKFORCE IN MASS. THE GREAT
RESIGNATION HAS TAKEN HOLD AND
WE JUST DON'T HAVE A PIPELINE
SUPPLY OF TRAINED NEW WORKERS TO
MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR
COMMUNITIES. THIS IS ESPECIALLY
CHALLENGING IN SPECIFIC PARTS OF
THE STATE, WE BELIEVE AB 2489 IS
AN UNNECESSARY AND INFLEXIBLE
PROPOSAL THAT WILL NOT ASSIST
LOCAL AGENCIES IN HIRING AND
KEEPING A PUBLIC SECTOR
WORKFORCE THAT CAN MEET THE
NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITIES. IT IS
A ONE SIZE FITS ALL APPROACH
THAT WON'T IMPROVE SERVICES,
REDUCE COSTS, OR PROTECT PUBLIC
EMPLOYEES, WE TALKED, ASSEMBLY
MEMBER WARD SPOKE EARLIER ABOUT
THE NOTIFICATION PROCESS FOR THE
PROCUREMENT TEN MONTHS PRIOR TO
THE EMPLOYEE ORGANIZATION. THE
EMPLOYER ORGANIZATION. AS WE
NOTED IN OUR LETTER, THIS IS
INFEASIBLE. WE DON'T ALWAYS KNOW
OF A NEED FOR PROCUREMENT. TEN
MONTHS PRIOR. AND I JUST WANT TO
BE CLEAR THAT OUR EMERGENCY
CIRCUMSTANCES DON'T ALWAYS MEAN
A FIRE OR A FLOOD. AN EMERGENCY
COULD BE A LABOR DISPUTE, A
GLOBAL PANDEMIC, EMERGENCY CÁC
UTILITY REPAIRS, AN
UNANTICIPATED NEED TO CARE FOR
THOSE CROSSING OUR SOUTHERN
BORDER SEEKING ASYLUM, THESE ARE
KINDS OF EXAMPLES THAT LOCAL
AGENCIES HAVE SORT OF HAD TO
SPRING INTO ACTION ON AN
IMMEDIATE BASIS TO ADDRESS LOCAL
COMMUNITY NEEDS. AND WE THINK
THIS REQUIREMENT IN 2489 IS BOTH
ARBITRARY AND UNWORKABLE,
FURTHER, THE, REQUIREMENT TO
MEET OR EXCEED THE MINIMUM
QUALIFICATIONS AND STANDARDS
REQUIRED OF BARGAINING UNIT
CIVIL SERVICE EMPLOYEES WHO
PERFORMED OR PERFORM THE SAME
JOB FUNCTIONS ARE A CHALLENGE.
THESE REQUIREMENTS, INCLUDING
CRIMINAL HISTORY AND BACKGROUND
CHECKS, ACADEMIC ATTAINMENT, AND
ASSESSMENT EXAMS, WHICH WE
ASSUME ARE SOME SORT OF CIVIL
SERVICE EXAM PROCESS, AMONG
OTHERS, UNDERMINE OUR EFFORTS TO
ENGAGE WITH MORE COMMUNITY
PARTNERS TO CONNECT WITH
VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES MORE
EFFECTIVELY. THERE ARE COUNTLESS
EXAMPLES OF STATE DIRECTED
PROGRAMS AND POLICIES THAT HAVE
SPECIFIED COMPONENTS THAT ARE
DIRECTED TO BE DELIVERED BY
ENTITIES THAT HAVE DIRECT LIVED
EXPERIENCE AND OR CULTURAL
FAMILIARITY, PARTICULARLY IN
PHYSICAL AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
PROGRAMS AND SERVICES, AS WELL
AS OUR WORK WITH JUSTICE
INVOLVED INDIVIDUALS, SIMPLY
PUT, FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE, AB
2489 SETS LOCAL AGENCIES UP FOR
FAILURE WITHOUT REASONABLE TOOLS
TO MANAGE OUR CONSTITUTIONAL AND
STATUTORY OBLIGATIONS, THERE CAN
BE NO EXPECTATION THAT LOCAL
AGENCIES MAKE PROGRESS ON THE
POLICY GOALS THAT THE
LEGISLATURE AND ADMINISTRATION
HAVE SET FORTH. WE RESPECTFULLY
ASK FOR YOUR NO VOTE. THANK YOU.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER WITNESSES IN
OPPOSITION? PLEASE STATE YOUR
NAME, ORGANIZATION AND POSITION.
THANK YOU. RON DELORME WITH CAL
CHAMBER RESPECTFULLY. ALSO IN
OPPOSITION. THANK YOU. GOOD
MORNING, MADAM CHAIR AND
MEMBERS. AARON AVERY WITH THE
CALIFORNIA SPECIAL DISTRICTS
ASSOCIATION, RESPECTFULLY
OPPOSED ALSO FOR THE CALIFORNIA
ASSOCIATION OF SANITATION
AGENCIES, THE CALIFORNIA HEALTH
EXECUTIVES ASSOCIATION, THE
COUNTY HEALTH EXECUTIVES
ASSOCIATION OF CALIFORNIA, THE
COUNTY, THE COUNTY WELFARE
DIRECTORS ASSOCIATION, AND THE
ASSOCIATION OF CALIFORNIA HEALTH
CARE DISTRICTS. THANK YOU. GOOD
MORNING, JOHNNY PINA WITH THE
LEAGUE OF CALIFORNIA CITIES AND
RESPECTFUL OPPOSITION. THANK
YOU. GOOD MORNING, JEFF NEAL. ON
BEHALF OF THE COUNTY OF CONTRA
COSTA, AS WELL AS THE AMERICAN
COUNCIL OF ENGINEERING COMPANIES
, THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF
ARCHITECTS, CALIFORNIA, THE
AMERICAN PUBLIC WORKS
ASSOCIATION, THE CALIFORNIA
GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING
ASSOCIATION, AND THE AMERICAN
SOCIETY OF CIVIL ENGINEERS.
REGION NINE RESPECTFUL
OPPOSITION. GOOD MORNING,
DOROTHY JOHNSON ON BEHALF OF THE
ASSOCIATION OF CALIFORNIA SCHOOL
ADMINISTRATORS, ALSO
RESPECTFULLY OPPOSED SARAH DE
CETTE ON BEHALF OF THE RURAL
COUNTY REPRESENTATIVES OF
CALIFORNIA RESPECTFULLY OPPOSED
CAITLIN DEANE ON BEHALF OF THE
CALIFORNIA. OH MY GOODNESS,
CALIFORNIA STATE ASSOCIATION OF
COUNTIES IN RESPECTFUL
OPPOSITION. ALSO ON BEHALF OF
THE COUNTY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
DIRECTORS ASSOCIATION. ALYSSA
SALEHI, ON BEHALF OF THE
CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF
RECREATION AND PARK DISTRICTS, I
WOULD LIKE TO ECHO MANY OF THE
SENTIMENTS OF MY COLLEAGUE AT
URBAN COUNTIES. I RESPECTFULLY
OPPOSE, GOOD MORNING, MIKE
ROBINSON HERE. ON BEHALF OF THE
CALIFORNIA STAFFING
PROFESSIONALS IN THE AMERICAN
STAFFING ASSOCIATION, OPPOSED.
THANK YOU. LET'S MOVE TO
WITNESSES THAT HAVE CONCERN.
YES. YOU CAN COME TO THE SAME AS
BEFORE. WE'RE LIMITED TO THREE
MINUTES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
MADAM CHAIR. AND MEMBERS AGAIN,
JENNIFER FEARING THE SACRAMENTO
ADVOCATE FOR CALIFORNIA
ASSOCIATION OF NONPROFITS, A
STATEWIDE POLICY ALLIANCE OF
MORE THAN 10,000 MEMBER
ORGANIZATIONS, COUNT ON PROFITS.
CONCERNS WITH AB 2489 ARE SHARED
BY A DOZEN OTHER NONPROFITS THAT
HAVE BEEN WORKING TOGETHER,
ALONG WITH MANY LEGISLATORS AND
WITH THE SUPPORT OF HUNDREDS OF
NONPROFITS TO STRENGTHEN
PARTNERSHIPS WITH GOVERNMENT,
SPECIFICALLY ADVOCATING FOR
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE WAYS THAT
NONPROFITS IN THE STATE WORK
TOGETHER TO USE TAXPAYER DOLLARS
EQUITABLY AND EFFICIENTLY TO
ACHIEVE VITAL STATE PRIORITIES.
WE SUPPORT SIMILAR EFFORTS THAT
THE BIDEN-HARRIS ADMINISTRATION
EARLIER THIS MONTH FINALIZED NEW
RULES, MAKING FEDERAL GRANTS
MORE ACCESSIBLE AND TRANSPARENT
FOR FAMILIES, COMMUNITIES, AND
SMALL BUSINESSES. GOVERNMENTS
PARTNER WITH NONPROFITS AND OUR
EMPLOYEES TO PROVIDE SERVICES TO
COMMUNITIES AND TO COMPLETE
PROJECTS THAT BENEFIT
CALIFORNIANS. THESE PARTNERSHIPS
PROVIDE NONPROFITS WITH THE
RESOURCES THEY NEED TO MEET
GOVERNMENT'S POLICY, SERVICE,
AND PROGRAM GOALS AND SUPPORT
THE GOVERNMENT. THEREFORE, WITH
A ROBUST AND DIVERSE SUPPLY
CHAIN OF PROVIDERS AND
GOVERNMENTS, TURNED TO
NONPROFITS FOR MANY REASONS, NOT
JUST OR EVEN PRIMARILY TO SEEK A
LOW COST ALTERNATIVE TO PUBLIC
PROVISION. INDEED TO TREAT OUR
SECTOR AS A LOW WAGE OR LOW
SKILL WORKFORCE WOULD HARM BOTH
THE PUBLIC AND NONPROFIT SECTORS
. WE ARE STILL ANALYZING THE NEW
REQUIREMENTS PROPOSED IN AB
2489, AND HOW THEY IMPACT
NONPROFITS THAT RUN THE GAMUT OF
SERVICES INVOLVED IN THOUSANDS
OF CONTRACTS AROUND THE STATE.
BUT INITIALLY, IT CONCERNS US
THAT AB 249 COVERS A WIDE AND
UNCLEAR SCOPE OF SERVICE TYPES
AND JOB FUNCTIONS, LACKS
SUFFICIENT SAFEGUARDS TO ENSURE
THAT CRITICAL SERVICES WILL NOT
SUFFER FROM DELAY OR REDUCED
SERVICE LEVELS, AND HAS IS
INFLEXIBLE DURING EMERGENCY. AND
AS DRAFTED, AB 2049 IMPOSES
REQUIREMENTS ON POTENTIAL
POTENTIAL CONTRACTORS LIKE
CERTAIN BACKGROUND CHECK AND
EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT CRITERIA
THAT WOULD REINFORCE HIRING AND
WORKFORCE INEQUITIES THAT CAN
CREATE BARRIERS FOR JUSTICE
IMPACTED INDIVIDUALS. THESE ARE
ALSO SHOWN TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE
HIGH VACANCY RATES. WE'VE BEEN
DISCUSSING THAT LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS AND OTHER SECTORS
ARE EXPERIENCING. WE STRIVE IN
OUR SECTOR TO PROVIDE
OPPORTUNITIES TO PEOPLE WHO ARE
EXCLUDED BY CERTAIN HISTORICAL
HIRING REQUIREMENTS THAT
INCREASE OUR CULTURAL COMPETENCE
AND LIFT UP VOICES OF THOSE WITH
LIVED EXPERIENCE OF THE VERY
PROBLEMS WE ARE TASKED TO
CONFRONT. WE WOULD NOT WANT TO
RETREAT FROM THESE PRACTICES TO
QUALIFY AS CONTRACTED PARTNERS
WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, AS WE
WANT TO CONTINUE TO HIRE FROM
MEMBERS OF HISTORICALLY
MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES. WE ARE
ALSO UNSURE HOW OUR EMPLOYEES
HAVE COVERED BY THIS BILL. WOULD
BE ASSESSED THROUGH EXAMS OR
EVALUATED FOR PERFORMANCE TO
MEET THE SAME STANDARDS AS
PUBLIC EMPLOYEES. SO WE VERY
MUCH WANT TO FIND A PATH. I AM
INTENTIONALLY HERE WITH CONCERNS
RATHER THAN OPPOSITION, BECAUSE
WE WOULD LIKE TO THREAD THE
NEEDLE OF ENSURING ROBUST PUBLIC
EMPLOYMENT, IMPROVING THE
ABILITY OF NONPROFITS TO PARTNER
AND TO CONTINUE THAT. WE HAVE
QUALITY SERVICES FOR
CALIFORNIANS WHO ARE COUNTING ON
US, BOTH THE PUBLIC AND THE
NONPROFIT SECTORS, TO WORK
TOGETHER ON THEIR BEHALF. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU. LET'S BRING IT
BACK TO THE COMMITTEE, TO THE
MEMBERS. ANY QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS? YES. MR. LACKEY, YEAH,
I HAVE A QUESTION, TO THE AUTHOR
, HELP US UNDERSTAND THE NEED
FOR THIS, THIS TEN MONTH NOTICE
PRIOR TO STARTING THE
PROCUREMENT PROCESS, THAT
PROVISION SEEMS TO LIMIT LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS CAPACITY TO RESPOND
QUICKLY, AS, AS YOU HEARD IN THE
OPPOSITION TESTIMONY TO
EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES. I'M
TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHY THAT'S
THAT TEN MONTH PERIOD IS
NECESSARY. THANK YOU FOR THE
QUESTION. A FEW THINGS. ONE, AS
I MENTIONED IN MY OPENING, YOU
KNOW, I'VE ALREADY BEGUN TO GET
VERY CRITICAL FEEDBACK AND TAKE
ALL OF THAT, SINCERELY, AS WE
TRY TO FIND WAYS TO BE ABLE TO
ADDRESS ANY CONCERNS WITH REGARD
TO EMERGENCY SITUATIONS, YOU
KNOW, THAT IMMEDIATELY IS
SOMETHING I'LL BE LOOKING TO
WEAR THIS TO PASS OUT OF
COMMITTEE, LOOK FORWARD TO
WORKING THROUGH AMENDMENT AND
THE ASSEMBLY JUDICIARY
COMMITTEE, THE TEN MONTH, SORT
OF MARKER IN THE BILL IS AN
OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PROCESS THAT
NEEDS TO OCCUR FOR THE
EVALUATIONS AND FOR, SORT OF THE
DEVELOPMENT OF, OF INFORMATION,
FOR A CITY TO BEGIN TO THINK
ABOUT A CONTRACT OPPORTUNITY, I
WOULD WANT TO WORK CLOSELY WITH
BOTH LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND, WITH
SUPPORTERS AS WELL TO TRY TO
MAKE SURE IF THAT NUMBER NEEDS
ADJUSTMENT, IT'S MEETING THE
INTERESTS OF BOTH. BOTH PARTIES.
YEAH. HAVING WORKED IN LOCAL
GOVERNMENT ON A NUMBER OF
FRONTS, I DO UNDERSTAND THE
BENEFITS OF UNION QUALIFIED
WORKERS, I REALLY DO. BUT I
DON'T THINK IT'S PRAGMATIC. AND
THE REASONABLENESS STANDARDS IS
NOT REALLY MET, IN MY OPINION,
ON THIS PARTICULAR PROPOSAL IN
ITS CURRENT STATE. SURE. IF I
CAN. AN OBSERVATION, I THINK WHY
THIS BILL INSPIRED ME SO MUCH TO
START TO KIND OF WORK IN THIS
AREA IS MY OWN TIME ON CITY
GOVERNMENT AS WELL, AND NOTICING
THAT WITH EVERY SUCCESSIVE
RECESSION AND WITH EVERY CUTS
THAT WE'VE HAD TO MUNICIPAL
BUDGETS AND THOSE ARE, DIFFICULT
AND REGRETTABLE, THEY'VE OFTEN
COME AT THE BACKS OF WORKERS
AND, YOU KNOW, DIALING BACK EVEN
A STEP FURTHER, AS LOCAL
OFFICIALS, WE HAVE THE
RESPONSIBILITY AND WE HEAR THAT
FROM OUR CONSTITUENTS TO GET
CERTAIN THINGS DONE AND THINGS
GET DONE BECAUSE OF OUR
WORKFORCE, AND TO HAVE, I THINK
MORE AND MORE MODEL SYSTEMS IN
PLACE WHERE WE ARE GOING TO HAVE
, THE RIGHT SIZED WORKFORCE WITH
THE RIGHT QUALIFICATIONS THAT
ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO PERFORM
THOSE FUNCTIONS, I THINK, IS
WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO GET TOWARDS
IN THE END AND ACHIEVE THE
INTERESTS OF OUR CONSTITUENTS.
AND OUR TAXPAYERS ON SOME OF
THOSE DELIVERABLES. NOW, UNDER
THESE CIRCUMSTANCES WHERE WE ARE
LOSING CORE, CIVIL EMPLOYEE
POSITIONS THAT HAD BEEN
PERFORMING THAT WORK BECAUSE A
BUDGET REQUIRED US TO DO SO,
WHEN THAT COMES BACK, THOSE
OFTEN HAVE NOT BEEN ACTUALLY
REPLENISHED INSIDE THE CITY'S
WORKFORCE. AND I THINK REALLY
RETAINING, I THINK, THE
ASSURANCES THAT WE'RE GOING TO
HAVE, THE, THE ACCOUNTABLE AND
DELIVERABLE WORK PERFORMANCE
THAT THAT THAT'S EXPECTED OF US,
BUT THAT CONTRACTING OUT HAS
STARTED TO BECOME A PATTERN OF,
OF GROWTH. AND SO WHAT THIS BILL
SAYS IS ACTUALLY ALL THIS BILL
SAYS IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE
NOT HAVING ANY, UNINTENDED
CONSEQUENCE REYES WITH THE
QUALITIES OF PRODUCT OR THE
DELIVERABLES THAT WE ARE
EXPECTED OF MAKING SURE THAT
WHEN WE ARE CONTRACTING OUT THAT
THERE'S THIS EQUAL
QUALIFICATIONS, RIGHT? YOU WANT
TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN YOU ARE A
LOCAL GOVERNMENT IS MAKING THESE
DECISIONS ABOUT WHETHER TO HIRE
IN OR CONTRACT OUT AT LEAST
APPLES TO APPLES. YOU ARE TRYING
TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PLAYING
FORCE IS THE PLAYING FIELD IS
LEVELED. THANK YOU.
ASSEMBLYMEMBER NGUYEN. THANK
YOU, MADAM CHAIR. AND THANK YOU
TO THE AUTHOR FOR BRINGING THIS
FORWARD. AND I THINK CLAUDIA, MY
QUESTION MAYBE IS FOR YOU, I
HEARD YOU SPEAK EARLIER DURING
THE HEARING, AND I THOUGHT I
WROTE DOWN THE NUMBERS OF HOW
MANY VACANCIES ARE COMING FROM
THE NONPROFIT WORLD. AND KNOWING
THAT MANY ORGANIZATIONS IN THE
NONPROFIT COMMUNITY DO PROVIDE
MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES,
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES. AND
I WORKED WITH HIM FOR OVER A
DECADE NOW, I COULD SAY A COUPLE
OF THINGS. I CAN SAY THAT AS THE
YOUNG LADY SPOKE EARLIER, SOME
OF THESE FOLKS HAVE TRIED TO
APPLY TÂM BECAUSE OF
QUALIFICATIONS. THEY DIDN'T, BUT
THEY ARE TRULY FROM THE
COMMUNITY. AND THE MOST
IMPORTANT THING IS THEY'RE A
TRUSTED MESSENGER AND THAT THEY
CAN GET THE INFORMATION OUT.
THEY CAN SOMETIMES GET THESE
PATIENTS TO OPEN UP TO THEM. BUT
WHAT I ALSO FOUND IS THAT YOU
MENTIONED THEY WOULD COME AND
THEY WOULD WORK FOR A FEW
MONTHS, AND THEY WOULD LEAVE.
THEY WOULD LEAVE BECAUSE THEY
WOULD GET RECRUITED BY THE
COUNTY TO COME WORK FOR THEM,
BECAUSE THEY WORKED IN THE
COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION AND THE
COMMUNITY ASPECT OF IT. AND I
CAN SAY THAT BECAUSE, IN ONE
MONTH, I LOST HALF OF MY STAFF
TO THE COUNTY BECAUSE THEY
RECRUITED DIRECTLY FROM MY
ORGANIZATION, BECAUSE THEY SAW
THAT WHEN THESE INDIVIDUALS
TRIED TO APPLY, THEY DIDN'T
QUALIFY FOR WHATEVER REASON.
THEY DIDN'T TEST WELL, THEY
DIDN'T INTERVIEW WELL, BUT
SEEING THAT THEY WERE DIRECTLY
FROM THE COMMUNITY. AND I'M A
PERSON OF I DON'T HIRE YOU BASED
OFF OF YOUR GPA, WHAT COLLEGE
YOU WENT TO, WHATEVER YOU
GRADUATED FROM, WHATEVER
COLLEGE. IT'S REALLY JUST THE
EXPERIENCE YOU HAVE IN THE
COMMUNITY, YOUR LIFE EXPERIENCE
AND WHAT YOU CAN DO, ESPECIALLY
IF YOU'RE A TRUSTED COMMUNITY
MEMBER IN THIS VULNERABLE
COMMUNITY THAT THAT WE'RE
SERVING. AND I FOUND THROUGHOUT
THE DECADES THAT I WAS IN THE
SERVICES THAT MANY OF THE COUNTY
REALLY DID RECRUIT DIRECTLY, I
WOULD LOSE STAFF STRAIGHT FROM
THE COUNTY, RIGHT, BECAUSE THEY
WOULD RECRUIT THE INDIVIDUALS
BECAUSE BY NOW THEY HAVE THE
EXPERIENCE THEY HAVE. THEY CAN
PASS THE INTERVIEW PROCESS OR
WHATNOT. AND SO I GUESS, YOU
KNOW, I WANT TO KNOW, AS WE TALK
ABOUT THE VACANCIES THAT ARE
AROUND, I MEAN, HOW DOES THIS
NECESSARILY HELP IN REDUCING
SOME OF THE VACANCIES? WHAT IS
WHAT IS THE PLAN THAT YOU THINK
MIGHT HELP IN REDUCING SOME OF
THESE VACANCIES? RIGHT. IF THERE
ARE VACANCIES ARE AVAILABLE AND
INDIVIDUALS CAN APPLY FOR THEM.
NOW, HOW IS THIS GOING TO HELP
YOU IN THAT NGUYEN. IN FACT,
SOME OF THESE CONTRACTS THAT ARE
OUT TO COMMUNITY BASED
ORGANIZATIONS THAT THAT ARE
REALLY DOING THE WORK OUT THERE
FOR A LOT LESS PAY BECAUSE THEY
REALLY CARE ABOUT THE COMMUNITY
MEMBERS. YOU KNOW, I WOULD NEVER
I KNOW YOU TALKED ABOUT THE LOST
OF THE LIFETIME BENEFITS. NEVER
IN MY LIFE WOULD I HAVE BEEN
ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, GIVE THAT TO
MY, MY STAFF. BUT THEY WERE JUST
THERE BECAUSE THEY CARED ABOUT
THE COMMUNITY. THEY WERE TRUSTED
MESSENGER. THEY SPOKE THE
LANGUAGE, CULTURAL, LINGUISTIC,
COMPETENCY IS A HUGE THING IN
OUR COMMUNITY. AND I KNOW YOU
KNOW THAT. BUT, YOU KNOW, I JUST
WANT TO PUT IT OUT THERE THAT
MANY TIMES THEY DIDN'T LEAVE.
MAYBE THEY LEFT BECAUSE OF THE
LACK OF PAY, BUT FOR THE MOST
PART, THEY DIDN'T QUALIFY FROM
THE VERY BEGINNING AT ALL. AND I
KNOW THE GAL TALKED ABOUT, YOU
KNOW, THE JUSTICE INVOLVED. I'VE
HIRED THOSE THAT WERE FORMERLY
INCARCERATED BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T
QUALIFY. RIGHT. AND THEN AFTER
THEY WORKED FOR ME FOR A FEW
YEARS AND THEY WOULD APPLY AND
TADA, THEY WERE, YOU KNOW, HIRED
AT ANOTHER AGENCY FOR WHATEVER
REASON, THAT IS. AND SO, I GUESS
IF YOU CAN HELP ME UNDERSTAND
THAT, HOW THIS BILL WOULD HELP
THEM, I DON'T KNOW IF MAYBE THE
AUTHOR CAN OR ANY ONE OF THE
WITNESSES CAN, CAN EXPLAIN HOW
THIS WOULD HELP, WELL, I USED TO
WORK IN NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS
PRIOR TO WORKING FOR THE COUNTY.
I WORKED IN RESIDENTIAL
TREATMENT. I, WORKED IN
SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT,
OUTPATIENT, EVERYTHING YOU CAN
THINK OF, PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITALS,
ETC. AND. WHAT I CAN SAY ABOUT
BEING A COUNTY EMPLOYEE NOW
OPPOSED TO WORKING IN THE
NONPROFIT SECTOR IS THAT MY
SENSE OF SECURITY IS MUCH HIGHER
. I DON'T WORRY ABOUT BEING
DISCRIMINATED AGAINST. I DON'T
WORRY ABOUT BEING ABLE TO PAY MY
BILLS. I DON'T WORRY ABOUT
WHETHER I HAVE THE TIME TO TAKE
OFF FOR AN EMERGENCY, WHETHER I
HAVE THE TIME TO STAY HOME WHEN
I'M ILL, WHETHER I CAN GET, TO A
FUNERAL FOR MY STEPCHILDREN. I
DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT A LOT
OF THINGS. I USED TO HAVE TO
WORRY ABOUT. AND THE OTHER THING
I'D LIKE TO SAY ABOUT THAT IS,
THE COUNTY HAS BEGUN. SACRAMENTO
COUNTY. I CAN'T SPEAK FOR ALL
COUNTIES. SACRAMENTO COUNTY HAS
BEGUN TO HIRE PEER SUPPORT
SPECIALISTS. LIVED EXPERIENCE
INDIVIDUALS BECAUSE WE I THINK
THE EMPLOYER HAS FOUND THE VALUE
REALIZED THAT THEY NEED TO BRING
THEM IN HOUSE SO THAT WE CAN
KEEP THEM AND DON'T LOSE THEM.
THE TURNOVER RATE IS HIGH IN
NONPROFITS, I HAVE FOUND, AND
THE MODEL IS PRETTY MUCH LIKE
THIS, MOST MENTAL HEALTH SERVICE
PROVIDERS THAT ARE A NONPROFIT
ORGANIZATION, AND I AM TOTALLY
NOT AGAINST NONPROFITS. I WANT
TO MAKE THAT CLEAR. I BELIEVE WE
NEED THEM, AND I BELIEVE THEY
HAVE A DEFINITE WE HAVE A NEED
IN OUR COMMUNITY FOR THEM. BUT
THE MODEL IS RIGHT NOW THIS WAY
YOU HAVE A CLINICAL SUPERVISOR
AT THE NONPROFIT THAT IS
LICENSED, WHO THEN SUPERVISES
THE INTERNS, WHO ACTUALLY ARE
THE ONES WHO GO OUT AND DO THE
WORK. NOW, THE INTERNS, HAVING
BEEN ONE MYSELF, I HAVE LOST A
CLIENT BECAUSE OF MY
INEXPERIENCE. AND WHAT I MEAN BY
LOST IS THEY DIED. THEY
COMMITTED SUICIDE AFTER LEAVING
MY OFFICE. AND THAT IS NOT AN
EXPERIENCE I WANT ANY INTERN TO
HAVE. THEY ARE THE LOWEST
SKILLED, INCLUDING MYSELF. I WAS
THE LOWEST SKILLED PERSON
WORKING WITH THE MOST ACUTE ILL
IN THE COMMUNITY. WE HAVE TO DO
BETTER. WE CANNOT PUT THESE
YOUNG PEOPLE IN THAT POSITION.
IT'S IRRESPONSIBLE TO THEM AND
TO THE CLIENTS THAT NEED THEM
BECAUSE THEY CAN'T BE. IT'S TOO
COMPLICATED. THESE CASES THAT
THE PUBLIC SECTOR IS RESPONSIBLE
FOR OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE
COMPLEX. THEY'RE SUBSTANCE
ABUSE. THEY'RE MENTALLY ILL,
THEY'RE HOMELESS. THEY'RE
VOLATILE. THEY'RE HOSTILE.
THEY'RE IT'S NOT AN EASY JOB.
AND WE NEED THE PROTECTIONS THAT
THE COUNTY CAN OFFER TO ALLOW
THESE PEOPLE TO HAVE THE
ABILITY, THE FORTITUDE, THE
SAFETY, THE BACKUP, THE POLICE,
EVERYBODY INVOLVED TO BE ABLE TO
DO THIS WORK, INCLUDING
NONPROFITS. RIGHT. I'M JUST
SAYING THAT WE NEED TO COMPARE
APPLES TO APPLES. YEAH. I WAS
NOT SKILLED ENOUGH AT THE TIME
THAT I WAS AN INTERN TO HELP
THESE PEOPLE. I KNOW THAT TODAY.
I DIDN'T KNOW THAT. THEN. WOULD
YOU SAY THAT BEFORE? MÀ. AND
THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
YOUR WORK. I KNOW THAT YOU GO
HOME WITH IT EVERY NIGHT AND
IT'S ON YOUR MIND EVEN RIGHT
NOW, RIGHT? BECAUSE I KNOW THAT
WORK. YOU KNOW, YOU INHERIT
THOUSANDS OF INDIVIDUALS THAT
BECOME YOUR OWN FAMILY MEMBER,
AND YOU THINK ABOUT THEM MORE
THAN YOU DO ABOUT YOUR OWN
FAMILY MEMBERS BECAUSE, YOU
KNOW, THEY BECOME A PART OF YOUR
SOUL. RIGHT? SO WOULD YOU SAY
THAT WHEN BEFORE YOU APPLIED TO
BECOME A COUNTY WORKER, OR DID
YOU APPLY TO BECOME A COUNTY
WORKER AND DIDN'T GET HIRED? AND
SO YOU WENT TO THE NONPROFIT
SECTOR AND GOT PICKED UP? WELL,
HERE'S WHAT HAPPENED FOR ME. I
WORKED IN THE NONPROFIT SECTOR
BECAUSE I WASN'T LICENSED YET,
AND I COULDN'T. SO WHEN I GOT A
JOB WITH THE COUNTY, I HAD A
BACHELOR'S DEGREE AND, THE
COUNTY ALLOWED ME TO CONTINUE MY
EDUCATION. THÀNH BY THE WAY,
THAT'S A SIDE NOTE. BEING A
COUNTY EMPLOYEE ALLOWS YOU A
LITTLE MORE FORTITUDE TO DO
THAT. OKAY AND THE LOAN
FORGIVENESS PROGRAM, THANK YOU
VERY MUCH, I JUST QUALIFIED AND
FINISHED, SO, SO THERE ARE A LOT
OF BENEFITS TO WORKING FOR THE
COUNTY AGAIN. ANOTHER. SORRY. SO
YOU YOU YOU DIDN'T QUALIFY AT
THE TIME TO WORK FOR THE COUNTY,
SO YOU WENT THE NONPROFIT
SECTOR? NO I WENT TO THE
NONPROFIT SECTOR ORIGINALLY
BECAUSE I DIDN'T HAVE A DEGREE.
I'VE BEEN WORKING IN THE
NONPROFIT SECTOR SINCE BEFORE I
FINISHED MY EDUCATIONAL PROCESS.
WOULD YOU SAY YOUR EXPERIENCE IN
THE NONPROFIT SECTOR GAVE YOU A
PATHWAY TO BE WHERE YOU'RE AT
RIGHT NOW, AT THE COUNTY? YES
AND NO, MA'AM. I DO WANT TO SAY
TO THAT WHAT I KNOW TODAY IS
THAT WE'RE EXPLOITING THOSE
PEOPLE. THAT IS THE WAY I SEE IT
. THEY'RE YOUNG, THEY'RE
IMPRESSIONABLE. THEY'RE IN A
LEARNING ENVIRONMENT WHEN
THEY'RE WORKING AS INTERNS, THAT
IS A TEACHING ENVIRONMENT THAT
IS A 3 OR 4 YEAR, LEARN, LEARN,
LEARN, YOU KNOW, GET, UNDERSTAND
THE COMPLEXITY, HIS THE
DIFFICULTIES, THE NUANCES AND
DEVELOP INTO A THERAPIST. RIGHT.
SO IF WE'RE PUTTING THEM IN
THESE DIFFICULT, COMPLEX, ALMOST
SET UP TO FAILURE SITUATIONS,
WHAT THEY'RE LEARNING IS THAT
MAYBE THEY AREN'T VERY GOOD AT
THIS. MAYBE THEY DON'T HAVE WHAT
IT TAKES. AND THEN WE WEED OUT
THE ONES THAT CAN DO IT RIGHT,
AND THEY ARE THE ONES THAT STAY.
BUT WE EXPLOIT THEIR CARING,
THEIR WANTING TO HELP, THEIR
DESIRE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE. I
BELIEVE THEY DESERVE BETTER THAN
THAT. THANK YOU. YEAH, I THINK
MY, COMMENTS APPLY TO ALL THE
BILLS WE'RE SEEING TODAY IN THE
SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS, MY
STARTING POINT IS THAT THE
PUBLIC SECTOR JOBS THAT YOU'RE
LOOKING TO PROTECT ARE CRITICAL.
AND THE FOUNDATION OF, THE
PUBLIC SECTOR MIDDLE CLASS
EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT AND THAT
MAKING SURE THAT THE CONTRACTING
THAT'S DONE IS STRATEGIC AND
SMART AND EQUITABLE, I DON'T
PERSONALLY THINK IT MAKES A LOT
OF SENSE AND A LOT OF INSTANCES,
AND I'M CONCERNED THAT IT IS
INCREASING. AND I THINK THAT
THAT'S AN APPROPRIATE THING TO
BE LOOKING CAREFULLY AT. I ALSO
SEE THE ROLE THAT NONPROFITS
PLAY IN PROVIDING PUBLIC
SERVICES AS DIFFERENT THAN THE
PRIVATE SECTOR, COMPETITION AND
CONTRACTING. AND SO I'M I'M
ENCOURAGED THAT YOU'RE SPEAKING
DIRECTLY TO WANTING TO WORK WITH
THE NONPROFIT SECTOR AND TO
FIGURE OUT HOW THIS CAN
ACTUALLY, OPERATIONALLY WORK. I
THINK THERE'S SOME BIG
CHALLENGES, AND I THINK IT'S
GOING TO TAKE A LOT OF WORK. BUT
I TRUST IN YOUR SKILL AND
ABILITY AND WILLINGNESS TO MAKE
THAT CONVERSATION HAPPEN. AND,
AND I WANT THE BILL TO GO
FORWARD TO ENABLE THAT WORK TO,
TO HAPPEN. SO I'LL BE SUPPORTING
THE BILL, MR. WARD, WOULD YOU
LIKE TO CLOSE? THANK YOU, MADAM
CHAIR. THANK YOU FOR THE
COMMENTS AND DISCUSSION AND VERY
IMPORTANT QUESTIONS HERE BECAUSE
I THINK, YOU KNOW, IF AND AS
THIS MOVES FORWARD, YOU KNOW,
THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT MORE,
POINTS LAID OUT. AND I THINK TO
THAT POINT, YOU KNOW, FOR WHAT
WE'VE HEARD TODAY AND LEADING UP
TO THIS DISCUSSION HERE TODAY, I
WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT
TALKING PAST EACH OTHER. WE HAVE
A VERY STRONG, IMPORTANT AND
REVERED, PARTNERSHIP WITH MANY
OF OUR NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS.
THE I THINK MAYBE TO ADD TO YOUR
CHARACTERIZATION, ASSEMBLY
MEMBER THE SUPPLEMENTARY WORK,
AND THE COMPLEMENTARY WORK THAT
THEY DO TO BE ABLE TO FULFILL,
EXPECTATIONS IS IMPORTANT. THE
TEMPORARY THE EMERGENCY WORK IS
CRITICAL, AND SO THERE'S A LOT
MORE, I THINK DEFINITION THAT
CAN BE WORKED OUT HERE THAT
THROUGH THIS BILL, TO MAKE SURE
THAT THESE CONCERNS ARE
ALLEVIATED, AT THE SAME TIME, I
DON'T WANT TO, YOU KNOW, JUST
ACCEPT SOME OF THE STATEMENTS
MADE HERE TODAY AS WELL, ON ON
THEIR FACE THAT SOMEHOW THAT
THIS IS GOING TO CREATE MORE
BARRIERS OF ACCESS TO ENTRY, OUR
PUBLIC WORKFORCE HAS BEEN A
WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY FOR MANY
AND ALL MEMBERS OF OUR
COMMUNITIES TO BE ABLE TO GET A
GOOD MIDDLE CLASS JOB AND HAVE
JOB SECURITY AND BE ABLE TO
PROVIDE FOR THEIR FAMILIES AND
FOR THEIR RETIREMENT. THAT IS A
MODEL THAT WE SHOULD HAVE HOPE
FOR IN ALL OF OUR WORKFORCE
OPPORTUNITIES. BUT IT'S BECAUSE
OF THESE EXACT KINDS OF JOBS
THAT WE ARE BLEEDING AND LOSING
THAT WE ARE SEEING. I THINK ALSO
CONNECTION, CONNECTEDNESS, WITH
THE BROADER PICTURE ABOUT
RETIREMENT SECURITY AND
INSTABILITY THAT WE HAVE IN OUR
COMMUNITIES, WE ARE ACCUSED THAT
THIS IS SOMEHOW GOING TO SET,
LOCAL SYSTEMS UP FOR FAILURE, I
THINK JUST THE OPPOSITE. AND
THIS IS SOMEONE COMING FROM
LOCAL GOVERNMENT I FELT FAILED
UPON BY MANY OF OUR CONTRACTS
THAT WENT SOUTH, MONEY THAT
ALREADY WENT OUT THE DOOR. BUT
THE JOB NEVER GOT PERFORMED
SATISFACTORILY. AND WHO'S LEFT
HOLDING THE. AND THEN, YOU KNOW,
THE CONTRACT EITHER WAS
TERMINATED OR MAYBE THE PERIOD
HAD ENDED AND THEY DECIDED NOT
TO RENEW. AND WHAT HAPPENED FOR
THAT $5 MILLION? NOTHING THAT I
CAN TELL MY CONSTITUENTS,
BECAUSE WE HAVE TO GO RIGHT BACK
TO THE DRAWING BOARD AGAIN. BUT
THAT KIND OF ACCOUNTABILITY IS
EXACTLY WHAT WE HAVE IN OUR IN
HOUSE, IN OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT. SO I
THINK THAT, WHILE WE HAVE BEEN
LIVING UNDER A PARADIGM THAT
HAS, FOSTERED FOR THE MOST PART,
YOU KNOW, THIS VERY
COLLABORATIVE RELATIONSHIP, WE
HAVE TO LOOK, I THINK
STRUCTURALLY ABOUT WHERE THINGS
HAVE HEADED AND WHERE THEY'RE
CONTINUING TO HEAD AND MAKE SURE
THAT WE ARE TRYING TO BE ABLE TO
THOUGHTFULLY RESET THAT BAR,
AGAIN, UNDERSCORING THAT THESE
JOBS WITHIN THIS BILL ARE FOR
THOSE THAT ARE CURRENTLY OR
WITHIN THE PREVIOUS TEN YEARS,
HELD BY A CIVIL SERVICE EMPLOYEE
. SO IT REALLY DOES NARROW DOWN
WHAT WE'RE TALKING WHEN YOU HAVE
NEW GRANT FUNDING TO BE ABLE TO
DO SOMETHING THAT THE CITY HAS
NEVER DONE BEFORE, THAT'S A
GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR A
PARTNERSHIP. WHEN YOU'VE GOT
FEDERAL RESOURCES COMING IN THAT
ARE TRYING TO BE ABLE TO PERFORM
EMERGENCY WORK, THERE'S
ABSOLUTELY AN ALLOWANCE FOR
THAT. SO I THINK THAT THERE'S
STILL, IS AN OUTCOME HERE THAT'S
GOING TO HAVE, MANY MUTUAL WINS
FOR ALL THOSE THAT ARE
INTERESTED. AND MY COMMITMENT,
OF COURSE, ALWAYS REMAINS TO BE
ABLE TO WORK WITH THOSE
CONCERNED AND THOSE WITH
OPPOSITION ON THESE POINTS. I
RESPECTFULLY REQUEST YOUR I
VOTE, THANK YOU, ASSEMBLY MEMBER
WARD, THANK YOU FOR CARRYING
THIS BILL, AS I SAID EARLIER,
THESE JOBS ARE EXTREMELY
IMPORTANT. THESE PUBLIC SECTOR
JOBS ARE EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.
THEY CREATE THE MIDDLE CLASS. WE
MUST PROTECT THEM. AND SO, IS
THERE A MOTION? A SECOND, WE
HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND,
SECRETARY, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
THE MOTION IS DO PASS AND BE
REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON
JUDICIARY. MCKENNA I KENAR I
LACKEY. NO. LACKEY NO BERNER.
VINCE FONG HEARTS. HEART I
STEPHANIE NGUYEN NOT VOTING
STEPHANIE NGUYEN NOT VOTING.
THREE OF US I'LL PUT THE SPLIT
UP BILL ON CALLED AS 2 TO 1.
THANK YOU. THE ROLE WILL BE KEPT
OPEN, NEXT, WE'LL HAVE ASSEMBLY
MEMBER ORTEGA. YOU'RE HERE TO
PRESENT FILE NUMBER TWO AB 2557.
THIS BILL ENJOYS AN EYE
RECOMMENDATION FROM THE CHAIR.
AND THE MOTION IS Dð PASS AND
REFERRED TO JUDICIAL COMMITTEE.
YOU MAY PROCEED WHEN READY.
GOOD AFTERNOON. OR MORNING. I
DON'T KNOW WHAT TIME. MORNING
THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. AND
MEMBERS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO
PRESENT AB TWO 2557 TODAY I
WOULD LIKE TO BEGIN BY
ADDRESSING TWO CONCERNS BROUGHT
TO US BY THE OPPOSITION. AND IF
WE MOVE FORWARD OUT OF THIS
COMMITTEE, I AM COMMITTED. I AM
COMMITTED TO REMOVE THE 10TH
MONTH NOTICE REQUIREMENT AND
PROVISIONS AROUND THE
WITHHOLDING OF PAYMENT FOR
NONCOMPLIANCE. NOW, I WANT TO
TALK ABOUT WHAT THIS BILL DOES
AND REALLY WHAT THIS BILL IS
ABOUT. THIS BILL IS ABOUT
TRANSPARENCY AND RESULTS. I
DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU MEMBERS,
BUT WHEN I SAW A HEADLINE NOT
THAT LONG AGO THAT WAS THAT SAID
CALIFORNIA FAILS TO TRACK ITS
HOMELESSNESS SPENDING AND PEOPLE
DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED, I WAS
EMBARRASSED, I WAS INFURIATED,
MY CONSTITUENTS WERE CALLING AND
ASKING, WHAT HAPPENED TO OUR
TAXPAYER DOLLARS? THAT'S WHY MY
BILL DOES. MY BILL TRACKS IT
ASKS FOR INFORMATION. IT IS NOT
A PUNISHMENT TO OUR NONPROFITS.
IT IS NOT A PUNISHMENT TO OUR
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS OR OUR CITIES,
WHO WE RELY ON TO DO THE
ESSENTIAL WORK THAT WE TALKED
ABOUT EARLIER. I GREW UP IN A
COMMUNITY FULL OF NONPROFITS. I
WOULDN'T BE HERE TODAY IF THEY
WEREN'T FOR MY NONPROFITS DOING
WHAT NEEDED TO BE DONE TO UPLIFT
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR WITH THAT
BEING SAID, I DON'T WANT TO WAIT
TEN, 15, 20 YEARS TO FIND OUT
WHETHER THE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS
THAT WE ARE GIVING TO PRIVATE
ENTITIES, TO OUR CITIES, TO OUR
COUNTIES, TO OUR NONPROFITS, AND
REALIZE THAT IT WAS JUST A WASTE
. AND SO, YOU KNOW, I READ OVER
AND OVER THE OPPOSITION'S
LETTERS, AND I WANT TO MAKE IT
VERY CLEAR THAT THIS BILL DOES
NOT PREVENT LOCAL GOVERNMENTS OR
NOT, FROM CONTRACTING OUT FOR
SERVICES. IT'S JUST DOES NOT DO
THAT. AGAIN, AT THE END OF THE
DAY, WE AS LEGISLATORS, AS
POLICY MAKERS, ELECTED LEADERS
ARE EXPECTED TO DELIVER RESULTS.
AND I, IN ORDER FOR ME TO
DELIVER THOSE RESULTS, I NEED
DATA. I NEED TO KNOW WHAT IS
HAPPENING WITH OUR RESOURCES. I
NEED REPORTING AND I NEEDED IT
YESTERDAY. YOU KNOW, WE ARE HELD
ACCOUNTABLE EVERY SINGLE DAY.
WHEN THINGS GO WRONG, WE ARE
HELD ACCOUNTABLE AS WE SHOULD BE
. AND THAT IS WHY I AM ASKING
FOR THIS BILL TODAY, BECAUSE I
WANT TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE, BUT
I ALSO WANT TO WORK WITH OUR
PARTNERS. IT IS A IT'S A BILL
THAT WILL HELP THEM AND US TO
MEET, ABLE TO MAKE DECISIONS
BASED ON TRACKING RESULTS. I
HAVE TWO WITNESSES TESTIFYING
WITH ME TODAY, BRIAN MIRAMONTES
WITH AFSCME CALIFORNIA AND
SANDRA BARRERA WITH SEIU
CALIFORNIA. THANK YOU.
ASSEMBLYWOMAN, YOU GUYS HAVE
THREE MINUTES TOGETHER. YOU MAY
MAY GET STARTED. THANK YOU, GOOD
AFTERNOON, CHAIR MCKENNA AND
COMMITTEE MEMBERS. MY NAME IS
BRIAN MIRAMONTES. I'M A
LEGISLATIVE ADVOCATE WITH
AMERICAN FEDERATION OF STATE,
COUNTY AND MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES,
WE REPRESENT APPROXIMATELY
200,000 WORKERS HERE IN
CALIFORNIA IN THE PUBLIC SERVICE
. WE ARE HERE TODAY TO SPEAK IN
SUPPORT. AND AS PROUD
CO-SPONSORS OF AB 2557, I FIRST
WANT TO THANK THE AUTHOR FOR
BRINGING THIS FORWARD. AND THE
COMMITTEE AND STAFF FOR THEIR
WORK ON THIS BILL. OVER THE PAST
SEVERAL DECADES, OUR MEMBERS
HAVE SEEN A SLOW AND STEADY
INCREASE IN THE PRIVATIZATION OF
PUBLIC SERVICES AS EMPLOYERS
CONTINUE TO OUTSOURCE PUBLIC
SERVICES. TRADITIONALLY
PERFORMED BY THEIR EMPLOYEES TO
THE PUBLIC SECTOR, TO THE
PRIVATE SECTOR. EXCUSE ME? THESE
SERVICES OFTEN INCLUDE SUBSTANCE
ABUSE TREATMENT, HEALTH CARE
DELIVERY AND HOUSING PLACEMENT,
TO NAME A FEW. PUBLIC AGENCIES
FREQUENTLY OUTSOURCE THEIR
SERVICES TO PRIVATE CONTRACTORS
UNDER THE GUISE OF SAVING COSTS,
BUT ULTIMATELY AT THE EXPENSE OF
LOWER PAID WORKERS WITH FEWER
BENEFITS THAN FULL TIME SERVICE
STAFF, WHO ARE ALSO FREQUENTLY
UNIONIZED. IT IS CRITICAL THAT
MORE SAFEGUARDS BE IN PLACE TO
ENSURE THAT THESE CONTRACTORS
PROVIDE QUALITY SERVICES WITH
SIMILAR OVERSIGHT. AB 2557
INCREASES TRANSPARENCY OF PUBLIC
CONTRACTS BY REQUIRING PRIVATE
ENTITIES THAT PROVIDE SERVICES
THAT ARE, OR WERE PREVIOUSLY
PERFORMED BY A LOCAL AGENCY'S
EMPLOYEES TO SUBMIT REPORTS
DETAILING THE COST OF SERVICES
RENDERED, THE WORKFORCE DATA,
PERFORMANCE REPORTS, AND
PROGRESS TOWARDS CONTRACT
OBJECTIVES. GIVEN THE
CHALLENGING BUDGET OUTLOOK AND A
STEADY UPTICK IN REPORTS THAT
DESCRIBE FREQUENT MISUSE OF
TAXPAYER FUNDS BY PRIVATE
PRIVATE CONTRACTORS, THIS BILL
IS A TIMELY AND RELEVANT STEP TO
SAFEGUARD TAXPAYER RESOURCES BY
ENACTING AB 25 2557, WE CAN
UPHOLD THE PUBLIC TRUST, ENSURE
THE EFFICIENT USE OF TAXPAYER
FUNDS AND ULTIMATELY DELIVER
BETTER SERVICES TO OUR
COMMUNITIES. I WOULD LIKE TO
CLOSE BY ADDING THAT WE HAVE MET
WITH MEMBERS OF THE OPPOSITION
AND LOOK FORWARD TO REVIEWING
ANY POTENTIAL LANGUAGE AS WELL
AND HAVING A FURTHER
DISCUSSIONS. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU, MADAM CHAIR, AND MEMBERS.
SANDRA BARREIRO, ON BEHALF OF
SEIU CALIFORNIA, WE ARE
CO-SPONSORS OF THIS BILL. ALL
ALIGN MYSELF WITH THE PREVIOUS
COMMENTS. AND I JUST WANT TO ADD
THAT THE CURRENT PROCESS FOR
LOCAL GOVERNMENT APPROVING,
AUDITING AND RE APPROVING
CONTRACTS ISN'T WORKING. IF YOU
PAY ATTENTION TO THE PRESS
COVERAGE, IT SEEMS LIKE WEEKLY
WE HAVE STORIES ABOUT LOCAL
GOVERNMENT, CONTRACTOR FRAUD AND
MISMANAGED PAYMENT. AND GIVEN
THE FISCAL ENVIRONMENT THAT
WE'RE IN AND THE NEED TO FIND
MORE REVENUE TO DO THINGS LIKE
PROVIDE SIMPLE SERVICES OR MAKE
SURE THAT WE HAVE EMPLOYEES WHO
ARE OPERATING OUR EMERGENCY CALL
CENTERS. WE NEED TO SCRUTINIZE
EVERY DOLLAR THAT'S GOING OUT. I
RESPECTFULLY REQUEST YOUR AYE
VOTE. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. ARE
THERE ANY WITNESSES IN SUPPORT,
PLEASE, STATE YOUR NAME.
ORGANIZATION AND YOUR POSITION.
TONY TRUJILLO, ON BEHALF OF THE
CALIFORNIA TEACHERS ASSOCIATION.
AND WE ARE IN SUPPORT. THANK YOU
. GOOD MORNING, MADAM CHAIR.
MEMBERS. DOUG SUPERS, ON BEHALF
OF THE CALIFORNIA PROFESSIONAL
FIREFIGHTERS IN SUPPORT. MADAM
CHAIR MEMBERS, YVONNE FERNANDEZ,
CALIFORNIA LABOR FEDERATION, IN
SUPPORT. CHRIS MYERS WITH THE
SCHOOL EMPLOYEE CALIFORNIA
SCHOOL EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION AND
SUPPORT. THANK YOU. CHAIR AND
MEMBERS. PAT MORAN WITH AARON
TRÊN ASSOCIATES REPRESENTING THE
ORANGE COUNTY EMPLOYEES
ASSOCIATION AND SUPPORT. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU. ARE THERE. LET'S
MOVE TO WITNESSES AND
OPPOSITION. PLEASE COME FORWARD.
YOUR TESTIMONY IS LIMITED TO
THREE MINUTES TOTAL. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU AGAIN, MADAM CHAIR.
I'M STILL A SIERRA COUNTY
SUPERVISOR. LEE ADAMS, A FORMER
SHERIFF AND JUST A NOTE. I
STARTED AS A PUBLIC EMPLOYEE AT
AGE 22 AS A DEPUTY SHERIFF, AND
NOW I'M 68 AND I'M STILL A
PUBLIC EMPLOYEE WITH SIERRA
COUNTY, SO 43 YEAR CAREER. I'M
HERE ON BEHALF AGAIN OF A RURAL
COUNTY REPRESENTATIVES,
CALIFORNIA. AND WE'RE CONCERNED
THAT AB 2557 CREATES A DE FACTO
PROHIBITION ON LOCAL SERVICE
CONTRACTS DUE TO THE ONEROUS
OBLIGATIONS, WE APPRECIATE THE,
WILLINGNESS TO DELETE THE TEN
MONTH REQUIREMENT. AND I WOULD
JUST POINT OUT THAT IN SIERRA
COUNTY, WITH 132 TOTAL EMPLOYEES
, WE HAVE MANY ONE PERSON SHOPS.
IF WE HAVE A BUILDING INSPECTOR
OR ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSON
OR A DEA OR DA'S OFFICE DOES NOT
EVEN HAVE AN INVESTIGATOR IF
THEY NEED SPECIALTY SERVICES
FROM TIME TO TIME THAT THE
SHERIFF'S OFFICE CANNOT PROVIDE
A CONTRACTS ARE JUST ABSOLUTELY
NECESSARY. THE BILL ALSO CREATES
QUARTERLY REPORTS, THAT, REQUIRE
CONTRACTORS TO INCLUDE
PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE
INFORMATION FOR ITS EMPLOYEES.
WE ALREADY EXPERIENCE SAFETY
CONCERNS FOR OUR OWN OWN
EMPLOYEES, AND OUR CONTRACTORS
WOULD POTENTIALLY PUT THEIR OWN
EMPLOYEES IN SIMILAR SITUATION.
THESE PROVISIONS WOULD ALSO
UNDOUBTEDLY DEFER NONPROFITS
FROM ENGAGING WITH LOCAL
AGENCIES. AND I WOULD JUST SAY
THAT, RESPECTFULLY, THAT IN THIS
BILL, I DON'T BELIEVE THESE
CONTRACT PROVISIONS ARE, ARE,
ARE NOT ACCOUNTABLE TO THE
STATE, BUT THEY ARE TO LOCAL
AGENCIES. AND I WOULD SUBMIT, IF
IT'S GOOD ENOUGH FOR US, THEN
WHY DOESN'T THE STATE DO IT WITH
ITS OWN CONTRACTORS, IN SIERRA
COUNTY, COMMUNITY BASED
ORGANIZATIONS REALLY MAKE US
TICK AND MAKE THE COMMUNITY
WHOLE. WE HAVE SENIOR PROGRAMS,
FAMILY PROGRAMS, ARTS AND
CULTURE, AND MUSEUMS THAT WOULD
NOT BE ABLE TO OPERATE WITHOUT
CBOS. AND I WOULD ALSO
RESPECTFULLY POINT OUT, WHEN IT
COMES TO SALARIES AND WHATEVER
FOR PUBLIC EMPLOYEES, THE STATE
OWES LOCAL AGENCIES STATEWIDE
1.6 BILLION IN DOLLARS THAT WE
COULD USE FOR SALARIES AND
EVERYTHING ELSE. MY LITTLE
SIERRA COUNTY ALONE, THE STATE
IS $500,000 IN ARREARS TO US
WITH PAYMENT IN LIEU OF TAXES,
IN SIERRA COUNTY, OUR BIGGEST
PROBLEMS WITH EMPLOYMENT IS
HOUSING AND SALARIES. AND WE
WOULD RESPECTFULLY, ON BEHALF OF
OUR CRC TO GIVE THIS BILL A NO
VOTE. THANK YOU. ONE MINUTE.
THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. AND
MEMBERS, MY NAME IS AARON AVERY
WITH THE CALIFORNIA SPECIAL
DISTRICTS ASSOCIATION
RESPECTFULLY OPPOSED TO AB 2557,
I WANT TO THANK THE AUTHOR AND
SPONSORS FOR MEETING WITH US.
AND ESPECIALLY I WANT TO THANK
MR. BOLDEN FOR TAKING THE TIME
TO MEET WITH OUR COALITION
SEVERAL TIMES ON A NUMBER OF
BILLS, DURING A VERY BUSY TIME
OF YEAR, RECOGNIZING THAT I ONLY
HAVE A BRIEF AMOUNT OF TIME, I
JUST WANT TO TOUCH ON, REALLY
JUST WHAT WE VIEW AS THE MOST
PROBLEMATIC ASPECT OF THIS BILL.
ALTHOUGH THERE ARE SEVERAL,
OUTLINED IN OUR LETTER, AND THAT
IS THE ABILITY OF A EMPLOYEE
ORGANIZATION, TO ESSENTIALLY
VETO THE ABILITY OF A LOCAL
GOVERNMENT TO PAY FOR SERVICES
THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN PERFORMED
BY A CONTRACTOR UNDER THE
PROVISIONS OF THIS BILL. SO WE
APPRECIATE VERY MUCH, THE
AUTHOR'S WILLINGNESS TO WORK ON
THAT ISSUE. TAKING IT OUT. THEY
WILL BE REMOVED. THANK YOU,
THANK YOU, SO THAT OBVIOUSLY
THAT IS ONE OF THE MOST
CONCERNING ASPECTS OF THE BILL
FOR US. ALSO THE PUBLIC RECORDS
ACT COMPONENTS, POTENTIALLY
EXPOSING PERSONALLY IDENTIFYING
INFORMATION OF OUR CONTRACTORS,
COULD DISCOURAGE THIS TYPE OF
CONTRACTING FOR OUR LOCAL
AGENCIES. RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR A
NO VOTE. THANK YOU, THANK YOU,
THANK YOU. ARE THERE ANY
WITNESSES IN OPPOSITION? PLEASE
STATE YOUR NAME. ORGANIZATION
NATION AND POSITION. GOOD
MORNING, DOROTHY JOHNSON WITH
THE ASSOCIATION OF CALIFORNIA
SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS.
RESPECTFULLY OPPOSED. THANK YOU.
ROANOKE DELORME WITH CAL
CHAMBER. RESPECTFULLY OPPOSE.
THANK YOU. CAITLYN DEAN,
CALIFORNIA STATE ASSOCIATION OF
COUNTIES, RESPECTFULLY IN
OPPOSITION, AS WELL AS ON BEHALF
OF THE COUNTY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
DIRECTORS ASSOCIATION. THÀNH
GENE HEARST, ON BEHALF OF THE
URBAN COUNTIES OF CALIFORNIA IN
OPPOSITION. IN ADDITION, WE'D
LIKE TO, STATE THE OPPOSITION OF
THE CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF
SANITATION AGENCIES, THE COUNTY
HEALTH EXECUTIVES ASSOCIATION OF
CALIFORNIA, THE COUNTY WELFARE
DIRECTORS ASSOCIATION, AND THE
ASSOCIATION OF CALIFORNIA HEALTH
CARE DISTRICTS ALL OPPOSED.
ALYSSA SALEHI, ON BEHALF OF THE
CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF
RECREATION AND PARK DISTRICTS,
ALSO OPPOSED. THANK YOU. GOOD
MORNING, JOHNNY PINA WITH THE
LEAGUE OF CALIFORNIA CITIES AND
RESPECTFUL OPPOSITION. THANK YOU
. MICROBES ON BEHALF OF THE
CALIFORNIA STAFFING
PROFESSIONALS AND THE AMERICAN
STAFFING ASSOCIATION, A POST
THANKS. THANK YOU, LET'S MOVE TO
WITNESSES THAT HAVE CONCERNS.
SAME AS BEFORE. YOU'RE LIMITED
TO THREE MINUTES.
OOPS GOOD MORNING. FOR THE THIRD
TIME, MADAM CHAIR AND MEMBERS,
I'M STILL JENNIFER FEARING, AND
I'M STILL HERE ON BEHALF OF
COUNT ON PROFITS. AND WE ARE
JOINED BY A DOZEN OTHER
NONPROFITS AT THIS STAGE THAT
SHARE OUR CONCERNS ABOUT AB TWO
FIVE, FIVE, SEVEN GOVERNMENTS
TURN TO NONPROFITS TO HELP
DELIVER CRITICAL SERVICES SUCH
AS HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES,
ANIMAL WELFARE, JUVENILE
JUSTICE, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE,
CHILD CARE, IMMIGRATION SUPPORT,
LEGAL AID, AND SO MUCH MORE. WE
HAVE A LONG AND PROVEN TRACK
RECORD OF PROVIDING QUALITY,
COST EFFECTIVE, LINGUISTICALLY
APPROPRIATE AND CULTURALLY
COMPETENT SERVICES THAT ARE
TRUSTED AND DEEPLY CONNECTED IN
COMMUNITIES OF ALL TYPES.
CALIFORNIANS TRUST NONPROFITS TO
DELIVER SERVICES BY MARGINS OF
AS MUCH AS 40 PERCENTAGE POINTS
HIGHER THAN THE PRIVATE SECTOR
OR GOVERNMENT. THE INITIAL
CONCERNS THAT WE'VE IDENTIFIED
WITH AB 2557 AS DRAFTED INCLUDE
THE FOLLOWING. IT APPEARS TO
COVER A WIDE AND UNCLEAR SCOPE
OF SERVICES AND JOB FUNCTIONS.
IT LACKS SUFFICIENT SAFEGUARDS
TO ENSURE THAT CRITICAL SERVICES
WILL NOT SUFFER FROM DELAY OR
REDUCED LEVELS OF SERVICE. IT
INHIBITS FLEXIBILITY DURING
EMERGENCIES. IT GOES FURTHER
THAN THE CONTRACTING STANDARDS
THAT THE STATE UTILIZES. IT
WOULD EXPOSE SENSITIVE
INFORMATION ABOUT NONPROFIT
WORKERS, SOMETIMES POTENTIALLY
IN VIOLATION OF STATE AND
FEDERAL PRIVACY LAWS, I HEARD
THE MENTION THAT THE UNION THE
BARGAINING REPRESENTATIVES WOULD
BE REMOVED FROM BEING ABLE TO
STOP PAYMENT. BUT I THINK THE
BILL STILL READS THAT AN
INDIVIDUAL AT THE AT THE
GOVERNMENT LEVEL WOULD HAVE THE
AUTHORITY TO STOP PAYMENT FOR
WORK ALREADY PERFORMED, AND IT
DOESN'T HAVE A DEFINED PROCESS
FOR THAT CONTRACTOR TO DISPUTE
THE FINDING, ULTIMATELY, THIS
THESE DRIVE UP THE COST OF
SERVICES PROVIDED BY NONPROFITS
THAT OFTEN INCREASING OUR
OVERHEAD, WHICH IN OUR SECTOR
MEANS IT JEOPARDIZES DONOR
CONFIDENCE, WHICH SOMEHOW
SNOWBALLS AND FURTHER AFFECTS
OUR ABILITY TO GET PRIVATE
FUNDING AND ULTIMATELY JUST
CREATES SIGNIFICANT NEW RISKS.
UNCERTAINTY AND COMPLIANCE COSTS
FOR NONPROFITS AND DOESN'T HAVE
A FUNDING SOURCE TO HELP COVER
THOSE EXPENSES. AND ULTIMATELY,
BECAUSE OF THOSE IMPACTS, WE ARE
WORRIED THAT THIS BILL WOULD
HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO
DRAMATICALLY REDUCE NONPROFITS
ABILITY TO PURSUE OR RENEW
PARTNERED EFFORTS, AND TO REDUCE
THE FLOW OF PUBLIC DOLLARS TO
ALREADY UNDER-RESOURCED
COMMUNITIES. SINCE GOVERNMENTS
AND NONPROFITS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN
INTERDEPENDENT, OUR SUCCESSFUL
PARTNERSHIP IS REALLY CRITICAL
FOR MEETING CALIFORNIA'S NEEDS.
BUT TO EFFECTIVELY COLLABORATE,
WE RELY ON CONTRACTS, POLICIES,
AND PROCESSES THAT LAY OUT
DETAILS THAT GOVERN OUR SHARED
GOALS, WORKING RELATIONSHIPS,
AND PERFORMANCE CRITERIA TO
DRIVE RESULTS. A ROBUST
NONPROFIT SECTOR COMPLEMENTS A
STRONG PUBLIC SECTOR, AND BOTH
BENEFIT FROM THE KIND OF
COLLABORATION THAT CIVIC
LEADERS, NONPROFIT PROVIDERS,
AND PUBLIC EMPLOYEE LABOR UNION
LEADERS IN LOS ANGELES HAVE
DONE. THEY HAVE DEVELOPED A
FRAMEWORK THAT'S PART OF A
MEASURE HEADED TO THE NOVEMBER
BALLOT THAT WOULD RAISE MORE
THAN $1 BILLION ANNUALLY FOR
HOMELESS SERVICES AND AFFORDABLE
HOUSING CONSTRUCTION. AND I
COMMEND THE FRAMEWORK OF THAT
COLLABORATIVE APPROACH TO THE
AUTHOR AND OTHERS FOR SOME
CONSIDERATION. AS AN ALTERNATIVE
HERE, WE WANT TO ENTER INTO
SIMILAR DIALOG AS THEY HAD IN LÀ
HERE, IN THE HOPES OF FINDING A
PATH TO ACHIEVE OUR SHARED
OBJECTIVES. AGAIN, WE VERY MUCH
WANT TO THREAD THE NEEDLE OF
ENSURING ROBUST PUBLIC
EMPLOYMENT, IMPROVING THE
ABILITY OF NONPROFITS TO PARTNER
WITH GOVERNMENT, AND TO CONTINUE
TO ENSURE QUALITY SERVICES FOR
CALIFORNIANS WHO ARE COUNTING ON
ALL OF US TO WORK TOGETHER ON
THEIR BEHALF. THANK YOU. NOW I'D
LIKE TO BRING IT BACK TO THE
COMMITTEE. MISTER LACKEY. YEAH.
IF YOU COULD HELP ME UNDERSTAND
THIS, AS TO ANYBODY ON THE PANEL
, HELP ME UNDERSTAND HOW THIS
BILL WILL HELP WITH REDUCING
VACANCIES AND BUILDING A PUBLIC
SECTOR WORKFORCE. I MEAN, WE
DON'T KNOW RIGHT NOW. I DON'T
HAVE I WANT THAT'S WHY I'M
ASKING THE QUESTIONS. THAT'S WHY
I'M ASKING FOR THE DATA. IT'S
HARD TO FOR US TO MAKE THESE
KINDS OF ASSESSMENTS WHEN WE'RE
NOT GETTING THE INFORMATION. SO
I'M JUST ASKING FOR AN
OPPORTUNITY. MY BILL IS ABOUT
GETTING INFORMATION. OKAY I'M
ASSEMBLY MEMBER NGUYEN. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. AND
THANK YOU TO THE AUTHOR FOR
BRINGING THIS FORWARD. AND THE
SPONSORS, LIKE YOU, WHEN I READ
THE ARTICLE, I WAS REALLY
DISTURBED ABOUT THE AMOUNT OF
MONEY THAT WAS PUT INTO HOPING
OUR HELPING OUR HOMELESS AND
HOUSE COMMUNITY AND THESE ARE
OUR TAXPAYERS DOLLARS. AND HOW
IS IT THAT WE ARE NOT ABLE TO
TACKLE THIS? BUT I THINK THE
BIGGER ISSUE IS MORE THAN JUST
THE SERVICES BEING PROVIDED.
THERE'S JUST NOT ENOUGH HOUSING
OR SHELTERS THAT ARE AROUND,
GETTING THEM EMPLOYED IS
DIFFICULT BECAUSE OF THE
REQUIREMENTS. SOMETIMES IN
PLACES THAT WILL NOT HIRE THEM
BECAUSE THEY ARE UNHOUSED OR
THEY ARE HOMELESS. AND SO THERE
ARE BIGGER FACTORS THAT ARE
INVOLVED IN THIS. AND AS THE
YOUNG LADY SPOKE EARLIER ABOUT
NONPROFITS, AGAIN, YOU KNOW, I'M
GOING TO BEAT THIS BECAUSE THIS
WAS MY LIVELIHOOD FOR OVER A
DECADE DURING THE COVID PANDEMIC
, IT WAS THE NONPROFIT
ORGANIZATIONS THAT THE STATE,
THE COUNTY AND THE CITIES TURNED
TO DELIVER THE SERVICES, BOTH
THE INFORMATION BUT ALSO THE
VACCINES, THE TESTING THAT WAS
DONE WEEKLY. I MYSELF AM A
CERTIFIED COVID TESTER, AND I
WAS SWABBING PEOPLE'S NOSES AND
SHOWING THEM HOW TO DO IT. EVERY
SINGLE WEEK BECAUSE NOBODY ELSE
WOULD DO IT. AND BECAUSE THE
NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS WERE THE
ORGANIZATIONS THAT THE
COMMUNITIES TRUST AND THEY CAN
COME TO GET THAT SERVICE. IN
ADDITION TO THE FOOD
DISTRIBUTIONS. RIGHT. THOSE WERE
DONE ON A WEEKLY BASIS. IF WE'RE
TALKING ABOUT THESE CONTRACTS
THAT ARE THROUGH COUNTY, RIGHT.
IT TOOK DECADES FOR US AS
NONPROFITS TO BE ABLE TO BUILD
THAT TRUST, TO BE ABLE TO SAY WE
CAN DO THE WORK. WE ARE THE
TRUSTED MESSENGER IN THIS
COMMUNITY, AND THAT THEY DO COME
TO US. AND YOU KNOW, MY FEAR IS
THAT THIS WILL TAKE AWAY FROM
ALL OF THAT. IF YOU LOOK AT THE
COMMUNITIES FROM UNSERVED,
UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES, LOW
INCOME COMMUNITIES, IMMIGRANTS,
REFUGEES, THEY GO DIRECTLY TO
THE TRUSTED MESSENGER, WHICH
MOST OF THE TIME, ALL THE TIME
ARE THE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS
THAT LOOK LIKE THEM, SMELL LIKE
THEM, EAT THE SAME FOOD THEY DO,
SPEAK THE SAME LANGUAGE, AND
THEY WALK IN AND THEY'RE
COMFORTABLE AND THEY'RE NOT
WALKING INTO SOME BIG FANCY
BUILDING. I KNOW THIS BECAUSE AS
A CHILD, THAT'S WHAT I WENT
THROUGH. MY PARENTS WENT THROUGH
AS WELL, TOO, YOU KNOW, FOR
SERVICES LIKE WE JUST, YOU KNOW,
TAX DAY WAS APRIL 15TH, THE
STATE HERE, WE PUSHED THE KHÎI
EITC, FREE TAX PREP. GUESS WHAT?
I DID THAT FOR A REALLY LONG
TIME. AND I CAN TELL YOU
THOUSANDS OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS
CAME IN FOR US TO PREPARE THEIR
TAXES. AND THAT WAS A STATE OR A
COUNTY CONTRACT AS WELL. TO
THAT, THEY BEGGED US TO APPLY
FOR EVERY SINGLE YEAR BECAUSE
THEY KNEW THAT WE WOULD GET THE
INDIVIDUALS TO COME IN SO THAT
WE CAN PREPARE THEIR TAXES.
CALFRESH MEDI-CAL ENROLLMENTS. I
DID THOSE. I SAT DOWN AND ACROSS
THE TABLE, THE INDIVIDUALS WOULD
COME IN AND I WOULD SIGN THEM UP
FOR IT, AND THE COUNTIES WOULD
COME BACK AND SAY, PLEASE APPLY
FOR THIS, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT
YOU ARE ABLE TO BRING THE PEOPLE
IN THAT WE CAN WRITE AND THAT
THEY TRUST YOU, AND THAT YOU CAN
ENROLL THEM INTO THESE PROGRAMS
THAT WE REALLY NEED TO GET OUT
THERE. AND SO I COMPLETELY
UNDERSTAND WHY YOU'RE DOING
THIS. YOU KNOW, MY FEAR IS THAT
THIS IS REALLY GOING TO CUT OUT
MANY OF THE NONPROFIT
ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE DOING THE
WORK OUT THERE, THE GROUNDWORK,
THE BOOTS ON THE GROUND WORK
WITH THE COMMUNITY, AND, AND
THEN PUT THEM OUT OF JOBS AS
WELL TO, YOU KNOW, I DID THE
WORK FOR MANY YEARS AND I WAS
ALWAYS RECRUITED TO GO SOMEWHERE
ELSE TO MAKE MORE MONEY. AND I
NEVER LEFT. I NEVER LEFT BECAUSE
THAT WAS THE WORK I LOVED SO
MUCH. AND IT DIDN'T MATTER IF
YOU WERE GOING TO PAY ME 20
TIMES MORE THAN WHAT I WAS
MAKING. AND I THINK THAT IS THE
SAME TO BE SAID ABOUT MANY OF
THE FOLKS THAT WORK IN THE
NONPROFIT SECTOR, AND CUTTING
THEM OUT OF THESE CONTRACTS OR
THESE FUNDING ARE REALLY GOING
TO IMPACT NOT ONLY THE
INDIVIDUALS THAT WORK AT THE
NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, THE
SERVICE PROVIDING ORGANIZATIONS,
BUT ALSO THE THOUSANDS AND THE
MILLIONS OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS
THAT COME IN FOR THAT SERVICE
EVERY SINGLE DAY AT 8:00. RIGHT.
AND THEY HATE THE DAYS THAT WE
ARE NOT OPEN, BECAUSE YOU KNOW
WHAT? THAT IMPACTS THEM, THAT
IMPACTS THEIR FAMILY, THAT
IMPACTS THEIR CHILDREN. AND SO,
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE
COMMENTS. I'M SORRY, I JUST
YEAH, I HAVE A COMMENT. I MEAN,
I THANK YOU FOR YOUR PASSION.
FIRST OF ALL, I THINK WE SHARE
SIMILAR PASSIONS. WE, YOU KNOW,
COME FROM, YOU KNOW, I COME FROM
A VERY SIMILAR BACKGROUND.
AGAIN, WHEN MY OPENING STATEMENT
TALKED ABOUT RELYING ON MANY OF
THESE NONPROFITS FOR THE
SERVICES, BUT NOTHING IN THIS
BILL TAKES AWAY FROM THAT.
ABSOLUTELY NOTHING FROM THIS
BILL TAKES AWAY FROM YOUR
ABILITY TO CONTINUE TO DO THE
WORK IN THE NONPROFIT SECTOR FOR
NOTHING. ALL IT DOES IS ASK FOR
FINANCIAL EXPENDITURES. HOW ARE
WE SPENDING THE MONEY?
INFORMATION ABOUT SOME OF THE
CONTRACTS AND WHO WHO ARE
GETTING THESE CONTRACTS,
DESCRIPTION OF THE DELIVERABLES
THAT THEY SAY THEY WERE GOING TO
PROVIDE AND ARE WE MEETING OUR
OUTCOMES AND IF NOT, HOW CAN I
HELP? HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO HELP
A NONPROFIT OR A LOCAL CITY OR
COUNTY IF I DON'T HAVE THIS
INFORMATION AND VICE VERSA? I WE
HONOR OUR NONPROFITS HERE EVERY
YEAR BECAUSE OF THE AMAZING WORK
THAT WE DO. AND I WOULD NOT BE
IN THIS COMMITTEE ASKING YOU TO
VOTE AGAINST A NONPROFIT OR A
LOCAL CITY OR GOVERNMENT THAT
ARE TRYING TO ACHIEVE OUR GOALS
TO SERVE OUR MOST VULNERABLE
COMMUNITIES. WHY I AM ASKING YOU
TO VOTE FOR IS FOR TRANSPARENCY,
Kò, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND RESULTS.
WE ALL WANT TO SEE RESULTS. I
NEVER WANT TO SEE ANOTHER
HEADLINE THAT SAYS WE ARE NOT
DELIVERING RESULTS FOR OUR
CONSTITUENTS. THANK YOU. I
THROUGH THE CHAIR, MAY I MAY I
ADD ANOTHER COMMENT ON THIS? SO,
I JUST I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE
NOT GETTING OUTSIDE OF THE SCOPE
OF THE BILL HERE. THIS IS A BILL
THAT'S LIMITED TO BARGAINING
UNIT WORK THAT IS OR WAS
RECENTLY PERFORMED BY CIVIL
SERVICE EMPLOYEES. SO I JUST I
JUST WANT TO LIKE REEL IT IN
BECAUSE THERE ARE CERTAIN
SERVICES THAT, OF COURSE,
NONPROFITS ARE RELIED ON TO, TO,
TO PROVIDE FOR THE COMMUNITY.
WE'RE SPECIFICALLY LIMITING THE
SCOPE TO WORK THAT IS OR WAS
RECENTLY DONE BY THOSE SERVICE
PUBLIC SERVICE EMPLOYEES. SO,
WITH THAT SAID, IT WOULD BE
HELPFUL TO KNOW I UNDERSTAND WE
ARE, SENSITIVE TO THAT CONCERN
THAT YOU'VE RAISED, BUT WE WOULD
LIKE TO KNOW WHEN HAVE REPORTING
REQUIREMENTS ACTUALLY DETERRED A
NONPROFIT FROM APPLYING FOR
FUNDS? I WOULD LIKE IF YOU COULD
PRODUCE A IF ANYBODY CAN PRODUCE
A COUPLE CASES. THANK YOU ON
THAT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR.
HART. YEAH. I THINK THE KEY IS
THE COMPENSATION IS PROVIDED TO
MAKE THAT HAPPEN. AND ABSOLUTELY
THE GOAL OF INFORMATION AND
TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY
CRITICAL. WE HAVE TO HAVE THAT.
AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, ALL OF US
, SHARE THAT GOAL. AND THAT'S
WHY I'LL BE SUPPORTING THE BILL.
BUT I REALLY WANT TO THANK YOU
FOR WORKING IN COLLABORATIVELY
WITH, YOU KNOW, THE FOLKS WHO'VE
RAISED ISSUES. I TRUST THAT
YOU'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO DO
THAT, AND WE'RE GOING TO WORK
THROUGH THIS PROCESS AND GET
PRECISELY TO THE ISSUES THAT
FOLKS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT AND
FIND SOLUTIONS TO THOSE. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU, FOR ME, THANK
YOU. THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS
BILL FORWARD, BECAUSE WHEN I,
WHEN I CAME TO THE STATE, WHEN I
BECAME A LEGISLATOR, I ASKED FOR
A LOT OF DATA. EVERY TIME I GOT
READY TO DO A BILL OR LOOK AT AN
ISSUE, I ASK FOR DATA. AND WE
DON'T ALWAYS HAVE THAT DATA. AND
SO I DO BELIEVE THAT WE CAN'T
MAKE STRATEGIC, PRAGMATIC, SMART
DECISIONS WITHOUT HAVING THE
DATA. SO I APPRECIATE THAT. I
COME FROM BOTH WORLDS, THE
NONPROFITS AND THE PUBLIC
SECTOR. AND SO I JUST KNOW THAT
WE NEED TO BE ACCOUNTABLE,
ESPECIALLY IN THESE TIMES WHERE
WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF MONEY.
AND SO, WOULD YOU LIKE TO CLOSE
I RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOUR I
VOTE THANK YOU. DO I IS THERE A
MOTION? THERE'S A MOTION AND A
SECOND. PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
THE MOTION IS DO PASS AND BE
REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON
JUDICIARY. MCKENNA A MCKENNA.
AYE. LACKEY. NO. LACKEY NO.
BERNER. VINCE FONG. NO. VINCE
FONG. NO HEARTS I HEART I
STEPHANIE NGUYEN. STEPHANIE.
NGUYEN. NOT VOTING. THREE OF US
DODD VOTE IS 2 TO 2. WE'LL PUT
IT ON CALL.
I'M GOING TO TURN THE BILL OVER
TO ASSEMBLY MEMBER LACKEY.
OKAY. ASSEMBLY MEMBER MCKENNA,
YOU'RE HERE TO PRESENT FILE ITEM
NUMBER THREE, AB 2561. THIS BILL
ENJOYS NO SURPRISE AND I
RECOMMENDATION. AND, THE MOTION
IS DUE PASSED TO RE REFER TO
APPROPRIATION ÓRDENES. YOU MAY
PROCEED WHEN READY. GOOD
MORNING. MEMBERS, GOOD MORNING,
CHAIR AND MEMBERS OF THE
COMMITTEE. I'M HERE TO PRESENT
AB 2561, WHICH REQUIRES LOCAL
AGENCIES WITH BARGAINING UNIT
VACANCY RATES EXCEEDING 10% FOR
MORE THAN 180 DAYS TO PRODUCE,
IMPLEMENT AND PUBLISH A PLAN TO
FILL REMAINING VACANCIES WITH
THE SUBSEQUENT 180 DAYS.
ADDITIONALLY, LOCAL AGENCIES ARE
TO INCLUDE AN ASSESSMENT OF THE
FOLLOWING COMPONENTS IN THEIR
PLAN TOTAL NUMBERS OF POSITIONS
AND VACANCIES FOR SPECIFIED JOB
CLASSIFICATION. SEPARATED BY THE
AGENCY'S DEPARTMENT OR DIVISION.
COMPENSATION RATES AND
RELATIONSHIPS TO EMPLOYEE
RETENTION TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT
AND DEPARTMENTS WITH HIGH JOB
VACANCIES AND OBSTACLES IN THE
HIRING PROCESS AT ITS CORE, AB
2561 SEEKS TO ENSURE THAT THE
THAT ESSENTIAL PUBLIC SERVICES
ARE ADEQUATELY STAFFED WHILE
SAFEGUARDING THE RIGHTS AND
INTERESTS OF PUBLIC EMPLOYEES BY
MANDATING COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS
BETWEEN PUBLIC AGENCIES AND
RECOGNIZED EMPLOYEE
ORGANIZATIONS TO DEVELOP
COMPREHENSIVE PLANS TO FILL
VACANCIES. THIS LEGISLATION
PROMOTES TRANSPARENCY,
EFFICIENCY, STAFF PRACTICES, AND
POSITIVE LABOR RELATIONS. I
FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT THROUGH THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF THESE
MEASURES, WE CAN FORTIFY OUR
PUBLIC WORKFORCE AND ENHANCE OUR
ABILITY TO SERVE THE NEEDS OF
OUR COMMUNITIES. I REMAIN
COMMITTED TO EXPLORING POTENTIAL
ADJUSTMENTS TO ENSURE THAT THE
EFFECTIVENESS OF THIS BILL. OUR
OBJECTIVE IS TO FOSTER ONGOING
DIALOG WITH BOTH SUPPORT AND
OPPOSITION, AIMING TO ACHIEVE A
SOLUTION THAT SERVES THE
INTERESTS OF ALL STAKEHOLDERS
AND EFFECTIVELY TACKLES THE
LABOR CRISIS CONFRONTING LOCAL
AGENCIES IN CALIFORNIA. WITH ME
TODAY ON BEHALF TO TESTIFY ON
BEHALF OF THE BILL IS BRIAN
MIRAMONTES FROM AFSCME AND IVAN
FERNANDEZ WITH THE CALIFORNIA
FEDERATION OF LABOR. YOU MAY
PROCEED. GOOD MORNING. THANK
YOU. CHAIR AND MEMBERS OF THE
COMMITTEE, YVONNE FERNANDEZ WITH
THE CALIFORNIA LABOR FEDERATION,
CO-SPONSOR OF AB 2561, A BILL
THAT WILL PROTECT PUBLIC SECTOR
JOBS AND THE QUALITY OF PUBLIC
SERVICES ACROSS CALIFORNIA. MUCH
OF WHAT I WILL TOUCH UPON TODAY
HAS BEEN SAID THROUGHOUT THE
MORNING, BUT WE'LL BE
REITERATING MANY OF THESE
POINTS, LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
PROVIDE ESSENTIAL PUBLIC
SERVICES THAT CALIFORNIANS RELY
ON EVERY DAY. THESE SERVICES ARE
PROVIDED THANKS TO THE HARD WORK
OF PUBLIC SECTOR WORKERS. SOME
OF THESE WORKERS WHO YOU'VE
HEARD SPEAK TODAY, SUCH AS
NURSES, FIREFIGHTERS, SANITATION
WORKERS AND SO MANY OTHER
DEDICATED PUBLIC SERVICE SERVICE
WORKERS. HOWEVER, DUE TO
WIDESPREAD VACANCIES, SOME
COUNTIES EXPERIENCING VACANCIES
AS HIGH AS 30. IN SOME COUNTIES,
PUBLIC AGENCIES ARE CHRONICALLY
UNDERSTAFFED AND STRUGGLE TO
PROVIDE BASIC SERVICES AS A
RESULT, OUR PUBLIC SECTOR
WORKERS FACE INCREASED
WORKLOADS, MANDATORY OVERTIME,
AND THE STRESS OF TRYING TO DO
MULTIPLE JOBS AT ONCE. THIS HAS
LED TO WORKER BURNOUT AND HIGH
TURNOVER RATES ONLY WORSENING
THE VACANCY CRISIS WE ARE
EXPERIENCING. THIS IS THIS IS AN
UNFORTUNATE REALITY CONSIDERING
THAT PUBLIC SECTOR JOBS ONCE
PROVIDED PATHWAYS TOWARDS
HOMEOWNERSHIP AND FINANCIAL
STABILITY FOR SO MANY
CALIFORNIANS, PUBLIC SECTOR WORK
OUGHT TO BE SEEN AS AN
INVESTMENT THAT STATE AND LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS SHOULD FOCUS ON
FOSTERING AND PROTECTING. YET
THE VACANCY CRISIS HAS COME TO A
POINT WHERE INNOVATIVE PLANNING
AND STRATEGIES ARE NEEDED TO
HIRE AND SECURE THESE CRUCIAL
POSITIONS. AB 2561 WILL ADDRESS
THE VACANCY CRISIS BY REQUIRING
LOCAL AGENCIES WITH VACANCY
RATES OF UP TO 10% WITHIN A
BARGAINING UNIT FOR 90 DAYS
WITHIN A SIX MONTH PERIOD, TO
PRODUCE AND IMPLEMENT A PLAN TO
FULFILL THESE REMAINING
VACANCIES, AB 2561 PUTS FORTH
LONG TERMS SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS
TO FILL VACANCIES, IMPROVE
SERVICE DELIVERY AND PROTECT
PUBLIC SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES.
FOR THESE REASONS, WE
RESPECTFULLY URGE YOUR AYE VOTE
AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME. THANK
YOU SO MUCH. OKAY, IF WE HAVE
ANY OTHER SUPPORTERS WHO WOULD
LIKE TO EXPRESS THEIR SUPPORT,
PLEASE COME FORWARD AND STATE
YOUR NAME. YOUR POSITION. EXCUSE
ME, MR. CHAIR. WE HAVE ONE MORE.
WE HAVE ONE MORE. OKAY. SO SORRY
. NO WORRIES. I THOUGHT WE WERE
DONE. SORRY. REMEMBER, YOU HAVE
A TIME LIMIT. JUST KIDDING. GO
AHEAD, I'LL MAKE IT QUICK. SO.
GOOD MORNING, CHAIR LACKEY AND
COMMITTEE MEMBERS. MY NAME IS
BRIAN MIRAMONTES. I'M A
LEGISLATIVE ADVOCATE WITH THE
AMERICAN FEDERATION OF STATE
COUNTY MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES. WE
APPRECIATE THE CHAIR FOR
BRINGING THIS FORWARD. AND THE
COMMITTEE STAFF'S WORK ON AB
2561, FOR WHICH WE ARE PROUD
CO-SPONSORS. PUBLIC SERVICE
WORKERS DEDICATE THEIR LIVES TO
SERVING THEIR COMMUNITIES FROM
PROVIDING MENTAL HEALTH CARE TO
SOME OF OUR MOST VULNERABLE
CITIZENS, TO HELPING PEOPLE IN
DANGEROUS SITUATIONS, SUCH AS
911 DISPATCHERS. THESE
PROFESSIONS FACE A VACANCY
CRISIS IN LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, AS
WAS ARTICULATED DURING THE
INFORMATIONAL HEARING TODAY, AND
THAT'S SHARED THROUGHOUT
CALIFORNIA. THE VACANCY RATE FOR
POSITIONS RANGES ANYWHERE FROM
10 TO 50, DEPENDING ON THE
JURISDICTION, AND HIGH VACANCY
RATES MEAN PUBLIC SECTOR WORKERS
MUST MAKE THIS UP THROUGH
ADDITIONAL WORKLOADS AND LONGER
HOURS, WHICH OFTEN LEADS TO
INCREASED BURNOUT AND A CYCLICAL
HIGHER TURNOVER PROCESS, FURTHER
EXACERBATING THE VACANCY CRISIS.
AS WAS ARTICULATED IN THE
EARLIER INFORMATIONAL PANELS,
HIGH VACANCY RATES ARE ALSO
KNOWN TO DIMINISH THE ABILITY OF
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO PROVIDE
SERVICES TO COMMUNITIES IN NEED.
IT LEADS TO 911 OPERATORS BEING
UNABLE TO RESPOND TO CALLS THAT
THEY RECEIVE, TO NURSES BEING
TOO THINLY STRETCHED TO PROVIDE
EMERGENCY CARE TO PATIENTS, AND
SANITATION WORKERS NOT BEING
ADEQUATELY STAFFED TO HANDLE
ILLEGAL DUMPING IN THEIR
COMMUNITIES. NOW IS THE TIME FOR
US TO ADDRESS THE VACANCY
PROBLEM AND START A MEANINGFULLY
IDENTIFYING SOLUTIONS. AB 2561
WILL PROVIDE THAT LOCAL AGENCY
SIT DOWN WITH THEIR WORKERS TO
IDENTIFY THE UNIQUE BARRIERS IN
RETENTION AND RECRUITMENT THAT
EACH GROUP FACES, AND DEVELOP A
PLAN TO FILL THOSE REMAINING
VACANCIES. AND WITH THAT, WE
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOUR VOTE.
THANK YOU. MY APOLOGIES. OKAY,
NOW IT'S TIME FOR THOSE WHO
WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS THEIR
SUPPORT FOR THIS BILL. IF YOU'D
STATE YOUR NAME AND ORGANIZATION
. THÀNH. MR. CHAIR AND MEMBERS,
PAT MORAN WITH AARON REED
ASSOCIATES, REPRESENTING THE
ORANGE COUNTY EMPLOYEES
ASSOCIATION AND SUPPORT. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU. CHAIR O'MALLEY,
ON BEHALF OF ACP CALIFORNIA,
PROUD CO-SPONSORS AND ALSO ON
BEHALF OF SEIU CALIFORNIA WHO
COULDN'T BE IN THE HEARING, WANT
TO MEET YOU ON BEHALF IN
SUPPORT. THANK YOU. CHRIS MYERS
WITH THE CALIFORNIA SCHOOL
EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION AND
SUPPORT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU,
MR. CHAIR. MEMBERS, DOUG
SIEVERS, ON BEHALF OF THE
CALIFORNIA PROFESSIONAL
FIREFIGHTERS IN SUPPORT. THANK
YOU. THOSE WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS
OPPOSITION. PLEASE COME FORWARD
AND YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES. YOU
MAY PROCEED, SIR. GOOD MORNING,
CHAIR MEMBERS. MY NAME IS JASON
BRITT AND I'M THE COUNTY
ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER OF FOR
TULARE COUNTY. TULARE COUNTY IS
A MEMBER OF THE CALIFORNIA STATE
ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES, WHICH
IS PART OF A LARGE COALITION OF
LOCAL GOVERNMENT ADVOCATES
OPPOSED TO AB 2561. TODAY, I
RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT YOU
VOTE NO. COUNTIES FACE SEVERAL
CHALLENGES RELATED TO
RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION, SUCH
AS REBOUNDING FROM THE COVID 19
PANDEMIC, THE GREAT RESIGNATION
AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT COMPETING
WITH PRIVATE SECTOR FOR LIMITED
HIRING. POOL COUNTIES RECOGNIZE
THE IMPACT THAT LONG TIME
VACANCY RATES HAVE, BOTH ON
CURRENT EMPLOYEES AND RESIDENTS
WHO RECEIVE SERVICES. COUNTIES
HAVE BEEN IMPLEMENTING
INNOVATIVE WAYS TO TRY TO BOOST
RECRUITMENT AND INCENTIVIZE
RETENTION, YET MANY SPECIALTY
POSITIONS LIKE NURSES,
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS,
SOCIAL WORKERS AND SHERIFFS ARE
EXPERIENCING NATIONWIDE
SHORTAGES AND DWINDLING PIPELINE
OF NEW ENTRANTS. I WOULD LIKE TO
CLARIFY SOME COMMENTS MADE
EARLIER THAT STATE LAW CURRENTLY
PROHIBITS CONTRACTING OUT FOR
HUMAN SERVICE JOBS. WORKFORCE
CHALLENGES IMPACT ALL COUNTIES
BUT RURAL COUNTIES TEND TO FILL
THESE CHALLENGES, MOST DUE TO
LIMITED FINANCIAL RESOURCES. A
LIMITED NUMBER OF AVAILABLE
WORKERS TO HIRE, AND
UNDERFUNDING OF PROGRAMS BY THE
STATE. IF THE TRUE INTENT OF AB
2561 IS TO PROVIDE A PATH FOR
PUBLIC AGENCIES TO REDUCE STAFF
VACANCIES, THEN DIVERTING COUNTY
STAFF AWAY FROM CORE SERVICE
DELIVERY AND MANDATING THEY
SPEND TIME PRODUCING REPORTS ON
THEIR VACANCY RATES, WILL NOT
ACHIEVE THAT GOAL. WE CANNOT
IGNORE THE IMPACT OF WHAT FEELS
LIKE UNENDING STATE MANDATES
WITHOUT ADEQUATE FUNDING AND
FLEXIBILITY. THAT ALSO
CONTRIBUTE TO VACANCY RATES,
ADDING ANOTHER UNFUNDED MANDATE
ON COUNTIES LIKE MINE WILL NOT
FILL VACANCIES. PLEASE VOTE NO
ON AB 2561. THANK YOU, THANK YOU
SIR. YOU MAY PROCEED. THANK YOU.
ANIL KHUMALO, CITY MANAGER FOR
THE CITY OF SAINT HELENA, THE
INTENTIONS OF THE BILL AB 2561
ARE ARE CLEAR, WE ARE FACING
UNPRECEDENTED DIFFICULTIES IN
HIRING EMPLOYEES IN THE PUBLIC
SECTOR. THERE ARE HIGH VACANCIES
IN ALL ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT
LOCALLY. I REALLY, TRULY
APPRECIATE, ASSEMBLYMAN TOM
LEYKIS QUESTION ABOUT WHAT ARE
WE TRYING TO REALLY ACHIEVE? AND
IS THIS BILL INTENDED? AND THE
OTHER BILLS WE HAVE HEARD BEFORE
INTENDED TO ACHIEVE THE GOALS? I
WANT TO REPEAT, I DON'T WANT TO
REPEAT THE POINTS THAT WERE MADE
PREVIOUSLY, BUT I'LL JUST SAY
THIS AS A PERSON THAT HAS WORKED
IN VARIOUS LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT
AT THE COUNTY LEVEL, AT A CITY
LEVEL, A SPECIAL DISTRICTS, I'VE
WORKED IN, ALL THREE. I HAVE
BEEN, AN HR DIRECTOR, A FINANCE
PROFESSIONAL, A CITY MANAGER,
NOW A DEPUTY CITY MANAGER, CITY
OF RICHMOND, I ALSO WAS A
PRESIDENT OF CALPELLA, WHICH IS
THE PREMIER LABOR RELATIONS
ORGANIZATION FOR THE FOR PUBLIC
SECTOR MANAGERS. AND I TELL YOU,
EVERY TIME WE WOULD COME TO OUR
ANNUAL CONFERENCE, WE WOULD
GROAN AT THE NEW BILLS THAT
WOULD COME UP, THIS PARTICULAR
ONE IS WELL INTENTIONED, BUT IS,
I THINK, COUNTERPRODUCTIVE. IT
REQUIRES US TO PRODUCE DATA
ANECDOTALLY, WHICH WE ALREADY
HAVE, ALSO IN, IN BOTH CITIES OF
RICHMOND AND OAKLAND, WHERE I
WAS HR DIRECTOR AND DEPUTY CITY
MANAGER AND MY CURRENT
ORGANIZATION, OAN, WE HAVE HAD,
VACANCY RATES AS HIGH AS 20% AND
NOW AS LOW AS FIVE. IT
FLUCTUATES CGRTS. SO WE'D BE
GOING IN AND OUT OF PRODUCING
THESE REPORTS. AND LET ME TELL
YOU, IT IS TIME CONSUMING AND
UNNECESSARY. THIS IS THIS IS
EXACTLY THE KIND OF PROBLEM A
BILL THAT WE DON'T NEED. SO IT'S
A SOLUTION LOOKING FOR A
PROBLEM. WE KNOW THE PROBLEM IS
GET MORE FUNDING AND WE'LL BE
ABLE TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM IN
TERMS OF HIRING THIS IS NOT IT.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. DO WE HAVE
ANY OTHERS IN THE ROOM LIKE TO
EXPRESS THEIR OPPOSITION? PLEASE
STATE YOUR NAME AND
ORGANIZATION. CLIFTON WILSON, ON
BEHALF OF THE COUNTY BOARD OF
SUPERVISORS OF DEL NORTE, SHASTA
, HUMBOLDT AND FRESNO. IN
OPPOSITION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU
. ALCHEMY. GRAHAM, ON BEHALF OF
THE CALIFORNIA TRANSIT
ASSOCIATION, ALSO IN OPPOSITION.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, JOHNNY
PINA WITH THE LEAGUE OF
CALIFORNIA CITIES AND RESPECTFUL
OPPOSITION. THANK YOU, THANK
YOU. GOOD MORNING, AARON AVERY
WITH THE CALIFORNIA SPECIAL
DISTRICTS ASSOCIATION
RESPECTFULLY OPPOSED. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. CAITLYN DEAN,
CALIFORNIA STATE ASSOCIATION OF
COUNTIES. AND ALSO ON BEHALF OF
THE COUNTY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
DIRECTORS ASSOCIATION, IN
RESPECTFUL OPPOSITION. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, GENE
HURST, HERE TODAY ON BEHALF OF
THE URBAN COUNTIES OF
CALIFORNIA, IN OPPOSITION ALSO,
ON BEHALF OF THE COUNTY WELFARE
DIRECTORS ASSOCIATION AND THE
COUNTY HEALTH EXECUTIVES
ASSOCIATION OF CALIFORNIA, IN
OPPOSITION, THANK YOU, SARAH
DUQUETTE, ON BEHALF OF THE RURAL
COUNTY REPRESENTATIVES OF
CALIFORNIA AND RESPECTFUL
OPPOSITION. THANK YOU, JEFF
NEEL, REPRESENTING THE COUNTY OF
CONTRA COSTA, ALSO RESPECTFULLY
OPPOSED. THANK YOU. GOOD
AFTERNOON. ROSS BUCKLEY, ON
BEHALF OF SOUTH COAST AIR
QUALITY MANAGEMENT DISTRICT, WE
HAVE AN INTERIM OPPOSED UNLESS
AMENDED POSITION. LOOK FORWARD
TO WORKING WITH AUTHORS. BILL
MOOS THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. LET'S
BRING IT BACK TO THE COMMITTEE
FOR QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS.
SEEING NONE, I JUST HAVE A QUICK
STATEMENT THAT, IN THE KERN
COUNTY OPPOSITION LETTER, THEY
NOTE THAT THIS BILL MAY HAVE,
UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES, REYES
OF ENTITIES ELIMINATING VACANT
POSITIONS. I KNOW THAT'S THE
OPPOSITE OF YOUR INTENTION. AND
SO I HAVE SOME CONCERNS. AND
WITH THAT, YOU HAVE A CHANCE TO
CLOSE. WELL I DON'T SEE HOW IT
COULD ELIMINATE POSITIONS, BUT
WHAT I DO KNOW IS THAT WE'RE IN
A CRISIS. AND SO I WOULD THINK
THAT THIS MIGHT THIS SHOULD
ALREADY BE REALLY HAPPENING
ALREADY IS THAT WE'RE COMING.
WE'RE TRYING TO COME UP WITH
PLANS AND WE SHOULD. WE JUST
WANT TO SEE THEM LIKE, I WOULD
THINK THAT THE COUNTIES AND THE
CITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT IS
TRYING TO COME UP WITH A PLAN
AND WORKING WITH, WITH THEIR
OTHERS, WITH THEIR NONPROFIT
PARTNERS, WITH THEIR WITH THEIR,
LOCAL OFFICIALS TO COME UP WITH
A PLAN TO HIRE AND SO I KNOW
THAT THE WITNESS ALSO STATED
THAT THEY THAT YOU GUYS ALREADY
HAVE THIS DATA, SO IT SHOULD BE
EASY TO PRODUCE. AND SO I DON'T
SEE HOW THIS COULD STOP US FROM
HAVING HIRING PEOPLE, BUT THEY
SHOULD HAVE A PLAN ANYWAY. THIS
SHOULD BE SOMETHING THAT THEY'RE
WORKING TOWARDS IS A PLAN TO
HIRE PEOPLE AND TO SOLVE THESE
PROBLEMS. OKAY. WE NEED A
MOTION. MOTION OKAY. MOVE BY,
ASSEMBLYMEMBER BERNER AND
SECONDED BY MISS NGUYEN, LET'S
CALL FOR THE QUESTION, PLEASE.
I'M SORRY. CAN I RESPECTFULLY
ASK FOR YOUR. I VOTE YOU
CERTAINLY CAN. THANK YOU. THE
MOTION IS Dð PASS AND BE
REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON
APPROPRIATIONS. MCKENNA I
MCKENNA I LACKEY NOT VOTING.
LACKEY NOT VOTING. BERNER I
BERNER I VINCE FONG. NØ VINCE
FONG NØ HURTS HEART I STEPHANIE
NGUYEN. STEPHANIE NGUYEN I THREE
OF US. WE HAVE 4 TO 1. WE'LL PUT
THIS BILL ON CALL. THANK YOU,
THANK YOU, THANK YOU. OKAY, OKAY
. GO AHEAD. HOW YOU DOING? OKAY
ASSEMBLY MEMBER CALDERON. YOU'RE
HERE TO PRESENT FILE ITEM NUMBER
TEN, AB 2008 72. THIS BILL
ENJOYS AND I RECOMMEND FROM THE
CHAIR. AND THE MOTION IS TO DO
PASS AND RE REFER TO
APPROPRIATIONS MAY PROCEED WHEN
READY, THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. AND
MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE. I JUST
LIKE TO BEGIN BY THANKING
ASSEMBLYMAN GRAYSON FOR
GRACIOUSLY ALLOWING US TO GO
FIRST. WE HAVE SEVERAL, PEOPLE
IN THE AUDIENCE TODAY WHO HAVE
BEEN HERE SINCE 8:00 IN THE
MORNING. AND SO THANK YOU,
ASSEMBLYMAN GRAYSON. SO I'M HERE
TO PRESENT AB 2872, THIS BILL
WOULD HELP TO PROVIDE A MUCH
NEEDED PAY INCREASE FOR
INVESTIGATORS AT THE CALIFORNIA
DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE. THE PAY
INEQUITY BETWEEN CDI AND OTHER
DIVISIONS HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS
A MAJOR FACTOR IMPACTING
RETENTION OF SWORN OFFICERS AT
CDI, DUE TO THE IMPORTANCE AND
COMPLEXITY OF INSURANCE FRAUD
CASES, IT'S VITAL THAT WE SEEK A
COMPARABLE WAGE TO SUPPORT THE
STAFFING OF THESE PUBLIC SAFETY
POSITIONS WITH EXPERIENCED
INVESTIGATORS HERE TO SPEAK MORE
ABOUT THE NEED FOR THIS BILL. IS
THE BILL SPONSOR INSURANCE
COMMISSIONER RICARDO LARA.
WELCOME, COMMISSIONER. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU, MEMBERS AND MR.
CHAIR, APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. AB
2872 REALLY DOES TWO THINGS. IT
ENSURES PAY PARITY FOR OUR CDI'S
SWORN PEACE OFFICER FRAUD
INVESTIGATORS CONSISTENT WITH
OTHER SWORN PEACE OFFICERS
PERFORMING SIMILAR WORK WITHIN
THE STATE BARGAINING, BARGAINING
UNIT NUMBER SEVEN. AND IT ALSO
ENABLES CDI TO ADDRESS THE
CRITICAL RECRUITMENT AND
RETENTION ISSUES FOR OUR FRAUD
INVESTIGATORS WANT TO MAKE. WANT
TO JUST BE CLEAR, I KNOW THIS IS
A POLICY COMMITTEE, BUT WE ARE
IN A DEFICIT. AB 2872 WILL HAVE
MINIMAL OR NO IMPACT ON THE
STATE BUDGET AS MY DEPARTMENT IS
SPECIALLY FUNDED, IS A SPECIALLY
FUNDED AGENCY WHERE WE ARE
FUNDED BY THE FEES THAT WE
COLLECT THROUGH OUR ENFORCEMENT
OF INSURANCE LAW. MY DEPARTMENT
CURRENTLY EMPLOYS 200 SWORN
OFFICERS TO DETECT, INVESTIGATE
AND RESPOND TO INSURANCE FRAUD
STATEWIDE. HOWEVER, CURRENT PAY
INEQUITIES AMONG THE
INVESTIGATOR CLASSIFICATIONS
HAVE MADE IT HARDER FOR US TO
RETAIN RECRUIT EXPERIENCE FRAUD
INVESTIGATORS. AS A RESULT, THE
DEPARTMENT'S CURRENT VACANCY
RATE FOR THIS CLASSIFICATION IS
NEARLY 32. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE,
AND IT IS PUTTING SOME OF OUR
MOST VULNERABLE CALIFORNIANS AT
RISK, INCLUDING OUR SENIORS AND
OUR VULNERABLE WORKERS. THAT IS
WHY WE'RE HERE TODAY. THESE
INVESTIGATORS ARE IN THE SAME
BARGAINING UNIT AS THE
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
SWORN INVESTIGATOR, BUT THERE
THEY EARN 20% LESS THAN THEIR
COLLEAGUES. THIS HAS BEEN AN
ONGOING PROBLEM FOR THE
DEPARTMENT FOR ALMOST TWO
DECADES. THE INSURANCE MARKET IN
CALIFORNIA, AS YOU KNOW, IS THE
SECOND LARGEST IN THE WORLD.
INSURANCE FRAUD CRIMES COST
CALIFORNIA BUSINESSES AND
FAMILIES BILLIONS OF DOLLARS
EACH YEAR. THIS YOU KNOW,
CALIFORNIA CONSUMERS AND
BUSINESSES END UP PAYING THE
PRICE FOR THESE CRIMES THROUGH
HIGHER INSURANCE PREMIUMS AND
MORE EXPENSIVE GOODS AND
SERVICES. THE REALITY IS THAT
OUR PEACE OFFICERS ARE
SIGNIFICANTLY UNDERPAID AND
STRETCHED THIN. AND BECAUSE OF
THIS, THEY CONTINUE TO FACE
CRITICAL SHORTAGES THAT PUT
PURSUING MANY CASES IN PERIL.
JUST TO LET YOU KNOW, THE CDI
FRAUD DIVISION RECEIVES OVER
18,000 SUSPECTED CLAIM REFERRALS
EACH YEAR. THIS REPRESENTS $600
MILLION IN POSSIBLE LOSSES THAT
SIGNIFICANT PAY GAP REALLY POSES
A SERIOUS CHALLENGES FOR THE
DEPARTMENT AND THE PUBLIC
SAFETY, AND THE INSURANCE
INDUSTRY AND CONSUMER STATEWIDE,
AB 2872 IS REALLY A CRITICAL IS
CRITICAL TO HELPING MY
DEPARTMENT PROTECT THE PUBLIC
AND PREVENT ECONOMIC LOSS
THROUGH THE DETECTION,
INVESTIGATION, AND PROSECUTION
OF INSURANCE FRAUD OFFENDERS. I
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOUR I VOTE
. WITNESSES SORRY. WITNESSES IN
SUPPORT, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
YES. AND YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES?
YES. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING,
CHAIR, AND GOOD MORNING.
COMMITTEE. MY NAME IS GEORGE
MUELLER. I'M THE DEPUTY
COMMISSIONER OVER THE
ENFORCEMENT BRANCH. THIS IS MY
40TH YEAR STARTING IN LAW
ENFORCEMENT AND I'M PROUD TO
HAVE SERVED THAT MANY YEARS AS
WELL. I WANT TO TALK ABOUT JUST
ELABORATE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE
COMMISSIONER AND WHAT THE
ASSEMBLYWOMAN SAID. THIS HAS
BEEN A BATTLE FOR US SINCE I'VE
GOTTEN HERE. WE HAVE BECOME
BASICALLY THE FARM TEAM, FOR
THESE OTHER STATE AGENCIES. WE
HIRE THESE PEOPLE, WE GO THROUGH
A LONG BACKGROUND PROCESS. WE
SEND THEM THROUGH A BACK ACADEMY
FOR SIX MONTHS. WE HAVE ONE OF
THE BEST FIELD TRAINING OFFICER
PROGRAMS AROUND. WE WORK VERY
COMPLEX CASES. AND ONE OF THEM
WAS TALK ABOUT A LITTLE BIT, IS
IF YOU REMEMBER, YEARS AGO THERE
WERE TWO ELDERLY WOMEN DOWN IN
LOS ANGELES COUNTY, AND THEY
ACTUALLY WENT AFTER A COUPLE
UNHOUSED INDIVIDUALS. THEY PUT
THEM UP IN AN APARTMENT FOR A
COUPLE OF YEARS. THEY BOUGHT
LIFE INSURANCE POLICIES ON THEM.
IF YOU REMEMBER THIS HIT
NATIONAL NEWS, THEY DROVE DOWN
AN ALLEY AND THEY KILLED THEM
BOTH TO COLLECT OVER $2.5
MILLION. AND SO HERE ARE THESE
PEOPLE THAT ARE USING INSURANCE
FRAUD. WE HAVE TO STOP THAT. THE
OTHER THING IS THERE WAS A
FAMILY THAT WAS KILLED ON THE
LONG BEACH FREEWAY MANY YEARS
AGO. IT WAS AN ASSEMBLY BILL
1050 THAT WAS CARRIED THROUGH,
TO GIVE US MONEY TO GO AFTER
THESE ORGANIZED RINGS THAT ARE
DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAYS THAT
COULD SET UP ANY ONE OF US, OUR
FAMILY MEMBERS GOING TO CHURCH,
GOING TO A BALL GAME WITH YOUR
KIDS. AND IT HAD KILLED A
HUSBAND AND WIFE AND A TWO YEAR
OLD CHILD AS WELL. THE OTHER
THINGS THAT PEOPLE DON'T HEAR
ABOUT ARE THE SOBER LIVING HOMES
THAT WERE THESE PEOPLE ARE
THERE. THEY BOUGHT POLICIES FOR
THEM. THEY BRING THEM IN TO INTO
CALIFORNIA, PUT THEM INTO HOUSE,
GET THEM CLEAN. AND WHEN THE
INSURANCE COMPANY STOPS PAYING,
THEY TAKE THEM OUT. THEY GET
THEM BACK ON DRUGS AND THEY SELL
THEM. THEY BROKER THEM TO OTHER
PEOPLE AS WELL. WE HAD A CASE IN
LOS ANGELES CALLED L.A.
RECOVERY, WHERE THEY ACTUALLY
THE PERSON WHO OWNED THE SOBER
LIVING HOME, TOOK THEM OUT ON A
YACHT, GOT HIM ON DRUGS, AND
THEN RAPED HIM. AND WE FILED
THOSE CHARGES ALONG WITH THE
SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT AS WELL.
AND SO THE IMPACT ON WHAT WE'RE
DOING TO PROTECT CALIFORNIANS
ACROSS THE BOARD AND UNDERSERVED
COMMUNITIES, THE OTHER THINGS I
WANT TO TOUCH ABOUT REALLY QUICK
IS WHAT PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE TOO
, IS THE OUTREACH WE DO TO THESE
DISASTERS AND THESE FIRES IN THE
HISTORY OF OUR DEPARTMENT. WHEN
THAT PARADISE FIRE HIT THROUGH,
THERE, EVERYBODY LOST EVERYTHING
THE INSURANCE COMPANIES COULD
NOT GET INTO THAT AREA TO MAKE
THESE PEOPLE WHOLE AND REIMBURSE
THEM. MY DEPARTMENT WENT OUT AND
DROVE INTO THAT AREA ON MUTUAL
AID AND HELPED PARADISE RECOVER.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE FLOODS IN
SANTA BARBARA, MONTECITO, WHEN
PEOPLE ARE SLEEPING AT NIGHT AND
THE AND THE MUD CAME IN, 23
PEOPLE DIED THERE AS WELL. WE
WENT OUT AND DID OUTREACH, AND
THE MOST CURRENT ONE WAS DOWN IN
SAN DIEGO WITH THE FLOODING
THERE. WE WENT INTO THESE
UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES AND YOU
SEE TODAY, OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT
PEOPLE HAVE SO MUCH RESPECT FOR
THE PEOPLE WHO WORK FOR THIS
DEPARTMENT WENT INTO THAT
COMMUNITY. THEY HAD NO IDEA. WE
DIDN'T WANT THEM TO BE
VICTIMIZED A SECOND TIME. SO WE
EDUCATE THEM. SO WE DO THAT AS
WELL AS THAT. I COULD BE HERE
ALL DAY TO TALK, BUT I JUST
APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. THIS IS AN
AMAZING APARTMENT. WE'VE BEEN
WALKING THE HALLS HERE. PEOPLE
ARE ALL TURNING THEIR EYES. WE
HAD NO IDEA THAT YOU GUYS WERE
LAW ENFORCEMENT. AND SO I'M JUST
PROUD OF MY PEOPLE THAT ARE HERE
ALL IN THE ROOM TODAY. AND FOR
THE WORK THAT THEY DO. SO THANK
YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. ANY
WITNESSES IN SUPPORT PLEASE COME
FORWARD. STATE YOUR NAME,
ORGANIZATION AND POSITION. GOOD
AFTERNOON. CHAIR MEMBERS.
ALLISON EDDY, ON BEHALF OF THE
PERSONAL INSURANCE FEDERATION OF
CALIFORNIA. VERY HAPPY TO
SUPPORT THIS IMPORTANT MEASURE.
MARK WITH THE AMERICAN PROPERTY
CASUALTY INSURANCE ASSOCIATION
ALSO IN SUPPORT OF THE BILL. MR.
CHAIR, MEMBERS. JOHN NORWOOD, ON
BEHALF OF THE INDEPENDENT
INSURANCE AGENTS AND BROKERS OF
CALIFORNIA. ALSO THE CALIFORNIA
POOL AND SPA ASSOCIATION. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING,
DEPUTY CHIEF FELICIA LIEB WITH
THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF
INSURANCE FRAUD DIVISION IN
SUPPORT OF THIS BILL. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING,
JENNIFER HOLLANDER, SERGEANT
WITH THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT
OF INSURANCE FRAUD DIVISION, IN
SUPPORT OF THIS BILL. GOOD
MORNING OR AFTERNOON, SERGEANT
MARTY DITTO WITH THE CALIFORNIA
DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE, THE
FRAUD DIVISION. I'M IN SUPPORT
OF THE BILL. THANK YOU. GOOD
AFTERNOON. SUSAN BURNS, CAPTAIN,
WITH THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT
OF INSURANCE FRAUD DIVISION. AND
I SUPPORT THIS BILL. GOOD
AFTERNOON, CHRISTINA SMITH,
CAPTAIN, CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT
OF INSURANCE FRAUD DIVISION. AND
I'M IN SUPPORT OF THIS BILL.
GOOD AFTERNOON, GINA CAMACHO,
DETECTIVE OF CALIFORNIA
DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE FRAUD
DIVISION. AND I SUPPORT THIS
BILL. GOOD AFTERNOON. PALOMA
ABIMBOLA, DETECTIVE WITH THE
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF
INSURANCE FRAUD DIVISION. AND I
ALSO SUPPORT THIS BILL. GOOD
AFTERNOON. LESLIE DA SILVA. I'M
A DETECTIVE WITH THE DEPARTMENT
OF INSURANCE FRAUD DIVISION, AND
I'M ALSO IN SUPPORT OF THIS BILL
. ALICIA DANIEL, CALIFORNIA
DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE FRAUD
DIVISION. I SUPPORT THIS BILL.
GOOD AFTERNOON. THANK YOU.
JOANNE REYES, DETECTIVE,
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF
INSURANCE FRAUD DIVISION. I
SUPPORT THIS BILL. GOOD
AFTERNOON. CHRISTINA. MICHELLE
DETECTIVE WITH THE CALIFORNIA
DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE FRAUD
DIVISION. AND I SUPPORT THIS
BILL. GOOD AFTERNOON. LÀ
ADAMSON, DETECTIVE SERGEANT WITH
THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF
INSURANCE ENFORCEMENT DIVISION.
I'M IN SUPPORT OF THIS BILL.
GOOD AFTERNOON, JEAN MARSHALL.
SERGEANT, CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT
OF FRAUD DIVISION, INSURANCE
FRAUD DIVISION. AND I SUPPORT
THIS BILL. THANK YOU. GOOD
AFTERNOON, DEVON BROWN,
DETECTIVE, FOR THE CALIFORNIA
DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE FRAUD
DIVISION. AND I SUPPORT THIS
BILL. GOOD AFTERNOON, DEPUTY
CHIEF ERIC WILLIAMS, CALIFORNIA
DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE FRAUD
DIVISION. AND I SUPPORT THIS
BILL. GOOD AFTERNOON. ERIC
SHIRLEY, CHIEF OF THE FRAUD
DIVISION, CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT
OF INSURANCE, AND I SUPPORT THIS
BILL. THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON.
DETECTIVE ADELBERT, ARE MEANT TO
HAVE THE CALIFORNIA FRAUD
DIVISION, AND I SUPPORT THIS
BILL. GOOD AFTERNOON, CHRISTINA
Â, CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF
INSURANCE FRAUD DIVISION. AND I
SUPPORT THIS BILL. GOOD
AFTERNOON, DETECTIVE GERARDO
DOMINGUEZ, CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT
OF INSURANCE FRAUD DIVISION. AND
I SUPPORT THIS BILL. GOOD
AFTERNOON, DETECTIVE ADAM LOOMIS
, CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF
INSURANCE. AND I SUPPORT THIS
BILL. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS
DETECTIVE BEN LOY, CALIFORNIA
DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE FRAUD
DIVISION. I SUPPORT THIS BILL.
GOOD AFTERNOON, SERGEANT RUBEN
LINO WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF
INSURANCE FRAUD DIVISION. I
SUPPORT THIS BILL. GOOD
AFTERNOON, MARK TRAY WITH THE
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT INSURANCE
FRAUD DIVISION. AND I SUPPORT
THIS BILL. HI. GOOD AFTERNOON,
MARGARET BELL WITH THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF
INSURANCE. I'M A DETECTIVE, AND
I SUPPORT THIS BILL. THANK YOU.
GOOD AFTERNOON, DANIEL MACIAS,
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF
INSURANCE. SERGEANT AND I
SUPPORT THIS BILL. THANK YOU.
GOOD AFTERNOON, SERGEANT JOHN
BARLOW, CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF
INSURANCE FRAUD DIVISION, AND I
SUPPORT THIS BILL. THANK YOU.
GOOD MORNING, LANCE FERRARI,
CAPTAIN WITH THE CALIFORNIA
DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE FRAUD
DIVISION. I SUPPORT THIS BILL.
THANK YOU. LET'S MOVE TO
WITNESSES IN OPPOSITION. PLEASE
COME FORWARD. YOU. ARE YOU GOING
TO COME HERE? I'M A TWEENER. IF
I COULD ROLL REAL QUICK ON
BEHALF OF THE CALIFORNIA
STATEWIDE LAW ENFORCEMENT
ASSOCIATION. SO WE'RE THE
RECOGNIZED BARGAINING UNIT FOR
THE CDI INVESTIGATORS. WE'RE IN
A SUPPORT, IF AMENDED POSITION,
AND I WANT TO MAKE IT ABUNDANTLY
CLEAR, WE'RE, VERY CLEAR THAT WE
SUPPORT THESE INVESTIGATORS AND
THEIR DESIRE FOR MORE PAY,
THAT'S UNIMPEACHABLE, AND TO THE
EXTENT THAT THERE'S A NARRATIVE
OUT THERE THAT SUGGESTS
OTHERWISE, WE ALSO WANT TO MAKE
CLEAR ITS FALSE AND DISINGENUOUS
, AND WE SUPPORT THE BILL. WE
SUBMITTED LANGUAGE WITH A SMALL
TWEAK THAT UNDOES THE PARITY
FORMULA IN THE BILL THAT WE
BELIEVE SHACKLES OUR ABILITY TO
COLLECTIVELY BARGAIN FOR THE TWO
INDEPENDENT, DEPARTMENTS WITHIN
THIS BILL, DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
AND THE DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE,
SO IF THAT LANGUAGE IS
ADDRESSED, WE'LL SUPPORT THE
BILL. AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO
FUTURE YEARS IN WHICH THE
DEPARTMENT SUPPORTS OUR EFFORTS
IN BARGAINING. SO TO GET THESE
GUYS MORE PAY. SO THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. IS THERE ANY, MORE
WITNESSES IN OPPOSITION? PLEASE
COME FORWARD. SEEING NONE, I'LL
BRING IT BACK TO THE COMMITTEE.
ANY QUESTIONS? MOVE THE BILL.
OKAY. DO WE HAVE. I'M SORRY I
WASN'T HERE, SO WE HAVE SOME.
WELL I WOULD JUST LIKE TO THANK
THE AUTHOR FOR BRINGING THIS
BILL FORWARD. I THINK THAT WE DO
DESERVE. I THINK THAT THESE
OFFICERS, THEY DESERVE PARITY. I
BELIEVE THAT, AS I FOUND OUT,
THEY'RE THE FORCE IS ABOUT 40%
WOMEN. AND SO WE WANT TO MAKE
SURE THAT WE BRING THESE WOMEN
UP TO PARITY. AND SO I JUST
APPRECIATE THE ARTHUR FOR
BRINGING THIS FORWARD, WOULD YOU
LIKE TO CLOSE? YES. THANK YOU,
MADAM CHAIR, YOU KNOW, I REALLY
AM HONORED TO, BRING FORTH THIS
BILL, AND I RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR
AN AYE VOTE. AND SO WE HAVE A
MOTION AND A SECOND. PLEASE CALL
THE ROLL. THE MOTION IS DO PASS
AND BE REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE
ON APPROPRIATIONS. MCKENNA A
MCKENNA A LACKEY A LACKEY, A
BERNER, A BERNER. AYE. VINCE
FONG. AYE. VINCE FONG. AYE HEART
A HEART AYE. STEPHANIE NGUYEN.
AYE. STEPHANIE NGUYEN. AYE.
THREE OF US. WE HAVE SIX VOTES.
WE'LL PUT IT ON CALL. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. LISTED.
THANK YOU. Y'ALL DID SO GOOD.
AND WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A FIVE
MINUTE RECESS. THANK YOU. OH,
YEAH.
THANK YOU. I, I HAVE
.
IT WAS VERY MUCH LIKE THE
SECOND. LIKE LIKE. SHE JUST
.
WE'LL CALL BACK TO ORDER, WE'D
LIKE TO TAKE UP THE CONSENT
CALENDAR. SECRETARY, IS THERE A
MOTION, TO TAKE UP THE. CONSENT
CALENDAR, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A
SECOND. PLEASE CALL THE ROLL
ITEM NUMBER FOR THE CURRENT
VOTE, MOTION IS DO PASS AND BE
REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON
APPROPRIATIONS WITH
RECOMMENDATION TO THE CONSENT
CALENDAR. ITEM NUMBER EIGHT
2455. THE MOTION IS TO PASS AND
RE REFER TO THE COMMITTEE ON
APPROPRIATIONS WITH
RECOMMENDATION TO THE CONSENT
CALENDAR AND ITEM NUMBER 11, AB
2474. THE MOTION IS DO PASS, AS
AMENDED, TO CONSENT. MACKINNON A
MCCONNOR AYE. LACKEY, I, LACKEY
I, BERNER VINCE FONG, VINCE FONG
I HEARTS STEPHANIE NGUYEN,
STEPHANIE NGUYEN I THREE OF US.
THANK YOU ASSEMBLY MEMBER
GRAYSON, YOU'RE HERE TO PRESENT
FILE ITEM NUMBER SIX AB 2284. I
UNDERSTAND THAT YOU ARE
ACCEPTING THE COMMITTEE'S
PROPOSED AMENDMENTS. THANK YOU.
THIS BILL ENJOYS AN I VOTE, I
RECOMMENDATION FROM THE CHAIR
AND A MOTION OF Dð PASS, AS
AMENDED. ASSEMBLYMEMBERS YOU MAY
PROCEED. THANK YOU. SO WITH THAT
NEWS, I WILL DEFER MY TIME TO
OUR WITNESSES AND RESPECTFULLY
ASK FOR AN AYE VOTE. THANK YOU,
WELL, I'LL READ THIS BRIEFLY,
QUICKLY, AS QUICKLY AS I CAN, SO
I APPRECIATE, MADAM CHAIR
MEMBERS, SHANE LEVINE, ON BEHALF
OF THE CALIFORNIA FRATERNAL
ORDER OF POLICE, ONE OF THE
CO-SPONSORS ON THIS BILL, LET ME
JUST GIVE YOU A BRIEF
ILLUSTRATION OF WHY THE BILL IS
NECESSARY. SO THE SCENARIO WOULD
BE YOU HAVE TWO DEPUTIES, BOTH
ARE DESIGNATED DEPUTY ONES, ONE
DOES PATROL FOR THEIR CAREER.
THE OTHER, IN ADDITION TO THEIR
NORMAL DUTIES, IS TAKEN ON
ADDITIONAL ADDITIONAL SPECIALTY
DESIGNATIONS WORKING ON THE BOMB
SQUAD, WORKING CANINE OR WORKING
SWAT. SO DESPITE THE TRAINING
AND REQUIREMENTS OF ANY OF THOSE
SPECIALTIES, IN SOME
JURISDICTIONS WITHOUT THE
DEFINITION OF GRADE, WHICH IS
WHAT THIS BILL PROVIDES, THOSE
DEPUTIES WOULD BOTH RETIRE WITH
THE SAME PENSION. THAT'S SIMPLY
INEQUITABLE AND UNFAIR. THE
DEFINITION OF GRADE IS WHAT
CREATES THAT LINE OF DISTINCTION
BETWEEN THE DEPUTIES HERE,
THEREBY CLARIFYING WHAT IS
DEEMED COMPENSATION. EARNABLE.
SO A FEW POINTS ABOUT THE BILL.
FIRST, IT'S PERMISSIVE. WE
INTENTIONALLY CHOSE THE WORD MAY
AND NOT SHALL AS IT APPLIES TO
THE 37 COUNTIES THE COUNTY OR
SYSTEM IS NOT REQUIRED TO USE
THIS TERMS OR DEFINITION. WE
THINK THIS DEFINITION IS HELPFUL
, PROVIDES AND IT PROVIDES
GUIDANCE. BUT NO ONE. AGAIN, TO
BE CLEAR, NO ONE IS FORCED TO
USE IT. WE BELIEVE THERE IS NO
CONFUSION AROUND THIS. SECOND,
THIS DEFINITION IS NOT NEW OR
NOVEL. IT'S PULLED FROM PEARL.
THIRD, THERE ARE SYSTEMS THAT
NEED CLARIFICATION OF WHAT GRADE
IS AND HOW IT'S DEFINED. THIS
BILL DOES THAT. LASTLY THIS BILL
OR DEFINITION IS NOT ABOUT
TOUCHING OR AVOIDING IN SOME WAY
PEPPER OR ALAMEDA. I JUST WANT
TO BE CRYSTAL CLEAR ABOUT THAT
AS WELL, WHICH IS BECOMING A BIT
OF A BOOGEYMAN. AND I
UNDERSTAND, SIMPLY PUT, AS WE
SEE IT, WHEREVER THERE SEEMS TO
BE A LACK OF CLARITY IN THE LAW,
THE ONLY PEOPLE WHO SEEM TO BE
LEFT HOLDING THE BAG, OR THE
RANK AND FILE COPPER FIREFIGHTER
WHO ARE HAVING THEIR RETIREMENT
CUT DESPITE SHOWING UP TO WORK
EVERY DAY HOLDING UP THEIR END
OF THE BARGAIN THROUGHOUT THEIR
CAREER. AND WE THINK THIS BILL
HELPS RECTIFY THAT. SO WE THANK
YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. MEMBERS,
DOUG SUPERS, ON BEHALF OF THE
CALIFORNIA PROFESSIONAL
FIREFIGHTERS, PLEASED TO
CO-SPONSOR THIS MEASURE AND
WOULD LIKE TO THANK ASSEMBLY
MEMBER GRAYSON FOR BRINGING IT
FORWARD. CPF HAS THE HONOR OF
REPRESENTING 35,000 PROFESSIONAL
FIREFIGHTERS AND EMERGENCY
MEDICAL RESPONSE PERSONNEL
STATEWIDE. MANY OF THOSE
FIREFIGHTERS ARE MEMBERS OF
RETIREMENT COUNTY RETIREMENT
SYSTEM, SUBJECT TO THE COUNTY
EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT LAW. OVER
THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, WE
WORKED ON, MANY VARIOUS POLICIES
TO TRY TO ACHIEVE STATUTORY
CLARITY BETWEEN THE PUBLIC
EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT LAW AND THE
COUNTY EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT LAW.
AND WE DO THINK THAT CLARITY,
ENSURES CONSISTENCY IN DELIVERY
AND ALSO UNDERSTANDING FOR OUR
MEMBERS THAT RELY ON A SECURE
RETIREMENT AND THAT RELY ON
THEIR RECOGNIZED EMPLOYEE
ORGANIZATION TO BARGAIN OVER
PENSIONABLE BENEFITS, THAT THEY
UNDERSTAND WHAT THOSE BENEFITS
ARE AND THAT THEY WILL BE
SECURELY THERE IN RETIREMENT,
SO, AS MR. LEVINE NOTED, WHEN WE
DON'T HAVE CLARITY, IT SEEMS
THAT OUR MEMBERS ARE IMPACTED
AND THEREFORE WE WOULD
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOUR VOTE.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ARE THERE
ANY OTHER WITNESSES IN SUPPORT?
PLEASE COME FORWARD SEEING NONE.
IS THERE ANY WITNESSES IN
OPPOSITION? SEEING NONE. I'LL
BRING IT BACK TO THE COMMITTEE.
MADE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
THAT'S RIGHT. WOULD YOU LIKE TO
CLOSE? MADAM CHAIR, I FIRST WANT
TO SAY THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH
FOR YOU AND THE GREAT WORK,
THOROUGH WORK OF STAFF, OF
COMMITTEE STAFF AND, THANKS FOR
YOUR CONSIDERATION TO THE
COMMITTEE MEMBERS THEMSELVES. I
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR A VOTE.
THANK YOU. THERE'S BEEN A MOTION
AND A SECOND. PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL. THE MOTION IS TO PASS, AS
AMENDED. MCKENNA I, MCKENNA I
LACKEY I LACKEY I BERNER VINCE
FONG, VINCE FONG I HEART
STEPHANIE NGUYEN STEPHANIE
NGUYEN I RIVAS BILL ON CALL.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU
.
BECAUSE I THINK I CAN. REYES.
ASSEMBLY MEMBER LEE, YOU'RE HERE
TO PRESENT FOUND ITEM NUMBER
SEVEN AB 2404. THIS BILL ENJOYS
AN AYE RECOMMENDATION FROM THE
CHAIR. AND THE MOTION IS TO PASS
AND RE REFERRED TO THE JUDICIARY
COMMITTEE. YOU MAY PROCEED.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, MADAM CHAIR
AND COLLEAGUES. THIS BILL AB
2404, WILL PROTECT PUBLIC SECTOR
WORKERS RIGHTS TO HONOR OTHER
UNIONS PICKET LINES DURING A
STRIKE. THE RIGHT TO
COLLECTIVELY BARGAIN AND STRIKE
ARE FUNDAMENTAL DEMOCRATIC
RIGHTS OF AMERICANS. THE
NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS ACT
GIVES PRIVATE SECTOR EMPLOYEES
THE RIGHT TO STRIKE, AND FURTHER
SPECIFIES THAT NOTHING IN THE
ACT CAN INTERFERE WITH, OR
IMPEDE OR DIMINISH IN ANY WAY
THE RIGHT TO STRIKE OR TO AFFECT
THE LIMITATIONS OR
QUALIFICATIONS ON THAT RIGHT.
LIKE THE FEDERAL LAW, CALIFORNIA
HAS ENACTED LAWS GIVING PUBLIC
SECTOR WORKERS THE RIGHT TO
STRIKE. THE PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT
RELATIONS BOARD HAS AFFIRMED
THAT PUBLIC SECTOR EMPLOYEES
HAVE THE STATUTORILY PROTECTED
RIGHT TO STRIKE, AND THAT PUBLIC
EMPLOYEES THAT GO ON STRIKE ARE
PROTECTED FROM DISCIPLINED BY
ANY BY AN EMPLOYER FOR
PARTICIPATION. AB 2404 DECLARES
THAT PUBLIC EMPLOYEES MAY
DEMONSTRATE SOLIDARITY WITH
OTHER PUBLIC EMPLOYEES BY
HONORING A STRIKE OR REFUSING TO
ENTER THE PREMISES OR PERFORM
WORK FOR A PUBLIC EMPLOYER.
ENGAGE IN A PRIMARY STRIKE. THE
RIGHT TO HONOR A PICKET LINE IS
NOT JUST A DEMOCRATIC RIGHT. IT
IS A MATTER OF CONSCIENCE. FOR
MANY CALIFORNIANS, IT IS A
CHOICE THAT PEOPLE MAKE
ACCORDING TO WHAT THEY BELIEVE
IS RIGHT IN LIGHT OF RECENT
EMPLOYER ACTIONS, CALIFORNIA
NEEDS TO ENSURE PUBLIC EMPLOYEE
RIGHTS TO HONOR AND SUPPORT
STRIKES. I RESPECTFULLY ASK YOUR
AYE VOTE. SPEAKING IN SUPPORT
TODAY, I HAVE NEIL SWEENEY,
WHO'S CO-PRESIDENT OF UAW. FOUR
4811, THE UNION OF NEARLY 50,000
ACADEMIC WORKERS AT THE UC, AND
YVONNE FERNANDEZ WITH THE
CALIFORNIA LABOR FEDERATION. YOU
GUYS YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES,
TOGETHER. THANK YOU. GOOD
AFTERNOON, CHAIR MCKENNA AND
MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE. MY
NAME IS NEIL SWEENEY, AND I'M
CO-PRESIDENT OF UAW 4811, THE
UNION OF NEARLY 50,000 ACADEMIC
WORKERS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF
CALIFORNIA. AND WE'RE A
CO-SPONSOR OF AB 2404. AS THE
AUTHOR SAID, THIS BILL IS ABOUT
GIVING INDIVIDUAL WORKERS THE
RIGHT TO PERSONALLY CHOOSE TO
STAND IN SOLIDARITY WITH THEIR
COWORKERS WITHOUT BEING
DISCIPLINED OR FIRED, AND THE
RIGHT TO HONOR THEIR OWN MORAL
COMPASS. IN LATE 2022, FOUR
BARGAINING UNITS OF OUR UNION
WENT ON STRIKE TOGETHER OVER USE
THESE UNFAIR LABOR PRACTICES AND
BAD FAITH BARGAINING. WE FELT
SOLIDARITY FROM EVERY CORNER OF
THE LABOR MOVEMENT IN
CALIFORNIA, INCLUDING UPS
TEAMSTERS, WHO HAD THE
CONTRACTUAL RIGHT TO RESPECT
PICKET LINES AND TURN THEIR
TRUCKS AROUND. HOWEVER, WE ALSO
EXPERIENCED FIRSTHAND THE MORAL
INJURY THAT IS CAUSED WHEN
PUBLIC EMPLOYERS DO NOT RESPECT
THE FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS OF
WORKERS TO ABIDE BY THEIR
CONSCIENCE AND HONOR A PICKET
LINE. WHEN TWO OF THE FOUR
BARGAINING UNITS SETTLED THEIR
CONTRACTS AFTER ABOUT A MONTH ON
STRIKE, INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS OF
THOSE UNITS WERE FORCED TO CROSS
THE PICKET LINES OF THE OTHER
TWO UNITS WHO REMAINED ON STRIKE
BY PITTING WORKERS AGAINST
WORKERS. THIS CREATED A HOSTILE
WORK ENVIRONMENT, AND MEMBERS OF
EVERY OTHER UNION AT UC, ABOUT
100,000 OTHER WORKERS WERE ALSO
FORCED TO CROSS THE PICKET LINE
OR FACE DISCIPLINE, FORCING THEM
AS WELL TO ACT AGAINST THEIR
CONSCIENCE. AB TWO 404 WOULD
PROTECT THE RIGHT TO HONOR
PICKET LINES AS ESSENTIAL AS AN
ESSENTIAL RIGHT FOR ALL PUBLIC
EMPLOYEES, AND ENSHRINE THIS
FIRST AMENDMENT FREEDOM INTO
CALIFORNIA LAW. IT WILL ALSO
ENCOURAGE GOOD, GOOD FAITH
NEGOTIATIONS AND SPEEDY
RESOLUTIONS SO THAT WORKERS CAN
GET BACK TO THE WORK THEY WANT
TO DO. AS PUBLIC SECTOR
EMPLOYEES SERVING THE PEOPLE OF
CALIFORNIA, I RESPECTFULLY ASK
FOR YOUR VOTE. THANKS. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR, AND
MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE, YVONNE
FERNANDEZ, WITH THE CALIFORNIA
LABOR FEDERATION, A PROUD
CO-SPONSOR OF AB 2404, A BILL
THAT, AS MENTIONED BY THE
AUTHOR, WILL PROTECT THE PUBLIC
EMPLOYEES RIGHT TO HONOR A
PICKET LINE DURING A LABOR
STRIKE, AS HIGHLIGHTED BY MY
COLLEAGUE REPRESENTING UAW, 4811
AB 2404 SERVES AS A DIRECT
RESPONSE TO THE UC WIDE UAW
STRIKES THAT OCCURRED IN 2022.
DURING THIS PERIOD, UC WORKERS
REPRESENTED BY OTHER CAMPUS
UNIONS WERE UNABLE TO HONOR
THEIR COLLEAGUES PICKET LINE. IN
ADDITION TO NOT BEING FORCED,
NOT HAVING TO BE FORCED INTO
HOSTILE WORK ENVIRONMENTS BY
CROSSING STRIKE LINES, WORKERS
SHOULD NOT HAVE TO COMPROMISE
THEIR RIGHTS AND ABILITY TO ACT
ACCORDING TO THEIR CONSCIENCE IN
ORDER TO AVOID DISCIPLINARY
ACTIONS FROM THEIR EMPLOYERS,
WHILE PROTECTING WORKERS ACROSS
THE STATE. AB 2404 DOES NOT
COMPEL ANY WORKER TO GO ON
STRIKE, BUT RATHER PROTECTS AN
INDIVIDUAL'S RIGHT TO RESPECT A
PICKET LINE. DECIDING TO RESPECT
A PICKET LINE IS AN EXTREMELY
CHALLENGING DECISION, ESPECIALLY
FOR PUBLIC SERVANTS WHO CARE
DEEPLY ABOUT THEIR WORK. AND
THAT, AND THAT DECISION IS NOT
MADE ANY EASIER BY THIS BILL. AB
2404 IS ABOUT GIVING INDIVIDUAL
WORKERS THE RIGHT TO PERSONALLY
CHOOSE TO STAND IN SOLIDARITY
WITH THEIR COWORKERS WITHOUT
BEING DISCIPLINED OR FIRED, AND
THE RIGHT TO HONOR THEIR OWN
MORAL COMPASS. AND FOR THESE
REASONS, WE RESPECTFULLY URGE
YOUR AYE VOTE AT THE APPROPRIATE
TIME. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. ARE
THERE ANY OTHER WITNESSES IN
SUPPORT? PLEASE COME FORWARD AND
STATE YOUR NAME. ORGANIZATION
AND POSITION. ALAN MOORE, UAW
LOCAL 4811 AND STRONG SUPPORT.
THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR AND
MEMBERS. TOM HINCHEY, ON BEHALF
OF THE INTERNATIONAL UNION, UAW
REGION SIX 100,000 STRONG IN
SUPPORT. FUNCTIONING ON BEHALF
OF UAW LOCAL 4123, THE ACADEMIC
STUDENT WORKERS IN THE CSU
SYSTEM IN SUPPORT TONY TRUJILLO
ON BEHALF OF THE 310,000 MEMBERS
OF THE CALIFORNIA TEACHERS
ASSOCIATION IN SUPPORT CHRIS
MYERS WITH THE CALIFORNIA SCHOOL
EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION AND
SUPPORT IAN OATES WITH THE
CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF
PROFESSIONAL SCIENTISTS. 6000
STRONG IN SUPPORT. REBECCA
NORTON WITH CAPS UAW IN SUPPORT.
JACQUELINE PTAK WITH CAPS, UAW
IN SUPPORT JUSTIN GARCIA WITH
CAPS, UAW IN SUPPORT. LAURA
RADTKE WITH CAPS, UAW IN SUPPORT
. JAMARI FERNANDEZ IN SUPPORT.
LET'S MOVE TO OPPOSITION. IS
THERE ANY WITNESSES IN
OPPOSITION? PLEASE COME FORWARD.
YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES TOTAL.
THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING, MADAM
CHAIR. MEMBERS SIERRA DE CETTE
ON BEHALF OF THE RURAL RURAL
COUNTY REPRESENTATIVES OF
CALIFORNIA, OUR CONCERNS WITH AB
2404 ARE CONSISTENT WITH THE
ISSUE RAISED IN RESPONSE TO LAST
YEAR'S AB 504, WHICH IS THE SAME
MEASURE REFLECTED IN THE VETO
MESSAGE BY GOVERNOR NEWSOM,
WHICH STATES, UNFORTUNATELY,
THIS BILL IS OVERLY BROAD IN
SCOPE AND IMPACT. THE BILL HAS A
POTENTIAL TO SERIOUSLY DISRUPT
OR EVEN HALT THE DELIVERY OF
CRITICAL PUBLIC SERVICES,
PARTICULARLY IN PLACES WHERE THE
PUBLIC SERVICES ARE CO-LOCATED.
THIS COULD HAVE SIGNIFICANT
NEGATIVE IMPACTS ON A VARIETY OF
GOVERNMENT FUNCTIONS, INCLUDING
THE PROVISIONS OF SERVICES IN
RURAL COMMUNITIES WHERE
CO-LOCATION OF GOVERNMENT
AGENCIES IS COMMON AND
ACCESSIBILITY OF VARIOUS SAFETY
NET PROGRAMS FOR MILLIONS OF
CALIFORNIANS IN RURAL COUNTIES,
IT IS COMMON TO SEE CO-LOCATION
OF GOVERNMENT SERVICES. I HAD
ALMOST EVERY SINGLE COURT IN
CALIFORNIA HAS CO-LOCATED
SERVICES. OUR PUBLIC DEFENDERS,
OUR DISTRICT ATTORNEYS, OUR
BAILIFFS. I HAVE A COUNTY THAT
HAS HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
CO-LOCATED WITH A SPECIAL HEALTH
CARE DISTRICT TO MAKE SURE
PEOPLE ARE COMING TO ONE PLACE
FOR SERVICES. I HAVE A CAMPUS
WHERE THERE'S A COUNTY LIBRARY,
A COUNTY MUSEUM, AND A COMMUNITY
COLLEGE BECAUSE IT'S HOURS AWAY
FROM THE ACTUAL LOCATION OF THE
COMMUNITY COLLEGES OR A COUNTY
THAT HAS PUT PLANNED. CHECK OUT
A CITY ON THE COAST, BECAUSE
IT'S 2 TO 4 HOURS AWAY FROM THE
COUNTY SEAT, PUBLIC EMPLOYERS
THAT BARGAINED IN GOOD FAITH AND
HAVE APPROVED MOU AGREEMENTS
SHOULD NOT BE PENALIZED FOR
SHARING A BUSINESS SPACE WITH
ANOTHER. ANOTHER GOVERNMENT
EMPLOYER, ESPECIALLY WHERE WE'RE
TRYING TO SERVE REMOTE
COMMUNITIES WITHOUT ADDITIONAL
AMENDMENTS TO ADDRESS THIS
ISSUES, COMMUNITIES MAY BE LEFT
WITHOUT NEEDED SERVICES,
SHUTTING DOWN GOVERNMENT
OPERATIONS FOR SYMPATHY STRIKES
IS AN EXTREME APPROACH THAT GOES
WELL BEYOND WHAT IS ALLOWED FOR
PRIMARY STRIKES AND RISKED THE
PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY. WE'VE
PROVIDED AMENDMENTS TO THE
AUTHOR TO THIS COMMITTEE AND
JUDICIARY COMMITTEE, AND WE
TRULY WANT TO RESOLVE THIS
ISSUE. SO WE CAN HOPEFULLY GET
TO A POSITION OF NEUTRALITY.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU. YOU HAVE
ONE MINUTE. GOOD AFTERNOON,
CHAIR MEMBERS. JOHNNY PINA WITH
THE LEAGUE OF CALIFORNIA CITIES
TODAY HERE, IN RESPECTFUL
OPPOSITION OF AB TWO 404 STATE
LAW HAS CREATED A FRAMEWORK FOR
WHEN UNIONS CAN ENGAGE IN THE
PROTECTED ACTIVITY THAT HAS BEEN
HONORED BY LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND,
EMPLOYEE OR REPRESENTATIVES
ALIKE. FORTUNATELY, THIS BILL
ALLOWS THOSE WHO HAVE NOT GONE
THROUGH THE NEGOTIATED PROCESS
TO NOW REFUSE TO WORK SIMPLY
BECAUSE ANOTHER BARGAINING UNIT
IS ENGAGING IN STRIKING. AB 2404
WOULD UPEND THE CURRENT
BARGAINING PROCESS AND WOULD
POSE A SERIOUS PROBLEM FOR THE
PUBLIC AGENCIES THAT ARE
PROVIDING PUBLIC SERVICE ON A
LIMITED BUDGET. IN A TIME OF A
WORKFORCE SHORTAGE. AS LOCAL
AGENCIES, WE HAVE A STATUTORY
RESPONSIBILITY TO PROVIDE
SERVICES TO OUR COMMUNITIES
THROUGHOUT THE STATE AND AS IT'S
BEEN SAID, THE BILL, POTENTIALLY
JEOPARDIZES THE DELIVERY OF
THOSE SERVICES AND UNDERMINES
THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING
PROCESS. AND FOR THOSE REASONS,
WELL, WE'RE RESPECTFULLY
OPPOSED. THANKS. SO MUCH. THANK
YOU. ANY WITNESSES IN
OPPOSITION? PLEASE COME FORWARD,
STATE YOUR NAME, ORGANIZATION
AND POSITION. THANK YOU, MADAM
CHAIR AARON AVERY WITH THE
CALIFORNIA SPECIAL DISTRICTS
ASSOCIATION RESPECTFULLY OPPOSED
ALSO HERE TODAY ON BEHALF OF THE
CALIFORNIA STATE ASSOCIATION OF
COUNTIES. THANK YOU, THANK YOU,
MADAM CHAIR. MEMBERS, GENE HURST
HERE TODAY ON BEHALF OF THE
URBAN COUNTIES OF CALIFORNIA,
ALSO IN OPPOSITION. THANK YOU.
SEEING NO MORE WITNESSES, I'LL
BRING IT BACK TO THE COMMITTEE.
I HAVE A QUESTION, MR. LACKEY.
YEAH, YOU HEARD THE OPPOSITION.
STATE THAT THERE WAS A VETO
MESSAGE OF THE BILL THAT WAS
VERY CLOSE TO THIS ONE, THAT AB
504, AND THEN THAT THAT MESSAGE,
IT EMPHASIZED THE IMPACT THIS
POLICY WOULD HAVE ON RURAL
REGIONS, WHICH I REPRESENT. SO
DO YOU HAVE ANY RESPONSE ON HOW
THIS BILL WOULD ADDRESS THAT
VETO MESSAGE? THIS BILL IS ABOUT
THE RIGHT OF ANY INDIVIDUAL
WORKER TO CROSS OR TO NOT CROSS
A PICKET LINE, WHICH IS A
FUNDAMENTAL WORKER AND
DEMOCRATIC RIGHT OF IT. THE GOAL
OF THIS BILL IS NOT TO SHUT DOWN
SERVICES OR TO HARM ANYONE. AND
INDEED, I DON'T THINK ANY PUBLIC
SECTOR WORKER AIMS TO GO AND
HARM WORKERS, BUT THEY ALSO
DESERVE TO HAVE FAIR
REPRESENTATION AND COMPENSATION.
I THINK, WHETHER IT BE RURAL OR
URBAN PLACES, WE OUGHT TO ALWAYS
HAVE THOSE SAME RIGHTS AND WE
SHOULDN'T PRECLUDE FOLKS JUST
BECAUSE THEY LIVE IN FARTHER,
MORE RURAL AREAS FROM THE SAME
DEMOCRATIC LABOR RIGHTS. AND SO
THAT'S WHY THIS BILL IS CRAFTED
THE WAY IT IS. BUT I STILL
REMAIN OPEN TO WORKING WITH
STAKEHOLDERS ON MAKING SURE IT'S
APPROPRIATE, AND THAT THE
FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT TO RESPECT A
PICKET LINE IS THE MOST
IMPORTANT PART OF THIS BILL. BUT
DO YOU SEE THE UNIQUE CHALLENGE
IT CREATES FOR RURAL AREAS THAT
ARE SO FAR APART? WELL, I WOULD
SAY EVERY JURISDICTION IS UNIQUE
URBAN AREAS AS WELL. OKAY. SO
I'M NOT I'M NOT UNDERSTANDING
YOUR RESPONSE. DO YOU RECOGNIZE
THAT THERE'S A SIGNIFICANT
CHALLENGE AS STATED RIGHT NOW TO
AREAS THAT HAVE THESE HUGE
DISTANCES, IN BETWEEN THESE
AREAS? SURE THAT THAT WILL
IMPACT SERVICES. I RECOGNIZE
THERE'S ALWAYS CHALLENGES TO
EVERY DISTRICT, SAID URBAN AND
RURAL ALIKE, GOING TO WORK TO
TRY TO RESOLVE THEM. AS MIKE,
I'M HAPPY TO WORK WITH THE
STAKEHOLDERS ON THESE ISSUES.
OKAY. THANK YOU. SO, DO CAN I
GET A MOTION? MOTION SECOND,
WOULD YOU LIKE TO CLOSE, ON
BEHALF OF THE MANY PUBLIC SECTOR
WORKERS WHO WANT TO RESPECT THE
PICKET LINE AND BE IN SOLIDARITY
WITH THEIR OTHER FELLOW STRIKING
WORKERS, RESPECTFULLY ASK YOUR
VOTE, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. THE
MOTION IS TO PASS AND BE
REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON
JUDICIARY. MCKENNA I, MCKENNA I
LACKEY NOT VOTING LACKEY NOT
VOTING. BRENNER I BRENNER I
VINCE FONG. NO VINCE FONG NO.
HEARTS. STEFANI. NGUYEN STEFANI
NGUYEN I THREE OF US HÌ PLACE
THIS BILL ON CALL. THANK YOU.
ASSEMBLY MEMBER MIKE FONG,
YOU'RE HERE TO PRESENT FILE
NUMBER NINE, AB 2573. THIS BILL
ENJOYS AN AI RECOMMENDATION FROM
THE CHAIR, AND THE MOTION IS
DUE. PASS YOU MAY PROCEED WITH
THE BILL. GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM
CHAIR. MEMBERS, I HAVE NO IDEA
WHICH ASSEMBLY BILL 2573 MAKES
CLARIFICATIONS IN THE
LEGISLATIVE CODE OF ETHICS AND
THE POLITICAL REFORM ACT TO MAKE
IT CLEAR THAT LEGISLATORS AND
STATE AGENCIES THAT HOST POLICY
FELLOWS ORGANIZED BY THE API
CAPITAL ASSOCIATION ARE NOT IN
VIOLATION OF THESE LAWS. APICHA
IS A NONPARTISAN, NONPROFIT
ORGANIZATION WITH MEMBERSHIP
FROM LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT OR
AGENCY STAFF, ADVOCATES AND
LOBBYISTS, AND OTHER ASIAN
AMERICAN, NATIVE HAWAIIAN AND
PACIFIC ISLANDER PROFESSIONALS
IN THE STATE'S CAPITALS. ONE OF
THE PROGRAMS SPONSORED BY APICHA
IS THE SUMMER FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM
. THE PROGRAM BRINGS TOGETHER
COLLEGE STUDENTS AND RECENT
GRADUATES TO SACRAMENTO, AND
PROVIDES THEM TWO MONTH
INTERNSHIPS TO LEARN ABOUT OUR
STATE LEGISLATURE, AND HOPES
THAT THE EXPERIENCE WILL SPARK
AN INTEREST IN PUBLIC POLICY AND
PUBLIC SERVICE. AS A CAREER,
APICHA PROVIDES A STIPENDS TO
THE FELLOWS DUE TO THE BELIEF
THAT PARTICIPATION SHOULD NOT BE
LIMITED TO BY THE PARTICIPANTS.
ECONOMIC BACKGROUND. THIS HAS
CREATED POTENTIAL ISSUES WITH
CONFLICT OF INTEREST LAWS AND
GIFT LIMIT LAWS. IN RESPONSE,
POLICY FELLOWS HAVE BEEN LIMITED
IN THE TYPES OF WORK THEY CAN DO
IN ORDER TO AVOID THESE
CONFLICTS. ASSEMBLY BILL 2573
WILL MAKE IT CLEAR THAT THE
PLACEMENT AND WORK OF THE POLICY
FELLOWS DO NOT CONSTITUTE A
GIFT, COMPENSATION OR INTEREST.
THIS WILL ENABLE THE FELLOWS TO
EXPAND THEIR WORK EXPERIENCE.
MADAM CHAIR, IN RESPONSE TO THE
SUGGESTION AND ANALYSIS THAT WE
BROUGHT IN THE BILL TO INCLUDE
OTHER FELLOWSHIP PROGRAMS, I
WOULD LIKE TO FORM A COMMITTEE
THAT WE ARE WORKING WITH, THE
FAIR POLITICAL PRACTICES
COMMISSION, TO EXPAND THE BILL
TO INCLUDE ALL NONPROFIT
ORGANIZATIONS. JOINING ME TODAY
IS A PIMCO'S MOST NOTABLE FELLOW
. A SIMILAR, ALEX LEE AND
SHERMAN MILL, IS A FORMER PICO
FELLOW WHO IS NOW A LEGISLATIVE
DIRECTOR FOR A SIMILAR PELLERIN.
THANK YOU. YOU HAVE THREE
MINUTES. I WOULD SAY WE'RE BOTH
NOTABLE ALUMNI OF THE PROGRAM.
YES, SO I, ALEX LEE, STATE
ASSEMBLY MEMBER. I'M VERY PROUD
TO BE THE I WAS IN THE FIRST
COHORT OF PAID APICHA INTERNS,
API CAPITAL ASSOCIATION INTERNS.
AND REALLY THIS MADE THE BIG
DIFFERENCE FOR ME. LESS THAN TEN
YEARS AGO BECAUSE THERE ARE VERY
FEW INTERNSHIP PROGRAMS THAT ARE
PAID. I THINK THERE ARE MORE SO
NOWADAYS. BUT FOR YOUNG PEOPLE
TRYING TO GET THEIR FOOT IN THE
DOOR IN POLITICS, THIS WAS ONE
OF THOSE GAME CHANGERS AND
ALLOWED ME TO REALLY SEE MYSELF
WORKING HERE IN THE BUILDING,
WHICH I DID FOR SEVERAL OF OUR
COLLEAGUES AS THEIR STAFF, AND
THEN EVENTUALLY SEE MYSELF AS
RUNNING. BUT I THINK IT'S AN
IMPORTANT AND INVALUABLE
EXPERIENCE THAT WE WANT TO
ENSURE THAT OTHER APICHA INTERNS
HAVE SUBSTANTIVE AND MEANINGFUL
WORK SO THEY CAN REALLY ENGAGE
IN THE CONTENT SO THAT PERHAPS
ONE DAY THEY CAN ALSO BECOME
STAFFERS AND MAYBE MEMBERS AS
WELL. HI MADAM CHAIR AND
MEMBERS, MY NAME IS CHARMAINE
MILLS, AND I'M THE LEGISLATIVE
DIRECTOR FOR ASSEMBLY MEMBER
GAIL PELLERIN. I HAD MY START IN
THE LEGISLATURE AS AN OPEKA
FELLOW, AND THEN SERVED ON THE
OPEKA BOARD FOR THREE YEARS.
WHEN I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO
MENTOR THE INTERNS THAT CAME IN
AFTER ME, EPICA'S MISSION IS TO
PROVIDE A NETWORK AND A
COMMUNITY FOR ASPIRING AAPI
INDIVIDUALS WHO AIM TO BUILD A
CAREER HERE IN THE CAPITAL
COMMUNITY, SPECIFICALLY THE
ASSIGNED FELLOWS TO HOST OFFICES
AND PROVIDE TRAINING, WORKSHOPS
AND MENTORSHIP THAT ARE
CONSIDERATE OF THE ASIAN
AMERICAN CULTURES AND IMMIGRANT
EXPERIENCES, SINCE ITS INCEPTION
IN 2015, APICHA HAS HOSTED UP TO
SIX FELLOWS EACH SUMMER AND
NEARLY 40 FELLOWS IN TOTAL. OF
THOSE FELLOWS, FOUR CONTINUED
ONTO THE ASSEMBLY FELLOWSHIP
PROGRAM, FIVE OF THEM BECAME
FULL TIME LED STAFF AND FOUR
CONTINUED, AND THERE WERE A
NUMBER OF FELLOWS THAT FOUND
SUSTAINABLE AND FULFILLING WORK
IN THE STATE DEPARTMENTS. AND IN
THE THIRD HOUSE, APICHA PROUDLY
PROVIDES THEIR FELLOWS WITH A
STIPEND THAT IS EQUIVALENT TO
THE STATE'S MINIMUM WAGE.
HOWEVER, BECAUSE THE FELLOWS ARE
PROVIDED WITH THAT STIPEND BY A
500 AND 1C3 NONPROFIT STATE LAW
BARS APICHA FELLOWS FROM BEING A
PART OF THE REAL DECISION MAKING
ON LEGISLATION AND THE BUDGET.
SINCE THE STIPEND COULD
CONSTITUTE A GIFT TO THE MEMBER.
IN PRACTICE, THAT MEANS APICHA
FELLOWS ARE NOT ABLE TO GIVE
VOTE RECOMMENDATIONS OR STAFF
BILLS, WHICH DENIES THEM
EXTREMELY VALUABLE FIRST HAND
EXPERIENCE THAT COULD ENRICH
THEIR DECISION TO WORK IN THE
LEGISLATURE. OTHER SIMILAR
PROGRAMS ARE ALSO PROVIDED WITH
THE STATUTORY ALLOWANCE FOR PAID
INTERNS TO PERFORM THOSE DUTIES,
SO THIS BILL WILL OPEN DOORS FOR
THESE FELLOWS TO MORE FULLY
UNDERSTAND THE WORK OF A
LEGISLATIVE STAFFER WHILE UNDER
THE SUPERVISION AND GUIDANCE OF
EXPERIENCED STAFFERS. AND FOR
THOSE REASONS, I ASK FOR YOUR
SUPPORT. THANK YOU. ARE THERE
ANY WITNESSES IN SUPPORT? PLEASE
COME FORWARD. STATE YOUR NAME,
ORGANIZATION AND POSITION. HI,
MADAM CHAIR, MY NAME IS JESSICA
DUONG AND WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF
CALIFORNIA IN STRONG SUPPORT,
ALSO FORMER APICHA BOARD
PRESIDENT IN SUPPORT. HELLO, MY
NAME IS JAMARI FERNANDEZ. I'M IN
SUPPORT. HI. PACO TORRES, FORMER
PRESIDENT OF THE API CAPITAL
ASSOCIATION, IN SUPPORT. ALLISON
LIM, FORMER BOARD MEMBER IN
SUPPORT. THANK YOU. ARE THERE
ANY WITNESSES IN OPPOSITION?
PLEASE COME FORWARD. SEEING
NONE, I'LL BRING IT BACK TO THE
COMMITTEE. ASSEMBLYMAN NGUYEN,
THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS BILL
FORWARD. AND THANK YOU FOR
TESTIFYING AND SHARING YOUR
STORY. I'D LOVE TO BE ADDED AS A
COAUTHOR. ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU.
OH, YEAH. AND WOULD YOU LIKE TO
CLOSE? THANK YOU SO MUCH, MADAM
CHAIR MEMBERS, I RESPECTFULLY
ASK FOR YOUR. I VOTE, AND SO WE
HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND,
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. THE MOTION
IS DUE PASSED. MCKENNA A
MCKENNA, A LACKEY, A LACKEY, A
BURNER, A BURNER I, VINCE FONG,
VINCE FONG I HEART STEPHANIE
NGUYEN, STEPHANIE NGUYEN THREE
OF US PLACES. BILL ON CALL.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
WHAT'S NEXT? ASSEMBLY MEMBER
MURATSUCHI, YOU ARE HERE TO
PRESENT FILE ITEM NUMBER FIVE.
THIS BILL ENJOYS AN AI
RECOMMENDATION FROM THE CHAIR,
AND THE MOTION IS DUE PASSED AND
REFERRED TO APPROPRIATION
COMMITTEE. YOU MAY PROCEED, SIR.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MADAM
CHAIR, THIS IS A SIMPLE BILL
THAT, SEEKS TO CORRECT A PROBLEM
THAT TOO MANY TEACHERS AND
CLASSIFIED EMPLOYEES HAVE BEEN
FACING, TEACHERS AND CLASSIFIED
EMPLOYEES, THEY HAVE EARNED
THEIR SICK LEAVE. THEY HAVE A
RIGHT UNDER EXISTING LAW TO BE
ABLE TO TRANSFER THE SICK LEAVE
THAT THEY'VE EARNED WHEN THEY
TRANSFER TO A NEW DISTRICT.
UNFORTUNATELY, THERE HAVE BEEN,
THERE WAS A NEED FOR
CLARIFICATION IN THE LAW TO
ENSURE THAT THEY DO. IN FACT,
ARE ABLE TO TRANSFER THE SICK
LEAVE THAT THEY HAVE EARNED,
WITH ME HERE TODAY TO TESTIFY
AND SUPPORT OF THIS MEASURE ARE,
TWO, TWO, WITNESSES, MARK VEST,
HIGH SCHOOL SPECIAL EDUCATION
ENGLISH TEACHER FROM FONTANA
UNIFIED, AND CHRIS MYERS WITH
THE CALIFORNIA SCHOOL EMPLOYEES
ASSOCIATION. THANK YOU. YOU MAY
PROCEED. YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES.
THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM
CHAIR. AND DISTINGUISHED MEMBERS
AGAIN, I'M MARK VEST. I'M A HIGH
SCHOOL SPECIAL EDUCATION
TEACHER. IT'S BOTH AN HONOR AND
A PRIVILEGE TO BE BEFORE YOU.
AND THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR
ALLOWING ME TO SHARE MY STORY,
I'D LIKE TO SHED LIGHT AS AN
ALREADY SHARED THAT A CURRENT
LAW THAT IS BEING, IN MY
OPINION, GROSSLY MISREAD,
PROHIBITED, I'VE SPENT 31 YEARS
IN THE CLASSROOM AND DECIDED
IT'S TIME TO RETIRE WHILE I
STILL HAVE A SHRED OF SANITY
LEFT. AND RECENTLY, UPON
PLANNING MY RETIREMENT, I
DISCOVERED THAT I HAD
ACCUMULATED OVER 100 SICK DAYS
THROUGHOUT MY CAREER, ALL OF
WHICH CAN BE CONVERTED TO
RETIREMENT CREDIT. I ALSO
DISCOVERED, FOR REASONS
UNBEKNOWNST TO ME, THAT 98 OF
THESE DAYS DID NOT TRANSFER. SO
NATURALLY, I REACHED OUT TO MY
FORMER DISTRICT AND THEY WERE
MORE THAN WILLING TO TRANSFER
THESE DAYS TO ME. UNFORTUNATELY,
MY CURRENT DISTRICT SAID THEY'RE
NOT GOING TO ACCEPT THEM AND THE
REASONING WAS THAT I HAD BEEN
EMPLOYED WITH THEM FOR MORE THAN
ONE YEAR. SO THIS WAS NOT ONLY
SHOCKING, BUT DISHEARTENING
BECAUSE I'VE ACCUMULATED THESE
DAYS OVER DECADES OF PUBLIC
SERVICE, AND I FAILED TO
INTERPRET ANY PART OF ED CODE
4497 9 OR 4 4980 IN WHICH THE
DISTRICT WOULD HAVE A RIGHT TO
IMPOSE A TIME LIMIT. AND THIS IS
A FINANCIAL BURDEN FOR ME
BECAUSE THAT'S ABOUT $120 A
MONTH FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE,
WHICH IS NOT SIGNIFICANT FOR
SOME, BUT FOR ME, RAISING A
FAMILY, WHICH INCLUDES THREE
GRANDCHILDREN WHO LIVE WITH ME,
CAN BE QUITE COSTLY. SO IT'S
JUST NOT RIGHT THAT THERE TAKING
THESE FROM ME IN AN UNJUST
MANNER. THIS HAPPENS TO FAR TOO
MANY EDUCATORS IN CALIFORNIA. IN
2020, THE GOVERNOR SIGNED A BILL
CORRECTING THIS INJUSTICE FOR
COMMUNITY COLLEGES. SO TODAY YOU
CAN HELP CORRECT THIS INJUSTICE
FOR ALL EDUCATORS IN CALIFORNIA
BY SUPPORTING AB 2134. THANK YOU
AGAIN FOR YOUR TIME AND
ATTENTION. THANK YOU. SO GOOD
AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR. MEMBERS
MY NAME IS CHRIS MYERS. I'M HERE
REPRESENTING THE CALIFORNIA
SCHOOL EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION,
MORE THAN A QUARTER MILLION
CLASSIFIED EMPLOYEES STATEWIDE
HERE IN CALIFORNIA. FIRST, I
WANT TO THANK THE AUTHOR FOR
CARRYING THIS BILL. AND, YOU
KNOW, I'M HERE REPRESENTING THE
SCHOOL STAFF, RIGHT? THE ONES
THAT, YOU KNOW, GET THE STUDENTS
TO AND FROM SCHOOL, FEED THEM,
HELP KEEP THEIR CAMPUS CLEAN,
HELP STUDENTS LEARN. AND
UNFORTUNATELY, MORE THAN HALF OF
OUR MEMBERS MAKE LESS THAN
$40,000 A YEAR. AND THE LAST
THING THEY, YOU KNOW, NEED TO
DEAL WITH OR WORRY ABOUT IS WHEN
THEY SWITCH JOBS FROM ONE
DISTRICT TO ANOTHER IS TO LOSE,
LOSE THE SICK, LEAVE THAT THEY
HAVE RIGHTFULLY EARNED. SO UNDER
THE CURRENT EDUCATION CODE,
SCHOOL EMPLOYEES WHO CHANGE JOBS
WITHIN OUR STATE CAN TRANSFER
THEIR ACCRUED SICK LEAVE, AND
IT'S A VALUABLE BENEFIT ALLOWING
STAFF TO TAKE THE NEEDED TIME
OFF WITHOUT PENALTY, REGARDLESS
OF THEIR SCHOOL EMPLOYER.
UNFORTUNATELY,
MISINTERPRETATIONS OF THE CODE
HAD LEFT HAD LED SCHOOL STAFF TO
LOSE THEIR RIGHTFULLY EARNED
SICK LEAVE WHEN THEY
TRANSITIONED BETWEEN SCHOOL
DISTRICTS, SO THIS BILL OFFERS A
CRITICAL SOLUTION BY
ESTABLISHING CLEAR AND
CONSISTENT GUIDELINES, WE CAN
ENSURE SCHOOL STAFF HAVE THEIR
SICK LEAVE PROTECTED WHEN THEY
MOVE TO A NEW DISTRICT. THIS
FOSTERS TRANSPARENCY AND TRUST
WITHIN OUR PUBLIC EDUCATION
SYSTEM, WHICH DIRECTLY BENEFITS
EMPLOYEES BY INCREASING EMPLOYEE
MORALE AND HELPING WITH BOTH
EMPLOYEE RECRUITMENT AND
RETENTION. WE RESPECTFULLY ASK
FOR YOUR VOTE. THANK YOU. ARE
THERE ANY OTHER WITNESSES IN
SUPPORT? PLEASE COME FORWARD.
PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME,
ORGANIZATION AND POSITION ON
BEHALF OF TONY TRUJILLO. ON
BEHALF OF THE CALIFORNIA
TEACHERS ASSOCIATION AND SUPPORT
. JAMARI FERNANDEZ IN SUPPORT.
THANK YOU. ARE THERE ANY
WITNESSES IN OPPOSITION? PLEASE
COME FORWARD. SEEING NONE, I'LL
BRING IT BACK TO COMMITTEE.
SECOND, NO COMMENTS. SO I WOULD
LIKE TO THANK THE AUTHOR FOR
BRINGING THIS BILL FORWARD. I'D
ALSO LIKE TO THANK THE WITNESS
AND 100 AND SOME ODD DOLLARS IS
A LOT OF MONEY. SO YEAH, YOU
NEVER, NEVER APOLOGIZE FOR THAT.
THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY. YOU WORK
FOR IT. SO YOU DESERVE TO GET TO
GET IT, WE'VE HAD A WE'VE HAD A
MOTION AND A SECOND. PLEASE CALL
THE ROLL MOTION IS TO PASS AND
BE REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON
APPROPRIATIONS. MCKENNA A
MCKENNA A LACKEY, A LACKEY, A
BURNER, A BURNER I EVANS, FONG,
VINCE FONG. NOT VOTING HEART I
HEART I STEPHANIE NGUYEN. HI
STEPHANIE ONE I THREE OF US
PLACE THIS BILL ON CALL. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU TO EACH AND EVERY
ONE OF YOU HOW HARD YOU WORK FOR
US PUBLIC SERVICE WORKERS. THANK
YOU. IT'S BEEN VERY EYE OPENING
TODAY. THANK YOU. TO ME, YOU
HAVE THE LAST WORD, RIGHT. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU SO SEE YOU NEXT.
RIGHT. I DON'T SEE REAL DISORDER
. SHE'S PROBABLY NOT GOING TO BE
USING THAT. BUT THANK YOU FOR
THE HONOR. ALL RIGHT, CHAIR
MCKENNA, YOU'RE HERE TO PRESENT,
FILE ITEM 12 AB 2335. AND AS THE
PREVIOUS ONE YOU PRESENTED, IT
HAS AN I RECOMMENDATION, AN AND,
MOTION IS Dð PASS AND REREFERRED
TO THE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE.
YOU MAY PROCEED SECOND. GOOD
MORNING, MEMBERS OF THE
COMMITTEE AND CHAIR, I'M HERE TO
PRESENT AB 2003 35, WHICH IS
SPONSORED BY THE CALIFORNIA
ASSOCIATION OF PROFESSIONAL
SCIENTISTS. UNITED AUTO WORKERS.
AND I AM VERY PLEASED TO BE
PRESENTING THIS BILL TODAY AS
IT'S CAPS UAW LEGISLATIVE DAY AT
THE STATE CAPITOL. AND MANY OF
THEM ARE HERE IN COMMITTEE. AND
SO I'M GOING TO, PASS THIS ON TO
MY WITNESSES, JACQUELINE TACK,
THE PRESIDENT OF THE CALIFORNIA
ASSOCIATION OF, OF PROFESSIONAL
SCIENTISTS, UAW, AND LAURA
RADTKE, A BOARD MEMBER OF THE
CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF
PROFESSIONAL SCIENTISTS, UAW.
THANK YOU. CHAIRPERSON MCKENNA
AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE FOR
CONSIDERING THIS IMPORTANT BILL.
MY NAME IS LAURA RADTKE. I'M A
SENIOR ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTIST
AT THE DEPARTMENT OF SUBSTANCE.
OR I'M SORRY, THE DEPARTMENT OF
TOXIC SUBSTANCES CONTROL,
WORKING. WE WORK TO CLEAN UP
CONTAMINATED PROPERTIES AND MAKE
THEM SAFE FOR REUSE. I'M ALSO A
CAPS UAW BOARD MEMBER. I'D LIKE
TO THANK ASSEMBLY MEMBER MCKENNA
FOR BRINGING THIS ISSUE FRONT
AND CENTER TODAY, AB 2335
ADDRESSES ONGOING PAY
DISPARITIES BETWEEN STATE
EMPLOYEE CLASSIFICATIONS, DOING
SIMILAR WORK. SCIENTISTS WORK
ENTERTAINMENT INTERCHANGEABLY,
SIDE BY SIDE WITH ENGINEERING
COLLEAGUES, AND ARE PAID ABOUT
40% LESS. BESIDES BEING MORALE
ERODING, THIS HAS CAUSED A SHARP
TURNOVER RATES IN STATE
DEPARTMENTS WHOSE VERY MISSIONS
ARE TO PROTECT COMMUNITIES
THROUGHOUT CALIFORNIA. IN THIS
MAJORITY EXCUSE ME, MAJORITY
FEMALE SCIENTIFIC CLASSIFICATION
, I GREW INCREASINGLY FRUSTRATED
. IN SEPTEMBER 2021, I FILED AN
EQUAL PAY ACT CLAIM BASED ON
GENDER, TWO YEARS LATER, IN
SEPTEMBER 2023, A LABOR
COMMISSIONER WAS ASSIGNED TO MY
CASE. IN HER MOST RECENT
CORRESPONDENCE, THE COMMISSIONER
SENT A TABLE OF TASKS REQUESTING
THAT I FILL OUT THE FREQUENTLY
FREQUENCY WITH, THAT I, COMPLETE
THOSE TASKS, DAILY, WEEKLY,
MONTHLY OR NEVER, IN MY
RESPONSE, I ASKED IF MY MALE
ENGINEERING GEOLOGIST COMPARATOR
WOULD BE FILLING OUT THE SAME
TABLE, AND SHE EXPLAINED THAT IT
DIDN'T MATTER IF A COMPARATOR
DID OR DID NOT PERFORM THE
DUTIES. IT MATTERED THAT THEY
COULD, UPON THE REQUEST OF A
MANAGER FOR. SO THIS LOGIC IS
VERY TROUBLING, AND IT
UNDERLINES THE NEED FOR CLEAR
LANGUAGE REGARDING SALARY
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN
CLASSIFICATION PERFORMING
COMPARABLE WORK AB 2003 35
CONTAINS THAT CLEAR LANGUAGE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK
YOU CHAIR AND MEMBERS OF THE
COMMITTEE FOR CONSIDERING THIS
IMPORTANT BILL. MY NAME IS
JACQUELINE TAC. I'M AN
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTIST AT THE
CENTRAL COAST REGIONAL WATER
QUALITY CONTROL BOARD. I'M ALSO
THE PRESIDENT OF CAPS, THE
CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF
PROFESSIONAL SCIENTISTS, WHICH
RECENTLY VOTED TO AFFILIATE WITH
THE UAW. I WANT TO FIRST THANK
ASSEMBLY MEMBER MCKENNA FOR
AUTHORING AB 2335 AND FOR HER
UNWAVERING SUPPORT OF STATE
SCIENTISTS, AS SHE DESCRIBED, AB
2335 IS A CRITICAL STEP IN
ENSURING THAT CALIFORNIA'S STATE
CIVIL SERVICE EMPLOYEES RECEIVE
EQUAL PAY FOR EQUAL WORK. AB
2335 WILL RESTORE THE HISTORICAL
PAY EQUITY BETWEEN STATE
SCIENTISTS AND OUR ENGINEERING
COLLEAGUES, WHO PERFORM
IDENTICAL JOB DUTIES. STATE
SCIENTIST SALARIES LAG OUR LOCAL
GOVERNMENT AND FEDERAL
COUNTERPARTS AND OTHER STATE
EMPLOYEES THAT DO SUBSTANTIALLY
SIMILAR WORK BY UPWARDS OF 40.
BUT HISTORICALLY, WE MADE THE
EXACT SAME. THIS IS INCONSISTENT
WITH THIS ADMINISTRATION'S
DECLARED PRIORITY OF
ESTABLISHING EQUITY. STATE
SCIENTISTS PERFORM THE SAME JOB
FUNCTIONS, OVERSEE THE SAME
PROJECTS, PARTICIPATE IN THE
SAME MEETINGS, PROVIDE EQUAL
VALUE, EXPERTISE, AND KNOWLEDGE
AS OUR COUNTERPARTS IN BOTH
STATE GOVERNMENT AND OTHER
GOVERNMENT SECTORS. AND YET, WE
ARE PAID SO MUCH LESS. AB 2335
WILL REQUIRE THE STATE TO
RESTORE AND MAINTAIN THE
HISTORIC SALARY RELATIONSHIPS
THAT EXIST BETWEEN RANK AND FILE
STATE SCIENTISTS AND STATE
ENGINEERS, AS THEY DID FOR OUR
SCIENTIFIC SUPERVISORS AND
MANAGERS WHEN THE STATE PROVIDED
THEM UP TO 43% RAISES OVERNIGHT,
AND IT WILL CLOSE THE GENDER PAY
INEQUITIES THAT EXIST BETWEEN
STATE CIVIL SERVICE JOBS AND
CLASSIFICATIONS. PERFORMING LIKE
WORK AS THE STATE'S LARGEST
EMPLOYER, IT'S CRITICAL FOR THE
STATE OF CALIFORNIA TO LEAD BY
EXAMPLE AND WORK TO CREATE A
CALIFORNIA. ALL EMPLOYEES ARE
VALUED, RESPECTED AND PAID
EQUITABLY. PROVIDING EQUITABLE
PAY IS ESSENTIAL FOR PROMOTING
GENDER EQUALITY, ATTRACTING AND
RETAINING STATE EMPLOYEES, AND
ENHANCING THE STATE'S ABILITY TO
BE THE EMPLOYER OF CHOICE. BY
SUPPORTING AB 2335, YOU CAN HELP
MAKE PROGRESS IN ENSURING STATE
SCIENTISTS AND OTHER STATE
WORKERS ARE PAID FAIRLY AND
EQUITABLY. THANK YOU. OKAY.
THANK YOU. DO WE HAVE ANYBODY
ELSE IN THE ROOM WHO WOULD LIKE
TO EXPRESS SUPPORT FOR THIS
MEASURE? PLEASE NAME YOUR STATE
OR YOUR YOUR NAME AND POSITION,
MR. CHAIR. TOM HINCHEY, ON
BEHALF OF THE UNITED AUTO
WORKERS REGION SIX, IN STRONG
SUPPORT. OKAY. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. DO WE HAVE ANY WITNESSES
IN OPPOSITION? SEEING NONE ANY
IN THE ROOM. LOOKS LIKE THAT'S
NO. OKAY. WE MIGHT BRING IT BACK
TO THE COMMITTEE. YES. THANK YOU
SO MUCH FOR BRINGING THIS BILL
FORWARD. I'D LOVE TO BE ADDED AS
A COAUTHOR. THANK YOU. AND I
REMOVE THE BILL. RIGHT? YEAH
OKAY. AND I'D JUST LIKE TO SAY
THAT I THINK THAT THE PROBLEM IS
VERY LEGITIMATE, THAT YOU'VE
STATED. HOWEVER, I DON'T FEEL
THAT THIS BILL IS THE
APPROPRIATE REMEDY, SO I WILL BE
UNABLE TO SUPPORT IT. BUT THE
PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE REMEDIED FOR
SURE. OKAY. DO WE HAVE A MOTION
AND A SECOND? OKAY. PLEASE CALL
FOR THE QUESTION. MADAM
SECRETARY, MOTION IS TO PASS AND
BE REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON
APPROPRIATIONS. MCKENNA. HI.
MCKENNA. I LACKEY SORRY, NOT MØT
LACKEY NOT VOTING. BERNER HI.
BERNER I VINCE FONG VINCE FONG
NOT VOTING HEARTS I HEART I
STEPHANIE NGUYEN STEPHANIE
NGUYEN I THREE OF US. WE HAVE
SUFFICIENT VOTES TO PUT THIS
BILL ON CALL. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU, THANK
YOU, THANK YOU. THANK YOU. OKAY,
I'M GOING TO MAKE EVERYBODY
HAPPY. OKAY WELL, NOT EVERYBODY.
IT'S USUALLY NOT THAT VOTE. BUT.
ALL RIGHT. THANKS FOR YOUR HELP.
LET LET'S PLEASE CALL FOR ADD
ONS IN ABSENT VOTERS. I'LL START
WITH THE CONSENT CALENDAR. ITEM
NUMBER FOUR. ÁP 1905. ITEM
NUMBER EIGHT 2455. ITEM NUMBER
11 A, B 2474. CHAIR VOTING AYE.
BURNER I BURNER I HEART, I HEART
I THREE OF US. WE HAVE
SUFFICIENT VOTES TO PLACE THIS
BILL BACK ON CALL. THANK YOU SO
MUCH. ITEM NUMBER ONE AB 249
CHAIRS VOTING I BURNER I BURNER
I VINCE FONG. NO VINCE FONG NO
THREE OF US. WHO PLACE THIS BILL
ON CALL. I ITEM NUMBER TWO. AB
2557 CHAIR VOTING AYE. BURNER I
BURNER I O PLAYS THIS BILL ON
CALL. ITEM NUMBER THREE AB 2561,
PASS. ITEM NUMBER FIVE. PASS.
ITEM NUMBER SIX. CURRENT VOTES
IS FOUR. CHAIR VOTING AYE.
BURNER A BURNER I HEART, I HEART
I. WE HAVE SUFFICIENT VOTES TO
PLACE THIS BILL ON CALL. ITEM
NUMBER 724 FOR CHAIR VOTING AYE.
HEART I HEART I WE HAVE
SUFFICIENT VOTES. WE'LL PLACE
THIS BILL ON CALL ITEM NUMBER
NINE. CURRENT VOTE IS FIVE 2573,
HEART, HEART. I PLACE THIS BILL
AND CALL HAS SUFFICIENT VOTES.
ITEM NUMBER TEN, AB 2872, CHAIR
VOTING AYE. NØ, PLACE THIS BILL
ON CALL ITEM NUMBER 12 OR PLACE
ON CALL.
THANK YOU. JUST WAIT. HEAD OVER
TO WAFER REPAIR FOR FIVE HOURS
AND WE'RE GETTING READY TO
START. I KNOW AT 130, MY BODY IS
. THE THING IS, I'M JUST GOING
TO GO BACK. REALLY LEARNED THEIR
LESSONS THAN THE OTHERS. NO
THAT'S BETTER. THE PREVIOUS IS
WALKING. OKAY. THANK YOU. DO
YOU, HANG ON REAL QUICK? YEAH.
WHILE WE TAKE UP EXACTLY RIGHT.
YEAH. OH, SURE. YEAH, YEAH, YEAH
, YEAH, ACTUALLY, THAT'S PARKED
IN THE PARKING LOT FOR THE PAST,
I DO TOO. I LET PEOPLE TALK
ABOUT 12 COMING HOME. NO, NO.
YEAH. YEAH YEAH. TEXTING
COWORKERS. OKAY WE HAVE A GOOD
TESTIMONY. WE HAVE A LOT OF
TALKING AND QUESTIONS. AND NOT
ONE OF THEM ACTUALLY. SO, YEAH,
THAT'S HOW YOU LIKE. YOU HAVE
TO, LIKE, DON'T KNOW WHO
ACTUALLY THIS. YEAH. SO IT'S I
CAN'T DISCUSS RIGHT NOW CAUSE
THAT ACTUALLY SAYS THAT
PROCEDURE. SUSPENSIONS ALSO YES.
I MEAN, IT'S FUNNY BECAUSE WHEN
I WAS DOWN IN CALDWELL, THAT'S
USUALLY WHERE I WAS LIKE, IS
THIS WHERE IS I KNOW IT WAS OKAY
FOR ME AND I JUST SAID, OKAY.
OH, THE MIC IS ON LIKE
.
SECRETARY, PLEASE OPEN THE ROLL.
WE'LL START WITH THE CONSENT
CALENDAR. RIVAS OH! OH, SORRY, I
RIVAS I THOSE ITEMS ARE OUT 7 TO
0. ITEM NUMBER ONE. CHAIR VOTING
AYE. CURRENT VOTE IS 3 TO 2.
RIVAS AYE. RIVAS I. THAT BILL IS
OUT 4 TO 2. I ITEM NUMBER TWO.
THE CHAIR VOTING AYE. THE
CURRENT VOTE IS 3 TO 2. RIVAS I
RIVAS I THAT BILL IS OUT 4 TO 2.
ITEM NUMBER THREE CHAIR VOTING
AYE. CURRENT VOTE IS 4 TO 1.
RIVAS RIGHT, RIGHT. RIVAS I THAT
BILL IS OUT 5 TO 1. ITEM NUMBER
FIVE, CHAIR VOTING AYE. RIVAS I
RIVAS I THAT BILL IS OUT 6 TO 0.
YEAH ITEM NUMBER SIX. CHAIR
VOTING AYE. RIVAS RIVAS I THAT
BILL IS OUT 7 TO 0. YES ITEM
NUMBER SEVEN, CHAIR. ITEM NUMBER
SEVEN. CHAIR. VOTING AYE. RIVAS
I RIVAS I THAT BILL IS OUT 5 TO
1. ITEM NUMBER NINE CHAIR VOTING
AYE. RIVAS I RIVAS I THE BILL IS
OUT 7 TO 0. ITEM NUMBER TEN.
CHAIR VOTING AYE RIVAS I RIVAS I
THAT BILL IS OUT 7 TO 0. ITEM
NUMBER 12 CHAIR VOTING AYE RIVAS
I RIVAS I THAT BILL IS OUT 5 TO
0. WE ARE DONE AND WE'RE
CONCLUDED. THIS COMMITTEE IS
ADJOURNED