GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYBODY. WE'LL
GO AHEAD AND GET READY ON,
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, ASSEMBLY
MEMBER FREDDY RODRIGUEZ, CHAIR
OF THE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
COMMITTEE, WELCOME TO TODAY'S
HEARING. AT TODAY'S HEARING, WE
WILL TAKE PUBLIC COMMENTS FROM
THOSE IN THE ROOM. MEMBERS OF
THE PUBLIC MAY ALSO SUBMIT TO
TESTIMONY TO THE COMMITTEE AT M
DOT ASSEMBLY DOT CA.GOV. AND I
BELIEVE WE CAN. SECRETARY, WOULD
YOU LIKE TO ESTABLISH A QUORUM
AND CALL ROLL? THANK YOU. QUORUM
CALL. RODRIGUEZ. HERE RODRIGUEZ.
HERE. DAVIES. DAVIES. HERE
ARAMBULA. BENNETT BURNER. HERE.
BURNER. HERE CALDERON. HERE.
CALDERON. HERE. CARILLO WALDRON.
WALDRON HERE. AND WE DO HAVE A
QUORUM. HAVE ESTABLISHED A
QUORUM. THE NEXT ORDER OF
BUSINESS IS THE CONSENT
CALENDAR. THE FOLLOWING BILLS
ARE ON CONSENT. AB 2232
MAIENSCHEIN. REGARDING WARMING
CENTERS FOR PEOPLE WITH PETS.
THE MOTION IS Dð PASS AB 2660
COMMITTEE ON EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT TO INCREASE GRANT
FUNDING TO OUR LOCAL PARTNERS.
THE MOTION IS Dð PASS TO THE
COMMITTEE AND APPROPRIATIONS AND
AB 3150 QUIRK-SILVA REGARDING
WILDFIRE SEVERITY ZONING. THE
MOTION IS DUE PASS TO THE
COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS.
SECRETARY. CALL THE ROLL. ON THE
CONSENT CALENDAR. AB 2232.
MAIENSCHEIN. THE MOTION IS Dð.
PASS AB 2660. THE MOTION IS DUE
PASSED TO THE COMMITTEE ON
APPROPRIATIONS, AB 3150
QUIRK-SILVA. THE MOTION IS DUE.
PASS TO THE COMMITTEE ON
APPROPRIATIONS. RODRIGUEZ Ã
RODRIGUEZ. AYE. DAVIES. DAVIES.
AYE. ARAMBULA BENNETT. BURNER.
BURNER. AYE. CALDERON. CALDERON.
AYE CARRILLO. WALDRON. WALDRON
AYE. AND WITH THAT, THE CONSENT
CALENDAR IS OUT. WE'LL LEAVE THE
ROLL OPEN FOR A MISSING MEMBERS.
SO WITH THAT, WE'LL GO ON TO
BILLS AND FILE ORDER. WITH THAT,
WE DO HAVE ASSEMBLY MEMBER BANES
, ITEM NUMBER FOUR, AB 3027,
WHEN YOU'RE READY, ASSEMBLY
MEMBER. YES.
GO AHEAD. THANK YOU. HONORABLE
CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS AB 3027
ADDRESSES AN ISSUE THAT IS NOT
WELL KNOWN AND UNFORTUNATELY NOT
WELL UNDERSTOOD BY MOST
TRANSNATIONAL REPRESSION. THÀNH.
NEITHER STATE NOR FEDERAL LAW
DEFINES TRANSNATIONAL
REPRESSION, YET IT IS A TACTIC
THAT HAS GROWN INCREASINGLY
COMMON GIVEN THE RISE OF SOCIAL
MEDIA AS A TOOL OF HARASSMENT
AND INTIMIDATION. TRANSNATIONAL
REPRESSION IS EMPLOYED BY
FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS TO PREVENT
THE EXERCISE OF HUMAN RIGHTS BY
A DIASPORA AND EXILE COMMUNITIES
LIVING ABROAD. IT CAN TAKE MANY
FORMS, BUT IN ALL CASES IT IS
DESIGNED TO INTIMIDATE, SILENCE,
COERCE, HARASS OR HARM. BY
DEFINITION EMPLOYING
TRANSNATIONAL REPRESSION AGAINST
A PERSON RESIDING IN THE UNITED
STATES IS A VIOLATION OF OUR
NATION'S SOVEREIGNTY BY STATE.
ACTORS LIKE CHINA, RUSSIA, AND
INDIA DO NOT CARE ABOUT OUR
CONSTITUTIONAL FREEDOMS. THEY
SEEK TO SILENCE DISSIDENTS,
ERASE CRITICISM, AND EVEN MURDER
THEIR CRITICS. WE HAVE SEEN
NUMEROUS RECENT EXAMPLES OF
FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS, PART OF
FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS, COMMITTING
ACTS OF TRANS NATIONAL
REPRESSION AGAINST PEOPLE LIVING
IN CALIFORNIA AND ELSEWHERE IN
THE UNITED STATES. IN MY OWN
SIKH FAITH AND OUTSPOKEN
COMMUNITY LEADER WAS SHOT DEAD
IN CANADA AND THE CANADIAN PRIME
MINISTER HAS STATED THAT THERE
IS CREDIBLE, CREDIBLE EVIDENCE
THAT THE INDIAN GOVERNMENT IS
RESPONSIBLE FOR THE KILLING.
INDIA HAS DENIED THE ACCUSATION
WHILE ALSO REFUSING TO SUPPORT
THE INVESTIGATION TO IDENTIFY
THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE
ASSASSINATION. FEDERAL LAW
ENFORCEMENT FOILED TWO SIMILAR
ASSASSINATION PLOTS TARGETING
SIKH LEADERS IN NEW YORK AND
CALIFORNIA THAT WERE ALSO LINKED
TO INDIA. THESE CRIMES OCCURRED
JUST LAST YEAR AND THE SAME
YEAR. THE INDIAN PRIME MINISTER
WAS HONORED WITH A STATE DINNER
AT THE WHITE HOUSE, AB 3027
REPRESENTS A HISTORIC FIRST STEP
TOWARD CALIFORNIA. RECOGNIZING
THE DANGERS OF TRANSNATIONAL
REPRESSION WHILE PROVIDING LAW
ENFORCEMENT WITH THE TRAINING
THEY NEED TO PROTECT THE
FREEDOMS OF ALL CALIFORNIANS.
THIS BILL DOES THREE IMPORTANT
THINGS TO SHAPE CALIFORNIA'S
RESPONSE. NUMBER ONE, IT DEFINES
TRANSNATIONAL REPRESSION IN LAW,
CREATING A FOUNDATION FOR AN
ORGANIZED RESPONSE. IT REQUIRES
THE OFFICE OF EMERGENCY SERVICES
TO WORK WITH THE COMMISSION OF
PEACE OFFICER STANDARDS AND
TRAINING TO HELP OUR LOCAL LAW
ENFORCEMENT RECOGNIZE AND USE
BEST PRACTICES TO RESPOND TO
TRANSNATIONAL REPRESSION. IT
NUMBER THREE, IT SETS STATE
POLICY TO PROTECT CALIFORNIANS
FROM TRANSNATIONAL REPRESSION
AND HOLD FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS
ACCOUNTABLE FOR COMMITTING THOSE
ACTS. THE UNITED STATES, AND
ESPECIALLY CALIFORNIA, SHOULD BE
A HAVEN TO ANYONE WHO HAS FLED
PERSECUTION IN SEARCH OF A SAFER
HOME FROM THE REFUGEE, EXILE AND
DIASPORA COMMUNITIES WE HAVE
WELCOMED IN OUR STATE DESERVE TO
KNOW THAT WE WILL SUPPORT THEM
AND PROTECT THEM AS THEY
EXERCISE THEIR RIGHTS. AS
CALIFORNIANS, AB 3027 SENDS A
VERY CLEAR MESSAGE THAT WHEN YOU
ARE HERE IN CALIFORNIA, WE'VE
GOT YOUR BACK. AB 3027 IS
SUPPORTED BY THE CALIFORNIA
STATE SHERIFFS ASSOCIATION, AS
WELL AS THE SIKH AMERICAN LEGAL
DEFENSE AND EDUCATION FUND ON
BEHALF OF SALDEF, I AM HONORED
TO BE JOINED TODAY BY CHAIRMAN
AVNEET SINGH. OKAY, SO WHEN
YOU'RE READY, WE PROCEED. SURE.
IS THAT ALL RIGHT? OKAY. PERFECT
THANK YOU. ASSEMBLYMEMBER BAINS,
CHAIR RODRIGUEZ, OTHER ESTEEMED
MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE, THANK
YOU FOR YOUR TIME, ON BEHALF OF
THE SIKH AMERICAN COMMUNITY,
BOTH HERE IN CALIFORNIA AND
NATIONALLY, SALDEF THANKS YOU
FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO TALK
ABOUT AB 3027. I'M CURRENTLY
SERVING AS THE ACTING EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR OF THE NATION'S OLDEST
SIKH AMERICAN CIVIL RIGHTS AND
ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION. AND I
HOPE TODAY MY TESTIMONY AND
WRITTEN REMARKS, WHICH WERE
SUBMITTED TO THE COMMITTEE IN
ADVANCE, WILL SHED SOME LIGHT ON
THE SIKH AMERICAN EXPERIENCE
WITH TRANSNATIONAL REPRESSION
AND THE DEADLY AND DAMAGING
CONSEQUENCES, REALLY, THE
SILENCING OF SIKH ACTIVISM AND
COMMUNITY INTIMIDATION THAT WE
SEE ACROSS COMMUNITIES THAT ARE
AFFECTED BY THIS, THIS BILL
ADDRESSES AN IMPORTANT GAP IN
THE CURRENT APPROACH TO
ADDRESSING TNR OR TRANSNATIONAL
REPRESSION. THE NEED FOR A
ROBUST AND COORDINATED FEDERAL
STATE COOPERATION EFFORT BY
PLACING THE RESPONSIBILITY OF
ADDRESSING TNR WITHIN THE OFFICE
OF EMERGENCY SERVICES, OR OES,
YOU ENSURE THAT INCIDENTS AND
EDUCATION ARE ADDRESSED IN A
CONSISTENT AND A COORDINATED
FASHION ACROSS THE STATE. I
THINK THAT'S SOMETHING WE'VE
SEEN IN A PARALLEL IN HATE
CRIMES THAT WITHOUT THIS
COORDINATED AND REALLY
CONNECTED, RESPONSE AND
PARTNERSHIP, THAT THESE THINGS
GET LOST IN THE SHUFFLE, TNR
TAKES MANY FORMS TODAY. IN SOME
CASES, AS ASSEMBLY MEMBER SAID,
IT'S AN IT'S AN IMMEDIATE THREAT
IN A PERSON'S LIFE, SUCH AS THE
MURDER OF CANADIAN CITIZEN
HARDEEP SINGH NIJJAR, WHO WAS
ALLEGED WHO IT IS ALLEGED NOW BY
THE CANADIAN GOVERNMENT, WAS
TARGETED IN AN ASSASSINATION
ATTEMPT BY THE INDIAN STATE.
EXCUSE ME, ADDITIONALLY, THERE
IS AN ATTEMPTED MURDER OF
GURPATWANT SINGH PANNU, AN
AMERICAN RESIDENT IN NEW YORK
THAT THE UNITED STATES
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE HAS NOW
BROUGHT A CASE AGAINST AN INDIAN
NATIONAL FOR HAVING ORGANIZED
AND TRIED TO FUND HIS ALLEGED
ASSASSINATION. THÀNH AND OTHERS,
AS DEMONSTRATED BY OUR REPORT,
VIRTUALLY VULNERABLE WHERE
SOCIAL MEDIA AND ONLINE
EXPRESSION IS TARGETED BY THESE
FOREIGN ACTORS AND A NUMBER OF
COMPANIES HEADQUARTERED HERE IN
CALIFORNIA ARE COERCED INTO
STIFLING THE VOICES OF OTHER
AMERICANS, A SIGNIFICANT NOTE
BOTH THE STATE SENATE AND THE
ASSEMBLY ACKNOWLEDGED IN A
UNANIMOUS VOTE LAST YEAR THAT
THESE EVENTS ARE AMONG THE MANY
EXAMPLES TARGETING THE SIKH
COMMUNITY AND OCCURRING IN A
HISTORIC CONTEXT OF A 1984
GENOCIDE. IN A UNANIMOUS VOTE IN
2023. DISTURBINGLY, INDIVIDUALS
WARNED BY THE FBI ABOUT THESE
INCIDENTS. AS ASSEMBLYMEMBERS
BEING SAID AGAIN, AT LEAST WE
KNOW OF SIX AND PROBABLY THERE
ARE MORE, BUT THEY HAVE THE FBI
IS RIGHTFULLY KEPT THIS UNDER
WRAPS UNLESS THOSE FOLKS HAVE
COME FORWARD, SO THESE FOLKS WHO
HAVE BEEN WARNED ABOUT THE
THREATS TO THEIR SAFETY POSED BY
THE INDIAN STATE, LIVE ACROSS
THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AND
ACROSS THE COUNTRY IN CENTRAL,
NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN
CALIFORNIA. FOR THE FOLKS THAT
WE KNOW. AGAIN AND AS DETAILED
IN OUR WRITTEN REMARKS THAT I
SUBMITTED THESE FOLKS REALLY
RECEIVED LIMITED SUPPORT FROM
LAW ENFORCEMENT AND SECURITY
AGENCIES FOR THEIR FURTHER
SAFETY. I SPOKE WITH THE ASAC
AND OF THE FBI IN SACRAMENTO.
EXCUSE ME, SAN FRANCISCO LAST
WEEK. AND WHILE SYMPATHETIC TO
THE CAUSE, ULTIMATELY RESOURCES
ARE REALLY LIMITED OR REALLY
SIGNIFICANT CONCERN HERE OF
TELLING SOMEONE, HEY, YOU'RE
BEING TARGETED BY A FOREIGN
ACTOR HERE, THINGS THAT YOU CAN
DO. BUT REGRETTABLY, BECAUSE OF
RESOURCES WE CAN'T PROVIDE YOU
ANY MORE SUPPORT. EXCUSE ME, AB
3027 OFFERS A STRONG ROADMAP FOR
A STATE LEVEL RESPONSE TO
TRANSNATIONAL REPRESSION THAT
DOES NOT INTERFERE WITH FEDERAL
AUTHORITY AND ENHANCES COMMUNITY
SAFETY AND SECURITY, AS
DEMONSTRATED BY THE PRECEDING
SCENARIOS. COORDINATION AND
EDUCATION. EDUCATION ARE TWO
PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT
COMPONENTS OF ANY RESPONSE TO
INCIDENTS OF TNR. BY
CENTRALIZING BY CENTRALIZING
RESPONSIBILITY TO ADDRESS TNR
WITHIN CAL OES, AB 3027 ENSURES
THAT WILL BE CONSISTENT
COORDINATION BETWEEN FEDERAL,
STATE AND LOCAL AGENCIES AS AS
TNR INVOLVES A SIGNIFICANT
FEDERAL RESPONSE AND RELATED
INCIDENTS OCCUR AROUND THE
STATE, AS EVIDENCED BY THE SIKH
AMERICAN EXPERIENCE. HAVING A
STATEWIDE AGENCY LEADING THE
EFFORT IS THE MOST APPROPRIATE
WAY TO ENSURE A CONSISTENT
RESPONSE AND MARSHAL THE
APPROPRIATE RESOURCES NECESSARY
FOR VICTIMS, COMMUNITIES AND
ORGANIZATIONS BY CREATING
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES. EXCUSE ME?
CREATING EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES
IN COORDINATION WITH POST IS AN
APPROPRIATE WAY ALSO, TO ENSURE
THAT IMPACTED AGENCIES RECEIVE
THE UNDERSTANDING OF TNR THAT
THEY NEED TO BE CORRECT
ADVOCATES AND PROTECTORS OF
PEACE. AS SALDEF EXPERIENCE AND
RESEARCH INDICATES, THERE'S A
SIGNIFICANT GAP IN THE ABILITY
OF LAW ENFORCEMENT TO IDENTIFY
VÌ PREVENT, DOCUMENT, AND
APPROPRIATELY RESPOND TO
INCIDENCES OF TNR AND POST AS A
TRACK RECORD OF COLLABORATION
WITH THE SIKH AMERICAN
COMMUNITY. ONE OF THE BETTER
ONES WE'VE SEEN ACROSS THE
COUNTRY, IN CONCLUSION, TNR IS A
GRAVE THREAT TO OUR DEMOCRACY
AND PUTS Ã OUR BASIC
CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS AT RISK.
AB 3027 IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT
DIRECTION TO HELP AMERICANS OF
ALL BACKGROUNDS AND DIASPORA
GROUPS LIVE IN THE STATE FREELY.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR TIME
AND CONSIDERATION. WE HAVE A
MOTION AND SECOND, MOTION BY
ARAMBULA. SECOND BY CALDERON OR
BURNER. I'M SORRY. AND WITH
THAT, IS THERE ANYONE ELSE IN
THE ROOM IN SUPPORT? ANYONE IN
OPPOSITION? SEEING NONE. WE'LL
BRING IT BACK TO COMMITTEE
MEMBERS. ANY QUESTIONS?
COMMENTS. SO WE DO HAVE A MOTION
IN THE SECOND. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH, MEMBER, FOR BRINGING THIS
FORWARD. I DO HAVE I ECHO AND
THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS BILL
FORWARD. AND SO WITH THAT
SECRETARY, CALL THE ROLL. OH I'M
SORRY. BEFORE WE DO THAT, WOULD
YOU LIKE TO CLOSE. YEAH, I OF
COURSE WE ASKED FOR IT. AT THE
SAME TIME. I'M A PROUD DAUGHTER
OF IMMIGRANT WHO IS SO MANY
IMMIGRANTS HAVE COME TO AMERICA
TO ESCAPE PERSECUTION. AND, YOU
KNOW, THEY FEEL THEY DESERVE TO
FEEL SAFE. THIS IS SOMETHING
THAT HAS ROCKED MY SIKH
COMMUNITY FOR THE PAST YEAR. AND
AS I WROTE THIS BILL, I HAVE
BEEN REACHED OUT TO BY PEOPLE
FROM VERY MANY OTHER DIASPORAS
AND COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE BEEN
TARGETED BY DIFFERENT COUNTRIES
AND DIFFERENT FOREIGN
GOVERNMENTS. SO, THIS HOPEFULLY
WILL BE THE FIRST STEP IN
BRINGING SOME RECOGNITION TO
TRANSNATIONAL REPRESSION. THANK
YOU. I RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOUR
VOTE. THANK YOU AGAIN. THE
MOTION TO DO PASS THE COMMITTEE
ON APPROPRIATIONS, SECRETARY,
CALL THE ROLL. AB 3027. BAYNES.
THE MOTION IS DUE. PASS TO THE
COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS.
RODRIGUEZ. RODRIGUEZ. AYE
DAVIES. DAVIES. AYE. ARAMBULA OR
ARAMBULA? AYE. BENNETT. BURNER.
BERNER. AYE CALDERON. CALDERON.
AYE. CARILLO WALDRON. WALDRON.
AYE. THAT MOTION IS OUT. WE'LL
KEEP THE ROLL OPEN FOR MISSING
MEMBERS. THANK YOU. SHOULD I
JUST GO? SINCE WE'RE JUST DOING
A FILE ORDER, I'LL DO BRIAN'S
FIRST. OKAY BRIAN'S. AND THEN
KAPOS AND THEN MINE. OKAY. MY
VICE CHAIR. WOULD YOU LIKE TO
TAKE OVER? SURE. ALL RIGHT, SO
WITH THAT, MEMBERS, I'LL BE
PRESENTING FOR, ASSEMBLYMEMBER
BRIAN AND GABRIEL, THE FIRST
TWO, AND THEN MYSELF. SO LET ME
GO OVER TO THE RIGHT THERE, MR.
CHAIR.
ASSEMBLY MEMBER. YOU CAN BEGIN.
THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR
AND MEMBERS, I'M HERE TO PRESENT
AB 2684 ON BEHALF OF ASSEMBLY
MEMBER BRIAN. THIS BILL WOULD
REQUIRE THE CITY OR COUNTY TO
ACCOUNT FOR EXTREME HEAT IN
THEIR LOCAL HAZARD MITIGATION
PLANS OR SAFETY ELEMENTS.
STRATEGIC PLANNING RESPONSE TO
EXTREME HEAT WILL ALLOW OUR
LOCAL JURISDICTIONS TO BE
PREPARED AS POSSIBLE TO PROTECT
OUR RESIDENTS FROM EXTREME HEAT.
LOOKING AHEAD TO 2050, OVER 200
CALIFORNIA CITIES WILL
EXPERIENCE AVERAGE TEMPERATURES
SURPASSING 90°F. THE HEIGHT OF
THIS HEAT SURGE IS ANTICIPATED
IN THE CITY OF COACHELLA, WHERE
TEMPERATURES MAY SOAR TO 116
DEGREES. MEANWHILE, POMONA CITY,
CURRENTLY LACKING EXPLICIT
PROVISIONS FOR EXTREME HEAT,
WILL GRAPPLE WITH AN AVERAGE
TEMPERATURE OF 105 DEGREES,
WHILE LOS ANGELES WILL HAVE AN
AVERAGE OF 98 DEGREE HEAT AT A
TIME WHEN THE STATE IS FACING A
DEFICIT, WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT
ALL THE WAYS WE CAN TO SET OUR
COMMUNITIES UP FOR SUCCESS BY
MANDATING THE EXCLUSION OF
EXTREME HEAT CONSIDERATIONS IN
OUR LOCAL MITIGATION PLANS, WE
MAY. WE ALSO MAY LAY THE
GROUNDWORK FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
TO ACCESS CRUCIAL FEDERAL
FUNDING. CALIFORNIA HAS MADE
COMMENDABLE STRIDES IN FACTORING
EXTREME HEAT INTO THE STATE
PLAN, WITH OVER HALF OF OUR
CITIES AND COUNTIES FOLLOWING
SUIT. HOWEVER, THERE IS THERE
REMAIN COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT
THE STATE THAT ARE CURRENTLY
EXPERIENCING AND WILL SOON
CONFRONT THE URGENCY OF
ADDRESSING EXTREME HEAT. IT IS
UNWISE TO LEAVE FEDERAL DOLLARS
ON THE TABLE WHEN LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS CAN UTILIZE THESE
FUNDS, BY INCLUDING EXTREME HEAT
IN THEIR PLANS. JOINING ME TODAY
TO PROVIDE TESTIMONY IS MICHAEL.
JARED ON BEHALF OF THE CLIMATE
RESOLVE AND FORMER ASSEMBLY
MEMBER ROGER DICKERSON,
REPRESENTING CIVIC WELL. THANK
YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS
MICHAEL. JARED. I'M HERE ON
BEHALF OF CLIMATE RESOLVE.
CLIMATE RESOLVE IS A NONPROFIT
IN LOS ANGELES THAT'S BASED IN
LOS ANGELES THAT BUILDS
COLLABORATIONS TO CHAMPION
EQUITABLE CLIMATE SOLUTIONS.
CLIMATE RESOLVE CONNECTS
COMMUNITIES, ORGANIZATIONS AND
POLICYMAKERS TO ADDRESS THE
GLOBAL PROBLEM WITH LOCAL
SOLUTIONS. CLIMATE RESOLVE IS
PROUD TO BE THE SPONSOR OF AB
2684, WHICH SUPPORTS LOCAL
PLANNING EFFORTS ON EXTREME
HEAT. ONE OF CLIMATE RESOLVES
AREAS OF FOCUS IS EXTREME HEAT,
BECAUSE IT IS A SILENT KILLER
THAT DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTS
THE ELDERLY, CHILDREN, LOW
INCOME HOUSEHOLDS, THOSE WITH
PREEXISTING MEDICAL CONDITIONS,
AND COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.
EXTREME HEAT IS GROWING IN
INTENSITY, FREQUENCY, AND
DURATION, AND OUR COMMUNITIES
ARE NOT PREPARED, AS THE
ANALYSIS STATES, EXTREME HEAT IS
RESPONSIBLE FOR MORE DEATHS THAN
ANY OTHER DISASTER IN CALIFORNIA
AND THE NATION. AB 2684 LOOKS TO
SUPPORT LOCAL GOVERNMENTS BY
MAKING MORE LOCAL COMMUNITIES
ELIGIBLE FOR FEMA PRE HAZARD
MITIGATION FUNDS. EXTREME HEAT
IMPACTS SOME COMMUNITIES EVERY
YEAR AND OTHERS CAN BE IMPACTED
IN A RARE EXTREME HEAT. DOMES
THAT COMMUNITIES FACE, LIKE
PORTLAND. CLIMATE RESOLVE
BELIEVES THAT HIS GOOD
GOVERNMENT FOR EVERY LOCAL
GOVERNMENT TO HAVE A PLAN FOR
EXTREME HEAT. WE RESPECTFULLY
ASK FOR YOUR AYE. VOTE ON AB
2684. THANK YOU. MADAM VICE
CHAIR AND MEMBERS, I'M ROGER
DICKINSON. I'M THE POLICY
DIRECTOR FOR CIVIC WELL, WHICH
FORMERLY WAS THE LOCAL
GOVERNMENT COMMISSION. IN LIGHT
OF THE FACT WE HAVE A MOTION AND
A SECOND, I'M GOING TO
ABBREVIATE MY REMARKS, BUT I DO
WANT TO SHARE SOMETHING WITH YOU
ABOUT ABOUT THIS THAT I THINK
IS, IS NOTABLE, WE TALKED ABOUT
THE PARTICULAR CONSEQUENCES OF,
OF EXTREME HEAT AND THE VALUE OF
AB 2684 IS IT WILL ALLOW LOCAL
COMMUNITIES TO BUILD ON THE
STATE'S EXTREME HEAT ACTION PLAN
AND EXTREME HEAT AND COMMUNITIES
RESILIENCE PROGRAM THROUGH THE
OFFICE OF PLANNING AND RESEARCH.
BY INCORPORATING AN EXTREME HEAT
COMPONENT IN THE SAFETY ELEMENT
OF THEIR GENERAL PLANS, AND SO
DOING, COMMUNITIES CAN USE
HAZARD MITIGATION PLANNING AND
FUNDING TO ADDRESS EXTREME HEAT
CONDITIONS. AB 2684 ALSO
PROVIDES A COMPLEMENT TO SB 852
BY SENATOR DODD FROM 2022, WHICH
CIVIC WELL CO-SPONSORED THAT
AUTHORIZES LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO
ESTABLISH CLIMATE RESILIENCE
DISTRICTS. IT ADDRESSES A MAJOR
THREAT TO OUR CITIES AND
COUNTIES THROUGHOUT OUR STATE,
AND I RESPECTFULLY URGE YOUR AYE
VOTE. THANKS VERY MUCH. THANK
YOU. DO WE HAVE ANYONE IN
SUPPORT IN THE ROOM? OKAY. DO WE
HAVE ANYONE IN OPPOSITION
COMMITTEE MEMBERS? I JUST WANT
TO THANK THE AUTHOR AND THE
CHAIR FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD,
WHEN I WAS ASSISTANT MAJORITY
LEADER FOR POLICY AND RESEARCH,
ONE OF THE THINGS WE DID WAS AN
INTERNAL WHITE PAPER ON THE
IMPACTS OF THE CLIMATE CRISIS.
AND CLEARLY, IN COMMUNITIES LIKE
MINE REPRESENTING COASTAL SAN
DIEGO, OUR BIGGEST THREAT IS SEA
LEVEL RISE, BUT WHEN YOU LOOK
INLAND, WHERE I GREW UP IN
RIVERSIDE, EXTREME HEAT IS GOING
TO BE ENTIRELY THE BIGGEST THING
THAT THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO
FACE NEXT TO WILDFIRES. SO, YOU
KNOW, MAKING SURE THAT LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE
OF THIS. GOOD. THE FEDERAL
DOLLARS. WELL, WE DON'T HAVE
THEM IS ARE SUPER IMPORTANT. AND
IF IT'S APPROPRIATE, I'D LIKE TO
BE ADDED AT A COAUTHOR AT THE
APPROPRIATE TIME. THANK YOU,
MISS WALDEN. THANK YOU, I
SUPPORTED THIS BILL IN HEALTH
COMMITTEE. I THINK IT'S
IMPORTANT, YOU KNOW, AS AS MY
COLLEAGUE JUST SAID, I. I
REPRESENT AN INLAND COMMUNITY,
WHICH IS AN OLDER CITY
INCORPORATED IN 1888. WHEN YOU
LOOK AT URBAN RENEWAL IN THOSE
AREAS, IT WOULD BE GREAT TO BE
ABLE TO GET RID OF SOME OF THAT
CONCRETE. MAYBE PLANT MORE
TREES, DO MORE TO ALLEVIATE, YOU
KNOW, THE, THE, THE HEAT HAZARDS
BECAUSE THAT EXTREME HEAT AND
THERE'S NOWHERE TO GO, THERE'S
NO WAY TO GET OUT OF IT UNLESS
YOU GO TO A LIBRARY OR SOMETHING
LIKE THAT. THEY'RE NOT OPEN 24
HOURS. SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S
SOMETHING THAT I THINK CITIES
SHOULD BE LOOKING AT. IT'S A
QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUE. SO I URGE
AND I THANK YOU, MISS CALDERON.
YES. I JUST WANT TO THANK THE
AUTHOR FOR BRINGING THIS
FORWARD, YOU KNOW, MUCH OF MY
DISTRICT IS, INLAND IT ALL. IT'S
ALL INLAND. I DON'T HAVE ANY
COASTAL. AND IT GETS REALLY,
REALLY HOT. AND SO I THINK THIS
IS AN IMPORTANT STEP FORWARD.
AND I'D ALSO LIKE TO BE ADDED AS
A COAUTHOR. OKAY. THANK YOU.
MEMBERS. ANY MORE COMMENTS? ALL
RIGHT. I SEE THAT WE DO HAVE A
MOTION BY DOCTOR RAMBLA. AND DID
WE HAVE A SECOND BY MISS BOERNER
? ALL RIGHT. I'D LIKE WOULD YOU
LIKE TO LIKE TO BE ADDED AS A
COAUTHOR ALSO, PLEASE? THANK
YOU, MISTER BENNETT. GREAT. BILL
MISTER RODRIGUEZ, IF YOU'D LIKE
TO CLOSE. OKAY WITH THAT,
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR. I VOTE.
AND THANK YOU TO THE COLLEAGUES
WHO WANT TO BE ADDED AS
COAUTHORS. THANK YOU. OKAY.
THANK YOU. YEAH OKAY. AB 2684,
THE MOTION IS DUE. PASS TO THE
COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS.
RODRIGUEZ. HI. RODRIGUEZ. AYE.
DAVIES. DAVIES AYE. ARAMBULA.
ARAMBULA. AYE. BENNETT HI.
BENNETT. AYE. BERNER. BERNER.
AYE. CALDERON HI. CALDERON. AYE.
CARILLO WALDRON. WALDRON. AYE.
OKAY. THAT MOTION IS DUE PASSED
TO THE COMMITTEE ON
APPROPRIATIONS, AND WE WILL GO
AHEAD. GO AHEAD AND LEAVE THE
ROLL OPEN, MR. RODRIGUEZ. KEEP
IT GOING. OKAY? I DON'T KNOW, I
WASN'T SURE IF THERE'S ANYBODY.
THANK YOU AGAIN, CHAIR AND
MEMBERS. I'M PLEASED TODAY TO
PRESENT AB 2700 ON BEHALF OF
ASSEMBLY MEMBER GABRIEL AB 2700
WILL HELP ADDRESS OUR STATE'S
CRITICAL BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
CRISIS BY MAKING SURE
INDIVIDUALS IN DISTRESS CAN GET
THE RIGHT CARE AT THE RIGHT
TIME, IN THE RIGHT PLACE.
CURRENTLY, STATE LAW LIMITS
WHERE AMBULANCES CAN TRANSPORT
PEOPLE EXPERIENCING A BEHAVIORAL
HEALTH CRISIS. AS A RESULT,
PEOPLE IN CRISIS ARE FREQUENTLY
TAKEN TO OVERCROWDED EMERGENCY
ROOMS THAT OFTEN LACK THE
APPROPRIATE RESOURCES TO ADDRESS
THEIR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH NEEDS.
OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS,
RESEARCHERS HAVE STUDIED THE
IMPACT OF SEVERAL PILOT PROGRAMS
THAT HAVE ALLOWED AMBULANCES TO
TRANSPORT INDIVIDUALS TO
ALTERNATIVE DESTINATIONS BETTER
SUITED FOR THOSE EXPERIENCING A
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CRISIS. THE
PILOTS HAVE PRODUCED ENCOURAGING
RESULTS, NOTABLY IN INDEPENDENT
EVALUATION OF THOSE PROGRAMS BY
THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA.
SAN FRANCISCO FOUND THAT
TRANSPORT TO ULTRA DESTINATIONS
CONSIDERABLY LOWERED AMBULANCE
PATIENT OFFLOAD TIMES, MEANING
AMBULANCE CREWS COULD RESPOND
MORE QUICKER TO 911 CALLS.
SIMILARLY LAW ENFORCEMENT SPENT
LESS TIME ON BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
TRANSPORTS, ALLOWING THEM TO
FOCUS ON OTHER IMPORTANT PUBLIC
SAFETY RESPONSIBILITIES.
CURRENTLY, TENS OF THOUSANDS OF
INDIVIDUALS BATTLING ADDICTION
AND MENTAL HEALTH ILLNESS ARE
TRAPPED BY RELENTLESS CYCLE
CYCLING THROUGH HOSPITALS, JAILS
AND HOMELESSNESS. OUR HOSPITALS
ARE STRETCHED BEYOND CAPACITY.
THIS BILL WILL ENSURE THAT WE
IDENTIFY THE NEEDS AT THE LOCAL
LEVEL TO MAKE US ALL SAFER.
MEDICAL AND TREATMENT OPTIONS TO
ADDRESS THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
CRISIS IN OUR STATE. BY
ANALYZING THE FACILITIES IN
EVERY COUNTY, WE CAN SERVE AS AN
ALTERNATIVE DESTINATION FOR
THOSE EXPERIENCING A BEHAVIORAL
HEALTH CRISIS. THIS BILL WILL
HELP ENSURE BETTER OUTCOMES IN
EVERY JURISDICTION IN THE STATE.
WITH MOST OF THE RECENT ROUND OF
AMENDMENTS, OPPOSITION HAS BEEN
REMOVED FROM THE CALIFORNIA FROM
THE EMERGENCY ROOM. PHYSICIANS
AND THE CALIFORNIA NURSES
ASSOCIATION. WITH THESE
AMENDMENTS. THE BILL IS NOW
SUPPORTED BY THE PROFESSIONAL
FIREFIGHTERS. CALIFORNIA
PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTERS WITH
ME TODAY AND TESTIFY IN SUPPORT
OF THIS MEASURE ARE TARA GAMBOA,
EASTMAN, DIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENT
AFFAIRS AT THE STEINBRUCK
INSTITUTE, AND SHANNON SMITH
BERNADINE, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR
WITH UCSF SCHOOL OF NURSING.
GOOD AFTERNOON. COMMITTEE
MEMBERS CHAIR GAMBOA EASTMAN
WITH THE STEINBERG INSTITUTE, A
PROUD SPONSOR OF SAB 2700
CALIFORNIA, IS IN THE PROCESS OF
FUNDAMENTALLY TRANSFORMING OUR
RESPONSE TO BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
CRISES, ENSURING PEOPLE GET THE
RIGHT CARE AT THE RIGHT TIME AND
THE LEGISLATURE HAS BEEN LEADING
THE WAY. YOU PASSED AB 988 TO
IMPLEMENT THE NEW NATIONAL
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CRISIS LINE.
YOU HAVE INVESTED BILLIONS OF
DOLLARS INTO BUILDING THESE
ALTERNATE DESTINATIONS THROUGH
THE BEACH PROGRAM, WITH BILLIONS
MORE COMING AS PART OF
PROPOSITION ONE. YOU HAVE PASSED
LEGISLATION ENSURING COMMERCIAL
INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR THESE
CRISIS SERVICES OFFERED AT
ALTERNATE DESTINATIONS, AND
MEDI-CAL IS COVERING MORE OF
THESE SERVICES AS PART OF
CAL-AIM. THE NEXT STEP IN
TRANSFORMING OUR BEHAVIORAL
HEALTH CRISIS RESPONSE IS
INTEGRATING OUR SYSTEMS SO THAT
PEOPLE CAN ACCESS THE SERVICES
WE SPENT YEARS AND BILLIONS OF
DOLLARS DEVELOPING RIGHT NOW.
ACCESS TO BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
CRISIS CARE IS HAMPERED BY THE
FACT THAT AMBULANCES AREN'T
TAKING PEOPLE TO THESE LOCATIONS
, WHEN THAT CARE WOULD BE
APPROPRIATE. IN 2019, CALIFORNIA
ESTABLISHED A TRIAGE TO
ALTERNATE DESTINATION OPT IN
PROGRAM. THIS ALLOWED LOCAL
EMERGENCY SERVICES AGENCIES TO
CHOOSE TO ALLOW FIREFIGHTERS TO
TRANSPORT INDIVIDUALS IN
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CRISES TO
ALTERNATE DESTINATIONS TO THE
EMERGENCY ROOM, SUCH AS CRISIS
STABILIZATION UNITS AND SOBERING
CENTERS. HOWEVER SINCE THAT
TIME, NO ADDITIONAL LOCAL
EMERGENCY SERVICES AGENCIES HAVE
OPTED INTO THE PROGRAM. AB 2700
WILL PROVIDE CRITICAL
INFORMATION ABOUT THE GAPS AND
BARRIERS IN OUR TRIAGE TO
ALTERNATE DESTINATION
INFRASTRUCTURE, SO THAT WE CAN
ENSURE THESE PROGRAMS ARE
ACTUALLY SCALABLE STATEWIDE, AB
2700 REPRESENTS THE NEXT STEP IN
ENSURING PEOPLE IN A BEHAVIORAL
HEALTH CRISIS ALWAYS GET THE
HELP THEY NEED WHEN THEY NEED
IT. RESPECTFULLY REQUEST YOUR
AYE VOTE. THANK YOU. GOOD
AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS SHANNON
SMITH BERNADINE, AND I'M A
REGISTERED NURSE AND A PHD. FOR
17 YEARS I HAVE WORKED IN AND
PUBLISHED RESEARCH ON SOBERING
CENTERS AS AN ALTERNATIVE
EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT AND
ALTERNATIVE TO THE EMERGENCY
DEPARTMENT. I HAVE ALSO OPERATED
THE SAN FRANCISCO SOBERING
CENTER THAT WAS PART OF THE
ORIGINAL STATE PILOTS. HOW DO
TRIAGE TO ALTERNATE DESTINATIONS
WORK? JAMES COMES TO MIND. HE'S
A 50 YEAR OLD GENTLEMAN IN SAN
FRANCISCO. ON A TUESDAY. HE'S
FOUND DOWN AND PASSED OUT ON A
SIDEWALK. 911 IS CALLED. THE
PARAMEDICS FOLLOWED TRIAGE
PROTOCOLS TO DETERMINE THAT
JAMES'S PRIMARY MEDICAL NEED IS
ALCOHOL INTOXICATION, AND THEY
BRING HIM TO THE SOBERING CENTER
. JAMES AND THE PARAMEDICS ARE
MET BY REGISTERED NURSES AND
SUPPORT STAFF, WHO TAKE VITAL
SIGNS AND PERFORM AN INITIAL
ASSESSMENT WHILE GIVING HIM A
SHOWER AND A BED TO SAFELY SOBER
. THEY ALSO TALK WITH HIM ABOUT
HIS OPTIONS IF HE'S READY TO
DECREASE HIS DRINKING, OR ENTER
A DETOX OR REHAB FACILITY. AS
JAMES RESTS, HE MIGHT HAVE SOME
FOOD OR ELECTROLYTES WHILE
SOCIAL WORKERS AND SOBER COACHES
CHECK IN WITH HIM TO SEE IF HE'S
ELIGIBLE FOR SOCIAL BENEFITS OR
IS READY TO APPLY FOR HOUSING.
NURSING STAFF MONITOR HIM
REGULARLY USING PHYSICIAN AND
NURSE APPROVED PROTOCOLS TO
ENSURE THAT HE DOESN'T HAVE A
MORE SERIOUS ISSUE, REQUIRING A
TRANSFER TO THE EMERGENCY
DEPARTMENT. THIS LEVEL OF
COORDINATED CARE AND TRAINED,
SPECIALIZED ATTENTION IS RARELY
AVAILABLE TO A PERSON LIKE
JAMES. WHEN HE'S BROUGHT TO THE
ED, THE VAST MAJORITY OF OUR
PATIENTS AND OTHERS LIKE THEM
NATIONWIDE, SOBER, SAFELY, AND
ARE DISCHARGED WITHOUT INCIDENT,
AND MANY OF THEM ARE CONNECTED
WITH FURTHER CARE TO LONGER TUM
HOUSING CASE MANAGEMENT OR
TREATMENT TRIAGE TO ALTERNATE
DESTINATION PROGRAMS ARE
EFFECTIVE AND BENEFICIAL. YET
DESPITE THIS, SINCE THESE PILOTS
WERE EXPANDED TO A STATEWIDE OPT
IN PROGRAM, NO ADDITIONAL
COUNTIES HAVE BEGUN THESE TRIAGE
SERVICES. IT'S CRITICAL THAT WE
IDENTIFY ANY BARRIERS TO
IMPLEMENTATION SO THAT WE CAN
EXPAND STATEWIDE ACCESS TO HIGH
QUALITY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CRISIS
CARE. AB 2700 WILL PROVIDE THIS
CRITICAL INFORMATION. THANK YOU.
DO WE HAVE ANYONE IN SUPPORT?
THANK YOU, MADAM VICE CHAIR DOUG
SUBERS OF THE CALIFORNIA
PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTERS REALLY
APPRECIATE THE AUTHOR TAKING THE
AMENDMENTS AND WE ARE NOW IN
SUPPORT. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.
ANYONE IN OPPOSITION? THANK YOU.
CHAIR. AND MEMBERS, TIM MADDEN
REPRESENTING THE CALIFORNIA
CHAPTER OF THE AMERICAN COLLEGE
OF EMERGENCY PHYSICIANS. WE
ACTUALLY WERE PREVIOUSLY IN AN
OPPOSED UNLESS AMENDED POSITION
WITH THE AMENDMENTS WE HAVE
REMOVED OUR OPPOSITION AND ARE
NOW NEUTRAL. I JUST WANTED TO
THANK ASSEMBLY MEMBER GABRIEL
FOR ALL HIS TIME, SPECIFICALLY
WITH HIS STAFF AND ALSO THE
SPONSORS, FOR REALLY LISTENING
TO US AND WORKING TOGETHER AND
COMING UP WITH A RESOLUTION THAT
WORKS FOR ALL. THANK YOU
MEMBERS. QUESTIONS, COMMENTS?
I'D LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT. I
WAS REALLY HAPPY TO SEE THIS
BILL COME UP. SPEAKING TO OUR
FIRE CAPTAINS IN CAMP PENDLETON
AND NEARBY. THIS IS ONE OF THE
BIGGEST CONCERNS IS THAT THEY'RE
HAVING TO GO TO THE E.R. TO TAKE
A LOT OF THESE CASES WHEN THEY
COULD GO SOMEWHERE ELSE, AND IT
OPENS UP MORE TIME FOR THEM TO
GET TO WHERE THEY HAVE TO BE,
ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY HAVE
DISTANCE GOING INTO THROUGH THE
RURAL AREA. SO IT'S GREAT TO
SEE, AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO
SEEING IT IMPLEMENTED. OKAY. ALL
RIGHT. I KNOW THAT WE HAVE A
MOTION FROM DOCTOR ARAMBULA AND
WE HAVE A SECOND BY MISS BURNER.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO CLOSE? I
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR AYE VOTE.
THANK YOU. AB 2700. GABRIEL.
MOTION IS Dð PASS TO THE
APPROPRIATION TO THE COMMITTEE
ON APPROPRIATIONS. RODRIGUEZ. A
RODRIGUEZ. AYE. DAVIS. DAVIS.
AYE. ARAMBULA ARAMBULA. AYE.
BENNETT. BENNETT. AYE. BURNER
AYE. BURNER. AYE. CALDERON.
CALDERON AYE. CARILLO. WALDRON.
WALDRON AYE. HEY. THIS MOTION
WILL GO Dð PASS TO THE COMMITTEE
ON APPROPRIATIONS, AND WE'LL
LEAVE IT OPEN FOR ANY CALL. ON
THIS ONE. OKAY. GOTCHA YOU'RE
GETTING PRETTY GOOD AT THIS. WHY
DON'T WE GIVE YOU ONE, ONE MORE,
ONE MORE. THREE, AND YOU'RE OUT.
OKAY OKAY. OKAY OKAY. THANK YOU.
COMMITTEE MEMBERS. I'M PLEASED
TO REPRESENT TO PRESENT OUR
COMMITTEE, BILL AB 2007 27,
WHICH ESTABLISHES THE MARITIME
FIREFIGHTING MUTUAL AID PROGRAM
AT CAL OES. THIS BILL, UPON
APPROPRIATION, WILL REQUIRE CAL
OES TO CONDUCT AN ALL RISK
MARITIME RESPONSE CAPABILITIES
ASSESSMENT TO IDENTIFY LOCAL AND
REGIONAL GAPS AND MARITIME
FIREFIGHTING CAPABILITIES IN
RESPONDING TO MAJOR VESSEL
FIRES, FIRES FOLLOWING
EARTHQUAKES, AND OTHER
EMERGENCIES AS SPECIFIED. THE
BILL ALSO AUTHORIZES COUNTIES TO
ACQUIRE AND PROVIDE FIRE BOATS
TO LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENTS TO
MITIGATE PREPAREDNESS GAPS
IDENTIFIED IN THE ALL RISK
ASSESSMENT. THIS BILL WOULD
AUGMENT CAL OES FIRE ENGINE
REPLACEMENT PROGRAM AND PROVIDE
ADDITIONAL FIREFIGHTING AND
SEARCH AND RESCUE CAPABILITIES
TO FIRE DEPARTMENTS AND OUR
COASTAL COMMUNITIES AND INLAND
WATERWAYS. WITH ME TODAY TO
PRESENT TO SUPPORT IS BATTALION
CHIEF CHAD WILLENBERG FROM THE
SAN DIEGO CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT.
GOOD AFTERNOON. CHAIRMAN
RODRIGUEZ, ESTEEMED MEMBERS OF
THIS COMMITTEE, MY NAME IS CHAD
WILLENBERG. I'M A BATTALION
CHIEF WITH SAN DIEGO FIRE RESCUE
DEPARTMENT, THE CITY OF SAN
DIEGO STRONGLY SUPPORTS ASSEMBLY
BILL 2727, WHICH SEEKS TO
ESTABLISH THE MARITIME
FIREFIGHTING MUTUAL AID PROGRAM
UNDER THE CALIFORNIA OFFICE OF
EMERGENCY SERVICES. THIS
LEGISLATION IS ESSENTIAL GIVEN
THE UNIQUE CHALLENGES WE FACE,
INCLUDING OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO
PROTECT NOT ONLY OUR RESIDENTS,
BUT THE NEARLY 32 MILLION
VISITORS AND OVER 60 STRATEGIC
NAVAL ASSETS THAT ARE IN OUR
CITY. THIS ENHANCEMENT IS VITAL
AS OUR CITY HAS EXPERIENCED SOME
OF THE SIGNIFICANT MARITIME
FIREFIGHTER FIRES, SUCH AS THE
USS BONHOMME RICHARD, ONE OF THE
LARGEST US MILITARY LOSSES ON US
SOIL. WE'VE HAD COMMERCIAL
FISHING VESSEL FIRES, LARGE
PRIVATE YACHT FIRES, AND NOW THE
SHIPMENT OF LITHIUM ION
BATTERIES AND EV VEHICLES COMING
INTO OUR CITY. THESE INCIDENTS
ILLUSTRATE THE NEED FOR
SPECIALIZED MARITIME RESPONSE
CAPABILITIES THAT AN OES
FIREBOAT WOULD DIRECTLY ADDRESS
THROUGHOUT PORTS IN CALIFORNIA.
SAN DIEGO BAY IS A CRITICAL
ASSET IN OUR REGION, AND THE
INTRODUCTION OF AN OES FIREBOAT
WOULD SIGNIFICANTLY ENHANCE OUR
CAPABILITIES. SUCH A VESSEL WILL
NOT ONLY BOLSTER OUR
FIREFIGHTING AND RESCUE
OPERATIONS, BUT FOR THE FIRST
TIME, PROVIDE PARAMEDIC SERVICES
DIRECTLY ON THE WATERWAY.
FURTHERMORE, IT WOULD SERVE AS
AN ESSENTIAL PLATFORM FOR
COORDINATING MUTUAL AID SAFETY
ACTIVITIES, RESPONDING PROMPTLY
TO ANY MUTUAL AID REQUESTS ALONG
THE CALIFORNIA COASTLINE,
REINFORCING OUR COMMITMENT TO
THE STATEWIDE SAFETY AND
PREPAREDNESS. AB 2727 PROPOSES
THAT CALIFORNIA OFFICE OF
EMERGENCY SERVICES CONDUCT A
COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT OF
MARITIME RESPONSE CAPABILITIES
TO IDENTIFY AND ADDRESS CRITICAL
GAPS, BOTH LOCAL AND REGIONAL
LEVELS. THIS IS A NECESSARY STEP
FORWARD IN ENSURING THAT ALL
COMMUNITIES, PARTICULARLY THOSE
NEAR PORTS OR COASTAL WATERWAYS,
AS PROTECTED, ARE PROTECTED
ADEQUATELY. IN CONCLUSION, I
URGE YOUR SUPPORT FOR AB 2727.
BY BACKING THIS MEASURE, WE CAN
SIGNIFICANTLY ENHANCE OUR
MARITIME RESPONSE FRAMEWORK,
ENSURING COMPREHENSIVE SAFETY
AND PREPAREDNESS FOR EVERY
CALIFORNIAN, WHETHER THEY ARE
RESIDENTS, VISITORS OR TRAVELING
TRAVELING THROUGH OUR WATERWAYS,
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERING
OUR PERSPECTIVE AND FOR YOUR
ONGOING COMMITMENT TO THE
SECURITY OF CALIFORNIANS. ALL
RIGHT. DO WE HAVE SUPPORT IN THE
ROOM? THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
MEMBERS. DOUG SIEVERS, ON BEHALF
OF THE CALIFORNIA PROFESSIONAL
FIREFIGHTERS AND SUPPORT. GOOD
AFTERNOON. ELIZABETH ESPINOSA
HERE TODAY ON BEHALF OF THE
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND THE
COUNTY OF VENTURA IN SUPPORT.
THANK YOU. DO WE HAVE ANY
OPPOSITION? ALL RIGHT. GOING TO
BRING IT BACK TO THE MEMBERS.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? I'D
LIKE TO BE LISTED AS A COAUTHOR
OF THE BILL. APPRECIATE IT. I
WOULD LIKE TO BE COAUTHOR AS
WELL. LISTED ALL RIGHT. LOOKS
LIKE WE HAVE. IF WE'RE ALL
ADDING ON COAUTHORS, I'LL BE A
COAUTHOR, TOO. WE CAN HAVE
ANOTHER COAUTHOR FAST. GOOD
BILLS. ALL RIGHT. LOOKS LIKE WE
HAVE A MOTION WITH, MISS BURNER.
IS THAT CORRECT? AND THEN MISS
CALDERON IS YOUR SECOND. GREAT.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO CLOSE? YES. I
WANT TO THANK, COMMITTEE
MEMBERS, FOR LISTENING TO, THE
HOW IMPORTANT THIS BILL IS. I
THINK UNLESS YOU REALLY REALIZE
WHAT THESE, FIREFIGHTERS GO
THROUGH IN THESE PORTS, AS I
TOUR PERSONALLY TOURED SAN DIEGO
AND SAN FRANCISCO, THE
UNIQUENESS AND CHALLENGES THEY
FACE IN THE MORE THE REASON WHY
THEY NEED THESE FIRE BOATS OUT
THERE AND THE PERSONNEL TO
MAINTAIN THEM, ESPECIALLY AS, IT
WAS MENTIONED, THE INCREASE OF
THESE BATTERIES COMING INTO OUR
PORTS. THE MORE WE NEED TO
PROTECT THESE PORTS AND PROTECT
THE PEOPLE. SO ONCE AGAIN, I
APPRECIATE YOUR YOUR SUPPORT AND
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR AYE VOTE.
THANK YOU. THANK CAN THIS MOTION
BE Dð PASS TO THE COMMITTEE ON
APPROPRIATIONS? OKAY. AB 2727
COMMITTEE ON EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT. THE MOTION IS DUE
PASSED TO THE COMMITTEE ON
APPROPRIATIONS. RODRIGUEZ. A
RODRIGUEZ. AYE. DAVIES A DAVIES.
AYE. ARAMBULA. ARAMBULA AYE.
BENNETT. BENNETT. AYE. BERNER
AYE. BERNER. AYE. CALDERON.
CALDERON AYE. CARILLO. WALDRON.
WALDRON AYE. OKAY. THAT PASSES
AND WE'LL LEAVE THE ROLL CALL
OPEN. THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
APPRECIATE. I MOVE THE CONSENT.
I'LL SECOND IT. A MOTION AND A
SECOND. WE GOT TO REDO IT. OH,
REALLY? THANK YOU. DID YOU CATCH
THAT? HE JUST SAID YEAH. YEAH.
WE'VE GOT A WE HAVE A MOTION ON
CONSENT WITH DOCTOR ARAMBULA AND
A SECOND WITH DAVIES. OKAY.
THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND
FOR THE CONSENT CALENDAR
SECTION. WE LIKE TO CALL THE
ROLL FOR THE CONSENT. OKAY YES.
ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR,
ARAMBULA ARAMBULA. AYE. OH. DO
ALL OF THEM. OH, ALL OF THEM.
OKAY OKAY. ON THE CONSENT
CALENDAR AB 2232 DO PASS THE
MOTION IS Dð PASS. 2660. THE
MOTION IS DUE. PASS TO THE
COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS AB
3150. THE MOTION IS DUE PASS TO
THE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS.
SO ARAMBULA Ã AND BENNETT
BENNETT I ALL OF THEM. I'M
SORRY. RODRIGUEZ I RODRIGUEZ I
DAVIES I DAVIES I ARAMBULA
ARAMBULA. BENNETT. BENNETT I
BERNER I BERNER I CALDERON
CALDERON I CARILLO WALDRON.
WALDRON I OKAY. ALL RIGHT.
CONSENT CALENDARS OUT, NOW WE
JUST HAVE ONE MORE BILL FOR ITEM
NUMBER FIVE, AB 3065, CAN WE
JUST REACH OUT TO SOME OF
GARCIA'S OFFICE? OKAY. THANK YOU
. YEAH WHICH ONE'S WRONG? I KNOW
27. OKAY THAT'S THE ONLY ONE.
YEAH OKAY. SECRETARY, WE'RE
GOING TO LIFT THE CALL ON AB
3027. ASSEMBLY MEMBER BAINES,
OPEN THE ROLL CALL AND CALL THE
MISSING MEMBERS. OKAY. THAT WAS
AB 3027. THE MOTION WAS TO PASS
TO THE COMMITTEE ON
APPROPRIATION. JONES. BENNETT.
BENNETT. I. THAT MOTION IS OUT.
WE'LL GO AHEAD AND CONTINUE TO
LEAVE THE ROLL OPEN FOR THE
MISSING MEMBERS. AND AS WE'LL
WAIT FOR A FEW MORE MINUTES FOR
ASSEMBLY MEMBER GARCIA. 8684
RYAN BYRON. RYAN. YEAH, WE HAVE
THAT ONE. DID YOU MISS THAT ONE?
YES. AND WITH THAT SECRETARY,
WE'RE GOING TO LIFT THE CALL ON
FORM NUMBER ONE. AB 2684. BRIAN,
CALL THE MISSING MEMBERS. YES.
AB 2684 BRIAN BENNETT. BENNETT I
. OKAY. THAT MOTION IS OUT. WILL
CONTINUE. LEAVE THE ROLL OPEN
FOR MISSING MEMBERS. THANK YOU.
MISSING.
C . YES, SIR. SO NOW WE'LL GO.
CONTINUE TO FILE ITEM NUMBER
FIVE, AB 3065. GARCIA, WHEN
YOU'RE READY, SIR. THANK YOU,
MR. CHAIR AND COLLEAGUES, AB
3065 SEEKS TO PERMIT THE SALE OF
STATE FIRE MARSHAL APPROVED
FIREWORKS FROM 9 A.M. ON
DECEMBER 26TH TO MIDNIGHT ON
JANUARY 1ST, CONTINGENT UPON A
LOCAL JURISDICTION CHOOSING TO
PARTICIPATE. IN OTHER WORDS,
IT'S AN OPT IN APPROACH.
COMMUNITIES FACE DANGEROUS,
ILLEGAL FIREWORKS AND GUN FIRE
DURING NEW YEAR'S. EVERY SINGLE
YEAR. WE'VE SEEN THAT ESCALATE
THROUGHOUT MANY COMMUNITIES, IN
THE STATE, INCLUDING OURS, THAT,
IS ADJACENT TO THE NEVADA AND
ARIZONA BORDER, WHICH IS VERY
CONVENIENT FOR FOLKS TO GO THERE
AND BRING IN THESE ILLEGAL
FIREWORKS, THERE'S A NEED FOR,
OF COURSE, A DIGITAL ADDITIONAL
FUNDING FOR THE ENFORCEMENT OF
THE ILLEGAL FIREWORKS AND FOR
THE LOCAL JURISDICTIONS WHO OPT
IN TO OVERSEE THESE PROJECTS.
AND, THIS COMMITTEE AND MANY OF
YOU, I THINK, GOT TO VOTE ON A
BILL LAST YEAR. AB I CAN'T
REMEMBER THE NUMBER. NOW, IF I'M
GOING TO REFERENCE IT, I SHOULD
REMEMBER THE NUMBER, BUT IT
CREATES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR
ENFORCEMENT AND FUNDS FOR THE
LOCAL COMMUNITIES TO DO SO, THE
SALE OF SAFE AND SANE FIREWORKS
WOULD ONLY BE LEGALLY
PERMISSIBLE IF A COMMUNITY
ADOPTS A SEPARATE ORDINANCE AND
OR RESOLUTION PERMITTING THE
SALE AND USE FOR THE HOLIDAY
PERIOD BETWEEN CHRISTMAS AND NEW
YEAR'S EVE, RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR
YOUR VOTE. I APPRECIATE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT THIS
BILL. I RECOGNIZE THAT THERE IS
A NON RECO, FROM THE CHAIR AND,
SO THANK YOU AT LEAST FOR GIVING
US THIS, VENUE TO HAVE THIS
DISCUSSION WITH US IS CHRIS
JOHNSON EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF
BREAD OF LIFE IN STOCKTON. AND
WE HAVE, YEAH, THAT'S WHAT WE'LL
BE TALKING TO YOU TODAY. OKAY.
WHEN YOU'RE READY, SIR. OKAY.
WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH,
ESTEEMED MEMBERS OF THE ASSEMBLY
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE.
MY NAME IS CHRIS JOHNSON. I'M
THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF BREAD
OF LIFE AND BREAD OF LIFE. JUST
A BRIEF HISTORY HAS BEEN AROUND
SINCE 2008. IT WAS BEGUN BY A
SINGLE MOTHER OF TWO WHO, AT ONE
POINT IN HER HER LIFE, STRUGGLED
TO FEED HER CHILDREN, EVEN
DESPITE WORKING TWO JOBS DURING
THE DOWNTURN, SHE DECIDED SHE
WANTED TO DO SOMETHING FOR THE
COMMUNITY. SO SHE, THROUGH
HUMBLE BEGINNINGS WITH AN OLD
PICKUP TRUCK AND COLLECTING
GROCERIES AND DISTRIBUTING
GROCERIES TO FAMILIES THAT
REALLY NEEDED THEM, BREAD OF
LIFE HAS CONTINUED TO GROW FOR
THE PAST 16 YEARS. LAST YEAR,
BREAD OF LIFE GAVE AWAY $5
MILLION WORTH OF GROCERIES IN
SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY, WE GAVE
THESE NOT TO THE HOMELESS
POPULATION, ALTHOUGH WE NEVER
WOULD TURN THEM AWAY. BUT OUR
FOCUS IS THOSE PEOPLE THAT WORK
BUT CAN'T MAKE ENDS MEET, SINGLE
FAMILIES, SINGLE PARENT
FAMILIES, CHILDREN, SINGLE MOMS,
SENIOR CITIZENS, IMMIGRANTS,
VETERANS, AND ANYONE THAT'S
STRUGGLING TO MAKE ENDS MEET.
IT'S NOT A BREAKING NEWS TO
ANYBODY HERE THAT, WE'RE FACING
UNPRECEDENTED TIMES AND
CHALLENGES, DISCRETE, DECREASED
DONATIONS, SEVERE CUTS IN
GOVERNMENT FUNDING, SOARING
DEMAND FOR THE CRITICAL SOCIAL
SERVICES LIKE BREAD OF LIFE
PRODUCES, ALONG WITH EDUCATION,
YOUTH PROGRAMS, THAT WE PROVIDE
AND SO MANY OTHER NONPROFITS
PROVIDE OVER 2700 NONPROFITS,
ACROSS 296 CALIFORNIA
COMMUNITIES RELY HEAVILY ON
SELLING THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL
APPROVED FIREWORKS DURING THE
4TH OF JULY SEASON. WE RAISED
THAT MONEY FOR CRUCIAL FUNDS TO
ENABLE OUR PROGRAMS TO CONTINUE
IN THESE CHALLENGING TIMES.
NONPROFITS ACROSS THE STATE ARE
STRUGGLING TO KEEP THEIR DOORS
OPEN AND TO SERVE THEIR
COMMUNITIES EFFECTIVELY. THE
REVENUE GENERATED FROM FIREWORKS
SALES DURING 4TH OF JULY PERIOD
IS A SIGNIFICANT PORTION TO MANY
OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS ANNUAL
BUDGETS, ALLOWING US TO CONTINUE
PROVIDING ESSENTIAL SERVICES AND
SUPPORT IN OUR COMMUNITIES BY
PASSING AB 3065. YOU'RE NOT JUST
GRANTING PERMISSION THÀNH, BUT
YOU ARE GIVING HOPE AND YOU'RE
BESTOWING THE POWER OF CHOICE
UPON THE CITIES FROM OUR RURAL
HOME IN LODI. I CAN SEE THE
STOCKTON, SKYLINE AND EVERY NEW
YEAR'S EVE, MY KIDS AND I, WE
CLIMB UP ON THE ROOF AND WE
WATCH THE ALL THE FIREWORKS, THE
ILLEGAL FIREWORKS. IT'S A PRETTY
SPECTACULAR DISPLAY, BUT BUT
WHAT IT TELLS ME IS THAT PEOPLE
ARE SPENDING MONEY ON FIREWORKS.
THEY ARE, THEY'RE UNREGULATED
AND POTENTIALLY UNSAFE. AB 3065
WILL GIVE GOOD PEOPLE GREAT
CHOICES TO BUY LEGAL FIREWORKS
AND SUPPORT NONPROFITS LIKE
BREAD OF LIFE AND SO MANY
OTHERS, WE WILL THEN REINVEST
THOSE DOLLARS TO UPLIFT THOSE
WHO NEED IT THE MOST AMONG US
TODAY, I APPEAR ON BEHALF OF
OVER 1100 CALIFORNIA NONPROFITS
WHO ARE NOT JUST SEEKING A NEW
TRADITION, BUT A LIFELINE. WE
URGE YOU TO CONSIDER THE
PROFOUND IMPACT OF THIS DECISION
COULD HAVE ON THE SURVIVAL OF
ORGANIZATIONS AND THE
COMMUNITIES THAT WE SERVE.
PLEASE PASS AB 3065. WITH YOUR
SUPPORT, WE CAN ENSURE THAT
THESE NONPROFITS HAVE THE
RESOURCES THAT THEY NEED TO
THRIVE AND CONTINUE MAKING A
DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF ALL
CALIFORNIANS, AND I JUST WANT TO
SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR
ATTENTION TO THIS VITAL ISSUE.
OKAY. THANK YOU, YOUR NEXT
WITNESS SUPPORT. YES. MY NAME IS
DENNIS REVELLE, WITH REVELLE
COMMUNICATIONS, REPRESENTING 20
FIREWORKS. AND I'D BE HAPPY TO
RESPOND TO ANY TECHNICAL
QUESTIONS THE COMMITTEE MAY HAVE
. OKAY WITH THAT? ANYONE ELSE IN
THE ROOM FOR SUPPORT? MR.
CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS OF THE
COMMITTEE, JASON GONSALVES, ALSO
REPRESENTING TNT FIREWORKS. WE
WANT TO THANK THE AUTHOR FOR HIS
LEADERSHIP. THIS LEGISLATION
COMES ON THE HEELS, AS THE
AUTHOR SAID, OF TWO CONSENT
BILLS GOING AFTER ENFORCEMENT OF
ILLEGAL FIREWORKS. AND THIS
EFFORT IS AN ENTIRELY
UNPRECEDENT ACTED AS WE DID HAVE
SAFE AND SANE NEW YEAR'S EVE
FIREWORKS OFFERED DURING THE
MILLENNIUM. AND AGAIN, WE WANT
TO THANK THE AUTHOR AND THE
COMMITTEE, AND WE RESPECTFULLY
REQUEST YOUR SUPPORT. THANK YOU,
MR. CHAIR AND MEMBERS. SEVEN
QUARTER, ON BEHALF OF PHANTOM
FIREWORKS IN SUPPORT ANYONE ELSE
IN SUPPORT ANYONE IN THE ROOM IN
OPPOSITION. SEEING NONE. WE'LL
BRING IT TO COMMITTEE MEMBERS.
ANY QUESTIONS? COMMENTS.
ASSEMBLYMEMBER BONNER, YES. I
JUST WANT TO CONFIRM CITIES THAT
ALREADY HAVE A BAN ON FIREWORKS,
THIS BILL WOULD NOT APPLY TO
THEM. IS THAT CORRECT? THAT'S
CORRECT. OKAY. AND WHEN WE LOOK
AT THE THOSE WHO ARE USING THE
FIREWORKS, THERE ARE OFTEN EVERY
YEAR I KNOW MY COMMUNITY ILLEGAL
FIREWORKS BECAUSE WE'VE BANNED
FIREWORKS IN MY COMMUNITY. AND
THERE ARE ALWAYS INJURIES
ASSOCIATED WITH THEM, ARE THERE
CERTAIN TYPES OF FIREWORKS THAT
ARE ALLOWED THAT WILL NOT SEE
THOSE INJURIES? AND WHAT DO WE
DO ABOUT THE URBAN WILDLIFE
INTERFACE? THERE WAS A 13 YEAR
STUDY DONE BY LOS ANGELES COUNTY
FIRE DEPARTMENT, IT PROBABLY OF
ANY DEPARTMENT ACROSS THE STATE
HAS THE BEST FIRE AND INJURY
DATA COLLECTION OF ANY FIRE OR
LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY FOR THE
LAST 13 YEARS IN THE THERE ARE
60 CONTRACT JURISDICTIONS PLUS
THE UNINCORPORATED AREA OF LOS
ANGELES COUNTY. 31 OF THOSE
CONTRACT JURISDICTIONS PERMIT
4TH OF JULY STATE APPROVED
FIREWORKS USE AND SALE IN THOSE
31 JURISDICTIONS. THERE WERE NO
SAFE AND SANE INJURIES OR FIRE
LOSSES. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?
COMMITTEE MEMBERS SENATE-ROOM
CALDERON. QUESTION THANK YOU,
ASSEMBLYMAN, I THINK WERE YOU
REFERRING TO AB 403? YES. FROM
LAST YEAR? YES. THAT'S AB 1403
THAT, DOES SOME ANALYZING OF
EXACTLY THE QUESTION THAT WAS
JUST ASKED, REALLY KIND OF LIKE
AN UPDATE BY THE STATE FIRE
MARSHALS AND ALLOWS FOR A 7% UP
TO A 7% ASSESSMENT ON THE SALES
TO BE ABLE TO USE THAT MONEY FOR
LOCAL ENFORCEMENT AND OTHER
ASSOCIATED COSTS TO FACILITATE
THE SALE OF THESE SAFE AND SANE
FIREWORKS IN THOSE COMMUNITIES
THAT OPT IN TO SELL. SO I HAVE A
LOT OF ORGANIZATIONS FROM MY
DISTRICT THAT ARE SUPPORTING
THIS BILL. AND UNDER YOUR BILL
FROM LAST YEAR, IT WAS IT'S
COLLECTING DATA. THERE'S A
REPORT DUE IN JANUARY OF 2025
THAT IS CORRECT. SO WE DON'T YET
HAVE ALL THE DATA. WE DON'T HAVE
THE DATA. WHAT WE'RE WHAT WE DO
HAVE IS THE STUDY THAT WAS JUST
MADE REFERENCE TO BY DENNIS,
FROM L.A. COUNTY, THIS WOULD
GIVE US UP TO DATE DATA, WE'VE
SEEN IN ESCALATING, AMOUNT OF
COMMUNITIES ARE, CONCERNED WITH
THE ILLEGAL FIREWORKS, AND WE'RE
TALKING ABOUT THE ONES THAT
LITERALLY ARE COMPETING WITH 4TH
OF JULY EVENTS IN OUR
COMMUNITIES. I MEAN, WE'VE SEEN
THESE FIREWORKS BEING LAUNCHED
FROM SPECIFIC NEIGHBORHOODS IN
OUR DISTRICT THAT ARE OF GREAT
CONCERN. YOU KNOW, SOMEONE, YOU
KNOW, BLOWING THIS UP FROM
THEIR, YOU KNOW, GARAGE,
BACKYARD AREA, AND THESE
RESOURCES WOULD ALLOW FOR
ADDITIONAL ENFORCEMENT OF THAT,
THIS UP TO 7% ASSESSMENT ON THE
SAFE AND SANE FIREWORKS. SO, CAL
FIRE JUST TOLD MY STAFF THAT 40%
OF MY DISTRICT IS IN THE WUI, SO
I'D MUCH RATHER SEE THE SAFE AND
SANE FIREWORKS, THAN THE ILLEGAL
ONES, WHICH ARE MORE WORRISOME.
OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR
THE QUESTIONS. ANY OTHER
QUESTIONS? YES. THANK YOU, VICE
CHAIR, THANK YOU. JUST LOOKING
AT I KNOW THAT YOU HAVE IT, THAT
THEY WOULD BE, AVAILABLE FOR
SALE STARTING ON DECEMBER 26TH.
STARTING AT 9 A.M. TO JANUARY
1ST MIDNIGHT. IT'S FAIRLY SMALL,
BUT I GUESS MY CONCERN IS IF YOU
CAN SELL THEM UP TO MIDNIGHT,
THEY COULD BE SHOOTING THEM OFF
INTO, YOU KNOW, PAST THAT 12:00
EVEN, YOU KNOW, NINE, TEN, 11
GOING INTO THAT. SO I DON'T KNOW
IF YOU GUYS WERE LOOKING AT JUST
THAT TIMING RIGHT THERE ON THAT
DATE. SO I THINK, I THINK WE
COULD BE FLEXIBLE WITH THOSE
TIME FRAMES. I WOULD IMAGINE
THAT THE LOCAL COMMUNITY OPTING
IN WILL ALSO WANT TO HAVE THEIR
OWN, YOU KNOW, IMPOSITION ON THE
HOURS. BUT I THINK IT'S
IMPORTANT TO TALK ABOUT WHAT
EXACTLY ARE THESE SAFE AND SANE
FIREWORKS AND WHAT WOULD THEY BE
SHOOTING OFF. RIGHT. AND YOU
KNOW, FROM MY EXPERIENCE AND
WHAT IS SOLD IN OUR COMMUNITY IN
THE CITY OF COACHELLA, INDIO,
THESE ARE SPARKLING TYPE OF, YOU
KNOW, FIREWORKS. THESE ARE
COLORFUL, ALL, SMOKE, I DON'T
KNOW WHAT YOU OFFICIALLY CALL
THEM. FOUNTAINS AND SO, I WANT
TO MAKE SURE THAT AT LEAST FROM
AN OPTICAL STANDPOINT, AND, AND
THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT EXACTLY
WHAT THE SAFE AND SANE FIREWORKS
ARE VERSUS THOSE NICE BIG
FIREWORKS THAT GET SHOT UP
DURING THE 4TH OF JULY EVENT BY
A CITY, BY A COUNTY THAT IS
OVERSEEN BY THE ENTIRE FIRE
DEPARTMENT. BUT I'LL LET, YOU
KNOW, DENNIS, ELABORATE ON THAT
BIT. AS WITH THE ORDINANCES IN
THE 296 COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE
4TH OF JULY FIREWORKS SALE AND
USE LOCAL JURISDICTIONS CAN
ENACT ANY LIMITATIONS ON THAT
TIME OF DAY. LOCATIONS OF USE,
NUMBER OF DAYS OF SALE. SO THAT
IS ALL UP TO THE LOCAL
JURISDICTION TO MAKE THOSE
CHOICES. THANK YOU. ANY
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS CONCERNS
WITH THAT? I JUST HAD A COUPLE
WORDS OF, JUST WANT TO TALK
ABOUT OBVIOUSLY, AS A CAREER
FIRST RESPONDER MYSELF, I'M
ALWAYS MINDFUL AND LEGISLATION
COMING FORWARD THAT AFFECTS OUR
FIRST RESPONDERS. OBVIOUSLY, I
THINK YOU ALL KNOW I'VE SPENT
OVER 30 YEARS IN THE AMBULANCE
INDUSTRY AND ONE OF THE BUSIEST
TIMES WAS 4TH OF JULY,
UNFORTUNATELY, YEAH. GRANTED
THAT THERE ARE THE AREAS THAT
SELL THE SAFE AND SANE, BUT THEN
THERE'S ALSO THE, THE, THE BAD
PART WITH THE ILLEGALS THAT COME
ABOUT BECAUSE IF THEY'RE GOING
TO BILLS AS WELL, AND HOW THAT
DAY WAS VERY BUSY OR THE TIME
LEADING UP TO 4TH OF JULY, AND
I'M MINDFUL WITH WHAT THE MEMBER
LOOKING AT AS OPT IN OPTION FOR
CITIES TO WANT TO SELL FIREWORKS
DURING THE NEW YEARS, BUT THEN
ALSO LOOK AT NEW YEAR'S THAT
ALSO A VERY BUSY DAY WHERE WE'RE
DEALING WITH A LOT OF FOLKS AND
CAR ACCIDENTS, A LOT OF STUFF
WITH ALCOHOL RELATED INJURIES
AND ILLNESSES. NOW FIREWORKS
COULD BE ALSO ANOTHER ISSUE THAT
WOULD STRAIN OUR EMS SYSTEM,
DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU WORK. SO
AT THAT I DO HAVE A I DON'T HAVE
A RECORD ON THIS BECAUSE I'M
TORN ABOUT IT, BECAUSE I CAN SEE
ALREADY, ONCE AGAIN, WE'RE
REALLY BUSY DURING THE 4TH OF
JULY. GRANTED, BRINGING NOW NEW
YEAR'S EVE THAT CAN CAUSE OTHER
ISSUES SPECIFICALLY TOWARDS OUR
EMS SYSTEMS AND OUR FIRST
RESPONDERS. SO WITH THAT, ONCE
AGAIN, I SAID I DIDN'T PROVIDE A
RECORD. SO WITH THAT, THERE'S NO
MORE QUESTIONS. SECRETARY, I'D
LIKE TO CALL THE OH, I'M SORRY
MEMBER, WOULD YOU LIKE TO GO?
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. AND THANK
YOU TO THE MEMBERS, FOR YOUR
QUESTIONS. I WANT TO BRING
ATTENTION TO TWO THINGS RIGHT
NOW IN OUR DISTRICT, THE CITIES
HAVE TO PUT OUT SAU, TO ONE,
WARN PEOPLE THAT THOSE ILLEGAL
FIREWORKS HAVE SERIOUS
CONSEQUENCES. NOT JUST IF YOU'RE
CAUGHT, YOU KNOW, SHOOTING THOSE
OFF, BUT ALSO THE QUESTION OF
DAMAGE TO, YOU KNOW, PERSON'S
HEALTH AND SAFETY AND DAMAGE TO
POTENTIAL PROPERTY. RIGHT. AND
SO THERE'S SAU BEING SENT OUT.
THE CITIES ARE SPENDING MONEY
LETTING PEOPLE KNOW THEY'RE
ILLEGAL. DON'T DO IT. IF WE
CATCH YOU, YOU'RE GOING TO GET
IN TROUBLE, RIGHT? AND THEN, ON
THE NEW YEAR'S, WE FIND OUR
CITIES. AND MAYBE IT'S DIFFERENT
IN YOUR CITIES AND OTHER PLACES
DOING SAU, REMINDING PEOPLE THAT
IT IS NOT SMART AND SAFE AND
LEGAL, THAT AT MIDNIGHT YOU PULL
OUT A GUN AND YOU START SHOOTING
UP IN THE AIR BECAUSE IT'S NEW
YEAR'S DAY AND WE'RE HAVING TO
SPEND MONEY AND DOING SAU
REMINDING PEOPLE THAT THAT IS
NOT A GOOD THING TO DO, PUTTING
A LOT OF PEOPLE IN HARM'S WAY.
WE'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH
LOCAL FOLKS THAT THIS SIMPLE
OPPORTUNITY COULD BE AN
ALTERNATIVE TO ALL OF THAT. AND
PERHAPS PEOPLE BE CONSCIOUS THAT
THESE FIREWORKS ARE FAMILIES AND
CHILDREN CELEBRATING THESE
PARTICULAR, OCCASIONS THAT,
PULLING OUT A GUN AND SHOOTING
UP IN THE AIR AT MIDNIGHT
BECAUSE IT'S NEW YEAR'S IS NOT
THE SMART THING TO DO. AND THEN,
OF COURSE, THE ISSUE OF THE
ILLEGAL FIREWORKS, TRYING TO
CURTAIL THAT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE
FOR PURPOSES OF AVOIDING ANY
DAMAGE AND OF COURSE, ANY LOSS
OF LIFE, FOR THOSE REASONS,
WE'RE BEFORE YOU. I CAN'T
EMPHASIZE ENOUGH HOW IMPORTANT
IT IS TO THE NONPROFIT WORLD IN
CALIFORNIA. YOU'VE HEARD FROM
THE WITNESS, BUT ALSO, WE JUST
WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE SAFE
AND SANE FIREWORKS CONTINUE TO
BE ABLE TO BE THE FIRST OPTION.
AND THE ONLY OPTION FOR THESE
HOLIDAYS. RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR
YOUR VOTE. THANK YOU. WITH THAT,
DO WE HAVE A MOTION AND A
SECOND? I HAVE A MOTION BY
SENATOR CORRELL, SECONDED BY
CALDERON. SECRETARY, I'D LIKE TO
CALL THE ROLL. AB 3065. GARCIA
THE MOTION IS DUE. PASS TO THE
APPROPRIATION TO THE COMMITTEE
ON APPROPRIATIONS. RODRIGUEZ NOT
VOTING. RODRIGUEZ NOT VOTING.
DAVIS NOT BILL DAVIS. NOT
VOTING. ARAMBULA BENNETT.
BENNETT NOT VOTING. BURNER
BURNER I CALDERON I CALDERON I
CARILLO I CARILLO I WALDRON.
WALDRON. I. THAT MOTION WILL BE
ON HOLD AS WE SHOULD HAVE A
COUPLE MISSING MEMBERS. SO THANK
YOU. WITH THAT SERGEANT, CAN YOU
CALL THE MISSING MEMBERS, SEE IF
THEY COULD COME OVER SO WE CAN
CONTINUE? I'LL LEAVE THE ROLL
OPEN FOR HOPEFULLY ANOTHER FIVE
MINUTES, AND HOPEFULLY WE GET
SOME MORE FOLKS OUT. VOTE CHANGE
ON AB 3065. DAVIS I'M NOT VOTING
TÚI DAVIS FROM NOT VOTING TO I.
MR. OKAY. COMING BACK. WHICH
ONE'S ON? SO ON THE FIRST FIRST
THREE. RIGHT. YES OKAY. WE'RE
GOING TO GO AHEAD AND OPEN THE
ROLL ON, FILE NUMBER ONE AB 2684
SECRETARY, CALL THE MISSING
MEMBERS. YES AB 2684 CARILLO
CARILLO. AYE AB 2700. GABRIEL
CARILLO CARILLO. AYE. AB 2727.
IT'S AN EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.
CARILLO CARILLO I. AB 3027 BAINS
CARILLO CARILLO. I GALLAGHER
I'LL GO AHEAD AND OPEN UP FOR
CONSENT CALENDAR, SECRETARY,
CALL MR. MEMBER. ON THE CONSENT
CALENDAR, WE'RE MISSING MEMBERS.
AB 2232. THE MOTION IS DUE. PASS
AB 2660, MOTION IS DUE. PASS TO
THE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
AND AB 3150. THE MOTION IS DUE.
PASS TO THE COMMITTEE ON
APPROPRIATIONS. CARILLO CARILLO
I. WAS NOT GOING. WE'LL GO AHEAD
AND LEAVE THE ROLL OPEN FOR A
FEW MORE MINUTES. AND IF NOT,
WE'LL GO AHEAD AND CLOSE. BUT
HOLD ON
.
SO, ARE YOU GOING TO PRESENT FOR
US? YEAH. DO YOU WANT ME TO GO
CHECK? NO. AS LONG AS HE'S GOING
TO GO. OH, YOU'RE HERE FOR THAT?
YEAH. NO LET ME TRY. I THINK
WHAT I HAVE. GOOD.
JOB. LET ME HELP YOU. HELP ME.
YEAH. THAT'S WHY I KEEP MOVING.
JESUS YEAH. SO COME BACK. I'VE
GOT IT ALL WORKED OUT. OKAY.
SO WITH THAT, WE'LL GO AHEAD
AND, CLOSE ON THE EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT AS, WE HAVE EVERYBODY
ON ACCOUNTED FOR, SO THANK YOU.
EVERYBODY, THIS MEETING IS
ADJOURNED.
WE HAVE. OKAY. THAT'S OKAY. YEAH
. YEAH. JUST YEAH