THE ASSEMBLY. TRANSPORTATION
COMMITTEE IS CALLED TO ORDER.
GOOD AFTERNOON AND WELCOME,
EVERYONE. THE HEARING IS OPEN
FOR THE ATTENDANCE OF THIS
HEARING, AND IT CAN BE WATCHED
FROM A LIVE STREAM ON THE
ASSEMBLY'S WEBSITE. WE ENCOURAGE
THE PUBLIC TO PROVIDE WRITTEN
TESTIMONY BY VISITING THE
COMMITTEE'S WEBSITE. PLEASE NOTE
THAT ANY RISKS AND TESTIMONY
SUBMITTED TO THE COMMITTEE IS
CONSIDERED PUBLIC. COMMENT AND
MAY BE READ INTO THE RECORD OR
REPRINTED. WE WILL ALSO ALLOW
TWO MINUTES EACH FOR TWO PRIMARY
WITNESSES IN SUPPORT AND
OPPOSITION, AND THESE WITNESSES
MUST TESTIFY IN PERSON IN THIS
HEARING ROOM. ADDITIONAL WITNESS
COMMENTS WILL BE LIMITED TO YOUR
NAME, ORGANIZATION AND POSITION,
WITH THAT, WE WILL BEGIN AN
INFORMATIONAL HEARING, JUST TO
NOTE, AS MEMBERS DO ARRIVE AND
CALLING ALL TRANSPORTATION
COMMITTEE MEMBERS TO THIS ROOM,
ASSEMBLY MEMBER BERMAN AND
LOWENTHAL WILL NOT BE IN
ATTENDANCE TODAY AND WILL BE
REPLACED BY ASSEMBLY MEMBER
MEMBERS ORTEGA AND VALENCIA. THE
FIRST FILE ITEM WE HAVE FOR
DISCUSSION IS AB 3151. THIS ITEM
WILL BE HEARD AS TESTIMONY ONLY,
AND WE WILL NOT BE TAKING A VOTE
ON THIS MEASURE TODAY. Tê THE
AUTHOR AT YOUR CONVENIENCE. AND
AS THEY GATHER, I'LL NOTE ALSO
THAT FILE ITEM 12 AB 2744 BY
MCCARTY HAS BEEN PULLED BY THE
AUTHOR AND ALSO WILL NOT BE
HEARD TODAY.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR AND
COMMITTEE MEMBERS, THANK YOU FOR
ALLOWING ME TO PRESENT ASSEMBLY
BILL 3151 FOR TESTIMONY ONLY,
WHICH WOULD REQUIRE A MARINE
OCEAN MARINE TERMINALS TO
CONDUCT AN INTERMODAL
ROADABILITY INSPECTION PROGRAM
FOR INTERMODAL CHASSIES TO
ENSURE PUBLIC SAFETY. I FIRST
WANT TO START OFF BY THANKING
THE COMMITTEE. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH FOR WORKING WITH US TO GET
US TO THIS SPACE, AND ALLOWING
US TO PRESENT THIS BILL FOR
TESTIMONY OR EARLY AND ALSO TO
THE COUNTLESS TIMES THAT I, MET
WITH THE CHAIR AND HAD
CONVERSATION AROUND THIS POLICY,
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING
WITH THIS COMMITTEE AND
STRENGTHENING THIS, IN THE NEAR
FUTURE AND BRING IT BACK. MANY
OF YOU MAY OR MAY NOT KNOW THAT
I CHAIR THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON
PORTS AND GOODS MOVEMENT IN THE
STATE OF CALIFORNIA. IN THE
ASSEMBLY, I HAVE VISITED NEARLY
EVERY PORT IN THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA OVER A NINE MONTH
PERIOD OF TIME. WE HAVE ONE
FINAL PORT, AND THAT'S THE PORT
OF SAN DIEGO. I, I CAN
CONFIDENTLY SAY THAT A TOP
PRIORITY FOR ALL THE PORTS WE'VE
HAD CONVERSATION WITH IS SAFETY.
SAFETY OF THE WORKERS AND THE
SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES IS
PARAMOUNT, WHAT HAS BEEN
COMMUNICATED WITH ME AND TO ME
AND ALL TO THE SELECT COMMITTEE
ON PORTS AND GOODS MOVEMENT, WHO
ADJOINED ME IN AND AROUND MY
DISTRICT, SPECIFICALLY THE TWO
PORTS IN MY DISTRICT IS THE PORT
OF LOS ANGELES, AND THE PORT OF
LONG BEACH ARE SURROUNDED BY
DENSE URBAN AREAS THAT THESE
CHASSIES, ARE DRIVEN UP AND DOWN
THE STREET ON A DAILY BASIS.
THESE AREAS INCLUDES BUSINESSES
AND SCHOOLS THAT FACE POTENTIAL
RISK TO COMMUNITIES, FACING
CHARGES ARE NOT CONSISTENTLY OR
FREQUENTLY INSPECTED. Ã LETTER
THAT WAS SUBMITTED TO THE
COMMITTEE BY THE PORT OF LOS
ANGELES AND THE PORT OF LONG
BEACH, STRESSED THE IMPORTANCE
OF THESE INSPECTIONS AND WHY
THEY ARE ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY.
WE ALSO RECEIVED LETTERS, FROM
SURROUNDING BUSINESSES THAT ARE
ON THE FRONT LINE OF THESE
ISSUES THAT I'VE SPOKEN ABOUT,
AND I WANT TO QUOTE WHAT SOME OF
THEM HAVE SAID, STAFF IS AT RISK
EVERY TIME WE GET ON THE ROAD
AND DELIVER, GOODS IN THE PORT
COMPLEXES IN THESE TWO PORTS, I
THINK WE CAN FULLY, BE AWARE
THAT OUR PORTS ARE ABSOLUTELY
IMPERATIVE FOR OUR ECONOMY TO
THRIVE AND GROW IN INDUSTRIES
SURROUNDING, THE PORTS,
INCLUDING TRUCKERS AND ALSO
TERMINAL OPERATORS, PLAY AN
ESSENTIAL ROLE IN THE PORT'S
SUCCESS. BUT THIS CANNOT COME AT
A COST OF SAFETY FOR SURROUNDING
COMMUNITIES, AS WELL AS THE MEN
AND WOMEN WHO SERVES OUR PORTS.
WE HAVE SEEN THAT THERE IS
PROBLEMS WITH THESE CHASSIES AND
THAT THEY MUST BE CHANGED AND
MADE TO MAKE SURE THAT
INSPECTIONS AND THE INSPECTION
PROCESS IS GIVEN TO MAKING SURE
THAT WE HAVE SAFE COMMUNITIES
AND ALSO OUR PORTS. IN A REPORT
BY THE FEDERAL MOTOR SAFETY
ADMINISTRATION, OVER 1300
CHASSIS HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN
ACCIDENTS, SOME OF WHICH HAVE
ENDED IN FATAL, DEATH. WHILE IT
IS TRUE THAT CHASSIES ARE SAFE
OR SAFER, THAT SOME ARE STILL
NOT SO SAFE, AND THE PURPOSE OF
THIS IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
HAVE OPTIMUM SAFETY, IN OUR
PORTS, WHICH, OF COURSE MEANS
OUR COMMUNITY AND THOSE WHO WORK
IN OUR PORTS, DAY IN AND DAY
OUT. WHILE I SAY THIS, NOT
SAYING THAT THIS COMMITTEE,
TAKES SAFETY VÆ, IN A VERY
CAVALIER WAY, THIS IS A WAY JUST
TO BRING IT TO YOUR ATTENTION,
WHY THIS BILL IS IMPORTANT. AND
THIS CONVERSATION IS IMPORTANT.
THAT IS WHY I AM COMMITTED, IN
MY OFFICE, TO CONTINUE THE
CONVERSATION WITH STAKEHOLDERS
AGAIN, COMMITTING MYSELF, TO
CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION WITH
STAKEHOLDERS, THE
ADMINISTRATION, TO CREATE A
POLICY THAT IS SUFFICIENT FOR
ALL PARTIES, THAT WILL INCREASE
SAFETY OF OUR SURROUNDING PORTS
AND COMMUNITIES, AND IT'S A HARD
CONVERSATION, BUT WE'RE
CERTAINLY WILLING TO HAVE THAT
CONVERSATION WITH ME TO PROVIDE
SUPPORTING TESTIMONY AS THE
PRESIDENT OF IOW LOCAL 13, GARY
HERRERA AND ALSO, ANOTHER
REPRESENTATIVE FROM IOW WHO WAS
SELF INTRODUCED, INTRODUCED
THEMSELVES, MR. PRESIDENT.
COMMITTEE, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
HAVING ME HERE TODAY. I TRULY
APPRECIATE IT, THIS IS A VERY
IMPORTANT ISSUE. MY NAME IS GARY
HERRERA. I AM THE PRESIDENT OF
ILWU LOCAL 13, WHICH REPRESENTS
ABOUT 10,000 MEMBERS PLUS 6000
PART TIME WORKERS THAT WORK ON
THE WATERFRONTS BETWEEN THE
PORTS OF LA AND LONG BEACH.
ASSEMBLYMAN HAS JUST EXPLAINED
ALL THE THINGS THAT I BASICALLY
WAS GOING TO TALK ABOUT, BUT I
GUESS I REALLY GET TO STRESS
HOME THE IMPORTANCE OF WHY WE'RE
FIGHTING FOR THIS. OVER THE LAST
20 YEARS, I HAVE SEEN TWO
LONGSHOREMEN DIE BECAUSE OF
CHASSIS FALLING, A CONTAINER
FALLING OFF OF A CHASSIS, AND
ONE OF THEM, HE WAS DRIVING AT
NIGHT AND THERE WAS NO BRAKE
LIGHTS ON THE CHASSIS, AND THE
TRUCK CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP.
AND HE HAS HAD OVER TEN
DIFFERENT SURGERIES JUST TO BE
ALIVE TODAY. YOU KNOW, THERE WAS
SOMETHING THAT WAS SAID IN THE
OPPOSITION LETTER THAT SAYS THAT
NO CHASSIS IS EXIT. THE FACILITY
AND GO OUT DEFECTIVE. WELL, I
CAN TELL YOU HERE TODAY, IN THE
LAST MONTH AND A HALF, HERE'S
PLENTY OF INFORMATION AND
TESTIMONY TO ALL THE CHAVEZ OF
LEFT OF TERMINAL DEFECTIVE OF.
WE'RE TRYING TO GET AHEAD OF THE
PROBLEM TODAY WHEN YOU HAVE A
VINCENT THOMAS BRIDGE DOWN IN
THE PORT OF LA, IT'S GOING TO
BE, RESURFACED AND YOU'RE GOING
TO HAVE THE OLYMPICS COMING UP
IN FOUR MONTHS. YOU'RE GOING TO
HAVE TRAFFIC, AND ALL KINDS OF
CONSTRUCTION AROUND THE
NEIGHBORING COMMUNITIES. THESE
TRUCKS ARE GOING TO WIND UP IN
THE NEIGHBORHOODS OF OUR
COMMUNITIES, AND IF THEY'RE NOT
FIXED, THEN THEY'RE GOING TO
KILL AN INNOCENT CHILD, A
FAMILY. AND LIKE MISTER GIBSON
SAID, OVER 1400 INCIDENTS SINCE
2019, ALL WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS
MAKE SURE THAT THESE CHASSIS ARE
INSPECTED AND CLEARED TO GO OFF
ONTO THE ROAD. WE ARE NOT
LOOKING TO DETAIN ANY TRUCKER.
IN FACT, WE MADE AMENDMENTS TO
THAT. WE'RE NOT KEEPING THEM TEN
DAYS. WE'RE NOT KEEPING THE
TRUCKER THERE. WE'VE MADE
AMENDMENTS ALL THE WAY DOWN TO
ALLOWING A OWNER OR A LONG TERME
LEASE DRIVER LEAVE THE FACILITY
TO GO FIX HIS CHASSIS. BUT THAT
CONTAINER, WHICH CARRIES THE
MOST BURDEN WHILE BEING ON A BAD
CHASSIS, SHALL BE, SHALL STAY AT
THE TERMINAL UNTIL HE GETS HIS
OR SHE GETS THEIR, CHASSIS
FIXED. SO WE'VE MADE AMENDMENTS
OVER THE LAST MONTH, SO I JUST
WANT TO SAY THANK YOU. I
APPRECIATE YOUR TIME, AND WE
HOPE THAT YOU GUYS SEE THAT THIS
IS FOR SAFETY OF ALL OUR
COMMUNITIES, NOT JUST OF OUR
INDUSTRY. HELLO. MY NAME IS
ANTHONY GARCIA. I'M CURRENTLY A
MECHANIC FOR THE ILWU 13 LOCAL
13. I'VE BEEN A MECHANIC FOR
JUST SHY OF THREE YEARS.
FORMERLY I WAS WITH THE
CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL AS A
MOTOR CARRIER SPECIALIST, WHICH
AREAS I WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR WERE
BOTH THE PORT PORTS OF LOS
ANGELES AND LONG BEACH, TO
ADDRESS THE QUESTIONS RAISED BY
THE COMMITTEE, WE HAVE OFFERED
THESE AMENDMENTS TO THE
COMMITTEE IN WHICH ARE WHICH ARE
NOT REFLECTED IN THE ANALYSIS.
WE OFFERED TO DELETE THE TEN
DAYS, INSTEAD OF RETAINING THESE
CHASSIES, WE OFFERED TO FLIP THE
CONTAINERS. WE HAVE SHARED THESE
AMENDMENTS WITH THE CALIFORNIA
TRUCKING ASSOCIATIONS AS WELL AS
THE CHP, AND ARE CURRENTLY
AWAITING FEEDBACK, WHILE THESE
PANDEMIC WHILE THE PANDEMIC IS
OVER, THE NEXT CARGO SURGE CAN
HAPPEN AT ANY TIME, WHICH WILL
RESULT IN DEFECTIVE CHASSIES
GOING ON THE ROAD INTO OUR
COMMUNITIES. THROUGHOUT THIS
THIS WILL NOT INCREASE TURN
TIME. AND THIS IS WHY, BY
IMPLEMENTING A SYSTEMATIC
INSPECTION PROCEDURE, ENSURING
THESE INTERMODAL CHASSIES ARE
KEPT IN A SAFE AND PROPER
OPERATING CONDITION, PART OF
THEM LEAVING THE TERMINAL, IT
WILL MAKE THINGS MORE EFFICIENT
AND IN TURN, REDUCE THE WAIT
TIME. WE ASK THAT THIS ISSUE BE
ADDRESSED.
ALL RIGHT, LOOKING, THANK YOU
FOR THE TESTIMONY. LOOKING TO
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO WOULD
LIKE TO OFFER ME TWO COMMENTS,
IN THE FORM OF NAME,
ORGANIZATION AND POSITION.
CHAIR AND MEMBERS NATE SOLO, ON
BEHALF OF THE PORT OF LA AND
SUPPORT. SINCE THIS DOES HELP
ENSURE SAFETY IN OUR AND THE
PORT ENVIRONMENT. THANK YOU SO
MUCH TO THE AUTHOR. APPRECIATE
IT. MARIN PINEDA, ON BEHALF OF
THE INTERNATIONAL LONGSHORE AND
WAREHOUSE UNION, REPRESENTING
ALL THE PORT WORKERS AT ALL
PORTS. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU. NOW WE'LL MOVE ON TO
MEMBERS, I'M SORRY, MEMBERS OF
THE PUBLIC AND OPPOSED THE
PRIMARY WITNESSES IN OPPOSITION.
IS A REMINDER. TWO MINUTES AND
YOU CAN START AT YOUR
CONVENIENCE. THANK YOU. CHAIR
WILSON AND MEMBERS CHRIS
YAMAMOTO WITH THE CALIFORNIA
TRUCKING ASSOCIATION, FIRST,
WANT TO STATE THAT WHILE WE ARE
IN OPPOSITION TO AB 3151, WE ARE
COMMITTED TO WORKING WITH ALL
STAKEHOLDERS, INCLUDING THE
COMMITTEE, SELECT COMMITTEE
CHAIR, SPONSORS AND LAW
ENFORCEMENT TO ADDRESS CHASSIS
SAFETY. CHASSIS IS LIKE ALL
COMMERCIAL TRUCKS AND TRAILERS
ARE SUBJECT TO THE BIT PROGRAM.
THE NATION'S MOST STRINGENT
COMMERCIAL VEHICLE INSPECTION
PROGRAM. IN 1994, AB 1633
CREATED A SAFETY INCENTIVE
PROGRAM FOR MARINE TERMINALS
HOUSING MORE THAN 1000 CHASSIES
WITH TWO CONSECUTIVE
SATISFACTORY BID INSPECTIONS TO
ALLOW FOR VISUAL INSPECTIONS OF
CHASSIES WHILE EXITING THE
TERMINAL TO BE PERFORMED IN LIEU
OF A STANDARD 90 DAY SAFETY
INSPECTION REQUIRED OF ALL OTHER
TRUCKS AND TRAILER OWNERS.
HOWEVER, SINCE 1994, OCEAN
CARRIERS AND THE MARINE TERMINAL
AGENTS HAVE DIVESTED OWNERSHIP
IN CHASSIS AS THIRD PARTY
CHASSIS LEASING COMPANIES,
TRUCKERS AND SHIPPERS NOW OWN
THE EQUIPMENT AND THE ASSOCIATED
RISK RESPONSIBILITY FOR
MAINTENANCE. UNDER THE BIT
PROGRAM, AB 3151 SEEKS TO AMEND
AB 1633, BUT DUE TO SHIFT IN
OWNERSHIP OF THESE CHASSIS,
PROPOSES TWO UNPRECEDENTED
PROVISIONS. MOST PROBLEMATIC, AB
3151 WOULD ALLOW MARINE
TERMINALS TO SEIZE AND PERFORM
REPAIRS TO CHASSIS WITHOUT
AUTHORIZATION OR KNOWLEDGE OF
THE RIGHTFUL EQUIPMENT OWNER.
SECOND, AB 3151 WOULD AUTHORIZE
THE TERMINAL TO DETAIN DRIVERS
FOR THE PURPOSE OF PERFORMING A
SAFETY INSPECTION. THÀNH ON
EQUIPMENT. IT HAS NO OWNERSHIP
INTEREST IN. THERE IS NO STATUTE
THAT WE'RE AWARE OF THAT GRANTS
THIS AUTHORITY TO NON-LAW
ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL ELSEWHERE
IN THE CODE. IN CONCLUSION, WE
LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING THIS
DISCUSSION WITH THE COMMITTEE,
THE AUTHOR AND SPONSORS, AND OUR
PARTNERS IN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND
WANT TO THANK THE CHAIR AND
COMMITTEE STAFF FOR THEIR WORK
IN BRINGING TOGETHER PARTIES TO
FIND COMMON GROUND TO ENSURE THE
SAFETY OF THE MOTORING PUBLIC.
THANK YOU. MADAM CHAIR MEMBERS
BRIAN WHITE WITH CP PUBLIC
AFFAIRS, ON BEHALF OF THE
PACIFIC MERCHANT SHIPPING
ASSOCIATION, WHICH INCLUDES
OCEAN CARRIERS, MARINE TERMINALS
OPERATING AT CALIFORNIA'S PUBLIC
SEAPORTS. WE HAVE A LONG HISTORY
WORKING WITH THE SEJM MEMBER
GIBSON, AND WE APPRECIATE HIS
CONTINUED LEADERSHIP IN
ADVANCING INITIATIVES THAT
ADDRESS CHALLENGES WITH OUR
STATE SUPPLY CHAIN AND GOODS
MOVEMENT, IN ADDITION TO
PROTECTING OUR PORTS
COMPETITIVENESS. UNFORTUNATELY,
WE MUST RESPECTFULLY OPPOSE AB
3151 IN PRINCIPLE, BECAUSE, AS
CURRENTLY WRITTEN, IT IMPOSES AN
OVERLY PRESCRIPTIVE MANDATE ON
MARINE TERMINAL OPERATORS TO
INSPECT INTERMODAL CHASSIES,
WHICH IS CURRENTLY ENFORCED
THROUGH INSPECTIONS BY CHP. BUT
THIS BILL WOULD SHIFT THAT
RESPONSIBILITY AND ADD NEW
CRIMINAL SANCTIONS ON MARINE
TERMINAL OPERATORS TO ENFORCE
THE CHASSIS INSPECTIONS. EVEN
THOUGH WE DON'T OWN THE
EQUIPMENT. THAT BEING SAID, WE
DO LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH
THE AUTHOR, THE COMMITTEE, THE
SPONSORS AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS
TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES
CONCERNING CHASSIS SAFETY,
PROVIDED THERE IS AGREED UPON
SOLUTION THAT IS BASED ON SAFETY
DATA THAT IS APPARENT AND
READILY AVAILABLE, THAT
DEMONSTRATES A NEED FOR A
TAILORED APPROACH GOING FORWARD.
AGAIN WE APPRECIATE THE AUTHOR'S
WORK INTENT TO MAINTAIN THE
IMPROVE ENROLLED ON ROAD SAFETY,
AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO FUTURE
CONVERSATIONS. THANK YOU, MADAM
CHAIR. THANK YOU. NOW, LOOKING
TO MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO ARE
ALSO IN OPPOSITION, WHO WOULD
LIKE TO OFFER ME TO NAME
ORGANIZATION AND POSITION. GOOD
AFTERNOON. STEVE WALLACH, ON
BEHALF OF THE INSTITUTE OF
INTERNATIONAL CONTAINER LEASERS
IN OPPOSITION, UNLESS AMENDED.
THANK YOU. SEEING NO OTHERS
MOVING TO MEMBERS OF THE
COMMITTEE WHO MIGHT HAVE ANY
QUESTIONS, COMMENTS OR CONCERNS,
I'D LIKE TO SAY WELCOME TO
ASSEMBLYMEMBER ORTEGA, TO THE
COMMITTEE. ALL RIGHT. SEEING
NONE, I'LL MOVE TO I WANT TO
SHOW MY APPRECIATION TO THE
AUTHOR FOR NOT ONLY THE
DISCUSSIONS WE'VE HAD IN THE
PAST, BUT AGREEING TO CONTINUE
TO DISCUSS THIS BILL, AS IS
NOTED, THE BILL SIGNIFICANTLY
EXPANDS THE EXISTING INTERMODAL
ROAD ABILITY INSPECTION PROGRAM
AT THE PORTS. IT WOULD ALLOW
NON-LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL TO
INSPECT AND DETAIN A CHASSIS
WITH THE POTENTIAL OF CREATING A
MISDEMEANOR CHARGE. IF A CHASSIS
IS NOT FIXED WITHIN TEN TO
WITHIN TEN DAYS. NOW, THE STATED
PURPOSE OF THIS BILL IS SAFETY.
HOWEVER CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY
PATROL, WHO OVERSEE BOTH THE
BASIC INSPECTION OF TERMINALS
PROGRAM AND THE INTERMODAL
ABILITY INTERMODAL ROAD ABILITY
INSPECTION PROGRAM HAS JUST BEEN
BROUGHT INTO THE NEGOTIATION AT
THE PROMPTING OF THIS COMMITTEE.
ADDITIONALLY IT IS UNCLEAR THAT
THERE ARE NEW OR INCREASING
SAFETY ISSUES AT THE PORTS THAT
REQUIRE THIS SPECIFIC SOLUTION.
INFORMATION FROM THE FEDERAL
MOTOR CARRIER SAFETY
ADMINISTRATION INDICATES THAT
THE NUMBER OF INTERMODAL
CONTAINER CHASSIS IS INVOLVED IN
ALL CRASH EVENTS IN CALIFORNIA
HAS DECREASED BY OVER 100
INCIDENTS BETWEEN 2019 AND 2023.
I DO APPRECIATE THE TESTIMONY
FROM WITNESSES IN SUPPORT
REGARDING THE ISSUES FOUND
EXACTLY ON THE TERMINAL ITSELF,
SAFETY IS OF THE UTMOST
IMPORTANCE TO THE STATE AND
EVERY STAKEHOLDER AT THE PORT. I
ENCOURAGE THE AUTHOR TO CONTINUE
TO DIVE DEEPER INTO WHAT THE
PROBLEM OF SAFETY WITH REGARDS
TO INTERMODAL CHASSIS IS, AND TO
WORK WITH THE APPROPRIATE
STAKEHOLDERS TO COME TO A COMMON
CONCLUSION. I BELIEVE THERE IS
ONE I LOOK FORWARD TO THE AUTHOR
KEEPING BOTH MYSELF AND STAFF
UPDATED, WORKING WITH THE
COMMITTEE, THE CHP AND ALL
RELEVANT STAKEHOLDERS ON THIS
PARTICULAR POLICY, GIVE YOU AN
OPPORTUNITY TO CLOSE BEFORE WE
MOVE ON. ABSOLUTELY. AND MADAM
CHAIR, INTO THE COMMITTEE, THANK
YOU VERY MUCH. AND CERTAINLY IT
IS MY DESIRE TO WORK WITH
STAKEHOLDERS, AND AS EARLY AS
THERE ARE AVAILABLE TO MOVING
THIS CONVERSATION FORWARD TO
MAKING SURE, THAT ONE, WE
PROVIDE SOMETHING THAT ONE WE
CAN WRAP OUR ARMS AROUND, AND
ALSO ONE THAT CONTINUES TO
PROMOTE SAFETY, WHICH IS OUR
FIRST AND FOREMOST, AND I KNOW
THAT THE THOSE WHO ARE OPPOSING
IT TALKED ABOUT SOME OF THE
PREVIOUS ITERATION, BUT I SHARE
IT WITH YOU AND YOUR TEAM, THAT
WE'RE WILLING TO MAKE
CONSIDERABLE, CONCESSIONS, AND
AMENDMENTS TO THIS BILL, TO GET
US ALL TO A POINT WHERE SAFETY
IS PLACED IN THE TOP OF OUR
CONVERSATION AND IN THE TOP OF
THIS BILL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH
FOR YOUR TIME AND LOOK FORWARD
TO IT AND APPRECIATE THIS
MOMENT. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
WE HAVE A KUMBAYA MOMENT RIGHT
NOW.
ALL RIGHT. WE DO HAVE SEVERAL
MEMBERS WHO ARE, IN TRANSIT,
WHETHER PHYSICALLY HERE BECAUSE
THEY'RE IN THE BUILDING OR
ACTUALLY VIA SEVERAL MODES OF
TRANSPORTATION, INCLUDING A
PLANE, AND SO WE WILL CONTINUE
TO AN INFORMATIONAL HEARING
UNTIL WE GET A QUORUM. WE WOULD
JUST ASK THAT AS THOSE MEMBERS
EITHER ARRIVE TO THE BUILDING OR
IN THE BUILDING, THAT THEY DO
MAKE GREAT HASTE TO COME TO THE
COMMITTEE HEARING ROOM SO THAT
WE CAN ESTABLISH A QUORUM. WITH
THAT, WE WILL MOVE ON TO THE.
LET'S SEE. LET ME SEE MY ORDER,
ITEM NUMBER 5AB 2086 ZERO. OH,
SORRY. LET'S SEE HERE. OH, THERE
HE IS. I'M SORRY, I HAVE TO. I
HAVE TO MOVE BACK. I'M. YOU'RE
FINE WITH THAT. OKAY ITEM NUMBER
FIVE. I WAS LOOKING IN THE
MIDDLE. FORMER VICE CHAIR FONG.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, MR. FONG.
AT YOUR CONVENIENCE. THANK YOU,
MADAM CHAIR AND MEMBERS, I AM
GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO
PRESENT AB 2086 TO YOU TODAY. AB
2086 BRINGS ACCOUNTABILITY AND
TRANSPARENCY TO CALIFORNIA'S
TRANSPORTATION INVESTMENTS. IT
REQUIRES CALTRANS TO UPDATE AN
EXISTING PUBLIC ONLINE DASHBOARD
DISPLAYING HOW ANNUAL PROJECT
INVESTMENTS ARE ADVANCING THE
VISION AND GOALS OF THE
CALIFORNIA TRANSPORTATION PLAN.
PUBLIC LAWMAKERS AND TOP
TRANSPORTATION DECISION MAKERS
WILL BE ABLE TO ACCESS AND
UNDERSTAND HOW THE FULL SET OF
CALTRANS PROGRAMMATIC
INVESTMENTS ARE IMPACTING THEIR
COMMUNITIES AND UPHOLDING THE
STATE'S GOALS. AB 2086 ALSO
ADVANCES TRANSPORTATION
ACCOUNTABILITY BY ADDING Kò
REPORTING ELEMENTS TO THE
CALIFORNIA TRANSPORTATION PLAN.
IT SERVES AS A POLICY FRAMEWORK
THAT PROVIDES A SHARED VISION,
GOALS, AND ROADMAP TO ADVANCE
EFFECTIVE, EQUITABLE AND
TRANSPARENT, TRANSPARENT AND
TRANSFORMATIONAL TRANSPORTATION.
A LOT OF T'S IN A ROW DECISIONS
IN CALIFORNIA. YET THE CURRENT
REPORTING IN THE CALIFORNIA
TRANSPORTATION PLAN IS NOT
DIRECTLY TIED TO THE ROUGHLY
30,000,000,000IN TRANSPORTATION
INVESTMENTS THAT THE STATE MAKES
PER YEAR, OR PROGRESS TOWARDS
THE GOALS LAID OUT IN THE PLAN.
AB 2086 UPDATES THE CALIFORNIA
TRANSPORTATION PLAN TO INCLUDE A
FINANCIAL ELEMENT THAT
SUMMARIZES THE FULL COST OF THE
PLAN IMPLEMENTATION. A SUMMARY
OF AVAILABLE REVENUES THROUGH
THE PLANNING PERIOD, AND AN
ANALYSIS OF WHAT IS FEASIBLE
WITH THE PLAN. IF CONSTRAINED BY
REALISTIC PROJECTIONS OF
AVAILABLE REVENUES. AB 2086 IS
GOOD GOVERNANCE AND IT ENSURES
FISCAL OVERSIGHT, PARTICULARLY
IN TIGHT BUDGET YEARS.
CALIFORNIA NEEDS TO BE
MAXIMIZING THE RETURN ON EVERY
TRANSPORTATION DOLLAR SPENT AND
DEMONSTRATING RESULTS TO VOTERS.
FROM THE BEGINNING OF MY OFFICE,
MY OFFICE AND SPONSORS HAVE HAD
A BROAD SET OF STAKEHOLDERS AND
AGENCIES TO THE INDUSTRY TO
ENSURE THAT THIS DESIGN OF THIS
LEGISLATION CAN ADDRESS ANY
CONCERNS AND ENSURE IT'S ALIGNED
WITH THEIR GOALS AND EFFORTS
WITH ME TO TESTIFY IN SUPPORT IS
HANNAH KRIEGER WITH THE
GREENLINING INSTITUTE AND ZACH
DEUTSCH. GROSS YES. YAY! OKAY,
GOOD, WITH TRANSFORM. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. AND
COMMITTEE MEMBERS REWINDING
WORK. THANK YOU, GREENLINING
WORKS TO BUILD A FUTURE WHERE
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR CAN BUILD
WEALTH, LIVE IN HEALTHY PLACES
FILLED WITH ECONOMIC
OPPORTUNITY, AND WILL BE READY
TO MEET THE CHALLENGES POSED BY
CLIMATE CHANGE. AB 2086 IS KEY
TO ENSURING THAT LAWMAKERS HAVE
THE CRITICAL INFORMATION THEY
NEED TO MAKE IMPORTANT DECISIONS
. DESPITE CALIFORNIA HAVING A
WIDE RANGE OF STATED
TRANSPORTATION GOALS, THE
EVIDENCE SHOWS WE ARE NOT
MEETING THEM. FOR EXAMPLE, IN
RECENT YEARS THERE HAVE BEEN AN
INCREASE IN TRAFFIC DEATHS AND
AN INCREASE IN VEHICLE MILES
TRAVELED. THE STATE IS STILL NOT
ON TRACK TO MEET OUR CLIMATE
GOALS AND NONE OF THIS
INFORMATION IS BEING COLLECTED
IN A WAY THAT'S ACTUALLY TIED TO
OUR TRANSPORTATION INVESTMENTS.
FURTHERMORE EVEN IF THIS
INFORMATION WAS BEING COLLECTED,
THE STATE DOES NOT HAVE A
SUFFICIENT WAY TO SHOW, HOW THIS
DATA IS BEING DONE IN A CLEAR,
COMPREHENSIVE, AND CONSISTENT
WAY. FOR EXAMPLE, THE EXISTING
REBUILDING CALIFORNIA DASHBOARD
WEBSITE SHOWS, SHOWCASES HOW THE
STATE'S GAS TAX AND FEDERAL
INFRASTRUCTURE DOLLARS ARE BEING
SPENT. HOWEVER, WHEN YOU
NAVIGATE ONTO THE SITE TO YOUR
RESPECTIVE DISTRICTS AND YOU
CLICK ON ANY INDIVIDUAL
PROJECTS, YOU WILL SEE THAT THE
INFORMATION PROVIDED IS VERY
SCARCE. IT SIMPLY SHOWS A POINT
ON A MAP, THE DOLLAR AMOUNT, AND
A VERY SHORT DESCRIPTION. THERE
IS NO INFORMATION AROUND THE
NUMBER OF JOBS CREATED IF THERE
ARE BENEFITS RELATED TO LOCAL
ECONOMIC ACTIVITY, CLIMATE OR
SAFETY, AND IT DOES NOT DESCRIBE
WHICH COMMUNITIES ARE
BENEFITING. YOU CAN'T FILTER
PROJECTS BASED ON DISADVANTAGED
COMMUNITIES. WITHOUT THIS
BASELINE DATA, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE
TO TRACK PROGRESS TOWARDS IF
WE'RE MEETING THE STATE'S MANY
GOALS. I WANT TO STRESS THAT
REBUILDING CALIFORNIA IS A GREAT
START. IT'S A NEEDED TOOL, BUT
IT'S CURRENTLY NOT LIVING UP TO
ITS FULL POTENTIAL BECAUSE IT'S
NOT REPORTING ON THE STATE'S
BROADER TRANSPORTATION GOALS AND
THEREFORE, IT'S NOT TELLING A
COMPELLING STORY ABOUT HOW THE
BILLIONS IN TRANSPORTATION
INVESTMENTS ARE BENEFITING EACH
OF YOUR COMMUNITIES. THANK YOU
FOR YOUR TIME. GOOD AFTERNOON.
ZACH KRAUS, POLICY DIRECTOR AT
TRANSFORM. TRANSFORM WORKS TO
ENSURE PEOPLE OF ALL INCOMES
THRIVE IN A WORLD SAFE FROM
CLIMATE CHAOS. WE ENVISION
VIBRANT NEIGHBORHOODS
TRANSFORMED WITH EXCELLENT
SUSTAINABLE MOBILITY OPTIONS.
AFFORDABLE HOUSING OR
HISTORICALLY MARGINALIZED
COMMUNITIES HAVE POWER AND
VOICE. WE ARE PROUD TO
CO-SPONSOR AB 2086 AS AN
IMPORTANT TOOL TO INCREASE
TRANSPORTATION TRANSPARENCY AND
ACCOUNTABILITY BY TYING THE
STATE'S ANNUAL TRANSPORTATION
PROGRAM INVESTMENTS TO AN
EXISTING PUBLIC DASHBOARD AND AN
ESTABLISHED REPORTING PROCESS.
WE CAN DEMONSTRATE TO VOTERS
THAT WE'RE MAKING PROGRESS
TOWARDS OUR SHARED GOALS. AND
THESE ARE ENUMERATED IN THE
CALIFORNIA TRANSPORTATION PLAN,
INCLUDING SAFETY, CLIMATE
EQUITY, ACCESSIBILITY, K¾T,
QUALITY OF LIFE AND PUBLIC
HEALTH, THE ECONOMY, ENVIRONMENT
AND INFRASTRUCTURE. WHILE THERE
HAVE BEEN COMMENDABLE
TRANSPARENCY EFFORTS SO FAR,
SUCH AS SB 685, TÔI AND SB ONE
REPORTING, THESE ARE PIECEMEAL
AND DON'T PROVIDE A
COMPREHENSIVE UNDERSTANDING.
ADDITIONALLY, THE CALIFORNIA
TRANSPORTATION PLAN PROVIDES A
COMMON FRAMEWORK, BUT ITS
IMPLEMENTATION IS FOCUSED ON
PROCESS, NOT OUTCOMES, AND IT IS
NOT FISCALLY CONSTRAINED. THAT'S
WHY AB 2086 IS THE SOLUTION. BY
REQUIRING CALTRANS TO PROVIDE
UPDATED ONLINE DASHBOARD, AND TO
THAT DISPLAYS HOW PROJECT
INVESTMENTS ARE MEETING OUR
STATE'S CALIFORNIA
TRANSPORTATION PLAN GOALS. THE
FINANCIAL ELEMENT ALSO GIVES US
A CLEARER PICTURE OF HOW WHAT
ADDITIONAL TRANSPORTATION
INVESTMENTS ARE NEEDED TO
ADVANCE OUR OUR SHARED GOALS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK
YOU. NOW MOVING ON TO MEMBERS OF
THE PUBLIC IN THE HEARING ROOM
WHO ARE ALSO SUPPORTERS OF THIS
BILL, NAME ORGANIZATION AND
POSITION, PLEASE. SOPHIA FICO
WITH THE COALITION FOR CLEAN AIR
IN SUPPORT. ZACH ACCARDI FOR
NRDC, THE NATURAL RESOURCES
DEFENSE COUNCIL IN SUPPORT.
MELANIE MORALES ON BEHALF OF THE
GREENLINING INSTITUTE ON BEHALF
OF ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE
FOUNDATION AND THE CENTER FOR
CENTER FOR COMMUNITY ACTION AND
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE. SANTIAGO
RODRIGUEZ, WITH CALIFORNIA
ENVIRONMENTAL VOTERS IN SUPPORT.
JAMIE PUGH WITH NEXT GEN POLICY
AND ON BEHALF OF THE PLANNING
AND CONSERVATION LEAGUE IN
SUPPORT. HI, I'M WILL BARRETT
WITH THE AMERICAN LUNG
ASSOCIATION, ALSO IN SUPPORT. MÀ
ON BEHALF OF STREETS FOR ALL IN
SUPPORT. THANK YOU. NOW MOVING
ON TO, ANY PRIMARY WITNESSES AND
OPPOSITION FOR THIS BILL. IS
THAT A NONE. ALL RIGHT. IS THERE
ANY MEMBERS WHO WOULD LIKE TO
NOTE IN ABBREVIATED FORM
OPPOSITION TO THIS BILL? NAME,
POSITION, NAME, ORGANIZATION AND
POSITION? ALL RIGHT. SEEING
NONE, MOVING TO MEMBERS OF
COMMITTEE. NO COMMENTS. I WOULD
AND WE CAN'T DO A MOTION AND A
SECOND OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. WE
ARE IN INFORMATIONAL, BUT I'LL
JUST NOTE I APPRECIATE YOU FOR
WORKING SO CLOSELY WITH
COMMITTEE STAFF AND OPPOSITION
ON ALL THE AMENDMENTS THAT WERE
TAKEN, THIS BILL GROUNDS THE
CALIFORNIA TRANSPORTATION PLAN
FROM AN ASPIRATIONAL PLANNING
DOCUMENT TO HELP CREATE
IMPLEMENTABLE TARGETS BY
REQUIRING FISCAL CONSTRAINT AND
REQUIRES GREATER TRANSPARENCY
REGARDING HOW THE GOALS OF THE
CALIFORNIA TRANSPORTATION PLAN
ARE BEING MET. AND I APPRECIATE
THAT. AND WHEN IT'S APPROPRIATE
TIME, I'LL BE SUPPORTING THIS.
BILL, GIVE YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO
MAKE ANY CLOSING REMARKS. THANK
YOU. APPRECIATE. AND I VOTE WHEN
THERE'S THE ABILITY TO DO THAT.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.
NOW HEADING TO THE TO THE TOP
FOR, THERE'S ITEMS THREE OR JUST
ITEM THREE AB 1978, FUNG, AT
YOUR CONVENIENCE, YOU CAN BEGIN
.
THANK YOU. CHAIR MEMBERS. IT IS,
IT IS A WEIRD NOT BEING ON THE
DAIS, WITH, WITH YOU, BUT I
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, I WANT TO
THANK THE CHAIR AND HER STAFF.
CERTAINLY WORKING DILIGENTLY
WITH WITH YOU ALL TO CREATE
AMENDMENTS WHICH ARE NOW IN
PRINT THAT KEEPS COMMUNITIES
SAFE BY CRACKING DOWN ON STREET
RACING WHILE PROTECTING INNOCENT
BYSTANDERS WHO ARE NOT INVOLVED
IN THESE DANGEROUS ACTS, WHICH I
KNOW THE CHAIR WAS VERY, VERY
MUCH CONCERNED WITH. SO WE ALL
KNOW THAT STREET RACING IS AN
EPIDEMIC THAT HAS LED TO THE
PREVENTABLE DEATHS OF COUNTLESS
PEOPLE ACROSS CALIFORNIA.
CALIFORNIA HAS SEEN A SHARP RISE
IN ILLEGAL STREET RACING AS
STREET RACERS TAKE ADVANTAGES OF
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF HIGHWAYS,
PARKING LOTS, ROADS AND ROADS
THROUGH FORCIBLY BLOCKING CARS
FROM USING THESE ROADWAYS, THESE
STREET, THESE ILLEGAL STREET
RACING ACTIVITIES IS NOT ONLY
DANGEROUS, BUT IT IS OFTEN OFTEN
HAS FATAL CONSEQUENCES FOR
PARTICIPANTS, PEDESTRIANS,
COMMUTERS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT
ALIKE, LAW ENFORCEMENT STRUGGLES
TO EFFECTIVELY CURB SIDESHOWS
AND EXHIBITIONS OF SPEED, AS
OFTENTIMES THESE SIDESHOWS JUST
CONTINUE IN DIFFERENT
INTERSECTIONS WITH THE SAME
PARTICIPANTS. AFTER LAW
ENFORCEMENT BREAKS UP THESE
ORIGINAL EVENTS. IN 2019, AB
1407, WHICH REQUIRED VEHICLES TO
BE IMPOUNDED FOR STREET RACING,
PASSED WITH STRONG SUPPORT FROM
MEMBERS OF THIS COMMITTEE. THIS
BILL, AB 1978, WILL ALLOW POLICE
OFFICERS TO SEIZE A VEHICLE THAT
BLOCKS A ROAD TO FACILITATE
STREET RACES WITHOUT TAKING THE
OWNER OF THE VEHICLE INTO
CUSTODY. THIS WILL ENSURE THAT
SPEED EXHIBITIONS WILL NOT
CONTINUE IN A DIFFERENT LOCATION
. ONCE A STREET RACE HAS BEEN
DISPERSED BY PEACE OFFICERS AND
LAW ENFORCEMENT AND WILL KEEP
ROADS, PEDESTRIANS AND OTHER
DRIVERS SAFE. THIS BILL IS
SUPPORTED BY MANY GROUPS AIMING
TO PROTECT INNOCENT BYSTANDERS
SUCH AS STREET RACING KILLS, THE
CONNOR LYNCH FOUNDATION AND THE
SOCAL FAMILIES FOR SAFE STREETS.
I ASK, I RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR AN
AYE VOTE, AND JOINING ME TO
TESTIFY IN SUPPORT OF THIS BILL
IS SHARON GONSALVES. ON BEHALF
OF THE CITY OF BAKERSFIELD.
GREAT. GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM
CHAIR. MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE,
MY NAME IS SHARON GONSALVES. I'M
HERE ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF
BAKERSFIELD. I WANT TO BEGIN
FIRST BY THANKING ASSEMBLY
MEMBER FONG FOR HIS CONTINUED
EFFORTS TO ADDRESS THIS EVOLVING
TREND, OF STREET RACING AND THE
TRAFFIC IMPLICATIONS THAT WE'RE
FACING IN OUR CITY, THE CITY OF
BAKERSFIELD HAS SEEN A STEEP
RISE IN RECKLESS DRIVING CALLS
FOR SERVICE, WHICH INCLUDES
REPORTS OF ILLEGAL STREET RACING
AND EXHIBITIONS OF SPEED.
ILLEGAL STREET RACING IS
INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS, DANGEROUS
AND CAN HAVE FATAL CONSEQUENCES
FOR ANYONE WHO HAPPENS TO BE IN
THE AREA, THE CITY AND THE
BAKERSFIELD POLICE DEPARTMENT
CONTINUE TO ENGAGE IN NEW AND
INNOVATIVE SPECIAL ENFORCEMENT
OPERATIONS TO TRY TO DETER THESE
OPERATIONS, IF LAW ENFORCEMENT
IF LAW ENFORCEMENT IS ABLE TO
IMPOUND VEHICLES, WE CAN TAKE
AWAY THE TOOLS THAT CREATE THESE
DANGEROUS EVENTS AND STOP
PARTICIPANTS FROM MERELY MOVING
TO A NEW LOCATION TO PROTECT
PEDESTRIANS, COMMUTERS, AND ANY
BYSTANDERS. WE NEED TO EXPLORE
ALL SOLUTIONS TO PREVENT
SIDESHOWS FROM SPREADING IN OUR
COMMUNITIES IN THE FIRST PLACE.
SO IN AN EFFORT TO CREATE SAFER
STREETS FOR ALL, THE CITY OF
BAKERSFIELD ENCOURAGES YOUR
SUPPORT OF AB 1978. AND IT ASKS
FOR YOUR AYE VOTE. THANK YOU,
THANK YOU, I'M ASSUMING ME TOO
VERSUS ANOTHER. OKAY. ALL RIGHT.
BECAUSE YOU GET TWO WITNESSES,
WITH THAT MOVING TO MEMBERS OF
THE PUBLIC IN SUPPORT, ADDING ON
NAME ORGANIZATION AND POSITION,
CHRISTIAN ROBINSON FROM SEMA,
THE SPECIALTY EQUIPMENT MARKET
ASSOCIATION IN SUPPORT. GOOD
AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR AND
MEMBERS. COREY SUSILO, ON BEHALF
OF THE CALIFORNIA STATE SHERIFFS
ASSOCIATION, IN SUPPORT. ALL
RIGHT. NOW, MOVING ON TO THE
OPPOSITION. ARE THERE UP TO TWO
WITNESSES, WE WOULD LIKE TO
TESTIFY IN OPPOSITION, SEEING
NONE MOVING ON TO ANY ABBREVIATE
. DAVID, ARE YOU COMING UP FOR
ABBREVIATED OR ARE YOU COMING UP
FOR. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. NAME,
ORGANIZATION AND POSITION. AND
BECAUSE THERE'S NOT ONE IN
WITNESS, IF YOU WANTED TO MAKE
ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS, YOU CAN.
THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON. CHAIR
AND MEMBERS, CARMEN COX, ON
BEHALF OF ACLU CALIFORNIA ACTION
IN VERY STRONG OPPOSITION. AS
NOTED IN OUR LETTER, WE'RE VERY
MUCH CONCERNED ABOUT TAKING AWAY
A VERY IMPORTANT ASSET TO FOLKS
WHO ARE EARNING LOW INCOMES.
ALSO, TO FOLKS, YOUNG PEOPLE,
IT'S NOT THEIR CAR, IT'S THEIR
PARENTS CAR. AND ALSO, HOW DO
THE OFFICERS KNOW WHO IS AIDING
OR ABETTING? THIS IS JUST A
GRAND EXPANSION OF SEIZURE BY
LAW ENFORCEMENT AND WE ARE
OPPOSED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
ANYONE ELSE FOR NAME
ORGANIZATION, THÀNH AND POSITION
SEEING NONE. MOVING BACK TO
MEMBERS, MOVING TO MEMBERS OF
THE COMMITTEE. QUESTIONS,
COMMENTS OR CONCERNS. SEEING
NONE, I'LL GO BACK. I'LL MAKE A
FEW REMARKS AND THEN GIVE AN
OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TO CLOSE. SO
I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR
WORKING WITH THE COMMITTEE ON,
THE AMENDMENTS. I WAS
PARTICULARLY CONCERNED, AS YOU
NOTED, EVEN IN YOUR TESTIMONY
ABOUT LAW ENFORCEMENT SWEEPS OF
INDIVIDUALS THAT WERE ONLY
WATCHING SPEED CONTEST OR MOTOR
VEHICLE, MOTOR VEHICLE
EXHIBITIONS OF SPEED, UNDER THE
AMENDMENTS, AMENDMENTS TAKEN
PRIOR TO K¾T ONLY INDIVIDUALS
PHYSICALLY BLOCKING OFF AN AREA
FOR A SIDESHOW OR RACE CAN HAVE
THEIR CARS TAKEN, WITHOUT THE
INDIVIDUALS THEMSELVES BEING
TAKEN INTO CUSTODY. SO WITH
THAT, I'LL BE SUPPORTING THE
BILL TODAY, ALTHOUGH WE DON'T,
WE'RE AN INFORMATIONAL STAGE,
GIVE YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE
ANY CLOSING REMARKS, I THANK
YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I JUST WANT TO
ADDRESS THE SPECIFIC CONCERNS OF
THE OPPOSITION. THIS THE
AMENDMENTS THAT WERE DRAFTED AND
ACCEPTED REMOVE THE AIDING AND
ABETTING PROVISIONS AND
SPECIFICALLY SAY THAT THIS BILL
WOULD APPLY WHEN SOMEONE IS
OBSTRUCTING OR PLACING A
BARRICADE OR OBSTRUCTION UPON A
HIGHWAY OR IN AN OFF STREET
PARKING FACILITY FOR THE PURPOSE
OF FACILITATING A MOTOR VEHICLE
SPEED SPEED CONTEST. SO WE VERY
MUCH FOCUSED ON, AS IN THE
DEBATE IN PUBLIC SAFETY
COMMITTEE ON SOMEONE WHO IS
BLOCKING A ROAD OR INTERSECTION.
SPECIFICALLY FOR THIS PURPOSE.
SO HOPEFULLY THAT CLARIFIES,
THAT THE CONCERN AND SO THAT WE
WERE ABLE TO, TO SPECIFICALLY
FOCUS ON THAT. SO THIS BILL
CERTAINLY PROVIDES A LAW
ENFORCEMENT WITH THAT TOOL OF
DETERRING SIDESHOWS BY ALLOWING
A PEACE OFFICER TO IMPOUND A
VEHICLE IN THIS SPECIFIC
CIRCUMSTANCE WITHOUT TAKING THE
INDIVIDUAL INTO CUSTODY. I
BELIEVE THAT WILL SAVE LIVES.
AND I RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR AN I
VOTE. THANK YOU. AND I BELIEVE
WE STILL DO NOT HAVE A QUORUM.
OKAY. THANK YOU. WHEN IT'S
APPROPRIATE, WE WILL DO THAT.
MOVING ON TO ITEM NUMBER SIX AB
20 102. KIM PATTERSON
.
THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO
PRESENT AB 20 102. FIRST OF ALL,
WE ARE ACCEPTING THE COMMITTEE
AMENDMENTS. WE ALSO WANT TO SAY
THANK YOU TO THE STAFF FOR
WORKING THROUGH AND EDUCATING
THEMSELVES AND THIS COMMITTEE
WITH RESPECT TO WHAT WE ARE
ATTEMPTING HERE AND HOW WE CAN,
HELP THESE YOUTH CAMPS PROVIDE
THE EXPERIENCE ON THE WATER, AT
THE SAME TIME MAKING SURE THAT
SAFETY IS A HIGH PRIORITY. WE
ALSO WANT THE COMMITTEE TO KNOW
THAT WE HAVE HAD PRODUCTIVE
CONVERSATION WITH THE CALIFORNIA
STATE SHERIFFS, REGARDING
AMENDMENTS, THAT THEY ARE IN THE
PROCESS OF PREPARING, AS
OUTLINED IN OUR DISCUSSIONS. WE
PROBABLY WILL BE WILLING TO
ACCEPT THOSE AMENDMENTS AND,
LIKELY THAT THEIR OPPOSITION MAY
BE REMOVED, AS I SAID, THESE
DISCUSSIONS, WERE IN SOMEWHAT
DETAILED, AND THAT WE ARE
ANTICIPATING AMENDMENTS THAT WE
CAN READILY ACCEPT THEY MAKE
SENSE WITHOUT, DOING DAMAGE TO
THE BASIC, EFFORT HERE, TO TRY
AND MAKE SURE THAT THESE CAMPS
CAN FIND GOOD PEOPLE, DO IT
SAFELY. AND THE REASON FOR AB
2102 IS TO ADDRESS A REGULATORY
BURDEN THAT THESE YOUTH CAMPS
FACE WHILE TRYING TO PROVIDE A
SAFE BOATING EXPERIENCE FOR
KIDS. AND CURRENTLY, YOUTH CAMPS
NEED A FOR HIGHER BOATING
LICENSE WHENEVER THEY TAKE FOUR
OR MORE OF OUR KIDS OUT ON THE
WATER. NOW, IT'S THE HURDLES
THAT THEY HAVE TO GO THROUGH IN
ORDER TO GET TO THIS PLACE TO
OBTAIN A FOR HIRE BOATING
LICENSE, YOU HAVE TO BE 18 YEARS
OR OLDER, PASS A PHYSICAL, PASS
AN ONLINE TEST, PASS IT IN
PERSON TEST AND HAVE ONE YEAR'S
EXPERIENCE OPERATING A BOAT.
THAT IS THE FUNDAMENTAL PROBLEM
THAT THESE CAMPS FACE. FINDING A
QUALIFIED CANDIDATE WITH A YEARS
WORTH OF EXPERIENCE AND WITH A
FOR HIRE, BOATING LICENSE IS A
VERY DIFFICULT TASK TO FULFILL
BECAUSE THE POSITION IS FOR A 2
TO 3 MONTH PERIOD IN IN THE
SUMMER SEASON, USUALLY,
OBVIOUSLY THOSE THAT PERHAPS
HAVE THAT, THAT FOR HIGHER
LICENSE AND THEY ARE, THE
SKIPPERS OF, OF TRAWLERS OR
FISHING BOATS OR OTHER KINDS OF
BOATS, THAT IS IT IS DIFFICULT
FOR THEM TO SAY, OKAY, WELL,
I'LL FOREGO THAT AND WE'LL GO TO
A TWO, THREE MONTH SEASON. AND
SO HERE'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO
DO, MAYBE 2102 WOULD EXEMPT
YOUTH CAMPS FROM THE FOR HIRE
BOATING LICENSE, BUT IT ALSO
REQUIRES THE CAMP TO DO THE
FOLLOWING. CARRY LIABILITY
INSURANCE, INSURE REGULAR
MAINTENANCE AND SAFETY CHECKS
FOR THE VESSELS. ADMINISTER A
SKILLS TEST TO ALL PERSONS WHO
OPERATE A CAMP, A VESSEL AND
THEY MUST KEEP WRITTEN RECORDS.
AB 2102 WOULD STILL REQUIRE THE
VESSEL OPERATOR TO BE AT LEAST
18 YEARS OLD, POSSESS A BOATING
CARD, OBVIOUSLY WEAR A LIFE VEST
. GIVE A SAFETY BRIEFING TO ALL
PASSENGERS PRIOR TO THE BOARDING
. AB 2102 IS AN ATTEMPT IN A
HOLISTIC APPROACH TO EASING THE
EMPLOYMENT AND REGULAR BURDENS
THAT OFTENTIMES KEEP CAMPS IN A
DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCE WHILE
TRYING THEIR BEST TO SAFELY PUT
THE KIDS ON THE WATER FOR AND
ENJOYING A FULL EXPERIENCE, AND
PARTICULARLY THOSE CAMPS THAT
OPERATE OPPORTUNITIES TO GET
KIDS INTO THE, INTO THE WATER,
INTO BEAUTIFUL SCENERY, WHO HAVE
COME MAYBE FROM DIFFICULT
CIRCUMSTANCES, AND INNER CITY
KIDS WITH LIMITED OPPORTUNITY.
THOSE KINDS OF EFFORTS, SO WE
BELIEVE THIS IS AN A HOLISTIC
APPROACH TO EASING THE
EMPLOYMENT AND THE REGULATORY
BURDEN, BUT ALSO WE BELIEVE THAT
IT MAINTAINS A STRINGENT SAFETY
STANDARDS AND ACCOUNTABILITY, AS
I HAVE OUTLAWED OUTLINED HERE,
HERE WITH ME TO TESTIFY IN
SUPPORT OF AB 2102 IS ANDY
MORSBERGER LEGISLATIVE OF CHAIR
OF THE CALIFORNIA COLLABORATION
FOR YOUTH, AND KATHRYN,
BARANKIN. THE EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR, CALIFORNIA
COLLABORATION FOR YOUTH. THANK
YOU. MADAM CHAIR, MEMBERS,
THANKS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO
SPEAK TO YOU TODAY, MY NAME IS
ANDY MESHBERGER. I'M HERE
REPRESENTING GOLD ARROW CAMP AND
THE CALIFORNIA COLLABORATION FOR
YOUTH, AB 2102, AS CURRENTLY
AMENDED, PROVIDES A COMMON SENSE
SOLUTION FOR A PROBLEM THAT
FACES SUMMER CAMPS, AS
ASSEMBLYMAN PATTERSON SAID, WE
WANT TO GET KIDS SAFELY INTO
CALIFORNIA'S SPECTACULAR OUTDOOR
SPACES, AND WE WANT TO DO THAT
FOR AS MANY KIDS AS WE CAN. AND
THE CURRENT REGULATORY STRUCTURE
IS HAMPERING, THE NUMBER OF KIDS
WE CAN SERVE BECAUSE IT'S SO
DIFFICULT TO GET THIS FOR HIRE
LICENSE, THE SITUATION
CURRENTLY, IF WE HAVE THREE
PEOPLE ON A BOAT, A BOAT DRIVER,
A LIFEGUARD, AND A KID
WATERSKIING, THE BOAT IS
GOVERNED AS A RECREATIONAL
VESSEL. I PUT A SECOND KID IN
THE BOAT. IT LEGALLY TRANSFORMS
INTO A FOR HIRE VESSEL. I NEED A
FOR HIRE OPERATOR'S LICENSE, THE
PROCESS TO GET THIS IS
BURDENSOME FOR MANY REASONS, BUT
AS THE ASSEMBLY MEMBER NOTED,
THE MAJOR ONE IS A YEAR OF
DOCUMENTED EXPERIENCE FOR BOAT
DRIVERS, WE HIRE A BUNCH OF 18,
19 AND 20 YEAR OLDS TO WORK A 12
WEEK SUMMER SEASON FINDING
SOMEBODY WHO QUALIFIES AS A NEAR
PEER MENTOR AND HAS A YEAR OF
DOCUMENTED BOAT DRIVING
EXPERIENCE IS VERY DIFFICULT,
THIS BILL WOULD ALLOW US TO
STILL DO THAT TESTING AND THAT
TRAINING, BUT IT WOULD REMOVE
THAT YEAR WORTH OF EXPERIENCE,
IT WOULD ALSO, THE OTHER MAJOR
ISSUE WE FACE IS THE STATE
CURRENTLY HAS ONE PERSON WHO CAN
PROCTOR THE IN-PERSON EXAM FOR
HIRE OPERATORS, WHICH MAKES
SCHEDULING VERY DIFFICULT WHEN
ALL CAMPS ARE TRYING TO TRAIN
THEIR PEOPLE IN THE SAME 2 OR 3
WEEKS IN EARLY JUNE, THIS BILL
WOULD ALLOW US TO CERTIFY THAT
WE COULD DO THAT TESTING
IN-HOUSE AND CERTIFY TO THE
DEPARTMENT OF BOATING AND
WATERWAYS THAT THEY HAD MET THE
REQUIREMENTS, AND THEN BOATING
AND WATERWAYS WOULD ISSUE US A
PERMIT TO OPERATE, CAMPS ARE
ALREADY AMONG THE SAFEST VESSEL
OPERATORS IN CALIFORNIA, WITH
THE LARGEST CAMP INSURER
PROVIDING STATISTICS. THEY HAVE
ZERO BOAT DRIVER LIABILITY
CLAIMS IN CALIFORNIA FOR MORE
THAN A DECADE. THIS BILL
CODIFIES THE PROCEDURES THAT
CAMPS ALREADY HAVE IN PLACE THAT
HAVE ALLOWED FOR THAT KIND OF
SAFETY, IT WOULD CONTINUE TO
HOLD CAMP OPERATORS TO A HIGHER
STANDARD THAN OTHER OPERATORS ON
CALIFORNIA WATERS, ESPECIALLY
THOSE WHO USE RENTAL VESSELS
WHICH ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE NO
LICENSURE OR TRAINING WHATSOEVER
. WE APPRECIATE THE
COLLABORATION AMENDMENTS
SUGGESTED BY PARKS AND
RECREATION, WHICH STRENGTHENED
THE BILL AND ADDED ADDITIONAL
SAFETY MEASURES TO PROTECT OUR
CAMPERS. YOU HAVE TO WRAP UP. IN
THAT CASE, I'LL ASK FOR AN AYE
AND I'LL PASS IT OVER. MADAM
CHAIR MEMBERS CATHY BARANKIN
WITH CALIFORNIA COLLABORATION
FOR YOUTH. I WOULD JUST, I GUESS
DOUBLE WHAT, MR. MORSBERGER JUST
MENTIONED. AND THAT IS YOU CAN
GO UP TO LAKE TAHOE RIGHT NOW,
RUN A BOAT. YOU DON'T HAVE TO
SHOW THAT YOU'VE HAD ANY
EXPERIENCE THAT YOU EVEN KNOW
HOW TO START THE BOAT AND YOU'RE
GOOD. TAKE THE BOAT, TAKE ALL
YOUR FRIENDS. GO AND OUR CAMPS
ARE ALREADY TRAINING OUR DRIVERS
. WE'RE MAKING SURE THAT
THEY'RE, KEEPING THE PASSENGERS
ON THE BOAT SAFE. AND WE'VE BEEN
REALLY FOR THE LAST TEN YEARS,
BEEN ARGUING THAT WE DO NOT
BELIEVE THAT OUR BOATS ARE FOR
HIRE. WE DON'T TAKE THEM
SOMEPLACE AND DROP THEM OFF.
WE'RE NOT OF A VESSEL THAT
TRANSPORTS CARS OR ANYTHING ELSE
THAT A FOR HIRE TYPE DRIVER
WOULD USE. SO I WOULD JUST
EMPHASIZE THAT WE FEEL LIKE
WE'RE WE'RE GOING OVER THE NET
HERE BY SAYING WE'RE WILLING TO
BUY A PERMIT FROM BOATING AND
WATERWAYS. WE'RE WILLING TO MAKE
SURE THAT EVERYONE IS TESTED AND
THAT OUR BOATS ARE OPERATED
SAFELY. BUT WITHOUT THIS BILL,
WE FEEL VERY COMMITTED TO THE
FACT THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO
CUT BACK OR DROP OUR BOATING
PROGRAMS. IT JUST WON'T BE
FEASIBLE BECAUSE WE WON'T BE
ABLE TO FIND BOAT CAPTAINS. SO
WITH THAT, I ASK FOR YOUR AYE
VOTE AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR
TIME. THANK YOU. NOW, MOVING TO
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO ARE
ALSO IN SUPPORT OF THIS BILL,
THIS WOULD BE APPROPRIATE TIME
FOR ME TO NAME ORGANIZATION AND
POSITION ARE THERE ANY. SEEING
NONE NOW, WE'LL MOVE TO PRIMARY
WITNESSES AND OPPOSITION, FEEL
FREE TO COME FORWARD AND THEN
START AT YOUR CONVENIENCE.
BEFORE YOU START, I FORGOT I.
THANK YOU. MAJORITY LEADER. WE
NOW HAVE A QUORUM. SO LET'S
ESTABLISH THE QUORUM. SECRETARY,
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. WILSON
HERE. WILSON HERE. DAVIS.
AGUIAR-CURRY AGUIAR-CURRY HERE.
CARILLO. HART HOOVER. JACKSON.
JACKSON HERE. ORTEGA PAPIN.
PAPIN. HERE. SANCHEZ. KING KING.
HERE. VALENCIA. VALENCIA. HERE
WALLACE. WALLACE. HERE. WARD.
WARD. HERE WICKS. GREAT WITH
THAT. YOU MAY BEGIN. THANK YOU,
MADAM CHAIR. AND MEMBERS, ON
BEHALF OF THE CALIFORNIA STATE
SHERIFFS ASSOCIATION,
UNFORTUNATELY, STILL HERE IN
OPPOSITION TODAY, WE HAVE HAD
CONVERSATIONS WITH THE AUTHOR
AND SPONSOR, I THINK THEY HAVE
BEEN PRODUCTIVE AT THIS TIME. WE
REMAIN OPPOSED TO THE BILL, WE
HAVE, AS THE AUTHOR SAID, HAVE
BEEN WORKING INTERNALLY TO SEE
IF THERE'S SOMETHING WE CAN
OFFER THAT WOULD BE IN LINE WITH
OUR SAFETY CONCERNS AND EASE THE
BURDENS ON THE CAMPS, WE ARE
WORKING ON THAT. AS THE AUTHOR
SAID, AGAIN, JUST TO MAKE CLEAR,
OUR OUR CONCERN HERE IS THE
SAFETY OF THOSE OPERATING THE
VESSELS, THOSE RIDING ON THE
VESSELS AND OTHERS WHO USE THE
WATERWAYS, THAT ARE USED BY THE
VESSELS IN QUESTION HERE, THE
SPONSOR OR THE WITNESS
MENTIONED, THE DISTINCTION
BETWEEN 3 OR 4 PASSENGERS AND
WHAT THOSE PASSENGERS ARE DOING
OR THAT SORT OF THING. WE HAVE
BEEN WORKING. THERE'S A
DISTINCTION BETWEEN STATE LAW
AND FEDERAL LAW ON, HOW MANY
PASSENGERS MAKE YOU A FOR HIRE
VESSEL? WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE
THAT CONFORM. THE COAST GUARD
DEFINITION IS IF YOU HAVE ONE
PERSON ON A VESSEL AND THERE IS
A COMMERCIAL INTEREST THAT'S A
FOR HIRE VESSEL. SO THERE'S
ALREADY SOME LACK OF CLARITY IN
THE LAW THAT WE THINK, SHOULD BE
ADDRESSED. SO AGAIN, HAPPY TO
CONTINUE WORKING WITH THE
AUTHOR, THE COMMITTEE, AND
THANKS FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
THANK YOU. ARE THERE ANY OTHER
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO ARE IN
OPPOSITION WHO WOULD LIKE TO
PROVIDE, ON TESTIMONY? THAT'S
NAME, ORGANIZATION AND POSITION.
SEEING NONE, I MOVE IT BACK TO
COMMITTEE FOR ANY QUESTIONS,
COMMENTS OR CONCERNS. SEEING
NONE. ALL RIGHT. WELL, THANK YOU
TO THE AUTHOR FOR WORKING TO
ALLEVIATE BURDENS ON CAMP
PROGRAMS ACROSS THE STATE WHILE
ENSURING SAFETY AND ADEQUATE
LICENSING FOR THE USE OF VESSELS
AT CAMP. I ENCOURAGE THE AUTHOR
TO CONTINUE WORKING WITH THE
CALIFORNIA STATE SHERIFF'S
ASSOCIATION ON THE BILL MOVING
FORWARD, NOTING, YOU MENTIONED
TAKING COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS, BUT
WE WERE ABLE TO GET TO A GOOD
PLACE WELL IN ADVANCE. SO
THEY'RE ACTUALLY YOUR OWN
AMENDMENTS. SO WE ARE LOOKING AT
A COMPLETE DOCUMENT TODAY, BUT
RECOGNIZE THAT YOU ARE GOING TO
CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE
SHERIFF'S ASSOCIATION TO BE ABLE
TO PROVIDE AMENDMENTS AS YOU
MOVE FORWARD, WITH THAT, I'LL BE
SUPPORTING THIS BILL TODAY. AND
SO LOOKING TO THE COMMITTEE, IF
THERE IS A MOTION, IT'S BEEN
MOVED BY WALLACE. SECOND BY
JACKSON, I WILL GIVE YOU AN
OPPORTUNITY TO CLOSE BEFORE
CALLING FOR THE VOTE. THANK YOU.
AGAIN, APPRECIATE, THE,
SHERIFF'S AND IN THE DISCUSSIONS
THAT WE'VE HAD WITH RESPECT TO
SOME OTHER, AMENDMENTS, AS I
MENTIONED BEFORE, THE OUTLINE
THAT THEY PRESENTED TO ME IN MY
OFFICE NOT LONG AGO IS AN
OUTLINE THAT IF IT WAS BROUGHT
TO US FOR AMENDMENT AND WE COULD
REMOVE THE OPPOSITION OR AT
LEAST MAYBE GO TO A TO A NON, WE
WOULD BE WILLING TO, TO ACCEPT
THOSE, I WANT TO SAY THAT THE,
THE, THAT THOSE DISCUSSIONS
OWNS, AND I BELIEVE THAT, THAT
THE SHERIFFS CAN BEGIN TO
UNDERSTAND THAT WHAT WE ARE
PROPOSING HERE FOR, KEEPS THE
HIGH THRESHOLD OF SAFETY, WHILE
ALLOWING THEM TO GO FIND PEOPLE
THAT DON'T HAVE TO MAKE A
DECISION TO GO OFF OF A
COMMERCIAL VESSEL WHERE THEY'RE
PAID A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT YEAR
IN AND YEAR OUT AND GO TO A
CAMP, AND GO FOR A COUPLE OF
MONTHS IN SUMMERTIME. AND THE
OTHER THING IS, I THINK THAT
IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE WE WERE
VERY, VERY INTERESTED IN
DETERMINING THE SAFETY OF THESE
CAMPS, YOU CAN GO TO THE WATER
AND BOATING, WEBSITE, AND THEY
HAVE ALL OF THE, LISTED BOATING
ACCIDENTS UP AND DOWN THE STATE
OF CALIFORNIA. YOU CANNOT FIND
ONE INSTANCE IN THAT REPORTING
OF THESE YOUTH CAMPS HAVING
THOSE KINDS OF DIFFICULTY. SO
THEY TAKE IT VERY SERIOUSLY AS
WELL. WE'VE OUTLINED WHAT THEY
MUST DO TO CONTINUE, WE
APPRECIATE THE STAFF'S WORKING
ON THIS, AND WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR
THE CHAIR'S UNDERSTANDING AND
RECOMMENDATION. AND WITH THAT, I
WILL ASK FOR AN AYE VOTE. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU, MADAM SECRETARY.
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. WILSON.
AYE. WILSON AYE. DAVIES.
AGUIAR-CURRY. AGUIAR-CURRY. AYE
CARILLO. HEART. HOOVER. JACKSON.
JACKSON AYE. ORTEGA. PAPIN.
HAPPEN AYE. SANCHEZ. SING. SING.
AYE VALENCIA. VALENCIA. AYE.
WALLACE WALLACE. AYE. WARD.
WARD. AYE. WICKS. THAT IS. EIGHT
VOTES WILL LEAVE THE ROLE OPEN
FOR MEMBERS TO ADD ON, AS EIGHT
VOTES WILL LEAVE THE ROLE OPEN,
I THANK YOU. YEAH, WE'RE WAITING
TILL EVERYONE'S HERE, BUT, YEAH,
OUR OUR OUR THRESHOLD IS THE
MAJORITY UPDATE. THANK YOU.
ALRIGHT, WE'LL DISPENSE WITH
CONSENT CALENDAR. I'LL CALL THEM
OUT, BUT WE HAVE A FIRST BY
AGUIAR-CURRY AND A SECOND BY
PAPIN. WE HAVE FOLLOWED HIM TO
AB 1882 VÀ VALLAPUDUA. ITEM
FOUR, AB 20 2186 VINCE FONG.
ITEM EIGHT AB 2281 SORIA. ITEM
NINE AB 2385 ALANIZ. ITEM 15 AB
3055 BONTA. ITEM 16 AB 2645
LACKEY. ITEM 20 AB 3168 GIBSON.
ITEM 21 AB 3243 TO ITEM 25 AB
3093. WARD ITEM 26 AB 3278.
TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE, WE
HAVE A MOTION, AS NOTED, MADE BY
AGUILAR CURRY AND A SECOND BY
PAPIN. MADAM SECRETARY, PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL. WILSON. AYE.
WILSON. AYE DAVIES.
AGUIAR-CURRY. AGUIAR-CURRY. AYE
CARILLO. HART. HOOVER. HOOVER.
AYE JACKSON. JACKSON. AYE.
ORTEGA ORTEGA. AYE. PAPIN. PAPIN
I. SANCHEZ TING. TING. AYE.
VALENCIA. VALENCIA AYE. WALLACE.
WALLACE. AYE. WARD WARD. AYE.
WICKS THAT'S TEN. FOR THE
CONSENT CALENDAR. CONSENT
CALENDAR. DAVIES. DAVIES AYE.
CARILLO. HART. SANCHEZ. WICKS
SOUNDS GOOD. THAT IS. THAT IS
11. WE WILL HOLD THAT. OPEN THE
ROLL. OPEN FOR, MEMBERS TO ADD
ON. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE
BACKWARDS BEFORE WE GO FORWARDS,
STARTING WITH ITEM NUMBER THREE,
AB 1978, VINCE FONG. WE HAVE A
MOTION BY AGUILAR CURRY, A
SECOND BY WALLACE, MADAM
SECRETARY, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL
AB 1978. THE MOTION IS DUE. PASS
TO THE COMMITTEE ON
APPROPRIATIONS. WILSON. AYE.
WILSON. AYE. DAVIES DAVIES. AYE.
AGUIAR-CURRY. AGUIAR-CURRY. AYE
CARILLO. HART. HOOVER. HOOVER.
AYE. JACKSON JACKSON. AYE.
ORTEGA. ORTEGA. AYE PAPIN.
PAPIN. AYE. SANCHEZ. SINGH
SINGH. AYE. VALENCIA. VALENCIA.
YES WALLACE. WALLACE. AYE. WARD.
WARD. AYE WICKS. THAT HAS 11
VOTES. WE'LL HOLD THE ROLL OPEN
FOR MEMBERS TO ADD ON. I'M
MOVING ON TO ITEM NUMBER FIVE.
AB 2086. SCHIAVO IT'S BEEN MOVED
BY AGUILAR. CURRY. IS THERE A
SECOND? SECOND BY WALLACE. MADAM
SECRETARY, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL
AB 2086. THE MOTION IS DUE. PASS
TO THE COMMITTEE ON
APPROPRIATIONS. WILSON. HI.
WILSON AYE. DAVIES. DAVIES. AYE.
AGUIAR-CURRY AGUIAR-CURRY. AYE.
CARILLO. HART. HOOVER HOOVER.
AYE. JACKSON. JACKSON. AYE
ORTEGA. ORTEGA. AYE. PAPIN
PAPIN. AYE. SANCHEZ. TING. TING.
AYE VALENCIA. VALENCIA. AYE.
WALLACE. WALLACE AYE. WARD.
WARD. AYE THAT HAS 11 VOTES,
WE'LL LEAVE THE ROLL OPEN FOR
MEMBERS TO ADD ON, PLEASE NOTE,
ITEM NUMBER. ITEM NUMBER 13, AB
2480 BY GARCIA HAS BEEN PULLED
BY THE AUTHOR AND WILL NOT BE
PRESENTED TODAY. ALL RIGHT,
MOVING ON TO ITEM NUMBER SEVEN.
AB 2234 BURNER, AT YOUR
CONVENIENCE
.
OKAY. GOOD MORNING OR GOOD
AFTERNOON, CHAIR. MEMBERS AB
2234 WOULD AUTHORIZE A FOUR YEAR
OPT IN PILOT PROJECT IN THE
COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO, BANNING
E-BIKES FOR ANYONE UNDER THE AGE
OF 12. CONSISTENT WITH DATA FROM
THE CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY
COMMISSION. THE COUNTY OF SAN
DIEGO AND CITIES WITHIN THE
COUNTY WOULD HAVE TO PASS AN
ORDINANCE OR A RESOLUTION TO
IMPLEMENT THE PILOT PROGRAM WITH
REPORTING REQUIREMENTS MIRRORED
IN THE RACIAL AND IDENTITY
PROFILING ACT, KNOWN AS RIPA.
E-BIKES ARE BECOMING
INCREASINGLY COMMON MODE OF
TRANSPORTATION FOR BOTH
RECREATION AND COMMUTING.
E-BIKES OFFER A ZERO EMISSION
ACCESSIBLE WAY TO TRAVEL,
ESPECIALLY FOR CHILDREN AND
ADULTS WHO DON'T DRIVE. HOWEVER,
CONCERNS ABOUT E-BIKE SAFETY
HAVE BEEN RAISED DUE TO THE
MAXIMUM SPEED THAT THEY'RE ABLE
TO REACH WITH LESS EFFORT. CLASS
ONE, CLASS ONE, AND TWO E-BIKES
CAN GO UP TO 20 MILES AN HOUR,
AND THAT'S NOT EVEN COUNTING
YOUR DOWNHILL SPEED, AND CLASS
THREE GO UP TO 28 MILES AN HOUR.
WITH THE SURGE OF E-BIKES,
INJURIES HAVE OCCURRED MORE
FREQUENTLY THAN WITH SERIOUS
CONSEQUENCES AND INJURIES. IN
AUGUST 2022, THE CARLSBAD CITY
COUNCIL APPROVED AN E-BIKE
EMERGENCY PROCLAMATION DUE TO A
233% INCREASE IN ACCIDENTS
INVOLVING E-BIKES AND BICYCLES.
THE PROCLAMATION INCLUDES THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF SEVERAL
TRAFFIC TRAFFIC SAFETY EFFORTS,
DIRECTED SPECIFICALLY TOWARDS
MAKING THE CITY'S ROADS SAFER
FOR CYCLISTS. SHORTLY
THEREAFTER, IN MAY 2023, A
TEENAGER AT MY SON'S SCHOOL. IN
THE CITY OF ENCINITAS LOST HIS
LIFE IN AN E-BIKE COLLISION WITH
A MOTORIZED VEHICLE. AS A
RESPONSE, THE CITY COUNCIL
APPROVED CARLSBAD SPECIFIC RULES
FOR E-BIKE RIDERS, WHICH PROVIDE
CARLSBAD POLICE POLICE OFFICERS
WITH MORE ENFORCEMENT OPTIONS,
INCLUDING E-BIKE SAFETY
TRAINING. WHAT WE ALSO KNOW UP
HERE AS DIVERSION PROGRAMS
SIMILAR TO TRAFFIC SCHOOLS FOR
BIKES, WHERE E-BIKE RIDERS HAVE
THE OPTION TO COMPLETE AN E-BIKE
SAFETY COURSE AFTER AN E-BIKE
CITATION. SIMILARLY, E-BIKE
SAFETY PROGRAMS HAVE BEEN
ESTABLISHED IN THE CITIES OF
ENCINITAS AND CORONADO. WITH THE
CONTINUED POPULARITY OF E-BIKES,
AB 2234 WOULD ALLOW THE COUNTY
OF SAN DIEGO TO ESTABLISH A
PILOT PROGRAM BANNING E-BIKE
RIDERS FOR UNDER THE AGE OF 12
TO CAPTURE DATA ABOUT WHETHER
SUCH POLICIES WOULD IMPROVE
PUBLIC SAFETY OF OUR ROADS, BOTH
FOR E-BIKE RIDERS AND VEHICLE
OWNERS. I RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR
AN AYE VOTE TODAY. I HAVE HERE
WITH ME SCOTT CHADWICK, CITY
MANAGER FOR THE CITY OF CARLSBAD
, THE SPONSOR OF THIS BILL.
THANK YOU. I RESPECTFULLY ASK
FOR YOUR VOTE. GOOD AFTERNOON,
COMMITTEE MEMBERS, MY NAME IS
SCOTT CHADWICK, CITY MANAGER FOR
THE CITY OF CARLSBAD. FIRST, I'D
LIKE TO EXPRESS HER SINCERE
GRATITUDE TO ASSEMBLY MEMBER
TASHA BOERNER FOR SPONSORING THE
BILL, AS WELL AS CHAIR LORI
WILSON AND THE TRANSPORTATION,
TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE STAFF
FOR THEIR WORK ON THIS BILL. AB
2234, THE SAN DIEGO COUNTY
ELECTRIC BICYCLE SAFETY PILOT
PROGRAM IS A CRUCIAL INITIATIVE
ENABLING CITIES IN SAN DIEGO
COUNTY TO REGULATE E-BIKE USE
AMONG CHILDREN UNDER 12 BY
ALLOWING US TO ENACT LOCAL
ORDINANCES. THIS BILL WOULD
PROVIDE OUR CITIES THE TOOLS TO
IMPLEMENT A $25 FINE OR
MANDATORY SAFETY TRAINING FOR
E-BIKE VIOLATIONS, ADDRESSING A
CRITICAL GAP IN OUR CURRENT
ENFORCEMENT CAPABILITIES IN
CARLSBAD, WE WITNESSED A
STAGGERING 233% INCREASE, 233%
IN BIKE AND E-BIKE COLLISIONS,
THAT ULTIMATELY, BETWEEN 2019
AND 22, INCLUDING TWO TRAGIC
FATALITIES IN AUGUST OF 22 THAT
LED TO THE CITY DECLARING A
LOCAL STATE OF EMERGENCY. THIS
ALARMING TREND HIGHLIGHTS THE
URGENT NEED FOR MORE STRUCTURED
SAFETY PROTOCOLS. E-BIKES CAN
REACH SPEEDS UP TO 28MPH,
MATCHING THE SPEEDS OF CARS ON
MANY OF THE CITY STREETS, GIVING
THESE HIGH SPEEDS IMPROPER USE
OF E-BIKES CAN BE EXTREMELY
DANGEROUS BY REQUIRING E-BIKE
USERS WITHOUT A DRIVER'S LICENSE
TO OBTAIN A SKILLS WAIVER
DEMONSTRATING THEIR KNOWLEDGE
AND ABILITY TO OPERATE THESE
VEHICLES SAFELY, WE CAN
SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE THE RISK OF
COLLISIONS AND FATALITIES. THE
INTRODUCTION OF AB 2234 IS NOT
JUST ABOUT REGULATION, IT'S
ABOUT ENSURING OUR CHILDREN
RECEIVE PROPER TRAINING AND
AWARENESS ABOUT THE SAFETY
OPERATION OF E-BIKES, FURTHER
SAFEGUARDING OUR COMMUNITIES.
THE STATE OF EMERGENCY ENABLED
CARLSBAD TO SWIFTLY REALLOCATE
RESOURCES AND TAKE DECISIVE
ACTIONS TO MITIGATE THE RISKS.
THE RISING THREAT FROM E-BIKES
HOWEVER, FOR A SUSTAINABLE
IMPACT STATEWIDE AWARENESS AND
STANDARDIZED TRAINING
REQUIREMENTS ARE ESSENTIAL.
WHICH IS WHICH. UNDERSTOOD, I
THANK YOU. ONCE AGAIN FOR YOUR
ATTENTION AND FOR CONSIDERING
OUR STRONG SUPPORT FOR AB 2234.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND THROUGH
THE CHAIR, IF I MAY, I DIDN'T
SAY IN MY OPENING STATEMENT, BUT
OF COURSE, WE'RE ACCEPTING THE
RECOMMENDED, THE COMMITTEE
AMENDMENTS THAT WERE RECOMMENDED
TO US. THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
NOW, MOVING TO MEMBERS OF THE
PUBLIC WHO WOULD LIKE TO ADD ON
THEIR SUPPORT, WITH NOTING THEIR
NAME, ORGANIZATION AND POSITION.
GOOD AFTERNOON, CHIARA ROSS, ON
BEHALF OF THE CITY OF CARLSBAD,
VERY THANKFUL TO THE AUTHOR FOR
HER EFFORTS ON THIS AND IN
SUPPORT OF THE BILL. IS THERE
ANYONE ELSE NOW MOVING TO
OPPOSITION? ARE THERE ANY
PRIMARY WITNESSES IN OPPOSITION
TO THE BILL? SEEING NONE MOVING
FORWARD TO LÀ ANY MEMBERS FOR
BRIEF, ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
FOR A BRIEF, OPPOSITION NAME
ORGANIZATION, POSITION CHAIR.
I'LL BE I'LL BE BRIEF. MARK
SAVAGE, ON BEHALF OF STREETS FOR
ALL, WE DEFINITELY RECOGNIZE
THAT THERE'S AN ISSUE WITH
E-BIKES AND FATALITIES ON THE
ROADWAY. THE REALITY, THOUGH, IS
BASED ON THE DATA, IS THAT
E-BIKE RIDERS ARE GETTING HIT BY
CARS AND THAT'S WHERE THOSE
DEATHS AND FATALITIES ARE. THE
VAST MAJORITY OF THOSE ARE
COMING FROM. AND THE ANSWER THAT
WE HAVE AS AN ORGANIZATION IS
BETTER INFRASTRUCTURE AND
FRANKLY, BETTER TRAINING OF
DRIVERS, RATHER THAN PUTTING A
PROHIBITION IN FRONT OF E-BIKE
RIDERS, AND CHILDREN THEMSELVES.
LAST THING I'LL MENTION IS THAT
STREETS FOR ALL DID SUPPORT A
BILL LAST YEAR. SB 381 BY
SENATOR MINH, WHICH REQUIRED THE
LEGISLATURE TO FUND A STUDY ON
BEST SAFETY PRACTICES FOR
E-BIKES. AND WE THOROUGHLY LOOK
FORWARD TO THE RESULTS OF THAT
STUDY BEFORE WE MAKE SIGNIFICANT
POLICY CHANGE. AND THAT'S WHAT
WE'D ENCOURAGE. AND IF THAT
RESULT OF THAT STUDY SHOWS THAT
THIS IS THE BEST POLICY, WE WILL
LOOK FORWARD TO SUPPORTING THAT
AND SPONSORING THAT IN THE
FUTURE. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU. WITH THAT, MOVING TO
MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE FOR ANY
QUESTIONS, COMMENTS AND CONCERNS
STARTING WITH, WARD. THANK YOU,
MADAM CHAIR. THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR BRINGING THIS BILL FORWARD,
WHILE I TEND TO BE, PRETTY
JUDICIOUS AND RESERVED WHEN IT
COMES TO HOW FAR WE PROHIBIT OR
REGULATE, I THINK THIS HAS BEEN,
DEVELOPED IN A WAY THAT IS VERY
COMMON SENSE. THE IDEA THAT
THOSE UNDER 12 YEARS OLD SHOULD
BE OPERATING SOMETHING AS, QUICK
AND SOPHISTICATED, SOMETIMES A
POWER UNDER THEIR FEET THAT KIND
OF GETS AWAY FROM THEM AS A NO
BRAINER FOR ME, BASED ON THE
EVIDENCE THAT WE ARE ALREADY
EXPERIENCING, BECAUSE OF THE
PROLIFERATION OF THESE VEHICLES
IN OUR COMMUNITIES, JUST A FOUR
YEAR PILOT TO BE ABLE TO
MONITOR, SAFETY AND, AND, AND
HARMONY, I GUESS, FOR, FOR, FOR
CHILDREN AND FOR THE COMMUNITIES
AROUND US, I THINK IS A SENSIBLE
APPROACH IN OUR COUNTY, AND AS
A, YOU KNOW, COLLEAGUE OF YOURS,
AS A NEIGHBOR, I WOULD VERY MUCH
LIKE TO MOVE THIS ITEM AND
APPRECIATE YOUR WORK ON IT.
THANK YOU. VICE CHAIR DAVIES.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
BRINGING THIS FORTH. I KNOW THAT
WE'VE HAD THIS DISCUSSION
BECAUSE THE DISTRICT THAT I,
REPRESENT HAS BEEN DEALING WITH
THIS FOR SOME TIME. AND, THE
REAL PROBLEM IS, IS THE RULES OF
THE ROAD. AND I RESPECTFULLY
DISAGREE WITH THE LAST PERSON
TALKING IN REGARDS TO IT BEING
THE CAR, BECAUSE I CAN TELL YOU
THAT A LOT OF THIS IS THESE
KIDS, EVEN IF THEY'RE 12, 13,
14, THEY DON'T KNOW THE RULES OF
THE ROAD. AND I SEE THIS EVERY
DAY. I WAS JUST WALKING THE
TRAIL ACTUALLY ON SATURDAY AND
HAD TWO OF THEM COME BY FULL
SPEED AND ALMOST KNOCKED DOWN
TWO SENIORS THAT ARE WALKING ON
THEIR. AND I THINK THAT'S REALLY
IT IS ABOUT EDUCATION. WE'VE
BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR YEARS
ABOUT EDUCATION AND CHANGING,
YOU KNOW, THE CODES SO THAT WE
COULD WORK WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT.
WE COULD LOOK, WORK WITH
AGENCIES AND TO ME, I'M SO GLAD
BECAUSE EVERY TIME I GO OUT
THERE, THEY'RE LIKE, WE NEED THE
TOOLS GIVEN TO US BY THE STATE
SO WE CAN DO THIS. CORRECT YOU
KNOW WHAT? WE UNDERSTAND THIS IS
A GREAT ACTIVITY. WE UNDERSTAND
PEOPLE USE IT TO GET WHERE THEY
NEED TO GO. BUT WHEN YOU'VE GOT
A 12 YEAR OLD, 13 YEAR OLD, EVEN
THEN, I KNOW THIS IS UNDER 12.
THEY DON'T KNOW THE RULES. AND
YOU KNOW WHAT A LOT OF THE
PARENTS DON'T EITHER. SO IT
REALLY IS EDUCATION. AND I'M
JUST GRATEFUL TO BE ABLE TO SEE
THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS THERE'S AN
OPPORTUNITY HERE BECAUSE YOU
KNOW WHAT THIS IS WHAT GIVES US
TO THE CITY. BECAUSE RIGHT NOW
ALL OUR CITIES ARE MAKING
DIFFERENT DECISIONS, AND YOU
REALLY WANT THEM TO HOPEFULLY
COME COHESIVE AND COME INTO ONE,
YOU KNOW, ONE RULE OF ROAD. SO
THAT WHEN YOU'RE GOING FROM ONE
PLACE TO THE OTHER, THERE'S
CONSISTENCY. AND WE WANT THE
KIDS AND THE PARENTS TO BE
EDUCATED. SO I THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD, ALL
ALL THIS DOES IS REALLY KEEP OUR
KIDS SAFE. AND THAT'S REALLY
WHAT THIS IS ABOUT. NUMBER ONE.
SO I WOULD BE HONORED TO BE A
COAUTHOR AND, YOU ALREADY HAVE A
SECOND, BUT I'D SECOND IT AS
WELL. THANKS. SEE? SORRY. EXCUSE
ME. SEEING NO OTHER COMMENTS,
I'LL JUST NOTE MY OWN, BEFORE
YOU CLOSE, I APPRECIATE THE
SAFETY CONCERNS YOU ARE RAISING
FOR ELECTRIC BIKES AND
CHILDREN'S USING THEM. HOWEVER,
I AM CONCERNED ABOUT
CRIMINALIZING THE CHILD FOR
RIDING A DEVICE THEIR PARENTS
PURCHASED FOR THEM. UNDER THIS
BILL, A CHILD WHO HAD THEIR
PARENT PURCHASE THEM AN E-BIKE
WOULD BE SUBJECT TO A LAW
ENFORCEMENT INTERACTION AND A
$200 TICKET. IF THE CHILD FAILS
TO APPEAR IN COURT FOR THE
TICKET, THEY MAY BE SUBJECT TO A
MISDEMEANOR FOR FAILURE TO
APPEAR IN COURT, I DO NOT
BELIEVE THE DATA EXISTS TO
WARRANT MAKING E-BIKES ILLEGAL,
AND AT SOME POINT WE SHOULD
PLACE RESPONSIBILITY ON PARENTS
TO MAKE BETTER CHOICES FOR THEIR
CHILDREN. HOWEVER LIKE AB 1778,
WHICH ALSO ESTABLISHES A PILOT
PROGRAM TO LIMIT THE USE OF
E-BIKES BY YOUNGER PERSONS, I
WAS WILLING TO ALLOW PILOT. SO
AS LONG AS THE MEMBERS WHO
REPRESENT THE AREA WERE OKAY
WITH THAT APPROACH. HOWEVER, I
CANNOT SUPPORT IMPOSING A
REQUIREMENT THAT I HAVE STRONG
FEELINGS ABOUT THAT I WOULD NOT
BE COMFORTABLE IMPOSING ON MY
OWN DISTRICT AND WILL BE VOTING
AGAINST THIS BILL TODAY, THERE'S
BEEN A MOTION MADE BY WARD AND A
SECOND BY TÍNH GIVE YOU AN
OPPORTUNITY TO CLOSE OR SPEAK TO
ANY COMMENTS, BEFORE WE ASK THE
SECRETARY TO CALL THE ROLL.
THANK YOU, AND I REALLY
APPRECIATE WORKING WITH THE
COMMITTEE. I KNOW WE WENT BACK
AND FORTH SEVERAL TIMES ON HOW
DO WE GET THERE. YOU KNOW, THE
FINE IN THIS BILL DOES LIMIT IT
ANY TRAFFIC VIOLATION TO $25
THAT CAN BE WORKED OFF WITH THE
DIVERSION PROGRAM. SO JUST LIKE
WE DO WITH TRAFFIC SCHOOL FOR
CARS, THE TRAFFIC SCHOOL FOR
BIKES, THAT WAS REALLY, REALLY
IMPORTANT FOR THE EQUITY ASPECT,
SEVERAL YEARS AGO I GOT $10
MILLION IN THE BUDGET FOR E-BIKE
VOUCHERS FOR LOW INCOME
CALIFORNIANS. I THINK THAT'S
REALLY IMPORTANT. I THINK WE'RE
SEEING EARLY ADOPTERS AND YOU'RE
SEEING THESE PROBLEMS ON THE
COASTS FIRST. BUT, YOU KNOW, MY
FEAR IS THEY'LL EXPAND OUTWARD
AS E-BIKES BECOME MORE POPULAR
AND OTHER AREAS OF THE STATE,
AND SO REALLY APPRECIATE WORKING
WITH THAT. AND WITH THAT, I
ACCEPT THE COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS
AND ASK FOR RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR
AN AYE VOTE. THANK YOU. BEFORE
WE CALL THE ROLL, I JUST LIKE TO
NOTE THAT THE $25 IS THE BASE
FINE, BUT WITH THE ADDITIONAL
FEES OF 197, IT DOES COME UP TO
OVER $200. WITH THAT, MADAM
SECRETARY, CALL THE ROLL. ÁP AB
2234. THE MOTION IS DUE. PASS TO
THE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS.
WILSON NØ WILSON NØ DAVIES.
DAVIES. AYE. AGUIAR-CURRY.
AGUIAR-CURRY. AYE CARILLO. HART.
HOOVER HOOVER. NOT VOTING.
JACKSON. JACKSON AYE. ORTEGA.
ORTEGA. AYE. PAPIN PAPIN. AYE.
SANCHEZ. TING TING. AYE.
VALENCIA. VALENCIA. YES. WALLACE
WALLACE. AYE. WARD. WARD. AYE.
WICKS. THAT BILL IS HAS NINE ONE
VOTES SO FAR. WE'LL LEAVE THE
ROLL OPEN FOR OTHER MEMBERS TO
ADD ON AS THEY ARRIVE. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. ALL RIGHT. MOVING ON
TO LOOKS LIKE ITEM NUMBER 18
2892. LOW YOU CAN BEGIN AT YOUR
CONVENIENCE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MADAM CHAIR
AND COLLEAGUES, FOR ALLOWING ME
TO PRESENT ASSEMBLY BILL 2892,
WHICH ATTEMPTS TO STABLE RISE,
INCREASING COSTS FOR
TRANSPORTATION COMPANIES WITH
RESPECT TO ASK FOR. I VOTE AND
HAVE ANDREW GOVERNOR HERE TO
ANSWER ANY TECHNICAL QUESTIONS.
ANDREW. GOVERNOR, ON BEHALF OF
MV TRANSPORTATION IN SUPPORT OF
THE MEASURE. OKAY ALL RIGHT, WE
DO HAVE A MOTION MADE BY TÍNH
AND IN A SECOND BY VICE CHAIR
DAVIES. BUT WE WILL MOVE TO,
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO WOULD
LIKE TO ADD ON. ARE THERE ANY
NAME, ORGANIZATION AND POSITION?
SEEING NONE MOVING TO ANY
PRIMARY WITNESSES AND OPPOSITION
? SEEING NONE. WOULD ANYONE, IN
THE PUBLIC LIKE TO GO ON RECORD
IN OPPOSITION? NAMED PHYSICIAN
AND ORGANIZATION. SEEING NONE.
MOVING TO COMMITTEE. QUESTIONS?
COMMENTS. CONCERNS SEEING NONE
AS WAS STATED, THERE'S A MOTION
MADE BY TÍNH AND SECONDED BY
DAVIS DAVIES, THANK YOU FOR
WORKING WITH THE STAKEHOLDERS IN
ASSEMBLY INSURANCE COMMITTEE TO
GET THIS BILL TO A GOOD PLACE,
I'M SUPPORTING IT TODAY WITH
THAT. OH. WOULD YOU LIKE TO
CLOSE? I RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR
OUR VOTE. ALL RIGHT, MADAM
SECRETARY, A B 2892. THE MOTION
IS Dð PASS TO THE COMMITTEE ON
APPROPRIATIONS. WILSON HI.
WILSON. AYE. DAVIES. DAVIES.
AYE. AGUIAR-CURRY AGUIAR-CURRY.
AYE. CARILLO. HART. HOOVER
HOOVER. I. JACKSON. JACKSON. I.
ORTEGA ORTEGA. I. PAPIN. PAPIN
I. SANCHEZ TING TING I.
VALENCIA. VALENCIA I WALLACE.
WALLACE. I WARD. WICKS THAT BILL
HAS TEN, VOTES SO FAR. WE WILL
LEAVE THE ROLL OPEN FOR MEMBERS
TO ADD ON. I THINK IT'S THÀNH.
AS WE, MOVE TO ITEM NUMBER 22,
AB 1770, TÍNH WILL ALSO DO A
CLEAN UP, ITEM NUMBER SIX, A
CLEAN UP ON VOTES. ITEM NUMBER
SIX, AB 20 102 AB 2102. DO PASS
TO THE COMMITTEE ON
APPROPRIATIONS. DAVIES DAVIES I
CARILLO HART. HOOVER HOOVER I.
ORTEGA ORTEGA I SANCHEZ. WICKS.
11. THAT BILL HAS 11. WE'LL
CONTINUE TO KEEP THE ROLL OPEN
FOR MEMBERS TO ADD ON. THANK
YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I'M HERE TO
PRESENT AB 1777. WHICH IS A BILL
WHICH HAS BEEN CRAFTED, TALKING
TO A VARIETY OF STAKEHOLDERS,
INCLUDING LOCAL GOVERNMENT,
AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES, COMPANIES,
AS WELL AS OUR STATE
STAKEHOLDERS AS, AS YOU KNOW,
AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES HAVE BEEN ON
THE ROAD IN MY CITY IN SAN
FRANCISCO FOR QUITE A WHILE.
THEY RECENTLY, THE LAST COUPLE
YEARS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ACTUALLY
BE ON THE ROAD WITHOUT DRIVERS
PICKING UP PASSENGERS, AND THIS
HAS LED TO A VARIETY OF ISSUES
THAT, OF COURSE, YOU CAN ONLY
SORT OF DISCOVER AFTER AFTER THE
FACT. WE'VE HAD NO WAY THAT LAW
ENFORCEMENT CAN CITE AN
AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE. EVERYTHING
IN THE VEHICLE CODE CITES A
DRIVER. THERE'S NO THERE'S NO
AUTHORITY IN THE VEHICLE CODE TO
ACTUALLY CITE A COMPANY OR TO
CITE A CAR, ALSO WHAT WE'VE SEEN
IS WITH THESE WITH THESE CARS,
THEY ALSO END UP INTERFERING
WITH OUR PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICIALS
OR VARIOUS INCIDENTS. THEY'VE
ENDED UP IN CONSTRUCTION SITES,
YOU MIGHT HAVE JUST SAID THEY
THERE WAS CONFUSION WHEN ONE
COMPANY JUST GOT THE AUTHORITY
TO, BE ON THE FREEWAY AND THERE
WAS SOME CONGESTION AT AN ON AN
ON RAMP, AND SO AS, AS WE ARE
SORT OF THE GUINEA PIG HERE IN
SAN FRANCISCO, WE WANTED TO PUT
FORWARD A BILL THAT JUST REALLY
DOES A COUPLE OF THINGS, IT
ALLOWS LAW ENFORCEMENT TO CITE
COMPANIES SIMILAR TO THE WAY
THAT WE WOULD BE CITED SHOULD WE
HAVE A VARIETY OF ISSUES. IT
ALSO STANDARDIZES COMMUNICATIONS
WITH FIRST RESPONDERS. SO FIRST
RESPONDERS WOULD HAVE A PHONE
NUMBER THAT THEY COULD CALL
BECAUSE IF THEY ARE TRYING TO
ENGAGE A CAR, THEY CAN'T REALLY
TALK TO THE CAR. THERE'S NO WAY
TO MOVE THE CAR ASIDE. SO
ACTUALLY HAVING THAT PHONE
NUMBER WHERE THEY COULD TALK TO
THE COMPANY TO ACTUALLY MOVE THE
VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD OR TO MOVE
THE VEHICLE TO A SAFER LOCATION,
WE ALSO GIVE DMV AUTHORITY TO,
MODIFY PERMITS. AND WE ALSO ASK
THEM TO DO OR TO BE AT LEAST BE
A REPOSITORY FOR DATA COLLECTION
. CURRENTLY, MOST OF THE DATA
GOES DIRECTLY TO THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT, TO THE AGENCY OF
NHTSA. AND AS A STATE AND AS
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS. WE'RE TRYING
TO GET ALSO ACCESS TO THIS, TO
THIS VERY IMPORTANT DATA I HAVE
HERE, DEPUTY CHIEF DARIUS, WITH
THE SAN FRANCISCO FIRE
DEPARTMENT, AS WELL AS TILLY
CHANG, WHO'S THE EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR OF OUR SAN FRANCISCO
COUNTY TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY.
THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. GOOD
MORNING, MADAM CHAIR. COMMITTEE
MEMBERS, I SERVE AS EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR. AS ASSEMBLY MEMBER.
TING MENTIONED OF THE SAN
FRANCISCO COUNTY TRANSPORTATION
AUTHORITY, WHICH SERVES AS SAN
FRANCISCO'S COUNTY CONGESTION
MANAGEMENT AGENCY. AND I'M
PLEASED TO CONVEY OUR SUPPORT
FOR THE NEED FOR AB 1777, WE ARE
CHARGED AS THE CMA WITH
MONITORING AND IMPROVING
TRANSPORTATION ACROSS OUR
DIVERSE MULTIMODAL NETWORK, AS
OTHER CMAS ACROSS THE STATE. FOR
OVER A DECADE, WE HAVE
COLLABORATED WITH SOME OF THE
MOST INNOVATIVE COMPANIES IN THE
WORLD TO BRING NEW SERVICES TO
MARKET IN SUPPORT OF OUR LOCAL
SAN FRANCISCO TRANSIT FIRST
GOALS, AS WELL AS SAFETY AND
EQUITY GOALS ACROSS THE CITY AND
REGION. ALSO AS A LOCUS OF
DEPLOYMENT FOR THESE SERVICES,
WE IN SAN FRANCISCO HAVE SEEN
IMPRESSIVE ADVANCES IN THE
ABILITY OF DRIVERLESS VEHICLES
TO NAVIGATE OUR STREETS.
HOWEVER, WE HAVE ALSO SEEN
UNINTENDED IMPACTS, INCLUDING
TRAFFIC AND TRANSIT CONFLICTS,
INTERFERENCE WITH EMERGENCY
RESPONSE AND SERIOUS INJURY
COLLISIONS. WE BELIEVE THAT
AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES SHOW GREAT
PROMISE AND THAT AS THEIR
TECHNOLOGY IS PERFECTED, THEIR
DEPLOYMENT SHOULD BE WELL
REGULATED AND OVERSEEN TO ENSURE
PUBLIC SAFETY AND TO PROMOTE
CONFIDENCE IN THIS NOVEL
INDUSTRY. AB 1777 WILL ADDRESS
REGULATORY GAPS IN CALIFORNIA'S
GOVERNANCE AND OVERSIGHT OF
AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE OPERATIONS BY
IMPLEMENTING COMMON SENSE
MEASURES. THESE INCLUDE ENABLING
THEIR CITATION FOR TRAFFIC
VIOLATIONS, ENSURING SAFE
INTERACTIONS WITH EMERGENCY
RESPONSE, AND INCREASING THE
TRANSPARENCY OF AV DEPLOYMENTS.
ON PUBLIC ROADWAYS, ESPECIALLY
AT THIS EARLY STAGE WHEN PUBLIC
ACCEPTANCE IS MIXED, INDUSTRY
REGULATOR AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT
NEED TO COLLABORATE CLOSELY TO
MAXIMIZE THE BENEFITS OF AVS AND
TO PROMOTE PUBLIC TRUST. THE
PROVISIONS OF AB 1777 ARE
FOUNDATIONAL. AS A FOUNDATIONAL
STEP IN THAT DIRECTION. AND WE
THANK ASSEMBLY MEMBER TING FOR
HIS LEADERSHIP AND THE COMMITTEE
FOR ITS CONSIDERATION. AND WE
URGE YOUR SUPPORT OF THIS
IMPORTANT LEGISLATION. THANK YOU
. GOOD AFTERNOON. CHAIR WILSON.
VICE CHAIR DAVIS, THANK YOU FOR
THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY
AND SHARE THE CHALLENGES OF SAN
FRANCISCO FIRST RESPONDERS HAVE
HAD ENCOUNTERED WITH, DRIVERLESS
AVS IN THE STREET. I'M DARIUS
LATHROP. I SERVE AS THE DEPUTY
CHIEF OF OPERATIONS FOR THE SAN
FRANCISCO FIRE DEPARTMENT, WHERE
I'VE SERVED FOR OVER 25 YEARS.
WELL, THE CITY AND COUNTY OF SAN
FRANCISCO DOES NOT YET HAVE A
POSITION ON AB 1777. I
APPRECIATE ASSEMBLY MEMBER TING
AND HIS STAFF FOR CONVENING,
WORKING COLLABORATIVELY WITH THE
SAN FRANCISCO FIRST RESPONDER
AGENCIES, AS WELL AS INDUSTRY
AND STATE AGENCIES TO DRAFT
LEGISLATION THAT ADDRESSES THE
CHALLENGES. AS WE'VE EXPERIENCED
. SO THE SAN FRANCISCO FIRE
DEPARTMENT INCLUDES SOME OF THE
BUSIEST FIRE STATIONS IN THE
NATION. AND IN 2023, WHEN
DRIVERLESS AV STARTED OPERATING
WITHOUT SAFETY DRIVERS, SFPD
MEMBERS FILED ALMOST 100 WRITTEN
REPORTS OF DRIVERLESS AV
INTERFERENCE WITH EMERGENCY
OPERATIONS. THESE REPORTS
INCLUDE, FOR EXAMPLE, AV STOPPED
IN FRONT OF FIRE STATIONS,
MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR US TO
RESPOND TO CALLS, DRIVERLESS AVS
FAILING TO YIELD TO OUR LIGHTS
AND SIRENS AND ANSWERING AND
OBSTRUCTING OUR PATH TO
EMERGENCY SCENES. OUR
EXPERIENCES HIGHLIGHT TWO
CRITICAL CHALLENGES. THE FIRST
IS THE UNCERTAINTY EMERGENCY
RESPONDERS NEAR DRIVERLESS
VEHICLE CAN'T TELL HOW IT WILL
BEHAVE. WILL IT MOVE? HAS IT
HEARD OR UNDERSTOOD DIRECTIONS
GIVEN TO IT BY FIRST RESPONDERS?
AND THIS IS CERTAINLY SLOWS US
DOWN AND MAKES OUR WORK HARDER
AND MORE DANGEROUS. IT REQUIRES
FIREFIGHTERS TO STOP ON THE WAY
TO EMERGENCY INCIDENTS AND
DISMOUNT TO DIRECT VEHICLES. IT
CAN REQUIRE TRAFFIC CONTROL
OFFICERS TO LEAVE A POST WHERE
THEY'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR
DIRECTING MULTIPLE LANES OF
TRAFFIC TO ASSESS WHETHER AN AV
IS DISABLED OR CAPABLE OF
MOVING, THE SECOND CHALLENGE IS
THE SLOW PACE OF COMMUNICATION.
BOTH EMERGENCY DISPATCHERS AND
ON SCENE RESPONDERS HAVE FOUND
THAT CONNECTING TO A REMOTE
HUMAN ADVISOR WHO HAS
SITUATIONAL AWARENESS OF A
DRIVERLESS AV AND THE STREETS IS
TOO SLOW. FOR EXAMPLE, OUR CALLS
HAVE BEEN PICKED UP BY A
VOICEMAIL SYSTEM ESTÁ ON SCENE
RESPONDERS. SAN FRANCISCO FIRE
DEPARTMENT DOES NOT ISSUE CELL
PHONES AND IS NO EXPECTATION FOR
OUR MEMBERS TO CARRY THEM. AND
BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE CELL
PHONES, WE HAVE DIFFICULTY IN
COMMUNICATION, WE HAVE TO USE
OUR HANDS TO CARRY HOSES AND
LADDERS, NOT PHONES, COMPARING
THIS PACE TO THE NEARLY
INSTANTANEOUS COMMUNICATION WITH
HUMAN DRIVERS BY SIMPLE GESTURE,
EYE CONTACT, AND OUR VOICES,
IT'S TRUE THAT SOMETIMES HUMAN
DRIVERS DON'T DO WHAT WE ASK,
BUT MOST DO, AND THEY RESPOND
PROMPTLY. WE'VE WORKED CLOSELY
WITH INDUSTRY AND TO SHARE OUR
KNOWLEDGE AND WORK TOWARDS
SOLUTIONS, AND WE LOOK FORWARD
TO CONTINUING WORKING WITH THE
AUTHOR'S OFFICE ON THIS BILL.
AND I WANT TO THANK YOU AGAIN
FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. NOW,
MOVING ON TO MEMBERS OF THE
PUBLIC WHO WOULD LIKE TO ADD
THEIR NAMES IN SUPPORT OF THIS
BILL, NOW WOULD BE AN
APPROPRIATE TIME TO DO SO WITH
NAME, ORGANIZATION AND POSITION
SEEING NONE. WE DON'T HAVE
OPPOSITION NOTED ON FILE,
HOWEVER, LOOKING FOR ANY MEMBER
OF THE PUBLIC WHO WOULD LIKE TO
PROVIDE, HOW ABOUT TESTIMONY IN
REGARD TO OPPOSITION? YOU WANT
TO MAKE STATEMENTS OR JUST
COMMENT? YEAH. WIENER OKAY.
SOUNDS GOOD. WE'LL TREAT YOU AS
A WITNESS. TO WIENER WITNESS,
AND YOU HAVE UP TO TWO MINUTES.
THANK YOU, CAMILLE WAGNER
REPRESENTING WAYMO. WE DO NOT
HAVE A POSITION AT THIS MOMENT,
BUT WE CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THE
ONGOING DISCUSSIONS WITH THE
STAKEHOLDERS AND LOOK FORWARD TO
FUTURE WORK WITH THE WITH THE
AUTHOR AND HIS STAFF. THANKS.
THANK YOU. NOW MOVING ON FOR ADD
ONS IN OPPOSITION, WHETHER FULL
OPPOSITION OR ITS WIENER
OPPOSITION, NAME, ORGANIZATION
AND POSITION. GOOD AFTERNOON,
CHAIR WILSON. MY NAME IS RENEE
GIBSON. I'M WITH THE AUTONOMOUS
VEHICLE INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION. WE
ALSO HAVE SOME CONCERNS WITH THE
BILL, BUT CONTINUE TO BE
COMMITTED TO WORKING WITH SOME
MEMBER TING AND, JUST HAVE SOME
CONCERNS WITH ANY STATE
LEGISLATION THAT ADDRESSES
DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF A
VEHICLE. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE?
NAME ORGANIZATION. POSITION?
YES, ROBERT SINGLETON WITH
CHAMBER OF PROGRESS, WE'RE A
TECH INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION, AND
WE HAVE MANY AV VEHICLE COMPANY
PARTNERS, REALLY NOT OPPOSED AT
ALL TO THE INTENT OF THIS BILL.
REALLY LIKE THE BILL AND THE
INTENT. JUST WORRIED THAT WITH
THE, IN PARTICULAR THE
INCREMENTAL ENFORCEMENT MEASURES
THAT IF THEY ARE SPECIFICALLY
MENTIONED IN THE BILL, THAT
THERE'S REMEDIATION PROCESSES
AND ALLEVIATION PROCESSES THAT
ARE JUST AS CLEAR AND CONSISTENT
SO THAT VEHICLES KNOW OR
COMPANIES KNOW WHERE THEY STAND
AND CAN ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES.
OKAY ANYONE ELSE? I THINK
THERE'S LIKE 30S REMAINING ON
THE TWEENER OPPOSITION
TESTIMONY, JOHN MOFFATT FOR THE
ALLIANCE FOR AUTOMOTIVE ACTION,
ALIGNING OURSELVES WITH THE
PREVIOUS COMMENTS, SOUNDS GOOD.
THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. BRINGING
IT BACK TO MEMBERS FOR ANY
QUESTIONS, COMMENTS OR CONCERNS.
HOOVER THANK YOU. I JUST WANT TO
THANK THE AUTHOR. I APPRECIATE
YOUR APPROACH ON THIS, I DO
THINK THAT IT STRIKES A GOOD
BALANCE, AND IT SOUNDS LIKE
YOU'RE COMMITTED TO CONTINUING
TO WORK OUT THE CONCERNS, BUT
JUST REALLY TARGETED AT AT A
SPECIFIC ISSUE, THAT I THINK IS
SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TO
RESOLVE AS A STATE WITH THIS NEW
TECHNOLOGY. SO LOOK FORWARD TO
SUPPORTING IT. THANKS. THANK YOU
. ALL RIGHT. SEEING NO FURTHER.
OH, SORRY. AGUIAR-CURRY THANK
YOU SO MUCH FOR BRINGING THIS
FORWARD. YOU KNOW HOW I LOVE
THESE BILLS, I WOULD LIKE TO BE
ADDED ON AS A COAUTHOR.
ABSOLUTELY. I'D LOVE TO HAVE YOU
AS A COAUTHOR. VICE CHAIR.
DAVIES. GREAT. AGAIN, GOOD.
COMMON SENSE. BILL, PUBLIC
SAFETY. SO I, TOO, WOULD LIKE TO
BE A COAUTHOR. THANK YOU. HAPPY
TO. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.
SEEING, NO OTHER, WHILE AV
TECHNOLOGY HOLDS PROMISE TO
POTENTIALLY SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE
TRAFFIC COLLISIONS, THERE ARE
STILL SOME REAL WORLD
PRACTICALITIES THAT NEED TO BE
ADDRESSED, I APPRECIATE YOUR
COLLABORATIVE WORK WITH THE AV
COMPANIES AND THE CITIES AND ITS
FIRST RESPONDERS TO MAKE SURE
AVS ARE DEPLOYED IN A MANNER
THAT ENHANCES PUBLIC SAFETY
WHILE ALSO ENSURING POSITIVE
FIRST RESPONDER INTERACTION WITH
AV VEHICLES. AS THE ANALYSIS
NOTES, SOME OF THE SAFETY
STANDARDS IMPOSED IN THIS BILL
MAY NOT MAKE SENSE FOR ALL AV
VEHICLES, INCLUDING ONES THAT
STILL REQUIRE A HUMAN OPERATOR.
I APPRECIATE YOUR ATTEMPTS TO
GET BETTER DATA FROM THE AV
COMPANIES. AS YOU ARE AWARE,
THERE ARE CURRENTLY THREE AV
BILLS IN THE ASSEMBLY THAT
ADDRESSES DMV REGULATORY
REQUIREMENTS FOR DATA
COLLECTION. I HIGHLY ENCOURAGE
ALL THE AUTHORS YOURSELF OF
THOSE BILLS TO WORK TOGETHER ON
A COMMON SENSE SOLUTION, THIS
BILL IS A WORKING PROGRESS. AS
YOU'VE ALSO NOTED. PLEASE KEEP
MYSELF AND THE COMMITTEE STAFF
AWARE OF ITS PROGRESS AS IT
MOVES FORWARD, I'LL BE
SUPPORTING YOUR BILL TODAY.
THERE IS A MOTION ON THE FLOOR
BY AGUIAR-CURRY AND A SECOND BY
ORTEGA. GIVE YOU AN OPPORTUNITY
TO CLOSE BEFORE THE SECRETARY
CALLS THE ROLL. THANK YOU. MADAM
CHAIR, VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE
YOUR HELP IN THE COMMITTEE'S
HELP. AND, JUST RESPECTFULLY ASK
FOR MY VOTE. MADAM SECRETARY, AB
1777, THE MOTION IS Dð PASSED TO
THE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS.
WILSON AYE. WILSON. AYE. DAVIES.
DAVIES. AYE. AGUIAR-CURRY
AGUIAR-CURRY. AYE. CARILLO.
HEART. HOOVER HOOVER. AYE.
JACKSON. JACKSON. AYE ORTEGA.
ORTEGA. AYE. PAPIN. HAPPEN I.
SANCHEZ. TING. TING. AYE.
VALENCIA VALENCIA. AYE. WALLACE.
WALLACE. AYE WARD. WARD. AYE.
WICKS ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE 11, AND
WE'LL HOLD THE ROLL OPEN FOR
MEMBERS TO ADD ON. MOVING ON TO
ITEM 23. NO OKAY. ITEM 20. SORRY
ITEM 23 AB 1837. PAPIN.
GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR WILSON.
AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE.
FIRST, I WANT TO THANK THE CHAIR
AND HER CONSULTANT FOR THEIR
THOUGHTFUL COLLABORATION AND FOR
WORKING WITH MY STAFF ON THIS
BILL. I'LL CONTINUE TO ENGAGE
THIS COMMITTEE AND STAKEHOLDERS
AS THIS BILL MOVES THROUGH THE
PROCESS. THE BAY AREA HAS LONG
FACED A CRITICAL CHALLENGE THAT
PREDATES EVEN THE UNFORESEEN
GLOBAL PANDEMIC. THE CONSISTENT
DECLINE IN TRANSIT RIDERSHIP.
THE DECLINE IN RIDERSHIP HAS
BEEN ATTRIBUTED TO A MYRIAD OF
FACTORS, INCLUDING THE LACK OF
SCHEDULE COORDINATION AND
COMPLICATED FARE SYSTEMS AMONG
MANY OPERATORS. THE LEGISLATURE
HAS MADE SEVERAL UNSUCCESSFUL
ATTEMPTS TO ADDRESS THE
FRAGMENTED ATION AND
INEFFICIENCY PLAGUING THE BAY
AREA'S TRANSIT SYSTEMS. HOWEVER,
MTC WAS ABLE TO. HOWEVER, MTC
WAS ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY BRING
TOGETHER A REGIONAL NETWORK
MANAGEMENT COUNCIL COMPRISED OF
TRANSIT GENERAL MANAGERS TO
REPRESENT THE INTERESTS OF THE
STAKEHOLDERS IN THE REGION. THIS
COUNCIL HAS BEEN TASKED WITH
DEVELOPING REGIONAL TRANSIT
POLICIES TO FOSTER BETTER
REGIONAL COORDINATION. THE WORK
OF THE COUNCIL HAS ONLY JUST
BEGUN, BUT THE EARLY RESULTS ARE
INDEED PROMISING. AB 1837 WILL
CODIFY THIS COUNCIL TO ENSURE
THAT THIS WORK CONTINUES WITHOUT
INTERRUPTION, AS THE LEGISLATURE
CONTEMPLATES NEW FUNDING FOR
TRANSIT, IT'S IMPERATIVE THAT
THE RIGHT STRUCTURE AND
OVERSIGHT REMAINS IN PLACE TO
ENSURE THAT ANY NEW REVENUES ARE
USED IN THE MOST EFFICIENT AND
MOST EFFECTIVE WAYS POSSIBLE. I
THANK YOU, AND I RESPECTFULLY
REQUEST AN AYE VOTE. THANK YOU.
AND I SEE YOU HAVE NO PRIMARY
WITNESSES IN SUPPORT. HOWEVER,
IT LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE SOMEONE
WHO WANTS TO ADD ON, AND YOU
HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE
BRIEF COMMENTS IF YOU WANT TO,
SO NAME, POSITION, ORGANIZATION
AND BRIEF COMMENTS IF YOU
PREFER. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
I'LL BE EXTREMELY BRIEF. MATT
ROBINSON, WITH ANTHONY SCHMELZER
AND L®NG ON BEHALF OF CALTRAIN,
WE DON'T HAVE A POSITION ON THE
BILL, BUT WE REALLY APPRECIATE
THE AUTHOR'S FOCUS ON
COORDINATION AND, MORE
IMPORTANTLY, ON ACKNOWLEDGING
THE WORK THAT IS ALREADY
UNDERWAY WITHIN THE MTC REGION
THROUGH THE REGIONAL NETWORK
MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE, CALTRAIN
IS AN ACTIVE PARTICIPANT IN
THAT. WE'VE HAD OPEN DIALOGS
WITH THE AUTHOR'S OFFICE, AND
REALLY, WE HOPE THAT WE WILL BE
FOCUSING ON WHAT WE KNOW AND
WHAT WE'VE ALREADY AGREED TO
UNDERTAKE THROUGH THAT PROCESS
AS WE MOVE FORWARD VERSUS
THROWING IT ALL OUT AND STARTING
OVER WITH SOMETHING COMPLETELY
NEW. SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO
WORKING WITH THE COMMITTEE WITH
THE AUTHOR, AS THIS BILL MOVES
FORWARD TO HOPEFULLY PUT SOME
MORE STRUCTURE AROUND WHAT'S
ALREADY HAPPENING IN THE BAY
AREA THROUGH MTC AND THE NETWORK
MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE. THANK YOU.
SOUNDS GOOD. THANK YOU, THANK
YOU, MOVING ON TO ANY MEMBERS OF
THE PUBLIC WHO ARE IN OPPOSITION
WHO WOULD LIKE TO ADD ON. WE
DON'T HAVE AN OFFICIAL
OPPOSITION ON FILE. AS WE NOTED,
WE HAVE SOMEWHAT OF A TWEENER,
BUT LOOKING FOR NAME,
ORGANIZATION POSITION FOR ANY
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO WISH
TO SPEAK NOW. ALL RIGHT, WITH
THAT, MOVING ON TO COMMITTEES,
IF THERE IS ANY QUESTIONS,
COMMENTS OR CONCERNS, WE DO HAVE
A MOTION AND A SECOND, SEEING
NONE, WELL, THANK YOU FOR
BRINGING THIS BILL FORWARD
TODAY. I APPRECIATE YOUR WORK TO
ENSURE TRANSIT AGENCIES IN THE
BAY AREA CONTINUE TO WORK
TOGETHER TO DEVELOP A MORE
SEAMLESS SYSTEM THAT WILL MAKE
TRANSIT AGENCIES MORE USER
FRIENDLY AS THIS BILL MOVES
FORWARD, I ASK THAT YOU WORK
WITH OUR SENATE COUNTERPARTS SO
THAT THIS BILL IS COMPLEMENTARY
TO THE LARGER EFFORT TO ENSURE
ADEQUATE FUNDING FOR THE FUTURE
OF BAY AREAS PUBLIC
TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM. I WILL BE
SUPPORTING YOUR BILL TODAY. WE
HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR BY
DAVIES AND A SECOND BY TÍNH GIVE
YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO CLOSE
BEFORE THE SECRETARY CALLS THE
ROLL QUESTION, I VOTE. THANK
YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THANK YOU,
MADAM SECRETARY. AB 1837. THE
MOTION IS DUE. PASS TO THE
COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS.
WILSON I WILSON I DAVIES. DAVIES
I AGUIAR-CURRY AGUIAR-CURRY I
CARILLO HART. HOOVER. HOOVER I
JACKSON. JACKSON I ORTEGA.
ORTEGA I PAPIN. PAPIN I SANCHEZ.
SANCHEZ I TING TING I VALENCIA.
WALLACE. WALLACE I WARD. WARD I.
11. ALL RIGHT. THAT HAS 11
VOTES. AND WE'LL HOLD THE ROLL
OPEN FOR, MEMBERS TO ADD ON
BEFORE WE, DO ANY OTHER BILLS,
DO WE WANT TO DO ANY CLEANUP?
ALL RIGHT. WE'LL HAVE CLEANUP. I
KNEW I WOULD BE USEFUL FOR
SOMETHING
.
STARTING WITH CONSENT. CARILLO
HART. SANCHEZ. SANCHEZ, I WICKS.
WELL. A.B. 1978 DO PASS TO THE
COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS.
CARILLO HART. SANCHEZ SANCHEZ I
WICKS. AB 2086 DO PASS TO THE
COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS.
CARILLO. HART. SANCHEZ. SANCHEZ.
I WICKS. AB 2102 DO PASS TO THE
COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS.
CARILLO HART. SANCHEZ. SANCHEZ.
I WICKS.
AB 2234. DO PASS TO THE
COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS.
CARILLO. HART. SANCHEZ. SANCHEZ
I WICKS.
FILE ITEM 18 AB 2892. DO PASS TO
THE COMMITTEE ON APPROPS CARILLO
HART. SANCHEZ SANCHEZ I WARD.
WARD I WICKS. FILE ITEM 22 AB
1777. DO PASS TO THE COMMITTEE
ON APPROPRIATIONS. CARILLO HART.
SANCHEZ SANCHEZ I WICKS
.
ALL RIGHT. IT LOOKS LIKE WE ARE
MOVING ON TO THE ITEM NUMBER
1931 53. DIXON. TO THE AUTHOR.
YOU MAY BEGIN AT YOUR
CONVENIENCE
.
THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. AND
MEMBERS, TODAY I'M HERE TO
PRESENT AB 3153, WHICH EXTENDS
THE DEADLINE FOR THE ELECTRIC
MOTOR MODIFICATION OF THE BALBOA
ISLAND FERRY FOR UP TO 15 YEARS,
OR UNTIL THE COST OF ENGINE
REPLACEMENT DECLINES AS A
LONGTIME RESIDENT OF NEWPORT
BEACH, I KNOW FIRSTHAND THE
BALBOA ISLAND FERRY IS A
CRITICAL RESOURCE FOR THIS
REGION AND COULD BE GRAVELY
IMPACTED BY CARB'S HARBOR CRAFT
ELECTRIFICATION REGULATIONS,
SEYMOUR BEEK, THE OWNER OF THE
FERRY, CAME TO ME IN JANUARY
2023, SHARING THE TERRIBLE
POSSIBILITY THAT HE MAY HAVE TO
CLOSE THE 120 YEAR OLD PRIVATELY
OWNED FERRY BUSINESS WHEN I MET
WITH CARB ABOUT AN EXTENSION FOR
MR. BEEK, THEY NOTED THERE WOULD
BE FLEXIBILITY FOR THE FERRY
WITH REGARD TO EXTENSIONS. THEY
ADDITIONALLY INDICATED THEY WERE
WORKING WITH THE BUSINESS TO
IDENTIFY GRANT DOLLARS TO
SUPPORT THE TRANSITION TO
ELECTRIC, AND I AM GRATEFUL FOR
CARB SUPPORT IN THIS MANNER.
THUS FAR. ONE FERRY STILL HAS
THE DEADLINE OF DECEMBER 2025,
AND TWO OTHERS HAVE BEEN
EXTENDED TO DECEMBER 2026. IN
MARCH, THE FERRY WAS OFFERED
$8.3 MILLION FROM THE ADVANCED
TECHNOLOGY DEMONSTRATION AND
PILOT PROJECT PROGRAM, OF WHICH
7.9 MILLION WILL BE USED FOR THE
FERRY'S ELECTRIFICATION. WHILE
THE FERRY IS WORKING HARD TO
APPLY AND RECEIVE GRANT DOLLARS
TO SUPPORT TRANSITION.
UNFORTUNATELY THERE ARE NO
PROVEN MOTOR BATTERY SYSTEMS
THAT CAN EASILY BE ADAPTED TO
THE THREE FERRIES THAT OPERATE
800FT BETWEEN BALBOA ISLAND AND
THE BALBOA PENINSULA IN NEWPORT
BEACH. ANOTHER HURDLE THE
BUSINESS FACES IS FINANCIAL
STRAIN. THE ESTIMATED COST TO
CONVERT OR REPLACE THE THREE
FERRY BOATS TO ZERO EMISSION IS
PROJECTED TO COST $13 MILLION. I
AM PLEASED THAT THEY ARE WILLING
WORKING HARD TO RECEIVE
FINANCIAL SUPPORT, BUT THE
REALITY IS THE BALBOA ISLAND
FERRIES TRANSITION TO
ELECTRIFICATION WILL BE THE
FIRST KNOWN TIME THIS TYPE OF
VESSEL WILL BE CONVERTED TO ALL
ELECTRIC PROPULSION. THE FERRY
IS A SMALL BUSINESS, YET THEY
ARE EXPECTED TO LEAD THE SMALL
FERRY INDUSTRY, OF WHICH THERE
ARE FEWER THAN SEVEN IN THE
COUNTRY. WHEN IT COMES TO
ELECTRIC VESSELS. I AM RUNNING
THIS LEGISLATION TO PROVIDE
RELIEF TO A SMALL BUSINESS. WE
ARE NOT ASKING FOR AN EXEMPTION.
WE ARE SIMPLY ASKING FOR MORE
TIME TO COMPLY. WHILE IT IS TRUE
THAT THERE IS FLEXIBILITY WITHIN
THE REGULATIONS FOR EXTENSIONS,
THEY ARE ONLY FOR ONE YEAR. THIS
BILL WOULD ALLOW MORE
OPPORTUNITY FOR THEIR LIMITED
CAPITAL RESOURCES TO BE PUT
TOWARD FIGURING OUT A LONGER
TIME SOLUTION TO PAY FOR AND
TRANSITION THEIR BOATS. ONE YEAR
APPROVAL REQUIREMENTS MAKES THE
CAPITAL FINANCING NEARLY
IMPOSSIBLE. THE BALBOA ISLAND
FERRY PLAYS A KEY ROLE IN THE
FABRIC OF THE COMMUNITY OF
NEWPORT BEACH AREA, AND ALL OF
ORANGE COUNTY, AB 3153 WOULD
ALLOW THE COMPANY MORE TIME TO
COMPLY WITH CARB'S
ELECTRIFICATION REGULATIONS.
WITH ME HERE TODAY IS THE OWNER
AND SON OF THE FOUNDER OF THE
BALBOA ISLAND FERRY, SEYMOUR
BEEK AND HIS NEPHEW, JOE BEEK,
AND MR. SEYMOUR BEEK WILL SPEAK
FIRST. THANK YOU. COMMITTEE
MEMBERS, LET ME GO INTO A LITTLE
BIT OF HISTORY TO START WITH.
WHEN MY FATHER FOUNDED THE
BALBOA ISLAND FERRY IN 1919, HE
DID SO WITH AN 18 FOOT ROWBOAT
POWERED BY AN OUTBOARD MOTOR.
AND IT WAS A VERY SMALL
COMMUNITY. IN THOSE DAYS, AS THE
COMMUNITY HAS GROWN AND THE
DEMAND FOR FERRY SERVICE HAS
GROWN, THEY WENT FROM SINGLE CAR
FERRIES TO TWO CAR FERRIES AND
FINALLY TO OUR EXISTING THREE
CAR FERRIES, WHICH ARE 64FT LONG
AND SEEM TO BE KIND OF THE
OPTIMAL SIZE FOR THE FOR THE
WATER SPACE THAT WE, WE WORK IN,
MY FAMILY HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN
THE FERRY FROM THE BEGINNING AND
VARIOUS FAMILY MEMBERS HAVE
WORKED AS CREW MEMBERS AND
CAPTAINS ON THE FERRIES, BUT IT
HAS NEVER BEEN OUR PRIMARY
SOURCE OF INCOME OR OCCUPATION.
WE'VE ALL HAD OTHER THINGS TO DO
, BUT WE'VE MAINTAINED THE FERRY
SERVICE AS A PUBLIC SERVICE. AND
AS DIANE MENTIONED, IT IS VERY
POPULAR AND USED BY ABOUT 1.5
MILLION PEOPLE A DAY OR A YEAR.
TODAY SO WE GOT HIT WITH THIS,
CARB REGULATION ABOUT TWO YEARS
AGO, AND WE IMMEDIATELY BEGAN TO
LOOK INTO IT FROM A TECHNICAL
STANDPOINT TO SEE IF WE COULD
CONFORM. IT'S NOT EASY TO FIND
PEOPLE TO TAKE ON THIS KIND OF A
PROJECT. THIS IS A SPECIALTY IN
THE ENGINEERING FIELD, BUT WE
HAVE NOW A NAVAL ARCHITECTURE
FIRM THAT'S BEEN WORKING ON IT
FOR US, LOCATED IN SAN DIEGO.
AND THEY'VE COME UP WITH A
PRELIMINARY DESIGN AND
REQUIREMENT FOR THE
ELECTRIFICATION, WHICH IS A VERY
COMPLEX PROJECT. OUR BOATS ARE
SMALL. THEY'RE ONLY ABOUT THREE
FEET TO THE FROM THE WATER TO
THE DECK LEVEL. SO THERE'S VERY
LIMITED SPACE INSIDE. AND DOING
ELECTRIFICATION WOULD REQUIRE
BASICALLY TEARING EACH BOAT
APART TO PUT IN BATTERY
COMPARTMENTS, WHICH WOULD HOLD
THE BATTERIES THAT THAT ENOUGH
BATTERY CAPACITY THAT WE COULD
OPERATE OUR NORMAL SCHEDULE. AND
IT TURNS OUT THAT THE WEIGHT OF
THE BATTERY SYSTEMS AND THE
CONTROL SYSTEMS THAT GO WITH THE
BATTERIES IS GREATER THAN THE
WEIGHT OF OUR DIESEL ENGINES AND
FUEL TANKS AND ALL THAT BY ABOUT
5,000 POUNDS. SO IT WILL REQUIRE
MODIFICATION OF OUR HULLS TO
PROVIDE THE REQUIRED STABILITY
AND BUOYANCY THAT IS REQUIRED BY
THE COAST GUARD. HAVE TO HAVE
YOU WRAP UP, BUT IF MEMBERS ASK
YOU QUESTIONS, YOU CAN ELABORATE
MORE TO PROVIDE THAT DETAIL. ALL
RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MY
NAME IS JOE BEEK. I'M A
SHAREHOLDER IN THE BALBOA ISLAND
FERRY AND A FAMILY MEMBER,
THANKS TO THE COMMITTEE FOR
HEARING MY TESTIMONY. I WOULD
LOVE NOTHING MORE FOR THE BALBOA
ISLAND FERRY TO CONTINUE THE
LEGACY OF EMISSION REDUCTION
THAT WAS STARTED BY MY
GRANDFATHER. THE BALBOA ISLAND
FERRY IS TRULY ONE OF A KIND.
IT'S UNIQUE IN THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA. AB 3153 WILL NOT
ESTABLISH A PRECEDENT FOR OTHER
COMMERCIAL HARBOR CRAFT. THE
COMMERCIAL SPORT FISHING
INDUSTRY HAS ALREADY ESTABLISHED
A PRECEDENT OF DELAYED
CONFORMANCE TO 2035, THE BALBOA
ISLAND FERRY WAS NOT ABLE TO
PARTICIPATE IN THAT DELAYED
COMPLIANCE DATE. FINANCIALLY,
THE PROJECT IS COMPLETELY OUT OF
SCALE TO OUR BUSINESS. WE DO
LESS THAN $2 MILLION A YEAR IN
REVENUE AND YET THIS IS A $13
MILLION CONVERSION PROJECT.
THERE ARE GRANT FUNDS AVAILABLE
AND WE'VE BEEN WORKING
DILIGENTLY TO QUALIFY FOR THOSE
GRANT MATCH REQUIREMENTS OF 20,
WHICH IS COMMON WOULD COST US
OVER $2 MILLION. THIS IS AN
EXTREME HARDSHIP FOR OUR SMALL
ENTERPRISE. THIS IS NOT AN
INVESTMENT THAT WILL RESULT IN
HIGHER PROFIT OR INCREASED
REVENUE. ADDITIONALLY, AS A
PRIVATE ENTERPRISE, POTENTIAL
INCOME TAX LIABILITIES OF UP TO
$1 MILLION COULD BANKRUPT FAMILY
MEMBERS. IF WE ARE HIT WITH
THOSE, NO GRANT, NO GRANT
PROGRAMS WILL PAY INCOME TAX.
ALTHOUGH THERE ARE EXTENSIONS
AVAILABLE. WE'RE A SMALL
BUSINESS WITH ONE ADMINISTRATIVE
STAFF MEMBER MANAGING ONGOING
ANNUAL EXTENSIONS IS BEYOND OUR
RESOURCES. AS ONE OF THE
SMALLEST AND LEAST ABLE TO
COMPLY OPERATIONS IN THE STATE,
IT'S NOT SENSIBLE FOR THE BALBOA
ISLAND FERRY TO BE AT THE
LEADING EDGE OF THIS
TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGE. THANK YOU,
AND I RESPECTFULLY ASK YOUR
SUPPORT OF AB 3153 TO ALLOW US
TO KEEP OUR FAMILY BUSINESS
AFLOAT. THANK THANK YOU. NOW,
MOVING ON TO MEMBERS OF THE
PUBLIC WHO WISH TO ADD ON, TO
PUBLIC TESTIMONY WITH NAME,
ORGANIZATION AND POSITION. ARE
THERE ANY. SEEING NONE. LOOKING
TO THE PUBLIC FOR THOSE WHO
WOULD LIKE TO OFFER PRIMARY
WITNESSES, PRIMARY WITNESS IN
OPPOSITION. YOU CAN COME AND
HAVE A SEAT HERE.
GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR WILSON AND
MEMBERS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
THE OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT. MY
NAME IS TERESA BUI WITH THE
ENVIRONMENTAL NONPROFIT PACIFIC
ENVIRONMENT. WE HAVE A
CONSULTATIVE STATUS WITH THE
INTERNATIONAL MARITIME
ORGANIZATION, WHICH SETS GLOBAL
SHIPPING LAWS. AND WE
REGRETFULLY MUST OPPOSE THIS
BILL BECAUSE IT WOULD UNDERMINE
THE COMMERCIAL HARBOR CRAFT
RULE. CALIFORNIA PASSED THE
UPDATED COMMERCIAL HARBOR CRAFT
RULE, WHICH SETS THE FIRST IN
THE NATION ZERO EMISSION FERRY
STANDARD BY 2026, AND HARBOR
CRAFT RIGHT NOW IS ONE OF THE
TOP THREE CANCER CAUSING
POLLUTION AT THE PORTS OF SAN
DIEGO, OAKLAND, LA AND LONG
BEACH. AND THIS RULE WILL BRING,
ASSOCIATED HEALTH BENEFITS TO
PORT COMMUNITIES AND PORT
WORKERS. THE RULE ALREADY ALLOWS
FOR A COMPLIANCE EXTENSION AND
LOW USE FARE. LOW USE EXEMPTIONS
. AND WE YOU KNOW, WE HAD THE
OPPORTUNITY TO TALK WITH THE
AUTHOR'S OFFICE AND THE SPONSOR,
AND WE REALLY FEEL FOR, FOR, YOU
KNOW, BALBOA ISLAND FERRY. BUT
RIGHT NOW, THERE'S RECORD
FUNDING AVAILABLE. THERE'S $3
BILLION UNDER THE INFLATION
REDUCTION ACT FOR CLEAN PORTS
PROGRAM. AND HARBOR CRAFT IS AN
ELIGIBLE PROJECT. BUT, THE FTA
ALSO RELEASED $316 MILLION FOR,
FERRIES FOR BUSINESSES TO
CONVERT THEIR FERRIES. AND
THAT'S A FEDERAL GRANT
AVAILABLE. AND SO WITH THAT, YOU
KNOW, WE URGE, THE, THE SPONSOR
TO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH CARB.
AND WE WOULD LOVE TO SEE HOW WE
CAN BE HELPFUL IN THAT, BUT WE
DO NOT THINK THAT THIS IS THE
RIGHT APPROACH. THIS WOULD
UNDERMINE A, YOU KNOW, A LAW
THAT WE'RE TRYING TO PASS IN
OTHER STATES AS WELL AS THE
FEDERAL LEVEL. AND WITH THAT, WE
URGE FOR YOUR NO VOTE. THANK YOU
SO MUCH. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.
LOOKING TO MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
WHO ARE ALSO IN OPPOSITION AND
WOULD LIKE TO ADD ON NAME,
ORGANIZATION AND POSITION. THANK
YOU, MADAM CHAIR. MARK
FENSTERMAKER FOR EARTHJUSTICE
RESPECTFULLY OPPOSED. SOPHIA
AFA-CWA WITH THE COALITION FOR
CLEAN AIR IN OPPOSITION. THANK
YOU. NOW MOVING TO MEMBERS OF
THE COMMITTEE FOR QUESTIONS,
COMMENTS, CONCERNS. TÍNH. SO
APPRECIATE THIS, REMEMBER HAVING
A CONVERSATION WITH ME ABOUT
THIS BILL, IN YOUR STATEMENT,
YOU HAD MENTIONED THAT ONE OF
THE ISSUES WAS, WAS WITH THE
ANNUAL. RIGHT NOW, THE, THE
FERRY IS ELIGIBLE FOR AN ANNUAL
EXEMPTION, AN ANNUAL, DELAY. SO
YOU CAN EVERY YEAR YOU CAN APPLY
FOR A DELAY, BUT YOU HAD
MENTIONED THAT THIS WOULD IMPACT
YOUR ABILITY TO SECURE GREATER
CAPITAL. SO I WAS WONDERING IF
YOU COULD ADDRESS THAT, AND TIED
TO THAT IS YOU HAD MENTIONED
THAT THE FERRIES RAISED ABOUT $8
MILLION IN, PUBLIC PUBLIC
FUNDING TO HELP WITH THIS 13, 12
OR $13 MILLION CONVERSION. COULD
COULD YOU NOT OR COULD THE FERRY
NOT JUST KEEP GETTING THAT
ANNUAL EXEMPTION WHILE THEY'RE
WAITING TO RAISE THE OTHER 4
MILLION? AND THEN ONCE THEY GET
THE 12 OR 13 MILLION OF PUBLIC
FUNDING, THEN THEY COULD GO AND
DO THAT CONVERSION. SO I'LL ASK
EITHER ONE OF MR. BEEKS, JOE, DO
YOU WANT TO RESPOND TO THAT,
YEAH. I'LL RESPOND. THE
EXEMPTION OR THE EXTENSION RULES
HAVE NOT BEEN TESTED. WE HAVE
APPLIED AND RECEIVED THE ONLY
EXTENSION THAT'S AVAILABLE TO US
AT THIS TIME, WHICH IS ALLOWS US
AN EXTENSION BECAUSE WE HAVE
MORE THAN TWO BOATS, THE OTHER
EXTENSION POSSIBILITY IS WE HAVE
TO DEMONSTRATE AN INVESTMENT IN
EQUIPMENT AND INFRASTRUCTURE TO
PROVE TO CARB THAT THERE ARE
DELAYS. SO A LITTLE BIT OF A
CART AND HORSE PROBLEM IS THAT
WE HAVE TO SPEND ENOUGH MONEY
AND GO FAR ENOUGH INTO THE
PROJECT TO DEMONSTRATE DELAYS.
THIS IS A PROJECT THAT WE CAN'T
START WITHOUT BEING SURE WE'RE
GOING TO FINISH. SO THOSE
EXTENSION MECHANISMS ARE
UNTESTED AS YET. WE CAN'T EVEN
APPLY FOR ANY ONE YEAR EXTENSION
UNTIL APRIL OF NEXT YEAR. GOT
IT. SO YOU'RE LOOKING FOR SOME
MORE CERTAINTY. YOU'RE SAYING,
WE'RE LOOKING WE'RE LOOKING FOR
MORE CERTAINTY AND WE'RE LOOKING
TO MITIGATE THE ADMINISTRATIVE
BURDEN OF MANAGING THOSE
EXTENSION. APPLICATIONS PLEASE.
AND FURTHER, JUST TO RESPOND TO
YOUR QUESTION, ASSEMBLY MEMBER,
LIKE IN ANY PROJECT, YOU WOULD,
THEY COULD POTENTIALLY GO TO
OUTSIDE INVESTORS TO HELP RAISE
THAT TOTAL TO BE DETERMINED
AMOUNT. RIGHT NOW, THEY ESTIMATE
13 MILLION. BUT WITH A ONE YEAR,
APPLICATION CYCLE PROCESS
REPEATEDLY, THAT'S A HIGH RISK
PROPOSITION FOR ANY INVESTOR. I
MIGHT ALSO COMMENT ON THE
SPEAKER WHO SPOKE A FEW MOMENTS
AGO, JOE CAN CORRECT ME IF I'M
NOT CORRECT, BUT MY
UNDERSTANDING IS THAT BECAUSE
THE BALBOA FERRY IS A PRIVATE
COMPANY, THESE, FEDERAL
INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDS ARE ONLY
AVAILABLE TO PUBLIC AGENCIES,
YOU MAY HAVE FOUND DIFFERENTLY,
BUT THAT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING.
AND WHEN WE LOOKED INTO THIS IN
THE EARLY DAYS OF LOOKING FOR
GRANT FUNDING, BECAUSE THEY ARE
A PRIVATE ENTITY, THOSE PUBLIC
FUNDS ARE NOT AVAILABLE. COULD
THEY COULD THEY COULD YOU
COMMENT WHETHER OR NOT YOU'RE
LOOKING AT PRIVATE CAPITAL RIGHT
NOW, OR ARE YOU PURELY LOOKING
AT GOVERNMENT GRANTS TO CLOSE
THE GAP OF THE 12 TO 13 MILLION?
WE HAVE NOT BEEN LOOKING AT
PRIVATE CAPITAL, IT WOULD BE
VERY HARD TO OBTAIN PRIVATE
CAPITAL FOR AN INVESTMENT THAT
WOULD HAVE NO RETURN. AND JUST
AS A FOLLOW UP. SO YOU ARE
ALLOWED ON AN UNLIMITED AMOUNT
OF THE ONE YEAR EXTENSIONS IF
YOU'RE SHOWING GOOD FAITH EFFORT
AS IT RELATES TO IS WHAT YOU
TALKED ABOUT THE INFRASTRUCTURE
OR MANUFACTURED PLAY. AND THE $8
MILLION DOES COME FROM CARB AND
THERE ARE REQUIREMENTS TO
THROUGH THAT PROCESS. SO BETWEEN
SUBSTANTIATING TO CARB THAT
YOU'RE FOLLOWING, HITTING THE
BENCHMARKS FOR THE $8 MILLION.
YOU ARE YOU ARE YOU STILL
CONCERNED THAT YOU WOULD NOT BE
ABLE TO GET THE DELAY? I MEAN,
GET GRANTED THE EXTENSION OR
YOU'RE JUST IT'S PURELY ABOUT
THE ADMINISTRATIVE BURDEN OF IT,
CLARIFY THAT IT'S BOTH AND IT IS
NOT UNLIMITED, NUMBER OF
EXTENSIONS. IT'S LIMITED TO
EIGHT. SO THE MOST EXTENSIONS,
THE LONGEST EXTENSION WE COULD
GET USING THAT SYSTEM WOULD BE
UP TO EIGHT YEARS. SO EIGHT ONE
YEAR EXTENSIONS, AND THE
UNCERTAINTY OBTAINING THE
EXTENSIONS YEAR AFTER YEAR,
INCREASES THE RISK OF THE
PROJECT SUBSTANTIALLY. CAN YOU
REPEAT THAT LAST PART? YOU SAID
AFTER THE UNCERTAIN TÊ OF THE
AVAILABILITY OF THE EXTENSIONS
INCREASES THE RISK, BECAUSE
EVERY YEAR YOU'RE ASKING AND
EVERY YEAR YOU MIGHT NOT GET IT
AND YOU'RE SAYING THAT'S THE
RISK, RIGHT? AND IF WE START IN
AND START SPENDING GRANT FUNDS,
WE CAN'T STOP. OKAY. WELL, WE
CONTINUE THE DISCUSSION. I'LL
HAVE STAFF CONFIRM. DID YOU HAVE
ANY MORE? NO, I THINK JUST JUST
A FINAL COMMENT. I THINK I'M
VERY SYMPATHETIC TO YOUR
SITUATION. AND I THINK IT'S
GREAT THAT YOU'RE ON THE THIRD
GENERATION OF DOING THIS. WHAT
SEEMS LIKE A REALLY WONDERFUL
LOCAL SMALL BUSINESS. I THINK MY
CHALLENGE IS, IS, YOU KNOW, I
HAVE A LOT OF FERRIES IN MY
AREA. I REPRESENT SAN FRANCISCO,
YOU KNOW, THERE'S AN
ADMINISTRATIVE PROCESS TO GO
THROUGH TO HAVE MY CONCERN IS
YOU KNOW, HAVING EVERY FERRY
OPERATOR TRY TO COME TO US AS
LEGISLATORS TO TRY TO ADDRESS
WHAT IS AN ADMINISTRATIVE
PROCESS, IT'S A LITTLE BIT, A
LITTLE BIT CONCERNING. AND IT
SEEMS AT THIS POINT YOU'VE JUST
STARTED THAT PROCESS. I
APPRECIATE THAT THERE IS CERTAIN
UNCERTAINTY, BUT, I WOULD FEEL
MORE COMFORTABLE IF THE BILL WAS
ADDRESSING THE OVERALL PROCESS
OR THE OVERALL ISSUE, RATHER
THAN JUST YOUR ONE PARTICULAR
COMPANY, BECAUSE I WOULD I WOULD
WORRY THEN, YOU KNOW, I'M GOING
TO GET FOUR MORE PHONE CALLS
WHEN I GET BACK TO THE OFFICE
ABOUT MY FERRY'S WANTING, YOU
KNOW, EXTENSIONS AS WELL. SO I
THINK, YOU KNOW, I'M HOPEFUL
THAT WE SHOULD WE I'D LIKE TO
STILL TRY TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE
CAN ASSIST YOUR CONCERNS AND
MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ADDRESSING
THE OVERALL PROCESS WITHOUT
NECESSARILY MAYBE CARVING OUT A
SEPARATE, EXTENSION OR A
SEPARATE PROCESS FOR YOU, EVEN
THOUGH I AM SYMPATHETIC. SO I
THINK AT THIS POINT, I'M, I'M
GOING TO CONTINUE TO SORT OF LAY
OFF THE BILL, BUT JUST URGE THAT
YOU CONTINUE TO KIND OF WORK
WITH US TO FIGURE OUT, IS THERE
A WAY TO ADDRESS YOUR CONCERNS
WITHOUT JUST CARVING OUT A
SEPARATE, SEPARATE SITUATION?
THÀNH. WELL, THANK YOU, ASSEMBLY
MEMBER. JUST TO AND MAYBE MR.
MR. JACOBY CAN RESPOND AS WELL.
BUT MY UNDERSTANDING THIS IS ONE
OF A KIND. THERE ARE MANY,
SEVERAL CATEGORIES OF FERRIES.
IN FACT, THE FERRY IN SAN
FRANCISCO THAT WAS APPROVED BUT
NOT PERMITTED YET. AND IT'S BEEN
SITTING IN THE HARBOR OF SAN
FRANCISCO FOR TWO YEARS. THAT'S
A FULL, YOU KNOW, GIANT FERRY
INSTEAD OF A VERY DIFFERENT
CLASS. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT
THERE ARE ONLY TWO FERRIES IN
THE STATE OF THE SAME CLASS, AND
THE OTHER ONE, OTHER THAN THE
BALBOA ISLAND FERRY, RUNS ON A
CABLE, AND SO THERE'S NO FUEL.
THIS HAS BEEN IN EXISTENCE IN
THE SACRAMENTO RIVER DELTA FOR
MANY DECADES, IF YOU WANT TO
ASK. YEAH, MAYBE I COULD ANSWER
THAT PARTIALLY TO THE WE ARE
VERY UNIQUE. WE'RE THE ONLY
FERRY THAT WE SHUTTLE BACK AND
FORTH AS FAST AS WE CAN AND
CARRY CARS AS FAST AS WE CAN,
AND PEOPLE AS FAST AS WE CAN. WE
DON'T HAVE A SCHEDULE, YOU KNOW,
WE DON'T GO ACROSS ONCE EVERY
HOUR OR ONCE EVERY TWO HOURS.
WE'RE GOING AT IT ALL THE ALL
THE TIME. AND OUR TOTAL FUEL
CONSUMPTION AVERAGES 26 GALLONS
A DAY. IF WE DID NOT OPERATE IT,
THERE WOULD BE HUNDREDS OF
GALLONS OF GASOLINE CONSUMED BY
AUTOMOBILES THAT WOULD TAKE THE
TRIP AROUND RATHER THAN TAKE THE
FERRY. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO
POINT THAT OUT. WE SHOULD HAPPEN
. SO A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.
FIRST OF ALL, WHAT I'M HEARING
TO DOVETAIL JUST A LITTLE BIT
OFF OF YOUR ASSEMBLYMEMBER
TING'S COMMENTS ABOUT WORKING AT
MAYBE DEFINING THE PROCESS. MÁS
IS IT THAT YOU ARE CONCERNED
THERE IS NO DEFINITION GIVEN OF
WHAT A DELAY IS, AND AS SUCH,
YOU MIGHT NOT BE ENTITLED TO A
DELAY UNLESS YOU ARE MIDSTREAM
AND MIDSTREAM WOULD NECESSITATE
YOU START WITHOUT FULL FUNDING.
IS THAT RIGHT? PRECISELY OKAY. I
JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE. SO THAT
MIGHT BE SOMETHING THAT WE CAN
WORK ON IS DEFINING WHAT DOES
DELAY MEAN. BECAUSE I'M NOT SURE
IT'S REASONABLE TO HAVE SOMEBODY
START WITHOUT HAVING FULL
FUNDING. YOU REALLY GET LEFT OUT
IN THE COLD, THE OTHER THING
THAT I HAVE A COUPLE QUESTIONS
TOO, IN ADDITION TO THAT, IS IT
HOW HOW OLD IS YOUR CURRENT
FLEET? I'M SORRY, 70 YEARS OLD.
SEVEN ZERO. BUILT IN THE 1950S.
ALL THREE OF THEM ARE 70 YEARS
OLD. YES. OKAY. GOT IT. AND THE
NEXT QUESTION. YEAH. DID YOU
WANT TO SAY SOMETHING ELSE?
WELL, YES. WE'VE UPGRADED A LOT
OF THINGS MECHANICALLY AND ON
CARBS. CARBS ORDERS. WE UPGRADED
TO TIER TWO ENGINES ABOUT 15
YEARS AGO. SO WE'RE TIER TWO
DIESELS NOW. AND WE COULD WE
WOULD BE WILLING TO GO TO TIER
THREE WITHOUT A PROBLEM. AND WE
WERE KIND OF EXPECTING THAT FROM
CARB, BUT THEY HOPSCOTCHED OVER
THAT AND WENT TO ZERO EMISSION
INSTEAD. GOT IT, GOT IT. OKAY.
AND I TO THE AUTHOR, HAVE YOU
CONSIDERED SOMETHING LESS THAN
15 YEARS? SO SOMETHING BETWEEN
HEY, YOU GOT THIS ONE YEAR
EXTENSION AND 15 YEARS BECAUSE
THAT MIGHT BE A LITTLE MORE
APPEALING THAN, YOU KNOW,
PERHAPS TRYING TO GO TO THE END
OF THE USEFUL LIFE OF WHAT YOU
CURRENTLY GOT. YES, ABSOLUTELY.
WE'VE BEEN OPEN TO TEN YEARS, 15
WAS REALLY TO MATCH WHAT THESE
SPORTS FISHERMEN GOT, TO 20, 35
OR TO GO TO 20, 35 OR 10 YEARS.
THEY JUST WANT, TO KNOW THAT
THERE IS, AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET
TO SEE THIS TECHNOLOGY DEVELOP
AND THE INFRASTRUCTURE TO
SUPPORT IT SO THEY CAN CONTINUE
TO OPERATE. AND IT MAY TAKE A
NUMBER OF YEARS. AND UP TO TEN,
AND THEN WE COULD REACH FOR AN
EXTENSION AT THAT POINT. BUT TEN
YEARS WOULD CERTAINLY BE A
POSSIBLE AMENDMENT THAT THEY
WOULD SUPPORT. CORRECT? CORRECT.
AND ONE MORE FINAL QUESTION, I
HOPE. FINAL QUESTION. HOW MANY
PEOPLE LIVE ON BALBOA ISLAND AND
HOW MANY PEOPLE DO YOU THINK
YOU'RE SERVING? AT LEAST FOR THE
I UNDERSTAND THERE MIGHT BE
OTHER PEOPLE OTHER THAN
RESIDENTS THAT TAKE THIS FERRY,
BUT HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE YOU LIVE
ON BALBOA ISLAND THAT YOU'RE
GENERALLY SERVING? IT'S A FAIRLY
SMALL FRACTION OF THE PEOPLE
THAT USE THE FERRY LIVE ON
BALBOA ISLAND. MAYBE 20, 20, 25,
A LOT OF PEOPLE FROM OUT OF TOWN
COME TO TAKE THE FERRY JUST
BECAUSE IT'S AN ENJOYABLE, LOW
COST WAY TO SEE THE HARBOR AND
TO EXPERIENCE THE AMBIANCE OF
THE OF THE AREA. BUT IN TOTAL,
WE TAKE ABOUT A MILLION AND A
HALF PEOPLE A YEAR ACROSS THE
BAY. AND I DON'T KNOW THE EXACT
SUBDIVISION OF WHERE THOSE
PASSENGERS COME FROM. I'D SAY
PROBABLY, 90% OF THEM, OF THEM
COME FROM THE ORANGE COUNTY AREA
AND, SANTA ANA, HUNTINGTON
BEACH, LAGUNA, NEWPORT BEACH,
THAT AREA. I HAVE, SERGEANT, I
FORGOT TO GIVE THESE OUT.
I WILL SAY TO THE CALIFORNIA
COASTAL COMMISSION WOULD,
SUGGEST OR WOULD AFFIRM THAT THE
BALBOA ISLAND FERRY IS A HIGHLY
DESIRABLE, LOW COST VISITOR
SERVING AMENITY. THE COST OF THE
PERSON IS ONE PERSON PER PERSON
IS $1.50. HOW MUCH ARE THE
AUTOMOBILES, $2 AND A HALF PER
CAR AND DRIVER. YEAH. SO IT IS
KIDS. JUNIOR LIFEGUARDS ALL
SUMMER LONG RIDING THE FERRY.
ALSO, THERE ARE LOCAL BUSINESSES
ON BALBOA ISLAND AND ACROSS THE
BAY, 800FT. IT'S ONLY 800FT. IS
BALBOA VILLAGE. AND THOSE SMALL
BUSINESSES RELY ON THE FERRY AND
THE PASSENGER TRAFFIC AND THE
CAR TRAFFIC THAT COMES TO THE
END OF THE BALBOA PENINSULA. AND
THAT PART OF BALBOA ISLAND. SO
THERE MUST BE A DEMAND, BECAUSE
IT'S BEEN GOING ON SINCE 1919.
THANK YOU, AND JUST TO NOTE, WE
DID WE WERE ABLE TO CONFIRM
BECAUSE WE HAD IT, I THINK, IN
THE ANALYSIS ABOUT IT BEING
UNLIMITED RENEWALS. AND SO WE
WERE ABLE TO CONFIRM THAT.
YOU'RE CORRECT. THERE IS A LIMIT
OF EIGHT YEARS, THERE'S LOTS OF
DETAILS. HOW WE GET TO EIGHT.
BUT, ON THAT PARTICULAR PER
VEHICLE, I THINK, I MEAN, PER
VESSEL, PER ENGINE, SOMETHING TO
THAT EFFECT. SO I WANTED TO
CONFIRM FOR THE COMMITTEE THAT
THE LIMIT IS NOT UNLIMITED, AS
WAS STATED IN THE. IT IS, WE DID
FURTHER INVESTIGATION. IT IS
EIGHT TIMES FOR THIS PARTICULAR
FOR ONE PARTICULAR PART OF THIS
ISSUE, CHAIR DAVIES. THANK YOU,
HAVING THE, THE OPPORTUNITY TO
LIVE NEARBY JUST TO IF YOU
HAVEN'T HAD THE CHANCE TO GET
OVER TO BALBOA ISLAND AGAIN, YOU
HAVE YOU HAVE PEOPLE LIVING OVER
THERE, BUT THIS IS USED BY SO
MANY PEOPLE. IT'S, YOU KNOW,
IT'S A AN EXPENSIVE TRIP TO TAKE
THE FAMILY TO. THERE'S FERRIS
WHEELS, THERE'S SHOPS. AND IF
YOU KNEW HOW NEWPORT BOULEVARD
GOES, IF YOU'RE GOING TO GO THE
LONG WAY WITHOUT TAKING THE
FERRY, IT IS BACKED UP ALL YEAR
ROUND AND SO THERE'S SO MANY
EMPLOYEES THAT TAKE THIS FERRY
TO GET OVER THERE THAT ARE
RESTAURANT EMPLOYEES, RETAIL
EMPLOYEES, NOT TO MENTION,
AGAIN, AS I MEAN, I'VE TAKEN MY
BIKE AND, YOU KNOW, WE'VE TAKEN
THAT ON THE FERRY AND HAVE COME
OVER. SO THIS REALLY BRINGS A
LOT OF, ECONOMIC VALUE HAVING
THIS FERRY THERE, BECAUSE MOST
PEOPLE WOULD PROBABLY GO, I'M
NOT GOING TO DO IT. IT'S JUST
TOO BACKED UP BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE
GOING HOME. THEIR SCHOOLS OVER
THERE. I MEAN, ALL THE WAY OVER
IN THE ISLAND, AND I THINK
AGAIN, WHEN YOU LOOK AT $1.50 TO
BE ABLE TO USE THIS, IT
DEFINITELY IS SOMETHING THAT I
THINK ATTRACTS A LOT OF FAMILIES
TO COME AND ENJOY THIS
OPPORTUNITY. BUT IF YOU LOOK AT
IF YOU STOP THAT, HOW MANY CARS
THEY ACTUALLY TAKE OVER, THE
AMOUNT OF CARBON EMISSION THAT
WOULD NOW BE HAVING WOULD BE
UNBELIEVABLE. SO HAVING THIS
TAKES SO MUCH OFF, AND I THINK
THAT REALLY IS THE BENEFIT HERE
IS AND THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE TRYING
TO DO. AND I LIKE THE FACT THAT
YOU'D BE OPEN TO MAYBE TEN
YEARS, YOU KNOW, AND BRINGING IT
DOWN. AND I WOULD LOVE THE
COMMITTEE TO THINK ABOUT THAT AS
WELL. BUT THEY ARE REALLY
CUTTING A LOT OF CARBON
EMISSIONS RIGHT NOW. AND IF THIS
JUST HAD A STOP, YOU KNOW, IT
WOULD BE VERY GRAVE TO THE
ATMOSPHERE AND THOSE AROUND
THERE. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR,
IF I MIGHT ALSO MENTION I
NEGLECTED TO MENTION THAT
INGRESS AND EGRESS OFF THE
BALBOA PENINSULA ON A SUMMER
BACKED UP BUMPER TO BUMPER DAY,
EMERGENCY SERVICE VEHICLES RELY
ON THE FERRY. AND IN AN
EMERGENCY SITUATION WHERE THE
FIRE OR AMBULANCE CANNOT GET
THROUGH THE HEAVY DUTY TRAFFIC,
THEY TAKE THE FERRY ACROSS AND
ACCESS MEDICAL SERVICES MORE
QUICKLY. SO WITHOUT THE FERRY,
THERE'S LIMITED ACCESS OFF AND
EVEN IN ANOTHER EMERGENCY,
THERE'S LIMITED ACCESS OFF THE
PENINSULA. SO THANK YOU. ARE
THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS,
COMMENTS, CONCERNS? OKAY. WELL I
DEFINITELY APPRECIATE THE
TESTIMONY. AND, THE AUTHOR AND I
HAVE HAD SEVERAL CONVERSATIONS
ABOUT THIS, INCLUDING COMING TO
VISIT AND SEE PRETTY SOON, AND
RECOGNIZING THE IMPACT THAT,
THAT, THE BIG FAMILY HAS ON THE
COMMUNITY THROUGH THE BALBOA
FERRY, IT'S A CHALLENGE, AND I
UNDERSTAND THAT IT IS A
CHALLENGE FOR YOU AS YOU ARE
TRYING TO TRANSITION TO ZERO
EMISSION VEHICLES AND DO THE
RIGHT THING, THE HUGE EFFORT
THAT THE LOCAL COMMUNITY IN
NEWPORT BEACH AND THE OWNER,
YOU, MR. SEYMOUR BEEK, HAVE
EXPENDED TO RAISE AWARENESS AND
RAISE FUNDS AND WORK WITH THE
CALIFORNIA AIR RESOURCES BOARD
IS DEFINITELY COMMENDABLE, I
UNDERSTAND THAT YOU ALL HAVE
RECEIVED A PRELIMINARY GRANT
FROM CARB FOR ALMOST $8 MILLION
TO ELECTRIFY THE THREE FERRIES.
IT'S ALSO AN APPLICATION PROCESS
, OF $1.7 MILLION FROM CARB
MORAL, MOYER, AND ANOTHER 1.9
FROM CARB, I APPRECIATE THE
DIFFICULTY THAT THE BALBOA
ISLAND FERRY IS FACING AND
APPLYING FOR EXTENSIONS EACH
YEAR, THE EXEMPTIONS OFFERED BY
THIS BILL WOULD ONLY AFFECT,
BALBOA. BALBOA ISLAND FERRY, IT
ALSO SETS THIS BILL ALSO SETS A
CONCERNING PRECEDENT FOR OTHER
PARTIES SEEKING EXEMPTIONS, FROM
THE CARB REGULATIONS. AND I KNOW
YOU RECOGNIZE THAT YOU FELT LIKE
IT DOESN'T SET A PRECEDENT, BUT
IT DOES IN THIS PARTICULAR WAY.
AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THE
COMMITTEE HAS NOT BEEN GRANTING,
ANYONE, EXEMPTIONS, HAVING THEM
GO THROUGH THE, THE PROCESS AS I
TALKED WITH THE AUTHOR, YOU
KNOW, DEFINITELY INTERESTED IN
WORKING AS A COMMITTEE TO SEE IF
THERE IS A MORE NARROW WAY TO
WORK ON THE PROCESS AS IT
RELATES TO THIS, INTO THE NEXT
SESSION. BUT BECAUSE IT DOES SET
A DANGEROUS PRECEDENT, AND THERE
ARE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES FOR
GRANTS AS WELL AS TO GO THROUGH
THE PROCESS THROUGH THE
REGULATORY PROCESS, THROUGH
CARB. I WON'T BE ABLE TO SUPPORT
THIS BILL TODAY, BUT CONTINUE TO
LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU
TO FIND A PATHWAY FORWARD IN
TERMS OF HOW DO WE ADJUST THE
PROCESS TO ACCOMMODATE,
BUSINESSES LIKE YOURS AND THE
VALUABLE ROLE YOU PLAYED? I
APPRECIATE THE COMMENT OF NOTING
THAT YOU ONLY TAKE 28 GALLONS A
DAY, BUT HOWEVER, VEHICLES
TRAVERSING THE SIX MILE ROUTE TO
GET TO WHERE YOU'RE TAKING THEM
AND THE CONGESTION IS NOTED FROM
THE VICE CHAIR IS HAS A MUCH
MORE SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON THE
ENVIRONMENT. SO I THINK THERE IS
AN OPPORTUNITY VÆ, TO FIND A
PATHWAY FORWARD. I JUST DON'T
FEEL THAT THIS PARTICULAR
REQUEST, THIS PARTICULAR
SOLUTION THAT YOU'RE REQUESTING
IS THE ACTUAL SOLUTION. I'M
LOOKING TO THE COMMITTEE FOR.
THERE YOU GO. THERE'S A TIE.
I'LL GIVE IT TO SANCHEZ. AND SHE
HASN'T HAD ONE YET. SO, THERE IS
A MOTION MADE BY HOOVER AND A
SECOND BY SANCHEZ, I'LL GIVE YOU
AN OPPORTUNITY TO CLOSE AND
ADDRESS ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR
CONCERNS FROM THE COMMITTEE
BEFORE WE CALL THE ROLL. WELL,
THANK YOU, CHAIR WILSON. I'M
VERY GRATEFUL. AND YOU'VE BEEN
VERY GRACIOUS, IN OUR
CONVERSATIONS, I JUST WANT TO
CLARIFY A COUPLE OF POINTS. THIS
IS NOT PRECEDENT SETTING BECAUSE
THE, SPORTFISHING INDUSTRY, IN
FACT, COINCIDENTALLY, NOT
COINCIDENTALLY, BUT I'M VERY
FAMILIAR WITH THAT BECAUSE WHEN
I WAS MAYOR OF NEWPORT BEACH,
THEY WERE THE SPORT FISHING
INDUSTRY WAS APPLYING TO CARVE
FOR THAT, EXTENSION OR EXEMPTION
. I SIGNED A LETTER AS MAYOR TO
SUPPORT IT. AND SO THAT WAS A
PRECEDENT SETTING. AND JUST TO
BE CLEAR, ON THE VOCABULA DAIRY,
THEY'RE NOT LOOKING FOR AN
EXEMPTION. THEY'RE JUST SIMPLY
LOOKING FOR AN EXTENSION. AND AS
ASSEMBLY MEMBER PAPPAN, ASKED
ME, I CERTAINLY TEN YEARS, AND
THE PROCESS OF THE UNCERTAINTY
IS REALLY A CRITICAL FACTOR FOR
FINANCING. I DON'T KNOW IF MR.
JACOBY HAS MADE THIS POINT, BUT,
THE MATCHING FUNDS THAT THE 7.9
GRANTS REQUIRE, THERE'S IS $2
MILLION. THEY. FOR A BUSINESS
THAT DOESN'T EVEN MAKE $1
MILLION A YEAR. SO THEY WILL
HAVE TO COME UP WITH MATCHING
FUNDS TO RECEIVE THE GRANT OF
OVER $2 MILLION. SO THERE IS
THERE'S A FINANCIAL BLOCKAGE
HERE AND A PROCESS BLOCKAGE THAT
I'M CERTAINLY WILLING. AND THEY
WOULD BE WILLING TO WORK OUT THE
BEST SOLUTION THAT WORKS, OF
COURSE, BUT WE JUST DON'T WANT
IT TO GO OUT OF BUSINESS. AND
THIS IS THE MOST ENVIRONMENTALLY
FRIENDLY PUBLIC TRANSIT SYSTEM.
THEY RECEIVE THEIR RATE SETTING
FROM THE CALIFORNIA PUBLIC
UTILITIES COMMISSION. SO THEY
ARE IN CONFORMANCE WITH ALL
REGULATIONS AND REQUIREMENT. AND
IT WOULD BE, NOT ONLY IS IT
ICONIC IN NEWPORT BEACH AND
ORANGE COUNTY, IT WOULD JUST BE
A DEVASTATING BLOW TO THE LOCAL
ECONOMY OF THESE SMALL
BUSINESSES AS WELL AS THEIR OWN
BUSINESS. SO WE I THINK THERE'S
A SOLUTION THERE SOMEWHERE. I
HOPE WE COULD DO IT THIS YEAR,
BECAUSE NEXT YEAR HE'LL REACH
THE EXTENT THEY'LL REACH THE
EXTENSION, THE EXPIRATION FOR
THEIR APPLICATION. AND SO IF
ONLY TWO FERRIES ARE OPERATING,
THAT'S NOT A GOOD SIGN. SO MAYBE
IF THERE'S A WAY, IF THIS
CONTINUES, I ASK RESPECTFULLY
FOR AN I VOTE WE CAN CONTINUE TO
WORK ON BEFORE THIS GOES TO
APPROPRIATIONS AND WORK OUT A
PROCESS THAT WORKS FOR YOU AND
WORKS FOR ALL OF US. THANK YOU.
I APPRECIATE YOUR I VOTE, THANK
YOU AND JUST TO PROVIDE CLARITY
FOR MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, ON THE
TESTIMONY, THE BILL IN ITS
CURRENT PRINT TODAY, IS ASKING
FOR AN EXEMPTION FOR 15 YEARS,
EXTENSION. NO, NO, NO, THE EXACT
LANGUAGE IS EXEMPTION FOR 15
YEARS, I KNOW THERE WAS
DISCUSSION ABOUT WOULD YOU
ACCEPT THE LOWER TEN, BUT WE
DON'T NEGOTIATE DURING COVET.
RIGHT. IT IS ASKING FOR AN
EXEMPTION, NOT AN EXTENSION
RELATED TO THE TIME PERIOD. AND
THAT'S THAT'S THE KEY DIFFERING
POINT. AND, AND THERE IS
CURRENTLY AN EXEMPTION PROCESS.
AND WITH THE REGULATORY BODY
BEING CARB AND SO AND SO THAT IS
WHAT THE PRECEDENT SETTING IS.
WHEREAS THE SPORTS FISHERMAN GOT
AN EXTENSION TO COMPLY. BUT
THAT'S NOT THE BILL BEFORE US
TODAY, AND THAT'S WHY IT'S
REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE WORK
TOGETHER TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IS
THE PATHWAY FORWARD TO BE ABLE
TO. I THINK IT'S A VITAL
RESOURCE. WE JUST GOT TO GET THE
RIGHT LANGUAGE AND LAW TO BE
ABLE TO, TO DO THAT. AND SO WITH
THAT, MADAM SECRETARY, PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL AB 3153. THE
MOTION IS Dð PASS TO THE
COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS.
WILSON NØ WILSON, NØ DAVIS. YES.
I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU A COURTESY
VOTE SO THAT YOU HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE ANY CHANGES
TO HOPEFULLY MOVE FORWARD. THANK
YOU. AGUIAR-CURRY AGUIAR-CURRY
NOT VOTING CARILLO HART. HOOVER.
JACKSON. JACKSON. NO ORTEGA.
ORTEGA. NOT VOTING PAPPIN HAPPEN
NOT VOTING. SANCHEZ SANCHEZ I
TING TING. NOT VOTING. VALENCIA.
WALLACE WALLACE I WARD WICKS.
YEAH.
WE'RE WE'RE CHECKING ON THE
TALLY. HOLD ON.
SO THE CURRENT TALLY IS THREE
TWO WITH. I DON'T SEE THE NOT
VOTING, BUT IT'S SEVERAL FOR NOT
VOTING, WE ARE GOING TO LEAVE
THE ROLL OPEN FOR MEMBERS TO ADD
ON. HOWEVER THEY SEE FIT. AND
I'M JUST NOTING IF IT DOES FAIL,
I AM GOING TO REQUEST OF THE
COMMITTEE TO WITHOUT OBJECTION,
GRANT UNANIMOUS CONSENT FOR
RECONSIDERATION. OKAY. THANK
YOU. AND THANK YOU TO THE BEEK
FAMILY. THANK YOU.
ALL RIGHT. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE
ON TO ITEM NUMBER 14 A B 2535.
BONTA.
TO THE AUTHOR AT YOUR
CONVENIENCE. GOOD AFTERNOON.
CHAIR AND MEMBERS OF THE
COMMITTEE. I WANT TO START OFF
BY THANKING THE CHAIR AND
COMMITTEE CONSULTANTS FOR THEIR
INCREDIBLY HARD WORK ON
COLLABORATION. ON THIS BILL, I
WILL BE ACCEPTING THE COMMITTEE
AMENDMENTS. THE TRADE CORRIDOR
ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM, OR TSEP,
WAS ESTABLISHED IN 2017 TO FUND
PROJECTS THAT EFFICIENTLY
ENHANCE THE MOVEMENT OF GOODS
ALONG CORRIDORS WITH WITH HIGH
FREIGHT VOLUME. THIS INCLUDES
PROJECTS THAT MAKE HIGHWAY
IMPROVEMENTS, BUT ALSO PROJECTS
THAT REDUCE THE ENVIRONMENTAL
IMPACTS OF FREIGHT MOVEMENT,
LIKE ZERO-EMISSION FREIGHT
INFRASTRUCTURE. SINCE ITS
INCEPTION, THE CALIFORNIA
TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION HAS
ALLOCATED OVER 60% OF TSEP FUNDS
TO HIGHWAY EXPANSION PROJECTS
AND ONLY 4% TO ZERO EMISSION
FREIGHT INFRASTRUCTURE. HIGHWAY
EXPANSION PROJECTS ARE
FREQUENTLY USED AS A METHOD TO
ALLEVIATE TRAFFIC CONGESTION.
HOWEVER, RESEARCH HAS
CONTINUALLY SHOWN THAT HIGHWAY
EXPANSIONS DO NOT REDUCE
TRAFFIC, BUT INSTEAD INCREASE
THE TRAFFIC IN LONG TERME. IN
THE LONG TERME, THROUGH INDUCED
DEMAND OF PASSENGER VEHICLES,
INCREASED IN TRAFFIC
SUBSEQUENTLY LEAD TO THE
INCREASES IN GREENHOUSE GAS
EMISSIONS. HISTORICALLY,
HIGHWAYS HAVE BEEN CONSTRUCTED
THROUGH OUR NEAR, THROUGH OR
NEAR LOW INCOME AND OUR
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR WHERE
COMMUNITY RESISTANCE TO LAND
ACQUISITION WAS THE LEAST
POWERFUL. NOW, HIGHWAYS AND
FREIGHT CORRIDORS ARE OFTEN
CO-LOCATED WITH LOW INCOME
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR. AS A
RESULT, LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES
OF COLOR BEAR A DISPROPORTIONATE
BURDEN OF AIR POLLUTION AND
DIESEL EXHAUST. INHALATION OF
DIESEL EXHAUST CAN LEAD TO
ASTHMA AND RESPIRATORY ILLNESSES
AND CAN WORSEN HEART AND LUNG
DISEASE. TO PREVENT FURTHER HARM
TO THESE COMMUNITIES, AB 2535
WILL REQUIRE THE CALIFORNIA
TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION, THE
DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, AND THE
CALIFORNIA AIR RESOURCES BOARD
TO DEVELOP GUIDELINES FOR
HIGHWAY EXPANSION PROJECTS THAT
ARE FUNDED THROUGH TSEP. IT WILL
ALSO SET TARGETS FOR THE
CONTINUED INVESTMENT OF TSEP
FUNDS INTO ZERO EMISSIONS
FREIGHT INFRASTRUCTURE TO REDUCE
THE BURDEN OF DIESEL POLLUTION,
AND TO HELP THE STATE TO REACH
ITS CLIMATE GOALS. I WILL NOW
TURN IT OVER TO GENE WARD
WALLER, DIRECTOR OF
TRANSPORTATION ADVOCACY WITH
FEARLESS ADVOCACY, AND WILL
BARRETT, SENIOR DIRECTOR OF
CLEAN AIR ADVOCACY FROM THE
AMERICAN LUNG ASSOCIATION. GOOD
AFTERNOON, CHAIR AND MEMBERS
GENE WARD WALLER WITH FEARLESS
ADVOCACY ON BEHALF OF THE
GREENLINING INSTITUTE, WHERE
CO-SPONSORS OF AB 2535, I WANT
TO THANK ASSEMBLY MEMBER BONTA
FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND
AUTHORING THIS BILL. THE US
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND
CALIFORNIA'S TRANSPORTATION
AGENCIES HAVE ALL PUBLICLY
ACKNOWLEDGED THE DESTRUCTION AND
DIVISION OF COMMUNITIES OF COLOR
THAT WAS CAUSED BY BUILDING OUR
HIGHWAY SYSTEM. RESEARCH HAS
WELL DOCUMENTED THAT THESE
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE
COMMUNITIES ARE BURDENED BY
TOXIC LEVELS OF TRAFFIC AND AIR
POLLUTION THAT ARE THE LEGACY OF
WHERE WE BUILT HIGHWAYS. THESE
IMPACTS ARE WORST ALONG MAJOR
FREIGHT CORRIDORS, WHERE PEOPLE
BREATHING IN DIESEL PARTICULATES
DAILY SUFFER MUCH HIGHER RATES
OF CANCER AND ASTHMA. DECADES OF
EVIDENCE IN CALTRANS OAN POLICY
RECOGNIZED THAT WIDENING
CONGESTED HIGHWAYS ACTUALLY
WORSENS TRAFFIC CONGESTION AND
INCREASES THE BURDEN ON ADJACENT
COMMUNITIES. UNLESS THE NEW LANE
IS FOR TRUCKS ONLY, THE TRUCKS
MOVING GOODS ON THAT HIGHWAY
WILL BE STUCK IN THE SAME
TRAFFIC. THE TRADE CORRIDOR
ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM WAS
ESTABLISHED IN SENATE BILL ONE
TO FUND PROJECTS THAT IMPROVE
TRADE CORRIDOR MOBILITY AND
SAFETY, WHILE REDUCING EMISSIONS
OF DIESEL PARTICULATES AND
NEGATIVE COMMUNITY IMPACTS,
ESPECIALLY IN DISADVANTAGED
COMMUNITIES. DESPITE THIS
PROVISION, TSEP HAS FUNDED MORE
HIGHWAY EXPANSION SINCE 2018
THAN ANY OTHER STATE PROGRAM,
LARGELY IN ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE
COMMUNITIES. AB 2535 WOULD
STRENGTHEN TSP'S EMPHASIS ON
REDUCING POLLUTION AND
DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES IN TWO
CRITICAL WAYS. AS ASSEMBLY
MEMBER BONTA HAS DESCRIBED,
DESPITE CLEAR EVIDENCE AND
POLICY, CALIFORNIA'S
TRANSPORTATION AGENCIES WILL
CONTINUE TO EXPAND HIGHWAYS AND
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE
COMMUNITIES IN THE ABSENCE OF
STRONG DIRECTION FROM THE
LEGISLATURE. I UNDERSTAND THIS
MORE DEEPLY THAN ALMOST ANYONE
IN MY SIX YEARS IN LEADERSHIP AT
CALTRANS, I WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR
TRYING TO SHIFT THE DEPARTMENT
AWAY FROM HIGHWAY WIDENING
TOWARD SOLUTIONS THAT
SUSTAINABLY ADDRESS OUR MYRIAD
CHALLENGES, AND I WAS ULTIMATELY
FIRED FOR IT. I URGE YOUR
SUPPORT OF AB 2535. THANK YOU.
I'M WILL BARRETT WITH THE
AMERICAN LUNG ASSOCIATION, THE
AMERICAN LUNG ASSOCIATION
SUPPORTS AB 2535 BECAUSE THE
TRANSPORTATION SECTOR IS THE
LEADING SOURCE OF AIR TOXICS AND
HARMFUL AIR POLLUTION AND
DISPARITIES IN CALIFORNIA,
CALIFORNIANS FACE THE MOST
DIFFICULT AIR POLLUTION BURDENS
IN THE NATION, WITH THE FREIGHT
SECTOR CONTRIBUTING TO OUR
REGIONAL, LOCAL, AND GLOBAL
POLLUTION CHALLENGES. THIS
SECTOR IS ESTIMATED TO CAUSE
THOUSANDS OF PREMATURE DEATHS
ANNUALLY. IN CALIFORNIA, THE
LUNG ASSOCIATION'S STATE OF THE
ART 2023 REPORT FOUND THAT OVER
9 IN 10 CALIFORNIANS LIVE IN A
COMMUNITY IMPACTED BY UNHEALTHY
AIR, AND MANY FACE GREATER
BURDENS DUE TO TRUCKING ROUTES
IN THEIR LOCAL COMMUNITIES.
DIESEL EXHAUST IS A KNOWN
CARCINOGEN, AS HAS BEEN
MENTIONED, AND COMMUNITIES OF
COLOR AND LOWER INCOME
COMMUNITIES ARE OFTEN MOST
IMPACTED. RECENTLY, THE US EPA
HAS ESTIMATED THAT THERE ARE
MORE THAN 70 MILLION PEOPLE
LIVING NEAR THE NATION'S
HEAVIEST TRUCK ROUTES, NOTING
THAT THEY TEND TO BE PEOPLE OF
COLOR AND TEND TO HAVE LOWER
INCOMES AND FACE THE GREATEST
EXPOSURE BURDENS. THE NATIONAL
HEALTH EFFECTS INSTITUTE'S
RECENT REVIEW OF OVER 300 PEER
REVIEWED RESEARCH STUDIES NOTED
THAT TRAFFIC POLLUTION CAUSES
EARLY DEATH, DEATH DUE TO HEART
DISEASE, AND DEATH DUE TO LUNG
CANCER. THIS MAJOR REVIEW ALSO
RECONFIRMED TRAFFIC TRAFFIC
POLLUTION CAUSING ASTHMA ATTACKS
AND CAUSING NEW CASES OF ASTHMA.
IN CHILDREN AND ADULTS, AS WELL
AS ADDING TO RESPIRATORY
INFECTION RISK IN CHILDREN. THE
LUNG ASSOCIATION OURSELVES.
WE'VE ALSO REVIEWED THE HEALTH
BENEFITS OF SHIFTING TO ZERO
EMISSION, TRUCKING ALONG MAJOR
TRUCK ROUTES WITH THE HEAVIEST
TRAFFIC, LOADS IN THE NATION. WE
FOUND THAT CALIFORNIA
COMMUNITIES HAVE THE MOST TO
GAIN IN TERMS OF THOUSANDS OF
LIVES COULD BE SAVED, TENS OF
THOUSANDS OF ASTHMA ATTACKS
COULD BE AVOIDED, AND TENS OF
BILLIONS IN PUBLIC HEALTH
BENEFITS COULD BE GENERATED OVER
THE COMING DECADES THROUGH THE
SHIFT TO ZERO EMISSION, TRUCKING
AND ZERO EMISSION INFRASTRUCTURE
ON OUR MAJOR ROADWAYS, AB 2535
WOULD PROTECT VULNERABLE
COMMUNITIES FROM EXPANSION OF
POLLUTING INFRASTRUCTURE AND
ENSURE THE GREATER DEPLOYMENT OF
ZERO EMISSION INFRASTRUCTURE
WHERE NEEDED TO MEET OUR CLEAN
AIR GOALS, OUR CLEAN AIR
STANDARDS AND OUR CLIMATE
STANDARDS. IN CALIFORNIA. THIS
WILL ALSO HELP TO REDUCE
DISPARITIES IN DIESEL EXHAUST
BURDENS, AND WE URGE YOUR AYE
VOTE. THANK YOU. NOW MOVING TO
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO WOULD
LIKE TO ADD ON THEIR SUPPORT.
I'D BE, IT WOULD BE YOUR NAME,
ORGANIZATION AND POSITION.
JONATHAN COAL FOR CLIMATE ACTION
CALIFORNIA IN SUPPORT. HI THERE.
MEGAN MEKELBURG ON BEHALF OF THE
BREAST CANCER PREVENTION
PARTNERS IN SUPPORT. SANTIAGO
WITH CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL
VOTERS IN SUPPORT. GOOD
AFTERNOON. ASHTON ERNIE.
SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF
ENVIRONMENT CALIFORNIA IN
SUPPORT. GOOD AFTERNOON,
ALEJANDRO SOLIS, ON BEHALF OF
CIVICO EL VALLE AND SUPPORT.
THANK YOU. REBECCA MARCUS, ON
BEHALF OF THE UNION OF CONCERNED
SCIENTISTS AND SUPPORT MARK
FUCSOVICS ON BEHALF OF STREETS
FOR ALL. THIS IS A GREAT BILL
AND WE'RE IN SUPPORT. JAMIE PUGH
WITH NEXT GEN CALIFORNIA AND ON
BEHALF OF THE PLANNING AND
CONSERVATION LEAGUE IN SUPPORT.
ZACH GROSS, ON BEHALF OF
TRANSFORM AND LEADERSHIP,
COUNCIL FOR JUSTICE AND
ACCOUNTABILITY AND SUPPORT. GOOD
AFTERNOON, JENNIFER CAÑADA ON
BEHALF OF COMMUNITIES FOR A
BETTER ENVIRONMENT. BUT I ALSO
HAVE IN SUPPORT UAW REGION SIX
350 BAY AREA, ASIAN PACIFIC
ENVIRONMENTAL NETWORK,
CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE
ALLIANCE, CENTER FOR COMMUNITY
ACTION, AND ENVIRONMENTAL
JUSTICE. THANK YOU. ZACH ACCARDI
WITH NRDC, THE NATURAL RESOURCES
DEFENSE COUNCIL, AND ALSO ON
BEHALF OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL
DEFENSE FUND, SIERRA CLUB,
CALIFORNIA AND THE SAN FRANCISCO
BAY PHYSICIANS FOR SOCIAL
RESPONSIBILITY AND SUPPORT.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NOW MOVING
ON TO THE PRIMARY WITNESSES AND
OPPOSITION, YOU CAN START AT
YOUR CONVENIENCE
.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR.
MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE. KIANA
VALENTINE, ON BEHALF OF
TRANSPORTATION CALIFORNIA,
REPRESENTING OUR MANAGEMENT AND
LABOR PARTNERS WHO CREATE
200,000 JOBS A YEAR IN THE STATE
OF CALIFORNIA WHO BUILD REPAIR
PLAN AND MAINTAIN OUR MULTIMODAL
TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE,
RANGING FROM STATE HIGHWAYS AND
LOCAL STREETS AND ROADS TO
TRANSIT FACILITIES, BICYCLE AND
PEDESTRIAN INFRASTRUCTURE, AND
ALL THE ASSOCIATED ASPECTS THAT
KEEP CALIFORNIA MOVING. I WANT
TO START MY TESTIMONY TODAY BY
ABSOLUTELY ACKNOWLEDGING ON
BEHALF OF THE INDUSTRY THAT PAST
LAND USE AND TRANSPORTATION
DECISIONS HAVE LED TO
SIGNIFICANT INEQUITIES ACROSS
CALIFORNIA AND COMMUNITIES, AND
WE ABSOLUTELY SUPPORT WORKING ON
SOLUTIONS TO STAND UP,
UNDERSERVED AND UNDER-RESOURCED
COMMUNITIES. AT THE SAME TIME,
THE TRANSPORTATION CONSTRUCTION
INDUSTRY BELIEVES THAT WE CAN DO
THAT WHILE ALSO SUPPORTING
FLEXIBILITY TO DESIGN
TRANSPORTATION SOLUTIONS THAT
INCLUDE STRATEGIC LIMITED
HIGHWAY CAPACITY, WHICH IS WHY
WE, BEFORE THE AUTHOR ACCEPTED
THE COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS, HAD AN
OPPOSED POSITION. I WOULD LIKE
TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE ACCEPTANCE OF
THE COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS AND OUR
GRATITUDE TO THE AUTHOR, TO THE
CHAIR AND YOUR STAFF FOR GETTING
ALL OF THE HARD WORK DONE TO GET
US TO THIS PLACE AND WE ARE NOW
IN AN OPPOSED, UNLESS AMENDED,
POSITION. THERE ARE WHAT WE
THINK ARE A FEW MINOR AMENDMENTS
THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE AND
WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE TO WORK
ON WITH THE AUTHOR GOING
FORWARD. THE FIRST IS RELATED TO
THE CTC GUIDELINES LANGUAGE TO
ENSURE THAT IT MIRRORS EXISTING
REQUIREMENTS IN OTHER SB ONE
PROGRAMS LIKE THE LOCAL
PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM AND
SOLUTIONS FOR CONGESTED
CORRIDORS PROGRAM, WE DON'T
THINK IT'S NECESSARY TO CODIFY
THE SEQUA NEPA CTC GUIDANCE
DOCUMENT IN THE STATUTE. THAT
ASPECT THAT REQUIRES A
ENVIRONMENTAL CLEARANCE WITHIN
SIX MONTHS OF PROGRAM ADOPTION,
THE CTC COULD NEED FOR A VARIETY
OF REASONS, TO CHANGE THAT IN
THE FUTURE AND CODIFYING THAT
POTENTIAL CONSTRAINTS, THE CTC
IN THAT WAY. AND THEN FINALLY,
WE BELIEVE IT'S PRUDENT TO
INCLUDE A FIVE YEAR SUNSET ON
THE 5% INCREASE IN TSP ZERO
EMISSION VEHICLE TARGET EVERY
CYCLE. SO THAT THE LEGISLATURE
CAN PAUSE AND EVALUATE ITS
EFFECTIVENESS IN, ADVANCING ZERO
EMISSION VEHICLE INFRASTRUCTURE
THROUGH THAT PROGRAM. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. THANK YOU, CHAIR
WILSON AND MEMBERS CHRIS SHIMODA
WITH THE CALIFORNIA TRUCKING
ASSOCIATION, FIRST WANTED TO
THANK THE AUTHOR AND SPONSORS
FOR MEETING WITH US AND EXPRESS
APPRECIATION TO THE COMMITTEE
STAFF AND THE CHAIR FOR YOUR
HARD WORK ON THIS BILL, CTA
ALIGNS ITS COMMENTS WITH
TRANSPORTATION CALIFORNIA AND
HOPE WE CAN WORK OUT REMAINING
CONCERNS AS THE BILL MOVES
FORWARD, TRUCKING HAS SPENT
NEARLY $1 BILLION A YEAR TO
TRANSITION TO CLEANER EQUIPMENT,
WHICH HAS REDUCED DIESEL
EMISSIONS IN COMMUNITIES WHERE
TÊ PROJECTS ARE LOCATED BY OVER
99. AS THE INDUSTRY TRANSITIONS
US TO ZERO EMISSION
TECHNOLOGIES, MAJOR INVESTMENTS
WILL BE NEEDED, IN CHARGING AND
FUELING, THIS IS WHY JUST LAST
YEAR, CTA SUPPORTED
REAUTHORIZATION OF THE CLEAN
TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM, WHICH
COMBINED WITH EXISTING CARB
PROGRAMS, PROVIDE OVER HALF $1
BILLION A YEAR IN DEDICATED
FUNDING FOR ZERO EMISSION TRUCKS
IN CHARGING. HOWEVER, THE TSP IS
THE ONLY PROGRAM DEDICATED TO
IMPROVING CALIFORNIA'S GOODS
MOVEMENT SYSTEM AS THE LARGEST
FEE PAYER, WE OPPOSE DIVERTING
50% OF THE FUND FROM ALL
ELIGIBLE USES TO A SINGLE USE
ALREADY FUNDED AND WELL FUNDED
BY CARBON CC, IS VIOLATING THE
INTENT OF THIS PROGRAM AS AGREED
UPON IN SB ONE, GOODS MOVEMENT
ACCOUNTS FOR ONE THIRD OF THE
STATE'S ECONOMY AND 1 IN 9 JOBS
IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. AS
CALIFORNIA'S POPULATION AND
ECONOMY GROWS, WE MUST CONTINUE
TO INVEST IN THIS CRITICAL
INFRASTRUCTURE WITH A PROPERLY
BALANCED TSP. FOR THOSE REASONS,
WE CONTINUE TO BE OPPOSED TO AB
2535, UNLESS AMENDED, PER
TRANSPORTATION, CALIFORNIA'S
POSITION. THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
NOW, MOVING ON TO MEMBERS OF THE
PUBLIC WHO WOULD LIKE TO ADD ON
THEIR OPPOSITION THÀNH, NOW
WOULD BE APPROPRIATE TIME TO DO
SO. NAME ORGANIZATION AND
POSITION. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR
GUS KAU, ON BEHALF OF THE SAN
JOAQUIN VALLEY REGIONAL POLICY
COUNCIL. COUNCIL. SORRY, AND THE
TRANSPORTATION PLANNING AGENCIES
FOR MONTEREY AND SANTA BARBARA
AND MADERA IN OPPOSITION. WE
HAVE NOT HAD THE BENEFIT OF
SEEING THE MOST RECENT
AMENDMENTS WE'VE HAD TO DO. WE
HAVE. I'M JUST WANTED TO WE
HAVEN'T SEEN THE MOST RECENT
AMENDMENTS. SO THAT COULD HAVE
TRIGGERED MAYBE A DIFFERENT, YOU
KNOW, CONVERSATION HERE. BUT AS
FOR YOUR, WE'RE WE'RE IN
OPPOSITION. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU
. AND YOU CAN NOTE YOUR POSITION
AS OPPOSED UNLESS AMENDED, IF,
INCONSISTENT WITH THE OPPOSITION
WITNESSES IF YOU PREFER, VERSUS
JUST OPPOSED. THANK YOU FOR THE
DIRECTION, MADAM CHAIR. KEITH
DUNN HERE ON BEHALF OF THE STATE
BUILDING CONSTRUCTION TRADES
COUNCIL, IN OPPOSITION, LESS
FURTHER AMENDED, WE LOOK FORWARD
TO WORKING WITH THE AUTHOR
MOVING FORWARD. THANK YOU. GOOD
AFTERNOON. CHAIRS MEMBERS.
MELANIE PERRON, ON BEHALF OF THE
ASSOCIATED GENERAL CONTRACTORS
OF CALIFORNIA, OPPOSED, UNLESS
AMENDED, ON THIS BILL. GOOD
AFTERNOON. MARK NEUBERGER,
CALIFORNIA STATE ASSOCIATION OF
COUNTIES OPPOSED, UNLESS AMENDED
. GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR,
AND MEMBERS. DAMON CONKLIN WITH
LEAGUE OF CALIFORNIA CITIES
OPPOSED UNLESS AMENDED. THANK
YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON. CHAIR
MEMBERS ROSS BARKLEY, ON BEHALF
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY,
OPPOSED MANNY LEÓN CALIFORNIA
ALLIANCE FOR JOBS, OPPOSE,
UNLESS AMENDED, LAWRENCE GAYTAN,
WITH THE CALIFORNIA
MANUFACTURERS AND TECHNOLOGY
ASSOCIATION OPPOSED. LÀ
SUBMITTED. ERIC JOHNSON, ON
BEHALF OF THE CITY OF TULARE.
OPPOSE UNLESS AMENDED. THANK YOU
. BRITNEY KRUEGER WITH THE
CALIFORNIA TRUCKING ASSOCIATION,
ALSO ON BEHALF OF THE WESTERN
STATES TRUCKING ASSOCIATION,
HARBOR TRUCKING ASSOCIATION, SAN
GABRIEL VALLEY ECONOMIC
PARTNERSHIP, THE CALIFORNIA
BUSINESS ROUNDTABLE, ALSO IN
OPPOSITION. EXCUSE ME. HI. MARK
WATTS REPRESENTING RIVERSIDE
COUNTY TRANSPORTATION
COMMISSION, REMAINING IN
OPPOSITION UNLESS AMENDED. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU. NOW MOVING TO
MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE FOR ANY
QUESTIONS, COMMENTS AND
CONCERNS. AGUIAR-CURRY THANK
YOU. ASSEMBLY MEMBER, FOR
BRINGING THIS FORWARD. BUT, YOU
KNOW, I'VE STRUGGLED WITH THIS
BILL AND I MAJOR INTERSTATES IN
MY DISTRICT, AND THEY SERVE AS
IMPORTANT CORRIDORS FOR
AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS TO MAKE IT
FROM THE FIELDS IN MY DISTRICT
TO THE PORTS OF OAKLAND,
STOCKTON AND SACRAMENTO. AND
MORE IMPORTANTLY, I HAVE
CONSTITUENTS WHO HAVE REALLY
LONG COMMUTES BECAUSE THEY HAVE
HAD TO MOVE FARTHER AND FARTHER
AWAY FROM CITIES TO FIND
AFFORDABLE HOUSING, IMPROVING
AIR QUALITY, ESPECIALLY IN
DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES, AND
PROMOTING ZERO EMISSION FREIGHT
TECHNOLOGY IS CRITICALLY
IMPORTANT. BUT I ALSO WANT TO
MAKE SURE THAT WE DO IT IN A WAY
THAT DOES NOT CONTRIBUTE TO THE
STRUGGLES OF MY CONSTITUENTS,
EVEN THE AMENDMENTS. THIS BILL
RESTRICTS AN IMPORTANT SOURCE OF
STATE FUNDING AND COULD
POTENTIALLY LIMIT THE STATE'S
ABILITY TO PROVIDE MATCHING
FUNDS NEEDED TO BRING IN FEDERAL
DOLLARS AND PROTECT THE
LIVELIHOOD OF THE STRUGGLING
FAMILY. FARMERS IN MY DISTRICT,
AND UNFORTUNATELY, ESPECIALLY AT
THIS PARTICULAR TIME, I HAVE A
VERY HARD TIME TRUSTING GUIDANCE
THAT IS DRAFTED BY CARB AT THE
EXACT MOMENT THEY ARE TRYING TO
KILL AN IMPORTANT PROJECT IN MY
DISTRICT, THE CAUSEWAY, AND
REVERT $87 MILLION OF FEDERAL
FUNDS BACK TO WASHINGTON, DC.
LOOKING FOR ANY. IS THERE ANY
OTHER THAT I'LL GIVE? OH WELL,
TO THE, AUTHOR, DID YOU WANT TO
MAKE ANY COMMENTS NOW OR AT
CLOSE IN REGARD TO ANY TESTIMONY
GIVEN SO FAR? AT CLOSE? OKAY
CARILLO. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
I DO SHARE THOSE SENTIMENTS THAT
WERE EXPRESSED WITH WITH LOW
RESOURCE COMMUNITIES, WHICH I
REPRESENT. I ALSO HAVE A CONCERN
WITH AN AREA OF THE DISTRICT
THAT I REPRESENT, WHICH IS THE
14 FREEWAY GOING DOWN FROM
LANCASTER AND PALMDALE TO SANTA
CLARITA. THERE ARE THREE CHOKE
POINTS, THREE BOTTLENECKS ON
EACH DIRECTION, THIS BILL SEEMS
TO BE AN IMPEDIMENT TO FIX THOSE
CHOKE POINTS. AND THAT'S A
QUESTION REALLY, I DON'T I DON'T
KNOW IF THAT'S HOW THIS WILL BE,
DONE, ARE YOU FULLY UNDERSTAND,
AGAIN, THE EXPANSION OF
FREEWAYS, ADDING LANES AND ALL
THOSE THINGS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO
THE IMPACTS ON THOSE LOW
RESOURCE COMMUNITIES LIKE THE
ONES THAT REPRESENT, HOWEVER,
GOING DOWN THE 14 FREEWAY DOWN
TO LA, WHERE 70, 75% OF THE
RESIDENTS TRAVEL TO BECAUSE OF
WORK, IN THESE THREE CHOKE
POINTS ARE CONCERNED. I'VE BEEN
TRYING TO GET SOME FUNDING TO BE
ABLE TO FIX THAT, AND I'M JUST
AFRAID THAT THIS MAY IMPEDE IT
EVEN FURTHER. BUT I'D BE HAPPY
TO LISTEN TO THAT. ANSWER
ASSEMBLY MEMBER. WE'VE LOOKED
CLOSELY AT YOUR DISTRICT, AND
NONE OF YOUR DISTRICT FALLS INTO
THE TOP 10% OF CALENVIROSCREEN
CENSUS TRACKS. IT WOULD NOT BE
AFFECTED BY THE PROVISION OF THE
BILL THAT IS LOOKING TO DEVELOP
GUIDANCE TO POTENTIALLY GOVERN
HOW HIGHWAY EXPANSION PROJECTS
WOULD BE TREATED IN THE FUTURE.
SO THAT PROJECT SHOULD NOT THAT
QUARTER SHOULD NOT BE IMPACTED.
WELL, THANK YOU FOR THAT. ARE
THERE ANY OTHERS? ALL RIGHT. I'M
SEEING NONE. I'D LIKE TO SAY
THANK YOU TO THE AUTHOR FOR
WORKING SO DILIGENTLY WITH ME
AND COMMITTEE STAFF ON THE
AMENDMENTS, TAKEN TODAY. I KNOW
AS A LEADER IN THIS SPACE, IT
WAS NOT EASY TO HAVE YOUR BILL
BE REVIEWED SO CLOSELY, I'M
SUPPORTIVE OF THE WIDENING OF
FREEWAYS AS ONE OPTION IN A
TOOLBOX OF SOLUTIONS TO ADDRESS
SAFETY, RISK AND CONGESTION. I
ALSO RECOGNIZE AND APPRECIATE
THE NEED FOR A BALANCED APPROACH
, AND THAT HIGHWAY WIDENINGS CAN
FURTHER DISPROPORTIONATELY
IMPACT THE STATE'S MOST
VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES. BUT AS
WAS NOTED BY BOTH SIDES OF THE
TESTIMONY TODAY, THAT
TRANSPORTATION THÀNH HAS HAD A
HUGE IMPACT ON ON COMMUNITIES
REYES DISPROPORTIONATELY ON
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR. AND SO
HAVING A BALANCE IS EXTREMELY
IMPORTANT. AND I THINK THAT THE
AMENDMENTS TAKEN TODAY WORK TO
STRIKE THAT BALANCE, BY
REQUIRING APPROPRIATE STATE
AGENCIES TO CREATE GUIDANCE,
GUIDANCE AND IMPLEMENT THEM ON
THE IMPACT, IMPLEMENT THEM ON
THE TOP ONE, 10% OF CAL ENVIRO
SCREEN, COMMUNITIES, I KNOW THAT
THERE IS GOING TO BE MORE
CONVERSATION IN THIS SPACE, NOT
ONLY AS IT RELATES TO YOUR BILL,
BUT DURING MY TIME AS CHAIR. AND
I HAVE SAID FROM THE VERY
BEGINNING THAT, EQUITY WILL
GUIDE ALL OF MY DECISION MAKING,
AS LONG AS I REMAIN AS CHAIR,
WELL, ACTUALLY, DESPITE WHETHER
I REMAIN AS CHAIR IS NOT JUST
FOREVER, AND SO I'M GLAD TO BE
ABLE TO SUPPORT THIS BILL TODAY
WITH ALL THE AMENDMENTS THAT
WERE TAKEN AND APPRECIATE NOT
ONLY YOUR, LEADERSHIP AS AN
AUTHOR IN THIS SPACE, BUT ALSO
PHÐ THE ADVOCATES WHO'VE
CONTINUALLY DISTRIBUTED, NOT
ONLY DEMONSTRATED LEADERSHIP,
BUT THE SPIRIT OF COLLABORATION
AND TRYING TO STRIKE A BALANCE
ON THIS BILL, AS WELL AS THOSE
THAT STAND AND OPPOSE, AS
AMENDED, WITH THAT, I'LL GIVE
YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO CLOSE.
THANK YOU, CHAIR, AND THANK YOU
FOR THE ROBUST COMMENTARY BY THE
COMMITTEE MEMBERS. I JUST WANT
TO PUT THIS BILL, AND WHAT IT'S,
SEEKING TO DO IN CONTEXT WITHIN
OUR ACTUAL SPENDING DOLLARS,
AROUND, TRANSPORTATION CONCERNS.
SO CALTRANS IN THE 20 2324
BUDGET HAD A BUDGET OF $18.1
BILLION. TSEP THE PROGRAM THAT
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ACCOUNTS FOR
$815 MILLION ANNUALLY. THE
TARGETS THAT WE ARE TRYING TO
SET MOVING FROM 10, DEDICATED
TOWARDS ZEV PROJECTS TO 15%
PROJECTS, 15, IN THE NEXT, 5%
EACH OVER THE NEXT TWO
PROGRAMING CYCLES WOULD
ESSENTIALLY MEAN JUST NEXT IN
THE NEXT PROGRAMING CYCLE, IT
WOULD INCREASE THE TARGET, ALLOW
FOR ONLY 150 MILLION ADDITIONAL
DOLLARS TO BE INCLUDED FOR THE
FUNDING CYCLE. AND ULTIMATELY,
THAT WOULD BE LESS THAN 1, 0.67%
OF THE CALTRANS ANNUAL BUDGET
GOING TOWARDS SUPPORTING ZEV
INFRASTRUCTURE. SO WHEN WE TALK
ABOUT KIND OF PUTTING OUR
VALUES, WHERE OUR BUDGET IS AND
OUR SPENDING IS, WE KNOW THAT WE
NEED TO BE ABLE TO MEET THE, THE
DEMANDS AROUND ZERO EMISSION
VEHICLES AND ENSURING THAT WE
HAVE THE KIND OF FREIGHT
INFRASTRUCTURE TO BE ABLE TO
SUPPORT OUR OUR OVERALL GHG
GOALS FOR THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA, WHICH ARE VERY
AMBITIOUS. ONE OF THE WAYS THAT
WE NEED TO DO THAT IS ENSURE
THAT WE'RE INCREASING THE
INFRASTRUCTURE, OUR FUNDING, TO
BE ABLE TO DO THAT. THIS BILL TO
SET A TARGET, AND MOVES US IN
THE RIGHT DIRECTION TO BE ABLE
TO DO THAT. I THINK IT'S REALLY
IMPORTANT FOR OUR AGENCIES NOT
TO BE SILOED IN THEIR GUIDELINE
MAKING AROUND TRANSPORTATION
PROJECTS, WHICH IS WHY, FOR ME,
IT MAKES SENSE TO HAVE DESPITE
THE CHALLENGES OF AROUND ANY
PARTICULAR PROJECT, TO HAVE CARB
WORKING WITH HCD AND THE
CALIFORNIA TRANSIT COMMISSION.
AND MIND YOU THAT WHAT WE'RE
DOING IS ONLY FOCUSING IN ON THE
10% OF COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE
ALREADY BEEN IDENTIFIED THROUGH
CALENVIROSCREEN AS THE MOST
VULNERABLE THAT HAVE SUFFERED
THE REDLINING HIGHWAYS THROUGH
THEIR COMMUNITIES, AS ALL OF THE
THINGS THAT MAKE THEM
DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED.
FROM A HEALTH PERSPECTIVE OF
PUBLIC HEALTH PERSPECTIVE, BY,
DOING ANY KIND OF HIGHWAY
EXPANSION. THÀNH. AND
ULTIMATELY, THE RESEARCH HAS
SHOWN US THAT HIGHWAY EXPANSION
DOESN'T ACTUALLY LEAD TO LESS
TRAFFIC. SO FOR THOSE REASONS, I
ASK YOU TO PUT IN YOUR AT THE
CENTER FOR, DISADVANTAGED
COMMUNITIES TO ENSURE THAT WE
CAN HAVE A BALANCED APPROACH TO
OUR INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT
TO SUPPORT ZERO EMISSION VEHICLE
FREIGHT INFRASTRUCTURE IN THAT
WAY, TO ENSURE THAT WORKERS HAVE
THE ABILITY TO WORK BUILDING
THOSE ZERO EMISSION.
INFRASTRUCTURE, VEHICLE
INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE WAY THAT
THEY HAVE BEFORE. I WILL
CERTAINLY CONTINUE TO WORK WITH
THE OPPOSITION, AS I HAVE
APPRECIATE THE, CHAIR AND
COMMITTEE FOR HELPING TO
STRUCTURE THIS BILL IN A WAY
THAT I BELIEVE AT LEAST GETS US
STARTED AND POINTED IN THE RIGHT
DIRECTION. WITH THAT, I
RESPECTFULLY REQUEST YOUR AYE
VOTE. THANK YOU. I'LL LOOK TO
THE COMMITTEE FOR MOTION. ALL
RIGHT. WE HAVE A MOTION BY
JACKSON AND A SECOND BY ORTEGA.
MADAM SECRETARY, PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL AB 2535. THE MOTION IS DUE.
PASS AS AMENDED TO
APPROPRIATIONS. WILSON, I WILSON
I DAVIES. DAVIES. NØ
AGUIAR-CURRY. AGUIAR-CURRY. NOT
VOTING. CARILLO CARILLO I. HART.
HOOVER. JACKSON JACKSON I.
ORTEGA. ORTEGA. I PAPIN. PAPIN I
SANCHEZ. KING. VALENCIA. WALLACE
WARD. WARD I. WICKS. THAT'S.
THAT. BILL IS SIX ONE. WE'LL
HOLD THE ROLL OPEN FOR, MEMBERS
TO ADD ON. THANK YOU. CHAIR I
SEE THAT OUR OTHER AUTHOR LEFT.
SO WHAT WE'LL DO TO GIVE A
CHANCE FOR COMMITTEE TO TAKE A
TEN MINUTE. I HAVE MINE, BUT
WE'LL GIVE A CHANCE FOR
COMMITTEE MEMBERS, TO STRETCH
THEIR LEGS, USE THE RESTROOM,
THINGS OF THAT NATURE. SO A TEN
MINUTE COMFORT BREAK, THE TIME
IS 335, SO. 345. PLEASE RETURN,
INCLUDING MEMBERS WHO ARE NOT
HERE
.
ALL RIGHT. GIVING ONE MINUTE
WARNING TO FOLKS. ONE MINUTE.
ALL RIGHT. IT IS 345. EXACTLY.
SO WE ARE BACK FROM A QUICK TEN
MINUTE COMFORT BREAK, MOVING ON
TO ITEMS NUMBER TEN AND 11, BY
MCCARTY, A B 24, 27. WE'LL BEGIN
WITH THAT ONE. THANK YOU, MADAM
CHAIR. THIS IS A DISTRICT BILL.
AND BEGIN BY ACCEPTING YOUR
COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS, THIS BILL
REAUTHORIZES OUR LOCAL TRANSIT
DISTRICT, SACRAMENTO. RT. WHICH
YOU HEAR SOMETIMES A LITTLE BELL
OUTSIDE THE TRAIN, ALLOWING THEM
TO OFFER FREE TRANSIT PASSES FOR
FIXED ROUTE SERVICES TO SENIORS
75 AND UP, THIS WAS THE POLICY,
UP UNTIL ABOUT A DECADE AGO,
THEY HAD TO ELIMINATE IT. THIS
WOULD REAUTHORIZE GUYS THEIR
OPPORTUNITY TO DO SO, WITH ME
TODAY IS A REPRESENTATIVE FROM
THE SACRAMENTO RT. DISTRICT AND
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOUR AYE
VOTE. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
AND MEMBERS. I'M GREG FISHMAN,
SENIOR COMMUNITY RELATIONS
OFFICER WITH THE SACRAMENTO
REGIONAL TRANSIT DISTRICT. WE
OPERATE BUS, LIGHT RAIL, ADA
PARATRANSIT AND MICROTRANSIT
SERVICES IN SACRAMENTO COUNTY.
WE KNOW THAT AS PEOPLE AGE, THEY
LOSE THE ABILITY TO DRIVE.
SOMETIMES PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
BECOMES EVEN MORE IMPERATIVE,
ESPECIALLY FOR PEOPLE AT THE
LOWER RUNGS OF THE ECONOMIC
SPECTRUM. SOME PEOPLE CAN AFFORD
LYFT OR UBER, AND OTHERS CANNOT,
FOR SOME, EVEN PAYING OUR
NOMINAL $2.50 PER RIDE CAN BE
DIFFICULT. AT ONE POINT MANY
YEARS AGO, AS THE ASSEMBLYMAN
MENTIONED, SAC, RT OFFERED A
SPECIAL DISCOUNTED RATE FOR
SENIOR CITIZENS THAT WAS
RESCINDED FOR MANY REASONS,
INCLUDING A CHANGE IN LAW THAT
REQUIRED ANY SPECIAL FARE FOR
SENIORS TO ALSO BE OFFERED TO
PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.
MEMBERS OF OUR BOARD RECENTLY
APPROACHED OUR STAFF AND ASKED
ABOUT REINSTATING THE SUPER
SENIOR PASS. FOR PEOPLE OVER A
CERTAIN AGE. THAT IS THE MAIN
INTENT OF THIS LEGISLATION TO
OFFER CLEAN MOBILITY OPTIONS TO
A VULNERABLE PORTION OF OUR
COMMUNITY. WE BELIEVE THIS CAN
LEAD TO AN INCREASE IN RIDERSHIP
WHILE POTENTIALLY REDUCING
RELIANCE ON MORE EXPENSIVE
PARATRANSIT TRIPS. WE UNDERSTAND
THAT MR. MCCARTY IS ACCEPTING
THE CHAIR'S AMENDMENT TO INCLUDE
A THREE YEAR SUNSET ON THIS
PROVISION. WE BELIEVE IT WILL BE
ABLE TO SHOW THE SUCCESS OF THE
PROGRAM IN THAT TIME FRAME. WE
THANK ASSEMBLYMAN MCCARTY FOR
CARRYING THE BILL. WE KNOW OF NO
OPPOSITION, AND I'M HAPPY TO
ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU
FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. MOVING
ON TO MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO
WOULD LIKE TO ADD ON THEIR
SUPPORT, NAME, ORGANIZATION AND
POSITION. PLEASE GOOD AFTERNOON,
MADAM CHAIR AND MEMBERS. AUBETTE
FRANK, ON BEHALF OF THE
CALIFORNIA ELECTRIC
TRANSPORTATION COALITION AND
SUPPORT. SOPHIA, WITH THE
COALITION FOR CLEAN AIR AND
SUPPORT. ERICA ROMERO, ON BEHALF
OF THE ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING
ASSOCIATION, THÀNH VALLEY CLEAN
AIR NOW AND CAL STAR IN STRONG
SUPPORT. THANK YOU. REBECCA
MARCUS, ON BEHALF OF THE UNION
OF CONCERNED SCIENTISTS AND
SUPPORT. MADAM CHAIR MEMBERS
ANDREW ANTWI WITH CHAU YODER,
ANTHONY SCHMELZER AND LANG ON
BEHALF OF ADVANCED ENERGY UNITED
AND SUPPORT. THANK YOU. NOW
MOVING ON TO MEMBERS OF THE
PUBLIC WHO ARE IN OPPOSITION.
OAN. WE DON'T HAVE ANY ON FILE,
BUT I JUST WANTED TO CONFIRM
THERE WERE NO MEMBERS WANTED TO
OFFER AS PRIMARY WITNESSES IN
OPPOSITION, SEEING NONE, ARE
THERE ANY MEMBERS WHO WISH TO
HAVE ON RECORD THAT THEY ARE IN
OPPOSITION? MEMBERS OF THE
PUBLIC HAVE ON RECORD THAT
THEY'RE IN OPPOSITION. NAME,
ORGANIZATION, POSITION WOULD BE
APPROPRIATE TO DO SO NOW. SEEING
NONE, MOVING ON TO MEMBERS OF
THE COMMITTEE, IF THERE'S ANY
QUESTIONS, COMMENTS OR CONCERNS.
ALL RIGHT, I THOUGHT I HEARD A
YES, BUT THAT WAS ANOTHER
CONVERSATION, WITH THAT, OKAY.
WELL, ACTUALLY. YOU KNOW WHAT I
NOTED AT THE BEGINNING, WE WERE
DOING TWO, FOUR, TWO, SEVEN,
WHICH IS WHAT THE COMMITTEE PUT
ON THE SCREEN, BUT THE BILL THAT
ACTUALLY WAS PRESENTED WAS AB
2634, THIS IS THE ONE RELATED TO
THE SACRAMENTO REGIONAL TRANSIT
DISTRICT, AS WAS NOTED BY, THE
AUTHOR IN HIS IN HIS COMMENTS
AND TESTIMONY, WHICH IS ITEM
NUMBER 11. SO JUST THAT AND JUST
CONFIRMING THAT, DAVIES AND TÍNH
ARE, ARE BECAUSE THEY MOVED,
JUST MAKING SURE THAT THAT
MOTION AND SECOND WAS FOR AB
2634. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. NOW WE'RE
BACK ON TRACK. THAT'S WHAT
HAPPENS WHEN YOU TAKE A TEN
MINUTE BREAK. I GUESS. ALL
RIGHT. WELL, TO THE AUTHOR,
THANK YOU FOR ACCEPTING THE
COMMITTEE'S AMENDMENTS, I WOULD
LIKE TO NOTE, THOUGH, FREE
TRANSIT IS NOT FREE, AND SHOULD
NOT COME AT THE EXPENSE OF
SERVICE IMPROVEMENTS. CUSTOMER
SURVEYS SHOW THAT SAC RT HAS
ISSUES WITH CLEANLINESS,
PARTICULARLY ON THEIR LIGHT RAIL
SYSTEM THAT DO NEED TO BE
ADDRESSED. AND I APPRECIATE THE
SOCRATES EFFORT TO REDUCE
BURDENS. EXCUSE ME ON SENIORS,
BUT ULTIMATELY ALL TRANSIT
RIDERS WOULD BENEFIT FROM
SERVICES THAT IS FREQUENT ON
TIME. CLEAN AND SAFE, DOING THIS
ALLOWS FOR INCREASED RIDERS,
WHICH WOULD ALSO ALLOW FOR A
DECREASE COSTS FOR EVERYONE. AS
EVERYONE SHARING IN THE BURDEN
OF TRANSPORTATION, THE SUNSET
GIVES THE LEGISLATURE TIME TO
REVIEW THIS PROGRAM AS WE AWAIT
THE TRANSIT TRANSPORTATION
TRANSFORMATION TASK FORCE
RECOMMENDATIONS ON HOW TO BEST
IMPROVE PUBLIC TRANSIT. WITH THE
AMENDMENTS, I WILL BE SUPPORTING
YOUR BILL TODAY AND URGE SAC RT
TO WORK ON IMPROVING CUSTOMER
SERVICE, NOT JUST FOCUS ON THE
CUSTOMER COST, WITH THAT, WE
HAVE A MOTION BY DAVIS WITH A
SECOND BY TÍNH. I'LL GIVE YOU AN
OPPORTUNITY TO CLOSE BEFORE THE
SECRETARY CALLS THE ROLL. THANK
YOU. I COULDN'T AGREE MORE, OUR
FAMILY, OUR KIDS TAKE LIGHT RAIL
EVERY DAY. HOME FROM SCHOOL. SO
WE ARE USERS OF THAT SYSTEM. AND
THEY GET IT FREE BECAUSE THE
SCHOOL DISTRICT PAYS THEIR PAYS
THEIR FREIGHT. AND SO, YOU KNOW,
WE NEED PAYING CUSTOMERS AS WELL
. AND SO I THINK THIS IS A FAIR
COMPROMISE. AND WE THANK YOU FOR
WORKING WITH US ON AN AMENDMENT
TO HAVE A SUNSET TO EVALUATE
THAT. AND WITH THAT, ASK FOR
YOUR VOTE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU,
MADAM SECRETARY. PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL AB 2634. THE MOTION IS DUE.
PASS AS AMENDED. WILSON I WILSON
I DAVIES. DAVIES I AGUIAR-CURRY
CARILLO HEART. HOOVER. JACKSON
JACKSON I ORTEGA. HAPPEN HAPPEN
I SANCHEZ SANCHEZ I TING SINGH I
VALENCIA. VALENCIA. YES.
WALLACE. WALLACE I WARD. WARD I
WICKS. NO THAT'S NINE VOTES. AND
SO WE'LL LEAVE THE ROLL OPEN FOR
MEMBERS TO ADD ON. NOW WE WILL
MOVE ON TO ITEM NUMBER TEN A B
2427. THANK YOU, THIS IS A BILL
ON A TOPIC THAT WE'RE VERY
FAMILIAR WITH THAT'S RELATED TO
EV VEHICLES AND CHARGING
INFRASTRUCTURE. WE KNOW IN ORDER
TO TACKLE OUR CLIMATE CHANGE
GOALS, AIR QUALITY, WE NEED TO
DRAMATICALLY INCREASE THE ACCESS
OF Â VEHICLES. AND PART OF THAT
IS THE CHARGING INFRASTRUCTURE.
SO, YOU KNOW, 80 OR SO PERCENT
OF INDIVIDUALS CHARGED FROM HOME
TODAY, PEOPLE LIVE IN
APARTMENTS, SOMETIMES HAVE A
DIFFICULT TIME. AND SO 33% OF
MULTIFAMILY HOUSING RESIDENTS,
HAVE ACCESS. SO CONVERSELY, TWO
THIRDS DO NOT, THIS WOULD SET A
SYSTEM IN PLACE WHERE COMPANIES
LIKE OUR SPONSORS RIGHT HERE,
FLOW, COULD UTILIZE CURBSIDE
CHARGING INFRASTRUCTURE FOR, WE
DID TALK ABOUT THIS BILL LAST
YEAR. WE DO HAVE SOME CONCERNS
WITH SOME LOCAL GOVERNMENT
GROUPS. WE'VE WORKED WITH THEM
AND MODIFIED THIS VERSION BEFORE
US TODAY. I THINK THIS GETS US
IN A PLACE TO HAVE MORE,
CHARGING INFRASTRUCTURE
THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA SO WE CAN HAVE MORE
ELECTRIC VEHICLES ON OUR ROADS
AND IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS,
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOUR. AYE
VOTE. AND WITH ME TODAY IS A
REPRESENTATIVE FROM FLOW. THANK
YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM
CHAIR, AND MEMBERS, MY NAME IS
DAN SHAW. ON BEHALF OF FLOW EV
CHARGING IN SUPPORT OF AB 2427.
FOUNDED IN 2009, FLOW IS AN EV
CHARGING STATION MANUFACTURER
AND NETWORK OPERATOR. WE HAVE
DEPLOYED OVER 100,000
RESIDENTIAL, PUBLIC AND PRIVATE
EV CHARGING STATIONS ACROSS
NORTH AMERICA. WE ALSO
SPECIALIZE IN CURBSIDE CHARGING
SOLUTIONS THAT HAVE THE LARGEST
CURBSIDE AND HAVE THE LARGEST
CURBSIDE CHARGING DEPLOYMENTS ON
THE CONTINENT, WITH OVER 1000 IN
QUEBEC, 100 IN NEW YORK CITY AND
APPROXIMATELY 500 IN THE CITY OF
LA. IF YOU'RE DOING THE MATH,
1600 AS THE LARGEST DEPLOYER
ISN'T ISN'T VERY MUCH SO THAT
THAT TELLS YOU THE POTENTIAL
THAT'S OUT THERE. WE CAN ATTEST
FIRSTHAND TO THREE BENEFITS OF
CURBSIDE CHARGING. BY LEVERAGING
THE PRIVATE PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY,
WE CAN DEPLOY IN AREAS THAT HAVE
HISTORICALLY LACKED ACCESS TO
CHARGING INFRASTRUCTURE. THESE
CHARGERS CAN FURTHER DRIVE EV
ADOPTION BASED ON EXISTING
DEPLOYMENTS. WE HAVE SEEN
CHARGER UTILIZATION STEADILY
INCREASE. IN FACT, WE HAVE FOUND
THAT OUR LEVEL TWO CURBSIDE
CHARGERS HAVE SOME OF THE
HIGHEST UTILIZATION RATES IN THE
ENTIRE IN OUR ENTIRE NETWORK, IN
PART BECAUSE THEY ARE LOCATED IN
DOWNTOWN CORES OR CLOSE TO
MULTIFAMILY HOUSING LEVEL. TWO
CHARGERS CAN REDUCE DRIVERS
DEPENDANCE ON DC FAST CHARGERS,
WHICH ARE MORE EXPENSIVE TO
DEVELOP AND MORE EXPENSIVE TO
CHARGE ON A PER SESSION BASIS.
CURBSIDE CHARGERS CAN REDUCE
CHARGING COSTS FOR DRIVERS,
REDUCE COST DISPARITIES FOR
THOSE THAT DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO
HOME CHARGING, AND THE
DEVELOPMENT COSTS CAN ALSO BE
REALIZED. SAVINGS CAN ALSO BE
REALIZED IF INSTALLED ON LIGHT
OR UTILITY POLES. WE WANT TO
MAXIMIZE THESE BENEFITS FOR
CALIFORNIA DRIVERS. HOWEVER
THERE ARE UNIQUE CONSIDERATIONS
TO PERMITTING AND DEPLOYING
STATIONS IN THE RIGHT OF WAY
GIVEN POTENTIAL COMPETING USES.
ÁP 2427 ASKED LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
TO SPECIFY WHERE AND HOW TO
PERMIT CURBSIDE CHARGING
STATIONS IN ORDER TO MINIMIZE
CONFUSION AND POTENTIAL DELAYS.
BUT TO BE CLEAR, THIS IS NOT A
PERMIT STREAMLINING BILL.
NOTHING IN THE BILL IMPOSES A
SHOT CLOCK OR AUTHORIZES THE
DEVELOPERS TO SKIP THE LINE.
THIS IS A PERMIT TRANSPARENCY
BILL AND REQUIRES LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS TO PROACTIVELY
IDENTIFY LOCATIONS WHERE
CHARGING MAY BE MORE
APPROPRIATE. RESPECTFULLY ASK
FOR YOUR VOTE. THANK YOU. NOW,
MOVING ON TO MEMBERS OF THE
PUBLIC WHO WOULD LIKE TO ADD ON
THEIR SUPPORT, NAME,
ORGANIZATION AND POSITION ON.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR AND
MEMBERS. AUBETTE FRANK, ON
BEHALF OF THE CALIFORNIA
ELECTRIC TRANSPORTATION
COALITION IN SUPPORT. MADAM
CHAIR, MEMBERS, ANDREW ANTHONY,
ON BEHALF OF ADVANCED ENERGY
UNITED, THIS IS, IN FACT, THE
BILL THAT WE INTENDED TO
SUPPORT. GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM
CHAIR. MEMBERS. ROMAN VOGELSANG
WITH THE PREY AND COMPANY ON
BEHALF OF CHARGEPOINT AND
SUPPORT. THANK YOU. SOPHIA KHÎI,
THE COALITION FOR CLEAN AIR AND
SUPPORT. TOM KNOX OF CLEAN AIR,
NOW IN SUPPORT. AND ON BEHALF OF
CAL STAR AND THE EV CHARGING
ASSOCIATION IN STRONG SUPPORT,
JOHN MOFFITT, ON BEHALF OF THE
ALLIANCE FOR AUTOMOTIVE
INNOVATION IN SUPPORT. JONATHAN
COLE, CLIMATE ACTION CALIFORNIA
IN SUPPORT. REBECCA MARCUS,
UNION OF CONCERNED SCIENTISTS
AND SUPPORT. THANK YOU. NOW
MOVING ON TO OPPOSITION. WE DO
NOT HAVE ANY ON FILE, BUT JUST
WANTED TO BE SURE THERE WAS WAS
THERE ANYONE WHO WANTED TO
OPERATE TO ACT AS PRIMARY
WITNESS IN OPPOSITION? ALL
RIGHT. SEEING NONE, IS THERE ANY
MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WHO WANTED
TO ADD ON THEIR ON RECORD, THEIR
OPPOSITION NAME, ORGANIZATION
AND POSITION? GOOD AFTERNOON,
MADAM CHAIR AND MEMBERS. DAMON
CONKLIN WITH LEAGUE OF
CALIFORNIA CITIES. WE ARE NOT IN
OPPOSED. WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH
THE STAKEHOLDERS SINCE LATE,
AUTUMN ON SOME ITERATIONS OF
LANGUAGE THAT WE'RE HOPEFUL WE
CAN REACH AN AGREEMENT ON THAT
WILL KEEP US, NEUTRAL. SO AGAIN,
WE'RE WE'RE ENJOYING THE
COLLABORATIVE CONVERSATIONS.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. GOOD
AFTERNOON. MARK NEWBERGER WITH
THE CALIFORNIA STATE ASSOCIATION
OF COUNTIES, ALSO SHARING THE
CONCERNS FOR THE RURAL COUNTY
REPRESENTATIVES OF CALIFORNIA.
OUR CONCERNS ARE THE SAME AS CAL
CITIES. THANK YOU. WITH THAT
MOVING ON TO MEMBERS OF THE
COMMITTEE WHO MIGHT HAVE ANY
QUESTIONS, COMMENTS OR CONCERNS.
ALL RIGHT. THERE IS NOT. ALL
RIGHT. WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE
FLOOR BY JACKSON. A SECOND BY
TÍNH, TO THE AUTHOR, YOU KNOW,
IN ORDER TO MEET, OUR AMBITIOUS
ZEV GOALS. ZEV ADOPTION GOALS,
THE STATE NEEDS TO SIGNIFICANTLY
BUILD OUT OUR CHARGING
INFRASTRUCTURE, WHICH IS COSTLY
AND TIME CONSUMING TO PERMIT, AS
WAS TESTIFIED TO TODAY, THIS
BILL WILL REQUIRE GO-BIZ AND
LOCAL AGENCIES TO DEVELOP
PERMITTING CHECKLISTS FOR THE
INSTALLATION OF CURBSIDE EV
CHARGING STATIONS. IT IS
CRITICAL THAT THE AUTHOR
CONTINUES TO WORK WITH LOCAL
AGENCIES AS THIS BILL MOVES
FORWARD, PARTICULARLY IN THE
PERMITTING, AND THE PUBLIC RIGHT
AWAY. I WILL BE SUPPORTING THIS
BILL TODAY. AS WAS NOTED, WE DO
HAVE A FIRST AND A SECOND, WOULD
YOU LIKE TO CLOSE BEFORE CALLING
THE ROLL? THANK YOU. AND YES, WE
ARE CONTINUING TO ENGAGE WITH
THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT GROUPS TO
MODIFY AND ADDRESS CONCERNS AND
THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS AND
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOUR VOTE.
THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. WITH THAT,
MADAM SECRETARY. ÁP 2427. THE
MOTION IS DUE. PASS TO THE
COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS.
WILSON. HI. WILSON AYE. DAVIES.
DAVIES. AYE. AGUIAR-CURRY
CARILLO. HART. HOOVER. JACKSON
JACKSON. I. ORTEGA. HAPPEN
HAPPEN. I SANCHEZ. TING TING I
VALENCIA. VALENCIA. I WALLACE.
WALLACE I WARD. WARD I WICKS.
THAT BILL HAS EIGHT. I VOTE SO
FAR. WE'LL HOLD THE ROLL OPEN
FOR MEMBERS TO ADD ON WITH THAT.
MOVING TO ITEM NUMBER 17 AB 2828
BY BAINES. THE AUTHOR MAY BEGIN
AT YOUR CONVENIENCE.
ALL RIGHTY. IT'S THE MICROPHONE
ON HAPPY EARTH DAY. THANK YOU.
CHAIR AND MEMBERS, AB 2828 MAKES
LONG OVERDUE AND CRITICAL
UPDATES TO HOW KIDS PLATES FUNDS
ARE RAISED AND DISTRIBUTED
THROUGHOUT THE STATE. THE KIDS
PLATES PROGRAM ALLOWS DRIVERS TO
PURCHASE A SPECIALTY LICENSE
PLATE WITH A UNIQUE SHAPE,
INCLUDING A HEART, HANDPRINT, OR
STAR. REVENUES FOR THIS FROM THE
SALE OF KIDS PLATES SUPPORT THE
CHILD HEALTH AND SAFETY FUND,
WHICH IS ALLOCATED 50% TO
SUPPORT CHILD CARE, 25% TO
SUPPORT CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION,
AND 25% TO SUPPORT CHILDHOOD
INJURY PREVENTION. THE PROGRAM
HAS BEEN AN INCREDIBLE SUCCESS,
RAISING MORE THAN 80 MILLION
SINCE ITS INCEPTION. HOWEVER,
THE PROGRAM HAS REMAINED
UNCHANGED SINCE ITS CREATION IN
1992, AND IT IS TIME TO APPLY
SOME OF THE LESSONS THAT HAVE
BEEN LEARNED OVER THE LAST 30
YEARS. CRITICALLY THE STATE'S
DISTRIBUTION OF CHILD CARE AND
CHILDHOOD INJURY PREVENTION
FUNDING IS FRAUGHT WITH
INEQUITIES. MOST COUNTIES DO NOT
RECEIVE THEIR FAIR SHARE, EVEN
THOUGH THE FUNDS ORIGINATE
THROUGH VEHICLE OWNER PURCHASES
FROM ACROSS ALL 58 COUNTIES. AB
2828 MODERNIZES THE KIDS PLATES
PROGRAM BY UPDATING THE PRICE OF
THE PLATES, WHICH HAS NOT BEEN
CHANGED SINCE 1992. MAINTAINING
FUNDING FOR EXISTING PROGRAMS
AND ENSURING ALL 58 COUNTIES
RECEIVE THEIR FAIR SHARE OF
FUNDING FOR CHILD CARE, CHILD
ABUSE PREVENTION AND CHILDHOOD
INJURY PREVENTION TO ENSURE
EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION, AB 2828
LEVERAGES THE 58 FIRST FIVE
COUNTY COMMISSIONS AS WELL AS A
CHILD CARE RESOURCE AND REFERRAL
NETWORKS. WHILE PROTECTING THE
EXISTING CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION
FORMULA THAT IS ALREADY
DISTRIBUTED THROUGH THE 58 CHILD
ABUSE TRUST FUNDS. IN SHORT, AB
2828 DOUBLES FUNDING FOR
CHILDREN'S SAFETY PROGRAMS AT NO
COST TO THE GENERAL FUND AND
ENSURES KIDS LIVING IN EVERY
PART OF CALIFORNIA GET THEIR
FAIR SHARE. AB 2828 IS PROUDLY
SUPPORTED BY THE ORIGINAL AUTHOR
OF THE KIDS PLATES BILL. FORMER
CONGRESSWOMAN AND SUPERVISOR
JACKIE SPEAR, AS WELL AS THE
ORIGINAL CO-SPONSORS OF THE 1992
LEGISLATION, THE CHILDREN'S
ADVOCACY INSTITUTE, BASED AT THE
UNIVERSITY OF SAN DIEGO SCHOOL
OF LAW AND THE CALIFORNIA
COALITION FOR CHILDREN'S SAFETY
AND HEALTH, I AM JOINED TODAY IN
SUPPORT BY STEVE BARROW WITH THE
COALITION AS WELL AS JACKIE
WONG, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF
FIRST FIVE CALIFORNIA. GOOD
AFTERNOON, CHAIRWOMAN WILSON.
MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE. I AM
JACKIE TUNG WONG AND I AM THE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF FIRST FIVE
CALIFORNIA, AND I'M HONORED TO
BE ADDRESSING YOU TODAY ON THIS
ISSUE AS A DEDICATED ADVOCATE
FOR CHILDREN'S HEALTH AND
DEVELOPMENT, I'M HERE TO DISCUSS
THE IMPORTANCE OF AB 2828, THE
MODERNIZATION OF THE HAVE A
HEART, BE A STAR, HELP OUR KIDS
LICENSE PLATE PROGRAM, WHICH IS
REALLY JUST SUCH A FABULOUS,
CATCHY NAME, BUT ALSO KNOWN AS
THE KIDS PLATE PROGRAM.
SPECIFICALLY, WHAT WE ARE
INTERESTED IN IS THIS THE RATES
HAVE NOT CHANGED SINCE THE
1900S, AS MY CHILDREN WOULD SAY,
WHEN THERE WAS A HORSE AND
BUGGY. BUT REALLY, OVER THREE
DECADES. AND IN THAT TIME,
INFLATION HAS INCREASED
DRAMATICALLY, SO OVER THE YEARS,
AS MENTIONED BY ASSEMBLY MEMBER
BAINS, IT'S RAISED OVER $80
MILLION. AND SPECIFICALLY WHAT'S
IMPORTANT TO US, IT ACTUALLY
ADDRESSES AN OUTDATED FORMULA TO
SUPPORT CHILD ABUSE, CHILD CARE
RESOURCE AND REFERRAL CENTERS
AND CHILDHOOD INJURY PREVENTION
PROGRAMS BY UPDATING THE PRICING
OF KIDS PLATE TO REFLECT THE
CURRENT RATES, AB 2828 WILL
GENERATE MORE FUNDING TO
CONTRIBUTE TO THESE CRITICAL
PROGRAMS. MORE IMPORTANTLY,
CURRENTLY, MANY COUNTIES DO NOT
RECEIVE THEIR FAIR SHARE OF
FUNDING FROM THE CHILD HEALTH
AND SAFETY FUND DESPITE
CONTRIBUTIONS FROM VEHICLE
OWNERS ACROSS THE STATE. AB 2828
WILL RECTIFY THESE. THESE
INEQUITIES BY REDISTRIBUTING
FUNDS IN A MANNER THAT REFLECTS
THE NEEDS OF ALL COMMUNITIES IN
THE STATE, THOUGH IT SUPPORTS 58
CHILD ABUSE AND PREVENTION
CENTERS, IT ONLY SUPPORTS A LESS
THAN 30 COUNTIES IN THE
PREVENTION AND SAFETY FUND, AS
WELL AS LESS THAN 25 COUNTIES
AND THE CHILD CARE FUND. SO THAT
IS SOMETHING TO BE NOTED. AGAIN,
THREE DECADES AND WE NEED TO
UPDATE THIS FIRST. FIVE
CALIFORNIA IS A STRONG SUPPORTER
OF INITIATIVES THAT PROMOTE
CHILD HEALTH AND SAFETY, AND WE
BELIEVE THAT ALL CHILDREN
DESERVE ACCESS TO QUALITY CHILD
CARE, PROTECTION FROM ABUSE, AND
PREVENTION OF CHILDHOOD
INJURIES. AND SPECIFICALLY VERSE
FIVE. OKAY, I WILL NOW HAND IT
OVER TO STEVE BURROWS. YEAH. HI.
MINE WILL BE VERY SHORT. I'M THE
STATE PROGRAM DIRECTOR OF THE
CALIFORNIA COALITION FOR
CHILDREN'S SAFETY AND HEALTH. I
HAPPEN TO SIT IN THE 1990S TEAM
WITH JACKIE SPEAR TO WRITE THIS,
BUT IT ACTUALLY WAS GOVERNOR
WILSON THAT WORKED WITH US TO
CREATE THIS FUNDING PROGRAM. AND
IT'S, LONG OVERDUE TO BE
OVERHAULED AND WE REALLY ARE
HAPPY THAT ASSEMBLYWOMAN DOCTOR
BAINS HAS AGREED TO, TO
STRUCTURE THIS SO THAT ALL 58
COUNTIES GET THEIR FAIR SHARE.
IF WE WOULD HAVE BEEN WISE
ENOUGH BACK THEN TO PUT IN A, AN
INFLATIONARY, MECHANISM, THE
PLATE WOULD HAVE BEEN $113 AT
THIS POINT, WE'RE NOT GOING UP
THAT HIGH IN THIS, IN THIS
READJUSTMENT, BUT WE ARE GOING
TO GO UP CLOSER TO WHERE ALL THE
OTHER SPECIALTY PLATES ARE. THE
SAVE THE WHALES, THE YOSEMITE
PARKS AND THE CAL ARTS, PLATES.
SO IT'S, I'M HERE MOSTLY TO
ANSWER TECHNICAL THINGS. I WORK
IN THE CHILD ABUSE ARENA. I WORK
IN THE CHILD CARE ARENA AND THE
CHILDHOOD INJURY PREVENTION
ARENA. AND I CAN ANSWER
TECHNICAL QUESTIONS ABOUT THE
BILL. THANK YOU. MOVING ON TO
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO WOULD
LIKE TO ADD ON THEIR SUPPORT,
NAME, POSITION AND ORGANIZATION
CHAIR AND MEMBERS KATHY MOSSBERG
WITH THE FIRST FIVE ASSOCIATION
OF CALIFORNIA AND STRONG SUPPORT
SEEING NO OTHER MOVES ON TO ANY
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO WISH
TO SERVE AS PRIMARY WITNESSES IN
OPPOSITION, SEEING NONE, MOVING
ON TO ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
WHO WISH TO JUST HAVE ON RECORD,
THEIR OPPOSITION WITH NAME,
ORGANIZATION AND POSITION,
SEEING NONE MOVING TO MEMBERS OF
THE CA, THE COMMITTEE, FOR
QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, CONCERNS,
SEEING NONE, WE DO HAVE A LET'S
SEE, MOTION ON THE FLOOR, BY
TÍNH IN THE SECOND BY JACKSON.
I'LL JUST NOTE THAT I APPRECIATE
YOU BRINGING THIS BILL FORWARD
TO TODAY, AND I THINK THIS WAS
NOTICED IN THE ANALYSIS, AND I
AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE
UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES OF
INCREASING THE FEES FOR THIS
LICENSE PLATE BY 80. DMV
CUSTOMERS HAVE OTHER OPTIONS FOR
LICENSE PLATES. THIS PLATE IS
CURRENTLY THE SECOND MOST
PURCHASED PLATE AFTER THE BLACK
AND GOLD LEGACY PLATE. IT BRINGS
IN NEARLY TWICE AS MUCH MONEY AS
THE NEXT MOST POPULAR PLATE. THE
KIDS PLATE WAS INTENTIONALLY
DESIGNED TO BE CHEAPER THAN
PERSONALIZING THE STANDARD
CALIFORNIA LICENSE, AND THERE IS
GOOD EVIDENCE THAT THAT PRICE
POINT IS WHAT MADE THIS PLATE SO
POPULAR. OVER 62,000 OF THE
64,000 HOLDERS OF THIS PLATE
HAVE HAVE ACTUALLY PERSONALIZED
THEM. SO INCREASING ITS COSTS
MAY RESULT IN THE OPPOSITE OF
WHAT YOU INTENDED, HOWEVER, I AM
SUPPORTING THIS BILL TODAY, THE
CHANGE IN THE ALLOCATION FORMULA
TO ALLOW FOR FIRST SHARE IS A
REALLY GOOD POLICY DIRECTION,
BUT I WOULD ASK THE AUTHOR TO
RECONSIDER SUCH A HEFTY PRICE
INCREASE AS YOU MOVE FORWARD IN
THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS, LIKE I
SAID, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A
SECOND I GIVE YOU AN OPPORTUNITY
TO CLOSE BEFORE THE SECRETARY
CALLS THE ROLL. SURE. THANK YOU
SO MUCH, CHAIRWOMAN, FOR THOSE
COMMENTS, SO IF WE GO BACK TO
HOW MUCH IT COSTED AT THAT TIME
AND WHAT IT WOULD COST RIGHT NOW
AS, AS STEVE HAD EXPLAINED, IT
WOULD HAVE BEEN MUCH, MUCH MORE.
TAKING THAT INTO CONSIDER THÀNH,
WE'RE ONLY INCREASING IT TO $90.
AND THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT WE
HAVE COMPLETED AN ANALYSIS WITH
THE ECONOMICS DEPARTMENT AT THE
AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SAN DIEGO,
WHICH FOUND THAT EVEN UNDER A
WORST CASE SCENARIO, DEMAND
COULD BE REDUCED BY 20, BUT THAT
WOULD STILL RESULT IN THE
PROGRAM REVENUES DOUBLING. SO
THE PRICE THAT WE'RE PROPOSING
IN AB 2828 REMAINS CHEAPER THAN
MOST OF THE OTHER SPECIALTY
LICENSE PLATES AVAILABLE TO
DRIVERS, RIGHT NOW, AND I LOOK
FORWARD TO SEEING THIS PROGRAM
FLOURISH AND REALLY WORKING ON
WAYS TO KEEP OUR CHILDREN SAFE
ON THE STREETS. THANK YOU. I
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOUR I VOTE
. THANK YOU, MADAM SECRETARY.
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL AB 2828.
THE MOTION IS DUE. PASS TO THE
COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS.
WILSON. HI. WILSON AYE. DAVIES.
DAVIES. AYE. AGUIAR-CURRY.
CARILLO HART. HOOVER. JACKSON.
JACKSON I. ORTEGA. ORTEGA. I
PAPIN. PAPIN I SANCHEZ. TING.
TING I VALENCIA. VALENCIA. YES.
WALLACE. WALLACE. I WARD. WARD
I. WICKS THAT BILL HAS NINE
VOTES. WE'LL LEAVE THE ROLE OPEN
FOR MEMBERS TO ADD ON. ALL
RIGHT. JUST GIVING A CALL TO
OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE.
WE ARE DOWN TO OUR LAST TWO
BILLS. SO, BE GREAT FOR PEOPLE
TO COME BACK TO, EITHER VOTE OR
ADD ON, I'LL HAND IT OVER TO THE
VICE CHAIR, I'LL PRESENT MY
BILL. SINCE SANCHEZ HAS LEFT THE
BUILDING FOR A MOMENT
.
ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE, ASSEMBLY
MEMBER WILSON ON UP WITH BILL AB
3117. THANK YOU FOR THE QUICK
MOTION. AND SECOND, I WILL
DEFINITELY BE BRIEF BECAUSE I DO
NOT HAVE WITNESSES, SO. SO GOOD
AFTERNOON, MADAM VICE CHAIR
MEMBERS, I'M PLEASED TO PRESENT
AB THREE, 3117, WHICH WILL MAKE
A MOBILE OR DIGITAL DRIVER'S
LICENSE OR IDENTIFICATION CARD
EVIDENCE OF MAJORITY AND
IDENTITY OF A PERSON. IF THE DMV
AUTHORIZES THE USE OF THOSE
LICENSES OR ID CARDS WITHOUT THE
POSSESSION OF A CARD. THE DMV
FIRST INTRODUCED A PILOT PROGRAM
IN SEPTEMBER OF 23 THAT ALLOWED
RESIDENTS OF CALIFORNIA TO
UTILIZE DIGITAL ALTERNATIVES TO
DRIVER'S LICENSES AND
IDENTIFICATION CARDS. THE DMV IS
CURRENTLY TESTING THE MOBILE
DRIVER'S LICENSE AT SELECT
LOCATIONS AND AIRPORTS AS A PART
OF THE PILOT, AND CERTAIN
LOCATIONS HAVE BEEN ACCEPTING
THE DIGITAL IDS FOR ALCOHOL
PURCHASES. THE BILL IN FRONT OF
YOU TODAY WILL MODERNIZE
CALIFORNIA LAW TO MAKE IT
EXPLICITLY CLEAR THAT A DIGITAL
DRIVER'S LICENSE APPROVED BY THE
DMV CAN ALSO BE USED AS A BONA
FIDE EVIDENCE OF MAJORITY AND
IDENTITY OF A PERSON WHEN
PURCHASING ALCOHOL. CURRENT LAW
TODAY WAS WRITTEN WELL BEFORE
DIGITAL IDENTIFICATION INS WERE
CONTEMPLATED, AND SHOULD BE
UPDATED TO PROVIDE CLARITY FOR
THOUSANDS OF STAKEHOLDERS AT
IMPACTS. I PLAN ON CONTINUING TO
WORK WITH THE COMMITTEE, STAFF
AND STAKEHOLDERS TO ADDRESS THE
POLICY CONSIDERATIONS AND THE
ANALYSIS TO REQUIRE A, B, C AND
DMV TO WORK TOGETHER TO ENSURE
THERE'S CLARITY AND
COORDINATION, WITH THAT, I THANK
YOU ALL AND RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR
YOUR AYE VOTE ON THIS MEASURE.
ALL RIGHT. DO WE HAVE ANYONE IN
THE AUDIENCE THAT WOULD LIKE TO
COME UP FOR TO SUPPORT? ALL
RIGHT. DO WE HAVE ANY OPPOSITION
? NOPE. COMMITTEE MEMBERS, ANY
COMMENTS? ALL RIGHTY. THIS IS A
WAY TO DO IT, ALL RIGHT, I'D
LIKE TO INVITE THE AUTHOR TO
CLOSE. THANK YOU FOR THE NØ
COMMENTS. AND WITH THAT, I WILL
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOUR I VOTE
. GREAT. WE HAVE A MOTION BY
JACKSON AND A SECOND BY WALLACE,
A SECRETARY. IF YOU COULD CALL
THE ROLL AB 3117. THE MOTION IS
DUE. PASS TO THE COMMITTEE ON
APPROPRIATIONS. WILSON I WILSON
I DAVEY I DAVIES I AGUIAR-CURRY
CARILLO HART. HOOVER. JACKSON.
JACKSON I ORTEGA ORTEGA I PAPIN
PAPIN I SANCHEZ. KING SINGH I
VALENCIA. VALENCIA I WALLACE.
WALLACE I WARD. WARD I WICKS.
WE'LL KEEP THAT OPEN FOR ANY OF
THOSE THAT AREN'T HERE FOR NOW.
THANK YOU, MADAM VICE CHAIR. YES
.
AT YOUR CONVENIENCE. THANK YOU,
MADAM CHAIR. AND MEMBERS IN THE
PAST FEW YEARS, CALIFORNIA HAS
EXPERIENCED AN UPTICK IN THE
NUMBER OF HIGHWAY BLOCKINGS THAT
HAVE STALLED TRAFFIC AND PUT
PEOPLE'S LIVES IN DANGER IN THE
PAST FEW MONTHS ALONE,
CALIFORNIA HAS EXPERIENCED
MULTIPLE OF THESE BLOCKINGS.
LAST WEEK, CALIFORNIA
EXPERIENCED NOT ONE, BUT TWO
MORE. WHEN THESE INDIVIDUALS
PURPOSELY BLOCK HIGHWAYS, THEY
AREN'T JUST INCONVENIENCING
PEOPLE TRYING TO GET TO WORK OR
DROPPING THEIR CHILDREN OFF AT
SCHOOL. THEY'RE NOT JUST
PREVENTING PEOPLE FROM GETTING
TO THE AIRPORT ON TIME TO SEE
DYING. FAMILY MEMBERS, OR TO
MAKE NECESSARY MEDICAL
APPOINTMENTS. THEY'RE MAKING IT
MORE DIFFICULT FOR LAW
ENFORCEMENT, FIREFIGHTERS AND
EMERGENCY RESPONSE PERSONNEL TO
RESPOND TO EMERGENCIES. WHILE
THERE ARE MANY STORIES OF HOW
THESE HIGHWAY BLOCKINGS HAVE
IMPACTED INNOCENT CALIFORNIANS,
I WANT TO SHARE ONE IN
PARTICULAR. LAST NOVEMBER, ABOUT
80 PEOPLE BLOCKED THE BAY BRIDGE
FROM SAN FRANCISCO TO OAKLAND.
THE BRIDGE WAS BLOCKED FOR MORE
THAN FOUR HOURS DURING THIS
BLOCKAGE, THREE DIFFERENT ORGAN
TRANSPLANTS WERE SIGNIFICANTLY
DELAYED IN REACHING UCSF FOR
THEIR DONOR. THIS MADE WHAT
WOULD HAVE BEEN A 30 MINUTE TRIP
INTO A FOUR HOUR DELAY,
ACCORDING TO A UCSF TRANSPLANT
SURGEON, THE INCREASED WAIT TIME
BETWEEN THE DONORS AND
RECIPIENTS INCREASED THE
TRANSPLANT RISK AND THE
POTENTIAL FOR THE ORGAN TO NOT
FUNCTION AS WELL FOR THE
RECIPIENT EVERY MINUTE OF TIME
ON ICE IS HARD ON THE ORGANS, HE
STRESSED. THERE ARE THREE PEOPLE
OUT THERE THAT, THROUGH NO FAULT
OF THEIR OWN, MAY HAVE HAD A
POORLY FUNCTIONING ORGAN BECAUSE
OF THIS DELAY. THAT'S REAL.
THAT'S SOMEONE'S HEALTH WE'RE
TALKING ABOUT. NOW, I WANT TO
ADDRESS SOMETHING DIRECTLY
STATED IN THE COMMITTEE
ANALYSIS. THE ANALYSIS STATED
THAT THERE ARE ALREADY CRIMINAL
STATUTES, NAMELY MISDEMEANORS,
FOR THOSE BLOCKING THE FREE
MOVEMENT OF PEOPLE, AND THAT
BECAUSE OF THIS, THE BILL IS NOT
NEEDED. LET ME TELL YOU DIRECTLY
, WHILE THERE ARE MISDEMEANORS
ON THE BOOKS, DISTRICT ATTORNEYS
ARE UNABLE OR UNWILLING TO
SUCCESSFULLY PROSECUTE THOSE
CASES. IN FACT, I COULDN'T FIND
A SINGLE EXAMPLE WHERE ANY
MISDEMEANOR PUNISHMENTS WERE
SUCCESSFUL. I ONLY EVER FOUND
INSTANCES WHERE THERE WERE
DROPPED AS PART OF A PRETRIAL
DIVERSION OR A PLEA DEAL. FOR
EXAMPLE, IN 2015, EIGHT WOMEN
BLOCKED THE SAN FRANCISCO
AIRPORT EXIT ON HIGHWAY 101
WHILE PROTESTING. THEY WERE
ARRESTED AND CHARGED WITH
MISDEMEANOR COUNTS OF UNLAWFUL
ASSEMBLY AND FALSE IMPRISONMENT.
THESE CHARGES WERE ULTIMATELY
DROPPED AS PART OF A PLEA DEAL
FOR 30 HOURS OF COMMUNITY
SERVICE, AND $35.25 IN FINES
EACH. IN 2016, 25 PEOPLE BLOCKED
TRAFFIC ON THE BAY BRIDGE FOR A
PROTEST AND WERE INITIALLY
CHARGED WITH A MISDEMEANOR
COUNTS OF FALSE IMPRISONMENT,
CREATING A PUBLIC NUISANCE AND
OBSTRUCTING FREE PASSAGE. THE
DISTRICT ATTORNEY REFERRED THEM
TO TRAFFIC COURT. THEN THE JUDGE
THREW THOSE CHARGES OUT
ALTOGETHER, SO NO PUNISHMENTS
WERE LEVIED EVEN IN 2023. BAY
BRIDGE BLOCKING THAT DELAYED
ORGAN TRANSPLANTS D.R. JENKINS
INITIALLY SOUGHT A MISDEMEANOR
CHARGE OF OBSTRUCTION OF A
PUBLIC ROADWAY, UNLAWFUL
ASSEMBLY AND FALSE IMPRISONMENT.
SHE ENDED UP DROPPING ALL OF
THOSE CHARGES IN A PRETRIAL
DIVERSION, WHERE THE HIGHWAY
BLOCKERS RECEIVED FIVE HOURS OF
COMMUNITY SERVICE AND A FEE OF
ABOUT $57 A PIECE. ONE OF THE
HIGHWAY BLOCKERS, WHO WAS
INTERVIEWED AFTER THE NEWS OF
THIS PRETRIAL DIVERSION BROKE,
SAID, AND THIS IS A DIRECT QUOTE
, THIS IS A VICTORY. ANOTHER ONE
WHO WAS INTERVIEWED SAID THAT
SHE'D LIKELY PARTICIPATE IN
ANOTHER HIGHWAY BLOCKING IN THE
FUTURE. THE STATUS QUO IS
CLEARLY NOT WORKING. THE
MISDEMEANOR CHARGES ARE NOT
SUCCESSFUL. AND IF ALL THESE
HIGHWAY BLOCKERS ARE GOING TO
GET AS A FINE, WE SHOULD AT
LEAST MAKE IT A MEANINGFUL FINE.
EVEN GOVERNOR NEWSOM
ACKNOWLEDGES THIS IS A PROBLEM.
IN AN INTERVIEW JUST LAST WEEK,
HE SAID THAT THESE, QUOTE,
PEOPLE NEED TO BE HELD
ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR ACTIONS.
IT'S NO SECRET THAT I DON'T
OFTEN AGREE POLICIES WISE WITH
THE GOVERNOR, BUT ON THIS ISSUE
WE DO AGREE. I INTRODUCED AB
2742 BECAUSE LAW ENFORCEMENT
NEED ADDITIONAL TOOLS TO CRACK
DOWN ON THIS BEHAVIOR. THE BILL
WOULD PERMIT LAW ENFORCEMENT TO
ISSUE ENHANCED FINES FOR HIGHWAY
BLOCKERS OBSTRUCTING THE ABILITY
OF A SIGNALING EMERGENCY VEHICLE
TO PASS. THIS IS A REASONABLE
STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION THAT
COULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
SOMEONE CHOOSING TO ENGAGE IN
THIS BEHAVIOR AGAIN, OR
TESTIFYING WITH ME TODAY IN
SUPPORT OF THE BILL IS JOEL
MCCOY, ON BEHALF OF THE
CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF
HIGHWAY PATROLMEN. GOOD
AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR, AND
MEMBERS, JOEL MCCOY FROM AARON
REED AND ASSOCIATES, ON BEHALF
OF THE CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF
HIGHWAY PATROLMEN, REPRESENTING
APPROXIMATELY 14,000 RETIRED AND
ACTIVE CHP OFFICERS. I'M HERE
TODAY IN SUPPORT OF AB 2742,
WHICH WE BELIEVE WOULD PROVIDE
AN ADDITIONAL TOOL FOR LAW
ENFORCEMENT TO HELP CRACK DOWN
ON THE UPTICK OF ILLEGAL AND
DANGEROUS PROTESTS BLOCKING THE
HIGHWAY, WE BELIEVE, LIKE, AS
THE ASSEMBLY MEMBER HAD SAID IN
THE RECENT PROTESTS ON THE BAY
BRIDGE, THE GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE,
880 IN OAKLAND AND THE 110 IN
LOS ANGELES, THIS IS DANGEROUS.
SOMETHING NEEDS TO CHANGE. AND
WE BELIEVE, THAT THAT,
ADDITIONAL CONSEQUENCES AND
ENHANCED PENALTIES ARE NECESSARY
TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND WILL
FURTHER PROVIDE HOPE FOR LAW
ENFORCEMENT, BLOCKING THIS
FREEWAY IS DANGEROUS. AS THE
ASSEMBLYWOMAN HAD SAID, IT HAS
DISASTROUS CONSEQUENCES FOR
PUBLIC SAFETY. LAW ENFORCEMENT
IS PREVENTED FROM HELPING A
VICTIM. FIRE TRUCKS ARE
PREVENTED FROM OR DELAYED FROM
GOING TO A FIRE, AND ALSO
AMBULANCES ARE PREVENTED FROM
GETTING TO A PATIENT. TERRIBLE.
WE NEED TO MAKE A CHANGE. WHILE
THE CHP DOES NOT TYPICALLY
SUPPORT FINE INCREASES, WE DO
BELIEVE THAT AN ADDITIONAL
DETERRENT IS NECESSARY AND
ENHANCED PENALTY IS NECESSARY.
THEREFORE, WE'RE PLEASED TO
SUPPORT THIS BILL AND WE
RESPECTFULLY REQUEST YOUR AYE
VOTE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
MOVING TO MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
WHO WOULD LIKE TO ADD ON THEIR
SUPPORT, NOW WOULD BE
APPROPRIATE TIME TO DO SO WITH
NAME ORGANIZATION AND POSITION
SEEING NONE. MOVING ON TO, ARE
THERE ANY MEMBERS IN THE PUBLIC
WHO ARE HERE AS PRIMARY
WITNESSES FOR THE OPPOSITION,
SEEING NONE, ARE THERE ANY
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO WOULD
LIKE TO HAVE ON RECORD THEIR
OPPOSITION TO THIS BILL? NAME,
ORGANIZATION AND POSITION? GOOD
AFTERNOON, CHAIR AND MEMBERS,
TRACY ROSENBERG, ON BEHALF OF
OAKLAND PRIVACY, WE ARE IN
OPPOSITION TO THIS BILL. THANK
YOU. MOVING TO MEMBERS OF THE
COMMITTEE WHO HAVE ANY
QUESTIONS, COMMENTS OR CONCERNS.
WALLACE. YEAH. THANK YOU, MADAM
CHAIR. JUST FOR CLARIFICATION,
IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THIS BILL
WOULD INCREASE FINES FOR
PROTESTERS WHO SEE FIREFIGHTERS,
LAW ENFORCEMENT OR AMBULANCES
TRYING TO GET THROUGH THEIR
TRAFFIC JAM. THEY CHOOSE NOT TO
MOVE, TO LET THEM THROUGH.
THAT'S ALL IT DOES. CORRECT?
CORRECT. OKAY GREAT, I THINK
IT'S A COMMON SENSE PROPOSAL,
THANK YOU TO THE AUTHOR FOR
BRINGING THIS FORWARD AND
LOOKING FORWARD TO SUPPORTING
IT. WITH THAT, I'D LIKE TO MOVE
THE BILL. OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION
FROM WALLACE AND A SECOND FROM
CHAIR DAVIES. JUST CONFIRM. ARE
THERE ANY OTHER COMMITTEE
MEMBERS WHO WOULD LIKE TO MAKE
ANY COMMENTS, QUESTIONS OR
CONCERNS? OKAY. SEEING NONE, TO
THE AUTHOR, I, YOU KNOW, I
APPRECIATE YOUR FRUSTRATION WITH
THE PROTESTERS, SHUTTING DOWN
VITAL ARTERIALS AND SHARE YOUR
CONCERNS ABOUT BLOCKING ROADWAYS
IN A MANNER THAT IMPEDE, VEHICLE
EMERGENCY VEHICLES EXISTING LAW,
HOWEVER, DOES, I BELIEVE, DOES
ADEQUATELY PROVIDE LAW
ENFORCEMENT WITH THE CRIMINAL
CHARGES THEY NEED. FOR EXAMPLE,
THE PROTESTERS ON THE GOLDEN
GATE BRIDGE LAST WEEK WERE
CHARGED WITH FIVE MISDEMEANORS,
TWO INFRACTIONS AND A FELONY
CONSPIRACY CHARGE. THESE CHARGES
INCLUDED RESISTING AN OFFICER,
FALSE IMPRISONMENT, REMAINING AT
AN UNLAWFUL ASSEMBLY, REFUSAL TO
COMPLY WITH THE LAWFUL ORDER,
UNLAWFULLY BEING A PEDESTRIAN ON
A FREEWAY, AND UNLAWFULLY
STOPPING ON A BRIDGE. IN
RESPONSE, THE SAN FRANCISCO DA
ALSO SOLICITED INDIVIDUALS TO
REPORT THAT THEY WERE VICTIMS OF
FALSE IMPRISONMENT SO THAT THOSE
VICTIMS CAN SEEK RESTITUTION,
RESTITUTION WHICH IS ALLOWABLE
BY LAW, SO I STILL BELIEVE THAT
THE BILL IS UNNECESSARILY
UNNECESSARY AND ULTIMATELY WILL
NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM THAT
YOU'RE SEEKING TO RESOLVE, BUT
AS I NOTED AT THE BEGINNING OF
MY COMMENTS, IT IS FRUSTRATING,
IT IS A CONCERN, FOR SAFETY
REASONS OVERALL, NOT ONLY FOR
THOSE SEEKING TO PROTEST, WHICH
IS THEIR, YOU KNOW,
CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT, BUT
HOWEVER, IN THIS PARTICULAR
CAPACITY, IT DOES IMPOSE A
DANGER TO NOT ONLY THEM AND
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO ARE
TRYING TO CROSS OR EMERGENCY
VEHICLES WHO MAY BE CARRYING
LIFE SAVING THINGS FOR OTHER
PEOPLE. AND SO I WON'T BE ABLE
TO SUPPORT YOUR BILL TODAY, BUT
I DO APPRECIATE YOUR EFFORT TO
TRY TO SOLVE THIS ISSUE. WE DO
HAVE, AS WAS STATED EARLIER, A
MOTION ON THE FLOOR BY WALLACE
AND WALLACE AND VICE CHAIR
DAVIS. BUT GIVE YOU AN
OPPORTUNITY TO CLOSE BEFORE WE
CALL THE ROLL. THANK YOU.
CLEARLY, THE STATUS QUO IS NOT
WORKING. THESE HIGHWAY BLOCKINGS
ARE BECOMING MORE FREQUENT, MORE
RECKLESS AND MORE DANGEROUS. WE
HAVE ALREADY SEEN NEGATIVE
PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY
OUTCOMES BECAUSE OF THIS. AND I
CAN TELL YOU WITH 100% CERTAINTY
THAT FROM ALL OF MY
CONVERSATIONS WITH LAW
ENFORCEMENT AND PROSECUTORS AND
IMPACTED INDIVIDUALS, IT IS ONLY
A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE SOME
INNOCENT PERSON DIES. AS A
RESULT OF THESE HIGHWAY
BLOCKINGS WHEN YOU VOTE ON THIS
TODAY, PLEASE ASK YOURSELF, ARE
YOU COMFORTABLE WITH THE STATUS
QUO OR DO YOU WANT TO HELP AND
WANT TO HELP LAW ENFORCEMENT
CRACK DOWN ON THIS DANGEROUS
BEHAVIOR? I RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR
AN AYE VOTE ON THIS MEASURE.
THANK YOU, MADAM SECRETARY.
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL AB 2742.
THE MOTION IS DUE PASSED. THE
COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS.
WILSON. WILSON. NØ. DAVIES.
DAVIES. I AGUIAR-CURRY.
AGUIAR-CURRY. NØ. CARILLO
CARILLO I HART. HOOVER. HOOVER
I. JACKSON. JACKSON. NØ. ORTEGA
ORTEGA. NØ. PAPPIN HAPPEN I
SANCHEZ I SANCHEZ I TING. TING.
NØ. VALENCIA. WALLACE WALLACE. I
WARD. WARD I WICKS. SEVEN TWO 7
TO 5 I BILL. SEVEN FIVE. AND SO
WE'RE GOING TO HOLD THE ROLL
OPEN FOR MEMBERS TO ADD ON,
WHICH WILL NOW GIVE A CALL TO
ANY MEMBERS WISHING TO ADD ON TO
THE BILLS. THIS WAS OUR LAST,
BILL TO BE HEARD TODAY, SO WE
WILL GO THROUGH THE OTHER BILLS,
FOR OTHER MEMBERS WHO ARE
PRESENT TO ADD ON WHO MIGHT HAVE
MISSED A VOTE, WE WILL WAIT AT
THE CONCLUSION OF THAT. WE WILL
WAIT FIVE MINUTES FOR ANY OTHER
MEMBERS TO COME ON TO ADD ON.
AND WE WILL DO THAT ONE LAST
TIME, AND THEN WE WILL ADJOURN
THE MEETING. SO IF YOU ARE A
MEMBER OF TRANSPORTATION
COMMITTEE AND WOULD LIKE TO
PARTICIPATE IN VOTING TODAY, NOW
WOULD BE AN APPROPRIATE TIME TO
RETURN TO THE HEARING ROOM,
STARTING FROM THE VERY
BEGINNING, WE HAVE A CONSENT
CALENDAR WHERE, DID WE HAVE?
TEN, THERE GOES TEN BILLS, WE'RE
ON CONSENT CALENDAR. MADAM
SECRETARY, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL
CONSENT CALENDAR. CARILLO
CARILLO I HART WIX. ITEM NUMBER
THREE, THAT HAS 13 VOTES. ONCE
AGAIN, WE'LL BE WAITING FOR,
FIVE MINUTES AT THE CONCLUSION
OF ALL OF THESE BILLS FOR
MEMBERS TO ADD ON. ITEM NUMBER
THREE, 1978 FONG ÁP 1978 THE
MOTION DO PASS TO THE COMMITTEE
ON APPROPRIATIONS. CARILLO
CARILLO I HART WICKS. THAT'S 12
THAT HAS 12 VOTES. MOVING ON TO
ITEM NUMBER 5AB 2086. SCHIAVO
THE MOTION DO PASS TO THE
COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
CARILLO CARILLO I HART WICKS
MOVING ON. TO ITEM NUMBER 6AB 20
102. PATTERSON MOTION IS Dð PASS
TO THE COMMITTEE ON
APPROPRIATIONS CARILLO CARILLO I
HART WICKS. MOVING ON TO ITEM
NUMBER SEVEN, AB. 2234 BURNER
THE MOTION DO PASS TO THE
COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
CARILLO CARILLO I HART WICKS.
THAT ONE'S TEN ONE. MOVING ON TO
ITEM NUMBER TEN. AB 2427
MCCARTY. THE MOTION DO PASS TO
THE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS.
AGUIAR-CURRY AGWAI CæA I CARILLO
CARILLO I HART. HOOVER. HOOVER I
ORTEGA. ORTEGA I SANCHEZ.
SANCHEZ I. WICKS MOVING ON TO
ITEM NUMBER 11. I'M SORRY. OKAY
13 ON THAT ONE. SORRY. 13 VOTES.
MOVING ON TO ITEM NUMBER 11 AB
2634 MCCARTY. THE MOTION IS TO
PASS AS AMENDED. AGUIAR-CURRY
AGUIAR-CURRY I CARILLO CARILLO I
HART. HOOVER. HOOVER I ORTEGA.
ORTEGA I WICKS. MOVING ON TO
ITEM NUMBER 13 AB. NOPE. SORRY,
THAT WAS PULLED, MOVING ON TO
AND JUST TO COMPLETE THE RECORD,
AB 2480 WAS PULLED, MOVING ON TO
ITEM NUMBER 14, AB 2535 BONTA.
THE MOTION IS TO PASS AS
AMENDED, TO APPROPRIATIONS. HART
HOOVER. HOOVER. NO. SANCHEZ
SANCHEZ. NO. TING TING I
VALENCIA. WALLACE WALLACE. NO.
WARD. WICKS JUST THANK YOU, ITEM
NUMBER 17. AB 2828 BAINS. THE
MOTION IS DUE. PASS TO THE
COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS.
AGUIAR-CURRY AGUIAR-CURRY I
CARILLO CARILLO I HART HOOVER.
HOOVER I SANCHEZ. SANCHEZ I
WICKS. I'M MOVING ON TO ITEM
NUMBER 18. AB 2892. LO THE
MOTION IS DUE. PASS TO THE
COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS.
CARILLO CARILLO I HART. HART I
WICKS. 13 VOTES. I'M SORRY. 14
VOTES. ON 2892. ITEM 19 AB 3153.
DICKSON THE MOTION IS DUE. PASS
TO THE COMMITTEE ON
APPROPRIATION. CARILLO CARILLO I
HART. HART. NOT VOTING. HOOVER
HOOVER I VALENCIA. WARD WICKS.
FULLER TIÂU. O IS 42. BUT SINCE
WE ARE STILL WAITING FOR MEMBERS
TO ADD ON, WE WILL. WAIT MOVING
ON TO ITEM 21 AB 3243 TO NÓ. OH
WAIT, WHERE AM I AT? LOOKING AT
A DIFFERENT PAPER. MY APOLOGIES,
AB, ITEM NUMBER 22, AB 1777
TÍNH. THE MOTION IS DUE. PASS TO
THE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS.
CARILLO CARILLO I HART. HART I
WICKS 14. MY BILL HAS 14 VOTES.
I VOTES, MOVING ON TO ITEM 23,
HB 1837. PAPIN THE MOTION IS TO
PASS TO THE COMMITTEE ON
APPROPRIATIONS CARILLO CARILLO
I. HART. ART I VALENCIA. WICKS.
THAT BILL HAS 13 I VOTES. MOVING
ON TO ITEM 24 AB 2742. SANCHEZ
THE MOTION IS Dð PASS TO THE
COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS AS
HART. HART I VALENCIA. WICKS
THAT BILL HAS EIGHT FIVE 88I
VOTES FIVE NO VOTES. ITEM NUMBER
27 AB 3117 WILSON. THE MOTION IS
Dð. PASS THE COMMITTEE ON
APPROPRIATIONS. AGUIAR-CURRY
AGUIAR-CURRY. YES CARILLO.
CARILLO I HART. HART I HOOVER.
HOOVER I SANCHEZ. SANCHEZ I.
WICKS. THAT BILL HAS 14. ALL
RIGHT. WE ARE GOING TO, PAUSE
FOR A MOMENT TO SEE WHERE
CERTAIN MEMBERS ARE. AND THEN
WE'LL RESTART THE ROLL
.
WE'RE JUST GOING TO START FROM
THE TOP. ALRIGHTY. MOVING TO THE
TOP. WE HAVE ALL MEMBERS THAT
WANT TO BE PRESENT HERE. AND SO
THIS WILL BE OUR FINAL TIME FOR
CALLING, FOR MEMBERS TO ADD ON,
THE THERE WAS TEN ITEMS ON
CONSENT, MADAM SECRETARY, PLEASE
CONSENT. HEART HART I WICKS,
WICKS, I 16 FINAL VOTE TALLY IS
15. THOSE BILLS ARE OUT. MOVING
ON TO ITEM NUMBER THREE AB 1978.
FONG HART HART I WICKS. WICKS I.
THAT BILL HAS 15. IT IS OUT.
ITEM NUMBER FIVE AB 2886 CHAU
HART. HART I WICKS. WICKS I 16.
THAT BILL HAS 15. IT IS OUT.
ITEM NUMBER SIX AB 20 102.
PATTERSON HART. HART I WICKS.
WICKS I. ITEM NUMBER SEVEN AB
2234. BURNER HART. HART I WICKS.
WICKS I. 13 ONE THAT BILL IS OUT
I DON'T THINK I SAID IT ON ITEM
NUMBER SIX, BUT THAT BILL HAD 15
AND IT IS OUT. ITEM NUMBER TEN
AB 2427 MCCARTY. HART HART I
WICKS WICKS I THAT BILL HAS 15.
IT IS OUT. MOVING ON TO ITEM
NUMBER 11 AB 2634 MCCARTY HART.
HART I WICKS. WICKS I. BILL IS
OUT 15. MOVING ON TO ITEM NUMBER
14 AB 2535 BONTA HART. HART I
GARCIA VALENCIA I WICKS. WICKS I
. TEN. TEN FOUR. THAT BILL IS
OUT. MOVING ON TO ITEM NUMBER 17
AB 20 2828 BAINS HART HART I
WICKS. WICKS I FIFTH. THAT BILL
HAS 15 VOTES. IT IS OUT. ITEM
NUMBER 19 AB 3153. DICKSON OH,
SORRY. YES YOU'RE RIGHT. ITEM
NUMBER 18 AB 2892. LO WICKS.
WICKS. I FIFTH. THAT BILL HAS
15. IT IS OUT. ITEM NUMBER 19 AB
3153 DICKSON VALENCIA. VALENCIA.
NOT VOTING. WICKS WICKS. NOT
VOTING. ALL RIGHT, THAT BILL IS
DOES IS FAILS WITH THE VOTE OF
FIVE TWO. WITHOUT OBJECTION, I'D
LIKE TO GRANT UNANIMOUS CONSENT
FOR RECONSIDERATION. SEEING NO
OBJECTION, RECONSIDERATION HAS
BEEN GRANTED. MOVING ON TO ITEM
22, AB 1777 TÍNH WICKS. WICKS, I
BILL IS OUT 15. ITEM NUMBER 23
AB 1837 PAPIN VALENCIA. VALENCIA
YES. WICKS. WICKS I THAT BILL IS
OUT 15 MOVING ON TO ITEM 24 AB
2742 SANCHEZ VALENCIA. VALENCIA.
NOT VOTING. WICKS. WICKS NOT
VOTING. FINAL COUNT FOR THAT IS
EIGHT FIVE. THAT BILL IS OUT.
ITEM 27 AB 3117 WILSON WICKS.
WICKS I. THAT BILL IS OUT. ITEM
NUMBER 15. TRANSPORTATION
TRANSPORTATION. THERE ARE NO
FURTHER BUSINESS BEFORE THE
TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE. Ó
OKAY, HOLD ON A SECOND. OKAY,
THERE IS A VOTE CHANGE, MADAM
SECRETARY, COULD YOU PLEASE CALL
ITEM NUMBER 14, AB 2535? BONTA
HART. HART NOT VOTING. ON THAT,
FINAL VOTE TALLY HAS BEEN
CHANGED TO NINE FOR THAT BILL
STILL IS OUT. SEEING THAT THERE
ARE HEARING THAT THERE ARE NO
FURTHER BUSINESS FOR THE
TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE, THE
BEFORE I SAY ADJOURNED. I DID
SAY WELCOME TO ASSEMBLYMEMBER
ORTEGA. SO I WANT TO SAY WELCOME
TO ASSEMBLYMEMBER VALENCIA. THE
MEETING IS NOW ADJOURNED