GOOD AFTERNOON. I CALL THIS
HEARING OF THE ASSEMBLY
COMMITTEE ON ON HUMAN SERVICES
TO ORDER TODAY. ONCE WE HAVE
ESTABLISHED A QUORUM, WE HAVE 34
BILLS ON THE AGENDA. 19 BILLS
ARE ON CONSENT. PLEASE NOTE THAT
WE LIMIT TESTIMONY TO TWO
WITNESSES IN SUPPORT AND TWO
WITNESSES IN OPPOSITION. EACH
WITNESS HAS TWO MINUTES TO
TESTIFY. ALL ADDITIONAL
WITNESSES WILL BE LIMITED TO
STATING THEIR NAME,
ORGANIZATION, AND IF THEY
REPRESENT ONE, THEIR POSITION ON
THE BILL. I WILL ALSO NOTE THAT
WE ARE ACCEPTING WRITTEN
TESTIMONY THROUGH THE POSITION
LETTER PORTAL ON THE COMMITTEE'S
WEBSITE. NOW, FOR A LITTLE
HOUSEKEEPING. THE ASSEMBLY RULES
COMMITTEE HAS DETERMINED THAT
THE FISCAL IMPLICATIONS OF FILE
ITEM 28, AB 2935 MAIENSCHEIN AND
FILE ITEM 29, AB 3049. BRYANT
SHOULD BE ANALYZED IN THE
APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE DESPITE
THE BILLS BEING KEYED NON
FISCAL. SHOULD THE BILLS PASS
OUT OF THIS COMMITTEE, THEY WILL
BE REFERRED TO THE ASSEMBLY
APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE. THANK
YOU. SEEING AS WE DO NOT YET
HAVE A QUORUM, WE WILL START AS
A SUBCOMMITTEE TO HEAR THE
BILLS. AND WE WILL START WITH
FILE ITEM NUMBER ONE. SO
ASSEMBLY RODRIGUEZ, WHEN YOU'RE
READY, YOU MAY PLEASE COME
FORWARD
.
WHENEVER YOU'RE READY. GOOD
AFTERNOON. CHAIR AND MEMBERS,
I'M PLEASED TO PRESENT AB 1786,
WHICH WOULD ESTABLISH A 100
MILLION CALIFORNIA INDIVIDUAL
ASSISTANCE ACT ADMINISTERED BY
THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL
SERVICES AND A 400 MILLION
CALIFORNIA LOCAL ASSISTANCE ACT
ADMINISTERED BY THE STRATEGIC
GROWTH COUNCIL. BOTH FUNDED BY
THE GREENHOUSE GAS REDUCTION
FUND. THE PURPOSE OF THIS BILL
IS TO PROVIDE TIMELY AND DIRECT
ASSISTANCE TO INDIVIDUALS AND
COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE SUFFERED
HARM DUE TO DISASTERS, BUT, BUT
MAY NOT BE ELIGIBLE FOR, OR MAY
NOT WARRANT FEDERAL DISASTER
ASSISTANCE. THIS BILL PROVIDES
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, COMMUNITY
BASED ORGANIZATIONS, AND
INDIVIDUALS WITH THE ASSISTANCE
THEY NEED TO QUICKLY RECOVER
FROM A DISASTER. ALL TOO OFTEN,
FEMA AND CAL OES HAVE BEEN
UNABLE TO ASSIST THE MOST
VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES WHEN A
DISASTER. SURVIVORS HAVE FEW
PATHS TO RECOVERY. THIS IS
BECAUSE CRITICAL AID FROM FEMA
REMAINS OUT OF REACH FOR
FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS WHO
HAVE SUFFERED A DISASTER. IF THE
LOCAL DISASTER DOES NOT MEET
THEIR CRITERIA FOR FEDERAL
ASSISTANCE. IN FACT, FEMA
RECOMMENDS THAT EACH STATE
ESTABLISH ITS OWN INDIVIDUAL
ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS DUE TO THE
LIMITATIONS ON THE FEDERAL
DISASTER ASSISTANCE. NOW IS WHY
WE NEED TO DO BETTER. THIS BILL
WOULD HELP, AS IT WILL LEVERAGE
500 MILLION ANNUALLY FROM THE
GREENHOUSE GAS REDUCTION FUND TO
HELP COMMUNITIES AND INDIVIDUALS
RECOVER FROM CLIMATE DRIVEN
DISASTERS. LASTLY, I WANT TO
THANK THE CHAIR AND THE VICE
CHAIR, AS WELL AS MOST OF YOU ON
THE COMMITTEE WHO SUPPORTED MY
PREVIOUS BILL LAST YEAR, AB
1513. AND WITH THAT, I DO HAVE
WITNESSES AND SUPPORT. ALL
RIGHT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. TWO
MINUTES. EACH PERSON PLEASE.
GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIRMAN AND
ASSEMBLY MEMBER LEE AND THE
ENTIRE COMMITTEE ON HUMAN
SERVICES. MY NAME IS KATRINA
REESE AND I AM THE DEPUTY
DIRECTOR OF POLICY ADVOCACY, CÁC
AND IMPACT AT THE CALIFORNIA
COMMUNITY ACTION PARTNERSHIP
ASSOCIATION OF CALIFORNIA. CAL
CAPA. I'M HONORED TO BE HERE AS
A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE 60
COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCIES WHO
PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES IN ALL 58
CALIFORNIA COUNTIES. WE ARE HERE
IN STRONG SUPPORT TODAY OF AB
1786 AS CALIFORNIANS AND LEADERS
IN THE MITIGATION OF POVERTY, WE
UNDERSTAND GREATLY AND FIRSTHAND
HOW DEVASTATING A NATURAL
DISASTER CAN BE TO A COMMUNITY.
WE KNOW COMMUNITY MEMBERS
SEEKING SUPPORT AND RESOURCES
DURING NATURAL DISASTERS RELY
HEAVILY ON PREVIOUSLY KNOWN
COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS,
AND THAT MEANS ESPECIALLY
COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCIES AND
OUR PARTNERS, COMMUNITY BASED
ORGANIZATIONS. ROLES IN DISASTER
RESPONSE AND RELIEF IS CRITICAL.
FIRST, CBOS ARE TRUSTED
MESSENGERS. SECOND, THEY ARE
ALREADY IN THE COMMUNITY SO THEY
ARE READY TO RESPOND TIMELY IN
EMERGENCY SITUATIONS. WHILE WE
OFTEN HAVE FUNDS SET AND READY
FOR REIMBURSEMENT OF MEDICAL,
FIRE AND POLICE, AS WELL AS
MIDTUM SOLUTIONS FOR POSSIBLE
RECOVERY OPPORTUNITIES, WHAT WE
LACK IS THE ABILITY TO HAVE
IMMEDIATE RESOURCES FOR BOTH
RECOVERY OPPORTUNITIES, SUCH AS
HOUSING OR RELOCATION PAYMENTS,
AS WELL AS THE FUNDING FOR COSTS
CURRENTLY ABSORBED BY CBOS WHO
EMPLOY THE PEOPLE ON THE GROUND
THAT DELIVERED THAT IMMEDIATE
RELIEF. ONE SUCH DEMONSTRATION
OF THIS IS JUST LAST YEAR,
DURING THE LATE TWO, 2022 AND
EARLY 2023 FLOODING THAT CAUSED
OVER 100 MILLION DAMAGE TO OVER
100 MILLION HOMES IN THE PAJARO
VALLEY. THE COMMUNITY ACTION
BOARD OF SANTA CRUZ COUNTY,
ALONG WITH ITS PARTNERS CASA DE
LA CULTURA AND THE PAJARO
DISASTER, LONG TIME RECOVERY
ALLIANCE, WHERE THEY'RE ON SITE
IMMEDIATELY BEFORE FORMAL
RECOVERY BEGAN. THESE COMMUNITY
BASED ORGANIZATIONS OFFERED
CRITICAL INTERPRETATION AND CASE
MANAGEMENT SERVICES SUPPORT TO
THE MIXTECO SPEAKING COMMUNITY
DURING THE EMERGENCY, THEN AT
THE SHELTERS BEFORE OTHER STATE
RESOURCES WERE EVEN DEPLOYED.
THIS LEGISLATION WILL ENSURE
THAT WHAT HAPPEN IN PAJARO,
WHERE THERE HAS BEEN NO
REIMBURSEMENT SUPPORT TO
AGENCIES FROM LOCAL GOVERNMENT
GOVERNMENT ENTITIES, DOES NOT
HAPPEN AGAIN. IT IS A STARK
REMINDER THAT MANY. PLEASE WRAP
UP, PLEASE. YES, IT IS A STARK
REMINDER THAT MANY LOCAL CBOS
ARE OFTEN CALLED UPON FIRST TO
ORGANIZE RESOURCES IN ANY
EMERGENCY. WHILE THEY ARE OFTEN
THE FIRST TO ARRIVE, THEY ARE
FOR SURE THE ONES STILL IN THE
COMMUNITY WAY, WAY AFTER THE
EMERGENCY AND WATERS HAVE
RESCINDED. SO THAT IS WHY WE ARE
IN STRONG SUPPORT OF THIS BILL.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ALL RIGHT.
NEXT ONE IS PLEASE TWO MINUTES.
GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR LEE. AND
MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE. MY
NAME IS NOAH PERDOMO. I'M WITH
CALIFORNIA RURAL LEGAL
ASSISTANCE FOUNDATION. THANK YOU
TO ASSEMBLY MEMBER RODRIGUEZ FOR
PRESENTING AB 1786 AND TO THE
COMMITTEE FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO
TESTIFY IN SUPPORT OF THE BILL,
WHICH CREATES TWO NEEDED RAPID
RELIEF PROGRAMS TO HELP
CALIFORNIA'S RESIDENTS AND
FAMILIES IMPACTED BY NATURAL
DISASTERS DUE TO CLIMATE CHANGE.
AB 1786 ESTABLISHES THE
CALIFORNIA INDIVIDUAL ASSISTANCE
PROGRAM TO PROVIDE DIRECT
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO IMPACTED
INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES WHO ARE
INELIGIBLE FOR FEDERAL OR STATE
ASSISTANCE DUE TO THEIR
IMMIGRATION STATUS. CLIMATE
CHANGE IMPACTS ALL OF US,
EVIDENCED BY THE STORMS OF 2022
AND 2023 THAT RESULTED IN
FEDERAL AND STATE DISASTER
DECLARATION OAN IN CALIFORNIA
COUNTIES. WE SAW WHAT THE STORMS
DID TO THE TOWNS OF PLANADA AND
PAJARO. IT DISPLACED FAMILIES
FROM THEIR HOMES AND CAUSED
ECONOMIC LOSS. AB 1786 ALSO
ESTABLISHES THE CALIFORNIA LOCAL
ASSISTANCE PROGRAM TO HELP LOCAL
COMMUNITIES REBUILD, RESTORE AND
SUPPORT BADLY NEEDED
INFRASTRUCTURE AND LIFELINE
SYSTEMS FOR PREVENTION AND
RECOVERY FROM DAMAGE. THE BILL
RECOGNIZES LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
NEED TO BE RESPONSIVE AND WORK
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE STATE
AND LOCAL COMMUNITY BASED
ORGANIZATIONS, SPECIFICALLY,
1786 WILL PARTNER WITH TRUSTED,
COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS AS
KEY MESSENGERS WITH EXPERIENCE
AND CAPACITY TO DELIVER
CULTURALLY INCOMPETENT EMERGENCY
PREVENTION, RESPONSE AND
RECOVERY SERVICES TO IMMIGRANT
AND FARMWORKER COMMUNITIES. CBOS
HAVE SUCCESSFULLY DEMONSTRATED,
THROUGH THE STORM ASSISTANCE FOR
IMMIGRANTS PROGRAM TO IMPLEMENT
SERVICE DELIVERY MODELS
CUSTOMIZED FOR THEIR LOCAL
COMMUNITIES. WE MUST ESTABLISH
AND SUSTAIN EQUITABLE RESILIENCE
POLICIES AND PROGRAMS TO HELP
OUR MOST VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES
FROM THE EFFECTS THAT CLIMATE
CHANGE CAUSES, SUCH AS STORMS,
EXCESSIVE HEAT FREEZES, WILDFIRE
SMOKE AND DROUGHT. WE LOOK
FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE
LEGISLATURE AND THE
ADMINISTRATION TO PROVIDE RAPID
RELIEF TO INDIVIDUALS AND
FAMILIES WHO HAVE SUFFERED HARM
DUE TO NATURAL DISASTERS. THANK
YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION AND
SUPPORT OF THIS KEY BILL. THANK
YOU SO MUCH. NOW, DO WE HAVE ANY
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO WISH
TO TESTIFY IN SUPPORT OF THE
BILL? PLEASE COME UP TO THE
MICROPHONE, NAME AN
ORGANIZATION, PLEASE. KEVIN
ESTÁN COALITION, CALIFORNIA
WELFARE RIGHTS ORGANIZATION.
STRONG SUPPORT. THANK YOU. JOSH,
ON BEHALF OF THE COUNTY OF SANTA
CRUZ IN SUPPORT. NOW, DO WE HAVE
ANY WITNESSES IN OPPOSITION TO
THE BILL? PLEASE COME FORWARD.
ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC IN
OPPOSITION TO THE BILL? SEEING
NONE, I'LL BRING IT BACK TO
COMMITTEE FOR ANY COMMENTS.
QUESTIONS. IS THIS THE IDENTICAL
BILL YOU HAD LAST YEAR? ARE
THERE ANY CHANGES? FOR THE MOST
PART. OKAY. WHAT'S THE
DIFFERENCE? IS THERE? I THINK
WHAT NOW MORE THAN EVER, I THINK
IT'S STILL SOMETHING WE NEED
SOMEBODY. RODRIGUEZ. IF YOU
COULD USE THE MICROPHONES FOR
THE TV. WELL, THE PURPOSE IS
ONCE AGAIN, IT DIDN'T MAKE IT
THROUGH LAST YEAR. WANT TO BRING
IT BACK? WE ALL MUST REALIZE
THAT CALIFORNIA IS A DISASTER
PRONE STATE. THINGS ARE GOING TO
HAPPEN. MORE SEVERE THAN EVER AS
WE NOTICED THE LAST COUPLE OF
YEARS. SO NOW MORE THAN EVER, WE
NEED ESTABLISH OUR OWN FUNDS AS
FEMA ALSO RECOGNIZES THAT EACH
STATE SHOULD DO IT. SO WE WANT
TO BE THE LEADER IN A LOT OF
OTHER THINGS IN THE STATE. WE
SHOULD BE LEADER IN PROTECTING
OUR COMMUNITIES. THANK YOU. ALL
RIGHT. THANK YOU SO MUCH,
SENATOR RODRIGUEZ. SINCE WE LACK
A QUORUM, WE WILL TAKE ACTION AT
THE APPROPRIATE TIME. BUT THANK
YOU FOR BRINGING THIS BILL
FORWARD AND MAKING SURE THAT
THOSE IMPACTED BY CLIMATE
CHANGE, AS IT GETS WORSE, THAT
ARE TAKEN CARE OF. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT. WE
SHALL MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ITEM.
I'M A NEXT AUTHOR. I THINK I SEE
A SIMILAR WRITING HERE WHO WILL
PRESENT EITHER FILE ITEM EIGHT
OR FILM 30. WHICH BILL DO YOU
WANT TO START FIRST? AB 2155.
THAT'S OKAY. YES, YES. GREAT
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR, SO AB 2155
CREATES A GRANT PROGRAM WITHIN
THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF
SOCIAL SERVICES THAT WILL
PROVIDE COMMUNITY BASED
ORGANIZATIONS SERVING LIMITED
ENGLISH SPEAKING POPULATIONS,
FUNDING TO CONTINUE PROVIDING
LANGUAGE ASSISTANCE SERVICES. AS
WE ALL KNOW, OUR NONPROFITS ARE
PART OF OUR SOCIAL SAFETY NET.
THEY PROVIDE CRITICAL, CRITICAL
SERVICES. MANY OF THEM, HAVE
HIRED EMPLOYEES WHO SPEAK
MULTIPLE LANGUAGES, HOWEVER, THE
STATE IS STILL WAY BEHIND IN
TERMS OF REALLY ACKNOWLEDGING
FUNDING, LANGUAGE ACCESS, WHAT
OFTENTIMES HAPPENS IS THE STATE
CAN'T PROVIDE THESE SERVICES. SO
THEY HAVE NONPROFITS WHO HAVE
THIS LANGUAGE ABILITY TO PROVIDE
THAT. WHAT WE REALLY WANT TO DO
IS JUST MAKE SURE THERE'S A
GRANT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM TO
REALLY HELP NONPROFITS WHO ARE
SPENDING EXTRA MONEY TO HIRE
EMPLOYEES WITH A MULTITUDE OF
LANGUAGE SKILLS. THESE ARE SOME
OF OUR MOST VULNERABLE, FAMILIES
AND CALIFORNIANS WHO REALLY,
RELY ON THESE NONPROFITS FOR
ASSISTANCE AND NEED IT IN
LANGUAGE THAT'S ABSOLUTELY VERY
CRITICAL. SO WITH THAT,
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR I VOTE ON
2155. AND I'VE BEEN TRAN HERE
FROM ASIAN AMERICANS ADVANCING
JUSTICE. HELLO CHAIR AND
MEMBERS. MY NAME IS BENJAMIN
TRAN, POLICY STRATEGIST WITH
ASIAN AMERICANS ADVANCING
JUSTICE, SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AND
A PROUD SPONSOR OF AB 2155. OUR
STAFF PROVIDE A VARIETY OF LEGAL
SERVICES, SUCH AS APPLYING FOR
CITIZENSHIP OR FILING DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE RESTRAINING ORDERS IN
EIGHT DIFFERENT ASIAN LANGUAGES.
STORY. AFTER STORY, COMMUNITY
MEMBERS WILL TELL US HOW THESE
SYSTEMS ARE CONFUSING AND
INTIMIDATING. I'M BILINGUAL AND
I'LL TELL YOU, I GET NERVOUS
JUST TRYING TO ORDER AT A
RESTAURANT IN MY SECOND
LANGUAGE, SO I CAN ONLY IMAGINE
THE DIFFICULTY OF SEEKING VITAL
HELP IN A LANGUAGE YOU'RE NOT
COMFORTABLE IN. ONE STORY I WILL
SHARE IS ABOUT A CLIENT NAMED
JANE, WHO DECIDED ENOUGH WAS
ENOUGH AFTER SHE WAS SEXUALLY
ASSAULTED BY HER HUSBAND. THE
COUPLE HAD BEEN MARRIED FOR FIVE
YEARS, WITH TWO YOUNG CHILDREN,
DURING WHICH THERE WERE MULTIPLE
INSTANCES OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
BEING A LIMITED ENGLISH SPEAKER,
SHE WAS REFERRED TO OUR
ORGANIZATION FOR LEGAL AID BY
THE COURT. AFTER A SIX HOUR
HEARING, THE AJ SOCAL ATTORNEY
WAS ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY REQUEST
FULL CUSTODY OF THE CHILDREN,
SPOUSAL SUPPORT, OWNERSHIP OF
HER VEHICLE, AND A DVO FOR FIVE
YEARS. CURRENTLY, OUR
ORGANIZATION IS ASSISTING JANE
WITH HER DIVORCE PROCEEDINGS AND
U-VISA PETITIONS. IT'S ESSENTIAL
THAT THE STAFF, WHO ARE EXPERTS
AT DELIVERING THESE SERVICES TO
COMMUNITY MEMBERS, ARE SUPPORTED
BY BILINGUAL PAY IS ONE OF THE
MANY SENSIBLE SOLUTIONS TO
SUPPORT THE PROGRAMS THAT MAKE A
DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF
PEOPLE LIKE JANE. HOWEVER,
ACCORDING TO THE FAIR PAY FOR
NONPROFITS IN SOUTHERN
CALIFORNIA REPORT, OUT OF 992
ORGANIZATIONS, 81% DID NOT
PROVIDE BILINGUAL PAY, LEAVING
THESE WORKERS UNCOMPENSATED AND
UNRECOGNIZED FOR THEIR LABOR AND
SKILLS. THIS INVESTMENT WILL
PROTECT AND ENHANCE THESE
PROGRAMS SO THAT ALL CAN
EQUITABLY ACCESS THEM. FOR THESE
REASONS, I URGE SUPPORT FOR AB
2155. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, DO WE
HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL WITNESSES IN
THE ROOM WHO WISH TO TESTIFY IN
SUPPORT OF THE MEASURE TWO? YES,
YES. HI. MY NAME IS FAITH LEE.
I'M WITH ASIAN AMERICANS
ADVANCING JUSTICE, SOUTHERN
CALIFORNIA, OF COURSE, WE'RE IN
SUPPORT, BUT I'M ALSO HERE TO
PROVIDE A. ME TOO. ON BEHALF OF
SOUTHEAST ASIAN RESOURCE ACTION
CENTER, KOREAN YOUTH AND
COMMUNITY CENTER, FILIPINO
WORKERS CENTER, HMONG INNOVATING
POLITICS, AND ASIAN PACIFIC
ENVIRONMENTAL NETWORK. THANK YOU
. GOOD AFTERNOON, CYNTHIA GÓMEZ,
ON BEHALF OF THE COALITION FOR
HUMANE IMMIGRANT RIGHTS AND
STRONG SUPPORT. KEVIN ESTÁN
COALITION CALIFORNIA WELFARE
RIGHTS ORGANIZATION SUPPORT.
THANK YOU, TONY TRUJILLO,
CALIFORNIA TEACHERS ASSOCIATION
IN SUPPORT FOR ASIAN RESOURCES
AND SUPPORT. THANK YOU, THANK
YOU. NOW, ARE THERE ANY
WITNESSES IN OPPOSITION TO THE
BILL? PLEASE COME FORWARD. ANY
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WISHING TO
EXPRESS THEIR OPPOSITION TO THE
BILL? PLEASE COME TO THE
MICROPHONE SEEING NONE, I'M
GOING TO BRING IT BACK TO
COMMITTEE. BUT FIRST, SIMILARLY,
JUST WANT TO CLARIFY. YOU'RE
ACCEPTING THE COMMITTEE
AMENDMENTS. YES. OKAY.
FANTASTIC, AND THEN COMMITTEE
SECRETARY, SINCE WE HAVE A
QUORUM NOW, LET'S ESTABLISH A
QUORUM REAL QUICK. LEE HERE, A
SALLY CALDERON HERE. GIBSON
JACKSON HERE. MATHIS. ORTEGA LÀ.
WE HAVE A QUORUM, MEMBERS, ANY
QUESTIONS? COMMENTS ALL RIGHT.
SEEING NONE, THE BILL HAS BEEN
MOVED BY ASSEMBLY. CALDERON. CAN
I GET A SECOND? ALL RIGHT. I
CELEBRATING. THANK YOU FOR
BRINGING THIS BILL FORWARD. I'M
RECOMMENDING AN I IF AMENDED
TODAY, WE HAVE A MOTION. OH,
ACTUALLY, WOULD YOU LIKE TO
CLOSE FIRST? JUST RESPECTFULLY
VOTE. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU SO
MUCH. THE BILL'S BEEN MOVED AND
SECONDED. THANK YOU FOR WORKING
WITH OUR COMMITTEE. AND I'M
RECOMMENDING AN AYE VOTE. MADAM
SECRETARY, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL
ON AB 2155. THE MOTION IS TO
PASS, AS AMENDED, TO THE
ASSEMBLY APPROPRIATIONS
COMMITTEE. LEE LI AYE. EASILY.
EASILY. AYE. CALDERON CALDERON.
AYE. GIBSON. JACKSON JACKSON.
AYE. MATHIS. ORTEGA. GIBSON.
GIBSON. AYE FIVE ZERO. THAT BILL
IS OUT. WE'LL LEAVE THE ROLL
OPEN FOR ABSENT MEMBERS. THANK
YOU. AND CELEBRATING. YOU HAVE
ANOTHER BILL. YOU FILE ITEM 30.
THANK YOU. I'M PRESENTING A AB
3079. AND FIRST LET ME THANK
YOU. AND THE COMMITTEE FOR ITS
HELP. WE ARE ABSOLUTELY TAKING
THE COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS. AB
3079 ALLOWS FAMILIES THAT ARE
PARTICIPATING IN THE IN-HOME
SUPPORT SERVICES PROGRAM, TO
ALLOW FAMILY MEMBERS WHO ARE
UNDOCUMENTED TO BE EMPLOYED
THROUGH THAT PROGRAM TO SERVE,
TO CARE FOR THEIR OTHER FAMILY
MEMBERS. RIGHT NOW, WE DID A
GREAT EXPANSION A FEW YEARS AGO
TO ALLOW FAMILY MEMBERS TO BE
PAID WITHIN IN-HOME SUPPORT
SERVICES. THIS WILL FURTHER
CLARIFY THAT IF YOUR FAMILY
MEMBER HAPPENS TO BE
UNDOCUMENTED, THAT THEY WILL BE
ALSO ABLE TO QUALIFY FOR THIS
PROGRAM. WE ALL KNOW HOW
CRITICAL THE IN-HOME SUPPORT
SERVICES PROGRAM IS. MY
GRANDMOTHER WAS A BENEFICIARY OF
THAT. THEY COME INTO YOUR HOUSE
SO THAT YOUR LOVED ONES DON'T
HAVE TO LEAVE HOME, DON'T HAVE
TO GO INTO A NURSING HOME. THEY
DO. MANY OF THE HOUSEHOLD
CHORES, OF TAKING CARE OF THE
ELDERLY, TAKING CARE OF SOMEONE
WHO'S DISABLED, CRITICAL
CRITICAL SERVICES. SOME OF THOSE
ARE DONE BY FAMILY MEMBERS. SO
AGAIN, THAT EXPANSION DONE A FEW
YEARS AGO TO EXPANDED FAMILY
MEMBERS. NOW THIS JUST GOES ONE
STEP FURTHER TO ENSURE THAT IF
THAT FAMILY MEMBER HAPPENS TO BE
UNDOCUMENTED, THAT THEY TOO CAN
QUALIFY FOR THIS PROGRAM, HAPPY
TO HAVE, KELLY DEARMAN, OF
COURSE, OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
AT THE SAN FRANCISCO HUMAN
SERVICES AGENCY IN THE
DISABILITY AND HUMAN SERVICES
PROGRAM, AND ALSO SUSIE SMITH
FROM THE AGENCY IS ALSO HERE TO
ANSWER ANY TECHNICAL QUESTIONS.
SO I CAN THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
TWO MINUTES, PLEASE. THANK YOU.
GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS KELLY
DEARMAN. I'M THE EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR FOR THE SAN FRANCISCO
DEPARTMENT OF DISABILITY AND
AGING SERVICES. ON BEHALF OF THE
CITY AND COUNTY OF SAN
FRANCISCO, I AM HERE TO CONVEY
SAN FRANCISCO'S SUPPORT AND
PROUD SPONSORSHIP OF ASSEMBLY
BILL 379 BY ALLOWING
UNDOCUMENTED IN-HOME SUPPORTIVE
SERVICES RECIPIENTS. IHSS TO
SELECT AN UNDOCUMENTED FAMILY
MEMBER TO SERVE AS THEIR IHSS
PROVIDER. AB 3079 HELPS MORE
CALIFORNIANS RECEIVE THE CARE
THEY DESERVE AND TO WHICH THEY
ARE ENTITLED. THE VAST MAJORITY
OF IHSS RECIPIENTS RELY ON
FAMILY MEMBERS TO SERVE AS THEIR
IHSS PROVIDER. HOWEVER UNLIKE
OTHER IHSS RECIPIENTS, THOSE WHO
ARE UNDOCUMENTED ARE DENIED THE
RIGHT TO SELECT AN UNDOCUMENTED
FAMILY MEMBER TO PROVIDE THEIR
CARE. THIS OFTEN LEAVES THOSE
FAMILY MEMBERS DOING THE WORK
UNPAID AND AT AN ECONOMIC
HARDSHIP. THIS ALSO HAPPENS IN
SPITE OF THE FACT THAT
CALIFORNIA FACES AN
UNPRECEDENTED LABOR SHORTAGE OF
HOME CARE WORKERS, ACCORDING TO
CALIFORNIA'S MASTER PLAN FOR
AGING, THE STATE WILL FACE A
SHORTAGE OF UP TO 3.2 MILLION
PAID DIRECT CARE WORKERS IN THE
COMING YEARS, AS CALIFORNIA'S
DEMOGRAPHICS SHIFT. STATE DATA
SOURCES ALSO SHOW THAT THERE IS
CURRENTLY AN EQUITY ISSUE IN WHO
CAN ACCESS CARE. LATINO IHSS
RECIPIENTS HAVE PARTICULAR
DIFFICULTY FINDING AN IHSS
PROVIDER AND THEREFORE GETTING
SERVICES. GIVEN THESE
CONSIDERATIONS, AB 3079 IS BOTH
A MORAL AND PRACTICAL NECESSITY.
ITS PASSAGE WILL REFLECT THE
COMMITMENT WE MADE IN 2023, WHEN
CALIFORNIA TOOK THE
GROUNDBREAKING STEP OF EXPANDING
ELIGIBILITY FOR MEDI-CAL TO
INCLUDE UNDOCUMENTED COMMUNITY
MEMBERS. FOR ALL THESE REASONS,
THE CITY AND COUNTY OF SAN
FRANCISCO IS A PROUD SPONSOR AND
STRONG SUPPORTER OF AB 3079.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
RIGHT ON THE DOT. NOW, ARE THERE
ANY WITNESSES IN THE ROOM OR ANY
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC IN THE
ROOM WHO WISH TO EXPRESS THEIR
SUPPORT FOR THE BILL? PLEASE
COME UP TO THE MICROPHONE. YEAH.
AGAIN, KEVIN ESTÁN COALITION OF
CALIFORNIA WELFARE RIGHTS
ORGANIZATIONS, ORGANIZATIONS
STRONG SUPPORT. THANK YOU. KATHY
MCDONALD, REPRESENTING ALAMEDA
COUNTY'S BOARD OF SUPERVISORS,
SIGNED ON IN SUPPORT AND AS A
CO-SPONSOR OF THE LEGISLATION.
THANK YOU. TIFFANY WISEMAN, SEIU
CALIFORNIA AND SUPPORT. THANK
YOU. MALIK BYNUM, UAW LOCAL 330
AND SUPPORT. THANK YOU, JOSH, ON
BEHALF OF THE COUNTIES OF SANTA
CLARA AND SANTA CRUZ, BOTH
CO-SPONSORS AND STRONG SUPPORT.
GOOD AFTERNOON. JARED. CARL WITH
NOURISH CALIFORNIA IN SUPPORT.
SAM WILKINSON WITH GRACE AND IN
CHILD POVERTY IN CALIFORNIA AND
SUPPORT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
NOW, DO WE HAVE ANY WITNESSES IN
OPPOSITION TO THE BILL? PLEASE
COME FORWARD. ANY MEMBERS OF THE
PUBLIC WHO WISH TO EXPRESS THEIR
OPPOSITION? THÀNH SEEING NONE.
I'LL BRING IT BACK TO THE
COMMITTEE. ANY QUESTIONS?
COMMENTS SIMULTANEOUSLY. THANK
YOU, MR. CHAIR, YOU WON'T BE
SURPRISED BY MY POSITION. I
STRONGLY OPPOSE THE EXPANSION OF
MEDI-CAL TO ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS
IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA. I
THINK IT IS UNCONSCIONABLE THAT
IN A STATE WHERE PEOPLE WHO HAVE
BEEN HERE PAYING TAXES AND CAME
HERE THE RIGHT WAY CAN'T EVEN
GET QUALITY HEALTH CARE, AND
WE'RE EXPANDING IT TO ALMOST A
MILLION NEW PEOPLE WHO JUST
SHOWED UP TO CALIFORNIA THE
WRONG WAY. AND SO MY QUESTION
HERE, THOUGH, IS HOW IS THIS
BILL CONSISTENT WITH FEDERAL
LAW? BECAUSE UNDER FEDERAL LAW,
IHSS WORKERS HAVE TO BE
QUALIFIED TO WORK IN THE UNITED
STATES. SO IS THIS NOT ILLEGAL?
I MEAN, HOW ARE YOU GOING TO
HAVE PEOPLE WHO, THE STATE'S
GOING TO ESSENTIALLY BE HIRING
AND PAYING THEM FROM STATE TAX
DOLLARS WHO DON'T HAVE THE LEGAL
ELIGIBILITY TO WORK IN THE
UNITED STATES? HOW DOES THAT
WORK? WE'LL HAVE SUSIE ANSWER
THAT QUESTION. YEAH. GOOD
AFTERNOON. SUSIE SMITH. I'M WITH
THE SAN FRANCISCO HUMAN SERVICES
AGENCY, AND THE LEGAL PRECEDENT
THAT WE ARE RELYING ON HAS BEEN
SET FORTH BY UCLA CENTER FOR
IMMIGRATION LAW AND POLICY, AND
THEY HAVE DEVELOPED A LEGAL
BRIEF THAT HAS BEEN SUPPORTED BY
40 LEGAL EXPERTS ACROSS THE
COUNTRY THAT SHOWS THAT IF THE
IMMIGRATION REFORM AND CONTROL
ACT DOES NOT SPECIFICALLY SAY
THAT STATES ARE SUBJECT TO THAT
LAW, AND IF THE STATES ARE NOT
SPECIFICALLY NOTED IN THE
LEGISLATION, THEN STATES HAVE
THE ABILITY TO HIRE WHO THEY
WANT, INCLUDING UNDOCUMENTED
COMMUNITY MEMBERS. THERE'S A
LONG LEGAL PRECEDENT AND CASE
LAW THAT WE CAN SHARE THE BRIEF
WITH YOU AFTER THE COMMITTEE.
IT'S ACTUALLY IN THE ANALYSIS OF
REFERENCE TO THAT ENABLES STATE,
STATES TO BE ABLE TO SET THEIR
OWN ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS.
HAS THAT BEEN ACTUALLY TESTED IN
COURT, OR IS THIS JUST A LEGAL
OPINION OF SOME 40 FOLKS THAT
YOU MENTIONED? SO THIS WOULD,
THERE'S A PARALLEL LAW THAT THE
UC REGENTS HAVE BEEN PUT FORTH
TO ALLOW UNDOCUMENTED STUDENTS
TO BE HIRED BY THE UC SYSTEM.
AND SIMILARLY, MEMBER ALVAREZ
HAS PUT FORTH THAT LAW THAT'S
ALSO MOVING THROUGH THE PROCESS
THAT RELIES ON THE SAME EXACT
LEGAL THEORY, BUT HAS NOT BEEN,
TO MY KNOWLEDGE, IT HAS NOT BEEN
CHALLENGED. SO IT COULD IT COULD
EXPOSE THE STATE TO SOME,
LIABILITY, OR IT COULD EXPOSE
THESE WORKERS TO POTENTIALLY
PROSECUTION IF THEY'RE WORKING
HERE UNLAWFULLY. SO THAT DOES
CONCERN ME. THE OTHER PART OF
THIS BILL THAT CONCERNS ME AS
WELL IS THAT WE'RE EXEMPTING
BACKGROUND CHECKS. SO WHY WHY? I
MEAN, SOME OF THE PEOPLE THAT
WERE TAKEN CARE OF HERE ARE VERY
DEPENDENT. AND IF YOU HAVE A
FAMILY MEMBER THAT, LET'S SAY,
HAS A CONVICTION FOR FRAUD OR
TAKING ADVANTAGE OF PEOPLE'S
FINANCES, WHY WOULD WE WANT TO
ENABLE SOMEBODY LIKE THAT TO BE
IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO SOMEBODY
IN NEED? SO WHY WHY TAKE OUT THE
BACKGROUND CHECK REQUIREMENT?
BECAUSE IT'S A FAMILY MEMBER.
BECAUSE A FAMILY MEMBER. BUT
THERE I THINK A FAMILY MEMBER
DEGREE IS VERY BROAD, RIGHT?
FAMILY MEMBERS ARE GOING TO KNOW
A LOT MORE THAN A BACKGROUND
CHECK. DOES. THE PERSON WHO'S
RECEIVING THE SERVICES HAVE TO
APPROVE OF THIS FAMILY MEMBER?
YES. THEY SELECT. ABSOLUTELY.
THEY SELECT THEM. SO NOT LIKE
SOME OTHER. SO I CAN'T APPLY ON
BEHALF OF MY MOTHER. FOR
EXAMPLE, UNLESS YOU HAD POWER OF
ATTORNEY OVER HER. OKAY. I JUST
THINK IT'S PROBABLY A GOOD IDEA
TO DO BACKGROUND CHECKS, BUT I
HAVE NO OTHER QUESTIONS, MR.
CHAIR. ALL RIGHT, SENATOR GIBSON
AND THEN ASSEMBLY JACKSON. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I WANT
TO THANK THE AUTHOR FOR BRINGING
THIS FORWARD, ME, BECAUSE I, YOU
KNOW, ONE, I APPRECIATE THIS,
AND I HAVE, IN FACT, READ IT AND
APPRECIATE THE LEGAL OPINION
THAT THE UC REGENTS ARE USING TO
BRING IN OUR UNDOCUMENTED
BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN THIS
SPACE. I HAVE UNDOCUMENTED
FAMILY MEMBERS IN MY FAMILY, AND
KNOWING THAT THOSE INDIVIDUALS
COULD RECEIVE CARE FROM, A
RELATIVE IN THE HOME WHO KNOWS
INTIMATELY WHAT THEY NEED
BECAUSE THEY'RE THERE AND THEY
HAVE THAT RELATIONSHIP. AND IT
WAS ALSO INDICATED, IS THAT
POWER OF ATTORNEY. YOU'RE NOT
GOING TO HAVE SOMEONE, CARE FOR
YOU IF IN FACT, THAT PERSON IS
NOT RELIABLE AND ALSO
TRUSTWORTHY. AND SO, YOU KNOW,
ONE, I WANT TO CERTAINLY BE
CONSIDERED A JOINT ON THIS AND
BE WITH YOU AT EVERY JUNCTURE,
BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT, ONE,
THIS IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT
DIRECTION, IN ADDITION TO THAT,
JUST HAD A FAMILY MEMBER, WHO WE
BROUGHT IN, A HOME CARE WORKER
INTO THE HOME, WHO'S BEEN THERE
WHO HAS ABSOLUTELY BEEN AMAZING,
PROVIDING THE KIND OF CARE AND
NURTURING, THAT IS NEEDED
BECAUSE EVERYBODY ELSE WORKS AND
THEY CAN COME IN AND PROVIDE THE
KIND OF CARE THAT WE LOOK FOR
WHEN SOMEONE'S CARING AFTER OUR
LOVED ONES AND OUR RELATIVE. AND
SO, I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE THE
BILL IF IN FACT, IT HASN'T BEEN
MOVED ALREADY. IT HAS. I WANT TO
SECOND. SECOND. OH, OKAY. WELL,
NOW, MR. GIBSON MOVED TO. YES.
ARE YOU ASKING TO BE A JOINT
AUTHOR JUST TO MOVE THE BILL AND
HAPPY TO MAKE YOU A JOINT
AUTHOR. THANK YOU. FANTASTIC.
ALL RIGHT, ASSEMBLY JACKSON. AND
THEN WE'LL HAVE A SIMILAR
CALDERON, THANK YOU. MEMBER AS
ALWAYS, FOR YOUR THOUGHTFULNESS
ON ISSUES LIKE THIS, WE'D LOVE
TO PARTICIPATE ON YOUR BILL AS A
COAUTHOR OR WHEREVER ELSE YOU
HAVE ME, ON THE BILL, I THINK,
FOR THOSE THAT DON'T KNOW ABOUT
HOW, IHSS WORKS AND OTHER
THINGS, IN MANY CASES, THESE
FAMILY MEMBERS ARE ALREADY
TAKING CARE. THAT'S RIGHT.
THAT'S EXACTLY OF THE YOUNG
PEOPLE. THEY'RE JUST NOT I MEAN,
OF THEY'RE THEY'RE NOT GETTING
PAID FOR THEIR FAMILY MEMBER.
THEY'RE JUST NOT GETTING PAID
FOR IT. AND THE ECONOMIC IMPACT
TO THE HOUSEHOLD, IS ASTOUNDING,
AND MANY CASES SOMETIMES IN THE
PRIME OF THEIR YEARS, THEY ARE
UNABLE TO PARTICIPATE FULLY IN
THE WORKFORCE BECAUSE OF THEIR
DEDICATION TO THEIR FAMILY
MEMBERS, SO THIS IS CERTAINLY A
MORAL THING FOR US TO DO. IT'S
ACTUALLY A MORAL IMPERATIVE
BECAUSE WE ALSO HAVE A WORKFORCE
SHORTAGE. AND SO THE IDEA IS
WHO'S GOING TO LOOK OUT FOR,
THESE, FAMILY MEMBERS WHO ARE IN
NEED OF BASICALLY 24 HOUR CARE,
AND SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
THIS, BILL. IT'S DEFINITELY A
HUGE NECESSITY, AND AGAIN, THESE
ARE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE ALREADY
DOING THE WORK. THEY SHOULD BE
COMPENSATED AND THE WHOLE
HOUSEHOLD SHOULD BE ABLE TO
BENEFIT FOR THE LOVE AND CARE
THAT THEY'RE GIVING TO THEIR
FAMILY MEMBERS, LOOK FORWARD TO
SUPPORTING THIS BILL. THANK YOU.
AND HAPPY TO ADD YOU AS A
COAUTHOR. I THOUGHT YOU MIGHT
HAVE ALREADY BEEN, BUT WE'LL
DOUBLE CHECK ON THAT. MÐI
CALDERON. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.
I JUST WANT TO THANK THE AUTHOR
FOR BRINGING THIS BILL FORWARD,
YOU KNOW, THE IDEA THAT, A
FAMILY MEMBER CAN CARE FOR
SOMEBODY WHO NEEDS THIS TYPE OF
CARE, WHETHER THEY'RE, YOU KNOW,
HERE, WHATEVER THEIR STATUS IS
BEING HERE, IT'S JUST SO
IMPORTANT. AND AND ALSO, I THINK
THAT THESE ARE INCREDIBLY HARD
JOBS TO FILL. MANY OF THE IHSS
WORKERS HAVE TWO AND THREE JOBS,
AND WE'VE HEARD STORIES OF HOW
SOME OF THEM HAVE TO LIVE IN
THEIR CAR. AND SO I REALLY
APPRECIATE YOUR WORK ON THIS,
BILL. AND I'D ALSO LIKE TO BE
ADDED AS COAUTHOR. ABSOLUTELY
HAPPY TO ADD YOU. AND JUST TO
REITERATE ALL OF YOUR COMMENTS
AGAIN, THESE WORKERS ARE PAID
VERY LOW WAGES. WE'RE NOT
TALKING, I MEAN, FRANKLY,
THEY'RE NOT BEING PAID A LIVING
WAGE, WHICH I KNOW WE'RE TRYING
TO ADDRESS, BUT AT LEAST THIS IS
SOME COMPENSATION TO MY
COLLEAGUE FROM RIVERSIDE SAID.
BECAUSE OFTENTIMES PEOPLE ARE
GIVING UP THEIR JOBS TO TAKE
CARE OF A FAMILY MEMBER. THEY
WOULD NORMALLY BE WORKING
OTHERWISE. AND SO IT'S
ABSOLUTELY I THINK, CRITICAL TO
BE PROVIDING SOME, SOME LEVEL OF
ASSISTANCE. WELL, THANK YOU SO
MUCH, SIMILAR TO SAYING THANK
YOU FOR BRINGING THIS BILL
FORWARD. I'M GOING TO JOIN THE
CHORUS OF OUR COMMITTEE MEMBERS
AND ADDING ON AS A COAUTHOR, IF
YOU HAVE ME AS WELL. AND I
REALLY DO WANT TO COMMEND YOUR
WORK ON THIS TO MAKE SURE THAT
MORE PEOPLE ARE INCLUDED WITHIN
THE IHS IHSS PROVIDER SYSTEM.
AND YOU'RE RIGHT, FAMILY KNOWS
BEST. MORE THAN ANY BACKGROUND
CHECK WILL EVER KNOW THEIR
STATUS. SO I'M HAPPY TO SUPPORT
THE BILL TODAY AS WELL, THE BILL
HAS BEEN PROPERLY MOVED AND
SECONDED, BUT I'LL INVITE YOU TO
CLOSE AS WELL. THANK YOU. ALL
RIGHT. MADAM SECRETARY, PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL. THE MOTION IS
DUE. PASS AS AMENDED TO THE
ASSEMBLY APPROPRIATIONS
COMMITTEE. LI LI I AZALI. AZALI
NÓ. CALDERON. CALDERON I. GIBSON
GIBSON I JACKSON. JACKSON I.
MATHIS ORTEGA. 4 TO 1. THAT BILL
IS OUT AND WE'LL KEEP THE ROLL
OPEN FOR ABSENT MEMBERS. THANK
YOU. AND NEXT I THINK WE'LL HAVE
A SIMILAR JUAN CARRILLO COME
PRESENTS. FILE ITEM 15 AB 2415.
AND YOU MAY BEGIN WHEN YOU ARE
READY.
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.
MEMBERS. AB 2415 SEEKS TO EXPAND
ACCESS TO THE COPY PROGRAM AND
ALREADY EXISTING BENEFIT FOR THE
STATE'S MOST VULNERABLE SENIORS
AND DISABLED UNDOCUMENTED
POPULATION. CALIFORNIA IS HOME
TO APPROXIMATELY 17,000
UNDOCUMENTED SENIORS 65 OR OLDER
. BY 2030, 10.8 MILLION
CALIFORNIANS WILL BE AN OLDER
ADULT, MAKING UP ONE QUARTER OF
THE STATE'S POPULATION. I
UNDERSTAND THE STRUGGLES AND
ASPIRATIONS OF THOSE WHO CAME TO
THIS COUNTRY IN SEARCH OF A
BETTER LIFE AND THE AMERICAN
DREAM, I KNOW FIRSTHAND WHAT
IT'S LIKE TO WORK IN A BACK
BREAKING JOB AND WORKING LONG
HOURS. THEY HAVE BEEN DENIED
ACCESS TO LIFE SAVINGS FUNDS
LIKE THIS ONE, DESPITE THEIR
CONTRIBUTING BILLIONS OF DOLLARS
A YEAR IN STATE AND LOCAL TAXES.
CALIFORNIA HAS MADE HISTORIC
INVESTMENTS IN EXPANDING FOOD
ASSISTANCE, BENEFITS AND
UNLOCKING MEDI-CAL FOR
UNDOCUMENTED SENIORS. BUT WE
HAVE FALLEN SHORT IN DOING THE
SAME FOR THE CASH ASSISTANCE
PROGRAMS FOR IMMIGRANTS.
CURRENTLY, THIS LIFE SAVING
PROGRAM IS ONLY AVAILABLE TO
QUALIFIED IMMIGRANTS, WHICH
EXCLUDES OUR LARGER UNDOCUMENTED
POPULATION. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT
INCLUSIVITY IN OUR STATE, I WANT
TO REMIND EVERYONE THAT IT ALSO
INCLUDES OUR SENIORS, ESPECIALLY
OUR UNDOCUMENTED POPULATION.
WE'VE SEEN OVER TIME AND TIME
AGAIN HOW IMPACTFUL THESE
DOLLARS HAVE BEEN FOR
INDIVIDUALS FACING EXTREME
POVERTY. OUR IMMIGRANT FAMILIES
HAVE BEEN AT THE FOREFRONT OF
CALIFORNIA WHEN CALIFORNIA
NEEDED THEM THE MOST DURING THE
PANDEMIC, THEY WERE CONSIDERED
ESSENTIAL AND ENSURING THEM
ACCESS TO THIS CRITICAL SAFETY
NET IS A COMMITMENT THAT WE WILL
CONTINUE DOING BETTER BY THEM,
AS THEY HAVE DONE FOR US.
JOINING ME TODAY TO SPEAK IN
SUPPORT AND ANSWER TECHNICAL
QUESTIONS IS CYNTHIA GOMEZ,
DEPUTY DIRECTOR WITH CHIRLA AND
ALICIA OLMEDO, A MEMBER OF THE
CITY OF SOUTH GATE. ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. TWO MINUTES
PER PERSON, PLEASE. YEAH. ALICIA
WILL BE DOING HER TESTIMONY IN
SPANISH, AND I'LL BE QUICKLY
TRANSLATING FOR HER. I WILL
START WITH MY TESTIMONY. GOOD
AFTERNOON, MR. CHAIR. AND
MEMBERS. MY NAME IS CYNTHIA
GOMEZ, DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF STATE
POLICY AND ADVOCACY WITH THE
COALITION FOR HUMANE IMMIGRANT
RIGHTS. CHIRLA CHIRLA IS PROUD
TO SPONSOR AB 2415 AND ARE
THANKFUL FOR THE LEADERSHIP OF
ASSEMBLY MEMBER JUAN CARRILLO ON
THIS IMPORTANT PIECE OF
LEGISLATION. CALIFORNIA IS HOME
TO A RAPIDLY AGING POPULATION,
OF WHICH NEARLY 17,000
INDIVIDUALS ARE AGED 65 AND OVER
AND ARE UNDOCUMENTED. RECENTLY A
CONCERNING TREND HAS BEEN THE
INCREASING RATES OF POVERTY
AMONG SENIORS. CALIFORNIA'S
MASTER PLAN ON AGING HIGHLIGHTS
THAT APPROXIMATELY 20% OF ALL
INDIVIDUALS AGE 65 AND OVER LIVE
IN POVERTY, AND THE RATE OF
POVERTY NEARLY DOUBLES FOR FOLKS
WHO ARE BLACK, INDIGENOUS, OR OF
LATINO DESCENT. BECAUSE OF THEIR
IMMIGRATION STATUS, UNDOCUMENTED
SENIORS ARE AN EVEN GREATER RISK
. IN RECENT YEARS, CALIFORNIA
HAS TAKEN GREAT STRIDES IN
ENSURING THAT NO INDIVIDUAL IS
TURNED AWAY FROM ACCESSING THE
CRITICAL PROGRAMS THAT THEY NEED
TO REMAIN HEALTHY. HOWEVER, WE
HAVE FALLEN SHORT OF OPENING
ACCESS TO THE STATE FUNDED CASH
ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR
IMMIGRANTS, ALSO KNOWN AS CAP.
CAPI WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1998
FOLLOWING CHANGES TO THE FEDERAL
WELFARE LAW THAT RESTRICTED
QUALIFIED IMMIGRANTS FROM
ACCESSING FEDERAL SUPPLEMENTAL
SECURITY INCOME, ALSO KNOWN AS
SSI, CAP, IS A CRITICAL LIFELINE
TO VULNERABLE IMMIGRANTS AND
PROVIDES A MONTHLY CASH BENEFIT
TO FOLKS WHO ARE AGED 65 AND
OLDER, BLIND OR DISABLED,
CURRENTLY, UNDOCUMENTED SENIORS
AND FOLKS WITH DISABILITIES ARE
UNABLE TO ACCESS CAP SOLELY
BASED ON THEIR IMMIGRATION
STATUS. WITHOUT IMMIGRATION
REFORM, UNDOCUMENTED
CALIFORNIANS ARE AGING INTO
POVERTY AND UNCERTAINTY, DESPITE
SPENDING MUCH OF THEIR WORKING
LIFE CONTRIBUTING TO THE STATE'S
ECONOMY. IN 2021 ALONE,
UNDOCUMENTED CALIFORNIANS
CONTRIBUTED $51.4 BILLION IN
STATE AND LOCAL TAXES. NEARLY 30
YEARS LATER, IT'S TIME WE OPEN
ACCESS TO THIS CRITICAL PROGRAM
FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE CALLED
CALIFORNIA HOME. WE THANK YOU
FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION OF THIS
BILL AND ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT ON
AB 22 2415. THANK YOU. BUENOS
TARDES, BENDICIONES ME NOMBRE ES
ALICIA OLMEDO. Â TENGO SESENTA
CUATRO ANOS. SOY MIEMBRO DE
CHIRLA. YO VIVO EN LA CIUDAD DE
SOUTHGATE. IMMIGRANTS DE MEXICO
DC NINE ANOS A TRABAJADO IN
RESTAURANTS, HOTELS Y
ACTUALMENTE TRABAJO LIMPIANDO
CASAS YO TRABAJO DE TRES A
CUATRO DIAS DE LA SEMANA
INCLUYENDO LOS FINES DE SEMANA
PARA MI FAMILIA DURANTE TODOS
ESTOS ANOS, MIS IMPUESTOS USANDO
ME EATING PAGAR MIS IMPUESTOS
POR NO PARA PERO NO BENEFICIA
MENOS LOS PROGRAMAS C¯ YO APORTA
HOY LES PIDO POR SU VOTO Y ME
ACCEDER A UN PROGRAMA C¯ YO A
APARTADO ME ESTOY ACERCANDO A LA
EDAD DE RETIRO Y ME PREOCUPA,
PORQUE A PESAR DE ME DE ME. SI
LA EXPANSION DE COPY OF
VEINTICUATRO PASA TENDRÉ ACCESO
A RECIBIR UN BENEFICIO EN
EFECTIVO IKE ME AYUDARA PARA MIS
NECESIDADES BASICAS COMO COMIDA,
MEDICINAS Y VIVIENDA. NO QUIERO
SER UNA CARGA PARA MI HIJO
ADULTO QUÊ TIENE SU FAMILIA.
QUIERO TENER UNA VEZ CON
DIGNIDAD COMO TODOS LOS DE MAS
HAGO UN LLAMADO A TOMAR POR LA
EXPANSION DEL COPY. I'VE
VEINTICUATRO ES PORQUE YA
ESTAMOS MAYORES DE THAT IN POCO
TIEMPO. MUCHOS NO PODEMOS
TRABAJAR PARA SUS TENEMOS MAS
AGRADEZCO SU APOYO. GRACIAS A
DIOS LOS BENDIGA. GOOD AFTERNOON
. BLESSINGS. MY NAME IS ALICIA
OLMEDO. I AM 64 YEARS OLD AND I
AM A MEMBER OF CHIRLA. I LIVE IN
THE CITY OF SOUTH GATE AND I
IMMIGRATED FROM MEXICO 19 YEARS
AGO. I HAVE WORKED IN
RESTAURANTS, HOTELS AND
CURRENTLY WORK CLEANING HOUSES.
I WORK 3 TO 4 DAYS A WEEK,
INCLUDING ON WEEKENDS, TO TAKE
CARE OF MY FAMILY DURING ALL
THESE YEARS I HAVE PAID MY TAXES
USING MY ITIN MY ITIN ALLOWS ME
TO PAY MY TAXES BUT NOT BENEFIT
FROM THE PROGRAMS THAT I
CONTRIBUTE TO. TODAY. I ASK FOR
YOUR VOTE THAT WOULD HELP ME
ACCESS THE PROGRAM THAT I HAVE
CONTRIBUTED TO. AS I AM
APPROACHING RETIREMENT AGE, I
WORRY WHAT WILL HAPPEN OF ME IF
THE EXPANSION OF AB 15 OR SORRY
2415 PASSES. I WILL HAVE ACCESS
TO RECEIVE A CASH BENEFIT THAT
WILL HELP ME PAY FOR MY BASIC
NECESSITIES SUCH AS FOOD,
MEDICINE AND HOUSING. I DON'T
WANT TO BE A BURDEN TO MY ADULT
SON WHO HAS HIS FAMILY. I WANT
TO AGE WITH DIGNITY JUST LIKE
EVERYBODY ELSE. I CALL FOR
ACTION TO VOTE IN FAVOR OF THE
EXPANSION OF AB 2415. IT IS
URGENT BECAUSE WE ARE NOW OF
AGE, AND IN A SHORT TIME MANY OF
US WILL NOT BE ABLE TO WORK TO
SUPPORT OURSELVES. I APPRECIATE
YOUR SUPPORT. THANK YOU AND GOD
BLESS YOU. THANK YOU. NOW DO WE
HAVE ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
WHO WISH TO ADD THEIR SUPPORT TO
THE BILL? YES, KEVIN, I WAS
THERE A COALITION OF CALIFORNIA
RAFEAL RIGHTS ORGANIZATION.
STRONG SUPPORT. THANK YOU. MÀ
MIEMBRO DE CHIRLA APOYO A LA
VIÆT. CUATRO EN BIXEL CON
DIGNIDAD Y JUSTICIA DE. BUENAS
TARDES. MY NAME IS MARIA DE
JESUS GONZALEZ, SOY MEMBER DE
CHIRLA YO APOYO AL ÁP DE CUATRO.
MORRELL GALVAN, CHIRLA ORGANIZER
. SUPPORT EVERY AV 2415. THANK
YOU. ARTURO GARCIA MIEMBRO DE
CHIRLA, ANTELOPE VALLEY. I
SUPPORT 2450 AB. HOLA. MI NOMBRE
ES MARTIN ACOSTA. SOY MIEMBRO DE
CHIRLA Y APOYO A LA ÁP DE
CUATRO. GRACIAS OMAR REYES, A
VIVO EN EL VALLE DE ANTELOPE.
PALMDALE. I SUPPORT TO THE AB 20
CUATRO CðC. CYNTHIA VALENCIA,
ACLU CALIFORNIA. ACTION IN
SUPPORT OF AB 2415. CHRISTOPHER
SANCHEZ WITH THE MESA VALLEY
GROUP, REPRESENTING INCLUSIVE
ACTION FOR THE CITY AND STRONG
SUPPORT. TIFFANY WHITE AND SEIU
CALIFORNIA IN SUPPORT REBECCA
GONZALEZ, WESTERN CENTER ON LAW
AND POVERTY AND STRONG SUPPORT
LANL FROM ASIAN AMERICANS
ADVANCING JUSTICE. SOUTHERN
CALIFORNIA IN STRONG SUPPORT. NØ
CALIFORNIA RURAL LEGAL
ASSISTANCE FOUNDATION IN STRONG
SUPPORT. JARED KAUL WITH NOURISH
CALIFORNIA IN SUPPORT. SAM
WILKINSON WITH GRAYSON AND CHILD
POVERTY IN CALIFORNIA IN
SUPPORT. THANK YOU. NOW, ARE
THERE ANY WITNESSES IN
OPPOSITION TO THE BILL? PLEASE
COME FORWARD. ANY MEMBERS OF THE
PUBLIC WHO WISH TO TESTIFY
AGAINST THE BILL? SEEING NONE,
I'M GOING TO BRING IT BACK TO
THE COMMITTEE. BUT BEFORE THAT,
I'M GOING TO HAND THE GAVEL OVER
TO ASSEMBLYMAN CALDERON. I'M
GOING TO BE PRESENTING A COUPLE
OF BILLS, BUT I WILL BE RIGHT
BACK AFTER THAT.
OKAY. DO WE HAVE ANY PRIMARY?
PRIMARY WITNESSES AND OPPOSITION
? ALL RIGHT. SEEING NONE. ANY
MEMBERS IN THE AUDIENCE? IN
OPPOSITION? NO. OKAY. WE'LL
BRING IT BACK TO THE COMMITTEE
FOR QUESTIONS. SEEING NONE.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO CLOSE LIMON
CARILLO, RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR AN
AYE VOTE. THIS PROBLEM WILL BE
VERY BENEFICIAL FOR ALL OUR
SENIORS IN THE STATE. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. SECOND.
OKAY, SECRETARY, PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL. THE MOTION IS DUE PASSED
TO THE ASSEMBLY APPROPRIATIONS
COMMITTEE. LEE EASILY A SOLENO
CALDERON. AYE CALDERON. AYE.
GIBSON. JACKSON. JACKSON AYE.
MATHIS. ORTEGA. OKAY, THIS IS ON
CALL. THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME.
THANK YOU. MEMBERS ASSEMBLYWOMAN
FRIEDMAN, WOULD YOU ARE YOU
READY TO PRESENT ON AB 2263?
GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR. AND
MEMBERS. 5 MILLION CALIFORNIANS
ARE LIVING IN POVERTY. IT
SHOULDN'T SURPRISE ANYONE THAT
CALIFORNIA CONTENDS WITH THE
ENDURING CHALLENGE OF HAVING ONE
OF THE NATION'S HIGHEST LIVING
COSTS, THE STAGGERING OF HOUSING
PRICES, RELENTLESS SURGE IN
EDUCATIONAL EXPENSES, AND THE
OVERALL BURDEN OF MEETING BASIC
NEEDS POSE A FORMIDABLE ECONOMIC
HURDLE FOR A SUBSTANTIAL SEGMENT
OF OUR POPULATION. WITH THESE
FACTORS AND THE INSTITUTIONAL
BARRIERS THAT MAKE ACCESSING Ã
PROGRAMS DIFFICULT FOR MANY,
IT'S NO SURPRISE THAT CALIFORNIA
IS HOME TO THE NATION'S STARKEST
INCOME AND WEALTH INEQUITIES.
GUARANTEED INCOME OR GI PROGRAMS
OFFER A BEACON OF HOPE. GI
EXTENDS BEYOND ALLEVIATING
FINANCIAL HARDSHIP. IT INFUSES
DIGNITY INTO THE LIVES OF THOSE
FACING ECONOMIC ADVERSITY AND
GRAPPLING WITH LONG STANDING
SYSTEMIC INEQUALITIES. THANKS TO
THE TIRELESS WORK OF MANY OF THE
PEOPLE HERE IN THIS ROOM.
CALIFORNIA ALLOCATED 35 MILLION
TO LAUNCH THE NATION'S
PIONEERING GI PROGRAM THREE
YEARS AGO. OVER $25 MILLION IN
GRANT FUNDING WENT TO SEVEN
DISTINCT GI PILOT INITIATIVES
STATEWIDE. THESE PILOTS AIM TO
PROVIDE UNCONDITIONAL INDIVIDUAL
AND REGULAR CASH PAYMENTS TO
DISRUPT POVERTY, PROMOTE EQUITY,
AND MEET THE BASIC NEEDS OF
CALIFORNIA RESIDENTS IN PIVOTAL
LIFE STAGES, INCLUDING THOSE WHO
ARE PREGNANT OR AGING OUT OF
FOSTER CARE. THESE PILOTS WILL
ASSESS THE IMPACT OF ECONOMIC
INTERVENTIONS DURING THESE
CRUCIAL LIFE TRANSITIONS,
BUILDING ON THE LESSONS AND
SUCCESSES OF PREVIOUS GI
PROJECTS, IT'S VITAL, THOUGH,
THAT WE TRANSLATE THESE PILOT
INITIATIVES INTO FINDINGS SO
THAT WE UNDERSTAND AS
CALIFORNIANS HOW TO INTERPRET
THE DATA FOR FUTURE PROGRAMS.
WHO IS BEING HELPED THE MOST?
WHO IS NOT BEING HELPED THE
MOST? WHAT HAPPENS THROUGH THESE
PROGRAMS? AND THAT'S WHERE AB
2263 COMES IN. OUR BILL PROPOSES
SIMPLY TO CONDUCT A
COMPREHENSIVE STUDY ON THE
NEEDED INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDING
MECHANISMS AND PRIORITIZATION OF
POPULATIONS FOR A STATEWIDE
FUTURE GI PROGRAM TO ALLEVIATE
POVERTY AND PROMOTE ECONOMIC
EMPOWERMENT. WITH THE GUIDANCE
AND ASSISTANCE OF A NEWLY
CREATED COORDINATING COUNCIL. SO
THE EARLY DATA FROM GI PROGRAMS
IS VERY PROMISING, AND THIS BILL
WILL BUILD ON THAT DATA TO
CREATE AN INFRASTRUCTURE SO THAT
IN THE FUTURE, THE LEGISLATURE
CAN CREATE A STATEWIDE GI
PROGRAM RELYING ON ACTUAL DATA
WITH THAT, I REQUEST
RESPECTFULLY REQUEST AN AYE VOTE
AND TESTIFYING IN SUPPORT. I
HAVE KEVIN DEAN AND LAUREN
DELBERT, AND I'LL LET THEM
INTRODUCE THEMSELVES. THANK YOU.
YOU MAY BEGIN TWO MINUTES EACH,
PLEASE. GOOD AFTERNOON.
COMMITTEE. MY NAME IS KEVIN
DEAN. I AM A MEMBER OF A BOARD
MEMBER OF THE CONTRA COSTA
SOLANO FOOD BANK. I AM A RETIREE
OF CONTRA COSTA EMPLOYMENT AND
HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT 20. IN
2023, I WAS FORCED TO RETIRE
BECAUSE OF WORK INJURIES AND I
FOUND THAT MY INCOME WAS CUT IN
HALF BECAUSE I HAD TO RETIRE. I
RETIRED AS A SUPERVISOR IN THE
SAME BUILDING WHERE 28 YEARS
PRIOR TO THAT, I RECEIVED
BENEFITS. SO I WAS THE KIND OF
PERSON THAT, UNDERSTOOD HOW IT
WAS TO BE ON BOTH SIDES OF THE
TABLE AND I DID EVERYTHING THAT
I WAS SUPPOSED TO DO TO MAKE
SURE THAT MY FAMILY WAS UPWARD
MOBILE. AND SO I FOUND, SINCE
I'VE RETIRED, THAT BECAUSE MY
INCOME IS CUT IN HALF. AND AS A
HOMEOWNER, I DON'T HAVE THE
RESOURCES TO SAVE UP MONEY FOR,
THINGS LIKE A, AN EMERGENCY,
LIKE A PLUMBING EMERGENCY OR MY
AUTO BREAKS DOWN. SO AS A
RECIPIENT OF THE COCO GO BIG,
PILOT PROGRAM, I'VE BEEN ABLE TO
TAKE THOSE FEW FUNDS THAT I'M
GETTING AND BE ABLE TO DO THINGS
LIKE SAVE UP. IT GIVES ME MORE
PEACE THAT I CAN SAVE UP FOR AN
EMERGENCY. WE KNOW THAT SENIORS
RIGHT NOW ARE THE GROUP THAT IS
THE LARGEST GROUP THAT IS IN,
MOST DANGER OF BEING, EVICTED OR
BEING HOMELESS, BEING IMPACTED.
THEIR HOUSING BEING IMPACTED.
AND SO AS A SENIOR, I ASK YOU TO
PLEASE, SUPPORT AB 16 2263 6322
CLOSE ENOUGH. 2263 2263 PLEASE
FORGIVE ME, BECAUSE IT IS
IMPORTANT THAT YOU GIVE PEOPLE
DIGNITY, NOT JUST $1 SOMETIMES
CAN ALLEVIATE STRESS. IF YOU
THINK ABOUT IT, IF YOU HAVE $5
IN YOUR PURSE AND YOU HAVE TO
FEED YOUR KIDS, IF YOU HAVE
NOTHING IN YOUR PURSE, THAT'S
STRESS. BUT IF YOU HAVE $5 IN
YOUR PURSE AND YOU CAN FEED YOUR
KID, THAT ALLEVIATES SOME
STRESS. AND SO GUARANTEED INCOME
IS A VERY POWERFUL PROGRAM. AND
IT CAN IMPACT PEOPLE. AND THE
BOTTOM LINE IS THAT IT CAN
IMPACT, OUR, OUR OUR, OUR,
MEDICAL MEDICAL INDUSTRY, HEALTH
AND PHYSICALLY, IN A, IN A
POSITIVE WAY. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU. SO MY NAME IS LAUREN
D'ALBERT, AND, KYIV IS A PART OF
OUR COMMUNITY GROUP. AND SHE
DIDN'T SAY IT, BUT SHE WAS NOT
ON BOARD FOR GUARANTEED INCOME
WHEN I FIRST INTRODUCED IT TO
OUR COMMUNITY. BECAUSE SHE HAD
DONE EVERYTHING RIGHT AND WORKED
HARD AND DIDN'T SEE THE VALUE IN
GIVING PEOPLE MONEY. BUT HANGING
OUT WITH ME LONG ENOUGH, SHE
CAME AROUND. MY NAME IS LAUREN
ALBERT AND I LIVE IN BAY POINT
IN CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, AND I'M
THE FOUNDER OF THE COMMENT
STUDIO COMMUNITY GROUP AND WE
ARE A PART OF THE EAST CONTRA
COSTA COUNTY ALLIANCE. WE
BELIEVE INVESTING IN FAMILIES
HELPS BUILD STRONGER
COMMUNITIES. THAT'S WHY WE
DESIGNED AND IMPLEMENTED THE
COCO GO, BE IT GUARANTEED INCOME
PILOT AND CAMPAIGN FOR OUR
COUNTY, BECAUSE WE STRONGLY
BELIEVE AND HAVE SEEN THAT GI
PILOTS WORK. I'M HERE TODAY TO
ASK THAT THE STATE INVEST
$500,000 TO SUPPORT AB 2263
BECAUSE I'M A TWICE FORMERLY
HOMELESS DISABLED VETERAN, I WAS
HOMELESS IN MY 20S BECAUSE OF
PTSD. AND AGAIN IN MY 50S
BECAUSE OF PTSD. AND THE ONLY
REASON THAT I AM NOT CURRENTLY
HOMELESS IS BECAUSE I HAVE A
PERMANENT FEDERAL GOVERNMENT GI
CALLED VA DISABILITY. AND SO NOW
THAT I HAVE MY GI, I'M
ADVOCATING FOR GI FOR ALL
CALIFORNIANS BECAUSE MILITARY
TRAUMA SHOULD NOT BE THE
ADMISSION FEE TO BE SHELTERED
AND LIVE A LIFE WORTH LIVING.
THAT'S WHY WE NEED TO FUND THIS
STUDY. BILL AB 2263 SO THAT WE
CAN FIGURE OUT HOW TO BEST
IMPLEMENT A STATEWIDE GI PROGRAM
AND MAKE IT A REALITY FOR ALL
RESIDENTS. THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
DO WE HAVE ANY MEMBERS OF THE
PUBLIC IN THE HEARING ROOM TO IN
SUPPORT? KEVIN ESTÁN COALITION
CALIFORNIA WELFARE RIGHTS
ORGANIZATION. STRONG SUPPORT.
THANK YOU. MADAM CHAIR. MEMBERS.
MONICA MILLER ON BEHALF OF THE
NATIONAL COUNCIL OF JEWISH
WOMEN, LA CHAPTER, ONE OF THE
CO-SPONSORS IN SUPPORT. THANK
YOU, NICOLE, ON BEHALF OF THE
CHILDREN'S PARTNERSHIP AND
SUPPORT. CYNTHIA VALENCIA, ACLU
CALIFORNIA ACTION IN SUPPORT.
MARTIN RADOSEVICH, ON BEHALF OF
UNITED WAY, CALIFORNIA CAPITAL
REGION IN SUPPORT REBECCA
GONZALEZ, WESTERN CENTER ON LAW
AND POVERTY AND SUPPORT NATALIA
WITH CRUZ STRATEGIES ON BEHALF
OF CALIFORNIA LATINAS FOR
REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE AND SUPPORT
. SAM WILKINSON WITH GRACE AND
END CHILD POVERTY IN CALIFORNIA,
A CO-SPONSOR OF THIS BILL AND IN
STRONG SUPPORT. THANK YOU, THANK
YOU. DO WE HAVE ANYONE IN
OPPOSITION TO THIS BILL? ANY
PUBLIC OPPOSITION? SEEING NONE,
I'LL BRING IT BACK TO THE
COMMITTEE FOR QUESTIONS. OKAY
WOULD YOU LIKE TO CLOSE? WELL, I
WANT TO THANK THE WITNESSES FOR
PERFECTLY PUTTING A FACE ON WHAT
THE PROGRAMS DO AND TO TALK
ABOUT WHY THEY ARE IMPORTANT.
AND THIS BILL, YOU KNOW, IS THE
FIRST STEP ONLY TO DOING A
LARGER GUARANTEED INCOME PROGRAM
IN THE STATE. THE FIRST STEP IS
TO STUDY IT AND CREATE THE
INFRASTRUCTURE. AND I HOPE THAT
YOU CAN ALL SEE YOUR WAY TO
SUPPORTING THIS TODAY. THANK YOU
SO MUCH, BILL. SECOND, WE'LL
TAKE THIS UP AT THE APPROPRIATE
TIME. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
ASSEMBLYWOMAN. OH, ACTUALLY WE
CAN VOTE ON IT NOW. THE MOTION
IS DUE PASS TO THE ASSEMBLY
APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE. LEE.
EASILY, EASILY. NÓ CALDERON I
CALDERON I GIBSON. JACKSON
JACKSON I MATHIS. ORTEGA THIS IS
ON CALL. THANK YOU SO MUCH. WELL
SAID. THANK YOU SO MUCH. SO WELL
SAID. PERFECT. GREAT TO SEE YOU.
ASSEMBLYMAN BERNER, WOULD YOU
LIKE TO PRESENT AB 2007 WHEN
YOU'RE READY? TWILIGHT ZONE. IT
IS. WHERE IS YOUR PROP? OH GOOD
AFTERNOON, MEMBERS AB 2007 WOULD
ESTABLISH A THREE YEAR PILOT
PROJECT FOR THE UNICORN HOME
TRANSITIONAL HOUSING FOR
HOMELESS LGBTQ YOUTH PROGRAM UP
IN UP TO FIVE SELECTED COUNTIES,
LGBTQ CENTERS WITHIN EACH COUNTY
WOULD ADMINISTER THE PROGRAM,
PROVIDING CRISIS INTERVENTION
WITH TRAUMA INFORMED APPROACH.
THERE YOU GO. THAT'S THE UNICORN
FOR THE UNICORN HOMES. A TRAUMA
INFORMED APPROACH TO HOUSING
ELIGIBLE YOUTH IN LGBTQ
AFFIRMING HOST HOMES. THIS BILL
IS A REINTRODUCTION OF A BILL
THAT WAS VETOED LAST YEAR. BUT
WE SUBMITTED A BUDGET REQUEST
THIS YEAR TO FUND THE PILOT.
PEOPLE WHO HAVE IDENTIFIED AS
LGBTQ ARE EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS AND HAVE GREATER
DIFFICULTY FINDING SHELTERS THAT
ACCEPT AND RESPECT THEM.
OFTENTIMES, THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY
IS AT GREATER RISK OF ASSAULT,
TRAUMA, AND EARLY DEATH COMPARED
TO THEIR HETEROSEXUAL PEERS.
ADDRESSING THE HOUSING CRISIS IS
A KEY PRIORITY FOR THE STATE,
BUT THERE IS NO STATE HOUSING
PROGRAM TARGETED DIRECTLY AT
LGBT C¯ YOUTH EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS. UNICORN HOMES IS A
PROGRAM WITHIN THE NORTH COUNTY
SAN DIEGO LGBTQ RESOURCE CENTER
THAT AIMS TO PROVIDE CRISIS
INTERVENTION AND TRANSITIONAL
HOUSING TO LGBTQ YOUTH WHO ARE
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS DUE TO
FAMILY REJECTION, WITH AN
ULTIMATE GOAL OF TO REUNITE
FAMILIES WHEN POSSIBLE. SIMILAR
PROGRAMS CALLED HOST HOMES,
EXIST AT THE DOWNTOWN SAN DIEGO
LGBT COMMUNITY CENTER AND
SACRAMENTO LGBTQ COMMUNITY
CENTER THAT HELP HOUSE LGBTQ C¯
YOUTH EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS
AND LGBTQ AFFIRMING HOMES.
UNFORTUNATELY, DUE TO CHALLENGES
ATTRIBUTED TO THE PANDEMIC, THE
HOST HOMES PROGRAM IN SACRAMENTO
HAD TO END ITS OPERATIONS. LAST
YEAR, THEY MADE THE DIFFICULT
DECISION TO DIVERT FUNDS FROM
HOST HOME PROGRAM TO CONTINUE
OPERATING THEIR YOUTH SHELTER.
ESTABLISHING A UNICORN HOMES
PILOT WOULD NOT ONLY PROVIDE
STABLE HOUSING FOR LGBTQ YOUTH
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, IT
WOULD ALSO PROVIDE PATHS TO
MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES, JOB
READINESS, AND INDEPENDENT
LIVING SKILLS THROUGH LGBTQ
CENTERS. THE UNICORN HOMES
PROGRAM DOES NOT REQUIRE THE
DEVELOPMENT OF NEW BUILT
INFRASTRUCTURE, MAKING IT A LOW
COST, FLEXIBLE AND VALUABLE
STEPPING STONE. WHILE YOUTH WAIT
FOR MORE PERMANENT SOLUTIONS.
WITH THE INCREASED INTOLERANCE
AND HOSTILITY TOWARDS LGBTQ
COMMUNITY, IT'S IMPERATIVE THAT
WE HAVE A SAFETY NET FOR A
POPULATION OF YOUTH THAT
EXPERIENCES FAMILY REJECTION AT
A HIGHER RATE THAN THOSE OUTSIDE
THE LGBTQ SPECTRUM. I
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR AN AYE
VOTE, AND I HAVE WITH ME HERE
CRAIG PULSIFER. DID I GET IT
RIGHT AGAIN? THERE WE GO. I'M
GETTING GOOD AT THIS.
LEGISLATIVE DIRECTOR FOR
EQUALITY CALIFORNIA, ONE OF THE
CO-SPONSORS OF THIS BILL, GOOD
AFTERNOON, CRAIG PULSIFER, ON
BEHALF OF EQUALITY CALIFORNIA,
PROUD CO-SPONSOR. I APPRECIATE
THE ASSEMBLYMEMBERS COMMITMENT
TO THIS ISSUE. AS MANY OF YOU
KNOW, CURRENT ESTIMATES SUGGEST
THAT ROUGHLY 40% OF HOMELESS
YOUTH ARE LGBTQ. AND DATA FROM
THE TREVOR PROJECT, ACCORDING TO
DATA FROM THE TREVOR PROJECT,
NEARLY A THIRD OF LGBTQ YOUNG
PEOPLE HAVE REPORTED
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS OR
HOUSING INSTABILITY AT SOME
POINT IN THEIR LIVES, AND THESE
RATES ARE EVEN HIGHER AMONG
TRANS AND NON-BINARY YOUTH AND
LGBTQ YOUTH OF COLOR. MANY OF
THESE YOUTH HAVE BEEN DISOWNED
BY THEIR FAMILIES OR ARE
ESCAPING EMOTIONAL AND PHYSICAL
ABUSE BECAUSE OF THEIR SEXUAL
ORIENTATION OR GENDER IDENTITY.
BUT FAMILY REJECTION, OF COURSE,
IS NOT THE ONLY CAUSE, AGING OUT
OF THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM,
POVERTY AND SHORTAGES OF
AFFIRMING SHELTERS AND HOUSING
PROGRAMS CAN ALSO LEAVE MANY
LGBTQ YOUNG PEOPLE WITH NOWHERE
TO GO. LOW BARRIER HOUSING
PROGRAMS LIKE THIS ONE ARE
DESPERATELY NEEDED TO SUPPORT
THE GROWING NUMBER OF UNHOUSED
LGBTQ, YOUNG PEOPLE IN
CALIFORNIA, AS THE SAU MEMBER
NOTED, SEVERAL LGBT CENTERS
ACROSS THE STATE, INCLUDING IN
SAN DIEGO, LA, AND SACRAMENTO,
HAVE DEVELOPED INNOVATIVE
HOUSING PROGRAMS THAT PROVIDE
TRANSITIONAL HOUSING AND SUPPORT
SERVICES FOR LGBTQ YOUTH, AND AB
2007 IS AN IMPORTANT MEASURE TO
BUILD ON AND EVALUATE THESE
PROGRAMS. THE THREE YEAR PILOT
WOULD SUPPORT UP TO FIVE LGBT
COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS TO HELP
IDENTIFY AND TRAIN VOLUNTEER
HOST FAMILIES WHO COULD PROVIDE
LGBTQ YOUTH WITH A SAFE AND
AFFIRMING PLACE TO STAY, AND
PROVIDE CRISIS INTERVENTION
SERVICES WITH A TRAUMA INFORMED
APPROACH, OVER THE LAST SEVERAL
YEARS, THE LEGISLATURE HAS
RIGHTLY MADE HOMELESSNESS ONE OF
ITS TOP PRIORITIES. YET PROGRAMS
TO ADDRESS THE SPECIFIC NEEDS OF
UNHOUSED LGBTQ YOUTH REMAIN FAR
TOO LIMITED, AND THIS IS AN
EXTREMELY IMPORTANT MEASURE TO
HELP ADDRESS THE UNIQUE
CHALLENGES THAT THESE VULNERABLE
, VULNERABLE YOUNG PEOPLE ARE
FACING. AND I RESPECTFULLY URGE
YOUR AYE VOTE. THANK YOU. DO WE
HAVE ANY PRIMARY OPPOSITION ON.
OKAY. DO WE HAVE ADDITIONAL
SUPPORT IN THE ROOM? PLEASE COME
FORWARD. CLIFTON WILSON, ON
BEHALF OF THE CALIFORNIA ACADEMY
OF CHATTEL AND ADOLESCENT
PSYCHIATRY, AS WELL AS THE
CALIFORNIA FACULTY ASSOCIATION,
BOTH IN SUPPORT. THANK YOU.
MARTIN RADOSEVICH, ON BEHALF OF
THE SAN DIEGO HOUSING
COMMISSION, IN SUPPORT. TONY
TRUJILLO, ON BEHALF OF THE
CALIFORNIA TEACHERS ASSOCIATION
AND SUPPORT. SUSANNA KNIFFEN
WITH CHILDREN NOW IN SUPPORT.
LANDLADY FROM ASIAN AMERICANS
ADVANCING JUSTICE, SOUTHERN
CALIFORNIA IN STRONG SUPPORT
CHRISTOPHER HERNANDEZ WITH UIC,
CALIFORNIA ACTION IN SUPPORT.
THANK YOU. IS TÔI. THANK YOU,
THANK YOU, IS THERE ANY PUBLIC
OPPOSITION IN THE ROOM SEEING
NONE, I'LL BRING IT BACK TO THE
COMMITTEE FOR QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS. I JUST HAVE A BRIEF
COMMENT. I WANT TO THANK THE
AUTHOR FOR BRINGING THIS
FORWARD, AND I FOR ONE,
REALIZING THAT WE DO NEED TO
MAKE SURE THERE'S SPACES FOR
THESE YOUNG PEOPLE, I DON'T KNOW
WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO BE KICKED
OUT. I DON'T, BUT I CAN IMAGINE
BEING IN THAT SPACE IS LONELY
AND TRYING TO FIND A PLACE THAT
WOULD TAKE YOU IN, THAT WOULD
CARE FOR YOU, THAT WILL SUPPORT
YOU, WHO YOU ARE, IT'S A
GRATIFYING SPACE FOR THEM TO GO
TO AND KNOW THAT THAT PLACE
EXISTS. BUT ALSO, AS I HEARD
CRAIG, TESTIFY VÌ HE SAID THAT
THERE'S VOLUNTEER HOST OR HOMES,
I THINK THAT'S THAT'S WONDERFUL,
AND JUST BEING ABLE TO CREATE A
PLACE FOR THESE YOUNG PEOPLE TO
GO TO, I MEAN, I THINK IT'S A
STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. I
WANT TO COMMEND THE AUTHOR FOR
TAKING THIS BOLD AND COURAGEOUS
STEP, WE'D LOVE FOR YOU TO
CONSIDER ME AS A JOINT, AND,
APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING THIS
BILL BEFORE US. AND LOOK FORWARD
TO SUPPORTING YOU ON THE FLOOR.
AND I'D BE HAPPY TO DO THAT
THROUGH THE CHAIR. OKAY. WE HAVE
A MOTION FROM MR. GIBSON AND A
SECOND FROM MR. JACKSON,
SECRETARY, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
DO YOU LIKE TO CLOSE?
ASSEMBLYWOMAN? SORRY ABOUT THAT.
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR AN AYE
VOTE. THANK YOU. THE MOTION IS
DUE. PASS TO THE ASSEMBLY
APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE. LEE
EASILY, EASILY NOT VOTING.
CALDERON. I CALDERON I GIBSON.
GIBSON I JACKSON. JACKSON I
MATHIS. ORTEGA. THIS IS ON CALL.
THANK YOU. AND THAT'S YOUR
UNICORN. IT'S A LONG WAY. IT'S A
LONG STORY. DON'T DON'T BRING UP
CONVERSATIONS. WOMAN. MCKENNA,
WOULD YOU LIKE TO PRESENT AB
2282? WHENEVER YOU'RE READY,
MA'AM.
GOOD AFTERNOON. IT'S GREAT TO BE
IN A HAPPY COMMITTEE AFTER BEING
IN COMMITTEES ALL DAY. THANK YOU
. HELLO, CHAIR. AND MEMBERS OF
THE COMMITTEE, I'M HERE TO
PRESENT AB 2282. MANY PARENTS
AND THE FAMILY REGULATION SYSTEM
HAVE SUFFERED FROM THE MASS
INCARCERATION TREND. THE
STATISTICS SHOW THAT 11.4
AFRICAN AMERICAN CHILDREN AND
3.5% OF HISPANIC CHILDREN HAVE
AN INCARCERATED PARENT. IT IS
NOT. IT IS NOT UNCOMMON FOR
PARENTS IN DEPENDENCY COURT TO
HAVE A CONVICTION FOR OFFENSES
DEFINED AS A VIOLENT FELONY,
WHILE THE MAJORITY OF STATES BAR
REUNIFICATION, EFFORTS TO
PARENTS WITH CONVICTIONS RELATED
TO THE HARM OF A CHILD,
CALIFORNIA LAW PROVIDES NO
EXCEPTION FOR THOSE CONVICTIONS
UNRELATED TO ANY HARM TO A
CHILD. CALIFORNIA VÀ PRESENTS
THE MOST RIGID BARRIER TO
REUNIFICATION WITH THE BROADEST
LIST OF APPLICABLE CONVICTIONS
AND NO REQUIREMENTS THAT A RISK
TO A CHILD'S SAFETY BE SHOWN. AB
2282 WOULD LIMIT CRIMINAL
CONVICTIONS USED TO DENY
REUNIFICATION SERVICES TO
FAMILIES IN THE FAMILY
REGULATION SYSTEM. IT WOULD
AMEND THE LAW TO DENY SERVICES
ONLY TO THE MOST SERIOUS AND
VIOLENT FELONS WHO HAVE
ENDANGERED CHILDREN. THIS
REFLECTS THE SAFEGUARDS TAKEN BY
ALMOST EVERY OTHER STATE
REGARDING REUNIFICATION. FOR A
PARENT WITH A VIOLENT CRIMINAL
HISTORY PRESERVING THE SAFETY OF
THE CHILD AND THE FAMILY UNIT.
HERE WITH ME TODAY IS JULIA
HANNIGAN. HANNIGAN WITH
DEPENDENTS LEGAL SERVICE AND
FIDEL CHAGOYA. THANK YOU. YOU
MAY YOU MAY BEGIN TWO MINUTES
EACH, PLEASE. THANK YOU.
HONORABLE CHAIR AND COMMITTEE
MEMBERS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
TIME. MY NAME IS JULIA HANNIGAN
AND I AM THE POLICY DIRECTOR AT
DEPENDENCY LEGAL SERVICES. WE
REPRESENT PARENTS AND CHILDREN
IN CHILD WELFARE PROCEEDINGS IN
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA. WE ARE
PROUD TO SUPPORT AMENDING THE
FELONY BYPASS STATUTE TO
ENCOMPASS ONLY VIOLENT FELONIES
THAT INVOLVE A CHILD IN TERMS OF
CHILD WELFARE, THE TERMINATION
OF PARENTAL RIGHTS IS OFTEN
DESCRIBED IN CASE LAW AS THE
DEATH SENTENCE FOR PARENTS IN
DEPENDENCY COURT. IN THAT
CONTEXT, THE BYPASS STATUTES
OFTEN MANDATE THAT PARENTS ARE
SWIFTLY SENT TO THIS DEATH
SENTENCE WITHOUT THE OPPORTUNITY
TO PROVE THAT THEY CAN CREATE A
SAFE HOME FOR THEIR CHILDREN. IT
MEANS FAMILIES ARE IMMEDIATELY
PUT IN THE POSITION TO BE
PERMANENTLY SEPARATED. THIS BILL
LIMITS THE FAMILIES THAT WILL BE
FORCED INTO THAT PREDICAMENT. IT
FOCUSES ON BYPASSING THE PARENTS
WHO HAVE CONVICTIONS THAT
INVOLVED A CHILD. THIS CHANGE
WOULD PUT CALIFORNIA MORE IN
LINE WITH WHAT MUCH OF THE
COUNTRY ALREADY DOES. WE BELIEVE
NARROWING THAT FOCUS MAKES SENSE
IN THE CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM,
WHICH SHOULD ONLY BE FOCUSED
ABOUT THE RISK OF HARM TO THE
CHILD. WE DO WANT TO BE CLEAR.
THIS BILL DOES NOT MANDATE
RETURN TO PARENTS WHO STILL
REMAIN A DANGER TO THEIR
CHILDREN, NOR DOES IT REQUIRE
IMMEDIATE PLACEMENT WITH PARENTS
WITH THESE SERIOUS CONVICTIONS.
INSTEAD, IT REQUIRES THE COURT
TO GIVE PARENTS THE OPPORTUNITY
TO SHOW THAT THEY CAN MAKE A
SAFE HOME FOR THEIR FAMILIES. WE
BELIEVE THAT THIS CHANGE
BENEFITS BOTH OUR MINOR AND OUR
PARENT CLIENTS. IT GIVES OUR
CHILD CLIENTS THE FULL AND FAIR
OPPORTUNITY TO GROW UP AT HOME
WITH THEIR PARENTS, IF IT IS
SAFE TO DO SO. IT ALSO ALLOWS
OUR PARENT CLIENTS THE CHANCE TO
MAKE CHANGES IN THEIR LIVES AND
BECOME THE PARENTS THAT THEIR
CHILDREN DESERVE. WE
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOUR AYE
VOTE. GOOD AFTERNOON, HONORABLE
CHAIR AND MEMBERS, MY NAME IS
FIDEL CHAGOYA AND I CURRENTLY
WORK AT STARTING OVER, INC. AS
AN ORGANIZER FOR RIVERSIDE. ALL
OF US ARE. NONE. STARTING OVER,
INC. IS A NONPROFIT THAT HELPS.
FORMERLY INCARCERATED PEOPLE
NAVIGATE AND OBTAIN HOUSING,
EMPLOYMENT, AND GETTING THE
RECORDS EXPUNGED. I HAVE A
CERTIFICATE OF REHABILITATION
AND CURRENTLY FINISHING UP MY
MASTER'S PROGRAM IN CLINICAL
MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING AT THE
UNIVERSITY OF REDLANDS. I AM
SPEAKING TO YOU TODAY BECAUSE I
AM A FORMERLY INCARCERATED
PARENT WHO LOST MY RIGHTS AS A
PARENT. MY FIRST AND ONLY
DAUGHTER, ZOE, WAS BORN IN 2016.
WHEN I WAS 39 YEARS OLD. AT THAT
TIME, I HAD BEEN OUT OF PRISON
FOR SIX YEARS AND OFF PAROLE FOR
FOUR YEARS, AND HAD MANAGED TO
FIND STEADY WORK, HOUSING AND
TRANSPORTATION DURING
CHILDBIRTH. ZOE'S MOTHER TESTED
POSITIVE FOR OPIATES BECAUSE OF
TYLENOL, WITH CODEINE THAT WAS
PRESCRIBED BY A DENTIST, AND
HAVING PREVIOUSLY LOST PARENTAL
RIGHTS TO HER OTHER CHILDREN.
THIS TRIGGERED TRIGGERED THE
INVOLVEMENT OF SAN BERNARDINO
COUNTY'S CHILDREN AND FAMILY
SERVICES, WHO LOOKED AT MY PAST
CRIMINAL RECORD AND SAID I
SHOULD NOT HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY
TO EVEN REUNIFY WITH MY CHILD
DUE TO WELFARE INSTITUTION CODE
SECTION 3.61.5 B12. THE BYPASS
PROVISION, MY PARENTAL RIGHTS
WERE TERMINATED AND IN 2019, ZOE
WAS ADOPTED OUT WITH 119 OTHER
CHILDREN IN SAN BERNARDINO
COUNTY. EVEN THOUGH MY PRIOR
CRIMINAL HISTORY HAD NO BEARING
ON WHETHER I WOULD BE A GOOD
PARENT OR NOT. IF THIS CHANGE IN
LAW PROPOSED BY AB 2282 EXISTED
AT THAT TIME, IN MY CASE, I
WOULD HAVE HAD A FAIR CHANCE OF
REUNIFYING WITH MY DAUGHTER. I
AM HERE FOR YOU TO CONSIDER, TO
MAKE, TO MAKING SURE THAT MANY
PARENTS LIKE ME, WHO HAVE
FELONIES UNRELATED TO THEIR
ABILITY TO BE A PARENT AND IN
MANY CASES HAVE PAID THEIR DEBT
TO SOCIETY A FAIR CHANCE OF
GETTING THEIR CHILDREN BACK. FOR
THESE REASONS, I EXPRESS MY
SUPPORT FOR AB 2282. THANK YOU
CHAIR AND MEMBERS. THANK YOU. DO
WE HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL SUPPORT
IN THE ROOM FROM THE PUBLIC?
YES, KEVIN, AS THE COALITION
CALIFORNIA WELFARE RIGHTS
ORGANIZATION, STRONG SUPPORT,
FAMILY VALUES. THANK YOU, MADAM
CHAIR AND MEMBERS, ADAM KAGAN,
ON BEHALF OF THE ANTI RECIDIVISM
COALITION AND SUPPORT SAM
WILKINSON ON BEHALF OF GRACE AND
END CHILD POVERTY IN CALIFORNIA
IN STRONG SUPPORT. DAVE SCHUSTER
ON BEHALF OF DEPENDENCY ADVOCACY
CENTER IN STRONG SUPPORT.
CHRISTINA CURTIS WITH THE LOS
ANGELES DEPENDENCY LAWYERS,
PROUD CO-SPONSORS AND IN STRONG
SUPPORT. HØI CHRISTOPHER
HERNANDEZ WITH THE CALIFORNIA
CONNECTION IN SUPPORT. THANK
YOU. DO WE HAVE ANY PRIMARY
OPPOSITION TO THIS BILL SEEING
NONE, IS THERE ANY PUBLIC
OPPOSITION TO THIS BILL IN THE
ROOM? SEEING NONE. I'LL BRING IT
BACK TO THE COMMITTEE. BEALL
SECOND, THANK YOU, ASSEMBLYMAN
SALIH. IF I UNDERSTAND, FIRST OF
ALL, I APPRECIATE THE AUTHOR. I
KNOW YOU'RE SINCERE IN YOUR
INTENTIONS. I GUESS THE CONCERN
I HAVE HERE IS EXISTING LAW
PROVIDES DISCRETION TO THE COURT
TO ALREADY ALLOW UNIFICATION ON
A CASE BY CASE BASIS. SO THE
COURT CAN LOOK AT THE
CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE PARTICULAR
CASE AND SEE IF IT'S APPROPRIATE
TO ALLOW REUNIFICATION. AND
THESE ARE CASES WHICH A PERSON
HAS BEEN CONVICTED OF A SERIOUS
FELONY. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
MURDER. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
RAPE. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
ROBBERY. AND SO I UNDERSTAND
THIS WOULD BASICALLY REQUIRE THE
JUDGE TO ORDER REUNIFICATION
UNLESS THE VIOLENT CRIME WAS
COMMITTED AGAINST A MINOR. AND
SO I'M JUST WORRIED THAT EVEN IF
YOU DIDN'T COMMIT THE CRIME
SPECIFICALLY AGAINST THE MINOR,
LET'S SAY YOU RAPED AN 18 YEAR
OLD INSTEAD OF A 17 YEAR OLD. I
I'M WORRIED THAT THIS IS GOING
TO CREATE A SITUATION WHERE
CHILDREN ARE GOING TO BE PLACED
IN SITUATIONS WITH INDIVIDUALS
WHO MAY NOT BE SAFE FOR THEM. SO
I GUESS MY QUESTION IS, WHY IS
NOT THE DISCRETION TO THE
JUDGES, SUFFICIENT ALREADY TO
DEAL WITH THIS ON A CASE BY CASE
BASIS? SURE. IF I CAN RESPOND.
SO FIRST, UNDER 360 1.5, IT'S
NOT COMPLETE DISCRETION BECAUSE
THE PRESUMPTIONS IN THE OTHER
WAY. RIGHT. THE PRESUMPTION IS
THE BYPASS, AND THROUGH CASE LAW
THE PRESUMPTION IS PRETTY STRONG
. SO IT'S NOT ALL THINGS BEING
EQUAL. IT'S IN THE COURT'S
DISCRETION. IT IS NOT. AND I
HAVE RECENTLY HAD A CASE WHERE
THE COURT SAID I'D LOVE TO GIVE
YOU SERVICES, BUT I DON'T THINK
I CAN. AND IT WAS A VIOLENT
FELONY BYPASS BASED ON, SHE
DROVE THE CAR IN A BURGLARY
YEARS AGO. SO IT'S NOT THAT THE
COURT REALLY DOES HAVE THAT
DISCRETION UNDER CURRENT LAW.
WHY DON'T WE WRITE IT TO THE
COURT? HAS DISCRETION. AND CAN I
TAKE A MOMENT? YES. THIS IS THE.
THIS IS JUST GIVING THE
OPPORTUNITY FOR FOLKS THAT ARE
COMING OUT OF PRISON, COMING OUT
OF JAIL. LET'S LET'S JUST START
THAT. WE SEND PEOPLE TO JAIL TO
REHABILITATE. WE SEND PEOPLE TO
JAIL AND THEY PAY FOR THEIR
CRIMES. RIGHT? WE TRUST THE
JUDGE TO SEND THEM TO JAIL. AND
THEY GO AND THEY SPEND THEIR
TIME AND THEY PAY FOR THEIR
CRIME. AND SO WHEN THEY GET OUT,
THEY SHOULD BE THEY SHOULD HAVE
THE SAME RIGHTS AS EVERYONE ELSE
UNLESS THEY ABUSED THAT CHILD,
RIGHT? OR THEY ABUSED THE CHILD
OR THE MOTHER INSIDE OF THE
HOME. THIS IS ONLY GIVING THEM
THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO THROUGH
THE SAME SYSTEM. WE ALL WOULD GO
TO. IF WE LOST OUR CHILDREN.
THEY'D BE ABLE TO GO THROUGH
WITH THE SOCIAL WORKER, GO
THROUGH THAT 18 MONTH PROCESS TO
SEE IF THEY'RE READY TO GET
THEIR KIDS BACK, AND THEN TRUST
THAT THE JUDGES THAT PUT PEOPLE
IN JAIL, RIGHT. THOSE SAME
JUDGES WOULD WOULD HAVE THE
ABILITY TO SAY IF THEY CAN HAVE
THEIR CHILDREN OR NOT. WE'RE NOT
PLACING THE CHILDREN BACK INTO
ANYONE'S IN ANYONE'S HANDS.
WE'RE JUST GIVING THEM THE RIGHT
TO GO THROUGH THE SERVICES TO GO
THROUGH THE PROCESS. AND THAT'S
WHAT THIS BILL DOES, I
UNDERSTAND, I JUST THINK SOME
PEOPLE SHOULD NOT BE AROUND
CHILDREN WHO COMMIT CERTAIN
REALLY, REALLY BAD CRIMES, EVEN
IF THE CRIME WASN'T AGAINST THE
CHILD. SO I RESPECT YOUR YOUR
VIEW AND WHERE YOU'RE COMING
FROM. BUT I DO HAVE CONCERNS.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
OKAY. WOULD YOU LIKE TO CLOSE,
ASSEMBLYWOMAN? YES. I
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOUR. AYE.
VOTE OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION BY
ASSEMBLYMAN GIBSON AND A SECOND
BY ASSEMBLYMAN JACKSON. MADAM
SECRETARY, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
THE MOTION IS DUE PASSED TO THE
ASSEMBLY APPROPRIATIONS
COMMITTEE. LEE EASILY. NÓ
EASILY. NÓ. CALDERON. AYE.
CALDERON. AYE GIBSON. GIBSON.
AYE. JACKSON. JACKSON AYE.
MATHIS. ORTEGA. WE WILL LEAVE
THE ROLL OPEN. ASSEMBLYWOMAN.
THANK YOU
.
OKAY. ASSEMBLYWOMAN QUIRK-SILVA,
WHENEVER YOU'RE READY, YOU CAN
PRESENT AB 2452.
OVER HERE. MAYBE I'LL COME HERE.
OH, SORRY. WHENEVER YOU'RE
READY. ASSEMBLYWOMAN THANK YOU.
GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR AND
MEMBERS. TODAY I PRESENT
ASSEMBLY BILL 2452. I'D LIKE TO
START BY ACCEPTING THE SUGGESTED
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT, AND, WE
APPRECIATE THE WORK FROM YOUR
TEAM ON THIS BILL. CALWORKS IS A
SAFETY NET PROGRAM WHICH EXISTS
TO PROVIDE EQUITABLE ACCESS TO
RESOURCES AND OPPORTUNITIES THAT
LOW INCOME FAMILIES NEED TO HELP
BREAK THE CYCLE OF POVERTY.
TRANSPORTATION, SUPPORTIVE
SERVICES PROVIDED BY CALWORKS
OFTEN COME IN THE FORM OF BUS
PASSES OR MILEAGE REIMBURSEMENT.
PAYMENTS FROM THE LOCAL
ADMINISTERING COUNTY WELFARE
DEPARTMENT. THESE SERVICES ARE
LARGELY FUNDED BY THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT, BUT THIS BILL WILL
HELP LESSEN ADMINISTRATIVE
BURDENS FOR COUNTY WELFARE
ADMINISTRATORS AND STREAMLINE
TRANSPORTATION REIMBURSEMENT FOR
QUALIFYING PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS,
WHO WILL ALSO HAVE THE OPTION TO
REQUEST SUPPLEMENTAL PAYMENTS
FOR ACTUAL COSTS IF NEEDED. THIS
STANDARDIZED PAYMENT WILL BE
WILL BETTER PROVIDE LOW INCOME
INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES THE
NEED THE TRANSPORTATION AND
SUPPORT RESOURCES THEY NEED FOR
REQUIRED PROGRAM ACTIVITIES.
WITH ME TODAY TO PROVIDE
TESTIMONY AND ANSWER ANY
QUESTIONS IS MR. CHRISTOPHER
SANCHEZ, ON BEHALF OF THE
WESTERN CENTER ON POVERTY AND
LAW AND KEVIN S LIEN, EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR OF THE COALITION OF
CALIFORNIA WELFARE RIGHTS
ORGANIZATIONS AND THE SPONSOR.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. WHENEVER
YOU'RE READY AND YOU HAVE TWO
MINUTES EACH, PLEASE. SURE GOOD.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR.
MEMBERS, CHRISTOPHER SANCHEZ
WITH THE MESA VERDE GROUP HERE
ON BEHALF OF THE WESTERN CENTER
ON LAW AND POVERTY, WHO IS IN
STRONG SUPPORT OF AB 2452, A
MEASURE THAT LESSENS THE
ADMINISTRATIVE BURDEN FOR
CALWORKS RECIPIENTS AND COUNTY
HUMAN SERVICE AGENCIES. OVER THE
YEARS, THE LEGAL SERVICE
COMMUNITY HAS EXPRESSED
EXPRESSED THEIR FRUSTRATION IN
HOPES, IN EXPRESS THEIR
FRUSTRATION OF ALL THE HOOPS
THAT CALWORKS RECIPIENTS MUST
JUMP THROUGH TO RECEIVE
REIMBURSEMENT FOR TRAVEL
EXPENSES THAT THEY ARE ELIGIBLE
FOR AND ACCRUE, BECAUSE THEY
NEED TO MEET PROGRAM
REQUIREMENTS. IN FACT, A RECENT
REPORT RELEASED BY THE
CALIFORNIA COMMISSION ON THE
STATUS OF WOMEN GIRLS, WOMEN AND
GIRLS AND THE GOLDEN STATE
OPPORTUNITY, TITLED EVERYTHING
AT ONCE, MENTIONS THAT IN
GENERAL, RECIPIENTS OF PUBLIC
BENEFIT PROGRAMS EXPRESS THAT
THEY WOULD SAVE MORE TIME AND
ENERGY NOT TRYING TO REQUEST
REIMBURSEMENT FOR VARIOUS
SERVICES BECAUSE THEY COULD HAVE
USED THAT TIME AND ENERGY
ELSEWHERE. THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN
MORE PRODUCTIVE FOR THEIR
FAMILIES. THE REQUIREMENTS FOR
REIMBURSEMENT DO NOT TAKE INTO
ACCOUNT THE REAL LIFE FACTORS OF
LIVING AS A CALIFORNIAN. TODAY
WHO ARE TRYING TO MEET THEIR OWN
BASIC NEEDS. ADDITIONALLY, WE
KNOW THAT CALWORKS RECIPIENTS
ARE TRAVELING FROM HOME TO WORK
FROM SCHOOL, AND TO CHILD CARE
TO TAKE CARE OF OTHER THINGS IN
THEIR LIFE AS WELL, BECAUSE
THAT'S WHAT THEIR PROGRAM
REQUIRES, SO INSTEAD OF HAVING
RECIPIENTS PLAY CAT AND MOUSE
WITH GOVERNMENT, WE ASK THAT YOU
SIMPLIFY THE PROCESS BY PASSING
THIS BILL. AND FOR THOSE
REASONS, WE URGE YOU TO VOTE.
KEVIN, AS THE COALITION OF
CALIFORNIA WELFARE RIGHTS
ORGANIZATION JUST PASSED OUT OF,
A HANDOUT, BASICALLY SAYING THAT
THE STATUTE SAYS THAT NECESSARY
SUPPORTIVE SERVICES SHALL BE
OFFERED AND AVAILABLE TO PEOPLE
WHO ARE PARTICIPATING WITH ME
AND YOU. WE FILL OUT A FORM, WE
TURN IT IN, WE GET REIMBURSEMENT
WITH THE RECIPIENT. THERE'S NO
PLACE TO THERE'S NO FORM TO FILL
OUT. THERE'S NO PLACE, NO PLACE
TO HAND IT, AND NOTHING TO GET
BACK. AND WE HAVE A WHOLE TABLE
WITH TABLE ONE SHOWS THAT FROM
DAY ONE, LESS THAN 50, 50% OR
LESS PEOPLE WERE ACTUALLY
GETTING TRANSPORTATION. THAT
MEANS IN YOUR OFFICE, 50% OF THE
PEOPLE WHO TRAVEL DON'T SUBMIT
TRAVEL CLAIMS. THAT'S JUST
INSANE. AND IF YOU LOOK AT IN
JULY 23RD, THERE WERE 20, 34,000
PEOPLE WHO WERE ACTUALLY WORKING
AS A WORK WELFARE TO WORK
ACTIVITY. ONLY 11,000 RECEIVED
TRANSPORTATION, AND IN AUGUST
30TH 4000 WERE WORKING. ONLY
9000 RECEIVED TRANSPORTATION. SO
I GUESS WE NEED TO CHANGE THE
SYSTEM AND JUST GIVE PEOPLE THE
STANDARD ALLOWANCE, $200 AND
MAKE SURE THAT THEY GET IT UP
FRONT. IT'S KIND OF
UNCONSCIONABLE. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU. DO WE HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL
PUBLIC SUPPORT IN THE ROOM? SAM
WILKINSON WITH GRACE AND IN
CHILD POVERTY IN CALIFORNIA AND
SUPPORT. THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
DO WE HAVE ANY PRIMARY
OPPOSITION TO THIS BILL? SEEING
NONE IS THERE ANY PUBLIC
OPPOSITION TO THIS BILL? OKAY
I'LL BRING IT BACK TO THE
COMMITTEE. MR. JACKSON, THANK
YOU VERY MUCH, ASSEMBLYWOMAN,
FOR THIS, COMMON SENSE, BILL, I
THINK THAT ONCE, WE'VE GOT TO
STOP, WE'VE GOT TO START
ELIMINATING AS MANY BARRIERS FOR
PEOPLE GETTING TO WHAT THEY'RE
ENTITLED TO AND WOULD LOVE TO
SEE THE BILL ONCE IT'S SCORED,
TO SEE IF WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO
WORK TOGETHER TO GET IT DONE.
THANK YOU. SECOND, MR. SALIH, DO
YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? I JUST
HAVE QUESTIONS. SO THIS IS TO
HELP PEOPLE GET TO A PROGRAM
THAT GIVE THEM WORK SKILLS OR TO
GO TO WORK ESSENTIALLY. RIGHT.
SO BUT WE'RE JUST GOING TO HAND
THEM CASH. 200 BUCKS. CASH. WELL
YOU PROPOSED 100 AND THE
COMMITTEE SAID 200. RIGHT IS
THAT WHAT HAPPENED, THE
COMMITTEE WOULD LIKE THAT.
ALTHOUGH WE ARE VERY AWARE OF
THE, THE, THE SCENARIO WE ARE IN
WITH THE DEFICIT. BUT NO, IT
WOULD NOT JUST BE HERE IS $200
KIND OF FLOAT IT ANYWHERE IT IS
TO REIMBURSE FOR TRAVEL EXPENSES
, MOST OF THIS REIMBURSEMENT IS
BUS USAGE, FOR THE COST OF BUS
PASSES AND SO FORTH. BUT IT'S AN
ADVANCE PAYMENT. SO IT'S BEFORE
THEY'VE ACTUALLY TRAVELED. SO SO
HOW IS IT HOW IS THIS GOING TO
WORK? IT'S SO TO STREAMLINE THE
PROCESS IN ORDER FOR THEM TO BE
ABLE TO HAVE THAT SUPPORT AND
GET BACK AND FORTH TO WORK, IF I
MAY, SO ESSENTIALLY, YOU'RE
CORRECT THAT WE WOULD BE FUNDING
THE, THE, THE PAYMENT. I WILL
JUST NOTE THAT, MOST OF THESE
DOLLARS ARE FEDERAL DOLLARS THAT
WE'RE TRYING TO, BRING DOWN THE
STATE DOES PROVIDE SOME OF THIS
DOLLAR, THESE DOLLARS, AND THEN
I WOULD I WOULD NOTE THAT, THE
NUMBERS THAT MR. ASLANIAN HAS
PROVIDED SHOWS THE UNDER
UTILIZATION, SO BY DRAWING DOWN
MORE FEDERAL DOLLARS FOR THIS
PROGRAM, IT'S A BENEFIT TO LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS BECAUSE IN ADDITION
TO BUSSES, YOU COULD ALSO USE
THIS FOR A CAR REPAIR. IF YOU
HAVE A CAR AND YOU NEED TO GET
TO WORK AS THE PROGRAM REQUIRES
YOU TO DO SO, OR SOMETHING. SO
NOW YOUR LOCAL AUTO SHOP IS ALSO
RECEIVING SOME OF THESE DOLLARS,
BUT ESSENTIALLY YOU'RE CORRECT
IN THAT IT IS IT IS A FRONT. AND
I WOULD JUST SAY IF THE WORRY
IS, SOMEONE MIGHT BE MIS
UTILIZING THIS PROGRAM OR
SOMETHING OF THAT NATURE, IT'S
MORE THERE ARE, MEASURES IN
PLACE OF THE PROGRAM THAT, HOLD
THE RECIPIENTS ACCOUNTABLE FOR
THEIR THEY WOULD, MOST LIKELY
HAVE OTHER CONSEQUENCES THAT
THEY MAY GO THROUGH OUR
ADMINISTRATIVE HEARINGS, IF THEY
DIDN'T MEET PROGRAM NEEDS OR
ARE. SO HOW WILL YOU KNOW IF
THEY MISUSE THE MONEY? WELL, YOU
WOULDN'T YOU WOULDN'T YOU
WOULDN'T KNOW IF THEY USED THE
MONEY ON TRAVEL OR NOT. BUT IF
THEY, IF THEY DON'T MEET THE
PROGRAM NEEDS. AND THAT'S WHERE
THE COUNTY. RIGHT. IF YOU DON'T,
IF THEY DON'T MEET THE
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENT.
OVERALL, I SUPPORT THE CONCEPT.
I JUST I'M A LITTLE UNEASY WITH
THE WAY THIS IS BEING PROPOSED.
AND I'M HEARING THAT THIS IS I
MEAN, JUST BECAUSE IT'S FEDERAL
MONEY, I MEAN, IT'S STILL OUR
TAX MONEY. I MEAN, IT'S NOT
LIKE, YEAH, THAT'S YOU KNOW,
BASICALLY IT'S BEEN 25 YEARS AND
LESS THAN 50% OF THE PEOPLE ARE
GETTING SOMETHING HAS TO BE
DONE. MAYBE THEY DON'T NEED IT.
THE AVERAGE COST OF
TRANSPORTATION IS, OH, YOU DON'T
THINK 50% OF THE PEOPLE NEED IT?
I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE NOT
ASKING FOR IT. I SAID MAYBE THEY
DON'T NEED IT. I MEAN, IN ORDER
FOR ME TO GO TO WORK OR TO GO TO
AN ACTIVITY, I CAN'T BE MOVING
IT. YEAH. THAT THEY MAY COME,
BUT RIGHT NOW I WOULD JUST SAY
FOR POINT EIGHT, MAYBE WE DO
LIKE UBER CREDITS OR SOMETHING.
AND THEN YOU COULD SEE WHERE
THEY WENT. SO I DON'T HAVE ANY
MORE QUESTIONS, MADAM CHAIR.
THANK YOU. THAT MIGHT BE A GOOD
IDEA FOR YOU NEXT YEAR, MR.
SALIH, AND JUST TO CLARIFY THIS
IS TO ALLOW PEOPLE WITHOUT MONEY
TO PAY UP FRONT FOR
TRANSPORTATION FUNDS. SO I THINK
THERE'S A BILL IDEA IN THERE FOR
YOU, MADAM SECRETARY, I MEAN,
WOULD YOU LIKE TO CLOSE, I'M
UNDERSTANDING WHERE YOUR
COMMENTS ARE COMING FROM. I
DON'T AGREE WITH THEM. I THINK,
IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT MORE IN
THE SENSE OF SUPPORT TO GET THEM
BACK AND FORTH TO WORK AND, IN
TYPICALLY, YOU KNOW, YOU COULD
HAVE THEM GO TO A COUNTY,
OFFICE, APPLY FOR A BUS, PASS,
DO A LOT OF, DIFFERENT TYPES OF
PAPERWORK. AND THE POINT IS TO
STREAMLINE THEM. BUT THE GOAL IS
TO GET THEM BACK AND FORTH TO
WORK, WHICH IS ULTIMATELY WHAT
MANY PEOPLE, WANT TO SEE. THEY
WANT TO SEE INDIVIDUALS WORKING
AND CONTRIBUTING. SO I THINK
THERE'S A PLACE HERE, THAT
STREAMLINES I WILL JUST ADD, AND
I USUALLY DON'T SPEND A LOT OF
TIME ON, WRAPPING IT UP, ON A
WHOLE NOTHER, TOPIC, LIKE RENTAL
ASSISTANCE, SAY, FOR FOSTER
CARE, AGING OUT. I SAW THE
BINDER. I HAVE IT IN MY OFFICE.
IT'S THIS THICK OF THE WORK YOU
NEED TO DO IN ORDER TO QUALIFY.
SO WHEN SOMEBODY IS GETTING
CALWORKS, NOT TALKING ABOUT THE
TRANSPORTATION PART, THEY ARE
RESPONSIBLE FOR MANY, MANY
MEASURES IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE
THAT THEY'RE STAYING ON PROGRAM.
IF YOU WANT TO SAY THAT, BUT,
THE POINT HERE IS USE THE FUNDS
TO GET BACK AND FORTH TO WORK.
AND IF THEY STOP WORKING, THAT'S
GOING TO BE, COME OUT IN THEIR
CASEWORK AS THEY GO THROUGH THE
CASEWORK. THAT HAS TO HAPPEN AS
THEY MEET WITH THEIR CASEWORKER,
PROVIDER. BUT WITH THAT, I
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR A AYE VOTE.
THANK YOU, DO WE HAVE A MOTION?
MOTION BY GIBSON. SECOND BY.
OKAY. OH, MOTION BY GIBSON.
SECOND BY ME, MADAM SECRETARY,
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. THE MOTION
IS TO PASS AS AMENDED, TO THE
ASSEMBLY APPROPRIATIONS
COMMITTEE. LEE AZALI. AZALI NOT
VOTING. CALDERON. AYE CALDERON.
AYE. GIBSON. GIBSON. AYE.
JACKSON JACKSON. AYE. MATHIS.
ORTEGA OKAY. WE'LL LEAVE THIS
TOWN CALLED 3 TO 0. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. MEMBERS. OKAY BACK TO
GET SOME OF THOSE QUESTIONS. IF
SOMEONE. JACKSON. WHATEVER
YOU'RE READY, YOU CAN PRESENT AB
1967. SECOND. HEY, MAN. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH, MADAM CHAIR. AB
1967, SEEKS TO. HOW ARE YOU
DOING? HEY, TIME TO JOIN. I GOT
BACK UP AB 1967, SEEKS TO CREATE
A FOOD AND SECURITY OFFICER
WITHIN THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT
OF SOCIAL SERVICES, TASKED WITH
COORDINATING AND ADDRESSING FOOD
INSECURITY THROUGHOUT STATE
GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS. DATA FROM
MARCH OF THIS YEAR HAS FOUND
THAT 20% OF HOUSEHOLDS AND 24%
OF HOUSEHOLDS WITH CHILDREN
SUFFER FROM FOOD INSECURITY. IN
CALIFORNIA, THE SUPPLEMENTAL
NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM,
ALSO KNOWN AS SNAP OR CALFRESH,
IS AN INVALUABLE TOOL IN THE
FIGHT AGAINST FOOD INSECURITY
AND POVERTY. HOWEVER, CALIFORNIA
IS LAGGING BEHIND OTHER STATES
IN ITS SNAP ENROLLMENT RATES,
AND IT'S NOT BECAUSE OF THE LACK
OF PEOPLE WHO NEED IT OR QUALIFY
. VÌ. IN 2018, 70% OF ELIGIBLE
CALIFORNIANS AND ONLY 4,059% OF
ELIGIBLE WORKERS PARTICIPATED.
FOLLOWING PARTICIPATED, FALLING
SIGNIFICANTLY BEHIND OREGON,
WASHINGTON STATE, AND EVEN
TEXAS. CALIFORNIA CAN NO LONGER
AFFORD TO LEAVE OPTIONS ON THE
TABLE WHEN COMBATING FOOD
INSECURITY, ESPECIALLY WHEN
EXISTING BLUEPRINTS CAN BE USED
TO IMPROVE OUTCOMES FOR WORKING
FAMILIES. JOINING ME TO TESTIFY
IN SUPPORT TODAY ARE MARSHAWN.
YES. ALL RIGHT. TATMAN. AND WITH
THE SAN FRANCISCO MARIN COUNTY
FOOD BANK AND CHRISTINE FALLIBLE
WITH THE AMERICAN DIABETES
ASSOCIATION. WHENEVER YOU'RE
READY, TWO MINUTES EACH PLEASE.
OKAY. THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON.
CO-CHAIR AND MEMBERS. MY NAME IS
MARSHAWN TATMAN. I'M THE
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF POLICY AND
ADVOCACY AT THE SAN FRANCISCO
MARIN FOOD BANK. AND ON A
PERSONAL NOTE, MY FAMILY AND I
ONCE STRUGGLE WITH FOOD
INSECURITY. GROWING UP, I'M HERE
TODAY TO TESTIFY AS A CO-SPONSOR
AND SUPPORT OF AB 1967, WHICH
WOULD CREATE A CABINET LEVEL
POSITION DEDICATED TO ENDING
HUNGER IN CALIFORNIA. DESPITE
CALIFORNIA FINANCIAL
DIFFICULTIES AND ACKNOWLEDGING
THESE POTENTIALLY TURBULENT
YEARS AHEAD OF US, CALIFORNIA
STILL THE WORLD'S FIFTH LARGEST
ECONOMY. HOWEVER THAT WEALTH IS
NOT TRANSFERRING TO THE MANY
PEOPLE STRUGGLING BECAUSE
CALIFORNIA FOOD INSECURITY RATE
IS ESTIMATED AT 1 IN 4
CALIFORNIANS. YET 34% OF
ELIGIBLE CALIFORNIANS ARE NOT
RECEIVING CALFRESH. WE ARE
FAILING TO MEET THE POTENTIAL OF
THIS CRITICAL ANTI-POVERTY
PROGRAM. CALFRESH, FORMERLY
KNOWN AS FOOD STAMPS, PROVIDE A
VITAL, VITAL BENEFITS TO PEOPLE
WHO NEED THEM THE MOST. BUT THE
RISING COST OF NECESSITIES ARE
FORCING DIFFICULT TRADE OFFS. AS
INFLATION IS PERSISTENT AND THE
COST IS RISING. ON AVERAGE, MORE
THAN ONE OUT OF EVERY FOUR
CALIFORNIANS FACE UNCERTAINTY
BECAUSE OF VAST STRUCTURAL
INEQUITY. MUCH HIGHER LEVELS OF
FOOD INSECURITY ARE EXPERIENCED
IN THE BIPOC COMMUNITY IN
COMPARISON TO WHITE COMMUNITIES.
WE HAVE A POWERFUL TOOL ON OUR
HAND. YET CALIFORNIA IS SIX TO
THE LAST OF ALL STATES AND
PARTICIPATING IN CALFRESH WITH
ONLY 66, COMPARED TO THE
NATIONAL AVERAGE OF 78.
CALIFORNIA ALSO TRAILED TEN
STATES WHO HAS 100%
PARTICIPATION RATES IN CALFRESH.
IN ADDITION TO THE MIRROR ACT
PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO INCREASE
NUTRITION AND HELP TO REDUCE
HUNGER ACROSS A GROWING NUMBER
OF STATES. HOWEVER, WE DON'T
HAVE AN ACCOUNTABLE LEADER FOR
THE RESULTS WE DESIRE. I WILL BE
REMISS NOT TO MENTION ALL THE
INCREDIBLE WORK FOLKS DID BEFORE
, AND THROUGHOUT THE YEARS. BUT
CALIFORNIA STILL RANKS ONE AND
FOUR WHEN IT COMES TO FOOD
INSECURITY. THE CREATION OF THIS
CABINET LEVEL POSITION WOULD
ASSURE POLICY ALIGNMENT,
IMPLEMENTATION, AND OPTIMIZATION
OF OUTCOME AND RESOURCES BETWEEN
DIVERSE DEPARTMENTS AND
AGENCIES. WE NEED TO INVEST IN
SOLUTIONS THAT REDUCE BARRIERS
TO ACCESS THESE PROGRAMS AND
SOLUTIONS TO INCREASE
COLLABORATION AND ALIGNMENT
BETWEEN THE DIFFERENT
DEPARTMENTS WITHIN THE STATE.
THIS APPROACH IS PROVEN IN
STATES LIKE MAINE AND NEW
JERSEY, WHICH HAS A CABINET
LEVEL LEADER TO ADDRESS FOOD
INSECURITY. WE KNOW POVERTY IS
THE ROOT CAUSE OF HUNGER, AND WE
CANNOT AFFORD TO IGNORE THIS
ISSUE THAT WE CAN PROFOUNDLY
ADDRESS. 10S IS WILL WE? WHAT
WILL WE DO ABOUT IT? THANK YOU
FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK. I'M
HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS. I
WILL NOW PASS IT ON TO MY
COLLEAGUE CHRISTINE BELL, WHO
WILL SHARE WHAT THEY ARE SEEING
ON THE GROUND WITH AMERICA
DIABETES ASSOCIATION. THANK YOU.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR, AND
MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE. THANK
YOU SO MUCH FOR TAKING THE TIME
TO HEAR SUCH AN IMPORTANT PIECE
OF LEGISLATION TODAY. MY NAME IS
CHRISTINE FALLIBLE, AND I AM THE
CALIFORNIA DIRECTOR OF STATE
GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS AND ADVOCACY
WITH THE AMERICAN DIABETES
ASSOCIATION. THÀNH, AS A
CO-SPONSOR OF AB 1967, WE URGE
YOU TO VOTE YES. THE AMERICAN
DIABETES ASSOCIATION WORKS EVERY
DAY TO PREVENT DIABETES AND TO
IMPROVE THE LIVES OF ALL PEOPLE
LIVING WITH DIABETES, INCLUDING
THE OVER 3 MILLION CALIFORNIANS
WHO LIVE WITH DIABETES.
FOUNDATIONAL TO A HEALTHY LIFE
WITH DIABETES IS ACCESS TO
RELIABLE AND HEALTHY FOOD. THE
DELICATE BALANCING OF MEDICATION
AND FOOD AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
CAN BE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A
LONG LIFE WITH DIABETES VERSUS A
SHORTER LIFE FULL OF DIABETES
COMPLICATIONS, INCLUDING HEART
DISEASE, BLINDNESS, LOWER LIMB
AMPUTATIONS, STROKE, KIDNEY
FAILURE AND PREMATURE DEATH. AND
UNFORTUNATELY, AS MANY AS 1 IN 5
PEOPLE WHO LIVE WITH DIABETES
ALSO STRUGGLE WITH FOOD
INSECURITY. WHEN PEOPLE WITH
DIABETES LACK ACCESS TO FOOD,
THEIR BLOOD SUGAR LEVELS
STRUGGLE, WHICH CAN LAND THEM IN
THE EMERGENCY ROOM OR THE
HOSPITAL. THIS BILL WOULD CREATE
A FOOD INSECURITY OFFICER TASKED
WITH COORDINATING AND ADDRESSING
FOOD INSECURITY THROUGHOUT THE
STATE, INCLUDING IMPROVING
ACCESS TO AND ENROLLMENT OF
SNAP, OF WHICH CALIFORNIA IS
LAGGING. MANY OTHER STATES
CALIFORNIA CAN NO LONGER AFFORD
TO LEAVE OUR MOST VULNERABLE
COMMUNITIES BEHIND, INCLUDING
THOSE LIVING WITH CHRONIC
CONDITIONS LIKE DIABETES,
ESPECIALLY WHEN WE'RE COMBATING
FOOD INSECURITY. FOR THESE
REASONS, WE SUPPORT AB 1967 AND
WE ASK FOR YOUR YES VOTE. THANK
YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND
CONSIDERATION, AND I'M HAPPY TO
ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY
HAVE. THANK YOU. DO WE HAVE ANY
ADDITIONAL PUBLIC SUPPORT IN THE
ROOM? CLIFTON WILSON, ON BEHALF
OF THE MARIN COUNTY BOARD OF
SUPERVISORS, AS WELL AS ON
BEHALF OF THE MAYOR OF THE CITY
AND COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO,
LONDON BREED, BOTH IN SUPPORT.
THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON.
ANDREA DEVAULT, ON BEHALF OF
INSTACART, IN SUPPORT. GOOD
AFTERNOON, JOSH GAGER, ON BEHALF
OF THE COUNTY HEALTH EXECUTIVES
ASSOCIATION OF CALIFORNIA AND
SUPPORT. GOOD AFTERNOON, RUTH
SOSA MARTINEZ, ENGAGEMENT
COORDINATOR FOR YOUNG
INVINCIBLES, A CO-SPONSOR OF THE
BILL AND IN STRONG SUPPORT. GOOD
AFTERNOON, DANIELA RODRIGUEZ
WITH THE CALIFORNIA STUDENT AID
COMMISSION IN SUPPORT. FRANCISCO
MORALES HERE ON BEHALF OF THE
HOUSING ACTION COALITION, ALSO
IN SUPPORT. THANK YOU. KEVIN
ESTÁN, COALITION OF CALIFORNIA
WELFARE RIGHTS ORGANIZATION.
STRONG SUPPORT. THANK YOU, THANK
YOU. DO WE HAVE ANY PRIMARY
OPPOSITION TO THIS BILL, SEEING
NONE ANY PUBLIC OPPOSITION TO
THIS BILL, SEEING NONE. I'LL
BRING IT BACK TO THE COMMITTEE
FOR QUESTIONS. I HAVE A QUESTION
, MR. SALIH. YEAH. I DON'T I
DON'T OPPOSE THE CONCEPT, BUT
WHY DO WE HAVE TO CREATE A NEW
POSITION? I MEAN, AREN'T THERE
ENOUGH PEOPLE AT CALFRESH THAT
SOMEONE THERE COULD TAKE THIS ON
? IT'S LIKE A RESPONSIBILITY. I
THINK WHAT WE'VE WHAT WE'VE BEEN
, WHAT WE'VE SEEN IS THAT
THERE'S NOT A COORDINATED
APPROACH. THERE'S NOT EVEN A
MASTER PLAN ON HOW TO MAKE SURE
THAT PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO GET THE
FOOD THAT THEY NEED. AND SO THIS
IS REALLY AN OPPORTUNITY. AND OF
COURSE, THROUGH NEGOTIATIONS, WE
MAY BE ABLE TO, YOU KNOW,
HOPEFULLY GET THE ADMINISTRATION
TO SAY, WELL, THIS PERSON WITH
THIS TITLE COULD TAKE THAT ROLE
IN A WAY, BUT THERE'S CLEARLY A
NEED, FOR INSTANCE, LAST YEAR I
SAW I READ A HORRIBLE REPORT, ON
THE VERY HIGH PERCENTAGE OF
SENIORS WHO QUALIFY FOR CALFRESH
, HOWEVER, THEY'RE NOT ENROLLED.
SO THEN THE QUESTION BECOMES,
WHO'S GOING TO COORDINATE THAT
PLAN TO HELP OTHER SENIORS GET
ENROLLED? SO YOU'RE SAYING THIS
COULD BE AN EXISTING PERSON
ALREADY? AND IT POSSIBLY COULD
BE. YEAH, IT POSSIBLY COULD BE.
AND THEN I THINK INSECURITY IS
IMPORTANT. BUT WHAT ABOUT LIKE
FOOD QUALITY? BECAUSE, I THINK A
LOT OF TIMES, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE
WHO DON'T HAVE, YOU KNOW, A LOT
OF MONEY FOR FOOD, THEY END UP
HAVING LIKE, FAST FOOD AND
STUFF. AND SO MAYBE THIS PERSON
CAN LOOK INTO HOW TO INCREASE
THE QUALITY OF FOOD PEOPLE ARE
GETTING NOW, POSSIBLY. ALSO. AND
I WOULD MORE THAN HAPPY TO WORK
ON LANGUAGE BECAUSE WE DO KNOW
WE HAVE SOME, FOOD DESERTS, IN
TERMS OF QUALITY FOOD AS WELL.
AND SO I THINK THAT'S A GOOD, A
GOOD IDEA IN TERMS OF NOT ONLY
SAYING, ARE YOU IS FOOD
AVAILABLE BUT THE QUALITY OF
FOOD. AND THEN IF THERE ARE FOOD
DESERTS, YOU KNOW, WHAT PLANS
CAN WE DEVELOP IN THOSE SPECIFIC
COMMUNITIES, TO BE ABLE TO MAKE
SURE THAT WE INCREASE ACCESS OR
PROVIDERS OF HIGHER QUALITY AND
FRESH FOOD? SO, VERY GOOD IDEA.
AND WE'LL, WE'LL LOOK BACK AT
THE LANGUAGE TO SEE IF THAT'S
SOMETHING THAT, HOW WE CAN
INCORPORATE THAT. ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU. LIMÓN GIBSON, THANK
YOU VERY MUCH. AND I'M HAPPY TO
MOVE THE BILL, WHICH WE ALREADY
DID. I WANT TO THANK THE AUTHOR
BECAUSE AS WE SEE, CERTAINLY IN
MY DISTRICT, WHERE WE HAVE THE
BENEFIT OF PROVIDING FOOD,
STILL, AFTER LONG AFTER THE
PANDEMIC. RIGHT. AND AS WE
CELEBRATE PEOPLE'S LIVES BEING,
ELEVATED BACK BEFORE THE
PANDEMIC, WE REALIZED EVERYBODY
CAN'T CELEBRATE BECAUSE
EVERYBODY IS STILL DEALING WITH
FOOD, INSECURITIES, ALL ACROSS
CALIFORNIA, AND TO HAVE THESE
SPACES AND THESE CONVERSATIONS
ARE REALLY GERMANE AND
IMPORTANT, SO THAT ONE, THAT WE
MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE HAVE FOOD
AND HAVE QUALITY FOOD, AND
THAT'S WHY I SUPPORT FARMER'S
MARKETS AND THINGS OF THAT
NATURE. I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT
MEANS TO BE HUNGRY. MY MOTHER
ALWAYS SAID, IT MAY NOT BE WHAT
YOU WANT IN THE REFRIGERATOR,
BUT IT'S FOOD, SOME PEOPLE DON'T
EVEN HAVE THAT. AND WE NEED TO
DO EVERYTHING WE CAN AS
GOVERNMENT TO PROVIDE AND MAKE
SURE THAT THERE'S SPACES AND
NEEDS ARE BEING MET. BECAUSE
THIS DIRECT CORRELATION WITH THE
UNHOUSED AS WELL. SO THANK YOU
VERY MUCH FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP IN
THIS SPACE. AND I WOULD LOVE TO
BE CONSIDERED AS A COAUTHOR OF
THE BILL. ABSOLUTELY. WOULD YOU
LIKE TO CLOSE, THIS IS A
CRITICAL ISSUE, WE ARE SEEING
MULTIPLE DATA POINTS THAT WE'RE
HEADED IN THE WRONG DIRECTION
WHEN IT COMES TO FOOD INSECURITY
, WHEN YOU TALK TO FOOD BANKS,
THEY'RE RUNNING OUT OF SUPPLIES,
WE'VE GOT TO TURN THIS SHIP
AROUND, OR WE'RE REALLY GOING TO
BE IN TROUBLE. I RESPECTFULLY
ASK FOR AN AYE VOTE. THANK YOU,
WE HAVE A MOTION FROM MR. GIBSON
AND A SECOND FROM MYSELF, MADAM
SECRETARY, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
THE MOTION IS TO PASS TO THE
ASSEMBLY APPROPRIATIONS
COMMITTEE. LEE. EASILY, EASILY I
CALDERON I CALDERON I GIBSON. I
GIBSON I JACKSON I JACKSON I
MATHIS ORTEGA I FORGOT I GET TO
VOTE ON MY OWN BILL. AND THAT
BILL GETS OUT. WE'LL LEAVE THE
ROLL OPEN. OKAY. THANK YOU SO
MUCH. THANK YOU. ABSOLUTELY IF
YOU WE HAVE ANY AUTHORS THAT
HAVE BILLS BEFORE THE HUMAN
SERVICES COMMITTEE, PLEASE MAKE
YOUR WAY TO THE COMMITTEE ROOM
.
SO WE CAN WE'RE GOING TO DO THE
CONSENT CALENDAR. MADAM
SECRETARY, WHEN YOU'RE READY
.
THANK YOU. ASSEMBLY CALDERON,
FOR FILLING IN, WE'RE ABOUT TO
MOVE TO THE CONSENT CALENDAR.
CAN I GET A MOTION AND A SECOND
ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR? ALL
RIGHT. THE CONSENT CALENDARS ARE
PROPERLY MOVED AND SECONDED.
MADAM SECRETARY, PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL BILLS ON THE CONSENT
CALENDAR FILE. ITEM TWO AB 1907.
PELLERIN FILE ITEM THREE AB 1913
ADUS FILE ITEM SIX AB 2033 REYES
FILE ITEM SEVEN AB 2137
QUIRK-SILVA FILE ITEM NINE AB
2207 REYES FILE ITEM TEN AB 2218
SANTIAGO FILE ITEM 13 AB 2343
SCHIAVO FILE ITEM 14 AB 2381
BONTA FILE ITEM 18 AB 2508
MCCARTY FILE ITEM 19 AB 2520
RAMOS FILE ITEM 22 AB 2732.
PAPIN FILE ITEM 24 AB 2795
ARAMBULA FILE ITEM 25 AB 2818
MATHIS FILE ITEM NUMBER 26 AB
2830. SPEAKER RIVAS FILE ITEM 27
AB 29291 CARILLO FILE ITEM 28 AB
2935 MAIENSCHEIN FILE ITEM 29 AB
3049 BRIAN FILE ITEM 32 AB 3223
WILSON. FILE ITEM 33 AB 3229 LEE
FILE ITEM 34 AB 3291. COMMITTEE
ON HUMAN SERVICES. ON THE
CONSENT CALENDAR, LEE I LI I
EASILY, EASILY I CALDERON I
CALDERON I GIBSON GIBSON I
JACKSON. JACKSON I MATHIS ORTEGA
5 TO 0. WE'LL LEAVE THE ROLL
OPEN FOR ABSENT MEMBERS. NOW
WE'LL MOVE ON TO FILE ITEM 23
FOR ASSEMBLY. CALDERON'S BILL A
B AB 2752. WHENEVER YOU'RE
READY, ASSEMBLY MEMBER. THANK
YOU, MR. CHAIR. AND MEMBERS, I
WOULD LIKE TO START BY THANKING
THE COMMITTEE FOR WORKING WITH
MY STAFF ON THIS BILL, AND I
WILL BE ACCEPTING THE COMMITTEE
AMENDMENTS. ASSEMBLY BILL 2752
WOULD REQUIRE THE JUVENILE COURT
TO SET THE FREQUENCY AND
DURATION OF FAMILY VISITATION AT
THE INITIAL PETITION HEARING.
WHEN A CHILD IS FIRST PLACED IN
THE CALIFORNIA WELFARE SERVICES
SYSTEM AT SUBSEQUENT HEARINGS,
THE BILL REQUIRES A COURT TO
ORDER UNSUPERVISED FAMILY VISITS
UNLESS THE COURT FINDS THAT
UNSUPERVISED VISITATION WILL
HARM THE PHYSICAL OR EMOTIONAL
HEALTH OF A CHILD, REQUIRING
SUPERVISED VISITATION WITHOUT
CONSIDERING THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF
THE SEPARATION INCREASES THE
MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL TRAUMA
CREATED BY THE SEPARATION OF A
FILE OF A CHILD FROM THEIR
FAMILY. WITH ME IN SUPPORT OF AB
2752 IS CHRISTINE CURTIS, ON
BEHALF OF THE LOS ANGELES
DEPENDENCY LAWYERS, AND DAVE
SCHUSTER, A MENTOR PROGRAM
MANAGER. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. TWO MINUTES EACH,
PLEASE. THANK YOU. GOOD
AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS CHRISTINA
CURTIS AND I'M A SUPERVISING
ATTORNEY WITH THE LOS ANGELES
DEPENDENCY LAWYERS AND HAVE
ADVOCATED FOR FAMILIES FOR 17
YEARS. I'M HERE TODAY TO DISCUSS
WITH YOU THE IMPORTANCE OF AB
2752. THERE ARE MANY TIMES WHERE
A CHILD NEEDS TO BE REMOVED FROM
A HOME, NOT BECAUSE A PARENT
POSES A RISK TO THE CHILD, BUT
BECAUSE THE HOME SETTING IS
UNSAFE. YET THE WELFARE AND
INSTITUTIONS CODE IS CURRENTLY
SILENT ON WHAT FAMILY TIME
SHOULD LOOK LIKE AND WHAT
FACTORS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED
WHEN ORDERING THOSE VISITS BE
SUPERVISED. THIS HAS CAUSED
COURTS TO ARBITRARILY ORDER THAT
FAMILY TIME BE MONITORED, WHILE
LEAVING FREQUENCY AND SETTING OF
THE VISITS AT THE DISCRETION OF
THE SOCIAL WORKER. UNDER
FORTUNATELY, SUPERVISED VISITS
ARE INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT TO
SCHEDULE AND OFTEN LEAVE
CHILDREN WITH NO CONTACT WITH
THEIR PARENTS FOR WEEKS. WHILE
THE SOCIAL WORKER SCRAMBLES TO
FIND A SUITABLE MONITOR FOR THE
VISIT. WHEN THE FAMILY TIME IS
FINALLY SCHEDULED, MANY OF OUR
PARENTS ARE THEN FORCED TO SPEND
THEIR VISITATION IN PLACES NOT
CONDUCIVE TO FAMILY TIME. IT'S
IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT
FAMILY SEPARATION IS THE MOST
DEVASTATING THING THAT A FAMILY
CAN GO THROUGH. FAMILY TIME
PROVIDES A CRUCIAL OPPORTUNITY
FOR YOUNG CHILDREN IN FOSTER
CARE AND THEIR PARENTS TO HAVE
MEANINGFUL INTERACTIONS THAT
COULD FORM AND REPAIR POSITIVE,
HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS. THE GOAL
OF FAMILY TIME IS TO PERMIT THE
CHILD AND PARENT TO KEEP THE
OTHER A LIVING PRESENCE IN THEIR
LIVES, TO SUPPORT THE ATTACHMENT
RELATIONSHIP AND TO IMPROVE THE
PARENTS RESPONSIVENESS TO THE
CHILD'S NEEDS. YET THIS IS A
HARD GOAL TO ACHIEVE WHEN FAMILY
TIME IS SCHEDULED. ONE TIME A
WEEK IN A SOCIAL WORKERS OFFICE.
IN 2020, THE US DEPARTMENT OF
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
ADMINISTRATION ON CHILDREN,
YOUTH AND FAMILIES PUBLISHED
OFFICIAL GUIDANCE STATING THAT
IT SHOULD BE PRESUMED THAT
FAMILY TIME SHOULD BE
UNSUPERVISED, ABSENT AND
IDENTIFIED PRESENT DANGER OF
HARM. AND THIS IS WHY AB 2752 IS
SO IMPORTANT WITH THE PROPOSED
CHANGES TO THE WELFARE AND
INSTITUTIONS CODE, COURTS WILL
FINALLY HAVE GUIDANCE ON WHAT
VISITATION ORDERS THEY NEED TO
MAKE THAT THAT THAT THEY NEED TO
MAKE THAT ACTUALLY ENCOURAGE
FAMILY REUNIFICATION. FOR THESE
REASONS, I URGE YOU TO VOTE YES
ON AB 2752 TODAY. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT
WITNESS, PLEASE. GOOD AFTERNOON,
HONORABLE CHAIR AND COMMITTEE
MEMBERS. MY NAME IS DAVE
SCHUSTER AND I'M A FORMER PARENT
IN THE DEPENDENCY SYSTEM AND
CURRENTLY EMPLOYED AS DAX
MENTOR, PARENT PROGRAM MANAGER.
I WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS MY
PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WITH
VISITATION AND ITS IMPACT ON MY
FAMILY, WHICH UNDERSCORES WHY
VOTING AYE ON AB 2752 IS SO
IMPORTANT. WE WERE TOLD VISITS
WOULD BE MONITORED FOR A TIME TO
ASSESS THE SAFETY FOR MY
DAUGHTER. THIS WAS COMPLETELY
UNWARRANTED AND THE TRAUMA FROM
THIS EXPERIENCE STILL HAUNTS HER
. OUR VISITS WERE DONE IN AN OLD
OFFICE BUILDING WITH BROKEN TOYS
AND BOOKS WITH PAGES MISSING. WE
FELT WE COULDN'T COMPLAIN. WE
WERE FINALLY ABLE TO HUG OUR
CHILD, AND WE DIDN'T WANT TO
RISK THIS IN ANY WAY. SOME OF
THE OFFICES HAD WINDOWS, NOT
SURE IF THIS WAS A GOOD THING
BECAUSE IT WAS A CONSTANT
REMINDER OF WHAT WE USED TO DO
AS A FAMILY AND FEARED WE WOULD
NEVER DO AGAIN. I WOULD VISIT MY
SEVEN YEAR OLD DAUGHTER TWO
TIMES A WEEK FOR TWO HOURS, AND
THE MOTHER VISITED THE SAME ON
THE SAME DAY, KEEPING A VERY
ACTIVE SEVEN YEAR OLD CHILD
OCCUPIED FOR FOUR HOURS. A VISIT
WAS AN UNFAIR AND RIDICULOUS
TEST OF PARENTING, ESPECIALLY
WITH LIMITED SPACE AND
ACTIVITIES, NOT TO MENTION
WHATEVER WE BROUGHT WAS
THOROUGHLY INSPECTED AND
SCRUTINIZED. MY DAUGHTER WAS
MOST UNCOMFORTABLE WITH THE
MONITORS OF THE VISITS. THEY
WOULD SIT IN THE DOORWAY WITH
THE COMPUTER, TYPING EVERY WORD
THAT WAS SAID BETWEEN US, AND
THIS MADE MY DAUGHTER VERY
UNCOMFORTABLE AND HELPED HER TO
WITHDRAW. WE WOULD, SHE WOULD
WHISPER TO ME, JUST TO BE TOLD,
YOU CAN'T WHISPER. YOU NEED TO
SPEAK UP. I HAVE NEVER FELT SO
POWERLESS AND SHAMEFUL AND
RIDDLED WITH GUILT SINCE WE WERE
THERE BECAUSE OF OUR ACTIONS AND
OUR ADDICTION. UNFORTUNATELY, MY
CHILD PAID THE PRICE FOR THIS
AND STILL CONTINUES TODAY
DESPITE TESTING CLEAN AND
COMPLYING WITH OUR CASE PLAN.
SUPERVISED VISITS CONTINUED FOR
SEVEN MONTHS AT ANY POINT. MY
PARENTS, WHOM MY DAUGHTER WAS
PLACED WITH, COULD HAVE
SUPERVISED HER VISITS IN THEIR
HOME OR IN A NEARBY PARK. THESE
SUGGESTIONS WERE ALWAYS
DISREGARDED AND TOLD BY THE
DEPARTMENT. IT'S NOT YET TIME.
LET'S CHANGE THAT. VOTE AYE ON
AB 2752 AND PROTECT THE CHILD'S
RIGHT TO FAMILY TIME. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. NOW, ARE THERE ANY
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO WISH
TO TESTIFY IN SUPPORT OF THE
BILL? PLEASE COME FORWARD TO THE
MICROPHONE. YES, KEVIN. ASEAN
COALITION, CALIFORNIA WELFARE
RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS, STRONG
SUPPORT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
JULIE HANNIGAN, DEPENDENCY LEGAL
SERVICES PROUD CO-SPONSOR AND
STRONG SUPPORT. JULIE MCCORMICK,
CHILDREN'S LAW CENTER OF
CALIFORNIA IN SUPPORT. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. NOW, DO WE HAVE ANY
WITNESSES? OPPOSITION, PLEASE
COME FORWARD. OKAY YEAH, WE DID,
WE DID.
GOOD AFTERNOON, AMANDA KERSHNER,
ON BEHALF OF THE COUNTY WELFARE
DIRECTORS ASSOCIATION, WE ARE
CURRENTLY IN AN OPPOSED POSITION
ON THE BILL, BUT THAT DOES NOT
REFLECT THE CURRENT AMENDMENTS
THAT THE AUTHOR HAS AGREED TO
TAKE. OUR LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE
IS STILL GOING TO BE REVIEWING
THOSE. I WILL NOTE THAT WHILE
MOST OF OUR COUNTY OFFICES DO
TRY AND MAKE A VERY FAMILY
FRIENDLY VISITING, YOU KNOW, WE
ALWAYS TRY AND DO BETTER AND I
THINK OUR WORK ON THIS BILL, IS,
IS SHOWING THAT WE'RE TRYING TO
GET TO A GOOD PLACE WITH THE
AUTHOR. AND SO WE'LL JUST
CONTINUE THOSE CONVERSATIONS.
VERY GOOD. THANK YOU. NOW, ARE
THERE ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
WHO WISH TO ADD THEIR OPPOSITION
TO THIS BILL? PLEASE COME
FORWARD. SEEING NONE, BRING IT
BACK TO THE COMMITTEE. THE BILL
HAS BEEN PROPERLY MOVED AND
SECONDED. ANY QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS? ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU,
VICE CHAIR SALIH. SURE. JUST TO
ASK THE OPPOSITION QUESTION. SO
HOW DO YOU GUYS DETERMINE WHEN
TO DO SUPERVISED VISITATION? SO
IT'S BASED ON A NUMBER OF
FACTORS, INCLUDING WHY THE CHILD
WAS REMOVED AND ALSO ANY OTHER
SORTS OF THINGS THAT MIGHT BE
GOING ON, INCLUDING WHETHER OR
NOT THE PARENT HAS, A RESIDENCE
WHERE THE CHILD IS PLACED, SORT
OF A HOLISTIC LOOK. SO IT'S LIKE
A CASE BY CASE BASIS. YES. AND
WOULD YOU SAY YOUR AGENCY'S GOAL
IS TO AVOID SUPERVISED VISITS IF
POSSIBLE, OR DO YOU GUYS DO YOU
GUYS, LIKE, TRY TO MAKE
EVERYTHING SUPERVISED? YEAH SO A
NUMBER OF OUR COUNTIES,
INCLUDING LOS ANGELES, DO TRY
AND START FROM A PLACE OF
UNSUPERVISED VISITS AND THEN
MITIGATE BASED ON ANY OTHER
ISSUES THAT ARE GOING ON IN THE
HOME, AND WITH THE FAMILY
THAT'S, THAT'S HAPPENING. I KNOW
THAT'S NOT THE CASE IN EVERY
COUNTY AND THAT WE CAN ALWAYS DO
BETTER ABOUT THAT, BUT I WOULD
LIKE TO NOTE THAT SUPERVISED
VISITATION ISN'T NECESSARILY
LIKE A PUNISHMENT. OFTENTIMES WE
USE IT AS A TOOL IN ORDER TO SEE
HOW THE CHILD AND THE FAMILY ARE
INTERACTING BETWEEN THE PARENTS
AND TO SEE, LIKE, HOW THE
PARENTS ARE DOING, IF THEY'RE,
BEING ABLE TO PUT TOWARDS THE
CHILD SOME OF THEIR PARENTING
SKILLS THAT THEY'RE LEARNING IN
THEIR SERVICES AND THINGS LIKE
THAT. SO WE CAN JUDGE
INTERACTIONS. I'M NOT AWARE WHAT
WERE THE AMENDMENTS THAT WERE
THAT WERE TAKEN. MAY I FIRST
JUST RESPOND? OH, OF COURSE.
THANK YOU, I AGAIN I'VE BEEN
WORKING IN THIS FIELD FOR ABOUT
16, 17 YEARS AT THIS POINT,
FORTUNATELY, MY EXPERIENCE HAS
BEEN COMPLETELY DIFFERENT IN
MOST CASES, WHENEVER A CHILD IS
REMOVED FROM A PARENT, ALMOST
ALWAYS THE RECOMMENDATION WILL
BE SUPERVISED VISITS. THE
PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE, THOUGH, IS
SOMETIMES WE HAVE PARENTS THAT
CAN'T HAVE A CHILD IN THEIR CARE
BECAUSE SIMPLY THEY'RE HOMELESS
OR THEIR HOUSE POSES A RISK.
NONETHELESS, THE RECOMMENDATION
WILL STILL BE SUPERVISED WITHOUT
LOOKING AT THE SPECIFIC
CIRCUMSTANCES THAT THAT FAMILY
IS GOING THROUGH. SO THE
EXPERIENCE THAT I'VE SEEN AND
THE REASON WHY WE THINK THIS
BILL IS IMPORTANT, IS BECAUSE WE
ARE NOT SEEING, THE, THE
DEPARTMENT, CHILD PROTECTIVE
SERVICES ACTUALLY USING THEIR
DISCRETION OR REQUESTING
UNSUPERVISED VISITS ON A REGULAR
BASIS. WHICH COUNTY DO YOU
INTERFACE WITH? LOS ANGELES, LOS
ANGELES. OKAY. AND THEY'RE NOT
NECESSARILY THE BEST. I MEAN,
IT'S THE BIGGEST CHILD
REGULATION SYSTEM IN CALIFORNIA.
YEAH. I MEAN, THERE'S A POOR BOY
WHO WAS MURDERED UNDER THEIR
WATCH. SO YES. OKAY. SO, THE
FIRST AMENDMENT REMOVES THE
NOTION OF SUBSTANTIAL DANGER TO
UNSUPERVISED VISITATION WOULD
POSE A RISK. Ó, SO. AND THE
RATIONALE WAS SUBSTANTIAL DANGER
WOULD REQUIRE A TYPE OF EVIDENCE
THAT MAY BE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT
TO GENERATE. THE COURT IN THIS
CASE WOULD HAVE TO DECIDE WHAT
IS MODERATE DANGER COMPARED TO
SUBSTANTIAL DANGER. AND THIS
AMENDMENT WAS TAKEN TO AVOID ANY
EXTREMITIES. WHILE KEEPING THE
INTEREST OF THE CHILD IN MIND.
AND THEN THE SECOND AMENDMENT
REMOVES LANGUAGE STATING THAT A
DETERMINATION THAT A GUARDIAN
WAS NON-CUSTODIAL, OR THE CHILD
DOESN'T HAVE AN ESTABLISHED
RELATIONSHIP WITH THEIR GUARDIAN
CANNOT BE THE ONLY REASON
UNSUPERVISED VISITS ARE DENIED,
AND THE RATIONALE IS THAT THIS
AMENDMENT WAS TAKEN AS IT
CREATES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR
AMBIGUOUS SITUATIONS. FOR
EXAMPLE, THIS WOULD ALLOW A
CHILD WHO HAS ONLY KNOWN THEIR
GUARDIAN BRIEFLY OR ON AN ON AND
OFF BASIS TO HAVE UNSUPERVISED
VISITS. THIS AMENDMENT WAS TAKEN
WHILE KEEPING THE BEST INTERESTS
OF THE CHILD AT HEART. OKAY, I
APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU.
YOU'RE WELCOME. ALL RIGHT. THANK
YOU SO MUCH FOR BRINGING THE
BILL FORWARD. IT'S AN IMPORTANT
STEP IN ENSURING THAT FAMILIES
INVOLVED IN THE CHILD WELFARE
SYSTEM ARE GIVEN AN ADEQUATE
ACCESS TO FAMILY TIME. I'M
RECOMMENDING AN AYE VOTE, WOULD
YOU LIKE TO CLOSE
CENTRALCALLEGAL? YES, I JUST
WANT TO SAY AGAIN, THANK THE
COMMITTEE STAFF FOR WORKING WITH
MY STAFF, ON THE AMENDMENTS. AND
I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO
WORK WITH OPPOSITION ON THIS
BILL. FANTASTIC I RESPECTFULLY
ASK FOR AN AYE VOTE. THANK YOU.
THE BILLS ARE PROPERLY MOVED AND
SECONDED. MADAM SECRETARY,
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON AB 2752.
THE MOTION IS TO PASS AS AMENDED
, TO THE ASSEMBLY APPROPRIATIONS
COMMITTEE. LI LI I AZALI. AZALI.
NOT VOTING. CALDERON I CALDERON
I GIBSON. GIBSON, I, JACKSON.
MATHIS. ORTEGA THAT BILL WILL
LEAVE ON CALL. NEXT WE WILL MOVE
ON TO FILE ITEM 21
ASSEMBLYMEMBERS B¢O. IF YOU ARE
READY, WHENEVER YOU ARE, PLEASE
COME UP TO THE TO THE DESK
.
FOR THE BILL. THANK YOU, THANK
YOU, CHAIR. MEMBERS, I'M PROUD
TODAY TO PRESENT AB 2704. THIS
BILL WILL HELP STREAMLINE ENTRY
INTO THE IN-HOME SUPPORTIVE
SERVICES WORKFORCE. AI,
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS IHS. AS THERE
ARE NUMEROUS BARRIERS TO ENTRY
INTO THE IHS WORKFORCE, ONE OF
WHICH IS THE FEES ASSOCIATED
WITH FINGERPRINTING AND CRIMINAL
BACKGROUND CHECK PROCESSES FOR
PROSPECTIVE IHS PROVIDERS, SOME
WORKFORCES, SUCH AS NONPROFIT
HUMAN RESOURCE AGENCIES AND
NONPROFIT YOUTH ORGANIZATIONS,
ARE ABLE TO WAIVE THE COSTS OF
BACKGROUND CHECKS FOR
PROSPECTIVE WORKERS, WHILE
OTHERS MAY HAVE BILLING ACCOUNTS
SET UP AS A WAY FOR APPLICANTS
TO COMPLETE THE BACKGROUND CHECK
AND FINGERPRINTING PROCESS AT A
LIVE SCAN SITE. CURRENT LAW
REQUIRES PROSPECTIVE IHS
PROVIDERS NOT ALREADY ON A
REGISTRY TO COMPLETE
FINGERPRINTING, AND A CRIMINAL
BACKGROUND CHECK AS PRIOR AS
PART OF THE PROVIDER AND
ENROLLMENT PROCESS. THE FEES
ASSOCIATED WITH FINGERPRINTING
AND BACKGROUND CHECKS ARE
CURRENTLY BORNE BY THE
APPLICANT, RATHER THAN THE
EMPLOYER OR THE COUNTY. WHILE
FINGERPRINTING AND BACKGROUND
CHECK FEES VARY, PROSPECTIVE IHS
PROVIDERS FIND THEMSELVES PAYING
UPWARDS OF 40 TO $90 OR MORE OUT
OF POCKET TO APPLY FOR AN IHS
POSITION. IT IS AN UNJUST
PRACTICE AND A BARRIER TO
PROVIDING NEEDED CARE TO
UNFAIRLY BURDEN WORKERS WHO WILL
BE MAKING JUST OVER MINIMUM
WAGE. WITH THE COST OF THESE
BACKGROUND CHECKS, ESPECIALLY
WHEN IT IS COMMON PRACTICE THAT
THE FEES ARE BORNE BY EMPLOYERS
IN PRIVATE SECTOR EMPLOYMENT
RELATIONSHIPS. AB 2704
ALLEVIATES THE FINANCIAL BURDEN
ON PROSPECTIVE IHS PROVIDERS BY
SHIFTING THE RESPONSIBILITY OF
COVERING THE CALIFORNIA
DEPARTMENT, $32 COST ASSOCIATED
WITH CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECKS
FROM THE PROSPECTIVE IHS
PROVIDER TO THE DOJ. THIS DOES
NOT AFFECT THE FEES CHARGED BY
INDEPENDENT LIVE SCAN LOCATIONS
TO PROCESS BACKGROUND CHECKS.
THE IHS PROGRAM IS A VITAL
LIFELINE FOR OVER 740,000
CALIFORNIANS, PROVIDING
ESSENTIAL DOMESTIC LONG TERME
CARE SERVICES WHICH EQUIP LOW
INCOME CALIFORNIANS TO REMAIN
SAFELY IN THEIR HOMES, ENSURES
THAT THEY RECEIVE LIFE SAVING
CARE AND EMPOWERS THEM TO LIVE
WITH DIGNITY BY 2030, THERE WILL
BE OVER 1 MILLION INDIVIDUALS
WHO WILL NEED LONG TERME
SERVICES AND SUPPORTS, PRIMARILY
INCLUDING INCLUDING IHS,
REMOVING BARRIERS TO ENTRY INTO
THIS WORKFORCE SHOULD BE A
PRIORITY FOR THE STATE, AND THIS
BILL FURTHERS THAT GOAL BY
STREAMLINING THIS PROCESS. I
APPRECIATE THE COMMITTEE'S
ANALYSIS OF THE BILL AND AGREE
TO ACCEPT THE COMMITTEE
AMENDMENTS AS IT RELATES TO
CLARIFYING INTENT LANGUAGE. I
ASK FOR YOUR VOTE AT THE
APPROPRIATE TIME, AND WITH ME
TODAY ARE MALIK BYNUM, ASSISTANT
LEGISLATIVE DIRECTOR OF ACP
LOCAL 39, 3930, AND JANICE
O'MALLEY. O'MALLEY, LEGISLATIVE
ADVOCATE FOR ACP CALIFORNIA. TO
THE SPONSOR AND CO-SPONSOR OF
THE BILL TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION AND ASSIST WITH
QUESTIONS. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. TWO MINUTES PER
PERSON, PLEASE. THANK YOU.
ASSEMBLYMEMBERS BÀN. THANK YOU,
MR. CHAIR, FOR THE HEARING THIS
AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS MALIK
BYNUM, ASSISTANT LEGISLATIVE
DIRECTOR FOR UNITED DOMESTIC
WORKERS, LOCAL 3930,
REPRESENTING OVER 171,000 HOME
CARE AND CHILD CARE PROVIDERS
ACROSS THE STATE. PROUD TO BE
HERE. CO-SPONSORING AB 2704 WITH
THEIR ASSEMI FAMILY, A BILL THAT
AIMS AT BOLSTERING THE IHSS
WORKFORCE BY REMOVING THE DOJ OR
THE DOJ BACKGROUND CHECK FEE FOR
HOME CARE PROVIDERS. IT'S NO
SECRET THAT THE IHS WORKFORCE
HAS LONG BEEN OVERWORKED,
UNDERSERVED AND UNDERSTAFFED.
SINCE ITS INCEPTION. ROOTED IN
LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES OF COLOR
TO CARE FOR OVER 760,000 AGED
AND DISABLED RECIPIENTS. THE IHS
PROGRAM CURRENTLY HAS NEARLY
100,000 LESS HOME CARE WORKERS
TO PROVIDE THIS LIFE SAVING CARE
. THIS NUMBER IS ONLY GOING TO
GROW LARGER AND FASTER BY 2030,
AND CURRENT EFFORTS TO RECRUIT
AND RETAIN IHS WORKERS IS
INSUFFICIENT. NOW ONE OF THE
BIGGEST CHALLENGES IS THE NATURE
OF THIS WORK. IT'S DIFFICULT
WORK. IT ISN'T PRETTY BY ANY
MEANS, BUT IT IS A LIFE SAVING
RESOURCE THAT HUNDREDS OF
THOUSANDS OF FAMILIES RELY ON TO
CARE FOR THEIR LOVED ONES. IN
ADDITION TO THE DEMANDING AND
SENSITIVE NATURE OF PROVIDING
IHS, THIS IS A LOW INCOME
WORKFORCE THAT IN MANY CASES,
WORKERS ARE BEING PAID JUST OVER
MINIMUM WAGE. THEREFORE, THE
BACKGROUND CHECK FEE ITSELF
PRESENTS A SERIOUS FINANCIAL
CHALLENGE TO THESE INDIVIDUALS
LOOKING TO ENTER THE WORKFORCE,
WHICH IS PRIMARILY WOMEN AND
WOMEN OF COLOR. AS THE AUTHOR
STATED, THERE ARE OTHER
WORKFORCES WHO HAVE DOJ
BACKGROUND CHECK FEE WAIVERS IN
PLACE, SUCH AS CERTAIN
NONPROFITS AND THOSE WHO WORK
FOR YOUTH ORGANIZATIONS. IN
ADDITION, WORKERS IN CALIFORNIA
STATE CIVIL SERVICE DO NOT HAVE
TO PAY FOR THEIR BACKGROUND
CHECKS. IHS WORKERS HAVE NO SUCH
LUXURY. THEY SIMPLY EAT THIS
COST AS A PREREQUISITE FOR
EMPLOYMENT CONSIDERATION, WHEN
THEY OTHERWISE COULD HAVE USED
THAT MONEY FOR OTHER ESSENTIAL
EXPENSES. THIS UNJUST PRACTICE
IS HISTORICALLY IN LINE WITH
CALIFORNIA'S LACK OF
ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF THE IHS WORKER
OF THE IHS WORKFORCE AS ONE OF
OUR MOST ESSENTIAL AND CRITICAL
FRONTLINE WORKFORCES.
FURTHERMORE, IN THE 2020 STATE
AUDIT OF THE IHS PROGRAM, OVER
HALF OF THE COUNTY IHS PROGRAM
DIRECTORS STATED THAT A
CAREGIVER'S INABILITY TO GET
THEIR BACKGROUND CHECK WAS A
REASON WHY THEIR COUNTY HAD A
SHORTAGE OF CAREGIVERS, EVEN
PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC. THIS IS A
REAL ISSUE AMONGST A NUMBER OF
OTHER REASONS WHY WE'RE
STRUGGLING TO RECRUIT IHS
WORKERS INTO THE PROGRAM. AND
CALIFORNIA HAS AN INNATE DUTY TO
OUR MOST VULNERABLE POPULATIONS
TO ENSURE THAT THEY ARE BEING
CARED FOR THE WAY THEY NEED TO
IN ORDER TO LIVE COMFORTABLY. IN
ORDER TO DO SO, WE NEED THE
PROPER PROVIDER WORKFORCE. WE
SEE THE REMOVAL OF THE DOJ
BACKGROUND CHECK FEE AS A MAJOR
FIRST STEP IN, AND IMPROVING
PROVIDER RECRUITMENT EFFORTS.
WHEN WE'RE SEEING A VAST AMOUNT
OF RECIPIENT GROWTH WITHIN THE
PROGRAM. FOR THESE REASONS, I
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOUR AYE
VOTE AND HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY
QUESTIONS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
HELLO, CHAIR MEMBERS JANICE
O'MALLEY WITH AFSCME CALIFORNIA,
JUST, HAPPY KHÓ SPONSORS ON THE
BILL AND, CAN TAKE ANY TECHNICAL
QUESTIONS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE.
GREAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. DO WE
HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL MEMBERS OF
THE PUBLIC WHO WISH TO ADD THEIR
SUPPORT TO THE BILL? PLEASE COME
UP TO THE MICROPHONE. TIFFANY
WHEATON, SEIU CALIFORNIA IN
SUPPORT. THANK YOU. KIM
ROTHCHILD, CALIFORNIA
ASSOCIATION OF PUBLIC
AUTHORITIES FOR IHSS IN SUPPORT
AS LONG AS IT RETAINS NO COST TO
THE COUNTY. AMANDA KERSHNER WITH
SWDA. WE ARE LISTED IN
OPPOSITION, BUT OUR LEGISLATIVE
COMMITTEE MET ON FRIDAY AND
REMOVED THAT OPPOSITION. SO
WE'LL BE UPDATING OUR LETTER.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU. NOW DO WE
HAVE ANY ANY WITNESSES IN
OPPOSITION TO BILL? PLEASE COME
FORWARD. ANY MEMBERS OF THE
PUBLIC WHO WISH TO OPPOSE THE
BILL? SEEING NONE. I'LL BRING IT
BACK TO THE COMMITTEE. ANY
QUESTIONS? COMMENTS MR. GIBSON,
REAL QUICK, I WANT TO THANK THE
AUTHOR FOR BRINGING THIS BEFORE
US. WE JUST HAD A SIMILAR BILL
WITH A SIMILAR MEMBER TING
DEALING WITH SOME BARRIERS, THAT
ISIS WORKERS ARE GOING THROUGH,
AROUND BACKGROUND CHECKS AND
THINGS OF THAT NATURE. AND I WAS
UNAWARE THAT OTHER ENTITIES HAVE
WAIVERS. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH
FOR BRINGING, BRINGING THAT OUT
BEFORE US. AND I DO THINK THAT
ONE IS UNFAIR BECAUSE AS YOU
MADE MENTIONED, THEY'RE NOT
MAKING A LOT OF MONEY. BUT WE
APPRECIATE THEM BECAUSE THEY DO
WORK THAT SOME FAMILY MEMBERS
DON'T WANT TO DO OR DON'T HAVE
THE TIME TO DO FOR THEIR LOVED
ONES. AND CERTAINLY WANT TO
REMOVE A BARRIER, ESPECIALLY AS
MINUTE THE COST MAY BE IT STILL
MAKES A DIFFERENCE, IN TERMS OF
PAYING A BILL, PUTTING GASOLINE
IN A CAR OR WHATEVER. AND SO WE
SHOULD DO THAT, ESPECIALLY
BECAUSE THESE ARE TRUSTED CARE
WORKERS AND THEY TEND TO BE
CERTAINLY WOMEN OF COLOR. AND
CERTAINLY I SUPPORT IT AND WOULD
LOVE TO BE CONSIDERED AS A
JOINT, NOT A CO, BUT A JOINT.
THANK YOU. OKAY THANK YOU. I'M
SORRY. I'M JUST VERY SPECIFIC.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ANY OTHER
QUESTIONS COMMENTS. SEEING NONE
I INVITE THE AUTHOR TO CLOSE. I
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOUR AYE
VOTE. WELL THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
BRINGING THE BILL FORWARD. WE
KNOW THAT THERE ARE SHORTAGE.
THERE IS A SHORTAGE OF IHS
PROVIDERS. REDUCING BARRIERS TO
BECOMING AN IHS PROVIDER IS KEY
TO ENCOURAGING MORE PROVIDERS, I
RECOMMENDING AN AYE AS AMENDED
VOTE. AND I REALLY WANT TO THANK
YOU AND YOUR STAFF FOR WORKING
WITH THE COMMITTEE ON THE
COMMITTEE BILL AS WELL. SO WE
HAVE THE BILL HAS BEEN MOVED BY
SENATOR GIBSON AND SECONDED BY
ASSEMBLY MEMBER CALDERON. MADAM
SECRETARY, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
THE MOTION IS TO PASS, AS
AMENDED, TO THE ASSEMBLY
APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE. LI I,
LI I ASSALI CALDERON. CALDERON
I, GIBSON I, GIBSON I, JACKSON.
MATHIS ORTEGA. ORTEGA I 4 TO 0.
THAT BILL IS OUT AND WE'LL LEAVE
THE ROLL OPEN FOR ABSENT
MEMBERS. THANK YOU. NOW WE SHALL
MOVE ON TO ASSEMBLY MEMBER
BRIAN'S BILL. FILE ITEM 31 AB
3145. MOVING THE BILL. SECOND TO
COMMITTEE, SAME TIME. THANK YOU.
GOOD AFTERNOON. AFTERNOON MR.
CHAIR AND COLLEAGUES, I WANT TO
FIRST THANK THE COMMITTEE STAFF
FOR ALL OF THEIR INCREDIBLE WORK
ON THIS BILL. I KNOW THAT IT HAS
BEEN A JOURNEY, AS IT IS WHEN
WE'RE TRYING TO DO GOOD THINGS.
AB 3145 BRINGS ACCOUNTABILITY
AND OVERSIGHT TO COURT. ORDERED
SERVICES FOR PARENTS IN THE
CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM. IN MOST
CASES, WHEN A CHILD IS REMOVED
FROM A PARENT'S CARE, A COURT
ORDERS THE PARENT INTO VARIETY
OF SERVICES TO ASSIST IN
REHABILITATION BEFORE THE CHILD
CAN BE RETURNED TO THEIR CARE.
THE PARENTS PROGRESS AND
COMPLETION OF THESE SERVICES
INFLUENCES A SOCIAL WORKERS
RECOMMENDATION ABOUT A PARENT'S
ABILITY TO SAFELY REUNIFY WITH
THEIR CHILD. JUDGES ALSO HEAVILY
RELY ON THIS INFORMATION WHEN
DECIDING TO EITHER PERMANENTLY
TERMINATE A PARENT'S RIGHT TO
THEIR CHILD, OR TO REUNIFY THE
CHILD. THESE SERVICES CAN COST
THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS PER COURSE,
MAKING THEM A FINANCIAL BURDEN
FOR PARENTS IN LA COUNTY AND FOR
TAXPAYERS AND OTHER COUNTIES
WITH ALREADY STRETCHED FOSTER
CARE BUDGETS. DESPITE THE HEAVY
EMPHASIS PLACED ON THESE
SERVICES AND THEIR COSTLY NATURE
, COUNTIES DO NOT TRACK THE
OUTCOMES AND MERITS OF THE
SERVICE PROVIDERS. AN LA TIMES
ARTICLE EARLIER THIS YEAR CALLED
OUT THAT LACK OF INFORMATION ON
THE EFFICACY OF SERVICES AND
SERVICE PROVIDERS. THIS WAS IN
RESPONSE TO THE DEATH OF TWO
CHILDREN INVOLVED WITH THE LOS
ANGELES DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN
AND FAMILY SERVICES. OUR CURRENT
SYSTEM FAILED THOSE CHILDREN AND
THEIR FAMILIES BY FAILING TO
PROVIDE THE PARENTS WITH
MEANINGFUL QUALITY, HELP TO
ADDRESS THE CAUSES AND TRAUMAS
THAT LED TO THEIR INVOLVEMENT
WITH THE CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM IN
THE FIRST PLACE. AB 3145 WILL
REQUIRE COUNTIES TO TRACK THEIR
SERVICE PROVIDERS RATES OF
SUCCESS, BYPASSING OR REDUCING
OUT OF HOME PLACEMENTS, AND TO
REPORT THOSE RATES TO THE
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES.
IT ALSO REQUIRES THE DEPARTMENT
TO MAKE THIS INFORMATION
PUBLICLY AVAILABLE. THIS
OVERSIGHT ENSURES A RESPONSIBLE
USE OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS. IT ALSO
ENSURES THAT WHEN A JUDGE MAKES
A LIFE ALTERING, PERMANENT
DECISION ABOUT A PARENT'S
ABILITY TO REUNITE WITH THEIR
CHILD, THEY ARE DOING SO WITH
THE ASSURANCE THAT THE PARENT
HAS RECEIVED QUALITY AND
EFFECTIVE SERVICES, NOT JUST THE
PACKET OF WORKSHEETS TO
COMPLETE. HERE TO TESTIFY IN
SUPPORT IS STEPHANIE ROBERSON ON
BEHALF OF MILES COOLEY, A FORMER
FOSTER YOUTH, AND ED HOWARD WITH
THE CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY
INSTITUTE IS ALSO HERE FOR
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE. THANK YOU,
MR. CHAIR. MEMBERS, STEPHANIE
ROBERSON WITH STEPHANIE ROBERSON
STRATEGIES, REPRESENTING
CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY INSTITUTE
AND PROUD SPONSORS OF AB 3145 BY
ASSEMBLY MEMBER BRIAN HERE TO
READ THE STATEMENT AND THE
PRINCIPAL WITNESS WHO
UNFORTUNATELY COULDN'T BE HERE
TODAY. SO MISTER CHAIR AND
MEMBERS, I APOLOGIZE. I CANNOT
APPEAR IN PERSON. MY NAME IS
MILES COOLEY. I'M AN ATTORNEY, A
PARTNER AT FRIEDMAN TATELMAN
COOLEY LLP, AND A FORMER FOSTER
CHILD. I LIVED AT THE SACRAMENTO
CHILDREN'S HOME HERE IN
SACRAMENTO. I SERVED ON THE
BOARD OF SEVERAL FOSTER CARE
ORGANIZATIONS, THE LAWYERS
COMMITTEE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS AND
I'M A PRO BONO COUNSEL WITH
PEACE FOR KIDS, A FOSTER YOUTH
NGO WORKING IN WATTS,
WILLOWBROOK AND SOUTH CENTRAL
LOS ANGELES. IN THE PAST, I'VE
WORKED TO SECURE FOSTER CARE
REFORM, INCLUDING WORKING TO
ENACT AB 12 AND MOST RECENTLY
PUSHED TO SECURE FUNDING FOR
LAWYERS FOR FOSTER CHILDREN TO
SAY THAT I AM ONE OF THE LUCKY
ONES IS AN UNDERSTATEMENT. MY
PARENTS WERE BOTH TEENAGERS.
WHEN I WAS FIVE. I FOUND MY
MOTHER DEAD FROM A DRUG
OVERDOSE. I ENTERED FOSTER CARE
AT AGE SIX. LIKE FAR TOO MANY OF
OUR FOSTER CHILDREN, I AM
AFRICAN-AMERICAN CHAIR MEMBERS
AB THREE 145, ILLUSTRATED BY
ASSEMBLY MEMBER BRIAN, IS ONE OF
THE MOST IMPORTANT FOSTER CARE
RELATED BILLS YOU WILL EVER
CONSIDER. AND I'LL TELL YOU WHY.
SPEND ANY TIME IN A DEPENDENCY
COURTROOM AND YOU WILL HEAR THE
WORD SERVICES QUITE A LOT.
THAT'S BECAUSE SUCH SERVICES
ARGUABLY PLAY THE MOST IMPORTANT
ROLE IN DETERMINING WHETHER OR
NOT A CHILD INVOLVED IN THE
CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM WILL BE
REUNITED WITH THEIR PARENTS, OR
HAVE THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH
THEIR PARENTS FOREVER SEVERED
AND BE PLACED INTO FOSTER CARE.
PARENTS ARE OFFERED SERVICES TO
FIX WHATEVER THE PROBLEM WAS
THAT THAT CAUSED THAT CHILD TO
GET INTO THE WELFARE WELFARE
SYSTEM IN THE FIRST PLACE. SO IF
IT'S DRUG ADDICTION, PARENTS ARE
OFFERED DRUG COUNSELING. IF IT'S
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, YOU GET ANGER
MANAGEMENT, NEGLECT, PARENTING
CLASSES. BUT THIS SPENDING IS
HEAVILY WEIGHED ON OUR TAX
DOLLARS TO TRY TO KEEP FAMILIES
INTACT. AND HERE'S THE CRITICAL
PIECE. IF THE SERVICE PROVIDER
SAYS A PARENT HAS SUCCESSFULLY
COMPLETED THE SERVICES, A JUDGE
USUALLY RULES THAT IT IS SAFE TO
RETURN THAT CHILD TO THEIR
PARENTS. BUT IF A SERVICE
PROVIDER SAYS THE OPPOSITE, THEN
THE PARENTS RIGHTS WILL USUALLY
BE TERMINATED AND THE CHILD WILL
ENTER INTO FOSTER CARE. FAMILIES
LIVE AND LITERALLY DIE BASED ON
THESE SERVICES. SO IT CAME AS A
COMPLETE SHOCK TO ME TO READ THE
FOLLOWING IN THE LA TIMES. AND
HERE'S A QUICK EXCERPT. THE
STATE DOES NOT DOES NOT ENSURE
THAT PARENT EDUCATION PROGRAMS
MEET ANY SORT OF STANDARDS.
ALLOWS PARENTS FACING ABUSE
ALLEGATIONS TO TAKE CLASSES THAT
EXPERTS HAVE DEEMED LOW QUALITY,
AND THE LA TIMES GOES ON. THE
LACK OF SCRUTINY CAN PUT SOME
CALIFORNIANS MOST VULNERABLE
CHILDREN AT RISK OF MORE ABUSE.
BUT CHAIR MEMBERS IF NO ONE'S
TRACKING THE QUALITY OF
SERVICES, THIS ALSO MEANS THAT
FAMILIES MAY FOREVER BE TORN
APART WITHOUT A SOUND BASIS FOR
DOING SO. THIS BILL BEFORE YOU
SIMPLY REQUIRES COUNTIES TO DO
THE DUE DILIGENCE WE WOULD DO IN
CHOOSING, SAY, A CONTRACTOR FOR
SOME HOME IMPROVEMENT SERVICES.
WE HAVE TO LOOK AT OUTCOMES. SO
IN LIGHT OF THIS TIME'S
INVESTIGATION, THÀNH IT
ESTABLISHES ESTABLISHES, EXCUSE
ME, A MORE PROBING MEASURE TO
DETECT SYSTEM WIDE PROBLEMS. I
RESPECTFULLY URGE YOU TO DO
RIGHT BY OUR PARENTS, CHILDREN
AND TAXPAYERS AND VOTE AYE ON
THIS MEASURE. THE WELFARE OF
CALIFORNIA'S FOSTER KIDS DEPEND
ON IT. AND IF I MAY, I'M ALSO
HERE, AUTHORIZED TO SPEAK ON
BEHALF OF THE BLACK YOUTH
LEADERSHIP PROJECT AND BLACK
WOMEN ORGANIZED FOR POLITICAL
ACTION, ALSO KNOWN AS WAPA, WHO
COULDN'T BE HERE TODAY. THEY ARE
IN FULL SUPPORT. THANK YOU,
CHAIR MEMBERS. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. EDITOR HOWARD, SENIOR
COUNSEL AT CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY
INSTITUTE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF
SCHOOL, UNIVERSITY OF SAN DIEGO
SCHOOL OF LAW, PROUD TO SPONSOR
THE BILL AND RESPECTFULLY ASK
FOR OUR VOTE. AND HAPPY TO
ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY
ASK. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NOW,
DO WE HAVE ANY MEMBERS OF THE
PUBLIC WHO WISH TO ADD THEIR
SUPPORT TO THIS BILL? PLEASE
COME FORWARD NOW. ALL RIGHT.
SEEING NONE, ANY OPPOSITION TO
THIS BILL, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
MR. BRYAN, HI. GOOD AFTERNOON
AGAIN. AMANDA KERSHNER ON BEHALF
OF THE WDR, WE ARE IN CONSTANT
CONVERSATION WITH MR. BRYAN'S
OFFICE AND HAVE BEEN WORKING ON
THIS BILL WITH HIS STAFF, WHICH
I JUST WANT TO GIVE A VERY BIG
SHOUT OUT TO. YOU HAVE EXCELLENT
STAFF, OUR CONCERN RIGHT NOW
WITH THE NEWEST AMENDMENTS IS
CHECKING WITH OUR BEHAVIORAL
HEALTH, DEPARTMENTS, BECAUSE
THEY DO QUITE A LOT OF THE
CONTRACTING FOR THE SERVICES
THAT WE DO REFER OUT TO. AND SO
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY
BOTH HAVE THE ABILITY TO
CONTRACT WITHIN THE MEANS OF THE
BILLS PROVIDING, BUT ALSO TO
MAKE SURE THAT SOME OF OUR NON
CONTRACTED SERVICES THAT WE ALSO
REFER OUT TO A NUMBER OF THE
SUBSTANCE USE PROGRAMS SUCH AS
ALCOHOL, ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS OR
NA WOULD ALSO BE AVAILABLE TO BE
USED BECAUSE A NUMBER OF OUR
PARENTS ALSO USE THOSE TO
SUPPLEMENT ANY OF THE OTHER
SUBSTANCE USE WORK THEY'RE
DOING. AND SO WE'RE JUST GOING
TO BE CONTINUING TO WORK WITH
THE AUTHOR'S OFFICE ON THIS
IMPORTANT ISSUE. AND UNTIL
THAT'S RESOLVED, WE WILL STAY IN
OPPOSITION, BUT I THINK WE'LL
FIND A PATH FORWARD. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. NOW, DO WE HAVE ANY
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO WISH
TO ADD OPPOSITION TO THE BILL?
SEEING NONE, I'M GOING TO BRING
IT BACK TO THE COMMITTEE FOR
QUESTIONS, COMMENTS? SEEING
NONE. I'LL INVITE THE AUTHOR TO
CLOSE AND ASK FOR A MOTION. AND
SECOND Ó, WE DO HAVE A MOTION
IN A SECOND. ALL RIGHT. YES
INVITE THE AUTHOR TO CLOSE.
THANK YOU. AND I WANT TO THANK
THE OPPOSITION. WE ARE IN
CONSTANT CONTACT. WE DO A LOT OF
GOOD WORK TOGETHER, IN THE
INTEREST OF OUR OF OUR CHILDREN,
SOME OF THE MOST VULNERABLE IN
CALIFORNIA. THIS BILL STARTED
OUT INCREDIBLY AMBITIOUS,
BECAUSE WHAT WE KNOW IS THAT A
LOT OF THESE SERVICES THAT ARE
BEING COURT ORDERED ARE FAILING
THE FAMILIES WHO NEED THEM THE
MOST, IN THE MOST EXTREME
EXAMPLES OF THEIR FAILURE HAS
RESULTED IN THE LOSS OF LIFE.
THE LOSS OF YOUNG PEOPLE. AND I
THINK THIS IS GOING TO BE A
MULTI YEAR EFFORT TO FIGURE OUT
HOW TO HOLISTICALLY REIMAGINE
THIS SYSTEM AND BUILD IN THE
KIND OF CARE AND ACCOUNTABILITY
MECHANISMS THAT OUR FAMILIES
DESERVE. BUT ONE THING THAT WE
CAN FOR SURE DO AND ABSOLUTELY
NEED TO DO IS TO TRACK THE
OUTCOMES. THE FACT THAT WE DON'T
KNOW WHETHER, A PARTICULAR
SERVICE PROVIDER IS, IS
RESULTING IN SUCCESS RATES,
BYPASS RATES, PLACEMENT RATES OR
FAILURE RATES. WE HAVE NO
UNDERSTANDING OF THAT. THE COURT
HAS NO UNDERSTANDING OF THAT.
THE PARENTS WHO ARE BEING
ORDERED TO GO THROUGH THESE
CLASSES AND THROUGH THESE KINDS
OF PROGRAMS, HAVE NO
UNDERSTANDING OF THAT, AND THAT
IS SOMETHING WE CAN, SHOULD AND
HAVE TO DO BETTER. THAT'S
EXACTLY WHAT AB 3145 IS LOOKING
TO DO, AND I RESPECTFULLY ASK
FOR YOUR VOTE. THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR BRINGING THIS BILL FORWARD.
AND WE'RE WORKING WITH THIS
COMMITTEE TO MAKE SURE THAT NO
COMMUNITY IS LEFT BEHIND. I DO
AGREE WITH YOU, PARENTING
CLASSES. IT'S CRITICAL FOR
CRITICAL FOR THEM TO BE
EFFECTIVE, BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO
ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY
IN THE MEASURE. AND SO I THANK
YOU AND YOUR OFFICE FOR WORKING
WITH THE COMMITTEE STAFF ON
THIS. I AM RECOMMENDING AN AYE
VOTE ON THIS BILL. IT HAS BEEN
MOVED BY SENATOR GIBSON,
SECONDED BY SENATOR ORTEGA,
MADAM SECRETARY, PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL. THE MOTION IS DUE. PASS TO
THE ASSEMBLY APPROPRIATIONS
COMMITTEE. LI I LI I ASAELI
CALDERON I CALDERON I GIBSON.
GIBSON I JACKSON. JACKSON. I
MATHIS. ORTEGA. ORTEGA I 5 TO 0.
THAT BILL IS OUT. SO WE STILL
HAVE TWO MORE BILLS AND OUR,
WAITING FOR SOME AUTHORS, BUT
WE'RE GOING TO DO ADD ONS NOW
FOR ABSENT MEMBERS FOR BILLS.
SO, MADAM SECRETARY, IF YOU
COULD CALL THE BILLS FOR ABSENT
MEMBERS TO ADD ON, WE STILL HAVE
TWO MORE BILLS, SIMILAR
PROJECTS. IT'S NOT OVER YET. ON
THE CONSENT CALENDAR, THE
CURRENT VOTE IS 5 TO 0. ORTEGA.
ORTEGA. AYE FINAL VOTE 6 TO 0.
FINAL ITEM ONE WE DID AS A
SUBCOMMITTEE. I NEED A MOTION
AND A SECOND, SECOND. FILE.
EVERYONE HAS BEEN PROPERLY MOVED
AND SECONDED. MADAM SECRETARY,
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. THE MOTION
IS DUE PASSED TO THE ASSEMBLY
APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE. LI I
LI I AZALI CALDERON I CALDERON I
GIBSON. GIBSON I JACKSON.
JACKSON I MATHIS. ORTEGA. ORTEGA
I 5050. THAT BILL IS OUT. FINAL
ITEM FOR AB 1967. THE CURRENT
VOTE IS 4 TO 0. LI Ã. LI. AYE.
ORTEGA. ORTEGA. AYE. FINAL VOTE
6 TO 0. FILE ITEM FIVE AB 2007.
THE CURRENT VOTE IS 3 TO 0. LI
I, LI I, ORTEGA I ORTEGA I.
FINAL VOTE 5 TO 0. FILE ITEM
EIGHT AB 2155. CURRENT VOTE IS 5
TO 0. ORTEGA ORTEGA I. FINAL
VOTE 6 TO 0. FILE ITEM 11 AB
2263. CURRENT VOTE IS 2 TO 1.
LEE I LI I GIBSON I GIBSON I
ORTEGA. ORTEGA I FINAL VOTE 5 TO
1. FILE ITEM 12 AB 2 TO 8 TWO.
CURRENT VOTE IS 3 TO 1. LEE LI I
ORTEGA. ORTEGA I. FINAL VOTE 5
TO 1. FILE ITEM 15 AB 2415.
CURRENT VOTE IS 2 TO 1. LEE LI I
GIBSON I GIBSON I ORTEGA. ORTEGA
I FINAL VOTE 5 TO 1. FILE ITEM
16 AB 2452. CURRENT VOTE IS 3 TO
0. LEE LI I, ORTEGA. ORTEGA I.
FINAL VOTE 5 TO 0. FILE ITEM 21
AB 2704. CURRENT VOTE 4 TO 0.
JACKSON. JACKSON I. FINAL VOTE 5
TO 0. FILE ITEM 23 AB 2752.
CURRENT VOTE IS 3 TO 0. JACKSON
JACKSON I ORTEGA. ORTEGA I FINAL
VOTE 5 TO 0. FILE ITEM 30 AB
3079. CURRENT VOTE IS 4 TO 1.
ORTEGA. ORTEGA I FINAL VOTE 5 TO
1. ALL RIGHT, NOW I WILL BE
PRESENTING ON BEHALF OF ASSEMBLY
MEMBER BONTA. FILE ITEM. FIVE
ITEM 17 FOR ASSEMBLY AB 2476. SO
I'LL HAND THE GAVEL BACK TO
SOMEONE ELSE. WANT TO GIVE IT A
SHOT? I'LL BACK TO ASSEMBLY.
CALDERON CALDERON. HOW ABOUT
THAT? YEAH. TRYING TO HAVE US
FIGHT OVER THE GAVEL AND HAVE
SOME FUN IN HERE. GET ALL 12
NOW. NOW THAT IT'S ALL AGREEABLE
, GETTING VIÆT. ASSEMBLYMAN LEE,
WHENEVER YOU'RE READY. YES THANK
YOU. I'M PRESENTING AB 2476 ON
BEHALF OF SENATOR BONTA, WHO IS
CHAIRING THE COMMITTEE AT THIS
MOMENT, CALIFORNIA CURRENTLY
ADMINISTERS SIX DIFFERENT
VOUCHER BASED CHILD CARE
PROGRAMS, COLLECTIVELY REFERRED
AS ALTERNATIVE PAYMENT PROGRAMS.
THESE PROGRAMS PROVIDE VOUCHERS
FOR FAMILIES TO USE AT LICENSED
CHILD CARE CENTERS, LICENSED
FAMILY FAMILY CHILD CARE HOMES,
OR FOR LICENSED EXEMPT CHILD
CARE, AND ALLOW FAMILIES TO
CHOOSE THE TYPE OF CARE THEIR
CHILD RECEIVES. MANY OF THESE
PROGRAMS RECEIVE FUNDING FROM
THE FEDERAL CHILD CARE
DEVELOPMENT FUND, PART OF THE
CHILD CARE DEVELOPMENT BLOCK
GRANT. ON APRIL 18, 2023,
PRESIDENT BIDEN ISSUED AN
EXECUTIVE ORDER TO ADVANCE
POLICIES THAT REDUCE CHILD CARE
COSTS FOR FAMILIES AND IMPROVE
PROVIDER PAYMENT POLICIES. CHILD
CARE PROVIDERS REQUIRE PRIVATE
PAYERS TO PAY FOR SERVICES
UPFRONT BEFORE THE CARE IS
PROVIDED TO COVER THEIR MONTHLY
EXPENSES, LIKE PAYROLL AND RENT.
THESE PROVIDERS OFTEN USE THE
COST FOR EACH CHILD CARE SPOT TO
FORECAST REVENUES AND
EXPENDITURES, AND FINANCIALLY
PLANNED FOR THE FUTURE. THERE IS
THEREFORE A FINANCIAL INCENTIVE
FOR CHILD CARE PROVIDERS TO
ACCEPT SUBSIDIZED VOUCHERS, AS
PAYMENT WILL NOT BE RECEIVED UP
UNTIL 21 DAYS AFTER THE CARE
THAT'S BEEN RECEIVED, AB 2476
WOULD CLOSE THE GAP BETWEEN
SUBSIDIZED CHILD CARE AND THE
PRIVATE PAY MARKET BY ENABLING
CHILD CARE PROVIDERS RECEIVING
STATE VOUCHERS PAID UP FRONT
PRIOR TO PROVIDING CARE. I WILL
NOW TURN IT OVER TO DINI,
MICHELLE MICHELETTI, COBURN FROM
THRIVING FAMILIES CALIFORNIA AND
FRED FORTIN, OWNER OF ANGEL ARMS
PRESCHOOL IN CARMICHAEL,
CALIFORNIA, TO SPEAK MORE ABOUT
THIS IMPORTANT ISSUE. GREAT.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. TWO
MINUTES EACH, PLEASE. PERFECT,
THANK YOU, CHAIR. AND MEMBERS OF
THE COMMITTEE, DENEEN COBURN,
REPRESENTING THRIVING FAMILIES,
CALIFORNIA AB 2476 WILL CREATE
AN INEQUITY IN THE SUBSIDIZED
CHILD CARE SYSTEM THAT HAS
EXISTED FOR OVER 45 YEARS,
WHEREIN PROVIDERS ARE PAID UP TO
OR ARE PAID AFTER THE CARE IS
PROVIDED. OUR CHILD CARE
WORKFORCE IS CRUMBLING. OUR
CHILD CARE WORKFORCE IS ONE OF
THE LOWEST PAID IN CALIFORNIA TO
EXPECT FAMILY CHILD CARE
BUSINESSES AND CENTERS TO FRONT
LOAD THE STATE IN ORDER TO TAKE
CARE OF SUBSIDIZED CHILDREN IS
JUST WRONG. THESE BUSINESSES
HAVE AN AMOUNT THAT THEY MUST
RECEIVE IN ORDER TO KEEP THEIR
DOORS OPEN. AB 2476 RECOGNIZES
THESE CRITICAL BUSINESSES AND
ALIGNS THE PAY UP FRONT WITH
THAT THAT EXISTS IN THE PRIVATE
SECTOR. FURTHER, THE NEW FEDERAL
CHILD CARE DEVELOPMENT FUND
REGULATIONS THAT GO INTO EFFECT
APRIL 30TH, ARE RULES THAT
IMPROVE THE PAYMENTS TO
PROVIDERS AND PAYMENT UP FRONT
IS ONE OF THOSE RULES HERE TO
ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU
MAY HAVE. THANK YOU, CHAIR AND
THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS. MY NAME
IS FRED FOROUTAN. MY CENTER,
ANGELO, IS LOCATED IN CARMICHAEL
. I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF THE
CENTERS AND OTHER FAMILY CHILD
CARE PROGRAMS. I GUESS IT'S SAFE
TO SAY MOST OF YOU HAVE
EXPERIENCED HAD CHILDREN OR YOU
HAD RELATIVES THAT HAD CHILDREN
THAT YOU HAD TO DEAL WITH CHILD
CARE PROVIDERS AND I'M ASSUMING
THAT MOST OF YOU, USE THE
PRIVATE CARE, NOT SUBSIDY CARE.
AND YOU HAD THE EXPERIENCE THAT
YOU HAVE TO PAY THE PROVIDER
FIRST BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO
PROVIDE 30 DAYS UNTIL THEY GET
PAID AGAIN WITH WHATEVER THEY
NEED OF THE CHILD. IS THE DIAPER
FOOD MILK? WITH THAT IN MIND,
MOST OF THE CHILD CARE PROVIDERS
THAT ACCEPT SUBSIDY PAYMENTS AND
CARE ABOUT THE LOW INCOME AND
LESS FORTUNATE CHILDREN SUFFER
THE MOST FINANCIALLY AND ALWAYS
HAVE TO DEAL WITH MAJOR CASH
FLOW ISSUES. PRIVATE MARKET PAYS
FOR THE CHILD CARE AT THE TIME
OF ENROLLMENT OF THE CHILD
BECAUSE THEY UNDERSTAND THE
SERVICES NEEDS TO BE PROVIDED
FOR THE CHILDREN IS ESSENTIAL
AND IT'S GOING TO BE THERE
REGARDLESS. AND WE ARE OBLIGATED
AS A PROVIDER TO PROVIDE THOSE
SERVICES TODAY ON AN AVERAGE
HOUSEHOLD OF FOUR THAT SPENDS
$3,300 ON THE GROCERIES AND YOU
KNOW, THE PRICE OF THE GROCERIES
GOING GOING UP, A PROVIDER IN MY
CASE, FOR 30 KIDS, WE USUALLY
END UP EATING AT HOME ONCE A DAY
BECAUSE A LACK OF TIME SPENT AT
HOME AT THE CENTER, THE CHILDREN
HAVE BREAKFAST, LUNCH, SNACKS IN
BETWEEN, NAP IN BETWEEN THE
PLAYTIME AND THEN SOME OF THEM.
I WOULD SAY ABOUT 50% HAVE THEIR
DINNER BEFORE THEY GO HOME
BECAUSE THERE'S NO DINNER AT
HOME. THAT'S A FACT. AND THIS
PARTICULAR GROUP OF LOW INCOME
KIDS, THEY'RE PRETTY DAMAGED.
BUT WHAT I WITNESS EVERY DAY IS
VERY HEARTBREAKING. YOU KNOW,
IT'S NOT EASY. THEY COME WITH
WITH TRAUMA FROM BIRTH, SO
FORTH. SO IT'S IT IS IT IS A
HUGE RESPONSIBILITY ON THE
CHILDCARE PROVIDER PART TO
UNDERSTAND THE CHILDREN, THE
AMOUNT OF ANGER THEY COME IN
WITH AND THE FOOD AND PROVIDING
THEM THE SERVICE IS THE MINIMUM
WE CAN DO, MY CENTER SPENDS
$8,000 A MONTH ON GROCERIES. AND
SINCE JANUARY OF 2023, I HAVE
BEEN SPENDING THAT MONEY OUT OF
MY POCKET. WE DIDN'T HAVE THE
LUXURY OF APPLYING FOR ANY FOOD
PROGRAM AT THE TIME, AND WE
NEVER TURNED ANY CHILD AWAY FOR
LACK OF FUNDS. BUT PLEASE
UNDERSTAND THIS CASH FLOW ISSUE.
IT HAS PUT ME IN A SITUATION
THAT I HAD TO BORROW ON MERCHANT
CASH, ADVANCE LOANS. I DON'T
KNOW IF YOU'RE AWARE OF THOSE
ILLEGAL LOANS. THEY SHOULD BE
ILLEGAL 275% INTEREST RATE,
DAILY PAYMENT COMING OUT OF YOUR
ACCOUNT AUTOMATICALLY AND FOR
$10,000 YOU PAY $17,000 IN TWO
MONTHS. JUST TO MAKE MY PAYLOAD
FOR THE TEACHERS, I HAVE TO
PROVIDE THE PAYROLL FOR THE
TEACHERS, THE FOOD FOR THE KIDS.
IT'S A MUST. IT'S ESSENTIAL FOR
ME TO PROVIDE WHAT I'M PROMISING
TO THE PARENT. IT'S CRUCIAL FOR
PROVIDER SECONDS PROVIDERS TO
GET PAID UP FRONT BEFORE
SERVICES ARE PROVIDED. THAT'S
THE ONLY WAY THE CHILDCARE
PROVIDERS CAN SURVIVE. IN
JANUARY 2023, I HAD A FIRE
INSPECTION THAT I WAS BUILT BY
METRO FIRE $210 LAST FEBRUARY. I
WAS A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO. I
HAD THE SAME INSPECTION. I WAS
BILLED $600. THAT'S A FIRE
DEPARTMENT, LOCAL FIRE
DEPARTMENT INSTALLATION IN THEIR
BUILDING. IMAGINE EVERYTHING
ELSE FROM THE TEACHERS, THE
STUDENT, THE LEARNED MUSIC,
GYMNASTICS, AND ETC. I KNOW
THERE'S NOT ENOUGH TIME FOR ME
TO FINISH. I'LL LET IT BE, I
APPRECIATE IT. GOD BLESS YOU.
THANK YOU. DO WE HAVE ANY
ADDITIONAL SUPPORT IN THE ROOM?
KIMBERLY ROSENBERGER WITH CPU
AND SEIU AND, COLLABORATION WITH
THE AUTHOR'S COMMITMENT TO
INCLUDE CONSULTATION OF CPU.
WE'RE PROUD TO COME ON AND
SUPPORT. HEIDI KAISER WITH CHILD
ACTION CO-SPONSOR OF THIS BILL
IN STRONG SUPPORT. GOOD
AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR AND
MEMBERS. ROSANNA CARVACHO ELLIOT
HERE, ON BEHALF OF THE EARLY
CARE AND EDUCATION CONSORTIUM,
ALSO IN SUPPORT. THANK YOU FOR
KELLY YOFFIE ON BEHALF OF
THRIVING FAMILIES CALIFORNIA
CO-SPONSORS AND IN STRONG
SUPPORT. THANK YOU. DO WE HAVE
ANY PRIMARY OPPOSITION IN THE
ROOM? SEEING NONE, DO WE HAVE
ANY PUBLIC OPPOSITION IN THE
ROOM? OKAY, I'M GOING TO BRING
IT BACK TO THE COMMITTEE. DO WE
HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE
AUTHOR? OKAY. WOULD YOU LIKE TO
CLOSE SOME OF THEM BEHALF OF A
SIMILAR BONDS? I RESPECTFULLY
ASK FOR YOUR VOTE. THANK YOU. WE
HAVE A MOTION BY ASSEMBLYMAN
JACKSON AND A SECOND BY
ASSEMBLYWOMAN ORTEGA. MADAM
SECRETARY, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
THE MOTION IS DUE PASSED TO THE
ASSEMBLY APPROPRIATIONS
COMMITTEE. LI I, LI I ASSALY
CALDER. OAN I CALDERON I
GIBSON. GIBSON I JACKSON.
JACKSON I. MATHIS. ORTEGA ORTEGA
I. THAT'S 5 TO 0. WE'LL LEAVE
THE ROLL OPEN. KIND OF GET IT.
WOULD YOU MIND GETTING THAT? I'M
SORRY. OH, YOU ALREADY READY?
THANK YOU. TAKE CARE OF THIS
REAL QUICK. ARE YOU GOING? SO
FOR FILE ITEM 20, ASSEMBLYMEMBER
JACKSON WILL BE PRESENTING FOR
ASSEMBLY SCHIVO. THAT IS
ASSEMBLY BILL 2670 FOR. AND THE
BILL IS BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED.
ALL RIGHTY. IS THAT IT? WHENEVER
YOU'RE READY, ASSEMBLYMAN
JACKSON. OKAY, I VERY MUCH,
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. CHAIR,
AB 2674 SUPPORTS DEVELOPMENT OF
HOUSING FOR FOSTER YOUTH AND THE
MANY IN NEED OF AFFORDABLE
HOUSING BY ADDING THREE
ADDITIONAL FINANCIAL TOOLS TO
CALHFA'S TOOLBOX. I RESPECTFULLY
ASK FOR AN AYE VOTE. THAT WAS
GOOD. THAT WAS GOOD. BEST FOR
LAST. I'M DANIEL HEIMPEL, I WILL
JUST SAY THIS. GIVE IT. GIVEN
THAT YOU GUYS ARE, AT THE END OF
THE DAY, WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO
HERE IS APPLY A WILDLY
SUCCESSFUL FEDERAL POLICY THAT
ALLOWED THIS COUNTRY TO BUILD
BRIDGES, ROADS, AND DAMS WITH,
WITH PRIVATE DOLLARS. LARGELY,
THIS HASN'T BEEN APPLIED TO
AFFORDABLE HOUSING BEFORE. WE'RE
TRYING TO DO THAT HERE FOR YOUTH
IN AN EXITING FOSTER CARE AND
LOW INCOME FAMILIES. THE REASON
BEING THAT, YOU KNOW, WE ARE IN
THE MIDST OF A HOMELESSNESS
CRISIS AND WE CAN DEAL WITH THE
OUTFLOW, TAKING PEOPLE OFF OF
THE STREETS. BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO
BE DEALING WITH THE INFLOW. AND
THIS IS A COST EFFECTIVE WAY TO
ALLOW CALHFA TO DO WHAT IT DOES
BEST AT ISSUE LOAN GUARANTEES,
LOAN FEES AND LINES OF CREDIT TO
ALLOW SERVICE PROVIDERS AND
AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPERS TO
BE IN OWNERSHIP POSITIONS SO
THEY'RE NOT RENTING ON THE OPEN
MARKET AND STRUGGLING TO FIND
HOMES FOR, YOUNG PEOPLE AND LOW
INCOME FAMILIES. I WANT TO SAY
SPECIAL THANKS TO JESSICA FOR
ALL YOUR HELP, IN TERMS OF THE
AMENDMENTS HERE, AND I, I ASK
FOR YOUR I VOTE. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND ON THE
TOPIC OF AMENDMENTS, SENATOR
JACKSON, ARE YOU ACCEPTING ON
BEHALF OF THE AMENDMENTS? I AM
ACCEPTING THE AMENDMENT. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH, NOW, DO WE HAVE
ANY WITNESSES IN SUPPORT OF THE
BILL OR IN THE PUBLIC? PLEASE
COME FORWARD. JACKIE RUTH HEIZER
WITH THE CALIFORNIA ALLIANCE OF
CAREGIVERS, AND WE SUPPORT THE
BILL. MARTIN RADOSEVICH WITH
POWER CALIFORNIA ACTION IN
SUPPORT. POORVA BHATTACHARJEE
WITH THE CALIFORNIA ALLIANCE OF
CHILD AND FAMILY SERVICES AND
STRONG SUPPORT. SUSANNA KNIFFEN
WITH CHILDREN NOW IN SUPPORT.
CHRISTOPHER HERNANDEZ WITH
CALIFORNIA YOUTH CONNECTION IN
SUPPORT. JULIE MCCORMICK,
CHILDREN'S LAW CENTER OF
CALIFORNIA IN SUPPORT. THANK YOU
SO MUCH. NOW, DO WE HAVE ANY
WITNESSES IN OPPOSITION? THÀNH
ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO
WISH TO OPPOSE THE BILL? SEEING
NONE, WE'LL BRING IT BACK TO THE
COMMITTEE. ANY QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS FROM COMMITTEE MEMBERS?
I'LL INVITE THE, THE AUTHOR TO
CLOSE, SEEING SO MUCH SUPPORT, I
WISH THIS WAS MY BILL, I
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR AN AYE
VOTE. IT CAN BE. I LIKE TO ADD
MYSELF AS A COAUTHOR. THAT'S AN
I THINK THAT'S A NEW ONE. BUT, I
WILL. WE WILL NOTE THAT DOWN.
THE ASSEMBLYMEMBER JACKSON WOULD
LIKE TO BE A COAUTHOR ON THIS
BILL. AND I WANT TO THANK SELMA
JACKSON FOR WISELY ACCEPTING THE
AMENDMENTS THAT WE HAVE PROPOSED
, I WAS PLEASED TO SUPPORT THIS
BILL AND HOUSING COMMITTEE, AND
I'M PLEASED TO SUPPORT IT AGAIN
TODAY. AND I DO THINK IT IS A
SMART SOLUTION. DURING OUR
HOUSING CRISIS, THE BILL WAS
MOVED BY SENATOR GIBSON,
SECONDED BY ASSEMBLYMAN
CALDERON, AND RECOMMENDED. AYE.
AS AMENDED. MADAM SECRETARY,
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. THE MOTION
IS DUE. PASS, AS AMENDED, TO THE
ASSEMBLY APPROPRIATIONS
COMMITTEE. LI I LI I AZALEE.
CALDERON. CALDERON. I GIBSON A,
GIBSON I, JACKSON I JACKSON I.
MATHIS. ORTEGA. ORTEGA I FIVE IS
ZERO. THAT BILL IS OUT.
CONGRATULATIONS THANK YOU. YEAH,
YEAH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
APPRECIATE IT. I APPRECIATE ALL
THE COMMENTS THAT.
WE C¯. YEAH. YEAH. TIRED.
BUSINESS BEFORE THE ASSEMBLY
HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE IS
COMPLETE. THE HEARING IS NOW
ADJOURNED