GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE, THIS.
THIS HEARING OF THE COMMITTEE ON
AGRICULTURE IS CALLED TO ORDER.
WE ARE GOING TO OPERATE RIGHT
NOW IN A SUBCOMMITTEE BASIS. WE
DON'T HAVE A QUORUM YET. BUT
BEFORE WE BEGIN, I'D LIKE TO
COVER JUST A FEW LOGISTICS FOR
ALL THOSE WHO WILL BE PROVIDING
COMMENTS. TODAY. WE ASK THAT YOU
PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND THE
ORGANIZATION YOU REPRESENT, AND
IF YOU SUPPORT OR OPPOSE THE
BILL BEING CONSIDERED, ANY
MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC MAY ALSO
SUBMIT WRITTEN COMMENTS TO OUR
COMMITTEE THROUGH EMAIL. EMAILS
MAY BE SENT TO THE ADDRESS FOUND
ON THE COMMITTEE WEBSITE, WHICH
IS AGRI DOT COMMITTEE AT
ASSEMBLY DOT CA.GOV. AND TODAY
TWO BILLS HAVE BEEN PULLED FROM
THE AGENDA ITEM FOR A B 3053
CALL AND ITEM 5AB 2870
MURATSUCHI. SO WE NOW HAVE SIX
BILLS ON THE FILE. ON THE FILE
TODAY TWO BILLS ARE ON CONSENT.
WE WILL HEAR BILL PRESENTATIONS
IN FILE ORDER. IF THE AUTHOR OF
THE NEXT BILL ON THE FILE IS NOT
IN THE ROOM, WE IMMEDIATELY MOVE
TO THE NEXT BILL ON THE FILE.
AND JUST TO, CONTINUE WITH THE
TRADITION THAT I STARTED IN THE
LAST COMMITTEE HEARING, I WANTED
TO SHARE, HISTORICAL FUN FACT
AND SO CALIFORNIA IS KNOWN AS
THE GOLDEN STATE. I THINK WE ALL
HEAR THAT VERY COMMONLY. THIS IS
PRIMARILY DUE TO THE GOLD RUSH
OF 1850, WHICH BROUGHT A MASSIVE
INFLUX OF PEOPLE TO CALIFORNIA.
WHAT IS LESS KNOWN IS THAT FROM
1850 TO 1860, THE VALUE OF THE
GOLD MINE IN CALIFORNIA WAS
ABOUT $400 MILLION. IN $1,860.
DURING THAT SAME DECADE,
CALIFORNIA PRODUCED OVER $700
MILLION IN AG GOODS, SO AS THE
GOLD MINING ERA CAME TO A CLOSE,
CALIFORNIA REALIZED THAT WHILE
THERE WAS NOT MUCH GOLD LEFT IN
THE HILL, THERE WAS PLENTY OF
GOLD LEFT IN THE FIELDS. SO I
SUGGEST THAT MAYBE WE SHOULD BE
CALLED THE GOLDEN AG STATE, BUT
ANYWAY, SO I DO WANT TO
ACKNOWLEDGE, WE HAVE DOCTOR
JOAQUIN ARAMBULA, WHO WAS HERE
WAY BEFORE THE COMMITTEE HEARING
STARTED. THANK YOU FOR BEING ON
TIME. YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND
PROCEED AND PRESENT, YOUR BILL,
WHICH IS FILE ITEM ONE, ASSEMBLY
BILL 2528 BY ASSEMBLY MEMBER
ARAMBULA. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR
AND VICE CHAIR. FIRST, I'D LIKE
TO BEGIN BY THANKING THE
COMMITTEE AND SPECIFICALLY YOU,
MADAM CHAIR AND VICTOR
FRANKOVIC, FOR THE WORK THAT
WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO. I AM
HAPPY TO INCORPORATE THE
COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATIONS AS
OUTLINED. ADDITIONALLY, TO
ADDRESS COMMITTEE MEMBERS
CONCERNS, WE WILL BE FURTHER
NARROWING THE BILL TO EXPLICITLY
ONLY INCLUDE CENTRAL VALLEY
COUNTIES WITH CRITICALLY
OVERDRAFTED BASINS. AB 2528
ENSURES THAT CALIFORNIA MEETS
ITS CLIMATE GOALS AND PROTECTS
GROUNDWATER AND IMPROVES AIR
QUALITY BY INCREASING THE
AVAILABILITY OF LAND FOR
RENEWABLE ENERGY PRODUCTS.
ACCORDING TO THE CPUC,
CALIFORNIA MUST ADD MORE THAN
114,000MW OF NEW UTILITY SCALE
RENEWABLES TO THE GRID,
INCLUDING AT LEAST 70,000MW OF
UTILITY SCALE SOLAR. MOST OF
THESE PROJECTS WILL HAPPEN IN
THE CENTRAL VALLEY. IN THE
CENTRAL VALLEY RIGHT NOW, MANY
AGRICULTURAL LANDOWNERS ARE AT
RISK OF LOSING ACCESS TO WATER
THAT IS ESSENTIAL TO THEIR
ABILITY TO FARM THEIR LAND. MANY
OF THESE LANDOWNERS WILL BE LEFT
WITH NO VIABLE ECONOMIC
ALTERNATIVES. THIS CONFLUENCE OF
WATER SUSTAINABILITY NEEDS AND
CLEAN ENERGY DEMAND CREATES AN
OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO CRAFT AN
APPROACH THAT ADDRESSES MULTIPLE
ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL
GOALS. I BELIEVE THAT IT IS
POSSIBLE FOR US TO ACHIEVE A
CARBON FREE FUTURE WITH GOOD
PAYING JOBS, CLEANER AIR AND
MITIGATION OF CLIMATE CHANGE
WHILE RESPECTING LOCAL CONTROL
AND GIVING A LIFELINE TO
LANDOWNERS. TESTIFYING IN
SUPPORT OF ASSEMBLY BILL 2528 IS
SHANNON EDDY WITH THE LARGE
SCALE SOLAR ASSOCIATION AND
MATTHEW ALLEN WITH WESTERN
GROWERS. THANK YOU. GOOD
AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR. MEMBERS
SHANNON EDDY WITH LARGE SCALE
SOLAR ASSOCIATION. WE'RE A TRADE
ASSOCIATION OF UTILITY SCALE
SOLAR DEVELOPERS AND OWNERS.
HAPPY TO BE HERE TODAY, WE
BELIEVE THIS BILL REALLY
PROVIDES SOME SOLUTIONS TO
MULTIPLE STATE PRIORITIES. SO I
JUST WILL WALK THROUGH THOSE
BRIEFLY, AS DOCTOR ARAMBULA
POINTED OUT, BECAUSE OF OUR
MULTI-SECTOR CLIMATE TARGETS,
OUR GRID IS GOING TO NEED TO
TRIPLE IN SIZE IN THE NEXT 20
YEARS. MORE THAN HALF OF THAT
WILL BE SOLAR, 70,000MW, AS HE
POINTED OUT. FOR CONTEXT, WE
HAVE 17,000MW ONLINE TODAY. SO
WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO IN A
VERY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME, TO
SITE THAT MUCH SOLAR, WE NEED
ABOUT 500,000 TO 700,000 ACRES
AND ADD. AND WE ALSO ARE IN A
STATE THAT'S FAIRLY TRANSMISSION
CONSTRAINED. AND WHAT THAT MEANS
IS THAT PROJECTS HAVE TO TAKE ON
THINGS LIKE SUBSTATIONS AND
LONGER CHEN TIMELINES IN ORDER
TO INTERCONNECT TO THE GRID. SO
THAT ADDS COST TO A PROJECT AND
TO ADD COST, YOU NEED A BIGGER
PROJECT, AND THAT THEN TAKES UP
MORE LAND. SO THESE ARE PROJECTS
THAT NEED MOSTLY CONTIGUOUS BIG
AREAS OF CONTIGUOUS LAND NEAR
TRANSMISSION AND ALSO PREFERABLY
WITH LOW SPECIES CONFLICTS. AND
THAT COMBINATION IS VERY
DIFFICULT TO FIND IN CALIFORNIA,
ESPECIALLY RIGHT NOW BECAUSE THE
DESERT IS MOSTLY OFF LIMITS TO
SOLAR. AND SO THAT BRINGS US TO
THIS BILL AND ALSO TO THE
RECOGNITION THAT, THAT MORE THAN
1 MILLION ACRES OF PRODUCTIVE AG
LAND ARE EXPECTED TO COME OUT OF
PRODUCTION BECAUSE OF WATER
CONSTRAINTS AND SO SITING. SO
LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT
JUST SITING SOLAR GOING THROUGH
THE SITING PROCESS FOR ANY SOLAR
PROJECT IS DIFFICULT AT EVERY
PHASE. ADDING THE COMPLEXITY OF
A WILLIAMSON ACT CANCELLATION TO
THAT ADDS IT ADDS TIME. IT ADDS
MORE COST AND MORE COMPLEXITY TO
THE TO THE EXTENT THAT WE COULD
END UP IN A SITUATION AND WE
HAVE WHERE DEVELOPERS HAVE TO
ABANDON A SITE, YOU ALL KNOW
PROBABLY MORE THAN I, THAT
WILLIAMSON ACT COVERS MORE THAN
50% OF THE AG LANDS IN THE STATE
. AND SO WHAT WE'VE DONE IS
WE'VE TRIED TO CREATE A VERY
SURGICAL APPROACH TO CANCELING
THE WILLIAMSON ACT IN VERY UNDER
VERY STRICT CIRCUMSTANCES WHERE
THERE ARE WATER CONSTRAINTS ONLY
FOR SOLAR WIND STORAGE, AND NOW
ACROSS A NARROWER FOOTPRINT, AND
ALSO IT'S IMPORTANT TO POINT OUT
THAT THIS GIVES LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS FULL DISCRETION.
THIS IS COMPLETELY VOLUNTARY ON
THE PART OF THE COUNTY. HAPPY TO
ANSWER QUESTIONS, GOOD
AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR, AND
MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE. I'M
MATTHEW ALLEN WITH WESTERN
GROWERS ASSOCIATION. WE THANK
THE AUTHOR FOR BRINGING THIS
BILL. WESTERN GROWERS REPRESENTS
GROWERS IN THE FRESH PRODUCE
INDUSTRY IN CALIFORNIA, ARIZONA,
COLORADO AND NEW MEXICO, AND
MANY OF OUR, FARMERS, ESPECIALLY
IN THE CENTRAL VALLEY, ARE
EXPERIENCING OR WILL BE SEEING,
PRESSURES AND CONSTRAINTS ON
THEIR WATER SUPPLY. AND AS OF
TODAY, WE HAVE SEEN THIS WATER
YEAR ABOVE AVERAGE, SNOWPACK
NUMBERS. YET AS WE'RE SEEING
THAT, WE'RE SEEING FOR FARMERS
SOUTH OF THE DELTA GETTING ONLY
35% OF THEIR CONTRACTED, AMOUNTS
OF WATER, YET THEY STILL GET THE
PRIVILEGE OF PAYING 100% OF THAT
CONTRACTED AMOUNT, FURTHERMORE,
FOR THE GSA'S, MANY GSA'S ARE
LIMITING EXTRACTIONS AND MANY
FURTHER WILL BE. AND WHEN THESE
EXTRACTIONS BECOME LIMITED,
GROWERS HAVE A REALLY TOUGH
CHALLENGE AHEAD OF THEM. THEY
HAVE TO MAKE SOME IMPORTANT
DECISIONS. AND SOMETIMES THOSE
DECISIONS, REALLY RESULT IN
TAKING LAND OUT OF PRODUCTION.
UNFORTUNATELY. IN ADDITION, THE
GSA'S ARE NOW CHARGING GROWERS
PUMPING FEES AND THOSE REALLY
RANGE ON A PER ACRE BASIS
ANYWHERE FROM $50 UP TO OVER
$2,000, PER ACRE ON THOSE FEES.
AND THOSE ARE EXTRAORDINARY
AMOUNTS. SO WHEN WE LAYER ALL OF
THIS TOGETHER, WE REALLY DO
THINK THAT AB 2528 IS AN
IMPORTANT BILL, WE SUPPORT IT
BECAUSE IT WILL STREAMLINE THE
PROCESS FOR FARMER TO TRANSITION
SOME OF THEIR FIELDS, FROM AG
PRODUCTION TO SOLAR. AND IN THAT
WAY, SAVE, SAVE ON THOSE
CANCELLATION FEES. WE SUPPORT
THE BILL AND THINK THIS IS A WIN
WIN FOR COMMUNITIES, FARMERS,
AND THE STATE OVERALL. THANK YOU
. THANK YOU FOR THAT TESTIMONY.
BEFORE MOVING, TO, ANYONE THAT
IS IN OPPOSITION, I AM GOING TO
CALL THE ROLL BECAUSE WE DO HAVE
A QUORUM. SO, MADAM SECRETARY,
IF YOU CAN PLEASE CALL THE ROLL
ASESORÍA. ALANIZ AGUIAR-CURRY
CONNELLY. ERWIN JONES. MOYER.
SANCHEZ TO BE VALLAPUDUA WOULD.
YEAH, SO RIGHT NOW, WE'LL GO
AHEAD AND HEAR, IF THERE IS
ANYONE IN OPPOSITION, YOU CAN
COME UP HERE.
IF YOU CAN STATE YOUR NAME AND
WHO YOU'RE REPRESENTING. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON,
CHAIR SORIA. AND MEMBERS OF THE
ASSEMBLY AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE.
MY NAME IS DORIS SMITH, AND I'M
THE SUPERVISOR FOR THE SECOND
DISTRICT IN COLUSA COUNTY. AND
THE VICE CHAIR OF OUR BOARD OF
SUPERVISORS. AND WE'RE HERE TO
OPPOSE AB 2528 TODAY. I DO JUST
UNDERSTAND THAT THE AUTHOR
COMMITTED TO NARROWING HIS BILL
TO THE CENTRAL VALLEY AND LOOK
FORWARD TO SEEING THAT LANGUAGE,
BUT WANTED TO SPEAK TO ALL THE
INTERESTS OF THE 58 WILLIAMSON
ACT COUNTIES. AS I'M HERE TODAY,
AS ONE OF THE 40 SUPERVISORS
FROM AS MANY COUNTIES THROUGHOUT
THE STATE THAT MAKE UP THE BOARD
OF RURAL COUNTY REPRESENTATIVES
OF CALIFORNIA FOR DECADES, RURAL
COUNTIES AND OUR CRC HAVE BEEN
AT THE FOREFRONT OF IMPLEMENTING
FUNDING, PROTECTING AND
CONSERVING OPEN SPACE AND
AGRICULTURE ACREAGE AS PART OF
OUR ESSENTIAL ROLE UNDER THE
LAND CONSERVATION ACT, OTHERWISE
KNOWN AS THE WILLIAMSON ACT.
SINCE 1965, THE WILLIAMSON ACT
HAS BEEN THE SINGLE MOST
EFFECTIVE MECHANISM FOR
CONSERVING AG LAND. OPEN SPACE,
AND NATURAL RESOURCES THAT THIS
LEGISLATURE HAS EVER CONCEIVED.
MOST OF OUR COUNTIES WOULD NOT
LOOK ANYTHING LIKE THEY DO TODAY
WITHOUT THE CREATIVE AND UNIQUE,
UNIQUE MECHANISM FOR SUPPORTING
AGRICULTURE. FAMILIES AND THEIR
ABILITY TO KEEP THIS ACT ENABLES
US EVEN WHEN THE STATE BACKED
AWAY IN 2009 FROM HELPING
COUNTIES FUND THE ACT, SOMETHING
THAT THE STATE HAD BEEN DOING
SINCE 1971, 50 OF THE 51 THEN
PARTICIPATING COUNTIES DECIDED
TO MAINTAIN AND CONTINUE FUNDING
THEIR LOCAL WILLIAMSON ACT
PROGRAMS ON THEIR OWN DIME.
COLUSA COUNTY HAS 350,000 ACRES
UNDER CONTRACT, WHICH 259,000
ARE IN AG PRODUCTION. THE
REMAINING ARE SUPER WILLIAMSON
ACT LANDS THAT PROVIDE OPEN
SPACE CONSERVATION CONSERVATION
BENEFIT FOR US AND THE STATE. AS
SOME OF MY SUPERVISORIAL
COLLEAGUES AND NEIGHBORING
COUNTIES CAN ATTEST TO, OUR
LOCAL LAND HOLDERS ARE
CONSTANTLY UNDER PRESSURE TO
SELL THEIR LAND TO THE LATEST
AND MOST POWERFUL INDUSTRY GROUP
TO SEE THEM AND THEIR LANDS AT A
CHEAP COST OF DOING BUSINESS. SO
LET ME PROVIDE YOU WELL. WE'LL
SKIP THAT PART BECAUSE I'M SOME
OF OUR CONCERNS HAVE ALREADY
BEEN ADDRESSED BY THE COMMITTEE
MEMBER. BUT IN SHORT, COUNTIES
HAVE BEEN AT THE FOREFRONT OF
PROTECTING OUR UNIQUE
AGRICULTURE LANDS, LANDS THAT
ARE TRULY IRREPLACEABLE. WE DO
SO AT GREAT COST, BUT WITH GREAT
WILLINGNESS. BUT WHEN LARGE
SCALE DEVELOPMENT INTERESTS COME
BARRELING IN OUR DIRECTION,
THERE IS ONLY SO MUCH OUR LOCALS
CAN DO TO WITHSTAND THE PRESSURE
TO SELL AND QUIT AGRICULTURE. I
ASK THIS COMMITTEE TO THINK
CLOSELY AND CAREFULLY ABOUT
OPENING UP THE LAND CONSERVATION
ACT OF 1965, BECAUSE BIG SOLAR
WON'T BE THE LAST SPECIAL
INTEREST KNOCKING AT YOUR DOOR,
LOOKING TO SWEEP UP THESE
PRECIOUS LANDS AND JUST AS
COLUSA COUNTY AS A WHOLE, WE ARE
OPEN TO DIVERSE ENERGY SOURCES,
AND WE'VE OPENED UP OUR GENERAL
PLAN TO ADDRESS ISSUES WITH
BATTERY STORAGE AND THOSE TYPES
OF THINGS. SO WE'RE COMMITTED TO
ALTERNATIVES. THIS IS JUST A
VERY LOOSE BILL, AND THAT'S ALL
I HAVE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR MEMBERS.
STAFF DOCTOR ARAMBULA SHANNON,
I'M ALEX BERING. I'M A SENIOR
POLICY ADVOCATE FOR THE
CALIFORNIA FARM BUREAU, WHICH
REPRESENTS 20,000 FARMERS AND
RANCHERS STATEWIDE WHO HAVE AN
AVERAGE FARM SIZE OF ABOUT 400
ACRES, I JUST WANT TO SAY WE'RE
WE'RE REALLY GRATEFUL FOR THE
TIME THAT EVERYONE HAS SPENT
WITH US, HEARING OUR CONCERNS
OVER THE LAST WEEKS AND DAYS,
ALSO VERY APPRECIATIVE OF THE
COMMITTEE'S WORK TO NARROW THE
PROVISIONS OF THE BILL,
PARTICULARLY RELATED TO
CRITICAL, CRITICALLY OVERDRAFTED
BASINS. BUT IN SOME WAYS, THAT
ACTUALLY MAKES IT EVEN MORE
IMPORTANT TO GET THE WATER
PROVISIONS RIGHT. AND I STILL
FEEL LIKE THERE'S A THERE'S SOME
AMOUNT OF VAGUENESS HERE THAT
NEEDS TO BE TIGHTENED UP A BIT,
IT DOESN'T REQUIRE THE BILL,
DOESN'T REQUIRE ANY COORDINATION
WITH THE RELEVANT GROUNDWATER
SUSTAINABILITY AGENCIES OR WATER
DISTRICTS, FOR EXAMPLE, TO SAY,
VERIFY THAT A LAND DOESN'T HAVE
A WATER Ã PUMPING ALLOCATION OR
A SURFACE WATER SUPPLY. SO WHAT
WE WANT TO AVOID IS A CASE WHERE
A LANDOWNER WOULD BE ABLE TO
DECLARE THEIR LAND, WATER
DEFICIENT FOR THE PURPOSE OF
AVOIDING SOME AMOUNT OF
CANCELLATION FEES. BUT THEN
STILL HAVE THAT ALLOCATION IN
HAND TO POTENTIALLY SELL LATER,
WHICH IS A DEFINITE POSSIBILITY
BECAUSE THERE ISN'T REALLY THAT
SPECIFICITY IN THE BILL, IF THE
IF THE SPONSORS WANT TO REALLY
BE PART OF A SOLUTION OF
GROUNDWATER SUSTAINABILITY AND
CLEAN ENERGY, YOU HAVE TO YOU
HAVE TO LOCK IN PROVISIONS THAT
PREVENT THAT SORT OF DOUBLE
DIPPING, SO WE'RE ENCOURAGED
ALSO, AS A RESULT, TO SEE THE
CANCELLATION FEE POTENTIALLY CUT
IN IN HALF, THE, THE WAIVER, BUT
THAT'S ALSO IDENTICAL TO WHAT'S
IN THE SOLAR USE EASEMENT. AND I
KNOW THAT THIS IS SOMETHING WE
KEEP BRINGING UP, BUT I FEEL
LIKE IF, IF THAT MONEY THAT'S
USED IN THE SOLAR USE EASEMENT
FUNDS STUDIES THAT LIKE
DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND AG AND
DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION HAVE
TO DO IN ORDER TO DETERMINE IF
SOLAR IS THE BEST USE FOR THE
LAND THAT ACCOUNTABILITY AND
THAT THAT WORK SHOULD STILL BE
DONE THROUGH THIS PROCESS AS
WELL. WHICH BEGS THE QUESTION
ABOUT WHETHER IT JUST MAKES MORE
SENSE TO IMPROVE THE SOLAR USE
EASEMENT, OPTION AS A TOOL IF
IT'S NOT WORKING, LET'S FIGURE
OUT WHY AND FIX THAT WITHOUT
POKING AN ENORMOUS HOLE IN THE
WILLIAMSON ACT. SO NO ONE, NO
ONE IN THIS ROOM, ME, OF ANY OF
THEM, OF ANYONE IS NAIVE TO THE
FACT THAT LAND USES AND
CRITICALLY, OVERDRAFTED BASINS
ARE GOING TO CHANGE DRAMATICALLY
IN THE NEXT FEW DECADES. BUT THE
WILLIAMSON ACT IS THE
FOUNDATIONAL COMPONENT OF
CALIFORNIA'S LONG TERME
AGRICULTURAL VITALITY, WHICH IS
WHY WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO STAY
OPPOSED UNTIL SOME OF THOSE
PROVISIONS ARE TIGHTENED UP AND
JUST GIVEN A LITTLE BIT MORE
SPECIFICITY. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU FOR YOUR TESTIMONY, NOW I'M
GOING TO OPEN IT UP TO THE
PUBLIC, IF AGAIN, YOU CAN STATE
YOUR NAME ORGANIZATION, WHETHER
YOU SUPPORT OR OPPOSE THE BILL.
I'M A TWEENER, MICHAEL. JARED.
WITH THE COMMUNITY ALLIANCE WITH
FAMILY FARMERS WERE OPPOSED
UNLESS AMENDED. BUT WE WOULD
LIKE TO JUST THANK THE COMMITTEE
AND THE COMMITTEE STAFF FOR
THEIR AMENDMENTS. WE THINK IT'S
MOVING THE BILL IN THE RIGHT
DIRECTION. WE'RE GOING TO REVIEW
THE ACTUAL LANGUAGE IN OUR
POSITION. THANK YOU. CYNOG WITH
RURAL COUNTY REPRESENTATIVES OF
CALIFORNIA DOUBLE DIPPING A
LITTLE BIT, AS MY COLLEAGUE ALEX
JUST MENTIONED. BUT WE ARE
OPPOSED. WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD
TO DOCTOR RAMOS AMENDMENTS TO
SEE IF WE CAN ADJUST OUR
POSITION GOING FORWARD. THANK
YOU. KARA MARTINSON, ON BEHALF
OF AMERICAN CLEAN POWER AND
SUPPORT. GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM
CHAIR AND MEMBERS. AARON
NORWOOD, ON BEHALF OF THE ALLMAN
ALLIANCE, PLEASED TO BE IN
SUPPORT OF THIS MEASURE. THANK
YOU, MADAM CHAIR, AND MEMBERS.
AARON NIEMELA REPRESENTING
INTERSECT POWER. ALSO IN SUPPORT
. GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR. I
WOULD KIDANI ON BEHALF OF
CLEARWAY ENERGY IN SUPPORT.
MADAM CHAIR AND MEMBERS, DELANEY
HUNTER, ON BEHALF OF THE SOLAR
ENERGY INDUSTRIES ASSOCIATION,
IN SUPPORT. GOOD AFTERNOON,
CHAIR AND MEMBERS. LILY MCKAY ON
BEHALF OF TERRA CHEN IN SUPPORT.
MARGARET GLADSTEIN, ON BEHALF OF
LONG ROAD ENERGY, IN SUPPORT.
MEGAN MURRAY WITH THE WIDEMAN
GROUP, ON BEHALF OF R.W. Â.
RENEWABLES AND STRONG SUPPORT.
GOOD AFTERNOON. ASHTON
EHRENREICH WITH ENVIRONMENT
CALIFORNIA IN SUPPORT. THANK YOU
. MADAM CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE
COMMITTEE, LOUIE BROWN, HERE
TODAY ON BEHALF OF CALIFORNIA
CITRUS MUTUAL AND THE CALIFORNIA
WALNUT COMMISSION IN SUPPORT.
GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR AND
MEMBERS. JAMES THÀNH, DIRECTOR
OF THE CALIFORNIA STATE COUNCIL
OF LABORERS IN SUPPORT. NOW
WE'LL OPEN IT UP TO THE MEMBERS,
DO MEMBERS HAVE QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS, AT THIS MOMENT,
ASSEMBLY MEMBER CONLEY THANK
YOU, MADAM CHAIR. GOOD AFTERNOON
EVERYONE. I WANT TO START BY
THANKING THE AUTHOR FOR YOUR
WORK ON THIS BILL. IT IS MOVING
IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. I KNOW
YOU AND YOUR STAFF HAVE TAKEN
THE TIME TO SPEAK WITH MY OFFICE
ABOUT SOME CONCERNS, AND I AND I
THINK THAT WORK IS ONGOING. SO
MUCH APPRECIATED. AND, I THINK
WHERE I'M AT STILL IS AND
CERTAINLY UNDERSTAND THE WATER
CONSTRAINTS THAT OUR STATE IS
FACING AND THE IMPACTS ON A LOT.
UNFORTUNATELY, ALL TOO OFTEN, AG
LAND GOING FALLOW, PARTICULARLY
IN THE CENTRAL VALLEY. I ALSO AM
ON BOARD WITH RAPIDLY
DEVELOPING, MORE CLEAN ENERGY,
INCLUDING SOLAR. BUT IN MY VIEW,
BIG PICTURE. WE NEED TO MAKE
SURE THAT WE KEEP AGRICULTURE
STRONG IN CALIFORNIA. I AM
CONCERNED, AND, THAT THIS BILL,
IN EFFECT, WOULD MOVE US QUICKLY
TOWARD OPENING UP AGRICULTURAL
LAND FOR ENERGY DEVELOPMENT, I
PARTICULARLY LIKE THE IDEA FOR,
AGAIN, AS I MENTIONED IN
JUDICIARY, AS A BIG PROPONENT
AND ALSO HAVE SEEN THE TANGIBLE
EFFECTS OF THE WILLIAMSON ACT,
TO ACTUALLY LOOK AT CONVENING A
WILLIAMSON AG WORKING GROUP TO
TAKE A DELIBERATIVE APPROACH TO
THIS COMPLEX ISSUE, I THINK THAT
WAS A SUGGESTION IN A LETTER
FROM THE FARM BUREAU THAT I
THOUGHT WAS, WELL TAKEN. SO I
THINK LOOKING FORWARD TO
CONTINUING THE CONVERSATION,
PARTICULARLY ON THE FLOOR. BUT
AT THIS TIME, I'M GOING TO
CONTINUE TO LAY OFF THE BILL.
THANK YOU FOR THE FOR BRINGING
IT FORWARD. I WANT TO
ACKNOWLEDGE, SOMEONE FROM MY
DISTRICT HERE AS WELL, THE
WILLIAMSON ACT IS PRECIOUS TO
MANY OF OUR FARMERS AND
INCLUDING MYSELF. SO I'M VERY
APPREHENSIVE OF OPENING UP A CAN
OF WORMS UNTIL WE KNOW WHERE
IT'S GOING TO TAKE US, I AGREE
THAT WOULD BE GREAT TO HAVE A
WORKING GROUP OR HAVING A
DISCUSSION ON THIS, BECAUSE I
KNOW MY DISTRICT WOULD BE VERY
UPSET ABOUT ME JUMPING INTO THIS
REALM WITHOUT MORE DISCUSSION. I
BELIEVE THE GENTLEMAN WHO PUT
THE WILLIAMSON ACT TOGETHER WAS
FROM DAVIS, CALIFORNIA, WHICH IS
ALSO IN MY DISTRICT. SO I
APPRECIATE YOUR TESTIMONY TODAY.
I LOOK FORWARD TO YOU CONTINUING
TO WORK ON THIS. IF YOU GET IT
OUT OF COMMITTEE. BUT I TOO WILL
BE LAYING OFF TODAY. THIS THIS
IS, IT COULD POTENTIALLY BE GOOD
POLICY FOR AREAS THAT ARE ARE
FALLOWED, BUT THERE IS A BIG
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE CENTRAL
VALLEY OF MOST AG OCCURS THERE
AND AREAS THAT I REPRESENT.
VENTURA COUNTY, WHICH IS A
SHRINKING FOOTPRINT. I ALSO KNOW
THAT WE'RE ONE OF THE COUNTIES
THAT HAVE SAVE OUR OPEN SPACE
RESOURCES. WE HAVE. IT'S A VOTER
INITIATIVE THAT PROTECTS ALL AG
LAND. THE WILLIAMSON ACT IS VERY
PRECIOUS IN, IN VENTURA COUNTY.
SO I WOULD HAVE TO HAVE MANY
MORE DISCUSSIONS IF WE WERE
LOOKING AT DOING SOMETHING IN
VENTURA COUNTY. IN ADDITION, OUR
OUR LOCAL FARM BUREAU IS OPPOSED
ALL CONSTITUENTS. SO MY
UNDERSTANDING IS THAT YOU HAVE
YOU ARE FOCUSING ONLY ON THE
CENTRAL VALLEY, AND, DURING MY
OPENING I MENTIONED IT WAS ONLY
THE EIGHT COUNTIES AND THE SAN
JOAQUIN VALLEY AND THOSE THAT
ARE CRITICALLY OVERDRAFTED
BASINS. OKAY. AND SO I WILL
SUPPORT YOU TODAY. I THINK THERE
ARE MANY MORE CONVERSATIONS TO
BE HAD. AND, WE OBVIOUSLY ARE
ALL WANT DESIRING TO MOVE TO A
CLEAN ENERGY FUTURE AS QUICKLY
AS POSSIBLE. BUT WE ALSO KNOW
THAT THE GOVERNOR AND THE
LEGISLATURE HAVE ADOPTED THE 30
BY 30 PLAN. AND IT'S CRITICALLY
IMPORTANT TO SET ASIDE AREAS FOR
OPEN SPACE AND AG AND KEEP THEM
THAT WAY. SO THIS IS A REAL
BALANCING ACT. AND I JUST
ENCOURAGE THOSE CONVERSATIONS TO
CONTINUE. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER
MEMBERS THAT HAVE QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS? ASSEMBLY MEMBER WOULD.
I'LL SPEAK LOUDLY, I APOLOGIZE
FOR MISSING THE DISCUSSION, BUT
I DID WANT TO. I DON'T EXACTLY
INSPIRED. SO THAT'S HOW I WAS
REALLY DANGEROUS, BUT BUT, I HAD
MET WITH THE AUTHOR. I HAD SOME
CONCERNS, RECOGNIZING THAT THE
DISTRICT HE REPRESENTS VERY
DIFFERENT THAN THE DISTRICT I
REPRESENT, FROM A VARIETY OF
DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES. AND,
SAID I WOULD SUPPORT THE BILL
TODAY, BUT WANT TO BE SURE THAT
THERE ARE CONTINUED DISCUSSIONS
WITH STAKEHOLDERS AS, AS THIS
PROCESS MOVES FORWARD. SO, I
HAD, YOU KNOW, VERY GOOD
CONVERSATIONS WITH THE
OPPOSITION, AND, AND WITH YOU,
DOCTOR ARAMBULA, THIS IS A BROAD
POLICY PIECE, AND I THINK THERE
HAVE BEEN SOME AMENDMENTS TAKEN
THAT, THAT NARROW THAT. BUT IT'S
WORTHY OF ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION,
AND I HOPE THAT IT STILL MOVES
FORWARD THAT, THAT, THAT THOSE
DISCUSSIONS CONTINUE IN EARNEST.
I REALLY APPRECIATE THE ASSEMBLY
MEMBERS FOR RAISING THE CONCERNS
THROUGH THIS PROCESS. I BELIEVE
WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO IMPROVE THE
BILL BY HELPING TO NARROW IT AND
FOCUS IT ON THOSE CRITICALLY
OVERDRAFTED BASINS. AND SO I'M
HAPPY TO TAKE THE AMENDMENTS
THAT WE SPOKE ABOUT TO LIMIT IT
SOLELY TO THE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
AND THOSE EIGHT COUNTIES WITH
CRITICALLY OVERDRAFTED BASINS.
GREAT, SEEING NO OTHER MEMBER
WANTING TO, OKAY. ASSEMBLY
MEMBER, JONES. SO THIS WILL BE
QUICK AND I KNOW YOU PUT IN A
LOT OF WORK AND BASED ON THE
AMENDMENTS THAT I BELIEVE YOU'RE
GOING TO TAKE AND SOME OTHER
THINGS, I'LL GO AHEAD AND MOVE
THE BILL AND SO THAT WE CAN ALSO
HOPEFULLY, YOU CAN NARROW
WHATEVER WE NEED TO DO TO GET TO
A PLACE WHERE EVERYBODY'S
COMFORTABLE BECAUSE THIS IS THAT
IMPORTANT TO MY COLLEAGUES WHO
CONSIDER THE WILLIAMSON ACT,
ALMOST, THE BIBLE. AND WE NEED
TO. AND WE NEED TO BE, TO HONOR
THAT IN EVERY WAY, SHAPE AND
FORM. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT, SO
BEFORE WE GO TO YOUR CLOSING,
ASSEMBLY MEMBER ARAMBULA, I JUST
WANT TO MAKE A FEW COMMENTS,
OBVIOUSLY. THANK YOU, FOR
MEETING WITH US AND WORKING
THROUGH SOME OF THE CONCERNS
THAT I ALSO LAID OUT. I WILL
SAY, YOU KNOW, I HEAR BOTH
OBVIOUSLY, THE FOLKS THAT ARE IN
SUPPORT OF THIS PIECE OF
LEGISLATION, BUT I ALSO EQUALLY
HEAR THOSE THE CONCERNS FROM THE
OPPOSITION. AND I JUST WANT
EVERYONE TO KNOW THAT OBVIOUSLY,
I'M COMMITTED TO PRESERVING AG
LAND, IN OUR COMMUNITY AND OPEN
SPACE AND WANTING TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE ARE TRULY THE GOLDEN AG
STATE, SO I'M COMMITTED TO THAT.
BUT I ALSO THINK THAT THERE'S AN
INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY, THE BILL
IS NOT PERFECT, WE'VE LAID OUT
SOME GENERAL KIND OF PROVISIONS
WHERE WE CAN REALLY NARROW THE
BILL TO A PLACE WHERE MAYBE MOST
PEOPLE WILL BE COMFORTABLE, BUT
AGAIN, WE LOOK FORWARD TO
CONTINUING THE WORK BECAUSE
THERE IS A LOT OF WORK TO BE
DONE. I WILL SAY THAT ONE OF THE
PROVISIONS THAT I DO APPRECIATE
IS THE LOCAL CONTROL PIECE,
BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY,
THE COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS,
WHICH I APPRECIATE, YOU KNOW,
SUPERVISOR FOR, FOR BEING HERE,
HAVE THE LAST SAY ON WHETHER,
YOU KNOW, THE AG LAND WOULD END
UP TRANSITIONING INTO BEING
SOLAR. SO WE WILL CONTINUE TO
WORK WITH WITH THE AUTHOR. IF
YOU KNOW, I KNOW THAT HE MADE A
COMMITMENT TO US AND TO SEVERAL
OF THE COLLEAGUES SO THAT AT
LEAST THOSE THAT HAVE LAID OFF
MAY BE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO
SUPPORT IF THIS BILL, YOU KNOW,
ACTUALLY ADDRESSES THE
ADDITIONAL CONCERNS THAT YOU
HAVE LAID OUT. SO AGAIN, THANK
YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU'RE
DOING ON THIS. OBVIOUSLY, WE
REPRESENT, VERY SIMILAR REGION.
AND I'M DOING, YOU KNOW,
SIMILAR, SIMILAR BILL, IN TERMS
OF, YOU KNOW, FOR THE WEST SIDE
OF MY DISTRICT AND UNDERSTAND
AND THAT WE HAVE TO DO
SOMETHING, ESPECIALLY IN THOSE
AREAS THAT ARE NO LONGER BEING,
FARMED IN AND WILL NOT BE FARMED
IN, ESPECIALLY LIKE IN MY
DISTRICT AS A RESULT OF SIGMA
AND ALL THE OTHER CHALLENGES
THAT, OUR COMMUNITIES ARE
FACING. AND SO, LOOK FORWARD TO
SUPPORTING THE BILL WITH YOUR
COMMITMENT TO CONTINUE TO WORK
ON IT. WE HAVE SOME PROVISIONS.
I KNOW THAT YOU'VE MADE
COMMITMENTS ON ADDITIONAL
THINGS. SO WE WILL BE WORKING
WITH YOU CLOSELY TO ENSURE THAT
THE BILL MOVES FORWARD IN A
PLACE THAT WE'RE COMFORTABLE
WITH. SO IF YOU'D LIKE TO CLOSE.
THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR, FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT TODAY AND
FOR THE HEARTY DISCUSSION
AMONGST OUR COLLEAGUES. IT'S
IMPORTANT FOR US IN OUR
DEMOCRATIC PROCESS TO LISTEN TO
EACH OTHER AND TO IMPROVE THE
BILLS AS IT GOES THROUGH, AND
I'M GRATEFUL FOR EACH ONE OF YOU
FOR TAKING THE TIME TO ENGAGE
WITH US, TO DIG INTO THE ISSUE
AND YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS
MATTER. WITH THAT, I
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR AN AYE
VOTE. GREAT. THANK YOU. WE DO
HAVE A MOTION BY ASSEMBLY MEMBER
JONES SAWYER. DO WE HAVE A
SECOND, ASSEMBLY MEMBER VILA
SECONDS. MADAM SECRETARY, IF YOU
COULD PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON AB
2528. MOTION IS DUE. PASS AS
AMENDED. SORIA AYE. SORIA AYE.
ALANIZ ALANIZ. NOT VOTING.
AGUIAR-CURRY. VOTING.
AGUIAR-CURRY NOT VOTING.
CONNELLY. CONNELLY NOT VOTING.
IRWIN. IRWIN. AYE. JONES SAWYER.
SAWYER. AYE. SANCHEZ. TO BE I
WOULD WOULD I? THE BILL HAS FIVE
VOTES AT THE MOMENT, WE WILL
MAKE SURE TO HOLD THE, YOU KNOW,
CALL OPEN UNTIL THE OTHER
MEMBERS COME. BUT BUT THANK YOU
AGAIN. THANKS, CHRIS. AT THIS
MOMENT, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND TAKE
UP THE CONSENT AND WE HAVE WE
HAVE A MOTION BY ASSEMBLY, WOMAN
AGUIAR-CURRY AND A SECOND BY
ASSEMBLY MEMBER ALANIZ, MEMBERS.
THERE ARE TWO BILLS PROPOSED FOR
TODAY'S CONSENT CALENDAR FILE
ITEM SEVEN AB 2324 ALANIS
AVOCADOS. SALE OR DONATION BY
THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE TO
OF AGRICULTURE. EXCUSE ME. AND
FILE ITEM EIGHT AB 2721, THAT IS
AN AG COMMITTEE BILL RELATED TO
TRANSPORTING KITCHEN GREASE FEES
IN ADDITION TO REGISTRATION FEES
. EXTENDING THE SUN SUNSET DATE
IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS
CONCERNS MEMBERS OF THE
COMMITTEE. SO WE DO HAVE A
MOTION AND A SECOND. MADAM
SECRETARY, IF YOU COULD PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL ON THE CONSENT
CALENDAR AB 2324 ALANIS AND AB
2721 AGRICULTURE. BOTH BILLS ARE
DUE PASS TO APPROPRIATIONS
COMMITTEE. SORIA. I SORIA I
ALANIS ALANIS I AGUIAR-CURRY.
AGUIAR-CURRY I CONNOLLY.
CONNOLLY. I IRWIN. IRWIN I
JONES-SAWYER JONES. SAWYER I
SANCHEZ. TO BE VALLAPUDUA I, I
WOULD, I WOULD I. SO THAT BILL
HAS EIGHT VOTES AND THAT IS ON
THE CONSENT CALENDAR HAS BEEN
APPROVED. NOW WE'LL MOVE OVER TO
FILE ITEM THREE. ASSEMBLY BILL
2509 BY ASSEMBLY MEMBER KALRA.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. AND
YOU CAN PROCEED, WITH YOUR BILL
WHEN YOU ARE READY. THANK YOU,
MADAM CHAIR, AND MEMBERS AB 2509
WOULD CODIFY DEFINITIONS OF
INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT AND
INVASIVE SPECIES AND REQUIRE THE
INVASIVE SPECIES COUNCIL OF
CALIFORNIA TO PRIORITIZE
PRINCIPLES OF INTEGRATED PEST
MANAGEMENT IN ALL OF ITS
ACTIVITIES. INTEGRATED PEST
MANAGEMENT, ALSO KNOWN AS IPM,
IS A PEST MANAGEMENT STRATEGY
THAT SEEKS TO MAXIMIZE THE
EFFECTIVENESS OF PEST MANAGEMENT
REMEDIES WHILE MINIMIZING HARM
TO PEOPLE IN THE ENVIRONMENT. IT
ACCOMPLISHES THIS BY MOVING AWAY
FROM TRADITIONAL CHEMICAL ONLY
TREATMENTS IN FAVOR OF NUANCED
SOLUTIONS THAT UTILIZE VARIOUS
PEST MANAGEMENT METHODS,
INCLUDING NON CHEMICAL,
BIOLOGICAL, PHYSICAL AND
CULTURAL TECHNIQUES. WHILE IPM
CAN ADDRESS MOST PEST MANAGEMENT
NEEDS, IT IS ESPECIALLY USEFUL
IN ECOLOGICALLY SENSITIVE
SITUATIONS LIKE IN BC. INVASIVE
SPECIES MANAGEMENT IPM RAIMES
STATUS AS AN EFFECTIVE,
ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY
APPROACH TO PEST MANAGEMENT HAS
CAUSED IT TO BECOME AN
INCREASINGLY POPULAR SUBJECT OF
LEGISLATION. UNFORTUNATELY,
THERE IS NO CODIFIED DEFINITION
OF IPM, LEAVING EACH PIECE OF
LEGISLATION TO CREATE ITS OWN.
THIS CAN LEAD TO CONFUSION,
DELAYS IN IMPLEMENTATION, AND
CONFLICTING ENFORCEMENT ACTION.
AB 2509 ADDRESSES THIS ISSUE BY
CODIFYING THE UNIVERSITY OF
CALIFORNIA IPM PROGRAM'S
DEFINITION OF IPM. NUMEROUS
STAKEHOLDERS CAME TOGETHER TO
ENSURE THAT THIS DEFINITION
BALANCES IMPORTANT HUMAN HEALTH,
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, AND
PEST MANAGEMENT NEEDS WITH ME TO
PROVIDE SUPPORTING TESTIMONY,
OUR DOUG JOHNSON, EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR OF THE CALIFORNIA
INVASIVE PLANT COUNCIL, AND MARK
LANDGRAF, ASSISTANT GENERAL
MANAGER OF THE SANTA CLARA
COUNTY OPEN SPACE AUTHORITY.
THANKS, GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM
CHAIR AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS,
DOUG JOHNSON. I'M THE DIRECTOR
OF THE CALIFORNIA INVASIVE PLANT
COUNCIL, A NONPROFIT
ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO
PROTECTING CALIFORNIA'S
ENVIRONMENT AND ECONOMY FROM
INVASIVE PLANTS, WE REPRESENT A
COMMUNITY PRIMARILY MADE UP OF
ECOLOGISTS FROM, LOCAL OPEN
SPACE DISTRICTS, NATIONAL
FORESTS AND PARKS, STATE, LOCAL,
REGIONAL, PARKS, OPEN SPACE LAND
TRUSTS, CONSERVANCIES, ETC. WE
SPONSORED THIS BILL TO DEFINE
TWO TERMS THAT ARE CRITICAL TO
THAT STEWARDSHIP WORK INVASIVE
SPECIES AND INTEGRATED PEST
MANAGEMENT, OR IPM, INVASIVE
SPECIES ARE RECOGNIZED IN
MULTIPLE STATE PLANS AS A
SIGNIFICANT THREAT, INCLUDING
THE NATURAL AND WORKING LANDS
CLIMATE SMART STRATEGY, PATHWAYS
TO 30 BY 30, AND THE STATE
WILDLIFE ACTION PLAN, HAVING A
DEFINITION IN STATUTE REALLY
SUPPORTS STRONG PROGRAMS TO
ADDRESS THIS CRITICAL ISSUE, THE
DEFINITION WE ARE PROPOSING
MATCHES THE FEDERAL DEFINITION
AND TEXT ALREADY IN FOOD AND AG
CODE. THE OTHER TERMS IS
INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT, OR
IPM, DEFINING IPM, AS ASSEMBLY
MEMBER KALRA MENTIONED, WILL
AVOID HAVING THE TERMS USED IN
MULTIPLE WAYS IN VARIOUS PLACES
IN THE LAW. THE DEFINITION WE'RE
PROPOSING IS THE WIDELY
RECOGNIZED LONG STANDING
DEFINITION FROM THE UNIVERSITY
OF CALIFORNIA, IT'S THE
DEFINITION USED BY THE STATE'S
SUSTAINABLE PEST MANAGEMENT
WORKGROUP, AND AS MENTIONED, IPM
ENCOURAGES PREVENTION FIRST
NON-CHEMICAL METHODS, BUT IT
DOES NOT RULE OUT PESTICIDES IF
AND WHEN NEEDED, IN CERTAIN
CASES, THE ORGANIZATIONS WE
REPRESENT, ARE CHARGED WITH
STEWARDING OUR LANDS AND
PROTECTING BIODIVERSITY. THEY
USE A RANGE OF METHODS AS PART
OF IPM, AND THEY DO USE A SMALL
AMOUNT OF PESTICIDES WHEN NEEDED
ON AN AS NEEDED BASIS. SO HERE
FROM ONE OF THOSE STEWARDSHIP
ORGANIZATIONS IS MARK. GOOD
AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR.
COMMITTEE MEMBERS. MARK
LANDGRAF, ASSISTANT GENERAL
MANAGER WITH THE SANTA CLARA
VALLEY OPEN SPACE AUTHORITY. WE
MANAGE ABOUT 30,000 ACRES IN
SANTA CLARA COUNTY, FOR OUR,
THOSE ARE NATURAL AND WORKING
LANDS, BOTH AND THAT'S FOR
NATURAL RESOURCE PROTECTION,
SUPPORTIVE AGRICULTURE, AND TO
CONNECT PEOPLE TO NATURE. WE USE
INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT ON A
DAILY BASIS. AND SO WE'RE
GRATEFUL TO THE AUTHOR FOR
PROVIDING THIS LEGISLATION THAT
DEFINES AND CLARIFIES INTEGRATED
PEST MANAGEMENT. WE USE THE
METHODS ESPECIALLY IN AN EARLY
DETECTION AND RAPID RESPONSE
APPROACH. IN ORDER TO CONTROL
INVASIVE SPECIES SO THAT WE CAN
PROTECT NATIVE SENSITIVE SPECIES
OF PLANTS AND ANIMALS. WE ALSO
USE IT FOR WILDFIRE RISK
REDUCTION AND TO ENHANCE THE
VISITOR EXPERIENCE IN OUR
PRESERVES, THE BILL IS EXTREMELY
IMPORTANT TO US BECAUSE IT, AS
DOUG AND ASSEMBLYMEMBER KALRA
BOTH REFERRED TO, ALLOWS FOR A
VARIETY OF TOOLS, AND WE EMPLOY
TOOLS ON OUR LANDS SUCH AS
GRAZING AND HAND-PULLING AND
OTHER METHODS, INCLUDING MOWING.
AND WE DO USE HERBICIDES AS WELL
, WE USE HERBICIDES VERY
JUDICIOUSLY, AND ONLY WHEN IT IS
THE MOST EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE
METHOD. WE DO A LOT OF HAND
PULLING THAT INVOLVES
VOLUNTEERS. IN FACT, IF ANY OF
YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH YELLOW
STAR THISTLE, WE DO A LOT OF
HAND PULLING BY VOLUNTEERS OF
YELLOW STAR THISTLE AT OUR
PRESERVES IN SENSITIVE AREAS,
YOU CAN IMAGINE THAT'S A PRETTY
DEDICATED PROCESS FOR OUR
VOLUNTEERS, BUT WE DO USE
HERBICIDES WHEN THAT IS
NECESSARY. AND SO THIS
LEGISLATION IS VERY IMPORTANT
AND URGE YOUR SUPPORT. THANK YOU
. GREAT. THANK YOU. IS THERE
ANYONE IN OPPOSITION THAT WANTS
TO COME ON UP SEEING NONE. WE'LL
GO AHEAD AND OPEN IT UP FOR
PUBLIC COMMENT. DO WE HAVE
MEMBERS OF THE AUDIENCE WHO
WOULD LIKE TO REGISTER THEIR
SUPPORT OR OPPOSITION FOR THE
BILL? PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND
THE ORGANIZATION AND WHETHER YOU
SUPPORT OR OPPOSE. GOOD
AFTERNOON, CHAIR AND MEMBERS.
ABIGAIL SCHMIDT, ON BEHALF OF
THE MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN
SPACE DISTRICT EAST BAY REGIONAL
PARK DISTRICT, AND THE
CALIFORNIA STATE PARKS
FOUNDATION, ALL IN SUPPORT.
SEEING NO ONE ELSE, DO ANY
MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE HAVE
ANY QUESTIONS, ASSEMBLY MEMBER
CONLEY. THANK YOU. AND I
APPRECIATE THE AUTHOR'S WORK ON
THIS, AGAIN, THIS IS ONE WHERE
OUR OFFICES HAVE BEEN WORKING
TOGETHER. YOU'RE CORRECT. IT IS
COMING DOWN TO THE DEFINITIONS.
IT'S NOTABLY INVASIVE SPECIES.
AND THEN ALSO IPM, MY ISSUE IS
I'M ALSO RUNNING A BILL RELATING
TO, CONTROLLING THE USE OF
PESTICIDES AND IMPLEMENTING IPM,
BY CALTRANS ON OUR STATE
HIGHWAYS, AB 99, WHICH IS NOW IN
SENATE PROBE. SO IT'LL BE TAKEN
UP LATER THIS YEAR. SO I AM,
GOOD WITH GOING FORWARD WITH
THIS, BUT, WITH THE
UNDERSTANDING LET'S KEEP WORKING
THROUGH SOME ISSUES, MY CONCERN
IN THAT CASE, NOT TO EXPAND TOO
MUCH, BUT IS IPM EFFECTIVELY
BECOMES PEST ASIDES AS THE GO
TO, DEPENDING ON HOW IT'S
INTERPRETED. SO OFTENTIMES IN
CONTRAVENTION OF WHAT LOCALS ARE
TRYING TO DO TO ACTUALLY USE
BETTER PRACTICES, FRANKLY. SO I
WAS HEARTENED BY THE TESTIMONY,
AND JUST KIND OF ENSURING GOING
FORWARD THAT WE CAN MAKE THIS
THE BEST IT CAN POSSIBLY BE. SO
I'M A YES TODAY, WITH ONGOING
DISCUSSIONS. I APPRECIATE THAT.
AS SUMMARY, CONNOLLY, FIRST OF
ALL, IN REGARDS TO AB 99, WHICH
I ALSO FULLY SUPPORT, THIS BILL
DOES NOT IMPACT ANY OF AB 99
ADDITIONAL PESTICIDE PROVISIONS
OR LIMIT THE STATE'S ABILITY TO
FURTHER RESTRICT PESTICIDE
APPLICATIONS. AND IN FACT, EVEN
THE DEFINITIONS ARE ESSENTIALLY
IDENTICAL IN TERMS OF IPM
DEFINITIONS. ADDITIONALLY, IT
DOESN'T IMPACT ANY LOCAL
JURISDICTION FROM TAKING ACTION.
SOME LOCAL JURISDICTIONS HAVE.
THIS DOESN'T IMPACT THAT AT ALL.
IT SIMPLY PUTS FORWARD, A
STANDARD APPROVED PROTOCOL. THAT
ALTHOUGH IT DOES ALLOW THE USE
OF CHEMICAL AGENTS, THAT'S KIND
OF LIKE THE LAST RESORT AND
OTHER PRACTICES ARE USED FIRST,
AND IT DOESN'T PREVENT EITHER
THE STATE OR LOCAL JURISDICTIONS
GOING FURTHER OR EVEN BANNING
PESTICIDES. THAT'S NOT WHAT THIS
BILL IS INTENDED TO DO. THIS
BILL IS INTENDED TO REALLY JUST
GIVE A COMMON DEFINITION SO
EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS WHEN WE
TALK ABOUT INTEGRATED PEST
MANAGEMENT, WHAT THAT MEANS AS
WHETHER THEY'RE DOING STATE
LEGISLATION OR EVEN AT THE LOCAL
LEVEL, THERE'S SOME COMMONALITY
IN DEFINITIONS, WHICH I THINK IS
IMPORTANT, BUT ULTIMATELY IT'S
REALLY ABOUT ALLOWING THOSE THAT
ARE ON THE GROUND TO MAKE UP
THEIR BEST JUDGMENT AS TO WHAT
WORKS THE BEST. AND SO IT'S
ABSOLUTELY CONSISTENT WITH THE
WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING. AND WE
MADE SURE TO KEEP AN EYE ON AB
99 AS WE WERE CRAFTING THE BILL
AS WELL. VERY MUCH APPRECIATE
THAT. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER
MEMBER QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS?
SEEING NONE IS THERE A MOTION A
MOTION MOTION BY ASSEMBLY MEMBER
ALANIZ. SECOND BY ASSEMBLY
MEMBER JONES. SAWYER MADAM
SECRETARY, IF YOU COULD. OH.
BEFORE EXCUSE ME, ASSEMBLY
MEMBER CARRA, IF YOU WOULD LIKE
TO. PLEASE CLOSE. I JUST WANT TO
THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. AND YOUR
COMMITTEE STAFF, FOR WORKING
DILIGENTLY WITH ME AND MY STAFF,
THESE THESE THE DEFINITIONS ARE
ALWAYS WAY MORE COMPLICATED
FIGURING THEM OUT THAN YOU WOULD
EXPECT. AND SO I REALLY
APPRECIATE THE WORK OF, OF YOUR
COMMITTEE AND IN GETTING US
WHERE WE ARE TODAY. THANK YOU.
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR AN AYE
VOTE. THANK YOU. ASSEMBLY MEMBER
CARRA, THE MOTION ON THE BILL IS
TO PASS TO APPROPRIATIONS. MADAM
SECRETARY, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL
ON AB 2509, CALL FOR MOTION. DO
PASS TO APPROPRIATIONS. SORIA.
SORIA. AYE. ALANIZ ALANIZ. AYE.
AGUIAR-CURRY. CONNOLLY. CONNOLLY
AYE. IRWIN. IRWIN. AYE. JONES.
SAWYER HI. JOAN. SAWYER. AYE.
SANCHEZ. TO BE. VALLAPUDUA. Ã.
VÆ. VALLAPUDUA. I WOULD I WOULD
I? GREAT. SO THE BILL HAS SEVEN
VOTES. IT WILL GET OUT. WE'LL
JUST LEAVE THE, THE BILL OPEN
FOR OTHER MEMBERS TO ADD ON.
WOULD YOU LIKE BETTER? DO YOU
LIKE BETTER? I SAID, WHO DO YOU
LIKE BETTER? WELL. SO WE'RE
GOING TO CONTINUE ON FILE ITEM
NUMBER TWO, ASSEMBLY BILL 2799
BY ASSEMBLY MEMBER FONG SO.
ASSEMBLY MEMBER FONG, PLEASE
PROCEED WITH YOUR BILL WHEN
YOU'RE READY. THANK YOU, MADAM
CHAIR. I'LL BE QUICK FOR THE
APPROPRIATIONS. CHAIR THE 2023
WATER YEAR SAW A MASSIVE AMOUNTS
OF RAIN AND SNOWFALL. AS YOU
KNOW, MADAM CHAIR, PUSHING
CALIFORNIA'S WATER
INFRASTRUCTURE TO ITS LIMITS. IN
SOME REGIONS, THE STATE RECEIVED
UPWARDS OF 322% OF NORMAL ANNUAL
PARTICIPANT PRECIPITATION. THE
SOUTHERN CENTRAL VALLEY WAS
ESPECIALLY HIT HARD, WITH
MASSIVE FLOODING OVERWHELMING
THE DAMS, RIVERS AND CANALS THAT
MANAGE FLOWS THROUGHOUT THIS
AGRICULTURAL REGION. REGION TO
HELP OFFSET STRESS ON OUR WATER
INFRASTRUCTURE AND AID
GROUNDWATER RECHARGE, MANY
FARMERS INTENTIONALLY FLOODED
THEIR FIELDS. WHILE THIS WAS
DONE AS A SERVICE FOR THE GOOD
OF THE WHOLE INDUSTRY AND THE
GREATER CENTRAL VALLEY
COMMUNITY, THESE FARMERS
RECEIVED NO CREDITS TOWARD THEIR
WATER USE BILLS FOR THIS
VOLUNTARY GROUNDWATER RECHARGE
AND FLOOD MANAGEMENT. AB 2799
DIRECTS GROUNDWATER
SUSTAINABILITY AGENCIES TO
CONSIDER EFFORTS BY SMALL FARMS
TO RECHARGE THEIR GROUNDWATER
BASINS THROUGH VOLUNTARILY
ALLOWING PERCOLATION AND
FLOODING OF THEIR LAND DURING
HIGH WATER EVENTS. FARMS ACROSS
CALIFORNIA STRUGGLE EVERY SINGLE
DAY WITH INCREASING WATER USE
REGULATIONS AND FEES. AB 2799
WERE FURTHER ENCOURAGE A
VOLUNTARY GROUNDWATER RECHARGE
ADOPTION. DURING THE NEXT HIGH
WATER EVENT. I RESPECTFULLY ASK
FOR AN EYE VOTE. GREAT. THANK
YOU. ASSEMBLY MEMBER. THERE ARE
NO WITNESSES HERE TODAY TO
TESTIFY IN SUPPORT. ARE THERE
ANY WITNESSES TO TESTIFY IN
OPPOSITION? SEEING NONE AT THIS
TIME, WE'LL OPEN IT UP FOR THE
PUBLIC. IF THERE ARE ANY, PUBLIC
MEMBERS HERE. SEEING NONE, WE'LL
MOVE VERY QUICKLY, DO WE HAVE,
DO ANY MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE
HAVE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?
MOTION. SO MOTION BY BY ASSEMBLY
MEMBER VAYUPUTRA. SECOND BY
ASSEMBLY MEMBER. ALANIZ SO,
ASSEMBLY MEMBER FONG, WOULD YOU
LIKE TO CLOSE ON YOUR BILL FOR
AN AYE VOTE? GREAT. SO THE,
THANK YOU FOR THAT, ACTUALLY,
AND I WOULD LOVE TO BE A
COAUTHOR ON YOUR BILL. THIS IS
OBVIOUSLY AN IMPORTANT ISSUE IN
MY REGION. AND SO I THINK THAT
WE DO NEED TO DO WHATEVER WE
CAN, ESPECIALLY FOR THE SMALL
FARMERS, WHICH I THINK THEY'RE
HIT HARDEST WITH A LOT OF THE
DIFFERENT STATE POLICIES THAT
WE'VE PASSED. SO SO WE'LL DO
THAT. AND THE MOTION, IS TO
PASS, SO THERE IS A MOTION AND A
SECOND, MADAM SECRETARY, IF YOU
COULD PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON AB
2799 FONG MOTION IS Dð PASS.
SORIA. SORIA. AYE. ALANIZ
ALANIZ. AYE. AGUIAR-CURRY.
CONNELLY IRWIN. IRWIN. AYE.
JONES-SAWYER JONES-SAWYER AYE.
SANCHEZ TO BE VALLAPUDUA BE
VALLAPUDUA I WOULD, I WOULD I
MIKE A MIKE. THE BILL HAS SIX
VOTES SO IT IS OUT BUT WE WILL
LEAVE THE ROLL CALL OPEN FOR
ABSENT MEMBERS. THANK YOU. NOW
WE SAVED THE BEST FOR LAST. SO
WE HAVE, FILE ITEMS NUMBER SIX,
ASSEMBLY BILL 1961 BY ASSEMBLY
MEMBER WICKS, ASSEMBLY MEMBER
WICKS, PLEASE PROCEED WHEN
YOU'RE READY. THANK YOU. MADAM
CHAIR. AND THANK YOU, COMMITTEE
STAFF, FOR THEIR WORK ON THIS
BILL. CALIFORNIA IS CURRENTLY
THE FIFTH LARGEST SUPPLIER OF
FOOD AND OTHER AGRICULTURAL
COMMODITIES, PRODUCING NEARLY
HALF OF OUR NATION'S FRUITS AND
VEGETABLES. I'M SURE YOU ALL
HEAR THAT STAT A LOT IN THIS
COMMITTEE. HOWEVER MORE THAN 1
IN 5 CALIFORNIANS ABOUT 8.8
MILLION PEOPLE CURRENTLY
STRUGGLE WITH FOOD INSECURITY.
HUNGER AND LACK OF ACCESS TO
NUTRITIOUS FOOD ARE EXACERBATED
BY RACIAL AND ECONOMIC
INEQUALITIES, WITH 40% OF BLACK
HOUSEHOLDS AND 30% OF LATINO
HOUSEHOLDS BEING FORCED OR BEING
FOOD INSECURE IN THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA, A FOOD DESERT CAN BE
DEFINED AS ANY REGION IN THE
COUNTRY WITH LIMITED ACCESS TO
AFFORDABLE AND NUTRITIOUS FOOD.
MANY HOUSEHOLDS WITHIN THESE
REGIONS ARE LOW INCOME AND HAVE
INADEQUATE TRANSPORTATION TO AND
FROM THEIR CLOSEST FOOD
RETAILERS. IN 2021, FOR EXAMPLE,
65% OF SAN FRANCISCO AND SAN
JOSE METRO AREA NEIGHBORHOODS
WERE CONSIDERED FOOD DESERTS. IN
FRESNO, OVER 20% OF THE
RESIDENTS LIVE IN FOOD DESERTS.
FURTHERMORE, IT WAS ALSO
ESTIMATED THAT OVER 1 MILLION
CALIFORNIANS NOW LIVE WITH LIVE
WITHIN FOOD DESERTS, AND 45% OF
THOSE RESIDENTS ARE CONSIDERED
LOW INCOME INDIVIDUALS. AB 1961
WILL REQUIRE THE STRATEGIC
GROWTH COUNCIL TO ESTABLISH AND
CONVENE THE END HUNGER IN
CALIFORNIA. MASTER PLAN TASK
FORCE THIS TASK FORCE WILL
RECOMMEND FUTURE STRATEGIES TO
ADDRESS ACCESS TO HEALTHY AND
CULTURALLY RELEVANT FOOD FOR ALL
CALIFORNIANS. WE RECOGNIZE THAT
ADDRESSING BARRIERS TO ACCESS TO
ACCESSING ADEQUATE, NUTRITIOUS,
AND CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE FOOD
REQUIRES A COMPREHENSIVE
APPROACH BEYOND SHORT TUM FIXES
BY CONVENING EXPERTS,
STAKEHOLDERS, AND COMMUNITY
LEADERS, WE LOOK FORWARD TO
CRAFTING A HOLISTIC PLAN THAT
TACKLES THE ROOT CAUSE OF FOOD
ACCESS AND INSECURITY, THUS
CREATING SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS.
I WANT TO THANK OUR SPONSORS WHO
ARE ALSO HERE TO TESTIFY, FROM
THE U OF CW, JAZZY GREENWALL,
FROM THE STATES COUNCIL, AND
BETH SMOKER, POLICY DIRECTOR OF
CALIFORNIA FOOD AND FARMING
NETWORK. GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR
AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS. MY NAME
IS JAZZY GREWAL, LEGISLATIVE
DIRECTOR WITH THE UNITED FOOD
AND COMMERCIAL WORKERS, WESTERN
STATES COUNCIL HERE TO TESTIFY
IN SUPPORT AND AS A PROUD
CO-SPONSOR OF AB 1961 THE END
HUNGER IN CALIFORNIA ACT. UFCW
IS A UNION THAT REPRESENTS
WORKERS IN OUR FOOD SECTORS FROM
FARM WORKERS TO GROCERY DELIVERY
DRIVERS. SADLY, IRONIC THE
WORKERS WHO GROW AND DELIVER
FOOD FACE HIGHER LEVELS OF FOOD
INSECURITY THAN THE REST OF THE
US WORKFORCE. DURING THE COVID
19 PANDEMIC, 72% OF AGRICULTURAL
WORKERS REPORTED REPORTED
TROUBLE PAYING FOR FOOD. FOOD.
DESERT COMMUNITIES LACK THE
RESOURCES TO ATTRACT LARGE
GROCERY STORE CHAINS, LEAVING
RESIDENTS WITH CONVENIENCE
STORES AND FAST FOOD RESTAURANTS
AS THEIR PRIMARY FOOD SOURCES.
HOWEVER IT IS NOT JUST THE LACK
OF ACCESS TO FOOD THAT IS
DRIVING FAMILIES TO EXPERIENCE
HUNGER. THE COST OF FOOD HAS
SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED. IT HAS
BEEN OVER 30 YEARS SINCE FOOD
WAS THIS EXPENSIVE AND CONSUMERS
NOW SPEND OVER 11% OF THEIR
DISPOSABLE INCOME ON FOOD. IN
2022, FOOD PRICES INCREASED BY
10% FASTER THAN ANY YEAR SINCE
1979. IN 2023, FOOD PRICES
INCREASED BY 6% AND TODAY FOOD
PRICES REMAIN 19% MORE EXPENSIVE
THAN FOOD. BEFORE THE PANDEMIC.
THERE IS NOT A SILVER BULLET
THAT WILL END HUNGER IN
CALIFORNIA, WHICH IS WHY AB 1961
ESTABLISHES A BROADLY INCLUSIVE
TASK FORCE THAT WILL WORK TO
DEVELOP STATEWIDE GOALS,
STRATEGIES AND SOLUTIONS TO
TACKLE THE INEQUALITIES THAT
EXIST IN OUR CURRENT FOOD SYSTEM
AND IMPROVE ACCESS TO
NUTRITIOUS, AFFORDABLE AND
CULTURALLY RELEVANT FOOD IN ALL
COMMUNITIES. UFCW RESPECTFULLY
REQUESTS FOR YOUR I VOTE ON AB
1961. THANK YOU. MIGHT MIGHT NOT
BE ON. I THINK IT IS JUST OH, IS
IT ON? OKAY. GOOD AFTERNOON
CHAIR AND MEMBERS. AND YOU'RE
ALL, LIKE, SITTING TO THE SIDE
OF ME, MY NAME IS BETH SMOKER.
I'M THE POLICY DIRECTOR FOR THE
CALIFORNIA FOOD AND FARMING
NETWORK WITH 50 MEMBER
ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS DIVERSE
FOOD SYSTEM SECTORS, INCLUDING
ANTI-HUNGER, SUSTAINABLE
AGRICULTURE, FARM WORKER,
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE, PUBLIC
HEALTH AND LOCAL ECONOMIES.
WE'RE ACCOUNTABLE TO A STEERING
COUNCIL OF GRASSROOTS LEADERS AT
THE FRONT LINE OF FOOD SYSTEM
INJUSTICES, AND ARE A PROUD
CO-SPONSOR FOR AB 1961, THE
ASSEMBLY MEMBER AND MY COLLEAGUE
OUTLINED THE STARTLING HUNGER
OUR COMMUNITIES IN CALIFORNIA
ARE FACING, ESPECIALLY THE
UNFORTUNATE IRONY THAT MUCH OF
THE HUNGER IS EXPERIENCED BY
WORKERS ACROSS THE FOOD CHAIN,
THIS IS ALSO TRUE FOR MANY OF
OUR STATE'S SMALL AND MEDIUM
SIZED FARMS. IN A 2021 SURVEY OF
ALMOST 120 SMALL FARMERS ACROSS
THE STATE, 62% OF THOSE SMALL
FARMERS STATED EXPERIENCING FOOD
INSECURITY, NEEDING FOOD FROM A
FOOD BANK, AND OR NEEDING, OR
WOULD HAVE BENEFITED FROM
CALFRESH BENEFITS. CALIFORNIA
HAS PROGRAMS ADDRESSING FOOD AND
FARMING ACROSS MANY DEPARTMENTS,
SUCH AS ROBUST ANTI-HUNGER
PROGRAMS AT THE DEPARTMENT OF
SOCIAL SERVICES LIKE CALFRESH
AND WILK, SCHOOL MEALS FOR ALL
IN THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION,
FARMWORKER RESOURCE CENTER
GRANTS AT THE COMMUNITY AT THE
DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY SERVICES
AND DEVELOPMENT, CALIFORNIA
FARMLAND CONSERVANCY PROGRAM AT
THE DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION.
THE LIST GOES ON. COMMUNITY FOOD
HUBS PROGRAM CALIFORNIA
NUTRITION INCENTIVE PROGRAM A
LOT OF PROGRAMS THAT COME
THROUGH YOUR COMMITTEE AND AT
CDFA AND MANY, MANY MORE.
CALIFORNIA IS CLEARLY DOING A
LOT IN THIS SPACE, BUT THE WORK
IS DISCONNECTED. JUST LIKE
SOLVING OUR STATE'S CLIMATE
CRISIS ISN'T EXPECTED TO HAPPEN
AT ONE AGENCY. THE SAME IS TRUE
FOR SOLVING HUNGER. THIS BILL
ASKS THAT THE STATE CREATE A
HOLISTIC PLAN FOR ENDING HUNGER
IN CALIFORNIA THAT TAKES INTO
ACCOUNT ALL THE WORK THE STATE
IS DOING, IDENTIFIES GAPS, AND
PROPOSES INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS TO
ACHIEVE A HUNGER FREE STATE THAT
EQUITABLY SUPPORTS OUR FARMERS
AND FARM WORKERS WHO GROW AND
HARVEST THE FOOD OUR COMMUNITIES
THEN EAT. I RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR
YOUR AYE VOTE. THANK YOU FOR
THAT. IS THERE ANY OPPOSITION TO
THIS BILL? THANK GOD. RIGHT, AT
THIS TIME, WE WILL OPEN IT UP TO
THE PUBLIC, DO WE HAVE MEMBERS
OF THE AUDIENCE THAT WOULD LIKE
TO REGISTER THEIR SUPPORT OR
OPPOSITION? IF YOU COULD STATE
YOUR NAME, THE ORGANIZATION, AND
WHETHER YOU SUPPORT OR OPPOSE.
THANK YOU. LIBBY SANCHEZ, ON
BEHALF OF SHARE OUR STRENGTH. NO
KID HUNGRY AND STRONG SUPPORT,
SASHA SANCHEZ FROM SAINT FRANCIS
HIGH SCHOOL IN SUPPORT OF ENDING
HUNGER IN CALIFORNIA. BROOKLYN
KHAN FROM SAINT FRANCIS HIGH
SCHOOL. AND I'M IN SUPPORT OF
THIS IMPORTANT MEASURE. YEAH.
THANK YOU. HI, JIMMY. ON BEHALF
OF THE COMMUNITY ALLIANCE WITH
FAMILY FARMERS FOODSHED SMALL
FARM COOPERATIVE CONSUMER
FEDERATION OF CALIFORNIA AND
AGRICULTURAL INSTITUTE OF MARIN,
AND SUPPORT. THANK YOU, GOOD
MORNING, GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM
CHAIR. MEMBERS. DARBY KERNAN, ON
BEHALF OF GRACE TO END CHILD
POVERTY IN CALIFORNIA IN SUPPORT
AS WELL AS IN A SPONSOR, A
CO-SPONSOR AND THE CALIFORNIA
FOOD BANK ASSOCIATION IN
SUPPORT. THANK YOU. ANNIE CHAO
WITH THE CALIFORNIA TEACHERS
ASSOCIATION IN SUPPORT. SAVANNAH
JORGENSEN WITH THE LUTHERAN
OFFICE OF PUBLIC POLICY,
CALIFORNIA, IN STRONG SUPPORT.
CAROLINE GRINDER, ON BEHALF OF
THE LEAGUE OF CALIFORNIA CITIES
IN SUPPORT. GREAT. NOW I'LL
BRING IT BACK TO THE MEMBERS.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? WE
HAVE A MOTION BY ASSEMBLY MEMBER
VÀ VALLAPUDUA AND A SECOND BY
ASSEMBLY MEMBER ALANIZ, ASSEMBLY
MEMBER WICKS, WOULD YOU LIKE TO
CLOSE ON YOUR BILL? RESPECTFULLY
ASK FOR AN AYE VOTE. GREAT.
THANK YOU, JUST VERY QUICKLY, I
WAS GOING TO MAKE SOME COMMENTS,
THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS BILL
FORWARD, AS YOU STATED IN YOUR
COMMENTS, THE IRONY, ESPECIALLY
IN AREAS LIKE MINE, WHICH YOU
KNOW, IS CONSIDERED THE BREAD
BASKET OF THE STATE AND EVEN OF
THE WORLD, THERE'S STILL MANY
FAMILIES THAT GO HUNGRY.
CHILDREN SENIORS, MOST PRESSING
I'VE HEARD MORE RECENTLY, FROM
SENIORS IN MY COMMUNITY THAT
WERE FORMERLY FARM WORKERS, THAT
ARE ON A FIXED INCOME. THEIR
INCOME ISN'T GOING UP. FOOD, AS
YOU MENTIONED, GOING UP 19. AND,
AND THESE PROGRAMS THAT BECAUSE
OF LACK OF RESOURCES AREN'T
BEING FUNDED LIKE FOR SENIOR,
MEALS ON WHEELS, AND SO I'M GLAD
THAT YOU ARE, YOU KNOW, DOING
THIS BILL SO THAT WE COULD FIND
A COMPREHENSIVE, PLAN AND
SOLUTIONS TO THE ISSUES THAT ARE
HAPPENING NOT JUST IN MY REGION,
BUT ACROSS THE STATE. SO HAPPY
TO SUPPORT THE BILL TODAY. AND
THEN ALSO WOULD LOVE TO BE A
COAUTHOR OF THIS BILL, SO WE DO
HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND,
MADAM SECRETARY, IF YOU CAN
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON AB 1961
WICKS MOTION IS DUE. PASS TO
APPROPRIATIONS. SORIA Ã SORIA.
AYE ALANIZ. ALANIZ. AYE.
AGUIAR-CURRY. CONNOLLY IRWIN.
IRWIN. AYE. JONES. SAWYER JOAN.
SAWYER. AYE. SANCHEZ TO VÀ.
VALLAPUDUA VALLAPUDUA. I WOULD.
WOOD, I THANK YOU. THE BILL DOES
HAVE SIX VOTES SO THAT MEANS IT
IS OUT. WE WILL LEAVE THE ROLL
OPEN FOR ABSENT MEMBERS. IS IT
RIGHT? DO YOU WANT TO? SAY. YES.
JUST.
OH, RIGHT. SORRY ON THE CONSENT
CALENDAR. SANCHEZ SANCHEZ. I
SERGEANTS ON AB 2528 ARAMBULA
SANCHEZ I SANCHEZ. I ON AB 2509
CORA AGUIAR-CURRY SANCHEZ.
SANCHEZ I TO ON AB 2799
AGUIAR-CURRY. CONNOLLY. SANCHEZ
I SANCHEZ. I TO ON AB 1961
AGUIAR-CURRY CONNOLLY. SANCHEZ.
SANCHEZ. I. TO. DID I VOTE FOR
CONSENT FIRST? OKAY, I THOUGHT I
MISSED. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. I
WALKED IN WITH ARAMBULA. SO
CONSENT WAS AFTER THAT. OKAY
THANK YOU
.
THANK YOU SO MUCH
.
2020 509. C . LARA. AGUIAR-CURRY
AGUIAR-CURRY I ON AB 2799 FOR
FONG AGUIAR-CURRY AGUIAR-CURRY I
ON AB 1961. WICKS AGUIAR-CURRY
AGUIAR-CURRY I. JUST THOSE
THINGS
.
SORRY. AB 2799. FONG CONNOLLY.
CONNOLLY I ON AB 1961. WICKS
CONNOLLY. CONNOLLY I
.
WE WILL BE CLOSING THE ROLL, I
DO WANT TO MAKE AN ANNOUNCEMENT
THAT ASSEMBLY BILL 2528 BY
ASSEMBLY MEMBER ARAMBULA DID GET
OUT, THE VOTE IS SIX ZERO. AND
IT'S, PASSED, AS AMENDED. AND
WE'LL GO AHEAD AND ADJOURN THE
HEARING NOW.