CHELSEA. ALL RIGHT. I'D LIKE TO
CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER, NOT
MEETING. HEARING OF THE ASSEMBLY
EDUCATION COMMITTEE. WE HAVE 25
ITEMS ON OUR AGENDA TODAY, AND,
WE DO NOT HAVE A QUORUM. AND SO
IF MEMBERS OF THE ASSEMBLY
EDUCATION COMMITTEE CAN PLEASE,
COME TO ROOM 1100 SO THAT WE CAN
GET, ADDRESS OUR BUSY AGENDA
TODAY. 25 BILLS, NINE BILLS ON
CONSENT. THAT MEANS THESE NINE
BILLS THAT I'M GOING TO READ
NOW, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE
HEARD. THEY'RE THEY'RE. IF WE'RE
GOING TO MAKE A MOTION TO PASS
THEM ALL OUT AS A GROUP. AND SO
IF YOU'RE HERE FOR ANY OF THESE
BILLS, THE FOLLOWING BILLS,
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO HEAR ANY
PRESENTATION OR ANY HEARING ON
THESE BILLS. THOSE BILLS ARE AB
2206 WITH AMENDMENTS. AB 2350,
AB 2768 WITH AMENDMENTS. AB 2845
WITH AMENDMENTS AB 2865 WITH
AMENDMENTS. AB 2927 WITH
AMENDMENTS. AB 2949, AB 2998
WITH AMENDMENTS AND AB 3010 WITH
AMENDMENTS. IF YOU HAVE A COPY
OF THE AGENDA, THOSE ARE THE
BILLS THAT HAVE THE ASTERISK
NEXT TO THE, FILE NUMBER. AND SO
THOSE BILLS WILL BE VOTED ON AS
A GROUP ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR.
BILLS WILL BE HEARD AND SIGNED
IN ORDER. I SEE, A BUNCH OF
AUTHORS READY TO PRESENT, PLEASE
MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE SIGNED IN,
AS A REMINDER, FOR EACH BILL, WE
WILL HAVE UP TO TWO WITNESSES
AND SUPPORT TWO WITNESSES IN
OPPOSITION, ONE EACH OF WHOM MAY
SPEAK FOR UP TO TWO MINUTES
EACH. MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC IN
THE HEARING ROOM WILL THEN HAVE
AN OPPORTUNITY TO STATE YOUR
POSITION ON THE BILL. PLEASE
LIMIT YOUR COMMENTS TO NAME
AFFILIATION AND POSITION ON THE
BILL. MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE
ALSO WELCOME TO PROVIDE MORE
EXTENSIVE COMMENT, THROUGH THE
POSSESSION LETTER PORTAL ON THE
EDUCATION COMMITTEE WEBSITE. OUR
BILL FILE ITEM NUMBER ONE AB
1938 BY ASSEMBLY MEMBER
GALLAGHER, ON SPECIAL ORDER,
WILL BE PRESENTED, FOR THIS
BILL, WE WILL HAVE, AMERICAN
SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETATION.
AND, SO WITH OUR VICE CHAIR,
MISTER FLORA JOINING US, WE'D
LIKE TO WELCOME MISTER
GALLAGHER, TO PRESENT HIS BILL.
ACTUALLY, BEFORE MR. GALLAGHER
PRESENTS HIS BILL, I WANTED TO
PAUSE TO RECOGNIZE, THE PASSING
OF A, AN IMPORTANT LEADER IN THE
STATE OF CALIFORNIA. DYLAN
EASTON. WE JUST LEARNED, I JUST
LEARNED THIS MORNING OF THE
PASSING OF DYLAN EASTON, DYLAN
EASTON WAS NOT ONLY OUR FIRST
AND ONLY WOMAN STATE
SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC
INSTRUCTION FOR THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA, BUT SHE WAS ALSO A
CHAIR OF THIS ASSEMBLY EDUCATION
COMMITTEE. SHE WAS THE FIFTH
WOMAN TO BE ELECTED TO STATEWIDE
OFFICE, IN THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA. AND, SHE WILL BE
REMEMBERED FOR HER COURAGEOUS
LEADERSHIP, HER INTELLECT AND
HER SHARP WIT. BUT MOST OF ALL,
WE WILL REMEMBER HER FOR HER
FIERCE ADVOCACY FOR CHILDREN AND
PUBLIC EDUCATION. WE WILL MISS
DYLAN EASTON. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH, MR. GALLAGHER, PLEASE,
PRESENT WHEN YOU'RE READY
.
IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE WITH YOU,
ALL, THIS MORNING, OR ARE WE IN
THE AFTERNOON YET, WE ARE IN THE
AFTERNOON. AFTERNOON? IT'S BEEN
A CRAZY WEEK OF COURSE, IT'S MY
PLEASURE TO BE ABLE TO PRESENT
THIS BILL TODAY. AND AS. AS MANY
OF YOU KNOW, I'VE, YOU KNOW,
BEEN A CHAMPION OF EDUCATION FOR
OUR DEAF AND HARD AND, DEAF AND
HARD OF HEARING STUDENTS IN
CALIFORNIA, AND AB 1938 IS
ANOTHER STEP, ALONG THAT PATH OF
ENSURING, EQUITY AND EDUCATION
FOR DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING
STUDENTS. IT'S ALSO AN HONOR
TODAY TO, HAVE MY BROTHER HERE
WITH ME, RYAN, AND THE REASON
WHY THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT, TO
ME. IS BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, I'VE
SEEN MY BROTHER. I HAVE TWO
BROTHERS WHO ARE DEAF, AND I'VE
SEEN THEM, YOU KNOW, WORKING TO
ENSURE THAT THAT THAT THEY GET
THE SAME OPPORTUNITIES, AND THAT
WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS, THAT I
SAW MY PARENTS HAVE TO GO
THROUGH AND TURN AND ENSURING
THAT THEY HAD THE SERVICES AND,
WHAT THEY NEEDED TO HAVE AN
EQUAL EDUCATION, AND EQUAL
OPPORTUNITIES, AND I'VE SEEN MY
BROTHER NOW WORKING VERY MUCH IN
THAT SAME ENVIRONMENT, TRYING TO
ENSURE, THOSE OPPORTUNITIES IN
HIS CAREER, AS WELL WORKING
WITH, NORCAL CENTER ON, ON
DEAFNESS, AND HELPING IN THE
WORKFORCE AREA, TRYING TO GET
TRAINING, JOB TRAINING AND
ACCESS TO EMPLOYMENT AND SO IT'S
AN HONOR FOR ME TO HAVE HIM HERE
WITH ME, ALSO ON THE COMMITTEE
ROOM TODAY, AS WE TAKE THIS
STEP. SO, MEMBERS, I, WANT TO
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO
THIS BILL. AB 1938, AND I ALSO
REALLY WANT TO THANK THE CHAIR
AND THE COMMITTEE STAFF, FOR
THEIR HELP AND MAKING SURE THAT
WE GET THIS BILL RIGHT, AND, AND
ALIGN IT WITH ALL THE FEDERAL
REQUIREMENTS. AND, YOU KNOW,
THIS IS THIS IS COMPLEX STUFF.
AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THE HARD
WORK THAT WAS PUT INTO THIS, BUT
THE BOTTOM LINE IS THIS BILL IS
ESSENTIAL TO HELP ENSURE THAT
CHILDREN WHO ARE DEAF, HARD OF
HEARING OR DEAF BLIND HAVE THE
EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES THAT
THEY DESERVE. AB 1938 DIRECTS
LEAS TO CONSIDER THE UNIQUE
COMMUNICATION NEEDS OF THESE
CHILDREN, SUCH AS THE NEED FOR
ASL, AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE OR
SPOKEN LANGUAGE. WITH THE USE OF
VISUAL SUPPLEMENTS. WHEN WE ARE
PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTING
INCLUSION AND UNIVERSAL DESIGN
FOR LEARNING INITIATIVES, IT IS
CRUCIAL THAT IFSP OR IEP TEAMS,
WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SETTING
A SPECIAL EDUCATION PLAN. FOR
STUDENTS THAT THESE TEAMS
CONSIDER THESE SPECIAL
COMMUNICATION NEEDS WHEN
DETERMINING THE LEAST
RESTRICTIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR EACH
STUDENT, WHILE A GENERAL WHILE A
GENERAL EDUCATION CLASSROOM MAY
WORK FOR SOME. AND IT ACTUALLY
DID WORK FOR MY BROTHERS WHEN
THEY WERE COMING THROUGH THE
SYSTEM. OTHERS PARTICULARLY DEAF
AND HARD OF HEARING STUDENTS,
MIGHT EXPERIENCE ISOLATION
WITHOUT ACCESS TO SPECIALIZED
SETTINGS, LIKE THE STATE SPECIAL
SCHOOLS FOR THE DEAF OR A STATE
CERTIFIED NONPUBLIC,
NONSECTARIAN SCHOOL, AND
AGENCIES, AS THIS BILL ADDRESSES
SOCIAL ISOLATION ISSUES AMONG
DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING
STUDENTS IN MAINSTREAM
ENVIRONMENTS, BY ENSURING THAT
ALL STUDENTS HAVE ACCESS TO THE
APPROPRIATE EDUCATIONAL SETTINGS
THAT MEET THEIR UNIQUE NEEDS, AB
1938 WILL ALIGN THIS WITH
FEDERAL LAWS, AND IT IS AND IS
PRACTICAL, FOR THE LEAS TO
IMPLEMENT. AND THEY SHOULD
IMPLEMENT. AND SO, TO FURTHER
REINFORCE THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS
BILL, I DO HAVE TWO WITNESSES TO
TESTIFY IN SUPPORT. SHERRY
FARINA, CEO OF NORCAL SERVICES
FOR DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING,
AND CASEY CRANE KC KAIN,
PRESIDENT OF CALIFORNIA HANDS
AND VOICES. SO THANK YOU,
COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND MR.
CHAIRMAN FOR CONSIDERING THIS
BILL. AND I WANT TO THANK THE
BILL'S SPONSOR FOR THEIR
RELENTLESS EFFORTS TO REFINE
THIS BILL. YOUR DEDICATION TO
OUR CHILDREN AND TO DEAF AND
HARD OF HEARING STUDENTS IS
COMMENDABLE. THANK YOU. BEFORE
YOUR WITNESSES TESTIFY, I KNOW
YOU THANKED MISS LIEBERMAN FOR
ALL HER HARD WORK. DO YOU ACCEPT
ALL OF HER FINE AMENDMENTS? I DO
ACCEPT ALL THE AMENDMENTS. THANK
YOU, THANK YOU. PLEASE PROCEED.
HELLO? CAN YOU HEAR ME? OKAY
THANK YOU. ASSEMBLYMAN GALLAGHER
, FOR YOUR STRONG SUPPORT AND
BEING A CHAMPION FOR ALL OF US.
WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR
TENACITY AND PERSEVERANCE OF
SERVING AND ADVOCATING FOR DEAF
AND HARD OF HEARING CHILDREN IN
CALIFORNIA. AND THAT IS THE
REASON WHY I WANT TO BRING PROOF
MORE THAN JUST THAT, OF THE LONG
STANDING ISSUE AND PROBLEM OF
LRES FOR DEAF AND HARD OF
HEARING DEAF BLIND STUDENTS WHO
ARE BEING THROWN INTO THE
CLASSROOMS WHERE THEY ARE NOT
GETTING SERVED. LANGUAGE ISSUES
WHEN IS THE RESULT COMES FROM
THAT? IS THE LANGUAGE
DEPRIVATION THAT CHILDREN ARE
ARRIVING TO KINDERGARTEN, NOT
ABLE TO LEARN LRA IS THE PROBLEM
AND IT'S BEEN DOCUMENTED TIME
AND TIME AGAIN. SO LET'S START
WITH ONE OF THE REPORTS THAT I
WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH THE
MEMBERS. AND HONOR A FORMER
ASSEMBLYWOMAN MEMBER AND FORMER
SUPERINTENDENT, PUBLIC
INSTRUCTION, MISS DELAINE EASTIN
. THIS DOCUMENT REPORT I SHOW IN
FRONT OF YOU IS A REPORT AS SHE
APPOINTED ME TO BE CHAIR OF THE
TASK FORCE OF RESTRUCTURING DEAF
EDUCATION IN CALIFORNIA AND OUR
RECOMMENDED RECOMMENDATIONS FOR
REGIONALIZATION. THÀNH. AND
WE'RE STILL STILL TRYING TO GET
THERE, BUT I WANT TO GO BACK AND
SHARE WITH YOU THE IMPORTANCE OF
THIS REPORT THAT WAS SENT IN
1988 TO THE PRESIDENT OF UNITED
STATES AND CONGRESS TOWARDS
EQUALITY FOR DEAF AND HARD OF
HEARING CHILDREN, JUST AS
ASSEMBLY MEMBER JAMES GALLAGHER
HAS MENTIONED, EQUALITY AND
EQUITY IS IMPORTANT TO US, AND
THE REPORT TO THE PRESIDENT OF
THE UNITED STATES AND CONGRESS
HERE DID DEFINE THE PROBLEM
RELATED TO LRA LEAST RESTRICTIVE
ENVIRONMENT IS NOT HELPING OUR
DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING
CHILDREN. UNITED STATES. A YEAR
LATER, WE WENT BACK TO CONGRESS
AND WE SHOWED ANOTHER REPORT,
EDUCATIONAL ISOLATION OF DEAF
CHILDREN THE MISAPPLICATION OF
LEAST RESTRICTIVE ENVIRONMENT
FOR PL 94 142. AS IT RELATES TO
DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING
CHILDREN. THIS REPORT WAS GIVEN
IN 1989. THEN THE RECENT REPORT
THAT I SPOKE ABOUT WITH DELAINE
EASTIN THAT WAS PUBLISHED, THAT
WAS PUBLISHED IN 1999. ANOTHER
FOLLOW UP REPORT, BUT THIS ONE
COMES FROM THE LA OFFICE. THEY
PUBLISHED IN SEPTEMBER 2016.
OVER AGAIN, ALL THESE REPORTS
ASKING LEGISLATORS TO PLEASE
HEAR US, TO PLEASE UNDERSTAND
THAT THIS IS ABOUT COMMUNICATION
ACCESS AND TO HAVE COMMUNICATION
ACCESS, YOU HAVE TO HAVE
LANGUAGE. WITHOUT LANGUAGE, YOU
HAVE NOTHING. AND THAT IS WHY
MANY CHILDREN ARE GROWING UP
HERE IN CALIFORNIA, ACROSS THE
UNITED STATES, WITH LANGUAGE
DELAYS AND DEPRIVATION, AND
THEY'RE NOT READY TO LEARN OR
CANNOT LEARN. THIS BILL PUTS IN
SAFEGUARDS AND PROTECTIONS INTO
THE LAW TO SAY, HEY, YOU DON'T
JUST THROW THROW DEAF AND HARD
OF HEARING CHILDREN IN A REGULAR
CLASSROOM WITHOUT SUPPORT,
WITHOUT ANY MONITORING, WITHOUT
ANY TRACKING, AND NO EXPERTISE
IN THE AREA TO BE ABLE TO TEACH
DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING
CHILDREN LANGUAGE. THANK YOU FOR
LISTENING.
NØ. IT'S ON NOW. YEAH. THERE WE
GO. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. HELLO.
MY NAME IS CASEY KANE. I AM A
PARENT OF A DEAF AND HARD OF
HEARING CHILD. AND THE CURRENT
BOARD PRESIDENT OF CALIFORNIA
HANDS AND VOICES. IT IS
IMPERATIVE TO RECOGNIZE THAT
CHILDREN WHO ARE DEAF, HARD OF
HEARING, AND DEAF BLIND HAVE
UNIQUE NEEDS THAT REQUIRE OUR
UTMOST ATTENTION AND DEDICATION
REGARDLESS OF THE COMMUNICATION
MODE CHOSEN BY PARENTS, IT IS
UNDENIABLE THAT THESE CHILDREN
REQUIRE SPECIALIZED SUPPORT.
DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING
CHILDREN IN PARTICULAR REQUIRE A
LEAST RESTRICTIVE ENVIRONMENT
THAT IS, A LANGUAGE RICH
ENVIRONMENT WHICH ENCOMPASSES
ASL INSTRUCTION AND
INTERPRETATION OR ACCESS TO
EDUCATORS WHO ARE EXPERTS IN
DEVELOPING SPOKEN LANGUAGE
SKILLS. IN ADVOCATING FOR THESE
CHILDREN, WE MUST EMPHASIZE THE
IMPORTANCE OF MAINTAINING AND
EXPANDING EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS
TAILORED TO THEIR NEEDS. THIS
INCLUDES KEEPING SCHOOLS FOR THE
DEAF, WHETHER PUBLIC OR PRIVATE
OPTION SCHOOLS, AND ESTABLISHING
MORE REGIONAL PROGRAMS TO
ADDRESS THEIR DIVERSE NEEDS. AS
SHERRY MENTIONED BEFORE, THE
1999 SUPERINTENDENT'S TASK FORCE
REPORT EMPHASIZED REGIONAL
PROGRAMS FOR DEAF AND HARD OF
HEARING STUDENTS WITH CALIFORNIA
SCHOOLS FOR THE DEAF LEADING
THIS EFFORT. LIKEWISE, IN 2016,
THE LAO OFFICE, THE SORRY THE
LAO STRESSED IMPROVING EDUCATION
FOR THESE STUDENTS, URGING MORE
REGIONAL PROGRAMS TAILORED TO
THEIR COMMUNICATION NEEDS. IT'S
TIME TO ENSURE THAT EVERY CHILD,
REGARDLESS OF THEIR SENSORY
ABILITIES, HAS ACCESS TO
EDUCATION AND SUPPORT THEY
DESERVE. I URGE YOU TO SUPPORT
AB 1938 AND LET LET US MAKE A
DREAM OF INCLUSIVE AND EQUITABLE
EDUCATION, A TANGIBLE
ACHIEVEMENT. THANK YOU, THANK
YOU, THANK YOU BOTH VERY MUCH,
ARE THERE PUBLIC COMMENTS IN
SUPPORT OF THIS BILL? IF YOU
HAVE PUBLIC COMMENTS, PLEASE
COME FORWARD TO THE MICROPHONE.
OR WORKING ON THE TECHNICAL
DIFFICULTIES THERE. CAN YOU TRY
IT NOW? TEST. NO.
YEAH. NO.
WE MAY HAVE TO RESORT TO THE
MICROPHONE AT THE TABLE. THERE
WE GO. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME
IS LAURA CAVALLO, AND I'M HERE
TO REGISTER SUPPORT FOR CHAT
CENTER SACRAMENTO NÓ WEINGARTEN
CHILDREN'S CENTER IN REDWOOD
CITY. THE CENTER FOR EARLY
INTERVENTION AND DEAFNESS IN
BERKELEY, AND JOHN TRACY CLINIC
IN LOS ANGELES. THANK YOU.
YEAH. LET'S USE THE CORNER WHEN
Ó. HELLO, MY NAME IS ALICE
MCGILL, AND I AM IN SUPPORT OF
THIS BILL. AND I GREW UP WITHOUT
ANY SUPPORT. AND ISOLATION IS
WHAT WE CALL. WE HAVE TO JUST BE
A SURVIVOR. WE HOPE. AND I HOPE
THAT FUTURE DEAF AND HARD OF
HEARING CHILDREN HAVE A BETTER
OPPORTUNITY THAN I DID. THANK
YOU. KEEPS GOING OFF. HELLO,
CHAIR AND ASSEMBLY OR COMMITTEE
MEMBERS. MY NAME IS HIÂU
LOEFFLER. I'M HERE IN SUPPORT OF
ASSEMBLY BILL 1938. THANK YOU.
HELLO. MY NAME IS TETHER JOHNSON
. I AM HERE IN SUPPORT OF THIS
BILL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
THANK YOU. PRISCILLA, KUDOS HERE
ON BEHALF OF THE CALIFORNIA
FACULTY ASSOCIATION. SUPPORT.
THANK YOU. RENA SHEEHY,
REPRESENTING PROTECTION OF THE
EDUCATIONAL RIGHTS OF KIDS.
ADVOCACY IN SUPPORT. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. AND
MEMBERS, TRISTAN BROWN WITH THE
CALIFORNIA FEDERATION OF
TEACHERS, A UNION OF EDUCATORS,
AND CLASSIFIED PROFESSIONALS
HERE IN SUPPORT. THANK YOU.
VICTOR TORRES, REPRESENTING
FUTURE LEADERS OF CHANGE IN
SUPPORT OF THIS BILL. THANK YOU.
GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS RYAN GALLAGHER. I
SERVE DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING
AT NORCAL, PROVIDING EDUCATIONAL
SERVICES. YOU KNOW, MY WONDERFUL
BROTHER, ASSEMBLY MEMBER JAMES
GALLAGHER. AND I AM IN SUPPORT
OF AB 1938. THANK YOU. AND WE
LOVE YOUR BROTHER TOO. VANESSA
FORSYTHE, RETIRED SCHOOL NURSE
SPEAKING IN SUPPORT. THANK YOU.
SEEING NO FURTHER PUBLIC
COMMENTS IN SUPPORT OF THE BILL
ARE THERE ANY OPPONENTS TO THE
BILL? SEEING NONE, ARE THERE ANY
PUBLIC COMMENTS IN OPPOSITION TO
THE BILL? SEEING NONE, BRING IT
BACK TO THE COMMITTEE. ANY
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? YES. MR.
HEATH, VICE CHAIR HEATH. FLORA.
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. AND, THANK
YOU TO SOME MEMBER, GALLAGHER
AND YOUR BROTHER FOR BRINGING
THIS FORWARD. AND, IT'S A LITTLE
BIT DIFFERENT, BUT WHEN YOU TALK
ABOUT HARD OF HEARING AND FOLKS
THAT HAVE VISION ISSUES, ONE OF
MY OLDER BROTHERS, FOR A LONG
TIME, WAS DOING HORRIBLE IN
SCHOOL. AND THIS WAS BEFORE THEY
GOT THE HELP THAT THEY NEEDED
AND REALIZED THAT HE JUST SIMPLY
COULDN'T SEE THE CHALKBOARD. AND
ONCE THEY GOT HIM CLOSER. AND SO
IT WAS A TRAINING ISSUE. IT WAS
A AN EDUCATION ISSUE ON THE ON
THE STAFF'S PART. BUT THIS IS
THE KIND OF ISSUES THAT IF IT'S
NOT NOTICED OR BROUGHT TO
PEOPLE'S ATTENTION, IT FALLS
THROUGH THE CRACKS. SO HAVING
YOUR EXPERTISE, YOUR BROTHER,
YOUR FAMILY'S EXPERTISE IN THIS.
THANK YOU FOR EDUCATING ALL OF
US ON AN ISSUE THAT, QUITE
FRANKLY, I'M JUST BEING VERY
HONEST I KNEW VERY LITTLE ABOUT.
SO THANK YOU FOR EDUCATING US ON
THIS. THANK YOU. I, WANT TO JOIN
THE VICE CHAIR. AND THANK YOU,
MR. GALLAGHER, FOR BRINGING THIS
IMPORTANT MEASURE. AND THANK YOU
TO ALL OF YOU THAT CAME OUT TO
SUPPORT THIS IMPORTANT MEASURE,
PROUD TO SUPPORT THE BILL, WE
WILL TAKE A VOTE FOR THE BILL
ONCE WE ESTABLISH A QUORUM. BUT,
MR. GALLAGHER, WOULD YOU LIKE TO
CLOSE? YES, THANK YOU, MR.
CHAIRMAN. AND, YOU MIGHT SEE
SOME OF THE DEAF MEMBERS OF THE
AUDIENCE GOING LIKE THIS IS HOW
WE CLAP, IN ASL, AND SO, I
REALLY WANT TO THANK YOU FOR
YOUR ATTENTION AND AGAIN, FOR
THE COMMITTEE'S WORK AND HELP
WITH US. I DO WANT TO SAY, YOU
KNOW, THE EXPERTS ARE RIGHT HERE
NEXT TO ME, PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN
FIGHTING FOR A LONG TIME FOR
THIS, AS YOU HEARD SOME OF THESE
REPORTS, YOU KNOW, GO BACK TO
1988, 1999, WE NEED TO DO THIS.
YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE
THAT THAT SUPPORT IS THERE AND,
ASSEMBLYMAN FLORA, I THINK YOU
REALLY HIT IT. I MEAN, JUST
IMAGINE, YOU KNOW, THIS THIS IS
ABOUT ENSURING THAT PEOPLE HAVE
THOSE THOSE TOOLS. YOU IMAGINE
IF YOU'RE IN A CLASSROOM AND
YOU'RE DEAF AND YOU HAVE NO IDEA
WHAT'S GOING ON, YOU KNOW, AND
YOU DON'T HAVE THE INTERPRETERS,
YOU DON'T HAVE VISUAL AIDS, YOU
DON'T HAVE THE THINGS THAT YOU
DON'T HAVE LANGUAGE. AND
LANGUAGE FOR THE DEAF IS ASL.
IT'S AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE, AND
YOU HAVEN'T HAD THOSE BENCHMARKS
, YOU KNOW, THAT THAT WE TALKED
ABOUT WHEN WE PASSED PREVIOUS
LEGISLATION, THESE ARE THE KEY
THINGS THAT THEY NEED. SO THEY
JUST HAVE THE SAME EQUAL ACCESS
TO, TO LEARN IN SCHOOL AND HAVE
ACCESS TO DEAF SCHOOLS, YOU
KNOW, SPECIAL ED DEAF SCHOOLS,
LIKE THE CALIFORNIA SCHOOL FOR
THE DEAF, YOU KNOW, THAT MAY NOT
BE THE OPTION FOR EVERYONE, BUT
IT MAY BE THE BEST, YOU KNOW,
PLACE FOR PLACEMENT FOR A CHILD.
AND SO WE WANT TO HAVE THESE
OPTIONS AND THIS AVAILABILITY,
FOR ALL CALIFORNIA STUDENTS AND
FOR THE DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING
AND DEAF BLIND, COMMUNITY. SO,
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO
THIS. ASK FOR YOUR AYE, VOTE,
AND LET'S KEEP MOVING FORWARD.
ON DEAF EQUALITY. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THIS BILL
DOES, HAVE THE CHAIR'S, SUPPORT,
AS AMENDED, AND WE'LL TAKE THE
VOTE WHEN WE ESTABLISH A QUORUM.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OKAY. NEXT
WE HAVE, A SENSE, MR. JONES,
SAWYER IS SIGNED IN, BUT HE IS
NOT HERE, SO WE WILL SKIP TO,
MISS SCHIAVO, THIS IS FILE
NUMBER 24, AB 2999.
I SEE MR. LOWENTHAL IS,
CO-PRESENTING. OKAY. JOINT
AUTHOR. ALL RIGHT, SO, SIR, MISS
SCHIAVO AND MR. LOWENTHAL, WITH.
YEAH NO, THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.
AND, MEMBERS, I'M SO EXCITED TO
PRESENT AB 2999, AND START WITH
WHAT I HOPE WILL BE AN IMPACTFUL
CONVERSATION ABOUT HOMEWORK AND
ITS IMPACT ON OUR STUDENTS. I
WANT TO THANK THE COMMITTEE
STAFF AND CHAIR, FOR YOUR HARD
WORK AND DILIGENCE ON THIS BILL.
I KNOW THERE WAS A LOT OF BACK
AND FORTH, AND I'M HAPPY TO
ACCEPT ALL OF THE AMENDMENTS
TODAY. AB 2999, THE HEALTHY
HOMEWORK ACT IS BROUGHT FORWARD
WITH THE INTENTION OF STARTING A
NEW CONVERSATION ABOUT THE REAL
IMPACTS OF HOMEWORK, A
CONVERSATION I BELIEVE IS LONG
OVERDUE. THIS BILL WAS SPARKED
BY A CONVERSATION WITH MY
DAUGHTER SITTING IN THE BACK
SEAT OF MY CAR WHEN SHE FOUND
OUT THAT IF I WAS ELECTED, I
WOULD BE ABLE TO MAKE NEW LAWS,
AND SHE IMMEDIATELY ASKED IF I
COULD BAN HOMEWORK, ANY ANY
FOURTH GRADERS DREAM. I IMAGINE.
BUT THE REQUEST AND THIS BILL
DOES NOT BAN HOMEWORK, JUST TO
BE CLEAR. BUT THE REQUEST FROM
MY KID WAS NOT THE FIRST TIME
THAT I HAD CONTEMPLATED THE
IMPACT OF HOMEWORK ON KIDS AND
FAMILIES. WHEN SOPHIA WAS IN
KINDERGARTEN, SHE GOT A BIG,
HUGE PACKET OF HOMEWORK EVERY
MONDAY THAT WAS DUE ON FRIDAYS
AND IT WAS KINDERGARTEN. MY
FIRST JOB WAS ACTUALLY IN EARLY
CHILDHOOD EDUCATION. I WORKED
FOR A TRIBAL HEAD START PROGRAM
AND THERE WAS I REALLY STRUGGLED
TO UNDERSTAND HOW THIS WAS
DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE WHEN
SHE HAD ALREADY BEEN IN SCHOOL
ALL DAY LONG, AND THEN SHE WAS
COMING HOME AND EXPECTED TO DO
WORKSHEETS IN THE EVENING, I
STARTED LOOKING AT OTHER
COUNTRIES AND WHAT THEY DID, AND
FOUND THAT MANY COUNTRIES DON'T
REQUIRE HOMEWORK UNTIL MIDDLE
SCHOOL OR HIGH SCHOOL. MULTIPLE
COUNTRIES THAT HAVE MUCH HIGHER
EDUCATIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS THAN
US. WE'RE SPENDING HALF THE TIME
ON HOMEWORK THAT WE DO IN THE
UNITED STATES, AND SOME OF THEM
ALSO EVEN HAVE SHORTER SCHOOL
DAYS. AS THE YEARS IN GRADE
LEVELS PROGRESSED, I CONTINUED
TO HAVE CONCERNS AS A WORKING
SINGLE MOTHER WITH A DEMANDING
JOB. I ALSO EXPERIENCED THE
STRAIN IT PUTS ON FAMILIES TO
GET HOMEWORK DONE, GET MY KID
FED, BATHED, READY FOR BED AND
IN BED ON TIME AND HAVING TIME
TO CONNECT WITH HER WAS JUST A
LUXURY. MY EXPERIENCE IN EARLY
CHILDHOOD EDUCATION WITH MY
DAUGHTER LED ME TO, SORRY, LET'S
SKIP THAT PART, I ALSO WANT TO
SAY THAT THE RESEARCH ALSO LED
ME TO DOCTOR POPE, WHO'S HERE TO
TESTIFY TODAY, IN A MINUTE. AND
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I LEARNED
FROM HER IS THAT IN HER WORK,
HOMEWORK WAS REPORTED BY
STUDENTS AS A TOP THREE
STRESSOR. OVERALL IN KIDS LIVES
AND OFTEN LISTED AS NUMBER ONE.
AND AS WE STRUGGLE FOR SOLUTIONS
IN OUR GROWING MENTAL HEALTH
CRISIS AMONG STUDENTS, THIS IS
ONE WAY THAT WE COULD
SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE STRESS IN
STUDENTS LIVES ALMOST OVERNIGHT.
THERE IS ALSO ISSUES AROUND
EQUITY AND ACCESS TO SUPPORT AT
HOME, AND WAYS THAT SCHOOL STAFF
HAVE TO DIVERT TIME AWAY FROM
KIDS EXPERIENCING MENTAL HEALTH
CRISIS TO MANAGE ISSUES WITH
HOMEWORK, AS WELL AS THE IMPACT
AI IS HAVING ON WORK BEING DONE
AT HOME, THAT MAKES IT EVEN LESS
USEFUL FOR SOME KIDS. ALL OF
THIS LED ME TO PURSUING THIS
LEGISLATION. I HOPE THAT AB 2999
IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A NEW,
VERY INTENTIONAL CONVERSATION
AROUND HOMEWORK, A CONVERSATION
THAT REQUIRES MEANINGFUL INPUT
FROM TEACHERS, STUDENTS, PARENTS
, ADMINISTRATION, AND MENTAL
HEALTH WORKERS. AND ONE THAT
PROTECTS AND PRESERVES LOCAL
CONTROL AND IS NOT PRESCRIPTIVE.
IT MAKES NO REQUIREMENTS ON WHAT
THE HOMEWORK POLICIES ARE, BUT
IT DOES REQUIRE CONSIDERATION
FOR CURRENT HOMEWORK RESEARCH ON
HOMEWORK REFLECTS
DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE
PRACTICES, PARTICULARLY FOR
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, AS WELL AS
CONSIDERING THE IMPACTS ON
MENTAL HEALTH, PHYSICAL HEALTH
EQUITY, AND TO STUDENTS WITH
LEARNING DISABILITIES. I ALSO
WANT TO THANK THE EDUCATION
UNIONS WHO WE REACHED OUT TO
EARLY AND OFTEN FOR INPUT, AND
WHO HAVE GIVEN HELPFUL FEEDBACK
THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS. I'M
ALSO PROUD TO HAVE OUR
CALIFORNIA TEACHER OF THE YEAR
WHO CAME UP FROM MY SCHOOL
DISTRICT, AND OUR COMMUNITY
TODAY TO SPEAK ON THIS BILL. HE
IS SUPPORTING THE BILL. HE'S THE
CHAIR OF THE VALENCIA HIGH
SCHOOL ENGLISH DEPARTMENT. AND
DURING COVID, THEIR DEPARTMENT
DECIDED TO WORK SMARTER AND NOT
HARDER. THEY SEVERELY LIMITED
HOMEWORK AND SAU THEIR TEST
SCORES IMPROVE. IT WAS THE ONLY
SCHOOL IN THE DISTRICT TO HAVE
TEST SCORES GO UP FOLLOWING THE
COVID PANDEMIC. HERE TO TESTIFY
WITH ME TODAY IS MY DAUGHTER,
SIXTH GRADER SOPHIA, WHO IS THE
INSPIRATION FOR THE BILL AND
OFTEN CALLED THE 81ST ASSEMBLY
MEMBER BY MY COLLEAGUES WHO KNOW
HOW OFTEN SHE WAS AROUND AND
WITH ME ON THE ASSEMBLY FLOOR
AND AROUND. LAST YEAR WHEN SHE
WAS GOING TO SCHOOL IN THE
CORNER IN MY OFFICE, WHEN I
DIDN'T HAVE ANOTHER OPTION AND A
DOCTOR, DEMIS POPE, A FORMER
TEACHER, PROFESSOR AT STANFORD
UNIVERSITY AND WHO IS AN EXPERT
ON HOMEWORK AND CO-FOUNDER OF
CHALLENGE SUCCESS, A NONPROFIT
ORGANIZATION THAT'S WORKED
DIRECTLY WITH SCHOOL DISTRICTS
ON POLICIES TO REDUCE HOMEWORK
AND REWORK HOMEWORK PRACTICES
AROUND THE COUNTRY. BEFORE WE
TURN, TURN TO YOUR DAUGHTER. I
WANT TO GIVE MR. LOWENTHAL THANK
YOU. THAT WAS. THANK YOU, MR.
CHAIR. AND MEMBERS, I, BEFORE I
BEGIN, JUST, TRULY APPRECIATE
THE VERY APPROPRIATE AND KIND
WORDS ABOUT, DELANEY EASTON.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SAYING
THOSE. I'M HERE AS A VERY PROUD
JOINT AUTHOR OF AB 2999. ALSO AS
A PROUD FATHER OF THREE SCHOOL
AGED GIRLS AND I'M A FIRM
BELIEVER THAT OUR KIDS SHOULD
NOT BE LOSING SLEEP, MISSING
FAMILY OR RECREATIONAL TIME, OR
BECOMING OVERLY STRESSED DUE TO
UNNECESSARY LOADS OF HOMEWORK.
THE KEY WORD THERE IS
UNNECESSARY, UNNECESSARY LOADS
OF HOMEWORK. THESE ARE SOME OF
THE MOST FORMATIVE YEARS OF OUR
CHILDREN'S LIVES AND OUR MOST
IMPORTANT JOB AS PARENTS IS TO
ENSURE THAT OUR KIDS ARE
HEALTHY, BOTH PHYSICALLY AND
MENTALLY. AB 2999 DOES NOT
REQUIRE THAT LEAS ADOPT ANY
SPECIFIC POLICIES. RATHER, IT
JUST REQUIRES THAT THEY TAKE KEY
ASPECTS SUCH AS EQUITY AND
MENTAL HEALTH INTO CONSIDERATION
WHEN THEY ARE FORMING THEIR OWN
HOMEWORK POLICIES. AS THE LEAS
THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS KNOW WHAT
IS BEST FOR THEIR COMMUNITIES,
THEY KNOW THE CHALLENGES THEIR
STUDENTS FACE AND WHAT IT TAKES
TO BETTER SET THEM ALL UP FOR
SUCCESS IN THE CLASSROOM AND IN
LIFE. WITH THE PASSAGE OF AB
2999, CALIFORNIA'S K THROUGH 12,
STUDENTS AND THEIR PARENTS WILL
BE ABLE TO CONFIDENTLY GO INTO
THE SCHOOL YEAR KNOWING WHAT TO
EXPECT AND WHAT IS EXPECTED OF
THEM. UNIFORMITY BETWEEN
TEACHERS, PARENTS, AND STUDENTS
WILL ENABLE THE LEAS TO PROPERLY
CATER TO THE UNIQUE NEEDS OF
THEIR COMMUNITY AND KEEP THEIR
STUDENTS ENGAGED IN A
CONSTRUCTIVE LEARNING
ENVIRONMENT. EVERY SCHOOL
DISTRICT IN THIS STATE IS
DIFFERENT. WHETHER THERE IS A
DIGITAL DIVIDE AMONG SCHOOL
STUDENTS, LENGTHY SCHOOL
COMMUTES FOR STUDENTS, OR OTHER
NUANCED FACTORS THAT AFFECT A
STUDENT'S LIFE. THE HOMEWORK
POLICY NEEDS TO REFLECT THESE
REALITIES TO PROPERLY SERVE THAT
SPECIFIC COMMUNITY THROUGH AB
2999 LEAS WILL USE A DATA DRIVEN
APPROACH IN CREATING THEIR
POLICY TO NOT JUST MAXIMIZE
THEIR STUDENTS ACADEMIC SUCCESS,
BUT ALSO IMPROVE THEIR OVERALL
QUALITY OF LIFE. THE LAST THING
WE WANT IS FOR OUR KIDS TO BE
BURNT OUT IN THE EIGHTH GRADE.
FROM TEDIOUS AND EXCESSIVE LOADS
OF HOMEWORK, WE WANT OUR KIDS TO
BE ENERGIZED AND ENGAGED IN ALL
ASPECTS OF THEIR LIVES. IN THE
CLASSROOM AND OUT. I'M EXTREMELY
GRATEFUL FOR ASSEMBLY WOMAN,
SCHIAVO, FOR CHAMPIONING THIS
EXTREMELY IMPORTANT PIECE OF
LEGISLATION TO IMPROVE THE LIVES
OF OUR CHILDREN. THANK YOU, MR.
CHAIR. THANK YOU. AND NOW I'D
LIKE TO WELCOME OUR 81ST MEMBER
OF THE STATE ASSEMBLY, SOPHIA
SALVO. MR. CHAIR AND MEMBERS, MY
NAME IS SOPHIA AND I'M IN SIXTH
GRADE. I'M HERE TO SUPPORT OUR
HEALTHY HOMEWORK ACT. AB 2999. I
HOPE IT MEANS THAT SCHOOL BOARDS
WILL REALLY LOOK AT THE IMPACT
HOMEWORK IS HAVING ON STUDENTS
LIKE ME AND MY FRIENDS. I'D LOVE
TO READ AND LEARN, BUT WHEN IT
COMES TO HOMEWORK, I ABSOLUTELY
DREAD IT. IT CAUSES SO MUCH
STRESS AND WORRY AND TAKES UP
ALL OF MY TIME AFTER SCHOOL. I
DON'T HAVE TIME TO HAVE DINNER
WITH MY MOM AND FAMILY TO PLAY
WITH MY LITTLE COUSIN, OR JUST
HAVE TIME TO RELAX AND RECOVER
FROM THE STRESS OF THE DAY. I
HAVE AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS FOUR
DAYS A WEEK. THAT MEANS I DON'T
GET HOME UNTIL AROUND 6 P.M. OR
LATER. OFTEN I USUALLY HAVE
AROUND 1.5 HOURS OF HOMEWORK OR
MORE EACH NIGHT. I OFTEN EAT
DINNER WHILE I DO HOMEWORK IN MY
ROOM ALONE. I HAVE HARDLY ANY
TIME TO CONNECT WITH FRIENDS
BECAUSE I HAVE TOO MUCH HOMEWORK
AND NEED TO SHOWER OR GET READY
FOR BED AS SOON AS I'M DONE.
HOMEWORK CAUSES A LOT OF STRESS
IN MY LIFE. I HAD A LOT OF
NIGHTS WHERE I END UP UPSET
BECAUSE I JUST CAN'T FINISH THE
HOMEWORK BEFORE BEDTIME, OR I'M
SCARED THAT MY TEACHER THAT I
WILL BE KEPT IN FROM RECESS, GET
IN TROUBLE, OR THAT IT WILL HURT
MY GRADES. I DON'T WANT MY
TEACHER TO BE DISAPPOINTED IN ME
, SO SOMETIMES I JUST STAY UP
REALLY LATE. SO I CAN WAKE UP SO
I CAN FINISH. SO I CAN FINISH MY
HOMEWORK BEFORE BEDTIME. AND I'M
SCARED THAT I WILL BE KEPT IN.
Þ. AND IT'S NOT JUST ME. I'VE
HEARD THIS FROM ALL OF MY
FRIENDS. EVEN THE SMARTEST KID
IN CLASS. HOMEWORKS. HOMEWORK IS
EXHAUSTING. IT'S OVERWHELMING.
AND IT'S DEPRESSING THAT MY
WHOLE DAY FROM WHEN I WAKE UP
UNTIL WHEN I GO TO BED, IS
NEARLY ALL TAKEN UP WITH
SCHOOLWORK, EVEN WITH MOST OF
ALL OF MY TIME SCHEDULED FOR ME,
IT'S MAKING ME NOT LIKE SCHOOL
AT ALL. I KNOW THE WORK WE DO IN
SCHOOL IS IMPORTANT, BUT I THINK
THINGS THAT SUPPORT MENTAL AND
PHYSICAL HEALTH LIKE CONNECTING
WITH FRIENDS, HAVING DOWNTIME TO
RECHARGE, AND TIME TO DO THE
THINGS THAT MAKE ME HAPPY, LIKE
ART AND LEARNING. LANGUAGES ARE
ALSO REALLY IMPORTANT AND SHOULD
ALSO BE CONSIDERED. THAT'S WHY I
ASKED YOU TO SUPPORT OUR HEALTHY
HOMEWORK ACT. THANK YOU, THANK
YOU. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU FOR
HAVING ME. MY NAME IS DOCTOR
DENISE POPE. I'M A SENIOR
LECTURER AT THE STANFORD
GRADUATE SCHOOL OF EDUCATION AND
CO-FOUNDER OF CHALLENGE SUCCESS,
A NONPROFIT THAT PARTNERS WITH
K-12 SCHOOLS NATIONWIDE TO
IMPROVE STUDENT WELL-BEING,
ENGAGEMENT AND BELONGING. I'M
PLEASED TO BE HERE TODAY TO
SHARE INSIGHTS FROM DATA
COLLECTED THROUGH THE CHALLENGE
SUCCESS STANFORD SURVEY OF
SCHOOL EXPERIENCES, WHICH HAS
BEEN COMPLETED BY OVER 300,000
MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
ACROSS THE US. TODAY'S DATA
REFLECTS ON THE VOICES OF MORE
THAN 13,000 CALIFORNIA HIGH
SCHOOL STUDENTS DURING THE 2223
SCHOOL YEAR, AND IS VERY SIMILAR
TO THE NATIONAL SAMPLE. WE
BELIEVE IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO
BRING STUDENT VOICES LIKE
SOPHIA'S INTO CONVERSATIONS
ABOUT POLICIES THAT AFFECT THEIR
WELL-BEING. FOR EXAMPLE, 45% OF
STUDENTS REPORTED OVERALL
WORKLOAD AND HOMEWORK AS A MAJOR
SOURCE OF STRESS. THIS WAS
SELECTED FROM A LONG LIST OF
OTHER STRESSORS, INCLUDING
FUTURE PLANS, COLLEGE AND
RELATIONSHIPS. HOMEWORK IS OFTEN
THE ONE THAT GETS TOP BILLING.
CALIFORNIA HAS ALREADY
CHAMPIONED STUDENT WELL-BEING BY
RECOGNIZING THE NEED FOR
STUDENTS TO GET MORE SLEEP, AND
THE CONNECTION BETWEEN SLEEP AND
MENTAL HEALTH, AND WE COMMEND
THE RECENT IMPLEMENTATION OF A
LATER SCHOOL START. YAY! NOW WE
ASK YOU TO CONSIDER THE REST OF
THE STUDENT'S DAY. AFTER
SPENDING 7 TO 8 HOURS AT SCHOOL
AND THEN DOING AN AVERAGE OF IN
OUR SAMPLE, 2.5 HOURS OF
HOMEWORK AT THE HIGH SCHOOL
LEVEL, PLUS EXTRACURRICULAR
ACTIVITIES, PAID WORK OR FAMILY
COMMITMENTS. THERE'S NOT ENOUGH
HOURS IN THE DAY FOR STUDENTS TO
GET THE NINE HOURS OF SLEEP THEY
NEED PER NIGHT. IN FACT, 57% OF
STUDENTS REPORTED THAT HOMEWORK
OFTEN OR ALWAYS PREVENTED THEM
FROM GETTING ENOUGH SLEEP. WE
ALSO KNOW THAT MORE THAN 50 DODD
MORE THAN HALF OF STUDENTS
SURVEYED REPORTED THAT
SCHOOLWORK AND STUDYING HAS
PREVENTED THEM FROM HAVING TIME
FOR FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND OTHER
ACTIVITIES THEY ENJOY. WE KNOW
FROM EXTENSIVE RESEARCH THAT
PLAYTIME, DOWNTIME, AND FAMILY
TIME ARE ACTUALLY CONSIDERED
PROTECTIVE FACTORS FOR CHILDREN
AND ARE FUNDAMENTAL TO HEALTHY
CHILD AND ADOLESCENT
DEVELOPMENT. WE ALSO KNOW FROM
REVIEWS OF RESEARCH ARTICLES ON
HOMEWORK AT THE EARLY GRADE
LEVEL, THERE'S ALMOST NO
CORRELATION BETWEEN TIME SPENT
ON HOMEWORK AND ACHIEVEMENT,
WITH THE NOTABLE EXCEPTION OF
READING FOR PLEASURE. FINALLY,
WE'RE VERY CONCERNED THAT THE
ABOUT THE INHERENT INEQUITIES
PRESENTED BY HOMEWORK. WE KNOW
THAT NOT ALL KIDS HAVE ADEQUATE
SUPPORT, TECHNOLOGY,
ACCOMMODATIONS, OR RESOURCES IN
THEIR HOMES TO COMPLETE THE
HOMEWORK THEY'RE ASSIGNED AT THE
NATIONAL LEVEL, THIS IS ABOUT
17% OF STUDENTS WHO REPORT THIS.
AND WITH PARTICULARLY
ECONOMICALLY MARGINALIZED KIDS,
IT'S ALMOST 25% WHO ARE UNABLE
TO COMPLETE THEIR HOMEWORK.
THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING THE
WELL-BEING OF CALIFORNIA
CHILDREN AND THE CRITICAL NEED
FOR SLEEP, PLAY, AND FAMILY TIME
. AS YOU REVIEW THIS HOMEWORK
BILL TODAY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
ARE THE PUBLIC COMMENTS IN
SUPPORT OF THE BILL? PLEASE COME
FORWARD. IS THE MICROPHONE
WORKING NOW? NO. OKAY THANK YOU,
MR. CHAIR. MEMBERS JIM FRAZIER,
THE ARC OF CALIFORNIA UNITED
CEREBRAL PALSY COLLABORATIVE IN
SUPPORT DESPERATELY NEED THIS
BILL TO BE PASSED. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. HI. MY NAME IS CASEY.
I'M THE 2024 CALIFORNIA TEACHER
OF THE YEAR, VALENCIA HIGH
SCHOOL ENGLISH TEACHER,
DEPARTMENT CHAIR AND
INSTRUCTIONAL COACH, AND I. I
OVERWHELMINGLY SUPPORT THIS BILL
AND THE POTENTIAL FOR BEST
PRACTICES COLLABORATION. THANK
YOU. VICTOR TORRES, ON BEHALF OF
FUTURE LEADERS OF CHANGE AND AS
A HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT IN SUPPORT
OF THIS BILL. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU. I AM ROHAN EDISON. I'M IN
SIXTH GRADE AND I SUPPORT THIS
BILL. AND HERE ARE SOME OF MY
FRIENDS THAT ALSO SUPPORT THIS
BILL. AIDEN BARRERO, NEOSHA.
RAMADAN. SOLANA. DASHA. MAX
JOHNSON, JACKSON PEACE AND FAITH
MATTHEWS. THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
ANY FURTHER PUBLIC COMMENTS IN
SUPPORT OF THIS BILL? SEEING
NONE ANY OPPOSITION TO THE BILL.
SEEING NONE, ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS
IN OPPOSITION TO THE BILL.
SEEING NONE, BEFORE I GO ANY
FURTHER, I'D LIKE TO, ASK MADAM
SECRETARY TO CALL, ROLL CALL TO
ESTABLISH QUORUM MURATSUCHI
HERE. MURATSUCHI HERE. FLORA
LARA HERE. ADDIS. ADDIS HERE.
ALVAREZ. FONT. FONT HERE.
HOOVER. MCCARTY OKAY, WE HAVE
QUORUM, QUESTIONS? COMMENTS FROM
THE COMMITTEE. MISS BONTA, I
WANT TO THANK OUR WITNESS FOR
REALLY, HAVING THE VOICE OF SO
MANY SIXTH GRADERS THAT I KNOW
PERSONALLY. WHEN I WAS ON THE
SCHOOL BOARD, WE ACTUALLY HAD TO
TALK A LOT ABOUT HOMEWORK AND,
AND EVERYTHING THAT YOU SAID IN
TERMS OF THE ANXIETY, THE
STRESS, THE WAY THAT IT PULLS
YOU AWAY FROM BEING ABLE TO
CONNECT WITH YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS
AND, AND, AND, AND ALL THAT YOU
EXPRESSED IS EXACTLY WHAT SO
MANY CHILDREN THAT I HAVE MET
WITH OVER THE YEARS SAY AS WELL.
SO I'M VERY THANKFUL TO YOU FOR
LIKELY BEING A VERY IMPORTANT
SOURCE FOR THE AUTHOR TO BRING
AUTHORS TO BRING FORWARD THIS
BILL, AND TO OUR 81ST ASSEMBLY
MEMBER, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR
MAKING SURE THAT WE CAN HAVE
EVERY YOUTH HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY
TO NOT HAVE THAT KIND OF STRESS
IN THEIR LIVES BY REVIEWING OUR
HOMEWORK PRACTICES IN A VERY
MEANINGFUL WAY AND TAKING OUR
SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL WELLNESS, INTO
ACCOUNT. THANK YOU, MISS SOPHIA.
THANK YOU, VICE CHAIR FLORA.
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I ALSO
WANT TO JUST SAY, TO THE, YOU
KNOW, THE COAUTHORS OF THIS
BILL. YOU GUYS DID A REALLY GOOD
JOB. WELL DONE, BUT TO THE 81ST,
YOU CRUSHED IT. AND SO,
INCREDIBLY WELL DONE. SUPER
PROUD OF YOU TO BE HERE. AND,
HONESTLY, YOU BROUGHT ME BACK TO
MY SIXTH GRADE YEAR, MY STAFF IS
GOING TO LAUGH WHEN I SAY THIS,
BUT. AND THEY'RE GOING TO FIND
IT HARD TO BELIEVE. BUT I WAS
LIKE A SQUIRREL CHASING A SHINY
OBJECT MOST DAYS, AND I'M NOT
SURE I SAW THE LIGHT OF DAY. I
SPENT SO MUCH TIME ON DETENTION
BECAUSE I DIDN'T GET MY HOMEWORK
DONE. IT WAS UNBELIEVABLE. SO
WHEN YOU BROUGHT UP, YOU KNOW,
NOT SEEING RECESS BECAUSE OF
HOMEWORK, IT'S A REALLY GOOD
POINT TO BE MADE. ALL RIGHT.
SOME OF US JUST LEARN
DIFFERENTLY. RIGHT? SO WELL
DONE. HAPPY TO SUPPORT THIS
BILL. AND YOU DID A GREAT JOB.
THANK YOU, MISS ADDIS. I WILL
JUST ECHO, SOPHIA, YOU'RE SUCH A
BRIGHT SPOT IN MY DAY. YOU DON'T
KNOW THIS, BUT THESE ARE A TOUGH
COUPLE OF WEEKS FOR LEGISLATORS,
SO IT'S BEEN WONDERFUL TO COME
AND HEAR YOUR TESTIMONY ON A
PERSONAL NOTE, AND I'VE SAID
THIS BEFORE. I TAUGHT STUDENTS
WITH SPECIAL NEEDS FOR A VERY
LONG TIME. AND THEN I WORKED
WITH ENGLISH LEARNERS AND
ENGLISH LEARNER PROGRAMING FOR A
VERY LONG TIME. AND WE HAVE A
NUMBER OF STUDENTS IN OUR SCHOOL
SYSTEM THAT HAVE UNDIAGNOSED OR
UNCLASSIFIED NEEDS WHEN IT COMES
TO LEARNING DIFFERENCES. AND SO
I THINK AS WE'RE CONSIDERING
HOMEWORK POLICIES, OF COURSE,
THERE'S A PIECE WHERE WE WANT
OUR KIDS OUTDOORS. WE WANT THEM
TO HAVE FUN AFTER SCHOOL. WE
DON'T WANT THE STRESS, WE DON'T
WANT THEM. THE MENTAL HEALTH
ISSUES THAT CAN COME ALONG. BUT
IN ADDITION TO THAT, THERE'S A
LOT OF KIDS THAT HAVE DIFFERENT
LEARNING NEEDS. AND OUR HOMEWORK
POLICY IS ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO FIT
THOSE. THEY NEED TO MATCH THOSE.
AND WE NEED TO BE CONSIDERING
THAT WHEN WE'RE CREATING
POLICIES THAT ARE GOING TO
AFFECT CHILDREN'S ACADEMIC
OUTCOMES AS WELL AS THEIR ENTIRE
LIVES. AND SO HAPPY TO MOVE THE
BILL. REALLY APPRECIATE YOU
BRINGING THIS FORWARD. ALL
RIGHT. IS THERE A SECOND SECOND?
OKAY. ALL RIGHT. WELL, THANK YOU
VERY MUCH TO MISS SCHIAVO AND
MR. LOWENTHAL FOR, BRINGING THIS
BILL FORWARD. AND THANK YOU TO
81ST. THAT'S GOING TO BE YOUR
NEW NICKNAME, AND THANK YOU,
DOCTOR POPE, I, YOU KNOW, AS A
AS A PARENT, ALSO, I, YOU KNOW,
RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS
TOPIC RIGHT AWAY WHEN, WHEN MISS
SCHIAVO, YOU KNOW, EARLY ON IN
THIS, LAST SET OF YEAR, BROUGHT
THIS, THIS TOPIC, TO, TO MY
ATTENTION AND I, I KNOW THAT MY,
MY OWN DAUGHTER, I ALSO HAVE A
DAUGHTER NAMED SOPHIA, WHO, WAS
STAYING UP LATE, YOU KNOW, AND
EVEN IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, SHE
WAS STAYING UP UNTIL MIDNIGHT.
AND AND I, WE OFTEN MY WIFE AND
I OFTEN HAD CONVERSATIONS ABOUT,
YOU KNOW, HOW THOUGHTFUL WERE
THE TEACHERS BEING IN TERMS OF
NOT NOT ONLY IN TERMS OF THE
AMOUNT OF HOMEWORK THAT THEY
WERE ASSIGNING, BUT THE
CUMULATIVE IMPACT OF ALL THE,
THE DIFFERENT, TEACHERS AND THE
CLASSES AND THE HOMEWORK THAT
THEY WERE ASSIGNING, YOU KNOW,
WHETHER IT'S ON THE EVENINGS OR
EVEN ON WEEKENDS, AND SO, I
THINK THIS IS A, A VERY TIMELY
AND VERY IMPORTANT MEASURE THAT,
YOU KNOW, IS GOING TO CALL ON
DISTRICTS TO, TO HAVE A, YOU
KNOW, THEIR OWN LOCAL
DISCUSSIONS WITH THEIR OWN LOCAL
COMMUNITIES ON WHAT IS A MORE
THOUGHTFUL EVIDENCE BASED,
POLICY ON, ON HOMEWORK, AND
HAVING THAT THAT DISCUSSION
WITH, WITH TEACHERS, WITH,
FAMILIES, WITH STUDENTS. AND SO,
HOPEFULLY YOU'RE, YOU KNOW, ON
ON THE CUSP OF SOMETHING, YOU
KNOW, BIG, COMING FORWARD, AND
SO, I'M VERY HAPPY TO SUPPORT
THIS MEASURE, WOULD YOU LIKE TO
CLOSE? THANK YOU SO MUCH, MR.
CHAIR. AND, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE
THINGS THAT DOCTOR POPE SAID
WHEN WE FIRST TALKED ABOUT THIS
BILL WAS, AND IT REALLY STRUCK
ME BECAUSE I COME OUT OF THE
LABOR MOVEMENT FIGHTING FOR AN
EIGHT HOUR DAY. RIGHT? AND SHE
SAID, KIDS ARE THE ONLY ONES
THAT WE ASK TO DO THREE SHIFTS.
THEY GO TO SCHOOL ALL DAY, THEY
GO TO AFTER SCHOOL OR AFTER
SCHOOL ACTIVITIES, AND THEN THEY
GO HOME AND THEY DO HOMEWORK AT
THE KITCHEN TABLE ALL NIGHT, AND
SO WE'RE TRYING TO GET TO WHAT
IS AN EQUIVALENT OF AN EIGHT
HOUR DAY FOR STUDENTS NOW.
RIGHT? AND THAT'S REALLY, I
THINK, WHAT WE HOPE WILL HAPPEN
WITH THIS BILL. WE KNOW THAT OUR
EDUCATION SYSTEM IS COMMITTED TO
SUPPORTING HEALTHY, SMART KIDS,
AND THIS POLICY DIRECTLY HELPS
US TO DO THAT AND ENSURE THAT
WE'RE SUPPORTING THE WHOLE CHILD
. RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR AN AYE
VOTE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU,
MADAM SECRETARY, MOTION'S BEEN
MADE AND SECONDED. PLEASE CALL
THE ROLL. FILE ITEM 24 AB 2999.
THE MOTION IS TO PASS, AS
AMENDED, TO APPROPRIATIONS.
MURATSUCHI Ã MURATSUCHI I LARA
LARA I ADDIS I ADDIS I ALVAREZ.
BONTA I QUANTA I HOOVER. MCCARTY
FOR THE WILL KEEP THE ROLL OPEN.
BUT THE BILL IS OUT.
CONGRATULATIONS ALL RIGHT. NEXT
WE HAVE. AND SIGN IN ORDER. FILE
NUMBER 12 AB 2548 BY MR.
TO
WHEN YOU'RE READY. GOOD
AFTERNOON, CHAIR AND MEMBER OF
THE COMMITTEE. I'D LIKE TO TALK.
START BY ACCEPTING THE
COMMITTEE. COMMITTEE AMENDMENT.
AND I'M VERY PLEASED TO PRESENT
AB 2548 THIS AFTERNOON IN, 2021,
THE STATE INTRODUCED A FIVE YEAR
PLAN TO GRADUALLY EXPAND
TRANSITIONAL KINDERGARTEN,
AIMING FOR UNIVERSAL ENROLLMENT
BY 2025 TO 2026. TO MEET THIS
TIMELINE, DISTRICT MOVE QUICKLY
AS DISTRICT OUTREACH TO THEIR
FAMILIES. ABOUT TK FAMILIES HAD
EXPRESSED A DESIRE TO ENROLL
FOUR YEAR OLD WHOSE BIRTHDAY
FALLS OUTSIDE OF THE ELIGIBLE
LU█T WINDOW DISTRICT WERE TOLD
BY THE STATE THAT THEY COULD
ENROLL THESE CHILDREN, BUT THEY
WOULD NOT RECEIVE ATTENDANT
FUNDING TO SERVE THEM. MANY
DISTRICTS IN PARTICULARLY HIGH
NEED COMMUNITIES CHOOSE TO OFFER
TÊ CARE TO MEET THE NEEDS OF
THEIR FAMILIES. SCHOOL DISTRICT
PLAN AND BUDGET AT LEAST NINE
MONTHS IN ADVANCE OF THE NEXT
SCHOOL YEAR, WITH TYPICALLY
BEGIN AROUND AUGUST. HOWEVER, IN
JULY 2023, A NEW LAW WAS ENACTED
IMPOSING STRICTER REQUIREMENTS
FOR DISTRICTS OFFERING EARLY TK,
INCLUDING LOW GLASS SIZE AND
ADULT TO STUDENT RATIO, ALONG
WITH PENALTY FOR NONCOMPLIANCE.
MANY DISTRICTS OFFERING EARLY TK
WERE NOT ABLE TO MEET A NEW
REQUIREMENTS BECAUSE THE SCHOOL
YEAR WAS WEEKS AWAY FROM FROM
STARTING. DISTRICTS WERE FACED
WITH A DECISION TO EITHER TURN
AWAY FAMILIES THEY HAD ENROLLED
IN TK, OR BE PENALIZED FOR
ORPHALI. MANY DISTRICTS CHOSE TO
SERVE THE FAMILIES BECAUSE OF
THE HIGH NUMBER OF STUDENTS WHO
DEPEND ON FREE ACCESS TO
EDUCATION AND CARE. DESPITE THE
STATE FISCAL PENALTIES, AB 2548
WOULD WAIVE THE EARLY TK PENALTY
. FOR THE 2023 TO 2024 SCHOOL
YEAR FOR SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT
WERE STRIVING TO SERVE THEIR
STUDENTS AND MEET THE NEEDS OF
THE COMMUNITIES. I WANT TO MAKE
THIS CLEAR THAT AB 2548
INTENTION WAS NOT TO UNDO A
BUDGET DEAL AND UNDERSTAND THAT
THIS POLICY CAME TO THE BUDGET
PROCESS LAST YEAR. AB 2548 IS AN
EFFORT TO RAISE AWARENESS AND
DISCUSSION ON THE POLICY THAT
CAME FROM THE BUDGET PROCESS.
AND WITH ME TODAY IN SUPPORT TO
TESTIFY ARE DOCTOR GABRIELLA
MURPHY, SUPERINTENDENT OF GARDEN
GROVE UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
AND DOCTOR JOHN GARCIA,
SUPERINTENDENT OF DOWNEY UNIFIED
SCHOOL DISTRICT. THANK YOU, MR.
TODD. MR. CHAIRMAN, MEMBERS OF
THE COMMITTEE, THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR HAVING US TODAY IN SUPPORT
OF ASSEMBLY BILL 2548. AS MR.
TODD SAID, MY NAME IS JOHN
GARCIA. I'M IN MY 11TH YEAR AS
THE SUPERINTENDENT OF DOWNEY
UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT IN
SOUTHEAST L.A. COUNTY. I
CONSIDER MYSELF VERY LUCKY BEING
THE FOURTH SUPERINTENDENT SINCE
1970, IN THAT DISTRICT AND
HAVING SERVED FOR THE LAST 11
YEARS, WE ACCELERATED EARLY. TK
IN OUR DISTRICT TO MEET THE
NEEDS OF OUR FAMILIES AND TO
SUPPORT OUR EDUCATORS IN THE
CLASSROOM. OVER 70% OF OUR
STUDENTS ARE UNDUPLICATED. THE
VAST MAJORITY OF THOSE ARE FROM
HIGH POVERTY FAMILIES. IN ORDER
TO OFFER OPPORTUNITIES AND MEET
THE NEEDS AND QUITE FRANKLY,
GIVE THOSE STUDENTS AN
OPPORTUNITY. UNDERSTANDING WE
WOULDN'T GET A AVERAGE DAILY
ATTENDANCE FOR THEM. OUR
COMMUNITY REALLY ASKED US TO
MOVE FORWARD IN THIS. WE
EXTENDED THE DEADLINE, LAST
YEAR, AND THEN THIS YEAR WE
EXTENDED IT THROUGH JUNE 30TH,
WHICH WAS OUR UNDERSTANDING OF
THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR. SO
UNDER EDUCATION CODE AND DURING
THE ROLLOUT, WE HAD ALWAYS
INTERPRETED THE END OF THE
SCHOOL YEAR TO MEAN JUNE 30TH OF
THE OF THE FOLLOWING YEAR UNDER
EDUCATION CODE 37 200, AND SO
THAT'S WHAT WE DID THIS YEAR,
EXTENDING IT TO JUNE 30TH. THE
TIMING OF THE TRAILER BILL LAST
SUMMER WAS VERY UNFORTUNATE, IN
REGARD TO THE PASSAGE OF THAT,
IT WAS PASSED IN ABOUT MID JULY,
BY THE TIME THAT ROLLS OUT THE
NUANCES OF TRAILER BILL LANGUAGE
ROLL OUT TO SCHOOL DISTRICTS,
QUITE FRANKLY, MOST OF US START
THE SECOND WEEK OF AUGUST AT
THIS POINT, WE HAD ALREADY
STARTED SCHOOL, BUT EVEN MORE SO
, OUR PLANNING AND OUR
COMMITMENT TO OUR FAMILIES
STARTED IN JANUARY OF 2023, WHEN
WE SHARED THAT WE WOULD BE
ACCEPTING FOUR YEAR OLDS BORN,
THAT THAT WILL BE TURNING FIVE
THROUGH JUNE THE 30TH, IN OUR
DISTRICT, THAT EQUATES TO ABOUT
70 STUDENTS BECAUSE BUT BECAUSE
OF THE WAY THE PENALTIES ARE
STRUCTURED, WE ARE LOOKING AT A
PENALTY OF ABOUT $1 MILLION,
OBVIOUSLY GOING INTO A TOUGH
BUDGET TIMES, MOVING FORWARD. SO
THAT BEING SAID, SINCE WE WERE
AT THE START OF SCHOOL, OUR
CHOICES WERE OBVIOUSLY VERY
LIMITED, IN REGARD TO CLASSROOM
SPACE, IN REGARD TO HITTING
THOSE RATIOS, AND SO, AGAIN, AS
ASSEMBLY MEMBER TODD SO
ELOQUENTLY PUT, WE'RE JUST
ASKING FOR RELIEF FOR THE 23, 24
SCHOOL YEAR WE'VE MADE, WE'VE
MADE ADJUSTMENTS MOVING FORWARD
INTO 24, 25. AND WE'LL BE ABLE
TO MEET THE RATIOS JUST FINE.
BUT AGAIN, BECAUSE OF THE TIMING
OF THIS BETWEEN, OUR SCHOOL
CALENDAR AND WHEN WE START
ACCEPTING FAMILIES IN JANUARY
AND FEBRUARY FOR THE FOLLOWING
YEAR, THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN A
HUGE, HUGE LOSS FOR OUR
FAMILIES. SO THANK YOU. THANK
YOU, MR. CHAIR. THANK YOU,
GABRIELA MURPHY. I'M ALSO IN MY
11TH YEAR, LIKE JOHN AS
SUPERINTENDENT OF GARDEN GROVE
UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT, PROUDLY
SERVING 38,000 STUDENTS AND
THREE MOST RECENT, BLUE RIBBON
NATIONAL BLUE RIBBON SCHOOLS.
OUR BOARD, SIMILAR TO DOWNEY,
MADE THE DECISION TO ACCELERATE
THE TK IMPLEMENTATION FOR A
SIMPLE REASON. WE'RE 81%
UNDUPLICATED COUNT. OUR FAMILIES
DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO FREE FULL
DAY PRESCHOOL SO THAT THEY CAN
WORK. AND WE HAVE A MAJORITY,
95% STUDENTS OF COLOR. MAJORITY
OF STUDENTS FIRST GENERATION.
THEY CAN'T AFFORD PAID
PRESCHOOL, AND OUR STATE
PRESCHOOL IS ONLY ALLOWED FOR
THREE HOURS A DAY BECAUSE DUE TO
CONTRACTUAL ELEMENTS WITH OUR
UNIONS AND WITH ALSO THE CDC
GUIDELINES, THAT WE CAN ONLY
OFFER A THREE DAY PROGRAM. I
COULDN'T WORK FOR THREE IF MY
CHILD WAS ONLY IN SCHOOL FOR
THREE HOURS A DAY, SO WE WENT
AHEAD. WE ACCELERATED, KNOWING
FULL WELL THAT JUNE 30TH WAS
THAT STOP DATE, AND THAT'S CLEAR
FROM ÓRDENES BEEN UNDERSTOOD 37
200. HOWEVER, THE CHANGE IN THE
TRAILER BILL, WHICH WE
UNDERSTAND WAS, YOU KNOW, VERY
LAST MINUTE, TO THE JUNE 2ND,
MEANT THAT ALL OF THE STUDENTS
THAT WERE BORN BETWEEN JUNE 3RD
AND JUNE 30TH NOW INCURRED A
PENALTY. AND SO JUST FOR AN
EXAMPLE, WE HAVE, MY CLASS SIZE
IN MY DISTRICT AT TK IS 21
DISTRICT WIDE. SO WE DON'T HAVE
LARGE CLASS SIZES. WE ACTUALLY
STAFFED AT 18 PER CLASS. BUT
AFTER OCTOBER, NOVEMBER WE HAD
SOME AGE ELIGIBLE STUDENTS IN TK
COME IN. YOU CAN'T TURN AWAY AN
AGE ELIGIBLE STUDENT FOR TK, SO
THEREFORE A CLASS MIGHT GET TO
21 IF THERE WAS ONE EARLY
ENROLLMENT STUDENT IN THAT CLASS
THAT INCURRED THE RATIO PENALTY,
EVEN IF IT WAS JUST 0.5 ABOVE,
AS WELL AS THE CLASS SIZE
PENALTY OF ABOUT 60, ALMOST
$60,000 PER CLASS. SO WE PROVIDE
A 6.5 HOUR FREE TK PROGRAM WITH
HIGHLY QUALIFIED TEACHERS, FULL
TIME AIDES WHO WORK WITH
TOILETING SO THAT PARENTS ARE
HIGH POVERTY FAMILIES CAN GO TO
WORK AND KNOW THAT THEIR
CHILDREN ARE GETTING A TOP NOTCH
EDUCATION. WE BELIEVE IT WAS AN
UNANTICIPATED CONSEQUENCE THAT
THE MAJORITY OF THE SCHOOLS THAT
SERVED IN DISTRICTS THAT SERVED
TO ACCELERATE WERE HIGH POVERTY
DISTRICTS ATTEMPTING TO SERVE
THEIR FAMILIES WHO WERE COMING
TO US AND SAYING, PLEASE, PLEASE
, PLEASE, WILL YOU SERVE MY
CHILD IN THE TK PROGRAM? WE'RE
ASKING FOR YOUR SUPPORT. AS
THESE FAMILIES HAVEN'T YET
EMERGED FROM THE FISCAL CRISIS
BROUGHT ON BY COVID, AND WE'RE
ASKING FOR THIS FIX FOR JUST ONE
YEAR, AND WE'RE PREPARED. I'M
STAFFING AT 15 PER CLASS, JUST
PREPARED FOR THE UNANTICIPATED
CHANGES. AS YOU KNOW, STAFFING
ALLOCATIONS ARE VERY VARIABLE
WITH THE EARLIEST GRADE LEVELS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. PUBLIC COMMENTS IN
SUPPORT OF THIS BILL. PLEASE
COME FORWARD. DIANA VU, ON
BEHALF OF THE ASSOCIATION OF
CALIFORNIA SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS
AND SUPPORT. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU, MR. CHAIR. MEMBERS HERE ON
BEHALF OF THREE ORGANIZATIONS
AND SUPPORT THE ORANGE COUNTY
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, THÀNH,
THE MARIN COUNTY OFFICE OF
EDUCATION AND SUPERINTENDENT
JOHN CARROLL, AND THE CALIFORNIA
ASSOCIATION OF SUBURBAN SCHOOL
DISTRICTS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
GOOD AFTERNOON, BRIAN RIX WITH
THE LOS ANGELES UNIFIED SCHOOL
DISTRICT IN SUPPORT. THANK YOU.
JEFF BARKER, REPRESENTING THE
RIVERSIDE COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT
OF SCHOOLS AND SUPPORT. THANK
YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON, MR. CHAIR
AND MEMBERS. LEE ANGELA REED, ON
BEHALF OF THE ALAMEDA COUNTY
OFFICE OF EDUCATION AND THE
SMALL SCHOOL DISTRICTS
ASSOCIATION IN SUPPORT, THANK
YOU. SEEING NO FURTHER PUBLIC
COMMENTS IN SUPPORT ANY
OPPOSITION TO THE BILL, PLEASE
COME FORWARD.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MR. CHAIR AND
MEMBERS. ROSANNA CARVACHO
ELLIOTT HERE THIS AFTERNOON ON
BEHALF OF THE EARLY CARE AND
EDUCATION CONSORTIUM, WHICH MUST
RESPECTFULLY OPPOSE AB 2548, THE
EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION
CONSORTIUM IS A NATIONWIDE
NONPROFIT ALLIANCE OF CHILD CARE
PROVIDERS WHO OPERATE 480
CENTERS IN CALIFORNIA WITH THE
CAPACITY TO SERVE NEARLY 68,000
CHILDREN. ÁP 2548 UNDERMINE THE
BUDGET AGREEMENT REACHED JUST
LAST YEAR TO ALLOW FOR OPTIONAL
EARLY TRANSITIONAL KINDERGARTEN,
BUT ONLY IF SPECIFIC ADULT TO
STUDENT RATIO IN CLASS SIZES
WERE MAINTAINED. IN ORDER TO
ENSURE THAT DISTRICTS THAT DID
CHOOSE TO OPT IN TO THIS EARLY
ENROLLMENT, TC MET THE
LEGISLATIVE MANDATES WHICH EXIST
TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF THESE
VERY YOUNG CHILDREN. THE
LEGISLATURE PUT IN PLACE
ADDITIONAL PENALTIES FOR
NONCOMPLIANCE. THIS BILL IS
PROPOSING TO WAIVE THOSE
PENALTIES. AS YOU HEARD, IF A
DISTRICT IS UNABLE TO MEET THE
CLASS SIZE OR ADULT TO STUDENT
RATIO, THEY SHOULD NOT HAVE
ENROLLED. EARLY ENROLLMENT TC
STUDENTS. THE BUDGET DEFINED AS
YOU HEARD FROM OTHER WITNESSES
IN SUPPORT THOSE STUDENTS TO BE
ONES WITH BIRTHDAYS BETWEEN JUNE
2ND AND SEPTEMBER 1ST. YOU'VE
ALSO HEARD FROM PROPONENTS THAT
BECAUSE THE BUDGET TRAILER BILL
WAS ENACTED IN EARLY JULY OF
2023, THEY DID NOT HAVE THE TIME
TO MAKE THE CHANGES TO REFLECT
AND MAKE, THEY DID NOT HAVE
SUFFICIENT TIME, EXCUSE ME TO
MAKE THE CHANGES THAT WERE
REFLECTED IN THE BUDGET TRAILER
BILL. HOWEVER, WHEN TC WAS
ENACTED IN JULY OF 2021, THE
LEGISLATURE INCLUDED A 10 TO 1
RATIO FOR ALL TC CLASSROOMS,
WHICH WAS TO BEGIN IN THE 20
2324 SCHOOL YEAR, WHICH IS THE
ONE WE'RE NOW TALKING ABOUT.
DISTRICT SHOULD HAVE SPENT THOSE
TWO YEARS PREPARING FOR THE 10
TO 1 RATIO. THAT WAS LAW UNTIL
JULY 10TH OF LAST YEAR, WHEN
THAT SAME BUDGET TRAILER BILL
THAT THE PROPONENTS ARE
CONCERNED ABOUT PUSHED BACK THAT
10 TO 1 RATIO FROM 2023 SCHOOL
YEAR TO THE 20 2526 SCHOOL YEAR.
THE ANALYSIS INCLUDES AN EXAMPLE
FROM THE GARDEN GROVE UNIFIED
SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT STATED THEY
ACCEPTED ALL STUDENTS IN TC THAT
TURNED FOUR BY SEPTEMBER 1ST. IN
THE 2324 SCHOOL YEAR. THIS WAS A
VIOLATION OF CALIFORNIA LAW
PRIOR TO THE ENACTMENT OF SB
114, THE EDUCATION TRAILER BILL
IN JULY DISTRICT SHOULD NOT HAVE
BEEN ENROLLING CHILDREN WITH
SUMMER BIRTHDAYS UNTIL THE
LEGISLATURE PASSED THAT CHANGE
IN STATE LAW AND THE GOVERNOR
SIGNED IT, WHICH, AS YOU'VE
HEARD, WAS EARLY JULY OF 2023.
ADDITIONALLY, THE ANALYSIS CITES
A SUPPORT LETTER THAT SAYS
DISTRICTS PLAN, AND I THINK THE
AUTHOR MENTIONED THIS AS WELL
AND BUDGET AT LEAST 10 OR 9
MONTHS. EXCUSE ME. AND ADVANCED
OF THE NEXT SCHOOL YEAR. GIVEN
THAT THE LAW DID NOT ALLOW FOR
EARLY ENROLLMENT TC NINE MONTHS
BEFORE THE START OF THE 2324
SCHOOL YEAR, DISTRICTS SHOULD
NOT HAVE BEEN ENROLLING OR
PLANNING TO ENROLL THESE
CHILDREN, MR. CHAIR, YOU WERE IN
THAT HEARING THIS MORNING WHERE
WE HEARD FROM A SCHOOL DISTRICT,
THAT STATED THAT THEY STARTED TO
REACH OUT TO FAMILIES FOR EARLY
ENROLLMENT. TC BASED ON SEEING
THE PROPOSAL IN THE GOVERNOR'S
JANUARY BUDGET. THIS COMPLETELY
CUTS OUT THE LEGISLATURE IN THE
BUDGET AND POLICY PROCESS. IF
DISTRICTS ARE ENROLLING STUDENTS
BASED ON THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSED
BUDGET, AND THAT WAS NOT WHAT
WAS ACTUALLY ENACTED IN THE
AGREEMENT WITH THIS LEGISLATIVE
BODY. EVENTUALLY, THE
LEGISLATURE DID REACH AN
AGREEMENT WITH THE GOVERNOR TO
ALLOW FOR EARLY ENROLLMENT. TC
BUT ONLY WITH THE NECESSARY
SAFEGUARDS TO PROTECT THESE
YOUNG CHILDREN, WHICH INCLUDED
PENALTIES TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE.
YOU'VE REACHED YOUR LIMIT. OKAY,
SO FOR THOSE REASONS, WE
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOUR NO
VOTE TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF
THESE CHILDREN. THANK YOU, THANK
YOU. ANY ADDITIONAL OPPOSITION
TESTIMONY SEEING NONE, ANY
PUBLIC COMMENTS IN OPPOSITION?
SEEING NONE. LET'S BRING IT BACK
TO THE COMMITTEE. MISS BONTA,
THANK YOU, I'M VERY FAMILIAR
WITH THE CHALLENGE THAT WE'RE
BEING PROPOSED WITH HERE. AND
QUITE FRANKLY, I THINK THE
BUDGET, DEAL THAT WAS
ESSENTIALLY MADE WAS REALLY IN
ORDER TO BE ABLE TO ENSURE THAT
THE RATIO OF 10 TO 1 WOULD BE
RESPECTED AND HONORED. AND I
JUST WANT TO, ESSENTIALLY ALLOW
FOR THE REST OF THE TESTIMONY
THAT THE OPPOSITION WOULD HAVE
OFFERED HERE. LIKE, IT IS HIGHLY
PROBLEMATIC IF THE LEGISLATURE
GETS CUT OUT OF THE DECISION
MAKING PROCESS. WE INCLUDED THIS
AS A PART OF THE BUDGET DEAL,
AND, AND ULTIMATELY, WE HAVE A
SITUATION NOW WHERE, AS YOU'VE
TESTIFIED, WE HAVE, TC YOUNGER
THAN SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN TC IN
EARLY TC STUDENTS, NOT HAVING A
10 TO 1 RATIOS, NOT BEING ABLE
TO BE SUBMITTING TO THE TO THE
CLASS SIZE MAXIMUM. SO I HAVE
CONCERNS WITH THIS BILL, AND YOU
KNOW, WE SPEND A LOT OF TIME
TRYING TO HOLD MAKE SURE THAT WE
STRIKE A BALANCE BETWEEN
IMPLEMENTATION, AND OPPORTUNITY
FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO BE
RESPONSIVE TO, TO THE BUDGET
CYCLE THAT WE PUT FORWARD. AND
AND THEIR ABILITY TO TEACH OUR
CHILDREN, I ALSO JUST WANT TO
SHARE THAT THE IMPACT OF MOVING
FORWARD IN ADVANCE OF THIS
SCHEDULED TIMELINE WITH THESE
STRATEGIES HAD A DEVASTATING
EFFECT ON OUR EARLY CHILD CARE
COMMUNITY. IT DID NOT PROVIDE
THE OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO BE
ABLE TO HAVE, THE BALANCE OF
PARENTS ABLE TO MAKE A DECISION
TO EITHER HAVE THEIR CHILD IN,
IN, IN, IN, IN EARLY CHILD CARE
AND PRE-K OR IN, IN TC. AND, AND
THE CONSEQUENCE OF THAT IS THAT
WE NOW HAVE PROVIDERS THAT ARE
OUTSIDE OF OUR TC 12 SYSTEM WHO
ARE SUFFERING SIGNIFICANT
BECAUSE OF THAT IN SOME
INSTANCES, PRECIPITOUS MOVE THAT
DID NOT ALIGN WITH WHAT WE AS A
LEGISLATURE ASKED FOR, SO I'M
HAPPY TO HEAR ANY RESPONSES FROM
THAT. WOULD ALSO LIKE TO HEAR
FROM THE OPPOSITION, WHETHER
WHAT I WAS SAYING ALIGNS WITH
THE AROUND THE IMPACT ON EARLY
CHILD CARE, WHAT THAT YOU KNOW,
WHETHER THAT RESONATES AS WELL,
AND I HAVE SERIOUS CONCERNS WITH
BEING ABLE TO ESSENTIALLY ONLY
ALLOW SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO GET
OUT OF THE, COMMITMENT THAT WE
MADE TO OUR CHILDREN. IF I MAY
RESPOND, ADD, THE EXPANSION
SCHEDULE THAT WAS PROVIDED BY
THE STATE, DID LIST THAT ALL
DISTRICTS COULD ACCEPT STUDENTS
EARLIER AS LONG AS THEY WOULD
TURN FIVE BY THE END OF THE
SCHOOL YEAR. THE SHARED
DEFINITION THÀNH AMONGST ALL
SCHOOL DISTRICTS, THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA, CDE AND THE
LEGISLATURE BY KHÓ 37 200 WAS
THAT JUNE 30TH WAS THAT CUT OFF
DATE? THE TRAILER BILL DID
CHANGE THAT. SO THEN IN EFFECT,
THE STUDENTS BORN JUNE 3RD TO
JUNE 30TH, WHICH UP UNTIL THAT
TIME WERE ALWAYS ALLOWED TO
ENROLL, WERE NOT ALLOWED TO BE
ENROLLED IN MY DISTRICT. JUST TO
CLARIFY, WE DID NOT ENROLL ANY
OF THE STUDENTS WHO WERE THE
TRUE EAC STUDENTS JULY 1ST AND
LATER. UNLESS IT WAS BELOW 20.
MY AVERAGE CLASS SIZE IN MY
DISTRICT IS 21, SO WE HAVE THE
MAJORITY. ABOUT HALF OF THEM ARE
UNDER 20. AND THEN THERE'S A FEW
THAT ARE ABOVE. BUT THAT WAS A
CHANGE THAT HAPPENED THAT WE
BECAME AWARE OF ONLY IN THE
SUMMER AS SCHOOL WAS BEGINNING.
SO THAT WAS A CRITICAL, ELEMENT
FOR US. JOHN CAN I JUST ASK
THROUGH THE CHAIR, MAY I ASK A
QUESTION? IS THIS LEGISLATION AS
DRAFTED RIGHT NOW, SO SPECIFIC
AS TO ESSENTIALLY CAPTURE JUST
THE JUNE 1ST TO JUNE 3RD TO JUNE
30TH POPULATION AND IS SEEKING,
ESSENTIALLY A AN EXEMPTION FOR
THAT PARTICULAR POPULATION AS
IT'S WRITTEN NOW, DOES THAT
LEGISLATION DOES THIS? I CAN'T
SPEAK TO WHETHER IT'S WRITTEN TO
THAT OR NOT. BUT I DO KNOW THAT
IN REGARD TO OUR TESTIMONY,
DOCTOR MAFI AND I, THAT IS WHAT
WE ARE REQUESTING AS THE END OF
THE SCHOOL YEAR UNDER ALIGN WITH
THAT CODE, 37 200 AND B JUNE
30TH. SO IT WOULD COVER JUNE 3RD
TO JUNE 30TH. I CAN'T SPEAK IN
REGARD TO THE SPECIFIC
LEGISLATION, MISS BONTA. YES,
MISTER CHAIR, CAN I RESPOND TO
THAT? YES, AND MAYBE YOU SHOULD
TURN TO THE COMMITTEE STAFF, BUT
MY READING OF THE LEGISLATION IS
IT IS ALL OF THE PENALTIES FOR
ANY CHILD WHO MEETS THE NEW
DEFINITION THAT WENT INTO EFFECT
WITH THE BUDGET TRAILER BILL. SO
THAT'S JUNE 2ND. BIRTHDAYS
THROUGH SEPTEMBER 1ST. SO IT IS
THIS BILL IS NOT SPECIFIC TO
ONLY THOSE, YOU KNOW, 28 DAYS
THAT THE PROPONENTS ARE SAYING
THAT THEY'RE AIMING FOR. THIS
BILL IS MUCH BROADER THAN THAT.
ANOTHER THING TO KEEP IN MIND IS
THAT THE PENALTIES ONLY APPLY TO
THOSE CHILDREN, RIGHT? BECAUSE
THAT IS WHEN THERE ARE THERE ARE
PENALTIES THAT HAVE BEEN IN
EXISTENCE SINCE TK STARTED FOR
NOT MEETING THE 12 TO 1 RATIO.
THIS NEW PENALTY ONLY WENT INTO
EFFECT IN JULY, WITH THE BUDGET
ALLOWING FOR EARLY TC
ENROLLMENT. SO I JUST THINK
THAT'S AN IMPORTANT TO POINT OUT
THAT DISTRICTS KNEW THAT THERE
WERE PENALTIES THAT WOULD EXIST
IF THEY DIDN'T MEET THE RATIOS
SINCE TK WAS ENACTED AT 24 TO 1.
THANK YOU. COMMENTS. QUESTIONS
JUST TO THE COMMITTEE. TO THE
CHAIR AND THE STAFF. IS YOUR
READ OF THE LEGISLATION THAT IT
IS SPECIFICALLY AROUND THE JUNE
3RD TO JUNE 30TH? BECAUSE
ESSENTIALLY WHAT WE'RE HAVING
NOW IS WE'RE HAVING A DIFFERENCE
IN TERMS OF THE TESTIMONY THAT
IS OFFERED. AND THE LEGISLATION
AS IT STANDS. SO I JUST WANT TO
MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S PARITY SO
THAT WE ALL, AS A COMMITTEE,
KNOW THAT WE'RE VERY CLEAR ON
WHAT WE ARE, WHAT WE ARE VOTING
FOR. SO OUR COMMITTEE CONSULTANT
IS UNDER UNDERLYING THE RELEVANT
TEXT. AND SHOWING MISS BONTA.
YEAH. I MEAN, IT I WAS JUST IT
JUST SHARED THAT THE LANGUAGE
GOES THROUGH SEPTEMBER, WHICH IS
PROBLEMATIC FOR ME, SO FOR THAT
REASON, I WILL NOT BE SUPPORTING
THIS BILL. I I FERVENTLY BELIEVE
THAT WE SHOULD HAVE PREPARED
MORE OF A BRIDGE BRIDGING
OPPORTUNITY FOR EARLY CHILD CARE
PROVIDERS, AND STUDENTS WHO ARE
SERVED EARLY TO BE ABLE TO HAVE
THE RESPONSE THAT THEY NEEDED.
AS WE WERE ROLLING OUT TC, AND
THE FACT THAT WE ARE, KIND OF
ESSENTIALLY ALLOWING SCHOOL
DISTRICTS TO BE IN ADVANCE OF
THAT TIMELINE, AND WAIVE THE
PENALTIES THAT WERE PUT THERE
FOR A REASON TO BE ABLE TO, HAVE
THAT PRACTICE NOT BE PROMOTED IS
PROBLEMATIC FOR ME. SO I CAN'T
SUPPORT THIS BILL. IT'S TIME.
THANK YOU. SEEING NO FURTHER
COMMENTS FOR THE REST OF THE
COMMITTEE, MR. TARR AND,
SUPERINTENDENTS, I, I THINK THIS
IS A VERY IMPORTANT DISCUSSION
THAT NEEDS TO BE HAD, SO I THANK
YOU FOR BRINGING THIS BILL
FORWARD TO HAVE THIS DISCUSSION,
I WAS HOPING THAT, MR. ALVAREZ,
THE CHAIR OF OUR BUDGET
SUBCOMMITTEE ON ON EDUCATION,
WOULD BE ABLE TO ATTEND. BUT I
KNOW THAT, THAT THIS IS PROBABLY
ONE OF THE CRAZIEST WEEKS OF THE
LEGISLATIVE YEAR. AND SO, WELL,
I'M SURE HIS STAFF AND OTHERS
ARE PAYING CLOSE ATTENTION TO,
FOR MY END AND, IS IT MISS
CARAVAGGIO? YOU HEARD MY
COMMENTS IN THE BUDGET
SUBCOMMITTEE WHEN THIS WAS
RAISED, AT OUR JOINT BUDGET
SUBCOMMITTEE HEARING
INFORMATIONAL HEARING THIS
MORNING ON THIS TOPIC, I
UNDERSTAND THAT THERE WAS A
BUDGET DEAL STRUCK, LAST YEAR,
THAT WAS TRYING TO ADDRESS THE,
THE DIFFICULT BALANCING ACT
BETWEEN HOW DO WE, CONTINUE OUR
WORK TO, OFFER OUR, QUALITY
UNIVERSAL PRESCHOOL EDUCATION
TO, TO ALL CALIFORNIA KIDS,
WHILE AT THE SAME TIME, SUPPORT
CUTTING AND NOT UNDERMINING, THE
CRITICAL CHILD CARE INDUSTRY,
THAT SO MANY, WORKING FAMILIES
RELY ON, AND, AND IT'S MY
UNDERSTANDING THAT THAT WAS THE,
THE, THE, THE BASIC INTENT, THE
BASIC GOAL OF THE BUDGET DEAL
LAST YEAR, BUT FROM AN
EDUCATIONAL PERSPECTIVE, YOU
KNOW, I, I HATE TO SEE DISTRICTS
BEING PENALIZED FOR TRYING TO DO
THE RIGHT THING IN TERMS OF
EXTENDING, PRESCHOOL
OPPORTUNITIES. AND, YOU KNOW,
AND AT A LATE POINT IN JULY OF
2023, BEING TOLD THAT, YOU HAVE
TO EITHER DISENROLL THE, THE,
THE, THE KIDS, OR TO FACE THE
FISCAL PENALTIES. EXACTLY WHAT
MR. TARR SAID, SO ULTIMATELY, WE
KNOW THAT THIS, NEEDS TO BE
ADDRESSED IN THE BUDGET, AND SO,
I THANK MISS BONTA, FOR, HER
COMMENTS BECAUSE I, IT HELPS ME
TO, FULLY APPRECIATE, I WAS NOT
PART OF THOSE DISCUSSIONS LAST
YEAR. AND SO I, YOU KNOW, I'VE
BEEN TRYING TO LEARN MORE ABOUT
THE NATURE OF THOSE
CONVERSATIONS, BUT I THINK THIS
IS AN IMPORTANT TOPIC. I KNOW
IT'S A IT'S A CRITICAL ISSUE
THAT SO MANY DISTRICTS
THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA ARE FACING, AND, TO
SUPPORT, YOU KNOW, SEEING IF
THERE IS ANY OPPORTUNITY, TO,
TO, TO, TO REEXAMINE, TO, TO
TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION, ANY
POTENTIAL UNINTENDED
CONSEQUENCES OF THE PENALTIES, I
WILL SUPPORT THIS BILL MOVING
FORWARD, AND SO I, I'M
RECOMMENDED THAT WE SUPPORT, AS
AMENDED, MR. CHAIR, I MEAN, MR.
TODD, WOULD YOU LIKE TO CLOSE Þ,
I REALLY APPRECIATE THE COMMENT
FROM THE CHAIR. I REALLY
APPRECIATE THAT. I THINK THAT
AND I, AND I UNDERSTAND THE
CONCERNS FROM THE ASSEMBLY,
MEMBER BONTA, BUT THE REALITY
THAT I BELIEVE THAT A LOT OF
MEMBERS, A LOT OF US WERE NOT
AWARE OF THIS ISSUE DURING THE
BUDGET PROCESS LAST YEAR, AND
THAT IS A FACT. AND I HONESTLY,
I DON'T WANT TO SEE, MANY SCHOOL
DISTRICTS ACROSS THE STATE RIGHT
NOW. THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.
SO I THINK THAT IT'S REALLY FAIR
THAT WE GIVE THEM LIKE AT LEAST
A YEAR FOR THEM TO FIGURE OUT
HOW TO BUDGET FOR NEXT YEAR
BECAUSE, THEY GO AT THE END OF
THE DAY, THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, IF
THEY, IF THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO
FIGURE IT OUT, I THINK THAT, OUR
CHILDREN, OUR KIDS, OUR
STUDENTS, WILL BE REALLY, ONE OF
THE ISSUES FOR US TO EVEN HAVE
CONCERNS. BUT I REALLY
APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENT. MR.
CHAIR. AND I AND I RESPECTFULLY
ASK FOR YOUR. I VOTE YES. THANK
YOU, CAN I ENTERTAIN A MOTION,
MR. LARA? MISS MOTION'S MADE AND
SECONDED, MADAM SECRETARY,
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL FILE. ITEM
12 AB 2548. THE MOTION IS TO
PASS, AS AMENDED, TO
APPROPRIATIONS. MURATSUCHI Ã
MURATSUCHI I LARA LARA I ADDIS.
ADDIS. I ALVAREZ. BONTA. NO.
QUANTA. NO. HOOVER MCCARTY. BELL
IS ON CALL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
ALL RIGHT. WE SAW MR.
JONES-SAWYER COMING IN HERE, HE
HE DID SIGN IN FIRST. SO, THIS
IS FILE ORDER. FILE NUMBER FIVE,
AB 2052 BY MR. JONES-SAWYER. Ã.
I'M HERE IN THE PEANUT GALLERY
BEHIND YOU. MR. JONES-SAWYER.
MOTION'S BEEN MADE AND SECONDED.
MY MEMBERS ARE PRESENT. AB 2052,
WHICH WILL STRENGTHEN THE PUBLIC
SCHOOL HEALTH CENTER SUPPORT
PROGRAM AND ENSURE FUNDS AND
CONTINUE TO REACH STUDENTS WHO
EXPERIENCE DIFFICULTY ACCESSING
MEDICAL CARE. SCHOOL BASED
HEALTH CENTERS GIVE STUDENTS WHO
WOULD NOT OTHERWISE HAVE ACCESS
TO PHYSICAL AND BEHAVIORAL
HEALTH SERVICES THE OPPORTUNITY
TO LEAD HEALTHIER LIVES AND HAVE
BEEN SHOWN TO INCREASE
ATTENDANCE. ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT
AND IMPROVE SCHOOL CLIMATE. AB
2052 WILL UPDATE MULTIPLE PARTS
OF THE PROGRAM. THIS INCLUDES
CLARIFYING THE DEFINITION OF A
SCHOOL BASED CENTER, REQUIRING
THE OFFICE OF SCHOOL BASED
HEALTH TO COORDINATE WITH THE
GRANT ADMINISTRATOR, THE
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC
HEALTH, ALIGNING GRANT RECIPIENT
PREFERENCE WITH EXISTING
DEFINITIONS IN THE EDUCATION
CODE, AND PRIORITIZE MAKING
SCHOOL HEALTH CENTERS THAT
INCREASE ACCESS TO CARE FOR
CALIFORNIA'S MOST UNDERSERVED
STUDENTS AND COMMUNITIES. IN
MANY COMMUNITIES, SCHOOL BASED
CENTERS ARE THE ONLY SOURCE OF
HEALTH CARE A STUDENT HAS ACCESS
TO. FUNDING IS LIMITED THIS
YEAR, BUT THIS BILL WILL BE SET
UP, WILL BE SET UP SCHOOL BASED
CENTERS TO RECEIVE FUNDING IN
FUTURE YEARS, AND USE THOSE
FUNDS EFFECTIVELY AND
EFFICIENTLY WITH ME TO SUPPORT
IN SUPPORT OF THE BILL IS SERGIO
MORALES ON BEHALF OF THE BILL'S
SPONSOR, THE CALIFORNIA
SCHOOL-BASED HEALTH ALLIANCE.
CGRTS. THANK YOU SIR. PLEASE
PROCEED. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME
IS SERGIO. THERE YOU GO. YOU'RE
GOOD. NO, NO, NO. YOU'RE GOOD.
OKAY. IS THIS BETTER? I THINK
MR. JONES. SAU IS MESSING WITH
YOU. THEN BASICALLY. ALL RIGHT,
LET'S GO. SO. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY
NAME IS SERGIO MORALES. I'M THE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE
CALIFORNIA SCHOOL BASED HEALTH
ALLIANCE. WE ARE A STATEWIDE
NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT IS
DEDICATED TO IMPROVING THE
HEALTH AND ACADEMIC SUCCESS OF
CHILDREN AND YOUTH, AND BY
ADVANCING HEALTH SERVICES IN
SCHOOLS. SIMPLY PUT, WE PUT
HEALTH CARE WHERE KIDS ARE IN
SCHOOLS. AS A PRIMARY FOCUS OF
OUR WORK IS TO HELP START,
EXPAND AND IMPROVE SCHOOL BASED
HEALTH CENTERS AND PUBLIC
SCHOOLS SO CHILDREN AND YOUTH
CAN GET THE MEDICAL, DENTAL AND
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SUPPORT THAT
THEY NEED TO SUCCEED IN SCHOOL
AND IN LIFE. SCHOOL BASED HEALTH
CENTERS ARE ARE DESIGNED TO MEET
THE STUDENT AND COMMUNITY'S
HEALTH NEEDS. THEY'RE STUDENT
FOCUSED, PROVIDING AGE
APPROPRIATE CLINICAL SERVICES BY
PASSIONATE HEALTH PROFESSIONALS
WHO ARE DEDICATED TO ADOLESCENT
HEALTH. WHERE SCHOOL BASED
HEALTH CENTERS EXIST, BARRIERS
ARE REDUCED. ACCESS TO HEALTH
CARE SERVICES INCREASES AND
HELPING STUDENTS CONNECT TO THE
CARE THAT THEY NEED. AB 2052 IS
IMPORTANT. SCHOOL BASED HEALTH
CENTERS ARE GROWING IMMENSELY AS
EDUCATION LEADERS AND SCHOOL
DISTRICT LEADERS RIGHTLY
RECOGNIZE THAT UNDIAGNOSED AND
UNTREATED BEHAVIORAL AND PRIMARY
HEALTH CARE CHALLENGES ARE
OBSTACLES TO ATTENDANCE AND
LEARNING. WITH OUR 30 YEARS OF
LEADING THIS WORK, WE KNOW THAT
STUDENTS WHO HAVE ACCESS TO A
SCHOOL BASED HEALTH CENTER ARE
MORE LIKELY TO HAVE YEARLY
DENTAL AND MEDICAL CHECKUPS,
LESS LIKELY THAN THEIR PEERS WHO
DON'T HAVE A SCHOOL BASED HEALTH
CENTER TO GO TO THE EMERGENCY
ROOM, BE HOSPITALIZED, OR HAVE
OTHER ADVERSE HEALTH CONDITIONS
AND OUTCOMES. A SCHOOL BASED
HEALTH CENTERS PROVIDE A
POSITIVE IMPACT ON ABSENCES,
DROPOUT RATES, DISCIPLINARY
ISSUES, AND HELP IMPROVE
ACADEMIC OUTCOMES. THIS STATE
GRANT PROGRAM, WHICH HAS BEEN IN
PLACE SINCE 2008, IS OUTDATED.
AB 2052 WILL UPDATE THE LANGUAGE
TO REFLECT THE CURRENT REALITY
OF SCHOOL BASED HEALTH PROGRAMS
IN CALIFORNIA. THIS BILL WILL
ALSO ENSURE THAT THE CALIFORNIA
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF
EDUCATION ARE COLLABORATING
EFFECTIVELY. AB 2052 WILL FOSTER
MORE INTENTIONAL COLLABORATION
AND INTEGRATION, LEVERAGING
PARTNERSHIPS AND COLLECTIVE
IMPACT. SO WHEN CALIFORNIA DOES
HAVE SUFFICIENT FUNDING
AVAILABLE IN THE FUTURE, THE
SYSTEMS ARE ALREADY IN PLACE TO
ADMINISTER EFFECTIVELY. THANK
YOU. RESPECTFULLY URGE YOUR AYE
VOTE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ANY,
FURTHER WITNESSES IN SUPPORT OF
THIS MEASURE? ANY PUBLIC
COMMENTS IN SUPPORT OF THE
MEASURE? PLEASE COME FORWARD.
VANESSA FORSYTH, RETIRED SCHOOL
NURSE, SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF
THE SCHOOL BASED HEALTH CENTERS.
GOOD AFTERNOON. CHAIR, COMMITTEE
MEMBERS AND STAFF CARLOS ROJAS,
REPRESENTING THE KERN COUNTY
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS OFFICE
IN SUPPORT. PRISCILLA, KUDOS
HERE ON BEHALF OF THE CALIFORNIA
STATE ASSOCIATION OF
PSYCHIATRISTS IN SUPPORT. GOOD
AFTERNOON. CHAIR MEMBERS.
JESSICA MORAN WITH THE
CALIFORNIA DENTAL ASSOCIATION.
WE ACTUALLY HAVE A SUPPORT, IF
AMENDED POSITION ON THIS ONE,
AND ARE SEEKING, AMENDMENTS THAT
WOULD REQUIRE GRANT SORRY GRANT
APPLICATION GRANT APPLICANTS WHO
ARE PROVIDING DENTAL SERVICES TO
STUDENTS TO MEET THE STANDARD OF
CARE BY PROVIDING CLINICAL
EXAMINATIONS AND DIAGNOSIS AND
TREATMENT FINDINGS. LOOKING
FORWARD TO WORK WITH AUTHORED IN
THE COMMITTEE TO ALIGN WITH
THOSE CONCERNS. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON, MR. CHAIR.
MEMBERS. LEE ANGELA READ, ON
BEHALF OF EXCUSE ME, THE
CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL
COUNSELORS AND THE CALIFORNIA
SCHOOL NURSES ORGANIZATION IS
FULL SUPPORT. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU. VICTOR TORRES WITH FUTURE
LEADERS OF CHANGE. AND AS A HIGH
SCHOOL STUDENT IN SUPPORT OF
THIS BILL. THANK YOU. ANY
WITNESSES IN OPPOSITION TO THE
BILL, PLEASE COME FORWARD. ANY
PUBLIC COMMENTS IN OPPOSITION TO
THE BILL, PLEASE COME FORWARD
SEEING NONE BRING IT BACK TO THE
COMMITTEE OF TWO. MOTION HAS
BEEN MADE. I I AS ALREADY
SECONDED. MR. JONES-SAWYER,
THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS
FORWARD. I THINK I KNOW THAT,
ESPECIALLY IN LOS ANGELES,
THERE'S A BIG PUSH FOR, FOR
COMMUNITY SCHOOLS AND, IN
PROVIDING SCHOOL BASED HEALTH
CARE, HEALTH CARE SERVICES, AS A
IS A BIG PART OF RECOGNIZING,
YOU KNOW, SCHOOLS AS, BACK
BACKBONE OF OUR COMMUNITY IN SO
MANY WAYS. AND IF WE CAN TAKE
ADVANTAGE OF THE SCHOOL
INFRASTRUCTURE TO PROVIDE
WRAPAROUND SERVICES FOR OUR
STUDENTS AND OUR COMMUNITIES,
THAT IS CERTAINLY SOMETHING THAT
I WANT TO SUPPORT. AND SO PROUD
TO SUPPORT YOUR MEASURE. WOULD
YOU LIKE TO CLOSE? NO, I WANT TO
THANK YOU. AND WE ARE GOING TO
GO AHEAD AND MAKE SURE THAT WE
PROVIDE ALL MEDICAL, INCLUDING
DENTAL. I MEAN, THAT I MEAN,
DENTAL IS JUST AS IMPORTANT AS
THE OTHER MEDICAL, SERVICES THAT
ARE PROVIDED AT THESE AT THESE
PLACES. AND SO, I WILL CONTINUE
TO WORK WITH THE CALIFORNIA
DENTAL ASSOCIATION SO THAT WE
CAN MAKE SURE WE CAN GET AS MUCH
INTO EACH OF THOSE CENTERS AS
POSSIBLE SO THAT WE CAN PROVIDE
WRAPAROUND SERVICES TO ALL OUR
YOUNG PEOPLE. ALL RIGHT. WITH
THAT, I RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR
YOUR I VOTE. THANK YOU. WE WILL,
TAKE A ROLL CALL, PLEASE. FILE
ITEM FIVE AB 2052. THE MOTION IS
DUE PASSED TO APPROPRIATIONS
MURATSUCHI Ã MURATSUCHI I LARA
LARA I ADDIS. ALVAREZ. BONTA.
HOOVER. MCCARTY ALL RIGHT. THE
BELL IS ON CALL. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. THANK YOU. NEXT, WE HAVE,
MR. GIBSON, FILE NUMBER 17, AB
2008 16.
PLEASE PROCEED. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH, MR. CHAIRMAN. AND MEMBERS,
THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME. AND I
APPRECIATE THE, THE ITEM BEING
MOVED, THANK YOU FOR, ALLOWING
ME TO PRESENT ASSEMBLY BILL
2816, WHICH SEEKS TO ESTABLISH A
SCHOOL MAPPING TECHNOLOGY ON K
THROUGH 12 CAMPUSES, THIS SCHOOL
MAPPING TECHNOLOGY WOULD ALLOW
EMERGENCY RESPONSE, TO HAVE
ACCESS TO SCHOOL LAYOUT PRIOR TO
ENTERING THE CAMPUS, THIS
TECHNOLOGY WOULD DRASTICALLY
DECREASE RESPONSE TIMES AND
COULD POTENTIALLY BE LIFE SAVING
, IN THE CASE OF EMERGENCIES. IN
2023 23 2023, THERE WAS REPORTED
346 SCHOOL SHOOTINGS INCIDENTS
ACROSS THE UNITED STATES.
INJURIES ABOUT 191 STUDENTS WERE
INJURED AND FROM 2018 TO 2023,
1073 PEOPLE WERE WOUNDED OR
KILLED IN SCHOOL. SHOOTING
INCIDENTS IN CALIFORNIA ALONE,
96 SCHOOLS SHOOTINGS. INCIDENTS
HAPPENED WITHIN FIVE YEARS,
RESULTING IN 82 PEOPLE BEING
WOUNDED OR KILLED. THESE
STATISTICS ARE SIGNIFICANTLY
AFFECTING STUDENTS. THEIR MENTAL
WELLNESS AND SCHOOL CAUSED BY
58% OF THE STUDENTS TO WORRY
ABOUT A SCHOOL SHOOTING TAKING
PLACE ON THEIR PARTICULAR
CAMPUSES, THUS CREATING ANXIETY
FILLED WITH EMOTIONS AND
CREATING A DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENT
ON SCHOOL CAMPUS. OUR CHILDREN
DESERVE BETTER, AND THEIR LIVES
SHOULD BE AT THE FOREFRONT OF
OUR DECISIONS TO MAKING SURE
THAT THEIR SCHOOL EXPERIENCE IS
A SAFE ONE, A PLEASANT ONE. ON
SCHOOL CAMPUSES, I JUST WANT TO
ALSO RECALL ALL A TRAGIC THAT
HAPPENED THAT I BELIEVE THAT
EVERYONE IS AWARE OF. AND IT'S
THE, YUVAL, INCIDENT WHERE
PEOPLE, DID NOT KNOW WHERE THE
SHOOTER WAS BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T
HAVE THE PROPER MAPPING. THEY
DIDN'T KNOW BECAUSE THEY WAS
UNFAMILIAR WITH THE SCHOOL. AND
THE RESPONSE TIME WHEN YOU HAVE
A SHOOTER ON CAMPUS IS
ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL. IT'S
CRITICAL FOR OUR FIRST
RESPONDERS, SPECIAL LAW
ENFORCEMENT, TO ONE TO ADDRESS
THE ISSUE, CONFRONT THE ISSUE
AND ERADICATE THE ISSUE. BUT
THEY DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE
UNFAMILIAR WITH THE SCHOOL
LAYOUT. AND THAT'S WHAT THIS
BILL DOES AND CREATES THE KIND
OF TECHNOLOGY THAT I BELIEVE
IT'S WARRANTED FOR OUR TIME THAT
WE'RE LIVING IN TODAY HERE WITH
ME TO PROVIDE SUPPORTING
TESTIMONY TODAY IS JOSEPH
HANSEN, THE VICE PRESIDENT OF
SALES FROM CRITICAL RESPONSE
GROUP. BEFORE, YOUR WITNESS,
BEGINS, MR. GIBSON, DO YOU
ACCEPT ALL THE COMMITTEE
AMENDMENTS? I ACCEPT ALL THE
COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS, INCLUDING
ANY AMENDMENTS YOU HAVE RIGHT
NOW. NO, I'M JUST KIDDING. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH. PLEASE PROCEED.
YEAH. GOOD AFTERNOON, MR.
CHAIRMAN. AND MEMBERS OF THE
COMMITTEE, I WANT TO THANK MR.
GIBSON FOR CARRYING THIS VITAL
LEGISLATION AND ALSO COMMITTEE
STAFF FOR WORKING ON AMENDMENTS
THAT IMPROVE THE BILL. I'M
HONORED TO PROVIDE TESTIMONY IN
SUPPORT OF AB 2816. MY NAME IS
JOE HANSEN, AND I LIVE IN
MAMMOTH LAKES WITH MY WIFE AND
TWO SMALL CHILDREN. FOR
BACKGROUND, I SPENT 11 YEARS AS
A MILITARY SPECIAL OPERATIONS
OFFICER WHERE COMMUNICATING
EFFECTIVELY UNDER STRESS WAS A
COMMON OCCURRENCE FOR US. AND
THOSE EXPERIENCES NOW INFORM MY
SECOND CAREER AS VICE PRESIDENT
FOR CRITICAL RESPONSE GROUP, ONE
OF MANY NATIONAL COMPANIES THAT
SPECIALIZES IN COMMUNICATING
DURING AN EMERGENCY. AB 2816
WILL SOLVE TWO PROBLEMS OF
CREATING ACCURATE AND ACCESSIBLE
SCHOOL SAFETY MAPS FOR
CALIFORNIA SCHOOLS. SCHOOL
BLUEPRINTS AND FLOOR PLANS AS
THEY EXIST TODAY ARE INACCURATE
AND NOT DESIGNED FOR EMERGENCY
RESPONSE. ADDITIONALLY THEY ARE
INACCESSIBLE IN THE DISPARATE
SOFTWARE SYSTEMS THAT ARE USED
BY FIRST RESPONDERS AND SCHOOL
DISTRICTS. CURRENT BLUEPRINTS
WOULD OFTEN ADD CONFUSION TO
EMERGENCY SCENARIO VERSUS
PROVIDING ACTIONABLE
INFORMATION, JUST AS IN THE CASE
OF UVALDE, TEXAS. A DIRECT QUOTE
FROM THE AFTER ACTION REPORT
READS. THE SCHEMATIC MAPS OF THE
CAMPUS USED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT
TO IDENTIFY POTENTIAL POINTS OF
ENTRY WERE INACCURATE. LAW
ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS TESTIFIED
TO THE COMMITTEE THAT WHEN ASKED
WHETHER THEY COULD GAIN ACCESS
TO THE CLASSROOMS THROUGH
WINDOWS, THEY WERE DETERRED BY
INACCURATE FLOOR PLANS. IN THE
CASE OF SANDY HOOK, NEITHER
FLOOR PLANS NOR SCHEMATICS OF
THE SCHOOL WERE READILY
AVAILABLE FOR THE TACTICAL TEAMS
OR SEARCH UNITS. THIS BILL AND
THE REQUIREMENTS THAT OHS
ESTABLISHES WILL ALLOW COMPANIES
TO OFFER THESE MAPPING SERVICES
TO SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN ORDER TO
PROVIDE THEM WITH COMMUNICATIONS
TOOLS NECESSARY TO NAVIGATE A
SCHOOL CAMPUS IN THE EVENT OF AN
EMERGENCY. I THANK YOU FOR YOUR
TIME, AND I'M ALWAYS REACHABLE
FOR QUESTIONS NOW OR IN THE
FUTURE. THANK YOU. ANY PUBLIC
COMMENTS IN SUPPORT OF THE BILL?
PLEASE COME FORWARD. MARK
EPSTEIN, CALIFORNIA
ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY
EDUCATION NETWORK WANT TO POINT
OUT THAT I HAVE WORKED WITH MANY
SECONDARY STUDENTS WITH WEB GIS.
HAVING THE ABILITY AS STUDENTS
TO THE ABILITY TO CREATE THESE
DIGITAL MAPPING TESTIMONY FROM.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, AGAIN,
NAME, AFFILIATION AND POSITION
ON THE BILL, PLEASE. THANK YOU,
ANY FURTHER PUBLIC COMMENTS IN
SUPPORT OF THE BILL? ANY
WITNESSES IN OPPOSITION TO THE
BILL? PLEASE COME FORWARD. ANY
PUBLIC COMMENTS IN OPPOSITION TO
THE BILL? PLEASE COME FORWARD
SEEING NONE. BRING IT BACK TO
THE COMMITTEE. ANY QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS FROM THE COMMITTEE?
MOTION'S BEEN MADE. I WILL
SECOND IT FOR THE SAKE OF,
MOVING THE BALL AND, HAPPY TO
SUPPORT YOUR BILL, MR. MR.
GIBSON, MR. FLORES I JUST WANT
TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE SPONSORS
AND THE AUTHOR FOR BRINGING THIS
BILL FORWARD. AND THANK YOU FOR
YOUR SERVICE. AND I THINK IT'S
USING THIS KIND OF EXPERTISE TO
INCREASE PUBLIC SAFETY IN OUR
SCHOOLS IS EXACTLY WHAT WE NEED.
WE NEED EXPERTS MAKING THESE
DECISIONS. SO THANK YOU FOR
PUTTING YOUR EXPERTISE TO GOOD
WORK. ONCE AGAIN. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. AND I WANT TO JOIN
OUR VICE CHAIR. AND THANK YOU,
MR. GIBSON. YOU YOU, AS A FORMER
LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER, I, WE
KNOW THAT YOU ARE ALWAYS, MAKING
SURE THAT OUR COMMUNITIES AND
OUR CHILDREN, ESPECIALLY ARE
PROTECTED. AND SO, I APPRECIATE
THIS MEASURE. WOULD YOU LIKE TO
CLOSE? YES. I WANT TO SAY THANK
YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE COMMENTS
AND MOVING THE BILL. I JUST WANT
TO POINT OUT, BECAUSE I KNOW
THAT ONE OF THE MEMBERS HAD A
QUESTION WITH RESPECT TO, WILL
THERE BE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES FOR
OTHER COMPANIES TO COME IN, OES
WILL SET THE REQUIREMENTS AND
THEN COMPANIES WILL APPLY FROM
THERE. SO IT'S NOT JUST ONE
SINGLE COMPANY, IT'S MULTIPLE
COMPANIES, ANYONE WISHING TO
WORK IN THIS SPACE CAN APPLY,
BUT OAS WILL SET THE STANDARDS
AND REQUIREMENT. I RESPECTFULLY
ASK WHEN I VOTE. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MADAM
SECRETARY, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL
BILL. ITEM 17 AB 2816. THE
MOTION IS TO PASS, AS AMENDED,
TO APPROPRIATIONS. MURATSUCHI Ã
MURATSUCHI I LARA LARA I ADDIS
ALVAREZ. BONTA. HOOVER. MCCARTY
THE BILL IS ON CALL. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. ALL RIGHT. MR.
BERMAN, FILE NUMBER SIX, AB
2097.
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR, AND
COLLEAGUES. Þ IS THE MIC ON? I
THINK SO, CAN YOU HEAR ME? THANK
YOU, MR. CHAIR. AND I ASSUME
VICE CHAIR. YES. YEAH, YOU'RE
VICE CHAIR OF EVERY COMMITTEE. I
FORGOT. I WOULD LIKE TO BEGIN BY
THANKING THE CHAIR AND COMMITTEE
STAFF FOR THEIR ENGAGEMENT ON
THIS BILL, WHICH IS A CRITICAL
FIRST STEP. I WILL BE ACCEPTING
THE COMMITTEE'S AMENDMENTS
DESCRIBED IN THE ANALYSIS. I
SHOULD SAY ALSO THAT THE
PATIENTS OF THE COMMITTEE IN
THESE CONVERSATIONS, FROM
SILICON VALLEY TO BIOTECH BEACH,
CALIFORNIA, IS THE UNDISPUTED
CRADLE OF INNOVATION. HOWEVER,
FAR TOO MANY STUDENTS GROW UP IN
THE SHADOWS OF TECH COMPANIES,
YET THEY DO NOT HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN THE SKILLS
THAT THEY NEED TO ONE DAY WORK
THERE. THE REALITY IS, EVERY
YEAR, CALIFORNIA IS FALLING
FURTHER AND FURTHER BEHIND OTHER
STATES IN PROVIDING EQUITABLE
ACCESS TO COMPUTER SCIENCE IN
OUR SCHOOLS. LAST YEAR,
CALIFORNIA WAS BEHIND 27, EXCUSE
ME, 27 STATES THAT ALREADY
REQUIRED EVERY HIGH SCHOOL TO
OFFER A COMPUTER SCIENCE COURSE.
THIS YEAR. ONE YEAR LATER, WE'RE
NOW BEHIND 31 STATES. FOUR OTHER
STATES HAVE SINCE, REQUIRED THAT
EVERY HIGH SCHOOL AT LEAST OFFER
A COMPUTER SCIENCE COURSE, AS
AMENDED, AB 2097 WOULD REQUIRE
SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND CHARTER
SCHOOLS TO ADOPT A PLAN TO
ENSURE ALL HIGH SCHOOLS OFFER AT
LEAST ONE COMPUTER SCIENCE
COURSE BY THE 2028 2029 SCHOOL
YEAR. CALIFORNIA MUST DO BETTER.
IT IS TIME TO RESTORE CALIFORNIA
AS A LEADER AND TAKE THE STEP OF
ENSURING COMPUTER SCIENCE FOR
ALL. I RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR AN
AYE VOTE AND I'M JOINED TODAY BY
MARY NICELY, THE CHIEF DEPUTY
SUPERINTENDENT AT THE DEPARTMENT
OF EDUCATION, AND AMY POZZONI, A
HIGH SCHOOL COMPUTER SCIENCE
TEACHER. IS THIS ON? OKAY. YES.
THANK YOU, GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR
AND MEMBERS, ONCE AGAIN, MY NAME
IS MARY NICELY, CHIEF DEPUTY
SUPERINTENDENT AT THE DEPARTMENT
OF EDUCATION, SPEAKING ON BEHALF
OF STATE SUPERINTENDENT TONY
THURMOND, WHO IS A PROUD SPONSOR
OF AB 2097. AND MR. MURATSUCHI,
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR
ACKNOWLEDGING THE PASSING OF
DYLAN EASTON. IT'S A IT'S A SAD
DAY AT THE DEPARTMENT. WE HAVE
MANY STAFF THAT WORKED WITH HER
FOR MANY, MANY YEARS AND HER
LEGACY STILL LIVES ON WITH US.
SO THANK YOU FOR ACKNOWLEDGING
THAT. AND THANK YOU, ASSEMBLY
MEMBER BERMAN, FOR YOUR
LEADERSHIP ON THIS BILL. AS WAS
STATED, WE HAVE 55% OF HIGH
SCHOOLS IN CALIFORNIA DO NOT
OFFER ANY COMPUTER SCIENCE
COURSES, LAGGING BEHIND 40 OTHER
STATES. YET WE HAVE THE HIGHEST
NUMBER OF COMPUTING JOBS IN THE
NATION, WITH SALARIES AVERAGING
OVER $150,000. WE ARE NOT GIVING
CALIFORNIA STUDENTS THE
OPPORTUNITY AND ACCESS TO THESE
JOBS IN THE STATE. THEY LIVE IN
THE BIRTHPLACE OF THE HIGH TECH
INDUSTRY. THIS NEEDS TO CHANGE.
TECHNOLOGY PERMEATES OUR LIVES
AND COMPUTER SCIENCE IS NEEDED
EVEN FOR THOSE NOT PLANNING ON
ENTERING THE TECH INDUSTRY. WE
SEE TECHNOLOGY GROWING ACROSS
EVERY INDUSTRY IN AGRICULTURE,
CONSTRUCTION, HEALTH,
ENTERTAINMENT, FASHION, BANKING,
ELECTIONS, THE ARTS AND MORE.
OUR CALIFORNIA COMPUTER SCIENCE
STANDARDS CALL ON OUR STUDENTS
TO UNDERSTAND THE IMPACTS OF
COMPUTING. COMPUTER SCIENCE IS
ABOUT MORE THAN CODING. I
REMEMBER TAKING MY FIRST CLASS
IN 1977 AND BEING SO EXCITED
WHEN I MADE THAT LITTLE SPIDER
WALK AROUND THE ROOM IN BASIC
AND JUST THAT JOY OF BEING ABLE
TO HAVE ACCESS TO SOMETHING
WHERE YOU CAN DO SOMETHING, AND
SO WITH THE RISING USE OF
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND
MACHINE LEARNING, THE NEED FOR
DIGITAL LITERACY FOR EVERYONE IN
NOT ONLY OUR STUDENTS WILL BE
ESSENTIAL IN THRIVING A GLOBAL
ECONOMY AND HIGHLY CONNECTED
SOCIETY, SO CALIFORNIA ADOPTED
ITS COMPUTER SCIENCE STANDARDS
IN 2018 WITH INTRODUCTORY
STANDARDS FOR GRADES 9 TO 12,
DESIGNED TO BE ACCESSIBLE TO ALL
STUDENTS IN CALIFORNIA THIS
NICELY. THERE ARE TWO MINUTES
ARE UP. IF YOU WANT TO TRY TO
WRAP UP, I WILL WRAP UP TO
SAYING THAT THERE HAVE BEEN
MASSIVE INVESTMENTS IN THE STATE
OF CALIFORNIA IN EDUCATION, IN
TRAINING FOR OUR STUDENTS, AS
WELL AS CREDENTIALING
OPPORTUNITIES. SO I'M PROUD TO
REPRESENT CDE AND URGE AN AYE
VOTE ON AB 2097 ON BEHALF OF THE
STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC
INSTRUCTION, TONY THURMOND.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
ON THIS IMPORTANT MEASURE TODAY,
MY NAME IS AMY PEZZONI, AND I
HAVE BEEN A TEACHER IN THE
CENTRAL VALLEY. I WAVE TO LARA
FOR OVER TEN YEARS. MY HOPE IS
TO GIVE YOU INSIGHT INTO MY
CLASSROOM AND WHAT COMPUTER
SCIENCE CAN OFFER CALIFORNIA
STUDENTS, LIKE MY PARENTS, MADE
ME TAKE THIS CLASS. I DON'T KNOW
HOW I GOT THIS CLASS. I DIDN'T
BALLOT FOR IT. I'M ONLY HERE
UNTIL THE COUNSELOR CAN SWITCH
ME OUT. THESE ARE THE FEW OF THE
ANSWERS THAT I GET TO START OF
THE YEAR. INTERVIEW QUESTIONS
LIKE WHY DID YOU TAKE THIS CLASS
THESE STUDENTS WHO HAVE NO
INTENT OF TAKING COMPUTER
SCIENCE AS AN ELECTIVE, BECOME
SOME OF MY FAVORITE STUDENTS AS
THEY'RE DOING THE INTERVIEW
ACTIVITY, STUDENTS LIGHT UP WHEN
THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT THE
THINGS THEY ARE REALLY
INTERESTED IN. THEY TALK ABOUT
WHAT THEY'VE DONE, THEY TALK
ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE WORKING ON,
AND THEY TALK ABOUT WHAT THEY
HOPE TO ACCOMPLISH IN THE
FUTURE. AS I INTRODUCED TO NEW
TOPICS IN COMPUTER SCIENCE, I
WEAVE THOSE PASSIONS INTO THE
INTO OUR CLASS. I OFFER FUN
FACTS LIKE, DID YOU KNOW THAT
MODERN CARS HAVE MORE THAN 100
MILLION LINES OF CODE? I
ENCOURAGE THEM TO APPLY THE
SKILLS WE ARE LEARNING INTO
THEIR TOPICS OF INTEREST FOR THE
HTML PROJECT MAY BE CONSIDERED
DOING AN HOMAGE TO YOUR CAT'S
FRAME CONCEPTS IN AN AREA OF
INTEREST, BUT WHAT IS A RECIPE
BUT A STRUCTURED ALGORITHM AND
HELP THEM FIND CONNECTIONS
BETWEEN WHAT THEY ARE MOST
INTERESTED IN AND TECHNOLOGY
THAT CAN SUPPORT, ENHANCE OR AID
IT. I LOVE THAT YOU WANT TO GO
INTO MEDICINE. LET'S TAKE A LOOK
AT WHAT DOCTORS DO WITH THOSE
SURGICAL ROBOTS. AS MY STUDENTS
DISCOVER HOW MUCH MORE OF THEIR
CHOSEN WORLD OPENS UP TO THEM,
THEY BECOME SOME OF MY MOST
ENTHUSIASTIC STUDENTS. AND THESE
ARE THE STUDENTS INTRODUCTORY
COMPUTER SCIENCE HELPS MOST
RIGHT NOW. THEY THINK COMPUTER
SCIENCE IS NOT FOR THEM. THEY
THINK THEY ARE NOT SMART ENOUGH.
THEY WON'T FIND PEOPLE IN THE
CLASSES THAT LOOK LIKE THEM,
THAT IT DOESN'T CONNECT TO THEIR
INTERESTS OR THEIR FUTURES. AB
2097 SHOWS THEM NONE OF THAT IS
TRUE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
BEING HERE AND FOR CHOOSING
EDUCATION AS A PRIORITY IN YOUR
LEGISLATIVE CAREERS. THANK YOU.
PUBLIC COMMENTS IN SUPPORT OF
THE MEASURE, PLEASE COME FORWARD
. HI, EMILY PAPPAS NIEMELA
PAPPAS AND ASSOCIATES IN SUPPORT
ON BEHALF OF SALESFORCE. GOOD
AFTERNOON, KIRK KIMBALL SHU, ON
BEHALF OF CODE.ORG, IN SUPPORT.
GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIRMAN AND
MEMBERS. NICK BROKAW FROM
SACRAMENTO ADVOCATES ON BEHALF
OF MICROSOFT IN SUPPORT. CHAIR
MEMBERS MAX PERRY, ON BEHALF OF
THE COLLEGE BOARD, ALSO IN
SUPPORT. ROXANNE VILLASENOR,
FORMER HIGH SCHOOL MATH, SCIENCE
TEACHER, VETERAN ADMINISTRATOR,
AND NOW SUPERINTENDENT OF RIVER
CHARTER SCHOOL IN SUPPORT.
AMANDA DICKEY, ON BEHALF OF THE
SANTA CLARA COUNTY OFFICE OF
EDUCATION AND SUPPORT. GOOD
AFTERNOON, BRENDA BASS WITH THE
CALIFORNIA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
IN SUPPORT. GOOD AFTERNOON,
CHAIR MEMBERS JOSE TORRES WITH
TECHNET AND STRONG SUPPORT. DAVE
BROWN IN SUPPORT, CARE LEARNING
AND CS FORWARD. GOOD AFTERNOON,
ANGELA REED, ON BEHALF OF
PROJECT LEAD THE WAY IN SUPPORT.
NHîNG. MY NAME IS JOSE ORTIZ AND
I SUPPORT. GOOD AFTERNOON, ANA
RIVERA FROM WATSONVILLE HIGH
SCHOOL AND I SUPPORT. THANK YOU.
SEEING NO FURTHER PUBLIC
COMMENTS IN SUPPORT, ANY
WITNESSES IN OPPOSITION? SEEING
NONE. ANY PUBLIC Þ, PLEASE COME
FORWARD. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.
AND MEMBERS, TRISTAN BROWN OF
CFT, UNION OF EDUCATORS AND
CLASSIFIED PROFESSIONALS HERE TO
ACTUALLY REMOVE OUR OPPOSITION
ON FILE. THANKS TO THE WORK OF
THE AUTHOR AT THE SPONSORS TO
TAKING THE AMENDMENTS. WE
APPRECIATE ALL THE HARD WORK. IT
WILL BE A NEUTRAL POSITION FOR
NOW. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. GOOD
AFTERNOON. CARLOS MACHADO WITH
CALIFORNIA SCHOOL BOARD
ASSOCIATION AGAIN. I'D ALSO LIKE
TO THANK THE COMMITTEE FOR ITS
HARD WORK ON THE BILL. I WILL BE
TAKING THE AMENDMENTS BACK TO
OUR LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE TO
REEVALUATE OUR POSITION. WE
APPRECIATE THE HARD WORK ON ON
THE MEASURE. THANK YOU. MARK
EPSTEIN, CALIFORNIA
ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY
EDUCATION NETWORK, WE ARE IN
OPPOSITION, UNLESS AMENDED, TO
DEAL WITH THE PROBLEM OF
SUBSTANTIAL PERCENTAGE OF
STUDENTS THAT DO NOT HAVE THE
BASIC DIGITAL SKILLS AS A
PREREQUISITE TO SUCCEED IN A
COMPUTER SCIENCE CLASS. THANK
YOU. SEEING NO FURTHER PUBLIC
COMMENTS AND OPPOSITION, I'LL
BRING IT BACK TO THE COMMITTEE.
THANK YOU, MR. BERMAN, I WAS
LOOKING THROUGH THE COMMITTEE
ANALYSIS THAT SHOWS, YOU KNOW,
PRIOR RELATED LEGISLATION AND
JUST BERMAN, BERMAN, BERMAN, YOU
HAVE TRULY BEEN A CHAMPION FOR,
FOR, PROMOTING DIGITAL LITERACY,
FOR PROMOTING, YOU KNOW, YOUR
YOUR, YOUR DISTRICT AS THE
CENTER, THE GLOBAL CAPITAL OF
INNOVATION AND IT'S ONLY FITTING
THAT THAT YOU ARE THE AUTHOR OF
THIS BILL, THANK YOU FOR WORKING
WITH ME AND THE COMMITTEE, AND,
PROUD TO SUPPORT YOUR MEASURE.
WOULD LOVE TO BE ADDED AS A
COAUTHOR, WOULD YOU LIKE TO
CLOSE? THANK YOU FOR THAT HONOR
TO HAVE YOU AS A COAUTHOR. I
ALSO WANT TO THANK
SUPERINTENDENT, THURMOND, FOR
BEING A HUGE SUPPORTER OF THIS
INITIATIVE, AND IT, YOU KNOW,
THIS IS REPRESENTING MY DISTRICT
IN TERMS OF THE EMPLOYERS, IT'S
ALSO KIND OF STEMS FROM MY
EXPERIENCE WORKING FOR AN
EDUCATION NONPROFIT BEFORE I GOT
ELECTED TO THE ASSEMBLY. AND
JUST SEEING THE DRASTIC
INEQUITIES THAT WE HAVE, EVEN IN
THE HEART OF SILICON VALLEY, NOT
TO MENTION ACROSS CALIFORNIA,
AND SO WE'VE BEEN TRYING, FOR,
FOR EIGHT YEARS TO TRY TO CLOSE
THAT EQUITY GAP. I KNOW IT'S
CHALLENGING IN CALIFORNIA, AND
HOW DIVERSE WE ARE, BUT I THINK
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD
ABSOLUTELY BE ACCOMPLISHING. SO
GRATEFUL FOR YOUR SUPPORT. AND
THANK YOU FOR WORKING WITH US.
APPRECIATE YOU, DO WE HAVE A
MOTION, WE DID A MOTION. AND
I'LL SECOND. MADAM SECRETARY,
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL FILE. ITEM
SIX AB 2097. THE MOTION IS TO
PASS, AS AMENDED, TO
APPROPRIATIONS. MURATSUCHI Ã
MURATSUCHI I LARA LARA I ADDIS
ALVAREZ. BONTA. HOOVER. MCCARTY
ALL RIGHT. BELL IS ON CALL.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU.
ALL RIGHT. NEXT. MR. RAMOS, FILE
NUMBER 14, AB 2711. 14 THE.
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. AND,
MEMBERS, I WOULD LIKE TO START
OFF BY ACCEPTING THE COMMITTEE
AMENDMENTS, AND THANKING YOU AND
YOUR STAFF FOR THE HARD WORK
THAT WENT INTO THIS MUCH NEEDED
BILL. AB 2711 BRINGS UP A BRINGS
US A STEP CLOSER TO SUPPORTING
OUR YOUTH WHO MAY BE STRUGGLING
WITH SUBSTANCE USE. IT AIMS TO
BE PROACTIVE RATHER THAN
REACTIVE WHEN ADDRESSING THESE
ISSUES. IT MAKES THE CRUCIAL
MOVE OF ENSURING STUDENTS ARE
OFFERED SUPPORTIVE SERVICES
PRIOR TO SUSPENSION, PROVIDING A
MUCH NEEDED LIFELINE FOR THOSE
WHO MAY BE STRUGGLING. THE
NUMBERS SHOW THAT THE STATUS QUO
RESORTING STRAIGHT TO SUSPENSION
THÀNH IS NEGATIVELY AFFECTING
OUR YOUTH, ESPECIALLY SOCIO
ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED
STUDENTS AND THOSE OF COLOR.
ALCOHOL STILL REMAINS THE NUMBER
ONE KILLER OF NATIVE AMERICANS
THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES AND
HERE IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.
IN ORDER TO BETTER PROTECT OUR
YOUTH, WE MUST LOOK AT
ADDRESSING THE HEALTH NEEDS OF
STUDENTS IN THESE SITUATIONS.
ACTIONS TO REDUCE THE LIKELIHOOD
OF FUTURE SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND
ADDICTION. I LOOK FORWARD TO
CONTINUING TO WORK ON THIS BILL
SO THAT WE CAN ENSURE OUR
STUDENTS RECEIVE THE HELP THEY
NEED AND ADDRESS THE INEQUITIES
WE WITNESS IN CURRENT PRACTICES.
WE NEED A CONSTANT APPROACH
THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA WHEN DEALING WITH
THESE ISSUES. WITH ME TODAY, TO
TESTIFY VÌ IS ADRIAN SHILTON
WITH THE CALIFORNIA ALLIANCE OF
CHILD AND FAMILY SERVICES AND
CALEB MERRILL, A FIRST HAND
EXPERIENCE WITH THE SACRAMENTO
YOUTH ACTION BOARD. THANK YOU.
GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR AND
MEMBERS ADRIAN SCHULTEN,
REPRESENTING THE CALIFORNIA
ALLIANCE OF CHILD AND FAMILY
SERVICES. AND WE REPRESENT
NONPROFIT, COMMUNITY BASED
ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS CALIFORNIA
THAT ARE SERVING VULNERABLE
CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES AND
PUBLIC SYSTEMS. AND WE'RE THE
PROUD SPONSOR OF ASSEMBLY BILL
2711. SO WE'RE COMING TO THIS
ISSUE ABOUT HOW WE BETTER
SUPPORT OUR KIDS BECAUSE THE
RESEARCH IS CLEAR THAT PUNITIVE
SCHOOL DISCIPLINE APPROACHES
HAVE A DISPROPORTIONATE NEGATIVE
IMPACT ON STUDENTS WHO ARE
ALREADY FACING HIGHER BARRIERS
TO EDUCATION. AND THE STATISTICS
REALLY SPEAK VOLUMES ABOUT
WHAT'S HAPPENING ACROSS OUR
STATE OVER 83% OF DRUG RELATED
SUSPENSIONS IMPACT SOCIO
DISADVANTAGED STUDENTS. STUDENTS
WHO ARE INVOLVED IN OUR FOSTER
CARE SYSTEM AND WHO ARE HOMELESS
ACROSS ALL RACE AND ETHNIC
GROUPS ARE ALSO PUNISHED FAR
MORE THAN THEIR PEERS, AND THEY
DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO THE SAME
LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES,
ACCORDING TO SOME RECENT DATA
FROM OUR CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT
OF EDUCATION, YOUTH IN FOSTER
CARE LOST 77 DAYS TO INSTRUCTION
DUE TO SUSPENSION PER 100
ENROLLED STUDENTS AND HOMELESS
YOUTH LOST 26 DAYS PER 100
STUDENTS. IN COMPARISON, THE
STATEWIDE AVERAGE FOR ALL
STUDENTS WAS TEN DAYS LOST. SO
WE REALLY HAVE TO STOP
PERPETUATING THE CYCLE OF
EXCLUSION AND MISSED
OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR OUR YOUNG
PEOPLE. AND AB 2711 REALLY
EMBODIES THAT SHIFT.
PRIORITIZING SUPPORTIVE SERVICES
FIRST OVER PUNITIVE MEASURES.
THE BILL RECOGNIZES THE
INTERCONNECTEDNESS BETWEEN
STUDENT WELL-BEING AND ACADEMIC
SUCCESS. WE ASK FOR YOUR I VOTE
TODAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. MY
NAME IS CALEB MERRILL AND I'M
HONORED TO BE HERE TODAY NOT
ONLY AS A PERSON IN RECOVERY,
BUT AS A PREVIOUS YOUTH THAT
THIS BILL REPRESENTS. THANK YOU
ALL FOR COMING TOGETHER TODAY
AND GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO
SHARE MY PERSONAL TESTIMONY. MY
JOURNEY WITH SUBSTANCE USE BEGAN
AT 13 YEARS OLD, A TIME WHEN I
SHOULD HAVE BEEN NAVIGATING THE
TYPICAL TRIALS AND TRIUMPHS OF
ADOLESCENCE. INSTEAD, I FOUND
MYSELF SEEKING REFUGE IN
SUBSTANCES AS A MEANS OF COPING
WITH GROWING UP IN A WORLD THAT
OFTEN FELT OVERWHELMING AND
HOSTILE, THE HALLS OF OUR
SCHOOLS THAT CONTINUOUSLY
ENCOUNTERED A SYSTEM ILL
EQUIPPED TO ADDRESS THE
COMPLEXITIES OF OUR STRUGGLES.
FOR MANY PEOPLE, SUBSTANCES HAVE
PLAYED A COMPLEX AND
MULTIFACETED ROLE, A ROLE THAT
CANNOT BE EASILY REDUCED TO THE
SIMPLE NOTIONS OF RIGHT AND
WRONG. IT FELT AS THOUGH WE WERE
NOT TREATED, AS WE WERE NOT
TREATED AS INDIVIDUALS IN NEED
OF CONSISTENT SUPPORT AND
UNDERSTANDING WERE PROBLEMS TO
BE SOLVED OR WORSE, IGNORED
UNTIL IT WAS TOO LATE. BY 16, IT
FELT AS THOUGH I HAD ALREADY
BEEN MARKED AS BEING TOO MUCH
TROUBLE AND PUSHED TO THE SIDE,
LEFT TO SPIRAL DEEPER. I FELT
LIKE MY WORLD WAS CRASHING DOWN
AROUND ME, LEAVING ME
DESPERATELY SEARCHING FOR WAYS
TO HOLD ON. I'D ALREADY
WITNESSED THE LOSS OF MULTIPLE
OF MY PEERS WHO HAD FACED THESE
SIMILAR EXPERIENCES. AS I SAY,
I'M FORTUNATE TO BE HERE TODAY.
IT IS ALSO WITH A HEAVY HEART
AND REMEMBRANCE FOR ALL THOSE
WE'VE LOST SINCE STICKING WITH
THE CURRENT POLICY WOULD BE A
DISSERVICE TO THE YOUTH. WHILE
PUNITIVE MEASURES MAY SEEM LIKE
A DETERRENT, THEY OFTEN ONLY
EXACERBATE EXISTING ISSUES,
PERPETUATE STIGMA, AND FURTHER
MARGINALIZE THE YOUTH WHO ARE
ALREADY STRUGGLING. PUSH THEM
AWAY AND TURN A BLIND EYE TO THE
UNDERLYING EXPERIENCES. IS NOT A
SOLUTION. IT IS MEETING FIRE
WITH FIRE AND WE SHOULD BE
GUIDING UPLIFTING THEM TO
SOMETHING NEW. THIS BILL
REPRESENTS A CRUCIAL SHIFT IN
HOW WE RESPOND TO THE NEEDS OF
THE YOUTH. RECOGNIZING THAT
SUBSTANCE USE IS NOT A MORAL
FAILING, BUT A COMPLEX ISSUE
ROOTED IN DEEPER SOCIETAL AND
INDIVIDUAL CHALLENGES. IT IS OUR
HOPE THAT SCHOOLS WILL BE
EMPOWERED TO PROVIDE STUDENTS
WITH THE GUIDANCE AND SUPPORT
THEY NEED TO ADDRESS THE ROOT
CAUSES OF THEIR STRUGGLES. THIS
IS ABOUT MORE THAN JUST
SUBSTANCE USE. IT'S ABOUT
CREATING AN ENVIRONMENT THAT
NURTURES AND EMPOWERS EVERY
STUDENT, REGARDLESS OF THEIR
STRUGGLES WITH SETBACKS. IT IS
ABOUT RECOGNIZING THE INHERENT
WORTH AND DIGNITY OF EVERY
INDIVIDUAL, PROVIDING THEM AND
THE SCHOOLS WITH THE TOOLS THEY
NEED TO THRIVE. IN CLOSING, I
URGE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU
TO STAND WITH US IN SUPPORT OF
ASSEMBLY BILL 2711, TO STAND
WITH YOUTH, TO CHAMPION THEIR
CAUSE, AND TO BUILD A BETTER
FUTURE WHERE EVERY CHILD HAS THE
OPPORTUNITY TO FLOURISH AND
SUCCEED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. PUBLIC COMMENTS IN
SUPPORT OF THE MEASURE, PLEASE
COME FORWARD. GOOD AFTERNOON,
MR. CHAIR AND MEMBERS. GREGORY
KRAMER, ON BEHALF OF DISABILITY
RIGHTS CALIFORNIA IN SUPPORT.
GOOD AFTERNOON. JIA CHEN, ON
BEHALF OF THE CALIFORNIA
CONSORTIUM OF ADDICTION PROGRAMS
AND PROFESSIONALS IN SUPPORT.
THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON.
MARIKA COLLINS WITH DIDI HIRSCH,
MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AND
STRONG SUPPORT. VANESSA FORSYTH,
RETIRED SCHOOL NURSE IN STRONG
SUPPORT. MR. CHAIR AND MEMBERS
TRISTEN BROWN, WITH CFT HAPPY TO
SUPPORT THIS. THANK YOU. DANNY
DERECHO ON BEHALF OF CO-SPONSOR
KHN, CALIFORNIA YOUTH
EMPOWERMENT NETWORK IN SUPPORT
ALSO ON BEHALF OF MENTAL HEALTH
AMERICA OF CALIFORNIA IN SUPPORT
. HELLO, CHAIR AND MEMBERS
RACHEL BHAGWAT, ACLU CALIFORNIA
ACTION IN SUPPORT OF THIS BILL.
DARYL LEVI WITH FAMILY
ASSISTANCE PROGRAM IN SUPPORT OF
THE BILL. KIM LEWIS,
REPRESENTING THE CALIFORNIA
COALITION FOR YOUTH AND ASPIRANT
IN SUPPORT. AMANDA DICKEY, ON
BEHALF OF THE SANTA CLARA COUNTY
SUPERINTENDENT IN SUPPORT.
ALICIA BENAVIDES ON BEHALF OF
DRUG POLICY ALLIANCE AND STRONG
SUPPORT. JOE SIGNS ON BEHALF OF
COUNTY HEALTH EXECUTIVES
ASSOCIATION, REPRESENTING LOCAL
HEALTH DEPARTMENTS IN SUPPORT.
TRENT MURPHY WITH THE CALIFORNIA
ASSOCIATION OF ALCOHOL AND DRUG
PROGRAM EXECUTIVES AND STRONG
SUPPORT. THANK YOU, SERGIO
MORALES WITH THE CALIFORNIA
SCHOOL-BASED HEALTH ALLIANCE AND
SUPPORT. BRIAN REX WITH THE LOS
ANGELES UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT.
WE CURRENTLY HAVE A SUPPORTIVE,
AMENDED POSITION. WE REALLY WANT
TO THANK THE AUTHOR FOR WORKING
WITH LOCAL EDUCATION AGENCIES
AND LOOK FORWARD TO SUPPORTING
THIS BILL. WHEN IT'S IN THE
SENATE. NORA LIN, ON BEHALF OF
CO-SPONSOR CHILDREN NOW IN
SUPPORT. PRISCILLA, KUDOS HERE
ON BEHALF OF THE CALIFORNIA
ACADEMY OF CHILD AND ADOLESCENT
PSYCHIATRY, PROUD CO-SPONSORS
AND STRONG SUPPORT, AND ALSO ON
BEHALF OF CALIFORNIA STATE
ASSOCIATION OF PSYCHIATRISTS IN
SUPPORT. THANK YOU. VICTOR
TORRES, ON BEHALF OF FUTURE
LEADERS OF CHANGE, AND AS A HIGH
SCHOOL STUDENT IN FULL SUPPORT
OF THIS BILL. ANA RIVERA FROM
GUATEMALA HIGH SCHOOL AND
STRONGLY SUPPORT YANA MARTINEZ,
GREENFIELD CITY COUNCILWOMAN AND
AS A MOTHER OF FOUR AND FULL
SUPPORT. THANK YOU. ANY
WITNESSES. IN OPPOSITION TO THE
BILL, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
SEEING NONE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS
IN OPPOSITION TO THE BILL. GOOD
AFTERNOON, CHAIR AND COMMITTEE
MEMBERS AND STAFF AND AUTHOR'S
OFFICE, KERN COUNTY
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
OFFICE, CARLOS ROJAS. WE
CURRENTLY HAVE AN OPPOSITION
POSITION ON THE BILL, BUT WANT
TO THANK THE COMMITTEE STAFF AND
THE AUTHOR AUTHOR'S OFFICE FOR
WORKING THROUGH SOME REALLY
IMPORTANT AMENDMENTS. AND WITH
THOSE AMENDMENTS, ONCE THEY'RE
PUBLISHED, WE'LL BE REMOVING OUR
OPPOSITION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU
. SEEING NO FURTHER PUBLIC
COMMENTS IN OPPOSITION, THEN,
BRING IT BACK TO THE COMMITTEE.
VICE CHAIR NØ MCCARTY. NO
QUESTIONS. THANK YOU, MR. RAMOS,
FOR BRINGING THIS IMPORTANT
MEASURE AS, YOUR SPONSOR
TESTIFIED, WE SHOULD, TRY TO
HELP BEFORE WE PUNISH, AND I
THINK THAT'S AT THE CORE OF YOUR
BILL, AT THE SAME TIME, YOU
KNOW. THANK YOU FOR WORKING WITH
THE COMMITTEE. YOU KNOW, WE
OFTEN HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT
WE'RE MAKING POLICIES THAT WORK
FOR ALL OF OUR KIDS. YOU KNOW,
TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN
CONTINUE TO, OPERATE OUR
SCHOOLS. YOU KNOW, TO MAKE SURE
THAT THE NEEDS OF ALL STUDENTS
ARE ADDRESSED. AND SO I THINK
YOUR BILL, WITH THE AMENDMENTS,
STRIKE THAT BALANCE, BUT AT ITS
CORE, I KNOW THAT WE'VE TALKED
ABOUT THIS, AND, I COMPLETELY
SUPPORT, THE CORE MISSION OF
YOUR BILL. WOULD YOU LIKE TO
CLOSE? THANK YOU SO MUCH, MR.
CHAIR AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS,
THIS IS A BILL THAT STARTS TO
MOVE US IN A MORE PROACTIVE
APPROACH THAN REACTIVE WHEN
DEALING WITH THE ISSUES THAT
THAT PLAGUE THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA. AND I BELIEVE THAT
WORKING WITH THE COMMITTEE AND
FURTHER WORK THAT WE CAN DO,
STARTS TO STRIKE THAT BALANCE. I
BELIEVE IT'S TIME THAT WE STAND
WITH OUR YOUTH IN THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA TO START TO BRING
RESOURCES TO THEM SO THAT THEY
COULD DRASTICALLY GET THE
RESOURCES THEY NEED. I ASK FOR
YOUR I VOTE. THANK YOU, MADAM
SECRETARY. WELL ENTERTAIN A
MOTION AND A SECOND. MR.
MCCARTY, VICE CHAIR. OKAY. FILE
ITEM 14 AB 2711. THE MOTION IS
Dð. PASS, AS AMENDED TO
APPROPRIATIONS. MURATSUCHI Ã
MURATSUCHI I LARA LARA I ADDIS
ALVAREZ. BONTA. HOOVER. MCCARTY.
MCCARTY. I BELL WAS ON CALL.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU,
MR. CHAIR. COMMITTEE MEMBERS.
ALL RIGHT. I DO NOT SEE MR.
ALANIZ. AND SO I SEE MR. TANG,
FILE NUMBER 22, AB 2967 BY
ASSEMBLY MEMBER TING.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.
I JUST WANT TO SAY I WANT TO
THANK YOU AND THE COMMITTEE FOR
YOUR HELP WITH THE BILL. AND WE
ARE HAPPILY ACCEPTING THE
COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS, AB 2967
EXPANDS THE TEACHER HOUSING ACT
TO INCLUDE EMPLOYEES OF PUBLICLY
FUNDED NONPROFITS THAT OPERATE
ON SCHOOL DISTRICT PROPERTY AND
SERVE CHILDREN FROM LOW AND
MODERATE INCOME FAMILIES. I'LL
GIVE YOU GREAT EXAMPLE. I HAVE A
DISTRICT IN I HAVE A SCHOOL
DISTRICT IN MY DISTRICT WHERE
THEY BUILT HOUSING FOR THEIR
EMPLOYEES ON SCHOOL DISTRICT
PROPERTY, GREAT PROJECT. THEY
DID IT IN IN RECORD TIME. PUT
SORT OF MY OWN CITY TO SHAME
BECAUSE WE'RE STILL TRYING TO
BUILD A TEACHER HOUSING PROJECT.
AND WHAT WE REALIZED IS THERE
ARE OTHER EMPLOYEES, FOR
EXAMPLE, WHO RUN THE CHILD CARE
CENTER, RUN THE AFTER SCHOOL
PROGRAMS, RUN THE EARLY ED
PROGRAMS, WHO AGAIN, ARE
PROBABLY GETTING PAID LESS THAN
OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT EMPLOYEES.
DEFINITELY WE NEED HOUSING, AND
THEY'RE A KEY FABRIC OF THE
EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENT. SO THIS
BILL SIMPLY EXPANDS THE TEACHER
HOUSING ACT TO INCLUDE THEM, AND
GIVE THEM THE OPPORTUNITIES TO
GET HOUSING AS WELL, BECAUSE
THEY'RE A KEY FABRIC OF OUR
EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM, WITH THAT, I
HAVE MY WITNESS, AUDREY, ROOTED
FROM THE SAN MATEO COUNTY.
PERFECT. THANK YOU. GOOD
AFTERNOON, MR. CHAIR. MEMBERS OF
THE COMMITTEE, AUDREY RITECHECK
FROM CRUZ STRATEGIES ON BEHALF
OF SAN MATEO COUNTY. SAN MATEO
COUNTY IS A HIGH COST BAY AREA
COMMUNITY, AND WE HAVE PLANS TO
BUILD 20,000 NEW HOUSING HOUSING
UNITS FOR OUR LOWER INCOME
RESIDENTS OVER THE NEXT EIGHT
YEARS. ONE OF THE CRITICAL
PROJECTS THAT THE ASSEMBLY
MEMBER MENTIONED THAT WE'VE BEEN
WORKING ON IS THE REDEVELOPMENT
OF A PROPERTY CALLED MIDWAY
VILLAGE. THIS SITE WAS ONCE
OWNED BY THE LOCAL SCHOOL
DISTRICT, PRIOR TO IT BEING
CONVERTED TO PUBLIC HOUSING.
WE'RE CURRENTLY IN THE PROCESS
OF REDEVELOPING THE PROPERTY TO
REPLACE ITS 150 AGING UNITS WITH
555 NEW AFFORDABLE HOMES, ONE OF
THE CRITICAL THINGS WE'VE HEARD
FROM OUR EXTENSIVE COMMUNITY
PLANNING PROCESS WAS A DESIRE TO
PROVIDE A PREFERENCE FOR EARLY
CHILDHOOD EDUCATORS SO EARLY
CHILDHOOD PRE-K AND TRANSITIONAL
KINDERGARTEN, EARLY CHILDHOOD
EDUCATORS IN CALIFORNIA EARN
ALMOST 40% LESS THAN THEIR
COLLEAGUES IN THE K THROUGH
EIGHT SYSTEM, AND THEY WOULD BE
CONSIDERED EXTREMELY LOW INCOME
IN OUR COUNTY, WHERE THE AVERAGE
MONTHLY RENT IS OVER $3,000 A
MONTH. THESE EARLY CHILDHOOD
EDUCATORS FACE HOUSING
INSECURITY AND ARE OFTEN FORCED
TO LEAVE THE PROFESSION, FIND
SECOND JOBS, OR UNDERTAKE VERY
LONG COMMUTES. THOUGH THERE HAVE
BEEN SEVERAL BILLS PASSED IN
RECENT YEARS SUPPORTING THE
BUILDING OF MORE TEACHER
HOUSING, EARLY CHILDHOOD
EDUCATORS ARE NOT CURRENTLY
ELIGIBLE FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING
DEVELOPMENTS UNDER THE TEACHER
HOUSING ACT, SO WE'RE SUPPORTIVE
OF AB 2967 TO EXPAND THIS LAW BY
EXTENDING THE CRITICAL
AFFORDABLE HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES
TO THIS IMPORTANT GROUP OF
EDUCATORS THAT SET YOUNG
CHILDREN FROM LOW AND MODERATE
INCOME HOUSEHOLDS ON A PATH TO
BETTER ACADEMIC OUTCOMES. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU. PUBLIC COMMENTS
IN SUPPORT OF THE BILL, PLEASE
COME FORWARD.
MR. CHAIR AND MEMBERS, TRISTAN
BROWN OF CFD IN SUPPORT. THANK
YOU. SEEING NO FURTHER PUBLIC
COMMENTS IN SUPPORT ANY
OPPOSITION EITHER. WITNESSES OR
PUBLIC COMMENTS. PLEASE COME
FORWARD. CASSIE MANCINI, ON
BEHALF OF THE CALIFORNIA SCHOOL
EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION, NOT IN
OPPOSITION, JUST WANTED TO THANK
THE AUTHOR AND HIS STAFF FOR
WORKING WITH US TO ENSURE THAT
SCHOOL EMPLOYEES AND EDUCATORS
ARE PRIORITIZED FOR ACCESS TO
THESE UNITS. THANK YOU. SEEING
NO FURTHER WITNESSES, EITHER
TWEENERS OR OPPOSITION COMING
FORWARD, BRING IT BACK TO THE
COMMITTEE. ANY QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS FROM THE COMMITTEE
SEEING NONE, THANK YOU VERY
MUCH, MR. TANG, FOR CONTINUING
TO BE A CHAMPION FOR HOUSING,
ESPECIALLY FOR, CHILDCARE,
WORKERS. THIS IS PART OF THE
EFFORT TO BUILD MORE WORKFORCE
HOUSING, TAKING ADVANTAGE OF
SCHOOL DISTRICT PROPERTY TO
BUILD WORKFORCE HOUSING, PROUD
TO SUPPORT YOUR BILL. WOULD YOU
LIKE TO CLOSE, JUST
RESPECTFULLY, SO I VOTE THANK
YOU, MOTION AND A SECOND, MADAM
SECRETARY, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
FILE ITEM 22, AB 2967. THE
MOTION IS TO PASS, AS AMENDED,
TO THE FLOOR. MURATSUCHI Ã
MURATSUCHI I LARA LARA I ADDIS.
ALVAREZ. BONTA. HOOVER. MCCARTY.
MCCARTY I ALL RIGHT. OKAY. WE
ARE GOING TO TAKE, MR. CONNOLLY
OUT OF ORDER, GIVEN THAT HE HAS,
I BELIEVE HE HAS WITNESS ISSUES,
THIS IS FILE NUMBER TWO, AB
1864.
THANK YOU. CHAIR MEMBERS. GOOD
AFTERNOON. CHILDREN ATTENDING
PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND DAYCARES IN
CALIFORNIA ARE INTENDED TO BE
PROTECTED BY A REGULATION THAT
RESTRICTS THE MOST DRIFT PRONE
AGRICULTURAL PESTICIDE
APPLICATIONS DURING THE SCHOOL
DAY, NAMELY FROM 6 A.M. TO 6
P.M, MONDAY TO FRIDAY. IN
PRACTICE, THOUGH, THIS
REGULATION IS OFTEN UNENFORCED,
PASSABLE, WHILE NOTICES OF
INTENT OR NOI MUST BE SUBMITTED
TO COUNTY AGRICULTURAL
COMMISSIONERS BEFORE USING
PESTICIDES THAT ARE CLASSIFIED
AS RESTRICTED MATERIALS AND MUST
INCLUDE THE METHOD OF
APPLICATION. OFTEN THE
INFORMATION PROVIDED ISN'T
SPECIFIC ENOUGH TO DETERMINE
WHETHER OR NOT THE METHOD
TRIGGERS SCHOOL REGULATIONS FOR
EXAMPLE, IF THE APPLICATION
APPLICATION METHOD LISTED ON THE
NÓI IS GROUND, IT'S UNCLEAR
WHETHER THAT MEANS A GROUND RIG
SPRAYER WHICH HAS A DISTANCE
RESTRICTION, OR A HAND PUMP
SPRAYER WHICH DOES NOT FURTHER
THE EXACT LOCATION OF
APPLICATIONS CANNOT BE VERIFIED
UNDER CURRENT REPORTING
REQUIREMENTS, AND EXACT START
AND END TIMES ARE OFTEN
INACCURATELY REPORTED. TO
ADDRESS THESE BARRIERS, THE AB
1864 WOULD REQUIRE COUNTY
AGRICULTURAL COMMISSIONERS TO
REQUIRE AN NÓI FOR ALL
APPLICATIONS RESTRICTED OR
UNRESTRICTED, AND THAT ARE
WITHIN A QUARTER MILE OF SCHOOL
SIDES AND THAT USE AN
APPLICATION METHOD RESTRICTED BY
SCHOOL REGULATIONS. ÓRDENES. OF
THE MORE THAN 1000 PESTICIDE
ACTIVE INGREDIENTS REGISTERED
FOR USE IN CALIFORNIA, JUST 52
ARE CLASSIFIED AS RESTRICTED
MATERIALS. THAT DOESN'T MEAN THE
OTHERS ARE SAFE. AMONG THE
UNRESTRICTED PESTICIDES ARE MANY
THAT DEEPER IN FACT IS
CLASSIFIED AS CARCINOGENS AND
REPRODUCTIVE TOXICANTS, AND MANY
MORE THAT ARE KNOWN TO TRIGGER
ASTHMA. THE BILL WOULD ALSO
REQUIRE PERMITS, NÓI AND
PESTICIDE USE REPORTS TO INCLUDE
THE EXACT METHOD OF APPLICATION
WITH THE SAME DEGREE OF
SPECIFICITY. SPECIFICITY AS A
REGULATION IN OTHER WORDS, NOT
JUST AIR OR GROUND OR FUMIGATION
. ADDITIONALLY, THE BILL WOULD
REQUIRE CHANGE, PERMITTING AND
REPORTING REQUIREMENTS TO
REQUIRE GROWERS TO DEMARCATE AND
REPORT SEPARATELY ANY PORTION OF
A FIELD INSIDE THE QUARTER MILE
BUFFER ZONE. CRUCIALLY THE BILL
EXTENDS THE PROTECTIONS OFFERED
BY THE CURRENT DEPARTMENT OF
PESTICIDE REGULATION TO INCLUDE
PRIVATE SCHOOLS WITH SIX OR MORE
CHILDREN. THE DANGERS OF
PESTICIDE EXPOSURE ARE WELL
DOCUMENTED AND ALARMING. A 2021
NATURE PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY
COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS OF
STUDIES FROM THE PAST TEN YEARS
FOUND THE TYPES OF CANCER
REPORTED MOST FREQUENTLY LINKED
TO PESTICIDES WERE MULTIPLE
MYELOMA, BLADDER CANCER,
NON-HODGKIN LYMPHOMA, PROSTATE
CANCER, LEUKEMIA, AND BREAST
CANCER. WE MUST PROTECT OUR MOST
VULNERABLE POPULATIONS FROM THE
DANGERS OF PESTICIDE EXPOSURE.
AB 1864 ACCOMPLISHES THIS WITH
COMMON SENSE FIX. IT CHANGES TO
REPORTING REQUIREMENTS TO ENABLE
CONFIRMATION OF COMPLIANCE WITH
THE SCHOOL'S REGULATION, AND
EXTENDS THE PROTECTION TO
PRIVATE SCHOOL STUDENTS, WHICH I
WILL NOW PASS IT OFF TO MY
WITNESSES. JANE SELIN,
CO-DIRECTOR FOR CALIFORNIANS FOR
PESTICIDE REFORM, AND VICTOR
TORRES, REPRESENTING FUTURE
LEADERS OF CHANGE. THANK YOU.
GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR AND
MEMBERS. MY NAME IS JANE SELIN.
I'M CO-DIRECTOR OF THE STATEWIDE
COALITION OF CALIFORNIANS FOR
PESTICIDE REFORM, I THANK
ASSEMBLY MEMBER CONNOLLY FOR HIS
LEADERSHIP, FOR AUTHORING AB
1864, WHICH IS A CRITICAL STEP
TOWARD ENSURING THAT ALL
CALIFORNIA CHILDREN ARE
PROTECTED FROM AGRICULTURAL
PESTICIDE EXPOSURE AT SCHOOL,
GIVEN THEIR INHERENT TOXICITY,
PESTICIDES CARRY MANY HEALTH
RISKS FOR COMMUNITIES MOST
EXPOSED TO THEM, AND ESPECIALLY
FOR THE GROWING BODIES AND
BRAINS OF CHILDREN. THE DATA
SHOW THAT PESTICIDE EXPOSURE AND
RELATED HEALTH IMPACTS
DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACT
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR IN
CALIFORNIA. IN 2014, THE
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC
HEALTH RELEASED A REPORT
DETAILING THE EXTENT OF
AGRICULTURAL PESTICIDE USE IN
CLOSE PROXIMITY TO SCHOOLS IN
CALIFORNIA AND THE MARKED RACIAL
DISPARITY FOR STUDENTS ATTENDING
THE MOST IMPACTED SCHOOLS. AS A
RESULT, THE CALIFORNIA
DEPARTMENT OF PESTICIDE
REGULATION DEVELOPED A
REGULATION RESTRICTING DRIFT
PRONE PESTICIDE APPLICATIONS
WITHIN A QUARTER MILE OF PUBLIC
SCHOOLS AND DAYCARES. DURING THE
SCHOOL DAY. IN THE SIX YEARS
SINCE THE REGULATION WAS
IMPLEMENTED AND GROUND TRUTHING
BY OUR COALITION HAS REVEALED
SOME SERIOUS ISSUES WITH
ENFORCEABILITY OF THE REGULATION
, WHICH CAN BE ADDRESSED BY
SIMPLE REPORTING CHANGES. THIS
BILL WOULD ENSURE THAT
COMPLIANCE WITH EXISTING
REGULATIONS CAN BE VERIFIED BY
ALIGNING PESTICIDE USE REPORTING
REQUIREMENTS WITH THE PROVISIONS
OF THE REGULATION AND REQUIRING
SEPARATE REPORTING FOR ANY
SEGMENT OF A FIELD THAT FALLS
WITHIN THE QUARTER MILE BUFFER
ZONE. THE BILL WOULD ALSO EXTEND
THE EXISTING PROTECTIONS TO
STUDENTS ATTENDING PRIVATE
SCHOOLS WHO ARE CURRENTLY
EXCLUDED. FINALLY, THE BILL
WOULD REQUIRE GROWERS TO SUBMIT
A NOTICE OF INTENT FOR ALL
PESTICIDE APPLICATIONS WITHIN A
QUARTER MILE OF SCHOOL SITES
THAT EMPLOY A DRIFT PRONE
APPLICATION METHOD, AND THAT
WOULD BE SUBJECT TO THE
PROVISIONS OF THE SCHOOL'S
REGULATION. THIS PROVISION WOULD
IMPROVE THE ABILITY OF
AGRICULTURE COMMISSIONERS TO
ENSURE THAT APPLICATIONS ARE IN
COMPLIANCE WITH THE REGULATION
BEFORE THEY HAPPEN. THANK YOU SO
MUCH. WE'LL ASK YOU TO FINISH UP
YOUR THOUGHT, PLEASE. OKAY.
SURE. TO CLARIFY THIS BILL WILL
HAVE NO IMPACT ON PESTICIDE USE
ON CAMPUS OR ON THE HEALTHY
SCHOOLS ACT. AND I'LL PASS THE
TESTIMONY ON TO MY COLLEAGUE,
VICTOR TORRES. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH TO MINISTER. GOOD
AFTERNOON, CHAIR AND MEMBERS OF
THE COMMITTEE. MY NAME IS VICTOR
TORRES AND I AM 17 YEARS OLD AND
CURRENTLY A SENIOR AT GREENFIELD
HIGH SCHOOL IN MY HOMETOWN OF
GREENFIELD, IN THE HEART OF THE
SALINAS VALLEY IN MONTEREY
COUNTY. I AM A VOLUNTEER WITH
FUTURE LEADERS OF CHANGE AND A
CO-FOUNDER OF THIS ORGANIZATION,
BASED IN BOTH GREENFIELD AND THE
CITY OF WATSONVILLE. I AM HERE
TODAY TO BRING AWARENESS TO YOU
ABOUT THE DANGER OF PESTICIDE
APPLICATION NEAR OUR SCHOOLS. I
MYSELF WAS A VICTIM OF PESTICIDE
DRIFT AT THE AGE OF TEN. AT MY
LOCAL MIDDLE SCHOOL. NO CHILD
SHOULD HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THEIR
HEALTH IN A PLACE OF LEARNING.
NO CHILD SHOULD HAVE TO BE
RUSHED TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM FOR
SOMETHING OUT OF THEIR CONTROL.
WE NEED BETTER PROTECTIONS
AROUND SCHOOLS FOR BOTH PUBLIC
AND PRIVATE. IT IS IMPORTANT FOR
US TO KNOW THE EXACT LOCATION OF
THE PESTICIDE APPLICATION AND
HOW PESTICIDES ARE APPLIED, BUT
MOST IMPORTANTLY, THAT EVERY
NOTICE OF INTENT OR NOI BROUGHT
TO COMMISSIONERS IS EXAMINED
THOROUGHLY BEFORE APPROVAL. THIS
WOULD IN FACT, GUARANTEE THAT NO
OTHER TEN YEAR OLD HAS TO
EXPERIENCE THE CONSEQUENCES OF
HAVING SUCH DANGEROUS CHEMICALS
APPLIED NEAR THEIR SCHOOLS AS MY
COLLEAGUE JANE, AS MY COLLEAGUE
JANE CELLA NOTED, THERE ARE MANY
HAZARDOUS PESTICIDES THAT ARE
NOT CLASSIFIED AS RESTRICTED
MATERIALS, AND SO CURRENTLY NO
NÓI IS REQUIRED WHEN I WAS A
VICTIM OF PESTICIDE DRIFT, THERE
WERE EIGHT DIFFERENT PESTICIDES
INVOLVED AND NOT ONE OF THEM WAS
RESTRICTED. EVEN THOUGH FOUR OF
THE EIGHT ARE KNOWN TO TRIGGER
ASTHMA. ANOTHER OF THE EIGHT,
ALSO UN RESTRICTED, WAS DACTYL
OR DCPA. THE US EPA NOW SAYS
ALLOWABLE LEVELS OF DCPA ARE
1500 TIMES MORE HARMFUL TO
DEVELOPING BRAINS THAN IS
CONSIDERED SAFE. HALF OF ALL
DCPA USE IN CALIFORNIA IS IN MY
COUNTY, MONTEREY COUNTY. THERE
ARE 29 GROWERS WHO PLAN TO APPLY
DCPA Ã WITHIN A QUARTER MILE OF
65 SCHOOLS IN MONTEREY COUNTY IN
THE CURRENT SCHOOL YEAR. WE ARE
THE FUTURE LEADERS OF CHANGE IN
THE COMMUNITY, AND I ASK YOU ALL
TO PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US
TO NOT ONLY LEARN, MEET WITH
PEERS, BUT ALSO TO ENJOY OUR
CHILDHOOD IN A SAFE ENVIRONMENT.
THANK YOU CHAIRS AND MEMBERS OF
CHAIR AND MEMBERS OF THE
COMMITTEE, AND I URGE YOU TO
VOTE YES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
ANY OTHER WITNESSES IN SUPPORT
OF AB 1864? NAME AND
ORGANIZATION ONLY, PLEASE.
ABIGAIL ALVAREZ WITH THE
PESTICIDE ACTION NETWORK IN
CALIFORNIA, THE CALIFORNIA FOOD
AND FARMING NETWORK IN STRONG
SUPPORT. REBECCA MARQUEZ WITH
CENTER FOR FOOD SAFETY AND
CALPIRG IN SUPPORT. THANK YOU,
NORA LIN. WITH CHILDREN NOW IN
SUPPORT. CAÑADA RIVERA ESPINOSA
FROM WATSONVILLE HIGH SCHOOL AND
I STRONGLY SUPPORT. ROSIE ORTIZ
RIVERA FROM WATSONVILLE HIGH
SCHOOL, AND I SUPPORT. HELLO. MY
NAME IS RAUL GARCIA, AND I'M
WITH THE TULARE COUNTY COALITION
ADVOCATING FOR PESTICIDE SAFETY.
ALSO SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE
CENTRAL CALIFORNIA ASTHMA
COLLABORATIVE AND THE UFCW
WESTERN STATES COUNCIL ON
SUPPORT OF AB 1864. THANK YOU.
GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M KEN GARCIA,
CO-DIRECTOR WITH CALIFORNIANS
FOR PASTA REFORM, PROUD
CO-SPONSOR AND IN STRONG
SUPPORT. ALSO, ON BEHALF OF
VALLEY IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS IN
SUPPORT. AND LASTLY, ON BEHALF
OF THE CENTER ON RACE, POVERTY
AND THE ENVIRONMENT ALSO IN
SUPPORT. THANK YOU. GOOD
AFTERNOON. AND CAPTAIN OF
CALIFORNIA RURAL LEGAL
ASSISTANCE FOUNDATION IN SUPPORT
, AND ALSO ON BEHALF OF SONOMA
SAFE AG SAFE SCHOOLS, SIERRA
CLUB AND CENTRAL VALLEY AIR
QUALITY COALITION. THANK YOU,
VANESSA FORSYTHE. SPEAKING IN
SUPPORT FOR THESE ORGANIZATIONS.
CLEAN EARTH FOR KIDS, CALIFORNIA
NURSES FOR ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
AND JUSTICE, NORTH COUNTY EQUITY
AND JUSTICE, INTERFAITH COUNCIL
FOR ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE, NCC,
CA, ESP, FACS AND GRANDPARENTS
IN ACTION. ANGELA MARTINEZ IN
SUPPORT AND ALSO SUPPORT ON
BEHALF OF SAFE SAFE SCHOOLS
MONTEREY BAY A PROUD CO-SPONSOR
COALITION ADVOCATING FOR
PESTICIDE SAFETY. VENTURA COUNTY
RICAN VITOVA AND SECRETARIES,
AND ALSO AS COUNCILWOMAN OF THE
CITY OF GREENFIELD IN FULL
SUPPORT. MARK WELLER IN SUPPORT
ON BEHALF OF MONTEREY BAY
CENTRAL LABOR COUNCIL. PAJARO
VALLEY FEDERATION OF TEACHERS,
AND CENTER FOR FARMWORKER
FAMILIES. THANK YOU. CASSIE
MANCINI, ON BEHALF OF THE
CALIFORNIA SCHOOL EMPLOYEES
ASSOCIATION IN SUPPORT. TRISTEN
BROWN, WITH THE CFT IN SUPPORT.
ORTEZ AND SUPPORT. YOU SAID LUIS
TORRES IN SUPPORT. HE'S A PARENT
OF AN IMPACTED STUDENT. ALL
RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ANY
WITNESSES IN OPPOSITION TO THE
BILL? PLEASE COME FORWARD.
MR. CHAMBER MEMBERS OR MR.
CHAIRMAN MEMBERS CHRIS REARDON,
CALIFORNIA FARM BUREAU, GOOD
AFTERNOON. THE CALIFORNIA FARM
BILL TAKES TAKES VERY SERIOUSLY
OUR RESPONSIBILITIES TO PROTECT
OUR FARMING ACTIVITIES IN AND
AROUND SCHOOLS. AFTER ALL, OUR
CHILDREN AND OUR GRANDCHILDREN
ATTEND THOSE SCHOOLS AS WELL.
MANY PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE THAT
FARMERS IN SCHOOLS LOCATED IN
AGRICULTURAL AREAS HAVE A LONG
HISTORY OF COMMUNICATING WITH
WITH ONE ANOTHER, PARTICULARLY
WHEN IT COMES TO PESTICIDE
APPLICATIONS OCCURRING IN THEIR
AREAS. THIS HAPPENS EACH AND
EVERY DAY ALL OVER THE STATE,
AND IT HAS HAPPENED FOR A LONG
TIME. WE UNDERSTAND ASSEMBLYMAN
CONNELLY'S LEGISLATION. WE'VE
HAD OPPORTUNITY TO SIT DOWN AND
DISCUSS OUR CONCERNS WITH HIM,
BUT WE STILL HAVE SOME
OUTSTANDING ISSUES. I THINK IT'S
ALSO IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THE
DEPARTMENT OF PESTICIDE
REGULATION HAS THE MOST
COMPREHENSIVE PESTICIDE PROGRAM
ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD, AND OUR
COUNTY AG COMMISSIONERS CARRY
OUT OUR PESTICIDE USE
ENFORCEMENT AT THE LOCAL LEVEL
AND ARE ACTIVELY ENGAGED ON THIS
ISSUE ON A DAILY BASIS. THEY
MANAGE A RESTRICTED USE
PERMITTING PROCESS IN THIS STATE
AND CARRY OUT ENFORCEMENT
ACTIVITIES AS WELL. OUR OUR
CONCERN WITH THIS LEGISLATION
HAS TO DO WITH NOW LOOKING AT
BOTH RESTRICTED AND NON
RESTRICTED USE MATERIALS TO
SUBMIT NOTICES OF INTENT FOR AN
APPLICATION WITHIN A QUARTER
MILE OF A SCHOOL SITE, WHICH,
CANDIDLY, MR. CHAIR, WILL
OVERWHELM THE NÓI PROCESS IN
THIS STATE BECAUSE RIGHT NOW
IT'S CONSTRUCTED JUST TO CONTROL
JUST RESTRICTED USE MATERIALS.
SO WHEN YOU ADD IN BOTH THE NON
RESTRICTED AND RESTRICTED USE
MATERIALS, THE AG COMMISSIONERS
WHO OVERSEE THIS, THIS PROCESS
AT THE LOCAL LEVEL WILL HAVE
WON'T HAVE ANY WAY OF FOLLOWING,
AT LEAST IN A PROCESS THAT MAKES
SENSE AS IT DOES NOW. IT'S
IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THAT ALSO
, RESTRICTED USE AND I THINK IT
WAS MENTIONED EARLIER IN ONE OF
THE TESTIMONIES THAT THERE'S
ALREADY RESTRICTIONS AROUND
SCHOOLS FROM 6 A.M. TO 6 P.M.
RIGHT NOW. IT'S NOT CLEAR TO US
THAT THIS BILL WOULD PROVIDE ANY
ADDITIONAL SAFETY MEASURES TO
THE APPLICATIONS AROUND SCHOOLS
THAT DOESN'T ALREADY EXIST.
WE'LL ALSO KNOW, AND IT WAS
MENTIONED EARLIER AS WELL, THAT
NOW WE'RE GOING TO ADD, NEW OR
PRIVATE SCHOOLS IN 2026. THAT
WILL ONLY INCREASE THE
CHALLENGES, TO NOTIFICATION, ON
THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE. SO FOR
US, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE
RESTRICTED USE, YOUR TWO MINUTES
ARE UP. IF YOU CAN WRAP UP, MY
LAST COMMENT IS WHEN YOU LOOK AT
OUR, OUR NOTIFICATION PROCESS,
THIS WILL THIS WILL IMPLODE
EVERYTHING NOT ONLY RESTRICTED
USE BUT NON RESTRICTED USE AS
WELL. THEY WON'T BE ABLE TO DO
SORT OF THE EXISTING PROGRAM AS
IT CURRENTLY STANDS. THANK YOU
MR. CHAIR. THANK YOU. GOOD
AFTERNOON, MR. CHAIR AND
MEMBERS. MATTHEW SEIBERLING, ON
BEHALF OF THE CALIFORNIA
AGRICULTURAL COMMISSIONERS AND
SEALERS ASSOCIATION, IN
OPPOSITION TODAY, SIMILAR
COMMENTS AS MR. REARDON JUST
MADE, STATE LAW TASKED THE AG
COMMISSIONERS WITH
RESPONSIBILITY FOR REGULATING
PESTICIDE USE AT THE LOCAL LEVEL
IN COOPERATION WITH THE
CALIFORNIA DPR. THEY TAKE THEIR
JOB VERY SERIOUSLY AND THEIR
MISSION STATEMENT IS TO PROTECT
HUMAN HEALTH AND SAFETY. AND THE
ENVIRONMENT BY ENSURING THAT
PESTICIDES ARE USED SAFELY AND
LEGALLY. THE CORE AND ONE OF THE
MOST FUNDAMENTAL ASPECTS OF THE
OF THE PROGRAM IS FIELD BASED
ENFORCEMENT INSPECTIONS, MOST OF
WHICH ARE SURPRISED AND
UNANNOUNCED. THIS IS IN ADDITION
TO THE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF
PERMITS ACT COMMISSIONERS
ALREADY REVIEW AND ISSUE, AND
THE NOISE THAT THEY REVIEW AS
WELL. THE SAFETY OF SCHOOL
CHILDREN IS ALREADY ONE OF THE
HIGHEST PRIORITIES OF AG
COMMISSIONERS, AND WE IMPLEMENT
THE CURRENT PESTICIDE USE NEAR
SCHOOL REGULATIONS. AGAIN,
THAT'S BEEN REFERENCED SEVERAL
TIMES TODAY. THE 6 A.M. TO 6
P.M. REGULATIONS, IN ORDER TO
ACCOMPLISH THAT, AB 1864
REPRESENTS A SIGNIFICANT NEW
UNFUNDED MANDATE THAT WILL TAKE
OUR INSPECTORS OUT OF THE FIELD
AND STICK THEM IN THE OFFICE TO
PUSH PAPER RATHER THAN BE OUT IN
THE FIELD ACTUALLY DOING THE
WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE. AND
AS MENTIONED BEFORE, SEVERAL
TIMES 90% OF THE PESTICIDES THAT
ARE USED IN CALIFORNIA ARE NOT
RESTRICTED, SO THIS WILL
REPRESENT A HUGE WORKLOAD
INCREASE TO REVIEW NOISE RELATED
TO NON RESTRICTED MATERIALS,
FINISHING UP WE MUST REVIEW
EVERY NÓI. AND THE REQUIREMENTS
OF THIS BILL WOULD SIGNIFICANTLY
CHANGE OUR WORKLOADS AND ADD A
MASSIVE NUMBER OF NOISE, EACH OF
WHICH WOULD NEED TO BE REVIEWED
AT THE EXPENSE OF FIELD
ENFORCEMENT, INCLUDING
MONITORING APPLICATIONS NEAR
SCHOOLS AND FOR THOSE REASONS,
WE OPPOSE THE BILL TODAY. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU. ANY PUBLIC
COMMENTS IN OPPOSITION TO THE
BILL? PLEASE COME FORWARD. GOOD
AFTERNOON, CHAIR AND MEMBERS,
MATTHEW ALLEN WITH WESTERN
GROWERS ASSOCIATION. WE ARE
RESPECTFULLY OPPOSED, UNLESS
AMENDED TO THE BILL. THANK YOU.
GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR AND
MEMBERS. BRENDA BASS WITH THE
CALIFORNIA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
IN AN OPPOSED, UNLESS AMENDED
POSITION. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.
AND MEMBERS. CARLOS GUTIERREZ,
ON BEHALF OF THE WESTERN PLANT
HEALTH ASSOCIATION, IN ADDITION
TO THE CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF
PEST CONTROL ADVISORS AND A
NUMBER OF AGRICULTURAL COMMODITY
AND COMMISSIONS WITH AN OPPOSED,
UNLESS AMENDED, POSITION, THANK
YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON, JOHN
MOFFATT. ON BEHALF OF THE MILK
PRODUCERS COUNCIL. OPPOSED
UNLESS AMENDED. THANK YOU.
SEEING NO FURTHER PUBLIC
COMMENTS IN OPPOSITION, BRING IT
BACK TO THE COMMITTEE VICE CHAIR
FLORA. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.
AND, MR. CONNOLLY, ALWAYS
APPRECIATE YOU. AND, WE MAY HAVE
TO JUST AGREE TO DISAGREE ON
THIS ONE. AS A KID THAT WAS
RAISED, IN THE FIELDS OF THE
CENTRAL VALLEY, WHAT THE, FARM
BUREAUS AND THE AG
COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE AND
RELATIONSHIP THAT WE HAVE WITH
OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM. I JUST I
DON'T KNOW WHY WE NEED TO SPILL.
I REALLY DON'T I THINK THERE IS
A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF
NOTIFICATION THAT GOES ON. AND
THEN THE EXPANSION OF WHAT IS
CURRENTLY GOING ON INTO
NON-REGULATED, PESTICIDES AS
WELL. IT JUST IT'S GOING TO BE
THE WILD, WILD WEST. IT'S THE
EFFECT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT A
QUARTER MILE AROUND A SCHOOL AND
NOW PUBLIC SCHOOLS, IT
EFFECTIVELY SHUTS DOWN A LARGE
PORTION OF OUR AREA, ESPECIALLY
IN MY DISTRICT. AND THESE ARE
PESTICIDES THAT NOBODY AND
GENTLEMAN FROM THE FARM BUREAU
MENTIONED. THIS, OUR KIDS PLAY
IN THESE FIELDS. OUR KIDS GO TO
THESE SCHOOLS, OUR GRANDKIDS, MY
DAUGHTERS. RIGHT. SO IF THERE
WAS ANYTHING THAT WOULD HURT
THEM THAT WE WERE PUTTING ON OUR
CROPS, WE WOULDN'T WANT TO DO
THAT. AND I THINK THE BIGGER
ISSUE THAT WE HAVE IS, AS THE
URBAN COMMUNITIES HAVE MOVED IN,
AS WE AS WE'VE SPRAWLED AND
REALLY NARROWED THAT INTO AG
LAND, THERE IS A LACK OF
EDUCATION ON OUR PART AS AN AG
COMMUNITY, ON WHAT WE'RE
ACTUALLY USING AND HOW THESE
PRODUCTS ARE FOR THE MOST PART,
SAFE WITH THE PROPER
NOTIFICATION. SO I WOULD JUST
ENCOURAGE YOU, AS THIS BILL, YOU
KNOW, POTENTIALLY MOVES FORWARD.
AND I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE A
CONVERSATION WITH YOU OFFLINE
AND SEE IF WE CAN HELP NARROW
THIS TO SOME A PLACE WHERE I
COULD SUPPORT IT, BECAUSE WHAT
YOUR INTENTS ARE, I APPRECIATE.
RIGHT? I JUST THINK THE WAY THIS
BILL IS WRITTEN IN PRINT REALLY,
REALLY, ALL DUE RESPECT, SCREWS
OVER AG IN A WAY THAT IT'S
REALLY HARD TO COME BACK FROM.
SO I APPRECIATE YOU. I
APPRECIATE YOUR OPENNESS. WE'D
LOVE TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION
OFFLINE. ANY FURTHER COMMENTS OR
QUESTIONS FROM THE COMMITTEE,
MR. CONNOLLY, THANK YOU. I, FOR
THE FOR THIS BILL. I, I DO
ACTUALLY HAVE A QUESTION, I'M
LOOKING AT THE ANALYSIS AND I
HEAR THE CONCERN, ESPECIALLY
ABOUT THE NON RESTRICTED,
PESTICIDES. COULD COULD YOU TALK
ABOUT. I FORGIVE ME IF ONE OF
YOUR WITNESSES ALREADY COVERED
THIS, BUT COULD YOU TALK ABOUT
WHY IT'S IMPORTANT? YEAH. TO
RECEIVE THE NOISE FOR THE NON
USE. AND LET ME JUST BECAUSE I
THINK WE HAVE MADE PROGRESS ON
THE BILL AND I APPRECIATE THE
SENTIMENTS OF MY DISTINGUISHED
COLLEAGUE, WE HAVE EFFECTIVELY
REMOVED OPPOSITION ON THE AND WE
HAVE AGREEMENT ON THE ISSUE OF,
OF GREATER SPECIFICITY IN THE
REPORTING. I THINK WE CAN, IF
NOT ALREADY HAVE RESOLVED THE
ISSUE ON PRIVATE SCHOOLS BECAUSE
I AGREE THE AG COMMUNITY SHOULD
NOT HAVE TO GUESS WHERE WHAT IS
A PRIVATE SCHOOL OR WHERE TO, TO
BE PROVIDED WITH THAT LIST. SO
REALLY IT'S COMING DOWN TO THE
RESTRICT THE INCLUSION OF
UNRESTRICTED AS WELL AS
RESTRICTED. SO I'LL JUST OFFER
SOME QUICK THOUGHTS ON THAT
STARTING WITH AND THIS IS WITH
RESPECT TO THE TO THE WORK THAT
OUR INSPECTORS DO THAT THE TOO
MUCH PAPERWORK DEFENSE TO THE
PUBLIC HEALTH RISKS IS NEVER
THAT PERSUASIVE TO ME.
FURTHERMORE BEFORE YOU ACTUALLY
HAVE SOMEONE SITTING TO MY RIGHT
WHO ACTUALLY EXPLAINED TO THIS
COMMITTEE, THE REAL WORLD
IMPACTS OF UNRESTRICTED
PESTICIDE USE THAT DRIFTED AT
HIS SCHOOL, HE SUFFERED THE
CONSEQUENCES OF THAT. THAT'S ONE
STORY, AND IT SOUNDS PRETTY
CREDIBLE TO ME. BUT WE ALSO ARE
HEARING THE FACTS. I TRY TO GIVE
A LITTLE BIT OF FLAVOR OF THAT,
AS DID JANE ON ON, THE NUMBER OF
UNRESTORED DICTED THAT STILL
OFTEN POSE RISKS, EVEN THOUGH
THEY HAVEN'T MADE IT TO THE
RESTRICTED USE YET. THAT HAVING
BEEN SAID, LET'S KEEP TALKING, I
THINK WE'RE GETTING THERE, BUT
MY GOAL IS TO GET THIS ACROSS
THE FINISH LINE. SO C OPEN TO
CONTINUED DISCUSSIONS ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU FOR, FOR THE
CLARIFICATION AND I'M SORRY I
HAD TO STEP OUT. SO I MISSED
YOUR, SECOND WITNESSES
TESTIMONY, TO THAT EXACT
QUESTION THAT I RAISED. SO I
APOLOGIZE FOR THAT. THIS BILL
DOES, ENJOY A DUE PASS.
RECOMMENDATION WOULD YOU LIKE TO
CLOSE? THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR
CONSIDERATION. RESPECTFULLY ASK
FOR AN AYE VOTE. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. I'LL MOVE THE BILL.
MOTION'S MADE, AND I WILL SECOND
THE BILL, MADAM SECRETARY,
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. FILE ITEM
TWO, AB 1864. THE MOTION IS DUE.
PASS TO APPROPRIATIONS.
MURATSUCHI Ã MURATSUCHI I LARA
LARA NØ ADDIS ALVAREZ. BONTA I
BONTA I HOOVER. MCCURDY OKAY,
BILL IS ON CALL. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. ALL RIGHT. NEXT AND SIGN
IN ORDER IS, MISS ERWIN, FILE
NUMBER 15 IS ALANIS. MR. ALANIS
IS HERE. NO. YEAH OH, MR.
ALANIS, IS THERE. ALL RIGHT,
LIKE CASPER, MR. MISTER ALANIS,
YOU ARE NEXT. AND SIGN AN ORDER.
SORRY ABOUT THAT, MISS ERWIN.
THIS IS FILE NUMBER FOUR, AB
1927.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MR. CHAIR.
FELLOW MEMBERS OR. YEAH, WE GOT
TWO MEMBERS HERE, I WANT TO
START BY THANKING THE MEMBER AND
THE COMMITTEE STAFF FOR WORKING
WITH MY OFFICE ON THIS IMPORTANT
BILL. AB 1927 WOULD EXPAND
ELIGIBILITY FOR THE GOLDEN STATE
TEACHER GRANT PROGRAM THAT HAS
HELPED THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS
EARN THEIR TEACHING CREDENTIALS
AND MINIMIZE THE STATEWIDE
TEACHER SHORTAGE. THIS BILL
WOULD EXPAND THE PROGRAM TO
STUDENTS EARNING THEIR TEACHING
CREDENTIALS AND CAREER TECHNICAL
EDUCATION, ALSO KNOWN AS CTE.
THE PROGRAM ALSO ALLOWS THE
CALIFORNIA STUDENT AID
COMMISSION TO AWARD GRANTS OF UP
TO $20,000 TO STUDENTS WHO
COMMIT TO AT LEAST FOUR YEARS OF
WORK IN A PRIORITY SCHOOL, WHICH
MAKES UP ALMOST 90% OF THE
SCHOOLS IN MY DISTRICT. THIS
BILL WAS AMENDED TO CLARIFY THAT
ALL GRANT RECIPIENTS MUST WORK
IN A PRIORITY SCHOOL, WHICH MAKE
UP ABOUT 90. AGAIN, OF THE
SCHOOLS IN MY DISTRICT AND MANY
UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES
FOLLOWING THESE AMENDMENTS, ALL
OPPOSITION HAS BEEN REMOVED. I
AM PROUD TO HAVE SUPPORT FROM
COUNTY SUPERINTENDENTS, SCHOOL
ADMINISTRATORS, AND MANY OTHER
REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE
EDUCATION FIELD MEMBERS. I URGE
YOU TO VOTE AYE ON 1927 FOR TWO
REASONS. FIRST, THIS BILL
ADDRESSES THE TEACHER SHORTAGE
BY TAKING STUDENTS WHO ARE
ALREADY WORKING TOWARDS THEIR
CREDENTIALS. AND SECOND, THIS
BILL HELPS OUR YOUTH ACROSS THE
STATE BY PROMOTING THE PLACEMENT
OF HIGHLY EDUCATED, LONG TIME
TEACHERS IN SCHOOLS AND FURTHER
SUPPORTING YOUTH SEEKING CTE
PATHS. WITH THAT, I WOULD LIKE
TO INTRODUCE MY WITNESSES TODAY,
DANA TAFOYA WITH THE MARIPOSA
COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL AND SARAH
NOCITO, ON BEHALF OF THE
SACRAMENTO REGIONAL BUILDERS
EXCHANGE. I RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR
YOUR AYE VOTE. HI. GOOD
AFTERNOON. THANK YOU,
ASSEMBLYMAN ALANIZ AND COMMITTEE
MEMBERS FOR INVITING ME TO SHARE
SUPPORT FOR AB 1927. MY NAME IS
DANA TAFOYA AND I'M A MEDICAL
CAREERS CTE CAREER AND TECHNICAL
EDUCATION TEACHER FOR MARIPOSA
COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL IN MARIPOSA
COUNTY. IN 2018, AFTER 25 YEARS
IN EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES
AND PUBLIC HEALTH, I FOLLOWED AN
OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE A PASSION
FOR MEDICAL SCIENCE AND TEACH
HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ABOUT THE
MANY CAREER PATHS IN THE MEDICAL
FIELD INVOLVED IN ADULT AND PEER
EDUCATION THROUGHOUT MY CAREER.
THE JUMP TO HIGH SCHOOL
EDUCATION, WAS NOT WITHOUT
TREPIDATION. THÀNH, TRUTHFULLY,
I DID NOT KNOW EXACTLY WHAT TO
EXPECT, WHAT I DID KNOW,
HOWEVER, IS THAT THE MEDICAL
CAREERS PROGRAM WOULD NOT EXIST
AT MCS WITHOUT A CTE TEACHER,
AND OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY HEALTH
CARE WORKFORCE WOULD ALSO
CONTINUE TO EXPERIENCE SEVERE
SHORTAGES, THUS LIMITING THE
MEDICAL SERVICES TO OUR
COMMUNITY MEMBERS. I'M GRATEFUL
FOR THE OPPORTUNITY THAT I DID
TAKE BECAUSE IT CONTINUES TO BE
AN EXCITING AND REWARDING
JOURNEY AMIDST EXCITING BECAUSE
WE CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THE
MEDICAL CAREERS PROGRAM WITH
PLANS TO EXPAND TO A CERTIFIED
NURSING ASSISTANT PROGRAM IN
EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIAN
PROGRAM NEXT YEAR, AND THIS WILL
PROVIDE STUDENTS WITH ENTRY
LEVEL CERTIFICATION IN A
CORNERSTONE FOR THEIR OWN
MEDICAL CAREERS. AND IT'S VERY
REWARDING BECAUSE NOW I SEE ON A
REGULAR BASIS THESE PREVIOUS
STUDENTS WORKING IN OUR LOCAL
HEALTH CARE FACILITIES,
PROVIDING SERVICE AND CARE TO
OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS. CTE
TEACHER SHORTAGES ARE COMMON IN
HEALTH SCIENCE, MEDICAL
TECHNOLOGY PATHWAYS, IN ADDITION
TO OTHER PATHWAYS AT MCS,
UNFILLED POSITIONS HAVE CLOSED
PUBLIC SERVICE PATHWAYS AND HAVE
THREATENED ONE OF OUR STRONGEST
PATHWAYS AS IT IS A CHALLENGE TO
RECRUIT A QUALIFIED INDUSTRY
EXPERIENCED PERSON INTERESTED IN
BECOMING A TEACHER WITH THE
EXPECTATION THAT TEACHER ALSO
PURSUE THE REQUIREMENTS FOR
PRELIMINARY CREDENTIALING, THEN
PAY TUITION AND ENROLL AND
COMPLETE COURSES REQUIRED TO
THEN CLEAR THEIR CREDENTIAL. AB
1927 WILL PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY
TO DECREASE THIS COST BARRIER
ASSOCIATED WITH CTE. DESIGNATED
SUBJECT CREDENTIALING, THUS
ENCOURAGING INDUSTRY EXPERTS TO
BECOME CTE TEACHERS AND
MEASURABLY DECREASING CTE
TEACHER SHORTAGES. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH, MR. CHAIR. MEMBERS
SARAH NOCITO, ON BEHALF OF THE
SACRAMENTO REGIONAL BUILDERS
EXCHANGE, THE REGION'S OLDEST
AND LARGEST CONSTRUCTION
INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION, AS WELL AS
THE CALIFORNIA BUILDERS ALLIANCE
AND ASSOCIATION OF INDUSTRY
EXCHANGES THROUGHOUT THE STATE.
WE'RE PROUD TO SUPPORT AB 1927,
WHICH WE SEE AS AN IMPORTANT
STEP IN EXPANDING CTE PROGRAMS
IN CALIFORNIA. THE CONSTRUCTION
INDUSTRY, LIKE MANY OTHER
INDUSTRIES, IS STRUGGLING TO
CLOSE THE SKILLED, SKILLED LABOR
GAP, ESPECIALLY IN THE FACE OF
INCREASED DEMAND FOR BUILDING
TRADES WORKERS TO REACH THE
STATE'S AMBITIOUS HOUSING AND
INFRASTRUCTURE GOALS. TODAY, FOR
EVERY FIVE CONSTRUCTION WORKERS
WHO ARE PREPARING FOR
RETIREMENT, THERE'S ONLY ONE IN
THE PIPELINE TO REPLACE THEM.
OUR CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY
EDUCATION FOUNDATION INTRODUCES
AND EMPOWERS HIGH SCHOOL
STUDENTS TO PURSUE CAREERS IN
THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT, INCLUDING
THE SKILLED TRADES. WE SERVE
MORE THAN 10,000 STUDENTS
THROUGH INTERACTIVE CTE
PROGRAMING AT PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND
JUVENILE JUSTICE FACILITIES
ACROSS CALIFORNIA AND IN FOUR
OTHER STATES. NONE OF OUR
PROGRAMS CAN EXIST WITHOUT
CREDENTIALED CTE. TEACHERS
DEMAND FOR OUR PROGRAMING IS
CURRENTLY OUTPACING OUR
CAPABILITIES AND ONE OF THE
LARGEST LIMITATIONS TO GROWTH IS
A LACK OF CTE. TEACHERS
ESPECIALLY AT PRIORITY SCHOOLS,
EXPANDING CTE PATHWAYS WILL HELP
ATTRACT A DIVERSE RANGE OF
STUDENTS WHO MAY OTHERWISE FACE
BARRIERS TO ENTERING THE
CONSTRUCTION FIELD. FOR EXAMPLE,
WOMEN FACE SEVERE
UNDERREPRESENTATION IN
CONSTRUCTION, ENGINEERING AND
MANUFACTURING PROFESSIONS,
MAKING UP ONLY 8.9% OF THE
CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY. AND WE
BELIEVE THAT MAKING THESE
PATHWAYS MORE ACCESSIBLE IN HIGH
SCHOOL WILL HELP ELIMINATE SOME
OF THESE BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT.
RESEARCH SHOWS THAT GENDER AND
RACIAL DIVERSITY IS ASSOCIATED
WITH INCREASED PERFORMANCE,
INNOVATION AND OPPORTUNITY.
BEING ABLE TO EXPAND OUR
PROGRAMING ALLOWS US TO REACH
MORE DIVERSE STUDENTS, AND WE
BELIEVE THAT AB 1927 WILL HELP
TO INCREASE THE POOL OF
INSTRUCTORS TRYING TO EARN THEIR
CTE TEACHING CREDENTIAL. THANKS
TO ASSEMBLY MEMBER ALANIZ FOR
HIS LEADERSHIP ON THIS IMPORTANT
ISSUE, AND WE RESPECTFULLY URGE
YOUR AYE VOTE. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH, PUBLIC COMMENTS IN SUPPORT
OF THE MEASURE. PLEASE COME
FORWARD. GOOD AFTERNOON. CHAIR
MEMBERS. SAM NASHER, ON BEHALF
OF THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY OFFICE
OF EDUCATION, SUPPORT. MEGAN
BERRY, WITH THE ASSOCIATION OF
CALIFORNIA SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS
AND SUPPORT. KRISTIN BROWN WITH
THE CFT IN SUPPORT. GOOD
AFTERNOON, MICHELLE GILL, ON
BEHALF OF CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION
OF SCHOOL BUSINESS OFFICIALS AND
SUPPORT. THANK YOU, ANY
WITNESSES IN OPPOSITION TO THE
BILL? PLEASE COME FORWARD.
SEEING NONE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS
IN OPPOSITION TO THE BILL?
SEEING NONE. BRING IT BACK TO
THE COMMITTEE. ANY QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS, MR. ALVAREZ? THANK
YOU, MR. CHAIR. SOMETIMES THIS
IS HARD. I DOUBT ANYONE FROM
CSAC IS HERE ON THIS ISSUE, SO
IT'S HARD TO ASK QUESTIONS. YOU
KNOW, WE'RE OBVIOUSLY REVIEWING,
THIS PROGRAM, WHICH HAS BEEN
SUPPORTED IN THE BUDGET CONTEXT.
AND SO I JUST WANT TO SORT OF,
START OFF WITH, WITH SAYING THAT
IT'S IN THE MY QUESTIONS OR MY
COMMENTS MAYBE ARE IN THE
CONTEXT OF THE BUDGET AND THE
LIMITATIONS OF FUNDING TO EXPAND
THE PROGRAM. I THINK IN THIS
CASE, WHAT MAKES ME MORE
COMFORTABLE CERTAINLY, IS THE
IT'S ESSENTIALLY AN EXPANSION OF
THE ELIGIBILITY. BUT WITH THE
SAME PARAMETERS, WHICH ARE
CRITICAL, WHICH, I APPRECIATE
YOU ACCEPTING THE AMENDMENTS,
WHICH IS TO ENSURE THAT, THOSE
WHO RECEIVE THESE, OR
PARTICIPATE IN THIS PROGRAM
SERVE AT PRIORITY SCHOOLS, WHICH
IS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT TO ME.
SO, WITH THAT, THOUGH, HAVE YOU
HAD A CHANCE TO TALK TO, TO
CSAC, THE STUDENT AID
COMMISSION, ABOUT WHAT THIS
REALLY WOULD MEAN IN TERMS OF,
YOU KNOW, PARTICIPATION IS THERE
A DEMAND FOR CTE TEACHERS THAT
ARE SEEKING THIS, THAT ARE
INELIGIBLE TODAY BECAUSE THEY
MAYBE ARE SEEKING A DIFFERENT,
CAREER PATH? JUST AGAIN, I KNOW
IT'S HARD. THEY'RE NOT HERE SO
THEY CAN'T ANSWER. BUT ANYTHING
YOU CAN SHED LIGHT ON ON THAT.
YES, OBVIOUSLY SAME CONCERNS
OBVIOUSLY, WE CARE A LOT ABOUT
BUDGET AND WHERE MONEY IS GOING,
BUT ACTUALLY, CSAC WAS ACTUALLY,
A BIG PART OF GIVING US THE
TECHNICAL, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
IN THE AMENDMENTS THAT WE WERE
TAKING. SO THEY'RE THEY'RE PART
OF THIS CONVERSATION. OKAY AND
THEN ALSO JUST WANT TO
ACKNOWLEDGE, THERE'S A FEW BILLS
OUT THERE. I THINK IT MIGHT BE
IN THE ANALYSIS. I'M NOT SURE,
ON CAREER TECHNICAL EDUCATION
AND TEACHERS WHO ARE ENTERING
THAT. SO ONE, ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR,
INVOLVEMENT IN THE CONVERSATION,
WHICH IS IMPORTANT. WE NEED TO
STRENGTHEN CTE IN THE STATE, BUT
THERE ARE SORT OF A LOT OF
MOVING PARTS TO HOW TO
ACCOMPLISH THAT, I THINK THIS IS
DEFINITELY IN THE RIGHT
DIRECTION OF TRYING TO ADDRESS
THAT. THE ISSUE OF IDENTIFYING,
TEACHERS WHO COULD BE PREPARED
TO, TO SERVE IN THOSE ROLES. SO
WITH THAT, AND JUST WITH THE
CAVEAT THAT WE ARE HAVING
BUDGETARY DISCUSSIONS ON WHAT WE
CAN DO WITH THIS PROGRAM, AND
HOW FAR WE CAN GO AND STRETCH,
I'D BE SUPPORTIVE TODAY AGAIN,
LETTING YOU KNOW THAT WE'RE
HAVING BUDGETARY DISCUSSIONS ON
HOW TO IMPLEMENT THIS. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
COMMENTS. THANK YOU. ANY FURTHER
COMMENTS FROM THE COMMITTEE?
QUESTIONS SEEING NONE, MR.
ALANIZ, THANK YOU, FOR, THE
CONVERSATIONS WE HAD ABOUT THIS
BILL, YOU KNOW, I, I THINK WE'RE
ALL BIG SUPPORTERS OF, OF CTE
AND SO I CERTAINLY APPRECIATE
YOUR, YOUR LEADERSHIP, ON THIS
BILL, I FULLY EXPECT YOUR BILL
TO PASS, OUT OF THIS COMMITTEE,
I JUST WANTED TO RAISE THE
CONCERN. AND I'M GLAD THAT, MR.
ALVAREZ IS HERE AS AS CHAIR OF
OUR BUDGET SUBCOMMITTEE ON
EDUCATION FUNDING. THAT YOU
KNOW, ACCORDING TO THE, THE DATA
THAT IS DISCUSSED IN THE
COMMITTEE ANALYSIS, IT'S, THE
DATA ON THE SHORTAGE OF CTE
TEACHERS, APPEARS TO BE MIXED,
DEPENDING ON WHICH INDUSTRY
SECTOR AND WHAT AREAS OF THE
STATE, AND GIVEN THAT WE'RE
TALKING ABOUT THE GOLDEN STATE
TEACHER GRANT PROGRAM RUNNING
OUT OF FUNDS, YOU KNOW, I EXPECT
THAT WE MAY BE HAVING
DISCUSSIONS ABOUT, IDENTIFYING,
YOU KNOW, WHERE THE TEACHER
SHORTAGE IS THE GREATEST, WHICH
I THINK HAS ALWAYS BEEN AND
PROBABLY WILL CONTINUE TO BE
MATH, SCIENCE AND SPECIAL
EDUCATION TEACHERS, AND SO THAT
IS THE ONLY REASON WHY, I HAVE A
NONE ROCO ON ON THIS BILL, AND
THAT I WILL BE ABSTAINING. BUT
AGAIN, BECAUSE EVERYONE LOVES
YOU, MR. ALANIZ, I FULLY EXPECT
THIS BILL TO BE PASSED AND OUT,
WHICH I'D LIKE TO CLOSE. YES,
MR. CHAIR, THANK YOU FOR THOSE
WORDS. AND I DO APPRECIATE OUR
CONVERSATIONS THAT WE HAVE. I, I
SHARE THE SAME CONCERNS AND I, I
THINK IT'S GREAT THAT YOU ARE,
HAVING THOSE AS YOUR PRIORITIES
AS WELL AND ALSO WITH MR.
ALVAREZ AS WELL AS BUDGET AS I
USED TO SIT ON BUDGET, I TOTALLY
GET ALL THAT, THAT IS WHY WE
ALSO MADE SURE THAT WE HAD A
BUDGET ASK OF 10 MILLION ON THAT
AS WELL. ON THE SIDE NOTE, BUT
AS YOU ALL KNOW, CTE IS GOING
AWAY. WE STILL NEED PEOPLE TO
MAKE THE BUILDINGS THAT WE'RE
WORKING IN AND THAT WERE THE
ROADS THAT WE'RE DRIVING ON. AND
UNFORTUNATELY THESE THESE PHONES
ARE TAKING OVER EVERYTHING. AND
APS AND TECHNOLOGY, TECHNOLOGY
AS WELL AS THAT GOES. BUT WE
STILL NEED PEOPLE TO GET UP IN
THE MORNING AND SWING A HAMMER,
LAY CONCRETE AND ALL THOSE OTHER
THINGS THAT GO WITH IT. AND,
THAT WORKFORCE IS OBVIOUSLY
DEPLETING. AND, I'M HOPING WE
CAN BRING IT BACK AND, I
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOUR I
VOTE. THANK YOU GUYS. ALL RIGHT,
WE DO. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A
SECOND MOTION MADE. ENTERTAIN A
SECOND OVER. ALL RIGHT. THERE WE
GO. STILL READING, MADAM
SECRETARY, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL
BILL. ITEM FOUR, AB 1927. THE
MOTION IS DUE PASSED TO
APPROPRIATIONS. MURATSUCHI NOT
VOTING. MURATSUCHI NOT VOTING.
LARA LARA. I ADDIS ALVAREZ.
ALVAREZ I BONTA I BONTA I HOOVER
. HOOVER I MCCARTY MCCARTY I.
FIVE. YOU HAVE FIVE VOTES. THE
BILL IS OUT. THANK YOU.
CONGRATULATIONS ALL RIGHT. NEXT
AND SIGNING ORDER. WE HAVE FILE
NUMBER 15, MR. ERWIN, AB 2723.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MR. CHAIR AND
MEMBERS. I'M PLEASED TO PRESENT
AB 2723, WHICH PROVIDES SOME
CODE CLEANUP FOR THE CRADLE TO
CAREER DATA CENTER, REFERRED TO
AS C2C, AS THE COMMITTEE
ANALYSIS OUTLINES, I HAVE BEEN
INVOLVED IN CTC SINCE ITS
INCEPTION IN THE STATE BUDGET
AND CURRENTLY SERVE AS THE
ASSEMBLY MEMBER ON THE GOVERNING
BOARD. CTC CELEBRATED ITS FIRST
ROUND OF DATA SUBMISSIONS FROM
DATA PROVIDERS LAST FALL AND
ANTICIPATES MAKING ITS FIRST
ANALYTICAL TOOLS, DATA
DASHBOARDS, AVAILABLE LATER THIS
YEAR. AS WITH ANY MATURING STATE
ENTITY, THERE ARE ASPECTS OF THE
GOVERNING STATUTE THAT BENEFIT
FROM REFINEMENT AND THAT IS WHAT
THIS BILL SEEKS TO PROVE.
PROVIDE A VEHICLE FOR. I WOULD
LIKE TO ACCEPT THE COMMITTEE
AMENDMENTS LISTED ON PAGE SEVEN
AND EIGHT OF THE COMMITTEE
ANALYSIS AND THANK THE COMMITTEE
STAFF. THESE ADDITIONS WILL
CLARIFY THE ROLE CTC HOLDS IN
RELATION TO THE DATA THEY
MAINTAIN ON BEHALF OF THE DATA
PROVIDERS, AND REINFORCES HOW
CTC WORKS WITHIN THE INFORMATION
THÀNH PRACTICES ACT. I DO NOT
HAVE ANY SUPPORT WITNESSES WITH
ME TODAY, BUT I. I'M NOT SURE IF
YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS I CAN'T
ANSWER. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT,
THANK YOU, ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS
IN SUPPORT OF THE MEASURE,
PLEASE COME FORWARD. ANY
WITNESSES IN OPPOSITION TO THE
BILL? PLEASE COME FORWARD. ANY
PUBLIC COMMENTS IN OPPOSITION TO
THE BILL, PLEASE COME FORWARD
SEEING NONE. BRING IT BACK TO
THE COMMITTEE. ANY QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS FROM THE COMMITTEE? MR.
ALVAREZ? I'LL GIVE IT A SHOT, A
QUESTION YOU CAN ANSWER, WHEN IS
THE CRADLE SECURE DATA SYSTEM
GOING TO BE UP AND RUNNING?
PARTS OF IT ARE RUNNING, ALREADY
IN ITS FULL IMPLEMENTATION AND
ITS FULL IMPLEMENTATION. I DO
NOT HAVE THE ANSWER TO THAT, BUT
I THINK THERE IS. THAT'S NOT A
GOTCHA QUESTION. I, NO, WE DID
WE DO HAVE SOME WE DO HAVE AN
ANSWER PROVIDER IN THE AUDIENCE.
SO RIGHT HERE, PLEASE. THANK
YOU. SOME MEMBER IRWIN, ASSEMBLY
MEMBER ALVAREZ. ERIC FLORES,
DEPUTY DIRECTOR FOR LEGISLATIVE
AFFAIRS WITH CRADLE TO CAREER,
WE ANTICIPATE ANALYTICAL DATA
TOOLS BEING AVAILABLE THROUGHOUT
2024. WE HAVE AN ITERATIVE
PROCESS, BOTH SUPPORTING OUR
PRACTICAL TOOLS IN OUR DATA
SYSTEM AS WELL AS THOSE DATA
DASHBOARDS. WE ANTICIPATE SOME
TIME THROUGHOUT 2024 WITH
EXPECTATIONS OF THE FALL FOR OUR
FIRST TWO DASHBOARDS. THANK YOU.
I ONLY ASK THAT BECAUSE I KNOW
MISS IRWIN, LIKE ME, IS SOMEONE
WHO, LIKES TO HAVE
ACCOUNTABILITY IN THE PROJECTS.
AND THERE ARE A COUPLE OF
DIFFERENT DATA SYSTEMS RELATED
TO EDUCATION THAT ARE OUT THERE
THAT WE ARE DISCUSSING, AS
SHOULD WE MAYBE CONSOLIDATE AND
FIGURE OUT HOW TO HAVE ONE
SYSTEM. I KNOW YOU'RE INTO THAT
KIND OF WORK, BUT, I WASN'T I
REALLY WASN'T CLEAR ON WHEN THIS
PARTICULAR SYSTEM WAS GOING TO
BE FULLY IMPLEMENTED. AND THAT'S
WHY I WAS ASKING AN DODD
CALIFORNIA IS ONE OF THREE OR 4
OR 5 STATES THAT DO NOT HAVE A
LONGITUDINAL, LONGITUDINAL
DATABASE THAT REALLY TRACKS
STUDENTS ALL THE WAY FROM CRADLE
TO CAREER. SO THIS IS THE STATE
EFFORT. THAT IS PUTTING THAT
DATA BASE INTO EFFECT. AND IT
WILL HAVE ADDITIONAL, OPTIONS
FOR STUDENTS TO HELP THEM, LET'S
SAY, FILL OUT THEIR FAFSA OR
TALK ABOUT, TRANSFERRING
COLLEGES, TRANSFERRING COLLEGES
WILL HELP THEM FIGURE OUT WHAT
THE BEST, CAREER HOURS ARE AND
THE PATHWAYS TO THEM. YEAH,
WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS,
ON THE BORDER WORK, WORKING
GROUP. THANK YOU, THANK YOU,
THANK YOU. ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS
OR COMMENTS, MISS BONTA, THANK
YOU FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD. I
KNOW THAT, STATE OF CALIFORNIA
HAS MADE A SIGNIFICANT
INVESTMENT IN, ESTABLISHING,
COLLEGE SAVINGS PROGRAM ACCOUNTS
FOR CHILDREN. ONE OF THE
CHALLENGES IS AT, YOU KNOW, UP
TO THERE, I THINK FIRST GRADE,
ONE OF THE BIG CHALLENGES WITH
THAT IS IN THE CRADLE TIME, WHEN
THEY ARE NOT IN THE WHEN THEY'RE
NOT IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, TO BE
ABLE TO FULLY KIND OF SIGN UP
FOR THOSE ACCOUNTS AND ACCESS
THEM. DO YOU HAVE ANY SENSE OF
WHETHER OR NOT THE CTC WOULD
ENSURE THAT THERE WOULD BE
INTEGRATION WITH OUR COLLEGE
SAVINGS PROGRAM, I DON'T THINK
RIGHT NOW THAT IS BEING PLANNED
FOR, BUT THE THERE ARE, I THINK,
AT LEAST 25 DIFFERENT DATA
PROVIDERS. AND SO THERE
CERTAINLY IS THERE WOULD BE
OPPORTUNITY TO, TO, TO USE THE
DATA TO REACH OUT TO, TO
STUDENTS PROACTIVELY. IF WE
ASKED FOR IT. I THINK WE SHOULD.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. SEEING NO
FURTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS
FROM THE COMMITTEE. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH, MISS ERWIN, FOR YOUR
CONTINUED LEADERSHIP ON THIS,
IMPORTANT EFFORT. WOULD YOU LIKE
TO CLOSE JUST, RESPECTFULLY ASK
FOR YOUR VOTE. THANK YOU. DO WE
HAVE A MOTION? WE NEED A SECOND
ON THE MOTION. SECOND, MADAM,
SECTOR FILE ITEM 15 AB 2723. THE
MOTION IS TO PASS AS AMENDED, TO
APPROPRIATIONS. MURATSUCHI
MURATSUCHI I LARA LARA I ADDIS
ALVAREZ. ALVAREZ I HOOVER.
HOOVER I MCCARTY. MCCARTY I. SIX
ZERO THE BILL IS OUT. THANK YOU,
THANK YOU. NEXT IS SIGN ORDER.
WE HAVE MISS RUBIO, FILE NUMBER
EIGHT, AB 2254.
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR AND
MEMBERS, FOR ALLOWING ME TO
PRESENT AB 2254 RELATING TO
CHARTER SCHOOL RENEWAL CRITERIA.
I WOULD LIKE TO START BY
THANKING THE COMMITTEE STAFF FOR
THEIR DILIGENT WORK WITH THE
PASSAGE OF AB 1505. IN 2019,
STATE LAW ANTICIPATED THAT
CHARTER AUTHORIZING AUTHORIZERS
AND CHARTER SCHOOLS WOULD BE
ABLE TO RELIED ON SUPPLEMENTAL
DATA TO INFORM THE CRUCIAL
RENEWAL OR CLOSURE DECISION
PROCESS, AT LEAST UNTIL THE
STATEWIDE STUDENT GROWTH MODEL
WAS INCLUDED IN THE DASHBOARD
AT. AT THE TIME THE SUNSET WAS
PUT IN PLACE, THE LAW ASSUMED
THE GROWTH METRIC WOULD BE
INCLUDED IN THE DASHBOARD BEFORE
THE SUNSET EXPIRED. AS A RESULT
OF THE PANDEMIC, DELAYS IN
TESTING DATA, AND OTHER ISSUES,
THE INCORPORATION OF A GROWTH
METRIC INTO THE DASHBOARD HAS
STILL NOT BEEN REALIZED. THE
CIRCUMSTANCES THAT LED TO THE
INCLUSION OF THE USE OF VERIFIED
DATA FOR RENEWAL HAVE NOT
CHANGED. THE STATUS AND TIMING
FOR INCLUSION OF GROWTH METRICS
IN THE DASHBOARD IS STILL
UNCLEAR. EXTENDING THE
AUTHORIZED USE OF STATE BOARD OF
EDUCATION APPROVED SUPPLEMENTAL
ASSESSMENTS WILL ALLOW TIME FOR
THE DASHBOARD TO MAKE PROGRESS
ON IMPLEMENTING A GROWTH METRIC
AND HELP ENSURE THE BEST
POSSIBLE OUTCOMES FOR STUDENTS.
AS A RESULT OF EXTENSIVE
CONVERSATIONS WITH MEMBERS OF
THIS COMMITTEE AS WELL AS
STAKEHOLDERS, I AM PROPOSING
OTHER AMENDMENTS THAT WOULD
INCLUDE AN EXTENSION OF THE
AUTHORITY TO USE VERIFIED
SUPPLEMENTAL DATA FOR THREE
YEARS, OR UNTIL THE STUDENT
GROWTH METRIC IS FULLY
IMPLEMENTED WITHIN THE
DASHBOARD, AS WELL AS INCLUDING
THE PROPOSED COMMITTEE
AMENDMENTS NUMBERED TWO THROUGH
SIX WITH ME HERE TODAY TO
TESTIFY AS CHRISTINA DEJESUS OF
GREEN DOT PUBLIC SCHOOLS. THANK
YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON. CHAIRMAN.
MICROPHONE. SORRY GOOD
AFTERNOON, CHAIR MURATSUCHI AND
MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE. MY
NAME IS CHRISTINA DEJESUS AND I
AM THE CEO OF GREEN DOT PUBLIC
SCHOOLS. AND I HAVE THE
PRIVILEGE OF REPRESENTING 10,000
CURRENT GREEN DOT STUDENTS IN
OVER 22,000 SCHOLARS WHO HAVE
GRADUATED FROM OUR SCHOOLS SINCE
THE YEAR 2000. CHARTER SCHOOLS
EMBRACE ACCOUNTABILITY AND ARE
THE ONLY SCHOOLS IN CALIFORNIA
THAT HAVE TO EARN THE RIGHT TO
CONTINUE SERVING STUDENTS EVERY
2 TO 7 YEARS. IT IS CRITICAL
THAT AUTHORIZERS HAVE THE
COMPLETE PICTURE OF A SCHOOL'S
PERFORMANCE WHEN MAKING THESE
HIGH STAKES DECISIONS, BEFORE
INADVERTENTLY CLOSING HIGH
QUALITY SCHOOL OPTIONS. ANIMO
ELLEN OCHOA MIDDLE SCHOOL, A
GREEN DOT SCHOOL IN EAST LOS
ANGELES, IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF
WHY VERIFIED DATA IS CRITICAL.
IN 2020, THIS SCHOOL WAS LABELED
A LOW PERFORMING SCHOOL USING
METRICS FROM THE CALIFORNIA
DASHBOARD. DESPITE THE FACT THAT
STATE TEST DATA SHOWED ITS
STUDENTS WERE LEARNING AT CLOSE
TO TWO TIMES THE PACE OF THEIR
GRADE LEVEL PEERS THAT SAME
YEAR, VERIFIED DATA SHOWED THAT
STUDENTS AT ELLEN OCHOA GREW
MORE THAN 97% OF THEIR PEERS
ACROSS THE STATE IN LITERACY,
AND MORE THAN 57% OF THEIR PEERS
ACROSS THE STATE IN MATH.
THANKFULLY, WE SUCCESSFULLY
RENEWED THE SCHOOL, AND IT
CONTINUES TO BE A BRIGHT SPOT IN
EAST L.A. TO THIS DAY. IN FACT,
EARLIER THIS YEAR, ANIMO ELLEN
OCHOA WAS RECOGNIZED ALONG WITH
FOUR OTHER GREEN DOT SCHOOLS AS
A CALIFORNIA DISTINGUISHED
SCHOOL, PROOF THAT THIS SCHOOL
WAS WORTH FIGHTING FOR. AB 2254
IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION
TOWARD A MORE HOLISTIC
EVALUATION PROCESS. WE KNOW THAT
EVEN WHEN THE DASHBOARD METRIC
IS FULLY IMPLEMENTED, THERE WILL
STILL BE GAPS, PARTICULARLY FOR
HIGH SCHOOLS, AND MORE DATA MAY
BE NECESSARY TO SUPPORT THE HIGH
PERFORMANCE OF SCHOOLS LIKE
ELLEN OCHOA. THE NARROW FOCUS ON
PROFICIENCY RATES UNDERMINES
STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT AT SCHOOLS
LIKE OURS, WHO SERVE LARGE
POPULATIONS OF STUDENTS ENTERING
BELOW GRADE LEVEL. ADDITIONALLY,
VERIFIED DATA ALLOWS AUTHORIZERS
TO USE DATA FOR GRADE LEVELS NOT
INCLUDED IN STATE TESTING,
THEREBY ADDING MORE
ACCOUNTABILITY, NOT LESS, DURING
THE RENEWAL PROCESS. WITHOUT THE
USE OF VERIFIED DATA, DECISIONS
COULD BE MADE TO CLOSE SCHOOLS
LIKE ANIMO THAT TRULY ARE
TRANSFORMATIVE IN HELPING THEIR
STUDENTS ACCOMPLISH LIFE
CHANGING GROWTH. THANK YOU,
THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR
AND MEMBERS. I'M COLIN MILLER,
I'M THE VICE PRESIDENT OF
GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS FOR THE
CALIFORNIA CHARTER SCHOOLS
ASSOCIATION. THE SPONSOR OF THIS
BILL. I WANT TO START OFF FIRST
BY JUST THANKING THE CHAIR AND
THE STAFF FOR ALL OF THE DIALOG
AND CONVERSATION AROUND THESE
VERY WHAT CAN CAN SEEM TO BE
VERY, VERY TECHNICAL ISSUES
RELATED TO THE DATA, THAT THAT'S
AFFECTED BY THIS BILL AND WHY WE
ALL CAN GET REALLY BURIED IN THE
WEEDS OF THOSE TECHNICALITIES.
THE PRINCIPAL HERE IS REALLY
QUITE SIMPLE WHEN MAKING HIGH
STAKES DECISIONS IN OUR LIVES,
IT'S ALWAYS IMPORTANT TO LOOK AT
THE MOST COMPLETE AND RELEVANT
INFORMATION THAT'S AVAILABLE.
THAT IS THE PREMISE BEHIND THIS
BILL. THIS BILL WOULD SIMPLY
ALLOW CHARTER SCHOOLS TO
CONTINUE TO PROVIDE, SPECIFIC
SUPPLEMENTAL ACADEMIC DATA, IN
ADDITION TO THE STATE DASHBOARD,
IN ORDER TO INFORM THE HIGH
STAKES DECISION TO RENEW OR
CLOSE A SCHOOL, A DECISION THAT
WILL IMPACT HUNDREDS OF STUDENTS
AND FAMILIES. EXTENDING OF THE
USE OF SUPPLEMENTAL DATA. DATA
IS ESSENTIAL, PARTICULARLY AT
THIS MOMENT, BECAUSE THE BECAUSE
OF THESE PANDEMIC RELATED DELAYS
THAT HAVE RESULTED IN NOT ONLY A
DELAY IN THE GROWTH METRIC INTO
THE DASHBOARD, BUT IT HAS ALSO,
CREATED A DELAY IN THE USE OF
THESE METRICS FOR CHARTER
RENEWALS BECAUSE RENEWALS HAVE
BEEN DELAYED AS WELL. SO THE
RULES THAT WE APPLIED IN, IN, IN
1505 SIMPLY HAVEN'T BEEN
IMPLEMENTED YET, IT'S A CRITICAL
THE, THE DASHBOARD, THE
DASHBOARD GROWTH DATA IS A
CRITICAL COMPONENT TO ASSESS
SCHOOL SUCCESS. AND AS OF NOW,
IT'S STILL UNCLEAR WHEN, IF AND
HOW THAT WILL BE INCORPORATED
INTO THE DASHBOARD, WE KNOW THAT
WHEN FULLY IMPLEMENTED, THE
GROWTH METRIC WILL LEAVE NOTABLE
GAPS FOR GROWTH IN HIGH SCHOOLS
FOR EARLY ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS,
AND FOR SMALL SCHOOLS. FOR
EXAMPLE, ADDRESSING THESE
CONDITIONS WILL REQUIRE A DEEPER
LOOK AND FURTHER DIALOG IN THE
FUTURE. AB 2254 WILL MAINTAIN AN
IMPORTANT BACKSTOP TO ENSURE
THAT HIGH STAKES DECISIONS ARE
MADE USING THE MOST COMPLETE AND
RELEVANT DATA. EXTENDING THE
SUNSET NOW WILL NOT RESOLVE ALL
OF THESE ISSUES, BUT IT WILL
PROVIDE TIME AND EXPERIENCE
NECESSARY TO EVALUATE THE MOST
EFFECTIVE MEANS FOR QUALITY
DECISIONS IN THE FUTURE. SO WE
REQUEST YOUR SUPPORT ON THIS
MEASURE AVAILABLE FOR QUESTIONS.
WE ALSO HAVE OUR OUR CHIEF
SCHOOLS OFFICER HERE FOR ANY ANY
TECHNICAL ISSUES THAT COME UP.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
PUBLIC COMMENTS IN SUPPORT OF
THE BILL. PLEASE COME FORWARD.
LARA KERR WITH A CHARTER SCHOOL
DEVELOPMENT CENTER IN SUPPORT.
JEFF RICE WITH THE ASSOCIATION
OF PERSONALIZED LEARNING SCHOOLS
AND SERVICES IN SUPPORT OF THE
BILL WITH THE AUTHORS
RECOMMENDED AMENDMENTS. THANK
YOU. ALICE KESSLER, ON BEHALF OF
ASPIRE PUBLIC SCHOOLS, ALSO IN
SUPPORT. ROXANNE ROXANNE
VILLASENOR, SUPERINTENDENT OF
RIVER CHARTER SCHOOLS, IN
SUPPORT MATT TAYLOR WITH GATEWAY
CHARTER SCHOOLS IN SUPPORT.
JONATHAN MUNOZ WITH GREEN DOT
PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN STRONG
SUPPORT. ALL RIGHT. SEEING NO
FURTHER PUBLIC COMMENTS IN
SUPPORT OF THE MEASURE,
WITNESSES AND OPPOSITION, PLEASE
COME FORWARD.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MR. CHAIR AND
MEMBERS. SETH BRAMBLE. OH YOUR
MIC IS NOT ON. YEAH. GOOD
AFTERNOON, MR. CHAIR. AND
MEMBERS, SETH BRAMBLE FOR CTA.
IN OPPOSITION, THIS BILL ALLOWS
CHARTER SCHOOLS TO CONTINUE
USING DIFFERENT METRICS THAN
OTHER NEIGHBORHOOD PUBLIC
SCHOOLS FOR SCHOOL
ACCOUNTABILITY PURPOSES. AND
IT'S TIME WE ALL GOT ON THE SAME
PAGE. I WANT TO PROVIDE A BRIEF
HISTORY TO ILLUMINATE A
PROBLEMATIC SEQUENCE OF EVENTS.
IN 1992, CHARTER SCHOOLS WERE
ESTABLISHED IN CALIFORNIA WITH A
PROMISE WE'LL GIVE YOU THE
FREEDOM TO INNOVATE, AND YOU
WILL SHOW US RESULTS, AND WE'LL
LOOK TO YOU TO DETERMINE WHETHER
THERE ARE SOME POLICY SHIFTS
THAT COULD BENEFIT THE ENTIRE
PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM. HOW CAN
WE LEARN FROM EACH OTHER IF
WE'RE BEING HELD TO DIFFERENT
STANDARDS? IN 2017, CALIFORNIA
LAUNCHED THE DASHBOARD. OUR
STATE'S SCHOOL ACCOUNTABILITY
TOOL. WE REJECTED TOXIC TESTING
AND NOW WE LOOK TO MULTIPLE
MEASURES SCHOOL CLIMATE, PARENT
ENGAGEMENT, GRADUATION RATES,
FACILITIES. IT'S TIME ALL PUBLIC
SCHOOLS USE THE SAME MEASURING
STICK. THE DASHBOARD. IN 2019,
WE SPONSORED AB 1505, IN PART TO
HOLD CHARTER SCHOOLS AND
NEIGHBORHOOD PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO
THE SAME STANDARD. OUR BILL WAS
THE RESULT OF SIGNIFICANT
NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE SPONSORS,
AND ALTHOUGH THE INTEREST OF THE
PUBLIC IS BEST SERVED WHEN ALL
PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE ON EQUAL
FOOTING, THE SPONSORS PUSHED FOR
A TRANSITION PERIOD TO USE
SO-CALLED VERIFIED DATA THROUGH
JANUARY 2026. LAST YEAR, THE
GOVERNOR AND THE LEGISLATURE
LEGISLATURE GRANTED A DELAY IN
RENEWALS THAT WILL MEAN SOME
CHARTER SCHOOLS WILL NOT FACE
ACCOUNTABILITY FOR NINE YEARS.
YET HERE, THE SPONSORS COME BACK
AGAIN WITH MORE. PLEASE WAIT
WAIT, WAIT, WE'RE NOT READY,
CHARTER SCHOOLS ARE DEFINED IN
LAW AS PUBLIC SCHOOLS. AND THE
POLICY PATH FORWARD IS TO HOLD
THEM ACCOUNTABLE TO THE SAME
SYSTEM THAT WE HOLD ALL OF OUR
PUBLIC SCHOOLS. THAT'S THE
DASHBOARD. AS WE GET CLOSER TO
THE DATE WHEN CHARTER SCHOOLS
WILL JOIN THE REST OF OUR PUBLIC
SCHOOLS IN BEING HELD
ACCOUNTABLE TO THE DASHBOARD,
IT'S FRUSTRATING TO SEE THE
SPONSORS CONTINUE TO MUDDLE UP
THE PROCESS. USING DATA SOURCES
OUTSIDE OF THE DASHBOARD
DE-EMPHASIZED AREAS NEEDING
IMPROVEMENT AND MASS
DEFICIENCIES THAT REQUIRE
ATTENTION. IF WE'RE SERIOUS
ABOUT EVERY CHILD'S FUTURE,
LET'S GET SERIOUS ABOUT DOING
WHAT WORKS. WE URGE YOU TO
REJECT THIS PROPOSAL. THANK YOU.
GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIRMAN
MURATSUCHI AND MEMBERS, I AM
CARLOS MACHADO WITH CALIFORNIA
SCHOOL BOARD ASSOCIATION. CCPA
IS OPPOSED TO AB 2254. OUR
MEMBERS RECOGNIZE AND SUPPORT
THE IMPORTANT ROLE THAT CHARTERS
PLAY IN PROVIDING ONE OF AN
ARRAY OF CHOICES THAT FAMILIES
HAVE IN DISTRICTS, THE OTHERS
INCLUDE MAGNET SCHOOLS, CTE
PROGRAMS, OPEN ENROLLMENT
DISTRICTS OF CHOICE AND INTER
AND INTRA DISTRICT TRANSFERS.
ONE OF THE RESPONSIBILITIES THAT
GOVERNING BOARD MEMBERS DON'T
RELISH AS AN AUTHORIZER IS THE
PROSPECT OF NON RENEWING A
CHARTER SCHOOL. WE RECOGNIZE THE
PROFOUND IMPACT AND DISRUPTION
THAT THIS CAN HAVE ON STUDENTS
AND THEIR FAMILIES, THEY DO NOT
TAKE THIS DECISION LIGHTLY AND
IT IS HARD, AS HARD AS THE
DECISION TO CLOSE ONE OF THE
DISTRICT'S TRADITIONAL PUBLIC
SCHOOLS. HOWEVER IT IS AT TIMES
NECESSARY TO PROTECT THE
INTERESTS OF STUDENTS. FOR THIS
REASON, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THE
TOOLS AUTHORIZERS USE DURING THE
RENEWAL PROCESS TO ASSESS HOW
WELL A CHARTER SCHOOL IS SERVING
ITS STUDENTS ARE CONSISTENT WITH
THE STATE'S RIGOROUS
ACCOUNTABILITY STANDARDS, MANY
OF OUR MEMBERS HAVE EXPRESSED
SERIOUS CONCERNS ABOUT EXTENDING
THE USE OF VERIFIED DATA. THE
VARIATIONS AMONG THE MORE THAN
20 DIFFERENT ASSESSMENTS, AND
THEIR DIFFERENCES WITH THE
STATE'S OWN ASSESSMENT
ASSESSMENTS MAKE THE THEM
INHERENTLY UNRELIABLE AND ADD
COMPLEXITY, ESPECIALLY FOR THE
MANY DISTRICTS IN THE STATE THAT
DO NOT HAVE STAFF THAT ARE
PRIMARILY WORK ON CHARTER
OVERSIGHT. THE ISSUES OF
UNRELIABILITY IS ESPECIALLY
CONCERNING WHEN THE RESULTS LACK
THE SENSITIVITY TO IDENTIFY
ISSUES BEFORE THEY BECOME
SERIOUS. SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND
COUNTY GOVERNING BOARD MEMBERS
WANT THEIR CHARTER SCHOOLS TO BE
SUCCESSFUL WHEN THE CHARTER
SCHOOL FAILS, IT LEAVES NOT ONLY
FAMILIES BUT ALSO DISTRICT AND
COUNTY PROGRAMS TO PICK UP THE
PIECES FOR THE IMPACTED
STUDENTS. CCPA IS ALSO CONCERNED
ABOUT CREATING A BIFURCATED
SYSTEM OF ACCOUNTABILITY IN THE
STATE. ONE FOR TRADITIONAL
PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND ANOTHER FOR
CHARTER SCHOOLS. AB 2254 WOULD
SET A TROUBLING PRECEDENT THAT
DIVIDES OUR PUBLIC SCHOOL
SYSTEM. FOR THESE REASONS, CCPA
IS OPPOSED TO AB 2254 AND
RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT YOU
VOTE NO ON THE BILL. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ANY PUBLIC
COMMENTS IN OPPOSITION TO THE
BILL? CÁC MANCINI, ON BEHALF OF
THE CALIFORNIA SCHOOL EMPLOYEES
ASSOCIATION, IN OPPOSITION. MR.
CHAIR AND MEMBERS. TRICIA BROWN
WITH THE CFT STILL IN
OPPOSITION. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
ALMA NAZARIAN, ON BEHALF OF THE
CALIFORNIA LABOR FEDERATION, IN
OPPOSITION, SEEING NO FURTHER
PUBLIC COMMENTS, BRING IT BACK
TO THE COMMITTEE. QUESTIONS,
COMMENTS. THANK YOU TO THE
AUTHOR FOR BRINGING FORWARD THIS
BILL. I KNOW THAT YOU ARE ALWAYS
TRYING TO ENSURE THAT THERE'S
BALANCE THROUGHOUT OUR ENTIRETY
OF OUR PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM.
TWO QUESTIONS. ONE IS THE
ASSERTION THAT THAT THIS, THAT
CLOSURES ARE SO HIGH STAKES
THAT, WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO USE
VERIFIED DATA, WANTED TO HAVE
YOU ALL THE PROPONENTS ADDRESS
THE ACTUAL PROCESS FOR CLOSURE
WHEN THERE ARE SCHOOLS THAT ARE
IN THE KIND OF LOWER PERFORMING
CATEGORY. MY UNDERSTANDING IS
THAT THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT
SAFEGUARDS AND KIND OF
GUARDRAILS ALONG THE WAY TO
ENSURE THAT IT'S NOT EXCLUSIVELY
BASED ON, ON, ON VERIFIED DATA.
YEAH. SO WHAT HAPPENS WITH, WITH
THE DASHBOARD DATA, AS IT
RELATES TO CHARTER RENEWALS, A
PROCESS THAT, BY THE WAY,
DOESN'T HAPPEN WITH SCHOOL
DISTRICTS, IS THAT THAT THEY ARE
PLACED INTO THREE DIFFERENT
TRACKS FOR RENEWAL RELATIVE TO,
THE THEIR PERFORMANCE ON THE
DASHBOARD AND SO WE HAVE A HIGH
TRACK, LOW TRACK AND A MIDDLE
TRACK. THOSE SCHOOLS THAT ARE IN
THE LOW TRACK ARE REALLY THE
MOST VULNERABLE AS IT RELATES TO
NOT GETTING RENEWED, BECAUSE THE
PRESUMPTION IN THE LAW IS THAT
THOSE SCHOOLS WILL NOT GET
RENEWED UNLESS, YOU KNOW, UNLESS
THERE'S, THERE'S, A, SUFFICIENT
VERIFIED DATA THROUGH A VERY
RIGOROUS PROCESS, THAT, THAT CAN
SUPPORT, THE, THE APPROVAL OF
THE SCHOOL AND THAT THERE'S A
PLAN FOR, FOR IMPROVEMENT IN
PLACE, SO THIS IS DIFFERENT THAN
THE DASHBOARD SYSTEM FOR
EVERYBODY ELSE, WHICH IS ABOUT
IDENTIFYING SCHOOLS FOR
IMPROVEMENT. AND THEN CONTINUING
ON. THERE'S A PRESUMPTION OF
DENIAL FOR SCHOOLS IN THE LOW
TRACK. IF THEY DO GET RENEWED,
THEY'RE THEY'RE ONLY ALLOWED TO
HAVE A TWO YEAR RENEWAL. SO
THEY'LL HAVE TO BE BACK EVERY
TWO YEARS, IN ORDER TO, TO
RETAIN TO, TO RETAIN THAT, THEIR
SCHOOL TO STAY OPEN. SO IT IS A
MUCH HIGHER BAR IN TERMS OF
THAT. SO FOR THOSE SCHOOLS, FOR,
FOR INSTANCE, IF YOU HAD A HIGH
SCHOOL THAT WAS IN THE LOW
TRACK, YOU WOULD NOT HAVE ANY
GROWTH DATA AVAILABLE, EVEN WHEN
THE GROWTH METRIC IS IN THE IS
IN THE DASHBOARD, BECAUSE HIGH
SCHOOL ONLY TESTS IT ONE YEAR
AND THE DASHBOARD GROWTH SYSTEM
DATA AS AS IT'S DESIGNED AND
READY TO BE ROLLED OUT, ACTUALLY
ONLY HAS GROWTH FOR GRADES FOUR
THROUGH EIGHT. SO FOR INSTANCE,
IN HIGH SCHOOL, WHAT WOULD YOU
THEN DO TO EVALUATE THAT, THAT
SCHOOL THAT FELL INTO THE LOW
TRACK, MAYBE BECAUSE ONLY OF
STATUS WHERE, YOU KNOW, IN THE
EXAMPLE THAT OKOBO THE SCHOOL
MAY BE MAY BE ACCELERATING
IMPROVEMENT FOR STUDENTS, BUT
THAT WON'T BE REFLECTED IN THE
DASHBOARD. SO THAT'S WHY, YOU
KNOW, SOME OF THESE THESE ISSUES
BECOME REALLY IMPORTANT. BUT THE
BOTTOM LINE IS THAT FOR THOSE
SCHOOLS THAT ARE IN THE LOW LOW
TIER CATEGORY, THEY HAVE AN
OPPORTUNITY TO KIND OF GO
THROUGH A DUE PROCESS PROCEDURE,
ENABLE THEM. THEY ARE, ABLE TO
GET AN IMPROVEMENT PLAN PUT
FORWARD. AND THE ONE CONSEQUENCE
IS THAT THEY HAVE A LIMITED
RENEWAL FOR TWO YEARS, NOT
CLOSURE. I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY
THAT. BUT THE DATA THAT THAT
WOULD SUPPORT THAT IS, IS
AVAILABLE THROUGH THIS VERIFIED
DATA PROCESS. SO WHEN YOU WHEN
YOU EXPIRE THAT AND IT GOES AWAY
THEN THAT WILL NO LONGER BE AN
OPTION. WELL PRESUMABLY THERE
WOULD BE AN ALTERNATIVE THAT, I
HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION, AND I
GUESS THIS WOULD BE TO THE
OPPONENTS OR ISN'T VERIFIED DATA
A GOOD THING TO CONSIDER, NO, I
THINK THAT WHAT WE'VE SAU PRIOR
TO THE ADOPTION OF THE DASHBOARD
WAS OVEREMPHASIS ON TOXIC
TESTING. WE HAD FOLKS TEACHING
TO THE TEST. WE HAD A THINNING
OF THE CURRICULUM. WE PUSHED
BACK AGAINST THAT AND DEVELOPED
THIS MULTIPLE METRIC SYSTEM.
VERIFIED DATA IS REALLY
OVEREMPHASIS ON TEST SCORES, AND
CALIFORNIA SCHOOL ACCOUNTABILITY
SYSTEM IS NO LONGER BASED ON
TEST SCORES. THEY'RE JUST PART
OF THE STORY THAT'S TOLD BY THE
DASHBOARD, VERIFIED DATA HAS
ALWAYS BEEN BAD POLICY. THE
ANALYSIS POINTS OUT ON PAGE FIVE
THAT SOME VERIFIED DATA SOURCES
USED CAS DATA AND THEN WAIT, THE
GROWTH THAT STUDENTS ARE
EXPECTED TO ACHIEVE DIFFERENTLY
BASED ON RACE. SO I WOULD ASK
YOU, ASSEMBLY MEMBER, YOU KNOW,
DO YOU THINK BLACK STUDENTS, FOR
EXAMPLE, WOULD GAIN ABOUT SIX
MONTHS THIS YEAR ON THEIR TEST
SCORES? IN TERMS OF A
PREDICTION, HOW FAR WOULD WE
EXPECT LATINOS TO GROW IN ON
THESE TEST SCORES? THIS IS NOT
GOOD DATA. THE ANALYSIS
IDENTIFIES CLEAR AND UNDENIABLE
RACISM, AND AS A STATE, WE HAVE
MOVED AWAY FROM FOCUS ON TEST
SCORES TO A MORE HOLISTIC VIEW
OF WHETHER A SCHOOL'S
PERFORMANCE IS MEETING THE NEEDS
OF STUDENTS. IT SERVES BOTH
SCHOOLWIDE AND FOR STUDENT
SUBGROUPS THAT ARE SIGNIFICANT.
WHEN WE ESTABLISHED THE LOCAL
CONTROL FUNDING FORMULA IN OUR
STATE, WE SET UP A SCHOOL
ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM THAT IS
DRAWN FROM TEN PRIORITY AREAS OF
THE LOCAL CONTROL FUNDING
FORMULA. WE LOOK AT
INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS. WE LOOK
AT CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM, IT'S
TIME TO LET VERIFIED DATA GO.
AND GET ON THE DASHBOARD.
CHARTER SCHOOLS ARE PUBLIC
SCHOOLS, AND THEY SHOULD BE HELD
ACCOUNTABLE TO THE SAME LEVELS
OF TRANSPARENCY AND
ACCOUNTABILITY AS ALL OTHER
PUBLIC SCHOOLS THROUGH THE
CHAIR. CAN I JUST ASK ONE MORE
QUESTION, SO I APPRECIATE THAT,
AND, AND PRESUMABLY THAT'S WHY
THERE THIS THIS, SUNSET WAS PUT
IN PLACE AND, I THINK IT'S A
FAIR THING TO HAVE AT THE END OF
THE DAY, ALL OF OUR SCHOOL
SYSTEMS ON ONE DATA SYSTEM, WE
JUST ESSENTIALLY LOOKED AT A
BILL WHERE, YOU KNOW, THERE'S
PROBLEMS WHEN WE'RE KIND OF
LOOKING AT APPLES AND ORANGES
THROUGHOUT, OUR EDUCATIONAL
SYSTEM. I JUST TO THE AUTHOR, I
HEARD YOU MENTION SOME
AMENDMENTS THAT YOU ARE
CONSIDERING. CAN YOU ELABORATE
ON THOSE? YES, ABSOLUTELY.
BECAUSE I DO UNDERSTAND, YOU
KNOW, THE ARGUMENT, THE POINT IS
THAT THAT DASHBOARD WAS SUPPOSED
TO BE ONLINE ON BY, FOR, FOR
THIS DATA ON JUNE 30TH. ALL
WE'RE ASKING IS AN EXTENSION
BECAUSE IT WON'T BE AVAILABLE ON
JUNE 30TH, AND SO WHAT I
PROPOSED AND WE'VE BEEN
DISCUSSING WITH THE COMMITTEE IS
HOW LONG IS LONG ENOUGH? AND
THAT'S WHY I'M PROPOSING THREE
YEARS OR WHEN THE DASHBOARD IS
FULLY IMPLEMENTED, WHICHEVER IS,
NOT COMES FIRST, BUT WHATEVER IS
AVAILABLE AT THE TIME, IF IT'S
NOT AVAILABLE, THEN WE WOULD
COME BACK, YOU KNOW, AND ASK FOR
AN EXTENSION IN THREE YEARS. I'M
BEING HONEST ABOUT KIND OF THE
PROCESS, BUT IF IT'S AVAILABLE
SOONER, WHICH IS THE I THINK THE
POINT OF CONTENTION IS THAT IT
WILL BE AVAILABLE SOONER THEN
THAT'S WHY I'M PROPOSING THREE
YEARS OR WHEN THE, THE, THE,
MODEL IS AVAILABLE, THE
DASHBOARD IS AVAILABLE. AND
THAT'S WHY THE ORIGINAL SUNSET
WAS SET ON 1505, ASSUMING THAT
THAT WAS GOING TO BE AVAILABLE
ON JUNE 30TH AND BECAUSE OF THE
PANDEMIC AND OTHER ISSUES. AND,
YOU KNOW, IT'S, WE HAVE
DIFFERENT ISSUES IN STATE
GOVERNMENT WHEN WE'RE TRYING TO
IMPLEMENT, ESPECIALLY, SYSTEMS
LIKE THIS, THAT IT MAY TAKE
LONGER. THAT'S WHY I'M PROPOSING
EITHER THE, THE THREE YEARS OR,
WHEN THE, THE DASHBOARD AND THE
GROWTH DATA IS AVAILABLE. ALL
RIGHT, MR. HOOVER, MR. ALVAREZ
AND MR. MCCARTY. THANK YOU,
THANK YOU TO THE AUTHOR FOR
BRINGING THIS FORWARD. I THINK
THIS IS A GREAT BILL, YOU KNOW,
I'M A LITTLE CONFUSED BY THE
OPPOSITION HERE, VERIFIED DATA.
YOU KNOW, WE JUST HEARD THAT
IT'S NOT GOOD, BUT, CARLOS,
ISN'T IT TRUE THAT SCHOOL
DISTRICTS USE VERIFIED DATA TO,
YOU KNOW, TO REALLY DIVE INTO
THEIR STRUGGLING PUBLIC
TRADITIONAL SCHOOLS? I MEAN, I
KNOW AS A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER,
WE LOOKED AT VERIFIED DATA. SO
I'M CONFUSED ON KIND OF THIS
THIS POINT THAT VERIFIED DATA IS
A BAD THING, I APPRECIATE THE
QUESTION. SO OUR CONCERN WITH
THE 30 OR SO ASSESSMENTS THAT
ARE APPROVED BY THE STATE BOARD
IN THESE INSTANCES, DO PROVIDE
FOR SOME AREAS WHERE IT DOESN'T
ACCURATELY MEASURE WHAT IS
HAPPENING AT THE AT THE CHARTER
SCHOOL, THOSE POINTS HAVE BEEN
HIGHLIGHTED IN THE ANALYSIS
WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT, ABOUT
THESE PARTICULAR ASSESSMENTS
THAT THAT WE THINK DON'T SUIT
THIS PURPOSE APPROPRIATELY. I
THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO IDENTIFY
THOSE, INADEQUACIES WHERE
THEY'RE HAPPENING IN THOSE
CHARTER SCHOOLS, EARLY, SO THAT
EITHER WE CAN BRING A
DIFFERENTIATED ASSISTANCE TO THE
CHARTER SCHOOL EARLIER OR, BE
ABLE TO MONITOR PROBLEMS BEFORE
THEY BECOME MORE SERIOUS LATER
ON. SO THAT'S OUR CONCERN WITH
THE USE OF VERIFIED DATA IN THIS
PARTICULAR INSTANCE. OKAY. SO
YOU MENTIONED IN YOUR TESTIMONY
THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU WANT TO SEE,
YOU KNOW, SIMILAR ACCOUNTABILITY
STANDARDS USED ACROSS THE BOARD.
WHAT ARE THE ACCOUNTABILITY
STANDARDS THAT ARE BEING USED
FOR TRADITIONAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS
RIGHT NOW? WELL, WE HAVE THE
DASHBOARD AND WE HAVE THE
TESTING THAT'S HAPPENING NOW,
THAT'S, CONSISTENT THROUGH ALL
THROUGH ALL, SCHOOLS AND THAT,
THAT SHOULD APPLY TO WHETHER
YOU'RE A CHARTER SCHOOL OR A
TRADITIONAL, TRADITIONAL PUBLIC
SCHOOL. AND, SOME OF THOSE
DISCUSSION ABOUT THREE TIERS,
FOR CHARTER SCHOOLS, LIKE SCHOOL
DISTRICTS, ALSO FACE THREE
TIERS. IN TERMS OF YOU HAVE, YOU
KNOW, ASSISTANCE, YOU HAVE
DIFFERENTIATED ASSISTANCE,
INTENSIVE SUPPORT ALSO IS PART
OF. SO SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT
QUALIFY FOR THE STATE SYSTEMS OF
SUPPORT SHOW YOU KNOW, IF THEY
SHOW SUCH LOW PERFORMANCE THAT
THERE'S NOT PROGRESS BEING MADE
AMONG THE STUDENT GROUPS AND
THEY FALL INTO THE RED ZONE IN
THE DASHBOARD. IT'S LIKE COLOR
CODED ON TWO OR MORE EDUCATIONAL
INDICATORS ON THE DASHBOARD, YOU
KNOW, TEST SCORES, SUSPENSION
RATES, ALL THESE THINGS.
CALIFORNIA'S ACCOUNTABILITY
SYSTEM MEANS THAT A SCHOOL
DISTRICT THAT'S NOT PERFORMING
WELL IN THE DASHBOARD CAN BE
REQUIRED TO IMPLEMENT INTENSIVE
INTERVENTIONS BY THE STATE
SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC
INSTRUCTION, SIMILAR TO HOW THE
STATE TAKES OVER THE FISCAL
DECISIONS BY A SCHOOL BOARD.
WHEN A SCHOOL DISTRICT GOES INTO
RECEIVERSHIP. BUT CHARTER
SCHOOLS ARE AN EXPERIMENT, AND
IGNORING THE LAWS THAT ARE
CODIFIED IN THE EDUCATION CODE.
AND IF THEY'RE NOT DELIVERING
RESULTS, THEN THE EXPERIMENT
SHOULD END AND STUDENTS CAN GO
BACK TO THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD
SCHOOLS THAT ARE EVER PRESENT AS
A SAFETY NET. SO BOTTOM LINE,
IT'S TIME FOR CHARTER SCHOOLS TO
JOIN CALIFORNIA SCHOOL
ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM. JUST LIKE
ALL OTHER NEIGHBORHOOD PUBLIC
SCHOOLS. DOING SO ENHANCES
ACCOUNTABILITY AND FOSTERS TRUST
. IT FACILITATES INFORMED
DECISION MAKING, AND IT SUPPORTS
QUALITY IMPROVEMENT EFFORTS.
SETH, WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, YOU
JUST POINTED OUT A MAJOR
DISTINCTION THAT WILL CONTINUE
TO EXIST, RIGHT? SO I GUESS MY
QUESTION FOR YOU IS, INSTEAD OF
HAVING CHARTER SCHOOLS HAVING TO
RENEW EVERY FIVE YEARS, WOULD
YOU SUPPORT A BILL THAT INSTEAD
WOULD SIMPLY REQUIRE THEM TO GO
THROUGH AN INTENSIVE, YOU KNOW,
PROCESS WITH A STATE
SUPERINTENDENT, OR WOULD YOU
SUPPORT LEGISLATION THAT WOULD
REQUIRE TRADITIONAL PUBLIC
SCHOOLS TO HAVE TO GO THROUGH A
RENEWAL PROCESS AND A
PERFORMANCE REVIEW? I MEAN, I
MEAN THAT THAT WOULD BE PUTTING
THINGS ON THE SAME PLAYING
FIELD. IS THAT SOMETHING THAT
YOU WOULD SUPPORT? AGAIN YOU
KNOW, CHARTER SCHOOLS? I THINK
I'VE ENVISIONED AS LIKE THE
RESEARCH, RESEARCH AND
DEVELOPMENT SECTION OF LIKE THE
PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM. SO WHEN
YOU HAVE THIS EXPERIMENT WHERE
SCHOOLS DON'T HAVE TO FOLLOW ANY
OF THE LAWS THAT HAVE BEEN
DEVELOPED OVER THE COURSE OF,
YOU KNOW, SINCE 1992, IN THE
EDUCATION CODE, AND THAT SCHOOL
IS NOT PERFORMING WELL FOR
STUDENTS, YOU MOVE ON WITH THAT
EXPERIMENT. AND YOU DID SAY THAT
EVERY FIVE YEARS. JUST TO BE
CLEAR, PART OF 1505 WAS THAT IF
THE SCHOOL IS DOING WELL, THEY
CAN BE RENEWED. ACTUALLY FOR
SEVEN YEARS AND THERE'S DEFAULT
APPROVAL. SO JUST LIKE WE HAVE
DEFAULT DENIAL FOR A SCHOOL
THAT'S NOT A GREAT LEARNING
ENVIRONMENT FOR STUDENTS. WE
HAVE DEFAULT APPROVAL FOR A
SCHOOL THAT HAS SHOWN THAT
THEY'RE DOING REALLY, REALLY
WELL. THANK YOU, LAST QUESTION
FOR THIS, PROPONENTS, I CAN YOU
TALK TO ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT
THE I GUESS, SHORTCOMINGS OF THE
DASHBOARD, PARTICULARLY WHEN IT
COMES TO MEASURING GROWTH,
BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU'RE
GOING INTO A CHARTER RENEWAL
PROCESS, IT'S ALL ABOUT, YOU
KNOW, NOT NECESSARILY WHERE
STUDENTS ARE IN THAT POINT OF
TIME, BUT HAVE THEY SHOWN GROWTH
IN THAT SCHOOL OVER A PERIOD OF
TIME? WHAT ARE THE LIMITATIONS
THAT WE FACE WITH THE DASHBOARD
THAT, YOU KNOW, VERIFY DATA
ALLOW US TO GET A BETTER PICTURE
, I'LL POINT OUT A COUPLE
THINGS, AND THEN I CAN TURN IT
OVER TO COLIN, ONE, IS THAT IT?
IT IT REALLY MEASURES, HOW CLOSE
OR FAR AWAY STUDENTS ARE FROM.
I'LL JUST SAY PROFICIENCY OR
STATUS, IT MEASURES LAST YEAR'S
KIDS AGAINST THIS YEAR'S KIDS.
SO IT'S NOT A TRUE STUDENT
GROWTH COHORT GROWTH MEASURE.
AND THERE COULD BE STUDENTS WHO
ARE GROWING TREMENDOUSLY IN THE
CASE, FOR EXAMPLE, OF ANIMO,
ELLEN OCHOA, BUT WHO AREN'T AT
PROFICIENCY OR ARE STILL FAR
AWAY FROM STANDARD, WHO WILL NOT
SHOW UP IN THAT GROWTH MEASURE.
AND SO, IN ESSENCE, THE STUDENTS
ARE THE FURTHEST BEHIND THIS.
WE'RE NOT A GETTING CREDIT FOR.
AND NOR ARE THOSE STUDENTS
GETTING CREDIT FOR THEIR GROWTH.
AND B, WE REALLY HAVE NO IDEA
ACROSS THE STATE WHO IS SERVING
THE STUDENTS, WHO ARE THE
FURTHEST BEHIND THE BEST, TO ME
THAT IS THE BIGGEST GAP IN THE
DASHBOARD. YEAH, I WOULD JUST
ADD TO THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE
ALSO IS GAPS AND WHAT WE'RE
TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE
NO PROBLEM WITH THE DASHBOARD
FOR, FOR CHARTER RENEWALS. IT
DOES HAVE A RAY OF, YOU KNOW,
VALUE AND, AND PRIORITIES THAT
THE STATE HAS. AND THAT'S A
GREAT THING. YOU KNOW, WE'RE
REALLY GLAD THE STATE'S MOVING
TOWARD A MORE HOLISTIC APPROACH
OF ACCOUNTABILITY, WHAT WE'RE
TALKING ABOUT REALLY IS THE
ACADEMIC METRIC IN THE DASHBOARD
AND HOW THAT'S USED FOR CHARTER
RENEWAL. AND IN THE CHARTER
RENEWAL STATUTE, ACADEMICS ARE
ARE CONSIDERED THE MOST
IMPORTANT FACTOR IN THE RENEWAL
DECISION. SO SO IT'S IMPORTANT
THAT WE GET THAT RIGHT. AND THE,
THE WHAT WE HAVE IS WE HAVE A
GROWTH METRIC THAT THAT
EVENTUALLY WILL BE IN THE
DASHBOARD THAT WILL ONLY ADDRESS
GRADES FOUR THROUGH EIGHT. SO IF
YOU'RE NOT IN THOSE GRADE LEVELS
OR YOU'RE SERVING STUDENTS OUT
OF THOSE GRADE LEVELS, YOU'RE
NOT GOING TO BE REFLECTED IN
GROWTH IN THE DASHBOARD. AND AS
CHRISTINA SAID, EVEN FOR THOSE
GRADES, IT'S A IT'S A LIMITED
GROWTH. IT'S NOT REALLY LOOKING
AT INDIVIDUAL STUDENT GROWTH IN
TERMS OF THEIR OWN, THEIR OWN,
IMPROVEMENT AND THE SCHOOL'S
IMPROVEMENT. SO IT'S QUITE IT'S
QUITE LIMITED, WE KNOW THAT, YOU
KNOW, THAT THAT THE SCHOOLS THAT
ARE, ALSO GETTING IDENTIFIED FOR
THE LOW TRACK BECAUSE THE
DASHBOARD IS A PROFICIENCY BASED
METRIC, AND IT'S A REALLY GOOD
METRIC FOR IDENTIFYING SCHOOLS
FOR IMPROVEMENT. WHAT IT DOES IS
ALSO IT OVER IDENTIFIES SCHOOLS
THAT ARE SERVING THE MOST HIGH
NEEDS STUDENTS FOR THAT
IMPROVEMENT PURPOSE. THAT'S
PROBABLY A GOOD THING WHEN WE'RE
TALKING ABOUT IMPROVING SCHOOLS
STATEWIDE. IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT
THAT. AND THAT'S THE THAT'S ALSO
THE TRIGGER THAT OVER IDENTIFIES
SCHOOLS INTO THE LOW TRACK FOR
PRESUMPTIVE DENIAL AND CLOSURE
OF THAT SCHOOL. THAT'S NOT A
GOOD THING. AND WE SEE THAT IN
THE DASHBOARD DATA AS WE LOOK AT
THESE RENEWAL TRACKS OVER OVER
REPRESENTED IN THAT LOW TRACK
ARE THE SCHOOLS THAT ARE SERVING
THE MOST HIGH NEEDS STUDENTS IN
THE STATE. THAT'S A BIAS THAT
CANNOT BE FIXED BECAUSE IT'S
BASED ON HOW THE DASHBOARD WAS
INTENDED TO BE USED FOR
IDENTIFYING SCHOOLS FOR
IMPROVEMENT. BUT HAVING THAT
ADDITIONAL DATA TO SHOW HOW
THOSE STUDENTS ARE WORKING AND
HOW HOW WELL THEY'RE IMPROVING
IS CRITICAL TO MAKE THAT
DECISION ON EFFECTIVELY.
ASSEMBLY MEMBER, MAY I CLARIFY A
COUPLE MORE THINGS? SURE, ONE, I
JUST WANT TO SAY CLARIFY A FEW
THINGS. CHARTERS ARE NO LONGER
AN EXPERIMENT. WE ARE A PART OF
THE FABRIC OF PUBLIC EDUCATION
SYSTEM, TWO ÁP 1505 AS COLIN
STATES, REQUIRES US TO FOCUS ON
ACADEMICS. SO WE CAN'T NOT FOCUS
ON TESTING AND VERIFY DATA WOULD
ALLOW US TO PROVIDE MORE DATA TO
SHOW HOW SCHOOLS ARE DOING.
VERIFIED DATA IS OUR A LIST OF
DATA THAT WAS VETTED BY WES
EDITOR AND IS APPROVED BY THE
CALIFORNIA STATE BOARD OF
EDUCATION. IT'S NOT A RANDOM SET
OF DATA, AND WE ARE NOT ON THE
SAME SYSTEM AS YOU POINTED OUT,
IF WE REALLY WANT TO GET SERIOUS
ABOUT GREAT SCHOOLS FOR ALL
KIDS, LET'S PUT TRADITIONAL
PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO THE SAME
SYSTEM. LET'S PUT THEM UP FOR
RENEWAL EVERY 2 TO 7 YEARS. AND
IN FACT, BY OUR OWN ANALYSIS,
APPROXIMATELY 700 TRADITIONAL
PUBLIC SCHOOLS WILL QUALIFY FOR
THE LOW TIER RIGHT NOW. WHAT ARE
WE GOING TO DO ABOUT IT? YEAH,
YEAH. I COULDN'T AGREE MORE. I
THINK, I THINK THAT DEFINITELY
IS AN EXCELLENT POINT. NOW, I
WILL JUST SAY, YOU KNOW, JUST TO
AND THEN I'LL BE DONE, I KNOW
I'VE TAKEN A LOT OF TIME HERE,
BUT I REALLY APPRECIATE THE
AUTHOR FOR BRINGING THIS
FORWARD. WE'LL BE SUPPORTING IT
TODAY. I THINK, AS A, JUST JUST
AS A FORMER SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER,
YOU KNOW, I THINK AT THE END OF
THE DAY AND I KNOW, YOU KNOW,
CSBA BROUGHT THIS UP AS WELL.
THESE ARE REALLY DELICATE
DECISIONS AND DISCUSSIONS THAT
ARE HAPPENING AT THE LOCAL
LEVEL. IN MY OPINION, IT IS
BETTER TO HAVE MORE INFORMATION
WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT A SCHOOL,
PARTICULARLY A SCHOOL THAT IS
SERVING, SPECIFIC POPULATIONS,
THAT YOU HAVE AS MUCH
INFORMATION AS POSSIBLE WHEN
YOU'RE MAKING THESE DECISIONS.
AND SO I THINK WE DO NEED TO
EXTEND THIS FOR THE THREE YEAR
PERIOD. SO WE'RE HAPPY TO
SUPPORT THAT. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH, MR. ALVAREZ. THEN
MR. MCCARTY, THEN MISS BONTA.
THANK YOU. I WANT TO TAKE THE
MOMENT TO MAYBE HAVE US ALL TAKE
A BREATH. DEEP BREATH, IT SEEMS
LIKE WE ARE RIGHT NOW IN SOME OF
THESE RESPONSES GOING TO OUR
WORST COMMON DENOMINATOR. AND
THAT SHOULD NOT BE WHAT THIS
CONVERSATION IS ABOUT, I WILL
SAY, AND I DON'T THINK I'VE SAID
THIS EVER PUBLICLY TO ANY OF
YOU, IS THAT I WAS INVOLVED, IN
MY YOUNGER ACTIVIST DAYS BEFORE
I EVEN HAD KIDS IN, ACTIONS TO
CLOSE A CHARTER SCHOOL IN MY OWN
NEIGHBORHOOD IN BARRIO LOGAN. IT
WAS ACTUALLY MY FORMER MIDDLE
SCHOOL, WHICH THEN CONVERTED
INTO A CHARTER SCHOOL, WHICH WAS
JUST A COMPLETE FAILURE. AND WE
ORGANIZED AS A COMMUNITY. AND
CERTAINLY THE CHARTER FOLKS
WANTED TO CONTINUE TO OPERATING.
WE HAD STRUGGLES WITH THE BOARD
OF EDUCATION. OAN, BUT AFTER A
FEW YEARS, IT FELT LIKE WE WERE
ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY DO THAT.
AND I ONLY SHARE THAT STORY
BECAUSE I DO THINK THAT THERE
ARE INSTANCES IN WHICH SCHOOLS
SHOULD BE SHUT DOWN. ABSOLUTELY
AND, AND SO I DON'T THINK PEOPLE
SHOULD BE ABLE TO JUST ALLOW TO,
TO OPERATE, INDEFINITELY. AND SO
I'M, I WAS CONCERNED WITH THE
BILL WHEN I READ THIS BILL ON
ESSENTIALLY THE REMOVAL ALL, OF
THAT SUNSET ENTIRELY, WHICH I
WOULD NOT HAVE SUPPORTED, I ALSO
AM CONCERNED, AS A PARENT OF
TWO, AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
STUDENT AND A MIDDLE SCHOOL
STUDENT, THAT SOME OF THIS
VERIFIED DATA BY PEOPLE WHO I
HIGHLY RESPECT IN EDUCATION, IS
BEING, IDENTIFIED AS NOT REALLY
GREAT SOURCES OF INFORMATION
BECAUSE AS A PARENT, I, DEPEND
ON SOME OF THESE SOURCES OF
INFORMATION TO UNDERSTAND HOW MY
KID IS DOING IN SCHOOL,
OBVIOUSLY, ALSO IN CONSULTATION
WITH THE TEACHER AND THE PARENT
TEACHER CONFERENCES, WHICH WE
JUST HAD NOT LONG AGO. BUT YOU
KNOW, THE FIRST IN THE ANALYSIS
LISTED, WHICH I KNOW IS USED A
LOT BY OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL,
ACHIEVED 3000, WHICH MEASURES
THE GROWTH OF OR AT LEAST GIVES
ME AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHERE MY
CHILD IS. AND AS IT RELATES TO
READING, THAT'S, THAT'S RELIED
UPON A LOT BY OUR SCHOOL. WE, WE
I WAS PART OF THE PTA. WE HAD TO
RAISE MONEY TO BUY THAT PROGRAM
SO THAT OUR KIDS COULD HAVE AN
ADDITIONAL TOOL. AND SO TO SAY
THAT THAT TOOL AND I'M SURE
THERE'S OTHER GOOD ONES THAT I
DON'T KNOW ABOUT AS MUCH, ARE
JUST LIKE TO BE DISMISSIVE ABOUT
IT IS MAYBE TOPIC FOR ANOTHER
CONVERSATION, BUT DEFINITELY
CONCERNING TO HEAR, I'M GOING TO
OPERATE UNDER THE ASSUMPTION
THAT THE FOLKS AT THE STATE
BOARD OF EDUCATION DETERMINE
THAT THESE ARE DECENT TOOLS TO
MEASURE, HOW MUCH OUR KIDS ARE
LEARNING, FOR, FOR THE MOMENT,
FOR THIS DISCUSSION. BUT, I
THINK WHAT IS MOST IMPORTANT,
AGAIN, JUST LIKE THE PREVIOUS
ITEM, WHEN I ASKED ABOUT IT'S A
SHAME THAT, LIKE, I DON'T THINK
THE DEPARTMENT IS HERE. IS
ANYBODY FROM OR, STATE BOARD OF
EDUCATION HERE IN THE ROOM? I
CAN ANSWER QUESTIONS ON THIS
BILL. NO. OKAY. SO IT MAKES IT
VERY DIFFICULT WHEN, AS POINTED
OUT IN A WELL WRITTEN ANALYSIS
BY THE WAY, WE WERE SUPPOSED TO
HAVE THIS TIMELINE. I'LL REFER
TO PAGE NUMBER SEVEN IN OUR
ANALYSIS THAT WE ALL HAVE, OF
WHEN THE STATE BOARD IS SUPPOSED
TO BE RELEASING, THIS THE GROWTH
MODEL ON THE DASHBOARD TO BE
ABLE TO MEASURE THE WAY I THINK
WE ALL REALLY BELIEVE, YOU KNOW,
WE SHOULD MEASURE WHETHER OR NOT
THERE'S GROWTH HAPPENING AND
IMPROVEMENT HAPPENING AT
SCHOOLS, AND THERE IS, TO ME, NO
CLEAR INDICATION. SO LOOK AT
FALL 2024. IT'S THE EARLIEST
RELEASE OF THE NEXT GROWTH MODEL
DATA USING, CURRENT ENGLISH
LANGUAGE ARTS AND MATHEMATICS
DATA. BUT I HAVE BEEN ASKING AND
I HAVE NO CONFIRMATION THAT THIS
IS ACTUALLY GOING TO BE THE
CASE. AND SO THAT TO ME, HAVING
JUST THIS MORNING HAVING A
CONVERSATION ABOUT THE STATE
TRANSITIONING INTO PROGRAMS,
INTO DATABASES, INTO ANY NUMBER
OF THINGS AND BEING DELAYED
EVERY SINGLE TIME ON ALMOST
EVERYTHING I'VE DISCUSSED IN OUR
SUBCOMMITTEE ON ALL OUR
EDUCATION RELATED GOALS, DOESN'T
GIVE ME A COMFORT THAT WE'RE
ACTUALLY ON THE PATHWAY TO
ACHIEVING WHAT WHAT THIS IS
HOPING TO DO. SO I UNDERSTAND
THE AUTHORS DESIRE TO TRY TO
GIVE US SOME TIME. AND SO MY
FEEDBACK I'LL BE VERY
TRANSPARENT ABOUT THIS TO THE
AUTHOR IS, LOOK, I DON'T KNOW
THAT I CAN DEFINITELY CANNOT
SUPPORT INDEFINITE, THREE YEARS.
YOU MIGHT BE RIGHT, MISS RUBIO,
BUT IT MIGHT HAPPEN SOONER. AND
IF IT HAPPENS SOONER, I WANT TO
RELY ON THAT DATA AS SOON AS
IT'S AVAILABLE. SO I THINK
THAT'S, MISS RUBIO, I'LL LET YOU
OPPORTUNITY TO RESPOND. I ASSUME
THAT IS WHY YOU ARE PRESENTING
THIS AMENDMENT OF IF THE IF THE
DASHBOARD INCLUDES THE GROWTH
MODEL SOONER THAN, YOUR
AMENDMENT WOULD ESSENTIALLY
TERMINATE THE USE OF VERIFIABLE
DATA, AND WE WILL INSTEAD RELY
ON THE GROWTH MODEL IN THE
DASHBOARD AS THE SOURCE OF
INFORMATION FOR DECISION MAKING
ON CHARTER SCHOOLS. THANK YOU.
SO YES, THAT WAS THE INTENTION
OF 1505 IS TO GET RID OF, THE
VERIFIABLE DATA THROUGH THE
DASHBOARD. AND THAT'S THE ONLY
THING THAT I'M ASKING FOR IS AN
EXTENSION. SO THAT, THAT DATA
CAN BE USED, TO YOUR POINT, AND
THAT'S WHY I SAID THREE YEARS OR
WHEN THE INFORMATION IS
AVAILABLE. I'VE BEEN HERE FOR
EIGHT YEARS AND HAVE BEEN
PROMISED, THOUSANDS OF THINGS
FROM FROM THE DEPARTMENTS, FROM
DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS. AND THE
REALITY IS THAT, THEY'RE ON A
DIFFERENT TIMELINE THAN MOST OF
US ARE, NOT TO KNOCK ANYBODY.
HOWEVER, THE REALITY IS, TO YOUR
POINT, ON PAGE SEVEN, THERE IS
NO INDICATION THAT THIS IS GOING
TO HAPPEN. AND SO THAT'S WHY I'M
SAYING THREE YEARS OR WHEN THE
INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE, I'M
NOT SAYING INDEFINITE BECAUSE
TO, TO THE OPPOSITION'S POINT,
AT SOME POINT WE ALL HAVE TO GET
ON SOME WHAT OF A SAME PAGE I
TAUGHT FOR 16 YEARS AND, YOU
KNOW, JUST KIND OF ON A SIDE
NOTE, IT WAS VERY FRUSTRATING TO
ME TO, GET A STUDENT THAT WAS
BEHIND, FOR EXAMPLE, IN FOURTH
GRADE, I TAUGHT FOURTH GRADE FOR
EIGHT YEARS, AND I WORKED AND
WORKED AND WORKED AND THE
STUDENT WAS THE FIRST GRADE
LEVEL WHEN THEY CAME TO ME. THEN
I MADE TWO YEARS GROWTH, AND NOW
THEY'RE AT THIRD GRADE LEVEL.
BUT WHEN THE ASSESSMENT CAME,
THEY WERE BELOW GRADE LEVEL.
EVEN THOUGH I HAD WORKED,
DILIGENTLY TO MAKE SURE THAT MY
STUDENTS WERE CAUGHT UP, AND I
KNOW THAT A LOT OF OUR TEACHERS,
I WAS A TEACHER, A SCHOOL BOARD
MEMBER, SUFFER THE SAME THING.
NOT NECESSARILY RELEVANT TO THE
CONVERSATION, BUT THE POINT
BEING THAT WITHOUT THAT, GROWTH
DATA, THEN HOW DO WE MAKE
INFORMED DECISIONS TO MAKE SURE
THAT OUR STUDENTS ARE ACHIEVING,
AND THE AGAIN, THE ONLY ASK TO
THIS IS WE CAN HAVE THE OTHER
CONVERSATIONS. YOU ASK US TO
TAKE A DEEP BREATH. WE CAN HAVE
ALL OF THOSE OTHER CONVERSATIONS
RIGHT NOW, WHAT I'M ASKING FOR
IS JUST AN EXTENSION SO THAT WE
CAN GET THE DASHBOARD ONLINE,
AND THEN WE CAN HAVE THOSE
CONVERSATIONS AND MAKE THE
DECISIONS AND IF IT IS APPLES
AND ORANGES, WE CAN THROW THE
APPLES OUT OR THE ORANGES OUT,
WHICHEVER YOU PREFER, BUT WE
CAN'T HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS
UNTIL WE. THE PURPOSE OF 15. OH
FIVE WAS TO, GET THAT DATA, AND
1505 IS NOT GOING TO BE
IMPLEMENTED. THE DASHBOARD PART
OF IT IS NOT GOING TO BE
IMPLEMENTED. SO I'M JUST SAYING
1505 IS IN PLACE. GIVE IT AN
OPPORTUNITY FOR THE ACTUAL
IMPLEMENTATION, AND THEN WE CAN
DECIDE. THAT'S WHY I'M OFFERING
THREE YEARS OR THE
IMPLEMENTATION. LET ME ASK YOU,
YOU'RE WORKING ON THIS ISSUE. SO
I ASSUME YOU REACHED OUT TO THE
STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION ON
THIS. CAN YOU PROVIDE ANY MORE,
YOU KNOW, LIGHT TO THIS
UNANSWERED QUESTION THAT I KNOW
I'VE BEEN HAVING MY STAFF ASK
ABOUT WHERE I HAVE A CHART, BUT
I WOULD LET THEM, YOU KNOW, WE
ARE TEACHERS. I HAVE PLACE
CHARTS. I WAS HOPING NOT TO HAVE
TO. I HAVE A DIVE INTO THE
CHART, BUT IN RELATION TO THIS
TIMELINE, IT'S VERY UNCERTAIN,
AT THE LAST BOARD, THE LAST
STATE BOARD MEETING, WHICH WAS
MARCH OF THIS YEAR, AND IT'S
KIND OF HIGHLIGHTED IN THIS ON
THIS PAGE SEVEN ON THESE DATES.
BUT WHAT, WHAT THEY SAID AND I'M
GOING TO JUST READ FROM THE, THE
BOARD ITEM BECAUSE I DON'T WANT
TO MISQUOTE ANYTHING, BUT THEY
WILL BE RELEASING GROWTH DATA AT
THE END OF THIS YEAR AT THE END
OF 24, BUT IT WON'T BE IN THE
DASHBOARD. SO AT THE BEGINNING
OF 25, 2025, THEY'RE GOING TO
START WHAT THEY SAY IS,
FOLLOWING THE RELEASE OF THE
INITIAL DATA, K¾T WILL SEEK SB
FEEDBACK EARLY IN 2025 ABOUT THE
FUTURE ROLE OF GROWTH DATA AND
ITS CONNECTION TO THE
ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM. SO EVEN
THAT STATEMENT IS NOT A STRONG
COMMITMENT THAT THE GROWTH
METRIC WILL BE INCORPORATED INTO
THE DASHBOARD, WHICH WOULD BE
REQUIRED FOR THIS RENEWAL
PROCESS, SO, SO AND AT THE
EARLIEST, THAT THAT COULD
HAPPEN, PERHAPS BY THE TIME THAT
THE 25 DASHBOARD COMES OUT AT
THE END OF 25. RIGHT. SO WE'VE
GOT ANOTHER WHOLE YEAR THERE
BEFORE A DASHBOARD COMES OUT AND
MAYBE THEY CAN GET IT DONE. IT'S
YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S VERY
OPTIMISTIC BECAUSE ANY CHANGE TO
THE DASHBOARD REQUIRES FEDERAL
FEDERAL APPROVAL AS WELL,
BECAUSE IT'S THE STATE IT'S THE
FEDERAL ACCOUNTABILITY K¾T
METRIC THAT THE FEDS USE. SO
THAT HAS TO GO TO THE FEDS. WHO
KNOWS HOW LONG THAT WILL TAKE.
WHAT HAPPENS THEN? THE DASHBOARD
COMES OUT. YOU HAVE YOU HAVE A
GROWTH METRIC IN THE DASHBOARD.
AND THEN WE CAN START USING IT
FOR CHARTER RENEWALS. THAT
RENEWAL CYCLE WON'T START AGAIN
UNTIL THE NEXT FALL. CHARTER
SCHOOL SUBMIT IN THE FALL. SO
WE'VE GOT ANOTHER WHOLE YEAR
ONCE THAT DATA IS AVAILABLE TO
BEFORE IT ACTUALLY CAN START
GETTING USED FOR CHARTER
RENEWALS. AND THEN THE LAW
REQUIRES TWO YEARS OF DASHBOARD
DATA IN ORDER TO APPLY THE TRACK
CALCULATION. SO YOU WOULD HAVE
ANOTHER WHOLE YEAR BEFORE WE
EVEN START HAVING A COMPLETE
DASHBOARD TO USE THIS. SO ALL OF
THAT TO SAY AND I KNOW IT'S VERY
CONFUSING, BUT ALL THOSE CIRCLES
ARE ANOTHER YEAR THAT ADDS ON TO
THIS PROCESS BEFORE IT'S
ACTUALLY EVEN. WE'RE ABLE TO
EVEN SEE HOW THE DASHBOARD
GROWTH METRIC WOULD WORK ON
THIS. THAT DOESN'T INCLUDE ANY
OPPORTUNITY TO EVEN ASSESS IT.
AND DECIDE AND HAVE HAVE A
CONVERSATION ABOUT WHEN,
WHETHER, AND HOW THAT MIGHT
WORK. SO THREE YEARS IS VERY,
VERY, VERY OPTIMISTIC, THAT ANY
OF THIS WILL HAPPEN AND PROVIDE
NO OPPORTUNITY FOR A DIALOG
ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS NEXT,
PARTICULARLY WITH THESE HIGH
SCHOOL ISSUES. CAN I RESPOND
BRIEFLY? SURE. PLEASE SO I HEAR
YOU ABOUT TAKING A DEEP BREATH.
I THINK WHAT'S HARD HERE IS, YOU
KNOW, 1505 WAS A FRAGILE
NEGOTIATION, RIGHT? AND SO CTA
AND THE CHARTER SCHOOLS
ASSOCIATION STOOD BESIDE THE
GOVERNOR. WE SIGNED THIS INTO
LAW. AND THEN WE SEE LAST YEAR
WHAT WE SEE AS SOME BACKTRACKING
WHEN IT CAME TO RENEWALS. AND
NOW WE HAVE THIS PROPOSAL WITH
WHICH AGAIN JUST FEELS LIKE NO,
NO, NO, WE'RE NOT READY TO HOLD
EVERYONE TO THE SAME STANDARD.
SO IT'S HARD TO SIT THROUGH IT
AND FEEL LIKE SOMETHING THAT WE
HAVE ALREADY LIKE, SPENT QUITE A
BIT OF TIME AND ENERGY RESOLVING
IS NOW BEING DISCUSSED AGAIN,
BUT YOU MENTIONED ALSO THAT WE
SHOULD HAVE SOME CONFIDENCE IN
THE STATE BOARD OF ED AND WHAT
THEY'VE APPROVED IN TERMS OF
VERIFIED DATA. I TOTALLY
UNDERSTAND IF YOU'RE SAYING,
BECAUSE I HAVE A HIGHER
PERCENTAGE OF STUDENTS WHO
QUALIFY FOR FREE AND REDUCED
PRICE MEALS, THAT MAYBE THEY
HAVE LESS RESOURCES AND WE
SHOULD MAYBE NOT PREDICT THAT
THEY WILL SCORE AS HIGH IN TERMS
OF A GROWTH MODEL. WHAT I DON'T
UNDERSTAND IS ONE OF THE PIECES
OF VERIFIED DATA ALLOWS YOU TO
SAY, BECAUSE WE HAVE A HIGH
PERCENTAGE OF AFRICAN AMERICAN
STUDENTS THAT I SHOULD EXPECT
LESS GROWTH. LIKE, THAT'S NOT
GOOD DATA. THAT'S NOT A SYSTEM
WE SHOULD BE USING, THE
DASHBOARD WAS CAREFULLY
DELIBERATED AND WE ALL NEED TO
BE ON THE DASHBOARD AND BE HELD
TO THE SAME STANDARD. I WOULD
ASK YOU, GENUINELY, BUT DID YOU
EXPECT I WAS NOT HERE IN 1505,
WHEN THAT CAME INTO BEING? I'M
NOT SURE. MORE THAN A COUPLE OF
US WERE, DID DID YOU NOT,
THOUGH, ALSO EXPECT THAT BY
2025, THEY THE STATE BOARD WOULD
HAVE ACTUALLY IMPLEMENTED THIS?
AT NO POINT WERE WE INTERESTED
IN ENTERTAINING THIS
CONVERSATION ABOUT VERIFIED
DATA. WHAT WE WANTED TO DO,
BLUNTLY, WAS TO HOLD EVERYONE TO
THE SAME STANDARD AND THAT WAS
THE DASHBOARD. OF COURSE, YOU
KNOW, WE HAD A CONVERSATION BACK
AND FORTH AND WE SETTLED WITH
JANUARY 1ST, 2026 AS THE DATE
WHEN THIS WOULD SUNSET. AND WE
WOULD ALL BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE TO
THE DASHBOARD. I THINK WE SHOULD
ALL BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE TO THE
DASHBOARD. RIGHT NOW, THE
DASHBOARD IS CALIFORNIA'S STATE
ACCOUNT SCHOOL ACCOUNTABILITY
SYSTEM AND CHARTER SCHOOLS ARE
DEFINED IN LAW AS PUBLIC
SCHOOLS. THEY SHOULD BE HELD
ACCOUNTABLE TO THE SAME
ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM THAT ALL
OTHER PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE HELD
TO. YEAH, AGAIN, I THINK I
CONCUR WITH THAT. I, I DO
THOUGH, ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE
DATA THAT GETS USED, AND WHEN IT
COMES TO ASSESSMENTS DIFFER,
DIFFERENT SCHOOLS, YOU KNOW, THE
GRADES THREE THROUGH EIGHT THAT
THAT DATA, FULL DATA IS
AVAILABLE IF YOU HAPPEN TO BE A
HIGH SCHOOL, YOU'VE ONLY GOT ONE
DATA SET IN TERMS OF ASSESSMENT
THAT, MAY MAY NOT GIVE YOU A
FULL PICTURE. OR WOULD YOUR
OPINION BE THAT THAT IS A FULL
PICTURE, EVEN AT A, YOU KNOW,
ONE OF OUR CURRENT PUBLIC HIGH
SCHOOLS? YEAH. AND I THINK AGAIN
, THE DASHBOARD IS THE STATE
SCHOOL ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM. WE
SHOULD ALL BE ON IT IF THERE ARE
FLAWS WITH THE DASHBOARD RIGHT
NOW, WE SHOULD FIX THOSE FLAWS.
BUT WE SHOULD HOLD EVERYONE TO
THE SAME STANDARD. SO IF THERE'S
SOME PERCEIVED ISSUE THAT WE'RE
HAVING WITH THE DASHBOARD, LET'S
FIX THE DASHBOARD OKAY. WELL I
THINK THAT REQUIRES MORE WORK
FROM ALL OF US, COULD I MAKE A
CLARIFICATION? SURE. I JUST
WANTED TO. YEAH. VERY BRIEF. I
JUST WANTED TO BE CLEAR. THAT
CHARTER SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL
DISTRICTS ALL PARTICIPATE IN THE
DASHBOARD. AND THE ASSISTANCE
PROGRAM THAT IT WAS DESIGNED FOR
IN EXACTLY THE SAME WAY. SO
THERE IS APPLES TO APPLES THERE
THAT SYSTEM IS ALL WORKING. WHAT
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS THE USE
OF SUPPLEMENTAL DATA WHEN THAT
DASHBOARD IS BEING USED FOR A
PURPOSE. IT WAS NOT INTENDED.
THAT DOES NOT APPLY TO SCHOOL
DISTRICTS. SO THAT'S THE APPLES
TO ORANGES. WE'VE GOT A
DIFFERENT SYSTEM IN PLACE FOR
CHARTER SCHOOLS. AND WE DON'T
MIND THAT SYSTEM. WE WANT TO BE
ACCOUNTABLE. CCSA HAS ACTIVELY
MOVED TO CLOSE LOW PERFORMING
CHARTER SCHOOLS IN THE PAST,
BASED ON RELIABLE DATA, BASED ON
COMPLETE DATA. BUT BUT WE DO NOT
SHY AWAY FROM THAT. BUT THESE
ARE NOT EQUAL SYSTEMS. WHEN THE
DASHBOARD IS NOT BEING USED IN
THE SAME WAY FOR CHARTER
SCHOOLS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU
ALL. I WON'T GO ANY LONGER, MR.
CHAIR. I, I WOULD SUPPORT A
MOTION, GIVEN WHAT I'VE STATED
AND GIVEN CONTINUED LACK OF
CLARITY OF WHAT IS GOING TO
HAPPEN WITH SB, I DO THINK THAT
THIS SHOULD SUNSET, AS SOON AS
THE STUDENT GROWTH DATA IS
AVAILABLE, IF THAT HAPPENS
BEFORE THREE YEARS AND IT SHOULD
BE, THEN, BUT CERTAINLY, YOU
KNOW, NOT AN INDEFINITE
EXTENSION. I KNOW THAT'S NOT
WHAT THE COMMITTEE AMENDMENT IS
AS DRAFTED, BUT THAT WOULD BE A
MOTION THAT I WOULD LIKE TO
SUPPORT AND MAKE, IF
APPROPRIATE, AT THE RIGHT TIME.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR.
MCCARTHY. MR. CHAIR, I WOULD
ALSO SECOND THAT MOTION. AS MR.
ALVAREZ STATED. OKAY. I DON'T
KNOW WHAT THAT MOTION IS, AND
MAYBE THAT I'LL GET BACK TO, TO
THIS ISSUE, JUST TO MAYBE KEEP
IT SIMPLE. SO THIS IS THIS IS A
BILL BEFORE US, YOUR COMMITTEE
CHAIR, THE COMMITTEE IS
PROPOSING SIX COMMITTEE
AMENDMENTS. THE AUTHOR IS SAYING
THAT SHE LIKES TWO THROUGH SIX,
BUT NOT AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE.
AND YOU'RE SAYING, NUMBER ONE,
YOU WOULD LIKE A THREE YEAR
EXTENSION AND NOT A ONE YEAR
EXTENSION? THAT'S CORRECT. SO MY
QUESTION TO YOU IS, WOULD YOU
RATHER HAVE A ONE YEAR EXTENSION
AND TWO THROUGH SIX OR NO BILL
AT ALL? IF THOSE WERE YOUR TWO
CHOICES, THERE THERE SHOULD BE
AN OPTION, A THIRD OPTION. AND
THAT'S WHAT I'M REQUESTING, THE
OPTION OF THREE YEARS, FOR THE
THREE YEAR EXTENSION OR WHEN THE
DATA, THE DASHBOARD IS
AVAILABLE. SO THAT GIVES US THE
FLEXIBILITY OF THE THREE YEARS
OR TO THE POINT THAT WAS MADE
WHEN THE DASHBOARD IS ON ONLINE,
TO, TO, GO AHEAD AND END IT
THEN. SO IT'S, IT'S NOT A FAIR
IT'S NOT A FAIR PROPOSAL BECAUSE
THERE ARE OTHER OPTIONS. SO
THAT'S WHY I'M REQUESTING AND
TRYING, ASKING FOR AN AUTHOR'S
AMENDMENT FOR THAT SPECIFIC ONE,
THE OTHER, THE 2 TO 5,
ABSOLUTELY AGREE WITH THE NUMBER
ONE. I WOULD LIKE A THREE YEAR
EXTENSION. CORRECT. SO I KNOW
YOU'RE GOING FOR OPTION C, BUT
IF THEY'RE JUST TWO, WOULD YOU
RATHER HAVE NO BILL AT ALL OR
THE BILL WITH THE ONE YEAR
EXTENSION? I'M NOT GOING TO MAKE
THAT CHOICE. WHY? CAN'T ANSWER
THE QUESTION BECAUSE IT'S NOT A
FAIR QUESTION. THAT'S I HEAR
WHAT YOU'RE SAYING. AND THAT'S
NOT A FAIR QUESTION. I RESPECT
YOUR ANSWER. JUST THE BIG
PICTURE. AND MR. ALVAREZ, SO,
YOU KNOW, THIS IS MY LAST YEAR
HERE, AND I'M. I'M THE ONLY ONE
LEFT THAT'S A JOINT AUTHOR OF
THIS BILL. THERE'S FOUR OF US.
THERE'S THE OTHER BONTA, I WAS
HERE DURING 15. I'M SORRY. THE
JOINT AUTHORS. OKAY. THERE ARE
FOUR JOINT AUTHORS ON THIS BILL.
SO IT WAS OUR WORK. SO IT WAS ME
, ROB BONTA, PATRICK O'DONNELL,
THE CHAIR. AND CHRISTY SMITH. SO
I'M HERE. SO I KIND OF REMEMBER
THIS, AND I REMEMBER THAT WE HAD
CHARTER WARS ALL THE TIME, AND
IT WAS BATTLE ON THE FLOOR AND
PICKING SIDES AND THIS AND THAT.
AND IT WAS. YEAH, IT WAS ON CALL
FOR FIVE HOURS. YEAH. AND IT WAS
MESSY AND, YOU KNOW, THIS, THAT
WE CAME UP WITH A BUNCH OF THESE
BILLS THIS YEAR, THAT YEAR, IN
2019, AND WE KIND OF COALESCED
AROUND ONE ISSUE AND A MIRACLE.
WE ALL AGREED. AND WE HAD A
CEREMONY IN THE OLD CAPITOL WHEN
THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, I WAS
THERE WITH THE CHARTER
ASSOCIATION IN WITH, YOU KNOW,
EDUCATION COALITION GROUPS AND
TEACHER GROUPS. AND IT WAS ALL
LIKE FINALLY, LET'S MOVE ON AND
FIGHT FOR STUFF WE ALL AGREE
UPON INCREASING LOCAL CONTROL
FUNDING FORMULA, DOUBLING OUR
AMOUNT OF FUNDING FOR SCHOOLS
DOING UNIVERSAL TRANSITIONAL
KINDERGARTEN AFTER SCHOOL
PROGRAMS, SCHOOL MEALS THAT
EVERY SCHOOL CAN PARTICIPATE
WITH, PUBLIC SCHOOLS, CHARTER
SCHOOLS, WHAT HAVE YOU. THEY'RE
ALL PUBLIC SCHOOLS, I GET IT. SO
WE CAME TO THIS ACCORD AND, I, I
THINK ALL THINGS BEING EQUAL, WE
SHOULD STAY THE COURSE. BUT I DO
SUPPORT THE COMPROMISE THAT THE
CHAIR IS ALLUDING TO. AND I WILL
NOTE THAT SOME OF THE PRINCIPALS
AND THE PURISTS ARE MAD WITH THE
CHAIR FOR EVEN PROPOSING THIS
THING. SO YOU CAN'T WIN IN THIS
BUSINESS. AND WE GET THAT. SO I
THINK THAT AS YOU ALWAYS DO, MR.
CHAIR, AND I SERVE WITH YOU ON
MULTIPLE COMMITTEES OVER THE
YEARS. YOU MAKE PEOPLE ON ALL
SIDES UNHAPPY TRYING TO FIND A
BALANCE. WELL, MR. MCCARTY, IF
WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, IF I MAY
ASK, IF I MAY ADD, WE DIDN'T
EXPECT THE PANDEMIC EITHER. WE
DIDN'T EXPECT OUR KIDS TO BE,
YOU KNOW, ONLINE LEARNING
BECAUSE THAT WAS NOT AN
EXPECTATION. THÀNH. SO I'M NOT
SAYING THAT WE DON'T FOLLOW THE
COURSE. I'M SAYING THAT,
CIRCUMSTANCES HAVE PREVENTED
MANY THINGS FROM HAPPENING,
ESPECIALLY THE PANDEMIC. AND SO
IF EVERYTHING WAS, NORMAL AND WE
DIDN'T HAVE, YOU KNOW, ANY OF
THE ISSUES THAT WE HAD OR QUITE
FRANKLY, THE EXCUSES OF WHY NOT
THE, DASHBOARD IS NOT ON BOARD,
THEN WE WOULD BE HAVING A
DIFFERENT CONVERSATION OR NO
CONVERSATION AT ALL. YEAH. AND I
GET THAT. I WASN'T REALLY ASKING
A QUESTION HERE, BUT MY POINT,
THOUGH, IS THAT I THINK THAT I,
I CONCUR AND THAT'S WHY I THINK
IT'S A FAIR SOLUTION TO EXTEND
IT BY A YEAR. AND LAST YEAR WE
DID IT. AND THEN OTHERWISE WE'RE
GOING THREE YEARS IN PERPETUITY.
AND I THINK THAT WHAT HE LAID
OUT THERE IS A FAIR COMPROMISE.
I'LL JUST REPEAT THERE'S AN OR
ONE OR MORE INDIVIDUALS THAT
DON'T EVEN WANT ANY OF THIS
THING THAT KNOW NOTHING. STICK
WITH THE COURSE. IF 1505 AND I
YOU KNOW, THINGS THAT WAS THEN,
THIS IS NOW. SO I THINK THAT
THIS IS A FAIR PROPOSAL AND A
COMPROMISE. AND I, I'M KIND OF
AT A LOSS AS FAR AS WHY IT
DOESN'T QUITE WORK. SO THAT'S
IT, MR. CHAIR. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU, MISS BONTA. YEAH. I WANT TO
APPRECIATE THE CAUTION FROM MY
COLLEAGUE TO MY RIGHT HERE TO
HAVE US ALL BREATHE, BECAUSE I
THINK ACTUALLY, THE PROPONENTS
HAVE DONE THEMSELVES A BIT OF A
DISSERVICE BY, STIRRING UP A LOT
OF DIRT THAT REALLY HAS NO PLACE
WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF THIS
CONVERSATION, AS AS, YOU KNOW,
RELITIGATING WHETHER OR NOT WE
SHOULD HAVE THE DASHBOARD MAKING
SURE THAT RELITIGATING WHETHER
OR NOT A GROWTH MODEL SHOULD BE
A PART OF THAT. POKING AT 1505
LIKE THAT, WE DON'T NEED TO BE
THERE AT ALL. AND, AND I BELIEVE
THE INTENTION THAT THE AUTHOR IS
TRYING TO ACHIEVE IS TO
ESSENTIALLY TRY TO MATCH UP, THE
REALITY OF WHAT WE NEED TO DO,
GIVEN THE FACT THAT THERE IS
APPARENTLY A DELAY IN THE
DEVELOPMENT OF THE OF THE GROWTH
DATA BY THE CDC, SO I JUST I
JUST WANT TO PUT IT OUT THERE
THAT I HAD TO TAKE A STEP BACK
TO JUST STOP HEARING THE NOISE
THAT I HEARD AS PART OF THE
CONVERSATION HERE. AND CENTER
MYSELF AROUND WHAT THE,
OPPOSITION THÀNH ON THIS IS
OFFERING, WHICH IS JUST AT THE
END OF THE DAY, WE'RE ALL
SUPPOSED TO BE ON THE SAME
SYSTEM. LIKE THAT IS A
COMMITMENT THAT WE MADE TO THAT.
THAT IS A COMMITMENT THAT WE
MADE. SO I WANT TO JUST,
CLARIFY, THOUGH, THAT YOUR
MOTION, YOUR YOUR PROPOSED
AMENDMENTS ARE NOT IN THE
AMENDMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN
OFFERED HERE. SO I JUST WANT TO
CENTER US BACK AGAIN AROUND,
WHAT WHAT YOUR DESIRED APPROACH
IS. AND MAYBE IT'S YOU RESTATING
YOUR MOTION. I'M HAPPY TO DO
THAT. WHENEVER THE CHAIR WOULD
LIKE ME TO. OKAY WHY DON'T YOU
RESTATE YOUR MOTION? OKAY. SO AS
WAS, I THINK, CLARIFIED, THERE
ARE SIX AMENDMENTS THAT ARE
BEING REQUESTED, AMENDMENTS
THROUGH TWO THROUGH SIX. THERE'S
I DON'T THINK ANYBODY HAS ANY
ISSUES. ITS AMENDMENT NUMBER
ONE. AND SO I WOULD REQUEST THAT
THE, EXTENSION OF THE SUNSET
DATE FOR THE USE OF VERIFIED
DATA BE FOR THREE YEARS OR, OR
UNTIL THE STUDENT GROWTH METRIC
IS FULLY IMPLEMENTED AND
OPERATIONAL, WHICHEVER IS
SOONER. SPECIFICALLY FOR LOW
ACHIEVING, MIDDLE MIDDLE
ACHIEVING CHARTER SCHOOLS. THAT
WOULD BE UNTIL JUNE 30TH, 2028
AND JANUARY 1ST, 2029. THAT
WOULD LINE UP TO THOSE YEARS. I
SECOND THAT MOTION. OKAY. MOTION
HAS BEEN MADE AND SECONDED. WE
DO REQUIRE WRITTEN MOCKUPS OF
AMENDMENTS BEING PRESENTED
BEFORE THIS COMMITTEE. DO YOU DO
YOU HAVE SOMETHING READY? OKAY.
OKAY. WE NEED TO TAKE A BRIEF
RECESS, TEN MINUTES. IT IS,
WELL, WE WILL RECONVENE AT 520.
THIS COMMITTEE IS IN RECESS
.
SO.
OKAY.
I KNOW WHAT COULD YOU DO? I
KNOW, I KNOW. RIGHT, I KNOW.
I'M READY. YEAH. I WAS. THAT
WAS. THAT WAS VERY ENTERTAINING.
OH, YEAH. YEAH.
OH, REALLY? THEY DON'T HAVE
.
A REALLY GOOD NO
.
OH, YOU ALREADY DID IT. OH,
REALLY? OH YEAH
.
OH
YEAH. I TOTALLY GET IT. I KNOW,
I. YEAH, YEAH. YEAH, YEAH. YEAH.
YEAH.
SO WELCOME. HAPPY TO DO IT. HI.
HOW ARE YOU DOING? RIGHT. YEAH.
GOOD TO SEE YOU. YEAH. NICE TO
SEE YOU, TOO. I UNDERSTAND, I
APPRECIATE. MY COLLEAGUES
SOMETIMES WE DON'T KNOW MUCH
ABOUT. YEAH LIVINGSTON. SO.
THERE'S ONE.
MEMBER. THEY ARE. WHY? WHY WOULD
I GO DOWN THERE? THAT'S MY RULE.
LIKE IN MY PHONE RINGS. I KNOW
THE NUMBER. WHY AM I GOING TO
ANSWER? RECOGNITION.
I I TALKED TO HER ALREADY. OKAY.
WE'RE GOING TO GET RESTARTED.
ASK.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH
FOR YOUR PATIENCE, SO WE HAVE A
WRITTEN MOCKUP OF MR. ALVAREZ'S
MOTION, I BELIEVE MR. ALVAREZ IS
CONFIRMED. OR IS MR. ALVAREZ.
OH, HE'S GETTING ALL RIGHT.
THAT, IT IS A ACCURATE
REFLECTION OF HIS MOTION, OR IS
THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON
MR. ALVAREZ'S MOTION? SEEING
NONE. MISS BONTA, CHAIR, I'D
LIKE TO MAKE A SUBSTITUTE MOTION
, PLEASE. THAT WOULD ESSENTIALLY
SAY, IN PARAGRAPH FIVE, VERIFY
DATA AS DEFINED IN SUBDIVISION C
SHALL BE CONSIDERED BY THE
CHARTERING AUTHORITY FOR THE
NEXT TWO SUBSEQUENT RENEWAL
CYCLES UNTIL THE STATE BOARD
ADOPTS THE PERFORMANCE STANDARDS
FOR GROWTH FOR THE STATE BOARD
ADOPTED PUPIL LEVEL ACADEMIC
MEASURES FOR ENGLISH LANGUAGE
ARTS AND MATHEMATICS. STRIKING
OR UNTIL JANUARY 1ST, 2029,
WHICHEVER COMES FIRST, AND THEN
THE REMAINDER OF THE PARAGRAPH
STAYS THE SAME WITH WITH THE
INTENTION TO ESSENTIALLY, WE
HAVE THE INTENTION BE TO HAVE
THE REQUIREMENT OF THE GROWTH
METRICS COMING INTO
IMPLEMENTATION PHASE. IN ORDER
FOR THIS TO HAPPEN WITHOUT IT
BEING TIED TO THAT SPECIFIC
DEADLINE. OKAY. ALL RIGHT.
MOTIONS WERE MADE. IS THERE A
SECOND I'LL SECOND. OKAY. IS
THERE A MOCK UP OF THESE. WE
HAVE A MOCK UP. IT IS BEING
DISTRIBUTED RIGHT NOW MR. CHAIR.
YEAH AS NONE OF US HAVE A CLUE
WHAT WE'RE ACTUALLY. WHAT'S
GOING ON RIGHT NOW? OKAY, SO FOR
CLARIFICATION, MISS BONTA HAS A
SUBSTITUTE MOTION, THAT HAS BEEN
SECONDED. WE ARE GOING TO TAKE
UP THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION. FIRST,
A MOCK UP OF THE SUBSTITUTE
MOTION IS BEING DISTRIBUTED
RIGHT NOW. WE WILL RECESS FOR
FIVE MINUTES.
ALL RIGHT, WE ARE. RECONVENE
MEANING THIS HEARING, MISS BONTA
, HAVE YOU HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO
REVIEW THE MOCK UP OF YOUR
SUBSTITUTE MOTION? I HAVE, THANK
YOU. AND DOES IT REFLECT
ACCURATELY? REFLECT YOUR MOTION?
IT DOES. OKAY ARE THERE ANY
COMMENTS ABOUT THE SUBSTITUTE
MOTION? SEEING NONE. MR. ALVAREZ
? OH
OH, I AGREE, I FORGOT TO ASK
.
ALL RIGHT, SO MR. ALVAREZ HAS
HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO. EVERYONE
HAS HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW
THE MOCKUPS. ANY FURTHER
DISCUSSION? MR. ALVAREZ, I YOU
KNOW, I HAVE TO SAY SOMETHING. I
MADE A PREVIOUS MOTION, AND NOW
THAT MOTION IS NO LONGER ON THE
TABLE. BUT WHAT I WOULD SAY IS,
APPRECIATE THE INTENT OF TRYING
TO, OF THIS MOTION. MR. MONTI.
THANK YOU. OF TRYING TO FIGURE
OUT HOW TO MOVE FORWARD. I GUESS
THIS JUST CONTINUED THE MOTION
AS IT STATED, I THINK THE ONLY
THING THAT NEEDS TO BE SAID IS
THIS PUTS THE ONUS ON THE STATE
BOARD OF EDUCATION TO GET THIS
DONE, AND WE EXPECT THEM TO DO
SO THAT WE CAN ALL PLAY BY THE,
BY THE SAME RULES. SO I
APPRECIATE AGAIN, MISS BONTA,
AND THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. ANY
FURTHER COMMENTS SEEING NONE,
SO, MISS BONTA HAS MADE THE
MOTION. IT'S BEEN SECONDED. AND,
IT TAKES A MAJORITY OF THOSE
PRESENT AND VOTING TO APPROVE
THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION. AS BONTA
IS ASKING FOR AN I, I AM ASKING
FOR AN AYE, MADAM SECRETARY,
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON THE
SUBSTITUTE MOTION. MURATSUCHI I
MURATSUCHI I LARA LARA I ADDIS I
ALVAREZ ALVAREZ I BONTA I SANTA
I HOOVER HOOVER I MCCARTY
MCCARTY I ALL RIGHT. NOW WITH
THE AMENDED BILL. WELL DO I. OH,
YEAH. YEAH. OKAY SORRY. MISS
RUBIO WITH THE AMENDED BILL. DO
YOU HAVE ANY CLOSING STATEMENT?
NO. THANK YOU. OKAY THANK YOU.
SO NOW WE NEED A MOTION FOR THE
AMENDED BILL. CHAIR, CAN I JUST
SAY THAT, I KNOW THAT THERE'S
BEEN A LOT OF, BACK AND FORTH ON
THIS. THE WORK THAT THE AUTHOR
PUT INTO THIS, WITH YOU AND THE
COMMITTEE TO ENSURE THAT WE
COULD ULTIMATELY COME TO A PLACE
WHERE WE ARE HOLDING CHARTERS TO
THE SAME STANDARD, THAT'S,
TRADITIONAL PUBLICS ARE FIRST
AND FOREMOST. AND I WANT TO
THANK THE COMMITTEE FOR WORKING
VERY HARD TO COME TO SOMETHING
THAT MIGHT BE AMENABLE. AND I'M,
HOPEFULLY THANKFUL TO I'M
THANKFUL TO THE AUTHOR FOR BEING
WILLING TO CONSIDER THIS
PARTICULAR APPROACH. I DO WANT
TO SHARE, THOUGH, THAT IF
ANYTHING CHANGES WITH THIS
AMENDMENT, WE'VE TAKEN AN HOUR
OUT OF THE COMMITTEE TIME, WHICH
IS A VERY UNUSUAL AS IT GOES
THROUGH THE PROCESS. I HOPE,
CHAIR, THAT YOU WOULD SEEK TO
BRING THIS BACK TO YOUR
COMMITTEE FOR CONSIDERATION.
THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THAT,
COMMENT. AND, LET ME JUST ADD
THAT, WE'VE SPENT A LOT OF TIME
ON THIS BILL. I THINK I'VE MET
WITH, THE CHARTER SCHOOL
ASSOCIATION AS WELL AS GREEN
DOT, AT LEAST THREE TIMES, TO
DISCUSS THIS BILL. I'VE ALSO MET
WITH THE OPPONENTS, I FULLY
SUPPORT THE, THE ORIGINAL
AGREEMENT, UNDERLYING AB 1505,
WHICH IS THAT, THE VERIFIED DATA
WAS TO BE USED, WHILE WE WERE
WAITING FOR THE GROWTH MODEL TO
BE ADOPTED, I KNOW THAT THE
OPPONENTS CONTINUE TO BE
OPPOSED, TO THIS, THIS MEASURE,
BUT I, I BELIEVE THAT IT'S A
REASONABLE COMPROMISE. THAT IS
ADOPTING THE ORIGINAL, PREMISE
OF, USING THE VERIFIED DATA
UNTIL THE GROWTH MODEL WAS IN
PLACE. AND SO ON THAT BASIS, I
SUPPORT THIS, AMENDED BILL. MISS
RUBIO, WOULD YOU LIKE TO CLOSE?
THANK YOU, THANK YOU. SO WE HAVE
A MOTION AND A SECOND. WE NEED A
MOTION ON THE ON THE AMENDED
BILL. SO MOVED. SO MOVED.
SECOND. SECOND. MADAM SECRETARY,
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. FILE ITEM
EIGHT AB 2254. THE MOTION IS Dð.
PASS AS AMENDED TO
APPROPRIATIONS. MURATSUCHI Ã
MURATSUCHI I LARA LARA I ADDIS I
ADDIS I ALVAREZ. ALVAREZ I BONTA
I QUANTA I HOOVER MCCARTY.
MCCARTY I. SIX ZERO THE BILL IS
OUT. ALL RIGHT, MISS PELLERIN.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE. HEY
I WANT A CERTIFICATE OF
RECOGNITION. WE CAN ARRANGE THAT
. FILE NUMBER 13 AB 2627.
WELCOME. MISS PELLERIN. THANK
YOU SO MUCH, CHAIR AND MEMBERS.
I'D LIKE TO THANK THE COMMITTEE
STAFF FOR WORKING WITH MY OFFICE
ON THE AMENDMENTS, WHICH I WILL
BE ACCEPTING TODAY. AND I'D ALSO
LIKE TO WISH YOU ALL A HAPPY
HIGH SCHOOL VOTER EDUCATION
WEEK. ALONG WITH DENIM DAY, AS
YOU KNOW, EXISTING STATUTE AND
REGULATIONS DIRECT THE SECRETARY
OF STATE AND COUNTIES TO
IMPLEMENT PROGRAMS AIMED AT
INCREASING VOTER PARTICIPATION,
CONDUCTING OUTREACH TO ELIGIBLE
BUT UNREGISTERED VOTERS, AND
REMOVING ADMINISTRATIVE BARRIERS
TO VOTING. HOWEVER, FEWER THAN
60% OF ELIGIBLE CALIFORNIA
VOTERS HAVE EXERCISED THEIR
RIGHT TO VOTE IN EACH STATEWIDE
ELECTION SINCE 1972, WITH THE
EXCEPTION OF THE HISTORIC
TURNOUT DURING THE 2020
ELECTION. YOUNG PEOPLE ARE THE
LEAST LIKELY AGE GROUP TO
PARTICIPATE IN ELECTIONS AND YET
THEY ARE THE ONES WHO WILL LIVE
WITH THE CONSEQUENCES OF THESE
ELECTIONS. THE LONGEST IN THE
HISTORIC TURNOUT OF 2020, ONLY
48% OF ELIGIBLE VOTERS UNDER THE
AGE OF 24 PARTICIPATED, AND THE
SAD PART IS THAT THIS WAS
SUBSTANTIALLY HIGHER THAN THE
2016 GENERAL ELECTION, WHICH SAW
A YOUTH TURNOUT OF AROUND 37. AS
THIS IS THE EDUCATION COMMITTEE,
I'D LIKE TO SAY IF OUR
PARTICIPATION RATES WERE GRADES
ON A TEST, WE WOULD BE FAILING
WHEN LESS THAN HALF OF OUR YOUNG
VOTERS ARE PARTICIPATING IN A
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION. WE NEED
TO EXAMINE WHY THEY ARE ENGAGED
AT LOWER RATES THAN THE OLDER
SEGMENTS OF OUR POPULATION TO
BOOST CIVIC EDUCATION OF YOUNG
VOTERS IN CALIFORNIA, AB 2627
ESTABLISHED THE CIVIC LEARNING
OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT FUND,
FROM WHICH THE SECRETARY OF
STATE WILL GRANT FUNDS TO
PARTICIPATING LOCAL ELECTION
OFFICIALS. THESE GRANTS WILL
ALLOW LOCAL ELECTIONS OFFICIALS
TO IMPLEMENT PROGRAMS THAT
INTEGRATE VOTER REGISTRATION AND
PREREGISTER ATION WITH CIVIC
ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS INTENDED TO
SUPPORT HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS.
THESE PROGRAMS CAN BE DESIGNED
TO SUPPORT THE ATTAINMENT OF THE
STATE SEAL OF CIVIC ENGAGEMENT,
WHICH IS AWARDED TO GRADUATING
HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS WHO
DEMONSTRATE EXCELLENCE IN CIVIC
EDUCATION AND PARTICIPATE THÀNH
BY ESTABLISHING A DESIGN FUNDING
STREAM TO CONDUCT OUTREACH
PROGRAMS IN COORDINATION WITH
THE LOCAL EDUCATION AGENCIES.
LOCAL ELECTIONS OFFICIALS WILL
BE ABLE TO BE MORE CREATIVE IN
THEIR APPROACHES TO OUTREACH TO
OUR YOUNG VOTERS, OUR FUTURE
LEADERS. AS WE ALL KNOW, WE ARE
FACING AN EXTREME BUDGET DEFICIT
. THIS BILL DOES NOT ALLOCATE
STATE MONEY INTO THE FUND. THIS
BILL INSTEAD CREATES THE FUND AS
A FUTURE RESOURCE. ONCE OUR
FISCAL PROJECTIONS IMPROVE. WITH
ME TO TESTIFY IN SUPPORT IS
ARMANDO SALUD, DEPUTY OF
ELECTIONS FOR YOLO COUNTY, AND
STAN MOISES, THE ASSISTANT
SUPERINTENDENT OF EQUITY AND
SUPPORT SERVICES AT THE YOLO
COUNTY OF EDUCATION OFFICE OF
EDUCATION, RIGHT. THANKS GOOD
AFTERNOON. I THINK NOW EVENING,
CHAIRPERSON AND ESTEEMED MEMBERS
OF THE ASSEMBLY EDUCATION
COMMITTEE. MY NAME IS ARMANDO
AMBRIZ, AND I PROUDLY SERVE AS A
DEPUTY OF ELECTIONS FOR YOLO
COUNTY, AS WELL AS A TRUSTEE ON
THE BOARD OF EDUCATION FOR YOLO
COUNTY. I'M HERE TODAY TO
ADVOCATE FOR AB 2627, WHICH AIMS
TO ESTABLISH THE CIVIC LEARNING,
OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT FUND IN
MY DUAL ROLES WITHIN COUNTY
GOVERNMENT AND EDUCATION. I'VE
BEEN WITNESS TO THAT
TRANSFORMATIVE IMPACT OF
INITIATIVES THAT INTERTWINE
VOTER VOTER REGISTRATION WITH
ROBUST CIVIC EDUCATION,
ESPECIALLY AMONG YOUTH. YOLO
COUNTY HAS BEEN A LEAD EXAMPLE
IN THIS SPACE, CHAMPIONING
PROGRAMS SUCH LIKE THE YOLO
COUNTY YOUTH CIVIC ENGAGEMENT
AND THE YOUTH EMPOWERMENT
SUMMIT, PROGRAMS THAT HAVE
SIGNIFICANTLY ELEVATED CIVIC
ENGAGEMENT AMONG HIGH SCHOOL
STUDENTS. ALLOW ME TO PRESENT
SOME COMPELLING DATA THAT AND
SHOW THE IMPORTANCE OF MEDIA
LITERACY IN THIS WORK THROUGH
COMPREHENSIVE CURRICULA. THE
EMPHASIS ON MEDIA LITERACY,
ALONGSIDE TOPICS SUCH AS LOCAL
GOVERNMENT AND THE ELECTORAL
PROCESS, HAVE SHOWN AND PROVIDED
TANGIBLE RESULTS. FOR INSTANCE,
THE YOUTH EMPOWERMENT SUMMIT HAS
SHOWED THAT 92% OF STUDENTS
REPORTED FEELING EITHER
EMPOWERED OR VERY EMPOWERED TO
MAKE POSITIVE CHANGE IN THEIR
COMMUNITIES. PRE-SUMMIT
UNDERSTANDING OF LOCAL
GOVERNMENT FUNCTIONS SURGED FROM
44% TO 90. PRE-SUMMIT
UNDERSTANDING OF THE VOTING
PROCESS SOARED FROM 64% TO 100.
THESE STATISTICS UNDERSCORE THE
PIVOTAL ROLE CIVICS EDUCATION
CAN PLAY IN FOSTERING INFORMED
AND ENGAGED CITIZENS. IN AN ERA
WHERE MISINFORMATION OVERFLOWS
AND DIGITAL PLATFORMS SHAPE
PUBLIC DISCOURSE, IT IS
IMPORTANT TO ALSO EQUIP OUR
YOUTH WITH THE NECESSARY MEDIA
LITERACY SKILLS TO CRITICALLY
NAVIGATE THE RAPIDLY CHANGING
MEDIA LANDSCAPE. AB 267 AB 2627
REPRESENTS A DYNAMIC OPPORTUNITY
TO EXPAND THESE EFFORTS
STATEWIDE AND PROVIDE GRANTS TO
REGISTER VOTERS, TO INTEGRATE
VOTER REGISTRATION WITH CIVIC
ENGAGEMENT EFFORTS AND RELATED
MEDIA LITERACY EDUCATION
PROGRAMS. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
EDUCATORS ACROSS THE STATE. YOUR
TWO MINUTES ARE UP. I
RESPECTFULLY URGE YOUR SUPPORT
FOR AB 267. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
TIME. THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON.
MY NAME IS STAN WOJCIK. I'M
ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT OF
EQUITY AND SUPPORT SERVICES FOR
THE YOLO COUNTY OFFICE OF
EDUCATION. I APOLOGIZE THAT OUR
COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT, GARTH
LEWIS, COULD NOT BE HERE, AS HE
IS A FIERCE ADVOCATE FOR CIVIC
ENGAGEMENT AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE. I
WILL BE SPEAKING ON HIS BEHALF
TODAY. I SIT BEFORE YOU TO VOICE
OUR AGENCY'S UNWAVERING SUPPORT
FOR CALIFORNIA ASSEMBLY BILL
2627, PARTICULARLY THE ASPECT OF
THE BILL THAT WOULD REQUIRE THE
SECRETARY OF STATE TO ADOPT
GUIDANCE FOR PARTICIPATING
COUNTIES TO DESIGN AND IMPLEMENT
CIVIC ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS
INTENDED TO SUPPORT HIGH SCHOOL
STUDENTS, INCLUDING THOSE
INTENDED TO SUPPORT THE STATE
SEAL OF CIVIC ENGAGEMENT IN YOLO
COUNTY. WE ARE VERY FORTUNATE TO
HAVE COMMUNITY LEADERS WHO ARE
EXTREMELY INVOLVED IN INCREASING
CIVIC ENGAGEMENT WITH YOUNG
PEOPLE, AS EVIDENCED BY OUR YOLO
COUNTY YOUTH, CIVIC INITIATIVE,
WHICH CONNECTS YOUNG YOUTH
INVOLVEMENT IN THE CIVICS
PROCESS. AB 2627 PROVIDES AN
OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR YOUTH TO
ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE IN THE
DEMOCRATIC PROCESS, GAIN FIRST
HAND EXPERIENCE IN ELECTION
ADMINISTRATION, AND CONTRIBUTE
TO THE INTEGRITY AND
ACCESSIBILITY OF OUR ELECTIONS.
MOST IMPORTANTLY, ASSEMBLY BILL
2627 RECOGNIZES THE EDUCATIONAL
VALUE OF PARTICIPATING IN THE
ELECTORAL PROCESS BY PROVIDING
STUDENTS WITH CREDIT TOWARD THE
STATE SEAL OF CIVIC ENGAGEMENT.
THIS BILL INCENTIVIZES CIVIC
PARTICIPATION AND REINFORCES THE
IMPORTANCE OF CIVICS EDUCATION
IN OUR SCHOOLS. IT ENCOURAGES
STUDENTS TO BECOME INFORMED AND
ACTIVE CITIZENS, TO UNDERSTAND
THEIR RIGHTS AND
RESPONSIBILITIES, AND TO
RECOGNIZE THE POWER OF THEIR
VOICE IN SHAPING THE FUTURE OF
OUR DEMOCRACY. IN SUPPORTING
ASSEMBLY BILL 2627, WE ARE NOT
JUST INVESTING IN THE INTEGRITY
OF OUR ELECTIONS. WE ARE
INVESTING IN THE FUTURE OF OUR
DEMOCRACY, AND WE ARE EMPOWERING
OUR YOUTH TO BECOME ACTIVE AND
ENGAGED CITIZENS TOGETHER. LET
US ENSURE THAT EVERY STUDENT IN
CALIFORNIA HAS THE OPPORTUNITY
TO PARTICIPATE IN OUR DEMOCRACY,
TO MAKE THEIR VOICES HEARD, AND
TO BECOME THE LEADERS AND CHANGE
MAKERS. OUR WORLD NEEDS. THANK
YOU AND I URGE YOU TO VOTE YES.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ANY PUBLIC
COMMENTS IN SUPPORT OF THE
MEASURE? PLEASE COME FORWARD.
YOU WAITED ALL THIS TIME, SO
THANK YOU FOR I KNOW. THANK YOU.
LARA SAU MERCADO, ON BEHALF OF
THE CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF
CLERKS AND ELECTION OFFICIALS
AND SUPPORT. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU. COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES ANDY
BAUM, REP PRESENTING STRONG
SUPPORT. THANK YOU. ON BEHALF OF
THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF YOLO
COUNTY, ALSO IN SUPPORT. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH. ANY WITNESSES IN
OPPOSITION TO THE BILL? ANY,
PUBLIC COMMENTS IN OPPOSITION TO
THE BILL, SEEING NONE ANY
FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS BILL?
SEEING NONE. MISS PELLERIN,
WOULD YOU LIKE TO CLOSE? I
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOUR. AYE
VOTE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH, MOTION. IS Dð PASS, AS
AMENDED, TO APPROPRIATIONS.
MADAM SECRETARY, PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL. FILE ITEM 13, AB 2627. DO
PASS, AS AMENDED TO
APPROPRIATIONS. MURATSUCHI Ã
MURATSUCHI I LARA LARA NOT
VOTING. ADDIS I ADDIS I ALVAREZ.
ALVAREZ I BONTA I HOOVER.
MCCARTY MCCARTY I. FIVE VOTES.
THE BILL IS OUT. ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU, MR. CORA. THANK YOU
FOR YOUR PATIENCE. THIS IS, FILE
ITEM NUMBER TEN, AB 2441. I'LL
MOVE THE BILL. THERE A SECOND.
ALL RIGHT. THE FLOOR IS YOURS.
MR. THANK. THANK YOU SO MUCH,
MR. CHAIR AND MEMBERS, I WOULD
FIRST LIKE TO THANK THANK THE
CHAIR AND THE COMMITTEE STAFF
FOR THEIR INCREDIBLE WORK ON
THIS BILL, AND I'LL BE ACCEPTING
THE COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS. AB
2441 WOULD CHANGE HOW OUR
TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS CAN
ADDRESS STUDENTS BEHAVIORS BY
GIVING THEM THE DISCRETION TO
USE EFFECTIVE STRATEGIES AND
RESOURCES, RATHER THAN
INDISCRIMINATELY REFERRING
STUDENTS TO LAW ENFORCEMENT FOR
DISCIPLINARY PURPOSES. UNDER
CALIFORNIA LAW, TEACHERS AND
ADMINISTRATORS ARE REQUIRED TO
CALL LAW ENFORCEMENT IF A
STUDENT VIOLATES A WIDE VARIETY
OF INCIDENTS SUCH AS VANDALISM,
OFFENSIVE LANGUAGE FIGHTING,
ASSAULT AND BATTERY WITHOUT
INJURY, AND LOUD AND DISRUPTIVE
NOISE AT SCHOOL, REGARDLESS OF
THE CIRCUMSTANCES OR STUDENT S
SITUATION. EVEN IF A TEACHER
WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE
INCIDENT WITH SCHOOL RESOURCES
OR NOT, MAKE A REPORT. KNOWING
THIS COULD HARM THE STUDENT
TEACHERS AND STAFF, TEACHERS AND
STAFF FEEL FORCED TO REPORT THE
STUDENT OUT OF FEAR OF BEING
FINED. OVERPOLICING IN OUR
SCHOOLS HAS FUELED THE SCHOOL TO
PRISON PIPELINE, AND FOR
DECADES, RESEARCH HAS SHOWN THE
LONG TERME HARM TO YOUTH. WHEN
THEY COME IN CONTACT WITH THE
JUVENILE LEGAL SYSTEM. THOSE WHO
HAVE LAW ENFORCEMENT OR LEGAL
INTERACTIONS ARE LESS LIKELY TO
GRADUATE HIGH SCHOOL, AND HAVE A
HIGHER CHANCE OF ENDING UP
INCARCERATED AGAIN. THIS
OUTDATED SYSTEM IS NOT WORKING
AND HAS LED TO ALARMING
DISPARITIES IN THE TYPES OF
STUDENTS MOST LIKELY TO SUFFER
THESE HARMS. BLACK STUDENTS,
LATINO STUDENTS, STUDENTS OF
COLOR, AND STUDENTS WITH
DISABILITIES ARE MORE THAN OFTEN
DISPROPORTIONATELY REFERRED TO
LAW ENFORCEMENT CITED AND
ARRESTED. FOR EXAMPLE, BLACK
STUDENTS ARE THREE TIMES MORE
LIKELY TO BE REFERRED TO LAW
ENFORCEMENT THAN WHITE STUDENTS,
MAKING UP 15% OF ARRESTS.
DESPITE BEING ONLY 6% OF
CALIFORNIA'S ENROLLMENT.
STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES ARE
11% OF ENROLLMENT, AND YET 26%
OF THESE OF THE STUDENTS THAT
ARE ARRESTED. THESE ARE ALARMING
AND UNDOUBTEDLY HEARTBREAKING
NUMBERS. IN MANY CASES,
EDUCATORS HAVE CRAFTED
ALTERNATIVE DISCIPLINARY
MEASURES TO MORE EFFECTIVELY
ADDRESS AND REMEDIATE STUDENT
BEHAVIORAL ISSUES IN WAYS THAT
ARE CULTURALLY SENSITIVE AND
CONSTRUCTIVE, RATHER THAN
PUNITIVE. WE NEED TO TRUST OUR
TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS TO
MAKE THE DECISIONS THAT THEY
BELIEVE ARE BEST FOR THE
STUDENTS SUCCESS AND THE SAFETY
OF THE CLASSROOM ENVIRONMENT. AB
2441 WILL GIVE OUR EDUCATORS THE
FLEXIBILITY TO RESPOND
APPROPRIATELY TO A STUDENT'S
BEHAVIORAL SITUATION WITH SCHOOL
BASED INTERVENTIONS, RATHER THAN
PLACING THEM IN HANDCUFFS. THIS
BILL DOES NOT PROHIBIT TEACHERS,
STAFF OR SCHOOLS FROM CALLING
LAW ENFORCEMENT WHEN A SITUATION
WARRANTS IT TO ENSURE THE SAFETY
OF OTHERS. HOWEVER UNILATERALLY
FORCING TEACHERS TO CALL LAW
ENFORCEMENT TO ADDRESS A
STUDENT'S BEHAVIORAL SITUATION
IS NOT THE APPROPRIATE APPROACH.
FURTHERMORE, TAKING TIME AWAY
FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT TO GO ON TO
CAMPUS FOR A BEHAVIORAL ISSUE IS
NOT THE BEST USE OF LAW
ENFORCEMENT RESOURCES EITHER.
THAT'S EMPOWER OUR EDUCATORS TO
PROVIDE A MORE POSITIVE,
SUPPORTIVE STRATEGY TO ADDRESS
THE STUDENT'S BEHAVIORAL
SITUATION AND REDUCE THE SCHOOL
TO PRISON PIPELINE HERE TO
TESTIFY IN SUPPORT IS DOCTOR
SUHAILI, DIRECTOR OF STUDENT
SUPPORT SERVICES FOR SAN LORENZO
UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT, AND
OSCAR DANIEL LOPEZ, SENIOR STAFF
ATTORNEY WITH DISABILITY RIGHTS,
CALIFORNIA. SO STATION TWO, OH,
THANK YOU. APPRECIATION TO THE
CHAIR AS WELL AS THE COMMITTEE
TO, CONSIDER THIS THIS
LEGISLATION SESSION, AS WELL. SO
SAFE SAFETY IS ALWAYS FIRST,
FROM A SCHOOL AND SCHOOL
DISTRICT PERSPECTIVE. AND SO WE
REALLY WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT UP
FRONT. THERE'S ALSO SOMETIMES A
LEVEL OF CONFUSION IN REGARDS TO
ASSAULT AND BATTERY. SO
SOMETIMES PEOPLE MAY BE UNDER
THE IMPRESSION THAT SAU ASSAULT
EQUALS SOME KIND OF TOUCHING,
BUT IT COULD BE JUST A PHRASE.
IT COULD BE A WORD. IT COULD BE,
JUST SOMETHING THAT A STUDENT
HAS, HAS STATED. AND SO IN
REGARDS TO THAT, IT'S ALWAYS
BEST THAT EDUCATORS HAVE THE
ABILITY TO EXERCISE A CERTAIN
LEVEL OF DISCRETION IN SOME OF
THOSE MATTERS. AND ALSO JUST
BASED UPON I'VE HEARD A LOT,
BASED UPON BEING HERE TODAY,
THAT A LOT IS STILL, WITH US IN
REGARDS TO IMPACTS FROM THE
PANDEMIC. SO WHEN OUR STUDENTS
CAME BACK, TO IN-PERSON LEARNING
AFTER SPENDING SO MUCH TIME,
WITH DISTANCE LEARNING OR ONLINE
LEARNING, THERE WERE EVIDENT,
SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL CHALLENGES
THAT WERE MANIFESTED. AND WE'RE
STILL MANAGING AND DEALING WITH
THAT, RIGHT NOW AS WELL. AND SO
A STUDENT MAY ENGAGE IN A
BEHAVIOR THAT REALLY IS NOT
NECESSARILY THREATENING, AND IT
WOULD BE GREAT FOR US TO HAVE
THAT LEVEL OF DISCRETION. THERE
ARE TIMES WHEN THE EDUCATOR, THE
TEACHER OR WHOEVER IT MIGHT BE
DOES NOT WANT TO HAVE TO MAKE
THAT NECESSARY CALL BECAUSE THEY
KNOW IT WOULD JUST SIMPLY
ESCALATE THAT SITUATION, THAT
THAT MUCH MORE. AND SO I'VE BEEN
IN SITUATIONS AS I'VE BEEN AN
EDUCATOR FOR 25, 26 YEARS. THERE
HAVE BEEN SITUATIONS WHERE I WAS
HIT OR KICKED OR EVEN, YOU KNOW,
BITTEN BY A STUDENT AND THINGS
OF THAT NATURE, BUT THERE WAS
REALLY NO MALICIOUS INTENT, AND
IT DID NOT NECESSARILY REQUIRE,
REQUIRE, CONTACT TO LAW, LAW
ENFORCEMENT. SO AGAIN, THAT THAT
LEVEL OF DISCRETION IS REALLY,
REALLY A GREAT THING FOR US. IF
WE CAN HAVE THAT. SO, IN THIS,
IN THIS PROFESSION, THERE ARE SO
MANY DIFFERENT SCENARIOS THAT
THAT ARISE. AND IT'S AMAZING.
AFTER 25, 26 YEARS, THERE ARE
STILL THINGS THAT OCCUR AND IT'S
OUTSIDE THE TRADITIONAL SCOPE.
AND SO ANY TIME WE CAN HAVE THE
OPTION TO USE DISCRETION, IT
REALLY HELPS, IN THOSE
SITUATIONS, I APPRECIATE YOU
HEARING THIS. AND I ALSO EAGERLY
ANTICIPATE, YOUR I VOTE. THANK
YOU. MR. CHAIR, AND MEMBERS, MY
NAME IS OSCAR LOPEZ, AND I'M A
SENIOR STAFF ATTORNEY WITH
DISABILITY RIGHTS. CALIFORNIA WE
ARE PROUD CO-SPONSORS OF AB
2441, WHICH REPEALS SEVERAL
MANDATORY NOTIFICATION STATUTES
IN CALIFORNIA STATE LAW. THE
DATA SHOWS THAT STUDENTS WITH
DISABILITIES ARE
DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED BY
REFERRALS TO LAW ENFORCEMENT.
ACCORDING TO THE 2024 RACIAL AND
IDENTITY PROFILING ACT REPORT,
OFFICERS ARE MORE LIKELY TO
SEARCH, DETAIN AND HANDCUFF
STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES. FOR
EXAMPLE, OFFICERS HANDCUFFED
STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES 41%
OF THE TIME THAT THEY WERE
STOPPED, COMPARED TO ONLY 15% OF
STUDENTS WITHOUT DISABILITIES.
STUDIES ALSO SHOW THAT BLACK
STUDENTS ARE DISPROPORTIONATELY
IMPACTED WHEN STUDENTS WERE
REFERRED TO LAW ENFORCEMENT IN
CALIFORNIA, OFFICERS HANDCUFFED
BLACK STUDENTS 2,020% OF THE
TIME, COMPARED TO ONLY 9% OF
WHITE STUDENTS. IN CONTRAST,
OFFICERS GAVE BLACK STUDENTS A
WARNING ONLY 9.8% OF THE TIME,
COMPARED TO 21% FOR WHITE
STUDENTS. CONTACT WITH LAW
ENFORCEMENT CAN HAVE DIRE
CONSEQUENCES, INCLUDING
DECREASED GRADUATION RATES AND
AN INCREASED RATE OF BEING
ARRESTED IN THE FUTURE. THIS
BILL GIVES DISCRETION TO
EDUCATORS TO UTILIZE THEIR
TRAINING AND KNOWLEDGE OF THE
SOCIAL EMOTIONAL NEEDS OF THEIR
STUDENTS TO UTILIZE OTHER
RESEARCH BASED STRATEGIES.
THAT'S WHY NUMEROUS EDUCATORS
SUPPORT THIS BILL, INCLUDING THE
CALIFORNIA FEDERATION OF
TEACHERS AND THE ASSOCIATION OF
CALIFORNIA SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS
. ONE TEACHER FROM LYNWOOD
UNIFIED, BRENDA RIVERA, SAID,
THROUGHOUT MY 20 YEAR CAREER, I
HAVE WITNESSED FIRSTHAND THE
DETRIMENTAL, DETRIMENTAL IMPACTS
OF THE CURRENT MANDATE SYSTEM,
WHICH OFTEN FAILS TO ACCOUNT FOR
THE UNIQUE CIRCUMSTANCES AND
UNDERLYING TRAUMAS THAT MAY
CONTRIBUTE TO A STUDENT'S
ACTIONS. MANY STUDENTS GRAPPLE
WITH ADVERSE CHILDHOOD
EXPERIENCES RANGING FROM POVERTY
TO SYSTEMIC INEQUITIES AND
DISCRIMINATION. MEMBERS, I
RESPECTFULLY REQUEST YOUR AYE
VOTE ON AB 2441. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH, ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS IN
SUPPORT OF THE MEASURE? PLEASE
COME FORWARD. NORA LYNN WITH
CHILDREN NOW IN SUPPORT. RACHEL
BOGERT WITH ACLU CALIFORNIA
ACTION, PROUD CO-SPONSORS OF
THIS BILL. BERLIN DELGADO WITH
THE DOLORES HUERTA FOUNDATION,
ALSO A PROUD CO-SPONSOR. MEGAN
BEAR, WITH THE ASSOCIATION OF
CALIFORNIA SCHOOL
ADMINISTRATORS, AND ALSO ON
BEHALF OF THE SANTA CLARA COUNTY
OFFICE OF EDUCATION AND SUPPORT.
THANK YOU, SALLY CHING WITH THE
ALLIANCE FOR BOYS AND MEN OF
COLOR. PROUD CO-SPONSORS. AND
ALSO, IF I MAY, I'LL READ OFF
THE NAMES OF ORGANIZATIONS ALSO
IN SUPPORT ALLIANCE SAN DIEGO
BLACK ORGANIZING PROJECT, BLACK
PARALLEL SCHOOL BOARD,
CALIFORNIA SCHOOL BASED HEALTH
ALLIANCE CANCEL THE CONTRACT AB
CHILDREN'S DEFENSE FUND,
CHILDREN NOW COLEMAN ADVOCATES
COLLECTIVE FOR LIBERATORY
LAWYERING, COMMUNITIES UNITED
FOR RESTORATIVE YOUTH JUSTICE,
INITIATE JUSTICE, PACIFIC
JUVENILE DEFENDER CENTER, PUBLIC
COUNSEL, SAN JOSE UNIFIED EQUITY
COALITION, SOUTHEAST ASIA
RESOURCE ACTION CENTER, SOCIAL
JUSTICE LEARNING INSTITUTE, AND
YOUTH JUSTICE EDUCATION CLINIC
AT LOYOLA LAW SCHOOL. THANK YOU.
GOOD EVENING, LEE ANGELA REED,
ON BEHALF OF THE SMALL SCHOOL
DISTRICTS ASSOCIATION IN
SUPPORT. THANK YOU. ANY
WITNESSES IN OPPOSITION, PLEASE
COME FORWARD
.
MR. CHAIR, MEMBERS. CORY
SALZILLO, ON BEHALF OF THE
CALIFORNIA STATE SHERIFFS
ASSOCIATION, RESPECTFULLY IN
OPPOSITION TO THE BILL, AS WE
HAVE TWO PRIOR EFFORTS IN THIS
REGARD. BASED ON THE AMENDMENTS
DESCRIBED IN THE ANALYSIS, THE
BILL WOULD STILL MAKE OPTIONAL
THE MANDATORY REPORTING. WHEN A
SCHOOL EMPLOYEE IS, IN THE WORDS
OF THE STATUTE, ATTACKED,
ASSAULTED OR PHYSICALLY
THREATENED BY A PUPIL, AND IN
THE INTEREST OF BREVITY, AT THE
HOUR, I WILL JUST SAY THAT OUR
CONCERN IS, IS REMOVING THAT
REQUIREMENT, THERE IS NO MANDATE
IN THE STATUTE THAT ANY PERSON
BE ARRESTED, OR ADJUDICATED IN
ANY PARTICULAR WAY, BUT RATHER
THE REQUIREMENT IS THAT LAW
ENFORCEMENT BE NOTIFIED, BECAUSE
LIKELY A CRIMINAL ACT HAS
OCCURRED, AND THAT IS OUR
INTEREST IS COLLABORATION AMONG
SCHOOL EMPLOYEES, PUPILS AND LAW
ENFORCEMENT TOWARDS THE ONLY
GOAL, WHICH IS PROTECTION OF THE
CAMPUS ENVIRONMENT. SO HAPPY TO
ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. BUT
THAT'S, THE BASIS OF OUR
OPPOSITION. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.
MEMBERS RYAN SHERMAN WITH THE
RIVERSIDE SHERIFF'S ASSOCIATION,
ALSO WITH TODAY WITH THE
CALIFORNIA COALITION OF SCHOOL
SAFETY PROFESSIONALS, THE POLICE
OFFICER ASSOCIATIONS OF ARCADIA,
BURBANK, CLAREMONT, CORONA,
CULVER CITY, FULLERTON,
MARIETTA, NEWPORT BEACH, NOVATO,
PALOS VERDES, POMONA, RIVERSIDE,
UPLAND, THE DEPUTY SHERIFFS
ASSOCIATIONS OF MONTEREY AND
PLACER COUNTIES, AND LOS ANGELES
SCHOOL POLICE ASSOCIATION AND
LOS ANGELES SCHOOL POLICE
MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION, ALL IN
STRONG OPPOSITION TO 2441, WHICH
WOULD ENDANGER OUR SCHOOLS,
STAFF, RESOURCE OFFICERS AND
ESPECIALLY STUDENTS BY
ELIMINATING MANDATED REPORTERS
WHICH WERE ESTABLISHED TO
PROTECT SCHOOL KIDS AND STAFF BY
NOTIFYING LAW ENFORCEMENT WHEN
VIOLENT ACTS ARE COMMITTED OR
DEADLY WEAPONS, AND DANGEROUS
DRUGS ARE BEING SOLD ON SCHOOL
GROUNDS. AB 2441 IS NOT A BILL
THAT WILL JUST, IMPACT
BEHAVIORAL ISSUES BY STUDENTS.
THIS IS PROHIBIT REMOVING THE
MANDATED REPORTING FOR SEXUAL
ASSAULTS, DEALING DRUGS ON
SCHOOL, INCLUDING FENTANYL,
METH, HEROIN, ASSAULT WITH A
DEADLY WEAPON, ASSAULT LIKELY TO
CAUSE GREAT BODILY INJURY. IT'S
TRULY SHOCKING THAT A BILL SEEKS
TO PROTECT VIOLENT OFFENDERS WHO
COMMIT THESE CRIMES ON CAMPUSES
AT THE EXPENSE AND SAFETY OF THE
REST OF LAW ABIDING STUDENTS AND
STAFF. THE PURPOSE OF MANDATED
REPORTERS IS TO PROTECT THOSE
UNABLE TO SCARED OR INTIMIDATED
FROM REPORTING AN UNINTENDED
RESULT OF THE BILL WILL ALSO
PERMIT SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS TO
DISCIPLINE STAFF WHO REPORT
THESE CRIMES. SINCE THE MANDATE
TO REPORT UNDER 44 014 Ã IS
STRICKEN HERE, SO TOO ARE THE
CURRENT JOB PROTECTIONS UNDER
CODE 4401, SUBSECTION E, FOR
THOSE WHO REPORT PURSUANT TO
THEIR DUTY UNDER THE LAW. SINCE
THAT DUTY WILL NO LONGER EXIST
AS A RESULT OF VICTIM OR
EMPLOYEE COULD BE DISCIPLINED
FOR REPORTING THESE ASSAULTS,
INCLUDING SEXUAL ASSAULTS. THESE
ARE NOT SIMPLY, AGAIN,
MISBEHAVING STUDENTS. IN
CLOSING, I'D LIKE TO NOTE THAT
APRIL IS NATIONAL CHILD ABUSE
PREVENTION MONTH. WE HOPE YOU
CAN JOIN US IN MAINTAINING THE
REQUIREMENT THAT CHILD ABUSE AND
OTHER VIOLENT AND DANGEROUS
CRIMES WILL CONTINUE TO BE
REPORTED, AND THAT YOU REJECT AB
2241. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH, BEFORE WE GO ANY FURTHER,
I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY FOR THE
RECORD THAT, THERE WERE MANY
AMENDMENTS TAKEN TO THE BILL AND
SPECIFICALLY, I MADE SURE THAT
THE ASSAULT WITH A DEADLY
WEAPON, AND THE SALES OF
CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES, STILL IS,
REQUIRES MANDATORY NOTIFICATION.
SO. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.
APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU, ANY
COMMENTS? PUBLIC COMMENTS IN
OPPOSITION TO THE BILL, SEEING
NONE. BRING IT BACK TO THE
COMMITTEE. MR. ALVAREZ. THANK
YOU. I THANK YOU TO THE BILL,
AND FOR THE TESTIMONY, I, TOO,
AM A LITTLE CONCERNED ABOUT THE
SECTION IN THE, IN THE ANALYSIS
THAT CALLS MY ATTENTION TO THE
ISSUE OF ASSAULT. BUT I'VE ALSO
READ THE BILL AND, AND I DO NOT
IDENTIFY ANYTHING IN THE BILL
ITSELF THAT RELATES TO THIS
ISSUE OF, AS THE ANALYSIS
IDENTIFIED THAT WE ARE STRIKING
THE LANGUAGE OF, MAKE SURE I GET
IT RIGHT. BEING ATTACKED,
ASSAULTED, OR PHYSICALLY
THREATENED, I REALLY NEED
CLARIFICATION ON THIS. I'M NOT
SURE. IS THAT PENAL CODE SECTION
245? I'M LOOKING AT THAT
SECTION, AND I'M JUST TRYING TO
MAKE SURE I WANT TO KNOW EXACTLY
WHAT I'M VOTING ON. I'M JUST BE
REALLY HONEST RIGHT NOW AT THIS
LATE HOUR OF THE DAY, AND I AND
I, AND I DON'T FIND THAT. SO I
NEED HELP. HELP IS ON THE WAY
.
SO I WANT TO PUT ON THE RECORD.
I'VE WHAT? THE CLARIFICATION I
JUST RECEIVED IS THAT THE BILL
IN ITS CURRENT FORM, INCLUSIVE
OF THE AMENDMENTS, ELIMINATES
THE REQUIREMENT TO REPORT AN
ATTACK AND ASSAULT OR SOMEONE
BEING PHYSICALLY THREATENED. I
HAVE TO STATE THAT I HAVE
CONCERNS ABOUT THAT. SOMEONE
BEING ATTACKED AND ASSAULTED AND
NOT REQUIRING THAT TO BE
REPORTED IS, IS A CONCERN, SO I
DON'T IF THAT'S THE INTENT, I'D
LIKE TO HEAR AND CERTAINLY GIVE
YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE
ABOUT THAT THINKING, PLEASE.
SURE. YEAH. IT IS THAT IS AS
INTENDED BECAUSE THAT THAT THOSE
TYPES OF INCIDENTS ARE VERY
BROAD IN NATURE. AND WE WANT TO
GIVE DISCRETION TO THOSE THAT
KNOW THE STUDENTS, THE BEST TO
MAKE THE DETERMINATION OF HOW TO
HANDLE IT. SO IF THERE'S SOMEONE
THAT HAS IF THERE'S A STUDENT
THAT HAS BEHAVIORAL ISSUES AND
YOU KNOW, VERBALLY LASHES OUT AT
ANOTHER STUDENT AND THEY FEEL
THAT THEY HAVE OTHER MECHANISMS
TO DEAL WITH THAT STUDENT OTHER
THAN CALLING THE POLICE AND
HAVING THIS YOUNG PERSON
POTENTIALLY TAKEN AWAY IN
HANDCUFFS, I THINK THERE SHOULD
BE DISCRETION. AGAIN, THIS IS
NOT TAKE AWAY THE ABILITY FOR, A
SCHOOL TO CALL THE POLICE. IN
FACT, WITH THE AMENDMENTS, IT
EXPRESSLY INDICATES THAT NO ONE
SHOULD EVER SHOULD CAN DIRECTLY
OR INDIRECTLY INHIBIT OR IMPEDE
THE MAKING OF A REPORT. SO WE
ACTUALLY ARE MAKING IT VERY
CLEAR THAT THERE SHOULD BE NO
KIND OF REPRISAL AGAINST SOMEONE
THAT DOES MAKE A REPORT YOU
WANT. WE WANT THE CAMPUSES TO BE
SAFE. THE REALITY IS, THOUGH,
THAT OUR STUDENTS ARE COMPLEX.
OUR STUDENT BODY IS COMPLEX. OUR
SCHOOLS ARE COMPLEX. RESPONDING
TO OUR SCHOOLS WITH ONE BLUNT
INSTRUMENT IS NOT THE WAY TO
ACHIEVE THE RESULTS OF ENSURING
THAT WHATEVER THAT ISSUE IS THAT
CAUSED THAT INCIDENT TO OCCUR IS
BEING RESOLVED. HAVING A POLICE
OFFICER COME TO CAMPUS AND
POTENTIALLY ARREST THAT STUDENT
AND TAKE THEM AWAY, IS THAT THE
BEST OUTCOME? YOU KNOW, THERE
MIGHT BE SOME CASES WHERE IT IS,
BUT I'M GOING TO LET THE
PRINCIPLES AND LET THE TEACHERS
THAT KNOW THAT STUDENT THE BEST
MAKE THAT DETERMINATION, RATHER
THAN BEING REQUIRING THE CALLING
OF THE POLICE. AND AS THE DATA
IS INDICATED, BECAUSE THIS IS
JUST REQUIRING OF CALLING THE
POLICE, THE POLICE DON'T HAVE TO
ARREST FOLKS WHEN THEY GET
THERE, BUT WE KNOW WHO THEY END
UP ARRESTING. THE DATA SHOWS IT.
THEY TEND TO ARREST PEOPLE OF
COLOR FAR MORE FOR THE SAME
TYPES OF BEHAVIORAL ISSUES THAT
MAY RESULT IN THIS KIND OF PENAL
CODE. POTENTIAL PENAL CODE
SECTION VIOLATION, LIKE A VERBAL
THREAT, OR EVEN AN ASSAULT. LIKE
IF YOU PUSH SOMEONE OR TOUCH
THEM, IF YOU TOUCH THEM WITHOUT
THEIR CONSENT, YOU KNOW IT COULD
BE A, YOU KNOW, A SHOVING MATCH
IN A HALLWAY WHERE THE STUDENTS
OR THE TEACHER KNOWS THOSE
STUDENTS. SO YOU KNOW WHAT?
BREAK IT UP. LET'S TAKE YOU TO
YOUR CORNERS. LET'S GET THE
COUNSELOR HERE. LET'S CALL YOUR
PARENTS. LET'S FIGURE OUT WHAT'S
GOING ON INSTEAD OF, HEY, LET'S
CALL THE POLICE OVER HERE AS IF
THAT'S GOING TO BE THE WAY OUT
OF THAT SITUATION. THAT'S GOING
TO END UP IN A POSITIVE OUTCOME.
THAT'S WHY IT'S INCLUDED IN
THERE. THANK YOU FOR THE,
EXPLANATION. I THINK IN THAT
LAST, EXAMPLE YOU GAVE, I THINK
I CERTAINLY WOULD HAVE NO QUALMS
ABOUT, HAVING A DIFFERENT
APPROACH. MY UNCOMFORTABLENESS.
AND MAYBE IT'S JUST MY LACK OF
KNOWLEDGE IS THAT IF MY TEENAGER
AT MIDDLE SCHOOL IS BEING
ATTACKED AND ASSAULTED AND THIS
NOW SAYS EVEN IF THEY WERE
ATTACKED AND PHYSICALLY
ASSAULTED, WE DON'T WANT THE
POLICE INVOLVED. AS A PARENT,
I'M NOT SURE THAT I'D BE OKAY
WITH THAT NOT BEING THE CASE.
AND MAYBE I'M NOT UNDERSTAND THE
EXTENT OF WHICH YOU'RE
SUGGESTING THAT THE INCIDENT YOU
MENTIONED IS ONE THING, BUT AN
ACTUAL ASSAULT IS ANOTHER. AND
SO I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS THE
ENTIRE RANGE OF ASSAULTS AND,
BEING ATTACKED AND, AND OR, OR
OR NOT. AND SO I'M CAUTIOUS
BECAUSE OF THAT AND THAT ALONE.
WELL, I COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND
THAT WE HAVE TO LOOK, YOU KNOW,
AGAIN, IT'S NOT SAYING YOU CAN'T
CALL THE POLICE. THEY CAN. AND
THE REALITY IS, I THINK THAT
PARENTS ACROSS THE STATE EVERY
SINGLE DAY RELY ON SCHOOLS TO
MAKE JUDGMENT CALLS AND KEEPING
THEIR CHILDREN SAFE EVERY SINGLE
DAY ON A WIDE RANGE OF ISSUES.
AND SO THIS IS ONE OTHER AREA
WHERE WE HAVE TO TRUST THE
SCHOOLS WE'RE SENDING OUR
CHILDREN TO, IT'S NOT AND IT'S
NOT SAYING DON'T CALL THE
PARENTS AND TELL THEM WHAT
HAPPENED. IT'S NOT SAYING THAT.
IT'S SIMPLY SAYING, LET'S TAKE
AWAY THE MANDATE THAT YOU HAVE
TO CALL THE POLICE. AND THAT AT
LEAST GIVES TOOLS. IT ALLOWS
OTHER TOOLS TO BE USED BY THE
SCHOOL. IF YOU CALL THE POLICE,
YOU'RE BRINGING ONE TOOL IN
THERE. AND QUITE FRANKLY, MOST
OF THE TIME Ã POLICE OFFICERS
ARE CALLED ONTO CAMPUS. THEY
LEAVE AND NO ONE'S ARRESTED. AND
SO THINK ABOUT THE HOURS THAT
ARE TAKEN AWAY. I MEAN, THE
NUMBER ONE TIME THAT HOME
RESIDENTIAL BURGLARIES HAPPEN IS
DURING SCHOOL HOURS. IT'S THE
SAME TIME. THE NUMBER ONE TIME
WHERE YOU SEE THE MOST TRAFFIC
ACCIDENTS IS SCHOOL HOURS. SO
WE'RE TAKING POLICE OFFICERS
AWAY FROM THE COMMUNITY INTO
SCHOOLS FOR INCIDENTS THAT
OFTENTIMES JUST AMOUNT TO
BEHAVIORAL ISSUES, WHICH WHICH
CAN ABSOLUTELY FALL UNDER THE
ASSAULT CATEGORY. IT COULD BE A
BEHAVIORAL ISSUE. NOW, IF IT'S A
SERIOUS ASSAULT AND BATTERY
WHERE SOMEONE GETS INJURED ALL
IN ALL, LIKELIHOOD THEY'RE GOING
TO CALL THE POLICE REGARDLESS OF
WHETHER THEY'RE MANDATED TO OR
NOT. BUT ASSAULT IS A VERY BROAD
TERME UNDER THE LAW. SO TO
FURTHER CLARIFY THIS WOULD ALSO
INCLUDE SCHOOL POLICE. THEY
WOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO BE
CALLED IN. WELL, THE SCHOOL
POLICE IS ALREADY THERE. THAT'S
A DIFFERENT SCENARIO, RIGHT?
BECAUSE THEY'RE CONTRACTED
SEPARATE FROM THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT TO KEEP A KEEP A
CAMPUS SAFE. BUT NOT EVERY
CAMPUS HAS A SCHOOL. POLICE.
THAT'S CORRECT, THAT'S CORRECT.
WOULD YOU BE ALLOWED TO CALL
SCHOOL POLICE IF IT'S IF THEY'RE
YOU'RE ALWAYS ALLOWED TO CALL
THE POLICE. AND UNDER ANY
CIRCUMSTANCE THAT'S NEVER
REMOVED, THIS IS NOT REMOVE THE
ABILITY TO CALL THE POLICE. IT'S
NOT SAYING YOU DON'T HAVE TO.
YOU JUST DON'T HAVE TO. SO YOU
WOULDN'T HAVE TO CALL SCHOOL
POLICE EITHER. YOU WOULDN'T HAVE
TO. EXACTLY. SO TO FURTHER JUST
ON THE IMPLEMENTATION, BECAUSE
THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS WE TALK
ABOUT IN THIS COMMITTEE IS OKAY,
THIS IS THE IDEA. AND THEN IT
GETS IMPLEMENTED. THERE'S IF
SOMEONE, A PARENT, IF AN
INCIDENT, GOD FORBID, EVER
HAPPENS. BUT, YOU KNOW,
UNFORTUNATELY TOO MANY THINGS DO
HAPPEN. IF THERE IS, IF THERE'S
AN INCIDENT OF SOMEONE BEING
ATTACKED OR ASSAULTED AND POLICE
WAS NOT CALLED AND, AND THE
INCIDENT CONTINUES AND SOMETHING
MORE DRASTIC OCCURS, HAS THERE
BEEN ANY CONVERSATION ABOUT ANY
LIABILITY TO THE SCHOOL FOR NOT
ENGAGING LAW ENFORCEMENT EARLY
ENOUGH TO TRY AND PREVENT
SOMETHING LARGER FROM HAPPENING?
WELL, THERE'S BEEN, A WITH THE
WORK OF THE CHAIR AND THE
COMMITTEE, THERE HAVE BEEN
AMENDMENTS THE OTHER WAY, IN THE
SENSE THAT YOU CAN'T BE CIVILLY
OR CRIMINALLY LIABLE, FOR
CALLING THE POLICE OR FOR
REPORTING THE CRIME, BECAUSE WE
WANT TO MAKE SURE WE DON'T
INHIBIT, SOMEONE. NOW, IF THE
MANDATES ARE REMOVED, WE DON'T
WANT ANYONE ON CAMPUS TO FEEL
THAT THEY SHOULD ANY WAY FEEL
INTIMIDATED BY CALLING THE
POLICE. SO IN THAT SENSE,
SOMEONE THAT DOES CALL THE
POLICE WILL NOT BE UNDER ANY
CIVIL LIABILITY UNLESS IT'S A
FALSE REPORT. BUT IF THEY DON'T,
BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT REQUIRED TO
ANYMORE, THEIR CHOICE IS NOT TO.
AND I THINK THAT IT WOULD OPEN
UP THE SCHOOL TO ANY OTHER TYPE
OF LIKE SCHOOLS MAKE DECISIONS
EVERY DAY AND THIS WILL BE ONE
OF MANY DECISIONS. THE SCHOOL
WOULD MAKE. OKAY, THAT YOU KNOW
THAT THAT WOULD EVERYONE HAS THE
RIGHT TO, YOU KNOW, TO TAKE SOME
OF THAT CLARIFIES TO ME THAT
THAT LIABILITY REMAINS. THEN
WITH THE SCHOOL. OKAY, THAT'S
VERY HELPFUL. WHAT ABOUT I
RECALL A BILL WE HAD AT THIS
COMMITTEE AS IT RELATES TO
ACTIVITIES LIKE ONLINE AND, AND
AFTER HOURS. IS THIS NOW THEN
ALSO APPLY TO ALL OF THAT
BEHAVIOR? I ASSUME, THE BILL WAS
SPECIFICALLY ABOUT MAYBE
CYBERBULLYING OR SENDING TEXT
MESSAGES. I'M FAMILIAR WITH THAT
BILL BECAUSE I BELIEVE IT'S
COMING TO MY COMMITTEE NEXT
WEEK, BUT THAT BILL ALSO DOESN'T
THAT BILL, AS WE'RE LOOKING AT
IT NOW, DOES NOT REQUIRE CALLING
THE POLICE. AND IN FACT, WE'RE
WORKING ON WE'RE WORKING ON WHAT
STEPS OF REMEDIATION ARE
REQUIRED IF IT'S OFF CAMPUS AS
WELL. OKAY. THIS IS REALLY
CHALLENGING AS A, AS A PARENT, I
THINK YOU'RE IN TENT IS I THINK
I UNDERSTAND IT AND I THINK IN
THE INCIDENTS THAT YOU DESCRIBED
CERTAINLY MAKES A LOT OF SENSE,
I HOPE OTHERS PROVIDE COMMENTS
TO HELP ME CLARIFY WHERE I'M AT.
AND ASSEMBLY MEMBER THAT I WANT
TO GIVE CREDIT TO THE CHAIR AND
THE COMMITTEE. THERE ARE QUITE A
FEW AMENDMENTS WE TOOK THAT I
THINK ARE WELL THOUGHT OUT THAT
I THINK DEAL WITH A LOT OF A LOT
OF CONCERNS, IN TERMS OF WHAT'S
NOT INCLUDED, BUT ALSO TO MAKE
IT VERY CLEAR THAT, YOU KNOW,
THE DISCRETION IS WITH MAY BE
WITH THE SCHOOL, BUT THAT THERE
ARE NO BARRIERS TO CALLING THE
POLICE THAT, THAT IT'S VERY YOU
KNOW, WE WANT TO MAKE THAT THE
AMENDMENTS MAKE THAT VERY CLEAR.
AND WE ALSO REMOVED A PROVISION
THAT ENCOURAGED EMPLOYEES TO
EMPLOY OTHER MEANS OF
CORRECTIONS BEFORE CALLING THE
POLICE, BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO
LOOK, WE'RE GOING TO LEAVE IT UP
TO THEM. WE'RE NOT GOING TO SAY
IT HAS TO GO ONE WAY OR THE
OTHER, OR YOU NEED TO DO THIS
FIRST. IF IT HAS TO DO WITH
SCHOOL SAFETY, WE YOU KNOW, WE
WANT TO GIVE THAT DISCRETION TO
THE SCHOOL. IF THERE'S SCHOOL
SAFETY IS IN QUESTION, THEY
SHOULD CALL THE POLICE LIKE
THAT. YOU KNOW THAT THAT IS NOT
SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE
QUESTIONED IN THAT SENSE. THEY
STILL HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO DO
THAT. IT'S JUST ABOUT GETTING
RID OF THE MANDATE BECAUSE THE
MANDATE ITSELF DOESN'T
NECESSARILY MAKE CAMPUSES SAFER,
BECAUSE THEY ALREADY HAVE THE
ABILITY TO CALL THE POLICE IF
THERE'S ANY SITUATION ON CAMPUS
THAT MAKES THE CAMPUS UNSAFE,
REGARDLESS OF A MANDATE. WELL,
YOU'RE VERY GOOD, ATTORNEY AND
LITIGATOR, YOUR CLOSING ARGUMENT
, BROUGHT ME A LITTLE BIT CLOSER
TO YOUR POSITION, AND I AGREE,
THIS CHAIR, THIS COMMITTEE
DEFINITELY IS THOUGHTFUL IN THE
AMENDMENTS. DEFINITELY GO IN
THAT DIRECTION, I AGAIN, I'LL
WITHHOLD TO HEAR THE ONLY THING
IN MY. I'LL JUST TELL YOU, THIS
MIGHT BE EMOTIONAL INSTEAD OF
RATIONAL. IN MY GUT IS AN
ASSAULT ON MY CHILDREN, AND THAT
NOT BEING REPORTED? I'M I'M
STILL NOT THERE. BUT I KNOW MISS
BONTA IS GOING TO MAKE THE BEST
CASE AFTER ME TO TRY TO. THERE'S
NOTHING ABOUT THIS JOB THAT
REQUIRES US OR SHOULD REQUIRE US
TO REMOVE OUR EMOTIONS. THANK
YOU. APPRECIATE THAT. ACTUALLY,
BEFORE I, CALL ON MISS BONTA, I.
I WANT TO CLARIFY, LOOK, I THINK
I'M AS CONSERVATIVE AS
DEFINITELY ANY DEMOCRAT ON ON
PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUES. WHAT? MR.
CARR IS ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. THIS
IS NOT TAKING AWAY THE, THE
ABILITY OF PRINCIPALS, TEACHERS
TO REPORT TO LAW ENFORCEMENT
WHAT IT CHANGES IS THAT THEY'RE
IT'S MANDATORY THAT CURRENTLY
IT'S MANDATORY THAT THEY CALL
WHAT WHAT CHANGED LAST YEAR THIS
BILL WAS HELD BECAUSE BECAUSE,
YOU KNOW, I FELT THAT IT SHOULD
BE CONTINUED TO BE MANDATORY IF
THERE'S AN ASSAULT WITH A DEADLY
WEAPON OR IF THERE'S A, YOU
KNOW, IF THEY'RE SELLING DRUGS
ON, ON CAMPUS. SO, SO WE
CONTINUE TO, TO LEAVE, MAKE THAT
MANDATORY, THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT
SHOULD KNOW IF, IF PEOPLE ARE
ATTACKING PEOPLE WITH DEADLY
WEAPONS OR THEY'RE SELLING DRUGS
ON, ON CAMPUS. BUT WHAT REALLY
SWAYED ME TO SUPPORT THE MR.
CARVER'S BILL WITH THE
AMENDMENTS IS THE SUPPORT OF THE
ADMIN CRATERS. AND I THINK IT
GOES TO THE ESSENCE OF THIS BILL
THAT WHAT HAPPENS ON THE SCHOOL
GROUNDS SHOULD BE WITHIN THE
DISCRETION OF EDUCATORS AND NOT
OF LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND SO WE
NEED TO WE NEED TO RELY ON THE
PRINCIPALS, THE TEACHERS TO
EXERCISE THAT DISCRETION, YOU
KNOW, AS TO WHEN YOU KNOW, IF
YOUR CHILD IS, IS ATTACKED.
ABSOLUTELY THE PRINCIPAL AND THE
AND THE AND THE TEACHER, YOU
KNOW, THEY WHEN APPROPRIATE,
THEY SHOULD CONTACT LAW
ENFORCEMENT. BUT IT'S ULTIMATELY
LEAVING THE DISCRETION TO, TO
EDUCATORS, NOT LAW ENFORCEMENT.
MISS BONTA. WELL, I WANT TO
THANK THE AUTHOR FOR BRINGING
FORWARD THIS BILL. AND, TO
COMPLETELY BE CLEAR WITH THE
COMMITTEE, I'M A COAUTHOR OF
THIS BILL. SO FUNDAMENTALLY
BELIEVE IN, THE INTENTION OF IT,
I'LL SHARE TWO THINGS. ONE IS,
IN THE WHEN MY DAUGHTER WAS IN
THE 11TH GRADE, SHE WAS
ASSAULTED ON CAMPUS. SHE GOT
INTO A FIGHT, OR I SHOULD SAY,
SOMEBODY STARTED TO FIGHT WITH
HER. AND I WAS CALLED, AND WE
HAD TO GO THROUGH A PROCESS OF
DEALING WITH HER BEING
ASSAULTED. AND THIS SCHOOL
COMMUNITY, THE PRINCIPAL,
ADMINISTRATOR, TEACHERS WERE ALL
INVOLVED IN HELPING TO RESOLVE
THAT PARTICULAR INCIDENT,
INCLUDING MONITORING IT OVER
TIME. WHAT DIDN'T HAPPEN, BUT
ACCORDING TO THE LAW, SHOULD
HAVE HAPPENED WAS THE POLICE
SHOULD HAVE BEEN CALLED ONTO
THAT CAMPUS. NOW, IN THAT
INSTANCE, THE SCHOOL ESSENTIALLY
TOOK ON THE LIABILITY PER THE
LAW BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T MAKE THE
CALL TO THE POLICE. BUT WHAT
ALLOWED THIS PARTICULAR
SITUATION TO HAPPEN IS MY
DAUGHTER, WHO WAS A VICTIM IN
THAT MOMENT, WAS ABLE TO ENGAGE
IN A RESTORATIVE PROCESS WITH
THE PERSON WHO ASSAULTED HER.
AND WE AS PARENTS AND THE SCHOOL
ADMINISTRATORS WERE ABLE TO
MONITOR THAT SITUATION MOVING
FORWARD. SO IF I STEP OUT OF
THAT MOMENT AND THINK NOT AS THE
PARENT OF THE VICTIM, BUT THINK
OF MYSELF AS THE PARENT OF THE
PERPETRATOR BECAUSE OF WHO THE
PERPETRATOR WAS. HAD THE POLICE
BEEN CALLED ONTO THAT CAMPUS,
THAT YOUNG PERSON WOULD HAVE
BEEN PICKED UP, WOULD HAVE BEEN,
TAKEN DOWN TO THE POLICE STATION
, WOULD HAVE BEEN BOOKED AND
WOULD HAVE STARTED THEIR PATH
TOWARDS BEING ON THE SCHOOL TO
PRISON PIPELINE BECAUSE OF THE
OTHER FACTORS SURROUNDING THAT
CHILD, IN TERMS OF THEIR RACE,
THEIR ETHNICITY, THEIR SOCIO
ECONOMIC STATUS, THE STABILITY
OF THEIR HOME, THE SUPPORT THAT
THEY HAD, AND THE LACK OF
ADVOCACY THAT THEY HAD FROM
THEIR FAMILY TO GET THEM OUT OF
THAT SITUATION. AND THAT
SITUATION. I WANTED MY SCHOOL
COMMUNITY AND THE ADMINISTRATOR
TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THE
DISCRETION TO DECIDE THE FATE OF
BOTH CHILDREN'S, CHILDREN IN
THAT INSTANCE AND THAT'S
ESSENTIALLY WHAT THIS LAW IS
DOING, ALLOWING FOR
ADMINISTRATORS TO HAVE THE
DISCRETION THAT THEY NEED
BECAUSE THEY KNOW THE CHILDREN
AND QUITE FRANKLY, REMOVES THE
POTENTIAL LIABILITY, BECAUSE WE
KNOW IN THE EVERY DAY. BY
TAPPING ON SCHOOL CAMPUS, EVERY
SINGLE ONE OF THOSE FIGHTS IS
TECHNICALLY AN ASSAULT. BUT
RIGHT NOW, EVERY SINGLE ONE OF
THOSE FIGHTS DON'T DON'T RESULT
IN POLICE OFFICERS, NOT EVERY
SINGLE ONE OF THEM COMING TO
GROUNDS. BUT ACCORDING TO THE
LAW, THEY SHOULD SO I DON'T KNOW
IF THAT SWAYED YOU AT ALL. MR.
ALVAREZ, BUT THAT'S MY RECKONING
OF THIS BILL. ALL RIGHT, MISS
ADAMS. AND THEN, MR. VICE CHAIR
FULLER, I WANT TO THANK THE
AUTHOR FOR THIS BILL AND THE
THOUGHTFUL DISCUSSION. AND I
MOVED THE BILL. SO I'M PREPARED
TO SUPPORT IT. I ALSO REALLY
STRUGGLE WITH THIS BILL, COMING
FROM HAVING TAUGHT STUDENTS WITH
SPECIAL NEEDS. SO I APPRECIATE
YOUR TESTIMONY. I I ABSOLUTELY
UNDERSTAND TIMES WHEN YOU DON'T
WANT TO CALL THE POLICE. WE
ABSOLUTELY NEED OTHER WAYS. AS I
STRUGGLE WITH TWO THINGS, I
THINK THE FIRST ONE IS PROBABLY
VERY STRAIGHTFORWARD ANSWER, BUT
COULD YOU JUST CLARIFY ON SEXUAL
ASSAULT ON CAMPUS OR IS IT
MANDATED TO STILL CALL THE
POLICE? YES. IRREGARDLESS. SO
STRAIGHT, SO SEXUAL ASSAULT IS
THE DEEPER QUESTION I STRUGGLE
WITH
.
OUR BILL IS I'M GETTING
INFORMATION. OUR BILL IS SILENT
ON THAT. SO ARE THERE CHANGES IN
TERMS OF MANDATED REPORTING
AROUND SEXUAL ASSAULT? NO. NO
CHANGES OKAY. SO THAT THAT WOULD
STILL NEED TO CALL THE POLICE
FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT. OKAY. THANK
YOU FOR THAT, THE ONE THAT I
STRUGGLE WITH IS I THINK SIMILAR
TO ASSEMBLY MEMBER ALVAREZ. BUT
WHAT IF A CHILD WAS ASSAULTED?
THE POLICE SHOULD HAVE BEEN
CALLED THE SCHOOL LEANS MORE
TOWARDS WHAT THEY VIEW AS
RESTORATIVE PRACTICES, AND A
FAMILY FEELS LIKE THAT WAS
ABSOLUTELY THE WRONG WAY TO GO.
THAT THE POLICE SHOULD HAVE BEEN
CALLED BECAUSE THEIR CHILD WAS
ASSAULTED. HOW DOES THE SCHOOL
KNOW? SORT OF. I KNOW YOU'RE
SAYING SCHOOL SHOULD JUST SORT
OF DECIDE THIS, BUT ARE THERE
GUIDELINES BY WHICH WHEN TO CALL
THE POLICE, WHEN NOT TO CALL THE
POLICE? I CAN JUST SEE THESE
VERY CHALLENGING, TRICKY
SITUATIONS, COMING UP WHERE A
FAMILY DISAGREES RATHER THAN
BEING IN THIS, ASSEMBLY MEMBER
BONTA SITUATION, WHICH I THINK
IS, IS REALLY BENEVOLENT AND
WONDERFUL. MAYBE A FAMILY SAYS,
NO, YOU SHOULD HAVE CALLED THE
POLICE. WHY DIDN'T YOU? I'M JUST
WONDERING KIND OF WHERE THAT
THROUGH THE CHAIR THAT IS IN
THAT INSTANCE, IN MY FAMILY'S
INSTANCE, I HAD THE ABILITY TO
CALL THE POLICE, ON BEHALF OF MY
CHILD. I'M JUST WONDERING, LIKE
PARENTS, NOT THEIR. OR, YOU
KNOW, MAYBE THEY CAN'T GO
THROUGH THESE RESTORATIVE
PRACTICES AS THEY'RE NOT
AVAILABLE. THEY THEY TRULY THINK
THE SCHOOL SHOULD HAVE CALLED
THE POLICE. HOW DOES THE SCHOOL
DIFFERENTIATE? I THINK THAT ONE
POINT IS THEY COULD CALL THE
POLICE OR THAT INDIVIDUAL CAN
CALL THE POLICE, THIS BILL DOES
NOT IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT TEACHERS
AND PRINCIPALS. EVEN AT THE
INDIVIDUAL WANTS TO CALL THE
POLICE. THEY CAN OR THEIR
PARENTS CAN AFTER THE FACT. BUT
I'LL SAY WHAT I SAID EARLIER AS
WELL. LOOK AT THE END OF THE
DAY, WE RELY ON OUR SCHOOLS TO
KEEP THE CHILDREN SAFE AND TO
MAKE JUDGMENT CALLS ON A LOT OF
DIFFERENT ITEMS. AND I THINK
THAT THIS WILL BE ONE WHERE IF
IT'S A SERIOUS ATTACK, SOMEONE'S
INJURED OR IT'S A SERIOUS FIGHT,
OR THERE'S OTHER INCIDENTS,
WHATEVER IT MIGHT BE, I THINK WE
HAVE TO TRUST OUR SCHOOL
PRINCIPALS, ADMINISTRATORS AND
TEACHERS TO MAKE THE RIGHT
DECISION, TO SOME POINT, LIKE
RIGHT NOW, THERE ARE SOME
SCHOOLS THAT IN DESPITE THE
MANDATE, MAY CHOOSE NOT TO AND,
YOU KNOW, OPEN UP THEMSELVES UP
TO THAT LIABILITY BECAUSE THEY
BELIEVE THERE'S A BETTER WAY TO
DEAL WITH THAT YOUNG PERSON. AND
AGAIN, ALL WE'RE SAYING IS THEY
DON'T HAVE TO CALL THE POLICE.
OUR MISTAKES ARE THEY'RE GOING
TO BE A DIFFERENCE IN OPINION OF
OPINION. ABSOLUTELY. YOU GO TO A
SCHOOL BOARD MEETING, THERE ARE
PARENTS THAT HAVE A DIFFERENT
OPINION ON A LOT OF THINGS
SCHOOLS DO, FOR A LOT OF
DIFFERENT REASONS. SO I'M NOT
GOING TO SUGGEST THAT THAT THIS
IS GOING TO BE PERFECT. BUT WE
KNOW AS OUR CURRENT SYSTEM IS
FAR FROM PERFECT BECAUSE OF THE
OUTCOMES WE'RE SEEING,
ESPECIALLY WITH PEOPLE OF COLOR,
YOUNG PEOPLE OF COLOR, AND
CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES, I
APPRECIATE THAT I'M PREPARED TO
SUPPORT IT. I MOVED IT ALL.
SUPPORT IT TODAY, I'M I STILL
HAVE CONCERNS AS IT MOVES
FORWARD, AND I HOPE I HOPE THAT
THERE CAN BE MORE CONVERSATION
ON THIS TO GIVE A LITTLE MORE
CLARITY TO THIS QUESTION AROUND
FAMILIES, I DO I DO THINK THAT,
WE DO WANT TO TRUST THE SCHOOLS,
BUT I ALSO THINK THERE'S, AS YOU
JUST MENTIONED, THERE'S
SITUATIONS WHERE WE NEED TO BE A
LITTLE MORE CAREFUL WITH HANDING
EVERYTHING OVER TO THE SCHOOL TO
DECIDE AND THANK YOU THROUGH THE
CHAIR. CAN I MAKE A COMMENT?
THERE'S A LONG WAY BETWEEN,
CALLING THE POLICE AND DOING
NOTHING. AND I THINK WHAT STANDS
ARE THE SCHOOL SAFETY PROCEDURES
AND GUIDELINES IN TERMS OF,
LOGGING THE INCIDENTS AND TAKING
CORRECTIVE ACTION, NOTIFYING THE
PARENTS, THOSE ALL OF THOSE
THINGS STILL STAND AS ACTIONS
THAT A SCHOOL IS REQUIRED TO
TAKE IN THEIR, CAPACITY. AND
LOCAL PRENTICE ON BEHALF OF OUR
CHILDREN, WHAT THIS BILL DOES IS
PROVIDE DISCRETION AROUND ONE
COMPONENT, WHICH IS DO I CALL
THE POLICE OR NOT? AND IN THAT
REGARD, I DO THINK THAT, THE
SCHOOL COMMUNITY, THE CLIMATE,
THE PARTICULAR, ATTITUDE AND
PERSPECTIVE OF THE SCHOOL
ADMINISTRATORS, ALL OF THOSE
THINGS ARE STILL IN PLAY FOR
WHETHER OR NOT THAT WILL HAPPEN.
I DON'T WANT US TO LOSE SIGHT OF
THAT VICE CHAIR LARA. THEN, MR.
ALVAREZ. OKAY. I APPRECIATE
THAT, BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT I READ
IN THE BILL. AND SO I THINK THAT
APPROACH THAT MISS BONTA JUST
DESCRIBED, ESPECIALLY,
ESPECIALLY I WILL SAY THIS AND
THIS IS HOW YOU PROBABLY GET MY
SUPPORT TODAY, MR. CARRO, IS
THAT WE'D HAVE TO NOTIFY
FAMILIES. THE OTHER THING IS, MY
UNDERSTANDING MIGHT BE DIFFERENT
FROM WHAT YOU'VE STATED IS THE
COMMITTEE JUST NOTIFY ME THAT IN
THE CASE OF ASSAULTS AND
ANYTHING IN PENAL CODE, OF
COURSE I CLOSE THE NUMBER 245.
THANK YOU. IS REQUIRED FOR
POLICE NOTIFICATION. SO THERE
IS, I THINK, TWO DIFFERENT
UNDERSTANDINGS. AND I GUESS WHAT
I SHOULD SAY TO NOT PROLONG THIS
CONVERSATION, THAT THE CHAIR HAS
BEEN SO KIND IN ALLOWING US TO
HAVE, FROM MY STANDPOINT, I
GUESS WE'LL TELL YOU, BECAUSE
IT'S NOT ABOUT BLOCKING, BECAUSE
I THINK YOU'RE WELL INTENTIONED
IS THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME
NOTIFICATION OF CERTAIN
CIRCUMSTANCES WHEN THINGS HAPPEN
TO PARENTS, PERIOD, IF YOU HAVE
A BETTER SORT OF, I THINK MISS
MONTOYA PUT IT MORE ELOQUENTLY.
BUT LIKE THIS TRAGIC TRAJECTION
OF STEPS OF WHAT HAPPENS AND
WHAT SCHOOLS SHOULD DO AND WHAT
ARE THEY'RE REQUIRED TO DO, I
LIKE TO EITHER MAKE SURE THAT'S
IN THIS BILL OR REFERENCE TO
EDUCATION CODE, WHERE THAT
APPLIES. AND THEN AGAIN, ON
ISSUES PARTICULARLY AS ASSAULT,
WHICH I THINK ONE VERSION OF
COMMITTEE, COMMENTS MAYBE
CONFUSE ME. BUT MY UNDERSTANDING
IS THAT THAT IS STILL REQUIRED.
BUT WITH ALL THAT UNDERSTANDING
AND TO NOT DELAY THIS ANYMORE, I
WILL SUPPORT TODAY. BUT THAT
NEEDS TO BE CLEAR FOR ME GOING
FORWARD. SO I WANT TO MAKE IT
CLARITY AND I THINK I'LL TAKE
BLAME FOR THIS. MY AND MY STAFF
JUST REMINDED ME TO KEEP US KIND
OF ON TRACK. IS THAT STUDENT, I
THINK STUDENT AND STUDENT A
BEHAVIOR LIKE A FIGHT AND
ASSAULT. THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY
MANDATORY OR MANDATORY
REPORTING. WHAT WE'RE REMOVING
IS WHAT THIS BILL IS ABOUT IS
WHENEVER ANY EMPLOYEE OF A
SCHOOL DISTRICT OR THE OFFICE OF
A COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT OF
SCHOOLS IS ATTACKED, ASSAULTED,
OR PHYSICALLY THREATENED BY A
PUPIL. SO IT'S ABOUT ACTIONS
AGAINST THE TEACHERS OR THOSE
THAT WORK IN THE ON THE CAMPUS.
AND SO I THAT THAT IS THE EXCEPT
FOR ASSAULT WITH A DEADLY
WEAPON, WHAT HAVE YOU. IT
DOESN'T MATTER WHO THAT'S
AGAINST THAT WILL STILL BE IN
PLACE. SO I APOLOGIZE FOR KIND
OF VEERING AWAY FROM THAT, BUT
IT'S REALLY THAT'S WHY THE
BEHAVIORAL ISSUES COME UP A LOT,
BECAUSE IF YOU HAVE A SPECIAL
NEEDS STUDENT, QUITE FRANKLY,
THEY PROBABLY HAVE IN SOME CASES
IF THEY HAVE, IF THEY HAVE
SEVERE ISSUES, TECHNICALLY THEY
MAY BE PHYSICALLY ASSAULTING
THEIR TEACHERS ON A REGULAR
BASIS, AND THE TEACHERS, YOU
KNOW, ARE TRAINED TO SOME EXTENT
ON HOW TO DEAL WITH THAT. BUT IT
DOESN'T. IT REMOVES A MANDATED
REPORTER FOR ASSAULTS AND OTHER
ACTIVITIES ON, ON, ON SCHOOL
EMPLOYEES. VÌ SHERIFF LARA.
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. AND, I
MEAN, I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR SOME
OF THE OPPOSITION'S RESPONSE TO
SOME OF THESE ISSUES BECAUSE
I'VE SEEN A LOT OF FACIAL
EXPRESSIONS. AND I WILL JUST SAY
ONE THING, I THINK I UNDERSTAND
THE INTENT OF THE BILL. BUT
AGAIN, I FEEL LIKE WE'RE
SHIFTING ALL THE ONUS ON THE
VICTIMS AND THE VICTIMS PARENTS
AND WHERE SOMETIMES WE AS ADULTS
WHO ARE TASKED WITH WHEN I DROP
OUR TWO LITTLE GIRLS OFF AT
SCHOOL, I EXPECT THE TEACHERS
AND STAFF TO KEEP MY KIDS SAFE
WHILE THEY'RE IN THEIR CUSTODY.
RIGHT AND I EXPECT IF THERE IS
SOMETHING GOING ON THAT THE
AUTHORITIES ARE GOING TO BE
NOTIFIED, AT THE VERY LEAST TO
ME, SO I WOULD LOVE TO LOVE TO
HEAR THE OPPOSITION'S RESPONSE
TO SOME OF THIS. THANK YOU, MR.
CHAIR, YES. YOU'RE CORRECT,
COMMON FISTFIGHT ON CAMPUS IS
NOT MANDATORY REPORTING. THERE'S
NO REQUIREMENT FOR THAT, SO THE
CASE THAT THE ASSEMBLY MEMBER
FROM OAKLAND RAISED, THAT WAS
ACTUALLY THE SCHOOL DISTRICT,
THEY WERE NOT IN VIOLATION OF
THE LAW BECAUSE THERE'S NO
MANDATE FOR THAT TYPE OF THING,
I CAN'T EVEN IMAGINE IF COPS
WERE CALLED TO EVERY SINGLE
FIGHT THAT EVER HAPPENED ON A
SCHOOL CAMPUS EVERY DAY. I MEAN,
THAT'S ALL THAT THEY WOULD DO.
SO THAT'S THAT'S NOT ACCURATE,
COPS AREN'T WANTING TO AT LEAST
THE SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS
THAT I WORK WITH, THEY'RE NOT
TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WAYS TO
LOCK UP KIDS. THEY'RE MOST OF
THEM ARE WORKING ON CAMPUS,
TRYING TO HELP THE KIDS, THIS
BILL, THOUGH, HOWEVER, REMOVES
THE MANDATE THAT WAS PUT IN
PLACE FOR THE VERY REASON THAT
THAT, MANDATED REPORTERS ARE
NECESSARY, THEY WERE CREATED
BECAUSE THERE WERE PEOPLE, THAT
SHOULD HAVE REPORTED THINGS THAT
WOULD HAVE JUST BEEN COMMON
SENSE, SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPORTED
TO LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND IT
WASN'T. AND SO THAT'S HOW
MANDATED REPORTERS STARTED, THEY
WERE SUPPOSED TO AND THEY FAILED
IN THEIR DUTY. AND SO THEY MADE
THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR
MADE IT A MANDATE. SO THAT'S
KIND OF WHERE WE'RE AT RIGHT NOW
, AS FAR AS, YOU KNOW, ASSAULT
BEING, WELL, JUST SAYING A
PHRASE OR A WORD OR SOMETHING.
NO IT'S THAT'S NOT WHAT IT IS. I
MEAN, SECTION 240 OF THE
CALIFORNIA PENAL CODE STATES AN
ASSAULT IS AN UNLAWFUL ATTEMPT
COUPLED WITH A PRESENT ABILITY
TO COMMIT A VIOLENT INJURY ON
THE PERSON OF ANOTHER. SO THIS
ISN'T SOMEBODY WALKING BY THE
HALLS IN SCHOOL SAYING, HEY, I
DON'T LIKE YOUR SHOES OR HEY, I
THINK YOUR HAIR LOOKS FUNNY.
THIS IS MUCH MORE SEVERE THAN
THAT. SO THAT IS WHEN YOU TALK
ABOUT ASSAULT. THAT'S THE CRIME
OF ASSAULT. THE OTHER PART THAT
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, WHEN YOU
ACTUALLY TOUCH SOMEBODY, THAT'S
BATTERY. AND BOTH OF THOSE NOW
ARE NO LONGER. AND UNDER THE
BILL WITH THE AMENDMENTS, I
BELIEVE THEY ARE NO LONGER
REQUIRED TO BE REPORTED TO LAW
ENFORCEMENT. DOESN'T MEAN THAT
WHEN LAW ENFORCEMENT SHOWS UP
AND THEY DO THEIR QUICK
INVESTIGATION AND TALK WITH THE
KIDS AND THE STAFF, DOESN'T MEAN
THAT ANYTHING IS GOING TO HAPPEN
NECESSARILY. HOWEVER THEY SHOULD
BE NOTIFIED IN CASE THERE IS
SOMETHING THAT WARRANTS FURTHER
ACTION, AND THIS LEAVES IT UP TO
THE SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS AND
THE OTHER EMPLOYEES ON CAMPUS TO
DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT THEY ARE
GOING TO CALL. AND MAYBE THE
PRINCIPAL IS UP FOR PROMOTION.
HE DOESN'T WANT ANY NEGATIVE
ATTENTION. MAYBE THEY DON'T WANT
THE PRESS THERE TO FIND OUT THAT
THERE WAS SOMETHING BAD THAT
HAPPENED ON CAMPUS. THERE COULD
BE ALL SORTS OF REASONS WHY, YOU
KNOW, SOMETHING LIKE THIS ISN'T
REPORTED, BUT THAT'S WHY THEY'RE
MANDATED TO BE REPORTED. AND
THEN, YOU KNOW, THEY'LL FIND OUT
WHEN THE COPS SHOW UP AND DO
THEIR INVESTIGATION. SO THAT'S
KIND OF WHERE WE'RE AT. I DON'T
KNOW IF MR. SALAZAR WANTED TO
RAISE ANYTHING ELSE. THANK YOU.
THROUGH THE CHAIR, I WOULD JUST
POINT OUT, I THINK, TWO QUICK
THINGS THAT ARE IMPORTANT,
WITHOUT THE BENEFIT OF THE
ACTUAL LANGUAGE, I DON'T KNOW IF
OTHERS HAVE SEEN IT, BUT I'M
JUST GOING OFF OF WHAT THE
ANALYSIS SAYS, IN REFERENCE TO
THE, THE REFERENCE TO SECTION
245 OF THE PENAL CODE, WHICH IS,
SAU WITH A DEADLY WEAPON OR
ASSAULT WITH FORCE, LIKELY AS
IT'S REFERRED TO, LIKELY TO
CAUSE GREAT BODILY INJURY,
ACCORDING TO THE DESCRIPTION AND
THE ANALYSIS, THE REQUIREMENT TO
NOTIFY LAW ENFORCEMENT, OF AN
ACT THAT MIGHT VIOLATE SECTION
245, ONLY IS TRIGGERED BEFORE
THE SUSPENSION OR EXPULSION OF
THE PUPIL. SO AS I READ THIS,
UNLESS THIS IS A SEMANTIC
READING OF THIS, UNLESS THE
PUPIL IS ULTIMATELY SUSPENDED OR
EXPELLED, THERE IS NO DUTY TO
REPORT A 245 UNDER THIS AS THIS
AMENDMENT IS DESCRIBED IN THE
ANALYSIS UNDERSTANDING. I HAVE
NOT SEEN THE LANGUAGE ISSUE
NUMBER ONE. ISSUE NUMBER TWO,
JUST AS THERE IS A LOT OF
DISTANCE BETWEEN CALLING THE
POLICE AND NOT CALLING THE
POLICE, THERE'S A LOT OF
DISTANCE BETWEEN CALLING THE
POLICE AND THE PERSON ENDS UP IN
JAIL. RIGHT? A LOT HAS TO HAPPEN
. I'M WITH ALL DUE RESPECT TO
SCHOOL OFFICIALS, THEY'RE NOT
EXPERTS IN CRIMINAL LAW. AND
WHEN A CRIMINAL STATUTE MAY HAVE
BEEN VIOLATED AND WHEN A
CRIMINAL ACT MAY OR MAY HAVE NOT
OCCURRED, AND THAT IS PART OF
THE REASON THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT
IS INTEGRATED INTO THIS PROCESS.
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THAT
CLEAR. THANK YOU, SIR. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS
OR COMMENTS? YEAH. I. I THINK,
THIS MYSELF AND THE COMMITTEE
STAFF TRY TO STRIKE THAT BALANCE
BETWEEN MAKING SURE THAT THE
SERIOUS CRIMES ARE CONTINUE TO
BE REQUIRED TO BE REPORTED TO
LAW ENFORCEMENT, BUT FOR THE
LESS SERIOUS CRIMES, RECOGNIZING
THE DATA SHOWING THE PROBLEM OF
THE SCHOOL TO PRISON PIPELINE
THAT, WE SHOULD LEAVE THAT TO
THE DISCRETION OF SCHOOL
ADMINISTRATORS AND TEACHERS. AND
AGAIN, FOR ME, AS AS THE CHAIR
OF THIS COMMITTEE, WHAT, WHAT
SWAYED ME THE MOST WAS THE FACT
THAT ADMINISTRATORS AND
TEACHERS, YOU KNOW, WHO
PRESUMABLY COULD BE ASSAULTED,
THEY WERE NOT CONCERNED WITH,
YOU KNOW, ELIMINATING THAT
MANDATORY NOTIFICATION
REQUIREMENT. AND SO I DO BELIEVE
THAT WHAT HAPPENS ON THE SCHOOL
CAMPUS SHOULD BE WITHIN THE
DISCRETION OF SCHOOL
ADMINISTRATORS AND TEACHERS, AND
THAT THAT WAS WHAT WE TRY TO
ACCOMPLISH HERE, CERTAINLY THERE
SEEMS TO BE A, ONGOING CONCERNS
RAISED, MR. CORA, I HOPE YOU CAN
CONTINUE YOUR CONVERSATION WITH
MR. ALVAREZ AND MISS ADDIS, WHO
RAISED SPECIFIC CONCERNS ABOUT,
YOU KNOW, NOTIFICATION OF FAMILY
MEMBERS AS WELL AS VICE CHAIR
FLORA, BUT FOR TODAY, THIS BILL
DOES, ENJOY, SUPPORT AS AMENDED,
CHAIR RECOMMENDATION. WOULD YOU
LIKE TO CLOSE? THANK YOU SO
MUCH, MR. CHAIR. AND, YOU KNOW,
I THINK THE CHAIR AND I ALSO ARE
PROBABLY ON A DIFFERENT SIDE OF
THE SPECTRUM WHEN IT COMES TO A
LOT OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE ISSUES
AND, I REALLY COMMEND YOUR WORK
AND YOUR COMMITTEE'S WORK ON
THIS. THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF
AMENDMENTS BACK AND FORTH OVER
THE LAST YEAR THAT I THINK
CHALLENGED THE BOTH OF US, AND
I'M PROUD OF BOTH OF US FOR
GETTING TO WHERE WE ARE, QUITE
FRANKLY, AND TO MAKE IT VERY
CLEAR, AS WAS STATED BY OUR LAW
ENFORCEMENT EXPERT HERE, AS WELL
AS OTHERS WHO HAVE TALKED, WHO
HAVE HAD BEEN PART OF THE
CONVERSATION, THERE IS NO
MANDATORY REPORTING RIGHT NOW
WHEN IT COMES TO KIDS AND KIDS
ACTIVITY. THIS IS ABOUT,
AUTHORIZING RATHER THAN
REQUIRING REPORTING TO LAW
ENFORCEMENT OF INCIDENTS THAT
INVOLVED A SCHOOL DISTRICT
EMPLOYEE OR OFFICE OF EDUCATION
EMPLOYEE. AND SO THAT REALLY
THAT'S WHY THE ISSUE OF SPECIAL
EDUCATION, WHAT HAVE YOU COMES
UP. BECAUSE THERE CAN BE A LOT
OF INCIDENTS WHERE THAT MIGHT,
COME UP WHERE THE DEGREE OF
ACTIVITY KIND OF LEADS TO HAVING
TO CALL THE POLICE. AND THAT'S
NOT AN OUTCOME THAT USUALLY ENDS
UP IN THE FAVOR OF THE STUDENT.
AND SO AGAIN, WE WANT TO MAKE
SURE THAT ALL THE TOOLS ARE
AVAILABLE TO OUR SCHOOLS, TO OUR
PRINCIPALS AND TEACHERS, THE
ABILITY TO CALL THE POLICE IS
STILL FULLY AVAILABLE, AND, AND,
YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT THEY HAVE
A BETTER SENSE OF HOW TO DEAL
WITH THE STUDENT THAN LAW
ENFORCEMENT DOES, IN TERMS OF
WHO'S DECIDING WHO ENDS UP IN
JAIL OR NOT, I THINK THAT'S A
QUESTION THAT SHOULDN'T BE ASKED
OF OUR CHILDREN. I THINK THAT
OUR STUDENTS SHOULD BE THE ONES
ARE OUR TEACHERS, AND PRINCIPALS
SHOULD BE THE ONES TO DECIDE IF
THE ACTIVITY AMOUNTS TO ONE
WHERE THEY NEED TO CALL LAW
ENFORCEMENT, BECAUSE THE LEVEL
OF ACTIVITY, AND SO I REALLY
APPRECIATE THE DIALOG HERE.
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR AN AYE
VOTE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. A
MOTION HAS BEEN MADE AND
SECONDED. MADAM SECRETARY,
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. FILE ITEM
TEN AB 2441. THE MOTION IS Dð.
PASS AS AMENDED TO
APPROPRIATIONS MURATSUCHI A
MURATSUCHI I LARA LARA NØ.
ADDIS. ADDIS I ALVAREZ. BONTA I
HOOVER. MCCARTY MCCARTY. I 4 TO
1. THE BILLS OUT. OKAY, WE'RE
GOING TO. SHALL WE JUST ALL OF
THE, JUST THE CONSENT OR TANYA.
ALL RIGHT. CONSENT CALENDAR. FOR
THOSE WHO WANT TO VOTE. IT'S
OKAY. OH, NO. WE CAN COME BACK
TO THAT. OKAY ALL RIGHT. OKAY.
MOTIONS ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR
ARE AS FOLLOWS AB 2206, DO PASS,
AS AMENDED TO APPROPRIATE AB
2350. DO PASS TO APPROPRIATE AB
2768. DO PASS AS AMENDED TO
APPROPRIATE AB 2045. DO PASS AS
AMENDED TO APPROPRIATE AB 2865.
DO PASS AS AMENDED TO APPROVE AB
27. EXCUSE ME AB 2927 DO PASS AS
AMENDED TO APPROPRIATE AB 2949
DO PASS TO APPROPRIATE AB 2998
DO PASS IS AMENDED TO
APPROPRIATE AND AB 3010 DO PASS
AS AMENDED TO APPROPRIATIONS,
AND WE NEED A MOTION AND A
SECOND. PLEASE CALL THE ROLL
MURATSUCHI Ã MURATSUCHI LARA
LARA. AYE. ADDIS. ADDIS AYE.
ALVAREZ BONTA. BONTA I HOOVER
MCCARTY. MCCARTY I OH, WE CAN
ADD ON ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR.
ALVAREZ. AYE. ON THE CONSENT
CALENDAR. OKAY SIX VOTES, SIX
AYES. THE CONSENT CALENDAR IS
ADOPTED. MISS BONTA, THANK YOU
SO MUCH. COMEDIANS CHAIR AND
STAFF MEMBERS FOR YOUR
THOUGHTFUL WORK AND
CONVERSATIONS ON THIS BILL. I'M
HERE TO PRESENT AB 1919 ON
BEHALF OF OUR COLLEAGUE,
ASSEMBLY MEMBER, DOCTOR WEBER.
AB 1919 WILL REQUIRE LOCAL
EDUCATIONAL AGENCIES TO ADOPT AT
LEAST ONE OF THE EVIDENCE BASED
PRACTICES FOR RESTORATIVE
JUSTICE ON ITS SCHOOL CAMPUS
FROM THE LIST OF RECOMMENDATIONS
FROM THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT
OF EDUCATION, ONE SET TO BE
RELEASED JUNE 1ST, 2020. FOR
THIS BILL WILL AUTHORIZE
PARTICIPATION IN A RESTORATIVE
JUSTICE PROGRAM IDENTIFIED AS A
BEST PRACTICE AS ONE OF THE
ALTERNATIVE MEANS OF CORRECTION
THAT SCHOOLS MAY USE BEFORE THEY
CONSIDER THE SUSPENSION OF A
STUDENT. THE DISPROPORTIONATE
INCIDENCE OF SUSPENSIONS AND
EXPULSIONS AMONG CERTAIN
POPULATIONS OF STUDENTS,
INCLUDING BLACK STUDENTS, HAS
GAINED NATIONWIDE ATTENTION IN
RECENT YEARS. DATA SHOWS THAT
PUNITIVE AND OR ZERO TOLERANCE
SCHOOL DISCIPLINE POLICIES THAT
RELY ON EXCLUSIONARY PUNISHMENTS
ARE INEFFECTIVE AND STAND IN THE
WAY OF STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT. DATA
ALSO CONTINUES TO SHOW THAT
THESE PUNITIVE DISCIPLINE
POLICIES DISPROPORTIONATELY
IMPACT BLACK STUDENTS,
PARTICULARLY BLACK MALES AND
STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES.
BLACK STUDENTS ARE FOUR TIMES
MORE LIKELY TO BE SUSPENDED THAN
THEIR WHITE PEERS, WITHOUT
INDICATION TO SHOW THEY
MISBEHAVE. MORE RESTORATIVE
JUSTICE PRACTICES ENGAGED IN
COLLABORATIVE PROBLEM SOLVING
EMPOWERS CHANGE AND GROWTH, AND
FOCUSES ON BUILDING SYSTEMS THAT
ADDRESS DISORDERLY CONDUCT IN A
WAY THAT STRENGTHENS
RELATIONSHIPS. IN 2022, AB 2598
WAS SIGNED INTO LAW, WHICH
REQUIRED THE CALIFORNIA
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO WORK
WITH STAKEHOLDERS TO DEVELOP A
STANDARD MODEL TO IMPLEMENT
RESTORATIVE JUSTICE BEST
PRACTICES FOR LOCAL EDUCATION
AGENCIES AND MAKE THEM AVAILABLE
ON THEIR WEBSITE. AS PART OF THE
EFFORTS TO IMPROVE CAMPUS
CULTURE AND CLIMATE, THIS BILL
WILL BUILD UPON AB 2598, BUT
CREATING A SUPPORTIVE SCHOOL BY
CREATING A SUPPORTIVE SCHOOL
CLIMATE AND WILL ALLOW THE
DEDICATED FOCUS NECESSARY FOR
THE SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL,
BEHAVIORAL, DEVELOPMENTAL AND
DEVELOPMENTAL NEEDS OF ALL
STUDENTS. AB 1919 WILL ADDRESS
REMAINING INEQUITIES WITHIN OUR
PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM AND
IMPROVE SCHOOL CLIMATE, WHICH
LEADS TO INCREASED ATTENDANCE,
REDUCED FEELINGS OF ISOLATION,
BULLYING, CLASSROOM DISRUPTION,
TRUANCY, ANTI SOCIAL BEHAVIOR
AND DISPUTES AMONGST STUDENTS,
RESTORATIVE PRACTICES AND
RESTORATIVE JUSTICE METHODS
ALLOW FOR GREATER UNDERSTANDING
AND COMMUNITY HEALING IN
ADDRESSING YOUTH BEHAVIOR. WITH
ME TODAY, WHO HAS BEEN WITH US
ALL DAY HERE TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT
OF THIS BILL IS DOCTOR IS DARRYL
WHITE, SENIOR CHAIR OF THE BLACK
PARALLEL SCHOOL BOARD. WELCOME,
SIR. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE
. THANK YOU. IT'S BEEN A LONG
DAY. I MUST DEFINITELY ADMIT TO
THAT. BUT I'M HERE BECAUSE THIS
IS SOMETHING I DEFINITELY
SUPPORT, I'VE BEEN A HIGH SCHOOL
PRINCIPAL. MIDDLE SCHOOL
PRINCIPAL. I'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN
THESE ISSUES FOR MOST OF MY
LIFE, IN MY RETIREMENT, I AM
CHAIR OF THE BLACK PARALLEL
SCHOOL BOARD, WHICH IS A
COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION THAT'S
DESIGNED TO WORK TO SUPPORT
FAMILIES AND THEIR CHILDREN
BECAUSE OF THE INEQUITIES,
BECAUSE OF THE
DISPROPORTIONALITY AND OUTCOMES
THAT WE GENERALLY THEY GENERALLY
FIND THEMSELVES IN. I CAN
REMEMBER AS A MIDDLE SCHOOL
PRINCIPAL, WHILE TAKING A SCHOOL
THAT WAS THE LOWEST EVERYWHERE.
IT WAS THE LOWEST IN ATTENDANCE,
LOWEST, THE HIGHEST SUSPENSION
RATES, POOREST ACHIEVERS. SO
FORTH AND SO ON. BUT I THOUGHT
THIS WOULD BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO
MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES
OF CHILDREN, PARTICULARLY
AFRICAN AMERICAN CHILDREN. THE
ENROLLMENT AT THE SCHOOL WAS
ABOUT 1300 KIDS, 30% WHITE, 30%
FILIPINO AND 30% AFRICAN
AMERICAN. AND ALL OF MY
EXCITEMENT AT WORKING WITH MY
STAFF AROUND THE ISSUE OF A
DISCIPLINE I THOUGHT I HAD.
EVERYTHING WORKED OUT. FIRST DAY
OF SCHOOL. I'M EXCITED. I'M
WALKING AROUND LOOKING AND
WATCHING, SAYING HELLO TO ALL OF
MY TEACHERS AND SAYING AND
HELPING MY KIDS GET TO CLASSES.
I COME BACK TO MY OFFICE AND
THERE WERE TEN KIDS SITTING IN
MY OFFICE JUST AFTER THE BELL
RANG. FIRST PERIOD. ALL AFRICAN
AMERICAN CHILDREN. NOW, FIRST
THING I KNEW, I'M NOT, YOU KNOW,
DUMB. I UNDERSTOOD THAT TEACHERS
DIDN'T GET ON THE PHONE AND SAY,
HEY, YOU'RE GOING TO SEND ONE OF
THEM OUT THERE, YOU'RE GOING TO
SEND ONE OUT TO I'M GOING TO
SEND. NO, THEY ALL DID IT
BECAUSE THEY THOUGHT IT WAS
NECESSARY. THIS IS WHAT WE CALL
A REACTIONARY DISCIPLINARY
SYSTEM, MEANING THEY EXPECTED
ME, THE PRINCIPAL, TO DO THEIR
JOB FOR THEM. OF WHICH I LOOKED
AT THAT AND SAID TO MYSELF, HOW
AM I GOING TO RUN MY SCHOOL IF
I'M TAKING CARE OF KIDS ALL DAY
LONG IN THAT KIND OF SITUATION,
I'M GOING TO HAVE TO WORK WITH
MY STAFF A LITTLE BIT
DIFFERENTLY. SO I TOLD THEM AT
THE NEXT STAFF MEETING, YOU CAN
NO LONGER SEND KIDS OUT OF
CLASS, PERIOD. CAN YOU IMAGINE
THE UPROAR? CAN YOU IMAGINE WHAT
THEY SAID TO THAT? WHAT I DON'T
KNOW, HOW COULD THAT POSSIBLY
BE? I SAID, BUT ADCOTE GIVES YOU
AN ALTERNATIVE. THAT ALTERNATIVE
IS YOU CAN CLASS SUSPEND. AND
WHEN YOU CLASS SUSPEND, IT'S THE
NETCODE CAECH EDUCATION. AND
THERE'S A RESPONSIBILITY. SIR,
YOUR TIME IS OKAY. YOU GOT TO
WRAP UP. YEAH, YEAH. THANK YOU,
THANK YOU. THE RESPONSE ABILITY
IS YOU GOT TO CALL PARENTS. AND
SO OUR TEACHERS WERE SUSPENDING
WITHOUT CALLING PARENTS OR ANY
OTHER KIND OF PROCESS. SO I TOLD
THEM THEY COULDN'T DO IT ANYMORE
AND THAT WE NEEDED TO BE MUCH
MORE RESTORATIVE IN OUR
APPROACH. AND BECAUSE THEY
COULDN'T CALL PARENTS, THEY
DECIDED TO COME TOGETHER
COLLECTIVELY AND LEARN DIFFERENT
KINDS OF METHODOLOGIES IN WHICH
TO WORK WITH KIDS. FOUR YEARS
LATER, WE HAVE THE HIGHEST
ACHIEVING HIGH OR MIDDLE SCHOOL.
WE HAVE THE LOWEST SUSPENSION
RATE. WE HAVE THE HIGHEST
SATISFACTION RATE AMONG STUDENTS
. THIS JUST SIMPLY WORKS AND I
WILL SUPPORT ANY BILL THAT TELLS
THAT PROMOTES THAT IDEA. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. ANY
PUBLIC COMMENTS IN SUPPORT OF
THE BILL? ANY WITNESSES IN
OPPOSITION TO THE BILL? ANY
PUBLIC COMMENTS IN OPPOSITION TO
THE BILL? MOTION'S BEEN MADE.
SECONDED. IS THERE A SECOND,
SECOND, MISS BONTA? GREAT. BILL
WOULD YOU LIKE TO CLOSE? OH NOT
OPPOSITION SUPPORT FROM SAN
FRANCISCO UNIFIED LÀ ANGELO
REID. SORRY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH
. THANK YOU. MISS BONTA, WOULD
YOU LIKE TO CLOSE? THANK YOU TO
DOCTOR WEBER FOR PRESENTING THIS
BILL. AND I HOPE I CAN ASK TO BE
A COAUTHOR WHEN THE TIME COMES.
AB 1919 WILL REQUIRE LOCAL
EDUCATION AGENCIES TO IMPLEMENT
AT LEAST ONE OF THE BEST
PRACTICES FOR RESTORATIVE
JUSTICE BEFORE MOVING ON TO
SUSPENSION OR EXPULSION. THESE
PRACTICES EMPHASIZE BUILDING
STRONG RELATIONSHIPS AMONG
STUDENTS, STAFF, TEACHERS,
ADMINISTRATORS, AND PARENTS
WHILE CREATING SAFE, PRODUCTIVE
LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS. AND I
WANT TO THANK MR. DARRYL WHITE,
SR, FOR BEING WITH US AND
SHARING THE STORY OF HIS
TURNAROUND SITUATION BY
IMPLEMENTING THESE KINDS OF
PRACTICES, AND WISH WE HAD MANY
MORE EDUCATORS WHO HAD THE TOOLS
TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT. THANK YOU
, THANK YOU. MOTION'S MADE AND
SECONDED. PLEASE CALL THE ROLL
BILL. ITEM THREE AB 1919. THE
MOTION IS Dð PASS TO
APPROPRIATIONS MURATSUCHI
MURATSUCHI I FLORA LARA I ADDIS.
ADDIS I ALVAREZ ALVAREZ I BONTA.
I WANT I HOOVER MCCARTY. BILL
HAS FIVE VOTES. IT IS OUT. LEAVE
IT OPEN FOR ABSENT MEMBERS.
POSSIBLY MOVING ON TO OUR FINAL
BILL OF THE NIGHT. I THINK IT'S
A FILE ITEM. 11 A B 2473 BY OUR
CHAIR. ALL RIGHT. I, NORMALLY I
LAST BILL, I WOULD JUST, LIKE,
BLOW THROUGH THIS, BUT THIS IS A
PROPOSAL. THIS BILL IS TO REVIEW
A PROPOSAL FROM THE GOVERNOR.
AND SO I WANT TO GIVE TO, TIME
AND CONSIDERATION. AND I WOULD
APPRECIATE, THE COMMITTEE TO DO
THE SAME, VICE CHAIR AND
MEMBERS, I AM PRESENTING
ASSEMBLY BILL 2473, A COMMITTEE
BILL, BILL WHICH IS PROVIDING A
VEHICLE FOR THIS COMMITTEE TO
REVIEW, A PROPOSAL IN THE
GOVERNOR'S JANUARY BUDGET. THIS
PROPOSAL WAS REFERRED TO THIS
COMMITTEE BY MR. ALVAREZ'S
SUBCOMMITTEE SO THAT IT CAN
RECEIVE A POLICY REVIEW. I'D
LIKE TO THANK, CHAIR ALVAREZ FOR
GIVING THIS COMMITTEE THAT
OPPORTUNITY TO CONDUCT THIS
REVIEW. THIS PROPOSAL WOULD
ESTABLISH AN ELEMENTARY CAREER
TECHNICAL EDUCATION
AUTHORIZATION IN ART, MUSIC,
DANCE AND THEATER AND AN
EMERGENCY ELEMENTARY ARTS
EDUCATION. CTE TEACHING PERMIT.
THE GOAL OF THIS PROPOSAL IS TO
HELP SCHOOLS MEET THE INCREASED
DEMAND FOR TEACHERS AUTHORIZED
TO TEACH VISUAL AND PERFORMING
ARTS FOR PROPOSITION 28, AS THE
ANALYSIS NOTES, THE PROPOSED
CREDENTIAL WOULD BE THE FIRST
TIME OUR SCHOOLS WOULD EMPLOY
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEACHERS WHO
DO NOT HOLD BACHELOR'S DEGREES.
BACHELOR'S DEGREES AND TEACHER
PREPARATION HAVE ALWAYS BEEN THE
FOUNDATION OF TEACHER
QUALIFICATIONS IN CALIFORNIA.
THE ANALYSIS ALSO NOTES THAT THE
GREATEST SHORTAGE AREA AMONG CTE
CREDENTIALS AT THE HIGH SCHOOL
LEVEL IS IN THE ARTS, AND THIS
PROPOSAL MIGHT PULL CTE TEACHERS
FROM SECONDARY SCHOOLS TO TEACH
IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, FURTHER
DEEPENING THE HIGH SCHOOL
SHORTAGE. FINALLY, THE ANALYSIS
NOTES THAT THERE ARE FASTER WAYS
TO RECRUIT ARTISTS TO BECOME
QUALIFIED TO TEACH IN ELEMENTARY
SCHOOLS WITHOUT LOWERING
CREDENTIALING STANDARDS. THE
ANALYSIS PROPOSES THE FOLLOWING
AMENDMENTS. IN LIEU OF CREATING
THESE NEW CREDENTIALS, ONE.
REQUIRE THE CTE, THE COMMISSION
ON TEACHER CREDENTIALING TO
RENEW AN EMERGENCY SUPPLEMENTAL
AUTHORIZATION IN THE ARTS FOR
MULTIPLE AND SINGLE SUBJECT
CREDENTIAL HOLDERS. IF THE
CANDIDATE IS ENROLLED IN SIX
UNITS OF COURSEWORK AND
DEMONSTRATES SATISFACTORY
PERFORMANCE AS A TEACHER, THIS
WOULD EASE THE PATHWAY TO HELP
EXISTING TEACHERS EARN AN
AUTHORIZATION TO TEACH ART
WITHOUT EXACERBATING THE
EXISTING SHORTAGE OF CTE. ARTS
TEACHERS AT THE SECONDARY LEVEL.
SECOND, AUTHORIZE ART TEACHERS
TO RECEIVE $5,000 IN FINANCIAL
SUPPORT TO EARN THEIR ARTS
AUTHORIZATION BY MAKING THEM
ELIGIBLE TO PARTICIPATE IN
EXISTING UNDERSUBSCRIBED PROGRAM
TO SUPPORT COMPUTER SCIENCE
TEACHER CANDIDATES, AND THIRD,
REQUIRES CTE TO UPDATE THEIR
WEBSITE WITH REGARD TO PROP 28
TO PROVIDE GUIDANCE AND CLARITY
REGARDING THE EXISTING
CREDENTIAL PATHWAYS AND GRANT
FUNDING AVAILABLE FOR TEACHING
VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS WOULD
WELCOME THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS
COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS AS. AND,
WE DO HAVE, VERY PATIENTLY, A
REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE, HERE FOR
ANY QUESTIONS ON THE GOVERNOR'S,
PROPOSAL AND THE JANUARY BUDGET.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. CHAIR.
ANY PRIMARY WISHES AND SUPPORT?
COME ON UP. WE DO NOT, BUT WE
HAVE, OUR CONSULTANT, MISS,
CHELSEA KELLY HERE TO ANSWER ANY
QUESTIONS. IF SHE LOOKS SUPER
THRILLED RIGHT ABOUT NOW. ALL
RIGHT, SUPPORT NAME AND
ORGANIZATION FROM. COME ON UP.
HI. GOOD EVENING, KATIE HARDMAN
WITH THE CALIFORNIA TEACHERS
ASSOCIATION. CTA DOESN'T HAVE AN
OFFICIAL POSITION ON THE BILL,
BUT DID WANT TO JUST SAY THAT WE
DEFINITELY RECOGNIZE THE NEED
FOR ADDITIONAL PATHWAYS FOR ARTS
EDUCATORS DUE TO THE PASSAGE OF
PROP 28, AND SO, WE DO SUPPORT
THESE ADDITIONAL PATHWAYS, AND
WE APPRECIATE THE COMMITTEE'S
WORK, THOUGHTFULNESS ON, ON, ON
THIS ISSUE. AND WE LOOK FORWARD
TO WORKING WITH THE LEGISLATURE,
IN THE BUDGET AND POLICY PROCESS
ON THIS ISSUE. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. ANYONE ELSE IN SUPPORT OF
AB 2473 SEEING NONE ANY
OPPOSITION? THÀNH COME ON UP.
YOU'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES APIECE.
THESE ARE, TWO MINUTES. FIRST
WITNESS. PLEASE CHECK. CHECK.
OKAY, GOOD. ALL RIGHT. GOOD
EVENING, MY NAME IS CHAD
ZELINGER. I'M THE PRESIDENT OF
THE CALIFORNIA MUSIC EDUCATORS
ASSOCIATION, REPRESENTING 1700
MUSIC EDUCATORS. CMEA OPPOSED
ASSEMBLY BILL 2473, PRIMARILY
FOR TWO REASONS. CTE TEACHERS
FOCUS ON CAREER PREPARATION AND
DEVELOPMENT AT THE SECONDARY
LEVEL IN GRADES SEVEN THROUGH
12. THEY PROVIDE VALUABLE
CLASSROOM EXPERIENCES FOR OUR
SECONDARY STUDENTS ALIGNED WITH
CAREER TECHNICAL TRAINING. THEIR
PREPARATION, IN CONTRAST TO A
SINGLE SUBJECT, TEACHERS, DOES
NOT INCLUDE PEDAGOGY OR
FOUNDATIONAL KNOWLEDGE. FOR OUR
YOUNGEST STUDENTS AT THE
ELEMENTARY LEVEL. ADDITIONALLY,
THERE ARE NO ALIGNED INDUSTRY
SECTORS AT THE ELEMENTARY LEVEL.
NUMBER TWO, THERE IS NO NEED TO
ESTABLISH A NEW AUTHORIZATION OR
CREDENTIAL IN ADDRESSING THE
ARTS TEACHER TEACHER SHORTAGE
BECAUSE CREDENTIALING OPTIONS
ALREADY EXIST, WHICH ARE FASTER
TRACKS TO CERTIFICATION. THESE
INCLUDE THE SHORT TERME STAFF
PERMIT, THE PROVISIONAL
INTERNSHIP PERMIT, AND THE
SUPPLEMENTARY AUTHORIZATIONS. WE
HAVE REVIEWED THE AMENDMENTS
PROPOSED BY THE COMMITTEE, AND
THEY ADDRESS THE REASONS FOR OUR
OPPOSITION. THE COMMITTEE
AMENDMENTS ADDRESS THE TEACHER
SHORTAGE IN VISUAL AND
PERFORMING ARTS, AS WELL AS
ENSURING TEACHER QUALITY AND
MAINTENANCE OF OUR TEACHER
STANDARDS FOR OUR STUDENTS AT
THE ELEMENTARY LEVEL, TEACHERS
WILL HAVE THE FOUNDATIONAL
SKILLS THAT CAN ENGAGE
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS
THROUGH SOUND PEDAGOGICAL
PRINCIPLES WHILE TEACHING THE
ARTS. ADDITIONALLY, RESOURCES
WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR PERSONS
SEEKING THIS PATHWAY. THE SINGLE
SUBJECT GENERAL EDUCATION
LIMITED ASSIGNMENT PERMIT I
WOULD LIKE TO THANK ASSEMBLY
MEMBER MURATSUCHI AND ESPECIALLY
THE COMMITTEE STAFF FOR
LISTENING TO OUR SIGNIFICANT
CONCERNS AND FOR THESE
AMENDMENTS AS PROPOSED, TO BE
AMENDED AND ONCE IN PRINT, CMEA
WILL REMOVE ITS OPPOSITION ON AB
2473 AND MOVE TO A SUPPORT
POSITION ON THE BILL. AGAIN,
THANK YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK ON
THIS BILL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
NEXT, PLEASE. GOOD EVENING. MY
NAME IS DOCTOR MELISSA BRAMHAM
AND I'M A MEMBER OF THE
CALIFORNIA DANCE EDUCATION
ASSOCIATION. THE CDA REPRESENTS
DANCE EDUCATORS OF ALL KINDS ALL
AROUND THE STATE, INCLUDING A
MAJORITY OF K-12 DANCE TEACHERS.
INITIALLY, CDA OPPOSED AB 2473,
BUT I AM HERE TODAY AS REQUESTED
BY OUR EXECUTIVE BOARD, TO SHARE
WHY WE NOW OFFER A STRONG
SUPPORT OF THIS BILL. CDA A'S
ORIGINAL CONCERN INCLUDED THE
FACT THAT CTE CERTIFICATION
FOCUSES ON SECONDARY EDUCATION.
GRADES SEVEN THROUGH 12. AS
SUCH, THERE'S NO SPECIFIC
TRAINING ON CHILD DEVELOPMENT OR
PEDAGOGY FOR ELEMENTARY AGED
STUDENTS. IN THE PREPARATION OF
A CTE EDUCATOR. AN ADDITIONAL
CONCERN WAS THAT THERE WAS NO
NEED TO DEVELOP A NEW
CERTIFICATION TO ADDRESS ISSUES
OF ARTS TEACHER SHORTAGE BECAUSE
OF VARIOUS PATHWAYS ARE ALREADY
AVAILABLE TO OUR PRE-SERVICE
TEACHERS. THIS INCLUDES OUR NEW
SINGLE SUBJECT DANCE CREDENTIAL.
CDA HAS REVIEWED YOUR
COMMITTEE'S PROPOSED AMENDMENTS
AND HAS DETERMINED THAT THESE
AMENDMENTS ADDRESS OUR ORIGINAL
REASONS FOR OPPOSING AB 2473. IN
PARTICULAR, WE ARE PLEASED TO
SEE THAT THESE AMENDMENTS WILL
ENSURE THAT ARTS EDUCATORS
WORKING WITH ELEMENTARY STUDENTS
WILL BE APPROPRIATELY PREPARED
TO WORK WITH THESE AGE GROUPS.
ON BEHALF OF CDA, I EXTEND MY
GRATITUDE TO EVERYONE HERE. THE
COMMITTEE STAFF AND ASSEMBLY
MEMBER MURATSUCHI FOR THEIR
ATTENTION AND CONSIDERATION OF
CDA'S CONCERNS. THESE AMENDMENTS
SHOW GREAT CARE. THAT'S BEEN
TAKEN TO DO RIGHT BY OUR
CALIFORNIA SCHOOL CHILDREN AND
THEIR ARTS TEACHERS. AS PROPOSED
TO BE AMENDED, CDA WILL REMOVE
ITS OPPOSITION ON AB 2473 AND
MOVE TO A SUPPORT POSITION ON
THIS BILL. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
YOUR TIME AND COMMITMENT TO HIGH
QUALITY ARTS EDUCATION. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT. ANYONE
ELSE IN OPPOSITION AND OR
TWEENERS ON THE BILL SEEING NONE
BRING IT BACK TO THE COMMITTEE.
ANY QUESTIONS FROM COMMITTEE
MEMBERS? SEE, I ALMOST FEEL LIKE
I NEED TO ASK A QUESTION OF DOV
SO THAT. BUT I'M NOT GOING TO,
I'LL LEAVE THAT FOR. I'LL LEAVE
THAT FOR THE BUDGET. SUB CHAIR,
I WANT TO THANK THE AUTHOR FOR
BRINGING FORWARD THIS BILL. AND
JUST SO I'M CLEAR ON THE
AMENDMENTS, IS IT ESSENTIALLY
REPLACES THE PARTICULAR
CREDENTIAL WITH ESTABLISHING THE
ART SUPPLEMENTARY AUTHORIZATION
INCENTIVE GRANT PROGRAM. IS THAT
FAIR TO SAY THAT'S SUBSTANTIVELY
WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH THE
AMENDMENTS? THE AMENDMENTS ARE
AS SET FORTH IN THE COMMITTEE
ANALYSIS. AND I SEE MISS KELLY,
WHO WHO CAME UP WITH ALL OF THE
AMENDMENTS. THANK YOU. NODDING
HER HEAD. YES. THANK YOU, MISS
KELLY, WELL, THANK YOU. I, I WE
NEED TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THE
PIPELINE FOR OUR ARTS EDUCATION,
PROGRAM TO REALLY THRIVE. IT'S A
PART OF OUR OUR OUR MANDATE, BY
THE PEOPLE AND, AND I'M THANKFUL
THAT YOU ARE MOVING THIS
FORWARD, CHAIR. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FROM
COMMITTEE? SEEING? NONE. MR.
CHAIR, WOULD YOU. YEAH,
ACTUALLY, SO WITHOUT OBJECTION
FROM THE COMMITTEE, I WOULD LIKE
TO ACCEPT THE COMMITTEE
AMENDMENTS, TO THE. YEAH, I WAS
GOING TO GET REAL AWKWARD AND,
WITH THE COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS, I
WOULD RESPECTFULLY REQUEST AN
AYE VOTE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
MADAM SECRETARY. PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL. I'LL MOVE IT. SECOND. WE
ALREADY HAD IT. OKAY FILE ITEM
11 AB 2473. THE MOTION IS TO
PASS, AS AMENDED, TO
APPROPRIATION. MURATSUCHI Ã
MURATSUCHI I LARA LARA I ADDIS.
ADDIS I ALVAREZ. BONTA I QUANTA
I HOOVER. MCCARTY BILLS GOT FOUR
VOTES. IT'S OUT
.
WELL, WE'LL JUST START AT THE
TOP OF THE OF THE FILE ORDER,
FOR OUR BILLS ON CALL AND FOR
ADD ONS. THIS IS A FILE ITEM
NUMBER ONE, AB 1938, MOTION MADE
BY THE VICE CHAIR. SECOND,
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL CALL. ITEM
ONE AB 1938. THE MOTION IS TO
PASS, AS AMENDED, TO
APPROPRIATIONS. MURATSUCHI Ã
MURATSUCHI LARA LARA I ADDIS.
ADDIS I ALVAREZ. ALVAREZ I BONTA
. BONTA I HOOVER. MCCARTY. FIVE
ZERO THE BILL IS OUT. FILE ITEM
TWO AB 1864. THE MOTION IS TO
PASS TO APPROPRIATIONS WITH THE
CHAIR VOTING AYE AND THE VICE
CHAIR VOTING NO. ADDIS ADDIS I
ALVAREZ. ALVAREZ I HOOVER.
MCCARTY. 4 TO 1. THE BILL IS OUT
. OKAY SO. FILE ITEM FOUR AB
1927. THE MOTION IS TO PASS TO
APPROPRIATIONS WITH THE CHAIR
NOT VOTING AND THE VICE CHAIR
VOTING. AYE ADDIS. ADDIS? AYE
SIX VOTES. THE BILL IS OUT. FILE
ITEM FIVE AB 2052. THE MOTION IS
TO PASS TO APPROPRIATIONS WITH
THE CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR VOTING
AYE. ADDIS. ADDIS. AYE. ALVAREZ.
ALVAREZ. AYE BONTA I BONTA I.
HOOVER MCCARTY. FIVE ZERO. THE
BILL IS OUT. FILE ITEM SIX AB
2097. THE MOTION IS TO PASS, AS
AMENDED, TO APPROPRIATIONS WITH
THE CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR VOTING
AYE. ADDIS. ADDIS? AYE ALVAREZ.
ALVAREZ. AYE. BONTA WE'RE ON
FILE ITEM SIX. RIGHT. FILE ITEM
SIX A BONTA I HOOVER. MCCARTY
FIVE ZERO. THE BILL IS OUT
.
TO
FILE ITEM TEN AB 2441. THE
MOTION IS TO PASS, AS AMENDED,
TO APPROPRIATIONS, WITH THE
CHAIR VOTING AYE. VICE CHAIR
VOTING NO. ALVAREZ. ALVAREZ I
HOOVER. FIVE. FIVE ONE. THE BILL
IS OUT. FILE ITEM 11 AB 2473.
THE MOTION IS TO PASS, AS
AMENDED, TO APPROPRIATIONS, WITH
THE CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR VOTING
AYE. ALVAREZ. ALVAREZ I HOOVER.
MCCARTY FIVE ZERO. THE BILL IS
OUT. FILE ITEM 12 AB 2548. THE
MOTION IS Dð. PASS AS AMENDED TO
APPROPRIATIONS WITH THE CHAIR
AND VICE CHAIR VOTING AYE.
ALVAREZ. ALVAREZ. NO WHAT ADDIS
I TO NOT VOTING CORRECT.
2 TO 2. THE MEASURE FAILS.
FILE ITEM 14 AB 2711. THE MOTION
IS Dð. PASSES AMENDED TO
APPROPRIATIONS WITH THE CHAIR
AND VICE CHAIR VOTING AYE. ADDIS
ADDIS. AYE. ALVAREZ 14. ALVAREZ.
AYE BONTA. BONTA I. HOOVER SIX
ZERO THE BILL IS OUT. FILE ITEM
15 AB 2723. THE MOTIONS DO PASS,
AS AMENDED, TO APPROPRIATIONS,
WITH THE CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR
VOTING AYE. ADDIS. ADDIS. AYE
SEVEN ZERO. THE BILL IS OUT.
FILE ITEM 17 AB 2816. THE MOTION
IS TO PASS AS AMENDED, TO
APPROPRIATIONS WITH THE CHAIR
AND VICE CHAIR VOTING AYE.
ADDIS. ADDIS, AYE. ALVAREZ
ALVAREZ. AYE. BONTA. BONTA. AYE.
HOOVER MCCARTY. 550. THE BILL IS
OUT. FILE ITEM 22 AB 2967. THE
MOTION IS TO PASS, AS AMENDED,
TO THE FLOOR, WITH THE CHAIR AND
VICE CHAIR VOTING AYE. ADDIS.
ADDIS. AYE ALVAREZ. ALVAREZ.
AYE. BONTA BONTA. AYE. HOOVER.
SIX ZERO. THE BILL IS OUT. FILE
ITEM 24 AB 2999. THE MOTION IS
TO PASS AS AMENDED, TO
APPROPRIATIONS, WITH THE CHAIR
AND VICE CHAIR VOTING AYE.
ALVAREZ 24. ALVAREZ I HOOVER.
MCCARTY FIVE ZERO. THE BILL IS
OUT. SO THAT
.
ALL RIGHT. SO WE'LL KEEP THE
ROLL OPEN UNTIL 745.
ALL RIGHT. THIS HEARING IS
ADJOURNED AND WE WILL LEAVE THE
ROLL OPEN FOR ADD ONS
.
LET'S SEE. WELL, I THINK. WHAT
ARE THOSE THINGS IN PARTICULAR?
WE WOULD SUGGEST. THAT THIS. IS
THE END OF THE DAY
.
YOU KNOW.
THANK YOU
.
COMING BACK. OH, YEAH. YEAH.
OKAY. I DON'T KNOW WHERE ELSE TO
GO.
OKAY. OPENING THE ROLL FOR ADD
ONS, MR. HOOVER. ON THE CONSENT
CALENDAR. HOOVER HOOVER. I.
SEVEN ZERO FILE ITEM ONE, AB
1938. THE MOTION IS TO PASS, AS
AMENDED, TO APPROPRIATIONS.
HOOVER. HOOVER. I SIX ZERO. FILE
ITEM 218 AB 1864. THE MOTIONS DO
PASS TO APPROPRIATIONS. HOOVER.
HOOVER. NOT VOTING OR ONE FILE
ITEM THREE AB 1919. MOTION IS
DUE PASSED TO APPROPRIATIONS.
HOOVER HOOVER. NO 5 TO 1. FILE
ITEM FIVE AB 2052. THE MOTION IS
TO PASS TO APPROPRIATIONS.
HOOVER. HOOVER I60. FILE ITEM
SIX, AB 2097. THE MOTION IS TO
PASS, AS AMENDED, TO
APPROPRIATIONS. HOOVER. HOOVER
I60. FILE ITEM EIGHT AB 2254.
THE MOTION IS TO PASS, AS
AMENDED, TO APPROPRIATIONS.
HOOVER. HOOVER I70. FILE ITEM
TEN AB 2441. THE MOTION IS TO
PASS, AS AMENDED, TO
APPROPRIATIONS. HOOVER. HOOVER
NO. 5 TO 2. FILE ITEM 11 AB
2473. THE MOTIONS DO PASS, AS
AMENDED, TO APPROPRIATIONS.
HOOVER HOOVER. I SIX ZERO. FILE
ITEM 12 AB 2548. HOOVER HOOVER I
. 3 TO 2 MEASURE FAILS. FILE
ITEM 13 AB 2627 HOOVER. HOOVER I
. SIX ZERO. FILE ITEM 14 AB
2711. MOTIONS DO PASS IS AMENDED
TO APPROPRIATIONS. HOOVER
HOOVER. NOT VOTING. SIX ZERO.
FILE ITEM 17 AB 2816. IT'S THE
MOTIONS DO PASS AS AMENDED TO
APPROPRIATIONS. HOOVER. HOOVER
I60. FILE ITEM 22 AB 2967. THE
MOTIONS DO PASS, AS AMENDED, TO
THE FLOOR. HOOVER HOOVER I70.
FILE ITEM 24 AB 2999. THE MOTION
IS TO PASS, AS AMENDED, TO
APPROPRIATIONS. HOOVER. HOOVER.
I SIX ZERO. ALL RIGHT