ALL RIGHT. GOOD MORNING,
EVERYBODY. WELCOME TO OUR BUDGET
COMMITTEE HEARING TODAY. WE'RE
DELIGHTED TO HAVE ALL OF YOU
HERE. WE ARE GOING TO START BY
ESTABLISHING QUORUM. MADAM
SECRETARY, WILL YOU PLEASE TAKE
ATTENDANCE? PRESENT. BONTA
CONNOLLY. DALLI FONG. JACKSON
LACKEY. MATHIS. MCCARTY
MURATSUCHI. ORTEGA. HERE PAPIN.
JIM. PATTERSON JO. PATTERSON.
PELLERIN PETRIE-NORRIS.
QUIRK-SILVA. VALENCIA WALDRON.
WALLACE WARD. WEBER WILSON. WOOD
ZIPPER. MCCORMICK. PRESENT THANK
YOU VERY MUCH, MADAM SECRETARY.
A QUORUM IS PRESENT. SO TODAY'S
HEARING MARKS A KEY STEP FORWARD
IN OUR MISSION OF CRAFTING AN ON
TIME, BALANCED BUDGET THAT
DELIVERS FOR HARDWORKING
CALIFORNIANS. I'M PLEASED TODAY
TO SHARE TODAY THAT THANKS TO
THE HARD WORK OF OUR TALENTED
SUBCOMMITTEE CHAIRS AND OUR
DEDICATED STAFF, WE HAVE REACHED
AGREEMENT WITH THE SENATE AND
HAVE A PROPOSED LEGISLATIVE
BUDGET TO CONSIDER TODAY. I WANT
TO START WITH A FEW HIGH LEVEL
COMMENTS ABOUT THE BUDGET BEFORE
US, AND THEN I'M GOING TO INVITE
EACH OF THE CHAIRS OF OUR
SUBCOMMITTEES TO SPEAK, AS WELL.
AFTER THAT, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE
COMMENTS FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF
FINANCE, FROM THE LEGISLATIVE
ANALYST'S OFFICE, AND THEN WE
WILL BRING IT BACK TO THE
COMMITTEE FOR QUESTIONS AND
COMMENTS, AS WELL AS A MOTION ON
THE PLAN BEFORE US TODAY AT THE
END OF THIS HEARING, WE WILL
HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC
COMMENT. BUT FIRST AND MOST
IMPORTANTLY, LET ME WELCOME OUR
NEW VICE CHAIR ASSEMBLY MEMBER,
FLORA. WE DON'T ALWAYS SEE EYE
TO EYE ON POLICY, BUT IT HAS
ALWAYS BEEN A PLEASURE TO WORK
WITH YOU. SO WELCOME TO THE
COMMITTEE. MR. VICE CHAIR.
BEFORE WE BEGIN TODAY, I WANT TO
SHARE A FEW THOUGHTS ABOUT HOW
WE ARRIVED AT THIS MOMENT AND
ALSO THANK THOSE WHO HELPED US
TO GET HERE. AS YOU WILL ALL
RECALL, IN NOVEMBER, SHORTLY
AFTER I BECAME CHAIR OF THIS
COMMITTEE, OUR DELAYED 2022 TAX
RECEIPTS WERE FAR BELOW
PROJECTIONS. BY THE END OF
JANUARY, IT BECAME CLEAR THAT
OUR STATE WAS FACING MAJOR
BUDGET CHALLENGES. BUT RATHER
THAN SHY AWAY FROM THIS
CHALLENGE, WE DECIDED TO FACE IT
HEAD ON WITH CLEAR RESOLVE TO DO
RIGHT BY THE HARDWORKING
CALIFORNIANS WE ARE PRIVILEGED
TO REPRESENT. OUR BUDGET
COMMITTEE BEGAN THIS YEAR BY
GRAPPLING WITH THESE CHALLENGES,
WITH AN UNDERSTANDING THAT WE
MUST BE PREPARED FOR AN
UNCERTAIN FUTURE, THAT MAY BRING
FURTHER CHALLENGES DOWN THE
ROAD. TO THAT END, WE TOOK
DECISIVE EARLY ACTION IN
PARTNERSHIP WITH THE GOVERNOR
AND THE SENATE, AND WE AGREED
THAT TO DELIVER REAL RESULTS, WE
NEED TO DIG IN AND DO THE HARD
WORK. FROM THE BEGINNING OF THIS
PROCESS, ASSEMBLY DEMOCRATS HAVE
BEEN UNITED IN OUR GOALS OF
PROTECTING CLASSROOM SPENDING,
CRITICAL SAFETY NET PROGRAMS AND
Kò EFFORTS TO ADDRESS
CALIFORNIA'S HOUSING AND
HOMELESSNESS CRISIS. BUT WE ALSO
UNDERSTAND THAT SUCH AN EFFORT
MUST GO HAND IN GLOVE WITH A
CLEAR AND UNWAVERING COMMITMENT
TO SMARTER SPENDING AND REAL
ACCOUNTABILITY. WE RECOGNIZE
THAT IN THESE TIMES, THE PEOPLE
OF CALIFORNIA EXPECT GOVERNMENT
TO TIGHTEN ITS BELT AND BALANCE
THE BUDGET, JUST LIKE FAMILIES
DO EVERY MONTH. AND THAT'S WHAT
OUR LEGISLATIVE BUDGET DOES. THE
PROCESS OF CRAFTING THIS BUDGET
BEGAN ALMOST FIVE MONTHS AGO,
AND OUR MISSION, AS DIRECTED BY
THE SPEAKER, WAS TO MAKE THIS A
TRANSPARENT AND INCLUSIVE
PROCESS THAT WOULD DELIVER A
BUDGET THAT REFLECTS THE VALUES
AND PRIORITIES OF OUR CAUCUS AND
THE COMMUNITIES THAT WE SERVE. I
AM PROUD TO SHARE THAT TODAY IS
OUR 71ST HEARING, REFLECTING A
ROBUST AND INCLUSIVE PUBLIC
PROCESS TO BUILD A COMMON SENSE
BUDGET. WE ARE FORTUNATE TO WORK
CLOSELY WITH OUR PARTNERS IN THE
SENATE AND THE ADMINISTRATION TO
EMBRACE OUR GOALS, AND I WANT TO
THANK THE GOVERNOR FOR HIS
THOUGHTFUL MAY REVISION PROPOSAL
THAT SETS FORWARD A VISION TO
BALANCE THE BUDGET FOR BOTH 2024
AND 2025, AND TO RETAIN
SIGNIFICANT RESERVES FOR
POTENTIAL FUTURE CHALLENGES. I
WANT TO THANK THE THOUSANDS OF
ADVOCATES AND ORDINARY
CALIFORNIANS WHO MADE THEIR
VOICES HEARD AND HELPED US
GRAPPLE WITH THE IMPACTS OF THE
DIFFICULT CHOICES WE FACE. I
WANT TO THANK OUR PARTNERS IN
THE SENATE FOR AGREEING WITH US
TO RETAIN THIS ARCHITECTURE AND
TO CRAFT A LEGISLATIVE BUDGET
THAT REFLECTS OUR SHARED
PRIORITIES. I AM CONFIDENT THAT
WE CAN WORK TOGETHER WITH THESE
PARTNERS OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS
TO CRAFT A FINAL BUDGET THAT
DELIVERS REAL RESULTS FOR
CALIFORNIA. I THOUGHT IT WAS
APPROPRIATE. AS WE BEGIN TO
SHARE A FEW THOUGHTS ABOUT THE
MAJOR THEMES OF OUR LEGISLATIVE
BUDGET. AS I MENTIONED, IT
BALANCES THE BUDGET IN BOTH 2024
AND 2025 WITH SLIGHTLY HIGHER
PROJECTED RESERVES THAN THE
GOVERNOR FOR BOTH YEARS. AT THE
SAME TIME, WE RESTORE MANY OF
THE MOST PAINFUL CUTS TO SAFETY
NET PROGRAMS HOUSING AND HEALTH,
INCLUDING RATE INCREASES FOR
HEALTH PROVIDERS. WE ALSO MIRROR
THE GOVERNOR'S RECENT AGREEMENT
WITH EDUCATION STAKEHOLDERS TO
PROTECT CLASSROOM FUNDING NOW
AND IN THE FUTURE. AND FINALLY,
WE PROVIDE 1 BILLION NEXT YEAR
TO CONTINUE THE FIGHT AGAINST
HOMELESSNESS, BUT WITH FACTS
BASED REAL ACCOUNTABILITY
MEASURES SO THAT WE CAN MEET
THIS CHALLENGE WITH THE URGENCY
THAT IT DESERVES. WE WERE ABLE
TO ACCOMPLISH THESE DUAL
PRIORITIES IN A NUMBER OF WAYS,
INCLUDING BY STARTING THE NET
OPERATING LOSS SUSPENSION
PROPOSED BY THE GOVERNOR ONE
YEAR EARLIER, AND ALSO WITH NEW
CUTS, INCLUDING APPROXIMATELY $1
BILLION IN CORRECTION CUTS AND
AN ADDITIONAL $1 BILLION IN
PAINFUL BUT NECESSARY CUTS TO
CLIMATE. THESE WERE DIFFICULT
CHOICES, BUT WE HAD TO SET
PRIORITIES AND CREATE A PLAN OF
ACTION BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT THIS
MOMENT REQUIRES. THIS BUDGET
WOULD ONLY BE POSSIBLE
THROUGHOUT THE INCREDIBLE HARD
WORK OF BOTH MEMBERS AND STAFF,
AND I WANT TO PARTICULARLY THANK
ALL THE MEMBERS OF THIS
COMMITTEE, AND IN PARTICULAR,
OUR BUDGET SUBCOMMITTEE CHAIRS
FOR THE HEARINGS AND THE
MEETINGS WITH PUBLIC
STAKEHOLDERS AND RECOGNIZE THEM
FOR THEIR LEADERSHIP, WHICH WE
REALLY RELIED ON OUR
SUBCOMMITTEE CHAIRS THROUGHOUT
THIS PROCESS. I ALSO WANT TO
THANK ALL OF THE OFFICES FOR
EACH OF THOSE SUBCOMMITTEE
CHAIRS. I KNOW HOW HARD YOU HAVE
WORKED TO HELP CRAFT THIS BUDGET
AGREEMENT, BUT ALSO SINCE THIS
IS OUR LAST HEARING, I ALSO WANT
TO RECOGNIZE OUR VERY TALENTED
LEGISLATIVE ANALYST FOR, FOR HIS
WORK AND FOR THE WORK OF HIS
OFFICE. WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL FOR
YOUR GUIDANCE THROUGHOUT THE
YEAR, AND YOU HAVE ALWAYS KEPT
OUR MEMBERS FOCUSED ON WHAT IS
RIGHT FOR THE STATE. IF EVEN IF
IT WASN'T WHAT WE ALWAYS WANTED
TO HEAR. I ALSO WANT TO THANK
THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND
THE ADMINISTRATION FOR THEIR
PROFESSIONALISM AND
COLLABORATIVE APPROACH, YOUR
DEDICATION, YOUR WILLINGNESS TO
COME TO THE HEARINGS AND ENGAGE
WITH US IS DEEPLY APPRECIATED,
AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING
CLOSELY WITH YOU IN THESE
FOLLOWING WEEKS TO CRAFT THE
FINAL BUDGET. I ALSO WANT TO
THANK THE REPUBLICAN POLICY
TEAM, WHICH HAS HAD TO STAFF ALL
OF THESE HEARINGS ON TOP OF
THEIR BILL LOAD. SO WE
APPRECIATE YOUR CONSTRUCTIVE
ROLE IN THIS PROCESS, TO JASON
SISNEY, WHO IS THE TOM BRADY OF
BUDGETING, TO NICK MILLER, TO
DCEO TO THE SPEAKER'S POLICY
TEAM, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR
YOUR IMPORTANT WORK IN ALL OF
THIS. AND ALSO, OF COURSE, WANT
TO THANK MY TEAM, BOTH MY
CAPITOL AND DISTRICT STAFF,
WHOSE LIFE HAS REALLY BEEN
CONSUMED BY THE BUDGET SINCE I
TOOK OVER AS CHAIR. I WANT TO
THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP IN THIS
PROCESS. AND LAST BUT BUT, BUT
MOST IMPORTANTLY, I WANT TO
THANK THE AMAZING ASSEMBLY
BUDGET TEAM FOR THEIR
EXTRAORDINARY WORK AND
DEDICATION. THEY ARE EXEMPLARY
PUBLIC SERVANTS. I CAN TELL YOU
THAT THE AVERAGE HOURS OF NIGHT
SLEEP AMONG THIS TEAM OFTEN IS
BELOW FOUR HOURS A NIGHT. THESE
ARE FOLKS WHO ARE DEEPLY
COMMITTED AND DEDICATED TO
HELPING TO DO WHAT'S RIGHT FOR
CALIFORNIA. SO LET ME THANK,
CHRISTIAN GRIFFITH, NICOLE
VASQUEZ, AARON GABEL, MARK
MARTIN, SHAI FORBES, CHRISTINE
MASHIROIRO, PATRICK LEE,
GENEVIEVE MORELOS, JENNIFER KIM,
BERNIE OROZCO, IRENE VILLARUZ,
MARCO RODRIGUEZ, AND ALEXA
CANTRELL. WE ARE DEEPLY, DEEPLY
GRATEFUL FOR ALL OF YOUR HARD
WORK. AND I WILL NOTE THEY ARE
ALL WEARING POLKA DOTS TODAY IN
IN IN SUPPORT OF THIS IMPORTANT
FINAL HEARING. AND FINALLY,
BEFORE WE BEFORE WE CONCLUDE, I
WANT TO TAKE SOME TIME TO
RECOGNIZE SOME INDIVIDUALS THAT
WE MAY NOT ALWAYS THANK AT OUR
HEARINGS, BUT ARE CRITICAL TO
THIS PROCESS. SO FIRST, LET ME
THANK THE ASSEMBLY SERGEANTS FOR
YOUR WORK TO HELPING TO
FACILITATE THIS HEARING. I WANT
TO THANK THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
AND THE LEGISLATIVE DATA CENTER
WHO HAVE BEEN WORKING BEHIND THE
SCENES ON CRAFTING ALL THE BILLS
AND MAKING SURE THAT REMOTE
TESTIMONY IS POSSIBLE. THE
ASSEMBLY TELEVISION CREW WHO
ALLOWS THIS TO BE BROADCAST ALL
OF THESE HEARINGS TO THE PUBLIC
AND OF COURSE, TO THE DEPARTMENT
OF GENERAL SERVICES WHO SUPPORT
AND MAINTENANCE OF THIS HEARING
ROOM AND ALL OF OUR ASSEMBLY
FACILITIES. SO PLEASE KNOW WE
DON'T ALWAYS SAY IT, BUT WE
DEEPLY APPRECIATE ALL OF THE
STAFF WHOSE WORK HAS MADE TODAY
POSSIBLE. I HAVE ALWAYS SAID
THAT PUBLIC SERVICE, LIKE LIFE,
IS A TEAM SPORT, AND I AM REALLY
GRATEFUL FOR THE DEDICATED AND
PROFESSIONAL TEAM WE HAVE HERE
IN THE ASSEMBLY. SO WITH THAT,
WE LOOK FORWARD TO BEGINNING THE
HEARING AND I WILL TURN IT OVER
TO MR. LARA FOR ANY COMMENTS.
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. IT'S A
PRIVILEGE TO SERVE ON THIS
COMMITTEE, AND WHEN I WAS ASKED
TO TAKE OVER AS VICE CHAIR, ONE
OF THE FIRST THINGS I SAID IS I
DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT I DON'T
KNOW YET, THIS COMMITTEE IS
UNBELIEVABLY CHALLENGING, THE
STATE, THE BUDGET THAT WE DEAL
WITH, IS FAR MORE COMPLEX THAN I
THINK MOST PEOPLE GIVE IT CREDIT
FOR. SO I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK
YOU TO THE BUDGET STAFF, BOTH
DEMOCRAT AND REPUBLICAN BUDGET
STAFF, DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE, LÀ
ON ALL OF YOUR HARD WORK,
BECAUSE THIS IS NOT AN EASY
PROBLEM. YOU KNOW, AN EASY JOB.
IT'S ONE THING TO HAVE A BUDGET
SURPLUS. IT'S ENTIRELY DIFFERENT
WHEN WE HAVE A DEFICIT AND THERE
ARE GOING TO BE HARD CUTS, HARD
DECISIONS. AND I CAN'T EVEN
IMAGINE THE PHONE CALLS THE
CHAIR HAS TAKEN OVER THE LAST
NUMBER OF MONTHS AS WE TRY TO
DEAL WITH THIS, BUT IT'S AN
HONOR TO SERVE. IT'S AN HONOR TO
SERVE THE STATE, AND I LOOK
FORWARD TO BEING COLLABORATIVE
AND WORKING WITH YOU, MY FRIEND.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MR. FULLER.
WE'RE VERY EXCITED TO WORK WITH
YOU AS WELL, AT THIS POINT NOW
WE'RE GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO
OUR BUDGET SUBCOMMITTEE CHAIRS,
WHO ARE GOING TO PROVIDE US WITH
SOME COMMENTS REGARDING THE WORK
OF THEIR SUBCOMMITTEES. AND SO
LET'S BEGIN WITH SUBCOMMITTEE
ONE. AND DOCTOR WEBER, THANK
YOU. CHAIR GABRIEL. WELL, WE
HAVE HAD A VERY CHALLENGING YEAR
IN SUB ONE, FIXING THE BUDGET
DEFICIT REQUIRED SOME VERY
DIFFICULT DECISIONS. WE'VE HELD
12 HEARINGS, AND I WANT TO THANK
ASSEMBLY MEMBERS. MIA BONTA AND
JIM PATTERSON FOR THEIR
CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE DISCUSSIONS
. AND I ALSO WANT TO GIVE A
SPECIAL THANK TO ASSEMBLY MEMBER
JIM WOOD FOR HIS PARTICIPATION
IN OUR LAST HEARING. THE MAY
REVISION INCLUDED OVER 30 MAJOR
NEW PROPOSALS TO BRIDGE THE
BUDGET CAP, WITH OVER $1 BILLION
IN REDUCTIONS PROPOSED. WE HAD
NO CHOICE BUT TO AGREE TO MANY
OF THOSE REDUCTIONS. BUT OUR
LEGISLATIVE PLAN DOES PROTECT
SOME KEY AREAS. ONE OF THE
THINGS THAT WE KEPT IN MIND ARE
THE PROMISES THAT WE'VE MADE TO
THE RESIDENTS OF CALIFORNIA TO
NOT JUST PROVIDE MEDICAL
INSURANCE, BUT TO ENSURE THAT
THEY HAVE PROVIDERS THAT THEY
CAN ACCESS. THEREFORE, WE HAVE
RESTORED THE MCO FUNDED RATE
INCREASES STARTING IN JANUARY
1ST, 2026 FOR PROVIDERS WHO
RATES INCREASE WERE ELIMINATED
IN THE MAY REVISE. SOME OF THOSE
RATES WILL START EARLIER IN
2025, AND WE ARE CONTINUING TO
WORK ON THAT FRAMEWORK. WE'VE
PROTECTED THOSE PROGRAMS THAT
WERE WORKING TO PREVENT
HOSPITALS, NATION'S DECREASE,
E.R. VISITS DECREASE THE COST OF
HEALTH CARE OVERALL, WHILE
INCREASING THE QUALITY OF LIFE
AND LIFE EXPECTANCY FOR SOME OF
OUR MOST VULNERABLE RESIDENTS.
WE ARE FUNDING THE INDIAN HEALTH
PROGRAM, THE ACUPUNCTURE
OPTIONAL BENEFIT, AND THE FREE
CLINIC FUNDING TO NAME A FEW. WE
REMEMBERED THE COMMITMENT THAT
WE HAVE MADE TO THOSE WHO ARE
CURRENTLY TRAINING TO BE OUR
NEXT HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS, AND
WILL NOT ELIMINATE THE FUNDING
AND ALLOW THEM TO FINISH THEIR
TRAINING. AND WE'VE RETAINED
CALIFORNIA'S ABILITY TO BE
PREPARED FOR PROTECTING OUR
RESIDENTS FOR THE NEXT PANDEMIC
BY CONTINUING THE CRITICAL 300
MILLION OF RECENT PUBLIC HEALTH
INVESTMENTS. I WANT TO THANK OUR
CHAIR, GABRIEL, AND OUR SPEAKER,
RIVAS, FOR THEIR SUPPORT AND
PARTNERSHIP IN THIS PROCESS. I
WANT TO THANK THE LAO AND
FINANCE TEAM FOR ENGAGING IN
SOME VERY DIFFICULT, BUT VERY
IMPORTANT CONVERSATIONS. I WANT
TO THANK ALL OF THE STAKEHOLDERS
AND THE RESIDENTS OF CALIFORNIA
WHO'VE COME TO OUR HEARINGS TO
EXPRESS THEIR SUPPORT OR CONCERN
FOR VARIOUS PROPOSALS, AND I
ALSO WANT TO THANK MY STAFF,
SPECIFICALLY MY CHIEF OF STAFF,
FOR ALL OF THE HARD HOURS AND
MEETINGS AND ALONG WITH THE
BUDGET STAFF FOR THEIR HARD WORK
THIS YEAR IN CRAFTING THIS PLAN,
I TOO MUST GIVE A VERY SPECIAL
THANK YOU AND SHOUT OUT TO
CHRISTIAN GRIFFITH, WHO DOUBLED
THIS YEAR AS NOT ONLY OVERALL
STAFF FOR THE BUDGET, BUT ALSO
STAFF FOR, SUB ONE BUDGET. I
STATED OUR WORK IS NOT DONE, BUT
I AM PROUD OF WHAT WE HAVE DONE
SO FAR GIVEN THESE VERY
DIFFICULT TIMES AND CHALLENGES,
WE HAVE KEPT IN MIND TO ALWAYS
KEEP THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING
OF OUR CALIFORNIA RESIDENTS
FIRST. AND WITH THAT, I THANK
YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, DOCTOR
WEBER. AND I JUST WANT TO SAY
THANK YOU. IT HAS BEEN SUCH A
PRIVILEGE TO HAVE YOU LEADING
OUR SUBCOMMITTEE AND SOMEONE
WITH YOUR TALENT AND EXPERIENCE
IN ALL THESE, AN INCREDIBLE
PERSPECTIVE ON ALL THESE ISSUES.
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK
WITH THAT. WE WILL TURN TO
DOCTOR JACKSON, WHO IS GOING TO
PRESENT ON THE WORK OF
SUBCOMMITTEE NUMBER TWO. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH, MR. CHAIR, SUB
TWO ON HUMAN SERVICES ALSO FACED
DIFFICULT CUTS ACROSS ALL PARTS
OF THE SAFETY NET, POSING GREAT
THREATS AND RISKS TO VULNERABLE
CALIFORNIANS. WE HELD EIGHT
HEARINGS, AND I WANT TO THANK
ASSEMBLY MEMBERS LEE AND WALDRON
FOR THEIR MEMBERSHIP AND
PARTICIPATION ON THIS COMMITTEE
DURING THIS ENTIRE PROCESS. MR.
CHAIR, WITH YOUR LEADERSHIP, WE
PROMISED A FAIR, HONEST AND
TRANSPARENT PROCESS MÁS THAT WAS
ROOTED IN JUSTICE WITH THOROUGH
EXAMINATION OF THE IMPACTS OF
ANY PROPOSED CUTS. AND
THANKFULLY, MR. CHAIR, THE
LEGISLATURE HAS DELIVERED THAT
TO THE PEOPLE OF CALIFORNIA. OUR
PLAN RESPONDED TO WHAT WE HEARD
FROM MANY HOURS OF TESTIMONY AND
PUBLIC COMMENT OVER THE SPRING.
THIS PLAN, REJECTED, THE DELAY
FOR DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES RATE
REFORM, WHICH WILL NOW TAKE
EFFECT JULY 1ST, 2024, AS
PLANNED. IT REJECTS THE MULTIPLE
PROGRAM THREATS TO CAL WORKS
PROGRAMS AND INSTEAD ADOPTS
RIGHTSIZING REDUCTIONS TO TAKE
SAVINGS AND MATCH TO UTILIZATION
IN PREVENTING THE MOST DAMAGING
OF PROGRAM REDUCTIONS FOR
VULNERABLE FAMILIES WITH
CHILDREN IN DEEP POVERTY. IT
REJECTS THE MAJORITY OF CUTS IN
FOSTER CARE, INCLUDING THE
PROPOSED ELIMINATION OF THE
FAMILY URGENT RESPONSE SYSTEM,
THE PROPOSED CUT TO CAREGIVER
APPROVALS, AND THE TRIGGER FOR
THE PENDING PERMANENT RATE
STRUCTURE. IT REJECTS THE
ELIMINATION OF IN-HOME
SUPPORTIVE SERVICES FOR
UNDOCUMENTED MEDI-CAL MEDI-CAL
RECIPIENTS. THE REDUCTION TO
SENIOR NUTRITION SERVICES, AND
THE CUTS TO ADULT PROTECTIVE
SERVICES AS PROPOSED BY THE
GOVERNOR. IT ALSO TEMPORARILY
PAUSES OUR PROGRESS TO SERVE
200,000 MORE CHILDREN IN CHILD
CARE, BUT ENSURES THAT ALL
AWARDED PROGRAMS ARE FULLY
FUNDED. I, TOO, WANT TO THANK
THE LAO FINANCE, MY TEAM AND
BUDGET STAFF FOR THEIR HARD
WORK, THIS YEAR, CRAFTING THIS
PLAN. SURELY, MR. CHAIR, WE HAVE
ENSURED THAT THE BUDGET IS NOT
BALANCED ON OUR MOST VULNERABLE
POPULATIONS. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. DOCTOR
JACKSON. AND I, TOO, WANT TO
THANK YOU FOR YOUR EXCEPTIONAL
LEADERSHIP IN THESE DIFFICULT
TIMES AND LEADERSHIP, WHICH IS
ROOTED IN EMPATHY AND A FOCUS ON
HELPING OUR MOST VULNERABLE
COMMUNITIES. SO THANK YOU FOR
YOUR HARD WORK THIS YEAR,
MEMBERS. UNFORTUNATELY, MR.
ALVAREZ IS NOT ABLE TO MAKE
TODAY'S HEARING, BUT HE HAS ALSO
DONE A LOT OF IMPORTANT AND
DIFFICULT WORK IN SUBCOMMITTEE
THREE AND DONE IT WELL. AND HE
ASKED ME TO PRESENT ON HIS
BEHALF. SO SUBCOMMITTEE THREE
HAD 14 HEARINGS, MUCH OF THEM
WERE FOCUSED ON BALANCING THE
NEED TO PROTECT CORE EDUCATIONAL
PROGRAMING AMID THIS CHALLENGING
BUDGET ENVIRONMENT. THE
LEGISLATURE'S PACKAGE WILL ALLOW
FOR A HIGHER PROPOSITION 98
GUARANTEE THAN THE MAY REVISION,
WITH NEARLY 114 BILLION ONGOING
FOR 2024 2025. AND THIS ALLOWS
THE MODEST, ONGOING INCREASES IN
LOCAL ASSISTANCE TO SCHOOLS AND
COMMUNITY COLLEGES OUTLINED IN
THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSAL. THE
PACKAGE ALSO PRESERVES 1.1
BILLION IN RESERVES FOR
EDUCATION BY THE END OF 24, 25
FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
AND THE CALIFORNIA STATE
UNIVERSITY. WE DELAY THE
DEFERRAL OF A 5% BASE INCREASE
BY A YEAR, WHICH GIVES EACH
SEGMENT MORE TIME TO ADJUST TO
LOWER STATE SUPPORT. BOTH
SEGMENTS WOULD THEREFORE SEE A
3% INCREASE IN THE BUDGET YEAR.
WE ALSO REJECT PROPOSED CUTS TO
THE UC LABOR CENTERS AND THE
UCLA LATINO POLITICS AND POLICY
INSTITUTE. AT THE SAME TIME, WE
BEGIN A PHASE IN OF CAL GRANT
REFORM AND REJECT CUTS TO THE
MIDDLE CLASS SCHOLARSHIP,
PROVIDING MORE FINANCIAL AID FOR
COMMUNITY COLLEGE. UC AND CSU
STUDENTS. AND WE ALSO REJECT A
PROPOSED CUT TO THE GOLDEN STATE
TEACHER GRANT PROGRAM, WHICH
PROVIDES FINANCIAL AID TO
STUDENTS GETTING THEIR TEACHING
CREDENTIAL. THIS PROGRAM IS A
KEY TOOL IN ADDRESSING THE
TEACHER SHORTAGE IN OUR STATE.
SO I WANT TO THANK MR. ALVAREZ
FOR ALL OF HIS HARD WORK AS WELL
AS THE MEMBERS OF THAT
SUBCOMMITTEE THAT I KNOW SPENT A
LOT OF TIME GRAPPLING WITH THESE
TOUGH ISSUES AND ARE MAKING SURE
THAT WE PROTECT CLASSROOM
FUNDING AND PROVIDE THE SUPPORT
THAT OUR EDUCATORS NEED. WITH
THAT, NEXT UP IS ASSEMBLY MEMBER
BENNETT TO DISCUSS THE WORK OF
SUBCOMMITTEE FOR. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH, CHAIR GABRIEL, THE STATE
OF CALIFORNIA, THE NATION IN THE
WORLD IS GOING THROUGH THE MOST
HISTORIC TRANSFORMATION IN OUR
IN ENERGY THAT WE WILL CERTAINLY
SEE IN OUR LIFETIME, BUT
HISTORICALLY HAS ACTUALLY
HAPPENED IN THE WORLD. TO MOVE
FROM A CARBON ECONOMY TO A
CARBON LESS ECONOMY IS A HUGE
TRANSFORMATION. AND IT IS HARD
TO OVER ESTIMATE HOW THE
MAGNITUDE OF THE TRANSFORMATION
THAT WE HAVE IN FRONT OF US. SO
IN BUDGET SUB FOUR, WE HAVE HAD
A CRITICAL RESPONSIBILITY TO TRY
TO IDENTIFY THE FUNDING THAT IS
NECESSARY FOR CALIFORNIA TO DO
ITS. SHARE IN TERMS OF
ADDRESSING THE CLIMATE CRISIS
THAT FACES THE WORLD. IT'S ALSO
IN BUDGET SUB FOUR NECESSARY FOR
US TO FUND THE PROGRAMS THAT ARE
NECESSARY FOR US TO SUSTAINABLY
MANAGE AND PROTECT CALIFORNIA'S
VERY UNIQUE AND DIVERSE NATURAL
RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE HERE. SO
IT HAS JUST LIKE IT HAS BEEN FOR
MY FELLOW SUB CHAIRS, EXTREMELY
CHALLENGING TO IDENTIFY THE CUTS
THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE TO SUCH
IMPORTANT PROGRAMS AND SUCH
IMPORTANT EFFORTS. WHAT THAT HAS
REQUIRED, LIKE MY FELLOW SUB
CHAIRS, IS FOR US TO EVALUATE
LITERALLY THE EFFECTIVENESS OF
EVERY PROGRAM AGAINST EVERY
OTHER PROGRAM THAT IS OUT THERE.
THERE ARE NO PROGRAMS THAT WE
FOUND THAT WE JUST SAID, HEY,
THESE ARE NOT EFFECTIVE
PROGRAMS. THESE AREN'T GOOD
PROGRAMS. BUT RELATIVE TO THE
EFFECTIVENESS OF HOW WELL THE
DOLLAR WOULD BE SPENT SOMEPLACE
ELSE, THAT WAS THE STANDARD THAT
WE HAD TO USE FOR THIS
PARTICULAR CUT FOR THESE
PARTICULAR DECISIONS, SO THE
MAGNITUDE OF THE DEFICIT JUST
COMPELLED US THAT WE HAD TO MAKE
REDUCTIONS AT THIS POINT IN
TIME. AND IN OUR CURRENT FISCAL
RESPONSIBILITY, IN OUR EFFORTS
TO TRY TO RESPOND TO THE
PUBLIC'S REQUEST THROUGH THE
ANALYSIS, TO THE TO THE GREAT
INPUT THAT WE HAVE HAD, WE
REALIZED THAT FOR EVERY TIME WE
WANTED TO RESTORE A DOLLAR FOR A
PROGRAM THAT WAS PROPOSED FOR A
CUT, WE HAD TO FIND ANOTHER
PROGRAM THAT NEEDED TO TAKE A
CUT. AND I CAN'T UNDER ESTIMATE
I CAN'T OVERESTIMATE THE
MAGNITUDE OF THE DIFFICULTY OF
THAT. SO AFTER TEN WEEKS OF
SUBCOMMITTEE HEARINGS, AND
HEARING AT EACH HEARING, WE HAD
MANY DOZENS OF PUBLIC SPEAKERS,
COMMENT AND WITH THE PARTNERSHIP
AND SAGE ADVICE THAT CAME FROM
ASSEMBLY MEMBERS, CONLEY,
ASSEMBLY MEMBER PETRIE-NORRIS
AND ASSEMBLY MEMBER WILSON, WHO,
SERVED ON THE SUBCOMMITTEE ALONG
WITH ME, WE WERE FORTUNATE THAT
WE WERE ABLE TO, IN SPITE OF THE
REDUCTIONS, RESTORE SOME FUNDING
FOR WATER RECYCLING AND DAM
SAFETY, SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE
FOR OCEAN PROTECTION AND SEA
LEVEL RISE, EQUITY BUILDING
DECARBONIZATION, EXTREME HEAT
AND ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION, SO
THOSE WERE ALL ISSUES THAT CAME
FORWARD FOR US FROM OUR
CONVERSATIONS WITH FELLOW
ASSEMBLY MEMBERS, AND AGAIN, THE
GOOD ADVICE OF BOTH OUR STAFF
AND THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE
BUDGET SUBCOMMITTEE. SO I'M
THANKFUL FOR ALL THE PEOPLE THAT
PARTICIPATED IN THOSE HEARINGS
TO SHARE THEIR PERSPECTIVE. AND
WHO CAME TO FIGHT FOR THOSE
IMPORTANT PROGRAMS. BUT I WOULD
LIKE TO TAKE A MINUTE JUST TO
USE ONE PROGRAM AS AN EXAMPLE OF
THE CHALLENGES THAT THAT WE HAVE
AHEAD OF US, AND THAT IS THAT,
I'VE BEEN CONTACTED, MANY TIMES
ABOUT THE OTC PLANTS THAT WE
HAVE IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.
THOSE ARE PLANTS THAT ARE
BURNING FOSSIL FUEL THAT WE ARE
SPENDING $1.2 BILLION ON THIS
YEAR IN THE BUDGET TO HOLD THOSE
PLANTS IN CASE OF EMERGENCY, AND
TO PROTECT US FROM A POTENTIAL
BLACKOUT IF WE HAVE AN EXTREME,
WEATHER CRISIS IN FRONT OF US.
BUT THAT $1.2 BILLION WAS THOSE
ARE PRECIOUS DOLLARS THAT WE
COULD ALSO LOOK AT AND USE FOR
DEMAND, SIDE REPAIR, SUPPORT OR
REDUCTIONS OF DEMAND SIDE
ENERGY, DISTRIBUTED ENERGY,
INCREASED BATTERY STORAGE. IN
FACT, ONE OF THE VERY PLANTS
COULD BECOME THE SITE OF BATTERY
STORAGE. SO I IT IS A CHALLENGE
FOR ALL OF US, IN SPITE OF THE
FACT THAT WE HAVE IDENTIFIED
THOSE PLANTS AS A CHALLENGE FOR
ALL OF US EACH YEAR, AND THE
CHALLENGE FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF
FINANCE, THE ADMINISTRATION, AND
ALL OF US IN THE LEGISLATURE IS
TO LOOK AND SEE HOW QUICKLY WE
CAN MOVE AWAY FROM FOSSIL FUEL
USES OF THOSE ENERGIES AND MOVE
TOWARDS THE, ALL OF THE
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES THAT WE
KNOW WE NEED FOR THIS HISTORIC
TRANSFORMATION. SO WITH THAT,
I'D LIKE TO THANK THE LAO AND
THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE, I'VE,
AT THE COMMITTEE HEARINGS HAVE
BEEN PARTICULARLY IMPRESSED WITH
THE PROFESSIONALISM OF EVERYBODY
FROM THE LAO'S OFFICE TO THE
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE'S OFFICE
IN TERMS OF HANDLING THEMSELVES
IN IN THESE CONVERSATIONS TO OUR
STAFF. AND I PARTICULARLY WANT
TO CALL OUT, CHEYENNE CHRISTINE
WORKING JUST ENDLESS HOURS. BUT
MORE IMPORTANTLY, THEY'RE VERY
WISE INSIGHTS INTO HOW THESE
VARIOUS PROGRAMS ALL INTERACT
WITH EACH OTHER. AND THEN
FINALLY, THERE HAS BEEN A
SIGNIFICANT COMMITMENT BY CHAIR
GABRIEL AND SPEAKER RIVAS TO
MAKE THIS AS OPEN AND AS
TRANSPARENT A PROCESS AS
POSSIBLE. AND I THINK THAT IS
ESSENTIAL FOR US TO TRY TO
MAINTAIN THE PUBLIC'S TRUST AT
THE SAME TIME THAT WE'RE ASKING
THE PUBLIC TO BE RECOGNIZING
PUBLIC IS GOING TO BE
DISAPPOINTED WITH MANY OF THESE
CHANGES. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH
FOR THAT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH, MR. BENNET. I JUST
WANT TO THANK YOU. WE CALLED ON
YOU TO DO A LOT OF DIFFICULT AND
CHALLENGING WORK, AND YOU
CONDUCT YOURSELF WITH INCREDIBLE
PROFESSIONALISM. AND I KNOW THAT
YOU ARE SUCH A PASSIONATE
ADVOCATE FOR A LOT OF THIS WORK
AND JUST VERY, VERY GRATEFUL TO
HAVE YOU IN THIS IMPORTANT ROLE.
WITH THAT, I WANT TO TURN IT
OVER TO ASSEMBLYWOMAN
QUIRK-SILVA, WHO WILL PRESENT ON
THE WORK OF SUB FIVE. GOOD
MORNING EVERYBODY. I GOT THE
POLKA DOT MEMO. PERHAPS THAT IS
BECAUSE WITH OUR GREAT
CONSULTANTS, GENEVIEVE MORELLO'S
AND PATRICK LEE, WE KIND OF
BECAME SYMBIOTIC BECAUSE WHEN
YOU'RE WORKING TOGETHER SO
CLOSELY, YOU START TO THINK
ALIKE. NO, NOT REALLY. IT WAS AN
ACCIDENT. BUT ACTUALLY, THERE IS
TRUTH IN THIS, OUR COMMITTEE
TOOK THIS TASK SERIOUSLY AS WE
KNOW FROM, HEARING FROM
CONSTITUENTS THROUGHOUT
CALIFORNIA THAT SOME OF THE KEY
AREAS UNDER BUDGET SUB FIVE ARE
VITAL TO OUR COMMUNITIES, BUDGET
SUB FIVE, FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO
AREN'T FOLLOWING AS CLOSELY,
DEALS MOSTLY WITH STATE AGENCIES
, BUT VETERANS ED GO-BIZ, SO
MANY AREAS ARTS, ARTS COUNCIL,
LABOR TAX, IT'S A VERY VAST
COMMITTEE. AND WITH THAT, WE
HAD, VERY ROBUST DISCUSSIONS, WE
HAD TEN HEARINGS WITH AN
ADDITIONAL THREE HEARINGS WITH
OUR BUDGET SUB CHAIR. I WANT TO
THANK OUR BUDGET SUB CHAIR,
AVELLINO, VALENCIA, AS WE HAD,
THREE JOINT HEARINGS, THAT ADDED
TO A TOTAL OF 13 HEARINGS THAT
WE WORKED ON. IN ADDITION TO
THAT MANY OF YOU MAY NOT KNOW
THAT NOT ONLY ALL THE BUDGET SUB
CHAIRS AND OUR BUDGET CHAIR MET
REGULARLY, ALMOST WEEKLY TO
BEGIN TO DISCUSS HOW, OUR
PRIORITIES WOULD BE MOVING
FORWARD. I DO WANT TO THANK
ASSEMBLY MEMBER WARD AND
ASSEMBLY MEMBER PATTERSON FOR
THEIR PARTICIPATION IN BUDGET
SUB FIVE. I ALSO, OF COURSE,
WANT TO THANK THE LAO AND THE
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE. OF COURSE
, JASON SISNEY AND CHRISTIAN
GRIFFITH AS WHAT HAS ALREADY
BEEN MENTIONED. AND, WHEN YOU
ARE NEW TO A BUDGET SUB, YOU'RE
WORKING WITH, NEW INDIVIDUALS.
THAT MAY BE AS AN ASSEMBLY
MEMBER, YOU HAVEN'T HAD AS MUCH
CONTACT. I WAS ALWAYS STRUCK
WITH THEIR PROFESSIONALISM. AND
SOME OF THE COMMITTEES, ASKED
VERY PROVOCATE AND DIRECT
QUESTIONS, AND THEY ALL CAME
PREPARED AND READY TO ANSWER. WE
APPRECIATED THAT, AS I
MENTIONED, THIS COMMITTEE, SO
MANY ISSUES FROM LABOR TO TAXES
TO VETERANS AFFAIRS, AFFAIRS.
AND WE KNEW FROM THE VERY
BEGINNING THAT THERE WERE GOING
TO BE VERY TOUGH CHOICES, WE
ALSO HEARD FROM OUR CITIES, FROM
COUNTIES. WE HEARD FROM ARTISTS
CAR DEALERS, SMALL BUSINESS,
REPRESENTATION, THÀNH, FOSTER
YOUTH AND MORE. OUR LEGISLATIVE
PLAN FOCUSES ON RESTORING
HOUSING PROGRAMS, INCLUDING THE
LOW INCOME HOUSING TAX CREDIT,
MULTIFAMILY HOUSING PROGRAM,
REAP 2.0, AND THE HOUSING,
NAVIGATION AND MAINTENANCE
PROGRAMS. WE HEARD LOUD AND
CLEAR FROM OUR CITIES AND
COUNTIES THAT THEY VALUED THESE
PROGRAMS. THEY FELT THEY WERE
WORKING. AND YET WE WILL BE
ADDING LANGUAGE TO MAKE SURE
THAT ACCOUNTABILITY IS NESTLED
IN THE LANGUAGE SO THAT WE CAN
GO TO OUR PUBLIC WHERE THESE TAX
DOLLARS COME AND LET THEM KNOW
WE HEAR YOU ABOUT DATA AND ABOUT
ACCOUNTABILITY. THE PROGRAMS ARE
NOT JUST NUMBERS ON A
SPREADSHEET. THEY REPRESENT.
THESE PROGRAMS REPRESENT REAL
HOPE AND OPPORTUNITY FOR
COUNTLESS CALIFORNIANS SEEKING A
STABLE PLACE TO CALL HOME. OUR
PLAN HAS ALLOCATED 1 BILLION FOR
AN ADDITIONAL ROUND OF H HAP
FUNDING WITH GUARDRAILS. AS
MENTIONED, FOCUSING ON
EFFICIENCY, ACCOUNTABILITY AND
URGENCY FROM LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.
AGAIN, I WANT TO MENTION OUR
ACCOUNTABILITY COMMITTEE AS,
THAT WAS VETTED THROUGH THAT
COMMITTEE OF WE HAVE TO HAVE
DATA, WE NEED URGENCY, AND WE
NEED TO BUILD THESE UNITS. WE
ARE RESTORING CRITICAL LABOR
PROGRAMS FULLY FUNDING THE WOMEN
IN CONSTRUCTION PROGRAM, THE
HIGH ROAD TRAINING PARTNERSHIPS,
AND HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES,
AND BOLSTERING THE CALIFORNIA
WORKPLACE OUTREACH PROGRAM. WE
KNOW THAT OUR INVESTMENT IN JOBS
IN CALIFORNIA IS EXACTLY WHAT WE
NEED TO DO IN DIRE TIMES. AND,
BRINGING THESE PROGRAMS BACK IS
ESSENTIAL TO THIS WORK. OUR PLAN
RESTORES THE TECHNICAL
ASSISTANCE DOLLARS THAT ARE
VITAL TO OUR SMALL BUSINESS
COMMUNITIES, WHO ARE ALSO AN
ECONOMIC ENGINE IN OUR STATE,
BETTER KNOWN AS THE TAP PROGRAM.
AND WE HEARD FROM YOU LOUD AND
CLEAR OVER 2000 LETTERS
PRESENTED TO US. OUR PLAN ALSO
RESTORES SOME FUNDING FOR THE
ARTS GRANTS THAT WERE WERE
PROPOSED FOR CUTS AND PROVIDES A
PATHWAY TO FULLY RESTORE OUR
INVESTMENTS IN THE ARTS BY 2026.
I KNOW THERE'S SOME ARTISTS OUT
THERE. THE ARTS ARE THE SOUL OF
OUR COMMUNITIES AND BY RESTORING
THIS FUNDING, WE ARE NURTURING
THE CREATIVITY AND SPIRIT THAT
MAKE CALIFORNIA UNIQUE. AND THIS
LEGISLATIVE PLAN ADOPTS THE
GOVERNOR'S PROPOSAL TO SUSPEND
THE NET OPERATING LOSS
DEDUCTIONS AND CAP VARIOUS
BUSINESS TAX CREDITS FOR THREE
YEARS. I KNOW WE'RE GOING TO
HEAR MORE ABOUT THAT. AND THIS
HAS BEEN AN EXTREMELY
CHALLENGING DISCUSSION, BUT THE
LEGISLATORS PLAN STARTS THE
THREE YEAR PERIOD EARLIER THAN
THE GOVERNOR, SO THAT THE
SUSPENSION AND CAP WILL BE IN
PLACE FOR TAX YEARS 2024 AND
2025 AND 2026. OUR PLAN ALSO
INCLUDES ADOPTING ALL OTHER TAX
AND FEE PROPOSALS FROM THE
GOVERNOR'S JANUARY AND MAY
REVISIONS, INCLUDING CHANGE
CHANGES TO OIL AND GAS TAXATION
AND CORPORATE CORPORATE TAX
APPROPRIATION. OH, SORRY,
APPROPRIATION, SORRY LAWS. I
KNOW IT HAS BEEN A VERY
DIFFICULT BUDGET YEAR, BUT
CALIFORNIA HAS FACED CHALLENGES
LIKE THESE BEFORE AND HAS
WITHSTOOD THEM ALL. CALIFORNIANS
RESILIENCE, INNOVATION AND OUR
UNWAVERING SPIRIT HAVE SEEN US
THROUGH TOUGH TIMES. THIS YEAR
WILL BE NO DIFFERENT. AGAIN, I
WANT TO COMMEND SPEAKER RIVAS
BUDGET CHAIR GABRIEL, AND ALL OF
THE BUDGET COMMITTEE MEMBERS FOR
THEIR WORK TO CREATE A BUDGET
THAT HONORS CALIFORNIANS,
PROMISES AND UPHOLDS THE VALUES.
SO WHEN THAT ARE SO IMPORTANT TO
OUR GREAT STATE. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, ASSEMBLY
MEMBER. AND I WANT TO THANK YOU.
I KNOW HOW PERSONALLY PASSIONATE
YOU ARE ABOUT A LOT OF THESE
ISSUES, AND THANK YOU FOR
CONDUCTING THE SUBCOMMITTEE WITH
SUCH PROFESSIONALISM. YOU'VE
DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB. I DO JUST
WANT TO. I KNOW THAT WE HAVE A
LOT OF FOLKS IN THE HEARING ROOM
THAT ARE, EITHER PLEASED OR
UPSET ABOUT VARIOUS DECISIONS
THAT ARE INCLUDED WITHIN THE
LEGISLATIVE BUDGET. I WOULD JUST
RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT YOU,
POSTPONE ANY EXPRESSIONS OF
THOSE UNTIL PUBLIC COMMENT, AND
THERE'LL BE AN OPPORTUNITY THERE
FOR YOU TO EXPRESS YOUR PLEASURE
OR DISPLEASURE WITH, WITH
VARIOUS ITEMS, WITH THAT, WE'RE
GOING TO TURN TO SUBCOMMITTEE
NUMBER SIX. UNFORTUNATELY, MR.
RAMOS IS UNABLE TO ATTEND TODAY
AS WELL. BUT HE ALSO ASKED ME TO
PRESENT THE SUMMARY, OF HIS
SUBCOMMITTEE'S ACTIONS IN THE
LEGISLATIVE PLAN. THE PUBLIC
SAFETY PLANS INCLUDES ABOUT A $1
BILLION REDUCTION IN CORRECTIONS
IN ORDER TO INCREASE THE
EFFICIENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY OF
THE MOST EXPENSIVE PRISON SYSTEM
IN THE NATION. THIS INCLUDES AN
ESTIMATED BASELINE REDUCTION OF
APPROXIMATELY 500 MILLION
ONGOING. AND WE ALSO INCLUDE
GUARDRAILS TO ENSURE THAT THE
REDUCTIONS DON'T NEGATIVELY
IMPACT REHABILITATION PROGRAMS
AND FAMILY CONNECTION PROGRAMS.
WE REJECT A NUMBER OF PROPOSED
REDUCTIONS THAT WOULD NEGATIVELY
IMPACT RECIDIVISM, SUCH AS THE
ADULT REENTRY GRANT THAT
SUPPORTS HOUSING FOR PEOPLE,
COMING OUT OF PRISON AND THE
ELIMINATION OF THIRD DAY OF
VISITATION IN SOME PRISONS. WE
ALSO REJECT REDUCTIONS TO
LEGISLATIVE COMMITMENTS, TO
SUPPORTING INDIGENT DEFENSE AND
ONGOING SUPPORT FOR COURT
REPORTERS AND FAMILY AND CIVIL
PROCEEDINGS, AND FINALLY AND I
BELIEVE ONE OF THE MOST
IMPORTANT INVESTMENTS WE ARE
MAKING IN PUBLIC SAFETY IS $103
MILLION ONGOING TO ADDRESS THE
BUDGET GAP FROM THE FEDERAL
VICTIMS OF CRIME ACT, SO WE CAN
MAINTAIN OUR CURRENT LEVEL OF
SERVICE FOR VICTIMS AND
SURVIVORS OF CRIME TO SUPPORT
THEIR NEEDS AT A TIME WHEN THEY
ARE EXPERIENCING DEEP TRAUMA AND
VULNERABILITY, AND REALLY, TO
SUPPORT SOME INCREDIBLE
ORGANIZATIONS AND PROGRAMS
ACROSS THE STATE THAT ARE DOING
WORK WITH THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN
THE VICTIMS OF CRIME. SO I WANT
TO THANK, ASSEMBLY MEMBER RAMOS
FOR HIS STEADY LEADERSHIP OF
THIS SUBCOMMITTEE. I KNOW THAT
HE CARES A LOT ABOUT THESE
ISSUES, AND WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL
FOR HIS HARD WORK. WITH THAT, WE
WILL TURN TO OUR NEWLY CREATED
SUBCOMMITTEE. SEVEN, AND
ASSEMBLY MEMBER VALENCIA TO
PRESENT US WITH A SUMMARY OF THE
WORK OF THAT SUBCOMMITTEE THIS
YEAR. THANK YOU, CHAIR GABRIEL.
THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON
ACCOUNTABILITY AND OVERSIGHT HAD
THREE HEARINGS THAT HELPED SHAPE
THIS YEAR'S BUDGET DISCUSSIONS,
COMMITTEE MEMBERS WERE
SPECIFICALLY APPOINTED TO THIS
COMMITTEE. YES, APPOINTED TO
THIS COMMITTEE, GIVEN THEIR
EXPERTISE AND IN THE SUBJECT AND
ALLOWING THEM WHICH ALLOWED THEM
TO ASK VERY HARD HITTING
QUESTIONS ABOUT IMPLEMENTATION
OR LACK OF PROGRESS IN MEETINGS,
WHILE THE PROGRAMS WERE BEING
DEPLOYED, THE STATE'S EFFORTS TO
DEPLOY BROADBAND SERVICE, THIS
EXCUSE ME, THE HEARINGS,
CONSISTED OF, THE DEPLOYMENT OF
BROADBAND SERVICES TO
UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES, THE
STATE'S INVESTMENT IN AFFORDABLE
HOUSING AND BARRIERS TO
CONSTRUCTION, AND THE STATE'S
EFFORTS TO ADDRESS CALIFORNIA'S
HOMELESSNESS CRISIS. FROM THESE
HEARINGS, WE LEARNED THAT OUR
INVESTMENTS HAVE HAD
SHORTCOMINGS AND DESIRED
RESULTS. WITH THAT BEING SAID, I
AM PROUD OF THE WORK THAT WE
HAVE DONE THIS YEAR TO SET A
FOUNDATION MOVING FORWARD THAT
WILL YIELD THE EXPECTED RESULTS
BY CALIFORNIANS. ADDITIONALLY,
WE HAVE LEARNED THAT PAST
SPENDING AND RECENT BUDGET
SWINGS THAT THE STATE SHOULD,
WE'VE WE'VE LEARNED FROM PAST
SPENDING AND RECENT BUDGET
SWINGS THAT THE STATE SHOULD BE
MORE MINDFUL DURING BUDGET
SURPLUS YEARS, THEREFORE,
INCREASING FOCUS ON SAVINGS AND
FUTURE FISCAL PLANNING, BECAUSE
OF THAT, I'LL BE INTRODUCING AN
ASSEMBLY CONSTITUTIONAL
AMENDMENT WITH THE GOAL OF IT
BEING PLACED ON THE 2026 BALLOT
TO INCREASE THE RAINY DAY
RESERVE CAP AND MAKE CHANGES TO
THE GANN LIMIT IN ORDER TO
BETTER POSITION THE STATE'S
FINANCIALLY SITUATION FOR FUTURE
GENERATIONS OF CALIFORNIANS,
LASTLY, I'D LIKE TO THANK OUR
SPEAKER, OUR BUDGET CHAIR, OUR
SUB CHAIRS, AND THEN, OF COURSE,
OUR CAUCUS FOR THEIR CONTINUED
COMMITMENT ON ACCOUNTABILITY AND
OVERSIGHT, CREATING AN ADEQUATE,
EQUITABLE BUDGET, IS
CHALLENGING, EVEN MORE SO WHEN
WE HAVE LIMITED RESOURCES. AND,
OF COURSE, IN CLOSING, I'D LIKE
TO THANK OUR INCREDIBLE BUDGET
AND ASSEMBLY TEAM, WHO IS
FOUNDATION, TO OUR SUCCESS. I
WEAR ACTUALLY WEAR THIS PIN,
WHICH IS A GEAR, THAT HAS
ENGRAVED THE PHRASE IT TAKES
TEAMWORK. AND I THINK THIS
PROCESS HAS BEEN A WONDERFUL
EXAMPLE OF JUST THAT. IT TAKES
US ALL TO MAKE SURE THAT WE MOVE
CALIFORNIA FORWARD. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, ASSEMBLY MEMBER.
VALENCIA. YEAH, WE ARE ALL ON
MESSAGE HERE WITH THE WITH THE
THEME OF TEAMWORK. AND I WANT TO
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS
TO THIS TEAM, AS YOU KNOW, AND
WE HAVE DISCUSSED MANY TIMES
THAT SMARTER SPENDING AND REAL
ACCOUNTABILITY ARE FOUNDATIONAL
GOALS FOR SPEAKER RIVAS AND ME.
AND PART OF WHAT WE ARE REALLY
TRYING TO DO AS WE CREATE A
CULTURE CHANGE HERE AROUND THE
BUDGET. AND I WANT TO THANK YOU
FOR, SO ABLY LEADING
SUBCOMMITTEE SEVEN, AS WE DO
THAT IMPORTANT WORK, BEFORE WE
TURN IT OVER TO OTHER MEMBERS
FOR COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS OR
EMOTION, I DO WANT TO GIVE THE
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND THE
LEO THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE ANY
COMMENTS. AND SO LET'S BEGIN
TODAY WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF
FINANCE. GOOD MORNING, CHAIR
GABRIEL. VICE CHAIR LARA.
WELCOME AND MEMBERS OF THE
BUDGET COMMITTEE, ERICA LEE WITH
THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE. AND
I'M HERE TO PROVIDE THE
ADMINISTRATION'S INITIAL REMARKS
ON THE LEGISLATIVE BUDGET PLAN
THAT WAS RELEASED YESTERDAY DAY,
WE ARE CURRENTLY REVIEWING THE
DETAILS OF THE LEGISLATIVE
BUDGET PLAN. HOWEVER, OUR
INITIAL ASSESSMENT IS THAT WE
ARE VERY MUCH ENCOURAGED BY THE
PLAN THAT IT MAINTAINS THE MULTI
YEAR FISCAL STRUCTURE OF THEIR
MAY REVISION. AS CHAIR GABRIEL
MENTIONED EARLIER, SOLVING FOR
BUDGET DEFICITS NOT ONLY IN THE
BUDGET WINDOW BUT ALSO IN THE
FISCAL YEAR THAT FOLLOWS 2025,
26. WE ARE ALSO ENCOURAGED THAT
THE LEGISLATIVE PLAN MAINTAINS
MANY OF THE SOLUTIONS THAT WERE
PRESENTED IN THE GOVERNOR'S
PLAN, BOTH AT THE GOVERNOR'S
BUDGET AND AT THE MAY REVISION,
INCLUDING A SIZABLE AMOUNT OF
REDUCTIONS WHICH BEGAN BEGINS TO
ADDRESS THE ISSUES THAT WE'RE
SEEING TO BETTER ALIGN OUR
EXPENDITURES WITH OUR REVENUES.
IMPORTANTLY, THE LEGISLATIVE
PLAN ALSO PROPOSES, SEVERAL
BUDGET RESILIENCE TOOLS. FOR
EXAMPLE, WHILE IT DOES UTILIZE
THE SOME OF THE STATE'S RESERVES
LIKE THE MAY REVISION, ALSO LIKE
THE MAY REVISION, IT MAINTAINS
OVER $20 MILLION IN RESERVES
THAT CAN BE TAPPED IN FUTURE
YEARS IF NECESSARY. Kò. AND WE
SEE THIS AS AN IMPORTANT TOOL TO
ADDRESS THE STATE'S VOLATILE
REVENUE STREAM. ADDITIONALLY THE
LEGISLATIVE PLAN SUPPORTS A
CONCEPT OF THE ADMINISTRATION IN
REGARDS TO ESTABLISHING A
TEMPORARY HOLDING ACCOUNT TO
STORE A PORTION OF, FUTURE
PROJECTED SURPLUS UNTIL SUCH A
SURPLUS ACTUALLY MATERIALIZES.
AND LASTLY, IT SUPPORTS CHANGES
TO THE STATE'S RAINY DAY FUND TO
SAVE EVEN MORE IN RESERVES,
HOWEVER, AS I STATED, WE ARE
STILL, STILL REVIEWING AND THE
DETAILS OF THE LEGISLATIVE PLAN,
INCLUDING THE BOTH THE NEW
REDUCTIONS AS WELL AS NEW
SPENDING PROPOSALS. IT'S NOT
CLEAR YET HOW THE OVERALL PLAN
WILL IMPACT FISCAL YEARS BEYOND
2526. AND IT WILL BE IMPORTANT
FOR THE ADMINISTRATION, TO KNOW
THAT THERE ARE NOT SIGNIFICANT
INCREASES IN THOSE PROJECTED
DEFICITS IN 26, 27 AND 2728. BUT
WITH THAT, WE LOOK FORWARD TO
WORKING WITH THE LEGISLATURE
TOWARD ACHIEVING OUR SHARED GOAL
OF DELIVERING A BALANCED BUDGET
IN JUNE THAT ALIGNS SPENDING
WITH REVENUES, MAKES GOVERNMENT
LEANER, AND PRESERVES THE
ONGOING FISCAL INTEGRITY OF THE
BUDGET SO THAT WE MAY MAINTAIN
OAN AND PROTECT OUR CORE
PROGRAMS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU
FOR THAT INITIAL FEEDBACK. THANK
YOU FOR ALL OF THE IMPORTANT,
OPPORTUNITIES FOR DIALOG THIS
YEAR. AND I KNOW THAT MANY OF
YOU HEARD WHERE WE TALKED ABOUT
SOME OF THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN
THE LEGISLATIVE PLAN AND THE
GOVERNOR'S PLAN, BUT I DO WANT
TO ALSO UNDERSCORE THAT THERE'S
A LOT OF SIMILARITIES, AND WE DO
ADOPT MANY OF THE PROPOSED
SOLUTIONS THAT WERE PUT FORWARD
IN THE MAY REVISION. I THINK
THERE'S ACTUALLY A LOT THAT
WE'RE ALIGNED ON. AND SO WE
APPRECIATE YOUR WORK ON THIS.
THE ADMINISTRATION'S WORK ON
THIS, AND LOOK FORWARD TO THE
CONVERSATIONS I HAD WITH THAT.
WE WILL TURN IT OVER TO OUR VERY
TALENTED LEGISLATIVE ANALYST.
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. AND MR.
VICE CHAIR, WELCOME TO THE
COMMITTEE, WE AT THIS TIME, WE
DON'T HAVE A PREPARED ANALYSIS
OF THE LEGISLATIVE PACKAGE, AND
SO I DON'T HAVE COMMENTS TO
OFFER, BUT I'M HERE CLEARLY, AND
I HAVE SEVERAL OF MY COLLEAGUES
AVAILABLE AS WELL, IN CASE YOU
HAVE ANY QUESTIONS THAT WE CAN
BE OF ASSISTANCE ON. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. AND THANK YOU AGAIN
FOR ALL OF YOUR, ALL OF YOUR
HARD WORK OVER, OVER THIS YEAR.
AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO
CONTINUING THAT OPPORTUNITY TO,
TO, TO DRAW UPON YOUR WISDOM AS
WE MOVE FORWARD HERE. AND I ALSO
JUST WANT TO RECOGNIZE, AS I DID
BEFORE, WE HAVE OUR CHIEF
CONSULTANT TO THE ASSEMBLY
BUDGET COMMITTEE, CHRISTIAN
GRIFFITH, WHO'S PUT
EXTRAORDINARY HARD WORK, AND I
WOULD CALL HIM THE PATRICK
MAHOMES OF THE BUDGET. SO WE'RE
VERY GRATEFUL FOR, FOR HIS, FOR
HIS HARD WORK AS THERE. YEAH.
WELL WITH THAT, WE WILL BRING IT
BACK TO THE COMMITTEE, FOR
COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS OR PERHAPS
SOMEBODY HAS A MOTION. ALL
RIGHT, I'LL MOVE THE BUDGET. ALL
RIGHT, SO WE HAVE A MOTION BY
ASSEMBLY MEMBER BENNETT TO ADOPT
THE LEGISLATIVE BUDGET. WE HAVE
A SECOND BY ASSEMBLY MEMBER
WILSON, MADAM SECRETARY, PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL. GABRIEL. AYE
GABRIEL. AYE. FLORA. FLORA. NÓ.
BENNETT BENNETT. AYE. BONTA.
AYE. BONTA AYE. CONNELLY.
CONNELLY. AYE. DALY FONG. FONG.
AYE. JACKSON AYE. JACKSON. AYE.
LACKEY. NO. LACKEY. NO MATHIS.
MCCARTY. MCCARTY. AYE.
MURATSUCHI MURATSUCHI. AYE.
ORTEGA. ORTEGA. AYE PAPIN.
PAPIN. AYE. JIM. PATTERSON JO.
PATTERSON. JO. PATTERSON. NO.
PELLERIN PELLERIN. AYE.
PETRIE-NORRIS. PETRIE-NORRIS
AYE. QUIRK-SILVA. QUIRK-SILVA.
AYE. VALENCIA VALENCIA. AYE.
WALDRON. WALLACE WALLACE. NO.
WARD. WARD AYE. WEBER. WEBER.
AYE. WILSON. AYE WILSON. I.
WOOD. WOOD I. ZIPPER AYES. 18.
NOES FOUR. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
AND WITH THAT THE, LEGISLATIVE
BUDGET IS ADOPTED AND WE WILL
LEAVE THE ROLL OPEN, FOR FOLKS
TO ADD ON. WITH THAT, WE WILL
NOW ENTERTAIN ANY ADDITIONAL
MEMBER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM
THE MEMBERS. NO. MR. FLORA.
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR, IT'S GREAT
TO BE WITH YOU ONCE AGAIN. I
JUST HAD A COUPLE COMMENTS AND
OBSERVATIONS AND SOME THINGS I
DO WANT TO RUN THROUGH,
COMMITTEE OR DEPARTMENT OF
FINANCE AS WELL. AND, ONE OF THE
BIG THINGS THAT WE TALK A LOT
ABOUT IS, IS CREATING A BUDGET
THAT IS GOOD FOR ALL OF
CALIFORNIA AND REPRESENTING A
RURAL COMMUNITY, AT TIMES WE
FEEL, OVERLOOKED, JUST BECAUSE
WE FOCUS ON SOME THINGS THAT
QUITE FRANKLY, MAYBE PEOPLE
AREN'T QUITE AS IN TUNED WITH.
AND SO ONE OF THE PROGRAMS I
REALLY WANT TO TALK ABOUT RIGHT
OFF THE BAT IS THE FARMER
PROGRAM, THE FARMER PROGRAM IS A
REPLACEMENT PROGRAM FOR THE AG
COMMUNITY, ONE OF THE MOST
SUCCESSFUL PROGRAMS, THAT THE
BOARD HAS EVER PUT TOGETHER AND
JUST WOULD LIKE TO GET A LITTLE
BIT OF INFORMATION ON THE FARMER
PROGRAM. COMMITTEE CHAIR, FORBES
ASSEMBLY BUDGET COMMITTEE, THERE
IS NO NEW FUNDING FOR FARMER IN
THIS BUDGET, BUT THERE WERE ALSO
NO CUTS. AND I BELIEVE, OVER THE
PAST FEW YEARS, I FORGET SORT OF
WHEN THAT NUMBER STARTS. BUT I
HAVE AN EMAIL AND CAN SEND IT TO
YOUR OFFICE THAT THERE WAS ABOUT
$760 MILLION FUNDED FOR FARMER
OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS. IS
THERE ANYTHING IN FARMER FOR
THIS BUDGET? YOU SAID THERE WAS
NO CUTS. IS THERE ANYTHING
ALLOCATED FOR THAT NOW? NO,
THERE IS NO NEW FUNDING FOR IT
THIS YEAR. OKAY. THANK YOU, ONE
MORE QUESTION OR A COUPLE MORE
QUESTIONS. YOU KNOW, OVER THE
LAST, REALLY FIVE YEARS, I
GUESS, WE SPENT ROUGHLY 24,
BILLION DOLLARS ON HOMELESSNESS,
WE'VE SEEN ROUGHLY A 20%
INCREASE, I KNOW WE TALKED ABOUT
TRYING TO HOLD PEOPLE
ACCOUNTABLE WHERE THIS MONEY WAS
GOING, ARE WE SETTING TANGIBLE
GOALS TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WHAT
THIS MONEY IS DOING? ARE THERE
GOALS THAT ARE BEING SET TO
TRACK WHERE THIS MONEY IS GOING?
GENEVIEVE MORALES, ASSEMBLY
BUDGET COMMITTEE WE HAVE LAST
YEAR IN THE HAP PROGRAM, WE SET
A NUMBER OF GOALS, IN STATUTE.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE
FOUND THIS YEAR WHEN WE WERE
DOING ACCOUNTABILITY IS THAT A
LOT OF THOSE GOALS WEREN'T
BEING, THE DATA WASN'T BEING
PROCESSED OVER AT THE CAL ICH.
AND WHAT WE DID THIS YEAR
THROUGH THE BUDGET PROCESS AND
LAST YEAR THROUGH THE BUDGET
PROCESS WAS MOVE, THE HAP
PROGRAM OVER TO HCD AND THE
GOVERNOR IS PART OF HIS BUDGET
EXPANDED THE HOUSING
ACCOUNTABILITY UNIT TO NOW USE
THE HOMELESSNESS, ACCOUNTABILITY
AND THROUGH THAT PROCESS, WE'LL
BE ABLE TO HAVE THOSE THE
ACCOUNTABILITY METRICS THAT WE
PUT IN THE BUDGET HAVE A BETTER
EYE ON THEM. HCD WILL BE ABLE TO
USE THE DATA THAT THEY KNOW
THAT'S COMING IN FROM FUNDING
FROM DIFFERENT PROGRAMS WHERE
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ARE WITH
HOUSING ELEMENT COMPLIANCE TO
REALLY TAKE A BETTER LOOK AT HOW
LOCAL JURISDICTIONS ARE BEING
HELD ACCOUNTABLE TO THOSE
METRICS. SO IS THERE MR. FULLER?
I'D ALSO ADD WE DID HAVE A
SUBCOMMITTEE SEVEN HEARING ON
THAT VERY QUESTION, BECAUSE THAT
IS A SHARED CONCERN THAT WE'VE
HEARD QUITE A BIT. AND IN THIS
BUDGET PACKAGE, IF YOU LOOK AT
THE FUNDING THAT WE HAVE FOR
THIS NEXT ROUND OF HAP, WHICH WE
HAVE $1 BILLION, THERE'S
GUARDRAILS THAT ARE IN THERE AND
PURPOSE, BECAUSE WE LEARNED
WE'RE INFORMED FROM THE
CONVERSATIONS BECAUSE ESPECIALLY
BECAUSE THE MEMBERS HAD VERY
SIMILAR CONCERNS TO WHAT YOU
JUST EXPRESSED AT THAT HEARING.
SO WE ARE TRYING TO MAKE SURE
THAT ANY FURTHER INVESTMENT IS
REALLY HAS THAT IN MIND, BECAUSE
THE ACCOUNTABILITY IS REALLY
CRITICAL. SO WE CAN GO BACK TO,
TO CALIFORNIA TO SAY, THIS IS
WHAT WE DID WITH OUR MONEY.
HERE'S HOW IT WAS USED. HERE IS
THE RESULTS YOU GOT FOR YOUR
INVESTMENT. NO. AND I APPRECIATE
THAT BECAUSE I COMPLETELY AGREE.
IT'S VERY HARD TO JUSTIFY
CONTINUING TO THROW MONEY DOWN A
HOLE WITHOUT REALLY ANY TANGIBLE
GOALS OR, YOU KNOW, MEASURABLE
ACHIEVEMENTS, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE
TALK TO OUR OUR CONSTITUENTS AND
THEY'RE LIKE, REALLY? WE'RE
DOING IT. WE'RE DOING THIS MORE.
SO I APPRECIATE THAT. I THINK
WE'LL TURN IT OVER TO GOOD NOW.
YEAH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR.
VICE CHAIR. AND I JUST WANT TO
ECHO THE COMMENTS OF STAFF, YOU
KNOW, I THINK THAT A TOP
PRIORITY FOR THE SPEAKER, FOR
ME, FOR MISS QUIRK-SILVA, FOR
MEMBERS OF THIS COMMITTEE IS
ENSURING THAT THERE IS REALLY
STRONG GUARDRAILS AROUND
HOMELESS FUNDING, REALLY STRICT
ACCOUNTABILITY. I HAVE HAD VERY,
VERY FRANK CONVERSATIONS WITH
OUR BIG CITY MAYORS ABOUT THE
EXPECTATIONS OF THE LEGISLATURE,
BOTH AROUND MAKING SURE THAT
SPENDING IS SPENT IN A WAY
THAT'S GOING TO MOVE THE NEEDLE,
THAT THIS IS GOING TO BE
APPROACHED WITH THE URGENCY THAT
IT DESERVES, AND THAT WE'RE
GOING TO HAVE A VERY A MUCH
CLEARER UNDERSTAND ING OF
EXACTLY THE RESULTS THAT WE'RE
GOING TO SEE WITH TAXPAYERS HARD
EARNED MONEY. SO I APPRECIATE
YOU RAISING THAT ISSUE. AND I
WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT IS A
CONCERN THAT I THAT I BELIEVE IS
SHARED BY EVERY SINGLE MEMBER OF
THIS LEGISLATURE AS WE CONFRONT
THIS MONUMENTAL CHALLENGE FACING
OUR STATE. SO THANK YOU FOR
THANK YOU FOR RAISING THAT. WITH
THAT, I BELIEVE WE HAD MISS
PETRIE-NORRIS. THANK YOU, MR.
CHAIR, AND I'LL JUST BEGIN BY
THANKING YOU AND ALL OF OUR
SUBCOMMITTEE CHAIRS, CERTAINLY
THE INCREDIBLE STAFF FOR ALL OF
YOUR HARD WORK ON THIS PROPOSAL.
I THINK WE ALL RECOGNIZE THAT
CALIFORNIA IS YAWNING. BUDGET
DEFICIT REPRESENTS A TREMENDOUS
CHALLENGE FOR OUR STATE,
RECOGNIZE THAT IN MANY OF THESE
SITUATIONS, WE HAVE BEEN
GRAPPLING WITH, AND KIND OF
MAKING DECISIONS BETWEEN SEVERAL
BAD OPTIONS. AND I DO FIND
MYSELF, THOUGH, AS, AS WE'RE
HAVING THIS CONVERSATION AND AS
WE LOOK TO JUNE 15TH, KIND OF
ASKING MYSELF TWO QUESTIONS.
NUMBER ONE, IS THIS DEFICIT JUST
KIND OF PART AND PARCEL OF THE
VOLATILITY THAT IS TO BE
EXPECTED GIVEN CALIFORNIA'S TAX
SYSTEM AND THE UPS AND DOWNS
THAT WE HAVE HISTORICALLY SEEN,
ARE THERE SOME REAL WARNING
SIGNS HERE THAT WE NEED TO BE
COGNIZANT OF AND MINDFUL OF? AND
I THINK RELATED TO THAT, I THEN
FIND MYSELF ASKING, HOW BEST DO
WE POSITION CALIFORNIA'S ECONOMY
FOR RECOVERY, FOR GROWTH, FOR
EXPANSION RATHER THAN CONTINUED
SHRINKING? AND, AS THE BUDGET
SUB CHAIR'S OUTLINED A
SIGNIFICANT WAY IN WHICH WE'VE
BEEN ABLE TO NAVIGATE THIS
DEFICIT HAS BEEN TO SUSPEND
BUSINESS TAX INCENTIVES AND NET
OPERATING LOSS DEDUCTIONS FOR
CALIFORNIA COMPANIES FOR THREE
YEARS BEGINNING IN 2024. AND
I'D, AS I'VE SHARED WITH WITH
MANY OF YOU, I JUST I DO WORRY
THAT THAT DECISION WILL
ULTIMATELY PROVE TO BE
SHORTSIGHTED. I KNOW THAT CUTS
ARE INCREDIBLY, INCREDIBLY
DIFFICULT, BUT I DO WORRY THAT
WE RISK SHOOTING THE GOLDEN
GOOSE THAT WE'RE COUNTING ON TO
LAY THE GOLDEN EGGS THAT ARE
GOING TO ENABLE US TO, TO GROW
AND TO RECOVER. SO INDUSTRY AND
A NUMBER OF SECTORS HAVE
PROVIDED A PROPOSAL THAT WOULD
MAKE, THE SUSPENSION SOMEWHAT
MORE PALATABLE. SO I DO HOPE
THAT WE CAN CONTINUE A
CONVERSATION AROUND THE
POSSIBILITY FOR SOME MEASURE OF
REFUNDABILITY, AND TO ALSO
CLARIFY THE WAY IN WHICH THESE
TRIGGER MECHANISMS WILL OPERATE
TO PROVIDE A BIT OF A MEASURE OF
CERTAINTY FOR THE BUSINESS
COMMUNITY. SO I THINK IT'S
REALLY, REALLY CRITICAL AS WE
CHART CALIFORNIA'S RECOVERY,
THAT WE'RE CREATING A BUSINESS
CLIMATE THAT ENCOURAGES
INVESTMENT, ENCOURAGES
INNOVATION, ENCOURAGES EXPANSION
AND JOB GROWTH HERE IN THE STATE
OF CALIFORNIA. SO THANK YOU
AGAIN AND LOOK FORWARD TO
CONTINUING THAT CONVERSATION.
YEAH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. ASSEMBLYWOMAN. I JUST WANT
TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR REALLY
INCREDIBLY THOUGHTFUL AND
PRINCIPLED, ADVOCACY AND FOR
REMINDING US THAT WE NEED TO BE
MINDFUL ABOUT THE BUSINESS
CLIMATE WE HAVE HERE IN THE
STATE. THAT'S A STATE THAT
THAT'S A CONCERN THAT I
CERTAINLY SHARE AS WELL, MAKING
SURE THAT THE MOST INNOVATIVE
COMPANIES WANT TO BE HERE IN
CALIFORNIA, THAT THEY WANT TO
CREATE MORE JOBS HERE AND, AND
GROW THEIR BUSINESSES HERE. AND
I JUST APPRECIATE YOU
CONSISTENTLY REMINDING US OF
THAT. SO THANK YOU FOR
EVERYTHING THAT, THAT YOU HAVE
DONE AS, AS PART OF THIS PROCESS
WITH THAT, I BELIEVE THAT
ASSEMBLY MEMBER MURATSUCHI
WANTED TO MAKE SOME COMMENTS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. CHAIR.
I WANTED TO, FIRST OF ALL SAY
THAT, YOU KNOW, I, I FEEL LIKE
THIS COMMITTEE AFTER, YOU KNOW,
WE'VE HAD SO MANY SUBCOMMITTEE
HEARINGS THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS
DISCUSSION TODAY ALMOST SEEMS
KIND OF ANTICLIMACTIC IN THAT,
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE HASHED OVER
THESE THESE SPECIFIC LINE ITEMS
OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN IN
ALL OF OUR SUBCOMMITTEE HEARINGS
THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE MUCH
DISCUSSION IN TERMS OF, ADOPTING
THE ASSEMBLY BUDGET PROPOSAL,
BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE FOR
ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE, AS WELL
AS THOSE THAT MAY BE WATCHING
THIS BROADCAST, THAT THIS IS A
RESULT, AS THE CHAIR AND ALL THE
SUBCOMMITTEES HAVE INDICATED OF,
YOU KNOW, I KNOW THE
SUBCOMMITTEE THAT I SIT ON AND
EDUCATION FUNDING, WE HAD 14
TÍNH, HEARINGS THAT WENT OVER
ALL OF THESE DETAILS. AND SO I
JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT
PEOPLE DIDN'T FEEL DISAPPOINTED
WITH THE LACK OF CONVERSATION ON
OUR ADOPTION OF OUR LEGISLATIVE
PROPOSAL TODAY, HAVING SAID THAT
, YOU KNOW, I BELIEVE THIS IS
MY, MY SEVENTH OR EIGHTH YEAR ON
THE BUDGET COMMITTEE AND, THIS
IS, YOU KNOW, INDEED, PERHAPS
ONE OF THE MOST CHALLENGING
BUDGETS THAT I'VE HAD TO DEAL
WITH. BUT, YOU KNOW, THIS
REMINDS ME OF, YOU KNOW, THE I
LIKE TO SAY THAT I SURVIVED THE
GREAT RECESSION BUDGETS OF, THE
LATE 2000, WHERE WHERE WE NOT
ONLY HAD A SIGNIFICANT DROP IN
OUR STATE BUDGET REVENUES, BUT
WE DID NOT HAVE THE RAINY DAY
FUNDS. WE DID NOT HAVE THE
GENERAL FUND. RAINY DAY FUND. WE
DID NOT HAVE THE PROPOSITION 98
RAINY DAY FUND, AND SO THOSE
CUTS WERE MUCH DEEPER AND MUCH
MORE PAINFUL. AND SO I REALLY
APPRECIATE, THIS BUDGET
COMMITTEE'S ONGOING FOCUS ON
MAKING SURE THAT, WE DO
EVERYTHING WE CAN TO PROVIDE
STABILITY IN TERMS OF EDUCATION
FUNDING. YOU KNOW, MR.
VALENCIA'S PROPOSAL ABOUT, THE
BALLOT PROPOSITION TO FURTHER
STRENGTHEN THE RAINY DAY RESERVE
FUND IS, YOU KNOW, I CERTAINLY,
WELCOME THAT, THE PROPOSAL, YOU
KNOW, AS PART OF OUR ONGOING
EFFORTS TO, TO PROVIDE
STABILITY, YOU KNOW, FOR ME, MY
PRIORITY IS K-12 EDUCATION, AND
I KNOW THAT, STABILITY FOR OUR
SCHOOLS STATEWIDE IS SO
CRITICAL, NOT ONLY FOR OUR
STUDENTS, BUT FOR OUR OUR
TEACHERS, OUR CLASSIFIED STAFF,
YOU KNOW, OUR FAMILIES, MAKING
SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE
THAT STABILITY, AND FINALLY ON
ON THAT, THAT THEME OF
STABILITY, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO
SAY, YOU KNOW, WHILE THIS
COMMITTEE IS STILL REVIEWING THE
DETAILS OF THE MEMORIAL DAY,
EVENING ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE
BUDGET DEAL BETWEEN, THE
GOVERNOR AND THE CALIFORNIA
TEACHERS ASSOCIATION, MY INITIAL
REVIEW, AS AS CHAIR OF THE
ASSEMBLY EDUCATION COMMITTEE, IS
THAT, THE BUDGET DEAL, IT
PROTECTS, THIS YEAR'S CLASSROOM
FUNDING, IT, BUT BUT IT ALSO
RECOGNIZES THE CRITICAL
IMPORTANCE OF, OF, PROPOSITION
98, AND IT'S FUNDAMENTAL MISSION
TO PROVIDE THAT FUNDING
STABILITY, USING, NOT ONLY THE,
THE, THE MINIMUM GUARANTEE,
GOING BACK, YOU KNOW, TO 2022,
2023, BUT FOR THE SUBSEQUENT
YEARS AND I BELIEVE THIS DEAL,
YOU KNOW, IT STRIKES THAT
BALANCE. IT'S, YOU KNOW, IT'S
NOT IDEAL GIVEN THIS, THIS
CHALLENGING BUDGET YEAR, BUT IT,
IT PROPOSED US TO REVENGE THE OR
TO READJUST THE MINIMUM
GUARANTEE GOING BACK TO 2022,
23. IT RECOGNIZES THE IMPORTANCE
OF PERHAPS THE 98, YOU KNOW,
ALLOWING FOR THAT READJUSTMENT
OF THE PRIOR YEAR. PROPOSITION
98, MINIMUM GUARANTEE GOING
FORWARD WITH THE ADDITIONAL, I
BELIEVE IT WAS A $5.5 BILLION,
FIGURE FOR, IN TERMS OF THE
MAINTENANCE FACTOR, BEING,
PROMISED AND AGREED UPON. AND
MOST IMPORTANTLY, AGAIN, YOU
KNOW, RESPECTING THE INTEGRITY
OF PROPOSITION 98, WITH THE
MINIMUM GUARANTEE, WITH THE
MAINTENANCE FACTOR, SO THAT
SCHOOL CELLS THROUGHOUT OUR
STATE HAVE THE PREDICTABILITY,
NOT ONLY GOING BACK, BUT MOVING
FORWARD IN TERMS OF PROTECTING
CLASSROOM FUNDING. MR. CHAIR, I
JUST WANTED TO EXPRESS MY
APPRECIATION AND SUPPORT FOR THE
DEAL STRUCK WITH THE GOVERNOR
AND OUR OUR TEACHERS. AND I LOOK
FORWARD TO OUR FURTHER
CONVERSATIONS IN THIS BUDGET
COMMITTEE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. ASSEMBLY MEMBER. AND
I DO I DO APPRECIATE YOUR, YOUR
COMMENTS AROUND THIS. I KNOW
THAT, THE TOUGH CHALLENGES WE'VE
HAD HAVE FORCED PEOPLE TO MAKE A
LOT OF TOUGH CHOICES. AND WE
ASKED, YOU KNOW, PARTICULARLY OF
OUR BUDGET SUBCOMMITTEE CHAIRS
AND OUR BUDGET COMMITTEE MEMBERS
TO REALLY DIG IN HERE, AND
WRESTLE WITH THOSE TOUGH
CHOICES, A LOT OF WHICH HAVE THE
POTENTIAL TO HAVE PROFOUND
CONSEQUENCES ON CALIFORNIANS
FROM IN ALL CORNERS OF THE
STATE. AND I KNOW PEOPLE, HAVE
REALLY WRESTLED WITH THE MORAL
WEIGHT OF THOSE CHOICES. I'VE
SEEN PEOPLE I KNOW THAT FOLKS
HAVE HAD SLEEPLESS NIGHTS AS
THEY TRIED TO THINK WAY, THINK
ABOUT HOW WE CAN BEST APPROACH
THIS PROBLEM. SO I DO WANT TO
JUST LIFT UP WHAT YOU SAID AND
AGAIN, THANK THE MEMBERS OF THIS
COMMITTEE, AS I KNOW, OUR
PARTNERS IN THE ADMINISTRATION,
IN THE SENATE HAVE DONE AS WELL
REALLY THINK THROUGH DEEPLY THE
CHOICES WE MAKE BECAUSE WE KNOW
THAT THEY CAN HAVE PROFOUND
IMPACTS ON FOLKS. WITH THAT, I
BELIEVE THAT ASSEMBLY MEMBER
PATTERSON HAD A COMMENT. THANK
YOU, I WASN'T FINISHED GETTING
TOGETHER. MY THOUGHTS, BUT I AM
ALWAYS READY TO GO, A FEW
QUESTIONS ON A VARIETY OF ISSUES
, THE FIRST ONE, JUST TO GO OFF.
WHAT THE MR. FLORA WAS SAYING,
OUR ESTEEMED VICE CHAIR. RIGHT
NOW, HE HAD ASKED ABOUT THE
HOMELESS HOUSING ASSISTANCE AND
PREVENTION PROGRAM, I ACTUALLY
HAVE A LEGISLATION ON THAT THAT
WOULD REQUIRE ANNUAL, IT WOULD
REQUIRE AN ANNUAL REPORT,
ESSENTIALLY TO BE EVALUATED
ANNUALLY TO SEE IF IT'S, YOU
KNOW, WHAT THE METRICS ARE. AND
IT'S A GREAT BILL THAT SHOULD BE
PUT RIGHT INTO THE BUDGET. BUT,
I'M CURIOUS ABOUT MORE DETAILS
ON THE GUARDRAILS, BUT ALSO THE
REPORTING BACK, TO THE
LEGISLATURE AND, AND WHETHER,
YOU KNOW, THERE WOULD BE AN
EVALUATION ON AN ANNUAL BASIS
OF, OF THAT FUNDING. SO IN
JENNIFER MORALES ASSEMBLY BUDGET
IN LAST YEAR'S IN LAST YEAR'S
STATUTE, WE HAVE WE DO HAVE A
LOT OF METRICS THAT ARE IN
THERE. I CAN GET YOUR STAFF
WHERE THOSE ARE EXACTLY IN IN
STATUTE. BUT I THINK ONE OF THE
THINGS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO
AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HCD
IS GOING TO DO IS THEY'RE GOING
TO START PUTTING THAT REPORTING
DATA BACK UP ON THEIR WEBSITE.
AND SO WHAT YOU'LL BE ABLE TO
SEE IS THE METRICS OF WHERE THE
DIFFERENT CATEGORIES OF WHERE
THE DOLLARS ARE GOING. YOU'LL BE
ABLE TO SEE HOW MANY PEOPLE
YOU'RE MOVING OUT OF
HOMELESSNESS. ALL OF THOSE ALL
THOSE METRICS THAT EVERYBODY,
YOU KNOW, THAT WE CREATED FOR
THIS SPECIFICALLY. SO WE KNEW
HOW THE DOLLARS WOULD GO, ARE
GOING TO ACTUALLY BE HOSTED ON
THESE WEBSITE FOR US TO HAVE
THAT TRANSPARENCY IN THE
DOLLARS. AND IT'LL ALSO INCLUDE
THE DOLLARS FOR UNOBLIGATED AND
EXPENDED AND EXPENDED DOLLARS
FOR EACH RECIPIENT OF THE HAB
DOLLARS. AND YOU'LL BE ABLE TO
SEE WHERE THE DOLLARS ARE GOING,
HOW MUCH PEOPLE ARE USING, HOW
THEY USED IT OVER TIME, BECAUSE
I THINK ONE OF THE THING, THE
NUANCES IN THE LAW THAT WE WROTE
FOR HAP IS THAT WE GAVE ONE TIME
FUNDING, BUT IT WAS PROGRAMED
OVER A PERIOD OF THREE YEARS.
AND SO THERE'S A LOT OF THE
NUMBERS THAT YOU WANT TO LOOK AT
ARE NOT THE NOT NECESSARILY LIKE
EXPENDED, BUT THE UNOBLIGATED,
BECAUSE THE UNOBLIGATED MEANS
THEY HAVEN'T PROGRAMED IT YET.
BUT IF IT'S OBLIGATED, THEN WE
KNOW WHERE THEY'RE GOING AND
WHERE THEY'RE DEDICATED OVER THE
NEXT THREE YEARS. OKAY, PERFECT.
JUST TRYING TO SEE IF MY STAFF
IS GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO LESS
WORK THIS YEAR, I'M TRYING TO
GET RID OF BILLS AND INTO THE
BUDGET. WE'RE HAPPY TO SHARE THE
LANGUAGE WE HAVE. OH, THAT'D BE
GREAT. THAT'D BE YOUR TEAM.
BECAUSE I THINK WE'RE WE HAVE
TWO THINGS GOING ON HERE. WE
HAVE LANGUAGE FROM LAST YEAR
WITH MONEY THAT'S GOING OUT NOW.
SO WE'LL GET BETTER
ACCOUNTABILITY. AND THEN WE'RE
GOING TO HAVE LANGUAGE FOR THE
MONEY WE'RE PROPOSING FOR THE
BUDGET YEAR TWO, WHICH WILL HAVE
EVEN MORE GUARDRAILS. SO WE WILL
HAPPY TO WORK WITH YOUR OFFICE
TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY SEE THE
LANGUAGE. OKAY. GREAT. THANK
YOU, JUST, STAYING ON THE
HOUSING, TOPIC, I'M VERY CURIOUS
ABOUT, WHAT WHAT PROGRAMS? THE
GOVERNOR PROPOSED SIGNIFICANT
CUTS TO HOUSING, AND, AT THE
LAST HEARING, WE TALKED ABOUT
SOME OF THOSE, AND I WAS
CURIOUS, WHAT'S HAPPENING ON
GENERALLY ON HOUSING PROGRAMS,
BUT ALSO IN PARTICULAR, I THINK
HE ALSO PROPOSED $152 MILLION
CUT TO, TO CAL HOME. AND I WAS
WONDERING, EXACTLY THAT PROGRAM
SPECIFIC, BUT MAYBE JUST A
HIGHER LEVEL ON HOUSING IN
GENERAL. SO ON HOUSING, WHAT WE
DID IS WE PROGRAMED OVER A
LITTLE OVER $1 BILLION, AND WE
ENDED UP CUTTING A BILLION
DOLLARS, IN HOUSING PROGRAMS. SO
ON THE HIGH LEVEL Kò PROGRAMS
THAT WE CAPPED IN, WE, WE
EARLIER HAD A SUBCOMMITTEE
HEARING THAT EVALUATED PROGRAMS
ON YOU KNOW, WHICH ONES ARE
CREATING THE MOST UNITS, WHICH
ONES ARE THE MOST EFFICIENT. AND
THAT'S KIND OF THE CRITERIA THAT
WE LOOKED AT WHEN WE WERE
REINSTATING THE Kò HOUSING
PROGRAMS. AND SO WITH THAT, WE
HAD THE LOW INCOME HOUSING TAX
CREDIT THAT GOT REINSTATED. THE
MULTIFAMILY HOUSING PROGRAM,
WHICH IS NECESSARY REALLY, TO
HELP THE LOW INCOME HOUSING TAX
CREDIT GET THOSE UNITS OFF THE
GROUND. WE DEDICATED 250 MILLION
OUT OF THE 300 MILLION FOR THE
REIT PROGRAM, WHICH WE KNOW
WOULD BE THE FARTHEST IN
BUILDING HOUSING AND UNITS, OUT
THERE. AND WE ALSO SAVE THE
HOUSING NAVIGATION PROGRAM. ONE
OF THE REASONS THAT WE DIDN'T
FUND THE CAL HOME PROGRAM IS
THAT THERE IS CURRENTLY, FROM
PROPOSITION ONE 100, ABOUT $120
MILLION THAT ARE STILL AVAILABLE
, WHICH WOULD EQUAL TWO NOFAS
WORTH OF CAL HOME PROJECTS. SO I
THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE ONE OF
THE ONLY HOUSING PROGRAMS THAT
REALLY HAD SIGNIFICANT FUNDING
STILL IN THERE. AND THAT WAS ONE
OF THE REASONS WHY WE DIDN'T PUT
ADDITIONAL DOLLARS IN IN THAT
PROGRAM. AND I'LL JUST SAY THAT
ON PAGE 93 OF OUR REPORT, IT
DETAILS THE CUTS AND THE AND THE
ITEMS THAT WERE RETAINED. GREAT.
THANK YOU, GOT SOME READING TO
DO THIS THIS WEEKEND, WHEN I'M
NOT ON DAD DUTY, WHAT'S, JUST A
COUPLE OTHER COUPLE COMMENTS,
AND THEN I'LL. I DON'T THINK I
HAVE ANY MORE QUESTIONS UNLESS
SOME MORE. OH, YOU KNOW, ONE
MORE QUESTION. WHAT'S UP WITH,
YOU KNOW, THE GOVERNOR PROPOSED
SOME CUTS TO, PRESCHOOL PROGRAMS
FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH CHILDREN
FOR DISABILITIES, AND I WAS
WONDERING. I'M JUST TRYING TO
GET ALL YOUR STEPS IN. THANK
YOU. AARON GABEL, ASSEMBLY
BUDGET COMMITTEE STAFF. SO THERE
ARE TWO REDUCTIONS THAT WERE IN
THE MAY REVISION TO SERVICES,
PROPOSED SERVICES, FOR STUDENTS
WITH DISABILITIES IN PRESCHOOL.
THE ONE IS WE CREATED A
STATUTORY GOAL TO SERVE UP TO
10% OF ALL STUDENTS IN OUR STATE
PRESCHOOL PROGRAM, AND TO
PROVIDE THOSE SPOTS TO STUDENTS
WITH DISABILITIES AS REQUIRED
UNDER IDEA SCHOOL DISTRICTS HAVE
TO OFFER STUDENTS WITH
DISABILITIES WITH AN IEP
STARTING AT AGE THREE. THAT
INCLUDES PRESCHOOL. THEY NEED TO
PROVIDE THEM WITH A PRESCHOOL
OPPORTUNITY. WE DO NOT CHANGE
THAT REQUIREMENT, OF COURSE, BUT
WE ARE, KEEPING THE CURRENT SET
ASIDE THAT WE HAVE FULLY FUNDED
AT 5% AND REPEALING THE FUTURE
GOAL THAT WOULD HAVE HAD
ADDITIONAL GENERAL FUND AND
PROPOSITION 98 COSTS OF GROWING
UP TO 10. WE HAVE REMOVED THAT
FROM THE STATUTE IN THIS
PROPOSAL, THAT DOES NOT PRECLUDE
A SCHOOL DISTRICT FROM CREATING
MORE INCLUSIVE CLASSROOMS NOR
RECEIVING THE INCREASE BASED
REIMBURSEMENT RATE THAT THE
STATE IS OFFERING FOR STUDENTS
WITH SPECIAL NEEDS. SO, IT JUST
IS. IN TERMS OF THE SET ASIDE
THAT'S REQUIRED IN OUR STATE
PRESCHOOL PROGRAMS HAS BEEN
REMOVED UNDER THIS PROPOSAL. THE
SECOND THING IS WE DID HAVE SOME
REVERSION ACCOUNT FUNDING FROM
PROPOSITION 98 FOR, INCENTIVE
GRANTS TO BUILD INCLUSIVE
CLASSROOM ENVIRONMENTS FOR
SCHOOL DISTRICTS, BECAUSE OF THE
LACK OF FUNDING AND PROPOSITION
98, ONE TIME, THE PROPOSAL TO
NOT USE THAT FUNDING FOR THAT
PURPOSE HAS BEEN APPROVED AS
PART OF THIS PROPOSAL. HOWEVER,
IT IS TO BACKFILL THE SHORTFALL
FOR LOCAL CONTROL FUNDING
FORMULA, NOT FOR ELECTRIC SCHOOL
BUSSES AS PROPOSED IN THE MAY
REVISION. OKAY, GREAT, WELL,
THANK YOU FOR THAT, WAS SO THE
SET ASIDE THAT YOU HAD
MENTIONED, ARE YOU SAYING THAT
SO THE FROM 5% OR FROM 10% TO 5%
IN STATUTE FOR THE SET ASIDE? IS
THAT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, STATUTE
AND THE BUDGET CURRENTLY FULLY
FUND THE 5% SET ASIDE. SO THAT
IS THAT REMAINS THAT IS CURRENT
LAW. BUT YOU THINK, WITH MAYBE
THE WAY THEY'RE ABLE TO GET THE
FUNDING THROUGH PROP 98 OR, YOU
KNOW, THE ESSENTIALLY THERE
COULD BE NO CUTS TO THIS IF A
SCHOOL DISTRICT WANTS TO
CONTINUE TO DO IT. WILK. ARE YOU
SAYING FUNDING IS AVAILABLE FOR
IT OR. I WAS KIND OF. NO, THAT'S
A GREAT QUESTION. I'M NOT REALLY
Ã. THE EDUCATION FUNDING IS
OBVIOUSLY A VERY CONFUSING TO
ME. SO AND ANYBODY OUTSIDE OF
MAYBE YOU AND MY COLLEAGUE TO MY
RIGHT HERE, BUT, SO JUST HELP ME
UNDERSTAND WHAT THE BOTTOM LINE
IS. I GUESS ON THAT. SURE. SO
THE TO THE BOTTOM LINE IS THERE
ARE NO CUTS TO SPECIAL
EDUCATION, ONGOING SUPPORT,
FUNDING FOR PRESCHOOL STUDENTS
AS PART OF THE MAY REVISION
BUDGET OR THE LEGISLATIVE
BUDGET. WHAT IT IS WAS THE
INTENT TO GROW THE AMOUNT OF
FUNDING SET ASIDE FOR THOSE
SERVICES. WE HAVE A NUMBER OF
DIFFERENT WAYS. AS I WAS SAYING,
WHICH WE SERVE, CHILDREN WITH
SPECIAL NEEDS AND THEN
SPECIFICALLY CHILDREN WITH
SPECIAL NEEDS IN A PRESCHOOL
SETTING. ALL OF THOSE RESOURCES
REMAIN, INCLUDING APPROXIMATELY
$260 MILLION SET ASIDE ANNUALLY
SPECIFICALLY FOR PRESCHOOL WITH
SPECIAL NEEDS. OKAY GREAT. THANK
YOU, JUST TWO COMMENTS, REAL
QUICK, GENERALLY ON THE BUDGET,
OBVIOUSLY I HAVEN'T HAD TIME TO
REVIEW THE AGREEMENT, BETWEEN
THE HOUSES OR, YOU KNOW, IN FULL
, FULL DETAIL, SO APPRECIATE THE
HEARING. I'VE REALLY ENJOYED
BEING A MEMBER OF THE BUDGET
COMMITTEE AND THE SUBS WHEN I
CAN ACTUALLY ATTEND. I'M IN TWO
OTHER COMMITTEES AT THE EXACT
SAME TIME, SOMETIMES THREE, SO
OBVIOUSLY I REALLY APPRECIATE
THE OPPORTUNITY. AND I LIKE HOW
THE, IT'S REALLY AN OPPORTUNITY,
I THINK, EVEN FOR REPUBLICANS
TO, YOU KNOW, INFLUENCE THE
PROCESS. AND WHAT GETS IN THERE.
I THINK, YOU KNOW, I THINK THE
GOVERNOR'S BUDGET, YOU KNOW,
FRANKLY, HAD SOME DRACONIAN CUTS
THAT, YOU KNOW, I OBJECT TO,
LIKE, THE, THE, THE PROGRAMS FOR
INDIVIDUAL CHILDREN WITH
DISABILITIES TO FUND ELECTRIC
SCHOOL BUSSES. SO I APPRECIATE
RESTORING, THINGS LIKE THAT AND
THAT THOSE KINDS OF PROGRAMS.
BUT, YOU KNOW, LOOKING FORWARD
TO REVIEWING IT MORE. I'M SURE
WE HAVE OUR OWN SHARE OF
DRACONIAN CUTS, IN THE, IN THE
BUDGET AS WELL. BUT I KNOW, YOU
KNOW, DIFFICULT BUDGET YEAR AND
APPRECIATE THE WORK STAFF BOTH,
YOU KNOW, COMMITTEE STAFF AND
ALSO, OUR REPUBLICAN STAFF HAVE
DONE TO KEEP ME UP TO DATE AND,
BUT THANKS FOR YOUR WORK. AND,
GOOD LUCK, ON THE TRAILER BILLS.
AND MAYBE I'LL BE ABLE TO
SUPPORT ONE THIS YEAR. SO THANK
YOU VERY MUCH. ASSEMBLY MEMBER
PATTERSON, I APPRECIATE, AS
ALWAYS, YOUR CONSTRUCTIVE
APPROACH HERE. AND WE WILL BE
SURE TO LET THE SENATE
APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE KNOW
YOU'RE LOOKING TO LIGHTEN YOUR
LOAD. SO DON'T WORRY WITH THAT.
ANY OTHER MEMBERS THAT HAVE
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? ALL
RIGHT. WELL, I WANT TO SAY THANK
YOU TO, ALL THE STAFF FOR YOUR
EXCELLENT HARD WORK TO THE LÀ Þ
TO THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE. WE
APPRECIATE YOU VERY MUCH, WE ARE
GOING TO NOW TURN TO PUBLIC
COMMENT. WE'RE GOING TO ASK
FOLKS TO RESPECTFULLY TO LIMIT
THEIR PUBLIC COMMENT TO ONE
MINUTE EACH. BUT IF YOU CAN DO
IT MORE QUICKLY THAN THAT AND
YOU CAN CERTAINLY FEEL FREE TO
IF YOU AGREE WITH THE SPEAKER IN
FRONT OF YOU TO JUST SAY THAT
YOU THAT YOU ECHO THEIR
COMMENTS.
PLEASE GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR.
GABRIEL. VICE CHAIR OF LARA.
MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE. DAVID
NELSON WITH THE NATIONAL SMALL
BUSINESS ADVOCACY COUNCIL.
GRATEFUL AND APPRECIATIVE OF THE
REJECTION OF THE GOVERNOR'S
PROPOSED CUTS TO SMALL
BUSINESSES AND THE PROTECTION OF
THE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
PROGRAM. FUNDING MANY SPECIAL
THANKS TO. EXCUSE ME FOR ONE
SECOND. I'M JUST GOING TO
RESPECTFULLY ASK THOSE WHO HAVE
CONVERSATIONS IF YOU COULD TAKE
THEM OUTSIDE OF THE HEARING ROOM
SO THAT WE CAN HAVE AN
OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR COMMENT FROM
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. AND PLEASE, SIR,
CONTINUE, MANY SPECIAL THANKS TO
SUBCOMMITTEE CHAIR, SUB FIVE.
CHAIR, QUIRK-SILVA FOR HER
ATTENTION AND HER SUPPORT AND
LEADERSHIP ON THIS MATTER, AS
WELL AS THE MEMBERSHIP OF SUB
FIVE. WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
OUR COALITION WILL DO OUR BEST.
WE HAVE ARE HERE IN LARGE TODAY,
WE SPLIT OUR TIME BETWEEN THE
SENATE AND THE ASSEMBLY TODAY.
WE'LL DO OUR BEST TO KEEP OUR
COMMENTS BRIEF. I JUST WANT TO
ACKNOWLEDGE THAT BUSINESSES FROM
AS FAR SOUTH AS LOS ANGELES
COUNTY, AS WELL AS FAR AS
SISKIYOU COUNTY, HAVE COME JUST
TODAY, TO SHOW THEIR SUPPORT FOR
THIS FUNDING. AND WE APPRECIATE
SEEING THIS, IN THE BUDGET AND
HOPING FOR RECONCILIATION ON THE
SENATE SIDE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH
, MR. CHAIR, MEMBERS, CHRIS
MCCAULEY, ON BEHALF OF THE LOS
ANGELES AREA CHAMBER OF
COMMERCE, WANTED TO EXPRESS OUR
THE KNOLL SUSPENSION AND LIMIT
ON TAX CREDIT UTILIZATION, YOU
JUST DID THIS IN 2020 AND 2021.
TAX YEARS AND ARE PROPOSING IT
AGAIN. HISTORICALLY, WE'VE DONE
IT EVERY 10 TO 12 YEARS WITH AN
ECONOMIC DOWNTURN, THE
LIMITATION ON THE KNOLL
SUSPENSION IS AT $1 MILLION IN
INCOME, WHICH DEFINITELY EXPECT,
IT IMPACTS SMALL BUSINESSES.
WHAT EXACERBATES THE PROPOSAL
IS, IS THAT IT'S BEING MADE
RETROACTIVE TO THE FIRST OF THE
YEAR, WHICH MEANS TAXPAYERS HAVE
ALREADY BEEN RELYING UPON
EXISTING LAW THE LAST FIVE
MONTHS, AND NOW YOU'RE GOING TO
RETROACTIVELY CHANGE IT. SO JUST
AS BUSINESSES ARE ABLE TO
UTILIZE THEIR KNOLLS AND CREDITS
THAT WERE PREVIOUSLY SUSPENDED
IN 2020 AND 2021, NOW YOU'RE
GOING TO SUSPEND THEM AGAIN. THE
GOVERNOR'S PROPOSAL IS THE SAME,
EXCEPT THAT IS PROSPECTIVE IN
APPLICATION. THANK YOU, MR.
CHAIR. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND
THANK YOU ALSO FOR YOUR EMAILS
THAT ARE VERY HELPFUL TO THE
ENTIRE CAPITAL COMMUNITY. WE
APPRECIATE YOU. KEN HARTMAN,
TRANSFORMED PROGRAMING WORKS,
THE REHABILITATIVE INVESTMENT
GRANTS FOR HEALING AND
TRANSFORMATION. THE RIGHT GRANT
IS A NONCOMPETITIVE GRANT
VEHICLE CHAMPIONED BY ASSEMBLY
MEMBER BONTA, AND WE THANK YOU
FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT. MISS
BONTA, THAT IS EQUITABLY FUNDED.
MORE THAN 100 COMMUNITY BASED
ORGANIZATIONS THAT COLLECTIVELY
WORK IN ALL THE CDCR'S PRISONS.
THERE IS $12 MILLION IN UNUSED
FUNDS FROM THE SAN QUENTIN
OUTLAY PROJECT THAT NEEDS TO BE
REDIRECTED TO COMMUNITY BASED
PROGRAMS, PROGRAMS UMMS KEEP OUR
COMMUNITIES SAFE AND OFF SCRIPT.
SPEAKING FROM THE HEART. AS
SOMEONE WHO IS IN PRISON FOR 38
YEARS, THIS IS A TRAGICALLY BAD
IDEA TO NOT FUND THE RIGHT
GRANT. THIS IS GOING TO HARM A
LOT OF PEOPLE, AND I JUST I AM
JUST I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW SAD I
AM THAT THIS IS HAPPENING. I
REALLY SHOULD BE FUNDED. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU SIR. MARIKO
YOSHIHARA, ON BEHALF OF THE
CALIFORNIA COALITION FOR WORKER
POWER, JUST WANT TO THANK THE
LEGISLATURE AND SUB FIVE
COMMITTEE AND COMMITTEE CHAIR,
ASSEMBLY MEMBER, QUIRK-SILVA IN
PARTICULAR, FOR SUPPORTING
WORKER EDUCATION AND OUTREACH BY
FUNDING THE CALIFORNIA WORKPLACE
OUTREACH PROJECT, ALSO KNOWN AS
SWAP, AND ALSO WANT TO THANK THE
LEGISLATURE FOR RESTORING
FUNDING FOR THE UC LABOR
CENTERS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU,
REBECCA GONZALEZ, WESTERN CENTER
ON LAW AND POVERTY. WE WANT TO
THANK THE ASSEMBLY AND STAFF'S
WORK TO PROTECT KEY SAFETY NET
PROGRAMS, STOPPING HARMFUL CUTS
TO LOW INCOME CALIFORNIANS,
SPECIFICALLY, WE APPRECIATE
PRESERVING KEY CAL WORKS
PROGRAMS AND AUTHORITY TO APPLY
AND IMPLEMENT FAMILY CENTERED
CHANGES AS PART OF A FEDERAL
PILOT PROGRAM. WE ALSO
APPRECIATE FOSTER CARE PROGRAMS,
NUTRITION BENEFIT AND SAFETY NET
RESERVE WAS PRESERVED. WANT TO
ALSO THANK THE LEGISLATURE FOR
NOT MOVING FORWARD WITH THE
DISCRIMINATORY CUTS TO IHSS SO
THAT PEOPLE CAN STAY SAFELY IN
THEIR HOME REGARDLESS OF
IMMIGRATION STATUS? FINALLY, AS
AS THE LEGISLATURE CONSIDERS
MODIFICATION AND THE MCO TAX
URGE, TIMELY IMPLEMENTATION OF
SHARE OF COST TO ENSURE SENIORS
AND PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES
ARE NOT FORCED TO LIVE OFF $600
A MONTH TO ACCESS MEDI-CAL. WE
STAND READY WITH THE LEGISLATURE
TO MAINTAIN CRITICAL SAFETY NET
PROGRAMS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
GOOD AFTERNOON. KRISTA COLEMAN
WITH THE CALIFORNIA PARTNERSHIP
TO END DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. I WANT
TO THANK THE CHAIR, THE
COMMITTEE AND SUB6 IN PARTICULAR
FOR THE CRIME VICTIM SERVICES
FUNDING TO THE PROTECT SERVICES
AND SURVIVORS FROM FACING
DEVASTATING SHORTFALLS. I REALLY
JUST WANT TO APPRECIATE THE TIME
THAT THE COMMITTEE, THE STAFF
HAVE PUT INTO REALLY HEARING US
AND HEARING SURVIVORS WHO AT THE
END OF THE DAY, THESE DOLLARS GO
TO SUPPORT. SO THANK YOU ALL SO
MUCH. THANK YOU. I'M VICKI
NELSON FROM KIDS CLUB VEG. WE
APPLAUD AND THANK ASSEMBLY
LEADERSHIP AND THE MEMBERS OF
THE BUDGET SUBCOMMITTEE FIVE FOR
THEIR ATTENTION TO THIS CRITICAL
MATTER FOR SMALL BUSINESSES. AS
A TEACHER OF 26 YEARS, I BEGAN A
NUTRITION EDUCATION BUSINESS
LAST YEAR WITH THE HELP OF
EXPERIENCED MENTORS FROM THE
SBDC. IT TAKES A VILLAGE TO
SUPPORT A BUSINESS AND THEY HAVE
BEEN MINE. WITH THEIR SUPPORT, I
DEVELOPED BUSINESS PRACTICES FOR
WRITING PROPOSALS, CONTRACTS AND
KEEPING ACCURATE FINANCIAL
RECORDS. THEIR GUIDANCE IN
HELPING ME HIRE STAFF TO TEACH
CHILDREN HOW TO MAKE HEALTHY
FOOD CHOICES BASED ON THE
CALIFORNIA HEALTH CONTENT
STANDARDS FOR NUTRITION, HAS
BEEN INSTRUMENTAL, AND I THANK
YOU FOR MAINTAINING THIS FUNDING
FOR TAP INTO FINAL NEGOTIATIONS
WITH THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE.
THANK YOU. HI. MY NAME IS SHIRA
LANE WITH ATRIUM 916. WE'RE A
CREATIVE INNOVATION CENTER FOR
SUSTAINABILITY. WE HAVE A
CIRCULAR ECONOMY MARKETPLACE
THAT SUPPORTS THE INTERSECTION
BETWEEN CREATIVITY,
SUSTAINABILITY AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT. WE HELP BUSINESSES
REALLY THRIVE AND BUILD PRODUCTS
THAT ARE MADE HERE IN CALIFORNIA
THAT BUILD A CIRCULAR ECONOMY. I
STRESS THE URGENCY OF
MAINTAINING FUNDING FOR THE
CALIFORNIA ARTS COUNCIL BECAUSE
WE ARE HERE, BECAUSE OF THEM.
THE CREATIVE ECONOMY IN
CALIFORNIA CONTRIBUTES ALMOST
15% TO THE STATE GDP DIRECTLY,
AND IN NUMBERS. THAT COMES TO
$507.4 BILLION. FOR PERSPECTIVE,
CALIFORNIA AGRICULTURE, THE
LARGEST IN THE NATION, ISN'T
EVEN AT 3% YET. CALIFORNIA ARTS
COUNCIL RECEIVES A MEASLY 26
MILLION A YEAR, CUTTING 5
MILLION IS A SIGNIFICANT CUT.
IT'S NOT EVEN BUDGET DUST. AND
THAT'S GOING TO BRING CALIFORNIA
TO 45TH IN THE NATION IN STATE
ARTS FUNDING, 45TH. THE ARTS
DROVE US OUT OF THE DARK AGES
INTO THE RENAISSANCE, A PERIOD
OF UNPARALLELED INNOVATION AND
CULTURAL GROWTH. I APPRECIATE
YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH. HI, ERIC
HENDERSON, ON BEHALF OF ROOT AND
REBOUND AND INITIATE JUSTICE, WE
WANT TO THANK THE ASSEMBLY FOR
VOTING TO REJECT THE PROPOSED
CUTS TO THE ADULT REENTRY GRANT
AND VISITING AT LEVEL FOUR
INSTITUTIONS. WE ALSO WANT TO
ACKNOWLEDGE AND THANK ASSEMBLY
MEMBER BONTA FOR HER LEADERSHIP
ON BEHALF OF THE COMMUNITY BASED
PROGRAMS AND CDCR, AND URGE THAT
THE REMAINING $12 MILLION OF
MONEY ALLOCATED TO THE CAPITAL
OUTLAY AT THIS AT OF SAN QUENTIN
BE REALLOCATED TO THE RIGHT
GRANT TO SUPPORT OVER 100
COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS
PROVIDING REHABILITATIVE
PROGRAMING ACROSS ACROSS THE
ENTIRE SYSTEM. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU. HELLO. AND MY NAME IS
PAMELA COUCH AND, I'M HERE TODAY
WITH BOUNDLESS FREEDOM PROJECT
AT. AND, I DEFINITELY WANT TO
SPEAK ON THE FACT THAT COMMUNITY
BASED ORGANIZATIONS WITHIN CDCR
AND CORRECTIONS AND HOW
IMPORTANT IT IS FOR THE SAFETY,
OF OUR PUBLIC AND THE
REHABILITATIVE ISSUES THAT
HAPPEN WITHIN THE INCARCERATION.
I AM SOMEONE WHO WORKED WITHIN
CDCR AS AN OFFICER AND A
COUNSELOR FOR 24 YEARS, AND I
KNOW HOW IMPORTANT THESE
PROGRAMS ARE TO EVERYONE. MY
FAMILY DESERVES SAFETY, AND
THOSE INCARCERATED DESERVE THESE
PROGRAMS. AND I JUST ASK YOU TO
CONSIDER THAT. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU. L.A. HENNESSEY, WITH
TRANSFORMATIVE PROGRAMING WORKS
REHABILITATION AND PREPARATION
FOR REENTRY INTO INTO SOCIETY,
SHOULD START THE FIRST DAY. AND
INDIVIDUALS INCARCERATED THROUGH
ENGAGEMENT OF TRAUMA INFORMED
PROGRAMS, THIS WAY OF SELF
DISCOVERY CAN PLAY A REALLY
CRUCIAL ROLE IN UNDERSTANDING
THE INFRACTIONS MADE THAT THE
INDIVIDUALS MADE, THE PRISON
PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED TO PREPARE
INCARCERATED CALIFORNIANS TO
RETURN TO THEIR COMMUNITIES,
READY TO LEAD CONSTRUCTIVE
LIVES. AND I THANK YOUR ASSEMBLY
MEMBER BONTA AND CHAIR RAMOS FOR
THE SUPPORT, PLEASE PROTECT
THOSE THE AND SUPPORT THE
FUNDING OF THE RIGHT GRANT 3.0
TO REDIRECT THE $12 MILLION FROM
THE SAN QUENTIN OVERLAY PROJECT
TO THESE VITAL PROGRAMS. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON,
I WANT TO THANK THE LEGISLATURE
AND PARTICULARLY CHAIR JACKSON
AND THE SUBCOMMITTEE Tð, FOR
THEIR WORK ON RESTORING FUNDING
FOR PROGRAMS THAT IMPACT OUR
MOST VULNERABLE CHILDREN AND
YOUTH, I'M CRYSTAL MERTZ. I RUN
THE CALIFORNIA ALLIANCE OF CHILD
AND FAMILY SERVICES,
REPRESENTING NONPROFIT,
COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS
SERVING CHILDREN, YOUTH AND
FAMILIES. WE APPRECIATE THE
RESTORATION OF THE FERS FUNDING
AS WELL AS THE RESTORATION OF
CALWORKS SUPPORTS. WE ALSO
APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT THE
LEGISLATURE CONTINUES TO DO ON
THE FOSTER CARE PERMANENT RATES
PROPOSALS, AND WE LOOK FORWARD
TO CONTINUING TO ENGAGE ON
DETAILS, ESPECIALLY FOR BRIDGE
FUNDING FOR OUR FOSTER FAMILY
AGENCIES. WE'RE ALSO GRATEFUL
FOR THE RESTORATION OF SOME OF
THE WORKFORCE PROPOSED
REDUCTIONS, ESPECIALLY THOSE
THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN AWARDED
UNDER HCAI. WE DO CONTINUE TO BE
DISAPPOINTED IN SOME OF THE CUTS
TO THE CBI AND PARTICULARLY
SUICIDE PREVENTION FUNDING
THROUGH DFPS. THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THE SAFETY
NET AND PARTICULARLY OUR
CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES.
THANK YOU. HI, JUSTIN GARRETT
WITH THE CALIFORNIA STATE
ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES.
COUNTIES ARE GRATEFUL TO THE
LEGISLATURE FOR THE MANY BUDGET
ACTIONS THAT PRESERVE THE SAFETY
NET AND CORE PROGRAMS AND
SERVICES THAT COUNTIES PROVIDE
TO CALIFORNIANS. THIS INCLUDES
REJECTION OF THE CUTS TO PUBLIC
HEALTH INFRASTRUCTURE FOR
CALWORKS, FOSTER CARE AND APS.
IT INCLUDES PROVIDING $1 BILLION
FOR A SIXTH ROUND OF HAP A
RESTORING THE REAP 2.0 FUNDING,
AND THE $500 MILLION FOR LOW
INCOME HOUSING TAX CREDITS,
BACKFILLING 100 MILLION TO THE
VICTIMS OF CRIME ACT AND
REJECTING CUTS TO THE PUBLIC
DEFENSE PILOT PROGRAM AND
ACTIONS ON THE TWO ERAF ITEMS
THAT PRESERVE REVENUES FOR
IMPACTED COUNTIES, FINALLY, CSAC
IS REVIEWING THE IMPACT THAT THE
ASSEMBLY'S PROPOSAL TO SHIFT
ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM
FUNDING TO THE STATE HIGHWAY
ACCOUNT COULD HAVE FOR COUNTIES.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU.
GOOD AFTERNOON. BILL AND MARCIA
CROMER HERE, OWNERS OF GIFTED
HANDS CLEANING SERVICES. WE
WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE ASSEMBLY
LEADERSHIP, ESPECIALLY SPEAKERS.
RIVAS CHAIR GABRIEL, VICE CHAIR,
FLORA ASSEMBLY MEMBER KIRK
SILVA, AND BUDGET SUBCOMMITTEE
FIVE MEMBERS AND STAFF FOR THEIR
ATTENTION TO THIS CRITICAL
MATTER FOR SMALL BUSINESSES. WE
BELIEVE THAT SMALL BUSINESSES
ARE THE BACKBONE OF OUR ECONOMY,
BUT LACK ADVOCATES. OUR COMPANY
WITH OVER TEN EMPLOYEES HAVE
BENEFITED FROM THIS TAP PROGRAM
FOR SEVEN YEARS, AND WE ARE SO
APPRECIATIVE OF IT, THIS PROGRAM
PROVIDES ESSENTIAL RESOURCES AND
TRAINING. THANKS FOR KEEPING THE
TAP FUNDING, WHICH IS CRUCIAL
FOR CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR
BUSINESSES LIKE OURS. THANK YOU
SO MUCH. THANK YOU. GOOD
AFTERNOON, MR. CHAIRMAN. MEMBERS
RONALD KOEMAN, BSA HERE ON
BEHALF OF THE CALIFORNIA PAN
ETHNIC HEALTH NETWORK C-PEN, WE
VERY MUCH APPRECIATE THE WORK OF
THE COMMITTEE TO PUSH BACK ON
THE CUTS THAT WOULD HAVE
DEVASTATED LOW INCOME FAMILIES
AND DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED
PEOPLE OF COLOR. WE VERY MUCH
APPRECIATE THE REJECTION OF THE
ELIMINATION OF IHSS TO THE
UNDOCUMENTED COMMUNITY. WE
APPRECIATE THE LEGISLATURE
PUSHING BACK ON THIS
DISCRIMINATORY CUT THAT SHOULD
HAVE NEVER BEEN IN CALIFORNIA
PUBLIC DEBATES. WE ALSO VERY
MUCH APPRECIATE THE REJECTION OF
CUTTING FUNDING FOR THE FUTURE
OF PUBLIC HEALTH. AND WE VERY
MUCH APPRECIATE, ALSO, THAT
THERE MAY BE MODEST ADJUSTMENTS
TO THE MCO TAX. WE ENCOURAGE YOU
TO LOOK AT INVESTING RESOURCES
FOR COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS TO
INCREASE REIMBURSEMENT RATES FOR
THIS POPULATION, WHO'S MOSTLY
WOMEN, MOSTLY PEOPLE OF COLOR
AND THEY WERE LEFT OUT OF THE
REIMBURSEMENT RATES FROM LAST
YEAR. IT WOULD BE LESS THAN 1%
OF THE MCO TAX TO INCREASE
REIMBURSEMENT RATES FOR THIS
POPULATION. AND WE URGE YOU TO
MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE
INCLUDED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MR. CHAIR, AND
MEMBERS. MICA DOCTOROFF, SENIOR
STAFF ATTORNEY AT THE ACLU OF
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA, HERE TODAY
ON BEHALF OF ACLU CALIFORNIA
ACTION, WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL TO
YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP IN
REJECTING THE GOVERNOR'S
PROPOSED CUTS TO THE PUBLIC
DEFENSE PILOT PROGRAM. AND WE
URGE THE LEGISLATURE TO CONTINUE
TO RETAIN THIS FUNDING IN THE
FINAL BUDGET. WE ALSO URGE THE
COMMITTEE AND THE LEGISLATURE TO
CONTINUE TO PRIORITIZE PRISON
CLOSURE IN REACTION TO CDCR'S
BED ACCESS. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THANK YOU. HONORABLE CHAIR AND
MEMBER. MY NAME IS DOCTOR
MICHELLE LAO I, REPRESENTING THE
AMERICAN ALLIANCE OF ACUPUNCTURE
AND COUNCIL OF ACUPUNCTURE AND
ORIENTAL MEDICINE ASSOCIATIONS.
AND TODAY I'M HERE TO REALLY
APPRECIATE THAT I HEARD THAT WE
YOU TRIED SO HARD TO TRY TO KEEP
THE CALIFORNIA GOING. AND THAT'S
A VERY IMPORTANT IS ACUPUNCTURE
INTO THE CALIFORNIA MEDICAL
MEDI-CAL SYSTEMS ARE ALMOST 40
YEARS NOW. WE HAVE BEEN SERVING
THE ACUPUNCTURE TREATMENT TO
CALIFORNIA PEOPLE FOR MANY OF
THE PEOPLE WHO NEED IT. SO IF WE
CUT IT, THEN ALL THIS PATIENT
WILL LOSE THEIR OPPORTUNITY TO
HAVE THE TREATMENT THAT WILL BE
REALLY INCREASING A BIG EXPENSE
FOR THE GOVERNMENT. NOW WE HAVE
A LOT OF HOSPITALS. IT ALREADY
HAVE A ACUPUNCTURE DEPARTMENT
AND THEY HELPING A LOT OF
PEOPLE. TODAY I'M HERE WITH
PRESENTING NOT ONLY FOR THE
ACUPUNCTURE PROFESSION. BE A LOT
OF, COMMUNITY IN THE WHOLE
CALIFORNIA. THANK YOU FOR THANK
YOU YOUR SUPPORT. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
ASSEMBLY CHAIR. THE COMMITTEE
AND STAFF. I'M LUCERO DELEON,
PROGRAM DIRECTOR AT THE
RENAISSANCE WOMEN'S BUSINESS
CENTER IN SAN FRANCISCO. AND WE
URGE YOU TO OPPOSE THE
GOVERNOR'S PROPOSED BUDGET CUT
FOR THE SMALL BUSINESS TECHNICAL
ASSISTANCE PROGRAM TAB AT GO-BIZ
. OUR CLIENTS ARE THE BACKBONE
OF CALIFORNIA'S ECONOMY. AS
YOU'VE HEARD, RENAISSANCE
ORGANIZATION SERVED 400
ENTREPRENEURS LAST YEAR, WITH
90% BEING LOWER INCOME, 76%
WOMEN AND 84% PEOPLE OF COLOR.
THEY INCREASE SALES BY NEARLY
1.8 MILLION AND SECURED 3.9
MILLION. IN CAPITAL. EVERY
DOLLAR INVESTED IN TAP GENERATES
SIGNIFICANT TAXABLE REVENUE,
DIRECTLY CONTRIBUTING TO
REDUCING THE STATE DEFICIT.
PLEASE MAINTAIN CURRENT FUNDING
FOR TAB TO CONTINUE SUPPORTING
THESE CRITICAL PROGRAMS, AND
MANY LOCAL ENTREPRENEURS WHO ARE
VITAL TO CALIFORNIA'S ECONOMIC
GROWTH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
LINA MILLS WITH CREATIVE IDEAS
CATERING AND CAFE IN SAN
FRANCISCO, ALSO A PART OF
RENAISSANCE WOMEN'S CENTER IN
SAN FRANCISCO AND SBDC CLIENT, I
WANT TO THANK YOU. ASSEMBLY
LEADERSHIP MEMBERS, STAFF AND
BUDGET COMMITTEE FOR MAINTAINING
THE FULL FUNDING OF FOR TAB INTO
FINAL NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE
GOVERNOR'S OFFICE. THIS PROGRAM
HELPS, WOMEN OWNED BUSINESSES
LIKE MINE. SO THANK YOU. THANK
YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON. COMMITTEE
MEMBERS NATALIE SPIVAK WITH
HOUSING CALIFORNIA, ALSO ON
BEHALF OF THE CALIFORNIA HOUSING
CONSORTIUM, THE CALIFORNIA
HOUSING PARTNERSHIP, THE
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION
FOR NONPROFIT HOUSING, NONPROFIT
HOUSING OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA,
AND SAN DIEGO HOUSING
FEDERATION, WE WANT TO EXPRESS
OUR DEEP GRATITUDE FOR RESTORING
FUNDING TO HAP AND MHP. THESE
PROGRAMS ARE ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL
TO ENSURING CONTINUED AFFORDABLE
HOUSING PRODUCTION AND THAT
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS CAN CONTINUE
TO PROVIDE SERVICES THAT PREVENT
AND END HOMELESSNESS AND REALLY
APPRECIATE YOUR CONTINUED
ADVOCACY AS BUDGET NEGOTIATIONS
MOVE FORWARD. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON, MELANIE KIM
FROM THE SAN FRANCISCO PUBLIC
DEFENDER'S OFFICE. THANK YOU FOR
REJECTING THE GOVERNOR'S
PROPOSED CUTS TO THE PUBLIC
DEFENDER PILOT PROGRAM THROUGH
PDP FUNDING. MY OFFICE HAS
REUNITED 88 FAMILIES SO FAR AND
HAS PREVENTED OVER A THOUSAND
YEARS OF PRISON TIME SAVING
CALIFORNIA APPROXIMATELY $150
MILLION. MY OFFICE ALSO SUPPORTS
PRISON CLOSURES, OPPOSES CUTS TO
VISITING ON LEVEL FOUR YARDS,
AND SUPPORTS MAINTAINING FUNDING
FOR VICTIM SERVICES PROGRAMS.
THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR WORK
AND SUPPORT FOR THESE ITEMS, AND
WE ARE HOPEFUL TO SEE THEM IN
THE FINAL BUDGET. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR AND
MEMBERS. I'M DOMINIQUE DANNY
FROM EDVOICE, ALSO HERE ON
BEHALF OF 20 OTHER
ORGANIZATIONS. WE APPRECIATE
YOUR LEADERSHIP AND THAT OF
SUBCOMMITTEE THREE FOR THE
REJECTION, REJECTION OF FUNDING
CUTS TO THE GOLDEN STATE TEACHER
GRANT PROGRAM. AND WE ASK THAT
YOU CONFORM TO THE SENATE ACTION
BY ALSO REJECTING TRAILER BILL
LANGUAGE AND MAINTAINING THE
PROGRAM AS IS. TRAILER BILL
LANGUAGE WOULD MAKE CHANGES TO
THE PROGRAM, INCLUDING REDUCING
THE TOTAL GRANT AWARDS FROM 20 K
TO TEN K, REDUCING COMMITMENT TO
WORK AT A PRIORITY SCHOOL FROM
FOUR YEARS TO TWO YEARS WOULD
REQUIRE PROSPECTIVE CANDIDATES
TO MEET PELL GRANT INCOME.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS, WHICH
WOULD EXCLUDE DACA RECIPIENTS
AND EXCLUDES INTERN CREDENTIAL
PROGRAMS. THANK YOU FOR
PRIORITIZING CHILDREN FROM LOW
INCOME COMMUNITIES. THANK YOU.
HI. GOOD AFTERNOON CAROL
GONZALEZ HERE ON BEHALF OF
HISPANAS ORGANIZED FOR POLITICAL
EQUALITY. THEY'RE THEY'RE VERY
APPRECIATIVE AND THANKFUL FOR
THE INCLUSION OF THE èC LABOR,
THE èC LABOR, AND THE UNSEEN
LATINAS INITIATIVE FUNDING THAT
WAS INCLUDED IN THE ASSEMBLY
BUDGET, THEY'RE ALSO
APPRECIATIVE OF THE INCLUSION OF
THE CAL GRANT REFORM. AND ON
BEHALF OF TRUST WEST, THEY'RE
VERY THANKFUL FOR THE CSU AND UC
COMPACT FUNDING AND LONG BEACH
CITY COLLEGES. EXTREMELY
APPRECIATIVE OF THE COLA AND
CATEGORICAL FUNDING, OVERALL,
ALL THE ORGANIZATIONS ARE VERY
THANKFUL FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.
CHAIR GABRIEL AND ASSEMBLYMEMBER
, ALVAREZ FOR HIS LEADERSHIP AND
HIS COMMITTEE AND OVERALL, WE
JUST REALLY HOPE THAT THEY MAKE
IT THROUGH THE FINAL BUDGET.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU,
MR. CHAIRMAN. MEMBERS. CATHY
SUNDERLAND MCDONNELL WITH
CATBIRD STRATEGIES I'M HERE FOR
TWO CLIENTS. FIRST, ON BEHALF OF
THE COUNTY OF ALAMEDA, I EXPRESS
OUR THANKS AND STRONG SUPPORT
FOR THE RESTORATIONS OF THE
PUBLIC DEFENSE PILOT PROGRAM.
THE WOMEN IN CONSTRUCTION
PROJECT, THE FUTURE OF PUBLIC
HEALTH FUNDING, AND NUMEROUS
OTHER COUNTY ADMINISTERED HEALTH
AND HUMAN SERVICES, AS WELL AS
HOUSING PROGRAMS DETAILED BY
JUSTIN GARRETT FROM CSAC, AS
WELL AS RON COLEMAN, BAYEZA FROM
CPM ON BEHALF OF THE CALIFORNIA
ASSOCIATION FOR ADULT DAY
SERVICES. WE VERY MUCH
APPRECIATE THE MCO TAX PACKAGE
THAT'S BEING STILL WORKED ON BY
THE LEGISLATURE. WE URGE
INCLUSION OF A RATE INCREASE FOR
THE COMMUNITY BASED ADULT
SERVICES OR C BASE PROGRAM. THIS
PROGRAM HAS 300 SITES THAT SERVE
40,000 INDIVIDUALS. THOSE ARE
OLDER ADULTS AS WELL AS ADULTS
WITH DISABILITIES, AND AN
INCREASE IS URGENTLY NEEDED TO
AVOID PROGRAM CLOSURES. BOTH OF
MY CLIENTS STAND READY TO
SUPPORT AS THE PROCESS MOVES
FORWARD. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
GOOD AFTERNOON. MR, MR. CHAIR
AND MEMBERS, MARTHA GUERRERO,
REPRESENTING THE LOS ANGELES
COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, AND
WE ARE GREATLY WE ARE GRATEFUL
AND APPRECIATE THE ROBUST
CONVERSATIONS IN ALL THE
SUBCOMMITTEES AND THE WORK THAT
WE HAVE ENGAGED WITH THE
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND WITH
THE SUBCOMMITTEE STAFF, AS WELL.
AND THE EFFORT THAT YOU HAVE
ACCOMPLISHED HERE TO IDENTIFY
SOLUTIONS THAT AVOID SOME OF THE
MOST DIRE BUDGET CUTS THAT WOULD
HARM OUR COMMUNITY. SO WE ARE
GRATEFUL AND THANKFUL FOR ALL
THE HARD WORK YOU'VE
ACCOMPLISHED. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU. KATIE HARDIMAN WITH THE
CALIFORNIA TEACHERS ASSOCIATION
IN SUPPORT OF THE ALTERNATIVE
PROPOSITION 98 AGREEMENT. THANK
YOU. EXCELLENT THANK YOU. GOOD
AFTERNOON, MR. CHAIR. AND
COMMITTEE MEMBERS, DOCTOR JEFF
BOEHM OF THE MARINE MAMMAL
CENTER, REPRESENTING SOME 12
ORGANIZATIONS THAT DO THE WORK
IN CARING FOR MARINE MAMMALS
FROM SAN DIEGO ALL THE WAY UP TO
THE OREGON COAST. WE APPRECIATE
ESPECIALLY THE COMMITTEE HERE,
BUT THE WORK OF THE SUBCOMMITTEE
AND SUB CHAIR BENNETT AND
ESPECIALLY ASSEMBLY MEMBER
CONNELLY FOR THEIR LEADERSHIP
AND URGING THE REJECTION OF THE
DELETION OF FUNDS FOR OUR
IMPORTANT WORK. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON. LETICIA
SALCIDO. I'M A CO-DIRECTOR OF
THE UC DAVIS LABOR CENTER. I
WANT TO THANK YOU FOR RESTORING
THE PROPOSED CUTS OF ALL $13
MILLION IN RECURRING FUNDING FOR
THE NINE UC LABOR CENTERS IN THE
JOINT LEGISLATIVE BUDGET PLAN
YOUR SUPPORT TO THE LABOR
CENTERS IS GOING TO ALLOW US TO
CONTINUE TO PROVIDE OUR PATH
BREAKING LABOR RESEARCH AND
EDUCATION PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT
CALIFORNIA. WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO
MAINTAIN THE FUNDING IN THE
FINAL BUDGET AND LOOK FORWARD TO
WORKING WITH YOU IN THE YEARS TO
COME TO ADDRESS THE VITAL NEEDS
OF CALIFORNIA'S WORKERS. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON.
DIANNA DOUGLAS WITH HEALTH
ACCESS CALIFORNIA. THANK YOU TO
THE CHAIR COMMITTEE AND
ESPECIALLY THE CHAIRS, MEMBERS
AND STAFF OF SUBS ONE AND TWO,
FOR ALL YOUR WORK TO PRESERVE
MANY OF THE PROPOSED CUTS IN
THIS YEAR'S BUDGET, HEALTH
ACCESS APPRECIATES THE
LEGISLATURE'S REJECTION OF THE
ADMINISTRATION'S UNJUST
ELIMINATION OF IHSS BENEFITS
THAT WERE SPECIFICALLY TARGETED
AT THE UNDOCUMENTED, CONTINUING
THIS GOAL FOR ALL TO HAVE ACCESS
TO THIS ESSENTIAL CARE AND KEEP
PEOPLE IN THEIR HOMES. WE ALSO
APPRECIATE THE LEGISLATURE'S
ONGOING COMMITMENT TO PROTECT
THE INDIVIDUAL MANDATE PENALTY
FUNDS COLLECTED FROM THE
UNINSURED. WE SUPPORT THE
LEGISLATURE'S REJECTION OF THE
ONGOING SWEEPING OF 109 MILLION
ANNUALLY FROM THE AFFORDABILITY
RESERVE IN FAVOR OF A ONE TIME
LOAN, FUNDS COLLECTED FROM THOSE
WITHOUT INSURANCE SHOULD BE
PRESERVED TO MAKE CARE MORE
AFFORDABLE, ESPECIALLY WHILE
OVER HALF A MILLION UNINSURED
UNDOCUMENTED CALIFORNIANS ARE
STILL EXCLUDED FROM THE COVERED
CALIFORNIA MARKETPLACE. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON.
I'M JULIETTE TERRY, ON BEHALF OF
THE CHILD CARE RESOURCE CENTER.
WE ARE A PROUD MEMBER OF THE
SEIU COALITION. FIRST, I'D LIKE
TO START BY THANKING THE
LEGISLATURE AND ESPECIALLY
ASSEMBLY MEMBER JACKSON, CHAIR
OF SUBCOMMITTEE TWO, FOR HEARING
AND LISTENING TO THE VOICES OF
FAMILIES AND ADVOCATES TO STOP
THE HARMFUL PROPOSED CUTS TO
CALWORKS PROGRAMS. WE ALSO WANT
TO EXPRESS OUR DEEP GRATITUDE
FOR THE CREATION OF A REVERSION
ACCOUNT FOR ALL CHILD CARE
PROGRAMS AND THE LEGISLATURE'S
FIRM COMMITMENT TO SEE THROUGH
THE PROMISE OF 200,000 SLOTS FOR
CHILD CARE. AS THE LEGISLATURE
WORKS TO CREATE TRAILER BILL
LANGUAGE FOR THE FULL ADOPTION
OF THE ALTERNATIVE METHODOLOGY
FOR CHILD CARE PROVIDER RATES.
WE DO ASK THAT THIS INCLUDES
CLEAR LANGUAGE THAT CREATES A
VERY CLEAR TIMELINE FOR THE FULL
IMPLEMENTATION OF RATES. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU, MISTER CHAIR
MEMBERS DARBY KERNAN, ON BEHALF
OF NOURISH CALIFORNIA, WE
SUPPORT THE SUBCOMMITTEE'S
ACTIONS AND THE BUDGET
COMMITTEE'S ACTIONS ON
MAINTAINING THE CALFRESH MINIMUM
BENEFIT PILOT AND YOUR ACTION ON
THE CFAP, EXPANSION ON BEHALF OF
FIRST FIVE ASSOCIATION, WE
SUPPORT YOUR ACTION IN REJECTING
THE CAL WORKS HOME VISITING CUTS
AND YOUR ACTIONS ON ADDING CHILD
CARE SLOTS. AND LASTLY, OH, WE
HAVE A SECOND HERE. ON BEHALF OF
LEADING AGE CALIFORNIA, WE'D
LIKE TO EXPRESS OUR SUPPORT OF
THE LEGISLATURE'S BUDGET
PROPOSAL THAT REJECTS MANY OF
THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSED CUTS TO
SERVICES AND PROGRAMS DIRECTLY
SERVING OLDER CALIFORNIANS,
INCLUDING THE HOME SAFE PROGRAM,
MULTIPLE MULTIFAMILY HOUSING,
AND THE OLDER CALIFORNIANS ACT.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MICHAEL.
JARED, ON BEHALF OF NEXT GEN
CALIFORNIA AND THE CALIFORNIA
COMMUNITY ALLIANCE WITH FAMILY
FARMERS, WE'D LIKE TO THANK THE
COMMITTEE AND ALSO PARTICULARLY
SUBCOMMITTEE FOUR AND CHAIRMAN
BENNETT AND STAFF MEMBERS FOR
THE RESTORATION OF THE
CALIFORNIA NUTRITION INCENTIVE
PROGRAM. THIS IS A VITAL, FOOD
SECURITY PROGRAM, AND IT
SUPPORTS OUR FARMERS MARKETS AND
SMALL FARMS. WE ALSO LIKE TO
THANK FOR THE RESTORATION OF THE
CALIFORNIA UNDERSERVED SMALL
PRODUCER PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES
RELIEF TO FARMERS WHO HAVE BEEN
IMPACTED BY CLIMATE IMPACTS, AND
FOR THE RESTORATION OF THE FOOD
HUBS PROGRAM TO CREATE A MORE
RESILIENT FOOD SYSTEM. THANK YOU
SO MUCH FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS
BUDGET. THANK YOU. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. VANESSA KAHINA, ON
BEHALF OF THE NURSE FAMILY
PARTNERSHIP. WE GREATLY
APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT SUB TWO
DID THIS SEASON TO ENSURE THAT
THE MOST VULNERABLE FAMILIES IN
CALIFORNIA WERE MADE WHOLE
THROUGH WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN A
VERY, VERY DIFFICULT BUDGET.
WITH THE CAL WORKS HOME VISITING
PROGRAM. VERY MUCH APPRECIATE
THAT WORK. IN TERMS OF THE
REJECTION OF THE $45 MILLION
REDUCTION, WILL BE WORKING WITH
THE DEPARTMENT TO ENSURE THAT
FAMILIES WHO ARE CURRENTLY
SERVED BY HOME VISITING DON'T
LOSE ACCESS TO SERVICES. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON,
RYAN SOUZA, ON BEHALF OF THE
PUBLIC HEALTH INSTITUTE, JUST
WANT TO ALIGN OUR COMMENTS TO
THE COLLEAGUE BEFORE US ON THE
INCLUSION OF THE SENATE PROGRAM.
REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. ALSO ON
BEHALF OF THE SAN FRANCISCO AIDS
FOUNDATION AND APLA HEALTH, I
WANT TO THANK THE LEGISLATURE
FOR THEIR WORK AND COLLABORATION
ON THE AIDS DRUG ASSISTANCE
PROGRAM, INCLUSION AROUND THE
MODIFICATIONS TO THE PROGRAM AND
THE LOAN ITSELF, AND LOOK
FORWARD TO WORKING TOGETHER TO
INCLUDE THIS IN THE FINAL
BUDGET. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK
YOU KAREN. MEMBERS KATHY
MOSSBERG ALSO, SORRY, ON BEHALF
OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH INSTITUTE,
WANT TO THANK BOTH SUB ONE AND
SUB TWO ON ALL THE ALL THE WORK
IN MAINTAINING ALL OF THESE
VITAL SERVICES, BUT PARTICULARLY
IN MAINTAINING THE CALIFORNIA
CANCER REGISTRY AND MAKING
LEAVING THAT WHOLE ALSO
MAINTAINING THE CALIFORNIA
BRIDGE PROGRAM AND ALSO
MAINTAINING THE FUTURE PUBLIC
HEALTH FUNDING, LASTLY, ON
BEHALF OF THE AREA AGENCIES ON
AGING AND MEALS ON WHEELS, TRULY
THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK IN
MAINTAINING SENIOR NUTRITION.
THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON. MARK
HERBERT WITH CAMEO NETWORK. JUST
WANT TO THANK THE LEADERSHIP OF
THIS COMMITTEE FOR RESTORING THE
SMALL BUSINESS TAX CUTS. WE LOOK
FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU AS
YOU ENGAGE THE ADMINISTRATION,
BUT APPRECIATE YOU SUPPORTING
CALIFORNIA SMALL BUSINESSES.
PERFECT. THANK YOU. GOOD
AFTERNOON. I'M RUTH LADY HERE
WITH TRANSFORMATIVE PROGRAMING
WORKS, COMMUNITY BASED
ORGANIZATION IN PRISON PROGRAMS
MAKE REHABILITATION AND PERSONAL
TRANSFORMATION POSSIBLE. IMPROVE
REENTRY OUTCOMES, MAKE PRISON
SAFER AND PROVIDE THE STATE WITH
SUBSTANTIAL SHORT AND LONG TERM
SAVINGS. I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT
THAT 95% OF PEOPLE INCARCERATED,
GO GO HOME TO THEIR COMMUNITIES
AND PEOPLE WHO PARTICIPATE IN
THESE PROGRAMS IN PRISON RETURN
AT A SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER RATE OF
21% VERSUS THE CDCR AVERAGE OF
42% OF RECIDIVISM, WE'RE ASKING
THAT THE REMAINING $12 MILLION
FROM THE SAN QUENTIN PROJECT BE
DIRECTED TO THE RIGHT GRANT FOR
IN PRISON, COMMUNITY BASED
ORGANIZATION PROGRAMS. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. GOOD AFTERNOON. KEN
JACOBS, CO-CHAIR OF THE UC
BERKELEY LABOR CENTER. I WANT TO
EXPRESS MY APPRECIATION FOR YOUR
REJECTING THE CUTS TO THE UC
LABOR CENTERS AND LABOR
OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY
PROGRAMS. AND FOR ALL THE WORK
YOU'VE DONE IN SUPPORTING OTHER
VITAL LABOR AND SOCIAL SERVICE
PROGRAMS, INCLUDING SWAP. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU. JASON WHISLER
I'M A SENIOR RESEARCH SPECIALIST
WITH UC DAVIS LABOR CENTER. I
JUST WANT TO, ECHO, ECHO,
CO-DIRECTORS JACOBS AND, MY
DIRECTOR, PROFESSOR SAUCEDO, AND
THANKING YOU FOR YOUR WORK TO
REJECT THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSAL
TO CUT THE LABOR CENTER FUNDING.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. GOOD
AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS NICK
HANCOCK. I'M A LICENSED
ACUPUNCTURIST, FACULTY MEMBER
AND ASSOCIATE DEAN AT FIVE
BRANCHES UNIVERSITY, A HISTORIC
INSTITUTION FOR THE EDUCATION
AND LICENSURE OF ACUPUNCTURISTS
IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA. I
WANT TO THANK YOU ON BEHALF OF
OUR UNIVERSITY AND ALL MEDI-CAL
RECIPIENTS OF ACUPUNCTURE
BENEFITS FOR PROTECTING THE
PROPOSED CUTS. THANK YOU. GOOD
AFTERNOON. CHAIR MEMBERS
JONATHAN MUNOZ, ON BEHALF OF
INLAND EMPIRE HEALTH PLAN, THE
PUBLIC HEALTH OPTION FOR SAN
BERNARDINO, RIVERSIDE COUNTY,
SERVING 1.5 MILLION MEDI-CAL
MEMBERS. IEHP IS VERY
APPRECIATIVE OF THE
LEGISLATURE'S PRESERVING THE
FUNDING TO SUPPORT PROVIDERS IN
FOR MEDI-CAL MEMBERS,
PARTICULARLY IN AREAS WITH
SHORTAGES. REALLY APPRECIATE
THAT AND HOPE TO SEE THAT ALL
THE WAY THROUGH. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. THIS IS PHILIP YANG
FROM CALIFORNIA UNIVERSITY,
SILICON VALLEY, REPRESENTING ALL
THE ACUPUNCTURE SCHOOLS IN
CALIFORNIA. WE WANT TO EXPRESS
OUR STRONG VOICE OF PRESERVING
THE BUDGET OF ACUPUNCTURE IN
MEDICAL MEDI-CAL PROGRAM. SMALL
BUDGETED AMOUNT CAN PROMOTE THE
PUBLIC HEALTH TO AVOID THE SIDE
EFFECT OF OPIUM DRUGS FOR THE,
FOR, FOR THE PAINS. ACUPUNCTURE
HAS BEEN TREMENDOUSLY BENEFITING
THE LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES AND
SENIORS AND LOWER DOWN THE WHOLE
GOVERNOR'S BUDGET COST. I WOULD
LIKE TO EXPRESS OUR SPECIAL
THANKS TO ASSEMBLY MEMBER EVAN
LO TÍNH, ALEX LEE, AND MIA
BONITA AND ALL THE OTHER
ASSEMBLY MEMBERS. THANK YOU FOR
YOUR EFFORT EFFORT OF REJECTING
THE REDUCTION AND ELIMINATION OF
ACUPUNCTURE IN THE MEDICAL
PROGRAM. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS
NAVARRO. I'M A CALIFORNIA
ACUPUNCTURIST. I SUPPORT THE
RESTORATION OF THE ACUPUNCTURE
TREATMENT IN THE STATE MEDICAL
BUDGET. IF MEDICAL TREATMENTS IS
NOT PROVIDED TO TRADITIONAL
CHINESE MEDICAL INSTITUTIONS,
NHÀ ILLNESS MAY DEVELOP INTO
MAJOR ONES WHICH WILL INCREASE
CALIFORNIA FISCAL MEDICAL BUDGET
EXPENDITURE. CHEERS. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. I'LL JUST
NOTE, I'M HEARING THAT THERE'S
STILL A VERY LONG LINE OF FOLKS
OUTSIDE, SO IF YOU WANT TO JUST
AGREE WITH THE PEOPLE WHO'VE
SPOKEN AHEAD OF YOU, YOU ALSO
HAVE THAT OPTION. HI, MY NAME IS
JASMINE CHEN. I'M HERE ON BEHALF
OF STUDENT IN TRADITIONAL
CHINESE MEDICINE MEDICAL SCHOOL,
GETTING A MASTER'S DEGREE AND
TRYING TO BE LICENSED AS A
LICENSED ACUPUNCTURIST IN
TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE,
LEARNING ACUPUNCTURE AND MANY
OTHER TRADITIONAL TREATMENT
METHODS. I WANT TO THANK THE
COMMITTEE, WANT TO SUPPORT
KEEPING THE ACUPUNCTURE IN
CALIFORNIA'S LOW INCOME MEDICAL
INSURANCE, ACUPUNCTURE, HELP
PATIENTS IN AN INEXPENSIVE WAY,
ESPECIALLY ACUPUNCTURE CAN TRULY
WORK TO RELIEVE PAIN FOR THOSE
IN NEED OF PAIN RELIEF. I'M HERE
TO SUPPORT ACUPUNCTURE TO BE
COVERED IN MEDI-CAL, TO SUPPORT
MEDICAL COVERAGE FOR ALL GENERAL
PUBLIC, INCLUDING THOSE WHO
CANNOT AFFORD PRIVATE HEALTH
CARE AND ARE ONLY BE ABLE TO
RECEIVE ACUPUNCTURE TREATMENT
THROUGH THE CALIFORNIA. THANK
YOU SO MUCH. SUPPORTING MEDICAL
INSURANCE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU,
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. AND THE
SUBCOMMITTEE ONE, I'M
SUPPORTING, LIKE OTHERS, THE FOR
RESTORING THE FUNDING FOR
ACUPUNCTURE, ON BEHALF OF ALL
THE THOUSANDS OF FAMILIES AND
THE SUPPORTED BY OUR FQHC
NORTHEAST MEDICAL SERVICES.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. HI. MY
NAME IS JESSICA HÌ, AND I ALSO
AM REPRESENTING NORTHEAST
MEDICAL SERVICES. AND WE'RE HERE
WITH A BIG CONTINGENT AND I
AGREE. PERFECT. THANK YOU. CHAIR
MEMBERS I'M TOM KNOX OF VALLEY
CLEAN AIR. NOW I'M HERE IN
STRONG SUPPORT OF THE PROPOSAL
TO REALLOCATE EXISTING FUNDING
AT CARB TO THE CLEAN CARS FOR
ALL PROGRAM, A PROVEN PROGRAM
THAT IS DELIVERING ZEV EQUITY TO
85% OF THE STATE POPULATION.
THIS IS A FAIR AND EQUITABLE
PROPOSAL THAT LEAVES ENOUGH
FUNDING FOR CARB'S CARB TO
LAUNCH THEIR NEW PROGRAMS. WHILE
LETTING THESE GOOD EXISTING
PROGRAMS THRIVE. BIG THANKS TO
SUB FOUR MEMBERS AND STAFF.
THANK YOU, ASHA SHARMA ON BEHALF
OF LEADERSHIP COUNCIL FOR
JUSTICE AND ACCOUNTABILITY, A
PEN NRDC NEXT IN CALIFORNIA,
CENTRAL VALLEY AIR QUALITY
COALITION, PHYSICIANS FOR SOCIAL
RESPONSIBILITY, LA CALIFORNIA
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ALLIANCE,
CALIFORNIA HOUSING PARTNERSHIP,
CALIFORNIA GREEN NEW DEAL
COALITION AND GREENLINING
INSTITUTE, AND RISING SUN CENTER
. WE APPRECIATE THE PARTIAL
REJECTION OF CUTS TO THE
EQUITABLE BUILDING
DECARBONIZATION PROGRAM AND URGE
THE LEGISLATURE TO RESTORE EBD
TO THE JANUARY 10TH FUNDING
LEVEL AND RECOMMEND THAT ALL
FUNDS GO TO DIRECT INSTALL. WE
ALSO URGE THE LEGISLATURE TO
FULLY RESTORE THE SGC PROGRAM'S
FORMATIVE CLIMATE COMMUNITIES
AND COMMUNITY RESILIENCE CENTERS
PROGRAM LEADERSHIP COUNCIL LOOKS
FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE
LEGISLATURE TO DEVELOP A CLIMATE
BOND THAT IS MORE CRITICAL THAN
EVER TO SUPPORT CLIMATE PROGRAMS
AND ENSURE DRINKING WATER AND
WASTEWATER INFRASTRUCTURE IS
FULLY FUNDED. THANK YOU FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT. THANK
YOU. HELLO, CHAIRMAN AND
ASSEMBLY MEMBERS, THANK YOU SO
MUCH FOR YOUR HARD WORK. AND MY
NAME IS HONG LEE CHENG. COME
FROM THE ACADEMY OF CHINESE
CULTURE AND HEALTH SCIENCES. WE
ARE THE OLDEST ACUPUNCTURE
SCHOOL IN CALIFORNIA, HAS BEEN
AROUND 40 YEARS SUPPORTING THE
COMMUNITY AND WE NØ ACUPUNCTURE
AND IT IS PREVENTIVE CARE. SO WE
STRONGLY THANK YOU AND SUPPORT
THE RESTORATION OF THE
ACUPUNCTURE TREATMENT. BACK TO
THE MEDICAL. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON. IS THAT
CLOSE TO THE ROOT AND REBOUND
STATE WIDE RANGE OF LEGAL
SERVICES NONPROFIT. THANKING YOU
FOR RECOMMENDING THE RESTORATION
OF THE ADULT REENTRY GRANT
FUNDING LEVELS, REENTRY SERVICES
FOR FORMERLY INCARCERATED
INDIVIDUALS. ALSO WE STRONGLY
URGE YOU TO FIGHT FOR CONTINUED
FUNDING FOR WRITE GRANT, WHICH
SUPPORTS VITAL PROGRAMING TO
MEET THE UNIQUE NEEDS OF
INCARCERATED CALIFORNIANS,
WITHOUT REALLOCATING THE $12
MILLION FROM SAN QUENTIN OVER
100 CRITICAL PROGRAMS WILL NO
LONGER GET FUNDING. ENDING THIS
FUNDING WILL HARM REHABILITATIVE
OPPORTUNITIES AND COMPROMISE
PUBLIC SAFETY. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU. WOULD HAVE THROWN PLEASE
DON'T CUT OUR ACUPUNCTURE,
ACUPUNCTURE IS VERY IMPORTANT
FOR PEOPLE'S HEALTH. THANK YOU
SO MUCH FOR YOUR HELP AND
SUPPORT. THANK YOU. HI, MY NAME
IS AMY HUANG LIU. I HAVE BEEN
ACUPUNCTURE TRACED IN
CALIFORNIA, FOR 30 YEARS AS
MEDICAL ACUPUNCTURE BENEFITS
HELPED, A LOT OF MY PATIENTS
COULD YOU KEEP THAT BENEFIT FOR
LOW INCOME AND SENIOR PEOPLE?
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. MR. CHAIR
AND MEMBERS, MICHAEL PIMENTEL
HERE, ON BEHALF OF THE
CALIFORNIA TRANSIT ASSOCIATION,
REPRESENTING 85 TRANSIT AGENCIES
IN THE STATE AND 220 MEMBER
ORGANIZATIONS NATIONWIDE. AND
JUST SHOWING OUR THANKS AND
APPRECIATION TO THE LEGISLATURE
FOR REACHING AN AGREEMENT TO
MAINTAIN THE $5.1 BILLION IN
FUNDING FOR THE TRANSIT AND
INTERCITY RAIL CAPITAL PROGRAM
AND ZERO EMISSION TRANSIT
CAPITAL PROGRAM. BOTH OF THEM
ARE GOING TO BE CRITICAL FOR
MOVING PROJECTS AND SERVICES
FORWARD IN COMMUNITIES ACROSS
THE STATE AND APPRECIATE
CERTAINLY THE BACKFILL OF
SUPPORT FROM THE GRF TO GET THAT
DONE, FINAL POINT IS AN
ACKNOWLEDGMENT, AND THANKS ALSO
FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF THE
FUNDING FOR CP CYCLE SIX,
ENSURING THAT PROJECTS THAT
RECEIVED AWARDS PREVIOUSLY CAN
MOVE FORWARD AS INTENDED. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU. I JUST I'M JUST
GOING TO RESPECTFULLY ASK IF
FOLKS CAN TRY TO REALLY LIMIT
THEIR COMMENTS. I'M INFORMED WE
HAVE SOMETHING LIKE 200 PEOPLE
OUTSIDE THAT STILL WANT TO
SPEAK, AND ON A POINT OF
PERSONAL PRIVILEGE, I HAVE THREE
LITTLE BOYS AT HOME, AND I WOULD
LOVE TO MAKE MY FLIGHT AND KISS
THEM GOOD NIGHT TONIGHT. IT
WOULD ABSOLUTELY MAKE MY DAY. SO
IF YOU'RE ABLE TO SHARE YOUR
PERSPECTIVES WITH US IN A REALLY
QUICK AND SUCCINCT WAY, YOU
WOULD EARN OUR INCREDIBLE
GRATITUDE FOR THAT. SO THANK
YOU. HI, KIMBERLY SANCHEZ WITH
MISSION CALIFORNIA. I JUST WANT
TO THANK YOU FOR FUNDING THE
INCLUDING THE SCHOOL MEALS FOR
ALL. AND ON BEHALF OF THE CAL
GRANT COALITION, THANK YOU FOR
FINDING SOLUTIONS FOR CAL GRANT
REFORM AND INCLUDING IT IN THE
LEGISLATIVE BUDGET PLAN. THANK
YOU. GREAT. THANK YOU. HI. GOOD
AFTERNOON, CHAIR MEMBERS. MY
NAME IS TAISHA WALTZ WITH THE
CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF FAMILY
PHYSICIANS. THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR PRESERVING THE SONG, BROWN.
FUNDING TO MAINTAIN CURRENT
AWARDS AND WE ASK THAT AS FUTURE
CONVERSATIONS ARISE THAT THE
SONG BROWN FUNDING, BE
PRESERVED. ADDITIONALLY, FOR THE
MCO TAX, WE ASK THAT THE PRIMARY
CARE PROVIDER RATES BE
MAINTAINED. AND LASTLY, THAT THE
EBT PAYMENT GRANTS BE RESTORED
FOR PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIANS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU.
GOOD AFTERNOON, ALCHEMY. GRAHAM,
ON BEHALF OF THE CALIFORNIA CITY
TRANSPORTATION INITIATIVE, VERY
THANKFUL FOR REJECTING THE
GOVERNOR'S PROPOSAL TO CUT
FUNDING FROM THE ACTIVE
TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM. WE WILL
BE RESPECTFULLY URGING THAT THE
GOVERNOR DO THE SAME. THANK YOU.
GOOD AFTERNOON, DAVID CHASE WITH
SMALL BUSINESS MAJORITY, AND WE
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT FOR
REJECTING THE GOVERNOR'S
PROPOSED CUTS TO THE SMALL
BUSINESS TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
PROGRAM AND FOR SUPPORTING
CALIFORNIA SMALL BUSINESSES.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. MR. CHAIR,
MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE, YVONNE
FERNANDES WITH THE CALIFORNIA
LABOR FEDERATION HERE TO SHARE
OUR APPRECIATION FOR THE
LEGISLATURE'S DECISION TO
REQUIRE THE AUGMENTATION OF THE
APPROPRIATION FROM THE HEALTH
CARE AFFORDABILITY RESERVE FUND
FOR THE HEALTH CARE FOR STRIKING
WORKERS PROGRAM, AS WELL, HERE
TO VOICE OUR APPRECIATION FOR
THE PROTECTION OF UC LABOR
CENTER FUNDING, FUNDING FOR THE
UCLA LATINO POLICY AND POLITICS
INSTITUTE, AS WELL AS PROTECTING
THE HIGH ROAD TRAINING
PARTNERSHIP, FUNDING AS WELL.
LASTLY, WE LIKE TO URGE THE
LEGISLATURE TO CONSIDER
INCREASED TRANSPARENCY FOR THE
MILLIONS OF DOLLARS PROVIDED,
THROUGH THE CALIFORNIA COMPETES
PROGRAM. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON. NINA
HARWELL WITH AARP CALIFORNIA.
WE'RE HERE TO EXPRESS OUR DEEP
GRATITUDE FOR THE REJECTION OF
CUTS TO THE SENIOR NUTRITION
PROGRAM, TO ADULT PROTECTIVE
SERVICES EXPANSION AND TRAINING,
AND TO REJECTING THE DELAY IN
HOMESAFE. WE ARE ALSO GRATEFUL
FOR THE INCLUSION OF THE BUDGET
PROPOSAL TO AUGMENT FUNDING FOR
THE LONG TERM CARE OMBUDSMAN,
LONG LONG TERM CARE OMBUDSMAN
PROGRAM, AND VERY GRATEFUL AS
WELL. FOR THE REJECTION OF THE
ELIMINATION OF THE ACTIVE
TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM, AS WELL
AS PRESERVING CRITICAL HOUSING
PROGRAMS. FINALLY, WE JUST ASK
THAT YOU ALL RECONSIDER, THE
FACT THAT THE MEDI-CAL SHARE OF
COST REFORM WAS NOT INCLUDED IN
THIS BUDGET. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU. HI. MY NAME IS BONNIE LYNCH
. I WORK AT A FEDERALLY
QUALIFIED HEALTH CLINIC SERVING,
CONTRA COSTA AND ALAMEDA
COUNTIES. AND WE WANT TO THANK
YOU SO MUCH FOR SUPPORTING OUR
PATIENTS AND PROVIDING
ACUPUNCTURE CARE. MOST OF OUR
PATIENTS ARE MEDI-CAL, AND WE
WANT TO KNOW THAT WE'RE DOING
EVERYTHING WE CAN TO HELP KEEP
CALIFORNIA HEALTHY. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON, MR.
CHAIR, MY NAME IS CHAD
ZELLINGER, PRESIDENT OF
CALIFORNIA MUSIC EDUCATORS
ASSOCIATION. WE SUPPORT THE
REJECTING OF THE CTE ELEMENTARY
TEACHERS SUPPLEMENTARY
AUTHORIZATION IN THE ARTS. WE
WANT TO THANK ASSEMBLY MEMBERS
ALVAREZ AND MURATSUCHI BUDGET
AND COMMITTEE STAFF FOR
LISTENING TO OUR SIGNIFICANT
CONCERNS REGARDING THIS PROPOSAL
. THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M
LAURA COLE, WROTE A MEMBERSHIP
IN RURAL EXCHANGE COORDINATOR
FOR THE CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION
FOR LOCAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
IN SACRAMENTO. AS YOU KNOW, THE
VALUE OF SMALL BUSINESSES TO
CALIFORNIA'S ECONOMY IS
IMPORTANT. THE STATE'S SMALL
BUSINESS TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
PROGRAM HAS BEEN SUPPORTIVE AND
HELPING BUSINESS OWNERS GROW OR
START A NEW BUSINESS IN TODAY'S
COMPETITIVE MARKET. THANK YOU
FOR YOUR RECOMMENDATION TO
RESTORE ALL FUNDING FOR THE
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
THANK YOU. BUENAS TARDES. SOY
JENNY LINARES DEL CENTRO DE
TRABAJADORES DE BODEGAS DEL
CONDADO DE SAN BERNARDINO. SOMOS
PART OF THE SENTENCING CUENTA
ORGANIZACIONES COMPROMETIDOS CON
LA CREACION DE IMPLEMENTATION DE
BENEFICIOS DESEMPLEO PARA
TRABAJADORES INDOCUMENTADOS DE
CALIFORNIA SOLICITAR LOCAL
ASAMBLEA INCLUYEN SU PROPUESTA
DE PROPUESTA ESTATAL UN
REQUISITO PARA QUÊ LÀ DIÆN
INTEGRAR ELEMENTOS DE UN
PROGRAMA DE TRABAJADORES
EXCLUIDOS IN ACTUALIZACION DEL
SISTEMA SIEMPRE ES POSIBLE LO
MAS IMPORTANTE C¯ ESTA SOLICITUD
NO TIENE COSTO ALGUNO PARA EL
PRESUPUESTO ESTATAL ACTUAL Y
PROPORCIONAR UN NGUYEN AL
PUBLICO DOS TRABAJADORES
EMPLEADORES CONTRIBUYEN AL
ESTADO DE LAS SEGURANCA
DESEMPLEO. MUCHAS GRACIAS. WOULD
YOU LIKE ME TO TRANSLATE FOR
HER? WE'RE GOOD. THANK YOU.
OKAY, MY NAME IS MARIA, AND I'M
WITH JUSTICE SAN FRANCISCO AND
THE SAFETY NET FOR ALL
COALITION. AND I JUST WANT TO
SAY THAT I SUPPORT OUR PROGRAM
BEING INCLUDED IN NEXT. THANK
YOU. PERFECT. THANK YOU, MY NAME
IS SANA TAMBIÉN. ESTOY AQUI. IN
SUPPORT PARA LA. NEXT. GRACIAS
HI. MY NAME IS SARAH AMADO. I'M
FROM THE ORGANIZATION MCTF AND I
IN SUPPORT FOR, TO ADD TO THE ED
AND THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK
YOU. I SABA WAHID, DIRECTOR OF
THE UCLA LABOR CENTER. THANK YOU
FOR YOUR THANK YOU FOR YOUR
CONTINUED FUNDING OF THE UC
LABOR CENTERS, THE CALIFORNIA
WORKER OUTREACH PROJECT SWAP,
AND OTHER IMPORTANT LABOR AND
SOCIAL PROGRAMS. THANK YOU. HI,
I'M DOCTOR LILY CHAO. I'M THE
DIRECTOR OF THE INTEGRATED
MEDICINE AND NORTHEAST MEDICAL
SERVICES. WE ARE A FEDERAL
QUALIFIED HEALTH CENTER. WE
SERVING SAN FRANCISCO, SAN MATEO
COUNTY, AND ALSO SANTA CLARA
COUNTIES AND REALLY APPRECIATE
YOU PRESERVE ACUPUNCTURE FROM
THE MEDI-CAL AGAIN. AND WE HAVE
THIS IS A REALLY GOOD FOR AAPI
COMMUNITY. AND ALSO OUR SENIOR
PATIENTS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
HI. MY NAME IS CHAU SINGH AND
I'M HERE TO THANK YOU. YOU SAVED
THE, ACUPUNCTURE FOR THE
MEDI-CAL. SO THANK YOU. THANK
YOU. HI. KELLY LONGO FLORES WITH
THE CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF
FOOD BANKS. JUST A RESOUNDING
THANK YOU, SPECIFICALLY FOR THE
PERMANENT AUTHORIZATION OF THE
STATE EMERGENCY FOOD BANK
RESERVE. THANK YOU TO DOCTOR
JACKSON FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON
THAT. THIS WILL ALLOW FOOD BANKS
TO QUICKLY MEET THE NEEDS OF
THEIR COMMUNITIES IN A TIME OF
CRISIS. THANK YOU FOR REJECTING
THE ELIMINATION OF THE CALFRESH
MINIMUM BENEFITS PILOT FOR FULLY
FUNDING SCHOOL MEALS FOR ALL,
SUPPORTING CALWORKS AND
PROTECTING OUR SAFETY NET
RESERVE, AND FOR REJECTING THE
ELIMINATION OF THE WINDS
PROGRAM. WE KNOW $10 DOESN'T
SOUND LIKE A LOT, BUT THAT MEANS
A LOT TO MANY IN CALIFORNIA.
LASTLY, FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND
REJECTING THE ELIMINATION OF THE
IHSS BENEFITS BASED ON
IMMIGRATION STATUS, ALL
CALIFORNIANS DESERVE TO LIVE IN
THE LEAST RESTRICTIVE
ENVIRONMENT POSSIBLE. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. HI. GOOD
AFTERNOON, CHAIR GABRIEL.
MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE,
CHRISTINA. BOSS HAMILTON HERE.
IN THIS, CONTEXT, I'M
REPRESENTING CPU, THANKING YOU
FOR FUNDING THE 11,000 CHILD
CARE SLOTS AND URGING THE
LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR TO
CONTINUE WORKING TOWARDS THE
GOAL OF 200,000 SLOTS AND,
SUPPORTING RATE REFORM BASED ON
TRUE COST OF CARE. NOW, PUTTING
ON MY UW CAP, REPRESENTING
171,000 IHSS AND FAMILY CHILD
CARE PROVIDERS, WE ARE GRATEFUL
FOR YOUR OPPOSING AND REJECTING
THE CUTS TO IHSS. WE DO WANT TO
CALL THAT WE ARE STILL PUSHING
FORWARD, ASKING FOR YOUR HELP TO
WAGE THE RAISE THE WAGE CAP FOR
IHSS PROVIDERS IN SAN DIEGO AND
RIVERSIDE COUNTIES. BECAUSE
UNLESS YOU DO THAT, THESE
WORKERS WILL NOT GET A WAGE
INCREASE ON JANUARY 1ST. CHAIR
GABRIEL, WE WOULD LOVE TO TALK
TO YOU ABOUT THIS. THIS
CONTINUES TO BE A HIGH PRIORITY
FOR OUR UNION. THANK YOU, MR.
JACKSON, FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON
THIS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. GOOD
AFTERNOON, YASMIN PELLET. WITH
JUSTICE AND AGING. THANK YOU FOR
REJECTING MANY OF THE HARMFUL
CUTS TO HEALTH AND HUMAN
SERVICES PROGRAMS FROM THE MAY
REVISION THAT WOULD IMPACT OLDER
ADULTS. SPECIFICALLY, I WANT TO
THANK THE SUBCOMMITTEE, THE
COMMITTEE, FOR REJECTING THE
PROPOSED ELIMINATION OF IHSS
BENEFITS FOR UNDOCUMENTED
CALIFORNIANS AND MAINTAINING THE
IHSS BACKUP PROVIDER SYSTEM. WE
ALSO APPRECIATE THE REJECTIONS
OF THE CUTS TO APS HOME SAFE,
CALFRESH, AND SENIOR NUTRITION
PROGRAMS. WE URGE THE
LEGISLATURE TO MAINTAIN THESE
PROGRAMS IN THE FINAL DEAL WITH
THE ADMINISTRATION AND FINALLY,
AS THE LEGISLATURE CONSIDERS
MODIFICATIONS TO THE MCO TAX, WE
ENCOURAGE TIMELY IMPLEMENTATION
OF SHARE OF COST REFORM, WHICH
CURRENTLY LEAVES ADULTS AND
PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES TRAPPED
IN POVERTY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU
. GOOD AFTERNOON. JESSICA MORAN
WITH THE CALIFORNIA DENTAL
ASSOCIATION. WE APPRECIATE THE
LEGISLATURE FOR REJECTING BOTH
THE ELIMINATION AND DELAY OF THE
SPECIALTY DENTAL CLINIC GRANT
PROGRAM, URGING THE LEGISLATURE
TO KEEP THAT ON THE TABLE AS YOU
ENTER FINAL BUDGET NEGOTIATIONS.
IN TERMS OF THE OFFICE OF ORAL
HEALTH FUNDING, UNDERSTAND THAT
DIFFICULT CUTS NEED TO BE MADE
IN A DIFFICULT BUDGET YEAR.
HOPING WE CAN WORK WITH THE
LEGISLATURE IN RESTORING THAT
CONTINUOUS FUNDING IN FUTURE
BUDGET YEARS. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU, MR. CHAIR. MEMBERS OF THE
COMMITTEE, BRANDON MARTY WITH
THE CALIFORNIA MEDICAL
ASSOCIATION WANT TO THANK YOU
FOR YOUR WORK AND DOCTOR
WEBBER'S WORK, PARTICULARLY ON
THE MCO TAX, HOWEVER, WE WOULD
REQUEST AND ARE HAPPY TO WORK
WITH THE LEGISLATURE TO, TO SEND
THAT MONEY OUT THE DOOR ON THE
ORIGINAL TIME FRAME OF 2025 AS
OPPOSED TO 2026. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON. MOLLY
ROBSON WITH PLANNED PARENTHOOD
AFFILIATES OF CALIFORNIA,
ECHOING THE COMMENTS FROM MY
COLLEAGUE BEFORE ME. BUT WE
APPRECIATE THAT THE PROPOSAL
REJECTS ELIMINATION OF
INVESTMENTS IN MEDI-CAL.
HOWEVER, AGREE THAT THESE
INVESTMENTS CANNOT BE DELAYED TO
2026. WE WOULD RESPECTFULLY URGE
THAT YOU ALL IN THE
ADMINISTRATION, RESTORE THE
INVESTMENTS OF THE TARGETED RATE
INCREASES IN 2025 AS ORIGINALLY
PROPOSED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR AND
COMMITTEE MEMBERS, SABRINA
BRADBURY WITH THE CALIFORNIA
ASSOCIATION OF COUNCILS OF
GOVERNMENTS. I JUST WANT TO
EXPRESS OUR SINCERE APPRECIATION
FOR THE ASSEMBLY PRIORITIZING
THE REAP 2.0 PROGRAM AND
RESTORING $250 MILLION IN
FUNDING TO METROPOLITAN PLANNING
ORGANIZATIONS AND REGIONAL
TRANSPORTATION PLANNING
AGENCIES. WE ARE CONFIDENT THIS
FUNDING WILL, BE USED TO ADVANCE
THE STATE'S CLIMATE AND HOUSING
GOALS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. AND I'LL JUST REMIND
FOLKS, ONE OF THE STRONGEST WAYS
YOU CAN SHOW YOUR APPRECIATION
OR EXPRESS IT IS WITH BREVITY.
SO THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON.
ASSEMBLY MEMBERS. DAX PROCTOR,
ON BEHALF OF CALIFORNIANS UNITED
FOR A RESPONSIBLE BUDGET, MANY
THANKS TO ALL OF YOU FOR YOUR
LEADERSHIP AND CONCERTED EFFORT
TO TACKLE THIS COMPLEX BUDGET
DEFICIT WHILE PROTECTING FUNDS
FOR SOME ESSENTIAL SERVICES THAT
STRENGTHEN OUR COMMUNITIES. I
WOULD LIKE TO ESPECIALLY THANK
CHAIR RAMOS FOR HIS LEADERSHIP
IN REDUCING CDCR'S BUDGET AS A
NECESSARY FIRST STEP TO ADDRESS
LONG TERM SPENDING. SUBSTANTIAL
REDUCTIONS TO CDCR'S BASELINE
BUDGET IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT
DIRECTION. HOWEVER, BASELINE
CUTS LIKE THIS ARE CHALLENGING
TO IMPLEMENT BECAUSE THE
DEPARTMENT ISN'T BEING TOLD WHAT
OR WHERE TO REDUCE. WE NEED
DETAILED, ACTIONABLE PLANS IN
ORDER FOR THESE CUTS TO BE
EFFECTIVE IN THE PAST, CDCR HAS
HISTORICALLY STONEWALLED AND
FAILED TO DELIVER ON PLANS SUCH
AS THESE, EVEN WHEN THEY'VE BEEN
MANDATED IN THE FINAL BUDGET.
THE LAST THING WE WANT TO DO IS
BALANCE THE BUDGET ON PAPER,
ONLY FOR THOSE SAVINGS TO NEVER
MATERIALIZE. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR
YOUR LEADERSHIP. THANK YOU. GOOD
AFTERNOON, STEPHANIE ESTRADA
WITH CRUZ STRATEGIES ON BEHALF
OF MAYOR MATT MEHAN IN THE CITY
OF SAN JOSE. WE'RE APPRECIATIVE
OF THE LEGISLATURE'S SUPPORT OF
$1 BILLION IN ROUND SIX FUNDING.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU.
CHAIR MEMBERS NICK ROMO ON
BEHALF OF THE SOUTHERN
CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF
GOVERNMENT, DEEPLY THANKFUL FOR
THE RESTORATION OF 2.0. THANK
YOU TO SHARON QUIRK-SILVA,
ASSEMBLYWOMAN SHARON
QUIRK-SILVA, AND ON BEHALF OF
THE ASSOCIATION OF INDEPENDENT
COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES,
GRATEFUL FOR THE CAL GRAD REFORM
PHASING AND THE TRANSFER
ENTITLEMENT TO OUR INSTITUTIONS.
THANK YOU. CHAIR. THANK YOU.
CHAIR. MEMBERS. ROSS BUCKLEY, ON
BEHALF OF THE CITY OF
SACRAMENTO, WE THANK THE
LEGISLATURE FOR FUNDING HALF
ROUND SIX AND FOR REJECTING THE
2.0 CUTS. THANK YOU. PERFECT.
THANK YOU. JAMIE MINER, ON
BEHALF OF GIFFORDS, I'M ASKING
FOR TO REJECT THE CUTS TO THE
CALVERT PROGRAM. VERY GRATEFUL.
OBVIOUSLY FOR AB 28 AND YOUR
LEADERSHIP. BUT THAT WON'T COME
INTO EFFECT UNTIL LATER THIS
YEAR, LEAVING SOME OF THE
PROGRAMS AND ALREADY
OVERSUBSCRIBED PROGRAMS STRAINED
FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR. SO THANK
YOU. AND THANKS FOR YOUR
LEADERSHIP. THANK YOU, CHAIR AND
MEMBERS, MARK FAROOQ, ON BEHALF
OF THE CALIFORNIA HOSPITAL
ASSOCIATION, WE APPRECIATE THE
EIGHT YEAR RESTORATION OF THE
MCO TAX FUNDING. UNDERSTAND THE
EXTREMELY CHALLENGING BUDGET
SITUATION WE'RE IN. HOWEVER, WE
ARE DISAPPOINTED WITH THE LACK
OF FUNDING FOR 2025 RATE
INCREASES TO PROTECT AND EXPAND
ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE FOR
MEDI-CAL PATIENTS. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. KELLY LARUE WITH
RESILIENT ADVOCACY ON BEHALF OF
P-H-I AIR AMBULANCE AND ALSO THE
AIR AMBULANCE INDUSTRY. AND
WE'RE HOPEFUL. WE APPRECIATE THE
WORK ON THE MCO TAX AND ARE
HOPEFUL TO BE INCLUDED IN THE
LEGISLATIVE, THE LEGISLATIVE
RATE INCREASES OF CHOICE, AS OF
RIGHT NOW, A FEE ENDED, ON
TRAFFIC TICKETS IN CALIFORNIA
THAT FED INTO A SUPPLEMENTAL
PAYMENT FOR AIR AMBULANCE
TRANSPORT, THE CURRENT
REIMBURSEMENT RATE FOR AIR
AMBULANCE TRANSPORT, INCLUDING
THE RURAL NORTH WHERE SHE
PRIMARILY OPERATES, IS 20% OF
THE COST OF A TRANSPORT. SO WE'D
APPRECIATE YOUR HELP IN
SUPPORTING THESE CRUCIAL
SERVICES. THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
GOOD AFTERNOON, SYLVIA SOLIS,
CHAU, CHAU AND L®NG HERE ON
BEHALF OF A FEW CLIENTS, SAN
JOAQUIN VALLEY AIR POLLUTION
CONTROL DISTRICT, THANK YOU FOR
YOUR EFFORTS TO PROVIDE
SUSTAINABLE FUNDING FOR THE
CLEAN CARS FOR ALL PROGRAM,
OPERATED BY LOCAL AIR POLLUTION
CONTROL DISTRICTS ON BEHALF OF
THE CITY OF SANTA MONICA AND
THEIR BIG BLUE BUS. WE THANK YOU
IN SUPPORT FOR MAINTAINING THE
FUNDING FOR THE RCP AND THIS
WILL HELP US ACHIEVE OUR ZERO
EMISSION FLEET TRANSITION GOALS
IN A TIMELY MANNER. AND ON
BEHALF OF THE CALIFORNIA FACULTY
ASSOCIATION, WE THANK THE
ASSEMBLY FOR SUPPORTING THE
BUDGET FUNDING AND FOR YOUR
CONTINUED WORK ON THAT ISSUE. ON
BEHALF OF ADVANCED ENERGY,
UNITED, WE ASK THAT YOU
RECONSIDER THE CUTS TO THE DSGS
AND DBA PROGRAMS IN THE CLEAN
ENERGY SPACE. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH. I JUST WAS
INFORMED THE LINE CONTINUES TO
WRAP QUITE WITH QUITE SOME
LENGTH, AND WE WANT TO GIVE
EVERYBODY AN OPPORTUNITY TO
EXPRESS IF YOU COULD REALLY TRY
TO LIMIT YOUR COMMENTS TO 30S OR
LESS, YOU WOULD HAVE A LOT OF
GRATITUDE. THANK YOU. TRACY
HUDAK, ON BEHALF OF CALIFORNIA
ARTS ADVOCATES COMMENDING YOUR
TOUGH, HARD WORK AND TOUGH
DECISIONS, THANK YOU FOR
RESTORING FUNDING FOR THE
PERFORMING ARTS. EQUITABLE
PAYROLL, PAYROLL FUND, AND THE
ARTS JOBS THAT WILL SUSTAIN AND
WE WILL CONTINUE TO GENTLY
OPPOSE THE $5 MILLION CUTS TO
THE CALIFORNIA ARTS COUNCIL OVER
THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS,
BECAUSE THE COUNCIL IS ALREADY
FUNCTIONING AT CUT LEVELS, AND
THE $26 MILLION IS STRETCHING TO
REACH EVERY CORNER OF THE STATE,
AND THAT IS A CRITICAL FUNDING
FOR MARGINALIZED, LOW INCOME AND
RURAL COMMUNITIES. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. JACKIE GONZALEZ,
POLICY DIRECTOR AT IMMIGRANT
DEFENSE, ADVOCATES, DEEPLY
GRATEFUL FOR THE REJECTION OF
CUTS TO IHSS, TPS AND THE CSU,
TODAY WE FEEL LIKE THE VOICES OF
THE IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY WERE
HEARD. WE ARE SAD THAT THE CHIRP
PROGRAM FOR UNACCOMPANIED
CHILDREN IS NOT SLATED TO
CONTINUE, BUT WE'LL CONTINUE TO
ADVOCATE FOR THAT POPULATION.
THANK YOU AGAIN. THANK YOU.
HAMID YAZDAN, ON BEHALF OF LUMA
ACTION, ECHOING THE COMMENTS OF
MY COLLEAGUES. THANK YOU FOR
PROTECTING IMMIGRANT LEGAL
SERVICES, PARTICULARLY AS WE
FACE DOWN THE PROSPECT OF TRUMP
RETURNING IN 2025 AND CONDUCTING
MASS DEPORTATIONS. ALSO
EMPHASIZING THE NEED TO FIND
SOLUTIONS FOR THE CHIRP PROGRAM.
WHILE THAT PROGRAM MAY BE
ENDING, THE NEEDS OF
UNACCOMPANIED MINORS REMAIN.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU. HELLO,
NICO MAZLOUM, ON BEHALF OF THE
IMMIGRANT LEGAL DEFENSE AND THE
LOYOLA LAW SCHOOL IMMIGRANT
JUSTICE CLINIC, AND I JUST WANT
TO ECHO THE COMMENTS THAT THE
PEOPLE THAT CAME BEFORE ME.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
CHRISTOPHER SANCHEZ WITH THE
MESA VERDE GROUP REPRESENTING
KURDS IN THE CENTRAL AMERICAN
RESOURCE CENTER AND INCLUSIVE
ACTION FOR THE CENTER FOR THE
CITY, ECHOING THE COMMENTS OF MY
PREVIOUS COLLEAGUES RELATED TO
IMMIGRATION, LEGAL SERVICES AND
FOR INCLUSIVE ACTION FOR THE
CITY SUPPORTING THE
LEGISLATURE'S VERSION FOR THE
èC LABOR CENTERS, THE SMALL
BUSINESS TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
PROGRAM, AND SUPPORTING THE
SAFETY NET FOR ALL COALITIONS.
REQUEST. THANK YOU. GOOD
AFTERNOON WITH CHILDREN. NOW,
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE EC
COALITION'S, STRONG ADVOCACY AND
SUPPORT AND DEMONSTRATING THAT
OUR FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN HAVE
ALL THE OPPORTUNITIES TO THRIVE
WITH CHILDCARE SERVICES, AS WELL
AS THE RESTORATION TO THE GOLDEN
STATE TEACHER GRANT PROGRAM. SO
THANK YOU, KIM LEWIS, ALSO, ON
BEHALF OF CHILDREN, NOW, I WANT
TO GREATLY APPRECIATE CHAIR
JACKSON'S LEADERSHIP ON THE
RESTORATION OF THE FIRST CUT,
THE EMERGENCY CHILD CARE BRIDGE
PROGRAM AND THE CALWORKS SAFETY
NETS PROGRAMS, AND ESPECIALLY
THE HOME VISITING PROGRAM. AND
ON BEHALF OF THE CALIFORNIA
COALITION FOR YOUTH. THANK YOU
FOR ROUND SIX ON FUNDING THE
HOUSING, NAVIGATION AND
MAINTENANCE PROGRAM AND THE
VICTIM OF CRIME ACT RESTORATION.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, TIFFANY
MACK, ON BEHALF OF CFT, THANK
YOU FOR THE LEGISLATIVE PROPOSAL
TO PART THE FUND, PART TIME
OFFICE HOURS AT 100, AS WELL AS
REJECTING THE èC LABOR CUTS AND
REJECTING THE èC LABOR COMP. WE
SUPPORT THE èC LABOR COMPACT
FUNDING AND WOULD LIKE TO
MINIMIZE CUTS IN THE FUTURE.
THANK YOU AND THE PROPOSITION 98
PLAN WE SUPPORT AS WELL. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU. EILEEN KUBINSKI
WITH THE COUNTY WELFARE
DIRECTORS ASSOCIATION. DEEP
GRATITUDE TO THE ASSEMBLY AND
ESPECIALLY TO YOU, ASSEMBLY
MEMBER JACKSON AND THE OTHER
MEMBERS OF SUB TWO AND YOUR
STAFF. THE RESTORATIONS TO
CALWORKS IHSS, ADULT PROTECTIVE
SERVICES, FOSTER CARE AND THE
HOUSING PROGRAMS HAVE LITERALLY
SAVED THE SOCIAL SAFETY NET. SO
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU.
KIM ROTHCHILD, CALIFORNIA
ASSOCIATION OF PUBLIC
AUTHORITIES FOR IHSS. WHAT
EILEEN, JUST SAID. AND THANK YOU
AGAIN FOR THE RESTORATION OF THE
IHSS CUTS AND THE BACKUP
PROVIDER PROGRAM. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. CHRIS LEE, ON BEHALF
OF THE SACRAMENTO AREA COUNCIL
OF GOVERNMENTS, THE SONOMA
COUNTY TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY,
THE MERCED COUNTY ASSOCIATION OF
GOVERNMENTS, THE TULARE COUNTY
ASSOCIATION OF GOVERNMENTS, AND
THE COACHELLA VALLEY ASSOCIATION
OF GOVERNMENTS. ECHOING THE
COMMENTS OF CAL COG. THANKFUL
FOR THE REAP TWO RESTORATION AND
LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING TO GET
THAT ACROSS THE FINISH LINE.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, CAT DEBERG
WITH THE HEALTH OFFICERS
ASSOCIATION OF CALIFORNIA HERE
TO THANK YOU FOR INCLUDING THE
FUTURE OF PUBLIC HEALTH FUNDING.
ALL $300 MILLION IN YOUR BUDGET.
THAT INCLUDES THAT FUNDS NOT
JUST THE FUTURE OF PUBLIC
HEALTH, BUT ALSO THE PRESENT OF
PUBLIC HEALTH. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. THANK YOU. KIMBERLY
ROSENBERGER WITH SERVICE
EMPLOYEES INTERNATIONAL UNION.
WE ARE APPRECIATIVE OF THE
PROTECTION TO CHILD CARE,
RESTORING SOME OF THE SLOTS, AS
WELL AS PROTECTING THE WORKER
COMPACTS IN PROP 98. CSU AND
REJECTING THE UC LABOR CENTER
CUTS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
MICHELLE GIBBONS WITH T I
REPRESENTING LOCAL HEALTH
DEPARTMENTS THROUGHOUT THE
STATE. JUST EXPRESS GRATITUDE
FOR PROTECTING PUBLIC HEALTH
FUNDING TO YOU ALL ON THE
COMMITTEE AND TO YOUR STAFF.
ALSO WANT TO JUST SAY ON THE
SYNDROMIC SURVEILLANCE TRAILER
BILL, APPRECIATE THE ACTIONS
WILL WORK TOGETHER TO FIGURE OUT
THE INTEROPERABILITY LANGUAGE
AND APPRECIATE THE ACTIONS TAKEN
ON CHP AND ON, THE CAL WORKS
HOME VISITING PROGRAM. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU. KELLY. KELLY
BROOK'S HERE ON BEHALF OF
SEVERAL CLIENTS. FIRST, ON
BEHALF OF THE URBAN COUNTIES OF
CALIFORNIA, THE RURAL COUNTY
REPRESENTATIVES OF CALIFORNIA
AND THE BOARDS OF SUPERVISORS OF
RIVERSIDE, VENTURA AND SANTA
CRUZ. THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THE
RESTORATIONS AND THE HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES SPACE,
PARTICULARLY THE FUTURE OF
PUBLIC HEALTH AND THE HUMAN
SERVICES ITEMS. SECOND, ON
BEHALF OF THE CALIFORNIA
COMMUNITY LIVING NETWORK, THANK
YOU FOR REJECTING THE
DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES RATE
REFORM DELAY. THIRD, ON BEHALF
OF THE CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF
PUBLIC HOSPITALS AND HEALTH
SYSTEMS, WE APPRECIATE THE
RESTORATION OF THE PROVIDER RATE
INCREASES FROM THE MCO TAX
REVENUE. AND FINALLY, ON BEHALF
OF THE CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF
DIAPER BANKS, WE'RE DISAPPOINTED
THERE'S NOT FUNDING AND WE'RE
GOING TO KEEP FIGHTING ON THIS
ISSUE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
GOOD AFTERNOON, BETH MALINOWSKI
WITH SEIU CALIFORNIA IS A PROUD
PARTNER OF THE CALIFORNIA CAN'T
WAIT COALITION. I WANT TO THANK
YOU FOR PROTECTING THE
INVESTMENTS IN PUBLIC HEALTH.
FUTURE PUBLIC HEALTH FUNDING IN
PARTICULAR. I JUST REALLY WANT
TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR
INVESTMENTS IN PHYSICIAN
WORKFORCE RESTORATION OF CUTS.
THE SONG BROWN PROGRAM, AND THE
LEGISLATURE'S OVERALL COMMITMENT
TO LIFTING UP THE HEALTH CARE
WORKFORCE WITH A COMMIT TO FUND
THE HEALTH CARE MINIMUM WAGE.
LASTLY, THE LABOR PARTNERS WANT
TO THANK YOU FOR COMMITTING TO
OUR STRIKING WORKERS AND THEIR
HEALTH CARE NEEDS. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. TIFFANY WHITTON WITH
SEIU CALIFORNIA. THANKFUL FOR
YOUR COMMITMENT TO PROTECT OUR
FAMILIES, OUR CHILDREN, AGING
AND OUR FOSTER YOUTH BY
REJECTING THE PROPOSALS TO
CALWORKS IN PARTICULAR, FAMILY
STABILIZATION, REJECTION OF YOUR
CUTS TO CHILD WELFARE, IN
PARTICULAR FURS, AS WELL AS IHSS
APS, THE DELAY TO ID RATE STUDY,
AS WELL AS THE IMMIGRATION LEGAL
SERVICES AND APPRECIATE
MAINTAINING FUNDS IN THE SAFETY
NET RESERVES. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU. AFTERNOON. CHAIR MEMBERS, I
WOULD JUST LIKE TO ECHO COMMENTS
MADE BY OUR AFSCME AFFILIATE,
UAW LOCAL 3930 ON IHSS AND CHILD
CARE. THANK YOU. ALSO ECHO THE
COMMENTS BY OUR LABOR PARTNERS
AT SEIU AND CALIFORNIA LABOR
FEDERATION ON HEALTH AND HUMAN
SERVICES, AND APPRECIATE THE
PRESERVATION OF èC LABOR
FUNDING. THANK YOU FOR THE BOLD
APPROACH ON CDCR AND LISTENING
TO FRONTLINE WORKERS IN THE
AGENCY PROVIDING MEDICAL, MENTAL
HEALTH CARE AND REHABILITATIVE
SERVICES BY REJECTING CONTINUED,
CONTINUED PRIVATIZATION OF JOBS
WHILE ALSO BALANCING THE
PRESERVATION OF REHABILITATIVE
PROGRAMING. WE DO HAVE CONCERNS
ABOUT THE ELIMINATION OF STATE
VACANT POSITIONS. WANT TO MAKE
SURE THAT THOSE ARE THOSE
DECISIONS BEING MADE ARE DONE IN
CONSULTATION THÀNH WITH THE
EXCLUSIVE BARGAINING REPS.
APPRECIATE THE LEGISLATURE
REJECTING THE TELEWORK STIPEND
TBL AND RESPECTING THE
COLLECTIVE BARGAINING PROCESS.
LASTLY, WANT TO SHARE OUR
APPRECIATION FOR THE LEGISLATURE
RESPECTING THE NEGOTIATED
AGREEMENT ON THE MCO TAX AND IN
PARTICULAR THE FUNDING TOWARDS
GROUND EMERGENCY TRANSPORTATION.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALWAYS
GOOD TO SEE YOU, TAYLOR. TAYLOR
JACKSON WITH THE CALIFORNIA
PRIMARY CARE ASSOCIATION. WE
WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR
COMMITMENT TO REJECTING CUTS TO
HEALTH CENTER OUTREACH AND
ENROLLMENT EFFORTS. THE MEDI-CAL
ACUPUNCTURE BENEFIT, AND THE
INDIAN HEALTH GRANT PROGRAM. WE
ARE CONCERNED ABOUT TARGET
PROVIDER RATE INCREASES BEING
PUSHED BACK ANOTHER YEAR. LAST
YEAR, TREES WERE PUSHED TO 2025
AND NOW THEY'RE ONCE AGAIN BEING
DELAYED. WE ARE ALSO CONCERNED
WITH CONTINUED REDUCTIONS TO THE
EQUITY IN PRACTICE
TRANSFORMATION GRANT PROGRAM, AS
WELL AS TRAINING OF COMMUNITY
HEALTH WORKERS. CPCA LOOKS
FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO WORK
WITH YOU ALL IN THE COMING WEEKS
. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR, AND
MEMBERS, ON BEHALF OF THE
CALIFORNIA STATE SHERIFFS
ASSOCIATION, GRATEFUL FOR AND
SUPPORTIVE OF THE INCLUSION OF
103 MILLION ON GOING FOR VICTIMS
OF CRIME ACT FUNDING AND
PARTICULARLY VICTIM NOTIFICATION
SERVICES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. SANDRA ENRIQUEZ, CEO
OF OUR US CALIFORNIA STATE
SEXUAL ASSAULT COALITION. I'M
HERE ON BEHALF OF THE 84 SEXUAL
ASSAULT PROGRAMS IN THE STATE
AND THE 30, 35,000 PLUS
SURVIVORS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT IN
THE STATE AND THE 300, AT LEAST,
SURVIVORS THAT SHOWED UP HERE AT
THE CAPITOL TODAY TO ENSURE THAT
THEIR VOICES ARE HEARD. I WANT
TO START OFF BY THANKING THE
CHAIR, ASSEMBLYMEMBER GABRIEL
ALSO CHAIR RAMOS, FOR ENSURING
THAT THE 103 MILLION IS IN THE
BUDGET. WE WANT TO JUST SAY
THAT, IT SHOULDN'T HAVE TAKEN
ALL THIS TIME TO GET THERE AND
THAT WE CANNOT HAVE SURVIVORS
BARING THEIR SOULS AND GOING
THROUGH THIS YEAR AFTER YEAR.
THIS FUNDING HAS TO BE ONGOING,
AND WE NEED THIS STATE TO MAKE A
COMMITMENT TO SURVIVORS OF ALL
KINDS OF CRIMES IN CALIFORNIA.
IT'S NOT THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT'S RESPONSIBILITY.
IT'S OUR STATE'S. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M
TINA RODRIGUEZ, EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR FOR BELOVED SURVIVORS
TRAUMA RECOVERY CENTER, AND
FRESNO, CALIFORNIA. AND I'M A
SURVIVOR OF CHILDHOOD SEXUAL
ASSAULT. I CAME HERE TODAY WITH
OVER 200 SURVIVORS, TERRIFIED
THAT THE THOUGHT OF THE FUNDING
USED TO SUPPORT CRISIS
INTERVENTION WAS IN JEOPARDY. I
KNOW YOU WANT US TO KEEP IT
SHORT AND SWEET AND, YOU KNOW,
TEN MONTHS WAS VERY FRIGHTENING.
EVERYTHING WAS IN LIMBO. WE'VE
HAD PEOPLE THAT HAVE LEFT
SHELTERS TO COME HERE TODAY AND
BE HERE BEFORE YOU.
RESPECTFULLY, THANK YOU FOR THE
103 MILLION. THIS PROCESS OF
SURVIVORS PULLING OFF THEIR
BANDAGES TO THE BEG TO BE A
PRIORITY IN THIS EVERY BUDGET
SEASON NEEDS TO STOP. BUT I DO
THANK YOU FOR THE 103 MILLION
AND HOPEFULLY WE COULD CHANGE
THIS PROCESS. THANK YOU. WHEN I
STARTED MY NAME IS ANNABELLA
SOY, A JANITOR. THE SEIU Â
PORTANTINO'S Y SOY VICTIMA DE
SOBREVIVIENTE DOS LUGARES DE
TRABAJO DE VIOLENCIA SEXUAL.
GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS
ANNABELLA AGUIRRE. I AM A MEMBER
OF SEIU US. I'M A JANITOR FOR
OVER 220 YEARS, AND I'M ALSO A
SURVIVOR OF RAPE ON THE NIGHT
SHIFT. I WAS RAPED TWICE. Â
APARECIO COMO VICTIMA A LO
SIENTO TRÊN MILLONES. PERO
ESPERAMOS C¯ EL GOBERNADOR LO LO
VALLAPUDUA Y NOSOTROS COMO
VICTIMAS IMMIGRANTS PODER TENER
ESA AYUDA QUÊ TANTO NECESITAMOS
CUANDO SOMOS ABUSADO O BALADAS.
I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE 103
MILLION, AND I AM HOPEFUL THAT
GOVERNOR NEWSOM WILL ALSO
APPROVE THAT, AND BECAUSE WE
NEED IT TO HAVE THOSE SERVICES
AVAILABLE TO US AS SURVIVORS IN
ORDER FOR US TO BREAK THE
SILENCE. YAKYU ESOS FONDOS NÓ
COMO UN PUENTE A NOSOTROS COMO
SOBREVIVIENTES IMMIGRANTS PARA
PODER SOBREVIVIR Y PODER A
SOBREVIVIR A LA VIOLENCIA Y A LA
COSA SEXUAL EN LOS LUGARES DE
TRABAJO. MUCHAS MUCHAS GRACIAS.
THOSE ARE THE RESOURCES THAT WE
NEED IN ORDER FOR US TO BREAK
OUR SILENCE AND TO HAVE THAT
BRIDGE FROM VICTIMS TO SURVIVORS
. BUENAS TARDES. MY NAME IS
MARIA GONZALEZ. A TRABAJAR EN LA
INDUSTRIA DE LA LIMPIEZA
PERMANENTE TRES ANOS, UN
PERTENEZCO AL SINDICATO ACA UWW
NOSOTROS QUEREMOS Þ YO QUIERO
C¯, POR FAVOR. VALLAPUDUA LO
SIENTO THREE MILLONES PARA QUÊ
NOS AYUDA YA SEA PSICOLOGICA OR
DEFENSA PERSONAL COMO VICTIMA DE
ACOSO SEXUAL Y SOBREVIVIENTE.
QUÉ SOY LES VIDAK, POR FAVOR?
FERM ISSO PARA QUÊ NOSOTROS
TENEMOS UN POQUITO DE AYUDA.
GRACIAS DO YOU NEED TRANSLATION?
I'M GOOD. THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
GRACIAS MY NAME IS MARTA MEJIA.
SOY SOBREVIVIENTE DE COSAS
SEXUAL PERTENEZCO AL CENTRO. YA
BASTA, YA QUIERO DECIR. LES
CASOS TODO ESE DINERO. SIENTO LO
NECESITAMOS CADA ANO Y ASI VAMOS
EVITAR MORIR EN LAS CALLES.
PORQUE NO VAMOS NO TENDREMOS
ESOS RECURSOS. GRACIAS, GRACIAS.
BUENOS DIAS. MY NAME IS MARIA
BASTIDA. VENGO DEL PROGRAMA DE
YA BASTA SOY SAUCE REVIENTA DE
VIOLENCIA DOMÉSTICA. ESTAMOS
PIDIENDO GANO CONO VALLAPUDUA
ESTA ESTÉ. ESTA ESTO DE SIENTO
TRES MILLONES DE DOLARES PARA
LOS SOBREVIVIENTES DE VIOLENCIA.
MUCHAS GRACIAS. GRACIAS BUENAS
TARDES A TODOS ME NOMBRE DE
VERONICA LAGUNAS Y TAMBIÉN
PERTENEZCO A EL CENTRO YA BASTA
Y COMO SOBREVIVIENTE DE ACOSO
SEXUAL Ã LES PEDIMOS DE C¯
SIEMPRE SE APROVECHANDO ESTE
DINERO Y AQUI HAY MUCHA
NECESIDAD PARA ESTÁ
SOBREVIVIENTES DE ASALTO Y ACOSO
SEXUAL. GRACIAS, GRACIAS,
VERONICA. HELLO, I'M MEMBER
GABRIEL. MY NAME IS SARAH DUNBAR
RILEY, AND I'M ACTUALLY AN
ASSAULT VICTIM. AS WELL AS A
MOTHER OF AN ASSAULT VICTIM. AND
I'M HERE TODAY TO JUST THANK YOU
SO MUCH FOR THE FUNDING THAT YOU
HAVE PROVIDED. AND PLEASE
CONTINUE THAT BECAUSE IT'S VERY,
VERY HARD TO GO THROUGH THIS AND
NOT HAVE THOSE SERVICES IN PLACE
IS A TERRIFYING REALITY. SO
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. GOOD
AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS TAMARA
KNOX. I'M A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
SURVIVOR AND THANK YOU FOR THE
103 MILLION. THANK YOU. GOOD
AFTERNOON, CHAIR AND COMMITTEE
MEMBERS. MY NAME IS CYNTHIA
RODRIGUEZ. I'M A SEXUAL ASSAULT
SURVIVOR AND AN ADVOCATE WITH
THE UCLA WOMEN'S CENTER FROM LOS
ANGELES COUNTY. I WANT TO ENSURE
THE COMMITTEE INCLUDES 103
MILLION IN ONGOING FUNDING FOR
CRIME VICTIM SERVICES BY
INCLUDING ONGOING FUNDING,
SURVIVORS OF CRIME IN CALIFORNIA
WILL BE ABLE TO ACCESS THE
NECESSARY AND LIFE SAVING
SERVICES TO SUPPORT THEIR
HEALING AND RECOVERY JOURNEYS,
WHICH ARE VERY IMPORTANT, AND WE
WILL ENSURE THAT CALIFORNIA
SAFETY NET WILL STAY INTACT.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. GOOD
AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS CHINA
DAVIS AND I'M A FULL TIME SEXUAL
ASSAULT AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
ADVOCATE FOR THE RIVERSIDE AREA
RAPE CRISIS CENTER. AND I WANT
TO THANK YOU SINCERELY FOR THE
$103 MILLION YOU PUT IN THE
BUDGET. WE ARE THE ONLY RAPE
CRISIS CENTER IN THAT REGION,
AND WITHOUT THAT MONEY, WE WOULD
HAVE WE WOULD HAVE HAD TO SHUT
OUR DOORS. AND I'M ALSO A RAPE
SURVIVOR AND A SURVIVOR OF CHILD
ABUSE AND ASSAULT. AND I JUST I
COULD NOT THANK YOU MORE FOR THE
FUNDING. I'M ALSO A MOTHER, AND
WE KNOW THAT WHEN A MOTHER HAS
BEEN VICTIMIZED, THE CHANCES OF
A CHILD BEING VICTIMIZED IS
ASTRONOMICAL. AND SO WE NEED
THESE SERVICES AND THESE FUNDS
ARE CRUCIAL. SO THANK YOU, THANK
YOU AND THANK YOU FOR THE
IMPORTANT WORK YOU DO. HI. MY
NAME IS ELVIRA HERRERA, AND I'M
A LEADER AS CAMPESINAS, AND I'M
AN ADVOCATE FOR DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE, BUT AS WELL I'M ALSO A
SURVIVOR OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. I
WAS HELD HOSTAGE, BEAT, RAPED
AND TORTURED AND SHOT, AND I WAS
PRONOUNCED DEAD AT ARRIVAL TO
THE HOSPITAL, BUT AGAIN, THE
SERVICES VICTIM SERVICES HELPED
ME TO BE WHERE I'M AT RIGHT NOW.
AND I THANK YOU FOR THE
FUNDINGS, AND I HOPE THAT THEY
THEY HAVE THOSE FUNDINGS TO HELP
US, NAVIGATE TO HEALING AND, AND
AGAIN, I DON'T FEEL LIKE WE
SHOULD BE BEGGING FOR THIS MONEY
, TO BE TO HEAL IN THE FUTURE. I
THINK I DID A LOT OF BEGGING
WHEN THE SHOTGUN WENT OFF ME.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU. HI, MY
NAME IS JESSENIA. COSTA RICA
PERTENEZCO, A LEADER. CAMPESINOS
SOY UNA CAMPESINA IMMIGRANT.
CRUZADA SOBREVIVIENTE DE
VIOLENCIA DOMÉSTICA DE ASALTO
COSAS SEXUAL EN LOS CAMPOS DE
CALIFORNIA. VENGO C¯ SEGUN LOS
THREE MILLONES PARA QUÊ PUEDEN
DARNOS EL APOYO Y NOS PARA SALUD
MENTAL Y TODOS LOS RECURSOS QUÊ.
NECESITAMOS GRACIAS, GRACIAS.
BUENAS TARDES. MY NAME IS
VERONICA GARCIA'S. SOY DE LA
TRES CAMPESINOS SOBREVIVIENTE DE
VIOLENCIA DOMÉSTICA Y LES APOYO
CON LOS TRES MUJERES, MAS Y MAS,
PORQUE LO NECESITAMOS HAY MUCHAS
GENTE ESTA ESTIMADA IN AYUDA
PSICOLOGICA Y TODO PARA ESO NO
NOS AYUDA A LA AYUDA. GRACIAS
GRACIAS. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.
TIM MADDEN, REPRESENTING THE
CALIFORNIA CHAPTER OF THE
AMERICAN COLLEGE OF EMERGENCY
PHYSICIANS. WE'RE APPRECIATIVE
OF THE LEGISLATURE'S ACTIONS
AROUND THE MCO TAX AND THE
REJECTION OF THE MAY REVISE.
SPECIFICALLY WITH THE
LEGISLATURE'S LEGISLATIVE
PROPOSAL FOR 2425. WE ASK THAT
THE EMERGENCY PHYSICIANS BE
INCLUDED IN THE ADDITIONAL
INVESTMENTS, PARTICULARLY IN
LIGHT OF SOME OF THE UNFORTUNATE
CUTS THAT WILL NEED TO MOVE
FORWARD. WE'RE ANTICIPATING MORE
MEDI-CAL PATIENTS COMING IN TO
THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT, AND
THEN QUICKLY, I ALSO REPRESENT
GROSSMONT HEALTHCARE DISTRICT,
THEY'RE LOOKING TO ESTABLISH A
NEW SONG, BROWN PRIMARY CARE
RESIDENCY PROGRAM, SO THEY'RE
APPRECIATIVE OF THE FUNDS BEING
MAINTAINED THERE AND HOPE THEY
WILL EXTEND OUT TO THE NEW
PROGRAMS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
HI. MY NAME IS CINDY VASALLO, A
STUDENT OF TRADITIONAL CHINESE
MEDICINE AT FIVE BRANCHES
UNIVERSITY IN SANTA CRUZ. FIRST
OF ALL, I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU
FOR WORKING THROUGH YOUR LUNCH
BREAK, BUT I'D JUST QUICKLY LIKE
TO THANK YOU, AND EXPRESS OUR
OUR CONTINUED GRATITUDE FOR YOUR
COMMITMENT IN RESTORING AND
PROTECTING THE ACUPUNCTURE
BENEFIT FOR MEDI-CAL PATIENTS.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. HELLO.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR STAYING AND
WORKING WITH US. MY NAME IS
DOCTOR MARILYN MARIPOSA
BERNSTEIN, AND I'M GRATEFUL FOR
INCLUDING ACUPUNCTURE BACK INTO
THE BUDGET. IT IS SAFE AND COST
EFFECTIVE. WE NOT ONLY TREAT
PAIN, BUT MANY MENTAL HEALTH
ISSUES AND ARE EXCELLENT AT
PREVENTION OF SERIOUS ILLNESSES
THAT COST THE STATE SO MUCH
MONEY IN MEDICATION AND REHAB,
SUCH AS CANCER AND DIABETES AND
SO FORTH. PLEASE ENCOURAGE GAVIN
NEWSOM TO THINK OF THE LONG TERM
IMPLICATIONS OF CUTTING PRIMARY
HEALTH CARE TO THE UNDERSERVED,
HARDWORKING COMMUNITIES,
ESPECIALLY OUR FARMWORKERS. I'M
A SURVIVOR OF ASSAULT AS WELL,
AND THE VICTIM WITNESS PROGRAM
HELPED ME GET ACUPUNCTURE 40
YEARS AGO, PLEASE ALSO RECOGNIZE
THE LEGACY OF GOVERNOR BROWN,
WHO LEGISLATED ACUPUNCTURE. AND
WE WANT TO HONOR HIM. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON, TONY
ANDERSON, ASSOCIATION OF
REGIONAL CENTER AGENCIES, AND I
WANT TO THANK YOU FOR, YOUR TIME
TODAY. WE'RE, WE WANT TO THANK
YOU FOR REJECTING THE GOVERNOR'S
PROPOSAL TO DELAY THE COMMUNITY
SERVICES RATES IS WE KNOW THAT
YOU ARE VERY AWARE OF THE NEEDS
OF OUR COMMUNITY, AND WE THANK
YOU FOR LISTENING. AND WE STAND
READY IN OUR ADVOCACY TO SUPPORT
YOUR ACTIONS TODAY. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. HI, BRANDON TATE WITH
THE YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH EQUITY
COALITION. I WANT TO THANK THE
WORK OF THIS COMMITTEE AND THE
STAFF AS WELL, IN REJECTING THE
CUTS TO THE CHILDREN YOUTH
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH INITIATIVE AT
THE OFFICE OF HEALTH EQUITY.
THESE ARE REALLY IMPORTANT
PROGRAMS. I REPRESENT 35
ORGANIZATIONS AROUND THE STATE
THAT ARE DOING VITAL WORK WITH
YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH,
PARTICULARLY FOR OUR LGBTQ YOUTH
WHO ARE THE MOST
DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED. WE
APPRECIATE YOU RESTORING THE
FUNDING, AND IF THERE'S ANYTHING
OUR COALITION CAN DO TO BE
HELPFUL AS THIS FIGHT CONTINUES,
WE'D LOVE TO SEE THIS THIS,
CONTINUE. LET US KNOW IF THERE'S
ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO HELP.
THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY
NAME IS VANESSA OROZCO. ON
BEHALF OF GOLDEN STATE
OPPORTUNITY AND THE CAL ITC
COALITION, WE'D LIKE TO THANK
THE WORK OF THIS COMMITTEE AND
THE LEGISLATURE FOR RECOGNIZING
THE CRITICAL IMPORTANCE OF FREE
TAX PREP ASSISTANCE AND
EDUCATION AND OUTREACH PROGRAMS
BY HELPING TO LESSEN THE IMPACT
OF THE GOVERNOR'S PLAN. 10
MILLION, CUT. UNFORTUNATELY, THE
REMAINING FUNDING GAP REMAINS
MEANS THAT OUR COMMUNITY
PARTNERS CANNOT OPERATE THEIR
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND TAX
FILING SUPPORT AT THE SAME SCALE
AS THEY HAVE BEEN, CREATING
PRESSURE FOR THEM TO CUT HOURS
AND PROGRAMING. WE RESPECTFULLY
URGE THIS BODY TO CONTINUE
FINDING WAYS TO HELP SOURCE
ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR THIS
VITAL OUTREACH WORK. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. AFTERNOON, CHAIR.
MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE. MY
NAME IS DANIELLE BAUTISTA WITH
UNITED WAYS OF CALIFORNIA. ALSO
HERE ON BEHALF OF THE CAL EITC
COALITION AND GRACE AND END
CHILD POVERTY IN CALIFORNIA.
ECHOING MY COLLEAGUES SENTIMENTS
AND SHARING THAT WE ARE DEEPLY
GRATEFUL FOR THE INCLUSION OF
TRAILER BILL LANGUAGE TO ALIGN
THE INCOME THRESHOLDS FOR THE
CAL ITC YOUNG CHILD TAX CREDIT
AND FOSTER YOUTH TAX CREDIT, AS
WELL AS THE 2 MILLION ONGOING
FOR FREE TAX PREPARATION
ASSISTANCE AND EDUCATION AND
OUTREACH PROGRAMS, ESPECIALLY
DURING A TOUGH BUDGET YEAR,
BRINGING UP OUR TOTAL TO 12
MILLION. AND WE WILL CONTINUE
URGING THE LEGISLATURE TO FULLY
FUND FREE TAX PREPARATION AND
EDUCATION AND OUTREACH AT 20
MILLION. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON, MR.
CHAIR. ROMAN VOGELSANG WITH THE
PREY AND COMPANY, ON BEHALF OF
THE CALIFORNIA WORKFORCE
ASSOCIATION. WE WANTED TO VOICE
OUR SUPPORT TO THE CHANGES IN
THE PROPOSAL OF THE LEGISLATIVE
BUDGET PLAN TO THE CALWORKS
EXPANDED, SUBSIDIZED EMPLOYMENT
PROGRAM, THE HIGH ROAD TRAINING
PARTNERSHIP AND HEALTH AND HUMAN
SERVICES PROGRAM, THE CALIFORNIA
YOUTH LEADERSHIP CORPS, THE
WOMEN IN CONSTRUCTION PRIORITY
UNIT, THE CALIFORNIA YOUTH
APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM, AND THE
APPRENTICESHIP INNOVATION FUND.
WE ALSO LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING
WITH THE MEMBERS AND STAFF OF
THIS COMMITTEE IN THE COMING
WEEKS IN SUPPORTING PERMANENT
FUNDING TO THE BREAKING BARRIERS
TO EMPLOYMENT GRANT PROGRAM AT
THE CALIFORNIA WORKFORCE
DEVELOPMENT BOARD. THANK YOU SO
MUCH. THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON.
MY NAME IS HOLLY FLEMING. I'M
WITH CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY CENTERS
OF CALIFORNIA. WE SUPPORT CHILD
ABUSE RESPONSE THROUGHOUT THE
STATE. I WANT TO EXTEND OUR
SINCERE GRATITUDE FOR THE
INCLUSION OF THE VOCA BACKFILL
FUNDING IN THIS BUDGET. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU. HELLO, CHAIR AND
COMMITTEE, I'M MONICA KIRKLAND.
I'M THE STATE POLICY DIRECTOR
FOR SENIOR SERVICES COALITION OF
ALAMEDA COUNTY. AND ON BEHALF OF
THE 39 ORGANIZATIONS AND THE
89,000, OLDER ADULTS THAT WE
REPRESENT, WE WANT TO THANK YOU
FOR YOUR REFLECTION OF CHANGES
IN THE REJECTION TO THE CUTS
FOR, HOME SAFE AND THE FOR ADULT
PROTECTIVE SERVICES, ALSO FOR
THE IHSS CUTS AND FOR THE OLDER
ACT, CALIFORNIA ACTS
MODERNIZATION. THANK YOU SO MUCH
. THANK YOU. HI. I'M KIMBERLY
TAN, A SAN FRANCISCO NATIVE,
HOLISTIC WELLNESS PROFESSIONAL
AND BUSINESS OWNER HELPING MY
CLIENTS FIND RELIEF PAST WHERE
CONVENTIONAL MEDICINE FAILS
THEM. MY GRANDMOTHER LIVED AND
DIED ON MEDI-CAL. MY MOM WORKED
FOR MEDI-CAL FOR OVER 15 YEARS.
ACUPUNCTURE HAS HELPED ALL OF
US. I SAY THIS AS SOMEONE NOW
PRIVILEGED TO PAY OUT OF POCKET
WITH PARENTS WHO COULDN'T. SO
THANKS FOR PAST AND FUTURE
FUNDING. THIS ANCESTRAL MEDICINE
HAS HELPED ME. HUNDREDS OF MY
CLIENTS AND EVERYONE I KNOW
WHO'S HAD IT TREAT AND PREVENT
SERIOUS ILLNESS AND CONDITIONS.
MANY VERY COMMON, ALL OF WHICH
EVEN FOR A HEALTHY ADULT, IS
DEBILITATING UNDER AN ALREADY
OPPRESSIVE, UNSAFE AND UNWELL
SOCIETY. THIS CUT ALSO FEELS
XENOPHOBIC, ECHOING PELOSI'S
COMMENTS A FEW MONTHS AGO,
ACUPUNCTURE IS ONE OF THE LAST
TOOLS AND BODIES OF STUDY FREE
FROM PROFIT DRIVEN BIG PHARMA.
WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH AND HEAL
FROM THE CHRONIC SOCIETAL
ILLNESSES OUR GOVERNMENTS,
CORPORATIONS AND FRANKLY,
POLITICIANS CONTINUE TO CONSENT
AND PERPETUATE BY NOT MEETING
BASIC PUBLIC HEALTH NEEDS,
LETTING MUCH NEEDED, UNSEEN,
SEEMINGLY NUANCED CARE LIKE
ACUPUNCTURE FALL AWAY. THANK YOU
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. GOOD
AFTERNOON. GOOD AFTERNOON.
SENIOR OFFICER AT THE UCLA
CHICANO STUDIES RESEARCH CENTER,
A PARTNER OF THE LATINO POLICY
AND POLITICS INSTITUTE. I AM
HERE AS AN INDIVIDUAL TO THANK
THE LEGISLATURE FOR THEIR JOINT
CALL TO REINSTATE FUNDS FOR THE
LATINO FUTURES LAB AND THE UCLA
AND THE UC LABOR CENTERS. MY
HOPE IS THAT THE MAINTENANCE OF
THESE FUNDS MOVES ALONG THROUGH
THE PROCESS OF BUDGET
RECONCILIATION. SO CRITICAL
RESEARCH ON CALIFORNIA'S LATINAS
COMMUNITIES CONTINUES ON. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON,
DAVID AMAYA, I'M REGIONAL
MANAGER FOR HOPE AND
REDEMPTIONS, INSIDE PROGRAMING
WITH ANTI-RECIDIVISM. I WANT TO
THANK YOU GUYS FOR PROVIDING
FUNDING, ME, MYSELF BEING A
LIFER, I SERVED 25 YEARS. I'M
HOME. I KNOW HOW MUCH THE
REHABILITATIVE PROGRAMS IN CDCR
HELPED ME TO GAIN UNDERSTANDING
AND GUIDANCE AND COME HOME AS A
PRODUCTIVE CITIZEN, AND ALSO FOR
THE THREE DAY VISITS FOR LEVEL
FOURS, I PRO LEVEL FOUR, AND IT
HELPED ME CONTINUE TO BUILD AND
MAINTAIN A HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP
WITH MY DAUGHTER. NOW I'M DOING
SOMETHING. I HAVE A CAREER AND
SHE'S PROUD OF ME AND I WANT TO
THANK YOU GUYS. THAT'S
WONDERFUL. THANK YOU. HELLO
EVERYONE. MY NAME IS JACOB
BREVARD. I AM THE DIRECTOR OF
INSIGHT PROGRAMS FOR THE
ANTI-RECIDIVISM COALITION, ALSO
KNOWN AS ARC. I WANT TO THANK
THIS, THIS BODY, FOR CONTINUING
THE FUNDING OF THE HOPE AND
REDEMPTION TEAM, THE IN PRISON
PROGRAM IS ESSENTIAL TO PEOPLE
COMING OUT AND BEING PRODUCTIVE
MEMBERS. I AM A FORMER LIFER,
AND I'VE BEEN OUT FOR ABOUT TEN
YEARS NOW. AND, I GIVE CDCR A
LOT OF CREDIT FOR MY EDUCATION
AND MY ABILITY TO BECOME
PRODUCTIVE AND TO BE A LAW
ABIDING CITIZEN. I ALSO WANT TO
THANK THIS THIS BODY FOR, FOR
NOT OR REJECTING THE GOVERNOR'S
OR, PROPOSED CUTS TO THE THIRD
DAY OF VISITING FOR LEVEL FOUR
INMATE VISITS. OUR OUR ESSENTIAL
TO, TO KEEPING FAMILY TIES AND,
HELPING PEOPLE REINTEGRATE BACK
INTO SOCIETY. THANK YOU. SO MUCH
. THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON
EVERYONE. MY NAME IS JAMIL
CARTER. I'M WITH THE
ANTI-RECIDIVISM COALITION. I'M A
LIFE COACH RIGHT NOW AT IRONWOOD
STATE PRISON, I'M A SENIOR LIFE
COACH. I'VE BEEN DOING THIS WORK
AS A FACILITATOR THERE FOR OVER
SEVEN YEARS NOW, AND I'M
RESPONSIBLE FOR OVER 5000
GRADUATIONS THERE. SO I WOULD
LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING
US TO CONTINUE TO DO OUR WORK AS
AS A LIFE COACH WITH THE HOPE
AND REDEMPTION TEAM, BUT ALSO TO
WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR
ALLOWING THE DOORS TO STAY OPEN
AT Ã ARC, THE ANTI-RECIDIVISM
COALITION, BECAUSE WHEN THE MEN
COME HOME, THE MEN AND WOMEN
COME HOME. THEY WILL BE A
RESOURCE FOR THEM WHEN THEY COME
HOME. ALSO, TOO, THERE'S SOME
INCREDIBLE STORIES. I KNOW A LOT
OF TIME THAT'S SHARED HERE, BUT
I LIKE TO EXTEND THE INVITATION
OR INVITE TO ONE OF THESE
GRADUATIONS TO THIS PANEL HERE.
IF EVER WANT TO COME AND WANT TO
SEE SOME OF THIS WORK THAT WE
TALK ABOUT. SO I JUST WANT TO
SAY THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO
CONTINUE TO DO THE WORK AND FOR
ME TO HAVE PURPOSE IN THE WORK.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SIR, GOOD
AFTERNOON EVERYONE. MY NAME IS
TYSON NGUYEN. I'M WITH THE
ANTI-RECIDIVISM COALITION. I
JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR
APPROVING, ISSUE 79, AND I'M
GRATEFUL FOR THE REJECTION OF 81
AND 108. AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO
YOUR SUPPORT ON ISSUE 80. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON
EVERYONE. PEACE, POWER AND
POSITIVITY. MY NAME IS SHAWN
GAGE. I AM A HOPE AND REDEMPTION
TEAM MEMBER LIFE COACH. I'M ALSO
A MEMBER OF ARC ANTI-RECIDIVISM
COALITION. I FACILITATE IN
CALIFORNIA HEALTH CARE FACILITY.
I REALLY JUST WANT TO SAY THANK
YOU FOR YOUR PROGRESSIVE
THINKING. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING
PUBLIC SAFETY, AND THANK YOU FOR
ALLOWING US TO DO WHAT WE DO.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. GOOD
AFTERNOON EVERYBODY. MY NAME IS
JOSEPH OSORIO. I'M THE ASSOCIATE
DIRECTOR OF THE ANTI-RECIDIVISM
COALITION HERE IN SACRAMENTO. I
JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU SO
MUCH FOR YOUR CONTINUOUS SUPPORT
AND SUPPORTING THE CAUSE THAT WE
BELIEVE IN, THE INDIVIDUALS WHO
NEED THE MOST HELP. IT'S NOT
JUST ABOUT THE FUNDING FOR ARC,
BUT THE EFFECTS OF THAT FUNDING
THAT IT'S GOING TO HAVE ON OUR
POPULATION. THÀNH AND THE FOLKS
COMING HOME, JUST WANTED TO ALSO
SAY THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING THE
VISITATION ON LEVEL FOUR
INSTITUTIONS, VITAL SUPER
IMPORTANT FOR THE REINTEGRATION
OF OUR FOLKS COMING HOME. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON.
MY NAME IS MATTHEW MCDUFFIE. I'M
ALSO A REGIONAL MANAGER AT THE
ANTI-RECIDIVISM COALITION. I
WANT TO SAY THANK YOU, A BIG
THANK YOU FOR REFUNDING OUR
HEARTS, OUR EFFORTS TO CONTINUE
TO CHANGE HEARTS AND MINDS
INSIDE AND BRING OUR HOME,
PEOPLE WHO'S HEALED AND READY TO
BE ASSETS TO THE COMMUNITY AS
WELL AS, YOU GUYS GETTING THAT
VISITOR IN THERE STILL. AND LAST
BUT NOT LEAST, I WANT YOU TO I
WANT YOU TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT
A LEGISLATION. ITEM 80. SORRY
THANK YOU. LIKE THAT SHIRT. GOOD
MORNING EVERYONE. MY NAME IS
CHRISTOPHER ACOSTA. I'M ALSO A
LIFE COACH AT VALLEY STATE
PRISON, LET ME SEE. I WOULD LIKE
TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP
AND APPROVAL ON ISSUE 79. ALSO
GRATEFUL FOR THE REJECTION OF
THE PROPOSED CUTS TO THE LEVEL
FOUR VISITING. AND LASTLY,
RECOMMEND CONSOLIDATION. THE
PRISON CONSOLIDATION. RIGHT.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU SIR. GOOD
AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS LYNN
ACOSTA. I'M A HOPE AND
REDEMPTION LIFE COACH AT THE
CENTRAL CALIFORNIA WOMEN'S
FACILITY. LARGEST WOMEN'S PRISON
IN THE NATION. AND I JUST WANT
TO SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR
SUPPORT, ALLOWING US TO GO BACK
IN FOR ME TO GO BACK IN AND GIVE
THE LADIES OF THE INFORMATION
THEY NEED TO COME OUT AND BE
PRODUCTIVE MEMBERS OF SOCIETY
AND, RECOMMEND CONSOLIDATING AND
DEACTIVATING THE PRISONS TO
ADDRESS THE STATE'S BUDGET
DEFICIT. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU
. GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE. MY
NAME IS JOHNNY DIAZ AND I AM A
LIFE COACH FOR THE HOPE AND
REDEMPTION TEAM. AND I CURRENTLY
SERVE AS VALLEY STATE PRISON. I
WANT TO EXPRESS MY DEEPEST
GRATITUDE FOR THE APPROVAL OF
79, WHICH ALLOWS US TO CONTINUE
SERVICING OUR BROTHERS AND
SISTERS WHO ARE SYSTEM IMPACTED
AS WELL AS THE COMMUNITY. AS WE
CONTINUE TO INSPIRE HOPE,
REDEMPTION AND CHANGE. AND THIS
COULD ONLY BE MADE POSSIBLE
THROUGH YOUR SUPPORT. SO THANK
YOU. I AM ALSO IN AGREEMENT FOR
THE REJECTIONS OF 81 AND 108.
AND LASTLY, I AM IN SUPPORT OF
80. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. GOOD
AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS BRANDON
PATTERSON AND I'M A LIFE COACH
WITH THE HOPE AND REDEMPTION
TEAM. AND OF ANTI-RECIDIVISM
COALITION AT JAMESTOWN STATE
PRISON AND I JUST WANT TO SAY
THANK YOU FOR APPROVING NUMBER
79. AND LIKEWISE, WE ARE
GRATEFUL FOR YOUR REJECTION OF
81 AND 108. AND LASTLY, I WOULD
LIKE TO SAY THAT WE ARE IN
AGREEMENT WITH ITEM 80. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON.
AND I'M JEAN HIÂU FROM AMERICAN
ASSOCIATION OF CHINESE MEDICINE
AND ACUPUNCTURE. PLEASE KEEP THE
ACUPUNCTURE, SERVICES IN
MEDI-CAL BECAUSE ACUPUNCTURE IS
EFFECTIVE AND SAFE AND THE LOW
COST TREATMENT. THANK YOU TO HÌ,
BUDGET COMMITTEE MEMBERS FOR
HARD WORK. THANK YOU. PLEASURE.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU. CHAIRMAN
MEMBERS ANDREW SHANE FROM GRACE
AND CHILD POVERTY, CALIFORNIA.
AS THE FATHER OF TWO, I'LL BE
VERY BRIEF. I JUST WANT TO SAY
ON THE CALWORKS ISSUE ALONE,
WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR THE ENTIRE
SAFETY NET. BUT ON BEHALF OF
MORE THAN 765 CALWORKS MOMS
LIVING IN POVERTY WHO COULDN'T
BE HERE TODAY DEEPLY GRATEFUL,
INCLUDING DR. JAMES FROM LA
PIERCE COLLEGE. THANK YOU.
WONDERFUL. THANK YOU. AFTERNOON
ASSEMBLY MEMBERS. I AM COACHING
THE ACUPUNCTURIST. I'M DOING
THIS BUSINESS MORE THAN 20
YEARS. I OFFER A LOT OF FREE
TREATMENT FOR MY, K¾T AT,
MENDOCINO COUNTY, UKIAH. A LOT
OF PEOPLE, THEY RECEIVE THE
BENEFIT FROM ACUPUNCTURE,
RELEASE THE PAIN, PAIN. AND THEY
ARE REALLY APPRECIATED FOR THAT.
AND WE KNOW YOUR THE
ASSEMBLYMEMBERS THEY'RE WORKING
A LOT. AND WORKING SO HARD. SO I
WOULD LIKE TO, TO, IF POSSIBLE,
CAN REOPEN THIS CASE FOR THE
BUDGET AND CAN BENEFIT MOST OF
THE CALIFORNIA PEOPLE. AND I
BELIEVE CALIFORNIA PEOPLE WILL
REMEMBER AT THIS MOMENT
WHATEVER. THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE
REALLY APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU.
HI. GOOD AFTERNOON. I AM XIONG
FROM AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF
CHINESE MEDICINE AND ACUPUNCTURE
. I'M HERE TO VOICE FOR KEEPING
ACUPUNCTURE IN THE MEDICAL
SYSTEM. BUT I JUST HEARD THE
GREAT NEWS THAT YOU, TURNED DOWN
THE PROPOSAL OF REMOVING
ACUPUNCTURE. SO, LOTS OF
APPRECIATION FROM MY HEART TO
ALL THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS. THANK
YOU FOR YOUR GREAT AND
TREMENDOUS GOOD WORK. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON.
MARIAM. CHILD CARE LAW CENTER,
WE URGE THE LEGISLATURE TO
RELEASE THE SPACES AS SOON AS
POSSIBLE. AND WE SUPPORT THE
PROPOSAL TO PUT THE 200,000
SPACE EXPANSION IN THE TRAILER.
BILL LANGUAGE. WE ALSO SUPPORT
THE CHILD CARE REVERSION ACCOUNT
. WE SUPPORT THE PROPOSAL FOR
PLACEHOLDER TRAILER BRIDGE
TRAILER BILL LANGUAGE THAT
INCLUDES REPORTING DEADLINES AND
PROTECTIVE POLICIES FOR THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF RATE REFORM.
WE THANK THE LEGISLATURE FOR
MINIMIZING CUTS TO THE CAL WORKS
PROGRAM, BUT URGE THE
LEGISLATURE TO REJECT ALL CUTS
TO THE CALARTS PROGRAMS.
FINALLY, PLEASE CONSIDER OTHER
SOURCES OF REVENUE AND THE RAINY
DAY FUND AS A SOLUTION. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU, CHAIR GABRIEL
MARIN PINEDA, ON BEHALF OF LA
COOPERATIVA CAMPESINA, WE
RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT THE
CAP AND TRADE FUND INCLUDE,
WEATHERIZING FOR FARM WORKERS,
FARMWORKER HOUSING, IT'S
ABSOLUTELY NEEDED. AND WE WANT
TO THANK, THANK YOU. ON BEHALF
OF THE UCLA LATINO POLICY AND
POLITICS INITIATIVE ON YOUR
SUPPORT FOR LATINAS. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON. ANGIE
MINETTI HERE. ON BEHALF OF
CALIFORNIANS FOR SAFETY AND
JUSTICE, I JUST WANT TO THANK
YOU FOR FUNDING THE FLEXIBLE
ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR SURVIVORS
AND THE VOCA BACKFILL. THANK YOU
. GOOD AFTERNOON. JASON SULLIVAN
HALPERN WITH THE CALIFORNIA
LONGTERM CARE OMBUDSMAN
ASSOCIATION. WE JUST WANT TO SAY
ON BEHALF OF CALIFORNIA'S 35
LONG TERM CARE OMBUDSMAN
PROGRAMS THAT WE ARE
TREMENDOUSLY GRATEFUL FOR THE
LEGISLATURE, INCLUDING AN
INCREASE FOR OUR PROGRAMS FOR
TWO FROM TWO SPECIAL FUNDS
ADMINISTERED BY CDF. IT IS TRULY
A BIG GLIMMER OF HOPE IN AN
OTHERWISE DIFFICULT BUDGET YEAR,
AND THIS MONEY WILL BE WELL
SPENT AND WE LOOK FORWARD ON ON
WHAT'S TO COME IN THE FUTURE
YEARS WHEN WE HAVE A BRIGHTER
BUDGET PICTURE THAT WE CAN WORK
WITH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU,
MEMBERS, FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO
SPEAK. SUSANNA MEYER WITH
EMPOWERED AGING OMBUDSMAN
SERVICES FOR ALAMEDA CONTRA
COSTA AND SOLANO COUNTY. WE
WOULD LIKE TO ALSO EXPRESS OUR
GRATITUDE FOR THE PROTECTION OF
THE SAFETY NET SERVICES WHICH
KEEP PEOPLE IN THEIR HOMES,
OLDER ADULTS AND ADULTS WITH
DISABILITIES, AS LONG AS THEY
CAN SAFELY BE THERE. AND IT'S
CRITICAL THAT WE DO THAT. WE'VE
GOT A DIRECT CARE WORKFORCE
CRISIS. WE'VE GOT HOMELESSNESS
AND SENIOR NUMBERS RAPIDLY
GROWING, AND ALSO THE SENIOR
POPULATION. SO THANK YOU FOR
PROTECTING THIS GROUP. THANK
YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON, HONORABLE
CHAIR GABRIEL AND THE MEMBER, MY
NAME IS YONGPING CHEN. I'M A
REPRESENT APAPA ASIAN PACIFIC
ISLANDER, PUBLIC AFFAIRS
ASSOCIATION, THE NATIONWIDE
ASSOCIATION. I'M THE PRESIDENT
OF LOS ANGELES AREA AND I CAME
HERE TO, THANK YOU FOR OPPOSING
REJECT THE MEDI-CAL CUT OF
ACUPUNCTURE COVERAGE. MEDICARE,
THE ACUPUNCTURE BENEFIT IS
CRUCIAL FOR ALL THE VULNERABLE
POPULATION. 1 MILLION MEDI-CAL
PATIENTS AND THE BUDGET IS SO
SMALL. SO THE COST IS VERY LOW,
VERY COST EFFECTIVE. AND THANK
YOU FOR, HELPING TO KEEP IT.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. HONORABLE
CHAIR GABRIEL, MY NAME IS ANGUS
SIMMONS. I'VE COME FROM VENTURA.
I'D LIKE TO ASSOCIATE MYSELF
WITH REMARKS OF THE PREVIOUS
SPEAKER AND JUST THANK YOU FOR
AND YOUR COMMITTEE FOR ALL YOUR
WORK IN SUPPORTING, ACUPUNCTURE
COVERAGE UNDER MEDI-CAL. IT'S
EFFECTIVE, COST EFFECTIVE.
NON-OPIOID NON-PHARMACY
TREATMENT, WHICH IS MADE
AVAILABLE TO THE MOST VULNERABLE
AND THE MOST UNDERSERVED IN OUR
STATE, AND IT'S WONDERFUL THAT
WE CAN SUPPORT FULL COVERAGE FOR
ACUPUNCTURE. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE AND SAFE
TRAVELS HOME. WITH THAT, I WANT
TO THANK ALL OF THE MEMBERS OF
THE PUBLIC WHO HAVE TAKEN THE
TIME TO SHARE THEIR PUBLIC
COMMENT WITH US. AGAIN, THANK
YOU TO THE FOLKS FROM THE
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE, THE
LEGISLATIVE ANALYST'S OFFICE,
WHO JOINED US TODAY. AN EXTRA
SPECIAL THANK YOU TO ALL THE
STAFF WHO MADE TODAY POSSIBLE
AND WITH THAT, THIS MEETING IS
ADJOURNED.