GOOD AFTERNOON. WE WILL BEGIN
THE HEARING FOR CALIFORNIA STATE
ASSEMBLY HEALTH COMMITTEE ON
JULY JUNE 11TH AT 135, TODAY WE.
BEFORE WE BEGIN, I WOULD LIKE TO
MAKE A STATEMENT ON PROVIDING
TESTIMONY AT THIS HEARING, ALL
WITNESSES WILL BE TESTIFYING IN
PERSON. WE WILL ALLOW TWO MAIN
WITNESSES FOR A MAXIMUM OF TWO
MINUTES EACH. IF A SINGLE
ORGANIZATION HAS MORE THAN ONE
WITNESS, ONE CAN BE A MAIN
WITNESS, AND FURTHER WITNESSES
FROM THAT ORGANIZATION WILL GIVE
THEIR NAME, ORGANIZATION AND
POSITION ONLY. ADDITIONAL
TESTIMONY IS LIMITED TO NAME,
POSITION, AND ORGANIZATION. IF
YOU REPRESENT ONE TODAY WE HAVE
SUBSTITUTES FOR THIS HEARING.
ASSEMBLY MEMBERS LOWENTHAL AND
PELLERIN WILL BE SUBSTITUTING
FOR ASSEMBLY MEMBERS SCHIAVO AND
WEBER, RESPECTIVELY, ON CONSENT.
WE HAVE THE FOLLOWING BILLS
PROPOSED FOR TODAY'S HEARING.
ANY MEMBER OF THE COMMITTEE MAY
REMOVE A BILL FROM CONSENT. ITEM
SIX SB 1112 BY MENGIBAR. ITEM
TEN SB 1320 BY WAHAB. ITEM 12 SB
1385 BY ROTH. ITEM 13 SB 1442 BY
OCHOA B¢O. WE WILL NOW MOVE
FORWARD AS A SUBCOMMITTEE WITH
ITEM NUMBER TWO, THANK YOU, MR.
SENATOR CORTEZ, FOR BEING HERE.
SB 999.
PLEASE BEGIN WHENEVER YOU WANT.
THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR AND
MEMBERS, THE INTERESTING
EXPERIENCE OF TRYING TO RUN MY
OWN COMMITTEE FROM HERE WHILE
I'M GETTING READY TO PRESENT TO
YOU. I'M VERY PLEASED, THOUGH,
TO BE HERE AND TO PRESENT SB
999. THIS BILL WILL ENSURE THAT
CALIFORNIANS SUFFERING FROM
MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS AND
SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS CAN
RECEIVE THE APPROPRIATE LEVEL OF
TREATMENT NEEDED FOR A FULL AND
LASTING RECOVERY. UTILIZATION
REVIEW IS WHEN A HEALTH PLAN OR
DISABILITY INSURER APPROVES,
MODIFIES, OR DENIES TREATMENT
BASED ON WHAT THEY CONSIDER
MEDICALLY NECESSARY. EXISTING
LAW REQUIRES HEALTH PLANS,
DISABILITY INSURERS TO USE
GENERALLY ACCEPTED STANDARDS OF
CARE WHEN CONDUCTING UTILIZATION
REVIEWS. HOWEVER, DESPITE
EXISTING LAW, SOME HEALTH PLANS
DISABILITY INSURERS STILL USE
INAPPROPRIATE UTILIZATION REVIEW
PRACTICES. EVIDENTLY TO AVOID
PAYING FOR CARE. AS A RESULT,
MEDICALLY NECESSARY TREATMENT
DAYS ARE OFTEN ARBITRARILY
DENIED. THE. SOME REVIEWERS HAVE
DENIAL RATES EXCEEDING 95. SB
999 WILL REMEDY THIS BY
REQUIRING THAT UTILIZATION
REVIEW DETERMINATIONS ARE
PERFORMED BY A REVIEWER WITH
APPROPRIATE TRAINING AND
RELEVANT EXPERIENCE IN THE
CLINICAL SPECIALTY. THE BILL
REQUIRES REVIEWERS TO DISCLOSE
THEIR BASIS FOR A TREATMENT
DENIAL, INCLUDING A CITATION OF
THE CLINICAL GUIDELINES THAT
WERE FOLLOWED. THE BILL ALSO
CODIFIES THE STANDARD PRACTICE
FOR REVIEWERS TO LIST THEIR
NAMES AND CREDENTIALS ON A
TREATMENT DENIAL. THIS PRACTICE
HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN HELPING
US TRACK TRENDS IN UTILIZATION
REVIEW DENIALS. FINALLY, THIS
BILL REQUIRES HEALTH PLANS AND
DISABILITY INSURERS TO MAINTAIN
TELEPHONE AND DIRECT
COMMUNICATION ACCESS FOR
UTILIZATION REVIEW DURING
CALIFORNIA BUSINESS HOURS. AS
SOME HEALTH PLAN REGULATORS FAIL
TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES OUTLINED
IN THIS BILL ON THEIR OWN, THE
PASSAGE OF SB 999 IS CRUCIAL TO
ENSURING THAT ALL COMMERCIAL
HEALTH PLANS USE QUALIFIED
DOCTORS TO MAKE ACCURATE
TREATMENT DETERMINATIONS BY
APPLYING THE APPROPRIATE
CLINICAL AND UTILIZATION REVIEW
CRITERIA TO MENTAL HEALTH AND
SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER
TREATMENT. WE CAN SAVE LIVES BY
COMBATING OVERDOSE DEATHS AND
SUICIDES. SB 999 IS CO-SPONSORED
BY THE KENNEDY FORUM. THE
STEINBERG INSTITUTE SUMMIT, A
STATE RECOVERY CENTER, THE
CALIFORNIA CONSORTIUM OF
ADDICTION PROGRAMS, AND
PROFESSIONALS, AND THE SANTA
CLARA COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION
WITH US TODAY TO TESTIFY. WE
HAVE JOHN DREBINGER OF THE
STEINBERG INSTITUTE AND JOAN
BORSTEN OF SUMMIT STATE RECOVERY
CENTER, AND AT THE AT THE
APPROPRIATE TIME, I WOULD
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOUR AYE
VOTE. THANK YOU. YOU'LL EACH
HAVE TWO MINUTES. GO AHEAD.
THANK YOU, SENATOR. THANK YOU,
CHAIR AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS. I'M
JOHN DREBINGER, SENIOR ADVOCATE
WITH THE STEINBERG INSTITUTE.
I'M HERE TODAY TO ADDRESS THE
DENIAL OF MEDICALLY NECESSARY
COVERED MENTAL HEALTH AND
SUBSTANCE USE CARE, AN ALARMING
NUMBER OF THESE CLAIMS ARE
DENIED BY HEALTH PLAN CONTRACTED
UTILIZATION REVIEWERS, PUTTING
PATIENTS AT RISK OF OVERDOSE.
FINANCIAL HARDSHIP AND SUICIDE.
SOME REVIEWERS HAVE DENIAL RATES
OF OVER 95% FOR BEHAVIORAL
HEALTH CARE. FOR MANY PATIENTS,
THIS MEANS WAITING FOR TREATMENT
AT A TIME WHEN THE RISK OF
FENTANYL OVERDOSE IS HIGHER THAN
EVER, OR FIGHTING FOR LIFE
SAVING MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT
WHILE THEIR CONDITION WORSENS,
ACCORDING TO DATA FROM THE
DEPARTMENT OF MANAGED HEALTH
CARE'S 2023 Q4 REPORT ON
INDEPENDENT MEDICAL REVIEWS, THE
DEPARTMENT OVERTURNED 70.6% OF
MENTAL HEALTH CARE DENIALS, WITH
AN ADDITIONAL 9.2% RESULTING IN
THE PLAN REVERSING THEIR
ORIGINAL DECISION. THIS MEANS
CLOSE TO 80% OF APPEALS ARE
WRONGFUL DENIALS, AND THESE ARE
ONLY FOR THOSE WHO HAVE THE
CAPACITY TO APPEAL THE APPEAL.
THEIR PLANS, DECISIONS TO
REGULATORS. HIGH DENIAL RATES
ARE OFTEN DRIVEN BY PLANS
CONTRACTING WITH UNTRAINED
REVIEWERS. DATA FROM 38 STATE
LICENSED TREATMENT CENTERS SHOWS
THAT REVIEWERS WITH NO TRAINING
IN ADDICTION MEDICINE ARE MAKING
DETERMINATIONS. THIS EXTENDS TO
MENTAL HEALTH, EATING DISORDERS,
AUTISM TREATMENT, AND MORE. IN
2020, WE PROUDLY CO-SPONSORED SB
855 WIENER, WHICH AIMS TO ENSURE
MENTAL ILLNESS AND SUBSTANCE USE
ARE TREATED THE SAME AS PHYSICAL
ILLNESS. UNFORTUNATELY, DESPITE
THESE LAWS, HIGH IMR OVERTURN
RATES AND DMC'S INVESTIGATION
FINDINGS SHOW PLANS REMAIN
NON-COMPLIANT. THE DEPARTMENT OF
INSURANCE RECENTLY REVISED THEIR
REGULATIONS FOR SB 855, WHICH
INCLUDED STANDARDS SIMILAR TO
THOSE PROPOSED IN SB 999. THIS
BILL WOULD HELP RAISE DMCS RULES
TO THE SAME STANDARDS AS SB 999
ENSURES THAT UTILIZATION
REVIEWERS ARE TRAINED IN
RELEVANT STANDARDS OF CARE.
SUPPORTING THIS BILL MEANS
REDUCING THE ADMINISTRATIVE
BURDEN OF IMAGES FOR THE STATE
AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, SAVING
LIVES. WE MUST ENSURE THAT
COVERAGE FOR MEDICALLY NECESSARY
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CARE IS NOT
JUST A PROMISE ON PAPER, BUT A
REALITY FOR ALL CALIFORNIANS.
THANK YOU. LET'S GO AHEAD. AND
BOSTON VIDAK AND I'M THE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF SUMMIT
ESTATE RECOVERY CENTER,
CO-SPONSOR OF THIS BILL. AND I'M
CEO OF FIRST RESPONDERS RECOVERY
MALIBU. SO I'M GOING TO STATE
RECOVERY CENTER IS A HIGHLY IS
HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL. AND I'M PROUD
TO SAY THAT NEWSWEEK HAS NAMED
US EITHER THE THIRD OR FOURTH
BEST ADDICTION TREATMENT IN
CALIFORNIA FOR FOUR YEARS
RUNNING. WE'RE A SMALLER
TREATMENT CENTER. SO WE'RE VERY
CAREFUL WHAT PATIENTS WE PUT
INTO OUR BEDS. WE DO A VERY
DETAILED VERIFICATION OF
BENEFITS FOR OUR POTENTIAL
PATIENTS BEFORE WE ADMIT A
CLIENT, A PROFESSIONAL CLINICIAN
DOES A DETAILED INTAKE. EVERY
POTENTIAL INTAKE MUST BE
APPROVED BY THE CLINICAL
DIRECTOR. WHEN SB 855 BECAME LAW
IN 2021, IT MANDATED THE LEVEL
OF CARE AND LENGTH OF STAY
SHOULD BE DETERMINED USING ASAM
CRITERIA FOR EACH OF OUR DOCTORS
IS AN ACM FELLOW. ALL OUR
CLINICIANS ARE TRAINED IN ASAM.
WHEN WE ASK AN INSURANCE COMPANY
FOR ADDITIONAL DAYS, IT'S BASED
ON ASAM GUIDELINES AND WE DO NOT
ASK FOR DAYS THAT ARE NOT
PRESCRIBED BY ASAM. DESPITE
THIS, OUR PATIENTS ARE OFTEN
ARBITRARILY DENIED BY
UNQUALIFIED DOCTORS USING ONE
SIZE FITS ALL DENIAL LETTERS
LISTING THE SAME EXACT FOR
REASONS SUPPOSEDLY BASED ON ASAM
, BUT NOT ACCORDING TO ASAM
SPECIALISTS. EVERYONE GETS THE
SAME DENIAL LETTER NO MATTER
WHAT KIND OF SUBSTANCE THEY ARE.
ADDICTED TO OR HOW MANY DAYS OF
TREATMENT THEY'VE COMPLETED. ALL
ALL THE CHANGES IS THE PATIENT'S
NAME AND THE ID NUMBER. MANY
PROVIDERS ALSO EXPERIENCE
INAPPROPRIATE PEER TO PEER
REVIEWS. OUR CLINICIANS HAVE HAD
MESSAGES LEFT AT 5:00 IN THE
MORNING CALIFORNIA TIME
REQUESTING INFORMATION WITHIN
ONE HOUR, AND THREATENING TO
DENY CARE IF THE TIMELINES ARE
NOT COMPLIED WITH. SB 999 WILL
ENSURE THAT PATIENTS HAVE TIMELY
ACCESS TO LIFE SAVING CARE BY
ENSURING THAT PEER TO PEER
REVIEWS ARE DONE CORRECTLY BY
EXPERIENCED ADDICTION DOCTORS
CERTIFIED IN ASSAM AND THAT THE
PEER TO PEER REQUESTS ARE MADE
DURING CALIFORNIA BUSINESS HOURS
. ON BEHALF OF THE ADDICTION
PROVIDERS AND PATIENTS, WE
SERVE, I RESPECTFULLY ASK THAT
YOU VOTE AYE ON SB 999. THANK
YOU. ARE THERE ANY OTHER
WITNESSES IN SUPPORT? PLEASE
COME FORWARD. STATE YOUR NAME,
ORGANIZATION AND POSITION ONLY.
THANK YOU. VANESSA KAHINA, ON
BEHALF OF THE CALIFORNIA ACADEMY
OF FAMILY PHYSICIANS HERE IN
SUPPORT. Þ CHEN ON BEHALF OF THE
CALIFORNIA CONSORTIUM OF
ADDICTION PROGRAMS AND
PROFESSIONALS IN SUPPORT.
SYMPHONY BABI, ON BEHALF OF
PLANNED PARENTHOOD AFFILIATES OF
CALIFORNIA IN SUPPORT. TI¾N TRÊN
ON BEHALF OF THE ELLA BAKER
CENTER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS IN
SUPPORT. TAYLOR JACKSON WITH THE
CALIFORNIA PRIMARY CARE
ASSOCIATION IN SUPPORT. MELISSA
CORTEZ, ON BEHALF OF AUTISM
SPEAKS AND ON BEHALF OF THE
COUNCIL OF AUTISM SERVICE
PROVIDERS AND SUPPORT. AMANDA
DICKEY, ON BEHALF OF THE SANTA
CLARA COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT,
PROUD SPONSOR AND IN SUPPORT.
BRANDON MARTY WITH THE
CALIFORNIA MEDICAL ASSOCIATION
IN SUPPORT. JESSICA MORAN WITH
THE CALIFORNIA DENTAL
ASSOCIATION AND SUPPORT MEGAN
LOPER ON BEHALF OF THE
CALIFORNIA HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION
IN SUPPORT JENNIFER SNIDER WITH
CAPITAL ADVOCACY ON BEHALF OF
THE CALIFORNIA LIFE SCIENCES. IN
SUPPORT. CHRISTINE SMITH, HEALTH
ACCESS CALIFORNIA IN SUPPORT.
RANDALL HAGER, ON BEHALF OF THE
PSYCHIATRIC PHYSICIANS ALLIANCE
OF CALIFORNIA, IN SUPPORT. DANNY
OFFER WITH THE NATIONAL ALLIANCE
ON MENTAL ILLNESS, ALSO KNOWN AS
NAMI CALIFORNIA, IN STRONG
SUPPORT. THANKS DANNY COLE ON
BEHALF OF MENTAL HEALTH AMERICA
OF CALIFORNIA IN SUPPORT. ANDREA
CHÁVEZ WITH AMERICAN FOUNDATION
FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION IN
SUPPORT. BHATTACHARJEE, WITH THE
CALIFORNIA ALLIANCE OF CHILD AND
FAMILY SERVICES IN SUPPORT.
ELAINE PENN MENTAL HEALTH
ASSOCIATION FOR CHINESE
COMMUNITY SUPPORT. TYLER, RANDY.
ON BEHALF OF THE CALIFORNIA
PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION AND
SUPPORT. THANK YOU. LISA HAYES
ON ON BEHALF OF THE CALIFORNIA
FOUNDATION FOR INDEPENDENT
LIVING CENTERS IN SUPPORT. THANK
YOU. ARE THERE ANY WITNESSES IN
OPPOSITION?
YOU'LL EACH HAVE TWO MINUTES.
PLEASE GO AHEAD. GOOD AFTERNOON,
MADAM CHAIR. MEMBERS OF THE
COMMITTEE. JED HAMPTON WITH THE
CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF HEALTH
PLANS HERE. REGRETTABLY, IN
OPPOSITION TO SB 999, FIRST, WE
DO WANT TO THANK THE AUTHOR, THE
AUTHOR'S OFFICE AND HIS STAFF,
AS WELL AS THE COMMITTEE STAFF.
I THINK WE'VE HAD A LOT OF
REALLY GOOD, PRODUCTIVE
CONVERSATIONS ON THIS BILL, THIS
YEAR AND REALLY APPRECIATE, SOME
OF THE MORE RECENT AMENDMENTS
THAT WERE TAKEN TO CONFORM THE
BILL TO EXISTING STATUTE AND
REGULATIONS HERE IN CALIFORNIA.
SO I WANTED TO START OFF BY, BY
AGAIN MENTIONING THAT, AND WE
ULTIMATELY AGREE, WITH, WITH THE
SENATOR AND THE SPONSORS THAT
MENTAL HEALTH IS A KEY COMPONENT
TO A PERSON'S OVERALL
WELL-BEING. AND THAT INDIVIDUALS
SHOULD HAVE ACCESS TO IMPORTANT
MENTAL HEALTH CARE SERVICES.
HOWEVER, WE DO HAVE ONE
REMAINING CONCERN WITH THE BILL
THAT THAT WE HAVE RAISED, IN
THAT IT WOULD ALLOW ENROLLEES TO
ACCESS PERSONAL INFORMATION IN
THE CREDENTIALS OF THE HEALTH
CARE PROVIDER, WHO IS MAKING THE
UTILIZATION DETERMINATION. WE DO
BELIEVE THAT THIS COULD
UNNECESSARILY EXPOSE THE
PROVIDER PERFORMING THE
UTILIZATION REVIEW TO
INAPPROPRIATE AND POTENTIALLY
TROUBLING COMMUNICATION FROM THE
ENROLLEE, SHOULD THEY DISAGREE
WITH THE INITIAL DECISION MADE
BY THE PROVIDER. THE CURRENT LAW
DOES PROVIDE A PATHWAY FOR
ENROLLEES WHEN THEY DISAGREE
WITH THE UTILIZATION REVIEW
DECISION, WHEREBY AN ENROLLEE
CAN FILE A GRIEVANCE WITH THE
HEALTH PLAN REGARDING THE
DECISION AND ALSO THAT HEALTH
PLAN MUST RECEIVE, REVIEW AND
RESOLVE GRIEVANCES WITHIN 72
HOURS WHEN THE ENROLLEE FACES AN
IMMINENT THREAT OR SERIOUS
THREAT TO THEIR HEALTH, WE
BELIEVE THAT THE EXISTING
GRIEVANCE PROCESS PROVIDES
ENROLLEES WITH A ROBUST AND
TIMELY PROCESS FOR RESOLVING
DISPUTED DECISIONS IN A WAY THAT
ALSO PROTECTS THE PERSONAL
INFORMATION AND THE CLINICAL
DETERMINATION OF THAT
DETERMINING PROVIDER, SO WE ARE
COMMITTED TO CONTINUING OUR
DISCUSSIONS WITH THE AUTHOR'S
OFFICE AND THE SPONSORS, TO
ENSURE THAT OUR ENROLLEES HAVE
ACCESS TO QUALITY MENTAL HEALTH
SERVICES. BUT AGAIN, WE DO HAVE
THAT REMAINING CONCERN AROUND
THE PRIVACY OF THE INITIAL
REVIEWER, WE DO THINK THAT THAT
COULD BE POTENTIALLY TROUBLESOME
MOVING FORWARD. BUT AGAIN, LOOK
FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE
AUTHOR'S OFFICE ON RESOLVING
THAT CONCERN. THANK YOU, MADAM
CHAIR AND MEMBERS. STEPHANIE
WATKINS, ON BEHALF OF THE
ASSOCIATION OF CALIFORNIA LIFE
AND HEALTH INSURANCE COMPANIES,
I'D LIKE TO ECHO MY COLLEAGUES
COMMENTS. WE HAVE HAD SEVERAL
REALLY PRODUCTIVE AND THOUGHTFUL
CONVERSATIONS WITH THE AUTHOR
AND SPONSOR AND LOOK FORWARD TO
CONTINUING THOSE CONVERSATIONS
IF THE BILL MOVES FORWARD.
TODAY, I THINK WE DO HAVE THAT
REMAINING CONCERN ABOUT THE
PRIVACY AND SAFETY OF THE
REVIEWERS. AND ALSO, I WOULD BE
REMISS IF I DIDN'T MENTION THAT,
K¾T IS CURRENTLY PROMULGATING
THEIR MOST RECENT VERSION OF
THEIR 855 REGS, WHICH WE IMAGINE
WILL HAVE A POTENTIAL IMPACT ON
THE WAY THIS BILL IS
IMPLEMENTED. AS WELL AS HOW THE
855 ORIGINATED STATUTE IS ALSO
IMPLEMENTED. SO WITH THAT, WE
LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING THE
CONVERSATIONS. IF THE BILL MOVES
FORWARD TODAY, BUT UNFORTUNATELY
WE'RE REGRETTABLY OPPOSED. THANK
YOU. ARE THERE ANY OTHER
WITNESSES IN OPPOSITION? PLEASE
COME FORWARD. MADAM CHAIR,
MEMBERS JOHN WINGER, ON BEHALF
OF AMERICA'S HEALTH INSURANCE
PLANS, WOULD JUST ECHO THE
COMMENTS OF CAPTAIN O'CLOCK
SEEING NO OTHER WITNESSES IN
OPPOSITION, I'LL BRING IT BACK
TO THE COMMITTEE FOR COMMENT OR
QUESTION. PELLERIN. GO AHEAD.
THANK YOU. I'M A PROUD COAUTHOR
OF THIS BILL, AND I JUST WANT TO
THANK THE AUTHOR FOR YOUR
LEADERSHIP IN THIS SPACE. IT IS
SO ABSOLUTELY IMPERATIVE THAT WE
PROVIDE THE NECESSARY MENTAL
HEALTH TREATMENT FOR PEOPLE
GOING THROUGH A CRISIS, WHETHER
IT BE SUBSTANCE USE OR
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH. SO THANK YOU
FOR SHOWING LEADERSHIP HERE. AND
I WITH THAT, I'D LIKE TO MOVE
THE BILL. WE DON'T HAVE A QUORUM
QUITE YET, BUT WE WILL NOTE THE
MOTION WHEN IT'S AT THE
APPROPRIATE TIME. I WANT TO ALSO
THANK THE AUTHOR FOR BRINGING
FORWARD THIS BILL. I THINK IT'S,
VERY HELPFUL TO BE ABLE TO
SUPPORT ANY KIND OF STREAMLINING
THAT WE CAN DO TO THE CURRENT
PROCESS AND, ENSURING THAT WE
HAVE PEER TO PEER DISCUSSIONS
AND THE ABILITY TO USE ALL THE
TOOLS AVAILABLE TO DO US, IN AN
AUTHORIZED AND TIMELY MANNER IS
VERY CRITICAL, DID WANT TO JUST
GIVE YOU AN OPPORTUNITY, AND YOU
CAN DO SO IN YOUR CLOTHES TO
ADDRESS THE, OPPOSITION'S
CONCERNS ABOUT PERSONAL INFO'S
INFORMATION OF THE OF THE,
PROVIDER BEING, DIVULGED AND
WHAT CURRENTLY IS OUR PROCESS
AND RESPOND TO THAT, THANK YOU,
MADAM CHAIR. AND LET ME, BEFORE
I FORGET, THANK SOME MEMBER
PELLERIN FOR HER, EXCELLENT
SELECT COMMITTEE WORK, WHICH I
KNOW HAS BEEN, TOURING AROUND,
GATHERING INFORMATION. BACK TO
YOUR QUESTION, AND I APPRECIATE
THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS IT.
THE BILL DOES NOT REQUIRE THE
REVIEWER TO DISCLOSE THEIR
CONTACT INFORMATION OR ANY OTHER
SENSITIVE INFORMATION. IT'S JUST
NAME AND CREDENTIALS, AND, YOU
KNOW, PRESUMABLY THOSE NAMES ARE
LISTED IN IN REGISTRIES
SOMEWHERE. ANYWAY, BUT THE IDEA
IS WITHOUT THAT MINIMAL
INFORMATION, IT BECOMES VERY,
VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTINUE TO
ASSEMBLE, YOU KNOW, THE DATA AND
THE OUTCOMES THAT WE'RE
ASSERTING HERE IN ONE OF THE
THINGS THAT WE RAN INTO WITH THE
BILL EARLY ON, AS YOU CAN
IMAGINE, IS, WHAT'S THE PROBLEM?
WHAT'S BROKEN? AND, YOU KNOW,
SHOW US THE DATA, SHOW US THE
DENIALS, SHOW US WHERE THEY'RE
COMING FROM. WELL, IT'S NOT
FAIR, OF COURSE, TO SAY SHOW US
WHERE THEY'RE COMING FROM AND
THEN SAY, BUT WE DON'T WANT TO
REALLY DISCLOSE WHO THE
REVIEWERS ARE. SO WE ARE VERY
SENSITIVE. I'M SURE ALL OF YOU
ARE, ESPECIALLY IN THE LINE OF
WORK THAT WE'RE IN, TO, TO, YOU
KNOW, EXPOSING ANYONE TO,
UNNECESSARY COMMUNICATIONS OR
CONTACTS, OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
SO WE'VE DONE EVERYTHING WE CAN
JUST TO REDUCE IT DOWN TO SIMPLY
NAME AND CREDENTIALS, WITH THAT,
I IF THAT SATISFIES THE
QUESTIONS. MADAM CHAIR, I THANK
YOUR COMMITTEE SO MUCH FOR THE
EXCELLENT WORK. WE THANK THE
OPPOSITION FOR WORKING WITH US
AS WELL, AND MY TEAM, EVERYONE'S
BEEN WORKING VERY, VERY HARD ON
THIS AND I'D RESPECTFULLY ASK
FOR YOUR AYE VOTE. THANK YOU FOR
THE PRESENTATION. AND WE WILL
MOVE ON THAT BILL WHEN WE HAVE A
QUORUM. THANK YOU. WE'LL MOVE
ON. NOW, BACK UP IN THE FILE
ITEM FILE ITEM ORDER TO SB 959
MENGIBAR.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US,
SENATOR MENGIBAR. YOU CAN BEGIN
WHENEVER YOU'RE READY. PLEASE. I
THINK PUT YOUR MIC ON. THERE WE
GO. YOU'RE HERE LIKE, ONCE A
YEAR. YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T GET
USED TO IT. THANK YOU. MADAM
CHAIR, HEALTH COMMITTEE MEMBERS
IN FRONT OF YOU, WE HAVE SB 959.
WE'VE SEEN ACROSS THE COUNTRY
THE VARIOUS ATTACKS, VARIOUS
ANTI LGBTQ PLUS MEASURES
INTRODUCED, IN VARIOUS STATES.
WHAT I'M LOOKING TO DO WITH SB
959 IS TO ENSURE THROUGHOUT THE
CHAOS, THROUGHOUT THE THICK
NOISE THAT THE TGA, THE
TRANSGENDER, TRANS INCLUSIVE,
GENDER DIVERSE AND INTERSEX
PEOPLE HAVE A PLACE THAT THEY
CAN GO TO FIND WHAT AVAILABLE
RESOURCES ARE BEAUTIFUL STATE OF
CALIFORNIA HAS TO OFFER IN
RELATION IN RELATION TO GENDER
AFFIRMING CARE. PROVIDERS ARE
GOING TO BE SAFE IN AFFIRMING TO
THEM ENTITIES THAT THEY CAN GO
TO GET CARE. WE KNOW THAT THIS
POPULATION, ESPECIALLY THE YOUTH
IN THIS POPULATION, HAVE ONE OF
THE HIGHEST RATES OF SUICIDE
RATES AND THAT CAN BE CORRELATED
TO THE LACK OF ACCESS TO BE
THEIR TRUE SELVES. SO WITH SB
959, WE WANT TO REPLICATE WHAT
WE ALREADY DID WITH ABORTION
SERVICES WHERE WE HAVE ABORTION
CA.GOV WE WANT TO DO THE SAME
FOR RESOURCES FOR OUR TARGET
POPULATION. SO SPECIFICALLY,
THIS WEBSITE WILL HAVE EXISTING
LEGAL PROTECTIONS FOR PATIENTS
AND HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS WOULD
HAVE HOW TO ACCESS HEALTH PLAN
PROVIDER DIRECTORIES FOR GENDER
AFFIRMING CARE. IT WOULD PROVIDE
PAYMENT SUPPORT RESOURCES,
INCLUDING COVERAGE OPTIONS AND
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS
AND SUPPORT SERVICES, INCLUDING
TRANSPORTATION AND FAMILY
ENGAGEMENT SUPPORT. LASTLY IT
WILL INCLUDE REFERENCES AND
LINKS TO ADDITIONAL RELATED
INFORMATION AND RESOURCES. AND
MADAM CHAIR, WITH YOUR APPROVAL,
I'D LIKE TO NOW TURN OVER TO MY
TWO TESTIMONIES TO SPEAK ON THIS
BILL. THANK YOU. YOU'LL EACH
HAVE TWO MINUTES. GOOD AFTERNOON
EVERYONE. MY NAME IS MADDIE
ROBY. MY PRONOUNS ARE THEY THEM
AND I AM WITH TRANS FAMILY
SUPPORT SERVICES AND TRANS YOUTH
LIBERATION HERE IN SUPPORT OF SB
959. I'M AN INTERSEX PERSON. THE
INGI WHO WAS BORN WITH
VARIATIONS IN MY SEX
CHARACTERISTICS WHICH REFERS TO
DIFFERENCES IN CHROMOSOMES,
HORMONES, INTERNAL REPRODUCTIVE
ANATOMY, AND EXTERNAL GENITALIA.
THE INTERSEX COMMUNITY IS OFTEN
OVERLOOKED AND UNDERREPRESENTED,
AND FAR TOO MANY OF US SUFFER
THE CONSEQUENCES. THIS HAS BEEN
MY EXPERIENCE WITH ACCESSING
GENDER AFFIRMING AND INCLUSIVE
MEDICAL CARE THROUGHOUT MY LIFE.
GOING TO THE DOCTOR HAS RANGED
FROM BEING A SLIGHTLY
UNCOMFORTABLE TO HIGHLY
TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCE. I'VE SAT
THROUGH ENTIRE APPOINTMENTS,
BEING MISGENDERED, SUBJECTED TO
MICROAGGRESSIONS AND TASTELESS
JOKES, ASKED UNNECESSARY AND
INAPPROPRIATE QUESTIONS.
FURTHER, MOST DOCTORS, FROM
PRIMARY CARE TO ENDOCRINOLOGY,
HAVE APPROACHED MY TREATMENT AS
A TRIAL AND ERROR BASIS WITH
COMPLETE DISREGARD TO THE DAMAGE
CAUSED SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY HAD
NO TRAINING ON BODIES THAT EXIST
OUTSIDE OF THE BINARY. I WAS
SEEN AS COLLATERAL, A LEARNING
OPPORTUNITY AND AN EXPERIMENT TO
FURTHER THEIR UNDERSTANDING AND
NOT AS A PERSON MYSELF. THE
FIRST TIME I SAW TGI INCLUSIVE
CARE, THE ONLY RESOURCES
AVAILABLE WERE ON SOCIAL MEDIA
OR BY WORD OF MOUTH. I WAS ONLY
ABLE TO FIND ONE LIST THAT HAD
FIVE DOCTORS IN MY AREA WHO WERE
LABELED AS TGI FRIENDLY, BUT THE
RESOURCE WAS UNRELIABLE AND I
WAS QUICK TO LEARN THAT A DOCTOR
SIMPLY KNOWING TGI INDIVIDUALS
EXIST IS NOT THE SAME AS A
DOCTOR WHO'S TGI COMPETENT AND
INCLUSIVE AT 27, MY DISTRUST OF
DOCTORS DUE TO PAST EXPERIENCES
HAS PUT A STRAIN ON MY HEALTH
AND WELL-BEING. BEING INTERSEX
PUTS ME AT A HIGH RISK OF
DEVELOPING CANCER, BUT BECAUSE
OF MY MEDICAL TRAUMA, IT WAS
ONLY LAST YEAR THAT I STARTED TO
RECEIVE THE PREVENTATIVE CARE
I'VE NEEDED SINCE I WAS 18. I'M
NOT ALONE IN THIS. WITHIN THE
INTERSEX COMMUNITY, HEALTH
DISPARITIES DUE TO IMPROPER
TREATMENT ARE HIGH, TO NAME A
FEW. INTERSEX PEOPLE WHO LACK
ACCESS TO ADEQUATE CARE ARE MORE
LIKELY TO EXPERIENCE
INFERTILITY, CONSECUTIVE
REPRODUCTIVE SURGERIES, REDUCED
SEXUAL FUNCTION, PERMANENT NERVE
DAMAGE, CHRONIC PAIN, AND MORE.
A GUIDE LIKE THE ONE THAT SB 959
IS PROPOSING COULD HAVE SAVED ME
AND OTHERS LIKE ME FROM THE
MISTREATMENT OF MALPRACTICE WE
EXPERIENCED FROM THOSE WHO
PROMISED TO DO NO HARM. WE
DESERVE ACCESS TO QUALITY CARE
THAT IS SENSITIVE, INFORMED, AND
SPECIFIC TO OUR NEEDS AND THE
ABILITY TO FIND THOSE WITH THE
EXPERTISE, TRAINING AND
AWARENESS TO PROVIDE IT. FOR
THOSE OF US WITHIN THE INTERSEX
COMMUNITY AS WELL THE AS WELL AS
THE ENTIRETY OF THE TGI
COMMUNITY, I URGE YOU TO VOTE
YES ON SB 959. THANK YOU, GOOD
AFTERNOON. EXCUSE ME. GOOD
AFTERNOON. CHAIR MEMBERS CRAIG
PULSIPHER, ON BEHALF OF EQUALITY
CALIFORNIA, PROUD CO-SPONSOR OF
SB 959, FIRST, JUST WANT TO
ACKNOWLEDGE THE WORK OF THIS
COMMITTEE AND THE LEGISLATURE TO
PROTECT AND IMPROVE ACCESS TO
HEALTH CARE FOR TGI
CALIFORNIANS. AS THE SENATOR
NOTED, ESPECIALLY IN THIS MOMENT
WHERE OVER 20 STATES HAVE BANNED
ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE FOR TRANS
YOUTH, IT'S NOW MORE IMPORTANT
THAN EVER FOR CALIFORNIA TO BE A
LEADER IN SUPPORTING AND
PROTECTING THE TGI COMMUNITY,
LAST YEAR, EQUALITY CALIFORNIA
AND PLANNED PARENTHOOD CONVENED
A SERIES OF WORKING GROUPS OF
PATIENTS, HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS
AND ADVOCATES TO DISCUSS
ADDITIONAL STEPS THAT CALIFORNIA
CAN TAKE TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO
TRANS INCLUSIVE HEALTH CARE. AND
IN FEBRUARY OF THIS YEAR, WE
RELEASED A COMPREHENSIVE REPORT
OUTLINING SEVERAL
RECOMMENDATIONS TO CONTINUE
CALIFORNIA'S LEADERSHIP IN THIS
SPACE. AND SB 959 COMES DIRECTLY
FROM THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS,
SPECIFICALLY, THE WORKING GROUP
MEMBERS HIGHLIGHTED THE NEED FOR
MORE COMPREHENSIVE AND ACCURATE
INFORMATION ABOUT HOW TO ACCESS
TRANS INCLUSIVE HEALTH CARE, TGI
PEOPLE WAS NOTED FREQUENTLY HAVE
TROUBLE FINDING AFFIRMING
PROVIDERS, AND EXPERIENCED
RAMPANT DISCRIMINATION AND
HARASSMENT IN HEALTH CARE
SETTINGS. TGI INDIVIDUALS OFTEN
STRUGGLE TO NAVIGATE THE HEALTH
CARE SYSTEM, OBTAIN FINANCIAL
ASSISTANCE, AND OVERCOME THE
MANY BUREAUCRATIC OBSTACLES TO
OBTAINING CARE. AT THE SAME
TIME, HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS HAVE
SHARED THAT THEY OFTEN STRUGGLE
TO UNDERSTAND THE EVOLVING LEGAL
LANDSCAPE AS IT RELATES TO
PROVIDING GENDER AFFIRMING CARE
TO THOSE IN CALIFORNIA, AS WELL
AS TO THOSE IN OTHER STATES WITH
HEALTH CARE BANS IN PLACE, SB
959 WILL HELP TO ADDRESS THESE
CHALLENGES. AND IMPORTANTLY, THE
WEBSITE WILL BE DEVELOPED WITH
INPUT FROM MEMBERS OF THE TGI
COMMUNITY TO ENSURE THAT THE
RESOURCES ARE COMMUNITY
INFORMED, AND IT'S AN IMPORTANT
MEASURE TO BUILD ON CALIFORNIA'S
EXISTING PROTECTIONS AND ENSURE
THAT ALL CALIFORNIANS CAN ACCESS
THE ESSENTIAL HEALTH CARE THEY
NEED, AND RESPECTFULLY URGE YOUR
AYE VOTE. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER
WITNESSES IN SUPPORT? PLEASE
COME FORWARD. STATE YOUR NAME,
ORGANIZATION AND POSITION. MADAM
CHAIR AND MEMBERS, PAUL YODER,
ON BEHALF OF THE CALIFORNIA
ACADEMY OF CHILD AND ADOLESCENT
PSYCHIATRY AND SUPPORT. THANK
YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON. SYMPHONY
BABI. PLANNED PARENTHOOD,
AFFILIATES OF CALIFORNIA, PROUD
CO-SPONSOR AND SUPPORT. NICOLE
MORALES, ON BEHALF OF CHILDREN
NOW IN SUPPORT. HELLO. GENESIS
GONZALEZ ON BEHALF OF LIEUTENANT
GOVERNOR ELENI KOUNALAKIS IN
SUPPORT. THANK YOU. AARON TAYLOR
WITH POLITICAL SOLUTIONS ON
BEHALF OF THE CALIFORNIA
COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF
WOMEN AND GIRLS IN STRONG
SUPPORT. HI THERE, FAITH LI WITH
ASIAN AMERICANS ADVANCING
JUSTICE, SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA,
WE'RE IN SUPPORT. DANNY, WITH
MENTAL HEALTH AMERICA OF
CALIFORNIA AND THE CALIFORNIA
YOUTH EMPOWERMENT NETWORK IN
SUPPORT. BRANDON MAKI WITH THE
CALIFORNIA MEDICAL ASSOCIATION
IN SUPPORT. THANK YOU. ARE THERE
ANY PRIMARY WITNESSES IN
OPPOSITION? ANY OTHER WITNESSES
TO OFFER TESTIMONY? Kò SEEING
NONE. WE WILL BRING IT BACK TO
THE COMMITTEE FOR ANY QUESTIONS
OR COMMENTS. WE HAVE SOME DESIRE
TO MOVE THE BILL WHEN WE HAVE
QUORUM, AND WE WILL CERTAINLY DO
THAT. I WANTED TO THANK YOU,
SENATOR, FOR BRINGING FORWARD
THIS VERY IMPORTANT BILL, AS WAS
STATED. AND I REALLY APPRECIATE
THE TESTIMONY OFFERED, IT'S
ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL THAT OUR
LGBTQ, I, AND PARTICULARLY OUR
TRANS INCLUSIVE, OUR THAI
COMMUNITY HAS THE TRANS
INCLUSIVE HEALTH CARE AVAILABLE
TO THEM. AND SOMETHING AS BASIC
AS A WEBSITE THAT HAS CREDIBLE
INFORMATION THAT PEOPLE CAN RELY
ON THAT, HAS A HOLISTIC APPROACH
TO HEALTH CARE IS ABSOLUTELY
CRITICAL. SO THANK YOU FOR
POSING THIS INCREDIBLE GAP THAT
WE HAVE IN OUR HEALTH CARE
SYSTEM AS IT STANDS. WITH THAT,
WOULD YOU LIKE TO CLOSE? I THINK
YOU HAD A BEAUTIFUL CLOSE FOR
ME, MADAM CHAIR. I APPRECIATE,
THOSE WORDS. AND WITH THAT, WHEN
INAPPROPRIATE RESPECTFULLY
ASKING FOR AN AYE VOTE. THANK
YOU. WE WILL MOVE ON NOW TO OUR
NEXT ITEM, ITEM NUMBER FOUR, SB
1042. ROTH.
PLEASE GO AHEAD. CHAIR. I THINK
WE NEED YOUR MIC ON. THERE WE
GO. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I
WANT TO THANK YOU AND YOUR
COMMITTEE STAFF FOR ALL OF YOUR
ASSISTANCE WITH THE BILL. THIS
BILL REQUIRES ALL NURSING
PROGRAMS IN THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA TO REPORT THEIR
CLINICAL PLACEMENT NEEDS TO THE
BOARD OF REGISTERED NURSING. THE
BILL ALSO REQUIRES LICENSED
HEALTH FACILITIES AND CLINICS TO
REPORT ON CLINICAL PLACEMENT
SLOTS AVAILABLE FOR NURSING
STUDENTS, AND DO THAT REPORT TO
THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH CARE
ACCESS AND INFORMATION, OR HCAI.
THE BILL WOULD ALSO AUTHORIZE
THE BOARD OF REGISTERED NURSING
AT ITS OPTION AND UPON REQUEST,
BY A NURSING SCHOOL OR PROGRAM
TO ASSIST SCHOOLS IN FINDING
CLINICAL PLACEMENT SLOTS TO MEET
THOSE CLINICAL PLACEMENT NEEDS
OF THAT PARTICULAR SCHOOL OR
PROGRAM. THAT'S OPTIONAL AT THE
BOARD'S DECISION. ONE OF THE
MAJOR BOTTLENECKS TO GROWING
CAPACITY IN OUR NURSING PROGRAMS
IS THE CHALLENGE OF LOCATING AND
SECURING CLINICAL PLACEMENT
SLOTS NECESSARY TO PROVIDE
CLINICAL TRAINING REQUIRED IN
ORDER TO OBTAIN A NURSING DEGREE
AT OUR NURSING SCHOOLS, OUR
CALIFORNIA STATE AUDITOR AND THE
2020 REPORT SPECIFIC RECOMMENDED
THAT THE BOARD OF REGISTERED
NURSING REQUIRE NURSING PROGRAMS
TO ANNUALLY UPDATE INFORMATION
ABOUT THE CLINICAL FACILITIES
THEY USE FOR STUDENT PLACEMENTS,
AND, OF COURSE, THAT WOULD ALLOW
THE BOARD TO IDENTIFY CLINICAL
FACILITIES THAT PROGRAMS DO NOT
CURRENTLY USE FOR PLACEMENTS.
THIS BILL DOES JUST THAT BY
COLLECTING DATA ON NURSING
PROGRAMS, CLINICAL PLACEMENT
NEEDS, AND COLLECTING THAT DATA
FROM HEALTH FACILITIES AND
CLINICS ON THEIR CLINICAL
PLACEMENT SLOTS. THE BOARD AND
HCAI WOULD HAVE THE DATA
NECESSARY TO BETTER UNDERSTAND
WHERE CLINICAL PLACEMENT SLOTS
CURRENTLY EXIST, AND WHERE THEY
CAN POTENTIALLY BE CREATED, AND
THE SCHOOLS WOULD BE PROVIDED.
THIS INFORMATION TO VIA A
WEBSITE. YOU SHOULD HAVE
RECEIVED A COPY OF AMENDMENTS
THAT I'M COMMITTED TO TAKE IN
THE ASSEMBLY, BUSINESS AND
PROFESSIONS COMMITTEE, WHICH IS,
OF COURSE, WHERE THIS BILL WILL
HEAD NEXT. IF IT IS APPROVED BY
THIS COMMITTEE. AND WHILE I
UNDERSTAND THAT YOU ARE VOTING
ON THE BILL CURRENTLY IN PRINT,
I ALSO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT
THE COMMITTEE AND ITS MEMBERS
KNOW WHAT I INTEND FOR THIS
BILL, SHOULD IT MOVE FORWARD.
THESE AMENDMENTS DO TWO THINGS.
ONE, IT REMOVES. THEY REMOVE THE
REQUIREMENT THAT THE BOARD
PRIORITIZE REQUESTS FOR
ASSISTANCE FROM PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
AND TWO, THE AMENDMENTS MAKE
SOME TECHNICAL CHANGES TO THE
REPORTING REQUIREMENTS FOR
HEALTH FACILITIES AND CLINICS.
THE CHANGES INCLUDE REQUIRING
THEM TO REPORT CLINICAL
PLACEMENTS AFFILIATED WITH
PATIENT POPULATIONS RATHER THAN
TYPE OF BED OR UNIT, AND
ALIGNING THEIR REPORTING
TIMELINE WITH THAT OF THE
SCHOOLS TO THE BOARD OF
REGISTERED NURSING. THESE
AMENDMENTS MAY REMOVE SOME OR
ALL OF THE OPPOSITION WE WILL
SEE, BUT I AM COMMITTED TO
CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE
STAKEHOLDERS ON THESE ISSUES TO
RESOLVE ANY CONCERNS. WITH THAT,
I WANT TO AGAIN, THANK YOU,
MADAM CHAIR, AND YOUR COMMITTEE
STAFF, AND ALSO WANT TO THANK
THE HOSPITALS, THE NURSING
SCHOOLS, PUBLIC AND PRIVATE AND
OTHERS FOR ENGAGEMENT ON THE
BILL. AT THE APPROPRIATE POINT
IN TIME. I RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR
AN AYE VOTE. THANK YOU, ASSUMING
YOU DON'T HAVE ANY WITNESSES,
ARE THERE ANY OTHER WITNESSES IN
SUPPORT? GOOD AFTERNOON, MATT
LEÓN BROUGH, SEIU CALIFORNIA IN
SUPPORT. THANK YOU. CHAIR AND
MEMBERS. RYAN PERINI, ON BEHALF
OF THE CALIFORNIA AMBULATORY
SURGERY ASSOCIATION IN SUPPORT.
GOOD AFTERNOON. CHAIR MEMBERS
JANICE O'MALLEY WITH AFSCME
CALIFORNIA HERE IN SUPPORT. GOOD
AFTERNOON, VANESSA GONZALES WITH
THE CALIFORNIA HOSPITAL
ASSOCIATION. AND VHA DOES NOT
CURRENTLY HAVE A POSITION ON THE
BILL, HOWEVER, WOULD LIKE TO
THANK THE SENATOR FOR WORKING
WITH US TO ADDRESS THE CONCERNS,
AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING
THE AMENDMENTS IN PRINT. THANK
YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM
CHAIR. I WOULD KIDANI
REPRESENTING THE CALIFORNIA
CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION.
THÀNH, I WANT TO THANK THE
GENERAL FOR HIS DILIGENT WORK,
AND HIS STAFF WITH THOSE
AMENDMENTS THAT HE MENTIONED. WE
ARE IN A PLACE OF NEUTRAL. SO
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU,
MADAM CHAIR AND MEMBERS. SARAH
BRIDGE, ON BEHALF OF THE
ASSOCIATION OF CALIFORNIA
HEALTHCARE DISTRICTS. AGAIN, I
WANT TO ECHO THE COMMENTS BY MY
COLLEAGUE FROM THE CHILDREN'S
HOSPITALS. WE ARE REMOVED OUR
OPPOSITION. THANK YOU. GOOD
AFTERNOON, CHAIR AND MEMBERS,
ALEX GRAVES WITH THE ASSOCIATION
OF INDEPENDENT CALIFORNIA
COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES. WE
TWO HAD BEEN IN IN OPPOSE UNLESS
AMENDED POSITION. BUT WE'LL ALSO
BE MOVING TO NEUTRAL WITH THE
AMENDMENTS MENTIONED. THANK YOU.
MADAM CHAIR MATT, BACK
REPRESENTING THE CALIFORNIA
ASSOCIATION OF PRIVATE
POST-SECONDARY SCHOOLS. WE TO
HAVE AN OPPOSED POSITION ON THE
BILL AND PRINT. WE APPRECIATE
ALL THE AMENDMENTS. THERE IS ONE
ISSUE. WE'RE STILL WORKING WITH
THE AUTHOR ON, WE ARE VERY
CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC. WE'LL GET
THERE. AND AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR
THE AMENDMENTS. THANK YOU. ARE
THERE ANY OTHER WITNESSES IN ARE
THERE ANY WITNESSES IN
OPPOSITION? SEEING NONE, I'LL
BRING IT BACK TO THE COMMITTEE
FOR A COMMENT OR QUESTION. WE
WILL GET QUORUM. SENATOR ROTH,
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BRINGING
FORWARD THIS BILL. I KNOW THAT
WE ARE BOTH MUTUALLY WORKING ON
AN INCREDIBLE WORKFORCE SHORTAGE
, PARTICULARLY WITHIN THE HEALTH
CARE SECTOR, AND ALLOWING OUR
STUDENT NURSES AND NURSING
SCHOOLS TO HAVE ACCURATE
INFORMATION ABOUT AVAILABILITY
OF CLINICAL PLACEMENTS IS
ABSOLUTELY A CRITICAL PIECE OF
THAT. SO THANK YOU FOR BRINGING
FORWARD THIS BILL. WOULD YOU
LIKE TO CLOSE? THANK YOU, MADAM
CHAIR AND MEMBERS. THANK YOU FOR
YOUR CONSIDERATION. THANK YOU.
WE WILL MOVE ON NOW TO ITEM
NUMBER EIGHT, SB 11, SORRY, 11 A
FOUR BY EGGMAN.
WHENEVER YOU'RE READY. THANK
YOU, SENATOR. USE YOUR
MICROPHONE BUTTON, PLEASE. GOOD
AFTERNOON. TODAY I AM PRESENTING
SB 1184, WHICH WOULD HELP
PREVENT THE INTERRUPTION OF
MEDICALLY NECESSARY TREATMENT
WHILE PRESERVING A PATIENT'S
RIGHT TO DUE PROCESS. WHILE ON
AND ON, INVOLUNTARY HOLD. AND
YOU ALL KNOW I'VE DONE A LOT OF
WORK IN THE MENTAL HEALTH SPACE
THIS YEAR. WE'RE JUST DOING SOME
SOME CLEANUP AND SOME FINE
TUNING. TUNING AND THIS IS ONE
BROUGHT TO US FROM THE FIELD
ITSELF, AND THIS IS WHEN PEOPLE
GO IN ON AN INVOLUNTARY HOLD,
IT'S DEEMED THAT THEY ARE UNABLE
TO, TO MAKE THEIR MEDICAL
DECISIONS, THERE'S SOMETHING
CALLED A, A REESE HEARING THAT
IS HELD TO SEE IF THE COURTS CAN
THEN SAY, YES, THIS PERSON NEEDS
TO BE MEDICATED BECAUSE THEY'RE
NOT ABLE TO MAKE THOSE DECISIONS
THEMSELVES AT THIS TIME. THIS
SIMPLY SAYS, BECAUSE OUR COURT
SYSTEM DOESN'T ALWAYS LAND UP
WITH A WITH A, A TREATMENT, TIME
SPENT. SO RIGHT NOW, IF SOMEONE
GOES FROM A THREE DAY HOLD TO A
SEVEN DAY HOLD, TO A TWO WEEK
HOLD, TO A MONTH HOLD TO A, TO
ANOTHER MONTH HOLD EACH TIME, IF
THAT PERSON HAS NOT REGAINED
CAPACITY, THEY HAVE TO GO FOR
ANOTHER. REESE HEARING THIS JUST
SAYS IF THEY'RE ALREADY ON A
REESE HEARING AND THEIR
CONFINEMENT CHANGES FROM ONE TO
ANOTHER TO ALLOW THAT TO STAND.
AND UNTIL THE COURTS CAN
SCHEDULE A FOLLOW UP, REESE
HEARING SO THE PERSON DOES NOT
DECOMPENSATE WHILE IN TREATMENT,
AND BEGIN TO GO BACKWARDS,
THEREBY OFTENTIMES NECESSITATING
AN EVEN LONGER STAY, SO THAT IS
AN IS IN ESSENCE, WHAT WE'RE
DOING. AND I CAN TALK FOREVER,
BUT I WILL JUST SAY WITH ME HERE
TODAY IS DOCTOR ERIC CHUNG AND
RANDALL HAGAR TO TESTIFY IN
SUPPORT. THANKS. YOU'LL EACH
HAVE TWO MINUTES. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE
MEMBERS AND CHAIR. MY NAME IS
DOCTOR ERIC CHUNG. I'M THE CHIEF
MEDICAL OFFICER OF UCLA
PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL. I'M
SPEAKING AS A MEMBER OF THE
CALIFORNIA STATE ASSOCIATION OF
PSYCHIATRISTS AND AS AN E.R. AND
INPATIENT PSYCHIATRIST FOR THE
PAST 17 YEARS. SB 1184 FIXES
WHAT I CALL THE REESE GAP, WHICH
IS A SIGNIFICANT DISRUPTION IN
MEDICAL CARE THAT CAUSES
TREATMENT TO BE STOPPED IN A
PATIENT WHO LACKS CAPACITY
SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY ARE MOVING
FROM ONE PHASE OF A HOLD TO
ANOTHER. THESE MEDICATIONS
STOPPAGES TYPICALLY LAST BETWEEN
1 TO 4 DAYS, AS THE PATIENT
SIMPLY WAITS FOR THEIR CAPACITY.
REHEARING THE REESE GAP IMPACTS
THE MOST SERIOUSLY ILL PATIENTS
ALL ACROSS CALIFORNIA, AND I
GIVE YOU THIS CASE EXAMPLE A
YOUNG MAN WITH SCHIZOPHRENIA WAS
ADMITTED TO OUR HOSPITAL ON A
5150 HOLD AFTER HAVING SUFFERED
MULTIPLE SKULL FRACTURES. HIS
CORE PSYCHOTIC SYMPTOM WAS A
DELUSION THAT HE NEEDED TO SAVE
HUMANITY BY FALLING BACKWARDS
AND STRIKING HIS HEAD ON THE
GROUND, ATTEMPTING THIS DAILY.
SADLY, HE DID NOT BELIEVE THAT
HE HAD SCHIZOPHRENIA AND HE
REFUSED MEDICATIONS. A REESE
PETITION WAS GRANTED WITH HIS 14
DAY HOLD. THE PATIENT STARTED A
MEDICATION AND HE BEGAN TO SHOW
SIGNS OF IMPROVEMENT. THEN, UPON
FILING HIS 30 DAY HOLD AND A NEW
REESE PETITION, HE FELL INTO THE
REESE GAP AND HIS MEDICATION WAS
STOPPED. AS HE WAITED THREE DAYS
FOR HIS CAPACITY. HEARING HIS
PSYCHOSIS WORSENED
SIGNIFICANTLY. HIS ATTEMPTS TO
FALL BACKWARDS AND STRIKE HIS
HEAD WERE MORE SEVERE. HE HAD
VOLATILE MOOD, NAUSEA,
HEADACHES, AND DISRUPTED SLEEP.
WHEN THE REESE WAS REINSTATED,
WE RESUMED THE MEDICATION, BUT
IT WAS CLEAR TO ALL OF US THAT
HE WAS STARTING OVER IN HIS
TREATMENT. THE REESE GAP CAUSES
UNDUE MEDICAL HARM TO PATIENTS
BY WORSENING THEIR ILLNESS,
EXPOSING THEM TO RISKS FROM
SUDDEN DISCONTINUATION OF
MEDICATION, SAFETY RISKS FROM
AGITATED BEHAVIORS, AND
ULTIMATELY PROLONGS THEIR
HOSPITALIZATION. I ASK FOR YOUR
SUPPORT FOR SB 1184, IN THE BEST
INTEREST OF THE HEALTH OF OUR
MOST VULNERABLE PATIENTS. MADAM
CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE,
RANDALL HAGER, REPRESENTING THE
PSYCHIATRIC PHYSICIANS ALLIANCE
OF CALIFORNIA. I COULD NOT HAVE
SAID IT ANY BETTER THAN DOCTOR
CHUNG. OUR GUYS ARE INTERESTED
IN THE PATIENT NOT DETERIORATING
IN TREATMENT BECAUSE OF
ADMINISTRATIVE DELAYS THAT TAKE
PLACE BETWEEN ONE HOLD AND
ANOTHER. I WOULD POINT OUT THAT
REESE VERSUS SAINT MARY'S, WHICH
IS THE COURT CASE THAT THIS
PARTICULAR SECTION OF THE LAW IS
BASED ON, WAS, DECIDED LONG
BEFORE WE HAD A NUMBER OF THE
NEW, NEWER HOLDS THAT, THAT YOU
SEE NOW IN OUR STATUTE. SO
ANOTHER 15 DAY HOLD, ANOTHER 30
DAY HOLD, 230 DAY HOLDS, THEY
WERE NOT ANTICIPATED. AND THERE
WAS NOT A FINDING IN THAT IN
THAT COURT CASE THAT DETERMINED
HOW YOU GO THROUGH THOSE HOLES
AND WHAT THE DETERMINATION NEEDS
TO BE. SO REALLY, IN ONE SENSE,
THERE IS AN ADMINISTRATIVE
RECONCILING HERE OF THE REESE
HEARING, PROCEDURE HERE WITH ALL
THESE RECENT ENACTMENTS. AND
AGAIN, I THINK THE IMPORTANT
THING TO REMEMBER IS THAT THIS
MEASURE IS, I THINK, FIRST AND
FOREMOST, FOR MY MEMBER, IS A
WAY OF PREVENTING THE KINDS OF
SUDDEN DETERIORATION THAT CAN
RESULT FROM A AN ABRUPT
CESSATION IN THEIR INTAKE OF
MEDICATIONS. THERE'S SOMETHING
CALLED A REBOUND EFFECT THAT CAN
CAUSE SYMPTOMS THAT ARE MUCH
GREATER THAN WHEN THE INDIVIDUAL
PATIENT, PRESENTED. AND THAT'S
REALLY SOMETHING WE ALL WANT TO
TRY TO PREVENT, AND WE RECOMMEND
THIS BILL TO YOU FOR THOSE
REASONS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER WITNESSES IN
SUPPORT, MADAM CHAIR AND
MEMBERS, PAUL YODER, ON BEHALF
OF THE CITY AND COUNTY OF SAN
FRANCISCO, IN SUPPORT. THANK
YOU, THANK YOU. ANY WITNESSES IN
OPPOSITION? ARE YOU PRIMARY
WITNESSES IN OPPOSITION? PLEASE
COME TO THE TABLE.
THANK YOU. YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES.
GO AHEAD. I THINK YOU NEED TO
PUT YOUR MIC ON. I HAVEN'T DONE
THIS BEFORE. THANK YOU, MADAM
CHAIR. I'M CATHERINE WOLFF, A
DOCTORAL STUDENT AT BERKELEY AND
THE SUSTAINABILITY AND HEALTH
EQUITY AND DISABLED ECOLOGIES
LABORATORIES WITH A MASTERS IN
PUBLIC HEALTH FROM YALE. I
CONDUCT RESEARCH ON THE
GEOGRAPHIC SITING OF PSYCHIATRIC
FACILITIES IN CALIFORNIA. BUT I
AM ALSO HERE BECAUSE OF MY
PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WITH A
MENTAL DISABILITY. AND AS A
HOSPITAL AND PSYCHIATRIC WARD
INPATIENT. THIS BILL CLAIMS TO
RESOLVE TREATMENT GAPS. YET THE
BILL SPONSORS CITE NO DATA AND
REFERENCE, NO RESEARCH ON WHY OR
IF THOSE GAPS EXIST. AND AS FAR
AS I KNOW, THEY PROPOSE THIS
BILL WITH NO INPUT FROM PEOPLE
WITH MENTAL DISABILITIES.
IMAGINE WRITING A BILL ABOUT
WOMEN WITHOUT WOMEN. IMAGINE
WRITING A BILL ABOUT QUEER
PEOPLE WITHOUT QUEER PEOPLE. YET
WE KEEP GETTING THESE BILLS
ABOUT DISABLED PEOPLE
SPECIFICALLY WITH MENTAL
DISABILITIES, WITHOUT DISABLED
PEOPLE. I THINK THE REASON IS A
FORM OF DISCRIMINATION THAT
DISABILITY THEORISTS CALL A LOSS
OF RHETORIC. K¾T, OR EPISTEMIC
INJUSTICE. MORE SIMPLY, ONCE YOU
HAVE A DIAGNOSIS OF MENTAL
ILLNESS, A LOT OF PEOPLE NO
LONGER CONSIDER YOU A RELIABLE
WITNESS OF YOUR OWN EXPERIENCE.
PSYCHIATRIC PATIENTS ARE EVEN
THE SOLE INPATIENT GROUP
EXCLUDED FROM FEDERALLY MANDATED
HOSPITAL EXPERIENCE SURVEYS.
SPEAKING OF RHETORIC, THE
EUPHEMISMS THE ONLY TREATMENT
THAT A REHEARING AUTHORIZES IS
FORCED ANTIPSYCHOTIC MEDICATION
THAT MEANS IF A PATIENT REFUSES
ORAL MEDS AND PHYSICALLY RESISTS
A GROUP OF STAFF CAN HOLD HER,
TIE HER FACE DOWN ON THE BED,
PULL DOWN HER UNDERWEAR, AND
FORCE A NEEDLE INTO HER. BUT
SPEAKING PERSONALLY IN TWO
UNRELATED EVENTS, I HAVE BEEN
SEXUALLY ASSAULTED AND I HAVE
BEEN FORCIBLY INJECTED. THE ONE
THAT HAD THE LONGER AND WORSE
IMPACTS ON MY LIFE WAS THE
FORCED INJECTION. BECAUSE OF THE
LACK OF RECOURSE I JUST HAD TO
LIVE WITH IT. SOME DON'T LIVE
WITH IT. RECENT DISCHARGE FROM
INTUBATION. PSYCHIATRY IS THE
BIGGEST RISK FACTOR FOR SUICIDE.
THAT'S NOT ALL FROM FORCED
INJECTIONS, BUT WE KNOW THAT
COERCION DURING HOSPITALIZATION
INCREASES THAT RISK AND DETERS
PEOPLE FROM SEEKING FUTURE CARE.
THIS BILL, BY LETTING THESE
DECISIONS BLEED INTO SUBSEQUENT
HOLDS, INCREASES THE CHANCE THAT
MEDICAL STAFF WILL FORCE NEEDLES
INTO PATIENTS WHOM A HEARING
OFFICER WOULD HAVE FOUND TO HAVE
CAPACITY. THAT MAKES INPATIENT
PSYCHIATRY LESS SAFE. AND IF THE
PSYCHIATRIC SYSTEM ISN'T SAFE,
WHERE ARE WE SUPPOSED TO GO?
THANK YOU, THANK YOU. YOU'LL
HAVE TWO MINUTES. HI. GOOD
AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS CLAIRE
CORTRIGHT. I'M THE POLICY
DIRECTOR FOR CAL VOICES. WE ARE
A PEER RUN ORGANIZATION, SO
WE'RE RUN BY AND FOR PEOPLE WITH
SERIOUS MENTAL ILLNESS. I'M AN
ATTORNEY. I'M ALSO A PERSON WHO
HAS DEFENDED COUNTLESS PATIENTS
ON REESE INVOLUNTARY PETITIONS.
I THINK MANY OF THE ISSUES HERE
ARE PROBABLY MORE GERMANE TO THE
JUDICIARY COMMITTEE, BECAUSE WE
ARE TALKING ABOUT A LANDMARK
CIVIL RIGHTS CASE AND HOW THIS
BILL IMPACTS THAT. BUT BECAUSE
THIS IS THE HEALTH COMMITTEE,
I'LL, I'LL LEAVE THE LEGAL STUFF
BRIEF, WHICH IS THAT, MY, CO
WITNESS IS CORRECT. THERE IS
NOTHING TO SUPPORT THIS BILL.
THERE'S NOTHING TO SAY THAT IT'S
A SYSTEMIC ISSUE, WHAT IS IN THE
LAW NOW, WAS AN ENACTMENT OF
THIS LEGISLATURE IN 1991, A
CODIFICATION OF THE REESE CASE,
THAT CASE DID ADDRESS HOW LONG A
REESE PETITION COULD REMAIN IN
EFFECT, THE TWO WEEK HOLD, DID
HAVE A SECOND TWO WEEK HOLD, AND
THE COURT DID FIND THAT IT COULD
NOT CARRY THROUGH. THERE WAS A
SEPARATE PROCESS FOR A 5260.
IT'S CALLED A SECOND TWO WEEK
HOLD. SO WE'RE ROLLING BACK
FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS. WE'RE
ROLLING BACK FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS
THAT ARE IN PART BASED IN
CALIFORNIA'S RIGHT TO PRIVACY.
IN OUR CONSTITUTION, THE SAME
THING THAT GIVES US A RIGHT TO
ABORTION. THAT BEING SAID, I
THINK THE HUMAN IMPACT IS THE
MOST IMPORTANT FOR THE HEALTH
COMMITTEE. OUR CLIENTS DO REGAIN
CAPACITY. THEY HAVE BEEN
MEDICATED WITH MEDICATIONS THAT
TYPICALLY ONLY TAKE ABOUT TWO
WEEKS TO REACH THE GREATEST
EFFECTIVENESS. CGRTS, SO I'VE
DEFENDED CLIENTS WHERE THE
DOCTOR WAS SAYING, THIS PERSON
LACKS CAPACITY. I WOULD LIKE TO
INJECT THEM WITH MEDICATIONS.
AND I WON THAT HEARING. THE
CLIENT DID NOT LACK CAPACITY,
AND THAT'S WHY THE COURT
ORIGINALLY GOT INVOLVED WITH
REESE. THEY SAID COMPETENCE IS
NOT A MEDICAL, CLINICAL OR
PSYCHIATRIC CONCEPT. IT'S A IT'S
A LEGAL ONE. THAT'S WHY WE HAVE
THIS RECOURSE TO HAVE A NEUTRAL
DECISION MAKER ADJUDICATE THE
PATIENT'S RIGHTS. THANK YOU,
THANK YOU. ARE THERE ANY OTHER
WITNESSES IN OPPOSITION? STATE
YOUR NAME, ORGANIZATION AND
POSITION. YEAH. PAUL SIMMONS
WITH CALIFORNIA PEER WATCH IN
OPPOSITION. ANY VEHICLE WITH
MENTAL HEALTH AMERICA OF
CALIFORNIA ALSO ON BEHALF OF
DISABILITY RIGHTS CALIFORNIA AND
THE ACLU IN OPPOSITION. THANK
YOU. SEEING NO OTHER OPPOSITION,
I WILL BRING IT BACK TO THE
COMMITTEE FOR ANY QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS. DOCTOR ARAMBULA THANK
YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I WANTED TO
GIVE THE SENATOR WHO MANY OF US
HAVE A GREAT DEAL OF RESPECT
FOR, FOR YOUR LIVED EXPERIENCE
AND TIME, HAVING PROVIDED CARE,
AN OPPORTUNITY TO RESPOND TO THE
OPPOSITION AND SOME OF THE
CONCERNS THAT THEY BROUGHT UP,
AS I BELIEVE MANY OF US WHO ARE
ON THE DAIS DON'T BELIEVE OUR
CURRENT SYSTEM IS FUNCTIONING
AND WORKING WELL FOR SO MANY
PEOPLE HERE IN OUR GREAT STATE.
I'D LOVE TO HEAR YOUR RESPONSE.
YEAH. THANK YOU, DOCTOR
ARAMBULA, AND AS SOMEONE WHO HAS
PROVIDED CARE IN THE E.R, I KNOW
YOU UNDERSTAND, THE
DIFFICULTIES, THAT IMPACT. NOT
ONLY THAT PATIENT AND FAMILY,
BUT ALL THE OTHER PATIENTS AND
FAMILIES, THAT FIND THEMSELVES
PATIENTS AT THE SAME TIME IN A
FACILITY, YEAH. I'LL SAY, WE I,
I, I WILL SAY OVER AND OVER AND
OVER AGAIN, I BELIEVE VOLUNTARY
IS ALWAYS BEST. VOLUNTARY IS
ALWAYS THE RIGHT AVENUE. IF THAT
WORKS OUT. AND SOMETIMES THAT
JUST DOESN'T WORK OUT. AND WE
FIND THAT WE DON'T CATCH PEOPLE
EARLY ENOUGH, IN THEIR, IN THEIR
ILLNESS TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE
THAT EARLY PREVENTION
INTERVENTION. ALTHOUGH WE'RE
GETTING OUR SYSTEMS UP TO
HOPEFULLY BE ABLE TO DO THAT,
BUT WE KNOW THAT WHEN SOMEONE
DEVOLVES DOWN TO THAT, THAT,
THAT POINT WHERE THEY ARE UNABLE
TO MAKE THEIR OWN DECISIONS,
THAT OFTENTIMES THAT, THAT THAT
WILLINGNESS TO ACCEPT MEDICATION
, THEY DON'T THEY DON'T HAVE
THAT CAPACITY TO SAY, YAY OR
NAY, SO THE REYES HEARINGS WERE
NOT WE DID NOT HAVE ALL THE
LEVELS AND HOLDS AND I, I PASSED
SOME OF THOSE NEW HOLDS, DURING
OUR TIME HERE SO THAT WE
WOULDN'T HAVE TO MOVE RIGHT TO
CONSERVATORSHIP SO THAT WE WOULD
HAVE OTHER OPTIONS. AND THIS
JUST AND AGAIN, PEOPLE ALWAYS
HAVE AS SOON AS THEY RETAIN
CAPACITY, THEY CAN ALWAYS SAY NO
TO MEDICATIONS. RIGHT? IT IS
ETHICAL. IT WOULD NOT BE ETHICAL
FOR A PHYSICIAN, A PSYCHIATRIST
TO CONTINUE TO MEDICATE SOMEBODY
IF THEY HAVE CAPACITY. SO IF
THEY HAVE CAPACITY, THE CAPACITY
RETURNS, THEY WILL NO LONGER BE
MEDICAID AGAINST THEIR WILL.
THIS JUST SAYS THEY CAN'T GET ON
THE COURT CALENDAR BEFORE THE
NEXT HOLD STARTS, THAT THEY'RE
ABLE TO MAINTAIN THAT REESE
HEARING FOR THE NEXT HEARING.
THE NEXT, STAY UNTIL THE NEXT
HEARING CAN BE, PRODUCED AND OR
THE PATIENT RETURNS TO CAPACITY
BY THEMSELVES AND A PATIENT
DEVOLVING, IN A FACILITY WILL
OFTEN RESULT IN, IN FIVE POINT
RESTRAINTS, WHICH NOBODY WANTS.
NOBODY WANTS TO HAVE TO PUT
SOMEBODY IN RESTRAINTS IN A
FACILITY THAT IS THE LAST THING
YOU WANT FOR, AGAIN, FOR THAT
PERSON, FOR THE STAFF AND FOR
THE OTHER PEOPLE AROUND THEM.
THANK YOU, SENATOR, FOR BRINGING
FORWARD THIS BILL. I THINK, FOR
ME, ONE OF THE CHALLENGES IS
THAT WE'RE ESSENTIALLY
ADDRESSING AN ADMINISTRATIVE
FAILURE, WITH A MEDICAL
TREATMENT PLAN. SO EXISTING LAW
RIGHT NOW REQUIRES THE CAPACITY
THAT REQUIRES CAPACITY PETITIONS
TO BE HEARD WITHIN 24 HOURS. AND
IN A MANNER COMPATIBLE WITH AND
THE LEAST DISRUPTIVE OF THE
TREATMENT BEING PROVIDED TO THE
PERSON. SO REALLY, THERE ARE
GAPS IN THE HEARINGS. YOU
MENTIONED THEM ALL IN YOUR
WITNESSES. IT DID AS WELL. WHY
NOT SEEK, AN ADMINISTRATIVE A
SOLUTION AROUND THE
ADMINISTRATIVE HEARINGS AND
LIMITING THE TIME, I WOULD JUST
SAY THAT OUR COURT SYSTEMS, LIKE
ALL OF OUR SYSTEMS, ARE HUGELY
IMPACTED. AND TO TRY TO
SUPERSEDE ON TOP OF THAT FOR A
GAP PROBLEM DIDN'T SEEM
REASONABLE. IT'S CERTAINLY
SOMETHING THAT WE COULD TAKE A
LOOK AT, BUT IT DIDN'T SEEM LIKE
TIMELY OR REASONABLE, BUT IF
IT'S OKAY, I'D LIKE MY WITNESS
TO RESPOND TO THAT AS WELL, IN
MY IDEAL WORLD, A REESE PETITION
WOULD BE FILED TODAY AND WOULD
BE HEARD TODAY AND DECIDED
TODAY. BUT I THINK PRACTICALLY
SPEAKING, IT'S TOO MUCH TO ASK
OF COURTS FOR THAT TO HAPPEN. SO
WHETHER WHETHER IT'S ONE DAY,
ONE MEDICATION ADMINISTRATION OR
FOUR DAYS, WE'RE PUTTING THE
PATIENT AT RISK FOR NOT TAKING
THE MEDICATION THAT IS HELPING
THEM TO GET BETTER. AND THAT'S
JUST MEDICALLY NOT INDICATED. I
WOULD FURTHER ADD, I THINK THAT
THERE ARE SOME JURISDICTIONS
WHERE THERE ARE A SMALL COUNTY,
SMALL COURT, YOU YOU SCHEDULE
THESE THINGS. UNLIKE MONDAYS AND
THURSDAYS, AND YOU HAVE A
HEARING OFFICER WHO DOES THAT.
AND IF SOMETHING HAPPENS TO THE
HEARING OFFICER OF THE COURT IS
CLOSED BECAUSE OF A BOMB THREAT,
THERE ARE MANY CONTINGENCIES
THAT COULD BE BROUGHT TO BEAR,
IT'S NOT A COMPLETE SOLUTION TO
LOOK TO THE COURTS, TO TIGHTEN
UP THEIR PROCEDURES AND TO
ENSURE THAT THIS HAPPENS IN A
TIMELY WAY, AS THE LAW SAYS IT
SHOULD. I DO AGREE WITH DOCTOR
CHUNG. YOU KNOW, TODAY, TODAY
AND TODAY. I THINK IF WE HAD OUR
WISHES, THAT WOULD BE WE THE WAY
WE WOULD GO. AND DO WE HAVE ANY
SUPPORTING DATA TO ESSENTIALLY,
GIVE US A SENSE OF THE SCOPE OF
THIS ISSUE AND HOW MANY
INDIVIDUALS AND CAN YOU SHARE
THAT WITH US? I DON'T THINK THAT
WE'VE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO
REVIEW THAT. YES, I CAN SHARE
WITH YOU AT LEAST PARTIAL
INFORMATION. WE'RE CONTINUING TO
GATHER THAT BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT
IT'S OF INTEREST TO YOUR
COMMITTEE AND TO OTHERS. I CAN
CONFIRM FOR YOU THAT LOS ANGELES
COUNTY HAS THIS PROBLEM. SAN
DIEGO COUNTY HAS THIS PROBLEM.
SACRAMENTO C , AND VENTURA AND
OTHER COUNTIES LIKE SAN
FRANCISCO HAVE AN ENTIRELY
DIFFERENT PROCESS, WHICH IS AN
OUTLIER IN ITSELF. AND WE DID A
SURVEY OF OUR MEMBERS AS WELL,
AND SAN FRANCISCO AND SAN DIEGO,
SAN DIEGO, AS WELL AS SAN MATEO
COUNTIES CAME UP AS, AS,
REPORTING FREQUENT INSTANCES OF
THIS SORT. SO YOU DID A SURVEY
OF YOUR MEMBERS? YES, YES, WE
HAVE AMONG OUR MEMBERS, MEDICAL
DIRECTORS OF FACILITIES WHO ARE
VERY INVOLVED IN THE RESE
HEARINGS. YEAH I MEAN, I THINK
MY OVERALL CONCERN IS THAT WE
ARE ESSENTIALLY, ADDRESSING,
JUDICIAL BEALL ADMINISTRATIVE
CHALLENGE BY POTENTIALLY,
CAUSING, THE, THE CIVIL
LIBERTIES OF INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE
DISABLED AND OBVIOUSLY NEED HELP
TO, TO KIND OF THAT THAT'S BEING
HELD IN THE BALANCE. SO IT'S
CERTAINLY A CHALLENGING DECISION
FOR THIS COMMITTEE. I CERTAINLY
HAVE THE UTMOST RESPECT AND
ADMIRATION, REALLY, FOR THE
SENATOR IN THE WORK THAT YOU'VE
DONE OVER THE COURSE OF YOUR
CAREER AND CERTAINLY IN THE
LEGISLATURE HERE, AND I KNOW
THAT THIS IS ONE OF THOSE PIECES
THAT YOU DEFINITELY KNOW NEEDS
TO BE IN PLACE IN TERMS OF
ENSURING THAT PEOPLE GET THIS
HEALTH AND HELP AND SUPPORT THAT
THEY NEED IN A TIMELY MANNER.
WITH THAT, WE AND IT GOES TO
JUDAS NEXT, IT GOES TO JUDAS
NEXT. AND I THINK THAT THERE ARE
, SOME ASPECTS OF THIS THAT ARE
AS THE, AS THE OPPOSITION,
TESTIMONY OFFERED THAT ARE
PRIMARILY IN THE JUDICIAL SPACE.
AND SO WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO
BE RECOMMENDING, AN AYE TO PASS
IT THROUGH THIS COMMITTEE AND
KNOW THAT YOU WILL CONTINUE TO
WORK, ON THIS AS IT HEADS TO
JUDICIARY, BECAUSE I THINK THE
ISSUES ARE PRIMARILY MORE SCOPE.
THERE BUT I'M DEFINITELY
CONCERNED WITH MAKING SURE THAT
WE HAVE A ROBUST DATA SET AND
RESEARCH BASIS TO BE ABLE TO,
MAKE THIS PUBLIC POLICY DECISION
. FAIR ENOUGH. YEAH. WITH THAT,
WOULD YOU LIKE TO CLOSE? JUST
THANK YOU. THESE ARE THESE ARE
TOUGH ISSUES. THAT'S WHY WE
THAT'S WHY WE GET, DEVIL
REFERRED TO MULTIPLE COMMITTEES
TO BE ABLE TO GET AS MANY EYES
ON IT AS WE CAN TO MAKE SURE WE
GET IT RIGHT. FOR THE BENEFIT OF
ALL. I ASK FOR YOUR VOTE. THANK
YOU, WE WHEN WE HAVE QUORUM, WE
WILL MOVE FORWARD WITH A MOTION
FOR THIS BILL. THANK YOU.
SENATOR. WE WILL MOVE BACK UP IN
THE FILE ITEM ORDER TO ITEM
NUMBER FIVE, SB 1078, BY SENATOR
MINH.
PLEASE BEGIN WHENEVER YOU'RE
READY. MEMBERS, I'M HERE TO
PRESENT SB 1078, WHICH WOULD
CREATE AN OFFICE OF LANGUAGE
ACCESS WITHIN THE CALIFORNIA
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY
TO PROVIDE OVERSIGHT,
ACCOUNTABILITY, AND COORDINATION
ACROSS CAL HHS DEPARTMENTS AND
OFFICES, ENSURING THAT
INDIVIDUALS WITH LIMITED ENGLISH
PROFICIENCY HAVE MEANINGFUL
ACCESS TO ITS PROGRAMS AND
SERVICES FOR THE NEARLY 6.4
MILLION CALIFORNIANS WITH
LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENCY,
LANGUAGE BARRIERS POSE A
SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGE TO THEIR
ABILITY TO HAVE ACCESS TO
QUALITY HEALTH CARE COVERAGE AND
SERVICES. STUDIES SHOW THAT THE
ABSENCE OF CULTURALLY AND
LINGUISTICALLY APPROPRIATE
HEALTH CARE SERVICES HAVE
SIGNIFICANTLY NEGATIVE HEALTH
OUTCOMES FOR INDIVIDUALS,
INCLUDING LONGER HOSPITAL STAYS
AND HIGHER LIKELIHOODS OF
HOSPITAL READMISSIONS. THESE
AVOIDABLE CLINICAL COSTS CAN BE
SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED WITH
IMPROVED INTERPRETING AND
TRANSLATION SERVICES. AS
CALIFORNIA HAS LONG RECOGNIZED
THE IMPORTANCE OF PROVIDING IN
LANGUAGE RESOURCES. REYES, NOT
ALL STATUTES AND REGULATIONS
HAVE BEEN IMPLEMENTED IN AN
EFFECTIVE WAY. SB 1078 WOULD
ENSURE THAT IMPLEMENTATION AND
MONITORING OF EXISTING FEDERAL
AND STATE ACCESS LANGUAGE LAWS
ARE DONE APPROPRIATELY. IT WOULD
CLOSE AN EXISTING GAP FOR THOSE
SEEKING A BROAD SPECTRUM OF
HEALTH SERVICES, SAVING THE
STATE MILLIONS IN AVOIDABLE
COSTS AND BOLSTERING THE STATE'S
ABILITY TO MEET STATUTORY
LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS. I HAVE
WITH ME TO TESTIFY TODAY, JULIA
LAO FROM ASIAN HEALTH SERVICES
AND DORINA WONG FROM ASIAN
RESOURCES INC. TO TESTIFY IN
SUPPORT, PLEASE PRESS THE
MICROPHONE BUTTON AND WELCOME.
YOU'LL EACH HAVE TWO MINUTES.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR AND
ASSEMBLY, HEALTH COMMITTEE
MEMBERS. MY NAME IS JULIA LIAO,
CEO AT ASIAN HEALTH SERVICES,
ONE OF THE CO-SPONSOR OF THE
BILL, AND HERE TO EXPRESS FULL
SUPPORT OF SB 1078. ASIAN HEALTH
SERVICES IS A FEDERALLY
QUALIFIED HEALTH CENTER THAT
PROVIDES MEDICAL, DENTAL AND
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CARE TO 50,000
LOW INCOME PATIENTS. WE STARTED
50 YEARS AGO BECAUSE WE SAW THE
TWO KEY BARRIERS TO HEALTH CARE
ACCESS WAS LANGUAGE AND
AFFORDABILITY, AND THAT'S WHY TO
THIS DAY, WE SERVE ALL OF OUR
PATIENTS IN 12 ASIAN LANGUAGES.
AND RESEARCH HAS SHOWN THAT
LANGUAGE ACCESSIBILITY IS
CRITICAL TO REDUCING UNNECESSARY
ER HOSPITAL COSTS. WHEN
CALIFORNIA EMBARKED ON THE
DISTRIBUTION OF COVID
VACCINATIONS, WE SAW HOW
LANGUAGE BARRIERS HINDERED ASIAN
COMMUNITY MEMBERS FROM ACCESSING
LIFE SAVING VACCINES. ONE COUPLE
WHO SPOKE ONLY VIETNAMESE,
DELAYED GETTING THEIR COVID
VACCINE BY SEVERAL WEEKS BECAUSE
THEY DIDN'T UNDERSTAND THE
INSTRUCTIONS IN ENGLISH FOR HOW
AND WHERE TO GET A SHOT.
CALIFORNIA'S MYTURN VACCINE
WEBSITE HAD VIETNAMESE
TRANSLATION, WAS FULL OF ERRORS
AND MADE COMPREHENSION EXTREMELY
DIFFICULT. AT MAX, VACCINATION
SITES PROMISED TRANSLATIONS FOR
LANGUAGES BEYOND SPANISH, BUT
OUR STAFF TRIED UNSUCCESSFULLY
FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES TO GET AN
INTERPRETER FOR CHINESE,
VIETNAMESE AND KOREAN LANGUAGES
AND HAD TO GIVE UP DURING THE
PANDEMIC, INDIVIDUALS WITH LEP
WERE THREE TIMES MORE LIKELY TO
TEST POSITIVE FOR THE VIRUS, AND
HOSPITALIZED PATIENTS WERE 35%
MORE LIKELY TO SUFFER SERIOUS
HEALTH OUTCOMES COMPARED WITH
ENGLISH SPEAKERS. WE'VE BEEN
REALLY ENCOURAGED BY THE
GOVERNOR'S SEPTEMBER 2022
EXECUTIVE ORDER THAT DIRECTS CAL
HHS TO ESTABLISH RECOMMENDATIONS
TO IMPROVE LANGUAGE ACCESS TO
STATE GOVERNMENT SERVICES AND
PROGRAMS. YET THERE'S NO
MECHANISM OR ENTITY CHARGED WITH
OVERSIGHT AND ACCOUNTABILITY K¾T
FOR THE DEVELOPMENT AND
IMPLEMENTATION OF THESE LANGUAGE
ACCESS PLANS. AS A RESULT, IT
HAS BEEN CHALLENGING FOR
COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO NAVIGATE
AND UNDERSTAND HOW THE
DEPARTMENTS ARE PROVIDING
EQUITABLE ACCESS TO THE WIDE
ARRAY OF STATE FUNDED PROGRAMS
AND SERVICES WITHIN CAL HHS. WE
ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF SB 1078,
AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR
TIME. THANK YOU. YOU'LL HAVE TWO
MINUTES. GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR
BONTA AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS. MY
NAME IS DORINA WONG AND I'M THE
POLICY DIRECTOR AT ASIAN
RESOURCES INC, OR ARI. WE ASK
FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF SB 1078,
WHICH WILL IMPROVE LANGUAGE
ACCESS FOR MILLIONS OF LIMITED
ENGLISH PROFICIENT CALIFORNIANS.
SINCE 1980, ARI HAS PROVIDED
DIRECT SERVICES AND CONDUCTED
ADVOCACY FOR INCREASED CULTURAL
AND LINGUISTIC ACCESS FOR STATE
AND SOCIAL SERVICES PROGRAMS FOR
OVER 30,000 ASIAN AMERICANS,
NATIVE HAWAIIANS, AND PACIFIC
ISLANDERS, IMMIGRANTS AND
LIMITED ENGLISH SPEAKERS, EVERY
YEAR WITH OFFICES IN SACRAMENTO
AND LA, LIKE HHS, WE HAVE SEEN
FIRSTHAND THE SERIOUS LANGUAGE
BARRIERS THAT OUR LEP CLIENTS
EXPERIENCE. FOR INSTANCE, WE
HAVE SEEN LONG EXPERIENCED LONG
WAIT TIMES, SOMETIMES OVER AN
HOUR OF WHEN, ESPECIALLY WHEN AN
INTERPRETER IS NEEDED FOR
MEDI-CAL RENEWALS DURING THE
PUBLIC HEALTH UNWINDING. THIS
HAS RESULTED IN MEDI-CAL
TERMINATIONS AND THE LOSS OF
HEALTH COVERAGE FOR OUR FOR OUR
CLIENTS. AS YOU HEARD, THESE
KINDS OF BARRIERS LEAD TO HEALTH
DISPARITIES AND SIGNIFICANT HARM
TO OUR LEP MEMBERS, WHICH
NUMEROUS STUDIES, NUMEROUS
STUDIES HAVE IDENTIFIED. THE
BILL WOULD ALSO IMPROVE
COMMUNICATION. AND AS SENATOR
MIN INDICATED, REDUCED OVERALL
COST SAVINGS TO THE STATE. THE
BILL WOULD ALSO BOLSTER THE
STATE'S ABILITY TO MEET ITS
STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS BY
CODIFYING CAL HHS LANGUAGE
ACCESS POLICY. CURRENTLY,
THERE'S NO MECHANISM FOR
REQUIRED LANGUAGE ACCESS PLANS
FOR COORDINATING ITS LANGUAGE
SERVICES OR ENFORCING ITS
POLICIES, SO THE BILL WOULD
CREATE A CENTRALIZED OFFICE THAT
COULD ISSUE CORRECTIVE ACTION
PLANS. IT WOULD ALSO INFORM LEP
COMMUNITIES ABOUT CRITICAL
RESOURCES AND THROUGH A PUBLIC
WEBSITE, AND IT WOULD ALLOW
SMALLER LANGUAGE POPULATIONS TO
REQUEST TRANSLATED VITAL
DOCUMENTS AND INCREASE
ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY.
SO WE URGE THE COMMITTEE TO
SUPPORT AB AS SB 1078. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU. ARE THERE ANY
OTHER WITNESSES IN SUPPORT?
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, VANESSA
KAHENA, ON BEHALF OF THE
CALIFORNIA PAN ETHNIC HEALTH
NETWORK HERE IN SUPPORT. TAYLOR
JACKSON, WITH THE CALIFORNIA
PRIMARY CARE ASSOCIATION AND
STRONG SUPPORT. MASON VEGA WITH
THE AMERICAN ALLIANCE OF
PROFESSIONAL TRANSLATORS AND
INTERPRETERS IN STRONG SUPPORT.
CHRISTINE SMITH, HEALTH ACCESS
CALIFORNIA IN SUPPORT. YASMIN
PELA, JUSTICE AND AGING IN
SUPPORT. GOOD AFTERNOON CAMERAS
ASI ON BEHALF OF LEAD FILIPINO
IN STRONG SUPPORT. THANK YOU.
ANDREW CHAIRMAN KIM WITH THE
ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN PUBLIC
AFFAIRS AND THE CALIFORNIA AIR
AND ÁP ADVOCACY COALITION HERE
IN SUPPORT. THANK YOU. GOOD
AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR AND
MEMBERS. SANTOSH SAIRAM,
REPRESENTING CHINESE FOR
AFFIRMATIVE ACTION IN STRONG
SUPPORT. GOOD AFTERNOON. LINDA
WEI WITH WESTERN CENTER ON LAW
AND POVERTY IN SUPPORT. MY
LITTLE MY NAME IS LISA HAFOKA.
I'M THE PRESIDENT OF THE
ASSOCIATION OTTAWA INC IN
SACRAMENTO. IN STRONG SUPPORT OF
THIS BILL. GOOD AFTERNOON, FAITH
LI. WITH ASIAN AMERICANS
ADVANCING JUSTICE. SOUTHERN
CALIFORNIA, WE'RE IN SUPPORT.
THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON,
CAROLYN WANG CØNG WITH ASIAN
PACIFIC FUND AND STRONG SUPPORT.
GOOD AFTERNOON, EDO WITH THE
SOUTHEAST ASIA RESOURCE ACTION
CENTER IN STRONG SUPPORT. GOOD
AFTERNOON. I'M JENNIFER TRAN ON
BEHALF OF THE OAKLAND VIETNAMESE
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. WE ARE IN
STRONG SUPPORT. BEN WONG WITH
ASIAN HEALTH SERVICES IN STRONG
SUPPORT. GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M
LAKSHMI MARUTHU OF ASIAN PACIFIC
COMMUNITY COUNSELING. I'M ALSO
IN SUPPORT OF THIS BILL. THANK
YOU. HI TUKAJ WITH ASIAN HEALTH
SERVICES AND THE PROGRESSIVE
VIETNAMESE AMERICAN ORGANIZATION
IN STRONG SUPPORT. ELAINE PAN,
MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION FOR
CHINESE COMMUNITIES, VERY STRONG
SUPPORT. THANK YOU. GOOD
AFTERNOON. VANESSA TRAN WITH THE
MYSTICAL INDIGENA COMMUNITY
ORGANIZING PROJECT AND STRONG
SUPPORT. THANK YOU. GOOD
AFTERNOON, MADAM VELEZ, WITH THE
LATINO COALITION FOR A HEALTHY
CALIFORNIA IN STRONG SUPPORT.
I'M YOUR LEAD MENTAL HEALTH
ASSOCIATIONS FOR CHINESE
COMMUNITY. I SUPPORT. THE
AFTERNOON, MENTAL HEALTH
ASSOCIATION FOR CHINESE
COMMUNITY FOR SUPPORT. MY NAME
CHUNG MING TAN MOORLACH I
SUPPORT IT. THANK YOU. WELCOME.
THANK YOU. HONG OHI, LADY
ALAMEDA. OR GTA ACB YELLING
YELLOW. ORG FRIENDLY. ORANGE.
ALAMEDA UNION OR SBA LICCARDO
CARILLO. NANYIN OR ALAMEDA CB IN
YELLOW. OKAY. SOOBIN AND ALL
HIGHLIGHTED ALAMEDA TIÂU. SB IN
YELLOW. GOOD AFTERNOON MATTHEW
LONG WITH KOREAN COMMUNITY
CENTER OF THE EAST BAY IN STRONG
SUPPORT. JUBILEUSZOWA KI¾M SHEMO
PICI BENNETTE KIM TAKANO KOREAN
COMMUNITY CENTER OF THE EAST
BAY. KI¾M COMENZÓ CONCHA. OLGA
NHîNG. VICTOR LAO, KB OGECHI.
DEPENDING ON. HOW WAS THE CASE?
IS IT BE THE NICOLE OR THE GOOD
TÍNH? MY NAME IS ALINA KIM FROM
KOREAN COMMUNITY CENTER OF EAST
BAY. IN SUPPORT. I HAVE OUR
COMMUNITY LEADERS BEHIND ME WHO
ARE PRESENT TO SHOW THEIR
SUPPORT. CHAIRMAN YONG SUK CHEN
YI AND. I'M KOREAN. I'M
WONDERING MY NAME IS YONG.
WHATEVER. YONG AND THEN I'M IS,
LIVING ALAMEDA, CALIFORNIA,
CHAIRMAN YOKU ALAMEDA COUNTY. IT
. I LIVE WITH THE ALAMEDA
COUNTY. MY NAME IS SUNNY. YI VÚI
. DA AMIDA. YI AND ALAMEDA
COUNTY, CA A. NATIVE. BY NAME.
YUNJI DE ALAMEDA COUNTY. GOOD
AFTERNOON, ANDREW MINER. ALONG
WITH MY COLLEAGUES AT ASIAN
RESOURCES, INC. IN STRONG
SUPPORT. CHAIRMAN KWON YOUNG CÁC
Â LAWCENTER ON THE. NATALIE
SOLOMON SASSOON, RICHMOND AREA
MULTI-SERVICE AND REGIONAL
PACIFIC ISLANDER TASK FORCE. I
SUPPORT. TALOFA SO REGIONAL
PACIFIC ISLANDER TASK FORCE IN
THE BAY AREA. TOTALLY SUPPORT.
SHISHI, THANK YOU SO MUCH. ARE
THERE ANY OTHER WITNESSES IN
OPPOSITION? ARE THERE ANY
WITNESSES IN OPPOSITION? SEEING
NONE, WE WILL BRING IT BACK TO
THE COMMITTEE FOR COMMENT OR
QUESTIONS. CARILLO ASSEMBLY
MEMBER CARRILLO. IT HAPPENS,
THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. AND
THANK YOU TO THE AUTHOR. I WISH
I SPOKE KOREAN OR MANDARIN OR
CANTONESE. SOME OF THE LANGUAGES
THAT I THAT I HEARD. BUT IF YOU
CAN TRANSLATE TO FOLKS AND JUST
SIMPLY SAY WELCOME, THANK YOU
FOR COMING. ALL LANGUAGES, ALL
CULTURES, ALL PEOPLE ARE
WELCOMED AND THE PEOPLE'S HOUSE.
AND YOU SHOULD ALWAYS FEEL LIKE
THIS IS A SPACE WHERE YOU CAN BE
HEARD. THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU
TO THE AUTHOR FOR THIS BILL.
THANK YOU SO MUCH TO THE AUTHOR
FOR BRINGING FORWARD THIS BILL,
IT'S WONDERFUL TO SEE SO MANY
PEOPLE FROM MY DISTRICT COMING
FORWARD TO SUPPORT THIS BILL.
LANGUAGE BARRIERS ARE SOMETHING
THAT WE KNOW POSE INCREDIBLY
SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES WHEN IT
COMES TO THE ABILITY FOR
CALIFORNIANS TO KNOW AND FEEL
THAT THEY HAVE A MEANINGFUL
ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE SERVICES.
AND THAT'S NO MORE APPARENT THAN
IT IS WHEN WE ARE DEALING WITH
ISSUES OF LIMITED ENGLISH
PROFICIENCY. SO THANK YOU FOR
BRINGING FORWARD THIS BILL. THIS
BILL ENSURES THAT WE HAVE,
ACCESS TO LINGUISTICALLY
APPROPRIATE SERVICES, WHICH IS,
AGAIN, A BASIC NEED. AND. RIGHT,
I'M SURE THAT YOU WILL CONTINUE
TO WORK TO WITH THE CAL HHS TO
PREVENT ANY DUPLICATION OF
EXISTING RESOURCES AND
STREAMLINE EFFORTS TO PROMOTE
LANGUAGE ACCESS IN LINE WITH THE
GOALS OF THIS BILL AS IT MOVES
FORWARD. WITH THAT, WOULD YOU
LIKE TO CLOSE, CERTAINLY. WE'LL
CONTINUE TO WORK TO MAKE THIS
BILL BETTER. AND I THANK, THE
ASSEMBLYWOMAN FROM LOS ANGELES
FOR HER WORDS OF WELCOME. I
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOUR AYE
VOTE. THANK YOU. AND WE SHALL
MOVE THE BILL WHEN WE HAVE A
QUORUM. WE'LL MOVE ON NOW TO
ITEM NUMBER NINE, SB 1230. RUBIO
.
DO YOU WANT TO PUT A CALL IN FOR
. AYE, SENATOR. PLEASE BEGIN
WHENEVER YOU'RE READY. GOOD
AFTERNOON. THANK YOU, MADAM
CHAIR. MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE
TODAY I'M PROUD TO PRESENT SB
1230, THE STOP AND SEIZE ILLEGAL
TOBACCO PRODUCTS ACT, WE'RE VERY
CLEAR ABOUT THE HEALTH RISKS
THAT TOBACCO CAUSES AND SMOKING
AND THAT MILLIONS HAVE DIED
FROM, FROM FROM THE USE OF IT.
CALIFORNIA HAS MADE GREAT
PROGRESS IN REDUCING THE USE OF
TOBACCO PRODUCTS. SO I CANNOT BE
MORE PROUD OF SOME OF THE
POLICIES THAT COME OUT OF THIS
HOUSE, INCLUDING ADOPTING THE
RECENT BAN ON SELLING FLAVORED
TOBACCO PRODUCTS. BUT THESE
ILLEGAL TOBACCO PRODUCTS WITH
FLAVOR DESIGNED TO CONTINUE TO
TARGET AND APPEAL TO OUR YOUTH,
CONTINUE TO FIND THEIR WAY INTO
CALIFORNIA, IN PARTICULAR, SB
1230 WILL STRENGTHEN ENFORCEMENT
OF CALIFORNIA'S ANTI-TOBACCO
LAWS AND ENSURE THAT FLAVORED
VAPES ARE KEPT OFF STORE SHELVES
AND OUT OF THE HANDS OF OUR
CHILDREN AND OUR YOUNG ADULTS.
AND THAT'S WHAT THE GOAL IS HERE
TODAY. MY BILL DOES THIS BY
AUTHORIZING EMPLOYEES OF THE
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF TAX AND
FEE ADMINISTRATION TO SEIZE AND
DESTROY ANY PRODUCTS TOBACCO
PRODUCTS DISCOVERED DURING THEIR
REGULAR INSPECTIONS OF TOBACCO
RETAILERS AND WAREHOUSES. THE
DEPARTMENT ALREADY HAS THE
AUTHORITY TO SEIZE AND DESTROY
TOBACCO PRODUCTS THAT FAIL TO
INCLUDE THE PROPER STATE TAX,
LABEL. SO THIS BILL JUST SIMPLY
IS A COST EFFECTIVE WAY OF
GETTING THE DEPARTMENT TO ALSO
REMOVE FLAVORED TOBACCO PRODUCTS
FROM THE MARKET, SB 1230 ALSO
INCLUDES A REASONABLE INCREASE
IN THE EXISTING CIVIL PENALTIES
IMPOSED ON RETAILERS WHO BREAK
THE LAW BY CONTINUING TO SELL
FLAVORED TOBACCO PRODUCTS WHEN
THEY'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO, AND BY
SELLING TOBACCO PRODUCTS TO OUR
YOUTH, WHICH IS 21 AND UNDER.
THE FINE AMOUNT HASN'T CHANGED
IN OVER 20 YEARS. AND THE MODEST
INCREASE GOES A LONG WAY TOWARDS
KEEPING STUDENTS AWAY FROM THESE
ILLEGAL FLAVORED TOBACCO
PRODUCTS. SO THE STOP AND SEIZE
ILLEGAL TOBACCO PRODUCTS ACT IS
SPONSORED BY THE COALITION OF
PUBLIC HEALTH ORGANIZATIONS,
INCLUDING THE AMERICAN LUNG
ASSOCIATION AND THE CAMPAIGN FOR
TOBACCO FREE KIDS, AGAIN, WE'RE
JUST TRYING TO GO AFTER BAD
ACTORS, AND THIS BILL HAS HAD NO
OPPOSITION. JOINING ME TODAY TO
SPEAK ARE TWO VERY IMPRESSIVE
STUDENTS WITH ME, WE FIRST WE
HAVE A ANANYA TRYING TO SAY HER
NAME CORRECTLY. PINNAMANENI I
THINK I GOT THAT RIGHT. AND AMRI
ABU MARSHA. SO BOTH OF THEM WILL
SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THIS BILL. SO
THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THANK
YOU. YOU'LL EACH HAVE TWO
MINUTES. GO AHEAD. GOOD
AFTERNOON, CHAIR AND MEMBERS. MY
NAME IS ANANYA PINNAMANENI. I'M
A RECENT GRADUATE OF DOUGHERTY
VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL IN SAN RAMON,
CALIFORNIA, AND I'M SPEAKING ON
BEHALF OF THE AMERICAN CANCER
SOCIETY CANCER ACTION NETWORK.
SO THROUGHOUT HIGH SCHOOL,
TOBACCO USAGE WAS A GROWING
ISSUE THAT I SAW AMONG MY PEERS.
IN FACT, ONE OF THE BATHROOMS AT
MY SCHOOL WAS KNOWN AS THE VAPE
BATHROOM BECAUSE THERE WAS
ALWAYS A GROUP OF KIDS VAPING IN
THERE. A SURVEY WAS CONDUCTED BY
MY SCHOOL NEWSPAPER ASKING
STUDENTS AND FACULTY WHAT
PERCENTAGE OF STUDENTS THEY
BELIEVED USED AN E-CIGARETTE OR
TOBACCO PRODUCT AT LEAST ONCE
DURING THEIR TIME IN HIGH
SCHOOL, AND THE RESPONSES RANGED
FROM 31 TO A SHOCKING 70% OF ALL
STUDENTS. PROBLEMATICALLY
FLAVORS ARE THE MAIN REASON THAT
SO MANY YOUTH ARE GETTING HOOKED
ON TO THESE TOBACCO PRODUCTS IN
THE FIRST PLACE. SOME OF MY
CLOSE FRIENDS HAVE STARTED USING
E-CIGARETTES, AND THEY STARTED
WITH ONE FLAVOR THAT MAYBE
SOMEONE OFFERED THEM AT A PARTY,
BUT NOW THEY WANT TO TRY ALL OF
THEM. PINK LEMONADE, BUBBLEGUM,
ICED MANGO, THE LIST GOES ON.
IT'S BECOME LIKE TRYING ICE
CREAM FLAVORS FOR THEM. THEY
KNOW THAT TOBACCO IS BAD FOR
THEM. THEY'VE BEEN TAUGHT THIS
FOR YEARS, YET THE FLAVORS MASK
THE HARSHNESS OF TOBACCO
PRODUCTS AND MAKE KIDS FEEL LIKE
IT'S JUST ANOTHER HARMLESS
TREAT. ALTHOUGH CALIFORNIA
VOTERS OVERWHELMINGLY VOTED TO
PASS THE LAW TO END THE SALE OF
FLAVORED TOBACCO PRODUCTS WITH
PROPOSITION 31, THERE ARE STILL
GAPS IN THE ENFORCEMENT OF THIS
LAW, AS CAN BE SEEN THROUGH
SCHOOLS LIKE MINE. INSTEAD OF
KIDS CONSUMING LESS TOBACCO,
THEY ARE CONSUMING EVEN MORE
CLEARLY, MORE WORK IS NEEDED TO
END THE AVAILABILITY OF FLAVORED
TOBACCO PRODUCTS IN CALIFORNIA.
THAT'S WHY I'M HERE TODAY TO
URGE THE PASSAGE OF SB 1230.
STUDENTS NEED TO BE FOCUSED ON
DEVELOPING LIFE SKILLS, SPENDING
TIME WITH OUR FAMILY AND
FRIENDS, STUDYING FOR OUR
CLASSES, AND PREPARING FOR OUR
FUTURE CAREERS WHERE WE WILL BE
THE ONES TAKING CHARGE OF OUR
SOCIETIES. WE CAN'T BE CAUGHT UP
IN DEFENDING OURSELVES FROM
THOSE WHO ARE TRYING TO EXPLOIT
US BY SELLING ILLEGAL TOBACCO
PRODUCTS, WHICH IS WHY IT IS SO
IMPORTANT FOR THE CALIFORNIA
DEPARTMENT OF TAX AND FEE
ADMINISTRATION TO HAVE THE
AUTHORITY TO PROTECT US. IT IS
VITAL THAT ACTION IS TAKEN ON
THIS MATTER RIGHT NOW TO PREVENT
EVEN MORE FUTURE GENERATIONS
FROM FALLING VICTIM TO THESE
CYCLES OF ADDICTION. THANK YOU,
THANK YOU. YOU'LL HAVE TWO
MINUTES. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME
IS AMMAR ABU MARSHA, AND I'M
THANKFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO
VOICE YOUTH CONCERNS AND SHOW MY
SUPPORT FOR SB 1230. I RECENTLY
GRADUATED FROM GRANITE BAY HIGH
SCHOOL IN PLACER COUNTY OF
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA, AND I WILL
BE ATTENDING YALE UNIVERSITY IN
THE FALL. I'M ACTIVELY ENGAGED
IN TOBACCO PREVENTION EFFORTS
WITHIN MY COMMUNITY AND BEYOND.
I'VE SERVED AS THE CHAIR OF THE
PLACER COUNTY YOUTH COMMISSION,
SUBSTANCE ABUSE PREVENTION
SUBCOMMITTEE, AND I'VE LED A
POLICY ORIENTED PROJECT IN WHICH
WE DEVELOPED A FULLY ONLINE SELF
DRIVEN COURSE TO SERVE AS AN
ALTERNATIVE TO SUSPENSION FOR
STUDENTS CAUGHT VAPING ON
CAMPUS. I'VE ALSO BEEN A YOUTH
BOARD MEMBER FOR THE CALIFORNIA
YOUTH ADVOCACY NETWORK, THROUGH
WHICH I HAVE COLLABORATED WITH
YOUTH FROM ACROSS CALIFORNIA IN
DESIGNING A POLICY HANDBOOK FOR
TOBACCO RETAILERS TO PREVENT
NEGLIGENCE. WE ALSO RECENTLY
HOSTED OUR ANNUAL YOUTH QUEST
EVENT AT THE CAPITOL TO
CELEBRATE COALITIONS AROUND
CALIFORNIA FIGHTING FOR A
TOBACCO FREE FUTURE. SO WHAT'S
MY STORY? INHALING SMOKE HAS
BECOME SECOND NATURE FOR ME, BUT
NOT OF MY OWN ACCORD FROM A
YOUNG AGE, CAR RIDES WITH MY DAD
ALWAYS MEANT HIS CIGARET SMOKE
WOULD BE BLOWING INTO MY FACE,
AND SOMETIMES EVEN THE CIGARET
ASH. I'VE ALWAYS TRIED TO GET
HIM TO SIMPLY QUIT HIS 34 YEAR
OLD ADDICTION, BUT I REALIZED
THERE WAS MUCH MORE TO IT THAN
WHAT APPEARS ON THE SURFACE. I
LEARNED THAT HIS ADDICTION WAS
ROOTED IN A COMPLEX INTERPLAY OF
MISINFORMATION, SOCIAL NORMS,
AND MANIPULATIVE MARKETING
TACTICS. IT TURNED OUT THAT IN
HIS 20S, SMOKING WAS POPULAR
AMONG FOLK HIS AGE AND WAS
MARKETED AS SUCH. SO WHEN HIS
FRIEND HAD PRESSURED HIM INTO
TRYING A CIGARET, THERE WAS NO
REASON WHY NOT. AS A RESULT OF
MY DAD'S BAD DECISION, MY ENTIRE
FAMILY SHARES A PART OF THE
CONSEQUENCES VIA SECOND HAND
SMOKE, BUT THIS CONSEQUENCE IS
NOT JUST EXCLUSIVE TO MY FAMILY.
IT APPLIES TO OUR YOUTH AT
LARGE. IN REALITY, THE SMOKE I
INHALED AT HOME WAS THE SAME
SMOKE I HAD TO ENDURE ON MY
SCHOOL CAMPUS. ONLY AT SCHOOL.
THE SMOKE CARRIES AN ARTIFICIAL
SCENT AND FLAVOR EVERY TIME I
ENTER THE SCHOOL RESTROOMS, I AM
MET WITH THE SIGHT OF STUDENTS
HUDDLED TOGETHER SHARING A VAPE
ALONG WITH THE REMNANT SMELL OF
ARTIFICIAL FLAVORS THAT THEY
LEAVE BEHIND. I SOMETIMES EVEN
SEE IT IN THE HALLWAYS BETWEEN
CLASSROOMS, AND I'M ALSO AWARE
THAT STUDENTS WILL OFTEN LEAVE
IN THE MIDDLE OF CLASS TO VAPE
IN THE RESTROOMS. GO AHEAD AND
FINISH YOUR THOUGHT. NOT ONLY
DOES THIS INHIBIT THE STUDENTS
LEARNING, BUT IT ALSO AFFECTS
EVERYONE ELSE ON CAMPUS,
REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THEY
PERSONALLY CHOOSE TO SMOKE OR
NOT. GRANITE BAY HIGH SCHOOL MY
HIGH SCHOOL IS LOCATED IN IN AN
AFFLUENT AREA, MEANING OUR
SCHOOL HAS ACCESS TO A PLETHORA
OF RESOURCES TO HELP STUDENTS
QUIT TOBACCO. AND YES, THESE
APPROACHES ARE NECESSARY AND
EFFECTIVE. HOWEVER, THE MOST
PRODUCTIVE APPROACH IS TARGETING
THE ROOT AND THE ROOT, OR AT
LEAST A BIG PART OF IT, IS ALL
THE DEVIOUS MARKETING TACTICS OF
THE TOBACCO INDUSTRY, INCLUDING
THE FLAVORS AND BRIGHT COLORS
WHICH ARE INTENDED TO ENTICE AND
TARGET NONE OTHER THAN YOUNG
PEOPLE THEMSELVES. IF WE DON'T
GET THESE FLAVORED OR OTHERWISE
ILLEGAL TOBACCO PRODUCTS OFF THE
SHELVES TODAY, THIS CYCLE OF
ADDICTION WILL ONLY PERPETUATE,
WHICH LEADS TO MORE AND MORE
LIFELONG SMOKERS LIKE MY DAD.
THE ULTIMATE GOAL OF MY ADVOCACY
IS TO LIVE IN A WORLD WHERE NO
ONE IS ROBBED OF A SMOKE FREE
LIFE, AND THAT'S WHY I URGE THE
COMMITTEE TO VOTE AYE ON SB
1230. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
THANK YOU. ARE THERE ANY OTHER
WITNESSES IN SUPPORT? GOOD
AFTERNOON, SYLVIA SOLIS SHAW
HERE ON BEHALF OF THE AMERICAN
HEART ASSOCIATION, ONE OF THE
CO-SPONSORS OF THE MEASURE AND
SUPPORT. THANK YOU. NORA LIN,
WITH CHILDREN NOW IN SUPPORT.
JESSICA MORAN WITH THE
CALIFORNIA DENTAL ASSOCIATION IN
SUPPORT. JOE SIGNS WITH THE
COUNTY HEALTH EXECUTIVES
ASSOCIATION, REPRESENTING LOCAL
HEALTH DEPARTMENTS IN SUPPORT.
BRANDON MARTY WITH THE
CALIFORNIA MEDICAL ASSOCIATION
IN SUPPORT TIM GIBBS CAMPAIGN
FOR TOBACCO FREE KIDS IN
SUPPORT. THANK YOU. ARE THERE
ANY OTHER WITNESSES? ARE THERE
ANY WITNESSES IN OPPOSITION?
SEEING NONE IN THE ROOM, I'LL
BRING IT BACK TO THE COMMITTEE.
I WANT TO THANK Ó. MR.
JONES-SAWYER, PLEASE GO AHEAD.
AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR
BRINGING THIS FORWARD BECAUSE,
AS I LOOK AT MY FAMILY AND MY,
MY, MY GRANDFATHER AND FATHER
WHO, WHO SMOKED AND USED TO
SMOKED CAMELS WITH NO FILTER,
WHAT YOU'RE SMOKING IS, IS A LOT
DIFFERENT. BUT THEY GOT HOOKED
BECAUSE WHEN THEY WERE DRAFTED
INTO THE SERVICE, THE MILITARY
WAS IN THE TOBACCO COMPANIES
WERE GIVING SERVICEMEN CIGARETS
FOR FREE, WHICH THEY KNEW WOULD
HOOK THEM TO A LIFELONG, HABIT
OF CIGARET SMOKING. THAT SAME
INSIDIOUS PRACTICE IS BEING
PRACTICED NOW ONLY AT A MORE
SOPHISTICATED SCALE, WITH VAPES
AND OTHER THINGS. AND SO I THANK
YOU FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD,
BECAUSE I THINK WE'VE GOT TO WE
GOT TO STOP IT AT THE BEGINNING,
ESPECIALLY AT THE YOUNG AGE OF
18 AND 17 YEAR OLD, BECAUSE THAT
THAT HABIT NEVER WENT AWAY. AND
MY STEPFATHER PASSED AWAY OF, OF
CANCER, IT WAS SO, SO BAD. HE
WAS SMOKING CIGARETS THROUGH HIS
THROAT. AND SO THAT'S HOW
NICOTINE, WE TALK ABOUT A LOT OF
DIFFERENT DRUGS, BUT NICOTINE
AND OTHER SMOKE FLAVORED TOBACCO
COULD BE JUST AS, ADDICTIVE TO A
POINT NOT ONLY WHERE IT KILLS
YOU, BUT YOU JUST CAN'T STOP. SO
I THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS
FORWARD. THANK YOU. I WANT TO
THANK THE AUTHOR FOR BRINGING
THIS FORWARD, AND CERTAINLY WANT
TO THANK YOUR WITNESSES. MISS
MANINI, PLEASE, APOLOGIZE IF I
DIDN'T SAY THAT CORRECTLY. AND,
AUBREY AS WELL FOR BRINGING
FORWARD THE TESTIMONY THAT
YOU'VE OFFERED. IT'S MOST
IMPORTANT FOR US TO HEAR FROM
YOUTH AND TO HEAR THAT IN YOUR
SCHOOLS, THERE'S ACTIVE VAPING,
AS I KNOW THERE ARE IS IN MY
SCHOOL, IN MY CHILDREN'S
SCHOOLS, AS WELL AS DEVASTATING
TO HEAR. AND I THINK THE AUTHOR
HAS PUT FORWARD A PART OF THE
LEGISLATION, A PART OF OUR
LEGISLATIVE PACKAGE, THAT WILL
ENSURE THAT WE CURTAIL SUCH FREE
ACCESS TO TERRIBLE TOBACCO. SO
THANK YOU SO MUCH. SENATOR,
WOULD YOU LIKE TO CLOSE? YES.
THANK YOU. WELL, FIRST OF ALL,
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO, TO
OUR TESTIMONY HERE. I'VE BEEN
WORKING ON THIS FOR QUITE A
WHILE. AS A TEACHER, I ALWAYS
HAVE TO SHARE THAT, YOU KNOW,
SMOKING GOES ON LIKE IN THE
LIBRARIES. NOW, WE HAVE, LIKE,
ALSO THESE FLAVORS THAT YOU
CAN'T SMELL OR SEE. AND SO
THEY'RE BEING DISGUISED IN SO
MANY WAYS THAT PARENTS CAN'T
TELL, TEACHERS CAN'T TELL. AND
IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO
DO TO STOP THE TOBACCO INDUSTRY
FROM FROM DOING THIS TO OUR KIDS
AND HOOKING THE NEXT GENERATION
OF SMOKERS. SO WITH THAT, I
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR AN AYE
VOTE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND
I'M SURE YOU WILL HAVE IT WHEN
WE HAVE A QUORUM. OKAY, WITH
THAT, WE WILL MOVE ON TO OUR
NEXT ITEM, WHICH IS ITEM NUMBER
SEVEN, SB 1119. SENATOR NEWMAN.
WE ARE GOING TO PAUSE TO, CALL
THE ROLL. SENATOR NEWMAN. TO
ESTABLISH QUORUM. PONTA HERE TO
PRESENT. WALDEN. WALDEN.
PRESENT. AGUIAR-CURRY ARAMBULA.
ARAMBULA. PRESENT. WENDY.
CARRILLO. WENDY CARILLO PRESENT.
FLORA HANEY. JOHN. SAWYER JOHN.
SAWYER. PRESENT. MAIENSCHEIN
MCCARTY. JOE. PATTERSON JOE.
PATTERSON. PRESENT. RODRIGUEZ.
SANCHEZ SANCHEZ. PRESENT.
SANTIAGO. LOWENTHAL LOWENTHAL,
PRESENT. PELLERIN PELLERIN,
PRESENT. WE HAVE A QUORUM AT
255. I WANT TO THANK ASSEMBLY
MEMBERS. LOWENTHAL AND PELLERIN
FOR YOUR SUBSTITUTIONS TODAY,
WITH THAT, SENATOR NEWMAN,
PLEASE GO AHEAD. THANK YOU,
MADAM CHAIR. MADAM CHAIR AND
MEMBERS, THANK YOU FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT SB 1119,
WHICH WOULD AUTHORIZE A LIMITED
NUMBER OF NARROW CASE SPECIFIC
EXTENSIONS OF THE SEISMIC
COMPLIANCE DEADLINES MANDATED BY
AB 2190 FOR THREE HOSPITALS,
WHICH ARE PART OF THE PROVIDENCE
HEALTH GROUP, EACH OF WHICH IS
ACTIVELY WORKING TO ACHIEVE
COMPLIANCE. SPECIFICALLY, SB
1119 WOULD AUTHORIZE EXTENSIONS
OF TWO ADDITIONAL YEARS FOR
PROVIDENCE SAINT JUDE MEDICAL
CENTER IN FULLERTON AND
PROVIDENCE SAINT JOSEPH HOSPITAL
IN EUREKA, AND AN EXTENSION OF
ONE ADDITIONAL YEAR FOR
PROVIDENCE, CEDARS-SINAI,
TARZANA MEDICAL CENTER IN LOS
ANGELES. THIS BILL PASSED OUT OF
THE SENATE HEALTH COMMITTEE AND
THE SENATE FLOOR WITH NO NO
VOTES. AS YOU RECALL, AB 2190
AUTHORED BY ASSEMBLY MEMBER
REYES IN 2018, REQUIRES ALL
CALIFORNIA HOSPITALS TO
SEISMICALLY PROTECT THEIR
BUILDINGS TO PROPERLY ENSURE THE
SAFETY OF PATIENTS AND STAFF.
UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THE
BILL, THE DEADLINE FOR FINAL
SEISMIC COMPLIANCE FOR HOSPITALS
EXECUTING A REPLACEMENT OR
RETROFIT PLAN WAS JULY 1ST,
2022. FOR HOSPITALS SEEKING
EXTENSIONS BASED ON A ON A
REBUILD PLAN. THAT DEADLINE IS
JANUARY 1ST, 2025. AS YOU'RE
AWARE, THE COVID 19 PANDEMIC HAD
A MASSIVE IMPACT ON THE
FINANCIAL CONDITIONS AND
PLANNING CAPACITIES OF HOSPITALS
ACROSS THE STATE, IN MANY CASES
FORCING HOSPITALS TO SHIFT
CRITICAL RESOURCES IN ORDER TO
ENSURE ADEQUATE CAPACITY AND
PATIENT CARE. OFTEN UNAVOIDABLY
AT THE EXPENSE OF OTHER
PRIORITIES OR MANDATES. THIS WAS
PRECISELY THE CASE WITH RESPECT
TO THE THREE PROVIDENCE
FACILITIES COVERED BY THIS BILL.
WITHOUT THE EXTENSIONS PROVIDED
FOR IN THIS LEGISLATION. AS A
RESULT OF FAILING TO MEET THE
PRESCRIBED DEADLINES, THESE
HOSPITALS WILL LOSE THEIR
LICENSURE AND THE COMMUNITIES
THEY SERVE WILL LOSE ACCESS TO
VITAL CARE. HAVING SAID THAT,
LET ME ADDRESS THE VALID AND
REASONABLE CONCERNS EXPRESSED BY
THE OPPOSITION TÍNH. IT IS
IMPERATIVE, AS WE ALL AGREE,
THAT STAFF AND PATIENTS HAVE THE
ASSURANCE THAT CALIFORNIA
HOSPITAL FACILITIES ARE SAFE AND
UP TO DATE IN COMPLIANCE WITH
PREVAILING SEISMIC STANDARDS.
EACH OF THE THREE HOSPITALS
COVERED IN THIS LEGISLATION ARE
CURRENTLY WORKING ACTIVELY
TOWARD COMPLIANCE AND ARE IN THE
MIDST OF ONGOING CONSTRUCTION
PLANS, ALL THE WHILE BALANCING
THOSE DEMANDS WITH THE
OPERATIONAL COSTS AND
REQUIREMENTS OF OPERATING A
HOSPITAL AND ADEQUATELY SERVING
PATIENT NEEDS. THE LIMITED
EXTENSIONS PROVIDED FOR IN THIS
BILL WILL ENSURE THAT NONE OF
THESE THREE IMPORTANT AREA
HOSPITALS WILL BE FORCED TO
CLOSE VITAL INFRASTRUCTURE,
WHILE ALSO MAINTAINING THE
REQUIREMENTS THAT THIS
LEGISLATURE HAS RIGHTFULLY
PLACED ON CALIFORNIA'S
HOSPITALS. IT'S IMPORTANT TO
NOTE THAT THE LEGISLATURE HAS
PREVIOUSLY RECOGNIZED THAT SUCH
EXTENSIONS MAY BE REASONABLE TO
ALLOW FOR THE COMPLETION OF THIS
TYPE OF ESSENTIAL INFRASTRUCTURE
WORK, WHILE ENSURING CONTINUOUS
PATIENT CARE IN COMMUNITIES
WHERE THERE IS A DESPERATE NEED
FOR THAT CARE, AND WHERE AN
INTERRUPTION OF THAT CARE WOULD
HAVE MASSIVELY NEGATIVE AND
POTENTIALLY CATASTROPHIC
CONSEQUENCES. WITH ME TO TESTIFY
TODAY IS RACHEL SELIG, CHIEF
GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS OFFICER FOR
PROVIDENCE, CALIFORNIA, AND RYAN
BARRY, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF
CONSTRUCTION SERVICES FOR
PROVIDENCE, CALIFORNIA. I AM
RESPECTFULLY ASKING FOR YOUR AYE
VOTE THIS AFTERNOON. GOOD
AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS RACHEL
SELLECK. THANK YOU, SENATOR
NEWMAN, FOR THE INTRODUCTION AND
FOR CHAMPIONING THIS ISSUE ON
BEHALF OF THE COMMUNITIES WE
SERVE. PROVIDENCE IS A NOT NOT
FOR PROFIT HEALTH SYSTEM. WE
HAVE 17 HOSPITALS ACROSS
CALIFORNIA, AND OUR MISSION IS
REALLY TO SERVE THE POOR AND
VULNERABLE. APPROXIMATELY 30% OF
OUR PATIENT POPULATION IS, IN
FACT, ON MEDI-CAL. SO WITH THAT
SAID, AS SENATOR NEWMAN
GRACIOUSLY INTRODUCED, WE SIT
BEFORE YOU TODAY SEEKING YOUR
SUPPORT FOR A TIME CERTAIN
SEISMIC COMPLIANCE EXTENSION,
NOT FOR 2030 COMPLIANCE, BUT
RATHER FOR THE 2025 LOOMING
DEADLINE FOR THOSE THREE SITE
SPECIFIC CAMPUSES TARZANA, SAINT
JUDE AND FULLERTON AND SAINT
JOSEPH AND EUREKA. I'D LIKE TO
DEFER THE REMAINDER OF MY TIME
TO RYAN BARRY, WHO'S OUR
CONSTRUCTION LEADER FOR
CALIFORNIA, OVERSEEING ALL 17 OF
OUR HOSPITALS TO SPEAK TO THE
PROGRESS THAT EACH OF THESE
FACILITIES, AS WELL AS PROVIDE
ASSURANCES THAT NO FURTHER
EXTENSION WILL BE REQUIRED
SHOULD THIS BE GRANTED THROUGH
THIS LEGISLATION. GOOD
AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS RYAN BARRY
, AND I'M THE PROVIDENCE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF
CONSTRUCTION WITH ACCOUNTABILITY
FOR CONSTRUCTION SERVICES.
ACROSS ALL 17 HOSPITALS IN
CALIFORNIA. AS RACHEL
REFERENCED, I'M HERE TODAY TO
PROVIDE FURTHER DETAIL AROUND
THE NEED FOR THESE TIME SPECIFIC
EXTENSIONS, HOW THESE YEARS WERE
SELECTED, AND DISCUSS HOW WE
WILL ENSURE COMPLIANCE IF THESE
EXTENSIONS ARE GRANTED. WORK HAS
BEEN UNDERWAY AT THESE THREE
CAMPUSES. EXISTING CONSTRUCTION
TIMELINES INFORM THE REQUESTED
EXTENSIONS SPECIFIC TO EACH
CAMPUS. AT THE TARZANA CAMPUS,
WE OPEN A NEW PATIENT TOWER LAST
FALL, WHICH BRINGS US TO
EXTREMELY CLOSE TO COMPLIANCE.
ALL THAT REMAINS IS A RELOCATION
OF UTILITIES, WHICH WE ARE
CONFIDENT CAN BE COMPLETED BY
THE REQUESTED ONE YEAR EXTENSION
TO 2026 FOR THIS CAMPUS AT SAINT
JOSEPH'S IN EUREKA. CONSTRUCTION
PROGRESS WAS PAUSED DURING COVID
AND BEGAN BEGAN LAST YEAR.
PROGRESS SLOWED IN RECENT MONTHS
AS WE ARE ACTIVELY TRYING TO
MAINTAIN AN IMPACTED SERVICE IN
THIS RURAL COMMUNITY. SHOULD WE
BE FORCED TO CLOSE A NON
SEISMICALLY COMPLIANT BUILDINGS
BY THE CURRENT 2025 DEADLINE? WE
ARE CONFIDENT WE CAN PROCEED
WITH BECOMING COMPLIANT WITHIN
THE REQUESTED TWO YEARS EXTENDED
THE DEADLINE TO 2027 FOR THIS
CAMPUS AT SAINT JUDE. SIMILAR TO
OTHER CAMPUSES, ARCHITECTS AND
CONTRACTORS HAVE BEEN HIRED AND
WORK IS UNDERWAY. WE HAVE
PRELIMINARY PLANS IN PLACE TO
RELOCATE IMPACTED SERVICES AND
REQUIRE THE REQUEST AND REQUIRE
THE REQUESTED TWO YEAR EXTENSION
, EXTENDING THE DEADLINE TO 2027
FOR THIS CAMPUS TO MINIMIZE
IMPACTS TO ACCESS. ADDITIONALLY,
BY BRINGING THIS HOSPITAL INTO
THE AB 2190 PROGRAM, WE CAN WORK
WITH HCAI AND FORMALIZING
CONSTRUCTION MILESTONES, WHICH
WILL ENHANCE TRANSPARENCY. AS
MENTIONED EARLIER, WORK IS
UNDERWAY AT THESE CAMPUSES AND
THESE REQUESTED EXTENSIONS WERE
ARE WERE INTENTIONAL, DRIVEN BY
CONSTRUCTION MILESTONES. AS I
MEET MONTHLY WITH HCAI TO KEEP
THEM INFORMED OF PROGRESS AND
SHOULD WE BE AFFORDED THESE
EXTENSIONS, WE WILL CONTINUE TO
COLLABORATE WITH THEM ON
APPROPRIATE MILESTONES TO ENSURE
COMPLIANCE WITHIN THE REQUESTED
TIME FRAMES. PROVIDENCE NEEDS
YOUR SUPPORT TO ENSURE WE CAN
BECOME SEISMICALLY COMPLIANT,
WHILE MAINTAINING ACCESS TO CARE
IN BOTH THE URBAN AND RURAL
COMMUNITIES WE SERVE. THANK YOU
FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION TODAY.
THANK YOU. ARE THERE ANY OTHER
WITNESSES IN SUPPORT? PLEASE
COME FORWARD. STATE YOUR NAME,
POSITION AND ORGANIZATION. DAVID
BULLOCK IN SUPPORT. THANK YOU.
YOU, DYLAN ELLIOTT, ON BEHALF OF
HUMBOLDT COUNTY IN SUPPORT, I
APPRECIATE THE AUTHOR'S WORK.
VANESSA GONZALEZ WITH THE
CALIFORNIA HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION
HERE IN SUPPORT. THANK YOU.
ALFREDO MEDINA HERE ON BEHALF OF
CEDARS-SINAI, HERE IN SUPPORT.
GOOD AFTERNOON. MOIRA TOPP, ON
BEHALF OF ORANGE COUNTY BUSINESS
COUNCIL, IN SUPPORT. NESET SHAW,
ON BEHALF OF THE ALLIANCE OF
CATHOLIC HEALTH CARE AND SUPPORT
. THANK YOU. ARE THERE ANY
WITNESSES IN OPPOSITION? GOOD
AFTERNOON. MATT ON BEHALF OF
SEIU CALIFORNIA, WE'RE NOT IN
OPPOSITION ON THIS BILL. WE DO
HAVE CONCERNS AND JUST
APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT THE
AUTHOR AND OUR SPONSOR ARE
DOING. THESE ARE BUILDINGS THAT
ARE NOT YET AT THE 2020 SEISMIC
STANDARD, MEANING THAT THERE'S A
SUBSTANTIAL RISK TO COLLAPSE.
AND SO THAT, OF COURSE, IS VERY
CONCERNING FOR THE WORKERS AND
PATIENTS THAT WE SERVE. OF
COURSE, WE WANT TO MAINTAIN
ACCESS TO CARE. SO YOU KNOW,
IT'S SORT OF THAT BALANCE OF
JUST MAKING SURE THAT, YOU KNOW,
THIS IS THE, YOU KNOW,
RESPECTFULLY, THE LAST TIME TO
MAKE SURE WE'RE ON TRACK, MAKE
SURE THAT WE'RE MEETING SEISMIC
COMPLIANCE. BECAUSE REALLY,
EVERY, EVERY PATIENT IN OUR
COMMUNITY IS COUNTING ON
HOSPITALS TO BE THERE WHEN
THERE'S A MAJOR EARTHQUAKE OR
EMERGENCY. AND SO I APPRECIATE
THE COMMITTEE'S WORK ON THAT.
AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK
YOU. ANY OTHER WITNESSES IN
OPPOSITION SEEING NONE, I'LL
BRING IT BACK TO THE COMMITTEE
FOR QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS. MR.
JONES-SAWYER, THIS HAS BEEN AN
AN ONGOING DISCUSSION EVER SINCE
I'VE BEEN HERE, AND I'M PROBABLY
NOW THE SENIOR MEMBER, HAVING
BEEN HERE CLOSE ALMOST 12 YEARS.
AND, AND IT IS FRUSTRATING, ONE
OF THE THINGS I CAN OFFER AS THE
FORMER, EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS
COORDINATOR FOR THE CITY OF LOS
ANGELES, WHERE I DID THE SEISMIC
RETROFIT, FOR POLICE STATION,
FIRE STATIONS AND LIBRARIES FOR
THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES. SO I
ALSO KNOW HOW DIFFICULT IT IS TO
DO REBAR, YOU KNOW, DOING
UNREINFORCED MASONRY IF YOU HAVE
ONE OF THOSE BUILDINGS, HOW TO
ACTUALLY DO THE SEISMIC RETROFIT
THAT'S NEEDED, TO GIVE ME
COMFORT, ESPECIALLY IF IT GETS
OUT OF THIS COMMITTEE AND IT
GETS TO A POINT WHERE IT GETS TO
OUR FLOOR, IF WE'RE AT ALL IF
YOU COULD SHOW ME YOUR
CONSTRUCTION SCHEDULE OR YOUR
WHAT YOU PLAN TO DO, I CAN
ACTUALLY GIVE SOME CONSTRUCTIVE
SUGGESTIONS ON MAKING SURE THAT
YOU MEET THIS DEADLINE, BECAUSE
I WAS UNDER THE SAME KIND OF GUN
AS YOU WERE, WHEN WE GOT THE
SEISMIC BOND MONEY TO ACTUALLY
GET IT DONE. AND WE WERE
REQUIRED IN OUR BOND TO GET IT
DONE BY A CERTAIN TIME. AND WE
EXPERIENCED SOME OF THE SAME,
PROBABLY SOME OF THE SAME
PROBLEMS YOU HAD WITH THE COST
RISING OVER TIME WITH STEEL AND
MATERIAL AND OTHER THINGS. AND
SO, WHAT I'M DOING IS OFFERING
MY HELP, BUT ALSO LETTING YOU
KNOW IF IT IF IT'S KIND OF
SQUIRRELY, I MAY SPEAK UP LATER
IF IT GETS UP LATER ON WHEN IT
GETS IF IT GETS OUT OF THIS
COMMITTEE AND ONTO THE FLOOR.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS AND
HAPPY TO PROVIDE THOSE. THANK
YOU. I THINK PERHAPS I'LL ASK A
LITTLE BIT MORE OF A DIRECT
QUESTION TO PROVIDENCE AT THIS
POINT, BECAUSE I DO SHARE MY
COLLEAGUES CONCERNS AND THE
CONCERNS OF THE OPPOSITION.
YOU'RE ADDRESSING 2020
DEADLINES, GUIDANCE. HOW
CONFIDENT ARE YOU THAT YOUR
HOSPITALS WILL MEET THE UPDATED
SEISMIC COMPLIANCE DEADLINES IN
THIS BILL? AND I'D LIKE A
PERCENTAGE. WE ARE 100%
COMFORTABLE THAT WE WILL MAKE
THESE DEADLINES, LIKE THE BILL
STATES WE ONLY REQUESTED FOR THE
TIMES WE NEEDED FOR EACH EACH
CAMPUS, WHICH IS WHY WE DIDN'T
COME IN WITH A BLANKET TWO YEAR
EXTENSION, JUST ONE YEAR IN
TARZANA, TWO YEARS AT SAINT
JOSEPH'S IN EUREKA, AND THEN
SAINT JUDE IN FULLERTON. THANK
YOU. I CERTAINLY APPRECIATE,
THAT 100% CONFIDENCE LEVEL. AND
I WANT TO APPRECIATE THE AUTHOR
FOR BRINGING FORWARD THIS BILL.
I, TOO, HAVE A INDIVIDUAL
HOSPITAL, THIS IS A HOSPITAL
SYSTEM THAT WE ARE CONCERNED
WITH. ULTIMATELY, WE NEED TO
MANAGE THE IMPORTANCE OF
ENSURING THAT OUR COMMUNITY
HOSPITALS REMAIN OPEN AND
AVAILABLE AND THAT SERVICES
PROVIDED. BUT IT IS EQUALLY
IMPORTANT THAT THE PATIENTS AND
WORKERS ARE SAFE WITHIN THAT,
WITHIN THOSE STRUCTURES, THE
LEGISLATURE IS CERTAINLY
CONTINUING TO WORK ON THIS
ISSUE, AND WE WILL DEFINITELY BE
MONITORING THE PROGRESS OF THESE
PARTICULAR HOSPITALS AS WE THINK
ADDRESS SEISMIC ISSUES, IN THIS
CYCLE, ACTUALLY, WITH THAT,
SENATOR, WOULD YOU LIKE TO CLOSE
, YOU KNOW, I DO APPRECIATE YOUR
COMMENTS. YOUR COMMENTS ARE
ALMOST MY CLOSE. SO, YOU KNOW,
100% IS GOOD, RIGHT, BUT THESE
ARE AS NOTED, THESE ARE TIME
CERTAIN EXTENSIONS, WITH A VERY
FIRM COMMISSION ON COMPLETION
WITHOUT THE NEED FOR ADDITIONAL
EXTENSIONS. I APPRECIATE
ASSEMBLYMEMBER JONES SOYOUR
USING THE TECHNICAL TERMS
SQUARELY, WE WILL ENDEAVOR NOT
TO HAVE THAT HAPPEN, AND SO
LOOKING FORWARD TO YOUR
FAVORABLE CONSIDERATION AND TO
COMPLETING THIS PROJECT. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU, THE MOTION IS,
DO PASS TO APPROPRIATIONS.
SECRETARY. OH, CAN I HAVE A
MOTION, MOVED BY GARY, SECONDED
BY WALDRON. MOTION IS Dð PASS TO
APPROPRIATIONS. PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL. BONTA. AYE. BONTA. AYE.
WALDRON WALDRON. AYE.
AGUIAR-CURRY ARAMBULA. ARAMBULA.
AYE. WENDY. CARILLO WENDY.
CARILLO AYE. FLORA. FLORA. AYE.
HANEY HANEY. AYE. JONES-SAWYER
JONES-SAWYER. AYE. MAIENSCHEIN
MCCARTY. JO. PATTERSON. JO.
PATTERSON AYE. RODRIGUEZ.
SANCHEZ. SANCHEZ. AYE. SANTIAGO
LOWENTHAL. PELLERIN. PELLERIN.
AYE. THAT MEASURES OUT 10 TO 0.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MADAM
CHAIR. THANK YOU. MEMBERS. THANK
YOU. WE WILL MOVE ON NOW TO ITEM
NUMBER 11, SB 1369 BY SENATOR
LIMÓN. PLEASE GO AHEAD AND PRESS
THE MIC. IT'S GREAT TO SEE YOU.
THANK YOU CHAIR. THANK YOU.
MEMBERS I WOULD LIKE TO THANK
THE COMMITTEE AND ALSO THE
OPPOSITION FOR WORKING WITH OUR
OFFICE. WITH THE OFFICE ON THE
BILL. I WILL BE ACCEPTING THE
AMENDMENTS OUTLINED IN THE
ANALYSIS. DENTAL PLANS WILL
OFTEN CONTRACT WITH THIRD
PARTIES TO ISSUE PROVIDER
PAYMENTS TO DENTAL PRACTICES
WITH VIRTUAL CREDIT CARDS.
HOWEVER, ACCEPTING THIS FORM OF
PAYMENT CHARGES THE DENTAL
OFFICE PROCESSING FEES 2 TO 5%
OF THE TOTAL PAYMENT AMOUNT. IN
ADDITION TO THE STANDARD
MERCHANT TRANSACTION FEE FOR
PROCESSING THE PAYMENT THROUGH
THEIR CREDIT CARD TERMINAL. THIS
LEAVES PROVIDERS WITH TWO
OPTIONS EITHER PAY PROCESS THE
VIRTUAL CREDIT CARDS AND ACCEPT
HIGH FEES, OR SPEND
ADMINISTRATIVE TIME CONTINUOUSLY
OPTING OUT THE CARD OUT OF THE
CARDS WHEN ACCEPTING THEIR
PAYMENT. PROVIDERS SHOULD NOT
NEED TO PAY TO NOT NEED TO PAY
TO GET PAID FOR THEIR SERVICES.
THIS BILL ENSURES THAT DENTAL
OFFICES HAVE THE OPTION TO USE
VIRTUAL CREDIT CARDS, RECEIVE
NOTIFICATIONS OF ANY FEES
ASSOCIATED WITH PAYMENTS, AND
GET INFORMATION ABOUT
ALTERNATIVE PAYMENTS. SB 1369
ENSURES DENTISTS RECEIVE
COMPLETE PAYMENTS FOR THEIR
SERVICES. TODAY WITH ME, WE HAVE
JESSICA MORAN, LEGISLATIVE
ADVOCATE FOR THE CALIFORNIA
DENTAL ASSOCIATION, SPEAKING IN
SUPPORT OF THE BILL. GOOD
AFTERNOON, CHAIR AND MEMBERS
JESSICA MORAN WITH THE
CALIFORNIA DENTAL ASSOCIATION.
HERE IS THE SPONSORS OF SB 1369.
THE SHIFT TO ELECTRONIC PAYMENTS
WAS MEANT TO STREAMLINE AND
MODERNIZE THE HEALTH CARE
DELIVERY SYSTEM, BUT INSTEAD HAS
CREATED A SPACE IN THE MARKET
WHERE PROVIDERS ARE PAYING UP TO
10% IN PROCESSING FEES JUST TO
ACCESS THEIR CONTRACTED PAYMENTS
. SB 1369 WILL CREATE A
STREAMLINED PROCESS FOR
PROVIDERS TO CHOOSE TO OPT IN TO
RECEIVING VIRTUAL CREDIT CARDS.
THE BILL WILL ALSO ALLOW WILL
ALSO ALLOW FOR INCREASED
TRANSPARENCY ON BEHALF OF THE
DENTAL PLANS, BY REQUIRING THEM
TO NOTIFY PROVIDERS OF ANY FEES
ASSOCIATED WITH POTENTIAL
PAYMENT METHODS, EMPOWERING THE
PAYMENT THE DENTIST TO ENROLL IN
A PAYMENT MODEL THAT WORKS BEST
FOR THEIR OFFICE UNDER CURRENT
PRACTICES, DENTAL PLANS DO THEIR
CONTRACTED VENDORS HAVE MADE
VIRTUAL CREDIT CARDS? THE
DEFAULT PAYMENT METHOD, DESPITE
HAVING OTHER NON FEE BASED
PAYMENT OPTIONS AVAILABLE SUCH
AS MAIL CHECK OR ELECTRONIC
FUNDS TRANSFERS. IN ADDITION TO
THE PREDATORY PROCESSING FEES
ASSOCIATED WITH THE FUNDS OF
THESE VIRTUAL CARDS, DENTAL
OFFICE STAFF SPEND SEVERAL HOURS
ON THE PHONE REQUESTING TO OPT
OUT OF RECEIVING THESE SERVICES,
ONLY TO FIND OUT THAT OPTING OUT
DOESN'T REALLY DO ANYTHING AS
THEY ARE OFTEN SENT ANOTHER CARD
IN THE NEXT BILLING CYCLE.
ALTHOUGH THE OPPOSITION WERE
UNABLE TO REMOVE THEIR
OPPOSITION ON THIS BILL, WE
REALLY APPRECIATE THE
CONVERSATIONS THAT WE'VE HAD TO
MAKE SURE THIS BILL HAS BEEN
OPERABLE, INCLUDING PROVIDING
THEM WITH A THREE MONTH DELAYED
INVOCATION AND MOVING AWAY FROM
A WET SIGNATURE TO AUTHORIZE
ENROLLMENT AND ALLOWING DENTISTS
TO USE A E-SIGNATURE OR CHECKING
A BOX ONLINE TO CONFIRM THEIR
AUTHORIZATION, WITH SB 1369,
CALIFORNIA COULD GET SOME OF THE
STRONGEST GUARDRAILS IN THE
COUNTRY FOR USE OF VIRTUAL
CREDIT CARDS AND RESPECTFULLY
ASK FOR A VOTE. THANK YOU, THANK
YOU. ARE THERE ANY OTHER
WITNESSES IN SUPPORT? PLEASE
COME FORWARD, STATE YOUR NAME OR
ORGANIZATION AND POSITION. MADAM
CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE,
STEPHANIE ROBERSON, ON BEHALF OF
THE ASSOCIATION OF DENTAL
SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS AND
SUPPORT THIS BILL. THANK YOU.
ALASKA FOR THE CALIFORNIA
ASSOCIATION OF ORTHODONTISTS IN
SUPPORT. CHRIS GROGAN, ON BEHALF
OF CHILDREN'S CHOICE DENTAL CARE
AND SUPPORT. THANK YOU, THANK
YOU. ANY WITNESSES IN OPPOSITION
?
GOOD AFTERNOON. CHRISTY WEISS
WITH CAPITAL ADVOCACY ON BEHALF
OF THE CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF
DENTAL PLANS HERE IN OPPOSITION.
AND REALLY APPRECIATE BOTH WHAT
THE AUTHOR AND THE SPONSOR SAID.
WE HAVE BEEN WORKING, IN VERY
GOOD FAITH, GETTING THERE ON
AMENDMENTS TO REMOVE OUR
OPPOSITION, BUT UNFORTUNATELY WE
ARE NOT THERE YET. YOU KNOW, WE
HAVE LEARNED ON THE DENTAL PLAN
SIDE OF THE CONCERNS THAT THE
DENTISTS HAVE WITH THESE TYPES
OF PAYMENTS. WHAT THE PLANS HERE
IS THAT FROM MANY OF THEIR
CONTRACTED DENTISTS, THEY PREFER
THIS FORM OF PAYMENT BECAUSE IT
IS THE FASTEST. IT IS THE
FASTEST WAY FOR THEM TO GET PAID
. SO, YOU KNOW, FROM THE PLAN
PERSPECTIVE, AS MANY DENTISTS AS
THERE ARE WHO DON'T LIKE IT, WE
ALSO HEAR FROM DENTISTS WHO DO
LIKE IT. EVEN IN LIGHT OF THAT,
WE'RE WORKING, WE'RE WE'VE KIND
OF REACHED AGREEMENT ON THE
POLICY. THE CHALLENGE IS, AS ALL
OF YOU KNOW AND CAN APPRECIATE
THE MECHANISMS AND THE WAYS IN
WHICH HEALTH PLANS PAY PROVIDERS
AND PROVIDERS RECEIVE PAYMENT
ARE VERY COMPLEX, THERE WAS
RECENTLY A BILL, A SIMILAR BILL
THAT WAS PASSED AND SIGNED INTO
LAW IN FLORIDA. AND SO WHAT
WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS TO REALLY
WORK THROUGH THESE LAST FEW
IMPLEMENTATION ISSUES AND
IDEALLY GET TO A PLACE WHERE,
YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT OFTEN THAT WE
SAY WE WANT CALIFORNIA TO BE
LIKE FLORIDA, BUT WHEN YOU'RE
TALKING ABOUT CREATING A
PARADIGM THAT PLANS WILL HAVE TO
DEAL WITH ACROSS THE COUNTRY,
WE'RE HOPEFUL THAT WE CAN
CONTINUE OUR CONVERSATIONS AND
GET TO A PLACE WHERE THE
LANGUAGE IS ALIGNED, AND WE'VE
WORKED THROUGH THESE LAST
REMAINING ISSUES, BUT
UNFORTUNATELY, WE'RE STILL
OPPOSED AS WE SIT HERE TODAY.
ANY OTHER OPPOSITION, PLEASE
COME FORWARD, STATE YOUR NAME,
ORGANIZATION AND POSITION. THANK
YOU, MADAM CHAIR AND MEMBERS.
FAITH CONLEY WITH SUN LIFE,
WHICH IS A SUBSIDIARY OF QUEST.
I JUST WANTED TO THANK THE
AUTHOR VERY MUCH FOR WORKING ON
THIS ISSUE. WE ARE STILL IN A
POSE POSITION, BUT LOOK FORWARD
TO WORKING WITH YOU. SEEING NO
OTHER OPPOSITION, I WILL BRING
IT BACK TO COMMITTEE FOR COMMENT
OR QUESTION. MOVED BY DOCTOR
ARAMBULA. SECONDED BY PELLERIN,
THANK YOU, TO THE AUTHOR FOR
BRINGING THIS FORWARD. I DID
HAVE ONE QUESTION. SO THE UP TO
10% PROCESSING FEES THAT WERE
MENTIONED, IN THE TESTIMONY, WHO
WHO IS THE RECIPIENT OF THOSE
FUNDS? BECAUSE IT'S ESSENTIALLY
KIND OF COMING OFF OF THE TOP OF
WHAT THE PROVIDER SHOULD BE
GETTING. AS THE RECIPIENT OF THE
OF THOSE FUNDS WOULD BE THE
VIRTUAL CREDIT CARD COMPANY WHO
THE DENTAL PLANS CONTRACT WITH.
IS IT THE CASE THAT THE DENTAL
PLAN GETS A PORTION OF THOSE
FUNDS? I DO NOT KNOW. I DO KNOW,
THOUGH, THAT THERE WAS AN
ARTICLE FROM PROPUBLICA THAT
CAME OUT LAST YEAR THAT SAID
THAT VIRTUAL CREDIT CARD
COMPANIES DO PROFIT SHARE WITH
HEALTH INSURANCE PLANS. I'M NOT
SURE IF THAT IS EQUIVALENT. ON
THE DENTAL SIDE. DO YOU HAVE A
RESPONSE? SURE. SO THE SO THE
DENTAL PLANS LIKE OTHER PAYERS
DO, CONTRACT WITH THIRD PARTY
ADMINISTRATORS TO ADMINISTER
PAYMENTS TO MAKE SURE THAT
THEY'RE THE MOST EFFICIENT. AND,
IT'S OUR UNDERSTANDING FROM OUR
PLANS THAT WE'VE SPOKEN WITH
ABOUT THIS BILL THAT THEY DO NOT
RECEIVE A PORTION OF THOSE FEES,
THAT THOSE FEES ARE THIRD PARTY
FEES. THE ENTITIES THAT'S
PROCESSING THE PAYMENTS BETWEEN
THE DENTIST AND BETWEEN THE
PLAN. YOU KNOW WHAT? AGAIN WHAT
WE'VE HEARD IS THAT IN SOME
CASES, SOME DENTISTS FEEL THAT
THAT FEE IS WORTH PAYING BECAUSE
THEY GET PAID MORE QUICKLY, BUT
AGAIN, WE ARE WORKING WITH CDA
AND TO MAKE IT MORE, SIMPLISTIC,
IF THE DENTISTS WANT TO OPT OUT,
IF THEY DON'T WANT TO RECEIVE
THAT, THAT THEY'RE ABLE TO DO
THAT. GREAT. DO YOU THINK IT'S A
LITTLE UNFORTUNATE THAT A
INDIVIDUAL PROVIDER IS NEEDING
TO MAKE A CHOICE BETWEEN 10% OF
THE PAYMENT AND THE SPEED OF
PAYMENT? SO, THANK YOU FOR
BRINGING FORWARD THIS BILL.
SENATOR LEMON, WOULD YOU LIKE TO
CLOSE? WELL, I THINK, MADAM
CHAIR, YOU JUST CLOSED FOR ME,
AND THIS IS THE NEED YOU'VE
EXPRESSED. WHY THERE IS A NEED
FOR THIS BILL, BECAUSE THERE IS
THAT CHOICE. AND, LOOK, THIS IS
AN OPTION THAT WILL STILL REMAIN
FOR DENTAL PROVIDERS, RIGHT?
LIKE, THEY WILL BE ABLE TO
CHOOSE THIS METHOD IF THEY WOULD
LIKE. AND IF THIS WORKS FOR
THEIR PRACTICE, THE IDEA IS, IS
THAT IT'S NOT JUST FORCED ON
THEM AND THEY DON'T HAVE ANOTHER
WAY TO RECEIVE THE PAYMENT. SO
WITH THAT, I'D RESPECTFULLY ASK
FOR AN AYE VOTE. THANK YOU, WE
HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND, THE
MOTION IS TO PASS, AS AMENDED,
TO APPROPRIATIONS. PLEASE CALL
THE ROLL. BONTA I BONTA I
WALDRON. WALDRON I AGUIAR-CURRY
ARAMBULA ARAMBULA I WENDY
CARILLO WENDY CARILLO I LARA
LARA I HANEY. HANEY I
JONES-SAWYER. JONES-SAWYER. I
MEAN, SHINE, MAYNE. SHINE I
MCCARTY. JO. PATTERSON. JO.
PATTERSON I RODRIGUEZ. RODRIGUEZ
I SANCHEZ. SANCHEZ I SANTIAGO.
LOWENTHAL PELLERIN. PELLERIN. I
FARRELL. WE LIGHTLY SAY 12 TO 0.
THE MEASURE PASSES. THANK YOU SO
MUCH, SENATOR LEMON.
WE ARE WAITING FOR OUR LAST
AUTHOR FOR ITEM NUMBER THREE, SB
1016. GONZALEZ. IN THE MEANTIME,
WE WILL TAKE A VOTE, WE WILL
KIND OF DISPENSE WITH THE BILLS
THAT WE HAVE ALREADY HEARD,
STARTING WITH ITEM ONE, SB 959
BY MENGIBAR. I NEED A MOTION AND
A SECOND MOVED BY ARAMBULA,
SECONDED BY PELLERIN. SECRETARY,
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL DO PASS TO
JUDICIARY. BONTA. I BONTA I
WALDEN. WALDEN I AGUIAR-CURRY
AGAR CURRY I ARAMBULA ARAMBULA I
WENDY CARILLO. WENDY CARILLO I
LARA LARA NÓ HANEY. HANEY I
JONES-SAWYER JONES-SAWYER I
MAIENSCHEIN MAIENSCHEIN I
MCCARTY. JO. PATTERSON. JO.
PATTERSON. NÓ. RODRIGUEZ
RODRIGUEZ I SANCHEZ. SANCHEZ.
NÓ. SANTIAGO LOWENTHAL. PELLERIN
PELLERIN. I. THREE. THAT MEASURE
IS OUT WITH A VOTE OF 10 TO 3.
WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEM NUMBER
TWO, ALREADY HEARD SB 999 BY
CORTEZ. I NEED A MOTION BY
AGUIAR-CURRY, SECONDED BY
PELLERIN. THE MOTION IS DUE.
PASS TO APPROPRIATIONS. PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL. BONTA. I BONTA I
WALDEN. WALDEN I AGUIAR-CURRY
AGUIAR-CURRY I ARAMBULA
ARAMBULA. I'M WENDY CARRILLO.
WENDY CARILLO I LARA LARA NOT
VOTING HANEY HANEY I JOHN
SAWYER. JOHN SAWYER I
MAIENSCHEIN FEINSTEIN I MCCARTY.
JO. PATTERSON. JO. PATTERSON I
RODRIGUEZ. RODRIGUEZ I SANCHEZ.
SANCHEZ NØ. SANTIAGO. LOWENTHAL
PELLERIN. PELLERIN. I. 12-1.
THAT MEASURES OUT 12 TO 1, WE
ARE GOING TO NOW PAUSE AND GO
BACK TO OUR LAST ITEM, ITEM
NUMBER THREE SB 1016, BY SENATOR
GONZALEZ, WHO WILL GET OUR MOST
RESPECTFUL ATTENTION ON. THAT
WAS MORE FOR THE COMMITTEE THAN
FOR YOU. PLEASE PROCEED. GOOD
AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR AND
MEMBERS. I'M HERE TO PRESENT SB
1016, WHICH WILL HELP UNCOVER
TRENDS AND DISPARITIES THAT ARE
OFTEN HIDDEN IN AGGREGATED
HEALTH DATA FOR LATINOS AND
INDIGENOUS MESOAMERICANS,
LATINOS MAKE UP 40% OF
CALIFORNIA'S POPULATION. HOWEVER
THE LATINO COMMUNITY. THERE ARE
SEVERAL ETHNIC GROUPS THAT HAVE
DIVERSE HEALTH OUTCOMES. THESE
DISTINCTIONS HIDE IN THE
MONOLITHIC TERM OF LATINO, WHICH
LEADS TO LESS DETAILED AND
NUANCED INFORMATION. SO SB 1016
WILL ADDRESS THESE SHORTCOMINGS
BY REQUIRING THE DEPARTMENT OF
HEALTH TO COLLECT AND RELEASE
DISAGGREGATED DATA FOR SPECIFIED
LATINO SUBGROUPS, INCLUDING
MEXICAN, SALVADORAN, GUATEMALAN,
AND EACH MAJOR MESOAMERICAN
INDIGENOUS NATION AND OTHERS
TESTIFYING IN SUPPORT OF THIS
MEASURE. TODAY, I HAVE VANESSA
TERAN WITH MIXTECO INDIGENA
COMMUNITY ORGANIZING PROJECT,
WHICH IS CALLED MAIKOP, AND MÀ
VELEZ WITH THE LATINO COALITION
FOR A HEALTHY COALITION. I
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR AN AYE VOTE
. THANK YOU. MOVED BY
AGUIAR-CURRY. SECONDED BY
SANCHEZ, PLEASE GO AHEAD. YOU'LL
EACH HAVE TWO MINUTES. HELLO.
GOOD AFTERNOON. CHAIR. MEMBERS
OF THE COMMITTEE, VANESSA TERAN,
POLICY DIRECTOR WITH THE
INDIGENA COMMUNITY ORGANIZING
PROJECT. MY CUP IS A PROUD
SPONSOR OF SB 1016, CO-SPONSOR,
INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES ACROSS
THE CENTRAL COAST OF CALIFORNIA
FACE SIGNIFICANT HEALTH
DISPARITIES, AS DEMONSTRATED BY
THE GROUNDBREAKING LOCAL STUDY
GATHERED BY THE SAN LUIS OBISPO
COUNTY INDIGENOUS MEXICAN
ENUMERATION AND DEMOGRAPHIC
STUDY, WHICH IS FUNDED BY THE
COUNTY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO PUBLIC
HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND CO-LED BY
MY CUP AND OTHER PARTNERS.
ACCURATE DATA COLLECTION IS
ESSENTIAL FOR ADDRESSING
DISPARITIES. OUR RESEARCH
REVEALED THAT 87% OF INDIGENOUS
PEOPLE SPEAK MIXTECO AT HOME,
AND NEARLY HALF OF RESPONDENTS,
46, PREFERRED WRITTEN HEALTH
INFORMATION IN SPANISH OR IN
BOTH SPANISH AND AN INDIGENOUS
LANGUAGE 24. WHEN ASKED ABOUT
THEIR PREFERRED INDIGENOUS
LANGUAGE, RESPONDENTS ALSO
SELF-IDENTIFY THEIR PREFERENCES.
THE STUDY ALSO FOUND THAT 8,485%
OF INDIGENOUS ADULTS IN THE
COUNTY DO NOT HAVE HEALTH
INSURANCE, CREATING FURTHER
BARRIERS TO HEALTH CARE ACCESS.
THESE BARRIERS STEM FROM UNIQUE
HEALTH RISKS CAUSED BY POOR
HOUSING AND ECONOMIC CONDITIONS.
BY GATHERING DETAILED
DEMOGRAPHIC DATA ON MAJOR
DISEASES, LEADING CAUSES OF
DEATH, PREGNANCY AND HOUSING,
AND MENTAL HEALTH. EPIDEMIOLOGIC
DATA CAN BETTER ILLUSTRATE THE
CHALLENGES FACED BY MESOAMERICAN
AND LATINX COMMUNITIES IN TERMS
OF MENTAL HEALTH. PARTICIPANTS
REPORTED STRESS AND SADNESS AND
ANGER, BUT RARELY MISSED WORK. A
MORE PRECISE UNDERSTANDING OF
THE UNIQUE CONTEXT AFFECTING
INDIGENOUS PEOPLES MENTAL HEALTH
STATUS WILL ENABLE US TO PROVIDE
MORE EFFECTIVE CARE TO THESE
INDIGENOUS POPULATIONS. IT IS
CRUCIAL TO HAVE PUBLIC HEALTH
DATA THAT TRACKS SPECIFIC HEALTH
DATA POINTS ACROSS INDIGENOUS
LANGUAGES, RACE, ETHNICITY,
DISAGGREGATING. THIS DATA WILL
HELP US BETTER UNDERSTAND
DISEASES, HISTORICAL RACISM, AND
THE FURTHER INVISIBILITY OF
INDIGENOUS PEOPLE, ULTIMATELY
LEADING TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF
FUTURE PRACTICES THAT
PRIORITIZE, PRIORITIZE THE
HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF ALL
CALIFORNIANS. SB 1016 IS A
TESTAMENT TO THE IMPORTANCE OF
FUNDING DATA EQUITY FOR
INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES, FURTHER
TRANSFORMING OUR CURRENT DATA
FROM NONEXISTENT OR INADEQUATE
TO A BEACON OF HOPE FOR HEALTH
EQUITY. I RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR
AN AYE VOTE FOR SB 1016. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU WILL HAVE TWO
MINUTES. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME
IS MÀ VELEZ, DIRECTOR OF POLICY
WITH THE LATINO COALITION FOR A
HEALTHY CALIFORNIA. I JUST WANT
TO ECHO MY COLLEAGUES COMMENTS
AND JUST ADD THAT SB 1016 IS THE
FIRST STEP IN ACHIEVING DATA
EQUITY AND DATA JUSTICE FOR OUR
COMMUNITIES. AND I RESPECTFULLY
ASK FOR YOUR AYE VOTE. THANK
YOU. ANY OTHER WITNESSES IN
SUPPORT? PLEASE COME FORWARD,
STATE YOUR NAME, ORGANIZATION
AND POSITION. GREG PULSIFER ON
BEHALF OF EQUALITY CALIFORNIA IN
SUPPORT. VANESSA CADENA ON
BEHALF OF THE CALIFORNIA ETHNIC
HEALTH NETWORK HERE IN SUPPORT
JOHNNY PINEDA ON BEHALF OF UNION
AT THE MIGRANTS GUATEMALTECOS
LOS ANGELES IN SUPPORT. THANK
YOU BRIEFLY WITH ASIAN AMERICANS
ADVANCING JUSTICE SOUTHERN
CALIFORNIA, WE'RE IN STRONG
SUPPORT. NORA LIN WITH CHILDREN
NOW IN SUPPORT. GOOD AFTERNOON,
LINDA WEI WITH WESTERN CENTER ON
LAW AND POVERTY IN SUPPORT.
HELLO. MATT LEGGETT WITH SEIU
CALIFORNIA IN SUPPORT. GOOD
AFTERNOON, CHAIR AND MEMBERS.
JONATHAN MUNOZ, ON BEHALF OF
FIRST FIVE CALIFORNIA AND STRONG
SUPPORT. AND WE THANK THE
SENATOR FOR HER LEADERSHIP ON
THIS. JENNIFER SNYDER WITH
CAPITAL ADVOCACY ON BEHALF OF
THE CALIFORNIA LIFE SCIENCES AND
SUPPORT. GOOD AFTERNOON,
ALEJANDRO SOLIS, ON BEHALF OF
THE MEXICAN AMERICAN OPPORTUNITY
FOUNDATION AND LOS AMIGOS DE LA
COMUNIDAD IN SUPPORT. THANK YOU.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR, AND
COMMITTEE MEMBERS IN STRONG
SABRINA WONG FROM ASIAN
RESOURCES, INC, IN STRONG
SUPPORT OF SB 1016. ELAINE PENG,
MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION FOR
CHINESE COMMUNITIES. WE ARE VERY
STRONGLY SUPPORT THIS BILL.
THANK YOU. YOUR WALLA MENTAL
HEALTH ASSOCIATION FOR CHINESE
COMMUNITY I SUPPORT. MY NAME TO
MAINTAIN. I'M FROM LMHC. I
SUPPORT IT. THANK YOU. HELLO.
GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M MENTAL
HEALTH ASSOCIATION FOR CHINESE
COMMUNITIES FOR SUPPORT. WHILE
GILDO LAM HONG YIN OGECHI LARA
SB L®NG LOCAL TIME ON. FRIENDLY.
YELLING LOCAL FOR FIGHTING ON.
YOU MEAN SO NH P DIÆN MØT K¾T
LCP LOCAL. TEN. HOW WILL N N YIN
OR ALAMEDA SB Â Dð. MY NAME IS
ELENA KIM WITH KOREAN COMMUNITY
CENTER OF EAST BAY IN SUPPORT.
I'M MATTHEW LONG WITH KOREAN
COMMUNITY CENTER OF THE EAST
BAY, AND I STRONGLY SUPPORT.
GOOD AFTERNOON PSA FROM KOREAN
COMMUNITY CENTER OF THE EAST BAY
IN STRONG SUPPORT. HI, MY NAME
IS NICOLE SÐNG. I'M FROM KCC,
EB. I'M IN SUPPORT OF THE BILL.
THANK YOU. VICTOR LAO KCC BE
SUPPORT. AUSTIN RAMOS, SPEAKING
ON BEHALF OF ROOTS FOR CHANGE
CALIFORNIA CERTIFIED ORGANIC
FARMERS, CALIFORNIA FOR
PESTICIDE REFORM, COMMUNITY
ALLIANCE WITH FAMILY FARMERS AND
PESTICIDE ACTION NETWORK IN
SUPPORT. THANK YOU. HELLO, MY
NAME IS JALEN JOYCE AND I'M HERE
REPRESENTING CALIFORNIA FOOD AND
FARMING NETWORK CENTRAL
CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE
NETWORK, CBD, I Þ CENTRAL COAST
ALLIANCE, UNITED FOR A
SUSTAINABLE ECONOMY AND UNITED
FOOD AND COMMERCIAL WORKERS,
WESTERN STATES COUNCIL, THANK
YOU. WE ARE IN SUPPORT. THANK
YOU. ANY OTHER WITNESSES IN ANY
WITNESSES IN OPPOSITION? SEEING
NONE, I WILL BRING IT BACK TO
THE COMMITTEE FOR COMMENT OR
QUESTIONS. MOVED BY PELLERIN. OH
IT'S BEEN ALREADY BEEN. MOTION
SECONDED, SENATOR, I WANT TO
THANK YOU FOR BRINGING FORWARD
THIS BILL. WE HAD A PRIOR BILL,
BROUGHT BY SENATOR MINH ALSO
AROUND KIND OF RECOGNITION OF
LANGUAGE AND THE ROBUSTNESS OF
OUR ABILITY IN CALIFORNIA TO
HAVE A VERY DIVERSE LANGUAGE
COMMUNITY AND, APPRECIATE THAT
YOU ARE SEEKING A VERY SIMPLE
THING, WHICH IS MORE DATA FOR US
TO BE ABLE TO MAKE INFORMED
DECISIONS ON WITH THIS
LEGISLATION THÀNH IN A WAY THAT
WHOLLY REPRESENTS ALL OF
CALIFORNIA. SO THANK YOU FOR
DOING THAT, WOULD YOU LIKE TO
CLOSE? I WANT TO THANK OUR
WITNESSES. THEY'VE BEEN ON THE
FRONT LINES DOING THIS REALLY
GOOD WORK. SO ON BEHALF OF THEM,
I RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR MY VOTE.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU. WE HAVE A
MOTION AND A SECOND. THAT MOTION
IS, Dð. PASS TO APPROPRIATIONS.
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. BONTA AYE.
ONTO. AYE. WALDEN. WALDEN. AYE.
AGUIAR-CURRY AGAR. KURI. AYE.
ARAMBULA ARAMBULA. AYE. WENDY
CARRILLO. WENDY. CARRILLO. AYE.
FLORA. LARA. AYE HANEY. HANEY.
AYE. JOAN. SAWYER. JOAN. SAWYER.
AYE MAIENSCHEIN. MAIENSCHEIN.
AYE. MCCARTY. MCCARTY. IJO
PATTERSON. JO. PATTERSON. AYE.
RODRIGUEZ. RODRIGUEZ AYE.
SANCHEZ. SANCHEZ. AYE. SANTIAGO
LOWENTHAL. LOWENTHAL. AYE.
PELLERIN PELLERIN. AYE. 15 ZERO.
THAT MEASURE PASSES 15 TO 0.
THANK YOU. WE WILL GO BACK NOW
TO COMPLETING OUR VOTE FOR ITEM
NUMBER FOUR, SB 1042 BY ROTH.
THE MOTION IS TO PASS TO
BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS. I NEED
A MOTION AGUIAR-CURRY SECONDED
BY PELLERIN. PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL. BONTA. AYE. T I WALDRON.
WALDEN. AYE. AGUIAR-CURRY.
AGUIAR-CURRY. AYE. ARAMBULA
ARAMBULA. AYE. WENDY. CARILLO.
WENDY. CARILLO. AYE. FLORA LARA.
AYE. HANEY. HANEY. AYE. JOAN.
SAWYER JOHN. SAWYER. AYE.
MAIENSCHEIN. MAIENSCHEIN. AYE.
MCCARTY MCCARTY. IJO. PATTERSON.
JO. PATTERSON. AYE RODRIGUEZ.
RODRIGUEZ. AYE. SANCHEZ. SANCHEZ
NØ. SANTIAGO. LOWENTHAL.
LOWENTHAL AYE. PELLERIN.
PELLERIN. AYE TÍNH TO ONE. THAT
MEASURE PASSES 14 TO 1. WE'LL
MOVE ON TO SB 1078. ITEM NUMBER
FIVE, MOVED BY PELLERIN,
SECONDED BY ARAMBULA. THE MOTION
IS Dð. PASS TO HUMAN SERVICES.
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. BONTA I
BONTA. AYE. WALDRON. WALDRON.
AYE. AGUIAR-CURRY. AGUIAR-CURRY
AYE. ARAMBULA. ARAMBULA. AYE.
WENDY. CARILLO WENDY. CARILLO
AYE. FLORA. LARA. AYE. HANEY
HANEY. AYE. JOHN. SAWYER. JOHN.
SAWYER. AYE. MAIENSCHEIN
MAIENSCHEIN. I'M. MCCARTY.
MCCARTY. AYE. PATTERSON SO.
PATTERSON. AYE. RODRIGUEZ.
RODRIGUEZ. AYE. SANCHEZ SANCHEZ.
AYE. SANTIAGO. LOWENTHAL
LOWENTHAL. AYE. PELLERIN.
PELLERIN. AYE. 15 ZERO. THAT
MEASURES OUT TO 15 TO 0. WE'LL
MOVE ON NOW TO THE CONSENT
CALENDAR. WE'VE PREVIOUSLY READ
IN WHAT THE CONSENT ITEMS ARE.
MOVE BY ARAMBULA SECONDED BY
PELLERIN. SECRETARY. PLEASE CALL
THE ROLL FOR CONSENT. BONTA.
AYE. BONTA. AYE. WALDRON.
WALDRON AYE. AGAR. CURRIE.
AGUIAR-CURRY. AYE. ARAMBULA
ARAMBULA. AYE. WENDY. CARILLO.
WENDY. CARILLO. AYE FLORA. LARA.
AYE. HANEY. HANEY. AYE. JOHN
SAWYER. JOHN. SAWYER. AYE.
MAIENSCHEIN. MAIENSCHEIN AYE.
MCCARTY. MCCARTY. AYE. JOE.
PATTERSON. JO PATTERSON. AYE.
RODRIGUEZ. RODRIGUEZ. AYE.
SANCHEZ. SANCHEZ AYE. SANTIAGO.
LOWENTHAL. LOWENTHAL AYE.
PELLERIN. PELLERIN. AYE. 15 ZERO
THAT CONSENT OUT 15 TO 0. WE'LL
MOVE ON TO ITEM SEVEN. SB 1119
FOR ADD ONS. AGUIAR-CURRY
AGUIAR-CURRY. AYE MAIN SHRINE.
MAIN SHRINE. AYE. MCCARTY.
MCCARTY TÊ. AYE. RODRIGUEZ.
RODRIGUEZ. NOT VOTING. SANTIAGO.
LOWENTHAL LOWENTHAL. AYE 14
ZERO. IT MEASURES NOW. 14 TO 0.
STILL OUT, ITEM NUMBER EIGHT, SB
1184, MOVED BY AGUIAR-CURRY.
SECONDED BY CARRILLO. MOTION IS
DUE PASSED TO JUDICIARY. PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL. BONTA, I WANT TO.
AYE. WALDRON WALDRON. AYE.
AGUIAR-CURRY. AGAR. CURRIE AYE.
ARAMBULA. ARAMBULA. AYE. WENDY.
CARRILLO. WENDY CARRILLO. AYE.
FLORA. LARA. AYE. HANEY. HANEY
AYE. JOHN. SAWYER. JOHN. SAWYER.
AYE. MAIENSCHEIN. MAIENSCHEIN
AYE. MCCARTY. MCCARTY. IJO.
PATTERSON. JO. PATTERSON AYE.
RODRIGUEZ. RODRIGUEZ. AYE.
SANCHEZ. SANCHEZ. AYE SANTIAGO.
SANTIAGO. AYE. LOWENTHAL
LOWENTHAL. AYE. PELLERIN.
PELLERIN. AYE. 16 ZERO. THAT
MEASURES OUT 16 TO 0. WE'LL MOVE
ON TO ITEM NINE. SB 1230 BY
RUBIO. MOTION IS DUE. PASS TO
GOVERNMENT. ALL GOVERNMENT
RELATIONS GOVERNMENTAL,
GOVERNMENTAL. OH MY GOSH.
GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION. CAN I
HAVE A MOTION MOVED BY PERLIN,
SECONDED BY ARAMBULA. PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL. BONTA. AYE.
BONTA. AYE. WALDEN. WALDEN AYE.
AGAR. CURRIE. EDGAR. CURRIE.
AYE. ARAMBULA ARAMBULA. AYE.
WENDY. CARRILLO. WENDY.
CARRILLO. AYE. FLORA FLORA. AYE.
HANEY. HANEY. AYE. JOHN SAWYER.
JOHN. SAWYER. AYE. MAIENSCHEIN.
MAIENSCHEIN. AYE MCCARTY.
MCCARTY. AYE. JOE. PATTERSON.
JO. PATTERSON AYE. RODRIGUEZ.
RODRIGUEZ. AYE. SANCHEZ. SANCHEZ
AYE. SANTIAGO. SANTIAGO. AYE
LOWENTHAL. LOWENTHAL. AYE.
PELLERIN PELLERIN. AYE. 16 ZERO.
THAT MEASURES OUT 16 TO 0. ITEM
NUMBER TEN WAS ON CONSENT. WE'LL
MOVE ON TO ITEM NUMBER 11. SB
1369 FOR ADD ONS. AGUIAR-CURRY
AGUIAR-CURRY. AYE MCCARTY.
MCCARTY. AYE. SANTIAGO SANTIAGO.
AYE. LOWENTHAL LOWENTHAL. AYE.
16 ZERO. THAT MEASURES OUT 16
ZERO. ITEM NUMBER 12 AND 13 WERE
ON CONSENT. IF YOU WERE HERE FOR
THE WHOLE THING, YOU VOTED. WE
WILL NOW CONTINUE WITH THE ROLL
FOR ADD ONS. GOING BACK TO ITEM
NUMBER ONE FOR ADD ONS. MCCARTY.
MCCARTY I SANTIAGO, SANTIAGO.
AYE. LOWENTHAL LOWENTHAL. AYE.
13 TO 3. NOW 13 TO 3. ITEM
NUMBER TWO SB 999 MCCARTY.
MCCARTY. AYE SANTIAGO. SANTIAGO.
AYE LOWENTHAL. LOWENTHAL. AYE.
15 ZERO 15 ZERO. ITEM THREE SB
1016 SANTIAGO. SANTIAGO. AYE 16
ZERO NOW 16 ZERO. ITEM NUMBER
FOUR SB 1042 SANTIAGO. SANTIAGO
AYE 15 TO 1. IT IS NOW 15 TO 1.
AYE ITEM NUMBER FIVE SB 1078
SANTIAGO. SANTIAGO AYE 16 ZERO.
IT'S NOW 16 ZERO. ITEM NUMBER
SIX, SB 1112. THAT'S THE. OH,
IT'S ON CONSENT ITEM NUMBER
SEVEN, SB 1119. CONSENT
CALENDAR. SANTIAGO. SANTIAGO.
AYE 16 ZERO SB ITEM SEVEN, SB
1119 SANTIAGO. SANTIAGO. AYE 15
ZERO. THAT IS NOW 15 TO 0. ITEM
NUMBER EIGHT SB 1184. AYE. HAVE
EVERYONE ITEM NUMBER NINE, SB
1230. I HAVE EVERYONE ON THE
REST. ALL THE REST. WITH THAT,
WE'LL CONCLUDE THE HEARING FOR
ASSEMBLY HEALTH COMMITTEE ON
JUNE 11TH.