GOOD AFTERNOON. I CALL THIS
HEARING OF THE ASSEMBLY
COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES TO
ORDER TODAY. ONCE WE HAVE
ESTABLISHED QUORUM, WE HAVE NINE
BILLS ON THE AGENDA WITH NO
BILLS ON CONSENT. PLEASE NOTE
THAT WE LIMIT TESTIMONY TO TWO
WITNESSES IN SUPPORT AND TWO
WITNESSES. OPPOSITION. EACH
WITNESS HAS TWO MINUTES TO
TESTIFY. ALL ADDITIONAL
WITNESSES WILL BE LIMITED TO
STATING THEIR NAME,
ORGANIZATION, AND IF THEY
REPRESENT ONE AND THEIR POSITION
ON THE BILL. I ALSO WANT TO NOTE
THAT WE'RE ACCEPTING WRITTEN
TESTIMONY THROUGH THE POSITION
LETTER PORTAL ON THE COMMITTEE'S
WEBSITE. NOW FOR LITTLE
HOUSEKEEPING FILE ITEM NUMBER
FOUR SB 875. GLAZIER HAS BEEN
PULLED BY THE AUTHOR AND WILL
NOT BE HEARD TODAY. ONCE WE HAVE
QUORUM, WE WILL ESTABLISH THAT.
BUT WE CAN START AS A
SUBCOMMITTEE NOW AND HEAR BILLS
IN ORDER. FIRST. I THINK I SAW
SENATOR HURTADO HERE, WHENEVER
SHE'S READY, SHE CAN PRESENT SB
245.
WHENEVER YOU'RE READY. THANK
YOU, MR. CHAIR. GOOD AFTERNOON,
MISTER CHAIR. AND MEMBERS OF THE
COMMITTEE. TODAY I'M HERE TO
PRESENT SB 245, WHICH MODERNIZES
THE CALIFORNIA FOOD ASSISTANCE
PROGRAM, EXPANDING ACCESS TO
STATE FUNDED NUTRITION BENEFITS,
AND ENSURING THAT CALIFORNIA IS
A FOOD FOR ALL STATE AT THE
OUTSET, I WOULD LIKE TO MENTION
THAT I WILL BE ACCEPTING THE
COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS, WHICH
WOULD DELAY THE IMPLEMENTATION
TO OCTOBER 2027 FOR THE
NUTRITION BENEFITS. OVER 8.8
MILLION CALIFORNIANS, INCLUDING
APPROXIMATELY 4.7 MILLION ADULTS
AND 2 MILLION CHILDREN, STRUGGLE
WITH FOOD INSECURITY. THIS
TRANSLATES TO ABOUT 23% OF
HOUSEHOLDS WITH THE RATE RISING
TO 28% FOR HOUSEHOLDS WITH
CHILDREN. CALIFORNIA'S SOCIAL
SAFETY NET PROTECTS FAMILIES
DURING TIMES OF ECONOMIC
HARDSHIP, BUT UNDOCUMENTED
CALIFORNIANS ARE UNJUSTLY
EXCLUDED FROM MANY SAFETY NET
PROGRAMS DUE TO SOLELY TO
IMMIGRATION STATUS. CALIFORNIA
POVERTY MEASURE DATA SHOWS THAT
DISPROPORTIONATE PREVALENCE OF
POVERTY AMONG UNDOCUMENTED
CALIFORNIANS AND SEVERE ECONOMIC
DISPARITIES IN THE STATE. 41% OF
UNDOCUMENTED CHILDREN AND YOUNG
ADULTS AGES 0 TO 26IN CALIFORNIA
ARE LIVING IN POVERTY.
THROUGHOUT THEIR LIFE,
UNDOCUMENTED CHILDREN AND YOUNG
ADULTS WILL NAVIGATE SYSTEMS
THAT EXCLUDE THEM WHILE
EXPERIENCING SYSTEMIC
DISCRIMINATION COMPARED TO THE
STATEWIDE AVERAGE FOR ALL
CALIFORNIANS AGED 0 TO 26, THEY
ARE TWICE AS LIKELY TO
EXPERIENCE POVERTY. NOT HAVING
ENOUGH HEALTHY FOOD CAN HAVE
SERIOUS IMPLICATIONS FOR A
CHILD'S PHYSICAL AND MENTAL
HEALTH, ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT,
AND FUTURE ECONOMIC PROSPERITY.
THIS CRISIS HAS PUT A FRESH
SPOTLIGHT ON THE EVERYDAY
CONTRIBUTIONS THAT ESSENTIAL
WORKERS, MANY OF THEM
IMMIGRANTS, MAKE TO OUR ECONOMY
AND OUR SOCIETY IN ORDER TO
EFFECTIVELY ADDRESS INCREASING
FOOD INSECURITY, REDUCE POVERTY
AND HOMELESSNESS, AND SUPPORT AN
EQUITABLE RECOVERY FROM THE
IMPACT OF COVID 19, IT IS
CRITICAL THAT CALIFORNIA
ELIMINATE ANTI-IMMIGRANT
EXCLUSIONS WITH CFAP AND BRING
EQUITY TO OUR STATE'S FOOD
SAFETY NET. CALIFORNIA HAS A
LONG STANDING HISTORY OF
ENACTING INCLUSIVE POLICIES, AND
HAS THE POWER TO END THE
EXCLUSION OF IMMIGRANTS FROM OUR
FOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS, AND TO
ALL CALIFORNIA RESIDENTS CAN
ACCESS FOOD BENEFITS IF AND WHEN
THEY NEED IT. OUR INSTITUTIONS
WILL NOT FULLY REFLECT THE
STATE'S VALUES OF EQUITY AND
INCLUSION, EXPANDING ACCESS TO
FOOD BENEFITS SB 245 AIMS TO
ALLEVIATE THE DISPROPORTIONATE
POVERTY AND FOOD INSECURITY
EXPERIENCED BY UNDOCUMENTED
CALIFORNIA. HIS SUPPORT FOR SB
245 IS ESSENTIAL TO ENSURING
THAT NO CALIFORNIA GOES HUNGRY
DUE TO THEIR IMMIGRATION STATUS
HERE TO TESTIFY IN SUPPORT, I
HAVE, ESTÁ CHAU WITH THE
CALIFORNIA POLICY IMMIGRANT
CENTER AND BERTHA, A RESIDENT OF
1863. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH, TWO MINUTES EACH, PLEASE.
HI. GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR AND
MEMBERS, MY NAME IS BENJAMIN
CHOW, AND I'M THE HEALTH AND
PUBLIC BENEFITS POLICY MANAGER
AT THE CALIFORNIA IMMIGRANT
POLICY CENTER. CPC IS A
STATEWIDE IMMIGRANT RIGHTS
ORGANIZATION THAT ADVANCES
POLICIES THAT UPHOLD THE
HUMANITY OF IMMIGRANT IMMIGRANT
COMMUNITIES IN OUR STATE. WE
URGE THIS COMMITTEE TO VOTE YES
ON SB 245, WHICH WOULD REMOVE
THE EXCLUSION OF INCOME ELIGIBLE
CALIFORNIANS FROM FOOD BENEFITS
DUE TO THEIR IMMIGRATION STATUS
OR THEIR AGE. AS THE SENATOR
MENTIONED, CALFRESH. FOOD
BENEFITS HELP FAMILIES ESCAPE
THE CYCLE OF POVERTY, YET
HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF OUR
NEIGHBORS ARE EXCLUDED,
ACCORDING TO THE DATA SHARED
FROM THE PUBLIC POLICY INSTITUTE
OF CALIFORNIA, 64% OF
UNDOCUMENTED CALIFORNIANS ARE
LIVING IN OR NEAR POVERTY,
COMPARED TO 35% ON AVERAGE
STATEWIDE. WE CAN SEE THAT THIS
EXCLUSION IMPACTS ALL OF US,
INCLUDING CHILDREN AND MIXED
STATUS FAMILIES. AND WHEN
CHILDREN LIVE IN POVERTY, THEY
ARE MORE LIKELY TO DEVELOP
EMOTIONAL DISORDERS AND
COGNITIVE DEFICITS, EXPERIENCE
HIGHER RISK OF ILLNESS, AND FACE
CHALLENGES WITH SCHOOL AND
ECONOMIC MOBILITY, EVEN INTO
ADULTHOOD. NEARLY HALF OF
UNDOCUMENTED CALIFORNIANS ARE
AFFECTED BY FOOD INSECURITY, AND
FOR CHILDREN, THIS RATE IS MUCH
HIGHER. 2 IN 3 UNDOCUMENTED
CHILDREN ARE CURRENTLY FACING
FOOD INSECURITY. WE RIGHT NOW
CAN REVERSE THESE INEQUALITIES.
30S A HEALTHIER AND MORE
RESILIENT CALIFORNIA. AND WE CAN
DO THAT BY MAKING FOOD FOR ALL A
REALITY. WE BELIEVE THAT HUNGER
IS HUNGER NO MATTER WHERE YOU
ARE BORN, AND WE NEED TO ADDRESS
IT NOW. NO EXCEPTIONS, NO
EXCLUSIONS, NO DELAYS. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. YOUR
NEXT WITNESS, PLEASE. OKAY.
BUENAS TARDES. ME? NOMBRE ES
ESTARÁ VIVO EN LA CIUDAD DE LAKE
ELSINORE. OR VENGO DE LA
ORGANIZACION DE TODOS. Y QUIERO
COMPARTIR UN POQUITO DE HISTORIA
RAPIDO ME ESPOSO YO LLEGAMOS A
ESTE PAIS HACE 29 ANOS. Y HEMOS
LUCHADO MUCHO HEMOS TRABAJADO
HASTA DOS TRABAJOS PARA PODER,
SEGUIR ADELANTE SOBRE TODO LO
PRINCIPAL PARA NOSOTROS ES PAGAR
RENTA PAGAR BILLS Y SI A COMER,
PUES COMEMOS COMO DEBE DE SER Y
SI NO PUES. LUCIANO'S POR ESO
HEMOS SIDO ORGANIZACIONES DONDE
DAN COMIDA. PERO NO ES LA
SEMANA. ES UNA VEZ POR MAS Y
CUANDO HEMOS IDO A IGLESIAS A
PEDIR COMIDA Ã TENEMOS C¯
TRABAJAR Y NO PODEMOS PODER
TENER ESA OPORTUNIDAD DE RECIBIR
COMIDA. HEMOS TRABAJADO AQUI ME
ESPOSO Y YO POR ACA DOS TRABAJOS
PARA SEGUIR ADELANTE. HEMOS
TRABAJADO DURO EN IN DE
JORNALERO Y YO EN MAQUILADORAS,
TRABAJANDO DE SIETE A SIETE DOS
HORAS DIARIAS Y UN DESCANSO. SI
NADA, SIN C¯ NOS PAGANE EL
MINIMO Y SUFRIENDO TODAVIA PARA
TRATAR DE TENER COMIDA Ã COMO
DEBE DE SER MIS HIJOS DE UN GRAN
ORITA, PERO ME ESPOSO Y YO
SEGUIMOS LUCHANDO YO SOY
SOBREVIVIENTE DE CANCER Y
NECESITABA ALIMENTOS C¯ DEBERIA
DE TENER Y NO LO TENIA, PERO CON
FE Y TODO SEGUIMOS ADELANTE
HACERNOS HECHO MUY DIFICIL Y
QUISIERA VER SI PODIA SER LA
OPORTUNIDAD DE PODER A OBTENER
ALGO PARA TENER COMIDA SEGURAS
SOBRE TODO PARA TENER COMIDA
SEGURA PORQUE RENTA Y TODO ESTA
DEMASIADO CARO Y SE NOS HA HECHO
MUY DIFICIL. GRACIAS SO I'LL BE
TRANSLATING FOR HER. HI. MY NAME
IS CRYSTAL. I'M WITH TORIC AND
THIS IS ESTHER'S TESTIMONY. GOOD
AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS ESTHER. I
LIVE IN LAKE ELSINORE,
CALIFORNIA. I AM A MEMBER OF
TORIC. MY HUSBAND AND I MIGRATED
TO CALIFORNIA WITH OUR NEWBORN
DAUGHTER 30 YEARS AGO IN SEARCH
FOR WELL-BEING FOR OUR CHILDREN
AND FAMILY. OUR FAMILY HAS BEEN
THROUGH MANY HARDSHIPS AND HAVE
EXPERIENCED FEAR,
DISCRIMINATION, AND HAVE BEEN
RACIALLY BEATEN, ATTACKED
BECAUSE OUR ORIGIN AND STATUS WE
HAVE SUFFERED FROM HUNGER BY OUR
FAITH IN GOD KEEPS US STRONG.
SINCE WE ARRIVED TO THE UNITED
STATES, WE BEGAN TO WORK AND WE
HAVE NOT STOPPED WORKING SINCE.
IN ORDER TO SURVIVE FOR US AS
PARENTS, WHAT IS MORE MOST
IMPORTANT IS KEEPING OUR KIDS
AND FAMILIES HOUSED AND FED. WE
HAVE WORKED IN ALL TYPES OF
JOBS, HAVING MORE THAN TWO JOBS
AT A TIME FROM HARVESTING AND
PREPPING FOOD MAINTENANCE,
SELLING AT SWAP MEETS, AND
WORKING IN SWEATSHOPS WHERE I
WORKED FROM 7 A.M. TO 7 P.M. AND
WE WERE NOT ALLOWED TO LEAVE
BETWEEN BEFORE THOSE HOURS, AND
WE WOULD GET PAID UNDER THE
MINIMUM WAGE. AND EVEN BY
WORKING MULTIPLE JOBS, IT WAS
NOT ENOUGH TO SURVIVE AND
MAINTAIN OUR FAMILY. WHAT WE
ALWAYS SECURE FIRST IS TO MAKE
ENOUGH MONEY TO PAY FOR PAY THE
RENT SO OUR FAMILY WILL NOT END
UP IN THE STREETS WITHOUT
SHELTER. THE SECOND IS FOOD WE
SAVE THE MOST WE CAN EVERY WEEK
FOR GROCERIES FOR OUR KIDS. EVEN
IF MY HUSBAND AND I DON'T GET TO
EAT AT TIMES, MY HUSBAND AND MY
AND MY ONLY MEAL IS COFFEE FOR
THE ENTIRE DAY. COFFEE FILLS UP
OUR STOMACHS AND GIVES US THE
ENERGY THAT WE NEED TO WORK FOR
THE LONG HOURS THAT WE DO WORK
FOR OUR FAMILY. FOOD IS A
LUXURY. WE ALWAYS ASK OURSELVES,
HOW CAN WORKERS LIKE OURSELVES
THAT HARVEST AND PREPARE THE
FOOD FOR ALL WE DON'T MAKE
ENOUGH MONEY TO FEED OUR OWN
FAMILIES. FOOD IS SACRED FOR
SUCH REASON. I SHARE MY FAMILY'S
REALITY AND STORY BECAUSE MY
FAMILY STRUGGLE IS THE SAME
STRUGGLE OF MANY FAMILIES THAT
WORK AND CONTRIBUTE WITH OUR
WORK AND TAXES TO CALIFORNIA'S
ECONOMY. I AM A CANCER PATIENT
SINCE 2008, BUT EVEN WITH MY
MEDICAL CONDITION, I DON'T HAVE
THE LUXURY TO TAKE CARE OF
MYSELF WITH HEALTHY FOOD AND
STAYING HOME. I NEED TO GO OUT
AND WORK WITH MY HUSBAND BECAUSE
IF WE STOP WORKING, OUR FAMILIES
WILL NOT HAVE A PLACE TO LIVE OR
WILL NOT HAVE FOOD TO EAT. WE
ARE WORKING. WE ARE WORKING.
COMMUNITY BUT AS WORKERS, WE
NEED TO BE HEALTHY AND ALIVE TO
CONTINUE WORKING AND
CONTRIBUTING TO OUR STATE OF
CALIFORNIA'S ECONOMY. I SHARE MY
STORY BECAUSE I KNOW THAT MANY
PEOPLE MAY NOT KNOW WHAT IT
MEANS TO SUFFER OR LIVE IN FEAR
OR HAVE EXPERIENCED HUNGER.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION.
THANK YOU. AND WE'LL PAUSE
BRIEFLY TO ESTABLISH A QUORUM.
MADAM SECRETARY, IF YOU COULD
CALL THE ROLL LEE HERE, SALLY
CALDERON. GIBSON HERE. JACKSON
HERE. MATHIS. ORTEGA QUORUM IS
ESTABLISHED. NOW. DO WE HAVE ANY
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO WISH
TO TESTIFY IN SUPPORT? PLEASE
COME UP TO THE MICROPHONE, NAME,
ORGANIZATION. NICOLE WATERMAN,
ON BEHALF OF THE CHILDREN'S
PARTNERSHIP AND SUPPORT. REBECCA
GONZALEZ, WESTERN CENTER ON LAW
AND POVERTY AND SUPPORT. GOOD
AFTERNOON, CHAIR AND COMMITTEE
MEMBERS JARED KAUL WITH NOURISH
CALIFORNIA. PROUD CO-SPONSOR AND
IN STRONG SUPPORT OF SB 245 AND
FOOD FOR ALL. GOOD AFTERNOON,
ANDREW SHANE GRACE AND CHILD
POVERTY CALIFORNIA IN STRONG
SUPPORT. GOOD MORNING. GOOD
AFTERNOON, DARBY KIERNAN IN
SUPPORT FOR THE PUBLIC HEALTH
INSTITUTE KAT BEST WITH THE
CALIFORNIA ALLIANCE OF CHILD AND
FAMILY SERVICES IN SUPPORT KIM
LEWIS ON BEHALF OF CHILDREN NOW
IN SUPPORT. KELLY BROOKS ON
BEHALF OF THE URBAN COUNTIES OF
CALIFORNIA, THE COUNTY HEALTH
EXECUTIVES ASSOCIATION OF
CALIFORNIA AND THE BOARD OF
SUPERVISORS OF SANTA CLARA
COUNTY HERE IN SUPPORT. OUR
MAYOR, ON BEHALF OF ELDERLY CARE
EVERYWHERE IN SUPPORT MARTHA
GUERRERO, REPRESENTING THE LOS
ANGELES COUNTY BOARD OF
SUPERVISORS IN SUPPORT. TRÊN
PH¢N WITH JUSTICE IN AGING IN
SUPPORT. THANK YOU. GOOD
AFTERNOON. JOHAN CARDENAS WITH
THE CALIFORNIA POLYTECHNIC
HEALTH NETWORK AND THE HAVING
OUR SAY COALITION IN STRONG
SUPPORT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
NOW, DO WE HAVE ANY MEMBERS OF
THE PUBLIC WISH TO TESTIFY IN
OPPOSITION TO THE BILL? PLEASE
COME FORWARD. SEEING NONE, WE'LL
BRING IT BACK TO THE COMMITTEE.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM
COMMITTEE MEMBERS? SECOND BILL
HAS BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED.
I'LL INVITE THE AUTHOR TO CLOSE
IF YOU'D LIKE. OH, AYE. MR.
GIBSON, YOUR COMMENTS. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. I WANT TO COMMEND
THE, THE WITNESS FOR HER
TESTIMONY. I WAS LISTENING
OUTSIDE AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH
FOR ONE, UNDERLINING OUR REALITY
HERE IN CALIFORNIA. THE DID YOU
HEAR WHAT I SAID? WE ARE THE
FIFTH LARGEST WORLD ECONOMY AND
WE SHOULD NOT HAVE PEOPLE GOING
HUNGRY. WE SHOULD NOT HAVE
PEOPLE STRUGGLING TO PUT FOOD ON
THE TABLE. FOOD FOR ALL,
REGARDLESS OF ZIP CODE,
REGARDLESS OF WHO YOUR MOM AND
DADDY IS, REGARDLESS OF THE
COMMUNITY YOU LIVE IN, OUR
CHILDREN AND FAMILIES SHOULD NOT
BE GOING HUNGRY IN THIS STATE AS
THE FIFTH LARGEST ECONOMY.
PLEASE ADD ME AS A COAUTHOR.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THE BILL
HAS BEEN MOVED. OH, SORRY. I'M
GOING TO ASK THE AUTHOR TO CLOSE
IF SHE'D LIKE. YES. THANK YOU,
MR. CHAIR AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS,
AND TO, YOU KNOW, ASSEMBLY
MEMBER GIBSON'S POINT, NO
INDIVIDUAL SHOULD GO HUNGRY. NO
MATTER WHAT YOUR STATUS IS,
WHERE YOU LIVE, WHERE YOU GREW
UP, WHERE YOU CAME FROM. THIS IS
A HUMAN RIGHT. AND HAVING ACCESS
TO FOOD AND MAKING SURE THAT
IT'S AFFORDABLE, THAT IT'S
ACCESSIBLE, IS A HUMAN RIGHT.
AND WE HAVE TO GET THIS RIGHT.
WE REALLY DO. AND WITH THAT, I
WOULD RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR AN
AYE VOTE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
SO IT'S BEEN MOVED BY SENATOR
JACKSON, SECONDED BY SENATOR
GIBSON, MADAM SECRETARY, PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL. THIS IS I'M
RECOMMENDING AN AYE AS AMENDED.
THE MOTION IS TO PASS, AS
AMENDED, TO THE ASSEMBLY
APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE. LEE LI
AYE, AS SALLY CALDERON CALDERON.
AYE. GIBSON. AYE. GIBSON. AYE.
JACKSON. JACKSON AYE. MATHIS.
ORTEGA 4 TO 0. THAT BILL IS OUT.
THE BILL IS OUT.
CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU.
WE'LL LEAVE THE ROLL OPEN FOR
ABSENT MEMBERS. NEXT WE'LL GO TO
FILE M1 TO SB 85. SENATOR WIENER
, WHEN YOU ARE READY. AND MY
APOLOGIES, SENATOR WIENER, I DID
NOT SEE YOU COME IN WHEN I
STARTED. DID YOU SEE THAT TALL
MAN? OH.
BOY HEY. HEY.
OKAY. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR,
COLLEAGUES, LET ME START BY. I'M
GOING TO ACCEPT THE COMMITTEE'S
AMENDMENTS AND THE ANALYSIS
WHICH BRINGS THE BILL'S LANGUAGE
INTO CONFORMITY WITH CURRENT
CODE, WHICH CHANGED SINCE THE
BILL WAS FIRST DRAFTED AND
INTRODUCED, LAST YEAR, SB 85
WILL EXTEND CASE MANAGEMENT
SERVICES FOR REFUGEES WHO ARE
SETTLED IN CALIFORNIA. NHÀ WHO
ARE SOME OF OUR MOST VULNERABLE
RESIDENTS, CURRENTLY, CASE
MANAGEMENT IS FUNDED BY THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FOR 90 DAYS
UNDER THE US REFUGEE ADMITTANCE
PROGRAM. AND JUST BACKING UP IN
TERMS OF WHY CASE MANAGEMENT IS
IMPORTANT, IMAGINE COMING TO A
COUNTRY AND, IT'S ALL NEW, YOU
ARE LEARNING ABOUT THE CULTURE
AND INTEGRATING. YOU MAY NOT
SPEAK THE LANGUAGE, YOU MAY OR
MAY NOT HAVE ANY ECONOMIC
SECURITY, AND THE PURPOSE OF
CASE MANAGEMENT IS TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE'RE ABLE TO HELP PEOPLE
TRANSITION INTO A NEW LIFE AND
GIVE THEM THE SUPPORT THAT THEY
NEED. SO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
FUNDS 90 DAYS, AND, THAT'S NOT
ENOUGH. AND THERE ARE OTHER
STATES THAT, FRANKLY, WILL
PROVIDE UP TO TWO YEARS OF CASE
MANAGEMENT, 90 DAYS IS JUST
WHOLLY INADEQUATE. AND SO THIS
BILL SUBJECT TO APPROPRIATION,
BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY WE'RE IN A
TOUGH BUDGET TIME. SO THIS IS
CREATING THE STRUCTURE, AND
WE'LL FUND IT WHEN WE'RE ABLE TO
FUND IT, WILL EXTEND THAT 90
DAYS TO 180 DAYS WITH THE
POSSIBILITY OF GOING UP TO A
FULL YEAR THAT IS STILL LESS
THAN, A SHORTER PERIOD OF TIME
THAN SOME STATES, BUT WE REALLY
NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN
PEOPLE ARE COMING HERE AS
REFUGEES, THAT WE ACTUALLY GIVE
THEM THE TOOLS TO BE ABLE TO
SUCCEED. SO I RESPECTFULLY ASK
FOR YOUR AYE VOTE, WITH ME TODAY
TO TESTIFY IS, HOMER YOUNG
GHANIZADA, THE RESETTLEMENT,
LEAD CASE MANAGER AT JEWISH
FAMILY AND COMMUNITY SERVICES,
EAST BAY AND KAUSAR AMINI, THE
NORCAL, REFUGEE ORGANIZER AT
CHIRLA AND HERSELF A FORMER
REFUGEE. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH, TWO MINUTES EACH.
WHOEVER WANTS TO START FIRST.
OKAY, I'LL START, THANK YOU SO
MUCH. THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS, MY
NAME IS SHAH ZADA. I'M A LEAD
CASE MANAGER AT JEWISH FAMILY
AND COMMUNITY SERVICES, EAST
BAY. WE ARE BASED OUT IN
CONCORD, I HAVE BEEN LEADING THE
RESETTLEMENT AND PLACEMENT
PROGRAM, WHICH IS THE CASE
MANAGEMENT PROGRAM, FOR THE LAST
THREE YEARS. I CAME MYSELF TO
CALIFORNIA AS A FORMER CIV
HOLDER, WORKING WITH THE US AND
NATO FORCES BACK IN AFGHANISTAN.
AT JFCS, WE HAVE PROVIDED,
RESETTLEMENT SERVICES TO AROUND
1400 AFGHANS SINCE 2021, WE HAVE
ALSO PROVIDED SERVICES TO 400
UKRAINIANS SINCE THE BEGINNING
OF THE WAR. AND ALSO WE HAVE
PROVIDED CASE MANAGEMENT
SERVICES TO OTHER REFUGEES FROM
AROUND THE WORLD, INCLUDING
LGBTQ REFUGEES. AS MENTIONED BY
THE RESPECTED SENATOR, THE
CURRENT CASE MANAGEMENT TIME IS
90 DAYS, WHICH IS INSUFFICIENT
FOR REFUGEES TO ACHIEVE
STABILITY. AND THEY FACE
SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES LIKE
CULTURAL ADJUSTMENT, LEARNING
ENGLISH, AND ALSO OBTAINING
DRIVER'S LICENSE. IT TAKES MORE
THAN THAT TIME TO RECEIVE
CRITICALLY IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS
LIKE, EMPLOYMENT AUTHORIZATION,
SOCIAL SECURITY AND ALSO GREEN
CARD, WHICH IS ESSENTIAL FOR
EMPLOYMENT. AND BASED ON MY
EXPERIENCE, I HAVEN'T SEEN
ANYBODY, WHICH IS ACTUALLY ALSO
VERY RARE TO SECURE EMPLOYMENT
WITHIN THE FIRST 90 DAYS OF
ARRIVAL, LONG TERM HOUSING IS
EQUALLY A CHALLENGE BECAUSE IT
REQUIRES STABLE INCOME AND ALSO
WORK, EMPLOYMENT OR EMPLOYMENT
OR WORK HISTORY. THE ABRUPT END
OF TRAUMA INFORMED SERVICES
AFTER 90 DAYS ACTUALLY LEAVE THE
REFUGEES FEELING ABANDONED, AND
IT ADDS TO THEIR STRESS.
EXTENDED CASE MANAGEMENT WOULD
ALLOW THEM THE TIME TO ESTABLISH
THEMSELVES, CONTRIBUTE
ECONOMICALLY AND INTEGRATE,
FULLY INTO THE SOCIETY, REDUCING
THE BURDEN ON PUBLICLY PROVIDED
SERVICES IS BASED ON MY
EXPERIENCE. OF COURSE, REFUGEES
ARE HARDWORKING AND RESILIENT.
THEY HAVE STARTED BUSINESSES,
SECURED EMPLOYMENT, AND I HAVE
SEEN THAT THEY HAVE CONTRIBUTED
IMMENSELY BACK TO THE COMMUNITY.
AS A FRONTLINE WORKER AND WITH
WITH FIRST HAND EXPERIENCE, I
STRONGLY SUPPORT THE BILL. SB 85
BECAUSE EXTENDED CASE MANAGEMENT
BEYOND 90 DAYS IS A CRITICAL
STEP TO HELP REFUGEES ACHIEVE
SELF-RELIANCE AND INDEPENDENCE.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU,
THIS IS MICHAEL CHIMINI, NORCAL
REFUGEE ORGANIZER FROM CHIRLA
COALITION HUMANE IMMIGRANT
RIGHTS. AND ALSO WE ARE ALL
AMERICA, GOOD AFTERNOON, HUMAN
SERVICE COMMITTEE. I WOULD LIKE
TO PRESENT MY TESTIMONY
REGARDING THE SB 85 EXTENDED
CASE MANAGEMENT. AND JUST A
LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND, ABOUT
MYSELF, I CAME FROM AFGHANISTAN
IN 2019 THROUGH THE SIEVE WHEN I
WAS WORKING IN AFGHANISTAN WITH
U.S. MILITARY, NATO, AND ALSO
BEING UNDER THE USE AT, PROMOTE
PROJECT WITH THE PRESIDENTIAL
OFFICE, WITH, WITH EVERYTHING
CRISIS AND, AND ALSO, THREAT
SITUATION IN AFGHANISTAN. I
DECIDED TO LEAVE MY COUNTRY JUST
BECAUSE OF THE BETTER SITUATION,
FUTURE AND ALSO SAFETY OF MYSELF
AND MY FAMILY IN THE US. BUT
COMING TO THE U.S AS, SOMEBODY
STRANGER, EVEN I HAD HIGH LEVEL
OF SKILLS AND BACKGROUND AND
KNOWLEDGE BACK IN MY COUNTRY. I
FACED MANY CHALLENGES AT THE
BEGINNING 19 DAYS, LIKE IN TERMS
OF CASE MANAGEMENT, I WAS NOT
ABLE TO GET MY SOCIAL SECURITY,
MY ALL BENEFITS, MY DRIVING
LICENSE TO FIND A JOB. SO THAT'S
WHY THIS BILL IS VERY MUCH
IMPORTANT. AND I WISH THIS BILL
EXISTS, WHEN I ARRIVED TO THE US
, AND ALONGSIDE WITH THE OTHER
BENEFITS FOR THIS BILL, IT COULD
ALSO, SELF-SUFFICIENT THE
REFUGEES IN THE US BECAUSE THE
ENVIRONMENT, THE CULTURE, THE
LAW, REGULATION, EVERYTHING WILL
BE STRANGER AND NEW FOR THOSE
FOLKS THAT THEY ARE COMING TO
THIS COUNTRY. AND EVEN RECENTLY,
THIS BILL IS MUCH, MUCH
IMPORTANT AND NEEDED IN TERMS OF
THE MIGRATION CRISIS AND BORDER
ISSUE AND ALSO, WITH THE
NEWCOMERS SPECIFICALLY EVACUATED
PEOPLE FROM AFGHANISTAN,
UKRAINIAN AND OTHER COUNTRIES.
SO HOW SHOULD WE MAKE SURE THAT,
WE ARE NOT JUST SAYING
CALIFORNIA'S WELCOME STATE? HOW
SHOULD WE PROVE THAT CALIFORNIA
IS A WELCOMING STATE FOR
EVERYONE WITH OPEN ARMS AND ALSO
WELCOME THESE DISPLACED
POPULATION AND ALSO REGARDING
SOME POINTS IN TERMS OF HOW WE
SERVE THEM, WE NEED TO REALLY
EXTEND THE ROBUST SERVICE AND
ALSO THE EXTENDED CASE
MANAGEMENT SERVICE IN THE STATE
OF CALIFORNIA. AND I WOULD LOVE
TO ASK THE HUMAN SERVICE
COMMITTEE TO REALLY SUPPORT THIS
BILL. AND I REALLY APPRECIATE
THE SENATOR WIENER SUPPORT AND
BEING OUT OF THE BILL. THANK YOU
SO MUCH. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH, NOW, DO WE HAVE ANY
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO WISH
TO TESTIFY IN SUPPORT OF THE
BILL? PLEASE COME TO THE
MICROPHONE. CHAIRMAN CLIFF BERG,
ON BEHALF OF THE JEWISH PUBLIC
AFFAIRS COMMITTEE, REPRESENTING
OVER 30 COMMUNITY JEWISH
ORGANIZATIONS IN CALIFORNIA, IN
STRONG SUPPORT OF THIS BILL.
THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON.
PRISCILLA. KUDOS HERE ON BEHALF
OF THE CITY OF WEST HOLLYWOOD
AND THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES AND
SUPPORT. GOOD AFTERNOON,
DANIELLE MARTIN WITH THE
CALIFORNIA IMMIGRANT POLICY
CENTER AND SUPPORT CLIFTON
WILSON ON BEHALF OF THE CITY AND
COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO BOARD OF
SUPERVISORS IN SUPPORT. THANK
YOU. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. NOW DO WE HAVE ANY
WITNESSES? OPPOSITION, PLEASE
COME FORWARD. ALL RIGHT. SEEING
NONE, WE'LL BRING IT BACK TO
COMMITTEE. ANY QUESTIONS?
COMMENTS FROM COMMITTEE MEMBERS.
BILLS BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED.
I'LL INVITE THE AUTHOR TO CLOSE
AND RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR AN AYE
VOTE. ALL RIGHT. WELL, I WANT TO
THANK SENATOR NGUYEN FOR
BRINGING THIS BILL FORWARD. I
WANT TO THANK YOUR WITNESSES
FOR, OF COURSE, MAKING THE
JOURNEY ALL THE WAY HERE TO THE
TO CALIFORNIA, TO THE BAY AREA,
WHERE YOU HAVE ALSO HELPED SO
MANY FAMILIES IN YOUR SAME
SITUATION RESETTLE AND FIND A
NEW HOME IN THE EAST BAY AS
WELL. SO I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR
THAT. AND, YOU KNOW, FREMONT
USED TO BE CALLED LITTLE CABAL,
BUT THEN IT WAS TOO PRICEY FOR A
LOT OF PEOPLE. UNFORTUNATELY BUT
I STILL THINK IT'S INVALUABLE
THAT YOU'RE HELPING SO MANY
PEOPLE FIND THEIR NEW HOME IN
CALIFORNIA. SO WITH THAT, I'M
RECOMMENDING AN AYE AS AMENDED.
THE BILL HAS BEEN MOVED BY
SENATOR GIBSON, SECONDED BY
SENATOR CALDERON. MADAM
SECRETARY, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
THE MOTION IS DUE. PASS AS
AMENDED, TO THE ASSEMBLY
APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE. LEE LI
AYE, A SALLY CALDERON CALDERON.
AYE. GIBSON A GIBSON. AYE.
JACKSON. JACKSON AN AYE. MATHIS.
ORTEGA 420. THAT BILL IS OUT.
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. THANK
YOU. COLLEAGUES THANK YOU SO
MUCH. ALL RIGHT. WE ARE STILL
WAITING ON AUTHORS. SO IF THEIR
SENATE OFFICE IS WATCHING, THIS
IS A GOOD CHANCE TO COME PRESENT
YOUR BILL. SENATORS. THANK YOU
SIR. THANK YOU, THANK YOU JESSE.
YEAH. SENATOR NGUYEN. OH, THERE
HE IS. GOOD TO SEE YOU. WHAT'S
UP, GOOD TO SEE YOU, MIKE.
SO NOW HE WOULD LIKE. RIGHT THEN
, ACROSS THE ROAD. NOW HE'S
WALKING.
YEAH.
SENATOR ALVARADO GIL HAS JOINED
US. SO WHENEVER YOU'RE READY,
YOU CAN PRESENT FILE ITEM 5 OR
8. WHICHEVER YOU CHOOSE. FIRST.
BECOME WELL PREPARED WITH MANY
FOLDERS TODAY. YES. WHICH WOULD
YOU LIKE TO START WITH? WHICH
BILL? LET'S SEE HERE. WE'LL
START WITH SENATE BILL 1197. IF
YOU GIVE PERMISSION. YES,
ABSOLUTELY. FILE ITEM FIVE, SB
1197, WHEN YOU ARE READY. THANK
YOU SO MUCH, CHAIRMAN LEE, GOOD
AFTERNOON, COMMITTEE MEMBERS.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO
BE HERE TODAY TO PRESENT SENATE
BILL 1197. THIS IS A BILL THAT
WOULD CLARIFY THAT IN-HOME
RESPITE SERVICES PROVIDED BY
REGIONAL CENTERS ARE AVAILABLE
TO RELATIVE AND NON-RELATIVE
CAREGIVERS OF CHILDREN RECEIVING
AFDC, FC FUNDING. THAT IS THE
AID TO FAMILIES WITH DEPENDENT
CHILD CARE CHILDREN AND FOSTER
CARE BENEFITS. THIS INCLUDES
EXTENDED FAMILY MEMBERS,
RESOURCE FAMILIES, TRIBALLY
APPROVED HOMES, AND CAREGIVERS
OF NON-MINOR DEPENDENTS.
ENSURING ACCESS TO IN-HOME
RESPITE SERVICES FOR RELATIVE
AND NON-RELATIVE CAREGIVERS.
RECEIVING THESE BENEFITS IS
ESSENTIAL TO FULFILLING THE DUTY
AND PROVIDING A SAFETY NET FOR
THOSE WHO DEDICATE THEMSELVES TO
CARING FOR OUR FOSTER CHILDREN.
A REVIEW OF CURRENTLY POSTED
SERVICE POLICIES FROM ALL THE
REGIONAL CENTERS FOUND THAT AT
LEAST TEN OUT OF THE 21 REGIONAL
CENTERS HAVE ISSUES WITH EITHER
THEIR PURCHASE OF SERVICE
POLICIES ON RESPITE SERVICES
WITH THEIR RESPITE NEEDS
ASSESSMENT TOOLS, OR WITH BOTH.
ADDITIONALLY, SOME REGIONAL
CENTERS TREAT THIS BENEFIT
STRICTLY AS A GENERIC RESOURCE
AND PRECLUDE ANYONE WHO RECEIVES
THIS BENEFIT FROM BEING ELIGIBLE
TO RECEIVE RESPITE. AS
LEGISLATORS, WE HAVE A
FUNDAMENTAL DUTY TO PROTECT AND
SUPPORT OUR VULNERABLE
POPULATIONS WITHIN OUR
JURISDICTIONS. THIS INCLUDES THE
CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE AS WELL
AS THEIR CAREGIVERS. ACCESS TO
IN-HOME RESPITE SERVICES SHOULD
NOT BE CONTINGENT ON THE
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE
CAREGIVER AND THE FOSTER CHILD.
STATE LEGISLATORS HAVE OUR
RESPONSIBILITY TO PROMOTE EQUITY
AND FAIRNESS IN ACCESS TO SOCIAL
SERVICES, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER
THE CAREGIVER IS A RELATIVE OR A
NON RELATIVE. HERE TO TESTIFY.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE IN
SUPPORT OF OUR BILL IS AN QUIRK
FROM THE CHILDREN'S LAW CENTER
AND ERIC HARRIS. HELLO ERIC FROM
DISABILITY RIGHTS CALIFORNIA.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
TWO MINUTES EACH. WHOEVER WANTS
TO GO FIRST. THANK YOU. GOOD
AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS ANNE
QUIRK. I'M AN ATTORNEY WITH
CHILDREN'S LAW CENTER OF
CALIFORNIA, A CO-SPONSOR OF SB
1197. WE REPRESENT YOUTH IN
FOSTER CARE IN LOS ANGELES,
PLACER AND SACRAMENTO COUNTIES.
FOR THESE CHILDREN, RESPITE IS
ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT
REGIONAL CENTER SERVICES. I'M
HERE TODAY TO TELL YOU ABOUT TWO
OF OUR CLIENTS, KEVIN AND
MAURICE, WHOSE EXPERIENCES
ILLUSTRATE ITS IMPORTANCE. KEVIN
AND MAURICE HAVE MANY THINGS IN
COMMON. THEY ARE BOTH AFRICAN
AMERICAN YOUNG MEN WHO ARE DULY
SERVED BY CHILD WELFARE AND THE
REGIONAL CENTER SYSTEM. THEY
BOTH HAVE INTELLECTUAL
DISABILITIES AND REQUIRE
SUPERVISION BEYOND WHAT IS
TYPICAL FOR THEIR AGE. THEY BOTH
HAVE RELATIVES WHO LOVE THEM BUT
ARE UNABLE TO PROVIDE THEM WITH
THE HOME. THERE'S IMPORTANT
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THEM, THOUGH.
THEY ARE SERVED BY TWO DIFFERENT
REGIONAL CENTERS, AND THESE TWO
REGIONAL CENTERS INTERPRET
RESPITE REGULATIONS DIFFERENTLY.
Kò KEVIN'S REGIONAL CENTER TAKES
THE POSITION THAT RESPITE CAN
ONLY BE PROVIDED TO A FAMILY
MEMBER, AND EXCLUDES FOSTER
PARENTS. THIS PRESENTED A
PROBLEM WHEN WE WERE PREPARING
FOR KEVIN'S RELEASE FROM
JUVENILE HALL. HE NEEDED A
FOSTER HOME AND POINTING OUT
THAT RESPITE WOULD BE AVAILABLE
TO POTENTIAL HOME WOULD HAVE
MADE IT EASIER TO FIND ONE.
WITHOUT THAT SUPPORT, THE COUNTY
FOUND NO ONE. WHEN HE LEFT
JUVENILE HALL, KEVIN WAS PLACED
IN CONGREGATE CARE, WHERE HE
STRUGGLED AND EVENTUALLY RAN
AWAY, AND HE'S NOW BACK IN
JUVENILE HALL NOW MAURICE.
MAURICE REQUIRES CONSTANT
SUPERVISION. RESOURCE HOME AFTER
RESOURCE HOME TOOK HIM IN BUT
FOUND THEMSELVES EXHAUSTED. IN
FACT, OVER A FIVE YEAR PERIOD,
MAURICE LIVED IN 19 DIFFERENT
HOMES. HIS 20TH HOME, AN
UNRELATED CAREGIVER FOSTER
PARENT, WAS STRUGGLING TO THIS
FOSTER PARENT TRIED HER BEST TO
SUPPORT HIM, BUT WAS READY TO
ASK THAT HE BE REMOVED FROM HER
CARE. WHEN REGIONAL CENTER
RESPITE STARTED, EVEN THOUGH SHE
WAS NOT A FAMILY MEMBER, GETTING
AN OCCASIONAL BREAK IMPROVED HER
PATIENCE WITH HIS BEHAVIORS. HE
HAS NOW BEEN IN THIS HOME FOR
THREE YEARS, BY FAR THE LONGEST
TIME HE HAS EVER BEEN IN ONE
HOME. RESPITE NOT ONLY GAVE THIS
CAREGIVER A MUCH NEEDED BREAK,
IT GAVE MAURICE STABILITY AND A
FAMILY. SB 1197 WILL MAKE IT
CLEAR THAT CHILDREN SHOULD NOT
BE EXCLUDED FROM THIS CRUCIAL
BENEFIT JUST BECAUSE THEY'RE IN
A FOSTER HOME. THIS WILL HELP
CHILDREN LIKE KEVIN FIND A HOME
LIKE MAURICE DID. AND THANK YOU
TO SENATOR ALVARADO GIL FOR
AUTHORING THIS BILL, AND THANK
YOU ALL FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. ALL RIGHT. NEXT
WITNESS, PLEASE. GOOD AFTERNOON.
THANK YOU, CHAIR AND MEMBERS,
FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO TESTIFY
TODAY. MY NAME IS ERIC HARRIS
AND I AM SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF
DISABILITY RIGHTS CALIFORNIA AS
AN ORGANIZATION THAT PROTECTS
AND ADVANCES THE RIGHTS OF
DISABLED CALIFORNIANS. WE ARE
EXCITED TO CO-SPONSOR AND
SUPPORT SB 1197, SB 1197, A
SIMPLE YET IMPACTFUL BILL. IT
MAKES IT EASIER FOR SOME OF
CALIFORNIA'S MOST MARGINALIZED
YOUTH TO LIVE IN HOMES OF THEIR
OWN, NOT COSTLY FACILITIES, NOT
CONGREGATE OR CARCERAL SETTINGS
HOMES. IT DOES SO BY CLARIFYING
THAT CHILDREN AND NON-MINOR
DEPENDENTS IN FOSTER CARE CANNOT
BE EXCLUDED FROM RECEIVING
IN-HOME RESPITE SERVICES FUNDED
BY REGIONAL, REGIONAL CENTERS.
THIS IS AN ESSENTIAL SUPPORT
THAT GIVES CARETAKERS A BREAK
AND AN OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE CARE
OF THEMSELVES, WHICH IN TURN
RESULTS IN INCREASED PLACEMENT,
STABILITY AND BETTER OUTCOMES
FOR KIDS. AS THE SENATOR JUST
EXPLAINED, SOME REGIONAL CENTERS
DENY ACCESS TO IN-HOME SUPPORT
SERVICES BASED ON THE
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE
CAREGIVER AND THE FOSTER CHILD,
BELIEVING, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT
CHILDREN WHO LIVE WITH
NON-RELATIVE RESOURCE FAMILIES
AREN'T ELIGIBLE FOR THIS
BENEFIT. OTHER REGIONAL CENTERS
TREAT AFDC FC BENEFITS, WHICH IS
A FORM OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
FOR CHILDREN WHO HAVE BEEN
PLACED IN FOSTER CARE AS GENERIC
RESOURCES AND PRECLUDE THEM OR
PRECLUDE ANYONE WHO RECEIVES
THESE BENEFITS FROM BEING
ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE RESPITE TO
BE FAIR, WE ARE ALSO AWARE OF
REGIONAL CENTERS THAT DON'T
PLACE ANY OF THESE RESTRICTIONS
ON IN-HOME RESPITE AT ALL. THEY
UNDERSTAND THE STATE'S INTENT TO
ENSURE THAT DISABLED CHILDREN
HAVE THE SUPPORT THEY NEED TO
REMAIN IN THEIR HOME, IN THEIR
OWN HOMES, WHICH IS A PRIORITY
IN BOTH CHILD WELFARE AND
DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES. THE
DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES SYSTEM,
THE POINT IS THAT ACCESS TO
IN-HOME RESPITE SERVICES SHOULD
NOT BE DEPENDENT ON WHETHER A
CHILD HAPPENS TO BE SERVED UP IN
REDWOOD COAST REGIONAL CENTER,
DOWN IN SAN DIEGO REGIONAL
CENTER, OR ANYWHERE IN BETWEEN.
BY CREATING MORE CONSISTENCY
ACROSS REGIONAL CENTERS IN A WAY
THAT EXPANDS ACCESS TO IN-HOME
SUPPORTS, SB 1197 WILL BUILD AND
MORE EQUITABLY AND A MORE
EQUITABLE SYSTEM AND REDUCE THE
RISK THAT DUAL AGENCY CHILDREN
END UP IN MORE COSTLY, FACILITY
BASED CARE. I RESPECTFULLY ASK
FOR YOUR AYE VOTE TODAY. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH. NOW, IF THERE'S
ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO
WISH TO ADD THEIR SUPPORT,
PLEASE COME UP TO THE MICROPHONE
. DANIEL SAVINO, ASSOCIATION OF
REGIONAL CENTER AGENCIES ALSO
VERY MUCH IN SUPPORT OF THIS
CLARIFICATION. THÀNH, REALLY,
WE'RE ALL HERE TOGETHER IN THE
SAME GOAL FOR THE SAME OUTCOMES.
WE WANT TO CONNECT THESE
CHILDREN TO THE SERVICES THEY
NEED, AND THEY DESERVE. RESPITE,
OF COURSE, IS CRITICAL. SO VERY
MUCH APPRECIATE THE AUTHOR. MR.
CHAIR AND MEMBERS RAN Tê MARTIN
ON BEHALF OF AVIAN HEALTH CARE,
WHICH PROVIDES RESPITE SERVICES
AND A LOT OF OTHER SERVICES TO
MORE THAN 25,000 REGIONAL CENTER
CLIENTS IN THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA AND VERY STRONG
SUPPORT OF THIS BILL. THANK YOU.
KELLY BROOKS, ON BEHALF OF THE
CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY LIVING
NETWORK HERE IN SUPPORT. AMANDA
KIRCHNER, ON BEHALF OF COUNTY
WELFARE DIRECTORS AND SUPPORT.
KURT CHILD ON BEHALF OF
DISABILITY VOICES UNITED IN
SUPPORT. REBECCA GONZALEZ,
WESTERN CENTER ON LAW AND
POVERTY IN SUPPORT. GOOD
AFTERNOON. KRISTEN POWER,
ALLIANCE FOR CHILDREN'S RIGHTS
AND SUPPORT. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. NOW, ARE THERE ANY MEMBERS
OF PUBLIC WHO WISH TO TESTIFY IN
OPPOSITION TO THE BILL? PLEASE
COME TO THE MICROPHONE. ANY
OPPOSITION SEEING NONE. I'LL
BRING IT BACK TO THE COMMITTEE
FOR ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS.
MR. GIBSON. YES. IT'S NOT A
QUESTION, BUT IT'S CERTAINLY A
COMMENT. I WANT TO APPRECIATE
THE SENATOR GIL, FOR BRINGING
THIS BILL BEFORE US TODAY. I
THINK AS WE STAND UP FOR THOSE
WHO ARE IN FOSTER CARE, IT IS
THE RIGHT THING TO DO BECAUSE
THEY NEED CHAMPIONS AND FOR YOU
TO IDENTIFY AN EQUITY WITHIN OUR
STATUTE LAWS AND MAKE IT BETTER
TO MAKE SURE WE LEAVE NO ONE
OUT. I COMMEND YOU AND WOULD
LIKE TO SEE IF YOU WOULD ALLOW
ME TO BE A COAUTHOR OF THIS BILL
. THANK YOU. OF COURSE. AND I
WOULD LIKE TO FLOOR JOCKEY IF IT
GETS TO THE FLOOR, OF COURSE.
IT'S CLAIMING EVERYTHING NOW,
RIGHT FROM THE DÍAS EARLY DIBS
SPEAKING MY LANGUAGE, ANY OTHER
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM
COMMITTEE MEMBERS? ARE YOU
ACCEPTING BIDS? WHO MOVE THE
BILL. ALL RIGHT. BILLS BEEN
MOVED AND SECONDED, SENATOR,
WOULD YOU LIKE TO CLOSE? I JUST
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR AN AYE
VOTE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. WELL,
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BRINGING
THIS BILL FORWARD. THE BILL WAS
MOVED BY SENATOR JACKSON,
SECONDED BY SUMMER GIBSON, MADAM
SECRETARY, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
THE MOTION IS DUE PASSED TO THE
ASSEMBLY APPROPRIATIONS
COMMITTEE. LEE LI AYE. AZALI.
AZALI. AYE. CALDERON. CALDERON.
AYE GIBSON. GIBSON. AYE.
JACKSON. JACKSON AYE. MATHIS.
ORTEGA 5 TO 0. THAT ONE IS OUT.
AND NOW, SENATOR WOULD YOU LIKE
TO MOVE ON TO FILE ITEM EIGHT SB
1396. ALL RIGHT. SO WE'LL
CONTINUE ON WITH SENATE BILL
1396. AND I HAVE MY WITNESSES
COMING FORWARD TO TAKE THEIR
SEATS, THIS IS THE OPPORTUNITY
FOR ME TO PRESENT SENATE BILL
1396. IT'S A BILL THAT WILL
UNLOCK THE FULL POTENTIAL OF OUR
CAL WORKS HOME VISITING PROGRAM,
IT SITS CURRENTLY IN THE
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES.
THIS IS A VOLUNTARY PROGRAM
MEANT TO HELP NEW AND YOUNG
FAMILIES AND INFANTS BORN INTO
POVERTY TO REACH
SELF-SUFFICIENCY, SUPPORTING
HEALTHY YOUNG CHILD DEVELOPMENT,
AND PROVIDING RESOURCES FOR
EMPLOYMENT. RESEARCH SHOWS THAT
THE CRITICAL IMPORTANCE OF A
CHILD'S FIRST FIVE YEARS OF LIFE
IS THAT, IN FACT, 90% OF THE
CHILD'S BRAIN DEVELOPING HOME
VISITING PROGRAMS ARE PROVEN TO
INCREASE FAMILIES ECONOMIC
SELF-SUFFICIENCY, FOSTER HEALTHY
CHILD DEVELOPMENT, PROMOTE
SCHOOL READINESS, AND REDUCE
CHILD MALTREATMENT. HOME
VISITING REINFORCES PARENTS OWN
EFFORTS AND ABILITIES TO GIVE
THEIR CHILDREN THE BEST START
POSSIBLE. DESPITE THE PROVEN
EFFECTIVENESS OF HOME VISITING
PROGRAMS, THE CURRENT CAL WORKS
HVP STATUTE ONLY FUNDS
ENROLLMENT UNTIL A CHILD'S
SECOND BIRTHDAY, AND IT
ARTIFICIALLY LIMITS A
PARTICIPANT'S DURATION. THIS
PREMATURE END OF SERVICES
PREVENTS FAMILIES FROM FULLY
BENEFITING FROM THE PROGRAM, AND
ITS POTENTIAL LONG TERM IMPACTS.
SENATE BILL 1396 WILL ENSURE
THAT FAMILIES AND CHILDREN CAN
CONTINUE TO BENEFIT FROM THESE
CRUCIAL SERVICES BY EXTENDING
THE ENROLLMENT TIME FRAME TO 36
MONTHS OF AGE AND ALLOWING
PARTICIPANTS TO COMPLETE THE
FULL DURATION OF THE APPLICABLE
HOME VISITING PROGRAM MODEL. THE
CHANGES IN THIS BILL WOULD ONLY
BE IMPLEMENTED IF FUNDING IS
ALLOCATED, DIRECTED TO COUNTIES,
AND CONTINGENT UPON PROGRAM
CAPACITY AND THE COSTS NOT
EXCEEDING THE ALLOCATED BUDGET.
HERE TO TESTIFY IN SUPPORT ARE
AMANDA KIRCHNER FROM THE COUNTY
WELFARE DIRECTORS ASSOCIATION
AND STACEY LEE FROM CHILDREN
NOW. THANK YOU BOTH. THANK YOU.
GO AHEAD. THANK YOU, CHAIR. AND
MEMBERS OF THIS COMMITTEE, I'M
STACEY LEE, THE CHIEF LEARNING
OFFICER AND SENIOR MANAGING
DIRECTOR FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD
WITH CHILDREN NOW A WHOLE CHILD
CHILDREN'S RESEARCH, POLICY AND
ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION FOCUSED ON
BUILDING POWER FOR KIDS.
PRENATAL TO 26. I'M ALSO HERE
TODAY WITH MY HOME VISITING TEAM
MEMBERS, SARA ORTEGA, ASSOCIATE
DIRECTOR OF STRATEGIC
INITIATIVES, AND KIM LEWIS, OUR
ADVOCATE HERE IN SACRAMENTO.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO
PRESENT, AS CO-SPONSOR OF SB
1396, AN IMPORTANT BILL THAT
WILL HELP ENSURE THE STATE'S
INVESTMENTS IN CALWORKS HOME
VISITING PROGRAM ARE MAXIMIZED.
VOLUNTARY, EVIDENCE BASED HOME
VISITING PROGRAMS MENTCH NEW AND
EXPECTANT PARENTS WITH TRAINED
PROFESSIONALS WHO PROVIDE
ONGOING TAILORED SUPPORT,
STARTING AS EARLY AS PREGNANCY
AND DURING THE CHILD'S EARLY
YEARS. RESEARCH SHOWS THAT THE
BENEFITS OF EVIDENCE BASED HOME
VISITING LAST A LIFETIME FOR
BOTH THE CHILD AND PARENT, AND
GENERATES SIGNIFICANT COST
SAVINGS FOR MULTIPLE PUBLIC
SYSTEMS. IN THE EVALUATION
REPORT FOR CALWORKS HVP, THERE
WERE OVER 26 SERVICES FAMILIES
WERE REFERRED TO. THE MOST
FREQUENT WERE FOR FOOD, MATERIAL
GOODS, HOUSING SUPPORT, AND
MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES. OF THOSE
REFERRED TO SERVICES, 60 TO 90%
OR MORE ACCESS THEM. HOME
VISITORS CONNECT FAMILIES AND
CHILDREN TO THE RESOURCES
ALREADY IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.
PRIOR TO WORKING WITH FAMILIES,
HOME VISITORS ARE TRAINED ON
CULTURAL COMPETENCY AND IMPLICIT
BIAS. TRAINED TO BUILD
RELATIONSHIPS AND FOCUS ON
STRENGTHS AND SKILL BUILDING AND
ADDITIONALLY, 91% OF CHILDREN
PARTICIPATING IN THE CALWORKS
HVP RECEIVED A DEVELOPMENTAL
SCREENING COMPARED TO ONLY 23%
OF CHILDREN IN MEDI-CAL ALONE.
THIS BILL PROPOSES CHANGES THAT
CHILDREN NOW HEARD WERE NEEDED
WHEN WE CONDUCTED A POLICY
INTERVIEW PROJECT LAST FALL,
CULMINATING IN OUR REPORT, A
STATEWIDE APPROACH TO
STRENGTHENING HOME VISITING OUR
HOME VISITING TEAM INTERVIEWED
OVER 50 PEOPLE, INCLUDING LOCAL
HOME VISITING PROVIDERS, COUNTY
STAFF, LOCAL AND STATE FIRST
FIVE STAFF, STATE AGENCY
LEADERSHIP AND NATIONAL HOME
VISITING MODELS TO IDENTIFY
OPPORTUNITIES TO STRENGTHEN THE
HOME VISITING SYSTEM IN
CALIFORNIA. THESE REFLECTIONS
ARE. THESE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE
REFLECTED IN THE CHANGES
INCLUDED WITHIN SB 1396. THANK
YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND I
RESPECTFULLY REQUEST YOUR AYE
VOTE ON THIS IMPORTANT BILL.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
EXACTLY. ON THE MARK. GOOD
AFTERNOON, MR. CHAIR. MEMBERS I
WANT TO THANK THE SENATOR FOR
HER WORK ON THIS BILL, SO MUCH
IN YOUR STAFF, AMANDA KIRSHNER,
AGAIN WITH COUNTY WELFARE
DIRECTORS. WE ARE ONE OF THE
CO-SPONSORS. PROUDLY WITH
CHILDREN NOW ON THIS ISSUE, OUR
COUNTY HAS BROUGHT THIS ISSUE TO
US OVER THE FALL AS WELL. AND WE
WERE HAPPY TO PARTNER WITH
CHILDREN NOW BECAUSE WE THINK
IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT
FAMILIES ARE ABLE TO STAY IN
THIS PROGRAM AS LONG AS THEY
WANT TO BE SERVED AND GO THROUGH
THE PROGRAM FIDELITY. AND I JUST
REALLY WANT TO HIGHLIGHT FOR YOU
THAT WE BELIEVE THAT THIS IS ONE
OF THOSE PREVENTATIVE MEASURE
MEASURES THAT HELPS MAKE SURE
THAT WE REDUCE CHILD WELFARE
INTERACTIONS BY DOING SOMETHING
UPFRONT WITH THESE HOME VISITORS
WHO COME IN AND PROVIDE SUPPORT
AND RESOURCES AND PARENTING
TECHNIQUES. AND THAT, WE BELIEVE
IS JUST IMMEASURABLY BENEFICIAL.
AND SO HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY
QUESTIONS. BUT THANK YOU AGAIN
FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION URGE. AND
I VOTE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
NOW, OTHER MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
WISH TO SPY IN SUPPORT OF THE
BILL. PLEASE COME TO THE
MICROPHONE, NAME AND
ORGANIZATION. PLEASE NICOLE
WATERMAN, ON BEHALF OF THE
ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF
SUPERVISORS AND SUPPORT DANIELLE
BRADLEY ON BEHALF OF THE
CALIFORNIA STATE ASSOCIATION OF
COUNTIES AND SUPPORT. GOOD
AFTERNOON, CHAIR AND MEMBERS
JONATHAN MUNOZ ON BEHALF OF
FIRST FIVE LOS ANGELES AND
STRONG SUPPORT. AND WE THANK THE
SENATOR FOR HER LEADERSHIP ON
THIS ISSUE. KELLY BROOKS, ON
BEHALF OF THE URBAN COUNTIES OF
CALIFORNIA, THE RURAL COUNTY
REPRESENTATIVES OF CALIFORNIA
AND THE COUNTY HEALTH EXECUTIVES
ASSOCIATION OF CALIFORNIA.
PLEASED TO BE HERE IN SUPPORT.
GOOD AFTERNOON, REBECCA GONZALEZ
WITH THE WESTERN CENTER ON LAW
AND POVERTY AND SUPPORT. KRISTIN
POWER, ALLIANCE FOR CHILDREN'S
RIGHTS AND SUPPORT. DARBY KERNAN
FOR FIRST FIVE ASSOCIATION IN
SUPPORT. CLIFTON WILSON ON
BEHALF OF THE HUMBOLDT COUNTY
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS IN SUPPORT.
THANK YOU. ON BEHALF OF ELDERLY
CARE EVERYWHERE AND STRONG
SUPPORT ANDREW SHANNON GRACE IN
CHILD POVERTY. IN SUPPORT. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH. NOW, DO WE HAVE
ANY WITNESSES IN OPPOSITION TO
THE BILL? PLEASE COME FORWARD.
SEEING NONE, I'LL BRING IT BACK
TO THE COMMITTEE FOR QUESTIONS
OR COMMENTS. ANY QUESTIONS?
COMMENTS SEEING NONE. I'LL ASK
THE AUTHOR TO CLOSE, THANK YOU
SO MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO
PRESENT TO YOU TODAY. AND I
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR THE AYE
VOTE. VERY GOOD. THE BILL HAS
BEEN MOVED BY SENATOR GIBSON.
SECONDED BY SENATOR CALDERON.
AND I AM RECOMMENDING AN AYE
VOTE, MADAM SECRETARY, PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL. THE MOTION IS TO
PASS TO THE ASSEMBLY
APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE. LI I
LI I A SALLY, I A SALLY I
CALDERON CALDERON I GIBSON
GIBSON I JACKSON JACKSON I
MATHIS ORTEGA. 5 TO 0. THAT BILL
IS OUT. CONGRATULATIONS AND I
BELIEVE I ONLY SEE SENATOR
BECKER IN THE ROOM. RIGHT. SO,
SENATOR BECKER, WHENEVER YOU'RE
READY, YOU CAN COME PRESENT FILE
ITEM SIX SB 1254.
WHENEVER YOU'RE READY, SENATOR
BECKER. THANK YOU. CHAIR AND
MEMBERS, THANKS FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT SB 1254.
THIS A BILL THAT ALLOWS AND
ASSISTS INCARCERATED PEOPLE IN
APPLYING FOR CALFRESH BENEFITS
UP TO 90 DAYS BEFORE THEIR
RELEASE TO BETTER PREPARE FOR
REENTRY. AND TO BE CLEAR, THIS
BILL PROVIDES THAT THE
INDIVIDUALS WITH THAT CAL FRESH
UPON THEIR EXIT FROM FACILITY.
THE SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION
ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, OTHERWISE
KNOWN AS SNAP, CALLED CALFRESH
IN CALIFORNIA, SOMETIMES KNOWN
AS FOOD STAMPS, IS THE LARGEST
FEDERAL FOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
IN THE NATION AND AGAIN, TO BE
CLEAR WITH CALFRESH, THESE ARE
FEDERAL DOLLARS. WE ARE DRAWING
DOWN. UNDER FEDERAL LAW,
INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS BECOME
INELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE CALFRESH
BENEFITS AFTER 30 DAYS OF
CONFINEMENT. HOWEVER, THE USDA
ALLOWS FOR WAIVERS TO DEVIATE
FROM THE CURRENT PROVISION,
WHICH 12 STATES HAVE ALREADY
DONE SO. ALSO, ORANGE COUNTY HAS
A PILOT PROGRAM OF CALFRESH
PRE-ENROLLMENT FOR INCARCERATED
INDIVIDUALS APPLYING FOR THEIR
WAIVER BACK IN 2021. THEY DO IT
FOR EVERYONE LEAVING, AND THEY
START THE PROCESS 30 DAYS BEFORE
SOMEONE EXITS. IN FACT, WE'VE
TALKED TO A SHERIFFS THERE AND
IT'S BEEN A SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM
SO FAR. FOOD INSECURITY IS ONE
OF THE MOST CHALLENGING HURDLES
THAT PREVIOUSLY INCARCERATED
INDIVIDUALS FACE UPON REENTRY.
ROUGHLY IN 2019, ROUGHLY 1 IN 5
FORMERLY INCARCERATED PEOPLE
SUFFERED FROM FOOD INSECURITY.
WHILE CALIFORNIA HAS TAKEN STEPS
TO ESTABLISH AND CREATE A
REENTRY PROCESS FOR MEDICAL
BENEFITS. THANKS TO EVERYONE OF
MY COLLEAGUES, THERE IS A GAP IN
CURRENT LAW TO CREATE EQUIVALENT
ENROLLMENT PROCESS FOR CALFRESH
AND STATEWIDE REENTRY PROCESS.
THIS BILL BUILDS UPON EXISTING
WORK AND CONNECTING INDIVIDUALS
WITH STATE SERVICES IN AN
EFFECTIVE MANNER, DECREASING
BARRIERS TO REENTRY, AND HELPING
ADDRESS ISSUES OF FOOD
INSECURITY IN CALIFORNIA,
BRIEFLY. SPECIFICALLY, THE BILL
REQUIRES CDSS TO SUBMIT THE
APPLICABLE WAIVERS TO THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO ALLOW FOR
A PRE ENROLLMENT OF INCARCERATED
INDIVIDUALS PRIOR TO THE RELEASE
FROM STATE PRISON OR COUNTY
JAIL, AGAIN, AS 12 OTHER STATES
ALREADY DO. Tð. IT ALSO CREATES
A WORKGROUP TO DEVELOP AND SHARE
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR A STATEWIDE
REENTRY PROCESS, THUS
INCORPORATING ALL POTENTIAL
NECESSARY RESOURCES FOR AN
INDIVIDUAL'S REENTRY INTO THEIR
COMMUNITY. REMOVING THESE
BARRIERS TO NECESSARY SERVICES
WILL INCREASE THE LIKELIHOOD OF
SUCCESSFUL REENTRY FOR A
PREVIOUSLY INCARCERATED
INDIVIDUAL AND MAXIMIZE
UTILIZATION OF A FEDERALLY
FUNDED PROGRAM THAT BENEFITS
CALIFORNIA. WITH ME TODAY,
CAMERON JONES FROM NOURISH
CALIFORNIA AND ALYSSA MOORE FROM
LEGAL SERVICES FOR PRISONERS
WITH CHILDREN. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. TWO MINUTES TO EAT,
PLEASE. THANK YOU. CHAIRMAN AND
THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE,
GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS
CAMERON MIMS JONES WITH NOURISH
CALIFORNIA. FOR THREE DECADES,
OUR MISSION HAS BEEN TO ENSURE
EQUITABLE ACCESS TO FOOD,
HEALTH, AND WELL-BEING FOR ALL
CALIFORNIANS. TODAY, I'M HERE TO
SHARE ABOUT HOW SB 1254 ALIGNS
WITH OUR VALUES AND THOSE OF
COMMUNITIES DISPROPORTIONATELY
IMPACTED BY ALL ASPECTS OF THE
CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM, OUR MOST
HISTORICALLY UNDER-RESOURCED
COMMUNITIES, HARDEST HIT BY MASS
INCARCERATION, THÀNH, AND A
LEGACY OF SYSTEMIC RACISM BEAR
THE GREATEST BURDEN OF A PUBLIC
SAFETY BURDEN. Ã 1254 WAS
DEVELOPED ALONGSIDE THOSE
COMMUNITIES WHO HAVE SAID,
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. WE WANT
SOLUTIONS DEVELOPED WITH OUR
IMPACT IN MIND, AND NOT JUST BY
THOSE WHO HAVE THE POWER AND
AUTHORITY. SB 1254 COMES FROM A
RESTORATIVE FRAMEWORK AND
UPSTREAM POLICY TO DIMINISH FOOD
INSECURITY. ONE OF THE MANY
IMPACTS OF INCARCERATION BY
ENABLING INCARCERATED
INDIVIDUALS WHO WILL BE ELIGIBLE
UPON RELEASE TO BEGIN THE
PROCESS MONTHS BEFORE RETURNING
HOME AND ESTABLISHING A WORK
GROUP THAT WILL OPTIMIZE
CALIFORNIA'S CURRENT RESOURCES.
CALFRESH IS OUR STATE'S BRANDED
NAME FOR THE FEDERAL FUNDED SNAP
PROGRAM, AS THE SENATOR SHARED,
AND IT'S BEEN A LIFELONG HELPING
LIFELINE, HELPING MILLIONS TO
PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE. IT'S
ADMINISTERED BY OUR COUNTY
PARTNERS, AND IT STANDS AS OUR
NATION'S MOST EFFECTIVE
ANTI-POVERTY PROGRAM. OUR
ORGANIZATION HAS RECOGNIZED THAT
COMMUNITIES THRIVE WHEN THEY
HAVE ACCESS TO NUTRITIOUS AND
CULTURALLY RELEVANT FOODS. A
SUCCESSFUL REENTRY HINGES ON
TIMELY ACCESS TO OTHER BASICS
LIKE FOOD, TRANSPORTATION,
HEALTH CARE, AND HOUSING, AND A
SUCCESSFUL, FULLY RESOURCED
INDIVIDUAL IS ONE WHO IS GOING
TO BE ABLE TO FULLY THRIVE AND
GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY OF
WHICH THEY HAVE ARE RETURNING,
WE BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE ENGAGED
IN SINCERE EFFORT TO ENGAGE ALL
WHO WOULD BE INVOLVED, INVOLVED
IN THIS WORK, WHICH IS HOW WE'VE
TAKEN ON A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF
AMENDMENTS. AND SO TODAY, I JUST
ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT IN MOVING
THIS REALLY POWERFUL, IMPACTFUL
WORK. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALL
RIGHT. NEXT WITNESS PLEASE. HI.
MY NAME IS ALYSSA MOORE WITH
LEGAL SERVICES FOR PRISONERS
WITH CHILDREN. AND THIS THIS
IMPORTANT BILL WAS ASSIST
INCARCERATED PEOPLE IN APPLYING
FOR CALFRESH BENEFITS 90 DAYS
PRIOR TO THEIR RELEASE TO BETTER
HELP THEM PREPARE AND CLOSE
INEQUITY GAPS IN ACCESS TO
AFFORDABLE, HEALTHY FOOD UPON
RELEASE. WITHOUT THE 7 TO 21 DAY
WAIT, COMMONLY, WAITED TO ACCESS
EMERGENCY FOOD BENEFITS FOR EACH
COUNTY IN THE STATE. THE
SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION
ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, CALLED SNAP,
IS THE MOST EFFECTIVE FOOD
ASSISTANCE PROGRAM IN MY OWN
COMMUNITY, AND MANY COMMUNITIES
LIKE MINE, OF FORMERLY
INCARCERATED PEOPLE. HOWEVER
CALIFORNIA HAS HISTORICALLY HAD
LOW RANKING ON THE UNITED STATES
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
STATEWIDE RANKING FOR ELIGIBLE
HOUSEHOLDS TO ENROLL AND
PARTICIPATE IN SNAP CALFRESH DUE
TO IMPART TO BARRIERS TO
ACQUIRING CALFRESH FOR ALL
APPLICANTS, PARTICULARLY
FORMERLY INCARCERATED
INDIVIDUALS. ALTOGETHER, NEARLY
ONE THIRD OF ELIGIBLE FORMERLY
INCARCERATED PEOPLE ARE UNABLE
TO ACCESS CALFRESH ONCE RELEASED
DUE TO VARIOUS BARRIERS. PASSING
THIS LAW GIVES US A FIGHTING
CHANCE TO FOCUS ON AND USE THE
TOOLS WE LEARNED IN OUR
REHABILITATION, RATHER THAN THE
ROAR OF OUR OWN BELLIES. WHILE
THERE IS ALREADY AN EXISTING
REENTRY PROCESS FOR MEDI-CAL AND
SOCIAL SECURITY, THERE ARE NO
EQUIVALENT ENROLLMENT PROCESSES
FOR CALFRESH U.S FOOD INSECURITY
IS ONE OF THE MOST CHALLENGING
HURDLES THAT PREVIOUSLY
INCARCERATED PEOPLE FACE UPON
REENTRY, BUT THE CALFRESH ACT
CREATES THE PROCESS FOR THOSE OF
US WHO WILL BE PAROLED AND
REMOVES THESE UNNECESSARY
BARRIERS TO REENTRY, AND DOING
SO, IT HELPS REDUCE FOOD
INSECURITY AMONGST AN ALREADY
VERY VULNERABLE POPULATION. FOR
THESE REASONS, LEGAL SERVICES
FOR PRISONERS WITH CHILDREN AND
ALL OF US ARE NONE. AND ALL OF
OUR EIGHT CALIFORNIA CHAPTERS
ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT ON SENATE
BILL 1254, AND THANK YOU FOR
YOUR TIME. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
NOW, DO WE HAVE ANY MEMBERS OF
THE PUBLIC WHO WISH TO TESTIFY
IN SUPPORT OF THE BILL? PLEASE
COME UP TO THE MICROPHONE NOW.
TRÊN PHªN WITH JUSTICE AND AGING
AND STRONG SUPPORT. THANK YOU.
GOOD AFTERNOON, CARLOS SANTANA,
ON BEHALF OF THE CALIFORNIA
IMMIGRANT POLICY CENTER IN
SUPPORT. ERIC HARRIS, DISABILITY
RIGHTS, CALIFORNIA STRONG
SUPPORT. LENARDON LEGAL SERVICES
FOR PRISONERS WITH CHILDREN AND
STRONG SUPPORT. TACO CABANA,
HOUSING ADVOCATE FOR TENANT AND
LEGAL SERVICE FOR PRISONERS WITH
CHILDREN. AND I'M IN FULL
SUPPORT. MY NAME IS TI¾N AND I
AM A MEMBER OF TACOS YOUTH
DIVERSION AND I SUPPORT TANEKA
ROBINSON WITH TACOS YOUTH
DIVERSION TID AND I SUPPORT, Dð
COONEY ON BEHALF OF ACLU
CALIFORNIA ACTION AND STRONG
SUPPORT. THANK YOU, SENATOR
REBECCA GONZALEZ, WESTERN CENTER
ON LAW AND POVERTY AND SUPPORT
ANDREW SHANE GRACE ON CHILD
POVERTY, CALIFORNIA AND STRONG
SUPPORT. THANK YOU. DERBY KERNAN
WITH THE CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION
OF FOOD BANKS IN SUPPORT. EITHER
PAMINTUAN WITH ALAMEDA COUNTY
COMMUNITY FOOD BANK IN STRONG
SUPPORT. NÓI GUDINO WITH LEGAL
SERVICES FOR PRISONERS WITH
CHILDREN AND ALL OF US ARE KNOWN
AS STRONG SUPPORT. GILBERT
ANTHONY MURILLO WITH LEGAL
SERVICES FOR PRISONERS WITH
CHILDREN AND ALL OF US NONE
STRONGLY SUPPORT. THANK YOU.
NOW, DO WE HAVE ANY WITNESSES?
OPPOSITION. PLEASE COME FORWARD.
SO YOU KNOW, IN HIS OPPOSITION,
I'LL BRING BACK TO THE COMMITTEE
FOR ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS
FROM COMMITTEE MEMBERS. ALL
RIGHT. SEE? OKAY ALL RIGHT. SEE
SEEING NO QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS,
I'LL INVITE THE AUTHOR TO CLOSE
I THANK YOU. APPRECIATE THE
COMMENTS AND THE SUPPORT AND
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR AN AYE VOTE
. WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
BRINGING THIS BILL FORWARD. THE
BILL HAS BEEN MOVED BY SENATOR
JACKSON. SECONDED BY SENATOR
GIBSON, AND I'M RECOMMENDING AN
AYE VOTE. MADAM SECRETARY,
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. THE MOTION
IS DUE. PASS TO THE ASSEMBLY
PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE. LI LI I
AS-SALIH AZALI I CALDERON.
CALDERON I GIBSON A, GIBSON I
JACKSON. JACKSON I, MATHIS.
ORTEGA 5 TO 0. THAT BILL IS OUT.
CONGRATULATIONS. AND I BELIEVE I
SEE SENATOR MENJIVAR HERE. SO
WHENEVER SENATOR MENGIBAR IS
READY, YOU CAN YOU CAN PRESENT
FILE ITEM SEVEN, SB 1281.
GOOD AFTERNOON. THANK YOU, MR.
CHAIR, HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE
MEMBERS. WE'VE HEARD ABOUT THE
GREAT SUCCESS OF WHAT THIS PILOT
PROGRAM IN THE LAST EIGHT YEARS
HAVE TURNED INTO THE
SELF-DETERMINATION PROGRAM. WHEN
SUCCESSFUL, REALLY BRINGS
TRANSFORMATIVE RESOURCES FOR
INDIVIDUALS WHO GET SERVICES
THROUGH THE REGIONAL CENTERS.
HOWEVER, WITH GREAT INTENTION
COMES POTENTIAL BARRIERS THAT
DOESN'T MEET THE MARK OF WHAT WE
WANTED THIS PROGRAM TO LOOK
LIKE. WHAT WE'RE SEEING. AND AS
A RESULT OF A RECENT REPORT THAT
CAME OUT JUST LAST YEAR, THAT
THERE ARE SOME RACIAL BARRIERS,
SOME LACK OF STANDARDIZATION
BARRIERS, AND ENSURING THAT THE
SDP IS AS ACCESSIBLE AS THEIR
INTENT WAS IN THE BEGINNING. SO
AS WE 1281 IS LOOKING TO ADDRESS
SOME OF THOSE CONCERNS WE SAW
FROM THIS REPORT AS SB 1281 IS
LOOKING TO STANDARDIZE AND
STREAMLINE THE PROCEDURES. IN
THE PAST YEAR AND A HALF, I'VE
HAD THE HONOR AND PRIVILEGE OF
WORKING ALONGSIDE AND HEARING
HAVING LISTENING SESSIONS OF
PARENTS WITH CHILDREN WHO GO
THROUGH THE SDP OR WHO ARE
FEARFUL OF GOING THROUGH THE SDP
BECAUSE OF WHAT THEY'RE TOLD. WE
HAVE STORIES OF PARENTS WHO ARE
TOLD THAT THERE ARE BAD MOMS
BECAUSE THEY'RE SEEKING FOR HELP
, BECAUSE THEY WANT TO DO THIS
EXTRA PROGRAM FOR THEM THAT IS
PREVENTING THEM FROM BEING PART
OF THIS. SO THERE'S A COUPLE OF
THINGS WE WANT TO DO WITH SB
1281. LIKE I MENTIONED, WE WANT
TO STREAMLINE AND STANDARDIZE
IT. WE WANT TO ENSURE THAT
REGIONAL CENTERS RESPECT A
PARTICIPANTS PROVIDER CHOICE. WE
WANT TO EMPOWER THE PARTICIPANT
THEY KNOW BEST WHAT IS GOING TO
WORK FOR THEM. THE PARENT OR
GUARDIAN IS KNOWS BEST OF WHAT'S
GOING TO WORK FOR THE
INDIVIDUAL. THAT'S GOING TO GO
THROUGH SDP. WE DON'T WANT THERE
TO BE A ONE SIZE FITS ALL FOR
EVERY SINGLE INDIVIDUAL. WE WANT
TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE THE
ABILITY TO PICK WHAT SERVICES
AND WHAT PROVIDERS THEY WILL
HAVE ACCESS TO. WE WANT TO MAKE
SURE THAT THE WHEN ENTERING THIS
PROGRAM, THAT THERE'S ACCESS TO
TRANSITION SUPPORT FROM TRUSTED
PARTNERS, JUST BECAUSE WE ARE
GIVING A RESOURCE TO SOMEONE IS
NOT ENOUGH. THERE HAS TO BE A
TRUSTED TRANSITION PROCESS, AND
WE WANT TO CLARIFY VÌ THAT THE
COST WITH THE FINANCIAL
MANAGEMENT SERVICES CANNOT BE
PASSED ON TO THE PARTICIPANTS.
IT IS NOT THE PARTICIPANTS
RESPONSIBILITY OR SHOULD IT BE
THEIR OR BURDEN WHEN A PAYMENT
DOES NOT GO THROUGH? AND LASTLY,
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT
INCLUDED IN THE ANNUAL REPORT
THAT IS GIVEN TO US, THE
LEGISLATURE, THAT WE INCLUDE THE
ADEQUACY VÆ ADEQUACY OF
FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT SERVICES
ARE THEY WORKING? DO WE NEED NEW
FMS AND SO FORTH? SO TO THAT,
MR. CHAIR, I'D LIKE TO TURN OVER
TO MY WITNESSES TO SPEAK MORE ON
THIS, BECAUSE WE WANT TO ENSURE
THAT THE BIPOC COMMUNITIES
RECEIVES THESE SERVICES BECAUSE
THE STATISTICS BEHIND THE USAGE
OF THESE SERVICES ARE
STAGGERING. WHILE MAJORITY OF
PARTICIPANTS ARE CLOSE TO 50%
BIPOC, LESS THAN 50% OF THEM ARE
SUCCESSFUL IN PARTICIPATING IN
IT. SO, MR. CHAIR, I'D LIKE TO
NOW TURN TO MY WITNESSES. ALL
RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. TWO
MINUTES EACH, PLEASE. WHOEVER
WANTS TO START FIRST. KURT CHILD
. MR. CHAIR MEMBERS. KURT. CHILD
WITH DISABILITY VOICES UNITED.
WE WANT TO THANK SENATOR
MENGIBAR FOR HER COMMITMENT, TO
THIS ISSUE AND THE
SELF-DETERMINATION PROGRAM AND A
GOOD CHAMPION. SHE'S BEEN,
WORKING WITH OUR COMMUNITY OVER
THE COURSE OF THIS YEAR, AND WE
APPRECIATE THAT, AS WE MOVE AN
IMPORTANT PIECE OF LEGISLATION
THAT WE THINK WILL HELP IMPROVE
THE SELF-DETERMINATION PROGRAM,
WHICH WE BELIEVE IS REALLY THE
FUTURE OF WHAT THE DELIVERY OF
DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES IN
CALIFORNIA SHOULD LOOK LIKE.
IT'S A PROGRAM WITH, WE THINK,
SOME VERY INCREDIBLE PROMISE
WITH PARTICIPANTS REPORTING
OUTCOMES, AND GREAT SATISFACTION
WITH THE PROGRAM. BUT THEY'VE
ALSO REQUEST AND FRUSTRATIONS
WITH THE OVERLY COMPLICATED
PROCESSES THAT HAVE BEEN
UNNECESSARILY IMPOSED ON, ON THE
PROGRAM. AND I THINK WE SEE AS A
CHALLENGE TO THAT. YOU HEARD
ABOUT IN EARLIER, BILL, ABOUT
THE DISPARITIES IN HOW, REGIONAL
CENTERS, THE 21 REGIONAL CENTERS
ACROSS THE STATE. INTERM B'RIT
PROVISIONS AND WITH THE STATUTE.
SO WHAT THIS BILL IS CRITICAL IN
DOING IS CREATING SOME
STANDARDIZATION AND SIMPLIFIED
PROCESSES TO GET INDIVIDUALS
INTO THIS PROGRAM. IT'S BEEN TEN
YEARS SINCE THE PROGRAM WAS,
STATUTORILY AUTHORIZED. THE
ROLLOUT'S BEEN IN INCREDIBLY
SLOW. I THINK RIGHT NOW WE'VE
GOT ABOUT 460,000, INDIVIDUALS
WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES
IN THE SYSTEM. AND LESS THAN 1%
ARE ACTUALLY ENROLLED IN
SELF-DETERMINATION. THÀNH. AND
THE SECOND PIECE IS THAT WE
FOUND THAT'S BEEN A CRITICAL
BARRIER, TO INCLUDING PERSONS
WITH DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS, COLOR
AND GEOGRAPHY AND SO WE BELIEVE
THAT BOTH THE PROVISIONS THAT
ARE HERE ON STREAMLINING THE
PROCESSES, BUT INCLUDING,
DIRECTIONS THAT ARE STANDARDIZED
FOR FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT
SERVICES, WILL IMPROVE THEIR,
PARTICIPATION, SO WE, LIKE THE
SENATOR STATED, ARE HOPEFUL THAT
THIS CAN CONTINUE TO HELP MOVE
INDIVIDUALS LIVING, INDEPENDENT
LIVES IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. AND
WE URGE YOUR. AYE, VOTE ON THAT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OUR NEXT
WITNESS. THANK YOU, CHAIR AND
MEMBERS, MY NAME IS OSCAR
MERCADO, AND I'M AN INDIVIDUAL
WITH AUTISM AND A PARTICIPANT IN
THE SELF-DETERMINATION PROGRAM
SERVED BY THE VALLEY MOUNTAIN
REGIONAL CENTER. I'M ALSO THE
COMMUNICATION AND OUTREACH
MANAGER FOR AT THE INTEGRATED
COMMUNITY COLLABORATIVE. THE IC
ORGANIZATION SUPPORTS MOSTLY
LATINO AND SPANISH SPEAKING
FAMILIES TO NAVIGATE THE SYSTEMS
THAT SERVE PEOPLE WITH
DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES. THE
SELF-DETERMINATION PROGRAM HAS
BEEN LIFE CHANGING FOR ME. I'M
HERE TODAY THANKS TO THE SDP
THAT PAYS FOR STAFF TO BRING ME
HERE IN SUPPORT. IN MY EFFORTS
IN ADVOCACY, THE SDP HAS ALSO
KEPT ME FROM BEING ISOLATED AND
PROVIDED OPPORTUNITIES FOR
SOCIALIZATION BY PUSHING ME OUT
OF MY COMFORT ZONE AND
INTEGRATING ME INTO THE
COMMUNITY, WHICH IS VITAL FOR
PERSONAL GROWTH AND ADULT
INDEPENDENCE. I HAVE A PERSONAL
ASSISTANT CHARGED WITH HELPING
ME WITH MY CAREER GOALS.
SOMEDAY, I HOPE TO JOIN THE
SEMINARY AND BECOME A ROMAN
CATHOLIC PRIEST. I WANT TO USE
THAT POSITION TO FURTHER,
ADVOCATE FOR THE IDD COMMUNITY
WITHIN THE LATINO POPULATION AND
HOPEFULLY BECOME A BEACON OF
INSPIRATION FOR MANY OF THOSE
WHO LIVE UNDER THE SHADOWS OF
THIS SOCIETY, THAT THEY MAY
REALIZE THAT THEY CAN ACHIEVE
THEIR GOALS AND DREAMS, AND TO
NOT BE AFRAID. BUT THE WAY THE
SDP HAS BEEN IMPLEMENTED CREATES
MANY BARRIERS AND ROADBLOCKS. IT
TOOK WELL OVER A YEAR TO GET ME
STARTED INTO THE SDP. EVENTUALLY
I MADE IT INTO THE SDP AND THEN
I STARTED TO FACE NEW OBSTACLES
FROM THE FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT
SERVICES WHO ARE SUPPOSED TO PAY
FOR THE SERVICES BY DISTRIBUTING
THE BUDGET ACCORDINGLY TO MY
EMPLOYEES, THEIR PROCESSES ARE
CONFUSING AND WAY TOO
COMPLICATED, SO IT CREATES FEAR
ABOUT GETTING INTO THE PROGRAM.
AND SOMETIMES THESE FMS AREN'T
EVEN DOING WHAT THEY'RE PAID TO
DO. THEY CAUSE DELAYS IN
COMMUNICATING WITH THE CLIENT
AND EMPLOYEES, CONFIRMING OR
VERIFYING THE INFORMATION AND
DOCUMENTS. ONE EXAMPLE OF THE
OBSTACLES I ENCOUNTERED
REGARDING THE FMS WAS THAT ONE
OF MY EMPLOYEES WASN'T GETTING
PAID ON TIME. THIS TARDINESS
FROM THE FMS CAUSED ME TO FEAR
LOSING A TRUSTWORTHY EMPLOYEE
BECAUSE OF LATE PAYMENT, EVEN
THOUGH THEY EVENTUALLY DID PAY
THE EMPLOYEE ALL THE HOURS
WORKED THAT MONTH PRIOR. I DO
NOT NEED THE ADDITIONAL WORRY
AND STRESS OF LOSING MY EMPLOYEE
DUE TO TARDINESS. ON BEHALF OF
THE FMS, THE PROGRAM IS DESIGNED
TO BE LIBERATING AND
NON-STRESSFUL, BUT THERE IS SO
MUCH BUREAUCRACY AND NOT ENOUGH
ACCOUNTABILITY. SB 1281 WILL
CHANGE THAT. THIS IS WHY THE
BILL IS SO IMPORTANT. SB 1281
WILL ENSURE THAT IF EMPLOYEES
AREN'T PAID, THE FMS WILL BE
LIABLE FOR LABOR CODE VIOLATIONS
AND NOT THE SDP CLIENTS OR THEIR
FAMILIES. THESE MANY BARRIERS
ARE WHY THE LATINO COMMUNITY IS
SIGNIFICANTLY UNDERREPRESENTED
IN THE PROGRAM. MANY LATINO
FAMILIES HAVE NEVER EVEN HEARD
OF THE SDP, AND EVEN IF THEY
HAVE, THEY OFTEN GET DISCOURAGED
FROM PARTICIPATING DUE TO THESE
BARRIERS FROM THE FMS AND THE
REGIONAL CENTERS. STATING THAT
IT'S TOO HARD. THE BILL REQUIRES
CDS TO MAKE MEASURABLE PROGRESS
IN ENROLLMENT BY RACE AND
ETHNICITY, WHICH IS CRITICAL FOR
OUR COMMUNITY, AND I WANT TO
PERSONALLY THANK SENATOR
MENGIBAR FOR HER INCREDIBLE
SUPPORT FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND
AUTHORING SB 1281, THE
SELF-DETERMINATION PROGRAM IS
AMAZING, AND I WANT OTHER ID
PARTICIPANTS TO HAVE THE SAME
CHANCE TO BENEFIT FROM IT. THANK
YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. NOW IF WE HAVE
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO WISH
TO TESTIFY IN SUPPORT OF THE
BILL, PLEASE COME TO THE
MICROPHONE AND NAME AN
ORGANIZATION. DANIEL SAVINO,
ASSOCIATION OF REGIONAL CENTER
AGENCIES. THANKS TO SENATOR
MENGIBAR FOR WORKING WITH US ON
SOME AMENDMENTS. WE ARE NOW IN
SUPPORT. ERIC HARRIS WITH
DISABILITY RIGHTS CALIFORNIA IN
SUPPORT. NICOLE WATERMAN, ON
BEHALF OF THE CHILDREN'S
PARTNERSHIP AND SUPPORT. GOOD
AFTERNOON. BLANCA MÀ, MOTHER OF
A CHILD WITH AUTISM, I CC MEMBER
AND I AM A STRONG SUPPORT. THANK
YOU. DIEGO MERCADO, BROTHER OF
OSCAR MERCADO AND, ICC
COLLABORATOR IN SUPPORT. OSCAR
MERCADO, FATHER OF OSCAR JUNIOR
IN STRONG SUPPORT. THANK YOU.
ANDREW SHANE GRACE AND CHILD
POVERTY IN SUPPORT. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. MELISSA CORTEZ, ON
BEHALF OF AUTISM SPEAKS. ALSO ON
BEHALF OF THE COUNCIL OF AUTISM
SERVICE PROVIDERS AND SUPPORT.
THANK YOU. NOW, DO WE HAVE ANY
WITNESSES IN OPPOSITION? PLEASE
COME FORWARD. ANY WITNESSES,
OPPOSITION SEEING NONE, WE'LL
BRING IT BACK TO COMMITTEE FOR
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM
ANY MEMBERS. ALL RIGHT. SEEING
NONE, I'LL INVITE THE AUTHOR TO
CLOSE. THANK YOU SO MUCH, A
FELLOW ASSEMBLY MEMBERS,
COLLEAGUES. YOU KNOW, THIS IS A
STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. MY
BILL IS ASKING THAT THERE BE
MEASURABLE, IMPROVEMENTS TO
ACHIEVING EQUITY. AND WITHOUT
THIS BEING IN STATUTE, I FEAR
THAT WE WON'T MOVE TOWARDS THAT.
SO WITH THAT, RESPECTFULLY
ASKING FOR AN IBO, THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. I APPRECIATE YOUR
WORK TO STRENGTHEN THIS PROGRAM.
AND THE BILL HAS BEEN MOVED BY
SENATOR JACKSON, SECONDED BY
ASSEMBLY MEMBER CALDERON, AND
I'M RECOMMENDING I VOTE, MADAM
SECRETARY, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
THE MOTION IS TO PASS TO THE
ASSEMBLY APPROPRIATIONS
COMMITTEE. LEE LI AYE. AZALI
AZALI I CALDERON. CALDERON I
GIBSON. GIBSON I JACKSON.
JACKSON I. MATHIS. ORTEGA.
ORTEGA I 6 TO 0. THAT BILL IS
OUT. CONGRATULATIONS AND NOW WE
WILL MOVE TO SENATOR SKINNER
WITH FILE ITEM TWO SB 242.
WHENEVER YOU'RE READY.
HI, CHARLIE. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. AND THANK YOU. MEMBERS
PRESENTING. SB ONE SECOND, 242.
AND I AM TAKING CLARIFYING
AUTHOR AMENDMENTS, TO THAT THAT
CLARIFY WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR HOPE
ACCOUNTS AND HOW THE PROGRAM
WILL BE IMPLEMENTED. BUT LET ME
GIVE A LITTLE EXPLANATION. AND
THAT IS, IN 2022, WE THE
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE, THROUGH
THE BUDGET, ESTABLISHED HOPE
ACCOUNTS. AND WE DID THAT IN
RECOGNITION THAT THERE WERE MANY
CHILDREN WHO WERE ORPHANED BY
COVID AND THAT THOSE CHILDREN
WERE THEN BE IN A CIRCUMSTANCE
WHERE, YOU KNOW, MANY OF US, NOT
ALL, BUT MANY OF US BENEFIT WHEN
WE BECOME EITHER, YOU KNOW, 18
OR OLDER. WE GET SUPPORT FROM
OUR PARENTS TO GO TO COLLEGE,
PERHAPS, OR TO, YOU KNOW, BUY
OUR FIRST CAR OR EVEN AT POINTS
TO BUY A HOME. BUT OBVIOUSLY,
KIDS IN THIS SITUATION WOULD NOT
HAVE SUCH TO TURN TO. AND SO THE
ESTABLISHMENT OF HOPE ACCOUNTS
WERE TO RECOGNIZE THAT THE AND
MANY, MANY OF THE WORKERS WHO
UNFORTUNATELY PERISHED IN THOSE
BEGINNING YEARS OF COVID WERE
OUR LOW WAGE WORKERS WHO WERE
CONSIDERED ESSENTIAL WORKERS, SO
ANYWAY, SO THE HOPE ACCOUNTS
WERE ESTABLISHED AND THEY WERE
ESTABLISHED BOTH FOR KIDS WHOSE
PARENTS DIED FROM COVID AND FOR
OUR FOSTER CHILDREN AND THE
THAT'S ADMINISTERED BY OUR
TREASURER'S OFFICE. AND IT, THE
STATE MADE A SMALL INVESTMENT IN
FOR EACH OF THESE CHILDREN AND
THEN THE TREASURER'S OFFICE
INVESTS IT IN OVER TIME. AND
THEN WHEN THE KID COMES OF AGE,
THEY BECOME ENTITLED TO THIS
FUNDING. NOW WHAT THIS BILL DOES
AND WE WERE WE CALIFORNIA WERE
THE FIRST IN THE NATION TO DO SO
IS THAT ENSURES THAT FUNDS THAT
ARE DEPOSITED INTO THE HOPE
TRUST ACCOUNTS ARE NOT
CONSIDERED INCOME OR ASSETS FOR
THE PERSONS QUALIFICATION FOR
NEEDS TESTED PROGRAMS. IT ALSO
GUARANTEES THAT THE FUNDS
WOULDN'T BE COLLECTED FOR THE
MEETING OF OTHER DEBTS, AND IT
CLARIFIES THAT THE HOPE ADVISORY
BOARD WOULD INCLUDE A FORMER
FOSTER YOUTH AND FORMER YOUTH
IMPACTED BY POVERTY BECAUSE IN
THE ESTABLISHMENT OF HOPE
ACCOUNTS, WE ESTABLISHED AN
ADVISORY BOARD WITHIN THE
TREASURER'S OFFICE, SO TO
TESTIFY IN SUPPORT, I HAVE,
ANDREW CHAN, WHO'S THE MANAGING
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC POLICY FOR
END CHILD POVERTY IN CALIFORNIA,
AND CASEY O'CONNOR, WHO'S THE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE HOPE
FOR CHILDREN'S TRUST ACCOUNT IN
THE CALIFORNIA TREASURER'S
OFFICE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. TWO
MINUTES EACH. WHOEVER WANTS TO
START. THANK YOU. SENATOR
SKINNER. ANDREW SHANE FROM
POVERTY, AS SENATOR SKINNER
NOTED, IN RESPONSE TO THE
GROWING WEALTH GAPS AND THE
COMPOUNDING EFFECTS OF
GENERATIONAL POVERTY, GRACE AND
CHILD POVERTY AND POVERTY IN
CALIFORNIA AND LIBERATION AND A
GENERATION, WE'RE PROUD TO WORK
WITH THE SENATOR AND THE STATE
TREASURER'S OFFICE ON THE HOPE
ACCOUNTS IN 2022. THIS BILL
MAKES IMPORTANT ADJUSTMENTS TO
FULFILL THE VISION OF THAT. THIS
IS CRITICAL, AS WE SAW IN NEW
DATA RELEASED JUST YESTERDAY,
THAT AS OF 2022, WE SAW A
SHOCKING AND SHAMEFUL, HONESTLY,
7% INCREASE IN CHILD POVERTY.
THE SINGLE LARGEST INCREASE IN
CHILD POVERTY SINCE 1967. AND SO
THANKS TO THE STAFF WHOSE
ANALYSIS IN PARTICULAR THE
EQUITY STATEMENT, THANK YOU TO
THE ASSEMBLY FOR INCLUDING THIS,
IT REALLY NAILS THE CRITICAL
NATURE OF THIS WORK, AS HOPE
ACCOUNTS MAY BE THE ONLY ASSET
IN MANY OF THESE CHILDREN'S
NAMES. AS SENATOR SKINNER SPOKE
TO. THE IMPACT OF COVID 19
PANDEMIC HAS BEEN PARTICULARLY
DEVASTATING FOR FOSTER YOUTH AND
CHILDREN BEREAVED BY THE
PANDEMIC. CHILDREN ARE LIVING IN
NEIGHBORHOODS ALREADY
EXPERIENCING DISPROPORTIONATELY
HIGH POVERTY RATES AND THE PAIN
OF, AND DID NOT EXPERIENCE THAT
PAIN EQUALLY SO, SOME OF THE KEY
CHANGES MADE IN THIS BILL
PREVENT UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES.
SO WE MUST ENSURE THAT IN
ESTABLISHING NEW PROGRAMS LIKE
THIS, WE DON'T HAVE UNINTENDED
CONSEQUENCES WITH OUR
TRADITIONAL PUBLIC SAFETY NET
PROGRAMS. AND OF COURSE, WE WANT
TO WALK THE VALUES TO MAKE SURE
THAT THOSE YOUTH WITH LIVED
EXPERIENCE ARE REPRESENTED ON
THE ON THE HOPE BOARD. THOSE
CHANGES CODIFY AND PUT THE
PROGRAM ON A STRONG FOUNDATION.
SO WE MAXIMIZE THE POTENTIAL OF
THE STATE'S INVESTMENTS TO
REVERSE THE RACIAL WEALTH GAP
AND HELP THESE YOUTH PURSUE
THEIR DREAMS. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. NEXT WITNESS, PLEASE.
THANK YOU. AND GOOD AFTERNOON,
CHAIR LEE AND FELLOW MEMBERS OF
THE COMMITTEE. I'M CASEY
O'CONNOR, THE FIRST EVER
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE HOPE
PROGRAM, AND WE ARE VERY EXCITED
TO HAVE IT IN THE TREASURER'S
OFFICE. THE TREASURER HAS
SEVERAL OTHER SAVINGS PROGRAMS
FOR INDIVIDUALS, SUCH AS CAL
ABLE AND CAL KIDS, THAT WORK ON
HELPING LIFT CHILDREN OUT OF
POVERTY AND OTHER FOLKS WITH
SPECIFIC NEEDS. THIS IS A UNIQUE
PROGRAM, AND NOT ONLY IS IT
TRYING TO BRIDGE THE WEALTH GAP,
BUT IT ALSO IS CREATING A
FINANCIAL MENTORSHIP AND
LEADERSHIP AND EDUCATION FOR
THESE VULNERABLE YOUTH THAT WANT
TO LEARN HOW TO INVEST AND GROW
THEIR MONEY AND FIGURE OUT WHAT
THEY CAN DO WITH THIS MONIES. SO
WE ARE VERY MUCH EXCITED ABOUT
IT. THANK YOU TO SENATOR
SKINNER. I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH
HER ON THIS SINCE I WAS THE
LEGISLATIVE DIRECTOR, DOING THE
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ON AB 156.
AND THIS IS SUCH A REVOLUTIONARY
PROGRAM THAT I DECIDED TO TAKE
THE LEAP TO BE THE EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR, BECAUSE IT'S THAT
IMPORTANT TO US, THE BOARD WAS
ESTABLISHED THROUGH AB 156. THEY
HAD 17 MEETINGS ALONG WITH AN
ADVISORY WORK GROUP, ALL IN
2023, TO WORK OUT THE
FUNDAMENTALS THAT WE LISTED IN
THE REPORT TO THE LEGISLATURE.
THE REPORT LISTED
RECOMMENDATIONS TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE HAVE A TIMELY AND
EFFECTIVE IMPLEMENTATION. OAN.
SO THE REPORT WAS DELIVERED
FEBRUARY 1ST, 2024. AND NOW YOU
SEE BEFORE YOU SOME OF THE
RECOMMENDED AMENDMENTS TO MAKE
SURE THAT WE CAN, ESTABLISH THIS
PROGRAM AS ENVISIONED. I BELIEVE
THAT WE ARE DOING A GREAT JOB,
AND I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PROGRAM
ITSELF, BUT RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR
YOUR AYE VOTE AT THE TIME. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH. NOW, DO WE HAVE
ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO
WISH TO TESTIFY IN SUPPORT OF
THE BILL? PLEASE COME UP TO THE
MICROPHONE. NAME, POSITION.
ALLIANCE OF CHILD AND FAMILY
SERVICES AND SUPPORT. GOOD
AFTERNOON, ROSANNA CARVACHO
ELLIOTT HERE ON BEHALF OF THE
CITY OF ALAMEDA IN SUPPORT. GOOD
AFTERNOON, CARLOS SANTANA, ON
BEHALF OF THE CALIFORNIA
IMMIGRANT POLICY CENTER IN
SUPPORT. REBECCA GONZALEZ,
WESTERN CENTER ON LAW AND
POVERTY AND SUPPORT. KELLY
BROOKS, ON BEHALF OF THE SANTA
CLARA COUNTY BOARD OF
SUPERVISORS HERE IN SUPPORT.
DARBY KERNAN, ON BEHALF OF AMITY
FOUNDATION AND THE CALIFORNIA
ASSOCIATION OF FOOD BANKS IN
SUPPORT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. NOW, DO WE HAVE ANY
WITNESSES IN OPPOSITION? PLEASE
COME FORWARD. SEEING NONE, WE'LL
BRING IT BACK TO THE COMMITTEE
FOR ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS
FROM COMMITTEE MEMBERS. SEEING
NONE, I WILL INVITE THE AUTHOR
TO CLOSE. THANK YOU, I THINK WE
HAD A GOOD PRESENTATION ON WHAT
BOTH THE HOPE ACCOUNTS DO AND
WHAT THIS BILL DOES. AND WITH
THAT, I ASK FOR YOUR VOTE. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH, SENATOR SKINNER,
FOR BRINGING THIS BILL FORWARD.
I DO BELIEVE THAT PROVIDING
BEREAVED CHILDREN AND LONG TERM
FOSTER CHILDREN A TRUST ACCOUNT
THEY CAN ACCESS AS ADULTS HAS
THE POTENTIAL TO COMPLETELY
CHANGE THEIR LIFE. SO I REALLY
APPRECIATE YOUR WORK AND THE
TREASURER'S OFFICE AS WELL. I'M
RECOMMENDING AN AYE VOTE. THE
BILL WAS MOVED BY SENATOR
JACKSON, SECONDED BY SIMILAR
CALDERON, MADAM SECRETARY,
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. THE MOTION
IS DUE. PASS TO THE ASSEMBLY
APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE. LEE LI
AYE, SALLY A SALLY. AYE.
CALDERON. CALDERON. AYE. GIBSON
GIBSON. AYE. JACKSON. JACKSON.
AYE. MATHIS ORTEGA. ORTEGA. AYE
SIX ZERO. THAT BILL IS OUT.
CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU SO
MUCH. ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE ONE
BILL LEFT. BUT SEEING AS THE
AUTHOR IS NOT YET HERE, MADAM
SECRETARY, DO YOU WANT TO, ALLOW
MEMBERS TO ADD ON? WE'LL GO
THROUGH THE, BILLS FOR ADD ON.
YES, I GO. FILE ITEM ONE, SB 85.
THE MOTION IS Dð PASS AS AMENDED
TO THE ASSEMBLY APPROPRIATIONS
COMMITTEE. CURRENT VOTE IS 4 TO
0 AS SALLY A SALLY NOT VOTING.
MATHIS. ORTEGA. ORTEGA. AYE.
KERN VOTE 5 TO 0. FILE ITEM TWO
SB 242. THE MOTION IS TO PASS TO
THE ASSEMBLY APPROPRIATIONS
COMMITTEE. CURRENT VOTE IS 6 TO
0. MATHIS. CURRENT VOTE 6 TO 0.
FINAL ITEM THREE SB 245. THE
MOTION IS TO PASS, AS AMENDED,
TO THE ASSEMBLY APPROPRIATIONS
COMMITTEE. THE CURRENT VOTE IS 4
TO 0 AS SALLY, SALLY NØ MATHIS.
ORTEGA. ORTEGA. AYE. CURRENT
VOTE IS 5 TO 1. FINAL ITEM FIVE
SB 1197. THE MOTION IS DUE
PASSED TO THE ASSEMBLY
APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE.
CURRENT VOTE IS 5 TO 0. MATHIS
ORTEGA. ORTEGA. AYE. CURRENT
VOTE 6 TO 0. FINAL ITEM SIX SB
1254. THE MOTION IS DUE. PASS TO
THE ASSEMBLY PUBLIC SAFETY
COMMITTEE. CURRENT VOTE IS 5 TO
0. MATHIS ORTEGA. ORTEGA I.
CURRENT VOTE 6 TO 0. FINAL ITEM
SEVEN SB 1281. THE MOTION IS DUE
PASSED TO THE ASSEMBLY
APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE.
CURRENT VOTE IS 6 TO 0. MATHIS
CURRENT VOTE 6 TO 0. FINAL ITEM
EIGHT SB 1396. THE MOTION IS DUE
PASSED TO THE ASSEMBLY
APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE.
CURRENT VOTE IS 5 TO 0. MATHIS
ORTEGA. ORTEGA I. CURRENT VOTE 6
TO 0. ALL RIGHT. WE ARE STILL
WAITING ON THE AUTHOR FOR FILE
ITEM NINE. SO WE SHALL WAIT HERE
FOR TEN MORE MINUTES.
ALL RIGHT. VICE CHAIR AZALEA HAS
AGREED TO PRESENT FILE ITEM
NINE, SB 1463 BY SENATOR NILO,
SO WHENEVER YOU'RE READY. THANK
YOU, MR. CHAIR, THIS BILL IS,
IMPACTS THE SELF-DETERMINATION
PROGRAM, WHICH WE ACTUALLY JUST
HEARD ABOUT, SDP, WHICH IS KNOWN
FOR WENT INTO EFFECT JULY 2021.
THE PROGRAM HAS RECEIVED
CRITICISM FROM SOME WHO SAY THE
PROGRAM HAS CHALLENGES RANGING
FROM LACK OF KNOWLEDGE AMONG
REGIONAL CENTERS, SLOW APPROVAL
TIMES, INSUFFICIENT FLEXIBILITY
WITH FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
OPERATIONS, INCONSISTENT
POLICIES AND CURRENTLY LESS THAN
1% OF ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS ARE
IN THE PROGRAM, THIS BILL WILL
EMPOWER THE GOVERNOR TO APPOINT
AN APPOINTEE WHOSE
RESPONSIBILITY IS TO OVERSEE THE
SUCCESSFUL IMPLEMENTATION AND
OPERATION OF SDP. SO WITH THAT,
I'LL TURN IT OVER TO THE WITNESS
. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. MEMBERS,
KURT, CHILD WITH DISABILITY
VOICES UNITED, WE'D LIKE TO
THANK SENATOR NEAL. I'M SURE
YOU'LL PASS THAT ON TO HIM FOR
ALL THE WORK HE'S DONE IN
SUPPORT OF THE DISABILITY
COMMUNITY AND PARTICULARLY THE
IDD COMMUNITY, AS YOU'VE HEARD
EARLIER IN TESTIMONY ABOUT, THE
SELF-DETERMINATION PROGRAM AND
THE COMPLEXITIES THAT SORT OF
HAVE BUILT UP AROUND THAT OVER
THE LAST TEN YEARS AND THE
DIFFICULTIES OF INDIVIDUALS
SUCCESSFULLY MANEUVERING THE WAY
TO GET INTO THE PROGRAM AND
SUCCESSFULLY MANAGE WITHIN THE
PROGRAM SO THEY CAN HAVE MORE
INDEPENDENCE, IN THEIR LIVES,
IT'S OFTEN FEELS VERY
OVERWHELMING TO THEM, TO TRY AND
MOVE THROUGH THIS PROGRAM. AND
SO WE'VE MADE EVERY EFFORT TO
TRY AND SIMPLIFY THAT. AND AS WE
HAD STATED IN, THE LAST BILL
THAT WE TALKED ABOUT, I JUST
WANT TO SAY THAT WE THINK ONE
CRITICAL PIECE OF THIS IS THAT
IT NEEDS TO GET HIGHER ATTENTION
WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF
DEVELOPMENTAL CENTERS. AND,
DEPARTMENT OF DEVELOPMENTAL
SERVICES, WHAT THE BILL DOES
WOULD CREATE A NEW POSITION
SPECIFICALLY TO OVERSEE THE
SELF-DETERMINATION PROGRAM. WE
THINK THIS WOULD ADD SIGNIFICANT
ACCOUNTABILITY TO THE
PERFORMANCE OF THE PROGRAM AND
MORE DIRECT, SUNSHINE ON HOW THE
PROGRAM OPERATES, IT WOULD BE A
POSITION THAT, WOULD BE
APPOINTED BY THE DIRECTOR AND
SUBJECT TO CONFIRMATION BY THE,
BY THE SENATE. AND SO WITH THAT,
WE URGE YOUR, AYE, VOTE ON THE
BILL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NOW,
DO HAVE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
WHO WISH TO COME FORWARD TO
SUPPORT THE BILL? HE MISSPOKE,
IS APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR,
NOT THE DIRECTOR. OKAY. BUT DO
WE HAVE ANY MEMBERS OF THE
PUBLIC WHO WISH TO, COME TESTIFY
IN SUPPORT OF THE BILL? OSCAR
MERCADO FROM INTEGRATED,
COMMUNITY, COLLABORATIVE AND
SELF-DETERMINATION, PARTICIPANT
IN FULL SUPPORT. BLANCA MERCADO,
ICC MEMBER I AM SUPPORT. THANK
YOU. DIEGO MERCADO, ICC
COLLABORATOR AND SUPPORT OSCAR
MERCADO, FATHER OF AN AUTISTIC
KID IN SUPPORT. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. NOW, DO WE HAVE ANY
WITNESSES IN OPPOSITION TO THE
BILL? PLEASE COME FORWARD SEEING
NONE. BRING IT BACK TO THE
COMMITTEE FOR QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS. SEEING NONE. I'LL LET
THE SURROGATE AUTHOR CLOSE. DO I
MAKE A MOTION OR I'LL MOVE THE
BILL. OKAY. SECOND. ALL RIGHT.
VERY GOOD. AND I JUST. DO YOU
HAVE A CLOSE FOR A VOTE? THANK
YOU. VERY GOOD. ALL RIGHT, THE
BILL HAS BEEN MOVED AND
SECONDED. I AM RECOMMENDING AN
AYE VOTE, THE BILL HAS BEEN
MOVED BY VICE CHAIR SALLY,
SECONDED BY SENATOR GIBSON,
PLEASE, MADAM SECRETARY, PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL FOR SB 1463. THE
MOTION IS TO PASS TO THE
ASSEMBLY APPROPRIATIONS
COMMITTEE. LI I LI I A SALLY A
SALLY I CALDERON. CALDERON I
GIBSON A GIBSON I JACKSON,
JACKSON I MATHIS. ORTEGA. ORTEGA
I GRAY SIX ZERO. THAT BILL IS
OUT. BUSINESS BEFORE THE
ASSEMBLY HUMAN SERVICES
COMMITTEE IS COMPLETE. THE
HEARING IS NOW ADJOURNED.