GOOD MORNING. MEMBERS OF THE
COMMITTEE AND THE PUBLIC TO THE
COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT
AND RETIREMENT BEFORE WE BEGIN,
WE NEED TO ESTABLISH A QUORUM.
SECRETARY, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
MCKENNA. HERE. MCKENNA. PRESENT.
LUCKY. LUCKY. PRESENT ALANIS.
PRESENT. ALANIS. PRESENT.
BOERNER HORVATH. HERE. HART.
PRESENT. NGUYEN. RIVAS HAVE A
QUORUM. IT APPEARS THAT WE HAVE
ENOUGH MEMBERS TO ESTABLISH A
QUORUM, WE'D LIKE TO WELCOME OUR
NEW MEMBER, ASSEMBLY MEMBER,
ALANIS. WELCOME TO PURSE. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH, WE HAVE SEVEN
ITEMS ON THE AGENDA, WITH FOUR
ON CONSENT. THE ITEMS ON CONSENT
ARE FILED. ITEM NUMBER TWO, SB
962. PADILLA FILE. ITEM NUMBER
FOUR, SB 1189 LEMON FILE. ITEM
NUMBER FIVE SB 1202 NEWMAN AND
FILE ITEM NUMBER SEVEN, SB 1240
ALVARADO, GIL FIVE. FILE ITEM
NUMBER ONE SB 252. GONZALEZ HAS
BEEN PULLED BY THE AUTHOR,
BEFORE WE BEGIN, SHOULD WE TAKE
THAT? YES, CAN I GET A MOTION ON
THE CONSENT CALENDAR? WE HAVE A
MOTION AND A SECOND. PLEASE CALL
THE ROLL. ITEM NUMBER ONE, SB
962. THE MOTION IS DUE. PASS TO
CONSENT. ITEM NUMBER FOUR, SB
1189. THE MOTION IS Dð. PASS Dð
CONSENT. ITEM NUMBER FIVE SB
1202. THE MOTION IS DO PASS, AND
WE REFER TO THE COMMITTEE ON
PUBLIC SAFETY WITH
RECOMMENDATIONS TO CONSENT. ITEM
NUMBER SEVEN SB 1240. THE MOTION
IS DO PASS AND BE REFERRED TO
THE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
WITH RECOMMENDATIONS TO CONSENT.
MCKENNA AYE. MCKENNA. AYE.
LACKEY A LACKEY. AYE ALANIZ.
ALANIZ. AYE. BURNER. HEART
HEART. AYE. NGUYEN. RIVAS. WILL
BE ON CALL BEFORE WE BEGIN WITH
THE REMAINDER OF THE AGENDA. I'D
LIKE TO INFORM EVERYONE THAT WE
WILL BE LIMITING SUBSTANTIVE
COMMENTS TO A TOTAL OF TWO
MINUTES, FOR EACH SIDE OF THE
BILL, MEANING TWO MINUTES TOTAL
FOR THE SUBSTANTIVE COMMENTS AND
SUPPORT, AND ANOTHER TWO MINUTES
FOR COMMENTS AND OPPOSITION.
EVERYONE ELSE MUST ONLY STATE
THEIR NAME, ORGANIZATION, AND
POSITION ON THE BILL. IF YOU
PROCEED TO SAY ANY MORE THAN
THAT, WE WILL MOVE ON THE ON THE
NEXT INDIVIDUAL WHO WISHES TO
REGISTER THEIR POSITION ON THE
BILL. REGARDING DISRUPTIONS TO
THIS HEARING, I UNDERSTAND AND
APPRECIATE THAT A LOT OF FOLKS
MAY BE PASSIONATE ABOUT
LEGISLATION. HOWEVER, THE
ASSEMBLY AND ITS COMMITTEE HAS
EXPERIENCED A NUMBER OF
DISRUPTIONS TO COMMITTEE AND
FLOOR PROCEEDINGS IN THE LAST
FEW YEARS. SO THIS IS SO LET LET
THIS BE CRYSTAL CLEAR TO
EVERYONE. CONDUCT THAT DISRUPTS,
DISTURBS OR IMPEDES THE ORDERLY
CONDUCT OF THIS HEARING IS
STRICTLY PROHIBITED TO ADDRESS
ANY DISRUPTION CONDUCT, I WILL
DIRECT THE INDIVIDUAL TO STOP
AND WARN THAT IF THE DISRUPTION
CONTINUES, THEY MAY BE REMOVED
FROM PARTICIPATING IN THE
HEARING OR THE CAPITAL. IF
DISRUPTIONS CONTINUE, WE MAY
TEMPORARILY RECESS THE HEARING.
THANK YOU IN ADVANCE IN ADVANCE
FOR YOUR COOPERATION. LET'S WHAT
WE DID THE CONSENT CALENDAR.
LET'S BEGIN WITH SENATOR DODD SB
1379.
GOOD MORNING, MADAM CHAIR, AND
MEMBERS. TODAY I'M PRESENTING SB
1379 TO TEMPORARILY WAIVE THE
960 HOUR LIMIT FOR ANY RETIRED
ANNUITANT WORKING FOR SOLANO
COUNTY SHERIFF TO ADDRESS A
CRITICAL STAFFING NEEDS OF THE
CITY OF VALLEJO. I WOULD LIKE TO
START BY ACCEPTING THE COMMITTEE
AMENDMENTS AND THANKING THE
CHAIR AND THE COMMITTEE STAFF
FOR WORKING WITH US ON THIS
MEASURE. APPRECIATE IT VERY MUCH
WITH THESE AMENDMENTS. THIS BILL
WOULD ALLOW ANY RETIRED
ANNUITANT WORKING FOR SOLANO
COUNTY SHERIFF TO BE EXEMPT FROM
THE 960 HOUR WORK LIMIT. THIS
WOULD APPLY TO DEPUTY SHERIFFS,
EVIDENCE TECHNICIANS OR
COMMUNICATION OPERATORS WITH A
THREE YEAR SUNSET AND LIMIT THE
AMOUNT OF RETIRED ANNUITANTS FOR
THIS EXEMPTION TO 20 RETIRED
ANNUITANTS. THE VALLEJO CITY
COUNCIL DECLARED A STATE OF
EMERGENCY LAST YEAR DUE TO A
MAJOR POLICE OFFICER STAFFING
SHORTAGE. THE STATE, DESPITE
BEING AUTHORIZED FOR 132
OFFICERS. VALLEJO PD CURRENTLY
ONLY HAS 32 PATROL OFFICERS FOR
DETECTIVES AND NO TRAFFIC
OFFICERS. AS A RESULT, THE
SOLANO COUNTY SHERIFF IS TAXED
WITH RESPONDING TO EMERGENCY
CALLS IN VALLEJO AND THIS BILL
IS ESSENTIAL TO ASSIST THEM WITH
RESPONDING TO THOSE CALLS. THE
BILL WOULD ALSO PROHIBIT ANY
OFFICER FROM BEING HIRED AS A
RETIRED ANNUITANT IF THEY ARE
UNDER INVESTIGATION BY POST OR
ON THE POST DECERTIFICATION
LIST. ADDITIONALLY, ANY POSITION
MUST BE ADVERTISED AS A FULL
TIME POSITION OFFICER SIX MONTHS
PRIOR TO BEING SIX MONTHS PRIOR
TO BEING FULFILLED BY A RETIRED
ANNUITANT. THERE IS A PRECEDENT
FOR WAIVING THE HOUR LIMIT IN
UNIQUE CIRCUMSTANCES LIKE THIS,
AND IN TIMES OF EMERGENCIES.
LAST YEAR, GOVERNOR NEWSOM
ISSUED EXECUTIVE ORDER N123. IN
RESPONSE TO WINTER STORMS,
ALLOWING FOR ANY RETIRED
ANNUITANT WORKING FOR THE
CALIFORNIA STATE AGENCY IN A
RECOVERY ROLE TO BE WAIVED. OF
THE 960 HOUR WORK LIMIT, GIVEN
THE STAFFING SHORTAGE IN THE
CITY OF VALLEJO AND PUBLIC
SAFETY PROBLEMS IT PRESENTS, THE
CITY CAN'T AFFORD TO WAIT FOR
MORE OFFICERS TO BE TRAINED
WITHOUT THIS IMMEDIATE
ASSISTANCE, SOLANO COUNTY
SHERIFF WON'T BE ABLE TO RESPOND
TO THE NEEDS OF VALLEJO. THE
BILL IS SPONSORED BY THE SOLANO
COUNTY SHERIFF AND IS SUPPORTED
BY THE CALIFORNIA STATE SHERIFFS
ASSOCIATION. BEFORE I ANNOUNCE
MY SPEAKER, I WANT TO MAKE IT
CLEAR THAT ALSO THE CITY OF
VALLEJO ISN'T INCLUDED IN THIS
BECAUSE THERE'S FOR A LOT OF
REASONS, BUT THEY'VE HAD A
CHECKERED HISTORY. AND FRANKLY,
IN GOING THROUGH THE PROCESS, IT
WASN'T GOING TO WORK. WE'RE
OBVIOUSLY THERE ARE RECRUITING,
VIGOROUSLY AS WE SPEAK, BUT IT'S
THE SOLANO COUNTY SHERIFF WHO IS
FACED WITH THIS DILEMMA OF
COMING IN AND HAVING TO TAKE
OVER IN THE IN THE NAME OF
PUBLIC SAFETY. AND I'VE REALLY
APPRECIATED SHERIFF TOM FERRARA,
WE'LL BE SPEAKING TODAY. AND
ALSO, SHERIFFS EXECUTIVE OFFICER
JOHN ROBERTSON. GOOD MORNING.
DIDN'T KNOW IF WAS ON OR NOT. WE
HAVE TO PRESS A BUTTON, WHAT I'M
DEALING WITH IN SOLANO COUNTY IS
A COMMUNITY IN NEED. WE HAVE
VALLEJO. THE CITY OF VALLEJO IS
100. ABOUT 120,000 PEOPLE. IT'S
THE LARGEST OF THE SEVEN CITIES
IN SOLANO COUNTY, WITH OVER 25%
OF THE COUNTY'S POPULATION. A
LITTLE HISTORY IN 2008, THEY
DECLARED BANKRUPTCY. SINCE THEN,
NEVER NOTHING'S REALLY EVER BEEN
THE SAME. THEY WERE ALLOCATED
160 SWORN OFFICERS BACK IN 2008,
THEY DECLINED SINCE THEN,
THEY'VE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO GET
BACK UP TO THAT. THEY'RE
CURRENTLY ALLOCATED FOR 132, AS
THE SENATOR SAID. BUT THAT
INCLUDES THE CHIEF OF POLICE
CAPTAINS ON DOWN, MY NUMBER AS
OF THIS MORNING IS THEY HAVE 31
ASSIGNED TO PATROL FOR
DETECTIVES, AND THIS IS FOR 24
OVER SEVEN COVERAGE IN THE CITY.
AT TIMES, THERE'S LESS THAN TWO
OFFICERS AVAILABLE TO ON DUTY TO
HANDLE CALLS FOR SERVICE, THERE
ARE ZERO PROGRAMS IN PLACE, SUCH
AS TRAFFIC, HUMAN TRAFFIC
ENFORCEMENT, THINGS LIKE THAT.
IT'S NOT UNCOMMON FOR THE CITY
OF VALLEJO TO HAVE 60 PRIORITY
CALLS PENDING WHEN AN OFFICER
COMES IN TO START THEIR DUTY, SO
THIS OBVIOUSLY IS LETTING THINGS
LIKE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE,
ROBBERIES, HUMAN TRAFFICKING,
ANY SHOOTINGS, AND ALL THOSE ARE
AN EXTENDED RESPONSE. MY
DISPATCH CENTER ROUTINELY
RECEIVES CALLS FROM HELP FROM
THE CITIZENS OF LEO BECAUSE THEY
CAN'T GET A RESPONSE DOWN THERE.
SO IT PUTS ME IN, AS YOU CAN
IMAGINE, A VERY AWKWARD,
POSITION, AS THE SENATOR SAID,
THEY DECLARED A THE CITY
DECLARED A STATE OF EMERGENCY
ALMOST A YEAR AGO, THEIR NUMBERS
HAVE NOT CHANGED. THEY CONTINUE
TO LOSE STAFF, THEY ARE
UNSUCCESSFUL AT HIRING, I THINK,
YOU KNOW, AS YOU SAID, WITH THE
CHECKERED PAST, IT'S HARD TO GET
FOLKS THAT WANT TO GO TO WORK
DOWN THERE. THEY FORMALLY
REQUESTED HELP FROM ME. THE ONLY
CHOICE I HAVE IS I DON'T HAVE
100 EXTRA DEPUTY SHERIFFS
SITTING AROUND THE ONLY OPTION
FOR A SHORT TERM, LIMITED TIME
WOULD BE TO BACKFILL, SOME OF MY
FOLKS SO I COULD RELEASE FULL
TIME DEPUTIES TO GO DOWN AND
ASSIST THE VALLEJO. THANK YOU.
HI, JOHN ROBERTSON, EXECUTIVE
OFFICER FOR THE SHERIFF, THIS
EMERGENCY LEGISLATION IS A KEY
COMPONENT TO ASSIST US IN
SERVING THE CITY OF VALLEJO. THE
LEGISLATION ASSISTS US BY
ALLOWING US TO INCREASE OUR
STAFFING LEVELS RAPIDLY AND
RETAIN CURRENTLY TRAINED AND
VETTED POLICE OFFICERS BY GIVING
THEM THE ABILITY TO CONTINUE
SERVING THEIR COMMUNITY PAST
THEIR DATE OF RETIREMENT. THIS
EMERGENCY STAFFING PROPOSAL WILL
ASSIST US IN RESPONDING TO
REQUESTS FROM EMERGENCY FOR
EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE FROM THE
VALLEJO POLICE OFFICERS AND
DISPATCH RESPOND TO CRITICAL
CALLS FOR SERVICE FROM THE
COMMUNITY, STABILIZE CRIME
SCENES AND PROTECT LIFE, AND
CONDUCT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND
CRIME SUPPRESSION EFFORTS IN
TARGETED AREAS. EVERYONE
DESERVES A SAFE COMMUNITY. YOUR
SUPPORT OF SENATE BILL 1379 WILL
ASSIST US IN ACCOMPLISHING THIS
ENDEAVOR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU,
ARE THERE ANY WITNESSES IN
SUPPORT? PLEASE GIVE YOUR NAME,
ORGANIZATION AND POSITION. GOOD
MORNING, MADAM CHAIR. AND
MEMBERS, CORY SALZILLO, ON
BEHALF OF THE CALIFORNIA STATE
SHERIFFS ASSOCIATION IN SUPPORT.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU. IS THERE
ANY WITNESSES IN OPPOSITION?
SEEING NONE, ARE THERE ANYONE
THAT WANT TO VOICE THEIR
OPPOSITION? SEEING NONE. I'LL
BRING IT BACK TO THE COMMITTEE.
ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS, ASSEMBLY
MEMBER LACKEY. YEAH, I HAVE A
QUESTION. HOW LONG IS THIS,
DESPERATE CIRCUMSTANCE BEEN IN
EXISTENCE WHERE THESE REALLY
STARK NUMBERS. I MEAN, WHEN YOU
TELL ME YOU ONLY HAVE 30 SOME
OFFICERS ABLE TO BE DEPLOYED AND
YOUR STAFFED AT OVER 100, THERE
SHOULD BE YOUR STRENGTH SHOULD
BE. I MEAN, THOSE ARE REALLY
STARK NUMBERS HAVING BEEN SERVED
IN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND HAVE BEEN
INVOLVED IN STAFFING. I'VE NEVER
HEARD THAT KIND OF DESPERATE
CIRCUMSTANCE BEFORE. CORRECT
I'VE, BEEN WITH THE SHERIFF'S
OFFICE FOR 40 YEARS, SO I'VE
SEEN VALLEJO IN THE 80S. I'VE
NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT.
IT'S BEEN ABOUT THE PAST TWO
YEARS. YOU HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE
EXITING THE ORGANIZATION FOR A
NUMBER OF REASONS. THEIR ABILITY
TO ATTRACT ANYBODY THAT WANTS TO
GO TO WORK THERE, BECAUSE IT'S
KIND OF A CHECKERED PAST. IF
YOU'RE NEW AND YOU'RE LOOKING
FOR A JOB THAT'S PROBABLY NOT ON
YOUR TOP TEN THINGS TO LOOK FOR,
IT'S A REAL PROBLEM. NOW, THIS
IS A TRUE EMERGENCY, AND TRYING
TO BUILD PUBLIC TRUST IS REALLY
HARD TO DO WHEN YOU HAVE THOSE
KIND OF NUMBERS. I THINK IT'S
IMPOSSIBLE TO DO THAT. ALL IT
DOES IS IT ENCOURAGES
VIGILANTISM, WHICH IS VERY, VERY
DANGEROUS. SO, NO, I YOU
CERTAINLY HAVE MY SUPPORT. THANK
YOU. IS THERE ANY MEMBER? THANK
YOU, MADAM CHAIR, SHERIFF.
WELCOME AND THANK YOU FOR BEING
HERE, I, I FEEL YOUR PAIN. MY
LAST ASSIGNMENT WHEN WE WERE
GOING THROUGH COVID HAD TO BRING
A LOT OF RETIREES THAT WERE
WORKING FOR ME IN THE 960 WAS
ALWAYS SOMETHING THAT WE HAD TO
WATCH AND MONITOR AND BALANCE.
SO HAVING THIS MECHANISM IN PLAY
OBVIOUSLY DOES HELP. SO I THANK
THE SENATOR FOR BRINGING THIS
BILL FORWARD. AND I AM ALSO
GOING TO BE SUPPORTING THIS.
THANK YOU. SECOND, I WOULD YOU
LIKE TO CLOSE I APPRECIATE
EVERYBODY'S TIME HERE THIS
MORNING. THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOUR AYE
VOTE. AND THANK YOU SO MUCH,
SENATOR, FOR BRINGING THIS UP.
AND I'D LIKE TO THANK THE SOLANO
SHERIFF FOR KEEPING THOSE FOLKS
IN VALLEJO SAFE. I KNOW THAT
THIS IS HARD. SOME HARD TIMES,
BUT WE THANK YOU GUYS FOR TAKING
THAT RESPONSIBILITY, YOU CAN
CALL THE ROLL, ITEM NUMBER
EIGHT, SB 1379. THE MOTION IS DO
PASS AS AMENDED, AND RE REFER TO
THE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS.
MCKENNA A MCKENNA. AYE LACKEY A
LACKEY I ALANIZ. ALANIZ. AYE
BERNER. HEART. HART. AYE.
STEPHANIE NGUYEN. THREE OF US.
HAVE FOUR VOTES WILL PLACE IN ON
CALL. PLACE IT ON CALL. THANK
YOU. SO MUCH. THANK YOU CHAIR
AND MEMBERS. THANK.
MR. PADILLA, FILE ITEM NUMBER
THREE, SB 1070.
EACH WITNESS WILL HAVE TWO
MINUTES FOR TWO WITNESSES. THANK
YOU. MADAM CHAIR. AND MEMBERS,
I'M PLEASED TO PRESENT SB 1070.
AND I'D LIKE TO START BY
ACCEPTING THE COMMITTEE
AMENDMENTS AND THANKING THE
STAFF FOR WORKING
COLLABORATIVELY WITH OUR OFFICE.
AS YOU KNOW, ACCESS TO
INTELLECTUAL TALENT, ESPECIALLY
IN EMERGING SCIENCE AND
TECHNOLOGY FIELDS, IS CRUCIAL TO
CALIFORNIA'S GOVERNMENT AND THE
ECONOMIC GROWTH OF THIS STATE.
CALIFORNIA HAS TAKEN IMPORTANT
STEPS TO KEEP OUR TECHNOLOGY
WORKFORCE COMPETITIVE, BUT THERE
CONTINUE TO BE CHALLENGES BY ONE
RECENT COUNT. WHILE 60% OF NEW
PHD GRADUATES SPECIALIZING IN IN
I CHOOSE TO WORK IN INDUSTRY,
AND ABOUT A QUARTER ENTERED
ACADEMIA, LESS THAN 2% DECIDED
TO WORK IN GOVERNMENT IN 2023,
NEARLY 8 IN 10 STATE CHIEF
INFORMATION OFFICERS SAID THEY
LACK THE WORKFORCE NECESSARY TO
MEET THEIR CURRENT NEEDS IN
SHORT, TECHNOLOGICAL EXPERTISE
IS CONCENTRATED IN OUR
UNIVERSITIES, NOT IN OUR
GOVERNMENT. SB 1070 WOULD
ADDRESS THIS EXPERTISE GAP BY
LEVERAGING AN EXISTING MODEL OF
TALENT EXCHANGES BETWEEN
GOVERNMENT AND HIGHER EDUCATION
INSTITUTIONS TO PROVIDE STATE
AGENCIES WITH ACCESS TO THE DEEP
WELLS OF EXPERTISE HOUSED IN
CALIFORNIA'S WORLD CLASS
UNIVERSITIES AND COMMUNITY
COLLEGES. THIS IS AN EXISTING
PROGRAM THAT HAS BEEN UTILIZED
TO PROVIDE A SKILL SET THAT
CANNOT BE ORDINARILY FOUND
THROUGH CIVIL SERVICE. THE
COMPELLING NEED MUST BE OF
LIMITED DURATION AND TO MEET
EITHER SPECIAL PROJECTS OR
ASSIGNMENTS THAT CANNOT BE
OBTAINED UNDER NORMAL STAFFING
PROCEDURES. TO UTILIZE THIS
PROGRAM, THE AGENCY, BEFORE
BEING ABLE TO BRING SOMEONE IN
TEMPORARILY FOR A MANAGEMENT
NEED, NEEDS TO CONSIDER AND
DOCUMENT OTHER MANAGEMENT
OPTIONS, SUCH AS DEVISING AND
IMPLEMENTING NEW WORKFLOW,
WORKLOAD OR STAFFING STRATEGIES,
OR HIRING BY WAY OF TRANSFER,
REINSTATEMENT OR LIST
APPOINTMENT. SB 1070 WOULD
CLARIFY THAT BOTH PUBLIC
UNIVERSITIES AND NONPROFIT
PRIVATE INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER
EDUCATION ARE ELIGIBLE FOR
PARTICIPATION IN THESE TALENT
EXCHANGES. TALENTED PEOPLE THAT
STAFF, OUR AGENCIES AND
GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS ARE
CRITICAL. PART OF OUR SUCCESS AS
A STATE. TALENT EXCHANGES LIKE
THIS MEAN THAT THE PUBLIC
BENEFIT DIRECTLY FROM THE WORK
OF THE BRIGHTEST MINDS IN THE
STATE. JOINING ME TODAY ARE
CHRISTINE SANG AT STANFORD RED
LAB AND MIKE, OBVIOUSLY MIKE
WICKENBURG, FORMER SECRETARY OF
CALIFORNIA HEALTH AND HUMAN
SERVICES. THANK YOU, MADAM
CHAIR, AND MEMBERS. CHRISTINE
SANG, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF
STANFORD REG LAB, WHICH PARTNERS
WITH AGENCIES TO USE DATA
SCIENCE AND AI TO IMPROVE
GOVERNMENT. OUR WORK FOCUSES ON
SERVING AS A BRIDGE BETWEEN THE
CUTTING EDGE ADVANCES BEING
DEVELOPED IN OUR UNIVERSITIES
AND THE PUBLIC SECTOR. FOR
EXAMPLE, WE PARTNER WITH THE US
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR TO USE AI TO
PILOT NEW CASES TO IMPROVE
BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION,
INCLUDING WORKERS COMP AND
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE. THIS
WORK IS POSSIBLE THROUGH THE
INTERGOVERNMENTAL PERSONNEL ACT,
OR IPA, WHICH OFFERS A MECHANISM
FOR TALENT EXCHANGE AT THE
FEDERAL LEVEL. CALIFORNIA HAS A
SIMILAR MECHANISM FOR
INTERJURISDICTIONAL EMPLOYEE
EXCHANGES THAT INCLUDES
UNIVERSITIES. HOWEVER, AMBIGUITY
IN THE STATUTE HAS RESULTED IN
REGULATIONS THAT INCLUDE PUBLIC
UNIVERSITIES BUT LEAVE OUT
PRIVATE UNIVERSITIES AS A
RESULT, WHEN SANTA CLARA
COUNTY'S DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC
HEALTH URGENTLY REQUESTED OUR
HELP AT THE HEIGHT OF THE COVID
PANDEMIC, IT TOOK OVER SEVEN
MONTHS TO FORMALIZE THE
AGREEMENT AS CASE COUNTS ROSE
EACH DAY. AS WE FACE THIS MOMENT
OF INCREDIBLE TECHNOLOGICAL
CHANGE, THE NEED FOR EXPERTISE
IN GOVERNMENT HAS ONLY BECOME
MORE ACUTE, BOTH TO TAKE
ADVANTAGE OF THE BENEFITS OF
TECHNOLOGY, BUT ALSO TO ENSURE
IT'S USED IN A FAIR AND
RESPONSIBLE WAY. AS THE SENATOR
MENTIONED, NEARLY 8 IN 10 STATE
CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICERS
ALREADY SAY THEY LACK THE
EXPERTISE THEY NEED TODAY AND
THE EXPERTS, THE PHDS IN AI ARE
NOT GOING INTO GOVERNMENT. SB
1070 WOULD CLARIFY THE EXISTING
STATUTE AND ENABLE OUR FACULTY
AND RESEARCHERS TO SHARE THEIR
DEEP EXPERTISE FOR THE BENEFIT
OF CALIFORNIA FOR SHORT AND
TEMPORARY PERIODS OF TIME, AND
TYPICALLY ON A VOLUNTARY BASIS.
THE GOAL OF THIS PROPOSAL IS TO
COMPLEMENT, RATHER THAN COMPETE
WITH, THE CIVIL SERVICE SYSTEM
BY ALLOWING AGENCIES TO DRAW ON
EXPERTISE THEY OTHERWISE
WOULDN'T HAVE ACCESS TO, AND TO
PROVIDE REAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR
STATE EMPLOYEES TO GAIN NEW
SKILLS AND BUILD CAPACITY
THROUGH DIRECT COLLABORATION. I
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOUR
SUPPORT OF THIS BILL. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING, MADAM
CHAIR AND MEMBERS. I'M MICHAEL
WILKENING. I WAS IN CALIFORNIA
STATE GOVERNMENT FOR 25 YEARS,
13 YEARS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF
FINANCE, 11 YEARS AT THE
CALIFORNIA HEALTH AND HUMAN
SERVICES AGENCY AS
UNDERSECRETARY AND SECRETARY,
TWO YEARS AS GOVERNOR NEWSOM'S
SPECIAL ADVISER ON INNOVATION
AND DIGITAL SERVICES. I ALSO
SERVED IN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
FOR APPROXIMATELY TWO YEARS AS A
SENIOR ADVISOR FOR DELIVERY AT
THE US DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES AND AT THE OFFICE
OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET. DURING
MY TIME IN GOVERNMENT, I'VE SEEN
THE VALUE OF TALENT EXCHANGES AT
THE FEDERAL LEVEL, DEPARTMENTS
UTILIZE THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL
PERSONNEL ACT TO MEET SPECIFIC
NEEDS IN A TIME LIMITED MANNER.
LIKEWISE, AT THE STATE LEVEL,
I'VE SEEN THE VALUABLE IMPACT OF
BRINGING PEOPLE FROM SCHOOL
DISTRICTS INTO THE STATE. THESE
PEOPLE BRING VALUABLE SKILLS,
EXPERTISE AND PERSPECTIVES WITH
THEM AND MANY FIELDS, AND
ESPECIALLY IN TECHNOLOGY,
EXPERTISE IS CONCENTRATED IN
ACADEMIA OR THE PRIVATE SECTOR.
ACCESSING THIS TALENT IN
CALIFORNIA'S WORLD CLASS
UNIVERSITIES CAN PROVIDE
GOVERNMENT WITH DIFFERENT
PERSPECTIVES AND INNOVATIVE
APPROACHES THAT CAN INFORM AND
BOLSTER GOVERNMENT'S APPROACH TO
EMERGING PROBLEMS AND NOVEL
TECHNOLOGIES. HAVING ACCESS TO
TALENT EXCHANGES ALLOWS
GOVERNMENTS TO ACCESS THE
SPECIALIZED TALENT IN A
PROACTIVE MANNER. THIS NEED WAS
HIGHLIGHTED DURING COVID.
GOVERNMENTS HAD NEEDS ACROSS
MANY FUNCTIONS. UNIVERSITIES HAD
CENTERS OF MEDICAL,
EPIDEMIOLOGICAL AND MODELING
EXPERTISE. RESPONSES WERE MOST
EFFECTIVE WHEN THESE POCKETS OF
TALENT COULD BE ACCESSED AND
UTILIZED TO BOLSTER GOVERNMENT
CAPACITY AND DECISION MAKING.
TECHNOLOGY IS ANOTHER AREA WHERE
GOVERNMENT WOULD BENEFIT FROM
THE USE OF TALENT EXCHANGES,
ESPECIALLY WITH REGARDS TO I.
THE TECHNOLOGICAL EXPERTISE IS
CLUSTERED IN ACADEMIA AND THE
PRIVATE SECTOR. THE USE OF
TALENT EXCHANGES WILL ALLOW
GOVERNMENT TO ACCESS THE TALENT
AND CAPACITY IN CALIFORNIA'S
UNIVERSITY. THE USE OF TALENT
EXCHANGES IS A VALUABLE TOOL TO
BRING ADDITIONAL EXPERTISE INTO
GOVERNMENT, TO BROADEN THE ARRAY
OF PERSPECTIVES IN GOVERNMENT,
AND TO ENHANCE THE CAPACITY OF
GOVERNMENT. I RESPECTFULLY ASK
FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF THE BILL.
THANK YOU. ARE THERE ANY
WITNESSES IN SUPPORT? PLEASE
STATE YOUR NAME, ORGANIZATION
AND YOUR POSITION. MADAM CHAIR
MEMBERS. NICK ROMO, ON BEHALF OF
THE ASSOCIATION OF INDEPENDENT
CALIFORNIA COLLEGES AND
UNIVERSITIES IN SUPPORT. THANK
YOU. SEEING NO MORE WITNESSES,
ARE THERE ANY WITNESSES IN
OPPOSITION? MADAM CHAIR,
MEMBERS, PAT MORAN WITH AARON
REED AND ASSOCIATES REPRESENTING
THE CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF
PROFESSIONAL SCIENTISTS, UAW,
NOT IN OPPOSITION. JUST
CLARIFICATION. I DIDN'T HEAR THE
SENATOR. IS HE ACCEPTING THE
COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS THAT ARE IN
THE ANALYSIS? MADAM CHAIR AND
MEMBERS, AGAIN, AS I STATED
EARLIER, I'M ACCEPTING THE
COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. ARE THERE ANY MORE
WITNESSES IN OPPOSITION? SEEING
NONE. WE'LL BRING IT BACK TO THE
COMMITTEE. ANY QUESTIONS? I HAVE
A QUESTION, ARE THESE POSITIONS,
THESE TECHNICAL POSITIONS
OFFERED IN, IN THE GOVERNMENT
AGENCIES, LIKE, WHY DO WE NEED
THE TRANSFER? LIKE WHY IS THE
THERE A NEED FOR THE TRANSFER?
MADAM CHAIR, I CAN SPEAK
GENERALLY, AND I WOULD DEFER TO
PERHAPS SOME EXPERT WITNESSES,
BUT THE PREMISE OF THE EXCHANGE
PROGRAM, AS YOU KNOW, IS TO FILL
GAPS, BASED UPON DEMAND AND
NEED, THAT ARE EXTRAORDINARILY
UNIQUE AND CIRCUMSTANCE. AND
THAT IS WHY WE DRAW UPON THE
STATE HAS ALREADY BUILT THIS
STRUCTURE TO BE ABLE TO AVAIL
OURSELVES OF THAT. IN THESE
CIRCUMSTANCES, THEY MAY NOT
REACH THE SCOPE OR PERMANENCE,
OF, CLASSIFICATIONS. PERHAPS YOU
RAISE A GOOD POINT, MADAM CHAIR.
THAT MAY MAYBE THAT'S ANOTHER
QUESTION FOR SOME LEGISLATIVE
ACTION DOWN THE ROAD, BUT AS WE
ARE HERE TODAY, I THINK IT'S
IMPORTANT THAT WE AVAIL
OURSELVES OF THIS, WHEN WE CAN,
IN A MANNER THAT HARMONIZES WITH
ALL OUR CIVIL SERVICE
PROTECTIONS. I DON'T KNOW IF I
WANT TO. ANYBODY WANTS TO ADD.
IF I MIGHT, I'LL JUST SAY THAT
FROM OUR EXPERIENCE AT THE
FEDERAL LEVEL, A LOT OF THE WORK
WE DO IS INVOLVING SOME OF THESE
AREAS OF EMERGING SCIENCE AND
TECHNOLOGY WHERE, YOU KNOW,
THERE MAY BE A DATA SCIENTIST
THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH INSIDE
THE GOVERNMENT, BUT THEY MAY NOT
HAVE AS MUCH ACCESS TO KIND OF
THE MORE FRONTIER VÀ TECHNIQUES
THAT MIGHT BE REALLY USEFUL IN
CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES. SO, FOR
EXAMPLE, WE WORK WITH THE IRS TO
USE ACTIVE LEARNING TO HELP
CLOSE THE ANNUAL $500 BILLION
TAX GAP, USING NEW METHODS TO DO
A BETTER JOB OF SELECTING TAX
RETURNS FOR AUDIT THAT ARE MORE
EFFECTIVE AND MORE FAIR. AND
SIMILARLY, AS I MENTIONED, WE
ARE WORKING WITH THE DEPARTMENT
OF LABOR TO IMPROVE THE FAIRNESS
AND EFFECTIVENESS OF BENEFITS
ADMINISTRATION AND DELIVERY, AND
WE ALSO IN THE IN THE CASE OF
SANTA CLARA COUNTY, WE WERE
HELPING TO GUIDE QUESTIONS OF
SCARCE RESOURCES. SO HOW CAN
CONTACT TRACING TEAMS BE MORE
EFFECTIVE? HOW CAN WE DO A
BETTER JOB OF DELIVERING WRAP
AROUND SERVICES AND THINGS LIKE
THAT, IN WHICH WE USED BASICALLY
DATA SCIENCE TO HELP ADVISE THE
AGENCIES IN THAT CASE? WELL
THANK YOU. IT SOUNDS LIKE WE
HAVE TO DO SOME POSITION
UPDATING IN STATE AND GOVERNMENT
AGENCIES, ARE THERE ANY MORE
QUESTIONS? NØ SEEING NONE. WOULD
YOU LIKE TO CLOSE? THANK YOU,
MADAM CHAIR. I WANT TO FIRST
THANK, SECRETARY WILKENING AND
MISS SÐNG AGAIN, AND I WOULD
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOUR. I
VOTE, SECOND, WE MOVE THE BILL
AND HAVE A SECOND. CAN,
SECRETARY, PLEASE TAKE THE ROLL?
SB 1070, THE MOTION IS DO PASS
AS AMENDED AND RE REFERRED TO
THE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS.
MIXNER I MIXNER I LACKEY A
LACKEY I ALANIZ. ALANIZ I
BERNER. HARDT HARDT I STEPHANIE
NGUYEN I STEPHANIE NGUYEN THREE
OF US I THREE OF US I WE HAVE
SUFFICIENT VOTES. WE'LL HOLD THE
ROLL FOR ABSENT MEMBERS. WE'LL
HOLD THE ROLL FOR ABSENT
MEMBERS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU,
MADAM CHAIR. MEMBERS NEXT WE
HAVE ITEM FOUR SB 1189. LEMON
I'M SORRY. SB 1220, FILE ITEM
NUMBER SIX. GOOD MORNING. GOOD
MORNING. THE WITNESSES HAVE TWO
MINUTES EACH. THANK YOU, MADAM
CHAIR AND MEMBERS. THIS BILL
WILL PROTECT THE QUALITY OF
PUBLIC SERVICES BY REQUIRING
HUMAN WORKERS TO REMAIN IN CALL
CENTERS FOR GOVERNMENT BENEFIT
PROGRAMS, INSTEAD OF BEING
OUTSOURCED TO ARTIFICIAL
INTELLIGENCE. THESE CALL CENTERS
SERVE THE MOST VULNERABLE
CALIFORNIANS, ENROLLING IN
PROGRAMS LIKE CAL WORK CALFRESH,
MEDI-CAL, HEALTHY FAMILIES, AND
COVERED CALIFORNIA, OUR LOCAL,
OR LOCAL STATE FUNDED PROGRAMS
THAT PROVIDE SIMILAR BENEFITS.
THE BILL WILL ENSURE THAT THERE
IS HUMAN ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE
WHEN PEOPLE CALL TO RECEIVE
HELP, BUT OUR INTENT IS NOT TO
PRECLUDE AI FROM BEING USED AS A
TOOL TO ASSIST WORKERS. WE WANT
TO CREATE A SYSTEM WHERE WORKERS
CAN BE A PART OF THE DECISION OF
HOW AND WHEN TO USE I WITH ME.
TODAY WE HAVE YVONNE FERNANDEZ
WITH THE LABOR FEDERATION AND
KIMBERLY ROSENBERG WITH SEIU
CALIFORNIA ROSENBERGER. I ALWAYS
DO THIS, THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE, YVONNE
FERNANDEZ WITH THE CALIFORNIA
LABOR FEDERATION, A PROUD
CO-SPONSOR OF SB 1220, A BILL AS
MENTIONED BY THE SENATOR THAT
WILL PROTECT CALL CENTER WORKERS
AND THE PUBLIC BY PUTTING
GUARDRAILS ON THE USE OF AI AT
PUBLIC BENEFIT CALL CENTERS. THE
EXPONENTIAL GROWTH OF ARTIFICIAL
INTELLIGENCE WILL IMPACT EVERY
INDUSTRY AND WORKER ACROSS
CALIFORNIA AS A TOOL. AI CAN
SUPPORT WORKERS. HOWEVER WITHOUT
WORKER CENTERED GUARDRAILS, AI
CAN BE USED TO EXPLOIT DE-SKILL
AND REPLACE WORKERS, HARMING NOT
ONLY THE WORKERS, BUT IN THE
CASE OF SB 1220, THE STATE AND
RESIDENTS. OVERALL, SB 1220 DOES
NOT BAN THE USE OF AI, BUT
RATHER ENSURES THAT THE IMPACT
ON WORKERS BE CONSIDERED BEFORE
USING THESE TECHNOLOGIES IN THE
WORKPLACE. SB 1220 HAS TWO MAIN
PROVISIONS. FIRST, SB 1220
PROHIBITS STATE AND LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS FROM USING AI TO
ELIMINATE OR AUTOMATE THE
ESSENTIAL CORE JOB FUNCTIONS OF
PUBLIC BENEFIT CALL CENTER
WORKERS. UNDER THE BILL, PUBLIC
BENEFIT PROGRAMS ARE THOSE SUCH
AS CALWORKS, CALFRESH, EDD, AND
MEDI-CAL, ESSENTIALLY PROGRAMS
THAT ARE SERVING OUR MOST
VULNERABLE CALIFORNIANS AND
THOSE WHO SHOULD NEED A PERSON
AT THE OTHER END OF THE LINE.
THE SECOND MAIN PROVISION OF SB
1220 REQUIRES AN AGENCY TO
PRODUCE AN IMPACT ASSESSMENT
REPORT. IF THE CALL CENTER
UTILIZES AN AI SYSTEM THAT
IMPACTS THE CORE JOB FUNCTIONS
OF THESE WORKERS, THE REPORT IS
INTENDED TO INCREASE
TRANSPARENCY FOR THE WORKERS AND
INCLUDE AND INCLUDES INFORMATION
SUCH AS ALL THE INTENDED USES OF
THE AI SYSTEM. SB 1220 CREATES
GUARDRAILS FOR WORKERS AND
ENSURE AI IS USED AS A TOOL FOR
WORKERS TO INCREASE EFFICIENCY,
PRODUCTIVITY, AND EFFECTIVENESS
WHEN RESPONDING TO CALLERS IN
SUPPORT FOR THESE REASONS, WE
RESPECTFULLY URGE ARRIVO AT THE
APPROPRIATE TIME. THANK YOU SO
MUCH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU,
MADAM CHAIR. MEMBERS KIMBERLY
ROSENBERGER WITH SEIU. AS MY
COLLEAGUE NOTED, SB 1220 IS NOT
ABOUT OPPOSING AUTOMATED
INTELLIGENCE OR DECISION MAKING.
IN FACT, WE THINK THAT THERE'S A
ROLE FOR IT. WE KNOW THAT PUBLIC
SECTOR HAS LONG BEEN PLAGUED
WITH INCREDIBLY HIGH CASELOAD
WORKFORCE SHORTAGE. WE THINK
THAT THIS TECHNOLOGY CAN HELP
SERVE OUR WORKERS WHERE THEY ARE
DOING IT'S DOING THE MUNDANE,
BEHIND THE SCENES BACKGROUND
WORK. SO OUR WORKERS CAN BE OUT
IN THE FRONT LINES DOING THE
HUMAN TO HUMAN INTERACTION. THAT
IS SO DESPERATELY NEEDED IN THE
PUBLIC SECTOR. HOWEVER, WE'RE
SEEING A TECHNOLOGY CREEP IN
PUBLIC SECTOR, AND THIS BILL
PUTS AN APPROPRIATE GUARDRAILS.
WE KNOW WITH SAFETY NET SERVICES
THAT ANY KIND OF A GAP DELAY
CRASH, IT'S A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
SOMEONE GETTING FOOD, HOUSING
OR, HEALTH CARE SERVICES.
THERE'S NOT REALLY WIGGLE ROOM
FOR CATASTROPHE. AND WE HAVE
SEEN THIS BEFORE WHERE WORKERS
WERE NOT AT THE TABLE EARLY WITH
CAL SAU ROLLOUT. WE SAW, THINGS
GET SHUT DOWN BECAUSE THE
TECHNOLOGY DID NOT INCLUDE THE
WORKERS. AND IT WASN'T READY TO
BE OUT IN THE PUBLIC. OUR
WORKERS WERE USING PEN AND
PAPER, PAPER TO KEEP PEOPLE IN
THEIR SERVICES. MANY FELL
THROUGH THE CRACKS. IT WAS NOT
ONLY A DISASTER, BUT IT WAS
REALLY HARD ON THE WORKERS THAT
WERE TRYING TO KEEP THESE PEOPLE
IN THE SERVICES THEY SO
DESPERATELY NEED, WHICH IS WHY
WE WANT TO ENSURE THAT CERTAIN
SERVICES, CERTAIN BENEFITS ARE
PROTECTED. AND WE THINK SB, SB
12, 20 WALKS THAT FINE LINE OF
ALLOWING TECHNOLOGY TÊ, BUT
ENSURING THAT WORKERS ARE AT THE
FACE AND ARE THE ONES THAT HAVE
THAT FIRST INTERACTION WITH
PEOPLE. AND FOR THOSE REASONS,
WE STRONGLY SUPPORT THIS BILL
AND WE'RE AVAILABLE FOR ANY
QUESTIONS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
ARE THERE ANY ANY WITNESSES IN
SUPPORT? GOOD MORNING. DAVID
SHAPIRO CALIFORNIA SCHOOL
EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION AND
SUPPORT. THANK YOU. GOOD
MORNING, MADAM CHAIR MEMBERS
JANICE O'MALLEY WITH ASC
CALIFORNIA IN SUPPORT. THANK YOU
. ARE THERE ANY WITNESSES IN
OPPOSITION? EXCUSE ME. GOOD
MORNING, MADAM CHAIR. AND
MEMBERS. MY NAME IS JOSE VARGAS
WITH THE UNITED WAYS OF
CALIFORNIA HERE IN RESPECTFUL
OPPOSITION TO SB 1220. IN ITS
CURRENT FORM, I WANT TO THANK
THE AUTHOR AND HER STAFF AND THE
SPONSORS OF THE BILL CONTINUE TO
WORK WITH US TO RESOLVE OUR
CONCERNS. IN PARTICULAR, WE
APPRECIATE THE EXEMPTION FOR THE
OUT OF STATE MANDATE AS IT'S
ABSOLUTELY VITAL FOR
CALIFORNIA'S TWO AND ONE SYSTEM
TO BE ABLE TO SEEK HELP FROM
COLLEAGUE TWO AND ONE PROVIDERS
IN OTHER STATES DURING TIMES OF
NATURAL DISASTERS AND
EMERGENCIES. AS STATED IN OUR
LETTER TO THE COMMITTEE, WE
OPPOSE THE BILL DUE TO ITS
OVERREACHING LANGUAGE, THE
MANDATES, APPLICATION OF PUBLIC
BENEFITS, CONTRACT COULD
UNNECESSARILY EXTEND TO COVER
ALL TWO AND 1 IN 98 SERVICES,
NOT JUST TO SPECIFIED CONTRACTS.
BY EXPLICITLY NAMING TO ONE AND
98 SERVICES INSTEAD OF USING
NEUTRAL TERMS, THE BILL MIGHT
LET STATE FUNDED SIMILAR
SERVICES NOT LABELED TWO IN 1 OR
98, INCLUDING FOR PROFIT
COMPETITORS, BYPASSED THE BILL'S
RESTRICTIONS. THIS COULD
INADVERTENTLY ENCOURAGE LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS TO OUTSOURCE TO
PROVIDERS NOT RESTRICTED BY THE
BILL FROM USING AI OR
AUTOMATION, SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY
DON'T CARRY THE TWO AND ONE
DESIGNATION. COUNTIES ARE NOT
MANDATED TO FUND HUMAN SERVICES
AND COULD SWITCH TO NON TWO AND
ONE INFORMATION AND REFERRAL
CENTERS NOT REGULATED BY THIS
LAW. ADDITIONALLY, WE SHARE THE
AUTHOR'S CONCERNS ABOUT THE USE
OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND
AUTOMATION TOOLS. WE FIRMLY
BELIEVE THAT THE HIGHEST VALUE
TWO AND ONE, CAN DELIVER IS
ACCESS TO LIVE HELP FROM A WELL
TRAINED INFORMATION AND REFERRAL
SPECIALIST, AND WE ALWAYS HAVE
SOUGHT TO MAKE SMART, EFFICIENT
USE OF THE BEST TECHNOLOGY WE
CAN ACCESS IN ORDER TO PRESERVE
AND EXPAND ACCESS TO THAT LIVE
HELP. IN OUR VIEW, AI AND ADS
SHOULD BE USED TO SUPPLEMENT AND
SUPPORT, NOT REPLACE INNER
SPECIALIST AS CURRENTLY WRITTEN,
SB 1220 UNFORTUNATELY ONLY
ALLOWS THREE USES OF AI,
CONTRARY TO CLAIMS THAT THERE
ARE NO RESTRICTIONS AND THAT
LIE, WE THINK A KEY
CONSIDERATION FOR THE BILL
SHOULD BE HOW AI AND ADS CAN BE
USED TO IMPROVE AND EXPAND
SERVICE TO CALIFORNIANS TO MEET
THEIR VITAL NEEDS. PUBLIC
AGENCIES AND NONPROFIT PROVIDERS
LIKE 2 IN 1 AND 98 CONTEND WITH
LIMITED BUDGETS AND STAFFING,
DIMINISHING OUR ABILITY TO
PROVIDE THE LEVEL OF SERVICE WE
THINK THE PUBLIC DESERVES. AI
AND ADS TOOLS, IF USED
JUDICIOUSLY, CAN IMPROVE AND
EXPAND OUR SERVICES TO THE
PUBLIC. WE WELCOME THE
OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE WORKING
WITH THE AUTHOR IN THIS REGARD.
IN FACT, THERE'S A NATIONAL
GROUP OF PUBLIC SECTOR AND
NONPROFIT LEADERS CURRENTLY
WORKING ON AI STANDARDS FOR THE
INFORMATION AND REFERRAL SECTOR.
WE UNDERSTAND AND SHARE THE
AUTHOR'S DESIRE AND COMMITMENT
TO PROTECT CALIFORNIA WORKERS
JOBS. SHOULD THIS BILL PASS IN
ITS CURRENT FORM, HOWEVER, IT
WOULD RESULT IN A REDUCTION OF
201 COVERAGE, THEREBY ALSO
LEADING TO POTENTIAL LOSSES OF
JOBS UNTIL SB 1220 IS AMENDED TO
REMOVE REFERENCE TO 211, OR AT
LEAST BROADENED TO NOT SINGLE
OUT TWO AND ONE. WE RESPECTFULLY
REQUEST YOUR NO VOTE. THANK YOU,
THANK YOU. ARE THERE ANY MORE?
THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING, MADAM
CHAIR, AND MEMBERS. MY NAME IS
CLAIRE MARGESON AND I'M THE TWO
ON ONE DIRECTOR OF, THE TWO ON
ONE IN BAY AREA, WHICH COVERS
SAN FRANCISCO, NAPA, MARIN,
SOLANO AND SANTA CLARA COUNTIES.
I'M HERE IN RESPECTFUL
OPPOSITION OF SB 1220. EVERY
DAY, 201 CONNECTS THOUSANDS OF
FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS ACROSS
THE STATE TO HOUSING RESOURCES,
UTILITY ASSISTANCE, FOOD, CHILD
CARE AND OTHER ESSENTIAL
SERVICES. 12-1 PROVIDES ACCESS
TO LIVE HELP FROM HIGHLY TRAINED
INFORMATION AND REFERRAL
SPECIALISTS 24 HOURS A DAY, 365
DAYS A WEEK A YEAR, AND IN OVER
150 LANGUAGES. TWO OAN SERVICES
ARE AVAILABLE VIA PHONE, TEXT
AND WEB AND ARE TAILORED TO
PROVIDE PEOPLE OF ALL CULTURAL
BACKGROUNDS, INCOME LEVELS,
LANGUAGES WITH UNIQUE RESOURCES,
SPECIFIC TO THEIR CONCERNS AND
GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION. 201
PROVIDERS CAN IDENTIFY EMERGING
COMMUNITY NEEDS AND CAN RELAY
VALUABLE DATA AND INSIGHTS TO
PUBLIC OFFICIALS AT LOCAL,
REGIONAL, AND STATE LEVELS. IN
SHORT, 12-1 PLAYS A CRITICAL
ROLE IN OUR STATE'S
INFRASTRUCTURE FOR MEETING
PEOPLE'S NEEDS DAY TO DAY AND
ALSO DURING EMERGENCIES AND
DISASTERS. AT TWO ON ONE, WE ARE
DEDICATED TO PROVIDING THE
HIGHEST LEVEL OF SERVICE TO
CALIFORNIA RESIDENTS. WE FIRMLY
BELIEVE THE GREATEST VALUE WE
PROVIDE IS LIVE INTERACTIONS
WITH TRAINED, COMPASSIONATE CALL
SPECIALISTS. AT TWO OAN BAY
AREA, WE PARTNER CLOSELY WITH
SANTA CLARA COUNTY, WHICH CAN BE
CITED CAN BE CONSIDERED THE HOME
OF TECH AND INNOVATION. WE HAVE
A CONTRACT WITH THE COUNTY TO
SUPPORT TWO OAN SERVICES.
HOWEVER, IT ONLY COVERS ONE
FIFTH OF THE COST TO OPERATE
THERE. THE REMAINING COSTS FALL
ON US AT UNITED WAY. IN FACT,
OUR PUBLIC FUNDING HAS DECREASED
OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS, BUT
TWO ON ONE COSTS CONTINUE TO
RISE. OUR WORRY WITH THIS BILL
IS THAT SHOULD THE PROVISIONS
EXTEND BEYOND JUST PUBLIC
BENEFITS, TO INCLUDE ALL
SERVICES THAT TWO OAN PROVIDES,
COUNTY MAY NOT BE INCENTIVIZED
TO GO WITH CALL CENTERS,
INCLUDING THOSE THAT ARE FOR
PROFIT, THAT WOULDN'T BE
DISADVANTAGED BY SB 1220. WE ARE
SIMPLY ASKING TO BE ON THE SAME
PLAYING FIELD AS EVERYONE ELSE.
IN TERMS OF AI, WE BELIEVE THAT
SMART USE OF TECHNOLOGY IS
REQUIRED TO PRESERVE ACCESS TO
LIVE CALL SPECIALISTS, AND THAT
TECHNOLOGY TOOL SHOULD
SUPPLEMENT, NOT REPLACE, INR
SPECIALISTS. WE WOULD NEVER WANT
TO REPLACE OUR SPECIALISTS.
RATHER, OUR CHIEF GOAL IS ALWAYS
TO LIGHTEN THEIR LOADS, MAKE
THEIR JOBS EASIER AND MORE
EFFICIENT WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY
MAINTAINING QUALITY EXPERIENCE
FOR ALL OUR CALLERS. WITH THIS
IN MIND, WE WOULD RESPECTFULLY
IMPLORE THE SPONSORS AND AUTHORS
TO LOOK AT WAYS THAT AI CAN
COMPLEMENT OUR CALL SPECIALISTS
RATHER THAN PLACING STRINGENT
PROHIBITIONS UP FRONT THAT MAY
ACTUALLY END UP HURTING WORKERS,
AND STIFLING INNOVATIONS THAT
CAN HELP MEET THE NEEDS OF
MILLIONS OF CALIFORNIANS, WE
HOPE TO CONTINUE WORKING WITH
THE AUTHOR AND SPONSORS TO
ENSURE THAT WE ARE NOT
INADVERTENTLY DIMINISHING. Tê
OAN SERVICES FOR INDIVIDUALS,
AND WE RESPECTFULLY REQUEST YOUR
NO VOTE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU,
THANK YOU SO MUCH. ARE THERE ANY
OTHER WITNESSES IN OPPOSITION
SEEING NONE, I'D LIKE TO BRING
IT BACK TO THE COMMITTEE
MEMBERS. ANY QUESTIONS? THANK
YOU, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THANK
YOU FOR THIS BILL. I WORKED FOR
A DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES.
THAT WAS MY FIRST JOB I WORKED
ON, LIKE IN THE CALL CENTER
WHERE PEOPLE ACTUALLY CALLED,
NOT HELP THEM, USUALLY WHEN
PEOPLE ARE CALLING, THESE TYPE
OF PLACES, THEY REALLY NEED
HELP. AND IT REALLY WOULD BE
NICE TO HAVE A PERSON, I KNOW
IT'S A LOT OF WORK, AND I CAN, I
CAN IMAGINE THAT IT'S WI WITH
THE TECHNOLOGY. IT HAS TO BE A
LITTLE BIT EASIER THAN IT WAS
WHEN I DID IT BACK IN THE 80S.
AND SO I THANK YOU FOR THIS
BILL, BECAUSE I HAVE I HAVE
EXPERIENCED THAT WHEN PEOPLE
CALL THESE TYPE OF FOR THESE
TYPE OF SERVICES, THEY REALLY
WANT TO TALK TO SOMEBODY. SO
THANK YOU FOR THE BILL. THANK
YOU, WE'VE HAD WE MOVED THE BILL
AND A SECOND, MADAM SECRETARY,
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. OH, I'M
SORRY, WOULD YOU LIKE TO CLOSE,
MADAM CHAIR? I WILL TAKE YOUR,
COMMENTS AS THE CLOSING. THANK
YOU, THANK YOU. THE MOTION IS Dð
PASS, AND WE REFER TO THE
COMMITTEE ON PRIVACY AND
CONSUMER PROTECTION. MCKENNA I
MCKENNA I LACKEY. NOT VOTING.
LACKEY NOT VOTING. ALANIS.
ALANIS NOT VOTING. BURNER I
BURNER I ART HART I STEPHANIE
NGUYEN STEPHANIE NGUYEN I THREE
OF US LISA RIVAS I THAT BILL IS
OUT 5 TO 0. THANK YOU, THANK YOU
.
I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE ON BILLS ON
CALL AND ADD ONS. THANK YOU.
ITEM NUMBER THREE SB 1070. THE
CURRENT VOTE IS 6 TO 0. BURNER A
BURNER I THAT BILL IS OUT 7 TO
0. ITEM NUMBER EIGHT, SB 1379.
THE CURRENT VOTE IS 4 TO 0.
BURNER A BURNER I STEPHANIE
NGUYEN STEPHANIE NGUYEN I THREE
OF US THREE OF US I THAT BILL IS
OUT 7 TO 0. CONSENT ITEMS NUMBER
TWO SB 962. ITEM NUMBER FOUR, SB
1189. ITEM NUMBER FIVE, SB 1202.
ITEM NUMBER SEVEN 1240 BURNER
BURNER I STEPHANIE NGUYEN
STEPHANIE NGUYEN I THREE OF US
THREE OF US I. THOSE BILLS ARE
OUT 7 TO 0. THANK YOU. HAPPY
JUNETEENTH. THE MEETING IS
ADJOURNED.