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 FOUR
BILLS ON CONSENT. PLEASE NOTE
THAT WE LIMIT TESTIMONY TO TWO
WITNESSES IN SUPPORT AND TWO
WITNESSES IN OPPOSITION. EACH
WITNESS HAS TWO MINUTES TO
TESTIFY. ALL ADDITIONAL
WITNESSES WILL BE LIMITED TO
STATING THEIR NAME, ORGANIZATION
IF THEY REPRESENT ONE, AND THEIR
POSITION ON THE BILL. I ALSO
WANT TO NOTE THAT WE ARE
ACCEPTING WRITTEN TESTIMONY
THROUGH THE POSITION LETTER
PORTAL ON THE COMMITTEE'S
WEBSITE. NOW FOR A LITTLE
HOUSEKEEPING VÌ ITEM NUMBER TWO,
SB 1401. BLAKE SPEER HAS BEEN
PULLED BY THE AUTHOR AND WILL
NOT BE HEARD TODAY, MADAM
SECRETARY, IF YOU COULD CALL THE
ROLL TO ESTABLISH A QUORUM. LEE.
YEAH, EASILY. HERE CALDERON.
GIBSON JACKSON. DIXON ORTEGA.
HERE QUORUM IS ESTABLISHED.
SINCE WE'RE STILL WAITING FOR
SENATE AUTHORS. SO IF THERE'S
SENATORS WHO CAN BE ON THEIR
WAY, ASSEMBLY. ORTEGA, DO YOU
WANT TO PRESENT FOR
ASSEMBLYMEMBER GLAZIER FOR FILE
ITEM THREE 1415? WHENEVER YOU'RE
READY.
YOU MAY BEGIN. THANK YOU. CHAIR
AND MEMBERS. GOOD AFTERNOON. I
AM PRESENTING ON BEHALF OF
SENATOR GLAZIER. SB 1415. TODAY,
FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO THANK
THE COMMITTEE STAFF FOR THEIR
WORK ON THIS BILL. IT IS VERY
MUCH APPRECIATED. SB 1415 WOULD
ALLOW COUNTIES TO CONSIDER
GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE, NONPROFIT
ASSISTANCE AND OTHER FORMS OF
PRIVATE ASSISTANCE A FAMILY
REGULARLY RECEIVES TO COUNT AS
INCOME FOR THE PURPOSES OF
APPLYING FOR THE CAL WORKS
PERMANENT HOUSING PROGRAM WITHIN
THE HOMELESS ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
IT WOULD ALSO CONFIRM THAT
STUDENTS PARTICIPATING IN THE
WELFARE TO WORK PROGRAM CAN USE
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROVIDED TO
THEM TO PURCHASE A COMPUTER. CAL
WORKS HOMELESS ASSISTANCE
PROVIDES A TEMPORARY SHELTER
PROGRAM AND PERMANENT HOUSING
PROGRAM TO LOW INCOME FAMILIES.
HOWEVER, THE PROGRAM ONLY ALLOWS
A CAL WORK FAMILY TO QUALIFY FOR
PERMANENT HOUSING ASSISTANCE IF
THEIR RENT DOES NOT EXCEED 80%
OF THEIR INCOME. WITH CURRENT
RENT SOARING IN CALIFORNIA AND
WAGES STAGNATING, LOW INCOME
FAMILIES USE GREATER PERCENTAGE
OF THEIR INCOME TOWARDS RENT,
LEADING TO LOW UTILIZATION OF
THE PROGRAM. ADDITIONALLY CAL
WORKS AND WELFARE TO WORK
PROGRAMS OFFER STUDENTS A
PAYMENT AT THE BEGINNING OF EACH
SEMESTER FOR SCHOOL EXPENSES
LIKE BOOKS AND OTHER COLLEGE
SUPPLIES. AS ASSIGNMENT AND
CLASSES SHIFT TO ONLINE MEDIUM,
STUDENTS NEED FOR OWNING A
COMPUTER IS RISING. WHILE SOME
COUNTIES ARE ALLOWING TO
STUDENTS TO USE ASSISTANCE FOR
THE PROGRAM TO BUY A COMPUTER,
OTHERS ARE NOT. AS A RESULT,
STUDENTS PARTICULARLY LOW INCOME
ARE FALLING BEHIND BECAUSE THEY
CANNOT PURCHASE A COMPUTER. THIS
BILL WOULD GUARANTEE THE
STUDENTS IN ANY COUNTY CAN USE
THEIR PAYMENT TO PURCHASE A
COMPUTER AND SUCCEED IN CLASSES.
THANK YOU. AND I RESPECTFULLY
ASK FOR AN AYE VOTE WHEN IT'S
APPROPRIATE WITH ME. IS KEVIN
ASLANIAN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF
THE COALITION CALIFORNIA FOR
WELFARE RIGHTS ORGANIZATION, TO
TESTIFY IN SUPPORT OF THIS BILL.
THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY
NAME IS KEVIN COALITION,
CALIFORNIA WELFARE RIGHTS
ORGANIZATIONS. THE BILL DOES TWO
THINGS. ONE, TODAY, WHEN
STUDENTS GO TO COLLEGE, THEY
NEED A COMPUTER. FOR SOME
REASON, THINGS HAVE CHANGED. IT
USED TO BE THAT WHEN I WENT TO
COLLEGE, I DIDN'T NEED A
COMPUTER. BUT NOWADAYS, WITHOUT
A COMPUTER, YOU CAN'T EVEN GET A
DECENT EDUCATION AND THE SECOND
THING THAT IT DOES IS THAT THE
IT'S A WHOLE DIFFERENT BALLGAME
TODAY. FINDING A PERMANENT
PLACE. THE RENTS ARE WAY TOO
HIGH. SO THIS IS ONE WAY OF
GETTING PEOPLE HOUSED WITH KIDS
BY HAVING NONPROFITS OR OTHER
PEOPLE CONTRIBUTE TO THEM, AND
THAT WOULD NOT REDUCE THEIR
BENEFITS AS SO WE URGE AND I
VOTE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. NOW, ARE THERE MEMBERS OF
THE PUBLIC WHO WISH TO SPEAK IN
SUPPORT OF THE BILL? PLEASE COME
TO YOUR MICROPHONE, NAME AND
ORGANIZATION IF YOU REPRESENT
ONE. GOOD AFTERNOON, REBECCA
GONZALEZ. GOOD AFTERNOON,
REBECCA GONZALEZ WITH THE
WESTERN CENTER ON LAW AND
POVERTY AND SUPPORT. THANK YOU.
NOW, DO WE HAVE ANY OPPOSITION
TO THE BILL? PLEASE COME
FORWARD. ANY OPPOSITION, ANY
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO WISH
TO SPEAK AGAINST THE BILL, TO
OPPOSE THE BILL? SEEING NONE,
I'LL BRING IT BACK TO THE
COMMITTEE. ANY QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS? SEEING NONE, I'LL LET
THE AUTHOR CLOSE. OR THE
ASSEMBLY MEMBER ORTEGA CLOSE FOR
THE AUTHOR. YES. I RESPECTFULLY
ASK FOR YOUR VOTE. ALL RIGHT.
VERY GOOD. THANK YOU FOR
PRESENTING THE BILL TODAY FOR
US, CAN I GET A MOTION AND A
SECOND FOR THIS BILL? MOVE BY
SIMILAR DIXON. AND THANK YOU FOR
SUBSTITUTING TODAY. AND SECOND,
BY SOME MÀ CALDERON. MADAM
SECRETARY, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL
ON SB 1415 BY GLACIER. THE
MOTION IS DUE. PASS TO THE
ASSEMBLY APPROPRIATIONS
COMMITTEE. LI I LI I AZALI.
AZALI I. CALDERON CALDERON. AYE.
GIBSON JACKSON. DIXON DIXON. I
SAID YES. GIBSON. YES. WITH
DIXON. DIXON I ORTEGA, I. ORTEGA
AYE. 5 TO 0. I'LL LEAVE THE ROLE
OPEN FOR ABSENT MEMBERS. THANK
YOU, SENATOR GLAZIER. AND I
THANK YOU. VERY WELCOME. SENATOR
GLAZIER. ALL RIGHT. LET'S MOVE
TO THE CONSENT CALENDAR THEN.
MEMBERS, CAN I GET A MOTION A
SECOND FOR THE CONSENT CALENDAR?
SECOND, I MOVE BY SENATOR DIXON.
SECOND BY ASSEMBLYMEMBER
CALDERON FOR THE CONSENT
CALENDAR. MADAM SECRETARY,
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON THE
CONSENT CALENDAR FILE. ITEM FIVE
SB 1443. JONES FILE. ITEM SIX SB
1112 MENGIBAR FILE ITEM EIGHT SB
1322 OUAHAB FILE ITEM NINE SB
1352 OUAHAB LEE LI I AZALI
EASILY. AYE. CALDERON CALDERON.
AYE. GIBSON. JACKSON DIXON.
DIXON. AYE. ORTEGA. ORTEGA. AYE.
FIVE ZERO WILL LEAVE THE ROLL
OPEN FOR ABSENT MEMBERS AND
SENATOR GROVE, WHENEVER YOU'RE
READY, YOU MAY COME PRESENTS
FILE ITEM FOUR. IT'S A PERFECT
TIMING.
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. SORRY
WELL, THANKS FOR RUSHING BACK
OVER HERE FOR US. I APPRECIATE
THAT, NÓ. I APPRECIATE YOUR
PATIENCE. I APOLOGIZE AS I'M
DOING DOUBLE DUTY IN NATURAL
RESOURCES AND THEN HERE. AND SO
I DO APOLOGIZE. SO THANK YOU,
MR. CHAIR. AND MEMBERS, TODAY
I'M HERE TO PRESENT SB 1043
ACCOUNTABILITY AND CHILDREN'S
TREATMENT, WHICH WOULD CREATE A
MORE TRANSPARENCY SURROUNDING
THE USE OF RESTRAINTS AND
SECLUSION ROOMS IN SHORT TERM
RESIDENTIAL THERAPEUTIC PROGRAMS
KNOWN AS STRIPS. I'D LIKE TO
ACKNOWLEDGE AND THANK OUR
SPONSOR OF THIS BILL, SB 1043,
IS THE CEO OF 1111 MEDIA IMPACT
PARIS HILTON. SADLY, PARIS, IS A
SURVIVOR OF THE TROUBLED TEEN
INDUSTRY AND HAS BEEN DIRECTLY
IMPACTED BY THE IMPROPER USE OF
SECLUSION ROOMS AND RESTRAINTS.
PARIS WAS SENT TO MULTIPLE
FACILITIES WHERE SHE WAS
PHYSICALLY, SEXUALLY AND
PSYCHOLOGICALLY ABUSED. SHE HAS
TURNED HER SURVIVAL STORY INTO A
CATALYST FOR CHANGE, AND HAS
SPONSORED LEGISLATION ACROSS THE
NATION AIMED AT REFORMING
TROUBLED THE TROUBLED TEEN
INDUSTRY AND PROTECTING CHILDREN
AND YOUTH FROM ABUSE.
UNFORTUNATELY, PARIS COULD NOT
BE HERE. TODAY. SHE IS WORKING
ON FEDERAL LEGISLATION THAT IS
MOVING THROUGH THE CONGRESSIONAL
DELEGATION NOW, I'D LIKE TO
START BY THANKING THE CHAIR,
DEFINITELY FOR MEETING WITH ME
AND YOUR LEADERSHIP ON IMPROVING
THIS BILL, YOU KNOW, I'M JUST
GOING TO BE HONEST, AS A
REPUBLICAN, YOU TRY TO TAKE
SMALL STRIDES TO FIX THINGS. AND
WE THOUGHT TRANSPARENCY AND
SECLUSION ROOMS AND RESTRAINT
USE WOULD BE SUFFICIENT FOR THIS
TIME. GO AROUND AND THERE ARE SO
MANY THINGS THAT NEED TO BE
ADDRESSED. REGARDING THESE
STRIPS AND MEETING WITH YOU AND
HAVING SEEN YOUR HEART AND
COMPASSION FOR THIS POPULATION
OF YOUTH, AND BEING ABLE TO
STRENGTHEN THIS BILL TO REQUIRE
MORE THAN WHAT MY BILL
ORIGINALLY INTENDED. I JUST WANT
TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP
ON THAT. AND I AM ACCEPTING THE
COMMITTEE'S AMENDMENTS.
REGARDING THIS ACCOUNTABILITY
AND TRANSPARENCY FOR CHILDREN.
AS I SAID, I'LL BE ACCEPTING THE
COMMITTEE'S AMENDMENTS TO
REQUIRE CDSS TO INVESTIGATE ALL
INCIDENTS OF SECLUSION AND
RESTRAINTS AT THESE STRIPS, WE
WERE ABLE TO INVESTIGATE SOME OF
THE STREET STRIP RESTRAINT AND
SECLUSION ROOMS, PROCESSES,
BECAUSE SOME OF IT IS UP ONLINE,
REGARDING, SOME CASES THAT ARE
INVESTIGATED, ONE CASE WAS WHERE
AN INDIVIDUAL HELD SOMEONE DOWN
AND RAPED THEM. THEY CONSIDERED
THAT A RESTRAINT. THERE ARE A
LOT OF THINGS HAPPENING IN THE
STRIPS THAT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE FOCUS ON, AND WITHOUT
THE CHAIR'S PARTICIPATION IN
THIS. AND JOINING US TO
STRENGTHEN THIS BILL, WE WOULD
NOT BE WHERE WE ARE TODAY.
ALTHOUGH CALIFORNIA PREVIOUSLY
SENT ALL OF OUR FOSTER YOUTH
WARDS OF THE STATE, OUTSIDE TO
THESE PROGRAMS IN OTHER STATES,
IN RECENT YEARS, THE LEGISLATURE
AND THE GOVERNOR MADE
SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS AND INVESTED
$8 MILLION TO BRING THESE
CHILDREN THAT ARE WARDS OF THE
STATE BACK TO THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA. MANY OF THE FOSTER
YOUTH WHO HAVE BEEN RETURNED TO
CALIFORNIA ARE PLACED IN THESE
STRIPS, WHERE THEY'RE LICENSED
BY THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES.
STRIPS SERVE CHILDREN AND YOUNG
ADULTS WHO NEED INCREASED LEVEL
OF CARE, AND THESE TREATMENT
FACILITIES HAVE THE ABILITY TO
USE RESTRAINTS AND SECLUSION
ROOMS. IF THE FACILITY BELIEVES
THAT THE PATIENT IS IN DANGER TO
THEMSELVES OR OTHERS, THESE
FACILITIES ARE REQUIRED TO
REPORT THE RESTRAINT AND
SECLUSION ROOM USE TO THE
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES.
THE DEPARTMENT THEN IS REQUIRED
TO PUT THIS INFORMATION ONLINE
AND MAKE AVAILABLE TO THE
PUBLIC. HOWEVER, SINCE 2017 THEY
HAVE NOT DONE THAT. MY OFFICE
HAS REPEATEDLY REACHED OUT TO
THE DEPARTMENT, AS WELL AS HAD
SEVERAL MEETINGS WHERE WE
REQUESTED THE DATA OF RESTRAINT
AND SECLUSION ROOMS AND THE USE
OF THESE PARTICULAR THESE
PARTICULAR ISSUE ITEMS. YET
NEARLY SEVEN MONTHS LATER, AFTER
REQUEST AFTER REQUEST, CDSS IS
STILL UNABLE TO PROVIDE US WITH
THE INFORMATION THAT WE'VE
REQUESTED. USE COLLEAGUES ARE
ONE OF 80, I'M ONE OF 40, AND WE
CAN'T GET THIS INFORMATION FROM
CDSS. CDSS HAS BEEN ABLE TO
PROVIDE THIS DATA RELATED TO
RESTRAINT AND SECLUSION ROOMS,
INCLUDING THE NUMBER OF REPORTS,
THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS, THE
NUMBER OF SUBSTANTIATED AND
UNSUBSTANTIATED REPORTS, AND FOR
THE IMPROPER USE. IT APPEARS AS
THOUGH CDSS IS RELYING ON THE
ANTIQUATED SYSTEM OF COLLECTING
REPORTS, AND IS THEREFORE UNABLE
TO AGGREGATE THE DATA AND
PROVIDE TO THE PUBLIC OR THE
LEGISLATURE. ONE OF THE
FRUSTRATING INTERACTIONS THAT I
HAD WITH CDSS AND I KNOW THEY'VE
GOT THEIR HANDS FULL, IS THAT
YOU GET A REPORT THAT'S
SUBMITTED AND AN INDIVIDUAL IN
THEIR STAFF REVIEWS. THOSE
REPORTS AND PUTS DATA AND
INFORMATION UP ON AN EXISTING
WEBSITE THAT ALLOWS PEOPLE TO
KNOW ABOUT THE INJURIES
SUSTAINED. THE NEXT COUPLE OF
BOXES DOWN DEALS WITH RESTRAINT
IN SECLUSION ROOMS, INFORMATION,
BUT THEY DON'T HAVE THE STAFF TO
BE ABLE TO PUT THAT UP AND
AVAILABLE TO US, WHICH IS A
LITTLE BIT FRUSTRATING WHEN WE
THINK ABOUT WE'RE ALL ON
LEGISLATIVE DEADLINE. YOUR STAFF
IS WORKING EXTRA HOURS AND
OVERTIME. THEY'RE STILL DOING
THE JOB THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE,
AND THERE AREN'T ADDITIONAL
RESOURCES THAT ARE ALLOCATED FOR
THEM TO DO THAT PARTICULAR PIECE
OF THEIR JOB. SB 1042 WILL
ENSURE THE LEGISLATURE, AS WELL
AS THE PUBLIC, HAS A CLEAR
UNDERSTANDING OF THE USE OF
SECLUSION AND RESTRAINT STRIPS
AND AMPLIFY THE VOICES OF OUR
MOST VULNERABLE MEMBERS OF OUR
SOCIETY, OUR YOUTH WHO ARE IN
THE STATE'S, CARE. THIS IS A
SMALL BUT CRITICAL MEASURE THAT
AIMS TO INCREASE TRANSPARENCY
AND ACCOUNTABILITY FOR
CALIFORNIA'S CHILDREN. WITH ME
HERE TODAY ARE LIVED EXPERIENCE
EXPERTS, AND QUIRK FROM THE
CHILDREN'S LAW CENTER AND ZOE
SCHREIBER, A SURVIVOR OF THE
TROUBLED TEEN INDUSTRY. WHOEVER
WANTS TO GO FIRST AND TWO
MINUTES EACH, PLEASE. AWESOME.
MY NAME IS ZOE SCHREIBER, AND
I'M A SURVIVOR OF THE TROUBLED
TEEN INDUSTRY. AT 13, I WAS SENT
TO A RESIDENTIAL FACILITY WHERE
I WAS RESTRAINED WITHIN THE
FIRST 36 HOURS OF ARRIVING ALL
OVER, NOT EATING A PAD OF BUTTER
FOR NEARLY FIVE HOURS IN THE
POURING RAIN. SIX ADULTS HELD
DOWN MY SMALL BODY, FACE DOWN IN
A MUD PUDDLE. I WILL NEVER
FORGET THE KNEE ON MY SHOULDER.
THE COLD OF MY SOAKED CLOTHES,
THE EVENTUAL NUMBNESS IN MY LEGS
, MY PLEAS OF I CAN'T BREATHE.
IN THAT MOMENT, I WAS STRIPPED
OF MY DIGNITY, AUTONOMY AND ANY
HOPE THAT THE STAFF WERE THERE
TO HELP OR PROTECT ME. THEY
INSTILLED A FEAR THAT ANY
MENTION OF THESE TRAUMATIZING
EVENTS TO MY LOVED ONES WOULD
LEAD TO MORE OF THE SAME. WHAT
FOLLOWED OVER THE NEXT FOUR
YEARS WERE STRETCHES OF
SECLUSION, HARD LABOR, AND
HUMILIATING HUMILIATION BY
STAFF. I HAD NO ADVOCATES. THE
ADULTS IN MY LIFE WERE NOT TOLD
OF THE RESTRAINT AND SECLUSION,
INSTEAD ONLY BEING TOLD I WAS
HAVING A HARD TIME ADJUSTING
THESE ABUSIVE PRACTICES ARE
CARRIED OUT IN THE DARK,
FESTERING AND SECRECY THE
PRACTICE OF NON-DISCLOSURE OF
THESE INCIDENTS FROM FACILITIES
CONTINUES TO THIS DAY. SB 1043
ADDRESSES THIS CRITICAL
AWARENESS GAP BY MANDATING THE
REPORTING OF KEY DATA RELATING
TO SECLUSION AND RESTRAINTS, AND
REQUIRING THE DEPARTMENT TO
PUBLICLY DISCLOSE THE
INFORMATION, BRINGING
TRANSPARENCY INTO THE PUNITIVE
PRACTICES OF THESE PROGRAMS. AS
A LICENSING AND COMPLIANCE
PROFESSIONAL, I SEE FIRSTHAND
HOW PUBLIC REPORTING CAN
INFLUENCE ENFORCEMENT AND CREATE
POSITIVE POLICY CHANGES. MOST
IMPORTANTLY, THE ADDITIONAL
AMENDMENTS OF THIS BILL WILL
GIVE YOUTH A VOICE BY REQUIRING
AN ADVOCATE TO BE INVOLVED IN
THE PROCESS. I'M THANKFUL TO BE
STANDING HERE TODAY. FAR TOO
MANY OF US AREN'T. THE LONG
STANDING TRAUMAS HAVE TAKEN A
DISPROPORTIONATE AMOUNT OF
SURVIVORS. NEARLY 15% OF MY
COHORT ARE NO LONGER WITH US
TODAY DUE TO SUICIDES AND
INTENTIONAL OVERDOSES. MY
TESTIMONY TODAY IS IN THEIR
MEMORY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
CONSIDERATION. CONSIDERATION,
AND I URGE A YES VOTE. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. GOOD AFTERNOON,
COMMITTEE MEMBERS. YES, SIR. MY
NAME IS ANN QUIRK. I AM AN
ATTORNEY WITH CHILDREN'S LAW
CENTER OF CALIFORNIA. WE ARE THE
ATTORNEYS FOR THE NEARLY 25,000
CHILDREN IN LOS ANGELES,
SACRAMENTO AND PLACER COUNTIES.
FOSTER CARE SYSTEM. OUR CLIENTS
WHO LIVE IN GROUP CARE HAVE
OFTEN BEEN EXPOSED TO SEVERE
TRAUMA, PHYSICAL ABUSE, SEXUAL
ABUSE, HUMAN TRAFFICKING. THEY
HAVE BEEN SEPARATED FROM THEIR
SIBLINGS, FAMILIES, AND
COMMUNITIES. MANY SUFFER FROM
PTSD. THEY ARE PLACED IN STRIPS
TO RECEIVE THE INTENSIVE
THERAPEUTIC SERVICES, NURTURING
AND SUPPORTS THEY NEED TO HEAL
AND THRIVE. IN SOME PROGRAMS,
HOWEVER, THE STAFF LACKS
SUFFICIENT TRAINING IN TRAUMA
AND DE-ESCALATION, RESULTING IN
THE OVERUSE OF RESTRAINTS TO
CONTROL A CHILD'S BEHAVIOR.
RESTRAINTS ARE DIFFICULT AND
STRESSFUL FOR STAFF. THEY CAN BE
DEVASTATING FOR CHILDREN.
CHILDREN DESERVE TO FEEL SAFE
BEING RESTRAINED, ESPECIALLY IN
YOUR HOME AND BY AN ADULT IN A
POSITION OF POWER IS
TRAUMATIZING AND CAN TRIGGER
TERRIFYING MEMORIES OF PREVIOUS
ABUSE. FOR THOSE CHILDREN
SUFFERING FROM PTSD THE PRIOR
YEAR, ABUSE IS NOT JUST
REMEMBERED, IT'S RELIVED AND
RE-EXPERIENCED. FURTHER
COMPOUNDING THEIR ALREADY
SIGNIFICANT FEAR AND DISTRESS.
SB 1043 IS AN IMPORTANT AND
NEEDED PIECE OF LEGISLATION. IT
WILL PROVIDE BETTER OVERSIGHT OF
GROUP CARE TO STOP THE
UNNECESSARY USE OF RESTRAINTS.
IT WILL HELP STRIPS THROUGHOUT
THE STATE BY EASILY IDENTIFYING
THOSE PROGRAMS WHO ARE EXCELLING
AT NONPHYSICAL INTERVENTIONS,
AND WILL ENSURE OUR CHILDREN GET
THE CARE THEY NEED TO HEAL. WE
THANK THE SENATORS FOR AUTHORING
THIS BILL AND RESPECTFULLY
REQUEST YOUR AYE VOTE. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. NOW, DO WE HAVE
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO WISH
TO COME TESTIFY IN SUPPORT OF
THE BILL? PLEASE COME TO THE
MICROPHONE NOW. YES, KEVIN, AS
THE COALITION OF CALIFORNIA
WELFARE RIGHTS ORGANIZATION
STRONG SUPPORT. THANKS GRACE
HARRISON WITH THE STEINBERG
INSTITUTE IN SUPPORT. MICHAEL
MENDOZA WITH THE ANTI-RECIDIVISM
COALITION IN SUPPORT. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. NOW, DO WE HAVE ANY
OPPOSITION TO THE BILL? SEEING
NONE, IS THERE ANY MEMBERS OF
THE PUBLIC WISH TO WISH TO
TESTIFY IN OPPOSITION TO THE
BILL? PLEASE COME FORWARD.
SEEING NONE, I'LL BRING IT BACK
TO THE COMMITTEE. COMMITTEE
MEMBERS. ANY QUESTIONS? COMMENTS
SIMILAR. CALDERON YEAH. SENATOR,
I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR
BRINGING THIS BILL FORWARD. I
KNOW HOW HARD YOU'VE BEEN
WORKING ON THIS, AND IT'S A
REALLY GOOD BILL. AND I'D LIKE
TO BE ADDED AS A COAUTHOR, IF
YOU DON'T MIND. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU. ASSEMBLYWOMAN. I WOULD LOVE
TO HAVE YOU AS A COAUTHOR. AND,
YOU KNOW, THE BILL HAD SOME SOME
TEETH BEFORE, BUT WITH THE
CHAIR'S, AMENDMENTS AND HIS
DESIRE TO HELP THIS TROUBLED
TEEN INDUSTRY AND WORK ON THIS
WITH ME, HE HAS MADE IT VERY
MUCH STRONGER. AND SO I
APPRECIATE THAT AGAIN, SENATOR
DIXON. AND THEN WE'LL GO TO THE
VICE CHAIR. THANK YOU. CHAIR. I,
TOO, WANT TO COMMEND YOU AND
ALSO, TO MISS HILTON, WHO COULD
NOT BE HERE, BUT THROUGH HER
PRESENTING THE VISIBILITY OF
THIS AND YOU AS WELL, AND
SUPPORTING THESE ARE, ISSUES
THAT NO ONE KNOWS ABOUT UNTIL
SOMEONE HAS THE COURAGE TO
EXPOSE THEM. SO SHINING A LIGHT
ON THEM IS HELPFUL TO ALL OF US.
SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU, THE
PARIS, WHEN SHE WAS HERE LAST
TIME, SHE TALKED ABOUT JUST
COMING BACK FROM JAMAICA, WHERE
THERE WAS A FACILITY THERE WHERE
CALIFORNIA CHILDREN WERE RESCUED
FROM A FACILITY WHERE THERE WAS
ABUSE. AND THE INDIVIDUALS ARE
BEING ARRESTED. WE WE'RE BETTER
THAN THAT. CALIFORNIA IS BETTER
THAN THAT. AND THESE CHILDREN
THAT ARE IN SOME OF THESE THAT
ARE IN THESE FACILITIES ARE NOT
THEY'RE AT NO FAULT OF THEIR
OWN, THEIR PARENTS, THEY'RE
JUST, YOU KNOW, THEY ARE THEY'RE
IN THE SITUATION THEY'RE IN
BECAUSE THEIR PARENTS ARE NO
LONGER IN THEIR LIFE FOR
WHATEVER REASON. AND, WHICH
TECHNICALLY, I DON'T WANT TO SAY
MAKES THEM OUR KIDS, BUT THAT
DOES MAKE IT THE STATE'S KIDS.
AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT
THEY'RE PROTECTED. SO THANK YOU
FOR THAT. AND I KNOW I HAVE NO
DOUBT SHE WILL BE HERE IF WE ARE
ABLE TO GET THIS BILL ALL THE
WAY THROUGH AND WE CAN GET IT
CELEBRATED, AND SHE'LL BE HERE
WITH US TO CELEBRATE IF WE CAN
MAKE THAT HAPPEN. NO, IT IS NOT.
THANK YOU, MR. VICE CHAIR. THANK
YOU, MR. CHAIR. I'D ALSO LIKE TO
BE ADDED AS A COAUTHOR AND. AND,
SENATOR, I JUST WANT TO, REMARK
ON THE INCREDIBLE WORK YOU'VE
DONE, NOT JUST ON THIS BILL, BUT
ON SEVERAL BILLS TO PROTECT
CHILDREN AND PARTICULARLY YOUNG
WOMEN WHO ARE VULNERABLE AT A
YOUNG STAGE OF LIFE. SO I THINK
YOU'RE GOING TO LEAVE AN
OUTSTANDING LEGACY, AND YOUR
COURAGE AND TENACITY IS NOT
WITHOUT NOTICE. AND SO I JUST
WANT TO THANK YOU. I'D LIKE TO
BE A COAUTHOR AND I'LL MOVE THE
BILL. THANK YOU. SIR. I CAME UP
HERE IN 2010 FIGHTING FOR OIL
AND AGRICULTURE AND ENDED UP
FIGHTING FOR KIDS AND I DON'T
KNOW HOW IT WORKS LIKE THAT,
BUT, THEY CAPTURED MY HEART, SO
THANK YOU, SIR. MR. VICE CHAIR,
SHE. SHE STILL HAS A LITTLE
WHILE WITH US. I'M SURE THERE'LL
STILL BE LOTS MORE TO NØ LEGACY,
SO. NOT YET, SIMILAR. ORTEGA
AGAIN, ECHO WHAT MY COLLEAGUES
HAVE ALREADY MENTIONED. AND
THANK YOU FOR YOUR HEART AND
YOUR PASSION IN THIS ISSUE. I'M
ALREADY A COAUTHOR. SO I ALSO
WANT TO THANK YOUR WITNESS.
ALTHOUGH, YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T
COME WITH THE GLAM TEAM AND YOUR
STORY IS JUST AS IMPACTFUL, IF
NOT MORE, IN TERMS OF WHAT WE'RE
DOING HERE TO PROTECT OUR
CHILDREN TODAY AND INTO THE
FUTURE. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
THE DOCUMENTARY. ALL RIGHT. I'LL
INVITE THE SENATOR TO CLOSE
THEN. IF THERE'S NO MORE
COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS. SO,
INDIVIDUALS LIKE ZOE AND I
BELIEVE ZOE'S STORY WAS ON THE
NETFLIX SERIES. THE PROGRAM
WHERE A LOT OF THE SURVIVORS HAD
GONE BACK TO THESE FACILITIES
THAT HAD ABUSED THEM AS
CHILDREN. AND I'M JUST VERY
GRATEFUL TO THE GOVERNOR AND THE
STATE OF CALIFORNIA, WHO BROUGHT
THEIR KIDS BACK TO THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA. BUT WE HAVE A LOT OF
WORK TO DO, AND WE NEED TO HOLD
DSS ACCOUNTABLE, I WANT TO THANK
MY COLLEAGUE WHO JUMPED ON EVERY
CHILD PROTECTION BILL THAT I
HAVE INSTANTLY, AND I WOULD LIKE
TO THANK MY OTHER COLLEAGUE, MR.
JACKSON, FOR THAT WONDERFUL
CONVERSATION THAT WE HAD, IT'S
AMAZING WHEN YOU THINK YOU'RE SO
DIFFERENT IN SO MANY WAYS, BUT
YOU'RE REALLY VERY WELL
CONNECTED WHEN YOU SIT DOWN AND
HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH EACH
OTHER. SO I WANT TO THANK YOU,
QUICK SHORT STORY, MR. JACKSON
DID WORK IN A LEVEL 12, JUVENILE
FACILITY, WHICH IS KIDS, JUST
BEFORE YOU GET TO THE MASSIVE,
TROUBLED TEEN INDUSTRY. AND I
SAID I GOT SOMETHING IN COMMON
WITH YOU. I WAS IN ONE OF THOSE
JUVENILE FACILITIES WHEN I WAS A
KID, SO WE HAD A GREAT
CONVERSATION. AND I THANK HIM
FOR HIS SUPPORT AND HIS
WILLINGNESS TO PARTICIPATE ON
FUTURE LEGISLATION SO THAT WE
CAN REALLY START ADDRESSING THIS
ISSUE. THAT'S THAT'S, FRANKLY, A
PARASITE WITHIN OUR TÍNH
INDUSTRY THAT IS REALLY VERY
DIFFICULT TO ADDRESS. THANK YOU.
SIR, RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR AN AYE
VOTE. THANK YOU, FIRST, I WANT
TO THANK ZOE FOR SHARING YOUR
PERSONAL STORY. I KNOW IT'S NOT
ALWAYS EASY TO RELIVE AND RETELL
THEM, BUT IT IS VERY POWERFUL TO
TELL AND HOPEFULLY CHANGE THAT.
NO ONE ELSE HAS TO GO THROUGH
THAT KIND OF EXPERIENCE. AND OF
COURSE, I WANT TO THANK THE
SENATOR FOR WORKING WITH ME AND
THIS COMMITTEE TO STRENGTHEN
THIS BILL. I KNOW, AS YOU STATED
IN YOUR OPENING STATEMENT, THAT
YOU HAD THOUGHT THAT YOU COULD
JUST START WITH TRANSPARENCY,
BUT I KNEW THAT, EVEN THE TIME
WHEN WE MET WITH THE SPONSORS OF
BILL, INCLUDING PARIS, THAT AS
IMPORTANT AS TO GET THE
TRANSPARENCY IN THE DATA AND
WHICH IS SORELY NEEDED, I
THOUGHT IT'S IMPORTANT THAT
SOMETHING WERE TO HAPPEN TO. SO
WHEN PEOPLE LIKE ZOE COME
FORWARD AND SAY, THIS HAPPENED
TO ME AND THAT'S ACKNOWLEDGED,
THERE HAS TO BE SOME RECOURSE SO
THAT CHILDREN HAVE SOME
PROTECTION, HAVE SOME VOICE. AND
SO THAT'S WHY WE PUT INTO THIS
BILL WITH THE HELP OF THIS
COMMITTEE, OF COURSE, A LOT OF
TEETH INTO IT, SO THAT WHEN A
RESTRAINT, SITUATION OF
RESTRAINING OR ABUSE HAPPENS,
THAT SOMEONE WILL GO AFTER AND
LOOK AT IT AND FIND SOME
RECOURSE FOR CHILDREN. I FIRMLY
DO BELIEVE IN THAT. IT REALLY
DOES TAKE A WHOLE VILLAGE TO
RAISE CHILDREN, AND SOMETIMES
SOME CHILDREN ARE WITHOUT
PARENTS. AND SO IT'S REALLY UP
TO EVERYONE. AND IT'S REALLY A
FAILURE OF A SYSTEM THAT ABUSE
HAPPENS UNDER OUR CARE. AND YET
WE NEVER DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.
SO IT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT TO ME
AND THIS COMMITTEE THAT WE
CONTINUE TO BUILD UPON THAT
WORK. AND OF COURSE, ECHOING
THE, THE CHORUS OF SUPPORTERS
YOU HAVE HERE TODAY, I WILL BE
HAPPY TO ADD ON, AS A JOINT
AUTHOR, POSSIBLE. I KNOW WE HAVE
THE HOUSE THING, BUT A JOINT
AUTHOR IF POSSIBLE, SO THAT I
CAN HELP GET THIS TO THE FINISH
LINE. AND AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR
YOUR WORK ON THIS ISSUE AND I AM
RECOMMENDING AN AYE VOTE TODAY.
SO MADAM SECRETARY, PLEASE CALL
THE ROLL. THE MOTION IS DUE PASS
AS AMENDED TO THE ASSEMBLY
APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE. LEE LI
AYE, SALLY. SALLY AYE. CALDERON.
CALDERON. AYE. GIBSON JACKSON.
JACKSON. AYE. DIXON DIXON. AYE.
ORTEGA. ORTEGA AYE. SIX ZERO.
THAT IS OUT. AND WE'LL LEAVE THE
ROLL OPEN FOR ABSENT MEMBERS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU
AGAIN, CHAIR. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. THANK YOU. MEMBERS AND
THEN, SENATOR ALLEN, I THINK I
SAW YOU IN THE CROWN. WHENEVER
YOU'RE READY, YOU CAN PRESENT
FILE ITEM ONE, SB 14 ZERO SIX.
MR. CHAIR MEMBERS, LET ME FIRST
OF ALL, THANK THE COMMITTEE AND
CHAIR FOR, FOR YOUR
CONSIDERATION, SENIORS ARE THE
FASTEST GROWING POPULATION OF
PEOPLE EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS. I THINK BETWEEN
2017, 2021, CALIFORNIA SENIOR
POPULATION ONLY GREW BY 7. BUT
THE NUMBER OF FOLKS, 55 OR OVER
WHO SOUGHT HOMELESSNESS SERVICES
INCREASED BY 84. AND THE NUMBER
OF SENIORS EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS IS EXPECTED TO
TRIPLE BY 2030, ACCORDING TO
SOME ESTIMATES. SO WE'VE GOT
ASSISTED LIVING FACILITIES THAT
PROVIDE IMPORTANT PERSONAL CARE
SERVICES THAT ALLOW FOR SENIORS
TO AGE IN PLACE IN A SUPPORTIVE
AND ENGAGING COMMUNITY
ENVIRONMENT. BUT JUST AS WE'RE
SEEING THIS ENORMOUS
HOMELESSNESS CRISIS FOR SENIORS,
WE'RE ALSO SEEING ASSISTED
LIVING RATES INCREASE LIKE NEVER
BEFORE. AND UNLIKE MOST
RESIDENTS OF NURSING HOMES,
WHERE THE CARE IS GENERALLY PAID
FOR BY MEDICAID, ASSISTED LIVING
RESIDENTS OR THEIR FAMILIES ARE
USUALLY THE ONES WHO ARE
SHOULDERING THE FULL COST. AND
WE GOT TO REMEMBER THAT MOST
SENIORS ARE LIVING ON FIXED
INCOMES, AND SO WHEN RATES AT
THESE ASSISTED LIVING FACILITIES
ARE SOARING WELL ABOVE THE RATE
OF INFLATION OR SOCIAL SECURITY
COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENTS, IT
REALLY CAUSES HARM TO THESE
SENIORS AND THEIR FAMILIES. AND
SO YOU END UP HAVING LOTS OF
SITUATIONS WHERE OLDER FOLKS SEE
THEIR LIFE SAVINGS RAPIDLY
DRAIN. SO THIS BILL SEEKS TO
ADDRESS SOME OF THESE
AFFORDABILITY CHALLENGES BY
GIVING FAMILIES AND THESE
SENIORS, THESE RESIDENTS GREATER
AUTONOMY OVER THEIR CARE AND
HELP AVOIDING UNDUE FINANCIAL
BURDENS BY TWO KEY THINGS. FIRST
OF ALL, REQUIRING FACILITIES TO
PROVIDE A DETAILED JUSTIFICATION
FOR RATE INCREASES WHILE CAPPING
ANNUAL INCREASES AT 5, PLUS THE
PERCENTAGE CHANGE IN THE COST OF
LIVING INDEX PLUS ONE HALF THE
PERCENTAGE CHANGE IN THE ANNUAL
MEDIAN WAGE, AND ALSO EXTENDING
THE NOTICE PERIOD FOR RATE
INCREASES FROM 60 TO 90 DAYS TO
GIVE SENIORS AND THEIR FAMILIES
THE NECESSARY TIME TO DETERMINE
WHETHER THEY CAN AFFORD THE
HIGHER RATES, OR IF THEY SHOULD
APPEAL THE RATE CHANGE, OR FIND
AN ALTERNATIVE SETTING THAT WILL
WORK BETTER FOR THEM. I WANT TO
THANK ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS FOR
THEIR CONTINUED ENGAGEMENT ON
THE BILL. AND SHOULD THE BILL
MOVE FORWARD TODAY, I'M
CERTAINLY CONTINUING CONTINUING
TO COMMIT TO, ENSURING ADEQUATE
TIME FOR DISCUSSIONS WITH
EVERYONE TO ADDRESS REMAINING
CONCERNS ABOUT THE CAP. IN THE
RARE EVENT OF FINANCIAL
HARDSHIP. AND JOINING ME HERE
TODAY TO TESTIFY IN SUPPORT OF
THE BILL IS TONY CHICOTEL, WHO
IS FROM CALIFORNIA, ADVOCATES
FOR NURSING HOME REFORM. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH. TWO MINUTES,
PLEASE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR
THIS OPPORTUNITY TO TESTIFY ON
BEHALF OF THE BILL, AS THE
SENATOR MENTIONED, I WORK FOR
CALIFORNIA ADVOCATES FOR NURSING
HOME REFORM. AND MOST OF WHAT WE
DO, IT'S A NONPROFIT. IT'S BEEN
AROUND FOR 40 YEARS. MOST OF
WHAT WE DO IS OPERATE A HOTLINE,
THROUGH OUR WEBSITE AND THROUGH
A PHONE, THROUGH PHONE CALLS
WHERE WE TAKE CONCERNS OR CALLS
FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE CONCERNED
ABOUT ELEMENTS OF LONG TERM
CARE. AND OVER THE LAST COUPLE
OF YEARS, ONE OF OUR THE CALLS
WE'VE BEEN GETTING THE MOST,
WE'VE BEEN GETTING THE MOST IS
BEEN ABOUT RATE INCREASES IN
ASSISTED LIVING FACILITIES. AND
I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT FIVE, 10%
RATE INCREASES, WHICH CAN BE
VERY DIFFICULT FOR A SENIOR OR
DISABLED PERSON ON A FIXED
INCOME. BUT RATE INCREASES OF
30, 40, 50. WE HAD ONE CALL
ABOUT A FACILITY IN RIVERSIDE
COUNTY, WITH AN INCREASE OF 265,
JUST COMPLETELY UNAFFORDABLE BY
THE CURRENT RESIDENTS. RESIDENTS
ARE ILL SUITED FOR ENORMOUS RATE
INCREASES. THEY'RE ON THE FIXED
INCOMES, THEY HAVE DWINDLING
ASSETS. AND THE NEW YORK TIMES
RECENTLY DID A SERIES ON ON THE
COST OF LONG TERM CARE AND
FOCUSED A LOT ON ASSISTED
LIVING. AND THEY CALLED THE
SERIES DYING BROKE, CALLING THE
FEES AND FACILITIES OFTENTIMES
CRUSHINGLY HIGH. SO SB 1406
CAPS. THE RATE INCREASES
SIMILARLY, SIMILARLY TO HOW WE
CAP RENT INCREASES IN THE STATE
USING A FORMULA THAT TAKES INTO
ACCOUNT GENERAL INFLATION PLUS
WAGE INCREASES FOR THE
CAREGIVERS. SB 1406 ALSO GIVES
RESIDENTS 90 DAYS INSTEAD OF 60
DAYS ADVANCED NOTICE FOR A RATE
INCREASE. THIS WILL ADDRESS THE
FACT THAT THE DISABLED RESIDENTS
OF ASSISTED LIVING FACILITIES
OFTENTIMES FACE SIGNIFICANT
CHALLENGES IN FINDING A NEW
PLACE TO LIVE AND MOVING IN INTO
THEM WHEN THEY ARE PRICED OUT OF
THEIR CURRENT HOME. SO MORE TIME
WILL DEFINITELY BE HELPFUL FOR
THEM. BY CLARIFYING AND
EXPANDING RATE INCREASE
PROTECTIONS FOR ASSISTED LIVING
RESIDENTS, SB 1406 PROVIDES
HOUSING STABILITY FOR A HIGHLY
VULNERABLE POPULATION OF
CALIFORNIANS WITH LIMITED
HOUSING OPTIONS, AND STOPS
EXCESSIVE RATE INCREASES IN
ASSISTED LIVING FACILITIES.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
NOW, DO WE HAVE MEMBERS OF THE
PUBLIC WHO WISH TO TESTIFY IN
SUPPORT OF THE BILL? PLEASE COME
UP TO THE MICROPHONE NOW SEEING
NONE. DO WE HAVE ANY OPPOSITION
TO THE BILL? PLEASE COME
FORWARD. OPPOSITION.
WHOEVER WANTS TO GO FIRST AND,
TWO MINUTES EACH, PLEASE. ALL
RIGHT. I'LL. I'LL BEGIN. GOOD
AFTERNOON, MR. CHAIR, AND
MEMBERS, MY NAME IS RICK JENSEN.
I'M THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF
NORTH STAR SENIOR LIVING AND A
BOARD MEMBER FOR THE CALIFORNIA
ASSISTED LIVING ASSOCIATION.
NORTH STAR IS BASED IN REDDING,
CALIFORNIA, AND WE HAVE 18
ASSISTED LIVING COMMUNITIES
THROUGHOUT THE STATE, SERVING
1500 SENIORS, I'M HERE TODAY IN
MY ROLE AS A BOARD MEMBER TO
EXPRESS OUR GREAT APPRECIATION
TO THE AUTHOR AND SPONSOR OF SB
1406 AND THE COMMITTEE FOR THEIR
WILLINGNESS TO WORK WITH US TO
ENSURE THE INTEGRITY OF THIS
MODEL OF CARE AND AVOID
UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES, WHICH I
BELIEVE WE'RE WELL ON OUR WAY
TO, I MIGHT ADD THAT IN A RECENT
SURVEY OF 400,000 ASSISTED
LIVING RESIDENTS AND THEIR
FAMILIES, THE SATISFACTION RATE
WAS OVER 90% IN THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA, AND WE APPRECIATE
ALL THE WORK HAS BEEN THAT HAS
BEEN DONE ON THIS BILL TO GET IT
TO WHERE IT'S BEEN. AND BASED ON
THE CURRENT VERSION OF THE BILL,
WE HAVE REMOVED OUR OPPOSITION,
AS AIL PROVIDERS, WE WORK HARD
TO DELIVER QUALITY CARE AND
SERVICES FOR OLDER ADULTS, AND
WE ARE PROUD OF THE WORK THAT WE
DO. ON BEHALF OF CARLA, WE AGAIN
THANK THE AUTHOR FOR THE ONGOING
CONVERSATIONS AND OPPORTUNITIES
TO FIND WORKABLE SOLUTIONS.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.
MEMBERS. AMBER KING WITH
LEADINGAGE, CALIFORNIA. WE
REPRESENT NONPROFIT PROVIDERS OF
CARE SERVICES AND HOUSING FOR
OLDER ADULTS THROUGHOUT THE
STATE. WE VERY MUCH APPRECIATE
ALL OF THE TIME THAT WE'VE SPENT
WITH THE AUTHORS OFFICE, WITH
THE SPONSOR, WITH COMMITTEE
STAFF TO WORK OUT AMENDMENTS TO
GET TO THE PLACE THAT THE BILL
IS AT TODAY. UNFORTUNATELY, WE
DO REMAIN CONCERNED WITH SOME OF
THE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES OF
THE BILL. MANY OF OUR MEMBERS
ARE CHOOSING TO SERVE RESIDENTS
WITH HIGHER NEEDS. AND WITH
THAT, COMES A NEED FOR INCREASED
LEVELS OF WORKFORCE. SO THEY ARE
EMPLOYING RNS, LVNS TO MAKE SURE
THAT THEY HAVE 24 HOUR CARE TO
CREATE, TO CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT
THAT ALLOWS THOSE OLDER ADULTS
TO AGE IN PLACE FOR AS LONG AS
POSSIBLE AND AVOID MOVING TO A
MORE CONGREGATE CARE, LEVEL OF
CARE, WE ARE CONCERNED THAT THE
FORMULA CAP THAT IS CURRENTLY IN
THE BILL MAY HARM THOSE ARCHIVES
THAT HAVE A FINANCIAL NEED TO GO
ABOVE THAT CAP, AND SO WE
APPRECIATE OUR ONGOING
CONVERSATIONS. WE'RE HOPING TO
WORK OUT FURTHER AMENDMENTS SO
THAT THE BILL DOES NOT PLACE OUR
CDFIS IN A POSITION OF NEEDING
TO CLOSE IF THEY ARE UNABLE TO
INCREASE THEIR RATES ABOVE THE
CAP, LEADINGAGE CALIFORNIA IS
COMMITTED TO INCREASING ACCESS
TO LONG TERM CARE SERVICES.
INCLUDING RCF, AND SO WE WANT TO
ENSURE THAT THIS BILL DOES NOT
HINDER THAT PROGRESS. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND I DO
HAVE ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
WHO WISH TO TESTIFY IN
OPPOSITION TO THE BILL. PLEASE
COME FORWARD SEEING NONE. I'LL
BRING IT BACK TO THE COMMITTEE.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM
THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS, VICE
CHAIR SALLY. YES, WHAT WERE THE
CHANGES THAT TOOK YOUR
OPPOSITION OFF. GENERALLY IT WAS
REGARDING THE CAP, THE SENATOR
AND THE COMMITTEE WORKED TO PUT
SOMETHING IN TO ALLOW FOR AN
ADJUSTMENT TO WAGES AND NOT JUST
TO CPI, AND THAT WAS, THAT WAS
ONE OF THE, THE BIGGER ISSUES.
THAT WAS A HINDRANCE TO US
BECAUSE, 50, $0.50 OF EVERY
DOLLAR THAT COMES INTO A SENIOR
LIVING COMMUNITY GOES TO WAGES.
AND THE INITIAL FORMULA DIDN'T
TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THAT WAGE
COMPONENT. SO WHAT'S THE NEW
FORMULA NOW? IT'S CPI PLUS 5%
PLUS ONE HALF PERCENT OF A WAGE
INDEX. OKAY, I GUESS MY CONCERN
WITH PUTTING CAPS IN, SENATORS,
WE'VE SEEN THIS NOT WORK IN THE
RENTAL SPHERE WITH, YOU KNOW,
APARTMENTS AND STUFF. I THINK
WHAT WE END UP SEEING IS THAT
MOST LANDLORDS, IF THERE'S A
CAP, THEY'RE GOING TO DO THE
FULL INCREASE EVERY YEAR, TO
MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE NOT
LEAVING ANY MONEY ON THE TABLE.
AND SO THIS COULD HAVE THE
REVERSE EFFECT. IS THERE A
REASON TO BELIEVE THAT THESE
FACILITIES ARE, CHARGING FOR
GROSSLY MORE THAN WHAT'S
REQUIRED TO OPERATE THEM? I
MEAN, DO YOU THINK THEY'RE
MAKING GROSS PROFITS OR
SOMETHING, I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY
IT'S A VERY DIVERSE INDUSTRY AND
LOTS OF DIFFERENT PLAYERS AND I
WOULD AGREE WITH, WITH RICK WHEN
HE SAYS THAT THE VAST MAJORITY
OF THE FOLKS IN THIS SPACE ARE,
ARE OPERATING RESPONSIBLY AND
WANT TO DO RIGHT BY THEIR, RIGHT
BY THEIR FOLKS. THERE HAVE BEEN
SOME EXAMPLES OF SOME FOLKS THAT
REALLY HAVE TAKEN ADVANTAGE, AND
GOUGED, IT'S PART OF WHY THE,
THE NOTICE PERIOD I THINK IS SO
IMPORTANT JUST TO GIVE PEOPLE A
BIT EXTRA TIME TO MAKE A
DETERMINATION AS TO WHETHER THEY
CAN STAY, IF THE IF THE INCREASE
IS GOING UP AT A RATE THAT THEY
CAN'T, THEY CAN'T AFFORD YOUR
POINT IS A GOOD ONE. I MEAN, I
THINK, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY MUCH
OF THIS HAS ENDED UP IT'S STILL
A PRODUCT OF THE MARKET, RIGHT?
I MEAN, IF, YOU KNOW, IF, PEOPLE
ARE DEPENDS ON THE PERSON,
RIGHT? I MEAN, PEOPLE PEOPLE CAN
SOMETIMES BE MOBILE. AND IF THE
INCREASES ARE GOING UP AT A RATE
THAT PEOPLE CAN'T AFFORD, THEN
THEY CAN GO MOVE SOMEWHERE ELSE.
BUT, YOU KNOW, OUR CONCERN WAS
REALLY GETTING IT AT SOME PRETTY
UNSCRUPULOUS ACTORS THAT HAVE
THAT HAVE CAUSED A LOT OF DAMAGE
FOR PEOPLE, THIS IS WHERE WE
LANDED, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, I'M,
YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN WORKING
REALLY CLOSELY TOGETHER AND KIND
OF TALKING THIS THROUGH OVER
TIME AND CERTAINLY HAPPY TO LOOK
AT A, SOMEWHAT DIFFERENT
APPROACH IF THAT'S SOMETHING
THAT WOULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE,
AND BE BETTER, BUT THIS IS WHERE
WE ARE RIGHT NOW. OKAY. AND LET
ME JUST ASK THE OPPOSITION. I
MEAN, YOU KNOW, IF, IF WE'RE
CONCERNED WITH COSTS, IS THERE
ANYTHING THE STATE COULD BE
DOING TO LOWER THE COSTS TO
THESE FACILITIES? ARE THERE ARE
THERE LAWS AND REGS THAT ARE
BEING PASSED THAT CAUSE YOU TO
INCREASE YOUR RATES, THERE'S A
NUMBER FOR SURE, THE PASSAGE OF
SB 525, WHICH IS THE HEALTH CARE
MINIMUM WAGE, WILL INCREASE
COSTS FOR CVS. ALTHOUGH THEY
WEREN'T DIRECTLY IMPACTED BY THE
LANGUAGE OF THE BILL. THERE'S
COMPETITIVE WAGE ISSUES, THAT'S
THE FIRST ONE THAT THAT COMES TO
MY MIND OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD.
SO I THINK I THINK IT'S A GOOD
POINT. IT'S NOT FAIR. YOU KNOW,
IF THE STATE'S FORCING YOU TO
RAISE YOUR COSTS AND THEN
THEY'RE SAYING YOU'RE NOT GOING
TO BE ABLE TO RECOUP IT, IT
DOESN'T. IT DOESN'T SEEM VERY
FAIR. BUT THIS IS WHY WE
INCLUDED THE WAGE. THAT IS THAT
THAT EXACT CONCERN LED TO WHY WE
INCLUDED THE WAGE INCREASES. SO
IT COULD BE FACTORED IN BECAUSE
THEY CORRECTLY BROUGHT UP THAT
ISSUE. OKAY. WELL, I APPRECIATE
THAT. I JUST THINK WAGES IS ONE
OF MANY THINGS THAT GO INTO
COSTS. BUT I APPRECIATE YOUR
RESPONSES. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MEMBERS,
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS
ABOUT THE BILL? SEEING NONE, I'M
GOING TO INVITE THE AUTHOR TO
CLOSE. YEAH. NO, I APPRECIATE
THE DISCUSSION. AND CERTAINLY
ASSEMBLY MEMBER, YOU KNOW, IF
YOU GOT IDEAS ABOUT ABOUT A, YOU
KNOW, MODERATE, REASONABLE
CHANGES TO THE WAY WE FORMULATED
THIS, REALLY HAPPY TO HEAR THEM
AND, AT THE END OF THE DAY, THIS
IS ALL ABOUT, YOU KNOW, TRYING
TO MAKE SURE THAT FOLKS WHO ARE
IN A VULNERABLE PLACE AREN'T
GETTING SOCKED WITH MASSIVE
INCREASES THAT THEY JUST CAN'T
PREPARE, PLAN FOR, OR AFFORD.
AND I WILL SAY, UNLIKE IN RENT
CONTROL, WHERE SOMEONE IS
OFTENTIMES LIVING THERE FOR A
LONG PERIOD OF TIME AND THOSE
MAJOR INCREASES REALLY DO IMPACT
YOU, A LOT OF THESE, YOU DON'T
HAVE PEOPLE LIVING IN, IN THESE
SORT OF FACILITIES WITH THE SAME
AMOUNT OF TIME, TYPICALLY AS
SOMEONE IN A, IN A, IN AN
APARTMENT, SO THEY ARE MORE
SUSCEPTIBLE TO MARKET TRENDS, SO
WITH THAT, I APPRECIATE THE
DISCUSSION VERY MUCH AND
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR MY VOTE.
WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
BRINGING THE BILL FORWARD,
SENATOR ALLEN, AND THANK YOU FOR
WORKING WITH ALL THE
STAKEHOLDERS TO TRY TO FIND
REASONABLE COMPROMISE ON THIS.
AND WORKING WITH OUR COMMITTEE.
AND AS YOU SAID IN THE IN YOUR
OPENING STATEMENT, IT'S TRUE.
YOU KNOW, SENIORS ARE
OVERREPRESENTED IN OUR HOMELESS
POPULATION. AND JUST LIKE AS YOU
SAID, WITH RENT CONTROL. AND
THANK YOU FOR ALWAYS BEING A
STEWARD, PARTNER WITH ME ON
THESE ISSUES, IS THAT ESPECIALLY
FOR THIS POPULATION, THEY'RE ON
FIXED INCOMES OR EVEN SOMETIMES
LESS DECLINING INCOMES? THIS IS
NOT THE TRUE CASE FOR A LOT OF
OTHER RENTERS OUT THERE. AND SO
IT'S IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE THAT
THEY HAVE STABLE HOUSING FOR THE
DURATION OF THEIR LIFE. FOR THE
REMAINDER OF THE DURATION OF
THEIR LIVES. AND THAT'S WHY THIS
BILL IS SO IMPORTANT. AND I'M
GOING TO BE RECOMMENDING AN AYE
VOTE. THANK YOU, CAN I TO
PREPARE AND PLAN? EXACTLY, CAN I
GET A MOTION AND A SECOND,
PLEASE? SECOND. MOVED BY SENATOR
JACKSON, SECONDED BY SENATOR
ORTEGA. MADAM SECRETARY, PLEASE
CALL THE ROLE THE MOTION IS DUE.
PASS TO THE ASSEMBLY
APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE. LEE LI
AYE, EASILY, EASILY NOT VOTING.
CALDERON. CALDERON. AYE GIBSON.
JACKSON. JACKSON. AYE DIXON.
DIXON. NOT VOTING. ORTEGA.
ORTEGA. AYE. THANK YOU. MEMBERS.
THANK YOU. 4 TO 0. THAT BILL IS
OUT. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. SO
NOW WE ARE JUST WAITING FOR OUR
LAST FILE. ITEM FILE ITEM NUMBER
SEVEN, SB 1078, BY MIN.
CAN WE. WE ADD ON. CæA SO. RIGHT
. SO WE'RE GOING TO, HAVE VOTE
ADD ONS. SO MADAM SECRETARY,
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL FOR THE
ABSENT MEMBERS ON THE CONSENT
CALENDAR. CURRENT VOTE 5 TO 0.
JACKSON. JACKSON. AYE CURRENT.
VOTE 6 TO 0. FILE ITEM THREE, SB
ONE FOR ONE FIVE. CURRENT VOTE 5
TO 0. JACKSON. JACKSON AYE.
CURRENT VOTE 6 TO 0 SEVEN.
THAT'S IT. ALL RIGHT. WE SHALL
WAIT FOR OUR FINAL AUTHOR,
SENATOR MIN.
ALL RIGHT. SENATOR MIN, WHENEVER
YOU ARE READY, YOU MAY BEGIN,
TAKE YOUR TIME GETTING SITUATED.
NO RUSH. THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
ALEX I'M ON, IS THERE AN ASIAN
TIME, THIS IS ASIAN TIME FOR
ASIAN LANGUAGES. I MEAN, FOR ALL
LANGUAGES. I SHOULD SAY
KAMSAHAMNIDA, GOOD AFTERNOON,
CHAIR AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS. SB
1078 WOULD CREATE AN OFFICE OF
LANGUAGE ACCESS WITHIN THE
CALIFORNIA HEALTH AND HUMAN
SERVICES AGENCY TO PROVIDE
OVERSIGHT, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND
COORDINATION ACROSS CAL HHS
DEPARTMENTS AND OFFICES TO
ENSURE THAT INDIVIDUALS WITH
LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENCY HAVE
MEANINGFUL ACCESS TO HEALTH
SERVICES AND PROGRAMS. FOR THE
NEARLY 6.4 MILLION CALIFORNIANS
WHO HAVE LIMITED ENGLISH
PROFICIENCY, LANGUAGE BARRIERS
CAN POSE A SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGE
TO THEIR ABILITY TO HAVE ACCESS
TO QUALITY HEALTH CARE COVERAGE
AND SERVICES. STUDIES SHOW THAT
THE ABSENCE OF CULTURALLY AND
LINGUISTICALLY APPROPRIATE
HEALTH CARE SERVICES HAVE
SIGNIFICANT NEGATIVE HEALTH
OUTCOMES FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS
WITH LIMITED ENGLISH
PROFICIENCY, INCLUDING LONGER
HOSPITAL STAYS AND HIGHER
LIKELIHOOD OF HOSPITAL
READMISSIONS. THESE AVOIDABLE
CLINICAL COSTS CAN BE
SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED WITH
IMPROVED INTERPRETATION AND
TRANSLATION SERVICES. SO THIS IS
NOT ONLY THE RIGHT THING TO DO,
IT IS THE COST EFFECTIVE THING
TO DO. WHILE CALIFORNIA AND OUR
LEGISLATURE HAVE LONG RECOGNIZED
THE IMPORTANCE OF PROVIDING
IN-LANGUAGE RESOURCES, INCLUDING
PROVIDING FUNDING, PASSING LAWS
AND REQUIREMENTS, THESE STATUTES
AND REGULATIONS HAVE NOT BEEN
IMPLEMENTED, TYPICALLY IN AN
EFFECTIVE WAY. SB 1078 WOULD
ENSURE IMPLEMENTATION AND
OVERSIGHT OF EXISTING FEDERAL
AND STATE LANGUAGE ACCESS LAWS,
BASICALLY CREATING A QUARTERBACK
TO KIND OF OVERSEE ALL THESE
DIFFERENT PROGRAMS AND
REGULATIONS. IT WOULD CLOSE AN
EXISTING GAP FOR THOSE SEEKING A
BROAD SPECTRUM OF HEALTH
SERVICES, THEREBY SAVING THE
STATE MILLIONS IN AVOIDABLE
COSTS AND BOLSTERING THE STATE'S
ABILITY TO MEET STATUTORY
LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS. I HAVE
WITH ME TWO WITNESSES TODAY,
PRISCILLA HWANG FROM THE CENTER
FOR ASIAN AMERICANS IN ACTION
AND NATALIE ASSOON FROM THE
REGIONAL PACIFIC ISLANDER TASK
FORCE TO TESTIFY IN SUPPORT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, WHOEVER
WANTS TO START FIRST IN TWO
MINUTES EACH, PLEASE. GREAT,
GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR LEE AND
COMMITTEE COMMITTEE MEMBERS. MY
NAME IS PRISCILLA HWANG. I'M THE
FOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
OF THE CENTER FOR ASIAN
AMERICANS IN ACTION. WE ARE A
CO-SPONSOR OF SB 1078, A BILL
THAT WOULD HELP IMPROVE LANGUAGE
SERVICES FOR THE 6.4 MILLION
CALIFORNIANS WITH LIMITED
ENGLISH PROFICIENCY. AND WE ASK
FOR YOUR SUPPORT. I'VE BEEN
ADVOCATING FOR INCREASED
LANGUAGE SERVICES IN GOVERNMENT
PROGRAMS FOR NEARLY 20 YEARS,
YET MY ADVOCACY STARTED DECADES
BEFORE. AS THE ELDEST DAUGHTER
OF IMMIGRANTS, MANY OF US
CHILDREN OF IMMIGRANTS AND
REFUGEES GREW UP HAVING TO HELP
OUR FAMILY MEMBERS NAVIGATE A
COMPLEX WORLD OF PUBLIC SYSTEMS
AND INSTITUTIONS THAT USE
TERMINOLOGY THAT IS DIFFICULT
FOR EVEN NATIVE ENGLISH SPEAKERS
TO UNDERSTAND. HERE IN
CALIFORNIA, EXISTING FEDERAL AND
STATE LAWS REQUIRE GOVERNMENT
AGENCIES TO PROVIDE LANGUAGE
SERVICES FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH
LEP. YET LANGUAGE BARRIERS
PERSIST. SB 1078 IS NEEDED TO
BOLSTER THE STATE'S ABILITY TO
MEET ITS FEDERAL AND STATE
STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS, AND
CODIFIES CAL HHS LANGUAGE ACCESS
POLICY AND GUIDANCE. IN
ADDITION, THIS BILL WOULD CREATE
IMPORTANT TRANSPARENCY AND
ACCOUNTABILITY MEASURES BY
REQUIRING CAL HHS TO SUBMIT BI
ANNUAL REPORTS TO THE
LEGISLATURE AND ESTABLISH A
LANGUAGE ACCESS ADVISORY
WORKGROUP TO PROVIDE A MECHANISM
FOR IMPACTED COMMUNITY MEMBERS
TO GIVE INPUT ON CAL HHS
LANGUAGE SERVICES FROM A
CONSUMER PERSPECTIVE.
IMPORTANTLY, SB 1078 ALSO
REQUIRES THE MONITORING AND
PERIODIC UPDATING OF LANGUAGE
ACCESS PLANS AND ESTABLISHES A
CENTRAL OFFICE TO COORDINATE
LANGUAGE SERVICES ACROSS THE
AGENCY'S 17 DEPARTMENTS AND
OFFICES. IT WOULD ALSO INFORM
COMMUNITIES WITH LIMITED ENGLISH
PROFICIENCY ABOUT CRITICAL CAL
HHS RESOURCES ON A PUBLIC
WEBSITE, INCLUDING INFORMATION
IN AN INDIVIDUAL'S LANGUAGE ON
AN INDIVIDUAL'S LANGUAGE ACCESS
RIGHTS AND COMPLAINT PROCESS. IN
CONCLUSION, WE RESPECTFULLY ASK
FOR YOUR SUPPORT FOR 1078. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT WITNESS,
PLEASE. TALOFA AND SOY FORMULA
COMMITTEE CHAIR LEE AND MEMBERS,
I'M NATALIE HUESO, ASIAN
CO-FOUNDER AND CO-CHAIR OF THE
REGIONAL PACIFIC ISLANDER TASK
FORCE. WE WERE FOUNDED TO
INCREASE THE VISIBILITY OF
PACIFIC ISLANDER NEEDS AND
ASSETS. WE ARE A PROUD
CO-SPONSOR OF SB 1078, A BILL
THAT WILL IMPROVE LANGUAGE AND
COMMUNICATION, ACCESS TO STATE
GOVERNMENT SERVICES AND PROGRAMS
FOR 6.4 MILLION CALIFORNIANS WHO
HAVE LIMITED ENGLISH
PROFICIENCY. I AM ALSO THE
DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
AND GOVERNMENT RELATIONS AT
RICHMOND AREA MULTISERVICES, A
NONPROFIT MENTAL HEALTH
ORGANIZATION WITH EXPERTISE IN
SERVING THE ASIAN AND PACIFIC
ISLANDER, AMERICAN AND RUSSIAN
SPEAKING POPULATIONS. EIGHT OUT
OF TEN PACIFIC ISLANDERS ARE NOT
IMMIGRANTS, YET 11% ARE LIMITED
ENGLISH PROFICIENT LANGUAGE HAS
THE POTENTIAL TO HEAL AND HARM.
LANGUAGE ACCESS IS A HEALTH
DETERMINANT BECAUSE IT IMPROVES
HEALTH OUTCOMES AS IT IS
GROUNDED IN DIGNITY AND RESPECT.
COVID 19 MAGNIFIED THE LACK OF
HEALTH SYSTEM AND OVERALL
GOVERNMENT PREPAREDNESS FOR
MEETING THE DIVERSE LANGUAGE
NEEDS OF ALL CALIFORNIANS.
APPEALING TO AND MOVING PEOPLE
TO LIFE SAVING ACTIONS DELAYED,
INACCURATE, POORLY TRANSLATED
AND LIMITED MESSAGING RESULTED
IN MAGNIFIED, PREVENTABLE DEATHS
AND HOSPITALIZATIONS IN
COMMUNITIES THAT ALREADY SUFFER
FROM REDUCED ACCESS TO CARE. THE
LÀ BILL IS AN UNPARALLELED
OPPORTUNITY TO FOLLOW THE
GOVERNOR'S DIRECTIVE TO CAL HHS
TO DEVELOP RECOMMENDATIONS TO
IMPROVING LANGUAGE AND
COMMUNICATIONS ACCESS TO STATE
GOVERNMENT SERVICES AND
PROGRAMS. SB 1078 WOULD PROVIDE
THE NECESSARY INFRASTRUCTURE TO
ENSURE THE LANGUAGE ACCESS PLANS
ARE IMPLEMENTED, MONITORED AND
UPDATED IN ACCORDANCE WITH
FEDERAL AND STATE LAWS AND
POLICIES. BE THE SUN AND FURTHER
BRIGHTEN OUR DAY. SAY A FACETIME
HELLO OF A NOAA SAFE MOYAMOYA.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND SENATOR
BÀN JUST CLARIFIED YOU ACCEPT
THE COMMITTEE'S AMENDMENTS? YES.
SORRY, I SHOULD HAVE SAID THAT
AT THE OUTSET. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU, NOW,
IF THERE'S MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
WISHING TO TESTIFY IN SUPPORT,
PLEASE COME UP TO THE
MICROPHONE. MR. CHAIRMAN,
MEMBERS, RANDY PERRY WITH THE
CALIFORNIA PRIMARY CARE
ASSOCIATION AND FULL SUPPORT.
THANK YOU. LEAH BARROWS, ON
BEHALF OF CHINESE FOR
AFFIRMATIVE ACTION IN SUPPORT.
Tð QUACH WITH THE ASSOCIATION OF
COMMUNITY HEALTH ORGANIZATION IN
FULL SUPPORT. THANK YOU. JULIA
LIAO, ASIAN HEALTH SERVICES IN
FULL SUPPORT. DARINA WONG, ASIAN
RESOURCES, INC. PROUD CO-SPONSOR
AND STRONG SUPPORT. THANK YOU.
GOOD AFTERNOON, JOHANN CARDENAS,
ON BEHALF OF THE CALIFORNIA
POLYTECHNIC HEALTH NETWORK AND
HAVING OUR SAY, COALITION AND
STRONG SUPPORT. THANK YOU,
CHRISTINE SMITH, HEALTH ACCESS
CALIFORNIA AND SUPPORT REBECCA
GONZALEZ, WESTERN CENTER ON LAW
AND POVERTY AND SUPPORT. GOOD
AFTERNOON, CARLOS SANTANA. ON
BEHALF OF THE CALIFORNIA
IMMIGRANT POLICY CENTER. WE WERE
UNABLE TO SUBMIT OUR LETTER BY
THE DEADLINE, BUT WE STAND IN
STRONG SUPPORT. THANK LAN LEI
FROM ASIAN AMERICANS, ADVANCING
JUSTICE, SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA,
AND STRONG SUPPORT MANZANITA ON
THE BEHALF OF ORANGE COUNTY
ASIAN PACIFIC ISLANDER ALLIANCE
IN SUPPORT. JALEN JOYCE ON
BEHALF OF KOREAN CENTER OF THE
EAST BAY AND LITTLE TOKYO
SERVICE CENTER IN SUPPORT. THANK
YOU. TUDO WITH THE SOUTHEAST
ASIA RESOURCE ACTION CENTER,
PROUD CO-SPONSOR AND STRONG
SUPPORT. THANK YOU. YOUR NGUYEN
LTD, A MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION
FOR CHINESE COMMUNITY. I SUPPORT
. HI. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY SIMON.
MY I'M A MEMBER OF THE MOORLACH.
I'M SUPPORT. THANK YOU. HELLO.
GOOD AFTERNOON. MENTAL HEALTH
ASSOCIATION FOR CHINESE
COMMUNITY. I SUPPORT. THANK YOU.
HELLO I AM YOUNG TANG MÀ LU█T
ALAMEDA AND CHAI YEE ON. MY NAME
IS YOUNG HONG TANG. I LIVE IN
ALAMEDA COUNTY. I SUPPORT. I AM,
ALAMEDA COUNTY. YOU KNOW. THANK
YOU. MY NAME IS. HUM. YEAH. I
LIVE IN ALAMEDA COUNTY OF
OAKLAND. I SUPPORT DODD. HI.
THANK YOU, ANDREW MINOR, ON
BEHALF OF THE LOS ANGELES
LANGUAGE JUSTICE COALITION, IN
STRONG SUPPORT, CELESTE WICKS ON
BEHALF OF CLEAN EARTH FOR KIDS
IN STRONG SUPPORT. ALSO
SUPPORTING OUR NORTH COUNTY
EQUITY AND JUSTICE ECO
SUSTAINABILITY PEEPS NKA
ACTIVIST SAN DIEGO GRANDPARENTS
ACTING TOGETHER IN FACTS. THANK
YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. NOW, DO WE HAVE ANY
OPPOSITION TO THE BILL? PLEASE
COME FORWARD. ANY OPPOSITION
SEEING NONE. ARE THERE ANY
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO WISH
TO TESTIFY IN OPPOSITION TO THE
BILL? SEEING NONE. I'LL BRING IT
BACK TO THE COMMITTEE. ANY
QUESTIONS? COMMENTS, MOTIONS?
SEEING NONE. I WILL BRING IT
BACK TO THE AUTHOR. TO CLOSE, I
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOUR AYE
VOTE. I'M SORRY. THANK YOU,
SENATOR MIN, FOR WORKING ON THIS
ISSUE AND MAKING SURE THAT,
SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS LANGUAGE
ACCESS IS PRIORITIZED, THIS IS,
OF COURSE, GOING TO COST
SOMETHING, BUT I THINK IT'S
IMPORTANT TO HAVE THAT COST AND
THAT PRICE TO, AND I WILL BE
HAPPY TO JOIN ON AS A JOINT OR A
PRINCIPAL AUTHOR. WHATEVER IS
ALLOWED, AND TO KEEP SHEPHERDING
THIS THROUGH THE ASSEMBLY AS
WELL, MAYBE ON THE FLOOR AS
WELL. BUT LET ME KNOW. AND THE
BILL HAS BEEN PROPERLY MOVED AND
SECONDED, AND I'M RECOMMENDING
AN I VOTE. MADAM SECRETARY,
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. THE MOTION
IS DUE. PASS AS AMENDED, TO THE
ASSEMBLY APPROPRIATIONS
COMMITTEE. LI I LI I ASAELI
CALDERON CALDERON. AYE. GIBSON.
JACKSON. JACKSON AYE. DIXON.
ORTEGA. ORTEGA AYE. 40 ZERO.
THAT BILL IS OUT.
CONGRATULATIONS. I GOT TO GET
BACK TO MY COMMITTEE. THANK YOU.
PRISCILLA. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. ONLY TWO. BOY, YOU
DRIVE A HARD BARGAIN THERE.
WIECKOWSKI.
ALL RIGHT.
I SHOULD WAIT SIX MONTHS. YEAH,
THAT'S. WELL, YEAH. YES WELL,
BUSINESS BEFORE THE ASSEMBLY.
HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE IS
CONCLUDED.