OKAY. GOOD AFTERNOON. WE ARE
GOING TO CALL THE HEARING OF THE
MILITARY AND VETERAN AFFAIRS
COMMITTEE TO ORDER, THERE ARE
FIVE BILLS ON THE FILE TODAY.
ONE RESOLUTION. TWO BILLS ARE ON
CONSENT. THE BILLS ON CONSENT
ARE SB 920 SALADO AND SB 1138.
NEWMAN AND WE ARE, ALSO WE'RE
GOING TO BE HAVING HEARINGS FOR
SB 914 UMBERG SB 916 SALADO, SB
1500 DARAZO AND SJ, R SIX
CABALLERO. AND SO WE WILL JUST
MOVE FORWARD AS A SUBCOMMITTEE
AND ALLOW FOR BILL
PRESENTATIONS. AND THE BILLS
WILL BE PLACED ON CALL IF WE
DON'T HAVE A QUORUM BY THE END
OF THE BILL. PRESENTATIONS AND
MISTER OR SENATOR SERRANO, WOULD
YOU LIKE TO LIKE TO PRESENT SB
916? THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
PUBLIC POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION
WAIVER OF TUITION FEES, FOR
VETERANS, EXTENDED EDUCATION
COURSES. PLEASE PROCEED. THANK
YOU. HONORABLE CHAIR. AND I'M
HERE TO PRESENT SB 916. SB 916
IS JUST A CLARIFYING BILL ON THE
INTENT OF THE LEGISLATURE FOR
THE CALIFORNIA VETERAN FEE
WAIVER PROGRAM, KNOWN AS CALVERT
FEE WAIVER. THE CALVERT FEE
WAIVER IS A CALIFORNIA SPECIFIC
BENEFIT FOR SPOUSES AND CHILDREN
OF DISABLED VETERANS. THIS
UNIQUE BENEFIT HAS GONE THROUGH
MANY CHANGES AND ADJUSTMENTS
THROUGH THE YEARS, AND CURRENTLY
PROVIDES FREE TUITION AT PUBLIC
UNIVERSITIES FOR THESE
DEPENDENTS WITH CERTAIN AGE
REQUIREMENTS. AS LONG AS THE
VETERAN IS 100% DISABLED DUE TO
SERVICE CONNECTED INJURIES.
UNFORTUNATELY, SOME OF OUR
PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES UNIVERSITIES
HAVE DISSECTED THE LAW AND
INTENT OF THE CALVERT FEE WAIVER
PROGRAM AND USED AN UNINTENDED
LOOPHOLE TO DENY THIS BENEFIT TO
OUR VETERANS FAMILIES. FOR
SPECIFIC DEGREE PROGRAMS. THIS
BILL CAME TO ME THROUGH ONE OF
MY OWN VETERAN CONSTITUENTS, WHO
BELIEVED THERE WAS A MISTAKE
WHEN THEIR CHILD WAS DENIED THE
CALVERT FEE WAIVER WHILE TRYING
TO ATTEND A PUBLIC UNIVERSITY
FOR A BACHELOR'S DEGREE OF
WILDFIRE SCIENCE, AND THE SON
WANTED TO BECOME A FIREFIGHTER.
AND ANYTIME SOMEBODY WANTS TO
BECOME A FIREFIGHTER, IT IS OKAY
BY ME IN INVESTIGATING THIS.
THIS ISSUE, MY STAFF FOUND THAT
THE LOOPHOLE BEING USED IS THE
PHRASE MANDATORY SYSTEM WIDE
TUITION AND FEES FOR DETERMINING
THAT SPECIAL EXTENDED EDUCATION
DEGREE PROGRAMS ARE NOT INCLUDED
IN SYSTEM WIDE TUITION AND FEES.
THESE EXTENDED EDUCATION
PROGRAMS ARE SELF-FUNDED AND
UNIQUE TO INDIVIDUAL CAMPUSES,
HENCE THE USE OF THE LOOPHOLE OF
SYSTEM WIDE TUITION AND FEES
UNDER THE UC AND COMMUNITY
COLLEGE SYSTEM'S EXTENDED
EDUCATION IS LIMITED TO
CERTIFICATION AND LICENSING
CLASSES LARGELY USED BY ADULT
POPULATIONS, SHIFTING THEIR
CAREERS. IT IS UNIQUE, UNIQUELY
UNDER THE CSU SYSTEM, THAT THESE
EXTENDED EDUCATION PROGRAMS ARE
ALSO FULL DEGREE PROGRAMS.
SEEING THAT THESE PROGRAMS CAN
COVER MUCH MORE THAN DEGREES, I
NARROWLY TAILORED MY BILL TO
COVER JUST UNDERGRADUATE
EXTENDED EDUCATION DEGREE
PROGRAMS. I DID THIS TO KEEP AND
CLARIFY THE ORIGINAL INTENT OF
THE LEGISLATURE IN CREATING THE
CALVERT FEE WAIVER. IT IS TIME
THAT WE CLOSE THE LOOPHOLE THAT
IS DENYING BENEFITS INTENDED TO
PROVIDE A FREE PUBLIC EDUCATION
TO THIS SPECIFIC POPULATION. SB
916 WILL SOLIDIFY THE INTENT OF
THE LEGISLATURE IN THE CALVERT
FEE WAIVER PROGRAM FOR THE
BENEFIT OF THE FAMILIES OF OUR
DISABLED VETS. SO, MEMBERS, I
WOULD ASK WHEN THE TIME COMES
THAT YOU RESPECTFULLY ASK OUR
VOTE AYE ON THIS BILL AND HELP
OUR VETERANS FAMILIES OUT. AND,
WITH THAT, I DO NOT IN KEEPING
WITH MY USUAL PRACTICE UNLESS I
REALLY, REALLY NEED AN EXPERT. I
DON'T BRING THEM BECAUSE ALL
THEY DO IS SAY THE SAME THING. I
JUST SAID. SO, WITH THAT, I JUST
ASK FOR AN AYE VOTE WHEN THE
TIME COMES. OKAY THANK YOU. AND,
ANY OPPOSITION TO THE BILL SINCE
YOU DON'T HAVE A WITNESS IN
SUPPORT, ANY WITNESSES IN
OPPOSITION?
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, ERIC BARKEY
WITH THE CALIFORNIA STATE
UNIVERSITY OFFICE OF THE
CHANCELLOR, OUR COMMITMENT TO
OUR STUDENTS WHO HAVE SERVED IN
OUR COUNTRY AND ARMED SERVICES
AND THEIR DEPENDENTS HAS BEEN
UNWAVERING. WE HAVE SERVED OVER
9000 STUDENTS IN THE LAST
ENROLLMENT YEAR, AND WE INTEND
TO CONTINUE TO DO SO. IT'S
UNFORTUNATE THAT WE'RE HERE IN
OPPOSITION. IT'S NOT BECAUSE OF
THE MERITS OF THE OF THE BILL,
BUT IT'S REALLY ABOUT THE
FINANCIAL STRUCTURE BY WHICH WE
OPERATE, TO EXTEND TO EXTENDED
EDUCATION PROGRAMS. THESE ARE
100% SELF-SUPPORT. THESE ARE
PROGRAMS THAT ARE FUNDED ONLY BY
STUDENT FEES AND TUITIONS. SO
THE WAIVERS WOULD REDUCE THE
LEVEL OF REVENUES TO SUPPORT
THOSE PROGRAMS. CURRENTLY, AS WE
SIT HERE TODAY, WE CAN PROBABLY
GET BY. WE'RE JUST WORRIED THAT
WITH THE EXPANSION OF THIS
LANGUAGE, IT WILL GROW. AND IF
IT GROWS, THE UNINTENDED
CONSEQUENCES THAT THOSE PROGRAMS
COULD NOT BE SUSTAINABLE. AND WE
MAY BE AT RISK OF LOSING SOME OF
THOSE PROGRAMS DUE TO THE NUMBER
OF FEE WAIVERS. THAT WOULD BE
PROVIDED. IT IS ONLY ON THAT
BASIS THAT WE HAVE AN
OPPOSITION. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THANK YOU. AND ANYONE, IN
SUPPORT OF THE BILL TO SPEAK
FROM THE PUBLIC, ANYONE IN
OPPOSITION? OKAY. BRINGING IT
BACK TO THE DAIS, ANY QUESTIONS
OR COMMENTS, SENATOR, I WANT TO
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BRINGING
THIS BILL. AND UNFORTUNATELY, I
FIND THAT OUR VETERANS AND THEIR
FAMILIES ARE ALWAYS THE LAST TO
GET, YOU KNOW, GRANTS OR OTHER
THINGS THAT ARE DEFINITELY
NEEDED. SO, I'M GLAD THAT YOU'RE
ABLE TO CLOSE THE LOOPHOLE, AND
I WOULD LIKE TO BE CONSIDERED AS
A COAUTHOR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU
. YEAH, YEAH. OH YEAH.
OBVIOUSLY, I THINK THIS IS A
VERY WORTHY PROPOSAL, AND I'M A
BIT DISAPPOINTED THAT, WE JUST
GOT VALIDATION THAT THE OFFICE
OF THE CHANCELLOR DOES NOT
PRIORITIZE VETERANS, AND I THINK
THAT'S DISAPPOINTING,
UNFORTUNATELY. AND IT SHOWS THE
FOR THE BILL. SO IT VALIDATES
THE VERY NEED FOR US TO TAKE
LEGISLATIVE ACTION TO MAKE SURE
THAT THIS IS TAKEN CARE OF. AND
I'M PROUD TO SUPPORT IT. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU, I WANT TO THANK
YOU FOR BRINGING THE BILL
FORWARD, WE AS AS SOMEONE WHO
HAD A FEE WAIVER TO GET THROUGH
COLLEGE MYSELF BECAUSE OF MY
DAD'S SERVICE IN VIETNAM. IT
MADE ALL THE DIFFERENCE IN THE
WORLD FOR ME TO BE ABLE TO GET
AN EDUCATION. AND I KNOW HOW
IMPORTANT THIS IS FOR STUDENTS,
ESPECIALLY STUDENTS WHO ARE
STRUGGLING. SO, APPRECIATE YOU
LOOKING AT THE WAYS IN WHICH WE
NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT KIDS ARE
COVERED, STUDENTS AND SPOUSES
ARE COVERED NO MATTER WHAT
THEY'RE STUDYING IN SCHOOL.
RIGHT. THANK YOU. SO WITH THAT,
I MAKE A MOTION. OH, WE DON'T
HAVE A QUORUM. NO QUORUM YET. NO
QUORUM YET. BUT WOULD YOU LIKE
TO. WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO CLOSE?
OKAY. SO I AM. I'M NOT WITHOUT
SYMPATHY OR, YOU KNOW, I
UNDERSTAND THE CONCERNS OF THE
CSU, ESPECIALLY IN REGARDS TO
THE BUDGET, BEING AS THAT, YOU
KNOW, I AM ON THE BUDGET
COMMITTEE, AND I HAVE TO DEAL
WITH IT, HOWEVER, YOU KNOW, THIS
SELF-FUNDED PROGRAM, ACCORDING
TO OUR OWN HIGHER EDUCATION
COMMITTEE STAFF ANALYSIS FOR
ANOTHER BILL THAT'S BEFORE THIS
LEGISLATURE, THE STATE
UNIVERSITY CONTINUING ED REVENUE
FUND HAS INCREASED FROM
198,000,000 IN 20 14 TO $328
MILLION AS OF 220 2023. AND IN
FACT, THAT FUND IS SO LUCRATIVE
THAT THE CSU IS SPONSORING
LEGISLATION TO BE ABLE TO ABSORB
THE ACCOUNT INTO THE GENERAL
FUND, TO BE USED FOR OTHER
ACADEMIC VENTURES. I THINK
THERE'S ROOM FOR THIS PROGRAM
AND TO HELP OUR VETERANS. AND
WITH THAT, I WOULD RESPECTFULLY
ASK FOR AN AYE VOTE WHEN THE
TIME COMES. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
WE WILL KEEP THIS BILL ON CALL
UNTIL WE ESTABLISH A QUORUM. AND
THANK YOU. DON'T THINK WE HAVE
ANOTHER AUTHOR. SO WE'LL WAIT.
COME ON DOWN. COME ON DOWN.
OKAY, WHY DON'T WE GO AHEAD AND
ESTABLISH A QUORUM AS YOU GET
SETTLED HERE? SENATOR CABALLERO,
JUST ONE SECOND. SECRETARY, CALL
THE ROLL. CHAU DAVIS. ADDIS
HERE. LACKEY HERE. ALVAREZ
BURNER. CARRILLO MATHIS.
VALENCIA. VIA PADILLA. HERE WE
HAVE A QUORUM. WONDERFUL SENATOR
CABALLERO, DO YOU WANT TO GO
AHEAD AND PRESENT SGA SIX? THANK
YOU VERY MUCH, MADAM CHAIR. AND
MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE. I,
TODAY IT GIVES ME GREAT PLEASURE
TO PRESENT SER SIX, AN IMPORTANT
BILL TO DENOUNCE THE HISTORIC
DISCRIMINATION AGAINST THE LGBTQ
PLUS COMMUNITY CREATED UNDER THE
US MILITARY'S DON'T ASK, DON'T
TELL POLICY. SER CALLS UPON THE
UNITED STATES CONGRESS AND THE
PRESIDENT TO CREATE AN EFFECTIVE
REMEDY TO ADDRESS THE OTHER THAN
HONORABLE AND DISHONORABLE
DISCHARGES ISSUED UNDER THE
DON'T ASK, DON'T TELL POLICY
THAT HAVE NEGATIVELY NEGATIVELY
IMPACTED LGBTQ PLUS MEMBERS OF
THE MILITARY, AND TO RESTORE THE
BENEFITS THAT THEY ARE ENTITLED
TO UNDER THE DON'T ASK, DON'T
TELL POLICY. IF A MEMBER OF THE
MILITARY IDENTIFIED AS A MEMBER
OF THE LGBTQ PLUS COMMUNITY, IT
COULD LEAD TO A DISHONORABLE,
HONORABLE OR OTHER THAN
HONORABLE DISCHARGE. VETERANS
THAT RECEIVE THIS. THESE
DISCHARGES LOST ACCESS TO THEIR
MILITARY BENEFITS SUCH AS HEALTH
CARE COST, COLLEGE TUITION
ASSISTANCE, EMPLOYMENT
OPPORTUNITIES, AND RETIREMENT
BENEFITS BETWEEN 1994 AND 2011,
THE DON'T ASK, DON'T TELL POLICY
UNDER THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
LED TO THE DISCHARGE OF MORE
THAN 14,000 SERVICE MEMBERS.
ADDITIONALLY PRIOR TO THE DON'T
ASK, DON'T TELL POLICY, THE US
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
ESTABLISHED POLICIES THAT
PENALIZED MILITARY MEMBERS AND
RESULTED IN THE DISCHARGE OF
GAY, LESBIAN, AND BISEXUAL
MEMBERS REGARDLESS OF THEIR
SERVICE TO THE COUNTRY AND GOOD
MILITARY SERVICE. DURING THE
1980S, MORE THAN 17,000 MILITARY
MEMBERS WERE DISMISSED FROM
THEIR DUTIES DUE TO THEIR SEXUAL
ORIENTATION. IN 2010, THE DON'T
ASK, DON'T TELL POLICY WAS
REPEALED BY PRESIDENT OBAMA,
WHICH ALLOWED MEMBERS TO SERVE
OPENLY WITHOUT FEAR OF DISCHARGE
AND CREATED A PROCESS FOR
DISCHARGE. MEMBERS TO AMEND
THEIR STATUS THROUGH THE UNITED
STATES DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS
AFFAIRS. THE REVIEW PROCESS TO
GRANT BENEFITS TO A MEMBER WHO
HAS BEEN WRONGFULLY DISCHARGED
IS MADE ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS.
VETERANS REQUIRE AN ADVOCATE TO
GATHER AND SUBMIT DOCUMENTATION
FOR THE VA'S REVIEW, INCLUDING
SERVICE RECORDS, INCIDENT
DETAILS, SUPPORTING EVIDENCE AND
PERFORMANCE EVALUATIONS. THE
CURRENT PROCESS TO UPGRADE THE
STATUS OF DISCHARGED VETERANS IS
UNNECESSARILY BURDENSOME, ADDING
COMPLEXITY TO AN ALREADY
STRAINED RELATIONSHIP, FORCING
VETERANS TO REVISIT WHAT COULD
WHAT WAS, FOR MANY OF THEM, A
DIFFICULT TIME IN THEIR LIFE AND
COULD CREATE EMOTIONAL BARRIERS
FOR MANY, IN MANY CASES
REENGAGING WITH THE DEPARTMENT
THAT DISCRIMINATED AGAINST THEM
COULD WORSEN VETERANS TRAUMA AND
AMPLIFY FEELINGS OF SHAME,
ANXIETY AND ANGER. SER SIX URGES
THE PRESIDENT AND CONGRESS TO
ESTABLISH A STRAIGHTFORWARD
PROCESS, PROVIDE LEGAL
ASSISTANCE, AND RECTIFY THE
WRONG DISCHARGE OR
MISCLASSIFICATION OF VETERANS
BASED ON SEXUAL ORIENTATION,
ENSURING THEY RECEIVE THE
BENEFITS TO WHICH THEY ARE
ENTITLED. DUE TO THEIR HONORABLE
SERVICE IN THE MILITARY. WITH ME
TODAY TO TESTIFY IN SUPPORT AND
TO HELP ADDRESS ANY QUESTIONS IS
JOE ENGLE, A CRYPTOLOGY
CRYPTOLOGIC TECHNICIAN?
INTERPRETIVE TWO CLASS IN THE US
NAVY. HI. GOOD AFTERNOON. I WANT
TO THANK THE ASSEMBLY MILITARY
AND VETERANS AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
FOR ALLOWING ME TO TESTIFY IN
SUPPORT OF SCR SIX. MY NAME IS
JOE ENGLE. I'VE BEEN A
CALIFORNIA RESIDENT SINCE 2000,
AND I'M A SERVICE CONNECTED
DISABLED VETERAN. IN 1999, I WAS
HONORABLY DISCHARGED AND WAS
AWARDED THE JOINT SERVICE
ACHIEVEMENT MEDAL FOR MY
OUTSTANDING WORK AS A NAVY
LINGUIST. I'D COME OUT AS A GAY
MAN TO MYSELF AT THE AGE OF 23,
IN 1993, AND STARTED MY SERVICE
IN THE ACTIVE DUTY AND THE
ACTIVE DUTY NAVY A YEAR LATER IN
1994, THE YEAR DON'T ASK, DON'T
TELL WENT INTO EFFECT. AS A
VETERAN WHO HELPS OTHERS IN BOTH
MY PROFESSIONAL AND PRIVATE
LIVES, I ENCOURAGE THEM TO TAKE
ADVANTAGE OF ALL THE VETERAN'S
BENEFITS THEY HAVE EARNED.
UNFORTUNATELY, BECAUSE OF SOME
OF MY QUEER FRIENDS WERE
SEPARATED DUE TO THEIR
SELF-IDENTIFIED SEXUALITY WITH
NON HONORABLE DISCHARGES, THEY
HAVE BEEN DENIED BENEFITS. THEY
WOULD HAVE OTHERWISE EARNED DUE
TO DON'T ASK, DON'T TELL. I WAS
UNABLE TO CONFRONT TEN YEARS OF
SEXUAL TRAUMA THAT PRECEDED MY
TIME IN THE NAVY, FOR FEAR THAT
IN SPEAKING TO A PSYCHIATRIST, I
WOULD END UP COMING OUT, WHICH
WOULD HAVE VERY WELL ENDED MY
NAVY CAREER. I WASN'T ABLE TO
BE. I WAS UNABLE TO BE
COMPLETELY HONEST WITH MY
DOCTORS, ESPECIALLY ABOUT MY
SEXUAL HEALTH. AT ONE POINT IN
HAWAII, I WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A
CONDITION CALLED
THROMBOCYTOPENIA, OR LOW
PLATELETS. ONE OF THE CAUSES OF
THAT IS HIV. THE MILITARY
DOCTORS PUT ME THROUGH A ROUTINE
OF SIX MONTHLY HIV TESTS, WHICH
COMPOUNDED MY ALREADY HIGH
LEVELS OF ANXIETY AROUND MY
SEXUALITY. BY THE TIME THE
RESULTS CAME BACK FROM TEST
NUMBER ONE, RESULTS CAME BACK
SLOWER. BACK IN THOSE DAYS, I
WAS HEADED BACK FOR TEST NUMBER
TWO. I ALSO ALMOST WAS NOT AWARE
OF MY SECURITY CLEARANCE. I WAS
I WOULD NEED FOR MY WORK AS A
LINGUIST, THE DEPARTMENT OF
DEFENSE CIVIL SERVANT WHO WAS
CONDUCTING MY SECURITY CLEARANCE
INTERVIEW ASKED ME IF I HAD LED
AN ALTERNATIVE LIFESTYLE. HE
INFORMED ME THAT MY REFUSAL TO
ANSWER COULD COST ME MY SECURITY
CLEARANCE, BUT IRONICALLY, MY
REFUSAL TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION
WAS IN ACCORDANCE WITH DON'T
ASK, DON'T TELL. FORTUNATELY FOR
ME, MY CLEARANCE WAS GRANTED
DESPITE MY MEDICAL, MANY MEDICAL
AND SECURITY CLEARANCE
CHALLENGES I FACED DUE TO MY
SEXUALITY AND THE ANXIETY THEY
CAUSED, I CONSIDER MYSELF TO BE
ONE OF THE LUCKY ONES WHO WAS
ABLE TO FULFILL MY ENTIRE SIX
YEAR CONTRACT WITH THE NAVY. ONE
OF MY LESBIAN FRIENDS, WHO WAS A
LINGUIST IN THE AIR FORCE, WAS
UNINTENTIONALLY OUTED BY ONE OF
HER FELLOW AIRMEN IN PASSING
DURING A CONVERSATION SOON AFTER
FINISHING ALMOST TWO YEARS OF
EXPENSIVE TRAINING TO WORK AS A
LINGUIST. WHAT IF MY GAY MARINE
FRIENDS, WHO ALSO SERVED IN
HAWAII AND A FELLOW CALIFORNIA
RESIDENT, HAD A WORSE
EXPERIENCE? FOR MONTHS HE WAS
FOLLOWED, BULLIED, BEATEN AND
EVEN THREATENED WITH WITH DEATH
BY A GROUP OF FELLOW MARINES WHO
SAW HIM LEAVING ONE OF THE GAY
BARS IN WAIKIKI. HAD HE REPORTED
WHAT HAPPENED, HE FEARED BEING
KICKED OUT OF THE MARINES.
NEEDLESS TO SAY, HE STILL
SUFFERS FROM MENTAL ANGUISH THAT
EXPERIENCE HAD CAUSED HIM. AFTER
MANY YEARS, OUR PATHS FATEFULLY
CROSSED AGAIN OVER SOCIAL MEDIA.
AFTER HE SHARED HIS STORY WITH
ME, I ENCOURAGED HIM TO FILE A
SERVICE CONNECTED DISABILITY
CLAIM FOR WHICH HE WAS
EVENTUALLY AWARDED 70%
DISABILITY. FOR THESE REASONS, I
WHOLEHEARTEDLY SUPPORT SER SIX,
WHICH WILL HELP THOSE SERVICE
MEMBERS WHO INDEED SERVED
HONORABLY BUT WERE DISCHARGED
DUE TO THEIR SEXUAL ORIENTATION.
THEIR SEPARATIONS, UNLIKE MINE,
CAME WITH A REDUCED
CHARACTERIZATION OF SERVICE
WHICH NOW NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED
RETROACTIVELY WITH AN UPGRADE TO
AN HONORABLE DISCHARGE, WHICH
SER SIX ADDRESSES. SO THEY CAN
REAP THE BENEFITS THEY DESERVE.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR ALLOWING ME
TO SHARE MY TESTIMONY TODAY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND ANYONE
WITNESSES IN OPPOSITION. ANYONE
FROM THE PUBLIC SPEAKING IN
SUPPORT? CRAIG PULSIFER, ON
BEHALF OF EQUALITY CALIFORNIA IN
SUPPORT. THANK YOU. ANYONE FROM
THE PUBLIC SPEAKING IN
OPPOSITION BRING IT BACK TO THE
DAIS. ANY QUESTIONS? COMMENTS.
THANK YOU. OKAY. MOTION BY ADDIS
SECOND BY VÆ VALLAPUDUA. THANK
YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE TODAY
AND SHARING YOUR STORY AND THE
STORIES OF OTHERS, AND
APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING THIS
RESOLUTION FORWARD. IT'S I THINK
A REALLY IMPORTANT POSITION FOR
US TO TAKE AND, AND MESSAGE FOR
US TO SEND. SO VERY MUCH
APPRECIATED, SECRETARY, CAN YOU
CALL THE ROLL? YEAH. OH, DID YOU
WANT TO CLOSE RESPECTFULLY ASK
FOR YOUR. AYE. VOTE. THANK YOU
FOR YOUR COMMENT. APPRECIATE IT.
THANK YOU. COR SIX MOTION IS BE
ADOPTED. THIRD READING SHIAVO
CHAU VÚI DAVIES. DAVIES. NOT
VOTING ADDIS LACKEY ALVAREZ I
BURNER. CARRILLO HI. MATHIS
VALENCIA AND PADUA. THANK YOU
SIR. ESTARÁ VOEPEL DO I OKAY,
WE'LL LEAVE THAT ON CALL. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND SO
WE'LL GO TO THE CONSENT CALENDAR
NOW. AND WHILE MR. UMBER COMES
AND GETS SETTLED, CAN YOU. IS
THERE A MOTION FOR THIS? A
CONSENT AT THIS? DAVIES. A
SECOND. GO AHEAD AND CALL THE
ROLL. ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR,
WE HAVE SB 920 BY SALADO AND SB
1138 BY SENATOR NEWMAN. BOTH
HAVE THE Þ MOTIONS ARE DUE
PASSED TO APPROPRIATIONS
COMMITTEE. SCHIAVO DAVIS A ADDIS
LACKEY I ALVAREZ. BURNER
CARRILLO I MATHIS. VALENCIA VIA
PADILLA I OKAY, WE'LL LEAVE THAT
ON CALL FOR ABSENT MEMBERS AS
WELL. AND SENATOR UMBERG, WOULD
YOU LIKE TO GO AHEAD AND PRESENT
SB 914? THANK YOU. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH, MADAM CHAIR. I WANT
TO THANK YOU AND, CHRISTIAN
BERKIN FOR THEIR HELP ON THIS
BILL, LET ME TELL YOU WHAT THIS
BILL IS ABOUT, HOW IT WAS
GENERATED FOR THE LAST SEVERAL
YEARS. EMPLOYERS IN PARTICULAR,
HAVE COME TO ME AND SAID, LOOK,
WE WOULD LIKE TO HIRE VETERANS
WITH CERTAIN SKILLS
SPECIFICALLY, AS IS THE CASE IN
THIS BILL, THE NEW CAR, THE NEW
CAR DEALERS HAVE SAID WE WOULD
LIKE TO HIRE AUTO TECHNICIANS,
FOLKS THAT HAVE GAINED
EXPERIENCE IN THE MILITARY, THAT
IS ANALOGOUS TO WHAT THEY MIGHT
DO IN THE CIVILIAN SECTOR, OFFER
THEM VERY HIGH PAYING JOBS OR
DIRECT THEM TOWARDS TRAINING.
THEY ACTUALLY HAVE A SCHOLARSHIP
. AND I SAID, THAT'S A GREAT
IDEA. AND I'VE SUGGESTED THIS
FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS TO
CALVERT, AND THUS FAR WE'VE NOT
HAD, A MATCHING WEBSITE WHERE AN
EMPLOYER CAN SAY, LOOK, THESE
ARE THE SKILLS I'M LOOKING FOR.
I'M LOOKING FOR VETERANS, AND
VETERANS CAN SEE THESE ARE THE
SKILLS I HAVE AND DO A MATCH
ONLINE. I KNOW THIS IS A UNIQUE
CONCEPT. IT'S ONLY BEEN AROUND
FOR ABOUT 20 YEARS. BUT BUT IT'S
ABOUT TIME THAT CALIFORNIA DO
THIS FOR ITS VETERANS AND NOT
JUST FOR ITS VETERANS. ACTUALLY
FOR THE EMPLOYER COMMUNITY. IT
IS A SHAME THAT WE SPEND AS MUCH
MONEY AS WE DO TRAINING PEOPLE
TO PERFORM CERTAIN SKILLS,
WHETHER IT'S AVIATION SKILLS OR
LEADERSHIP SKILLS OR AUTO
MECHANIC SKILLS. AND WE DON'T
HAVE A PLACE WHERE THOSE SKILLS
CAN BE MATCHED WITH AN EMPLOYER
THAT'S SEEKING JUST THOSE
SKILLS. SO THAT'S WHAT THIS BILL
DOES. IT SAYS CALVERT. MAKE IT
SO. THANK YOU. WONDERFUL. AND DO
YOU HAVE NÓ WITNESSES IN SUPPORT
OR. OH I DO, I'VE GOT A WITNESS
IN SUPPORT. I'M VERY HAPPY. SO
YES. COME ON DOWN. MARGIELA ON
BEHALF OF THE CALIFORNIA CAR
DEALERS ASSOCIATION. I'LL JUST
KEEP IT REALLY SHORT. STRONG
SUPPORT OF THIS LEGISLATION.
HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS AS
THEY ARISE. THANK YOU SIR, AND
ANY WITNESSES IN OPPOSITION.
ANYONE FROM THE PUBLIC LIKE TO
SPEAK IN SUPPORT OR IN
OPPOSITION? OKAY. ANY QUESTIONS,
COMMENTS? I JUST WANT TO THANK
THE SENATOR FOR BRINGING THIS
FORWARD. SUCH A GREAT, COULD BE
SUCH A GREAT ASSET FOR OUR
COMMUNITIES. THE ASSEMBLY MEMBER
WILL AGREE THAT THE ANTELOPE
VALLEY WOULD GREATLY BENEFIT
FROM THE AEROSPACE INDUSTRY THAT
WE HAVE THERE, AND THIS, I
BELIEVE, WILL ACTUALLY HELP US
GET MORE VETERANS BEING EMPLOYED
IN DIFFERENT INDUSTRIES, NOT
ONLY IN THE AUTO INDUSTRY, BUT
ALSO IN AEROSPACE INDUSTRY.
THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS
FORWARD. WELL, THANK YOU. THANK
YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU SO
MUCH FOR THE BILL. DO YOU WANT
TO CLOSE? I WOULD URGE AND I
VOTE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK
YOU. SO WE HAVE A MOTION AND A
SECOND. WILL YOU CALL THE ROLL
PLEASE? SB 914 BY SENATOR UMBERG
MOTION IS DUE. PASS AND REFER TO
COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
SHIAVO SHIAVO. AYE. DAVIES
DAVIES. AYE. ADDIS AYE. ADDIS
AYE. LACKEY AYE. LACKEY. AYE
ALVAREZ. ALVAREZ. AYE BURNER.
JUAN. CARRILLO. CARRILLO. AYE
MATHIS. VALENCIA VILA. PADUA.
PADUA. AYE THANK YOU. WE'LL
LEAVE THAT ON CALL FOR OTHER
MEMBERS. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
MEMBERS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO
MUCH. OKAY SO ON THE HUNT FOR
SENATOR DURAZZO.
FIRST. WHILE WE'RE WAITING, WHY
DON'T WE GO AHEAD AND. IS THERE
A MOTION FOR SENATOR SENATOR'S
BILL? SB 916? GREAT MOTION. AND
SECOND, CAN WE CALL THE ROLL,
PLEASE? SENATE BILL 916 BY
SEYARTO MOTION IS DUE PASSED AND
RE REFER TO COMMITTEE ON
APPROPRIATIONS. SCHIAVO.
SCHIAVO, AYE. DAVIES. DAVIES.
AYE ADDIS. ADDIS. AYE. LAKI.
LAKI. AYE. ALVAREZ. ALVAREZ.
AYE. BURNER. CARRILLO CARRILLO.
AYE. MATHIS VALENCIA. VILA
PADUA. VÀ. PADUA. AYE. WE'LL
LEAVE THAT ON CALL FOR MISSING
MEMBERS AS WELL.
YES THE NEXT.
SHE STOOD AROUND. OR YEAH, SHE.
SHE WAS BACK. SO THIS GUY, SHE'S
IN TENNIS CAMP RIGHT NOW, SO
SHE'S. I THINK SHE'S NÓ. SHE
TOOK UP. IT'S 3.5 HOURS A DAY.
OH, WOW. YEAH YEAH. BY THE TIME.
YEAH SHE'S PRETTY ACCURATE.
AYE. I DO, WHILE WE'RE WAITING.
I DO HAVE ACTUALLY SOMETHING I
WANTED TO SAY, SINCE THIS IS THE
LAST HEARING FOR OUR CONSULTANT
CHRISTIAN, WHO IS MOVING ON TO
THE SPEAKER'S OFFICE. YES, NEXT
WEEK. SO, I JUST WANTED TO THANK
HIM FOR HIS AMAZING WORK HERE. I
KNOW HE'S, SUPPORTED MANY CHAIRS
OF THIS COMMITTEE AND HIS SEVEN
YEARS, AND I REALLY VERY MUCH
RESPECTED HIS WORK, HIS
DILIGENCE, HIS, DEEP CARE FOR
THE ISSUE AND SUPPORTING
VETERANS AND THOSE SERVING, AND
I KNOW THAT HE'S GOING TO BE A
GREAT ASSET FOR US TO HAVE IN
THE SPEAKER'S OFFICE. AND STILL
VERY MUCH INVOLVED IN THIS ISSUE
AND A RESOURCE FOR US GOING
FORWARD. BUT WE WILL DEEPLY MISS
HIM AT THE COMMITTEE. AND I KNOW
WE'LL MISS HIM A LOT, SO I JUST
WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH.
CONGRATULATIONS. AND THANK YOU
FOR YOUR AMAZING WORK AND
INCREDIBLE SERVICE AND ADVOCACY.
THANK YOU. AND AMAZING TIMING.
SENATOR GIARRUSSO IS HERE TO
PRESENT THE LAST BILL, SB 1500
Dð LAST BILL. I GOT TO GO BACK
TO JUDICIARY. OH MY GOD. YEAH 50
BILLS. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
AND, MEMBERS, THIS IS ABOUT
HOUSING, AND PARTICULARLY IN THE
CITY OF LOS ANGELES. BUT,
HOUSING OVERALL, THAT WE KNOW
THAT WE HAVE THIS TREMENDOUS
RESPONSIBILITY FOR OUR LOW
INCOME AND EXTREMELY LOW INCOME
HOUSEHOLDS. SO, OUR THE MAYOR OF
LOS ANGELES HAS BEEN SINGULARLY,
ALMOST SINGULARLY FOCUSED ON
THIS AND HAS COME UP WITH ONE
WAY IN WHICH WE COULD BE
HELPFUL. TO HELP PROVIDE HOUSING
OPPORTUNITIES FOR LOW INCOME
INDIVIDUALS. CITIES LIKE LOS
ANGELES PROVIDE VOUCHER PROGRAMS
TO INCENTIVIZE DEVELOPERS TO
HOUSE THE LOW INCOME TENANTS WHO
MAY NOT HAVE IMMEDIATELY THE
ECONOMIC MEANS TO GET THEIR
HOUSING. IN 2023, THE US
DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING GRANTED
WAIVERS TO THE CITY AND COUNTY
OF LA FOR GREATER FLEXIBILITY TO
MOVE UNHOUSED PEOPLE INTO
TEMPORARY HOUSING, DESPITE
HAVING THE RESOURCES HOUSING
PROVIDERS EXPRESSED A CONCERN
THAT THEY WERE RISKING WITH THE
CURRENT HOUSING VOUCHER SYSTEM
AND RULES. IF THESE PROVIDERS
HOUSED FAMILIES BASED ON THE
REPRESENTATIONS THEY WERE MAKING
ABOUT THEIR INCOME, ONCE THEY
HAD PROPER DOCUMENTATION, THEY
MIGHT LATER FIND DISCREPANCIES
SUCH AS INCOME ELIGIBILITY AND
RISK, FINANCIAL PENALTIES AND
THE VOUCHERS WOULD GO UNUSED. SO
THIS BILL ADDRESSES THIS ISSUE
BY PROVIDING THESE VOUCHERS MORE
FLEXIBILITY TO DEVELOPERS AND
OPERATORS, AND WITH ME TO
TESTIFY IN SUPPORT. ANSWER
QUESTIONS. I HAVE FREDDIE
QUINTANA, SENIOR DIRECTOR OF
STATE AFFAIRS FOR LA MAYOR.
KAREN BASS. THANK YOU. PLEASE
PROCEED. GOOD MORNING. GOOD
AFTERNOON, CHAIR AND COMMITTEE
MEMBERS. MY NAME IS FREDDIE
QUINTANA. I'M THE SENIOR
DIRECTOR OF STATE AFFAIRS FOR
LOS ANGELES MAYOR KAREN BASS, SB
1500 WOULD CREATE A STATUTORY
GUIDELINE FOR HCD AND TCAC TO
COUNT A TENANT AT 30% AMI WHEN
THE TENANT GETS A THIRD PARTY
INCOME VERIFICATION ABOVE 30%
AMI, BUT BELOW 50% AMI AND WAS
PLACED IN AN INCOME RESTRICTED
UNIT USING THE HUD WAIVER
AUTHORITY, THE. THIS BILL IS
CRITICAL TO THE SUCCESSFUL USE
OF OUR HUD WAIVER AUTHORITIES IN
THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES AND THE
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES, AND THIS
WOULD ALLOW OUR DEVELOPERS AND
PROPERTY MANAGERS TO RELY ON
INCOME ON THE SELF-CERTIFICATION
PROCESS TO GET A PERSON INDOORS
QUICKLY AND THEN FOLLOW A
TIMELINE TO THEN CERTIFY THE
INCOME AND MAKE SURE THAT
THERE'S NO PENALTY. THAT'S
UNINTENDED. AS A RESULT OF THE
FEDERAL WAIVER, TO GIVE ONE
QUICK EXAMPLE FROM OUR NEW
PARTNER AT OUR NEW PARTNERS AT
PATH, WHO JUST CAME ON SUPPORT
OF THE BILL, THEY HAD AN EXAMPLE
WHERE THEY WORKED WITH A VETERAN
IN LOS ANGELES. HE SERVED OUR
COUNTRY. THEY NAVIGATED THE
BUREAUCRACY FOR HIM. AND ONCE
THEY GOT HIM CONNECTED TO HIS
FULL BENEFITS, IT TURNED OUT
THAT HE WAS LESS THAN $100 OVER
THE 30% AMI THRESHOLD. AND
WITHOUT SOMETHING LIKE THIS,
THAT WOULD HAVE CREATED A
PENALTY FOR THAT PROVIDER, WHO
HOUSED THE PERSON UNDER THE
SELF-CERTIFICATION PROCESS. SO
WE'RE MAKING SURE THEY HAVE A
TIMELINE TO CURE THAT IF THAT'S
FOUND. AND WE WOULD RESPECTFULLY
ASK FOR YOUR AYE, VOTE. THANK
YOU. ANY SECOND. THANK YOU. ANY
WITNESSES IN OPPOSITION AND ANY
WITNESSES FROM THE PUBLIC IN
SUPPORT OR IN OPPOSITION, ANY
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE
DÍAS? OKAY. I WANT TO THANK YOU
FOR BRINGING THIS BILL FORWARD,
I HAVE BEEN WORKING VERY HARD TO
SUPPORT VETERAN HOUSING IN MY
OWN COMMUNITY OF CHATSWORTH.
THAT'S JUST OPENED UP. AND I
KNOW, IT'S BEEN A REAL CHALLENGE
TO GET PEOPLE INDOORS, PEOPLE
WHO ARE READY TO GO. AND IT
TAKES MONTHS AND MONTHS AND
MONTHS TO GO THROUGH
VERIFICATIONS AND PAPERWORK. I
KNOW THIS BILL IS COMPLICATED
AND THE SYSTEM IS WAY TOO
COMPLICATED WHEN YOU'RE TRYING
TO REALLY SOLVE HOMELESSNESS. SO
I APPRECIATE THAT THESE
STREAMLINING EFFORTS ARE MOVING
FORWARD AND REALLY MAKING A
DIFFERENCE IN PEOPLE'S LIVES. SO
WITH THAT, WE HAVE A MOTION AND
A SECOND, LET'S CALL THE ROLL.
OH, DID YOU WANT TO CLOSE?
SORRY. NO, THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
MADAM CHAIR. THANK YOU. SENATE
BILL 1500 BY SENATOR DURAZZO.
THE MOTION IS DUE. PASS AND
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON
APPROPRIATIONS. CHAU CHAU VÚI
DAVIES. DAVIES I ADDIS. ADDIS I
LACKEY I LACKEY I ALVAREZ I
ALVAREZ I BURNER I BURNER I
CARRILLO HI CARILLO I MATHIS
VALENCIA. VILLA PADUA. VILLA
PADUA I. THANK YOU AND WE WILL
LEAVE THAT ON CALL FOR AN
ABSENT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU
COLLEAGUES. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
OKAY, SO WE WILL LEAVE THIS. OH
YEAH. WE'LL GO BACK THROUGH NOW
TO ADD MISS BURNER ON AND
HOPEFULLY MR. VILLA SHOWS UP IN
THE NEXT TEN MINUTES. VALENCIA.
SORRY. SO WE'LL GO BACK THROUGH
THE CONSENT CALENDAR. OKAY ON
CONSENT. WE HAVE SENATE BILL 920
BY SATO AND SENATE BILL 1138 BY
SENATOR NEWMAN. BOTH ARE DO PASS
AND REFER TO COMMITTEE ON
APPROPRIATIONS BURNER A BURNER I
. OKAY. WE'LL KEEP THAT ON CALL
AS WELL. AND SB 914 SENATE BILL
914 BY SENATOR UMBERG MOTION IS
DUE PASS AND REFER TO THE
COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS.
BURNER BURNER I. ALSO ON CALL
AND NEXT SB 916 SENATE BILL 916
BY SENATOR SALADO. THE MOTION IS
DUE PASS AND REFERRED TO THE
COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS.
BURNER HI BURNER I CALL THAT'LL
BE ON CALL AND WE WILL GO TO SB
1500. OH NO. WE ALL GOT THAT
ONE. SJ R SIX BY SJ R SIX BY
SENATOR CAVALLERO. MOTION IS TO
BE ADOPTED TO THIRD READING
BURNER A BURNER I. THANK YOU.
AND THAT IS ON CALL AND. K EIGHT
MINUTES AND COUNTING. MR.
AVELINO VALENCIA.
OKAY.
HI. THIS IS FATHER. CAN YOU. DID
YOU SET THIS? DID YOU SAY HE WAS
NOT GOING? OKAY. OH, PERFECT.
THANK YOU. YEAH YES. WHEN I
HEARD THAT I WAS VINCULANTES YOU
AND.
HEY. GOOD LUCK. OKAY, WE'LL GO
AHEAD AND OPEN THE ROLL FOR,
CONSENT. ON CONSENT, WE HAVE
SENATE BILL 920 BY SENATOR SATO.
MOTION IS DUE. PASS AND REFERRED
TO THE COMMITTEE ON
APPROPRIATIONS. SENATE BILL 1138
BY SENATOR NEWMAN. ALSO DO PASS
AND BE REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON
APPROPRIATIONS. VALENCIA YES.
VALENCIA. YES. MOVE DOWN THE
LIST. YEAH. OKAY. SENATE BILL
914 BY SENATOR UMBERG. THAT IS A
DO PASS AND RE REFERRED TO THE
COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS.
VALENCIA. YES. VALENCIA YES. WE
HAVE SENATE BILL 916 BY SENATOR
SATO THAT HAS A MOTION OF DUE
PASS AND REFERRED TO THE
COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS.
VALENCIA. YES. VALENCIA YES. AND
WE HAVE SENATE BILL 1500 BY
SENATOR DURAZZO. MOTION IS DUE.
PASS AND REFER TO THE COMMITTEE
ON APPROPRIATIONS. VALENCIA.
VALENCIA. YES. AND LAST ONE, WE
HAVE SER SIX BY SENATOR
CABALLERO. THAT MOTION IS TO BE
ADOPTED AND TO THIRD READING
VALENCIA. VALENCIA. YES THANK
YOU SO MUCH. SO ALL OF THOSE
BILLS ARE OUT. THEY'RE ALL RIGHT
HERE FOR US. AND ALL OF THEM ARE
NINE ZERO EXCEPT FOR SCR SIX,
WHICH IS SEVEN ZERO. AND THIS
CONCLUDES OUR HEARING OF
MILITARY AND VETERAN AFFAIRS.