YEAH. GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.
WELCOME TO OUR HEARING THIS
MORNING. AND THANK YOU FOR
JOINING US BRIGHT AND EARLY ON A
THURSDAY MORNING FOR WHAT WE
HOPE WILL BE A GREAT START TO
YOUR DAY. WE ARE NEARING THE END
OF OUR JOURNEY AND TODAY'S
INFORMATIONAL HEARING WILL ALLOW
US TO HEAR SEVEN BUDGET TRAILER
BILLS THAT ARE PART OF OUR
AUGUST BUDGET CLEANUP PACKAGE.
THIS IS OUR 77TH HEARING OF THE
YEAR. CONTINUING OUR COMMITMENT
TO AN OPEN AND TRANSPARENT
BUDGET PROCESS. TODAY'S HEARING
IS INFORMATIONAL ONLY. AS THE
BILLS ARE CURRENTLY ON THE FLOOR
AND NOT IN THE POSSESSION OF THE
COMMITTEE, AND THERE WILL BE NO
VOTES IN COMMITTEE TODAY. ERIKA
LEE FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF
FINANCE WILL PROVIDE A BRIEF
OVERVIEW OF THE BILLS, FOLLOWED
BY COMMENTS FROM OUR LEGISLATIVE
ANALYST'S OFFICE, CHRISTIAN
GRIFFITHS AND THE ASSEMBLY
BUDGET TEAM ARE ON THE PANEL TO
ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS IF NEEDED.
AT THE END OF THIS HEARING, WE
WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR
PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE SEVEN
BILLS BEFORE US TODAY. BUT
FIRST, LET ME ASK ASSEMBLY
MEMBER LACKEY IF HE HAS ANY
OPENING REMARKS. WELL, FIRST OF
ALL, I'M HAPPY TO SAY THAT
THERE'S JUST A FRACTION OF THE
AMOUNT OF TRAILER BILLS THIS
YEAR, AND I THINK THAT'S
REFRESHING. EVEN THOUGH WE'RE IN
A DEFICIT, YOU WOULD THINK MAYBE
JUST THE CONTRARY WOULD BE THE
CASE. BUT I'M I'M GRATEFUL TO
HAVE AT LEAST A GLANCE AT SOME
OF THESE TECHNICAL CHANGES, AND
I LOOK FORWARD TO A VIGOROUS
DISCUSSION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH, ASSEMBLY MEMBER.
WE'LL TURN IT OVER NOW TO THE
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE. THANK
YOU. GOOD MORNING, CHAIR GABRIEL.
MEMBERS OF THE BUDGET COMMITTEE,
ERIKA LEE WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF
FINANCE. AND I WILL BE HERE TO
PRESENT ON SEVERAL BUDGET BILLS,
WHICH, AS MENTIONED, LARGELY
INCLUDE TECHNICAL CLEANUP AND
ADJUSTMENTS TO THE CURRENT AND
PRIOR BUDGET AGREEMENTS. AND,
CHAIR GABRIEL, WOULD YOU LIKE ME
TO WALK THROUGH ALL SEVEN BILLS
PRIOR TO ANY QUESTIONS? THAT
WOULD BE GREAT. THANK YOU.
GREAT. OKAY. BEGINNING WITH SB
157, WHICH AMENDS THE 2024
BUDGET ACT, THIS BILL MAKES
VARIOUS TECHNICAL ADJUSTMENTS TO
THE 2024 BUDGET ACT, INCLUDING
EXTENDING THE AVAILABILITY OF
EXISTING FUNDS FOR COURT BASED
FIREARM RELINQUISHMENT PROGRAMS,
TO GIVE THE JUDICIAL COUNCIL
MORE TIME TO ADMINISTER THE
THIRD ROUND OF GRANTS. IT ALSO
ALIGNS PROGRAM EXPENDITURES FOR
THE DEPARTMENT OF DEPARTMENT OF
PESTICIDE REGULATION WITH AB
2113, WHICH INCREASED THE
PESTICIDE MILL FEE TO ALIGN
REVENUE AND EXPENDITURES WITH
PROGRAM NEEDS AND ADDRESS THE
FUNDS TO ADDRESS THE FUND'S
STRUCTURAL DEFICIT. THE BILL
APPROPRIATES RESOURCES AND
AUTHORIZES POSITIONS IN THE 2425
FISCAL YEAR FOR THE DEPARTMENT
OF CONSERVATION, THE STATE AIR
RESOURCES BOARD, AND THE STATE
WATER RESOURCES CONTROL BOARD TO
SUPPORT IMPLEMENTATION OF SB
1137. IT ALSO PROVIDES FUNDS AND
POSITIONS TO THE LABOR WORKFORCE
DEVELOPMENT AGENCY TO IMPLEMENT
THE REVISED CURE PROCESS FOR
PRIVATE ATTORNEYS GENERAL ACT,
OR PAGA. CLAIMS ESTABLISHED BY
SB 92. IT PROVIDES TECHNICAL
AMENDMENTS TO K THROUGH 12 AND
HIGHER EDUCATION INVESTMENTS. IT
ALLOWS THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT
OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND EMERGENCY
MEDICAL SERVICES AUTHORITY TO
RECOVER FUNDS FRONTED BY THE
STATE FOR SURGE STAFFING DURING
THE PANDEMIC, AND MAKES OTHER
TECHNICAL ADJUSTMENTS TO THE
BUDGET AGREEMENT. MOVING ON TO
THE NEXT BILL, SB 158 AMENDMENTS
TO THE 2022 AND 2023 BUDGET
ACTS. THIS BILL MAKES AN
ADJUSTMENT OF 25,000 TO
ACCURATELY REFLECT BUDGETED
INVESTMENTS TO SUPPORT
AFFORDABLE STUDENT HOUSING
PROJECTS AT SANTA ROSA, NAPA AND
IMPERIAL VALLEY COMMUNITY
COLLEGES. IT INCLUDES AUTHORITY
FOR CDCR TO PAY SETTLEMENT COSTS
RELATED TO A LEAD CASE THAT
AWARDED SPECIFIED SUPERVISORY
CORRECTIONAL EMPLOYEES
ADDITIONAL COMPENSATION FOR WORK
ACTIVITIES. THEY MUST COMPLETE
BEFORE AND AFTER THEIR OFFICIAL
SHIFT TIMES. IT ALSO INCLUDES
OTHER CLARIFYING ADJUSTMENTS.
THE NEXT BILL IS SB 176, THE
EDUCATION TRAILER BILL. THIS
BILL FURTHER SPECIFIES A PROCESS
FOR LOCAL EDUCATIONAL AGENCIES
TO REPORT UNEXPENDED EXPANDED
LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES PROGRAM,
OR Â DOLLARS FOR DEPARTMENT
COLLECTION. IT DELAYS THE
INSTRUCTIONAL CONTINUITY PLAN
CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS BY
ONE YEAR TO FISCAL YEAR 20 2627.
IT PROPOSES ADDITIONAL
FLEXIBILITY, ADDITIONAL
FLEXIBILITIES THAT ALLOW
SPECIFIED LOCAL ENTITIES TO
APPLY FOR REMAINING CALIFORNIA
UNIVERSAL PRESCHOOL PLANNING
GRANT PROGRAM FUNDS, AND MAKES
ADDITIONAL CLARIFYING
ADJUSTMENTS. THE NEXT BILL IS SB
177. THE HEALTH TRAILER BILL.
THIS BILL IMPLEMENTS A NEW
SUPPLEMENTAL PAYMENT PROGRAM FOR
MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR COMMUNITY
HOSPITAL TO PROVIDE INCREASED
ONGOING FUNDING SUBJECT TO
FEDERAL APPROVAL. IT ALLOWS THE
STATE TO COLLECT NEAR REAL TIME
BED CAPACITY DATA FOR CERTAIN
MEDICAL AND HEALTH FACILITIES TO
SUPPORT PROMPT PLACEMENT INTO
INPATIENT AND CRISIS
STABILIZATION BEDS, AS WELL AS
MAKES OTHER TECHNICAL
ADJUSTMENTS. THE NEXT BILL IS SB
178, THE RESOURCES TRAILER BILL.
THIS BILL AUTHORIZES A ONE TIME
SUPPLEMENTAL ASSESSMENT TO
ENSURE FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE TO
COVER THE 2425 COSTS ASSOCIATED
WITH IMPLEMENTING SB 1137. IT
EXTENDS THE DATES OF VARIOUS
IMPLEMENTATION DEADLINES TO
REFLECT THE REFERENDUM RELATED
DELAYS TO IMPLEMENTATION, AS
WELL AS A MORE REFINED TIMELINE
NECESSARY TO ACCOMPLISH SOME
REQUIRED ACTIONS. IT ALSO MAKES
OTHER CLARIFYING ADJUSTMENTS.
THE NEXT BILL IS SB 179 OR THE
GENERAL GOVERNMENT TRAILER BILL.
THIS BILL INCLUDES LANGUAGE TO
ALLOW THE DEPARTMENT OF GENERAL
SERVICES TO MORE EFFICIENTLY
FULFILL ITS DUTIES RELATED TO
PUBLIC WORKS PROJECTS, JOB ORDER
CONTRACTING, AND CONTRACTING
OVERSIGHT, AND PROVIDES TOOLS TO
INCREASE EFFICIENCIES AMONG
STATE DEPARTMENTS. THIS BILL
CREATES A THE PROJECTED SURPLUS
TEMPORARY HOLDING ACCOUNT ON A
PILOT BASIS THROUGH DECEMBER
31ST OF 2030 TO SET ASIDE A
PORTION OF ANTICIPATED SURPLUS
FUNDS IN FUTURE FISCAL YEARS.
THE BILL ALSO CLARIFIES EXISTING
LAW FOR SEVERAL DEPARTMENTS TO
OBTAIN FEDERAL CRIMINAL HISTORY
OR BACKGROUND CHECK INFORMATION
FOR STATE EMPLOYEES,
CONTRACTORS, AND APPLICANTS FOR
LICENSURE TO CONTINUE REGULAR
OPERATIONS AND UPHOLD ITS
REGULATORY DUTIES. IT ALSO MAKES
OTHER CLARIFYING AND TECHNICAL
ADJUSTMENTS, AND THE FINAL BILL
IS SB 181, THE MEMORANDUM
MEMORANDUMS OF UNDERSTANDING.
THIS BILL RATIFIES AND FUNDS
MEMORANDUMS OF UNDERSTANDING
BETWEEN THE ADMINISTRATION AND
BARGAINING UNITS EIGHT, WHICH IS
THE FIREFIGHTERS AND TEN THE
PROFESSIONAL SCIENTISTS. THIS
BILL ALSO FUNDS STATUTORILY
REQUIRED GENERAL SALARY
INCREASES FOR BIÂU FIVE OR THE
HIGHWAY PATROL, AS WELL AS FOR
JUDGES. AND WITH THAT, I'M HAPPY
TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. AT THIS TIME, I WANT
TO TURN IT OVER TO THE
LEGISLATIVE ANALYST'S OFFICE FOR
ANY COMMENTS. THANK YOU. GOOD
MORNING, CAROLYN CHIU WITH THE
LEGISLATIVE ANALYST'S OFFICE.
WE'RE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY
QUESTIONS I WOULD NOTE FOR THE
COMMITTEE. WE RECENTLY RELEASED
OUR ANALYZES ON THE MEMORANDUMS
OF UNDERSTANDING WITH UNIT EIGHT
AND UNITS EIGHT AND TEN FOR THE
COMMITTEE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
WE WILL NOW BRING IT BACK TO
MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE FOR ANY
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS.
ASSEMBLYMEMBER LACKEY YEAH.
THANK YOU. AS IT RELATES TO
SENATE BILL 177, I UNDERSTAND
THAT MARTIN LUTHER KING JUNIOR
HOSPITAL IS A CRITICAL SAFETY
NET HOSPITAL FOR WITH WITH THE
NEED FOR MORE FUNDING. HOWEVER,
THIS BILL DOES NOTHING FOR THE
OTHER AT RISK HOSPITALS. AND I'M
JUST WONDERING WHY OTHER AT RISK
HOSPITALS AREN'T INCLUDED AT ALL
IN THE LANGUAGE. THANK YOU. SO,
MR. LACKEY, THE MARTIN LUTHER
KING HOSPITAL FUNDING WAS
INCLUDED IN THE JUNE BUDGET. SO
THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS
ESSENTIALLY EFFECTUATING THAT
PROPOSAL THAT WAS ALREADY IN THE
BUDGET IN JUNE. THERE WAS $25
MILLION INCLUDED, AND IT WAS
SUBJECT TO LEGISLATION. AND THAT
WAS BECAUSE THERE'S SOME VERY
COMPLEX RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. WE NEED TO
WORK OUT IN ORDER TO HAVE THIS
ADDITIONAL FUNDING SOURCE. BUT
THIS IS ESSENTIALLY A
CONTINUATION OF THAT DECISION
THAT WAS MADE IN THE JUNE
PACKAGE. OKAY. THE REASON WHY I
ASKED THE QUESTION IS WE HAVE A
REAL HEALTH DISPARITY IN MY
DISTRICT. WE HAVE A COUPLE
CLOSURES AND OTHERS THAT ARE AT
RISK OF CLOSING. AND I JUST
WONDER IF THERE WAS ANY
CONSIDERATION FOR ANY OF THOSE
HOSPITALS AND ANY TRAILER BILL
LANGUAGE. AND SO I THINK WE
DIDN'T REVISIT THAT
CONVERSATION. CLEARLY, THERE ARE
A LOT OF HOSPITALS AROUND THE
STATE THAT HAVE SIMILAR
SITUATIONS. BUT IN THE JUNE
PACKAGE, WHEN WE DID ADOPT IT
AND FINALIZE IT, IT DID INCLUDE
JUST FOR THIS ONE HOSPITAL. SO
WE'RE NOT REVISITING THAT
CONVERSATION, AND I WANT TO
ACKNOWLEDGE IT AS A REAL
CONVERSATION THAT IS
PERCOLATING. THERE'S BILLS AND
OTHER CONVERSATIONS THAT
PROBABLY HAVE TO CONTINUE NEXT
YEAR. AND IN THE POLICY PROCESS.
BUT HERE, WHAT WE'RE REALLY
TRYING TO DO IS A CONTINUATION
OF THE JUNE PACKAGE TYING UP
LOOSE ENDS. IT'S NOT REOPENING
THE CONVERSATION. ANYWAY. I
APPRECIATE THAT ANSWER. AND
SENATE BILL 178, I JUST WONDERED
HOW THIS, THIS PARTICULAR
PROGRAM ALIGNS WITH THE BROADER
EFFORT TO ADDRESS ENERGY POVERTY
IN THE STATE, ARE THERE ANY
OTHER LONG TERM STRATEGIES BEING
DEVELOPED TO REDUCE SIGNIFICANT
BURDEN OF UTILITY COSTS ON LOW
INCOME HOUSEHOLDS? I CAN TELL
YOU THAT THE I'VE BEEN GETTING A
LOT OF FEEDBACK FROM A NUMBER OF
CONSTITUENTS IN MY REGION THAT
ARE SHOCKED. I, I REPRESENT THE
DESERT, SO IT GETS PRETTY HOT IN
THE SUMMER. IT'S BEEN UNUSUALLY
HOT THIS SUMMER AND THE RATES
ARE ALARMING FOR MANY, MANY
HOUSEHOLDS. AND THEY'RE THEY'RE
VERY, VERY CONCERNED ON THEIR
ABILITY EVEN ARRANGE TO MAKE THE
PAYMENT. AND THAT'S THAT'S
WHAT'S HAPPENING NOW. IT'S NOT
GOING TO HAPPEN. IT'S HAPPENING.
SO I JUST WONDERED IF THERE WAS
ANY LANGUAGE AT ALL IN ANY OF
THESE BILLS THAT THAT ADDRESSED
THAT CHALLENGE, HI,
ASSEMBLYMEMBER FORBES FROM
ASSEMBLY BUDGET COMMITTEE.
THERE'S NOTHING IN THIS BUDGET
PACKAGE THAT'S RELATED TO
ELECTRICITY OR ELECTRIC RATES.
WELL, THAT WAS PRETTY DIRECT.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
WE'LL GO. WE HAD ASSEMBLY
MEMBERS, ASSEMBLY MEMBERS,
BENNETT, AND THEN WE'LL GO.
ASSEMBLY MEMBER LEE. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR COMING HERE TODAY.
I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS RELATED TO
SB 178 AND IN PARTICULAR ITEM
NUMBER THREE, WHICH DELAYS, SOME
OF THE, DEADLINES IN SB 1137 BY
18 MONTHS, 24 MONTHS AND 54
MONTHS, YOU KNOW, I JUST WANTED
TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE
JUSTIFICATION WAS FOR THOSE
DELAYS, ESPECIALLY AFTER THE
FOLKS THAT WERE YOU KNOW, SORT
OF PLAYING MONKEY BUSINESS WITH
THIS REFERENDUM ACTUALLY ALREADY
GOT DELAYS, AND WHY WE WOULD BE
DOING THIS THROUGH A BUDGET
TRAILER, BILL. AND SECOND, WHY
WE NEED ALL OF THOSE DELAYS IF
WE NEED DELAYS AT ALL. SO I'M
JUST WONDERING IF WE CAN HAVE AN
EXPLANATION AS TO WHY THIS IS IN
HERE AT ALL. SO STEPHEN BENSON
WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE,
SO I THINK TO START ADDRESSING
THE QUESTION, THE DELAYS ARE NOT
TO THE BENEFIT OR NOT. AND NOT
BEING MADE FOR THE BENEFIT OF
THOSE WHO ARE DOING THE
REFERENDUM. SO ACKNOWLEDGING
THAT THE REFERENDUM DELAYED
THINGS, BUT DURING THE PERIOD OF
TIME THAT THAT DELAY WAS IN
PLACE, THE DEPARTMENTS THAT HAVE
TO IMPLEMENT 1137 DID NOT HAVE
RESOURCES IN ORDER TO DO THAT.
SO THEY DON'T SORT OF THE CLOCK
STARTS FOR THEM WHEN THEY START
GETTING THE FUNDING AND THE
POSITIONS TO BE ABLE TO ACTUALLY
DO THE VERY CHALLENGING
IMPLEMENTATION THAT GOES ALONG
WITH THAT BILL. SO I JUST WANT
TO MAKE SURE IT'S CLEAR AND NOT
CHARACTERIZED AS THIS IS SORT OF
A BENEFIT FOR THE INDUSTRY.
THEY'RE GETTING SORT OF A DOUBLE
DELAY OUT OF THIS DEAL. THAT'S
NOT REALLY THAT'S NOT THE CASE
AT ALL. THE CASE IS THAT WE HAVE
DEPARTMENTS THAT NOW HAVE A VERY
CHALLENGING JOB TO IMPLEMENT,
SOME VERY CHALLENGING AND
IMPORTANT REGULATIONS AND
ACTIONS, AND THOSE DEPARTMENTS
NEED TO HAVE ADEQUATE TIME AND
RESOURCES TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT
PROPERLY. AND SO WE SAT DOWN
WITH THEM AND SORT OF WENT
THROUGH AND WHAT IS A FEASIBLE
TIMELINE FOR BEING ABLE TO
ACCOMPLISH ALL THE VERY
CHALLENGING ACTIONS THAT THEY
HAVE TO DO. AND THAT'S WHAT'S
PRESENTED HERE, IS THAT THIS IS
THE TIME IT'S GOING TO TAKE IN
ORDER FOR THEM TO DO THOUGHTFUL,
SCIENCE BASED, CAREFULLY CRAFTED
REGULATIONS TO MAKE SURE THIS
GETS DONE NOW. BUT I ALSO WANTED
TO SORT OF EMPHASIZE THAT THE
FACT THAT IT'S GOING TO TAKE
SOME TIME TO COMPLETE SOME OF
THOSE STEPS DOESN'T MEAN THAT
THERE'S NO IMPLEMENTATION OF
THAT BILL GOING ON RIGHT NOW.
THERE ARE ALREADY THINGS BEING
DONE THAT HAVE HAVE BEEN GETTING
DONE. SO, FOR EXAMPLE, AS SOON
AS REFERENDUM WAS WITHDRAWN, CAL
GÒM SENT BACK ALL THE PENDING
APPLICATIONS FOR DRILLING AND
SAID, HEY, 1137 NOTICE OF, TO
THE OPERATORS, BASICALLY OF
COMPLIANCE WITH THAT. THAT
ASPECT OF THE PERMITTING IS IN
PLACE. THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE
ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, DRILL NEW
WELLS OR DO OTHER THINGS LIKE
THAT, LIKE THAT. THOSE
RESTRICTIONS ARE STILL IN PLACE.
SO MANY OF THE PROTECTIONS IN
1137 ARE STILL GOING INTO
EFFECT, RIGHT NOW. BUT THERE IS
A NEED TO PROVIDE THE
DEPARTMENTS THE APPROPRIATE
TIMELINE TO DEVELOP THE
REGULATIONS THAT ARE VERY
COMPLEX FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION
OF THIS BILL. I MEAN, THIS JUST
SEEMS LIKE A LOT OF DELAY
WITHOUT US HAVING ANY ABILITY TO
UNDERSTAND REALLY SORT OF WHAT
YOU KNOW, IT MAY BE THE CASE
THAT THE DEPARTMENT CAN'T YOU
KNOW, CAN'T IMPLEMENT THIS THE
WAY IT'S ENVISIONED WITH THE
EXISTING RESOURCES. BUT I DON'T
HAVE A COMFORT LEVEL OF THAT
WITHOUT ACTUALLY GOING THROUGH
HAVING MORE OF AN UNDERSTANDING
OF THAT AND HAVING THE ABILITY
TO ASK FOLKS THE QUESTIONS ABOUT
WHY THEY WHY THEY NEED THIS KIND
OF DELAY. IT DOES SEEM LIKE A
BENEFIT TO THE INDUSTRY, AND IT
SEEMS LIKE A DETRIMENT TO THE
PUBLIC. I MEAN, THIS IS AN
IMPORTANT BILL THAT I THINK WAS
OF HIGH PRIORITY FOR MANY OF US.
AND THE FACT THAT THIS IS BEING
DELAYED UP TO 54 MONTHS THROUGH
A BUDGET TRAILER BILL JUST SEEMS
INAPPROPRIATE. I MEAN, I GUESS I
WOULD ASK WHY WE DON'T, YOU
KNOW, IF YOU NEED A DELAY AT ALL,
WHY? IT IS MORE THAN THE FIRST
18 MONTH DELAY, YOU KNOW, THIS
IS JUST LIKE THIS IS DELAYING BY
MANY YEARS WITHOUT ANY KIND OF
POLICY OVERSIGHT. SO I HAVE
SIGNIFICANT CONCERNS ABOUT THIS
COMPLETELY. AND I'D LIKE TO HAVE
FOLLOW UP EVEN ON PART OF PART
OF THAT. SURE. HAPPY TO. I CAN
PROVIDE SOME FOLLOW UP NOW, BUT
I'M HAPPY TO FOLLOW UP
AFTERWARDS AS WELL WITH SOME
DETAILS. I THINK ONE POINT THAT
I'D PUT OUT THERE IS WE'RE DOING
IT NOW BECAUSE IF WE DON'T DO IT
NOW, THEN THAT WILL BY DEFAULT
DELAY IT EVEN FURTHER BECAUSE IF
THE DEPARTMENTS DON'T GET THE
RESOURCES, THEN THEY CAN'T START
IMPLEMENTING IT NOW EITHER. THEY
WOULD HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL THE
NEXT BUDGET CYCLE, WHICH WOULD
PUT US BACK TO JULY OF NEXT YEAR
BEFORE WE REALLY GET STARTED ON
THINGS, IN TERMS OF SOME OF THE
THINGS THAT NEED TO GET DONE AND
WHY THE FOUR YEARS IS NEEDED,
YOU HAVE, CARB AND CAL JAM BOTH
NEEDING TO HIRE UP COMPLETELY
NEW STAFFING ON THESE. IN THE
CASE OF CARB, THEY'VE GOT A
HIGHER, YOU KNOW, NEW MANAGER
AND ALL THE STAFF THAT GOES WITH
IT. THEY HAVE TO GO OUT AND DO
SAMPLING SO THEY CAN DEVELOP
SORT OF BEST AVAILABLE SOURCE
TESTING, CHARACTERIZATION OF THE
OF THE LEAKS AND STUFF THAT ARE
HAPPENING. THEY NEED TO BE ABLE
TO GO AND, ANALYZE, LOOK AT THE
DATA THAT COMES FROM THAT.
THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO
IDENTIFY DIFFERENT POLLUTANTS
AND HOW TO MONITOR THEM. THE
BEST EQUIPMENT FOR MONITORING IT.
WHAT. SO THEY'RE GOING TO BE
ESTABLISHING REQUIREMENTS THAT
THE INDUSTRY HAS TO FOLLOW. AND
THEY NEED TIME TO GO OUT AND
IDENTIFY LIKE WHAT'S THE BEST
EQUIPMENT. WHAT'S THE WHAT ARE
THE CORRECT RESTRICTIONS, WHAT'S
THE CORRECT LEVEL OF THINGS THAT
SHOULD BE IN THE REGULATIONS.
AND SO IF CARB DOESN'T HAVE THE
TIME TO DO THAT RULEMAKING
PROCESS CORRECTLY, THEN WE'RE
NOT GOING TO GET THE RIGHT
REGULATIONS ON THE BACK END. I
GUESS I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND
WHY AFTER THE CURRENT DELAY, I
MEAN, WE'RE AT THE SAME PLACE WE
WOULD HAVE BEEN WHEN THE BILL
WAS IN PLACE AND WE, YOU KNOW,
WE HAD ADEQUATE TIME TO DO THE
REGULATIONS IN THE FIRST PLACE.
AND IT'S JUST, I MEAN, THIS JUST
SEEMS INAPPROPRIATE TO ME. I,
YOU KNOW, AND THE FACT THAT JUST
THE DELAYS ARE SO LONG, I MEAN,
YOU KNOW, I WOULD RATHER SEE THE
LATTER. THE LATTER, YOU KNOW,
THE 24 MONTH AND THE 54 MONTHS
BE GONE ON THIS SO THAT WE HAVE
AN OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY DIG IN
AND UNDERSTAND WHAT BUDGET IS
NECESSARY TO IMPLEMENT THE PLAN.
BUT YOU KNOW, GOING THROUGH A
BUDGET TRAILER BILL WITHOUT AN
ABILITY TO HAVE OVERSIGHT AND
HAVE A FOUR YEAR DELAY JUST
SEEMS INAPPROPRIATE TO ME. AND I
WILL ACKNOWLEDGE THAT SOME OF
THE DELAY IS A REASSESSMENT OF
HOW LONG IT TAKES TO NEED THIS.
SO THERE'S THE 18 MONTHS THAT
THE REFERENDUM DELAYED US BY.
BUT WHAT MY UNDERSTANDING IS IN
WORKING WITH THE DEPARTMENTS IS
EVEN WITHOUT THAT DELAY, HAD
THEY STARTED IMPLEMENTING RIGHT
AWAY, THEY BELIEVE IT WOULD HAVE
TAKEN LONGER TO IMPLEMENT THAN
WHAT THE DEADLINES IN THE BILL,
CONSTITUTED. SO THERE'S A
PORTION OF THIS, THIS, THIS SORT
OF REASSESSING THE AMOUNT OF
TIME NEEDED TO DO THE WORK IN
THE FIRST PLACE. I THINK THE
LAST THING I'LL SAY IS, YOU
KNOW, THIS IS A HIGH PRIORITY
FOR US. I MEAN, THESE DELAYS ARE
ABOUT DELAYS TO THE PUBLIC
HEALTH OF PEOPLE IN OUR
COMMUNITIES. I MEAN, THAT'S WHAT
IT'S ABOUT. AND I JUST THINK
THAT WE NEED A MUCH MORE ROBUST
OVERSIGHT OF THIS. AND, AND, AND
THESE DELAYS SHOULD NOT BE,
SHOULD NOT BE WITHOUT OUR
ABILITY TO LOOK AT WHETHER OR
NOT THIS IS A PRIORITY IN THE
BUDGET AS WE MOVE FORWARD NEXT
YEAR. THANK YOU VERY, VERY MUCH.
ASSEMBLYMEMBER LET'S GO.
ASSEMBLY MEMBER. BENNETT.
ASSEMBLY MEMBER LEE. AND THEN
DOCTOR WEBER, THANK YOU, I HAVE
VERY SIMILAR QUESTIONS TO MY
COLLEAGUE FROM SAN DIEGO, BUT I
WILL, SO I'LL JUST TRY TO BE
REAL SPECIFIC SINCE HE'S HIT THE.
WHEN DID WHEN WAS THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS BILL
FIRST OBVIOUS THAT WE WERE GOING
TO NEED TO IMPLEMENT THIS BILL?
1137 SO WHEN THE REFERENDUM WAS
WITHDRAWN, ESSENTIALLY RIGHT
AFTER THAT IS WHEN IT'S LIKE,
OKAY, WELL, NOW NOW WE NEED TO
IMPLEMENT. SO THEY AND CAL, JIM
AND CARB STARTED TAKING THE
STEPS THEY COULD RIGHT AWAY. SO
IN OTHER WORDS, THE DAY AFTER
THE REFERENDUM WAS DRAWN, CAL
JIM SENT OUT THE NOTICE TO
OPERATORS. AND WHEN WAS WHEN WAS
THAT? JUNE 28TH, I BELIEVE WAS
THE ACTUAL DATE. OKAY, 27TH WAS
THE DEADLINE. ALSO, WHEN CAL JIM
GAVE OUT A SIX MONTH NOTICE ON
ON THAT JUNE 28TH DATE. CAL CAL
GYMS GAVE OUT A NOTICE TO THE
OPERATORS THAT THEY HAD SIX
MONTHS TO RESPOND. NOW, IN THIS
TRAILER, BILL CAL JIM IS SAYING
IT'S GOING TO BE 12 MONTHS FOR
THEM TO RESPOND. DO YOU KNOW WHY
THEY EVEN THOUGH THEY KNEW THE
REFERENDUM WAS PULLED, WHY DID
THEY GIVE THEM SIX MONTHS ON
JUNE 28TH AND NOW THEY EXTENDING
THAT TO 12 MONTHS? I WOULD NEED
TO FOLLOW UP ON, ON SOME OF THE
SOME OF THE DETAILS OF THAT
PIECE. I UNDERSTAND IT. AND THEN
THE SECOND QUESTION IS CAL GYMS.
I WOULD ASSUME AS WE WERE
BUILDING THE BUDGET LAST SPRING
IN BUDGET SUB FOUR, IF CAL GYM
KNEW THERE WAS THIS POSSIBILITY
THAT WE HAD THIS, WAS CAL GYMS
ASKING FOR APPROPRIATE BUDGET AT
THAT POINT IN TIME? OR IS CAL
GYMS NOW ASKING FOR BUDGET
SUPPLEMENTATION AT THIS POINT IN
TIME? SO DURING THE PERIOD OF
TIME WHEN WE WERE HAVING
SUBCOMMITTEE HEARINGS AND
WHATNOT, I DON'T BELIEVE THERE
WAS DISCUSSION OF THE REFERENDUM
BEING PULLED AT THAT POINT. SO
OUR UNDERSTANDING WAS THAT THAT
WAS STILL GOING TO BE ON THE
BALLOT THIS FALL. THAT CAME A
LITTLE LATER IN THE PROCESS, AND
SO THAT'S WHY THAT WASN'T PUT
FORWARD AND SAY THE MAY REVISION
TIMELINE, THE RESOURCES WERE
INITIALLY PROPOSED IN OBVIOUSLY
22, 23, BEFORE, SORRY, 2324
BEFORE THE REFERENDUM WAS ON THE
BALLOT. AND THAT BCP GOT FULLY
WITHDRAWN. AND SO GIVEN THE
TIMELINE OF JUST WHEN THE
REFERENDUM WAS PULLED, WE DIDN'T
WE WEREN'T ABLE TO FIT THIS IN
THE REGULAR BUDGET PROCESS. BUT
BECAUSE IMPLEMENTATION IS NOW
REQUIRED RATHER THAN SORT OF
FURTHER DELAY BEING ABLE TO TAKE
ACTION, WE WANTED TO GET GOING
RIGHT AWAY. AND THAT'S WHY
YOU'RE SEEING THIS IN THE AUGUST
TIMELINE. IT LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE
SOME OTHER SUPPLEMENTAL FORBES
ASSEMBLY BUDGET COMMITTEE, TO
REITERATE WHAT STEVEN WAS SAYING
ON THE RESOURCES TO IMPLEMENT
THE LEGISLATION. SO THE
ADMINISTRATION DID PUT FORWARD A
BCP LAST YEAR. THEY HAD TO
WITHDRAW THAT BECAUSE OF THE
REFERENDUM. WE WERE LEGALLY
PROHIBITED FROM IMPLEMENTING THE
LEGISLATION. SO NO RESOURCES
WERE GRANTED FOR IMPLEMENTATION.
SO NOW THAT THE REFERENDUM WAS
PULLED IN LATE JUNE PAST OUR MAY
PROCESS, THEY HAVE PUT FORWARD
THE BCP AND RELATED TRAILER BILL
NOW TO IMPLEMENT. SO THOSE
RESOURCES ARE IN THE TWO BUDGET
BILL JUNIOR BILLS. IT'S VERY
HELPFUL TO KNOW WHY THE
RESOURCES WERE PULLED AND NOW
BACK IN THAT'S THAT THAT DOES
HELP EXPLAIN THIS DELAY. SO
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE
IT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
ASSEMBLY MEMBER. WE WILL NOW GO
TO ASSEMBLY MEMBER LEE AND THEN
DOCTOR WEBER. YEAH, I SHARE MY
CONCERNS WITH MY COLLEAGUES FROM
LOS ANGELES AND VENTURA COUNTY.
AND I JUST WANT TO REITERATE
THAT, ARE YOU SAYING THAT
BECAUSE OF THE THREAT OF THE
BALLOT MEASURE THAT CAL GYM AND
THE ADMINISTRATION, EVEN THOUGH
THIS BILL WAS SIGNED AND PASSED
INTO LAW IN 2022, ALMOST TWO
YEARS AGO, THAT CAL GYM COULD DO
NO PREP WORK WHATSOEVER. SO THE
REFERENDUM PROHIBITED THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE BILL. SO
WE WEREN'T LEGALLY ALLOWED TO
IMPLEMENT IT. SO THERE WAS VERY
LITTLE THAT THEY COULD DO. AT
WHICH WINDOW WAS IT? WERE YOU
PROHIBITED FROM DOING SO BECAUSE
IT DIDN'T QUALIFY UNTIL MUCH
MORE RECENTLY? SO THE ORIGINAL
INITIAL PROPOSAL FOR THE
RESOURCES TO IMPLEMENT IT WAS IN
THE 2324 BUDGET. RIGHT THEN THE
REFERENDUM WAS FILED BECAUSE THE
REFERENDUM WAS FILED AND WE
COULDN'T IMPLEMENT THAT. BCP WAS
WITHDRAWN. SO THE DEPARTMENTS
HAD NO RESOURCES TO GO TOWARDS
THAT. AND WITH THE REFERENDUM
UNDER CONSIDERATION, WE COULDN'T
IMPLEMENT THE BILL. SO UNTIL IT
WAS WITHDRAWN ON JUNE 27TH,
THERE WAS NOT ANY MEANINGFUL
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE BILL. I
MEAN, THERE'S STILL CERTAIN
THINGS THAT YOU COULD BE DOING
AND WORKING ON. LIKE YOU SAID,
THEY WERE IN A POSITION THAT AS
SOON AS THE REFERENDUM WAS
WITHDRAWN, THEY COULD SEND OUT
NOTICES. THEY STARTED SENDING
BACK ALL THE APPLICATIONS. SO
THERE ARE THINGS THAT ARE BEING
DONE NOW TO HELP WITH THE HEALTH
PROTECTIONS THAT ARE IN. 1137.
IT'S NOT A MATTER OF LIKE ALL OF
THE PROTECTIONS THAT ARE IN THAT
BILL ARE JUST GETTING PUSHED
OFF, AND NOTHING'S GOING TO GO
IN PLACE. THEY ARE DOING THINGS
NOW TO HELP WITH THOSE. AND I
KNOW YOU. SORRY. GO ON. SORRY.
THE HEALTH PROTECTION ZONES ARE
IN PLACE AND THERE WILL NOT BE
NEW DRILLING IN THOSE ZONES
BECAUSE THAT'S A RESTRICTION. SO
THAT PIECE IS IN THERE ARE MORE
TECHNICAL ASPECTS OF SOME OF THE
MONITORING AND THE PERMANENT
REGS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
THAT'S WHAT'S TAKING THE TIME.
AND IT'S BECAUSE CAL JAM AND
CARB NEED THE TIME TO DO THAT
PROCESS CORRECTLY, NOT BECAUSE
WE'RE TRYING TO BUY THE INDUSTRY
ANY MORE TIME FOR WHAT THEY'RE
DOING. SO JUST TO READ IT AND TO
UNDERSTAND STARTING BASICALLY
TODAY, THERE WILL BE NO NEW OIL
DRILLING NEAR COMMUNITIES. IS
THAT STILL THE SPIRIT OF 100
FOOT? HEALTH PROTECTION ZONE IS
IN FORCE TODAY, IS ENFORCED, AND
HOW DOES CAL CHEN BE ABLE TO
HAVE THE RESOURCES TO ENFORCE
THAT NOW? WELL, THEY I MEAN,
THEY WERE REVIEWING APPLICATIONS
WHEN THEY CAME IN BEFORE. SO
THAT SAME WORKFORCE GETS THOSE
APPLICATIONS. AND IF THEY'RE,
YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE TO
DEMONSTRATE THAT THEY'RE NOT IN
A HEALTH PROTECTION ZONE IN
ORDER FOR THOSE TO MOVE FORWARD.
SO IT'S SAFE TO ASSUME THAT
THERE WILL BE NO NEW DRILLING
PUT IN THE HEALTH PROTECTION
ZONE. SO NEXT YEAR, OR EVEN
WHILE THIS IS STILL BEING
FORMULATED, IF ANY NEW DRILLING.
THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING. OKAY.
VERY GOOD. WELL, I SHARE A LOT
OF THE SAME VERY SIMILAR
CONCERNS FROM MY COLLEAGUES ON
HERE ABOUT THE DELAYS AND HOW
IT'S COMING OUT QUITE LAST
MINUTE, BUT I'M HAPPY TO TALK
MORE ABOUT THIS AND SHARE MY
CONCERNS ABOUT THIS. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, ASSEMBLY
MEMBER. NOW WE'LL GO TO DOCTOR
WEBER. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.
THIS HAS BEEN MY FIRST YEAR ON
THE BUDGET COMMITTEE AND MY
FIRST YEAR AS CHAIR OF ONE OF
THE SUBCOMMITTEES, AND WE'VE HAD
A LOT OF DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS
THIS YEAR ABOUT SOME OF THE VERY
IMPORTANT PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE
TO HELP A LOT OF VULNERABLE
CALIFORNIANS, BUT SPECIFICALLY
SPECIFICALLY IN THE HEALTH REALM.
I DO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT. I
DO THINK THAT WE HAVE STRUCK THE
RIGHT BALANCE AND THESE BUDGET
TRAILER BILLS, ARE CLARIFYING
AND NECESSARY TO CONTINUE THE
WORK IN THE JUNE BUDGET. I
SPECIFICALLY DO WANT TO CALL OUT
THE ISSUE OF THE MARTIN LUTHER
KING HOSPITAL IN SOUTH LOS
ANGELES. YOU KNOW, I'M NOT SURE
IF MANY PEOPLE UNDERSTAND OR
KNOW THE WAY IN WHICH MLK
HOSPITAL WAS CREATED. IT WAS
CREATED THROUGH LEGISLATION AND
THE WAY IN WHICH IT WAS CREATED
HAS CAUSED A LOT OF DIFFICULTY
WITH THEIR FINANCING SITUATION,
WHICH IS VERY UNIQUE THAN ANY
OTHER HOSPITAL IN THIS COUNTRY,
IN THE STATE, I SHOULD SAY, YOU
KNOW, LAST YEAR THERE WERE OVER
100,000 VISITS TO THEIR
EMERGENCY ROOM. AND IF THAT
HOSPITAL WERE TO CLOSE, THOSE
PARTICULAR INDIVIDUALS WOULD
HAVE NOWHERE TO GO, YOU KNOW, I
AM VERY WELL AWARE OF THE ISSUES
THAT WE HAVE WITHIN OUR
HOSPITALS UP AND DOWN THE STATE,
WITHIN OUR LABOR AND DELIVERY
UNITS, WITHIN OUR SPECIALTY
CARE. AND, YOU KNOW, WE'LL
CONTINUE TO FIGHT FOR THEM. AND,
YOU KNOW, EVEN THOUGH THIS
HOSPITAL IS NOT IN MY DISTRICT,
NOT EVEN IN THE CITY IN WHICH I
LIVE, YOU KNOW, I RECOGNIZE THAT
IT'S IMPORTANT NOT ONLY TO THE
LA AREA, BUT THE ENTIRE REGION.
AND THAT'S WHY IT WAS VERY
IMPORTANT TO ME FOR US TO WORK
ON THIS, NOT ONLY FIX THE
LEGISLATION THAT CREATED IT, BUT
ALSO ENSURE THAT THEIR FUNDING
STREAM WAS THERE. SO I DO WANT
TO TAKE A MINUTE TO THANK THE
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH CARE
SERVICES AND THE DEPARTMENT OF
FINANCE AND THE REST OF THE
ADMINISTRATION FOR THEIR
COLLABORATION ON THIS YEAR'S
BUDGET, YOU KNOW, I KNOW THIS
PROCESS ISN'T EASY. I HAVEN'T
ALWAYS, YOU KNOW, BEEN YOUR
CHEERLEADERS ON SOME OF THE
THINGS. BUT I DO WANT TO
ACKNOWLEDGE THE WORK THAT HAS
BEEN DONE. AND REALLY THANK YOU
FOR, YOU KNOW, IN LIGHT OF ALL
OF THE DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES
THAT WE'VE HAD THIS YEAR. THANK
YOU. CHAIR THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
DOCTOR ROBERT. WE'LL GO TO
ASSEMBLY MEMBER QUIRK-SILVA,
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. AND I TOO,
WANT TO EXPRESS THIS HAS BEEN MY
FIRST YEAR ON BUDGET, AND I HAVE
FOUND IT NOT ONLY AN HONOR TO
WORK IN THIS AREA IN THIS SPACE,
BUT ALSO NOT ONLY WITH MY
SUBCOMMITTEE, BUT THE OTHER
SUBCOMMITTEES. SO MY QUESTION
IS, OUT OF THE SUBCOMMITTEE THAT
I'M ON, AND IT'S ON SB 176, AND
IT'S A NUMBER THREE ON THE
ATTENDANCE RECOVERY, PROGRAM, AS
A FORMER TEACHER, UNDERSTANDING
HOW IMPORTANT ADA IS TO
DISTRICTS AND UNDERSTANDING, I
WOULD SAY THAT IN A WAY,
INNOVATIVE WAYS SCHOOL DISTRICTS
ARE TRYING TO GET ATTENDANCE
RECOVERY. IF YOU CAN JUST KIND
OF SUMMARIZE WHAT THIS ACTUALLY
LOOKS LIKE FOR DISTRICTS. I
MEAN, I KNOW WHAT IT IS
GENERALLY, BUT I KNOW A LOT OF
US DON'T KNOW THIS BECAUSE THIS
IS, PRETTY INNOVATIVE.
ABSOLUTELY. SO AARON GABEL FROM
THE ASSEMBLY BUDGET COMMITTEE.
SO IN THE JUNE BUDGET, WE
ADOPTED A BRAND NEW ATTENDANCE
RECOVERY PROGRAM TO HELP SCHOOL
DISTRICTS THAT ARE STRUGGLING
WITH CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM POST
PANDEMIC TO BE ABLE TO GO BEYOND
THE VERY UNPOPULAR SATURDAY
SCHOOL MODEL THAT YOU MAY BE
FAMILIAR WITH AS A FORMER
TEACHER, AND TO LOOK AT HOW TO
INTEGRATE INTO THEIR AFTER
SCHOOL HOURS AND OTHER WAYS FOR
RECOUPING NOT ONLY STUDENT
ATTENDANCE TIME FOR PURPOSES OF
ADA, BUT ALSO RE-ENGAGEMENT OF
PUPILS LONG TERM TO TRY TO
ADDRESS CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM SO
THAT PACKAGE WAS ACTUALLY
ADOPTED IN THE JUNE BUDGET. AND
WE'RE JUST MAKING TECHNICAL
CHANGES THAT HAVE BEEN
RECOMMENDED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF
EDUCATION TO BE CONSISTENT WITH
THAT NEW PROGRAM. SO YOU'RE
SAYING THAT IF A STUDENT IS
ATTENDING AN AFTER SCHOOL
PROGRAM AND THEY'VE BEEN ABSENT
DURING THE REGULAR SCHOOL DAY
PERIOD, THEY CAN APPLY THOSE
AFTER SCHOOL HOURS AS A DAY OF
ATTENDANCE OR CERTAIN HOURS. HOW
MANY HOURS DOES IT TAKE TO MAKE
UP A DAY, I GUESS. GREAT
QUESTION. SO THE PROGRAM HAS
MINIMUM INCREMENTS OF ONE HOUR
WITH A CERTIFICATED TEACHER OF
RECORD MEETING. THE CONTENT
STANDARDS YOU SHOULD HAVE HAD
DURING THE REGULAR SCHOOL DAY.
AND MEETING THE STUDENT TO
CERTIFICATED TEACHER RATIOS THAT
ARE CONSISTENT WITH THE AFTER
SCHOOL PROGRAM, WHICH IS 20 TO 1
FOR CHILDREN WHO ARE FIRST GRADE
AND OLDER, OR 10 TO 1 FOR
KINDERGARTEN AND TRANSITIONAL
KINDERGARTEN. THE PROGRAMS ARE
ALLOWED TO BE INTEGRATED WITH
THEIR PREEXISTING LAUP PROGRAMS.
THEY MAY HAVE ON THEIR CAMPUSES,
OR MAYBE SUNRISING ON THEIR
CAMPUSES, BUT THEY'RE ALSO
ALLOWED TO BE STANDALONE, AND
THEY CAN BE NOT ONLY DURING THE
AFTER SCHOOL HOURS, BUT OTHER
INTERSESSION DAYS. SO THERE'S
IT'S A BRAND NEW PROGRAM. IT
WON'T SUNRISE UNTIL THE 2025, 26
SCHOOL YEAR. SO IT'S GOING TO
GIVE THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
SOME TIME TO DEVELOP ALL OF THE
GUIDANCE AROUND THE PROGRAMS.
BUT THE INTENT IS IN ONE HOUR
INCREMENTS TO BE ABLE TO START
TO RECAPTURE ENTIRE DAYS OF
STUDENT ATTENDANCE FOR PURPOSES
OF THEIR ADA, BUT ALSO FOR
PURPOSES OF BRINGING THE
STUDENTS BACK TO, YOU KNOW, PACE
WITH THEIR CLASS. THANK YOU.
OKAY I LIKE. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. ASSEMBLY MEMBER. ANY OTHER
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM
MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE? I JUST
HAVE ONE QUICK. VICE CHAIR
FLORES, IN SB 158, IT DOES SEEM
LIKE THE FUNDING FOR HYDROGEN
INFRASTRUCTURE WAS STRUCK. WHAT
WAS THE RATIONALE FOR THAT?
CHAU FORBES ASSEMBLY BUDGET
COMMITTEE. SO NO FUNDING WAS
STRUCK. IT WAS JUST BUDGET BILL
LANGUAGE DESCRIBING WHICH
PROGRAMS CERTAIN APPROPRIATIONS
WERE FOR. SO IT DOES LOOK LIKE
IT VISUALLY LOOKS LIKE THE
HYDROGEN COMPONENT AS WELL AS
THE MEDIUM. AND HEAVY DUTY
FUNDING WAS STRUCK. I'M STILL
WORKING WITH THE ADMINISTRATION
SPECIFICALLY ON WHY THAT WAS
SUGGESTED, BUT MY UNDERSTANDING
AND I COULD BE WRONG. I'M STILL
VETTING IT WITH THE
ADMINISTRATION IS THAT IN 2022,
WHEN WE APPROVED THE SORT OF
LARGE ZEV MULTIYEAR FUNDING
PACKAGE, THERE WAS A SPECIFIC
PROGRAM THAT WAS ONLY INTENDED,
AS WAS PROPOSED IN THE BCP AND
HEARD IN COMMITTEE AND ADOPTED
FOR FAST CHARGING STATIONS,
WHICH ARE ONLY ELECTRIC. AND
THOSE ARE TYPICALLY ONLY FOR
LIGHT DUTY. YOU KNOW, IT'S
POSSIBLE A MEDIUM DUTY TRUCK
COULD CHARGE AT THOSE, DEPENDING
ON THE SPEED, BUT MY
UNDERSTANDING IS THE ORIGINAL
APPROVAL WAS ONLY FOR THOSE. AND
SO IT SEEMS AS THOUGH THE
ADMINISTRATION IS FINALLY
GETTING AROUND TO MAYBE
CORRECTING SOME OLDER
BOILERPLATE LANGUAGE BOILERPLATE
LANGUAGE TO REFLECT WHAT WAS
ACTUALLY APPROVED TWO YEARS AGO.
BUT I AM STILL WORKING ON THAT,
AND I CAN REACH OUT TO YOUR
OFFICE ONCE I GET FULL
CLARIFICATION. OR THEY CAN BE
HERE NOW. GOOD MORNING, JEFF
BELL, DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE.
YES, THAT IS A SUMMARY OF THE
INTENT OF THE LANGUAGE THAT YOU
FIND IN THE BILL BEFORE YOU NOW.
OKAY. AWESOME. AND THEN I WOULD
LOVE IT IF YOU COULD MAYBE GET
SOME CLARITY FOR US. GET OUR
OFFICE WOULD APPRECIATE THAT
VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
CHAIR ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. ANY
OTHER, COMMENTS? QUESTIONS FROM
MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE. ALL
RIGHT. WITH THAT, I WANT TO
THANK THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE,
LEGISLATIVE ANALYST'S OFFICE,
ALL THE TALENTED FOLKS AT THE
ASSEMBLY BUDGET COMMITTEE,
OBVIOUSLY, SOME ISSUES FOR US TO
CONSIDER TO THINK ABOUT AS WE
MOVE TOWARDS THE FINISH LINE
HERE AND APPRECIATE THE HARD
WORK AND COLLABORATION OF ALL
INVOLVED AS WE GET CLOSE TO THE
FINISH LINE, WITH THAT, I'M
GOING TO OPEN IT UP TO PUBLIC
COMMENT.
MR. CHAIRMAN, TERRY MCHALE, WITH
AARON REID AND ASSOCIATES
REPRESENTING CAL FIRE, LOCAL
2881. AND I'LL JUST TAKE ONE
MINUTE. FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO
THANK OUR SUB CHAIR, MR.
BENNETT, WHO IS EXTRAORDINARILY
COOPERATIVE AND OPEN AND
COLLABORATIVE. WE HAVE AN MOU. I
THINK THAT REFLECTS THE BEST,
NOT ONLY OF THE ADMINISTRATION
BUT OF THIS LEGISLATURE,
LEGISLATURE. IN TWO YEARS, OUR
SEASONALS WILL BE MAKING $20 AN
HOUR. WE'RE NOW APPROACHED HOUR
BY HOUR COMPARISON TO 75% OF
LOCAL GOVERNMENT. WE'RE SEEING A
66 HOUR WORKWEEK BEING
IMPLEMENTED AT A TIME WHEN THIS
BUDGET CRISIS WAS SEVERE. YOU
SHOWED NOT ONLY IMAGINATION, BUT
A WILLINGNESS TO WORK BY, IN A
BIPARTISAN FASHION TO MAKE A
DIFFERENCE FOR ALL OF THE PEOPLE
OF CALIFORNIA AND ON BEHALF OF
THE FIREFIGHTERS OF LOCAL 281, I
WANT TO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
YOUR ENDEAVORS. THANK YOU, THANK
YOU, AND THANK YOU FOR ALL THE
HARD WORK OF OUR FIREFIGHTERS.
MR. CHAIR AND MEMBERS, PAT MORAN
WITH AARON REID AND ASSOCIATES
REPRESENTING THE CALIFORNIA
ASSOCIATION OF PROFESSIONAL
SCIENTISTS, UAW. WE'RE IN
SUPPORT OF SB 181 81 THAT
INCLUDES THEIR MOU, AND WE'D
ALSO LIKE TO TAKE THE TIME TO
THANK ALL THE LEGISLATORS THAT
HAVE SUPPORTED THEM THROUGHOUT
THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS. THEY'VE
BEEN WITHOUT A CONTRACT FOR
ALMOST FOUR YEARS, AND THIS
REMEDIES THAT. SO WE APPRECIATE
ALL OF YOUR SUPPORT. THANK YOU.
GOOD MORNING. CHRISTINA SCARINGE
WITH THE CENTER FOR BIOLOGICAL
DIVERSITY AND STRONG OPPOSITION
TO THE SB 178 PROVISIONS TO
UNNECESSARILY DELAY
IMPLEMENTATION OF AND COMPLIANCE
WITH SB 1137 MANDATES.
COMMUNITIES WORKED FOR THESE
PROTECTIONS FOR DECADES, AND
WHEN THE AGENCY FAILED THEM,
THEY LOOKED TO THE LEGISLATURE.
SB 1137 WAS IN PART TO PUSH THE
AGENCY FOR ITS FAILURE TO ACT ON
ITS EXISTING AUTHORITY TO
ADDRESS OIL POLLUTION NEAR HOMES
AND SCHOOLS. AFTER THAT HARD WON
BATTLE, THE OIL INDUSTRY SPENT
MILLIONS TO BUY A TWO YEAR DELAY
WITH ITS RECENTLY SURRENDERED
VETO REFERENDUM. BUT NOW SB 178
GIFTS BIG OIL YEARS MORE TO
COMPLY. SACRIFICING COMMUNITIES
ONCE AGAIN TO SUFFER THE
REPERCUSSIONS OF TOXIC OIL
POLLUTION. FOUR MORE YEARS,
DOUBLING THE TIME THESE
POLLUTING WELLS WILL SPEW TOXINS
UPON COMMUNITIES, HOMES AND
SCHOOLS. THIS NEEDLESS DELAY IS
A GIFT TO INDUSTRY, A
DERELICTION OF PUBLIC DUTY AND
AN AFFRONT TO THE PEOPLE OF
CALIFORNIA. WE URGE YOU TO
MAINTAIN THE ORIGINAL TIMELINES,
AND I'VE BEEN ASKED TO OFFER ME
TWO OPPOSITION FOR THE FOLLOWING
ORGANIZATIONS 350 CONTRA COSTA
ACTION ELECTED OFFICIALS TO
PROTECT AMERICA, CODE BLUE
CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL VOTERS.
350 SACRAMENTO SIERRA CLUB
PROTECT MONTEREY COUNTY, THE
CLIMATE CENTER, CITIZENS CLIMATE
LOBBY, SANTA CRUZ CLIMATE
BRUNCH, CLEAN WATER ACTION,
PHYSICIANS FOR SOCIAL
RESPONSIBILITY, SACRAMENTO
CLIMATE HAWKS VOTE, AND NUMEROUS
INDIVIDUALS FROM COMMUNITIES WHO
SAID THEY COULD NOT BE HERE ON
SUCH SHORT NOTICE, INCLUDING
EMILY BRANDT, FORMER SECRETARY
OF CAL DEM ENVIRONMENTAL CAUCUS.
DOCTOR NGUYEN, CO-FOUNDER OF SAN
DIEGO PEDIATRICIANS FOR CLEAN
AIR AND DOCTOR WANG, PRESIDENT
OF PSR SACRAMENTO. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING, CHAIR
AND MEMBERS RAQUEL MASON WITH
THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL
JUSTICE ALLIANCE COMMENTING ALSO
ON SB 178, REGISTERING
OPPOSITION TO THE PROPOSED CAL
GYM DELAYS ON BEHALF OF BLACK
WOMEN FOR WELLNESS, PHYSICIANS
FOR SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, LOS
ANGELES, THE ASIAN PACIFIC
ENVIRONMENTAL NETWORK, AND
COMMUNITIES FOR A BETTER
ENVIRONMENT. WE REALLY
APPRECIATE ALL THE QUESTIONS
THAT WERE ASKED BY MEMBERS
TODAY, RAISING THESE SAME
CONCERNS. COMMUNITIES WE HAVE
WORKED WITH HAVE WAITED LONG
ENOUGH FOR THESE ESSENTIAL
PUBLIC HEALTH PROTECTIONS. WE
OPPOSE DOUBLING THE DELAY AND
GIVING THIS GIFT TO THE OIL
INDUSTRY, EVEN IF IT'S NOT BEING
FRAMED AS SUCH. INSTEAD OF
GIVING THE OIL INDUSTRY TWO MORE
YEARS AFTER ALL THE STATE WORK
IS DONE, THIS BILL WOULD GIVE
THE OIL INDUSTRY TWICE THAT
LONG. WHILE THIS MAY NOT BE
DONE. PLEASE MOVE BACK TO THE
ORIGINAL TIMELINES. THANK YOU.
JESS BARTOLO WITH SEIU
CALIFORNIA. FIRST AND FOREMOST,
I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE
BUDGET COMMITTEE FOR THE WORK
YOU DID TO SAVE THE SAFETY NET
IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET. THANK YOU
FOR TODAY'S PACKAGE. I WANTED TO
HIGHLIGHT A COUPLE OF THINGS IN
ALIGNMENT WITH THE COMMENTS MADE
AND THE CONCERNS RAISED WITH THE
DELAY OF CAL GEM, SEIU IS IN
SUPPORT AND GRATEFUL FOR THE
QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS RAISED.
ADDITIONALLY, WE WANTED TO SAY
THANK YOU FOR THE FUNDING FOR
THE PAGA REFORM IMPLEMENTATION.
GRATEFUL FOR THAT. GRATEFUL ALSO
FOR THE ADDITIONAL COMPONENTS OF
THE STATE STATE PRESCHOOL
ADDITION OF THE TWO YEAR OLD TO
ENSURE THAT THE TWO YEAR OLDS
BEING MOVED INTO STATE PRESCHOOL
HAVE RIGHTS AND PROTECTIONS FOR
DIAPERING AND TOILET TRAINING
THAT ARE NECESSARY FOR TWO YEAR
OLDS. FINALLY, I WANTED TO RAISE
ONE THING WE WERE HOPING TO SEE
HERE, WHICH IS CONFIRMATION THAT
CHILD CARE PROVIDERS WHO ARE
UNIONIZING WILL NOT BE
ECONOMICALLY PUNISHED WHEN THEY
PARTICIPATE IN COLLECTIVE
BARGAINING AND HOPEFUL THAT
THERE IS ROOM FOR ADDITIONAL
PIECES IN THE BUDGET PACKAGE.
THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING, MR.
CHAIR. MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE,
MALIK BYNUM WITH DW ASKED ME
LOCAL 3930. ALSO ON BEHALF OF
CHILD CARE PROVIDERS UNITED, I
WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE
CLEANUP HEARING TODAY AND ALSO
EXPRESS OUR SUPPORT FOR SB 176
AND THE TOILETING AND DIAPERING
PROVISIONS FOR CSAP PROGRAMS.
AND ALSO LIKE MY COLLEAGUE JESS
BARTOLO, JUST SAID, AS WE COME
DOWN TO THE WIRE HERE, WE
RECOGNIZE THE NEED TO CODIFY
PROTECTIONS FOR OUR PROVIDERS
GOING INTO THEIR THIRD CONTRACT
NEGOTIATIONS THIS FALL, WE'VE
HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH YOUR
STAFF, AS WELL AS THE
ADMINISTRATION AS WELL AS SENATE
BUDGET STAFF ON THIS, AND WE'RE
JUST HOPEFUL FOR THE INCLUSION
OF THIS IN FINAL TRAILER. BILL,
THANK YOU. MR. CHAIR AND MEMBERS,
PETER KELLISON, ON BEHALF OF THE
CALIFORNIA HOSPICE AND
PALLIATIVE CARE ASSOCIATION HERE
IN SUPPORT OF SB 177, IN
PARTICULAR, WE'RE SUPPORTIVE OF
THE COMPONENT THAT WOULD EXTEND
THE SOON TO EXPIRE MORATORIUM ON
NEW HOSPICE LICENSES AND WOULD
PROVIDE THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC
HEALTH THE TOOLS TO ENSURE THAT
THERE IS REDUCTION IN HOSPICE
FRAUD IN CALIFORNIA, AND WANT TO
THANK THE COMMITTEE AND
PARTICULARLY THE COMMITTEE STAFF
IN GETTING THIS DONE. GOOD
MORNING. CHAIR MEMBERS CASSANDRA
MÀ WITH NIMMALA PAPPAS AND
ASSOCIATES ON BEHALF OF THE
CAMPAIGN FOR A SAFE AND HEALTHY
CALIFORNIA, I WANT TO START OFF
BY THANKING THE COMMITTEE, THE
STAFF AND THE MEMBERS FOR ALL
THEIR QUESTIONS AND FOR ALL THE
GREAT WORK THEY'RE DOING.
UNFORTUNATELY, WE OPPOSE SB 178,
DOUBLING THE DELAY THAT OIL
INDUSTRY HAS TO COMPLY WITH THE
REQUIREMENTS OF SB 1137. WE
RESPECTFULLY ASK THAT YOU REVERT
BACK TO THE ORIGINAL COMPLIANCE
TIMELINE IN SB 1137. AND THANK
YOU AGAIN. GOOD MORNING, CHAIR
AND MEMBERS KELLY O'BRIEN WITH
WESTERN CENTER ON LAW AND
POVERTY HERE, IN APPRECIATION
FOR THE STATE'S ONGOING WORK TO
PREVENT THEFT OF FOOD AND CASH
BENEFITS, WE ALSO ASK THAT YOU
CONTINUE TO PRIORITIZE ACCESS TO
FOOD BENEFITS DURING THE
TRANSITION TO THE EBT CHIP. TAP
CARDS. JUST TO ENSURE THAT WE
DON'T HAVE A CRISIS AS WE MAKE
SURE THAT THE NEW CARDS WORK.
AND THEN ALSO WE'RE EXCITED
ABOUT THE STATE PURSUING THE NEW
TANF PILOTS, WHICH WILL PROVIDE
US AN OPPORTUNITY TO REIMAGINE
CALWORKS AS A FAMILY CENTERED
PROGRAM BY LIMITING SANCTIONS,
ENSURING CRITICAL SUPPORTIVE
SERVICES LIKE CHILDCARE AND
EMPOWERING FAMILIES TO DETERMINE
THEIR PATHWAYS OUT OF POVERTY.
THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING, MISTER
CHAIR. MEMBERS DOUG SUBERS, ON
BEHALF OF THE CALIFORNIA
PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTERS AND
STRONG SUPPORT OF SB 181, I
WOULD ECHO THE COMMENTS OF MR.
MCHALE PREVIOUSLY AND JUST THANK
THE LEGISLATURE AND
ADMINISTRATION FOR WORKING WITH
US AND OUR COLLEAGUES TO PROTECT
FIREFIGHTERS THIS YEAR. THANK
YOU. GOOD MORNING, CHAIR AND
MEMBERS, TERESA COOK, ON BEHALF
OF THE CALIFORNIA HYDROGEN
COALITION. I APOLOGIZE IF I
MISSED THIS AND MY TARDINESS
TODAY, BUT THE BUDGET BILL, JR,
SB 158 STRIKES HYDROGEN FUELING
INFRASTRUCTURE FROM ENERGY
COMMISSION DOLLARS SET ASIDE FOR
HEAVY DUTY. THAT IS VERY
CONCERNING FOR OUR COMMUNITY,
GIVEN THE FACT THAT I OFTEN HEAR
THAT THE ONLY ROLE FOR HYDROGEN
IN THE ZERO EMISSION
TRANSPORTATION FUTURE IS IN THE
HEAVY DUTY SPACE. AND SO TO THAT
END, ANY CLARITY THAT CAN BE
PROVIDED AS TO WHAT IS BEING
HAPPENED OR WHAT IS HAPPENING
WITH THAT POT OF MONEY, AND THEN
TO WHAT THE RATIONALE IS THERE
FOR MAKING HYDROGEN INELIGIBLE
FOR THAT WOULD BE GREATLY
APPRECIATED BY OUR COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU
TO THE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC FOR
YOUR COMMENT TODAY. THANK YOU TO
MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE FOR
JOINING US TO THE SERGEANTS, TO
ALL OF OUR WITNESSES AND THE
STAFF, AND THANK YOU, EVERYONE,
FOR STARTING YOUR MORNING WITH
THE ASSEMBLY BUDGET COMMITTEE.
WE HOPE YOU HAVE A GREAT DAY.
THIS HEARING IS ADJOURNED. RIGHT.