GET STARTED AS A SUBCOMMITTEE.
SINCE WE DON'T, WE'RE GOING TO
START AS A SUBCOMMITTEE SINCE WE
DON'T HAVE A QUORUM. WELCOME TO
THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE
HEARING. WE DO HAVE THREE ITEMS
ON THE AGENDA. BUT BEFORE WE GET
STARTED, I WANT TO GO THROUGH
SOME HOUSEKEEPING ITEMS. I WOULD
LIKE TO REMIND THE PUBLIC THAT
FOR THESE AND FUTURE HEARINGS,
TESTIMONY WILL BE IN PERSON AS
WE ARE NO LONGER USING A
MODERATED TELEPHONE SERVICE. WE
ALSO ACCEPT WRITTEN TESTIMONY
THROUGH THE POSITION LETTER
PORTAL ON THE COMMITTEE'S
WEBSITE. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO GO
OVER SOME GROUND RULES FOR
APPROPRIATE CONDUCT. THE
ASSEMBLY HAS EXPERIENCED A
NUMBER OF DISRUPTIONS TO
COMMITTEE AND FLOOR PROCEEDINGS
IN THE LAST FEW YEARS. CONDUCT
THAT DISRUPT, DISTURBS, OR
OTHERWISE IMPEDES THE ORDERLY
CONDUCT OF THE HEARING IS
PROHIBITED. SUCH CONDUCT MAY
INCLUDE TALKING OR MAKING LOUD
NOISES FROM THE AUDIENCE,
UTTERING LOUD, THREATENING, OR
ABUSIVE LANGUAGE IS SPEAKING
LONGER THAN THE TIME ALLOWED.
EXTENDED DISCUSSION OF
MARGINALLY RELATED TO THE
SUBJECT OF THE HEARING OR THE
BILL, AND ANY OTHER DISRUPTIVE
ACTS. TO ADDRESS THESE
DISRUPTIVE ACTS, I WILL CONDUCT
THE FOLLOWING STEPS. IF AN
INDIVIDUAL DISRUPTS THE HEARING
PROCESS, I WILL DIRECT THEM TO
STOP AND WARN THEM. THAT
CONTINUED DISRUPTIONS MAY RESULT
IN REMOVAL FROM THE CAPITOL
BUILDING. I WILL ALSO DOCUMENT
ON THE RECORD INDIVIDUAL
INVOLVING THE NATURE OF
DISRUPTIVE CONDUCT, AND I MAY
RECESS THE HEARING. IF THE
CONDUCT DOES NOT STOP, I WILL
REQUEST THE ASSISTANCE OF THE
SERGEANT. ESCORT AN INDIVIDUAL
OUT OF THE CAPITOL BUILDING, WE
DO NOT HAVE A QUORUM. AS I
STATED, WE'D HAVE THREE ITEMS ON
THE AGENDA, AND WE'RE GOING TO
HEAR THEM OUT OF ORDER SINCE
THEY'RE ITEM NUMBER ONE. SENATOR
PADILLA IS NOT HERE YET, BUT WE
DO HAVE ASSEMBLY MEMBER
FRIEDMAN, IF YOU'RE READY. THANK
YOU, MISTER CHAIR AND MEMBERS.
UNDER CURRENT LAW, ENHANCED
INFRASTRUCTURE FINANCING
DISTRICTS, OR APHIDS MAY ONLY
COLLECT TAX INCREMENT FOR UP TO
45 YEARS FROM THE DATE OF THE
FIRST BOND ISSUANCE. HOWEVER,
BECAUSE OF THE RELATIVELY SLOW
APPRECIATION AND PROPERTY
VALUES, IN MANY CASES IT MAY
TAKE 10 TO 15 YEARS BEFORE
REVENUES ARE SUFFICIENT TO
BORROW AGAINST OR BEGIN PAYING
DOWN DEBT. AB 761 EXTENDS THE
PERIOD OF AVAILABLE EAFD TAX
INCREMENT FROM 45 YEARS TO 75
YEARS TO ALIGN THE TERM WITH
THAT OF A FEDERAL TRANSPORTATION
INFRASTRUCTURE, FINANCE AND
INNOVATION TIFIA LOAN, WHICH IS
ADMINISTERED BY THE US
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.
THIS IS TO ALLOW OUR TRANSIT
AGENCIES TO TRY TO GET NEWLY
OFFERED FEDERAL MONEY SO THAT WE
ALIGN OUR TERMS WITH WHAT
THEY'RE LOOKING FOR AS THEY MAKE
GRANTS. THIS IS TO BRING MONEY
INTO CALIFORNIA FOR NEEDED
TRANSIT. LA METRO AND LA AREA
MUNICIPALITIES ARE EXPLORING THE
UTILIZATION OF APHIDS, APHIDS,
APHIDS, ANYONE KNOW IT? APHIDS.
APHIDS? APHIDS. OKAY THAT
DOESN'T HELP. OKAY, FOR A NUMBER
OF LOCAL PASSENGER RAIL
PROJECTS, LA METRO IS IN THE
MIDDLE OF ONE OF THE LARGEST
REGIONAL TRANSIT EXPANSION
PROGRAMS IN THE NATION. THOUGH
MOST OF THE PROJECTS ARE FUELED
BY A COMBINATION OF THE LOCAL
COUNTYWIDE SALES TAX AND STATE
OR FEDERAL GRANTS, RISING
PROJECTS COSTS ARE LIMITING THE
PACE OF THAT EXPANSION, MEANING
MORE SUPPORT FROM LOCAL CITIES
AND COUNTIES WILL BE NEEDED TO
KEEP PROJECTS AND CLIMATE GOALS
ON SCHEDULE. AB 761 IS NARROWLY
TAILORED TO APPLY TO DISTRICTS
FORMED AFTER JANUARY 1ST, 2025
FOR THE PURPOSE OF FINANCING AND
CONSTRUCTING PASSENGER RAIL
PROJECTS THROUGH A FEDERAL TIFIA
LOAN. IT ALSO ENSURES THAT 45
YEARS AFTER THE ISSUANCE OF THE
TIFIA LOAN, ALL TAX INCREMENT
WILL BE USED FOR REPAYMENT OF
THAT LOAN. THIS BILL GIVES LOCAL
JURISDICTIONS A TOOL TO FUND
MUCH NEEDED TRANSIT PROJECTS
THAT WILL GIVE LOCAL AND STATE
TRANSPORTATION GREENHOUSE GAS
REDUCTION GOALS A CHANCE TO WORK
WITH ME TODAY TO SPEAK IN
SUPPORT OF AB 761 IS SYLVIA
SOLIS SHAW ON BEHALF OF THE CITY
OF WEST HOLLYWOOD AND JOHN
SKOGLUND FOR LOS ANGELES COUNTY.
THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON, MR.
CHAIR, AND MEMBERS. SYLVIA SOLIS
CHAU, ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF
WEST HOLLYWOOD, THE CITY WOULD
LIKE TO THANK ASSEMBLY MEMBER
FRIEDMAN FOR AUTHORING THIS
MEASURE, EXPANDING RAIL SERVICE
THROUGH THE CITY HAS BEEN A
PRIORITY FOR OUR COUNCIL FOR
OVER 20 YEARS. RECENTLY, WE HAVE
PARTNERED WITH LA COUNTY
SUPERVISOR HORVATH AND WITH LA
METRO ON THIS PRIORITY AND HAVE
DETERMINED THAT THE CREATION OF
AN AIFD. I JUST SAY THE LETTERS
WOULD BE NECESSARY TO FINANCE
THE EXTENSION OF THE RAIL LINE
KNOWN AS THE K LINE, IN A
NORTHERN DIRECTION THROUGH
MID-CITY AND MIRACLE MILE
NEIGHBORHOODS IN THE CITY OF LOS
ANGELES AND THROUGH WEST
HOLLYWOOD TO HOLLYWOOD, THE K
LINE NORTH EXTENSION WILL
TRANSFORM REGIONAL MOBILITY IN
ONE OF THE MOST CONGESTED PARTS
OF LA COUNTY AND WILL CONNECT
THESE COMMUNITIES AS WELL AS
MANY JOB CENTERS AND
DESTINATIONS ALONG THE WAY. THIS
BILL WILL FACILITATE THE
FINANCING OF THESE TRANSIT
PROJECTS AND WILL ALSO INCREASE
THE POSITIVE IMPACT. TRANSIT
ORIENTED DEVELOPMENTS THAT,
CONTINUE TO GROW IN THE LA
REGION, AND WE HOPE THAT THESE
WILL LEAD TO INCLUSIONARY
AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECTS, AS
WELL AS EXPANDING ON FIRST AND
LAST MILE PLANNING TO IDENTIFY
BIKE AND PEDESTRIAN IMPROVEMENTS
NEEDED TO EXPAND THE REACH OF
THESE TRANSIT STATIONS. SO FOR
THESE REASONS, THE CITY OF WEST
HOLLYWOOD IS PLEASED TO BE A
CO-SPONSOR OF AB 761, AND WE ASK
FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF THIS MEASURE.
THANK YOU. BEFORE WE MOVE TO THE
SECOND WITNESS, WHICH IS THE
QUORUM, IF WE CAN HAVE THE
SECRETARY CALL THE ROLL, PLEASE.
CARILLO HERE. CARILLO PRESENT.
WALDRON. SALLY. HERE SALLY.
PRESENT. HANEY. HANEY. PRESENT
CARA. PACHECO RAMOS. RAMOS.
PRESENT. WARD WILSON. WILSON.
PRESENT THE SECOND WITNESS.
PLEASE. WE HAVE A QUORUM. THANK
YOU. JOHN SKOGLUND WITH THE
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES, URGING
YOUR SUPPORT OF AB 761, LA METRO
LOS ANGELES COUNTY AND CITIES
LIKE LOS ANGELES AND WEST
HOLLYWOOD ARE COMMITTED TO
EXPANDING RAIL SERVICE, BUT
THEY'RE FACING SIGNIFICANT COST
INCREASES. STEEL PRICES UP 83%,
CONCRETE 50%, AND MACHINERY 37%.
SINCE 2016, ALONG WITH SLOW
SALES TAX GROWTH AND TIGHT LABOR
MARKET ENHANCED INFRASTRUCTURE
FINANCING. DISTRICTS ARE A
STRONG SOLUTION TO HELP FINANCE
LARGE SCALE INFRASTRUCTURE
PROJECTS. HOWEVER, THESE REVENUE
BUILD THE. THESE REVENUES BUILD
SLOWLY, PARTICULARLY IN THE
EARLY YEARS WHICH CAN DELAY
PROJECTS. APHIDS IN COMBINATION
WITH FEDERAL TIFIA LOANS CAN
HELP PROVIDE THOSE UPFRONT
CAPITAL COSTS WHILE ALSO
BENEFITING FROM THE FLEXIBLE
LOAN TERMS, SUCH AS DEFERRED
PAYMENTS UNTIL FIVE YEARS AFTER
PROJECT COMPLETION. EXPANDING
REPAYMENT PERIODS, HELPING TO
BRIDGE THE FUNDING GAP DURING
THOSE EARLY YEARS, AB 761
PROPOSES EXTENDING THE PERIODS
FOR BIDS FROM 45 YEARS TO 75
YEARS, SPECIFICALLY FOR
PASSENGER RAIL PROJECTS. THIS
WOULD LOWER ANNUAL PAYMENTS,
INCREASING FINANCIAL CAPACITY,
AND MAKE BIDS MORE VIABLE TOOL
FOR FUNDING THESE ESSENTIAL
PROGRAMS, STRONGLY SUPPORT YOUR
SUPPORT. STRONGLY URGE YOUR AYE
VOTE ON AB 761. THANK YOU, THANK
YOU. ARE THERE ANY OTHER
WITNESSES IN THE ROOM THAT WANT
TO COME IN SUPPORT? PLEASE STATE
YOUR NAME, AFFILIATION AND
POSITION ON THE BILL. THANK YOU,
MR. CHAIRMAN, AND MEMBERS. IT'S
NOT ON YET. OKAY. TESTING,
TESTING. THANK YOU, MR.
CHAIRMAN. AND MEMBERS, ANDREW
AREN'TWE WITH CHAU AND TÔI.
SCHMELZER AND LANG HERE ON
BEHALF OF THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY
METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION
AUTHORITY, AS THE AUTHOR
MENTIONED MENTIONED, LOS ANGELES
COUNTY IS IN THE MIDST OF A RAIL
EXPLOSION. WE'RE HERE TO
SUPPORT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE? SEEING
NONE. HOW ABOUT ANY WITNESSES IN
OPPOSITION? NO. PRIMARY
WITNESSES. ANYBODY ELSE THAT
WANTS TO GO ON THE RECORD IN
OPPOSITION? SEEING NONE. I'LL
TAKE IT BACK TO THE COMMITTEE
MEMBERS. ANY QUESTIONS? COMMENTS
ON THE BILL? WE HAVE A FIRST AND
A SECOND, ASSEMBLY MEMBER WOULD
YOU LIKE TO CLOSE? I DON'T
BELIEVE THIS BILL HAS ANY
OPPOSITION. IT'S A PRIORITY FOR
COUNTY OF LA. AND I WOULD URGE
AND I VOTE THANK YOU. THANK YOU
FOR BRINGING THIS BILL FORWARD
TODAY. I'M ALWAYS VERY
SUPPORTIVE OF FINDING CREATIVE
WAYS TO USE OUR EXISTING
RESOURCES TO HELP PROVIDE THE
CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE OUR
COMMUNITIES NEED. I WILL BE
SUPPORTING THE BILL TODAY. THE
MOTION IS THAT THE SENATE
AMENDMENT BE CONCURRED IN.
SECRETARY, PLEASE CALL THE ROLE.
THE MOTION IS RECOMMENDATION
THAT THE SENATE AMENDMENTS BE
CONCURRED IN CARILLO Ã CARILLO
AYE. WALDRON EASILY. AYE. HANEY.
HANEY. AYE CARRA. PACHECO RAMOS.
RAMOS. AYE. WARD. WARD. AYE.
WILSON. WILSON. AYE WELL, I
DON'T, SHE DIDN'T WANT TO VOTE
ON IT. SO YOU HAVE SIX ZERO AT
THIS POINT. SO YES. SIX ZERO.
THE BILL IS OUT. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. THANK YOU EVERYBODY. THANK
YOU GUYS. WE ARE GOING BACK TO
THE ORDER ON THE AGENDA. THAT'S
ITEM NUMBER ONE ON THE AGENDA SB
1070. SENATOR PADILLA, WHENEVER
YOU'RE READY. THANK YOU, MR.
CHAIR. WE ON. ALL RIGHT. I JUST
GOT TO SPEAK UP. ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. AND
MEMBERS. I'M HERE TO ADDRESS
CHANGES TO 1070. THERE ARE ONLY
TWO HOSPITALS SERVING PATIENTS
IN IMPERIAL COUNTY IN THE
REGION. AS YOU KNOW, FACES
SERIOUS CHALLENGES CONNECTING
RESIDENTS TO HEALTH CARE
PROVIDERS. IN 2023, THE
LEGISLATURE APPROVED AB 918 TO
FORM IMPERIAL VALLEY HEALTHCARE
DISTRICT, A COUNTY WIDE HEALTH
CARE SYSTEM TO STABILIZE HEALTH
CARE AND ONE OF THE STATE'S MOST
UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES. PART OF
THE MEASURE REQUIRED THAT THE
NEWLY FORMED BOARD OF THE
IMPERIAL VALLEY HEALTH CARE
DISTRICT RECOMMEND A FUNDING
SOURCE MECHANISM TO BE PLACED
BEFORE VOTERS. IN MARCH 2024 OR
NOVEMBER 2024. UNFORTUNATELY, AS
IS REFLECTED IN YOUR ANALYSIS,
PARTIES INVOLVED HAVE NOT
PROVIDED CRUCIAL INFORMATION
NEEDED TO RECOMMEND A FUNDING
SOURCE AS REQUIRED BY STATUTE IN
TIME FOR THIS ELECTION CYCLE.
THEREFORE, MORE TIME IS NEEDED
FUNDAMENTALLY TO ALLOW THIS
DISTRICT TO STAND UP IN AN
EFFECTIVE WAY SO THAT IT COULD
SERVE ITS CONSTITUENTS IN AN
EFFECTIVE WAY. THIS BILL WOULD
EXTEND THE DEADLINE TO NOVEMBER
2026 ELECTION. WITH ME TODAY IS
KATIE BURNWORTH BURNWORTH, WHO
IS THE BOARD CHAIR OF THE
IMPERIAL VALLEY HEALTHCARE
DISTRICT. PLEASE GO AHEAD. THANK
YOU. CHAIR AND MEMBERS. MY NAME
IS KATIE BURNWORTH. I'M BOARD
PRESIDENT OF THE IMPERIAL VALLEY
HEALTHCARE DISTRICT IN SUPPORT
OF SB 1070 AUTHORED BY SENATORS
PADILLA AND ASSEMBLY MEMBER
GARCIA. WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE
LEGISLATORS TIME AND ATTENTION
AS OUR IMPERIAL COUNTY FACES AN
URGENT HEALTH CARE CRISIS. LAST
YEAR, AB 918, JOINTLY AUTHORED
BY ASSEMBLY MEMBER GARCIA AND
SENATOR PADILLA, SET THE
FRAMEWORK TO CONSOLIDATE TWO
EXISTING HEALTH CARE DISTRICTS
INTO ONE COUNTY WIDE HEALTH CARE
DISTRICT. BRINGING TOGETHER OUR
TWO DISTRESSED LOCAL HOSPITALS
TO IMPROVE OUR REGIONAL
HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS AND PROTECT
ACCESS TO EMERGENCY CARE. THIS
MERGER AIMS TO FINANCIALLY
STABILIZE AND PROVIDE ECONOMIES
OF SCALE IN OUR RURAL,
UNDERSERVED AREA. OUR IMPERIAL
VALLEY HEALTHCARE DISTRICT HAS
WORKED TIRELESSLY, TIRELESSLY TO
FULFILL OUR OBLIGATIONS UNDER AB
918 AND ACHIEVE OUR INTEGRATION
MILESTONES. WHILE OUR DISTRICT
HAS MADE TREMENDOUS HEADWAY, THE
LACK OF COOPERATION AND
OBSTRUCTION FROM PIONEERS
MEMORIAL HEALTHCARE DISTRICT HAS
STALLED OUR EFFORTS TO PLACE A
NECESSARY FUNDING MECHANISM ON
THIS UPCOMING NOVEMBER BALLOT.
INSTEAD OF COOPERATING TO CREATE
A MORE SUSTAINABLE HEALTHCARE
SYSTEM, THEY HAVE FILED LAWSUITS
AND REFUSED TO FILE THE
NECESSARY INFORMATION NEEDED TO
PROPOSE AN ACCURATE TAX TO THE
VOTERS FOR A PERMANENT FUNDING
MECHANISM. THE ATTORNEY
GENERAL'S OFFICE HAS RECOGNIZED
THAT PIONEER'S MEMORIAL
HEALTHCARE DISTRICT'S
UNWILLINGNESS TO COOPERATE IS
NOT JUST A BREACH OF THEIR
OBLIGATIONS IN AB 918, BUT A
DIRECT HARM TO THE VERY
CONSTITUENTS THAT THEY ARE SWORN
TO SERVE. FOR THESE REASONS, WE
URGE THE LEGISLATURE TO PASS SB
1070, ALLOWING OUR IMPERIAL
VALLEY HEALTHCARE DISTRICT THE
TIME NEEDED TO RECOMMEND AN
ACCURATE AND EQUITABLE PERMANENT
FUNDING MECHANISM TO OUR VOTERS
IN IMPERIAL COUNTY. WE
RESPECTFULLY URGE YOUR AYE VOTE
AS WE STRIVE TO CONTINUE
CREATING A HEALTH CARE SYSTEM
THAT TRULY SERVES THE NEEDS OF
OUR IMPERIAL COUNTY RESIDENTS
WITH THE HEALTH CARE THAT THEY
DESERVE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE IN THE
PUBLIC THAT WANTS TO BE ADDED ON
IN SUPPORT? PLEASE STATE YOUR
NAME, AFFILIATION AND POSITION
ON THE BILL. ASSEMBLY MEMBER
EDUARDO GARCIA, 36, ASSEMBLY
DISTRICT IN SUPPORT OF THE BILL.
THANK YOU SIR. IS THERE ANYBODY
ELSE? HOW ABOUT ANY PRIMARY
WITNESSES IN OPPOSITION TO THE
MEASURE? THERE WE GO. SORRY.
REARRANGING A LITTLE. THANK YOU.
I THANK YOU, MISTER CHAIR AND
COMMITTEE MEMBERS, SARAH BRIDGE,
ON BEHALF OF THE ASSOCIATION OF
CALIFORNIA HEALTHCARE DISTRICTS.
HERE RESPECTFULLY OPPOSED TO SB
1070 TODAY. I WILL KEEP MY
COMMENTS BRIEF SINCE I KNOW
WE'VE ALL HAD A LONG DAY. OUR
OPPOSITION REALLY RESTS ON THE
CRUX THAT THIS IS SORT OF TAKING
IT OUT OF THE LOCAL PROCESS.
NINE AB 918, WHICH WE RAISED
CONCERNS WITH DURING THE PROCESS,
REMOVED LAFCOS ABILITY AND THE
LOCAL VOTERS TO MAKE THE
DECISION OF WHETHER OR NOT THEY
WANTED TO EXPAND AND DISSOLVE
THE REQUISITES. HEALTH CARE
DISTRICTS MENTIONED IN THIS
LEGISLATION. WHILE WE DON'T HAVE
AN ISSUE WITH THE TOP LINE
PROPOSAL AND SB 1070, WE WERE
REALLY HOPING TO SEE THIS UNFOLD
THROUGH THE LOCAL PROCESS AND
THEN THE SUBSEQUENT LEGISLATION
THAT WAS MENTIONED BY BOTH THE
SUPPORT AND IN THE ANALYSIS.
WE'D LIKE TO SEE BOTH THE LOCAL
PROCESS AND THE LEGISLATION
CARRY OUT BEFORE THE LEGISLATURE
TAKES ANOTHER ATTEMPT AT MAKING
CHANGES TO THE LAW. FOR THOSE
REASONS, WE ARE IN RESPECTFUL
OPPOSITION TODAY. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, MISTER
CHAIR AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS. MY
NAME IS CHRIS BJORNBERG AND I'M
THE CEO AT PIONEERS MEMORIAL
HEALTHCARE DISTRICT IN BRAWLEY,
CALIFORNIA. I'M HERE TODAY
REPRESENTING THE DISTRICT TO
RESPECTFULLY OPPOSE SB 1070
UNLESS AMENDED. THIS BILL WOULD
EXTEND THE DEADLINES FOR THE
IMPERIAL VALLEY HEALTHCARE
DISTRICT CREATED AN AB 918
WITHOUT EXTENDING ANY OTHER
PROVISIONS. OUR HOSPITAL IS
ESSENTIAL TO THE COMMUNITY THAT
WE SERVE AND TO THE NETWORK OF
CARE DELIVERED TO THE IMPERIAL
VALLEY, WHILE WE SUPPORT A
COUNTY, A COUNTY WIDE HEALTH
CARE DISTRICT APPROACH, WE HAVE
CONCERNS ABOUT THE PROCESS AND
PROCEDURES USED TO ACHIEVE THIS
GOAL. SB 1070 PROPOSES TO
PROPOSES AMENDMENTS TO NINE AB
918, ONE THAT NO LONGER REQUIRE
A COUNTY WIDE APPROVAL, AND TWO
EXTEND THE COUNTY WIDE TAX
PROPOSAL DEADLINE. AS A RESULT
OF AB NINE, 18 CITIZENS WERE
PREVENTED FROM VOTING ON THEIR
REPRESENTATION ON IVD. THOSE WHO
IN IN THE HEFFERNAN MEMORIAL
HEALTHCARE DISTRICT AND PIONEERS
MEMORIAL HEALTHCARE DISTRICT,
WHO ARE THE ONLY ONES PAYING
TAXES TO SUPPORT HEALTH CARE IN
THE VALLEY, WILL CONTINUE TO
BEAR THE BURDEN EXCLUSIVELY AND
WITHOUT CONSENT. WITH THE
REPRESENTATION ON IVD BOARD
BEING ESPECIALLY DILUTED.
ADDITIONALLY CONTRARY TO WHAT
SOME COMMITTEE MEMBERS MAY HAVE
BEEN TOLD, PMD NEVER HAD THE
OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW OR PROVIDE
INPUT ON SB 1070. THIS LACK OF
CONSULTATION IS CONCERNING AND
UNDERSCORES THE NEED FOR MORE
INCLUSIVE AND TRANSPARENT
PROCESS. OUR REQUEST TO THE
AUTHOR OF THE LEGISLATURE HAS
BEEN STRAIGHTFORWARD. IVD, IN
CONJUNCTION WITH PIONEER
MEMORIAL HOSPITAL, IS NOT READY
TO MERGE BY DECEMBER 1ST. SB
1070 OFFERS THE LEGISLATURE AN
OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THIS
ISSUE. WE APPRECIATE THE EFFORTS
OF THE AUTHOR AND THE COMMITTEE
STAFF TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF
OUR COMMUNITY. HOWEVER, FOR THE
REASONS STATED ABOVE, WE
RESPECTFULLY REQUEST YOUR NO
VOTE ON THIS MEASURE. THANK YOU.
ANYBODY ELSE IN THE ROOM THAT
WANTS TO GO ON THE RECORD IN
OPPOSITION SEEING NONE? I TAKE
IT BACK TO THE COMMITTEE
MEMBERS. QUESTIONS, COMMENTS?
MR. SALLY THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR,
THIS SEEMS A LITTLE COMPLICATED.
SO I HAVE A COUPLE QUESTIONS.
FIRST, THE OPPOSITION. IF THIS
BILL DOESN'T PASS AND THEY'RE
NOT ABLE TO SEEK THIS TAX
REVENUE, WHAT HAPPENS TO THE
HOSPITALS, AS FAR AS THOSE THAT
ARE IN CURRENT OPERATION,
NOTHING HAPPENS. WE CONTINUE TO
OPERATE. OKAY. AND YOU'RE ABLE
TO OPERATE WITHOUT WHAT IS THIS
FIGHT ABOUT? IT SEEMS LIKE
THEY'RE TRYING TO CREATE A
HOSPITAL DISTRICT TO TAKE OVER
THE HOSPITALS. IS THAT WHAT IT
IS? CORRECT. YOU DON'T WANT TO
BE TAKEN OVER, THE BOARD OF PMD,
DOES NOT WANT THE PROCESS TO
PLAY OUT. OKAY. THE WAY THAT
IT'S ALIGNED. SO IS THIS LIKE
GOVERNMENT TAKING OVER THESE
HOSPITALS? THEY'D BE RUN BY
GOVERNMENT. ESSENTIALLY, YES.
BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, CURRENTLY THE
DISTRICT HOSPITAL IS GOVERNMENT.
CORRECT. AND PMD IS A DISTRICT
HOSPITAL WHERE ECRMC IS NOT. I
SEE. SO IT WOULD BE COMBINING
BOTH OF THEM INTO A DISTRICT
TOGETHER. OKAY. WELL, LET ME ASK
THE SENATOR. IT'S YOUR BILL,
THEY'VE HAD TWO YEARS TO DO IT.
THEY DIDN'T DO IT. WHY COME IN
LAST MINUTE AND GIVE THEM AN
EXTENSION? IT SEEMS LIKE IF
THERE'S SO MUCH RESISTANCE, THE
COMMUNITY MAY NOT WANT THIS
DEAL. AND THE HOSPITALS SEEM TO
BE FUNCTIONING JUST FINE. THANK
YOU. MR. CHAIRMAN. MR. CHAIRMAN
AND ASSEMBLY MEMBER, I THINK
IT'S SORT OF IRONIC, THIS ISN'T
AN OPPORTUNITY, RESPECTFULLY, TO
THE OPPOSITION TO RELITIGATE THE
MERITS OF 918. THE RECORD IS
REPLETE AND FAT WITH THE REASONS
WHY SUCH A DISTRICT NEEDS TO BE
STOOD UP AND NEEDS TO BE GIVEN A
REASONABLE OPPORTUNITY TO
SUCCEED IN COMPLIANCE. I THINK
YOUR OWN ANALYSIS CLEARLY LAYS
OUT A NUMBER OF FACTS AS TO WHY
WE'RE HERE TODAY, AND WHY, IN
FACT, IT'S I WOULD PROBABLY USE
THE TERM FRUSTRATION,
INTENTIONAL FRUSTRATION, AND
SOME LITIGATION, SOME OF SOME OF
THESE CASES WITH RESPECT TO THE
LAFCO PROCESS WERE REQUIRED.
INTERVENTION FROM THE AG. SO
THERE'S BEEN NONCOMPLIANCE
ISSUES. THERE'S BEEN
NON-COOPERATION ISSUES. THERE'S
BEEN LITIGATION THAT HAS DRAGGED
THIS OUT BY DESIGN. THE PEOPLE
OF THIS REGION, THE QUESTION OF
WHETHER YOU NEED TO ESTABLISH A
DISTRICT TO RETAIN THE SOLVENCY
OF THIS HEALTHCARE
INFRASTRUCTURE AND TO CONTINUE
THE VIABILITY OF HEALTH CARE
DELIVERY SYSTEMS IN THIS
UNDERSERVED COMMUNITY, IS BEYOND
DOUBT. AND THAT WAS ESTABLISHED
AND SETTLED WHEN 918 WAS
CHAPTERED ARE YOU SAYING THESE
HOSPITALS ARE GOING TO GO UNDER
IF THIS BILL DOESN'T PASS, DO
YOU WANT TO ADDRESS? SO I WANT
TO SAY THAT THESE HOSPITALS
WOULD HAVE WENT UNDER HAD AB 918
NOT PASSED. THAT'S NOT MY
QUESTION. I KNOW, BUT THIS. BUT
HOLD ON, YOU DON'T GET TO ANSWER
THE QUESTION YOU WANT TO ANSWER.
YOU HAVE TO ANSWER MY QUESTIONS.
MY QUESTION IS VERY SPECIFIC.
OKAY. NO. IF THIS BILL DOESN'T
PASS, WILL THESE HOSPITALS GO
UNDER? EXCUSE ME, I'M SPEAKING.
DOCTOR. CHAIR YES? MR. SALLY? I
BELIEVE THAT SHE WAS TRYING TO
ANSWER YOUR QUESTION. CAN YOU
ANSWER HIS QUESTION SPECIFICALLY?
THANK YOU. YES. SO THIS BILL
HERE IS JUST AN EXTENSION OF AB
918. WE'VE DONE A FISCAL
ANALYSIS WHICH SHOULD BE IN YOUR
BILL ANALYSIS THAT SHOWS THAT
BOTH HOSPITALS MERGED IN NOW
WITH THE HEFFERNAN MEMORIAL
HEALTHCARE DISTRICT, WHICH IS
NOW BEEN ABSORBED BY IMPERIAL
VALLEY HEALTHCARE DISTRICT
SUPPLIES SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDS THAT
NEITHER HOSPITALS HAD RECEIVED
PRIOR TO THIS. SO THE LONG STORY
SHORT, YES, WE DO HAVE FINANCIAL
STABILITY TO GET US THROUGH TO
THESE NEXT TWO YEARS WHILE WE
ASK FOR THIS EXTENSION, KNOWING
THAT WE WILL NEED A SUPPLEMENTAL
TAX MOVING FORWARD. MY QUESTION
IS, IF YOU THINK THE HOSPITALS
ARE GOING TO GO UNDER, IF THIS
BILL DOESN'T PASS, NO, THEY WILL
NOT GO UNDER. OKAY. SO WHAT IS
THE I GUESS MY OTHER QUESTION IS
WHAT IS THE URGENCY? WHY ARE WE
I GUESS THE REASON FOR MY
FRUSTRATION IS MY FRUSTRATION IS
I DON'T THIS PROCESS HASN'T
GOTTEN AMEND. THIS LANGUAGE CAME
INTO PRINT AUGUST 22ND. I'VE HAD
PEOPLE FROM YOUR DISTRICT REACH
OUT TO ME IN THE OPPOSITION.
REACH OUT TO ME. SO WE REALLY
HAVEN'T HAD TIME TO DIG INTO IT,
AND IT FEELS LIKE IT'S BEING
RUSHED TO KEEP THE OPPOSITION
FROM FROM REALLY BEING ABLE TO
MEANINGFULLY OPPOSE THE BILL. SO
IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A TAX
THAT CAN'T EVEN BE VOTED ON
UNTIL 2026, WHAT'S THE RUSH? WHY
CAN'T WE DEAL WITH THIS IN
REGULAR ORDER NEXT YEAR? THERE'S
AN URGENT I'M SORRY, THE BILL IS
HERE IN FRONT OF US. I
UNDERSTAND YOU HAVE A QUESTION
FOR THEM. THE PROCESS ALLOWS FOR
THIS BILL TO BE IN FRONT OF US.
IF YOU WANT TO ANSWER, GO AHEAD
AND ANSWER. I WOULD. THANK YOU,
MR. CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS. I
WOULD JUST SAY, LOOK, THE BASIS
FOR WHY THE 918 WAS CHAPTERED
AND WHY IT WAS SUPPORTED AND
NECESSARY. THAT QUESTION HAS
BEEN SETTLED. THIS IS MERELY A
REASONABLE WAY TO MAKE SURE THAT
EXISTING STATUTE IS ENACTED
UPON, AND THERE IS AN URGENCY TO
IT. AND THERE IS A FINANCIAL
ELEMENT TO IT, AS IS DISCUSSED
IN YOUR ANALYSIS. BUT CAN WE
DEAL WITH IT NEXT YEAR DURING
REGULAR PROCESS? WOULD THERE BE
WOULD THERE BE ANY HARM IN
DEALING WITH IT? NEXT YEAR? GO
AHEAD AND ANSWER THAT. YOU CAN
ANSWER ANYONE. THANK YOU. AND
THAT'S MY LAST QUESTION. SO, TO
ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS, I WILL
SAY THIS, THE WAY THAT THE
HEALTH CARE EXISTS IN THE
COMMUNITY CURRENTLY, AND I'VE
BEEN THERE FOR SIX MONTHS NOW.
SO THE WAY THAT THE, THE HEALTH
CARE EXISTS IN THE COMMUNITY
RIGHT NOW, IT IS THE BENEFIT OF
THE COMMUNITY THAT THESE TWO
HOSPITALS COME TOGETHER. THERE
IS NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT, IF THAT
DOES NOT HAPPEN, IF THE TWO
HOSPITALS ARE ALLOWED TO BE
SEPARATE, THERE IS A STRONG
POSSIBILITY THAT THE OTHER
HOSPITAL COULD GO UNDER. I DO
NOT BELIEVE THAT THAT'S A
POSSIBILITY FOR PMD. BUT THE
PROBLEM EXISTS AT THIS POINT IN
TIME. IF THAT OTHER HOSPITAL IS
ALLOWED TO GO UNDER, THEN THAT
CREATES A PROBLEM FOR ME. AS
PMD, I DO NOT HAVE THE
INFRASTRUCTURE TO SUPPORT HEALTH
CARE IN THAT COMMUNITY BY MYSELF,
WHEN THE SHIP GOES DOWN, YOU
LOSE THE GOOD SWIMMERS. THEY
WILL JUMP FIRST, WHICH MEANS
GOOD NURSES, GOOD PROVIDERS. ALL
OF THOSE PEOPLE WILL LEAVE OUR
COMMUNITY, WHICH IS GOING TO
MAKE IT VERY DIFFICULT FOR ME,
AND PMD. SO THERE IS A NECESSITY
FOR THE TWO HOSPITALS TO COME
TOGETHER. I BELIEVE THAT 100%,
IN THIS SCENARIO THAT YOU'RE
SPEAKING OF RIGHT NOW, ONE OF
THE ISSUES THAT I THINK IS THERE
IS THE FACT THAT YOU HAVE A NEW
HOSPITAL DISTRICT THAT IS BEING
REPRESENTED BY SEVEN PEOPLE. IF
THIS NEW HOSPITAL DISTRICT WERE
TO CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD AND
THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN, FOR EXAMPLE,
THEN THE LIKELIHOOD THAT THE
CURRENT SEVEN MEMBERS OF THAT
BOARD BEING SUED BECAUSE THEY
CANNOT MEET THE OBLIGATIONS OF
AB 19 AS IT CURRENTLY STANDS, IS
IT GOES WAY UP. AND NOW YOU RUN
INTO A SITUATION IN A COMMUNITY,
A SMALL COMMUNITY LIKE THAT,
WHERE THE COMMUNITY HEALTH CARE
IS AT A CROSSROADS WHERE NOBODY
WILL WANT TO SERVE ON THAT BOARD,
BECAUSE NOW THEY'RE GOING TO RUN
THE CHANCE OF BEING SUED SIMPLY
BECAUSE OF WHAT THEY'VE SEEN
FROM NOT BEING ABLE TO MEET THE
OBLIGATIONS OF AB 918. OKAY.
THANK YOU FOR THAT ANSWER.
ASSEMBLY MEMBER RAMOS, YOU HAD A
QUESTION. THANK YOU. SENATOR
PADILLA. IN THE BILL, IT TALKS
ABOUT BEING ABLE TO GO BACK TO
THE ELECTORATE TO MAKE THE FINAL
DECISION ON THIS AT A FUTURE
BALLOT. SO THOSE CONSTITUENTS IN
THIS DISTRICT WILL WEIGH IN ON
THE FUTURE FUNDING OF THIS
DISTRICT. AND THEY'LL HAVE A
CHANCE TO HAVE THAT THAT VOICE
HEARD. IS THAT CORRECT, MR.
CHAIRMAN? MR. CHAIRMAN, ASSEMBLY
MEMBER ABSOLUTELY. SO THAT IS
JUST A REFLECTION OF THE
EXISTING STATUTE. IT'S GIVING
THE STATUTE A REASONABLE
OPPORTUNITY GIVEN THE
CIRCUMSTANCES, TO EXECUTE WHAT
YOU JUST DESCRIBED. THOSE PEOPLE
DO NEED TO WEIGH IN AND THERE IN
ORDER TO MAINTAIN THE VIABILITY
OF SERVICES. AND THAT IS WHAT
THIS BILL DOES. THANK YOU. AND I
BELIEVE I MOVED THE BILL
EARLIER. I BELIEVE OKAY, WE HAVE
A FIRST AND A SECOND, DO YOU
WANT TO CLOSE US, SENATOR?
AGAIN, THE QUESTION OF THE BILL
PER SE HAS BEEN SETTLED. IT'S
LAW. THIS IS A REASONABLE, PIECE
OF LEGISLATION THAT WILL ALLOW
THE EXISTING STATUTE TO BE
APPROPRIATELY IMPLEMENTED FOR
THE BENEFIT OF THE PATIENTS IN
THIS REGION. AND I RESPECTFULLY
ASK FOR AN AYE VOTE. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR PRESENTING THIS
BILL TODAY. WE DO HAVE A FIRST
AND A SECOND. I WILL BE VOTING
ON YOUR BILL. THE MOTION IS DUE.
PASS. SECRETARY, PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL. CARILLO I CARILLO. AYE.
WALDRON WALDRON. NO. EASILY. NO.
EASILY NO. HANEY. HANEY. AYE
KALRA. KARA. AYE. PACHECO AYE.
CHACO. AYE. RAMOS. AYE. RAMOS
AYE. WARD. WARD. AYE. WILSON
AYE. WILSON. AYE 7772. THE BILL
IS OUT. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK
YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. MEMBERS THE
THIRD ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS. IS
AB 2443. I AM THE AUTHOR. I'M
PASSING THE GAVEL TO THE VICE
CHAIR, AND I WILL BE GOING DOWN
TO PRESENT AB 2443. I'M SORRY.
I'M SO SORRY. EXCUSE ME. SO,
WHAT WAS THE VOTE ON SEVEN, SIX,
ONE? SIX ZERO. THANK YOU. MADAM
VICE CHAIR, YOU MAY PROCEED.
THANK YOU, MADAM VICE CHAIR AND
COMMITTEE MEMBERS, I AM HERE TO
PRESENT A DISTRICT BILL THAT IS
VERY IMPORTANT TO MY COMMUNITY.
THIS IS A VERY SIMPLE BILL THAT
WOULD ALLOW THREE CITIES IN MY
DISTRICT THE CITIES OF
VICTORVILLE, PALMDALE AND
LANCASTER TO RAISE CRITICAL
NEEDED RESOURCES AT THE LOCAL
LEVEL. MY DISTRICT. ASSEMBLY
DISTRICT 39 IS A BRAND NEW
DISTRICT THAT STRADDLES THE LOS
ANGELES COUNTY AND SAN
BERNARDINO COUNTY LINES. ONE OF
THE PRIMARY THINGS THAT
COMMUNITIES IN MY DISTRICT HAVE
IN COMMON IS THAT THEY HAVE BEEN
LEFT BEHIND. WHEN PEOPLE THINK
OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY, THEY'RE
NOT THINKING ABOUT PALMDALE AND
LANCASTER. AND WHEN PEOPLE THINK
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY,
THEY'RE NOT THINKING ABOUT THE
DELANO AND VICTORVILLE AND
HESPERIA, WHICH IS ALSO PART OF
MY DISTRICT. MY COMMUNITY IS IN
THE HIGH DESERT, CONSISTENTLY
FORGETTING ABOUT LEFT AND LEFT
OUT OF CRITICAL RESOURCES AT
BOTH THE SENATE AND THE COUNTY
LEVEL. THESE MEASURES SIMPLY
ALLOWS THEM TO DO IT THEMSELVES,
TO RAISE FUNDS LOCALLY, TO MEET
THE LOCAL NEEDS OF THESE CITIES,
WITH THAT, I RESPECTFULLY ASK
FOR YOUR VOTE. THANK YOU, THANK
YOU. DO WE HAVE ANY WITNESSES IN
SUPPORT? I DO NOT HAVE ANY
WITNESSES IN SUPPORT. OKAY. ANY
WITNESSES IN THE PUBLIC? NO IS
THERE OPPOSITION? SEEING NO
OPPOSITION. WE HAVE A MOTION AND
A SECOND. WOULD ANY COMMENTS OR
QUESTIONS OF COMMITTEE? NO. I'LL
MAKE A COMMENT REAL QUICK. I
APPRECIATE YOU, CHAIR, FOR
BRINGING THIS BILL FORWARD. I
KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE. I HAVE THIS
A SIMILAR BILL. FOR MY OWN
CITIES IN THE COMMUNITY AND SOME
OTHERS ACROSS THE STATE. AND
THIS IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO
GIVE IT UP TO THE VOTERS TO
DETERMINE THEIR FUTURE. AND SO
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR BRINGING THE
BILL FORWARD AND WAS HAPPY TO
MAKE THE MOTION. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. WOULD YOU LIKE TO
CLOSE? I RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR A
VOTE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MADAM
CHAIR. THANK YOU. THE MOTION IS
SENATE AMENDMENT AMENDMENTS BE
CONCURRED IN SECRETARY, PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL. WALDRON. NO.
WALDRON NØ. CARILLO. AYE.
CARILLO. AYE EASILY. NO, SILLY.
NO. HANEY HANEY. AYE. KARA. KARA
AYE. PACHECO. AYE. CHACO. AYE.
RAMOS RAMOS. AYE. WARD A. WARD.
AYE WILSON. I. WILSON. AYE THE
VOTE IS SEVEN TWO. THE VOTE IS
SEVEN TWO. THANK YOU, MADAM VICE
CHAIR. THAT IS THE END OF THE
AGENDA ITEMS. BUT WE DO HAVE
SOME MISSING VOTES THAT WE NEED
TO GO OVER, YOU WANT TO START
WITH THE VOTES THAT ARE MISSING,
MADAM CHAIR, SECRETARY AB 761,
WALDRON FIVE. WALDRON AYE. CORRE
CORRE. AYE. PACHECO. CHICO. AYE
NINE ZERO, THAT'S NINE ZERO. THE
BILL IS OUT. THAT'S IT. AND
THAT'S IT. WITH THAT, WE ADJOURN
THE COMMITTEE HEARING. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE. THANK
YOU. COMMITTEE MEMBERS. I CAN
YEAH, SURE. SO THAT'S THAT'S.
ARE YOU. SENDING.