CALL THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON
RULES TO ORDER LET ME SAY GOOD
AFTERNOON EVERYONE WE'RE HOLDING
OUR COMMITTEE HEARING IN THE-
STREET BUILDING IN ROOM TWENTY
TWO HUNDRED AND AS WE CONTINUE
TO TAKE SOME PRECAUTIONS TO
MANAGE ONGOING COVERT NINETEEN
RISK THE SENATE CONTINUES TO
WELCOME THE PUBLIC AND IS
PROVIDED ACCESS TO BOTH IN
PERSON AND TELECONFERENCES
IMPATIENT FOR PUBLIC COMMENT FOR
INDIVIDUALS WISHING TO PROVIDE
PUBLIC COMMENT VIA
TELECONFERENCE SERVICE THE
PARTICIPANT TOLL FREE NUMBER AND
ACCESS CODE IS POSTED ON OUR
COMMITTEE WEBSITE AND IT'S GOING
TO BE DISPLAYED RIGHT NOW ON THE
SCREEN- THE PARTICIPANT NUMBER
IS. EIGHT SEVEN SEVEN TWO TWO
SIX EIGHT ONE SIX THREE. AND THE
ACCESS CODE IS SEVEN THREE SIX
TWO EIGHT THREE FOUR I WILL
REMIND FOLKS THAT I WILL
MAINTAIN DECORUM DURING THE
HEARING AS IS CUSTOMARY ON ANY
INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE DISRUPTIVE
MAY BE REMOVED FROM THE REMOTE
MEETING SERVICE OR HAVE THEIR
CONNECTIONS MUTED ALSO ON BEHALF
OF OUR COURT REPORTER. I'M GOING
TO ASK ALL SPEAKERS AND MY
COLLEAGUES ALIKE AND WITNESSES
ALIKE TO SPEAK SLOWLY AND
CLEARLY. AND A NEW THING- OUR
COURT REPORTER IS BACK WITH US
WHICH IS GREAT WHICH IS REALLY
GOOD BECAUSE IN THE PAST WE'VE
HAD THESE COMPUTERS IN FRONT OF
US AND I HAVE TO SEE HER WAVING
THAT YOU NEED TO SLOW DOWN OR-
REPEATS SOMETHING BECAUSE WE
WANT TO GET YOUR COMMENTS FOR
THE RECORD. SO NOW YOU ALL GET
TO SEE HER IN PERSON SAY SLOW
DOWN AND- I'M GLAD WE'RE BACK TO
THAT- I KNOW BECAUSE- I REMEMBER
MY EARLY DAYS OF THE RULES
COMMITTEE. HOW YOU JUST LOOKED
AT SOMEONE AND THEY SLOW DOWN OR
WE MANAGED TO DO IT AND NOW THEY
GET TO SEE YOU DO THAT AGAIN-
SO. JUST A REMINDER TO FOLKS-
WE'RE RETURNING MORE AND MORE TO
THE WAY WE USED TO FUNCTION
WHICH- HAS ITS BENEFITS AND
CHALLENGES BUT I'M REALLY GLAD.
THAT WE'RE ALL BACK HERE
TOGETHER. FIVE EVEN AS WE
CONTINUE TO ALLOW REMOTE
PARTICIPATION- FROM MEMBERS OF
THE PUBLIC. SO BEFORE WE BEGIN
TODAY'S AGENDA WE NEED TO
ESTABLISH A QUORUM. AND A
REMINDER TO MY COLLEAGUES ONLY
TO TURN YOUR MICROPHONES ON FOR
THE ROLL CALL AND EVERY TIME
THAT WE VOTE. SO MA'AM SECRETARY
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. SENATORS
LAYERED HERE WHERE HERE- TRAVEL
BUG HERE THE TRAVEL BUG HERE
SMALLWOOD CUEVAS. SULGRAVE IS
HERE GROWTH HERE GROWTH HERE. I
CAN SEE HERE I CONSIDER THANK
YOU SO I HAVEN'T GOTTEN THROUGH
THE FORMALITIES LET ME FIRST SAY
WELCOME BACK AND HAPPY NEW YEAR.
I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND
WELCOME TWO NEW MEMBERS TO THE
RULES COMMITTEE- SENATORS AT
CHAU A VOGUE AND SENATOR
SMALLWOOD QUAVO'S. AND I
PARTICULARLY WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE
OUR NEW VICE CHAIR SENATOR
GROWTH. AND IT'S GOOD TO BE BACK
SO I'M GONNA START BEFORE WE GO
TO ITEM NUMBER ONE WE'RE GOING
TO DISPENSE WITH SOME- SOME OF
THE- ITEMS THAT WE CAN TAKE.
MOTIONS ON AND I HAVE SOME
AREN'T RECOMMENDED MOTIONS MY
COLLEAGUES WILL KNOW BASED ON.
VOTES BEING SEPARATED OUT. ON
LET'S SEE ITEM NUMBER TWO
GOVERNOR'S APPOINTEES NOT
REQUIRED TO APPEAR. I WOULD ASK
FOR A MOTION ON- TO. ANA B. C.
E. N. F. THANK YOU MADAM VICE
CHAIR BOB MADAM SECRETARY WE
CALL THE ROLL. SENATORS LETTER
HI THERE HI THE TROUBLE BOTH. A
TROUBLED BY SMALLWOOD CUEVAS HEY
. FIVE GROVE HI GROVE I ATKINS
HI SECONDS HI I WOULD NOW ASK
FOR A MOTION ON A TWO D. FILM OF
THANK YOU SENATOR LAYERED MADAM
SECRETARY CALL THE ROLL. CENTERS
LAYERED HI THERE I ALSO ABOVE.
SMALLWOOD CUEVAS. I SMALLER
CUEVAS HI GROVE NOT GOOD.
SECONDS NINE SECONDS HI. R.
THREE VOTES THAT IS OUT I WOULD
ASK FOR A MOTION ON ITEM THREE
COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS SO MOVE
THANK YOU SENATOR LAYERED MADAM
SECRETARY WE PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL EARNERS LAYER BY LAYER BY
THE TRAVEL BUG. THE TRAVEL BUG
BY SMALLWOOD CUEVAS HI SMALLER
CUEVAS HEY GROWTH PROVIDE ATKINS
AYE FACTIONS AYE. THAT IS A
DISPENSED WITH THANK YOU VERY
MUCH NOW ON THE NEXT I WOULD
TAKE ITEMS FOUR FIVE AND SIX AND
WHAT THAT IS THE SESSION
SCHEDULE FOR TWENTY TWENTY THREE
THE HOLIDAY SCHEDULE FOR TWENTY
TWENTY THREE AND THE WEEKLY
COMMITTEE SCHEDULE FOR TWENTY
THREE TWENTY FOUR WITH ONE
CAVIAR. I WOULD LIKE TO OUR AD
JANUARY SECOND TWENTY TWENTY
FOUR AS AN ADDITIONAL DAY FOR
THE NEW YEAR HOLIDAY AND TO
ALIGN THAT OF COURSE WITH OUR
ASSEMBLY COUNTERPARTS WITH MY
THANKS TO OUR VICE CHAIR FOR
CATCHING THAT AND- IS EVERYONE
IS FOLLOWING ALONG AND WERE ABLE
TO VOTE I WOULD ASK MADAM
SECRETARY TO CALL THE ROLL.
SENATORS LAYERED. LAYER HI A
TRAVEL BUG HI A TRAVEL BOOK J.
SMALLWOOD CUEVAS HI SMALLWOOD
CUEVAS AYE GROVE AYE GROVE AYE
SECONDS HI SECONDS HI. I WOULD
NEXT ARE ENTERTAIN A MOTION ON
ITEM SEVEN THROUGH NINE THESE
ARE FLOOR ACKNOWLEDGMENTS- SO
THAT WE CAN MOVE FORWARD AND DO
THAT ON OUR SIDE- THE SENATE
FLOOR SO MANY OF. US THANK YOU
MADAM VICE CHAIR I'M GONNA LATER
POLL RANKS LAYERED. MADAM
SECRETARY WE CALL THE ROLL
SENATORS LAYER BY LAYER HI A
TRAVEL BOOK. A TRAVEL BOOK AT A
SMALLER CUEVAS HI SMALLER CUEVAS
AYE GROVE AYE GROVE AYE ATKINS
HI I CAN SAY. THANK YOU AND NOW
THAT WE HAVE DISPENSED WITH
THOSE ITEMS I'M GOING TO TURN
THE GOVERNOR'S APPOINTEES
REQUIRED TO APPEAR. AND THAT
WOULD BE ITEM ONE A. AND THE
APPOINTMENT OF- BRIAN B. BUYER
AS INSPECTOR GENERAL OF THE
INDEPENDENT OFFICE OF AUDITS AND
INVESTIGATIONS IN THE DEPARTMENT
OF TRANSPORTATION. LET ME
WELCOME YOU TO COME ON FORWARD.
AND THE AS YOU DO THAT I WILL
LET YOU KNOW THAT YOU'RE
WELCOME. TO INTRODUCE ANYONE
HERE WITH YOU OR THAT YOU WOULD
LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND THEN GO
AHEAD AND GIVE YOUR OPENING
COMMENTS ABOUT WHATEVER YOU
WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH US
BEFORE WE TURN IT OVER TO
MEMBERS. AND NOW HAVING TALKED
LONG ENOUGH FOR YOU TO GET
SITUATED SEATED AND READY TO GO
LET ME TURN IT OVER TO YOU
INSPECTOR GENERAL. WELL THANK
YOU- GOOD AFTERNOON MADAM PRO
TEM AND SENATORS. FIRST I'D LIKE
TO THANK GOVERNOR NEWSOM FOR
APPOINTING ME TO THIS POSITION.
AND TO EACH OF YOU ON THE RULES
COMMITTEE. FOR CONSIDERATION OF
MY APPOINTMENT TODAY. I AM DOING
VIRTUALLY BY MY FOR. WHO WAS
FORTY UNABLE TO MAKE IT IN
PERSON- BUT I CAN STILL FEEL
THEIR SUPPORT. FOR THE PAST
ELEVEN MONTHS I'VE BEEN
FORTUNATE TO LEAD THE
INDEPENDENT OFFICE OF HONEST AND
INVESTIGATIONS. AS THE INSPECTOR
GENERAL OF CALTRANS. WITHOUT A
DOUBT THIS IS BEEN THE HIGHLIGHT
OF MY TWENTY FOUR YEAR STATE
GOVERNMENT CAREER. I AM PROUD TO
WORK ALONGSIDE SO MANY DEDICATED
STATE EMPLOYEES WHO ARE
PASSIONATE ABOUT PROVIDING
TRANSPARENCY. AND ACCOUNTABILITY
OF THE STATE'S TRANSPORTATION
SYSTEM. OUR WORK SERVES TO
INCREASE THE PUBLIC'S CONFIDENCE
THAT TRANSPORTATION FUNDS ARE
SPENT EFFICIENTLY AND
EFFECTIVELY. I AM HONORED AND
FEEL PRIVILEGED TO HAVE THIS
OPPORTUNITY AND I'M HAPPY TO
ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH- LET ME GO AHEAD AND
START ON THIS END TODAY SENATOR
LAYERED WOULD YOU LIKE TO KICK
US OFF. YES THANK YOU VERY MUCH
AND- THANK YOU. FOR YOUR PUBLIC
SERVICE AND THANK YOU FOR BE
WILLING TO MEET I REALLY ENJOYED
THE CHANCE TO- TO TALK AND I
THOUGHT I HAD A FEW QUESTIONS
THAT WOULD FOLLOW UP ON OUR- ON
OUR CONVERSATION AND I WAS
STRUCK BY THE FACT THAT YOU ARE.
VERY STRONG ABOUT THE
INDEPENDENCE OF THIS JOB COULD
YOU PLEASE SPEAK TO YOUR VIEW.
OF THE INDEPENDENCE AND WIDE
SUPPORT. CERTAINLY A- I THINK
INDEPENDENCE IS TRULY THE
FOUNDATION OF THIS OFFICE. AS
THE INDEPENDENT INSPECTOR
GENERAL- I DO NOT REPORT TO
NORMALLY SUPERVISED BY ANYONE IN
THE DEPARTMENT. AND THEN ALLOWS
OUR OFFICE- THE FREEDOM AND
FLEXIBILITY FOR US TO SELECT OUR
OWN ON IT'S FOR US TO CHOOSE OUR
OWN METHODOLOGIES. AND
ULTIMATELY FORMULATE OUR OWN
CONCLUSIONS IN OUR REPORTS. I AM
. AND WE CAN DO THIS WITHOUT
HAVING THE FEAR OF THE
DEPARTMENT- UNILATERALLY
LIMITING OUR ACCESS TO WHAT WE
CAN SEE AND DO. MARCH ID ONE OF
THE INTERESTING THINGS IS IN
TALKING ABOUT THE INDEPENDENCE.
YOU ALSO SAID THAT YOU'RE REALLY
CLEAR ON WHAT THE GOALS ARE OF
THE DEPARTMENT ON ITS OWN AND-
AND I THINK THERE WAS A SAFETY
CLIMATE EQUITY. THERE WERE ONE
OR TWO OTHERS EVEN THOUGH YOU'RE
INDEPENDENT. YOU'RE AWARE OF
THESE GOALS THAT- DIRECTOR HAS
HOW DO YOU WORK. TO DEAL WITH
THAT IN WHAT YOU DO IN YOUR ROLE
. GREAT QUESTION THANK YOU- IT
CAME OUT BECAUSE- THE DIRECTOR
AND I TALK FREQUENTLY WE TALK AT
LEAST A COUPLE TIMES A MONTH AND
IT'S I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR
ME TO STAY ON TARGET OF WHAT'S
IMPORTANT TO HIM AND HIS
ORGANIZATION. AFTER ALL WE ARE
STILL PART OF THAT ORGANIZATION
AND I THINK TO MAKE OUR OUR
REPORTS MORE MEANINGFUL I THINK
IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE
UNDERSTAND WHAT DIRECTION THAT
THEY'RE GOING. THEY DO HAVE FOUR
CORE PRIORITIES THAT THE LEASE
AS I UNDERSTAND IT- SAFETY
EQUITY CLIMATE ACTION AND
ECONOMIC PROSPERITY- SO WHAT
WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS- DEVELOP
AUDIT PROGRAMS IN AUDITS THAT
WILL HELP. FACILITATE HIS GOALS-
AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN FIND SOME
MEANINGFUL RECOMMENDATIONS
THAT'LL HELP THEM GET TO WHERE
HE'S GOING. AND THEN- LAST SAID
A QUESTION A DEBT THAT WE TALKED
ABOUT AND IT WOULD NOT BE A
RULES COMMITTEE HEARING IF I
COULD SET SENATOR GROVE OFF
ABOUT THE FACT THAT. I HAD A
PRIOR INCARNATION BEFORE I GOT
HERE. BUT THERE IT IN A-
PREVIOUS- ASSOCIATION I HAD-
THERE WAS THIS ISSUE THAT CAME
UP AND WE TALKED ABOUT IT IN THE
HEARING AND THE ISSUE WAS. IS
SOMEBODY THAT WAS A DEPARTMENT
HEAD CAME TO ME CONFIDENTIALLY
AND SAID THERE'S AN
INVESTIGATION GOING ON IN THE
DEPARTMENT. AND IT APPEARS. THAT
SOMEONE IS WORKING
COLLABORATIVELY WITH THE VENDOR
TO SUBMIT FALSE INVOICES. AND
THEN THEY'RE SPLITTING THE MONEY
THAT'S PAID FROM THIS IT'S CLEAR
FRAUD WERE INVESTIGATING IT. BUT
WE WANT TO DO A WIDER
INVESTIGATION BEFORE WE COME
BACK TO AND WHEN THEY CAME BACK
TO ME. THEY SAID IT TURNS OUT
THERE'S ANOTHER DEPARTMENT WITH
THE SAME PEOPLE ARE INVOLVED IN
IT ON A MUCH BROADER BASIS THIS
IS YOUR DEPARTMENT OF SMALL
POTATOES. AND THAT WAS CALTRANS.
AND THERE WAS A TIME AT WHICH-
OF ALL THE PEOPLE INVOLVED WERE
ARRESTED. FOR FRAUD AND IT WAS
FOLLOWED UP AND IT WAS REALLY. A
CASE WHERE SOMEBODY INSIDE WAS
APPROVING INVOICES THAT WORK FOR
LEGITIMATE WORK. THE HOUSE YOU
MY QUESTION WAS HOW DO YOU AS
INDEPENDENT- YOU KNOW INSPECTOR
GENERAL WITH YOUR INDEPENDENCE.
HOW DO YOU TRY TO FEHERTY'S OUT
WITHOUT SOMEBODY COMING INTO YOU
AND TELLING YOU HOW WOULD YOU
THINK THAT YOUR OWN PROCESS.
WOULD HELP YOU GET TO THIS ON
YOUR OWN. WHAT THANK YOU FOR
THAT QUESTION BECAUSE THAT'S
REALLY ONE OF THE NEW PRIORITIES
THAT THAT- I'VE ESTABLISHED-
HISTORICALLY OUR OFFICE HAS BEEN
A AN ENTIRELY REACTIVE ONE WITH
RESPECT TO INVESTIGATIONS WE
HAVE WEEK MANAGE A HOTLINE. WE
GET EMAILS- PEOPLE WRITE US
LETTERS AND WE REALLY WERE
RELYING ON PEOPLE TO TIP US OFF
ON ON THOSE THINGS HAPPENING-
BUT INSTEAD WHAT WE LIKE TO DO
NOW IS TO BUILD A DATA ANALYSIS
TEAM WE CALL IT A BUSINESS
INTELLIGENCE TEAM. AND THEIR
WHOLE EFFORT WILL BE TO LOOK AT
LARGE DATA STREAMS AND RUN
ANALYTICAL PROCEDURES TO TRY TO
DETECT THOSE KINDS OF PATTERNS
OF BIDDING BEHAVIOR OR OR THINGS
THAT JUST STAND OUT AND LOOK FOR
LONG- BUT FOR US TO DO THAT ON
THE FRONT END. IS AN ENTIRELY
DIFFERENT PARADIGM SHIFT BECAUSE
FROM REACTIVE TO PROACTIVE. HI
OUR GOAL IS TO TRY TO GET IN ON
THE FRONT END BEFORE THESE
THINGS BECOMES CANDLES. MARK
PROJECT AT NINE THINK THAT JUST
THE VIRTUE OF THAT QUESTION
COMING FROM HERE MAINS THAT THAT
IS A PRIORITY FOR US AND JUST
HOPE. THAT YOU'LL CONSIDER WHAT
YOU DO APPRECIATE THE ANSWERS TO
THE QUESTIONS AND I BELIEVE
YOU'RE EMINENTLY QUALIFIED FOR
THIS. THANK YOU SENATOR DILLARD
LET ME GO TO OUR VICE CHAIR
SENATOR GROVE. I THINK YOU MAY
HAVE HEARD HIM WELCOME. I DID
NOT HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT
WITH YESTERDAY I DO APOLOGIZE.
THAT I HAVE READ YOUR RESUME AND
YOU'RE- MORE THAN QUALIFIED WITH
OVER TWENTY YEARS EXPERIENCE
AND- I THINK YOU'VE AGREED
EXTENSIVE BACKGROUND I DO HAVE A
COUPLE QUESTIONS- ONE I'M GONNA
FOLLOW UP ON MY- KOHLI HIS THE
FORMER CHAIR HAS SAID HE SEES.
IS ME ACTIVE THIS CORRECT FORMER
SECRETARY. OF NATURAL RESOURCES
NOTE FOR THE RECORD I DIDN'T.
GOING TRACK. FOR THE RECORD OF
EVERY MEETING AND RULES WHICH HE
DOES ANNOUNCE THAT HE IS THAT
PERSON. AND SO THAT'S JUST THE
THING THAT WE HAVE GOING AND
HAVE HAD GOING FOR A FEW YEARS.
AND I DIDN'T EXPECTED TO START
TODAY SO I APOLOGIZE AND FOR YOU
. FOR HIM FOR YOU. BUT I DO WANT
TO FOLLOW UP ON THE QUESTION
THAT HE HAD- WE TALKED TO YOU
TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR
INDEPENDENCE. AND SINCE THERE IS
NO OVERSIGHT REALLY FOR YOU OR
YOUR DEPARTMENT IS THERE OF LIKE
GIVE YOUR SUBJECT REVIEWS OR IS
THERE SOME WAY WHERE YOU CAN
SAY. YEAH I THINK WE DID THAT
RIGHT AND YOU HAVE A- OTHER THAN
YOUR EXPERIENCE YOU HAVE A
REVIEWER IN LIKE THAT. YES THANK
YOU- OUR OFFICE FOLLOWS THE
YELLOW BOOK WHICH IS THE-
GENERALLY ACCEPTED GOVERNMENT
AUDITING STANDARDS- SO THOSE ARE
THE STANDARDS THAT- ARE REALLY
IMPORTANT TO US THEY'RE NOT EASY
TO ATTAIN SO WE HAVE
SUCCESSFULLY PASSED A PERIOD
VIEW FOR THE YELLOW BOOK- SO
EVERY THREE YEARS. A PANEL OF
OUR PEERS THROUGHOUT THE STATE
SOMETIMES FOR THE COUNTRY WILL
COME IN. AND THEY WILL AUDIT OUR
RECORDS AND THE AUDIT OUR
AUDITS. AND TELL US WHERE WE
NEED TO IMPROVE AND FIX OUR
INTERNAL CONTROLS. GREAT NO
THAT'S THAT'S HOPELESS THAT WAS
WHAT I WAS EXPECTING. I DID WANT
TO ASK YOU- JUST TO BE
QUESTIONED IN RESPONSE THE RULES
COMMITTEE NOTED THEIR CONCERNS
ON POTENTIAL POTENTIAL RISK.
WITH INCREASED FEDERAL FUNDING
FUNDING COMING WE DO HAVE THE
INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT JOBS
ACT. IT'S I THINK AND THIRTY
THIRTY EIGHT BILLION DOLLARS.
AND CAN YOU SHARE WHAT YOU'RE
PROACTIVE STRATEGIES MIGHT BE TO
MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S PROPER
OVERSIGHT AND THAT WE DONT-
DEVELOP A LARGE FRAUD IN THAT
CASE. YES THANK YOU- IT'S TOP OF
MIND FOR ME- THIS IS ONE OF THE
LARGEST INFLUXES OF MONEY. TO
CALIFORNIA FOR TRANSPORTATION
PURPOSES THAT I CAN REMEMBER-
THAT IN ADDITION TO THE STATE'S
INVESTMENT IN TRANSPORTATION. IS
REALLY CREATING- AN ELEVATED
RISK. AND FOR US AS AUDITORS WE
WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE
OUR FINGER ON THIS POLLS. AND
WE'RE SELECTING AUDITS THAT.
THAT REALLY MATTER. SO WE WILL
BE- PICKING UP PROJECTS THAT
HAVE AT THE AYE AYE J. M. FUNDS-
JUST SO THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE
THAT WE HAVE. A GOOD
UNDERSTANDING OF HOW THAT MONEY
IS BEING SPENT- BUT AT THE SAME
TIME NOT LOSING PACER STRIDE ON
ALL THOSE OTHER AUDITS THAT WERE
DOING. IT ON THE PROVIDER SIDE
THAT'S PART OF THIS DATA
ANALYTICS TEAM AS WELL- THAT'S
ACTUALLY WHERE WE GOT SOME OF
THESE POSITIONS TO DO THIS IS WE
WANTED. TO BE PROACTIVE WITH
THIS THIS MONEY COMING AND WE
KNEW THAT THERE WAS GONNA BE
PRESS FOR TO DO DIFFERENT TYPES
OF AUDITING. AND HOPEFULLY AGAIN
ON THE FRONT END THAT WE CAN
DETECT THINGS AND THEN WE CAN
WORK WITH CALTRANS- AGAIN BEFORE
THEY BECOME REALLY PROBLEMATIC-
AND I THINK THIS IS A DIFFERENT
ROLE THAN ANYTHING WE'VE EVER
PLAYED BEFORE. THAT'S WONDERFUL
I DO HAVE KIND OF LIKE A- OFF
QUESTION. WHEN YOU SHOW UP- YOU
KNOW WITH MY COLLEAGUE ASKED A
QUESTION BUT WHEN YOU SHOW IT IS
THEIR RECEPTION. AND THAT YOU'RE
THERE I MEAN DO YOU HAVE
COOPERATION WITH AGENCIES ON A
GENERALLY- PREDOMINATE BASIS.
YES ABSOLUTELY- I FOUND THAT.
THE DEPARTMENT STAFF IN THE
AGENCY STAFF HAVE BEEN VERY VERY
THOUGHTFUL THE EMBRACE THE ROLE
OF THE INDEPENDENT INSPECTOR
GENERAL- I'VE FOUND NO INSTANCES
WHERE I'VE FELT THREATENED OR- I
FELT LIKE. THEY WERE TRYING TO
PUSH ME IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION
THAT I DIDN'T WANT TO GO. IT'S
BEEN NOTHING BUT STRATEGIC AND
PROFESSIONAL AND I REALLY
APPRECIATED THEM. THAT IS REALLY
GOOD TO KNOW THANK YOU SIR AND I
LOOK FORWARD TO SUPPORTING YOUR
CONFIRMATION. THANK YOU SENATOR
GROVE LET ME MOVE TO SENATOR A
CHOKE. JUST GO DOWN THE LINE. I
HOPE. GOOD MORNING- MR FIRE SUCH
A PLEASURE TO MEET YOU YESTERDAY
AND HAVE THE CONVERSATIONS I
HAVE TO SAY I WAS VERY
IMPRESSED. WITH THE LEVEL OF
INTEGRITY AND- BOYS THAT YOU AND
THE HUMILITY- AND EDUCATION THAT
USE- SHOWED YESTERDAY AS- AS WE
WERE INTERVIEWED. AND DIE I HOPE
THE PROCESS HASN'T BEEN TO NERVE
WRECKING FOR YOU TODAY- I KNOW
IT'S NOT A- OF THIS. THAT THE
PLACE THAT YOU WOULD. LIKE TO BE
AT THIS POINT BUT I'M GRATEFUL
THAT YOU ARE HERE TODAY. SO IT'S
MY UNDERSTANDING YOU'RE THE
THIRD PERSON I'M TO HOLDINGS AND
SPECTOR GENERAL POSITION SINCE
IT WAS CREATED. AND THE FIRST TO
HAVE AN AUDITING EXPERIENCE.
WHAT CHANGES HAVE YOU MADE TO
MAKE IT STRUCTURED PROCEDURES
MORE LIKE A TRUE AUDITING OFFICE
. THANK YOU FOR THAT AND-
PERSONAL SAY AYE I KNOW BOTH OF
MY PREDECESSORS I THINK VERY
HIGHLY OF THEM- THEY ACTUALLY
LEFT VOTE SAY THEY LEFT THIS
OFFICE IN A GREAT SPOT WE ARE A
VERY WELL RUN MACHINE- I HAVE
MADE SOME CHANGES- ONE OF THE-
MOST. SIGNIFICANT CHANGES FROM
ANOTHER PERSPECTIVE IS WE HAVE
TO STANDARDIZE A LOT OF OUR
OTHER PROGRAMS- THAT'S THE TOOL
WE USE KIND OF THAT LIKE THE
CHECKLIST THAT WE USE TO
COMPLETE OUR OUR OUR AUDITS.
WHAT I FOUND IS WE'RE USING A
WIDE VARIETY OF OTHER PROGRAMS
FOR REALLY THE SAME TYPE OF JOB.
AND SINCE THIS WAS THE BULK OF
WHAT WE ARE DOING WE DECIDED TO
STANDARDIZE THAT PROGRAM- SO
THAT OUR STAFF ARE NOW WORKING
ON JUST ONE SET OF RULES- IT'S
MORE CONSISTENT. WE'RE GOING TO
GET A LOT FASTER AND DOING WHAT
WE'RE DOING AND REALLY I THINK
THERE'S GONNA BE MORE
SATISFACTION WITH WITH THE JOBS
WHEN THEY'RE DONE WITH IT. THANK
YOU. AND ARE THERE IS A FOLLOW
UP QUESTION TO THAT QUESTION ARE
THERE ANY LINGERING CHALLENGES
FROM THE INITIAL TRANSFER
AUDITING FUNCTIONS. THAT OUT
FROM CALTRANS TO YOUR OFFICE.
THANK YOU FOR THAT. LINGERING
CHALLENGES THERE'S STILL TIME.
THERE IS A PERCEPTION SOMETIMES
THAT- WE ARE UNIQUELY- LOOKING
AT SB ONE. SO I THINK SOME OF IT
IS AN EDUCATION THAT WE HAVE TO
CONSTANTLY GET OUT TALK TO
PEOPLE LET HIM KNOW WHAT WE DO
WHO WE ARE- BECAUSE I THINK
THERE'S SOME. MISCONCEPTION THAT
WE ARE ONLY LIMITED TO ASK YOU
ONE- WHICH IS NOT THE CASE WE
ACTUALLY HAVE A MUCH BROADER
AUTHORITY WITH CALTRANS- SO I
THINK THERE'S- SOMETIMES SOME
CONFUSION WHEN WE ARE- GOING
OUTSIDE OF THE SB ONE REALM. AND
THEN WE JUST HAVE TO EDUCATE
PEOPLE AND TELL THEM KIND OF NO
THIS IS THIS IS OUR STATUTE THIS
IS WHAT WE DO. AND THIS IS WHY
WE'RE HERE. WONDERFUL AND-
THERE'S NO QUESTION I HAVE IS DO
YOU HAVE ANY LEGISLATURE YOU SEE
OR- ANY LEGISLATIVE CHANGES
NECESSARY TO PROTECT YOUR
INDEPENDENCE. AT THE MOMENT I
DON'T- I AGAIN I THINK THAT-
WHAT'S- THAT I THINK THE WAY
THAT WE ARE RE INTERACTING WITH
BOTH THE DEPARTMENT AND THE
AGENCY. I DO I DO THINK WE HAVE
THE INDEPENDENCE TO DO OUR JOB-
AND I'M VERY HAPPY WITH IT
WITHOUT THAT'S GOING. OKAY AND
THEN ONE FINAL QUESTION THEN
I'LL MAKE A COMMENT- THERE'S
SOMETHING THAT YOU MENTIONED
YESTERDAY THAT I THOUGHT WAS
VERY IMPORTANT IN THE SPIRIT OF
EDUCATION WHICH I'M A HUGE
ADVOCATE FOR. AND I THINK FOR
THE- BENEFIT OF THOSE THAT MAY
BE WATCHING. THERE'S SOMETHING
THAT WAS VERY AB AND LIGHTNING
FOR ME TO LEARN YESTERDAY FROM
YOU I WAS THAT WAS THE FACT
THAT- THE EXPECTATION OF NOT
IMPLEMENTING EVERY SINGLE
RECOMMENDATION RIGHT THE
EXPECTATION OF IMPLEMENTING
EVERY SINGLE RECOMMENDATION BY
THE AUDITING- AGENCY. COULD YOU
TALK A LITTLE BIT AS TO WHY- IT
SHOULDN'T BE EXPECTED TO
IMPLEMENT EVERY SINGLE ONE OF BE
MANDATED TO EXPECT TO PROVIDE
EVERY SINGLE- AB RECOMMENDATION.
FROM YOUR FROM YOUR FROM YOUR
DEPARTMENT. RIGHT THANK YOU FOR
THAT YES IT IN THE CONTEXT THAT
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT- THE
QUESTION WAS. SHOULD THE
AUDITOR'S RECOMMENDATIONS BE A
MANDATE ON TO THE ODDITY. AND I
THINK MY WORK MY RESPONSE
SURPRISE YOU A LITTLE BIT-
BECAUSE THE SHORT ANSWER I THINK
IS NOW- I THINK ONE THAT PUTS
TOO MUCH POWER IN THE HANDS OF
AN AUDITOR- AND- IT WAS IS AS
RATIONAL AS I THINK I AM AT AT
SOME POINT SOMEBODY'S NOT GOING
TO AGREE WITH. WITH WHAT WE'RE
SAYING. AND THERE MIGHT BE VERY
LEGITIMATE REASONS TO NOT
IMPLEMENT A RECOMMENDATION AND I
THINK THAT'S REALLY FOR THE
DEPARTMENT TO DETERMINE. SO FROM
AN AUDITOR'S POINT OF VIEW I
REALLY EMBRACED THE IDEA OF
MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS AND THEN
LET THE DEPARTMENT DECIDE- WITH
ITS TEAM WHAT WHAT'S THE RIGHT
STRATEGY- I ALSO THINK THAT
THERE'S A POTENTIAL CONFLICT OF
INTEREST BECAUSE- IF. IF OUR
RECOMMENDATIONS ESSENTIALLY
BECOME MANDATED WE'RE ALMOST
HAVE THE FORCE OF LAW- WITH ANY
RECOMMENDATION THAT WE MAKE WE
ACTUALLY SPEND STAND IN THE
SHOES OF THE DIRECTOR IN THAT
CASE. AND CAN- PRETTY MUCH THE
PLANT IS POLICY MAKING
AUTHORITY. AND I DON'T THINK
THAT'S A GREAT SPOT FOR AN HONOR
TO BE EITHER. AND I THINK GOING
FORWARD- ANYTHING ANYTHING THAT
WE WOULD ON IT AFTER THE FACT WE
WOULD BE THE ONES THAT HAD
DECIDED THAT POLICY WE CAN'T AN
AUDIT IT AGAIN. AND SO THAT'S
THOSE ARE MY TWO BIG REASONS- SO
I REALLY LIKE THE DISCRETIONARY
ASPECT OF IT AND I THINK. YOU
KNOW THE DEPARTMENT HAS TO
DEFEND ITSELF IF IT CHOOSES NOT
TO IMPLEMENT ONE OF OUR
RECOMMENDATIONS IT CERTAINLY HAS
THAT RIGHT. IT JUST HAS TO
DEFEND WHY. AND I THINK THAT'S
REALLY WHAT THOSE OVERSIGHT
COMMITTEE HEARINGS FOR. I HAVE
TO SAY I REALLY APPRECIATED THAT
INSIDE IN THAT ANGLE THAT YOU
SHARED WITH US YESTERDAY. AND I
THOUGHT IT WOULD BE VERY
BENEFICIAL FOR THE ARTIST
ACTUALLY HERE IN MY COLLEAGUES
HERE THAT AS WELL SO THANK YOU
VERY MUCH FOR GIVING US THAT
PERSPECTIVE AND- I TRULY LOOK
FORWARD TO A- DEFINITELY
SUPPORTING YEAR- YOUR-
APPOINTMENT TODAY. THANK YOU A
SENATOR AND LAST BUT CERTAINLY
NOT LEAST- SENATOR SMALLWOOD
CUEVAS. THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR
AND THANK YOU MR BUYERS FOR
BEING WITH US- AFTERNOON- I
UNFORTUNATE DIDN'T GET THE
OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH YOU-
BUT I REALLY DID ENJOY YOUR
RESPONSES THEY WERE VERY HELPFUL
IN HELPING. ME PREPARE FOR THE
DISCUSSION TODAY AND- LIKE- MY
COLLEAGUE- EARLIER I HAVE
PREVIOUS ASSOCIATION AS WELL-
BUT IN THIS WORK REALLY LOOKING
AT- HELP INFRASTRUCTURE HAS SUCH
A TREMENDOUS IMPACT PARTICULARLY
ON VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES I WAS
VERY EXCITED TO HEAR SOME OF THE
THINGS. THAT YOU TALKED ABOUT IN
TERMS OF. MAKING SURE THAT-
INDEPENDENCE IS REALLY ABOUT
ACCOUNTABILITY AND HOW ARE WE
CONSISTING OF MAKING SURE THAT
OUR AGENCIES ARE ACCOUNTABLE. TO
THE FOLKS WHO ARE INVESTING IN
THIS IN THE SYSTEM. I'M ALSO
REALLY GLAD TO HEAR ABOUT THE-
SHARED GOALS OF EQUITY. AND
PROSPERITY- THAT MEANS THE MOST
FOR COMMUNITIES LIKE MINE-
OBVIOUSLY WANT TO SEE OUR STRONG
INFRASTRUCTURE BUT ALSO
PARTICIPATE IN THAT OPPORTUNITY
AND SO THAT LEADS INTO. SOME OF
MY QUESTIONS- IN IN IT AND- BY
SHARE OF GROSS SPOKE TO THIS
ABOUT THE INFRASTRUCTURE ACT
AND- HOW IMPORTANT IT IS. IT'S
MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE R. I.
J. A. IS ALSO TRYING TO REALLY
LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD- ONE FOR
HIGH ROAD WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT-
AND ALSO FOR ENSURING THAT
MINORITY OWNED BUSINESS
INTERESTS HAVE A REAL STAKE I'M
IN HOW ARE INFRASTRUCTURE- GETS
BUILT- AND THAT'S- THROUGH
SECTION TWENTY FIVE. ZERO
NINETEEN- IT GIVES A LOT OF
AUTHORITY FOR LOCAL
JURISDICTIONS AND CONTRACTORS BY
EXTENSION TO MAKE DETERMINATIONS
OF LOCAL HIRING PRACTICES. A AND
ALSO- GIVING PREFERENCE AROUND
ECONOMIC THIS- AND ANY. GAUGING
ACCESS FOR WORKERS WHO ARE IN
SOME OF THE DISPROPORTIONATE-
AND DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES IN
INCOME. YOU YOU WILL HAVE
AUDITING POWER OVER THE FEDERAL
DOLLARS THAT WILL COME IN OVER A
SEEN WHO'S RECEIVING THESE ARE.
CONTRACTING PROJECTS PROCUREMENT
PRACTICES A PARTICULARLY FOR
DISADVANTAGED BUSINESSES- AS
WELL AS ENSURING THAT THERE IS
OF COURSE PROPER CORRESPONDING
OUT REACH- AND A TECHNICAL
SUPPORT. YOU WILL MAKE A HUGE
DIFFERENCE AND SOMETHING THAT I
WORK VERY HARD BEFORE COMING TO
THE STATE. OF SENATE WHICH IS A
TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE BRINGING
OUR ECONOMIES TOGETHER BOTH
BUSINESS AND WORKERS- IT'S ALSO
MY UNDERSTANDING THAT CALTRANS-
IS REQUIRED TO ENSURE PREVAILING
WAGE- ON THESE JOBS AND I WANT
TO HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING
OF HOW WILL YOU ENSURE- THROUGH
YOUR AUDITING AUTHORITY- THAT.
ONE CALTRANS IS AWARE NGUYEN
THOSE PREVAILING WAGES ARE NOT
BEING MET. AND HOW WILL YOU WORK
WITH THE AGENCY TO ENSURE THAT
THOSE WORKERS EMAIL. GREAT THANK
YOU SENATOR FOR THAT- THE ANSWER
IS OF COURSE THAT THAT'S
ABSOLUTELY SOMETHING THAT WE CAN
BUILD INTO OUR AUDIT PROGRAMS
AND IT'S GREAT TIMING BECAUSE WE
HAVEN'T STARTED THESE AYE AYE J.
AUDITS YET- BUT IN THE NEXT
COUPLE OF WEEKS EVEN WE'RE GONNA
BE STARTING TO SELECT EITHER ONE
OR TO TAKE TO GET GOING. SO WHAT
I'D LIKE TO DO IS BUILD SOME OF
THOSE PROCEDURES INTO OUR
PROGRAMS ARE STANDARD PROGRAMS
SO THAT WE CAN LOOK AT THAT FOR
ALL THE ALL OF THE PROJECTS THAT
WE'RE LOOKING AT. IN IN ALONG
THOSE LINES AND I'M GLAD THAT
PREVAILING WAGE WILL ALSO BE A
PART OF IT- WE ALSO KNOW THAT ON
THE ON THE LOCAL HIRING- AND
HIRING PREFERENCE BECAUSE THESE
ARE FEDERAL DOLLARS- THERE IS A
REQUIREMENT FOR CALTRANS TO
PRODUCE HEAT ONE PLANTS FOR EACH
OF THESE PROJECTS. HOW WILL YOU
ENSURE THAT YOUR- YOUR AUDITING
PROCESS WILL ALSO BE LOOKING AT
THE C. E. O. ONE REPORTS AND HOW
THEN WILL THOSE REPORTS BE
SHARED AYE YOU MENTIONED HOW
THEIR SHARED WITH THE DEPARTMENT
ITSELF. BUT IS THERE A WAY FOR
THE PUBLIC TO BE A PART OF THAT
OVERSIGHT AND REVIEW. HI GREAT
QUESTION THANK YOU YEAH AND THE
ANSWER IS YES ALL OF OUR REPORTS
ARE ACTUALLY MADE PUBLIC SO- I
GUESS MAYBE THE SHORT ANSWER IS.
TO GET TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE
DOING THAT WE WILL WE WILL PUT
THAT TYPE OF PROCEDURE INTO OUR
ON A PROGRAM SO THAT IT IS-
CAPTURED WITH OUR WORK. AND THEN
YOU'LL SEE THE RESULTS WHEN WE
ISSUE A PUBLIC REPORT. WE WILL
SEE THOSE REPORTS AS IN TERMS OF
THE LEGISLATURE WILL SEE THE
REPORT BUT IN TERMS OF
COMMUNITIES WHO ARE. WHERE
CONTRACTORS ARE ACTUALLY
PRODUCING AND CREATING LOCAL
HIGHER WILL THEY HAVE ACCESS TO
THOSE REPORTS AS WELL WELL TO
THE EXTERNAL PUBLIC. SORRY TO
THE EXTENT WE KNOW THAT THERE IS
SOMEONE INTERESTED IN OUR WORK
WE WOULD ABSOLUTELY TRIED TO
SEND THEM A COPY OF OUR REPORTS.
IS NOT EVERYBODY KNOWS HOW TO
NAVIGATE TO OUR WEBSITE AND
DOWNLOAD OUR REPORTS- BUT BUT
THAT'S CERTAINLY I WOULD LOVE TO
KNOW HOW TO REACH OUT AND GET. A
WIDER AUDIENCE FOR A REPORTS.
PRESHEAF THAT ANSWER. THE OTHER
YOU KNOW- PART OF THIS WHOLE
QUESTION OF ACCESS AND BRINGING
ACADEMIES TOGETHER CERTAINLY THE
STATE. REPRESENTS A HUGE WORK
FORCE AND YOU TALKED A LOT ABOUT
DIVERSIFYING YOUR STAFF AND- AS
I WAS READING THROUGH THE NOTES
THERE SO FEW FOLKS WHO HAVE THE
EXPERTISE AND EXPERIENCE THAT
YOU HAVE YOU ARE. SO GLAD THAT
YOU ARE- BEFORE US IN IN YOUR
WORLD. YEARS OF EXPERIENCES IS
HELPING TO BRING SOME REAL
ASSETS TO THIS. TO THIS AGENCY
BUT HOW DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE
WAYS IN WHICH WOULD YOU WILL
BEGIN TO TRACK AND SHARE. THE
HIRING- DEMOGRAPHICS IN THE
ETHNIC BRIGHT BACKGROUND-
BREAKDOWN OF THOSE HIGH YEARS-
OF YOUR STAFF AT YOUR- OFFICE.
GREAT THANK YOU. SO THAT THAT
DATA IS TRACKED- ZOO- THAT'S
SOMETHING THAT WE TRY TO LOOK AT
IS AS OFTEN AS WE CAN WE'RE
FORTUNATE WE HAVE A VERY DIVERSE
WORKFORCE AND IN MY OFFICE- AND
I KNOW THAT CALTRANS IS TRACKING
THAT DATA VERY CAREFULLY AS
WELL. THAT'S ACTUALLY ONE OF THE
SUBJECT AREAS WE WERE.
INTERNALLY WE'RE CONSIDERING OF
IN ON IT BECAUSE- THERE'S A HUGE
FOCUS ON DIVERSITY EQUITY AND
INCLUSION AND WE WANT TO MAKE
SURE THAT WE ARE. DOING AS MUCH
AS WE CAN AND- PROPELLING THAT
THAT FORWARD. I'M GLAD TO HEAR
THAT I'M GLAD TO HEAR THAT IN IN
TERMS OF RECRUITING- SO OFTEN
THERE ARE DIFFERENT WAYS OF
RECRUITING DIFFERENT-
POPULATIONS DIFFERENT
COMMUNITIES BOTH WITHIN YOUR
DEPARTMENT AND CERTAINLY MORE
BROADLY KICK FOR CALTRANS WHAT
ARE SOME OF THE METHODS THAT YOU
WILL BE TAKING TO ENSURE. THAT
YOUR STAFF IS REALLY GOING TO
SOME OF THESE TARGETED UNDER
REPRESENTED POPULATIONS- THAT
MAY EXIST IN YOUR WORKFORCE
RIGHT. I WAS SO WE DO HAVE- HAVE
A METHOD OF ADVERSE SIDE
ADVERTISING OUR POSITIONS- WEEK
WE REALLY TRY TO GET OUT IS AS
MUCH AS POSSIBLE- TO THE WIDEST
NET IF YOU WILL WE EVEN EXPANDED
OUR- REACH STATEWIDE- BECAUSE
WITH OUR NEW WORKING MODELS. WE
WORK FROM HOME AND WORK IN THE
OFFICE WE CAN ACTUALLY FOR THE
FIRST TIME ACCOMMODATE STAFF WHO
DON'T JUST LIVE IN SACRAMENTO.
SO THAT'S A GREAT WAY TO GET OUT
AND GET TO FIX IT WOULDN'T HAVE
THAT OPPORTUNITY OTHERWISE. AND
WE FOUND WE CAN STILL DO OUR JOB
WE CAN WE CAN STILL BE
PRODUCTIVE AND WORK FROM HOME
AND REALLY. WORK FROM HOME COULD
BE ANYWHERE RIGHT NOW- SO THAT'S
REALLY A POSITIVE THING. AND I
AND I HOPE IT GETS TO. WHERE
YOU'RE GOING IT DOES I GUESS ONE
SPECIFIC QUESTION DOES THAT
INCLUDE ETHNIC MEDIA- BOTH
NEWSPAPERS- ONLINE PLATFORMS
THE- THROUGH WHAT EXTENT ARE THE
ACTUAL TECHNICAL APPROACHES TO
THAT OUTREACH THIS IS WHO. I
APOLOGIZE I DO ACTUALLY DON'T
KNOW WHO DID THIS THE VERY
SPECIFICS I'M SURE THAT'S
SOMETHING. THAT HOPEFULLY WE CAN
MAYBE GET BACK TO YOU ON. THANK
YOU SO MUCH A FOR- ANSWERING
THOSE QUESTIONS AND I LOOK
FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU IN
HEARING MORE. ABOUT THOSE STEPS
IN TERMS OF THE RECRUITMENT IN
THE DIFFERENT METHODS TO USE
THANK YOU. THANK YOU SENATOR
AND- AGAIN I SAY- THE COLLEAGUES
THAT HAVE BEEN HERE LONGER I
HAVE HEARD ME SAY THIS MANY
TIMES THE ADVANTAGE OF GOING
LAST AS PEOPLE OF ASK THE
QUESTIONS AND DRILL DOWN. I ONLY
WANNA- FOLLOW ALONG AND ASK ONE
PARTICULAR QUESTION. IN READING
THE MATERIALS AND AS IT RELATES
TO OUR REGION DIVERSITY- AND THE
SP ONE AND SP ONE OF THREE
REQUIRED I- I AB AUDITS. YOU HAD
MENTIONED- IN THE QUESTIONS WITH
STAFF. THAT YOU'D RESTRUCTURED
THE PROGRAM CREATED A NEW
DEDICATED TEAM FOR THE FUNCTION
AND THAT THERE WOULD BE A STATUS
REPORT THE IN A TWENTY TWENTY
TWO. AND I'M SURE WE'LL SEE ALL
THAT I'M JUST BACK AND HAVEN'T
HAD A CHANCE TO LOOK. THAT UP
BUT THE QUESTION I WANT TO ASK
YOU TO GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE. OF
FOR YEARS I HAVE HEARD AND I
THINK THERE'S A ROLE HERE AS IT
RELATES TO PROCUREMENT AND TO
FOLLOW ALONG WITH WHAT THE-
SENATE SENATOR- SMALLWOOD CUEVAS
SAID- AS IT RELATES TO OUTREACH
EFFORTS TO SMALL MINORITY
DISABLED VETERAN. BUSINESSES
THING AND I'M GONNA SAY WOMEN
OWNED BUSINESSES. I HAVE FOR
YEARS LISTEN TO A PERSON OF MY
DISTRICT. ARE WHO IS A SMALL
BUSINESS A WOMAN OWNED SMALL
BUSINESS. THAT SPECIALIZES IN
HIGHWAY IMPROVEMENTS SUCH AS
HIGHWAYS- STRIPING. WHO'S HAD
DIFFICULTIES COMPETING. ARM AT
CALTRANS AND WITH CONTRACTS
BECAUSE OF THE WAY THE CONTRACTS
ARE STRUCTURED. THEY'RE OFTEN-
SO THAT LARGE AND ONLY MAJOR
SERVICE PROVIDERS CAN COMPETE.
AND I THINK THAT'S THE CHALLENGE
AND I KNOW THAT THERE'S REASONS
FOR THAT THERE'S EFFICIENCIES OR
COST THERE'S- AND SO THERE'S A
BALANCING ACT TO ALL OF THOSE
THINGS. BUT I'VE HEARD THIS
ENOUGH TIMES NOW FROM SMALLER
BUSINESSES. I JUST WANT TO KNOW-
IS THAT INCORPORATED INTO THE
RESTRUCTURE OF HOW YOU EVALUATE
THIS AND WILL WE BE ABLE TO.
KIND OF TALK TO YOU ABOUT THAT
GOING FORWARD SO A LONG QUESTION
HOPEFULLY TO GET TO. A RESPONSE
ON HOW WE CAN LOOK AT THAT AND
HOW I CAN RESPOND TO THE SMALL
BUSINESSES BECAUSE AS WE PROVIDE
ALL THIS MONEY. THE TAXPAYER TO
DO THESE CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE
PROJECTS PEOPLE WANT TO BENEFIT
FROM A BETTER- ODD CALIFORNIA
BASED SMALL. COMPANIES AND
CERTAINLY FOR THE DIVERSITY.
ASPECT OF THOSE BUSINESSES.
THANK YOU FOR THAT- THE ANSWER
IS WHAT I CERTAINLY HOPE YOU'LL
YOU'LL LEARN ABOUT THIS BECAUSE
WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS
NEW TEAM THAT WE'VE WE'VE
DEVELOPED. IN THE PAST THIS WAS
A ONE PERSON- OPERATION. AND I
THOUGHT IT WAS A LOT LARGER THAN
THAT SO WE'VE WE DIDN'T RE
ORGANIZE OUR OFFICE WE
ESTABLISHED THIS FULL TEAM. AND
THIS IS ALL THEY'RE GOING TO BE
DOING THIS IS A PERPETUAL ON IT.
SO YEAR AFTER YEAR WE'RE GONNA
TRY TO DO MORE AND MORE AND
MORE. OUR FIRST REPORT
UNFORTUNATELY DIDN'T GET OUT IN
THE END OF TWENTY TWENTY TWO
IT'S VERY SOON IT JUST WASN'T
READY YET. IT'S A IT'S KIND OF A
WEALTH OF INFORMATION IN THERE
THAT WE'RE WE'RE VERY EXCITED
ABOUT IT- AS A LITTLE TEASER-
BUT WE ARE LOOKING AT ALL THREE
OF THOSE THE TWO STATE PROGRAMS
AND THE ONE FEDERAL SO THE SMALL
BUSINESS THE DISABLED VETERAN.
AND THAT DISADVANTAGED BUSINESS
ENTERPRISES. AND WE'RE TRYING TO
DO A DEEP DIVE ON HOW THAT MONEY
IS SPENT TO THOSE TYPES OF
ENTITIES. AND WE'RE ALSO TRYING
TO BREAK DOWN. MORE GRANULAR
THAN I THINK WE'VE SEEN
PUBLICLY- AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN
GIVE A LITTLE BIT MORE. BEHIND
THE WISE OF WHAT WITH WHAT'S
HAPPENING THERE- NO. IT'S NOT
SHE SAID AS PART OF OUR AUDIT
EXCUSE ME- WE ALSO BE BACK ON
WHAT CALTRANS IS DOING FOR THEIR
OUTREACH ACTIVITIES THERE THEY
ARE DOING AN AWFUL LOT WITH.
WITH TRYING TO GET OUT- TRYING
TO INCREASE PARTICIPATION WE'RE
TRYING TO ATTEND THOSE THINGS
WE'RE TRYING TO SEE FIRSTHAND
WHAT THEY'RE DOING. SO HOPEFULLY
WE'LL GET SOME OBSERVATIONS
OURSELVES ON HOW THAT'S WORKING
OR NOT WE'RE ALSO TRYING TO
REACH OUT TO THE OTHER
STAKEHOLDERS JUST TO SEE HOW
IT'S WORKING ON THERE AND SO-
WE'RE TRYING TO GET INTELLIGENCE
FROM A WHOLE. VARIETY OF ANGLES.
I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT AND
OBVIOUSLY THE VALUE TO. THIS
UNDERTAKING AND I WILL LOOK
FORWARD TO THAT STATUS UPDATE-
FROM ALL THOSE PERSPECTIVES AND-
TO MY STAFF IS LISTENING- AND WE
CAUGHT WE- HAD A WHOLE.
CONVERSATION ON THIS WILL LOOK
FOR THAT STATUS UPDATE AND BE
SURE TO COMMUTER. WITH YOUR
OFFICE. ON BEHALF AT LEAST ONE
ONE CONSTITUENTS THAT WE HAVE
LISTENED TO FOR YEARS- I MEAN ON
THE BUSINESS FOR MORE THAN FIFTY
YEARS. COMMITTED TO CONTINUING
TO DO THIS AND- YOU CAN IMAGINE
WHEN PEOPLE THINK THERE ARE
RESOURCES AVAILABLE AND THEY'RE
GOING TO BE ABLE TO BENEFIT FROM
SOME OF THAT. AND DO THE WORK-
IT'S IMPORTANT TO US I REALLY
APPRECIATE YOUR THOUGHTFULNESS
AND ALL THE- ANSWERS TO ALL
THESE QUESTIONS FOR MY
COLLEAGUES. SO THANK YOU. ARE WE
ARE NOW GOING TO GO TO MEMBERS
OF THE PUBLIC. WHO MAY WISH TO
WEIGH IN SUPPORT OR OPPOSITION.
AND SO WE'RE GONNA START WITH
MEMBERS WHO ARE MEMBERS OF THE
PUBLIC WHO WISH TO TESTIFY IN
SUPPORT. AND HIS PEOPLE ARE
LINED UP TO SPEAK ON ME ASK YOU
TO. KEEP SOME DISTANCE STILL IN
LIGHT OF BOB YOU'RE GOOD YOU'RE
GOOD- THOSE COMING BEHIND YOU
SHOULD KEEP. A LITTLE DISTANCE.
BUT I'M GOING TO DO A QUICK
REMINDER FOR WITNESSES WISHING
TO PROVIDE CAMANCHE COMMENT VIA
PHONE- AND TELECONFERENCE THAT
AGAIN THE PARTICIPANT TOLL FREE
NUMBER IS EIGHT SEVEN SEVEN TWO
TWO SIX. EIGHT ONE SIX THREE THE
ACCESS CODE IS SEVEN THREE SIX
TWO EIGHT THREE FOUR. AND WITH
THAT ARE RIGHT HERE IN ROOM
TWENTY TWO HUNDRED WE'RE GOING
TO. BEGIN WITH WITNESSES. I
REPRESENT AND YOUR COMMENTS.
THANK YOU MADAM PRO TEM- AND
MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE TAUGHT
BLOOMS STEIN REPRESENTING THE
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CONTRACTORS
ASSOCIATION. ALL UNION
ASSOCIATION OF ENGINEERING
CONTRACTORS I'VE GOT A PREPARED
STATEMENT THAT I SHOULD PROBABLY
THROUGHOUT THE WINDOW BECAUSE I
THINK A LOT OF THE POINTS THAT
YOU BROUGHT UP PRO TEM. OR
POINTS THAT THE INDUSTRY SHARES-
NAMELY THAT IN IN IN ORDER FOR
CALTRANS TO DEVELOP EFFICIENCIES
THEY'RE LOOKING TO BUNDLE
SOMETIMES BUNDLE AND MAKE MAKE A
PROJECTS. THERE'S A LOT OF
SOPHISTICATION THAT GOES INTO
BUILDING A VERY LARGE JOB ONE
THAT MOST PEOPLE DON'T
UNDERSTAND IS THEY HAVE TO PAY
CONTRACTORS AT THE BOND THE
ENTIRE AMOUNT OF THAT PROJECT.
SO IF IT'S A HUNDRED MILLION
DOLLARS A PROJECT THEY HAVE TO
PUT UP A BOND WORTH A HUNDRED
MILLION DOLLARS. AND THAT BOND
HAS TO BE GUARANTEED BY SOME UP
FINANCIAL LIQUIDITY WELL. IF
THAT'S THE CASE- AND A
CONTRACTOR CAN'T. CONTINUOUSLY
REVIEWS THAT BONDS THEY'RE
LIMITED TO THE AMOUNT OF WORK
THAT THEY CAN DO UNTIL THAT
PROJECT IS DONE SO THE CONCERN
IS IF WE CONTINUE TO LEAD TO A
LARGE VERY LARGE CALTRANS
PROJECTS WE'RE GOING TO DELAY
PROJECTS. AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO
UTILIZE THE FULL CAPACITY OF THE
CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY- AS A
COLLECTIVE AND SO THAT'S A POINT
THAT WE FRIED UP CONTINUOUSLY
WITH THE LEADERSHIP CALTRANS.
AND CERTAINLY CAN YOU SHARE WITH
THE INSPECTOR GENERAL AS WELL I
DO HAVE ANOTHER POINT TOTALLY
OFF- OFF MY SCRIPTURE BUT- AS- I
THINK IT'S WORTH SHARING AND I'D
LOVE TO REACH OUT TO YOU AND
HAVE A MEETING- I LOOKED UP OUR
MASTER LABOR AGREEMENT- WHAT THE
WAGES FOR. A UNION OPERATING
ENGINEER- ARE EMPLOYERS PLAYERS
PAY THEM SIXTY TWO DOLLARS AN
HOUR THAT MAKES FOR A- A FULL
UNION MEMBER WITH AT LEAST THREE
YEARS EXPERIENCE. OF SIXTY TWO
DOLLARS AN HOUR WE PAY IN
ADDITION ANOTHER THIRTY DOLLARS
AN HOUR. FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE
BENEFITS. THAT'S A NINETY
DOLLARS AN HOUR- POSITION. AND
THEN TO YOUR POINT THESE ARE
EXTREMELY VALUABLE JOB- AND SO
SIX. AND TO GO OUT INTO THE
COMMUNITY AND MAKE SURE THERE'S
A WAY FOR- THE MEMBERS OF THE
COMMUNITY TO BECOME MEMBERS OF
THE UNION AS WELL- SO I LOOK
FORWARD TO A- TECHNICIAN IN
CONVERSATION WITH YOU SENATORS
WILL. HAVE TO HAVING ALL SAID
ALL THAT THROWING MY SCRIPT OUT
THE WINDOW OF THE SOUTHERN
CALIFORNIA CONTRACTORS
ASSOCIATION SUPPORTS THE
CONFIRMATION MISTER BONNER.
THANK YOU MA'AM PROTECT. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH AND FOR MEMBERS OF
THE PUBLIC I WOULD SAY WE DON'T
OFTEN HAVE THAT KIND OF
EXTENSIVE BY OF OUR RIGHT YOU'RE
GOOD. I WAS JUST EXPLAINING THAT
WE USUALLY JUST SAY IN SUPPORT
OR OPPOSITION WITH ONE OR TWO
COMMENTS- SENSE BUT THAT WAS
REALLY RELEVANT AND I APPRECIATE
IT SO- THE CHAIR ALLOWED IT
BECAUSE IT WAS ON. TARGET WITH
THE QUESTIONS WE WERE ASKING- SO
I APPRECIATE THAT. AND AS WE
MOVE FORWARD- I JUST APPRECIATE-
THIS DIALOGUE THIS IS A NEW.
POSITION AND ONE THAT WE- ARE
REALLY ARE VERY INTERESTED IN.
AND SO I APPRECIATE THE COMMENTS
THANK YOU TO THE SPEAKER- ANYONE
ELSE HERE- IN SUPPORT. OF HIS. A
HAVING I. GIVEN THAT OPPORTUNITY
TO EVERYONE HERE IN SUPPORT WE
ARE GOING TO MOVE TO OUR
MODERATOR AND WELCOME THE
MODERATOR WHO WILL. PROMPT
INDIVIDUALS WAITING TO SPEAK IN
SUPPORT. AND MODERATOR ISSUE T.
PEOPLE UP AND ONCE YOU ARE ABLE
TO DETERMINE WHAT YOU TELL ME
THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WAITING TO
TESTIFY IN SUPPORT AND WITH THAT
WELCOME. THANK YOU MADAM PROGRAM
AND LADIES AND GENTLEMEN IF YOU
WISH TO COMMENT IN SUPPORT YOU
MAY PRESS ONE AND THEN ZERO AT
THIS TIME. ONCE AGAIN IF YOU
WISH TO COMMENT TO SUPPORT YOU
MAY PRESS ONE AND ZERO. ONE
MOMENT PLEASE WE HAVE ONE PARTY
IN Q.
NINE EIGHT YOUR LINE IS OPEN
PLEASE GO AHEAD. GOOD AFTERNOON
I'M ROY WESLEY RETIRED INSPECTOR
GENERAL FOR THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA. WORK WITH BRIAN FOR
FIFTEEN YEARS AND I STRONGLY
SUPPORT BRYANT FOUR POINT TO THE
TRANSPORTATION SHE- THANK YOU
VERY MUCH VERY MUCH I MET A
MODERATOR ANY FURTHER SPEAKERS
IN SUPPORT. THERE ARE NO FURTHER
COMMENT IN SUPPORT THANK YOU WE
WILL BE BACK WITH YOU
MOMENTARILY SO I'M GOING TO MOVE
ON TO ANYONE WHO MIGHT BE IN
ROOM TWENTY TWO HUNDRED IN
OPPOSITION. SEEING NO ONE
APPROACH THE DYESS MADAM
MODERATOR I'M GONNA COME BACK TO
YOU FOR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
WHO MAY WISH TO SPEAK IN
OPPOSITION- WAITING TO TESTIFY.
UNDER TELECONFERENCE SERVICE GO
AHEAD. THANK YOU MADAM PROGRAM
AND DEVELOPMENT IF YOU WISH TO
COMMENT IN OPPOSITION YOU MAY
PRESS ONE AT THE END ZERO AT
THIS TIME. ONCE AGAIN IF YOU
WISH TO COMMENT IN OPPOSITION
YOU MAY PRESS ONE AND. ZERO WE
HAVE NO COMMENT IN THE QUEUE AT
THIS TIME MADAM MODERATOR THANK
YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE
TODAY WE APPRECIATE IT- OKAY I
HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY
FOR PEOPLE TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT
AND OPPOSITION I'M GOING TO
BRING IT BACK TO THIS COMMITTEE.
MAKING SURE THERE ARE NO FURTHER
COMMENT COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS. I
WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION. MADAM
VICE CHAIR HAS MADE A MOTION TO
SUPPORT THE APPOINTMENT MADAM
SECRETARY WE PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL SENATORS LAYER. LAYER HI
THE TERM ABOVE HI THE TERM ABOVE
HI SMALLWOOD CUEVAS I SMALLER
CUEVAS HEY BRO HI PROVIDE BACK
INSIDE SECONDS HI FIVE TWO ZERO
YOUR APPOINTMENT WILL BE MOVED
ONTO THE SENATE FLOOR FOR FULL
CONFIRMATION AND THANK YOU FOR
YOUR TIME TODAY AND
CONGRATULATIONS THANK YOU.
ABSOLUTELY SO- THIS CONCLUDES
THE PUBLIC PORTION OF TODAY'S
AGENDA SO I WANT TO THANK
EVERYONE WHO PARTICIPATED I WANT
TO AGAIN WELCOME OUR NEW
COLLEAGUES- AS WE OPEN OUR FIRST
RULES COMMITTEE MEETING- INTO
THOSE WHO WEREN'T ABLE TO
TESTIFIED TODAY IF YOU STILL.
WISH TO SUBMIT YOUR COMMENTS OR
SUGGESTIONS PLEASE DO SO IN
WRITING TO THE RULES COMMITTEE
OR VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR
INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO DO SO. I
WOULD DOUBT LET EVERYONE KNOW WE
DO- CONSIDER YOUR COMMENTS AND
SUGGESTIONS IMPORTANT. TO US AND
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE
INCLUDED. IN THE OFFICIAL-
HEARING RECORDS AS TESTIMONY SO
THANK YOU HI EVERYONE THE SENATE
COMMITTEE ON RULES WILL NOW MOVE
TO EXECUTIVE SESSION.