THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON
GOVERNANCE AND FINANCE WILL COME
TO ORDER. GOOD MORNING TO
EVERYONE. AS WE CONTINUE TO TAKE
SOME PRECAUTIONS TO MANAGE THE
ONGOING COVID 19 RISKS. THE
SENATE CONTINUES TO WELCOME THE
PUBLIC AND IS PROVIDED ACCESS TO
BOTH IN PERSON AND
TELECONFERENCE PARTICIPATION FOR
PUBLIC COMMENT. FOR INDIVIDUALS
WISHING TO PROVIDE PUBLIC
COMMENT VIA THE TELECONFERENCE
SERVICE PARTICIPANT TOLL FREE
NUMBER AND ACCESS CODE IS POSTED
ON OUR COMMITTEE WEBSITE. AND I
WILL ANNOUNCE IT NOW. TODAY'S
PARTICIPANT NUMBER IS 844.
291636. AND THE ACCESS CODE IS
664. 4985. I WILL MAINTAIN
DECORUM DURING THE HEARING, AS
IS CUSTOMARY IN ANY INDIVIDUAL
WHO IS DISRUPTIVE MAY BE REMOVED
FROM THE REMOTE MEETING SERVICE
OR HAVE THEIR CONNECTIONS MUTED
. HAVE TO SAY I HAVE NEVER HAD
TO DO THAT. SO I DON'T EXPECT
THAT IT WILL HAPPEN TODAY. SO WE
WELCOME. WE WELCOME EVERYBODY IN
THEIR TESTIMONY. WE ARE HOLDING
OUR COMMITTEE HEARINGS HERE IN
ROOM 1 12 OF THE STATE CAPITOL.
I ASK ALL MEMBERS OF THE
COMMITTEE TO PLEASE BE PRESENT
SO WE CAN ESTABLISH A QUORUM AND
BEGIN OUR HEARING. WE'RE GOING
TO START AS A SUBCOMMITTEE MIDI
IN THE MEANTIME. ITEM NUMBER 10
A B 1944. ITEMS 16 A B 26 33
ITEM NUMBER 19 A B 28 40 HAVE
BEEN PULLED BY THE RESPECTIVE
AUTHORS AND WILL NOT BE HEARD
TODAY. THAT LEAVES 16 BILLS ON
TODAY'S AGENDA WITH SIX BILLS.
PROPOSED FOR CONSENT. THE
CONSENT ITEMS ARE FILE ITEM
NUMBER TWO A B 26 81. FILE ITEM
NUMBER THREE A B 28 90. FILE
ITEM NUMBER FIVE A B 15 51. WELL
ITEM NUMBER SEVEN A B 16 64.
FILE ITEM NUMBER 12 A B 20 TO 44
FILE ITEM NUMBER 15. MAYBE 25
36. BEFORE WE HEAR. WELL, WE
WERE WE WERE GOING TO ESTABLISH
A QUORUM. OBVIOUSLY WE DON'T
HAVE ONE. SO WE'LL WAIT ON THAT.
AND WE'LL START WITH OUR FIRST
AUTHOR, AND WE'LL START WITH US
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S QUIRK-SILVA
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, READY
TO ROLL. WE APPRECIATE IT VERY
MUCH. SO WE'RE GOING TO BE
TAKING UP FILE ITEM NUMBER EIGHT
A. B 18 83. I AM READY TO ROLL
AND I WANT TO BEGIN BY ACCEPTING
THE COMMITTEE SUGGESTED SUNSET
AMENDMENT AND THIS BILL, PUBLIC
RESTROOMS REQUIRE CITY'S CHARTER
CITIES, COUNTIES AND DEFINED
SPECIAL DISTRICTS, PARKS AND
LIBRARIES THROUGH PORTS. TO THE
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND
INVENTORY OF THE LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS ACCESSIBLE PUBLIC
RESTROOMS THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO
THE GENERAL POPULATION TO ACCESS
AND UTILIZE. AH MEMBERS. THIS
BILL CAME OUT OF REALLY WHAT WE
HAVE SEEN ACROSS THE STATE IS
THAT PARTICULARLY DURING THE
PANDEMIC, MANY PUBLIC RESTROOMS
WERE CLOSED AS WAS NECESSARY.
BUT MANY OF THOSE RESTROOMS HAVE
NOT BEEN REOPENED. UH WHAT WILL
HAPPEN WITH THIS PARTICULAR
BILL, THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC
HEALTH WOULD TAKE THIS DATA AND
MAINTAIN A USER FRIENDLY WEBSITE
WHERE THE PUBLIC WILL BE ABLE TO
SEARCH THE DATABASE FOR PUB.
PUBLIC RESTROOMS BY ZIP CODE AND
ANY OF YOU WHO HAVE HAD YOUNG
CHILDREN. AH! ANY INDIVIDUAL
REALLY, BUT YOUNG CHILDREN,
SENIORS AND OTHERS WHEN THEY
NEED TO USE THE RESTROOM. THEY
NEED TO USE THE RESTROOM. AND
NOW WE KNOW THAT AGAIN, MANY OF
OUR FAST FOOD PLACES ARE RETAIL
POST PLACES HAVE CLOSED THE
RESTROOM, SO IN MANY CASES IF
THERE IS NOT A PUBLIC RESTROOMS
AVAILABLE. SOME MIGHT CHOOSE
JUST NOT TO GO OUT AND USE A
PUBLIC PARK. USE A PUBLIC PLACE.
IF THERE IS ANOTHER RESTROOM.
RESTROOMS ARE CENTRAL TO OUR
DAILY LIVES AND PUBLIC
INFRASTRUCTURE. THE CLEVELAND
CLINIC REPORTS THAT THE AVERAGE
PERSON USES THE RESTROOM FORWARD
TO 10 TIMES A DAY. AND YET, UH,
THOSE OF US WHO HAVE ACCESS TAKE
THAT FOR GRANTED. MANY TIMES, WE
ASSUME THERE IS ACCESS TO
BATHROOMS. UH, AND OFTEN THERE
IS NOT THIS BILL WILL BENEFIT
ALL PEOPLE, INCLUDING OUR
VULNERABLE COMMUNITY. SENIORS
GIG WORKERS, CHILDREN, DELIVERY
DRIVERS, HOMELESS PEOPLE,
INDIVIDUALS WITH PARTICULAR.
DISABILITIES WHO ARE
CONSISTENTLY MINDFUL OF THEIR
PROXIMITY TO A SINGLE OCCUPANCY,
OR PUBLIC RESTROOM. A FAILURE TO
PUBLICIZE AND PROMOTE THESE
PUBLIC RESOURCES HARMS OUR LOCAL
ECONOMIES. WITHOUT THIS
INFORMATION, SHOPPERS, TOURISTS
AND OTHERS ARE MORE LIKELY TO
RETURN HOME OR TO THEIR HOTELS
AND SPEND LESS TIME IN OUR
COMMERCIAL CORRIDORS. TODAY WE
HAVE A CHANCE TO SERVE PEOPLE IN
THIS STATE WITH A SIMPLE POLICY
SOLU SOLUTION. I RESPECTFULLY
ASK FOR AN I VOTE AND WITH ME
TODAY WE HAVE IN TESTIMONY IS
EVE GARRO, A SENIOR POLICY
ANALYST AND ADVOCATE OF THE
AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION
OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. VERY
GOOD. I UNDERSTAND SHE'S ON THE
TELECONFERENCE LINE, SO WE'LL
OPEN THE LINE AND ASKED EVE
GARROTE, PLEASE GIVE HER
TESTIMONY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
AND GOOD MORNING. RESTAURANTS
ARE NECESSARY FOR PUBLIC HEALTH
AND HUMAN DIGNITY. BUT AS THE
ASSEMBLY MEMBER JUST SAID, THEY
ARE ONE OF THOSE RESOURCES WE
TAKE FOR GRANTED UNTIL THEY ARE
UNAVAILABLE. THEN THEY BECOME A
CRITICALLY IMPORTANT HUMAN
NEEDS. ONE THAT WE ALL SHARE.
THIS NEED IS DISPROPORTIONATELY
FELT BY PEOPLE WHO ARE MORE
LIKELY TO EXPERIENCE THE LACK OF
ACCESS TO PUBLIC RESTROOMS.
INCLUDING PEOPLE WHO ARE HOUSED
ELDERLY OR WHO HAVE DISABILITIES
. UNHEALTHY PEOPLE, FOR EXAMPLE
, MAY RELY EXCLUSIVELY OR
EXTREMELY, HUH, BILLY ON PUBLIC
RESTROOMS. OFTEN THESE RESTROOMS
ARE FEW AND FAR BETWEEN AN
UNHEALTHY PEOPLE SIMPLY MUST
HAVE INFORMATION TO LOCATE THEM.
A 2017 STUDY, FOR EXAMPLE, FOUND
THAT ONLY NINE TOILETS WERE
AVAILABLE TO 1800 HOUSED PEOPLE
IN DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES. THAT IS
GOING TOILET FOR EVERY 200
PEOPLE, WHICH IS VASTLY
INADEQUATE WHEN COMPARED TO THE
UNITED NATIONS STANDARDS OF ONE
TOILET FOR EVERY 20 PEOPLE IN
THE REFUGEE CAMP. UNHEALTHY
PEOPLE ARE MORE LIKELY TO SUFFER
THE HARMS THAT COME FROM
DIFFICULTIES IN LOCATING
ACCEPTABLE RESTROOMS THERE OFTEN
UNJUSTLY CRIMINALIZED FOR PUBLIC
URINATION IN PUBLIC RESTROOMS
ARE INACCESSBLE. AND ARE MORE
LIKELY TO EXPERIENCE HEALTH
RISKS THAT ARISE FROM LACK OF
ACCESS TO RESTROOMS AND HYGIENE.
INDEED LACK OF PUBLIC RESTROOM
ACCESS IS A MAJOR PUBLIC HEALTH
CONCERN FURTHER EXACERBATED BY
THE ONGOING COVID 19 PANDEMIC
AND ITS ATTENDANT NEED FOR
RESTROOM AND HAND WASHING
FACILITIES. A B 18 83 WILL
CREATE MORE EQUITABLE ACCESS TO
PUBLIC RESTROOMS FOR ALL
CALIFORNIANS BY INFORMING THE
PUBLIC WERE ACCESSIBLE RESTROOMS
ARE LOCATED AND PROVIDING AN
INNOVATIVE AND CONVENIENTLY TO
SEARCH FOR A RESTROOM VIA
WEBSITE BY THIS CODE. IT WILL
SIMPLY BE A LIFE CHANGING
RESOURCE FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE ON
HOUSED ELDERLY OR WHO HAVE
DISABILITIES OR OTHERS WHO ARE
DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED BY
LACK OF ACCESS TO PUBLIC
RESTROOMS. FOR THESE REASONS.
HULU CALIFORNIA ACTION IS
PLEASED TO SUPPORT A B 18 83 AND
URGES THE I VOTE. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH WILL MOVE. NOW WE'RE GONNA,
UM MOVE ON TO OUR THE PUBLIC
TESTIMONY DUE TO CONSTRAINTS
REGARDING THE LENGTH OF HEARINGS
AND TECHNOLOGY CONSIDERATION. WE
ARE GOING TO INITIATE TIME
LIMITS ON TESTIMONY, EACH SIDE
WILL BE PERMITTED IN EQUAL
AMOUNT OF TIME TO BE DETERMINED
TO GERMAN BY ME, BUT, UM, WHAT
WE NORMALLY DO IS TWO MINUTES
FOR THE LEAD WITNESSES AND AFTER
THAT YOU STATE, YOUR NAME YOUR
AFFILIATION AND WHETHER YOU
SUPPORT OR OPPOSE THE BILL. SO
WE WANT TO HEAR YOUR TESTIMONY
AND WANT TO INVITE YOU TO COME
UP TO THE MIKE. WE'RE GOING TO
MOVE ON TO, UH, PUBLIC COMMENT.
IF YOU'D LIKE TO MAKE A PUBLIC
COMMENT, AND YOU'RE HERE IN ROOM
1 12, PLEASE COME TO THE MIC.
INTO PART OF THE BILL. SAYING NO
MOVEMENT WILL MOVE ON TO THE
TELECONFERENCE LINE. UM
MODERATOR IF YOU COULD QUEUE UP
THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT WISH TO
TESTIFY IN SUPPORT OF THE BILL.
CERTAINLY MADAM CHAIR IF YOU'D
LIKE TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF A B
18 83, PLEASE PRESS 10 AND YOUR
TELEPHONE KEYPAD AT THIS TIME.
MADAM CHAIR. WE DO NOT SEE
ANYONE QUEUING UP AT THIS TIME.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE'LL MOVE
ON TO, UH, THOSE THAT WISH TO
TESTIFY IN OPPOSITION. WE HAVE
NO LEAD OPPOSITION IDENTIFIED.
IS THERE ANYBODY HERE IN ROOM 1
12 THAT WOULD LIKE TO TESTIFY IN
OPPOSITION. SAYING NONE WILL
MOVE ON TO THE TELECONFERENCE
LINE. MR MODERATOR, IF YOU COULD
QUEUE UP ANY INDIVIDUALS THAT
WANT TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION.
CERTAINLY MADAM CHAIR IF YOU'D
LIKE TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION TO A
B 18 83, PLEASE PRESS ONE AND
ZERO AT THIS TIME. AND MADAM
CHAIR. THERE IS NO ONE QUEUING
UP IN OPPOSITION AT THIS TIME.
VERY GOOD. WE'LL BRING THE BILL
BACK TO THE COMMITTEE ANY
QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS? SEEING
THEN. YEAH. ARE YOU WE WILL
ALLOW YOU TO CONCLUDE. JUST
RESPECTFULLY ASKED FOR AN I VOTE
GIBSON GONNA BE LATER LATER IN
COMMITTEE, MR. MODERATOR IF YOU
COULD, UH, MUTE TELECONFERENCE
LINE, THAT WOULD BE TERRIFIC. OR
SOMEBODY? WHOEVER IT IS IT DOES
IT THAT LINE ONE MOMENT, PLEASE.
THANK YOU. SENATOR NELSON. I'M
SORRY TODAY MISS YOU TO THE
AUTHOR. I WILL MOVE THE BILL,
THOUGH I'M A NO VOTE. VERY GOOD
. WE'RE GOING TO WAIT UNTIL WE
HAVE A QUORUM. AND THEN WE CAN
TAKE UP THAT MOTION. SO
APPRECIATE THAT, UM I'M NOT
SURE. DID YOU FINISH YOUR
CONCLUSION? THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE,
RIGHT AND EARLY. THANK YOU
STARTED REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S ARAMBULA. WHERE
YOU HERE BEFORE? I'M SORRY
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S ADVANTAGES.
THINK. SHE SHE'S AHEAD ON IN THE
AGENDA. TERRIFIC. THANK YOU FOR
BEING A GENTLEMAN. I APPRECIATE
IT. THAT IS FILE ITEM NUMBER
FOUR A. B 13 OH, SEVEN. WELCOME
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S THANK YOU SO
MUCH, MADAM CHAIR. FOR ALLOWING
ME TO PRESENT ASSEMBLY BILL 13
OH, SEVEN, WHICH WILL CREATE AN
INDEPENDENT CITIZENS
REDISTRICTING COMMISSION. FOR
THE RIVERSIDE COUNTY BOARD OF
SUPERVISORS, BEGINNING WITH THE
2030 ROUND OF REDISTRICTING. WE,
AS MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE DO
NOT GET TO DRAW OUR OWN
DISTRICTS. WHY SHOULD THE
RIVERSIDE COUNTY BOARD OF
SUPERVISORS BE ANY DIFFERENT? IN
EARLY DECEMBER OF LAST YEAR, THE
COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
VOTED FOR THE ONE TO ADOPT THE
SUPERVISORIAL DISTRICT MAP FOR
THE 2020 ROUNDS. EVERY DISTRICT
THING THAT FRACTURES THE LATINO
COMMUNITY IN OUR COUNTY.
DILUTING THE COMMUNITY'S VOTING
POWER AND THEIR CAPACITY TO
ELECT REPRESENTATIVES OF THEIR
CHOICE. THIS FAILURE TO COMPLY
WITH STATE AND FEDERAL LAW
CLEARLY ILLUSTRATES WHY AN
INDEPENDENT CITIZENS
REDISTRICTING COMMISSION IS
NEEDED TO DRAW FAIR MAPS FOR
RIVERSIDE COUNTY. A B 13 OH,
SEVEN. WILL CREATE SUCH A
COMMISSION, AND BY DOING SO
RETURN THE POWER TO DRAW
DISTRICT LINES WERE IT BELONGS
WITH THE CITIZENS OF RIVERSIDE
COUNTY. THE COMMISSION WOULD
FIRST BE CONSTITUTED FOR THE
2030 ROUND OF REDISTRICTING.
THIS BILL IS MODELED. AFTER
COMMISSIONS IN L. A COUNTY AND
SAN DIEGO COUNTY, CREATED BY SB
958 AND ASSEMBLY BILL 801. THIS
COMMITTEE DID A GREAT JOB
HELPING ENACT THOSE TWO BILLS IN
RECENT YEARS, MUCHLIKE L. A AND
SAN DIEGO COMMISSIONS, THE
PARTISAN MAKEUP OF THIS
COMMISSION WOULD BE PROPORTIONAL
TO THE PARTISAN MAKEUP OF
RIVERSIDE COUNTY VOTERS.
INCLUDING VOTERS WITH NO PARTY
PREFERENCE. SIMILAR TO THE
COMMISSION TO CREATED BY SB 958
, A B 801. THE RIVERSIDE COUNTY
COMMISSION WOULD HAVE
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS AND
PROHIBITIONS, MOSTLY BASED ON
CURRENT EMPLOYMENT. OR PREVIOUS
EMPLOYMENT HISTORY. FOR INSTANCE
, INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE SERVED AS
PUBLIC OFFICIALS OR CANDIDATES
FOR OFFICE IN THE PAST 10 YEARS
, AS WELL AS THEIR IMMEDIATE
FAMILIES WOULD BE INELIGIBLE TO
SERVE. THE SAME WOULD BE TRUE
FOR POLITICAL CONSULTANTS AT THE
STATE, LOCAL OR FEDERAL LEVEL.
FEDERAL LOBBYISTS. THE
GUIDELINES IN THIS BILL, HELP
ENSURE THAT TRULY INDEPENDENT
AND UNBIASED CITIZENS ARE
EMPOWERED TO DRAW SUPERVISORIAL
DISTRICT FOR RIVERSIDE COUNTY.
IF OUR TWO MOST POPULOUS
COUNTIES IN OUR STATE L. A AND
SAN DIEGO CAN USE INDEPENDENT
COMMISSIONS FOR REDISTRICTING,
THIS TIME FOR RIVERSIDE COUNTY,
THE FOURTH LARGEST COUNTY IN OUR
STATE TO JOIN THEM. I
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR IT. I VOTE.
VERY GOOD. UM WE'LL MOVE ON TO
LEAD SUPPORT WITNESSES. THERE
ARE NONE IDENTIFIED SO I WILL
CHECK IN ROOM 1 12 TO SEE IF
THERE'S ANYBODY THAT WOULD LIKE
TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF THIS
BILL. SAYING NONE. MR MODERATOR
, WE'RE GOING TO GO TO THE
TELECONFERENCE LINE. COULD YOU
PLEASE QUEUE UP ANYONE WHO WOULD
LIKE TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF A B?
13? OH, SEVEN. CERTAINLY MADAM
CHAIR IF YOU'D LIKE TO SPEAK IN
SUPPORT OF A B 13 07, PLEASE
PRESS 10 AT THIS TIME. AND WE DO
HAVE ONE QUEUING UP. ONE MORE
REMOVED THEMSELVES FROM THE
QUEUE. IT DOES NOT APPEAR WE
HAVE ANYONE IN CUBA AT THIS
TIME. VERY GOOD. WE'LL MOVE ON
TO OPPOSITION. THERE ARE NO LEAD
WITNESSES LISTED IN OPPOSITION,
SO WE'LL CHECK AND SEE IF
THERE'S ANYBODY IN ROOM 1 12
THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK IN
OPPOSITION. THERE ARE NONE WILL
MOVE ON TO THE TELECONFERENCE
LINE. IS THERE ANYBODY ON THE
TELECONFERENCE LINE THAT WOULD
LIKE TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION TO
THIS BILL? IF YOU WISH TO SPEAK
IN OPPOSITION OF A B 1307 PLEASE
PRESS 10 AT THIS TIME. AND MADAM
CHAIR. THERE IS NO ONE KILLING
UP AT THIS TIME. VERY GOOD.
WE'LL BRING THIS BACK TO THE
COMMITTEE FOR QUESTIONS AND WE
DON'T HAVE A CORN SO WE CAN'T
TAKE EMOTION. BUT LET ME JUST
SAY THAT, UM, I SUPPORT THIS
BILL. I THINK IT MAKES EMINENT
SENSE. WE SHOULD HAVE DONE THE
ENTIRE STATE. BUT WE TAKE THINGS
IN LITTLE BITES SOMETIMES
BECAUSE IT'S EASIER TO DO
POLITICALLY. UM AND, UH AND SO I
REALLY APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING
THIS FORWARD AND THAT WILL ALLOW
YOU TO, UH, CONCLUDE. THANK YOU,
MADAM CHARITY. I DO RESPECTFULLY
ASPIRIN. I VOTE. VERY GOOD.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND MADAM
CHAIR IF I MAY HAVE GOTTEN
PREVIOUS COMMISSION TO PRESENT
ITEM A B 20? YES THAT IS
FORGOT WE WERE GOING TO DO THAT
. AND THAT WOULD BE A B THAT
FILE ITEM NUMBER 14 24 94. THANK
YOU. PROCEED THANK YOU, MADAM
CHAIR TODAY. I'M HERE TO PRESENT
A B 24 94 ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S RUDY
SALAS. THOSE BILLS ACTUALLY VERY
SIMILAR TO MY OWN A B 13 OH,
SEVEN. WHAT SHOULD THIS
COMMISSION JUST HEARD? COMMITTEE
JUST HEARD. AMY 24 92 CREATES AN
INDEPENDENT CITIZENS
REDISTRICTING COMMISSION FOR
CURRENT COUNTY, THE COMMISSION
WILL BE MADE UP OF REPUBLICANS
DEMOCRATS AND DECLINED TO STATE
VOTERS WHO LIVE IN KERN COUNTY.
NÓ REDISTRICTING PROCESSIS
PERFECT, BUT THE INDEPENDENT
REDISTRICTING PROCESS IS FAR AND
FAR AND AWAY SUPERIOR COMPARED
TO LETTING POLITICIANS DRAW
THEIR OWN DISTRICTS. THIS BILL
IS ACTIVELY GIVING VOTERS OF
CURRENT COUNTY OF REAL TRUE
PROCESS TO HAVE AN IMPACT ON HOW
THEY ARE REPRESENTED. THE VOTERS
WILL SIT ON THE COMMISSION WHO
HAVE NO TIES TO ELECTED
OFFICIALS OR CAMPAIGNS, ENSURING
THAT POLITICS STAYS OUT OF THE
REDISTRICTING PROCESS. THIS BILL
ALSO DOES NOT AFFECT CURRENT
COUNTY FOR ANOTHER EIGHT YEARS,
AND 2030 WHICH WILL BE PROVIDE
AMPLE TIME FOR THE STATE AND
LOCALS TO WORK TOGETHER TO
SUPPORT INDEPENDENT
REDISTRICTING IN KERN. THE COST
TO PUT TOGETHER INDEPENDENT
REDISTRICTING COMMISSION IS LESS
EXPENSIVE THAN THE COST FROM
LAWSUITS FROM DISENFRANCHISING
ENTIRE PORTIONS OF VOTERS. A B
24 94 IS A CONTINUATION OF THE
STATE'S WORK TO IMPROVE THE
HEALTH AND INTEGRITY OF OUR
DEMOCRACY AND PROTECT EVERYONE'S
CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO AN EQUAL
VOTE. ESTABLISHING AN
INDEPENDENT REDISTRICTING
COMMISSION IN CURRENT COUNTY
WILL HELP CREATE A FAIR
ELECTORAL DISTRICTS AND ENSURE
THAT ALL VOICES THROUGHOUT OUR
COMMUNITY WILL BE HEARD AND
RESPECTED. WITH ME TO TESTIFY BY
PHONE IS CAMILLA CHAVEZ FROM THE
LITTLE ORTEZ WARTA FOUNDATION.
VERY GOOD. MISS CHAVEZ. THE
PHONE LINE IS OPEN AND THE FLOOR
IS YOURS. OKAY WELL, WE'LL WAIT
AND SEE IF SHE JOINS US DURING
THE HEARING. UM SO WE'RE THIS WE
ARE ON SUPPORT WITNESSES. ONE
INVITE ANYBODY THAT WOULD LIKE
TO SPEAK. SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF
THIS BILL, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
SEEING NONE IN ROOM 1 12. WE'LL
MOVE ON TO THE TELECONFERENCE
LINE, MR MODERATOR, IF YOU COULD
QUEUE UP INDIVIDUALS THAT WANT
TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF A B 24 94. CERTAINLY MADAM CHAIR IF YOU'D
LIKE TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF A B
24 94, PLEASE PRESS 10 AT THIS
TIME. AND MADAM CHAIR. WE DO NOT
HAVE ANYONE QUEUING UP AT THIS
TIME. VERY GOOD. WE'LL MOVE ON
TO OPPOSITION. WE HAVE ONE LEAD
OPPOSITION WITNESS LISTED RENE
WESTER LUSK, IF YOU WOULD LIKE
TO COME FORWARD, ACTUALLY DON'T
KNOW OR SHE'S ON THE PHONE NEXT.
OR THE INDIVIDUAL IS ON THE
PHONE. THE FLOOR IS YOURS IF
YOU'RE THERE. MORNING CHAIRMAN
CAVALLERO AND MEMBERS OF THE
GOVERNANCE AND FINANCE
COMMITTEE. RENE WEST OF LAST
TIME AT 39 YEAR, RESIDENT OF
EASTERN CURRENT COUNT COUNTY. I
OPPOSE THIS LEGISLATION AND
PLEADING WITH YOU TO PLEASE NOT
VOTE FOR THIS BILL. EASTERN KERN
COUNTY WILL HAVE BASICALLY NO
REPRESENTATION ON THE CURRENT
COUNTY REGISTER ACTING
COMMISSION IF A B 24 94 PASSES
UNEQUAL DISTRIBUTION OF 14
COMMISSIONERS AMONG THE FIVE
SUPERVISORIAL DISTRICT IS
ALLOWED TO OCCUR AS WRITTEN IN
SECTION 2157 TO SEE THE LAST
2031 EAST COLONEL, RECEIVED TWO
COMMISSIONERS OUT OF 14 BY 2041
1 COMMISSIONER OUT OF 14 FOR ALL
FUTURE REDISTRICTING COMMISSIONS
. POLICY ACTION ALONE WILL
RESULT IN INADEQUATE
REPRESENTATION ON THE BOARD OF
SUPERVISORS OF THE EASTERN
ECONOMY, WHICH IS HEAVILY
DEPENDENT ON THE DEFENSE, TOO
NARROW SPACE RESEARCH TRIAD,
WHICH PROVIDES 23,000 UH,
HARDSHIPS AND OBSTACLES
PREVENTING EAST CURRENT
RESIDENTS FROM APPLYING TO BE A
COMMISSIONER. IF A B 24 PAST
RANGE FROM FINDING ENOUGH
MEMBERS, NUMBERS OF APPLICANTS
QUALIFIED TO COMPETE FOR A
DRAWING POOL. THE LONG COMMUTE
OF 1 TO 2 HOURS EACH WAY TO
BAKERSFIELD. THE 10 YEAR
COMMITMENT TO SERVE ON THE
COMMISSION, TRAVEL COSTS AND
INABILITY TO FIND OUT ABOUT THE
APPLICATION PROCESS. SOLUTIONS
THAT WOULD BETTER ADDRESS THE
PROBLEM THAT MAYBE 24 94 IS GET
THEIR CURRENT 54% HISPANIC
MAJORITY POPULATION OF KERN
COUNTY TO INCREASE THEIR VOTER
TURNOUT TO 98% OR HIGHER ACROSS
THIS COUNTY. THEN THERE WOULD BE
THREE MAJORITY OF MINORITY
ELECT. VISOR THAT PRESENT. AT
PRESENT, THERE IS ONLY ONE BY
2031. WITH THE EXPECTED
EXPANSION TO US SPANICH SUPER
MAJORITY POPULATION COUNTYWIDE A
B 24 94 IS NOT NEEDED COUNTY
SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO CONTINUE
THE OPEN AND TRANSPARENT
REDISTRICTING PROCESS THAT USED
IN 20. 21 BY CURRENT LAW. AND
RESIDENTIAL PARTICIPATION FROM
ALL FIVE SUPERVISORIAL DISTRICT.
A SECOND SOLUTION. AT THE VERY
LEAST, THIS LEGISLATION MUST BE
AMENDED TO INCREASE THE NUMBER
OF COMMISSIONERS TO 15 AND GIVE
EACH SUPERVISORIAL DISTRICT
EQUAL REPRESENTATION OF THREE
COMMISSIONERS. EACH ON THE
COMMISSION PRESIDENT OF THESE
CURRENT COUNTY ARE ONLY ASKING
FOR FAIR, EQUAL AND TRANSPARENT
REPRESENTATION UNDER THE LAW,
AND BY THE WAY, NONE OF THERE
WAS NO NOTIFICATION OF ANY. FUN
IN THE COMEY. VERY FEW PEOPLE
KNOW ABOUT THIS REDISTRICTING
PROCESS. THIS WAS DONE. TIÞN
CLOSED DOORS. NOBODY KNEW ABOUT
IT. FOUND OUT ABOUT IT AT THE
LAST MINUTE. I THANK YOU FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR MY VIEWS AND
CONCERNS. PLEASE GIVE MY REQUEST
EVERY POSSIBLE CONSIDERATION.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH
FOR YOUR TESTIMONY HERE TODAY.
IT'S GREATLY APPRECIATED. UM MR
MODERATOR. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE
ON THE LINE? THAT IS, UH,
WISHING TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION.
ACTUALLY NO, I DO MY APOLOGY. I
GOT IT. I SKIPPED A STEP. UM IS
THERE ANYBODY IN ROOM 1 12, AND
I'M GOING TO GET BACK TO THE IN
SUPPORT, BUT LET'S GET THROUGH
THE OPPOSITION. SO WE'RE CLEAR.
UM OPPOSITION HERE IN ROOM 1 12.
WELCOME THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR
POLIO TO ON BEHALF OF THE
CURRENT COUNTY BOARD OF
SUPERVISORS, THE LEAD WITNESS, I
THINK DID A GREAT JOB. I DON'T
WANT TO BE REPETITIVE OF THAT,
UM, THREE QUICK POINTS ON THIS
BILL TODAY, ESPECIALLY SINCE YOU
HAVE A SUBSTITUTE AUTHOR. UM ONE
TO BE CLEAR WHAT WE'RE DOING IN
THESE REDISTRICTING BILLS AS WE
ARE. INSTEAD OF LETTING NON
PARTISAN FOLKS DRAW DISTRICTS
FOR NONPARTISAN RACES. WEARE
GOING TO CHANGE THAT. AND ALLOW
PARTISAN. FOLKS TO DRAW
NONPARTISAN SUPERVISORIAL
DISTRICTS. THAT IS WHAT THESE
BILLS DO. POINT NUMBER TWO.
THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS A
PERFECT REDISTRICTING PROCESS.
WATCHED HUNDREDS OF HOURS OF THE
STATE. COMMISSION THIS FALL. AT
THE END, THERE WERE AT LEAST
FOUR COMMISSIONERS WHO OPENLY
WEPT BECAUSE THEY KNEW THEY HAD
NOT PERFECTLY CREATED NEW
LEGISLATIVE DISTRICTS. THE L. A
REDISTRICTING COMMISSION, UPON
WHICH THIS IS BASED, HAS CREATED
SIMILAR PROBLEMS AT THE END OF
THE STATE PROCESS TO GO BACK TO
THAT THE ARMENIAN COMMUNITY IN
NORTH L. A BUILT INCREDIBLY
DISENFRANCHISED AFTER THE
CITIZENS REDISTRICTING
COMMISSION HAD DONE ITS WORK
LAST, BUT NOT LEAST, COMMENDED
THE SUBSTITUTE AUTHOR AND I WANT
TO DO IT AGAIN. SHE HAS ACTUALLY
GONE AND OBTAINED A MILLION
DOLLARS IN THE STATE BUDGET THIS
YEAR TO COVER THE COST FOR HER
OWN COUNTY. NEITHER THIS BILL OR
THE BILL BY MR ARAMBULA, UM HAVE
THAT CURRENTLY AND TO YOUR
COMMENT. CHAIR ABOUT THIS SHOULD
GO STATEWIDE. IF YOU COULD AT
LEAST FUND THESE WHEN YOU
REQUIRE THEM. THAT WOULD BE, UM
APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH. IS THERE ANYONE
ELSE IN ROOM 1 12. SAYING NO
FURTHER TESTIMONY HERE IN THE
ROOM WILL GO ON TO THE
TELECONFERENCE LINE AND ASKED MR
MODERATOR, IF THERE IS ANYBODY
THAT WOULD LIKE TO TESTIFY IN
OPPOSITION. CERTAINLY MADAM
CHAIR IF YOU'D LIKE TO SPEAK IN
OPPOSITION TO A B 24 94, PLEASE
PRESS ONE AND ZERO AT THIS TIME
WE DO ALREADY HAVE ONE IN THE
QUEUE. E'RE GONNA LINE NUMBER
34. THAT'S 34. YOUR LINE IS
OPEN. HI GOOD MORNING. APOLOGIES
I PRESS. UM, FOR MM, SUPPRESSED
FOR SUPPORT. CAN I GO AHEAD AND
SAY MY SUPPORT? SHOULD I WAIT?
I'M SORRY. WHAT IS YOUR NAME?
ACTUALLY, RODRIGUEZ. YES YOU CAN
GO AHEAD AND SAY YOUR SUPPORT.
UM BUT. OKAY ALRIGHT. YOU'RE
MESSING ME UP HERE. SO WHAT YOU
HAVE TO DO IS SAY YOUR NAME YOUR
AFFILIATION AND WHETHER YOU
SUPPORT SUPPORT OR OPPOSE
PERFECT. THANK YOU. MY NAME IS
JULIE. SURGERY BELIEVE A WOMAN
VOTERS OF CALIFORNIA AND WE
STRONGLY SUPPORTIVE STUFF. VERY
GOOD. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MR
MOTOR IF YOU COULD CHECK FOR
OPPOSITION. CERTAINLY ONCE AGAIN
IF YOU'D LIKE TO SPEAK IN
OPPOSITION, MAYBE 24 94, PLEASE
PRESS 10 AT THIS TIME. AND MADAM
CHAIR. WE DO NOT HAVE ANYONE
ELSE QUEUING UP AT THIS TIME.
OKAY VERY GOOD. WE'RE GOING TO
BRING IT BACK HERE AND ALLOW
ANOTHER TESTIMONY IN SUPPORT
THAT MISSED THE OPPORTUNITY.
AND, UM PLEASE COME FORWARD.
GOOD MORNING, RUTH DAWSON WITH
THE CALIFORNIA ACTION IN SUPPORT
OF THIS, BILL, THANK YOU. THANK
YOU SO MUCH. IS THERE ANYBODY
ELSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO TESTIFY
EITHER IN OPPOSITION IN SUPPORT
OR NEUTRAL? WANT TO MAKE SURE I
CATCH EVERYBODY. OKAY VERY GOOD.
WE'LL BRING THIS BACK TO THE
COMMITTEE. ANY QUESTIONS? YOU
HAVE NO QUESTIONS AND WILL ALLOW
YOU TO CONCLUDE. THANK YOU,
MADAM CHAIR IF I COULD JUST
SPEAK TO US, SOME OF THE
OPPOSITION THAT WAS RAISED, I
WILL STATE FIRST BY NO. NO
BILLS. PERFECT. THAT INCLUDES
MINE. 13. OH, SEVEN. AND YOU
KNOW, HOWEVER, PLACING THE POWER
TO DRAW MAPS IN THE HANDS OF THE
ACTUAL COUNTY SUPERVISORS WHO
WOULD RUN FOR ELECTION IN THOSE
VERY MAPS AND HAVE A VESTED
INTEREST IN DRAWING MAPS IN
THEIR FAVOR, DOES NOT WORK IS
NOT WORKED IN THE COUNTIES THAT
I REPRESENT IN RIVERSIDE COUNTY.
UH AND BASED ON ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S
SALAS IS EXPERIENCE. UH IT IS
NOT WORKING IN HIS COUNTY, GIVEN
THE LAWSUITS IN 2018. WE WANT TO
MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE PUTTING THE
POWER BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY.
AND THIS IS ONE APPROACH THAT WE
CAN DO THAT IN THE BEST
INTERESTS OF VOTERS OF CURRENT
COUNTY AND I RESPECTFULLY ASK
FOR AN I VOTE. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. AND I APPRECIATE THESE.
THESE COMING FORWARD BECAUSE I
AGREE WITH YOU, AND IF WE NEED
TO MAKE SOME ADJUSTMENTS OVER
TIME, WE SHOULD DO IT. UM BUT,
UM, WHEN THIS WHEN WE HAVE A
QUORUM, I WILL BE IN SUPPORT OF
THE BILL. SO THANK YOU FOR
PRESENTING IT ON BEHALF OF
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S SALAS.
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S ARAMBULA. FILE
ITEM NUMBER 17 A B 27 80. THANK
YOU, MADAM CHAIR AND SENATOR.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO
PRESENT TODAY ON A B 27 80,
WHICH WOULD ALLOW THE CITY OF
SELMA IN MY DISTRICT TO FORM AND
ENHANCED INFRASTRUCTURE
FINANCING MISDIRECT OR E I F D.
E I F D S PROVIDE CITIES WITH
ADDITIONAL TOOLS TO FUND HOUSING
CONSTRUCTION. SOCIAL SERVICE
CENTERS AND CLIMATE RESILIENCE
PROJECTS. UNFORTUNATELY SINCE
THE 2015 DEADLINES FOR COMPLETE
DISSOLUTION OF REDEVELOPMENT
AGENCIES, THE PREDECESSORS TO E
I F. D E S SOME CITIES ARE
BARRED FROM EVER FORMING AN E I
F D. THE CITY OF SELMA IS ONE OF
THESE CITIES AND NEW LEADERSHIP
HAS REENGAGED TO ADDRESS
REMAINING ISSUES RELATED TO
DISSOLUTION. THIS BILL
RECOGNIZES THIS EFFORT. IT
INCLUDES GUARD RAILS TO ENSURE
ALL OUTSTANDING DEBTS ARE REPAID
, AND IT ALLOWS FUTURE
GENERATIONS TO BENEFIT FROM THE
ECONOMIC BOON. THAT AIDS CAN
BRING TO DISADVANTAGED
COMMUNITIES. I'M JOINED TODAY BY
FERNANDO SAN TIAN CITY MANAGER
OF THE CITY OF SELMA AND SELMA
CITY COUNCIL MEMBER JOHN THROUGH
HELL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WANT
TO ASK? WE HAVE BOTH OF THEM
HERE IN PERSON. SO IF WE COULD
HAVE JOHN TRUJILLO AND FERNANDO
SANTEE ON. WELCOME. GOOD
MORNING. CHAIRMAN CHAIRPERSON
CAVALLERO AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS JOHN TO HILL CITY
COUNCIL MEMBER OF CITY OF
SOMEWHERE. I'M HERE TO SEEK
SUPPORT FOR A B 27 18TH, THE
CITY OF SELMA HAS MET AND
SATISFIED ALL OUTSTANDING ISSUES
AND FRENCH FINANCIAL
REQUIREMENTS. WITH THE STATE D
O. F AND THE COUNTY WHO PRESENT
YEARS AGO IN REGARDING TO
SELMA'S REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY R
D, A. I RESPECTFULLY REQUEST
THAT YOU MOVE A B 27 80 FORWARD.
BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, BY DOING
SO, YOU WILL ALLOW THE COMMUNITY
OF SALMA TO MOVE FORWARD. TO
HAVE THE ABILITY TO CREATE AN
ENHANCED FACILITY DISTRICT THAT
WILL ALLOW US TO BRING IN THE
ABILITY TO DEVELOP. AND OUR CITY
FOR THE LAST 12 YEARS HAS BEEN
STAGNANT WITH DEVELOPMENT.
BECAUSE OF COVID AND THINGS LIKE
THAT. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT
WE MOVE AND FIND TOOLS THAT WE
CAN HELP OUR COMMUNITY. OUR
COMMUNITY IS GROWING, BUT WE'RE
LACKING IN OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS
ARE LACKING WITH GROWTH BECAUSE
OF NO DEVELOPMENT. SO I WAS NOT
ON COUNCIL DURING SUMMERS
ORIGINAL ATTEMPT TO DISSOLVE THE
R D A SINCE MY TIME ON COUNCIL,
WE HAVE MADE IT A PRIORITY TO RE
RATIFIED AND RESOLVE THESE
MATTERS IS OF AN IMPORTANCE IN
THE CITY OF SELMA THAT WE ARE
ALLOWED. THE TOOL THAT WE SHOULD
HAVE USED IN THE PAST. I CANNOT
SPEAK FOR THE PAST COUNCIL, BUT
I CAN SPEAK FOR THE PRESENT. THE
PRESIDENT IS DOING ALL AND HAS
ALL THE TOOLS TO RATIFY WHAT THE
ABILITY FOR SELMA TO RESOLVE ALL
THE ISSUES. THANK YOU GUYS. AND
I APPRECIATE I HUMBLY ASK YOU
FOR YOUR SUPPORT. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. PRE. SHE ATE YOU BEING
HERE TODAY. GOOD MORNING, MADAM
CHAIR MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE
FERNANDO SANTEE ON CITY MANAGER
FOR THE CITY OF SELMA. UM UH,
TESTIFYING THIS MORNING IN
SUPPORT OF A B 27 80. THE CITY
OF SELMA IS POISED FOR GROWTH
AND AS THE COUNCIL MEMBER
MENTIONED, WE HAVE BEEN STAGNANT
OVER THE LAST DECADE BECAUSE OF
A LACK OF INFRASTRUCTURE IN
PARTICULAR SEWER INFRASTRUCTURE.
AND WHERE WE ARE LOCATED ALONG
HIGHWAY 99. SELMA IS A VERY
ATTRACTIVE PLACE FOR YOUNG
FAMILIES FOR BUSINESSES FOR
COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY. THE ONLY
THING THAT'S HOLDING US BACK AT
THIS TIME IS A LACK OF
INFRASTRUCTURE. WE HAVE THE
INTEREST FROM DEVELOPERS AND
COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND BUSINESS
OWNERS AND BUILDERS, HOUSING
BUILDERS. BUT A TOOL LIKE AN E I
F T WILL ALLOW US TO BE ABLE TO
SUPPORT THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT
FACILITATES THIS GROWTH. WE ARE
LOOKING FORWARD TO BEING A
PARTNER WITH THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA TO ADDRESS THE
HOUSING CRISIS. AND E I F D WILL
GO A LONG WAY AND HELPING US TO
DO THAT TO ACCOMPLISH THAT IN
PARTNERSHIP WITH THE STATE, SO
WE APPRECIATE THE COMMITTEE'S
CONSIDERATION AND WE SUPPORT THE
PASSING OF A B 27 80. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU AS WELL FOR BEING HERE
TODAY. WE'RE GOING TO SEE IF
THERE'S ANYBODY HERE IN ROOM 1
12 THAT WOULD LIKE TO TESTIFY
AND SUPPORT. PLEASE COME
FORWARD. SEEING NO FURTHER, YES.
JASON SAGAN, JUST REPRESENTING
THE CITY OF SELMA AND THE SUMMER
COMMUNITY. WE ASK FOR YOUR EYES.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. APPRECIATE
IT. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE IN ROOM
1 12. SAYING THEN WE'LL MOVE ON
TO THE TELECONFERENCE LINE AND
ASK IF THERE'S ANYBODY THAT
WOULD LIKE TO TESTIFY IN SUPPORT
OF 27 80. CERTAINLY MADAM CHAIR
IF YOU'D LIKE TO SPEAK IN
SUPPORT OF A B 27 80, PLEASE
PRESS ONE AND ZERO AT THIS TIME.
MADAM CHAIR. THERE IS NO ONE
ELSE QUEUING UP AT THIS TIME.
VERY GOOD. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE
ON TO TESTIMONY IN OPPOSITION.
WE HAVE NO LEAD. WITNESSES SO
WE'LL SEE IF THERE'S ANYONE HERE
IN ROOM 1 12. SAYING NONE. MR
MODERATOR, IF YOU COULD CHECK
THE TELECONFERENCE LINE.
TESTIMONY IN OPPOSITION.
CERTAINLY, IF YOU'D LIKE.
CERTAINLY IF YOU LIKE TO SPEAK
IN OPPOSITION OF A B 27 80,
PLEASE PRESS 10 AT THIS TIME.
MADAM CHAIR. THERE IS NO ONE
KILLING UP AT THIS TIME. VERY
GOOD. WE'LL BRING THIS BACK TO
THE COMMITTEE FOR QUESTIONS.
THERE ARE NO QUESTIONS
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S AND WHEN WE GET
, UH, QUORUM, WE WILL TAKE THIS
UP AND I DO HAVE A PAST
RECOMMENDATION. YOU MAY
CONCLUDE. QUÊ FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT I WILL
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR AN I VOTE.
I WILL TAKE A MOMENT OF PERSONAL
PRIVILEGE AND SHARE THAT I SPENT
10 YEARS PRACTICING MEDICINE AND
SELMA, WHICH IS THE RAISIN
CAPITAL OF THE AND BELIEVE THAT
IT IS POISED FOR GROWTH AND I'M
GLAD THAT WE HAVE NEW LEADERSHIP
IN THAT CITY. AND LOOK FORWARD
TO MOVING THIS BILL WHEN THE
TIME IS UP. VERY GOOD. WELL, I
APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING THIS
BILL FORWARD. UM, THE SINS OF
THE PAST HAVE TO BE FORGIVEN,
AND WE NEED TO MOVE ON. AND THIS
MAKES EMINENT SENSE. AND,
THIS FOR ALL THE COMMUNITIES
THAT MADE THE MISTAKE OF
THINKING THAT THEY SHOULD DO
SOMETHING AND YOU KNOW THOSE ARE
PAST COUNCIL. SO APPRECIATE IT
AND LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING A
QUORUM SOON. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S BLOOM.
TÌM WELCOME. CALENDAR OR EVERY
TIME. YOU ARE NUMBER ONE ON THE
AGENDA A B 6 82. THANK YOU AND
GOOD MORNING, MADAM CHAIR.
SENATOR NIELSEN. I'D LIKE TO
START BY ACCEPTING THE COMMITTEE
AMENDMENTS THAT ARE LAID OUT IN
THE ANALYSIS. THANK YOU TO YOU
AND YOUR STAFF FOR WORKING WITH
US ON THOSE AMENDMENTS PLEASED
TO PRESENT A B 6 82, WHICH IS A
MEASURE TO INCENTIVIZE SHARED
HOUSING. SHARED HOUSING, ALSO
KNOWN AS COMMUNAL LIVING, IS
TYPICALLY MADE UP OF UNITS
SMALLER THAN 400 SQUARE FEET,
OFFERS SHARED KITCHEN AND DINING
AREAS, AND THERE'S MORE
AFFORDABLE THAN THE AVERAGE
STUDIO OR ONE BEDROOM APARTMENT.
IN SAN FRANCISCO, FOR EXAMPLE,
WHERE THE AVERAGE RENT IS ALSO
WELL OVER $3000 A MONTH THE
DEVELOPMENT COMPANY STAR CITY
BUILT SHARED HOUSING UNITS
AVERAGING 200 SQUARE FEET. AND
RENTED THEM FOR $1400 A MONTH
LESS THAN HALF OF THE CITY'S
AVERAGE. THESE NATURALLY
OCCURRING AFFORDABLE UNITS ARE
IDEAL FOR THOSE WHO DON'T
QUALIFY FOR SUBSIDIZED HOUSING,
BUT CANNOT COMPETE FOR MARKET
RATE APARTMENTS. WHAT WE CALL
THE MISSING MIDDLE THE SHARED
HOUSING MODEL CAN ALSO BE USED
TO HOW SENIORS AND FORMERLY
HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS SINCE
COMMUNAL LIVING PROVIDES A
UNIQUE MIX OF PRIVACY AND
COMMUNITY SUPPORT. UNFORTUNATELY
LOCAL RESTRICTIONS THAT REQUIRE
A MINIMUM UNIT SIZE KITCHEN
FOREVER UNIT AND STRINGENT
DENSITY REQUIREMENTS HAVE MADE
IT DIFFICULT TO BUILD SHARED
HOUSING. SO A B 6 82 WILL ALLOW
SHARED HOUSING PROJECTS TO
QUALIFY FOR INCENTIVES UNDER THE
DENSITY BONUS LAW AND HELP
MAXIMIZE THE NUMBER OF UNITS
WITHIN AN ALREADY COSTLY PARCEL
OF LAND. THE MEASURE WILL
REQUIRE DEED RESTRICTED
AFFORDABLE UNITS IN EXCHANGE FOR
CONCESSIONS AND INCENTIVES. A B
6 82 WILL HELP DIVERSIFY THE
HOUSING STOCK OFFERING BOTH
NATURALLY OCCURRING AFFORDABLE
HOUSING. AND THE OPTION FOR
COMMUNAL LIVING. TO TESTIFY AND
SUPPORT OF THE BILL. I HAVE
ASKED JANE BLUMENFIELD. TO GIVE
TESTIMONY. SHE'S A SENIOR FELLOW
AT U C L. A CITY LAB. VERY GOOD
IF I MIGHT INTERRUPT VERY
QUICKLY, UM WE CAN TAKE ROLL AND
ESTABLISH A QUORUM. PLEASE CALL
THE ROLL. EDITOR'S CABALLERO
PRESENT YET OH, PRESIDENT
NIELSEN. NIELSEN PRESIDENT
DURAZO. PITTSBURGH. WINNER.
WIENER PRESIDENT. CORUM HAS BEEN
ESTABLISHED. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO
THE LEAD SUPPORT WITNESS JANE
BLUMENFELD. FROM CITY LAB. YOU
SEE L A WELCOME. THANK YOU,
MADAM CHAIR AND COMMITTEE
MEMBERS. MY NAME IS JAMES
BLUMENFELD. AND I AM A SENIOR
FELLOW AT CITY LOVE. YOU SEE, L
A CITY LAB GRABBED HIS SPONSOR.
MAYBE 6 82 AND THANKS TO
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S BLOOM FOR HIS
EFFORTS ON THIS VERY IMPORTANT
ISSUE. CALIFORNIA IS WELL
DOCUMENTED. HOUSING CRISIS
REQUIRES MANY SOLUTIONS. WE ALL
KNOW THERE'S NOT A SINGLE FIX,
AND THE STATE NEEDS SOLUTIONS
THAT ARE EFFECTIVE WITHOUT THE
NEED FOR PUBLIC DOLLARS. WE NEED
A VARIETY OF HEALTHY
PSYCHOLOGIES THAT CAN
SIMULTANEOUSLY HELP PEOPLE
ACCORDINGLY. AFFORDABLY AND BE
PROFITABLE ENOUGH SO THAT THE
PEOPLE IN THE BUSINESS OF
BUILDING HOUSING WILL ACTUALLY
BUILD IT 86 80 TO CREATE A NEW
HOUSING CIRCLES. JUDAH HAS NOT
BEEN LEGAL FOR MANY REASONS,
ZONING AND OTHERWISE. 86 82 WILL
ALLOW DEVELOPERS TO BUILD WHAT
LOOKS LIKE ALL OF THEIR
APARTMENT BUILDINGS AND WHICH
MUST COMPLY WITH ALL LOCAL HATE
FLORIA THAT THAT REQUIREMENT.
THE ONLY DIFFERENCE IS THAT
KITCHENSAND DINING SPACES WILL
BE SHARED AMONGST THE INCIDENT.
EACH UNIT IS REQUIRED TO HAVE
EVERYTHING ELSE IN APARTMENT
WOULD HAVE A BATHROOM. THANKS
REFRIGERATOR. MICROWAVE AN ISSUE
. NICK CAN HOUSE ONLY ONE OR TWO
PEOPLE. 6 82 WILL BUILD
DEVELOPERS THE ABILITY TO BUILD
SMALLER UNITS AND TO NOT BUILD
MULTIPLE KITCHENS SO THAT WE CAN
CREATE MORE HOUSING AND LESS
EXPENSIVE HOUSING FOR
CALIFORNIAN AND HE SHARED
HELPING BUILDINGS CAN BE RO RISE
OR HIGH RISE, WHICH SPEAKS TO
THE FLEXIBILITY OF THIS
TYPOLOGY. 86 82 IS PARTICULARLY
APPROPRIATE FOR SENIORS BECAUSE
KITCHENS ARE HAZARD FOR ELDERLY
PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES, DINING
STILLS, THE UNIQUELY IMPORTANT
SOCIAL NEEDS FOR THIS GROUP, AND
THERE'S VERY LITTLE HEALTHY THAT
IS AFFORDABLE FOR SENIORS. THE
TYPE OF SHARED HOUSING WILL ALSO
BE ATTRACTED STUDENTS AND YOUNG
PEOPLE WHO WE IN THE JOB MARKET
WHO ARE WILLING TO SHARE A
KITCHEN IN EXCHANGE FOR US RENT
, AS IS WHAT HAPPENED IN THE
STAR CITY PROJECT,
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S BLUE MENTIONED
AND I MIGHT ADD IN THAT PROJECT
IN SAN FRANCISCO, WHICH IS
ALMOST EXACTLY LIKE THE
SPECIFICATIONS OF A B 6 82. WHEN
IT FIRST OPENED THE BUILDING
LEASED UP IMMEDIATELY. AND HAD A
WAITING LIST OF 8000 PEOPLE.
CALIFORNIA'S DIVERSE POPULATION
REQUIRES HOUSING THAT MEETS
DIFFERENT NEEDS FOR SENIORS,
YOUNG PEOPLE AND MANY OTHERS.
THIS TYPE OF SHARED HOUSING
SHARING A KITCHEN OFFERED THE
RACE, DOWNLOAD THE PRESIDENCY,
AFFORDABILITY AND COMMUNITY AND
I RESPECTFULLY URGE YOUR VOTE ON
THIS BILL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TESTIMONY
TODAY. IS THERE ANYONE IN ROOM 1
12 THAT WOULD LIKE TO TESTIFY IN
SUPPORT OF A B 6 82 WANT TO
WELCOME YOU TO COME FORWARD.
ADAM TEAR HOLLY FOR MANY DAYS
USED WITH LIGHTHOUSE PUBLIC
AFFAIRS ON BEHALF OF THE HOUSING
ACTION, COALITION AND SUPPORT
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. IS THERE
ANYONE ELSE? SEEING THEN WE'LL
MOVE ON TO THE TELECONFERENCE
LINE. MR MODERATOR, IF YOU COULD
QUÊ UP ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO
SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF A B 6 82.
CERTAINLY MADAM CHAIR IF YOU'D
LIKE TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF A B
6 82, PLEASE PRESS 10 AT THIS
TIME. WE DO HAVE MULTIPLE PEOPLE
QUEUING UP AT THIS TIME. WE WILL
START WITH LINE NUMBER 42.
THAT'S FOUR TO YOUR LINE IS
OPEN. MADAM CHAIR AND MEMBERS
SYLVIA SALAS SHOW ON BEHALF OF
THE CITY OF SANTA MONICA. AND
STRONG SUPPORT. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU. WE'LL GO TO LINE NUMBER 26
TO 6. YOUR LINE IS OPEN. PAST
PEOPLE ASSISTING THE HOMELESS,
STRONG SUPPORT. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU. WE'LL GO TO LINE NUMBER
NINE. THAT'S LINE NINE. YOUR
LINE IS OPEN. FLIGHT NUMBER
NINE. IF YOU COULD CHECK YOUR
LINES FOR SELF MUTE, YOUR LINE
IS OPEN. AND THEY HAVE REMOVED
THEMSELVES FROM THE QUEUE WILL
MOVE ON TO LINE NUMBER 16.
THAT'S 16. YOUR LINE IS OPEN. MY
NAME IS KATHERINE. WALLY. I'M A
RESIDENT OF WALNUT CREEK AND I'M
CALLING IN SUPPORT. MADAM CHAIR.
THERE WAS NO ONE ELSE IN Q AT
THIS TIME. VERY GOOD. WE'RE
GOING TO MOVE ON TO OPPOSITION.
WE HAVE NO LEAD OPPOSITION
WITNESS IDENTIFIED. IS THERE
ANYONE HERE IN ROOM 1 12 THAT
WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK IN
OPPOSITION. GOOD MORNING, ANYA
LAWLER ON BEHALF OF THE
CALIFORNIA WORLD LEGAL
ASSISTANCE FOUNDATION AND THE
PUBLIC INTEREST LAW PROJECT,
ALSO PINCH HITTING FOR THE
WESTERN CENTRAL ON POVERTY. WE
PREVIOUSLY HAD AN OPPOSING LAST
AMENDED ON THE BILL. BUT WITH
THE COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS WE WILL
BE REMOVING THAT OPPOSITION AND
GOING TO NEUTRAL APPRECIATE THE
WORK OF THE COMMITTEE STAFF AND
THE OTHER STAFF TO MAKE THAT
HAPPEN. AND ALSO HAPPY BIRTHDAY
TO SOMEBODY MEMBER BLOOM. VERY
GOOD. IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO HEAR.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE THAT WOULD
LIKE TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION OR
REMOVE OPPOSITION OR IN BETWEEN.
SAYING NONE IN ROOM 1 12 WILL
MOVE ON TO THE TELECONFERENCE
LINE AND ASKED IF THERE'S ANYONE
ON THE TELECONFERENCE LINE THAT
WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK IN
OPPOSITION TO A B 6 82.
CERTAINLY MADAM CHAIR IF YOU'D
LIKE TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION TO A
B 6 82 PLEASE PRESS ONE THAN
ZERO AT THIS TIME. WE DO HAVE
ONE QUEUING UP. PLEASE ALLOW A
MOMENT FOR US TO PROVIDE A LINE
NUMBER. WE'RE GONNA LINE NUMBER
43. THAT'S 43. YOUR LINE IS
OPEN. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR
MEMBERS CITY OF BEVERLY HILLS IN
OPPOSITION. VERY GOOD. THANK
YOU. MADAM CHAIR. THERE IS NO
ONE ELSE IN Q. AT THIS TIME,
WE'LL BRING THE ISSUE BACK TO
THE COMMITTEE. ARE THERE ANY
QUESTIONS, COMMENTS CONCERNS?
THERE IS A MOTION. UM LET ME
JUST SAY THAT I APPRECIATE THE
WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING ON THIS.
I THINK THIS IS REALLY
IMPORTANT. AND, UM, WE'LL BE
SUPPORTING IT TODAY AS AMENDED.
THANK YOU. THERE IS EMOTION. UM,
WILL ALLOW YOU TO CONCLUDE THANK
YOU. I RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR DR
VERY GOOD. PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
THE MOTION IS PASS AS AMENDED
THAT FIRST AMEND AND WE REFER TO
THE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
SENATORS QUÊ VIETTO VIETTO. AYE,
NIELSEN. DURAZO. HERTZBERG.
WIENER. WIENER. 2 TO 0. DODD. 2
TO 3 TO 0 TO 0 TO ZERO WILL
LEAVE THAT ON CALL FOR THE
ABSENT MEMBERS. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S FRIEDMAN.
YOU'RE YOU'RE NEXT IN LINE.
THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I WANT
TO THANK YOU AND YOUR STAFF FOR
THE TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS THAT
YOU ARE OFFERING TO THE BILL. WE
ARE TAKING THE FOUR TECHNICAL
COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS ON COMMENT
FOR AND LISTEN TO THE PAGE OF,
UH, TOP OF PAGE FIVE. I'M VERY
PLEASED TO PRESENT A B 1933. SO
WHEN DEVELOPERS ARE BUILDING
AFFORDABLE HOUSING, THAT'S A
RENTAL HOUSING, THEY'RE ABLE TO
TAKE AN EXEMPTION ON PROPERTY
TAX WHILE THEY'RE DEVELOPING THE
PROPERTY. HOWEVER THEY CAN'T
TAKE THE SAME EXEMPTION WHEN
THEY'RE BUILDING FOR SALE.
AFFORDABLE UNITS. SO WHAT THIS
DOES IS IT PUSHES SOME
DEVELOPERS TO BUILD RENTAL
AFFORDABLE AS OPPOSED TO FOR
SALE AFFORDABLE WHICH DENIES
THOSE PROPERTY. THOSE TENANTS
THE ABILITY TO BUILD EQUITY TO
BUILD SECURITY TO OWN THEIR OWN
PROPERTY. I BECAME AWARE OF THIS
BACK WHEN I WAS AT GLENDALE
COUNCIL MEMBER BECAUSE WE BUILT
ONE OF THESE PROJECTS WE BUILT
FOR SALE. OWNERSHIP UM, PROJECTS
WITH A DEVELOPER WHO WAS ABLE TO
WORK OUT A DEAL WITH THE L. A
COUNTY ASSESSOR TO DO EXACTLY
THAT, AND TODAY, THOSE PROPERTY
OWNERS ARE HAPPILY STABLE E
LIVING IN THOSE HOMES, ENJOYING
ALL THE BENEFITS THAT
HOMEOWNERSHIP HAS TO GIVE. THIS
BILL WOULD SIMPLY EXPAND THAT
EXEMPTION ACROSS THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA TO ALLOW MORE
DEVELOPERS TO BUILD A FOUR SALE
PRODUCT FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE LOWER
INCOME WITH THAT I WOULD REQUEST
AND I VOTE. VERY GOOD. WE'LL
MOVE ON TO YOUR LEAD SUPPORT
WITNESS. ACTUALLY WE HAVE THERE
ARE TWO AND IT APPEARS AS IF
THEY'RE BOTH IN PERSON. DAVID
WOLFE FROM THE HERITAGE, HOUSING
PARTNERS AND ALSO HOLLY FOR A
MOMENT FOR MANY FROM HABITAT FOR
HUMANITY. WANT TO INVITE YOU TO
PLEASE COME FORWARD. COME UP
HERE. CHAIR. THANK YOU, MR
FRIEDMAN. THANK YOU, MADAM
CHAIR. GOOD MORNING, DAVID WOLFE
HERE WITH WELL VERSED CONSULTING
TODAY REPRESENTING HERITAGE
HOUSING PARTNERS. UM MADAM
CHAIR. I KNOW THE COMMITTEE DAYS
LONG HERE, SO I'LL BE BRIEF. UM
JUST AS A RESULT OF THE
TECHNICAL ISSUES THAT MR
FRIEDMAN MENTIONED HERITAGE IS
FORCED TO PAY PROPERTY TAXES
FROM THE TIME WHEN THEY
PURCHASED THE LAND TO BUILD THE
HOUSING PROJECT THROUGH
CONSTRUCTION UNTIL THE CLOSE OF
ESCROW WHEN THEY TURN THE KEYS
OVER TO THE BUYER. THIS RESULTS
IN PROPERTY TAX PAYMENTS OF MANY
THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS THAT COULD
INSTEAD BE PLACED BACK INTO
DEVELOPMENT AND CONSTRUCTION.
THAT'S WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO
HAVE THIS WELFARE EXEMPTION. UM
SO WITH THAT I WOULD ASK FOR
YOUR VOTE AND AGAIN JUST DEEP
THANKS TO THE COMMITTEE STAFF
AND MR GRENELL FOR WORKING SO
WELL ON THESE TECHNICAL
AMENDMENTS AND ASK FOR YOUR
VOTE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH
APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE TODAY.
HERE ON BEHALF OF HABITAT
FORMALITY, CALIFORNIA NOT ONLY
IN SUPPORT OF THIS BILL, BUT FOR
MANY REASONS, AS YOU KNOW THAT
THE MEDIUM HOME PRICE IN
CALIFORNIA IS NOW EXCEEDING OVER
$800,000 AND NOW ITS INTEREST
RATE WEEKLY INCREASING A LITTLE
AT A TIME. AND SO IT'S MORE THAN
EVER THAT WE NEED TO HAVE MORE
DATA RESTRICTED. AFFORDABLE
HOMES ARE BUILT THROUGHOUT THE
STATE OF CALIFORNIA FOR PEOPLE
WHO ARE MAKING LESS THAN 80% OF
THE AREA MINUTE INCOME. AND FOR
HABITAT. WE HAVE QUITE A FEW
HOMES. WE'VE EVOLVED FROM THE
SINGLE FAMILY HOME MODEL TO
MULTI FAMILY MODELS AND IN ORDER
TO MAKE THESE PRODUCTS PENCIL,
WE'VE HAD TO COME UP WITH SOME
CREATIVE WAYS TO PARTNER WITH
OTHER THIRD PARTY FINANCING.
COMPANIES TO HELP UNDERWRITE
THOSE MORTGAGES, SO THAT
HABITATS NOT HOLDING THE
MORTGAGE ON SOME OF THESE
PROJECTS THAT HAVE UP TO 40 20
TO 40 DIFFERENT UNITS. SO WE'RE
HOPING THAT THE PROPERTY TAX
EXEMPTION WILL EVOLVE WITH THE
TIME THAT LIKE FOR HABITATS
MODEL AND ALLOW FOR SOME OF
THOSE PROJECTS THAT ARE NOT A
HABITAT MODEL EXACTLY LIKE
HERITAGE PARTNERS, BUT TO MAKE
SURE THAT THESE PROJECTS ALSO
HAVE THAT COST SAVINGS DURING
THE CONSTRUCTION PERIOD BECAUSE
THAT COST SAVINGS IS PUT UPON
THE FAMILY TO HELP MAKE THOSE
HOMES MORE AFFORDABLE. SO WE
URGE YOUR SUPPORT FOR THIS BILL.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
WHEN I MOVE ON TO, UM, TESTIMONY
IN SUPPORT HERE IN ROOM 1 12. IS
THERE ANYBODY THAT WOULD LIKE TO
TESTIFY AND SUPPORT SAYING NONE
WILL MOVE ON TO THE
TELECONFERENCE LINE. MR
MODERATOR, IF YOU COULD QUEUE UP
INDIVIDUALS THAT WANT TO TESTIFY
IN SUPPORT OF A B 1953 19 MOVE.
ALL DIES 33. CERTAINLY MADAM
CHAIR IF YOU'D LIKE TO SPEAK IN
SUPPORT OF A B 1933 PLEASE PRESS
ONE AND ZERO AT THIS TIME. DO
YOU ALREADY HAVE ONE IN THE
CUBAN GO TO LINE NUMBER 16.
THAT'S 16. YOUR LINE IS OPEN. MY
NAME IS CATHERINE WILLIAM, A
RESIDENT OF WALNUT CREEK, AND
I'M CALLING IN SUPPORT. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH. AND MADAM CHAIR.
THAT WAS THE ONLY ONE IN. Q
PLEASE CONTINUE. VERY GOOD.
THANK YOU. SO MUCH WILL MOVE ON
TO OPPOSITION. IS THERE ANYONE
WHO WOULD LIKE TO TEST AN OP
TESTIFYING OPPOSITION HERE IN
ROOM 1 12. SAYING NONE WILL GO
BACK TO THE TELECONFERENCE LINE
AND ASK YOU TO QUEUE UP ANY
INDIVIDUALS THAT WANT TO TESTIFY
AND AN OPPOSITION OF A B 1933.
CERTAINLY MADAM CHAIR IF YOU'D
LIKE TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION OF A
B 1933 PLEASE PRESS 10 AT THIS
TIME. AND MADAM CHAIR. THERE IS
NO ONE KILLING UP AT THIS TIME.
VERY GOOD WILL BRING THE MATTER
BACK TO THE COMMITTEE FOR
QUESTIONS, COMMENTS. THERE IS A
MOTION BY SENATOR WIENER. UM
APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING THIS
BILL FORWARD. IT'S ONE OF THOSE
GAPS IN HOW WE DO THINGS, AND I
APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT'S BEEN
DONE TO MAKE THIS WORK. AND SO
I'M GOING TO BE SUPPORTING THE
BILL. TODAY, YOU MAY CONCLUDE.
I'LL JUST SAY THAT IF A IF A
PROJECT IS BUILT AND REMAINS
RENTAL HOUSING, IT WILL FOREVER
HAVE THE PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION
WITH THESE PROJECTS. WHEN
THEY'RE BUILT, THE FAMILY WHO
BUYS THEM WILL START PAYING
PROPERTY TAX, SO IT'S ACTUALLY A
NET GAIN FOR THE STATE, AND THIS
BILL HAS HAD WIDE BIPARTISAN
SUPPORT AND NO NO VOTES. AND I
WOULDJUST ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
AND THANK YOU AGAIN, MADAM
CHAIR. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU. THE
MOTION IS DUE PASS AS AMENDED,
BUT FIRST AMENDED. WE REFER TO
THE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS.
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. SENATORS
QUÊ VIETTO TOÀN NIELSEN. NIELSEN
NÓ DURAZO. HERTZBERG. WIENER
WINNER. AYE. 2 TO 1 VOTE IS 2 TO
1 AND WE'LL LEAVE IT OPEN FOR
THE MISSING MEMBERS FOR THE
ABSENT MEMBERS. ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S
PH. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
PATIENCE. THIS IS FILE ITEM
NUMBER 18. THANK YOU. CHAIR
MEMBERS. FIRST I WOULD LIKE TO
THANK THE CHAIR AND COMMITTEE
STAFF FOR THEIR ASSISTANCE THAT
WILL BE ACCEPTING THE COMMITTEE
AMENDMENTS. ASSEMBLY BILL 27 98
IS AN IMMEDIATE SOLUTION TO
REMOVE CONGESTION AT THE PORTS
AND IMPROVE CALIFORNIA'S FREIGHT
TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE,
THE SUPPLY CHAIN CRISIS CAUSED
AN UNFORESEEABLE DISRUPTION OF
OUR ECONOMY. AND THIS BILL WAS
SALISH SHORT TERM PERMIT AND
PLANNING STREAMLINING, WHICH
RESULTED IN THE EXPANSION OF
CALIFORNIA'S CAPACITY TO GET OUR
SUPPLY CHAIN BACK ON TRACK. THIS
BILL INCORPORATES A COUPLE OF
SOLUTIONS THE LEGISLATURE HAS
ENACTED BEFORE TO ADDRESS THE
STATE'S HOUSING SHORTAGE. THE
PROJECTS COVERED BY THIS BILL
ARE LIMITED TO SHORT TERM
FREIGHT TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS
SPECIFICALLY TAILORED TO GETTING
CONTAINERS OFF OF CONGESTED
DOCS. THE BILL ALLOWS TEMPORARY
USE PERMITS TO MOVE FORWARD SO
THAT PROJECTS CAN IMMEDIATELY
COMMENCED FOR SHORT TERM FREIGHT
TRANSPORTATION USES. THESE
PERMITS MUST STILL BE CONSISTENT
WITH LOCAL ZONING PLANNING AND
ORDINANCES. OUR GOODS MOVEMENT
SECTOR CERTAINLY NEEDS LONG TERM
SOLUTIONS, BUT THE IMMEDIATE
NEED IS MORE SPACE TO STORE
SHIPPING CONTAINERS. CONTAINERS
ARE BEING LEFT ON NEEDED LAND TO
MOVE MORE GOODS OR EVEN LEFT ON
THE CHASSIS IS THAT ARE ALREADY
IN SHORT SUPPLY. A B 27 98 IS
LIMITED IN SCOPE, INTEGRATION TO
IMMEDIATELY ADDRESS THE UNIQUE
NEEDS OF THE STATE'S SUPPLY
CHAIN TO GET CARGO INLAND AND
GET EMPTY CONTAINERS REFILLED
WITH GOODS TO EXPORT. I'M JOINED
BY MIKE JACOB WITH THE PACIFIC
MERCHANT SHIPPING ASSOCIATION. I
RESPECTFULLY ASK WHEN I VOTE.
VERY GOOD. WELL THANK YOU. THANK
YOU FOR CHECKING IS THAT MIKE
JACOB? YES. GOOD MORNING, MADAM
CHAIR AND MEMBERS LIKE JACOB
WITH PMS. A UM, THANK YOU FOR
ACCOMMODATING MY TESTIMONY
ONLINE THIS MORNING. UM AS, UH,
SAVED BY OUR AUTHOR, THE HAVE
VERY, UM COMPELLING AND
OVERWHELMING SHORT TERM NEEDS
FOR ADDITIONAL ACREAGE IN SPACE.
IN WHICH THE STORE, UM AND
CREATE ADDITIONAL PARKING FOR
CHASSIS USE AND CONTAINERS AND
TRUCKS, WHICH ARE OFF OUR MARINE
TERMINAL IN ORDER TO ACCOMMODATE
ADDITIONAL CAPACITY. APARTMENT
CREATE ADDITIONAL FLUIDITY FOR
OUR CUSTOMERS AND FOR OUR
TERMINAL OPERATIONS. MHM. MAYBE
27 98 IS INTENDED AND VERY
SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED TO BE
TEMPORARY. UM IT ADDRESSES ONLY
THOSE USES, WHICH ARE LIMITED TO
SHORT TERM USES FOR PARKING,
STORAGE OR INTERCHANGE OR
INSPECTION OF EQUIPMENT. UM AND
NOT FACILITATE ANY SPECIFIC
CONSTRUCTION OR NEW STANDARDS
FOR CONSTRUCTION OR PERMITS IN
THAT HEALTH AND AGAIN, ALL OF
YOU KNOW, AND YOU'VE SEEN OUR
OTHER PACKAGES OF BILLS AND THE
NUMBER OF CONSTRAINTS THAT ARE
PLACED ON THE SYSTEM. RIGHT NOW
. ONE OFTHOSE IS ACCESS TO
PROPERTY. UM AND THIS
POTENTIALLY FREES UP SOME OF
THAT WERE VERY MUCH APPRECIATE
YOUR SUPPORT. VERY GOOD. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TESTIMONY
TODAY. SEE IF THERE'S ANYBODY IN
SUPPORT OFTHIS BILL HERE IN
ROOM 1 12. SAYING NO NO MOVEMENT
WILL MOVE ON TO THE
TELECONFERENCE LINE. MR
MODERATOR, YOU COULD QUEUE UP
ANYBODY IN SUPPORT OF A B 27 98.
CERTAINLY MADAM SHERIFF, YOU'D
LIKE TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT ON A B
27 98 PLEASE PRESS 10 AT THIS
TIME. MADAM SURE, THERE'S NO ONE
COMING UP THIS TIME. VERY GOOD.
WE'LL MOVE ON TO OPPOSITION.
THERE IS NO LEAD. WITNESS
IDENTIFIED IN OPPOSITION, SO
WE'LL SEE IF THERE'S ANYBODY
HERE IN THE ROOM 1 12 THAT WOULD
LIKE TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION OF A
B 27 98. SAYING NONE WILL CHECK
THE TELECONFERENCE LINE TO SEE
IF THERE'S ANYONE IN OPPOSITION.
CERTAINLY, MADAM SHERIFF, YOU'D
LIKE TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION OF A
B 27 98 PLEASE PRESS 10 AT THIS
TIME. OKAY? MADAM CHAIR. THERE
IS NO ONE QUEUING UP IN
OPPOSITION AT THIS TIME. VERY
GOOD. WE'LL BRING THIS BACK TO
THE COMMITTEE. ARE THERE ANY
QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS? I SEE.
NONE IS THEIR EMOTION. THERE IS
A MOTION BY SENATOR WIENER. YOU
MAY CONCLUDE ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S
FIVE. I RESPECTFULLY ASK WHEN
IVO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND I
REALLY APPRECIATE YOU DOING THIS
BILL BECAUSE THE SUPPLY CHAIN
ISSUES ARE VERY SERIOUS, AND
IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE GET
THINGS MOVING. SO APPRECIATE IT.
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. THE MOTION
IS DUE PASS AS AMENDED FIRST
AMEND, AND WE REFER TO THE
COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
SENATORS QUÊ VIETTO NIESEN.
NIELSEN. I DURAZO. HERTZBERG.
WIENER. SENATOR WIENER. WINNER.
THREE DESERVED 3 TO 0 WILL PUT
THAT ON CALL FOR THE MISSING
MEMBERS. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
PRESENTING TODAY. MEMBERS. I'M
GONNA ASK THAT WE TAKE UP OUR
CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS. AND IN THE
MEANTIME, IF WE COULD ADVISE THE
MISSING ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S THAT
HAVE BILLS IN THIS COMMITTEE TO
PLEASE COME TO THE COMMITTEE
ROOM. THAT WOULD BE TERRIFIC. WE
ONLY HAVE THREE MORE BILLS HERE
TODAY, AND SO LIKE TO MAKE SURE
WE'RE MOVING. WE WILL TAKE UP
FILE ITEM NUMBER TWO A B 26 81
FILE ITEM NUMBER THREE A B 28 90
FILE HIM. ITEM NUMBER FIVE A B
15 51 FILE ITEM NUMBER SEVEN A B
16 54 WHILE I AM NUMBER 12 A B
20 TO 44 FILE ITEM NUMBER 15.
MAYBE 25 36. THOSE ARE ALL ON
THE CONSENT AGENDA. I'LL
ENTERTAIN A MOTION. SENATOR
NIELSEN. MOVES THAT THESE PAST,
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. SENATORS
COPY ETO TOÀN NIELSEN. NIELSEN.
I DURAZO. PITTSBURGH. WIENER.
WIENER. 3203 TO 0 AND WE'LL PUT
THAT ON CALL AS WELL FOR THE
ABSENT MEMBERS. HEY, HOW'S IT
GOING? I DON'T KNOW. THERE IS A
LINE WE NEED TO CLOSE. IN CASE.%
I APOLOGIZE, MADAM CHAIR THAT'S
COMING FROM ROOM 1 12 ITSELF.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. H TWO. THE
GREMLINS OF SHERRY DO APOLOGIZE
. THE NOISE FROM THE BACKGROUND
IS COMING FROM ROOM 1 12 ITSELF
. WE UNDERSTAND. WE'RE TRYING TO
FIX THAT, TOO. THANK YOU SO
MUCH. APPRECIATE. THANK YOU.
SURE.
MEMBER GIBSON, YOU ARE UP
PERFECT TIMING. THIS IS FILE
ITEM NUMBER SIX A. B 16. OH,
EIGHT.
HEY, IS A BUSY DAY. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. MADAM CHAIR. AND
SENATORS. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING
ME TO PRESENT ASSEMBLY BILL 16.
OH, EIGHT, WHICH SEEKS TO
SEPARATE CORNER'S OFFICE FROM
SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENTS AND
COUNTIES ACROSS THE STATE.
BEFORE I BEGIN, I WOULD LIKE TO
RESPECTFULLY ACCEPT THE
AMENDMENTS. AS PRESENTED IN THE
MARKUP LANGUAGE BY THE
COMMITTEE. AND THANK THE
COMMITTEE FOR INDULGENCE AND
HELPING US UM AND WITH THIS BILL
, THE AMENDMENTS WOULD SIMPLY
PROVIDE COUNTIES MORE TIME TO
SEPARATE. CALIFORNIA'S CURRENTLY
ONE OF THREE STATES THAT STILL
ALLOW COUNTIES TO COMBINE THE
OFFICE OF THE CORNERS AND
SHERIFFS. FOR YEARS, WE HAVE
WITNESSED FAR TOO MANY
TRAGEDIES. PATTERNS OF
INCONSISTENCIES WITH WITH
SHERIFFS. AND ALLOWING, UM, THE
OVERSIGHT OVERSIGHT OF THE CAUSE
OF DEATH RULING. THIS HAS
RESULTED IN BIAS, MEDICAL
INVESTIGATIONS. TIME AND TIME
AGAIN. ASSEMBLY BILL 16. OH
EIGHT. WILL PUT CALIFORNIA IN
LINE WITH THE REST OF THE STATES
THAT HAVE ALREADY ADVANCED A
SIMILAR PIECE OF LEGISLATION.
THE LEGISLATION THAT YOU HAVE
BEFORE YOU TODAY IN CALIFORNIA.
10 COUNTIES ARE ALREADY DOING
WHAT ASSEMBLY BILL 16 OH EIGHT,
IS SEEKING TO ACCOMPLISH I AM
PROUD TO SAY THE LOS ANGELES UM
AND SAN FRANCISCO COUNTY ARE ARE
PROUD SUPPORTERS OF THIS BIT OF
THIS PIECE OF LEGISLATION. BOTH
OF THESE COUNTIES HAVE ALREADY
SUCCESS SUCCESSFUL INDEPENDENT
FUNCTIONS IN DECEMBER OF LAST
YEAR. ANGELO KING TOE. UNITED
STATES NAVY VETERAN FROM THE
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA WAS
TRAGICALLY KILLED AT THE HANDS
OF POLICE. AND ANGELO CUENTOS
CASE. EIGHT MONTHS AFTER HIS
DEATH. THE KARMA ACOSTA COUNTY
CORNER'S ISSUED A REPORT A
RULING THAT THE CAUSE OF DEATH
WAS ACCIDENTAL. AND LISTED
UNDERSCORE, LISTED THE CAUSE OF
DEATH AS EXCITED DELIRIUM. THE
TERM EXCITED DELIRIUM IS
REJECTED. BY THE AMERICAN
MEDICAL ASSOCIATION, THE WORLD
HEALTH ORGANIZATION AND THE
AMERICAN. UM, THANK YOU. PATRICK
ASSOCIATION. THIS TERM HAS BEEN
REJECTED BY THE MEDICAL
COMMUNITY. YET IT IS STILL USED
BY LAW ENFORCEMENT TO EXPLAIN
CERTAIN DEATHS OCCURRING WHEN
INDIVIDUALS DIE IN THE IN POLICE
CUSTODY IN SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY.
IT TOOK A VERY PUBLIC
EMBARRASSING RESIGNATION FROM
THE CHIEF MEDICAL EXAMINER AND
ANOTHER MEDICAL EXAMINER ON
STAFF FOR THE COUNTY TO ACT.
OVER NINE MONTHS, A NINE MONTH
PERIOD. THE CHIEF MEDICAL
EXAMINER, UM, DOCUMENTED
COUNTLESS EXAMPLES OF AUTOPSIES
. THEY PERFORM. THESE
DOCUMENTATIONS INCLUDE INSTANCES
WHEN THE SHERIFF CHANGED.
UNDERSCORE CHANGE THEIR CAUSE OF
DEATH FINDINGS, ACCORDING TO THE
DOCUMENTATION. IN SOME CASES
THEY FELT PRESSURED. BY THE
SHERIFF TO REPORT SOMETHING
DIFFERENT THAN WHAT THEY
CONCLUDED THROUGH THEIR MEDICAL
AUTOPSY THAT WAS PERFORMED IN
ORANGE COUNTY. CHRISTOPHER
EYELESS SINGER DIED AFTER BEING
TAKEN OFF LIFE SUPPORT EIGHT
DAYS AFTER BEING TRANSPORTED BY
AMBULANCE TO A HOSPITAL. SIX
PEOPLE ATTENDED THE AUTOPSY,
INCLUDING FOUR MEMBERS OF THE
SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT AND TWO
OFFICERS FROM THE SANTA AND THE
ANAHEIM POLICE DEPARTMENT, THE
PATHOLOGIST CONCLUDED. THAT THIS
CASE THAT THE CAUSE OF DEATH WAS
CAUSED BY CERTAIN CARDIAC ARREST
THREE YEARS AFTER THE DEATH, A
JURY FOUND THAT THE OFFICERS
WERE, IN FACT NEGLIGENT AND
LARGELY RESPONSIBLE FOR
CHRISTOPHER'S DEATH AND AWARD.
THE FAMILY NEARLY $1.8 MILLION
IN DAMAGES, AND CURRENT COUNTY,
DAVID SILVA. DIED FROM, UH,
PIXIE ATION. DURING AN A COUNTER
WITH SEVERAL CURRENT COUNTY
SHERIFF'S DEPUTIES AND TWO HIGH
PATROL OFFICERS. CURRENT COUNTY
CORONER'S DECLARED THAT THE
DEATH WAS ACCIDENTAL. AND A
HEART DISEASE RELATED DEATH.
PROSECUTORS DID NOT FILE
CRIMINAL CHARGES AGAINST THE
CURRENT COUNTY SHERIFF'S
DEPUTIES OR OR CALIFORNIA HIGH
PATROL YET. CALIFORNIA'S CURRENT
COUNTY ENDED UP SETTLING FOR
$3.4 MILLION IN A CIVIL LAWSUIT
. THESE ARE ONLY A FEW EXAMPLES
WHERE COUNTIES HAVE, UM, SPENT A
LARGE AMOUNT OF MONEY ON
SETTLING WRONGFUL DEATH LAWSUITS
, MEMBERS. IT IS OUR
RESPONSIBILITY TO QUESTION UM
WHAT DOES NOT TRULY MAKES SENSE
JOINING TO ME TO PROVIDE
SUPPORTING TESTIMONIES IS WELL
RENOWNED CHIEF MEDICAL EXAMINER
FROM WASHINGTON D. C WHO I MIGHT
ADD WAS THE CHIEF, UM CONDUCTING
AND INVESTIGATOR ON THE 2018
AUDIT DONE BY SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY
IS DR ROGER MITCHELL. HE'LL BE
JOINING US ONLINE AND IN PERSON
WE WILL ALSO HAVE GEORGE
OSBORNE, FORMER HOMICIDE
INVESTIGATOR. AND ALSO WITH THE
UNION OF AMERICAN PHYSICIANS AND
DENTISTRY WHO WILL BE JOINING US
PERSONALLY. I WANT TO WELCOME
YOU TO THE SENATE HEARING AND
YOU MAY PROCEED. THANK YOU,
MADAM CHAIR. GOOD MORNING. GOOD
MORNING, SENATORS. I'M GEORGE
OSBORNE, REPRESENTING THE UNION
OF AMERICAN PHYSICIANS AND
DENTISTS ASKED ME LOCAL 206.
WE'RE PROUD CO SPONSOR OF A B 16
OH, EIGHT AND RESPECTFULLY URGE
YOUR SUPPORT FOR THIS MEASURE. A
B 16 OH, EIGHT, PROMOTES JUST
AND UNBIASED INVESTIGATIONS BY
SEPARATING CORONER'S
RESPONSIBILITIES FROM THE
SHERIFF'S OVERSIGHT. WHICH WILL
HELP CREATE A SYSTEM THAT
PRIORITIZES PRIORITIZES
OBJECTIVITY, TRANSPARENCY AND
ACCOUNTABILITY THROUGHOUT
CALIFORNIA. IN 2018 WE SPONSORED. A SIMILAR BILL. SB 13 OH,
THREE BY SENATOR PAN THAT CAME
UP DURING THE TIME OF A VERY
PUBLIC SCANDAL WITH SAN JOAQUIN
COUNTY. AS ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S
GIBSON AS RELATED TO THE DETAILS
OF THAT CASE, I'M NOT GOING TO
BORE YOU WITH THAT. UH YOU A P D
ASKED ME BELIEVES THAT NO,
SHERIFF FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT
OFFICIALS SHOULD BE IN A
POSITION TO INFLUENCE THE
OUTCOME OF A MEDICAL EXAMINER'S
AUTOPSY. SADLY THAT IS NOT THE
CASE IN CALIFORNIA TODAY. WE'RE
48 COUNTIES HAVE A COMBINED
SHERIFF, CORONER MODEL. AND DO
NOT HAVE AN INDEPENDENT
INVESTIGATIVE PROCESS. I BRING A
UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE TO THIS ISSUE
AS A FORMER POLICE OFFICER. WHO
INVESTIGATED HOMICIDE CASES.
INCLUDING THE WITNESSING OF
AUTOPSIES. FOR THE PURPOSE OF
COLLECTING EVIDENCE TO BE USED
LATER IN COURT. BASED UPON MY
OWN EXPERIENCE. NO LAW
ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL. SHERIFF.
OR OTHERWISE SHOULD HAVE THE
AUTHORITY. OR AUDACITY TO
CHANGE. A MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL'S
OPINION. AS TO THE CAUSE OR
MANNER OF DEATH. OF A VICTIM. IF
ENACTED A B 16 OH, EIGHT.
PROVIDES A SOLUTION TO THAT
PROBLEM. WE URGE YOUR I VOTE
TODAY. THANK YOU. AND I'M
AVAILABLE FOR QUESTIONS. IF
THERE ARE ANY THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. AND WHAT NOW WE'RE GONNA
MOVE ON TO DR ROGER MITCHELL.
WHO IS ON THE LINE. CAN YOU HEAR
ME? OKAY, WE CAN. MY NAME IS DR
ROGER MITCHELL JR. I'M A BOARD
CERTIFIED AN ATOMIC AND FORENSIC
PATHOLOGIST. I'M HERE TO TESTIFY
IN SUPPORT OF THE ASSEMBLY, BILL
16. OH EIGHT, DESCRIBES THE
DEFINITIVE RELEASED SEPARATE THE
OFFICE OF CORNER FROM THE
RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE SHERIFF.
IN THIS DAY AND TIME WHEN GUN
VIOLENCE, NATURAL DISASTER
POLICE ABUSE OPIOID VIEWS.
CONTAGIOUS DISEASES LIKE COVID
AND MONKEY POX CAUSED DEPTH IN
COMMUNITY. IT'S CRITICAL TO HAVE
INDEPENDENT QUALIFIED DEPTH
INVESTIGATIONS IN THIS COUNTRY.
THE SEPARATION OF THE SHERIFF
THAT END. AS YOU HEARD. I HAVE A
BACKGROUND IN FORENSIC PATHOLOGY
SINCE 2000 AND 77. I WAS THE
ASSISTANT DEPUTY CHIEF IN
HOUSTON IN CHARGE OF ALL DEPTH
INVESTIGATION. WAS THE CHIEF
MEDICAL EXAMINER IN NORTH NEW
JERSEY, WHERE I WAS ON THE STATE
POLICE SHOOTING RESPONSE TEAM I
WAS THE CHIEF MEDICAL EXAMINER
FOR WASHINGTON D. C FROM 2014 TO
2021 PERFORM NEARLY 2000
AUTOPSIES. I'M CURRENTLY A
TENURED PROFESSOR. AND SHARE
PATHOLOGY AT HOWARD UNIVERSITY
HERE. IN WASHINGTON, D C AND
DEATHS IN CUSTODY HAS BEEN MY
AREA OF EXPERTISE. I SERVED AS A
RESOURCE AS YOU HEARD FOR THE
CRITICAL DECISION TO SEPARATE
THE OFFICES OF THE CORNER IN SAN
JOAQUIN FROM A SHERIFF TO A
MEDICAL EXAMINER SYSTEM. CAROL
IF ORANJE HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO
LEAD THE WAY, A B 16 OH, EIGHT,
SUPPORTS OUR CRIMINAL LEGAL
SYSTEM BY REMOVING ANY POTENTIAL
FOR BIAS FROM THE SHERIFF.
REMOVING THAT ROLE OF CORNER.
THE BILL WILL GO A LONG WAY
TOWARDS INSTILLING PUBLIC
CONFIDENCE IN DEPTH
INVESTIGATION, PARTICULARLY
DEATHS THAT OCCUR IN CONNECTION
WITH THE CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM.
DURING ARREST OR TRANSPORT WHILE
IN JAIL. NOT ONLY THAT, BUT WITH
BUT WITH A PROPERLY STAFFED AND
TRAINED MEDICAL LEGAL DEATH
INVESTIGATION SYSTEM
CALIFORNIANS CAN RELY ON THE
REPORTED DATA FOR ALL TYPES OF
DEATHS, INCLUDING SUDDEN
UNEXPECTED NATURAL DEATH DEATHS
OF MOMS WHO WHO MAY DIE DURING
CHILD ABUSE, CHILDBIRTH.
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ABUSE CHILD
ABUSE THAT DEATH DUE TO COVID.
AND EVEN THESE MATHS FATALITY
EVENTS THAT WE SEE RIGHT NOW
FOR, UM, ACTIVE SHOOTERS IN 2000
AND NINE THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES
OF SCIENCE CALLED FOR THE
STRENGTHENING OF THE MEDICAL
LEGAL DEATH INVESTIGATION EVEN
BACK THEN THEY CALLED FOR THE
REMOVAL OF THE SHERIFF CORONER
SYSTEM. DUE TO THE LACK OF
EXPERTISE. LET ME BE CLEAR. WE
SHOW SUPPORT FOR OUR SHERIFFS
AND FOR OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT BY
SEPARATING THE CORONER FUNCTION.
THE CORONER SYSTEM IN THE UNITED
STATES WAS IMPORTED HERE WITH
THE ORIGINAL COLONIZATION.
ATTEMPTS AT IMPROVEMENT OF THE
SYSTEM HAVE BEEN OCCURRING SINCE
ITS EXEMPTION IN THE 16
HUNDREDS. BUT IT HAS YET TO
COMPLETELY MATURE INTO THE
SYSTEM THAT IT HAS THE POTENTIAL
TO BE. A B 16 OH, EIGHT IS A
SMALL BUT NECESSARY STEP TOWARDS
ENSURING HEALTH EQUITY IN IN
DEATH AS WE ALL PURSUE IT IN
LIFE. BY PROVIDING A RELIABLE,
REPRODUCIBLE, TIMELY AND
ACCURATE DEATH INVESTIGATION
SYSTEM. YOU'RE GIVING CLARITY
AND CLOSURE TO THOUSANDS OF
FAMILIES IN THEIR MOST
DEVASTATING TIME OF NEED YOUR
DECISION TODAY. WE'LL HAVE GREAT
POSITIVE IMPACT AND THAT IMPACT
WILL BE BROAD BEYOND YOUR YOU
CAN IMAGINE. I'M TRULY PROUD OF
THIS AUSPICIOUS BODY FOR YOUR
WILLINGNESS TO MAKE THIS CHANGE.
I URGE YOU TO VOTE. YAY IN THIS
ABC 16 OH, A SEPARATE THE
SHERIFF IN THE CORNER, AND I'M
HERE IN AVAILABLE FOR ANY
QUESTIONS THAT THEY THAT YOU MAY
HAVE. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME
TO BE HERE TODAY. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH, AND I APPRECIATE WE
APPRECIATE YOUR TESTIMONY. WE'RE
GOING TO MOVE ON TO SEE IF THERE
ARE INDIVIDUALS IN SUPPORT OF
THIS BILL HERE IN ROOM 1 12, IF
YOU WOULD LIKE TO TESTIFY WOULD
WHEN I ASK YOU TO PLEASE LINE UP
HERE RIGHT BEHIND THE
MICROPHONE. SO WE SEE YOU AND WE
CAN HEAR YOUR TESTIMONY. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MY
NAME IS ROBERT COLLINS. I'M
ANGELA KINTU SAYS THAT THAT AND
I JUST WANNA URGE YOU TO SUPPORT
THIS BILL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING CHAIR
AND MEMBERS. DENNIS QUELLOS FROM
METAL LEDGE ADVOCATE FOR THE
CALIFORNIA MEDICAL ASSOCIATION,
CO SPONSOR AND PROUD, PROUD TO
BE IN SUPPORT. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH. GOOD MORNING,
CASSANDRA INTO COLLEGE CALLED
COLIN. IMAGINE UP TO THIS
MOTHER. I EARNED. HERE TO PLEASE
SUPPORT. OH, WAIT. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. GOOD
MORNING. I WAS ABSOLUTELY HEART
WRENCHING. CARLY JOAQUIN ON
BEHALF OF THE CITY AND COUNTY OF
SAN FRANCISCO AND SUPPORT AS
WELL, THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. GOOD MORNING, RUTH DAWSON
WITH THE VALUE OF CALIFORNIA
ACTION CO SPONSORS OF THIS BILL
, ALSO SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF MY
FRIEND AT THE CALIFORNIA NEWS
PUBLISHERS ASSOCIATION, ALSO IN
SUPPORT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
GOOD MORNING, MADAM CHAIR AND
COMMITTEE MEMBERS. UM D'ARTAGNAN
WITH ASPEY, CALIFORNIA. AMERICAN
FEDERATION FOR STATE, COUNTY AND
MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES IN STRONG
SUPPORT OF 80 16. OH, EIGHT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MM. HOME
BELEK INTO COLLINS, ANGELA'S
SISTER AND IN STRONG SUPPORT.
MAYBE 69. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE IN ROOM 1
12. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TESTIMONY
HERE. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO
THE TELECONFERENCE LINE AND
ASKED THE MODERATOR TO QUEUE UP
ANY INDIVIDUALS THAT WOULD LIKE
TO TESTIFY IN SUPPORT OF A B 16.
OH, EIGHT. CERTAINLY MADAM CHAIR
IF YOU'D LIKE TO SPEAK IN
SUPPORT OF A B 16 OH, EIGHT,
PLEASE PRESS 10 AT THIS TIME WE
DO HAVE A NUMBER OF MEMBERS OF
THE PUBLIC QUEUING UP. WE WILL
START WITH LINE NUMBER 49 49.
YOUR LINE IS OPEN. THEY'VE
REMOVED THEMSELVES FROM THE
QUEUE WILL GO TO LINE NUMBER 53.
THAT'S 53. YOUR LINE IS OPEN.
GOOD MORNING ON BEHALF OF THE
LOS ANGELES COUNTY BOARD OF
SUPERVISORS. I'M DR JONATHAN
LUCAS MEDICAL JAMMER FOR LOS
ANGELES COUNTY IN SUPPORT OF A B
16. OH, EIGHT. THANK YOU. MM. WE
GOT A LINE NUMBER 48. THAT'S
MORNING, REBECCA GONZALEZ WITH
THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF
SOCIAL WORKERS, CALIFORNIA
CHAPTER IN SUPPORT. GET A LINE
NUMBER 16. THAT'S 16. YOUR LINE
IS OPEN. HI. MY NAME IS
KATHERINE. WALLY. I'M A RESIDENT
OF WALNUT CREEK. I'M CALLING IN
STRONG SUPPORT. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH NUMBER 47. THAT'S
47. YOUR LINE IS OPEN. RIGHT AND
HOPE FOR ON BEHALF OF CO
SPONSORS TO CARE JUSTICE HERE IN
SUPPORT ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FROM
CALIFORNIA IMMIGRANT POLICY
CENTER CONFERENCE OF CALIFORNIA
BAR ASSOCIATIONS, HUMAN IMPACT
PARTNERS INITIATE JUSTICE.
JUSTICE FOR ANGELO PINTO JUSTICE
FOR ALL COALITION NATIONAL
ALLIANCE FOR FILIPINO CONCERNS.
FILIPINO COMMUNITY CENTER. THANK
YOU. LITTLE LINE NUMBER 55.
THAT'S 55. YOUR LINE IS OPEN.
SYLVIA'S THE LEAST, SHAW ON
BEHALF OF THE CALIFORNIA FACULTY
ASSOCIATION, A COSPONSOR ENGINE
SUPPORTED THE MEASURE. THANK
YOU. LITTLE LINE NUMBER 13
THAT'S 13 AIRLINE IS OPEN. HI
DADDY WITH HOGAN PRIVACY AND
SUPPORTIVE BABY 16. OH, EIGHT.
PUT A LINE NUMBER 51. THAT'S 51.
YOUR LINE IS OPEN. GOOD MORNING
. MY NAME IS DIANA COLLINS.
QUENTIN I AM LOOKING TO ASSIST
US AND I AM CALLING IN STRONG
SUPPORT OF A B 16. OH, EIGHT.
THE ANTI WAR CAME TO ACT OF
2022. THANK YOU. LITTLE LINE
NUMBER 44. THAT'S 44. YOUR LINE
IS OPEN. HI MY NAME IS TOM HALL,
AND I'M WITH THE MILES TALLFOUNDATION AND WE ARE PROUD
COSPONSOR AND WE ARE IN SUPPORT
OF THIS BILL. THANK YOU. DELIGHT
NUMBER 30 THAT'S 30. YOUR LINE
IS OPEN. HI THERE, CHRISTOPHER
SAYING, YOU KNOW WHAT THE
CALIFORNIA HAWAII AND A C P IN
SUPPORT. WE'LL GO TO LINE NUMBER
11 THAT'S 11. YOUR LINE IS OPEN.
HELLO EVERYONE. THIS IS FRANK'S
TURNING AND PULLING FROM
ANTIOCH, CALIFORNIA, THE
HOMETOWN OF ANGELO, KIDDO, AND I
URGE YOU TO SUPPORT 16. OH,
EIGHT. THANK YOU VERY. AND MADAM
CHAIR WITH THAT WE HAVE
EXHAUSTED THE Q. VERY GOOD.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE'RE GOING
TO MOVE ON TO WITNESSES AND
OPPOSITION. WE HAVE TO LEAD
WITNESSES. UM ONE THAT IS ON THE
PHONE AND ONE THAT IS HERE IN
PERSON, SO WE'RE GOING TO START
WITH RYAN. MAURY MAURY MOONEY,
WHO'S FROM THE CALIFORNIA STATE
ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES. WELCOME
THANK YOU. SO GOOD MORNING,
CHAIR AND COMMITTEE RYAN MORE
MONEY ON BEHALF OF THE
CALIFORNIA STATE ASSOCIATION OF
COUNTIES, ALSO KNOWN AS SEA SEX.
HERE IN RESPECTFUL OPPOSITION TO
A B 16. OH, EIGHT. SO IN THE
INTEREST OF TIME, OR SKIP THE
FIRST PART OF MY TESTIMONY AS
THE COMMITTEE ANALYSIS PROVIDED
A GOOD COUNTY BACKGROUND, SO
WITH THAT SAID HE SEX MAIN
CONCERN IS PURELY FROM A
GOVERNANCE PERSPECTIVE. WHICH
INCLUDES PRESERVING BORDER
SUPERVISOR DISCRETION OVER LOCAL
GOVERNMENT FUNCTIONS AND
RETAINING AUTHORITY OVER
BUDGETARY DECISION MAKING.
REQUIRING THE SEPARATION OF
COUNTY SHERIFF CORNER OFFICES
RUNS COUNTER TO LOCAL CONTROL
AND GOOD GOVERNANCE AS IT WOULD
DEEPLY IMPACT COUNTY BUDGETS IN
THE RANGE OF HUNDREDS OF
THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS, UP TO
EXCEEDING FIVE MILLION. FOR 48
OF THE 58 COUNTIES, AS NOTED I'D
LIKE TO THANK COMMITTEE STAFF
FOR THEIR ANALYSIS, WHICH POINTS
OUT CRITICAL POLICY QUESTIONS
AND FOR THEIR WORK, EXPLORING
OTHER OPTIONS AND ATTEMPT TO
MEET THE NEEDS EXPRESSED BY BOTH
THE AUTHOR AND SPONSORS. AS WELL
AS THE COUNTY PERSPECTIVE AND
THE VARYING LEVELS OF RESOURCES
AND NEEDS OF COUNTIES. TO THAT
END QUESTIONS REMAIN AS TO
WHETHER THE BILL WOULD ADDRESS
THE AUTHOR'S INTENT TO ELIMINATE
THE DISCREPANCY AND VALIDITY OF
MEDICAL DIAGNOSES WHEN THERE IS
AN OFFICER RELATED DEATH. IF THE
GOAL OF THIS MEASURES TO
INCREASE OBJECTIVITY AND
TRANSPARENCY TO ENSURE JUSTICE
IS SERVED IN ALL CASES, AND MORE
EFFECTIVE SOLUTION MAY BE TO
REFER ALL OFFICER INVOLVED.
DEATHS FOR AN INDEPENDENT
MEDICAL EXAMINATION BY WHICH
BOTH THE CAUSE AND MANNER OF THE
DEATH IS DETERMINED SOLELY
OUTSIDE THE PURVIEW OF THE
SHERIFF CORNER OFFICE. THIS
WOULD ADDRESS ANY POTENTIAL OR
PERCEIVED CONFLICT OF INTEREST
WITHOUT REQUIRING A STATEWIDE
MANDATE FOR ALL COUNTIES. ASIDE
FROM THE POLICY DISCUSSION THERE
ARE OR SEEMINGLY WERE
FUNDAMENTAL IMPLEMENTATION
CONCERNS WITH THE BILL AS
DRAFTED, WHICH WAS ALSO NOTED IN
THE PREVIOUS THREE POLICY
COMMITTEE ANALYSIS. HOWEVER WE
ARE PLEASED TO SEE THAT SOME OF
THE CLARIFICATION WE'RE PLEASED
TO SEE THAT THERE IS SOME
CLARIFICATION WITH THE COMMITTEE
MEN. SO THANK YOU AGAIN CHAIR.
AND THEN ONE LAST NOTE, ALTHOUGH
SEPARATION OF THE 48 SHERIFF
CORONER OFFICES WOULD BECOME
EFFECTIVE BY JANUARY, 2023 OR AT
THE END OF THE TERM FOR THOSE
RECENTLY ELECTED AS I UNDERSTAND
WITH THEM, AND, UM COUNTIES WILL
STILL NEED SUFFICIENT TIME TO
BUDGET AND DEVELOP PLANS TO
EITHER CONSOLIDATE WITH ANOTHER
COUNTY OFFICE ESTABLISHED A
SEPARATE QUARTER OFFICE. OR
CREATE A INDEPENDENT MEDICAL
EXAMINER'S OFFICE, WHICH WOULD
REQUIRE RECRUITING AND TRAINING
FOR FORENSIC PATHOLOGIST AND
STAFF. AGAIN WE APPRECIATE THE
COMMITTEE'S WORK HOPE THE AUTHOR
WILL CONSIDER REFINING THE BILL
TO REDUCE COUNTY IMPACTS, BUT WE
WHOLEHEARTEDLY REMAINS SENSITIVE
TO THE CONCERNS FROM ALL
COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE STATE,
WHICH ARE 296 BOARD OF
SUPERVISORS WERE ELECTED TO
REPRESENT THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
MR MORE MONEY. THREE. SHE ATE
YOUR COMMENT TODAY. WE'RE GOING
TO GO TO THE PHONE LINE. COREY
CELL C. COREY SELL SEO FROM THE
CALIFORNIA STATE
SHERIFFSASSOCIATION. THANK YOU,
MADAM CHAIR AND MEMBERS COREY
SALTILLO ON BEHALF OF THE
CALIFORNIA STATE
SHERIFFSASSOCIATION RESPECTFULLY
AND OPPOSITION. TO BE CLEAR IN
EVERY CASE PURSUANT TO EXISTING
LAW, IRRESPECTIVE OF THE
GOVERNANCE MODEL CHOSEN BY
COUNTY MEDICAL DOCTOR DETERMINES
THE CAUSE OF DEATH AND THE
CORNER DETERMINES THE MANNER OF
DEATH AND THIS BIFURCATION
PROVIDES APPROPRIATE CHECKS AND
BALANCES. I WON'T REPEAT WHAT MY
COLLEAGUE FROM CSX SAID ABOUT
LOCAL CONTROL AND THE COST OF
COUNTIES. BUT WE'LL NOTE THAT AT
LEAST TWO COUNTIES HAVE UTILIZED
THE AUTHORITY. IT'S THAT EXIST
IN CURRENT LAW IN THE LAST
SEVERAL YEARS AND HAVE SEPARATED
THE OFFICES OF THE SHERIFF IN
THE CORNER WITHOUT ASSISTANCE
FROM OR INTERFERENCE BY THE
LEGISLATURE. THE BILL INCLUDES
NO FUNDING FOR COUNTIES. TWO
SEPARATE THE OFFICE OF THE
CORNER AND SHERIFF BUT DEMANDS
THAT IT BE DONE WITHOUT REGARD
TO THE MASSIVE COSTS THAT WILL
CREATE UM, WE APPRECIATE THE
COMMITTEE'S ANALYSIS, RAISING
THE HOME RULE LOCAL CONTROL
ISSUE AS WELL AS QUESTIONS ABOUT
THE EFFICACY OF THE BILLS
APPROACH IN ADDRESSING WHAT WE
UNDERSTAND THAT PROPONENTS
CONCERNS TO BE IN THE UNANSWERED
LOGISTICAL QUESTIONS. THE BILL'S
ENACTMENT WOULD CREATE. WE WOULD
ALSO NOTE, UM, WITH RESPECT THE
OPPOSITION OF THE CALIFORNIA
STATE CORNERS ASSOCIATION. AND
WE JUST CONCLUDE BY SAYING
COUNTIES HAVE ADOPTED PROCEDURES
TO ADDRESS PERCEIVED CONFLICTS
WITH HOW DEATH INVESTIGATIONS
ARE UNDERTAKEN. BUT TWO
APPARENTLY FURTHER ENGAGE IN
THIS AREA. THIS BILL IMPOSES A
RESOURCE INTENSIVE SEISMIC SHIFT
AND HOW LOCAL GOVERNMENTS CHOOSE
TO ORGANIZE THEIR FUNCTIONS. WE
APPRECIATE YOUR CONSIDERATION
AND MUST RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR
YOUR NO VOTE ON A B 16. OH
EIGHT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. WE'RE GOING TO GO. WE'LL
MOVE ON TO WITNESSES IN
OPPOSITION AND ROOM. 1 12,
PLEASE COME FORWARD. GOOD
MORNING, MADAM CHAIR AND MEMBERS
CARON LING ON BEHALF OF THE
BOARDS OF SUPERVISORS FOR SOLANO
AND BUTTE COUNTY AND RESPECTFUL
OPPOSITION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. GOOD MORNING,
ELIZABETH ESPINOSA ON BEHALF OF
THE RURAL COUNTY REPRESENTATIVES
OF CALIFORNIA WANT TO ALIGN
MYSELF WITH THE COMMENTS MADE BY
MY COLLEAGUE AT SEA SACK? UM
ALSO WANT TO EXPRESS THE
OPPOSITION FROM THE BOARD OF
SUPERVISORS IN THE COUNTY OF
COLUSA. THANK YOU. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE
IN ROOM 1 12? SAYING NONE WILL
MOVE ON TO THE TELECONFERENCE
LINE. MR MODERATOR, IF YOU COULD
CURE INDIVIDUALS THAT WANT TO
TESTIFY IN OPPOSITION TO A B 16
OH, EIGHT. CERTAINLY MADAM CHAIR
IF YOU'D LIKE TO SPEAK IN
OPPOSITION TO A B 16 OH, EIGHT.
PLEASE PRESS 10 AT THIS TIME.
AND WE DO HAVE ONE THAT'S JUST
CUED UP. PLEASE ALLOW A MOMENT
TO PROVIDE A LINE NUMBER.
GOING TO GO TO LINE NUMBER 22.
THAT'S TWO TO YOUR LINE IS OPEN.
THE WAR IN COMMITTEE CHAIR AND
COMMITTEE. MY NAME IS JULIA
DELEON, RIVERSIDE COUNTY
SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT AND ON
BEHALF OF THE DEPARTMENT OF
SHERIFF KATHY. UNCLE, WE
STRONGLY OPPOSE THE BILL. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND
MADAM CHAIR THAT WAS THE ONLY
ONE IN QUEUE FOR OPPOSITION AT
THIS TIME. VERY GOOD. UM, THAT
CONCLUDES, OUR OPPOSITION WILL
BRING THE MATTER BACK TO THE
COMMITTEE, SENATOR WIENER. MM.
THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I WANT
TO THANK THE AUTHOR FOR BRINGING
THIS FORWARD. THIS IS LONG, LONG
OVERDUE, AND I'D LIKE TO BE
ADDED AS A CO AUTHOR. IF YOU'LL
HAVE ME. UM IT'S JUST THIS IS A
RELIC. OF THE PAST WHEN SHERIFFS
WERE AUTOMATICALLY CORONERS AND
, UH, YOU KNOW, IT MAKES NO
SENSE TO HAVE THE TWO OF THEM
TOGETHER, AND PARTICULARLY, WE
KNOW, AND I AROUND A BILL TO TRY
TO CHANGE THIS A FEW YEARS AGO
THAT FOR THE LAST 30 PLUS YEARS
WE ONLY ALLOW LAW ENFORCEMENT
OFFICERS TO RUN FOR SHERIFF. I
TRIED TO CHANGE THAT TO GO BACK
TO THE WAY IT WAS FOR 100 AND 40
YEARS IN CALIFORNIA, WHERE
ANYONE COULD RUN FOR SHERIFF,
BUT THE SHERIFF'S AFTER SAN
FRANCISCO ELECTED A NON POLICE
OFFICER, A SHERIFF IN 1979 2
SHERIFF'S FREAKED OUT AND
DECIDED TO CORNER THE MARKET AND
HAS TO BILL AND GOT THE
LEGISLATURE TO PASS A BILL IN
THE EIGHTIES TO MAKE IT SO THAT
ONLY LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS
WERE ELIGIBLE TO RUN FOR
SHERIFF, AND THAT'S CAUSED ALL
SORTS OF DISTORTIONS. HOT IN
TERMS OF NOT HAVING A REALLY
GOOD BROAD CANADA POOL FOR THIS
INCREDIBLY POWERFUL POSITION,
AND SO WE HAVE A POSITION THAT
ONLY A TINY PERCENT MICROSCOPIC
PERCENT OF THE POPULATION. IS
EVEN ELIGIBLE TO RUN FOR AND
THEN YOU TAKE A MEDICAL FUNCTION
AND ENVELOPE IT INTO THAT ROLE
THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT ROLE WE'LL
FIND IF YOU WANTED TO BE ONLY
LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS WHO CAN
RUN FOR SHERIFF. I DISAGREE WITH
THAT. BUT IF THAT'S WHAT THE
SHERIFF'S ONE THEY GOT IN THEIR
WAY SO FAR, BILL DIED. UM YOU
DON'T. YOU SHOULDN'T BE
AUTOMATICALLY PERFORMING THIS
MEDICAL FUNCTION AND THE MEDICAL
EXAMINER APPROACHES A MUCH MORE
PROFESSIONAL WAY OF DEALING WITH
THIS BOTH IN THE POLICE
SHOOTING. CONTEXT AND HAVING
THAT OBJECTIVITY BUT IN OTHER
CONTEXT AS WELL. SO AGAIN. THIS
IS LONGER WE DO AND I COMMEND
YOU FOR BRINGING THIS AND I'M
HAPPY TO MOVE THE BILL. DO HAVE
EMOTION, OTHER COMMENTS,
QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS. ANYONE.
UM. ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S HAD LONG A
LONG DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS
REALLY APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING
THIS THIS FORWARD. UM AYE. I'M
SUPPORTING THE BILL AND IT GETS
I AGREE WITH MY COLLEAGUE. I
THINK IT'S LONG OVERDUE. WHAT
ULTIMATELY. HAVING INDEPENDENT
EYES ON QUESTIONABLE AH, OR
DEATHS THAT OCCUR. WHEN AN
INDIVIDUAL IS IN POLICE CUSTODY,
OR OR OR ATTRIBUTABLE, AT LEAST
TO SOME POLICE CONTACTED IS
REALLY IMPORTANT TO HAVE SOMEONE
ELSE OVERSEEING IT, AND, UM, THE
MORE YOU CAN GIVE FLEXIBILITY TO
COUNTIES TO DETERMINE HOW THAT
THAT CAN HAPPEN WITHIN UM,
WITHIN THEIR BUDGETS, IT WOULD.
IT WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED
. I AGREED TO THE AMENDMENTS
THAT THAT YOU'VE TAKEN UP TO
THIS POINT, UM, PARTLY BECAUSE
WE HAVE SOME COUNTIES THAT ARE
PRETTY ISOLATED, AND THEY'RE
VERY FEW RESIDENTS IN IN, UM IN
THOSE COUNTIES AND SO THEIR
THEIR REVENUE SOURCES NOT, UM,
LIKE THE MORE URBAN AND LARGER
COUNTY, SO OR LARGER IN
POPULATION. SO UM, I THINK THAT
WAS BROUGHT UP BY C. SECOND, THE
SHERIFF'S ASSOCIATION. I HAVE
DEEP RESPECT FOR WHAT THEY TRY
TO DO WITH VERY LIMITED FUNDS.
AND SO JUST ASK YOUR
CONSIDERATION. IT'S NOT, UH,
IT'S NOT A RECOMMENDED IT'S NOT
A CONSISTENT HERE IN THIS
COMMITTEE, BUT BUT YOU'LL HAVE
AN OPPORTUNITY TO COLLECT A
LITTLE BIT MORE ON THAT AND SO
TO GIVE THEM THAT FLEXIBILITY AS
LONG AS IT'S SOMEONE OUTSIDE OF
THEIR, UM, THEIR CONTROL. I
ABSOLUTELY AGREED WITH THE
TESTIMONY ABOUT OBJECTIVITY,
ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY
. THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE WORKING
TOWARDS. AND I REALLY I REALLY
APPRECIATE THAT SO I WILL BE
SUPPORTING IT TODAY AND THANK
YOU FOR THE DISCUSSION AND FOR
TAKING SOME OF THE AMENDMENTS AS
WELL. WILL ALLOW YOU TO
CONCLUDE. FIRST OF ALL, MADAM
CHAIR. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
YOUR COMMENTS. I APPRECIATE THE
ROBUST CONVERSATION AND THOSE
WHO EVEN SPOKEN OPPOSITION AND
MY COMMITMENT TO YOU. THIS BILL
MOVES TO THE SENATE PUBLIC
SAFETY. UM I'M HOPING TO STILL
WORK WITH JONATHAN, YOUR
CONSULTANT AND PUBLIC SAFETY
CONSULTANT AND THE OPPOSITION TO
BE QUITE FRANK TO SEE IF THEY
CAN REMOVE THEIR TOTAL
OPPOSITIONS AND MOVE THEM TO UH
, AT LEAST A NEUTRAL POSITION,
AND THAT'S MY COMMITMENT I WOULD
, EVEN AFTER WE CONCLUDE HERE
TODAY IS TRY TO REACH OUT TO
THOSE WHO ARE IN PERSON TO SEE
IF WE CAN HAVE A MEETING SO WE
CAN SEE HOW WE CAN MOVE FORWARD
TO TRY TO MAKE SURE THERE'S BEEN
THIS BILL'S PURPOSES DEALING
WITH TRANSPARENCY. AND WE
BELIEVE WHAT HAS TRANSPIRED OVER
ALL OVER CALIFORNIA ALL OVER THE
COUNTRY. IS THAT THE POP THE
PUBLIC ABSOLUTELY DEMAND
TRANSPARENCY. WE HAVE A FAMILY
WHO IS MOURNING THE LOSS OF
THEIR SON. AND USING A TERM THAT
HAS BEEN DEBUNKED AND REJECTED
BY THE MEDICAL ASSOCIATIONS, THE
WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION. WE
SHOULD NOT BE USING IT, SO IT
GIVES CREDENCE TO THE IMPORTANCE
OF THIS PARTICULAR BILL. SIMILAR
BILLS 16 OH, EIGHT, SO THAT WE
CAN MAKE SURE THAT WHEN OUR
LOVED ONES ARE ENTRUSTED WITH
GOING THROUGH A CORONER'S OFFICE
IN THE MEDICAL EXAMINER'S OFFICE
WHEN THEY FIXED THE CAUSE OF
DEATH. THAT IS ACTUALLY THE
CAUSE OF DEATH. AND IT'S NOT
SOMETHING THAT IS, UM NOT
ACCEPTED BY THE HEALTH, WORLD
ORGANIZATION AND OTHERS. AND SO
WE JUST WANT TRANSPARENCY. UM
AND JUSTICE IN THIS REGARDING
ASKED ABSOLUTELY, UM I WOULD
LOVE TO HAVE AN I VOTE IN
SUPPORT OF THIS BILL. 16. OH,
EIGHT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S THE
ASSEMBLY MEMBER WILL ACCEPT.
SOME AMENDMENTS AND IT WILL TAKE
THEM IN PUBLIC SAFETY. SO THE
MOTION TODAY IS DO BETTER DO
PASS AND RE REFERRED TO THE
COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY.
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. SENATORS
COPY ETO ETO I NIELSEN. NIELSEN
NÓ. DURAZO DURAZO HERTZBERG.
WINNER WINNER. AYE. 321. 321
WE'LL PUT THAT ON CALL FOR THE
LAST REMAINING MEMBER TO VOTE AS
WELL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S WICKS WALKED
IN. WORK CLOSE TO THE END OF THE
AGENDA IF WE COULD GET SENATOR
HERTZBERG MOVE IN OUR DIRECTION
AT SOME POINT WELCOME. GOOD
MORNING, MADAM CHAIR AND MEMBERS
OF THE COMMITTEE. I AM PLEASED
TO BE PRESENTING A B. 2021
AUTHOR SPONSORED MEASURE TO MAKE
IT EASIER FOR NONPROFITS AND
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO ACCESS THE
CHAPTER EIGHT. TAX DEFAULT
PROPERTY SALES PROCESS. AS WE
HONOR THE STATE IS FACING A DIRE
HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS, CRISIS
AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS OUT OF
REACH. FOR FAR TOO MANY
CALIFORNIANS. THE CHAPTER EIGHT
SALES PROCESSES ONE EXISTING
TOOL THAT PRIORITIZES AFFORDABLE
HOUSING ON PROPERTY THAT IS
ELIGIBLE TO BE SOLD DUE TO
UNPAID PROPERTY TAXES. BUT RIGHT
NOW, NONPROFITS AND LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS ARE OFTEN UNAWARE OF
HOW TO IDENTIFY WHAT PROPERTIES
MIGHT BE ELIGIBLE. THE BILL
REQUIRES COUNTY TAX COLLECTORS
TO PROVIDE UNIFORM INFORMATION
ON THEIR WEBSITE. ON HOW TO
OBTAIN INFORMATION ON WHICH
PROPERTIES ARE SUBJECT TO THE
POWER TO THE POWER TO SELL.
ADDITIONALLY A B 2021 REQUIRES
THE STATE COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE
TO POST PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE DATA
ON STATEWIDE TRENDS. IN CHAPTER
EIGHT SALES AGREEMENTS, JUST AS
THERE IS NO SINGLE CAUSE TO THE
HOUSING CRISIS. THERE IS ALSO NO
SINGLE SOLUTION, WHILE THE
CHAPTER EIGHT SALES TAX PROCESS
HASN'T BEEN WIDELY USED TO DATE
, THIS BILL MAKES MODEST CHANGES
THAT CAN LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD
AND MAKE IT EASIER. TO BE USED,
MOVING FORWARD. I'M JOINED TODAY
BY TWO WITNESSES MARKS DIVERS
FROM THE CALIFORNIA HOUSING
PARTNERSHIP COOPERATION AND HANK
LEVY, TREASURY TAX COLLECTOR FOR
ALAMEDA COUNTY, JOINING VIA
PHONE AND RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR
MY VOTE. VERY GOOD. WELCOME
MARKS DIVERS WITH THE CALIFORNIA
HOUSING PARTNERSHIP. THE TAX.
THE TAX DEFAULTED PROPERTY SALE
PROCESS IS ALREADY PROVIDES
PRIORITY FOR SELLING THOSE
PROPERTIES TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING
DEVELOPERS, AND THAT REPRESENTS
A GREAT SOURCE OF LAND FOR
MEETING OUR STATE'S HOUSING
NEEDS. WE ALL KNOW THE DIRE,
AFFORDABLE HOUSING CRISIS THAT
WE SUFFER. THE PROBLEM IS, IF
IT'S AFFORDABLE HOUSING
DEVELOPERS DON'T KNOW ABOUT
THOSE TACKS. SELL PROPERTIES.
THE WHOLE PROCESS SORT OF BREAKS
DOWN. SO THIS BILL IS A VERY
COMMON SENSE MEASURE THAT JUST
MAKE SURE THAT THE AFFORDABLE
HOUSING DEVELOPERS CAN HAVE
ACCESS TO THE TAX SALE
PROPERTIES AND THEN WE'LL BE
POSITION TO UTILIZE THEM FOR THE
INTENDED AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU
FOR YOUR TESTIMONY. WE'RE GOING
TO MOVE ON TO HANK LEVY, WHO IS
, UM, FROM THE ALAMEDA COUNTY
TREASURERS, TAX COLLECTOR, AND
HE IS ON THE PHONE. THANK YOU.
CHAIR MEMBERS. MY NAME IS HANK
LEVY. HENRI LEVY. TREASURY
ATTACK, COLLECT RIGHT? CLIENTS
OF YEARS. THE CHAPTER EIGHT CELL
PROCESS ALLOWS PUBLIC AGENCIES
AND NON PROFITS AND PURCHASE
TAX. DEFAULTED PROPERTIES FOR
AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND OTHER
PUBLIC USES. ONCE A PROPERTY HAS
BEEN TAXED, DEFAULTED FOR FIVE
YEARS AND BECOME SUBJECT TO THE
TAX COLLECTORS. POWER TO SELL IN
2021, WHO WILL ENSURE THAT EVERY
TAX COLLECTOR POST INFORMATION
ON THEIR WEBSITE DETAILING HOW
TO ACCESS THE LIST OF TAXES ON
TWO PROPERTIES THAT ARE
POTENTIALLY ELIGIBLE FOR CHAPTER
ITSELF. RIGHT NOW IT'S UP TO
EACH OF US 58 COUNTY TAX
COLLECTORS TO DECIDE WHETHER AND
HOW TO MAKE THIS INFORMATION
EASILY ACCESSIBLE AND,
UNFORTUNATELY LACK OF CLEAR
GUIDANCE ON HOW TO FIND ELIGIBLE
PROPERTIES SERVES AS A BARRIER
TO EXTEND THE USE OF CHAPTER
EIGHT SAL AGREEMENT. UH MAYBE
2021 REQUIRES A STATEMENT WILL
REQUIRE THE CONTROLLER TO REPORT
ANNUALLY ON THE NUMBER OF
CHAPTER AND TELL AGREEMENTS TYPE
. THIS CHANGE WILL ALLOW FOR
BETTER KNOWLEDGE SHARING BETWEEN
CARRIERS AND NONPROFITS. THE
WONDERS YOUR BEST PRACTICES FOR
EXTENDING THE USE OF CHAPTER
EIGHT CELLS. SOON AFTER I BECAME
YOUR TAX COLLECTOR. I
CONSUMMATED THE FINAL STEPS IN
TRANSFERRING 26 PARCELS IN THE
CITY OF OAKLAND TO A NON PROFIT
ORGANIZATION, WHICH LED TO THE
CREATION OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING
SUBJECT TO 30 YEARS DUE TO
RESTRICTION. A NUMBER OF THESE
PROPERTIES HAVE BEEN BUILT. AND
SOLD THE HOMEOWNERS WITH INCOMES
OF LESS THAN 120% OF AREA. BIG
INCOME. DIVERS WENT OPEN
SCHOOLTEACHER, SINGLE MOTHER
ABOUT A MONTH AGO, I ATTENDED A
GROUNDBREAKING OF THE UNIT
BUILDINGS BUILT ON SEVENTH
STREET IN WEST OAKLAND. THIS
PROPERTY HAD BEEN TRANSFERRED TO
THIS NONPROFIT BACK IN 2015.
SEVEN YEARS TO GET TO THE SPOKEN
AT LEAST SIX DIFFERENT NON
PATIENTS CAME UP TO ME AND TOLD
ME THEY WERE INTERESTED IN
LEARNING MORE ABOUT ACTUALLY
FAULTED. PROPERTY PROCESS AND
THEY DIDN'T KNOW HOW IT WORKS.
AS NONPROFITS SEEK TO PROVIDE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING. IT'S
IMPORTANT TO ENSURE THAT THEY
HAVE ACCESS TO THE INFORMATION
THAT THEY NEED TO BEGIN THE
PROCESS. THIS SPELL WILL HELP
PROVIDE UNIFORM DISCLOSURES. I
DON'T NONPROFITS CAN BEGIN TO
CHAPTER EIGHT ACQUISITION
PROCESS. ENCLOSING A B 2021 IS A
MODEST BUT IMPORTANT BILL, WHICH
WILL HELP PROVIDE TRANSPARENCY
AND INCREASED ACCESS TO THE
CHAPTER ITSELF PROCESS. I
RESPECTFULLY ASK YOU FOR YOUR I
VOTE AND I'M AVAILABLE FOR
QUESTIONS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
WE'RE GONNA SEE IF THERE'S
ANYBODY HERE IN ROOM 1 12 THAT
WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT
OF A B 2021. SAYING NO ONE WILL
MOVE TO THE TELECONFERENCE LINE.
MR MODERATOR, IF YOU COULD QUEUE
UP MEMBER INDIVIDUALS WHO WOULD
LIKE TO TESTIFY IN SUPPORT
CERTAINLY MADAM CHAIR IF YOU'D
LIKE TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF A B
2021, PLEASE PRESS ONE, THEN
ZERO AT THIS TIME. AND MADAM
CHAIR. WE JUST HAD ONE QUEUE UP.
PLEASE ALLOW A MOMENT FOR US TO
PROVIDE A LINE NUMBER.
MR MODERATOR, COULD YOU CHECK TO
SEE IF THERE'S ANYONE? ONCE
AGAIN, 10. IF YOU ARE IN SUPPORT
OF 2020 21, WE HAVE ONE IN CUBA
TO LINE NUMBER 56. THAT'S 56.
YOUR LINE IS OPEN. NEIGHBORING
NON PROFIT HOUSING STATION IN
CALIFORNIA. QUÊ THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. MAN SHARE THERE IS NO ONE
ELSE IN CUBA AND SUPPORT OF 2021
AT THIS TIME. VERY GOOD. WE'RE
GOING TO MOVE ON TO OPPOSITION.
WE HAD ONE LEAD OPPOSITION WITH
WITNESS, WHICH IS KARIN LANG
FROM THE CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION
OF COUNTY. TREASURER TAX
COLLECTOR. WELCOME THANK YOU,
MADAM. CHAIR AND MEMBERS, UH,
KAREN LAYING HERE AND REGRETFUL
OPPOSITION TO 2021. I WANTED TO
FIRST THANK THE AUTHOR AND HER
STAFF. FOR BEING INCREDIBLY
ENGAGED THIS ENTIRE TIME. I'M SO
SORRY. WE COULD NOT GET TO A
PLACE WHERE WE WERE COMFORTABLE.
THERE'S A FUNDAMENTAL OBJECTION
THAT MOST OF THE CHARGER TAX
COLLECTORS HAVE. TO EXPANDING
THE USE OF CHAPTER EIGHT SALES.
ESSENTIALLY THE. THE UNDERLYING
PREMISES. YOU'RE TAKING
SOMEONE'S HOME OR PROPERTY TO
TAX SALE. BUT IT'S A NEGOTIATED
SALE WORLD. THE ONLY THING THAT
IS CURED IS THE DEBT OWED TO THE
PUBLIC AGENCY. SO IF THERE'S ANY
EQUITY IN THAT PROPERTY WHEN YOU
SELL IT AT A CHAPTER EIGHT SALE,
THERE'S NO EQUITY REALIZED BY
THE OWNER WHO HAS LOST THEIR
PROPERTY TO ATTACK SALE. AND
THAT'S A VERY DIFFICULT
PROCEDURE FOR TAX COLLECTORS TO
GO TO GO THROUGH. I THINK
LOOKING AT SENATOR WIENER WHEN
WE'RE ENGAGING IN THIS
CONVERSATION WITH THE
ASSOCIATION IN SAN FRANCISCO,
THEY WAIT NINE YEARS TO TAKE
RESIDENTIAL HOMES TO SAIL
BECAUSE THEY DON'T THEY DON'T
WANT TO SELL PEOPLE'S HOMES OUT
FROM UNDER THEM, AND THAT'S IT'S
JUST FUNDAMENTALLY A HARD THING
TO DO. AND SO THE MEASURES
INTENDED TO EXPAND THE USE OF
CHAPTER EIGHT SALES FOR THAT
PURPOSE AND EVEN IF THE BILL
WERE TO BE ENACTED. I DON'T
THINK YOU WOULD SEE AN UPTICK.
IN THE NUMBER OF CHAPTER EIGHT
SALES THAT ARE CONDUCTED BECAUSE
THEY DON'T LIKE TO DO IT. THEY
REALLY TRY TO RESTORE THE
PROPERTY TO TAXPAYING STATUS
WITH THE OWNER AND WORKING WITH
THEM. THEY'VE SPONSORED
LEGISLATION TO TRY TO MAKE IT
EASIER FOR ELDERLY AND LOW
INCOME PEOPLE TO STAY IN THEIR
HOMES THROUGH PROGRAM
ADMINISTERED BY THE
COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE, FOR
EXAMPLE, UM SECONDLY, AS AWKWARD
AS IT IS THE ALAMEDA COUNTY
TREASURER. TAX COLLECTOR DOES
LIKE THIS BILL, AND HE HAS TRIED
TO DO MORE TOP GREAT SALES
LOCALLY AND WITH OR WITHOUT THIS
LEGISLATION, HE IS FREE TO
CONTINUE DOING THAT AND WORKING
TO REACH OUT TO THEIR THE
NONPROFITS AND HIS COMMUNITY TO
TRY TO DO THESE KINDS OF SALES,
AND THAT'S JUST PROJECT TO DO SO
. THE REST OF THE ASSOCIATION
MAYBE FAR LESS INCLINED TO DO IT
, EVEN IF THE BILL WERE TO PASS
, AND FINALLY THIS COMMITTEE DID
AS A FORMER MEMBER OF YOUR
COMMITTEE SENATOR MOORLACH
LEGISLATION, WHICH REQUIRED TAX
COLLECTORS TO ALREADY POST THE
POWER TO SELL LIST ON THEIR
WEBSITE BY VIRTUE OF THE FACT
THAT THEY HAVE TO PAY TO PUBLISH
THAT INFORMATION AND IN THE
NEWSPAPER UNDER CURRENT LAW. AND
SO TECHNICALLY, THAT LIST IS
SUPPOSED TO BE POSTED ON THEIR
WEBSITE, ALTHOUGH YOU WILL FIND
DISAGREEMENTS AMONGST THEM ABOUT
WHETHER OR NOT TO POST THE
ACTUAL LIST BECAUSE THERE COULD
BE A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER OR
A JUDGE. OR SOMEONE ELSE'S NAME
ON THAT LIST THAT SHOULDN'T BE
ON THE INTERNET BECAUSE YOU'RE
NOT SUPPOSED TO. WE'RE NOT
SUPPOSED TO PUBLISH THEIR NAME
AND HOME ADDRESS ON THE
INTERNET, SO SOME MAY NOT DO IT
FOR THAT REASON, AND THIS BILL
WOULD NOT CLARIFY THAT ONE WAY
OR THE OTHER. SO YOU DON'T THINK
YOU WOULD SEE UNIFORMITY WITH
RESPECT TO THAT LAW ANYWAY, AND
FURTHERMORE, THE COMMITTEE
ANALYSIS LAID OUT THE REST OF
IT, WHICH IS WE'RE NOT SURE
EXACTLY HOW MUCH BENEFIT THERE
WOULD BE, TOO. NONPROFITS AND
COMMUNITIES WERE TAX COLLECTORS
WOULD BE VERY DISINCLINED TO
INCREASE THEIR USE OF CHAPTER
EIGHT SALES. CHAPTER SEVEN SALES
ARE AWARE THE PROPERTY OWNER
WOULD BE ABLE TO RECOVER
WHATEVER EQUITY IS LEFT IN
THERE. THE PROPERTY AFTER THE
SALE, AND THAT I THINK IS THE
PREFERRED WAY TO DISPOSE OF
PROPERTIES THAT ARE NOT CURRENT
ON THEIR TAXES AND ARE SUBJECT
TO THE PART ITSELF. SO WE ARE
OPPOSED. I DON'T KNOW THAT WE'LL
EVER GET THERE. I APOLOGIZE TO
THE SENATOR OR THE ONLY WOMAN
SHE WORKED SO HARD. ON THE BILL
AND HERSELF WAS WONDERFUL. WE
JUST COULD NOT GET PAST THE
POLICY OBJECTION TO USING
CHAPTER EIGHT MORE. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. IS THERE
ANYONE ELSE IN ROOM 1 12 THAT
WOULD LIKE TO TESTIFY AND IN
OPPOSITION. SEEING THEN WE'LL GO
TO THE TELECONFERENCE LINE, MR
MODERATOR, IF YOU COULD QUEUE UP
INDIVIDUALS THAT WANT TO TESTIFY
IN OPPOSITION TO A B 2021
CERTAINLY, MADAM. SURE IF YOU'D
LIKE TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION TO A
B 2021 PLEASE PRESS 10 AT THIS
TIME. MADAM CHAIR. THERE IS NO
ONE KILLING UP IN OPPOSITION TO
A B 2021 AT THIS TIME. VERY GOOD
. WE'RE GOING TO BRING THAT THAT
CONCLUDES OUR TESTIMONY AND
OPPOSITION. BRING THIS BACK TO
COMMITTEE FOR QUESTIONS,
COMMENTS CONCERNS ANYONE. MY
ONLY I'M GOING TO SUPPORT IT
TODAY. BUT I DO HAVE TO SAY
THAT, UM, MISS LANE YOUR
COMMENTS ON BEHALF OF THE
ASSOCIATION WHERE WERE
COMPELLING NONE OF US WANT HOMES
SOLD OUT FROM UNDER UM
INDIVIDUALS, PARTICULARLY THE
ELDER, ELDERLY, DISABLED. UM,
WELL, ACTUALLY, FROM ANYBODY
REALLY FOR A TAX SALE, BUT, UM,
I THINK WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO
IS TO STRIKE A BALANCE BETWEEN
HAVING TO DO THAT KIND OF A
PROCEDURE AND THEN TRYING TO
MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE IN THE
COMMUNITY, UM THROUGH NON PROFIT
ORGANIZATIONS, GET ADVISED OF
THE INFORMATION AND CAN, UM
BETTER MOVE IN AND HOPEFULLY
PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A
FIRST TIME HOMEBUYER TO ACTUALLY
BE ABLE TO PURCHASE THE HOME. SO
UM, I AM GOING TO BE SUPPORTING
IT TODAY. AND I, UM AT THE
APPROPRIATE WE'LL TAKE A MOTION
RIGHT NOW, BUT WILL ALLOW ALLOW
YOU TO CONCLUDE AND MAYBE
ANSWERED THAT TOUGH QUESTIONS
THAT IT'S POSED BY THE TREASURER
. TAX COLLECTORS. UM I ALSO
APPRECIATE THE ONGOING
CONVERSATIONS WITH OPPOSITION.
THIS DOESN'T CHANGE THE PROCESS
BY WHICH THIS HAPPENS. JUST
PROVIDES INFORMATION. BECAUSE WE
DO KNOW THAT THERE ARE YOU KNOW
THOUSANDS OF TAX DEFAULT
PROPERTIES THAT ARE ELIGIBLE,
AND THE WHOLE GOAL OF THIS IS TO
GET MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING OUT
THERE. NOT TO UNDERMINE ANYONE
WHO MAY HAVE YOU KNOW HAS AN
ABILITY AFTER YEARS, UM TO PAY
THEIR TAX LEANS OR WHATNOT. UM,
BUT YOU KNOW, WE'RE SITTING ON A
LOT OF PROPERTY. WE JUST WANT TO
MAKE SURE WE CAN GET THAT OUT TO
CREATE MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
BUT AGAIN, IT DOESN'T CHANGE THE
PROCESS BY WHICH THAT HAPPENS.
THERE'S STILL THE VARIOUS
GUARDRAILS AND PROTECTIONS FOR
THAT. IT'S JUST TO GET MORE
INFORMATION OUT TO FOLKS WHO CAN
USE IT TO CREATE MORE HOUSING.
YEP BUT I WILL GLADLY KEEP
TALKING WITH OPPOSITION. OF
COURSE, RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOU
VERY MUCH IS THEIR EMOTION.
SENATOR DURAZO MOVES THE BILL.
THE MOTION IS DO PASS AND RE
REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON
APPROPRIATIONS. PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL. THE NOTORIOUS QUÊ VIETTO
NIELSEN. DURAZO DURAZO,
HERTZBERG WINNER. WIENER? AYE. 3
TO 0 VOTE HAS THE BILL HAS THREE
VOTES WILL KEEP IT OPEN FOR THE
LAST REMAINING MEMBER. SENATOR
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S RUBIO, YOU ARE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE.
APPRECIATE IT. AND WE'RE TAKING
A FILE ITEM NUMBER 13, WHICH IS
A B 24 49. THANK YOU, MADAM
CHAIR AND SENATORS. I WANT TO
BEGIN BY ACCEPTING THE COMMITTEE
AMENDMENTS AND THANKING THE
CHAIR AND THE COMMITTEE FOR
THEIR GUIDANCE. AND THEY'RE
REALLY, REALLY HARD WORK ON THIS
BILL. I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT A
B 24 49 IS BEFORE YOU AFTER TWO
YEARS OF DISCUSSIONS. AND
LESSONS LEARNED THROUGH THE
PANDEMIC, WHICH WE HOPE HAS LED
US TO A MODEST MODERNIZATION OF
THE BROWN ACT AND RESPONSE TO
NECESSITY THROUGH THE PANDEMIC.
THE USE OF REMOTE PARTICIPATION
BY BOTH LOCAL REPRESENTATIVES.
AND THEIR CONSTITUENTS
DEMONSTRATED A NOVEL OPPORTUNITY
TO REVIEW THE FUNDAMENTAL WAY.
OUR LOCAL BODIES MEET REMOTE
TESTIMONY, TELECONFERENCING AND
WEBCASTING ALLOWED ACCESS FOR
THE PUBLIC TO THEIR LOCAL
REPRESENTATIVES WHEN THEY
OTHERWISE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN 83
61 AREVA'S OF LAST YEAR,
CODIFIED THE VALUE OF REMOTE
TESTIMONY AND EMERGENCIES AND
DEMONSTRATED THE BENEFITS OF
PERMITTING REMOTE PARTICIPATION
AS MANDATED. UNFORTUNATELY THERE
IS STILL UNIQUE CIRCUMSTANCES
THAT MAY PREVENT A MEMBER FROM
PARTICIPATING IN PERSON THAT MAY
FALL OUTSIDE OF AN EMERGENCY IN
WHICH THEY MAY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO
PARTICIPATE VIA AUDIOVISUAL
MEANS. A B 24 49 WILL PERMIT A
MEMBER OF THE LOCAL BODY TO
PARTICIPATE IN A BROWN ACT
MEETING REMOTELY WITHOUT POSTING
THEIR LOCATION PUBLICLY IN
CIRCUMSTANCES THAT MAY BE
INAPPROPRIATE OR UNREALISTIC. IN
ORDER TO UTILIZE THIS
FLEXIBILITY, A SPECIFIC SET OF
LIMITATIONS AND TRANSPORT
PARENTS. GUARDRAIL MUST BE MET
BEFORE THE MEMBER CAN
PARTICIPATE. THIS INCLUDES AND
THIS WAS REALLY CRITICAL TO THE
BILL. THIS INCLUDES AN IN PERSON
QUORUM AT THE REGULARLY POSTED
LOCATION. PUBLIC REMOTE ACCESS.
IF A MEMBER OF THE BODY USES
THIS FLEXIBILITY DISCLOSURES AT
THE TIME OF MEETING SPECIFIC
CIRCUMSTANCES WHERE THIS
FLEXIBILITY CAN BE USED, AMONG
MANY OTHERS. I WANT TO BE CLEAR
. OUR INTENT WITH THIS MEASURE
IS TO AFFORD LOCAL
REPRESENTATIVES, A MODERN AND
MODEST DEGREE OF FLEXIBILITY
WHILE RETAINING THE REQUIREMENT
TO SERVE THEIR CONSTITUENTS.
THIS MEASURE STILL ENSURES THE
PUBLIC CAN SEE. HEAR AND ENGAGE
THE REPRESENTATIVES THROUGH
MODERN AVENUES, WHICH ALSO
SAFEGUARD THE PUBLIC'S DESIRE
FOR AN IN PERSON MEETING. IN
PERSON MEDIUM OF THE BODY
THROUGH WHICH TRADITIONAL
PARTICIPATION IS RETAINED. WE
HAVE FOLLOWED THROUGH ON OUR
COMMITMENTS FROM OUR HEARINGS IN
THE ASSEMBLY LOCAL GOVERNMENT TO
INCLUDE SEVERAL GUARDRAILS IN
THIS MEASURE. IN COORDINATION
WITH THE OPPOSED UNLESS AMENDED
. COALITION STAKEHOLDERS HAVE
PLAYED A CRITICAL ROLE IN ADDING
PROVISIONS TO THIS MEASURE THAT
WOULD PREVENT ABUSE AND PRESERVE
THE INTENT OF THE BROWN ACT. I
WANT TO THANK THE COALITION,
INCLUDING THOSE SPEAKING IN
OPPOSITION TODAY FOR THEIR
INSIGHT AND COOPERATION WITH US
TO IMPROVE THIS MEASURE, AND I
HOPE WE HAVE CONTINUED TO
DEMONSTRATE OUR COMMITMENT. TO
ENSURING THE TRANSPARENCY OF THE
BROWN NECK IS RETAINED. CONCERNS
RAISED REGARDING SECTION H OF
THIS MEASURE WERE ADDRESSED,
ADDRESSED BY STRIKING CROSS
REFERENCES. IN OUR AUTHOR AMENDS
. I WELCOME ADDITIONAL DIALOGUE
FROM THE SMALL COALITION THAT
CAME IN JUST LAST WEEK TO SEE
HOW WE CAN FURTHER ADDRESS THEIR
CONCERNS, BUT TO OUR
UNDERSTANDING, REMOVING THE
CROSS REFERENCE FROM SECTION H
HAS BEEN SUFFICIENT IN MY STAFF.
NOR MYSELF HAVE RECEIVED REASON
, REASONING. OTHERWISE
ADDITIONALLY, I WANT TO THANK
THE CHAIR FOR HER INSIGHT AND
GUIDANCE, PLACING SEVERAL
PROVISIONS TO FURTHER TIGHTEN
THE CIRCUMSTANCES AND THE AMOUNT
F TIME MEMBERS OF A LOCAL BODY
CAN USE THIS FLEXIBILITY. THE
AMENDS INCLUDES SEVERAL
LIMITATIONS THAT WE FEEL IS IN
LINE WITH OUR GOAL OF MODEST
MODERNIZATION OF THE BROWN ACT,
BUT ALSO RECOGNIZING THE
IMPORTANCE OF THE IN PERSON
MEETINGS. I BELIEVE A B 24 49
RETAINS THE SPIRIT OF THE BROWN
ACT WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY OPENING
THE DOOR TO CONSTITUENTS, THEY
MAY HAVE NOT CONSIDERED
PARTICIPATING IN THEIR LOCAL
BODIES. BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF
FLEXIBILITY TODAY WITH ME IS
JODI ROBERTO, PRESIDENT OF THE
THREE VALLEYS MUNICIPAL WATER
DISTRICT, AS WELL AS CHRIS
ANDERSON ON THE PHONE ON BEHALF
OF AQUA. THANK YOU. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. WELL, UM. WE HAVE 11
PERSON IN ONE OF THE LEAD
WITNESSES IN PERSON, SO WE'D
LIKE TO ASK YOU TO PLEASE COME
FORWARD JODI ROBERTO. WELCOME.
OUR DISTRICT HERE AND SUPPORTED
2449. I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE A
PERSONAL STORY WITH YOU. UM UH,
WHY? I THINK THIS BILL IS SO
IMPORTANT TO NOT ONLY ME, BUT
ALL PUBLIC OFFICIALS, ESPECIALLY
WOMEN. AND SOON AFTER I JOINED
THE BOARD OF THREE VALLEYS AND
2020. I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM A
MAN IN JAIL WHO PROFESSES LOVE
FOR ME AND ASKED FOR HELP AND
MONEY. UM, THAT WAS ALARMING TO
ME, UM AND KIND OF OPENED MY
EYES TO, UM TO SAFETY ISSUES.
YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU'RE IN PUBLIC
PUBLIC OFFICE, AND SO UM, I WAS
SURPRISED THAT CURRENT LAW
DOCTOR MANY YEARS AGO MANDATED
THAT IF YOU PARTICIPATE IN A
REMOTE MEETING, YOU HAVE TO
DISCLOSE THAT LOCATION AND MAKE
THAT LOCATION ACCESSIBLE. WOULD
THAT BE MY HOME WERE HOTEL ROOM
IF I'M TRAVELING ON BUSINESS AND. YOU KNOW, AS I SAID, IT'S VERY
HORRIFYING AND MADE ME QUESTION
. UM YOU KNOW IF IT WAS WORTH MY
SAFETY BEING IN THIS POSITION SO
AND I'M SURE OTHER ELECTED
OFFICIALS AND I ACTUALLY NO
OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS WHO HAVE
HAD EXACTLY THE SAME EXPERIENCE
THAT I'VE I'VE EXPERIENCE AND
FEAR. ADDITIONALLY WOMEN ARE
OFTEN THE CARETAKERS OF THEIR
FAMILIES. NOT ONLY OTHER
CHILDREN, GRANDCHILDREN, BUT
POSSIBLY SPOUSES OR THEIR LOVED
ONES. AND SO THIS DOES GIVE AN
OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR
FAMILY AND AT THE SAME TIME
STILL PARTICIPATE IN REMOTE
MEETINGS. AND SAID THIS LIMITED
HOT HYBRID APPROACH PROVIDES
THAT PEACE OF MIND OF PUBLIC
OFFICIALS THAT ARE TRYING TO
BALANCE BOTH PUBLIC SERVICE AND
HEALTH AND SAFETY OF THEMSELVES
AND THEIR FAMILIES. FOR ALL
THESE REASONS, I ASK FOR YOUR
SUPPORT OF ABBEY 2449. THANK YOU
FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. THE NEXT, UM. LEAD WITNESS
IS CHRISTOPHER ANDERSON, WHO IS
AVAILABLE BY PHONE. HE'S FROM
THE ASSOCIATION OF CALIFORNIA
WATER AGENCIES. MADAM CHAIR.
I'LL BE TESTIFYING IN YOUR HERE
MATERIALIZED WELCOME. THANK YOU.
AND GOOD MORNING, CHRIS ANDERSON
ON BEHALF ASSOCIATION OF
CALIFORNIA WATER AGENCIES
REPRESENT 460 PUBLIC WATER
AGENCIES SUBJECT TO THE BROWN
ACT AND SUPPORTED THE BILL. UM A
B 2449 WILL PROVIDE A LIMITED
OPTION FOR LOCAL AGENCIES TO
CONTINUE TO UTILIZE
TELECONFERENCING. TO ADDRESS
UNIQUE SITUATIONS IN THE FUTURE
. EXISTING LAW ALLOWS FOR THE
ENTIRE MEETING TO BE CONDUCTED
VIA TELECONFERENCE. IF THERE'S
AN EMERGENCY, HOWEVER, WE
BELIEVE THERE NEEDS TO BE
FLEXIBILITY TO THIS HYBRID
APPROACH. F AND MAJORITY OF THE
BOARD CAN MEET IN PERSON, BUT
ONLY ONE OR TWO MEMBERS NEED TO
MEET NEED TO MEET VIA
TELECONFERENCE THAT WILL BE
POSSIBLE WITH THIS BILL. UH
MEDICAL COMMUNITY HAS WARNED US
THAT THERE WILL BE WE ARE GOING
TO BE DEALING WITH DIFFERENT
LEVELS OF COVID FOR A FEW YEARS.
PEOPLE HAVE SYMPTOMS OR CHILD
THAT HAS BEEN EXPOSED THAT WE
REQUIRE THEM TO ISOLATE AND NOT
ATTEND PUBLIC MEETING IN PERSON
. ADDITIONALLY, BEYOND COVID,
THERE ARE MANY OTHER CONDITIONS
WHICH REQUIRE A PERSON OR
PARENTS TO PARTICIPATE. VIA
TELECONFERENCE IN ORDER TO
CONTINUE THE PEOPLE'S BUSINESS.
WE NEED FLEXIBILITY WHILE STILL
PROVIDING PUBLIC ACCESS. UM
IMPORTANTLY, A B 2449 CONTAINS
SEVERAL GUARD RAILS, WHICH LIMIT
THE SCOPE OF THE BILL. FORM OF
THE BOARD MUST BE PRESENT IN
PERSON. THE IMPERSONAL LOCATION
MUST BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
PUBLIC ALSO MUST BE MUST ALSO BE
PROVIDED WITH THE OPTION OF
PARTICIPATED VIA TELECONFERENCE
AND PUBLIC OFFICIALS MUST
PARTICIPATE OVER AN AUDIO AND
VIDEO PLATFORM. UM THESE
PROTECTIONS WILL ALLOW A HYBRID
APPROACH AND LIMITED SITUATIONS
. SO FOR THESE REASONS, WE ASK
FOR YOUR SUPPORT. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ANYONE WHO
WOULD LIKE TO TESTIFY AND
SUPPORT. PLEASE COME FORWARD.
THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR MEMBERS,
ROSS BUCKLEY O BEHALF OF SOUTH
COAST AIR QUALITY MANAGEMENT
DISTRICT. WE'VE TAKEN AN INTERIM
, SUPPORTIVE, FERMENTED POSITION
AND LOOK FORWARD TO THOSE
CONVERSATIONS. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. GOOD MORNING AGAIN. HAPPY
TO GET TO SUPPORT SOMETHING.
FINALLY CARON LING OF THE SOLANO
COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND
SUPPORT THIS MORNING. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. GOOD
MORNING, JONATHAN CLAIRE ON
BEHALF OF METROPOLITAN WATER
DISTRICT IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
AND SUPPORT. GOOD MORNING, MADAM
CHAIR MEMBERS, BETH, ALAS, ON
BEHALF OF THE INLAND EMPIRE
UTILITIES AGENCY AND CUCAMONGA
VALLEY WATER DISTRICT AND
SUPPORT IS THERE ANYONE ELSE
THAT WOULD LIKE TO TESTIFY AND
SUPPORT HERE IN THE ROOM? SEEING
NONE WILL GO TO THE
TELECONFERENCE LINE AND ASKED IF
THERE IS ANYBODY ON THE
TELECONFERENCE LINE THAT WOULD
LIKE TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF A B
24 49. IF YOU WISH TO SPEAK IN
SUPPORT OF A B 24 49, PLEASE
PRESS 10 AT THIS TIME WE DO HAVE
ONE IN Q WILL GO TO LINE NUMBER
21. THAT'S 21. YOUR LINE IS
OPEN. MORNING SHARON MEMBERS
HORWITZ, LOS ANGELES UNIFIED
SCHOOL DISTRICT AND SUPPORT
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND MADAM
CHAIR. ONE MOMENT WE DO HAVE
ANOTHER ONE THAT'S CALLED
QUEUING UP LATE. WE'VE GOT A
LINE NUMBER 54. THAT'S 54. YOUR
LINE IS OPEN. HELLO MY NAME IS
MICHAEL AYALA AND I AM WITH FREE
GOVERNMENT RELATIONS I SENT IN
SUPPORT OF 80 24 49 ON BEHALF OF
OUR CLIENTS, CALIFORNIA CENTRAL
VALLEY THAT CONTROL ASSOCIATION.
THIS IS WHAT OUR AGENCIES DR.
GET HIM DISTRICT OF THE NORTH
VALLEY MUNICIPAL WATER DISTRICT
. PALMDALE WATER DISTRICT,
ROLAND WATER DISTRICT. SOLANO
COUNTY WATER AGENCY, VALLEY
COUNTY WATER DISTRICT. WALNUT
VALLEY WATER DISTRICT AND THE
WATER REPLENISHMENT DISTRICT OF
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND MADAM
CHAIR. THERE IS NO ONE ELSE IN Q
AT THIS TIME. VERY GOOD. WE'RE
NOW WE'RE GOING TO SWITCH TO THE
OPPOSITION. WE HAVE ONE LEAD.
OPPOSITION WITNESS RUTH DAWSON
FROM THE L U CALIFORNIA ACTION
WHO IS HERE IN PERSON? WELCOME
THANK YOU SO MUCH. GOOD MORNING.
CHAIR MEMBERS. ASSEMBLYWOMAN MY
NAME IS RUTH DAWSON WITH THE
CALIFORNIA ACTION. WE ALONG WITH
COALITION PARTNERS, THE
LEADERSHIP COUNCIL FOR JUSTICE
AND ACCOUNTABILITY, FIRST
AMENDMENT COALITION AND
CALIFORNIANS AWARE ARE ON RECORD
OPPOSING THIS BILL UNLESS
AMENDED. GOVERNMENT TRANSPARENCY
OR GOVERNMENT IN A DEMOCRACY
DEPENDS ON PUBLIC TRANSPARENCY
AND PUBLIC ACCOUNTABILITY FOR
ITS VERY VIABILITY. A RECENT
EDITORIAL IN THE SAN JOSE
MERCURY NEWS PAINTED A VIVID
PICTURE. QUOTE IN THE EARLY 19
FIFTIES, LOCAL ELECTED OFFICIALS
OFTEN CONDUCTED PUBLIC BUSINESS
IN PRIVATE MEMBERS OF THE CITY
COUNCIL, FOR EXAMPLE, WOULD HASH
OUT DECISIONS IN ADVANCE AND
THEN MERELY FORMALIZED THEM
OFTEN WITHOUT DISCUSSION AT AN
OPEN MEETING. NEWS REPORTS ON
THE SECRETIVE BEHAVIOR LET
ASSEMBLYMAN RALPH AND BROWN
AUTHOR CALIFORNIANS OPEN
CALIFORNIA'S OPEN MEETING
STATUTE FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
THE BROWN ACT SIGNED INTO LAW BY
GOVERNOR EARL WARREN IN 1953 HAS
REPEATEDLY BEEN AMENDED SINCE TO
ADDRESS UNANTICIPATED ISSUES AND
EVOLVING TECHNOLOGY. END QUOTE.
AS WRITTEN, MAYBE 2449 WOULD
FUNDAMENTALLY ALTER THE BROWN
ACT BY PROVIDING EXPRESS
AUTHORIZATION TO MEMBERS OF
LEGISLATIVE BODIES TO
TELECONFERENCE INTO PUBLIC
MEETINGS FROM PRIVATE LOCATIONS
NOT IDENTIFIED OR ACCESSIBLE TO
THE PUBLIC. ANYTIME WITHOUT A
COMPELLING REASON. WELL
TEMPORARY ACCOMMODATIONS MAY BE
NECESSARY, SUCH AS DURING THE
COVID 19 PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY
IS STILL ONGOING. THIS BILL
WOULD EXERCISE THE LONGSTANDING
DEMOCRATIC PROTECTION AFFORDED
BY REQUIRING THE ENTIRE
LEGISLATIVE BODY TO DIRECTLY
FACE THE PUBLIC. THE BOTTOM LINE
IS WE MUST BE MINDFUL BEFORE
MAKING SUBSTANTIAL CHANGES THE
LAWS THAT HAVE ENSURED DEMOCRACY
AT THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT LEVEL
FOR GENERATIONS NOW THAT SAID
THEY STILL YOU ALSO AGREES WITH
THIS IN AS A MERCURY NEWS THAT A
B 2449 COULD WITH AMENDMENT
PROVIDE A REASONABLE WAY FOR
PUBLIC REPRESENTATIVES TO USE
TODAY'S TECHNOLOGY TO
PARTICIPATE REMOTELY AND LIMITED
AND NECESSARY CIRCUMSTANCES. WE
VERY MUCH APPRECIATE BOTH THE
AUTHORS AND THE COMMITTEE'S
COMMITMENT AND IN ADDITION TO
THE CO SPONSORS OF THIS BILL TO
UPHOLDING THE CRUCIAL DEMOCRATIC
PRINCIPLES THAT THIS BILL WOULD
TOUCH UPON AND WE LOOK FORWARD
TO CONTINUING TO WORK TOGETHER
ON AMENDMENTS TO STRIKE A BETTER
BALANCE FOR OUR DEMOCRACY. THANK
YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH
. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE HERE IN
ROOM 1 12 THAT WOULD LIKE TO
TESTIFY IN OPPOSITION. YES.
THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR AND
MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE. SHARON
GONZALVES ON BEHALF OF THE CITY
CLERK'S ASSOCIATION OF
CALIFORNIA WITH AN OPPOSING LESS
AMENDED POSITION AND ALSO THE
CITIES OF CARLSBAD AND RANCHO
PALOS VERDE. IS THEY'RE LISTED
IN SUPPORTING YOUR COMMITTEE
ANALYSIS. BUT REGRETFULLY, BOTH
CITIES ARE IN THE PROCESS OF
REMOVING THEIR SUPPORT AND
CHANGING TO A NEUTRAL POSITION.
OR POSSIBLY AN OPPOSING LESS
AMENDED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. GOOD MORNING, MADAM
CHAIR AND MEMBERS ELIZABETH
ESPINOSA HERE THIS MORNING ON
BEHALF OF THE ASSOCIATION OF
CALIFORNIA HEALTHCARE DISTRICTS
, THE URBAN COUNTIES OF
CALIFORNIA AND THE ASSOCIATION
OF CALIFORNIA SCHOOL
ADMINISTRATORS, REGRETFULLY WITH
THE POSITION OF OPPOSING LAST
AMENDED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE
IN ROOM 1 12. SEEING NO ONE ELSE
WILL MOVE TO THE TELECONFERENCE
LINE AND ASK MR MODERATOR IF YOU
CAN QUEUE UP INDIVIDUALS THAT
WANT TO TESTIFY IN OPPOSITION TO
A B 24 49. CERTAINLY MADAM CHAIR
FROM WHICH TO SPEAK IN
OPPOSITION TO A B 24 49 PLEASE
PRESS 10 AT THIS TIME. AND WE DO
HAVE ONE QUEUING UP ONE MOMENT,
PLEASE. WHILE WE'VE RIGHT
ALIGNED NUMBER.
AND WE'LL GO TO LINE NUMBER 52.
THAT'S FIVE TO YOUR LINE IS
OPEN. JOHN AND TINA, CALIFORNIA
IT IS RESPECTFULLY IN A POSITION
OF POST ON THANK YOU. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. WE DO HAVE ONE MORE.
THAT IS QUEUING UP. ONE MOMENT,
PLEASE.
TO APOLOGIZE. MADAM CHAIR WILL
BE JUST ANOTHER MOMENT. WE'VE
GOT A LINE NUMBER 57. THAT'S 57.
YOUR LINE IS OPEN. GOOD MORNING,
CHRISTINA GALLAGHER ON BEHALF OF
THE COUNTY OF SANTA BARBARA
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS. WE ARE
OPPOSED TO MUSTER AMENDED. THANK
YOU. LIKE LEAVING THE CHAIR. AND
MADAM CHILLERS. NO ONE ELSE IN Q
AT THIS TIME, PLEASE CONTINUE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UM, THAT
CONCLUDES OUR OPPOSITION
TESTIMONY. I WANT TO BRING IT
BACK TO COMMITTEE FOR QUESTIONS,
COMMENTS CONCERNS ANYONE.
SENATOR RUSSELL THANK YOU. AS I
WAS READING, YOU KNOW, OUR, UM
SUMMARY OUR STAFFS BRIEFING ON
IT, AND I WENT THROUGH EACH
ISSUE AND I STARTED COMING UP
WITH QUESTIONS, YOU KNOW,
CONCERNS AND QUESTIONS. BUT THEN
I SAW ALL THE AMENDMENTS AND HOW
I THOUGHT THAT YOU WERE REALLY
SPECIFICALLY ADDRESSING. UM UH,
THOSE CONCERNS THAT I HAD, UM I
MEAN, I REALLY GOTTA HAND IT TO
YOU CAME UP WITH SOME REALLY
PRACTICAL BUT YET AT THE SAME
TIME SOME REALLY IMPORTANT
ISSUES WITH REGARDS TO YOU KNOW
THE PUBLIC TRANSPARENCY AND
THERE'S SO MANY ISSUES IN
DIFFERENT COMMITTEES THAT WE'VE
BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS. THERE'S
PRIVACY. THERE'S TECHNOLOGY.
THERE'S SO MANY THINGS. UM I
JUST WANT TO, UH, IF THE AUTHOR
WOULD MIND IF I ASK A QUESTION
OF ONE OF YOUR OPPOSITION JUST
TO HEAR ABSOLUTELY NO. THERE. IS
THAT. OKAY, OKAY. SO, UM, I
THINK THERE WAS A REPRESENTATIVE
FROM THE A C L U UM YEAH, IF YOU
COULD I MERELY CURIOUS BECAUSE I
FELT VERY COMFORTABLE WITH ALL
THE AMENDMENTS THAT YOU MADE
SOME. I'M CURIOUS AS TO SEE WHAT
IS STILL LEFT THAT, UM, YOU
BELIEVE STILL NEEDS TO BE
ADDRESSED. THANK YOU. SO WE
CURRENTLY HAVE AN OPPOSED
OPPOSED UNLESS AMENDED POSITION
BECAUSE THERE ARE SEVERAL JUST
DETAILS IN TERMS OF THE
DIFFERENT CATEGORIES IN
CIRCUMSTANCES IN WHICH PEOPLE
MEMBERS CAN HAVE FULL EXEMPTIONS
OR PARTIAL EXEMPTIONS FROM THE
REQUIREMENTS OF THE BILL. AND SO
WE ARE HOPEFUL THAT WE'LL BE
ABLE TO WORK THOSE OUT THE
REMAINDER OF SESSION. FOR
EXAMPLE, WE THINK THAT PEOPLE UM
WHAT DISABILITIES WHO NEED A
PERMANENT EXEMPTION, FOR EXAMPLE
, UM, SHOULD BE EXEMPT FROM THE
REQUIREMENTS OF THE BILL AND
OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES SUCH AS
CHILDCARE OR OTHER CAREGIVING
NEEDS. PHYSICAL EMERGENCY, LIKE
BREAKING ONE'S LEG THERE THAT
THAT'S KIND OF ANOTHER LEVEL OF
CATEGORY. UM AND IT REALLY IS
JUST THE DEVIL IS IN THE
DETAILS, AND WE'RE CONTINUING TO
WORK THOSE OUT AND BUILD BALANCE
KIND OF DISABILITY RIGHTS. UM,
WITH THE. INTEREST OF
TRANSPARENCY AND DEMOCRACY.
GREAT THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND
THANK YOU TO THE AUTHOR, UM, FOR
HAVING THIS KIND OF CONVERSATION
AGAIN. I GOTTA HAND IT TO YOU. I
THINK YOU DID A REALLY GOOD JOB
, AND I'M HOPING THAT YOU KEEP
IT OING TO SEE IF THERE ARE A
FEW MORE THINGS THAT CAN BE
ADDRESSED AND RESOLVED, SO I
WILL BE SUPPORTING THEM. VERY
GOOD. I APPRECIATE THAT. I
REALLY APPRECIATE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO WORK ON THIS
BILL. AND THANK YOU FOR, UM,
WORKING SO CLOSELY WITH THE
COMMITTEE. I SPENT 15 YEARS IN
LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND I KNOW YOU
. YOU SPENT A NUMBER OF YEARS AS
WELL. AND, UM WHAT I WAS
CONCERNED ABOUT. QUITE FRANKLY,
WAS. THERE WERE TIMES THAT WE
HAD VERY DIFFICULT MEETINGS IN
LOCAL GOVERNMENT, AND, UM I
WOULD SHARE THOSE MEETINGS AND
PEOPLE WERE ANGRY OR FRUSTRATED
OR UM, EXCITED ABOUT SOMETHING
UNTIL THEY COME TO TWO MEETINGS
AND, UM, IT WAS EASIER NOT TO BE
THERE, RIGHT? AND, UM, I DIDN'T
WANT THE TECHNOLOGY TO BE USED
AS A WAY FOR PEOPLE NOT TO HAVE
TO FACE THE PUBLIC BECAUSE IT'S
REALLY HARD TO SIT DOWN AND
ANGRY GROUP OF PEOPLE AND SAY I
SUPPORT THIS. UM AND SO, UM, WE
WORKED VERY, VERY HARD TO BE
ABLE TO TRY TO IDENTIFY UM THE
TESTIMONY FROM THE A C L U WAS
REALLY IT'S REALLY A PROPOSED.
IT'S REALLY DIFFICULT BECAUSE
YOU'RE TRYING TO ALLOW SOME AND
YET. UM AND PROTECT PROVIDE
PROTECTIONS, AS WAS ARTICULATED
BY ONE OF THE LEAD WITNESSES
WHEN YOU'VE HAD A THREAT, UM, IF
YOU HAVE TO DO SOMETHING
REMOTELY. YOU HAVE TO LIST WHERE
YOU'RE AT. AND THEY HAVE THE
RIGHT TO COME IN AND SEE YOU AS
YOU'RE DELIBERATING AND UM AND
PARTICIPATING IN THE MEETING,
AND SO IF WE'RE GOING TO CHANGE
THAT, THEN WHAT ARE THE WHAT ARE
THE CIRCUMSTANCES UNDER WHICH WE
CHANGE IT? AND HOW MANY TIMES
CAN YOU USE THAT, AND THE ISSUE
WITH DISABILITIES IS A HUGE
ISSUE. UM, I HAVE TO SAY IF
YOU'RE YOU KNOW, WE WANT PEOPLE
TO PARTICIPATE, BUT NOT TO USE
UM, A, UM, THE DISABILITY IS A
REASON FOR MISSING ALL THE
MEETINGS AND DOING IT REMOTELY.
I MEAN, I JUST THINK THAT THAT
THERE'S YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO
FACE THE PUBLIC NO MATTER WHAT,
AND IT'S NOT ALWAYS EASY, AND
SOMETIMES THE MEETINGS ARE
REALLY LONG AS WE HAVE AS WELL.
SO UM, I THINK I THINK THE BILL
STRIKES A GOOD BALANCE. UM AND I
REALLY APPRECIATE THE AUTHOR
BECAUSE WE WENT BACK AND FORTH
ON A NUMBER OF ISSUES AND TRIED
TO CRAFT IT SO THAT IT WORKS AND
YET AND THAT WE THAT
ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY
IS REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE
DO NEED THE PUBLIC TO SEE THAT
THEY CAN SHOW UP AT A MEETING
AND THAT WERE THERE AND THAT
WERE DELIBERATING. AND, UM AND
YOU KNOW, MAYBE ONE OF THE
TRANSPARENCY ISSUES THAT WE NEED
TO DEAL WITH. AT SOME POINT NOT
ON THIS BILL IS THAT EVERYBODY
HAS TO GIVE THEIR OPINION BEFORE
THEY VOTE ON ON AN ISSUE. I USED
TO DO IT. IN AT A COUNCIL
MEETING. I HAD EVERYBODY TALK
ABOUT WHAT? BECAUSE WHEN YOU YOU
HEAR LOTS OF TESTIMONY AND THEN
YOU HAVE NO CONVERSATION ABOUT
HOW YOU GOT TO YOUR DECISION
THAN PEOPLE THINK IT'S FIXED.
EVEN IF IT HAS NOT BEEN. IT'S
GOOD FOR PEOPLE TO HEAR. FROM
THE ELECTED. HERE'S MY THOUGHTS
ON THIS. HERE'S WHY I'M GOING TO
VOTE IN THIS IN THIS, UM THIS
MATTER, SO I APPRECIATE IT.
YOU'RE THE WORK AND THAT WILL
ALLOW YOU TO CONCLUDE.
ABSOLUTELY THANK YOU. SURE MADAM
CHAIR. I COULD JUST ADD ONE OF
THE OTHER CONVINCING FACTORS FOR
ME IS THE SUNSET. ON IT AND TO
MOVE THAT UP BECAUSE SO MANY OF
US ARE GOING TO BE GOING THROUGH
THIS. THE COMBINATION. THERE ARE
THINGS THAT ARE IMPACTING THIS
HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE
PANDEMIC EXISTED BEFORE AND
THERE'S A PANDEMIC AND THEN
THERE'S GOING THROUGH THE
PANDEMIC. AND WHERE ARE WE GOING
TO LAND? AND UM SO TO ME, THE
SUNSET OF GIVES US AN
OPPORTUNITY. SEE WHAT'S WORKED
AND WHAT HASN'T WORKED, AND I
THINK WE'RE ALL GOING TO, YOU
KNOW, RAISE OUR HANDS AND SAY
THAT'S A GREAT THING. THAT'S A
TERRIBLE THING TO BE ABLE TO
COME BACK AND SAY THIS IS SORT
OF OUR EVALUATION OF IT SO. YOU
MAKE IT CLEAR? SO YES. I REALLY
APPRECIATE IT. THERE IS, UH,
THIS IS MY SIXTH YEAR HERE, AND
I DID SPEND 20 YEARS AS A LOCAL
ELECTED OFFICIALS. I COMPLETELY
UNDERSTAND. NOTHING FIRES PEOPLE
UP LIKE A SCHOOL BOARD MEETING
WHERE PEOPLE YOU KNOW YOU'RE
TALKING ABOUT THEIR MOST
PRECIOUS COMMODITY, THEIR
CHILDREN AND YOU KNOW, I HEAR
WHAT YOU'RE SAYING. SENATOR
CABALLERO. UM FOR ME. THIS IS MY
SIXTH YEAR HERE AND NOW I MM.
MANY FEW BILLS REALLY TAKE, UM.
LITERALLY TWO YEARS TO COME TO
FRUITION. AND THIS ONE FOR ME
HAS BEEN THE ONE THAT, UM WE'VE
BEEN WORKING BOTH WITH THE
ASSEMBLY, LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN
THE SENATE, LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND
WITH THE OPPOSITION. I THINK
THAT WE FOUND A PLACE OF RESPECT
AND COLLABORATION. AND YOU KNOW,
EVEN SOME OF THOSE THAT WERE
STILL OPPOSED ARE STILL OPPOSED.
BUT I CAN GUARANTEE YOU THAT IF
YOU SPEAK TO THEM, THEY'LL TELL
YOU THAT I DID. EVERYTHING THAT
I COULD TO COME TO A BALANCE
WITH THEM. AND YOU KNOW, AT SOME
POINT, YOU KNOW WE'RE NOT GOING
TO AGREE ON EVERYTHING, SO I
REALLY APPRECIATE THEIR
WILLINGNESS TO COME TOGETHER
WITH ME. AND OF COURSE, THE
COMMITTEE AND THE CHAIRS. YOU
HAVE BEEN AMAZING BECAUSE YOU
KNOW, IN THE MIDDLE OF THE
NIGHT. STILL ON MONDAY NIGHT, I
WAS TRYING TO STILL TALK TO THE
SENATOR TO TRY AND FIGURE THIS
OUT. AND, YOU KNOW, APPRECIATE
THE COMMITTEES THAT YOU KNOW, WE
KNOW THAT YES, WERE AMAZING. BUT
OUR STAFF AND OUR COMMITTEE
STAFF IS THE ONE THAT REALLY HAS
TO GO THROUGH ALL OF THIS. SO I
WANT TO THANK MY STAFF AND YOUR
COMMITTEE STAFF FOR BRINGING US
TO THIS POINT THAT OBVIOUSLY WE
WILL CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION
BUT AGAIN UNDERSTANDING THAT AT
SOME POINT WE HAVE TO MOVE ON
AND FIGURE OUT HOW WE DO THIS.
THAT'S WHY THE SUNSET WAS IN
PLACE. THAT'S WHY ALL OF THOSE
GUARDRAILS WERE PUT IN PLACE SO
THAT YOU KNOW, WE CAN AT LEAST
GO THROUGH THIS NOW. AND IF IT
DOESN'T WORK, THEN YOU KNOW WE
CAN REVISIT LATER. BUT I CAN
TELL YOU THAT WITHOUT HESITATION
THAT WE DID EVERYTHING THAT WE
COULD POSSIBLY TO MAKE SURE THAT
THE OPPOSITION WAS HURT SO AND
WITH THAT, I RESPECTFULLY ASK
FOR AND I VOTE. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. THE AUTHOR WILL TAKE THE
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDED AMENDMENTS
IN JUDICIARY SO THE MOTION IS
DUE PASS. BUT FIRST WE RE
REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON
JUDICIARY. PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
SENATORS COPY ETO TOÀN NIELSEN.
NIELSEN. I DURAZO. TERRAZZO.
AYE, HERTZBERG. HERTZBERG
WIENER. WIENER I THANK YOU SO
MUCH ABOUT 5 TO 0.
CONGRATULATIONS. OKAY THAT
CONCLUDES OUR CALENDAR. WE'RE
GOING TO GO BACK AND, UM, MAKE
SURE THAT EVERYBODY HAS AN
OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE. SO LET'S
START WITH FILE ITEM NUMBER ONE.
WHICH IS A B 6 82. PLEASE CALL
THE ABSENT MEMBERS. MOTION IS
DUE PASSES AMENDED BUT FIRST
AMEND AND RE REFERRED. THE
COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS.
CURRENT VOTE IS 2 TO 0 SENATORS
NIELSEN. NIELSEN. NIELSEN NÓ
DURAZO. DURAZO. AYE, HERTZBERG.
HERTZBERG? AYE. 4 TO 1. THAT
BILL IS OUT FOR 21. WHY DON'T WE
TAKE UP THE CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS
? UM THEY ARE FILE ITEM NUMBER
235. 7, 12 AND 15. WE HAVE A
MOTION ON THAT WE'LL JUST CALL
THE ABSENT MEMBERS. THE MOTION
IS TO ADOPT THE CONSENT CALENDAR
. THE CURRENT VOTE IS 3 TO 0
SENATORS, DURAZO. DURAZO
HERZBERG HERZBERG. AYE. 5 TO 05
TO ZERO. THAT MOVES US SO LONG
TO FILE ITEM NUMBER SIX, WHICH
IS A B 16 8. OH I'M SORRY.
YOU'RE RIGHT. I'M JUST SKIPPED
RIGHT OVER THAT FILE. ITEM
NUMBER FOUR A. B 13 OH, SEVEN BY
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S ADVANTAGES.
PLEASE CALL THE ABSENT THAT ONE.
WE NEED EMOTION, CORRECT. THERE
IS A MOTION BY SENATOR WIENER.
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL MOTION IS
DUE PASS. BUT FIRST WE RE
REFERRED TO SKIM ITTY ON
APPROPRIATIONS. SENATORS COPY
ETO. VIETTO? AYE, NIELSEN.
NIELSEN NÓ DURAZO, DURAZO
HERTZBERG HERTZBERG? AYE,
WIENER. WIENER. THAT BILL IS OUT
FOR 20. OH, NO 4 TO 1. I'M
SORRY. UM MOVING ON TO FILE ITEM
NUMBER SIX. WHICH IS
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S GIBSON, ABC.
16. OH, EIGHT. THE MOTION IS DUE
PASS. BUT FIRST WE REFERRED TO
THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY.
CURRENT VOTE IS 3 TO 1, SENATOR
HERTZBERG. HERTZBERG? AYE. FOR
ONE. THAT BILL IS OUT 4 TO 1.
MOVING ON TO FILE ITEM NUMBER
EIGHT A. B 18 83 BY
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S QUIRK-SILVA. DO
WE NEED A MOTION ON THAT ONE?
UM, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION.
MOTION HAS BEEN MADE BY SENATOR
HERZBERG. PLEASE CALL THE ROLL
MOTION IS DUE PASSES AMENDED
THAT FIRST AMEND AND WE REFER TO
THE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
SENATORS QUÊ VIETTO. VIETTO?
AYE, NIELSEN. NIELSEN NÓ DURAZO.
DURAZO, HERTZBERG HERTZBERG?
AYE, WIENER. WIENER. 4 TO 1 BILL
IS OUT 4 TO 1. FILE ITEM NUMBER
NINE A. B 1933 BY
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S FRIEDMAN. THE
MOTION IS DUE PASSES AMENDED BUT
FIRST AMEND AND WE REFER TO THE
COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
CURRENT VOTE IS 2 TO 1, SENATORS
TERRAZZO TERRAZZO HERZBERG
HERZBERG. AYE. 4 TO 1. NIELSEN
NÓ TÔI. 5 TO 0. THAT BILL IS OUT
FIGHTING VISIT 5 TO 0. FILE ITEM
NUMBER 10 HAS BEEN PULLED. WE
MOVE ON TO FILE ITEM NUMBER 11.
A B 2021 BY ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S
WICKS. THE MOTION IS DUE PASS.
BUT FIRST WE REFERRED TO THE
COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS.
CURRENT VOTE IS 3 TO 0 SENATORS
NIELSEN. NIELSEN NÓ HERTZBERG.
HERTZBERG. 4 TO 1. THAT BILL IS
OUT 4 TO 1. MOVING ON TO WE JUST
TOOK UP. UM. WHILE ITEM NUMBER
13 AND WE WERE ALL HERE, SO
WE'LL MOVE ON TO FILE ITEM
NUMBER 14 WHICH IS A B 24 94 BY
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S SALAS. WE NEED
A MOTION ON THAT ONE. MOTION BE
MADE BY. UM SENATOR WIENER.
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL MOTION IS
DUE PASS. BUT FIRST WE REFERRED
TO THE COMMITTEE ON
APPROPRIATIONS SENATORS, VIETTO
VIETTO NIELSEN. NIELSEN NÓ.
DURAZO DURAZO HERTZBERG
PITTSBURGH. I WIENER. WIENER. I
4 TO 1. THAT BILL IS OUT FOR THE
ONE FILE ITEM NUMBER 16 16 HAS
BEEN PULLED BY THE
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S, SO WE'LL MOVE
ON TO FILE ITEM NUMBER 17 WHICH
IS A B 27 80 BY ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S
ARAMBULA. THE EMOTION ON THAT.
MOTIONS MADE BY SENATOR DRAWS.
OH, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL MOTION
IS PASSED TO THE SENATE FLOOR.
SENATORS QUÊ VIETTO YET OH, I
NIELSEN. NIELSEN NÓ DURAZO.
DURAZO AYE, HERZBERG. HERZBERG.
AYE, WIENER. WIENER. I 4 TO 1.
THAT BILL IS OUT FOR THE ONE AND
THEN, UM, FILE ITEM NUMBER 18,
WHICH IS A B 27 98 BY
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S FONG. WE NEED A
MOTION ON THAT ONE. NO, WE
DON'T. WE DO? YES, WE DO.
SENATOR HERTZBERG. MOVES THE
BILL. I'M SORRY. THE MOTION THE
BILLS ON CALL. OH I'M SORRY.
OKAY THEN WE DON'T NEED YOUR
MOTION. NEVER MIND. SORRY THE
BILL IS ON CALL, SO WILL LIFT
THE CALL AND CALL THE ABSENT
MEMBERS DO PASS AS AMENDED THAT
FIRST AMEND AND WE REFER TO THE
COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS.
CURRENT VOTE IS 3 TO 0 SENATORS
DURAZO DURAZO. AYE HERZBERG
HERZBERG I ZERO BILL IS OUT 5 TO
0 AND FILE ADAM NUMBER 19 WAS
PULLED SO, UM, THANK YOU TO ALL
THE INDIVIDUALS WHO PARTICIPATED
IN OUR PUBLIC TESTIMONY HERE
TODAY. WE WERE REALLY GLAD TO
HAVE YOU PARTICIPATE IN THE
DEMOCRATIC PROCESS IF YOU ARE
NOT ABLE TO TESTIFY. PLEASE
SUBMIT YOUR COMMENTS OR
SUGGESTIONS IN WRITING TO THE
GOVERNANCE AND FINANCE COMMITTEE
OR VISIT OUR WEBSITE. YOUR
COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS ARE
REALLY IMPORTANT TO US, AND WE
WANT TO INCLUDE YOUR TESTIMONY
IN THE OFFICIAL HEARING RECORD.
THANK YOU. AND WE APPRECIATE
YOUR PARTICIPATION SPECIAL.
THANK YOU TO THE MODERATOR IF
YOU START ON THE LANE, UM THIS
MODERATOR MAKES IT WORK. AND SO
I THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND I
WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR YOUR
PATIENTS AND COOPERATION. WE
HAVE CONCLUDED THE AGENDA IN THE
SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNANCE
AND FINANCE IS ADJOURNED.