EVERYONE. I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD
AND CALL J LIKE TO ORDER. THE
TIME IS 906 AM REQUESTING THAT
OTHER MEMBERS ON THE COMMITTEE
PLEASE REPORT TO ROOM 4 37.
WELCOME TO THE JOINT LEGISLATIVE
AUDIT COMMITTEE. TODAY THE
COMMITTEE WILL HEAR AND CONSIDER
NEW AUDIT REQUESTS LOOK FORWARD
TO A VERY PRODUCTIVE HEARING
BEFORE WE BEGIN. I JUST HAVE A
FEW THINGS TO QUICKLY GO OVER.
UM MASKS. PLEASE WEAR THEM IF IT
SUITS YOU. THE PUBLIC COMMENT
WILL REACH THE PUBLIC COMMENT
PORTION OF EACH AUDIT REQUEST. I
WOULD ASK THAT ANY INDIVIDUAL
WISHING TO MAKE A COMMENT,
PLEASE APPROACH THE MICROPHONE
AND FORM A LINE. PLEASE DO NOT
TOUCH THE MICROPHONE AND BECAUSE
OF TIME RESTRAINTS, TIME FOR
PUBLIC COMMENTS MAY BE LIMITED.
I DO WANT TO MAKE AN
ANNOUNCEMENT. I WANT TO NOTE FOR
THE RECORD THAT SENATOR MCGUIRE
WILL BE REPLACING SENATOR LAIRD
AT TODAY'S HEARING, AND SENATOR
HERTZBERG AND SENATOR LAIRD'S
ABSENCE WILL SERVE AS VICE CHAIR
TODAY'S HEARING. SEEING THAT WE
DO NOT HAVE A QUORUM. I'D LIKE
TO ENCOURAGE ALL MEMBERS TO
REPORT TO ROOM 4 37 SO WE CAN
ESTABLISH REQUIREMENT. TAKE CARE
OF TODAY'S BUSINESS. BECAUSE WE
DON'T HAVE A QUORUM WE WILL
OPERATE AS A SUBCOMMITTEE INTO A
QUORUM IS ESTABLISHED. SECOND
ANNOUNCEMENTS. I JUST WANT TO
PROVIDE A QUICK UPDATE ON THE
STATE AUDITOR SELECTION PROCESS
. A SUBCOMMITTEE ON THE
SELECTION OF THE STATE AUDITOR
HAS BEEN FORMED. THE INTER WE
HAVE INTERVIEWED APPLICANTS AND
WE'LL MEET SOON TO DISCUSS WHICH
CANDIDATES ARE MOST QUALIFIED TO
BE OUR NEXT STATE AUDITOR. THE
FULL JAYLA COMMITTEE WILL THEN
MEET, CONSIDER ANY
RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE SUB
COMMITTEE AND SELECT A SLATE OF
THREE CANDIDATES NOMINATED TO
THE GOVERNOR. I WILL NOTE. ALSO
ON TODAY'S AGENDA. I'D LIKE TO
NOTE THAT ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S
SANTIAGO HAS ASKED THAT WE PUSH
HIS AUDIT REQUESTS UNTIL THE
AUGUST HEARING, SO THAT IS ITEM
NUMBER ONE ON THE AGENDA.
REQUEST 2022-104 REGARDING THE
CITY AND COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES
HOUSING PROJECTS FOR PERSONS
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS. WILL
NOT BE HEARD TODAY. INSTEAD, IT
WILL BE HEARD AT OUR AUGUST
HEARING. I'D ALSO LIKE TO NOTE
THAT WE HAVE, UM DIFFERED. ALSO
FILE ITEM NUMBER 5 2022-1 16,
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF
TECHNOLOGY AND CALIFORNIA PUBLIC
UTILITIES COMMISSION TO THE
AUGUST HEARING AS WELL. WITH
THAT, LET'S GO AHEAD AND MOVE
FORWARD WITH THE AGENDA. THIS IS
A JEDI OF NUMBER ONE. UM LET'S
HAVE A STATUS REPORT FROM THE
ACTING STATE AUDITOR, MR MICHAEL
TILDEN AND HIS TEAM. MR TILDEN
WHEN YOU'RE READY.
THAT'S RIGHT.
MHM. GOOD MORNING, MR TILTON.
ALRIGHT GOOD MORNING, MR CHAIR
AND MEMBERS OF FOR THE RECORD, I
MIGHT TILDEN I'M THE ACTING
CALIFORNIA STATE AUDITOR. IN
TERMS OF OUR WORK IN PROGRESS. I
JUST WANTED TO POINT OUT THAT
SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR
WE'VE RELEASED 26 AUDIT REPORTS.
ABOUT HALF OF THOSE ARE AUDITS
THAT ARE MANDATED IN LAW,
INCLUDING OUR ANNUAL OUT OF THE
STATE'S FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ARE
SINGLE AUDIT. WE'VE ALSO
RELEASED 11 AUDITS THAT WERE
APPROVED BY THE COMMITTEE LAST
SUMMER AS WELL AS THE EMERGENCY
HOUSING AUDIT. IN ADDITION TO AN
INVESTIGATIVE REPORT AND HIGHER
RISK REPORT. IN TERMS OF WORKING
PROGRESS. WE HAVE A NUMBER OF
ARTISTS THAT ARE AGAIN MANDATED
BY STATUTE, INCLUDING OUR
BIENNIAL AUDIT OF THE TOBACCO
TAX REVENUES. AS WELL AS AN
AUDIT OF THE /C NATIVE AMERICAN
GRAVES PROTECTION AND
REPATRIATION ACT. AND
ADDITIONALLY WE HAVE STARTED OUR
CURRENT AUDIT THE STATE'S
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AGAIN. IN
TERMS OF ONGOING WORK THAT WAS
APPROVED BY J LACK. TOMORROW. WE
HAVE A REPORT GOING ON. I'M
SORRY. BETTER. OKAY? IS THAT
BETTER? OKAY. SORRY ABOUT THAT.
TOMORROW WE HAVE A REPORT GOING
OUT ON THE DEPARTMENT OF
DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES, AND IT'S
RELATED TO THEIR OVERSIGHT OF
REGIONAL CENTERS. AND BEYOND
THAT, IN JULY, WE HAVE ANOTHER
REPORT GOING OUT ON THE STATE
WATER RESOURCES CONTROL BOARD.
AND IT'S RELATED TO THEIR SAFE
DRINKING WATER FUNDS. AND THEN
TWO MORE REPORTS GO OUT IN
AUGUST AND ONE SEPTEMBER. BEYOND
THAT, IN THE SPRING, WE STARTED
THREE LOCAL HIGH RISK AUDITS.
ONE OF COMPTON, ONE OF THE CITY
OF CALEXICO AND ONE OF THE CITY
OF RICHMOND. THESE ARE ODDS
AGAIN THAT WERE IMPROVED BY THE
COMMITTEE LAST YEAR, BUT WE
DIDN'T START THEM UNTIL WE
STARTED. ALL OF THE OTHER ODDS
APPROVED BY THE COMMITTEE. IN
TERMS OF STAFFING. WE'VE GOT 12
AUDITS. I BELIEVE, ACTUALLY, 10
KNOTS ARE GOING TO BE HEARD
TODAY AND WE HAVE ENOUGH
STAFFING TO START SEVEN ODDS
IMMEDIATELY AGAIN BECAUSE WE PUT
OUT MOST OF THE WORK THAT WAS
APPROVED BY THE COMMITTEE LAST
YEAR. AND WE CAN START TO MORE
AUDITS IN MID JULY. TWO MORE
AUDITS IN AUGUST AND SIX THROUGH
THE END OF THE YEAR. TWO OF THE
ARTS I BELIEVE OR THAT ARE ON
THE CONSENT CALENDAR. ONE IS THE
AUDIT OF CSU NAG PRONE CONAGRA
THAT ONE. I BELIEVE THE
REQUESTERS HAVE ASKED THAT WE
DON'T START UNTIL OCTOBER,
NOVEMBER. WHICH ACTUALLY THAT
ONE'S APPROVED. IT WORKS OUT
WELL FOR US BECAUSE CURRENTLY OR
CONDUCTING STATUTORILY REQUIRED
AUDIT OF /C B SYSTEMS
COMPLIANCE WITH NAG KALAN OPERA
, AND NOW IT GOES OUT IN
NOVEMBER, SO IT WOULD MAKE SENSE
TO HOW THAT SAME TEAM ROLL RIGHT
ONTO THIS. A SIMILAR AUDIT OF
THE CSU SYSTEM. IN ADDITION, I
BELIEVE THE AUDIT OF CSU SEXUAL
HARASSMENT ALLEGATIONS THAT ONE
IS THE MEMBERS HAVE ASKED THAT
IT NOT BE STARTED UNTIL CSU
COMPLETES ITS OWN INTERNAL
INVESTIGATION OR UNTIL FOUR
MONTHS AFTER THE AUDITORS
APPROVED SO WITH THAT, I BELIEVE
THAT WE HAVE PLENTY OF RESOURCES
TO START. ALL THE ODDS ARE GOING
TO BE HEARD TODAY, AS WELL AS
AUGUST AND TO THE EXTENT THAT WE
HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL CAPACITY. I
THINK OUR GOAL RATHER THAN
STARTING ANY STATE HIGH RISK
AUDITS OR DOING ANY MORE LOCAL
HIGH RISK WORK. WE'D LIKE TO PUT
EXTRA RESOURCES TEAM LEADERS AND
STAFF ONTO ANY OF THE ODDS ARE
APPROVED BY THE COMMITTEE TODAY
SO WE CAN GET THAT WORK OUT AS
QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. THANK YOU,
MR CHAIR. ALRIGHT THANK YOU, MR
TILDEN. LET ME ASK THE DIETS IF
THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS ON THE
STATUS REPORT ALL RIGHT. THANK
YOU, MR TILDEN. WITH THAT WE'RE
GOING TO GO AHEAD AND MOVE
FORWARD. AND I KNOW YOU WILL
DEFINITELY BE COMMENTING ON EACH
OF THESE. WE'RE DOING THIS AND
SIGN IN ORDER. AND THE FIRST
EVER TO SIGN IN IS
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S. SO, MR LOAF
YOU'D LIKE TO APPROACH THIS IS
AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 10. THIS IS
2022-1 13, CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY
COLLEGES HIRING PRACTICES. MR
LIU WHEN YOU'RE READY TO BEGIN
PLEASE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR
CHAIR AND COLLEAGUES. WITH
RESPECT TO THE PROPOSAL BEFORE
YOU ACTUALLY LET ME JUST MAKE
ONE CLARIFICATION MEMBERS WERE
OPERATING AS A SUBCOMMITTEE
UNTIL WE CAN ESTABLISH QUORUM WE
ARE WAITING FOR. I BELIEVE ONE
MORE SENATOR. IN ORDER TO
ESTABLISH QUORUM. SO IF WE GET
ONE MORE SENATOR, WE'D LOVE TO
ESTABLISH QUORUM WITH THAT. GO
AHEAD AND PROCEED. SORRY ABOUT
THAT, MR LOVE. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH, MR CHAIR AND COLLEAGUES
GOOD MORNING, TOO HAPPY MONDAY.
OF THIS AUDIT PROPOSAL EXAMINES
SPECIFICALLY WITH RESPECT TO THE
COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICTS. THE
FACILITATION OF UTILITY OF FUNDS
SPECIFICALLY TO IDENTIFY
BARRIERS IN HIRING FULL TIME
FACULTY MEMBERS. AS THIS
INSTITUTION AND COLLEAGUES MAY
BE WELL AWARE. I ALSO SERVED AS
A PART TIME LECTURER AT THE ENDS
AT COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND ALSO A
GRADUATE OF THAT UNIVERSITY THAT
COMMUNITY COLLEGE. AND VERY
MUCH. UM I AM A PRODUCT OF THAT
PUBLIC INSTITUTION CERTAINLY
HAVE A DEEP SENSE, AN AWARENESS
OF THE CHALLENGES AND BARRIERS
WITH PERSPECTIVE, FULL TIME
FACULTY MEMBERS, AND OF COURSE
WE HAVE. AS THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA HAVE PRIORITIZED THE
OPPORTUNITY TO STRENGTHEN THE
WORKING CONDITIONS FOR FACULTY
MEMBERS ALIKE. PUBLIC OFFICIALS
AS WELL AS STUDENTS, AND I
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOUR
SUPPORT OF THE DATA COLLECTION
TO HELP ENSURE THAT WE HAVE THE
OUTCOMES NOT ONLY FOR STUDENTS
BUT FOR INDIVIDUALS WISHING TO
SERVE THE PUBLIC AND LOCAL
INSTITUTIONS WITH YOU TODAY IS
EVAN HAWKINS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
OF THE FACULTY ASSOCIATION OF
COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT. WHO
CAN ALSO SPEAK MORE ABOUT THIS
ISSUE. GREAT THANK YOU.
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S GREAT. THANK
YOU. I BELIEVE YOU SAID MR
HAWKINS. ALL RIGHT, PLEASE.
MORNING. PROCEED YES. THANK YOU
. GOOD MORNING, CHAIR SALAS AND
MEMBERS. I'M EVAN HAWKINS,
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR THE
FACULTY ASSOCIATION OF
CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY COLLEGES
AND A PROUD SPONSOR OF THIS
AUDIT. IMAGINE NEARLY EVERYONE
IN THIS ROOM HAS HAD A TEACHER
OR COLLEGE PROFESSOR THAT HAD A
SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON THEIR
LIVES. ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY
COLLEGE STUDENTS DESERVE A
CHANCE TO HAVE A SIMILAR
EXPERIENCE, HOWEVER, THE OVER
RELIANCE ON PART TIME FACULTY
WHO WE AFFECTIONATELY CALL
FREEWAY FLYERS MAKES IT HARDER
FOR OUR STUDENTS TO HAVE THIS
EXPERIENCE. PARTS ARE PART TIME
FACULTY OR EXCELLENT EDUCATORS.
THEY ARE UNABLE TO BE AS
INTEGRATED INTO A CAMPUS LIKE A
FULL TIME FACULTY MEMBER CAN
BECAUSE THE LEGISLATURE
RECOGNIZE THIS IN THE 2015 16
BUDGET, THE LEGISLATURE ALLOTTED
62.3 MILLION AND ONGOING FUNDING
FOR FULL TIME FACULTY HIRING AND
IN THE 2018 2019 AND 21 22
BUDGETS. THE LEGISLATOR ALLOTTED
AN ADDITIONAL 50 MILLION AND 100
MILLION RESPECTFULLY. AN ONGOING
FULL TIME FACULTY FUNDING. WE
HAVE NOT, HOWEVER, SEEN
SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS MADE
TOWARDS THE 75% GOAL ESTABLISHED
AN ASSEMBLY BILL 17 25. OUR
MEMBERS, INCLUDING MANY LOCAL
UNION LEADERS ACROSS THE STATE
ARE CONCERNED THAT THESE FUNDS
ARE NOT BEING USED AS THE
LEGISLATURE INTENDED. IT IS
IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THIS
AUDIT IS LOOKING AT SEVERAL
SAMPLE COLLEGES TO BE DETERMINED
BY THE AUDITOR AND NOT THE
SYSTEM AS A WHOLE. WE UNDERSTAND
IT MAY BE DIFFICULT FOR THE
CHANCELLOR'S OFFICE TO TRACK THE
USE OF THESE FUNDS ACROSS 116
CAMPUSES, WHICH IS WHY AN AUDIT
IS NECESSARY. ADDITIONALLY THE
SCOPE OF THE AUDIT FOCUSES ON 21
22. BUT THE AUDITOR IS NOT
LIMITED TO THAT TIME PERIOD. WE
APPRECIATE THE ONGOING SUPPORT
OF OUR FACULTY OR COMMUNITY
COLLEGES. AND OF COURSE THE
STUDENTS WE SERVE AND WE REQUEST
APPROVAL OF THIS AUDIT. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU. DO YOU HAVE AN
ADDITIONAL WITNESS AND SUPPORT?
PLEASE NO RELATION DAVID HARKINS
WITH THE CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY
COLLEGE INDEPENDENCE. WE
REPRESENT 12,000 FACULTY. UH BUT
IT DOESN'T DISTRICTS TEACHING
ABOUT A HALF MILLION STUDENTS.
WE JOINED WITH FACT AND
SPONSORING THE REQUEST. WE WANT
TO THANK ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S LOW
FOR HIS ADVOCACY FOR THIS ISSUE.
AS EVAN MENTIONED SINCE 2015
OVER $200 MILLION HAS BEEN
ALLOCATED BY THE LEGISLATURE TO
HIRE ADDITIONAL FULL TIME
FACULTY. THIS ISN'T RESPONSE TO
LEGISLATION APPROVED IN 1988.
MR. NIELSON WAS HERE AT THE
TIME. WHICH ACTUALLY ESTABLISHED
THE GOAL OF TEACHING OF
INSTRUCTIONAL HOURS BEING TAUGHT
BY FULL TIME FACULTY OF 75. WE
ARE BELOW 60. AT THIS POINT. UM
THE FUNDING THAT WAS ALLOCATED
BY THE LEGISLATURE.
UNFORTUNATELY A NUMBER OF
DISTRICTS WE'VE RECEIVED REPORTS
ARE USING IT FOR NON RELATED
PURPOSES AND FURTHER
EXPENDITURES. AND WE THINK IT'S
IMPORTANT THAT IT BE ACCOUNTED
FOR THE ARTICLE. ALSO LOOK AT WE
THINK IMPORTANTLY, THE DEGREE
THAT FULL TIME FACULTY OR BEING
HIRED, UM, THAT REFLECT THE
DIVERSITY OF THE STUDENT BODY.
THERE'S ALSO A BUDGET LANGUAGE
THAT YOU APPROVED. WHICH
DIRECTED DISTRICTS TO CONVERT
PART TIME FACULTY POSITIONS TO
FULL TIME POSITIONS, AND WE HAVE
NO EVIDENCE THAT THAT'S EVER
OCCURRED. SO WE APPRECIATE YOUR
SUPPORT OF THE AUDIT REQUESTS
AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
PRESENTATION. WITH THAT WE'RE
GOING TO GO AHEAD AND MOVE TO
OUR ACTING STATE AUDITOR FOR HIS
PRESENTATION. MR TILTED POLICE.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. MR CHAIR
AND MEMBERS, MISS MR LOWE
INDICATED HIS REQUESTING AN
ORDER OF THE CALIFORNIA
COMMUNITY COLLEGES USE OF FUNDS
ALLOCATED FOR HIRING FULL TIME
FACULTY AND FISCAL YEAR 21 22.
THE AUDIT OBJECTIVES WOULD HAVE
US, UH, REVIEWING A SAMPLE OF
COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICTS
BASED ON THEIR SIZE, THEIR
LOCATION AND OTHER RELEVANT
FACTORS AND FOR EACH OF THE
COMMUNITY COLLEGE CAMPUSES AS
WELL AS THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE
CHANCELLOR'S OFFICE. WE WOULD
TAKE A LOOK AT THE PERCENTAGE OF
COMMUNITY COLLEGE INSTRUCTION
THAT'S TAUGHT BY FULL TIME
VERSUS PART TIME FACULTY. WE'D
LOOK AT THE NUMBER OF FULL TIME
AND PART TIME FACULTY THAT WERE
HIRED DURING FISCAL YEAR 21 22.
INCLUDING IDENTIFYING THE NET
INCREASE IN FULL TIME FACULTY.
AND WE ALSO TAKE A LOOK AT THE
NUMBER OF PART TIME FACULTY THAT
WERE CONVERTED TO FULL TIME
FACULTY DURING THE FISCAL YEAR.
IN ADDITION, UM THE REQUESTERS
ASKING US TO TAKE A LOOK AT
THESE AGAIN. THIS SELECTION OF
CAMPUSES TO TAKE A LOOK AT HOW
EACH CAMPUS SPENT THE DAY THE
FUNDS THAT WERE ALLOCATED FOR
THE HIRING OF FULL TIME FACULTY.
IN 21 22. SO AS A PART OF THAT
WE LOOK AT THE PERCENTAGE OF
THAT MONEY THAT WAS ACTUALLY
SPENT ON HIRING FULL TIME
FACULTY, THE EXTENT TO WHICH ANY
OF THAT MONEY WAS SPENT FOR
OTHER PURPOSES. AND IF SO, WHAT
WERE THOSE PURPOSES? HOW MUCH
AND WHO AUTHORIZED THOSE
EXPENSES. IN TERMS OF LOOKING AT
THE CAMPUSES, HIRING RECRUITING
PRACTICES. WE WOULD TAKE A LOOK
AT REALLY COMPARING THE
ETHNICITY, SEX AND GENDER OF THE
STUDENT BODY, COMPARING THAT TO
THE PART TIME FACULTY AS WELL AS
THE FULL TIME FACULTY. INCLUDING
ANY NEW FULL TIME FACULTY HIRED
AS A RESULT OF THE MONEY IN 21
22. TO THE EXTENT THAT THERE ARE
DIFFERENCES, WE WOULD ASSESS THE
REASONS FOR THOSE DIFFERENCES.
THE OTHER THING THAT WE WOULD DO
. THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT,
OBVIOUSLY IS ASSESSED THE
REASONS WHY THE DISTRICTS HAVE
NOT ACHIEVED THEIR GOAL OF
HAVING 75% OF INSTRUCTION TYPE A
FULL TIME FACULTY MEMBERS. AND
DETERMINING WHETHER THERE ARE
ANY BARRIERS IN POLICIES,
PROCEDURES AND PRACTICES THAT
ARE PREVENTING THE CAMPUSES FROM
REACHING THAT GOAL AND FROM
HIRING A DIVERSE FULL TIME
FACULTY. WE ASKED TO MAKE THIS
LIGHT IT WOULD TAKE ABOUT 2500
HOURS, WHICH IS ABOUT FIVE OR
SIX MONTHS FOR US, BECAUSE WE
NEED TO VISIT THE COMMUNITY
COLLEGE CHANCELLOR'S OFFICE AS
WELL AS A SELECTION OF CAMPUSES
. I THINK WE COULD SHORTEN UP
THE CHRONOLOGICAL TIME FRAME A
BIT. BY BREAKING UP THE TEAM AND
HAVING SOME MEMBERS VISIT THE
DIFFERENT CAMPUSES AND THE
CHANCELLOR'S OFFICE
CONCURRENTLY. THANK YOU, MR
CHAIR. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, MR
TILDEN. NEXT WE'RE GOING TO MOVE
TO THE EFFECTED AGENCIES AND I
BELIEVE WE HAVE MR DAVID O'BRIEN
, THE VICE CHANCELLOR OF THE
CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY COLLEGES.
PLEASE. YEAH, THAT'S FINE. GOOD
MORNING COMMITTEE MEMBERS. I'M
DAVID O'BRIEN, VICE CHANCELLOR
FOR GOVERNMENT RELATIONS FOR THE
CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY COLLEGES
CHANCELLOR'S OFFICE. WE
APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO
RESPOND TO THE AUDIT REQUEST BY
SOME OF THE MEMBER LOW. AND JUST
CLARIFY A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE
ROLE AND AUTHORITY OF THE STATE
CHANCELLOR'S OFFICE IN
OVERSEEING THE ISSUES AND
PRACTICES RAISED IN THIS REQUEST
, SO MY REMARKS TODAY WILL FOCUS
BRIEFLY ON THE ROLE OF THE
CHANCELLOR'S OFFICE. BEEN
OVERSEEING OUR 73 INDEPENDENT
DISTRICTS, EACH OF WHICH HAS ITS
OWN SEPARATELY ELECTED OR
APPOINTED BOARD OF TRUSTEES.
PRELIMINARY RESPONSES TO THE
QUESTIONS RAISED IN THE AUDIT
HAVE BEEN PROVIDED TO THE
COMMITTEE IN WRITING. THAT'S THE
HANDOUT THAT'S MAKING ITS WAY
AROUND TO YOU RIGHT NOW WITH THE
COMMUNITY COLLEGES LOGO IN THE
UPPER LEFT HAND CORNER. LET ME
START OFF BY BEING CLEAR THAT WE
FULLY AGREE THAT THE FUNDS
PROVIDED IN DEDICATED FOR THIS
SPECIFIC PURPOSE OF HIRING FULL
TIME FACULTY MUST BE USED FOR
THAT PURPOSE, AND THE
CHANCELLOR'S OFFICE HAS ISSUED
GUIDANCE TO OUR LOCAL DISTRICT.
CLARIFYING THAT THESE FUNDS ARE
INTENDED TO HELP MEET THE 75%
FULL TIME FACULTY GOAL. TO THE
QUESTION OF HOW STATE FUNDING
ALLOCATED FOR THE HAREDIM NEW
FULL TIME. FACULTY IN 2021 22
HAS BEEN SPENT. I WOULD LIKE TO
NOTE THAT BUDGET TRAILER BILL
LANGUAGE DID NOT REQUIRE
DISTRICTS TO REPORT SPECIFIC
EXPENDITURES FOR NEW FACULTY
HIRING TO THE CHANCELLOR'S
OFFICE. THERE IS ANNUAL
REPORTING SUBMITTED TO OUR
OFFICE THAT INCLUDES
EXPENDITURES ON ACADEMIC
SALARIES AND BENEFITS OVERALL.
BUT THESE ARE NOT BROKEN OUT BY
THE AMOUNT OF REBUTTAL TO
CURRENT OR NEW FACULTY MEMBERS.
ANOTHER PIECE OF DATA TO CLARIFY
THAT DISTRICTS DO ANNUALLY
REPORT THEIR FULL TIME
EQUIVALENT FACULTY OR FTE F TO
THE CHANCELLOR'S OFFICE BY
NOVEMBER 1ST OF EACH YEAR.
HOWEVER AN IMPORTANT CLARIFYING
POINT TO NOTE HERE IS THAT
BECAUSE THE HIRING CYCLE CAN
BEGIN ONE OR MORE YEARS AHEAD OF
THE DATE OF HIRE, IT MAY
ACTUALLY TAKE MULTIPLE YEARS FOR
THE FULL TIME EQUIVALENT FACULTY
TO FULLY REFLECT THE IMPACT OF
THE FUNDS PROVIDED IN 2021 22.
ONE NOTE THAT DISTRICTS DO
ANNUALLY REPORT TO THE
CHANCELLOR'S OFFICE INFORMATION
THROUGH OUR DATA MART SYSTEM ON
TOTAL FACULTY, HEADCOUNT,
ETHNICITY AND GENDER AS WELL AS
AVERAGE SALARY. HOWEVER THIS
DATA IS NOT BROKEN DOWN INTO
CURRENT VERSUS NEWLY HIRED
FACULTY. TO THE QUESTION ABOUT
DELAYS IN THE HIRING PROCESS. WE
JUST WANT TO NOTE THAT THE
PROCESS WHICH IS CONDUCTED
ENTIRELY AT THE LOCAL LEVEL,
REQUIRES CONSIDERABLE PLANNING
AND MAY TAKE MORE THAN A YEAR TO
HIRE NEW FACULTY. AS DISTRICT
DETERMINED WHICH DEPARTMENTS AND
DISCIPLINES OF THE GREATEST NEED
FOR FACULTY WORK WITH THEIR
PLANNING COMMITTEES, INITIATE
THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS
INTERVIEW AND MAKE OFFERS. UM I
WANT TO CLOSE BY ADDRESSING THE
LAST COUPLE OF QUESTIONS IN THE
AUDIT REQUEST AROUND
DIVERSIFICATION OF FACULTY AT
THE CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY
COLLEGES. THEN I WILL BE
ABSOLUTELY CLEAR THAT THIS IS
UNDOUBTEDLY A TOP PRIORITY OF
THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS AND THE
STATEWIDE CHANCELLOR. JUST LAST
MONTH, THE STATEWIDE BOARD OF
GOVERNORS ADOPTED A HISTORIC
CHANGE TO TITLE FIVE REGULATIONS
CONCERNING FACULTY EVALUATION
AND TENURE REVIEW. AS PART OF
OUR ONGOING DIVERSITY, EQUITY
INCLUSION AND ACCESSIBILITY
PROJECT. WE RECOGNIZE THAT A
CRITICAL COMPONENT OF STUDENT
SUCCESS IS ACCESS TO AN
EQUITABLE CAMPUS AND CLASSROOM
ENVIRONMENT. WHICH WE CAN'T SAY
WE HAVE YET AND A SYSTEM WHERE A
LARGE MAJORITY OF OUR STUDENTS
ARE STUDENTS OF COLOR, BUT OVER
60% OF OUR FACULTY OR WHITE AS
IT RELATES TO THE QUESTION ABOUT
BARRIERS TO HIRING A DIVERSE
FACULTY. ONE THING DISTRICTS
HAVE SHARED AS A BARRIER IS THE
PART TIME REEMPLOYMENT
PREFERENCE STATUTE A SECTION OF
CALIFORNIA EDUCATION CODE. WHICH
GIVES STRONG REHIRING PREFERENCE
TO PREVIOUSLY EMPLOYED ADJUNCT
FACULTY WITH NO CONSIDERATION OF
EEO PRACTICES. WE CONTINUE TO
WORK WITH OUR CAMPUS LEADERS AND
STAKEHOLDERS ON EFFORTS TO
PROMOTE A DIVERSE FACULTY
REPRESENTATIVE OF THE STUDENTS
WE SERVE, AND WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR
THE LEGISLATURE'S PARTNERSHIP
AND SUPPORTED THIS EFFORT. AND
WITH THAT, I'M HAPPY TO TAKE ANY
QUESTIONS FROM THE COMMITTEE.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU APPRECIATE
THAT. I DON'T SEE ANY OTHER
AFFECTED AGENCIES. AT THIS TIME.
WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND MOVE
ON. BUT IT WILL WILL ASK, UH
THAT'S GREAT NOW. OKAY THIS TIME
, LET ME GO HEAD AND ASK, UM
MEMBERS IF THEY HAVE QUESTIONS
SENATOR NELSON, PLEASE. THANK
YOU, MR CHAIRMAN, JUST AN
OBSERVATION TO THE FIRST WITNESS
. I DON'T THINK THAT YOU'RE
FREEWAY FLYERS IS VERY
APPROPRIATE. THAT'S KIND OF A
DEROGATORY REMARK AND
UNNECESSARY. AND NOT VERY
PROFESSIONAL FOR THIS
INSTITUTION. I APPRECIATE THAT
COMMENT. I THINK A LOT OF OUR
PART TIME FACULTY REFER TO
THEMSELVES THAT WAY. UH AND I
THINK THE INTENT THERE IS TO
SHOW THE CHALLENGES THAT THEY
FACE AND TO BE IN PEOPLE'S FACE
ABOUT WHAT THOSE CHALLENGES ARE
, SO I CERTAINLY RECOGNIZE THAT
RESPONSE AND I APOLOGIZE IF THAT
SOUNDED OFFENDING, ABIDE BY NO
MEANS DID I INTEND THAT AH, AND
I THINK IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT
THAT'S THE CASE FOR MANY OF OUR
PART TIME FACULTY AND THAT'S WHY
WE'RE HERE TODAY. I HAVE THE
UTMOST RESPECT FROM ALL OF OUR
PART TIME FACULTY JUST GOT BACK
FROM A RETREAT WITH A NUMBER OF
THEM. THAT TOLD ME TO GET UP
HERE AND ADVOCATE ON THEIR
BEHALF, AND THAT'S WHAT I'M
DOING TODAY. BUT THANK YOU,
SENATOR. I APPRECIATE THAT. THAT
ISSUE WAS SOMEWHAT DEALT WITH
NOT TO THE DEGREE THAT YOU
DESIRE HERE. BACK IN THE 19
EIGHTIES, I AUTHORED THE MASTER
PLAN REVIEW OF HIGHER EDUCATION.
AND WE HAD A LONG PROCESS FOR
YEARS. IN A JOINT COMMITTEE.
CHAIRED BY. ASSEMBLYMAN VAST
KINSELLA'S AND CHAIRED BY ME. IT
THE GREAT BENEFICIARY OF THAT
REVIEW IN THE EIGHTIES. WHAT'S
COMMUNITY COLLEGES? FOR THE
FIRST TIME? WE'RE CONSIDERED A
FULL TIME PARTNER. IN HIGHER
EDUCATION. THEN GOVERNORS CHIEF
OF STAFF CALLED THE COMMUNITY
COLLEGES GLORIFIED HIGH SCHOOLS
THAT WAS KIND OF A GENERAL
ATTITUDE. BUT THAT WAS A BIG
LIFT FOR THE COMMUNITY COLLEGES.
THERE ARE VERY IMPORTANT AND I
AGREE THAT. THERE'S SOME THINGS
THAT NEED TO BE. I DON'T KNOW
THAT I'LL SUPPORT THIS
PARTICULAR PROPOSAL. AH BUT I
UNDERSTAND THE VALUE OF THOSE
COMMUNITY COLLEGES. I'VE HAD
FIVE CHILDREN THAT WENT THROUGH
COMMUNITY COLLEGES AS THEY
TRANSITIONED MATRICULATED. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. THANK
YOU. LET ME ASK IF THERE'S
ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS FROM
MEMBERS ON THE DAIS. ALRIGHT LET
ME I HAVE A QUESTION FOR MR
O'BRIEN. YOU TALKED ABOUT A SITE
FROM ISSUING GUIDELINES TO EACH
OF THE CAMPUS IS I JUST WANTED
TO ASK IF YOU HAVE A PERCENTAGE
ARE BEING ARE WE 50% THERE. 75%
OF THE ALLOCATED FUNDS. UM. IF
YOU COULD ANSWER THAT, PLEASE.
THAT IS A GOOD QUESTION. I WOULD
HAVE TO GET BACK TO WITH MORE
CURRENT POINT IN TIME DATA
BECAUSE I BELIEVE THE LAST
UPDATE I HAVE IN MY MATERIALS
MAY HAVE BEEN ONE PROVIDER FROM
BUDGET SUBCOMMITTEE HEARINGS
EARLIER THIS YEAR, SO IT WOULD
BE OUT OF DATE DATA AT THIS
POINT, BUT WE CAN CERTAINLY GET
BACK TO YOU AND THE COMMITTEE.
UM WITH THE DATA THAT WE HAVE
WITHIN THE NEXT I WOULD IMAGINE
A COUPLE OF DAYS GOT IT. AND IF
YOU COULD JUST CLARIFY FOR ME
BECAUSE YOU ALSO MENTIONED THAT
IN A BUDGET TRAILER BILL
LANGUAGE, IT WASN'T REQUIRED TO
DO THE REPORTING. BUT YOU GUYS
ARE DOING THE REPORTING OR JUST
ISSUING THE GUIDELINES. WE'RE
ISSUING GUIDANCE TO DISTRICT SO
, UH, TYPICALLY, WHEN THERE
ANYTIME THERE'S FUNDS THAT COME
OUT IN THE BUDGET WITH THAT ARE
DESIGNED TO GO TO DISTRICTS FOR
A SPECIFIC PURPOSE. WE DO ISSUE
GUIDANCE, REMIND DISTRICTS OF
THEIR STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS AND
IF THERE IS REPORTING THAT'S
REQUIRED BY THAT WE REMIND THEM
OF THAT IN THE DEADLINES AND SO
FORTH. IN THIS CASE, THERE WAS
NOT SPECIFIC REPORTING. SO THE
REPORTING THAT WE'RE DOING IS
REPORTING THAT WAS ALREADY IN
PLACE FOR THAT LIMITED SUBSET OF
DATA. WE HAVE BUT AS IT RELATES
SPECIFICALLY TO THE 2021 22
FUNDS, WE DON'T HAVE SPECIFIC
ABILITY TO COMPEL THAT DATA FROM
DISTRICTS TO BE REPORTED UP TO
US. THANK YOU, MR O'BRIEN.
ALRIGHT WITH THAT. AH, SIGNAL
THERE ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS. LET
ME GO AHEAD AND INVITE THE
PUBLIC TO COMMENT IF THERE'S ANY
PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM.
AGAIN THIS IS THE CALIFORNIA
COMMUNITY COLLEGES HIRING
PRACTICES 2022-1 13 THIS TIME
WHEN WE ASK IF THERE'S ANY
PUBLIC COMMENT.
ALRIGHT HEARING AND SAYING NOW
AND WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND
MOVE IT BACK TO THE DIESS. LET
ME ASK ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S LOW IF
HE'D LIKE TO CLOSE OR HAVE ANY
CONCLUDING REMARKS. AH! THANK
YOU VERY MUCH, MR AND
COLLEAGUES. THIS IS AN EFFORT TO
HELP ENSURE THAT WE IN THE
LEGISLATURE, UM NOT ONLY
CONTINUE TO OUR COMMITMENT IN
ENSURING THAT WE HAVE THE TYPE
OF ACCOUNTABILITY BUT ALSO IN A
IN A COLLECTIVE SPIRIT, AS YOU
HEARD FROM THE PUBLIC TESTIMONY
THAT WE'RE ALL GOING IN THE SAME
DIRECTION. THIS ABOUT THE STATE
OF CALIFORNIA. THIS IS TO HELP
ENSURE THAT WE SET UP THE
CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY COLLEGES UP
FOR SUCCESS AND RESPECTFULLY
ASKED FOR I VOTE WHEN YOU'VE
REACHED A CORE. ALRIGHT. THANK
YOU, MR LOWE. UM THAT'S CORRECT
. ONCE WE ESTABLISH QUORUM WILL
GO AHEAD AND TAKE A VOTE ON THIS
ITEM. UNTIL THEN. THANK YOU FOR
YOUR TIME, AND WE WILL MOVE ON
TO THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM.
RIGHT NEXT WE HAVE IN SIGN IN
ORDER AS ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S FONG,
THIS IS FILE ITEM NUMBER SIX
MEMBERS. THIS IS 2022-101 COVID
19 CONTACT, TRACE TRACING
FUNDING. MR FONG, WHEN YOU WERE
READY TO BEGIN, PLEASE. THANK
YOU, MR CHAIR MEMBERS. IN THE
EARLY STAGES OF THE PANDEMIC.
GOVERNOR NEWSOM PERMITTED HIS
ADMINISTRATION TO LOAN STAFF.
FROM VARIOUS AGENCIES TO CONDUCT
CONTACT TRACING FOR COVID 19.
AGENCIES HOWEVER, WENT TOO FAR
WHEN THEY REDIRECTED STAFF
FINANCED BY SPECIAL FUNDS FOR
DUTIES OUTSIDE OF THEIR
RESPONSIBILITIES. AS LIKE AS
ELECTED OFFICIALS, WE HAVE THE
RESPONSIBILITY TO OVERSEE
PRECIOUS TAX DOLLARS. THIS
REQUEST IS TO MAKE SURE THAT
THERE IS TRANSPARENCY IN THE
USAGE OF TAXPAYER MONIES. THE
LEGISLATURE NEEDS TO KNOW THAT
STATE FUNDED STAFF WERE USED
PROPERLY. AND THAT AGENCIES HAVE
BEEN REIMBURSED TO CONTINUE WITH
THEIR MISSION. FOR EXAMPLE, CAL
JAM IS FUNDED BY OIL AND GAS
ENERGY PRODUCERS AND IS TASKED
WITH SUPERVISING THE INDUSTRY
WHEN STAFF HAS TAKEN AWAY FROM
THEIR STATUTORY RESPONSIBILITIES
. INDUSTRIES ARE LEFT WITHOUT
SUPPORT AND SUPERVISION. FOR THE
PAST TWO YEARS, THE PUBLIC HAD
NO KNOWLEDGE OF HOW MUCH WAS
ACTUALLY REIMBURSED AGENCIES
THAT PULLED STUFF AWAY. LAST
FRIDAY, THE DEPARTMENT OF
FINANCE UPLOADED SOME OF THE
INFORMATION ON ITS WEBSITE. THE
INFORMATION IS STILL LACKING IN
SEVERAL RESPECTS. THE PUBLIC
DOES NOT KNOW THE EXTENT SPECIAL
FUNDS CAN BE USED OUTSIDE OF
NORMAL AGENCY ACTIVITIES, WHICH
STAFF WERE REASSIGNED AND IF
THEY WERE ABLE TO FULFILL THEIR
RESPONSIBILITIES. AND MORE AS
THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE WILL
DISCUSS AS A LEGISLATURE BUDGETS
AND PLANS FOR STATE AGENCY
ACTIVITIES. WE NEED TO HAVE A
BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE
LIMITS OF THEIR AUTHORITY. UH
STATE AGENCIES PROVIDE NEEDED
SERVICES TO CALIFORNIANS AND
INDUSTRIES, AND THESE AGENCIES
CHARGED AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS
IN FEES TO SUPPORT THEIR BUDGETS
. THEIR STAFFING DUTIES, THEIR
STAFFING DUTIES. ASSIGNMENTS
SHOULD REFLECT THIS
RESPONSIBILITY. IN THE CONTRACT
IT SERVICES IN THE FEES CHARGED
TODAY I'M JOINED BY SEAN
WALLINGTON WITH THE CALIFORNIA
INDEPENDENT PETROLEUM
ASSOCIATION. THANK YOU RESPECT
WE ASK FOR YOUR EYE BOAT ON THIS
REQUEST. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S PHÊN. LET'S GO
AHEAD AND MOVE TO YOUR WITNESS
CHAIR AND MEMBERS SEAN
WALLENSTEIN FROM THE CALIFORNIA
INDEPENDENT PETROLEUM
ASSOCIATION REPRESENTING OIL AND
GAS PRODUCERS IN THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA. AS YOU ALL KNOW, UM
, THE OIL INDUSTRY FUNDS CAL GYM
100. ESSENTIALLY A SEVERANCE
TAXES PER BARREL FEE ON EVERY
BARREL OF CRUDE OIL THAT'S
PRODUCED IN THE STATE THAT FUNDS
CAL JIM WE WERE SURPRISED TO
FIND OUT THAT STAFF HAD BEEN
DIVERTED FROM CAL JIM TO DO
COVID CONTACT TRACING I WANT TO
BE CLEAR. SIPA DOES NOT OPPOSE
COVID CONTACT TRACING. THAT'S
NOT THE ISSUE HERE WE UNDERSTAND
. DURING THE PANDEMIC, THERE'S
AN ALL HANDS ON DECK MENTALITY
AND THE STATES TRYING TO MANAGE
A VERY, VERY DIFFICULT
CIRCUMSTANCE. I THINK IN
RELATIONSHIP TO A SPECIAL FUND
AGENCY LIKE CAL JIM, HOWEVER,
THE OIL INDUSTRY WAS UNIQUE. UM
ENERGY WORKERS, OIL WORKERS IN
THE OIL PATCH. WE'RE NOT SUBJECT
TO THE STAY AT HOME ORDER. UM
THEY CONTINUED TO PRODUCE CRUDE
EVEN WHEN CRUDE WENT BELOW ZERO.
THEY WERE OUT THERE WORKING AND
PRODUCING THE CRUDE OIL THAT
CALIFORNIA NEEDED. EVEN THOUGH
DEMAND WAS LOWER, THEY WERE
STILL OUT WORKING. THE CHALLENGE
WITH WHAT WE'RE SEEING IN
RELATIONSHIP TO THIS. THIS IS A
NEW THING AS WE'VE SEEN A LOT OF
NEW THINGS IN THE PAST COUPLE OF
YEARS. UM IF WE'RE OUT PRODUCING
AND WE'RE OUT IN THE OIL FIELD
WORKING, THERE NEEDS TO BE
CONTINUED PARTNERSHIP WITH CAL
JIM AND THEY NEED TO BE FULLY
STAFFED. YOU'VE ALL HEARD CAL.
JIM COME BEFORE YOU IN BUDGET
HEARINGS AND EXPRESSED CONCERNS
ABOUT STAFFING LEVELS. WE HAVE
THE SAME CONCERNS ABOUT CAL JIM
STAFFING LEVELS AND THEIR
ABILITY TO DO THEIR JOB. NOT
JUST WORKING WITH US ON
OVERSIGHT, ENVIRONMENTAL, HEALTH
AND SAFETY ISSUES, BUT ALSO IN
APPROVING OUR PROJECT
APPLICATIONS AND PERMITS. YOU'VE
HEARD ME OR OTHERS SAY THAT
THERE ARE ABOUT 1200 PROJECTS,
APPLICATIONS AND PERMIT
APPLICATIONS THAT CAL JIM HAS
NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET TO. THEY
HAVEN'T GIVEN US A YES OR A NO.
UM AND THAT'S PARTLY BECAUSE OF
STAFFING CHALLENGES. UM CAL GYM
HAS BEEN OPENED WITH WITH SIPA
AS WE'VE ENGAGED WITH THEM. WE
REALLY DO APPRECIATE CAL JIM
LETTING US KNOW WHEN WE HEARD A
RUMOR THAT THERE WAS SOME STAFF
DIVERTED. THEY WERE HONEST WITH
US. THEY WERE HONEST ABOUT COSTS
SOME QUESTIONS THAT WE HAVE
SURROUNDED PROP 26. IS IT? IS IT
APPROPRIATE? AND NOT JUST IS IT
APPROPRIATE IF THE IF THE MONEY
IS BORROWED AND THEN ON ALONE
AND THEN AND THEN GIVEN BACK,
BUT THERE'S A QUESTION ABOUT THE
CHALLENGE OF WHAT WAS LOST
DURING THE TIME THAT THE FUNDING
WAS WAS ON LOAN. HOW MUCH OF A
REDUCED EFFICIENCY WAS THERE AT
CAL JIM AS A RESULT OF LOANING
13 15 20 STAFF DURING THAT
PERIOD OF TIME, WHAT WAS THE
DAMAGE TO OIL PRODUCERS IN
RELATIONSHIP TO OUR WORK AND THE
NEED FOR THEM TO WORK WITH US ON
PROJECT APPROVALS? AND THEN WHAT
WAS THE ISSUE WHAT WE'RE ISSUES,
IF ANY RELATED TO ANY DROP OFF
IN OVERSIGHT? SO THOSE ARE
GENERAL QUESTIONS. WE HAVE ONE
OTHER THING I WOULD MENTION AS
WELL. IF YOU DO APPROVE THIS,
AND WE CERTAINLY REQUEST THAT
YOU WOULD UH, WE DO HAVE A
QUESTION AS WELL MAY NOT BE
TOTALLY GERMANE TO THIS. AND
MAYBE, UM, AND THAT'S THE
HAZARDOUS IDOL AND DESERTED,
WELL ABATEMENT FUND, UM AT THE
BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC, THERE
WAS $13 MILLION IN THAT SPECIAL
FUND THAT PRODUCERS PAY THROUGH
THE IDOL WELL MANAGEMENT PLAN.
THAT MONEY IS SPECIFICALLY AND
ONLY DESIGNED TO RE MEDIATE
DANGEROUS ORPHAN. AH! OIL AND
NATURAL GAS WELLS. LOOK WE ARE
YOUR PARTNER PRIMARY PARTNER IN
REMEDIATING. THOSE WELLS AND ALL
OF THOSE FUNDS WERE INVESTED IN
THAT ACCOUNT TO DO THAT WORK. WE
CARE MORE THAN ANYONE ELSE
ABOUT. THOSE WELLS BEING DEALT
WITH. THE ISSUE WE HAD WITH IT
WAS $10 MILLION WAS SWEPT FROM
THAT FUND AND WE DON'T KNOW
WHERE IT WENT, AND WE DON'T KNOW
WHAT IT WAS USED FOR. AND TO
THIS DAY WEDON'T KNOW WHAT IT
WAS USED FOR, AND WE'VE BEEN
TOLD IT'S GOING TO BE GIVEN BACK
TO CAL GYM IN 2025, WHICH IS
FINE, BUT AGAIN, THE QUESTION
IS, IF ORPHAN WELLS IN THE
REMEDIATION OF THOSE WELLS IS A
PRIORITY FOR THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA, WHY WAS A $13
MILLION FUND REDUCED TO $3
MILLION FOR A FIVE YEAR PERIOD?
AND COULD GALGENWAARD USED THAT
$10 MILLION TO RE MEDIATE SOME
OF THE WELLS THAT HAVE EVEN BEEN
IN THE NEWS RECENTLY DOWN IN
KERN COUNTY? THOSE ARE CRITICAL
FUNDS, AND WE WOULD PREFER AS
THE REGULATED INDUSTRY AND THE
FUNDER OF THAT FUND TO ENSURE
THAT THOSE DOLLARS REMAIN FOR
THEIR PRIMARY PURPOSE, SO
THERE'S JUST QUESTIONS THAT WE
HAVE. GOING INTO THE FUTURE AS
TO WHETHER GALGENWAARD STAFF AND
FUNDING WHICH IS SPECIAL FUNDING
CAN BE OR SHOULD BE DIVERTED FOR
THE PURPOSES THAT THEY'VE BEEN
USED. AND TO BE HONEST, WE DO
NOT KNOW. AND I'M NOT CERTAIN
CAL. JIM KNOWS HOW THE STAFF
WERE USED WITH ALL THAT SAID,
THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME APPEAR
HERE TODAY WITH A FAMILY MEMBER
FONG AND WE ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT
OF THE AUDIT. ALL RIGHT. THANK
YOU. AT THIS TIME, WE'RE GONNA
GO AHEAD AND MOVE TO OUR ACTING
STATE AUDITOR. MR. TILTON,
PLEASE. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, MR
CHAIR AND MEMBERS SO THIS AUDIT
WOULD REALLY FOCUS ON THE
STATE'S CONTACT TRACING PROGRAM
AND SPECIFICALLY, THE FUNDS THAT
HAVE BEEN SPENT TO REDIRECT
STATE EMPLOYEES TO COVID 19
CONTACT TRACING ASSIGNMENTS. SO
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE WOULD
DO IF THIS ODDS APPROVE HIS
DISCERN DETERMINE THE SOURCES OF
FUNDING FOR THE CONTACT TRACING
PROGRAM AND HOW THOSE FUNDS WERE
SPENT, AND HOW MUCH WAS SPENT ON
EMPLOYEES THAT WERE REDIRECTED
TO CONTACT TRACING ASSIGNMENTS.
THE MEMBERS ALSO ASKING US TO
TAKE A LOOK AT THE AUTHORITY FOR
USING ANY SPECIAL FUNDS OR BOND
FUNDS FOR CONTACT TRACING. AND
WHETHER LEGISLATIVE APPROVAL OR
NOTIFICATION WAS REQUIRED IN
ORDER TO DO THAT. AND WE ALSO
TAKE A LOOK AT DATA ON STATE
EMPLOYEES THAT WERE REASSIGNED
AS CONTACT TRACERS. AND THE
PROCESS THAT WAS USED FOR
TRACKING THEIR HOURS.
SPECIFICALLY WE WANT TO IDENTIFY
HOW MANY OF THESE EMPLOYEES WERE
IN SUPERVISORY POSITIONS OR IN
POSITIONS THAT PAID A SALARY
ABOVE WHAT THE STATE WAS
OFFERING TO PAY. NEWLY HIRED
CONTACT TRACERS. WE ALSO LOOK AT
HOW MANY WERE ASSIGNED TO
CONTACT TRACING USING SPECIAL
FUND OR OTHER FEES SUPPORTED
REVENUES. IN ADDITION, WE TAKE A
LOOK AT HOW LONG THE EMPLOYEES
WERE SIGNED AND HOW LONG THEY
WAITED TO ACTUALLY GET STARTED
WITH THEIR CONTACT TRACING
ASSIGNMENT. AND FINALLY, WE
WOULD REALLY DETERMINE WHETHER
FINANCE HAS COMPLETED THE
PROCESS OF REIMBURSING ALL STATE
DEPARTMENTS FOR THEIR, UM,
CONTRACT TRACING WORK, INCLUDING
ANY EMPLOYEES THAT HAD BEEN
FUNDED AGAIN USING BOND FUNDS OR
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS.
THIS ORDER HAS A BUDGET OF 1500
HOURS. IT'S A FAIRLY FOCUSED
AUDIT REQUESTS. I THINK IT WOULD
TAKE US 4 TO 5 MONTHS TO
COMPLETE. WITH THAT. THANK YOU,
MR CHAIR. THANK YOU, MR TILDEN
AT THIS TIME WHEN WE GO AHEAD
AND DISMISSED THE WITNESSES AND
CALL UP THE AFFECTED AGENCIES.
FOR THIS. I BELIEVE WE HAVE MARY
HALL TREMENDOUS, DISTANT PROGRAM
BUDGET MANAGEMENT FOR THE
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE. LEANNE
SMITH, PROGRAM OPERATIONS
MANAGER FOR CONTACT TRACING
PROGRAM, CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT
OF PUBLIC HEALTH. PLEASE PROCEED
WHEN YOU'RE READY. MORNING CHAIR
AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE
MARY HALTERMAN DEPARTMENT OF
FINANCE. THANK YOU FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO RESPOND TO THIS
AUDIT REQUESTED TO PROVIDE A
STATUS UPDATE ON THE CONTACT,
TRACING EFFORTS AND THE
REIMBURSEMENT PROCESS. UNDER THE
MARCH 4TH 2020 STATE OF
EMERGENCY PROCLAMATION AND
PREPARING FOR AND RESPONDING TO
THE COVID 19 PANDEMIC. THE
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN
RESOURCES DIRECTED DEPARTMENTS
IDENTIFY 5% OF STAFF TO
PARTICIPATE IN THE CONTACT
TRACING EFFORTS. CONSISTENT WITH
THE DIRECTION FROM THE OFFICE OF
EMERGENCY SERVICES, THE
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC
HEALTH EMERGENCY MEDICAL
SERVICES AUTHORITY AND THE STATE
EMERGENCY PLAN. THE
PARTICIPATING DEPARTMENTS IN THE
STATEWIDE CONTACT TRACING
PROGRAM MADE THE DECISIONS ON
WHICH EMPLOYEES AND
CLASSIFICATIONS TO REDIRECT
BASED ON THEIR OWN INTERNAL
WORKLOAD PRIORITIES AND THE
STAFF AVAILABLE AT THAT TIME. IN
GENERAL CONTACT TRACING
ASSIGNMENTS FOR FIRST 6 TO 9
MONTHS AND IN 2020 21 THERE WERE
OVER 2800 REDIRECTED EMPLOYEES
THAT PERFORM CONTACT TRACING
ACTIVITIES. THE CONTACT TRACING
EFFORTS RESULTED IN COSTS 4.5
MILLION AND 2019 21 168 MILLION
AND 2020 21. THESE COSTS HAVE
ULTIMATELY BEEN PAID FOR WITH
FEDERAL FUNDS FROM THE
CORONAVIRUS REALLY FUND, ALL
STATE FUNDS, BOTH GENERAL FUND
AND NON GENERAL FUND SOURCES
HAVE BEEN FULLY REIMBURSED FOR
BOTH OF THESE FISCAL YEARS. AND
SPECIFIC DETAILS OF ALL THE
REIMBURSEMENTS BY FIND ARE
AVAILABLE ON THE FINANCE PUBLIC
WEBSITES. THE REMAINING COSTS
FOR THE CURRENT YEAR IN 21 22
WILL BE REIMBURSED LATER IN 2022
ONCE WE HAVE ALL OF THE FINAL
DATA FOR CONTACT, TRACING HOURS
AND THE SALARIES FROM THE
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC
HEALTH BEGINNING JULY 1ST 2022,
THE STATE WILL TRANSITION FROM
THIS CURRENT REDIRECTION PROGRAM
TO THE VOLUNTARY PUBLIC HEALTH
RESERVE CORPS, WHICH WILL BE
ADMINISTERED BY THE DEPARTMENT
OF PUBLIC HEALTH. THIS PROGRAM
ALLOWS VOLUNTARY PARTICIPATION
BY DEPARTMENTS AND EMPLOYEES
GOING FORWARD THROUGH
INTERAGENCY AGREEMENTS. TO
REIMBURSE THE DEPARTMENT'S
DIRECTLY I'M JOINED BY MY
COLLEAGUE FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF
PUBLIC HEALTH AND WE ARE
AVAILABLE TO ANSWER ANY
QUESTIONS. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU. SO NOW ADDITIONAL
TESTIMONY JUST HERE FOR SUPPORT.
OKAY THANK YOU FOR THAT. AH AT
THIS TIME, LET ME RETURN BACK TO
THE DIOCESE. LET ME ASK IF
THERE'S QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS
ON THE DIETS ON THIS. LET'S
START WITH SENATOR LEVA
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S RUBIO, THEN TO
SENATOR NELSON. THANK YOU, MR
CHAIR. ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S SALAS. I
WAS JUST CURIOUS. WHAT YOU'RE
SORRY, SAUL. UM, SOMEONE MEMBER
PH. I WAS JUST CURIOUS WHAT
YOU'RE HOPING TO FIND. IN THIS
AUDIT. WHAT? YOU'RE LOOKING FOR
AN OUTCOME TO BE I THINK WE'RE
LOOKING FOR MORE TRANSPARENCY TO
SEE WHERE THE FUNDS WENT, WHAT
THEY WERE USED FOR THE HOW THE
PROCEDURES AND POLICIES WERE
THAT ENGAGED INTO THIS PROCESS.
THE OTHER THING, TOO, IS THAT I
KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF FOCUS ON
CAL JAM. BUT THIS IS NOT UNIQUE
TO CAL JIM. THE OTHER AGENCIES
WERE INVOLVED IN DIVERTING
RESOURCES TO DO TO WHEN THEY
WERE WHERE THEY RECEIVE FUNDS
THROUGH BONDS AND FEES. AND SO
IT'S A HAVE A DETAILED LOOK. AND
I THINK THEY, THE AUDITOR
OUTLINED WHAT THE SPECIFIC AUDIT
WOULD WOULD LOOK FOR. THAT'S
WHAT WE'RE LOOKING TO FIND. SO
WHAT DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE SAYS
YOU JUST DON'T THINK IT'S
ACCURATE. WHAT DEPARTMENT
FINANCE, I THINK PROVIDED WAS A
GLIMPSE OF WHAT WHAT HAS
CURRENTLY TRANSPIRED OVER
BROADLY, BUT IN TERMS OF THE
SPECIFICS OF WHO WAS DIVERTED
WHAT WAS YOU WHAT THE FUNDS WERE
USED FOR WAS IT? WAS IT
EFFECTIVE? I THINK THOSE ARE THE
SPECIFICS WE'RE LOOKING FOR
WHETHER OR NOT IT WAS EFFECTIVE
. I MEAN, WE WERE TRYING TO
AVOID PEOPLE DYING, SO I THINK
THAT IF THE EFFECTIVENESS IS
ALWAYS IMPORTANT, BUT I THINK
WHAT DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE ALSO
SAID WAS THAT IT THAT THEY
LOOKED AT DEPARTMENTS AND THE
DEPARTMENTS MADE THE CHOICES OF
WHO WOULD THEY WOULD RELEASE TO
DO THAT, BASED ON WORKLOAD? SO
ARE YOU WHEN YOU SAY YOU WANT TO
FIND OUT WHO WAS RELEASED? DO
YOU WANT SPECIFIC NAMES OF
PEOPLE? I THINK THAT I THINK
WHAT THE AUDITOR OUTLINED IS
WHAT WE'RE LOOKING TO FIND. UM
AND THEN I THINK I APPRECIATE
WHAT THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE
HAS PROVIDED. OF COURSE, THEY
PROVIDING IT BECAUSE OF OUR
AUDIT REQUEST, BUT I THINK THAT
IS A GOOD START, AND I THINK
MORE OF THE SPECIFIC MORE
SPECIFICS WOULD BE NECESSARY AND
RIGHT. THEY DID WHEN, WHEN ASKED
THEY WILL PROVIDE US WITH THE
INFORMATION WE NEED. SO THAT'S
GREAT. ALRIGHT THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. THANK YOU, MR CHAIR. THANK
YOU. LET'S GO TO MOVE TO
ASSEMBLYWOMAN RUBIO. YES UM SO,
SO IT'S IN LINE WITH KIND OF THE
REQUEST FROM WHAT I HEARD IS YOU
SAID THAT EVERY EVERY DEPARTMENT
WAS REIMBURSED, BUT UM, WHEN
YOU'RE WHEN THEY'RE REIMBURSED
DOES THAT GO THAT AMOUNT? GO
BACK INTO THE SPECIAL FUND, OR
DOES IT GO TO KIND OF A GENERAL
FUND? BECAUSE I'VE SEEN WHERE
WHERE I SIT ON HEALTH AND HUMAN
SERVICES AND FUNDS ARE DIVERTED,
BUT WHEN THEY RETURNED THEY'RE
TREATED AS GENERAL FUND. I DON'T
KNOW IF THAT'S KIND OF A
DEPARTMENT GENERAL FUND AND
INSTEAD OF BACK INTO THE SPECIAL
FUND, SO WHEN THAT MONEY IS
REFUNDED OR RETURN. DOES IT GO
BACK TO THE SPECIAL FUND? OR
DOES IT GO TO KIND OF A GENERAL
FUND? BECAUSE THEN THAT WAY I'VE
HAD EXPERIENCE WHERE MONEY HAS
BEEN RETURNED, HOWEVER, IF IT'S
PUT IN A SPECIAL IN THE GENERAL
FUND FOR THAT DEPARTMENT, THEN
THEY COULD USE IT FOR WHATEVER
THEY WANT, AS OPPOSED TO WHAT?
WHAT IT WAS INTENDED, WHICH IS A
SPECIAL FUND. YES TO ADDRESS
THAT QUESTION. ALL OF THE FUNDS
WERE RETURNED TO THE SPECIFIC
FUNDS THAT THEY WERE USED FROM,
SO IT DID NOT GO BACK TO THE
GENERAL FUND. IT ALSO DID NOT GO
BACK TO THE DEPARTMENTS FOR
THEIR GENERAL USES. IT WENT BACK
INTO THE VARIOUS SPECIAL FUNDS.
SO JUST KIND OF FOLLOW UP. SO IF
THIS AUDIT IS AND I'M
CONSISTENTLY HAVE SAID THAT
ALWAYS AN AUDIT IS GOOD, BECAUSE
AT LEAST WE CAN LOOK AT THE
PUBLIC AND SAY, HEY, THIS IS WE
WERE AUDITED AND I WILL HAVE
ALWAYS SAID THAT I WILL BE THE
FIRST ONE TO COMMEND THE
DEPARTMENT FOR THEIR USE OF
WHATEVER THE RESOURCES ARE SOLD
FOR, IN MY OPINION, AND AUDIT
WOULD AT LEAST GIVE US AN
OPPORTUNITY TO SEE IF, UM, KIND
OF THE DIVERSION OF FUNDS WORKED
IN A STATE OF EMERGENCY, AND NOW
THAT WE'RE OUT OF THE OR
POTENTIALLY OUT OF THE STATE OF
EMERGENCY, UM, FOR THOSE FUNDS
TO BE RETURNED AND WE NOW KNOW
THAT WE CAN COUNT ON ALL OF THE
DEPARTMENTS WHEN THERE IS
ANOTHER STATE OF EMERGENCY TO
KIND OF, UH, BAND TOGETHER AND
DO WHAT'S NEEDED FOR THE STATE.
SO MY POINT IS THAT I BELIEVE
THAT A, UH, AN AUDIT AS OUTLINED
BY THE AUDITOR, I THINK WOULD
WOULD BE A GOOD SNAPSHOT INTO
HOW DID WE RESPOND TO THIS
EMERGENCY, SO I APPRECIATE THE
INFORMATION AND, YOU KNOW, I
KNOW I HAVE TO GO LOOK AT A
PORTAL TO FIGURE THIS OUT. BUT I
WOULD PREFER THE AUDITOR TO KIND
OF OUTLINE IF YOU KNOW THESE
THESE STATE OF EMERGENCIES? DID
THE STATE RESPONDED PROPERLY,
AND WE'RE ALL THOSE OTHER
DEPARTMENTS BECAUSE IT'S NOT
JUST ABOUT CAL. JIM I KNOW THAT
THERE WAS OTHER DEPARTMENTS THAT
THE MONEY WAS DIVERTED AS WELL.
AND SO I'M HOPING TO FIND THAT
INFORMATION THROUGH THIS, SO I
APPRECIATE THE RESPONSE FROM THE
DEPARTMENT. ALL RIGHT. THANK
YOU, MR RUBIO. LET'S GO TO MOVE
TO SENATOR NELSON. THIS ISSUE.
IT'S FAR BEYOND THIS PARTICULAR.
AGENCY. THAT'S RAMPANT.
THROUGHOUT THE AGENCIES OF STATE
GOVERNMENT. I WATCHED IT FOR
DECADES. A FEW YEARS AGO, FOR
EXAMPLE, THE FIRES BURNING UP
THE STATE. SO THE LEGISLATURE
FINALLY. FINALLY PUT SOME MONEY
IN THE BUDGET FOR FOREST AND
WILD LAND MANAGEMENT. WELL IT
WAS DISCLOSED, ACTUALLY BUY A
NEW SOURCE. THAT THE DEPARTMENT
DID NOT SPEND A GOOD PORTION OF
THAT MONEY. THAT WAS REALLY
CRITICAL. TO PREVENTING FIRES.
NOW THAT'S JUST PRETTY EGREGIOUS
EXAMPLE. THIS ONE, MAYBE NOT AS
MUCH. BUT AGENCIES ARE FAMOUS.
AND OFTENTIMES, WITH EITHER THE
DIRECTION OF OR COMPLICIT WITH
THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE. TO
TAKE MONEY APPROPRIATED BY THE
LEGISLATURE. AND REDIRECT THEM
TO THEIR OWN PRIORITIES. I THINK
THIS. AUDIT WILL HAVE A SALUTARY
EFFECT. TO ALL AGENCIES AND THE
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE. GIVEN THE
HEADS UP. THE LEGISLATURE IS
KEEPING AN EYE ON THIS. THIS IS
AN IMPORTANT AUDIT. THANK YOU.
SENATOR BECKER. THANK YOU
APPROPRIATE. MAKE A COMMENT. I
WOULD JUST SAY THAT I'M A LITTLE
TORN ON THIS ONE, BECAUSE I DO.
UM I DO HEAR THE POINT ABOUT, UM
WHEN YOU HAVE A FOCUSED ATTACKS
ON AN INDUSTRY OR FEES FOR CAL,
JIM UM AND CERTAINLY CONCERNED
ABOUT WHAT THE POINT THAT WAS
RAISED AROUND THE IDOL WELL,
FUND. AND DO YOU THINK WE SHOULD
LOOK INTO THE LADDER? AND UM AND
CERTAINLY REEXAMINE OUR POLICY
ON THE FORMER? I'M JUST NOT SURE
I'M STRUGGLING WHETHER AN AUDIT
OF THE FULL CONTACT TRACING THE
PROGRAM IS REALLY GOING TO HELP
US WITH EITHER OF THOSE AND HELP
US GET THERE, SO THAT'S SORT OF
MY STRUGGLE WITH THIS TODAY.
JUST WANTED TO SHARE THAT. THANK
YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. LET ME
ASK IF THERE'S ADDITIONAL
QUESTIONS FROM THE DAIS SIMPLY
MEMBER KYLIE. THANK YOU, MR
CHAIR AND LISTENING TO THE
DEBATE. I THINK THAT YOU KNOW,
ASSEMBLYWOMAN RUBIO'S COMMENTS
CERTAINLY MADE A LOT OF SENSE TO
ME AS TO HOW YOU KNOW THIS WOULD
BE USEFUL INFORMATION TO HAVE
GOING FORWARD. JUST I'M TRYING
TO GET MY MIND AROUND WHAT WE
KNOW NOW. SO ASSEMBLY BEN FONG
OF I COULD ASK YOU A FEW
QUESTIONS IN REGARD TO THAT.
SURE DO WE KNOW WHAT THE TOTAL
AMOUNT IS? THAT HAS BEEN
REIMBURSED FROM THE CORONAVIRUS
RELIEF ON TO STATE AGENCIES.
THAT THAT INFORMATION WAS JUST
PROVIDED. ACTUALLY IN THIS
HEARING BY DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE
, WE HAVE WE UNDERSTAND THAT
SOME OF THAT INFORMATION OR SOME
OF THE REIMBURSEMENTS HAVE
OCCURRED. WE WERE TOLD THAT IT
WAS IN PROCESS BUT ACCORDING TO
PART FINANCE, ALL OF THAT
REIMBURSEMENT HAS HAS OCCURRED
IN TERMS OF REAL REVIEWING AND
EVALUATING THE LAWS, RULES
REGULATIONS IN TERMS OF HOW THE
PROGRAM WORKS AND WHETHER IT
WORKED APPROPRIATELY. UM YOU
KNOW HOW MANY WERE IN
SUPERVISORIAL POSITIONS? WHO WAS
WHO DID THE CONTACT TRACING?
WHICH THAT WERE BEING DIVERTED.
HOW THOSE SPECIAL FUNDS WERE
USED AND WHERE THEY USE
EFFECTIVELY. THOSE ARE STILL
REMAINING QUESTIONS THAT NEED TO
BE ANSWERED. I SEE AND FORGIVE
ME IF I MISSED THIS. DID THEY
SAY HOW MANY STATE AGENCIES HAVE
BEEN REIMBURSED? ACCORDING TO
THE DEPARTMENT FINANCE ALL OF
THEM HAVE IS THAT CORRECT?
CRACKED ALL OF THE DEPARTMENTS
THAT HAD CONTACT TRACING, UM,
STAFF REDIRECTED. ALL OF THEM
HAVE BEEN REIMBURSED FOR THE TWO
FISCAL YEARS. WE'RE STILL
WAITING FOR INFORMATION FOR THE
CURRENT FISCAL YEAR. OKAY AND DO
YOU KNOW HOW MANY AGENCIES THAT
IS ROUGHLY. IN THE BEGINNING OF
HEIGHT OF PANDEMIC WAS OVER
ABOUT 100 STATE DEPARTMENTS. 100
STATE DEPARTMENTS. OK AND, UH,
FOR EITHER SOME WOMEN FIND OR
THE DEPARTMENT FINANCE. UH,
WHAT'S THE YOU KNOW, JUST THE
STATE HAVE FUNDS LEFT IN THE
CORONAVIRUS RELIEF FUND THAT IS
THERE THAT COULD BE USED TO
ISSUE FURTHER REIMBURSEMENTS. SO
ALL FUNDS FROM THE CORONAVIRUS
RELIEF FUND HAS BEEN EXPENDED AS
OF DECEMBER 31ST 2021 SO GOING
FORWARD, WE WILL BE USING THE
STATE FISCAL RECOVERY FUND FUNDS
THAT ARE GOING TO BE FREEING UP
GENERAL FUND THROUGH THE REVENUE
LOSS PROVISIONS. SO FOR THE
CURRENT FISCAL YEAR THOSE
REIMBURSEMENTS WILL COME FROM
OTHER FEDERAL FUNDS. I SEE. AND
IN TERMS OF THE STAFF, DO WE
KNOW HOW MANY TOTAL STAFF WERE
LOANED OUT FROM STATE AGENCIES
TO THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC
HEALTH? IT WOULD VARY BASED OFF
OF TIME. BUT THERE AT THE HEIGHT
OF THE PANDEMIC WE HAD ABOUT
3000 STATE STAFF. ABOUT 2000
WERE REDIRECTED TO LOCAL HEALTH
JURISDICTIONS TO ASSIST WITH
COVID. CONTACT TRACING SO 3000
WERE ALONE. AND WHAT WOULD THE
OTHER 1000 D THEY WERE ON
RESERVE AND TRAIN AND WORKING IN
THEIR HOME STATE DEPARTMENT'S
WAITING FOR ASSIGNMENT. I SEE
OKAY? DOES THE DOES PART OF
FINANCE HAVE SORT OF BREAKDOWN
OF YOU KNOW WHICH STAFF MR MR
KILEY BEFORE YOU GO OUT TO YOUR
NEXT QUESTION. LET ME ESTABLISH
QUORUM BEFORE WE LOSE IT. FAIR
ENOUGH, SO WE'RE GONNA TAKE A
BREAK TO ESTABLISH QUORUM. MADAM
SECRETARY, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S SALAS PRESENT.
BOERNER HORVATH KYLIE. PATERSON.
RUBIO. GOPAL. WOULD. SENATOR
HERTZBERG. BECKER. GORGEOUS.
GLACIER. LEVER. MCGUIRE NIELSEN.
ALRIGHT A QUORUM IS ESTABLISHED
. THANK YOU, SENATORS. THANK YOU
MEMBERS. ALRIGHT WITH THAT WE
WILL RETURN BACK TO THE HEARING.
MR KILEY, PLEASE PROCEED. YES IT
IS. DEPARTMENT FINANCE HAVE KIND
OF A BREAKDOWN OF WHICH STAFF
ARE LOANED. YOU KNOW DETAILS
ABOUT THEIR POSITION WHETHER
NORMAL RESPONSIBILITIES ARE AND
SORT OF HOW THEIR ROLE AT THEIR
HOME AGENCY WAS FILLED DURING
THEIR ABSENCE. WE DO HAVE SOME
INFORMATION ON THE BREAKDOWNS OF
THE CLASSIFICATIONS THAT WERE
GENERALLY USED MORE THAN A THIRD
OF THE REDIRECTED EMPLOYEES WERE
AT THE STAFF SERVICES ANALYST OR
ASSOCIATED GOVERNMENTAL PROGRAM
ANALYST POSITIONS, SO THAT WAS
CLOSE TO 900 OF THE POSITIONS.
WHEN IT COMES TO BE ASSIGNMENTS
FROM THE DEPARTMENTS. ALL OF
THAT WAS DETERMINED BY THE
DEPARTMENT AS TO HOW THEY WERE
CONTINUE TO MEET THEIR MISSIONS.
IT WAS DETERMINED BY THE
DEPARTMENT SO YOU DON'T
NECESSARILY HAVE ACCESS TO THAT
DATA CORRECT. OKAY? TO SOMEONE
PARK. IT SOUNDS LIKE WE'VE
GOTTEN SOME INFORMATION AT THIS
HEARING WAS WAS THIS INFORMATION
THAT WAS KNOWN TO EUROS
AVAILABLE PRIOR TO THE HEARING?
IT WAS NOT, AND SO THE
INFORMATION IS USEFUL. I THINK
THE CHALLENGE I THINK WE ARE
TRYING TO FOCUS ON IS THAT IT IS
ABUNDANTLY CLEAR THAT ONE WE
SHOULD BE ASKING WHETHER THIS
PROGRAM WORKED INTO WHETHER THIS
PROGRAM IS AFFECTING THE
MISSIONS OF CERTAIN AGENCIES, IF
THERE IS A HAZARDOUS WASTE FUND
THAT IS DESIGNED TO BE
REMEDIATING WELLS OR TO BE DOING
SOMETHING OR APPROVING PERMITS
OR TO BE APPROVING HOUSING OR
APPROVING ALL THESE THINGS. AND
THEY THOSE AGENCIES CANNOT DO
THEIR FUNCTIONS BECAUSE OF AN
IMPORTANT NEED, BUT AND IF
REIMBURSEMENTS ARE BEING DELAYED
IF THE COSTS ARE NOT BEING
IMPLEMENTED FAST ENOUGH UM THOSE
REVIEWS SHOULD BE HAPPENING, AND
SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO
DO A VERY NARROW FOCUSED, UH,
ASSESSMENT IN TERMS OF WHETHER
THIS SPECIFIC CONTACT TRACING
FUNDING AND PROGRAM IS ACTUALLY
WORKING AND WHETHER IT CAN BE
IMPROVED. THANK YOU, MR CAYLEE.
WITH THAT. LET ME ASK FOR
ADDITIONAL MEMBER. QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS. LET ME ASK A QUESTION.
IF I MAY. I KNOW WE FOCUSED A
LOT ON ONE ASPECT OF YOUR AUDIT.
BUT THE OTHER ASPECT, I BELIEVE
WAS ALSO THE GOVERNOR'S
AUTHORITY FOR THE EXTENT OF
USING THE SPECIALTY FUNDS. LET
ME ASK MR TILDEN IF WE HAVE EVER
LOOKED AT GOVERNOR'S AUTHORITY
TO REDIRECT THOSE TYPES OF
THINGS AND PASSED ON, IT'S JUST
TO YOUR RECOLLECTION. AH! THANK
YOU, MR CHAIR AND MEMBERS TO MY
RECOLLECTION, AYE. I CAN'T SAY
THAT I RECALL DOING SOMETHING
LIKE THAT. SO IF THE ODDS
APPROVED, OBVIOUSLY WE'LL HAVE
TO WORK WITH OUR LEGAL COUNSEL
TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE ACCESS
AND THE ABILITY TO ACTUALLY DO
THAT. GOT IT. THANK YOU. AND LET
ME ASK A QUESTION OF THE
DEPARTMENT. YOU SAID ALL THE
INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE VIA THE
WEBSITE NOW AND THAT WAS
AVAILABLE. DID I HEAR CORRECTLY
JUST A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO OR
WHEN DID THAT GO LIFE? WE POSTED
IT ON OUR WEBSITE LAST WEEK. I
BELIEVE EITHER THURSDAY OR
FRIDAY. THANK YOU ALL RIGHT WITH
THAT. LET ME ASK IF THERE'S ANY
ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS FROM THE
MEMBERS OF THE DIOCESE HEARING
AND SAYING NONE. WE'RE GOING TO
GO AHEAD AND NOW MOVE TO PUBLIC
COMMENTS. I INVITE THE PUBLIC TO
COMMENT ON THIS ITEM. IF YOU'D
LIKE TO APPROACH THE MICROPHONE.
ALRIGHT HEARING AND SEEING NO
PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS. I WILL
RETURN OR RETURN THIS ITEM BACK
TO THE DIESS. AND LET ME ASK
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S UM PHANG. IF
YOU'D LIKE TO CLOSE, THANK THE
COMMITTEE FOR THEIR ATTENTION ON
THIS AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU
KNOW WE WERE DEALING WITH AN
EMERGENCY. BUT AS WE MOVE
FORWARD BEYOND IT, I THINK WE
ACTUALLY HAVE TO DRAW SOME
LESSONS AND WHETHER WHAT WE DID
OR WHAT WE DIDN'T DO ACTUALLY
WORKED AND SO GETTING, UM
INDEPENDENTLY DEVELOPED AND
VERIFIED INFORMATION FROM THE
AUDITOR ON WHETHER THE SPECIFIC
FUNDING WAS USED APPROPRIATELY.
WHETHER, UM, WHETHER IT UH,
AGENCIES WERE IMPACTED AND
WHETHER THE PUBLIC WAS
NEGATIVELY OR IMPACTED AS WELL.
WE NEED TO FIND THAT OUT. SO I
RECENTLY ASKED FOR AND I VOTE ON
THIS REQUEST. ALRIGHT, THANK
YOU, MR FONG. WITH THAT. LET'S
GO AHEAD AND ASK IF THERE IS A
MOTION ON MR FONG'S AUDIT. NOW
THAT WE'VE ESTABLISHED QUORUM
MOTION BY MR NIELSON SECONDED BY
MR KILEY. LET'S GO AHEAD AND
CALL THE ROLL. THE MOTION IS TO
APPROVE AUTO REQUEST 2022-101
COVID 19 CONTACT TRACING FUNDING
BY ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S FONG.
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S SALIS IS I
BOERNER HORVATH BOERNER HORVATH
NOT VOTING, KYLIE. KYLIE I.
PATERSON. PATERSON. I RUBIO.
RUBIO I APPLE APPLE. I WOULD
SENATOR HERTZBERG. BECKER.
SPECTER, NOT VOTING, GORGEOUS.
GLACIER. LEYVA. LEAVE AND NOT
VOTING. MCGUIRE NILSSON NILSSON.
AYE. OKAY. THIS ITEMS ON CALL MR
FONG. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. YES.
LET'S AH, UM WANTED TO DO.
CONSENT, BUT RIGHT. ABSOLUTELY.
ALL RIGHT. LET ME GET ONE MOMENT
WORSE, OKAY? MEMBERS WERE GOING
TO GO AHEAD AND MOVE TO FILE
ITEM NUMBER 10. THIS WAS 2022-1
13. THERE'S BEEN A MOTION BY
ASSEMBLYWOMAN RUBIO SECONDED BY
MR BOERNER HORVATH. AND THIS IS
JUST A VOTE ON THE ITEM THAT WE
HEARD. THIS MORNING. SO, MADAM
SECRETARY, CALL THE ROLL. THE
MOTION IS TO APPROVE AUTO
REQUESTS. 2022-1 13, CALIFORNIA
COMMUNITY COLLEGES HIRING
PRACTICES BY ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S
LOW ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S SALAS.
SALAS AYE, BOERNER HORVATH
BOERNER HORVATH. AYE, KYLIE.
KYLIE? AYE. PATERSON. PATERSON.
I RUBIO. RUBIO I OPAL OPAL. I
WOULD SENATOR HERTZBERG. BECKER.
BECKER. I GORGEOUS. GLACIER.
LEYVA. LEVER. AYE. MCGUIRE
NIELSEN. NELSON. NO. OKAY THAT
ITEM IS ON CALL MEMBERS BEFORE
WE PROCEED. I'D LIKE TO BRING UP
THE CONSENT CALENDAR. AND ON THE
CONSENT CALENDAR. WE HAVE FILE
ITEMS NUMBER TO CALIFORNIA STATE
UNIVERSITY NATIVE AMERICAN
GRAVES PROTECTION AND
REPATRIATION ACT. FILE ITEM
NUMBER 3 2022-1 AND NINE
CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY.
SEXUAL HARASSMENT COMPLAINTS AND
FILE ITEM NUMBER. 4 2022-1 12,
CAL OPTIMA. WITH THAT. LET ME
ASK BEFORE WE VOTE ON THESE
ITEMS, WE MUST SUSPEND JAIL
ACCRUALS, 13 AND 15 0 MOTION
SECOND TO SUSPEND BOTH RULES.
MOTIONED BY SENATOR LABOR
SECONDED BY MS BOERNER HORVATH.
SECRETARY. PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
THE MOTION IS TO SPEND JAIL
ACCRUALS, 13 AND 15 IN ORDER TO
TAKE UP TODAY'S CONSENT
CALENDAR. ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S SALAS
PALACE I BOERNER HORVATH
BOERNER HORVATH. AYE, KYLIE.
HIGHLY I. PATERSON PATERSON, I
RUBIO RUBIO. I OPAL OPAL. I
WOULD SENATOR HERTZBERG. BECKER.
BECKER. I GORGEOUS. GLACIER.
FLAVOR. LEVER. AM MCGUIRE.
NILSSON NILSSON. AYE. OKAY
MEMBERS. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO
SUSPEND THAT ITEM AS WE NEED ONE
MORE, SENATOR. FOR THAT ITEM.
COME ON, SENATORS. STAY IN THE
ROOM. THANK YOU, SENATOR LEYVA
FOR DOING THAT. ALL RIGHT, LET'S
RETURN BACK TO THE REGULAR
CALENDAR. AND NEXT UP. I BELIEVE
WE HAVE ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S GRAY.
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S GRAY WHEN YOU
ARE READY, PLEASE PROCEED.
MEMBERS THIS IS FILE ITEM NUMBER
EIGHT. THIS IS 2022-106
DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES
AND STATE WATER RESOURCES
CONTROL BOARD. SURFACE WATER
MANAGEMENT. MR. GREAT WHEN YOU
ARE READY. GOOD MORNING.
MR GRAY, PLEASE PROCEED. THANK
YOU, MR CHAIRMAN MEMBERS.
CLIMATE CHANGE POLICY HAS BEEN
AT THE FOREFRONT OF THE
LEGISLATURE'S POLICY MAKING
PROCESS FOR LONGER THAN ANY OF
US HAVE BEEN IN OFFICE. THE
STATE HAS INVESTED BILLIONS INTO
RENEWABLE ENERGY, ZERO EMISSION
VEHICLES, ENERGY EFFICIENT
CONSTRUCTION. CLIMATE CHANGE
FUELED WILDFIRES AND RISING SEA
LEVELS. AS EXTREME CLIMATE
EVENTS BECOME INCREASINGLY
NORMAL. WE'RE LEARNING THAT THE
SOLUTIONS THAT WORKED IN THE
PAST OR SIMPLY NOT SUFFICIENT TO
MEET THESE NEW CHALLENGES. WE
NEED TO MODERNIZE OUR THINKING
WHICH MORE AND MORE MEANS
EMBRACING NEWER AND FUTURE
LOOKING TECHNOLOGIES. IN STARK
CONTRAST TO THE ADVANCES MADE IN
HIGHER PRIORITY POLICY AREAS,
CALIFORNIA'S WATER MANAGEMENT
STRATEGIES ARE OUTDATED. HEAVILY
FLAWED, INCREASINGLY DANGEROUS
TO THE HEALTH OF HUMANS AND THE
ENVIRONMENT ALIKE AS EXTREME
DROUGHT CONDITIONS, CONDITIONS
PERSIST FOR LONGER PERIODS AND
THEN FOLLOWED BY SEVERE AND
UNPREDICTABLE DOWNPOURS. THE
EFFECT OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON
CALIFORNIA'S WATER SUPPLY HAVE
ONLY JUST BEGUN. CONSIDER FOR
EXAMPLE, THE SIERRA NEVADA
SNOWPACK. THE SIERRA COUNTS FOR
ONE THIRD OF CALIFORNIA'S ENTIRE
WATER SUPPLY AND ACTS AS A
NATURAL RESERVOIR. STORING WATER
IS SNOW IN THE WINTER AND THEN
SLOWLY DELIVERING THAT WATER
INTO OUR MAN MADE RESERVOIRS AS
IT MELTS INTO THE SPRING AND
SUMMER. BUT AS CLIMATE CHANGE
PUSHES TEMPERATURES HIGHER, MORE
SNOW IS FALLING AS RAIN AND WHAT
SNOW DOES FALL MELTS FASTER AT
LOWER ELEVATIONS AND DRIER SOILS
ACT LIKE A SPONGE, ABSORBING THE
MELT BEFORE IT EVER MAKES ITS
WAY INTO OUR STREAMS. RIVERS AND
RESERVOIRS. ACCORDING TO THEIR
OWN REPORT. IT IS THESE FACTORS
AND OTHERS THAT LED THE
DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES TO
OVERESTIMATE THE RUNOFF FOR THE
SACRAMENTO, SAN JOAQUIN AND
TULARE LAKE REGIONS BY 68. 45%
AND 46, RESPECTIVELY. THIS
AMOUNTS TO MILLIONS OF ACRE FEET
OF WATER STATEWIDE, WITH THE
SACRAMENTO AREA ALONE,
ACCOUNTING FOR ENOUGH WATER TO
SUPPLY OVER TWO MILLION
HOUSEHOLDS FOR A YEAR. AIRS ON
THIS SCALE HAVE REAL AND
MEASURABLE CONSEQUENCES. THE
MANAGERS OF THE LARGEST LOCAL,
STATE AND FEDERAL RESERVOIRS
USED THIS INFORMATION TO
DETERMINE WHEN THEY SHOULD LET
WATER ACCUMULATES IN PLACES LIKE
SHASTA, OROVILLE AND FALSE UM
AND WHEN TO OPEN THE GATES AND
LET WATER OUT TO MAKE ROOM FOR
THE COMING SNOWMELT. GROWERS USE
THE INFORMATION TO PREDICT HOW
MUCH WATER THEY CAN EXPECT FOR
THEIR FARMS AND HOW MANY ACRES
THEY CAN AFFORD TO PLAN. THE
ESTIMATES ARE ALSO USED TO
INFORM FLOOD CONTROL, POWER
GENERATION AND WATER QUALITY AND
TEMPERATURE PARAMETERS TO
PROTECT THREATENED AND
ENDANGERED SPECIES AND COMBAT
SALINITY INTRUSION IN THE DELTA.
PUT SIMPLY, MEMBERS, EVERYONE
FROM THE SIERRA CLUB AND THE
NRDC TO AQUA AND THE FARM BUREAU
HAVE AN INTEREST IN GETTING THIS
INFORMATION AS CLOSE TO RIGHT AS
POSSIBLE. AFTER THE AIR'S BECAME
PUBLIC. DWR WAS QUICK TO POINT
OUT THAT THEIR RUNOFF FORECASTS
ARE BASED ON HISTORICAL DATA,
AND, OF COURSE, HISTORICAL DATA
BECOMES LESS ACCURATE AS THE
EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE GROW
INCREASINGLY REAL. LAST YEAR,
THEY PROMISED TO EMBRACE NEW
TECHNOLOGY AND UPDATE THE MODELS
GOING FORWARD. THE PROBLEM WITH
THAT EXPLANATION IS THAT CLIMATE
CHANGE IS NOT NEW. LAST YEAR WAS
NOT THE FIRST TIME DIVA WRS
FORECASTS WERE WRONG. IN FACT,
RESEARCHERS HAVE BEEN USING DWR
TO FIX THEIR BROKEN FORECASTING
ALGORITHMS SINCE THE 19 NINETIES
, AND DWR IN THE STATE WATER
BOARD HAVE HELD DOZENS OF PUBLIC
WORKSHOPS TO DISCUSS THESE
ISSUES SINCE THEN, WITH LITTLE
TO NOTHING IN THE WAY OF
PROGRESS TO SHOW FOR IT. OTHER
ORGANIZATIONS HAVE PROVEN THIS
IS NOT AN IMPOSSIBLE TASK. THE
CALIFORNIA NEVADA RIVER FORECAST
CENTER AT THE NATIONAL OCEANIC
AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION
HAS SWITCHED TO PHYSICS BASED
FORECASTING MODELS. WHICH
PRODUCED FAR SUPERIOR AND MORE
ACCURATE PREDICTIONS. THE SAME
IS TRUE FOR LOCAL WATER
DISTRICTS LIKE THE TURLOCK
IRRIGATION DISTRICTS WHO YOU
WILL HEAR FROM THIS MORNING.
ISN'T IT IS THIS FACT THAT LED
ME TO REQUEST THE SAADIQ OTHER
ORGANIZATIONS, FORECASTING THE
SAME WATER CONTENT AND RUNOFF.
ESTIMATES FROM THE SAME PATCHES
OF SNOW HAVE ALREADY ADAPTED AND
CONTINUE TO ADAPT TO FACE TO
FACTOR IN THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE
CHANGE. DWR SHOULD BE A LEADER
IN THIS SPACE, BUT INSTEAD
THEY'RE PLAYING CATCH UP TO MANY
OF THE SAME ORGANIZATIONS THAT
HAVE BEEN TELLING THEM TO FIX
THESE PROBLEMS FOR DECADES.
CLIMATE CHANGE IS A REAL AND
COMPLICATING FACTOR. NO ONE
EXPECTS DWR ANY OF THESE
ORGANIZATIONS TO GET THE NUMBER
EXACTLY RIGHT. BUT WHEN THE
STATE'S BEST FORECASTS ARE
DEMONSTRATE DIMENSION AND
DEMONSTRABLY INFERIOR TO LOCAL
AND FEDERAL FORECAST, WE NEED TO
ASK WHY, AND WE NEED TO FIX THE
PROBLEM AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. MY
AUDIT REQUEST ASKED THE ORDER TO
GO IN AND ANSWER SIX QUESTIONS.
WHAT LED TO THE MASSIVE
MISCALCULATION OF WATER SUPPLY
LAST YEAR. WHAT IMPROVEMENTS
HAVE BEEN ADOPTED OR PROPOSED TO
ENSURE MORE ACCURATE PREDICTIONS
GOING FORWARD. WHY WERE FEDERAL
AND LOCAL ESTIMATES
SIGNIFICANTLY MORE ACCURATE THAN
DWR ESTIMATES WHAT FORECASTING
MODELS WERE USED TO PREPARE FOR
THE DROUGHT LAST YEAR, AND HOW
ARE THOSE MODELS BEING REPLACED
OR UPDATED? HOW HAS THE STATE'S
FAULTY ESTIMATES IMPACTED
OBLIGATIONS TO SUPPLY WATER
RIGHTS HOLDERS AND MEET
ENVIRONMENTAL REQUIREMENTS? LIKE
SALINITY STANDARDS IN THE DELTA
? WHAT REAL TIME FEEDBACK
MECHANISMS AS WR RELY ON WHEN
RELEASING WATER TO ENSURE THEY
DO NOT RELEASE EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS
OF WATER EARLY IN THE SEASON,
LEAVING LESS OF WATER AVAILABLE
FOR THE ENVIRONMENT,
MUNICIPALITIES AND FARMS LATER
ON. WITH ME TODAY I HAVE JOSH
WEIMER FROM THE TURLOCK
IRRIGATION DISTRICT AND JULIE
RATTNER FROM RIVER PARTNERS TO
TESTIFY. TESTIFY IN SUPPORT OF
THE BILL. THANK YOU, MR CHAIR.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, MR GRAY.
LET'S MOVE TO WITNESSES AND
SUPPORT POLICE. THANK YOU. GOOD
MORNING, CHAIR AND MEMBERS. MY
NAME IS JOSH WEIMER WITH THE
SHERLOCK IRRIGATION DISTRICT,
AND I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY
TO BE HERE TODAY TO HIGHLIGHT
THE I D S INDUSTRY LEADING WATER
OPERATIONS. THE IDEA IS THE
FIRST IRRIGATION DISTRICT IN THE
STATE OF CALIFORNIA FORMED 135
YEARS AGO. WE'RE NOT PART OF THE
STATE OR FEDERAL WAR PROJECT,
RATHER THAN DON PEDRO RESERVOIR
IS LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED ON
THE TATAMI RIVER. WE ALSO HAVE
SOLE FLOOD FLOOD CONTROL
RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE TOMMY
RIVER. OVER THE LAST 135 YEARS,
ONE PRINCIPLE HAS HELD FIRM
NECESSITY, DRIVES INNOVATION,
AND THAT IS CLEARLY BEEN THE
CASE IN OUR WATERSHED MANAGEMENT
. WHAT YEARS ARE GETTING WETTER
AND DRY EARS ARE GETTING DRIER.
THAT COMES AS NO SURPRISE TO
ANYBODY IN THIS ROOM. WE'VE HAD
TO LEARN HOW TO OPERATE DON
PEDRO WITH THESE CHANGING
CONDITIONS, 1997 CHANGED
EVERYTHING FOR US THE WETTEST
PERIOD ON RECORD FOR THE TIME,
ABNORMAL TEMPERATURES AND A
PINEAPPLE EXPRESSED AS IT WAS
TURNED BACK, THEN CAME THROUGH.
AND WE HAD NO IDEA WHAT WAS IN
THE SNOWPACK OR WHEN IT WAS
COMING OFF. 1997 REVEALED THE
NEED AND TIED INVESTED RIGHT
AWAY IN THE STATE OF THE ART
MODEL THAT WE HAVE BEEN. WE HAVE
SPENT THE LAST 25 YEARS BUILDING
ON AND FINE TUNING. KIDS H FAN
MODEL IS ONE OF THE FEW, IF NOT
THE ONLY HOURLY AND PHYSICALLY
BASED HYDROLOGICAL MODELS USED
FOR WATER OPERATIONS IN PLANNING
IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA, H
FAM WAS BUILT SPECIFICALLY FOR
OUR WATERSHED AND BREAKS DOWN
THE NEARLY 1800 SQUARE MILE
WATERSHED INTO 5000 LAND
SEGMENTS. EACH LAND SEGMENT
FACTORS IN THE UNIQUE SOIL AND
VEGETATION TYPE AND THEN USES
OVER 100 DIFFERENT VARIABLES TO
CALIBRATE EACH LAND SEGMENT. H
FRAME ALSO ALLOWS US TO INPUT
THE 16 DAY FORECAST AS WELL AS
BRINGING IN 90 YEARS OF
METEOROLOGICAL DATA INTO THAT
MODEL. H FAMILIES GAME CHANGING
, BUT THE DROUGHT 10 YEARS AGO
SHOWCASED ANOTHER NEED AND THAT
NEED WAS TO BETTER UNDERSTAND
WHAT WAS IN THE SNOWPACK TD TD
PARTNER WITH NASA 10 YEARS AGO
TO REIMAGINE SNOWPACK
MEASUREMENT BY USING LIDAR
MOUNTED TWO AIRPLANES. WHICH HAS
REDUCED THE ERROR RATE FROM 30%
TO LESS THAN 3% WE NOW KNOW
EXACTLY HOW MUCH SNOW IS IN THE
SNOWPACK AROUND THAT SAME TIME T
I'D STARTED INCORPORATING
INCORPORATE THE NEW ATMOSPHERIC
RIVER RESEARCH COMING FROM
SCRIPTS INSTITUTE INTO OUR H FAN
MODEL TO IMPROVE OUR
FORECASTING. THIS INFORMATION IS
WHAT RECENTLY HAS BEEN
POPULARIZED BY THE CONCEPT OF
FORECAST INFORMED RESERVOIR
OPERATIONS, WHICH T I D HAS BEEN
DOING FOR DECADES. THESE MODELS
AND NEW TECHNOLOGIES HAVE
PROVIDED SIGNIFICANT RESULTS
THAT HAVE BENEFITED OUR REGION
IN 2017. WE WERE ABLE TO USE ALL
OF THESE INPUTS TO KNOW THAT THE
RUNOFF WAS GOING TO EXCEED OUR
MAXIMUM STORAGE CAPACITY. AND
STARTED MAKING FLOOD CONTROL
RELEASES 15 FT BEFORE THE TOP OF
THE IT CANNOT BE OVERSTATED THAT
AT THAT TIME THIS WAS UNHEARD OF
IN 2000 AND 18. WE USE THE SAME
TECHNOLOGY AND RECEIVED A
DEVIATION FROM THE ARMY CORPS OF
ENGINEERS THAT ALLOWED US TO
CAPTURE 150,000 ACRE FEET THAT
WOULD NORMALLY HAVE BEEN FORCED
TO RE BE RELEASED DUE TO A FLOOD
CONTROL MANUAL FROM 1950. LAST
YEAR, WE WERE ABLE TO PREDICT
THE APRIL TO JUNE RUNOFF IN
MARCH, AND IT WAS ONLY 10,000
ACRE FEET OFF OR LESS THAN 2. WE
DO NOT HAVE A STATIC CLIMATE AND
ASSESS ITTY CONTINUES TO DRIVE
INNOVATION. WE NEED TO STRETCH
OUR FACILITIES CAPABILITIES TO
TRY TO REDUCE THE UNCERTAINTY
MOVING FORWARD AND WE ARE GREAT
AND EMBARKING ON NEW
TECHNOLOGIES AND MODELING TO
PROVIDE EVEN GREATER ANALYSIS
AND OPERATIONAL INTELLIGENCE.
THANK YOU AND I LOOK FORWARD TO
YOUR QUESTIONS. THINK ADDITIONAL
WITNESSES. LOW CHAIRMAN, SALAS
AND MEMBERS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
TIME AND ATTENTION TODAY. MY
NAME IS JULIE RETINA, AND I'M
THE PRESIDENT OF RIVER PARTNERS
, WHICH IS A NOT FOR PROFIT
ORGANIZATION WITH A MISSION TO
CREATE WILDLIFE HABITAT FOR THE
BENEFIT OF PEOPLE IN THE
ENVIRONMENT. OUR ORGANIZATION,
AND PERHAPS THE REPORT HAS THE
LARGEST FOOTPRINT OF RIVER
RESTORATION ACROSS THE AMERICAN-WEST. WE'VE RESTORED MORE THAN
20,000 ACRES OF RIVERS AND FLOOD
PLAIN, UM, HABITAT TYPES, AS
WELL AS 200 RIVER MILES FROM
FOCUSED ALMOST WHOLLY IN THE
CENTRAL VALLEY OF CALIFORNIA.
THE EXACT RIVER STRETCHES THAT
MY COLLEAGUE JUST DESCRIBED WITH
REGARDS TO WATER MANAGEMENT. UM
RIVER PARTNERS. WE BELIEVE THAT
HEALTHY ECOSYSTEMS OR
CALIFORNIA'S FIRST LINE OF
DEFENSE TO A CHANGING CLIMATE.
THEY ABSORB EXCESS WATER WHEN
IT'S PRESENT, AND IT'S STORED
BELOW GROUND FOR USE DURING THE
DRY TIMES, AND THEY SAFELY CAN
THEY FLOOD FLOWS PAST OUR
COMMUNITIES. OVER THE HISTORY OF
THIS STATE. WE'VE LOST A LOT OF
OUR ECOLOGICAL FUNCTION DUE TO
INCOMPLETE DATA AND ANALYSIS AND
INCOMPLETE UNDERSTANDING OF OUR
WEATHER CYCLES AND PATTERNS. UM
RIVER PARTNERS WORKS CLOSELY
WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF WATER
RESOURCES, AND WE KNOW THAT THEY
ARE VERY HARDWORKING PEOPLE AT
THE STATE WHO ARE TRYING
DESPERATELY TO PREDICT WATER AND
RUN OFF AS ACCURATELY AS THEY
CAN. UM I STAND HERE IN SUPPORT
OF THIS AUDIT NOT TO HIGHLIGHT
SHORTCOMINGS OR ASCEND BLAME
ABOUT WATER MANAGEMENT DECISIONS
THAT ARE MADE BUT INSTEAD TO
SUPPORT IMPROVEMENTS THAT ARE
NEEDED AND MANAGING THIS MOST
PRECIOUS OF PUBLIC RESOURCES.
AND. WE ALL KNOW THAT ECOSYSTEMS
NEED WATER. WE'VE KNOWN THIS FOR
DECADES. AS HABITAT MANAGERS
ALONG RIVER CORRIDORS. WE HAVE
LEARNED TO BE AS PRECISE AS
POSSIBLE WITH THE USE OF EVERY
SINGLE DROP OF WATER THAT'S
AVAILABLE. WE RELY HEAVILY ON
FORECAST RIVER FORECAST MODELS
AND INFORMATION ABOUT HISTORIC
WEATHER PATTERNS TO DESIGN AND
MANAGE THE CRITICAL HABITATS
THAT SUPPORT THE BIODIVERSITY OF
THE STATE. WHEN WE DON'T HAVE
ACCESS TO GOOD, RELIABLE
INFORMATION. WE CAN'T DO OUR
JOB. UM WHAT'S DIFFERENT IN 2022
THAN IN ANY YEARS PAST IS THAT
CLIMATE CHANGE IS DRIVING AND AN
UNPRECEDENTED CHANGE IN THE
HYDROLOGY IN THE SIERRA NEVADA'S
, AND WE DON'T HAVE TIME TO
LITIGATE AND FIGHT AND STUDY
FURTHER. WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS
MAKE DRAMATIC IMPROVEMENTS TO
THE WAY WE MANAGE OUR WATER
RESOURCES. UM SO THAT WE CAN
STEM THIS CRISIS OF LOOMING
EXTINCTION AND RATIFICATION OF
OUR GREAT CENTRAL VALLEY. SO I
BELIEVE AUDITS ARE POWERFUL TOOL
THAT CAN DRIVE INSTITUTIONS
TOWARDS IMPROVEMENT. I I'M
ENCOURAGED BY THE TECHNOLOGY
THAT I'VE SEEN DEVELOPED BY OUR
PARTNERS IN THE LOCAL WATER
MANAGEMENT AGENCY AT YOUR LIKE
IRRIGATION DISTRICT, AS WELL AS
THE NOAH FORECASTING MODELS THAT
HAVE BEEN SO ACCURATE. AND I
ENCOURAGE THE COMMITTEE TO
CONSIDER THIS AUDIT TODAY TO
IMPROVE THE WAY THE STATE
MANAGES ITS PRECIOUS WATER
RESOURCES. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TESTIMONY
WITH THAT. LET'S GO AHEAD AND
MOVE TO MR TILTON, PLEASE, WITH
YOUR REPORT. ALL RIGHT. THANK
YOU. MR CHAIR AND MEMBERS IS MR
GRAY INDICATED HE'S REQUESTING
AN AUDIT OF THE MANAGEMENT OF
SURFACE WATER BY THE DEPARTMENT
OF WATER RESOURCES. AND THE
STATE WATER RESOURCES CONTROL
BOARD. SO THE SCOPE OF THE AUDIT
WOULD INCLUDE REALLY IDENTIFYING
THE PROCEDURES THAT DWR IN THE
STATE WATER RESOURCES CONTROL
BOARD USED TO PREPARE FOR THE
2021 DROUGHT. AND PART OF THAT
WOULD BE REALLY EVALUATING THE
ACCURACY. THE MODEL. BY
COMPARING WRS PROJECTIONS OF HOW
MUCH WATER WOULD BE CAPTURED
WITH WHAT WITH WHAT WAS ACTUALLY
CAPTURED. I WOULD ALSO QUANTIFY
ANY DIFFERENCES AND THE REASONS
FOR THOSE DIFFERENCES AND
PROBABLY MORE IMPORTANTLY,
IDENTIFY ANY ACTIONS THAT DD BR
HAS TAKEN TO IMPROVE THE
ACCURACY OF THOSE PREDICTIVE
MODELS. WOULD ALSO TAKE A LOOK
AT HOW MUCH WATER WAS RELEASED
FROM THE STATES RESERVOIRS AND
ALSO IDENTIFY ANY REAL TIME
FEEDBACK MECHANISMS. THAT D W
ARE USED TO DETERMINE WHEN AND
HOW MUCH WATER TO RELEASE FROM
THE RESERVOIRS, INCLUDING
SPECIFICALLY TAKING A LOOK AT
RELEASES FROM LIKE OROVILLE IN
JULY OF 2021 IN FEBRUARY OF
2022. IN ADDITION, WE WOULD
COMPARE THE SIERRA RUNOFF
PROJECTIONS THAT DWR PUT
TOGETHER WITH PROJECTIONS FROM
FEDERAL ENTITIES AS WELL AS
LOCAL ENTITIES TO REALLY
IDENTIFY THE DIFFERENT FACTORS
THAT RESULTED IN DIFFERENT
PROJECTIONS. AND THE MAGNITUDE
OF ANY DIFFERENCES. AND WE ALSO
REVIEW THE STATES PLAN TO UPHOLD
THE CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS TO
MAINTAIN THE SALINITY STANDARDS
IN THE SACRAMENTO SAN JOAQUIN
DELTA AND PROVIDE ADEQUATE FLOWS
TO SUSTAIN NATIVE FISH
POPULATIONS THAT WOULD INCLUDE
DETERMINING HOW FREQUENTLY THE
STATE HAS GRANTED. URGENCY
PETITIONS THAT RELEASED WATER
THAT HAS WAS OTHERWISE
DESIGNATED FOR DIFFERENT
PURPOSES. WE ALSO DETERMINE HOW
OFTEN THESE PETITIONS HAVE
RESULTED IN LEGAL CHALLENGES, AS
WELL AS THE OUTCOME OF THAT
LITIGATION. WE ESTIMATE THIS
AUDIT WOULD TAKE ABOUT 2900
HOURS TO COMPLETE AND ADEQUATE
TO ABOUT SIX OR NINE MONTHS. I'M
SORRY. 6 TO 7 MONTHS. THANK YOU,
MR CHAIR. THANK YOU, MR TILDEN.
FOR THAT. LET ME GO AHEAD AT
THIS TIME. LET ME DISMISS THE
WITNESSES AND LET ME CALL UP THE
EFFECTED AGENCIES. UM FOR THIS.
WE HAVE CARLA NEMETH, DIRECTOR
OF THE DEPARTMENT OF WATER
RESOURCES, AND EILEEN SOBEK,
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR THE STATE
WATERS WATER RESOURCES CONTROL
BOARD. WHEN YOU'RE READY, PLEASE
PROCEED. UM CAN YOU HEAR ME? ALL
RIGHT. GREAT GOOD MORNING, MR
CHAIR AND MR VICE CHAIR. MY NAME
IS CARLA NAMETH. I AM THE
DIRECTOR OF THE CALIFORNIA
DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES.
AND I AM HERE TODAY TO SHARE
WITH YOU. MY OPPOSITION TO THIS
AUDIT REQUEST. FIRST ITEM BEFORE
THE COMMITTEE REQUESTS AN AUDIT
OF THE DEPARTMENT OF WATER
RESOURCES AND THE STATE WATER
RESOURCES CONTROL BOARD. AS A
RESULT OF THE DISCREPANCY
BETWEEN DWR S INITIAL SNOWPACK
RUNOFF FORECAST IN 2021 THE
RUNOFF REALIZED IN THE
SACRAMENTO RIVER VALLEY
WATERSHED. THIS FORECASTING WORK
IS UNDERTAKEN EXCLUSIVELY BY THE
DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES.
THE STATE WATER BOARD IS NOT
RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS ACTION AND
AS SUCH, SHOULD NOT BE A PARTY
TO THE AUDIT. THE AUDIT ALSO
APPEARS TO BE BASED ON AN
INACCURATE ASSUMPTION THAT
700,000 ACRE FEET OF WATER WAS
RELEASED BECAUSE OF THE
FORECAST. AS I MENTIONED THIS IS
NOT ACCURATE. THERE WAS NO
RELEASE OF WATER MADE DUE TO THE
FORECAST. THE RESERVOIR LEVELS
WERE NOT AT AN ELEVATION THAT
WOULD HAVE WARRANTED A RELEASE
OF WATER TO ENSURE SPACE IN THE
RESERVOIRS. TO CAPTURE RUNOFF AS
REAL AS A MATTER OF IMPORTANT
FLOOD PROTECTION. THE INITIAL
FORECAST WAS MADE IN DECEMBER OF
2020 AND WAS UPDATED IN APRIL
BASED ON WHAT WAS WHAT BECAME
ONE OF THE DRIEST AND WARMEST
MARCH APRIL 2021 PERIOD. DURING
THIS PERIOD. THERE WERE NO FLOOD
RELEASES MADE TO ALLOW FOR THE
ADDITIONAL CAPTURE OF RUNOFF
RESERVOIRS WERE NOT FULL AND HAD
SUFFICIENT SPACE TO CAPTURE ANY
SPRING RUNOFF. HOWEVER THE
INITIAL FORECAST WAS
OVERESTIMATED. AND THE QUESTION
IS WHY THE DATA UPON WHICH THE
FORECAST WAS MADE RELIED UPON.
DID NOT ACCURATELY ACCOUNT FOR
EXCEPTIONALLY DRY AND HOT
CONDITIONS IN THE SPRING OF 21,
BUT EQUALLY AS IMPORTANT IN THE
PREVIOUS SUMMER AND AUGUST OF
2020. THESE CONDITIONS RESULTED
IN A SIGNIFICANT PERCENT OF OUR
STATE SNOWPACK DISAPPEARING INTO
DRY SOIL OR EVAPORATING.
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA, AS YOU
RECALL WAS EXCEPTIONALLY DRY IN
THE SPRING WAS EXCEPTIONALLY
HOT. HISTORIC FORECASTING IN THE
DATA UPON WHICH IT HAS BEEN
BASED, DID NOT REFLECT THESE
CONDITIONS. AS SOON AS THE
EFFECTS OF THESE CONDITIONS WERE
OBSERVED. DWR TOOK NUMEROUS
ACTIONS, INCLUDING A REQUESTING
REQUESTING A CHANGE IN DELTA
OUTFLOW STANDARDS FROM THE STATE
WATER RESOURCES CONTROL BOARD.
INSTALLING EMERGENCY SALINITY,
DROUGHT BARRIERS AND REDUCING
WATER SUPPLY ALLOCATIONS. THE
AUDIT REQUEST DOES NOTE THAT
IMPROVED MODERN MODEL ACCURACY
IS NEEDED, AND I COULD NOT AGREE
MORE IN POINT OF FACT, THE
DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES
WAS THE INITIAL FUNDER OF THE
WORK THAT OUR COLLEAGUES HAVE
BEEN DOING AT THE LOCAL WATER
AGENCY. LEVEL INCLUDING TURLOCK
IRRIGATION DISTRICT. THE
DEPARTMENT, TOGETHER WITH NASA
HAS BEEN FUNDING THEIR AERIAL
SNOW OBSERVATORY, UM,
FORECASTING TECHNIQUES. THAT'S A
LOT OF IMPORTANT UPDATING
INFORMATION. WE WERE ABLE TO
TAKE THAT INFORMATION TO SCALE
BASED ON FUNDING PROVIDED BY THE
LEGISLATURE LAST YEAR, WHICH HAS
RESULTED IN SPECIFIC AND
IMPORTANT CHANGES THIS YEAR
WATERSHED WIDE I AGREE
WHOLEHEARTEDLY THAT, UM WORK
NEEDS TO BE ACCELERATED AND THE
DEPARTMENT IS SO DOING SO WITH
THOSE COMMENTS. I BELIEVE
ALTERNATE OVER TO MY COLLEAGUE
EILEEN. SO BACK. ALRIGHT. PLEASE
PROCEED. THANK YOU. CHAIR AND
MEMBERS. UM UM AND I DO CONCUR
WITH THE REMARKS OF MY COLLEAGUE
AM EILEEN SOBEK, THE EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR OF THE STATE WATER
RESOURCES CONTROL BOARD, AS MISS
NAMETH. NOTED THAT THE WATER
STATE WATER BOARD DOES NOT
ENGAGE IN INDEPENDENT
FORECASTING. WE RELY ON THE
FORECAST AND PUT OUT BY OTHERS
AS SOON AS WE ALL REALIZED HOW
BAD 2021 WHILE WE WORKED VERY
HARD TO COORDINATE BEST
PRACTICES. I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW
MANY HOURS ON ON ZOOM WE SPENT
WITH OUR COLLEAGUES AT DWR, UM
AND OTHER AGENCIES THROUGHOUT
THE STATE. UM TO ENSURE THAT UM. THE NECESSARY MEASURES WERE
TAKEN. WE HAD MANY, MANY PUBLIC
PROCEEDINGS BEFORE THE BOARD.
INVOLVING THE TEMPORARY
TEMPORARY URGENCY CHANGE
PETITIONS THAT WERE NECESSARY
AND ALSO, UM CURTAILMENTS THAT
WERE NECESSARY IN ORDER TO DEAL
WITH THE SURFACE WATER
SHORTAGES. THROUGHOUT THE
SYSTEMS. I WILL SAY THAT THOSE,
UM. THOSE MEASURES THAT WE TOOK
TO ADDRESS SHORTCOMINGS WERE ALL
UM, VERY PUBLIC AND THAT THEY
WERE VERY NIMBLE. THEY ENABLED
US TO MAKE WATER AVAILABLE WHEN
IT WAS AVAILABLE AND TO MAKE
SURE THAT IT WAS EQUITABLY
DISTRIBUTED ACCORDING TO OUR
WATER RIGHTS LEGAL SYSTEM WHEN
IT WAS NOT UM, WE COULDN'T AGREE
MORE THAT BETTER DETAIL. BETTER
DATA IS A KEY COMPONENT FOR ALL
OF THESE EFFORTS AND RECOGNIZING
THE NEED FOR A MORE EFFICIENT
DATA MANAGEMENT SYSTEM. LAST
YEAR, THE LEGISLATURE DID
ALLOCATE $30 MILLION AS PART OF
LAST YEAR'S BUDGET. TO UPDATE
THE STATE'S WATER RIGHT DATA
MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, AND WE REALLY
LOOK FORWARD TO IMPLEMENTING
THAT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU. UM WITH THAT
THAT CONCLUDES OUR AFFECTED
AGENCIES. LET ME RETURN THE ITEM
BACK TO THE DAYS. LET ME ASK
MEMBERS. IF THEY HAVE QUESTIONS,
LET'S START WITH ASSEMBLYWOMAN
RUBIO, PLEASE. THANK YOU FOR
THAT INFORMATION AND AGAIN. THIS
IS A REALLY MY FAVORITE
COMMITTEE BECAUSE I THINK THAT
IT'S TWO FOLDED. UM YOU KNOW,
WHEN WE AUDIT AN AGENCY, IT'S
YOU KNOW ABOUT FACT FINDING, BUT
IT'S ALSO AND I THINK THIS IS
THE BEST PART OF IT IS ALSO THE
AUDITOR'S OFFICE MAKES
RECOMMENDATIONS TO HELP AND IT
HELPS US IF YOU ARE SHORT AND
FUNDING THAT WE FOLLOW KIND OF
THE AUDITORS REQUEST SOMETIMES
TO PROVIDE MORE OF THAT FUNDING.
UM, YOU KNOW, I DON'T WANT THE
AUDITS TO BE LOOKED AS PUNITIVE
ALL THE TIME. I THINK IT'S ALSO
HELPFUL, ESPECIALLY WITH OUR
WATER SITUATION RIGHT NOW, WITH
THE DROUGHT TO HAVE ADDITIONAL
PAIRS ARE MANY PAIRS OF EYES
LOOKING INTO KIND OF THE
PRACTICES SO THAT WE'RE ABLE TO
RESPOND AGAIN APPROPRIATELY,
WHETHER IT BE WITH ADDITIONAL
FUNDING OR JUST SOME HELP, AND
SO YOU KNOW AGAIN. DON'T LOOK AT
THIS AS A PUNITIVE ACTION. I
THINK I BELIEVE IN ITS. THIS IS
MY SIXTH YEAR AND THIS COMMITTEE
IT'S BEEN REALLY HELPFUL TO SOME
AGENCIES TO HAVE THE AUDITORS
MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS AND AGAIN.
IT INFORMS US AS LEGISLATORS IF
YOU NEED ADDITIONAL FUNDING.
THEN WE'RE ABLE TO RESPOND
APPROPRIATELY BASED ON THE
AUDITOR AUDITOR'S RECOMMENDATION
. UM YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT
INVOLVED IN THE DAY TO DAY
OPERATIONS OF YOUR ANY OF THE
AGENCIES, BUT FOR ME KNOWING
THAT THE EDITOR DID, UM THE
THOROUGH JOB AND MADE
RECOMMENDATIONS WOULD HELP US,
UM, ADVOCATE FOR ADDITIONAL
SOURCES OF EITHER REVENUE OR
SOME OTHER HELP FOR YOU SO
AGAIN, I WOULD HAVE LIKED TO
KIND OF ENCOURAGE YOU NOT TO
LOOK AT THIS AS A PUNITIVE
ACTION, I THINK FOR US,
ESPECIALLY WITH THE WATER CRISIS
. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
USE ALL OF THE RESOURCES THAT
ARE DISPOSAL TO MAKE SURE THAT
WE ARE, UM WE RESPOND
APPROPRIATELY, SO WITH THAT MR
CHAIR WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A
MOTION TO APPROVE THE AUDIT.
THANK YOU, MR RUBIO. SO WE HAVE
A MOTION BY ASSEMBLYWOMAN RUBIO
SECONDED BY MS BOERNER HORVATH
LET ME ASK IF THERE'S ADDITIONAL
COMMENTS, QUESTIONS. SENATOR
BECKER, PLEASE. YEAH THANKS. I
APPRECIATE HEARING ABOUT THIS,
AND I APPRECIATE THE UM, RECENT
COMMENT THAT. THE SYSTEMS ARE
BEING UPDATED. SO THAT IS GOOD
TO HEAR, UM, BUT DOES SOUND LIKE
THERE'S WORK FOR NEED TO
IMPROVEMENT IN THAT AREA. I JUST
HAD A QUESTION. FOR THE SUMMER
MEMBER IN TERMS OF THEY WERE
SAYING THAT MAYBE THEY DON'T
HAVE RESPONSIBILITY OVER. UM
THESE DECISIONS. UM HOW WOULD
YOU RESPOND TO THAT? FOR WHILE
THE STATE WATER RESEARCH CONTROL
BOARD DOES NOT HAVE MODELING
RESPONSIBILITY THEY DO IN FACT,
HOLD A GREAT DEAL OF AUTHORITY
OVER OUR WATER. MANAGEMENT
PRACTICES AND HOW WE DEAL WITH
DROUGHT CONDITIONS AND CERTAINLY
HISTORICAL JOB CONDITIONS WE'RE
DEALING WITH NOW AND BECAUSE OF
THAT IMPORTANT RELATIONSHIP, I
THINK IT WOULD. IT WOULD BEHOOVE
US TO, YOU KNOW, LOOK AT THE
ENTIRETY OF THE MANAGEMENT
PRACTICES, INCLUDING THE
MODELING WITH DWR, UH AS WELL AS
IN PRACTICE WHAT STATE ONE
RESOURCE CONTROL BOARD IS DOING
BASED ON THOSE DECISIONS.
THERE'S AN IMPORTANT NEXUS,
THOUGH. GOT IT. THANK YOU. ALL
RIGHT. THANK YOU, SENATOR
RECORD. LET ME ASK IF THERE'S
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS OR
QUESTIONS. LET ME ASK LET ME ASK
MR GRAY. IF YOU IF YOU WILL, UM
TESTIMONY INDICATED THAT THE 700
ACRE FEET WAS AN ACCURATE UH,
GIVEN THAT INFORMATION. WHAT DO
YOU HOPE YOUR AUDIT STILL FINDS
? DO YOU AGREE WITH THAT NOTION
, OR DO YOU AGREE THAT YOU KNOW
THE AUDIT IS STILL WARRANTED?
YEAH, I'M NOT. I'M NOT ENTIRELY
SURE I DON'T. THAT ENTIRELY
SURE. I UNDERSTAND WHAT DIRECT
NAMETH WAS SUGGESTING THERE AND
LET ME SAY THIS DIRECTOR NAMED
DAVE WORKED TOGETHER FOR YEARS
ON WATER ISSUES, AND, UM, SHE
DOESN'T NCREDIBLE JOB FOR THE
STATE AND THE PEOPLE. DWR DO
INCREDIBLE JOB FOR THE STATE. I
DON'T KNOW HOW IT WOULD BE
DAMAGING. FOR US TO LOOK AT THE
MODELING PRACTICES, RIGHT? UM,
WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT RELEASING OR
QUOTE UNQUOTE WASTING WHILE YOU
KNOW, YOU KNOW THIS AS WELL AS
ANYBODY, MR CHAIRMAN, THAT
THERE'S IDEOLOGICAL BENTS IN
WATER POLICY AS THERE ARE
REGIONAL POLITICS AND VENTS. IN
WATER POLICY WHAT ONE PERSON
CONSIDERS WASTE ANOTHER PERSON
MIGHT CONSIDER AN IMPORTANT
INVESTMENT. UM THE AUDIT. WELL
CLEARLY DEMONSTRATE FOR US. I
ASSUME THE POINT DIRECTOR NEMETH
HAS MAKING ABOUT UH, THE RELEASE
YOU KNOW, BEING UNRELATED TO THE
TO THE DATA OR THE INACCURATE
DATA. UM BUT NONETHELESS, IT
DOESN'T SOUND LIKE ANY OF US ARE
DISAGREEING THAT AH! WE HAVE
ROOM TO IMPROVE ON MODELING
PRACTICES. WE HAVE DATA AND
EVIDENCE RIGHT NOW AT THE LOCAL
LEVEL AND AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL
OF BETTER MODELING PRACTICES.
AND I GUESS I JUST STRUGGLE WITH
AND AS A FORMER CHAIR OF THIS
COMMITTEE, I THINK THIS IS ONE
OF THE MOST IMPORTANT COMMITTEES
IN THE LEGISLATURE, AND FRANKLY,
WE OUGHT TO DO MORE WORK HERE.
UH AND PROVIDE MORE RESOURCES
HERE TO LOOK AT THIS BECAUSE WE
CAN ONLY BENEFIT BY CLEARLY
LAYING OUT THE UH, DISCREPANCY
ABOUT THE RELEASE OF THE 700,000
ACRE FEET. AND ALSO THIS-DISCREPANCY OF WELL NO, WE'VE
GOT WE'RE MAKING IMPROVEMENTS IN
VIOLENT PRACTICES. WELL, LET'S
JUST LOOK AT IT ALL AND LET'S
GET A DIFFERENT SET OF EYES. ON
THOSE PRACTICES, AND THEN THAT
HOPEFULLY, YOU KNOW, WE'LL GIVE
THE LEGISLATURE THE TOOLS, AND I
KNOW WE'VE RUN SOME BILLS AND
SERIOUS CENTER. CABALLERO, FOR
EXAMPLE, HAD A BILL COUPLE OF
YEARS IN A ROW HERE TRYING TO
GET INVESTMENTS IN LIDARTO DEAL
WITH THE SNOW MELT AND BETTER
PREDICTIONS THERE AND NOT THOSE
BILLS ARE ACCURACY NEVER BECOME
LAW AND WE NEVER MOVE FORWARD.
SO I JUST THINK WE GOT TO GO
OVER THIS WITH A FINE TOOTH COMB
AND FIGURE OUT WHAT THE BEST
PRACTICES ARE AND THAT WE'VE GOT
TO USE THAT INFORMATION REALLY
MORE SO THAN DWR. WE'VE GOT TO
GET THEM THE RESOURCES. AH AND
THE TOOLS WITH WHICH TO MAKE
IMPROVEMENTS THAT I KNOW THEY
WANT TO MAKE BECAUSE THERE'S I
KNOW THERE'S NO ILL INTENT ON
THEIR PART OF WANTING TO MANAGE
THE RESOURCE IN THE BEST
POSSIBLE WAY. THANK YOU, SON. MY
BARBER GRAY. UM YEAH, I AGREE.
AND I BELIEVE EARLIER, ONE OF
YOUR WITNESSES WAS TALKING ABOUT
LIGHT ART AND USING THE
INSTITUTE'S BEST MODELING
PRACTICES. AND I DIDN'T HEAR
FROM THE AGENCY'S PERHAPS AH, UM
MR MATTHEW COULD COMMENT OR ARE
YOU GUYS USING THOSE NEW
TECHNOLOGIES? I WOULD IMAGINE,
MR TILDEN, THIS IS SOMETHING YOU
WOULD LOOK AT IN THE AUDIT AS
WELL. BEST PRACTICES AND BEST
AVAILABLE TECHNOLOGY. IF YOU CAN
COMMENT ON THAT, PLEASE.
CERTAINLY THANK YOU FOR THAT
QUESTION. SO WE ARE AS A RESULT
OF LAST YEAR, THE LEGISLATURE
DID PROVIDE THE DEPARTMENT WITH
FUNDING TO SUPPORT NEW
FORECASTING METHODS THAT VERY
HELPFULLY WERE DEPLOYED THIS
YEAR. AND I THINK THAT'S PART OF
WHY THIS YEAR IS MORE STABLE,
EVEN THOUGH THE ACTUAL WATER
SUPPLIES ARE VERY LOW, I THINK
OUR PREDICTIVE CAPABILITIES WITH
FORECASTING ARE IMPROVING. UM.
THE DEPARTMENT WAS INSTRUMENTAL
IN PROVIDING FUNDING TO LOCAL
WATER DISTRICTS TO BEGIN WHAT I
WOULD CALL, YOU KNOW A PROOF
POINT IF YOU WILL OVER THE
COURSE OF THE LAST DECADE, AND
WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THOSE
RESULTS, ALL THE WORK THAT THE
DEPARTMENT IS DOING. IS ALSO
SUBJECT TO PEER REVIEW, WHICH I
THINK IS ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL.
GIVEN WHAT'S HAPPENING WEST WIDE
WITH THIS KIND OF FORECASTING,
SO THERE'S A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT
OF WORK UNDERWAY TO UPDATE THOSE
MODELS. UM TO REALLY UNDERSTAND
AND GRAVITATE TOWARDS SOMETHING
THAT IS A PHYSICAL MODEL VERSUS
SOMETHING THAT IS BASED ON
HISTORICAL RECORD. AS I THINK WE
CAN ALL AFFIRM THAT THE
HISTORICAL RECORD IS BECOMING
LESS VALUABLE AS AN ACCURATE
PREDICTOR OF WATER SUPPLIES TO
BE MANAGED FOR PEOPLE IN THE
ENVIRONMENT. ALL RIGHT. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU FOR THAT. LET ME
NOW TURN INTO SEEING AND HEARING
NO ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS. LET ME
TURN IT OVER TO PUBLIC COMMENT.
LET ME INVITE THE PUBLIC TO
COMMENT. AH! PERSONAL SEE IF
THERE'S ANY PUBLIC COMMENT
HEARING AND SEEING NONE. LET ME
RETURN THE ITEM BACK TO THE DAIS
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S GRAY IF YOU'D
LIKE TO CLOSE TO THANK THE
COMMITTEE FOR THE DISCUSSION. AS
I SAID EARLIER, IS FORMER CHAIR.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE
UTILIZE THE AUDIT TOOL TO HAVE
THE BEST AVAILABLE INFORMATION.
I THINK THE QUESTIONS ANSWERED
THE QUESTIONS UNANSWERED TODAY
WHETHER DIRECTOR NEMESIS.
PERSPECTIVE THAT IN FACT, THERE
WASN'T A RELEASE OF WATER THAT
COULD HAVE OTHERWISE BEEN STORED
FOR HISTORIC DROUGHT YEAR. WE
CAN ANSWER QUESTIONS THROUGH THE
THROUGH THE TOUR OF THE AUDIT.
UH AND I WOULD ALSO POINT TO THE
KIND OF OBVIOUS MEMBERS, SOME OF
THE LOCAL AGENCIES HAD ACCURATE
PREDICTIONS. THE SAME YEAR THAT
THE STATE DID NOT. WE KNOW THOSE
LOCAL AGENCIES. SOME OF THESE
TECHNOLOGIES THAT, UH, I BELIEVE
THE STATE WAS NOT USING AN AUDIT
WILL ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS AND
WILL GIVE US AN OPPORTUNITY TO
PROVIDE AGAIN. WR WITH THE
RESOURCES THEY NEED THE POLICY
CHANGES THEY NEED. TO JUST
BETTER MANAGE THIS PRECIOUS
RESOURCE AND I WOULD
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOUR VOTE
TODAY. THANK YOU, MR GRAY. MADAM
SECRETARY CALDERON. WE HAVE A
MOTION ALREADY. YEAH, EMOTION.
SECONDED BY MR BOERNER HORVATH,
MADAM SECRETARY, CALL THE ROLL.
THE MOTION IS TO APPROVE AUTO
REQUEST 2022-106 DEPARTMENT OF
WATER RESOURCES AND STATE WATER
RESOURCES CONTROL BOARD SURFACE
WATER MANAGEMENT BY
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S GRAY
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S SALAS. SALAS
AYE, BOERNER HORVATH
BOERNER HORVATH. AYE KYLIE KYLIE
I PATERSON. RUBIO RUBIO. I
VOEPEL OPAL. I WOULD SENATOR
HERTZBERG. BECKER. BECKER. I
BORE GIS. GLACIER. LEVER. LEVER.
I MCGUIRE NELSON. NIELSEN. AYE.
ALRIGHT MOTIONS ON CALL WILL
LEAVE THE ROLE OPEN. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, MR CHAIRMAN. THANK
YOU SENATORS. OKAY?
ALL RIGHT AT THIS TIME, LET'S GO
AHEAD AND I SEE ASSEMBLYWOMAN.
PONTA. ALRIGHT ASSEMBLYWOMAN
BONTA. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US
. THIS IS FIVE MEMBERS OF THIS
FILE ITEM. NUMBER NINE. THIS IS
2022-1 10, CALIFORNIA SCHOOL
FINANCE AUTHORITY, CHARTER
SCHOOL FACILITY GRANT PROGRAM
AND CONDUIT REVENUE BOND
PROGRAM. THANK YOU, MR JOHNSON.
FOR JOINING US, PLEASE PROCEED
WHEN YOU ARE READY. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. CHAIR AND MEMBERS. I
RESPECTFULLY REQUEST AN AUDIT OF
TWO CALIFORNIA SCHOOL FINANCE
AUTHORITY PROGRAMS. THE CHARTER
SCHOOL FACILITY. GRANT PROGRAM
CSF, G P AND THE CONDUIT REVENUE
BOND PROGRAM TO ENSURE TAXPAYER
DOLLARS ARE NOT BEING USED TO
FINANCE THE PRIVATE ACQUISITION
OF FACILITIES. TO DETERMINE THE
SCOPE OF SUCH ACQUISITION TO
DATE AND TO DETERMINE THE
EFFECTIVENESS OF THE PROGRAMS
GOALS TO PROVIDE HIGH QUALITY
SCHOOL FACILITIES TO LOW INCOME
CHARTER SCHOOLS. THE CHARTER
SCHOOL FACILITIES GRANT PROGRAM
WAS ESTABLISHED IN 2000 AND ONE
BY SENATE BILL 7 40 TO PROVIDE
ASSISTANCE FOR FACILITIES, RENT
AND LEASE COSTS TO CHARTER
SCHOOLS. SEVERELY EXTREMIST
SERVING EXTREMELY LOW INCOME
PUPILS. SUBSEQUENT LEGISLATION
MOVED THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE
SB 7 40 PROGRAM FROM THE
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO THE
CALIFORNIA SCHOOL FINANCE
AUTHORITY IN THE STATE
TREASURER'S OFFICE AND REDUCED
THRESHOLD. TO QUALIFY FOR THE
PROGRAM. RECENT STUDIES AND
ANALYSES SUGGEST THAT THESE
FUNDS ARE ALSO USED TO PAY OFF
CONDUIT REVENUE BONDS AND LOANS
FOR THE PRIVATE PURCHASE OF
PROPERTY. THE PROCESS OF
ACQUIRING AND PAYING OFF
PROPERTIES. USING FUNDS MEANT
FOR LEASE PAYMENTS IS LEGAL, BUT
IT DOES NOT MATCH THE
LEGISLATURE'S INTENT WHEN IT
CREATED THE CSF G P THROUGH SB 7
40. IT WAS NEVER THE INTENT OF
THE LEGISLATURE THAT THE GRANT
PROGRAM AH, USING PUBLIC FUNDS
BE USED FOR THE ACQUISITION OF
FACILITIES BY PRIVATE
CORPORATIONS UTILIZING SB 7 $40
TO FINANCE THE PRIVATE
ACQUISITION OF PROPERTIES RUNS
COUNTER TO THE STATE'S INTEREST.
IN PRESERVING TAXPAYER FUNDED
PROPERTIES FOR A PUBLIC
EDUCATIONAL PURPOSE. A THOROUGH
AUDIT OF THIS OF THE CALIFORNIA
SCHOOL FINANCE AUTHORITY IS
NECESSARY TO UNDERSTAND AND
EVALUATE THE EXTENT OF THIS
CHALLENGE. THIS AUDIT WILL HELP
ANSWER QUESTIONS, INCLUDING WHAT
IS THE SCOPE OF PRIVATE
ACQUISITION OF PUBLICLY FUNDED
FACILITIES TO DATE. WHAT ARE THE
BROADER IMPLICATIONS FOR THE CO
MINGLING OF THESE PROGRAMS? AND
HOW ARE THESE FACILITIES USED
AFTER A CHARTER SCHOOL CLOSES? I
BELIEVE THAT THE STATE AUDITOR
WILL HELP ANSWER THESE CRITICAL
QUESTIONS AND MORE AND THROUGH
THIS, THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS
GUIDE US ON WHAT LEGISLATIVE
ACTION IF ANY, IS WARRANTED. I
WILL ALSO SHARE THAT THE STATE
TREASURE THAT HAS BEEN
ADMINISTERING THIS PROGRAM WITH
INCREDIBLE FIDELITY AND
EXCELLENCE OVER THE PAST 20
YEARS. CERTAINLY HAS AN
OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO HELP
US REALLY GET TO THE POINT OF
WHETHER OR NOT THE INTENTION OF
THE LEGISLATURE IN SB 7 40 IS
BEING MET WITH THE PRACTICE THAT
IS BEING IMPLEMENTED AND WHETHER
OR NOT THE KIND OF IMPACT THAT
WE WANT UM, TO PRESERVE PUBLIC
DOLLARS FOR PUBLIC USE, AS
OPPOSED TO PRIVATE AQUISITION
OF PROPERTY IS WHAT WE ARE
LOOKING AT TODAY. GREAT. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU SO MORE WOMAN
BANTER. LET'S GO AHEAD AND MOVE
TO OUR AUDITORS. PRESENTATION.
MR. TILDEN, PLEASE. ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU, MR CHAIR AND MEMBERS
AS ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S BONTA
INDICATED THE MEMBERS ARE
REQUESTING AN AUDIT OF THE
CALIFORNIA SCHOOL FINANCE
AUTHORITIES. OVERSIGHT OF THE
CHARTER SCHOOL FACILITY GRANT
PROGRAM AND THE CONDUIT REVENUE
BOND PROGRAM. THE AUDIT SCOPE
WOULD INCLUDE EVALUATING WHETHER
THE SCHOOL FINANCE AUTHORITY
APPROPRIATELY AND CONSISTENTLY
ADMINISTERS FUNDING FOR THE
FACILITY GRANT PROGRAM AND THE
CONDUIT REVENUE BOND PROGRAM. IN
ACCORDANCE WITH STATE LAW AND
REGULATIONS. THIS WOULD INCLUDE
REVIEWING A BASICALLY A
SELECTION OF APPLICATIONS FOR
BOTH PROGRAMS AND ASSESSING THE
CRITERIA THAT THE CALIFORNIA
SCHOOL FINANCE AUTHORITY STAFF
USED TO APPROVE OR DENY THOSE
FUNDING REQUESTS. WE ALSO
IDENTIFY A NUMBER OF ITEMS FOR
RECENT FACILITY GRANT PROGRAM
AWARDING CYCLES. INCLUDING THE
AMOUNT PERCENTAGE OF FACILITY
GRANT PROGRAM FUNDS THAT WERE
ALLOCATED TO CHARTER SCHOOLS
THAT RELEASE THEIR FACILITIES
FROM A RELATED PARTY. WE ALSO
DETERMINE THE AMOUNT PERCENTAGE
AND THE ESTIMATED VALUE OF ANY
PROPERTIES THAT WERE ACQUIRED BY
LIMITED LIABILITY CORPORATIONS.
AH THAT ARE WHOLLY OWNED BY THE
CHARTER SCHOOLS THEMSELVES OR
CHARTER MANAGEMENT ORGANIZATION.
THAT WOULD REALLY INVOLVE
LOOKING AT A SAMPLE OF CHARTERS,
AND WE HAVE TO DO RESEARCH ON
THE OWNERSHIP OF THE CHARTER AND
THE SCHOOL SITE TO IDENTIFY
THOSE RELATED PARTIES. AND WE
ALSO TAKE A LOOK AT THE NUMBER
OF FACILITY PROGRAM GRANT
RECIPIENTS THAT HAVE ESTABLISHED
CHARTER SCHOOLS IN AN AREA WHERE
THE OFFICE OF PUBLIC SCHOOL
CONSTRUCTION HAS REALLY NOT.
DESIGNATED ANY NEED FOR
ADDITIONAL CLASSROOM SPACE. AND
WE ALSO LOOK AT THE, UM,
BASICALLY THE NUMBER OF
RECIPIENTS OF CONDUIT REVENUE
BOND PROGRAM PROCEEDS THAT ALSO
ARE RECEIVING FACILITY GRANT
PROGRAM FUNDS. SO WE'RE LOOKING
AT THE NUMBER OF ENTITIES THAT
ARE RECEDING BOTH OF THOSE
FUNDING SOURCES. AND LASTLY, ON
THE FACILITY GRANT PROGRAM. WE
TAKE A LOOK AT HOW MANY OF THOSE
APPLICATIONS THAT ARE COMING IN
ARE ACTUALLY DENIED. THE
FUNDING. AND THEN THE OTHER PART
OF THIS IS LOOKING AT WITH THESE
CHARTER SCHOOLS AND CHARTR
MANAGEMENT ORGANIZATIONS TRYING
TO GET A HANDLE ON WHICH OF
THOSE ENTITIES HAVE RECEIVED THE
MOST AMOUNT OF FUNDING FROM
EITHER THE FACILITY GRANT
PROGRAM OR THE CONDUIT REVENUE
BOND PROGRAM. STANDS ALSO, TO
THE EXTENT POSSIBLE DETERMINING
HOW PROPERTIES THAT THESE LLCS
HAVE ACQUIRED WITH THESE WITH
THESE GRANT FUNDS. WHAT'S
HAPPENING TO THOSE PROPERTIES
WHEN THE FACILITIES WERE
ACTUALLY CLOSED DOWN? AND TO DO
THAT, WHAT WE HAVE TO DO IS
REALLY TEST A SAMPLE OF THE
SCHOOL SITES THAT WERE CLOSED.
AND THEN BASED ON THE OBJECTIVES
ABOVE. WE'D BASICALLY EVALUATE
THE INTERACTION BETWEEN THAT
GRANT PROGRAM, THE CONDUIT
REVENUE BOND PROGRAM AND ASSESS
WHETHER THERE'S ANY RISK THAT
EITHER ONE OF THOSE PROGRAMS ARE
RESULTING IN WASTEFUL SPENDING
OR UNLAWFUL OR IMPROPER
ACTIVITIES. AND THEN FINALLY,
THE AUDIT SCOPE WOULD INCLUDE
DETERMINING HOW IF THE FACILITY
GRANT PROGRAM WAS DISSOLVED. HOW
WOULD THAT AFFECT THOSE CHARTER
SCHOOLS AND THEIR ABILITY TO PAY
THE CONDUIT REVENUE BONDS AND TO
THE EXTENT THAT THAT'S HAPPENING
, WE ALSO IDENTIFY. ARE THERE
ANY IMPLICATIONS TO THE STATE'S
CREDIT RATING? IF THERE WAS
CHARTER SCHOOLS ARE UNABLE TO
REPAY THOSE CONDUCT REVENUE
BONDS. SO THIS IS THIS IS A
FAIRLY COMPLICATED AUDIT. WE'RE
ESTIMATING WOULD TAKE ABOUT 2900
HOURS TO COMPLETE AND THAT
EQUATES TO ABOUT 6 TO 7 MONTHS
WITHOUT. THANK YOU, MR CHAIR.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, MR
CHILDREN. LET'S GO AHEAD AND
MOVE BACK. MS BUT I BELIEVE YOU
HAVE A WITNESS AND SUPPORT AND
WE HAVE THIS CASEY MANCINI WITH
CALIFORNIA SCHOOL EMPLOYEES
ASSOCIATION, PLEASE. GOOD
MORNING, MR CHAIR AND MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS CASSIE MANCINI AND
I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF THE
CALIFORNIA SCHOOL EMPLOYEES
ASSOCIATION, THE SPONSORS OF
THIS AUDIT. FIRST I'D LIKE TO
THANK ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S BONTA FOR
HER ADVOCACY ON THIS ISSUE.
EVIDENCE UNCOVERED BY CSKA AND
RESEARCHERS AND ORGANIZATIONS
LIKE IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST
SUGGESTS THAT THE CHARTER SCHOOL
FACILITY GRANT PROGRAM HAS BEEN
EXPLOITED BY SOME NOT TO PAY,
RENT AND LEASE COSTS, AS
INTENDED BY THE LEGISLATURE BACK
IN 2001, BUT INSTEAD TO PAY OFF
CONDUIT REVENUE BONDS AND LOANS
FOR THE PRIVATE PURCHASE OF
PROPERTY WHENEVER THE STATE
PROVIDES SUBSTANTIAL FUNDING FOR
THE ACQUISITION OR RENOVATION OF
A PUBLIC SCHOOL FACILITY. THERE
ARE LAWS AND REGULATIONS THAT
MUST BE COMPLIED WITH IN ORDER
TO PROTECT THE TAXPAYERS
INVESTMENTS IN THAT FACILITY.
FOR EXAMPLE, UNDER THE CHARTER
SCHOOL FACILITY PROGRAM
PROVISIONS GOVERNING WHO HOLDS
THE TITLE TO A SCHOOL FACILITY
TO WHAT STANDARDS THAT FACILITY
MUST BE CONSTRUCTED AND THE
SUCCESSION PROCEDURES FOR USE OF
A FACILITY ARE CAREFULLY
OUTLINED IN LAW. BUT BECAUSE THE
CHARTER SCHOOL FACILITY GRANT
PROGRAM WAS NOT DESIGNED TO BE
USED FOR THE ACQUISITION OF
SCHOOL FACILITIES, IT'S
AUTHORIZING STATUTE DOES NOT
CONTAIN SIMILAR PROTECTIONS.
THIS PROGRAM ISN'T BEING USED IN
THE WAY IT WAS INTENDED. THAT'S
WHY IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THE
LEGISLATURE GET A BETTER
UNDERSTANDING OF HOW FREQUENTLY
THESE RELATED PARTY ARRANGED
AGREEMENTSARE USED, AND THE
INCIDENTS OF PRIVATE OWNERSHIP
OF FACILITIES FUNDED WITH PROP
$98. CIA CIA SUPPORTED SB 7 40
BACK IN 2001. WE ARE NOT
PROPOSING THIS AUDIT TO SHUT
DOWN THE CHARTER SCHOOL FACILITY
GRANT PROGRAM OR TO MAKE THE
SFA'S CONDUIT BOND REVENUE BOND
PROGRAM LESS COMPETITIVE. BUT
FUNDAMENTALLY, THIS PROGRAM IS
BEING USED BY RECIPIENTS IN TWO
DIFFERENT WAYS, DEPENDING ON HOW
WELL RESOURCED AND FINANCIALLY
ASTUTE THEIR LEADERSHIP IS. MANY
SCHOOLS ARE USING THE PROGRAM
THE WAY IT WAS INTENDED. BUT
OTHERS ARE USING IT TO ACQUIRE
REAL ESTATE. THE STATE AUDITOR'S
OFFICE TO AGREE. AND WE'RE
SAYING FUNDAMENTALLY THE SAME
THING. WE JUST ADDITIONALLY
ASKED THAT LET'S LOOK AT THE
OUTCOMES FOR THESE CHARTER
SCHOOLS. STAFF IS ALREADY OVER
EXTENDED DOES NOT HAVE THE
CAPACITY, NOR IS IT THEIR CHARGE
TO LOOK INTO QUESTIONS LIKE HOW
OUR PROPERTIES USED AFTER SCHOOL
CLOSES. THAT'S WHY THE STATE
AUDITOR IS BEST SUITED TO
CONDUCT THIS MUCH NEEDED
INVESTIGATION INTO THE SCOPE OF
PRIVATE ACQUISITION OF PUBLICLY
FUNDED SCHOOL FACILITIES THROUGH
THE COMMINGLING OF THESE TWO
PROGRAMS. THANK YOU. AND WE
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOUR I VOTE
IN FAVOR OF THIS AUDIT. THANK
YOU FOR YOUR TESTIMONY WITH THIS
. LET'S GO AHEAD AND DISMISS THE
WITNESSES AND COLOR THE AFFECTED
AGENCIES. WE HAVE WITH US TODAY
, MISS FIONA MAR TREASURER OF
CALIFORNIA STATE. PAIR OF
CALIFORNIA STATE TREASURER.
THANK YOU, MR MARC FOR JOINING
US. THANK YOU, MR CHAIR AND
MEMBERS, UM THANK YOU FOR THIS
OPPORTUNITY TO COME AND I LOOK
FORWARD TO WORKING WITH MISS
BANTA ON THIS AUDIT. UM AS THE
STATE TREASURER. I AM THE BANKER
LAST YEAR $3.2 TRILLION CAME
INTO MY OFFICE. I MANAGE A SHORT
TERM PORTFOLIO VALUED AT $248
BILLION TODAY AND THEN I ALSO
ISSUE ALL OF THE BONDS FOR THE
STATE OF CALIFORNIA AND THE YOU
SEE IN THE CSU SYSTEMS. WHEN
JUST UNRULY BECAME TREASURER. HE
SAID. THE CHARGES OFFICE AS ALL
THIS MONEY WE SHOULD BE DOING
MORE AND HENCE, TODAY WE CHAIR
15 BOARDS, COMMISSIONS AND
AUTHORITIES. THAT OVERSEES
AFFORDABLE HOUSING. CHARTER
SCHOOLS, COMMUNITY COLLEGES AND
OTHERS, UM, PUBLIC
TRANSPORTATION HOSPITALS. UM
GREEN ENERGY, ALSO CHAIR, THREE
SAVINGS PROGRAMS AND THE LIKE.
SO TODAY I WELCOME THIS
OPPORTUNITY. JUST COME AND TALK
A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS PROGRAM
UNDER THE CALIFORNIA SCHOOL BY
NATHAN FINANCING AUTHORITY AND
THE TWO PROGRAMS, THE CHARTER
SCHOOL FACILITY GRANT PROGRAM
AND THE CONDUIT BOND. PROGRAM
BOTH OF WHICH COMMITTEES I DO
CHAIR. THERE ARE THREE MEMBERS
OF THIS COMMITTEE. THE OTHER TWO
MEMBERS IS THE CALIFORNIA
SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC
INSTRUCTION, TONY THURMAN. AND
THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE
DIRECTOR KEELEY MARTIN BASEL. ER
SINCE 2013 WE ARE A PUBLIC
AGENCY, WE HAVE MONTHLY PUBLIC
MEETINGS. WE HAVE MINUTES WE
HAVE AGENDAS. WE HAVE AMPLE
PUBLIC COMMENT AND MANY MANY P R
A S UM, AT THIS AGENCY. BECAUSE
WE ARE LIMITED IN TIME. I DID
SUBMIT THE LETTER THAT WE, UM WE
SENT TWO CHAIRS SALAS, ALONG
WITH THE DIFFERENT ATTACHMENTS.
AH THE ATTACHMENT A IS THE
ACTIVE CHARTER SCHOOLS BY
COMMITMENT COMMITTEE MEMBER
DISTRICT, SO IT'S ONLY YOUR
DISTRICTS THAT ARE LISTED IN
TOTAL. THERE ARE 424 SCHOOLS.
BUT I CAN GIVE YOU THE WHOLE
LIST OF 424 BROKEN DOWN AROUND
THE STATE. IF YOU'D LIKE, UH, B
IS SCHOOLS WHICH RECEIVE CHARTER
SCHOOL FACILITY GRANT PROGRAM
FUNDING IN 2021 TO 2022. ALSO BY
YOUR MEMBER DISTRICTS. CSF PHASE
2021 CONDUIT BOND REPORT WITH
HISTORICAL CONDUIT TRANSACTION
INFORMATION D HAS HISTORY AND
MILESTONES OF THE CALIFORNIA
SCHOOL FINANCE AUTHORITY. AND E
. THE CURRENT CHARTER SCHOOL
FACILITY GRANT PROGRAM
REGULATIONS, SO AS YOU CAN SEE,
IT IS VERY COMPLICATED. THIS
PROGRAM WAS ESTABLISHED BY
JACKIE GOLDBERG WHEN SHE WAS
HERE IN THE LEGISLATURE IN 2002
. THERE WAS A DETAILED TIMELINE
ON MY WEBSITE. SO YOU CAN SEE,
UH, THE HISTORY AND ALL OF THE
DIFFERENT AUTHORS. THAT
SPONSORED BILLS. UM, AS THE
STATE TREASURER. BECAUSE I CHAIR
THIS PROGRAM. I SHARE IT TO THE
BEST OF OUR ABILITY. UH KATRINA
JOHANSSON. JOHANSSON HAS BEEN
THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR THE
PAST 20 YEARS UNDER FOUR
DIFFERENT TREASURERS. THE
DECISION OBVIOUSLY IS HERE WITH
THE LEGISLATURE IF YOU DECIDE TO
CHANGE THE PROGRAM, WE, OF
COURSE WILL ACCOMMODATE BUT
ACCORDING TO WHAT HAS BEEN
PASSED LEGISLATION THAT'S BEEN
PASSED IN THE PAST. WE FEEL LIKE
WE ARE DOING AN EXCELLENT JOB
ADMINISTERING THE DIFFERENT
PROGRAMS. WE ALSO ARE SUBJECT TO
AN AUDIT EVERY YEAR BY GILBERT
AND ASSOCIATES. ALL OF THESE
AUDITS ARE ON OUR WEBSITE. UM
AND OUR MISSION IS NOT ONLY
CHARTER SCHOOLS BUT TO HELP
SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND COMMUNITY
COLLEGES AND WE ISSUED OUR FIRST
BOND $64 MILLION TO PROVIDE
STUDENT HOUSING. AT THE SANTA
ROSA COMMUNITY COLLEGE SITE LAST
YEAR. SO THAT WAS OUR FIRST
SUCCESSFUL FORAY INTO COMMUNITY
COLLEGE. LENDING. UM SO I
REVIEWED THE AUDIT, SCOPE AND
OBJECTIVES OF THE 14 ITEMS.
THREE ARE OUTSIDE OUR SCOPE OF
PRACTICE. ONE IS SUBJECT TO
INTERPRETATION NUMBER SIX. UM,
WITH YOU KNOW WHEN YOU TALK
ABOUT IMPROPER UH, LET'S SEE.
IMPROPER UNLAWFUL OR IMPROPER
ACTIVITIES. UM THE OVERSIGHT
AGENCIES ARE THE PPC, THE S C C
AND THE AUTHORIZE EAR'S AND WE
HAVE NOT HAD ANY. COMPLAINTS OR
VIOLATIONS SINCE I GOT ELECTED
ALMOST FOUR YEARS AGO. SO I
RESPECTFULLY ASK THE MEMBERS TO
REVIEW THE SCOPE AND OBJECTIVES
AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING
WITH ASSEMBLY WOMAN BONTA ON
THIS J LACK AUDIT. THANK YOU,
MISS MÀ. AH! ADDITIONAL
TESTIMONY NOW. FANTASTIC THANK
YOU WITH THAT. LET ME RETURN
THAT ITEM BACK TO THE DIOCESE.
LET ME ASK MEMBERS FOR IF THEY
HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON THIS ITEM.
MISS BUTTER. I'D LIKE TO ASK A
QUESTION. IF I MAY. YOU DON'T
GIVEN MISS MAS REPORT AND THE
SCOPE. WE'RE GOING TO GET TO
THAT. IF YOU LIKE TO COMMENT ON
THAT PLACE? YEAH, I APPRECIATE
THAT. AND AS I SHARED IN MY
OPENING COMMENTS, THIS IS REALLY
TO TRY AND AN ATTEMPT TO TRY TO
IDENTIFY THE WAYS IN WHICH THE
INTENT OF THE LEGISLATURE HAS
PROBABLY NOT RESULTED IN THE
KIND OF IMPACT THAT WE WOULD
WANT FOR THE USE OF PUBLIC FUNDS
. AND SO I'M CERTAIN THAT THERE
ARE SEVERAL ASPECTS OF THIS
AUDIT THAT ARE LIKELY BEYOND
THIS PARTICULAR SCOPE OF THE
TREASURER'S OFFICE, BUT I THINK
IT IS PARTICULARLY WHY IT'S
IMPORTANT TO BE ABLE TO GATHER
DATA FROM OTHER AGENCIES. UM AND
AS THE STATE AUDITOR INDICATED.
THE AUDITOR WOULD BE IN THE BEST
POSITION TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.
SO UM, SO I THINK THROUGH
EXAMINATION, WE WOULD BE ABLE TO
IDENTIFY THE EXTENT TO WHICH THE
TREASURER'S OFFICE AND THE CSF G
P PROGRAM IS ABLE TO UH, TO BE
ABLE TO RESPOND TO THE POINTS
IDENTIFIED IN THE AUDIT AND
UNDER THE SCOPE OF THIS, UM UH
BUT I WOULD ASK THAT THERE BE AN
OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THOSE ITEMS
ADDRESSED BY THE AUDITOR. THREE
OTHER. LET ME ASK MR TILDEN. UM
YOU KNOW, IF YOU IF YOU
DETERMINE IT'S BEYOND THE SCOPE
. WOULD YOU JUST STATE THAT IN
THE AUDIT, AND WITH THAT, JUST
HOW HAVE YOU HOW'S THE OFFICE
DEALT WITH THOSE TYPES OF ISSUES
IN THE PAST? UH THANK YOU, MR
CHAIR. TO THE EXTENT THAT ANY OF
THESE OBJECTIVES ARE OUTSIDE OF
THE PURVIEW OR AREA OF
RESPONSIBILITY, THE TREASURER'S
OFFICE I MEAN, WE CAN GO BEYOND
THAT, TO THE EXTENT THAT THERE
ARE OTHER STATE AGENCIES OR THE
PPC OR OTHER ENTITIES THAT HAVE
SOME RESPONSIBILITY RELATED TO
THESE DIFFERENT AUDIT
OBJECTIVES. WE CAN WE CAN
EXPAND. WE CAN BASICALLY DEAL
WITH THESE OBJECTIVES AND THIS
AUDIT SCOPE BY BRINGING IN THESE
OTHER ENTITIES. THAT'S NOT A
PROBLEM. OKAY THANK YOU, MR
CHILDREN. LET'S MOVE TO SENATOR
BECKER, WHO HAS A QUESTION.
PLEASE OH, JUST MORE PROCEDURES.
I UNDERSTAND IF THERE'S SOME
PIECES THAT ARE CONSIDERED
OUTSIDE THE SCOPE. HOW WOULD
THAT WORK WITH THE B WITH THE
AUDITOR THEN TURNED TO DIFFERENT
AGENCY ON THAT, OR WHAT IS THE
PROCESS? THEY'RE JUST HOW THAT
MR TILDEN JUST ANSWERED THAT HE
WOULD QUÊ GREAT, SO I DIDN'T
QUITE GET THAT. SORRY PLEASE, MR
TILDEN, REITERATE FOR MISTURA
EXPAND ON THAT, TO THE EXTENT
THAT ANY OF THESE AUDIT
OBJECTIVES INCLUDE, UM
OBJECTIVES OR ROLES AND
RESPONSIBILITIES THAT GO BEYOND
THE TREASURER'S OFFICE OR BEYOND
THE CALIFORNIA SCHOOL FINANCE
AUTHORITY. WE COULD. WE WOULD
IDENTIFY ANY OTHER STATE
ENTITIES OR DEPARTMENTS THAT
HAVE ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
THAT ARE RELEVANT TO THESE
OBJECTIVES. AND WE COULD ENTER
WITH THEM. WE COULD GATHER
INFORMATION FROM THEM SO I GUESS
WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY IS THAT
WE'RE NOT LIMITEDTO WORKING
WITH THE TREASURER'S OFFICE TO
ADDRESS EACH OF THESE AUDIT
OBJECTIVES. ALL RIGHT. THANK
YOU, SENATOR BECKER. THANK YOU,
MR TILDEN. ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS
FROM THE DAIS HEARING AND SEEING
NONE. LET ME NOW TURN THIS OVER
TO THE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. THEY
DO BELIEVE WE HAVE PUBLIC
COMMENT. PLEASE APPROACH. THANK
YOU. THANKS, MR CHAIRMAN MEMBERS
. JOHN WINGER. I'M HERE FOR THE
CALIFORNIA CHARTER SCHOOL
ASSOCIATION. WE DON'T HAVE A
POSITION ON THE AUDIT. WE
WELCOME AN IMPARTIAL AUDIT. BUT
WE DO HAVE SERIOUS ISSUES WITH
THE CHARACTERIZATION. OF THESE
ARRANGEMENTS. UM THE SO THESE,
UH, NONPROFIT ARRANGEMENTS ARE
ESSENTIALLY OUR ONLY WAY TO
LEVERAGE PRIVATE BOND DOLLARS TO
ACTUALLY ACTUALLY ACQUIRE
ADEQUATE FACILITIES, AS MANY OF
YOU KNOW, WE ARE DENIED
CONSTANTLY BY SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
PROP 39 ALLOCATIONS. WE ALSO ARE
LEFT OUT OF ALL ALMOST ALL LOCAL
BONDS. UM WE GET
DISPROPORTIONATE ACCESS TO STATE
BOND FUNDING THAT WE HAVE ABOUT
10% OF THE STUDENTS. WE GET LESS
THAN 1% OF THE OF THE FUNDS. WE
HAVE NO LOCAL ZONING FLEXIBILITY
. AND JUST THIS YEAR WE WERE
LEFT OUT OF $3 BILLION IN
FACILITY FUNDING IN THE STATE
BUDGET, AND SO THIS IS REALLY
ONE OF OUR ONLY WAYS TO LEVERAGE
PRIVATE DOLLARS AND ACTUALLY GET
ADEQUATE FACILITIES FOR OUR
STUDENTS. I WOULD DISAGREE THAT
THERE'S ANY PRIVATE ACQUISITIONS
OF PROPERTIES. WE ARE SUBJECT
AND NONPROFIT LAW. WHICH MEANS
WE HAVE A DISSOLUTION OF ASSETS
REQUIREMENT, WHICH MEANS IT HAS
TO GO BACK TO A PUBLIC BENEFIT
AND A LOT OF THE EXAMPLES THAT
WERE USED IN THE AUDIT OR ARE
PRETTY OUTDATED. IT'S FROM BACK
TO 2017. THAT IGNORES A LOT OF
THE LAWS THAT WE HAVE PASSED
HERE. 84 06 BY ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S
MCCARTY BAND FOR PROFIT CHARTER
SCHOOLS. SB 1 26 BY SENATOR
LEYVA INCREASED TRANSPARENCY. A
B 15 OH, FIVE BY ONE OF THE CO
AUTHORS OF THE AUDIT ACTUALLY
INCREASED THE RENEWAL PROCESS
AND OVERSIGHT AND ACCOUNTABILITY
THERE. UM THERE WAS ALSO A
TRAILER BILL FROM CSF A IN 2018
THAT INCREASED AND ENHANCED
REGULATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS ON
THIS PROGRAM ITSELF. SO WE THINK
A LOT OF THE EXAMPLES THAT WERE
USED IGNORE. THESE CURRENT LAWS.
ONE OF THE EXAMPLES THAT WAS
USED WAS IMAGINED CHARTER
SCHOOLS THEY WERE ACTUALLY
DENIED 7 40 FUNDS AND THEN THEIR
CHARTER WAS REVOKED FOR HAVING
AN IMPROPER LEASE ARRANGEMENT.
AND SO WE DON'T BELIEVE THERE'S
ANYTHING NEFARIOUS GOING ON
HERE. UM THEY ALSO MENTIONED I'M
SORRY THAT IN THE PUBLIC
INTEREST REPORT THAT TALKS ABOUT
CLASSROOM SPACE BEING AVAILABLE
, THOSE SPACES MIGHT BE
AVAILABLE. THEY'RE NOT BEING
GIVEN TO US. THEY'RE BEING
DENIED THROUGH PROP 39 SURPLUS
PROPERTY A LOT OF THE SURPLUS
PROPERTY THAT WERE DENIED. GOES
TO ACTUAL PRIVATE ACQUISITION
AND SALES TO PRIVATE LAND
DEVELOPERS, SO WE ACTUALLY HAVE
A LITTLE BIT MORE SCRUTINY THAN
SCHOOL DISTRICTS DO OVER OUR OUR
SITES AND THE DISSOLUTION FACETS
THERE. AND SO WHILE WE WELCOME
THE AUDIT, WE, UH VERY MUCH
DISAGREE WITH THE CURRENT AS THE
CURRENT CHARACTERIZATION OF THIS
PROGRAM, AND I WOULD BE REMISS
IF I DIDN'T MENTION THAT THERE'S
A BILL GOING THROUGH THE
LEGISLATURE RIGHT NOW BY ONE OF
THE CO AUTHORS. WE BELIEVE
THAT'S A LITTLE BIT PREMATURE,
CONSIDERING SO MANY QUESTIONS
THAT WE STILL HAVE ABOUT THIS,
SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU. LET ME
ASK IF THERE'S ADDITIONAL PUBLIC
COMMENT. HERE AGAINST SEEING
NONE. LET ME RETURN THE ITEM
BACK TO THE DIETS. LET ME ASK AT
THIS TIME. ASSEMBLYWOMAN BONTA
IF YOU'D LIKE TO CLOSE AND
PERHAPS MAYBE ADDRESS SOME OF
THE ISSUES BROUGHT UP DURING
PUBLIC COMMENT, PLEASE
APPRECIATE THAT. I THINK, UH,
THE FURTHER YOU GO AWAY FROM AH
, FROM PUBLIC AGENCIES ACTUALLY
ADMINISTERING ANY KIND OF
RESOURCES. THE MORE YOU GO OUT
OF THE SCOPE OF BEING ABLE TO
FULLY REVIEWED BY, UH BY, UM BY
THE PUBLIC AND HAVE FULL
TRANSPARENCY. SO IN THIS
INSTANCE IS WHERE WE HAVE SP 7
$40 GOING FROM, UH FROM THE
STATE USING PUBLIC GRANT DOLLARS
TO A CHARTER SCHOOL ENTITY THAT
IS A PRIVATE NONPROFIT. WHILE IT
IS THE CASE THAT PRIVATE
NONPROFITS ARE, UH, ARE NEED TO
BE ABLE TO ENSURE THAT THEY ARE
ACHIEVING THEIR MISSION THAT
THOSE DOLLARS ARE SPENT FOR THE
PUBLIC BENEFIT WHAT THIS AUDIT
IS TRYING TO ENSURE THAT WE DO
IS ENSURE THAT THE DOLLARS
SPECIFICALLY ARE GOING FOR
FACILITIES USE SO THAT THERE'S
LIKE FOR LIKE, KIND AND THAT
THOSE PUBLIC DOLLARS REMAINED
WITHIN THE REALM. OF USE BY
AGENCIES FOR THE PURPOSE OF
FACILITIES. SO WHILE I
ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE IS A
POSSIBILITY TO USE THOSE PUBLIC
DOLLARS FOR OTHER REASONS, I DO
MAINTAIN THAT THAT THAT THAT
REASON IS ESSENTIALLY A KIND OF
OUT OF THE SCOPE OF THE
INTENTION OF THE SB 7 $40. I
APPRECIATE VERY MUCH THE STATE
TREASURER'S OFFICE FOR THEIR
WILLINGNESS TO PARTICIPATE IN
THIS AUDIT. I KNOW THAT THE SEA
TREASURE AND THIS PARTICULAR
PROGRAM THAT HAS BEEN
ADMINISTERED BY ONE IS, YOU
KNOW, VERY, VERY COMPETENT AND A
STELLAR INDIVIDUAL FOR THE PAST
20 YEARS, UM, HAS BEEN DOING SO
WITH FIDELITY TO THE WAY IN
WHICH THE PROGRAM HAS BEEN
IDENTIFIED AND OUTLINED BY THE
LEGISLATURE. THE INTENTION OF
THIS AUDIT IS TO ENSURE THAT WE
HAVE THE ABILITY TO MATCH THE
INTENTION OF THE LEGISLATURE
WITH THE PRACTICE OF TODAY. AND
WITH THAT, UM, UH, GIVEN THE
FACT THAT THERE'S BEEN
INCREDIBLE, DILIGENT WORK DONE,
AND COMPLIANCE OF THE LAW. AS IT
STANDS. THE INTENTION OF THIS
AUDIT IS TO UNDERSTAND WHETHER
OR NOT WE ACTUALLY HAVE ANY
GAPS. UM UH AND DESPITE THE
INTENTION OF SB 7 40 WITH THAT,
AND WITH THAT, I RESPECTFULLY
ASK YOUR IBOOK ALL RIGHT. THANK
YOU. SOME LU BONTA LET ME ASK
MADAM SECRETARY TO COLORADO. BUT
WE NEED EMOTION IN A SECOND. OF
EMOTION BY MS BOERNER HORVATH.
WE HAVE A SECOND BY MR WOULD
MADAM SECRETARY CALDERON. THE
MOTION IS TO PROVE ORDER REQUEST
. 2022-1 10, CALIFORNIA SCHOOL
FINANCE AUTHORITY, CHARTER
SCHOOL FACILITY GRANT PROGRAM
AND CONDUIT REVENUE BOND PROGRAM
BY ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S BONTA.
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S SALAS SAYIGH
BOERNER HORVATH HORVATH I KYLIE
KYLIE NO, PATERSON. RUBIO.
VOEPEL OPAL NO WOOD. WOULD I?
SENATOR HERTZBERG. BECKER.
BECKER. AYE. GORGEOUS. GLACIER.
LEYVA LEVER? AYE. MCGUIRE
NIELSEN. RIGHT THAT MEASURES ON
CALL. THANK YOU.
RIGHT THIS TIME. I BELIEVE NEXT.
IN OUR SIGN IN ORDER WAS
ASSEMBLYWOMAN PETRIE-NORRIS.
YOU'D LIKE TO APPROACH. MEMBERS
THIS IS FILE ITEM NUMBER 11.
THIS IS 2022-1 14, CALIFORNIA
DEPARTMENT OF TECHNOLOGY
OVERSIGHT. MISS PETRIE-NORRIS,
WHEN YOU ARE READY TO BEGIN,
PLEASE BEGIN, MR CHAIR AND GOOD
MORNING MEMBERS. I AM HERE TODAY
TO PRESENT A REQUEST TO HAVE THE
STATE AUDITOR DO A COMPREHENSIVE
ASSESSMENT OF INFORMATION
TECHNOLOGY SYSTEMS UNDER THE
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF
TECHNOLOGY. CALIFORNIANS ARE
INTERACTING MORE AND MORE WITH
OUR GOVERNMENT SERVICES ONLINE.
AND AS WE ALL KNOW, ISSUES
PLAGUING OUR LEGACY TECHNOLOGY
SYSTEMS CONTINUE TO COMPROMISE.
CALIFORNIA'S ABILITY TO DELIVER
CORE SERVICES TO OUR
CONSTITUENTS. WE NEED TO MAKE
SURE THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF
TECHNOLOGY IS RIGHT SIZED
OFFERING APPROPRIATE PROJECT
OVERSIGHT. AND READY TO MEET THE
CHALLENGES OF SERVING OUR STATE
WHILE THE STATE AUDITOR HAS
AUDITED PIECES OF I T SYSTEMS
UNDER THE CDT UMBRELLA AND DOES
CHECK UP ON PARTICULARLY
TROUBLED PROJECTS LIKE FISCAL
THE LEGISLATURE NEEDS A MORE
HOLISTIC VIEW OF THE SYSTEMS
THAT UNDERGIRD OUR DEPARTMENTS.
THIS REQUEST REQUEST INCLUDES AN
EXAMINATION OF THE ROLE THAT CDT
PLAYS IN PROJECT PROCUREMENT.
PROJECT OVERSIGHT AND HOW IT
INTERACTS WITH THE DEPARTMENTS
THAT USE ITS SERVICES. I BELIEVE
THAT AN AUDIT IS NEEDED TO SHINE
LIGHT ON THE SERVICES THAT CDT
PROVIDES. SO THAT WE, THE
LEGISLATURE HAVE AN ACCURATE AND
THOROUGH UNDERSTANDING OF THE
DEPARTMENT'S ROLE IN ORDER TO
MAKE NECESSARY CHANGES. I THINK
THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT WE KNOW
THAT THINGS ARE NOT FUNCTIONING
AS EFFECTIVELY AS THEY COULD BE
, AND WE CANNOT MAKE APPROPRIATE
ADJUSTMENTS IF WE DON'T REALLY
UNDERSTAND. THE ROOT CAUSE OF
WHAT'S NOT WORKING. SO THANK YOU
FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION OF THIS
REQUEST AND HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY
QUESTIONS AT THE APPROPRIATE
TIME. THANK YOU ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S
THIS TIME, LET'S GO AHEAD AND
MOVE TO THE AUDITORS
PRESENTATION. MR TILDEN, PLEASE.
THANK YOU, MR CHAIR AND MEMBERS
AS ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S PETRIE
NORRIS INDICATED THIS THOUGHT IT
WOULD REALLY FOCUS ON THE
DEPARTMENT OF TECHNOLOGIES
OVERSIGHT OF STATE INFORMATION
TECHNOLOGY PROJECTS. IN THE
STATES SAFEGUARDS OVER CYBER
SECURITY THREATS, AND THIS WOULD
BE MORE OF A HOLISTIC AUDIT
WHERE WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE
VARIOUS PROCESSES THAT THE
DEPARTMENT TECHNOLOGY USES FOR
REVIEWING AND IMPROVING
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY PROJECTS
AND PROCUREMENT. AND ALSO TAKING
A LOOK AT THE EXTENT TO WHICH
THE DEPARTMENT IS TAKING POINT
OR TAKING A LEADERSHIP POSITION
IN TERMS OF BEING RESPONSIBLE
FOR OVERSIGHT OF THE PLANNING
THE COORDINATION, INCLUDING ANY
NEW SYSTEMS THAT WOULD ALLOW FOR
INTERDEPARTMENTAL COMMUNICATION
AND INFORMATION SHARING AS PART
OF THE AUDIT WOULD REVIEW THE
DEPARTMENT OF TECHNOLOGIES PAL
PROCESS, THE PROJECT APPROVAL
LIFECYCLE PROCESS. AND TAKE A
LOOK AT THEIR OVERSIGHT ON A
VARIETY OF STATEWIDE INFORMATION
TECHNOLOGY PROJECTS. FOR EXAMPLE
, WE WOULD DETERMINE WHETHER THE
DEPARTMENT HAS COMPLETED OR
CONDUCTED AN ENTIRE INVENTORY OF
ALL THE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY%
SYSTEMS THAT STATE DEPARTMENTS
ARE USING. INCLUDING THE AGE OF
THOSE SYSTEMS AND THE ADEQUACY
OF THEIR SECURITY CONTROLS. IN
ADDITION, WE WOULD EXAMINE THE
EXTENT TO WHICH THE DEPARTMENT
HAS ASSESSED AND MEASURED THE
INFORMATION SECURITY STATUS
ACROSS THE ACROSS THE ENTIRE
STATE. AND WE ALSO TAKE A LOOK
AT A SAMPLE OF PROJECTS,
INCLUDING PROJECTS AT THE
EMPLOYMENT DEVELOPMENT
DEPARTMENT AND FISCAL AND TAKE A
LOOK AT, UM THE DEPARTMENT OF
TECHNOLOGIES OVERSIGHT OVER
THOSE PROJECTS. AND DETERMINE
WHETHER IT'S FULFILLING ITS
ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES TO
EACH OF THE DEPARTMENTS AND TO
THE STATES. AS A PART OF THAT WE
TAKE A LOOK AT FOR EACH ONE OF
THOSE THAT SELECTION OF PROJECTS
WHAT WERE THE ESTIMATED AND
ACTUAL IMPLEMENTATION COST THE
PROJECTED AND ACTUAL TIMELINES
FOR SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT. AND THE
NUMBER OF AND REASONS FOR ANY
CHANGE ORDERS OR CONTRACT
AMENDMENTS. WE ALSO TAKE A LOOK
AT WHAT STEPS DOES THE
DEPARTMENT TAKE WHEN THERE WERE
VARIANCES IN THESE PROJECTS IN
TERMS OF THEIR SCOPE, SCHEDULE
OR COST AND DETERMINE WHETHER
THE DEPARTMENT IS DOING A GOOD
JOB OF IDENTIFYING THOSE
VARIANCES AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE
AND TAKING APPROPRIATE ACTION?
WE ALSO TAKE A LOOK AT WHETHER
THE DEPARTMENT IS RIGHT SIZE AND
WHETHER THEY HAVE THE
APPROPRIATE NUMBER OF STAFF TO
HANDLE THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES
FOR OVERSEEING IT. TECHNOLOGY
PROJECTS AND THE SECURITY STATUS
OF THE STATES. IT ASSETS. AND
LASTLY, WE WOULD CONDUCT A
SURVEY OF ALL STATE DEPARTMENTS
THAT USE TECHNOLOGY SERVICES AND
AS BASICALLY DETERMINE ARE THEY
SATISFIED WITH THE DEPARTMENT
SERVICES? ARE THEY AWARE OF WHAT
THE DEPARTMENT DOES? ARE THEY
USING THE DEPARTMENT'S SERVICES?
AND ARE THEY SATISFIED? AS A
PART OF THAT WE WOULD ALSO
INDEPENDENTLY DETERMINE THE
NUMBER OF LEGACY SYSTEMS THAT
ARE OUT THERE IN VARIOUS STATE
DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE IN NEED OF
MODERNIZATION, AND WE WOULD
DETERMINE PRIORITIZE THOSE THAT
ARE MOST CRITICAL. THIS IS A
PRETTY COMPLEX AUDIT. WE'RE
ESTIMATING ABOUT 3200 HOURS TO
COMPLETE ITS THAT'S ABOUT SEVEN
MONTHS, DEPENDING ON THE NUMBER
OF OTHER AUDITS THAT THE
COMMITTEE APPROVED TODAY. I
THINK WE COULD PROBABLY SHORTEN
THE DURATION OF THIS AUDIT A
BIT. IF WE CAN ASSIGN A COUPLE
OF DIFFERENT TEAM LEADERS IN A
LARGER TEAM TO GET THROUGH THIS
WORK MORE QUICKLY WITH THAT.
THANK YOU, MR CHAIR. THANK YOU,
MR TILDEN. AT THIS TIME, LET ME
INVITE ANY WITNESSES IN THE
AFFECTED AGENCIES. AGENCIES UP.
THANK YOU. AND I BELIEVE WE HAVE
THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF
TECHNOLOGY WITH US HERE TODAY.
PLEASE PROCEED WHEN YOU'RE
READY. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING
CHAIR SELLERS. AND THE MEMBERS
OF THE COMMITTEE. THANK YOU FOR
THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE
CITIES PERSPECTIVE ON THE
PROPOSED AUDIT HERE WITH ME
TODAY, CAROLINE ASTOR. SHE IS
THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR PROJECT
MANAGEMENT OFFICE, CALIFORNIA
DEPARTMENT OF TECHNOLOGY. THE
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF STATE
YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD ALSO MY
NAME IS SHE MRT AND THE STATE
CHIEF PROJECT OFFICER. THANK
YOU. DEPARTMENT OF TECHNOLOGY.
THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF
TECHNOLOGY IS VERY APPRECIATIVE
OF THE OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE
WITH ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S
PETRIE-NORRIS AND YOUR STAFF.
AND WE CERTAINLY APPRECIATE HER
CONTINUED DISCUSSION WITH THE
DEPARTMENT. THE ACIDITY
UNDERSTANDS THAT THE OBJECTIVE
OF THE PROPOSED AUDIT IS TOO
BROADLY EXAMINE THE SCOPE OF THE
DEPARTMENT OVERSIGHT. AND THEIR
AUTHORITY AND ITS ROLE AS WELL.
IN MANAGING IT. SYSTEMS STEP
WHITE. WE ARE NOT OPPOSED TO THE
REVIEW, BUT ACTS THAT THE AUDIT
BE MORE SPECIFIED AND MORE
FOCUSED. IN DIFFERENT AREAS
BECAUSE ONE UH LIMITED AMOUNT OF
RESOURCES TO DEDICATE TO THE
AUDITS. THE STAFF HAS BEEN
THROUGH MANY DRILLS, INCLUDING
AUDITS AND EMERGENCIES. LANGUAGE
IS VERY LIMITED. NUMBER TWO SOME
OF THE REQUESTED INFORMATION IN
THE AUDIT IS CURRENTLY PUBLIC
INFORMATION. AND WE CAN PROVIDE
THAT TO THE COMMITTEE. NUMBER
THREE. SOME OF THE REQUESTED
INFORMATION AS WELL. WAS JUST
PART OF THE AUDITED. AUDIT AUDIT
DONE BY THE C S A AND THEY FIND
THOSE FINDINGS HAVE BEEN
RELEASED AND CAN ALSO BE SENT TO
YOUR OFFICE. THE CSS CONDUCTED,
COMPLETED AND AUDIT OF SEA
DEITIES OVERSIGHT BACK IN
AUGUST, 2021. AND WE ARE
ADDRESSING THEIR FINDINGS ALSO
THE COMPLETED AND CONDUCTED A
COMPLETE COMPLETED COMPREHENSIVE
INFORMATION SECURITY AUDIT IN
DECEMBER. 2021. AND WE ALSO
ADDRESSING THOSE FINDINGS.
CHARITY IS ALSO A PARTNER IN
AUDITS OF CUSTOMER DEPARTMENTS.
IT PROJECTS AND I T SYSTEMS ON
AN ONGOING BUSINESS PCS A IS
AWARE OF THE PRACTICE. AND ALSO
COLLABORATIVE PROCESS. AS FOR
OTHER DEPARTMENTS, AS FOR OTHER
AUDIT OBJECTIVES, CDT BY STATUE
IS MANDATED TO UPDATE THE
LEGISLATURE PERIOD. IN SHORT.
THE AUDIT COVERS AREAS THAT HAVE
BEEN EITHER AUDITED RECENTLY.
WHAT SUBJECT TO PERIODIC
REPORTING. OR INFORMATION IS
ALREADY PUBLIC PUBLICLY
AVAILABLE AND OUTSIDE OF THE
CITIES OVERSIGHT AUTHORITY. WE
RESPECTFULLY SUGGEST A FEW
MODIFICATIONS ADIT. ONE WE
RECOMMEND THAT OR DID OBJECTIVES
NUMBER ONE? 23 A FOURAND SIX
WILL YIELD THE MOST BENEFICIAL
INFORMATION REGARDING CITIES
EXISTING OVERALL OVERSIGHT
AUTHORITY. FOR IT PROJECTS AND
RELATED PROCUREMENTS. THIS AUDIT
OBJECTIVES WILL PROVIDE INSIGHT
INTO CITIES LIMITED OVERSIGHT
AUTHORITY WHEN PROJECTS ARE
DEPLOYED BY STATE DEPARTMENT.
AND TRANSITIONED INTO OPERATIONS
AND MAINTENANCE PHASE. CITY
RECOMMENDS AUDIT OBJECTIVES
NUMBER THREE B THROUGH E ON
INFORMATION SECURITY AND
MODERNIZATION. BE REMOVED. WHY
THERE IS SOME OVERLAP WITH
ARTISTS OBJECTIVE NUMBER TWO,
NUMBER FOUR AND NUMBER SEVEN. IT
SHOULD BE NOTED THAT GOVERNMENT
COULD SECTION 11 5 46 NOT 45
ENACTED IN 2021 THROUGH BUDGET
BILL REQUIRES THE DEPARTMENT TO
IDENTIFY ASSESS AND PRIORITIZE
LEGACY INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
SYSTEM ORGANIZATION EFFORTS
ACROSS THE GOVERNMENT ENTITY IS
IN THE PROCESS OF CONDUCTING
THIS ASSESSMENT. AND SUBMIT BI
ANNUAL STATUS REPORT TO THE
LEGISLATURE ON THIS ACTIVITIES.
WE ALSO RECOMMEND REMOVING AUDIT
OBJECTIVES. NUMBER FIVE, NUMBER
EIGHT AND NUMBER NINE. THE
PROJECT IDENTIFIED IN THE AUDIT
, OBJECTIVE NUMBER FIVE ARE NOT
REFLECTIVE FACILITIES OVERSIGHT
AUTHORITY. OBJECTIVE NUMBER
EIGHT IS DUPLICATED OF ANNUAL
SERVICE ACIDITY CONDUCT TO ALL
STATE DEPARTMENTS TO UNDERSTAND
THE NEEDS AND SERVICES OF THIS
SPECIFIC DEPARTMENTS. WE CAN
PROVIDE THE SURVEY REPORTS FOR
REVIEW. AUDIT NUMBER NINE ALSO
YET MAY NOT YIELD THE
INFORMATION THAT COMMITTEE IS
TRYING TO COLLECT THROUGH THE
AUDIT TO INFORM FUTURE
LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS. THANK YOU
FOR YOUR TIME, AND WE'RE HAPPY
TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU
MIGHT HAVE. GREAT. THANK YOU. AT
THIS TIME, LET'S GO AHEAD AND
MOVE TO QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS
ON THE DAIS. MS PETRIE-NORRIS
ALLOW YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO
ADDRESS SOME OF THE CONCERNS
RAISED BY THE AGENCIES FOR MR
TILDEN. IF YOU'D LIKE TO COMMENT
ON SOME OF THOSE THINGS I FEEL
LIKE WE JUST DISCUSSED SOME OF
THAT IN THE PREVIOUS AUDIT AS
WELL. AND I WILL, UM, I GUESS
MAYBE PROVIDE SORT OF THE 30,000
FT LEVEL AND THEN, BUT YOU TO
PROVIDE SOME ADDITIONAL DETAIL
AS WELL. AND I THINK I THINK ONE
OF THE, UH THE POINTS THAT YOU
RAISE, AND I KNOW SOME OF THE
CONVERSATION WE'VE BEEN HAVING.
IT'S BEEN AROUND THE
DEPARTMENT'S DESIRE FOR US TO
FOCUS ON A MORE SPECIFIC AREA,
AND I THINK YOU'VE POINTED TO
THE FACT THAT THERE'S BEEN THESE
KIND OF ONE OFF AUDITS AND IT
FELS LIKE YOU'RE ALWAYS GETTING
THESE REQUESTS. AND I THINK,
FROM MY PERSPECTIVE KIND OF
TAKING A STEP BACK. THAT'S ONE
OF THE REASONS THAT WE DO NEED
TO DO A MORE COMPREHENSIVE AND
INTEGRATED AUDIT IN MY GOAL
WOULD BE THAT IT'S SO WE CAN
STOP DOING THE ONE OFF BECAUSE I
THINK THAT AYE. WHATEVER.
WHATEVER THE CASE, WE KNOW
SOMETHING IS NOT WORKING
EFFECTIVELY. WE KNOW THAT WE AS
A STATE CONSISTENTLY FAILED TO
DELIVER ON LARGE SCALE
TECHNOLOGY PROJECTS. WE ALSO
KNOW THAT WE'RE IN A POSITION
WHERE SO MANY OF OUR LEGACY
SYSTEMS ARE IN GRAVE NEED OF
BEING UPDATED, FRANKLY RIGHT NOW
, AND SO THERE'S TWO QUESTIONS.
I THINK NUMBER ONE IS, YOU KNOW
THE PRIORITIZATION OF THAT IS
INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT. IT IS ALSO
INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT THAT WE
HAVE PROCESSES IN PLACE AND FINE
TUNED BEFORE WE EMBARK ON THOSE
ENDEAVORS. I THINK THAT THAT'S
REALLY CRITICAL TO ENSURE THAT
WE DON'T AH END UP WITH A
SQUANDERING A LOT OF TAXPAYER
DOLLARS AND BE WITH A LOT OF
HEADLINES THAT NONE OF US WANT
TO SEE AND SEE WITH SYSTEMS THAT
ARE JUST NOT DELIVERING FOR
CALIFORNIA. AND SO THAT'S KIND
OF MY 30,000 FT VIEW. I KNOW. UM
YOU HAD SOME SPECIFIC COMMENTS
ON UH SPECIFIC ELEMENTS, WHICH
PERHAPS IF OUR AUDITOR COULD
RESPOND TO SOME OF THOSE POINTS
, THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL. THANK
YOU, MISS PETRIE-NORRIS, MR
TILDEN TO ALSO, YOU KNOW, THEY
MENTIONED THAT THERE WAS A CDT
SECURITY AUDIT IN 2021. I WOULD
IMAGINE YOUR TEAM WOULD JUST BE
ABLE TO BUILD OFF OF WHATEVER
INTERNAL AUDITS OR ANY OTHER
INFORMATION THAT'S OUT THERE AS
WELL. IF YOU PLEASE CARE TO
COMMENT, SURE, THAT'S CORRECT.
MR CHAIR, WE HAVE DONE A NUMBER
OF AUDITS AT THE DEPARTMENT OF
TECHNOLOGY, BUT THEY HAVE ALL
HAD VERY SPECIFIC SCOPES. WE'VE
BEEN MONITORING CDT S MONITORING
OF THE FISCAL PROJECT FOR A
NUMBER OF YEARS. PROBABLY 10
YEARS DONE THE SAME THING WITH
CVTS INVOLVEMENT IN MONITORING
THE REPLACEMENT EFFORTS FOR THE
CAMERA SYSTEM. BUT I THINK HERE
WHAT'S DIFFERENT HERE IS THIS IS
ASKING US TO TAKE A MORE MACRO
VIEW OF THE JOB THAT THE
DEPARTMENT OF TECHNOLOGY IS
DOING OVERSEEING A VARIETY OF
DIFFERENT PROJECTS THAT VARIOUS
STATE DEPARTMENTS. ARE WORKING
ON. AND AS PART OF THAT, TAKING
A SORT OF A DEEP DIVE ON THAT
PROJECT APPROVAL LIFECYCLE THAT
PROCESS THAT CDT HAS IN PLACE
FOR MONITORING THESE PROJECTS.
ALSO, I THINK IF WE CAN TAKE A
LOOK AT A SAMPLE OF PROJECTS
THAT WE HAVEN'T LOOKED AT BEFORE
. I MEAN, WE'VE LOOKED AT ED. WE
LOOKED AT FISCAL AND WE CAN DO A
DEEPER DIVE THERE. BUT LOOK AT
SOME OTHER IT PROJECTS WHERE WE
HAVEN'T BEEN THERE AND TAKE A
LOOK AT WHETHER OR NOT THE
DEPARTMENT IS REALLY ADDING
VALUE IN TERMS OF ARE THEY
ENSURING THAT THE SCOPE AND THAT
THE THAT THESE PROJECTS ARE
COMPLETED ON TIME THAT THESE
PROJECTS ARE DELIVERING THE ALL
THE FUNCTIONALITY THAT THEY
INTENDED TO DELIVER AT THE
BEGINNING? AH AND TAKING A LOOK
AT REALLY DEPARTMENT
TECHNOLOGIES. THEIR WHOLE IPO
PROCESS PROCESS OF PROVIDING
INDEPENDENT PROJECT OVERSIGHT TO
ENSURE THAT THESE PROJECTS ARE
NOT EXCEEDING. THEIR SCOPE OR
THEIR COST OR THEIR TIMELINES.
AND WHEN THAT HAPPENS, IS THE
DEPARTMENT DOING A GOOD JOB OF
TAKING SOME CORRECTIVE ACTION.
SO I THINK OVERALL, THIS WOULD
BE DIFFERENT FROM ANYTHING WE'VE
DONE IN THE PAST. THIS WOULD BE
MORE OF A MICRO. I'M SORRY. A
MACRO VIEW. OF WHAT TECHNOLOGY
DEPARTMENT IS DOING. AS OPPOSED
TO SOME OF THE MICRO ANALYSIS
THAT WE'VE DONE IN ONE LAST
THING. IT IS TRUE THAT WE
RECENTLY ISSUED A REPORT ON THE
INFORMATION SECURITY STATUS. AND
SO I THINK THERE'S REALLY NO
DUPLICATION HERE. WHAT WE'D BE
DOING AT THIS ARTIST APPROVED IS
FOLLOWING UP ON THOSE
RECOMMENDATIONS. AND DETERMINING
NOT DOING A DEEP DIVE. BUT
DETERMINING IS THE TECHNOLOGY
DEPARTMENT. DO THEY NOW HAVE A
HANDLE ON THE OVERALL SECURITY
STATUS OF STATE DEPARTMENTS?
THANK YOU, MR CHILDREN WITH THAT
. LET ME GO AHEAD AND RETURN IT
BACK TO THE MEMBERS SAYING NO
ADDITIONAL MR SENATOR BECKER,
PLEASE QUESTION JUST A I. WAS
VERY EAGER TO SEE THIS AUDIT AND
EXCITED FOR IT. UM. I WAS
INTERESTED TO HEAR. I HEARD THE
POINT ABOUT SOME OF THESE, UH,
PIECES MAY HAVE BEEN OUT OF THE
PAST AND I APPRECIATE THIS
EMBLEM AND SAYING THIS IS MEANT
TO BE SORT OF MORE
COMPREHENSIVE. UM I WAS LOOKING
AT THE SCOPE. I WAS WONDERING UM
NUMBER ONE IS OUR OR HIRING
PRACTICES INCLUDED IN THIS IN
THE SENSE THAT ONE THING I HEAR
IT'S HARD. THAT'S WHERE THEIR
ENTRY LEVEL SALARIES TO ATTRACT
THE KIND OF TALENT THAT WE MIGHT
SOMETIMES WANT IN, UM, OUR
TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENTS IS THAT
INCLUDED AT ALL. MR TILDEN OR
THIS PICTURE. DORIS BECKER. IT
IS IT'S NOT AT THE MOMENT. I
DON'T BELIEVE IT'S NOT
EXPLICITLY CALLED OUT ISN'T
OBJECTIVE SIX. I THINK IT'S
PRETTY CLOSE TO LOOKING AT CDT.
RIGHT SIZED, I THINK. YES THANK
YOU. AS THE AUDITOR POINTED OUT,
I MEAN, THE LANGUAGES IS FAIRLY
BRIGHT AND RISE AT 0.6 PERFORM
WORK AIMED AT DETERMINING
WHETHER CDT IS RIGHT SIZED. BUT
SENATOR I THINK THAT'S AN
EXCELLENT AN EXCELLENT POINT.
UM, AND CERTAINLY AN IMPORTANT
QUESTION THAT WE NEED TO ASK IF
WE'RE GOING TO BUILD A
DEPARTMENT THAT CAN EFFECTIVELY
DELIVER THE SERVICES THAT WE
NEED THEM TO DO. GREAT. WELL
YEAH, IF THAT ONE IS BROAD
ENOUGH TO ENCOMPASS IT, I THINK
THAT WOULD BE VERY POSITIVE. UM
AGAIN. I JUST OVERALL, YOU KNOW,
SYMPATHETIC TO THE FEELING OF
BEING CONSTANTLY, YOU KNOW,
PIECES OF THIS, UM, BEING LOOKED
AT, BUT, YOU KNOW, I THINK TO
THE POINT MADE UM I GUESS THE
OTHER. QUESTION I WOULD HAVE AND
JUST SORT OF AGAIN LOOKING
THROUGH THE SCOPE TRYING TO I
WAS TRYING TO UNDERSTAND. THIS
IS, UM THIS SORT OF INVOLVED
LOOKING AT, SAY PRIVATE SECTOR.
UM. AH YOU KNOW HOW THE PRIVATE
SECTOR MIGHT HANDLE CERTAIN
THINGS LIKE I THINK OF THE E D D
PHONE SYSTEM. WHY WE CAN'T YOU
KNOW, STILL YOUR LATER AFTER WE
PROMISED HAVE, YOU KNOW
AUTOMATED CALLBACKS AND THINGS
LIKE THAT? UM YOU KNOW, THERE'S
JUST ABSOLUTELY STANDARD IN THE
INDUSTRY IS THAT ENCOMPASSED
ANYWHERE HERE LOOKING AT SAY HOW
THE PRIVATE SECTOR MIGHT HANDLE
CERTAIN, VERY, VERY, VERY
SIMILAR. UM TECHNOLOGY SYSTEMS.
AND THAT, TOO, IS AN EXCELLENT
POINT. AND I THINK ONE THAT
WE'VE ALL YOU KNOW, WE'VE ALL
SEEN WHEN THAT DYSFUNCTION. UH
YES WHEN THE DYSFUNCTION OF SOME
OF THOSE THOSE PRACTICES IT'S
UM, I WILL. WITH THE FIASCO, FOR
EXAMPLE, WE SAW THAT OUR
INABILITY TO PULL IN HIGH
PERFORMING PRIVATE SECTOR
SUPPORT REALLY DID DAMAGE OUR
ABILITY TO SERVE CALIFORNIA'S IN
TIME OF CRITICAL NEEDS. SO IT'S
SUCH AN IMPORTANT QUESTION. I DO
THINK THAT THAT POINT IS
ENCOMPASSED. UH IN LET'S SAY IN
THE 0.4 TALKS ABOUT PROCUREMENT
AND VENDOR SELECTION, SO I THINK
THAT THAT IS REFLECTED THERE.
UM, I DON'T KNOW OF ANYTHING.
I'M NOT. I AGREE. I THINK
OBJECTIVE FOR WOULD HAVE US
TAKING A LOOK AT TECHNOLOGY'S
ROLE IN MANAGING A SELECTION OF
PROCUREMENT AND SPECIFICALLY
TAKING A LOOK AT THE PROCESS
THAT THEY USED TO PROCURE THOSE
VENDORS FOR THAT SYSTEM AND WHAT
THAT PROCESS LOOKS LIKE AND
THEIR POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
FOR VETTING THOSE POTENTIAL
VENDORS AND AS A PART OF THAT,
ENSURING THAT THERE AREN'T ANY
CONFLICTS OF INTEREST DURING
THAT SELECTION PROCESS. IT
CERTAINLY CONVINCE INTEREST IS
IMPORTANT, BUT ALSO MAKING SURE
THAT UM YEAH, WE'RE LOOKING AT A
BROAD VARIETY OF VENDORS. UM
MAYBE SOME SMALLER, YOU KNOW,
STARTED COMPANIES THAT MAY NOT
HAVE ALWAYS BID ON SORT OF
GOVERNMENT. UM, YOU KNOW,
CONTRACTS IN IN THIS KIND OF
AREA. I GUESS I THINK SOUNDS
LIKE IT IS COVERED. BUT I WAS
ALSO TALKING REALLY, JUST MORE
SPECIFICALLY, IF WE'RE COMPARING
SOME OF THESE THINGS, MAYBE
LOOKING AT HOW THEY'RE DONE IN
THE PRIVATE SECTOR VERSUS MAYBE
HOW SIMILAR THINGS WERE HANDLED
HERE BECAUSE I JUST I THINK TO
THE POINT THAT WAS MADE. IT'S
JUST, UM JUST TRYING TO
UNDERSTAND HOW SOME THINGS ARE
JUST DEEPLY STANDARD. UM IN
PRIVATE SECTOR COMPANIES WHO
DEAL WITH, SAY, CALL CENTERS.
YOU KNOW, WE JUST HAVE NOT BEEN
ABLE TO ACHIEVE SO, UM, BUT IT
SOUNDS LIKE THAT COULD BE
COVERED IN THAT IN THAT POINT, I
THINK SO. WE ALSO HAVE OBJECTIVE
NINE. THAT REALLY IS GIVING US
AN OPPORTUNITY TO IDENTIFY ANY
BEST PRACTICES OR
RECOMMENDATIONS THAT COULD
ASSIST TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENTS.
ABILITY TO SUCCESSFULLY DELIVER
THESE IT PROJECTS AND SO I THINK
THAT GIVES US AN AVENUE TO
REALLY GET OUT THERE AND TRY TO
IDENTIFY SOME OF THESE BEST
PRACTICES THAT ARE OCCURRING IN
THE PRIVATE SECTOR THAT THE
STATE COULD EMPLOY GREAT. UM
JUST LAST QUESTION IN TERMS OF
AUDIT ITSELF WAS THE CAPABILITY
OF THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE. IN
DRIVING TECHNOLOGY. PROJECT
SPECIFICALLY, COULD YOU SPEAK TO
THAT? WOULD YOU HAVE TO THE
ORDERS OFFICE ENGAGED THEIR
EXPERTS TO SORT OF MAKE SURE WE
HAVE THAT KNOWLEDGE IN TERMS OF
DOING THE AUDIT OR DO YOU FEEL
THAT CAPABILITIES THERE? WE HAVE
DONE A QUITE A FEW AUDITS IN THE
AREA OF TECHNOLOGY AT CDT. WE'VE
LOOKED AT FISCAL WE LOOKED AT
EDDIE. WE'VE LOOKED AT CAMPUS,
SO I ACTUALLY THINK WE HAVE
QUITE A BIT OF EXPERIENCE AND
EXPERTISE IN THAT AREA, BUT WE
ALSO HAVE THE ABILITY IF WE NEED
TO. TO HIRE A CONTRACTOR WITH
SPECIFIC EXPERTISE, IF THAT
WOULD BE IF THAT WOULD BE AT ALL
HELPFUL, OKAY? YEAH JUST
OBVIOUSLY. YOU KNOW, YOU LOOK AT
THAT. BUT YOU KNOW TO CONSIDER
THAT BECAUSE AGAIN FOR VALUING
BEST PRACTICE. YOU KNOW, THESE
THINGS CHANGE VERY QUICKLY. AND
YOU KNOW, BEST PRACTICE NOW
TODAY MIGHT HAVE NOT BEST
PRACTICE, YOU KNOW, YEAR OR TWO
AGO, SO I'M JUST CERTAINLY
CONSIDER THAT, BUT WITH THAT
I'LL BE HAPPY TO SUPPORT THIS
TODAY. THANK YOU, SENATOR
BECKER. LET ME ASK IF THERE'S
ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS FROM THE
DAIS. HEARING AND SEEING NONE.
LET ME NOW TURN IT OVER TO
PUBLIC COMMENTS. LET ME ASK IF
THERE'S ANY PUBLIC COMMENT AT
THIS TIME. HEARING AND SEEING
NONE. LET ME RETURN THE ITEM
BACK TO THE DIOCESE. LET ME ASK
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S PETRIE-NORRIS
IF SHE'D LIKE TO CLOSE. WELL
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR CHAIR,
AND THANK YOU MEMBERS FOR THAT
DISCUSSION. I THINK THROUGHOUT
THE PANDEMIC, WE CERTAINLY SAW
THE DISASTROUS RESULTS OF
SYSTEMS THAT ARE OVERLOADED,
ANTIQUATED AND JUST NOT READY
FOR THE TASK OF DELIVERING FOR
CALIFORNIANS. I THINK WE ALL
RECOGNIZE THAT SOMETHING NEEDS
TO CHANGE AND WE AS THE
LEGISLATURE CANNOT MAKE CHANGES
BY JUST SHOOTING IN THE DARK. WE
NEED THIS COMPREHENSIVE AUDIT SO
THAT WE CAN CONSIDER ACTION TO
ENSURE THAT OUR STATES I T
SYSTEMS ARE SAFEGUARDED, NIMBLE
AND RESPONSIVE TO OUR EVER
EVOLVING REALITY. SO WITH THAT,
I WOULD RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR
YOUR VOTE. OKAY THANK YOU.
APPRECIATE THAT IS THEIR EMOTION
ON THIS ITEM. MOVED BY SENATOR
LEAVE A SECONDED BY MR BECKER.
MADAM SECRETARY CALLED THE WRONG
THE MOTION IS TO APPROVE ORDER
REQUEST. 2022-1 14, CALIFORNIA
DEPARTMENT OF TECHNOLOGY
OVERSIGHT BY ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S
PETRIE-NORRIS. ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S
SALAS SALAS AYE. BOERNER HORVATH. KYLIE KYLIE? AYE. PATERSON.
PATERSON. I RUBIO. OPEL I WOULD
WOULD I, SENATOR HERTZBERG?
BECKER. BECKER. I GORGEOUS.
GLACIER. LEVER. LEVER. I MCGUIRE
NIELSEN. RIGHT THAT ITEMS ON
CALL. THANK YOU. MR
PETRIE-NORRIS, MR CHAIR, ALL
RIGHT. NEXT. LET ME GO AHEAD AND
INVITE OUR NEXT SIGN IN PERSON,
SENATOR SCOTT WIENER. AND IF YOU
WANT TO BRING UP YOUR WITNESSES
AS WELL, GREAT. MEMBERS. THIS IS
ITEM NUMBER SEVEN ON THE REGULAR
CALENDAR. THIS IS 2022-10 TO THE
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH,
SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND GENDER
IDENTITY DATA COLLECTION.
SENATOR WIENER WHEN YOU ARE
READY, PLEASE BEGIN. UH THANK
YOU, MR CHAIR. THIS IS I REALLY
, REALLY WISH I DIDN'T HAVE TO
BE HERE TODAY. I WISH I DIDN'T
HAVE JUST BEEN DECIDED. AND ARE
YOU AND I HAVE BEEN TALKING OVER
THE LAST YEAR. UM AND ACTUALLY
PREPARED SEVERAL YEARS OF REAL
CHALLENGES AND FRUSTRATIONS IN
TERMS OF COLLECTION OF LEGALLY
REQUIRED DATA, UM, HEALTH AND
OTHERWISE AROUND SEXUAL
ANNOTATION. AND GENDER IDENTITY
. AND SO UNFORTUNATELY I'M HERE
TO ASK THE COMMITTEE TO
AUTHORIZE AND LEGISLATIVE AUDIT
OF THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF
PUBLIC HEALTH PROCEDURES TO
COLLECT REPORT AND UTILIZED DATA
RELATING TO SEXUAL ORIENTATION,
GENDER IDENTITY. UM SO CALLED
SOGGY DATA. SO THIS DATA IS
REALLY CRITICAL IN HELPING US TO
ADEQUATELY RESPOND TO THE UNIQUE
NEEDS OF THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY.
FROM RESEARCH. WE KNOW THAT
LGBTQ PEOPLE EVERYWHERE
EXPERIENCE DISPARITIES AND AS IT
RELATES TO ALL ASPECTS OF
HEALTH. JUST REITERATE, UM, IN A
VERY TANGIBLE WAY. WHY HEALTH
DATA BY DEMOGRAPHIC IS SO
IMPORTANT IF WE THINK BACK TO,
YOU KNOW, EARLY ON IN THE COVID
PANDEMIC. WE LEARNED PRETTY
QUICKLY THAT, UM ELDERLY PEOPLE
WERE MORE SUSCEPTIBLE TO GETTING
SEVERELY ILL AND DYING FROM
COVID. WE LEARNED THAT, UH.
BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES WERE
BEING VERY DISPROPORTIONATELY
IMPACTED IN TERMS OF INFECTION
RATES AND HOSPITALIZATION AND
DEATH. THE ONLY REASON WE KNEW
THAT IS BECAUSE WE WERE ASKING
THE QUESTION. WE ASKED PEOPLE ON
HEALTH FORMS. WHAT'S YOUR AGE?
SO WE KNOW THE DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN 20 YEAR OLD AND AN 85
YEAR OLD. WHAT'S YOUR RACE?
WHAT'S YOUR GENDER AND SO ON AND
SO FORTH, AND THAT DATA ALLOWED
US VERY EARLY ON TO KNOW WHO WAS
MOST AT RISK FOR COVID AND
PARTICULARLY FOR SENIORS. WHO
ARE SO DRAMATICALLY MORE LIKELY
TO GET SICK AND DIE. AND WHAT WE
LEARNED EARLY ON IN THE COVID
PANDEMIC IS THAT DESPITE
PREVIOUS LEGISLATION AND BY SOME
REMEMBER TO A B 9, 59 AND 2015.
THAT DATA WAS REALLY NOT BEING
COLLECTED AT ALL. AND SO WHEN
THE PANDEMIC HIT, AND WE
REALIZED THAT THERE WAS
ESSENTIALLY NO DATA AROUND THE
COVID HEALTH IMPACTS ON THE
LGBTQ COMMUNITY, KNOWING THAT
THE COMMUNITY HAS INCREASED RISK
FACTORS AROUND MORE LIKELY TO
HAVE HIV MORE LIKELY TO HAVE
CANCER MORE LIKELY TO SMOKE.
MORE LIKELY TO WORK IN THE
SERVICE JOB THAT HAS HIGHER
EXPOSURE TO COVID. WE VERY WE
ASKED THE ADMINISTRATION FOR AN
EXECUTIVE ORDER. WE WERE TOLD
LEGISLATION IS PREFERABLE, SO WE
QUICKLY INTRODUCED SP 9 32 AS AN
URGENCY MEMBER. IT FLEW THROUGH
THE LEGISLATURE. IT WAS, I
BELIEVE UNANIMOUS. BIPARTISAN
SUPPORT ARE VERY CLOSE TO IT. IT
WAS NOT A CONTROVERSIAL BILL IN
THE LEGISLATURE WITH AN URGENCY
CLAUSE. THE GOVERNOR SIGNED IT
IN SEPTEMBER. 2020 HERE WE ARE
ALMOST TWO YEARS LATER, AND VERY
LITTLE DATA HAS BEEN COLLECTED
AND WE HAVE BEEN HITTING
OBSTACLE AFTER OBSTACLE WITH THE
DEPARTMENT, INCLUDING THE
NATIONAL LAB PROTOCOLS. THERE'S
ALWAYS A NEW OBSTACLE. I DON'T
I'M NOT CASTING ASPERSIONS ON
THE DEPARTMENT. THERE ARE SOME
REAL CHALLENGES THAT ARE NOT
JUST RELATED TO THE DEPARTMENT
ITSELF. BUT IT'S BECOME
COMPLICATED AND NOT ABOUT WHAT
THESE BARRIERS ARE THAT I THINK
THIS WOULD REALLY BENEFIT FROM
AN AUDIT TO FOR IT OUT. TO TRY
TO GIVE US A PATHWAY TO MAKING
SURE THEY GET THIS CUTS
COLLECTED. IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT
COVID SP 9 32 WAS ABOUT ALL
COMMUNICABLE INFECTIOUS
DISEASES. AND I THINK THE TIME
HAS COME TO FOR THE TARGET TO
MOVE FORWARD. AND SO I
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOUR
SUPPORT WITH ME TODAY IS TOMMY
MARTIN, THE LEGISLATIVE DIRECTOR
OF EQUALITY CALIFORNIA, WHICH
WAS ONE OF THE CO SPONSORS. OF
BOTH OF THESE BILLS THAT I
REFERENCED. THANK YOU. MR
BARTON, PLEASE. THANK YOU. GOOD
MORNING, KAREN JOINT COMMITTEE
MEMBERS TOMMY MARTIN ON BEHALF
OF EQUALITY, CALIFORNIA AND
WE'RE HERE AS A CO SPONSOR OF
THIS AUDIT BECAUSE, SENATOR
WEINER EXPLAINED, OF COURSE,
DATA MATTERS. UM AND HERE'S ONE
EXAMPLE. SO RECENTLY I FINALLY
EXPERIENCED COVID FOR THE FIRST
TIME, I WOULDN'T RECOMMEND IT,
BUT I'M GRATEFUL TO HAVE
RECOVERED. HOWEVER I'M ALSO A
BISEXUAL WOMAN, AND I MENTIONED
THIS BECAUSE JUST A FEW DAYS AGO
WE RECEIVED SOME NEW DATA
ANALYZED BY THE CDC REGARDING
SPECIFICALLY LONG COVID, WHICH
MEANS EFFECTS THAT LINGER FOR
THREE OR MORE MONTHS. CAN IMPACT
EVERYDAY LIFE ETCETERA, AND THE
DATA SHOWED THAT CIS GENDER
WOMEN ARE MORE LIKELY THAN MEN
TO HAVE LONG COVID 9.4% TO 5.5%
AND BISEXUAL ADULTS AT 12% ARE
MORE LIKELY TO HAVE LONG COVID
THAN STRAIGHT GAY OR LESBIAN
ADULTS AT 7. ALSO TRANSGENDER
ADULTS HAD ONE OF THE HIGHEST
RATES AT 15. SO THIS DATA REALLY
HELPS MY COMMUNITY BETTER
UNDERSTAND OUR HEALTH. UM AND IT
WILL ALSO INFORM POLICYMAKERS
AND DOCTORS AS THEY CRAFT
POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS FOR THE
LGBTQ PLUS COMMUNITY. UM
HOWEVER, WE'RE HERE BECAUSE, OF
COURSE, THERE'S MORE THAT WE CAN
DO HERE IN CALIFORNIA. WE NEED
THAT COMPREHENSIVE DATA RELATING
TO SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND GENDER
IDENTITY AS REQUIRED BY THE
BILLS LISTED IN THE AUDIT
REQUEST. IN ORDER TO FULLY
UNDERSTAND AND ADDRESS HEALTH
DISPARITIES FOR ALL CALIFORNIANS
, WHICH I THINK IS A GOAL THAT
WE ALL SHARE. IT SEEMS THAT
THERE ARE JUST STILL SOME
UNFORESEEN IMPLEMENTATION
CHALLENGES. SO WE THANK SENATOR
WEINER AND ALL OF THE CHAMPIONS
WHO HAVE JOINED US FOR
SUBMITTING THIS REQUEST, WHICH
WE HOPE WILL SHED SOME LIGHT ON
WHAT THE CHALLENGES ARE. AS WELL
AS WHAT SOME OF THE BEST
PRACTICES CD PH, MAYBE USING
THAT COULD TRANSLATE ELSEWHERE.
AND BY FOCUSING ON THIS QUESTION
, OUR GOAL IS TO BECOME BETTER
EQUIPPED TO SUPPORT THE
DEPARTMENT IN STREAMLINING THE
FUTURE OF DATA HERE IN
CALIFORNIA, SO WE RESPECTFULLY
URGED THE COMMITTEE TO ADVANCE
THIS REQUEST TODAY. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
TESTIMONY. AGAIN THIS TIME,
LET'S GO TO DISMISS THE
WITNESSES CALL UP THE AFFECTED
AGENCIES. WELL MR TILDEN GIVES
HIS REPORT FROM THE STATE
AUDITOR'S OFFICE. MR. TILDEN,
PLEASE. OKAY. THANK YOU, MR
CHAIR AND MEMBERS. MM SENATOR
WIENER INDICATED THE MEMBERS ARE
REQUESTING AN AUDIT OF THE
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC
HEALTH PROCEDURES FOR COLLECTING
REPORTING AND USING SEXUAL
ORIENTATION AND GENDER IDENTITY
DATA. SPECIFICALLY THE AUDIT
OBJECTIVES WOULD INCLUDE
IDENTIFYING THE VARIOUS PROGRAMS
THAT PUBLIC HEALTH THAT ARE
ACTIVELY COLLECTING SEXUAL
ORIENTATION AND GENDER IDENTITY
DATA. AND LOOKING AT THE
PROCESSES THAT EACH PROGRAM IS
USING TO COLLECT THAT DATA AND
DETERMINING THE EXTENT TO WHICH
THE PROGRAMS MAY BE USING
DIFFERENT METHODOLOGIES FOR
COLLECTING A REPORTING THAT DATA
WITH REGARD TO ANY ENTITIES
WHOSE CONTRACTS WITH PUBLIC
HEALTH REQUIRE THEM TO COLLECT.
SO G DATA. WE WOULD BASICALLY
IDENTIFY THE NUMBER OF THOSE
CONTRACTING ENTITIES. AND TAKE A
LOOK AT PUBLIC HEALTH PROCEDURES
FOR MONITORING THEM TO ENSURE
THAT THEY'RE ACTUALLY COLLECTING
AND REPORTING THAT DATA. AS WELL
AS ANY METHODS THAT PUBLIC
HEALTH IS USING TO COMMUNICATE
THOSE CONTRACTING ENTITIES. ANY
CHANGES IN LAWS RELATED TO THE
COLLECTION OF SEXUAL ORIENTATION
OR GENDER. IDENTITY DATA. WE
ALSO EXAMINE PUBLIC HEALTH
PROCEDURES FOR OBTAINING SO G
DATA FROM HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS
AND LABORATORIES, INCLUDING ANY
GUIDANCE THAT PUBLIC HEALTH HAS
ISSUED OR ANY MEASURES THAT'S
TAKEN TO ENSURE THAT PROVIDERS
AND LABS ARE COLLECTING AND
REPORTING. SO G DATA, UM FROM
PATIENTS WITH REPORTABLE
COMMUNICABLE DISEASES. WE ALSO
ASSESS THE PROCESS BY WHICH
PUBLIC HEALTH INTERACTS WITH
DRIVE THROUGH HER POP. IT POP UP
COVID TESTING SITES THAT ALSO
REQUIRED TO COLLECT SO G DATA.
AND ALSO TAKE A LOOK AT THE
EFFORTS THAT ARE BEING MADE BY
THE DEPARTMENT TO ENSURE THAT
SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND GENDER
IDENTITY DATA IS BEING COLLECTED
WHEN COVID 19 VACCINES ARE BEING
ADMINISTERED, AND TO THE EXTENT
THAT THAT'S NOT HAPPENING, WE
TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHY THAT'S NOT
HAPPENING. WE ALSO TAKE A LOOK
AT THE PROCEDURES FOR COLLECTING
SO G DATA AND COMPARE THAT TO
THE COLLECTION OF INFORMATION ON
RACE AND ETHNICITY TO DETERMINE
WHETHER THERE ARE DIFFERENCES.
IN TERMS OF DIFFERENT
DIFFICULTIES THAT EXIST IN
COLLECTING SO G DATA VERSUS
ETHNICITY DATA. AND ALSO TAKE A
LOOK AT WHETHER THE COLLECTION
OF SO G DATA IS IT MORE
DIFFICULT OR DIFFERENT IN RURAL
AREAS, COMPARED TO URBAN AREAS
AND TRY TO PARSE OUT THOSE
DIFFERENCES. AND THEN THE OTHER
THING I THINK IS IMPORTANT HERE
IS TO COMPARE THE ACTUAL
COLLECTION OF THIS SO G DATA
BEFORE AND AFTER ASSEMBLY BILL 9
59 WAS ENACTED TO DETERMINE
WHETHER THE STATE'S DOING A
BETTER JOB OF COLLECTING THIS
DATA. AND FINALLY, THROUGH THE
DIFFERENT OBJECTIVES. WE
IDENTIFY ANY BEST PRACTICES FOR
COLLECTING, REPORTING OR USING
DATA ON SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND
GENDER IDENTITY. BY THE VARIOUS
PUBLIC HEALTH PROGRAMS, OTHER
STATE DEPARTMENTS OR LOCAL
JURISDICTIONS THAT OTHER STATE
ENTITIES COULD ADOPT. I THINK
WITH THIS PARTICULAR AUDIT, ONE
OF THE THINGS THAT WE WOULD DO
IF IT'S APPROVED IS PROBABLY
CONDUCT A SURVEY OF PROVIDERS
AND LABS AND ANY ENTITIES THAT
ARE ADMINISTERING COVID TESTING
OR VACCINES. TO TRY TO GET THEIR
PERSPECTIVE ON THE COLLECTION
AND REPORTING OF THIS
INFORMATION TO IDENTIFY ANY
OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMPROVEMENT
ARE BEST PRACTICES. THIS IS A
RELATIVELY LARGE ON IT. WE THINK
IT WOULD TAKE ABOUT 3000 HOURS
OR SEVEN MONTHS TO COMPLETE.
THANK YOU, MR CHAIR. THANK YOU,
MR EDITOR. UM LET'S GO AHEAD AND
ASK THE AFFECTED AGENCIES,
PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE
RECORD AND BEGINNING WITH YOUR
TESTIMONY, GOOD MORNING CHAIR
SALAS AND MEMBERS OF THE
COMMITTEE. I AM DANA MORE
PRONOUNS. SHE HURT. GOOD MORNING
CHAIRS, SALAS AND MEMBERS OF THE
COMMITTEE. MY NAME IS JASON
CHESHIRE AND MY PRONOUNCER. HE
AND HIM. I AM THE CHIEF DATA
OFFICER FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF
PUBLIC HEALTH, THE STATE
REGISTRAR AND THE DEPUTY
DIRECTOR FOR THE CENTER FOR
HEALTH STATISTICS AND
INFORMATICS. CDP TO APPRECIATE
THE OPPORTUNITY TO RESPOND TO
SENATOR WIENERS CONCERNS ABOUT
LIMITED AVAILABILITY OF DATA ON
SEXUAL ORIENTATION OR GENDER,
IDENTITY AND GENDER IDENTITY OR
SO D DATA. PUBLIC HEALTH
UNDERSTANDS THE VALUE OF
ACCURATE AND INCLUSIVE DATA TO
IMPROVE POPULATION AND COMMUNITY
HEALTH. SINCE THE ENACTMENT OF
SP 9 59 IN 2015 CD PH HAS TAKEN
MEASURES TO INTEGRATE SO G DATA
COLLECTION IN OUR CAPACITY AS
PRIMARY DATA COLLECTORS,
INCLUDING ESTABLISHING AN
IMPLEMENTATION WORKGROUP RECIPE.
9 59. UPDATING CD PH FORMS TO
ADD SOGGY FIELDS. CONFIGURING
DATA SYSTEMS TO COLLECT SO G
DATA. ASSEMBLING AN INTERNAL
WORK GROUP OF SOGGY AND DATA
EXPERTS TO DEVELOP GUIDELINES
AND SO G DATA COLLECTION AND
TRAINING COVID-19 CONTACT
TRACERS TO ASK SO G QUESTIONS
WHEN INTERVIEWING WITH THE
ENACTMENT OF SP 9 32 IN 2020. WE
SUCCESSFULLY REVISED PROVIDER
REGULATIONS TO COLLECT SOGGY
FIELDS FOR ALL REPORTABLE
DISEASES AND CONDITIONS,
INCLUDING COVID. THIS INCLUDES
UPDATES TO THE CASE REPORTING
FORM AND CAL READY SYSTEM TO
REFLECT INCLUSIVE OPTIONS FOR
SOCHI QUESTIONS. MOST DATA THAT
CD PH COLLECTS IS ACTUALLY
SECONDARY IN TERTIARY DATA, SUCH
AS DATA FROM HEALTH CARE
PROVIDERS AND LABS. SO DO YOU.
DATA FROM THESE SOURCES HAS BEEN
A CHALLENGE. HAS BEEN
CHALLENGING TO CAPTURE IS THESE
ENTITIES ARE NOT ALWAYS SET UP
TO COLLECT THE DATA. CD PHS IT
SYSTEMS ALSO NEED UPDATES TO
BETTER RECEIVE AND REPORT OUT SO
G DATA WHICH IS PRIORITIZED FOR
THIS FISCAL YEAR. MEANWHILE CD
PH CONTINUES SPEAKING IN TERMS,
STRATEGIES FOR MANAGING AND
REPORTING, SO G DATA, INCLUDING
COVID DATA. CD PH RECOGNIZES AND
SHARES THE DESIRE TO PUBLISH THE
G DATA, HOWEVER INCOMPLETE DATA
COULD FURTHER UNDER REPRESENT
THE LGBTQ PLUS COMMUNITY BY
PROVIDING AN INACCURATE PICTURE
ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCES AND
THEIR NEEDS. WE ARE OPTIMISTIC
THAT CDP HS EFFORTS AROUND
PRIMARY DATA COLLECTION CAN HELP
LEAD CULTURE CHANGE TO MORE
BROADLY IMPROVED, SO G DATA
COLLECTION AND QUALITY WE
APPRECIATE YOUR INTEREST IN
THESE EFFORTS AND WELCOME THE
OPPORTUNITY TO WORK TOGETHER AS
WE FIND A PATH TOWARDS
ADDRESSING THE NEEDS OF OUR
LGBTQ, PLUSCOMMUNITY. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU. RIGHT? THANK YOU
FOR YOUR TESTIMONY AT THIS TIME,
LET'S GO AHEAD AND RETURN THE
ITEM BACK TO THE DAYS. LET ME
ASK MEMBERS IF THEY HAVE
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS. SYRIAN
SING NONE. I KNOW, MR SENATOR
WIENER. I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN
LOOKING AT THIS ITEM FOR AT
LEAST A YEAR. IF NOT LONGER. I
KNOW WE'VE HAD SEVERAL
DISCUSSIONS ON THIS AND YOUR
DIFFICULTY IN TRYING TO OBTAIN
SOME OF THE INFORMATION FROM THE
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH. UM,
GIVEN THE TESTIMONY HERE TODAY,
DO YOU WOULD YOU LIKE TO COMMENT
ON SOME OF THE TESTIMONY
PROVIDED BY THE DEPARTMENT AND
JUST POKER? I KNOW THE PART
WANTS TO HAVE THIS DATA THAT WE
DON'T HAVE ANY DISAGREEMENTS
ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THE
DATA, AND THERE ARE SOME
COMPLEXITIES THAT ARE BEYOND TV
PH WE LEARNED LAST YEAR. FOR
EXAMPLE, THAT I CAN'T REMEMBER
THE NAME OF THE BODY, THE
NATIONAL STANDARD SETTING BODY
FOR LABS. UM WAS ACTUALLY THEIR
SYSTEM WHERE LABS ENTER DATA
THAT'S COLLECTED AT THE LAB
SITE. DOESN'T HAVE FIELDS. FOR
SO AND SO THEY WERE STRIPPING
OUT. DATA WENT EVEN WHEN IT HAD
BEEN COLLECTED AT THE TESTING
SITE. UM AND SO IT'S A
MULTILAYERED SITUATION. AND SO
IT'S ABOUT WHAT CD PH COULD BE
DOING DIFFERENTLY OR BETTER. UM
BUT IT'S ALSO ABOUT WHAT WE NEED
TO DO EVEN GOING BEYOND CD PH IF
THERE ARE ISSUES THAT ARE BEYOND
THE CONTROL OF THE DEPARTMENT.
BUT IT'S COMPLICATED AND WE DO
THINK BECAUSE WE ALSO WITH SOME
OF THE GAG CONFUSING INFORMATION
OR CONTRADICTORY INFORMATION
FROM THE DIFFERENT ENTITIES
INVOLVED, AND I DO THINK IT'S
CRITICALLY IMPORTANT TO HAVE AN
AUDIT. TO SORT OF STARTS ALL OF
THAT OUT AND POTENTIALLY CREATE
A ROADMAP FOR US TO BE ABLE TO
ACTUALLY GET THIS DATA. IT'S
TRUST WE'RE ON. WE'RE MORE THAN
TWO YEARS INTO THIS PANDEMIC,
AND WE STILL REALLY DON'T HAVE
MUCH DATA, AND I AND I AGREE. IF
IT'S TOTALLY INADEQUATE DATA,
YOU DON'T WANT TO MISLEAD PEOPLE
. BUT THEN THAT BEGS THE
QUESTION OF OKAY. HOW DO WE GET
ADEQUATE DATA. CORRECT THANK
YOU, SENATOR AT THIS TIME, LET'S
GO AHEAD AND TURN IT OVER TO
PUBLIC COMMENT. LET ME ASK IF
THERE'S ANY PUBLIC COMMENT AT
THIS TIME. HEARING AND SEEING
NONE RETURNED IT BACK. TO THE
DIESS. WE HAVE A MOTION BY MR
WOOD'S SECOND BY MS
BOERNER HORVATH, SENATOR WIENER
. IF YOU'D LIKE TO CLOSE
RESPECTFULLY ASKED FOR AND I
VOTE. THANK YOU, SENATOR. MADAM
SECRETARY CALDERON. THE MOTION
IS TO APPROVE AUDIT REQUESTS.
2022-102 DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC
HEALTH, SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND
GENDER IDENTITY DATA COLLECTION
BY SENATOR WIENER
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S SALAS. SALAS
AYE, BOERNER HORVATH
BOERNER HORVATH. AYE, KYLIE.
KYLIE NOT VOTING. PATERSON
PATERSON. I RUBIO. PURPLE OPAL.
I WOULD WOULD I, SENATOR
HERTZBERG? BECKER. GORGEOUS.
GLACIER. FLAVOR. MCGUIRE
NIELSEN. MY HOUSE IS YOUR HOUSE
, SENATOR WIENER. YOU NEED TO
GET SOME SENATORS HERE. THAT
ITEM IS ON CALL. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. THANK YOU COLLEAGUES. ALL
RIGHT. THANK YOU. AT THIS TIME,
WE'LL GO AHEAD AND MOVE TO OUR,
UM FINAL ITEM ON ON A REGULAR
CALENDAR. THAT IS FILE ITEM
NUMBER 12, 2022-1, 15, SAN DIEGO
GAS AND ELECTRIC IN CALIFORNIA
PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION RATE
INCREASES MR BOERNER HORVATH.
WHEN YOU ARE READY, PLEASE
PROCEED AND I WILL INVITE YOUR
WITNESSES. UP TO THE UP AS WELL.
THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING, MR
CHAIR AND MEMBERS ON BEHALF OF
MYSELF AND ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S
MAIENSCHEIN. I RESPECTFULLY
REQUEST THE COMMITTEE'S APPROVAL
OF AN AUDIT OF SAN DIEGO GAS AND
ELECTRIC, AS WELL AS THE
CALIFORNIA PUBLIC UTILITIES
COMMISSION REGARDING RECENT
DRAMATIC RATE INCREASES FACING
CONSUMERS IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY.
RATEPAYERS THROUGHOUT SAN DIEGO
COUNTY WERE SHOCKED IN THE FIRST
QUARTER OF THIS YEAR TO SEE
THEIR UTILITY RATES SKYROCKET,
WITH SOME REPORTING INCREASES IN
NEARLY TRIPLE THAT OF THE
PREVIOUS YEAR, OFTEN DESPITE A
REDUCTION IN OVERALL ENERGY
CONSUMPTION. AND THAT INCLUDES
MYSELF. MY BILL WENT UP $120,
EVEN THOUGH WE USE SIGNIFICANTLY
LESS GAS AND LESS ELECTRIC.
ACCORDING TO THE BUREAU OF LABOR
STATISTICS, SAN DIEGANS PAID AN
AVERAGE OF 36.5 CENTS PER
KILOWATT HOUR LAST DECEMBER,
WHICH IS HIGHER THAN ANY OTHER
CITY IN THE COUNTRY. THIS TAKES
THIS ALL TAKES PLACE IN AN
ENVIRONMENT WHERE SEMPRA ENERGY
, THE PARENT COMPANY OF SDG, ANY
1.2 BILLION IN PROFITS LAST YEAR
, 604 MILLION OF WHICH WAS IN
LAST QUARTER OF 2021. AS A RATE
HIKES WENT INTO PLACE, AND THEY
HAVE PAID THEIR SHAREHOLDERS THE
HIGHEST DIVIDEND EVER IN THIS
PAST MONTH. MEANWHILE A RECENT
REPORT BY THE CPUC SHOWS THAT
3.6 MILLION CALIFORNIANS HAVE
FALLEN BEHIND ON THEIR UTILITY
BILLS, INCLUDING 3500. 356,000
RESIDENTIAL REPAIRS IN SAN DIEGO
COUNTY, REPRESENTING 26.7% OF
SDG AND E S CUSTOMERS, GIVEN THE
RECENT REPORTS THAT SDG KNEE IS
CONSIDERING FURTHER RATE
INCREASES AT THE END OF THIS
YEAR. I THINK RATEPAYERS DESERVE
TO KNOW WHERE OTHER UTILITY
DOLLARS ARE BEING SPENT. WITH
THIS IN MIND, I'M REQUESTING THE
APPROVAL OF THE STATE AUDITOR TO
LOOK AT THE PROCESS AND DATA SDG
ANY AND OTHER PRIVATE UTILITIES
USED TO OBTAIN PERMISSION FROM
THE CPC TO INCREASE UTILITY
RATES AND HOW CPUC APPROVES
THOSE INCREASES. THANK YOU, MR
BOERNER HORVATH. LET ME GO
AHEAD. AND. CALL UP THE EFFECTED
AGENCIES AND WHILE THEY COME UP
, LET'S HAVE THE AUDITOR GIVE
HIS REPORT. MR TILDEN, PLEASE.
THANK YOU, MR CHAIR AND MEMBERS.
AS MR BOERNER HORVATH MENTIONED
THIS THOUGHT IT WOULD FOCUS ON
THE PROCESS THAT SAN DIEGO GAS
AND ELECTRIC AND OTHER UTILITIES
USED TO DETERMINE THEIR RATE
INCREASES AND EQUALLY IMPORTANT
HOW THE CALIFORNIA PUBLIC
UTILITIES COMMISSION APPROVES
THOSE INCREASES. SPECIFICALLY AS
PART OF THE AUDIT. WE WOULD TAKE
A LOOK AT CPU SEES GENERAL RAPE
CASE PROCEEDINGS OVER THE LAST
THREE YEARS FOR BOTH SAN DIEGO
GAS AND ELECTRIC AND A SIMPLE A
SAMPLE OF OTHER INVESTOR OWNED
UTILITIES. TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE
PROCEEDINGS AND DETERMINE
WHETHER CPUC IS REALLY
ADEQUATELY PROTECTING CUSTOMERS
FROM EXCESSIVE INCREASES IN THE
UTILITY BILLS. AS PART OF THAT,
WE WOULD ASSESS THE EXTENT TO
WHICH THESE MAJOR COSTS MAY BE
DRIVEN BY COSTS RELATED TO FIRE
MITIGATION EFFORTS. RISING
NATURAL GAS PRICES AND WHETHER
THOSE WHO HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO
ANY OF THE RATE INCREASES.
SEPARATE FROM LOOKING AT CPUC S
GENERAL RATE CASE PROCEEDINGS WE
ALSO TAKE A LOOK AT ITS ROLE IN
OVERSEEING RATES THAT YOU CHILL
THAT UTILITIES CHARGE OUTSIDE OF
THAT PARTICULAR PROCESS.
SEPARATELY WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE
EFFORTS BY THE PUBLIC ADVOCATE'S
OFFICE AND LOOK AT THEIR ROLE IN
REVIEWING THESE BALANCING
ACCOUNTS THAT CPUC REQUIRES
PUBLIC UTILITIES TO USE TO TRACK
THE REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES.
THAT ARE ASSOCIATED WITH THEIR
AUTHORIZED RATES, SO THESE
BALANCING COUNTS ARE VERY
IMPORTANT. AND WHETHER THE
PUBLIC ADVOCATE'S OFFICE AT THE
END OF THE DAY IS ADEQUATELY
PERFORMING ITS ITS MISSION TO
OBTAIN THE LOWEST POSSIBLE RATES
FOR SERVICE THAT'S CONSISTENT
WITH RELIABLE AND SAFE SERVICE
LEVELS. AGAIN FOR SENDING GO GAS
AND ELECTRIC AND A SAMPLE OF
OTHER INVESTOR OWNED UTILITIES.
WE ALSO TAKE A LOOK AT ANY OTHER
COMPARATIVELY HIGH UTILITY RATES
THAT WERE CHARGED TO RATE PAIRS
SINCE THE WINTER OF 2021. AND
TRY TO ASSESS LIKE WHAT WERE THE
FACTORS THAT ARE CONTRIBUTING TO
THOSE HIGH UTILITY RATES. AND TO
THE EXTENT THAT WE CAN IDENTIFY
WHETHER THOSE UTILITIES ARE
THESE HIGH UTILITY RATES. WE
ALSO TAKE A LOOK AT THE EXTENT
TO WHICH THE CPUC IS ACTUALLY
APPROVING THE COST THAT
UTILITIES ARE REQUESTING FOR
RATE RECOVERY. AND LASTLY, WE
WOULD TAKE A LOOK AT
APPLICATIONS FOR RECOVERY OF
FIRE RISK MITIGATION
EXPENDITURES TO DETERMINE
WHETHER THE UTILITIES YOU KNOW
HOW MUCH THEY'RE RECEIVING VIA
THESE APPLICATIONS FOR COST
RECOVERY. I THINK RELATED TO
THAT. WHAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT IS
WE ALSO TAKE A LOOK AT THOSE
EXPENDITURES TO DETERMINE
WHETHER THERE ARE APPROPRIATE
AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE
NOTED IN OUR ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
SAFETY AUDIT EARLIER THIS YEAR.
IS THERE IS POTENTIALLY A RISK
THAT SOME OF THOSE EXPENDITURES
FOR FIRE RISK MITIGATION
ACTIVITIES HAVE ALREADY BEEN
BAKED INTO THE GENERAL RATE CASE
PROCEEDINGS SO WE WANT TO TAKE A
LOOK AT THAT, TOO. AND THEN
BASED ON ALL THIS SORT OF WORK,
WE IDENTIFY ANY BEST PRACTICES
THAT COULD BETTER PROTECT
CALIFORNIA UTILITY CUSTOMERS
FROM EXCESSIVE RATE INCREASES.
THIS IS A RELATIVELY LARGE AND
COMPLEX AUDITS. AND I THINK
AGAIN, DEPENDING ON THE NUMBER
OF ODDS THE COMMITTEE APPROVES.
TODAY WE WOULD TRY TO ASSIGN A
LARGER TEAM TO GET THIS THING
DONE THAT SAID. WE'RE ESTIMATING
ABOUT 3000 HOURS OR SEVEN MONTHS
OF AUDIT WORK. THANK YOU, MR
CHAIR. THANK YOU, MR CHILDREN
FOR THAT REPORT. LET ME GO AHEAD
AND NOW TURN IT OVER TO THE
AFFECTED AGENCIES AND ENTITIES
IF YOU COULD BEGIN BY STATING
YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD, POLICE
APPRECIATE THAT. PLEASE PROCEED.
GOOD MORNING CHAIR SALAS AND
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S BOERNER HORVATH
. GOOD MORNING. MY NAMEIS
RACHEL PETERSON. I'M THE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE
CALIFORNIA PUBLIC UTILITIES
COMMISSION. THANK YOU FOR GIVING
US AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE AND
SPEAK TO THE PROPOSED AUDIT THIS
MORNING. I WANT TO EXPRESS MY
APPRECIATION FOR THE
LEGISLATURE'S ATTENTION AND
CONCERN ABOUT RISING ELECTRIC
RATES AND BILLS, ESPECIALLY FROM
INVESTOR OWNED UTILITIES LIKE
SAN DIEGO GAS AND ELECTRIC.
RISING ELECTRIC BILLS IS A
KITCHEN TABLE ISSUE FOR MANY
CALIFORNIANS AT THIS MOMENT IN
THE STATE. AND AT THE COMMISSION
. OUR FIVE COMMISSIONERS ARE
WORKING NONSTOP TO ADDRESS THAT
AFFORDABILITY ISSUE. IT IS
CENTRAL TO OUR MISSION OF
ENSURING ACCESS TO SAFE, CLEAN,
RELIABLE AND AFFORDABLE ELECTRIC
SERVICE. I HAVE TWO POINTS FOR
YOUR CONSIDERATION AS YOU
DELIVERY ON THE PROPOSED AUDIT.
FIRST IS ON TRANSPARENCY. FOR
THE PAST TWO YEARS, THE CPUC HAS
BEEN TRANSPARENT ABOUT THE
DRIVERS THAT ARE LEADING TO
HIGHER ELECTRIC RATES ACROSS
CALIFORNIA. THEY ARE PRIMARILY
RISING NATURAL GAS COMMODITY
PRICES. WHICH DRIVES THE PRICE
OF ELECTRICITY GENERATION
HIGHER. AND TRANSMISSION AND
DISTRIBUTION INVESTMENTS TO
REDUCE THE RISK OF UTILITY
IGNITED WILDFIRE AS WELL AS TO
MEET OTHER STATUTORY
REQUIREMENTS. WE'VE BEEN
PRESENTING AND DISCUSSING THESE
DRIVERS AND WAYS TO ADDRESS THEM
IN PUBLIC FOR THE PAST TWO
YEARS. IN 2021 IN 2022. WE HELD
TWO MAJOR PUBLIC HEARINGS ON
AFFORDABILITY THAT MEMBERS OF
YOUR BODY JOINED US FOR JUST A
MONTH AGO IN MAY, WE REPORTED TO
THE LEGISLATURE IN DETAIL IN OUR
ANNUAL SP 695 REPORT TITLED
ACTIONS TO LIMIT UTILITY COSTS
AND RATE INCREASES. THE SP 6 95
REPORT IS A REQUIREMENT THAT
FLOWS FROM THE FORESIGHT OF
SENATOR KEHOE AND IT PROVIDES AN
ANNUAL OPPORTUNITY FOR US AT THE
CPUC TO PRESENT TO THE
LEGISLAURE. THE DRIVERS OF
RATES AND COSTS IN OUR ACTIONS
TO ADDRESS THOSE AND SO THERE IS
A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF PUBLIC
INFORMATION ALREADY AVAILABLE
ABOUT THE DRIVERS OF RATES. MY
SECOND POINT IS ABOUT A C G AND
T AND THE LITIGATION PROCESS
THAT SETS UTILITY RATES. THE
CPUC LEADS PUBLIC DECISION
MAKING PROCESSES TO REVIEW EVERY
PROPOSED EXPENSE OF A UTILITY.
THESE CASES ARE GROUNDED IN THE
PRINCIPLE OF DUE PROCESS BECAUSE
WE KNOW THAT RATES ARE A POCKET
BUSH POCKETBOOK ISSUE AND A
UTILITIES PROPOSAL DESERVES
CLOSE SCRUTINY. ALL GENERAL RATE
CASES ARE LED BY THE CPUC, BUT
MORE IMPORTANTLY, ARE HEAVILY
LITIGATED BY DOZENS OF
STAKEHOLDERS. THIS INCLUDES
CONSUMER ADVOCACY GROUPS LIKE
THE PUBLIC ADVOCATE'S OFFICE
UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF MY
COLLEAGUE, DIRECTOR BAKER. THE
HEART OF A GENERAL RATE CASE IS
THAT THE UTILITY MUST OPEN ITS
BOOKS. IT MUST MEET A BURDEN OF
PROOF ABOUT THE INVESTMENTS AND
OPERATIONS IT BELIEVES ARE
NECESSARY. OTHER PARTIES THEN
PRESENT THEIR OWN EVIDENCE. AN
ANALYSIS TO CHALLENGE ASPECTS OF
THE UTILITIES CASE. THE
PROCEEDINGS TAKE UP TO A YEAR
AND A HALF, THEY AMASSED
SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF EVIDENCE
TO DEVELOP A RECORD THEIR
CONDUCTED BY OUR ADMINISTRATIVE
LAW JUDGES UNDER STRICT RULES OF
DUE PROCESS AND EVIDENTIARY
STANDARDS. ALL OF THE
INFORMATION IN THE RECORD IS
VISIBLE TO THE PUBLIC THROUGH
THE PUBLIC DOCKET. UTILITIES
RATEPAYER ADVOCATES, TRADE
GROUPS REPRESENTING COMMERCIAL,
INDUSTRIAL AND AGRICULTURAL
SECTORS, ENVIRONMENTAL
ORGANIZATIONS, ENVIRONMENTAL
JUSTICE ORGANIZATIONS. AND
NUMEROUS OTHER PARTIES BRING
THEIR BEST LITIGATION SKILLS TO
THE TABLE. THE CPUC STAFF PLAYS
A BACKGROUND ANALYTICAL ROLE,
BUT IT IS THOSE PARTIES THAT
PROVIDE THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF
ADVOCACY AND INFLUENCE DURING
THAT PROCESS. ULTIMATELY THE
ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGE SETS
OUT A PROPOSED REASONING ABOUT
WHICH INVESTMENTS TO APPROVE AND
WHICH TO DENY. THE REASONING IS
WRITTEN IN A PUBLIC PROPOSED
DECISION. AND THE COMMISSIONERS
DELIBERATE ON THAT DECISION.
ALSO IN PUBLIC. THIS IS ALL
AVAILABLE ON THE DOCKET CART
THROUGHOUT UM, I JUST WANTED TO
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE AND SPEAK
A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OUR PROCESS.
UM IN THIS AREA THAT'S IMPORTANT
TO CALIFORNIA. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU. ME ASK IF THERE'S
ADDITIONAL TESTIMONY OR YOU HERE
FOR SUPPORT. ADDITIONAL
TESTIMONY. GOOD MORNING. CAN YOU
HEAR ME? OKAY. GOOD MORNING
CHAIR AND MEMBERS OF THE AUDIT
COMMITTEE. MY NAME IS ADAM
PEARCE. AND I'M THE DIRECTOR OF
CUSTOMER PRICING FOR SAN DIEGO
GAS AND ELECTRIC. THANK YOU FOR
THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE
IN TODAY'S HEARING. SDG
APPRECIATES THE ONGOING
DISCUSSION OCCURRING NOT ONLY
WITHIN ITS SERVICE TERRITORY BUT
REALLY ACROSS THE STATE OF
CUSTOMER AFFORDABILITY AND
ELECTRICITY RATES. WE BELIEVE
RIGHT REFORM IS NEEDED TO LOWER
VOLUMETRIC ELECTRICITY RATES
THAT WILL HELP SUPPORT
AFFORDABILITY AND BUILD
STABILITY FOR ITS CUSTOMERS AS
WELL AS HELP ADVANCE THE STATE'S
GOAL OF DECARBONIZATION THROUGH
INCREASED ELECTRIFICATION. SD
JEANNIE WOULD WELCOME AN AUDIT
OF THE KEY DRIVERS IMPACTING
UTILITY RATES AS AS WELL AS THE
CPCS PROCESS, REVIEWING AND
ULTIMATELY SETTING RATES IF THE
COMMISSION CHOOSES TO UNDERTAKE
THIS AUDIT. AN AUDIT COULD
REINFORCE AND FURTHER HIGHLIGHT
MAY THE KEY THEMES ALREADY
DISCUSSED WITHIN THE CPC SENATE
BILL 6 95 REPORT, WHICH WAS JUST
RECENTLY MENTIONED AND FOR
MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE. I'VE
BROUGHT A FEW ADDITIONAL COPIES
OF THAT REPORT FOR ADDITIONAL
REFERENCE I COULD LEAVE BEHIND
AS WELL. IT AUDIT MAY ALSO
PROVIDE ADDITIONAL DETAILS ON
STATE MANDATED POLICIES AND
PROGRAMS THAT ARE PUTTING UPWARD
PRESSURE ON RATES. THAT ARE
EITHER OUTDATED OR NO LONGER
NEEDED AS ENERGY LANDSCAPE
WITHIN CALIFORNIA HAS CHANGED AT
NEW MANDATES, SUCH AS SB 100
HAVE BEEN PUT IN PLACE TO MEET
OUR CLIMATE GOALS. THE REPORT
MAY ALSO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL
INSIGHT INTO STATE MANDATED
COSTS THAT ARE CURRENTLY
COLLECTED THROUGH ELECTRICITY
RATES THAT ARE NOT NECESSARILY
ASSOCIATED WITH PROVIDING ENERGY
SERVICE TO OUR CUSTOMERS AND
OTHER NON RATEPAYERS. SOURCES OF
FUNDING MAY BE EXPLORED EXPLORED
FOR THOSE PROGRAMS. FOR EXAMPLE
, EARLIER THIS YEAR, SDG AND E
SPONSORED A BILL THAT REMOVED
PUBLIC PURPOSE PROGRAM OR PP
COSTS FROM ELECTRICITY RATES.
THESE COSTS HAVE INCREASED
DRAMATICALLY IN RECENT YEARS
OVER THE LAST DAY DECADE FOR SD
JEANNIE ALONE, THESE COSTS HAVE
GONE UP NEARLY 140% OR ABOUT 9%
PER YEAR ON AVERAGE. CURRENTLY
THESE COST MAKE UP ABOUT 6% OF
SDG KNEES, AVERAGE RATE AND, IF
REMOVED, COULD SAVE THE AVERAGE
RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMER
APPROXIMATELY $90 A YEAR. WHILE
THAT BILL WAS HELD IN
APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE EARLIER
THIS YEAR S B 10 20 IS STILL
ACTIVE. AND WE PROVIDED PATH
FORWARD FOR NON RATE PAYER
DOLLARS TO BE USED TO FUND
VARIOUS PROGRAMS SUCH AS P P P
WE APPRECIATE THE AUDIT
COMMITTEE'S ATTENTION TO THE
AFFORDABILITY CHALLENGES FACING
OUR CUSTOMERS AND THOSE ACROSS
THE STATE. I WOULD BE HAPPY TO
FACILITATE ANY DATA REQUEST THAT
WOULD HAPPEN THAT WOULD OCCUR AS
PART OF THIS AUDIT. AS WELL AS
ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THE
COMMITTEE HAS TODAY. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. HERE FOR SUPPORT OR
ADDITIONAL TESTIMONY. THANK YOU,
MR CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS OF THE
COMMITTEE. MY NAME IS MATT BAKER
. I'M THE DIRECTOR OF THE PUBLIC
ADVOCATE'S OFFICE AT THE PUBLIC
UTILITIES COMMISSION. WE ARE AN
INDEPENDENT VOICE OF CONSUMERS
THAT ADVOCATE FOR AFFORDABLE,
SAFE AND RELIABLE UTILITY
SERVICE CONSISTENT WITH THE
STATE'S CLIMATE GOALS WERE ALL
IN AGREEMENT TODAY THAT THE
RATES ARE TOO HIGH. AND AT THE
PUBLIC ADVOCATE'S OFFICE. WE'RE
WORKING WITHIN THE PUC AND
THROUGH PUC PROCESSES TO MAKE
SURE THAT ELECTRICITY TO
ADVOCATE FOR MORE AFFORDABLE
ELECTRICITY. THE MAIN DRIVERS OF
HIGH RATES IN THE SDG AND E
TERRITORY THAT WE HAVE SEEN OUR
COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH WILDFIRES
AND OTHER CLIMATE DISRUPTIONS.
THE BALLOONING COSTS OF NET
ENERGY METERING. INCREASING
REVENUE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE
TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION
SYSTEM AND STEEP INCREASING
INCREASES IN THE PRICE OF
NATURAL GAS. OVER THE LAST TWO
YEARS. THESE CHALLENGES HAVE
CREATED A PERFECT STORM OF COST
DRIVERS, AND IT IS OUR POSITION
THAT MANY OF THE COST DRIVERS
CAN BE ADDRESSED IN OPEN PUC
PROCEEDINGS RIGHT NOW. THERE ARE
SEVERAL ACTIVE PROCEEDINGS THAT
WE ARE CURRENTLY PARTICIPATING
IN THAT WE'RE WE'RE SPEAKING TO
ACCOMPLISH THIS GOAL. THERE'S
INCLUDE THE NET ENERGY METERING
PROCEEDING, THE AFFORDABILITY
PROCEEDING A NUMBER OF
PROCEEDINGS INVOLVING PUBLIC
PURPOSE PROGRAMS. UH MONITORING
, BALANCING ACCOUNTS AND
WILDLIFE IN WILDFIRE MANAGEMENT
PLAN PROCEEDINGS AND THE ANNUAL
ENERGY RESOURCES AND RECOVERY
INDUSTRIAL ADJUSTMENT
PROCEEDINGS. FINALLY AND MOST
IMPORTANTLY, UH, UTILITY HAS
RECENTLY SUBMITTED THEIR GENERAL
REVENUE THEIR GENERAL RAPE CASE.
AND ARE REQUESTING OVER $3
BILLION IN ELECTRIC AND GAS
INCREASES. THE COMPANY ESTIMATES
THAT THE RATE IMPACT FOR A
TYPICAL ELECTRIC RESIDENTIAL
CONSUMER WOULD BE A MONTHLY BILL
INCREASE OF ABOUT $9 OR 5.6%
OVER THE EXPECTED 2023 RATES. IN
THIS PROCEEDING, WHICH WE THINK
IS THE MOST IMPORTANT ONE. OUR
OFFICE WILL WORK THROUGH THE PUC
WORK THROUGH THIS PROCEEDING TO
REVIEW ANY PROGRAMS THAT WE
DON'T BELIEVE ARE COST EFFECTIVE
, SCRUTINIZE EVERY NEW CAPITAL
REQUEST TO MAKE SURE THAT IT IS
NEEDED. AH SCRUTINIZE ALL MEMO
ACCOUNTS AND BALANCING ACCOUNTS
IDENTIFY ANY LOWER COST
ALTERNATIVES AND ADVOCATE FOR
COST OF CAPITAL THAT IS IN THE
BEST INTERESTS OF THE
RATEPAYERS. IN CLOSING. OUR
MISSION IS TO ADVOCATE FOR THE
LOWEST POSSIBLE COST OF SERVICE
AND RATES THAT ARE AFFORDABLE
AND EQUITABLE. WE ARE VERY
CONCERNED ABOUT THE INCREASES IN
RATES THAT HAVE BUILDING FOR THE
LAST FIVE YEARS AND HAVE
INCREASED DRAMATICALLY IN THE
LAST YEAR. WE WILL WORK. TO MAKE
OUR CASE THAT WE CAN REDUCE LONG
TERM COSTS THAT WE CAN INCREASE
ELECTRIFICATION IN A IN A COST
EFFECTIVE, RATEPAYER FRIENDLY
MANNER. THAT WE CAN IDENTIFY AND
ELIMINATE WASTE AND SCRUTINIZED
PROGRAMS TO MAKE SURE THAT
THEY'RE DELIVERING FOR THE
RATEPAYERS. THANK YOU, AND I'M
HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
TESTIMONY AT THIS TIME. LOBBY
RETURNED THE ITEM BACK TO
MEMBERS ON THE DIETS. LET ME ASK
IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS. AH ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S
VOEPEL, PLEASE. GREAT AUDIT
REQUEST. I ALSO AM UNDER SDG AND
E. AND IT'S GETTING VERY
STRANGE. SO YOU HAVE TO ZIG AND
ZAG. BACK IN THE DAY. HOT WATER
HEATERS. WE WERE TOLD. BECAUSE
OF THE COST OF WATER. AND ALSO.
ELECTRICITY TO GET THE TANKLESS
HEATERS. WELL. THAT USES NATURAL
GAS AND ELECTRICITY. SO I DON'T
HAVE THAT. BUT IT ALSO
CONTRIBUTES TO HIGHER ELECTRIC
RATES. I'VE. REWIRED MY WHOLE
HOUSE. WE WENT TO L E. D.
THROUGHOUT THE HOUSE. NEW POOL
PUMP. FOR $1600, AND I'M JUST A
REGULAR CONSUMER. AND MY
ELECTRIC USE WENT DOWN BY ONE
THIRD. BUT MY RATES DID NOT. SO
NO MATTER HOW YOU COMPLY, YOU'RE
TRAPPED LIKE A RAT. RIGHT NOW.
ALSO OUR SEWER RATES ARE GOING
UP. EVERYTHING IS GOING UP AND I
ESTIMATE CURRENT INFLATION TO BE
AT LEAST 11. SO THE POINT I'M
MAKING IS YOU'RE KILLING YOUR
OWN MARKET. YOU GUYS ARE GONNA
HAVE TO EITHER LOWER RATES OR
FREEZE THEM. OTHERWISE WE'RE IN
DEEP TROUBLE. UM THIS IS A GREAT
AUDIT. THANK YOU. MY COLLEAGUE.
LET'S ROCK AND ROLL ON THIS ONE.
THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S VOEPEL. LET ME
ASK IF THERE'S ADDITIONAL
QUESTIONS. IF NOT LET ME JUST
ASK VERY QUICKLY FOR MR TILDEN.
TO THE EXTENT THAT SP 6 90
FIVE'S ANNUAL REPORT. UM
INCLUDING EVERYTHING FROM
NATURAL GAS TRANSMISSION
WILDFIRES. NET METERING IS WHAT
I'VE HEARD. MM. FROM THE
TESTIMONY. I MEAN, WOULD THAT
ACTUALLY HELP YOU PERFORM YOUR
AUDIT? FASTER MAYBE REDUCE SOME
OF THE HOURS THAT YOU WOULD NEED
IN TERMS OF THE STAFF TIME TO
COMPLETE THE AUDIT. UM MR CHERRY
COULD WOULD HAVE TO TAKE A LOOK
AT AND SEE WHAT KIND OF
INFORMATION IS IN THERE AND HOW
RESPONSIVE IT IS TO THE ACTUAL
OBJECTIVES, BUT CERTAINLY DURING
THE BEGINNING PART OF THE AUDIT.
IF IT'S APPROVED DURING OUR
SCOPING PHASE, WE WOULD
DEFINITELY WANT TO TAKE A LOOK
AT THAT INFORMATION AND KIND OF
CONSIDER HOW THAT WOULD AFFECT
OUR AUTO PROCEDURES. ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU, MR TILDEN. WITH THAT
. LET ME GO AND RETURN IT BACK
TO SUDDENLY WOMAN
BOERNER HORVATH FOR CLOSE. OH
WAIT. LET ME ASK IF THERE'S
PUBLIC COPY FIRST. ME ASK IF
THERE'S ANY PUBLIC COMMENT.
HEARING AND SEEING NONE. NOW I
WILL RETURN IT TO MS
BOERNER HORVATH FOR HER CLOTHES.
I WANT TO THANK MY COLLEAGUE
FROM SAN DIEGO COUNTY FOR HIS
ENTHUSIASTIC SUPPORT OF THE
AUDIT. IT IS VERY TRUE. YOU KNOW
WHEN OUR RATES INCREASED IN
JANUARY, I GOT CALL AFTER CALL
OF PEOPLE SAYING, I DON'T KNOW
IF I KEEP THE LIGHTS ON OUR FEED
MY KIDS. LIKE THIS IS WHAT
PEOPLE ARE DEALING WITH. AND SO
I RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR AND I
VOTE ON REQUESTING THIS. THANK
YOU THIS TIME. LET ME ASK IF
THERE'S A MOTION BY PROBABLY MR
VOEPEL. UH MY OFFICE. THERE'S A
SECOND. SO MR WOODS, SECONDED BY
MR WOULD MADAM SECRETARY CALLED
THE ROLE. THE MOST MINISTER.
APPROVE ORDER REQUEST. 2022-1 15
, SAN DIEGO GAS AND ELECTRIC AND
CALIFORNIA PUBLIC UTILITIES
COMMISSION RATE INCREASES BY
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S
BOERNER HORVATH.
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S SALAS. SALAS
AYE, BOERNER HORVATH. AYE
BOERNER HORVATH. AYE KYLIE KYLIE
I PATERSON. PATERSON I RUBIO
RUBIO. I OPAL OPAL. I WOULD
WOULD I, SENATOR HERTZBERG?
BECKER. GORGEOUS. GLACIER.
LEVER. MCGUIRE NILSSON NILSSON.
AYE. OKAY THAT MEASURE IS ON
CALL. I APPRECIATE THAT, AND
MAYBE SENATOR NELSON. YOU CAN
HELP US GET SOME MORE SENATORS
HERE SO WE CAN DISPENSE WITH
SOME OF THESE ITEMS. FORGET
SERGEANTS CALL ALL THE OFFICES.
WE BELIEVE WE HAVE EXTENDED UM,
THE AGENDA. LET ME ASK AT THIS
TIME SINCE WE WERE WAITING FOR
MORE MEMBERS CONTINGENT UPON THE
APPROVAL OF THE SUSPENSION OF
THE RULES. DO I HAVE A LET'S
MOVE TO THE CONSENT CALENDAR TO
HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND
MOTION BY MR RUBIO? SECONDED BY
MR WOOD. LET'S CALL THE ROLL ON
THE CONSENT CALENDAR. MADAM
SECRETARY, POLICE. THE MOTION IS
TO APPROVE TODAY'S CONSENT
CALENDAR WITH THE FOLLOWING AUTO
REQUESTS 2022-107, CALIFORNIA
STATE UNIVERSITY NATIVE AMERICAN
GRAVES PROTECTION AND
REPATRIATION ACT BY
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S RAMOS. 2022-109
CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY
SEXUAL HARASSMENT COMPLAINTS BY
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S SALAS AND
2022-1 12 CAL OPTIMA BY
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S QUIRK-SILVA.
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S SALAS PALACE. I
BOERNER HORVATH BOERNER HORVATH
AYE KYLIE. KYLIE I PATERSON
PATERSON, I RUBIO. RUBIO VOEPEL
FELL, I WOULD WOULD I, SENATOR
HERZBERG HERZBERG? AYE BECKER
BECKER. I GORGEOUS. GLACIER.
LEVER. NIELSEN. NELSON. AYE.
OKAY THAT WE NEED ONE MORE
SENATOR FOR THE CONSENT CALENDAR
. TO BE APPROVED, COULD HAVE ALL
SENATORS REPORT TO THE HEARING
ROOM, PLEASE. MADAM SECRETARY.
LET'S GO THROUGH THE REGULAR
CALENDAR SO THAT MEMBERS CAN ADD
ON UM, IF YOU WANT TO GOOD AND
JUST ANNOUNCED THE ITEM, WE'LL
JUST GO DOWN THE AGENDA. ITEM
MEMBERS FILE ITEM NUMBER SIX.
OKAY LET'S FIRST BEFORE WE GO TO
THE REGULAR CALENDAR. THIS IS ON
THE SUSPENSION OF JOINT RULES 13
AND 15 TO TAKE UP THE CONSENT
CALENDAR CALLED THE UPSET
MEMBERS. UM ON THE MOTION TO
SUSPEND GAELIC RULES 13 AND 15
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S WOULD WOULD I,
SENATOR HERTZBERG? HERTZBERG?
AYE, GORGEOUS. GLACIER. MCGUIRE. OKAY THE RULES ARE SUSPENDED.
NOW LET'S GO TO MOVE TO THE
REGULAR CALENDAR, SAYS FILE ITEM
NUMBER SIX CALLED THE ABSENT
MEMBERS. FOR AUTO REQUEST
2022-101 COVID 19 CONTACT
TRACING FUNDING BY
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S FONG.
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S WOULD. WOULD
KNOW. SENATOR HERZBERG HERZBERG
, I GORGEOUS GLACIER. MCGUIRE.
OKAY, THAT ITEM IS STILL HM?
YEAH SO LET'S REFLECT SENATOR
BECKER IS GOING FROM A NOTE TO
AND I UM SENATOR BECKER AND NO
TÔI. THAT'S STILL ON. OKAY THAT
MEASURE IS STILL ON CALL. LET'S
MOVE TO AGENDA. ITEM NUMBER
SEVEN MADAM SECRETARY COLORADO.
FOR ON A REQUEST. 2022-102
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH,
SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND GENDER
IDENTITY DATA COLLECTION BY
SENATOR WIENER. ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S
RUBIO RUBIO. AYE. SENATOR
HERZBERG HERZBERG. AYE BECKER
BECKER. I GORGEOUS. GLACIER.
LEVA. MCGUIRE NILSSON NILSSON.
AYE. OKAY THAT ITEM IS STILL ON
CALL. WE NEED ONE MORE SENTENCE.
THE FINAL ITEM NUMBER EIGHT.
MADAM SECRETARY CALL THE ROLL.
FOR ALL THE REQUESTS 2022-106
DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES
AND STATE WATER RESOURCES
CONTROL BOARD SURFACE WATER
MANAGEMENT BY ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S
GRAY ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S PATTERSON.
PATERSON. AYE. WOULD. WOULD I,
SENATOR HERZBERG HERZBERG? AYE
GORGEOUS GLACIER. MCGUIRE. OKAY,
THAT ITEM IS STILL ON CALL.
FINAL ITEM NUMBER NINE. MADAM
SECRETARY CALLED THE ROLE. FOR
AUTO REQUEST. 2022-1 10,
CALIFORNIA SCHOOL FINANCE
AUTHORITY, CHARTER SCHOOL
FACILITY GRANT PROGRAM AND
CONDUIT REVENUE BOND PROGRAM BY
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S BONTA.
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S PATERSON
PATERSON. NO RUBIO RUBIO I,
SENATOR HERTZBERG. LUÌT
TREASURER CLUB. SOME OF THE
SCOPE ON YEAH, SHE DID. SHE
PROVIDED A PACKET, WHICH IS
HERTZBERG? AYE. BORDER GIS
GLACIER. MCGUIRE NIELSEN.
NELSON. NO. THINK THAT ITEM IS
STILL ON CALL. LET'S MOVE TO
FILE ITEM NUMBER. 10 MADAM
SECRETARY, COLORADO. FOR AUTO
REQUEST. 2022-1 13, CALIFORNIA
COMMUNITY COLLEGES HIRING
PRACTICES BY ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S
LOW UM ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S WOULD.
SENATOR HERZBERG HERZBERG. AYE.
GORGEOUS. GLACIER. MCGUIRE.
THINK THAT ITEM IS STILL ON
CALL. LET'S MOVE TO FILE ITEM
NUMBER 11 MADAM SECRETARY CALLED
THE ROLE. FOR AUDIT REQUESTS.
2022-1 14, CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT
OF TECHNOLOGY OVERSIGHT BY
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S PETRIE-NORRIS.
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S BOERNER HORVATH
BOERNER HORVATH, AYE. RUBIO
RUBIO I, SENATOR HERZBERG
HERZBERG. AYE. GORGEOUS.
GLACIER. MCGUIRE NIELSEN.
NIELSEN. AYE. THAT ITEM IS STILL
ON CALL. NO IT'S NOT. THAT ITEM
HAS PASSED. OKAY FANTASTIC.
LET'S MOVE TO THAT ITEM. ITEM
NUMBER 11. UNDER BECKER. YOU'RE
AN EYE. I THINK. FINAL ITEM
NUMBER 12, MADAM SECRETARY, CALL
THE ROLL. FOR AUDIT REQUESTS.
2022-1 15, SANDIA GRASS AND
ELECTRIC AND CALIFORNIA PUBLIC
UTILITIES COMMISSION RATE
INCREASES BY SOME REMEMBER
BOERNER HORVATH SENATOR HERZBERG
THINK ABOUT IT. YEAH OK. YEAH
HERZBERG? AYE. BECKER BECKER.
AYE. GORGEOUS. GLACIER LEYVA.
MCGUIRE. OKAY THAT ITEM IS ON
CALL. WE NEED ONE MORE SENATOR
FOR A LOT OF THESE ITEMS. SO
SENATORS, IF YOU COULD HELP US
GET ONE MORE SENATOR TO THE
HEARING ROOM. THAT'D BE GREAT.
THANK YOU. ORTON. LIFE. REQUIRE
STATES VOTING ON BUDGET. YEAH,
SHE SHE CAN PULL THE MIC. YES
COUNTING FIRE NUMBER ONE. HURT.
SPREAD BUTTER VIOLET NUMBER ONE.
BUDGET. UM.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, SENATOR
MCGUIRE FOR JOINING US, LET'S GO
AHEAD AND GO THROUGH ALL THE
ABSENT MEMBERS. LET'S START WITH
THE SUSPENSION OF THE RULES,
JOINT RULE 13 AND 15. IN ORDER
FOR US TO TAKE UP THE CONSENT
CALENDAR CALL THE UPSET MEMBERS.
FOR THE REAL SUSPENSION OF J
LIKE ROLLS 13 AND 15 SENATOR
BOARD GIS. GLACIER. MCGUIRE
MCGUIRE AYE. GREAT. THAT IT'S
APPROVED. LET'S MOVE ON TO THE
CONSENT CALENDAR. MADAM
SECRETARY CALLED THE ABSENT
MEMBERS FOR THE CONSENT
CALENDAR, WITH THE FOLLOWING
AUDIT REQUEST ITEMS 2022-107,
CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY
NATIVE AMERICAN GRAVES
PROTECTION AND REPATRIATION ACT
BY ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S RAMOS.
2022-109 CALIFORNIA STATE
UNIVERSITY SEXUAL HARASSMENT
COMPLAINTS BY ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S
SALAS AND 2022-1 12 CAL OPTIMA
BY ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S QUIRK-SILVA.
SENATOR BROUGHT GORGEOUS.
GLACIER. LEYVA. MCGUIRE I
MCGUIRE AYE. ALRIGHT THAT'S
APPROVED. LET'S MOVE ON TO THE
REGULAR CALENDAR ITEMS NOW ITEM
NUMBER SIX MADAM SECRETARY
CALLED THE ABSENT MEMBERS. FOR
AUDIT REQUEST 2022-101 COVID 19
CONTACT TRACING FUNDING BY SOME
REMEMBER FONG. SENATOR BORGIAS.
GLACIER. MCGUIRE MCGUIRE NOT
VOTING. ALRIGHT THAT ITEM IS
STILL ON CAUGHT NEEDS ONE MORE
SENATOR. FILE ITEM NUMBER SEVEN
CALL THE ABSENT MEMBERS. FOR
AUTO REQUEST 2022-102 DEPARTMENT
OF PUBLIC HEALTH, SEXUAL
ORIENTATION AND GENDER IDENTITY
DATA COLLECTION BY SENATOR
WIENER. SENATOR BORGIAS.
GLACIER. LLEVA MCGUIRE MCGUIRE
AYE. THAT MOTION IS APPROVED.
LET'S MOVE ON TO FILE ITEM
NUMBER EIGHT. MADAM SECRETARY,
COLORADO. MORADA REQUEST
2022-106 DEPARTMENT OF WATER
RESOURCES AND STATE WATER
RESOURCES CONTROL BOARD SURFACE
WATER MANAGEMENT BY
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S GRAY. SENATOR
BURGESS. GLACIER. MCGUIRE
MCGUIRE AYE. OKAY, THAT. THAT
AUDITORS APPROVED. LET'S MOVE TO
FILE ITEM. NUMBER NINE MADAM
SPEAKER TO CALL THE ABSENT
MEMBERS. FOR AUDIT REQUEST.
2022-1 10, CALIFORNIA SCHOOL
FINANCE AUTHORITY, CHARTER
SCHOOL FACILITY GRANT PROGRAM
AND CONDUIT REVENUE BOND PROGRAM
BY SOME REMEMBER BONTA. SENATOR
BORG GIS. GLACIER MCGUIRE
MCGUIRE AYE. THAT ITEM HAS BEEN
APPROVED. LET'S MOVE ON TO FILE
ITEM NUMBER 10 CALL THE ABSENT
MEMBERS. FOR ALL THE REQUESTS
2022-1 13, CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY
COLLEGES HIRING PRACTICES BY
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S LOW
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S WOULD SENATOR
BORG GIS. GLACIER. MCGUIRE
MCGUIRE AYE. APPROVED OKAY THAT
ITEMS APPROVED. LET'S MOVE TO
FILE ITEM NUMBER. WHAT. FILE
ITEM NUMBER 12 CALI APPS OF
MEMBERS. FOR AUTO REQUEST 2022
RASH, 1, 15, SAN DIEGO GAS AND
ELECTRIC AND CALIFORNIA PUBLIC
UTILITIES COMMISSION RATE
INCREASES BY ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S
BOERNER HORVATH. SENATOR BOARD
GIS GLACIER. LEYVA. MCGUIRE
MCGUIRE AYE. OKAY. THAT AUDIT IS
APPROVED. MCGUIRE SECURE MISSING
ONE VOTE. IT'S FILE ITEM NUMBER
11. YES, SIR. OKAY MADAM
SECRETARY CALLED THE APPS OF
MEMBERS ON FILE ITEM NUMBER 11.
FOR AUTO REQUEST. 2022-1 14,
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF
TECHNOLOGY OVERSIGHT BY
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S PETRIE-NORRIS.
SENATOR BURGESS. CLOSURE.
MCGUIRE MCGUIRE AYE. OKAY, THAT
ITEM IS APPROVED, RIGHT? ALL
RIGHT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU,
SENATOR. APOLOGIZE THANK YOU SO
MUCH PROBLEM. WE'LL HOLD THE
ROLL OPEN FOR A FEW MORE MINUTES
TO ALLOW MEMBERS TO ADD ON AT
THIS TIME WE HAVE HOW MANY ITEMS
ON. AT THIS TIME WE HAVE ONE
ITEM ON CALL THAT IS VIOLATING
NUMBER 6 2022-1 ON ONE.
HENRY WILL HOLD THE ROLL OPEN
FOR A COUPLE MORE MINUTES.
OKAY, WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD
AND CALL. THE DILEK HEARING TO A
CLOSE. WE HAVE ONE ITEM PILE
UNDER FILE ITEM NUMBER SIX. IT
STILL NEEDS ADDITIONAL VOTES
WERE GOING TO CLOSE. THE ROLE ON
THAT AND GRANT RECONSIDERATION
BY UNANIMOUS CONSENT FOR FILE
ITEM NUMBER SIX. AND WITH THAT,
I BELIEVE, MADAM SECRETARY
YOU'VE CALLED ALL OF THE ITEMS
AND THE ONES TAT WERE APPROVED.
THAT'S CORRECT. OK AT THIS TIME,
IT'S 12 20. WE'RE GOING TO CALL
J LACK. TO CONCLUSION. THANK
YOU.