GOOD MORNING, EVERYBODY. GOOD
MORNING, EVERYBODY. GREAT TO SEE
YOU ALL HERE. WELCOME TO THE
JOINT LEGISLATIVE AUDIT
COMMITTEE. THIS IS THE
COMMITTEE'S FIRST HEARING OF A
SESSION AT WHICH WE WILL HEAR
NEW AUDIT REQUESTS. LOOK FORWARD
TO A PRODUCTIVE HEARING TODAY.
I'LL GET INTO SOME OTHER
COMMENTS AFTER WE ESTABLISHED
QUORUM AND GO THROUGH SOME
ADOPTION OF RULES THAT I'LL
SHARE WITH ALL OF YOU. BUT THANK
YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE. THANKS
TO THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE
FOR GETTING HERE AS QUICKLY AS
POSSIBLE. SO SEEING THAT WE HAVE
A QUORUM. ALASKA SECRETARY TO
POLICE COLORADO.
WOULD SENATOR BLAKE SPEAR HERE.
ORTEZ E. EGGMAN. GONZALEZ.
LAYERED HERE. THE ARTO. WELCOME.
RIGHT. WE HAVE A QUORUM PRESENT.
UH, BEFORE WE TAKE ANY OF THE
ITEMS ON THE AGENDA. THERE ARE A
COUPLE OF HOUSEKEEPING ITEMS
THAT WE NEED TO TAKE CARE OF. WE
NEED TO ELECT A CHAIR OF THIS
COMMITTEE AND ADOPTED COMMITTEE
RULES FOR THE SESSION. 23 24.
FIRST THE COMMITTEE NEEDS
SELECTED CHAIR. THIS DOES TAKE A
MAJORITY VOTE OF J LACK MEMBERS
. UM I NEED TO HAVE A MOTION AND
A SECOND FOR THIS WILL, UH, MOVE
THAT WE ELECTED ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S
ALVAREZ. TO BE THE CHAIR. THANK
YOU. WE HAVE A MOTION BY SENATOR
BLAKE SPEAR SECOND BY MR RUBIO.
SECRETARY. PLEASE CALL THE ROOM.
THE MOTION IS TO ELECT SOMEONE
REMEMBER ALBERTA'S COMMITTEE
CHAIR. REMEMBER ALVAREZ? ALRIGHT
OLIVER IS I CORVETTE? HOOVER.
PATERSON. PATERSON I RUBIO RUBIO
I VALENCIA AND SEE I WOULD.
SENATOR BLAKE SPEAR, CORTESI.
ORTEZ EI EGGMAN. GONZALES.
LAIRD. LAIRD. I SEE ARTO. OH, I
WILK WILK. AYE. RULES HAVE BEEN
APPROVED. THANK YOU MEMBERS. NOW
WE NEED TO ADOPT THE COMMITTEE.
UH, SORRY. THAT WAS FOR THE
CHAIR. NOW WE NEED TO ADOPT THE
RULES FOR LEGISLATIVE SESSION. A
COPY OF THE RULES WAS PROVIDED
TO ALL THE MEMBERS BEFORE THE
HEARING TODAY. THESE RULES ARE
VERY SIMILAR TO PRIOR AUDIT
COMMITTEES RULES FOR THE 21 22
SESSION. AND AGAIN. MEMBERS OF
THIS TAKES THE MAJORITY OF THE
VOTE OF THE COMMITTEE TO APPROVE
THE COMMITTEE RULES. IS THERE A
MOTION AND A SECOND? MOVED BY
SENATOR WILK SECOND BY SOME
MEMBER RUBIO. OKAY, PLEASE CALL
THE ROLL. THE MOTION IS TO ADOPT
THE 2023 24 COMMITTEE RULES.
SOME OF THE MEMBER ALVAREZ
ALVAREZ, AYE, PATERSON.
ANDERSON. I RUBIO. RUBIO,
VALENCIA. THAT'S YOUR EYE.
TENDER BLAKE SPEAR I GONZALEZ
CORTES VÆ. RIGHT? HAS THE EYE.
EGGMAN. GONZALES. LAYERED LAIRD
, I START OH, OH, I WELCOME,
WILK. AYE. THE RULES ARE
ADOPTED. THANK YOU, EVERYBODY. I
WANT TO START BY THINKING,
LETTING YOU THANKING ALL OF YOU
FOR BEING HERE TODAY, AND I WANT
TO QUICKLY LET YOU KNOW THAT THE
COMMITTEE IS CHARGED WITH
SELECTING THE STATE'S FIRST
INSPECTOR GENERAL FOR THE
CALIFORNIA HIGH SPEED RAIL
AUTHORITY. THE COMMITTEE HAS
RECEIVED APPLICATIONS FOR THE
POSITION AND IS MOVING FORWARD.
UM, WITH THAT PROCESS. UNLESS
THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS. UM ON
THAT. I WANTED TO JUST SHARE
SOME COMMENTS AS CHAIR OF THE
COMMITTEE HAVE HAD THE
OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE
CONVERSATIONS WITH SEVERAL
MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE BOTH
HOUSES AND FIRST OF ALL, IT'S
REALLY AN HONOR TO BE ABLE TO
SERVICE CHAIR OF THIS COMMITTEE.
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE WORK
THIS COMMITTEE WILL DO. REALLY
FOCUSED ON TRYING TO MAKE SURE
GOVERNMENT WORKS BEST AS WHEN
WILL GOVERNMENT WORKS BEST. THAT
JUST MEANS THAT OUR CONSTITUENTS
, CALIFORNIANS HAVE BETTER
SERVICES AND THAT'S WHAT FOR ME
THIS ROLE I REALLY VALUE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE IN FACT
FINDING MISSIONS AND GET
INFORMATION THAT COULD BE USEFUL
TO ALL OF US AS WE MOVE FORWARD
WITH TRYING TO IMPROVE.
CALIFORNIA WHETHER IT'S
LEGISLATIVELY OR THROUGH PROCESS
IMPROVEMENTS AT THE DIFFERENT
DEPARTMENTS. UM I AM AWARE THAT
IN THE PAST OFTENTIMES AUDITS,
UM CAN CAN CREATE AN ADVERSARIAL
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE
LEGISLATURE AND THE
ADMINISTRATION. IT IS MY INTENT
AND MY HOPE THAT WE CONTINUE TO,
UH, ONE RESPECT THE SEPARATION
CERTAINLY OF POWERS OF THE
LEGISLATURE AND THE
ADMINISTRATION. BUT ALSO TO TRY
AND WORK COLLABORATIVELY. IN
FACT, SOME OF YOU MAY HAVE
NOTICED THAT IN TODAY'S AGENDA,
A COUPLE OF ITEMS HAVE BEEN
PULLED. ONE WAS NOT A REQUEST
THAT I HAD PUT FORWARD AND THAT
WAS AS A RESULT OF CONVERSATIONS
, UM, WITH THE DEPARTMENT AND
HOW TO POTENTIALLY IMPROVE THE
AUDIT AND MAKE IT BETTER AND
MAYBE COME BACK WITH A MORE
COMPREHENSIVE AUDIT THAT DOES A
MORE COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF THE
GOALS THAT I'M HOPING TO
ACCOMPLISH WITH MY PARTICULAR
AUDIT, AND THERE ARE OTHERS THAT
HAVE BEEN PULLED BACK BECAUSE
THE RESULTS OF CONVERSATIONS OF
ALSO FIGURING OUT HOW TO MAKE
THESE AUDITS PERHAPS THE SCOPE
OF THE AUDITS A LITTLE BIT MORE
USEFUL FOR ALL OF US. THAT IS MY
INTENT, AND I INVITE ANYBODY
WHO'S INTERESTED IN MOVING
FORWARD WITH AN AUDIT TO ENGAGE
OUR OFFICE AND THE GALA
COMMITTEE STAFF ON CONVERSATIONS
AND HOW TO DO THAT, SO THAT WE
CAN ACCOMPLISH THE GOALS OF
EVERY MEMBER WHO WANTS TO SEE AN
AUDIT AND THE WORK THAT THIS
COMMITTEE IS CHARGED WITH
OVERSIGHT AND IMPROVING OUR
GOVERNMENT. WE HAVE OTHER AUDITS
TODAY WHERE THERE'S BEEN A
COMBINATION AND I WANT TO THANK
MEMBERS WHO HAVE DONE THAT, WHO
PERHAPS SUBMITTED AUDITS ON
SIMILAR TOPICS, AND WE ASKED FOR
FOLKS TO GET TOGETHER AND TALK
ABOUT HOW TO POTENTIALLY AGAIN
CREATE A BETTER PATHWAY FORWARD
AND WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO
ACCOMPLISH THAT. SO I'M LOOKING
FORWARD TO THAT BEING THE CASE
WITH THE WORK OF THIS COMMITTEE
THIS YEAR AND AGAIN I WELCOME
EVERY MEMBER. THAT'S INTERESTED
IN MOVING FORWARD WITH AN AUDIT
TO REALLY ENGAGE CERTAINLY WITH
THE DEPARTMENTS OR THE AGENCIES
THAT YOU'RE INTERESTED IN
AUDITING, BUT ALSO WITH RJ LEX
STAFF SO THAT WE CAN AGAIN
PRODUCE A SCOPE THAT WILL
HOPEFULLY GET YOUR QUESTION.
ANSWERS TO THE QUESTIONS WERE
REALLY SEEKING TO ACCOMPLISH SO
AGAIN. I THINK ALL OF YOU FOR,
UM FOR INDULGING ME IN THAT AND
I LOOK FORWARD TO ALL OF OUR
WORK TOGETHER. AND WITH THAT WE
ALSO NOT ONLY HAVE A NEW CHAIR
OF THIS COMMITTEE, BUT WE HAVE A
NEW STATE AUDITOR AND OUR NEW
STATE AUDITOR WHO WAS JUST
ELECTED A FEW MONTHS AGO IS HERE
AND I'D LIKE TO WELCOME MR GRANT
PARK'S WAS OUR STATE ORDER. WE
LOOK FORWARD TO A PRODUCTIVE
RELATIONSHIP WITH THE AUDITOR'S
OFFICE, AND I INVITE MR PARKS TO
SHARE A FEW WORDS. WOULD YOU
LIKE THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
CHAIRMAN ALVAREZ. IT'S A
PLEASURE TO BE WITH YOU ALL THIS
MORNING. IT'S A PRIVILEGE TO
REPRESENT THE HARD WORKING AND
DEDICATED STAFF OF THE STATE
AUDITOR'S OFFICE AND I LOOK
FORWARD TO, UH, ECHOING THE
CHAIR'S COMMENTS ABOUT BALANCED
TONE, WORKING WITH THE
ADMINISTRATION AND ULTIMATELY
TRYING TO GET TO A GOOD SPOT AT
THE END OF OUR AUDITS, WHERE THE
ULTIMATE GOAL IS TO IMPROVE
GOVERNMENT. WE'RE NOT LOOKING
OUT, GET PEOPLE OR TO GAIN MEDIA
ATTENTION PER SAY WHAT WE'RE
REALLY TRYING TO DO IS JUST TAKE
AN HONEST, HARD LOOKING LOOK AT
HOW GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS ARE
OPERATING AND HOW COLLECTIVELY
WE CAN WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE
THEM BETTER AND MORE EFFICIENT,
SO I APPRECIATE THE CHAIR'S
COMMENTS. THANK YOU, MR PARKS
AND AGAIN. CONGRATULATIONS AND
WE LOOK FORWARD TO YEARS OF YOUR
WORK. THANK YOU. OKAY I WOULD
LIKE TO NOTE THAT THE AUDIT
AUDIT REQUEST NUMBER 2023 1. OH
ONE HAS ACTUALLY WHICH IS THE
SENATE CLARA VALLEY
TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY IS NO
LONGER ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR
THAT HAS BEEN PULLED FROM THE
CONSENT COUNTER AND THEY WILL BE
PRESENTED TODAY. SO WITH THAT
THAT LEAVES US WITH 11. STILL
TOTAL AUDIT REQUEST TO CONSIDER
THIS MORNING. TWO OF THE AUDIT
REQUESTS ARE ON THE PROPOSED
CONSENT CALENDAR AND NINE WILL
BE PRESENTED THIS MORNING. I
WILL ALSO, UH, NOTE THAT OF
PARTICULAR INTEREST AND PROBABLY
ENGAGEMENT. I HAVE LOTS OF
QUESTIONS ON, UM, MAKE SURE I
GET THE AUDIT NUMBER. I REMEMBER
600 AGENDA. IT'S AH 2013 1 OH,
FOUR. SENATOR GLASER'S REQUEST.
I DO EXPECT THAT TO BE ANY BACK
AND FORTH WITH SOME QUESTIONS
THAT I KNOW I HAVE. AND SO, UM,
INVITE THE COLLEAGUES. WE'RE
HERE HOPEFULLY TO STAND THIS
STAY WITH US AND LISTEN TO THAT
CONVERSATION AS YOU MAKE A
DECISION. OBVIOUSLY, IF THIS IS
A OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PUBLIC AND
TO COMMENT ON YOU TO ASK
QUESTIONS. I HOPE YOU UTILIZE
THAT TIME OF, UM TO THAT EXTENT,
AND, UH AND SOME JUST HAVE MORE
QUESTIONS THAN OTHERS. AND
THAT'S ONE THAT I THINK WILL
KEEP US TODAY. A LITTLE BIT
LONGER. MR CHAIR? YES WOULD YOU
LIKE A MOTION FOR ITEM TWO AND
THREE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? I
WOULD THANK YOU SO MOVE. WE HAVE
A MOTION BY SENATOR LAIRD SECOND
BY SOME MEMBER RUBIO. PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL. THE MOTION IS TO
ADOPT THE PROPOSED CONSENT
CALENDAR. AUDIT 2023 SLASH ONE
OF FIVE FRANCHISE TAX BOARD
MIDDLE CLASS TAX REFUNDS BY
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S ALVAREZ. AUDIT
2023 SLASH ONE OF SIX UNIVERSITY
OF CALIFORNIA ONLINE PROGRAM
MANAGEMENT BY ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S
ALVAREZ. REMEMBER ALVAREZ.
ALRIGHT, OLIVER IS I
BOERNER HORVATH HOOVER.
PATERSON. IN PATERSON. I RUBIO
RUBIO. I VALENTIA. LANCIA. I
WOULD. BLAKE SPEAR YOUR EYE
ORTEZ E. TEDDY EGGMAN. I
GONZALEZ? I LAIRD SARTO WILK.
WILK, NOT VOTING. UH THE CONSENT
AGENDA IS PROVED. I SHOULD HAVE
MADE COMMENTS ON SPECIFICALLY
THE ITEM ON THE MIDDLE CLASS TAX
REFUNDS. 2023-105. I LOOK
FORWARD TO THE INFORMATION THAT
WE GATHER. I KNOW THAT THERE'S
BEEN A LOT OF HEADLINES THAT'S
ALREADY BEEN CAPTURED THE
RESULTS OF THE PROGRAM. AGAIN I
STATED EARLIER. I'M LOOKING
FORWARD NOT TO CREATE NEW
HEADLINES BUT TO CERTAINLY GET
DOWN TO THE FACTS. INFORMATION
UNDERSTAND OUR SYSTEMS WHEN IT
COMES TO, UM, THE FRANCHISE TAX
BOARD AND THE WORK THAT WAS DONE
TO GET DOLLARS OUT TO OUR
CONSTITUENTS, BUT THANK YOU
AGAIN FOR YOUR VOTE, AND THE
CONSENT AGENDA IS APPROVED.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. FOR THE
ORDER REQUEST THAT WE PRESENTED
TODAY WE WILL FOLLOW OUT OF
COMMITTEE ESTABLISHED FORMAT,
WITH MEMBERS PRESENTING THEIR
AUDIT IN SIGN AN ORDER. THANK
YOU TO THE MEMBERS WHO SHOWED UP
EARLY. I APPRECIATE YOU BEING
HERE. MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE
WILL PRESENT THEIR AUDIT
REQUEST. EACH MEMBER WILL HAVE
UP TO TWO WITNESSES TO MAKE
BRIEF COMMENTS DURING THEIR
PRESENTATION. THIS WILL BE
FOLLOWED BY A STATE AUDITORS
PRESENTATION OF HIS OFFICERS
ANALYSIS. I WILL THEN INVITE THE
AGENCY TO COME FORWARD TO MAKE A
BRIEF COMMENT AND ANSWER
QUESTIONS FROM THE COMMITTEE,
AND THIS WILL BE FOLLOWED BY
PUBLIC BEING ABLE TO COMMENT ON
THEIR SUPPORT OR OPPOSITION FOR
EACH OF THE REQUEST. THE MEMBER
SO WE WILL BE STARTING WITH THE
FIRST MEMBER. REMEMBER, WEBER
WAS THE FIRST ONE JUST JOIN US
TODAY. AND SO THAT IS ITEM
NUMBER 10 AND OUR REGULAR
CALENDAR. IT'S 2023-1 15
DEPARTMENTS OF HEALTH CARE
SERVICES AND MANAGE HEALTHCARE
ACCESS TO BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
SERVICES FOR CHILDREN, SOMETHING
WEBER WELCOME AND THANK YOU GO
AHEAD. GOOD MORNING, CHAIR AND
COMMITTEE. I AM HERE TO REQUEST
THE JOINT LEGISLATIVE AUDIT
COMMITTEE APPROVED A STATE AUDIT
REGARDING THE LACK OF TIMELY
ACCESS TO BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
SERVICES FOR CHILDREN IN THE
MEDICAL AND CALIFORNIA
CHILDREN'S SERVICES, ALSO KNOWN
AS CCS PROGRAMS. MEDICAL IS
RESPONSIBLE FOR PROVIDING
COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH BENEFITS TO
MORE THAN SIX MILLION OF OUR
CHILDREN HERE IN CALIFORNIA. IF
A CHILD HAS CERTAIN CHRONIC
MEDICAL CONDITIONS, THEY MAY
ALSO BE INCLUDED IN THE CC S
PROGRAM, WHICH PROVIDES
DIAGNOSTIC AND TREATMENT
SERVICES, MEDICAL CASE
MANAGEMENT AND PHYSICAL AND
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY SERVICES TO
MORE THAN 185,000 CHILDREN UNDER
THE AGE OF 21 WITH CCS ELIGIBLE
MEDICAL CONDITIONS. EXAMPLES OF
SOME OF THESE CCS ELIGIBLE
CONDITIONS INCLUDE, BUT NOT BUT
ARE NOT LIMITED TO CRANIAL
FACIAL ANOMALIES LIKE CLIFF
PALETTE. DISORDERS OF THE
NERVOUS SYSTEM LIKE CEREBRAL
PALSY AND DISORDERS OF BLOOD
LIKE SICKLE CELL ANEMIA, AMONG
OTHER CONDITIONS. THE DEPARTMENT
OF HEALTH CARE SERVICES, ALONG
WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF MANAGED
CARE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR
ENSURING HEALTH PLANS PROVIDE
TIMELY ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE, AS
REQUIRED UNDER THE CURRENT LAW,
HEALTH PLAN NETWORKS PROVIDING
CARE TO MEDICAL ENROLLEES MUST
MEET THESE TIMELY ACCESS
STANDARDS, AND THESE STANDARDS
INCLUDE WAIT TIME TO ACCESS,
URGENT AND NON URGENT CARE
APPOINTMENTS. SPECIFIC TIMES FOR
APPOINTMENTS AND THE CURRENT LAW
FOR MEDICAL OR CCS ENROLL
INCLUDE URGENT CARE APPOINTMENTS
WITHIN FOUR DAYS AND NON URGENT
CARE APPOINTMENTS WITHIN 10 TO
15 DAYS. I AM CONCERNED THAT
CALIFORNIA IS NOT FULFILLING ITS
OBLIGATION TO ENSURE THAT
CHILDREN ENROLLED IN MEDICAL OR
THE CCS PROGRAM ARE OBTAINING
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES
WITHIN TIMELY ACCESS UNDER THE
STANDARDS AND OUR CURRENT LAW,
CHILDREN WITH THESE CHRONIC
CONDITIONS NOT ONLY NEED MEDICAL
CARE, BUT ALSO BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
SERVICES. TO PROMOTE THEIR
MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL WELL BEING
. WE ALL KNOW THAT ADDRESSING
MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS IS JUST AS
IMPORTANT AS PHYSICAL HEALTH,
ESPECIALLY FOR OUR CHILDREN AND
TEENS, WHO ARE PARTICULARLY
VULNERABLE. FOR THIS REASON I AM
REQUESTING THAT THE STATE
AUDITOR ANSWER THE FOLLOWING
QUESTIONS. HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE
FOR CHILDREN TO OBTAIN
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH APPOINTMENTS
AND THE MEDICAL PROGRAM AND CCS
PROGRAM AND WHAT ARE THE REASONS
FOR THE DELAY? ARE THERE ANY
TRENDS AS RELATES TO THE LACE
AND TIMELY ACCESS FOR CERTAIN
ETHNIC GROUPS, CERTAIN REGIONS
OF THIS STATE OR ANY TRENDS FOR
CERTAIN MEDICAL CONDITIONS? WHAT
IMPACT HAS ITS HAD ON THE HEALTH
OF CHILDREN. AND FINALLY, WHAT
HAS BEEN THE TREND IN PAIR
SOURCE FOR EMERGENCY ROOM VISITS
AND HOW MANY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
PROVIDERS IN CALIFORNIA EXCEPT
MEDIC AL. THIS AUDIT IS
SPONSORED BY THE CALIFORNIA
SOCIETY OF PLASTIC SURGEONS, AND
I'M JOINED BY TIM MADDEN, THE
ORGANIZATION'S REPRESENTATIVE.
THANK YOU. CHAIR MEMBERS, TIM
MADDEN, REPRESENTING THE
CALIFORNIA SOCIETY OF PLASTIC
SURGEONS, AND WE HAVE A NUMBER
OF OUR PLASTIC SURGEONS, LARGELY
ACADEMIC CENTERS ARE PART OF
WHAT WE DESCRIBE AS A CRANIAL
FACIAL CARE TEAM. THESE CARE
TEAMS ARE COMPRISED OF A NUMBER
OF DIFFERENT PROVIDERS, NOT ONLY
PLASTIC SURGEONS, BUT ORAL
SURGEONS, DENTISTS, SPEECH
THERAPISTS, PEDIATRICIANS, AND
IT'S THEIR JOB TO TAKE CARE OF
THESE KIDS FROM BIRTH. REALLY UP
TO AGE 18 LIKE KIND OF MAP OUT
ALL OF THEIR PROCEDURES OVER
THIS TIMELINE. FOR A NUMBER OF
THE KIDS, PARTICULARLY THE ONES
THAT HAVE CLEFT LIP AND CLEFT
PALATE CONDITIONS, WHICH ARE
VERY VISIBLE CONDITIONS. THEY'RE
SUBJECT TO TEASING AND BULLYING
IN SCHOOLS AND WHEN THEY ARE IN
A PART OF THEIR CARE TEAMS, THE
PLASTIC SURGEONS FEEL IT'S
NECESSARY TO THEN REFER THEM TO
A BEHAVIOR HEALTH SPECIALISTS TO
GET THAT CARE TO HELP THEM
THROUGH THIS TOUGH TIME.
UNFORTUNATELY WE'VE HAD A REALLY
HARD TIME, REFERRING THEM TO
BEHAVIOR HEALTH SPECIALIST FOR
COMMERCIAL PAYERS TO PRIVATE
PAIRS. IT'S NOT AS BAD BUT
PARTICULARLY FROM MEDICAL AND
CCS. IT CAN TAKE MONTHS AT A
TIME. IF AND THERE ARE CERTAIN
SITUATIONS WHERE THEY'RE JUST
NOT ABLE TO CONNECT TO SERVICES
AT ALL. WE'VE HEARD STORIES.
UNFORTUNATELY SO SOME OF THESE
KIDS ATTEMPTING TO TAKE THEIR
OWN LIVES AS A RESULT OF NOT
HAVING ACCESS TO THIS TYPE OF
CARE. WE BELIEVE THIS AUDIT WILL
SHED MORE LIGHT ON THE EXTENT OF
THIS PROBLEM IS DR WEBBER
OUTLINED. I KNOW FOR A NUMBER OF
YOU ON THIS COMMITTEE,
PARTICULARLY THOSE PART OF
ASSEMBLY BUDGET SUB ONE, AND IF
IIS IN THE BACK OF MY HEAD,
SENATOR EDMUND BEHIND ME AS A
PART OF THE BUDGET. SO WHEN THE
CHAIR OF HEALTH THIS TOPIC HAS
BEEN DISCUSSED, AND ALSO
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S WOULD HAS BEEN
A PART OF A LOT OF THESE
DISCUSSIONS. SO I DON'T THINK
IT'S ANY SURPRISED THAT THIS IS
A PROBLEM. BUT WHAT'S MISSING IS
THE LEVEL OF DETAIL WE'RE
PURSUING IN THIS AUDIT. EXACTLY
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE? AND I
THINK, JUST AS IMPORTANT, WHAT'S
THE RAMIFICATIONS OF NOT HAVING
TIMELY ACCESS TO CARE FOR THESE
KIDS? WHAT HAPPENS TO THEM? SO
WE'RE HOPING THIS WILL SHED MORE
LIGHT ON THIS ISSUE TO PROVIDE
THE LEGISLATURE MORE INFORMATION
TO MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS ON
HOW TO BEST ADDRESS THIS
PROBLEM? FOR THESE REASONS. WE
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOUR I
VOTE. THANK YOU, MISS WEBBER. NO
OTHER TESTIMONY. NO OTHER
TESTIMONY. MR PARKS, WOULD YOU
LIKE TO PROVIDE SOME? THANK YOU,
MR CHAIR, ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S WEBER
, SEEKING ACCESS NODDED ON THE
ACCESS OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
SERVICES TO CHILDREN, AND THE
AUDIT IS FAIRLY STRAIGHTFORWARD.
I ANTICIPATE OUR STAFF UNDER
OBJECTIVES TWO AND THREE, WILL
SEEK TO OBTAIN MEDICAL DATA
TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THE TIME
ELAPSING BETWEEN WIND SERVICES
WERE REQUESTED, AND WHEN THOSE
APPOINTMENTS WERE ACTUALLY MADE
AS THE MEMBER MENTIONED THERE
WAS A REQUEST FOR SOME DETAIL ON
THE DEMOGRAPHIC BREAKDOWN OF
THOSE TRYING TO ACCESS THOSE
SERVICES. SO GETTING INFORMATION
ON HOW TIMELY THOSE SERVICES ARE
BY GENDER BY RACE, I THINK BY
GEOGRAPHIC REGION WE'RE ALL
CONSIDERATIONS THAT WILL FOCUS
ON WHEN WE DEVELOP OUR PLANNING
PROCEDURES. WE ALSO ANTICIPATE
IN OBJECTIVE FOR PROBABLY
SELECTING A SAMPLE OF CASES
WHERE REQUESTS HAVE BEEN MADE TO
UNDERSTAND. JUST BUILDING THE
TIMELINE FOR HOW LONG IT TOOK TO
ACTUALLY GET IN TO SEE SOMEBODY
WE THINK THROUGH THAT PROCESS,
IT MIGHT HIGHLIGHT FOR US WHERE
SOME OF THE BOTTLE NEXT MAY BE
OCCURRING A KEY ASPECT OF THIS
AUDIT REQUEST, I THINK ALSO IS
TO TAKE A LOOK AT JUST HOW MANY
HEALTH PROVIDERS ARE OUT THERE
THAT PROVIDE THE KINDS OF
SERVICES THAT THE MEMBER IS
ASKING FOR. THAT COULD BE A
POTENTIAL CAUSE FOR WHY SERVICES
AREN'T AS TIMELY AS WE OTHERWISE
WOULD LIKE. AND THEN ANOTHER
SIGNIFICANT PART OF THE AUDIT IS
TRYING TO UNDERSTAND JUST HOW
FREQUENTLY EMERGENCY ROOM VISITS
ARE BEING USED IN LIEU OF THE
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES THAT
I THINK, IDEALLY THAT THE
PROGRAM IS STRUCTURED TO PROVIDE
. OVERALL IT'S A FAIRLY
STRAIGHTFORWARD AUDIT REQUESTS
WITH EIGHT UNIQUE AUDIT
OBJECTIVES. I DO ANTICIPATE.
USING OUR I T AUDIT STAFF QUITE
A BIT WHEN WE GET INTO THE
MEDICAL DATA, AND WE START DOING
EXTRACTS, TRYING TO FIGURE OUT
HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE ACCESS TO
THESE SERVICES AND THE
TIMELINESS OF THAT OVERALL, I'M
ANTICIPATING ROUGHLY 3500 HOURS
IN BETWEEN 6 TO 7 MONTHS. THANK
YOU, MR PARKS. UH THE AGENCY OR
INVITE THE REPRESENTATIVES AND
YOU'RE HERE EITHER DEPARTMENT OF
HEALTH CARE SERVICES OR MANAGED
HEALTH CARE. IF YOU'D LIKE TO
MAKE ANY REMARKS OR COMMENTS AT
THIS TIME. WE HAVE SOMEONE HERE?
YEAH. YOU CAN JOIN US HERE AT
THE TABLE IF YOU LIKE. JUST MAKE
SURE YOU INTRODUCE YOURSELF,
PLEASE. HI THERE, UM SHOULD BE
ON GO AHEAD. UH THANK YOU.
MELISSA ROWLAND, ASSISTANT
DEPUTY DIRECTOR AT THE
LEGISLATIVE OFFICE FOR
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH CARE
SERVICES JUST WANTED TO BE HERE
AND ACKNOWLEDGE THE AUDIT
REQUESTING APPRECIATE THE
COMMENTS RELATED TO THE REQUEST
, AND WE'RE HAPPY TO, UM WORK
WITH THE AUDITOR AND THE
COMMITTEE. IF IT'S UM ADOPTED TO
GO THROUGH. THANK YOU. WOULD YOU
LIKE TO GOOD MORNING. CHRISTINE
HAMAN, DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF
LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS AT THE
DEPARTMENT OF MANAGED HEALTH
CARE. I'D LIKE TO ECHO MY
COLLEAGUE'S COMMENT AND WE'RE
HAPPY TO WORK WITH THE COMMITTEE
AND ALSO THE STATE AUDITOR'S
OFFICE IF THE AUDIT PASSES
THROUGH THE COMMITTEE'S DAY.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU BOTH FOR
BEING HERE. ARE THERE ANY
QUESTIONS FROM THE COMMITTEE
MEMBERS? THIS AUDIT REQUEST.
ALRIGHT LET'S TAKE A PUBLIC YES
, CENTER EGGMAN. I WOULD JUST
THINK THE ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S FOR
BRINGING THIS FORWARD WE
RECENTLY HAD OVERSIGHT ON THIS
AS WELL. AND THERE'S
ACKNOWLEDGED TIME PROBLEMS IS
ACKNOWLEDGED RESOURCE PROBLEMS.
SO IF WE CAN DRILL DOWN AND SEE
WHAT THEY ARE, AND WE ALL KNOW
THAT THERE'S A HUGE WORKFORCE
ISSUE RIGHT NOW, ESPECIALLY AS
IT RELATES TO BEHAVIORAL HEALTH.
UM BUT WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT A
WAY TO GET IT DONE. AND
HOPEFULLY THROUGH THIS AUDIT
WILL BE ABLE TO DO THAT. AND
WITH THAT I WOULD MOVE THIS
BILL. THANK YOU, MR BAGMAN.
WE'RE AT THIS POINT GOING TO
TAKE PUBLIC COMMENT IF THERE ARE
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO WISH
TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OR
OPPOSITION. OR SOMEWHERE IN
BETWEEN. THIS IS THE TIME TO
COME FORWARD. SEEING NONE. UH.
SENATOR WEBER ANY CLOSING
REMARKS, SO I THANK THE
COMMITTEE FOR, UM, FOR
CONSIDERING THIS AND I
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOUR VOTE.
THANK YOU, MISS WEBBER. WE HAVE
A MOTION BY SENATOR EGGMAN. IT
WAS SECOND BY SORRY, RUBIO. OH,
THANK YOU. SECRETARY POLICE
CALDERON. THE MOTION IS TO
APPROVE AUDIT 2023 SLASH 1 15
DEPARTMENTS OF HEALTH CARE
SERVICES AND MANAGED HEALTH CARE
ACCESS TO BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
SERVICES FOR CHILDREN BY
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S WEBER. SIMILAR
MEMBER ALVAREZ OLIVER IS I
BOERNER HORVATH I. HOOVER.
HOOVER I, PATERSON PATERSON. I
RUBIO VALENCIA. YES. WOULD WOULD
I? TENDER BLAKE SPEAR, CORTESI
ORTEZ EI EGGMAN I GONZALES
GONZALES. I LAIRD EYES SARTO.
SURE THOUGHT I WELCOME. THANK
YOU, MISS WEBBER. IT'S BEEN
APPROVED. THANK YOU ALL MOVING
ON TO, UM AGAIN IN ORDER. WE
HAVE SOME MEMBER RAMOS DECEMBER
RAMOS HAS, UH, AUDIT REQUEST ON
OUR AGENDA IS ITEM NUMBER SEVEN.
IT'S UH REQUEST. 2023 7,
RIVERSIDE AND SAN BERNARDINO
COUNTIES. PROPOSITION 47 MEMBER
RAMOS. WELCOME AND AS SOON AS
YOU'RE READY, GO RIGHT AHEAD.
THANK YOU, MR CHAIR AND MEMBERS
TODAY I'M PRESENTING AN AUDIT
REQUEST FOR PROPOSITION 47
PROPOSITION 47 SPECIFICALLY FOR
THE COUNTIES OF SAMMARTINO ON
RIVERSIDE. PROP 47 APPROVED BY
CALIFORNIA VOTERS IN 2014
CATEGORIZED NONVIOLENT OFFENSES
AS MISDEMEANORS RATHER THAN
FELONIES. HOWEVER SUPPORTERS OF
PROP 47 HAS STATED THAT THIS
PROP 47 HAS HAS BEEN ABLE. TO
REDUCE RECIDIVISM IN MANY
COUNTIES AND IN ORDER TO
DETERMINE THE OVERALL EFFECT OF
PROP 47. WE ARE REQUESTING THE
STATE AUDITOR'S OFFICE CONDUCT
AN AUDIT OF PROP 47 FOCUSED
AGAIN ON SOMEBODY AND RIVERSIDE
COUNTY. WE ASKED THAT THE AUDIT
INCLUDE STATISTICS REGARDING
PROP 47 CRIMES PRE 2014 POST
2014 THE IMPACT OF COVID ARAB
PUBLIC SAFETY POLICIES ON THESE
NUMBERS. A REVIEW OF THE SUMMER
DINO IN RIVERSIDE COUNTY
POLICIES ON RELEASE PURSUANT TO
PROP 47 THE EFFECTS ON
RECIDIVISM IN SAN MARTINO AND
RIVERSIDE COUNTIES WITH ME TODAY
IS TOPO PADILLA ON BEHALF OF THE
CRIME VICTIMS UNITED AND RACHEL,
MICHELIN PRESIDENT AND CEO OF
THE CALIFORNIA RETAILERS
ASSOCIATION. THANK YOU. PLEASE
INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND GO RIGHT
AHEAD WITH YOUR TESTIMONY. THANK
YOU. GOOD MORNING, UH TO THE
CHAIR AND THE STAFF TOPO PADILLA
ON BEHALF OF CRIME VICTIMS
UNITED AS THE STATE'S LEADING
CRIME VICTIMS OUT OF YOURS
IZATION CRIME VICTIMS, UNITED
WAS AN ADAMANT OPPONENTS OF
PROPOSITION 47. FROM THE
BEGINNING. THE REASON IS SIMPLE
. WE BELIEVE ACCOUNTABILITY IS
ESSENTIAL COMPONENT EVERY ASPECT
OF OUR LIVES. FROM PUBLIC SAFETY
TO CORPORATIONS TO ELECTED
OFFICIALS. ACCOUNTABILITY MEANS
CONSEQUENCES FOR WRONGDOING. AND
WE BELIEVE THAT PROPOSITION 47
GREATLY REMOVED THAT ESPECIALLY
WHEN IT COMES TO CRIMINAL
ACTIVITY. BY RAISING THE FELONY
THRESHOLD FROM $400 TO $950. WE
BELIEVE PROPOSITION 47 HAS
BASICALLY RESULTED IN ALLOWING A
PERSON TO STEAL UP TO $950 AT A
TIME. AND THEY OFTEN INCLUDE TAX
TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE UNDER THAT
THRESHOLD REPEATEDLY WITHOUT
FEAR OF REAL CONSEQUENCES, SUCH
AS GETTING ARRESTED. THINK OF IT
THIS WAY. THIS IS THE DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN A FELONY AND
MISDEMEANOR. IT IS NOT VERSUS A
NOTE GOING HOME OR BEING PUT ON
DETENTION AT SCHOOL. ONE STAYS
WITH YOU FOR LIFE. THE OTHER
ONE. IT JUST DISAPPEARS SOON AS
SOON THEREAFTER. SO I THINK WE
NEED TO. REALLY AND TRULY LOOK
AT THE CRIME DATA. I SEE THIS
THAT I GET THE PROPOSITION 47
PASSED AND I UNDERSTAND IT. I
DON'T THINK ANY BILLS PERFECT. I
DON'T THINK ANY BALLOT
INITIATIVES PERFECT. BUT LOOKING
AT THIS ONE. IT'S HAD AN IMPACT
ON ALL OF OUR LIVES EVERY ONE OF
US, ESPECIALLY THE OFFENDERS, AS
I TOLD ASSEMBLYMAN REGGIE JOHN
SAWYER IN LOS ANGELES RECENTLY,
LET'S STOP THESE PEOPLE FROM A
CANDY BAR RATHER THAN GRADUATING
TO AN IPHONE AND THEN A CAR AND
WORSE. THEREFORE, WE READ ABOUT
THESE EXPENSES IN THE DRAMATIC
RISE IN CRIME AND THE SMASH AND
GRABS AROUND THE STATE. WE SEE
HIM EVERY DAY ON TV. THESE ARE
NOT VICTIMLESS CRIMES, EVEN IN
THE CASES WHERE PEOPLE ARE NOT
HARMED. THE PRICES OF GOODS AND
SERVICES ARE GOING UP STORES ARE
CLOSING. PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN
THOSE COMMUNITIES ARE BEING
AFFECTED. THEY CAN NO LONGER GO
TO THE LOCAL DRUG DRUG STORE. SO
THEREFORE WE REALLY AND TRULY
ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF THIS. IT
IS A VERY FINITE REVIEW AND
AUDIT OF TWO COUNTIES. THIS
THESE TWO COUNTIES WILL GIVE US
AN OVERALL LOOK AT THE ENTIRE
STATE. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. EXCUSE ME
. HI RACHEL MICHELIN. I'M THE
PRESIDENT AND CEO FOR THE
CALIFORNIA RETAILERS
ASSOCIATION. AND THANKS FOR
HAVING ME AND ASKING ME TO TALK
ABOUT AN ISSUE THAT I HAVE BEEN
VERY MUCH ENGAGED IN FOR THE
PAST TWO YEARS AND WE ARE SO
SUPPORTIVE OF THIS BECAUSE IT'S
SOMETHING WE'VE BEEN ASKING FOR
SINCE, REALLY. WE STARTED SEEING
SMASH AND GRABS HAPPENING IN THE
RETAIL FACT INCREASING ACROSS
THE STATE BECAUSE THE CHALLENGE
WE HAVE RIGHT NOW IS WE DON'T DO
NOT HAVE DATA. I MEAN, THE
REALITY IS AND I WILL SAY
RETAILERS HAVE SOME
RESPONSIBILITY RETAILERS. IT'S A
LOT OF FINGER POINTING, SO
RETAILERS ARE NOT CALLING THE
POLICE POLICE BECAUSE THE POLICE
WON'T SHOW UP. THE POLICE WON'T
SHOW UP BECAUSE THE D A S WON'T
PROSECUTE THE D A S WON'T
PROSECUTE BECAUSE OF PROP 47 47
SAYS IT'S WORTH THE SUPPORTERS.
IT'S WORKING BECAUSE THE DATA IS
SHOWING IT BECAUSE WE'RE NOT
HAVING THE WE HAVE ALL THESE
UNREPORTED CRIMES. I DON'T THINK
WE CAN EVEN ADDRESS MAKING
FIXING PROP 47. OUR POSITION
FROM THE RETAILERS ASSOCIATION
IS THAT THERE'S SOME GOOD THINGS
IN PROP 47 THAT WE SUPPORT. WE
DO NEED CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM.
WE NEED TO FIX IT. BUT WE CAN'T
EVEN BEGIN TO HAVE THOSE
CONVERSATIONS AND UNTIL WE HAVE
THE DATA TO SUPPORT IT, THAT'S
WHY WE'RE SO SUPPORTIVE OF THIS.
WHILE IT'S TWO COUNTIES, WE
THINK IT PROVIDES A GREAT
SNAPSHOT TO SEE WE KNOW REQUIRED
TO PROP 47. WE HAD A SHOPLIFTING
DIVERSION PROGRAM IN THE STATE
OF CALIFORNIA. WE DON'T ANYMORE
BECAUSE PEOPLE DON'T TAKE
ADVANTAGE OF IT. I ALSO WE
BELIEVE THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO
SEE ANY REAL CHANGES WHEN IT
COMES TO HOMELESSNESS AND OUR
MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES FACING THE
STATE BECAUSE WE CAN SHOW AN
ADULT TOTAL DAD DATA OF FOLKS
COMING INTO OUR STORES. STEALING
SELLING GOODS ON THE STREET,
BUYING MORE DRUGS AND NOT TAKING
ADVANTAGE OF ALL THE DIFFERENT
SOCIAL PROGRAMS THAT WE'RE
OFFERING. WE WANT TO SEE MORE
FOLKS BEING TAKEN BEING GIVEN
THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO INTO
DIVERSION PROGRAMS. WE WANT TO
SEE PEOPLE BEING ABLE TO GET, UM
, HELP THAT THEY NEED AND MORE
IMPORTANTLY, WHAT WE'RE SEEING,
AND IT'S UNFORTUNATE IS THE
TREND OF FOLKS THAT ARE GOING
INTO STORES AND SHOPLIFTING.
THEY'RE BECOMING YOUNGER AND
YOUNGER. SO WE NEED THE DATA TO
HAVE THE CONVERSATIONS AND I
WILL COMMIT TO ALL OF YOU WHEN
WE HAVE THAT DATA. I STAND READY
TO WORK WITH EACH AND EVERY ONE
OF YOU TO FIND SOLUTIONS TO
THIS. THIS IS NOT ABOUT, YOU
KNOW, STANDING UP THERE SAYING
WE NEED TO THROW OUT PROP 47.
THIS IS WE NEED TO MAKE IT WORK
. I THINK CALIFORNIANS VOTED FOR
THIS INITIATIVE THINKING THEY
WERE GOING TO GET A CERTAIN
OUTCOME. I THINK WE CAN ALL
AGREE. WE'RE NOT NECESSARILY
SEEING THAT RIGHT NOW. AND UNTIL
WE HAVE THE DATA THAT I THINK
THIS AUDIT WILL PROVIDE, WE'RE
NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO HAVE
REALLY GOOD SUBSTANTIVE
CONVERSATIONS ABOUT HOW WE FIX
IT. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. NEXT I'D LIKE TO ASK MR
GRANT TO PROVIDE SOME FEEDBACK.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. CHAIRMAN
ALVAREZ. IT'S JUST FAIRLY
STRAIGHTFORWARD AUDIT. I THINK
AN OBJECTIVE TO WHERE WE WOULD
START AS TRYING TO GET OUR HANDS
ON STATE LEVEL DATA THAT MAY
PERTAIN TO THOSE TWO COUNTIES AT
SAN BERNARDINO AND RIVERSIDE. I
EXPECT THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF
JUSTICE CAL DEPARTMENT OF
JUSTICE MAY HAVE SOME DATA THAT
IS RELEVANT AGAIN TRYING TO
FOCUS IN ON PROP 47 ELIGIBLE
EXPENSES ARE OFFENSES TRYING TO
SEE THE PATTERN PRE PROP 47 POST
PROP 47. THAT INFORMATION ISN'T
AVAILABLE. OBVIOUSLY, WE'D BE
DOING ADDITIONAL WORK DOWN AT
THE LOCAL LEVEL AT SAN
BERNARDINO AND RIVERSIDE. UM
WE'LL BE GOING DOWN THERE
REGARDLESS FOR OBJECTIVE THREE I
PRELIMINARILY ENVISIONED THAT
WILL BE PROBABLY HITTING SIX
DIFFERENT AGENCIES DOWN THERE.
THREE IN EACH OF THE COUNTIES
AND IN TERMS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT.
I THINK A FUNDAMENTAL QUESTION
OF THIS AUDIT IS GIVEN PROP 47
PASSAGES IT CRIME IS GOING DOWN
OR IS IT'S JUST NOT BEING
REPORTED ANYMORE, AND I THINK
THAT'S ONE OF THE KEY THINGS
THAT OUR AUDIT IS GOING TO TRY
AND GET OUT TO THE EXTENT
POSSIBLE. THAT'S ONE OF THE
REASONS WHY AN OBJECTIVE THREE.
WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO
UNDERSTAND THE VOLUME OF CALLS
THAT HAVE COME IN FROM THE
PUBLIC TO THE POLICE AND
UNDERSTANDING HAVE POLICE
POLICIES. CHANGE CHANGED IN
TERMS OF WHAT THE TYPICAL
RESPONSES TO A PROP 47 TYPE
OFFENSE AND THEN ALSO GETTING
TOWARDS THE OBJECTIVE FOUR
TOWARDS THE END OF THE REQUEST,
REALLY TRYING TO UNDERSTAND
RECIDIVISM RATES AGAIN FOR PROP
47. ELIGIBLE OFFENSES. WHAT DID
IT LOOK LIKE? BEFORE THE PASSAGE
OF PROP 47? HOW HAS THAT CHANGED
AFTER THE FACT? UM AGAIN, FAIRLY
STRAIGHTFORWARD AUDIT ONLY FOR
UNIQUE AUDIT OBJECTIVES AGAIN.
THERE IS AN IT COMPONENT IN
TERMS OF TRYING TO EXTRACT DATA
FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE,
WHICH OBVIOUSLY WOULD INCLUDE
SOME DATA VALIDATION AND
ADDITIONAL WORK ON OUR END, BUT
I'M PRELIMINARILY ESTIMATING
ABOUT 3100 HOURS TO DO THE
AUDIT, WHICH IS ROUGHLY SIX
MONTHS. THANK YOU. MR GRANTS. DO
WE HAVE ANY AGENCIES THAT LIKE
TO MAKE COMMENT ON THIS ITEM?
THEY WANT PRESENT FOR THIS ITEM.
OKAY SEE, SEE? NONE. UM WE NOW
WILL GO TO QUESTIONS FROM OUR
MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE. THANK
YOU, MR CHAIR. JUST QUESTION I
DON'T KNOW. IF THE ARTIST
DIRECTION CAN INCLUDE THIS AT
THIS POINT OR NOT, UM, BUT THE
QUESTION FOR THE AUTHOR. AH! IT
SEEMS TO ME BASED ON MY OWN
COUNTY. OBVIOUSLY THAT COULD BE
DIFFERENT FROM THE TWO COUNTIES
OF SUBJECT OF THIS AUDIT. THAT
THERE'S A LOT OF
MISUNDERSTANDING ABOUT WHETHER
OR NOT UM, MISDEMEANOR CHARGES
ON CONVICTION. QUALIFIED FOR
JAIL TIME. INCARCERATION TIME
WHAT WE HEAR A LOT FROM
CONSTITUENTS AS COMPLAINTS ABOUT
PROP 47 THAT, UM, WHAT'S
HAPPENED IS BASICALLY CRIMINALS
GO FREE IT MEANING, UM AS IF
THEY ARE ELIGIBLE FOR JAIL TIME
. WE ALSO HEAR FROM SOME SOMEONE
FORCE MINT AGENCIES AND I'M NOT
GONNA GET SPECIFIC CAUSE THEY'RE
NOT HERE TO UH, TO CLARIFY ON
THEIR OWN THAT BE THAT SINCE
PROP 47. THEY HAVE BEEN
RELUCTANT TO ENGAGE IN BOOKINGS
ON SOME SUSPECTS. IN AN EFFECT
OR DOING WHAT I WOULD CALL A
PATROL DECISION. EXECUTIVE
DECISION SORT OF CATCH AND
RELEASE RATHER THAN BRINGING
PEOPLE IN BECAUSE OF PERCEPTION
THAT. THAT THAT THAT SUSPECT IS
GOING TO BE RELEASED. UM AND OUT
ON THE STREET ANYWAY. NO. HMM.
SOME OF THAT, MAYBE URBAN
LEGENDS. SOME OF IT MAY BE TRUE.
I CAN ONLY GO BY WHAT PEOPLE
TELL ME AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL,
BUT I THINK THE QUESTION THAT
WOULD BE GREAT FOR THE AUDIT TO
FOLLOW UP ON IS TO WHAT DOES THE
DIFFERENTIAL BETWEEN UM FOLKS
WHO ARE BOOKED UNDER THE NEW.
REDUCED SENTENCING SCHEME OF
PERHAPS 47 RECEIVE. JAIL TIME
VERSUS THOSE WHO ARE BOOKED AND
DON'T RECEIVE JAIL TIME VERSUS
THOSE WHO ARE NEVER BOOKED AT
ALL, BASED ON PATROL STOPS. UM I
THINK THAT WOULD REALLY GIVE US
A TRUE INDICATION OF WHAT'S
HAPPENING, YOU KNOW BETWEEN UM
WHAT MAY START OFF AS A ROUTINE
TRAFFIC STOP. AND IN SOME CASES
END UP IN JAIL TIME. MANY OTHER
CASES NOT UM, ANY ANYWAY, I'M
SORRY, IF THAT WAS ELONGATED IS
PROBABLY A MUCH QUICKER WAY OF
OR CONCISE WAY OF SAYING THAT,
UM, BUT I KNOW I HAD A CHANCE TO
EXCHANGE COMMUNICATION WITH WITH
YOU, SAM AND MARIA RAMOS
PRIORITIES. HOPEFULLY, THAT
QUESTION IS CLEAR. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION. AND
IT IS OUR HOPE TO IDENTIFY UM
WITH IMPROV 47 FROM THE CALL TO
THE ACTUAL BOOKING OR NOT
BOOKING IN BETWEEN. SO THE
QUESTIONS THAT YOU'RE ASKING, I
THINK SPECIFICALLY TO THE CATCH
AND RELEASE THE SITE AND RELEASE
OR JUST RIGHT THERE WITHIN THE
PATROL OFFICERS. DISCRETION I
BELIEVE I WOULD BE OPEN TO
HAVING THAT ALSO LOOKED AT, AND
I THINK IT PROBABLY WOULD FALL
UNDER, UM CATEGORY THREE. BUT WE
WILL, UM, CLARIFY THAT WITH THE
AUDITOR, UM ONCE THE AUDIT
CONTINUES TO MOVE FORWARD, SO
LET'S TAKE THAT INTO
CONSIDERATION AND MAKE SURE
THAT'S PART OF IT. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, MR CHAIR. THANK YOU,
SENATOR. COURT EASY. I WOULD
JUST REMIND, UM, THE MEMBERS OF
THE COMMITTEE THAT WE CANNOT
SUBSTANTIVELY CHANGED THE AUDIT
SCOPE AGAIN. ANOTHER INVITATION
TO EVERYBODY TO REACH OUT TO OUR
TWO AUTHORS AHEAD OF TIME TO
JAIL LIKE STAFF. UM BUT YOU
KNOW, GOOD INPUT AND I THINK
WE'LL LEAVE IT TO THE, UM TO THE
AUDITOR TO. I THINK HE HEARD
FEEDBACK IF YOU'D LIKE TO
RESPOND. YEAH JUST A QUICK
RESPONSE. I THINK WHEN WE WERE
PLANNING THE AUDIT AND
ENVISIONING THE KINDS OF STEPS
WE WOULD BE DOING AT THE
COUNTY'S CLEARLY TRYING TO GET
AN UNDERSTANDING OF HOW MANY
INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE PROP 47
OFFENSES ARE BEING PLACED IN
JAIL VERSUS BEING RELEASED. I
THINK THAT WILL COME UP IN THE
NATURE OF OUR CONVERSATIONS WITH
LAW ENFORCEMENT AND WHAT THEY'RE
PROCEDURES AND IMPLEMENTATION
PRACTICES ARE FOR PROP 47. GOOD
SENATE-TV, OKAY? SENATOR SO HARD
. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND THANK
YOU TO THE AUTHOR FOR BRINGING
THIS REQUEST FOR FORWARD
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S RAMOS. UM I
THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TODAY'S
ENVIRONMENT THAT WE ACTUALLY
SEPARATE FACT FROM FICTION, AND
THAT'S WHAT THESE AUDITS ARE
ACCOMPLISHING, AND I BELIEVE
THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO DO
WITH THIS AUDIT IS THERE IS A
LOT OF I MEAN, YOU CAN READ
ARTICLES ON IT EVERY DAY. UM YOU
JUST GO GOOGLE IT AND THERE'LL
BE AN ARTICLE ON PROP 47. THE
PERSPECTIVE OF THAT ARTICLE IS
THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE AUTHOR.
IT'S NOT NECESSARILY A FACT. AND
I THINK IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN,
WHAT I PERCEIVE IS THAT YOU'RE
JUST TRYING TO GET THE FACTS
ABOUT PROP 47. THE ACTUAL PARTS
OF IT THAT ARE WORKING, AND
PERHAPS SOME OF IT THAT MIGHT
NOT BE WORKING. IT MIGHT ALL BE
WORKING. WE DON'T KNOW. UM AND
WE CAN'T TRUST. A LOT OF THE
THINGS ARE OUT THERE. SO HAVING
AN INDEPENDENT AUDIT, UM, IS TO
ME IT'S CRITICAL IN EVALUATING
WHETHER LEGISLATION OR
PROPOSITIONS WHETHER IT'S YOU
KNOW, PASSED BY US, OR IT'S
PASSED BY THE CITIZENS ARE ABLE
TO HAVE AN OBJECTIVE LOOK. AT AT
THE OUTCOMES. AND ENSURE THAT
IT'S DOING WHAT HAD THE DIVISION
OF IT WAS. AND UH SO THANK YOU
VERY MUCH FOR BRINGING BRINGING
THIS. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT. I
THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE
PUBLIC ALSO. SO THAT THEY CAN
SEE WHAT ARE THE ACTUAL RESULTS.
SO UM, WITH THAT, I WILL MAKE A
MOTION WHEN THE TIME IS
APPROPRIATE FOR IT, BUT
AFFIRMING THAT IS YOUR GOAL,
RIGHT? JUST GETTING THE
INFORMATION NEUTRAL BODY. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU, SENATOR SUHARTO
. WE WILL MOVE ON TO UNLESS ANY
OTHER QUESTIONS BY COMMITTEE
MEMBERS. I SEE NONE. UH, MEMBERS
OF THE PUBLIC ANYONE WISH TO
COMMENT ON THIS. YOU DON'T SEE
ANYBODY STANDING AND RAISING
THEIR HANDS. SO UH, MR RAHMAN,
WOULD YOU LIKE TO CLOSE? THANK
YOU, MR CHAIR AND THANK YOU FOR
THE QUESTIONS IN THE COMMENTS.
THE GOAL OF THIS ORDER IS TO
TAKE A NEUTRAL OBJECTIVE. LOOK
AT PROP 47 TO DETERMINE, UM, THE
EFFECTIVENESS. THIS DOES THE
MAIN PURPOSE OF REQUESTING THIS
AUDIT. I RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR
YOUR VOTE. THANK YOU, MR RAMOS.
UM WE NEED WE HAVE A THINK
INTENDED MOTION BY MR SUHARTO TO
PROVE AND SECOND BY MR VALENCIA
SECRETARY. PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
THE MOTION IS TO APPROVE AUDIT
2023 SLASH WINDOWS SEVEN
RIVERSIDE AND SAN BERNARDINO
COUNTIES PROPOSITION 47 BY
SIMILAR MEMBER RAMOS FROM THE
MEMBER ALVAREZ. I
BOERNER HORVATH BOERNER HORVATH
I. HOOVER HOOVER. I PATERSON
PATERSON, I RUBIO RUBIO,
VALENCIA. I WOULD. WOULD I.
SHAKESPEARE ORTEZ E. EGGMAN
GONZALES GONZALES. I LAYERED. I
SEE ARTO ARTO? AYE, WILK.
THAT'S APPROVED. 12 0. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU, MR RAMOS, MOVING
ON TO SENATOR SUHARTO. THEY GOT
IT. SENATOR SUHARTO WILL BE OUR
NEXT PRESENTER. HE HAS ITEM.
NUMBER NINE ON OUR AGENDA, WHICH
IS 2023-1 12 DEPARTMENT OF
HOUSING, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
MOBILE HOME RESIDENCY LAW
PROTECTION PROGRAM. MR SUHARTO.
WELCOME AND PROCEED. THANK YOU,
MR CHAIR, AND I'M HERE TO
PROPOSE AUDIT NUMBER TWO. OH,
23112. FIRST I WOULD LIKE TO
THANK THE CHAIR COMMITTEE STAFF
FOR WORKING WITH MY STAFF AND
GIVING ME THIS OPPORTUNITY TO
PRESENT THIS AUDIT REQUEST. MY
AUDIT REQUEST IS TO EXAMINE THE
USE AND PERFORMANCE. OF THE
MOBILE HOME RESIDENTS PROTECTION
ACT PROGRAM, OR M R L P. P FOR
SHORT, AND I DON'T KNOW IF
THAT'S SHORT, BUT, UH, TO
CLARIFY. I AM NOT AUDITING THE
POLICY OR PURPOSE OF THE M R L P
P BUT SIMPLY SEEKING TO
UNDERSTAND ITS PERFORMANCE. THUS
FAR SINCE ITS IMPLEMENTATION IN
JANUARY OF 2019. AND THE
OPERATIVE START OF IT IN 2020.
THE M R. L P P IS SET TO SUNSET
INTO 2024. WE WILL NEED TO
ASSESS AND EVALUATE THE PROGRAM
THIS YEAR TO ADDRESS THE SUNSET.
TO DISCUSS THIS MORE I HAVE HERE
WITH ME. CHRIS WEITZ SAKE, WHO
WAS A STATE ADVOCATE FOR WESTERN
MANUFACTURED HOUSING COMMUNITIES
ASSOCIATION. AND ANDREW GOVERNOR
FROM GOVERNMENTAL ADVOCATES.
ANDREW WILL NOT BE HERE, SO I
JUST HAVE CHRIS WEITZ SAKE. UH,
MR CHAIR, MADAM VICE CHAIR.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO
SPEAK WITH YOU TODAY ABOUT THE
MOBILE HOME RESIDENCY LÀ
PROTECTION PROGRAM. MY NAME IS
CHRIS HOY SAKE AND I REPRESENT
W. M. A W. MAY WANTS TO MAKE
SURE FIRST OF ALL THAT WE HAVE
MORE INSPECTIONS IN MOBILE HOME
PARKS. THIS ENSURES THAT. UM
PARK OWNERS AND RESIDENTS ALIKE
OR PROTECTED. AND THEY'RE MADE
AWARE OF VIOLATIONS THAT WE CAN
CORRECTED IN A TIMELY MANNER.
UNFORTUNATELY H C D IS ALREADY
OVERWORKED AND UNDERSTAFFED. THE
M R. L P P WAS CREATED IN 2018.
BEGAN COLLECTING FEES IN 2019
AND BECAME OPERATIONAL IN 2020.
IT'S ADDED MORE RESPONSIBILITIES
TO EACH CD, WHICH ARE VERY
OPERATES THE MOBILE HOME
ASSISTANCE CENTER IN THE
EMBEDMENT PROGRAM. IN THIS.
THESE PROGRAMS PROVIDE HCG AND
RESIDENTS AN AVENUE TO
COLLABORATE AND LARGE
COMPLAINTS. WHEN THE M R L P P
WAS CREATED AS HCG ESTIMATED
THAT THE PROGRAM WOULD REFER
ANYWHERE FROM 3400 TO 4700
COMPLAINTS A YEAR. TO A LEGAL
SERVICES PROVIDER. AN ANNUAL FEE
OF $10 PER SPACE IS COLLECTED BY
HCG TO FUND THE PROGRAM IN THIS
FEE CAN BE ASSESSED TO
RESIDENTS. HCG DOES A GOOD JOB
OF REPORTING THE COMPLAINTS
RECEIVED IN THE RESULTS WERE
SURPRISING TO US IT W. M A THE
LAST REPORT WAS MADE PUBLIC ON
MARCH 10TH OF THIS YEAR IN THE
RESULTS WERE SURPRISING SINCE
THE INCEPTION OF THE PROGRAM,
3866 COMPLAINTS WERE RECEIVED.
HCG IS PROCESSED 3550 OF THEM.
YET OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS
SINCE THE B PROGRAM BECAME
OPERATIONAL ONLY 77 CASES WERE
REFERRED TO A LEGAL SERVICE
PROVIDER, AND ONLY 28 OF THEM
HAVE BEEN RESOLVED. NO MATTER
HOW MANY COMPLAINTS ARE RESOLVED
, THE LACK OF SUBSTANTIATED
CLAIMS SHOWS A LACK OF THE NEED
FOR THE PROGRAM. FURTHER OVER
THE LIFETIME OF THE PROGRAM,
HZDS COLLECTED MORE THAN $11.2
MILLION BUT SPENT JUST UNDER $4
MILLION. THAT MEANS A SURPLUS
EXISTS IN THIS ACCOUNT RIGHT NOW
OF APPROXIMATELY $7.3 MILLION.
ITS CITIES RECEIVED FEWER THAN
95% OF THE COMPLAINTS THAT WERE
EXPECTED. W M A BELIEVES AN
AUDIT OF THE M R L P P IS
JUSTIFIED SO WE CAN LEARN MORE
ABOUT THE NEED FOR THE PROGRAM
THAT'S SET TO SUNSET JANUARY ONE
OF 2024. MAYBE WE BEEF UP THE
EXISTING OMBUDSMAN PROGRAM OR
HIRE MORE INSPECTORS. HOW MANY
MORE INSPECTORS WOULD HAVE BEEN
HIRED IF THE MONEY SPENT ON
EMERALD PP WAS DIVERTED INTO THE
INSPECTION PROGRAM? THE M R L
THE M R L. THE MOBILE HOME
RESIDENCY LAW ALREADY ALLOWS
RESIDENTS TO DIRECTLY CONTACT
THE LEGAL SERVICES PROVIDER AND
PURSUE LITIGATION AGAINST THE
PARK OWNER. SIMPLY CONTINUING A
PROGRAM THAT ISN'T BEING USED
AND DIVERTS RESOURCES AWAY FROM
H SEEDS MISSION OF PROTECTING
THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF
RESIDENTS IN MOBILE HOME PARKS.
FOR THESE REASONS, AND THOSE
STATED IN OUR LETTER. WE
RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT THIS
ARE TO BE APPROVED BY THIS
COMMITTEE. AND I'M HERE TO
ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU
. THANK YOU, MRS SUHARTO. NO
OTHER WITNESS AT THIS MOMENT. NO
OH, I APOLOGIZE. MR CHAIR. I WAS
UNCOVERING A COUPLE HEARINGS
TODAY. JASON IKER WITH ADELSTEIN
GILBERT ROBESON SMITH ON BEHALF
OF THE CALIFORNIA MOBILE HOME
PARK OWNERS ALLIANCE. I WILL NOT
ECHO EVERYTHING THAT MR Y SAKE
SAID IT WAS WELL STATED, BUT
JUST WANTED TO THANK THE SENATOR
FOR BRINGING THIS AUDIT REQUEST
FORWARD AND JUST NOTE. I MEAN,
OBVIOUSLY, YOU ALL KNOW THE
PROGRAM IN QUESTION IS SCHEDULED
TO SUNSET. WE THINK IT'S
ENTIRELY APPROPRIATE TO HAVE A
REVIEW OF HOW THAT PROGRAM HAS
PERFORMED. THERE'S A
CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF MONEY
THAT THE PARK OWNERS AND
RESIDENTS HAVE INVESTED IN THE
OPERATION OF THIS PROGRAM AND TO
DATE. WE'RE NOT CONFIDENT THAT
THE PROGRAM WAS PERFORMING AND
DELIVERING ON THE KIND OF
REFERRALS THAT WERE ANTICIPATED,
AND SO I THINK IT'S ABSOLUTELY
APPROPRIATE. RCMP A RATHER
BELIEVES IT'S APPROPRIATE AND
SUPPORTS THIS AUDIT. FOR THAT
REASON, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THANK YOU. WE'LL GO TO OUR STATE
UNDER MR PARKS. THANK YOU,
CHAIRMAN ALVAREZ. UH THE AUDIT
WILL START OFF. PRIMARILY WITH
THE OBJECTIVE TO TRYING TO GET A
HANDLE ON COMPLAINT DATA THAT
HAVE BEEN FLOWING IN UNDER THE
PROGRAM. HOW MUCH HAS HDD
PROCESSED OVER ROUGHLY A FOUR
CALENDAR YEAR PERIOD FROM
CALENDAR YEAR 19 THROUGH 2022
ROUGHLY A FOUR YEAR PERIOD,
TRYING TO EVALUATE HOW MANY
CASES HAVE BEEN PROCESSED,
INVESTIGATED? HOW MANY CASES
HAVE ULTIMATELY BEEN FOUND TO
HAVE MERIT? WHAT THE OUTCOMES OF
THOSE CASES AND INVESTIGATIONS
HAVE BEEN UM, ALSO TAKING A LOOK
AT THE MEMBER MENTIONED WHAT IS
THE REFERRAL RATE THAN TO LEGAL
SERVICE PROVIDERS WHAT
ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS HAVE BEEN
TAKEN AS A RESULT OF THOSE
REFERRALS AND OBVIOUSLY, AS THE
MEMBER MENTIONED, REALLY TRYING
TO UNDERSTAND THE FUN BALANCE
SITUATION IN THE FUND, UM WHAT
KIND OF STAFFING DECISIONS ARE
BEING MADE? HOW IS H C D USING
THE RESOURCES IN THAT FUND? ARE
THEY JUST STAFFING INDIVIDUALS
THAT ARE STAFFING UP THIS
PROGRAM OR PERHAPS, ARE THEY
USING IT FOR OTHER PURPOSES? I
THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS
WE WANT TO TAKE A HARD LOOK AT
HOW THAT FUND IS BEING UTILIZED
. BUT OVERALL, FAIRLY
STRAIGHTFORWARD AUDIT. I HAVE
THE STAFF RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO
START IT. I EXPECT IT'S ROUGHLY
2400 HOURS AND WOULD TAKE FIVE
MONTHS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE EFFECTED
AGENCY. HOUSING COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A
COMMENT.
GOOD MORNING, MR. CHAIR KYLE
KRAUS, DEPUTY DIRECTOR H CITIES,
CODES AND STANDARDS DIVISION.
HCG IS IN RECEIPT OF SENATOR
KELLY START CIERTOS LETTER
REQUESTING AN AUDIT OF THE
MOBILE HOME RESIDENCY LAW
PROTECTION PROGRAM, OTHERWISE
KNOWN AS M R L P. P. IT IS A
PILOT PROGRAM AS YOU'VE HEARD
THIS MORNING THAT SENSE THAT
SUNSETS AT THE END OF THIS YEAR.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO
PROVIDE RESPONSE TO THE
SENATOR'S AUDIT REQUEST OF THE
PROGRAM CREATED BY THE MOBILE
HOME RESIDENCY ALLOWED
PROTECTION ACT, WHILE HCG DOES
NOT HAVE A POSITION ON THIS
AUDIT, AND WE'LL COLLABORATE
WITH ANY AUDIT THAT SHOULD ARISE
FROM THE COMMITTEE'S DECISION,
ANY AUDIT IS UNLIKELY TO HAVE
FINDINGS BEYOND WHAT THE
DEPARTMENT HAS ALREADY SHARED.
IN ITS ANNUAL REPORT TO THE
LEGISLATURE. TRANSMITTED ON
MARCH 9TH OF THIS YEAR. BY WAY
OF BACKGROUND, THE STATED
LEGISLATIVE INTENT OF THE MOBILE
HOME RESIDENCY LARA PROTECTION
ACT IS TO PROTECT AND SAFEGUARD
THE MOST VULNERABLE HOMEOWNERS
BY AFFORDING THEM AN ADDITIONAL
AVENUE TO ENFORCE VIOLATIONS OF
THE MOBILE HOME RESIDENCY LAW.
FUNDING IS PROVIDED VIA THE
MOBILE HOME DISPUTE RESOLUTION
FUND, WHICH WAS ESTABLISHED TO
RECEIVE FUNDS COLLECTED FROM
MOBILE HOME PARKS SUBJECT TO THE
LAW VIA AN ANNUAL $10 PER FEE,
OR PER PERMITTED MOBILE HOME LOT
FEE. THE MOBILE HOME RESIDENCY
LAW PROTECTION ACT REQUIRES HCG
TO MAKE A GOOD FAITH EFFORT TO
SELECT THE MOST SEVERE AND
ECONOMICALLY IMPACTFUL ALLEGED
VIOLATIONS OF THE MOBILE HOME
RESIDENCY LAW AND TO SELECT A
GEOGRAPHICALLY REPRESENTATIVE
SAMPLE OF COMPLAINTS TO
PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM. IF
NO RESOLUTION IS REACHED BETWEEN
TWO PARTIES. THE ALLEGATIONS MAY
BE REFERRED TO A CONTRACT ID
NONPROFIT LEGAL SERVICE PROVIDER
OTHERWISE REFERRED TO AS AN L S.
P THE DEPARTMENT'S EXPERIENCE
WITH THE PROGRAM SO FAR. HAS
BEEN THAT IT PROVIDES A
BENEFICIAL PATH FOR SOME
HOMEOWNERS TO OBTAIN LEGAL
ASSISTANCE, ESPECIALLY LOW
INCOME HOMEOWNERS. H CITY
REALIZES THERE HAVE BEEN
CHALLENGES WITH THE PROGRAM AND
DID NOT RECEIVE A SIGNIFICANT
VOLUME OF COMPLAINTS IN THE
PROGRAM. H C D ONLY RECEIVED
2700. 37 TOTAL COMPLAINTS SINCE
IT STARTED IN 2020 AND HAS NOW
ONLY BEEN ABLE TO REFER 333 142
OF THOSE COMPLAINTS WITH
ASSOCIATED MOBILE HOME RESIDENCY
LAW ALLEGATIONS TO L SPS TO
DATE. THERE ARE MANY POTENTIAL
REASONS FOR THE COMPARATIVELY
SMALL NUMBER OF REFERRALS. BUT
ONE SIGNIFICANT REASON IS THE
COVID 19 PANDEMIC. AS THERE WERE
MORATORIUMS ON EVICTIONS FOR
SOMETIME DURING THE FIRST YEARS
OF THE PROGRAM THAT MAY HAVE LED
TO FEWER COMPLAINTS BEING FILED.
HCG HAS IDENTIFIED THERE WILL BE
SOME SIX PLUS MILLION DOLLARS IN
FEE REVENUE ON THE TABLE AT THE
PROGRAM SUNSET. THESE ARE DUE TO
A NUMBER OF CHALLENGES WITH THE
PROGRAM, INCLUDING A POSSIBLE
LACK OF CONFIDENCE IN THE
PROGRAM BY HOMEOWNERS THAT
ALLEGED VIOLATIONS WILL BE
REFERRED TO AN L S P OR THAT THE
L S P WILL EVEN TAKE ACTION.
CUMBERSOME PROCESS AND LENGTHY
TIME FRAMES WERE REQUIRED BY
STATUTE AND POSSIBLE FEAR OF
RETALIATION BY PARK OWNERS AS
THEY ENGAGE IN THE GOOD FAITH
NEGOTIATION PROCESS. THESE ARE
CRITICAL AND KNOWN ISSUES FOR
THE LEGISLATURE TO CONSIDER AS
THEY ADDRESS THROUGH THE
LEGISLATIVE PROCESS. THE
DEPARTMENT JUST DELIVERED A
REPORT TO THE LEGISLATURE
EARLIER THIS MONTH OUTLINING THE
PROGRAM DATA AND HCG
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVEMENT.
SPECIFICALLY TO THE SENATOR'S
LETTER. EIGHT CITIES REPORTED
LEGISLATURE IS RESPONSIVE TO
ITEMS ONE THROUGH SIX IN THE
LETTER. AS A RESULT, AND MAY BE
PREMATURE TO AUDIT THIS PILOT
PROGRAM, GIVEN THE POTENTIAL
LEGISLATIVE SOLUTIONS THAT MAY
ARISE. FROM YOUR CONSIDERATION
OF THE DEPARTMENT'S REPORT. IT
IS ALSO IMPORTANT TO NOTE. THE M
R L P P THE PROGRAM IS SET TO
SUNSET THE BEGINNING OF JANUARY.
24 OUR JANUARY 1ST 2024 WHETHER
OR NOT TO EXTEND THE PROGRAM,
THEREBY CREATING A PATH TO
IMPLEMENT POTENTIAL AUDIT
RECOMMENDATIONS ARE OPEN
QUESTIONS FOR THE LEGISLATURE TO
CONSIDER. I CAN SHORTEN THIS, UH
, WON'T GO THROUGH ALL THE
DETAILS OF THE PROGRAM. UM WE
TALKED ABOUT THE SUNSET DATE AND
THE FEES H C D S ROLE. I MIGHT
CLARIFY ITS TO REVIEW RECEIVE
AND REVIEW MORRELL COMPLAINTS OR
MOBILE HOME RESIDENCY LAW
COMPLAINTS AND TO SELECT THE
MOST SEVERE, DELETERIOUS AND
MATERIALLY AND ECONOMICALLY
IMPACTFUL ALLEGED VIOLATIONS.
REQUEST DOCUMENTS FROM THE
COMPLAINANT AND THE PARKS REFER
THOSE COMPLAINTS TO QUALIFIED
AND EXPERIENCED NONPROFIT LEGAL
SERVICE PROVIDERS. BUT H C D
SHALL NOT ARBITRATE, MEDIATE,
NEGOTIATE OR PROVIDE LEGAL
ADVICE IN CONNECTION WITH THE
MOBILE HOME PARK, RENT DISPUTES
, LEASE OR RENTAL AGREEMENTS OR
DISPUTES ARISING FROM LEASE OR
RENTAL AGREEMENTS. THE TIMELINE
I THINK WE'VE TALKED ABOUT, UH,
AND THE REPORT TO THE
LEGISLATURE DON'T WANT TO. AH
RESTATE WHAT'S BEEN STATED. I
WILL GET TO THE RECOMMENDATIONS
SUMMARY OF WHAT WAS SUBMITTED IN
THE REPORTS THAT LEGISLATURE H C
D IDENTIFIED SOME OPTIONS,
INCLUDING EXTENDING THE PROGRAM
TWO YEARS TWO AND TRANSITION TO
A GRANT PROGRAM. OR DIRECT
REFERRAL TO L SPS, UM, SIMILAR
TO THE HEALTH AND SAFETY
COMPLAINTS THAT HCG ALREADY
HANDLES. ELIMINATING HCG IS GOOD
FAITH EFFORTS TO SELECT THE MOST
SEVERE COMPLAINTS ELIMINATE THE
DOCUMENT REQUEST PROCESS AND 25
DAY. GOOD FAITH, NEGOTIATION,
PERIOD AND OR ALLOW L S P S TO
PROVIDE AND BUILD FOR OUTREACH
AND TRAINING AS PART OF THEIR
WORK. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR
KRAUS. BUT TO STAY THERE,
BECAUSE I KNOW I HAVE QUESTIONS
FOR YOU. AND OTHERS MIGHT AS
WELL UH, WE WILL NOW TAKE. UH
ACTUALLY, WE WILL TAKE QUESTIONS
AT THIS POINT FROM MEMBERS OF
THE COMMITTEE. AND IF I'LL JUST
TAKE THE PRIVILEGE OF GOING
FIRST, UM ONE OF THE THINGS THAT
CONCERNS ME IS THE LACK OF
ENFORCEMENT. UM WHILE THERE HAS
BEEN, UH, SOUNDS LIKE VERY FEW
NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS SUBMITTED,
UM I KNOW THAT CERTAINLY IN MY
DISTRICT AND PROBABLY ANOTHER
THROUGHOUT THE STATE, THERE ARE
AH RESIDENTS THAT DO HAVE
COMPLAINTS AND THAT DO HAVE
CONCERNS AND REALLY MY CONCERN
WITH THE PROGRAM AT THE MOMENT
IS, UM. NOT TOO THIS IS NOT
ABOUT CASTING BLAME AT ALL. BUT
REALLY THE LACK OF SUCCESS MAY
BE THE WAY IT WAS ENVISIONED. I
THINK IT WAS WELL INTENTIONED. I
THINK IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO BE
DOING. UM BUT IT DOES SEEM LIKE
WE HAVEN'T HIT THE MARKS OF
WHERE I THINK WE'D HOPE OR AT
LEAST WITH THE LEGISLATURE HOPE
WHEN THIS WAS ENACTED SOME YEARS
AGO. UM AND SO MY QUESTION.
FIRST QUESTION FOR YOU, MR
KRAUSS WOULD BE ABOUT THE UH,
YOU PROVIDED SOME
RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE REPORT.
YOU REFERENCED FROM MARCH, BUT,
UM I UNDERSTAND THERE WAS A
REPORT THAT WAS DUE TO THE
LEGISLATURE, UM, JANUARY 1ST OF
THIS YEAR. THAT'S NOT THE SAME
REPORT AS A REPORT THAT YOU'VE
SUBMITTED BECAUSE THAT CORRECT
IT IS THE INTENT THAT H CITIES
REPORT THAT WAS SUBMITTED ON
MARCH. 9TH IS INCLUDED IN THE
ANNUAL REPORT THAT HCG SUBMITTED
SO THE M R L P P REPORT WAS
INCLUDED IN THE ANNUAL REPORT TO
THE LEGISLATURE. UM ARE I JUST
WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE
REFERRING TO THE. REPORT THAT I
HAVE AND AGAIN, I MIGHT NOT
HAVE. THE LATEST ONE HERE IS
ACTUALLY DATED OCTOBER 21ST
2022. THERE WAS A SUBSEQUENT
REPORT. YOU SAID SUBMITTED THERE
WAS ONE REPORT SUBMITTED TO THE
LEGISLATURE, MR CHAIR, AND IT'S
THE OCTOBER 20 DATED OCTOBER
21ST WOULD BE DATED THAT DATE
AND INCLUDED IN HCPS ANNUAL
REPORT. YES, SIR. OKAY AND YOU
BELIEVE THAT MEANS THE STATUTORY
REQUIREMENT OF THE PILOT PROGRAM
TO SUBMIT A REPORT BY JANUARY
1ST 2023 TO LEGISLATURE THAT'S
CORRECT. MR CRT. YOU WANT TO
MAKE A COMMENT? I COULD MAKE A
COMMENT. YES, THIS IS THE
PURPOSE FOR DOING AN AUDIT IS
ENSURING THAT THE NUMBERS ADD
UP. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A
SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF MONEY
THAT'S SUPPOSED TO BE USED FOR
PEOPLE TO ADDRESS THEIR ISSUES
THAT THEY HAVE OUT THERE, AND IT
APPEARS THAT IT'S A SUBSTANTIAL
AMOUNT OF THAT MONEY IS SITTING
IN THE BANK. OR SITTING IN AN
ACCOUNT AND IT'S NOT BEING USED
CURRENTLY. UM AND WE WANT TO
MAKE SURE THAT THIS PROGRAM IS
HAVING THE DESIRED EFFECT THAT
IT WAS PUT INTO PLACE FOR. SO
IT'S NOT AN ATTACK ON HCG. IT'S
NOT AN ATTACK ON ANYBODY. WHAT
IT IS, IS TRYING TO DO FACT
FINDING SO THAT WE CAN MAKE A
DECISION ON WHETHER THIS PROGRAM
IS SOMETHING THAT CAN BE
MODIFIED OR IT NEEDS TO BE
MODIFIED. GOING FORWARD OR IF IT
GOES FORWARD IT ALL. SOMETIMES
WE'RE GOING TO MAKE THAT
DECISION AND WE NEED ACCURATE
INFORMATION. AND THAT'S WHY AN
INDEPENDENT AUDIT. IS THAT THE
RIGHT WAY TO GO ON THIS? I
APPRECIATE YOUR CLARITY ON THAT
. THAT CERTAINLY WOULD BE MY
DESIRE GOING FORWARD IS NOT TO
ELIMINATE A PROGRAM LIKE THIS. I
THINK IN FACT IT NEEDS TO BE A
LITTLE MORE ROBUST IN TERMS OF
MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE
HAVING ACCESS TO SERVICES. HOW
WE CHANGE THAT. I DON'T KNOW. I
THINK INFORMATION IS WARRANTED
AT THE MOMENT IN ORDER TO
PERHAPS ENACT AN EXTENSION OR A
PERMANENT PROGRAM IN THE LONG
TERM, MR GRANT PARK'S OUR STATE
AUDITOR, UM TO THAT EFFECT. DO
YOU THINK THAT AN AUDIT THAT IS
PERFORMED BY BIÂU WOULD PROVIDE
INFORMATION USEFUL TO THE
LEGISLATURE ON HOW TO MORE
EFFECTIVELY IMPLEMENT THIS
PROGRAM? IS THAT SOMETHING THAT
YOU FIRST SEE, POTENTIALLY BEING
PART OF THAT IS PART OF THE
SCOPE AND POTENTIALLY PART OF
YOUR REPORT. I DO THINK IT'S
PART OF THE SCOPE. I THINK AS
PART OF OUR REVIEW, ONE OF THE
THINGS WE WOULD DO IS TRY AND
UNDERSTAND THE STATUTORY PURPOSE
AND INTENT OF THE PROGRAM. WHEN
IT WAS SET UP AND THROUGH THE
COURSE OF OUR AUDIT WORK,
UNDERSTANDING JUST WHAT WAS THE
ORIGINAL INTENT? AND WHERE ARE
WE NOW? PART OF THE VALUE OF AN
AUDIT AS IDENTIFYING GAPS WHERE
RECOMMENDATIONS CAN BE MADE TO
MAKE PROGRAM IMPROVEMENTS TO THE
EXTENT THAT THEY'RE WARRANTED.
SO YES, DIRECT ANSWER TO YOUR
QUESTION. I THINK WE COULD ADD
VALUE AND MAYBE THE REPORT ENDS
UP CONFIRMING THE INFORMATION
HCG HAS ALREADY PROVIDED. OR
MAYBE IT PROVIDES ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION THAT YOU WEREN'T
AWARE OF PREVIOUSLY. MR RUBIO.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SENATOR
SEYARTO FOR BRINGING THIS
FORWARD AND I REALLY APPRECIATE
THAT DISCUSSION. I ALSO WANT TO
WELCOME THE AUDITOR. BUT I
WANTED TO MAKE A COMMENT ABOUT
THE COMMITTEE'S PURPOSE. THIS IS
BY FAR ONE OF MY FAVORITE
COMMITTEES TO SIT ON BECAUSE WE
GET SO MUCH MORE INFORMATION
THAN WE DO WHEN WE ASK AS
LEGISLATORS, WE GET A LOT OF
PUSHBACK ON INFORMATION. BUT I
FOUND THAT IN THE LAST SIX YEARS
THAT I'VE SAT ON THIS COMMITTEE
THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE HAS
PROVIDED NOT JUST CLARITY. AS TO
WHAT'S HAPPENING, BUT ALSO STEPS
HAVE FOUND TO IMPROVE AND I
THINK FOR US AS LEGISLATORS, AND
, UH, WE ARE SUPPOSED TO PROVIDE
OVERSIGHT, AND I THINK THE
AUDITOR'S OFFICE PROVIDES
DETAILED INFORMATION NOT ONLY ON
WHAT'S HAPPENING, BUT ON THE
NEXT STEPS AND IF THE PROGRAM IS
SUPPOSED TO SUNSET IN 2024 THAT
WILL GIVE US THE DATA. I THINK
THAT WE NEED TO EITHER CONTINUE
THE PROGRAM OR TO CHANGE SOME OF
THE ASPECTS OF THE PROGRAM. SO I
REALLY APPRECIATE UM THE
INFORMATION AND AGAIN I ALSO
WANT TO REITERATE THAT THIS IS,
UH, FOR ME. IT'S NOT MEANT TO BE
A GOTCHA MEANT TO AUGMENT THE
WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING AND HELP
YOU AND PROVIDE SOME OVERSIGHT
AND SOME SOME SUGGESTIONS AS TO
HOW TO MAKE IT BETTER BECAUSE IT
IS A PROGRAM TO SUPPORT THOSE
VULNERABLE PEOPLE. AND IF WE
DON'T DO OUR JOB TO MAKE SURE
THAT THE PROGRAM IS WORKING,
THEN IT'S JUST MONEY THAT WE'RE
THROWING AWAY AND LIKE, YOU
KNOW, AH, AGAIN. APPRECIATE THE
YOU KNOW YOUR WILLINGNESS TO
PARTICIPATE BUT ALSO, UH,
APPRECIATE THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE
INVOLVEMENT IN THIS. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. MR VIEW. IT'S
ALRIGHT. BOERNER HORVATH. UM I
WANT TO THANK, UH SENATOR FOR
BRINGING THIS FORWARD. UM I KNOW
MY OFFICE HAD MANY COMPLAINTS,
ESPECIALLY IN MY OLD DISTRICT
HAVE A LOT OF ESPECIALLY SENIOR
MOBILE HOME PARKS. AND SOME OF
THE EGREGIOUS CASES WE'VE HAD.
IT'S SHOCKING TO ME THAT THERE
ARE SO FEW COMPLAINTS. UM AND I
WONDER IF THAT'S THE PEOPLE
DON'T KNOW THERE'S A PROCESS FOR
COMPLAINING. ABOUT WHAT'S GOING
ON. SO I SUPPORT THIS AUDIT. AND
WHEN THE TIME IS RIGHT, I'M
HAPPY TO MOVE IT. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. MR LAIRD. THANK YOU, MR
CHAIR. I WAS ACTUALLY A YEAR AGO
IN THIS VERY ROOM IN FRONT OF AN
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON A MOBILE
HOME RENT CONTROL BILL TO
LEGISLATURE ENDED UP ADOPTING
AND SENDING TO THE GOVERNOR
BECAUSE THERE HAD BEEN AN
EXEMPTION IN 1992 FOR ANY NEW
PARK OR ANY NEW SPACE FROM ANY
LOCAL MOBILE HOME RENT CONTROL
EFFORT. AND A MIDDLE GROUND WAS
FOUND WHERE 15 YEARS TO RECOVER.
UH AND THEN THE MOBILE HOME
RIGHT CONTROL KICK IN
IMMEDIATELY KICKING IN FOR 15.
YEARS AFTER THE DATE OF 1992,
AND IN THE COURSE OF THAT
DISCUSSION THE VERY ISSUE THAT
IS AT THIS ORDER CAME UP.
BECAUSE IT WASN'T ENOUGH TO DEAL
WITH THE FINANCIAL SIDE. IT WAS
ALSO THAT THERE WERE BIG
CONCERNS ABOUT THINGS THAT WERE
GOING ON AT THE MOBILE HOME
PARKS AND I'VE BEEN VERY
AMBIVALENT ABOUT THIS. ORDER IT
BECAUSE I KNOW THAT COVID WAS
ONE OF THE BIG REASONS FOR
COMPLAINTS BEING DOWN. AT THE
SAME TIME I AM COMMITTED. TO
THIS PROCESS BEING EXTENDED
BECAUSE I THINK THEY'RE ALWAYS
SHOULD BE OVERSIGHT. FOR ISSUES
THAT MOBILE HOME PARKS AND THAT
THIS AUDIT MAY ALLOW US TO FOCUS
THAT EXTENSION ON A WAY THAT IT
ABSOLUTELY MAKES THE PROGRAM
WORKED. AND SO IF I VOTE FOR
THIS AUDIT, I DO NOT WANT IT TO
BE CONSTRUED. AS NOT SUPPORTING
THE EXTENSION OF THIS PROGRAM
BECAUSE I THINK THIS PROGRAM
NEEDS TO BE EXTENDED AND BECAUSE
THERE IS A NEED AND IF YOU SAW
THE NEWS STORIES THAT LED UP TO
THIS AUDIT AROUND THE STATE IN
THE LAST FEW DAYS, THEY
DOCUMENTED THINGS THAT ARE GOING
ON AT MANY MOBILE HOME PARKS.
AND SO IT WOULD BE MY HOPE. THAT
IF THIS AUDIT GOES AHEAD, IT
FOCUSES ON ANY DEFICIENCIES IN
THIS PROGRAM AND HOW TO MAKE
SURE IT WORKS. BECAUSE I KNOW I
HAVE THOUSANDS OF THOUSANDS OF
PEOPLE AND TELL MY MOM WENT INTO
ASSISTED LIVING. SHE WAS ONE AND
THERE IS A CERTAIN
POWERLESSNESS. AH FOR RESIDENTS
THAT DO NOT OWN THE LAND. BUT ON
THE MOBILE HOME AND CANNOT MOVE
IT, AND AS A RESULT, I THINK
THERE MIGHT BE A RETICENCE TO
USE THIS PROGRAM BECAUSE OF THAT
POWER IMBALANCE. AND SO I'M JUST
HOPING THAT THOSE QUESTIONS GET
ADDRESSED AND ARE CLEAR. AND OR
NOT MISCONSTRUED AS BEING
AGAINST THE NEED FOR THIS
PROGRAM. THANK YOU HAVE ANY
COMMENTS TO THAT? NO THAT'S THE
ESSENTIALLY, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE
HERE FOR VALUE THE PROGRAM.
THAT'S HE WHEN IT HOW IT'S
WORKING, HOW IT'S FUNCTIONING.
AND IF WE'RE GOING TO MAKE A
DECISION ON AN EXTENSION OF IT.
HOW IT CAN BE IMPROVED. AND SO
THAT'S I THINK RIGHT UP. THANK
YOU, SENATOR. WE'LL MOVE ON TO
PUBLIC COMMENT. IS THERE ANY
MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WHO WISH TO
COMMENT? PLEASE COME FORWARD AND
STATE YOUR NAME AND JUST. ONE
YES. GO AHEAD, SIR. YES. GOOD
MORNING. MY NAME IS ROGER
JOHNSON ON BEHALF OF GSM WELL,
WE OPPOSE THE AUDIT REQUEST ON
THE BASIS THAT IT'S PREMATURE.
UNWARRANTED IN THE M R L
PROTECTION PROGRAM IS PAID FOR
BY US THE MOBILE HOME RESIDENTS.
BY DESIGN, THE PROGRAM WAS
LIMITED TO FIVE YEARS INTO THE
MOST EGREGIOUS ALLEGED
VIOLATIONS OF THE MOREL SUCH AS
EVICTIONS. TO FUND THE PROGRAM.
WE SELF IMPOSED. A $10 SPACE
FEE. WHICH COULD BE PASSED ON TO
US AND THAT WE PAY. WE WANT OUR
NEIGHBORS, SENIORS, VETERANS AND
IMMIGRANT FAMILIES WHO NEED THE
ASSISTANCE OF THE STATE AND NON
PROFIT LEGAL PROVIDERS TO WORK
TOWARDS RESOLVING VIOLATIONS OF
STATE LAW. SO WE PULLED OUR LOW
AND FIXED INCOMES TOGETHER TO
BENEFIT EVERYONE. THE PROGRAM
WAS MODELED AFTER WASHINGTON
STATE'S WELL ESTABLISHED
PROGRAM. WITH OVER A DECADE OF
SIMILAR DATA H C D S COME
COMPREHENSIVE REPORT ISSUED THIS
YEAR HAS MORE SUFFICIENT DATA
AND INFORMATION TO APPROPRIATELY
REVIEW THE PILOT PHASE OF THIS
PROGRAM. THE AUDIT REQUESTS
BEFORE YOU FAILS TO MENTION
OTHER DATA POINTS. SUCH AS GOOD
FAITH NEGOTIATIONS SETTLED
BEFORE THEY EVER GOT TO A
NONPROFIT LEGAL SERVICE
PROVIDER. AND EXCLUDES
VIOLATIONS OF OTHER CIVIL AND
CRIMINAL LAWS REFERRED TO OTHER
ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES. FINALLY.
SOME PEOPLE MAY VIEW US AS A
LITTLE LESS SOPHISTICATED
BECAUSE OF WHAT OUR HOMES LOOK
LIKE. ONE THING YOU SHOULD BE
REASSURED OF IS THAT WE DO KNOW
HOW TO LIVE MODESTLY. AND THAT
INCLUDES HOW TO COUNT OUR MONEY.
WE ARE BAFFLED THAT THE FUNDING
SURPLUS FUNDED WITH OUR MONEY.
IS BEING TARGETED AS A SIGN OF
FAILURE OR A RED FLAG. GIVEN THE
BUDGET DEFICIT THE STATE IS
FACING TODAY. SURPLUSES LIKE
OURS ARE WAVING FLAGS OF
SUCCESS. WE ARE A MODEL. NOT A
PROBLEM. WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE
OPPORTUNITY FOR ADDITIONAL
VIOLATIONS TO BE ADDRESSED.
THROUGH THE PROGRAM. THANK YOU
FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH FOR TESTIMONY.
ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO COME
FORWARD. RIGHT. SEE NONE. UM, I
WOULD JUST YOU KNOW THE PUBLIC
PROCESS IS IMPORTANT AND
COMMENTS CERTAINLY WERE MADE. I
THINK, THOUGH, IN THE I
UNDERSTAND CORRECTLY IN THE
SCOPE, UH, MR PARKS, AND
CERTAINLY I THINK THE INTENT OF
THE AUTHOR IS TO GET INFORMATION
AS STATED BY THE PUBLIC. UM,
REMEMBER THE PUBLIC COMMENTING
ON THIS ON THE OUTCOME? SOME OF
THESE, UM THAT'S I THINK THAT'S
CAPTURED IN YOUR SCOPE. IT IS
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, JUST FOR
CLARITY. WITH THAT I ANY OTHER
COMMENTS? QUESTIONS? SEE, N N.
WE NEED EMOTIONAL. THINK WE HAVE
A MOTION BY MR BOERNER HORVATH?
YES AND SECOND, RIGHT, MR.
PATTERSON. SECRETARY. PLEASE
CALL THE ROOM. SORRY BEFORE YOU
DO THAT. I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY
Tð. UH MY COLLEAGUES HAD A
RECOMMENDATION OF NO ON THIS
AUDIT REQUEST. UM BECAUSE I WAS
CONCERNED OF THE SAME THINGS
THAT MR LAIRD WAS ABOUT MAKING
SURE THAT WE HAVE A ROBUST
PROGRAM AND THIS IS NOT ABOUT
REMOVING PROTECTIONS OR FINDING
WAYS TO NOT PROVIDE INDIVIDUALS
WITH A RESOURCE. THAT'S NOT THE
INTENT CERTAINLY, AND I HOPE
THAT WE GET INFORMATION THAT
POTENTIALLY MAKE THIS A MORE
ROBUST PROGRAM. UM AND SO I'M
CHANGING MY RECOMMENDATION ON
THAT, TOO. YES, FOR THIS AUDIT.
PLEASE CALL THE ROOM. THE MOTION
IS TO APPROVE AUDIT 2023 SLASH 1
12 DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT MOBILE
HOME RESIDENCY LAW PROTECTION
PROGRAM BY SENATOR CIERTO.
REMEMBER ALVAREZ ALVAREZ
BOERNER HORVATH. BOERNER HORVATH
I, HOOVER? I PATERSON PATERSON.
I RUBIO. I VALENCIA. I WOULD.
SENATOR BLAKE SPEAR,
SHAKESPEARE, CORTESI. CRAZY
EGGMAN PIGMENT, GONZALES. SALAS
LAIRD LAIRD, SARTO TOÀN WELCOME.
11 TO 0 THAT'S BEEN APPROVED.
THANK YOU, MR SUHARTO. MR
BERMAN. WELCOME SURPRISE TO YOU
THIS MORNING. YOUR WAR ON
CONSENT, BUT NOW YOU'RE NOT. SO
HERE YOU ARE. PLEASE UM,
BEGINNING WHEN YOU ARE READY,
AND IF YOU HAVE ANY, IF THERE
ARE ANY MEMBERS WHO ARE HERE,
TOO? TESTIFY AS WITNESSES YOU
CAN COME FORWARD AT THIS TIME AS
WELL. OTHERWISE MR BERMAN,
WELCOME TO GO AHEAD. THANK YOU,
MR CHAIR AND MEMBERS. I
RESPECTFULLY REQUEST AN AUDIT OF
THE SANTA CLARA VALLEY
TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY, KNOWN
AS VT. A WITH A FOCUS ON THE
AREAS OF GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE,
PROJECT PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT,
FINANCIAL VIABILITY AND FISCAL
OVERSIGHT. OVER THE LAST 20
YEARS. THREE CIVIL GRAND JURY
REPORTS MULTIPLE CONSULTANTS
HIRED BY THE T, A. AND IN 2008
AUDIT BY THE STATE AUDITOR HAVE
IDENTIFIED THE NEED FOR CHANGE
TO WTA'S GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE IN
ORDER FOR THE BOARD TO BE BEST
EQUIPPED TO PROVIDE HIGH QUALITY
OVERSIGHT OF THE AGENCY. AFTER
TWO YEARS AND HUNDREDS OF
CONVERSATIONS I WORKED CLOSELY
WITH WTA'S BOARD CHAIR LAST
YEAR. TOWARDS THE TOWARDS THE
END OF LAST YEAR TO REQUEST THIS
AUDIT IN LIEU OF LEGISLATION. IN
2019. THE SANTA CLARA COUNTY
CIVIL GRAND JURY REPORTED THAT
VIRTUALLY ALL OF THE INDIVIDUALS
INTERVIEWED, INCLUDING DIRECTORS
AND SENIOR STAFF AGREE THAT VÀ
WOULD BENEFIT FROM A MORE
KNOWLEDGEABLE AND ENGAGED BOARD
OF DIRECTORS THAT IS MORE
SHARPLY FOCUSED ON VTS ROLE AS A
REGIONAL TRANSIT AGENCY AND LESS
ON LOCAL POLITICAL INTERESTS.
THESE FINDINGS ARE IN LINE WITH
WHAT I'VE HEARD FROM DOZENS OF
CURRENT AND FORMER BOARD MEMBERS
, LABOR REPRESENTATIVES AND
TRANSIT WRITERS, NEARLY ALL OF
WHOM RECOGNIZED THE NEED FOR
GOVERNANCE REFORM. MY HOPE IS
THAT THIS AUDIT WILL GIVE TO THE
OBJECTIVE FEEDBACK IN DIRECTION
IT NEEDS TO MAKE SUBSTANTIVE
GOVERNANCE REFORM SO THAT THE
BOARD CAN PROVIDE THE HIGH
QUALITY OVERSIGHT OF THE AGENCY
THAT WRITERS VT. A STAFF AND
SANTA CLARA COUNTY TAXPAYERS
DESERVE AND I NOTICED ONE THING
THIS MORNING WHEN I WAS ACTUALLY
ON BTS WEBSITE THAT I THINK
REALLY SYMBOLIZES THE PROBLEM.
WHICH IS THAT THE VITA ISSUED A
PRESS RELEASE A COUPLE OF MONTHS
AGO ANNOUNCING THAT SEVEN OF THE
12 BOARD MEMBERS THIS YEAR ARE
BRAND NEW. SO AT A TIME WHEN
TRANSIT IS FACING ITS MOST
DIFFICULT CHALLENGES OVER A
MAJORITY OF THE BOARD IS BRAND
NEW TO BEING VOTING MEMBERS OF
THE BOARD OF THE VITA, WHICH
REALLY, REALLY SYMBOLIZES THE
ISSUE THAT I'M HOPING WE CAN
ADDRESS. I WANT TO THANK SENATOR
CORTESI, WHO HAS SERVED ON THE
VITA BOARD DURING HIS PRIOR
ELECTED SERVICE FOR A VERY
PRODUCTIVE CONVERSATION THAT HE
AND I HAD LAST WEEK REGARDING
THE AUDIT REQUEST. PER SENATOR
CORTEZ IS GOOD SUGGESTION. I
WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A SPECIAL
NOTE TO ASK THAT THE AUDITOR
OUTLINE A PROCESS THAT BE TA CAN
USE TO REFORM THEIR GOVERNANCE
STRUCTURE INTERNALLY. THE GOAL
OF THIS EFFORT IS FOR YOU TO BE
EQUIPPED TO LEAD ITS OWN
GOVERNANCE REFORM PROCESS AND
PROPOSED TO US A LEGISLATIVE FIX
, UM, FOR THEIR GOVERNANCE
REFORM, AS OPPOSED TO US COMING
UP WITH GOVERNANCE REFORM
PROPOSALS ON OUR OWN. WITH THAT?
I RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR MY VOTE.
THANK YOU, MR BERMAN. YOU HAVE
NO WITNESSES WITH YOU TODAY. I
DON'T THINK SO. OKAY SINGING NUN
, SISTER, BUT PERFECTLY FINE
WITH IT. NOT BEING THANK YOU.
OUR STATE DAUGHTERS PROVIDE, UM
, ANALYSIS. THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN
OLIVAREZ, SO A SIGNIFICANT
PORTION OF THE AUDIT WILL BE IN
LOOKING AT THE EFFECTIVENESS OF
WTA'S BOARD. LOOKING AT THEIR
ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES AND
COMPARING THOSE ROLES TO WHAT WE
SEE AT OTHER LOCAL
TRANSPORTATION AGENCIES. I THINK
A PORTION OF THIS AUDIT IS NOT
JUST LOOKING AT HOW THE TO
OPERATES, BUT UNDERSTANDING HOW
THEY COMPARED TO SIMILAR
ORGANIZATIONS, AND THERE'S ALSO
SOME INTEREST IN HAVING OUR
OFFICE EXAMINED THE EXTENT TO
WHICH ADVISORY COMMITTEES ARE
INVOLVED IN POLICY DEVELOPMENT,
AS OPPOSED TO BOARD MEMBERS
THEMSELVES. AND JUST HOW ENGAGED
BOARD MEMBERS ARE VERSUS
ALTERNATE BOARD MEMBERS WHO MAY
ATTEND SIGNIFICANT MEETINGS.
OBVIOUSLY AS THE MEMBER
MENTIONED, THERE'S AN INTEREST
IN UNDERSTANDING BT A STRATEGIC
PLANNING PROCESS, HOW IT SETS
GOALS, HOW IT MEASURES
PERFORMANCE AND WOULD ALSO BE
LOOKING AT A SELECTION OF
PROJECTS TO UNDERSTAND THE
ACCURACY OF COST ESTIMATES
TIMELINES FOR A SAMPLE OF LARGE
PROJECTS AND UNDERSTANDING
WHETHER OR NOT THERE ARE
ALTERNATIVE. TECHNIQUES WHEREBY
THEY MIGHT IMPLEMENT BEST
PRACTICES AND TRACK THOSE
PROJECTS MORE EFFECTIVELY. AND
THEN, FINALLY, JUST BRIEFLY.
THERE. THERE'S A FINANCIAL
VIABILITY, FISCAL TRANSPARENCY
COMPONENT TO THE AUDIT REQUEST,
AND THERE ARE SEVERAL OBJECTIVES
THAT HAVE US LOOK AT
EXPENDITURES AND RIDERSHIP OVER
THE PAST FOUR YEARS, UM, LOOKING
AT THINGS LIKE COST PER TRIP
PASSENGERS PER TRIP OTHER
FINANCIAL METRICS. THAT WE WOULD
BE COMPARING BTA AGAINST OTHER
SIMILAR TRANSPORTATION AGENCIES
. I EXPECT THAT'S WHERE THE BULK
OF OUR FIELD WORK WOULD BE, BUT
OVERALL, THERE'S UM IT'S A
FAIRLY COMPREHENSIVE AUDIT.
THERE'S OVER 20 AUDIT OBJECTIVES
I'M ANTICIPATING WHEN YOU WHEN
YOU COUNT THE SUBPARTS ROUGHLY.
THAT'S PROBABLY ABOUT 3300 HOURS
TO DO AND I'M ANTICIPATING
ROUGHLY SIX MONTHS AND I DO HAVE
THE STAFF TO START THE WORK.
THANK YOU, MR PARKS. THE AGENCY
AFFECTED ARE THEY PRESENT WITH
THE ELECT TO MAKE COMMENTS.
PLEASE COME FORWARD. IDENTIFY
YOURSELF. GO RIGHT AHEAD. MR
CHAIRMAN REMEMBERS SCOTT WEDGE
HERE. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR
ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK ON BEHALF
OF MY CLIENT VALLEY
TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY. I WANT
TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT THE V TA
HAS ALWAYS HELD ITSELF TO THE
HIGHEST STANDARDS AND
CONSEQUENTLY WE DO NOT OBJECT TO
THE AUDIT, ALTHOUGH WE DO
BELIEVE IT TO BE UNNECESSARY. AS
YOU ARE ALL TOO PAINFULLY AWARE
MOST TRANSIT OPERATORS IN
CALIFORNIA ARE FACING TREMENDOUS
FINANCIAL CONSEQUENCES FROM THE
PANDEMIC. I'M PROUD TO REPORT
BECAUSE OF PRUDENT FISCAL
MANAGEMENT. VÆ TA DOES NOT FIND
ITSELF IN SIMILAR CIRCUMSTANCES
OF MANY OF THE OTHER OPERATORS
THROUGHOUT THE STATE. UM WE FIND
IT UNFORTUNATE. DURING THESE
VERY DIFFICULT TIMES, WE'LL HAVE
TO DEDICATE PRECIOUS RESOURCES
AND STAFF TIME TO THIS AUDIT.
THAT COULD BE BETTER FOCUSED
ELSEWHERE. VÆ TA CONTINUES TO
RECEIVE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN
FEDERAL FUNDING FOR PROJECTS
THAT RECEIVED THE HIGHEST LEVEL
OF SCRUTINY AND THEY CONTINUE TO
DELIVER THEM ON TIME. UNDER
BUDGET. AND USING UNION LABOR. I
MIGHT MENTION HMM. THE
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S REQUEST. UM HAS
SEVERAL ITEMS LISTED IN IT THAT
THAT WE SIMPLY DISAGREE WITH. I
WON'T GO INTO DETAIL AND ALL OF
THEM, BUT THERE'S ONE ASSERTION
THAT I FEEL COMPELLED FOR THE
COMMITTEE'S, UM, INFORMATION TO
ADDRESS THE REQUEST TO THE
COMMITTEE. UH SUGGESTS OR
ASSERTS THAT THERE IS A QUOTE
UNWILLINGNESS AMONGST THE BOARD
TO PERFORM AUDITS. THE FACT IS
THAT V T. A EMPLOYS A FULL TIME
AUDITOR. WHO PROVIDES AUDITS TO
THE BOARD ON A REGULAR BASIS. VÆ
TA IS PRIMARILY FUNDED THROUGH
NOT ONE BUT FOUR DIFFERENT LOCAL
SALES TAX MEASURES PASSED BY THE
VOTERS OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY
EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THOSE
MEASURES REQUIRES AN ANNUAL
AUDIT AND THE HIGHEST
TRANSPARENCY STANDARDS. I THINK
THAT YOU WOULD FIND IN ADDITION
TO THAT, I DON'T THINK ANYBODY
HERE IS A STRANGER TO THE
REQUIREMENTS OF RECEIVING
FEDERAL FUNDING. BUT THE V TA
HAS TO PRODUCE AUDITS AND FACE
INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF SCRUTINY
FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AS A
RESULT OF THOSE OF THOSE FUNDS.
NONETHELESS WE TRUST THE PROCESS
AND LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING
COLLABORATIVELY WITH THE STATE
AUDITOR AND THIS COMMITTEE AS
THE PROCESS PROCEEDS. ON A
PERSONAL NOTE. FOR THE RECORD,
UM, IN MY JUDGMENT. THE FACT
THAT WE HAVE OVER 30 NEW MEMBERS
OF THE LEGISLATURE'S DOES NOT
REFLECT NEGATIVELY ON THEIR
ABILITY TO PERFORM THEIR JOB.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. YOU'RE
ALSO REPRESENTING THE AGENCY.
YES MR CHAIRMAN. MY NAME IS JIM
LAWSON. I'M THE CHIEF EXTERNAL
AFFAIRS OFFICER FOR THE VALLEY
TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY LIKE TO
EXPRESS MY THANKS TO YOU AND THE
COMMITTEE FOR HEARING THIS ITEM
TO MR BERMAN FOR HIS ONGOING
EFFORTS TO HAVE A BETTER
OPERATING V T A. AND I WOULD
LIKE TO SAY THAT IT SOUNDS FROM
HIS, UH, HIS REMARKS. THAT WHAT
HE'S LOOKING AT IS SOME FORM OF
GOVERNANCE CHANGE TO VT. A AS
ALL OF YOU KNOWN, ESPECIALLY
SENATOR CORTEZ E AND MR LAIRD,
THAT VITA IS SANTA CLARA COUNTY,
WHICH HAS THE HAS THE ODD
DYNAMIC THAT THERE WAS ONE VERY
LARGE CITY AND A LARGE NUMBER OF
VERY SMALL CITIES. SO I WAS
INVOLVED IN THE FORMATION OF
VITA AT THE BEGINNING, AND THE
REPRESENTATION ON THE BOARD OF
DIRECTORS IS A COMPROMISE. DID I
LIKE IT WHEN IT WAS FIRST
PROPOSED? NO, UH BUT THERE HAVE
BEEN MANY ATTEMPTS TO LOOK AT IT
SINCE THEN, WE WOULD WELCOME THE
STATE AUDITOR'S OPINION ON A
BETTER WAY TO DO IT, BUT, UH,
YOU KNOW, UH, I GUESS IT WAS.
CHURCHILL'S REMARK ABOUT
DEMOCRACY IS REALLY MESSY, BUT
IT'S THE BEST THE BEST WE CAN
COME UP WITH. I HOPE THERE IS A
BETTER WAY AND WE LOOK FORWARD
TO WORKING COOPERATIVELY WITH MR
BERMAN AND WITH THE AUDITOR, BUT
ALSO ON A PERSONAL NOTE LIKE TO
THINK. TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO
THANK THE LEGISLATURE.
SPECIFICALLY, MR CORTEZ. FOR THE
$20 MILLION THAT WAS PROVIDED TO
BE TO A TO HELP WITH THE
RECOVERY FROM THE DISASTER THAT
WE SUFFERED TWO YEARS AGO THIS
MARCH. WE DO REALLY APPRECIATE
THAT. AND I WILL MENTION TO YOU
AND TO THE AUDITOR THAT WE ARE
GOING THROUGH A CULTURE AND
CLIMATE ASSESSMENT AT THIS POINT
, WHICH IS SCHEDULED TO BE
FINISHED AT THE END, AND I THINK
IT WOULD BE HELPFUL IF WE
COORDINATE CLOSELY WITH HIS
EFFORTS TO COME OUT WITH THE
BEST. THE BEST RESULT FOR THIS
ORDER. THANK YOU FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY. HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY
QUESTIONS? THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FROM
MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE? YES MR
GONZALEZ. THANK YOU, MR CHAIR.
AND THANK YOU. UM
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S JUST HAVE A
QUESTION RELATIVE TO ONE OF THE
SPEAKERS ON HOW YOU SEE THIS,
ALIGNING WITH THE EXISTING
AUDITS ALREADY OUTLINED AND MANY
OF THE MEASURES. YEAH MY HOPE IS
THAT THROUGH A LOT, THANK YOU
FOR THE QUESTION THROUGH A LOT
OF THE CONVERSATIONS THAT I HAD
WITH CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS,
FORMER BOARD MEMBERS, TRANSIT
ADVOCATES, UM JUST OTHER LOCAL
ELECTED OFFICIALS. A LOT OF THEM
ASKED FOR, UM, AN OBJECTIVE
ANALYSIS OF HOW THE E A AND HOW
VT. A IN REGARDS TO GOVERNANCE
STRUCTURE. THERE'S OTHER ISSUES
IN THE REQUEST. REGARDS THE
GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE. HOW IT
MIGHT, UM, COMPARE. TO
COMPARABLE TRANSIT AGENCIES
ACROSS THE COUNTRY. REALLY
ACROSS NORTH AMERICA, WHICH IS
AN ANALYSIS THAT ME AND MY STAFF
TRIED TO DO. THAT'S HOW WE CAME
UP WITH SOME IDEAS, BUT WE
REALIZED THAT IT WOULD BE BEST
AT VITA THE VÀ BOARD ITSELF TO
COME UP WITH REALLY SUBSTANTIVE
, UM, SUGGESTIONS THAT THEY
COULD THEN, UM, YOU KNOW, OFFER
UP TO THE LEGISLATURE FOR US TO
QUANTIFY INTO THE EXISTING LAW.
SO UM, THAT'S KIND OF MY HOPE IS
THAT THIS WILL BE JUST ANOTHER
OBJECTIVE ANALYSIS TO PROVIDE
GREAT FEEDBACK FOR THE BOARD TO
BOARD THEMSELVES TO COME UP WITH
SUGGESTIONS. THANK YOU, UM MR
LAIRD, I THINK FIRST, YEAH. UH
YES. I JUST WANTED TO SPEAK TO
THIS IS ONE OF THE TWO MEMBERS
THAT HAS PART OF SANTA CLARE
COUNTY AND IN OUR DISTRICTS. AND
HE THERE'S JUST A NUMBER OF
FACTORS AT PLAY, AND I KNOW, UH
, I SPENT NINE YEARS ON MY LOCAL
TRANSIT BOARD AND AT THE TIME MY
HOME CITY WHERE I WAS MAYOR HAD
OVER HALF THE POPULATION OF THE
FOR INCORPORATED CITIES IN THE
COUNTY AND IN THE TIME SINCE
THEN, THAT HAS COMPLETELY
CHANGED WHILE IT'S STILL THE
BIGGEST CITY BUT THE OTHER THREE
HAVE GROWN IN A WAY THAT WE USED
TO HAVE HALF THE CITY
APPOINTMENTS TO THE TRANSIT
BOARD, AND NOW IT HAS BEEN MORE
EQUITABLY ADJUSTED ON POPULATION
TO MATCH THE CHANGES IN
POPULATION SINCE THE ORIGINAL
ACT WAS MADE, AND I'M CAUGHT IN
THE MIDDLE AND THAT I HAVE A
SMALL PORTION OF THE CITY OF SAN
JOSE, WHICH IS THE BIG CITY THAT
WAS REFERRED TO HERE. BUT TWO
SMALLER ONES AND IN THE SOUTHERN
PART OF THE COUNTY IN MORGAN
HILL AND GILROY THAT PROBABLY
FEEL LIKE THEY'RE NOT
REPRESENTED TOTALLY AND IN THE
WAY TO HAPPENS IN HALF TO SPLIT
APPOINTMENTS, AND I THINK THIS
IS ON THE BACKDROP. OF TRANSIT
BEING CHALLENGED COMING OUT OF
COVID. UH IN A WAY THAT THAT I
KNOW THEY'RE REAL EFFORTS, AND
VITA IS ONE OF THEM COMPLETELY
SEPARATE FROM THE INCIDENT THAT
THAT WAS SO HORRIBLE THERE THAT
THE RIDERSHIP IS DROPPED IN A
WAY THAT THAT WE WANT TO KNOW.
AT SOME POINT, IT CAN COME BACK
AND ONCE AGAIN IN AN AUDIT. I
DON'T WANT THIS TO BE
MISCONSTRUED. AS SORT OF
POINTING THAT OUT WHEN BAD
THINGS ARE HAPPENING BECAUSE OF
LOW RIDERSHIP WHEN IT'S REALLY
TRYING TO LOOK AT AT THE CHANGES
THAT MIGHT HAVE HAPPENED AND
IT'S JUST DIFFICULT BECAUSE
THERE'S GOING TO BE WINNERS AND
LOSERS IF THERE IS A CHANGE
MADE, AND UNFORTUNATELY
REPRESENT TWO OF THE POSSIBLE
WINNERS AND ONE OF THE POSSIBLE
LOSERS, AND I JUST WANT THIS TO
BE A THOUGHTFUL LOOK AND NOT
PREORDAINED WHAT PEOPLE FEEL
ABOUT TRANSIT OR AND WHAT A FAIR
OBJECTIVE ANALYSIS MIGHT BE AT
THE GOVERNANCE THAT THIS IS
DESIGNED TO LOOK AT. SO I
APPRECIATE THAT POSSIBLE
DIRECTION HERE. THANK YOU, MR
LAIRD. MR CGRTS. ALRIGHT THANK
YOU ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S BERMAN FOR
BRINGING THIS FORWARD BECAUSE
RIGHT NOW WE'RE GOING THROUGH
SOME REAL CRUCIAL TALKS IN
BUDGETING AND TRANSPORTATION
REGARDING OUR TRANSIT AGENCIES
AND THE DIFFICULTIES THAT
THEY'RE GOING THROUGH. AND YOU
ARE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT AND
REQUESTING THAT WE HAVE SOME
OBJECTIVE INFORMATION. YOU KNOW,
EVERYBODY HAS THEIR OWN OPINIONS
. BUT THAT'S WHAT OUR AUDITOR'S
JOB IS, IS TO GIVE US THE
OBJECTIVE INFORMATION SO THAT WE
CAN TAKE THAT FORWARD AND HELP
IN OUR DELIBERATIONS, TRYING TO
FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN HELP. YOU
KNOW HOW WE CAN HELP PEOPLE BE
SUCCESSFUL. AND IF I'M READING,
RIGHT, THAT IS WHAT YOUR AUDIT
IS ALL ABOUT, IS JUST TRYING TO
HELP US. IT WOULD BE IN A
POSITION TO HAVE THE INFORMATION
WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO HELP
PEOPLE BE BE SUCCESSFUL. 1000.
THANK YOU. MR CORT. EASY. THANK
YOU, MR CHAIR. THANK YOU. SO,
UM, REMEMBER BERMAN FOR WAITING
INTO REALLY BEEN ONE OF MANY
LONG TERM GOVERNANCE DISPUTES
AROUND AGENCIES IN THE BAY AREA.
IT'S NOT JUST SOMETHING THAT
COMES UP TO A BUT YOU KNOW,
WAITING INTO IT AS AN ELECTED
OFFICIALS CHALLENGING. I'VE DONE
THAT TWICE IN MY CAREER. NOT
WITH THE B T A. BUT WITH UM
PARTICULAR REGIONAL AGENCY. IT
SOMETIMES TAKES YEARS TO GET ANY
KIND OF CONSENSUS. UM I HAVE. UM
I APPRECIATE THE CONVERSATION
THAT WE HAD BEFORE THAT WAS
ALLUDED TO IN, UM IN ASSUMING
DOBERMANS PRESENTATION. PART OF
THAT CONVERSATION WAS BECAUSE I
WAS THERE WHEN THE RESPONSES TO
THE GRAND JURY REPORTS WERE.
WERE MADE BY THE B TO WHICH
WHICH I THOUGHT PRETTY
COMPREHENSIVELY DEALT WITH. UM
ANY SIGNIFICANT ISSUES THAT. MAY
HAVE BEEN BROUGHT UP THAT HAD
THE TONE OF ACCUSATIONS.
SOMETIMES THOSE THINGS WITH THE
GRAND JURY. THAT'S THAT'S NOT
STAFFED. THAT'S A VOLUNTEER
GROUP OF CIVIL GRAND JURY TEND
TO BE UM JUST A LITTLE BIT
MISINFORMED. SO IN MY READING OF
THE ARTERY QUEST, AND I WANTED
TO EXPRESS THIS PUBLICLY WAS
LESS CONCERNED ABOUT THOSE
REPORTS IN THE RESPONSE IS NOT
THAT THEY SHOULD BE WORKED OUT,
BUT MORE CONCERNED ABOUT HOW TO
ONCE AND FOR ALL GET TO PERHAPS
WHAT? WHAT MAY END UP BEING A
MENU OF, UM PROCESS. IDEAS ABOUT
HOW TO GET UM. YOU KNOW, IN A IN
A WAY THAT THAT'S LOCAL. AS YOU
SAID THE SUMMER BERMAN, WHAT
KIND OF A PROCESS GOOD COULD OR
SHOULD BE USED. TO GET TO SOME
REALLY LEGITIMATE. COMPOSITION.
UM RECOMMENDATIONS THAT THAT
WOULD NOT COME FROM THE STATE
BUT COME LOCALLY AND I THINK
IT'S REALLY THE PROCESS IN THE
PAST, THAT'S THAT'S BEEN A
PROBLEM WITH BT A. BRINGS ON A
CONSULTANT AND UM FROM AN
ADMINISTRATIVE STANDPOINT
WITHOUT THE YOU KNOW, WITHOUT
THE FULL ENGAGEMENT OF LABOR AND
COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS. UM JUST
PROCEEDS. IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO
GET CONSENSUS THAT WAY.
OBVIOUSLY UM, YOU KNOW, THERE'S
WAYS I DON'T THINK ANY OF US
WOULD RECOMMEND, LIKE JUST
THROWING THE IDEA OF A RE
COMPOSITION TO THE OCT. AERATE
UM, HAVING THE WORKFORCE THE
UNITED WORKFORCE THERE, DECIDE
WITHOUT INPUT BY THE
ADMINISTRATION, OR OR
COUNTERBALANCE WOULDN'T WORK
EITHER. BUT WTA HAS BEEN VERY
SUCCESSFUL. IN THE PAST,
ESPECIALLY AROUND FINANCIAL
ISSUES, AND CLEARLY THEY HAVE
DONE UM, WELL ENOUGH FINANCIALLY
TO STAY OUT OF TROUBLE BY
BRINGING IN DURING TOUGH TIMES.
UM A SORT OF THREE LEGGED STOOL
OR TRIPARTITE PROCESS WHERE
LABOUR'S REPRESENTED
ADMINISTRATIONS REPRESENTED THE
COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS ARE
REPRESENTED ALL WITH THEIR OWN
INDEPENDENT CONSULTING OR
REPRESENTATION. UM IN AN IN AN
EFFECT, MUCH LIKE YOU DO IF YOU
WERE TRYING TO GET TO EVALUATION
PROPOSAL ON REAL ESTATE OR
SOMETHING, THOSE THREE TEAMS.
THOSE THREE CONSULTANTS ARE
REALLY CHARGED WITH COMING UP
WITH THE FINAL RECOMMENDATIONS
TO GO TO THE BOARD. UM IN MY
HUMBLE OPINION AFTER YOU KNOW,
OBVIOUSLY INFORMED BY OVER 20
YEARS SERVING ON ON THAT BOARD
AND SEEING THIS DISPUTE FESTER,
UM YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST MY HOPE
THAT THE AUDIT THE SCOPE OF THE
AUDIT WAS WAS WRITTEN AROUND
GOVERNANCE. ELASTIC ENOUGH TO,
YOU KNOW, PERHAPS ALLOW THE
AUDITOR TO GO DOWN THAT PATH AND
SAY HERE, HERE'S IF NOT WHAT I'M
SUGGESTING. BUT HERE'S SOME
WHERE SOME SUCCESSFUL PROCESS UM
, DESIGNS THAT HAVE BEEN
UTILIZED, NOT JUST WHAT ARE
SUCCESSFUL. BOARD COMPOSITIONS
AND OTHER AGENCIES ARE NOT JUST
HOW OTHER PEOPLE DID IT BECAUSE
THIS MATERIAL, LAWSON SAID, YOU
KNOW, THESE COUNTIES ARE UNIQUE
. THIS ONE HAS 14 SMALL CITIES,
ONE BIG CITY, BUT BUT WHAT
PROCESSES HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL
IN AVOIDING EXCESSIVE
CONTENTIOUSNESS IN ACRIMONY
BETWEEN. THE USUAL STAKEHOLDERS
AND LET'S FACE IT. IT'S A PRETTY
SIMPLE WORLD OUT THERE.
MANAGEMENT LABOR, YOU KNOW, IN
THE COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS, SO,
UH, THERE'S GOTTA BE A WAY TO
RECOMMEND TO THEM HOW TO STAND
UP THAT KIND OF A PROCESS. UM
YEAH, AND HOPEFULLY THAT'S ONE
OF THE THINGS THAT COME OUT OF
THE AUDIT. I'LL BE SUPPORTING
THE AUDIT IN THAT SPIRIT. UM AND
, UM AND I HOPE BE TA DOES NOT
IN ANY WAY, SHAPE OR FORM OR,
FRANKLY, ANYONE ELSE I'VE HEARD
FROM TODAY. CONSIDER THESE
AUDITS AS SOME SORT OF AN
INDICTMENT. THESE ARE INTENDED
TO HOPEFULLY TACKLE SOME OF
THESE THORNY ISSUES AND COME
BACK WITH A PRODUCTIVE
CONVERSATION. SO THAT'S IN THAT
SPIRIT THAT WILL BE SUPPORTING
THE AUDIT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU,
MR COURT EASY. MR PATTERSON. UH,
JUST A NOTE OF I HOPE THE
EXPERIENCE THAT I HAVE HAD WITH
AUDITS. UM E D D D M V OTHERS.
UM AND I WANT TO. FIRST OF ALL,
WELCOME THE NEW STATE AUDITOR. I
THINK IT WAS A STERLING CHOICE.
WE'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS ABOUT
THAT. AND I THINK THAT GOING
FORWARD AGAIN. I THINK WE CAN
HAVE SIGNIFICANT TRUST IN THE
PROFESSIONALISM. THIS IS NOT
ABOUT GOTCHA. THIS IS ABOUT
FINDING FACTS. DEALING WITH IT
IN A PROFESSIONAL AND IN
CONFIDENTIAL WAYS AND THEN
PROVIDING SUGGESTIONS FOR
IMPROVEMENT. SO WITH THAT, I
APPRECIATE BRINGING THE AUDIT
AND ALSO JUST TO ASSURE OTHER
MEMBERS HERE THAT THE AUDIT
PRIDE AND I'VE BEEN HERE 10
YEARS NOW, THE AUDIT PROCESS
THAT I HAVE SEEN COME FORWARD
HAS BEEN STERLING AND I HAVE
EVERY CONFIDENCE THAT IT WILL
REMAIN STERLING WITH THIS NEW
INDIVIDUAL IN CHARGE. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, MR PATTERSON. DO YOU
HAVE ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
WHO WISH TO COMMENT ON THIS? I
DON'T SEE ANYBODY RAISING HAND
OR LOCKING UP. SO WITH THAT.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE SOME
CLOSING COMMENTS? MR BERMAN JUST
VERY BRIEFLY, REALLY APPRECIATE
ALL THE COMMENTS FROM MY
COLLEAGUES AND LOOKING FORWARD
TO MORE CONVERSATIONS AS
HOPEFULLY THE PROCESS MOVES
FORWARD. I ALSO WANT TO MAKE
CLEAR THAT THAT MY INTENTION
ISN'T UM, TO PIT SMALLER CITIES
VERSUS THE BIG CITY OR ANYTHING
LIKE THAT. MY HOPE IS REALLY TO
GET MORE STABILITY. UH IN THE
GOVERNANCE OF THE T. A TO GET
MUCH MORE TRANSPARENCY ABOUT HOW
THOSE BOARD MEMBERS ARE SELECTED
, AND THAT APPLIES TO THE SMALL
CITIES. NOT AS MUCH TO THE BIG
CITY, UM, AND TO HOPEFULLY GET
SOME AREAS OF EXPERTISE THAT
WOULD BE HELPFUL FOR GOVERNANCE
OF THIS VERY IMPORTANT, VERY
LARGE, VERY COMPLICATED TRANSIT
AGENCY. UM AND THEN LASTLY, UM,
TO CREATE A SYSTEM WHERE FOLKS
LOOK MORE. REGIONALLY AND LESS
KIND OF PAROCHIAL LEE. SO I WANT
TO MAKE CLEAR TO THOSE WHO ARE
WATCHING. THIS ISN'T ABOUT BIG
CITY FOR SMALL CITY SMALL CITY
VERSUS BIG CITY. THIS IS REALLY
ABOUT JUST CREATING THE BEST
GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE POSSIBLE,
AS WELL AS LOOKING AT THE OTHER
ISSUES THAT WERE RAISED IN THE
AUDIT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
THE CONVERSATION. THANK YOU, MR
BERMAN. UH I NEED A MOTION FOR
APPROVAL IF THERE IS ONE AND THE
SECOND EMOTION BY. THE MEXICANS.
SALAS. I HEARD MR VALENCIA MAKE
SECOND SECRETARY. PLEASE CALL
THE ROLL. THE MOTION IS TO
APPROVE AUDIT. 2023 SLASH ONE
OH, ONE SANTA CLARA VALLEY
TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY BY
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S BERMAN.
REMEMBER ALVAREZ ALVAREZ? I
BOERNER HORVATH HOOVER. I, ER I
PATERSON. PATERSON. I RUBIO
RUBIO VIOLENCIA. YES. WHAT.
SENATOR BLAKE SPEAR,
SHAKESPEARE. I ORTEZ E. NGUYEN.
GONZALEZ. GONZALEZ. I LAYERED
THERE. I SORT Ó WILK. IT'S
NINE. THANK YOU. RIGHT THAT WAS
9 TO 0. IT'S BEEN APPROVED VERY
MUCH. THANK YOU, MR BERMAN. WE
HAVE TWO MEMBERS PRESENT AND I,
NO ONE WAS HERE AND THE OTHER
ONE. I'LL LET YOU DECIDE WHO
WANTS TO GO FIRST FOR TWO. MR
JONES, SAWYER WELCOME. SIR JOHN
SAWYER WILL BE PRESENTING HIS
REQUEST. MR JONES. SAWYER HAS
ITEM NUMBER 11 ON OUR AGENDA,
WHICH IS 2023-116 REQUEST LOCAL
GOVERNMENT. CANNABIS LICENSING.
THANK YOU. VERY WELCOME AND GO
RIGHT AHEAD. THANK YOU. SINCE
PEOPLE ARE MENTIONING MY NAME,
NOT KNOWING I'M IN THE ROOM, BUT
OKAY. WHEN WE MENTIONED IT.
WE'VE MESSED IT ALL THE TIME.
GOOD MORNING CHAIR MEMBERS. I
RESPECTFULLY REQUESTING THE
JOINT LEGISLATIVE AUDIT
COMMITTEE TO APPROVE AN AUDIT TO
EVALUATE THE CONFLICTS OF
INTEREST AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR
CORRUPTION AND MUNICIPAL
CANNABIS LICENSING ALLEGATIONS
OF CORRUPTION DURING THE
AWARDING OF MUNICIPAL CANNABIS.
OPERATING LICENSES ARE FAR FROM
NEW, ESPECIALLY IN CALIFORNIA.
TALES OF BACKDOOR, WAILING AND
DEALING BETWEEN COMPANIES AND
PUBLIC OFFICIALS HAVE BEEN
CIRCULATING FOR YEARS AT THE
STATE WORKS TO ESTABLISH A
REGULATORY FRAMEWORK FOR HONEST
BROKERS. RECENT NEWS HAD
HIGHLIGHTED PLEA DEALS FROM
LOCAL ELECTED OFFICIALS
THROUGHOUT THE STATE, ADMITTING
THEIR PARTICIPATION AND PAY TO
PLAY SCHEMES INVOLVING CANNABIS
BUSINESSES. FOR EXAMPLE, A CITY
COUNCIL MEMBER ADMITTED TO
SOLICITING BRIBES. DONATIONS
FROM A CANDIDATE BUSINESS IN
EXCHANGE FOR SUPPORT OF THE
COMPANY RECEIVING THE CITY'S
SOUL CANNABIS DISTRIBUTION
LICENSE AND ANOTHER JURISDICTION
. A COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSIONER
ADMITTED TO ACTING AS AN
INTERMEDIARY. THE FUNNEL BRIBES
FROM CANNABIS BUSINESSES AS
WELL. THAT PLEA DEAL AGREEMENT
ALSO ALLEGES A CITY MANAGER
DOUBLING AS A CONSULTANT FOR
CANNABIS BUSINESSES PARTICIPATED
IN A PAY TO PLAY SCHEME. TODAY'S
STATE AND LOCAL LICENSING
AUTHORIZATION PROCESSES ENSURE
THAT FACILITIES ARE PROPERLY
SIGHTED AND LICENSE PRIOR TO THE
OPERATION OF A BUSINESS OVER 800
RETAIL CANNABIS STORES HAVE
RECEIVED LOCAL AND STATE
CANNABIS LICENSES. AND IN LIGHT
OF RECENT NEWS REGARDING
LICENSING CONCERNS, AND SOME
CITIES, I STRONGLY BELIEVE IN
AUDIT IS IMPERATIVE. THE
CANNABIS LICENSING PROCESS
EXISTS SO LOCAL GOVERNMENTS CAN
THOROUGHLY BET NEW BUSINESSES
AND SELECT TRUSTED PARTNERS.
CORRUPTION UNDERMINES THE
INTEGRITY OF THE SYSTEM,
ALLOWING BAD ACTORS TO
PARTICIPATE IN THE LEGAL MARKET
AND ULTIMATELY THREATENS BOTH
PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY. MOST
IMPORTANTLY, CORRUPTION BY
ELECTED OFFICIALS YOU WROTE
TRUST IN GOVERNMENT, A BEDROCK
AND A CIVIL SOCIETY. THIS
PROPOSED AUDIT WOULD ENSURE THAT
THE LOCAL OFFICIALS JUDICIARY
OBLIGATION TO THE CONSTITUENTS
ARE BEING FULFILLED. HONORABLY
IN PUBLIC FUNDS ARE MANAGED
EFFECTIVELY WITHOUT ANY PERSONAL
BENEFIT, OR RICHMOND TO ELECTED
OFFICIALS, APPOINTEES, STAFF OR
ASSOCIATES. IT ALSO WOULD ADD.
IT ALSO WOULD ASK THE STATE
AUDITOR TO DETERMINE IF ANY
PARTICULAR TYPE OF DETERMINING
LICENSES IS LESS SUSCEPTIBLE TO
FRAUD AND MISMANAGEMENT. THIS IS
IMPORTANT AS MORE JURISDICTIONS
CAN TURN YOU TO ROLL OUT THEIR
EQUITY LICENSE PROGRAMS, AND WE
WORK TO EXPAND CANNABIS ACCESS
IN THE STATE WITH ME TODAY IS
AMY JENKINS ON BEHALF OF THE
CALIFORNIA CANNABIS INDUSTRY
ASSOCIATIONS. RESPECTFULLY ASK
FOR YOUR I VOTE. THANK YOU, MR
GENSLER. JENKINS PLEASE PROCEED
. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING, MR
CHAIRMAN AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS
AGAIN AMY JENKINS, REPRESENTING
THE CALIFORNIA CANNABIS INDUSTRY
ASSOCIATION, ALSO COMMONLY KNOWN
AS C, C. A WE WERE VERY PLEASED
TO PARTNER WITH ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S
JONES, SAWYER AND FOUR OTHER
MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE BACK
IN 2015 WHEN WE ENACTED THE
MEDICINAL MARIJUANA REGULATION
AND SAFETY ACT. THE LANDMARK
LEGISLATION ESTABLISHED A
FRAMEWORK FOR THE REGULATION AND
LICENSURE OF MEDICINAL CANNABIS
AND CALIFORNIA. A KEY COMPONENT
OF THAT FRAMEWORK WAS THE
CREATION OF A DUAL LICENSING
STRUCTURE WHEREBY CANNABIS
BUSINESSES MUST BE PERMITTED BY
BOTH THE STATE AND THE
APPROPRIATE LOCAL JURISDICTION
TO LEGALLY OPERATE. THIS
STRUCTURE WAS LATER INCORPORATED
INTO THE ADULT USE FRAMEWORK
WHEN CALIFORNIA VOTERS
OVERWHELMINGLY APPROVED
PROPOSITION 64. SO THE QUESTION
WE NOW ASK OURSELVES IS HOW ARE
WE DOING UNDER THIS FRAMEWORK,
AND THE ANSWER IS NOT SO GOOD.
BECAUSE CALIFORNIA ALLOWS LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS TO BAN CALIFORNIA
BUSINESSES COMPLETELY OR TO
IMPOSE CAPS ON THE NUMBER OF
LICENSES ONLY 44% OF CITIES AND
COUNTIES ALLOW AT LEAST ONE
CANNABIS BUSINESS TYPE. THIS IS
PARTICULARLY ACUTE WHEN WE TALK
ABOUT CANNABIS RETAIL THAT
NUMBER DROPS TO 39% WE ACTUALLY
HAVE FEWER LEGAL STORES THAN WE
DID DECADES AGO. UM, A 22
REASON. FOUNDATION STUDY
VALIDATED PREVIOUS REPORTS THAT
CALIFORNIA'S LEGAL CANNABIS
INDUSTRY PRESENTS APPROXIMATELY
ONE THIRD THE SIZE. IT SHOULD
BE. THE STUDY FURTHER FOUND A
SIGNIFICANT STATEWIDE LACK OF
ACCESS TO LEGAL RETAIL, NOTING
THAT MORE THAN HALF OF THESE
RETAILERS ARE LOCATED IN JUST 18
CITIES NOW IN THESE LOCALLY
APPROVED AREAS, APPROVAL
PROCESSES ARE COMPLEX LICENSE
CAPS ARE THE NORM. STRICT LIMITS
ARE PLACED ON THEIR LOCATION.
COMMUNITY BENEFIT AGREEMENTS ARE
REQUIREMENT AND LICENSES HAVE
BECOME A HIGHLY VALUED COMMODITY
IN AN INVESTIGATIVE SERIES. AS I
BELIEVE, THE ASSEMBLYMAN NOTED
ON THE TIMES DESCRIBED SOME OF
THE RESULTING PROBLEMS, CITING
ALLEGATIONS OF CONFLICTS OF
INTEREST, BRIBERY AND BIAS IN
THE PERMITTING PROCESS. IN OTHER
WORDS, RATHER THAN EMBRACE THE
INTENT OF PROP 64 BY MATCHING
THE LEVEL OF VOTER SUPPORT WITH
THE APPROPRIATE NUMBER OF
CANNABIS RETAIL OPERATIONS,
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS HAVE DONE THE
OPPOSITE AS A RESULT, LEGAL
CANNABIS WHETHER IT IS MEDICINAL
OR RECREATIONAL HAS FAILED AND
WILL CONTINUE TO FAIL UNTIL WE
ARE ABLE TO FULLY INTEGRATE
CALIF. CALIFORNIA CANNABIS INTO
OUR ECONOMY, SMALL CANNABIS
RETAIL BUSINESSES, WHICH WERE
THE BACKBONE OF CALIFORNIA'S
CANNABIS ECONOMY FOR DECADES,
HAVE BEEN REPLACED BY WELL
CAPITALIZED, WELL CONNECTED
BUSINESS OWNERS AND THOSE ARE
THE ONES THAT CAN OBTAIN PERMITS
. IT SHOULD NOT BE THE ROLE OF
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO CREATE SHOW
POINTS IN BURGEONING INDUSTRIES
, BUT RATHER TO CREATE SENSIBLE
REGULATIONS THAT SUPPORT
ECONOMIC GROWTH. AND PROTECT
PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY CAPS ON
CANNABIS BUSINESS LICENSES
INHERENTLY FASTER CORRUPTION AND
INCENTIVIZE ILLICIT ACTIVITY IN
YOUR APPROVAL OF THIS AUDIT
REQUEST TODAY, IT IS OUR HOPE
THAT IT WILL PRODUCE FINDINGS
AND RECOMMENDATIONS THAT
ENCOURAGE A MORE LIBERAL
LICENSING STRUCTURE, SUPPORTING
LARGE AND SMALL BUSINESSES AS
WELL AS SOCIAL EQUITY OPERATORS.
RECOMMENDATIONS THAT ENCOURAGE
MORE NORMAL ZONING RULES FOR
LOCATING BUSINESSES AND
DISCOURAGED BANDS AND ARTIFICIAL
LICENSING CAPS. FOR ONE, AS ONE
REELER RETAILER ONCE TOLD ME
COMPETITION BELONGS IN THE
MARKET AND NOT IN THE LICENSE
APPLICATION PROCESS. FOR THESE
REASONS. WE SUPPORT THIS AUDIT
AUDIT REQUEST TODAY AND URGE
YOUR SUPPORT AS WELL. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ANY OTHER
WITNESSES. MR JONES? SAWYER.
THAT'S IT. THAT'S IT. ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU HAVE A PRESENTATION
FROM THE AUDITOR. THANK YOU,
CHAIRMAN OLIVAREZ. IT'S A FAIRLY
STRAIGHTFORWARD AUDIT VERY
TIGHTLY CRAFTED WITH SPECIFIC
AUDIT OBJECTIVES. FIRST OUR
OFFICE WILL START OFF WITH
SELECTING SIX JURISDICTIONS TO
GO OUT AND REVIEW THEIR POLICIES
AND PROCEDURES AS PART OF THE
PERMITTING AND LICENSING
PROCESS. SOME OF THE KEY THINGS
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE
LOOKING AT AS PART OF THE AUDIT
IS MAKING SURE THAT THE RULES
ARE CLEARLY COMMUNICATED TO
PEOPLE WHO MAY BE APPLYING FOR
THESE PERMITS AND LICENSES,
MAKING SURE THAT THE
JURISDICTIONS RULES ARE
COMPLIANT WITH STATE AND FEDERAL
LAWS AND REGULATIONS AND ALSO
MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE A GOOD
UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THESE
JURISDICTIONS HAVE SET UP IN
TERMS OF INTERNAL CONTROLS TO
PREVENT FRAUD AND ABUSE. SOME OF
THE THINGS THAT THE MEMBERS AND
THE OTHER TESTIFIER HAD
MENTIONED. MOVING ON FROM
LOOKING AT THEIR POLICIES AND
PROCEDURES. I THINK WE'RE ALSO
GOING TO BE SELECTING A FAIRLY
GOOD SAMPLE OF PERMITS THAT HAVE
FLOWED THROUGH THESE
JURISDICTIONS TO MAKE SURE THAT
WE CAN FOLLOW THE TRAIL FROM
WHEN IT CAME INTO THE
ORGANIZATION TO THE FINAL
DECISION POINT AND MAKING SURE
ALONG THE WAY THAT WE'RE SEEING
EVIDENCE THAT NEPAL'S USING
PROCEDURES THESE JURISDICTIONS
HAVE IMPLEMENTED HAVE ACTUALLY
BEEN PUT IN PLACE AND ARE BEING
USED IN ACTUAL PRACTICE. BUT I
THINK THAT KEY PART OF THE AUDIT
. THAT'S GOING TO COME OUT OF
LOOKING AT THESE SIX DIFFERENT
JURISDICTIONS IS UNDERSTANDING
THE DIFFERENT PROCESSES THESE
ORGANIZATIONS ARE FOLLOWING AND
IT'S MY HOPE THAT BY COMPARING
AND CONTRASTING THE DIFFERENT
APPROACHES OF THESE DIFFERENT
ORGANIZATIONS, THESE DIFFERENT
JURISDICTIONS WE MIGHT BE ABLE
TO COME UP WITH SOME IDEAS ON
WHAT PRACTICES ARE MORE
SUSCEPTIBLE TO FRAUD AND ABUSE
AND OTHERS, WHICH MAY BE HELPFUL
TO MEMBERS SEEKING THAT STORY
CHANGES THANK YOU, MR PARKS. ANY
OF THE AGENCY'S IMPACTED BY THIS
PRESENT WISH TO TESTIFY. ANYBODY
HERE ON THIS ITEM? I SEE NONE.
ANY QUESTIONS FROM OUR COMMITTEE
MEMBERS, MR PATTERSON. UM FIRST
OF ALL APPRECIATE BRINGING THIS
FORWARD. UM WHAT DID THE.
PARAMETERS FOR CHOOSING THE
SIXTH. JURISDICTIONS AND I SAY
THAT AS THE FORMER MAYOR OF
FRESNO AND REPRESENTING THAT
AREA THERE IS AN UNDERCURRENT
OF, I THINK MISCONDUCT. UH, ARE
YOU? ARE YOU EXPERIENCED IN AND
CAPABLE OF WHAT AMOUNTS TO
ALMOST A PUBLIC SAFETY KIND OF
INQUIRY OR OR OR DISTRICT
ATTORNEY INQUIRY. I MEAN, IT
SEEMS LIKE THERE'S THIS
UNDERCURRENT OF CONCERN THAT THE
PROCESSES IN THE SYSTEMS ARE
THROWING COUNCIL MEMBERS
TOGETHER WITH PERMIT EASE AND
SOMETHING NOT KIND OF HAPPENING,
RIGHT? HAVE YOU HAVE YOU DONE
SIMILAR AUDITS LIKE THAT? WE'RE
CURRENTLY DOING AN AUDIT THAT'S
REQUIRED BY STATUTE THAT FOCUSES
ON CANNABIS GRANT PROGRAM. BUT
IN TERMS OF THE SPECIFIC
OBJECTIVES IN THIS REQUEST, I
CAN'T RECALL ONE SPECIFICALLY
LIKE THIS. YOUR QUESTION ABOUT
METHODOLOGY AND WHAT SIX
JURISDICTIONS WE WANT TO VISIT.
CLEARLY I THINK LOOKING AT SOME
JURISDICTIONS WERE PERHAPS
THERE'S SOME INDICATORS OF
PROBLEMS ALREADY. THAT WOULD BE
INSIGHTFUL, BUT ALSO MAKING SURE
THAT WE'RE SELECTING
ORGANIZATIONS IN JURISDICTIONS
WHERE THERE HAVEN'T BEEN REPORTS
OF PROBLEMS. I THINK WE'RE
TRYING TO SELECT A GROUP OF
JURISDICTIONS WHERE WE CAN SEE
THE WIDE PARAMETERS OF YOU KNOW
WHAT WORKS WELL, AND WHAT
DOESN'T WORK? WELL, WE DON'T
WANT TO JUST BE FOCUSING ONLY ON
THOSE WHERE THERE ARE
INDICATIONS OF PROBLEMS BECAUSE
WE ALSO WANT TO IDENTIFY
OPPORTUNITIES TO FIND BEST
PRACTICES. UM PRESIDENT, NOW THE
FIFTH LARGEST CITY IN THE STATE
OF CALIFORNIA. IT'S THE CAPITAL
CITY OF A SIGNIFICANT REGION OF
THE STATE. FOR WHATEVER IT'S
WORTH, I THINK THE FRESNO REGION
OUGHT TO BE CONSIDERED AS PART
OF THAT, FOR THE REASONS YOU
JUST OUTLINED. THANK YOU. I
THINK JUST WHEN I HAD AS A
SUGGESTION, I WOULD SAY I HAVE
MY OWN. IDEAS OF WHICH, BUT
MAYBE JUST TO START WITH THE
FOUR. C'S, UH CALIFORNIA CORRUPT
CANNABIS CITIES. IF YOU GOOGLE
THAT YOU'LL PROBABLY GET A WHOLE
LIST OF WHERE YOU CAN START THE
FOUR C'S. I HOPE WE'RE NOT IN
THAT POOL AND THEN YOU CAN GO
FROM THERE ARE UNDERCURRENTS OF
IMPLEMENTATION IS ALWAYS THIS
CHATTER WHEN REGULATORY
PERMITTING. TRIES TO BE USED TO
EITHER HELP BUT COMPETITOR OR
HER COMPETITOR. I THINK THAT
THIS IS IMPORTANT. WHETHER THAT
WHATEVER PERMITTING ABOUT A CITY
MIGHT BE MIGHT BE GIVEN. HE'S
GOT TO BE FAIR, TRANSPARENT AND
IT'S GOT TO BE ABOVE SUSPICION,
AND THAT'S WHY WE WANT THEM TO
CHOOSE. THANK YOU, MR PATTERSON
. GONZALEZ YES, THANK YOU, MR
CHAIR, AND I TOO WANT TO THANK
THE ASSEMBLY MEMBER FOR BRINGING
THIS FORWARD. I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN
WORKING ON THIS FOR SOME TIME
JUST TO GET IT RIGHT. AND I
THINK I AGREE WHOLEHEARTEDLY
WITH MR PATTERSON AS WELL IN
TERMS OF WHAT THE METHODOLOGY
WILL LOOK LIKE. OBVIOUSLY WE'VE
HAD SOME PROBLEMS BACK HOME THAT
HAVE BEEN HIGHLIGHTED IN THE
TIMES. AND BUT I DO THINK THERE
ARE SOME PROBLEMS THAT WE DON'T
KNOW ABOUT AT ALL THAT HAVE NOT
BEEN HIGHLIGHTED. I THINK TWO
RESPECTED TO THE TO THE
AUDITORS, UM, COMMENTS AS WELL.
BUT I LOOK FORWARD TO REALLY
FIGURING OUT WHAT WE CAN DO WITH
THESE SIX CITIES. I KNOW. UM AT
THE END OF THE DAY. THESE ARE
INCREDIBLE COMMUNITIES, BUT JUST
HAVE. UNFORTUNATELY UNSCRUPULOUS
ACTIVITY HAPPENING IN THESE
INCREDIBLY WONDERFUL COMMUNITIES
. SO I THANK YOU FOR BRINGING IT
FORWARD AND I LOOK FORWARD TO
WORKING WITH YOU AND FIND AND
FIGURING OUT THE FINDINGS FROM
THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE. SO THANK
YOU AGAIN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU,
MISS GONZALES. ARE THERE ANY
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO WANT
TO MAKE A COMMENT ON THIS? RIGHT
SEE NONE. THEN MR JONES LAWYER
ANY CLOSING REMARKS, RESPECT FOR
THE A THREE I VOTE. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. UH, WE HAVE A MOTION
BY MR PATTERSON. SECOND BY MR
HOOVER. UH, SECRETARY, PLEASE.
COLORADO. THE MOTION IS TO
APPROVE AUDIT. 2023 SLASH 1 16
LOCAL GOVERNMENT CANNABIS
LICENSING BY SIMILAR MEMBER JOHN
SAWYER. SINGLE MEMBER ALVAREZ
LOVERS. I BOERNER HORVATH HOOVER
. HOOVER. I PATERSON PATERSON. I
RUBIO. VALENCIA. YES WHAT?
SENATOR BLAKE SPEAR ORTEZ E.
EGGMAN. GONZALEZ GONZALEZ II,
LAIRD SORTO WILK. WILL BE ON
CALL OF RULE. THE COMMITTEE IS
THAT THE MAJORITY OF SENATE AND
ASSEMBLY VOTE I SO WE'LL HAVE AN
ON CALL. OKAY. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. THANK YOU CALL YOU UP NOW,
BEFORE SOMEBODY WALKS UP SOME OF
OUR, UH BAUER-KAHAN HAS A
REQUEST FOR US TODAY. THIS IS
ITEM ON THE AGENDA. ITEM NUMBER
FIVE. IT'S UH, TO REQUEST 103
DEPARTMENTS, HEALTHCARE SERVICES
AND PUBLIC HEALTH COMPREHENSIVE
PERINATAL SERVICES PROGRAM.
PLEASE PROCEED. THANK YOU, MR
CHAIR AND MEMBER AND THANK YOU.
I THINK THIS IS MY FIRST TIME
BEFORE THIS COMMITTEE IN MY TIME
IN THE LEGISLATURE. IT'S BEEN
FUN TO SIT HERE AND LISTEN. YOU
DO IMPORTANT WORK? UH SO I'M
PROUD TO PRESENT MY REQUEST FOR
THE STATE AUDITOR TO REVIEW THE
COMPREHENSIVE PARENT. IT'LL
SERVICES PROGRAM ADMINISTERED BY
THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH CARE
SERVICES AND THE CALIFORNIA
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH. THE
COMPREHENSIVE PERINATAL SERVICES
. MEDICAL BENEFIT COVERS
PSYCHOSOCIAL SERVICES TO ADDRESS
SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH,
BREASTFEEDING AND EDUCATION FOR
NEW PARENTS. WITHOUT THIS AUDIT
, WOMEN'S LIVES ARE LITERALLY AT
STAKE. AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMEN IN
CALIFORNIA ARE 3 TO 4 TIMES AS
LIKELY AS CALIFORNIA WOMEN OF
OTHER RACES OR ETHNICITIES TO
DIE DURING PREGNANCY OR DURING
THE YEAR AFTER THE RATE OF
PREGNANCY RELATED DEATHS. RATES
FOR THOSE COVERED BY MEDICAL IS
NEARLY DOUBLE THE RATES FOR
THOSE WITH PRIVATE INSURANCE.
MEDICAL NEEDS A RIGOROUSLY
IMPLEMENTED CPS PROGRAM BENEFIT
TO A DRAFT THESE GRAVE HEALTH
DISPARITIES. DESPITE THESE KNEES
D H. D S AND D PH HAVE FAILED TO
PROVIDE ACCURATE DATA ABOUT
PROGRAM UTILIZATION AND
COMMUNICATION WITH PATIENTS AND
PROVIDERS ABOUT PROGRAM
ELIGIBILITY. THOUSANDS OF
PATIENTS MAY BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE
PROGRAM WITHOUT KNOWING IT OR
MAY NOT BE GETTING THE SERVICES
THEY NEED TO THE LACK OF AN
ADEQUATE REPORTING. THE STATE
HAS LITTLE WAY TO KNOW THE AUDIT
IS NEEDED MORE THAN EVER ON
APRIL 1ST 2022 ELIGIBILITY FOR
MEDICAL HOW HAS BEEN EXPANDED
FROM 60 DAYS TO ONE YEAR DAYS?
POSTPARTUM ONE YEAR POSTPARTUM
WITH THE PASSAGE OF SENATOR
SKINNER'S AMAZING MOM. NERVOUS,
BILL. THIS IS A THERE IS A HUGE
ACCESS GAP FOR THIS CRITICAL
BENEFIT A GAP THAT ENDANGERS
LIVES, AND WE CAN SUPPORT FOR
NEW MOTHERS. THE STATE MUST STEP
IN WITH AN AUDIT TO ENSURE THIS
PROGRAM IS STRONG ENOUGH TO
SUPPORT OUR STATE'S MATERNAL
HEALTH NEEDS WITH ME AND SUPPORT
IS LUCY KWACHA NELLA WITH
MATERNAL HEALTH ACCESS. CHAIR
AND MEMBERS LUCY KUANTAN, ELLA
ON BEHALF OF MATERNAL AND CHILD
HEALTH ACCESS AND STRONG SUPPORT
OF THE ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S REQUEST
FOR AN AUDIT OF THE MEDICAL
BENEFIT, ALSO KNOWN AS THE
COMPREHENSIVE PERINATAL SERVICES
PROGRAM, M. C. H'S HEALTH
NAVIGATORS AND HOME VISITORS
ASSIST OVER 1000 INDIVIDUALS A
MONTH IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY. IN
M C. H'S EXPERIENCE MANY MEDICAL
ENROLLEES WHO NEED THE SUPPORT
COVERED BY THIS COMPREHENSIVE
PERINATAL SERVICES BENEFIT ARE
NOT OFFERED IT. WE FIND A GREAT
UNMET NEED DURING PREGNANCY FOR
HELP WITH SOCIAL CONDITIONS THAT
IMPACT HEALTH, SUCH AS FOOD
INSECURITY. NOT HAVING A REGULAR
PLACE TO SLEEP OR BEING
HOMELESS. HAVING TO MOVE DUE TO
PROBLEMS PAYING THE RENT OR YOUR
MORTGAGE, LOSING A JOB OR NOT
HAVING ANY PRACTICAL OR
EMOTIONAL SUPPORT. STATE DATA
CONFIRM WHAT WE SEE IN THE FIELD
FAMILIES WITH MEDICAL DURING
PREGNANCY BEAR A
DISPROPORTIONATE BURDEN OF
SOCIAL NEEDS WITHOUT HELP AND
EARLY INTERVENTION. THE
RESULTING ANXIETY AND STRESS CAN
LEAD TO SEVERE MATERNAL
DEPRESSION. SUICIDE IS A LEASING
LEADING CAUSE OF PERINATAL
RELATED DEATHS IN CALIFORNIA.
COVID HAS ONLY MADE THE
SITUATION WORSE, A RECENT CDC
REPORT FOUND THAT U. S MATERNAL
MORTALITY RATES INCREASED NEARLY
40% DURING THE PANDEMIC. UNDER
THIS MEDICAL BENEFIT,
COMPREHENSIVE PERINATAL HEALTH
WORKERS ARE PART OF THE
PREGNANCY CARE TEAM. THEY CAN
HELP ADDRESS SOCIAL NEEDS BEFORE
THE IMPACTS, WORSEN A PERSON'S
HEALTH OR REQUIRE HIGHER LEVELS
OF CARE FROM PSYCHIATRIST, OTHER
DOCTORS OR NURSES. SEE PSP THIS
PART OF THE MEDICAL BENEFIT HAS
BEEN IN THE CODE AND IN OUR
FEDERALLY APPROVED STATE MEDICAL
PLAN SINCE THE EARLY 19
NINETIES. BUT THE DEPARTMENT OF
HEALTH CARE SERVICES HAS NOT
INCLUDED THIS BENEFIT IN THE
HEALTH PLAN AUDITS UNTIL THIS
YEAR, 2023 D. H. C S STILL DOES
NOT REVIEW AVAILABLE FEE FOR
SERVICE DATA ABOUT CPS P ALL
MEDICAL BENEFICIARY SHOULD BE
OFFERED CPS PS SUPPORTIVE
SERVICES. IF THEY NEED AND WISH
TO RECEIVE THEM. THE CURRENT
LACK OF OVERSIGHT NEEDS TO BE
REMEDIED. WE RESPECTFULLY ASK
FOR YOUR VOTES. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH. ANY OTHER
WITNESSES. WE HAVE TODAY. NOW
OKAY, THEN I'LL GO OVER TO OUR
STATE AUDITOR FOR REPORT. THANK
YOU. CHAIRMAN ALVAREZ MEMBER
ABOUT BAUER-KAHAN, REQUESTING AN
AUDIT OF THE PERIOD NATAL
SERVICES PROGRAM. I THINK WE'LL
START OFF THE AUDIT WITH
OBTAINING MEDICAL DATA FROM THE
STATE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT
UTILIZATION RATE DATA FOR THOSE
THAT ARE GETTING SERVICES
THROUGH A MANAGED CARE PLAN
VERSUS FEE FOR SERVICE AND
LOOKING AT SERVICE DELIVERY AT
THE PREGNANCY PERIOD AND ALSO
POSTPARTUM AT 60 DAYS AND ALSO
DURING 12 MONTHS, POSTPARTUM. WE
WILL ALSO BE EVALUATING THE
GUIDANCE THAT THE STATE HAS BEEN
PROVIDING TO PROVIDERS TO MAKE
SURE THAT THEY'RE AWARE OF THE
VARIOUS COMPONENTS SERVICES OF
THE PROGRAM, WHETHER THAT'S
NUTRITION COUNSELING OR
PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES, HEALTH
EDUCATION AND ALSO TAKING A
REALLY HARD LOOK AT WHAT
ENFORCEMENT MECHANISMS ARE
AVAILABLE TO THE STATE. IF WE
FIND INSTANCES WHERE PROVIDERS
AREN'T PROVIDING THE LEVEL OF
SERVICES THAT THEY'RE REQUIRED
TO AND AS THE MEMBER MENTIONED,
YOU KNOW, THERE ARE THESE
PERINATAL SERVICE COORDINATORS
WHO ARE OUT THERE DOING WORK AT
I BELIEVE THESE LOCAL HEALTH
JURISDICTIONS UNDERSTANDING WHAT
THE RESULTS OF THEIR REVIEWS
HAVE BEEN, AND TO WHAT EXTENT
THAT INFORMATION HAS BEEN SHARED
WITH THE STATE AND WHAT THE
STATE HAS DONE WITH THAT
INFORMATION WILL BE A KEY PART
OF OUR AUDIT, BUT OVERALL, IT'S
A MODEST NUMBER OF AUDIT
OBJECTIVES. I'M ANTICIPATING A
ROUGHLY 3000 HOURS AND SIX
MONTHS TO COMPLETE AND I HAVE
THE STAFF TO DO THE WORK. THANK
YOU, MR PARKS. UH DO WE HAVE
EFFECTED AGENCY? HERE THAT LIKE
TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM. WELCOME TO
JOIN THE TABLE HERE. PLEASE
INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND PROVIDE
YOUR TESTIMONY. HIGH MORAL FARSI
WITH THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT
OF PUBLIC HEALTH, HAPPY TO
ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS AND SHOULD
THE COMMITTEE PASS THIS WEEK BE
HAPPY TO COMPLY WITH THE
AUDITORS? REQUESTS? THANK YOU.
HI MELISSA ROWLAND, ASSISTANT
DEPUTY DIRECTOR FOR THE
LEGISLATIVE OFFICE AT DEPARTMENT
OF HEALTH CARE SERVICES, ECHOING
THE SAME COMMENTS AS MY
COLLEAGUE FROM CD PH. UM AND
WE'RE HAPPY TO WORK WITH THE, UH
, THE AUDITOR AND THE COMMITTEE
IF IT'S APPROVED. THANK YOU AS
WELL. APPRECIATE YOU BOTH BEING
HERE WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FROM
THE COMMITTEE. VICE CHAIR SEEMS
REALLY IMPORTANT. AND I'M GLAD
YOU BROUGHT IT FORWARD. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU, SENATOR. ANY
OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS.
OKAY. ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS ON
THIS? BUT IN THE PUBLIC WISHING
TO COMMENT ON THIS ITEM SEEN
NONE WILL ANY CLOSING REMARKS BY
SPARKING RESPECTFULLY ASK YOUR
EYE, BUT THANK YOU. I'LL MOVE IT
HAVE EMOTION BY VICE CHAIR AND
SECONDED BY MS GONZALEZ. PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL. THE MOTION IS TO
APPROVE AUDIT 2023 SLASH ONE OH
THREE DEPARTMENTS OF HEALTH CARE
SERVICES AND PUBLIC HEALTH
COMPREHENSIVE PERINATAL SERVICES
PROGRAM BY ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S
BAUER-KAHAN. REMEMBER ALVAREZ, I
BOERNER HORVATH HOOVER.
PATERSON. HARRISON. I RUBIO.
VALENCIA. GUESS WHAT. SENATOR
BLAKE SPEAR, CORTESI. EGGMAN
GONZALES SALAS? AYE LAIRD, SARTO
WILK. MUST BE HELD ON CALL.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE WILL
TAKE A COUPLE OF MINUTE RECESS
WILL BE RIGHT BACK. TAKE CARE OF
PREGNANT, OKAY?
YEAH. ALL RIGHT. IN ORDER TO
KEEP US MOVING, I'M GONNA LIFT
THE CALL ON AUDITS. UM,
SECRETARY, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL
ON THE ABSENT MEMBERS. ON CALL
MOTION TO APPROVE AUDIT 2023.
SLASH ONE OH THREE DEPARTMENTS
OF HEALTH CARE SERVICES AND
PUBLIC HEALTH COMPREHENSIVE
PERINATAL SERVICES PROGRAM BY
SOME OF THE MEMBER OF
BAUER-KAHAN. SIMILAR
BOERNER HORVATH. HOOVER. RUBIO
WOULD SENATOR CORTEZ E. EGGMAN.
THE ARTO ARTO. I WILL.
SO THE ITEMS STILL ON CALL. ITEM
ONE. OH, THREE STILL ON CALL?
CHOLERA ON THE OTHER ITEM. 2023
SLASH 1 16 LOCAL GOVERNMENT
CANNABIS LICENSING BY
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S JOAN SAWYER.
BOERNER HORVATH RUBIO WOULD
SENATOR CORTESI. EGGMAN. THE
ORTO. YOU'RE WELCOME. THAT ITEM
IS APPROVED. WE HAVE EIGHT VOTES
FOR IN THE SENATE FOR THE
ASSEMBLY.
JUST SO EVERYONE IS AWARE WE'RE
WAITING FOR THE THREE. UH
SENATORS WOULD LAST REMAINING
REQUESTS. UH SENATOR COURT EASY,
UH, AGENDA ITEM BEFORE, WHICH IS
AUDIT. 2023 1 OH TWO STATE,
LOCAL GOVERNMENT HOMELESSNESS
FUNDING. ITEM NUMBER SIX, WHICH
IS 2023 1. OH FOUR. CALIFORNIA
LABOR COMMISSION'S OFFICE
BACKLOG OF WAGE STEP, WHICH IS
SENATOR GLASER. AND ITEM EIGHT.
OUR AGENDA, WHICH IS 2023-1, 10
FT. OF DEATH AND STILLBIRTH
CERTIFICATES BY SENATOR ASHBURN.
AS SOON AS ANY ONE OF THOSE
CENTERS ARRIVES. WE WILL BEGIN
WITH THAT ITEM.
SECRETARY PLEASE CALL THE LIST
FOR ADONDE FOR ITEM NUMBER. NINE
ON YOUR AGENDA, DEPARTMENT OF
HOUSING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
MOBILE HOME RESIDENCY LAW
PROTECTION PROGRAM. ANY ADD ONS,
PLEASE. COLORADO. 23 SLASH 1 12
DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING, COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT MOBILE HOME
RESIDENCY LAW PROTECTION PROGRAM
BY SENATOR SEYARTO
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S VALENCIA. YES.
WHAT. STARTED WELCOME. AUDIT 23
SLASH ONE OF THREE DEPARTMENTS
OF HEALTH CARE SERVICES AND
PUBLIC HEALTH COMPREHENSIVE
PERINATAL SERVICES PROGRAM BY
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S BAUER-KAHAN.
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S
BOERNER HORVATH. REMEMBER
HOOVER. RUBIO. WELL, THEN CIA.
WHAT. ALRIGHT WE'RE STILL GONNA
HOLD THAT OPEN.
THAT'S RIGHT.
WE'RE GONNA TRY TO DO ITEMS
PLACED ON CALL ONCE AGAIN WITH
THE NEW MEMBERS PRESENT
SECRETARY. PLEASE CALL THE ROAD.
AUDIT 2023 SLASH ONE OH THREE
DEPARTMENTS OF HEALTH CARE
SERVICES AND PUBLIC HEALTH
COMPREHENSIVE PERINATAL SERVICES
PROGRAM BY ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S
BAUER-KAHAN. SIMILAR MEMBER
BOERNER HORVATH. HOOVER. I, ER I
RUBIO. WOULD WOULD I? SENATOR
CORTEZ E. EGGMAN. WELCOME.
SWIMMER BAR CANS REQUEST HAS
BEEN APPROVED WITH A TOTAL OF
NINE VOTES.
ALL RIGHT. WELCOME BACK,
EVERYBODY. WE WILL TAKE THE ITEM
NUMBER FOUR ON OUR AGENDA, WHICH
IS AUDIT REQUEST. 2023 1. OH,
TWO STATE, LOCAL GOVERNMENT
HOMELESSNESS. FUNDING BY SENATOR
COURT EASY. SENATOR, PLEASE, UM
. COMPORTED THERE ARE ANY
WITNESSES IN SUPPORT. YOU ALSO
CAN JOIN THE SENATOR AT THE
TABLE HERE.
WE'LL GET HERE. SENATOR CORTEZ
E. PLEASE PROCEED. THANK YOU.
AND GOOD MORNING, MR CHAIR AND
MEMBERS HAVE BEEN COMING IN AND
OUT HOW SHE HAS HAD A CHANCE TO
SAY GOOD MORNING TO EACH AND
EVERY ONE OF YOU SO CHECK THAT
OFF. I'M HERE TODAY TO PRESENT
THE STATE AUDIT REQUESTS RELATED
TO PUBLIC HOMELESSNESS FUNDS.
BUT WITH THE REQUEST MY
COLLEAGUES AND I, WHO ARE
ASSIGNED ON WOULD LIKE TO KNOW
HOW THE STATE AS WELL AS
MUNICIPALITIES, INCLUDING MY
HOME DISTRICT MUNICIPALITY. SAN
JOSE. HAVE YOU STATE, FEDERAL
AND LOCAL FUNDS TO ADDRESS THE
HOMELESSNESS CRISIS AND, MORE
IMPORTANTLY, HOW EFFECTIVE THE
INVESTMENT OF PUBLIC FUNDS HAS
BEEN TO DATE. ABOUT ONE YEAR
AGO. I TOOK A TOUR OF SAN JOSE'S
COLUMBUS PARK ENCAMPMENT IN MY
DISTRICT AND WITHIN THE CITY OF
SAN JOSE. WHICH WAS ONE OF THE
LARGEST HOMELESS ENCAMPMENTS IN
THE STATE OF THE TIME. UM AS I
UNDERSTOOD IT, THEN THE LARGEST
AND HOMELESS ENCAMPMENT IN THE
CITY OF SAN JOSE AT THE TIME.
WE'VE ALL SEEN HOMELESS
ENCAMPMENTS, BUT WHAT I SAW WAS
FAR WORSE. UH THEN A TENT CITY.
IT WAS A PUBLIC HEALTH DISASTER.
RODENTS RUNNING AROUND YOUR
FEET. MASSIVE PILES OF TRASH.
TONS OF BROKEN RVS AND ABANDONED
CARS. CARS TURNED UPSIDE DOWN
WITH PEOPLE LIVING INSIDE. THESE
HOMELESS ENCAMPMENTS ARE NOT
SAFE. THEY'RE NOT HUMANE. WE ALL
KNOW THAT. THEY'RE ACTUALLY
BRUTAL AND UNACCEPTABLE. THE
PEOPLE LIVING IN THESE AWFUL
CONDITIONS DESERVE BETTER. AND
WE CAN DO BETTER, REALLY, AS A
MATTER OF DECENCY. IN 2019 SAN
JOSE SAW 40% INCREASE IN ITS OWN
HOUSE POPULATION FROM 43 54,350
INDIVIDUALS TO 6097 JUST THE ONE
YEAR SNAPSHOT POINT IN TIME.
THOSE NUMBERS UH, GO UP AND DOWN
BUT HAVE GRADUALLY GONE UP OVER
THE YEARS, JUST LIKE OTHER PARTS
OF THE STATE. ACCORDING TO
HOMELESS CENSUS DATA RELEASED
LAST YEAR, THAT NUMBER INCREASED
TO NEARLY 7000 HOUSE
INDIVIDUALS. IN ACCOUNTS FOR THE
MAJORITY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY'S
10,000 ON HOUSED INDIVIDUALS. TO
MAKE MATTERS EVEN WORSE FOR
EVERY PERSON CONNECTED TO
HOUSING. TWO MORE EXPERIENCE
HOMELESSNESS FOR THE FIRST TIME.
BUT TO ADD THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA HAS SPENT NEARLY $10
BILLION OR MORE. YEAH, I
SCRATCHED THE NEARLY OVER THE
LAST FIVE YEARS ON HOMELESSNESS.
THAT'S AN UNPRECEDENTED
INVESTMENT FOR A PROBLEM THAT
GREW OUT OF DECADES OF NEGLECT.
THAT STATE INVESTMENT INCLUDING
PROJECT HOME KEY, WHICH GAVE
MONEY TO COMMUNITIES FOR HOUSING
AND HOMELESSNESS. SAN JOSE IS
THE THIRD ARTIST CITY IN
CALIFORNIA, SO THE CITY WOULD
PRESUMABLY RECEIVE A SIGNIFICANT
SHARE OF THIS PUBLIC FUNDING.
RESIDENTS DESERVE TO KNOW HOW
THE DOLLARS ARE GETTING THERE
AND HOW THEY'RE BEING INVESTED.
WHAT'S WORKING AND WHAT'S NOT.
AND I THINK WE NEED TO KNOW THAT
AS WELL. ADDING TRANSPARENCY
WILL HELP BOTH THE STATE AND
LOCAL JURISDICTIONS WORK
TOGETHER TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO
BEST SPEND THESE DOLLARS GOING
FORWARD. WE WANT TO SHELTER THE
LARGEST NUMBER OF PEOPLE
POSSIBLE, GET THEM INTO
PERMANENT HOUSING AND WRAPAROUND
SERVICES. I THINK THAT'S A
GENERAL CONSENSUS. WAR REGION IS
BUILDING PERMANENT, SUPPORTIVE
HOUSING IS COMPLETELY
INCOMPETENTLY AS ANY COMMUNITY
IN THE STATE. THE REALITY MAY BE
SEVERAL YEARS BEFORE MOST OF
THESE HOUSING UNITS ARE READY.
MEANWHILE WE HAVE TOO MANY
PEOPLE LIVING OUT IN THE
ELEMENTS AND CONDITIONS LIKE WE
SEE RIGHT OUTSIDE TODAY. WE NEED
TRANSPARENCY. WE NEED TO KNOW
WHICH STRATEGIES HAVE WORKED
BEST. WE NEED TO KNOW HOW WE CAN
IMPROVE OUR FUTURE EFFORTS. I
THINK WE NEED THIS ACTION NOW.
INVITED THESE CONDITIONS OF THE
EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT USE OF
EXTERNAL FUNDS TO ADDRESS
HOMELESSNESS IS OF CRITICAL
IMPORTANCE. WE RESPECTFULLY
REQUEST YOUR SUPPORT TO EXAMINE
REVIEW THE STATES AND TO
MUNICIPALITIES USE PUBLIC
DOLLARS FOR HOMELESSNESS, ONE
AGAIN BEING MY OWN CITY, THE
CITY OF SAN JOSE WITHIN
SENATE-DISTRICT 15. I WANT TO,
UH PAUSE. AND JUST PUNCTUATE
WITH A SENSE OF URGENCY. THAT
PERHAPS MY GREATEST CONCERN WITH
THIS UNPRECEDENTED LEVEL OF
INVESTMENT IS THAT WE CHECK IN
NOW, NOT FOUR YEARS FROM NOW OR
FIVE YEARS FROM NOW, AT A TIME.
UM, WHEN IT MAY BE TOO LATE TO
REDIRECT FUNDS THAT ARE OUT THE
DOOR. IF INDEED WE SHOULD HAVE
DONE THAT. I HAVE HERE WITH ME
TODAY, GAIL. AWESOME. ER, SAN
JOSE HOMELESS ADVOCATE. SHE WAS
ACTUALLY WITH ME ON THE TOUR
MENTIONED DURING MY PRESENTATION
, SHE CONSIDER MORE CONTACTS
ABOUT WHAT'S BEEN HAPPENING IN
THE DISTRICT. THANK YOU, MR
CHAIR. THANK YOU. MR PARKS.
THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN ALVAREZ.
THIS IS A FAIRLY COMPREHENSIVE
AUDIT. OUR APPROACH WOULD START
OFF AT THE STATE LEVEL, TRYING
TO EVALUATE THE ROLES AND
RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE
INTERAGENCY COUNCIL ON
HOMELESSNESS, FOCUSING ON THE
MEASURES USED BY THE STATE TO
CALCULATE THE COST EFFECTIVENESS
OF ITS PROGRAMS AND WHETHER
EXISTING STATE AND FEDERAL LAWS
IMPEDE THE ABILITY TO TRACK AND
ASSESS THE POPULATION THAT ARE
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
THERE'S ALSO BEEN A REQUEST FOR
OUR OFFICE TO TRY AND DETERMINE
HOW MANY INDIVIDUALS HAVE
ACTUALLY RECEIVED SHELTER
SERVICES OVER A THREE YEAR
PERIOD FROM 2021 THROUGH 22 23.
AS THE MEMBER MENTIONED, WE'D
ALSO BE MOVING ON, NOT JUST TO
LOOK AT THE STATE LEVEL BUT ALSO
AT TWO CITIES SAN JOSE AND ONE
TO BE DETERMINED BY MY OFFICE AS
A PART OF THAT REVIEW, WITH THE
LOOKING AT HOW THOSE CITIES HAVE
BEEN SPENDING FEDERAL AND STATE
FUNDING, SO NON CITY SOURCES
PROJECTS SUCH AS PROJECT ROOM
KEY HOME KEY AND OTHER PROGRAMS
TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE PROGRAMS
ARE BEING RUN IN COMPLIANCE WITH
THE RULES THAT OPERATE THOSE
PROGRAMS WOULD ALSO BE LOOKING
TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT HOW
MUCH OF THE FUNDING HAS BEEN
USED FOR PROGRAM DELIVERY VERSUS
CITY OVERHEAD AND ADMINISTRATION
MOVING ON FROM NON CITY SOURCES
. WE'D ALSO BE LOOKING AT CITY
SOURCES THAT HAVE BEEN
CONTRIBUTED TO ADDRESS THE
HOMELESSNESS PROBLEM, ALSO OVER
A THREE YEAR PERIOD. AGAIN
FOCUSING ON ADMINISTRATION
VERSUS SERVICE DELIVERY, AND I
THINK AN IMPORTANT ASPECT OF THE
REQUEST ALSO HAS US EVALUATE THE
FUNDING THAT'S BEEN DEDICATED TO
THE HEALTH AND SAFETY
IMPLICATIONS OF HOMELESSNESS
ENCAMPMENTS TO MAKE SURE THAT IT
IS A SAFE ENVIRONMENT OR IS AS
SAFE AS IT CAN BE, AND WHETHER
OR NOT THERE'S OPPORTUNITIES TO
LOOK THERE AS WELL. AND THERE
ARE SEVERAL OTHER OBJECTIVES
ASSOCIATED WITH THE AUDIT, AMONG
THEM GETTING DATA ON THE
SPECIFIC OUTCOMES OF EACH CITY
IN TERMS OF PERFORMANCE METRICS.
TRYING TO FIGURE OUT DATA POINTS
SUCH AS THE RATE OF PLACING
INDIVIDUALS INTO SHELTERS AND
HOW LONG IT TAKES THEM TO DO SO.
THERE'S A NUMBER OF REQUESTS
SEEKING DEMOGRAPHIC DATA ON
THOSE WHO ARE BEING SERVED AND
WHETHER OR NOT THERE ARE ANY
HOMELESSNESS GROUPS THAT ARE
UNDERSERVED. AND FINALLY,
THERE'S A AUDIT OBJECTIVE THAT
ASKS US TO EVALUATE HOW CITIES
GO ABOUT DECIDING AND PLACING
HOMELESSNESS SITES. AND WHETHER
THOSE ARE EVENLY DISTRIBUTED
THROUGHOUT THE CITY OR MORE
SPECIFICALLY HOW THOSE
PROCEDURES AT THOSE
JURISDICTIONS TAKE PLACE. BUT
OVERALL, IT'S A FAIRLY LARGE
AUDIT WITH OVER 20 A UNIQUE
AUDIT OBJECTIVES. SOME OF THESE
OBJECTIVES SPAN MULTIPLE YEARS.
IT'S GOING TO REQUIRE ME TO PUT
A LARGE TEAM. I HAVE THE STAFF
TO DO IT. BUT I'M PRELIMINARILY
ESTIMATING ABOUT 5000 HOURS AND
6 TO 7 MONTHS. THANK YOU. MR
PARKS. APPRECIATE THAT. WELL DO
WE HAVE THE AGENCY? UM ANY
AGENCY COMMENTS THIS MOMENT?
PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF. HERE.
WELCOME. YEP. GOOD MORNING.
CHAIR LIVER IS BEST CHAIR FLAKES
PEER PLEASURE COMMITTEE. MY NAME
IS MILES WHITE. I'M TESTIFYING
ON BEHALF OF THE CALIFORNIA
INDIAN COUNCIL ON HOMELESSNESS.
WE APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO
BE ABLE TO RESPOND TO THIS AUDIT
REQUESTS TODAY. SO WHILE THE
REQUEST IS SPECIFIC TO LOCAL
ACTIVITIES WITHIN SAN JOSE,
LET'S SHARE A FEW REMARKS ABOUT
OUR EFFORTS AT THE STATE LEVEL.
SPECIFICALLY OUR EFFORTS OVER
THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS REALLY
ROOTED IN HOUSING HOUSING THAT
IS AFFORDABLE AND HOUSING IS
ATTAINABLE. ULTIMATELY FROM 2019
THROUGH 2021, THE STATE IS
DIRECTLY FINANCED APPROXIMATELY
60,000 PERMANENT HOUSING UNITS
WITH ANOTHER 20,000 UNITS
AWARDED AND IN THE PIPELINE.
THESE ARE JUST UNITS DIRECTLY
FINANCED BY THE STATE OF THESE
EFFORTS HAVE ALSO BEEN
COMPLEMENTED BY EFFORTS FROM
THIS BODY LEGISLATURE ON
REGULATORY, STREAMLINING AND
PROJECT DELIVERY IN REMOVING
ULTIMATELY, BARRIERS AND
IMPEDIMENTS TO DEVELOPMENT.
THESE EFFORTS HAVE REALLY BEEN
STRATEGICALLY PAIRED WITH
FLEXIBLE, HOMELESSNESS SAID,
WHICH PROVIDES THE NECESSARY
SERVICES TO ACTUALLY SUPPORT
THESE LONG TERM CAPITAL
SUBSIDIES THAT HAVE REGULATORY
COVENANTS SPANNING 55 YEARS. SO
WELL, THIS PROGRESS HAS BEEN
CAPTURED THROUGH A LOT OF RECENT
POLICY INITIATIVES THAT DIRECTLY
RELATE TO THE SCOPE OF THIS
AUDIT REQUEST. EARLIER THIS YEAR
, THE STATE RELEASED ITS FIRST
HOMELESSNESS, LANDSCAPE
ASSESSMENT, AND THAT ASSESSMENT
WAS WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE
LEGISLATURE AND APPROPRIATION IN
FISCAL YEAR 2021. TEST THE
COUNCIL TO EVALUATE 35 STATE
PROGRAMS ULTIMATELY SPENDING
NINE DIFFERENT AGENCIES THROUGH
THREE FISCAL YEARS. STARTING
WITH FISCAL YEAR 2018 19 AND
FISCAL YEAR 2020 2021 IN THESE
EFFORTS HAVE REALLY BEEN
COMPLEMENTED. SIMILARLY THROUGH
THE LOCAL ACTION PLANS THAT WE
REQUIRED LOCAL LOCALITIES,
INCLUDING CITIES, COUNTIES AND
CONTINUUM OF CARE. TO CONDUCT
THROUGH THERE AS A CONDITION OF
FUNDING FOR THEIR FLEXIBLE STATE
AID THROUGH THE HAT PROGRAM
ADMINISTERED BY THE COUNCIL.
THESE LOCAL ACTION PLANS ARE
SPECIFIC TO INCLUDING FISCAL
ANALYSIS SECTIONS, WHICH REALLY
LOOK AT FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL
RESOURCES AVAILABLE, SO REALLY
THE TOTALITY OF FUNDS THAT ARE
NECESSARY TO PAIR ULTIMATELY
WHETHER IT'S THROUGH FEDERAL
RESOURCES TO HIDE STATE FUNDING
THROUGH MY AGENCY, HCG, AMONG
OTHERS IN THE ADMINISTRATION AND
LOCAL RESOURCES, SUCH AS
MEASURES E, WHICH HAS BEEN
IDENTIFIED IN THE AUDIT. SO
ULTIMATELY, A LOT OF THESE
EFFORTS THAT WE'RE PROUD OF IN
THE PROGRESS WE'VE MADE IS STATE
LAST SEVERAL YEARS HAS BEEN
CAPTURED THROUGH DIFFERENT
REPORTING MECHANISMS WE HAVE IN
PLACE AND ALSO STANDARDIZED
THROUGH THE COLLECTION OF THIS
DATA AT THE STATE LEVEL ON
AGGREGATE THROUGH THE HOMELESS
DATA INTEGRATION SYSTEM. SO WITH
THAT IN CONCLUDING, UH, WE'RE
JUST SHARE THAT A LOT OF THE
PROGRESS WE'VE MADE PROVIDES
REALLY A SOLID FOUNDATION FOR US
TO CONTINUE IN THE DAYS AHEAD.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK
YOU ANY OTHER, UM, AFFECTED
AGENCY? PRESIDENT WISHING TO
SPEAK PLEASE COME FORWARD.
ASK YOU JUST IDENTIFY YOURSELF
AND YOU CAN PROCEED. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. HONORABLE CHAIR
COMMITTEE MEMBERS. MY NAME IS
SARAH SARAH TODAY I'M THE
DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF
ADMINISTRATION POLICY AND
INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS FOR
THE CITY OF SAN JOSE. AND I'M
JOINED BY JACKIE MORALES FOR AND
THE DIRECTOR OF HOUSING FOR THE
CITY OF SAN JOSE. THANK YOU FOR
THE OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT. THE
SYSTEMIC FACTORS DRIVING
HOMELESSNESS ARE STRONGER THAN
EVER IN CALIFORNIA. AND THE CITY
OF SAN JOSE AND ITS PARTNERS
RESOLVED TO MEET THE CHALLENGES
EQUALLY STRONG. IN 2019, THE
CITY, THE COUNTY HOUSING
AUTHORITY DESTINATION HOME. UH
THE COMMUNITY CAME TOGETHER AND
SPENT A YEAR DISCUSSING THE ROOT
CAUSES OF HOMELESSNESS AND
SOLUTIONS REQUIRED TO END IT IN
SANTA CLARA COUNTY. IN 2020, THE
CITY AND COUNTY ADAPTED THE
COMMUNITY PLAN TO END
HOMELESSNESS OF FIVE YEAR PLAN
THAT GUIDES OUR COLLECTIVE WORK
THROUGH THREE KEY STRATEGIES. IN
SANTA CLARA COUNTY. WE IMPLEMENT
THE PLAN THROUGH A STRONG CROSS
SECTOR COLLABORATION, LEADING US
TO WORK AS A AS A SYSTEM AND A
SYSTEM LEVEL CHANGE AS PARTNERS
. SAN JOSE DOES NOT WORK IN
ISOLATION. AS WE CAN'T
EFFECTIVELY ADDRESS THE ISSUE
WITHOUT OUR PARTNERS. BY FORGING
NEW PARTNERSHIPS AND INVESTING
STRATEGICALLY, WE'RE DRIVING
EFFECTIVE SOLUTIONS WITH REAL
IMPACT ON HOMELESSNESS
PREVENTION, AFFORDABLE HOUSING
DEVELOPMENT AND THE DEPLOYMENT
OF INNOVATIVE CRISIS RESPONSE
SOLUTIONS THAT REDUCE STREET
HOMELESSNESS AND MITIGATE ITS
IMPACTS ON COMMUNITIES. IN 2019
OUR COUNTY IN OUR COUNTY FOR
EVERY PERSON HOUSED ALMOST THREE
BECAME HOMELESS. THAT'S NOT OUR
STORY TODAY. TODAY FOR EVERY
PERSON WE HOUSE ABOUT 1.7 BECOME
HOMELESS. AND THAT IS STILL TOO
MANY. TOGETHER WE CAN DO BETTER
, BUT OUR SYSTEM MADE
SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS OVER THE
LAST THREE YEARS TO REDUCE THE
INFLOW OF NEW HOUSEHOLDS
BECOMING HOMELESS BY NEARLY 30.
THIS IS A RESULT OF INTENTIONAL
AND STRATEGIC USE OF POOLED
FUNDING, HELPING CREATE A
PREVENTION SYSTEM THAT SINCE
2020 HAS ASSISTED OVER 23,000
PEOPLE OF WHICH 97 REMAINED
HOUSED 12 MONTHS AFTER RECEIVING
ASSISTANCE. LAST FISCAL YEAR.
THIS PROGRAM PREVENTED NEARLY
2500 PEOPLE IN SAN JOSE FROM
BECOMING HOMELESS. THIS IS AN
EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT USE OF
STATE FUNDS AND OTHER FUNDING TO
PREVENT AND NOT JUST DELAY
HOMELESSNESS. GUIDED BY OUR
COMMUNITY PLANS. COLLECTIVE
GOALS ARE SYSTEM ALSO
SUCCESSFULLY ALIGNED PUBLIC
RESOURCES TO STAY BILLY HOUSED
MORE THAN MORE PEOPLE THAN EVER
IN 2022. LAST FISCAL YEAR ALONE
OVER 4800 PEOPLE IN SAN JOSE
WERE SERVED IN PERMANENT
SUPPORTIVE HOUSING AND RAPID RE
HOUSING. SAN JOSE AND ITS
PARTNERS ARE ALSO DEVELOPING THE
ULTIMATE SOLUTION TO
HOMELESSNESS BY BUILDING
PERMANENT HOUSING THAT RESULTS
IN 96% OF PEOPLE REMAINING
HOUSED. THE CITY AND COUNTY HAVE
WORKED CLOSELY TO JOINTLY FUND
12 DEVELOPMENTS IN OUR PIPELINE
, WHICH WILL RESULT IN NEARLY
600 PERMANENT HOMES OVER THE
COMING THREE YEARS. WE'RE
WORKING TOGETHER TO BRING
HUNDREDS MORE UNITS OF PERMANENT
SUPPORTIVE HOUSING IN THE COMING
YEARS AS WELL. THIS WILL ADD TO
THE ALREADY EXISTING OVER 3600
PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOMES AND
OVER 1800 RAPID RE HOUSING UNITS
ALREADY OPERATIONAL. SAN JOSE IS
A LEADER IN EXPANDING TEMPORARY
HOUSING CAPACITY. WE'VE WASTED
NO TIME PUTTING STATE DOLLARS TO
REALLY GREAT USE. USING HEAP AND
HAVE ONE AND TO THE CITY
CONSTRUCTED FIVE INTERIM HOUSING
SITES SINCE 2020 DURING THE
PANDEMIC. ADDING 453 BEDS THAT
HAVE SERVED NEARLY 1300
INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES WITH
CHILDREN AND OUR MOST VULNERABLE
DURING COVID. WE DID NOT HAVE A
MAJOR COVID 19 OUTBREAK IN OUR
ENCAMPMENTS BECAUSE OF THE
COORDINATED RESPONSE BETWEEN THE
CITY AND THE COUNTY. OUR
FLEXIBLE SOLUTIONS ALLOW
RESIDENTS TO GO FROM ENCAMPMENTS
TO INTERIM HOUSING. WE'RE NOT
AND WE'RE NOT DONE YET. THE CITY
HAS A GOAL OF BUILDING 1000
TOTAL BEDS OVER THE COMING
MONTHS, SOME OF WHICH WERE
DEPLOYING HOME KEY FUNDS FOR IN
ALL HOME. KEY FUNDING WILL ADD
ABOUT 475 INTERIM HOUSING UNITS
OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS. WELL, A
LOT OF OUR EFFORT IS GOING INTO
BUILDING A SPEC SPECTRUM OF
SOLUTIONS THAT CAN HELP PEOPLE
OFF THE STREETS AND INTO HOUSING
. WE'RE ALSO BUILDING AND
SCALING SOLUTIONS THAT MINIMIZE
THE HUMAN SUFFERING AND THE
STREETS AND IN ENCAMPMENTS. SAN
JOSE IS PROUD OF THE OUTCOMES IT
IS DRIVING IN COLLABORATION WITH
ITS PARTNERS. THE CITY HAS BEEN
TRANSPARENT, EFFICIENT AND
EFFECTIVE IN ITS WORK. YES WE
ALONE CAN'T SOLVE THE SYSTEMIC
ISSUES DRIVING HOMELESSNESS. WE
LIVE IN AN AREA WITH MAJOR
INCOME INEQUALITY, ECONOMIC
INSTABILITY. AND A RAMPANT
HOUSING CRISIS. HOMELESSNESS IS
ULTIMATELY A HOUSING SUPPLY AND
AFFORDABILITY PROBLEM. ONE OF
THE BIGGEST OBSTACLES TO
OBTAINING PERMANENT HOUSING IS
AFFORDABILITY OF RENT AND LACK
OF INCOME. THESE ISSUES CAN ONLY
BE TACKLED THROUGH ROBUST CROSS
SECTOR COLLABORATION AND STATE
PARTNERSHIP IN LEGISLATIVE
SOLUTIONS AND INVESTMENTS IS
ESSENTIAL. WHAT WE DON'T BELIEVE
THAT THIS AUDIT IS ULTIMATELY
REQUIRED A SAMPLE JOSE FOR FOUR
REASONS. ONE TRANSPARENCY AND
REPORTING IS REALLY BAKED INTO
THE WAY WE OPERATE WITH ALL
FUNDING SOURCES TO OUR COUNTY
PARTICIPATED IN AN AUDIT OF
STATE HOMELESSNESS PROGRAMS IN
2021. WE WORK AS A SYSTEM THREE.
WE'RE HOSTING A REVIEW OF CITY
FEDERAL FUNDING WITH HUD IN
APRIL. AND FOR AN AUDIT OF THIS
MAGNITUDE WILL NECESSARILY
REDUCE OUR CAPACITY ARE
OPERATIONAL CAPACITY TO DELIVER
SERVICES CORE SERVICES THAT ARE
NEEDED ON THE STREETS WERE OPEN
TO THIS AUDIT AND JUST HOPE YOU
CONSIDER OBJECTS, OBJECTIVES
THAT ARE TAILORED TO PROVIDE
ACTIONABLE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT
ARE APPLICABLE TO A STATEWIDE
PROBLEM. WE GREATLY VALUE OUR
PARTNERSHIP WITH SENATOR CORTEZ
E AND ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S LOW AND
MANY ISSUES AND WE LOOK FORWARD
TO OUR CONTINUED CROSS SECTOR
WORK TO END HOMELESSNESS. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU
APPRECIATE YOU. UH, NOW WE'LL
MOVE OVER MOVE ON TO QUESTIONS
FROM MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE.
THINK ONE OF THE THINGS I JUST
SAY PREPARED BRIEFLY IS CLOSED
REALLY WELL WITH THE STATEMENT
OF HOPING TO IDENTIFY, UM UM
RECOMMENDATIONS THAT COULD BE
APPLIED AS ALL OF US. I'M SURE
ALL OF OUR DISTRICTS AND ALL OF
OUR CITIES. ARE FACING SIMILAR
CHALLENGES AND COULD USE COULD
USE ANY RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE
AUDITORS TO APPLY LOCALLY AS
WELL. THANK YOU FOR SAYING THAT
I AGREE WITH THAT. SENATOR
BAXTER MOISTURE PLACE. THANK YOU
. THANK YOU. I WANT TO THANK YOU
. THANK YOU TO THE CHAIR AND
THEN ALSO THANK YOU TO SENATOR
COURTESY FOR BRINGING THIS
FORWARD. I IDENTIFY HOMELESSNESS
AS I THINK SO MANY PEOPLE DO AS
A TOP THE TOP PROBLEM IN THE
STATE AND AT PART OF THE HOUSING
ACCOUNTABILITY MEETINGS THAT WE
WERE HAVING LAST WEEK. UM THE
DATA IS SO STUNNING AROUND HOW
MUCH MONEY IS BEING SPENT AND
HOW BAD HOMELESSNESS IS AND HOW
IT IS GETTING WORSE. SO $23
BILLION IN HOMELESSNESS AND
HOMELESS SERVING HOUSING OVER
FIVE YEARS THAT THAT AMOUNT OF
MONEY EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE AS
UM I APPRECIATE THE TESTIMONY
ABOUT ALL OF THE GREAT THINGS
THAT ARE HAPPENING IN SAN JOSE.
BUT IT'S IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE
THAT THAT GOOD THINGS ARE
HAPPENING. BUT YET THE PROBLEM
IS GETTING WORSE. AND SO I
REALLY WOULD LIKE, AND I'M HAPPY
THAT SAN JOSE IS THE THIRD
LARGEST CITY AND YOU'RE GOING TO
CHOOSE ANOTHER CITY. I WOULD
RECOMMEND SACRAMENTO THAT YOU
CONSIDER THAT SINCE ALL THE
LEGISLATORS COME HERE EVERY WEEK
AND SEE THE CONDITIONS ON THE
STREETS HERE, AND IF YOU DON'T
WANT TO CHOOSE SACRAMENTO, I'D
RECOMMEND LOS ANGELES IF YOU'RE
CONSIDERING OTHER CITIES. I
DON'T REPRESENT LOS ANGELES AND
WE CAN CHOOSE ALMOST EVERY CITY.
BUT YOU KNOW, THERE ARE PLACES
THAT ARE JUST EPICENTERS OF
THIS. MASTER. UM AND SO WHAT? I
WANTED TO REALLY FOCUS ON THOSE
WHEN I READ THROUGH THIS AUDIT
REPORT IS TO REALLY MAKE SURE
THAT MR PARKS THAT YOU ARE
FOCUSED ON WHAT IS IT WHEN
YOU'RE ASKING THE QUESTION? WHAT
IS THE QUESTION YOU'RE TRYING TO
ANSWER BECAUSE STATEMENTS THAT
THAT SAY, FOR EXAMPLE, EVALUATE
THE EFFECTIVENESS OF EACH CITY'S
USE OF THESE FUNDS. I WANT TO
MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT
EVALUATING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF
SPENDING MONEY OF CREATING
COMMITTEES OF HAVING MORE
PROGRAMS THAT WE'RE EVALUATING
THE EFFECTIVENESS OF HELPING
PEOPLE PERMANENTLY EXIT
HOMELESSNESS, SO I HAVE READ A
NUMBER OF DIFFERENT AUDIT
REPORTS AND HER PRESENTATIONS
FROM ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT
THAT FOCUS SO MUCH ON THE AMOUNT
OF MONEY SPENT OR THE AMOUNT OF
PEOPLE SERVED OR THE AMOUNT OF
MEALS THAT WERE PROVIDED OR THE
AMOUNT OF NIGHTS AND THAT IT HAS
TO GO TO THE NEXT STEP, WHICH
IS, WHICH IS ARE. HOW ARE WE
ACTUALLY EFFECTIVELY REDUCING
HOMELESSNESS WITH A GOAL OF
HAVING NÓ ENCAMPMENTS OF HAVING
NOBODY LIVING UNSHELTERED SO
THAT FOCUS SHOULD DRIVE ALL THE
QUESTIONING. I THINK THAT THAT
WE'RE ASKING. WE'RE LOOKING AT
HOW MUCH MONEY HAS BEEN SPENT
AND WHAT EXACTLY HAS BEEN SPENT
ON AND HOW EFFECTIVE IS IT? IT'S
EFFECTIVE ACT HAVING PEOPLE EXIT
HOMELESSNESS. UM SO AND THE
OTHER THING IS I JUST WANTED TO
FOCUS ON IS THAT NUMBER NINE I
THINK IS VERY IS VERY IMPORTANT,
SO IT'S IDENTIFYING SAN JOSE'S
AND OTHER CITIES PROPOSED SITES
FOR BUILDING INTERIM AND
PERMANENT HOUSING. YEAH. I
BELIEVE THAT SIGHTING IS A MAJOR
PROBLEM. SO HAVING COME FROM
LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND AS THE
MAYOR OF A CITY THERE ARE MANY
CITIES WHO DON'T WANT ANYTHING
TO DO WITH SOLUTIONS TO
HOMELESSNESS. THEY ALSO DON'T
WANT HOMELESSNESS, BUT BUT THE
REALITY OF WHERE ARE THESE
SITES? WHERE ARE THE INTERIM AND
PERMANENT HOUSING SITES? AND HOW
IS THAT BEING CHOSEN? AND IS IT
BEING CHOSEN AT ALL BY SOME
CITIES? I THINK, JUST LIKE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE ARENA
PROCESS WHERE EVERY CITY HAS TO
DO THEIR PART. WE HAVE TO COME.
WE HAVE TO EVOLVE OUR THINKING
TO BE REALLY CLEAR EYED ABOUT
HOMELESSNESS IS AFFECTING EVERY
COMMUNITY AND EVERY CITY. HE HAS
TO DO THEIR PART WHEN IT COMES
TO SOLVING FOR HOMELESSNESS. SO
LOOKING INTO THAT SPECIFICALLY
IS REALLY IMPORTANT. UM I'M VERY
GLAD THAT YOU'RE THAT YOU
BROUGHT THIS FORWARD AND THE
FACT THAT IT'S AMBITIOUS AND
DEEP TO ME WILL MEAN THAT IT'S
LIKELY TO BE MORE EFFECTIVE AT
ALLOWING US TO MAKE SURE THAT
OUR MONEY IS DIRECTED PROPERLY.
BUT ALSO THAT OUR POLICIES ARE
BECAUSE BECAUSE SOLVING FOR
HOMELESSNESS WILL IS A POLICY
AND FUNDING DECISION TOGETHER.
SO MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE THAT
THAT THIS AUDIT ALLOWS FOR US AS
A STATE LEADERS TO SAY IF WE
WANT TO DO BETTER, WE COULD DO
EXCELLENT, SO RELATED TO
REMOVING ENCAMPMENTS AND KEEPING
PEOPLE OUT OF HOMELESSNESS AND
EXITING HOMELESSNESS ONCE THEY
GET THERE. SO THANK YOU AGAIN,
SENATOR CORTEZ FOR BRINGING THIS
FORWARD AND I VERY MUCH LOOK
FORWARD TO THE RESULTS. THANK
YOU, MR LAIRD. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. UH, I'M ONE I AGREE AND
THANKING YOU. I WANT TO COMMENT
ON TWO PIECES OF THIS AND I WAS
TRIGGERED BY THE PREVIOUS
SPEAKER, UH, IN THAT IF IT WERE
SAN JOSE AND SACRAMENTO IF TWO
OF THE LARGEST CITIES IN THE
STATE AND YET ONE OF THE BIGGEST
ISSUES IS SMALLER CITIES TRYING
TO DEAL WITH THIS IF, FOR
EXAMPLE, MY HOME CITY HAS A
HIGHER PER CAPITA HOMELESS
POPULATION. THEN OAKLAND, SAN
FRANCISCO, SAN JOSE, LOS ANGELES
AND SAN DIEGO. AND YET A LOT OF
THE PROGRAMS DON'T REFLECT THE
CAPACITY OF A SMALLER CITY TO
APPLY OR GET IT OR OR TO TARGET
IN DIFFERENT WAYS, BECAUSE IF
YOU JUST LOOK AT THE DIFFERENCES
I KNOW THE POINT IN TIME. IT IS
REALLY SORT OF COMES ORIGINALLY
FROM A FEDERAL THING BUT POINT
IN TIME IN THE CITY OF SAN
FRANCISCO IS SUCH THAT YOU KNOW
WHERE EVERYBODY IS. YOU KNOW
WHERE YOU CAN FIND THEM IN AN
URBAN ENVIRONMENT. IN A CITY
THAT HAS GREENBELTS STATE PARKS
AND EVERYTHING AROUND IT, AND
THIS YEAR THE POINT IN TIME WAS
DURING A DRIVING ATMOSPHERIC
RIVER. YOU CANNOT GET AN
ACCURATE COUNT ON WHICH THE
SERVICES ARE BASED. AND SO THE
BIG VERSUS THE SMALL IS A VERY
RELEVANT ISSUE. AND IN A
DISTRICT WHERE I'VE 21 CITIES,
SETTING ASIDE SAN JOSE WHERE
I'VE PART OF THE CITY OF SAN
JOSE, THE NEXT LARGEST CITY OF
60,000 PEOPLE AND IT GOES DOWN
AND THERE'S PEOPLE SLEEPING IN
RURAL RIVERBEDS AND IN DIFFERENT
PLACES WHERE IT IS HARD TO GET
THE SERVICES SO AND THEN YOU
HAVE THE ISSUE. I MADE THE POINT
IN THE LAST YEAR OF VISITING
EVERY HOMELESS SERVICE PROVIDER
THAT IS IN A SENATE-DISTRICT
SPREAD ACROSS 200, PLUS MILES
WITH ALMOST A MILLION PEOPLE,
AND MANY OF THEM HAD TO MOVE
AHEAD WITHOUT STATE ASSISTANCE
BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T FIT IT QUITE
RIGHT, OR THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE
CAPACITY. SO IN ONE CITY, THEY
BOUGHT A MOTEL SIX WITHOUT BEING
ABLE TO GET INTO THE STATE
PROGRAM WHEN THEY MADE THE
DECISION TO DO IT. HMM IN
ANOTHER PLACE, THEY HAVE TINY
HOMES THEY DIDN'T QUALIFY FOR
GRANT IN THE RIGHT CYCLE TO DO
IT. YES THERE WAS A VETERANS ONE
AND THE IN THE SANTA CRUZ
MOUNTAINS THAT IS A PROJECT HOME
KEY. AND THEN OUR BIGGEST
HOMELESS SERVICE PROVIDER IN MY
HOME COUNTY, WHICH DOES
EVERYTHING A LOCKED WARD
TRANSITION FROM HOSPITALS FOR
REHAB OVERNIGHT BEDS. TINY
HOUSES HAS CLOSED AS MAILBOXES
THAT SHOWERS AS A CLINIC HAS
EVERYTHING THEY REALIZE THEY
CAN'T DENT IT. WITHOUT ACTUALLY
PROVIDING HOUSING SO THEY'RE
BUILDING 118 UNIT LOW OF THE LOW
INCOME HOUSING ON THEIR PROPERTY
, AND THEY LAUNCHED INTO IT
WITHOUT HAVING ANY IDEA WHETHER
THEY WERE GOING TO GET FINANCIAL
SUPPORT. AND WHETHER THEY HAD
THE CAPACITY TO APPLY IN SOME OF
THESE MEGA PROGRAMS, AND SO FOR
ME, THIS IS ABOUT I READ THIS.
AND IT'S ABOUT A IDENTIFYING THE
RESULTS OF THE STATE EFFORTS.
BUT FIRST YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT
THE DIFFERENCES IN THE
JURISDICTIONS IN THE STATE. AND
SECONDLY, UM, YOU CAN EVALUATE
THE EFFORTS IF PEOPLE CAN GET
INTO THE PROGRAMS TO GET THE
EFFORTS TO EVALUATE AND WHETHER
THERE'S A BARRIER DUE TO SIZE OR
ONE COMPLAINT, I HAD RECENTLY
WAS ALMOST EIGHT PROGRAMS HAVE
DIFFERENT FUNDING CYCLES AT
DIFFERENT TIMES AND DIFFERENT
APPLICATIONS, AND IT IS REALLY
HARD TO GET IN. AND I KNOW THAT
WE CAN'T CHANGE AN AUDIT WITHOUT
RECONSIDERING IT, BUT TO THE
EXTENT WITHIN THE EXISTING
FRAMEWORK, THESE QUESTIONS CAN
BE ADDRESSED. IT WILL REALLY BE
VALUABLE TO US, AND I THINK THAT
WE HAD AN OVERSIGHT HEARING WITH
THE SENATE BUDGET COMMITTEE. AND
UH, DR GALLEY WAS TALKING ABOUT
HOW AND HE TOLD ME LATER, HE WAS
SURPRISED THAT UNDER COW LANE
CITIES COULD APPLY. FOR STREET
TEAMS AND BEING REIMBURSED FOR
STREET TEAMS, AND MY PRIVATE
QUESTION WAS, HOW DO THEY KNOW?
AND HE SAID, I'M REALLY
SURPRISED. I'M NOT HEARING FROM
MORE MAYORS AND I WELL, I WAS A
MAYOR. HOW WOULD I EVEN KNOW TO
DO THAT? IT WAS SORT OF LIKE, GO
TO A WEB PAGE. WELL, HOW WOULD
YOU KNOW TO GO TO THE WEB PITCH
IN AND SO IT SEEMS TO ME THAT
SOME OF THE STATE EFFORTS REALLY
? THE QUESTION IS, IS HOW PEOPLE
GET INTO THEM. HOW THEY KNOW HOW
CAN WE EDUCATE PEOPLE FOR WHAT
THEY MIGHT ACTUALLY BE ELIGIBLE
FOR IF YOU'RE ONE OF THE ALMOST
500 MAYORS IN THE STATE? AND TO
THE EXTENT THAT CAN BE PART OF
THIS, IT WOULD BE REALLY, REALLY
HELPFUL, AND I APPRECIATE THE
FACT THAT SENATOR CORTEZ AND
OTHERS ON THIS ARE MAKING US
TALK ABOUT THIS IN A GOOD WAY
THAT MIGHT ACTUALLY FOCUS IT IN
A MEANINGFUL OUTCOME. THANK YOU,
MR LEARNED, MS GONZALEZ. THANK
YOU, MR CHAIR, AND I WANT TO
BUILD OFF OF MY COLLEAGUES
COMMENTS AS WELL. I KNOW WE'RE
ALL GOING TO PITCH OUR OWN
CITIES AND DISTRICTS AND I WOULD
HOPE THAT AND I THINK SENATOR
CORTEZ AGAIN FOR BRINGING THIS
FORWARD BECAUSE THIS DOES GIVE
US A ROAD MAP. WHOMEVER IS
SELECTED AS THIS OTHER
MUNICIPALITY, BUT, UM, IT'S EASY
FOR EVERYONE TO SAY AND IGNORED
. DISRESPECT HIM OUR VICE CHAIR
LOS ANGELES, BUT LOS ANGELES IS
SO VERY BIG AND DIVERSE. LONG
BEACH. THE CITY OF LONG BEACH
HAS ITS OWN HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
WE SORT OF DO OUR OWN THING. WE
DON'T EVEN GET A DIRECT FUNDING
FOR MENTAL HEALTH. UM SO THERE'S
A LOT OF DIFFERENT NUANCES
THERE. SOUTHEAST LOS ANGELES
MANY SMALLER CITIES THERE,
30,000 POPULATION. DON'T GET A
LOT OF THE LOVE FROM L, A COUNTY
AT LARGE. SO UM, I AND I TALKED
TO AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, OF
COURSE WITH OUR STATE PARTNERS
THAT WE HAVE TO LOOK. UH MORE
MINDFULLY AT LOS ANGELES IN NOT
JUST THE CITY OF L A PROPER BUT
LOOKING AT THESE OTHER, SMALLER
CITIES THAT ALSO HAVE
CHALLENGES, UH TO SENATOR
LAIRD'S POINT, AND ALSO LARGER
ONES THAT ACTUALLY HAVE THE
RESOURCES SO THERE COULD BE A
LOT OF DIFFERENT NUANCES THERE
AS WELL. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THANK YOU, MR WOOD. THANK YOU,
AND I WANT TO APPRECIATE THE
CALM COMMENTS FROM OUR SENATORS
, AND PARTICULARLY FROM MR LAIRD
, AS AS HE TALKS ABOUT THE
DIVERSITY OF THE COMMUTE SIZE OF
THE COMMUNITIES AND HOW SPREAD
OUT THEY ARE. AND HOW DO SOME OF
THESE SMALLER COMMUNITIES
ACTUALLY FIND OUT ABOUT SOME OF
THESE THINGS AND SO I GUESS.
WELL YOU COULD I WOULD URGE YOU
TO LOOK AT A SMALLER COMMUNITY.
SAN JOSE IS OBVIOUSLY REALLY
LARGE, BUT A SMALLER COMMUNITY.
UM I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT SIZES
I MEAN, I HAVE ONE LARGE CITY IN
MY DISTRICT. AND THEN THE NEXT
BIGGEST CITY IS 27,000. I HAVE
TWO OF THOSE, AND THEN IT DROPS
TO 16 AND GET SMALLER AND
SMALLER AND SMALLER. AND SO WHAT
I KNOW FROM EXPERIENCE IS THAT
SMALL JURISDICTIONS I'M NOT
ENCOURAGING TO COME TO MY
DISTRICT IF YOU'D LIKE TO GIVE
YOU A LIST OF CITIES, BUT BUT
BUT THE CHALLENGE FOR SO MANY
SMALLER JURISDICTIONS WHO ARE
DEALING WITH ON A PER CAPITA
BASIS. IT'S A CRISIS IN THEIR
CITY BASED ON THE PER CAPITA
NUMBERS AND HOW THEY'RE TRYING
TO DEAL WITH IT. BUT THE SMALLER
THE CITY, THE LESS THEY KNOW
WHAT'S GOING ON. UM, AND IT'S
NOT THEIR FAULT. THEY'RE DOING
MULTIPLE THINGS ALL THE TIME.
AND, UM AND SO IT IS. IT IS A
PROBLEM THAT IS NOT JUST
ISOLATED TO LARGE CITIES AND IT
IS THE MAJOR PROBLEM IN EVERY
CITY IN MY DISTRICT. SO JUST AS
YOU THINK ABOUT NOT AS AS THE
AUDITOR THINKS ABOUT THE
QUESTIONS THEY ASK AND HOW THIS
GETS HOW THIS GETS PRESENT
PREPARED. I WOULD HOPE THAT SOME
OF THE OUTCOMES WOULD BE HELPFUL
TO SMALLER JURISDICTIONS BECAUSE
AT THE END OF THE DAY OFTEN WHAT
WE WANT AND SMALLER
JURISDICTIONS IS FLEXIBILITY.
AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, AND
THOSE ARE THINGS WITH STATE
GOVERNMENT THAT ARE ALMOST
IMPOSSIBLE TO GET AT TIMES. SO
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR
WOODMAN, TROOPER. THANK YOU.
AND, UH, YOU KNOW, FIRST. I JUST
WANT TO START OFF BY ECHOING
SENATOR BLAKE SPEAR. I ACTUALLY
THINK WELL ON A LOT OF HER
COMMENTS, BUT I ACTUALLY THINK
THAT ADDING SACRAMENTO WOULD BE
A FANTASTIC CHOICE, AND THAT
WOULD CERTAINLY BE THE
SUGGESTION THAT I WOULD MAKE TO
THE AUDITOR, BUT I APPRECIATE
ANY WORK THAT IS DONE ON THIS
TOPIC. SENATOR. THANK YOU FOR
BRINGING THIS FORWARD. I'M
THANKFUL TO BE A JOINT AUTHOR ON
THIS REQUEST AS WELL. SO THANK
YOU FOR THAT. UM YOU KNOW YOUR
COMMENTS, REALLY? I THINK GOT TO
THE HEART OF THIS ISSUE. UM I
PERSONALLY AS A PARENT HAVE
FOUND NEEDLES IN THE PARK WHERE
MY KIDS PLAY. I THINK THAT THIS
IS THE GREATEST PUBLIC HEALTH
AND SAFETY CRISIS THAT WE FACE
TODAY, AND IT'S NO WONDER THAT
VOTERS YOU KNOW, IN MOST OF THE
RECENT POLLING HAVE PUT SOLVING
OUR HOMELESSNESS CRISIS AT THE
VERY TOP OF THE LIST. OF
PRIORITIES THAT THEY WANT THEIR
LEADERS TO ADDRESS. UM SO I
REALLY APPRECIATE THIS AUDIT
TODAY AND ENERGY MY COLLEAGUES
TO SUPPORT IT. I THINK IT'S A
CRITICAL FIRST STEP IN SOLVING
OUR HOMELESSNESS CRISIS, AS WE
WERE TOLD RECENTLY BY OUR
NONPARTISAN LEGISLATIVE
ANALYST'S OFFICE. WE'VE SPENT
$20 BILLION SINCE 2018 ON
HOMELESSNESS, AND WE'VE SEEN A
77% INCREASE. IN HOMELESSNESS
DURING THAT TIME, I THINK MOST
OF US WOULD AGREE. THAT IS
UNACCEPTABLE. AND I BELIEVE THAT
THIS AUDIT WILL GIVE US THE
INFORMATION THAT WE NEED TO
DETERMINE WHICH PROGRAMS AND
STRATEGIES ARE WORKING, BUT ALSO
TO DETERMINE WHICH PROGRAMS AND
STRATEGIES ARE NOT WORKING SO
THAT WE CAN MOVE TO INVEST OUR
MONEY IN SOMETHING THAT'S
ACTUALLY GOING TO GET RESULTS. I
THINK WE NEED TO FIGURE THIS OUT
AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE SO WE CAN
BETTER TARGET OUR INVESTMENTS
PROTECT TAXPAYERS, RESTORE
PUBLIC SPACES AND ALSO GET
PEOPLE TO HELP THAT THEY NEED
SO. THANK YOU, SENATOR. I REALLY
APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING THIS
FORWARD AND I LOOK FORWARD TO
SUPPORTING IT. THANK YOU ALL THE
MEMBERS OF COMMITTEE FOR YOUR
COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS ANY
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WANT TO
MAKE ONE MINUTE STATEMENT, THIS
WOULD BE A GOOD TIME TO COME UP.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE? THIS IS
MY LEAD WITNESS. SHE WAS WALKING
UP TO SELL DOWN BEFORE WE WENT
TO AGENCY WITNESSES. BUT IF YOU
WOULD RATHER EVER SPEAK UNDER
PUBLIC COMMENT BECAUSE SHE HAS A
11 PAGE SEVEN COMMENTS AS QUICK
AS YOU CAN MAKE, IT WOULD BE
APPRECIATED. THANK YOU. SORRY I
WAS LATE. SO UM GOOD MORNING.
EVERYBODY IS IT'S STILL MORNING.
YES UM GOOD MORNING CHAIR AND
COULD MORNING MEMBERS OF THE
JOINT LEGISLATIVE AUDIT
COMMITTEE. MY NAME IS GAIL ASNER
AND I'M HONORED TO BE HERE. AND
TO SPEAK WITH ALL OF YOU TODAY
ON BEHALF OF OUR OWN, HOUSED IN
SANTA CLARA COUNTY. I HAVE BEEN
ON HOUSING ADVOCATE FOR OVER 30
YEARS IN THE PAST 10 YEARS ALONE
, THE ISSUE HAS ONLY INCREASED
WITHIN SAN JOSE. I WOULD LIKE TO
PERSONALLY THANK YOU FOR
INVITING ME AND YOUR INVITATION
, SENATOR CORTESI TODAY AND
SUPPORTERS OF THE AUDIT REQUEST
FOR LEADING THIS EFFORT. THERE
ARE MANY ISSUES FACING THE
UNHEALTHY COMMUNITY. I'D LIKE TO
HIGHLIGHT FIRST AND FOREMOST,
THE LACK OF THE CITY'S
TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY
AND ADDRESSING HOMELESSNESS,
WHICH HAS BEEN A CONTRIBUTING
FACTOR IN HER HOMELESSNESS
GROWING IN SAN JOSE. FROM 2017
TO 2019. THE HOUSE POPULATION
INCREASED 40. AND AS OF THIS
YEAR, WE HAVE NEARLY OVER 7000
AND HOUSE FOLKS. TO ADD TO THIS
ISSUE. THERE ARE CURRENTLY A
LACK OF LACK OF LOW INCOME,
HOUSING AND E L I. THE UH, L A
HOUSING FOR MANY FOLKS THROUGH
THIS AUDIT, WE WILL BE ABLE TO
SEE THE BENEFITS. WHERE ARE
WHERE ARE PUBLIC FUNDS ARE BEING
SPENT, WHICH IS ONLY GOING TO
BENEFIT ALL OF US CLOSING. THIS
ISSUE IS BIGGER THAN ANY OF US.
IT IS ABOUT ENSURING
TRANSPARENCY IN OUR POLICY AND
FUNDING SOLUTIONS. IT IS ABOUT
OR UNHEALED NEIGHBORS AND HOW
YOU CAN MAKE THEIR LIVES A
LITTLE BIT BETTER. I ALSO JUST
WANT TO SAY QUICKLY. I HAVE
MANY, MANY ON HOUSE, FRIENDS AND
MOST OF THEM. THEY'RE IN THE
QUEUE FOR HOUSING. OR ANY KIND
OF SHELTER FOR UP TO THREE YEARS
TO BE PLACED IN A SAFE PARKING
PROGRAM OR INTERIM HOUSING ON
BEHALF OF THE THOUSANDS OF
INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES LIVING
ON OUR STREETS. IN CAMP AND RVS.
IN THEIR CARS IN SHELTER BEDS
AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN. I
URGE YOU TO SUPPORT YOUR I VOTE
ON THIS AUDIT REQUEST. THE LIVES
ARE IN HOUSE COMMUNITY IS ON ALL
OF YOU DID DECIDE. PLEASE TAKE
ACTION NOW. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
TIME AND I APOLOGIZE FOR BEING
LATE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
TESTIMONY ANY OTHER PUBLIC
COMMENT ON THIS ITEM? RIGHT
SCENE AND I WANT TO RECOGNIZE
THE WORK OF THE AUTHOR AND ALSO
SOME MEMBER HOOVER, WHO I KNOW
IS VERY INTERESTED IN THIS AND
APPRECIATE THE COLLABORATIVE
EFFORT TAKEN TO APPROACH. THIS
PROBLEM OBVIOUSLY HAS SO MANY OF
US SPOKE UP DURING ASYLUM. IT'S
A CRITICAL ISSUE AND AGAIN, THE
INTENT ALWAYS OF AT LEAST FROM
MY PERSPECTIVE. WORKING WITH OUR
STAFF IS TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE
ARTISTS THAT ARE MEANINGFUL AND
THAT COULD PROVIDE INFORMATION
THAT CAN BE USED THROUGHOUT OUR
STATE AND IMPROVING PROCESSES OR
IF NEEDED POLICY. SO THAT'S
AGAIN THE INTENT, AND I
APPRECIATE EVERYBODY WHO STATED
THOSE COMMENTS WITH THAT. WOULD
YOU LIKE TO MAKE A CLOSING
STATEMENT? MR. THANK YOU, MR
CHAIR. FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU
FOR ALL THE ATTENTION AND ALL
THE COMMENTS AND ENSURE THAT THE
AUDITORS TAKING NOTE OF WHATEVER
UM, HE CAN DO IN HIS TEAM CAN DO
GOING FORWARD. UM AS WAS, AS WAS
NOTED, UM, ONE OF THE CITY'S HAS
REMAINED TO BE DETERMINED. I
THINK I WOULD BE FOR SUBJECT TOO
FAR MORE CRITICISM IF I DIDN'T
PUT FORWARD THE COUNTY SEAT. THE
CITY THAT IS THE HEART AND SOUL
OF MY OWN DISTRICT, AS AS AS ONE
PART OF THIS SAMPLE SIZE, UM AND
CERTAINLY I KNOW I TRUSTED THE
AUDITOR WILL COME UP. WITH
WHATEVER WILL COUNTERBALANCE
THAT. BUT THIS AUDIT ISN'T
REALLY ABOUT ANY CITY. IT'S
CERTAINLY NOT ABOUT GOING AFTER
ANY CITY AND START AN INDICTMENT
. IT'S AN AUDIT. IT'S NOT AN
INDICTMENT ON ANY CITY, BUT IT
IS AN INDICTMENT ON THE
INDECENCY THAT'S GOING ON OUT
THERE RIGHT NOW, AND I KNOW WE
ALL FEEL THAT WAY. I COULD TELL
BY THE ENGAGEMENT OF MY
COLLEAGUES NOT JUST IN THIS
HEARING, BUT IN MANY HEARINGS
THAT WE HAVE ATTENDED TOGETHER.
UM RECENTLY AND OVER THE PAST
SESSION. UM IN AND WE NEED Tð.
USE THIS AUDIT TO TRY TO REMEDY
THAT INDECENCY TO TRY TO DO
BETTER. THAT'S WHAT THIS ORDER
IS ABOUT OUR ABILITY. WHICH I
THINK WE ALL HAVE CONFIDENCE IN
AS A STATE TO DO BETTER IN THAT
STARTS WITH US TAKING A HARD
LOOK AT THE ISSUES THAT WERE
OUTLINED BY THE AUDITOR. I THANK
YOU AGAIN FOR ALL THE TIME SPENT
TODAY AND RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR
YOUR VOTE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
DRIVEN MOTION MOVE. MISS BLAKE,
PETE VICE CHAIR BLADES PERIOD
MOVED MR LYRICS SECONDS. PLEASE
CALL THE ROAD. THE MOTION IS TO
APPROVE AUDIT 2023 SLASH ONE OH
TO STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT
ALMOST AS FUNDING BY SENATOR
CORTEZ E. SO THE NUMBER ALVAREZ
BOERNER HORVATH. BAD. I HOOVER
HOOVER, I PATERSON RUBIO.
SALARY. VALENCIA. I WOULD, BUT I
SENATOR BLAKE SPEAR HERE. I
CORTESI EGGMAN. GONZALEZ LAIRD,
I START. OH I WILL. I WILL I.
THAT IS APPROVED 12 TO 0 VOTE
THANK YOU VERY MUCH GOING ON TO
ITEM NUMBER SIX ON THE AGENDA,
WHICH IS, UH, ITEM 2023 1 OH,
FOUR. CALIFORNIA LABOR
COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE. BACKLOG
OF WAGE THEFT CASES. SENATOR
GLASER IS HERE TO PRESENT ON THE
ITEM. GLASER. WELCOME AND PLEASE
PROCEED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. CHEER ALVAREZ FOR
YOUR SUPPORT ON THIS REQUEST.
THANK YOU TO VICE CHAIR BLAKE
SPHERE AND THE COMMITTEE FOR
ALLOWING ME TO PRESENT THIS
AUDIT REQUEST TODAY. I WANT TO
EXTEND MY APPRECIATION OF THE
COMMITTEE STAFF. FOR WORKING
WITH ME ON THIS. AND I'M I'M
GONNA TALK ABOUT THIS. THIS
PERSISTENT BACKLOG OF WAGE THEFT
CASES AS WELL AS THE SO MANY
WORKERS WHO HAVE NOT BEEN GIVEN
THE MONEY THAT THEY EARNED, BUT
I WANT TO SAY THIS AT THE START.
THE FOLKS THAT ARE INVOLVED IN
THIS SITUATION. IT GOES BACK
MORE THAN A DECADE, AND THEY'RE
THE BEST OF INTENTIONS, THE
FOLKS THAT IT'S NOT JUST THE
CURRENT GOVERNOR, THE PAST
GOVERNOR CARED ABOUT THIS ISSUE
. I KNOW THE CURRENT LABOR
COMMISSIONER OF THE PREVIOUS
LABOR COMMISSIONER'S CARE ABOUT
THIS ISSUE. AS I KNOW, ALL OF
YOU DO WE ALL AND THEY HAVE HAD
THE BEST OF INTENTIONS ABOUT
TRYING TO DEAL WITH THIS
PROBLEM, BUT IT HAS BEEN A
PERSISTENT PROBLEM THAT HAS BEEN
AROUND FOR A YEAR AFTER YEAR
AFTER YEAR. LOOK AT THE LOOK AT
THE NUMBERS ON THIS IF YOU DON'T
KNOW IT ALREADY. THE OFFICE OF
THE LABOR COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE
IS REQUIRED TO REVIEW AND
PROCESS THE CASE WITHIN 120
DAYS. BUT AS OF OCTOBER OF THIS
PAST YEAR, THE AVERAGE WAIT
TIME. IS 780 DAYS, 780 DAYS MORE
THAN TWO YEARS. AH THAT MEANS
THE HARMED WORKER HAS TO WAIT
OVER TWO YEARS TO HAVE A
POTENTIAL HEARING ON THEIR CASE.
NOW. THE, UH, THE LEGISLATURE.
UH HUH. AND I KNOW THE
ADMINISTRATION HAS PAID A LOT OF
ATTENTION TO THIS ISSUE OF LOW
STAFFING LEVELS THAT COULD BE
CONTRIBUTING TO THESE DELAYS.
HOWEVER WE DON'T WE LACK A LOT
OF INFORMATION ON EMPLOYEE
RETENTION AND TURNOVER. WE DON'T
HAVE A LOT OF INFORMATION ON THE
CASE TO LIVE THAT SIGNED TO EACH
EMPLOYEE IN THE NUMBER OF
PERSONNEL REQUIRED TO MEET THIS
MANDATED 120 DAY REVIEW. TO MY
KNOWLEDGE, THERE'S NEVER BEEN AN
INDEPENDENT OVERSIGHT ON
POTENTIAL SOURCES OF LOW
EMPLOYEE RETENTION IN THE
DEPARTMENT AND THE HIGH TURNOVER
RATE THAT THIS AUDIT WOULD
PROVIDE. AND IN ADDITION, AS I
MENTIONED TO UNDERSTANDING THIS
ISSUE OF PROCESSING DELAYS THE
WORKERS ARE STRUGGLING TO EVEN
GET THE MONEY. THAT THEY ARE
OWED. IN FACT, THE 2020 REPORT
FROM THE LEGISLATIVE ANALYSTS
FOUND THAT THE LARGER THE
JUDGMENT, THE LESS LIKELY A
WORKER IS ABLE TO COLLECT THEIR
WAGES. WHAT A TRAGEDY THEY'VE
HAD TO WAIT SO LONG. THE JUDY
CATIONS BEEN FOUND IN THEIR
FAVOR AND THEY DON'T EVER GET
THE MONEY BACK AND INDEPENDENT
AUDIT COULD ASSESS RESOURCES
AVAILABLE FOR WORKERS NEEDING TO
COLLECT THEIR JUDGMENTS. WHY
WORKERS STRUGGLE TO OBTAIN THEIR
OWN WAGES AND HOW THE OFFICE CAN
IMPROVE AVAILABLE RESOURCES.
THIS AUDIT WILL PROVIDE A MORE
HOLISTIC VIEW BY ASKING FOR DATA
AND RECOMMENDATIONS NOT JUST ON
STAFFING LEVELS, BUT ALSO ON
TRAINING PROCEDURES PROCESS
INEFFICIENCIES THAT ARE CREATING
THESE TERRIBLE BOTTLENECKS. AND
FINALLY, THIS INDEPENDENT
OBJECTIVE AUDIT WILL PROVIDE
DATA AND POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS
FOR THE LABOR COMMISSIONER'S
OFFICE, THE GOVERNOR AND, OF
COURSE, THE LEGISLATURE TO USE
AS A GUIDE FOR FUTURE BUDGET.
AND LEGISLATIVE DECISIONS. WITH
ME TODAY. I HAVE ASHLEY HOFFMAN,
WHO'S THE POLICY ADVOCATE WITH
THE CALIFORNIA CHAMBER OF
COMMERCE TO TESTIFY AND SUPPORT.
GOOD MORNING, ASHLEIGH HOFFMAN
ON BEHALF OF THE CALIFORNIA
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IN SUPPORT
OF THE PROPOSED AUDIT. I REALLY
APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TODAY
TO TALK ABOUT WHY ADDRESSING
THIS BACKLOG IS ALSO IMPORTANT
TO THE EMPLOYER COMMUNITY. IT IS
ESSENTIAL THAT WORKERS IN OUR
STATE WHO ARE OWED WAGES ARE
MADE WHOLE. THIS IS A GOAL THAT
WE SHARE WITH ALL OF YOU. IT IS
ALSO ESSENTIAL THAT THE STATE
AGENCY HOLD EMPLOYERS
ACCOUNTABLE WHO ARE SKIRTING THE
LAW. ADDITIONALLY IT IS
IMPORTANT THAT EMPLOYERS HAVE AN
EMPLOYEES HAVE DISPUTES RESOLVED
IN AN EFFICIENT MATTER. THE
COMPLAINANT HEARING PROCESS
THROUGH THE LABOR COMMISSIONER'S
OFFICE OFTEN TAKE SHORTER
AMOUNTS OF TIME TO RESOLVE
DISPUTES, THEN THROUGH SORT OF A
LITIGATION AND PROMOTES BETTER
OUTCOMES FOR EMPLOYEES IF A
WORKER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO HIRE
AN ATTORNEY, THE STAFF IN THE
LABOR COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE IS
THERE TO HELP THEM NAVIGATE THE
ENTIRE PROCESS AND HELP TO FILL
OUT THEIR CLAIM FORMS. IT IS A
GOOD PROCESS AND WE SHOULD
ADDRESS THE UNDERLYING REASONS
FOR THE EXISTING BACKLOG, WHICH
WE BELIEVE THIS AUDIT WILL HELP
TO IDENTIFY. THE BACKLOG IS
LIKELY DUE IN PART HAS BEEN
MENTIONED TO HIRING AND STAFFING
CHALLENGES. A TIGHT LABOR MARKET
IS SOMETHING THAT ALL EMPLOYERS
ARE FACING IN CALIFORNIA, NOT
JUST THE STATE. WE ARE HOPEFUL
THAT THE AUDIT WILL HELP
IDENTIFY ANY PROCESSES WITHIN
THE LABOR COMMISSIONER'S HIRING
PROCESS THAT COULD BE REVISED OR
REFORM TO EXPEDITE HIRING, AS
WELL AS TO FILL THE EXISTING
VACANCIES. ADDING MORE EMPLOYEES
DOES NOT NECESSITATE ADDITIONAL
SPENDING FROM THE GENERAL FUND.
IS D I, R S EMPLOYER FUNDED
ANNUAL EMPLOYERS ASSESSMENTS ARE
WHICH ARE APPROXIMATELY $1.5
BILLION THIS YEAR. 14% INCREASE
FROM 2022 ARE USED TO PROVIDE
FUNDING AND THESE ARE THE
SPECIAL FUNDS THAT ARE PROPOSED
IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET TO USE TO
INCREASE THE NUMBER OF POSITIONS
AT THE LABOR COMMISSIONER'S
OFFICE TO HANDLE WAGE CLAIMS. WE
APPRECIATE SINCERELY THE EFFORTS
OF THE LABOR COMMISSIONER IS
TAKING TO ADDRESS THIS BACKLOG,
BUT WE BELIEVE THAT IT'S TIME
FOR THE LEGISLATURE TO STEP IN.
THE AUDIT WILL HELP PINPOINT
WHERE FUNDS AND CHANGES AND
PROCESSES SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO
IMPROVE THE SYSTEM. OTHERWISE
WE'RE LEFT GUESSING WHAT THE
SOLUTION IS. SOME MAY SAY THAT
INCREASED PENALTIES OR PRIVATE
ENFORCEMENT IS THE ANSWER. BUT
THOSE ASSUMPTIONS ARE NOT BACKED
BY DATA RESEARCH INTO WAGE AND
HOUR CLAIM SHOWS THAT PRIVATE
ENFORCEMENT OFTEN ACTUALLY LEADS
TO LOWER MONETARY AWARDS FOR
WORKERS BECAUSE OF THE AMOUNT OF
MONEY THAT GOES TO ATTORNEYS,
WHICH IS OFTEN SUBSTANTIALLY
MORE THAN THE WORKER RECEIVES.
WE NEED THAT FULL DIRECTED
ENFORCEMENT THROUGH THIS AGENCY
, AND WE BELIEVE THE AUDIT WILL
HELP ENSURE THAT BECOMES A
REALITY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
OUR AUDITOR. MR PARKS. DO YOU
HAVE A COMMENT? THANK YOU.
CHAIRMAN ALVAREZ, SENATOR
GLASER'S REQUEST WILL BASICALLY
HAVE A START OFF TRYING TO
COMPILE DATA TO UNDERSTAND THE
SIZE AND DURATION OF BACKLOG
CASES OVER A FIVE YEAR PERIOD.
SO I IMAGINE GETTING DATA FROM
THE DEPARTMENT OVER THAT PERIOD
OF TIME, TRYING TO ALSO
IDENTIFIED THE MEDIUM TIME TO
ADJUDICATE THOSE CLAIMS AND TO
WHAT EXTENT INCREASES IN THE
BACKLOG MAY BE CORRELATED WITH
STATUTORY CHANGES ON PROTECTIONS
FOR WORKERS. AS THE MEMBER ALSO
MENTIONED, TAKING A LOOKING AT
STAFFING LEVELS TO WHAT EXTENT
TRAINING PROGRAMS FOR NEW
EMPLOYEES ARE WELL, POSITIONING
THOSE EMPLOYEES TO EFFECTIVELY
WORKING THEIR JOBS. UM LOOKING
AT RETENTION? UM I ALSO
ENVISIONED THAT MY AUDIT TEAM
WILL BE SELECTING MULTIPLE
SAMPLES TO TEST THE CLAIMS
PROCESS THROUGH THE ORGANIZATION
BOTH UPFRONT TRYING TO
UNDERSTAND WHERE BOTTLENECKS IN
THE PROCESS OCCUR. I THINK THAT
WOULD BE ONE SAMPLE THAT WE
SELECT BUT SEPARATE FROM THAT
SAMPLE. I THINK WE'D ALSO BE
SELECTING FROM A UNIVERSE OF
CASES WHERE A JUDGMENT HAS BEEN
ISSUED SO THAT WE CAN FOLLOW
THAT ONE FORWARD TO SEE WHAT WAS
THE END RESULT OF THAT PROCESS.
AND NOT CLEARLY THERE ARE SOME
OBJECTIVES HERE TRYING TO
UNDERSTAND. UM EVEN AFTER YOU
GET TO THE END OF THE JUDGMENT
PROCESS, YOU KNOW WHAT'S THE
LABOR COMMISSIONER'S AUTHORITY
TO COMPEL EMPLOYERS? TO PAY SO
UNDERSTANDING. YOU KNOW WHAT THE
ENFORCEMENT MECHANISMS ARE?
WHAT'S AVAILABLE TO THE STATE?
MAYBE THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR
SOME STATUTORY OR LEGISLATIVE
CHANGE THERE. BUT OVERALL, IT'S
A FAIRLY STRAIGHTFORWARD AUDIT.
14 UNIQUE OBJECTIVES WHEN YOU
CONSIDER THE SUBPARTS I'M
GUESSING RIGHT NOW, ROUGHLY 3000
HOURS AND BASED ON THE STAFFING
THAT I THINK I CAN PUT ON IT.
YOU'RE LOOKING AT 6 TO 7 MONTHS.
THANK YOU, MR PARKS. UM THE
AGENCY LIKE COME FORWARD.
WELCOME AND IF YOU CAN JUST
INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND GO RIGHT
AHEAD. AFTERNOON EVERYBODY. MY
NAME'S LILIA GARCIA BROWER. I AM
THE STATE LABOR COMMISSIONER.
BEFORE I GET STARTED ON MY
COMMENTS. I JUST LIKE TO SHARE
AS IN PART ACKNOWLEDGED BY THE
SENATOR. PREVIOUS TO MY
APPOINTMENT FOR 20 YEARS, I
WORKED AS A FRONTLINE ON FRONT
LINE ENFORCEMENT REPRESENTING
JANITORS AND EMPLOYERS WHO ARE
UNDERCUT BY THE UNFAIR ADVANTAGE
THAT'S CREATED AND I WORKED
CLOSELY WITH THIS AGENCY. SO AS
LABOR COMMISSIONER. I BRING THAT
PERSPECTIVE, AND MY PRIORITY HAS
ALWAYS BEEN TO BRING ATTENTION
TO THE MOST VULNERABLE WORKERS
AND TO DIRECT OUR LIMITED
RESOURCES TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE
EXPOSING THE MOST EGREGIOUS
VIOLATIONS AND DOING THE BEST
THAT WE CAN BUY WORKERS. THANK
YOU, MR CHAIR FOR THIS
OPPORTUNITY. THANK YOU, SENATOR
GLAZER FOR YOUR INTEREST IN
ENSURING THAT WORKING FAMILIES
ARE PAID THE WAGES THEY ARE OWED
IN SENATOR GLACIERS. LATER
LETTER DATED JANUARY 1920 23. HE
IDENTIFIED SEVERAL ITEMS THAT
ARE OF PUBLIC CONCERN. I HAVE
BEEN WORKING ON FILLING
VACANCIES, IMPROVING OPERATIONAL
EFFICIENCIES AND STRENGTHENING
CAPACITY TO ADJUDICATE CLAIMS
AND RECOVER OLD WAGES. I WILL
PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW OF THE WORK
WE ARE CURRENTLY DOING. AS AN
EMPLOYER. MY OFFICE, LIKE OTHER
EMPLOYERS, FACES THE SAME
CHALLENGES OF LABOR SHORTAGES
AND FILLING VACANCIES TO
OVERCOME SOME OF THESE
CHALLENGES. I'M WORKING WITH THE
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA TO
BUILD A CAREER PIPELINE TO THE
L. C O. THESE EFFORTS INCLUDE
HELPING WORKERS UNDERSTAND THE
CIVIL SERVICE HIRING PROCESS AND
REQUIREMENTS, SATURATING
NETWORKS WITH EMPLOYMENT
OPPORTUNITIES AND PROVIDING
POTENTIAL CANDIDATES. THE
OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN ABOUT THE
POWERFUL WORK THAT WE DO. THIS
MODEL WILL BE APPLIED TO OTHER
INTERESTED ORGANIZATIONS WERE
ALSO ADVERTISING ATTENDING JOB
FAIRS, PROMOTING JOB POSTINGS ON
SOCIAL MEDIA AND NEWLY DEVELOPED
RECRUITMENT VIDEO. GIVEN THE
VACANCY RATE, I HAD TO REDIRECT
SEVEN ENFORCEMENT PROFESSIONALS
TO PRIORITIZE HIRING EFFORTS FOR
THEIR RESPECTIVE PROGRAMS AND
HAVE IMPLEMENTED 10 OTHER
STRATEGIES TO MAXIMIZE EACH
RECRUITMENT. IN THE LAST TWO
YEARS, WE HAVE COMPLETED 366
HIRES 186, WHICH WERE EXTERNAL
CANDIDATES. OF THESE 366 141
WERE IN THE WAGE CLAIM
ADJUDICATION PROGRAM AND 70 OF
THEM WERE EXTERNAL HIRES.
ANOTHER ISSUE CONNECTED TO
STAFFING IS THAT WHILE
AUTHORIZED POSITIONS HAVE
INCREASED OVER THE PAST TWO
ADMINISTRATIONS AUTHORIZED
SUPERVISORS AND MANAGERS
POSITIONS HAVE NOT. THIS HAS
RESULTED IN EXPANDING RATIOS
WHEN IT COMES TO THE NUMBER OF
STAFF TO SUPERVISOR MANAGER
RACIAL ONE OF MY REFORM. ESSER
EFFORTS IS TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE
BY CONDUCTING REORGANIZATIONS
FOR EACH PROGRAM TO BRING
SUPERVISOR AND MANAGER POSITIONS
WITHIN CIVIL SERVICE ALLOCATION
GUIDELINES CREATING ADDITIONAL
SUPERVISOR AND MANAGER POSITIONS
THAT PLAY A CRITICAL ROLE IN
TRAINING AND GENERAL OVERSIGHT
OF THE WORK IN THE LAST TWO
YEARS. WE'VE CONDUCTED FOR
REORGANIZATIONS, CREATING SEVEN
NEW REGIONAL MANAGER POSITIONS
ONE ASSISTANT CHIEF AND SEVEN
NEW SENIOR LABOR DEPUTY
COMMISSIONERS. TWO OF THE NEW
REGIONAL MANAGER. POSITIONS ARE
IN THE WAGE CLAIM ADJUDICATION
PROGRAM. THESE POSITIONS ARE
INSTRUMENTAL AS THEY PLAY A
CRITICAL ROLE IN IMPLEMENTING
AND MONITORING STRATEGIC
INITIATIVES LIKE THOSE I WILL
DISCUSS TODAY TO ADDRESS THE
BACKLOG IN ADDITION TO
DEVELOPING TEAM MEMBERS AND
SUPPORTING LOCAL OPERATIONS.
THEY ALSO ENSURE WORK MEETS
QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE
EXPECTATIONS, THE MENTORSHIP
GUIDANCE AND SUPPORT PROVIDED BY
MANAGERS AND SUPERVISORS IN
ONBOARDING, NEW TEAM MEMBERS AND
PROVIDING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
ON NEW LAWS AND PROTOCOLS, IS A
KEY COMPONENT TO RETAINING TEAM
MEMBERS. GIVEN THE VACANCIES AND
THE ADDITIONAL COMPLICATIONS
CREATED BY THE COVID 19 PANDEMIC
, OUR TEAM HAS BEEN EVALUATING
PROCESS INEFFICIENCIES AND
IMPROVEMENTS SINCE 2020. AS A
RESULT, OUR TEAM HAS DEVELOPED
14 REFORMS TO STRENGTHEN SKILLS
, ELIMINATE INEFFICIENCIES AND
APPROVED OPERATIONS IN 2022. WE
RECEIVED MORE THAN 38,000 WAGE
CLAIMS, REPRESENTING MORE THAN
127,000 VIOLATIONS OF LAW. THIS
YEAR, WE ARE PROJECTED TO
RECEIVE MORE THAN 40,000 WAGE
CLAIMS. I WILL NOW PROVIDE AN
OVERVIEW OF OUR REFORM EFFORTS.
THE 14 REFORMS WE HAVE
IMPLEMENTED COVER A WIDE ARRAY
OF ISSUES FACING OUR AGENCY.
SOME OF THESE REFORMS INCLUDE
PROVIDING TRAINING TO OUR TEAM
TO ENSURE THAT THE APPROPRIATE
PARTIES ARE ALL NAMED TO UTILIZE
NEGOTIATION TECHNIQUES AND TOOLS
TO RESOLVE CASES MORE SWIFTLY.
AND TO FOCUS AND REFINE OUR
EFFORTS TO PROMOTE BEST
PRACTICES CONSISTENTLY
THROUGHOUT ALL OF OUR OFFICES.
OTHER REFORMS ARE AIMED AT
IMPROVING SYSTEM EFFICIENCIES
AND BUILDING RESOURCES FOR
WORKERS TO MANEUVER THE WAGE
CLAIM PROCESS. I WILL NAME NOW
HIGHLIGHT TWO PRIMARY REFORMS.
THE FIRST IS ARE CONCENTRATED
CONFERENCES. ARE CONCENTRATED
CONFERENCES PROJECT INVOLVED THE
SAN BERNARDINO OFFICE AND THE
SAN DIEGO OFFICE. THE IDEA OF
THIS PROJECT IS TO MAXIMIZE OUR
RESOURCES ACROSS THE DIFFERENT
OFFICES TO ALLOW SCHEDULING OF
CONFERENCES AND THE FOCUS TIME
PERIOD, THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE
CANCER CONCENTRATED CONFERENCES
IS MOST EVIDENT IN SAN
BERNARDINO. SAN BERNARDINO HAS
BEEN INVOLVED IN THIS PROJECT
SINCE THE BEGINNING. WHEN WE
STARTED THE SOUND, BERNARDINO
OFFICE HAD 5000 CASES PENDING
CONFERENCE, THE OLDEST CASE
DATING BACK TO JULY OF 2019.
CURRENTLY THE SAN BERNARDINO
OFFICE HAS DOWN TO 2000 CASES,
THE OLDEST CASE FACING BACK TO
AUGUST OF 2022. THROUGH THIS
STRATEGY, WE WERE ABLE TO
DECREASE THE NUMBER OF CASES
WAITING CONFERENCE BY 60. I WILL
NOW REVIEW THE LOW WAGE INDUSTRY
INITIATIVE. THE LOW WAGE
INDUSTRY INITIATIVE WAS
IMPLEMENTED TO TEST TO DECREASE
THE NUMBER OF DAYS IN PROCESSING
CLAIMS WHERE WE'VE DESIGNATED
DEPUTIES AND HEARING OFFICERS IN
FOUR OFFICES LONG BEACH, SANTA
ANA, BAKERSFIELD AND FRESNO TO
SPECIFICALLY PROCESS LOW WEIGHT
INDUSTRY CLAIMS PRIORITIZING
THESE CLAIMS ASSIGNED TO THE
DESIGNATED DEPUTY AND HEARING
OFFICERS HAS ALSO SHOWN A
DECREASE IN PROCESSING TIMES FOR
LOW WAGE CLAIMS. THE FOLLOWING
DATA WAS REPORTED IN MARCH OF
2023, DEMONSTRATING A REDUCTION
IN THE NUMBER OF DAYS FROM
DOCKET TO HEARING BY 22% AND A
REDUCTION IN THE NUMBER OF DAYS
FROM DOCKET TO TRANSMITTAL,
WHICH IS WHERE WE GET APPROVAL
TO MOVE FORWARD WITH A HEARING
BY 18. AND A REDUCTION IN THE
NUMBER OF DAYS FROM DOCKET TO
RESOLUTION BY 46% EACH OF THESE
INITIATIVES REQUIRES DAILY
FOCUSED ATTENTION FROM A
REGIONAL MANAGER TO SUPPORT THE
LOCAL OFFICES IN IMPLEMENTING
THE NEW PILOT REFORMS AND
REGULARLY ADJUSTING TO THE NEW
CHALLENGES AND NEED FOR
ACCOMMODATIONS AND RE
ENGINEERING. THESE INITIATIVES
ARE BEING THOUGHTFULLY
IMPLEMENTED TO ENSURE THEY
COMPORT WITH BETH PRACTICES HAVE
MAXIMIZED IMPACT WITHIN OUR
OFFICES AND CONTINUE TO EXPAND
REFORMS STATEWIDE AS MODELS ARE
PERFECTED, AND VACANCIES ARE
FILLED. MOST OF THE BOTTLENECKS
IN OUR SYSTEMS ARE CAUSED BY
VACANCIES. THE STRATEGIES I
DISCUSSED WILL ALLEVIATE THESE
BOTTLENECKS BY MAXIMIZING
RESOURCES AND TREATING MULTIPLE
OFFICES AS ONE CLEARING STAFF
CALENDARS, ALLOWING THEM TO
FOCUS ON PARTICULAR TASKS FOR A
CERTAIN NUMBER OF DAYS,
INVESTING IN COMMUNICATION WITH
PARTIES EARLY PRIOR TO THE
SCHEDULED APPEARANCE AND
STREAMLINING PROCESSES. THESE
PILOTS HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL AND
ARE BEING THOUGHTFULLY
IMPLEMENTED TO NOT COMPROMISE
THE QUALITY OF ADJUDICATION. THE
LAST ITEM RAISED IN THE AUDIT
REQUEST IS HOW DIFFICULT IS IT
FOR WORKERS TO OBTAIN THEIR OWN
WAGES FOLLOWING A JUDGMENT YES,
ABSOLUTELY. WORKERS FACE AN
UPHILL BATTLE WHEN IT COMES TO
COLLECTING. THEY'RE BAD. THEY'RE
OLD WAGES. ASIDE FROM OUR
VARIOUS EFFORTS TO FILLING
VACANCIES, WE ALSO HAVE FOCUSED
REFORMS IN THE AREA OF JUDGMENT
ENFORCEMENT. WE HAVE IMPLEMENTED
SEVERAL REFORMS, INCLUDING
REDIRECTING POSITIONS TO OPEN
OFFICE IN SAN BERNARDINO, SAN
FRANCISCO, RIVERSIDE. WE'VE ALSO
REDIRECTED ADDITIONAL STAFF TO
OUR OAKLAND OFFICE. THE ISSUE OF
WAGE RECOVERY IS A HERCULEAN
PROBLEM THAT CANNOT BE ADDRESSED
IN ISOLATION. WE HAVE
STREAMLINED THE ENTRY OF
JUDGMENT PROCESS TO ENSURE
WORKERS JUDGMENTS ARE ENTERED
INTO THE SUPERIOR COURT SYSTEM
AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. THIS
WILL BEGIN THE CIVIL COURT WAGE
RECOVERY PROCESS FOR WORKERS. WE
HAVE ALSO FOCUSED IN TRAINING
TEAM MEMBERS OUTSIDE OF OUR
JUDGMENT ENFORCEMENT UNIT ON
RECOVERY TOOLS SO THAT MORE OF
OUR PROFESSIONALS ARE READY TO
ASSIST WORKERS IN RECOVERING ALL
WAGES. ONE OF THE 14 INITIATIVES
I MENTIONED EARLIER ON IS THE
NAMING PILOT. THIS PILOT IS
INSTRUMENTAL IN THE RECOVERY OF
WAGES. WE DID SMALL PILOTS IN
2020 AND 2021. WHERE THIS WAS
LED BY AN ATTORNEY WHO PROVIDED
FOCUSED TRAINING TO LOCAL
OFFICES TO REVIEW CLAIMS AND
ENSURE THAT ALL THE POTENTIAL
PARTIES ARE NAMES WE FOUND AS A
RESULT OF THOSE PILOTS THAT
WORKERS WHO NAMED ALL POTENTIAL
LIABLE, PARTIES WERE TWO TIMES
AS LIKELY TO RECOVER THEIR
WAGES. THEREFORE ONCE WE HAVE
OFTEN, THE PROBLEM IS THAT
WORKERS DO NOT NAME ALL THE
PARTIES THEY NAMED THE
INDIVIDUAL WHO MAY HAVE HIRED
THEM. BUT IT'S NOT THE
INDIVIDUAL WHO HAS THE ASSETS
AND OFTEN THEY ARE JUDGMENT
PROOF. COMMISSIONER GARCIA. I'M
GOING TO SORRY TO INTERRUPT, BUT
WE HAVE TO BE OUT OF THIS ROOM.
AT SOME POINT. DO YOU HAVE A
FINAL COMMENT YOU CAN MAKE WELL
, LASTLY, I WOULD SAY THAT, UH,
I AGREE THAT THERE IS A LOT THAT
NEEDS TO BE DONE AND A LOT MORE
THAT WE NEED TO DO NOT ONLY IN
OUR WAGE CLAIM ADJUDICATION
PROGRAM BUT IN ALL OF THE
PROGRAMS AT THE LABOR
COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE, AND ALL
OF THESE PROGRAMS, PROBLEMS ARE
EXTREMELY COMPLEX, AND THEY ALL
REQUIRE MULTIFACETED APPROACHES
. AS I'VE REVIEWED HERE THAT
INCLUDES EDUCATING THE WORKERS,
SO WORKING WITH OUR COMMUNITY
LEADERS WORKING WITH RESPONSIBLE
EMPLOYERS EXPANDING PARTNERSHIPS
WITH UM, ENFORCEMENT PARTNERS,
AS WELL AS CONTINUING TO FILL
OUR VACANCIES AND IMPROVE OUR
SYSTEMS. THANK YOU, MR CHAIRMAN
AVAILABLE FOR QUESTIONS. THANK
YOU. APPRECIATE THAT. AND, UM
ARE YOU SPEAKING OF AN AGENCY AS
WELL? OKAY WE'RE GONNA GO TO
COMMITTEE MEMBERS, QUESTIONS AND
COMMENTS. FIRST OF ALL, I WOULD
LIKE TO START BY THANKING
COMMISSIONER OF THE REPORT THAT
YOU JUST PROVIDED TO US HERE
HERE IS A VERY THOROUGH UM AND I
WILL JUST ACKNOWLEDGED AT LEAST
MYSELF FOR MYSELF THAT THERE
SEEMS TO BE A LOT OF PROGRESS
THAT IS BEING MADE. I THINK
CLEARLY WE HAVE THE RIGHT PERSON
FOR THE JOB AS IT RELATES TO
WHAT DESIRES ARE OF. I THINK
EVERYBODY INCLUDING THE, UH,
REQUEST THE AUTHOR WHO'S
REQUESTING THIS AUDIT. UM AND I
THINK THAT'S ALL REALLY GOOD. I
WILL ALSO JUST AGAIN ACKNOWLEDGE
THAT THIS IS ALL INFORMATION
THAT I'VE JUST LEARNED NOW AND I
CAN TELL YOU I'M NOT GOING TO
REMEMBER MORE THAN PROBABLY HALF
OF WHAT YOU SAID. THAT'S NOT
BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T SAY IT WELL,
BUT JUST BECAUSE THERE WAS A LOT
AND UM AND I THINK THERE'S
PROBABLY SOME REALLY IMPORTANT
INFORMATION THAT YOU PROVIDED
THAT COULD HELP US DETERMINE, UM
, WHETHER THERE'S PROGRESS BEING
MADE OR IF THERE IS MORE WORK
THAT WE CAN HELP SUPPORT THAT
YOU CAN CONTINUE TO MAKE THAT
PROGRESS. SO I WANTED TO MAKE
THOSE STATEMENTS BECAUSE I
THINK, UM SPECIFICALLY WHAT I
HEARD YOU MENTION WHICH I WAS
GOING TO ASK ABOUT OUR WHAT ARE
THE INITIATIVES THAT ARE TAKING
PLACE IN ORDER TO ADJUDICATE
MORE QUICKLY REDUCE PROCESSING
TIME AND OTHER THINGS, WHICH IN
THE HUMAN SHINDE? A FEW OF THOSE
STATISTICS, WHICH REALLY AGAIN
IS IMPORTANT AND APPRECIATED,
BUT ALL LITERALLY INFORMATION
BRAND NEW TO ME AT THE MOMENT,
WHICH IS WHICH MAKES IT A LITTLE
CHALLENGING TO SORT OF DECIPHER
WHETHER, UM, IN THIS CASE, IS
THERE A SIGNIFICANT ENOUGH
PROGRESS BEING MADE AGAIN OR ARE
THERE OTHER WAYS THAT WE CAN
SUPPORT THE WORK THAT YOU'RE
DOING? SO I THINK MY FIRST
QUESTION WOULD BE TO SENATOR
GLASER. I DON'T KNOW. HAVE YOU
HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THESE
CONVERSATIONS AND UNDERSTAND DO
YOU HAVE A RESPONSE TO WHAT'S
BEEN, UH, TESTIFIED HERE TODAY.
THANK YOU. CHAIR ALVAREZ NÓI. I
LOVE THE REPORT AND THE UPDATE,
AND I THINK, AS I SAID EARLIER,
I KNOW THAT THE FOLKS THAT ARE
INVOLVED IN THIS COMMISSIONER AS
WELL AS OTHERS HAVE THE BEST OF
INTENTIONS. THEY'RE THERE TO DO
THE RIGHT THING THEIR STAFFS
THERE TO DO THE RIGHT THING. UM
AND I THINK THAT UH, AND THERE'S
SOME OF THESE REFORMS SOUND
GREAT, BUT YOU KNOW, THE
FUNDAMENTAL QUESTION IS, UM WHEN
ARE THE BOTTLENECKS IS GOING TO
GO AWAY? UM YOU KNOW, ARE THEY
GOING TO MEET 120 DAY
REQUIREMENTS IN THE LAW? SO A
PERSON WHO TAKES THAT INCREDIBLE
COURAGE TO COME FORWARD, WHICH
WE KNOW IS SO HARD TO BEGIN
WITH. AND WHEN SHE TALKED ABOUT
38,000 WAGE CLAIMS LAST YEAR,
IT'S A IT'S A BIG, LIKE WHOA! UM
THAT WE JUST NEED TO HAVE
JUSTICE BE DONE. SO MY RESPONSE
IS THAT I LOVE THE REPORT AND I
LOVED THE PASSION THAT THAT YOU
HAVE THE COMMISSIONER'S BROUGHT
TO THIS CONCERN. BUT WE ARE ALL
WE'RE ASKING FOR IN THIS AUDIT
IS A SEPARATE SET OF EXPERTISE
AND ICE TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT.
THAT'S ALL. AND IF THEY IF THEY
CAN LEARN SOME THINGS THAT COULD
HELP US IN THIS WORK, IN
ADDITION TO WHAT THE
COMMISSIONER'S DOING IN HER
OFFICE, THAT'S THAT'S A GOOD
THING FOR US TO HAVE AS MUCH
DATA AND INFORMATION AS POSSIBLE
GOING FORWARD. I'LL TAKE A FEW
OTHER QUESTIONS. I DO HAVE SOME
CLOSING COMMENTS. UM SOME
THOUGHTS BEFORE WE TAKE EMOTIONS
OF MR WOOD. I SAW YOU REQUEST.
YEAH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU,
SENATOR GLAZER FOR BRINGING THIS
FORWARD. UM YOU KNOW, I THINK
PEOPLE ARE ALWAYS CONCERNED
ABOUT AN AUDIT. NOBODY NOBODY
NOT DOESN'T ALWAYS LIKE PEOPLE
LOOKING IN. FROM THE OUTSIDE. I
THINK IT'S A GOOD THING. WE
COMMISSIONED AN AUDIT EARLY ON
AND WHEN I FIRST GOT HERE AROUND
SKILLED NURSING FACILITIES AND
LICENSING AND SOME OF THE THINGS
GOING ON WHAT WE FOUND FROM THAT
AUDIT WAS SURPRISING TO US. WE
FOUND THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
CARE SERVICES HAD SOME CRITERIA
THEY FOLLOW. WE HAVE DEPARTMENT
OF PUBLIC HEALTH HAS SOME
CRITERIA. THEY FOLLOWED. AND
NEITHER DEPARTMENT KNEW WHAT THE
OTHER DEPARTMENT WAS DOING. SO I
THINK THAT WAS A VALUABLE
OUTCOME FOR BOTH DEPARTMENTS,
AND I THINK WE'VE MADE SOME
HEADWAY THERE. UM I HAVE A
CONSTITUENT WHO HAS BEEN IN
CONTACT WITH MY OFFICE SINCE
APRIL OF 2020. UM, HE WAS TOLD
AT THE TIME THAT HE WOULD GET A
HEARING IN 18 MONTHS TO TWO
YEARS, WHICH IS CONSISTENT WITH
THE 700 PLUS DAYS THAT WE'RE
HEARING FROM SENATOR GLASER. UM,
WE'RE AT THREE YEARS NOW. UM AND
SINCE HE REACHED OUT AND EVERY
TIME HE CALLS THE TIME GETS
LONGER, HE REACHED OUT ON THE
STATUS OF HIS CLAIM LAST MONTH
AND WAS NOW TOLD IT WAS 4 TO 5
YEARS FOR A HEARING. UM THAT'S
CLEARLY GOING IN THE WRONG
DIRECTION. FIRST, IT WAS 18
MONTHS. THEN IT WAS THREE YEARS.
NOW IT'S 4 TO 5 YEARS. UM AND HE
WAS ALSO TOLD THE OAKLAND OFFICE
ONLY HAS ONE HEARING OFFICER.
CURRENTLY THAT BEGS THE
QUESTION. HOW MANY CLAIMS ARE
THERE AND THAT HOW MANY HEARINGS
A DAY HAPPENED? UM AND WE
ACTUALLY MET WITH THE I R IN MY
OFFICE AND WE ASKED FOR SOME
DATA. UM AND, UM AYE. IT WASN'T
EXACTLY EASY. TO GET FORTHCOMING
WASN'T EASY TO GET A COMMITMENT
. WE KIND OF WANTED TO KNOW HOW
MANY CASES ARE IN OUR DISTRICT.
WHAT'S GIVE US THE AGING ON
THOSE CASES, AND WHEN WE MIGHT
EXPECT TO HEAR THAT THOSE PEOPLE
MIGHT GET HEARINGS. I WOULD
THINK THAT WOULDN'T BE TOO
DIFFICULT TO DO. BUT THERE WAS
RESISTANCE TO THAT. EVEN GIVING
THAT INFORMATION TO US AND SO
YEAH, I WORRY ABOUT YOU KNOW
WHAT HAPPENS. YOU KNOW, IF FIVE
YEARS OUT MY CONSTITUENT DOESN'T
HAVE, YOU KNOW, HE FINALLY GETS
HIS HEARING WHAT HAPPENS IF THE
COMPANY IS GONE, YOU KNOW, AND
THAT'S A REAL THAT'S A REAL
POSSIBILITY. WE JUST SAW 33
TEENAGE TEENAGERS IN SONOMA
COUNTY STORY IN OUR IN OUR LOCAL
NEWSPAPER FILED THE CLAIM PRETTY
BRAVE FOR TEENAGERS, HIGH
SCHOOLERS TO FILE A CLAIM.
YOU'VE GOT A YOU'VE GOT A
COMPANY THAT'S GOT THE SUBJECT
OF 19 CLAIMS SINCE JANUARY, 18TH
19 CLAIMS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
NOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT MONEY
TAKEN FROM FROM CHILDREN. 12 OF
THE 19 CASES AWAIT THE
SCHEDULING OF SETTLEMENT
CONFERENCES ARE HEARINGS. UM ONE
OF THE CLIPPERS. ONE OF THE
CLAIMS WAS ONE OF THE ONE OF THE
OTHER CLANS WAS SETTLED IN FAVOR
OF THE WORKER. UM, THERE YOU
KNOW OUR WHEN? WHEN DID THESE
YOUNG PEOPLE? UH, THAT BRAVE
YOUNG PEOPLE. TEENAGERS COMING
FORWARD TO CONTEST. WE'RE NOT
TALKING ABOUT A HUGE AMOUNT OF
MONEY. I MEAN, ARE THEY GONNA BE
WAITING UNTIL THEY'RE ELIGIBLE
FOR SELF SECURITY TO GET ACCESS
TO THIS? I MEAN, UM, I DON'T
KNOW. AND SO, SO YOU KNOW, PART
OF WHAT THIS IS TO SEE. CAN WE
EXAMINE THIS? THERE ARE THINGS
THAT AND OUTSIDE EYES CAN SEE
WHAT IS THIS GEOGRAPHICALLY
TALKED ABOUT SAN BERNARDINO AND
HOW YOU'VE MADE PROGRESS THERE.
UM BUT IT CERTAINLY DOESN'T SEEM
TO HAVE AFFECTED SOME OF THE
CONSTITUENTS IN MY AREA. SO IS
THIS A REGIONAL PROBLEM? I MEAN,
COULD WE BE REFOCUSING OUR
RESOURCES AND DIFFERENT AREAS TO
GET SOME OF THE SAME KINDS OF
PROGRESS YOU'VE SEEN IN SAN
BERNARDINO IN THE NORTH BAY OR
OAKLAND OR WHATEVER. THAT'S KIND
OF THE PURPOSE OF THIS, AND I
APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK YOU'RE
DOING AND IN THE INITIATIVE
SOUND GREAT. UM AND BUT I GOT
PEOPLE WAITING FOR WAGE YOU KNOW
THAT THAT ARE VICTIMS OF WAGE
THEFT. I THINK SOMEONE BEING
TOLD 45 YEARS IS, UM BEYOND
UNACCEPTABLE CONSIDERING YOU
HAVE 100 AND 2100 AND 20 DAY TO
RESPOND. THAT'S THAT'S THAT'S
THAT'S 10 TIMES, PLUS THE AMOUNT
OF TIME PAST THE STATUTE. HELP
HELP ME! HELP HELP HELP OUR
CONSTITUENTS. WE HELP THEM EVERY
DAY, AND AFTER THAT, I AM
CONCERNED BY WHAT YOU'RE SHARING
. I HAVE NOT. AND I JUST
RECEIVED UPDATES THIS MORNING
AND INQUIRIES ABOUT OUR DELAYS.
I HAVEN'T SEEN ANY FIGURE THAT
INDICATES THE 4 TO 5 YEARS THAT
YOU YOUR CONSTITUENT RECEIVED
INFORMATION, AND SO YOU KNOW A
LOT OF THE CHALLENGES. UM IN
OBTAINING INFORMATION LIKE WHAT
YOU EXPERIENCED IN THE MEETING
WITH THE I R, WHICH I WAS NOT A
PART OF UM, BUT I WILL INQUIRE
ABOUT THAT. YOUR REQUEST TO
RECEIVE INFORMATION ABOUT
PARTICULAR GEOGRAPHY FREEZE
SEEMS TO BE SOMETHING WE SHOULD
BE ABLE TO DO. HOWEVER THE
REALITY IS THAT EVERY REQUEST WE
MAKE, INCLUDING THOSE REQUESTS
FROM ME TAKE OUR TEAM AWAY FROM
FOCUSING ON MOVING THOSE
CONFERENCES AND HEARINGS, AND
SOMETIMES THAT FALLS OFF THE
PLATE BECAUSE OUR INDICATION IS
TO PRIORITIZE THOSE KANSEN.
RINSES THAT HEARINGS, BUT IT IS
VERY DISTURBING AND MEMBER OF
THE PUBLIC IS RECEIVING THIS
INFORMATION OF 4 TO 5 YEARS, SO
I WOULD LIKE TO LOOK AT THAT.
ALSO GET INFORMATION OF THE
EMPLOYER. YOU HAVE. IDENTIFIED
WITH 19 CLAIMS BECAUSE OF AN
EMPLOYERS IN OUR SYSTEM, THE
SAME EMPLOYER WITH MULTIPLE
CLAIMS LIKE THAT WE SHOULD BE
REFERRING THEM OVER TO OUR
BUREAU OF FIELD ENFORCEMENT. SO
I'D LIKE TO FOLLOW UP WITH YOU.
I APPRECIATE THE INQUIRIES YOU
HAVE MADE TO OUR OFFICE. I KNOW
THAT YOUR INQUIRIES HAVE HELPED
US IMPROVE, UM, PROCESSES THAT
WE HAVE WITH LEGISLATIVE
INQUIRIES SO WE CAN FOLLOW UP ON
THESE TWO, BUT I JUST WANT TO BE
CLEAR. THAT THIS IS A STATEWIDE
PROBLEM. THERE'S NOT A
PARTICULAR UNIQUE PROBLEM TO ANY
OF THE REGIONS. THERE ARE UNIQUE
SITUATIONS OF THOSE CONSTITUENTS
AND THOSE PARTICULAR ECONOMIES
THAT AS AN ENFORCEMENT AGENCY,
WE HAVE TO TAKE INTO
CONSIDERATION AND SHOULD BE
AWARE OF. BUT THESE PROBLEMS
THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ARE
SYSTEMIC. AND IT NEEDS THESE
REFORMS NEED TO HAPPEN
THROUGHOUT OUR OFFICES. SO THE
EXAMPLES I GAVE YOU ARE PROGRAMS
THAT ONCE WE PERFECT THAT MODEL
. OUR INTENTION IS TO EXPAND IT.
WE HAVE ALREADY ARE EXPANDING
THE CONCENTRATED CONFERENCES
INTO OTHER OFFICES. SO THAT'S
THE GOAL THAT THESE 14
STRATEGIES THAT WE HAVE. ONCE WE
HAVE ENOUGH STAFF TO MONITOR
THEM, AND TO EXECUTE THEM, WE
WILL HAVE THESE IN ALL OF OUR
OFFICES. WE'LL JUST FINAL FINAL
THING I WOULD SAY AFTER MARVEL
AT SOMEONE WHO'S WILLING TO
FIGHT FOR AS LONG AS THEY HAVE
AND BEING CONTINUAL CONTACT WITH
OUR OFFICE, ASKING FOR HELP.
ASKING FOR HELP. AND WE CAN'T
MOVE THE WE CAN'T MOVE THE
NEEDLE ON THESE. SOME OF THESE
CASES. AND THAT THAT CASE I JUST
TOLD YOU ABOUT WHAT THOSE YOUNG
PEOPLE ARTICLE IN THE NEWSPAPER
AND WE'RE HAPPY TO SEND YOU THAT
THAT NEWSPAPER ARTICLE IT GIVES
YOU THE NAME OF THE EMPLOYER
LAYS OUT EXACTLY WHAT I JUST
TOLD YOU. UM AND SO, YOU KNOW, I
WANT TO THANK THE SENATOR FOR
BRINGING BEFORE WE HAD THOUGHT
ABOUT BRINGING THIS AUTO FORWARD
JUST BECAUSE OF SOME OF WHAT
WE'RE HEARING FROM OUR
CONSTITUENCIES. BUT ALSO JUST
THE FEEDBACK AND THE WAY WE HEAR
THAT SOMETIMES THE PEOPLE IN THE
DEPARTMENT THAT YOU SUPERVISE OR
THAT THE LABOR COMMISSION ARE
NOT ALWAYS TERRIBLY FRIENDLY AND
VERY DISMISSIVE. SOMETIMES THE
PEOPLE CALLING, ASKING FOR HELP.
AND WHEN, WHEN PEOPLE HAVING
THIS, YOU KNOW WHEN, WHEN THEY
MEET SOME WHEN SOMEONE CALLS
WITH A PROBLEM, AND THE PERSON
ON THE OTHER END OF THE LINE IS
DISMISSIVE. UM AND NOT HELPFUL.
IT DOESN'T DO MUCH TO ENCOURAGE
THEM TO BE PERSISTENT. BUT THIS
GUY TRY AND STILL TRYING. HE
WANTS HIS MONEY AND GOD BLESS
HIM FOR TRYING AND WE'RE DOING
EVERYTHING WE CAN TO TRY TO HELP
THEM. AND I COULDN'T AGREE WITH
YOU MORE JUST IF I MAY ON THIS
LAST COMMENT, UM, THAT WE'VE
ALSO INITIATED AN EFFORT TO
BECOME TRAUMA INFORMED. IN MY 20
YEARS AS AN ADVOCATE SITTING IN
THOSE LOBBIES. I EXPERIENCED
THAT DIRECTLY. THE WORKERS AND
EMPLOYERS. I REPRESENTED
EXPERIENCE THAT I SAT ACROSS SIX
DIFFERENT LABOR COMMISSIONER'S
AND MOST OF THEM WERE DISMISSIVE
. SO THIS IS A DEEP SYSTEMIC
PROBLEM WITHIN THE CULTURE OF
THIS AGENCY, WHICH IS WHY WE'RE
DIGGING DOWN DEEP TO ENSURE THAT
PEOPLE UNDERSTAND WE ARE A
PUBLIC FACING AGENCY WERE
CREATED TO SERVE THE PUBLIC, AND
THAT IS ABSOLUTELY NOT
ACCEPTABLE FROM ANY OF OUR TEAM,
AND I LOVE TO OPPORTUNITY TO
SHARE WITH YOU THESE REFORMS
BECAUSE THAT'S A WHOLE OTHER
LIST OF OUR EFFORT OF BECOMING
TRAUMA INFORMED. THANK YOU. UM I
JUST WANT TO REMIND EVERYBODY I
DID GIVE THE REMINDER EARLY ON
THAT THIS ITEM WAS GONNA TAKE A
WHILE BECAUSE EVERYBODY HAS
QUESTIONS, AND I STILL HAVE SOME
MORE. BUT, MR CORTEZ, YOUR NEXT
. THANK YOU, MR CHAIR. UM, FIRST
OF ALL, I WANT TO STIPULATE AS,
UM FORMER MEMBER DURING THE
ENTIRE PRIOR SESSION OF SENATE
SUBCOMMITTEE, FIVE WHICH, UM
BUDGET SUBCOMMITTEE FIVE WHICH
WHICH DEALS VERY MUCH WITH SOME
OF THE ISSUES AROUND STAFFING,
VACANCIES AND SO FORTH, AND
THERE'S BEEN RIGOROUS. UM BACK
AND FORTH IN THAT COMMITTEE OVER
THE LAST TWO YEARS. AND REQUESTS
BY MEMBERS TO GET TO THE HEART
OF THE OF THE VACANT POSITION
ISSUE. THE FUNDED BACON BACON
POSITION ISSUE THERE, AMONG
OTHER ISSUES, SO I ALSO WANT TO
SAY THAT IN THE COUNTY OF SANTA
CLARA A FEW YEARS AGO. WE STOOD
UP OUR OWN OFFICE OF LABOR
STANDARDS ENFORCEMENT BECAUSE WE
GOT LIKE THE BACKLOG ON ON
COLLECTIONS ON STATE JUDGMENT
COLLECTIONS WAS IN OUR COUNTY
WAS SO EXTREME THAT WE SHOULD
START GOING AFTER THEM
OURSELVES. WE FOUND THAT WE
COULD DO THAT. SO THEIR PROBLEMS
. I WANT TO STIPULATE TO THAT
BEFORE I SAY WHAT TO SAY NEXT?
THAT WAS MY POINT. UM THAT
BUDGET PROCESS, AS WE ALL KNOW
IS GOING ON AGAIN RIGHT NOW, AS
WE SPEAK SUBCOMMITTEE FIVE IS
OVER IN THE OTHER BUILDING
MEETING WITH MY POLICY
COMMITTEE. ON ON ON LABOR
ISSUES, AND, UM 1/10, FOR
EXAMPLE. WE ARE GOING TO HAVE
ANOTHER HEARING THE JOINT
HEARINGS ON ACCOUNTABILITY AND
EFFECTIVENESS THAT'S FOCUSED ON
WAGE STUFFED THEIR SUB FIVE WILL
CONTINUE TO HAVE ITS OWN
HEARINGS. AND I'VE ASKED SENATOR
GARAGE SO TO HAVE A DEDICATED
HEARING. ON THESE TOPICS AND SUB
COMMITTEE FIVE. UM SHOULD THAT
DISPLACED THE NEED FOR AN AUDIT.
WE DON'T KNOW. I'VE BEEN IN
DISCUSSIONS WITH LABOR FED AND
OTHERS ABOUT INTRODUCING THE
VEHICLE AND WE HAVE A SPOT
BUILDING WAITING. UM TO FOCUS ON
POTENTIALLY CREATING A DEDICATED
HIRING UNIT AT D I R. UM Tð.
BREAKDOWN OTHER BARRIERS TO
HIRING THAT EXISTS. I'M ACTUALLY
NOT SURE IF WHAT'S REALLY NEEDED
IS AN AUDIT OF THIS AGENCY. BUT
AN AUDIT OF HR IN TERMS OF
WHAT'S IT GOING TO TAKE TO GET
HIRING MOVIE? GIVEN WHAT I'VE
SEEN SO FAR, BUT I'M NOT AN
AUDITOR OR AN EXPERT ON ST HR,
AT LEAST AT THIS POINT, WHAT I'M
WORRIED ABOUT IS AND I THINK
EVERY ELECTED MEMBER HERE IN
BOTH FROM BOTH HOUSES HAS HEARD
THIS BEFORE. IS THAT AS WE WERE
PUSHING HARD IN THE BUDGET
PROCESS TO TRY TO GET THESE
ISSUES ADDRESSED. IF WE HAVE AN
AUDIT, THAT'S OUTSTANDING THAT
COMES OUT OF THIS COMMITTEE
TODAY. BECAUSE THERE'S PROBLEMS
JUSTIFIABLE, BUT IF WE HAVE THAT
OUTSTANDING CLOUDING, UM THIS
BUDGET PROCESS WHAT WE WILL HEAR
BACK WITH ALL DUE RESPECT TO THE
ADMINISTRATION IS WELL. LET'S
SEE WHAT THE AUDIT COMES UP WITH
FIRST BEFORE WE FIX ANYTHING
ELSE. THEREFORE THE STORY LIKE
SOME MEMBER WOULD BROUGHT UP
MANY LIKE THAT IN THE REST OF
OUR DISTRICTS TO ME. GET
REPLICATED OVER AND OVER AGAIN
FOR ANOTHER EXTENDED PERIOD OF
TIME. MY SUGGESTION WOULD BE IN
THE HAPPY TO MOVE IT, BUT I
DON'T KNOW IN TERMS OF A POINT
OF ORDER IF AND WHEN IT'S
APPROPRIATE. I THINK WOULD BE TO
RETAIN THIS AUDIT UNTIL THE
BUDGET PROCESS IS COMPLETED. SEE
WHAT PROGRESS WE MADE. SEE IF IN
FACT THERE'S A VEHICLE EITHER A
BUDGETARY VEHICLE OR BILL THAT'S
MOVING TO ADDRESS A SUBSTANTIAL
NUMBER OF THESE ISSUES. AND IF
NOT, UM, COME BACK. LET'S GET
LET'S GET THE AUDIT OUT OF
COMMITTEE. BUT I AM CALL ME
CYNICAL. OR OR WHATEVER. I JUST
THINK IT'S A NATURAL REACTION TO
SAY. UM BY THOSE WHO WERE TRYING
TO GET TO MAKE CHANGE OUTSIDE OF
OUR TWO HOUSES, UM, WORK, YOU
GUYS, YOU GUYS, SAID AN AUDIT
OUT. UM THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
WE'RE GOING TO DEAL WITH THAT
RIGHT NOW AND TALK TO US SOME
OTHER TIME ABOUT FIXING THESE
PROBLEMS, AND I THINK THAT WOULD
BE A TRAGEDY IN AND OF ITSELF.
SO MR CHAIR AGAIN, I WOULD LIKE
SOME CLARITY IN TERMS OF A POINT
OF ORDER AS TO WHETHER OR NOT
EMOTION LIKE THAT. CAN BE PUT ON
THE FLOOR. SO UM, I'LL MAKE SOME
COMMENTS HERE AGAIN, I WOULD SAY
, I HEAR I THINK THE SENTIMENT
FROM EVERYBODY, INCLUDING THE
AUTHOR, AND OTHERS WHO HAVE
SPOKEN UP ON THE NEED THE DESIRE
FOR THIS SYSTEM TO WORK MUCH
MORE EFFECTIVELY. UM I AGAIN
JUST HEARD. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU
HAD HEARD THIS REPORT BEFORE
FROM FROM THE OFFICE OF LABOR
COMMISSIONER. BUT THERE'S SOME
INITIATIVES THAT HAVE BEGUN THAT
MAYBE COULD ADDRESS SOME OF
THESE ISSUES. I STILL HAVEN'T
HEARD HOW WE'RE GOING TO GET 220
DAYS. I THINK THAT'S THE
QUESTION THAT NEEDS TO BE
ANSWERED. AND I THINK AN AUDIT
CAN ANSWER THAT QUESTION. BUT IN
THE SPIRIT OF TRYING TO, YOU
KNOW, UH, THE WORK WE'VE DONE SO
FAR. WE'VE BEEN UNANIMOUS ON
EVERY SINGLE VOTE, A SINGLE VOTE
HERE AND THE SPIRIT OF TRYING TO
WORK TO ADDRESS THE ACTUAL
ISSUE. I'D LIKE TO. I LIKE TO,
UH ENTERTAIN THAT IDEA, BUT I'D
HAVE TO SEE UM WHAT THAT WOULD
BE DEPENDENT ON. I LIKE TO SEE
THAT THE BUDGET PROCESS AND
THESE IN THE COMMITTEE OVERSIGHT
HEARINGS ACTUALLY DELIVER
MEASURABLE, UM, ACTIONABLE ITEMS
THAT GET TAKEN BY THE OFFICE TO
REDUCE THAT NUMBER TO WHERE IT
NEEDS TO BE. I DON'T THINK I
HAVE THAT EVIDENCE BEFORE ME
TODAY. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU ALL
FEEL OTHERWISE. BUT UM, I'D BE
WILLING TO CONSIDER THAT AT
LEAST PERSONALLY. I LIKE THE
AUTHOR TO AGAIN. WE'VE BEEN
DOING ALL THIS WORK
COLLABORATIVELY, THE AUTHOR TO
COMMENT AS WELL ON SORT OF UH,
WHAT HIS TAKE IS ON. THAT
ALTERNATIVE APPROACH. UM, BUT I
THINK IT'S SOMETHING WE SHOULD
WE SHOULD PUT ON THE TABLE.
THANK YOU, CHAIR ALVAREZ. AND
CERTAINLY I RESPECT AND
APPRECIATION TO SENATOR CORTEZ E
FOR TRYING TO FIND THE RIGHT
PATH HERE BECAUSE I KNOW WE
SHARE THE SAME GOAL. UM THE
CHALLENGE THAT I HAVE WITH IT IS
THAT, UM IT'S VERY EASILY EASY
TO RATIONALIZE FAILURE TO ACT.
AND WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT
TODAY. IT'S NOT A NEW ISSUE.
IT'S THAT DIDN'T JUST HAPPEN IN
2023. IT'S HAPPENED EVERY YEAR
EVERY YEAR. AND WHEN WE HEAR
FROM THE COMMISSIONER THAT THERE
IS DEEP, SYSTEMIC PROBLEMS ON
HER OWN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. IT'S AN
UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS IS NOT A
ONE TIME ONE YEAR SITUATION. AND
THAT WE HAVE TO YOU'D BE A
LITTLE BIT MORE AGGRESSIVE, I
BELIEVE IN GETTING THE FACTS
AGAIN. AN AUDIT DOES NOT FORCE
ANY POLICY CHANGE OR ANY
BUDGETARY CHANGE. AND IF THE
ADMINISTRATION IS GOING TO USE
AN AUDIT AS A REASON TO NOT DO
THE RIGHT THING, THAT'S A
SERIOUS PROBLEM. THAT'S A
SERIOUS AND THAT MEANS THAT
WE'RE WE'RE PERPETUATING THAT
FAILURE. BY THE BY THE
RATIONALIZATION THAT HEY, LET'S
GIVE HIM THE CHANCE TO COME IN
WITH THE BUDGETARY PROPOSAL. THE
BUDGET IS JUST A BUDGET. THEY'VE
HAD THE MONEY. SO I DON'T THINK
THE ISSUE IS JUST ABOUT MONEY.
IT'S ABOUT HOW THEY ARE
OPERATING AS AN AGENCY AND
WHETHER PEOPLE ARE GETTING THEIR
HEARING AND GETTING THEIR MONEY
BACK. AND SO I SO RESPECT. THE
CONSIDERATION OF ALTERNATIVES
AND OF THE DESIRE TO BE
TOGETHER. I APPRECIATE THAT, BUT
I JUST WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT
WE HAVE FROST ERRED, FRAUDSTERS
AND CHEATERS THAT HAVE BEEN
OPERATING IN THE STATE 38,000
WAGE CLAIMS THIS PAST YEAR, GUYS
, COME ON. ARE WE GOING TO JUST
KEEP REPEATING THE SAME CYCLE
WITH THE BEST OF INTENTIONS? AND
SO I GUESS THAT'S MY HONEST
FEEDBACK. MR. CHAIRMAN CONTINUE
WITH THE CONVERSATION ON.
THANKS, MISS GONZALES. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH, MR CHAIR, AND I
APPRECIATE THIS DIALOGUE AS
WELL. AND I THINK SENATOR CORTEZ
FOR RAISING THIS AS WELL,
BECAUSE I DO ALIGN MY COMMENTS
WITH HIM AND SPEAKING WITH THE
GOOD SENATOR WHO I THINK WE ALL
HAVE THE SAME GOALS HERE IS TO
ENSURE THAT PEOPLE WORKERS ARE
GETTING THERE. THEIR FAIR SHARE
THEIR GETTING THEIR CHECKS.
THEY'RE BEING COMPENSATED. BUT I
WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE TAKE
THIS TIME AND THE OVERSIGHT
PROCESS THROUGH THE BUDGET
SUBCOMMITTEE FIVE TO BE ABLE TO
GET AND GAIN MORE DETAILS ON
THIS. IF WE'RE GOING TO DO THE
AUDIT, LET'S DO IT THE RIGHT
WAY. I THINK MOST OF THE
INFORMATION THAT I SEE HERE UM
PERTAINS TO STAFFING. I THINK
WHICH IS OKAY, THAT IS ONE PART
OF IT, BUT I ALSO WANT TO SEE
WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO TO COMPEL
EMPLOYERS TO PAY. EMPLOYER
COMPLIANCE. I DON'T REALLY SEE
EXPLICITLY OUTLINED IN HERE.
YES, BUT I MEAN, WELL, REVIEW
AND ASSESS ANY OTHER ISSUES THAT
ARE PERTINENT TO THE AUDIT IS
NOT NECESSARILY SPECIFIC. SO I
WOULD LIKE IT TO BE MORE WORKER
FOCUS, BECAUSE THAT'S EXACTLY
WHO NEEDS THE CHECKS AND WHO
ACTUALLY NEEDS JUSTICE. IN THIS
PROCESS. I AGREE WITH MY
COLLEAGUES HERE. I DON'T WANT
FOLKS WAITING 780 DAYS TO GET
PAID. BUT THIS AUDIT NEEDS TO BE
FOCUSED ON THEM LIKE SOLELY ON
THEM AND HOW WE CAN GET THEM TO
PAY AGAIN REITERATING THE
COMPLIANCE BECAUSE WHAT WE KNOW
IN 120 DAYS OFTEN TIMES IT'S
LACK OF RECORDS, INACCURATE
RECORDS, MISSING RECORDS AND WHO
ARE THEY FROM EMPLOYERS WHO ARE
NOT PROVIDING THOSE RECORDS?
IT'S HARD SO I COMMEND OUR
COMMISSIONER FOR DOING THIS GOOD
WORK, BUT I ALSO THINK THAT WE
SHOULD DO. WE SHOULD TAKE OUR
TIME TO INCORPORATE, UM, ITEMS
THAT HAVE BEEN LISTED OUT BY THE
LABOR FED OUR COMMISSIONER, OF
COURSE, MANY OF THE COLLEAGUES
HERE WHO I THINK HAVE DIFFERENCE
OF OPINIONS AND IN SOME CASES,
BUT WITH THE ONE GOAL OF
ENSURING THAT WORKERS GET THEIR
THEIR THEIR CHECKS AND THEIR
FAIR SHARE FIRST. I THINK WE ALL
AGREE WITH THAT. AND SO I WOULD
ALIGN AND HOPE THAT WE CAN TAKE
A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME. NO ONE
IS SAYING THAT WE DON'T NEED AN
AUDIT. BUT THE TIMING WOULD BE
MY PREFERENCE. THANK YOU. MS
GONZALEZ, VICE CHAIR BLACK SPUR.
YES THANK YOU. UM I LISTENED
VERY CAREFULLY TO THE AUDIT. UM
THE THINGS THAT WERE SHARED
TODAY AND ALSO MY COLLEAGUES.
UM, AND TO ME, THIS DOESN'T SEEM
LIKE IT'S DIFFERENT FROM THE
OTHER THINGS WE'RE CHOOSING TO
AUDIT TODAY. SO IF THE REQUESTER
AND I WOULD BE INTERESTED IN
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S WOODS, I MEAN
THE TESTIMONY THAT HE GAVE ABOUT
THESE VERY SPECIFIC EXAMPLES IN
HIS DISTRICT ARE REALLY TELLING
. AND I, IT'S A IT'S A VERY BIG
PROBLEM. OBVIOUSLY UM AND SO TO
ME, IT SEEMS LIKE THIS IS THE
KIND OF THING THAT WE SHOULD
AUDIT AND THE AUDITOR HIMSELF
WHEN HE WAS DESCRIBING IT WHEN
HE SAID, THIS IS A
STRAIGHTFORWARD AUDIT, AND
YOU'LL BE LOOKING AT THINGS LIKE
SIZE AND DURATION OF BACKLOG, AS
WELL AS WHAT IS THE ENFORCEMENT
MECHANISM? I MEAN, THESE ARE THE
BEGINNING AND END OF SO IT IS
MORE THAN JUST EMPLOYEES, SO I
DON'T NOT BEING ON A BUDGET
SUBCOMMITTEE. I DON'T KNOW IF
THE BUDGET SUBCOMMITTEE WOULD
COME UP WITH SOMETHING DIFFERENT
, BUT TO ME IF THE REQUESTER AND
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S WOULD WITH
THESE EXAMPLES THAT YOU KNOW
THAT DON'T THINK THAT THAT'S THE
RIGHT VEHICLE AND THINK THE
AUDIT IS, I'D BE INCLINED TO
SUPPORT THAT, BECAUSE OF ALL THE
THINGS THAT WE'VE HEARD HERE
TODAY, AND IT DOES SEEM LIKE THE
COMMISSIONER HERSELF, EXPLAINED
A LOT OF SYSTEMIC AND MAJOR
PROBLEMS THAT THAT COULD BE
HELPED BY HAVING THE ANALYSIS OF
THE AUDIT IN THE SAME WAY. THE
MASSIVE PROBLEM OF HOMELESSNESS
IS GOING TO BE HELPED BY THE
AUDIT, AND I THINK EVERY
ORGANIZATION THAT WE AUDIT UM
MAYBE HAS A SENSE INITIALLY THAT
THIS IS SOME TYPE OF A
PUNISHMENT, BUT THE REALITY IS
AND I'VE BEEN ON SEVERAL AUDIT
COMMITTEES AND AIRPORT AUDIT
COMMITTEE AND OTHERS THAT, UM
THAT YOU. YOU ACTUALLY DO
UNCOVER REALLY USEFUL THINGS AND
SO BEING ABLE TO SPEND THE TIME
NEEDED TO PRODUCE THE
INFORMATION AND THEN HEAR BACK
FROM THE AUDITOR, ITS OBJECTIVE
, IT'S BROAD SO I WOULD BE
INCLINED TO SUPPORT THAT, BUT
BUT IF ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S WOOD AND
THE REQUESTER DON'T WANT THAT,
BECAUSE YOU THINK THAT'S THE
BUDGET SUBCOMMITTEE APPROACH IS
BETTER AS SENATOR CORTESI AT AND
ALSO LIKE MY COLLEAGUE OVER
HERE. UM BELIEVE THAT I WOULD BE
INCLINED TO GO WITH THAT. BUT
OTHERWISE, YOU KNOW, I'D LIKE TO
HEAR BACK FROM YOU. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, MR SARTO. I THINK I
SAW YOUR HAND NEXT. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. I DO SIT ON BUDGET
SUB FIVE AND ONE OF THE THINGS I
HAVE TO CONSIDER IS. ARE WE
INVESTING ENOUGH MONEY? AND ARE
WE SOLVING THE PROBLEMS SO THAT
A PROGRAM IS IN FACT OF IS
MAXIMUM EFFECTIVENESS. AND I
THINK WE'RE STRUGGLING WITH THAT
WITH A LOT OF OUR AGENCIES. IT'S
HARD FOR ME TO MAKE DECISIONS
THAT SAY WE'RE GOING. YOU KNOW,
THIS IS WE'RE GONNA PUT FORTH
THIS MONEY AND THEN NOT HAVE THE
OUTCOMES FOR OUR CITIZENS THAT
ARE DEPENDING ON ON OUR AGENCIES
TO BE EFFECTIVE. UM, SO YOU KNOW
FOR ME, I DON'T SEE IT AS A YOU
HAVE TO STALL THE PROCESS IN
BUDGETING GOING FORWARD. IF WE
PUT OFF DOING AN AUDIT AND
FIGURING OUT EXACTLY WHAT WE
NEED TO DO TO HELP UM, I THAT'S
THAT'S NOT. IT'S NOT AN EITHER
OR THING WE HAVE TO CONTINUE.
HELPING PEOPLE IN THE, MEANWHILE
BUT IF WE DECIDE LATER ON, OH, I
GUESS WE DO HAVE TO NOON AUDIT.
THAT'S SIX MORE MONTHS THAT WE
LOSE IN POTENTIALLY SOLVING A
PROBLEM. SO I THINK DOING AN
AUDIT. IS IT JUST LIKE I SAID,
BEFORE? IT'S ALL ABOUT GIVING US
THE INFORMATION. WE NEED TO MAKE
THE BEST DECISIONS SO THAT WE
HAVE THE MOST EFFECTIVE AGENCIES
AND THEY HAVE THE TOOLS THAT
THEY NEED. AND THAT'S THE BIG
PART OF THIS LOT OF AGENCIES. WE
HAVE A LOT OF PASSIONATE PEOPLE
WORKING FOR THEM. THEY'RE GOOD,
COMPETENT PEOPLE, BUT THEY DON'T
HAVE THE TOOLS THEY NEED. WE
NEED TO KNOW WHERE WE'RE FALLING
SHORT AND THAT'S WHAT THE AUDIT
PROCESSES TO ME, AND THAT'S HOW
IT HELPS ME ON THAT BUDGET
SUBCOMMITTEE TO ENSURE THAT THAT
WE'RE PUTTING MONEY INTO THE
RIGHT PLACES SO THAT WE CAN BE
EFFECTIVE FOR THE PEOPLE THAT
ARE SUFFERING BECAUSE OF THE
LACK OF YOU KNOW OUR OUR ABILITY
TO SERVE THEM. SO UM, SO I'M I
FAVOR DOING THIS AUDIT. GETTING
STARTED. IT'S NOT GONNA DUST ALL
THE BUDGET PROCESS AND I THINK
IT WILL BE VERY, VERY HELPFUL IN
THE END. THANK YOU. MR SARTO, MR
LAIRD. THANK YOU, UM. I CAME
INTO THIS HEARING PREPARED TO
VOTE AGAINST THIS AUDIT FOR ONE
REASON, AND THAT WAS THAT. I'VE
BEEN ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS
AND WHEN I WAS RESOURCES
SECRETARY, WE HAD THE FIRE
MARSHAL. AND THE FARM. MARSHALL
HAD THIS HUMONGOUS BACKLOG OF
BUILDING AH! APPROVALS AND
THINGS WERE BEING STALLED
BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT BEING
TURNED OUT. AND THERE WAS AN
AUDIT. PRIVATELY SUGGESTED AT
THE TIME AND I THOUGHT, WELL,
IT'S A CLEAR ISSUE. IT'S THERE'S
44 VACANT POSITIONS, AND IF WE
FILL THE POSITIONS, WE WILL MOVE
THESE AND THE ORDER IS JUST
GOING TO TELL US THAT IT WILL BE
A WASTE OF AUDITING TIME. AND I
FELT THE SAME HERE AND THEN THE
DEPARTMENT REPRESENTATIVE ARGUED
AGAINST THAT POSITION BY SAYING,
THIS IS A SYSTEMIC PROBLEM.
THAT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR 20
YEARS. IF THAT WAS THE ISSUE
WOULD HAVE SAID WE NEED MORE
POSITIONS THAN WE CAN PRODUCE
IT. AND THAT'S NOT WHAT THE
ARGUMENT WAS THAT WAS MADE, AND
SO IT FLUMMOXED AS ME BECAUSE IT
PUTS ME IN A POSITION TO VOTE.
NOT THE WAY THAT I WAS GOING TO
VOTE WALKING INTO THE ROOM AND I
ACTUALLY BELIEVE IT COULD FAITH
THAT THAT SENATOR COURTESY WAS
RIGHT THAT THAT HMM. YOU KNOW,
THERE'S SO MANY TIMES THAT IT'S
SO EASY IF YOU'RE IN AN
ADMINISTRATIVE POSITION TO SAY,
OH, THERE'S AN AUDIT OUT THERE.
WE HAVE TO WAIT TILL IT'S DONE.
AND IT SLOWS THINGS DOWN. BUT IF
IT'S TRULY A SYSTEMIC PROBLEM,
IT IS NOT A BUDGET PROBLEM, EVEN
THOUGH IT'S CLEAR TO ME. FROM
READING EVERYTHING THAT THERE
NEEDS TO BE MORE POSITIONS TO
MOVE THESE QUICKLY, BUT THERE
NEEDS TO BE IF THERE IS A
SYSTEMIC THING AND
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S WOODS EXAMPLE
IS VERY POWERFUL. UH I DON'T
KNOW THAT THAT'S NECESSARILY
ADDRESSED BY JUST MORE POSITIONS
AND THE FACT THAT IT APPEARED
EVEN THOUGH IT'S BEEN IN THE
NEWSPAPER AND I'M SIMILAR ONES
IN MY DISTRICT, IT THE FACT THAT
IT'S SORT OF WASN'T KNOWN OR IN
A WAY IS TROUBLING AND SO. YOU
KNOW, IN THE END I'M THINKING OF
VOTING FOR THIS AUDIT BECAUSE OF
ITS SYSTEMIC, WE'VE GOT TO
ADDRESS IT. BUT UM ALL RIGHT,
WELL, STAY TUNED BECAUSE WE NOW
HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT, AND THAT
MIGHT MAKE YOU HMM. WE'RE GOING
TO TRY TO GET SOMETHING THAT WE
CAN HAVE UNANIMOUS SUPPORT. I
HAVE SOMETHING IN MIND. BUT
PLEASE PUBLIC COMMENT. STATE
YOUR NAME AND YOUR POSITION.
THANK YOU, MR CHAIRMAN MEMBERS
CAITLIN VEGA FOR THE CALIFORNIA
LABOR FEDERATION. THANK YOU. I
THINK THIS HAS BEEN A VERY
INTERESTING AND THOUGHT
PROVOKING DISCUSSION. AND I
APPRECIATE ALL THE TIME THAT YOU
ALL HAVE PUT INTO IT. AS THE
LABOR FEDERATION. THERE IS
NOTHING MORE IMPORTANT TO US
THAN WHAT HAPPENS TO WORKERS
WHEN THEY GO THROUGH THE LABOR
COMMISSIONER PROCESS. AND I
THINK IT IS NOTEWORTHY THAT
EVERY ORGANIZATION REPRESENTING
WORKERS WHO WAS ASKED ABOUT THIS
AUDIT SAID NO. THIS IS NOT THE
RIGHT ANSWER. THAT'S BECAUSE
EVERY ONE OF THESE ISSUES
BEGINNING WITH THE FACT THAT THE
DEPARTMENTS HAVE 30 TO 40%
VACANCIES. THERE IS NO WAY TO BE
FUNCTIONAL. WITH THAT LEVEL OF
VACANCIES. WE HAVE TO SPEED UP
THE HIRING. WE HAVE TO HIRE MORE
MORE BILINGUAL STAFF. WE HAVE TO
ADDRESS THOSE MOST PRESSING
ISSUES. THIS THIS AGENCY IS
DEEPLY UNDERFUNDED FOR THE
ECONOMY THAT WE HAVE IN
CALIFORNIA OVER THE LAST COUPLE
OF DECADES. YES, WE'VE HAD
CHALLENGES WITH THE LABOR
COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE. WE HAVE
ALSO HAD CHANGES IN OUR ECONOMY
WHERE COMPANIES HAVE MOVED FROM
DIRECT HIGHER TO THE USE OF
MULTIPLE LABOR CONTRACTORS,
WHICH MAKES IT MUCH HARDER FOR
WORKERS TO KNOW WHO THEIR CLAIM
IS AGAINST TO PROVE THEIR CLAIM
AND TO COLLECT THEIR WAGES. WE
HAVE DONE NUMEROUS BILLS. ON
THIS AND ADMINISTRATIVE ADVOCACY
, BUT THAT MAKES THE JOB MUCH
MORE COMPLICATED. WE BELIEVE
THAT THE WITHOUT ADEQUATE
FUNDING WITHOUT FILLING THOSE
VACANCIES. IT'S ALMOST
IMPOSSIBLE TO ASSESS ANYTHING
DEEPER. ARE THERE SYSTEMIC
ISSUES? OF COURSE THERE ARE.
THIS IS AN AGENT. IT'S AN AGENCY
THAT HAS CHANGED THROUGH
DIFFERENT ADMINISTRATIONS WITH
RADICALLY DIFFERENT MISSIONS AND
PRINTS AND, UM, GUIDING
PRIORITIES, BUT I THINK THIS
LABOR COMMISSIONER HAS LAID OUT
HER PRIORITIES IN THE
INITIATIVES. THAT SHE'S WORKING
ON AND THAT THEY'RE CONSISTENT
WITH ALL OF THE GOALS THAT
EVERYONE HERE HAS SPOKEN ABOUT.
I'VE BEEN WORKING ON LABOR
LEGISLATION FOR 20 YEARS. EVERY
BILL WE DO DEPENDS ON THE LABOR
COMMISSIONER. IN ADDITION,
BECAUSE OF MY JOB, EVERYONE I
KNOW CALLS ME ABOUT THEIR
FRIENDS AND FAMILY AND THEIR
STRUGGLES TO GET THE MONEY THEY
ARE OWED. BUT MUCH OF THIS AS
SENATOR GONZALES MENTIONED IS ON
THE EMPLOYERS AND THE WAYS THAT
THEY HAVE FOUND TO EVADE BEING
HELD ACCOUNTABLE. THAT IS WHY WE
BELIEVE STRONGLY GIVE US THE
OPPORTUNITY TO GO THROUGH THE
BUDGET PROCESS WITH THE
OVERSIGHT OF THE LABOR CHAIRS
AND MAKE IMMEDIATE REFORMS.
THOSE REFORMS TAKE PLACE
IMMEDIATELY HOLD ONTO THE AUDIT
. IF YOU DON'T LIKE THOSE
REFORMS IF YOU DON'T SEE A
DIRECT IMPACT ON THE STAFFING ON
THE VACANCIES ON THE ABILITY TO
SERVE IMMIGRANT WORKERS WHO WORK
IN THE MOST OF THE INDUSTRIES
WITH THE HIGHEST RATES OF
VIOLATIONS AND YET DON'T HAVE
ADEQUATE STAFF THAT ARE ABLE TO
PROCESS THEIR CLAIMS. COME BACK
AND MOVE THE AUDIT. WE HAVE NO
OBJECTION TO THAT. BUT WE WOULD
ASK FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO MOVE
FORWARD THROUGH THE PROCESS AND
TRY TO GET THOSE IMMEDIATE
CHANGES THAT WE NEED. THANK YOU.
ANYBODY ELSE? WISHING TO COMMENT
ON THIS ITEM. ALL RIGHT. UM SO I
THINK EVERYBODY'S HAD A CHANCE
TO SHARE. UM HERE'S HERE'S WHAT
I'VE HEARD AND WHAT I THINK
NEEDS IN MY OPINION, AND I'D
LIKE TO GET THE SENATOR GLASER'S
COMMENT ON THIS, UM. THERE'S
SOME WORK THAT HAS SET SEEMS TO
BE HAPPENING THAT, UM, I KNOW I
WAS NOT AWARE OF IN TERMS OF
REFORMS AND SOME CHANGES WITHIN
THE OFFICE. UM THOSE ARE ALL I
THINK GOOD THINGS. I LIKE TO
HEAR MORE ABOUT THAT. I WOULD
LIKE TO HEAR MORE DETAILS ABOUT
THAT, UM, TO SEE WHETHER THAT
THOSE ARE ENOUGH REFORMS TO
CONTINUE TO MOVE THE FATHER HAVE
FORWARD PROGRESS ON THE ULTIMATE
PURPOSE OF ALL THIS, WHICH IS TO
GET PEOPLE THEIR THEIR WAGES
BACK. UM I DON'T KNOW THAT I CAN
MAKE THAT ASSESSMENT TODAY. UM
I'VE HEARD ABOUT HIRING OF NEW
PEOPLE. UM AND IT WAS MENTIONED
OBVIOUSLY IN THE TESTIMONY,
PUBLIC COMMENT THAT THAT COULD
REALLY HELP RESOLVE THE ISSUE. I
DON'T KNOW WHAT HIRING AN
ADDITIONAL PERSON MEANS TO THE
DELAYS. I LIKE TO REALLY KNOW
WHAT THAT MEANS. AND I WOULD
HOPE THAT THE BUDGET
SUBCOMMITTEES WOULD ASK
QUESTIONS. IF YOU HIRE, YOU
KNOW, AND YOUR VACANCY RATES
ONLY 15% WHICH IS TYPICALLY
WHAT'S NORMAL, I THINK IN A
STATE AGENCY OR AN EIGHT
GOVERNMENT AGENCY. WHAT DOES
THAT MEAN? WHAT IS THAT GOING TO
GET US TO? I DON'T THINK WE
DON'T HAVE THAT ANSWER TODAY. I
WOULD HOPE THAT THE BUDGET
SUBCOMMITTEE COULD ASK THAT
QUESTION. UM WHAT IS IT GONNA
TAKE TO GET TO 120 DAYS? UM IT
IS IT ADDITIONAL MEASURES TO
MAKE TO COMPEL EMPLOYERS TO
PARTICIPATE. AND IF THAT'S THE
CASE, IN WHICH WAYS UM, I'M
WILLING TO GIVE AN OPPORTUNITY
FOR THOSE, UM QUESTIONS TO BE
ANSWERED, BUT I'D LIKE TO SEE
DETAILED ANSWERS. NOT JUST WE'RE
GOING TO DO BETTER WHEN WE HIRE
MORE PEOPLE. THAT'S NOT GOOD
ENOUGH ANSWER. THAT DOESN'T GIVE
US A METRIC THAT WE CAN HOLD UP
AND SAY THIS IS HOW WE'RE GOING
TO GET TO WHERE YOU WANT TO GET
TO UM, THERE'S BEEN MENTIONED,
SENATOR GLASER OF, UM OF THE
THREAT. IF THERE'S AN IF THERE'S
AN AUDIT HAPPENING, UM, BUDGET
WON'T BE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD
WITH SOME OF THE THINGS THAT
THEY WANT TO DO, BECAUSE PERHAPS
THE ADMINISTRATION SAYS WE'LL
GET AWAY FOR THE AUDIT. UM, I
THINK SOMETHING THAT WE CAN
CONSIDER. I JUST POINT I THINK
IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE IS, UM
TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE AUDIT
AT THIS TIME, AS I THINK SEEMS
TO BE THE DESIRE OF THE BODY.
BUT I ALSO FEEL THAT DESIRE THE
BODY IS TO WAIT AND ALLOWED TO
SEE WHAT THAT PROCESS DELIVERS.
SO UM, I BELIEVE IT'S
APPROPRIATE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH
THE AUDIT, BUT NOT, UH, NOT
ALLOW IT TO BEGIN UNTIL AFTER,
UH, THE NEW FISCAL YEAR. JULY,
1ST. DEPENDING ON WHAT HAPPENS
IN BUDGET AND IT'S SOMETHING WE
CAN REVISIT. I INTEND TO HAVE A
FIRST OF ALL. THANK YOU. FOR
THOSE OF YOU HAVE BEEN HERE FOR
THE ALMOST FOUR HOURS. I REALLY
APPRECIATE YOUR ENGAGEMENT,
ESPECIALLY ON THIS ISSUE. UM I
INTEND TO HAVE A COMMITTEE
MEETING AFTER WE APPROVE A
BUDGET AND AT THAT POINT, WE'LL
SEE WHETHER OR NOT THERE'S
SUFFICIENT. UM PROGRESS REALLY
BEING MADE, I WOULD ENCOURAGE
THE DEPARTMENT TO SPEND TIME
WITH EACH ONE OF THE MEMBERS OF
THIS COMMITTEE TO PROVIDE THOSE
UPDATES THAT YOU SHARE TO
DEMONSTRATE WHAT IS BEING, UH
WHAT IS HAPPENING IN TERMS OF
PROGRESS AND HOW WE'RE GOING TO
SEE BETTER RESULTS. AND I WOULD
I WOULD ASK THAT YOU CONSIDER
THAT, UM AS A WAY TO MOVE
FORWARD, I HOPE COLLECTIVELY
UNANIMOUSLY TODAY. THANK YOU.
CHAIR ALVAREZ. WITH RESPECT TO
YOUR THOUGHTFULNESS. I WOULD
ACCEPT THAT AS A AS A COMPROMISE
STEP FORWARD. THAT THE COMMITTEE
IS WILLING TO AUTHORIZE THE
AUDIT TO BEGIN JULY 1ST BUT TO
ALLOW IF SOME ACTIONS WERE TO
OCCUR ON THE BUDGETARY SIDE TO
SOMEHOW ALLOW THE COMMITTEE TO
RECONSIDER AT SOME POINT THAN
THAT, THEN I THINK THAT WOULD BE
AN ACCEPTABLE ALTERNATIVE. I
WOULD NOTE THAT EVEN THOUGH THE
ADMINISTRATION'S BEEN AWARE OF
THIS PROBLEM FOR YEARS NOW WHAT
CHANGES HAVE THEY MADE IN THE
BUDGET PROPOSED BY THE GOVERNOR.
BECAUSE IT'S REALLY THE
GOVERNOR'S OPERATION THAT'S
SUPPOSED TO DRIVE THESE CHANGES
THERE. THE RESOURCES THAT ARE
REQUIRED WE PROVIDE THE
OVERSIGHT IN OUR BUDGETARY
PROCESS, AND I KNOW OUR
SUBCOMMITTEES WILL DO THAT. BUT
IT USUALLY IS IN RESPONSE TO
ACTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN PROPOSED
BY THE ADMINISTRATION. AND IF
THEY'RE PROPOSING NO NEW CHANGES
, YOU KNOW WHAT IS IT THAT WE
ARE GOING TO DO IN THAT PROCESS
TO SOMEHOW MAKE THEM SPEND MORE
MONEY? MAKE THEM DO THIS OR THAT
AND I'LL RESPECT THAT PROCESS AS
IT GOES FORWARD AS TO SEE WHAT
COMES OUT OF IT, BUT I THINK
THAT WHAT YOU HAVE PROPOSED IS
SOMETHING I WOULD ACCEPT. AS AT
LEAST A PROGRESS POINT THAT
WE'RE NOT AFRAID OF GETTING
DATA. UH AND FACTS AS WE TRY TO
EXAMINE THIS PROBLEM GOING
FORWARD, AND IT'S ALL ITS
COMPLEXITY. BUT WITH THE
COMPELLING WAS WITH COMPELLING
FEELING THAT WE HAVE 38,000
PEOPLE THIS PAST YEAR WHO SAY
THEY'VE BEEN CHEATED AND WE'RE
NOT DOING ENOUGH. I THINK, UM,
CERTAINLY MOVING FORWARD WITH AN
AUDIT. UM DEMONSTRATES THAT WE
WANT TO SEE THOSE RESULTS, AND
WE WANT TO DO THAT ACTION BUDGET
EVEN THOUGH IT'S NOT IN THE
CURRENT BUDGET PROPOSED. AND I
HOPE THAT OUR SUBCOMMITTEES CAN
WORK ON THAT. IS THERE ANY
COMMENT ON THE APPROACH THAT
I'VE JUST PUT FORWARD, MR
CORTEZ? JUST QUESTIONS ON WHAT
WOULD UNDERSTAND HIS EMOTION,
BASICALLY, UM AND BEING NEW TO
THIS COMMITTEE. I DON'T KNOW
WHERE YOU KNOW ALL THE
AUTHORITIES STARTS AND STOPS BUT
. I THINK WHAT YOU'RE SUGGESTING
IS SORT OF CONSISTENT WITH
RECONCILING MY CONCERNS AS
STATED EARLIER SO THAT WE'RE NOT
CARVING THE BUDGET PROCESS, OR
WE CAN THOSE OF US WHO ARE IN
THAT PROCESS OR THE LEGISLATIVE
PROCESS, FRANKLY, INCLUDING
DEALING WITH COMMITTEE
CONSULTANTS AND POLICY ISSUES,
AND I DO THAT AND SENATE LABOR.
I THINK PEOPLE ARE GONNA WANT TO
KNOW IN THOSE COMMITTEES,
WHETHER OR NOT A PIECE OF
LEGISLATION TO DEAL WITH THIS
WORK SHOULD GO FORWARD OR NOT,
OR WHETHER THE AUDITS GOING
FORWARD. I THINK YOUR SUGGESTION
OR MOTION ALLOWS US. TO SAY, BUT
I WANT TO. I WANT TO KNOW IF
THIS IS CORRECT. UM, THAT AN
AUDIT WAS APPROVED BUT HELD IN
THE BAND'S UNTIL JULY ONE. UM IN
ORDER TO DETERMINE WHAT
LEGISLATION. OR BUDGET VEHICLES
MAYBE MAY HAVE MOVED OR BE
MOVING AT THAT TIME. IN THIS IS
IT FURTHER UNDERSTOOD THAT IT IT
WOULD AUTOMATICALLY BEYOND THE
NEXT AGENDA FOR AN UP OR DOWN.
DECISION TO MOVE FORWARD. UM I
DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH IT
SORT OF BEING IN THE ABSENCE OF
ANOTHER VOTE MOVING FORWARD. BUT
THERE'S GOT TO BE AN OPPORTUNITY
FOR THE COMMITTEE. TO MOVE FOR
RECONSIDERATION. OTHERWISE THE
AUDITOR, I THINK AND INTERESTING
HERE FROM THE AUDITOR AT SOME
POINT HAS TO START WORKING INTO
POINT RESOURCES, WHICH I THINK
COULD JUST COMPOUND YEAH. LET ME
LET ME ASK YOU A QUESTION. VERY
CLEARLY, IT WOULD BE THE INTENT
FOR THAT TO BE THE CASE THAT WE
WOULD HAVE A OPPORTUNITY AT OUR
JUNE MEETING TO RESCIND THAT
ORDER REQUEST. UM AND, UH, MR
PARKS IF YOU WANT TO COMMENT ON
US PUTTING A FUTURE DATE AND
WHAT THAT WOULD MEAN FOR WHEN
YOU INITIATE THE WORK, AS WAS
JUST THANK YOU. CHAIR ALVAREZ. I
JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE I IN
SYNC WITH WHAT THE COMMITTEE IS
PROPOSING HERE THE WAY I
UNDERSTOOD YOUR REMARKS WAS THAT
THE ITEM TODAY WOULD BE TO
APPROVE THE AUDIT, AND THE
DIRECTIVE TO MY OFFICE WOULD BE
NOT TO START IT UNTIL JULY 1ST.
SO IF THAT'S CORRECT, WE WOULD
BE STARTING AT JULY 1ST UNLESS
YOU HAVE A DIFFERENT DIRECTION
AT OUR JUNE MEETING, WHICH WOULD
BE TO NOT MOVE FORWARD WITH THE
AUDIT, RIGHT? THAT YES, THANK
YOU. IT'S MOSTLY WANT TO MAKE
SURE IT'S WITHIN THE
JURISDICTION OF THE COMMITTEE.
THAT'S NOT A CALLBACK. BUT AGAIN
UNDER ORDINARY PARLIAMENTARY
PROCEDURE, SOMEONE WHO SUPPORTED
THE AUDIT. UM TODAY WOULD BE
ABLE TO MOVE FOR RECONSIDERATION
AT THAT TIME. I DON'T KNOW IF
THAT'S TRUE OR NOT, BECAUSE
NORMALLY, THOSE CONSIDERATIONS
UNDER ROBERT'S RULES HAVE TO BE
DONE WITHIN 30 DAYS, SO I'M
GOING TO TAKE IT. AS A
REPRESENTATION OF THE COMMITTEE
THAT WE CAN ENTERTAIN A MOTION
FOR RECONSIDERATION OF DECISION
WHEN WE GET TO THAT DATE. I JUST
DON'T WANT TO BE BLINDSIDED WITH
HOOPS. YOU KNOW? WE DIDN'T FULLY
UNDERSTAND THE RULES AND WE MADE
THAT INITIAL DECISION. ASK IF
STAFF TO TRY TO ASCERTAIN THAT.
BEFORE WE TAKE A VOTE RIGHT NOW,
BUT THAT IS THE INTENT.
APPRECIATE GONZALEZ SAID. OH, MR
LORD, I HAD WONKY QUESTION THAT
MOSTLY GOT ADDRESSED. BUT MY
WONKY QUESTION WAS JUST. WHETHER
WE WERE GOING TO KNOW BY THE
TIME OF THE JUNE MEETING, OR
WHETHER THE BUDGET PROCESSES
BETWEEN THE JUNE MEETING IN JULY
1ST AND WE'RE SUPPOSED TO ACT
AND WE WON'T KNOW THAT'S THAT
WAS MY ONLY QUESTION. BUT THE
CHAIRS IN ANOTHER CONVERSATION,
SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO ABOUT
THAT. SENATOR, AND SO WE. WE
HAVE A BUT A SECRETARY. A
DEADLINE OF BUDGET. JULY 15TH.
JUNE 15TH THE GOVERNOR, YOU HAVE
YET TO EXPERIENCE THE GOVERNOR'S
VETO. UM OKAY, WELL, I MEAN, YOU
KNOW, THE INTENT HERE WOULD BE
AGAIN. WE'VE EVERYTHING WE'VE
DONE TODAY. UP UNTIL NOW HAS
BEEN A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT AND
ATTEMPT TO YOU KNOW, AND, UM,
THAT WOULD BE THE INTENT THAT WE
WOULD SEE WHAT THE BUDGET
PROCESS REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR
SUGGESTION. I REALLY APPRECIATE
SENATOR GLASER'S WILLINGNESS TO
DO IT APPRECIATE THE
CLARIFICATION OF SENATOR CORTEZ.
BUT. IF WE DON'T KNOW WHEN WE
MEET ON JUNE 15TH CALL YOU AND
SAY HOW WE FIGURING THIS OUT. WE
HAVEN'T SCHEDULED THE DAY GET IT
WILL BE SOMETIME IN JUNE. BUT
MAYBE IF WE GOOD POINT, THANK
YOU. MAYBE WE WAIT UNTIL AFTER
JULY. 1ST MAYBE WE DATE THIS
MOTION DIFFERENTLY IN ORDER TO
MAKE SURE WE GET THAT ENOUGH
SPACE OF TIME. THANK YOU FOR
SAYING IT. MS. HI UM, JUST AS A
NOTE OF PRECEDENT WHEN I DID
REQUEST IN MY AUDIT OF THE èC
ADMISSION SCANDAL, UM THEY WERE
UNDERGOING THEIR OWN INTERNAL
AUDIT AT THE TIME, SO WE DID
DIRECT THE AUDITOR TO APPROVE
THE AUDIT WITH THE UNDERSTANDING
THAT ORDER WOULD WAIT UNTIL I
WANT TO SAY IT WAS IN. WE
REQUESTED IN AUGUST. WAIT UNTIL
DECEMBER TO START THE AUDITING
PROCESS. SO WE DO HAVE A
PRECEDENT FOR DOING THIS. AND IF
WE'RE UNSURE ABOUT JULY ONE, WE
CAN ALSO SAY AUGUST 1ST. RIGHT
WE CAN ALSO SAY SEPTEMBER 1ST
YOU KNOW, WHATEVER. WE DECIDE WE
CAN DECIDE THAT DATE AND I
WOULDN'T SAY IT'S PRUDENT. DO
NOT PUT US UNDER PRESSURE OF THE
JULY ONE DEADLINE. THAT'S JUST
LIKE A DATE WE CAME UP WITH SO I
WOULD SUGGEST THAT WE GO FOR
SEPTEMBER ONE. AND THEN I'M SURE
I'M SURE. USUALLY WE HAVE A DEAL
LIKE MEETING IN AUGUST TWO, SO
THAT GIVES US PLENTY AND AMPLE
TIME TO REVIEW IT IF WE NEEDED
TO APPRECIATE THAT FEEDBACK,
MISS BOERNER HORVATH. BASE
CHECKLIST. YES, I COMPLETELY
AGREE WITH, UM ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S
BOERNER HORVATH ABOUT THE DATE.
THERE IS NO REASON TO PUT
OURSELVES UNDER THAT PRESSURE
WITH THE BUDGET. BUT BUT AND SO
I WOULD RECOMMEND WE DO CHOOSE
AND A LITTLE BIT OUT OF DATE.
BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, I MEAN,
THE REASON THAT I ARTICULATED
THAT I SUPPORT THIS AUDIT, WHICH
I ACTUALLY THINK SENATOR LAIRD.
EXPRESSED IT THE BEST WAY, WHICH
IS IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT THE
STAFFING. SO IF THE BUDGET
SUBCOMMITTEE SAYS WE WANT TO DO
MORE STAFFING, AND IT'S IN THE
BUDGET, I STILL FEEL LIKE I'M
GOING TO WANT TO SUPPORT THE
AUDIT BECAUSE OF ALL THE OTHER
THINGS THAT WERE SAID TODAY THAT
WE'RE NOT ACTUALLY EXCLUSIVELY
RELATED TO JUST THAT. SO THE
IDEA OF RECONSIDERING, UM YOU
KNOW, IT'S AN OKAY MECHANISM I
THINK TO HAVE, BUT JUST TO PUT
IT OUT THERE THAT IT'S THIS
LARGER CULTURAL ISSUES THAT SHE
WENT INTO A GREAT DEPTH AND THAT
WERE DESCRIBED BY SEMBLER MEMBER
WOULD THAT ARE REALLY QUITE
TROUBLING, AS WELL AS JUST A
HUGE BACKLOG THAT THAT, UM, THAT
WAS DESCRIBED SO THAT THAT'S
THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU. SO MR LAIRD, I
WOULD PREPARED TO MAKE A MOTION
. OKAY I MOVE THE FRAMEWORK OF,
UM, APPROVING THE AUDIT.
DELAYING THE START DATE TILL
SEPTEMBER, 1ST. SECOND. I WOULD
JUST ADD, UM, NOTING JUST TO BE
VERY SPECIFIC. SENATOR CORTEZ IS
REQUEST THAT THE COMMITTEE MAY
RESCIND THE AUDIT AT A
SUBSEQUENT HEARING. THAT WAS
IMPLIED IN THE MOTION. THANK
YOU. ANYBODY ELSE WANT TO
COMMENT ON THAT MOTION? SENATOR
GLASER. YEAH THANK YOU FOR THE
CONSIDERATION AND THE THOUGHTFUL
CONVERSATION. I KNOW WE ALL
SHARE THE SAME GOALS AND VALUES
HERE. UM AND I KNOW WE ALL HOPE
THAT WE'RE JUST NOT REPEATING
THE SAME MISTAKE AGAIN AND AGAIN
TO THE DETRIMENT OF SO MANY
WORKERS WHO HAVE BEEN CHEATED
ITSELF. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
CONSIDERATION TODAY. WELL,
THAT'S NOT THE INTENT. WE'RE
LOOKING FORWARD TO THE BUDGET
SUBCOMMITTEE'S WORK AND AGAIN,
NOT JUST DRIVEN WITH FILLING
VACANCIES, BUT HOW WE'RE GOING
TO GET TO THE NUMBERS OF
REDUCING THE BACK BACKLOG IN
GETTING 220 DAYS. THAT'S WHAT I
EXPECT TO SEE EVERY BUDGET
DISCUSSIONS BEFORE WE SEE THIS
AGAIN. SO UM, WE HAVE A MOTION.
BY SENATOR LAIRD. IT WAS
SECONDED OR. BY BLAKE'S PERIOD,
VICE CHAIR EXTRA. THANK YOU,
SECRETARY, PLEASE. COLORADO.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
THE MOTION IS TO APPROVE AUDIT
REQUEST 2023 SLASH ONE OH FOUR
CALIFORNIA LABOR COMMISSIONER'S
OFFICE BACKLOG OF WASTE STEP
CASES BY SENATOR GLASER. AND NOT
BEGIN THE AUDIT UNTIL SEPTEMBER
. 1ST, NOTING THE COMMITTEE
MIRRORS SEND THE AUDIT AS
SUBSEQUENT HEARING. REMEMBER
ALVAREZ, I BOERNER HORVATH AND
YET, I HOOVER PATERSON RUBIO.
VALENCIA. WHAT. WOULD I, SENATOR
BLAKE SPEAR, SPEAR. I CORTEZ E
Z. I EGGMAN GONZALES. GONZALES I
LAIRD DIÆN ARTO. WELCOME, WILK.
AYE. THANK YOU ALL. THAT WILL BE
ON CALL AS WE DO NOT HAVE A
MAJORITY OF THE ASSEMBLY OF
VOTING AT THE MOMENT. THANK YOU
ALL. AND THANK YOU, SENATOR
ASHBY FOR YOUR PATIENCE. I WILL
KNOW WE HAVE 25 MINUTES UNTIL
THIS ROOM GOES TO THE NEXT. UH
THE NEXT COMMITTEE. SO SENATOR
ASHBY, WELCOME AND PLEASE
PROCEED AND IF EVERYBODY CAN BE
AS SUCCINCT AS POSSIBLE,
RESPECTING THE WORK THAT'S BEEN
DONE ON THIS CENTER ASHBY. THANK
YOU. PLEASE PROCEED. YES THANK
YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU ALL FOR
HANGING IN THERE WITH ME. WE
WILL GET YOU BACK ON TIME AS
QUICKLY AS WE CAN. UH TODAY I'M
PRESENTING A REQUEST TO PERFORM
AN AUDIT ON CALIFORNIA'S FETAL
DEATH CERTIFICATE PROCESS. A
STILLBIRTH. IS IT DEATH OR LOSS
OF A BABY BEFORE DURING DELIVERY
STILLBIRTHS AFFECT ABOUT ONE IN
175 BIRTHS. BLACK WOMEN
EXPERIENCED STILLBIRTH RATES
THAT ARE OVER TWO FOLD HIGHER
COMPARED TO WHITE WOMEN.
CALIFORNIA DEFINES A STILLBIRTH
AS A FETAL DEATH OCCURRING FROM
20 WEEKS OF PREGNANCY ON,
ACCORDING TO THE CENTER FOR
DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION.
CALIFORNIA LOSES 2465 BABIES A
YEAR TO STILLBIRTH. WHEN A MOM
HAS A CHILD THAT IS STILLBORN.
CALIFORNIA TAKES AN AVERAGE OF 6
TO 8 WEEKS, NEARLY TWO MONTHS TO
PROCESS THEIR CERTIFICATE OF
STILLBIRTH OR THEIR FETAL DEATH
CERTIFICATE. THIS IS AN AVERAGE
SOME FAMILIES WAIT MUCH LONGER.
6 TO 8 WEEKS IS FAR TOO LONG FOR
A PARENT TO WAIT TO BE ABLE TO
BURY THEIR BABY. THIS IS WHY I'M
REQUESTING AN AUDIT OF THE FETAL
DEATH CERTIFICATE PROCESS. THE
FETAL DEATH CERTIFICATE IS
COMPLICATED. IT'S NUANCED, HAS
MANY DIFFERENT OFFICES AND
DEPARTMENTS TO GO THROUGH IN
ORDER TO RECEIVE APPROVAL. AFTER
A STILLBIRTH OCCURS, A FAMILY
WILL BEGIN BY SELECTING A
FUNERAL HOME. THE FUNERAL HOME
WILL WORK WITH THE FAMILY ON
SPECIFIC INFORMATION. ONCE THIS
INFORMATION IS COMPLETED, THE
FUNERAL HOME WILL CONTACT THE
HOSPITAL OR DOCTOR'S OFFICE TO
TRY TO RELEASE THE BABY. PLEASE
UNDERSTAND. THAT MEANS THAT THE
DECEASED INFANT LIES IN WAIT FOR
THOSE WEEKS. AFTER THE CAUSES OF
DEATH ARE DETERMINED THE WORK
SHE DOES THEN SENT TO THE COUNTY
DOCTOR WHERE THEY'LL REVIEW AND
ACCEPT OR DENY THE
DOCUMENTATIONS. IF AND WHEN IT'S
ACCEPTED. THE DOCTOR WILL THEN
ATTEST TO THE DEATH BY VOICE
RECORDING OR SIGNATURE.
DEPENDING ON THE COUNTY. THE
WORKSHEET WILL THEN BE SENT TO
THE CORONER'S OFFICE. ONLY AFTER
THE CORONER'S OFFICE HAS
APPROVED IT KIND OF CALIFORNIA
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH BE
APPROVED AND FINALIZED OR
REJECTED. TAKING ON AVERAGE
BETWEEN 6 TO 8 WEEKS TO FILE A
FETAL OR STILLBIRTH DEATH
CERTIFICATE IS UNACCEPTABLE.
FLORIDA TAKES ONE WEEK. THE
EXISTING PROCESS
DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTS LOW
FAMILIES. LOW INCOME FAMILIES,
AS MANY DO NOT HAVE THE ABILITY
TO TAKE ADDITIONAL TIME OFF TO
GRIEVE OR TO MAKE ARRANGEMENTS
OR TO BE WITH THEIR FAMILY. THIS
FORCES MANY PEOPLE TO WAIT FOR
MONTHS TO BURY THEIR RECENTLY
LOST BABY. IN THIS WAITING
PERIOD. FAMILIES ARE UNABLE TO
MAKE FINAL DECISIONS ABOUT THEIR
CHILD. LIKE BURIAL OR CREMATION.
AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, THEY'RE
UNABLE TO GAIN CLOSURE FOR THEIR
LOSS. WE NEED TO FIND A WAY TO
SHORTEN THE AMOUNT OF TIME IT
TAKES FOR THESE CERTIFICATES TO
BE FILED AND CREATE ONE LESS
BURDEN. ONE LESS THING THAT
EXASPERATES THE GRIEF THAT
FAMILIES WILL FACE. AFTER THEIR
BABY DIES. TODAY. I HAVE MY
COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR MICHELLE
SHERWOOD HERE WITH ME. I WOULD
LIKE TO NOTE THAT PRIOR TO
COMING HERE, THIS AUDIT WAS
SIGNED BY MORE THAN HALF OF THE
WOMEN'S CAUCUS. IT HAS
BIPARTISAN AND BICAMERAL SUPPORT
, THIS HEAVILY LIFTED BY THE
MANY AMAZING WOMEN WHO SERVE IN
THIS LEGISLATURE. HMM I'M NEW,
BUT I UNDERSTAND THAT NORMALLY
WE BRING UP AN EXPERT IN A
TOPIC. AND WE HAVE THEM TALK
ABOUT THEIR WORK. PLEASE
UNDERSTAND. MICHELLE'S EXPERTISE
IS PERSONAL. MICHELLE SITTING BY
ME TODAY BRAVELY. TO SHARE HER
STORY AND TELL YOU WHAT HAPPENED
TO HER. AS A NEW MEMBER. SHE
CAME TO ME AS A STAFF AND ASKED
ME TO DO THIS AUDIT. AND I CAN
THINK OF NO BRAVER THING. THEN
FOR HER TO SIT IN FRONT OF HER
PEERS. AND ME AND TELL YOU HER
STORY. AND ASK YOU FOR HELP. FOR
THE WOMEN SHE KNOWS WILL SUFFER
THE SAME THING SHE SUFFERED. SO,
MICHELLE, HERE YOU GO. HI GOOD
AFTERNOON. CHAIR AND MEMBERS.
THANK YOU FOR HEARING THIS. MY
NAME IS MICHELLE SHERWOOD. I'M A
STAFFER HERE IN THE LEGISLATURE
ON JUNE 16TH. MY SON PASSED AWAY
. HE HAD NO HEARTBEAT, AND I HAD
TO DELIVER HIM. UM TO GIVE YOU
AN IDEA OF THE ROOM WAS
COMPLETELY QUIET. THERE WAS NO
SOUND. NO ONE SAID
CONGRATULATIONS. IT WAS ONE OF
THE IF NOT THE WORST EXPERIENCE
OF MY LIFE. UM MY DEATH
CERTIFICATE FOR MY SON WAS
DENIED FIVE TIMES BY THE DOCTOR
. IT WAS DENIED ONCE BY THE
COUNTY AND ONCE BY CD PH. I'M
TRYING TO BE BRAVE. UM I HAD I
WENT THROUGH ALL OF MY MATERNITY
LEAVE. AND THEN AN ADDITIONAL
MONTH OF BEREAVEMENT LEAVE
BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO ACTUALLY
BURY MY SON. UM, AND WHILE THIS
WAS OCCURRING, HE WAS IN A
COOLER IN THE FUNERAL HOME AND
AT THE HOSPITAL. UM IT WAS
ABSOLUTELY HORRIBLE. AND I
IMPLORE YOU TO PLEASE SUPPORT
THIS AUDIT. THANK YOU. SER. I
WOULD JUST LIKE TO. FIRST OF
ALL, THANK MICHELLE FOR HER
BRAVERY FOR COMING FORWARD AND
TELLING THAT STORY AND FOR ALL
THE WOMEN WHO DO NOT WANT TO BE
PARADED IN HERE TO DO THIS, BUT
WOULD ASK YOU FOR YOUR HELP.
SHE'S VERY BRAVE. SHE SERVED HER
COUNTRY AND NOW SHE SERVES HER
STATE AND ON BEHALF OF ALL THE
WOMEN WENT BEFORE HER AND ALL
THOSE THAT WILL COME AFTER.
WE'RE ASKING YOU FOR AN I VOTE
ON THIS AUDIT, PLEASE. THANK
YOU, SENATOR ASHBY AND MICHELLE.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND THE
COURAGE. YOU DEMONSTRATED. THANK
YOU. UM WE'RE GONNA TRY. WE'VE
BEEN ASKED TO LEAVE THIS ROOM,
SO I'M GONNA TRY TO GO THROUGH
THIS REAL QUICKLY AND HOPE. I
DON'T GET IN TROUBLE BY
SERGEANTS SO WE CAN GET A VOTE
AND GET YOU ALL TO WHERE YOU
NEED TO BE, UM, ANY COMMENTS
FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
THAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT PART.
SEEN NONE OF ANY OF THE AFFECTED
AGENCY. ANY COMMENT THAT YOU
NEED TO MAKE. IT'S FOUR HOURS
LATER. I KNOW YOU GUYS WANNA GO
MORAL FARSI FROM THE CALIFORNIA
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH.
HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS?
UM APPRECIATE TESTIMONY THAT WAS
GIVEN HERE TODAY AND HAVE
REACHED OUT OFFER OURSELVES MAKE
OURSELVES AVAILABLE TO SUPPORT
THE MEMBER'S OFFICE AND STAFF.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH BEEN GREAT.
THANK YOU. UM SEEN OTHER PUBLIC
COMMENT. MEMBERS OF THE
COMMITTEE. I'LL MOVE. SORRY. OH,
I'M SORRY. JUST IF YOU CAN. TROY
CENTER, CAPTAIN PLASTER SHERIFF
FIRST FOR MICHELLE. SORRY FOR
YOUR LOSS. I KNOW YOU WENT
THROUGH A TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCE.
WE HAVE NO OBJECTIONS TO THE
AUDIT. WE LOOK FORWARD TO
PROVIDING ALL DATA RELATIVE TO
ANY IMPROVEMENTS WE CAN MAKE IN
THE PROCESS. IT IS MULTIFACETED.
IT HAS A LOT OF PRANKS TO IT.
BUT WHATEVER WE CAN DO TO HELP
GRIEVING FAMILIES AND MOVE THIS
PROCESS FORWARD IN A POSITIVE
FASHION MORE THAN HAPPY TO DO
THAT THAT TESTIMONY APPRECIATE
IT, MR BLAKE SPEAR. YES I WILL
MOVE THIS. I DON'T THANK YOU. WE
HAVE A MOTION BY VICE CHAIR. ANY
OTHER COMMENTS COMMITTEE
QUESTIONS MOTION BY VICE TRIPLEX
. PURE SECOND BY MS GONZALEZ.
UH, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. THE
MOTION IS TO APPROVE AUDIT 2023
SLASH 1 10 FETAL DEATH AND STILL
BIRTH CERTIFICATES BY SENATOR
ASHBY. REMEMBER ALVAREZ. ALL
RIGHT. OVER HIS EYE
BOERNER HORVATH BEFORE BED. I
HOOVER PATERSON. RUBIO. VALENCIA
WORD. WOULD I, SENATOR BLAKE
SPEAR, SPEAR. I ORTEZ E I EGGMAN
GONZALES SALAS. AYE, LAIRD. I
SEE ARTO. MILK. OKAY? WE WILL
LEAVE THAT ON CALL. WE NEED
ANOTHER ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S TO VOTE
SUPPORT. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR
COMING FORWARD. AND WITH THAT I
WILL BE NOW NO OBJECTION CALLING
A RECESS. WE WILL RECONVENE IN
10 MINUTES AND 4 37 FOR THE TO
OPEN ITEMS FROM MEMBERS.
EVERYONE ELSE WHO IS HERE. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH. HAVE A GREAT REST
OF YOUR DAY. THANK YOU, HUGH.
OKAY? THANK YOU GUYS. THANK YOU.
GO GO. YEAH, MR CHAIR. NO. WHAT?
YEAH, CHAIR.
NO. OKAY? HE HAD THE.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. EVERYBODY
APPRECIATE YOUR PATIENCE AS WE
MOVED UP TO LIFT THE CALL ON TWO
ITEMS THAT WE DO NOT HAVE. UM.
WE DID NOT HAVE. WE DID NOT HAVE
ENOUGH VOTES FROM PARTICULARLY
THE ASSEMBLY. SO WHEN I ASKED
SECRETARY TO LIFT THE CALL INTO
ITEMS, AND WE WILL TAKE A VOTE.
THANK YOU. FIRST ONE AUDIT
MOTION TO APPROVE AUTO 2023
SLASH 104 CALIFORNIA LABOR
COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE BACKLOG OF
WAGE THEFT CASES BY SENATOR
GLASER. ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S HOOVER.
PATERSON. RUBIO OH, I VALENCIA.
PLENTY. AYE. SENATOR EGGMAN.
I THOUGHT IT WAS APPROVED WITH A
VOTE OF 10 TO 0. NEXT ITEM.
MOTIONS TO APPROVE AUDIT 2023
SLASH 1 10. FETAL DEATH AND
STILL BIRTH CERTIFICATES BY
SENATOR ASHBY. PHIL MEMBER
HOOVER HOOVER. I. PATERSON.
RUBIO VÚI VALENTIA, YOUR AYE.
CETERA, EGGMAN. PORTO. MARTIN.
THAT'S BEEN APPROVED BY A VOTE
11 TO 0. ALL OF THE AUDITS HAVE
BEEN APPROVED. WE ARE GOING TO
ADD ON ANYONE WHO LIKE TO ADD ON
TO ANY OTHER VOTES, OTHERWISE
EVERYTHING HAS BEEN APPROVED.
THANK YOU FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO
MADE TIME TO COME UP HERE FOR
ALL OF THEM. HERE WE GO. UH, SHE
HAPPENED. NOW WE'RE GONNA GO
THROUGH NOW. WE'RE GOING TO GO
THROUGH THE CONSENT AND THEN
EVERY SINGLE ITEM, SO HERE WE
GO. THE MOTION TO ADOPT THE
CONSENT CALENDAR. SIMILAR MEMBER
BOERNER HORVATH. I HOOVER
HOOVER. I WOULD SENATOR EGGMAN.
GONZALES. MOTIONS TO ADOPT. BUT
I DIDN'T GO AROUND AND CONSENT
CALENDAR. WILK DIÆN. THAT'S THE
CONSENT.
MOTION IS TO ADOPT AUDIT 2023
SLASH 101 THE SANTA CLARA VALLEY
TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY BY
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S BERMAN SIMILAR
MEMBER BOERNER HORVATH HORVATH.
AYE. WOULD SENATOR EGGMAN. THE
ARTO WILK WILK? AYE. MOTIONS TO
ADOPT ADDED. 23 SLASH ONE OH TO
STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT
HOMELESSNESS FUNDING BY SENATOR
CORTEZ E. REMEMBER RUBIO RUBIO?
AYE. SENATOR EGGMAN. MOTIONS TO
ADOPT 2023 SLASH 103. DEPARTMENT
OF HEALTH CARE SERVICES AND
PUBLIC HEALTH COMPREHENSIVE
PERINATAL SERVICES PROGRAM BY
SOME OF THE MEMBER OF
BAUER-KAHAN. BOERNER HORVATH
BOERNER HORVATH. AYE RUBIO. AYE.
ORTEZ E. EGGMAN. WILK WILK? AYE.
MOTION IS TO ADOPT 2023 SLASH
ONE OH FOUR CALIFORNIA LABOR
COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE BACKLOG OF
WAGE THEFT CASES BY SENATOR
GLASER. REMEMBER HOOVER. OVER.
HOOVER. I. PATERSON. SENATOR
EDMUND. I THINK WE JUST WANT TO
CLARIFY ON THAT MOTION, SO IT'S
CLEAR ON THE RECORD
CLARIFICATION. MOTION IS TO
APPROVE AUDIT REQUEST 2023 SLASH
104 CLARIFICATION. CALIFORNIA
LABOR COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE
BACKLOG OF WHICH THE CASES BY
SENATOR GLAZER AND NOT BEGIN THE
AUDIT UNTIL SEPTEMBER. 1ST
NOTING THE COMMITTEE MAY RESCIND
THE AUDIT AT A SUBSEQUENT
HEARING. THANK YOU. NEXT ITEM.
AUDIT 2023 SLASH ONE OH, SEVEN.
RIVERSIDE AND SAN BERNARDINO
COUNTIES. PROPOSITION 47
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S RAMOS ORTEZ E.
SENATOR WILK WILK? AYE. AUDIT
2023 SLASH 1 10 FETAL DEATH AND
SILVER CERTIFICATES BY SENATOR
ASHBY. REMEMBER PATTERSON.
SENATOR EGGMAN. THE ARTO. AUDIT
2023 SLASH 1 12 DEPARTMENT OF
HOUSING AND COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT MOBILE HOME
RESIDENCY LAW PROTECTION PROGRAM
BY SENATOR SUHARTO. FAMILY
MEMBER WOULD. SENATOR WILK WILK?
AYE. AUDIT 2023 SLASH 1 15
DEPARTMENTS OF HEALTH CARE
SERVICES AND MANAGED HEALTH CARE
ACCESS TO BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
SERVICES FOR CHILDREN BY SOME OF
THE MEMBER WEBER SENATOR WILK
WILK? AYE. 23 SLASH 1 16 LOCAL
GOVERNMENT CANNABIS LICENSING BY
SOME OF THE MEMBER JOAN SAWYER.
SIMPLE MEMBER BOERNER HORVATH.
AYE, RUBIO RUBIO. I WOULD
SENATOR CORTEZ E. EGGMAN. WILK
WILK? AYE. THANK YOU. EVERYBODY
THAT CONCLUDES TODAY'S HEARING
IS ADJOURNED. THANK YOU ALL. MÁS
REQUEST.