RIGHT, THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON
LABOR AND PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT AND
RETIREMENT WILL COME TO ORDER.
GOOD MORNING, EVERYBODY. IT'S
NOT CHURCH. COME ON. THERE WE GO
. THE SENATE CONTINUES TO
WELCOME THE PUBLIC IN PERSON AND
VIA THE TELECONFERENCE SERVICE
FOR INDIVIDUALS WISHING TO
PROVIDE PUBLIC COMMENT. COMMENT
TODAY'S PARTICIPANT NUMBER IS
877. 2268163 AND THE ACCESS CODE
IS 161805. EACH SIDE WILL BE
PERMITTED AN EQUAL AMOUNT OF
TIME LEAD WITNESSES WILL HAVE
TWO MINUTES EACH, AND THERE IS
NO RESERVING TIME FOR OTHER
WITNESSES, ALL OTHERS WISHING TO
TESTIFY MUST LIMIT THEIR
COMMENTS TO THEIR NAME,
AFFILIATION AND POSITION ON THE
MEASURE. TESTIMONY TAKEN VIA THE
TELECONFERENCE SERVICES WILL BE
LIMITED TO A TOTAL OF 20 MINUTES
. WE'RE HOLDING OUR COMMITTEE
HEARING HERE IN THE STREET
BUILDING. I ASK ALL MEMBERS OF
THE COMMITTEE TO BE PRESENT IN
ROOM 2200. SO WE CAN ESTABLISH
OUR QUORUM, ALTHOUGH I BELIEVE
WE HAVE ON AND BEGIN THE
HEARING. WE HAVE ONE BILL ON
TODAY'S AGENDA. SO BEFORE WE
HEAR THE PRESENTATION OF THE
BILLS LIST, ESTABLISHED QUORUM
CLERK SENATOR CORTEZ E SENATOR
WILL PRESENT PRESIDENT SENATOR
DURAZO DURAZO HERE, SENATOR
LAIRD LAIRD HERE, SENATOR SMALL
EJECUTIVAS. WE HAVE A CORN WARM
HAS BEEN CONFIRMED. AT THIS
POINT, WE WILL TURN TO OUR
PRESENTATION FROM OUR GREAT
CHAIRMAN OF THE APPROPRIATIONS
COMMITTEE, SENATOR PORTANTINO.
MR WILKIN. THANK YOU. COMMITTEE
MEMBERS PLEASED TO PROPOSE
REPRESENTING SP 799, WHICH WOULD
RESTORE UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS TO
WORKERS WHO ARE UNEMPLOYED DUE
TO PARTICIPATION IN A TRADE
DISPUTE. AFTER TWO WEEKS THIS
YEAR, WE'VE SEEN AN
UNPRECEDENTED LEVEL OF
CALIFORNIANS STRIKING,
DEMONSTRATING THE STRENGTH AND
UNITY AMONG OUR WORKING CLASS
AND ALSO ILLUSTRATING
SIGNIFICANT UNREST IN THE LABOR
MARKET. WAGE DISPARITIES,
WORSENING WORKING CONDITIONS,
HEALTH AND SAFETY CONCERNS AND
THE THREAT OF A I DISPLACING
HUMAN LABOR PEOPLE. POWER
ADDRESSED SOME OF THE CONCERNS
THAT RECENTLY MOTIVATED WORKERS
TO STRIKE DECIDING TO GO ON
STRIKE IS NOT AN EASY ONE. MORE
OFTEN THAN NOT. IT'S THE LAST
RESORT FOR MANY WORKERS, AND I
HAVE TO SAY YOU KNOW, FOLKS HAVE
THIS ROMANTICIZED VISION OF A
STRIKE. THERE'S NOTHING ROMANTIC
ABOUT IT. IT'S HARD ON THAT
INDIVIDUAL AND ON THAT FAMILY. I
STILL REMEMBER MY MOTHER IN LAW
TALKING ABOUT THE IMPACT WHEN MY
FATHER IN LAW WENT ON STRIKE
WITH THE IMPACT OF THE FAMILY
WAS A DECADE AFTER THE STRIKE. I
MEAN, IT'S AN EMOTIONAL TOLL
THAT IT TAKES ON A FAMILY. UM
WORKERS PUT THEIR LIVELIHOOD ON
THE LINE AND BILLS PILE UP RANT
AND OTHER THINGS DON'T GO AWAY
WHEN SOMEBODY'S ON STRIKE, SO
FOR ME. IT'S CRITICAL THAT FOR
THE WORKER AND THE ECONOMY TO
HAVE SECURITY AND YOU KNOW TO
HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE TO BE
ABLE TO ADVOCATE FOR THEMSELVES
WITHOUT HAVING THE FEAR OF
LOSING THEIR HOME OR NOT BEING
ABLE TO SEND THEIR KIDS TO
SCHOOL, SO SB 799 WOULD PROVIDE
A LIFELINE FOR CALIFORNIA'S
WORKFORCE WHILE PRESERVING THE
ECONOMY AND THE RIGHT TO
LAWFULLY STRIKE. FOR BETTER
WORKING CONDITIONS. BY THE WAY,
THERE'S A WHOLE HOST OF SMALL
BUSINESSES IN THE LOS ANGELES
AREA. THERE'S A LIST THAT I
COULD READ OF SMALL BUSINESSES
THAT SUPPORT THE STRIKE BECAUSE
THE IMPACT ISN'T JUST ON THE
INDIVIDUAL FAMILY. IT HAS A
RIPPLE EFFECT TO THE SMALL
BUSINESSES IN THOSE
NEIGHBORHOODS AS WELL. SO
THERE'S SIGNIFICANT SUPPORT FOR
THIS IS NOT SOMETHING NEW. NEW
YORK AND NEW JERSEY ALSO HAVE
PASSED SIMILAR LAWS AND I'VE
SEEN IT WORK AND NOT BE A
NEGATIVE IMPACT TO THOSE STATES
. AND SO WITH THAT, I
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR AN EYE, BUT
WE HAVE MEGAN SUPERS FROM THE
WRITERS GUILD HERE AND PATRICK
HENNING FROM THE TREASURER'S
OFFICE AS EXPERT WITNESSES. SO
MR CHAIR THANK YOU, SENATOR. UM
PLEASE, COME ON UP, AND YOU HAVE
A COUPLE OF MINUTES EACH. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU, MR CHAIR AND
MEMBERS. MEGAN SUPER IS ON
BEHALF OF THE WRITERS GUILD OF
AMERICA WEST, AND I'D LIKE TO
JUST READ A COUPLE OF COMMENTS
FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE GUILD.
MEREDITH STEAM THE WRITERS GUILD
OF AMERICA WEST REPRESENTS ABOUT
13,000 MEMBERS IN CALIFORNIA WHO
WRITE TELEVISION SHOWS, MOVIES
AND NEWS PROGRAMS. DOCUMENTARIES
AND ONLINE PROGRAMMING. SINCE
MAY, 2ND WRITERS HAVE BEEN ON
STRIKE STANDING UP AND FIGHTING
BACK AGAINST THE MOST
COMPREHENSIVE ASSAULT ON
COMPENSATION AND WORKING
CONDITIONS THAT WE'VE SEEN IN
THIS INDUSTRY IN A GENERATION.
THIS FIGHT FOR SUSTAINABLE JOBS
COMES AT A HIGH COST TO OUR
MEMBERS IN CALIFORNIA, WHO MUST
RELY ON STRIKE LOANS, MUTUAL AID
PHILANTHROPY, 2ND AND 3RD JOBS
TO PAY FOR FOOD, GAS AND RENT.
ONE STUDIO EXECUTIVE ANONYMOUSLY
, COMMENTED TO A REPORTER IN
JULY THAT THE COMPANIES WERE
WAITING UNTIL FALL OR WINTER TO
MAKE A DEAL WITH US THE ENDGAME
, THEY SAID QUOTE IS TO ALLOW
THINGS TO DRAG ON UNTIL UNION
MEMBERS START LOSING THEIR
APARTMENTS AND LOSING THEIR
HOUSES AND QUOTE. MEANWHILE
ACCESS TO UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE
FOR STRIKING WORKERS IS THE LAW
IN NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY AND
HAS BEEN ON THE BOOKS IN NEW
YORK FOR DECADES. OUR COLLEAGUES
AND OUR SISTER GUILD WRITERS
GUILD OF AMERICA EAST RIGHTFULLY
HAVE ACCESS TO IT AND USE THE
BENEFITS, WHICH THEY CONTRIBUTED
TO FULFILL BASIC HUMAN NEEDS AND
SUSTAIN THEM THROUGHOUT THE
STRIKE. WORKERS IN CALIFORNIA
SHOULD BE ABLE TO EXERCISE THE
RIGHT TO STRIKE WITHOUT LOSING
THEIR HOMES ARE FACING FINANCIAL
RUIN. IT'S TIME FOR CALIFORNIA
TO CATCH UP AND MEET THE DEMANDS
OF THE TIME. THE WRITERS MAYBE
THE CURRENT EXAMPLE OF WORKERS
WHO NEED IT, BUT THEY ARE ALSO
THE VOICE FOR THE WORKERS GOING
FORWARD. WHO WILL NEED THIS
PROTECTION IF THEY MAKE THE VERY
DIFFICULT DECISION TO STRIKE. SO
FOR THOSE REASONS, WE ASK FOR
YOUR SUPPORT OF THIS BILL TODAY.
THANK YOU. PATRICK HENNING ON
BEHALF OF STATE TREASURER FIONA
MA. I WANT TO THANK THE AUTHOR
FOR BRINGING THIS BILL FORWARD.
THE TREASURER FEELS THAT THIS
PIECE OF LEGISLATION IS
REASONABLE, PARTICULARLY IN THE
SENSE OF TRYING TO HELP BRING
STABILITY TO OUR COMMUNITIES.
THAT DECISION TO GO OUT ON
STRIKE AS THE AUTHOR POINTS OUT,
IS NOT AN EASY ONE. AND AS ONE
TAKEN AND AT THE PLACE WHERE AN
EMPLOYEE IS TRYING TO MAKE A
DECISION BETWEEN MAKING SURE HIS
FAMILY OR HER FAMILY HAS WHAT
THEY NEED TO CONTINUE ON AND
MAKE SURE THAT THEY CAN STAY
WHERE THEY'RE AT, OFTENTIMES AND
THIS LITTLE BIT OF MONEY WILL GO
A LONG WAY, HOPEFULLY TO KEEPING
PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITIES THAT
THEY COME FROM. HELPING THEM
STAY AND, UH HELP THEM TOWARDS,
UH, BEING WHERE THEY'RE AT AND
BRING STABILITY. CONTINUED
STABILITY TO THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA START SPENT A LOT OF
TIME SINCE I'VE TESTIFIED FROM
THE SENATE APPRECIATE YOU ALL.
THANK YOU. IS THERE ANYONE IN
THE ROOM HERE IN 2200 WISHES TO
COME FORWARD AND INDICATE NAME
AFFILIATION AND SUPPORT. PLEASE
PROCEED, MR. CHAIR MEMBER, SARAH
FLOCKS. CALIFORNIA LABOR
FEDERATION PROUD CO SPONSOR OF
THE MEASURE. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU, MR CHAIR AND SENATORS DOUG
SUPERS ON BEHALF OF THE
CALIFORNIA PROFESSIONAL
FIREFIGHTERS IN SUPPORT. GOOD
MORNING, MR CHAIR AND SENATORS.
ALYSSA UM, ON BEHALF OF THE CSU
EMPLOYEES UNION AND STRONG
SUPPORT. GOOD MORNING, MR CHAIR
MEMBERS LOUIS COSTA WITH THE
INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF
SHEET METAL, AIR, RAIL AND
TRANSPORTATION WORKERS SMART
TRANSPORTATION DIVISION IN
SUPPORT. GOOD MORNING, MR CHAIR
MEMBERS, IGNACIO HERNANDEZ ON
BEHALF OF THE COMMUNICATION
WORKERS OF AMERICA DISTRICT NINE
IN SUPPORT. GOOD MORNING
CHAIRMAN MEMBERS JANICE O'MALLEY
WITH THE AMERICAN FEDERATION OF
STATE COUNTY MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES
AND STRONG SUPPORT. GOOD
MORNING, MR CHAIR, EDUARDO
MARTINEZ ON BEHALF OF THE 51,000
MEMBERS OF ACTORS EQUITY IN
SUPPORT. TIFFANY MARK ON BEHALF
OF CFT AND SUPPORT. THANK YOU.
SETH BRAMBLES, SPEAKING THIS
MORNING ON BEHALF OF THE
CALIFORNIA TEACHERS ASSOCIATION,
WE ARE IN STRONG SUPPORT. GOOD
MORNING. SHARON MEMBERS. JESSICA
HEY, WITH THE CALIFORNIA SCHOOL
EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION AND
SUPPORT GOOD MORNING, SHANE
GASSMAN ON BEHALF OF THE
TEAMSTERS, SAG AFTRA, THE
MACHINISTS UNITE HERE AND
UTILITY WORKERS UNION OF AMERICA
AND SPORT. THANK YOU. WE'RE
GOING TO GO TO OPPOSITION
WITNESSES. DO WE HAVE
OPPOSITION? LEAD WITNESSES IN
THE ROOM. PLEASE. COME FORWARD.
YOU HAVE A COUPLE OF MINUTES.
THANK YOU, MR CHAIR. GOOD
MORNING AS CHAIR AND MEMBERS.
ROBERT METRIC CALIFORNIA CHAMBER
OF COMMERCE WERE OPPOSED. SB 799
AS A AS A JOB KILLER. I'LL THANK
STAFF FOR THE THOROUGH ANALYSIS
ON THE VERY SHORT TIMELINE THAT
IT HAD TO BE DONE. FOUR KEY
CONCERNS HERE. FUNDAMENTALLY,
THIS BILL DOES SOMETHING NEW TO
CALIFORNIA, WHICH IS A STATE
WEIGHING IN ON ONE SIDE OF THIS
ANY LABOR DISPUTE GOING ON NOW
AND ALL FUTURE LABOR DISPUTES BY
REDIRECTING MONEY THAT EMPLOYERS
CONTRIBUTE TO YOU. I FUND TO
WORKERS THAT IS A PROFOUND
CHANGE AND IS PROFOUNDLY
DIFFERENT FROM WHAT MOST DAYS
DOING IN CALIFORNIA HAS EVER
DONE. TO BE CLEAR. WE DO NOT
DISAGREE WITH THE FEDERAL RIGHT
TO STRIKE. THAT IS NOT WHAT THIS
IS ABOUT. BUT STRIKING IS A
NEGOTIATING TACTIC WHEREBY YOU
CHOOSE A HARDSHIP AND IMPOSE A
HARDSHIP ON THE EMPLOYER IN THE
HOPES OF GETTING BETTER TERMS.
IT IS A TACTIC AND THAT IS, I
THINK A FUNDAMENTAL DIFFERENCE
FROM BEING UNEMPLOYED. SECOND I
DO WANT TO FLAG THE ISSUE WITH
THE UI FUN AND THE TAX
IMPLICATIONS FOR BUSINESS AS I'M
SURE MANY OF YOU KNOW THE UI
FUND IS $18 BILLION IN DEBT IS
EXPECTED TO RISE TO $20 BILLION
IN DEBT OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS.
THAT CREATES TAX INCREASES ON
ALL EMPLOYERS IN THE STATE SMALL
EVERYWHERE TO LARGE ACROSS ALL
INDUSTRIES. WE EXPECT THOSE TO
INCREASE FOR THE NEXT 10 YEARS.
WE EXPECT THIS TO ADD BASED ON
ESTIMATES WE HAVE DONE ABOUT $2
BILLION TO THAT AMOUNT OVER THE
NEXT 10 YEARS OUT, LOOKING AT
PRESENT STRIKING RATES. THIRD I
WANT TO FLAG A FEDERAL LAW ISSUE
MENTION OF NEW YORK AND NEW
JERSEY IN IN AN IMPLICATION THAT
THAT MAKES THIS COMPLIANT WITH
FEDERAL LAW, AND THERE'S ALSO A
MENTION OF A SUPREME COURT CASE
IN 1979 IMPORTANT TO NOTE SINCE
THAT SUPREME COURT CASE LOOKED
AT THE NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS
ACT, AND THESE POLICIES IN NEW
YORK IN 1979 FEDERAL LAW HAS
CHANGED IN 2012 FEDERAL LAW
ADDED THE REQUIREMENT THAT
PEOPLE ON STRIKE, BE ABLE AND
AVAILABLE AND LOOKING FOR WORK.
THAT WAS NOT THE CASE WHEN
SKODA'S REVIEWED NEW YORK'S LAW
IN 1979, THAT'S A CHANGE IN LAW.
AND APPRECIATE ANALYSIS FLAGGING
THAT POINT NEXT. I WANT TO TOUCH
ON E D D I DON'T. I'M NOT. I
THINK WE TRY HARD NOT TO BAG ON
EDIE. THEY'VE GONE THROUGH A LOT
THERE IN THE PRESENT
DIFFICULTIES OF A FIVE YEAR
OVERHAUL KNOWN AS E D D NEXT AND
THAT IS BECAUSE AS WE ALL KNOW
GREAT FAILURES DURING THE
PANDEMIC IN TERMS OF PROVIDING
QUICK AND ACCURATE CLAIMS,
PROCESSING AND RECOVERING FRAUD
FUNDS THAT WERE DISTRIBUTED
MISTAKENLY SOME FRAUD, SOME NOT
WE HAVE GRAVE CONCERNS ABOUT IT
IS ABILITY TO SET UP AN ENTIRELY
NEW PROGRAM FOR A NEW CLASS OF
CLAIMANTS. THOSE ON STRIKE IN
THE MIDDLE OF THAT OVERHAUL AS A
FEASIBILITY RISK FOR THEM, AND
ULTIMATELY, A COST EMPLOYERS AS
WE PAY FOR EDDIE'S MISTAKES IN
DISTRIBUTING FUNDS AND FAILING
TO RECOVER THEM. FOR THOSE
REASONS WE ARE OPPOSED TO SP 799
IS A JOB KILLER, AND I'LL PASS
TO MY COLLEAGUE FROM THE
RESTAURANTS. GOOD MORNING, KATIE
DAVEY WITH THE CALIFORNIA
RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION. WE ARE
RESPECTFULLY OPPOSED. SB 799
BETWEEN MARCH AND APRIL OF 20
20/1 MILLION RESTAURANT AND
PLEASE WERE LAID OFF TO COMPLY
WITH PUBLIC HEALTH ORDERS THAT
CLOSED RESTAURANTS TO STOP THE
SPREAD OF COVID 19. THE IMPACT
OF THE PANDEMIC HAS LEFT
CALIFORNIA'S YOU I FUND FACING
AN UNPRECEDENTED $18 BILLION
DEFICIT. ROUGHLY TWICE THE SIZE
OF THE DEFICIT FROM THE GREAT
RECESSION. MANY RESTAURANTS LIKE
AMBROSIA AND PIZZA ROCK ACROSS
CALIFORNIA SHUT DOWN AND NEVER
REOPENED. THOSE THAT MANAGED TO
SURVIVE OR DEALING WITH
SIGNIFICANT DEBT TAXES ARE
ASSESSED ON A PER EMPLOYEE BASIS
BECAUSE RESTAURANTS EMPLOY A LOT
OF CALIFORNIANS COMPARED TO
OTHER INDUSTRIES, INCLUDING A
LOT OF PART TIME AND SEASONAL
JOBS. WE ARE GETTING HIT
PARTICULARLY HARD BY THESE TAX
INCREASES, AND WE'LL GET HIT
EVEN HARDER AS THEY INCREASE
OVER THE NEXT DECADE TO PAY DOWN
THE DEFICIT. REMEMBER IN 2017
WHEN WE WERE REPAYING A MUCH
SMALLER UI DEBT. AFTER THE GREAT
RECESSION, OUR GOVERNMENT
AFFAIRS TEAM WAS FLOODED WITH
CALLS FROM INDEPENDENT
RESTAURANTS ASKING. WHAT IS THIS
FEDERAL TAX BILL? I JUST
RECEIVED. I DON'T HAVE $30,000
IN SAVINGS TO COVER THIS BILL.
RESTAURANTS ARE OFTEN PAYROLL TO
PAYROLL, AND WE DON'T HAVE
SIGNIFICANT SAVINGS. SO THIS
KIND OF TAX IS A BIG DEAL TO US
FOR RESTAURANTS AND MANY OTHERS
WHO WERE CLOSED DUE TO PUBLIC
ORDERS. THIS IS A FUNDAMENTAL
ISSUE OF FAIRNESS. WE'RE NOW
LEFT HOLDING THE BAG WHEN IT
COMES TO REPAYING THE DEFICIT IN
THE FORM OF TAX INCREASES OVER
THE NEXT STEP DECADE. DURING THE
PANDEMIC YEARS, THE STATE
ENJOYED MASSIVE BUDGET SURPLUSES
. AND YET NONE OF THOSE FUNDS
WERE PUT TOWARDS REPAYING THE UI
DEBT. DESPITE WHAT PROPOSALS IN
LAST YEAR'S BUDGET TO PROVIDE
SOME HELP. THEY WERE STRIPPED
THIS YEAR AND NO HELP HAS BEEN
PROVIDED BY MEMBERS DO NOT SEE
IT AS FAIR TO NOW ASK
NEIGHBORHOOD RESTAURANTS TO
SUBSIDIZE STRIKING WORKERS WHEN
WE ARE PRESENTLY PAIN, INCREASED
TAXES FOR THE PANDEMIC DRIVEN
YOU. I DID EMPLOYERS WHO ARE NOT
PRESENTLY HAVING A STRIKE OR WHO
HAVE NEVER HAD A PROLONGED
STRIKE ARE GOING TO BE PAIN.
INCREASED TAXES UNDER THIS BILL.
THIS IS FUNDAMENTALLY UNFAIR TO
NEIGHBORHOOD RESTAURANTS ACROSS
CALIFORNIA, WHO WILL BE PAYING
MORE BECAUSE OF A LABOR DISPUTE
. THEY HAVE NO INVOLVEMENT IN
FOR THESE REASONS. WE ARE
RESPECTFULLY OPPOSED. SB 799.
THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU
FOR BEING HERE. OTHERS WHO WISH
TO COME UP WITH NAME AFFILIATION
AND OPPOSED POSITIONS. GOOD
MORNING, MR CHAIR MEMBERS, CHRIS
MCKAY LI ON BEHALF OF THE LOS
ANGELES AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
AND RESPECTFUL OPPOSITION.
MORNING MR CHAIR RYAN ELAINE, ON
BEHALF OF THE CALIFORNIA
RETAILERS, ASSOCIATION AND
OPPOSITION. THANK YOU. GOOD
MORNING, MR SHARON MEMBERS.
MATTHEW ALLEN WITH WESTERN
GROWERS ASSOCIATION ALSO
RESPECTFULLY OPPOSED. THANK YOU.
GOOD MORNING CHAIR AND MEMBERS
NICK CHAMPION BEHALF OF THE
CALIFORNIA TRUCKING ASSOCIATION
IN RESPECTFUL OPPOSITION. THANK
YOU. GOOD MORNING, MR TARYN
MEMBERS TRICIA CARRIGER WITH
AGRICULTURAL COUNCIL OF
CALIFORNIA RESPECTFULLY OPPOSED.
NICKEL MINE ON BEHALF OF THE
CALIFORNIA FORESTRY ASSOCIATION
AND SILICON VALLEY LEADERSHIP
GROUP AND RESPECTFUL OPPOSITION.
GOOD MORNING CHAIR AND MEMBERS
K¾T PETTIBONE ON BEHALF OF
GOVERNMENT FOR CALIFORNIA AND
RESPECTFUL POSITION. MORNING MR
CHAIR MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE
LOUIS BROWN HERE TODAY ON BEHALF
OF THE AMERICAN COUNCIL OF
ENGINEERING COMPANIES CALIFORNIA
GROCERIES ASSOCIATION IN THE
CALIFORNIA FRESH FRUIT
ASSOCIATION AND OPPOSITION.
MORNING MR CHAIR MEMBERS SARAH
NACIDO ON BEHALF OF YOU CAN,
WHICH IS A COALITION OF 11
REGIONAL CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE
AND RESPECTFUL OPPOSITION. THANK
YOU. GOOD MORNING, MR CHAIR
MEMBERS. THE COMMITTEE CHRIS
WALKER ON BEHALF OF CALIFORNIA'S
UNION SHEET METAL CONTRACTORS IN
OPPOSITION. THANK YOU. BELIEVE
IF WINTERS ON BEHALF OF THE
ASSOCIATED GENERAL CONTRACTORS
OF CALIFORNIA, THE CALIFORNIA
CHAPTERS AND OPPOSITION. FAITH
FORD JUST ON BEHALF OF THE
FAMILY BUSINESS ASSOCIATION OF
CALIFORNIA AND THE CALIFORNIA
ASSOCIATION OF JOINT POWERS.
AUTHORITIES RESPECTFULLY OPPOSED
GOOD MORNING, DOROTHY JOHNSON,
HAPPY ASSOCIATION OF CALIFORNIA
SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS AND
RESPECTFUL OPPOSITION. GOOD
MORNING, BRIAN LITTLE CALIFORNIA
FARM BUREAU IN OPPOSITION. THANK
YOU. GOOD MORNING, MR CHAIRMAN
MEMBERS ERIN AVERY WITH THE
CALIFORNIA SPECIAL DISTRICTS
ASSOCIATION. RESPECTFULLY POST.
THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING LAWRENCE
GAME WITH THE CALIFORNIA
MANUFACTURERS AND TECHNOLOGY
ASSOCIATION. RESPECTFULLY
OPPOSED. THANK YOU. GOOD
MORNING, SABRINA DEMILLE
LOCKHART WITH THE CALIFORNIA
ATTRACTIONS AND PARKS
ASSOCIATION AND RESPECTFUL
OPPOSITION. THANK YOU. GOOD
MORNING, ALEX TORRES ON BEHALF
OF THE BAY AREA COUNCIL, ALSO
HERE ON BEHALF OF THE LOS
ANGELES COUNTY BUSINESS
FEDERATION AND OPPOSITION. GOOD
MORNING. OH BET FRANK ON BEHALF
OF THE CALIFORNIA HOTEL AND
LODGING ASSOCIATION RESPECTFULLY
IN OPPOSITION. GOOD MORNING,
SARAH DUQUETTE ON BEHALF OF THE
RURAL COUNTY REPRESENTATIVES OF
CALIFORNIA AND THE URBAN
COUNTIES OF CALIFORNIA AND
RESPECTFUL OPPOSITION. GOOD
MORNING. ALYSSA STILL HIGH ON
BEHALF OF THE CALIFORNIA
ASSOCIATION OF RECREATION AND
PARK DISTRICTS AND US ON BEHALF
OF MY COLLEAGUES AT THE
CALIFORNIA STATE ASSOCIATION OF
COUNTIES IN RESPECTFUL
OPPOSITION, MICHAEL MILLER,
CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF WINE,
GRAPE GROWERS, RESPECTFUL
OPPOSITION. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT
. THANK YOU. ALL FOR BEING HERE.
WE'LL GO TO THE TELECONFERENCE
LINE NOW AND AS THE MODERATOR TO
PLEASE PROMPT INDIVIDUALS
WAITING TO TESTIFY AND SUPPORT
OR OPPOSITION OF SB 7 99 AND
LET'S GO AHEAD AND BEGIN. THANK
YOU FOR SUPPORTING OPPOSITION.
YOU MIGHT. PRESS ONE, LENS ZERO.
WE WILL GO TO LINE 15. YOUR LINE
IS OPEN. GOOD MORNING, MR CARON
MEMBERS SYLVIA SALAS SHAH HERE
ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF WEST
HOLLYWOOD AND ALSO ON BEHALF OF
THE CALIFORNIA FACULTY
ASSOCIATION AND SUPPORT OF THE
BILL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I'M
16. YOUR LINE IS OPEN. MR
CHAIRMAN MEMBERS PAT MORAN, ERIN
READING ASSOCIATES REPRESENTING
THE CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF
PROFESSIONAL SCIENTISTS IN
SUPPORT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
WE'LL GO TO LINE 18. YOUR LINE
IS OPEN. GOOD MORNING, MR CHAIR
AND MEMBERS COMPETENCY ON BEHALF
OF THE UNITED AUTO WORKERS
REGION SIX IN STRONG SUPPORT OF
THE BILL. THANK YOU. NEXT, WE'RE
GONNA LINE 12. YOUR LINE IS
OPEN. GOOD MORNING, TERRY
MEMBERS AFTER GRANDMA WITH THE
U. S, B W WESTERN STATES COUNCIL
AND STRONG SUPPORT, THANKS.
THANK YOU, LANE 10. YOUR LINE IS
OPEN. GOOD MORNING, JONNY PENA
WITH THE LEGAL COMPANIES, CITIES
AND RESPECTFUL OPPOSITION. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU, LIKE 20 TO YOUR
LINE IS OPEN. THANK YOU, MR
SHARE. JACKIE ON IT'S ON BEHALF
OF THE CALIFORNIA FUELS AND
CONVENIENCE ALLIANCE AND
RESPECTFUL OPPOSITION. THANK YOU
EXTRA GO TO LINE 14. YOUR LINE
IS OPEN. MR CHAIR MEMBERS
BOBILLIER ON BEHALF OF THE
ASSOCIATION OF WESTERN EMPLOYERS
IN OPPOSITION. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU, MR CHAIR. WE HAVE NO
FURTHER SUPPORTER. OPPOSITION
AND QUÊ. ALRIGHT, EXCELLENT.
THANK YOU, MODERATOR. WE'LL
BRING IT BACK TO THE COMMITTEE
AND LOOK TO SENATORS FOR
COMMENTS HERE, UM, SENATOR
ALERT. HMM I HAVE A QUESTION,
BUT LET ME MAKE A FEW COMMENTS
FIRST, AND I WAS IN CLOSELY TO
THE TESTIMONY AND AUTHORED THE
BILL. UM. ON E D DO RECESSION
PLANET PLANNING AND I THINK
THERE'S A PROCESS IN PLACE TO
ACTUALLY LOOK AT THIS AND TAKE
CARE IN A WAY THAT THAT THERE IS
PLANNING FOR THIS AND THE
RESTAURANT AMBROSIA WAS
MENTIONED AS APPEARING TO BE A
CASUALTY OF UNEMPLOYMENT RIGHTS
, BUT I THINK IT WAS AS MUCH A
CASUALTY OF SOME RATHER
DESPICABLE AND EXPENSIVE
VANDALISM THAT I THINK IS THE
REAL REASON THAT THAT IT WENT
OUT OF BUSINESS AND ON THE
POLICY. I'M GOOD WITH THE POLICY
, BUT THE MONEY HAS BEEN RAISED
AND THE MONEY IS NOT IN FRONT OF
THIS COMMITTEE AND MAY WELL BE
IN FRONT OF ANOTHER COMMITTEE.
UH BUT MY QUESTION IS, IS THE
NUMBERS IN THE ANALYSIS OF
RATHER BIG ABOUT WHAT? THE DEBT
IS IT? DO YOU HAVE A COMMENT ON
SCALE LIKE ON IF YOU LOOK AT NEW
JERSEY OR NEW YORK, WHAT
PARTICIPATION IS AS OPPOSED TO
WHAT THE SCALE MIGHT BE OF
SOMETHING LIKE THIS IF IT'S
ENACTED COMPARED TO THE OVERALL
DEBT I THINK THAT THAT IS THE
ACT. KEY QUESTION THAT THE
RELATIVE NUMBER OF FOLKS
IMPACTED RELATIVE TO THE TOTAL
NUMBER OF CALIFORNIANS. IT'S
VERY SMALL. FIRST OF ALL, THERE
WERE ONLY TWO STRIKES IN RECENT
TIMES HAVE GONE BEYOND TWO WEEKS
. SO OF COURSE THAT'S THE FIRST
THING YOU HAVE TO BE ON STRIKE
AT LEAST TWO WEEKS TO BE
ELIGIBLE. SECOND OF ALL, IT'S MY
UNDERSTANDING THAT WE GET ABOUT
150,000 UNEMPLOYMENT CLAIMS A
MONTH JUST IN GENERAL, AND THIS
IN AND IN ITS TOTALITY. IT'S
ESTIMATED TO BE ABOUT 150,000
OVER A PERIOD OF TIME, SO THEIR
SCALE IS VERY SMALL. NOW. I
WOULD ARGUE THAT THE IMPACT ON
THE INDIVIDUAL IS FAR MORE
IMPORTANT THAN THE OVERALL
SCULPT THE OTHER PIECE. I WOULD
TALK ABOUT THE OVERALL SOLVENCY
OF THE FUND. I THINK THE SECOND
THING THAT THIS BILL IS DOING IN
ADDITION TO PROVIDING A SAFETY
NET FOR THOSE ON STRIKE IS IT'S
PROVIDING US. I BELIEVE THE
IMPETUS TO LOOK AT THE FUND
ITSELF. AND I THINK THAT'S
SOMETHING I'M COMMITTED TO DO
NEXT YEAR IS TO LOOK AT ALL OF
THE WAY WE CAN ADDRESS THAT THE
DEFICIT AND ADDRESS THE SOLVENCY
OF THE FUND GOING FORWARD, AND I
THINK THIS IN ONE RESPECT FORCES
US TO DO THAT WERE BEFORE I
THINK WE WERE JUST SORT OF
WATCHING IT HAPPEN, AND I DON'T
THINK THAT'S THE RIGHT THING TO
DO. WE SHOULD ENGAGE IN THAT
CONVERSATION AS WELL. AND I
THINK THIS HELPS US GET THERE.
OKAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR ANSWER,
AND I WOULD JUST MAKE ONE QUICK
COMMENT ON IT, WHICH IS? I THINK
THE TESTIMONY REALLY WENT AT UH
, THE SOLVENCY OF THE FUND AND
NOT NECESSARILY ACKNOWLEDGING TO
BENEFIT ON THE OTHER SIDE TO THE
INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE INVOLVED,
SO THAT'S WHY I THOUGHT IT WAS
IMPORTANT TO DRAW OUT THE SCALE
WITH REGARD TO THE FRONT AND I
APPRECIATE YOUR ANSWER. IF I
COULD MR CHAIR THE BENEFIT TO
THOSE SMALL BUSINESSES IN THAT
PERSON'S NEIGHBORHOOD. I MEAN
THAT THE STRIKE DOESN'T JUST
AFFECT THE INDIVIDUAL THAT
AFFECTS THE TOTAL. UNIVERSE OF
THE ECONOMY AND AROUND AND SO
HAVING THE ABILITY TO STILL
FUNCTION, I THINK HELPS THE
ECONOMY AS WELL. SO THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, MR CHAIR. THANK YOU,
SENATOR. ANYONE ELSE? SENATOR
RAZO. THANK YOU. THANK YOU TO
THE AUTHOR. UM A COUPLE OF
THINGS HERE. UH I UNDERSTAND.
THERE WAS SOME ISSUES RAISED
ABOUT THE WELL BEING OF THE UI
FUND BEING AN ISSUE NOW, UM,
WE'RE NOT SETTLING IT WITH THIS
WITH THIS BILL, BUT I DO THINK
THAT WE THEN OUGHT TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE BRING UP THE ISSUE OF
THE BASE THE WAGE BASE HOW
CALIFORNIA IS AMONGST THE LOWEST
IN THE NATION. AS FAR AS THAT IS
CONCERNED, WE ONLY UM AH. PAY ON
$7000. THE MAX IS $7000, ALONG
WITH TENNESSEE AND ARIZONA.
LOUISIANA CAN WE HAVE THE
STRONGEST UI FUND WHEN WE THE
TAX IS THE LOWEST SOME OF THE
LOWEST IN THE WHOLE COUNTRY, SO
LET'S TALK ABOUT ALL THE ISSUES,
NOT JUST PRETEND THAT A STRIKE
OR A COUPLE OF STRIKES MIGHT
SOMEHOW HAVE THIS HORRIBLE
IMPACT ON ON THE UI FUND, AND I
JUST WANT TO SAY IN TERMS OF MY
OWN PERSONAL EXPERIENCE IN MY
LIFE, UM IN LABOR. THERE WERE
PROBABLY A HANDFUL AND ALL THOSE
DECADES A HANDFUL OF STRIKES.
AND THE MAJORITY OF THOSE
STRIKES HAD TO DO WITH EMPLOYERS
WANTING TO TAKE AWAY. WANTING TO
LOWER WAGES WANTED TO TAKE AWAY
HEALTH BENEFITS WANTING TO THE
WORKERS TO PAY MORE ON THEIR
HEALTH BENEFITS OR TAKING AWAY A
PENSION PLAN. I MEAN, THERE WAS
THESE ARE SOME REAL REAL
ESSENTIAL, ESSENTIAL ISSUES THAT
I DON'T THINK THOSE WORKERS
OUGHT TO BE LEFT ON THEIR OWN TO
TRY AND BATTLE IT OUT. IT'S HARD
ENOUGH AND THE MAXIMUM OR WHAT
THEY WOULD BE ALLOWED TO
RECEIVE. IN IN ACTUAL BENEFITS
IS SO SMALL AS YOU SAID, AH, WHO
KNOWS? MAYBE THAT BUYS THE FOOD
FOR THE WEEK. SO LET'S NOT
PRETEND THAT SOMEHOW PEOPLE ARE
GOING TO GET RICH OUT OF THIS OR
THAT THE U. I FUND IS GOING TO
FALL APART. THAT'S NOT THE CASE.
THAT'S NOT THE REALITY. LET'S
NOT TRY TO SPOOK OURSELVES INTO
SOMETHING THAT DOESN'T EXIST. SO
I APPRECIATE YOUR WORK, SENATOR
AND OF COURSE, WE'LL SUPPORT.
SENATOR SENATOR SMALL CUEVAS
APPRECIATE THE COMMENTS OF MY
COLLEAGUES AND THE AUTHOR FOR
BRINGING THIS BILL AND I WANT TO
EXPRESS MY, UH CONCERN. FOR THE
LONG TERM UNEMPLOYMENT SCENARIO
. UM THAT'S WHERE I FEEL LIKE WE
ARE IN INVESTING AND HAVING TO
OVER INVEST IN OUR UNEMPLOYMENT
SYSTEM, BECAUSE SO FEW OF OUR
FOLKS, PARTICULARLY WHEN WE LOOK
AT MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES,
FOLKS WITH BARRIERS TO
EMPLOYMENT ARE ON UNEMPLOYMENT
BECAUSE THEY CAN'T GET ACCESS TO
GOOD JOBS IN THEIR OWN
COMMUNITIES. I THINK YOU KNOW, I
HAVE WORKED WITH WORKERS WHO
HAVE BEEN UNEMPLOYED FOR 24
MONTHS. AND THIS HAS NOTHING TO
DO WITH STRIKES. THESE ARE
WORKERS WHO ARE TRAINED AND
SKILLED AND CAN'T FIND GOOD JOBS
IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. AND WE
DON'T HAVE A SYSTEM TO DEAL WITH
THE LONG TERM UNEMPLOYED SO THAT
WE PREVENT THINGS LIKE
HOMELESSNESS. UM AND THOSE ARE
THE WORKERS. I THINK WE SHOULD
BE TALKING ABOUT. HOW DO WE
EXTEND AN ADDRESS? UM, THE
DEEPER UM WAYS IN WHICH. THE
ENDS ARE NOT MEETING FOR WORKERS
WHEN IT COMES TO UNEMPLOYMENT
INSURANCE THERE, SO FEW WORKERS
WHO ARE EVEN UNIONIZED AND EVEN
LESS WHO ARE ACTUALLY GOING ON
STRIKE. UH AND, UM I AGREE WITH
MY COLLEAGUES THAT THIS IS AN
OPPORTUNITY FOR CALIFORNIA TO
NOT BE BEHIND THE CURVE. UM BUT
START TO LEAD AND WAYS OF BEING
CREATIVE ABOUT HOW DO WE PROVIDE
REAL SAFETY NET AND PARTICULARLY
FOR UM UH, THE WORKERS IN OUR
COMMUNITIES WHO NEED STRONG
UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS, AND THIS
IS A WAY OF SHORT TERM SAFETY
NET AND THEN THINKING ABOUT WAYS
TO BUILD IN FOR LONG TERM, SO I
WANT TO SAY I APPRECIATE THIS
COMING. BEFORE US THAT WE ARE
PROVIDING A SAFETY NET. UM BUT
WE HAVE TO DO A LONGER
CONVERSATION ABOUT UNEMPLOYMENT
INSURANCE IN THIS STATE AND
WHERE WE'RE MAKING THOSE
INVESTMENTS, SO I'M HAPPY TO
SUPPORT THE BILL WHEN THE TIME
IS RIGHT. THANK YOU. SENATOR HAS
SEEN NO ONE ELSE WISHING TO BE
RECOGNIZED, MAKE A COUPLE OF
QUICK COMMENTS. UM. I AM
SUPPORTIVE OF THE BILL. I THINK
THE AUTHOR KNOWS THAT, UM OKAY.
THE I THINK THE BEST POINT THAT
WAS MADE IN THE ENTIRE
PRESENTATION. AT LEAST THE PART
THAT I DIDN'T MISS. TODAY WAS
THE IDEA THAT THESE DOLLARS GO
DIRECTLY INTO CASH REGISTERS.
HE'S DOLLARS GO DIRECTLY INTO
LOCAL COMMUNITIES THAT THESE
AREN'T FOLKS AREN T THE
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE CHECK AND
GO OPEN UP A CERTIFICATE OF
DEPOSIT OR INVEST IN WALL STREET
. THIS MONEY IS GOING RIGHT BACK
INTO THE VERY BUSINESS COMMUNITY
THAT TO SOME DEGREES EXPRESS,
YOU KNOW, CONCERNED ABOUT DOING
THIS? I THINK THE CONCERN ABOUT
THE DEBT IS WELL PLACED. WE ALL
KNOW THAT GREAT OPPORTUNITY, I
THINK BECAUSE YOU ELEVATED THIS
ISSUE WITH THE BILL, SENATOR
PORTANTINO GIVE FOLKS AN
OPPORTUNITY TO RAISE THIS OLDER
ISSUE OF THE DEBT AND BRING IT
BACK UP AGAIN. I FOR ONE,
BELIEVE THAT WE OUGHT TO BE
LOOKING AT OPPORTUNITIES FOR
NONTRADITIONAL GENERAL FUND
SOURCES LIKE ASSETS THAT THE
STATE'S BEEN LIQUIDATING AND SO
FORTH TO PROVIDE SOME ONE TIME
RELIEF TO THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY
BECAUSE I THINK THAT TWO GOES TO
KEEPING THE ECONOMY TURNING TO
KEEPING PEOPLE WORKING, SO WE
NEED BOTH. AND UH, BUT, UM YOU
KNOW? I'LL GIVE FOLKS A FEATHER
IN THE CAP FOR BEING COVERED
ENOUGH TO BRING THAT UP DURING
UM, HEARING ON A BILL THAT
REALLY ISN'T ADDRESSING THAT
PARTICULAR POINT, SO THANK YOU
FOR MOVING THIS QUICKLY FORWARD,
I SUPPOSE, YOU KNOW, IN TERMS OF
EVERYONE OF ALL, INCLUDING
COMMITTEE STAFF THAT HAS TO JUMP
ON THESE THINGS AND WORK ON THEM
AND DO ANALYSIS AND IN SHORT
ORDER. UM I CAN SORT OF
APOLOGIZE ON BEHALF OF THE
ENTIRE LEGISLATURE FOR THE
SUDDENNESS OF SOME OF THESE, UM
THE ISSUE THESE ISSUES THAT ARE
BROUGHT FORWARD BUT IT'S JUST
THE WAY THINGS ARE DONE AROUND
HERE. IT ISN'T UM IT ISN'T
PERTINENT TO THIS PARTICULAR
BILL OR SPECIFIC TO THIS
PARTICULAR BILL. SO WITH THAT
AGAIN, THANK YOU, SENATOR FOR
BRINGING IT FORWARD, AND I THINK
WE CAN ASK YOU TO CLOSE AND THEN
MOVE TO A VOTE. THANK YOU, MR
CHAIR AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR
COMMENTS, AND I THINK THAT'S THE
KEY PIECE. THERE IS A
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN UH, WELL
PAID. WORKFORCE AND THE HEALTH
OF THE ECONOMY. I MEAN, PEOPLE
HAVE MONEY BR CONSUMERS,
CONSUMERS DRIVE THE OVERALL
HEALTH OF THE ECONOMY, AND WHAT
WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS FIND THAT
BALANCE. FIND THAT PROPER
RELATIONSHIP AND HELP FOLKS AND
THIS IS A POINT IN TIME WHERE
THEIR SIGNIFICANT UNREST IN THE
WORKFORCE BECAUSE BUSINESS
MODELS ARE CHANGING, AND I THINK
IT'S APPROPRIATE FOR THAT
CONVERSATION HAPPENED AND I SEE
THAT WHERE YOU SEE IF YOU DRIVE
AROUND. CERTAINLY LOS ANGELES.
YOU SEE WHETHER IT'S THE
WRITERS, THE HOTEL WORKERS, THE
FRONTLINE MEDICAL STAFF, THE
COUNTY AND CITY WORKERS. I MEAN,
THERE'S CONCERN. AND I THINK
IT'S APPROPRIATE THAT WE HAVE
THAT CONVERSATION. I DO WANT TO
GIVE A SHOUT OUT. SENATOR DURAZO
IS NOT JUST TO SUPPORT ISSUES
THAT JOINT AUTHOR OF THE BILL AS
THIS ASSEMBLY MEMBER HOLDEN AND
CERTAINLY THE LABOR FEDERATION
FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD THIS
YEAR. AT THIS POINT IN TIME, I
THINK THIS IS THE RIGHT TIME TO
HAVE THAT CONVERSATION, AND I
APPRECIATE ALL OF THAT EFFORT
AND ALL OF THE FOLKS WHO ARE
HERE ON BOTH SIDES EXPRESSING
THEMSELVES AND WITH THAT
RESPECTFULLY ASKED FOR AN I
VOTE. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU AGAIN
, WE'LL GO TO THE ASSISTANT TO
CALL THE ROLL. WE DO NEED AN
EMOTION. DID ANYONE OFFER ONE?
SENATOR ROSE. OH, THANK YOU.
FILE ITEM NUMBER ONE SB 799. THE
MOTION IS THAT THE ASSEMBLY
AMENDMENTS BE CONCURRED IN
SENATOR CORTEZ E Z. I, SENATOR
WILK WILK NO SENATOR DURAZO
DURAZO I, SENATOR LAIRD EYES
SENATOR. SMALLER CUEVAS SMALLER
, GRIEVOUS I. THOSE AMENDMENTS
ARE CONCURRED IN 4 TO 1. ALRIGHT
UM THE AMENDMENTS ARE CONCURRED
IN 4 TO 1. AND WITH THAT, THANK
YOU, EVERYONE FOR BEING HERE.
THIS COMMITTEE HEARING IS
ADJOURNED.
WE'RE SORRY YOUR CONFERENCE IS
ENDING. NOW, PLEASE HANG UP.