>> GOOD MORNING.
THE SENATE GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION
WILL COME TO ORDER.
BEFORE WE BEGIN, I NEED TO ANNOUNCE
THE FILE ITEM NUMBER ONE,
SB 984 WAHAB AND FILE ITEM NUMBER SEVEN,
SB 1179 DARAZO HAVE BOTH BEEN PULLED.
UH, WITH THAT, THERE IS NO QUORUM.
WE KNOW THAT.
AND, UM, WE ARE GOING TO START AS A COMMITTEE.
SUBCOMMITTEE.
EXCUSE ME.
THANK YOU.
AND WE ARE GOING TO.
WHAT ITEM NUMBER IS THAT?
ITEM NUMBER 19.
THE ONLY AUTHOR IN THE HOUSE IS ME.
AND SO I'M GOING TO DO THAT.
AND, UH, VICE CHAIR WILK WILL
TAKE OVER THE COMMITTEE.
>> I ADJOURN THIS COMMITTEE.
OKAY.
ALL RIGHT.
CAN ALL GO HOME?
WHAT'S THE RECOMMENDATION ON THIS BILL?
NO, NO, NO.
BUT DOES IT GO ANY ANY AMENDMENTS?
I DON'T HAVE THE.
I'LL GIVE IT TO YOU.
OKAY.
BEAR WITH ME, MR.
CHAIR.
I DIDN'T HAND YOU ALL THE TOOLS OF THE TRADE.
NO, YOU DID NOT.
BUT THAT'S OKAY.
OKAY.
THIS IS FILE ITEM 19 SP 896 BY
OUR ILLUSTRIOUS CHAIRMAN, MR.
DODD.
AND THE MOTION IS DO PASS, AS AMENDED,
TO THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE,
WHICH I WILL SEE THAT BILL AGAIN NEXT WEEK.
WITH THAT, THE FLOOR IS YOURS, SIR.
OKAY.
MR.
CHAIR, I'D LIKE TO BEGIN BY ACCEPTING THE AMENDMENTS
NOTED ON PAGE 14 OF THE ANALYSIS.
THE AI ACCOUNTABILITY ACT ENSURES
THAT STATE AGENCIES ADVANCED
SAFEGUARDS AROUND AI BY INCORPORATING
AND BUILDING UPON RECENT
EXECUTIVE ORDERS FOCUSED ON
THE GOVERNMENT USE OF THESE NEW
TECHNOLOGIES BY PRESIDENT BIDEN AND GOVERNOR NEWSOM.
WHEN USED ETHICALLY AND TRANSPARENTLY,
GENERATIVE AI HAS THE POTENTIAL TO DRAMATICALLY
IMPROVE SERVICE DELIVERY OUTCOMES AND INCREASE
ACCESS TO GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS.
HOWEVER, JUST AS HUMANS HAVE EXPLICIT
AND IMPLICIT BIASES BUILT INTO OUR SOCIETY,
AI HAS THE CAPACITY TO REFLECT
AND AMPLIFY THESE BIASES.
THE BILL.
THIS BILL PROVIDES FURTHER GUIDANCE
TO STATE ENTITIES AND ESTABLISHES
GUARDRAILS WHILE CREATING A FRAMEWORK FOR STATES,
THE STATE'S PROCUREMENT, AND APPLICATION
OF GENERATIVE AI.
ADDITIONALLY, THIS BILL REQUIRES
THE CREATION AND REGULAR UPDATING
OF BENEFITS AND RISK OF GENERATIVE
AI REPORT AND REQUIRES STATE
AGENCY COORDINATION WITH AND SUPPORT
FOR THE GOVERNMENT WORKFORCE
IN PREPARING FOR THE NEXT GENERATION
OF AI SKILLS NEEDED.
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOUR I VOTE.
THANK YOU.
WITH THAT, DO YOU HAVE ANY PRIMARY WITNESSES?
WE'RE DOING THIS ONE ON OUR OWN, OKAY?
SEEING NONE.
ANYBODY IN THE ROOM THAT CARES
TO WEIGH IN ON SUPPORT.
OKAY.
SEEING NONE, WE'LL GO TO THE NEGATIVE SIDE.
ANYBODY HERE IN OPPOSITION?
ARE YOU TAUNTING ME?
YEAH, YOU'RE TAUNTING ME.
OKAY.
ALL RIGHT.
WITH THAT, WE'LL PULL IT BACK TO THE COMMITTEE.
SENATOR.
>> READY TO MOVE THE BILL WHEN THE TIME'S RIGHT.
THAT SOUNDS.
I DO HAVE ONE QUESTION.
DID YOU DID YOU WRITE THOSE COMMENTS?
DID YOUR STAFF WRITE THOSE
COMMENTS OR DID ARTIFICIAL
INTELLIGENCE WRITE THOSE COMMENTS?
UNLIKE LAST YEAR WITH THE FIRST
BILL THAT WAS WRITTEN BY.
I.
I WAS GOING TO MENTION THE COMPANY NAME,
BUT NEVERTHELESS THIS ONE WAS COMPLETELY WRITTEN BY,
UH, OUR TEAM.
OKAY.
VERY GOOD.
IT'S AUTHENTIC.
OKAY, WELL, THIS BILL SUPPORTS SUPPORT.
I HAVE NO QUESTIONS MYSELF.
SO IF YOU'D LIKE TO CLOSE.
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOUR.
I VOTE WHEN APPROPRIATE.
THANK YOU.
SIR.
STAFF.
FIND YOUR FIND YOUR AUTHORS AND GET THEM DOWN.
OH, I SEE AN AUTHOR RIGHT OVER THERE.
I'M NO LONGER CHAIR,
SO I'M NOT GOING TO CALL YOU UP.
HE'S GOING TO HAVE TO CALL YOU UP.
BUT I WOULD GO UP THERE IF I WERE YOU.
SENATOR.
SENATOR NEAL, WELCOME.
YOU HAVE ITEM NUMBER FIVE, SB 1104.
I DO.
WELL GOOD MORNING.
YOU KNOW.
>> I JUST, UH, WITH IT THIS MORNING.
>> UH.
THANK YOU, UH, MR.
CHAIR AND ALL OF THE MEMBERS WHO ARE HERE, UH,
RIGHT NOW, I'D LIKE TO BEGIN BY STATING,
AS SENATOR DODD DID FOR HIS BILL,
THAT I ACCEPT THE SUGGESTED
COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS TO ADD
A TEN YEAR SUNSET CLAUSE.
SB 1104 ESTABLISHES THE OFFICE OF
REGULATORY COUNSEL TO SERVE AS
A CENTRALIZED ENTITY THAT WILL DRAFT
REGULATIONS FOR THE EXECUTIVE
BRANCH AGENCIES IN A SIMILAR MANNER
THAT THE OFFICE OF LEGISLATIVE
COUNSEL DRAFTS LEGISLATION FOR THE LEGISLATURE.
WE'RE ALL AWARE OF THE WORK THAT THE LEGISLATIVE
COUNCIL DOES FOR US IN DRAFTING BILLS.
OVER TIME, DEPUTIES DEVELOP EXPERTISE
IN THEIR RESPECTIVE AREAS
AND PROVIDE THE NECESSARY GUIDANCE
WE RELY ON TO TO PASS STATUTES.
HOWEVER, THERE IS NO SIMILAR OFFICE
FOR THE DRAFTING OF REGULATIONS.
DRAFTING CLEAR REGULATIONS IS REALLY NO EASY
TASK FOR STAFF WHO ARE UNTRAINED TO DO SO,
ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING THAT THERE ARE 6
TO 700 PROPOSED REGULATIONS ANNUALLY.
THE NUMBER ONE REASON WHY
THE OFFICE OF ADMINISTRATIVE
LAW REJECTS PROPOSED REGULATIONS IS LACK OF CLARITY.
THIS IS LARGELY BECAUSE MOST OF
THE STAFF OF STATE AGENCIES
ARE NOT TRAINED SPECIFICALLY
IN DRAFTING REGULATIONS.
ESTABLISHING A CENTRALIZED ENTITY
TO WRITE PROPOSED REGULATIONS
FOR STATE DEPARTMENTS WILL REDUCE
MISINTERPRETATION AND ERRORS,
WHILE PROVIDING EASIER COMPLIANCE
AND STREAMLINED ENFORCEMENT.
WE ARE ATTEMPTING TO HELP THE EXECUTIVE
BRANCH WITH THIS MEASURE.
I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE CHRIS MICHELI,
WHO PROPOSED SUCH AN IDEA IN
AN ARTICLE THAT I READ ABOUT,
WHICH WAS THE IMPETUS FOR THIS BILL.
AND MICHAEL MILLER WITH THE CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION
OF WINE GRAPE GROWERS HERE TO TESTIFY.
GOOD MORNING.
>> IS IT ON?
GOOD MORNING, MR.
CHAIR CHRIS MCHALE, ON BEHALF OF THE LOS
ANGELES AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE,
IN SUPPORT OF THE MEASURE,
I THINK THE AUTHOR EXPRESSED THE MAIN REASONS FOR
HAVING SUCH AN OFFICE OF REGULATORY COUNSEL.
TWO QUESTIONS I KNOW THAT HAVE BEEN RAISED
INCLUDE WHY IN THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE?
UM, WHILE WE HAVE A WHAT WE
CALL A PLURAL EXECUTIVE IN
A NUMBER OF INDEPENDENT AGENCIES,
THOSE 200 PLUS, UH,
RULE MAKING ENTITIES IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
ARE PRIMARILY LINE AGENCIES,
MEANING THEY ARE REPORTABLE
TO THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE.
SO SORT OF LIKE WE HAVE GO-BIZ
AND THE OFFICE OF TRIBAL ADVISOR.
IT'S MOST APPROPRIATE, SINCE MOST REGULATIONS
ARE DRAFTED BY THOSE LINE
AGENCIES FOR THIS OFFICE TO BE HOUSED
IN THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE.
THE SECOND QUESTION IS, IS, YOU KNOW,
POTENTIAL FUNDING OR IMPACT OF IT?
CANDIDLY, IT PROBABLY WOULDN'T TAKE
MORE THAN A HANDFUL OF ATTORNEYS
TO DRAFT THOSE 5 TO 600 REGULATIONS
EACH AND EVERY YEAR.
AND HOPEFULLY WE WOULD HAVE THAT CADRE OF
LAWYERS ALREADY IN STATE GOVERNMENT.
YOU COULD SIMPLY MOVE THOSE INDIVIDUALS OVER
TO THAT OFFICE OF REGULATORY COUNSEL.
THANK YOU.
SPEAKER.
>> GOOD MORNING.
GOOD MORNING, CHAIR MEMBERS I'M MICHAEL MILLER,
CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF WINE GRAPE GROWERS.
I'LL TRY TO BE BRIEF.
SIR NEIL HAS MADE A GOOD CASE
FOR WHY WE NEED THIS BILL.
AND I ECHO THE COMMENTS FROM CHRIS MICHELI.
IN SHORT, WHEN WE WORK WITH AGENCIES ON REGULATIONS,
WE ALWAYS WANT REGULATIONS THAT ARE CLEAR
ON THEIR FACE THAT ARE UNDERSTANDABLE,
THAT DON'T CONFLICT WITH OTHER
LAWS AND THAT ARE WORKABLE,
SOMETHING THAT THAT WE COULD
ACTUALLY WORK WITH AND MAKE
IT ACCOMPLISH THE GOAL OF THE OF THE REGULATION.
ONE OF THEM WAS FRUSTRATING EXPERIENCES
IS WHEN A REGULATION
IS PROPOSED AND THE AGENCY SAYS IT DOES X, Y, Z.
AND THEN WE SIT DOWN WITH LAWYERS
AND WE GET THE LAWYERS
WITH THEM AND THEY SAY, NO, IT ACTUALLY DOES A,
B, C BECAUSE OF THESE OTHER PROVISIONS OF LAW THAT
IT CONFLICTS WITH AND HOW IT ALL FITS TOGETHER.
WE BELIEVE THAT IF YOU HAVE THIS
OFFICE CREATED BY THIS BILL,
THAT THOSE KINDS OF LEGAL ISSUES CAN
BE RESOLVED BECAUSE WE'RE NOT
ACTUALLY TALKING ABOUT THE
THE POLICY PROPOSED BY REGULATION,
BUT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HOW IT'S DRAFTED,
WHAT IT DOES IN LAW,
AND HOW IT WORKS WITH OTHER LAWS.
IMAGINE IF YOU DIDN'T HAVE
THE OFFICE OF LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL.
SOMEONE COMES TO YOU WITH A BILL IDEA AND YOU
DON'T HAVE THE LAWYERS TO WRITE IT UP.
SO YOU WRITE IT UP YOURSELF.
YOU PUT IT IN THE PLACE OF LAW
THAT YOU THINK WORKS BEST,
AND THEN YOU GO TO COMMITTEE AND YOU FIND OUT,
OH, ACTUALLY, IT CONFLICTS WITH
OTHER PROVISIONS OF THE LAW.
AND YOU LEARN THAT IN THE COMMITTEE PROCESS.
THE PROBLEM WITH THE REGULATORY PROCESS RIGHT NOW IS
THAT THEY DON'T HAVE THE LAWYERS OUTSIDE INDEPENDENT
LAWYERS AND DON'T HAVE THE INDEPENDENT COMMITTEE
ANALYSIS THAT YOU HAVE IN THE LEGISLATURE.
AND THAT'S WHY WE HAVE SO MANY
CONFLICTING REGULATIONS THAT
WE THINK THAT THIS BILL WILL HELP ADDRESS AND AVOID.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
THANK YOU.
ANY OTHER WITNESSES IN SUPPORT,
PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND YOUR ORGANIZATION.
PLEASE.
>> MR.
CHAIR MEMBERS.
CONDITIONING CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION.
WE SUPPORT THIS BILL.
THANK THE AUTHOR.
WE SEE THIS AS THE GOOD GOVERNANCE BILL OF 2024.
IT'S SO NEEDED.
AND WE SEE COST SAVINGS AT THE END
OF THE DAY BECAUSE IF YOU CAN.
FORM INTERPRETATION OF LAW.
AND WRITING THIS, YOU'RE GOING TO SAVE ALL THESE
ATTORNEYS AND ALL THESE DIFFERENT AGENCIES.
YOU'RE GOING TO ACTUALLY HAVE A COST SAVINGS.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
DIDN'T YOU HEAR ME, DENNIS?
>> I'LL BE ON BEHALF OF THE FAMILY
BUSINESS ASSOCIATION.
NOW, THAT'S THE WAY IT'S DONE.
>> WE SUPPORT.
YOU'RE A PRO.
WELL, HE.
OKAY.
ANYBODY ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT?
ANYBODY WISHING TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION?
SEEING NONE, WE'LL TURN IT BACK TO,
UH, COMMITTEE HERE.
WELL, SENATOR WILK.
YEAH, I'D LOVE TO MAKE A COUPLE COMMENTS.
SO IN A IN A PREVIOUS LIFE,
I RAN A TRADE ASSOCIATION
AND WE WORKED SO HARD TO GET THE LEGISLATION PASSED.
AND THEN WHEN THE REGULATIONS CAME OUT,
THAT'S NOT WHAT THE BILL WAS SUPPOSED TO DO.
SO I THINK THIS IS A GREAT IDEA.
I ALSO THE CHANCELLOR OF MY LOCAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE,
I USED TO BE A BOARD MEMBER OF.
SHE HAS A WHOLE POWERPOINT PRESENTATION
ON CONFLICTING
REGULATIONS FOR COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICTS.
SO THEY DO ALL KINDS OF STUFF THAT'S
IN VIOLATION OF OTHER PROVISIONS.
AND IT'S JUST ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS.
AND I DON'T KNOW WHY WE HAVEN'T DONE THIS SOONER.
I GUESS IT TOOK A COMMON SENSE CPA TO COME
TO THE LEGISLATURE TO CLEAN OUR MESS UP.
SO AS WELL.
AS AS WELL AS PROFESSOR MICHELI.
AND SINCE I JUST FOUND OUT, OBVIOUSLY MR.
WALKER DIDN'T READ ALL MY BILLS.
SO I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS THE TOP
GOOD GOVERNANCE BILL OF THE YEAR,
BUT I WOULD LOVE TO BE ADDED AS A CO-AUTHOR
IF IT GETS AMENDED ALONG THE WAY.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
ANYBODY ELSE?
NO.
I THANK YOU FOR THE CONVERSATION
AND CLARIFICATION.
I GUESS MY QUESTION IS, UM,
KIND OF FOLLOWING UP ON YOUR POINT,
SENATOR WILK, WHY WASN'T THIS DONE SOONER?
AND WHAT HAVE WE BEEN DOING?
WELL, I'M JUST A FRESHMAN, RIGHT?
SO, SO WITH AND.
LAWYER WITHOUT.
HISTORY, I DON'T KNOW.
BUT WHEN I READ THIS IN A NEWSLETTER THAT MR.
MICHELI HAD SEVERAL MONTHS AGO,
MY CHIEF OF STAFF AND I WERE
TALKING ABOUT IT AND WONDERING THE VERY SAME THING.
IT IT REALLY MAKES COMPLETE SENSE.
NOW, UM, THE GOVERNOR HAS SHOWN
A RETICENCE TO SIGN BILLS WHERE
THE LEGISLATURE KIND OF IS DICTATING
TO THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH.
I, I'M HOPING HE DOESN'T VIEW THIS THIS WAY,
BECAUSE I THINK IT'S MAKING
THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH MORE EFFICIENT
AND MORE EFFECTIVE, BOTH.
BUT I WOULD AGREE WITH THE IMPLICATION OF
THE QUESTION AND WHAT SENATOR WILK SAID.
I HAVE NO IDEA WHY THIS HASN'T BEEN DONE BEFORE,
BUT WE CAN FIX IT.
ANYBODY ELSE.
SEEING NONE.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO CLOSE?
WHEN?
AND WE'LL VOTE WHEN WE GET A QUORUM.
I ASK FOR AN EYE VOTE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SENATOR.
AND MR.
CHAIR, I'M HAPPY TO MOVE
THE BILL WHEN IT'S APPROPRIATE.
OKAY.
THANK YOU.
WILL YOU HAVE A BILL?
GREAT.
OR IS IT?
I DON'T.
>> GOOD MORNING.
OH SO WE'RE GOING TO MOVE TO ITEM NUMBER 16.
THAT'S SB 1088.
GOOD MORNING SENATOR ALVARADO GIL.
PLEASE PROCEED WHEN YOU'RE READY.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, MR.
CHAIR.
UM, I'M HERE TO PRESENT SENATE BILL 1088.
THIS BILL WOULD ESTABLISH THE RURAL
AND SMALL COMMUNITY FISH RESILIENCE
PROGRAM WITHIN THE GOVERNOR'S
OFFICE OF EMERGENCY SERVICES.
THIS PROGRAM WILL WORK IN COORDINATION WITH
THE DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES,
THE STATE WATER RESOURCES CONTROL BOARD,
AND THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL TO DEVELOP A SYSTEM
FOR THE DISTRIBUTION OF STATE MATCHING
FUNDS TO COMMUNITIES WITHIN THE WILDLAND
WILDLAND URBAN INTERFACE OR THE WUI.
THE WILDLAND URBAN INTERFACE
IS IN LINE IS THE LINE AREA,
OR ZONE WHERE THE STRUCTURES AND OTHER
HUMAN DEVELOPMENT MEET OR INTERMINGLE
WITH UNDER UNDERDEVELOPED WILDLAND
OR VEGETATIVE FUELS.
CALIFORNIA'S RURAL COMMUNITIES HAVE BEEN GROUND
ZERO FOR LARGE SCALE ENVIRONMENTAL
AND ECONOMIC DEVASTATION DURING THE PAST
DECADE OR TWO DUE TO THESE WILDFIRES.
AGING INFRASTRUCTURES COMBINED
WITH INSUFFICIENT RESOURCES
TO PREPARE FOR ADEQUATE WILDFIRE RESPONSE,
HAS LEFT MANY OF THE RURAL COMMUNITIES AT
RISK FOR FURTHER UNCHECKED FIRE ACTIVITY.
COMMUNITIES IN THE TAHOE BASIN IN MY
DISTRICT SERVE AS A PRIME EXAMPLE,
WHERE MOST OF THE WATER SYSTEMS
WERE DEVELOPED BETWEEN
1930 TO 1950 TO SERVE ONLY SEASONAL CABINS.
SIGNIFICANT PORTIONS OF THE BASIN ARE STILL SERVED
BY A PATCHWORK OF SMALL AND GEOGRAPHICALLY
ISOLATED WATER SYSTEMS THAT LACK
THE CAPACITY TO COMBAT WILDFIRES.
SENATE BILL 1088 WOULD PROVIDE MORE STATE
MATCHING FUNDS FOR WILDFIRE DEFENSE,
IMPROVE OUR WATER INFRASTRUCTURE,
AND PROTECT OUR RURAL COMMUNITIES.
HERE TO TESTIFY IN SUPPORT IS JUSTIN BROGLIO WITH
THE NORTH TAHOE PUBLIC UTILITY DISTRICT.
GOOD MORNING.
>> GOOD MORNING.
THANK YOU.
SENATOR.
JUSTIN BROGLIO, ON BEHALF OF THE TAHOE
WATER FOR FIRE SUPPRESSION PARTNERSHIP
AND THE NORTH TAHOE PUBLIC UTILITY DISTRICT,
I THINK, SENATOR, SENATE.
WELL, THIS BILL CREATES AN AVENUE FOR CALIFORNIA'S
RURAL WATER PROVIDERS TO SEEK MATCHING
FUNDS FOR CRITICAL WATER SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS
TO PROTECT OUR COMMUNITIES.
IT'S IN THESE COMMUNITIES WHERE
OUR FIRST RESPONDERS,
AND OFTEN OUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS,
TAKE ON THE FIREFIGHT WITH LOCAL
KNOWLEDGE AND LOCAL RESOURCES.
THOSE RESOURCES INCLUDE SMALL
MUNICIPAL WATER SUPPLIES.
IT'S IN THESE COMMUNITIES WHERE OUR WATER PROVIDERS
ARE ALSO SIGNIFICANTLY CHALLENGED WITH OUTDATED,
UNDERSIZED AND UNDER BUILT WATER SYSTEMS.
UM, IN CALIFORNIA, THERE ARE NUMEROUS
PROGRAMS HELPING WUI COMMUNITIES FUND
FOREST HEALTH PROJECTS AND SUPPORTING
HOMEOWNERS WITH DEFENSIBLE SPACE.
HOWEVER, THERE ARE NO SUCH FUNDING
PROGRAMS FOR PROJECTS
THAT IMPROVE WATER INFRASTRUCTURE
FOR FIRE SUPPRESSION.
ADDITIONALLY, THE SMALL RATE BASES OF OUR
RURAL COMMUNITIES MAKE IT IMPOSSIBLE
TO FINANCE THESE PROJECTS WITH RATES
ALONE AND ADDITIONAL RESOURCES.
UM, AND THEN SENATE BILL 28 WOULD ALSO ALLOW
WUI COMMUNITIES DESIGNATED IN HIGH
AND VERY HIGH FIRE HAZARD SEVERITY ZONES
TO SEEK THESE FUNDS SPECIFICALLY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THANK YOU.
ANYBODY ELSE WISHING TO TESTIFY
IN SUPPORT OF SB 1088?
GOOD MORNING, STEVE WALSH, ON BEHALF OF
THE CALIFORNIA TOWER ALLIANCE HERE
IN SUPPORT OF THE BILL AND URGE YOU,
URGE YOU TO VOTE, I THANK YOU.
>> GOOD MORNING, DYLAN FINLEY,
ON BEHALF OF THE SIERRA CONSORTIUM AND SUPPORT.
THANK YOU.
ANYBODY WISHING TO TESTIFY IN
OPPOSITION TO THIS BILL.
SEEING NONE, WE'LL BRING IT BACK TO THE COMMITTEE.
ANY QUESTIONS?
COMMENTS?
SEEING NONE.
WHEN WE HAVE A QUORUM, WE WILL VOTE.
BUT WOULD YOU LIKE TO CLOSE?
THANK YOU.
I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT THAT BECAUSE
WE ARE IN A DEFICIT YEAR.
SENATE BILL 1088 IS CONTINGENT
ON FUNDING BEING APPROPRIATED
PURSUANT TO A BOND MEASURE ON THE NOVEMBER BALLOT.
THE MEASURE IS SENATE BILL 867,
AUTHORED BY OUR COLLEAGUE IN SANTA MONICA.
IN THAT BOND, THERE IS FUND FUNDING
DEDICATED TO THIS TYPE OF PROGRAM.
SO MY BILL IS CODIFYING THIS PROGRAM TO
DISTRIBUTE THOSE STATE MATCHING FUNDS.
AND WHEN APPROPRIATE, I WOULD ASK FOR AN I VOTE.
THANK YOU SENATOR.
OKAY.
WE'RE GOING TO MOVE TO ITEM NUMBER EIGHT.
THAT WOULD BE SB 1325.
SENATOR BARRASSO.
OVER HERE.
THROUGH HERE.
GOOD MORNING.
PLEASE PROCEED WHEN YOU'RE READY.
>> GREAT.
>> GET YOUR BREATH.
>> OKAY.
UH, THANK YOU, MR.
CHAIR.
AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE.
SB 1325 SIMPLIFIES THE PUBLIC CONTRACTING
PROCESS FOR STATE AND LOCAL AGENCIES
BY CREATING AN AUTHORIZING STATUTE
FOR BEST VALUE PROCUREMENT.
THE LEGISLATURE HAS FREQUENTLY AUTHORIZED
THE USE OF BEST VALUE PROCUREMENT,
BUT ON AN AD HOC BASIS FOR SPECIFIC
ENTITIES AND CONTEXTS.
THIS CAUSES CONFUSION AND ADMINISTRATIVE BURDEN.
SOME AGENCIES HAVE EXPLICIT PERMISSION TO UTILIZE
BEST VALUE PROCUREMENT, WHILE OTHERS DO NOT,
AND SOME HAVE AUTHORIZATION, BUT ONLY
UNDER SPECIFIC CIRCUMSTANCES.
IN OUR BUDGET SUB FIVE HEARING LAST MONTH,
CALTRANS COMMENTED THEY REALLY
LIKED THE BEST VALUE METHOD.
IT ENSURES QUALITY OF THE PRODUCT
AS WELL AS QUALITY OF THE JOBS.
THE AD HOC CONTRACTING AUTHORITY,
WHICH IS OFTEN DONE IN VERY DIFFERENT
SECTIONS OF STATE CODE,
MAKES IT DIFFICULT FOR AGENCIES
TO UNDERSTAND IF THEY HAVE
THE AUTHORITY TO ADOPT BEST
VALUE PROCUREMENT MODELS.
SB 1325 EMPOWERS CITY STATES AND PUBLIC AGENCIES
TO USE OUR PUBLIC AUTHORITY, OUR DOLLARS,
TO CREATE QUALITY PRODUCTS AND QUALITY JOBS
WHILE ADVANCING EQUITY IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
THANK YOU.
TODAY, I HAVE ELMAR LIZARDI FROM THE CALIFORNIA
LABOR FEDERATION HERE TO TESTIFY.
TO AN HOUR.
WAIT.
COULD YOU EXCUSE ME?
WE'RE GOING TO ESTABLISH A QUORUM RIGHT NOW,
IF THAT'S OKAY.
MADAM SECRETARY, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
DODD.
>> HERE.
DODD.
HERE.
WILKE.
PRESENT.
WILKE, PRESENT.
ALVARADO.
GIL.
HERE.
ALVARADO.
GIL.
HERE.
ARCHULETA.
ASHBY.
BRADFORD.
GLASER.
JONES.
WIN.
HERE.
OKUBO.
SO ABOUT.
YOU'RE HERE.
>> OH, HERE.
SORRY, I TROBO HERE.
PADILLA HERE.
PORTANTINO HERE.
ROTH.
RUBIO.
PRESENT.
RUBIO.
PRESENT.
SALADO.
SMALLWOOD.
CUEVAS.
SMALLWOOD.
CUEVAS.
HERE.
PERFECT.
WE HAVE A QUORUM.
PLEASE PROCEED.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
WE'RE SPEAKING NOW IN SUPPORT OF SB 1325.
>> GOOD MORNING, CHAIR AND MEMBERS.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
MY NAME IS ELMER LAZARD.
I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF THE CALIFORNIA
LABOR FEDERATION.
FIRST, WE WANT TO THANK SENATOR
DURAZO FOR BRINGING FORTH
SB 1325 AND FOR CATALYZING MANY OF THE CONVERSATIONS
ABOUT LABOR STANDARDS THAT WE ARE CURRENTLY
HAVING IN THE LEGISLATURE,
INCLUDING THIS ONE.
UM, THE CALIFORNIA LABOR FEDERATION
SUPPORTS EFFORTS TO
ENSURE THAT CALIFORNIA IS MAXIMIZING PUBLIC DOLLARS
BY MAKING SURE THAT WE CAN CREATE HIGH QUALITY,
GOOD PAYING JOBS THAT BENEFIT OUR COMMUNITIES.
BY AUTHORIZING STATE AND LOCAL AGENCIES TO UTILIZE
THE BEST VALUE PROCUREMENT METHODS,
WE CAN ALLOW AGENCIES TO ADDITIONALLY CONSIDER
IMPORTANT FACTORS SUCH AS COMMUNITY BENEFITS,
LABOR AND WORKFORCE BENEFITS,
AND ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS TO ASSESS
THE PROCUREMENT IMPACTS
MORE ACCURATELY AND TO ACHIEVE MORE EQUITABLE
OUTCOMES IN THE BID PROCESS.
UM, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL BE
INVESTING BILLIONS OF DOLLARS
IN CLIMATE AND INFRASTRUCTURE
PROJECTS IN CALIFORNIA,
AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT
THE JOBS THAT WE ARE CREATING WITH
THESE INVESTMENTS ARE HIGH QUALITY,
WELL-PAYING AND SAFE.
UM, WITHOUT ANY INTERVENTION,
WE RISK SPENDING THESE PUBLIC DOLLARS ON LOW
WAGE AND DIRTY JOBS WITH MEANINGFUL,
MINIMAL BENEFITS TO COMMUNITIES.
AND WHEN WE ONLY ALLOW FOR OTHER BIDDING
OPTIONS LIKE LOWEST RESPONSIBLE BIDDER,
WE OFTEN SEE THAT THIS IS THE STATUS QUO.
UM, SITUATIONS WHERE COMPANIES
ARE COMPETING TO OFFER
THE CHEAPEST BIDS AT THE EXPENSE
OF WORKERS AND COMMUNITIES.
UM.
WE ALSO KNOW THAT WITHOUT CLEAR AUTHORITY,
LIKE THE SENATOR HAS MENTIONED,
MANY AGENCIES ARE UNSURE WHETHER THEY
CAN UTILIZE THIS METHODOLOGY.
AND THIS CONFUSION IS LIMITING OUR AGENCIES,
ESPECIALLY WHEN WE KNOW THAT BEST VALUE PROCUREMENT
HAS ALREADY PROVEN TO SUCCESSFULLY BENEFIT WORKERS
WHILE PRODUCING HIGH QUALITY PRODUCTS.
BY SIMPLY GIVING AGENCIES THE AUTHORITY TO UTILIZE
BEST VALUE PROCUREMENT WHEN AWARDING CONTRACTS,
SB 1325 WILL HELP AGENCIES ADVANCE EQUITY
ACROSS THE BOARD WHILE MAXIMIZING
PUBLIC FUNDS AT A HISTORIC MOMENT IN CLIMATE
AND INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT.
FOR THOSE REASONS, WE ARE IN STRONG SUPPORT
AND WE URGE YOUR VOTE TODAY.
THANK YOU.
>> CHRIS ROSE ON BEHALF OF NRDC ACTION FUND IN SUPPORT.
THANK YOU.
ANYBODY ELSE IN SUPPORT?
ANYBODY IN THE ROOM IN OPPOSITION.
OKAY.
WE'RE GOING TO BRING IT BACK TO THE COMMITTEE.
ANYBODY WISHING TO COMMENT OR
QUESTION SENATOR CHOCOBO?
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SENATOR OR MR.
CHAIR.
UM, A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS ON THIS PARTICULAR
IS GREAT THAT YOU FOLKS WANT TO,
UM, INCLUDE, UM, UH,
BEST PRACTICES AND SO FORTH ON ON THAT END.
NOW, IS THIS BILL IN LIEU OF HAVING SEPARATE
BILLS WITH PROJECT LABOR AGREEMENTS,
INSTITUTING THIS IS JUST MAKING
THIS PRETTY MUCH A STANDARD IN,
UM, IN, IN THE STATE TO HAVE LABOR, UM, BASED,
UH, COMPANIES BE ABLE TO BID ON JOBS.
THE QUESTION I'LL LET YOU ANSWER THAT,
AND THEN I'LL CONTINUE WITH MY
FOLLOWING QUESTION ON THAT.
WELL, FIRST OF ALL, THIS ONLY ALLOWS STATE AGENCIES
TO USE THE BEST VALUE PROCUREMENT MODEL.
IT DOESN'T REQUIRE.
AND BY ALLOWING IT THEN
THE AGENCIES KNOW THAT IF IT'S
BROUGHT BEFORE THEM AS A WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO DO,
THEN THEY HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO DO THAT,
BUT THEY'RE NOT REQUIRED TO DO IT.
AND WHAT THEY DO, THE LOCAL AGENCIES DECIDE
WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT FACTORS
THAT THEY WANT TO INCLUDE IN DECIDING
WHO TO AWARD THE CONTRACT TO.
AND SO THEY HAVE THAT FLEXIBILITY.
THEY DON'T HAVE TO DO THE LOWEST BIDDER
AS THE ONLY WAY THEY HAVE OPTIONS.
THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO INCLUDE
MANY FACTORS QUALITY
OF THE OF THE PRODUCT, THE QUALITY OF THE COMPANY.
THERE'S THERE'S MANY DIFFERENT THINGS THAT THEY
COULD INCLUDE IN MAKING THAT DECISION.
BUT RIGHT NOW WE JUST WANT TO GIVE
THEM THE AUTHORITY THAT ALLOWS
THEM TO USE THE BEST VALUE PROCUREMENT
ON A STATE WIDE BASIS.
OKAY.
AND THEN I WAS KIND OF CURIOUS IF THROUGH THE CHAIR,
IF I MAY ASK, UM,
A DEFINITION OF WHAT DIRTY JOBS ENTAIL.
UM, IT WAS A, A DESCRIPTION THAT WAS,
WAS GIVEN THAT IF WE DON'T PURSUE
THIS PARTICULAR MODEL,
WE'RE SUBJECT TO DIRTY JOBS.
YOU WANT TO.
UH, SENATOR, I WAS SAYING THAT IN OPPOSITION
TO THE CLEAN JOBS THAT WE HAVE SEEN,
UM, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND
THE STATE WANTING TO PUT FORWARD.
I'M SORRY.
ONE MORE TIME.
YEAH, I WAS SAYING THAT IN, UM,
CONTRAST TO THE CLEAN JOBS THAT THE STATE
HAS BEEN SAYING THAT THEY WANT TO
MOVE FORWARD AND TO ADVOCATE FOR.
OKAY.
YEAH.
OKAY.
THANK YOU.
SENATOR, ANY ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?
SENATOR RUBIO?
>> THANK YOU, MR.
CHAIR.
UM, I UNDERSTAND WHY YOU'RE BRINGING THIS FORWARD.
AND I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, AS A LOCAL COUNCIL
MEMBER FOR MANY YEARS, I, YOU KNOW,
WE WERE CAUGHT SOMETIMES TRYING TO FIGURE
OUT WHAT WAS BEST FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
UM, FOR EXAMPLE, SOMETIMES WE'VE
HAD COMPANIES THAT WERE
FROM THE COMMUNITY THAT LIVED IN OUR COMMUNITY.
THE JOBS WERE FROM OUR COMMUNITY,
BUT WE COULDN'T NECESSARILY PICK
THAT PARTICULAR COMPANY BECAUSE
IT WASN'T THE LOWEST BID.
BUT YET, SOMETIMES YOU WANT TO HIRE WITHIN.
TO ME, IT'S ABOUT GIVING OPTIONS,
NOT NECESSARILY MANDATING,
BUT THAT SHOULD BE UP TO THAT COMMUNITY
TO DECIDE IF THEY CAN BRING MORE VALUE,
LIKE LOCAL HIRE AND JUST OTHER THINGS THAT
REALLY HELP A COMMUNITY, UH, MOVE FORWARD.
SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO GIVE
THAT FLEXIBILITY AND ALLOW
AT LEAST GIVE CLARITY IN TERMS OF WHAT THEY CAN DO.
AND AGAIN, I KNOW THAT THERE'S WAYS
OF BRINGING SO MUCH LOCAL VALUE
IN TERMS OF GOOD PAYING JOBS,
IN TERMS OF LOCAL HIRE PROVISIONS.
I MEAN, THERE'S SO MUCH WE CAN DO.
AND I THINK THAT WHAT YOU'RE DOING IS,
IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE SOMETIMES AS LOCAL ELECTEDS
OR STATE ELECTEDS HANDS ARE TIED IN TERMS
OF WHAT YOU CAN PICK BASED ON THE VALUE.
SO I DO APPRECIATE THAT.
AND WHEN APPROPRIATE, I'LL MOVE THE BILL FORWARD.
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
SENATOR SMALLWOOD.
CUEVAS, I AGREE WITH, UH, MY COLLEAGUE, UM, RUBIO.
AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BRINGING THIS BILL.
I THINK IN THIS MOMENT TO HAVE REALLY
TOUGH FINANCE AND BUDGETING,
BOTH LOCAL COUNTY, UM, AND STATE AGENCIES,
WE'VE GOT TO HAVE OPTIONS TO FIGURE
OUT HOW WE CAN USE DOLLARS,
PARTICULARLY PUBLIC DOLLARS, AS MULTIPLIERS.
UM, THIS OPTION ALLOWS A JURISDICTION TO REALLY
THINK ABOUT THE NEEDS AND TO BE VERY SPECIFIC.
I REMEMBER, UM, WORKING IN COMMUNITY WHERE
WE WERE REDEVELOPING A HOSPITAL
AND THINKING ABOUT THE MODEL FOR, FOR,
FOR WHAT THAT COULD LOOK LIKE.
AND ONE OF THE, UM, UH,
ONE OF THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO
HAD BEEN PART OF DEVELOPING A HOSPITAL MAYBE 5 OR
10 YEARS BEFORE THAT TALKED ABOUT HOW WHEN HE DROVE
THROUGH THE PARKING LOT OF THAT CONSTRUCTION SITE,
THEY WERE ALL NEVADA AND ARIZONA, UH,
LICENSE PLATES ON THOSE VEHICLES WHO WERE
DOING THAT WORK AND WHAT IT FELT LIKE
TO BE A CONSTRUCTION WORKER IN L.A.
COUNTY AND NOT BE ABLE TO TO
BUILD THE HOSPITAL BECAUSE
OUT OF STATE FOLKS WERE ACTUALLY
BUILDING THE HOSPITAL.
SO I THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS
FORWARD AND LOOK FORWARD
TO MOVING THE BILL WHEN THE TIME IS RIGHT,
AND IT LOOKS LIKE THE TIME IS RIGHT.
>> MR.
CHAIR.
THE TIME IS RIGHT.
UNFORTUNATELY FOR YOU,
SENATOR RUBIO HAS ALREADY REQUESTED THAT.
SO I'M GOING TO RECOGNIZE THAT.
BUT APPRECIATE YOU NEVERTHELESS.
CLOSE SECOND.
UH, BUT I WANT TO LET THE AUTHOR, UH, CLOSE I.
I APPRECIATE ALL OF THE COMMENTS
AND I HOPE I ANSWERED
YOUR QUESTIONS AND I RESPECTFULLY
ASK FOR AN I VOTE.
OKAY.
UH, SO WE HAVE A MOTION.
SECRETARY, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
SB 1325 MOTION IS DUE.
PASS TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE.
DODD I DODD I.
WILK.
NO.
WILK.
NO.
ALVARADO.
GIL.
HI.
ALVARADO.
GIL I.
ARCHULETA.
ASHBY.
BRADFORD.
GLAZER.
JONES.
NGUYEN.
NO.
NGUYEN.
NO.
OKUBO.
NO.
OKUBO.
NO.
PADILLA I.
PADILLA I PORTENTINO I FLORENTINO I.
ROTH.
RUBIO I RUBIO I.
SATO.
SMALLWOOD.
CUEVAS I SMALLWOOD.
CUEVAS I.
TO THREE.
6 TO 3.
UH, WE'LL LEAVE THE ROLE OPEN.
AND, UH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SENATOR.
THANK YOU, MR.
CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS.
SO WE ARE GOING TO MOVE TO ITEM NUMBER NINE,
SB 1220, SENATOR LIMON.
>> ARE YOU BACK?
THANK YOU, CHAIR AND SENATORS, I WANT TO.
NOPE.
NOT YET.
BEFORE YOU STARTED, WE WANT TO REMIND
THE MEMBERS THAT THE ANALYSIS YOU HAVE
IN FRONT OF YOU REFLECTS THE AMENDMENTS
THAT THE AUTHOR HAS AGREED TO.
YOU SHOULD ALL HAVE A COPY, BUT JUST IN CASE COPIES
ARE BEING DISTRIBUTED WITH THAT SENATOR,
FEEL FREE TO BEGIN.
THANK YOU.
CHAIR.
AND I DO WANT TO START BY ACCEPTING
THE COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS AS AMENDED.
THIS BILL WOULD PROTECT THE QUALITY OF PUBLIC
SERVICES BY REQUIRING HUMAN WORKERS TO REMAIN
IN CALL CENTERS FOR GOVERNMENT BENEFIT PROGRAMS,
INSTEAD OF BEING OUTSOURCED BY I.
THESE CALL CENTERS SERVE OUR MOST
VULNERABLE CALIFORNIANS,
ENROLLING IN PROGRAMS LIKE CALWORKS,
MEDI-CAL, HEALTHY FAMILIES, AND COVERED CALIFORNIA.
WHEN PEOPLE ENROLLING IN THESE
PROGRAMS RUN INTO BARRIERS,
THEY ARE LESS LIKELY TO SIGN UP,
WHICH IS WHY WE BELIEVE THAT HAVING INDIVIDUALS
AT CALL CENTERS IS ESSENTIAL
TO CONNECTING RESIDENTS IN OUR COMMUNITY
TO CRITICAL SERVICES.
THIS BILL WOULD ENSURE THAT THERE
IS NO THAT THERE IS HUMAN
ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE WHEN PEOPLE
CALL TO RECEIVE HELP.
OUR INTENT IS NOT TO PRECLUDE AI FROM
BEING USED AS A TOOL TO ASSIST.
FINDING THE PERFECT LINE BETWEEN
PROTECTING WORKERS AND NOT
STIFLING INNOVATION TAKES SOME
WORK AND CONVERSATIONS,
AND I COMMIT TO CONTINUE WORKING
WITH THE CHAIR AND THE COMMITTEE
TO FIND THE RIGHT DEFINITION OF CORE JOB FUNCTION.
WITH ME TODAY IN SUPPORT,
I HAVE YVONNE FERNANDEZ WITH
THE LABOR FEDERATION AND KIMBERLY
ROSENBERG WITH SEIU.
>> GOOD MORNING.
GOOD MORNING.
THANK YOU.
CHAIR DODD AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE,
YVONNE FERNANDEZ WITH THE CALIFORNIA
LABOR FEDERATION,
CO-SPONSOR OF SB 1220,
A BILL THAT WILL PROTECT CALL CENTER WORKERS
AND THE PUBLIC BY PUTTING GUARDRAILS
ON THE USE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
AT PUBLIC CALL CENTERS.
THE EXPONENTIAL GROWTH OF AI WILL IMPACT EVERY
INDUSTRY AND WORKER ACROSS CALIFORNIA.
AI CAN BE A VERY PRODUCTIVE TOOL
WHEN USED TO SUPPORT WORKERS,
NOT WHEN IT'S USED TO REPLACE,
CONTROL, OR ELIMINATE THEIR JOBS WITHOUT
WORKER CENTERED GUARDRAILS PUT IN PLACE.
I CAN UNFORTUNATELY BE USED TO EXPLOIT
DE-SKILL AND REPLACE WORKERS,
HARMING NOT ONLY THE WORKERS OF THE STATE,
BUT ALSO RESIDENTS OVERALL.
SB 1220 DOES NOT BAN THE USE
OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE,
BUT RATHER ENSURES WORKERS ARE TRULY AT THE CENTER
OF THE PROCUREMENT AND DEPLOYMENT
OF AI IN THE WORKPLACE,
AS AMENDED AS THE SENATOR REFERENCED.
SB 1220 HAS TWO MAIN PROVISIONS.
FIRST, SB 1220 PROHIBITS THE STATE
AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS FROM
OUTSOURCING PUBLIC BENEFIT CALL
CENTER JOBS TO FIRMS USING
AI TO ELIMINATE THE ESSENTIAL CORE JOB FUNCTION
OF PUBLIC BENEFIT WORKERS UNDER THE BILL,
AS REFERENCED BY THE SENATOR.
PUBLIC BENEFIT PROGRAMS INCLUDE
THOSE SUCH AS CALWORKS,
CALFRESH, EDD, MEDI-CAL,
AND ALSO 211 AND NINE EIGHT MENTAL
HEALTH SERVICES ESSENTIALLY
PROGRAMS THAT SERVE OUR MOST VULNERABLE
CALIFORNIANS WHO SHOULDN'T
ONLY HAVE TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY
TO SPEAK TO AN AI SYSTEM.
SECOND, SB 1220 REQUIRES AN IMPACT
ASSESSMENT REPORT BY BE PRODUCED
BY AN AGENCY THAT UTILIZES AI TO SUPPORT
THEIR CALL CENTER WORKERS.
THE REPORT IS INTENDED TO INCREASE
TRANSPARENCY FOR WORKERS,
AND WOULD INCLUDE INFORMATION SUCH AS ALL
THE INTENDED USES OF THE AI SYSTEM,
AND IT IS CLOSURE OF THE DATA USED TO PRODUCE
THE OUTCOMES FROM THAT SYSTEM.
SB 1220 CREATES GUARDRAILS FOR
WORKERS AND ENSURE AI IS USED
AS A TOOL FOR CALL CENTER WORKERS
TO INCREASE EFFICIENCY,
PRODUCTIVITY, AND EFFECTIVENESS WHEN
RESPONDING TO CALLERS AND SUPPORT.
FOR THESE REASONS, WE RESPECTFULLY ASK
FOR AN AI VOTE WHEN APPROPRIATE.
THANK YOU.
GOOD MORNING.
>> THANK YOU, MR.
CHAIR.
MEMBERS KIMBERLY ROSENBERGER WITH SEIU CALIFORNIA
PROUD TO CO-SPONSOR SB 1220.
CALL CENTRES ARE A RESOURCE FOR THOSE THAT
HAVE ALREADY HIT THEIR BREAKING POINT,
WHETHER IT'S DIFFICULTY NAVIGATING ONLINE TECHNOLOGY
OR THOSE FOR A MYRIAD OF REASONS AGE,
LANGUAGE BARRIERS THAT CANNOT USE ONLINE SERVICES.
SO THEY'RE LOOKING FOR A HUMAN TOUCH.
WE BELIEVE THESE ARE THE CENTERS
THAT WE NEED TO PROTECT
AND MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S A HUMAN
AVAILABLE THAT HAS EMPATHY,
THAT CAN NAVIGATE THOSE NUANCES,
WHICH IS WHY WE'RE PRIORITIZING THOSE PROTECTIONS.
FURTHER.
IT'S CONSISTENT WITH THE HEART OF AB 12 AB 2508,
WHICH WAS PASSED IN 2012.
IT'S JUST EXPANDING IT TO TAKE INTO
CONSIDERATION MODERN TECHNOLOGY.
THERE IS A ROLE FOR TECHNOLOGY IN AI,
BUT WITHOUT WORKERS,
WE HAVE SEEN FIRST HAND THAT ITS
ROLLOUT CAN BE A DISASTER.
FOR INSTANCE, CAL SOARS WHEN
IT WAS FIRST ROLLED OUT,
WAS A CRISIS IN COUNTIES.
WE SAW DELAYS, PEOPLE BEING DROPPED FROM SERVICES,
CASELOADS THAT USUALLY TOOK
A DAY TRIPLING, QUADRUPLING.
UM.
BECAUSE THERE WAS LITTLE WORKER ENGAGEMENT.
THROUGH WORKER ENGAGEMENT AND DIRECT INTERACTION,
WE HAVE HELPED TURN AROUND AND NOW IT'S BEING
EXPANDED TO EVERY COUNTY IN THE STATE.
SO WE DO BELIEVE THAT THERE IS
A BALANCE THAT CAN BE MET THERE,
AND WE THINK THIS BILL IS CONSISTENT WITH THAT.
WE WANT TO SEE TECHNOLOGY HELP
REDUCE CASELOADS WHILE
RETAINING THE HEART OF OUR SERVICES AND OUR CENTERS.
AND FOR THOSE REASONS, WE ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
ANYBODY ELSE WISHING TO TESTIFY IN SUPPORT?
>> GOOD MORNING.
GOOD MORNING, MR.
CHAIRMAN.
MEMBERS.
IGNACIO HERNANDEZ, ON BEHALF OF
THE COMMUNICATION WORKERS OF AMERICA,
DISTRICT NINE, WHICH COVERS CALIFORNIA,
NEVADA AND HAWAII,
IN SUPPORT OF THE BILL AND LOOK FORWARD
TO WORKING WITH THE AUTHOR ON
THE LANGUAGE GOING FORWARD.
THANK YOU.
>> GOOD MORNING SAMANTHA GORDON WITH TECH
EQUITY COLLABORATIVE ALSO IN SUPPORT.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
ANYBODY WISHING TO TESTIFY IN OPPOSITION
TO THIS BILL, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
SEEING NONE, WE'LL TURN TO THE COMMITTEE
AND SEE IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS.
I AM SENATOR WILK.
YEAH, I'VE GOT A COMMENT.
I KNOW IN THE ANALYSIS IT TALKS ABOUT
THIS MIGHT ADD ADDITIONAL COSTS,
BUT FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, IT'S WELL WORTH IT.
I'M OLD, SO I JUST RECENTLY FILED
FOR MY FEDERAL PENSION.
AS YOU KNOW, WE DON'T GET ONE HERE.
UM, AND I WAS DREADING IT.
RIGHT.
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, I GOT A PERSON RIGHT AWAY,
NAVIGATED ME THROUGH THE PROCESS
AND WAS ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH THAT.
AND I THINK IT'S ONE OF OUR OBLIGATIONS TO OUR
CITIZENS IS TO MAKE IT AS EASY AS POSSIBLE.
SO I WILL BE SUPPORTING YOUR BILL TODAY.
>> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, SENATOR RUBIO.
THANK YOU.
I WAS JUST GOING TO SHARE THE SAME THING.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE HUMAN BEINGS BEHIND
THE PHONE WHEN YOU'RE MAKING
SUCH IMPORTANT DECISIONS.
AND ESPECIALLY, YOU KNOW,
PEOPLE ARE CALLING DISTRESSED ALREADY.
UM, SO I WAS JUST GOING TO MOVE
THE BILL WHEN APPROPRIATE.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
ANYBODY ELSE.
SENATOR COBO.
THANK YOU, SENATOR LEHMAN.
THANK YOU, MR.
CHAIR.
SO I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS
FOR CLARITY PURPOSES.
UM, I WAS READING THE THE BILL,
AND THOUGH I UNDERSTAND THE COMPONENT OF THE HUMAN,
UH, TOUCH, PER SE, UM, I'M A PEOPLE PERSON,
SO I HATE, YOU KNOW,
WHEN WHEN I HAVE THESE, UM, COMPUTER,
YOU KNOW, VOICE MESSAGES ANSWERING THE PHONE.
BUT, UM, HOW WOULD THIS PLAY OUT
IF THIS WERE TO MOVE FORWARD?
HOW WOULD THIS PLAY OUT IN INSTANCES SUCH AS.
BECAUSE I'M THINKING OF THE FACT THAT WE WENT
THROUGH THE EDD SCENARIO DURING THE PANDEMIC,
WHERE IT WAS COMPLETELY OVERWHELMED.
WE DID NOT HAVE THE HUMAN, UH,
PERSONNEL OF WORKFORCE TO BE ABLE TO
MEET THE DEMANDS THAT WERE ON EDD,
AND THE SYSTEM BASICALLY BROKE.
AND I'M THINKING IF WE HAD HAD A,
UH, THE ASSISTANCE OF AI PER SE,
TO BE ABLE TO ANSWER AND DIRECT THESE CALLS,
UH, SOMEWHAT, IT WOULD HAVE
BEEN ACTUALLY BENEFICIAL.
SO HOW WOULD THIS PLAY FOR IN CASE OF EMERGENCIES
OR IN CASE OF A DEMAND OR IN
AGENCIES THAT WE JUST DO NOT HAVE
THE WORKFORCE IN PLACE AS WE DO IN MANY,
IN MANY SPACES WITHIN OUR THE, WITHIN THE,
WITHIN THE STATE DEPARTMENTS.
AND IF.
APPROPRIATE, WITH THE CHAIR.
I'M GOING TO ACTUALLY HAVE OUR SPONSORS ANSWER THAT.
THANK YOU.
YEAH.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE QUESTION, SENATOR.
SO WITHIN THIS CURRENT, UH,
LIKE THIS IS IN THE CONTRACT CODE,
THERE ARE CLAUSES WITHIN THIS
CODE SECTION THAT WE ARE
AMENDING THAT ALLOWS FOR THESE EXACT SCENARIOS,
FOR EMERGENCY DISASTERS TO PRECLUDE ANY, UM,
INSTANCES WHERE OUTSOURCING MAY
NOT BE ALLOWED OR AVAILABLE.
SO IF THERE IS AN EMERGENCY, THIS WOULD BE ALLOWED.
SO ONLY DURING EMERGENCIES,
NOT WHEN WE HAVE SHORTFALLS OF WORKFORCE.
UH, WE IT'S CLASSIFIED AS EMERGENCIES.
SO THAT WOULD KIND OF BE DEPENDENT ON,
ON WHAT'S CLASSIFIED AS THAT OKAY.
THANK YOU.
ANYBODY ELSE?
SENATOR.
THANK YOU.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO CLOSE?
UH, MEMBERS, I RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR AN I VOTE.
OKAY.
WE HAVE A MOTION, UM, ON SB 1220.
THE BILL HAS BEEN MOVED BY SENATOR RUBIO.
THE MOTION IS TO PASS, AS AMENDED,
TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE.
SECRETARY, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
I I WILK I WILK I ALVARADO GIL I ALVARADO.
GIL I ARCHULETA.
ASHBY BRADFORD A BRADFORD I GLAZER.
JONES.
GWYN.
OKOBO.
HADIYA.
HADIYA I PORTANTINO.
PORTANTINO I ROTH.
RUBIO.
I RUBIO I SALADO.
SMALLWOOD.
CUEVAS.
SO WE HAVE SEVEN VOTES AND WE'LL PUT THAT ON CALL.
GREAT.
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
SENATOR PADILLA, YOU'VE GOT A COUPLE OF BILLS,
AND I KNOW THAT YOU HAVE A WITNESS
THAT'S READY TO GET ON THE ROAD.
SO WE'RE GOING TO MOVE WHICHEVER BILL
THAT PERSON IS TESTIFYING ON.
IT'S FINE WITH ME.
WHICH BILL IS THAT?
>> THANK YOU, MR.
CHAIRMAN.
WITH YOUR PERMISSION, I'D LIKE TO PRESENT SB 893.
TAKE 14.
ITEM 14, FILE ITEM 14.
THANK YOU.
PLEASE PROCEED.
THANK YOU.
SIR.
MR.
CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE,
I'M HAPPY TO PRESENT SB 893,
THE CALIFORNIA AI RESEARCH HUB.
BEGIN BY THANKING THE STAFF FOR
WORKING WITH US ON THIS BILL.
SB 893 WOULD REQUIRE GOV OPS
AND THE GOV AND GO-BIZ AND
THE DEPARTMENT OF TECHNOLOGY
TO COLLABORATE WITH ACADEMIC
INSTITUTIONS ACROSS THE STATE IN ESTABLISHING
THE CALIFORNIA ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE RESEARCH HUB.
THE AI RESEARCH HUB WOULD FURTHER
RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT,
DEPLOYMENT AND THE APPLICATION OF AI TECHNOLOGY
FOR THE PUBLIC GOOD BY FACILITATING
ACCESS TO COMPUTING
RESOURCES AND DATA FOR ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS,
PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS AND INTERESTS,
AS WELL AS DEVELOPING
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES.
AS WE'VE HEARD MANY TIMES IN THIS COMMITTEE.
AND I'LL EMPHASIZE HERE AGAIN,
THE TREMENDOUS IMPACT THAT AI WILL HAVE AS A TOOL,
AND IT STANDS TO CHANGE OUR WORLD IN WAYS WE HAVEN'T
SEEN SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE INTERNET AGE.
AT THE SAME TIME, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT AROUND
AI BE GUIDED BY STRONG PRINCIPLES
AND GUARDRAILS AND PROTECT PRIVACY,
ADVANCED SECURITY, AND ADDRESS RISKS
AND POTENTIAL HARMS TO SOCIETY.
TODAY, PRIVATE ENTITIES
AND PORTFOLIOS SUCH AS GOOGLE,
MICROSOFT AND META HAVE LED THE RESEARCH
AND DEVELOPMENT SPACE IN AI TECHNOLOGY,
AND THIS IS IN LARGE PART BECAUSE
THIS DEVELOPMENT OF THIS
TECHNOLOGY REQUIRES VAST AMOUNTS
OF RESOURCES AND CAPITAL,
NOT TO MENTION CAPACITY IN A TECHNOLOGICAL SENSE,
BY DEFAULT,
THE INNOVATIVE DEVELOPMENT AND DISCUSSION
IN THIS SPACE IS DOMINATED BY FOR
PROFIT PRIVATE SECTOR ENTITIES THAT
OWN THE MAJORITY OF THIS PORTFOLIO.
AND I DO NOT INSINUATE HERE THAT THAT'S A BAD THING.
I SIMPLY, AS IS REFLECTED IN THIS BILL,
PROPOSE THAT SOMETHING IS MISSING.
THERE IS NO WAY TO MATCH THIS FINANCIAL
MIGHT THAT THESE ENTITIES
HAVE ON THE FRONTIER AND DOMINATING
THIS SPACE ALONE.
OUR STATE, CALIFORNIA, HAS THE WORLD'S PREMIER
INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING,
LED BY SOME OF THE GREATEST MINDS IN THIS FIELD.
THEIR TALENT IS FORMIDABLE.
UH, AND CAN YOU IMAGINE IF IT WERE PROPERLY
HARNESSED AND INTEGRATED INTO THIS SPACE?
CALIFORNIA, WITH OUR VAST NETWORK OF INSTITUTIONS
GENERATING RESEARCH FOR THE PUBLIC GOOD,
CAN BE AT THE FOREFRONT OF DEVELOPMENT
AND RESEARCH OF AI TECHNOLOGIES
AND ENSURE THAT WE MAXIMIZE BENEFITS
FOR THE PUBLIC GOOD.
WE ALSO HAVE A MARKET ADVANTAGE AS
THE FOURTH LARGEST ECONOMY IN THE WORLD,
AND WE CAN USE THIS MARKET POSITION
AND POWER TO INFLUENCE THIS MARKET TO
HELP LEAD IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF ETHICAL
AND RESPONSIBLE AI TECHNOLOGY THAT
CENTERS THE PUBLIC INTEREST BY ADDRESSING
THE GAP IN COMPUTING RESOURCES,
FACILITATING ACCESS TO DATA,
AND HARNESSING THE POWER OF OUR WORLD
CLASS NETWORK OF RESEARCH INSTITUTES.
AS WE CAN'T AFFORD TO CEDE THIS
SPACE TO OTHER STATES,
AND WE CAN'T AFFORD TO LET THIS
SPACE REMAIN UN DEMOCRATIZED,
THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY WITH
THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE HUB,
TO BLEND OUR ECONOMIC TALENT,
OUR BEST AND BRIGHTEST VOICES IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST
WITH SOME OF THE LEADING EDGE PRIVATE
SECTOR PIONEERS IN THIS SPACE.
AND THAT IS WHAT THE ESTABLISHMENT
OF THIS RESEARCH
HUB WOULD DO WITH ME TODAY IS RUSSELL WALD,
DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF THE STANFORD INSTITUTE FOR
HUMAN CENTERED ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.
THANK YOU.
GOOD MORNING.
PLEASE PROCEED.
>> GOOD MORNING.
THANK YOU.
SENATORS, I COME BEFORE YOU TODAY ON BEHALF OF
STANFORD UNIVERSITY IN SUPPORT OF SB 893,
THE CALIFORNIA INTELLIGENCE RESEARCH HUB.
MUCH OF THE FOUNDATIONAL WORK THAT HAS LED US
TO THIS MOMENT IN AI CAME FROM ACADEMIA.
IN FACT, 82% OF ALGORITHMS IN USE TODAY
ORIGINATED FROM UNIVERSITIES
AND NONPROFIT GROUPS SUPPORTED
BY GOVERNMENT FUNDING.
HISTORICALLY, ACADEMIC RESEARCH
AND PARTNERSHIP WITH GOVERNMENT
HAS ANCHORED THE AMERICAN INNOVATION ECOSYSTEM.
TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENT OFTEN REQUIRES
INVESTMENT IN LONG TERME
RESEARCH THAT MAY TAKE DECADES TO
SHOW ANY COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL.
HOWEVER, WITH SOME GOVERNMENT SUPPORT,
UNIVERSITIES HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ENGAGE
IN HIGH RISK RESEARCH THAT IN THE LONG RUN,
YIELDS WORLD CHANGING RESULTS.
INDEED, MANY TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES THAT
ARE NOW CRITICAL TO LIFE, SUCH AS GPS,
MRIS AND EVEN THE INTERNET CAN
TRACE THEIR ORIGIN STORIES
BACK TO RESEARCH THAT WAS DONE UNDER THIS MODEL.
UNIVERSITY RESEARCH IS CURIOSITY DRIVEN AND PURSUED
WITH THE LONG TERME INTEREST OF SOCIETY IN MIND,
MEANING THAT THERE IS A STRONG RETURN ON
INVESTMENT THAT THE GOVERNMENT MAKES,
THAT THE GOVERNMENT MAKES INTO ACADEMIC RESEARCH.
HOWEVER, SIGNIFICANT TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES
IN AI HAS CREATED A FUNDAMENTAL
SHIFT IN WHERE RESEARCH INTO THE FRONTIER
AI TECHNOLOGY IS OCCURRING.
RESEARCH INTO THE LATEST AI MODELS
REQUIRE SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT
IN COMPUTE POWER AND ACCESS TO QUALITY DATA SETS,
WHICH AT THE MOMENT ONLY PRIVATE COMPANIES
POSSESS THESE RESOURCES.
WHILE INDUSTRY RESEARCH IS IMPORTANT,
THAT IS JUST ONE NEEDED PERSPECTIVE.
ADDRESSING THE RESOURCE GAP IS
ESSENTIAL TO ENSURING WE MAKE
HOLISTIC ADVANCEMENTS IN AI THAT
BENEFIT SOCIETY AT LARGE.
IN THE CASE OF AI, ENORMOUS AMOUNTS OF DATA
ARE NECESSARY TO PROPERLY TRAIN MODELS,
AND GOVERNMENT DATA CAN BE ENORMOUSLY
BENEFICIAL IN THAT TRAINING,
PARTICULARLY IN CERTAIN INDUSTRIES
SUCH AS HEALTH CARE
THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAS OUTSIZED EQUITIES IN.
CURRENTLY, THERE IS A STRONG BIPARTISAN
SUPPORT IN THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT FOR A NATIONAL AI RESEARCH RESOURCE,
WHICH WOULD PROVIDE BOTH COMPUTATIONAL
RESOURCES AND ACCESS
TO GOVERNMENT DATA SETS FOR UNIVERSITY RESEARCH.
WHILE WE'RE EXCITED BY THE EFFORTS
AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL,
WE ALSO BELIEVE THAT AI RESEARCH WOULD
GREATLY BENEFIT FROM GOVERNMENT AT ALL LEVELS,
TAKING STEPS TO SUPPORT THESE RESOURCES.
THERE ARE FEW PLACES BETTER EQUIPPED
TO DO THIS THAN CALIFORNIA.
CALIFORNIA IS UNIQUELY POSITIONED TO
SPEARHEAD THE DEVELOPMENT OF ETHICAL
AND RESPONSIBLE AI TECHNOLOGIES THAT
PRIORITIZE THE PUBLIC'S INTEREST.
AS GOVERNOR NEWSOM'S EXECUTIVE ORDER ON AI
LAST YEAR ARTICULATED CALIFORNIA ALREADY
HAS MANY PIECES IN PLACE WHICH WILL
MAKE IT A LEADER IN AI DEVELOPMENT.
IN ADDITION TO HAVING OVER 80% OF
THE TOP AI COMPANIES BASED IN THE STATE,
CALIFORNIA'S PRIVATE AND PUBLIC RESEARCH
UNIVERSITIES SERVE AS KEY PILLARS
OF THE TO THE POWERFUL RESEARCH AND INNOVATION
ECOSYSTEM THAT EXISTS HERE.
CALIFORNIA UNIVERSITIES HAVE
ALWAYS PLAYED AN ESSENTIAL
ROLE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW TECHNOLOGIES,
INCLUDING IN THE FIELDS OF DEEP LEARNING
AND OTHER FOUNDATIONAL PRINCIPLES THAT
HAVE MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR AI TO DEVELOP
TO WHERE WE WHERE IT IS TODAY.
IT IS ONLY FITTING THAT CALIFORNIA
EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS PLAY
A LEADING ROLE IN CREATING THE NEXT
CHAPTER OF AI DEVELOPMENT.
FOR THIS REASON, STANFORD IS
SUPPORTIVE OF SB 893 WITH
THE RIGHT INVESTMENTS FROM THE STATE GOVERNMENT,
INCLUDING PROVIDING COMPUTE POWER
AND GREATER ACCESS TO STATE DATA,
CALIFORNIA IS WELL POSITIONED TO LEVERAGE EXISTING
INSTITUTIONS AND INFRASTRUCTURE TO
CREATE A STRONG PUBLIC RESEARCH RESOURCE
AND CEMENT ITS LEADERSHIP IN AI DEVELOPMENT.
PUBLIC INVESTMENT INTO AI RESEARCH
IN CALIFORNIA WILL SERVE AS
A CATALYST FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF
RESPONSIBLE AI AROUND THE GLOBE,
AND I AM HOPEFUL THAT THE COMMITTEE
WILL MOVE THIS PROPOSAL FORWARD.
THANK YOU, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO
ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
ANYBODY ELSE IN SUPPORT?
PLEASE COME FORWARD.
>> MORNING, MR.
CHAIR.
NAME, AFFILIATION AND POSITION ONLY.
YES, SIR.
MR.
CHAIR.
YOU ALREADY KNEW.
THAT I.
DID.
YES.
MR.
CHAIR, CHRIS MCHALE,
ON BEHALF OF THE LOS ANGELES AREA
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND STRONG SUPPORT OF THE BILL.
THANK YOU.
GOOD MORNING, CHAIR AND MEMBERS, NAOMI PADRONA.
>> ON BEHALF OF THE COMPUTER AND COMMUNICATIONS
INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION.
WE THANK THE AUTHOR FOR THE RECENT AMENDMENTS
AND WE'RE PROUD TO SUPPORT THE BILL.
>> THANK YOU.
GOOD MORNING, CHAIRMAN DODD.
MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE, MARIO GUERRERO,
ON BEHALF OF THE UC OFFICE OF
THE PRESIDENT IN SUPPORT.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
ANYBODY WISHING TO TESTIFY IN OPPOSITION.
SEEING NONE.
IS THERE ANYBODY THAT WANTS TO AT THE COMMITTEE?
WE'RE GOING TO BRING IT BACK.
>> WHAT'S THAT?
HE WANTS TO MOVE THE BILL.
BUT I HAVE A COUPLE OF COMMENTS.
SENATOR RUBIO.
YEAH, WELL THANK YOU.
I REALLY DO WANT TO THANK THE AUTHOR.
THIS IS AN AREA THAT CLEARLY WE
AS A SOCIETY IN THE WORLD,
WE'RE STRUGGLING WITH.
AND IT'S, I BELIEVE,
ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS
WE CAN DO RIGHT NOW IN TERMS OF MAKING SURE THAT,
YOU KNOW, WE GET AHEAD OF THIS SITUATION.
I THINK THAT THERE'S GREAT OPPORTUNITY
FOR ADVANCEMENTS.
I MEAN, WE'VE SEEN, LIKE WITH
JUST TECHNOLOGY IN GENERAL,
HOW MUCH IT'S HELPED US IN SO MANY DIFFERENT WAYS.
HOWEVER, IT REALLY POSES
A RISK IF IT GOES UNCHECKED.
AND IF WE DON'T, UH, INVEST,
WHICH IS REALLY IMPORTANT.
I JUST READ AN ARTICLE FROM THE NEW YORK
TIMES THIS MORNING THAT DISCUSSES,
AND I THINK THE TITLE IS TEEN GIRLS CONFRONT, UH,
AN EPIDEMIC OF FAKE NEWS ON SCHOOL CAMPUSES.
AND NOW THAT IS THE LATEST WAY THAT, YOU KNOW,
WOMEN AND VICTIMS, PER SE ARE
BEING BULLIED ON CAMPUS.
I MEAN, THERE'S SO MUCH TO LEARN.
AND I THINK THAT THIS IS THE ONE AREA WHERE WE
CANNOT AFFORD TO JUST LET IT BE UNCHECKED.
AND AND SO I DO BELIEVE THAT
WE NEED TO CENTRALIZE IT,
YOU KNOW, IN TERMS OF CREATING AN AI RESEARCH HUB.
IT'S SO IMPORTANT IN TERMS OF MAKING SURE
THAT WE DON'T LET THIS GET AWAY FROM US.
I KNOW SOCIAL MEDIA STARTED MANY YEARS AGO,
AND NOW WE'RE KIND OF SEEING HOW FAR IT'S
GONE IN TERMS OF IMPACTING OUR LIVES.
PERSONALLY, I WAS TALK I HAD A SENIOR SCAM
STOPPER EVENT IN MY DISTRICT, AND I MEAN,
THE SENIORS ARE BEING CALLED BY THEIR GRANDCHILDREN
CRYING FROM JAIL, GIVE ME MONEY.
I MEAN, IT'S JUST REALLY INTERESTING HOW, YOU KNOW,
YOU DON'T EVEN RECOGNIZE IT'S
NOT YOUR FAMILY ON THE LINE.
AND THEY'RE JUST SCAMMING THESE INDIVIDUALS
IN SO MANY DIFFERENT WAYS.
AND OUR SENIORS AND OUR, OUR MOST VULNERABLE ARE,
ARE THE ONES THAT ARE GOING TO SUFFER
THE CONSEQUENCE IF WE DON'T INVEST.
SO IT IS EXPENSIVE.
IT IS SOMETHING THAT, UH, YOU KNOW,
I BELIEVE IT'S WORTH THE INVESTMENT.
AND SO I REALLY WANT TO THANK YOU FOR IT.
I NOT ONLY DO I WANT TO MOVE THE BILL,
BUT I WANT TO CO-AUTHOR THIS BILL.
AND I HOPE THAT WE GET TO A POINT WHERE WE DO
HAVE ALL THE DATA WE NEED IN FRONT OF US SO
THAT WE CAN MAKE BETTER POLICY DECISIONS BASED
ON INFORMATION THAT WE'VE RESEARCHED.
SO THANK YOU.
AND WITH THAT, I THINK, UH,
THE SENATOR MOVED THE BILL,
BUT I'LL ADD AS A CO-AUTHOR.
THANK YOU.
ANYBODY ELSE WISHING TO COMMENT?
QUESTIONS?
SEEING NONE.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO CLOSE, SENATOR?
THANK YOU, MR.
CHAIRMAN.
THANK YOU, SENATOR, AND I WOULD
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR NIVEAU.
OKAY.
THE BILL HAS BEEN MOVED BY SENATOR BRADFORD.
THE MOTION IS DUE.
PASS TO JUDICIARY COMMITTEE.
SECRETARY, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
DODD I DODD I WILK I WILK I ALVARADO GIL I ALVARADO.
GIL I ARCHULETA.
ASHBY BRADFORD.
BRADFORD I.
GLAZER.
JONES.
NGUYEN.
NGUYEN I.
OKUBO.
OKUBO I.
PADILLA I.
PORTANTINO.
FLORENTINO I.
ROTH.
RUBIO I.
CIARDO.
SMALLWOOD.
CUEVAS.
THE BILL HAS NINE VOTES.
WE'LL PUT THAT ON CALL.
WE'LL MOVE BACK IN THE ORDER
AND MOVE TO ITEM NUMBER 13, SB 892.
WHERE'S THAT ON?
YES.
YES, SIR.
THANK YOU, MR.
CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS, I WANT TO THANK YOU
AND THE STAFF FOR WORKING WITH MINE,
AND I ACCEPT THE COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS.
SB 892 REQUIRES THE DEPARTMENT
OF TECHNOLOGY TO DEVELOP
AND ADOPT REGULATIONS TO CREATE
AN ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENT RISK
MANAGEMENT STANDARD AND REQUIRE
A RISK MANAGEMENT STANDARD
TO INCLUDE A DETAILED RISK ANALYSIS
ASSESSMENT PROCEDURE.
EXCUSE ME FOR PROCURING AUTOMATED DECISION
SYSTEMS OR ADDS ANALYZE SPECIFIC
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE ADDS METHODS
FOR APPROPRIATE RISK CONTROLS,
AND EXAMINE ADVERSE INCIDENT MONITORING PROCEDURES.
SPECIFICALLY, THE BILL REQUIRES
THAT IT IT DOES THREE THINGS.
FIRST, IT WOULD ASSESS THE RISKS ASSOCIATED
WITH PROCURING HIGH RISK, I ADDS,
PARTICULARLY IN AREAS THAT HAVE A HIGH
IMPACT ON INDIVIDUALS RIGHTS,
INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO HEALTH, EDUCATION,
EMPLOYMENT, INSURANCE, UTILITIES,
CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE, PUBLIC SERVICES,
AND JUSTICE OR LEGAL SERVICES.
SECOND, IT REQUIRES THE DEVELOPMENT AND ADOPTION OF
A RISK MANAGEMENT STANDARD THAT INCLUDES ASSESSMENT,
APPROPRIATE RISK CONTROLS AND ADVERSE INCIDENT
MONITORING WHEN PROCURING SUCH SYSTEMS.
AND THIRD, IT WOULD REQUIRE
THE ENGAGEMENT AND CONSULTATION
WITH THE DIVERSITY OF STAKEHOLDERS,
INCLUDING THOSE MOST AFFECTED BY
GOVERNMENT USE OF THESE SYSTEMS,
SUCH AS PUBLIC TRUST AND SAFETY EXPERTS,
COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS,
CIVIL SOCIETY GROUPS,
WORKERS AND ACADEMIC RESEARCHERS.
AI TECHNOLOGY THAT IS PROCURED
AND DEPLOYED RESPONSIBLY
HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO REVOLUTIONIZE
NOT JUST HOW WE ADMINISTER GOVERNMENT SERVICES,
BUT OUR ENTIRE ECONOMY.
THIS TECHNOLOGY CAN ALSO POSE, HOWEVER,
SIGNIFICANT RISKS TO SAFETY,
PRIVACY AND CIVIL RIGHTS OF CALIFORNIANS,
ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S USED TO ASSIST
OR REPLACE HUMAN DECISION MAKING
IN CRITICAL SECTORS SUCH AS HOUSING,
EMPLOYMENT AND HEALTH CARE.
AS THESE APPLICATIONS OF THESE
SYSTEMS WILL BE VARIED,
THE RISK ASSESSMENT AND SUBSEQUENT
RISK CONTROLS MUST BE TAILORED
AND MUST BE UNIQUE TO THE TECHNOLOGY IN QUESTION.
THIS STEP IS CRITICAL STEP AS
WE DETERMINE WHAT AI PRODUCTS
ARE SAFE FOR GOVERNMENT PROCUREMENT AND DEPLOYMENT.
NOT ONLY WILL THIS STRICT SCRUTINY
PROTECT THE STATE FROM LIABILITY,
BUT IT WILL ALSO HELP ASSURE THE PUBLIC
THAT THE TECHNOLOGY THAT WE ARE
ACQUIRING ON THEIR BEHALF HAS BEEN
ASSESSED WITH SAFETY IN MIND.
INDEED, WE NEED TO IMPLEMENT
THESE RISK ASSESSMENT TESTS
AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AND ISSUES WITH THIS TECHNOLOGY,
WHICH HAVE ALREADY OCCURRED IN 2022,
THE LAO FOUND THAT CALIFORNIA ED,
THE EMPLOYMENT DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT,
PROCURED AN AUTOMATED REVIEW
SOFTWARE THAT FLAGGED 1.1
MILLION CLAIMS AS FRAUDULENT,
MEANING WORKERS STOPPED RECEIVING THEIR BENEFITS
AT A CRITICAL TIME TO THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES.
ULTIMATELY, MORE THAN HALF OF THOSE CLAIMS,
OVER 600,000, WERE CONFIRMED AS LEGITIMATE.
THE HARDSHIP THAT THESE ERRONEOUS
FINDINGS CREATED COULD
HAVE BEEN FORESEEN AND AVOIDED THROUGH PROPER RISK
ASSESSMENT BEFORE IT WAS GRANTED ACCESS TO CONTROL,
A LIFELINE THAT MILLIONS OF FAMILIES DEPENDED UPON.
BY ENACTING THESE SAFEGUARDS PROPOSED BY SB 892,
CALIFORNIA CAN SET A NATIONAL STANDARD
THAT DRIVES INNOVATION OF
AI TECHNOLOGY AND SERVICES WHILE
PROTECTING THE PUBLIC
FROM RISKS POSED BY AUTOMATED
DECISION MAKING SYSTEMS.
WITH ME TODAY IS SAMANTHA GORDON FROM
THE TECH EQUITY COLLABORATIVE.
GOOD MORNING.
GOOD MORNING, CHAIRMAN DODD
AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE,
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO YOU
ABOUT SB 892 AND THE IMPORTANCE OF SETTING STANDARDS
FOR PUBLIC SECTOR PROCUREMENT OF AI SYSTEMS.
AS THE SENATOR SAID, I'M SAMANTHA GORDON,
I'M THE CHIEF PROGRAM OFFICER
AT TECH EQUITY COLLABORATIVE.
OUR MISSION IS TO RAISE PUBLIC CONSCIOUSNESS
ABOUT ECONOMIC EQUITY
ISSUES IN THE TECH INDUSTRY'S
PRODUCTS AND PRACTICES,
AND ENSURE TECHNOLOGY'S GROWTH BENEFITS EVERYONE.
WE'RE PROUD TO SUPPORT SB 892 IN
THIS COMMITTEE TO ENSURE THAT AS
CALIFORNIA LOOKS TO ADOPT AI SYSTEMS
AND EMERGING TECHNOLOGY,
WE CAN BUILD A CLEAR SET OF
STANDARDS THAT CAN BENEFIT
ALL CALIFORNIANS IN ORDER TO MAKE THE MOST
OF THE OPPORTUNITY THAT THESE TECHNOLOGIES PRESENT
AND SPUR INNOVATION IN OUR STATE'S SERVICES,
WE MUST FIRST ENSURE THAT WE PLACE COMMON SENSE
GUARDRAILS AROUND THE USE OF THIS TECHNOLOGY.
AND THE PUBLIC SECTOR IS RIGHTLY FOCUSED ON REDUCING
BACKLOGS AND IMPROVING SERVICES FOR OUR COMMUNITIES.
AND I THINK IN THAT REGARD,
TECHNOLOGY CAN BE REALLY APPEALING.
BUT WE ALSO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT
TO LEARN FROM SEVERAL EXAMPLES
WHERE THE RAPID ADOPTION OF TECHNOLOGY
OFTEN I'LL MENTION,
WITHOUT SERIOUS INPUT FROM WORKERS AND COMMUNITIES,
DRAG THE PUBLIC SECTOR IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION,
CREATING MASSIVE DELAYS,
WRONGFUL DENIALS AND VERY COSTLY PROBLEMS THAT
THEN THE TAXPAYERS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR FIXING.
SO THE SENATOR JUST MENTIONED
A KEY EXAMPLE THAT I THINK IS
WORTH UNDERSCORING AND WAS BROUGHT
UP EARLIER ABOUT ED.
WE SAW MASSIVE ISSUES DURING THE PANDEMIC OF PEOPLE
NOT BEING ABLE TO ACCESS THEIR BENEFITS.
AND THE DEPARTMENT BROUGHT ON
A FRAUD DETECTION ALGORITHM THAT,
AS THE SENATOR SAID, REVIEWED 10 MILLION CLAIMS.
RIGHT.
IT REPLACED THE WORK OF A LOT
OF HUMANS TO MOVE QUICKLY.
IT FOUND 1.1 MILLION OF THOSE WERE FRAUDULENT.
THEY CUT OFF THE WORKERS PAYMENTS,
DIDN'T PROVIDE NOTICE TO THOSE WORKERS,
BUT 600,000 OF THOSE WORKERS CLAIMS WERE LEGITIMATE.
AND THIS IS NOT UNIQUE TO CALIFORNIA.
THAT TECHNOLOGY WAS MARKETED AND SOLD
TO 42 STATES IN THIS COUNTRY.
IT'S CURRENTLY THE SUBJECT OF A COMPLAINT
AT THE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION.
AND WE THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT TO SAY
BECAUSE AS A STATE OF CALIFORNIA,
WE HAVE A MASSIVE, MASSIVE OPERATION HERE.
WE'RE THE FIFTH LARGEST ECONOMY IN THE WORLD, RIGHT?
SO WE ARE GOING TO BE RECEIVING A LOT OF MARKETING,
OF A LOT OF PRODUCTS THAT PROMISE
A LOT OF EFFICIENCIES.
AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE PUTTING
REALLY CLEAR STANDARDS IN PLACE
TO ASSESS FOR THE RISK AND NOT PUTTING
THAT BURDEN ON THE TAXPAYERS.
ANOTHER EXAMPLE IS RECENT FROM NEW YORK CITY.
THEY INCORPORATED AN AI POWERED CHATBOT
MEANT TO PROVIDE RESIDENTS WITH
INFORMATION ABOUT STARTING AND OPERATING
A BUSINESS IN THE CITY.
WITHIN FIVE MONTHS, IT WAS FOUND
THAT THE CHATBOT REPEATEDLY
PROVIDED ADVICE TO THE PUBLIC
TO EXPLICITLY BREAK THE LAW.
SO QUESTIONS LIKE CAN I TAKE
A CUT OF MY WORKERS TIPS?
WOULD GET AN ANSWER FROM THE CHATBOT THAT SAID,
YES, YOU CAN TAKE A CUT OF YOUR WORKERS
TIPS AND PROVIDED CONFUSING BUT LEGAL SOUNDING
JUSTIFICATION FOR THIS ILLEGAL PRACTICE.
OR QUESTIONS ABOUT HOUSING.
LIKE DO LANDLORDS HAVE TO ACCEPT
TENANTS ON RENTAL ASSISTANCE?
CHATBOT WOULD RESPOND NO, LANDLORDS DO NOT HAVE
TO ACCEPT TENANTS ON RENTAL ASSISTANCE,
WHICH IS FOR THE MOST PART,
A DIRECT VIOLATION OF A LAW THAT SAID LANDLORDS
CANNOT DISCRIMINATE BASED ON SOURCE OF INCOME.
WHAT DISTINGUISHES THE PUBLIC
SECTOR FROM THE PRIVATE
ACTORS WHO DEVELOP AND SELL THIS TECHNOLOGY
IS THAT THE PUBLIC SECTOR IS RESPONSIBLE
FOR PROVIDING SERVICES TO EVERYONE,
AND ENSURING THAT THOSE SERVICES ARE SAFE
AND NOT GOING TO FURTHER HARM IN OUR LIVES.
I THINK ALL OF YOU KNOW WELL,
YOU HEAR FROM YOUR CONSTITUENTS REGULARLY.
OUR COMMUNITIES COUNT ON US IN
SOME OF THE MOST CHALLENGING
AND VULNERABLE MOMENTS OF THEIR LIVES,
AND THEY CANNOT BE USED AS MARKET
RESEARCH OR EXPERIMENTS
FOR THESE PRIVATE COMPANIES WHO
ARE SELLING AN ALGORITHM.
SB 882 RECOGNIZES THIS REALITY AND CALLS FOR
CLEAR STANDARDS FOR THE USE OF AUTOMATED
DECISION MAKING AND AI SYSTEMS
IN HIGH RISK ENVIRONMENTS,
AND WE URGE YOUR SUPPORT.
THANK YOU.
ANYBODY ELSE WISHING TO TESTIFY IN SUPPORT?
SEEING NONE.
ANYBODY WISHING TO SPEAK AGAINST THIS BILL.
SEEING NONE.
WE'LL MOVE BACK TO THE COMMITTEE.
ANY QUESTIONS?
COMMENTS?
SEEING NONE.
SENATOR PADILLA, WOULD YOU LIKE TO CLOSE?
THANK YOU, MR.
CHAIRMAN.
I APPRECIATE MY WITNESS AND RESPECTFULLY
ASK FOR AN I VOTE.
ALL RIGHT.
DO WE HAVE A MOTION?
THIS IS A MOTION BY JOE BORG.
SENATOR.
THANK YOU.
THE MOTION IS DO PASS, AS AMENDED,
TO THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE.
SECRETARY, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
DODD I DODD I WILK I WILK I ALVARADO GIL I ALVARADO
GIL I ARCHULETA I ARCHULETA I ASHBY BRADFORD.
BRADFORD I GLASER.
JONES.
NGUYEN.
NGUYEN I OKUBO.
COBO I PADILLA.
PADILLA I PORTANTINO.
PORTANTINO I.
ROTH.
RUBIO.
RUBIO I.
SALADO.
SMALLWOOD.
CUEVAS.
BILL HAS TEN VOTES.
WE'LL LEAVE THAT.
WE'LL PUT THAT ON CALL.
UH, WE'RE GOING TO MOVE NOW TO ITEM NUMBER 11.
THAT'S SB 1402.
SENATOR MINH.
WELCOME AND GOOD MORNING.
AND PROCEED WHEN YOU'RE READY.
>> THANK YOU, MR.
CHAIR.
COMMITTEE MEMBERS.
UH, WE'D LIKE TO START BY NOTING THAT WE'LL
BE ACCEPTING THE COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS.
SB 1402 WOULD REQUIRE ALL STATE AGENCIES,
DEPARTMENTS, BOARDS, OFFICES,
COMMISSIONS AND CONSERVANCIES TO CONSIDER
THE 30 BY 30 GOALS WHEN ADOPTING,
REVISING OR ESTABLISHING THEIR PLANS,
POLICIES OR REGULATIONS WHICH
DIRECTLY AFFECT LAND USE,
NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT,
WATER USE, AND QUALITY,
AND BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION.
CALIFORNIA IS HOME TO ONE OF 25
GLOBAL BIODIVERSITY HOTSPOTS,
BUT THIS BIODIVERSITY IS UNDER
THREAT FROM CLIMATE CHANGE,
HABITAT LOSS AND FRAGMENTATION, INVASIVE SPECIES,
DISEASE, PESTS AND POLLUTION.
CONSERVATION IS ONE OF THE BEST TOOLS
THAT WE HAVE TO PREVENT FURTHER
EXTINCTIONS AND PROTECT OUR BIODIVERSITY
AND ECOSYSTEMS.
IN 2020, GOVERNOR NEWSOM ISSUED EXECUTIVE
ORDER NUMBER N 8220 TO ADOPT A GOAL TO
CONSERVE AT LEAST 30% OF CALIFORNIA'S LAND
AND COASTAL WATERS BY THE YEAR 2030.
TO ENSURE THIS GOAL REMAINED A COMMITMENT
FOR FUTURE ADMINISTRATIONS.
LAST YEAR, I AUTHORED SB 337 TO CODIFY
THIS 30 BY 30 GOAL INTO STATUTE.
WHILE CALIFORNIA HAS MADE CRITICAL INVESTMENTS
IN CONSERVATION TO FURTHER THIS 30 BY 30 GOAL,
IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THIS GOAL
ALSO BE ROOTED IN THE PLANS,
POLICIES AND REGULATIONS OF OUR STATE AGENCIES.
TODAY, I HAVE WITH ME AARON WOOLLEY,
SENIOR POLICY STRATEGIST FOR SIERRA CLUB,
TO TESTIFY IN SUPPORT OF SB 1402.
>> GOOD MORNING.
GOOD MORNING, CHAIR DODD, MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE.
MY NAME IS AARON WOOLLEY, AND I'M A SENIOR POLICY
STRATEGIST WITH SIERRA CLUB CALIFORNIA.
SPEAKING TODAY ON BEHALF OF OUR HALF
A MILLION MEMBERS AND SUPPORTERS, UM,
I'D LIKE TO THANK SENATOR MANN FOR
SPONSORING THIS LEGISLATION
AND FOR THE CONTINUED SUPPORT FOR 30 BY 30.
CALIFORNIA HAS AN AMBITIOUS VISION OF PROTECTING
30% OF OUR LANDS AND WATERS BY
2030 TO COMBAT THE DUAL CLIMATE AND BIODIVERSITY
CRISIS IMPACTING OUR STATE.
SB 337, WHICH PASSED LAST YEAR,
CODIFIED 30 BY 30 AS A GOAL AND SB 1402,
BUILDS ON THAT POLICY BY ENSURING
THAT GOAL IS ALSO CONSIDERED
BY KEY AGENCIES AND OTHER STATE DECISION
MAKING BODIES DURING PROCESSES
TO UPDATE OR ESTABLISH PLANS,
POLICIES AND REGULATIONS.
ACTING IN SILOS IS NOT AN EFFECTIVE
POLICY MAKING STRATEGIES.
STATE AGENCIES, BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS ARE ALREADY
RESPONSIBLE FOR MANAGING OUR PUBLIC LANDS,
ENSURING OUR RIVERS, LAKES AND COASTS ARE
CLEAN AND PROTECTING IMPERILED WILDLIFE.
THESE ONGOING EFFORTS CAN AND SHOULD, AT A MINIMUM,
CONSIDER 30 BY 30 AND ALIGN WITH
THEM WHEREVER POSSIBLE.
SOME EXISTING EFFORTS NATURALLY
ALIGN WITH 30 BY 30 GOALS
AND CAN PROVIDE IMPORTANT CONSERVATION CO-BENEFITS.
FOR EXAMPLE, AS PART OF THE STATE
WATER BOARD'S REGULATORY
PROCESS TO SET URBAN OUTDOOR
WATER EFFICIENCY TARGETS,
THE BOARD IS CONSIDERING HOW TRANSFORMING URBAN
LANDSCAPES TO BE MORE DROUGHT TOLERANT
CAN ALSO HELP SUPPORT BIODIVERSITY LIKE
NATIVE PLANTS AND POLLINATORS.
ON THE OTHER HAND, FAILING TO CONSIDER NATURE BASED
SOLUTION RISKS MINIMIZING OR MIS MISSING MUTUALLY
BENEFICIAL OPPORTUNITIES OR SETTING POLICIES THAT
UNDERMINE OUR PROGRESS TO ACHIEVE 30 BY 30,
THE LEGISLATURE AND THE ADMINISTRATION
HAVE MADE GREAT STRIDES SETTING POLICY
AND PROVIDING FUNDING IN RECENT YEARS TO BUILD
MOMENTUM FOR 30 BY 30 IN CALIFORNIA.
BUT WE ALSO NEED ACCOUNTABILITY AND COORDINATION AT
THE STATE LEVEL TO GUIDE STRONG IMPLEMENTATION.
AND SB 1402 FILLS THAT GAP.
ACCOUNTING FOR RELEVANT STATE POLICIES AND PLANNING
PROCESS IS A COMMON SENSE STEP THAT
WILL HELP FACILITATE TRANSPARENCY AND ALIGNMENT
AMONG CALIFORNIA'S DECISION MAKERS.
WITH THAT, WE SUPPORT SB 1402 AND URGE
YOUR I VOTE ON THIS BILL TODAY.
THANK YOU.
ANY OTHERS IN SUPPORT?
PLEASE COME FORWARD.
>> MICHAEL JARRETT ON BEHALF OF
THE CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE
FOR BIODIVERSITY IN SUPPORT OF THIS BILL.
THANK YOU.
HI.
SAMANTHA SAMUELSON ON BEHALF OF MIDPENINSULA
OPEN SPACE DISTRICT,
SEMPERVIRENS FUND,
CALIFORNIA STATE PARKS FOUNDATION,
AUDUBON CALIFORNIA DEFENDERS OF WILDLIFE,
AND CALIFORNIA NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY IN SUPPORT.
DYLAN FINLEY ON BEHALF OF
THE SIERRA CONSORTIUM IN SUPPORT.
>> NATALIE BROWN WITH THE PLANNING
AND CONSERVATION LEAGUE IN SUPPORT.
THANK YOU.
>> MEGAN SHUMWAY, A CITIZEN OF SACRAMENTO, IN SUPPORT.
ANY OPPOSITION TO THIS BILL.
THIS IS SB 1402.
SEEING NO OPPOSITION, I'LL MOVE
BACK TO THE COMMITTEE.
ANY QUESTIONS?
COMMENTS?
MOVE THE BILL.
WE HAVE A MOTION BY SENATOR ARCHULETA.
AND, SENATOR, WOULD YOU LIKE TO CLOSE?
NO.
I'M OKAY.
THANK YOU.
YOU RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR OUR I VOTE, THOUGH.
YOU RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOUR I VOTE.
YES.
OKAY.
PERFECT.
THAT'S THE WAY TO GO.
SO WE HAVE A MOTION ON SB 1402.
THE BILL HAS BEEN MOVED BY SENATOR ARCHULETA.
THE MOTION IS TO PASS AS AMENDED.
NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE SECRETARY,
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
DODD I DODD I WILK.
ALVARADO, GIL.
ALVARADO, GIL I.
ARCHULETA I.
ASHBY, BRADFORD.
BRADFORD I.
GLAZER.
THANK YOU.
SIR.
JONES.
WHEN?
OR CHOCOBO.
PADILLA.
PADILLA I.
PORTANTINO.
PORTANTINO I.
ROTH.
RUBIO.
RUBIO I.
CELADO.
SMALLWOOD.
CUEVAS.
BILL HAS SEVEN VOTES.
WE'LL PUT THAT ON CALL.
THANK YOU.
YEAH.
WE'RE GOING TO OPEN THE, UH.
HAVE WE DONE THE CONSENT CALENDAR?
NOPE.
YOU HAVE A MOTION ON THE WILK MOVE.
IS WILK.
SENATOR WILK.
SECRETARY, PLEASE.
WHAT'S THAT?
OKAY.
VERY GOOD.
SO LET'S.
THAT'S FILE ITEM NUMBER TWO.
UH, SB 1009.
DOLLEY AS ITEM NUMBER THREE.
SB 1207.
DOLLEY.
UH, ITEM NUMBER TEN SB 1246 LIMON.
UH, ITEM NUMBER 12 SB 1461 ALLEN.
S ITEM NUMBER 15 SB 1044 CIERTO.
UH, ITEM NUMBER 17.
UH SB 1214.
WIN.
UH.
ITEM NUMBER 18 SB 1407.
WIN.
UH.
ITEM NUMBER 20, SB 1215 AS A GEO.
AS AS IS SB 21 1519, WE DO HAVE
A MOTION BY SENATOR WILK.
SECRETARY, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
DODD I DODD I WILK I WILK
I ALVARADO GIL I ALVARADO GIL
I ARCHULETA I ARCHULETA I ASHBY BRADFORD BRADFORD
I GLASER JONES NGUYEN WIN I OKOBO OKOBO I PADILLA
PADILLA I PORTENTINO PORTENTINO I ROTH.
RUBIO I RUBIO I SATO.
SMALLWOOD.
CUEVAS.
BILL HAS TEN VOTES.
WE'LL PUT THAT ON CALL AS WELL.
WE ARE LOOKING FOR SENATOR HURTADO
AND SENATOR SKINNER.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
WHICH ONE IS IT NOW?
YEAH, WE'LL OPEN UP.
UH, WE'LL OPEN UP A FILE ITEM NUMBER FIVE, SB 1104.
DO WE HAVE A MOTION?
WELL, ONLY YOU AND I WERE HERE.
BUT I SAID THAT I WOULD MAKE
THE MOTION WHEN APPROPRIATE.
YOU DID SAY THAT.
AND IT'S APPROPRIATE NOW.
SO IT'S GOT A MOTION BY WILK.
>> YOU WEREN'T LOOKING FOR ME, THOUGH.
CAN WE CALL THE ROLL, PLEASE?
SB 1104.
MOTION IS TO PASS, AS AMENDED,
TO APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE.
DODD I DODD I WILK A WILK I ALVARADO
GIL A ALVARADO GIL I.
ARCHULETA A ARCHULETA I BRADFORD.
BRADFORD I GLAZER.
JONES.
JONES, I NGUYEN.
NGUYEN I OKOBO.
OKOBO I PADILLA.
PADILLA, I PORTANTINO.
FIORENTINO, I.
ROTH.
RUBIO.
RUBIO, I.
CITRO.
SMALLWOOD.
CUEVAS.
SAT 1111.
IT'S A BELOVED VOTES.
THAT BILL IS ON CALL.
WHO?
WHAT'S THAT?
FILE ITEM NUMBER 15.
ALVARADO GIL 16.
EXCUSE ME, DO WE HAVE AN AUTHOR ON I MEAN, A.
WE'LL MOVE.
WE'LL MOVE THAT.
SO THAT'S MOTION.
UH, SECRETARY, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
SB 1088 MOTION IS DUE PASSED TO NATURAL
RESOURCES AND WATER COMMITTEE.
DOT I DOT I WILK I WILK I ALVARADO GIL I ALVARADO
GIL I ARCHULETA I ARCHULETA I ASHBY BRADFORD.
ALL RIGHT BRADFORD I GLAZER JONES I'M SORRY, MR.
CHAIR.
I MISSED THE BILL.
THAT YOU'RE CALLING SB 1088, ITEM NUMBER 16.
OVERALL JONES, I NGUYEN.
NGUYEN, I OKOBO.
OKOBO I PADILLA.
PADILLA, I PORTENTINO.
PORTENTINO I ROTH.
RUBIO.
RUBIO I SALADO.
SMALLWOOD.
CUEVAS.
BILL HAS 12 VOTES.
WE'LL PUT THAT ON CALL.
UH, FILE ITEM NUMBER 19, SB 896,
AND SENATOR WILK WAS THE ONLY ONE TO HEAR THAT.
SO I WILL MAKE THE MOTION.
THANK YOU.
UH, SO WE.
RELUCTANTLY.
A MOTION.
UH, SECRETARY, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL MOTION IS DUE.
PASS AS AMENDED TO JUDICIARY COMMITTEE.
DODD I DODD I WILL, I WILL I ALVARADO
GIL I ALVARADO GIL I ARCHULETA
I ARCHULETA I ASHBY BRADFORD
BRADFORD I GLAZER JONES.
JONES I NGUYEN.
NGUYEN I OKOBO OKOBO I PADILLA.
PADILLA I PORTENTINO.
QUARANTINE I ROSS.
RUBIO.
I SALADO.
SMALLWOOD.
CUEVAS.
IT WAS 1111 VOTES.
WE'LL KEEP THAT ON CALL AS WELL.
AND WE HAVE SENATOR SKINNER.
GOOD MORNING.
WELCOME.
WE HAVE.
WHERE ARE WE?
ITEM NUMBER FOUR, SB 1073.
SENATOR.
GOOD MORNING AND START WHEN YOU'RE READY.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, CHAIR AND MEMBERS.
THE PURPOSE OF SB 1073, WHICH IS BEFORE YOU TODAY,
IS TO ACCELERATE THE DEVELOPMENT OF
NEW PROCESSES AND TECHNOLOGIES
THAT CAN RESULT IN A MARKET AVAILABLE
AND ECONOMICALLY VIABLE,
LOW CARBON CEMENT AND CONCRETE.
SO CEMENT AND CONCRETE REPRESENT
ABOUT 8% OF THE EMISSIONS
GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS TOTALLY IN GLOBALLY.
AND WE OBVIOUSLY WITH OUR HOUSING CRISIS,
WITH INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS,
WITH LOTS OF REASONS, LOOK AT BRIDGES FALLING DOWN.
WE NEED CONCRETE.
SO IF WE CAN IF THERE IS THE WAY TO PRODUCE CONCRETE
THAT IS LESS LOWER IN CARBON, WE NEED IT.
SO WHAT THIS BILL DOES, IT'S PERMISSIVE,
BUT IT ALLOWS STATE AGENCIES
TO ENTER INTO ADVANCED PROCUREMENT
AGREEMENTS FOR LOW CARBON CEMENT.
NOW, WHAT THAT DOES IS IT TELLS
THE MARKET AND IT TELLS THOSE
COMPANIES THAT ARE NOW PRODUCING
OR RATHER DEVELOPING THIS,
THAT, HEY, WE'RE LOOKING FOR THIS KIND OF PRODUCT.
SO THEN INVESTORS GET OKAY, THERE'S A MARKET FOR
THAT PRODUCT AND THERE'S MORE INVOLVEMENT
THEN IN THE RESEARCH AND THE TECHNOLOGY,
AND IT'S MORE LIKELY THAT WE WILL THEN RECEIVE.
PRODUCTS THAT ARE LOW CARBON CEMENT
THAT ARE ECONOMICALLY VIABLE.
SO IF AT THE END OF.
SO IT'S A TEN YEAR ADVANCED PROCUREMENT.
IF AT THE END OF THAT THERE AREN'T
GOOD PRODUCTS AND THEY DON'T MEET
THE STATE'S NEEDS AND THEY DON'T MEET
OUR TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS,
THE STATE DOES NOT HAVE TO PURCHASE THOSE PRODUCTS.
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT USES
THIS ADVANCED PROCUREMENT
METHODOLOGY COMMONLY TO TRY TO STIMULATE INVESTMENT
AND TO CREATE A MARKET FOR THE NEXT GENERATION
OF DECARBONIZATION AND NEW TECHNOLOGIES.
IN EFFECT, CALIFORNIA DID THE SAME THING WHEN
WE PASSED THE BILL THAT SAID UTILITIES,
WE WANT UTILITY GRADE BATTERY STORAGE.
WE DIDN'T REALLY HAVE AVAILABLE BATTERIES
AT THE POINT THAT WE PASSED THAT.
NOW WE'RE THE WORLD LEADER IN LONG DURATION
OR NOT QUITE LONG DURATION,
BUT SHORT DURATION, UTILITY GRADE, BATTERY STORAGE.
WE ARE THE WORLD LEADER.
CALIFORNIA HAS ONLINE THE EQUIVALENT BATTERY
STORAGE OF FOUR DIABLO POWER PLANTS.
AND YET, WHEN WE PASS THE BILL THAT SENT THAT
MARKET SIGNAL BACK IN 2010, WE HAD NONE.
SO THAT'S WHAT I'M TRYING TO DO HERE.
AND LET ME HAVE MY WITNESSES, SIMON BRANDLER FROM
THE DECARBONIZED CEMENT AND CONCRETE ALLIANCE,
AND CHRIS ROSA FROM THE NATURAL
RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL.
MORNING CHAIR DOD AND MEMBERS CHRIS
ROSA ON BEHALF OF NRDC ACTION FUND.
SPONSOR.
CO-SPONSOR OF THE BILL, SB 1073,
IS A PERMISSIVE AND CLARIFYING BILL.
IT MERELY AUTHORIZES STATE AGENCIES TO
ENTER FORWARD CONTRACTS TO PURCHASE
LOW CARBON CEMENT AND CONCRETE PRODUCTS
UP TO TEN YEARS IN ADVANCE.
CLARIFYING SUCH AUTHORITY WILL REMOVE
A KEY BARRIER INTO UNLOCKING
DEEP DECARBONIZATION OF CALIFORNIA'S CEMENT SECTOR.
HERE IN CALIFORNIA, CEMENT PRODUCTION
IS THE SECOND LARGEST
INDUSTRIAL SOURCE OF GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS.
CALIFORNIA HAS ENACTED LEGISLATION INCLUDING SB 596,
REQUIRING ALL CEMENT USED IN CALIFORNIA
TO BE NET ZERO EMISSIONS BY 2045.
COMPLEMENTARY POLICIES, INCLUDING ENSURING THE STATE
CAN PURCHASE LOW EMISSION CEMENT AND CONCRETE,
WILL BE REQUIRED TO MEET THIS GOAL.
THE US DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY HAS IDENTIFIED
ADVANCED PROCUREMENT MODELS AS
A TOOL NECESSARY TO SCALE LOW,
ULTRA LOW EMISSION CEMENT AND CONCRETE.
AGAIN, SB 1073 CLARIFIES THIS IS A TOOL
THAT CALIFORNIA STATE AGENCIES CAN
DEPLOY IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE STATE'S
CEMENT DECARBONIZATION EFFORTS,
AND THIS WILL HELP BRING OUR CLIMATE
TARGETS INTO REALITY.
THANK YOU TO SENATOR SKINNER FOR AUTHORING THIS BILL
AND TO THE COMMITTEE FOR ITS
THOUGHTFUL CONSIDERATION.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR, DOD, VICE CHAIR WILK,
AND MEMBERS OF THIS COMMITTEE
FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY ON BEHALF OF DC2,
THE DECARBONIZED CEMENT AND CONCRETE ALLIANCE,
IN STRONG SUPPORT OF SENATE BILL 1073.
MY NAME IS SIMON BRANDLER,
AND I SERVE AS VP FOR POLICY
AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS AT BRIMSTONE, AN OAKLAND,
CALIFORNIA, COMPANY WITH A DEEPLY DECARBONIZED
PROCESS FOR MAKING INDUSTRY STANDARD CEMENT.
WE HELPED FOUND DC2, WHICH NOW CONSISTS
OF 11 INNOVATIVE, US BASED,
VENTURE BACKED COMPANIES WITH SOLUTIONS TO
TACKLE CEMENT AND CONCRETE EMISSIONS.
FOUR OF THOSE ARE BASED IN CALIFORNIA.
PASSAGE OF SB 1073 WOULD MARK A SIGNIFICANT
MILESTONE TOWARDS ACHIEVING
CALIFORNIA'S CLIMATE GOALS
AND CLEANING UP A SECTOR THAT,
AS SENATOR SKINNER MENTIONED,
ACCOUNTS FOR ABOUT 8% OF GLOBAL CARBON EMISSIONS.
HITTING CALIFORNIA'S CLIMATE TARGETS DEPENDS
ON PROCURING CEMENT AND CONCRETE WITH
MUCH LOWER CARBON LEVELS THAN ANYTHING
COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE AT SCALE TODAY.
SB 1073 WOULD CLARIFY THE DISCRETION,
NOT THE OBLIGATION,
BUT THE DISCRETION OF CALIFORNIA
STATE AGENCIES TO SECURE
SOURCES OF THESE ESSENTIAL MATERIALS
YEARS IN ADVANCE.
SIMILAR TO THE POWER PURCHASE AGREEMENTS USED
TO DEVELOP NEW SOURCES OF CLEAN ENERGY.
STATE AGENCIES COULD USE FORWARD CONTRACTS
TO ESTABLISH A PIPELINE OF
THE LOW CARBON MATERIALS THEY NEED
TO ACHIEVE STATE CLIMATE TARGETS.
AND CRITICALLY, THESE COMMITMENTS WOULD ALSO
UNLOCK FINANCING FOR EMERGING SUPPLIERS,
ALLOWING THEM, INCLUDING BRIMSTONE,
TO SCALE PROCESSES SOONER
AND BRING TRANSFORMATIONAL ULTRA
LOW CARBON CEMENT AND CONCRETE
SOLUTIONS TO THE MARKET.
SB 1073 WOULD PUT CALIFORNIA AT
THE FOREFRONT OF A GROWING NATIONAL
AND INTERNATIONAL EFFORT THAT INCLUDES
THE US STATE DEPARTMENT.
I'M SORRY, THE US DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY AND THE FIRST
MOVERS COALITION TO USE FORWARD AGREEMENTS,
ALSO CALLED ADVANCE MARKET COMMITMENTS, TO CATALYZE
THE CLEAN INDUSTRIAL TRANSITION
FOR CEMENT AND CONCRETE.
WE GREATLY APPRECIATE SENATOR SKINNER
FOR INTRODUCING THIS IMPORTANT
LEGISLATION AND THE COMMITTEE FOR ITS CONSIDERATION.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO ANSWERING ANY
QUESTIONS FROM THE COMMITTEE
AND COLLABORATING WITH YOU ON
THIS IN THE WEEKS TO COME.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
ANYONE ELSE HERE IN SUPPORT?
GOOD REMINDER TO STATE YOUR NAME,
AFFILIATION AND POSITION ONLY.
GOOD MORNING.
I'M MEGAN SHUMWAY, AND ON BEHALF OF SACRAMENTO
350 AND CLIMATE ACTION CALIFORNIA.
WE'RE IN SUPPORT.
THANK YOU.
>> CAROLYN VEALE HUNTER ON BEHALF OF ARGENT MATERIALS,
AN ECO FRIENDLY CONCRETE AND ASPHALT RECYCLING
COMPANY BASED IN EAST OAKLAND, IN SUPPORT.
THANK YOU.
AARON WOOLLEY ON BEHALF OF SIERRA
CLUB CALIFORNIA IN SUPPORT.
THANK YOU.
ANYONE IN OPPOSITION?
PLEASE COME FORWARD.
MR.
CHAIR MEMBERS SCOTT GOVAN ON BEHALF OF
THE CONSTRUCTION EMPLOYERS ASSOCIATION,
THEY'RE THE LARGEST UNION SIGNATORY
BUILDING CONTRACTORS IN THE STATE.
THEY HAVE NO ISSUES WITH GREEN CONSTRUCTION.
AS THE ANALYSIS NOTES, MANY STATE AGENCIES
ARE SPECKING GREEN MATERIALS.
TODAY, CALIFORNIA HAS THE BUY CLEAN,
WHICH APPLIES TO OTHER MATERIALS.
THAT'S ALL WELL AND GOOD.
WE HAVE THE SAME QUESTIONS WITH THIS BILL
THAT WE HAD WITH LAST YEAR'S BILL,
AND IT'S REALLY OPERATIONAL QUESTIONS,
EVEN IF IT'S PERMISSIVE.
THE STATE DOESN'T PROCURE CONCRETE.
WE DO.
SO IF THE STATE'S GOING TO GET INTO
THE SPACE OF PROCURING CONTRACT CONCRETE,
THEN YOU HAVE ALL THESE LIABILITY QUESTIONS
THAT HAVE TO BE ADDRESSED.
FOR EXAMPLE, WHAT IF THE STATE
SUPPLIER DOESN'T SHOW UP?
WHO'S LIABLE FOR LIQUIDATED DAMAGES?
SHOULDN'T BE THE CONTRACTOR.
SINCE WE'RE BUYING FROM THE STATE,
IT'S GOT TO BE THE STATE.
IF THAT PRODUCT FAILS AGAIN,
THE STATE'S THE PROCURING ENTITY.
THEY NEED TO BE LIABLE FOR THAT.
IF THERE'S AN INSUFFICIENT SUPPLY OF THAT MATERIAL,
THE STATE SHOULD BE OBLIGATED TO CHANGE
SPECIFICATIONS AND PAY CHANGE ORDERS.
SO AGAIN, THIS IS NOT HOW PROCUREMENT WORKS TODAY.
AND IF WE'RE GOING TO CREATE
THIS PERMISSIVE AUTHORITY
THEN WE NEED TO ADDRESS THESE UNDERLYING QUESTIONS
PARTICULARLY AS THEY RELATE TO LIABILITY WHICH
IS THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE IN CONSTRUCTION.
IT HAS BEEN FOREVER AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE.
SO FOR THESE REASONS WE ARE OPPOSED.
THANK YOU.
>> MISTER CHAIR MEMBERS BRETT BARROW
WITH THE UNITED CONTRACTORS,
THE NATIONAL ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION,
THE CALIFORNIA LEGISLATIVE CONFERENCE
OF THE PLUMBING,
HEATING PIPING INDUSTRY, AND
THE WESTERN LINE CONSTRUCTION.
AND.
WELL, I WANT TO ECHO A LOT OF WHAT CEA HAS SAID.
I WANT TO ADD TO THAT.
CONCRETE IS ONE OF THOSE COMPLEX
AREAS OF CONSTRUCTION IN
THAT WE HAVE TO MEET BID SPECIFICATIONS
OF THE STATE,
DEALING WITH THOUSANDS OF BLENDS
OF CONCRETE FOR STRUCTURE,
COLOR, TEMPERATURE,
EVERYTHING THAT COULD BE VARIABLES
ON THE JOB SITE AT THE TIME.
AND PLUS CONCRETE DOESN'T TRAVEL WELL.
WE HAVE TO GET IT FROM THE SOURCE THAT'S
CLOSE TO THE SITE THAT WE'RE WORKING ON,
ESPECIALLY WHEN WE'RE POURING LARGE HIGHWAYS WHERE
WE HAVE TO HAVE A CONTINUAL CHAIN OF TRUCKS
COMING IN AND KEEP THAT CHAIN GOING AS LONG
AS WE'RE DOING THAT PARTICULAR SECTION.
SO OUR CONCERN IS WITH THE LIABILITY
AND THE AVAILABILITY AND OF COURSE,
THE PRICING OF THESE LONG TUM PURCHASE AGREEMENTS.
SO FOR THOSE REASONS, WE'RE OPPOSED TO THE 1073.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, MR.
CHAIR.
MEMBERS TODD BLUMSTEIN, REPRESENTING THE SOUTHERN
CALIFORNIA CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION.
JUST TWO BRIEF POINTS.
ONE, THE SOURCES WHERE CONCRETE
AND CEMENT ARE PRODUCED,
THOSE ARE STATIONARY SOURCES AND THEY'RE
REGULATED BY THE AQMD ACROSS THE STATE.
SO AND THAT'S SUBJECT, OF COURSE, TO CAP AND TRADE.
SECOND QUESTION OR SECOND ISSUE IS I WOULD ENCOURAGE
THE SPONSORS TO WORK WITHIN CALTRANS.
THEY HAVE A COMMITTEE DESIGNED CALLED
THE CALTRANS PAVEMENT MATERIALS
PARTNERING PARTNERING COMMITTEE
THAT LOOKS AT PRODUCTS
THAT THE THAT INDUSTRY WANTS TO PRESENT
THEM SO THEY CAN RESEARCH
THEM AND TEST THEM BEFORE THEY
GET OUT ONTO OUR HIGHWAYS.
SO I'D ENCOURAGE THAT APPROACH
RATHER THAN THE LEGISLATURE
SAYING WE SHOULD USE A PARTICULAR TYPE OF CONCRETE.
THANK YOU, MR.
CHAIR.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
OKAY, SO WE'VE HEARD FROM THE SUPPORT
AND OPPOSITION TURN BACK TO THE COMMITTEE.
ANYBODY WISHING TO.
I WOULD MOVE THE BILL.
SENATOR ARCHULETTA.
YEAH.
UH.
>> SENATOR, I'VE GOT SOME QUESTIONS,
PROBABLY TO YOUR EXPERTS.
I GUESS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CONCRETE,
AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT STORAGE.
AND WHEN I THINK OF CONCRETE, I KNOW IT'S SAND
AND GRAVEL AND ROCK AND IT'S MADE TOGETHER,
AND ALL IT IS, IS ALL THESE ELEMENTS GOING
TO BE STORED SEPARATELY AND PURCHASED,
OR THEY MENTIONED ABOUT DISTRIBUTION,
OR DIFFERENT VENDORS ARE GOING TO COME AND BUY
FROM THE STATE THIS AUTHORIZED CONCRETE.
HOW IS ALL THAT WORKING TOGETHER?
UM, THANK YOU FOR YOUR QUESTION.
THE WHILE THE BILL REFERENCES CEMENT
AND CONCRETE BECAUSE CONCRETE,
UH, ALMOST ALL CONCRETE HAS CEMENT.
ALL CEMENT ISN'T NECESSARILY CONCRETE,
BUT THE REAL FOCUS OF THE BILL IS
ON THE PRODUCTION OF THE CEMENT,
BECAUSE IT IS THE CEMENT MIX OR
THE PROCESS OF PRODUCING CEMENT,
THAT WHERE ALL THE GREENHOUSE GASES COME
IN AND WHERE CEMENT IS UNIQUE IS THAT,
YOU KNOW, EVEN IF WE GO TO 100% RENEWABLE ENERGY.
SO THE KILNS THAT PRODUCE CEMENT
ARE COMPLETELY POWERED BY,
YOU KNOW, NON, UH,
NO EMISSION POWER THERE IS STILL IN IN THE WAY THAT
WE PRODUCE CEMENT NOW BECAUSE OF LIMESTONE,
THERE IS STILL A SIGNIFICANT WHAT
THEY CALL PROCESS EMISSIONS.
LIMESTONE IS BROKEN DOWN AND CARBON IS EMITTED.
WHAT THESE DIFFERENT UM,
COMPANIES ARE NOW DOING IS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT
WAYS TO REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF LIMESTONE
REQUIRED TO USE OTHER MIXES,
OTHER, UH, INGREDIENTS, IN EFFECT, TO MAKE CEMENT.
AND IF THEY CAN PULL THAT OFF IN
AN ECONOMICALLY VIABLE WAY,
THEN WE'LL HAVE A CEMENT PRODUCT THAT IS LOW CARBON.
YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT REAL AVAILABLE RIGHT NOW,
BUT IN TEN YEARS, IT'S POSSIBLE.
SO I MADE THE ANALOGY TO THE BATTERY STORAGE,
BECAUSE AT THE POINT THAT WE SENT THAT SIGNAL,
IT WAS NOT REALLY AVAILABLE AT THAT TIME,
BUT IT BECAME AVAILABLE.
SO THIS BILL, COMPARED TO MY
PREVIOUS ATTEMPT AT THIS,
MY PREVIOUS ATTEMPT WAS REQUIREMENT.
THIS ONE IS PERMISSIVE.
THIS ONE GIVES THE AGENCIES
THE AUTHORITY IF THEY CHOOSE TO,
TO ENGAGE IN SOME ADVANCED PROCUREMENT,
BUT IT DOESN'T REQUIRE THEM TO.
AND THIS IS WHERE I WOULD, UH,
UM, RESPOND TO THE OPPOSITION.
IT DOES NOT REQUIRE THE STATE AGENCIES TO
MAKE THAT PURCHASE IN THE TEN YEARS TIME,
BECAUSE IT'S POSSIBLE THAT WE WILL
NOT HAVE THE PRODUCT AVAILABLE,
IT WILL NOT MEET THE SPECIFICATIONS WE NEED.
AND SO, OF COURSE, WE WOULD NEVER FORCE
THE STATE TO THEN PURCHASE IT.
SO THIS IS MORE TO SEND THAT SIGNAL LIKE,
YES, RESEARCHERS, DEVELOPERS, INVESTORS.
YOU KNOW, UH, WE'RE LOOKING FOR A PRODUCT LIKE THIS.
WE'D LOVE TO SEE IT DEVELOPED
AND WE'LL WE'LL INDICATE
OUR INTEREST BY THESE ADVANCED PROCUREMENTS.
BUT IF IT ISN'T MET, WE WILL NOT PURCHASE.
OKAY.
THANK YOU, MR.
CHAIR.
I'M JUST GOING TO FOLLOW UP ON THAT QUESTION.
UM, BECAUSE THE OPPOSITION BROUGHT UP,
I THINK, SOME INTERESTING POINTS.
WHILE THE STATE IS NOT PURCHASING THIS,
WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT,
I'M THINKING, IS THAT THE STATE WOULD, UH.
NEGOTIATE WITH THE CONTRACTORS,
THE PEOPLE THAT WOULD BUY IT, TO INSIST,
IF IT'S READILY AVAILABLE TO PURCHASE
THESE PRODUCTS THAT THE.
STATE SENDS, THE STATE DOES SET
SPECIFICATIONS AND SUCH.
UM, AND THE STATE ACTUALLY DOES
DO A LOT OF PURCHASING.
SO I THINK THERE'S A LITTLE ERROR THERE.
IN FACT, WE ARE THE THE LARGEST PURCHASER
OF CEMENT IN THE WITHIN THE STATE.
THE STATE IS THE LARGEST PURCHASER.
UM, UH, AND THEY MAY BE DOING
THAT THROUGH SUBCONTRACT,
BUT THEY STILL ARE THE PURCHASER.
UM, SO, UH, WE.
WHAT WE REALLY ARE TRYING TO DO IS THE SAME
WAY THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DOES.
AND MY WITNESSES TALKED ABOUT
HOW THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
AND OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES USE THIS KIND OF SIGNAL,
ENGAGING IN ADVANCED PROCUREMENT TO SAY, YEAH,
WE WANT WE WANT TO TELL THE MARKET, YEAH,
WE'D LIKE PRODUCTS LIKE THIS,
BUT WHERE THIS BILL WHERE I'M CLEAR,
IS THAT IF THOSE PRODUCTS DO NOT MEET OUR NEEDS
AND THEY ARE NOT ECONOMICALLY VIABLE,
THEN WE KNOW STATE YOU DON'T HAVE TO PURCHASE THEM.
BUT IT IS TELLING THE INDUSTRY, YEAH,
WE'D LIKE TO SEE YOU DEVELOP THIS.
GREAT.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, SENATOR ALVARADO?
GIL.
UM, SENATOR SKINNER, I'M INTRIGUED BY YOUR BILL.
UM, THIS IS ONE OF THE AREAS THAT,
AS I AM LEARNING MORE ABOUT MEETING
OUR 2030 GOALS, CLIMATE GOALS,
AND UNDERSTANDING SOME OF THE NEW GREEN
PRACTICES THAT I BECAME FAMILIAR WITH,
THE STATS AROUND CEMENT BEING
A MAJOR CONTRIBUTOR TO,
UH, THE THE PROBLEM THAT WE'RE TRYING TO FACE HERE.
AND IN THAT I ACTUALLY FOUND A,
A BUSINESS THAT IS WITHIN
AMADOR COUNTY AND THE DISTRICT THAT I REPRESENT,
UM, THAT HAD SOME INNOVATIVE APPROACHES TO
DEVELOPING LOWER CARBON CEMENT MIXES.
SO I'M EXCITED ABOUT YOUR BILL BECAUSE
IT IMPACTS MY DISTRICT DIRECTLY.
UM, AND I HOPE THAT AS YOUR BILL MOVES FORWARD,
THAT YOU WOULD ALLOW ME TO CONNECT
YOU WITH PURE BASE,
WHICH IS A COMPANY THAT HAS MASTERED THIS
TECHNOLOGY AND THE SCIENCE AND HAS
CURRENTLY PROCURING ALL OVER THE WORLD,
AND NOT SO MUCH HERE IN CALIFORNIA.
SO I'M EXCITED ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY
TO LOOK AT THIS AND HOPE THAT YOU
WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE OPPOSITION
TO CREATE THAT PARTNERSHIP.
GREAT.
ANYBODY ELSE?
I HAVE A QUESTION.
YES, JUST A QUESTION.
THANK YOU.
DO WE HAVE ANY, UM DO WE HAVE ANY ESTIMATES
AS TO HOW MANY COMPANIES, UM,
CURRENTLY PRODUCE CEMENT AND CONCRETE IN OUR STATE
AND HOW MANY ACTUALLY WOULD FALL WITHIN
THESE PARAMETERS OF BEING ABLE TO PROVIDE CLEAN,
CLEANER, UH, CEMENT AND CONCRETE?
UM, WELL, WE HAD THE, UH,
ONE OF MY WITNESSES FROM AN AN INDUSTRY
ASSOCIATION INDICATED,
AND PERHAPS HE COULD COME BACK AND SAY THE EXACT
NUMBER SO THAT I DON'T, UH, MAKE IT INACCURATE.
HE REFERENCED THE NUMBER OF COMPANIES
THAT ARE NOW ENGAGED
IN TRYING TO PRODUCE THESE KIND OF PRODUCTS.
UM, AND SOME OF THEM ARE BASED IN CALIFORNIA.
HE MENTIONED THAT ALSO.
WILL YOU REFERENCE THAT?
SURE.
SO OUR OUR ALLIANCE HAS 11 COMPANIES.
FOUR OF THEM ARE BASED IN CALIFORNIA.
BUT I WOULD ALSO NOTE WE ARE REPRESENTING
SORT OF VANGUARD CLIMATE TECH COMPANIES,
BUT THE INCUMBENT PRODUCERS ARE ACTUALLY
MAKING A PRIORITY AROUND THIS AS WELL.
AND THEY, FOR EXAMPLE, UM,
RECENTLY WERE AWARDED A DOE GRANT
TO MAKE A CARBON NEUTRAL CEMENT
PLANT IN IN CALIFORNIA.
SO IT'S NOT JUST THE THE SORT OF INNOVATIVE
COMPANIES THAT ARE PART OF DC2,
BUT THERE'S A BROADER COHORT OF
LOW CARBON CEMENT AND CONCRETE
COMPANIES THAT WOULD BE CATALYZED
BY LEGISLATION LIKE THIS.
I'M SORRY.
SO.
SO TO BE CLEAR, THE QUESTION WAS HOW MANY COMPANIES
DO WE HAVE CURRENTLY IN CALIFORNIA AND UNDER THOSE?
OUT OF THOSE NUMBERS, WE HAVE CURRENTLY FOUR.
WELL, SO.
THERE ARE FOUR COMPANIES THAT ARE WITHIN
HIS ASSOCIATION THAT ARE AND I ARE MORE
VERY SPECIALIZED AND REALLY FOCUSED SOLELY
AND ONLY ON THIS VERY LOW CARBON.
YES.
UM, PRODUCTION.
NOW WE HAVE MANY OTHER CEMENT
PRODUCERS IN CALIFORNIA.
AND HOW MANY ARE THAT?
THAT'S THE QUESTION.
AND I APOLOGIZE THAT I CAN'T
REMEMBER THAT EXACT NUMBER.
BUT THOSE CEMENT PRODUCERS,
SOME OF THEM JUST AS HE AS HE DESCRIBED,
ARE ACTIVELY ALSO ENGAGED IN TRYING
TO REVISE THEIR PROCESSES,
CHANGE THEIR TECHNOLOGIES,
NOT SOLELY AND ONLY BECAUSE OF A BILL LIKE THIS,
BUT BECAUSE, FOR EXAMPLE,
CALIFORNIA ALREADY HAS IN STATUTE.
BY THAT, BY A CERTAIN YEAR,
YOU'VE GOT TO WAY REDUCE THOSE EMISSIONS.
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS SENDING THOSE SIGNALS.
SO THE SIGNALS ARE BEING SENT TO INCENTIVIZE
ALL OF OUR PRODUCERS,
OUR SPECIALTY ONES LIKE D TWO REPRESENTS AND EVEN
OUR EXISTING CEMENT PRODUCERS TO TO TRY TO,
YOU KNOW, HELP SUPPORT THEM IN
MAKING THESE INNOVATIONS IN
CEMENT PRODUCTION TO BE ABLE
TO ACHIEVE THAT LOW CARBON.
MR.
CHAIR, I WAS WONDERING, DO YOU THINK
MAYBE THE OTHER WITNESSES MIGHT HAVE
THE INFORMATION AS FAR AS HOW MANY OR DO
OUR CONSULTANTS HAVE THAT INFORMATION?
WE THE CONSULTANTS DO NOT UM.
THE.
WE MIGHT HERE.
I DON'T HAVE THAT INFORMATION,
BUT THE COMPANY THAT I'M I'M
REPRESENTING UM ARGENT MATERIALS
IS NOT PART OF THE DC TWO.
SO IT IS ANOTHER COMPANY BASED
IN CALIFORNIA THAT PRODUCES,
UM CARBON NEUTRAL, CARBON NEUTRAL.
SO A TOTAL OF FIVE THAT WE ARE CURRENTLY AWARE OF.
SO I DON'T THINK IF THERE'S NOBODY HERE THAT
HAS ANY KIND OF AWARENESS OF APPROXIMATELY
HOW MANY CEMENT MANUFACTURERS THERE
ARE IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.
I USED TO KNOW, I JUST DON'T WANT TO PUT
FORWARD A NUMBER BASED ON MY MEMORY.
THAT COULD BE VERY INACCURATE.
THAT'S.
>> UH, RYAN MCCARTHY WITH WEIDMAN GROUP.
UM, I BELIEVE THERE ARE 7 OR 8 CEMENT
FACILITIES IN THE STATE.
I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY COMPANIES OPERATE THEM.
I THINK IT'S PROBABLY LESS THAN THAT.
UM.
BUT THEN THE OVERALL CONCRETE SPACE IS MUCH BROADER.
THERE'S A LOT I THINK THERE'S HUNDREDS
OF CONCRETE MANUFACTURERS,
BUT THERE'S OTHERS WHO PROBABLY
HAVE BETTER ANSWERS TO THAT.
OKAY.
UH.
ANYBODY ELSE?
SEEING NONE.
SENATOR, WOULD YOU LIKE TO CLOSE?
YES.
THANK YOU.
CHAIR.
SO.
DIFFERENT THAN MY PREVIOUS BILL.
THIS DOES NOT.
IT DOES NOT HAVE THE MANDATE OR THE REQUIREMENT.
IT IS PERMISSIVE.
IT ALLOWS THE AGENCIES IF THEY CHOOSE TO.
AND THEN AND IF THEY DO SO
AND THEY SEND THAT SIGNAL AND SAY,
YES, WE'RE INTERESTED IN THIS,
WE'RE GOING TO SEND YOU OUT SOME INTEREST
IN THIS ADVANCED PROCUREMENT.
BUT IF AT THE POINT THAT THEY
ARE PROCURING THOSE PRODUCTS,
DO NOT MEET THE SPECIFICATIONS OR
DON'T CAN'T COMPETE WITH THE BID,
THEY WILL NOT HAVE TO PROCURE.
SO WITH THAT, I ASK FOR YOUR VOTE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
SENATOR RUBIO, DID YOU HAVE THE MOTION ON THIS?
>> I DID ASK.
SO THE MOTION IS BY SENATOR RUBIO ON SB 1073.
THE BILL HAS BEEN A THE MOTION IS DUE PASS
TO ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY COMMITTEE.
SECRETARY, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL DODD.
I DODD I WILL I WILL I ALVARADO
GIL I ALVARADO GIL I ARCHULETA
I ARCHULETA I ASHBY BRADFORD
BRADFORD I GLAZER JONES.
JONES I NGUYEN.
NGUYEN I OKOBO.
PADILLA.
PADILLA I.
PORTANTINO.
PORTANTINO I.
ROSS.
RUBIO.
I.
SALADO.
SMALLWOOD.
CUEVAS.
GREAT.
BILL HAS 11 VOTES.
WE'RE GOING TO KEEP THAT.
WE'LL PUT THAT ON CALL NOW.
WE'RE GOING TO MOVE NOW TO OUR LAST ITEM NUMBER SIX.
IT'S SB 1157.
SENATOR GLASER, IF YOU OR YOUR STAFF IS LISTENING,
IT'S HIGH TIME YOU CAME TO THE COMMITTEE HEARING.
PLEASE.
AND WE ALSO HAVE A COUPLE OTHER SENATORS
THAT MAY BE IN OTHER COMMITTEES.
UH, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY DOWN
HERE SO WE CAN CLOSE OUT.
UH, SENATOR HURTADO, YOU HAVE
ITEM NUMBER SIX, SB 1157.
GOOD MORNING.
>> GOOD MORNING.
THANK YOU, MR.
CHAIR.
AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE,
I'M HERE TO PRESENT SB 1157,
A BILL THAT CLARIFIES HUMAN TRAFFICKING
AND FORCED LABOR DEFINITIONS,
SETS RULES FOR GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS,
REQUIRES COMPLIANCE PLANS FOR
CALIFORNIA CONTRACTORS,
AND OUTLINES PROCEDURES TO ADDRESS
LABOR ISSUES AND SUPPLY CHAINS.
UM, I WILL ALSO BE ACCEPTING THE AMENDMENTS
NOTED IN THE ANALYSIS.
UH, PUBLIC PROCUREMENT IS A SIGNIFICANT
PART OF GLOBAL GDP,
HIGHLIGHTING CALIFORNIA'S POTENTIAL
TO INFLUENCE WORKING
CONDITIONS WORLDWIDE THROUGH ITS POLICIES.
AND FOR FAR TOO LONG,
THE UGLY TRUTH OF FORCED LABOR HAS
LURKED BEHIND THE SCENES OF COUNTLESS INDUSTRIES.
FORCED LABOR IS FOUND IN VIRTUALLY ALL INDUSTRIES,
AND FOR MANY DECADES HAS PLAGUED SUPPLY
CHAINS AND TAINTED THE PRODUCTS.
THEY HELP CREATE.
REPORTS FROM THE BUREAU OF INTERNATIONAL
LABOR AFFAIRS AND THE US DEPARTMENT OF
LABOR REVEALS THE STAGGERING ARRAY OF GOODS
SPANNING 159 CATEGORIES FROM 78,
70, 78 COUNTRIES FIND THEIR WAY INTO AMERICAN
MARKETS TAINTED BY THE STAIN OF FORCED LABOR,
VIOLATING BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS
AND INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS.
CALIFORNIA, AS THE I BELIEVE IT'S I'M NOT
SURE IF IT'S THE FIFTH OR THE FOURTH,
BUT SOMEWHERE AROUND THERE,
THE LARGEST ECONOMY IN THE WORLD HAS DONE
LITTLE TO FOLLOW THE RECOMMENDATION
TO BETTER RESPOND TO AND PREVENT LABOR TRAFFICKING.
SB 1157 WOULD REVISE EXISTING LAW BY REQUIRING
THAT ANY BUSINESS THAT WISHES TO CONTRACT WITH
THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA COMPLIES
WITH UPDATED PROVISIONS
CURRENTLY IN FEDERAL REGULATIONS IN 2016,
TO BETTER IDENTIFY AND PREVENT HUMAN TRAFFICKING
AND OTHER FORMS OF LABOR.
ANNUALLY, THE CALIFORNIA GOVERNMENT PROCURES
ABOUT $20 BILLION IN GOODS AND AND SERVICES.
IN PASSING SB 1157, THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA WILL BE ENSURING
OUR PROCUREMENT SYSTEM HAS THE SAME EXPLICIT
PROTECTION STANDARD AS
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS FOR
THE LAST EIGHT YEARS TO PREVENT HUMAN TRAFFICKING.
THIS BILL IS A MAJOR OVERDUE STEP IN
CREATING TRUE PREVENTATIVE MEASURES
TO ADDRESS FORCED LABOR AND EXPLOITATION
IN OUR PROGRESSIVE STATE,
AND HERE TO TESTIFY IN SUPPORT,
I HAVE, UH, STEPHANIE.
RICHARD.
AND I HAVE FLOOR.
MOLINA.
>> UM, GOOD AFTERNOON OR GOOD MORNING.
MY NAME IS PROFESSOR RICHARD.
I'M THE DIRECTOR OF THE ANITA JANE ANTI-TRAFFICKING
INITIATIVE AT LOYOLA LAW SCHOOL.
THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME SPEAK HERE WITH
YOU TODAY ON THIS IMPORTANT PIECE
OF LEGISLATION TO PREVENT TRAFFICKING
IN CALIFORNIA AND GLOBALLY.
THERE'S NO EASY SOLUTIONS TO PREVENTING
HUMAN TRAFFICKING.
HOWEVER, FROM A POLICY PERSPECTIVE,
NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL EXPERTS
AGREE THAT TAKING STEPS TO
COMBAT TRAFFICKING AND GOVERNMENT
PROCUREMENT CONTRACTS
CAN PREVENT TRAFFICKING BEFORE IT STARTS.
BASED ON OVER TEN YEARS OF LEARNING
HOW TO BETTER PREVENT
TRAFFICKING BEFORE IT STARTS AND SUPPLY CHAINS,
SB 1157 PROVIDES SPECIFIC AND DETAILED GUIDANCE
TO CALIFORNIA CONTRACTORS ON CONCRETE
ACTIONS THEY MUST TAKE TO ENSURE GOODS MADE
FOR CALIFORNIA ARE PRODUCED ETHICALLY.
THIS PROPOSED LEGISLATION ALSO
SUPPORTS BUSINESSES AS
IT'S MODELED ON EXISTING FEDERAL STANDARDS CREATED
EIGHT YEARS AGO THAT COMPANIES HAVE ALREADY HAD
TO COMPLY WITH TO RECEIVE FEDERAL CONTRACTS.
THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT CALIFORNIA COMPANIES
WHO CONTRACT WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
ALREADY HAVE TO MEET FEDERAL PROCUREMENT
STANDARDS ON TRAFFICKING,
AND CALIFORNIA'S STATE LAW WOULD REINFORCE THESE
BEST PRACTICES TO PREVENT TRAFFICKING.
SINCE CALIFORNIA IS THE FIFTH
LARGEST ECONOMY IN THE WORLD,
THIS MEASURE CAN HAVE STATE AND GLOBAL IMPACT.
FURTHER, A LOT OF CALIFORNIA COMPANIES,
TECH, CONSTRUCTION, AUTOMOBILES,
SOLAR FOOD PROCESSING ARE ALREADY
FACING THESE REGULATIONS,
AND AS THEY SEEK TO MEET THEM,
THEY SHOULDN'T BE UNDERCUT BY THE CALIFORNIA
STATE GOVERNMENT GIVING CONTRACTS
TO THOSE WHO AREN'T MEETING THESE MINIMUM
STANDARDS OR TRYING TO MEET THEM.
THE MINIMUM FLOOR STANDARDS IN SB 1157
HELP ALL COMPANIES KNOW WHAT THEY
NEED TO DO TO PREVENT TRAFFICKING
AND REINFORCE ETHICAL PRACTICES.
THIS INCLUDES SUCH THINGS AS HAVING
PROTOCOLS AND PRACTICES IN
PLACE THAT ENSURE NO RECRUITMENT
FEES ARE PAID BY WORKERS,
A WAY THAT OUR THAT WORKERS ARE COMMONLY ENTRAPPED
IN DEBT BONDAGE OR MODERN SLAVERY.
HAVING A POLICY THAT SAYS THAT COMPANIES
CANNOT HOLD THE IDEAS OF WORKERS.
ALSO EXPLICITLY, IN CALIFORNIA CRIMINAL LAW,
THAT SAYS HOLDING AN IDEA OF A WORKER
IS PER SE TRAFFICKING IF IT CAUSES
SOMEONE TO PERFORM WORK AND GUARANTEED REPATRIATION
IF THEY WANT TO LEAVE A BAD
WORK ENVIRONMENT, THEY CAN.
THEY NOT.
THEY ARE NOT GOING TO BE HELD AGAINST THEIR WILL.
SB 1157 IS ALSO EASY TO IMPLEMENT
AS ITS STATUTORY LANGUAGE,
ALTHOUGH IT LOOKS COMPLEX,
IS SOMETHING YOU CAN CUT AND PASTE INTO EXISTING
LANGUAGE IN CALIFORNIA CONTRACTS.
SO SB 1157 IS JUST THE TOOL.
OUR STATE PROCUREMENT PROCESS NEEDS TO
STOP UNDERLYING ILLEGAL WORKPLACE
AND HIRING PRACTICES THAT ARE ALREADY
ILLEGAL IN CALIFORNIA AND NATIONALLY,
AND CONSISTENTLY REINFORCE ETHICAL
STANDARDS AND BUSINESS PRACTICES.
FOR THESE REASONS, I ASK FOR YOUR.
I VOTE ON SB 1157, AND I'D LIKE
TO INTRODUCE FLOOR MOLINA,
A SURVIVOR OF LABOR TRAFFICKING,
WHO WILL TESTIFY MORE ABOUT HER PERSONAL EXPERIENCE.
>> GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR LISTENING TO ME TODAY.
MY NAME IS FLORA MOLINA AND I AM A SURVIVOR
OF LABOR TRAFFICKING IN CALIFORNIA.
I AM A.
HER TESTIMONY OF.
TRAFFICKING IN CALIFORNIA.
I WAS RECRUITED IN MY HOMETOWN BY MY SEWING TEACHER,
TELLING ME THAT THERE WAS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY
TO COME TO THE UNITED STATES.
EVERYTHING WAS GOING TO BE PAID FOR.
UM, WHEN I ARRIVED TO THE UNITED STATES,
THEY WILL PROVIDE ME A PLACE WHERE TO LIVE.
AND, UM, I DIDN'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT ANYTHING.
WHEN I ARRIVED TO THE UNITED STATES,
EVERYTHING WAS DIFFERENT.
I WAS, UM, IN A FACTORY WITH
50 OR 60 SEWING MACHINES.
I WASN'T ALLOWED TO PUT ONE STEP
OUTSIDE OF THE FACTORY.
I WAS NOT ALLOWED TO TALK TO MY
CO-WORKERS OR OTHER PEOPLE.
I DIDN'T KNOW WHERE I WAS WHEN, UM.
WHEN I WAS DROPPED OFF AT, UM, LOS ANGELES.
UM, I IT WAS DARK.
IT WAS RAINING.
I DIDN'T KNOW ANY PERSON IN THE UNITED STATES.
I HAD ONLY TEN MINUTES TO EAT WHATEVER THEY
PROVIDED ME DURING MY LONG SHIFTS.
AND I WAS TOLD THAT IF I DIDN'T
DO WHAT THEY TOLD ME TO DO,
THEY WILL HURT MY FAMILY,
SPECIFICALLY MY CHILDREN BACK HOME.
I WAS AFRAID, HUNGRY, TIRED,
AND I WASN'T ALLOWED TO TALK TO ANYBODY.
NOBODY WAS THERE FOR HELP.
I THANK TO SENATOR HURTADO FOR INTRODUCING.
SB 1157, BECAUSE BILLS LIKE 1157
WILL PROVIDE A CONTRACT
FOR PERSONS WHO WANT TO COME TO THE UNITED STATES.
IT ALSO MANDATES THAT THE CONTRACT
WILL BE IN THE NATIVE LANGUAGE
OF THE PERSON WHO IS COMING TO THE UNITED STATES.
I WILL JUST SAY IT WILL BE
GREAT IF ALSO THEY PROVIDE
A NUMBER TO CALL IN CASE ANYTHING GOES WRONG.
I APPRECIATE THE EFFORTS.
LAWMAKERS LIKE YOU ALL DO TO
FIGHT HUMAN TRAFFICKING.
I DON'T WANT ANY OTHER HUMAN BEING
TO GO TO WHAT I WENT THROUGH,
BECAUSE HUMAN TRAFFICKING IS STILL EXISTS,
AND IT'S A SHAME THAT IT HAPPENS IN CALIFORNIA.
I AM SO BLESSED TO BE IN CALIFORNIA,
BECAUSE CALIFORNIA IS TAKING AS
AN EXAMPLE FOR OTHER STATES
AND NATIONWIDE AND AROUND THE AROUND THE GLOBE,
UM, AS AN EXAMPLE TO FIGHT HUMAN TRAFFICKING.
THAT'S THE ONLY THING I CAN SAY ABOUT CALIFORNIA.
BUT ALSO I WANT TO URGE, UM,
THE COMMITTEE HERE TODAY,
AND I ASK FOR YOUR I VOTE ON 1157.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR PERSONAL TESTIMONY.
I'M TERRIBLY SORRY THAT YOU HAD
TO GO THROUGH THAT ORDEAL.
UNBELIEVABLE.
UM, ANY OTHER WITNESSES IN SUPPORT?
ANY WITNESSES IN OPPOSITION.
SEEING NONE, TURN IT BACK TO THE COMMITTEE.
UH, SENATOR ARCHULETA.
WELL, I'D LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR WITNESS, SENATOR.
WHAT A STATEMENT.
WHAT A HERO YOU ARE.
CONGRATULATIONS.
GOD BLESS YOU TO COME FORWARD FOR ALL THE WOMEN
AND MEN AND CHILDREN WHO ARE FACING THIS TERRIBLE,
TERRIBLE CRIME OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING.
UH, AND I'M GLAD YOU WERE HERE.
SO WE CAN ALL HEAR SO IT CAN BE BROADCAST THAT WE,
THE FIFTH LARGEST ECONOMY,
ECONOMY IN THE WORLD, HAVE TO RESORT TO
SUCH TREATMENT OF OF A HUMAN BEING.
UH, AND I THINK THAT ANY COMPANY THAT IS
INVOLVED IN THAT SHOULD BE TAKEN AWAY.
THE CONTRACTS, THE ABILITY TO DO BUSINESS
IN CALIFORNIA AND ALL THOSE WHO
ARE APPREHENDED TO BE INCARCERATED
FOR TO THE FULL EXTENT OF THE LAW.
AND YOUR ARTICULATION IS AMAZING.
GRACIAS POR HABLA ESPANOL EN INGLÉS.
PERO YO SÉ HABLA ESPANOL.
AND THANK YOU, DEL CORAZON.
SO I'M SO PROUD OF YOU.
THAT IS AMAZING.
AND, SENATOR, UH, BRINGING THIS FORWARD REALLY
OPENS A LOT OF DOORS TO A LOT OF US.
AND I THINK THAT WE NOT ONLY
HAVE TO LOOK TO CALIFORNIA,
BUT THE SOURCES WHERE IT COMES FROM.
AND I'M HOPING THAT THERE ARE AGENCIES WITHIN OUR
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THAT CAN CROSS THESE BORDERS
AND FIND AND PARTICIPATE WITH
LAW ENFORCEMENT IN OTHER
COUNTRIES TO PREVENT THEM FROM COMING HERE.
SO WHEN APPROPRIATE, I WILL, UH,
ACKNOWLEDGE THE BILL AND MOVE IT FORWARD.
THANK YOU.
ANYBODY ELSE?
SENATOR RUBIO.
YEAH.
FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU TO TO THE SENATOR
FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD.
I MEAN, THIS CONTINUES TO BE A REALLY BIG ISSUE
IN OUR IN OUR COUNTRY, NOT JUST IN CALIFORNIA.
AND AND IT REALLY BREAKS MY HEART.
AND I WANT TO THANK ALL FLOOR FOR COMING FORWARD.
I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT WHAT SHE
SAID IS SHE WAS IN A SEWING
CLASS AND SHE WAS RECRUITED BY HER SEWING TEACHER.
SO IT'S NOT SOMEONE THAT JUST CHOSE TO COME
OVER AND SEE HOW THEY BREAK THE LAW.
BUT THIS IS HAPPENING.
SHE WAS OFFERED AN OPPORTUNITY
WITH SOME GREAT CONDITIONS,
AND THEY COME TO THIS COUNTRY AND THEN THEY FIND
THEMSELVES IN A IN THESE TYPES OF SITUATIONS.
AND I'M, YOU KNOW,
I'M REALLY GLAD THAT YOU'RE BRINGING
THIS BECAUSE IT'S IMPORTANT THAT, YOU KNOW,
THIS IS ALREADY AN EXISTING FEDERAL PROCUREMENT
POLICY THAT EXISTS AND THAT
WE DO EVERYTHING WE CAN AS CALIFORNIANS
TO SAFEGUARD THESE INDIVIDUALS.
LIKE I SAID, SHE DIDN'T CHOOSE TO COME.
SOMEONE RECRUITED HER,
WHICH IS WHAT'S HAPPENING OFTEN.
AND I KNOW I WANT TO JUST ALSO THANK
THE THE SUPPORTERS AND THE ADVOCATES.
I KNOW THAT I'M WORKING WITH THEM ON ANOTHER
BILL THAT FOCUSES SPECIFICALLY ON CHILDREN.
IT HAPPENED IN MY DISTRICT AS WELL,
WHERE NOT ONLY ADULTS BUT CHILDREN ARE
BEING BROUGHT OVER AND THEY'RE WORKING
IN THESE TYPES OF CONDITIONS.
SO.
SO I HOPE THAT NOT ONLY MY BILL PASSES,
BUT YOURS AS WELL,
BECAUSE WE NEED TO TACKLE THIS
ISSUE NOT JUST FOR THE ADULTS,
BUT LIKE I SAID, MY BILL SPECIFICALLY FOR CHILDREN,
UH, THERE THEY HAD CHILDREN WORKING LATE
HOURS OF THE NIGHT WHERE ALL THE WORKERS
IN THE DAYTIME HAD GONE HOME AND
AND THEY WERE WORKING FOR LONG HOURS.
I MEAN, I CAN'T IMAGINE A HUMAN BEING NOT
BEING ABLE TO SPEAK TO THEIR COWORKERS,
GIVING TEN MINUTES TO EAT.
NONE OF US WOULD SURVIVE IN
THESE TYPES OF CONDITIONS.
SO I WANT TO JUST SAY THANK YOU
SO MUCH FOR YOUR TESTIMONY TO
THE GREAT SENATOR OF SANGER FOR
FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD.
I THINK IT'S SO IMPORTANT.
AND I'M TAKING MY TIME BECAUSE I WANT
TO HIGHLIGHT IT HAPPENS EVERY
SINGLE DAY TO VULNERABLE INDIVIDUALS
WHO CAN'T DEFEND THEMSELVES.
IN THE VERY LEAST, WE CAN DO IS
TO ENSURE THAT WHEN, YOU KNOW,
WE ALLOW PEOPLE TO TO GET CONTRACTS AND BUSINESSES,
THAT WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO HOLD THEM
ACCOUNTABLE IF SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAPPENS.
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR STORY AND YOUR ADVOCACY.
AND I ALSO LIKE TO, UM, IF I'M NOT A CO-AUTHOR,
CO-AUTHOR TO THIS BILL AND MOVE A BILL FORWARD.
THANK YOU.
OKAY.
THE BILL HAS BEEN MOVED ENTHUSIASTICALLY,
I MIGHT ADD,
BY SENATOR ARCHULETA, I APPRECIATE THAT.
UM, THE MOTION IS DUE.
PASS IS AMENDED TO LABOR COMMITTEE.
SECRETARY, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
GOD, I DODD I WILK I I ALVARADO GILL I ALVARADO
GILL I ARCHULETA I ARCHULETA I ASHBY.
BRADFORD.
GLASER.
I JONES.
JONES.
I NGUYEN.
WHEN I OKOBO.
OKOBO I PADILLA.
PADILLA I PORTENTINO.
PORTENTINO I ROTH.
RUBIO.
RUBIO I SALADO.
SALADO I.
SMALLWOOD.
CUEVAS.
YOU CALL THE ABSENT MEMBERS AGAIN AT THE SENATOR?
BRADFORD'S HERE.
ASHBY.
BRADFORD.
BRADFORD I.
ROTH.
SMALLWOOD.
CUEVAS 12.
12 VOTES THAT WILL PUT THAT BILL ON CALL.
OKAY.
THANK YOU, SENATOR HURTADO.
WE'LL NOW MOVE TO BILLS ON CALL.
SECRETARY.
CAN YOU.
WHAT'S THAT?
MAKE SURE YOU LEAVE IT OPEN.
AND DO WE HAVE AN IDEA IF SENATOR
SMALLWOOD CUEVAS IS ON HER WAY?
ALL RIGHT, LET'S GO THROUGH.
SOME MEMBERS CAN MOVE ON TO THEIR DAY.
SO, SECRETARY, PLEASE OPEN
THE ROLL ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR.
ABSENT MEMBERS.
ASHBY.
GLASER.
GLASER I.
JONES.
JONES I.
ROTH.
CERRADO CERRADO I.
SMALLWOOD.
CUEVAS.
BILL HAS 13.
WILL LEAVE IT ON CALL.
WE'LL NOW OPEN THE ROLL ON FILE ITEM NUMBER FOUR.
SB 1073.
SKINNER.
SECRETARY, PLEASE OPEN THE ROLL.
ASHBY.
GLASER.
GLASER I.
OCHOA.
BOW.
ROTH.
SALADO.
SIERRA I.
SMALLWOOD.
CUEVAS.
1212 VOTES WILL LEAVE THAT ON CALL
FILE ITEM NUMBER FIVE SB 11 1104.
NILO.
SECRETARY, PLEASE OPEN THE ROLL.
ABSENT.
MEMBERS.
ASHBY.
GLASER.
GLASER I ROTH.
CIERTO.
CIERTO I SMALLWOOD.
CUEVAS.
15, 13, 13 BOATS.
WE'RE GOING TO LEAVE THAT ON CALL.
WE'LL NOW OPEN FILE NUMBER SIX SB 1157.
HURTADO BUT IS THERE ANYBODY NEW
IN THE ROOM SINCE WE DID THAT?
SO WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON.
UH, FILE ITEM NUMBER EIGHT SB 1325 DURAZO.
SECRETARY, PLEASE OPEN THE ROLL.
ABSENT MEMBERS.
ARCHULETA.
ARCHULETA I ASHBY.
BRADFORD.
BRADFORD I.
GLASER.
I JONES.
JONES.
NO.
ROTH.
SATO.
NO.
SATO.
NO.
995 AND SMALL BUSES ON.
9 TO 5.
WE'RE GOING TO KEEP THIS ON.
UH, KEEP IT THE ROLL OPEN.
WE'RE GOING TO NOW MOVE TO FILE
ITEM NUMBER NINE, SB 1220.
LIMON.
SECRETARY, PLEASE OPEN THE ROLL.
ABSENT MEMBERS.
ARCHULETA.
ARCHULETA I ASHBY.
GLASER.
GLASER I JONES.
I'M SORRY.
IS THIS LEMON?
UH.
NO.
JONES.
NO.
NGUYEN.
OKUBO?
NO.
OKOBO NO WRATH.
SATO.
NO SATO.
NO.
SMALLWOOD.
CUEVAS.
939393.
KEEP THAT ROLL OPEN.
FILE ITEM NUMBER 13 SB 892.
PADILLA.
SECRETARY, PLEASE OPEN THE ROLL.
BITE OFF ON THAT.
UH OH, I GUESS I MISSED.
MIN.
FILE ITEM NUMBER 11, SB 1402 MIN.
I APOLOGIZE FOR ABSENT MEMBERS.
WILKE.
ASHBY.
GLASER.
GLASER I JONES.
NO.
JONES.
NO.
NGUYEN.
OKUBO.
ROTH.
SATO.
NO.
SMALLWOOD.
CUEVAS.
SMALLWOOD.
CUEVAS IS HERE.
EIGHT TWO.
DID YOU VOTE?
SMALLWOOD.
CUEVAS ONE EIGHT.
ITEM 11 1402.
THAT'S.
SENATOR MIN IS A.
NO ON THAT ONE.
OH, NO.
NO.
SMALLWOOD, CALVUS.
SMALLWOOD, CALVUS I.
9393.
THAT BILL IS OUT 9 TO 3 NOW.
MOVED TO FILE ITEM NUMBER 13, SB 892.
PADILLA.
THIS TIME.
ABSENT.
MEMBERS.
ASHBY.
GLASER.
GLASER I JONES I JONES I.
ROTH.
SALADO.
SIERRA I.
SMALLWOOD.
CUEVAS.
SMALLWOOD.
CUEVAS I.
1414 ZERO.
THAT BILL IS OUT.
NOW OPEN THE ROLE OF FINAL ITEM.
NUMBER 14 SB 893.
PADILLA.
SECRETARY, PLEASE OPEN THE ROLL.
ABSENT MEMBERS.
ARCHULETA.
ARCHULETA I.
ASHBY.
GLASER.
GLASER, I.
JONES.
JONES I.
ROTH.
SALADO.
SIERRA I.
SMALLWOOD.
CUEVAS.
SMALLWOOD.
CUEVAS I.
1414 ZERO.
THAT BILL IS OUT.
FILE ITEM NUMBER 16 SB 1088.
ALVARADO GILL.
SECRETARY, PLEASE OPEN THE ROLL.
ABSENT MEMBERS.
ASHBY.
GLASER.
GLASER I ROTH.
SALADO I SIERRA I.
SMALLWOOD.
CUEVAS.
SMALLWOOD.
CUEVAS I.
1414 ZERO.
THAT BILL IS OUT.
WE'LL NOW OPEN TO FILE.
WE'LL OPEN THE ROLL ON FILE ITEM 19 896.
DODD.
SECRETARY, PLEASE OPEN THE ROLL.
ABSENT MEMBERS.
ASHBY.
GLASER.
GLASER I ROTH.
SALADO.
>> I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THAT ONE.
HIGH SIERRA I SMALLWOOD.
CUEVAS.
SMALLWOOD.
CUEVAS I.
14.
THAT BILL IS OUT.
OKAY.
WE'RE GOING TO GO BACK TO THE TOP.
WE'RE GOING TO OPEN THE CONSENT.
UH, COULD YOU PLEASE OPEN THE ROLL CONSENT CALENDAR.
ABSENT MEMBERS.
ASHBY.
ROTH.
SMALLWOOD.
CUEVAS.
SMALLER CANVAS.
I IT'S 14 ZERO 14.
THAT BILL IS OUT.
WE'RE MOVING ON TO FILE ITEM NUMBER FOUR SB 1073.
SKINNER.
SECRETARY, PLEASE OPEN THE ROLL.
ASHBY.
OCHOA.
BO.
ROTH.
SMALLWOOD.
CUEVAS.
SMALLWOOD.
CUEVAS I 13 ZERO 13 ZERO.
THAT BILL IS OUT.
OPEN THE ROLL ON FILE.
ITEM NUMBER FIVE SB 1104.
NILO.
ASHBY.
ROTH.
SMALLWOOD.
CUEVAS.
SMALLWOOD.
CUEVAS.
I FOR THE LAST 14.
THE BILL IS OUT.
FILE ITEM NUMBER SIX 1157.
HURTADO, SECRETARY, PLEASE OPEN THE ROLL.
ASHBY.
ROTH.
SMALLWOOD.
CUEVAS.
SMALLWOOD.
CUEVAS I 14 ZERO 14 ZERO.
THAT BILL IS OUT.
UH, HOW ABOUT WE'RE GOING TO OPEN THE ROLL
ON FILE ITEM NUMBER EIGHT, SB 1325.
DURAZO.
SECRETARY, PLEASE OPEN THE ROLL.
ASHBY.
ROTH.
9 TO 5.
THAT BILL IS OUT.
UH, WE'LL MOVE TO FILE ITEM NUMBER NINE.
SB 1220.
LIMON, PLEASE OPEN THE ROLL.
ASHBY.
NGUYEN.
ROTH.
SMALLWOOD.
CUEVAS.
SMALLWOOD WAS I.
OKAY.
10 TO 3, 10 TO 3.
TEN.
THREE.
THAT BILL IS OUT.
UH, THIS CONCLUDES THE BUSINESS FOR THE DAY.
THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL
ORGANIZATION IS ADJOURNED.
I NEED TO TALK TO YOU.
THANK YOU.
GOOD JOB.