Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:35:53.599><c> specific</c> help the counties identify specific help the counties identify specific
• or fingerprints, reliably confirming participant identity will be problematic.
• </c> participants or program staff or both. participants or program staff or both.
• </c> identify syringe exchange participants identify syringe exchange participants who<00:41:51.680><
• will be participant identity will be problematic.<00:42:26.160><c> And</c> problematic.

Transcript Highlights:

• We do this in direct partnership with our county tax assessor partners. and with participation from more
• So the base registration fee for a county. is 50, 75, and then there are county-specific fees, such as
• If you are in Caldwell County, that is a safety only county, you are no longer required to obtain. a
• If you're in an admissions county, one of the 17 Harris County County, Dallas County, one of the larger
• County, Cali, Converter Theft, and across the state, but particularly in Harris County, has been a very

Committee: House Appropriations - S/C on Articles VI, VII, & VIII

Transcript Highlights:

• Live, interactive, meaning they can hear what we are saying and they can participate as well in testifying
• Let me begin by telling you that my Senate counterpart, Senator Collins, is participating virtually.
• I hope Chair Collins is participating virtually. Hello, Chair Collins. How are you?
• I also am a participant and I get an annual statement, but that is on my SMART plan.
• Furthermore, this exemption would be specific to Dukes County in our region.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight

Summary: The committee first heard testimony on a proposed Massachusetts baby bonds program, including H. 3429, S. 2146, and the Treasurer’s related bill H. 48. Treasurer Goldberg and a broad coalition of advocates, researchers, health professionals, and people with lived experience said the program would create trust accounts for children born into low-income families or in DCF custody, with funds available at age 18 for education, homeownership, business startup, or other long-term asset-building uses. Supporters argued the program would help close the racial wealth gap, improve economic mobility, and not affect eligibility for financial aid or public benefits. Committee members asked about administration, investment returns, eligibility, and withdrawal rules; the Treasurer said the accounts would be held in trust and managed by her office with an advisory board, with funds accessible at 18 and usable through age 35 if the beneficiary remains a Massachusetts resident. No vote was taken during the testimony shown. The committee also heard testimony on legislation establishing Lobular Breast Cancer Awareness Day, including S. 2666 and H. 4625. Senator Ross, Representative Badger, physicians, survivors, and advocates described invasive lobular carcinoma as difficult to detect because it often grows in lines rather than forming a lump, can be missed on mammography, and is underfunded and underrepresented in research and clinical trials. Witnesses said the bill would codify an annual October 15 proclamation to raise awareness, improve diagnosis, and encourage more targeted research and treatment. Committee members asked why the disease is so hard to detect, and medical witnesses explained the imaging challenges and the lack of lobular-specific protocols. The witnesses urged favorable reports. The committee then took testimony on H. 4648, a bill concerning the purchase or lease of Fenn Farm in Stockbridge by the Stockbridge-Munsee community. Representative Davis, the Stockbridge Land Trust president, and the tribal president testified that the bill would remove a conservation restriction tied to a state MVP grant so the tribe could manage the land without a restriction that they said would conflict with tribal sovereignty and Indigenous stewardship practices. They said the parcel is a sacred site connected to Monument Mountain and that the restriction is unnecessary because the land is already surrounded by conserved property. The witnesses asked for favorable action on the bill. Finally, the committee heard testimony on H. 3416, a resolution urging Congress to create a national infrastructure bank. Representative Senna and several advocates argued that an off-budget infrastructure bank could finance major repairs and upgrades to roads, bridges, rail, water systems, broadband, and housing without adding to the state budget, while creating jobs and supporting economic growth. Witnesses cited historical precedents for national infrastructure banks and said Massachusetts could benefit substantially from such a program. The transcript shown does not include a committee vote or final action on the resolution.

Transcript Highlights:

• So thank you to everybody that has taken the time to participate. Thanks also.
• Justin Garrett with the California State Association of Counties.
• Justin Garrett with the California State Association of Counties.
• Thank you to all the individuals who participated in public testimony today.
• Thank you to all the individuals who participated in public testimony today.

Summary: The Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Subcommittee 4 met for its 11th and final hearing on a large set of budget items tied to the Senate Democrats’ budget package. The chair highlighted major themes including investments in affordable rental and homeownership programs, full funding for homeless housing programs, oversight and efficiency changes at the Department of General Services, continuation funding for consumer protection and financial regulation programs at the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation, and funding for information technology, resilience, and data security. Members also noted the broader budget process and the large volume of testimony and agency follow-up throughout the hearings. During member comments, Senator Smallwood-Cuevas raised concerns about incomplete responses to information requests from departments, said more work is needed to prepare for the Olympics, and urged additional investment in Expo Park and arts and cultural programs, especially near Olympic venues. Senator Cowan praised the transparency of the budget process, the work of staff and agencies, and the subcommittee’s oversight role, while acknowledging some follow-up issues raised by colleagues. Public testimony included support from the California State Association of Counties for fully funding the HAP program at $1 billion and distributing the funds by September 1, and from the Small Business Development Centers for $26 million in GoBiz funding for SIP and TAP loan and technical assistance programs. The committee then voted in blocks on the agenda items: one large block passed unanimously, a second block passed 3-1 with Senator Niello voting no, and items 20 and 42 passed 3-0 with Senator Niello not voting. The hearing then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Mariposa serves about 30,000 patients in Santa Cruz County, the smallest county in Arizona, through seven
• And the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office did participate. We know that.
• And the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office did participate. We know that.
• And the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office did participate.
• populous county, and two to reside in different counties out of the remaining counties, allowing the

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> which goes to every county in the state. which goes to every county in the state.
• Sterns County would see a O'Driscoll. Sterns County would see a shift<01:37:42.159><c> of.248%.
• </c> members participating remotely. members participating remotely.
• </c> member participating remotely. member participating remotely. Burl. Burl. Burl.
• Thank you. member participating remotely. member participating remotely. &gt;&gt; Burkl.

Transcript Highlights:

• in my county.
• in my county.
• </c><00:08:16.000><c> are</c> want to call them source counties are want to call them source counties
• </c> counties that are trying to do that? counties that are trying to do that?
• I'm ex counties getting revenue.

Committee: Senate Natural Resources & Energy

Transcript Highlights:

• One member who is a county commissioner or a county employee who has expertise or experience in home
• So, as a county commissioner and as a past...
• A three propulsion battery provider may participate in a group education and outreach plan without participating
• They're not participating even though it's mandatory.
• So, I am just curious because on one of the county roads that good representative county roads that good

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> required by law, but also uh participate required by law, but also uh participate in<00:15:54.240
• </c><00:28:48.880><c> in</c> know of right now are participating in know of right now are participating
• , and Jefferson County.
• </c> Grayson, Franklin, and Jefferson County. Grayson, Franklin, and Jefferson County.
• We started with 11 counties. We're now up to 19 counties.

Summary: The Senate convened with an invocation and pledge, established a quorum, excused absent members, and approved the journal. During second reading, several bills and a joint resolution were reported to the Rules Committee, including measures on trauma center provider coverage, cremation, public library trustees, local occupational license fees and taxes, and a food-is-medicine resolution. The House also communicated passage of House Bills 176, 178, and 280 and requested concurrence. Committee reports advanced Senate Bill 39, Senate Bill 181 with a committee substitute, Senate Bill 17 with a committee substitute and title amendment, and Senate Bill 34. The chamber then took up and passed Senate Bill 13, which would allow military installations to have ex officio representation on nearby planning and zoning bodies to improve communication about land use near bases. It passed 37-0. Senate Bill 46, concerning school transportation, was amended by committee substitute to require background checks and drug testing for drivers of school vans and to extend van use to 10-passenger vehicles; it passed 37-0 after a brief clarification about the amendment’s display in the system. Senate Bill 22, expanding the dual credit scholarship program to support a teacher apprenticeship pathway, was amended to require a 2.75 GPA and then passed 36-1 after questions about employment status and liability; the sponsor explained it would help address teacher shortages and reduce student debt. The Senate also passed Senate Bill 90, which extends the behavioral health conditional dismissal pilot program from 2027 to 2031 to continue offering treatment-based alternatives to incarceration for eligible low-level offenders; it passed 37-0. Senate Bill 51, a proposed constitutional change to freeze property tax assessment increases for homeowners age 65 and older on their primary residence, also passed 37-0. Senate Bill 30 was passed over but retained its place in the orders of the day. The rules committee later posted Senate Bills 27, 40, and 76 for the next day, and the Committee on Committees referred Senate Bill 109 to Licensing and Occupations, Senate Bill 68 to State and Local Government, and Senate Resolutions 45 and 46 to the Senate floor.

Transcript Highlights:

• the legislators from across Los Angeles County to the hearing today.
• County delegation and being a real strong advocate for our region.
• County and throughout Southern California.
• County has more kids in it than those two put together.
• And as a child, I was able to participate in sports programs.

Summary: The Assembly Select Committee on the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games held its first hearing at the LA84 Foundation to examine the legacy of the 1984 Los Angeles Games and lessons for 2028. Chair Tina McKinnor and Senator Ben Allen opened by emphasizing the region’s opportunity to build on the 1984 Games’ success, while LA84 Foundation leaders described the foundation’s role in preserving that legacy through youth sports, play equity, and community investment. A youth panelist from Heart of Los Angeles testified that LA84-supported programs helped him stay engaged in sports, build confidence and communication skills, and hope for more community participation and opportunity from the 2028 Games. Former LA Olympic organizing committee officials Richard Perlman and Bob Graziano gave a detailed history of how the 1984 Games were privately financed, used existing venues, relied heavily on volunteers, and generated a large surplus. They said the organizing committee maximized revenue through television rights, sponsorships, and ticket sales, while keeping costs low through disciplined budgeting and community-based procurement. Members asked about equitable economic benefits, volunteer recruitment, ticket access, security, traffic, and funding. Witnesses said the 1984 model involved extensive community outreach, low-cost tickets, and local purchasing, and they urged a structured, deliberate approach to small-business participation and transparency in 2028 planning. Later witnesses focused on the long-term legacy of the 1984 Games. Zev Yaroslavsky argued that the Games succeeded because voters rejected taxpayer underwriting, forcing a private model that protected the city from financial risk, and he said the Games left major cultural and civic legacies, including the LA Opera and broader arts growth. LA84 and Play Equity Fund leaders said the surplus was intentionally used to create lasting impact, including support for millions of youth, research, and policy work. Renato Paiva described how LA84 support helped expand Access Youth Academy and elevate squash as an Olympic sport, and Derek Fisher spoke about the importance of free youth sports and the need to preserve access and opportunity as Los Angeles prepares for 2028.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> for representing Prince George's County for representing Prince George's County and<00:08:15.680
• Senator from Montgomery County, I believe we have a resolution.
• I believe Senator from McGomery County.
• Colleagues, please join me in welcoming students from both Howard County and Anne Arundel County.
• Senator from McGomery<00:13:04.160><c> County.</c> McGomery County. McGomery County.

Transcript Highlights:

• So I'm curious, particularly with your perspective in terms of what's going on in Humboldt County.
• It's based on the participation of the program.
• We have three participant options.
• None of the cable providers who participate in the ACP could participate in Lifeline because of the ETC
• This will include, of course, workshops and other opportunities for public participation.

Transcript Highlights:

• It is clearly reflected on the trust people in certainly South County have put in you to be our county
• It is clearly reflected on the trust people in certainly South County have put in you to be our county
• It is clearly reflected on the trust people in certainly South County have put in you to be our county
• Though some have declined to participate in the program.
• of reservations in a county in the entire nation.

Summary: The joint Senate and Assembly Environmental Quality/Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials informational hearing focused on the Tijuana River Valley sewage crisis, with members from both parties emphasizing that the problem is long-running, cross-border, and severe enough to require federal, state, local, and binational action. Opening remarks described the crisis as an environmental and public health emergency affecting beaches, air and water quality, marine life, tourism, and residents’ quality of life in South Bay communities. Assembly Member Boerner and Senator Jones both stressed the need for continued funding and cooperation, while Senator Padilla said the issue is underappreciated because of where it occurs but has major public health, economic, and educational consequences. Congressman Mike Levin’s office reported more than $650 million in federal funding secured for infrastructure and cleanup, along with federal legislation and requests for CDC and EPA involvement. Supervisor Paloma Aguirre gave a detailed overview of county efforts and the scope of the crisis, citing decades of sewage flows from Tijuana, nearly four years of beach closures, and the county’s expanded water-quality monitoring. She said the county is pursuing warning signs, an air purifier distribution program, an epidemiological study, soil testing, an economic impact study, and a feasibility analysis to remove the “hot spot” near Saturn Boulevard, which she described as a key local source of airborne pollution. She also pointed to binational funding for treatment plant upgrades and said the county is seeking state support, including from Proposition 4 cross-border river funds, to expand relief and mitigation efforts. Scripps researchers Dr. Sarah Giddings and Dr. Kimberly Prather presented scientific findings on water and air transport. Giddings described a high-resolution forecast model that predicts wastewater movement and beach closure risk up to five days ahead, using real-time observations and showing about 72% accuracy against county measurements. Prather said the main exposure route is through air, not just water, and reported that turbulence at the river hot spot aerosolizes pollutants, with hydrogen sulfide and other gases spiking at night and dropping when river flow is diverted. She said the team has identified thousands of gases and linked measurements closely to odor complaints, while also noting that air purifiers can reduce indoor exposure but are not a permanent solution. Dr. Paula Stigler Granados added that community health surveys and CDC assessments show widespread symptoms, sleep disruption, anxiety, and daily life impacts, especially during nighttime odor events. She said her team has found more than 900 contaminants in river water and 106 chemicals uniquely associated with the Saturn Boulevard hot spot, with passive air sampling showing similar chemical fingerprints in nearby homes. The panel discussion ended with questions about standards and accountability, and witnesses and legislators agreed that the crisis requires updated air-quality standards, more health research, and continued coordination to reduce exposure and address the source of pollution.

Transcript Highlights:

• Many jurisdictions in San Diego County followed our lead on that.
• In Orange County, ICE agents asked a La Habra police officer to run searches at an Orange County fusion
• ... ...the ambiguous authorities governing the multi-jurisdictional environment, the participation of
• Over the last 20 years, two additional concerns: first, the participation of the U.S.
• I'm with steering for the Santa Cruz County Immigration Coalition.

Committee: Senate Privacy, Digital Technologies, and Consumer Protection

Summary: The committee heard several privacy, technology, and public safety bills. SB 898 would require manufacturers of connected consumer products to disclose how long software support will last and to notify consumers when support is nearing its end; Consumer Reports supported the measure, while members raised concerns about private enforcement, notice mechanics, and replacement obligations for leased devices. The bill was amended and passed 5-1 to Judiciary, with the measure placed on call. SB 1279 would authorize Long Beach to install additional speed safety cameras on Pacific Coast Highway under the same privacy and equity guardrails as the existing pilot program, including limits on data use, no facial recognition, warning periods, and reduced fees for low-income recipients. Supporters cited severe crashes and fatalities on PCH, while opponents raised civil liberties and due process concerns and questioned how the system identifies the actual driver. The committee approved the bill 6-2 and placed it on call. SB 1111, the Artificial Intelligence Abuse Protection Act, would create civil remedies for non-consensual AI voice, image, and video cloning and digital replicas. Support came from SAG-AFTRA and Common Sense Media, and members discussed concerns about background images and employer liability, including a request to preserve a rebuttable presumption for good-faith employers. The bill passed 7-1 to Public Safety and was placed on call. SB 1217 would create a DOJ-run clearinghouse for survivors of non-consensual intimate imagery and deepfakes to request removal from online platforms; survivors and advocacy groups testified in strong support, and members discussed privacy, cybersecurity, funding, and the lack of a private right of action. It passed 8-0 to Public Safety and was placed on call. The committee also heard SB 1095, which would require fusion centers and participating agencies to adopt MOUs barring use of sensitive personal information for immigration enforcement or racial/identity profiling, require annual reporting, and allow audits and inspections. Supporters argued fusion centers have operated with too little oversight and have been used to circumvent state privacy and immigration laws; some members supported the transparency goals while others raised concerns about operational ambiguity and the bill’s interaction with existing law. The discussion continued, with the author and members debating the scope of permissible information sharing and enforcement consequences for violations.

Transcript Highlights:

• are available for in-person participation, and someone cannot attend in person and would like to attend
• Sixty-two percent of participants were able to find long-term support.
• Seventy percent of participants were able to help get basic needs met, and 80% of foster youth who've
• We serve 150,000 Pinellas County residents, Domestic Abuse Shelter.
• We serve 150,000 Pinellas County residents every single year.

Committee: Senate Governmental Oversight and Accountability

Summary: The Committee on Governmental Oversight and Accountability met with a quorum present and took up a full agenda of bills, many involving public records exemptions and government operations. Several measures were reported favorably, including SB 342 on an Agency for Health Care Administration public records exemption for employees facing threats; SB 7018 preserving a public records exemption tied to parental consent/judicial bypass records for minors seeking abortions; SB 626 lowering quorum requirements and allowing remote participation for the Council on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys; SB 710 protecting personal information of Crime Stoppers employees, board members, volunteers, and their families; SB 300 extending clerk personal-information protections to appellate court clerks; and SB 302 creating a similar exemption for Judicial Qualifications Commission employees. The committee also approved SB 7010 and SB 7008, which preserve and narrow public records exemptions related to the Department of Financial Services as receiver for insolvent insurers and the financial technology sandbox, respectively. The committee also heard and advanced several policy bills. SB 820 codifies the Office of Faith and Community in the Executive Office of the Governor; Senator Polsky questioned whether the office was duplicative of existing services and raised concerns about religion in state governance, while supporters argued it complements existing networks and helps connect Floridians to services. SB 1144 codifies the Hope Florida program, with supporters describing it as a connector to community resources and critics again raising concerns about overlap, private donations, and accountability; both SB 820 and SB 1144 passed on largely party-line votes with Senator Polsky voting no. SB 804 would redesignate the SS American Victory as the state flagship, but Senator Rodriguez opposed giving up the current flagship designation for the Key West schooner, though the bill still passed favorably. SB 214 designates August 21 as Fentanyl Awareness and Education Day and passed without opposition. SB 1088 requires certain state customer-service phone lines to offer callback features, and SB 576 makes technical fixes to service-of-process law; both were reported favorably. Additional bills included SB 1524, a broad Department of State measure with a strike-all amendment that revises grant-review procedures, adds an America 250 funding focus, and changes commission-fee and oath requirements; Senator Arrington and Senator Polsky expressed concerns about reviewer qualifications, grant criteria, and the impact on arts and cultural programs, and both voted no while the bill still passed. SB 1640, on confidentiality of lethality assessment forms in domestic violence cases, was amended to allow disclosure to domestic violence centers while barring disclosure to state attorneys, and it passed favorably. SB 1160 expands health insurance premium benefits for certain officers catastrophically injured or killed in the line of duty; supporters from the Fraternal Order of Police appeared in support, and the bill passed unanimously. The committee also confirmed eight appointments to the Florida Commission on Community Service, the Investment Advisory Council, the Public Employees Relations Commission, and the State Retirement Commission. At the end of the meeting, senators requested to be recorded on specific bills, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• That's typically the county commissioners or the mayors.
• We'll start with the participants with increased earnings. They're pretty straightforward.
• And in this case, we're looking at the second quarter after exit, their participation with us.
• Do you know that I'm from Polk County, so Polk County is going to be different than, you know, Space
• In both instances in both counties, they said they don't look for jobs on Indeed.

Summary: The subcommittee met to receive an informational presentation from CareerSource Florida President and CEO Adrian Johnson, joined by Anthony Gagliano of CareerSource Suncoast, on the structure, funding, and services of Florida’s workforce development system. Johnson explained that CareerSource serves job seekers and businesses through 21 local workforce development boards and nearly 100 career centers, using federal and state funding streams such as WIOA, Wagner-Peyser, SNAP Employment and Training, and TANF. She described services including case management, training, wraparound supports, job matching, rapid response for layoffs and disasters, and business services such as recruitment, customized training, and on-the-job training. She also highlighted the REACH Act’s role in consolidating local boards from 24 to 21, creating the Master Credential List and Credential Review Committee, and implementing performance-based letter grades for local boards. Members asked detailed questions about funding formulas, letter grade metrics, apprenticeships, youth services, small business access, and the demand occupation list. Johnson said federal allocations are driven largely by unemployment and poverty formulas, which has reduced Florida’s WIOA funding by about $27 million over four years because of the state’s low unemployment rate. She explained the letter grades measure outcomes such as increased earnings, reduced public assistance, employment and training outcomes, work-based learning, business engagement, and service to individuals in certain programs, and said the system is being reviewed for possible changes, including removing extra credit and adjusting weights. On youth services, she said Florida has a waiver allowing a 50/50 split between in-school and out-of-school youth funding, and that local partnerships drive outreach. On the demand occupation list, she said it is based on state labor market data and projections, but local boards can submit evidence of local demand when data does not reflect conditions in their area. A substantial portion of the discussion focused on apprenticeships and workforce training grants. Johnson and Gagliano described apprenticeship navigators funded by the $7.75 million apprenticeship expansion allocation, which help employers navigate registration and expand apprenticeships into nontraditional fields such as IT, health care, education, and hospitality. Gagliano gave examples from CareerSource Suncoast and said navigators helped employers move faster through registration and develop programs with local education providers. Johnson also discussed Incumbent Worker Training Grants and Quick Response Training Grants, noting recent awards of nearly $3 million to 69 businesses and $6.5 million to 24 businesses, respectively, and said these programs are targeted toward high-skill, high-wage occupations and priority industries. The meeting ended with no votes or formal action; the chair thanked the presenters, invited follow-up questions, and adjourned the meeting without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> department's willingness to participate department's willingness to participate today.<00:03:24.239
• </c><00:03:40.480><c> in</c> So I ask everyone participating in So I ask everyone participating in today's
• </c> pathways with contracted and uh county pathways with contracted and uh county case<02:22:00.000>
• </c> tremendous pressure even for a county tremendous pressure even for a county who<02:22:08.479><c>
• So, we're a county of our size.

Committee: Senate Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• the delegation meeting as well as approved by the Citrus County Board of County Commissioners.
• County, Florida.
• Programs tied to SNAP participation. Those losses are not required by federal law.
• Areas in the rural counties, and this just eliminates that.
• So, in order to participate, we are required to exempt those certain records.

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you for your participation.
• Thank you for your participation.
• My name is Alondra Alvarez with Universidad Popular from North County, San Diego.
• The County of Los Angeles experienced a 248% increase in their assessment.
• The County of Los Angeles experienced a 248% increase in their assessment.

Summary: The subcommittee heard a series of budget and trailer bill presentations focused on labor and public employment programs. The first item covered EDD Next modernization, where EDD described progress on customer service improvements, fraud prevention, language access, and the Integrated Claims Management System. The LAO urged stronger legislative oversight as the project enters its most difficult phase, and members questioned the revised schedule, total cost, change orders, stress testing, SB 1090 implementation, and how race and ethnicity data will be protected. EDD said the overall project cost remains about $1.2 billion, that the work is being phased with disability insurance and paid family leave first, and that fraud has been greatly reduced since pandemic-era programs ended. Members also asked for follow-up information on SB 590 outreach and equity impacts. The committee then reviewed the California Workforce Development Board’s request to reduce staffing as one-time grant workloads wind down, along with trailer bill language to streamline reporting requirements. The board and Department of Finance said the staffing reductions reflect the end of surge funding and that the proposal would consolidate roughly 10 to 12 reports into one annual report, with additional reporting only if new funds are appropriated for certain programs. Senator Durazo questioned the policy direction of reducing workforce staffing, while the administration said the positions were tied to temporary grant programs and that current staffing is sufficient for ongoing duties. Members also asked about the board’s role in AI-related workforce planning and the rationale for using state funds for the High Road Construction Careers Program. A major portion of the hearing focused on the Subsequent Injury Benefits Trust Fund reforms and related staffing request at DIR. The administration and LAO described rapid growth in applications, backlog, and liabilities, saying the program’s eligibility has expanded beyond its original intent and that liabilities could reach about $30 billion by 2030 without reform. The trailer bill would tighten eligibility, apply the changes to open cases, and use the QME process and contemporaneous evidence to document preexisting disabilities. Members raised concerns about fairness to pending claimants, evaluator capacity, and the relationship to other SIBTF legislation, while the LAO said the proposal largely aligns with its prior recommendations. DIR also presented a request to eliminate vacant positions under a statewide vacancy sweep, which drew criticism from members who argued the cuts could weaken enforcement and backlog reduction efforts; the committee asked DIR to return with more detail on impacts and on its use of temporary-help authority. The final items addressed a request for additional Cal/OSHA investigative staff and a trailer bill to make permanent the revised Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board petition timeline. DIR said the BOI staffing would help investigate fatalities and serious injuries more quickly, while members emphasized the importance of family contact and timely investigations. For the WCAB item, the chair explained that the 2024 change to Labor Code section 5909, which starts the 60-day decision clock when a case is transmitted rather than when a petition is filed, has reduced pending cases and should be made permanent; the remaining backlog was reported at 460 cases, down from 637 before the change.

Transcript Highlights:

• Private participation in elections.
• We have those opportunities that they can participate in legally.
• showing of only DFL counties or precincts took this money?
• In 2023, we didn't have a fund to help counties or municipalities run their elections.
• showing of only DFL counties or precincts took this money?

Committee: Senate Elections