Jeff Gonzalez — Called during the roll and responded 'Here.'
Jeff Gonzalez — Called during roll call; no vote was captured in the transcript segment.
Al Muratsuchi — Called during the roll; the transcript is unclear whether a response was captured.
Al Muratsuchi — Al Muratsuchi apologizes for arriving late due to another hearing, notes that the measure was heard in the Assembly Education Committee and that the status quo needs improvement, and says he will support the bill to continue discussions about coordination between educational and workforce training agencies. The Chair then thanks him by name.
Al Muratsuchi — Called during roll call and voted aye.
Celeste Rodriguez — Called during the roll; the transcript is unclear whether a response was captured.
Celeste Rodriguez — The transcript appears to refer to Assembly Majority Leader Aguiar-Curry, but the expected member list does not include Aguiar-Curry; this may be a misrecognition of a different member. No ID assigned.
Celeste Rodriguez — Called during roll call and recorded as not voting.
LaShae Sharp-Collins — The transcript appears to refer to Dr. Sharp Collins as excused from the hearing.
SB638 — SB 638 is introduced and taken up by the committee, then the author presents it as a workforce development bill that would create a coordinating entity, the Middle Class Pipeline Project, to streamline and align workforce and education programs. Supporters describe it as a coalition-building effort that brings together stakeholders across higher education sectors, including independent nonprofit universities, UC, CSU, and community colleges, to address structural challenges, identify gaps and disparities, and coordinate siloed systems. The author and witnesses repeatedly ask for the committee’s support, emphasizing that the bill establishes an operational coordinating body with oversight, stakeholder consultation, and data responsibilities as part of a broader affordability and workforce reform package.
SB638 — SB 638 is introduced and identified as Senator Padilla’s bill and a Senate leadership priority. The committee then discusses concerns about the bill’s approach, including suggestions for an audit-based alternative or delaying the measure, along with references to possible amendments and the coordinating body. The discussion concludes with the bill being brought to a courtesy vote and a motion made to do pass SB 638 to the Appropriations Committee, followed by a final roll call reference to the same motion.
Senator Padilla — Senator Padilla is welcomed as the author and presenter of SB 638.
Mike Fong — The speaker addresses Chair Mike Fong and praises his leadership and experience, especially noting his background as a former community college trustee and his awareness of workforce-related issues.
Mike Fong — Addressed as 'Mr. Chairman' in response to the question.
Mike Fong — Addressed as 'Mr. Chairman' in the response.
Mike Fong — Referenced as the chair who presented a pathway forward.
Mike Fong — Addressed as Mr. Chairman in the response to the procedural question.
Mike Fong — Referenced as the chair whose AB 95 previously passed unanimously.
Mike Fong — Addressed as Mr. Chairman in the exchange about amendments.
Mike Fong — Referenced as the Chair whom the speaker says they should have checked in with.
Mike Fong — Referenced as having had a bill earlier in the process and as someone the speaker has worked with on this issue.
Mike Fong — The Chair is noted as nodding in response to the remarks.
Mike Fong — Referenced as a collaborator over the last couple of years on improving coordination.
Mike Fong — The speaker says they are familiar with the Chair's work in this area.
Mike Fong — Referenced as the source of amendments taken in the Assembly Education Committee.
Mike Fong — Called in the roll call and voted aye.
Alex Graves — Alex Graves of the Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities (AICCU) is introduced as a witness and then provides testimony in support of SB 638. He states that AICCU supports the bill because a statewide education workforce coordinating entity can provide value to the state, policymakers, students, families, and employers.
Seema Creason — Seema Creason is introduced as being present with the Edge Coalition, then identifies herself as the executive director of the California EDGE Coalition and a member of the San Juan Unified Board of Education. She goes on to testify in support of SB 638, explaining that the bill addresses longstanding structural challenges and aligns with the coalition’s priorities around coalition building and workforce gaps.
Mark McDonald — Testified in support on behalf of National University.
Orkidia Burrae — Testified in support on behalf of Long Beach City College.
Danielle Bautista — Testified in support on behalf of United Ways of California and also for related organizations.
David Tangipa — David Tangipa questioned the scope and feasibility of creating an operational coordinating entity, arguing that it is being assigned too many duties with too few resources and asking which responsibilities should be prioritized. He raised concerns about duplication with existing workforce systems, whether duplicative duties should be removed, and whether the measure should have been reviewed by additional policy committees. He also asked how the bill differs from prior legislation such as AB 95, why similar proposals were not heard by Labor and Employment, and whether the bill is the only live measure contemplating an operational entity. In response to the broader discussion, he emphasized that the bill is intended to keep the concept of an operationalized entity on the table as part of tri-party negotiations between the Legislature, Governor, and leadership, rather than an advisory-only model.
David Tangipa — During roll call, David Tangipa was called and recorded as voting no.
Carl DeMaio — Called in the roll call and voted no.
Tasha Boerner — Called during the roll; the transcript is unclear whether a response was captured.
Tasha Boerner — Called in the roll call and voted aye.
Carl DeMaio — Called during the roll and responded 'Here.'
Carl DeMaio — The Chair thanks Mr. DeMaio by name after his remarks.