Douglas Jost — Douglas Jost, CEO of Florence Crittenton of Orange County, described the nonprofit’s services for former foster youth and other at-risk youth, including mental health support and transitional housing. He highlighted the program’s impact, noting that 14 former foster youth have graduated from college and that stable housing helps reduce generational trauma. Jost then explained the housing challenges the organization faces, including affordability, unit availability, and landlords’ reluctance to rent to former foster youth. He shared that owned housing units allow for a more trauma-informed, supportive environment for young adults and reduce the risk of eviction during crises. He concluded by urging the committee to support AB 534 and emphasized the bill’s importance in improving safety, stability, and educational opportunity for former foster youth.
Jen Rex Road — Testified in support on behalf of the California Alliance of Caregivers.
Jen Rex Road — Testifies in support on behalf of the California Alliance of Caregivers.
AB553 — AB 553 is listed as a consent calendar item.
AB607 — AB 607, associated with Rodriguez, is listed on the consent calendar.
AB680 — AB 680 was listed on the consent calendar; the transcript includes a duplicated and garbled reference to the author name, but no additional discussion of the bill.
AB689 — AB 689 is listed on the consent calendar.
AB898 — Listed on the consent calendar.
AB936 — Listed on the consent calendar.
AB562 — AB 562 is presented as a bill to improve outcomes for foster youth by strengthening family finding efforts and county placement practices. The author explains that it would create a one-year family finding checklist and help counties that are below the state average in placing foster youth with relatives. Additional testimony notes that the bill has no opposition, is similar to a bill that passed the prior year, and is strongly supported because it promotes family-first placements and requires counties to prioritize family finding while reviewing placement data transparently.
AB562 — Referenced as File Item 5 on the consent calendar; the current vote was 6-0.
AB562 — Vote updated to 7 to 0 after Lee's aye.
Ed Howard — Ed Howard, senior counsel at the Children's Advocacy Institute at the University of San Diego School of Law, is introduced as a co-sponsor of the measure and as the person available to answer technical questions. He then speaks briefly to say he is pleased to co-sponsor the measure, and the committee again references him in inviting questions.
Rita Soto — Testifies in support as Mayor of the City of Lingwood.
Whitney Francis — Testifies in support on behalf of the Western Center on Law and Poverty.
Whitney Francis — Testified in strong support on behalf of the Western Center on Law and Poverty and as a co-sponsor of AB 661.
Sakariah Okenda — Testifies in support on behalf of the Alliance for Children's Rights.
Sakariah Okenda — Testified in support on behalf of the Alliance for Children's Rights.
Susanna Niffin — Testifies in support on behalf of Children Now.
Sam Wilkinson — Testifies in support on behalf of Grace and in Child Poverty in California; affiliation is somewhat garbled.
Sam Wilkinson — Testified in strong support on behalf of Grace and the New Coalition and as a co-sponsor of AB 661.
Kate Sanchez — Kate Sanchez thanked the witness and author for raising the issue, then closed by respectfully asking for an aye vote while emphasizing the importance of ensuring foster children have family, humanity, and a better future. The subsequent mentions appear to be roll-call transcription variants of her name and record her vote as aye, though one entry is questionable and another appears to be a conflicting transcription.
AB661 — AB 661 is presented as a bill to create a permanent guaranteed basic income program by directing the Department of Social Services to develop a comprehensive implementation plan. The speaker explains that guaranteed income programs can reduce poverty and help people pursue education and job training, and argues California should take the next step by planning for the administrative complexities of a statewide program. The bill would require input from experts, academics, and people with lived experience in basic income programs. Witnesses and co-sponsors express strong support, describing AB 661 as a pathway to better guaranteed income policy for the entire state. The sequence ends with the committee vote, and AB 661 is reported out 5 to 2.
Brian Ram — Brian Ram describes his experience as a participant in the NCJW basic income pilot while living in West Hollywood. He explains that the support helped him manage rideshare-related car maintenance, care for his wife, visit his ill mother before she passed, and reduce the stress of handling his responsibilities.
Lauren Daubert — Lauren Daubert, a disabled veteran and Bay Point senior who has experienced homelessness due to military trauma, testifies as a designer and implementer of the community-led guaranteed income pilot Cocoa Go Big in Contra Costa County. She reflects on growing up during the era of trickle-down economics and says people like her are often reduced to being a 'voice of struggle' rather than recognized for their policy and strategy insights. She closes by urging a yes vote, arguing the bill reflects what is really happening on the ground and values lived experience over spreadsheets.
Monica Miller — Provided technical assistance on behalf of the National Council of Jewish Women, L.A. Chapter, and expressed support.
Martha Guerrero — Martha Guerrero testified on behalf of Los Angeles County in support of the bill, stating that the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors supports it, that a support letter would be submitted, and requesting an aye vote.
John Benton — Testified in support on behalf of First Five of California.
Amanda Kirchon — Testified in support on behalf of the County Welfare Directors Association.
Adrian O'Korrel — Adrian O'Korrel testified in support on behalf of United Way California, Capital Region.
Tristan Brown — Testifies in support on behalf of CFT, Union of Educators and Classified Professionals, and urges an aye vote.
Kim Lois — Testifies in support on behalf of Children Now.
Keely O'Brien — Testifies in support on behalf of Western Center on Law and Poverty and California Coalition of Welfare Rights Organizations.
Andrew Shane — Testifies in support on behalf of Grace and Child Poverty.
Alex Lee — Alex Lee was called present during the quorum call and later voted aye.
Alex Lee — Recorded as voting on the motion.
Alex Lee — Associated with AB 936 on the consent calendar.
Alex Lee — Recorded as voting aye on the consent calendar.
Alex Lee — Called during the roll on AB 373.
Alex Lee — Called during the roll on AB 373.
Alex Lee — The speaker acknowledges Mr. Lee and says he is on his way back.
Alex Lee — The speaker acknowledges Mr. Lee's return.
Alex Lee — Called during the roll call.
Alex Lee — Motion was reported as due pass to the Assembly Appropriations Committee.
Alex Lee — Referenced in the consent calendar vote count.
Alex Lee — Referenced in the vote count.
Alex Lee — Chair Lee is noted as being caught up in another committee and unable to present at the moment.
Alex Lee — Alex Lee was recorded as voting aye on the motion and on subsequent roll-call votes, including the consent calendar, AB 42, AB 373, AB 534, and AB 562, with the final vote noted as 7 to 0.
Sade Elhawary — During the quorum call, Sade Elhawary is identified in the roll call and then records an aye vote.
Sade Elhawary — Sade Elhawary is repeatedly called during roll-call votes and recorded as voting aye, including on the consent calendar and later on AB 373, with her name appearing in slightly garbled or misspelled forms in the transcript.