Blanca Rubio — Blanca Rubio opened the meeting as chair of the Select Committee on Domestic Violence and explained that the hearing was informational in nature. She emphasized that domestic violence remains an ongoing, pervasive, and devastating problem that requires incremental but meaningful solutions. Rubio made the issue personal by noting its impact on her own family and herself, then illustrated its seriousness with examples from her district, including the murder of a young woman by her boyfriend and a classroom story from her teaching experience in which an eight-year-old student described witnessing abuse at home. She concluded by stressing that survivors often suffer in silence and that families need active outreach and guidance to get help.
Blanca Rubio — Referred to herself as an assembly member and chair of the committee, saying she did not know what to do as a parent.
Blanca Rubio — Referenced as the author of a resolution on teen dating violence that the speaker co-authored.
Alexandra Macedo — Introduced as one of the committee's new members.
Catherine Stefani — Introduced as one of the committee's new members.
Janica Morin Pasquale — Janica Morin Pasquale, introduced as a speaker and consultant with Janica Talks, testified about teen dating relationships and the signs of unhealthy or abusive behavior. She described her work in high schools and junior highs teaching students to recognize healthy versus unhealthy relationships, especially technology-facilitated control such as tracking phones, shared passwords, constant texting, social media monitoring, and gifts that can be used to exert pressure or control. She noted that abusive relationships are common among high school students and that parents often fail to recognize them because teens hide the abuse. She explained how controlling relationships can reduce a teen’s independence, normalize jealousy through social media and entertainment, and make restrictive behavior seem “cool.” She emphasized the importance of trust, honesty, and teaching red flags, noting that friends and family can often see warning signs more clearly than the person in the relationship. She then shared a personal example involving her son, whose relationship involved constant check-ins and pressure to keep his phone charged so he could always be contacted, which had already affected his self-esteem, and she asked for guidance for parents.
Taylor Stone Mill — Introduced as Youth Domestic Violence Prevention Coordinator at Black Women Revolt Against Domestic Violence.
Luz Rivas — Asked for suggestions on what parents can look for and what they can do.
Luz Rivas — The speaker continues addressing Assembly Member Luz Rivas in response to her question, expressing agreement and describing the situation as heartbreaking while discussing the same classroom conversation and parent-permission issue.
Luz Rivas — Responded positively and noted that her son will be a freshman at San Francisco State in the fall.
AB329 — Referenced as the framework for sex education and interpersonal violence instruction in schools.
Stephanie Nguyen — Stephanie Nguyen shared a personal account of growing up amid domestic violence, describing the trauma it caused, the failure of systems like CPS to protect her mother, and how society often places responsibility on victims rather than abusers. She then asked whether programs also address youth who are abusive and whether schools are doing anything from that angle, later noting work with another assemblywoman to incorporate the topic into athlete orientation so it becomes part of school athletics training.
Chris Rogers — Mentioned as Taylor, from San Francisco, and thanked for testimony; likely the witness being addressed.
Taylor — The witness is being addressed and thanked for testimony; the speaker transitions into a personal account.
Taylor — Begins testimony and recommends a parent conversation guide for discussing dating and friendships with children.
Taylor — Recommended the Love Is Respect hotline and social media accounts as resources for families.
Taylor — Introduced themselves as a youth violence prevention coordinator and advisory council member for Love Is Respect.
Taylor — Explained that teens often remember a friend’s advice when overwhelmed and defined teen dating violence as physical, psychological, or sexual abuse or harassment in a dating or consensual relationship.
Taylor — Described prevention presentations on healthy relationships, teen dating violence 101, and digital boundaries.
Taylor — Explained the 'Take It Down' resource for removing sexual or semi-nude images of minors from online platforms.
Taylor — Advised that youth should keep a copy of images if they need to request removal and said school presentations include social-emotional education, consent, and teen dating violence awareness under the California Healthy Youth Act.
Taylor — Explained the role of the youth advisory council as near-peer ambassadors who help with breakup plans, safety plans, and confidential support on and off campus.
Taylor — Described a prevention presentation schedule, a memorial for Zoaniki Reedy Watts, and a scholarship in memory of Ariana May Hatomi.
Taylor — Emphasized the need for accurate information for California youth and described work with the San Francisco Youth Commissioners.
Taylor — Said the goal is to normalize domestic violence language in hearings and bills so it feels less intimidating.
Taylor — Explained her background in sexual health education and a personal experience with a restraining order not being enforced at school.
Taylor — Received a policy question about how legislators can better protect young people.
Taylor — Said prevention funding must be continuous because new students need access every year.
Taylor — Said prevention education should be constant and noted that her executive director can answer a funding question later; also emphasized implementation of the California Healthy Youth Act.
Taylor — Asked what implementation should look like and raised concerns about trust from parents toward schools and legislators.
Taylor — Said schools often treat the topic as covered by a single chapter, but it should be integrated into the curriculum.
Taylor — Argued that healthy boundaries and friendship should be taught early because exposure at home can lead to bullying and domestic violence links.
Taylor — A speaker thanks Taylor and says they are inspired by Taylor's work with Black Women Revolt.
Taylor — Dr. Tate says Taylor had started to mention an issue and that they worked together.
Taylor — Mentioned as someone who works with teens.
Taylor — Is addressed directly and appears to be part of the discussion about naming warning signs and helping teens recognize unhealthy behavior.
Taylor — Describes how teens can alert teachers and peers, and how schools can connect sexual harassment concerns to anti-bullying policies.
Taylor — Explains that many students hope relationships will end naturally and argues for teaching respectful ways to end relationships.
Taylor — Says peers can reinforce healthy behavior and then shifts to concerns about statute of limitations and video evidence.
Taylor — Taylor is cited as having mentioned the Youth Act.
Mike Gipson — Welcomed into the discussion by the chair/speaker.
Mike Gipson — Asked what policy changes legislators should consider to better protect young people.
Mike Gipson — Mike Gipson is acknowledged by name and then briefly responds that he has to leave, thanks everyone, and reflects on his experience as a former police officer, noting how difficult domestic violence calls are, especially when officers must enter a home where a father is the abuser and remove a child.
Jennifer — The speaker addresses Jennifer directly while discussing the difference between reading about a topic and actual education.
Joyce Blue — Joyce Blue, Deputy Director of the Sacramento Regional Family Justice Center, testifies about her 43 years in domestic violence work and as a survivor. She explains that her center has seen a major rise in strangulation cases, that staff initially lacked training to identify and assess them, and that most clients now show some form of strangulation. She also notes that pediatric strangulation can occur in homes or schools and often leaves no visible injury, making it easy to miss. Blue further warns that strangulation during sex or in teen dating relationships is still abuse and can be extremely dangerous, even when framed as consensual or rough sex.
Susie Flores — Introduced as Director of Inner Circle Children's Advocacy Center and a panelist.
Susie Flores — Susie Flores, executive director/director of Inner Circle Children’s Advocacy Center, explains how children’s advocacy centers operate: victim advocates assess family needs, interviewers introduce themselves to children, and forensic interviews are conducted in a compassionate, judgment-free setting to gather information for investigations and prosecution. She illustrates the impact of domestic violence and child abuse with an anonymized case of two sisters who suffered severe abuse by their biological father, resulting in prosecution and a life sentence, followed by multidisciplinary support for the mother and children, including trauma-informed services and foster care support. Flores then broadens the discussion to the prevalence and recurrence of child maltreatment in domestic violence cases, arguing for earlier intervention, immediate mental health and parent support services, and more resources on the front end rather than waiting until problems escalate. She concludes by emphasizing that children’s advocacy centers provide a safe space for children to describe what they have witnessed and experienced, noting the heavy caseloads, the need for more centers, and the availability of emergency after-hours and weekend services.
Dr. Pamela Tate — Introduced as Executive Director of Black Women Revolt Against Domestic Violence and a panelist.
Dr. Pamela Tate — Dr. Tate introduces herself as being from Black Women Revolt Against Domestic Violence in San Francisco and says the organization is four years old.
Susan Rubio — Senator Rubio is directly addressed in a discussion about talking with children about strangulation and sexual behavior, with the speaker urging him to have that conversation with his son.