Leticia Castillo — Recorded as voting aye on AB 68.
Leticia Castillo — Recorded as voting aye on AB 296.
David Alvarez — Assembly Member Ortega is announced as serving in place of Assembly Member David Alvarez for the committee meeting.
David Alvarez — Recorded as aye on AB 673.
David Alvarez — Recorded as voting no on AB 68.
David Alvarez — Recorded as voting aye on AB 296.
Josh Lowenthal — Called during roll call.
Josh Lowenthal — Recorded as aye on AB 673.
Josh Lowenthal — Josh Lowenthal responded to the bill by praising the author for identifying an important ongoing issue, while expressing some uncertainty that the proposal fully solves it. He then noted that the committee’s role is to evaluate the bill’s effects on school board governance rather than the election mechanics themselves, since the measure is also double-referred to the Elections Committee.
Josh Lowenthal — Josh Lowenthal is referenced during the committee’s discussion of how to handle the measure, including suggestions to defer elections-related issues to the Elections Committee and to consider a threshold-based approach. The sequence concludes with his recorded aye vote.
Josh Lowenthal — Josh Lowenthal delivered a sustained argument about school resource officers, first opposing the claim that armed SROs improve student safety by citing incidents in his district and studies suggesting SROs can increase anxiety, fear, expulsions, suspensions, police referrals, and arrests, especially for Black students. He distinguished SROs from armed security in the Capitol, argued that school settings involve minors and direct student interaction, and said the evidence shows SROs can undermine the sense of safety they are intended to create. He then pushed back against the opposing view by citing a U.S. Secret Service analysis of averted school attacks and other studies he said support SRO effectiveness, while emphasizing that he is trying to address the needs of his own district, has tailored and amended the bill, and is willing to work with stakeholders to refine it.
Josh Lowenthal — The speaker says Mr. Lowenthal made a good point in the debate over the bill.
Josh Lowenthal — Recorded as voting aye on AB 296.
Darshana Patel — Called during roll call and listed as present.
Darshana Patel — Asked questions about funding and spoke as a former school board member from a middle-class district.
Darshana Patel — Asked where the funding would come from for the bill.
Darshana Patel — Raised concerns about how small school districts can handle grant reporting requirements equitably.
Darshana Patel — Asked whether the competitive grant process can be made equitable for districts with fewer resources.
Darshana Patel — Raised concerns about small and rural districts, border communities, and whether other county-based programs could help meet student needs.
Darshana Patel — The chair moved the committee toward a vote after thanking Assembly Member Jackson and noting support for the measure.
Darshana Patel — Assembly Member Jackson was thanked for continuing efforts to address the needs of homeless students.
Darshana Patel — Recorded as aye on AB 673.
Darshana Patel — The chair announced the next file item and recognized Assembly Member Avila Farias for AB 1493.
Darshana Patel — Addressed as 'Assembly Member' in the discussion about keeping the process the same and raising the threshold.
Darshana Patel — Referenced as the Assembly Member being asked to keep the process the same and raise the threshold.
Darshana Patel — Called on next to ask questions/comments.
Darshana Patel — Spoke as a former school board trustee and CSBA delegate, thanked the author, and raised concerns about the bill.
Darshana Patel — Referenced as one of the committee members whose comments supported exploring a threshold-based approach.
Darshana Patel — Referenced as having echoed concerns about the extended timeline.
Darshana Patel — Referenced as having raised concerns that the bill could be weaponized by interest groups.
Darshana Patel — Recorded vote: not voting.
Darshana Patel — Recorded as not voting.
Darshana Patel — Darshana Patel responds to the bill by expressing support for its intent and drawing on her experience as a former school board trustee. She references prior work implementing safe-storage notification requirements and emphasizes the importance of local control in school safety decisions. She then asks for clarification on what qualifies as a rural district, and later reflects on the testimony by noting the tension between local control and whether the issue should be treated as a broader statewide or community concern.
Darshana Patel — Recorded as voting no on AB 68.
Darshana Patel — Recorded as voting aye on AB 296.
AB1493 — AB 1493 is introduced as a bill that failed passage last year but was granted reconsideration. The chair then explains that it was subsequently amended to address a different topic within the committee’s jurisdiction and is being heard on its revised language. It is also noted that the bill has been double referred to the Committee on Elections.
AB1493 — AB 1493 was introduced as a measure to require school board special elections to be consolidated with the next primary or general election, with the stated goal of saving time and money. The discussion later included respectful opposition and acknowledgment that the bill was aimed at addressing election costs and district funding concerns.
AB1493 — AB 1493 is discussed as having proposed amendments that upset the balance established by SB 1061, then the committee takes up the bill with a motion to do pass to Elections, and the motion ultimately fails on a 2-2 vote.
Ms. Avila Fadias — Identified as the presenter on the amendments to AB 1493.
AB673 — AB 673 was presented as a bill to establish the Unaccompanied Youth Support Grant Program, including a five-year pilot to help close funding gaps for unaccompanied youth. The author accepted committee staff amendments and emphasized that the bill is a targeted solution to help schools stabilize students’ lives so they can focus on learning and graduating, concluding with a request for an aye vote.
AB673 — The committee called the roll on AB 673 and the motion was do pass as amended to Human Services; the bill passed 6-0.
AB673 — The committee takes up AB 673, moves due pass as amended to Human Services, and the bill passes 7-0, moving out of committee.
Eric Dunk — Eric Dunk, a legislative representative at the California Department of Education, testified on behalf of Superintendent Tony Thurmond in support of AB 673. He explained that the bill responds to the needs of unaccompanied homeless youth, who face lower attendance and graduation rates and often lack access to housing and basic services. He described the bill’s proposed five-year Unaccompanied Youth Support Grant Program, which would help local educational agencies connect 16- and 17-year-old unaccompanied youth to housing, basic needs, tutoring, employment readiness, and health and social services, with annual reporting to evaluate outcomes. In follow-up discussion, he said funding details were still being worked out, referenced existing McKinney-Vento resources and the budget process as possible paths, and emphasized that the bill requires coordination among CDE, CDSS, districts, county continuum of care entities, and local behavioral health, mental health, housing, and nonprofit providers to better support youth.
Robert Garcia — Credited as the author of AB 673 and referenced for noting the scale of student homelessness.
Robert Garcia — Addressed as the author while discussing the budget process and possible inclusion in the Governor's budget.
Robert Garcia — Referenced indirectly as 'Mr. Gallagher' in the prior testimony context; no direct speech in this segment.
Robert Garcia — Mentioned as Assembly Member Gallagher in the transcript; likely a transcription error or mistaken reference, but the text explicitly names Gallagher.
Jalen Woodard — Identified himself as being with the Alameda County Office of Education and stated support for the bill.
Mia Bonta — Called during the roll on AB 673.
Mia Bonta — Thanked the author for bringing the bill forward and supported continuing the discussion in a larger body.