John Harabedian — John Harabedian opens the oversight hearing of the Joint Legislative Audit Committee, welcomes attendees, and acknowledges Vice Chair Senator Laird, Senator Jones, and Assembly Member Carrillo for their roles in bringing the audit forward and supporting the hearing. He introduces the discussion of the state auditor’s findings and recommendations, praises the audit and the department’s responsiveness, and transitions the floor to the next speakers, including Senator Jones and Assembly Member Carrillo, while continuing to preside over the hearing.
John Harabedian — As chair, thanked the presenters and recognized members for questions.
John Harabedian — Referenced as the chair in the procedural transition to member questions.
John Harabedian — The chair called on Senator Jones, Assembly Member Carrillo, and DeMaio for questions.
John Harabedian — The chair thanked the presenters and recognized the comment period.
John Harabedian — The chair is the likely speaker introducing the comment period, though the transcript is not explicit.
John Harabedian — The chair thanked Senator Jones after the comment.
John Harabedian — As chair, asked Senator Jones whether they wanted to make a clarifying comment.
John Harabedian — The chair invited Senator Jones to make a clarifying comment.
John Harabedian — The chair is referenced indirectly through the district overlap discussion? No, not clearly; no direct mention in text.
John Harabedian — The chair is addressing the committee and recognizing the next speaker.
John Harabedian — Begins speaking about the committee's makeup and the impact of SVP placements on his community.
John Harabedian — The member is addressed as Chair during the committee transition and opening remarks, with brief acknowledgments from speakers including thanks to the Chair and references to the Chair, Vice Chair, and committee members.
John Harabedian — The chair is referenced as having to present a bill, causing a temporary handoff of the meeting.
John Harabedian — Likely the chair is speaking, acknowledging the microphone and seat issue.
Carl DeMaio — Referenced as the Vice Chair.
Carl DeMaio — Carl DeMaio delivered a sustained critique of the report and the SVP placement program, saying the title was misleading and the program was among the worst he had seen. He argued that placements are repeatedly concentrated in San Diego County, that Liberty Healthcare effectively drives placement decisions despite judicial sign-off, and that the state should consider a transitory housing model. He concluded by calling the program fundamentally flawed, urging an immediate suspension of placements and asking Governor Newsom to stop the program.
Carl DeMaio — The member says he is working on legislation to require state hospitals and the director to take a more personal and active role in the placement process, and asks about changes since the audit.
Carl DeMaio — Named as someone who would likely agree that Barago Springs is not a safe place to release sexually violent predators.
Carl DeMaio — The chair transitions to Assembly Member DeMaio as the next speaker/questioner.
Carl DeMaio — Thanked by name as Assembly Member DeMaio.
Sharon Quirk-Silva — Likely the intended reference behind the garbled 'Assembly Member Creo' phrase, but uncertain; thanked for asking for the oversight.
Sharon Quirk-Silva — Referenced as having set audit objectives asking how the community housing committee process was working during the audit period.
Sharon Quirk-Silva — The chair thanks Senator Viadaris and moves to the next member.
Ben Ward — Identified as the audit principal and present to answer questions.
Rhodesia Ransom — Raised concern that constituents in rural areas are being treated unfairly in placement decisions.
Rhodesia Ransom — Questioned why urban areas are not considered suitable and argued rural communities bear the burden of placements.
Rhodesia Ransom — Referred to Senator Larry's prior comment about urban areas.
Rhodesia Ransom — Continued arguing that rural areas are unfairly selected for placements and that judges make the final decision.
Rhodesia Ransom — Finished the comment and thanked the witness before the chair moved to the next member.
Rhodesia Ransom — Referenced indirectly through 'Assembly Member Carrillo' in the discussion of public safety concerns.
Rhodesia Ransom — Referenced indirectly through 'Assembly Member Carrillo' in the discussion of public safety concerns.
Rhodesia Ransom — Referenced as another member representing a district with rural areas.
Rhodesia Ransom — Referenced via 'Mr. Carrillo's question' and the discussion of district overlap.
Rhodesia Ransom — The speaker references Assembly Member Ransom in the queue of members to speak.
Rhodesia Ransom — Assembly Member Ransom is thanked by name.
Josh Hoover — The speaker makes a brief reference to another assembly member, though the transcription is unclear. The first mention appears to address Assembly Member DeMaio, and the later mentions repeatedly refer to what sounds like 'Assembly Member Creo,' likely as part of the same point being made.
Josh Hoover — The chair recognizes Assembly Member DeMaio as the next speaker; transcript says 'DeMio'.
Josh Hoover — The speaker says Brian Jones has been out to Barago Springs and observed the lack of cell service.
SB380 — Described as a bill in Assembly Appropriations that would require the Department of State Hospitals to develop transitional housing.
SB380 — Mentioned as a measure the speaker wants to learn more about and work on.
Ben — Invoked as someone who may provide further detail on the report's placement factors.
Stephanie Clendendon — Stephanie Clendendon is introduced and then identifies herself as the Director of the Department of State Hospitals.
Chris Edens — Chris Edens is introduced and identified as the chief deputy director of program services at the Department of State Hospitals.
Kenneth Carabello — Introduced as a senior vice president from Liberty Healthcare.
Ken Carabello — Ken Carabello of Liberty Healthcare is introduced and invited to speak. He identifies himself as a senior vice president with Liberty Healthcare, explains his leadership background, notes his role in forming the Sex Offender Civil Commitment Program Network, and emphasizes his more than 20 years of involvement in the California program and Liberty’s partnership with the state.
SB1034 — SB 1034 is cited as the law that changed and clarified the process for extraordinary-circumstances placement decisions, including out-of-county searches and the requirement to petition under the revised procedure.
SB1034 — SB 1034 is discussed as a bill addressing extraordinary circumstances for out-of-county release, with speakers suggesting it needs a fix or clarification so that those extraordinary circumstances can properly apply to transitory housing or related placement decisions.
Ken — The speaker briefly asks to step in first, then indicates they will turn the discussion over to Ken.
Ken — Ken is invited to speak further about the treatment model.