Assembly Communications and Conveyance Committee, Wednesday, April 15, 2026
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Assembly Communications and Conveyance Committee California State Assembly
Follow its sittingsSpeaker 1
Okay. Four minutes for you. Okay. So, Member Gonzales, you may begin when you want.
Speaker 3
Thank you, madam chair. Thank you, members. Thank you for the opportunity to present today. I also wanna begin by expressing my appreciation to madam chair and the committee staff for working with my office on this bill diligently. We've had many conversations, to make sure that we get this here today.
I wanna thank the many advocates and providers and stakeholders who have offered thoughtful, thoughtful feedback on this bill. Suicide prevention should never be political. It's a it's a public health responsibility. And when a young person is at their lowest point and finds the courage to ask for help, the worst thing we can do is let that call go unanswered. Last year, national funding for the 98 LGBTQ plus suicide prevention line was cut, shutting down a lifeline that thousands and thousands of young people relied on in their darkest moments.
Speaker 11
According to the CDC, our LGBT youth attempt suicide at almost triple the rate compared to their peers. With the pressure of the world on their backs and a federal administration who thinks transgender people are not real, our youth are begging for help. Not because they are broken, but because too often the systems around them are. AB fifteen forty is about restoring a lifeline. It reinstates the press three option within the nine eight system so that when someone reaches out in crisis, they can be connected and trained to train counselors who understand the unique challenges LGBTQ plus youth face.
Speaker 3
And restoring this service means restoring something simple but powerful, the chance for someone on the other end of the line to say, you're not alone. Stay with me. Sometimes the difference between tragedy and tomorrow is just one voice picking up that phone call. AB fifteen forty helps make sure that that voice is there. This afternoon, with me to highlight the impact of this bill is Bridget McCarthy, a mother to Riley in advocacy with the American Foundation of Suicide Prevention.
And we also have the following two individuals here, to provide technical support, Diva Shiv, with the senior policy advocate for California Alliance of Child and Family Services, and Craig Kulisher, a legislative director for Equality California. And we'll let Bridget take it away.
Speaker 9
Oh, thank you, chair, committee members. My name is Bridget McCarthy, and I'm the public policy chair for the American Foundation of Suicide Prevention, the Greater Los Angeles and Central Coast Chapter. But more importantly, I'm here as a mother. In September 2020, just twelve days after his sixteenth birthday, I lost my amazing son, Ridey, to suicide. His birthday balloons were still in the room.
We are very fortunate to live in California, a state that has taken meaningful steps to support LGBTQIA plus youth and expand access to mental health resources. Yet even here, we are not immune. Ongoing national rhetoric around LGBTQ plus identity has contributed to increased feelings of isolation, distress, and and suicide risk amongst our young people. They do not feel safe. In California, suicide is the second leading cause of death for youth.
And for children like mine, that risk is so much higher. After we lost Riley, we discovered that in the middle of his crisis, he sent an unanswered text to a gay friend, a reach for connection that never came. We know that a veteran in crisis turns to a fellow veteran. That's option two. An LGBTQ child needs that same lifeline.
Speaker 14
They need to know the person on the other end sees them for exactly who they are, and that was option three. Yet in July 2025, the 3 routing within the 988 lifeline was cut at a federal level. This change removed the direct path to counselors specifically trained to support LGBTQ plus callers, and leaving thousands of our most vulnerable youth without any specialized support. With suicide attempt rates for trans youth over three times out of their peers, we cannot afford this gap. My son was reaching into the dark, but he couldn't find a hand that felt familiar, and that's the heartbreak I live with every day.
Speaker 9
No other parent should have to go through this. So for Riley and for every other child out there still reaching out, I urge you to support a b fifteen forty. Thank you.
Speaker 1
Thank you to the proponents. We'll move to any additional witnesses in support. You may approach the mic with name, affiliation, and position only, please.
Speaker 2
Craig Polser on behalf of Equality California, proud cosponsor and strong support.
Speaker 3
My name is Mary Moyle. I'm with the Sacramento p PFLAG group. I'm also speaking for the Oakland and San Francisco groups. So we urge an I vote. Thank you.
Speaker 17
I'm Anuradha Gupta. I'm the mom of an LGBTQ child and the president of PFLAG Danville San Ramon Valley chapter. I'm here on behalf of PFLAG Danville San Ramon Valley, PFLAG San Diego, PFLAG San Gabriel Valley API, PFLAG Santa Clarita, PFLAG Eastern Sierra, p flag Los Angeles, p flag Tri Valley, and my family in strong support of AB fifteen forty.
Speaker 14
Good afternoon. Lizzie Guanzona here on behalf of the California State Association of Psychiatrists, the California Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, and the city of West Hollywood in support.
Speaker 10
Good afternoon. Delilah Clay on behalf of Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California in support.
Speaker 6
Marquis Cedro on behalf of the county of Los Angeles in support. Thank you. Good afternoon. Tyburindi on behalf of the California Psychological Association in support. Thank you.
Speaker 2
Good afternoon, madam chair and members. Obed Franco here on behalf of the California Fire Chiefs Association and the Fire District Association, in support.
Speaker 6
Good afternoon. Josh Gauger on behalf of the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors in support. Thanks.
Speaker 2
Madam chair and members, Adam Keglin on behalf of California LULAC in support.
Speaker 11
Good afternoon. Lester Abancho with the commission for behavioral health in support. Danny Offer with the National Alliance on Mental Illness, also known as NAMI California, in strong support. Thank you.
Speaker 15
Sarah Pabbs on behalf of the commission on the status of women and girls in support.
Speaker 11
Good afternoon. Damon Repato with the County Behavioral Health Directors Association in support.
Speaker 1
Thank you to the witnesses in support. Moving on. Are there any primary witnesses in opposition? You each get two minutes. I'll count down the last five with my hands to go by quickly.
Please begin when you're ready.
Speaker 10
Chair members, my name is Greg Bert, vice president of the California Family Council. We're here in opposition to AB fifteen forty. The 988 lifeline exists to keep people alive. It was designed as a universal, clinically neutral intervention tool, but AB fifteen forty fractures that purpose by creating an identity segregated subnetwork funded to deliver predetermined LGBTQ ideology to those in crisis. Embedding ideology gate peeping into the public health system compromises its integrity and transforms a crisis service into an advocacy pipeline funded by the taxpayers.
Speaker 16
We've seen where this leads. This legislature has already promoted the Trevor Project by putting its hotline on student IDs, and this bill would likely send them more funding. Last year, I warned you about the TrevorSpace, an online platform for youth ages 13 to 24. It connects minors with unknown, unvetted adults in a global chat room environment with 81,000 members from a 160 countries. Does that sound like a safe place for suicidal teens?
Law enforcement raised serious concerns. A thirty year veteran anti trafficking expert testified that is he easily accessed unmonitored chat rooms posing as a minor and observing interactions moving to platforms known for exploitation. A californiasheriffofficecom confirmed that an adult officer was able to pose as a 13 year old and immediately begin private chats without oversight. These warnings have been ignored. Just because the motivation is compassion does not justify exposing vulnerable youth to serious risk or politicizing a life saving system.
I urge a no
Speaker 17
Thank you. My name is Gideon Cotting. I'm here as a father. My concern with this bill is the reliance on organizations like the Trevor Project and the model of care and community spaces they are connected to, spaces that are being positioned within California's crisis response system for minors. There is not clear, settled evidence that a single direction, gender affirming model serves every child well.
In some cases, including my daughters, the outcomes have been deeply harmful. When my daughter was 11 years old and experiencing gender confusion, she was brought to a gender health clinic in Sacramento. Very early on, I was positioned as the problem because I did not affirm that path. Over the next thirteen years, I watched her experience isolation, confusion, depression, and, ultimately, irreversible medical harm. Today, she is still struggling.
Assemblyman Mark Gonzales, you invoked Lent and spoke about conscience and compassion.
Speaker 17
I want to respond to that directly. I understand not everyone here regards the Bible as a source of authority, but for those who do, we should be clear. Love is not the same as affirmation at all costs. Love tells the truth. Love protects the vulnerable.
And scripture gives a severe warning about causing harm to children. Reference the gospel of Mark chapter nine verse 42. So we have to ask, are the systems we are endorsing truly safe? Because within the TrevorSpace community, there are serious concerns about oversight. There is no meaningful age verification barrier, meaning users can misrepresent their age.
Speaker 15
At the same time, there are posts identifying users as minors seeking relationship, discussions of performing poly polyamorous group relationships, and users inviting others into more private platforms like Discord, a known predatory space. These are real questions about how minors minors are being protected. Suicide prevention must be taken seriously, but it must must be driven by what I would call caustic compassion, a form of compassion that presents itself as caring and effective, but in practice leads to confusion, harm, and irreversible consequences. If we are going to embed any organization into our state's crisis system, we must be certain it can protect children and serve them fully, not partially. Sorry.
Speaker 1
Thank you. Any additional witnesses in opposition that would like to state their name, affiliation, and position only? You may approach the mic.
Speaker 15
Nicole Young, Placer County Moms for Liberty and Moms for Liberty California legislative committee. Thank you. In strong opposition.
Speaker 1
Meg Madden, on behalf of CAUSE Californians United for Sex Based Evidence in Policy and Law, and on behalf of the Coalition of Understanding that in ages ten to twenty four, eighty percent of suicide deaths are in males in opposition. Jean Chadbourne, lifelong democrat, teacher, mother, proud mother of a gay son in opposition. Thank you. Thank you. Bringing it back to the committee.
Any questions? Comments? Assembly member Rubio.
Speaker 18
Thank you. Sorry about that. Thank you very much. I am a former teacher and wanted to express that sometimes kids need help. In this case, the nine eight eight system was already it it already included a way to reach some support, and it was eliminated last year.
So this is not something new. This is just continuing the existence of a a system that was already in place. And to be clear, and if I'm if I'm correct, this is just asking to ask the federal government for to approve the request, and and the approval is not guaranteed. So we're what we're doing is putting it as a request for the federal government to approve it. So it's just passing it today doesn't mean that it's going to be in effect.
Am I correct?
Speaker 5
So the bill does mandate that the state request the federal government, so that's SAMHSA, and then it also has, in the bill, if the federal government should seek to approve this, it then has steps on how the state will do that. But that is correct. It is contingent on the federal government approving this.
Speaker 18
Right. I just wanna make sure that we were clear on that. And, you know, and when we talk about, compassion, I, come from a Latino community, obviously. And, you know, a lot of times, because of our faith, because, we have, Catholics, the Latino community is, very Catholic. You know, some kids that are, that are LGBTQ feel don't feel comfortable going to their parents.
Speaker 20
And, I again, I was a teacher, so, not all of them came to me, but some kids did come because they felt safe. Latino communities, and I can only speak for for them, the Latino community, especially the the very, machismo rhetoric in our community, fathers feel that, you know, they disown their kids if they come out as LGBTQ. And as a mother, I can tell you that I never have understood how you can love your child so much, because my kids are everything for me, that if they tell you that they're LGBTQ, the next day you don't love them anymore. And that, to me, is heartbreaking because we the purpose of this bill is to help kids that are in crisis to to be able to call and get suicide counseling. And so I just wanted to say that, but, again, the purpose of this bill is not to pass it.
Speaker 18
It's to ask the federal government for approval. And we know the situation that is happening right now. The the approval is contingent upon somebody saying yes. And so it's not, this bill is not saying that this is gonna happen. It's saying that we're asking the federal government.
So I appreciate your comments as well, but this is not mandating it right now. We're asking the federal government to do it. And, again, as a mother, as a teacher, I can tell you I've seen so many kids that that need, some support, and sometimes our own family members can't provide that. I know, as a teacher, I'm not qualified to provide it for my students and definitely not, equipped to provide it to my to my children. And I am so sorry for your loss, but thank you for being here.
And, you know, this is about humanity. This is about, you know, kids in crisis. We have a epidemic of just all kinds of mental health issues, that anything that I believe anything that we can do to help one child is enough. So thank you.
Speaker 4
you so much, chair. And I wanna thank the author for for bringing the bill. This is actually the second committee that I've had a chance to to see it in. And I I'm always struck when we see some of these discussions, some of the statements made by opposition, some of the letters that have come in on it, some of the the correspondence that we have to our offices. And it, for me, highlights why it is so important to be able to provide resources that are tailor made towards these youth, towards these children who are struggling.
Speaker 2
Not attacking them with hate, not trying to push them into a box, particularly one that tells them that there's something wrong with them, but rather embracing the things that they need to be able to survive, in this community. And so I appreciate you taking up the mantle. I can only imagine the types of comments you've been getting at your office, but I've been proud to stand with you and vote for this once, and I'm happy to do it again. Yes.
Speaker 1
Second by Krell? Is that right? Any other members wish to speak? Okay. Assembly member Gonzalez, you may close.
Speaker 3
Thank you, madam chair. I wanted to kinda go back and forth on my closing, but I I redid another one. So I read the opposition letters, the ones mister Rogers mister Rogers mentioned, and thank you, miss Rubio, for your word today. The ones claiming that this bill is about ideology or politics or some kind of an agenda, let's be clear what this bill is actually about. A phone call, a text message, a young person alone in the room staring at the ceiling at two in the morning wondering if anyone in this world understands them enough to keep them alive for one more day or just simply one more hour.
And when they finally find the courage to reach out, who should they, make sure we wanna make sure that that someone on that other end of that line knows how to help them. That's it. That's the bill. Not ideology, not politics, just the basic responsibility to keep our children alive. And as it was mentioned, yes, we just came off the season of Lent right now and celebrated Easter, a season that asked people of faith to reflect on sacrificed conscience and what it means to stand with those who are suffering.
And for me, that reflection is simple. When a young person is in crisis, our job is not to interrogate them, debate them, or filter their pain through somebody else's politics. Our job is to answer the phone. Because while some people are busy writing letters about ideology, there are kids out there right now just hoping someone will pick up that call. AB fifteen forty makes sure that when they do call, someone who understands them is there.
And in a moment when their life hangs in the balance, they can be the difference between despair and tomorrow. Members, this should not be a partisan question. It's a moral one. And I just met somebody over the weekend, and I shared this with Kyle and my team, how a 35 year old man told me that because of the 988 hotline, he just came out It was on the brink of suicide, made that phone call, and he stopped me at at an event. And I had never met this person before.
Turns out they work for EDD, and he said that it was this line that saved his life. And he just came out and, unfortunately, has been disowned by his family, but, you know, at the end of the day, he he's still living today. And with that, members, respectfully ask for an I vote.
Speaker 1
Thank you, assembly member Gonzalez. The press three feature was a very successful one. It's unfortunate that the Trump administration stopped it. I know. I know.
I know, but I like them. I didn't wanna read them. Can I read them? Okay. Unfortunately, California, wouldn't need the federal government's cooperation to fully implement this bill.
Lastly, this bill does not expand authorized expenditures under the nine eighty eight fund, which I think is important. The qualified entity to implement this bill would still need to be a nine eighty eight center, which is
Speaker 1
So with that, your bill enjoys a do pass recommendation. Thank you and your staff for working constructively with my committee since this bill has been introduced. Protecting the LGBTQ plus community as a youth more than ever is important. I'd like to be added as a coauthor, and I hope your efforts are successful. We have a motion by Rogers, a second by Krell.
The motion on a b fifteen forty by assembly member Mark Gonzales is due pass, and we refer to the committee on appropriations. Will the secretary please call the roll?
Speaker 7
Boehner. Aye. Boehner, aye. Hoover, Bonta, Coloza, aye. Caloza, aye.
Castillo, Krell, aye. Krell, aye. Loenthal, Rogers,
Speaker 1
Members, a b fifteen forty is out. We'll leave the roll open for so other members can add on for votes. Next, we're hearing a
Speaker 2
Okay. Of not protecting the the principal. Pretty sure he got arrested for using children. Nice little tie in for her. Good morning, though.
Speaker 1
It's a good idea. Okay. I'll take a motion to take up the consent al calendar for item three, a b twenty ninety three, Bauer Kayan, State nine eighty eight Advisory Group. The motion is due passed and referred to the committee on appropriations. And item four, a b twenty one ninety three, autonomous vehicles.
Motion do pass and referred to the committee on appropriations. Is there a motion?
Speaker 7
This is for the consent calendar. Boehner? Aye. Boehner, aye. Hoover?
Bonta? Colosa?
Speaker 1
The consent calendar is out, and we'll leave it open for additional members to add on their votes. Next, we're hearing a b eighteen thirty two by assembly member Ransom related to two one one. Assembly member Ransom, you may open.
Speaker 4
Thank you, madam chair. Alright. Madam chair and committee, thank you, very much for this opportunity. I'd like to begin by thanking the committee for their work on this bill. I am accepting the committee's amendments that move the requirements under this bill from to the office of emergency services.
Speaker 13
I'm here to present assembly bill eighteen thirty two, a bill that would strengthen and expand statewide access to vital 211 services across California. Currently, California is one of only three states in the country without full state one statewide two one one coverage. Many disaster prone states such as Louisiana, Texas, New Jersey, Virginia utilize two one one as a critical statewide service that connects residents to programs, reliable information, and disaster response systems. In California, unfortunately unfortunately, we are falling short. Today, more than a dozen counties have no access to 211, and many others lack the capacity to answer incoming calls or are at risk of losing service entirely due to the unstable local funding.
Speaker 4
211 can play a critical role during emergencies, whether wildfires, winter storms, or public health crisis. People turn to 211 for trusted real time information and resources. Without this assist without the system, nonemergency calls flood 911 lines, overwhelming emergency responders and leaving thousands without access to timely health. During the Los Angeles wildfires, 211 answered more than 42,000 calls and texts and helped secure short term housing for 15,000 plus households. Despite the success, the system lacks the statewide infrastructure, capacity, and integration into our emergency planning needed to keep up with increasingly freak frequent and severe disasters.
Without state partnership, California is missing out on the valuable real time data. Two one one can provide insights into community needs by ZIP code, by region, by type of need, and helping that helps the state to better target our resources. AB eighteen thirty two addresses these gaps by establishing a statewide two one one fund to support core system capacity, creating a community needs dashboard to provide actionable data and integrate two one one into statewide emergency planning. I respectfully ask for your I vote when the time comes. And with that, I would like to introduce my witnesses, Alana Hitchcock, the executive director and CEO of two one one California, and Lindsey Lindsey Gordon, the two one one manager for Connecting Point.
Speaker 15
Thank you, assembly member, and greetings, madam chair and members of the committee. Alana Hitchcock, CEO of two one one California. In 2025, our local two in ones in California handled over 1,800,000 live calls and texts and responded to over 25 different emergency events. 20 two in one is that trusted place to call twenty four hours a day to a number that's easy to remember. And for live help in very stressful situations, trusted information, and connections to verified services and resources.
Speaker 6
Often, a two in one call goes beyond referral to assist people in navigating services and overcoming barriers to access. And as the member mentions, two in one is there during disasters to support the public with verified information, importantly, helping them understand emergency communications like evacuation orders and connecting them to disaster relief and recovery resources. Currently in California, 43 counties do have full two in one service, but the 15 counties with without are in highly disaster prone areas with limited local resources. And another dozen counties are at risk of service shutting down or being severely reduced within the next year. Two in ones are being asked to do more across the state, from the SNAP food crisis to navigating HR one changes and assisting those who feel unsafe interacting with government.
Speaker 15
While True One One has traditionally not been funded by the state in California, the result is a patchwork of funding sources that is inequitably distributed across the state and is unstably funded. This bill will provide that critical funding mechanism to support two one one work while initiating the connection between two one one and state emergency planning and strengthening California's emergency response system. Thank
Speaker 19
Hello, madam chair and members of the committee. My name is Lindsey Gordon, two one one program manager at Connecting Point. Connecting Point is a local two one one provider serving Nevada, Placer, Yuba, Shasta, Tejama, Siskiyou, and Plumas Counties. In our region, we see firsthand how local funding challenges result in inequitable two one one access and service gaps. In Yuba County, for example, we're only able to provide full twenty four seven two one one services to seniors because agency on aging funding was the only funding that was available at the time.
Connecting Point respond I'm sorry. I wanna add to that. Many counties in our region have no 211 service at all. Connecting Point responds to emergency activations every year, especially wildfires, winter storms, and flooding events. Many of these events cross county lines, and have people evacuating to counties throughout the region, creating confusion when they can't dial 211 from their location.
Speaker 8
Couple of examples of way ways we've been able to help in disaster during 2021 storms, real time unmet needs data reporting to our office of emergency services led to the county getting portable showers and laundry facilities for the community. Another example is a senior couple who was snowed in, and we were able to escalate them directly to the sheriff's department in Placer County who was able to get them out, before their roof collapsing became a serious issue. So a 1832 would help us and our partners provide seamless disaster information and support no matter what county people live in or relocate to and ensure everyone that needs critical community resources, crisis supports, and safety net connections are in play, have a place to go in dialing 211. So thank you so much.
Speaker 1
Also nicely done. Thank you to the proponents. We'll move on to any additional witnesses in support. You may approach the mic with name, affiliation, and position only, please.
Speaker 7
Good afternoon, chair members. Jasmine Cuevas. On behalf of the United Ways of California, we're the state association of 28 local United Ways across the state, and on behalf of the Family Resource Center, San Joaquin County in strong support. Thank you.
Speaker 1
Good afternoon. Dan Oakenfuss with the California Foundation for Independent Living Centers. We receive lots of referrals from the 211 to our network of 24 ILCs across the state here in support.
Speaker 4
Good afternoon. Christina Rico on behalf of the two one one network members, community action partnership of Kern and Community Link Capital Region.
Speaker 10
Sumayana Hart registering support on behalf of the Contra Costa County, Crisis Center as well as two one one LA. Thank you.
Speaker 1
Thank you to witnesses in support. Moving on, are there any primary witnesses in opposition? Any additional witnesses who wanna say name, position name, affiliation, position only? Any tweeners in the room? Okay.
Thank you to all the witnesses bringing back to committee. Are there any members who would like to speak on this bill?
Speaker 1
Moved by Crowell, second by Hoover. Any other comments before we go? Assemblymember Ransom, Ewing Kolos.
Speaker 4
Thank you. I wanna thank, the committee, the chair. I wanna thank, the witnesses for coming forward with real examples of the importance of two one one after floodwaters recede, after fires are out, after victims are done being victimized. We've seen that folks are able to be connected to the resources that they need to be able to rebuild their lives and to make their lives better. There are so many services that are available throughout communities, and these are people who are trusted connectors.
And so this bill is about building the infrastructure we need to help Californians be informed, supported, and safe in their time of crisis and or recovery. And with that, I respectfully ask for your aye vote. Thank you.
Speaker 1
Okay. Thank you, assembly member Ransom, for bringing this bill forward. Your bill enjoys the due passes amended recommendation with the committee amendments and no opposition. Thank you. Thank you and your sponsors for working constructively with me and my team on the committee amendments.
We have a motion by Krell, second by Hoover. The motion is a b eighteen thirty two by assembly member Ransom. It's due passed as amended and re referred to the committee on appropriations. Madam secretary, will you
Speaker 7
Boehner? Aye. Boehner, aye. Hoover? Aye.
Hoover, aye. Bonta? Colosa? Aye. Colosa, I.
Castillo, Krell?
Speaker 1
That bill is out. We'll leave it open for additional members to add on. I don't see assembly member Carrillo. Thank you. You all are amazing.
He's he's he's chairing local club. I remember when I was on both. So I should go. Let's go.
Speaker 8
We are moving to file item six, AB twenty two eighty nine. Chair burner, please proceed when you are ready.
Speaker 1
2289. Okay. Esteemed chair and members of the communications and conveyance committee, it's my pleasure to present to you a b twenty two eighty nine to establish the office of broadband and digital equity and implement other reforms to the CPUC. Beginning 07/01/2028, the office would serve as the centralized state department for broadband and digital equity activities within the state, which currently is split between the California Public Utilities Commission, the CPUC, and the California Department of Technology, the CDT. California is one of the only states in the nation where essential broadband programs are split between two agencies and has not led to better outcomes.
The committee has seen firsthand how the CPUC's processes have led to delays in funding and problems with public participation and the delays with delivering the Middle Mile broadband project. Despite the effort and the attention of this committee, there has been persistent challenges that I am committed to addressing with this bill. To solve the structural problems, we need a structural solution, and that's exactly what a b twenty two eighty nine is about. Under this bill, the state's existing broadband programs initiatives would be consolidated under one agency beginning 07/01/2028. To oversee this agency and create opportunities for public participation, direct public participation, the bill also establishes an 11 member broadband and digital equity commission.
This commission would include members with backgrounds in broadband, digital equity, labor, and industry, and tribes. Tribes. From what I've observed with the current structure of our broadband programs, there are three persistent challenges, difficult public participation, confusing decision making processes, and poor interagency coordination. In tandem, these three persistent problems snowball into much larger and visible challenges such as funding delays, project delays, lack of stakeholder participation, and overall lack of accountability. This bill would also implement reforms of the CPUC, narrowing their regulatory jurisdiction to voice communications.
These reforms will allow the CPUC to focus their administrative capacity on pressing issues like energy affordability, reliability, and utility safety. This bill intend is intended to work in tandem with my constitutional amendment, ACA nine, that will implement other structural reforms at the CPUC. Unless we start thinking today about what the next three years, the next five years, and the next ten years will look like, we may never consider an alternative. We have the power now to shape what this looks like for California and to send a message of accountability to our people. I'm committed to to broadband for all, for consumer protection, and the goals I know we all share in this committee.
That's why I'm carrying the spell. It's a Tasha b special, which is why I have no witnesses in support. I respectfully ask for your support, and I vote. I welcome and encourage any questions from the members.
Speaker 12
Thank you, madam chair. Any would anyone like to speak in support of the bill in the room? Seeing none, are there any witnesses in the room in opposition? Go ahead and come on up.
Speaker 8
Got got a motion from assembly member Lowenthal, second from assembly member Krell. Go ahead and proceed when you're ready.
Speaker 11
Good afternoon, mister chair and members. Ignacio Hernandez here on behalf of, two entities. The first is TURN, the Utility Reform Network and Consumer Advocacy Organization, and also here on behalf of the Communication Workers of America District nine, which covers California, Nevada, Hawaii, Guam. We are in respectful opposition. As far as TERN, actually, for both entities, I mean, I think we share some of the same goals, as the author, and respect her diligence in trying to address better coordination, overall in some of the broadband policy in California.
And we share some of the frustrations. I can't can go on and on about some of the challenges in trying to find out information and who's making decisions when it came to the middle mile, for example. That was extremely challenging. So we understand that. As far as term, what we are concerned primarily about is some of the regulatory, oversight that would be removed from the CPUC.
And so we have probably more questions than answers as to what that means. And will there be a void as far as enforcement, as far as the means for public participation to shape some of the regulatory schemes that exist now? Though not perfect, there is a lot of good that has happened. But we are concerned that by moving some of the regulatory oversight from the commission to a new entity that it that there may be some stranded regulations that will no longer be enforced or rules that may not be enforced. It's unclear to us how the new entity would be able to actually enforce some of the things.
There may be I think the committee analysis mentions there may be some split enforcement. I think that may cause more problems than solve. On behalf of the communication workers of America District nine, again, I think we share the overall goal, as stated by the author, Broadband For All.
Speaker 9
We I think we shared that. And I think our position in our letter, we mentioned some policy that the legislature can adopt going forward, some of which have been debated already in prior years, prior sessions. But going forward, we think those would go further right now to get to the broadband for all, issue and solution that we all want. So I think we have shared values. We might have different ways to get there right now, but we feel strongly that, while there could be some value in this, that, you know, moving away from some of the regulatory oversight and not passing some legislation that could be very strong in protecting against discrimination, about requiring high road labor standards, and a number of other things that have been discussed in this legislature but have not passed.
Speaker 11
And we think that if we start addressing some of those things that we may get better outcomes on broadband versus moving some of the administrative oversight. So always willing to engage going forward. And as the bill moves forward, we will continue discussions with the author.
Speaker 8
Thank you so much. Any other witnesses or speakers in opposition? Seeing none, let's bring it back to the committee. Any members who'd like to speak on this bill?
Speaker 8
I think we have do we have a motion? Yeah. I think we're good. We are good on that. Madam chair, would you like to close?
Speaker 1
I have a I appreciate the opposition's comments, and we are always welcome, to hear any comments about what how we could better do the split between voice at the CPUC and, all other functions of the Office of Broadband and Digital Equity. I think what's really important is when we look at what the bill does, there will be a direct voice of our people. If you realize right now, when somebody has an issue in telecommunications, they have to be a party for the c p u to the CPUC in order to have their voice properly heard. And I don't know in what case any of us representing the 500,000 p or 500,000 people we each represent why we wouldn't want them to have a direct voice. And on the 11 member board, there are 11 voting members with two ex officio members, seven appointed by the governor, two by the assembly, two by the senate, and seats reserved for advocates, labor, tribes, and industry.
I trust that a board that reflects the diversity of California will be able to solve these problems. And with that, I respectfully ask for your I vote.
Speaker 7
The motion is for a b twenty two eighty nine. The motions do pass, and we refer to the committee on appropriations. Boehner? Aye. Boehner?
Aye. Hoover? Hoover? Bonta? Calosa?
Aye. Calosa, aye. Castillo, Krell,
Speaker 8
That bill is out, but we will hold it open for missing members. Congratulations.
Speaker 22
Good afternoon, madam chair and committee members. Thank you for allowing me to present assembly bill twenty four twenty four. To start, I would like to thank the committee for their work on this bill, and I will be respectfully accepting the committee's amendments. AB twenty four twenty four is a measure that will provide the necessary oversight for the California Lifeline program to prevent systemic abuse and fraud in its administrative process. To provide context, the California Lifeline program was established to provide discounted home and cell phone services for qualifying low income households to help consumers lower the cost of their phone bills.
This program was created with the purpose of ensuring that high quality basic telephone services remain affordable for low income Californians, consistent with a more universal telephone service act. Unfortunately, since its inception, this program has been exploited through fraudulent enrollments of duplicate subscribers, claiming those seeking to profit from loopholes in the current system. A recent report summarized from investigation by the Federal Communications Commission or the FCC, office of inspector general, more than 116,000 lifeline enrollments across three states involved in ineligible or duplicate type cases, such as deceased individuals remaining enrolled. California accounted for over 94,000 of those problematic enrollments,
Speaker 22
the largest contributor to this issue. Similarly, a 2023 audit conducted for the CPUC examined duplicate enrollment risks by analyzing accounts with repeated addresses in the California Lifeline program. Other or selected example of 32 accounts specifically flagged for duplicate addresses, out of a population averaging 85,964 monthly subscribers indicating a greater and ongoing potential duplicate household enrollment problem. AB twenty four twenty four will create a low income telecommunications advisory board that will oversee low income telecommunication issues in the state in their scope of operations. The existing California Lifeline Advisory Board does not traditionally have deep deep expertise in telecommunications policy or infrastructure.
Speaker 2
Historically, there hasn't been a requirement for the board to include telecommunications in the scope of their purview or a requirement for a representative on this board to have an expertise in the realm of telecommunications as it relates to low income services. This is a major breach in the integrity of our low income utilities consumers' programs. The creation of this new oversight board will provide the necessary supervision to improve program accountability, reduce fraud, and in turn, increase the number of verified program users. Joining me to testify in support and answer questions, we're gonna have Jocelyn Duarte, doctor Rati, of the Salvatorian American Leadership and Education Fund, also known as SALIF.
Speaker 23
Thank you so much. Good afternoon, madam chair and members of the committee. My name is doctor Jocelyn Duarte. I'm the executive director of the Salvadoran American Leadership and Educational Fund known as SALEV, and I'm also an educator at the Los Angeles Community College District. I speak today on behalf of immigrant and low income communities across Los Angeles who rely on equitable access to essential services.
Telecommunications access is no longer optional. It is foundational, and it's important in our infrastructure. For communities that I serve on a daily basis that need access to have employment opportunities, telehealth services as we saw so much during COVID, educational platforms, emergency response systems depend on reliable connectivity, including those with our recent ICE raids. Lack of access is just not an inconvenience. It reinforces systemic inequity.
Low income households, mixed status families, and immigrant communities face limited access to broadband infrastructure, high service cost, language, and digital literacy barriers. These barriers directly, impact students' ability to succeed academically, families' ability to access legal and health resources, workers' ability to participate in our modern economy. The California Public Utilities Commission, the process remains highly inaccessible for low income communities. It is concerning that both the c p the CPUC and the state report only a 30 to 40% participation rate in the program, specifically designed to protect health, safety, and welfare of low income residents, indicating significant barriers to access and engagement. Now with AB twenty four twenty four, this ensures that California Low Income Oversight Board includes telecommunication experts.
This is a structure this is a structural fix, not symbolic. It embeds technical knowledge into decision making. It ensures policies reflect real world infrastructure and access challenges. Without this these expertise, critical issues risk being underrepresented and misunderstood. Telecommunication systems are rapidly evolving.
Speaker 19
Policy needs to keep up to date. A dedicated expert can guide the board on broadband expansion strategies, affordable program, digital equity initiatives, infrastructure gaps in underserved communities. I will say that at SALEF, we have seen firsthand how digital access impacts our community through know your rights education, family preparedness planning, emergency response during immigration enforcement. Tools like digital platforms act allow for mobile access in critical times. So here, I say that a b twenty four twenty four is a practical, targeted, and necessary improvement to how we govern programs serving low income Californians.
Speaker 23
It strengthens the board's capacity to meet its mission with equity equity and expertise. So when we close the digital divide, we don't just expand access. We expand opportunity, dignity, and inclusion. Thank you.
Speaker 1
Thank you for your, your, thank you for the proponent. We, will move on to any additional witnesses in support. You may approach the mic with name, affiliation, and position only, please. Seeing none. Thank you.
Are there any primary witnesses in opposition? When you get sorted, you have four minutes.
Speaker 10
Good afternoon, madam chair, members. Amanda Gualdarama with Cal Broadband. We are in respectful opposition, to the bill in print. And while we understand that there might be amendments taken today, we did just wanna point out a couple of option or a couple of items. There already is a Universal Lifeline Telephone Service Trust Administrative Committee.
Speaker 5
The committee is an advisory board providing advice, recommendations advice and recommendations to the CPUC on the development, implementation, and administration of the lifeline program, and this is the low income telecommunications program. The committee is also charged with the responsibility of providing advice and recommendations to the commission on the marketing of the program to, to work towards ensuring that those who qualify have those telecommunications services. Members of the committee include consumer based organizations, industry, an accessible technology representative, a tribal representative, and the public advocate's office. They produce an annual report and in the past have produced reports jointly with the electric and gas low income oversight board. The committee is paid for by the surcharges assessed on all telephone and wireless customers right now.
Speaker 10
I will note that by adding additional advisory board may increase those surcharges since there will be new costs. We look forward to continuing the conversations with the author's office and the committee. We'll continue our full review of potential amendments, but at this time remain opposed.
Speaker 1
Thank you. Any additional witnesses in the room that wanna, come forward to state name, affiliation, and position only, please? Good afternoon. Yolanda Benson representing US Telecom, the Broadband Association. Just wanna mirror the comments of my colleague from broadband.
We are in opposition at this time. Thank you. Bringing it back to the committee. Any committee members wish to speak? Motion by Lowenthal.
Second. Second by Krell. Krell's the coming in strong today.
Speaker 18
Yes. No. I just wanted to to clarify. I know that you've been working very hard, both sides, and I appreciate the the work. And, hopefully, we can come up with a solution.
I know I trust assembly member Carrillo. He's always stood by his words, so I appreciate the the willingness to work with the opposition. Thank you.
Speaker 1
Thank you. And with that, we have a motion by Lohenthal, second by Krell. With assembly member would you like to close?
Speaker 22
I I will. Thank you for the opportunity to close. You know, in closing, AB twenty four twenty four will ultimately assist the Lifeline program in doing what it was intended to do, to provide Californians, most vulnerable income residents, reliable telephone and cellular services, enabling them to carry out essential daily functions in a digital area. With that, I respectfully ask for an I vote.
Speaker 1
Thank you. The motion on a b twenty four twenty four by assembly member Carrillo is due, pass as amended, and re referred to the committee on appropriations. Will the secretary please call the roll?
Speaker 1
That bell is out. We'll leave it o for additional members to add on. We're gonna lift the call on consent and all the bells.
Speaker 7
This is for consent A B2093 2193. Both do pass and refer to the committee on appropriations. Hoover? Aye. Hoover, aye.
Bonta.
Speaker 7
This this is for a b fifteen forty, Mark Gonzales. For do pass and refer to the committee on appropriations. Hoover?
Speaker 7
Lowenthal, aye. This is for a b eighteen thirty two ransom. It's due passed as amended, and we refer to the committee on appropriations. Bonta? Aye.
Bonta, aye. Castillo? Loental?
Speaker 18
Loental, aye. This is for a b twenty two eighty nine, the chair's bill, Verner. Do pass and refer to the committee on appropriations. Bonta? Aye.
Speaker 1
those bills are out. We're waiting for assembly member Castillo so I know who's in education. So we'll yeah. Thank you. Alright.
And now we had hope. I heard those quick feet. Secretary, please call the roll. Take your time. You you rushed over.
I appreciate it.
Speaker 7
Castillo, aye. Consent calendar is out nine to zero. This is for a b 1540. Castillo?
Speaker 7
Oh, sorry. A b 2289. Aye. Aye. A vote correction.
That is an aye for Castillo and a B2289.
Speaker 1
The a b twenty four twenty four by Juan Carrillo is out seven to two. Members, this concludes the work on the assembly committee on communicate communications and conveyance. We are adjourned.
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