Appropriations Committee, May 15, 2017 Update:
A huge thank-you to everyone who called in to the Appropriations Committee hearing conference call despite the technical problems and the short notice. Many couldn’t get through because the Scientists4wiredtech.com web portal was shut down.
At the last minute, Senate Security only allowed one call to be broadcast, so Nina Beety, who was on another line, was the only phone testimony the committee heard. This is very disappointing for the EMS/EHS public who already experience so much discrimination.
However, we have arranged for comments to be put into the public record of the hearing itself. Fill out the form at http://scientists4wiredtech.com/action/ by this Friday. The form includes a place to write your statement; include fiscal/cost reasons to oppose this bill. All these comments will be delivered to the Appropriations Committee before next week’s meeting. The Sergeant at Arms has assured us those comments will go into the official hearing record.
The hearing video is up at http://senate.ca.gov/media-archive
05/15/2017 Senate Appropriations Committee
Watch from 3:49:10 to 3:58:15
SB 649 was put in the suspense file until next week, along with many other bills. During this week, they will have more time to weigh the bill. They will vote next week, May 25, on whether it goes to the full Senate. They have to vote on it by next Friday or it will die in committee. Links below to the Legislative Calendar with deadlines and the Appropriations Rules.
Contact the Appropriations Committee Senators by phone, fax and email. Also call/fax/cc your local senator.
If it passes out of the Appropriations Committee, it has a deadline of June 2 for a full Senate vote – that’s very fast. After that, it moves to the Assembly.
Rules violations could stop or delay the bill as well as the costs, which have not been quantified and for which they haven’t appropriated funds.
Sen. Ben Hueso is the bill author and was highlighted in yesterday’s article from Bruce Kushnick on Huffpost:
California Wireless Legislation: Paid for by AT&T et al
Legislative Calendar – deadlines for bills
Appropriations Committee – explanation of process and rules
Contact senators now to tell them NO on SB 649!
