Committee Website Teleconference Instructions:

Due to the statewide stay-at-home order and guidance on physical distancing, seating for committee hearings will be very limited for press and for the public. All are encouraged to watch our hearing from its live stream on the Senate’s website at https://www.senate.ca.gov/

We encourage the public to submit written testimony before the hearing through the position letter portal. Please note that any written testimony submitted to the committee is considered public comment and may be read into the record or reprinted.

The Capitol will be open for attendance of committee hearings, but the public is strongly encouraged to participate via the web portal or telephonically.

Information regarding a call-in option for testimony will be made available and updated the night prior to the hearing date.

Please note: In order for your testimony to be heard clearly, you must mute any devices you are using to live stream the committee hearing prior to calling into the teleconference service. Please do not testify using speakerphone or bluetooth, this can cause acoustic feedback and make it very difficult to hear your testimony. 

Upon calling in, you will be placed in a “waiting room” where you will be muted but you can listen to the committee hearing as you wait.

When a committee moves to public comment, a moderator will ask for anyone who is wishing to testify in “Support” of the bill to please press 1-0.  The moderator will again prompt those waiting in “Opposition” when the committee moves to opposition.  You should press 1-0 when you are prompted by the moderator – be sure to listen for support or opposition and DO NOT press 1-0 until the proper position has been asked for. 

When you press 1-0 on your phone, you will wait and an operator will assign you a line number, at that time you will be placed in the queue for identification.  Remember your line number, the moderator will call out that number to identify YOU when it is your turn to testify.  OF IMPORTANT NOTE: If you press 1-0 a second time, you will remove yourself from the queue and you will not be identified to testify. Every time you press 1-0 you either put yourself “In queue” or take yourself “Out of queue” so listen carefully, and press 1-0 only once when you are prompted by the moderator.

When you are successfully in the queue, with your assigned line number, the moderator will call out your line number, open your line, and at that time you may address the committee. You must have your own phone unmuted before you begin testimony.

A more detailed explanation of the teleconference instructions can be found by clicking the “Teleconference Instructions” 

We will be answering phones Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., excluding holidays.  We will also be processing authors amendments at this time. Please contact the committee assistant for more information on amendment process. 

If you need to reach the Committee, please call (916) 651-1556 or email one of the consultants below:

Gideon.Baum@sen.ca.gov

Alma.Perez@sen.ca.gov

Glenn.Miles@sen.ca.gov

Jake.Ferrera@sen.ca.gov

 Martha.Gutierrez@sen.ca.gov

POSITION LETTERS ON LEGISLATION CAN STILL BE SENT AND RECEIVED THROUGH THE INTERNET PORTAL.

If you have questions on any of the following topics, please reference the links below:

General Labor Law Information:

https://www.labor.ca.gov/coronavirus2019/

Unemployment Insurance/Disability Insurance/Paid Family Leave:

https://edd.ca.gov/about_edd/coronavirus-2019.htm

https://edd.ca.gov/about_edd/coronavirus-2019-espanol.htm (En Espanol)

Paid Sick Days and Unpaid Wage Claims:

https://www.dir.ca.gov/dlse/2019-Novel-Coronavirus.htm

https://www.dir.ca.gov/dlse/Spanish/2019-Novel-Coronavirus.htm (En Espanol)

Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal-OSHA):

https://www.dir.ca.gov/dosh/coronavirus/Health-Care-General-Industry.html

Senate Labor, Public Employment and Retirement Committee meets every 2nd and 4th Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. in Room 2040.  However, always check the Senate Daily File for any changes.

For information on how to submit a position letter please see the directions below:

Advocacy Quick Reference Guide

Support and Opposition Letters for Upcoming Hearings

• Support and Opposition letters are due by 5 pm, 6 calendar days (Thursday) prior to hearing

  • We cannot guarantee inclusion in the analyses otherwise

  • Please submit position letters via the above Position Letter Portal. If you are submitting a coalition letter, every member of the coalition must be listed in the letter. 

  • Or you may email letters to Martha.Gutierrez@sen.ca.gov, committee assistant

Members:

Senator Jerry Hill (Chair)
Senator Mike Morrell (Vice Chair)
Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson
Senator Holly J. Mitchell
Senator Richard Pan