Item 1 & 2 – Call to Order and Roll Call

Meeting called to order at 10:06 a.m. by Dr. Rita Gallardo Good (Good).

Item 3 – Policy Update

Alex Zucco (Zucco): Updates committee on current bill package, shares updates on the six bills the Commission is co-sponsoring. Shares that all are now listed on the website under the Policy Priority page. Shares that we are supporting twenty-six bills but may lower after the April 24 deadline. Updates that the next Policy Committee meeting is April 21. Provides updates on Katherine and interns attending in-person committee hearings for me-too statements, that support letters are on file. Updates about the fiscal deadline, where all bills are facing their first big test against the appropriations committee. May 19 is our next meeting with local commissions, which will have the Women’s Caucus attending and presenting their priorities. Advocacy day (March 2027) is now being planned and discussed, in collaboration with the communications team. 

Darcy Totten (Totten): Shared that we are exploring the possibility of putting together a new bill focused on Non-disclosure Agreements, in regard to coercion, sexual assault, etc. Advocacy Day will be discussed in detail at our next full meeting, which may require a vote as we are trying to bring together partners from throughout the State on an annual basis.  

Dr. Good: Applauds staff for the ideation of Advocacy Day and shares excitement for this effort. Asks Zucco if she has any indication of what the May revise may look like. 

Zucco: May revise looks brutal, pointing out that it will likely touch everything that is not constitutionally protected. Many cuts are likely to be proposed. 

Dr. Good: Requests that everyone share information with one another whenever we are authorized to. Discusses the need to advocate. Asks if we have been meeting with anyone to discuss our budget. 

Totten: Max will provide an update on our budget change proposal plans, but we will surely have to have realistic conversations about our budget especially as it pertains to our office lease. 

Catalina Chacon (Chacon): Asks if there is any talking points or topics that she could discuss with legislators and Governor’s Office staff, as she is scheduled to meet with them. 

Totten discussed sharing talking points. 

Dr. Good: States that our budget needs to continue to push for policy protection, access, and share stories of the strides we have made. Requested to jump to the operational updates (see Item 5 for notes). 

Item 4 – Events Update

[Taken after item 5] Yating Campbell (Campbell): Shares updates on the cancellation of the Youth in Technology event and that all speakers and sponsors maintain excitement to work with us in the future.  

Totten: Calls on Rodrigo to provide an update on the Street Soccer event. 

Rodrigo: Provides update on Street Soccer, that it will take place on May 3 at the Coliseum in Los Angeles. This will highlight the importance of girls in sports, including coaching. There will also be a celebration at Cal State Northridge for women in financial literacy, including college students, in collaboration with the First Partners Office. Surgeon General will be uplifting maternal health. 

Campbell: Shared update on participation on April 29 in Denim Day, advocacy for assault victims.  

Lisa Greer (Greer): Requested information on the Los Angeles Denim Day advocacy to be emailed; shared that she may have ability to participate. 

Dr. Good: Thanks Commissioner Greer for involvement and thanks everyone for their updates.  

Item 5 – Operations Update

Max Macedo (Macedo): Shares updates about the end of fiscal year budget outlook, highlighting the upcoming months of June and July come with a heavy workload for administrative staff. Shares that the current lease is ending and requires re-negotiation, which projects an increase of at least $10k annually, with a 4% increase annually thereafter. Discusses that the fall BCP seeks to address these costs and the potential of not being able to sign a new lease. 

Dr. Good: Asks for clarification on the number of limited-term staff, the amount needed in the next BCP for personnel, and if the Commission compensates the intern program. 

Macedo: Shares we have one limited term position, will need about $400k to address personnel, and although the interns are paid through their respected programs, they come at no cost to the Commission. 

Nisha Devi Rodrigo (Rodrigo): Asks if fundraising is a potential option to address personnel and the new lease should the Commission not receive more funding. 

Macedo: Shares that fundraising could be an option but would require more conversation. Macedo then provides a short update on travel expenses, that we have seen a year-over-year increase in travel expenses and will be continue monitoring these expenses against the budget. 

Item 6 – May Full Commission Meeting Discussion

Totten: Discussed the confirmation vote, for both the Executive Committee and Governance Committee, which is held during the May meetings. Discussed the Commission’s statute calls for annual selection of Chair and Vice chairwomen, which may also be completed through a confirmation vote.  

Chacon: Agrees with the confirmation vote. 

Greer: Asks if other commissions are structured the same way. 

Totten: Other commissions are structured in their own ways, we would like to have a modernization bill, and this would be one of the areas to focus on. 

Dr. Good: Asks for clarification on if this includes the Governance and Executive committees. 

Totten: Shares that the Legislative mandate only discusses the Chair and Vice Chairwoman, but that the bylaws call for annual selection of Governance committee. 

Dr. Good: Amplifies the need to meet mandates and agrees with confirmation vote. Shares importance of engaging elected officials in order to gain commitments to uplifting women and girls. 

Rodrigo: Provides update on the scheduled retreat in June, and requests that everyone make plans to attend. Confirms that we have reserved the Governor’s Mansion. 

Chacon: Asks if it would be helpful to shorten to one-day to get more Commissioners involved. 

Totten: Shared that we have urged people to come for as long as they can, one or both days, and that reservations are still low.