Senate budget committee approves AB 104, reauthorizes work on Riverside School for the Deaf and extends reentry grants

The Senate Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review voted to pass AB 104, a 2025 budget trailer bill that reappropriates working‑drawings authority for the California School for the Deaf, Riverside, and reappropriates $10 million for rehabilitation grants supporting incarcerated individuals.

Rosanna Nguyen, program budget manager for the Department of Finance, told the committee AB 104 “includes the reappropriation of working drawings authority for the California School for the Deaf, Riverside, to allow its athletic complex project to continue without delay.” Mike McGinnis, also with the Department of Finance, said the total project cost is $60,600,000 and that the construction phase is estimated at $55,300,000.

The bill also reappropriates $10,000,000 from the 2024 budget act for grants supporting rehabilitation programs for incarcerated individuals, split evenly between the General Fund and the inmate welfare fund, and extends the encumbrance and expenditure period through 2025–26 for the California reentry and enrichment, victim impact, and innovative programming grants.

Senator Wahab asked for clarity on the school project. Senator Wahab and others raised concerns about pay disparities for staff at state schools serving students with sensory disabilities and said those workforce concerns remain unaddressed even as capital funding moves forward. Senator Wahab said some staff at those schools are “experiencing homelessness” and asked that pay parity with local districts be pursued through CalHR and the superintendent’s office.

Public commenters spoke in favor of specific AB 104 provisions. Connie Delgado of the District Hospital Leadership Forum and Mark Farouk of the California Hospital Association each thanked the committee for the bill’s hospital loan provisions. The committee did not adopt any amendments on the floor during the hearing.

Senator Laird moved to pass AB 104. The committee recorded a final vote of 15 to 1 in favor, sending the bill out of committee.

The measure funds construction and continues grant programs; the Department of Finance said lease revenue bonds will fund the Riverside athletic complex work. The committee discussion distinguished capital reauthorizations from outstanding workforce compensation concerns, which several senators said remain unresolved and require separate administrative or legislative action.