http://www.lao.ca.govThe latest Publications, Initiatives and Propositions from the Legislative Analyst's OfficePublications/HandoutsThis report was prepared pursuant to Chapter 844, Statutes of 2004 (SB 1534, Johnson) which expands the income eligibility criteria for use of the 540 2EZ tax form in filing resident personal income taxes (PITs). The measure also requires the Legislative Analyst’s Office to study the impact of the law change.http://www.lao.ca.gov/laoapp/PubDetails.aspx?id=1904Mon, 05 Jan 2009 13:00:00 GMTPublications/HandoutsOn November 17, 2008, we reported on the draft scoping plan of the Air Resources Board (ARB) for implementation of the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006. After reviewing both (1) the response of the ARB (dated November 26, 2008) to the questions we asked about the proposed scoping plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions on October 3 of this year and (2) ARB’s response to the peer review of the scoping plan, our office continues to conclude that ARB's economic analysis of the AB 32 scoping plan lacks a sensitivity analysis and fails to lay out an investment pathway for the scoping plan.http://www.lao.ca.gov/laoapp/PubDetails.aspx?id=1903Tue, 16 Dec 2008 13:00:00 GMTPublications/HandoutsPresented to Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Subcommittee No. 2 On Resources, Environmental Protection and Energyhttp://www.lao.ca.gov/laoapp/PubDetails.aspx?id=1902Thu, 11 Dec 2008 13:00:00 GMTPublications/HandoutsPresented to Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Subcommittee No. 1 on Educationhttp://www.lao.ca.gov/laoapp/PubDetails.aspx?id=1901Thu, 11 Dec 2008 13:00:00 GMTPublications/HandoutsAs part of his 2008–09 special session package, the Governor proposed to speed up construction of $822 million in planned state transportation projects. We believe that the concept of accelerating transportation projects has merit. We offer an alternative approach that we believe would provide greater benefits with a similar amount of funding. Specifically, we recommend the use of revenue bonds backed by future gas tax revenues to accelerate 122 highway rehabilitation projects. These projects would be ready for construction in 2008–09, 2009–10, and 2010–11, but are not scheduled for construction until later years, due to limited funding. Our bond proposal would require voter approval. Accordingly, we recommend the Legislature place a measure on the next ballot to seek voter approval to issue $800 million in gas tax revenue bonds to fund these projects.http://www.lao.ca.gov/laoapp/PubDetails.aspx?id=1900Wed, 10 Dec 2008 13:00:00 GMTPublications/HandoutsHandout used in conjunction with Mac Taylor's testimony to the Joint Convention of the California Legislature, December 8, 2008.http://www.lao.ca.gov/laoapp/PubDetails.aspx?id=1899Mon, 08 Dec 2008 13:00:00 GMTPublications/HandoutsThe role of the Legislative Analyst's Office is to review state programs and make recommendations to the Legislature as to how the state can operate more effectively and efficiently. This report summarizes various changes to law that we have recommended in recent years. Recommendations in this report include, among many others: (a) Simplify and Consolidate K-12 General Purpose Funding, (b) Promote the Adoption of Health Information Technology in California, (c) Fund Inmate Education Programs Based on Actual Attendance, and (d) Increase and Index the State Gas Tax.http://www.lao.ca.gov/laoapp/PubDetails.aspx?id=1897Mon, 01 Dec 2008 13:00:00 GMTPublications/HandoutsPowerpoint presentation to the California Association of School Business Officials which examines the LAO's Fiscal Forecast, An Overview of the Governor's (November) K-12 Special Session Proposals and an LAO Assessment of the proposals.http://www.lao.ca.gov/laoapp/PubDetails.aspx?id=1898Fri, 21 Nov 2008 13:00:00 GMTPublications/HandoutsWe were asked to report on the draft scoping plan of the Air Resources Board (ARB) for implementation of the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 (Chapter 488, Statutes of 2006 [AB 32, Núñez]). We conclude that (1) the scoping plan’s overall emissions reductions and purported net economic benefit are highly reliant on one measure—the Pavley regulations, (2) the plan’s evaluation of the costs and savings of some recommended measures is inconsistent and incomplete, (3) Macroeconomic modeling results show a slight net economic benefit to the plan, but ARB failed to demonstrate the analytical rigor of its findings, (4) economic analysis played a limited role in development of scoping plan, and (5) despite its prediction of eventual net economic benefit, the scoping plan fails to lay out an investment pathway to reach its goals for GHG emissions levels in 2020.http://www.lao.ca.gov/laoapp/PubDetails.aspx?id=1896Fri, 21 Nov 2008 13:00:00 GMTPublications/HandoutsThe state’s struggling economy has severely reduced expected revenues. Combined with rising state expenses, we project that the state will need $27.8 billion in budget solutions over the 2008-09 and 2009-10 fiscal years. The state’s revenue collapse is so dramatic and the underlying economic factors are so weak that we forecast huge budget shortfalls through 2013-14 absent corrective action. From 2010-11 through 2013-14, we project annual shortfalls that are consistently in the range of $22 billion. Closing a projected $28 billion budget shortfall will be a monumental task. We believe the Legislature must take major ongoing actions by both reducing base spending and increasing revenues. If the Legislature has any hope of developing a fiscally responsible 2009–10 budget, it must begin laying the groundwork now.http://www.lao.ca.gov/laoapp/PubDetails.aspx?id=1895Thu, 20 Nov 2008 13:00:00 GMTInitiatives/PropositionsThis measure would replace the Regents as the governing board of the UCRP with a newly established, 13-member board of trustees.http://www.lao.ca.gov/laoapp/ballot_source/BalDetails.aspx?id=725Wed, 24 Dec 2008 13:00:00 GMTInitiatives/PropositionsThis measure amends the State Constitution to (1) establish a new statewide board responsible for licensing and regulating certain law enforcement officers and (2) require certain state, county, and city agencies to provide specified training to these officers.http://www.lao.ca.gov/laoapp/ballot_source/BalDetails.aspx?id=724Fri, 05 Dec 2008 13:00:00 GMTInitiatives/PropositionsThis measure replaces existing term limits with new requirements, including requirements related to consecutive terms served and fundraising.http://www.lao.ca.gov/laoapp/ballot_source/BalDetails.aspx?id=723Fri, 21 Nov 2008 13:00:00 GMTInitiatives/PropositionsThis measure amends the State Constitution to require, with certain exceptions, a physician (or his or her representative) to notify the parent or legal guardian of a pregnant minor at least 48 hours before performing an abortion involving that minor. (This measure does not require a physician or a minor to obtain the consent of a parent or guardian.) This measure applies only to cases involving an “unemancipated” minor. The measure identifies an unemancipated minor as being a female under the age of 18 who has not entered into a valid marriage, is not on active duty in the armed services of the United States, and has not been declared free from her parents’ or guardians’ custody and control under state law.http://www.lao.ca.gov/laoapp/ballot_source/BalDetails.aspx?id=713Tue, 04 Nov 2008 13:00:00 GMTInitiatives/PropositionsThis measure authorizes the state to sell $9.95 billion in general obligation bonds to fund (1) pre-construction activities and construction of a high-speed passenger train system in California, and (2) capital improvements to passenger rail systems that expand capacity, improve safety, or enable train riders to connect to the high-speed train system. The bond funds would be available when appropriated by the Legislature. General obligation bonds are backed by the state, meaning that the state is required to pay the principal and interest costs on these bonds.http://www.lao.ca.gov/laoapp/ballot_source/BalDetails.aspx?id=710Tue, 04 Nov 2008 13:00:00 GMTInitiatives/PropositionsThis measure authorizes the state to sell $980 million in general obligation bonds for capital improvement projects at children’s hospitals. The measure specifically identifies the five University of California children’s hospitals as eligible bond fund recipients. There are additional children’s hospitals that are likely to meet other eligibility criteria specified in the measure, which are based on hospitals’ performance in the 2001‑02 fiscal year. These criteria include providing at least 160 licensed beds for infants and children.http://www.lao.ca.gov/laoapp/ballot_source/BalDetails.aspx?id=712Tue, 04 Nov 2008 13:00:00 GMTInitiatives/PropositionsThis measure (1) expands drug treatment diversion programs for criminal offenders, (2) modifies parole supervision procedures and expands prison and parole rehabilitation programs, (3) allows inmates to earn additional time off their prison sentences for participation and performance in rehabilitation programs, (4) reduces certain penalties for marijuana possession, and (5) makes miscellaneous changes to state law related mainly to state administration of rehabilitation and parole programs for offenders.http://www.lao.ca.gov/laoapp/ballot_source/BalDetails.aspx?id=714Tue, 04 Nov 2008 13:00:00 GMTInitiatives/PropositionsThis measure makes several changes to current laws relating to California’s criminal justice system. These include: setting required spending levels for certain new and existing criminal justice programs; increasing penalties for certain crimes; making various changes to state parole policies; and making various other changes related to gang databases, hearsay evidence, gang injunction procedures, criminal background checks for public housing residents, temporary housing for offenders, release of undocumented persons, juvenile justice coordinating council membership, and juveniles in adult court.http://www.lao.ca.gov/laoapp/ballot_source/BalDetails.aspx?id=715Tue, 04 Nov 2008 13:00:00 GMTInitiatives/PropositionsThis measure makes a number of changes regarding Renewables Portfolio Standard (RPS) and the permitting of electricity generating facilities and transmission lines. Primarily, the measure establishes additional, higher RPS targets for electricity providers, makes RPS requirements enforceable on publicly owned utilities, changes the process for defining “market price of electricity,” changes the cost cap provisions that limit electricity provider obligations under the RPS, expands the scope of RPS enforcement, revises RPS-related contracting period and obligations, sets a lower penalty rate in statute and removes the cap on the total penalty amount for failure to meet RPS requirements, directs the use of RPS penalty revenues, and expands the Energy Commission’s permitting authority.http://www.lao.ca.gov/laoapp/ballot_source/BalDetails.aspx?id=716Tue, 04 Nov 2008 13:00:00 GMTInitiatives/PropositionsThis measure amends the State Constitution and various state laws to (1) expand the legal rights of crime victims and the payment of restitution by criminal offenders, (2) restrict the early release of inmates, and (3) change the procedures for granting and revoking parole.http://www.lao.ca.gov/laoapp/ballot_source/BalDetails.aspx?id=718Tue, 04 Nov 2008 13:00:00 GMTInitiatives/PropositionsThis measure allows the state to sell $5 billion in GO bonds for various renewable energy, alternative fuel, energy efficiency, and air emissions reduction purposes. It also designates various state agencies to administer different components of the measure. Finally, the measure specifies that not more than 1 percent of the funds in each account established by the measure may be used to pay for program administration.http://www.lao.ca.gov/laoapp/ballot_source/BalDetails.aspx?id=719Tue, 04 Nov 2008 13:00:00 GMTInitiatives/PropositionsThis measure amends the California Constitution to change the redistricting process for the state Legislature, Board of Equalization, and California members of the U.S. House of Representatives, beginning with the 2010 census.http://www.lao.ca.gov/laoapp/ballot_source/BalDetails.aspx?id=720Tue, 04 Nov 2008 13:00:00 GMTInitiatives/PropositionsThis measure authorizes the state to sell $900 million in general obligation bonds for the Cal-Vet program. These bonds would provide sufficient funds for at least 3,600 additional veterans to receive loans.http://www.lao.ca.gov/laoapp/ballot_source/BalDetails.aspx?id=721Tue, 04 Nov 2008 13:00:00 GMTInitiatives/PropositionsThis measure amends the California Constitution to specify that only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California. As a result, notwithstanding the California Supreme Court ruling of May 2008, marriage would be limited to individuals of the opposite sex, and individuals of the same sex would not have the right to marry in California.http://www.lao.ca.gov/laoapp/ballot_source/BalDetails.aspx?id=717Tue, 04 Nov 2008 13:00:00 GMTInitiatives/PropositionsBeginning January 1, 2015, this measure prohibits with certain exceptions the confinement on a farm of pregnant pigs, calves raised for veal, and egg-laying hens in a manner that does not allow them to turn around freely, lie down, stand up, and fully extend their limbs. Under the measure, any person who violates this law would be guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of up to $1,000 and/or imprisonment in county jail for up to six months.http://www.lao.ca.gov/laoapp/ballot_source/BalDetails.aspx?id=711Tue, 04 Nov 2008 13:00:00 GMT