March 20, 2023 | Brief

The 2023-24 Budget

Broadband Infrastructure

Provides updates on federal and state broadband programs and projects, including the state’s 2021 broadband infrastructure spending plan; considers the proposed delays of broadband infrastructure funding in the Governor’s 2023-24 budget.

February 28, 2023 | Brief

The 2023-24 Budget

California's Film Tax Credit

Surveys research on the economic effects of state film tax credits and analyzes the Governor's proposal to extend California's film tax credit for five years.

February 23, 2023 | Brief

The 2023-24 Budget

California Student Aid Commission

Analyzes the Governor’s budget proposals relating to the California Student Aid Commission. Covers Cal Grants, Middle Class Scholarships, Golden State Education and Training Grants, Golden State Teacher Grants, and state operations.

February 23, 2023 | Brief

The 2023-24 Budget

Department of Justice Budget Proposals

Provides our analysis of the Governor’s 2023-24 budget proposals for the Department of Justice related to the Bureau of Forensic Services, firearms workload, and legal workload.

February 23, 2023 | Brief

The 2023-24 Budget

Equity Multiplier and Accountability Proposals

Provides an overview and analysis of the Governor’s proposals to (1) provide ongoing funding for the highest-poverty schools and (2) make several changes to the system of transparency and accountability.

February 22, 2023 | Brief

The 2023-24 Budget

Analysis of Child Welfare Proposals and Implementation Updates

Provides program background; outlines the Governor’s proposed 2023-24 budget for children and family programs; provides implementation updates on a number of programs that were funded in the current and prior years; and raises questions and issues for the Legislature to consider.

February 22, 2023 | Brief

The 2023-24 Budget

California Community Colleges

Analyzes the Governor’s budget proposals for the California Community Colleges. Covers enrollment, apportionments, Student Centered Funding Formula funding protections, and facilities maintenance.

February 22, 2023 | Report

The 2023-24 Budget

Crafting Climate, Resources, and Environmental Budget Solutions

Describes the Governor’s proposed budget solutions within climate, resources, and environmental programs, and provides the Legislature with a framework and suggestions for how it might modify those proposals to better reflect its priorities and prepare to address a potentially larger budget problem.

February 16, 2023 | Brief

The 2023-24 Budget

Analysis of the Governor’s Major Behavioral Health Proposals

Analyzes the Governor’s three major behavioral health spending proposals and two proposed behavioral health budget solutions involving delays in planned spending.

February 16, 2023 | Brief

The 2023-24 Budget

The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation

Provides our analysis of the Governor’s 2023-24 budget proposals related to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

February 15, 2023 | Brief

The 2023-24 Budget

Multiyear Assessment

Provides our current assessment of the scale of the coming budget problems under the Governor’s budget proposals. Also provides our guidance to the Legislature about how to address these shortfalls given current economic conditions.

February 15, 2023 | Brief

The 2023-24 Budget

University of California

Analyzes the Governor’s budget proposals for the University of California and covers the Governor’s proposals relating to core operations, enrollment, capital projects, and new transfer requirements.

February 14, 2023 | Brief

The 2023-24 Budget

Transitional Kindergarten and State Preschool Proposals

Provides an overview and analysis of the Governor’s proposals for transitional kindergarten and State Preschool.

February 13, 2023 | Brief

The 2023-24 Budget

Proposed Budget Solutions in Transportation Programs

Provides background on the recent funding augmentations in transportation from both state and federal funds; describes the Governor’s proposed transportation budget solutions; discusses our assessment of the Governor’s proposals; and offers recommendations for how the Legislature could craft its own package of solutions.

February 10, 2023 | Brief

The 2023-24 Budget

Analysis of the Medi‑Cal Budget

Provides an overview of the Governor’s proposed budget for Medi‑Cal, assesses the administration’s assumptions on caseload and COVID-19-related policies, and analyzes the Governor’s managed care organization tax proposal.

February 10, 2023 | Brief

The 2023-24 Budget

Judicial Branch Budget Proposals

Provides our analysis of a proposal seeking court-specific resources for the Community Assistance, Recovery, and Empowerment (CARE) Program and a proposal to address the solvency of the State Court Facilities Construction Fund.

February 9, 2023 | Brief

The 2023-24 Budget

Child Care Proposals

Provides an overview and initial analysis of the Governor’s key child care budget proposals for 2023-24, estimates of child care program costs, and the effects of allowing some temporary policies to expire.

February 7, 2023 | Brief

The 2023-24 Budget

California State University

Analyzes the Governor’s budget proposals relating to the California State University; covers proposals relating to core operations, enrollment, and capital outlay budget solutions.

February 7, 2023 | Brief

The 2023-24 Budget

Proposition 98 Overview and K-12 Spending Plan

Analyzes the estimates of the Proposition 98 guarantee in the Governor’s budget and assesses the overall structure of the Governor’s plan for K-12 funding.

January 31, 2023 | Brief

The 2023-24 Budget

Higher Education Overview

Provides an overview and initial analysis of the Governor’s higher education budget plan.

January 9, 2023 | Brief

The Local Control Funding Formula for School Districts and Charter Schools

Provides some historical background on the implementation of the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF), describes how the formula works for school districts and charter schools, describes how the formula was phased in, and explains requirements for districts to adopt plans that describe how LCFF funding will be spent.

January 6, 2023 | Report

The California State Bar: Assessment of Proposed Disciplinary Case Processing Standards

Presents our assessment of the California State Bar’s proposed (1) caseload processing standards for resolving attorney discipline cases within its Office of Chief Trial Counsel, (2) establishment of a backlog goal and metrics to measure such a goal, and (3) staffing requirements needed to achieve the new standards.

January 5, 2023 | Brief

Addressing Capital Renewal at UC and CSU

Provides background on capital renewal at UC and CSU, assesses the current approach to addressing capital renewal, makes recommendations to better plan and budget for capital renewal, and raises other related issues for consideration.

January 5, 2023 | Report

Promoting Equity in the Parole Hearing Process

Provides background on California’s parole hearing process, identifies current aspects of the process that could disadvantage certain groups, and recommends steps to promote greater equity in the parole hearing process.

January 4, 2023 | Brief

Assessing California's Climate Policies—The 2022 Scoping Plan Update

Evaluates the California Air Resources Board's plan for achieving statewide 2030 greenhouse gas reduction goals.

December 16, 2022 | Report

Issues That Could Impact Californians’ Health Care Coverage in 2023 and Beyond

Looks at health care coverage in California; provides background on the drivers of the significant decline in the percent of Californians without health care coverage over the last ten years; discusses various issues that could impact the number of Californians with coverage, and how the type of coverage they have may change.

December 13, 2022 | Report

Redesigning California's Adult Education Funding Model

Provides background on adult education funding, assesses the current funding model, and offers recommendations to improve it.

November 14, 2022 | Report

Living Under Smoky Skies—Understanding the Challenges Posed by Wildfire Smoke in California

Summarizes trends in wildfires and associated smoke; reviews research on the health and other effects of wildfire smoke; discusses local, state, and federal roles and responsibilities related to smoke; and provides some guidance to the Legislature as it formulates its approach to addressing smoke in the coming years.

September 22, 2022 | Report

Assessing the Provision of Criminal Indigent Defense

Provides background on the provision of indigent defense in California, discusses existing indigent defense service levels, and makes recommendations to improve the state's oversight of indigent defense.

August 23, 2022 | Post

Overview of California's Ports

Describes how ports across the state operate and are funded, discusses related air quality and port congestion issues, and reviews recent state and federal actions regarding ports.

August 8, 2022 | Report

Improving California’s Unemployment Insurance Program

Reports on the state’s unemployment insurance program and the changes needed to quickly and easily get UI payments to unemployed workers.