The California State Bar:
Considerations for a Fee Increase
June 26, 2019
Presents our office's assessment of the State Bar as required by Business and Professions Code Section 6145.
Allocating Utility Wildfire Costs:
Options and Issues for Consideration
June 21, 2019
A resource for policymakers and the public seeking to better understand the complicated issues surrounding utilities and the costs associated with wildfire risks.
The 2019-20 Budget
May Revision Multiyear Budget Outlook
May 17, 2019
Presents our office’s independent assessment of the condition of the state General Fund budget through 2022‑23 assuming the economy continues to grow and all of the Governor’s May Revision spending proposals are adopted.
Improving California’s Prison Inmate Classification System
May 2, 2019
Provides background information on CDCR’s inmate classification system, assesses the current system, and recommends steps to improve it.
Evaluation of Cal Grant C Program
April 30, 2019
Evaluates the Cal Grant C program, as required by statute, and makes a recommendation regarding whether the state should maintain it.
The 2019-20 Budget
Analysis of the Carve Out of Medi-Cal Pharmacy Services From Managed Care
April 5, 2019
Analyzes one of the two initiatives included in the Governor's executive order: to transition the pharmacy services benefit in Medi-Cal from managed care to entirely a fee-for-service (FFS) benefit directly paid for and administered by the state.
The 2019-20 Budget
Analysis of Proposed Increase in State Funding for Local Child Support Agencies
March 26, 2019
Provides background on the current child support program; describes and assesses the Governor’s 2019‑20 proposal to create a new budgeting methodology that would increase funding for certain LCSAs by nearly $60 million General Fund.
The 2019-20 Budget
Assessing the Governor’s 1991 Realignment Proposals
March 8, 2019
Evaluates the changes the Governor proposes and assesses whether the changes better position 1991 realignment to achieve its intended benefits and meet the principles of a successful state‑county fiscal partnership we identified in our October report.
The 2019-20 Budget
Early Education Analysis
March 4, 2019
Analyzes the Governor’s early education proposals and provides a summary of our recommedations.
The 2019-20 Budget
Transportation Proposals
February 26, 2019
Reviews the Governor's transportation proposals, including those for the Motor Vehicle Account (MVA), the implementation of REAL ID, and the high-speed rail project; identifies issues for legislative consideration.
The 2019-20 Budget
Analysis of the Department of Developmental Services Budget
February 25, 2019
Evaluates the Governor's budget proposals for the Department of Developmental Services (DDS).
The 2019-20 Budget
Using Proposition 56 Funding in Medi-Cal to Improve Access to Quality Care
February 22, 2019
Analyzes the use of Proposition 56 (2016) funding in Medi‑Cal to improve access to quality care; summarizes how Proposition 56 funding in Medi‑Cal has been used to date and the changes proposed under the Governor’s 2019‑20 budget; provides issues for consideration and recommendations.
The 2019-20 Budget
Analysis of the Department of Social Services Budget
February 22, 2019
Evaluates the Governor's major human services budget proposals for programs administered by the Department of Social Services, including the California Work Opportunities and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs), the Supplemental Security Income/State Supplementary Payment (SSI/SSP), the In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS), and foster care.
The 2019-20 Budget
Higher Education Analysis
February 21, 2019
Analyzes the Governor's higher education budget proposals and provides a summary of our recommedations.
Housing and Homelessness
The 2019-20 Budget
Considerations for the Governor's Housing Plan
February 20, 2019
A brief report on the Governor’s proposed $1.75 billion appropriation for various programs aimed at improving the affordability of housing in the state.
The 2019-20 Budget
What Can Be Done to Improve Local Planning
for Housing?
for Housing?
February 20, 2019
A brief report on the Governor’s proposals to change state oversight of local housing decisions and to offer rewards to cities and counties to encourage them to plan for and approve housing.
The 2019-20 Budget
Considerations for Governor's Proposals to Address Homelessness
February 21, 2019
A brief report on the Governor’s proposed $625 million appropriation for various programs aimed at addressing homelessness.
The 2019-20 Budget
Analysis of Governor's Criminal Justice Proposals
February 19, 2019
Assesses many of the Governor’s budget proposals in the judicial and criminal justice area and recommends various changes; provides a complete listing of our recommendations at the end of the report.
The 2019-20 Budget
Natural Resources and Environmental Protection
February 14, 2019
Assesses several of the Governor’s budget proposals in the natural resources and environmental protection areas; recommends various changes as well as additional legislative oversight. Provides a complete listing of our recommendations.
The 2019-20 Budget
Analysis of the Medi-Cal Budget
February 13, 2019
Describes the Governor's proposed Medi-Cal budget; advises the Legislature to consider renewing the managed care organization tax; presents issues for consideration related to the Governor's proposed expansion of comprehensive Medi-Cal coverage for young adults regardless of immigration status; and provides an initial assessment of the Governor's proposals to use Proposition 56 funding in Medi-Cal to extend and expand provider payment increases.
The 2019-20 Budget
Proposition 98 Analysis
February 13, 2019
Assesses the architecture of the Governor’s overall Proposition 98 budget and analyzes his specific proposals for K‑12 education.
The 2019-20 Budget
The Governor's Individual Health Insurance Market Affordability Proposals
February 7, 2019
Assesses the Governor's proposals to (1) create a state requirement that most Californians purchase health insurance coverage ("individual mandate") or pay a financial penalty and (2) use the revenues from this penalty to fund additional health insurance subsidies for households purchasing coverage through Covered California.
The 2019-20 Budget
Structuring the Budget:
Reserves, Debt and Liabilities
Reserves, Debt and Liabilities
February 5, 2019
Considers the structure of the Governor’s budget to evaluate how well it prepares the state to address a future budget problem; assesses Governor’s major budget reserve and debt and liability proposals, offering alternatives for legislative consideration.
Assessing California's Climate Policies
—An Overview
December 21, 2018
Describes the general types of economic effects of state climate policies, key challenges in measuring these effects, and broad issues for the Legislature to consider when designing and evaluating its climate policies.
Assessing California's Climate Policies
—Transportation
December 21, 2018
Provides detailed information and comments on the state’s major policies aimed at reducing emissions from the transportation sector.
The 2020 Census: Potential Impacts on California
December 13, 2018
Provides information on what the Census is and how it's conducted; discusses potential effects of an undercount in California.
Evaluation of a Sales Tax Exemption for Certain Manufacturers
December 11, 2018
Fulfills the statutory requirement of Public Resources Code 26011.8(g) requiring our office to report on the effectiveness of a sales tax exemption program administered by the California Alternative Energy and Advanced Transportation Financing Authority (CAEATFA).
Taxation of Sugary Drinks
November 26, 2018
Provides information and perspectives for the Legislature to consider as it weighs its choices regarding the taxation of sugary drinks.
Rethinking the 1991 Realignment
October 15, 2018
Evaluates the extent to which one of California’s more notable realignments undertaken in 1991 achieves its intended benefits.
Evaluation of the Property Tax Postponement Program
October 8, 2018
Discusses property taxes in California, identifying groups most likely having difficulty paying those taxes; provides advantages and shortcomings of the current Property Tax Postponement Program; provides policy alternatives for legislative consideration.
Improving Access to Dental Services for Individuals With Developmental Disabilities
September 27, 2018
Analyzes the extent to which dental services are available and sufficient for individuals with developmental disabilities; finding that access challenges exist, considers options and makes recommendations for improving access.
The Salton Sea: A Status Update
August 29, 2018
The Salton Sea is California’s largest inland lake, located in Riverside and Imperial Counties. In this report, we discuss the changing conditions in and around the Sea, their statewide importance, and the Legislature’s role in overseeing projects to reduce potential negative effects on public health and wildlife.
Improving California's
Forest and Watershed Management
April 5, 2018
Provides background information on California’s forests; highlights shortcomings in the state's management approach and recommends actions the Legislature could take to improve the health of forests and watersheds across the state.
Related Content: 
Fact Sheet
Building Reserves to Prepare for a Recession
March 7, 2018
Provides an overview of revenue losses in past recessions; compares the Governor's reserve proposal for 2018-19 to past reserves and other states; presents a framework the Legislature can use to plan for a recession; concludes with alternatives for legislative consideration.
All Publications
Other Publications
- July 1, 2019
- Handout Youth Reinvestment, Second Chance Act, and Trauma Recovery Center Grant Programs
- June 27, 2019
- Handout The Financial Information System for California (FI$Cal)
- June 14, 2019
- Report MOU Fiscal Analysis: Bargaining Unit 6
- June 4, 2019
- Handout Overview of Reserves and Debt and Liability Payments
- June 4, 2019
- Handout Governor’s Proposed California Earned Income Tax Credit (CalEITC) Expansion
- June 4, 2019
- Handout Housing and Homelessness Overview
- June 4, 2019
- Handout Sales Tax Exemptions for Diapers and Menstrual Products
- June 4, 2019
- Handout Item 7100-001-0588—Employment Development Department Paid Family Leave (PFL)
- June 4, 2019
- Handout Item 5225-001-0001, Item 5225-002-0001, and Item 5225-008-0001 Integrated Substance Use Disorder Treatment Program
- June 4, 2019
- Handout Items 8120-002-0001 and 8120-102-0001 Increased Peace Officer Training Funding
- June 4, 2019
- Handout Various Items—Senate “Access to Justice” Package
- June 4, 2019
- Handout Various Items—Senate “Prison to Community Pipeline” Package
- June 4, 2019
- Handout Item 5227-108-0001 California Violence Intervention and Prevention Program (CalVIP)
- June 4, 2019
- Handout Items 0820-001-0460 and 0820-101-0001 Firearms Enforcement Activities
- June 4, 2019
- Handout Item 0820-001-0567 Bureau of Gambling Control, Department of Justice
- June 3, 2019
- Handout Item 4260-101-3305 Proposition 56 Medi-Cal Spending
- June 3, 2019
- Handout The MCO Tax Item 4260-101-0001
- June 3, 2019
- Handout Stabilizing Services for Consumers in the DDS System Item 4300-101-0001
- June 3, 2019
- Handout Item 2740-001-0044 REAL ID and DMV Operational Improvements
- May 31, 2019
- Handout Cap-and-Trade Expenditure Plan
All Publications