January 6, 2022 | Report

An Analysis of the University of California’s Agricultural and Natural Resource Programs

This report provides an overview of these programs—discussing their statutory origin, structure, employees, and budget. The report also raises a few concerns with the state’s oversight of these programs and concludes by providing recommendations to enhance oversight.

January 4, 2022 | Report

Options for a Forestry Management Training Center in Northern California

This report identifies key design choices and options for establishing a forestry management training center in Northern California. Additionally, this report discusses some other strategies that the Legislature could consider pursuing—either in addition to or instead of establishing a new training center—to meet its policy goals.

December 17, 2021 | Report

Overview of Special Education Funding Models

This brief provides background on the state’s current funding allocation formula for special education, describes funding formulas used in other states, establishes a framework for evaluating these formulas, and offers some issues for the Legislature to consider.

December 15, 2021 | Report

Assessing California’s Climate Policies—Agriculture

This report provides our assessment of the effects of major programs in the agricultural sector that are aimed at reducing emissions and sequestering carbon, as well as identifies key issues for the Legislature to consider as it makes future policy and budget decisions.

December 13, 2021 | Report

An Initial Review of the Regional Forest and Fire Capacity Program

Provides an initial review of the Regional Forest and Fire Capacity Program, including a discussion of the current activities funded by the program, the promise and limitations of the program, and recommendations to improve program outcomes and oversight.

December 10, 2021 | Post

Overview of Mental Health Services for College Students

This post describes the mental health services available to students attending California’s public colleges and universities, highlights recent developments in student mental health since the start of the pandemic, and assesses the data currently available on student mental health issues.

December 6, 2021 | Post

Cap-And-Trade Auction Update and GGRF Projections

Summarizes results from the November 2021 cap-and-trade auction, describes cap-and-trade revenue scenarios and the amount of funding available for discretionary spending, and identifies key issues for legislative consideration when developing an expenditure plan.

September 30, 2021 | Report

Reducing the Destructiveness of Wildfires: Promoting Defensible Space in California

Identifies the challenges to improving the number of homeowners in compliance with existing state and local defensible space requirements and provides recommendations to address these challenges in order to reduce the destructiveness of future wildfires.

Executive Summary (PDF)

June 25, 2021 | MOU Analysis

The 2021-22 Budget

Labor Agreements Ending Personal Leave Program 2020

Summarizes and provides comments on 20 labor agreements received by the Legislature between June 9 and June 15, 2021; provides overarching comments across the 20 agreements and offers recommendations to the Legislature.

May 18, 2021 | Handout

The 2021-22 Budget

Overview of May Revision K-12 Education Proposals

Analyzes the overall architecture of the Governor’s May Revision plan for school funding, including major spending proposals and underlying estimates of the Proposition 98 minimum guarantee.

May 13, 2021 | Report

What Can We Learn From How the State Responded to the Last Major Drought?

Summarizes how the state responded to the 2012-to-2016 drought and highlights key lessons for current and future droughts.

May 12, 2021 | Report

An Initial Look at Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Local Government Fiscal Condition

Examines what is known about the effects of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic on local governments’ fiscal condition.

April 26, 2021 | Post

The 2021-22 Budget

The Governor’s Proposition 2 Proposals

Provides an overview of the Governor’s proposals related to Proposition 2 (2014); summarizes and comments on the Governor’s Proposition 2 reserve and debt payment proposals.

April 14, 2021 | Report

Improving Parolee Substance Use Disorder Treatment Through Medi-Cal

Provides background on the ways parolees access substance use disorder treatment (SUDT); assesses the trade-offs between approaches; recommends steps to improve the quality of service and create savings by increasing the utilization of Medi-Cal for parolee SUDT.

March 26, 2021 | Report

The 2021-22 Budget

“Cradle to Career” Data System

Provides background on process to date toward creating an integrated education data system and other related data tools (collectively referred to as the "Cradle to Career" data system); describes the Governor’s proposals to fund the development of specific components of this system; assesses these proposals; makes associated recommendations.

March 19, 2021 | Report

The 2021-22 Budget

Department of Toxic Substances Control

Discusses the Governor’s proposal to implement fiscal and governance reforms for the Department of Toxic Substances Control, as well as the proposal to provide $300 million in one-time General Fund to clean up brownfields across the state.

March 12, 2021 | Handout

The 2021-22 Budget

Authorization of Remote Court Proceedings

Analyzes the Governor’s 2021-22 budget proposals to authorize remote court proceedings.

March 10, 2021 | Report

Strengthening the CalSTRS Funding Plan

Provides an overview of the 2014 California State Teachers’ Retirement System (CalSTRS) funding plan; analyzes the various challenges and complexities of the plan; offers several short- and longer-term recommendations for the Legislature to consider to help CalSTRS eliminate the system’s current and future unfunded actuarial obligation, achieve long-term savings, and improve legislative oversight.

March 9, 2021 | Handout

High-Speed Rail Revised Draft 2020 Business Plan

Analyzes the High-Speed Rail Authority’s Revised Draft 2020 Business Plan and provides some issues for legislative consideration.

March 2, 2021 | Report

The 2021-22 Budget

Improving Legislative Oversight of Emergency Spending Authorities

Provides an overview of the Governor’s emergency spending authorities; assesses the Governor’s 2021-22 January budget proposals to extend, modify, and expand emergency spending authorities to continue to respond to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic; recommends ways to improve the oversight of emergency spending.

February 26, 2021 | Handout

The 2021-22 Budget

In-Home Supportive Services

Analyzes the Governor’s 2021-22 budget proposals related to the In-Home Supportive Services program; assesses recent growth trends in caseload, hourly wages, and hours per case; and provides some recommendations and issues for consideration.

February 26, 2021 | Post

The 2021-22 Budget

UC Programs in Medical Education

Analyzes the Governor’s proposal to provide a General Fund augmentation to the University of California’s Programs in Medical Education—a collection of medical school programs providing specialized instruction in health equity matters.