December 2006
The 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. While most of our recommendations can be addressed in the annual budget bill, some involve recommended changes in law that require separate legislation. This report includes such recommended law changes that we have made in recent years. If you would like more information or assistance on any one of the proposed recommendations, please contact the person(s) listed at the bottom of each page. The deadline for bill requests to Legislative Counsel is January 26, 2007. The last day for bill introduction is February 23, 2007.
Streamline K-12 Funding Programs
Create a New Mandate Block Grant
Increase the Focus on Low-Performing Students by Aligning State/Federal Standards
Add Dropout Data to Academic Performance Index
Reform Child Care Reimbursement Rate Structure
Make Class Size Reduction Programs Less Restrictive
Create Performance-Based Teacher Accreditation System
Reform Teacher Credential and Fingerprint Processes
Revise Migrant Education Funding and Service Model
Enhance Charter School Oversight
Establish College Preparation Block Grant
Align College Admissions With Standardized High School Tests
Reexamine Existing Freshman Eligibility Standards
Enhance Incentives for Community Colleges to Provide Remedial Education
Enact a Student Fee Policy for Postsecondary Education
Establish Consistent Statewide Financial Aid Policies
Link Private University Cal Grant to Public University Subsidy
Restructure How State Administers Student Grant and Loan Programs
Streamline Course Requirements for Transfer Students
Require Certain Aged and Disabled Medi-Cal Beneficiaries to Shift to Managed Care
Help Restore Managed Care to Rural California
"Remodel" the Drug Medi-Cal Program
Encourage More Efficient Use of Health Care Services in Medi-Cal Through a Combination of Incentives
Reform Proposition 99 to Enable More Flexible and Effective Spending
Evaluate the Accuracy and Consistency of Purchase of Services Data
Expand CalWORKs Community Service
Reform Grant Levels and Eligibility
Establish Matching Grant Program for Proposition 10 Funds
Improve Licensing Enforcement and Compliance
Improve Child Support Performance
Strengthen and Expand the State-Local Realignment Enacted in 1991
Enact Changes in Responsibilities and Relationships With Local Governments
Enact Reforms in Prison Industry Authority
Realign Juvenile Parole Function to County Probation
Apply “Beneficiary Pays” Funding Principle by Enacting Fees and Modifying Cost-Sharing Arrangements
Improve State Oversight of Local Air Districts
Set Expenditure Priorities and Establish Performance Measures
Improve Coastal Access and Development Mitigation
Increase Likelihood That Locals Adopt Coastal Commission’s Recommendations
Clarify Land Acquisition Objectives and Review Goals’ Attainment
Utilize a Uniform Local Agency Agreement
Reorganize Activities to Improve Accountability and Create Efficiencies
Improve Connection Between Land Use Planning and Flood Risk
Reorganize Programs to Improve Effectiveness and Create Savings
Transfer Balance of School Land Bank Fund to the Teacher’s Retirement Fund
Reduce State’s Financial Exposure at Closed Waste Facilities and Mines
Establish Policy on Funding Eligibility of Private Water Companies
Facilitate Transfers While Better Protecting Those Parties Affected by Transfers
Require Fees to Cover the Costs of Issuing Encroachment Permits
Increase and Index the State Gas Tax
Conduct Ongoing Transportation Needs Assessment
Authorize Design-Build Contracting on a Pilot Basis
Addressing the Costs of Retiree Health Benefits
Improving the State’s Emergency Preparedness
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Acknowledgments The Legislative Analyst's Office (LAO) is a nonpartisan office which provides fiscal and policy information and advice to the Legislature. |
LAO Publications To request publications call (916) 445-4656. This report and others, as well as an E-mail subscription service, are available on the LAO's Internet site at www.lao.ca.gov. The LAO is located at 925 L Street, Suite 1000, Sacramento, CA 95814. |