Environment and Natural Resources Publications
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Enhancing Implementation and Oversight: Proposition 40 Resources Bond
May 7, 2002 - Proposition 40 provided a $2.6 billion bond for natural resource conservation, parks, and historical and cultural resources. We recommend several actions to improve legislative oversight of these expenditures. We also recommend inclusion of future costs for state parks in the budget process.
Better Protection of Fish and Wildlife: Improving Fish and Game's CEQA Review
April 29, 2002 - We find that the effectiveness of California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) review by the Department of Fish and Game is limited by its lack of a formal process for prioritizing projects for review and determining their level of review. We recommend improvements to, and funding for, the review process.
Water Special Districts: A Look at Governance and Public Participation
March 15, 2002 - Chapter 107, Statutes of 2001 (AB 38, Strom-Martin), requires the Legislative Analyst’s Office to undertake a study of these special districts. In this review we find that while some individual districts have pursued controversial policies, there is no evidence of a statewide structural governance problem.
Reorganizing California's Energy-Related Activities
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February 20, 2002 - A multiplicity of agencies, and evidence of certain duplicative activities and other problems, suggests that it is time for the state to "stand back" and assess how its various energy-related entities are organized and interacting with one another.
Funding the State Water Resources Control Board's Core Regulatory Program
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February 20, 2002 - The budget proposes to create General Fund savings by shifting some General Fund support for the State Water Resources Control Board's core regulatory program to fees. We discuss the Governor's proposal, make recommendations for fee legislation, and provide an assessment of the board's funding requirements over the longer term.
Addressing the Obligations Resulting From the Department of Parks and Recreation's Land Acquisitions
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February 20, 2002 - Recently, the Department of Parks and Recreation has significantly increased its land acquisitions without addressing associated future development and operating costs. We provide options for funding development and operation, and make recommendations to reduce the likelihood that future acquisitions will result in unfunded obligations.
Funding for Fire Protection
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February 20, 2002 - We raise concerns with the Governor's proposal to (1) eliminate the General Fund support for emergency fire suppression, (2) reduce General Fund expenditures for "day-to-day" firefighting activities by increasing reimbursements, and (3) eliminate an existing legislative notification requirement. We also offer options for the Legislature to consider for funding fire protection services.
Fiscal and Policy Analysis of the California Consumer Power and Conservation Financing Authority
November 21, 2001 - A member-requested fiscal and policy analysis of Chapter 10x, Statutes of 2001 (SB 6x, Burton). This measure created the California Consumer Power and Conservation Financing Authority.
Letter to Assembly Subcommittee on Electricity Energy Oversight
March 13, 2001 - We (a) evaluate the data on electricity supply and demand provided to the committee by the California Energy Commission (CEC) and the California Independent System Operator (ISO) on the summer 2001 electricity outlook, and (b) discuss any actions necessary for the estimates to be achieved.
The Power Crisis is the Key "Wild Card" in the LAO Economic Outlook
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February 21, 2001 - The most pressing challenge currently facing the state relates to its electricity crisis, especially in light of the multiplicity of ways that energy affects the economy and ultimately the state's finances.
Energy-Related Proposals
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February 21, 2001 - The Governor's budget proposes a number of augmentations totaling $1.2 billion ($1.1 billion General Fund) related to the state's energy crisis. These proposals would add nearly 100 positions across six departments.
CALFED Bay-Delta Program
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February 21, 2001 - The 2001-02 budget proposes $414 million in state funds for CALFED. In determining a funding level for the program, there are a number of policy, fiscal, and programmatic issues for the Legislature to consider.
Environmental Water Account: Need for Legislative Definition and Oversight
January 29, 2001 - We recommend that the Legislature hold oversight hearings to evaluate CALFED's proposal for the Environmental Water Account, implemented to acquire water for endangered species protection and recovery in the Bay-Delta region. There are many policy and implementation issues that the Legislature should consider before CALFED proceeds with the new program, including the program's costs, benefits, impacts, governance, and funding. Funding should be governed by the "beneficiary pays" principle.
Environment and Natural Resources Staff
- Helen Kerstein
- (916) 319-8364
- Forestry, Parks, and High Speed Rail
- Sonja Petek
- (916) 319-8340
- Water, Coastal Development, and Fish and Wildlife
- Frank Jimenez
- (916) 319-8324
- Highways and Roads, Recycling, Agriculture, and Toxics
- Sarah Cornett
- (916) 319-8329
- Air Quality, Energy, and Climate Change
- Rachel Ehlers
- (916) 319-8330
- Deputy Legislative Analyst: Environment and Transportation