To browse all LAO publications, visit our Publications page.
August 20, 1993 - The Legislature is considering legislation that would enhance early retirement incentives, otherwise known as "golden handshakes." In this document, we review concepts, current law, and pending legislation regarding golden handshakes. If the Legislature concludes that additional golden handshake authority is needed, we believe the Legislature should consider the steps outlined below as ways to assure accomplishing its policy goals.
March 1, 1993 - In the November 1992 election, the voters approved Proposition 162—the California Pension Protection Act of 1992. This act may fundamentally alter relationships between retirement boards and the executive and legislative branches of these levels of government. There are many issues related to implementation of this act that will be of concern to the Legislature. Key issues include (1) how the Legislature can carry out oversight of the budget of the Public Employee's Retirement System and the State Teachers' Retirement System if those systems are free to spend funds without appropriations and (2) whether, or to what extent, these and other retirement boards are exempt from a wide range of provisions of state law and the State Constitution.
March 1, 1987 - The Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA) program is one of the primary government programs providing employment and training services in California. In this report, we review selected elements of the operation of the JTPA program.
April 1, 1986 - Chapter 1074, Statutes of 1982 (AS 3461), established the Employment Training Panel (ETP) program to provide training and jobs to individuals who are covered under the Unemployment Insurance system. Chapter 1074 also required the Legislative Analyst to prepare a report on the performance and cost-effectiveness of the ETP program and to recommend "any appropriate improvements." This report was prepared in response to Chapter 1074's directive.
May 1, 1985 - The San Diego Job Search and Work Experience Demonstration program was established in 1982 for the purpose of determining the impact that specific employment services have on applicants for Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC). The demonstration program was conducted by the San Diego County welfare department in cooperation with the state departments of Employment Development (EDD) and Social Services (DSS), and was evaluated by the Manpower Demonstration Research Corporation (MDRC).
January 1, 1985 - The state Department of Personnel Administration (DPA) is in the process of implementing administratively a federal tax provision allowing the state to "pick up" mandatory employee retirement contributions. Implementation of the pickup program would result in increased take-home pay to state employees—due primarily to reduced federal tax liabilities—at no direct cost to the state. In this report, we examine the fiscal and policy implications of implementing the pickup program.
January 1, 1985 - This report reviews the effectiveness of the Work Incentive (WIN) program, which is designed to help recipients of Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) find jobs.
August 1, 1984 - The Shared Work Unemployment Compensation (SWUC) program was established in 1978 as an alternative to layoffs during periods of reduced demand for labor. The program allows employees to receive Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits when their work week has been reduced, even though they continue to be employed.
August 1, 1984 - The Shared Work Unemployment Compensation (SWUC) program was established in 1978 as an alternative to layoffs during periods of reduced demand for labor. The program allows employees to receive Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits when their work week has been reduced, even though they continue to be employed.
April 2, 1984 - On August 30, 1982, SB 307 was signed into law (Chapter 680, Statutes of 1982). This legislation provided the authority for the Governor to implement what is commonly referred to as the early retirement or "golden handshake" program. The purpose of the legislation was to provide State management with a mechanism to reduce the impact of or to avoid the necessity for personnel reductions by making early retirement available to eligible employees (it should be noted that the program was not intended to be an employee benefit program).
December 8, 1983 - A statement to the Assembly Committee on Public Employees and Retirement and the Senate Committee on Governmental Organization and Public Employment and Retirement on the bargaining process in other states and assessing the role of the California Legislature in the collective bargaining process covering state employees.