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March 24, 2009 - Presented to: Senate Human Services Committee
March 17, 2009 - Presented to Assembly Health Committee
March 17, 2009 - Presented to: Senate Committee on Labor and Industrial Relations Assembly Committee on Labor and Employment
March 13, 2009 - Governor's Reorganization Plan to Consolidate Information Technology Functions
March 3, 2009 - Presented to Assembly Veterans Affairs Committee
February 6, 2009 - The Governor's budget for 2008‑09 proposes to hold General Fund spending on health programs virtually flat compared to the current-year spending level. However, based on our review of the available draft legislation, it appears that the federal stimulus package will provide substantial fiscal relief to California in the form of enhanced contributions to the state’s Medi-Cal Program. At the time this analysis was prepared, Congress also appeared to be close to agreement on federal legislation that would reauthorize the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). We recommend that the state forego at this time an option available under the new federal legislation to expand children’s coverage up to 300 percent of the federal poverty level because of the state’s current fiscal condition. We also propose seeking voter approval for modifications to Proposition 99, a 1988 initiative approved by voters, to “unlock” spending now earmarked for certain Proposition 99 programs, a step that could allow the Legislature to achieve substantial General Fund savings in the budget year.
January 22, 2009 - Legislative Analyst Director of Social Services, Todd Bland, discusses the third report in the LAO’s 2009-10 Budget Analysis Series.
January 22, 2009 - At a cost of approximately $10.2 billion in 2008-09, California’s major social services provide a wide array of benefits to its citizens. The Governor proposes $3 billion in budget reductions for social services programs in 2009-10, mostly in grant payments to the aged, blind and disabled or low-income families. We present alternative approaches to reducing costs which tend to have less savings and less adverse impacts on recipients and clients. We also present approaches to drawing down more federal funds pursuant to recently enacted federal legislation.
December 1, 2008 - 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. This report summarizes various changes to law that we have recommended in recent years. Recommendations in this report include, among many others: (a) Simplify and Consolidate K-12 General Purpose Funding, (b) Promote the Adoption of Health Information Technology in California, (c) Fund Inmate Education Programs Based on Actual Attendance, and (d) Increase and Index the State Gas Tax.
September 16, 2008 - Presented to Assembly and Senate Health Committees
June 17, 2008 - CalWORKs Major Issues In and Out of Conference
June 16, 2008 - We analyzed SB 840 (Kuehl), which would establish in California a single-payer health care system and its companion financing mechanism.
June 13, 2008 - Item 5225-002-0001 and 4440-011-0001 of the 2008 Budget Conference Committee (pages 285, 325).
June 13, 2008 - Item 5180-111-0001 of the 2008 Budget Conference Committee (page 293).
June 13, 2008 - LAO compromise for Item 5180-111-0001 of the 2008 Budget Conference Committee (page 290).