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January 25, 2011 - This handout reviews the In-Home Supportive Services proposals and provides comments and alternatives.
January 25, 2011 - The Governor’s budget proposal would realign the child welfare system to counties in 2011-12 and shift $1.6 billion in tax revenues to counties in lieu of General Fund. This handout provides information on that proposal.
January 24, 2011 - The Governor’s budget plan provides $2.2 billion for child care and development (CCD) in 2011-12—a reduction of $535 million, or 19 percent, compared to the current year. To achieve these savings he proposes several significant changes to current policies. In assessing the Governor’s CCD proposals and building its own CCD package, we recommend the Legislature: (1) balance access to and quality of care, (2) prioritize services for those who most need them, and (3) prioritize direct service over administrative activities. Consistent with these principles, we recommend the Legislature reject the Governor’s proposal to cut state subsidies by 35 percent, reconsider the Governor’s proposal to restore CalWORKs Stage 3 child care, and approve—perhaps in modified form—his proposals to change eligibility criteria and reduce administrative and support activities. We also offer the Legislature a menu of additional CCD savings options and build three illustrative CCD packages.
June 18, 2010 - Presented to The Conference Committee on the Budget
June 16, 2010 - Conference Committee on the Budget
June 14, 2010 - Presented to The Conference Committee on the Budget
June 14, 2010 - The Conference Committee on the Budget
June 14, 2010 - Recently, there has been significant legislative and public interest in the state’s Every Woman Counts (EWC) program for breast cancer early detection. We provide background on the EWC program and other state breast cancer programs and describe the recent history of the program, including caseload and funding trends and recent program changes. We also recommend the Legislature adopt a modified version of the Governor’s May Revision cost containment proposals, consider redirecting existing funding for research to direct clinical services, and improve transparency and oversight by requiring the administration to prepare a formal budget estimate for the EWC program.
June 8, 2010 - Presented to The Conference Committee on the Budget
June 7, 2010 - Presented to the Budget Conference Committee.
June 7, 2010 - Presented to the Budget Conference Committee.
June 3, 2010 - Conference Compromise for Item 4260-001-0001 of the 2010 Budget Conference Committee (page 3).
May 25, 2010 - Presented to: Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee Hon. Denise Moreno Ducheny, Chair
May 25, 2010 - Presented to: Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee Hon. Denise Moreno Ducheny, Chair
May 13, 2010 - The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), often referred to as federal health care reform, is far-reaching legislation that will change how millions of Californians access health care coverage. We provide an overview of the new law and describe its implications for state health programs in the near term and the long term. We also recommend the Legislature think broadly about implementing PPACA and identify key issues to address including: (1) future costs for health programs, (2) whether structural changes to health programs are warranted, (3) whether PPACA should prompt a reevaluation of the state-local relationship, (4) new strategies that could bolster health care quality and outcomes, and (5) how future workforce and health infrastructure needs should be addressed.