To browse all LAO publications, visit our Publications page.
February 17, 2000 - We recommend either repealing the county performance incentive provision or replacing it with a new system.
January 31, 2000 - The growth of the Internet raises many tax policy issues. These include: How can we ensure that the tax system is fair without interfering with the Internet's evolution? How will the Internet's growth affect government tax bases? We examine these and other Internet-related tax issues in detail, and recommend that California approach them by pursuing multistate tax agreements and consider undertaking a comprehensive review of telecommunication related levies.
January 27, 2000 - In 1999, the Legislature and Governor changed the state’s child support enforcement program which significantly increased state authority over the program. We review the governing legislation and recommend steps designed to maximize collections while minimizing federal penalties and automation problems.
August 31, 1999 - The federal welfare reform legislation of 1996 requires states to have specified percentages of their caseload working or engaged in some other work-related activity. For federal fiscal year (FFY) 1997--October 1996 through September 1997--California met the work participation rate for all families but did not meet the higher rate for two-parent families. This failure could result in a penalty of $7 million. (8 pp.)
July 13, 1999 - We identify several problems in the state's substance abuse treatment system. These include lengthy waiting lists in a number of counties, no statewide plan for addressing the demand for treatment services, and a need in particular for treatment services aimed at adolescents.
June 2, 1999 - Roughly two million low-income children and their parents, primarily in working families, do not have health coverage in California. We have developed a “Family Coverage Model” which would result in an additional 0.9 million to 1.4 million persons obtaining health coverage at an annual cost of $188 million to $385 million annually when fully implemented.
April 13, 1999 - We review the program and recommend that either (1) responsibility for administering and funding the program be transferred from the counties to the state, or (2) administrative responsibilities be retained by counties coupled with a new fiscal incentive program.
February 24, 1999 - Index of Information Technology Issues in the Analysis of the Budget Bill, 1999-00
February 16, 1999 - Evaluating Information Technology Projects