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4,828 Publications Found
February 17, 2006 - The costs of providing health care to retired state employees and their dependents—now approaching $1 billion per year—are increasing significantly. Many other public employers (including the University of California, school districts, cities, and counties) face similar pressures. This report discusses health benefits provided to retired public employees, focusing on state retirees. We find that the current method of funding these benefits defers payment of these costs to future generations. Retiree health liabilities soon will be quantified under new accounting standards, but state government liabilities are likely in the range of $40 billion to $70 billion-and perhaps more. This report describes actions that the Legislature could take to address these costs.
February 16, 2006 - We review infrastructure proposals in the Governor's Strategic Growth Plan. Presented to the Conference Committee on Infrastructure Bonds.
February 16, 2006 - An overview of major state infrastructure in which we review infrastructure planning, recent infrastructure expenditures, and sources of infrastructure funding. Presented to the Conference Committee on Infrastructure Bonds.
February 15, 2006 - The Migrant Education Program is a federally funded program that provides supplemental education services to migrant children. This report reviews the state’s implementation of the program. We find that the state could better target resources and better serve migrant students by implementing a comprehensive package of reforms. Specifically, we recommend a number of modifications related to the program’s: (1) funding and service model, (2) data system, and (3) carryover funding process. We also identify funding available to help in implementing these changes. (The California Department of Education has translated this report into Spanish. El Departamento de Educación de California ha traducido este informe al español.)
February 14, 2006 - We review infrastructure proposals in the Strategic Growth Initiative related to public safety. Presented to the Senate Public Safety Committee.
February 8, 2006 - We review infrastructure proposals in the Strategic Growth Initiative related to higher education. Presented to the Senate Education Committee. This summary revises our January 25, 2006 handout on the same topic.
February 1, 2006 - Presented to the Senate Education Committee.
January 31, 2006 - We review the Governor's critical infrastructure facilities bond proposal. Presented to the Assembly Judiciary Committee. review infrastructure
January 31, 2006 - We review infrastructure proposals in the Strategic Growth Initiative related to water management. Presented to the Assembly Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee.
January 30, 2006 - We review infrastructure proposals in the Strategic Growth Initiative related to transportation. Presented to the Assembly Transportation Committee, Hon. Jenny Oropeza, Chair
January 27, 2006 - In recent years, the prevalence of illegal or “abusive” tax shelters (ATS) has increased dramatically. These ATS transactions have resulted in very substantial revenue losses in California. Despite the success of an amnesty program (known as the voluntary compliance initiative program), the problems posed by ATSs have not been fully resolved. In fact, it is likely that ATSs will continue to pose tax-related policy issues for the state. Given this, it will be important that the Legislature stay on top of the ATS situation. As one approach to accomplishing this, it may want to periodically review FTB’s ATS-related activities, including how well it is allocating its budgeted resources to get the best return on ATS activities and informing the Legislature about programmatic changes that will help address the ATS problem. (Prepared in accordance with Chapter 654, Statutes of 2003 (AB 1601, Frommer), and Chapter 656, Statutes of 2003 (SB 614, Cedillo).)
January 26, 2006 - In 2004, we published A Look at the Progress of English Learner Students, which analyzed the 2002 results of the California English Language Development Test (CELDT). This update assesses student performance on the test in 2003 and 2004, concluding that gains made by students in 2003 and 2004 are roughly the same as 2002. We also make two recommendations for steps the Legislature can take to improve the way CELDT data are used.
January 25, 2006 - We review infrastructure proposals in the Strategic Growth Initiative related to K-12 education. Presented to the Assembly Education Committee.
January 25, 2006 - We review infrastructure issues related to housing. Presented to Assembly Housing and Community Development Committee.
January 25, 2006 - In October 2003, the Legislature approved and the Governor signed Chapter 867, Statutes of 2003 (AB 1666, Cogdill, which allows alternatives for the payment of cigarette tax stamps by cigarette distributors. Prior law allows cigarette distributors (which are responsible for affixing the stamps to cigarette packages prior to their sale) to defer the payment for such stamps under certain conditions, including the posting of a surety bond or other form of security. The 2003 statute reduced-on a temporary basis until January 2007-the minimum amount of the required security posted by distributors while increasing the frequency of their required tax remittances to the state from monthly to bimonthly. The measure requires the Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO) to report on the impact of the statute.