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4,786 Publications Found
February 6, 2004 - Presented to the Assembly Select Committee on Biotechnology
February 2, 2004 - Chapter 465, Statutes of 2000 (SB 1913, McPherson), requires the Legislative Analyst‘s Office (LAO), in consultation with the California District Attorney’s Association and the State Department of Education, to report to the Legislature regarding the implementation of newly established penalties for parents who violate the state’s compulsory education laws. In this report, we: (1) provide background information on the state’s compulsory attendance laws and the interventions to be taken if these laws are violated, as well as explain how homeschooling served as the impetus for important provisions of Chapter 465 and (2) review the implementation of these laws and interventions. We also recommend the Legislature: (1) clarify existing laws related to homeschooling and truancy penalties and (2) improve related data collection efforts.
January 22, 2004 - Presented to the Little Hoover Commission
January 20, 2004 - We recommend that the Legislature (1) remove the cap on the number of charter schools that may operate in the state, (2) restructure the charter school categorical block grant, (3) strengthen charter school oversight by permitting school districts to opt out of charter authorizing, allowing for multiple authorizers, and creating safeguards to promote stronger accountability and (4) modify fee policies by delineating more clearly between facility fees and oversight fees, capping these fees, and eliminating the mandate-claims process for oversight costs.
January 13, 2004 - We believe that the Governor's proposal provides a solid starting point for budget deliberations. It includes realistic revenue and caseload assumptions, as well as real and ongoing solutions from most areas of the budget. At the same time, however, it presents the Legislature with numerous policy issues and concerns. For example, its reductions would have far-reaching consequences for the scope of state services in a variety of program areas. Some of its proposals lack detail or have savings estimates that may not be achievable. And, even with the serious spending reductions it proposes in 2004-05 the plan does not fully address the state's ongoing budget problem—leaving a roughly $6 billion shortfall between expenditures and revenues in 2005-06.
January 7, 2004 - Presented to Senate Select Committee on College and University Admissions and Outreach, Senate Education Committee, and Assembly Higher Education Committee.
December 30, 2003 - The value of the EZC program is quite dependent on the goals that the Legislature wishes to achieve. Available evidence generally indicates that EZ incentives have little if any impact on the creation of new economic activity or employment. On the other hand, EZ incentives do appear to be effective in increasing economic activity within smaller geographic areas—such as within metropolitan regions.
December 30, 2003 - In 2002 and 2003, the Commission on State Mandates determined that 23 sets of state laws impose state-reimbursable mandates on local governments. The commission estimated the state's cost to reimburse local agencies for these mandates is about $400 million. This report reviews the newly identified mandates, and offers recommendations as to whether each mandate should be repealed, funded, suspended, or modified.
December 22, 2003 - The K-12 revenue limit formula distributed more than $28 billion in resources to school districts in 2002-03. We document the components of the revenue limit formula and how they affect the distribution of general purpose funds to school districts. We also recommend that the Legislature consolidate most of the existing revenue limit adjustments into one new general purpose grant which would make K-12 funding much easier to understand.
December 2, 2003 - Presented to Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee and Senate Appropriations Committee on December 2, 2003.
November 30, 2003 - Economic theory suggests that without some form of subsidy, overall research and development (R&D) spending in society would be lower than the economically optimal level. A strong case can be made that such a subsidy is appropriate at the federal level. However, we are not aware of economic evidence which, on balance, justifies a state credit in addition to the federal credit.
November 20, 2003 - Handout presented to the Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee on November 20th, 2003.
November 19, 2003 - Handout presented to the Assembly Budget Committee on November 19th, 2003.
November 14, 2003 - According to our projections, the state is facing a year-end shortfall of $10.2 billion in 2004-05 assuming the vehicle license fee (VLF) rate increase remains in effect, and substantially more if the rate is rolled back and the state resumes backfill payments to localities. Over the longer term, absent corrective actions, the state faces annual current-law operating deficits that remain over $9 billion through the end of the forecast period—and $14 billion if the VLF rate is rolled back.