February 20, 2014 - In this report, we analyze the Governor's 2014-15 human services budget proposals. In it, we (1) recommend that the Legislature consider modifications to the Governor's proposed response to new federal regulations concerning overtime in the In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) programs; (2) find that although the Governor's California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) budget proposal raises valid concerns, the Legislature should reject the proposal; and (3) recommend several modifications to the Governor's comprehensive proposal to reform the Community Care Licensing (CCL) program in light of recent health and safety issues discovered at residential care and other CCL-licensed facilities.
October 13, 2014 - The LAO’s annual California Spending Plan publication details the 2014-15 budget package, including legislative and gubernatorial actions through October 2014. (An initial version of this publication was released in early August 2014. This final version of the publication also reflects later legislative and gubernatorial actions concerning the budget.) The 2014-15 state spending plan includes large funding increases for schools and community colleges, makes targeted augmentations in other areas of the budget, and pays down several billion dollars in key liabilities. In particular, the budget package includes a plan to fully fund the teachers’ pension system within about 30 years.
February 11, 2014 - Presented to Senate and Assembly Human Services Committees
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.
February 24, 2020 - Presented to: Senate Human Services Committee Hon. Melissa Hurtado, Chair
March 17, 2023 - This post provides an overview of the information technology projects in the Governor’s proposed 2023-24 budget, provides our assessment of topics common to several proposals, and offers options for legislative consideration.
February 5, 2021 - This handout analyzes the Governor’s major 2021-22 budget proposals related to housing and homelessness.
March 16, 2017 - In this report, we analyze the Governor’s child care and preschool proposals. The report has six main sections. In the first section, we provide background on child care and preschool programs in California. In the second section, we provide an overview of the Governor’s child care and preschool proposals. In the third section, we analyze the Governor’s preschool proposals and make associated recommendations. In the following two sections, we provide in‑depth analyses of (1) the state’s various quality improvement activities and (2) Alternative Payment agencies, which administer certain child care programs. The final section consists of a summary of the recommendations we make throughout the report.
November 8, 2023 - This post discusses features of the state's spending plan that were not covered elsewhere in the 2023-24 Spending Plan series.