LAO 2009-10 Budget Analysis Series: General Government: Indian Gaming Special Distribution Fund Deficit

Using the SDF to backfill the RSTF, therefore, relieves the General Fund of that obligation. Furthermore, if the SDF ’s fund balances are depleted, the General Fund will be pressured to cover other existing expenses of the SDF.
https://lao.ca.gov/analysis_2009/general_govt/gen_anl09004007.aspx

^[PDF] Shortfalls in Indian Gaming Funds

Additionally, SDF funds may be used for other gambling purposes specifi ed by law. Special Distribution Fund Annual SDF Expenditures Exceed Revenues in FY 2008-09 (In Millions) 00-01 01-02 02-03 03-04 04-05 05-06 06-07 07-08 08-09 09-10 10-11 11-12 12-13 13-14 14-15 SDF = Special Distribution Fund and FY = fiscal year.
https://lao.ca.gov/handouts/localgov/2014/Indian-Gaming-Funds-051914.pdf

LAO 2008 Budget Analysis: California Gambling Control Commission (0855)

Earlier, we discussed how the use of SDF funds to cure the annual shortfall in the RSTF can reduce pressure on the General Fund. In the future, as the SDF collects much less money from tribes, the Legislature can take other actions that (1) improve the solvency of the SDF and (2) reduce General Fund spending pressures (particularly from backfilling the RSTF) that would result from any future insolvency of the SDF.
https://lao.ca.gov/analysis_2008/general_govt/gen_anl08008.aspx

California Tribal Casinos: Questions and Answers

Financial Health of SDF Would Be Affected by Proposed Compacts. Should the Legislature ratify all of the proposed 2006 compacts, SDF revenues likely would drop substantially as several tribes with large casinos would cease making payments into the SDF.
https://lao.ca.gov/2007/tribal_casinos/tribal_casinos_020207.aspx

Legal services funding adjustment

Apr 16, 2012 - We recommend (1) approving the Governor ’s proposal to augment DOJ ’s budget by $600,000 from the SDF and (2) delaying by one year the proposed $1.9 million increase in DOJ ’s General Fund appropriation for legal services.
https://lao.ca.gov/Recommendations/Details/580

LAO 2006 Budget Analysis: California Gambling Control Commission (0855)

As noted above, however, state law and the compacts allow commission regulatory funding to come from SDF. (The SDF is projected to have a fund balance of $113 million at the end of 2006-07). We therefore recommend continuing to fund commission regulatory activities exclusively from revenues derived from the industry itself, as is usually the case with other regulatory agencies.
https://lao.ca.gov/analysis_2006/general_govt/gen_06_0855_anl06.html

LAO 2009-10 Budget Analysis Series: General Government: Executive Summary

Indian Gaming Special Distribution Fund (SDF). As a result of recently amended compacts between the state and tribes that own some of the state ’s major casinos, revenues of the SDF have dropped dramatically.
https://lao.ca.gov/analysis_2009/general_govt/gen_anl09001.aspx

LAO 2006 Budget Analysis: Department of Justice (0820)

However, state law and the tribal compacts allow funding for all gambling related regul atory activities to come from SDF, which is projected to have a fund balance of $113 million at the end of 2006-07.
https://lao.ca.gov/analysis_2006/crim_justice/cj_03_0820_anl06.html

The 2026-27 Budget: Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education [Publication Details]

Mar 25, 2026 - The 2026-27 Budget: Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education [Publication Details] Translate Our Website This Google ™ translation feature provided on the Legislative Analyst's Office (LAO) website is for informational purposes only.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Detail/5169

The 2026-27 Budget: California Education Learning Lab [Publication Details]

Mar 25, 2026 - The 2026-27 Budget: California Education Learning Lab [Publication Details] Translate Our Website This Google ™ translation feature provided on the Legislative Analyst's Office (LAO) website is for informational purposes only.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Detail/5171