Nutrition Programs in COVID-19 Recovery Actions [Publication Details]

Mar 25, 2020 - This post describes key actions taken to increase Californians' access to food in the wake of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). We focus on key actions taken by the state and federal government through April 10, 2020.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Detail/4211

COVID-19 Disaster Declarations and Funding Implications [Publication Details]

Mar 24, 2020 - In this post, we discuss federal assistance available to California and other states as a result of the President’s emergency and major disaster declarations.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Detail/4210

COVID-19 Disaster Declarations and Funding Implications

Mar 24, 2020 - Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (Stafford Act) that enable states to access federal assistance. Most notably, on March  13, 2020, President Trump declared a national state of emergency , which covers all states and territories.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4210

COVID-19: Federal Health-Related Response

Mar 23, 2020 - Medicaid is an entitlement program whose costs generally are shared between the federal government and states based on a set formula. To relieve state budgetary pressure caused by COVID-19 ’s likely impacts on state Medicaid expenditures and tax revenues, Congress approved a temporary 6.2  percentage point increase in the federal government ’s share of cost for state Medicaid programs.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4209

The 2020-21 Budget: Expanding the Minimum Franchise Tax Exemption

Mar 23, 2020 - Conclusion Two decades ago, the Legislature adopted an exemption from the state ’s minimum franchise tax for corporations in their first year of business with the stated intent to provide financial assistance to small businesses.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4207

COVID-19: Federal Health-Related Response [Publication Details]

Mar 23, 2020 - We discuss three sets of federal actions—(1) a federal legislative package focused on public health infrastructure, (2) a declaration of national emergency that opened the door for the state to apply for increased flexibility in the delivery of Medicaid services, and (3) a federal legislative package that provides for increased federal Medicaid funding and universal coverage of COVID-19 testing without cost sharing.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Detail/4209

COVID-19: Unemployment Insurance for Workers Impacted by COVID-19 [Publication Details]

Mar 23, 2020 - This post summarizes recent federal relief actions in the unemployment insurance program, discusses how these federal actions interact with current state programs, and highlight options the Legislature may want to pursue in responding to the ongoing crisis.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Detail/4208

COVID-19: Unemployment Insurance for Workers Impacted by COVID-19

Mar 23, 2020 - When this occurs, the federal government provides a loan to the state to allow EDD to continue to issue benefits. In general, the state must pay interest on these loans. These interest payments must be made from the state General Fund.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4208

Income Tax Withholding Tracker: 3/16 to 3/20 [EconTax Blog]

Mar 20, 2020 - Nonetheless, given the pace and possible severity of the shift in the state ’s economy resulting from the COVID-19 outbreak, tracking weekly withholding is worthwhile as a way to assess the state ’s rapidly changing economic situation.
https://lao.ca.gov/LAOEconTax/Article/Detail/443

Collective Bargaining: Assessing Proposed Employee Compensation Increases

Mar 20, 2020 - In addition to near-term fiscal considerations, salary increases have very long-term fiscal effects as (1)  salary increases compound and (2)  pension benefits ultimately are based on salary. Important That Proposed Increases to Compensation Be Justified.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4206