2014 GDP Growth: San Jose MSA Leads Western Region [EconTax Blog]

Sep 23, 2015 - Combined, these two Bay Area MSAs make up 27% of California's $2.3 trillion state economy . The Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim MSA (Los Angeles and Orange Counties), however, is the nation's 2nd largest, following New York-Newark, with $867 billion of GDP that makes up 37% of California's economy.
https://lao.ca.gov/LAOEconTax/Article/Detail/134

Framework For Cap-And-Trade Investment Plan Needs Further Development

Sep 22, 2015 - How should the state take this interaction into consideration when allocating cap-and-trade funds? Subscribe | California State Legislature | Online Voter Registration | Privacy Policy | Accessibility Legislative Analyst's Office | The California Legislature's Nonpartisan Fiscal and Policy Advisor 925 L Street, Suite 1000 Sacramento, CA 95814 | (916) 445-4656
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/3298

Lower-Income Households Moving to Inland California from Coast [EconTax Blog]

Sep 16, 2015 - One consequence that we noted—and that other researchers have observed as well—is that households facing the high cost of housing in California’s coastal areas may elect to move to other parts of the state or country in search of more affordable housing.
https://lao.ca.gov/LAOEconTax/Article/Detail/133

International protocol official in state government. [Ballot]

Sep 16, 2015 - Current law establishes specific duties to the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, and Attorney General in representing the state in international affairs. Governor. The Governor is the primary state officer representing the state ’s interests in international affairs.
https://lao.ca.gov/BallotAnalysis/Initiative/2015-046

State legislative districts. [Ballot]

Sep 11, 2015 - Fiscal Effect Decreased State Costs. The changes to the legislative spending limit would reduce state spending by over $140  million annually. Every ten years, some of these state savings would be offset by increased costs —probably in the millions of dollars —by the Citizens Redistricting Commission to draw boundaries for the new neighborhood districts.
https://lao.ca.gov/BallotAnalysis/Initiative/2015-045

Vacation Homes Becoming More Common in Many Parts of California [EconTax Blog]

Sep 10, 2015 - In most areas of the state, however, the share of housing used for vacationing has grown significantly in recent years. What Is a Vacation Home? The U.S. Census classifies as a “vacation home ” a housing unit that is used primarily for seasonal, recreation, or occasional purposes.
https://lao.ca.gov/LAOEconTax/Article/Detail/130

MOU Fiscal Analysis: Bargaining Unit 10 (Scientists)

Sep 9, 2015 - Under the proposed agreement, the director would be able to designate nine additional employees as state titled scientists. The administration estimates this would increase annual state costs by as much as $48,500 ($17,600 General Fund) beginning in 2016-17.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/3297

Constitutional initiative related to medical marijuana. [Ballot]

Sep 8, 2015 - These laws are enforced by federal agencies that may act independently or in cooperation with state and local law enforcement agencies. State Law and Proposition  215. Under current state law, the possession, cultivation, or distribution of marijuana generally is illegal in California.
https://lao.ca.gov/BallotAnalysis/Initiative/2015-044

MOU Fiscal Analysis: Bargaining Unit 9 (Professional Engineers)

Sep 4, 2015 - For example, the administration appears to have given no consideration to the degree to which the provisions create contractual obligations for the state to provide a certain level of health benefits to retired state employees.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/3296

A proposed constitutional and statutory initiative related to poverty reduction. [Ballot]

Sep 4, 2015 - State Provides Loans to Cover Certain Child Care Facility Costs. The state currently has a revolving fund that offers interest-free loans to local educational agencies and other agencies that contract with the state to provide child care and preschool services.
https://lao.ca.gov/BallotAnalysis/Initiative/2015-043