Addressing Chronic Vacancies in Prison Mental Health Care

Feb 23, 2026 - Increasing Compensation Can Be a High ‑Cost Strategy. In general, compensation increases can be a high ‑cost strategy for filling vacancies. For example, the action plan estimates that it will cost $25   million ongoing to increase pay by roughly 3   percent for mental health positions at CDCR.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5134

The 2026-27 Budget: California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation

Feb 23, 2026 - For example, the California Department of Health Care Access and Information in 2022 estimated that there would be a shortage of psychiatrists and behavioral health providers in all 58 California counties by 2025, with 27 prisons located in counties experiencing high or severe shortages.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5137

The 2026-27 Budget: Judicial Branch

Feb 11, 2026 - These projects were categorized into five groups —and ranked within each group —in the following descending priority order: 18 immediate need projects ($2.3  billion), 29 critical need projects ($7.9  billion), 15 high need projects ($1.3  billion), 9 medium need projects ($1.6  billion), and 9  low need projects ($100  million).
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5113

The 2026-27 Budget: Department of Justice

Feb 11, 2026 - The decision included the following footnote: “Because any permitting scheme can be put towards abusive ends, we do not rule out constitutional challenges to shall-issue regimes where, for example, lengthy wait times in processing license applications or exorbitant fees deny ordinary citizens their right to public carry. ” This footnote suggests that there may be a point where firearm regulatory fees become unconstitutionally high.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5118