Trends in CalWORKs: Participant Characteristics

Jun 16, 2025 - An adult CalWORKs recipient who has exceeded the federal time limit but has time remaining under the CalWORKs limit can generally continue to receive aid (via state funds). Children of adults who have reached the state time limit can generally continue receiving aid.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5057

Preliminary Assessment of Significant Changes to State's Technology Project Approval and Oversight Processes

Apr 29, 2025 - This time line would be more reasonable than the administration ’s plan for a full launch of the PDL process this July, giving both the administration and the Legislature additional time to adjust their own processes (including the annual budget process) to the new realities of GenAI technology.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5034

The 2025-26 Budget: The California State Payroll System IT Project

Mar 7, 2025 - Only one out of six roles on a DART —the liaison, which is CSPS ’s single point of contact with the department for change management efforts —requires a department staff ’s full-time commitment. The remaining five roles —the reporting coordinator, scope/capability subject matter experts, sponsor, technical coordinator, and training coordinator —require partial
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5011

The 2025-26 Budget: In-Home Supportive Services

Mar 6, 2025 - Historically, a parent could only become the paid IHSS provider for their minor child if the care needs of their child would prevent the parent from maintaining full-time employment. If the care needs of the child did not prevent the parent from maintaining full-time work, a provider other than the parent could be hired.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5009

The 2025-26 Budget: CWS-CARES

Mar 5, 2025 - The project ’s transition to its holistic design approach does not delay the expected CWS-CARES V1 completion in October 2026, but does (1)  shift milestones from EUST 2 to EUST 3; (2)  extend EUST 3 from four to six weeks (given the significant number of milestones in the EUST); and (3)  require EUST 4 validation and training activities to occur at the same time, compressing the project time line.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5006

The 2025-26 Budget: CalWORKs

Feb 19, 2025 - As mentioned above, the 2024-25 Budget Act included a one-time reduction of $37  million in 2024-25 to ESE funding (as well as a one-time $30  million reduction to ESE funding in 2023-24). In 2025-26, ESE funding is restored to $134  million (equivalent to annual ESE funding levels prior to the 2023-24 and 2024-25 reductions).
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4969

The 2025-26 Budget: Overview of the Federal CalWORKs Pilot

Feb 21, 2025 - It is our understanding that pilot states will be required to participate in a federally funded pilot implementation and outcomes study, which will be designed by a federal third-party contractor in consultation with the pilot states (the timing of the study is not known at this time).
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4978

The 2025-26 Budget: Overview of the Governor's Budget

Jan 13, 2025 - In other words, we are not describing the budget condition as having a surplus or a deficit at this time. These concepts are inherently tools of communication, not accounting, and are ultimately somewhat subjective.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4951

The 2025-26 Budget: Child Welfare

Feb 13, 2025 - As of the 2024 ‑25 budget appropriation, $25 million total funds (all General Fund) was included in 2024 ‑25 as one ‑time funding. Net changes in CCR costs for Home ‑Based Family Care Rates 14 9 Higher projected costs for foster care, Kin ‑GAP, ARC, and AAP payments under CCR.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4962

The 2025-26 Budget: Supplemental Security Income/State Supplementary Payment (SSI/SSP) Program

Feb 13, 2025 - Since the Great Recession, grants for individuals and couples have been increased four times —in 2016-17 (by 2.76  percent), 2021-22 (by 23.95  percent), 2022-23 (by 10.3  percent), and 2023-24 (by 9.2  percent).
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4964