Increasing Oversight of the State Litigation Deposit Fund

Jan 28, 2021 - For example, DOJ can determine that the monies related to a specific case could be used by the state to enfor ce both unfair competition laws and false claims laws —rather than just unfair competition laws.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4322

The 2022-23 Budget: Governor’s Public Safety Package

Feb 17, 2022 - However, it is unclear whether BSCC will ensure th e gun buyback program is structured  effectively. Similarly, the organized retail theft prevention grants to local law enforcement are competitive grants that can be used to support any activities that prevent retail theft or enforce theft ‑related laws.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4546

Retail Theft in California: Looking Back at a Decade of Change

Jun 12, 2025 - For example, during the pandemic era, California —and the nation as a whole —experienced an uptick in violent crime. This likely caused law enforcement to shift resources away from property crime and other lower ‑level crimes to prioritize addressing the increase in violence.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5055

The 2021-22 Spending Plan: Judiciary and Criminal Justice

Oct 6, 2021 - Figure 1 Judicial and Criminal Justice Budget Summary General Fund (Dollars in Millions) 2019 ‑20 Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation $13,056 Board of State and Community Corrections 186 15.4% a Does not include funding related to the National Mortgage Settlement. b Includes Office of the Inspector General, Commission on Judicial Performance, Victim
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4460

The 2026-27 Budget: Department of Justice

Feb 11, 2026 - DROS Special Account expenditures routinely exceeded revenues prior to 2019-20 —resulting in the decline of the fund balance. To help ensure sufficient revenues would be available to support BOF workload, Chapter  736 of 2019 (AB  1669, Bonta) enabled DOJ to increase the DROS fee charged from $19 to $31.19.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5118

The 2026-27 Budget: Judicial Branch

Feb 11, 2026 - Similarly, while most of the remaining projects on the 2019 list have not been reassessed, the costs of projects in other parts of the state are likely increasing. For example, the 2019 assessment estimated the new Fresno Courthouse project would cost $483  million.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5113

The 2025-26 Budget: Judicial Branch

Feb 12, 2025 - This makes it difficult for the Legislature to determine whether it agrees with what monies are being considered for transfer back to th e General Fund. Second, the proposed language does not include any requirements for legislative notification.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4959

The 2022-23 California Spending Plan: Judiciary and Criminal Justice

Sep 26, 2022 - Th e budget package also changed state law to reduce the amount of civil assessment that could be imposed from a maximum of $300 to a maximum of $100. On net, these two changes require a $67  million backfill to maintain trial court funding levels.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4625

Addressing Chronic Vacancies in Prison Mental Health Care

Feb 23, 2026 - Those departments may seek increases in compensation to ensure their pay remains competitive with CDCR —potentially adding still more costs to the state. Extending Licensing Exemptions to Out‑of‑State Licensed Providers State Licensing Policies Limit Pool of Potential Providers.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5134

The 2025-26 Budget: Update on Implementation of New Firearm and Ammunition Tax

Feb 19, 2025 - For example, Chapter  231 specifies that the first $75  million deposited in the GVPSS Fund be designated for the California Violence Intervention and Prevention (CalVIP) Grant Program —which provides competitive grants for violence prevention activities.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4970