California’s elections are free, fair, and secure but the state can do more to improve its election infrastructure. The Commission held a hearing on this topic in 2019 and released a letter to the Governor and legislative leadership to consider important questions related to elections security, such as the need for funding to improve equipment. In this report, the Commission calls on the state to adopt an open source election system, ... [more]

Numerous obstacles hinder efforts to identify labor trafficking cases in the state, leaving untold numbers of victims trapped in oppressive situations. Barriers that make it difficult to identify labor trafficking cases include the lack of an aggressive state response; siloed government agencies; and a primary focus on sex trafficking. Recognizing these challenges, the Commission offered strategies to help the state better detect labor ... [more]

For this study, the Commission reviewed state government’s use of geographic information systems, or GIS, technology considered opportunities for California to build a robust statewide GIS strategy. Government collects and uses an abundance of information about people, places, activities, and events to provide services to Californians. Often, this information includes common geospatial or location-based data that, when combined in ... [more]

In this report, the Little Hoover Commission calls for an overhaul of the New Motor Voter Program implementation. In enacting the program, lawmakers sought to ease registration processes for eligible voters and boost the number of Californians on the state’s voter rolls. During its review, the Commission found that implementation errors at the Department of Motor Vehicles negatively altered thousands of voter records and improperly ... [more]

In this report, the Commission calls for transformational culture change in its forest management practices. The U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reported in December 2017 that approximately 27 million trees had died statewide on federal, state and private lands since November 2016. The tally brought to 129 million the number of trees that have died in California forests during years of drought and bark beetle infestations since ... [more]

In this report, the Commission calls for calls for bold and innovative approaches to transform the historic 615-acre campus in the heart of Napa Valley to better meet the changing needs of veterans statewide. This report builds on recommendations the Commission made in its 2016 report, A New Approach to California's Veterans Homes, in which the Commission identified critical infrastructures issues on the historic Yountville veterans home ... [more]

In this report, the Commission calls for a comprehensive review of occupational licensing regulations to increase upward mobility of workers in California.  During its review, the Commission found the state’s licensing process often bars entry to occupations and is not a thoughtful examination of how best to protect consumers. The Commission also found some groups – such as former offenders, military spouses, veterans ... [more]

In this report, the Commission renews its September 2015 call for urgent action at the Salton Sea to prevent a massive public health, environmental and economic disaster in Southern California.  This report updates and builds on recommendations the Commission made in a 2015 report, Averting Disaster: Action Now for the Salton Sea.  During its review, the Commission found the state is still not moving fast enough or ... [more]

In this report, the Commission calls for a new approach to managing California's water supply. During its review, the Commission found that the state’s current water management and planning structure, in place since 1969, is obsolete and leaves the state ill-prepared to handle unpredictable precipitation, growing population and the need to better balance environmental needs with urban and agricultural demand. The Commission ... [more]

In this report, the Commission urges the state to develop a new strategy for women offenders that relies less on large and remote prisons designed to incapacitate violent offenders and more on community correctional facilities that can better reconnect paroling women to jobs, housing, emotional supports and their families. During its review, the Commission found that of the many scandals gripping California’s correctional ... [more]

In this report, the Commission says a state infrastructure strategy is needed. Californians cannot continue to rely on bonds for financing infrastructure development and instead must create a longterm vision and process for prioritizing projects and coordinating cross-sector goals and activities. During its review, the Commission found that investments in infrastructure lack an integrated strategy and adequate oversight and have relied ... [more]