Under the provisions of the Governor’s March 2020 Executive Order, state boards and commissions have had the ability to meet via remote technology, with no physical location accessible to the public. In this report the Commission looks at the benefits of Governor Newsom’s Executive Order and calls on the Legislature and Governor to update the state’s open meetings law – the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act – to reflect new ... [more]

California has failed to use its massive purchasing power to get the best value from the $4 billion it spends each year on goods, services and construction projects. The Commission's study examines four areas: major computer purchases, the bid protest process, the Minority Business Enterprise/Women Business Enterprise/Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise program, and the Prison Industry Authority. This report contains seven findings and 26... [more]

In this report, the Commission urges the State to fashion immediate and long-term improvements to public health assets.  During its review of the State’s ability to respond to emergencies after the events of September 11, 2001, the Commission found the public health system as the weakest link in California’s homeland defense. The Commission found the State's public health leadership and organizational ... [more]

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The Commission's biennial report summarizes all Commission activities and accomplishments during the 1988 and 1989 legislative session. The report provides an overview of the Commission's history, study process and the role it plays within the Capitol community. The report also includes details about studies conducted and reports issued during the past two years. ... [more]

As the State seeks ways to maximize its ability to perform effectively, the Commission examined the pilot project for performance-based budgeting established in several departments within the State of California. The report contains three findings and nine recommendations. The Commission found out that the traditional process for funding, achieving accountability, and setting priorities does not encourage the best policy decisions, ... [more]

The Commission embarked on this study in mid-1993 to pinpoint state policies and procedures that could be revised to increase the effectiveness of the adult criminal justice system. The report's seven findings and 30 recommendations include clarifying and simplifying sentencing in California, creating a sentencing commission to produce a sentencing structure that meets the philosophical goals of the criminal justice system, shifting all ... [more]

Proposed by: Governor Edmund G. “Pat” Brown, Sr. Objective: Transfer licensing and regulation of mobile home industry from DMV to the Department of Housing and Community Development. Commission recommendation: Allow plan to take effect. Legislative action: Plan went into effect. ... [more]

California's ability to meet its transportation needs are being eroded by inflation, project delivery delays and project cost increases. This report contains eight findings and 16 recommendations, which include urging the State to aggressively pursue options to reduce congestion in urban areas, and to give priority in funding to urban and suburban counties that implement transportation system management techniques. In addition, the ... [more]

In this report, the Commission calls for California to develop a coherent strategy for accelerating the integration of immigrants into the economy and their communities. During its review, the Commission found that Immigrant policies fail to encourage immigrants to fully participate in their communities, be contributing community members and become citizens.  California has an obligation to help immigrants succeed. But policies ... [more]

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In this report, the Commission urges California leaders to improve criminal justice sentencing by amending the penal code to expand the purpose of incarceration beyond punishment alone. The Commission recommends the state provide incentives to ensure that all counties use some realignment funding to expand public-private partnerships to provide proven programs and services for offenders re-entering the community. ... [more]

In this report, the Commission calls for a new master plan for higher education that addresses the state’s need to substantially increase the number of graduates while recognizing that state resources are limited.  During its review, the Commission found that the state lacks a strategy for achieving statewide goals for higher education. The Commission also found that online education has enormous potential to expand the reach of ... [more]

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Elderly citizens sometimes are able to remain in their homes despite disabilities with the assistance of a state program, but the flawed system fails to meet the needs of too many senior citizens. In addition, the Commission found that a vast array of services that are supposed to provide a continuum of care for the elderly are not well-integrated and are difficult to access. This report makes five recommendations in regard to the ... [more]

While some improvements have been made in regulating residential care facilities, problems persist. In particular, the implementation of regulations has lagged far behind the statutory changes. In addition, the State has failed to crack down on unlicensed facilities in an expeditious manner. The Commission believes it is time for the State to shift emphasis from reform to enforcement of existing laws through stronger enforcement efforts... [more]

Proposed by: Governor Edmund G. “Pat” Brown, Sr. Objective: Create a new Environmental Quality Agency and consolidate all air, water quality and solid waste programs into the new agency. Commission recommendation: Allow plan to take effect. Legislative action: Was not submitted to the Legislature. ... [more]

In this report, the Commission calls on California to institutionalize a sense of urgency into policies that generate continuous improvements in how threats are assessed, how emergency response agencies are organized and managed, and how resources are defined and used in the name of public safety. During its review, the Commission found California has not verified the ability of local agencies to respond adequately to multiple, large-scale... [more]

In this report, the Commission urges the state to provide more attention and oversight to substance abuse treatment, and calls for reforms that would improve the treatment system and help avoid costs in the health, human service and corrections systems. During its review, the Commission found that when done right treatment is a cost effective way to improve public health and safety, keep families whole, reduce demand on the ... [more]

This letter report presents background information on the rationale for the State Controller's Office move to the Capitol Bank of Commerce Building and an analysis of the cost impact. The Commission makes three recommendations to help ensure that the State precludes similar instances from occurring in the future and to improve the State's management of its real property assets by creating a State Office of Assets Management. ... [more]

The cost of indigent appellate defense is rising dramatically. This study notes duplicative administrative and overview costs between the State Public Defender and the court-appointed private counsel system. The Commission makes seven findings and eight recommendations, including the merger of the Public Defender's Office, the Appellate Projects and private court-appointed counsel into a single autonomous agency. This will address ... [more]

California's activities regarding world trade, investments and tourism promotion are fragmented and uncoordinated. This study reviews the administration and coordination of these activities. Included in the report's 10 findings and eight recommendations, the Commission proposes: the establishment of a Governor's Office of World Trade to oversee coordination of world trade activities in state government; the creation of a Protocol Division... [more]

In this report, the Commission examines the complex and at times redundant system for managing 185,000 state workers. The Commission's report contains eight findings and recommendations crafted to eliminate redundancies, clarify authorities and deregulate a system that has evolved over nearly a century. Chief among the recommendations is the elimination of the State Personnel Board, with oversight of personnel management and central ... [more]

A follow-up to the Commission's January 1987 report, this review notes that, in general, the Lottery has matured well since voters approved its creation in 1984. However, the Commission continues to find fault with budgetary oversight and the monitoring of contracts. This report contains four findings and four recommendations regarding legislative review, research and development procedures, methods of evaluating advertising efforts and ... [more]

The Commission's original workers' compensation study focuses on the system's escalating costs, the expansion of liability into new and subjective areas of benefits, and the negative effects of the increasing cost of the system upon workers, employers and the State's business climate. The report contains eight findings and 13 recommendations. Foremost among these, the Commission recommends establishing written criteria for opening and ... [more]

Despite spending more than $1 billion on welfare services for abused and neglected children, the State has failed to ensure that children taken from their troubled homes are given the necessary nurturing for them to become well-rounded adults and productive citizens. Among the recommendations, the Commission urges legislation that would establish a statewide foster care ombudsman program; make the State Department of Social Services ... [more]

For the past seven years, the Commission has analyzed and suggested improvements in the system the State uses to manage real property. To date, few steps have been taken. The Commission produced this issue paper based on its past reports and a June 1992 public hearing. Three recommendations include giving the Department of General Services the necessary authority to dispose of surplus state lands, negotiate lease-purchase agreements and... [more]

In this report, the Commission makes two findings and nine recommendations to address the need for major streamlining and simplification of the beverage container recycling program (known as the AB 2020 program). During its review, the Commission found that the placement of overlapping recycling mandates in two separate agencies has resulted in duplication of work, public confusion and lack of effectiveness in implementing state policies.... [more]

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Proposed by: Governor Gray Davis. Objective: Create a Labor and Workforce Development Agency to include EDD, Department of Industrial Relations, the Workforce Investment Board and Agricultural Labor Relations Board. Commission recommendation: Allow plan to take effect, but establish and measure goals. Legislative action: Plan went into effect. ... [more]

This letter report addresses the convoluted situation that has revolved around unclaimed, low-tier Lotto and instant game prizes. At various points the State Lottery Commission has adopted and/or modified policies to sweep unclaimed prizes into, first, the Education Fund and, second, into the game prize fund. The Commission's letter report assesses the Lottery's policy and urges changes. Specifically, the Commission recommends that the ... [more]