In its report, the Commission calls for urgent action to improve the governance and accountability of California’s system of services and supports for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and to address longstanding inequities that make it easier for some to access needed services than others. Written testimony from hearing witnesses can be found below in the corresponding event agendas. In the NewsThe Orange ... [more]

California is short by two to three million homes to safely house its population. As a result of this limited supply, Californians are paying record prices for housing and far too many are finding themselves priced out of the market. The implications of California’s housing crisis are devastating. The state’s poverty rate—when taking into account cost of living—is the highest in the nation. Californians looking for housing they... [more]

In 2021, for the second time in two decades, Californians went to the polls to vote on the recall of the state’s governor. The attempted recall of Governor Gavin Newsom brought significant attention to the recall and spurred calls to reform California’s recall system. As California’s independent oversight agency, the Little Hoover Commission considered whether California’s system for recalling state office-holders should be ... [more]

A fact sheet summarizing the Commission's research on law enforcement training is available here.  In the fall of 2020, the Little Hoover Commission launched a study to examine the role of the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) in shaping law enforcement training standards for California’s peace officers. In this Issue Brief – which was produced as part of the Commission’s study – the Commission gives ... [more]

Barriers to care make it difficult for labor trafficking survivors to access the help they need, while cases bringing their traffickers to justice remain rare. These barriers include costly time-consuming investigations; difficulty proving non-physical coercion or force; and a lack of adequate training for law enforcement and court personnel. The Commission also provides new data about the extent of the problem, based on an analysis of ... [more]

The Commission's biennial report summarizes all Commission activities and accomplishments during the 1984 and 1986 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]

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Proposed by: Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. Objective: Establish a Department of Energy through the consolidation of the functions of several departments, commissions and offices that implement state energy programs. Commission recommendation: Reject. Legislative action: Rejected. ... [more]

One in every six residential care facilities is unlicensed and the backlogged, time-consuming licensing process encourages operators to begin their businesses with no licenses. The report also notes that an increased fine structure recommended in earlier Commission reports is either not used at all by the State or is enforced so haphazardly that it's deterrent effect is little. This report makes 11 findings and 10 recommendations ... [more]

In this report, the Commission renews its call for an evidence-based and data-driven strategy for reducing threats. This report updates recommendations the Commission made in its January 2002 report, Be Prepared: Getting Ready for New and Uncertain Dangers, and its April 2003 report, To Protect & Prevent:  Rebuilding California's Public Health System.  In its follow up review of emergency preparedness and... [more]

While the State has commited substantial resources to dealing with AIDS (more than $128 million in 1989-90), there is no coordinated effort to maximize the effect of those dollars. In addition, the lack of firm leadership, commitment and sense of direction at the State level has meant that the State's steps toward coordination have been tentative, halting and, in general, unsuccessful. This report on AIDS services contains four findings ... [more]

Proposed by: Governor Pete Wilson. Objective: Reorganize the California Energy Commission and related governmental functions. Specifically, the plan eliminates the Energy Commission, transfers all existing divisions and functions of the Energy Commission and the Department of Conservation, except recycling, to a newly created Department of Energy and Conservation, moves the recycling program to a modified Integrated Waste ... [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]

In this report, the Commission calls for invigorated state leadership to solve California’s escalating lack of affordable housing. During its review, the Commission found California’s growing crisis of housing affordability is the result of public policies that have failed to guide responsible decision-making in cities and counties around the state.  The lack of affordable housing is so severe that it threatens the health and... [more]

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In this report, the Commission commends the Department of Health Care Services after hearing testimony describing changes to implement the Commission’s 2007 recommendations that sought to transform Medi-Cal, the state’s public health care delivery system.  This report updates recommendations the Commission made in its May 2007 report, A Smarter Way to Care: Transforming Medi-Cal for the Future. The Commission recommends the state ... [more]

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California spends more than $27 billion on K-12 education. In this report, the Commission examines educational costs in an attempt to determine where education dollars are being spent and how much reaches the classroom. In addition, the study addresses one of the most critical problems facing education today -- the dropout rate. The Commission makes five findings and 11 recommendations regarding financial responsibility and obligations,... [more]

The report commemorates the Commission's completion of 25 years of service to the State of California. It summarizes the Commission's role, responsibilities and activities. It also provides a description of how the Commission carries out its business operations. Finally, it highlights some of the major accomplishments that the Commission has achieved during the past two and one-half decades. ... [more]

In this report, the Commission calls on the state to redefine the future of information technology in government. The Commission makes the case that challenges in state government require more than simply upgrading old “legacy” computer systems. The times demand new approaches and traditions to delivering public services and programs by leveraging technology to improve outcomes. During its review, the Commission found that ... [more]

In this report, the Commission urges the Governor and the Legislature to designate a leader for foster care who would be accountable for reforms.  During its review, the Commission found that California has not made adequate progress in reforming its foster care system, and will not make progress until the State designates a leader for foster care reform.  The Commission found that since 1999 the State has spent ... [more]

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Despite reforms, the State is not doing enough to ensure quality care for California's many frail and vulnerable nursing home residents. As a result, residents of these facilities continue to be subjected to indignities and their safety is not assured. This Commission report makes a series of recommendations to improve the quality of life in skilled nursing facilities, including increasing enforcement and penalty collection efforts by the... [more]

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Public officials sometimes fail to recognize looming fiscal crises in California's K-12 public school system and to take appropriate, immediate actions to avert them. This report examines the consequences of the State's failure to adequately monitor school district fiscal performance, including its effect on the education of students. The Commission makes seven recommendations to improve controls over the education system, including ... [more]

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In this 1986 study, the Commission reviews the organization and operations of the state departments in charge of revenue collection and management. The report focuses on accountability, increasing revenues and the State's cash management. The Commission concludes that the current organization does not maximize opportunities to increase revenue flow for the State. As a result, the Commission supports the general concept of creating a ... [more]

Despite the State's long experience as a major property holder and user, there are serious problems in the manner in which the State of California buys, leases and manages real property. This report concludes that the State's property management system is not strategic, is not systematic, and lacks performance incentives. This study contains 12 findings and nine recommendations. These recommendations include authorizing a pro-active ... [more]

Proposed by: Governor Edmund G. “Pat” Brown, Sr. Objective: Transfer and rename the Fair Employment Practices Commission and transfer, rename and elevate the Division of Fair Employment Practices from the Department of Industrial Relations to the State and Consumer Services Agency. Commission recommendation: Allow plan to take effect. Legislative action: Plan went into effect. ... [more]

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Proposed by: Governor Pete Wilson. Objective: Merges the State Police with the California Highway Patrol. Commission recommendation: Allow plan to take effect. The Commission believes the reorganization will result in at least two benefits to the State: enhanced security and budgetary savings. Legislative action: Plan went into effect.  ... [more]

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