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]

California spends millions of dollars on law enforcement training each year yet there is very little evidence to demonstrate which types of training actually achieve intended goals and positively impact police behavior in the field – and which do not. In this report the Commission examines the role of the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) in shaping law enforcement training standards, and calls on California to ... [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]

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In this report, the Commission urges the Governor and the Legislature to refocus the mission of the community colleges to align policies and resources around fostering student achievement in three core areas: basic skills education, career technical education and preparation for transfer to four-year universities. The Commission also calls for the state to consolidate responsibility and funding for California’s adult education... [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 urges for reforms to California’s parole system that would improve public safety and save hundreds of millions of dollars a year. During its review, the Commission found that California’s parole policies are out of sync with those in other states. California puts a larger percentage of offenders on parole and returns offenders to prison for behaviors that in other states would result in a ... [more]

For this report, the Commission was asked by the Governor and Legislature to assess some longstanding and contentious issues regarding the state’s regulation of the acupuncture profession. Specifically SB 1951 and AB 1943 requested that the Commission review the scope of practice and educational requirements for acupuncturists, the process for accrediting acupuncture schools and for examining licensees. During its review, the Commission... [more]

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In this report, the Commission discusses actions that the State can take to develop an integrated county-state correctional system that focuses on reducing crimes committed by felons after they are released. During its review, the Commission found that after more than a decade of investing in new county jails and state prisons, California faces an inmate overcrowding crisis that worsens each day. Over the last decade an increasing ... [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]

Over the past 15 years, the Commission has examined California's K-12 education system repeatedly. In numerous reports, the Commission has made recommendations that, if adopted by the State, would result in more effective education programs and more efficient use of taxpayers' dollars. This issue paper outlines five areas from previous reports. Specifically, the Commission recommends setting up a program to take over the operation of ... [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]

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This letter is the Commission's response to Governor Edmund G. Brown, Jr. 's letter requesting the Commission’s suggestions for specific actions California can take to reduce government waste and operate more efficiently. In this letter, the Commission offers a list of suggestions based on its work. The list is divided into actions that could be implemented through a reorganization plan, actions that can be ... [more]

California is far behind other states in moving to implement health care reforms, and at least one barrier is a reluctance to approach the health care needs of state workers and Medi-Cal recipients in a unified manner. In this policy analysis, the Commission makes three recommendations to create a temporary commission to put forth a single plan for a health system, establish a unit within the Department of Health Services to create ... [more]

California expects to receive up to $1. 3 billion in federal funding over five years that may be used for alternative sentencing programs. In this study, the Commission has examined the potential effectiveness of boot camps and other work-intensive forms of incarceration. The report contains four findings and 17 recommendations. They include: the necessity for a comprehensive plan and standards; the recognition that the powerful element... [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]

In this report, the Commission calls for improved oversight of veterans’ services at the Department of Veterans Affairs. The Commission recommends for the department to do the following: improve outreach efforts to veterans, build a strong database of California veterans, monitor county veterans offices’ work to ensure effectiveness and modernize its approaches to serve needs of the youngest generation of California veterans. The ... [more]

California is failing to manage its property effectively because of inadequate procedures and organizational structures, resulting in a failure to maximize real property assets. This report contains four findings and 17 recommendations, including that the current Public Works Board should be recast to make it the central administrative structure for the State's real property management. In addition, the Commission recommends that the ... [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]

Proposed by: Governor Ronald Reagan. Objective: Rename the Department of Harbors & Waterways to Department of Navigation & Ocean Development and rename the Harbors and Watercraft Commission to Navigation and Ocean Development Commission. Commission recommendation: Allow plan to go into effect. Legislative action: Plan went into effect. ... [more]

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In this report, the Commission identifies a need for greater systemwide monitoring, assessment and management of the teacher workforce. During its review, the Commission found that sate training strategies do not prepare enough credentialed teachers who are committed to being career teachers, particularly in needy schools. Additionally, the state's credentialing process to be an obstacle to employing more fully credentialed teachers. The... [more]

In this report, the Commission urges the state to continue its commitments to information technology investments. During its review, the Commission found that California needs to maintain its investment in modernizing information technology across state government. The Commission recommends continuing the momentum gained through the creation of the California Technology Agency, and urges the Legislature to monitor five ... [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]

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]

In this report, the Commission urges policymakers to summon the political will to immediately implement reforms to California’s correctional system to improve public safety and prevent a costly takeover by the federal courts. During its study, the Commission found that California’s correctional system is failing in its primary mission to protect public safety. California’s prisons are packed beyond capacity. Few offenders... [more]

This report is a follow-up to a review of runaway/homeless programs conducted as part of the Commission's 1987 report on Children's Services. The initial report found that there were few services directed toward runaway/homeless youths, but that pilot projects were just beginning in Los Angeles and San Francisco. Based on the success of the pilot projects in providing medical care, shelter, food and counseling, the Commission proposes ... [more]

The Commission's biennial report catalogues the Commission's efforts over the last thirty years, noting both its successes and the areas where it continues to push for reform. In addition, the report contains summaries of the Commission's studies for the past two years. ... [more]

The approval of a state lottery by voters creates the need for new systems of accountability. This report focuses on determining if the State has established a sound system to allocate, use and account for lottery funds distributed to education. It also reviews the processes used by school districts to develop priorites for spending lottery funds and the expenditures that school districts have made with these funds. The Commission makes ... [more]

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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]

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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California has recognized its responsibilities for the well-being of its children by establishing numerous programs to serve and protect them, but the State's children's services delivery system is beset with critical problems. This multi-faceted report contains 23 findings regarding the children's services delivery system and the problems of serving children in need of child care services, runaway/homeless youth, and abused and neglected ... [more]