LEGISLATIVE ANALYST'S OFFICE - 7360

The Legislative Analyst is appointed by the Joint Legislative Budget Committee. The Legislative Analyst's Office (LAO), created in 1941, acts as the Legislature's nonpartisan fiscal and policy advisor. The LAO serves as the “eyes and ears” for the Legislature to ensure the executive branch is implementing policy in a cost-efficient and effective manner. The LAO does the following:

• Advises the Legislature on fiscal matters, which includes providing an extensive analysis of the Governor's annual budget proposals and updates on the state's fiscal situation throughout the fiscal year.
• Publishes several reports and documents regarding state and local fiscal and policy issues.
• Prepares analyses of statewide initiatives and ballot propositions.
• Reviews requests by the administration to make changes to the budget after it is enacted. These reviews are used primarily by members of the JLBC and the fiscal committees.
• Forecasts the state’s revenues and expenditures.
• Prepares special reports on the state budget and topics of interest to the Legislature.
• Estimates the fiscal effect on state and local government of all proposed initiatives (prior to circulation) and prepares analyses of all measures that qualify for the statewide ballot.

Visit the Legislative Analyst’s Office website at https://www.lao.ca.gov for additional information.