"For Budget Year, Undertake Education Mandate Reform. Although the Governor's plan to suspend every CCC mandate and all but two K-12 mandates tries to address longstanding problems with the state's mandate reimbursement process, we think the approach is too blunt. Instead, we recommend the state reexamine individual mandates and, on a case-by-case basis, consider whether (1) the mandate serves a compelling purpose or (2) a statutory modification could significantly reduce the cost or improve the incentives of the mandate. As a result of such an analysis, we think the Legislature likely would want to eliminate certain mandates, enact changes to reduce the cost of some mandates, and find more effective policy solutions for promoting other currently mandated, high priority activities."

 

With LAO not on-board with the Governor's proposal it appears the idea of suspending education mandates for 2009/10 may slowly grind to a halt.