A Look at the California Research Bureau

The California Research Bureau, which is a part of the California State Library, is a hidden gem on the fifth floor of the State Capitol Annex. It has been around for over a quarter of a century and it provides independent research and analysis to the Legislature and the nine constitutional officers.

The Bureau has more than a dozen individuals on its research staff to “explore issues, provide policy research, multi-state reviews, academic and media summaries, data analysis, fact-checking and much more.” In addition, they provide helpful updates including:

• Lunch with a side of Research is a free weekly email that lists all upcoming events in Sacramento that include both a free lunch and a public policy research discussion. The Research Bureau releases a new issue each Monday at 8 a.m.
• Studies in the News is a weekly roundup of high-quality research and surveys on policy issues relevant to California. The Research Bureau releases a new issue each Wednesday at 8 a.m.

The Bureau also provides services that include fact-finding and fact-checking, review and assessment of third-party data or research, analysis of data from other levels of government, media and news collection of various topics, summaries of scholarly research, investigative surveys, 50-state reviews, tracing of bills, regulations and court decisions, and in-depth research on specific public policy topics.

For elected officials and staff in the Legislature and the constitutional offices, the Bureau can greatly assist in researching and analyzing public policy issues and measures that are being debated, and can provide additional data to assist decision-makers in their deliberations.