> in boom years the state can't accumulate any general funds for recessions

Genuine question: have states had the discipline not to raid these coffers in the boom years?

The alternative is borrowing in downturns. That works because during recessions interest rates are low. The opposite problem then manifests, however, which is the state continuing to borrow through the recovery.

Maybe instead of citing shortfalls and surpluses, such laws should cite unemployment and income growth.

> have states had the discipline not to raid these coffers in the boom years?

"Let's give the money back to voters because they will like that and we'll figure out something else in tough years" is, like, the quintessential example of "raiding these coffers."

It's basically like big tech companies turning profit into stock dividends because investors love it and the CEO will be handsomely rewarded, and who cares about long-term R&D. When big companies do that we blame MBAs and capitalism.