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SJR 77 - Enrolled - PDF
SJR77
191512-5
By Senators Orr and Pittman
RFD:
First Read: 20-FEB-18
SJR77
SJR77
ENROLLED, SJR77,
ADOPTING AN EVIDENCE-BASED BUDGETING PROCESS.
WHEREAS, state government should be held accountable
to Alabama taxpayers for investments of state funds made to
programs and activities entrusted to be performed through
agencies receiving those funds so that state resources are
directed to effective and cost-beneficial programs that
produce the best outcomes for Alabama residents; and
WHEREAS, every program and activity performed by an
agency receiving state funds should be identified and the
premise, goals, objectives, and ultimately, the performance
and outcomes of each program and activity, should be measured
and quantified; and
WHEREAS, the goals of the state and those agencies
receiving state funds should be centered on a shared interest
in maximizing the value of limited financial resources and
further incorporating the use of evidence into institutional
decision-making processes; now therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA, BOTH
HOUSES THEREOF CONCURRING, That under the direction of the
Chairs of the Senate Finance and Taxation General Fund
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Committee, Senate Finance and Taxation Education Committee,
House Ways and Means General Fund Committee, and House Ways
and Means Education Committee and pursuant to the ongoing
active technical assistance and training provided by the
Fiscal Division of the Legislative Services Agency, an
evidence-based budgeting process is adopted by this body as
follows:
(a) The evidence-based budgeting process shall be
implemented immediately for any new program, or the expansion
of an existing program, proposed to be offered by any of the
following state agencies:
(1) The Medicaid Agency.
(2) The Department of Corrections.
(3) The Department of Mental Health.
(4) The District Attorneys.
(5) The State Department of Human Resources.
(6) The Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency.
(7) The Board of Pardons and Paroles.
(8) The Department of Public Health.
(9) The Department of Senior Services.
(10) The Department of Agriculture and Industries.
(b) For the purposes of this resolution, the
following terms shall have the following meanings:
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(1) A program is a systematic intervention or
prevention activity designed to achieve a specific outcome for
a defined population.
(2) An evidence-based program offers a high level of
research on effectiveness, determined as a result of multiple
rigorous evaluations, such as randomized controlled trials and
evaluations that incorporate strong comparison group designs,
or a single large multisite randomized study. These programs
typically have specified procedures that allow for successful
replication.
(3) A promising program has some research
demonstrating effectiveness, such as a single randomized
controlled trial or evaluation with a comparison group design,
but does not meet the full criteria for an evidence-based
designation.
(4) A research-based program has not been rigorously
evaluated and requires additional research to meet the
evidence-based or promising standards.
(c) Each agency listed in subsection (a) shall begin
incorporating evidence-based policy making into the budgeting
process and the personnel of each agency shall review the
programs offered by their respective agency, with the
assistance and direction of the fiscal division, and shall do
all of the following:
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(1) Establish an inventory of each agency program
that includes, but is not limited to, all of the following
information for each program:
a. The name of the program, including whether the
name is a variant of a nationally recognized program.
b. A detailed description of the program, including
whether the program is addressing a problem or is an
opportunity to impact an outcome.
c. The average duration and frequency of
participation for a participant engaged in the program.
d. The agency or entity responsible for delivering
the program.
e. The delivery setting for the program.
f. The desired measurable outcome to be impacted by
the program.
g. A detailed description of the participants and
total annual number of participants participating in the
program.
h. Any known alternative program a participant could
participate in if the program were not provided.
i. The detailed annual direct and indirect
expenditures to deliver the program.
j. Any other information requested or required by
the fiscal division.
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(2) Identify agency and program premises, goals,
objectives, outcomes, and outputs, as well as any other
indicator or component considered appropriate by the personnel
of the agency.
(3) Provide a comparison of the annual costs and
benefits per participant of the program to similar programs
offered in other jurisdictions.
(4) At the direction of the fiscal division,
categorize each agency program as evidence-based, promising,
or research-based. A program may not receive a rating of
evidence-based or promising unless the rating is first
approved by the fiscal division.
(5) Establish a procedure for providing a baseline
for each program which is built around research-based programs
or other programs that do not satisfy the definition of
evidence-based so that further research may be conducted to
gauge the effectiveness of the program.
(6) Describe any methodology used to develop any
program which is neither evidence-based nor a promising
practice.
(7) For any proposal to fund a new program or to
expand an existing program, submit a detailed proposal to the
Finance Director, the State Budget Officer, the Chairs of the
Senate Finance and Taxation General Fund Committee, Senate
Finance and Taxation Education Committee, House Ways and Means
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General Fund Committee, House Ways and Means Education
Committee, and the Director of the Legislative Services
Agency. The proposal shall include all of the elements of the
program inventory and a baseline evaluation procedure that
ensures the program is implemented to fidelity and
accomplishes its defined objectives.
(8) Establish a procedure for incorporating
evidence-based practices into provider contracts, which
requires the collection of data necessary to complete a
detailed and accurate program inventory.
(9) Provide continuous updates to the required data
and information on an annual basis.
(d) The fiscal division shall report to the Chairs
of the Senate Finance and Taxation General Fund Committee,
Senate Finance and Taxation Education Committee, House Ways
and Means General Fund Committee, and House Ways and Means
Education Committee the results of all activities required by
this resolution with recommendations for incorporating the
information into budget recommendations and the appropriations
process.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the appropriate head of
each agency referenced in this resolution are instructed to
take appropriate action to implement the provisions of this
resolution, and the Secretary of the Senate is directed to
transmit a copy of this resolution to each agency head so that
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they are formally informed of our expectations regarding this
matter and our firm determination to closely and fully monitor
the implementation of the evidence-based budgeting process.
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President and Presiding Officer of the Senate
Speaker of the House of Representatives
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Senate 20-FEB-18
I hereby certify that the within Senate Joint Resolution
originated in and was adopted by the Senate.
Patrick Harris,
Secretary.
House of Representatives
Adopted: 27-MAR-18
By: Senator Orr