SJR 77

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 SJR77 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: SJR77 (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: SJR77 (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. SJR77 (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 SJR77 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 SJR77 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. SJR77 President and Presiding Officer of the Senate Speaker of the House of Representatives SJR77 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