Evidence-Based Designations for Budget

The act modifies the established set of definitions to be used when analyzing available evidence regarding a program or practice in relation to a budget request, request for a supplemental appropriation, or budget request amendment (collectively, budget request). The act also modifies accordingly the process for incorporating evidence-based decision-making into budgetary decisions. If a state agency or the office of state planning and budgeting (office) includes information regarding the best available evidence on the effectiveness of a program or practice in a budget request, the state agency or office is required to give the program or practice an evidence designation and to provide a summary of the best available research evidence about the program or practice, information concerning how the best available research evidence is connected to the budget request, and any plans to evaluate the program or practice to build evidence regarding its effectiveness (collectively, the evidence designation justification). The state agency or the office may also include with its budget request that an evidence designation is not applicable or that the budget request is ineligible for an evidence designation. Joint budget committee staff is required to review the evidence designation justification and to include an evidence designation, or to state that an evidence designation is not applicable or that the budget request is ineligible for an evidence designation, as part of any recommendation it makes regarding a budget request. The joint budget committee is required to consider, as one of many factors, the evidence designation when determining the appropriate level of funding for a program or practice. APPROVED by Governor April 18, 2024 EFFECTIVE August 7, 2024(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)