5 USC 314 - Statistical expertise

Collapse to view only § 314. Statistical expertise

§ 311. Definitions
§ 312. Agency evidence-building plan
§ 313. Evaluation Officers
§ 314. Statistical expertise
§ 315. Advisory Committee on Data for Evidence Building

§ 311. Definitions

In this subchapter:

(1)Agency.—The term “agency” means an agency referred to under section 901(b) of title 31.

(2)Director.—The term “Director” means the Director of the Office of Management and Budget.

(3)Evaluation.—The term “evaluation” means an assessment using systematic data collection and analysis of one or more programs, policies, and organizations intended to assess their effectiveness and efficiency.

(4)Evidence.—The term “evidence” has the meaning given that term in section 3561 of title 44.

(5)State.—The term “State” means each of the several States, the District of Columbia, each territory or possession of the United States, and each federally recognized governing body of any Indian Tribe, band, nation, pueblo, or other organized group or community which is recognized as eligible for the special programs and services provided by the United States to Indians because of their status as Indians.

(6)Statistical activities; statistical agency or unit; statistical purpose.—The terms “statistical activities”, “statistical agency or unit”, and “statistical purpose” have the meanings given those terms in section 3561 of title 44.

(Added Pub. L. 115–435, title I, § 101(a)(2), Jan. 14, 2019, 132 Stat. 5530.)

§ 312. Agency evidence-building plan

(a)Requirement.—The head of each agency shall include in the strategic plan required under section 306 a systematic plan for identifying and addressing policy questions relevant to the programs, policies, and regulations of the agency. Such plan shall contain the following:

(1) A list of policy-relevant questions for which the agency intends to develop evidence to support policymaking.

(2) A list of data the agency intends to collect, use, or acquire to facilitate the use of evidence in policymaking.

(3) A list of methods and analytical approaches that may be used to develop evidence to support policymaking.

(4) A list of any challenges to developing evidence to support policymaking, including any statutory or other restrictions to accessing relevant data.

(5) A description of the steps the agency will take to accomplish paragraphs (1) and (2).

(6) Any other information as required by guidance issued by the Director.

(b)Evaluation Plan.—The head of each agency shall issue in conjunction with the performance plan required under section 1115(b) of title 31, an evaluation plan describing activities the agency plans to conduct pursuant to subsection (a) of this section during the fiscal year following the year in which the performance plan is submitted. Such plan shall—

(1) describe key questions for each significant evaluation study that the agency plans to begin in the next fiscal year;

(2) describe key information collections or acquisitions the agency plans to begin in the next fiscal year; and

(3) any 1

1 So in original.

other information included in guidance issued by the Director under subsection (a)(6).

(c)Consultation.—In developing the plan required under subsection (a), the head of an agency shall consult with stakeholders, including the public, agencies, State and local governments, and representatives of non-governmental researchers.

(Added Pub. L. 115–435, title I, § 101(a)(2), Jan. 14, 2019, 132 Stat. 5530.)

§ 313. Evaluation Officers

(a)Establishment.—The head of each agency shall designate a senior employee of the agency as the Evaluation Officer of the agency.

(b)Qualifications.—The Evaluation Officer of an agency shall be appointed or designated without regard to political affiliation and based on demonstrated expertise in evaluation methodology and practices and appropriate expertise to the disciplines of the agency.

(c)Coordination.—The Evaluation Officer of an agency shall, to the extent practicable, coordinate activities with agency officials necessary to carry out the functions required under subsection (d).

(d)Functions.—The Evaluation Officer of each agency shall—

(1) continually assess the coverage, quality, methods, consistency, effectiveness, independence, and balance of the portfolio of evaluations, policy research, and ongoing evaluation activities of the agency;

(2) assess agency capacity to support the development and use of evaluation;

(3) establish and implement an agency evaluation policy; and

(4) coordinate, develop, and implement the plans required under section 312.

(Added Pub. L. 115–435, title I, § 101(a)(2), Jan. 14, 2019, 132 Stat. 5531.)

§ 314. Statistical expertise

(a)In General.—The head of each agency shall designate the head of any statistical agency or unit within the agency, or in the case of an agency that does not have a statistical agency or unit, any senior agency official with appropriate expertise, as a statistical official to advise on statistical policy, techniques, and procedures. Agency officials engaged in statistical activities may consult with any such statistical official as necessary.

(b)Membership on Interagency Council on Statistical Policy.—Each statistical official designated under subsection (a) shall serve as a member of the Interagency Council on Statistical Policy established under section 3504(e)(8) of title 44.

(Added Pub. L. 115–435, title I, § 101(a)(2), Jan. 14, 2019, 132 Stat. 5531.)

§ 315. Advisory Committee on Data for Evidence Building

(a)Establishment.—The Director, or the head of an agency designated by the Director, shall establish an Advisory Committee on Data for Evidence Building (in this section referred to as the “Advisory Committee”) to review, analyze, and make recommendations on how to promote the use of Federal data for evidence building.

(b)Membership.—The members of the Advisory Committee shall consist of the Chief Statistician of the United States, who shall serve as the Chair of the Advisory Committee, and other members appointed by the Director as follows:

(1) One member who is an agency Chief Information Officer.

(2) One member who is an agency Chief Privacy Officer.

(3) One member who is an agency Chief Performance Officer.

(4) Three members who are agency Chief Data Officers.

(5) Three members who are agency Evaluation Officers.

(6) Three members who are members of the Interagency Council for Statistical Policy 1

1 So in original. Probably should be “Interagency Council on Statistical Policy”.

established under section 3504(e)(8) of title 44.

(7) At least 10 members who are representatives of State and local governments and nongovernmental stakeholders with expertise in government data policy, privacy, technology, transparency policy, evaluation and research methodologies, and other relevant subjects, of whom—

(A) at least one shall have expertise in transparency policy;

(B) at least one shall have expertise in privacy policy;

(D) at least one shall have expertise in information management;

(E) at least one shall have expertise in information technology; and

(F) at least one shall be from the research and evaluation community.

(c)Term of Service.—

(1)In general.—Each member of the Advisory Committee shall serve for a term of 2 years.

(2)Vacancy.—Any member appointed to fill a vacancy occurring before the expiration of the term for which the member’s predecessor was appointed shall be appointed only for the remainder of that term. A vacancy in the Commission shall be filled in the manner in which the original appointment was made.

(d)Compensation.—Members of the Advisory Committee shall serve without compensation.

(e)Duties.—The Advisory Committee shall—

(1) assist the Director in carrying out the duties of the Director under part D of subchapter III of chapter 35 of title 44;

(2) evaluate and provide recommendations to the Director on how to facilitate data sharing, enable data linkage, and develop privacy enhancing techniques; and

(3) review the coordination of data sharing or availability for evidence building across all agencies.

(f)Reports.—The Advisory Committee shall submit to the Director and make publicly available an annual report on the activities and findings of the Advisory Committee.

(g)Termination.—The Advisory Committee shall terminate not later than two years after the date of the first meeting.

(Added Pub. L. 115–435, title I, § 101(a)(2), Jan. 14, 2019, 132 Stat. 5531.)