PRINTER'S NO. 1637
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE RESOLUTION
No.
294
Session of
2015
INTRODUCED BY STEFANO, FOLMER, RAFFERTY, GREENLEAF, BROWNE,
MENSCH, VOGEL, WARD, WAGNER AND VULAKOVICH, MARCH 22, 2016
REFERRED TO INTERGOVERNMENTAL OPERATIONS, MARCH 22, 2016
A RESOLUTION
Directing the Joint State Government Commission to conduct a
study examining the use of evidence-based decision making by
the Commonwealth.
WHEREAS, Evidence-based decision making utilizes the best
available research and data on programs to guide public
officials in determining whether to expand, eliminate or
modify certain government programs; and
WHEREAS, Evidence-based decision making has been used by the
Federal Government, state governments and private sector
companies; and
WHEREAS, Evidence-based decision making will allow State
agencies to have a better understanding of whether certain State
programs are an effective use of taxpayer dollars; therefore be
it
RESOLVED, That the Senate direct the Joint State Government
Commission to conduct a study examining the use of evidence-
based decision making by the Commonwealth; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the study include an examination of all of the
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following:
(1) The use of evidence-based decision making by other
state governments.
(2) A comprehensive review and analysis of the continuum
of evidentiary standards used for evidence-based evaluations.
(3) A comprehensive review and analysis of the existing
evidence-based program registries currently available, the
standards of evidence used by each and an assessment of the
strengths and limitations of each, including, but not limited
to, the following:
(i) Blueprints for Healthy Youth Development.
(ii) The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency
Prevention Model Programs Guide.
(iii) The United States Department of Justice's
website www.crimesolutions.gov.
(iv) The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
Administration National Registry of Evidence-Based
Programs and Practices.
(v) The California Evidence-Based Clearinghouse for
Child Welfare.
(vi) The Coalition for Evidence-Based Policy.
(vii) The Promising Practices Network.
(viii) The What Works Clearinghouse.
(4) The potential methods that the Commonwealth can use
to implement evidence-based decision making, including a
determination of which State agencies and programs are best
suited to implement evidence-based decision making.
(5) The amount and types of data collected by State
agencies and the extent to which the data is shared among
State agencies.
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(6) The current methods of data protection employed by
State agencies and the most effective methods to protect the
privacy rights of the residents of this Commonwealth who
provide personal data to State agencies;
and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Joint State Government Commission issue a
report on the study to the Senate within 18 months of the
adoption of this resolution.
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