A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: "AN ACT providing for use of TIERED-LEVEL EVIDENCE in budgeting; PROVIDING FOR THE OFFICE OF BUDGET AND PROGRAM PLANNING TO DEVELOP AND PUBLISH DEFINITIONS FOR TIERED-LEVEL EVIDENCE; PROVIDING THAT THE OFFICE OF BUDGET AND PROGRAM PLANNING SELECT PROGRAMS that must APPLY THE DEFINITIONS and include evidence and research to support budget proposals for new programs or expansion of programs; and PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE."
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:
NEW SECTION. Section 1. Development and application of definitions related to tiered levels of evidence. (1) By October 1, 2021, the office of budget and program planning, with the assistance of the Pew charitable trusts, and in consultation with state agencies and the legislative fiscal division, shall develop and publish descriptive, formal definitions for tiered levels of evidence. Each definition must outline the criteria needed to qualify for each tier of evidence.
(2) The definitions may be periodically updated by the office of budget and program planning as needed. The definitions and any subsequent updates must be made available to the legislative finance committee.
(3) By December 1, 2021, the office of budget and program planning shall identify four programs within the department of public health and human services related to behavioral health and child welfare that must:
(a) apply the ranking of the tiered level of evidence; and
(b) include the ranking, evidence, and research that supports its budget proposals for new programs or expansions of existing programs to the executive and legislative branches for each biennium, starting with proposals for the biennium beginning July 1, 2023.
(4) For the biennium beginning July 1, 2023, and for each biennium thereafter, the office of budget and program planning shall identify at least four additional programs within the department of public health and human services that must:
(a) apply the ranking of the tiered level of evidence; and
(b) include the ranking, evidence, and research that supports its budget proposals for new programs or expansions of existing programs to the executive and legislative branches each biennium.
(5) For purposes of this section, "program" means a set of activities undertaken in accordance with a plan of action organized to realize identifiable goals and objectives based on legislative authorization."
NEW SECTION. Section 2. Codification instruction. [Section 1] is intended to be codified as an integral part of Title 17, chapter 7, and the provisions of Title 17, chapter 7, apply to [section 1].
NEW SECTION. Section 3. Effective date. [This act] is effective July 1, 2021.