Utah Code § 63G-6b-402 — Utah Code / Title 63G / Chapter 63G-6b / § 63G-6b-402
§ 63G-6b-402. Outcome-based Investment Grant Pilot Framework.
Status: in_force

7/1/2026 (1) As used in this section: (a) "Independent evaluator" means an individual or entity that: (i) is not involved in implementing a project receiving grant funding under the pilot framework; and (ii) meets the evaluation standards that the Office of the Legislative Auditor General establishes under this section. (b) "Evaluation framework" means the evaluation framework the Office of the Legislative Auditor General establishes in accordance with Subsection (5). (c) "Pilot framework" means the Outcome-based Investment Grant Pilot Framework that this section establishes. (d) "Pre-analysis plan" means a written plan that: (i) a grant applicant submits during the grant application process and before beginning project implementation; (ii) identifies the specific outcomes the applicant intends the proposed project to achieve; (iii) specifies the metrics for measuring each intended outcome of the proposed project; (iv) describes the evaluation methodology that will apply to the proposed project, including any comparison to control data or counterfactual approach; and (v) complies with the standards that the Office of the Legislative Auditor General establishes under this section. (2) (a) This section creates a pilot framework governing the administration of certain competitive grant programs using measurable outcomes known as the Outcome-based Investment Grant Pilot Framework. (b) This section only applies to a grant that receives funding from an appropriation in which the Legislature expressly declares the intent for the administering agency to administer the grant under the pilot framework. (3) Upon an expression of legislative intent for an agency to administer a grant under the pilot framework in a legislative appropriation, the administering agency shall: (a) administer a grant program in accordance with the pilot framework; and (b) only award grants under the pilot framework for projects that comply with the evaluation framework described in Subsection (5). (4) (a) An applicant for a grant under the pilot framework shall submit an application: (i) in a form that the administering agency prescribes; and (ii) that includes a pre-analysis plan that: (A) identifies the intended outcomes of the proposed project; and (B) provides a significant measurement and evaluation framework to demonstrate the effect of the project on the intended outcomes. (b) The administering agency may not award a grant unless the administering agency determines that the applicants pre-analysis plan satisfies the evaluation framework requirements described in Subsection (5). (5) The Office of the Legislative Fiscal Analyst and the Governor's Office of Planning and Budget shall establish: (a) an evaluation framework applicable to the pilot framework that includes standards governing: (i) acceptable outcome measures; (ii) required elements of a pre-analysis plan; (iii) acceptable evaluation methodologies; and (iv) minimum data collection and reporting requirements; and (b) standards governing independent evaluators, including: (i) independence and conflict-of-interest requirements; (ii) minimum qualifications and expertise; (iii) acceptable evaluation designs and levels of rigor; and (iv) reporting and transparency requirements. (6) (a) A recipient of a grant under this section shall participate in an independent evaluation of the funded project. (b) An independent evaluator shall: (i) measure and assess the extent to which the project caused the outcomes identified in the pre-analysis plan; (ii) compare actual outcomes to the projected outcomes in the pre-analysis plan using the metrics described in the pre-analysis plan; and (iii) provide a written report of the independent evaluation to the administering agency. (c) Unless the Legislature indicates otherwise in a specific appropriation for a grant under the framework, the administering agency may use up to 5% of funds the Legislature appropriates to procure the independent evaluation described in this Subsection (6). (d) The Office of the Legislative Auditor General may: (i) review the findings of an independent evaluation described in this Subsection (6); and (ii) assess the methodological rigor, validity, and reliability of the evaluation. (7) The administering agency shall annually report to the agency's relevant legislative appropriations subcommittee regarding the administration of the grant under the pilot framework, including: (a) a summary of the number and type of grants the administering agency awards under the pilot framework; (b) the progress of grant projects; (c) available outcome data; (d) impact data; and (e) the results of any independent evaluations of a grant project. (8) Nothing in this section requires the administering agency to terminate funding solely based on evaluation results.