Evidence-Based Policymaking Commission Act of 2015

To establish the Commission on Evidence-Based Policymaking, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Evidence-Based Policymaking Commission Act of 2015 2. Establishment There is established in the executive branch a commission to be known as the Commission on Evidence-Based Policymaking Commission 3. Members of the Commission (a) Number and appointment The Commission shall be comprised of 15 members as follows: (1) Three shall be appointed by the President, of whom— (A) 1 shall be an academic researcher, data expert, or have experience in administering programs; (B) 1 shall have expertise in database management, confidentiality, and privacy matters; and (C) 1 shall be the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (or the Director’s designee). (2) Three shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, of whom— (A) 2 shall be academic researchers, data experts, or have experience in administering programs; and (B) 1 shall have expertise in database management, confidentiality, and privacy matters. (3) Three shall be appointed by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, of whom— (A) 2 shall be academic researchers, data experts, or have experience in administering programs; and (B) 1 shall have expertise in database management, confidentiality, and privacy matters. (4) Three shall be appointed by the Majority Leader of the Senate, of whom— (A) 2 shall be academic researchers, data experts, or have experience in administering programs; and (B) 1 shall have expertise in database management, confidentiality, and privacy matters. (5) Three shall be appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate, of whom— (A) 2 shall be academic researchers, data experts, or have experience in administering programs; and (B) 1 shall have expertise in database management, confidentiality, and privacy matters. (b) Expertise In making appointments under this section, consideration should be given to individuals with expertise in economics, statistics, program evaluation, data security, confidentiality, or database management. (c) Chairperson and Co-Chairperson The President shall select the chairperson of the Commission and the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall select the co-chairperson. (d) Timing of appointments Appointments to the Commission shall be made not later than 45 days after the date of enactment of this Act. (e) Terms; vacancies Each member shall be appointed for the duration of the Commission. Any vacancy in the Commission shall not affect its powers, and shall be filled in the manner in which the original appointment was made. (f) Compensation Members of the Commission shall serve without pay. (g) Travel expenses Each member of the Commission shall be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates authorized for employees of agencies under subchapter I of chapter 57 4. Duties of the Commission (a) Study of data The Commission shall conduct a comprehensive study of the data inventory, data infrastructure, and statistical protocols related to Federal policymaking and the statistical and programmatic agencies responsible for maintaining that data to— (1) determine the optimal arrangement for which administrative data on Federal programs and tax expenditures and related data series may be integrated and made available to facilitate program evaluation, continuous improvement, policy-relevant research, and cost-benefit analyses by qualified researchers and institutions; (2) make recommendations on how data infrastructure and protocols should be modified to best fulfill the objectives identified in paragraph (1); and (3) make recommendations on how best to incorporate outcomes measurement, institutionalize randomized controlled trials, and rigorous impact analysis into program design. (b) Clearinghouse In undertaking the study required by subsection (a), the Commission shall consider if and how to create a clearinghouse for program and survey data, which shall include evaluation of— (1) what administrative data that are relevant for program evaluation and Federal policymaking should be included in a potential clearinghouse; (2) which survey data the administrative data identified in paragraph (1) may be linked to, in addition to linkages across administrative data series; (3) what are the legal and administrative barriers to including or linking these data series; (4) what data-sharing infrastructure should be used to facilitate data merging and access for research purposes; (5) how a clearinghouse could be self-funded; (6) which types of qualified researchers, officials, and institutions should have access to data; (7) what limitations should be placed on the use of data provided; (8) how to protect information and ensure individual privacy and confidentiality; (9) how the data and results of research can be used to inform program administrators and policymakers to improve program design; and (10) what incentives may facilitate interagency sharing of information to improve programmatic effectiveness and enhance data accuracy and comprehensiveness. (c) Report Upon the affirmative vote of at least three-quarters of the members of the Commission, the Commission shall submit to the President and Congress a detailed statement of its findings and conclusions as a result of the study required by subsection (a), together with its recommendations for such legislation or administrative actions as the Commission considers appropriate in light of the results of the study. (d) Deadline The report under subsection (c) shall be submitted not later than the date that is 15 months after the date a majority of the members of the Commission are appointed pursuant to section 3. (e) Definition In this section, the term administrative data (1) held by an agency or a contractor or grantee of an agency (including a State or unit of local government); and (2) collected for other than statistical purposes. 5. Operation and powers of the Commission (a) Administrative assistance The heads of the following agencies shall advise and consult with the Commission on matters within their respective areas of responsibility: (1) The Bureau of the Census. (2) The Internal Revenue Service. (3) The Department of Health and Human Services. (4) The Department of Agriculture. (5) The Department of Housing and Urban Development. (6) The Social Security Administration. (7) The Department of Education. (8) The Department of Justice. (9) The Office of Management and Budget. (10) The Bureau of Economic Analysis. (11) The Bureau of Labor Statistics. (12) Any other agency, as determined by the Commission. (b) Meetings The Commission shall meet not later than 30 days after the date upon which a majority of its members have been appointed and at such times thereafter as the chairperson or co-chairperson shall determine. (c) Rules of procedure The chairperson and co-chairperson shall, with the approval of a majority of the members of the Commission, establish written rules of procedure for the Commission, which shall include a quorum requirement to conduct the business of the Commission. (d) Hearings The Commission may, for the purpose of carrying out this Act, hold hearings, sit and act at times and places, take testimony, and receive evidence as the Commission considers appropriate. (e) Contracts The Commission may contract with and compensate government and private agencies or persons for any purpose necessary to enable it to carry out this Act. (f) Mails The Commission may use the United States mails in the same manner and under the same conditions as other agencies of the Federal Government. (g) Gifts The Commission may accept, use, and dispose of gifts or donations of services or property. 6. Funding Subject to the availability of appropriations— (1) at the request of the Director of the Census, the agencies identified as Principal Statistical Agencies Statistical Programs of the United States Government, Fiscal Year 2015 (2) the Bureau of the Census shall provide administrative support to the Commission, which may include providing physical space at, and access to, the headquarters of the Bureau of the Census, located in Suitland, Maryland. 7. Personnel (a) Director The Commission shall have a Director who shall be appointed by the chairperson with the concurrence of the co-chairperson. The Director shall be paid at a rate of pay established by the chairperson and co-chairperson, not to exceed the annual rate of basic pay payable for level V of the Executive Schedule (section 5316 of title 5, United States Code). (b) Staff The Director may appoint and fix the pay of additional staff as the Director considers appropriate. (c) Experts and Consultants The Commission may procure temporary and intermittent services under section 3109(b) of title 5, United States Code, at rates for individuals which do not exceed the daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay for a comparable position paid under the General Schedule. 8. Termination The Commission shall terminate not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act.

Summary: Evidence-Based Policymaking Commission Act of 2015 (Sec. 2) This bill establishes in the executive branch a Commission on Evidence-Based Policymaking. The Commission shall conduct a comprehensive study of the data inventory, data infrastructure, and statistical protocols related to federal policymaking and the agencies responsible for maintaining that data to: determine the optimal arrangement for which administrative data on federal programs and tax expenditures, survey data, and related statistical data series may be integrated and made available to facilitate program evaluation, continuous improvement, policy-relevant research, and cost-benefit analyses by qualified researchers and institutions; make recommendations on how data infrastructure and statistical protocols should be modified to best fulfill those objectives; and make recommendations on how best to incorporate outcomes measurement, institutionalize randomized controlled trials, and rigorous impact analysis into program design. The Commission must consider whether a clearinghouse for program and survey data should be established and how to create such a clearinghouse. The bill directs the Commission to evaluate: what administrative data and survey data are relevant for program evaluation and federal policymaking and should be included in a potential clearinghouse; which survey data such administrative data may be linked to, in addition to linkages across administrative data series; the legal and administrative barriers to including or linking these data series; what data-sharing infrastructure should be used to facilitate data merging and access for research purposes; how a clearinghouse could be self-funded; which types of researchers, officials, and institutions should have access to data and what their qualifications should be; what limitations should be placed on the use of data provided; how to protect information and ensure individual privacy and confidentiality; how data and results of research can be used to inform program administrators and policymakers to improve program design; and what incentives may facilitate interagency sharing of information to improve programmatic effectiveness and enhance data accuracy and comprehensiveness. The Commission must submit to the President and Congress a detailed statement of its findings and conclusions, together with its recommendations for legislation or administrative actions, within 15 months of the date a majority of the Commission members are appointed. (Sec. 6) The agencies identified as &quot;Principal Statistical Agencies&quot; in the the Office of Management and Budget report entitled &quot;Statistical Programs of the United States Government, Fiscal Year 2015&quot; shall provide specified funds for carrying out the activities of the Commission. (Sec. 8) The Commission shall terminate not later than 18 months after enactment of this Act.