Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Research Support topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Legislative Services Office adds impact‑review analysts, data and research support for JFAC work groups
Summary
Paul Headley of the Legislative Services Office introduced a newly staffed impact review team — five analysts and fellows — to support evidence‑based review of agency budgets and to assist JFAC work groups with research, mapping and performance analysis.
BOISE — Paul Headley, deputy (LSO deputy chief referenced in committee remarks) with the Legislative Services Office, introduced a new impact review team and additional analyst resources to the Joint Finance and Appropriations Committee on Jan. 8, saying the group will help the committee evaluate evidence for program outcomes and implementation.
Headley described the team as able to provide short research products (email responses or one‑ to two‑page summaries) and deeper analysis for committee needs. He introduced individual members and summarized their areas of emphasis, including public‑school and higher‑education topics, natural resources, IT analysis and geographic information system (GIS) mapping.
Why it matters
JFAC will consider a large volume of program and performance information across hundreds of line items. Headley said the impact review team is intended to help the committee identify and weigh evidence — for example, whether a proposed program has demonstrated success in other states or in Idaho.
Team composition and roles (as presented)
- Casey Hartwig: impact review team member, background in law; will assist with public schools, higher education and natural resources.
- Alex Penny: audits and evaluations background (previously with West Virginia Legislature); will work on health and human services, capital budgets and general government topics.
- Alex Hatfield: impact review analyst specializing in IT and GIS work; will assist transportation and public‑safety related analysis.
- Two fellows from the McClure Center (research fellows): Ellen Upton (Ph.D. in biomedical science) and a second fellow with a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering; both are available to support performance‑measure research and evaluations.
Headley emphasized evidence
Headley said: “As I've looked at performance measures, performance budgeting, recently and over the years, there's 1 word or 1 theme that kinda continues to rise to the top and that's evidence.” He told the committee the team can help locate data sources and prior evaluations to determine whether a program has worked elsewhere and whether outcomes have been demonstrated.
How the team will be used
Headley said analysts will support budget analysts during work‑group meetings, take notes, do background research and produce summaries in formats useful to members. Members may see impact‑team staff in working groups or in follow‑up requests to committee analysts.
Ending
Committee leadership framed the expansion as a way to build evidence into the budget process; staff said the analysts will be available to committees and work groups throughout the session.
