Ensuring the Public Trust 2012: Program Policy Evaluation's Role In Serving State Legislatures, May 2012

Among the many roles that state legislatures play - passing laws, appropriating funds, and debating public policy - is the fundamental responsibility to oversee government operations and ensure that public services are delivered to citizens in an effective and efficient manner. To help meet this oversight responsibility, most state legislatures have created specialized units that conduct research studies and evaluate state government policies and programs.

This report is the result of a nationwide survey of legislative program evaluation offices conducted by the National Legislative Program Evaluation Society. It summarizes information about these legislative program evaluation offices, including the roles these offices play, their products, and the impact their studies have in their states. It also includes one-page profiles of each office and how to contact it.

Previous reports:

• Ensuring the Public Trust 2008: Program Policy Evaluation's Role in Serving State Legislatures, July 2008
• Ensuring the Public Trust 2004: Program Policy Evaluation's Role in Serving State Legislatures, October 2004
• Ensuring the Public Trust: How Program Policy Evaluation Is Serving State Legislatures, July 2000

The National Legislative Program Evaluation Society. For more information, see the NLPES website at www.ncsl.org/Default.aspx?TabID=788&tabs=857,43,495#495.

The National Conference of State Legislatures. For more information, see the NCSL website at www.ncsl.org/.