Identical to S 43 filed on 2/7/17.

Requires the UNC School of Government (SOG) to research existing evaluation standards and identify approaches for designing projects that collect appropriate and adequate data for sound evaluation of pilot projects.  Requires the SOG to make a preliminary report on the research findings to the Joint Legislative Program Evaluation Oversight Committee, the Director of the Program Evaluation Division, and the Office of State Budget and Management by December 1, 2017. Requires SOG to coordinate a working group to develop standards for state agencies to use in designing and implementing pilot projects required by the General Assembly. Requires the working group to include representatives from state agencies and the UNC constituent institutions.  Requires a report on the proposed standards to the Joint Legislative Program Evaluation Oversight Committee, the Director of the Program Evaluation Division, and the Office of State Budget and Management by December 1, 2018.

Enacts new GS 143-162.3, directing the Office of State Budget and Management to adopt rules to implement the standards proposed by the SOG and to report to the Joint Legislative Program Evaluation Oversight Committee after adoption of the rules.  Provides that, at a minimum, proposed standards must offer a range of options for designing evaluations of pilot projects, taking into account an agency’s available resources and time. 

Provides that beginning June 1, 2019, unless specifically exempted by law, all departments, agencies, bureaus, divisions, and institutions of the state must conduct and complete pilot projects requested by the General Assembly in accordance with the rules  adopted by the Office of State Budget and Management. Allows the SOG to prepare proposed updates to the standards as necessary. Requires proposed updates to be submitted to the Office of State Budget and Management for review and adoption, and requires the Office to report rule changes to the Joint Legislative Program Evaluation Oversight Committee. Requires the SOG to publish proposed updates on its website at least 90 days before submitting the proposed standards.