Ala. Code § 29-5B-2: Definitions.

For purposes of this chapter, the following terms have the following meanings:

(1) AGENCY. Any department, board, commission, office, institution, or other unit of state government that receives appropriations from the state.

(2) CAUSAL IMPACT EVALUATION. A rigorous evaluation that uses experimental or quasi-experimental methods to determine whether a program caused observed outcomes, isolating the program’s effects from other factors.

(3) EVALUATION PLAN. A written document that describes how an agency will assess a program’s implementation, outputs, and outcomes, including the data sources, indicators, and methods to be used.

(4) LOGIC MODEL. A visual or narrative representation that shows the logical relationships between a program’s resources, activities, outputs, and intended outcomes.

(5) MAJOR EXPANSION. An increase in a program’s appropriation of 25 percent or more compared to the prior fiscal year, or an expansion that significantly changes the program’s target population, service delivery method, or geographic scope.

(6) NEW PROGRAM. A program that receives an appropriation for the first time and that is not a continuation or modification of an existing program under a different name or organizational structure.

(7) PRELIMINARY STUDY. An evaluation or examination of a proposed or existing policy or program conducted before or during legislative consideration, designed to inform legislative decisions about program design, feasibility, or resource requirements.

(8) PRIORITY EVALUATION QUESTION. A significant question about a program’s implementation, effectiveness, or outcomes that an agency or the commission identifies as warranting systematic evaluation.