44 U.S.C. § 3520 — Chief Data Officers

(a) Establishment. The head of each agency^* must designate a nonpolitical appointee employee in the agency as Chief Data^* Officer.

(b) Qualifications. The designation must be based on demonstrated training and experience in data management and governance, including creating, applying, and maintaining data standards; collecting, analyzing, protecting, using, and sharing data; and statistical and related methods for protecting and removing identifying information from confidential data.

(c) Functions. The Chief Data Officer must—
(1) manage data throughout its lifecycle;
(2) coordinate with agency officials who use, protect, share, or generate data so the agency’s data needs are met;
(3) manage agency data assets, including standardizing formats, sharing assets, and publishing them as law allows;
(4) while carrying out paragraphs (3) and (5), consult the agency’s statistical official designated under 5 U.S.C. § 314;
(5) carry out the agency’s duties under 44 U.S.C. § 3506(b)–(d), (f), and (i), § 3507, and § 3511;
(6) ensure, as far as practicable, that agency data follows data-management best practices;
(7) involve employees, the public, and contractors in using public data assets and encourage collaborative ways to improve data use;
(8) support the Performance Improvement Officer in identifying and using data for 31 U.S.C. § 1124(a)(2);
(9) support the Evaluation Officer in obtaining data for 5 U.S.C. § 313(d);
(10) review how agency infrastructure affects access to data assets and coordinate with the Chief Information Officer to improve that infrastructure and reduce access barriers;
(11) ensure, as far as practicable, that the agency makes maximum use of data, including to produce evidence (a term defined in 44 U.S.C. § 3561), protect cybersecurity, and improve operations;
(12) identify points of contact for open-data roles and responsibilities as the Director^* requires;
(13) act as the agency’s liaison with other agencies and the Office of Management and Budget about using existing agency data for statistical purposes (a term defined in § 3561); and
(14) follow regulations and guidance under subchapter III, including obtaining and maintaining required certifications and training.

(d) Delegation of responsibilities. (1) As needed to comply with statistical laws^*, the Chief Data Officer must delegate a subsection (c) responsibility to the head of an agency statistical agency or unit (a term defined in § 3561). (2) To the extent law permits, the person^* receiving the delegation must consult the Chief Data Officer while carrying it out. (3) The Chief Data Officer must defer to that person about the necessary delegation concerning data the agency acquires, keeps, or shares under applicable statistical law.

(e) Reports. Each year, the Chief Data Officer must report to the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee and the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee on the agency’s compliance with this subchapter. The report must identify each requirement the agency could not carry out and, if applicable, what the agency needs to carry it out.