PUBLIC LAW 102-135—OCT. 24, 1991 105 STAT. 635 Public Law 102-135 102d Congress An Act To provide for a study, to be conducted by the National Academy of Sciences, on how the Government can improve the decennial census of population, and on related matters. Oct. 24, 1991 [H.R. 3280] Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Decennial Census Improvement Act of 1991. This Act may be cited as the "Decennial Census Improvement Act 13 USC 141 note, of 1991". United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. SEC. 2. STUDY. (a) IN GENERAL.— The Secretary of Commerce shall, within 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act, and subject to the availability of appropriations, contract with the National Academy of Sciences (hereinafter in this Act referred to as the "Academy") to study— (1) means by which the Government could achieve the most accurate population count possible; and (2) consistent with the goal under paragraph (1), ways for the Government to collect other demographic and housing data. 0>) SPECIFIC CONSIDERATIONS.— In conducting its study, the Academy shall consider such matters as— (1) with respect to subsection (a)(1)— (A) ways to improve the Government's enumeration methods, especially with regard to those involving the direct collection of data from respondents; (B) alternative methods for collecting the data needed for a basic population count, such as any involving administrative records, information from subnational or other surveys, and cumulative or rolling data-collection techniques; and (C) the appropriateness of using sampling methods, in combination with basic data-collection techniques or otherwise, in the acquisition or refinement of population data, including a review of the accuracy of the data for different levels of geography (such as States, places, census tracts and census blocks); and (2) with respect to subsection (a)(2)— (A) the degree to which a continuing need is anticipated with respect to the types of data (besides data relating to the basic population count) which were collected through the last decennial census; and (B) with respect to data for which such a need is anticipated, whether there are more effective ways to collect information using traditional methods and whether alternative sources or methodologies exist or could be implemented for obtaining reliable information in a timely manner. 13 USC 141 note.
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