Agency Guidance

The Data and Policy Analytics unit has compiled the resources below to assist Agency Data Officers and publishers of open data on the Connecticut Open Data Portal. Resources include guidance on:

Getting started as an Agency Data Officer
Open data
Data sharing

We’ll be adding new resources as we identify them. If you have suggestions or requests, please contact the Chief Data Officer.

Agency Data Officer Resources

Section 4-67p of the Connecticut General Statutes requires executive branch agencies to designate an Agency Data Officer to serve as the primary contact for inquiries, requests, and concerns about access to data at their agency. The responsibilities of Agency Data Officers include:

Coordinating and submitting agency high-value data inventories annually;
Coordinating and submitting agency open data access plans;
Serving as the main contact person for inquiries, requests or concerns regarding access to the data of such agency; and
Establishing procedures to ensure that requests for data that the agency receives are complied with in an appropriate and prompt manner in consultation with the Chief Data Officer.

Agencies that are not in the executive branch may still designate an Agency Data Officer and may voluntarily comply with the provisions of Sec. 4-67p by providing written notice to the Office of Policy and Management. A list of executive branch agencies can be found in CGS Sec 4-38c. Agencies that have chosen to voluntarily comply with the provisions include:

Office of the State Comptroller
Connecticut Green Bank

Resources for Agency Data Officers are listed below.

List of Agency Data Officers. A current list of Agency Data Officer names and contact information maintained on the Open Data Portal.
- Agency Data Officers
High value data inventory instructions and template. Materials for completing a high value data inventory, including instructions and the inventory form in Excel. Links to the high value data inventories for GIS and non-GIS data maintained on the Open Data Portal are also listed below.
Open data access plan instructions and template. Materials for completing an open data access plan, including instructions and the template form in Excel.
- Open data access plan instructions
- Open data access plan template

Open Data Resources

Created in 2014, the Connecticut Open Data Portal is the state’s repository for open data. The Open Data Portal makes data from state agencies publicly available in machine-readable format to increase government transparency, drive efficiencies, and spark innovation. Agency staff can publish data directly on the Open Data Portal or with the support of the Data and Policy Analytics unit at OPM. For support on publishing data to the Open Data Portal, state agency staff can contact Scott Gaul, Chief Data Officer, or Pauline Zaldonis, Research Analyst.

Resources for agency staff on open data are listed below.

Metadata guidelines for publishing on the Open Data Portal. Guidance on meeting the metadata requirements for the Open Data Portal.
- Open Data Portal metadata guidelines
- Open Data Portal metadata standard
Data aggregation guidance. Guidance for aggregating sensitive data so that it may be published as open data, including an Excel spreadsheet with examples of aggregated data.
- Data aggregation guidelines
- Data aggregation example
Guidance on measuring open data use. Guidance for publishers on the Open Data Portal on how to better understand the use and impact of their datasets.
- Guidance on measuring open data use and impact
Data retirement guidelines for the Open Data Portal. A guidance document detailing the circumstances by which an asset may be removed from the Open Data Portal and the process for retiring the asset.
- Open Data Retirement Guidelines
Data Visualization 101. A guidance document for data visualization best practices from the Office of Early Childhood.
- Data Visualization 101
Socrata resources for using the Open Data Portal. A list of resources from Socrata on using the Open Data Portal.

Data Sharing Resources

The Data and Analytics Policy unit is developing resources for agencies to facilitate the safe, secure, and ethical sharing of data between state agencies, recognizing that leveraging data from multiple agencies can improve program administration, policy analysis, research, and performance management. Resources from the Data and Analytics Policy team on data sharing are listed below.

Data Sharing Playbook. This playbook is a resource for Connecticut state agencies to streamline data sharing processes. The playbook presents strategies to help agencies share data effectively and appropriately. The Data Sharing Playbook was developed by a team from OPM, the Office of Early Childhood, and Skylight Digital, a digital consultancy for government. The playbook is a work in progress and will continue to be developed in the coming months.
- Data Sharing Playbook
Legal Issues on Interagency Data Sharing Report. This is a report developed by the Chief Data Officer pursuant to C.G.S. 4-67z, which requires the Chief Data Officer, in consultation with the Attorney General and executive branch agency legal counsel, to submit a report on the legal issues surrounding interagency data sharing. The full reports for each year are included below, followed by topic-specific sections of the Appendix for the 2019 report, which provide more detailed review of state and federal laws.
- 2019 Legal Issues in Interagency Data Sharing Report

Connecticut State Data Plan

Agency Guidance

Agency Data Officer Resources

Open Data Resources

Data Sharing Resources