---
kind: "section"
citation: "2 U.S.C. § 1551"
title: "2"
title_heading: "The Congress"
number: "1551"
heading: "Baseline study of costs and benefits"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/2/1551"
units:
  - "Chapter 25 — Unfunded Mandates Reform"
  - "Subchapter III — Review of Federal Mandates"
---

# §1551. Baseline study of costs and benefits

- (a) **In general—** No later than 18 months after March 22, 1995, the Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations (hereafter in this subchapter referred to as the “Advisory Commission”), in consultation with the [Director](/usc/2/1502.md?p=2), shall complete a study to examine the measurement and definition issues involved in calculating the total costs and benefits to [State](/usc/2/4556.md?p=1), local, and tribal governments of compliance with Federal law.
- (b) **Considerations—** The study required by this section shall consider—
  - (1) the feasibility of measuring indirect costs and benefits as well as direct costs and benefits of the Federal, [State](/usc/2/4556.md?p=1), local, and tribal relationship; and
  - (2) how to measure both the direct and indirect benefits of Federal financial assistance and tax benefits to [State](/usc/2/4556.md?p=1), local, and tribal governments.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 104–4, title III, § 301, Mar. 22, 1995, 109 Stat. 67.)