IIA

105TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. R. 852

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

MARCH 17, 1997

Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Governmental Affairs

AN ACT

To amend chapter 35 of title 44, United States Code, popularly known as the Paperwork Reduction Act, to minimize the burden of Federal paperwork demands upon

small businesses, educational and nonprofit institutions,

Federal contractors, State and local governments, and

other persons through the sponsorship and use of alternative information technologies.
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1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Paperwork Elimination

5 Act of 1997’’.

6 SEC. 2. PURPOSES.

7 The purpose of this Act is to—

8 (1) minimize the burden of Federal paperwork

9 demands upon small businesses, educational and

10 nonprofit institutions, Federal contractors, State

11 and local governments, and other persons through

12 the sponsorship and use of alternative information

13 technologies, including the use of electronic mainte14 nance, submission, or disclosure of information to

15 substitute for paper; and

16 (2) more effectively enable Federal agencies to

17 achieve the purposes of chapter 35 of title 44,

18 United States Code, popularly known as the ‘‘Paper19 work Reduction Act’’.

20 SEC. 3. AUTHORITY AND FUNCTIONS OF THE DIRECTOR OF

21 THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET.

22 (a) DIRECTION AND OVERSIGHT OF INFORMATION

23 TECHNOLOGY.—Section 3504(a)(1)(B)(vi) of title 44,

24 United States Code, is amended to read as follows:
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1 ‘‘(vi) the acquisition and use of informa2 tion technology, including the use of alternative

3 information technologies, such as the use of

4 electronic submission, maintenance, or disclo5 sure of information to substitute for paper.’’.

6 (b) PROMOTION OF USE OF ELECTRONIC INFORMA7 TION TECHNOLOGY.—Section 3504(h) of title 44, United

8 States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘and’’ after the semi9 colon at the end of paragraph (4), by striking the period

10 at the end of paragraph (5) and inserting ‘‘; and’’, and

11 by adding at the end the following:

12 ‘‘(6) specifically promote the optional use of

13 electronic maintenance, submission, or disclosure of

14 information where appropriate, as an alternative in15 formation technology to substitute for paper.’’.

16 SEC. 4. ASSIGNMENT OF TASKS AND DEADLINES.

17 Section 3505(a)(3) of title 44, United States Code,

18 is amended by striking ‘‘and’’ after the semicolon at the

19 end of subparagraph (B), by striking the period at the

20 end of subparagraph (C) and inserting ‘‘; and’’, and by

21 adding at the end the following:

22 ‘‘(D) a description of progress in providing

23 for the use of electronic submission, mainte24 nance, or disclosure of information to substitute

25 for paper, including the extent to which such
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1 progress accomplishes reduction of burden on

2 small businesses or other persons.’’.

3 SEC. 5. FEDERAL AGENCY RESPONSIBILITIES.

4 (a) PROVIDING FOR USE OF ELECTRONIC INFORMA5 TION MANAGEMENT.—Section 3506(c)(1)(B) of title 44,

6 United States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘and’’ after

7 the semicolon at the end of clause (ii) and by adding at

8 the end the following:

9 ‘‘(iv) provides for the optional use,

10 where appropriate, of electronic mainte11 nance, submission, or disclosure of infor12 mation; and’’.

13 (b) PROMOTION OF ELECTRONIC INFORMATION

14 MANAGEMENT.—Section 3506(c)(3)(C) of title 44, United

15 States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘or’’ after the semi16 colon at the end of clause (ii), by adding ‘‘or’’ after the

17 semicolon at the end of clause (iii), and by adding at the

18 end the following:

19 ‘‘(iv) the promotion and optional use,

20 where appropriate, of electronic mainte21 nance, submission, or disclosure of infor22 mation.’’.

23 (c) USE OF ALTERNATIVE INFORMATION TECH24 NOLOGIES.—Section 3506(c)(3)(J) of title 44, United

25 States Code, is amended to read as follows:
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1 ‘‘(J) to the maximum extent practicable,

2 uses alternative information technologies, in3 cluding the use of electronic maintenance, sub4 mission, or disclosure of information, to reduce

5 burden and improve data quality, agency effi6 ciency and responsiveness to the public.’’.

7 SEC. 6. PUBLIC INFORMATION COLLECTION ACTIVITIES;

8 SUBMISSION TO DIRECTOR; APPROVAL AND

9 DELEGATION.

10 Section 3507(a)(1)(D)(ii) of title 44, United States

11 Code, is amended by striking ‘‘and’’ after the semicolon

12 at the end of subclause (V), by adding ‘‘and’’ after the

13 semicolon at the end of subclause (VI), and by adding at

14 the end the following:

15 ‘‘(VII) a description of how re16 spondents may, if appropriate, elec17 tronically maintain, submit, or dis18 close information under the collection

19 of information.’’.

20 SEC. 7. RESPONSIVENESS TO CONGRESS.

21 Section 3514(a)(2) of title 44, United States Code,

22 is amended by striking ‘‘and’’ after the semicolon at the

23 end of subparagraph (C), by striking the period at the end

24 of subparagraph (D) and inserting ‘‘; and’’, and by adding

25 at the end the following:
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1 ‘‘(E) reduced the collection of information bur2 den on small businesses and other persons through

3 the use of electronic maintenance, submission, or

4 disclosure of information to substitute for paper

5 maintenance, submission, or disclosure of informa6 tion, including—

7 ‘‘(i) a description of instances where such

8 substitution has added to burden; and

9 ‘‘(ii) specific identification of such in10 stances relating to the Internal Revenue Serv11 ice.’’.

12 SEC. 8. EFFECTIVE DATE.

13 This Act shall take effect October 1, 1998.

Passed the House of Representatives March 13,

1997.

Attest: ROBIN H. CARLE,

Clerk.