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105TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. R. 852

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.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

FEBRUARY 26, 1997

Mr. TALENT introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Government Reform and Oversight, and in addition to the Committee on Small Business, for a period to be subsequently determined by

the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

A BILL

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.

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
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1 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

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

3 Act of 1997’’.

4 SEC. 2. PURPOSES.

5 The purpose of this Act is to—

6 (1) minimize the burden of Federal paperwork

7 demands upon small businesses, educational and

8 nonprofit institutions, Federal contractors, State

9 and local governments, and other persons through

10 the sponsorship and use of alternative information

11 technologies, including the use of electronic mainte12 nance, submission, or disclosure of information to

13 substitute for paper; and

14 (2) more effectively enable Federal agencies to

15 achieve the purposes of chapter 35 of title 44,

16 United States Code, popularly known as the ‘‘Paper17 work Reduction Act’’.

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

19 THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET.

20 (a) DIRECTION AND OVERSIGHT OF INFORMATION

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

22 United States Code, is amended to read as follows:

23 ‘‘(vi) the acquisition and use of informa24 tion technology, including the use of alternative

25 information technologies, such as the use of
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1 electronic submission, maintenance, or disclo2 sure of information to substitute for paper.’’.

3 (b) PROMOTION OF USE OF ELECTRONIC INFORMA4 TION TECHNOLOGY.—Section 3504(h) of title 44, United

5 States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘and’’ after the semi6 colon at the end of paragraph (4), by striking the period

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

8 by adding at the end the following:

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

10 electronic maintenance, submission, or disclosure of

11 information where appropriate, as an alternative in12 formation technology to substitute for paper.’’.

13 SEC. 4. ASSIGNMENT OF TASKS AND DEADLINES.

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

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

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

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

18 adding at the end the following:

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

20 for the use of electronic submission, mainte21 nance, or disclosure of information to substitute

22 for paper, including the extent to which such

23 progress accomplishes reduction of burden on

24 small businesses or other persons.’’.
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1 SEC. 5. FEDERAL AGENCY RESPONSIBILITIES.

2 (a) PROVIDING FOR USE OF ELECTRONIC INFORMA3 TION MANAGEMENT.—Section 3506(c)(1)(B) of title 44,

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

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

6 the end the following:

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

8 where appropriate, of electronic mainte9 nance, submission, or disclosure of infor10 mation; and’’.

11 (b) PROMOTION OF ELECTRONIC INFORMATION

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

13 States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘or’’ after the semi14 colon at the end of clause (ii), by adding ‘‘or’’ after the

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

16 end the following:

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

18 where appropriate, of electronic mainte19 nance, submission, or disclosure of infor20 mation.’’.

21 (c) USE OF ALTERNATIVE INFORMATION TECH22 NOLOGIES.—Section 3506(c)(3)(J) of title 44, United

23 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.

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