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105TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. R. 852

[Report No. 105–7, Part 1]

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

MARCH 6, 1997

Additional sponsors: Mr. LAFALCE, Mr. EWING, Mr. SKELTON, Mr.

MANZULLO, Mr. SISISKY, Mr. BARTLETT of Maryland, Mr. FLAKE, Mrs.

SMITH of Washington, Mr. LUTHER, Mr. RAMSTAD, Ms. MILLENDERMCDONALD, Mr. LOBIONDO, Mr. DAVIS of Illinois, Mrs. KELLY, Mr.

BOYD, Mr. JONES, Mrs. MCCARTHY of New York, Mr. SOUDER, Mr.

PASCRELL, Mr. RYUN, Mr. SNOWBARGER, Mr. PAPPAS, Mr. ENGLISH of

Pennsylvania, Mr. MCINTOSH, Mrs. EMERSON, Mr. HILL, and Mr.

SUNUNU

MARCH 6, 1997

Reported from the Committee on Small Business
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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,

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,
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1 United States Code, popularly known as the ‘‘Paper2 work Reduction Act’’.

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

4 THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET.

5 (a) DIRECTION AND OVERSIGHT OF INFORMATION

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

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

8 ‘‘(vi) the acquisition and use of informa9 tion technology, including the use of alternative

10 information technologies, such as the use of

11 electronic submission, maintenance, or disclo12 sure of information to substitute for paper.’’.

13 (b) PROMOTION OF USE OF ELECTRONIC INFORMA14 TION TECHNOLOGY.—Section 3504(h) of title 44, United

15 States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘and’’ after the semi16 colon at the end of paragraph (4), by striking the period

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

18 by adding at the end the following:

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

20 electronic maintenance, submission, or disclosure of

21 information where appropriate, as an alternative in22 formation technology to substitute for paper.’’.

23 SEC. 4. ASSIGNMENT OF TASKS AND DEADLINES.

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

25 is amended by striking ‘‘and’’ after the semicolon at the
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1 end of subparagraph (B), by striking the period at the

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

3 adding at the end the following:

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

5 for the use of electronic submission, mainte6 nance, or disclosure of information to substitute

7 for paper, including the extent to which such

8 progress accomplishes reduction of burden on

9 small businesses or other persons.’’.

10 SEC. 5. FEDERAL AGENCY RESPONSIBILITIES.

11 (a) PROVIDING FOR USE OF ELECTRONIC INFORMA12 TION MANAGEMENT.—Section 3506(c)(1)(B) of title 44,

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

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

15 the end the following:

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

17 where appropriate, of electronic mainte18 nance, submission, or disclosure of infor19 mation; and’’.

20 (b) PROMOTION OF ELECTRONIC INFORMATION

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

22 States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘or’’ after the semi23 colon at the end of clause (ii), by adding ‘‘or’’ after the

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

25 end the following:
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1 ‘‘(iv) the promotion and optional use,

2 where appropriate, of electronic mainte3 nance, submission, or disclosure of infor4 mation.’’.

5 (c) USE OF ALTERNATIVE INFORMATION TECH6 NOLOGIES.—Section 3506(c)(3)(J) of title 44, United

7 States Code, is amended to read as follows:

8 ‘‘(J) to the maximum extent practicable,

9 uses alternative information technologies, in10 cluding the use of electronic maintenance, sub11 mission, or disclosure of information, to reduce

12 burden and improve data quality, agency effi13 ciency and responsiveness to the public.’’.

14 SEC. 6. PUBLIC INFORMATION COLLECTION ACTIVITIES;

15 SUBMISSION TO DIRECTOR; APPROVAL AND

16 DELEGATION.

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

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

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

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

21 the end the following:
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1 ‘‘(VII) a description of how re2 spondents may, if appropriate, elec3 tronically maintain, submit, or dis4 close information under the collection

5 of information.’’.

6 SEC. 7. RESPONSIVENESS TO CONGRESS.

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

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

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

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

11 at the end the following:

12 ‘‘(E) reduced the collection of information bur13 den on small businesses and other persons through

14 the use of electronic maintenance, submission, or

15 disclosure of information to substitute for paper

16 maintenance, submission, or disclosure of informa17 tion, including—

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

19 substitution has added to burden; and

20 ‘‘(ii) specific identification of such in21 stances relating to the Internal Revenue Serv22 ice.’’.

23 SEC. 8. EFFECTIVE DATE.

24 This Act shall take effect October 1, 1998.

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