I 
114TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1615 
To direct the Chief FOIA Officer of the Department of Homeland Security 
to make certain improvements in the implementation of section 552 
of title 5, United States Code (commonly known as the Freedom of 
Information Act), and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 25, 2015 
Mr. CARTER of Georgia (for himself, Mr. MCCAUL, Mr. KATKO, Mr. HURD 
of Texas, Mr. WALKER, Mr. LOUDERMILK, Ms. MCSALLY, and Mr. 
RATCLIFFE) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on Homeland Security 
A BILL 
To direct the Chief FOIA Officer of the Department of 
Homeland Security to make certain improvements in the 
implementation of section 552 of title 5, United States 
Code (commonly known as the Freedom of Information 
Act), and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘DHS FOIA Efficiency 
Act of 2015’’. 
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SEC. 2. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY FREEDOM 
OF INFORMATION ACT IMPLEMENTATION. 
(a) DEADLINE FOR UPDATING REGULATIONS.—Not 
later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this 
Act, the Chief FOIA Officer of the Department of Home-
land Security, as appointed pursuant to section 552(j) of 
title 5, United States Code, shall finalize and issue an up-
dated regulation implementing section 552 of title 5, 
United States Code (commonly known as the Freedom of 
Information Act), which shall include— 
(1) public guidance on procedures to be fol-
lowed when making requests under paragraph (1), 
(2), or (3) of section 552(a) of title 5, United States 
Code; 
(2) updated guidance to the components of the 
Department responsible for processing such re-
quests; 
(3) detailed information on fees and costs asso-
ciated with such requests; and 
(4) detailed information on the appeals process 
for such requests. 
(b) IDENTIFICATION OF COSTS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Chief 
FOIA Officer, in coordination with the Chief Finan-
cial Officer of the Department and the heads of each 
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of the relevant components of the Department, shall 
identify the total annual cost to the Department of 
implementing section 552 of title 5, United States 
Code. 
(2) GUIDANCE.—The Chief FOIA Officer shall 
develop guidance on reporting standards related to 
the direct and indirect costs to the Department asso-
ciated with the processing of requests made under 
paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) of section 552(a) of 
title 5, United States Code. 
(c) COST SAVINGS.—Not later than 120 days after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Chief FOIA 
Officer, in collaboration with the heads of each of the rel-
evant components of the Department, shall identify and 
eliminate unnecessary and duplicative actions taken by the 
Department in the course of processing requests made 
under paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) of section 552(a) of 
title 5, United States Code. 
(d) FOIA TRACKING SYSTEMS.—Not later than 90 
days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Chief 
FOIA Officer shall develop a plan to automate the proc-
essing of requests made under paragraphs (1), (2), and 
(3) of section 552(a) of title 5, United States Code to the 
Department. Such plan shall take into account the specific 
needs of each of the components of the Department re-
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sponsible for processing such requests and address re-
quired and recommended technology capabilities and ele-
ments. Such plan shall include an assessment of the costs 
and benefits associated with establishing and using elec-
tronic processing systems to process requests made under 
paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) of section 552(a) of title 5, 
United States Code. 
(e) FOIA BACKLOG.—Not later than 90 days after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Chief Privacy 
Officer of the Department, in consultation with the Chief 
FOIA Officer, shall update and issue guidance to the 
heads of each of the relevant components of the Depart-
ment regarding the goal of reducing the backlog in proc-
essing requests made under paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) 
of section 552(a) of title 5, United States Code, by 50 
percent between fiscal year 2015 and fiscal year 2018. 
(f) REPORT.— 
(1) SEMIANNUAL PRIVACY REPORT.—The Chief 
FOIA Officer shall include in each semiannual pri-
vacy report submitted under section 1062(f) of the 
Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act 
of 2004 (42 U.S.C. 2000ee–1(f)) each of the fol-
lowing: 
(A) The total costs to the Department of 
meeting the requirements of section 552 of title 
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