Reducing Information Control Designations Act

Bill: 111-hr-1323
Sponsor: Rep. Driehaus, Steve [D-OH-1]
Introduced: 2009-03-05 in the House
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Administrative remedies
Competition and antitrust
Freedom of information
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government information and archives
National Archives and Records Administration

Summary:
action_date: 2009-03-05
text: 
Reducing Information Control Designations Act - Requires each federal agency to reduce and minimize its use of information control designations on information that is not classified. Defines such designations to mean information dissemination controls that are not defined by federal statute or executive order relating to the classification of national security information and that are used to manage, direct, or route information or to control the accessibility of information, regardless of its form or format. 

Requires the Archivist of the United States to promulgate regulations to address: (1) standards for the use of such designations to maximize public access to information; (2) the process for removing such designations; (3) procedures for identifying and tracking designated information; (4) provisions to minimize the use of such designations to prevent misuse and interference with competition in the private sector; and (5) a process for individuals and the public to challenge the use of such designations. 

Requires the head of each federal agency to: (1) implement the regulations promulgated by the Archivist to encourage information sharing; and (2) ensure that such designations do not determine public disclosure requirements under the Freedom of Information Act.

Requires the Inspector General of each federal agency to randomly audit and report to Congress on unclassified information with such designations to determine compliance. 

Directs the Archivist to: (1) require personal identifiers and agency affiliations of individuals applying such designations: (2) require training of such individuals; and (3) implement a program to detail federal employees to the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) to train such employees. Terminates such detail program on December 31, 2012.

action_date: 2009-03-16
text: 

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)

Reducing Information Control Designations Act - Requires each federal agency to reduce and minimize its use of information control designations on information that is not classified. Defines such designations to mean information dissemination controls that are not defined by federal statute or executive order relating to the classification of national security information and that are used to manage, direct, or route information or to control the accessibility of information, regardless of its form or format. 

Requires the Archivist of the United States to promulgate regulations to address: (1) standards for the use of such designations to maximize public access to information; (2) the process for removing such designations; (3) procedures for identifying and tracking designated information; (4) provisions to minimize the use of such designations, to prevent misuse, and prevent use to improperly interfere with competition in the private sector; and (5) a process for individuals and the public to challenge the use of such designations. 

Requires the head of each federal agency to: (1) implement the regulations promulgated by the Archivist to encourage information sharing; and (2) ensure that such designations do not determine public disclosure requirements under the Freedom of Information Act.

Requires the Inspector General of each federal agency to randomly audit and report to Congress on unclassified information with such designations to determine compliance. 

Directs the Archivist to: (1) require personal identifiers and agency affiliations of individuals applying such designations: (2) require training of such individuals; and (3) implement a program to detail federal employees to the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) to train such employees. Terminates such detail program on December 31, 2012.

Requires promulgation of final regulations and implementation of this Act's requirements within 24 months. 

action_date: 2009-03-17
text: 
Reducing Information Control Designations Act - Requires each federal agency to reduce and minimize its use of information control designations on information that is not classified. Defines such designations to mean information dissemination controls that are not defined by federal statute or executive order relating to the classification of national security information and that are used to manage, direct, or route information or to control the accessibility of information, regardless of its form or format. 

Requires the Archivist of the United States to promulgate regulations to address: (1) standards for the use of such designations to maximize public access to information; (2) the process for removing such designations; (3) procedures for identifying and tracking designated information; (4) provisions to minimize the use of such designations, to prevent misuse, and prevent use to improperly interfere with competition in the private sector; and (5) a requirement for agencies to establish a process for individuals and the public to challenge the use of such designations and penalties for repeated failures to comply with designation policies. 

Requires the head of each federal agency to: (1) implement the regulations promulgated by the Archivist to encourage information sharing; and (2) ensure that such designations do not determine public disclosure requirements under the Freedom of Information Act.

Requires the Inspector General of each federal agency to randomly audit and report to Congress on unclassified information with such designations to determine compliance. 

Directs the Archivist to: (1) require personal identifiers and agency affiliations of individuals applying such designations: (2) require training of such individuals; and (3) implement a program to detail federal employees to the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) to train such employees. Terminates such detail program on December 31, 2012.

Requires promulgation of final regulations and implementation of this Act's requirements within 24 months. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-03-18
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2009-03-17
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2009-03-17
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H3464-3465)
action_date: 2009-03-17
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H3464-3465)
action_date: 2009-03-17
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1323.
action_date: 2009-03-17
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H3464-3467)
action_date: 2009-03-17
text: Mr. Clay moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
action_date: 2009-03-16
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 11.
action_date: 2009-03-16
text: Reported by the Committee on Oversight and Government. H. Rept. 111-38.
action_date: 2009-03-16
text: Reported by the Committee on Oversight and Government. H. Rept. 111-38.
action_date: 2009-03-10
text: Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.
action_date: 2009-03-10
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2009-03-05
text: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
action_date: 2009-03-05
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-03-05
text: Introduced in House