DHS FOIA Efficiency Act of 2015

Bill: 114-hr-1615
Sponsor: Rep. Carter, Earl L. "Buddy" [R-GA-1]
Introduced: 2015-03-25 in the House
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Congressional oversight
Department of Homeland Security
Freedom of information
Right of privacy

Summary:
action_date: 2015-03-25
text: 

DHS FOIA Efficiency Act of 2015

 
Directs the Chief FOIA Officer of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to finalize and issue an updated regulation implementing the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), which shall include: (1) public guidance on procedures to be followed when making requests for DHS rules, opinions, orders, records, or proceedings; (2) updated guidance to the DHS components responsible for processing such requests; and (3) detailed information on fees and costs associated with, and the appeals process for, such requests.
 
Requires such Officer to: (1) identify the total annual cost to DHS of implementing FOIA, (2) develop guidance on reporting standards related to costs of processing requests, (3) identify and eliminate unnecessary and duplicative actions taken by DHS in processing requests, and (4) develop a plan to automate the processing of requests.
 
Requires the Chief Privacy Officer of DHS to update and issue guidance to the heads of each of the relevant DHS components regarding the goal of reducing the backlog in processing requests by 50% between FY2015 and FY2018.
 
Directs the Chief FOIA Officer to include: (1) in each semiannual privacy report submitted under the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 the total costs to DHS of meeting FOIA requirements for the period covered by the report and an assessment of progress made toward meeting the backlog goals, and (2) in the second semiannual privacy report for FY2016 a description of any cost savings identified and the automation plan developed.

action_date: 2015-06-11
text: 

DHS FOIA Efficiency Act of 2015

 
(Sec. 2) Directs the Chief FOIA Officer of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS):
 
 
within 90 days after enactment of this Act, to issue an updated regulation implementing the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and to identify the total annual implementation costs; 
 
to develop guidance on reporting standards related to costs of processing FOIA requests; 
 
within 120 days after enactment of this Act, to identify unnecessary and duplicative actions taken by DHS in processing such requests; 
 
to eliminate such actions within 12 months after identifying them; and 
 
within 90 days after enactment of this Act, to develop a plan to automate the processing of requests and to issue guidance to the relevant DHS components regarding the goal of reducing the backlog in processing requests by 50% between FY2015 and FY2018. 

 
Requires the regulation implementing FOIA to include: (1) public guidance on procedures to be followed when making requests for DHS rules, opinions, orders, records, or proceedings; (2) updated guidance to the DHS components for processing such requests, which may include information on automated processing; and (3) detailed information on fees and costs associated with, and on the appeals process for, requests.
 
Directs the Chief FOIA Officer to include: (1) in each semiannual privacy report submitted under the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004, the total costs to DHS of meeting FOIA requirements and assessments of progress made toward meeting backlog goals, of whether DHS has adequate staffing and other resources to address such goals, and of progress made toward automating the processing of requests; and (2) in the second semiannual privacy report for FY2016, a description of any cost savings identified from, and the plan developed for, automating the processing of requests.
 
(Sec. 3) Directs the Chief FOIA Officer to provide such plan, upon completion, to DHS components and seek written feedback regarding the extent to which each component will adopt the plan, the associated costs, and the projected time lines.

action_date: 2015-06-25
text: 
(This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the House of Representatives on June 11, 2015. The summary of that version is repeated here.)
 

DHS FOIA Efficiency Act of 2015

 
(Sec. 2) Directs the Chief FOIA Officer of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS):
 
 
within 90 days after enactment of this Act, to issue an updated regulation implementing the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and to identify the total annual implementation costs; 
 
to develop guidance on reporting standards related to costs of processing FOIA requests; 
 
within 120 days after enactment of this Act, to identify unnecessary and duplicative actions taken by DHS in processing such requests; 
 
to eliminate such actions within 12 months after identifying them; and 
 
within 90 days after enactment of this Act, to develop a plan to automate the processing of requests and to issue guidance to the relevant DHS components regarding the goal of reducing the backlog in processing requests by 50% between FY2015 and FY2018. 

 
Requires the regulation implementing FOIA to include: (1) public guidance on procedures to be followed when making requests for DHS rules, opinions, orders, records, or proceedings; (2) updated guidance to the DHS components for processing such requests, which may include information on automated processing; and (3) detailed information on fees and costs associated with, and on the appeals process for, requests.
 
Directs the Chief FOIA Officer to include: (1) in each semiannual privacy report submitted under the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004, the total costs to DHS of meeting FOIA requirements and assessments of progress made toward meeting backlog goals, of whether DHS has adequate staffing and other resources to address such goals, and of progress made toward automating the processing of requests; and (2) in the second semiannual privacy report for FY2016, a description of any cost savings identified from, and the plan developed for, automating the processing of requests.
 
(Sec. 3) Directs the Chief FOIA Officer to provide such plan, upon completion, to DHS components and seek written feedback regarding the extent to which each component will adopt the plan, the associated costs, and the projected time lines.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-07-07
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2015-06-25
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2015-06-25
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 423 - 0 (Roll no. 387). (text: CR 6/23/2015 H4570-4571)
action_date: 2015-06-25
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 423 - 0 (Roll no. 387).(text: CR 6/23/2015 H4570-4571)
action_date: 2015-06-25
text: Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H4665-4666)
action_date: 2015-06-23
text: At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
action_date: 2015-06-23
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1615.
action_date: 2015-06-23
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H4570-4572)
action_date: 2015-06-23
text: Mr. Carter (GA) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
action_date: 2015-06-11
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 106.
action_date: 2015-06-11
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Homeland Security. H. Rept. 114-148.
action_date: 2015-06-11
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Homeland Security. H. Rept. 114-148.
action_date: 2015-05-20
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
action_date: 2015-05-20
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2015-05-13
text: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended) by Voice Vote .
action_date: 2015-05-13
text: Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2015-04-07
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Oversight and Management Efficiency.
action_date: 2015-03-25
text: Referred to the House Committee on Homeland Security.
action_date: 2015-03-25
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-03-25
text: Introduced in House