One Hundred Fourth Congress of the United States of America

AT THE FIRST SESSION Begun and held at the City of Washington on Wednesday, the fourth day of January, one thousand nine hundred and ninety-five

An Act

To further the goals of the Paperwork Reduction Act to have Federal agencies become more responsible and publicly accountable for reducing the burden of Federal paperwork on the public, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,



SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the `Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995'.


SEC. 2. COORDINATION OF FEDERAL INFORMATION POLICY.

Chapter 35 of title 44, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:

CHAPTER 35--COORDINATION OF FEDERAL INFORMATION POLICY

Sec.

Sec. 3501. Purposes

The purposes of this chapter are to--

Sec. 3502. Definitions

As used in this chapter--

Sec. 3503. Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs

Sec. 3504. Authority and functions of Director

Sec. 3505. Assignment of tasks and deadlines

Sec. 3506. Federal agency responsibilities

Sec. 3507. Public information collection activities; submission to Director; approval and delegation

Sec. 3508. Determination of necessity for information; hearing

Before approving a proposed collection of information, the Director shall determine whether the collection of information by the agency is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility. Before making a determination the Director may give the agency and other interested persons an opportunity to be heard or to submit statements in writing. To the extent, if any, that the Director determines that the collection of information by an agency is unnecessary for any reason, the agency may not engage in the collection of information.

Sec. 3509. Designation of central collection agency

The Director may designate a central collection agency to obtain information for two or more agencies if the Director determines that the needs of such agencies for information will be adequately served by a single collection agency, and such sharing of data is not inconsistent with applicable law. In such cases the Director shall prescribe (with reference to the collection of information) the duties and functions of the collection agency so designated and of the agencies for which it is to act as agent (including reimbursement for costs). While the designation is in effect, an agency covered by the designation may not obtain for itself information for the agency which is the duty of the collection agency to obtain. The Director may modify the designation from time to time as circumstances require. The authority to designate under this section is subject to the provisions of section 3507(f) of this chapter.

Sec. 3510. Cooperation of agencies in making information available

Sec. 3511. Establishment and operation of Government Information Locator Service

Sec. 3512. Public protection

Sec. 3513. Director review of agency activities; reporting; agency response

Sec. 3514. Responsiveness to Congress

Sec. 3515. Administrative powers

Upon the request of the Director, each agency (other than an independent regulatory agency) shall, to the extent practicable, make its services, personnel, and facilities available to the Director for the performance of functions under this chapter.

Sec. 3516. Rules and regulations

The Director shall promulgate rules, regulations, or procedures necessary to exercise the authority provided by this chapter.

Sec. 3517. Consultation with other agencies and the public

Sec. 3518. Effect on existing laws and regulations

Sec. 3519. Access to information

Under the conditions and procedures prescribed in section 716 of title 31, the Director and personnel in the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs shall furnish such information as the Comptroller General may require for the discharge of the responsibilities of the Comptroller General. For the purpose of obtaining such information, the Comptroller General or representatives thereof shall have access to all books, documents, papers and records, regardless of form or format, of the Office.

Sec. 3520. Authorization of appropriations

There are authorized to be appropriated to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs to carry out the provisions of this chapter, and for no other purpose, $8,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, and 2001.'.


SEC. 3. BURDEN REDUCTION REGARDING QUARTERLY FINANCIAL REPORT PROGRAM AT BUREAU OF THE CENSUS.

Section 91 of title 13, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:


SEC. 4. EFFECTIVE DATE.

Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Vice President of the United States and President of the Senate.