44 U.S.C. § 3501 - Purposes

• Cite as: 44 U.S.C. § 3501

The purposes of this subchapter are to-

(1) minimize the paperwork burden for individuals, small businesses, educational and nonprofit institutions, Federal contractors, State, local and tribal governments, and other persons resulting from the collection of information by or for the Federal Government;

(2) ensure the greatest possible public benefit from and maximize the utility of information created, collected, maintained, used, shared and disseminated by or for the Federal Government;

(3) coordinate, integrate, and to the extent practicable and appropriate, make uniform Federal information resources management policies and practices as a means to improve the productivity, efficiency, and effectiveness of Government programs, including the reduction of information collection burdens on the public and the improvement of service delivery to the public;

(4) improve the quality and use of Federal information to strengthen decisionmaking, accountability, and openness in Government and society;

(5) minimize the cost to the Federal Government of the creation, collection, maintenance, use, dissemination, and disposition of information;

(6) strengthen the partnership between the Federal Government and State, local, and tribal governments by minimizing the burden and maximizing the utility of information created, collected, maintained, used, disseminated, and retained by or for the Federal Government;

(7) provide for the dissemination of public information on a timely basis, on equitable terms, and in a manner that promotes the utility of the information to the public and makes effective use of information technology;

(8) ensure that the creation, collection, maintenance, use, dissemination, and disposition of information by or for the Federal Government is consistent with applicable laws, including laws relating to-

(A) privacy and confidentiality, including section 552a of title 5;

(B) security of information, including section 11332 of title 40 ¹ ; and

(C) access to information, including section 552 of title 5;

(9) ensure the integrity, quality, and utility of the Federal statistical system;

(10) ensure that information technology is acquired, used, and managed to improve performance of agency missions, including the reduction of information collection burdens on the public; and

(11) improve the responsibility and accountability of the Office of Management and Budget and all other Federal agencies to Congress and to the public for implementing the information collection review process, information resources management, and related policies and guidelines established under this subchapter.

¹ See References in Text note below.

Cite as 44 U.S.C. § 3501

Source: Added Pub. L. 104-13, §2, May 22, 1995, 109 Stat. 163; amended Pub. L. 106-398, §1 [[div. A], title X, §1064(b)], Oct. 30, 2000, 114 Stat. 1654, 1654A-275; Pub. L. 107-217, §3(l)(3), Aug. 21, 2002, 116 Stat. 1301.

Notes from the Office of Law Revision Counsel

current through 5/22/2023

EDITORIAL NOTES

REFERENCES IN TEXT

Section 11332 of title 40, referred to in par. (8)(B), was repealed by Pub. L. 107-296, title X, §1005(a)(1), Nov. 25, 2002, 116 Stat. 2272, and Pub. L. 107-347, title III, §305(a), Dec. 17, 2002, 116 Stat. 2960.

PRIOR PROVISIONS

A prior section 3501, added Pub. L. 96-511, §2(a), Dec. 11, 1980, 94 Stat. 2812; amended Pub. L. 99-500, §101(m) [title VIII, §811], Oct. 18, 1986, 100 Stat. 1783-308, 1783-335, and Pub. L. 99-591, §101(m) [title VIII, §811], Oct. 30, 1986, 100 Stat. 3341-308, 3341-335, related to purposes of this chapter prior to the general amendment of this chapter by Pub. L. 104-13.

Another prior section 3501, Pub. L. 90-620, Oct. 22, 1968, 82 Stat. 1302, related to information for Federal agencies, prior to the general amendment of this chapter by Pub. L. 96-511.

AMENDMENTS

2002-Par. (8)(B). Pub. L. 107-217 substituted "section 11332 of title 40" for "the Computer Security Act of 1987 ( Public Law 100-235)".

2000- Pub. L. 106-398 substituted "subchapter" for "chapter" in introductory provisions and in par. (11).

STATUTORY NOTES AND RELATED SUBSIDIARIES

EFFECTIVE DATE OF 2000 AMENDMENT

Amendment by Pub. L. 106-398 effective 30 days after Oct. 30, 2000, see section 1 [[div. A], title X, §1065] of Pub. L. 106-398, 114 Stat. 1654, formerly set out as an Effective Date note under former section 3531 of this title.

EFFECTIVE DATE

Pub. L. 104-13, §4, May 22, 1995, 109 Stat. 185, provided that:

"(a) IN GENERAL.-Except as otherwise provided in this section, this Act [enacting this chapter, amending section 91 of Title 13, Census, and enacting provisions set out as a note under section 101 of this title] and the amendments made by this Act shall take effect on October 1, 1995.

"(b) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.-Section 3520 [now 3521] of title 44, United States Code, as amended by this Act, shall take effect on the date of enactment of this Act [May 22, 1995].

"(c) DELAYED APPLICATION.-In the case of a collection of information for which there is in effect on September 30, 1995, a control number issued by the Office of Management and Budget under chapter 35 of title 44, United States Code-

"(1) the amendments made by this Act [enacting this chapter and amending section 91 of Title 13] shall apply to the collection of information beginning on the earlier of-

"(A) the first renewal or modification of that collection of information after September 30, 1995; or

"(B) the expiration of its control number after September 30, 1995.

"(2) prior to such renewal, modification, or expiration, the collection of information shall be subject to chapter 35 of title 44, United States Code, as in effect on September 30, 1995."

SHORT TITLE

This chapter is popularly known as the "Paperwork Reduction Act".

21ST CENTURY INTEGRATED DIGITAL EXPERIENCE

Pub. L. 115-336, 132 Stat. 5025, provided that:

"SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

"This Act may be cited as the '21st Century Integrated Digital Experience Act' or the '21st Century IDEA'.

"SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

"In this Act:

"(1) DIRECTOR.-The term 'Director' means the Director of the Office of Management and Budget.

"(2) EXECUTIVE AGENCY.-The term 'executive agency' has the meaning given the term 'Executive agency' in section 105 of title 5, United States Code.

"SEC. 3. WEBSITE MODERNIZATION.

"(a) REQUIREMENTS FOR NEW WEBSITES AND DIGITAL SERVICES.-Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act [Dec. 20, 2018], an executive agency that creates a website or digital service that is intended for use by the public, or conducts a redesign of an existing legacy website or digital service that is intended for use by the public, shall ensure to the greatest extent practicable that any new or redesigned website, web-based form, web-based application, or digital service-

"(1) is accessible to individuals with disabilities in accordance with section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 ( 29 U.S.C. 794d );

"(2) has a consistent appearance;

"(3) does not overlap with or duplicate any legacy websites and, if applicable, ensure that legacy websites are regularly reviewed, eliminated, and consolidated;

"(4) contains a search function that allows users to easily search content intended for public use;

"(5) is provided through an industry standard secure connection;

"(6) is designed around user needs with data-driven analysis influencing management and development decisions, using qualitative and quantitative data to determine user goals, needs, and behaviors, and continually test the website, web-based form, web-based application, or digital service to ensure that user needs are addressed;

"(7) provides users of the new or redesigned website, web-based form, web-based application, or digital service with the option for a more customized digital experience that allows users to complete digital transactions in an efficient and accurate manner; and

"(8) is fully functional and usable on common mobile devices.

"(b) REQUIREMENTS FOR EXISTING EXECUTIVE AGENCY WEBSITES AND DIGITAL SERVICES.-Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the head of each executive agency that maintains a website or digital service that is made available to the public shall-

"(1) review each website or digital service; and

"(2) submit to Congress a report that includes-

"(A) a list of the websites and digital services maintained by the executive agency that are most viewed or utilized by the public or are otherwise important for public engagement;

"(B) from among the websites and digital services listed under subparagraph (A), a prioritization of websites and digital services that require modernization to meet the requirements under subsection (a); and

"(C) an estimation of the cost and schedule of modernizing the websites and digital services prioritized under subparagraph (B).

"(c) INTERNAL DIGITAL SERVICES.-The head of each executive agency shall ensure, to the greatest extent practicable, that any Intranet established after the date of enactment of this Act conforms to the requirements described in subsection (a).

"(d) PUBLIC REPORTING.-Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act and every year thereafter for 4 years, the head of each executive agency shall-

"(1) report annually to the Director on the progress of the executive agency in implementing the requirements described in this section for the previous year; and

"(2) include the information described in paragraph (1) in a publicly available report that is required under another provision of law.

"(e) COMPLIANCE WITH UNITED STATES WEBSITE STANDARDS.-Any website of an executive agency that is made available to the public after the date of enactment of this Act shall be in compliance with the website standards of the Technology Transformation Services of the General Services Administration.

"SEC. 4. DIGITIZATION OF GOVERNMENT SERVICES AND FORMS.

"(a) NON-DIGITAL SERVICES.-Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act [Dec. 20, 2018], the Director shall issue guidance to the head of each executive agency that establishes a process for the executive agency to-