H.R. 1557 — Introduced in House

I 113th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 1557 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES April 15, 2013 Mr. Braley of Iowa introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned A BILL To ensure clarity of regulations to improve the effectiveness of Federal regulatory programs while decreasing burdens on the regulated public. 1. Short title This Act may be referred to as the Plain Regulations Act of 2013. 2. Purpose The purpose of this Act is to improve the effectiveness and accountability of Federal agencies to the public by promoting clear regulations that are easier for the Government to implement and for the public to comply with. 3. Definitions In this Act: (1) Agency The term agency means an Executive agency, as that term is defined in section 105 of title 5, United States Code. (2) Regulation The term regulation means a rule, as that term is defined in section 551(4) of title 5, United States Code, that is issued by an agency. (3) Plain language The term plain language means language that is clear, concise, well-organized, minimizes cross references, and follows other best practices appropriate to the subject or field and intended audience. 4. Responsibilities of Federal agencies (a) Preparation for implementation of plain writing requirements for regulations (1) In general Not later than 9 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the head of each agency shall— (A) designate one or more senior officials within the agency to oversee the agency implementation of this Act; (B) communicate the requirements of this Act to the employees of the agency; (C) train employees of the agency to use plain language in developing, writing, and implementing regulations; (D) establish a process for overseeing the ongoing compliance of the agency with the requirements of this Act; and (E) serve as an agency point-of-contact to receive and respond to public input on— (i) agency implementation of this Act; and (ii) the agency reports required under section 6. (2) Persons designated Persons designated under paragraph (1)(A) or (1)(E) may be the same persons designated to carry out similar functions under the Plain Writing Act of 2010 (Public Law 111–272; 5 U.S.C. 301 note). (b) Requirement To use plain language in new and revised regulations Not later than 12 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, each agency shall use plain language in accordance with the guidance issued by the Director of the Office of Management and Budget under the Plain Writing Act of 2010 (Public Law 111–274; 5 U.S.C. 301 note) in all new and substantially revised proposed and final regulations issued by the agency. (c) Certification of compliance For each proposed or final regulation of an agency, the head of the agency or a person designated under subsection (a)(1) shall certify to the Director that the agency head has read the text of the proposed or final regulation and that it is in plain language. (d) Exemption from certain information collection provisions Agency actions to collect information from the public about a regulation are exempt from the information collection provisions of sections 3506(c) and 3507 of title 44, United States Code, if the agency head certifies that the sole reason for the information collection is to improve the clarity of the regulation under the requirements of this Act. 5. Responsibilities of Office of Management and Budget (a) Return of regulations If the Director finds that the agency did not follow the guidance issued by the Director under the Plain Writing Act of 2010 (Public Law 111–274; 5 U.S.C. 301 note) on any proposed or final regulation issued by an agency, the Director shall return the regulation to the agency to be redrafted in plain language and resubmitted to the Director for approval. (b) Publication of certifications The Director shall publish the certifications from agency heads required under section 4(c) on the official Web site of the Office of Management and Budget. 6. Reports (a) Initial report Not later than 9 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the head of each agency shall publish on the plain writing section of the agency’s Web site created under the Plain Writing Act of 2010 (Public Law 111–274; 5 U.S.C. 301 note) a report that describes the agency plan for compliance with the requirements of this Act. (b) Annual compliance report Not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the head of each agency shall publish on such plain writing section of the agency’s Web site a report on agency compliance with the requirements of this Act. 7. Judicial review and enforceability (a) Judicial review No court shall have jurisdiction to review compliance or noncompliance with any provision of this Act. (b) Enforceability No provision of this Act shall be construed to create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable by any administrative or judicial action.