113 HR 2804 : ALERRT Act of 2014
U.S. House of Representatives
2014-03-04
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.
1.Short title; table of contents
(a)This Act may be cited as the Achieving Less Excess in Regulation and Requiring Transparency Act of 2014
or as the ALERRT Act of 2014
.
(b)The table of contents for this Act is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Title I—All Economic Regulations are Transparent Act
Sec. 101. Short title.
Sec. 102. Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs publication of information relating to
rules.
Title II—Regulatory Accountability Act
Sec. 201. Short title.
Sec. 202. Definitions.
Sec. 203. Rule making.
Sec. 204. Agency guidance; procedures to issue major guidance; presidential authority to issue
guidelines for issuance of guidance.
Sec. 205. Hearings; presiding employees; powers and duties; burden of proof; evidence; record as
basis of decision.
Sec. 206. Actions reviewable.
Sec. 207. Scope of review.
Sec. 208. Added definition.
Sec. 209. Effective date.
Title III—Regulatory Flexibility Improvements Act
Sec. 301. Short title.
Sec. 302. Clarification and expansion of rules covered by the Regulatory Flexibility Act.
Sec. 303. Expansion of report of regulatory agenda.
Sec. 304. Requirements providing for more detailed analyses.
Sec. 305. Repeal of waiver and delay authority; additional powers of the Chief Counsel for
Advocacy.
Sec. 306. Procedures for gathering comments.
Sec. 307. Periodic review of rules.
Sec. 308. Judicial review of compliance with the requirements of the Regulatory Flexibility Act
available after publication of the final rule.
Sec. 309. Jurisdiction of court of appeals over rules implementing the Regulatory Flexibility Act.
Sec. 310. Establishment and approval of small business concern size standards by Chief Counsel for
Advocacy.
Sec. 311. Clerical amendments.
Sec. 312. Agency preparation of guides.
Sec. 313. Comptroller General report.
Title IV—Sunshine for Regulatory Decrees and Settlements Act
Sec. 401. Short title.
Sec. 402. Definitions.
Sec. 403. Consent decree and settlement reform.
Sec. 404. Motions to modify consent decrees.
Sec. 405. Effective date.
<enum>I</enum><header>All Economic Regulations are Transparent Act</header>
<section commented="no" id="H05CDB4E2EB93491CA5746B1E623C1E68" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>101.</enum><header>Short title</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">This title may be cited as the <quote><short-title>All Economic Regulations are Transparent Act of 2014</short-title></quote> or the <quote>ALERT Act of 2014</quote>.</text>
</section><section id="HA7E61CE5CF08449AAA2B9ADFE12AAD7D"><enum>102.</enum><header>Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs publication of information relating to rules</header>
<subsection id="H728A088A2A0C4FE49EDBA35BA26EB3E8"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Amendment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Title 5, United States Code, is amended by inserting after chapter 6, the following new chapter:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H255A15126E95494CBA7D98516AAA8210" style="USC">
<chapter id="HE4F435634F02406AB2EA6FB7F1EC0FAE"><enum>6A</enum><header>Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs Publication of Information Relating to Rules</header>
<toc regeneration="no-regeneration">
<toc-entry level="section">Sec.</toc-entry>
<toc-entry level="section">651. Agency monthly submission to Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs.</toc-entry>
<toc-entry level="section">652. Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs Publications.</toc-entry>
<toc-entry level="section">653. Requirement for rules to appear in agency-specific monthly publication.</toc-entry>
<toc-entry level="section">654. Definitions.</toc-entry></toc>
<section id="H2AC16C33143F4CB182D96EB2687304CE"><enum>651.</enum><header>Agency monthly submission to Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">On a monthly basis, the head of each agency shall submit to the Administrator of the Office of
Information and Regulatory Affairs (referred to in this chapter as the <quote>Administrator</quote>), in such a manner as the Administrator may reasonably require, the following information:</text>
<paragraph id="H9A867C8CA4544E4BBE9745A710B594B0"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">For each rule that the agency expects to propose or finalize during the following year:</text>
<subparagraph id="HD93697BE20574B148B7EBE6F1C8D7295"><enum>(A)</enum><text>A summary of the nature of the rule, including the regulation identifier number and the docket
number for the rule.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H6A514E6FFD3942AF8CAFA78610F69BED"><enum>(B)</enum><text>The objectives of and legal basis for the issuance of the rule, including—</text>
<clause id="H4D5F83D16A914B24BE1BE18FAD8993F8"><enum>(i)</enum><text>any statutory or judicial deadline; and</text>
</clause><clause id="HFCFE5CF925F84679B6E781D3C2DB3F27"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>whether the legal basis restricts or precludes the agency from conducting an analysis of the costs
or benefits of the rule during the rule making, and if not, whether the
agency plans to conduct an analysis of the costs or benefits of the rule
during the rule making.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H26410D1D2FE64F60810384E87C4D499D"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Whether the agency plans to claim an exemption from the requirements of section 553 pursuant to
section 553(b)(B).</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H182B9F6AF3A040E88986BBADBA9ED9F8"><enum>(D)</enum><text>The stage of the rule making as of the date of submission.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H6C7CD31276BC4524911318E7BC7C7B11"><enum>(E)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Whether the rule is subject to review under section 610.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HA3C10C83F62F45708D629AE7EE607697"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">For any rule for which the agency expects to finalize during the following year and has issued a
general notice of proposed rule making—</text>
<subparagraph id="H8DDC949E9E474AC493BE8FED75BC96BF"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">an approximate schedule for completing action on the rule;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HB1D1F33F29774D4286036D1B40062F5F"><enum>(B)</enum><text>an estimate of whether the rule will cost—</text>
<clause id="H69DFA4E2B4F842BDAC1EB332114B611B"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">less than $50,000,000;</text>
</clause><clause id="HAFC1D3765BCA4870944377529F731642"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>$50,000,000 or more but less than $100,000,000;</text>
</clause><clause id="H23E3DB9F75B649658E07E30F8540934B"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>$100,000,000 or more but less than $500,000,000;</text>
</clause><clause id="H324078F509814884974DE379454F3825"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>$500,000,000 or more but less than $1,000,000,000;</text>
</clause><clause id="HF5827AEE0E944B6FB991F3BB6966F89E"><enum>(v)</enum><text>$1,000,000,000 or more but less than $5,000,000,000;</text>
</clause><clause id="H6EFD66F0022E4DFFA526AB047F3B82C3"><enum>(vi)</enum><text>$5,000,000,000 or more but less than $10,000,000,000; or</text>
</clause><clause id="H1544A9D1C8B34F16A7943FA6A8FE71D3"><enum>(vii)</enum><text>$10,000,000,000 or more; and</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H2B745300A82C40998A67C456ED5BC085"><enum>(C)</enum><text>any estimate of the economic effects of the rule, including any estimate of the net effect that the
rule will have on the number of jobs in the United States, that was
considered in drafting the rule. If such estimate is not available, a
statement affirming that no information on the economic effects, including
the effect on the number of jobs, of the rule has been considered.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></section><section id="HB485042506D84DBF93790388527C7CEC"><enum>652.</enum><header>Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs Publications</header>
<subsection id="HD551B08F60CF4856BC2D40172CD0918E"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Agency-Specific information published monthly</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 30 days after the submission of information pursuant to section 651, the
Administrator shall make such information publicly available on the
Internet.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H088245561AFE44CF83014E19B855085A"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Cumulative assessment of agency rule making published annually</header>
<paragraph id="H681B87E0AD0648928A1BE8F115053A19"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Publication in the Federal Register</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than October 1 of each year, the Administrator shall publish in the Federal Register, for
the previous year the following:</text>
<subparagraph id="HAADCA901DF5A409ABFE30D458AF2D06C"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The information that the Administrator received from the head of each agency under section 651.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H1948072DBC46463BB5C4E1AE2903B5C2"><enum>(B)</enum><text>The number of rules and a list of each such rule—</text>
<clause id="H413432148E38441B9C3EB91B86C3BFA5"><enum>(i)</enum><text>that was proposed by each agency, including, for each such rule, an indication of whether the
issuing agency conducted an analysis of the costs or benefits of the rule;
and</text>
</clause><clause id="H55397BDDD8574464BD1827D6C54C1E67"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>that was finalized by each agency, including for each such rule an indication of whether—</text>
<subclause id="HB5A2363C5A0D419A8E3FCEB372CB0EF3"><enum>(I)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the issuing agency conducted an analysis of the costs or benefits of the rule;</text>
</subclause><subclause id="HC2A01586D3CE403EA4D870D39389F22A"><enum>(II)</enum><text>the agency claimed an exemption from the procedures under section 553 pursuant to section
553(b)(B); and</text>
</subclause><subclause id="HC7D5BE14AEE04662A27B99019601AAA0"><enum>(III)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the rule was issued pursuant to a statutory mandate or the rule making is committed to agency
discretion by law.</text>
</subclause></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HF213E3B588FB4F3884206C0486CB3BA2"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The number of agency actions and a list of each such action taken by each agency that—</text>
<clause id="H10E652868EE04FA39B80A19C0618FF0E"><enum>(i)</enum><text>repealed a rule;</text>
</clause><clause id="HF9B08872736A4D9093DA39BE6A870255"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>reduced the scope of a rule;</text>
</clause><clause id="H934413C739284423A69F8964EA944CFC"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>reduced the cost of a rule; or</text>
</clause><clause id="H0BACA5CB598B4B9E8A90D12E27BE221F"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>accelerated the expiration date of a rule.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H1BFF84CAC1FE46FC8EAA62ADD9DD6706"><enum>(D)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The total cost (without reducing the cost by any offsetting benefits) of all rules proposed or
finalized, and the number of rules for which an estimate of the cost of
the rule was not available.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HACAA8C9A0EA6424494886C792026C26E"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Publication on the Internet</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than October 1 of each year, the Administrator shall make publicly available on the
Internet the following:</text>
<subparagraph id="H1B679561897C45768B6A0B42B1C51CEB"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The analysis of the costs or benefits, if conducted, for each proposed rule or final rule issued by
an agency for the previous year.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H80BCA8BB35344C34852ED0B8A8C20CDC"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The docket number and regulation identifier number for each proposed or final rule issued by an
agency for the previous year.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H098C150B52694A5B8C95311EDF995C38"><enum>(C)</enum><text>The number of rules and a list of each such rule reviewed by the Director of the Office of
Management and Budget for the previous year, and the authority under which
each such review was conducted.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H941F08EF44734BF996093947D4444D14"><enum>(D)</enum><text>The number of rules and a list of each such rule for which the head of an agency completed a review
under section 610 for the previous year.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HA0296A1D8390475B8F10C03F3E0370CC"><enum>(E)</enum><text>The number of rules and a list of each such rule submitted to the Comptroller General under section
801.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H4135319CB1124DB3BA310571AABD0616"><enum>(F)</enum><text>The number of rules and a list of each such rule for which a resolution of disapproval was
introduced in either the House of Representatives or the Senate under
section 802.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="H7030B6265E6F45EC8D5859AB993A25D5"><enum>653.</enum><header>Requirement for rules to appear in agency-specific monthly publication</header>
<subsection id="H021F5D9859334610995A8522DADCC19C"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Subject to subsection (b), a rule may not take effect until the information required to be made
publicly available on the Internet regarding such rule pursuant to section
652(a) has been so available for not less than 6 months.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H80917682FDBA46809B3EF7E4E6DB0E1D"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Exceptions</header><text>The requirement of subsection (a) shall not apply in the case of a rule—</text>
<paragraph id="HFBF7B7A9211C4AB2BFDEA6E1536D6ACE"><enum>(1)</enum><text>for which the agency issuing the rule claims an exception under section 553(b)(B); or</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H21F28C8109534D5EB6C6CAE7DD04B9E4"><enum>(2)</enum><text>which the President determines by Executive order should take effect because the rule is—</text>
<subparagraph id="HB520229631D242F0B31CA8E1881A1A0C"><enum>(A)</enum><text>necessary because of an imminent threat to health or safety or other emergency;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HE3F602F8B0CC45B1B10F11F99209FA12"><enum>(B)</enum><text>necessary for the enforcement of criminal laws;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H7F3E9E4BFBB44C56B31BF386F5E2AFC1"><enum>(C)</enum><text>necessary for national security; or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H66BF3967999D435AB6450389FF7B3789"><enum>(D)</enum><text>issued pursuant to any statute implementing an international trade agreement.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="H9F76BAD0B239420C8B4700F03C44384B"><enum>654.</enum><header>Definitions</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">In this chapter, the terms <term>agency</term>, <term>agency action</term>, <term>rule</term>, and <term>rule making</term> have the meanings given those terms in section 551.</text></section></chapter><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" id="H8E838CBD859D40F8B215DC8618C05DC4"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Technical and conforming amendment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The table of chapters for part I of title 5, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the
item relating to chapter 5, the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HB0FC9BF9BAAA4893AEE4E926CF001C31" style="USC">
<toc regeneration="no-regeneration">
<multi-column-toc-entry level="chapter"><toc-enum>6. </toc-enum><level-header level="chapter">The Analysis of Regulatory Functions</level-header><target>601</target></multi-column-toc-entry>
<multi-column-toc-entry level="chapter"><toc-enum>6A. </toc-enum><level-header level="chapter">Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs Publication of Information Relating to Rules</level-header><target>651</target></multi-column-toc-entry></toc><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection id="HD5ACC00E5DED4412B488FD3E4E522601"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Effective dates</header>
<paragraph id="HA057A1738A064CFD8E43526D07786CF7"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Agency monthly submission to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs</header><text>The first submission required pursuant to <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/5/651">section 651</external-xref> of title 5, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), shall be submitted not later than 30
days after the date of the enactment of this title, and monthly
thereafter.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H793044D4B14E494DA341D6DBF7A1F95C"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Cumulative assessment of agency rule making</header>
<subparagraph id="H55380A4FC10B421CABBE2A963A3BE799"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Subsection (b) of <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/5/652">section 652</external-xref> of title 5, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), shall take effect on the date that is
60 days after the date of the enactment of this title.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HBA2CB8EA2CF142F5B5A36A30CBA1533F"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Deadline</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The first requirement to publish or make available, as the case may be, under subsection (b) of <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/5/652">section 652</external-xref> of title 5, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), shall be the first October 1 after the
effective date of such subsection.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HEDCAA330F2D24B08899120BB304F882B"><enum>(C)</enum><header>First publication</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The requirement under <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/5/652">section 652(b)(2)(A)</external-xref> of title 5, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), shall include for the first
publication, any analysis of the costs or benefits conducted for a
proposed or final rule, for the 10 years before the date of the enactment
of this title.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H7FCD9058B9C047B9A53FE11096426E2D"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Requirement for rules to appear in agency-specific monthly publication</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline"><external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/5/653">Section 653</external-xref> of title 5, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), shall take effect on the date that is
8 months after the date of the enactment of this title.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><enum>II</enum><header>Regulatory Accountability Act</header>
<section id="HC792ACF1C44E434DB46786E80CF0CCD1" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>201.</enum><header>Short title</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">This title may be cited as the <quote><short-title>Regulatory Accountability Act of 2014</short-title></quote>.</text>
</section><section id="H0EF6DE246FB14D33B4A513AC11B8E017"><enum>202.</enum><header>Definitions</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline"><external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/5/551">Section 551</external-xref> of title 5, United States Code, is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="H386716BA26EF44AD90F619577332C1E6"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in paragraph (13), by striking <quote>and</quote> at the end;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HD545F6D9C0774AAE985DE2A2A180F599"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in paragraph (14), by striking the period at the end and inserting a semicolon; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H059C3C4953714456A41D0E311E273E44"><enum>(3)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block id="H58FFFB81137C4FD3B0AF0F942EF4F651" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="H28558D063D2740D5A792C7A5AAC4CE6B"><enum>(15)</enum><text><term>major rule</term> means any rule that the Administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs
determines is likely to impose—</text>
<subparagraph id="H69FE2DD2FDE54DF3AA9C88622CC5E173"><enum>(A)</enum><text>an annual cost on the economy of $100,000,000 or more, adjusted annually for inflation;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H5FA4A39037AA447682A54286114AE48E"><enum>(B)</enum><text>a major increase in costs or prices for consumers, individual industries, Federal, State, local, or
tribal government agencies, or geographic regions;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HC39DEBF8745640CEA8955F53684828A3"><enum>(C)</enum><text>significant adverse effects on competition, employment, investment, productivity, innovation, or on
the ability of United States-based enterprises to compete with
foreign-based enterprises in domestic and export markets; or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H3EE8CA3E73A747F9A73AF223E7277D8B"><enum>(D)</enum><text>significant impacts on multiple sectors of the economy;</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H256934EC13FC436E8219B24E1492B864"><enum>(16)</enum><text><term>high-impact rule</term> means any rule that the Administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs
determines is likely to impose an annual cost on the economy of
$1,000,000,000 or more, adjusted annually for inflation;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H1143E38697234037AFB3E6A890834BCE"><enum>(17)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline"><quote>negative-impact on jobs and wages rule</quote> means any rule that the agency that made the rule or the Administrator of the Office of
Information and Regulatory Affairs determines is likely to—</text>
<subparagraph id="H31F0C1AC75EF4CAA9372F816EE01EB51"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in one or more sectors of the economy that has a 6-digit code under the North American Industry
Classification System, reduce employment not related to new regulatory
compliance by 1 percent or more annually during the 1-year, 5-year, or
10-year period after implementation;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H8C5875A2A04547C1BDEB4D3DB3BF0FC0"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in one or more sectors of the economy that has a 6-digit code under the North American Industry
Classification System, reduce average weekly wages for employment not
related to new regulatory compliance by 1 percent or more annually during
the 1-year, 5-year, or 10-year period after implementation;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HFBC88CC42C0C4E3C94449D0801A1B2F6"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in any industry area (as such term is defined in the Current Population Survey conducted by the
Bureau of Labor Statistics) in which the most recent annual unemployment
rate for the industry area is greater than 5 percent, as determined by the
Bureau of Labor Statistics in the Current Population Survey, reduce
employment not related to new regulatory compliance during the first year
after implementation; or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H9D8E3E79B05B4D73A3804478991F53A3"><enum>(D)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in any industry area in which the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects in the Occupational
Employment Statistics program that the employment level will decrease by 1
percent or more, further reduce employment not related to new regulatory
compliance during the first year after implementation;</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H51F30254637C4069885B9267F2EC1BAB"><enum>(18)</enum><text><term>guidance</term> means an agency statement of general applicability and future effect, other than a regulatory
action, that sets forth a policy on a statutory, regulatory or technical
issue or an interpretation of a statutory or regulatory issue;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H50510D8D938B444FBEBF840D570EEFEB"><enum>(19)</enum><text><term>major guidance</term> means guidance that the Administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs finds is
likely to lead to—</text>
<subparagraph id="H4190222E51A7458EA689C75726CD0F00"><enum>(A)</enum><text>an annual cost on the economy of $100,000,000 or more, adjusted annually for inflation;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H66530732AF7F427999A1B4835068AC4A"><enum>(B)</enum><text>a major increase in costs or prices for consumers, individual industries, Federal, State, local or
tribal government agencies, or geographic regions;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H67970BC2676248EA82D513A2EDF45AB5"><enum>(C)</enum><text>significant adverse effects on competition, employment, investment, productivity, innovation, or on
the ability of United States-based enterprises to compete with
foreign-based enterprises in domestic and export markets; or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HDF45F6A93B9C453A95A6598E583BC409"><enum>(D)</enum><text>significant impacts on multiple sectors of the economy;</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HC21DC8E722E942DDAD8AD335750529A5"><enum>(20)</enum><text>the <term>Information Quality Act</term> means section 515 of <external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/106/554">Public Law 106–554</external-xref>, the Treasury and General Government Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2001, and guidelines
issued by the Administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory
Affairs or other agencies pursuant to the Act; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HA2E876AFC8724D74B7E76823F0C5259F"><enum>(21)</enum><text>the <term>Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs</term> means the office established under section 3503 of <external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/44/35">chapter 35</external-xref> of title 44 and any successor to that office.</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></section><section id="H734D7ADE0A1144F98CC06B11E8D57D9B"><enum>203.</enum><header>Rule making</header>
<subsection id="HB523DC404D614CF997555235336D6005"><enum>(a)</enum><text><external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/5/553">Section 553(a)</external-xref> of title 5, United States Code, is amended by striking <quote>(a) This section applies</quote> and inserting <quote>(a) <header-in-text level="subsection" style="OLC">Applicability</header-in-text>.—This section applies</quote>.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HA2A7CD45DBC44A34B93DEF63A203C501"><enum>(b)</enum><text><external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/5/553">Section 553</external-xref> of title 5, United States Code, is amended by striking subsections (b) through (e) and inserting
the following:</text>
<quoted-block id="HE5861FCECCC74D0EAFF8B92D6E8E3497" style="OLC">
<subsection id="H4B58763E89DF4225B5C8BBD27B1DC2E6"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Rule making considerations</header><text>In a rule making, an agency shall make all preliminary and final factual determinations based on
evidence and consider, in addition to other applicable considerations, the
following:</text>
<paragraph id="H86C293E1FC07448BA15872BC5AEB12A1"><enum>(1)</enum><text>The legal authority under which a rule may be proposed, including whether a rule making is required
by statute, and if so, whether by a specific date, or whether the agency
has discretion to commence a rule making.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H9CABB5E617BD405E9D7A122A9B9FDB2C"><enum>(2)</enum><text>Other statutory considerations applicable to whether the agency can or should propose a rule or
undertake other agency action.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H75519B32B6D74437AB9941CE802DF3B3"><enum>(3)</enum><text>The specific nature and significance of the problem the agency may address with a rule (including
the degree and nature of risks the problem poses and the priority of
addressing those risks compared to other matters or activities within the
agency’s jurisdiction), whether the problem warrants new agency action,
and the countervailing risks that may be posed by alternatives for new
agency action.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H36B5434A2BB84CB09253A3DF5ED3E13B"><enum>(4)</enum><text>Whether existing rules have created or contributed to the problem the agency may address with a
rule and whether those rules could be amended or rescinded to address the
problem in whole or part.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HAB5B98CE3FFB4523A0725AE135D5F91B"><enum>(5)</enum><text>Any reasonable alternatives for a new rule or other response identified by the agency or interested
persons, including not only responses that mandate particular conduct or
manners of compliance, but also—</text>
<subparagraph id="H67E62DBD10BF4F7CAFC03D2B4E12C172"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the alternative of no Federal response;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HBAE3A119F49D4055BC9C9F7F8D0EBFCC"><enum>(B)</enum><text>amending or rescinding existing rules;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H2C7F893D3FAF406A877914E6A1B79B2C"><enum>(C)</enum><text>potential regional, State, local, or tribal regulatory action or other responses that could be
taken in lieu of agency action; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H11E955D94C2246E09AE99DEFFA65D7E6"><enum>(D)</enum><text>potential responses that—</text>
<clause id="H3572440E869346BDB74CC4F833EB8551"><enum>(i)</enum><text>specify performance objectives rather than conduct or manners of compliance;</text>
</clause><clause id="HD70EF0F0A5154780BF306FE229F62992"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>establish economic incentives to encourage desired behavior;</text>
</clause><clause id="HB829079E820E4134925156C24E6236BB"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>provide information upon which choices can be made by the public; or</text>
</clause><clause id="HE560C9C941BE47A4BA83D524E663C0F6"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>incorporate other innovative alternatives rather than agency actions that specify conduct or
manners of compliance.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H2991C3935F864F43ADE937810E9EFC1E"><enum>(6)</enum><text>Notwithstanding any other provision of law—</text>
<subparagraph id="H7D601B05BD914E709C7666E6BEEE9FC3"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the potential costs and benefits associated with potential alternative rules and other responses
considered under section 553(b)(5), including direct, indirect, and
cumulative costs and benefits and estimated impacts on jobs (including an
estimate of the net gain or loss in domestic jobs), wages, economic
growth, innovation, and economic competitiveness;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HBBF4CF6645A04113A0C2096ACD41CE13"><enum>(B)</enum><text>means to increase the cost-effectiveness of any Federal response; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HBC0F41F8C26340118549EF6E2C635D71"><enum>(C)</enum><text>incentives for innovation, consistency, predictability, lower costs of enforcement and compliance
(to government entities, regulated entities, and the public), and
flexibility.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H505D088EDA9C445B91E6BF381B6B24A4"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Advance notice of proposed rule making for major rules, high-Impact rules, negative-Impact on jobs
and wages rules, and rules involving novel legal or policy issues</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In the case of a rule making for a major rule, a high-impact rule, a negative-impact on jobs and
wages rule, or a rule that involves a novel legal or policy issue arising
out of statutory mandates, not later than 90 days before a notice of
proposed rule making is published in the Federal Register, an agency shall
publish advance notice of proposed rule making in the Federal Register. In
publishing such advance notice, the agency shall—</text>
<paragraph id="HE36507EE20A244D3A888A882D61DE6C0"><enum>(1)</enum><text>include a written statement identifying, at a minimum—</text>
<subparagraph id="H95B07DCD34414333BBA3EB0ECC891C26"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the nature and significance of the problem the agency may address with a rule, including data and
other evidence and information on which the agency expects to rely for the
proposed rule;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HFF511499E87B4CDA8841E60AFB6D5338"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the legal authority under which a rule may be proposed, including whether a rule making is required
by statute, and if so, whether by a specific date, or whether the agency
has discretion to commence a rule making;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HC0BCCC0803254D84BD585ACC3B698ADE"><enum>(C)</enum><text>preliminary information available to the agency concerning the other considerations specified in
subsection (b);</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H10425789CF2D448CB244A6890F276236"><enum>(D)</enum><text>in the case of a rule that involves a novel legal or policy issue arising out of statutory
mandates, the nature of and potential reasons to adopt the novel legal or
policy position upon which the agency may base a proposed rule; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H23369A5261A247EFA15E5A5933800E0B"><enum>(E)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">an achievable objective for the rule and metrics by which the agency will measure progress toward
that objective;</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H34DF6BBAB86944DCAB23E95836DC25F8"><enum>(2)</enum><text>solicit written data, views or argument from interested persons concerning the information and
issues addressed in the advance notice; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HEBA03015BF2840F9B363BCF4F75A9F18"><enum>(3)</enum><text>provide for a period of not fewer than 60 days for interested persons to submit such written data,
views, or argument to the agency.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HEB4F166D23034178B0950EA17056EE74"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Notices of proposed rule making; determinations of other agency course</header>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="H8FA5BD29C84E4B3AA899F82780CF0446"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Before it determines to propose a rule, and following completion of procedures under subsection
(c), if applicable, the agency shall consult with the Administrator of the
Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs. If the agency thereafter
determines to propose a rule, the agency shall publish a notice of
proposed rule making, which shall include—</text>
<subparagraph id="HF0A1015BA0D045CC82757FE76BDAB6B6" indent="up1"><enum>(A)</enum><text>a statement of the time, place, and nature of public rule making proceedings;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HD3116F7C156E4B49BA06EA13679DA635" indent="up1"><enum>(B)</enum><text>reference to the legal authority under which the rule is proposed;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HB093FC2493F347B18FE3B181F0BF2D30" indent="up1"><enum>(C)</enum><text>the terms of the proposed rule;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HB088C38CDE834AE1903C1AC9A696C372" indent="up1"><enum>(D)</enum><text>a description of information known to the agency on the subject and issues of the proposed rule,
including but not limited to—</text>
<clause id="H62E1339D5B8840159DC1CD1A8A393054"><enum>(i)</enum><text>a summary of information known to the agency concerning the considerations specified in subsection
(b);</text>
</clause><clause id="H9AC18A76853C4D74A287481F5ECEC08F"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>a summary of additional information the agency provided to and obtained from interested persons
under subsection (c);</text>
</clause><clause id="H44A6D546F43240D8AC20E41205607411"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>a summary of any preliminary risk assessment or regulatory impact analysis performed by the agency;
and</text>
</clause><clause id="H006A5D5C8150402E9FA81DE07ABEE930"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>information specifically identifying all data, studies, models, and other evidence or information
considered or used by the agency in connection with its determination to
propose the rule;</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HDE03DB0F0AB4442095072334CF065919" indent="up1"><enum>(E)</enum>
<clause commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="H2424E2B985294C60943A6BEE2C2E97FD"><enum>(i)</enum><text>a reasoned preliminary determination of need for the rule based on the information described under
subparagraph (D);</text>
</clause><clause id="HD9FA44E724E0465DB0579CF85ACEBCB2" indent="up1"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>an additional statement of whether a rule is required by statute; and</text>
</clause><clause id="H50762030E41B461B81A27DDF17D37782" indent="up1"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>an achievable objective for the rule and metrics by which the agency will measure progress toward
that objective;</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HA173597B8D684161B4B9D72E4557AE74" indent="up1"><enum>(F)</enum><text>a reasoned preliminary determination that the benefits of the proposed rule meet the relevant
statutory objectives and justify the costs of the proposed rule (including
all costs to be considered under subsection (b)(6)), based on the
information described under subparagraph (D);</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H68DC3C72F86A413D8CDD7F2A25C0F959" indent="up1"><enum>(G)</enum><text>a discussion of—</text>
<clause id="H30BFD26143CB488CA5CE4335BE370548"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the alternatives to the proposed rule, and other alternative responses, considered by the agency
under subsection (b);</text>
</clause><clause id="HA4034D5E0A1A4D9AA2CCB05B1BEB1E7A"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the costs and benefits of those alternatives (including all costs to be considered under subsection
(b)(6));</text>
</clause><clause id="HCB665C52644E448EAAC034349A4850F4"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>whether those alternatives meet relevant statutory objectives; and</text>
</clause><clause id="H7444B6E4CB3E4212A7E14917D44829EF"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>why the agency did not propose any of those alternatives; and</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H5410678223CD4CA98C01F8C49975611C" indent="up1"><enum>(H)</enum>
<clause commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="H53F573EA5AC0490BBD829FD6E92D701F"><enum>(i)</enum><text>a statement of whether existing rules have created or contributed to the problem the agency seeks
to address with the proposed rule; and</text>
</clause><clause id="H61A2759046E04B05AB3D323E7EF051E7" indent="up1"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>if so, whether or not the agency proposes to amend or rescind any such rules, and why.</text></clause></subparagraph><continuation-text continuation-text-level="paragraph" indent="subsection">All information provided to or considered by the agency, and steps to obtain information by the
agency, in connection with its determination to propose the rule,
including any preliminary risk assessment or regulatory impact analysis
prepared by the agency and all other information prepared or described by
the agency under subparagraph (D) and, at the discretion of the President
or the Administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs,
information provided by that Office in consultations with the agency,
shall be placed in the docket for the proposed rule and made accessible to
the public by electronic means and otherwise for the public’s use when the
notice of proposed rule making is published.</continuation-text></paragraph><paragraph id="HF56FDE24565F4EB0BD9B59F9CA293FE2" indent="up1"><enum>(2)</enum>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="H01250FE5E9054A83A28A33EA0154D084"><enum>(A)</enum><text>If the agency undertakes procedures under subsection (c) and determines thereafter not to propose a
rule, the agency shall, following consultation with the Office of
Information and Regulatory Affairs, publish a notice of determination of
other agency course. A notice of determination of other agency course
shall include information required by paragraph (1)(D) to be included in a
notice of proposed rule making and a description of the alternative
response the agency determined to adopt.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H78CBE0D044C74EF4A5B21C681C82CAED" indent="up1"><enum>(B)</enum><text>If in its determination of other agency course the agency makes a determination to amend or rescind
an existing rule, the agency need not undertake additional proceedings
under subsection (c) before it publishes a notice of proposed rule making
to amend or rescind the existing rule.</text></subparagraph><continuation-text continuation-text-level="paragraph">All information provided to or considered by the agency, and steps to obtain information by the
agency, in connection with its determination of other agency course,
including but not limited to any preliminary risk assessment or regulatory
impact analysis prepared by the agency and all other information that
would be required to be prepared or described by the agency under
paragraph (1)(D) if the agency had determined to publish a notice of
proposed rule making and, at the discretion of the President or the
Administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs,
information provided by that Office in consultations with the agency,
shall be placed in the docket for the determination and made accessible to
the public by electronic means and otherwise for the public’s use when the
notice of determination is published.</continuation-text></paragraph><paragraph id="HCE204C37A2484D2883610038B175C20D" indent="up1"><enum>(3)</enum><text>After notice of proposed rule making required by this section, the agency shall provide interested
persons an opportunity to participate in the rule making through
submission of written data, views, or arguments with or without
opportunity for oral presentation, except that—</text>
<subparagraph id="H20112119E10143839C91B2CEDD64B323"><enum>(A)</enum><text>if a hearing is required under paragraph (4)(B) or subsection (e), opportunity for oral
presentation shall be provided pursuant to that requirement; or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H8FA533B5A4C64039918024159E5DB010"><enum>(B)</enum><text>when other than under subsection (e) of this section rules are required by statute or at the
discretion of the agency to be made on the record after opportunity for an
agency hearing, sections 556 and 557 shall apply, and paragraph (4), the
requirements of subsection (e) to receive comment outside of the
procedures of sections 556 and 557, and the petition procedures of
subsection (e)(6) shall not apply.</text></subparagraph><continuation-text continuation-text-level="paragraph">The agency shall provide not fewer than 60 days for interested persons to submit written data,
views, or argument (or 120 days in the case of a proposed major or
high-impact rule).</continuation-text></paragraph><paragraph id="HCB3BE9283B91458C90D33CBD9E078199" indent="up1"><enum>(4)</enum>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="HD88F36C7C39D454DAA4899BD9789B20B"><enum>(A)</enum><text>Within 30 days of publication of notice of proposed rule making, a member of the public may
petition for a hearing in accordance with section 556 to determine whether
any evidence or other information upon which the agency bases the proposed
rule fails to comply with the Information Quality Act.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HBFCB80B853B5434597B6ECD18F2A7F34" indent="up1"><enum>(B)</enum>
<clause commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="H4CDAE3606A094B87822255E8A3497F48"><enum>(i)</enum><text>The agency may, upon review of the petition, determine without further process to exclude from the
rule making the evidence or other information that is the subject of the
petition and, if appropriate, withdraw the proposed rule. The agency shall
promptly publish any such determination.</text>
</clause><clause id="HD64FD4F954294DEE9A056D19088D5E1C" indent="up1"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>If the agency does not resolve the petition under the procedures of clause (i), it shall grant any
such petition that presents a prima facie case that evidence or other
information upon which the agency bases the proposed rule fails to comply
with the Information Quality Act, hold the requested hearing not later
than 30 days after receipt of the petition, provide a reasonable
opportunity for cross-examination at the hearing, and decide the issues
presented by the petition not later than 60 days after receipt of the
petition. The agency may deny any petition that it determines does not
present such a prima facie case.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H922CA9A868994504831006415778DA09" indent="up1"><enum>(C)</enum><text>There shall be no judicial review of the agency’s disposition of issues considered and decided or
determined under subparagraph (B)(ii) until judicial review of the
agency’s final action. There shall be no judicial review of an agency’s
determination to withdraw a proposed rule under subparagraph (B)(i) on the
basis of the petition.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HE4BF4077B72E46C2B090628357FDF484" indent="up1"><enum>(D)</enum><text>Failure to petition for a hearing under this paragraph shall not preclude judicial review of any
claim based on the Information Quality Act under chapter 7 of this title.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HCB645C5BEF864319A8B9B32A75AA4873"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Hearings for high-Impact rules</header><text>Following notice of a proposed rule making, receipt of comments on the proposed rule, and any
hearing held under subsection (d)(4), and before adoption of any
high-impact rule, the agency shall hold a hearing in accordance with
sections 556 and 557, unless such hearing is waived by all participants in
the rule making other than the agency. The agency shall provide a
reasonable opportunity for cross-examination at such hearing. The hearing
shall be limited to the following issues of fact, except that participants
at the hearing other than the agency may waive determination of any such
issue:</text>
<paragraph id="HCDF2CEEDAFD34490BFFD5B818DC066EA"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Whether the agency’s asserted factual predicate for the rule is supported by the evidence.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H68C3DEF4C8364A2DA8D5EAC587BC97D9"><enum>(2)</enum><text>Whether there is an alternative to the proposed rule that would achieve the relevant statutory
objectives at a lower cost (including all costs to be considered under
subsection (b)(6)) than the proposed rule.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H9CC01B1DCE05486A93F08DCDCB6629C7"><enum>(3)</enum><text>If there is more than one alternative to the proposed rule that would achieve the relevant
statutory objectives at a lower cost than the proposed rule, which
alternative would achieve the relevant statutory objectives at the lowest
cost.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H5B14FA885AE644509314C7E8A84186DC"><enum>(4)</enum><text>Whether, if the agency proposes to adopt a rule that is more costly than the least costly
alternative that would achieve the relevant statutory objectives
(including all costs to be considered under subsection (b)(6)), the
additional benefits of the more costly rule exceed the additional costs of
the more costly rule.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H617A8A640BA5489BBF169FD52E9012FC"><enum>(5)</enum><text>Whether the evidence and other information upon which the agency bases the proposed rule meets the
requirements of the Information Quality Act.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H69C74F64273C470F98432E55DB8E6417"><enum>(6)</enum><text>Upon petition by an interested person who has participated in the rule making, other issues
relevant to the rule making, unless the agency determines that
consideration of the issues at the hearing would not advance consideration
of the rule or would, in light of the nature of the need for agency
action, unreasonably delay completion of the rule making. An agency shall
grant or deny a petition under this paragraph within 30 days of its
receipt of the petition.</text></paragraph><continuation-text continuation-text-level="subsection">No later than 45 days before any hearing held under this subsection or sections 556 and 557, the
agency shall publish in the Federal Register a notice specifying the
proposed rule to be considered at such hearing, the issues to be
considered at the hearing, and the time and place for such hearing, except
that such notice may be issued not later than 15 days before a hearing
held under subsection (d)(4)(B).</continuation-text></subsection><subsection id="H6097F1220CEA4242A04671F2ABC7604C"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Final rules</header>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="H1C869C8E16AE4A7580F11AF5AE378921"><enum>(1)</enum><text>The agency shall adopt a rule only following consultation with the Administrator of the Office of
Information and Regulatory Affairs to facilitate compliance with
applicable rule making requirements.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H6A6B0EAC30E9465C99D9B3BF99F0A1C9" indent="up1"><enum>(2)</enum><text>The agency shall adopt a rule only on the basis of the best reasonably obtainable scientific,
technical, economic, and other evidence and information concerning the
need for, consequences of, and alternatives to the rule.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H8B508805C56E44E68C4465CBD64A4ACD" indent="up1"><enum>(3)</enum>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="H829F4AD5595E4F369E0947C76E04FDD6"><enum>(A)</enum><text>Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the agency shall adopt the least costly rule considered
during the rule making (including all costs to be considered under
subsection (b)(6)) that meets relevant statutory objectives.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H6EE250B08A414E5CA6C48068202D2C90" indent="up1"><enum>(B)</enum><text>The agency may adopt a rule that is more costly than the least costly alternative that would
achieve the relevant statutory objectives only if the additional benefits
of the more costly rule justify its additional costs and only if the
agency explains its reason for doing so based on interests of public
health, safety or welfare that are clearly within the scope of the
statutory provision authorizing the rule.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HA9513E86CEA942CF92D9B263900774B7" indent="up1"><enum>(4)</enum><text>When it adopts a final rule, the agency shall publish a notice of final rule making. The notice
shall include—</text>
<subparagraph id="HA906FD8315234A06BAF51A88F4966FC2"><enum>(A)</enum><text>a concise, general statement of the rule’s basis and purpose;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H109EA439CAA0471A94D921DE8259DAF8"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the agency’s reasoned final determination of need for a rule to address the problem the agency
seeks to address with the rule, including a statement of whether a rule is
required by statute and a summary of any final risk assessment or
regulatory impact analysis prepared by the agency;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H617AC297B2DA4B718698BA53942A4219"><enum>(C)</enum><text>the agency’s reasoned final determination that the benefits of the rule meet the relevant statutory
objectives and justify the rule’s costs (including all costs to be
considered under subsection (b)(6));</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HD1492154D16D4FB0A752C58797B1C847"><enum>(D)</enum><text>the agency’s reasoned final determination not to adopt any of the alternatives to the proposed rule
considered by the agency during the rule making, including—</text>
<clause id="H033CC6879D8E41CBA1BF6B11CED4E12B"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the agency’s reasoned final determination that no alternative considered achieved the relevant
statutory objectives with lower costs (including all costs to be
considered under subsection (b)(6)) than the rule; or</text>
</clause><clause id="H6F5EC2CC9FEB42D8956DA44287FD6D5C"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the agency’s reasoned determination that its adoption of a more costly rule complies with
subsection (f)(3)(B);</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HD4F6EA5D8B7148CE8E0B56A2AAC0283C"><enum>(E)</enum><text>the agency’s reasoned final determination—</text>
<clause id="H4EA679A483D3442A8A2AF3EF74CCA628"><enum>(i)</enum><text>that existing rules have not created or contributed to the problem the agency seeks to address with
the rule; or</text>
</clause><clause id="H42A2806DED56474DB18E8FDABDB2FADB"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>that existing rules have created or contributed to the problem the agency seeks to address with the
rule, and, if so—</text>
<subclause id="HCEFC84ED6E094D0794F9ADF9EB4CD19B"><enum>(I)</enum><text>why amendment or rescission of such existing rules is not alone sufficient to respond to the
problem; and</text>
</subclause><subclause id="HD62A643D48364A889E7A4F752CB85AE8"><enum>(II)</enum><text>whether and how the agency intends to amend or rescind the existing rule separate from adoption of
the rule;</text>
</subclause></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HE360678A65484B59AE5FE551F9A85174"><enum>(F)</enum><text>the agency’s reasoned final determination that the evidence and other information upon which the
agency bases the rule complies with the Information Quality Act;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HE3A2F2D9C46E4950A28579F8494B4082"><enum>(G)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the agency’s reasoned final determination that the rule meets the objectives that the agency
identified in subsection (d)(1)(E)(iii) or that other objectives are more
appropriate in light of the full administrative record and the rule meets
those objectives;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HA52874903E9546328F223620EE2357D9"><enum>(H)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the agency’s reasoned final determination that it did not deviate from the metrics the agency
included in subsection (d)(1)(E)(iii) or that other metrics are more
appropriate in light of the full administrative record and the agency did
not deviate from those metrics;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HC3C2DA6F1B2B4E45B99A2DFA0D5BB0C0"><enum>(I)</enum>
<clause commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="H3AA70BC3EF924D6DB95E70A75CAC8916"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">for any major rule, high-impact rule, or negative-impact on jobs and wages rule, the agency’s plan
for review of the rule no less than every ten years to determine whether,
based upon evidence, there remains a need for the rule, whether the rule
is in fact achieving statutory objectives, whether the rule’s benefits
continue to justify its costs, and whether the rule can be modified or
rescinded to reduce costs while continuing to achieve statutory
objectives; and</text>
</clause><clause id="H1AC0CB97E76C47DD84F7492941CE5B6A" indent="up1"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>review of a rule under a plan required by clause (i) of this subparagraph shall take into account
the factors and criteria set forth in subsections (b) through (f) of section 553 of this title; and</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H28D41B71B1384657BBD9E0C138C60526"><enum>(J)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">for any negative-impact on jobs and wages rule, a statement that the head of the agency that made
the rule approved the rule knowing about the findings and determination of
the agency or the Administrator of the Office of Information and
Regulatory Affairs that qualified the rule as a negative impact on jobs
and wages rule.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><continuation-text continuation-text-level="subsection">All information considered by the agency in connection with its adoption of the rule, and, at the
discretion of the President or the Administrator of the Office of
Information and Regulatory Affairs, information provided by that Office in
consultations with the agency, shall be placed in the docket for the rule
and made accessible to the public for the public’s use no later than when
the rule is adopted.</continuation-text></subsection><subsection id="H6D0A3736D4424C948931F8989E806D4E"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Exceptions from notice and hearing requirements</header>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="HDA3CC1497AE046CDA710C32EB52B2BB9"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Except when notice or hearing is required by statute, the following do not apply to interpretive
rules, general statements of policy, or rules of agency organization,
procedure, or practice:</text>
<subparagraph id="HB71F8DBBCF864E7F9A8F2EA61791471D" indent="up1"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Subsections (c) through (e).</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HABD41F618D2B4091955F9F6A5C6E54B0" indent="up1"><enum>(B)</enum><text>Paragraphs (1) through (3) of subsection (f).</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HCD2329FBDDE94ABFB128C83C7E755683" indent="up1"><enum>(C)</enum><text>Subparagraphs (B) through (H) of subsection (f)(4).</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H64DB11275F844556A168FD2DE5B33B59" indent="up1"><enum>(2)</enum>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="H118FB3CB79344C15910F342FE1327A0C"><enum>(A)</enum><text>When the agency for good cause, based upon evidence, finds (and incorporates the finding and a
brief statement of reasons therefor in the rules issued) that compliance
with subsection (c), (d), or (e) or requirements to render final
determinations under subsection (f) of this section before the issuance of
an interim rule is impracticable or contrary to the public interest,
including interests of national security, such subsections or requirements
to render final determinations shall not apply to the agency’s adoption of
an interim rule.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H17F1830A527E4A5CB4D1FFAD632051F1" indent="up1"><enum>(B)</enum><text>If, following compliance with subparagraph (A) of this paragraph, the agency adopts an interim
rule, it shall commence proceedings that comply fully with subsections (d)
through (f) of this section immediately upon publication of the interim
rule, shall treat the publication of the interim rule as publication of a
notice of proposed rule making and shall not be required to issue
supplemental notice other than to complete full compliance with subsection
(d). No less than 270 days from publication of the interim rule (or 18
months in the case of a major rule or high-impact rule), the agency shall
complete rule making under subsections (d) through (f) of this subsection
and take final action to adopt a final rule or rescind the interim rule.
If the agency fails to take timely final action, the interim rule will
cease to have the effect of law.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HE396B74FA74F40A1A4041412A01DFE09" indent="up1"><enum>(C)</enum><text>Other than in cases involving interests of national security, upon the agency’s publication of an
interim rule without compliance with subsection (c), (d), or (e) or
requirements to render final determinations under subsection (f) of this
section, an interested party may seek immediate judicial review under chapter 7 of this title of the agency’s determination to adopt such interim rule. The record on such review
shall include all documents and information considered by the agency and
any additional information presented by a party that the court determines
necessary to consider to assure justice.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H1189A87B4508449DB8A6818D01E9A802" indent="up1"><enum>(3)</enum><text>When the agency for good cause finds (and incorporates the finding and a brief statement of reasons
therefor in the rules issued) that notice and public procedure thereon are
unnecessary, including because agency rule making is undertaken only to
correct a de minimis technical or clerical error in a previously issued
rule or for other noncontroversial purposes, the agency may publish a rule
without compliance with subsection (c), (d), (e), or (f)(1)–(3) and
(f)(4)(B)–(F). If the agency receives significant adverse comment within
60 days after publication of the rule, it shall treat the notice of the
rule as a notice of proposed rule making and complete rule making in
compliance with subsections (d) and (f).</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HD1E206738D164ADD87232C4331FCC151"><enum>(h)</enum><header>Additional requirements for hearings</header><text>When a hearing is required under subsection (e) or is otherwise required by statute or at the
agency’s discretion before adoption of a rule, the agency shall comply
with the requirements of sections 556 and 557 in addition to the
requirements of subsection (f) in adopting the rule and in providing
notice of the rule’s adoption.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HFD8C3FD8126B40B2A68DAE5C392F2C1E"><enum>(i)</enum><header>Date of publication of rule</header><text>The required publication or service of a substantive final or interim rule shall be made not less
than 30 days before the effective date of the rule, except—</text>
<paragraph id="HEF05FD1B5787453C8609B549CC1B18CE"><enum>(1)</enum><text>a substantive rule which grants or recognizes an exemption or relieves a restriction;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HC9C43F75AA514A659C81F51AC87683F2"><enum>(2)</enum><text>interpretive rules and statements of policy; or</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HABBD90B9BE9446A886A3810F1A4594DC"><enum>(3)</enum><text>as otherwise provided by the agency for good cause found and published with the rule.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HBC250E555CB74467A7A81E918B25AB55"><enum>(j)</enum><header>Right To petition</header><text>Each agency shall give an interested person the right to petition for the issuance, amendment, or
repeal of a rule.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HE697EDE6EE1C493D8B50FDBF0E020551"><enum>(k)</enum><header>Rule making guidelines</header>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="H15E6D9A31FE54EF0B2B4D2A07CFF4C8E"><enum>(1)</enum>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="H12658C5D916B4519AA12A67C43D74466"><enum>(A)</enum><text>The Administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs shall establish guidelines
for the assessment, including quantitative and qualitative assessment, of
the costs and benefits of proposed and final rules and other economic
issues or issues related to risk that are relevant to rule making under
this title. The rigor of cost-benefit analysis required by such guidelines
shall be commensurate, in the Administrator’s determination, with the
economic impact of the rule.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H6767982DDC4A4B0ABB9CDA900B97FA24" indent="up2"><enum>(B)</enum><text>To ensure that agencies use the best available techniques to quantify and evaluate anticipated
present and future benefits, costs, other economic issues, and risks as
accurately as possible, the Administrator of the Office of Information and
Regulatory Affairs shall regularly update guidelines established under
paragraph (1)(A) of this subsection.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H6A1AB6B2DC354EE18B24C6070757C660" indent="up1"><enum>(2)</enum><text>The Administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs shall also issue guidelines
to promote coordination, simplification and harmonization of agency rules
during the rule making process and otherwise. Such guidelines shall assure
that each agency avoids regulations that are inconsistent or incompatible
with, or duplicative of, its other regulations and those of other Federal
agencies and drafts its regulations to be simple and easy to understand,
with the goal of minimizing the potential for uncertainty and litigation
arising from such uncertainty.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HFA188621E87F4F94A5AB819DAB710936" indent="up1"><enum>(3)</enum><text>To ensure consistency in Federal rule making, the Administrator of the Office of Information and
Regulatory Affairs shall—</text>
<subparagraph id="H4CBFC7733CF54181AD23B752D0D18720"><enum>(A)</enum><text>issue guidelines and otherwise take action to ensure that rule makings conducted in whole or in
part under procedures specified in provisions of law other than those of
subchapter II of this title conform to the fullest extent allowed by law
with the procedures set forth in section 553 of this title; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H1A3216BFBCD64E91A8A2EF4F5D9A45E2"><enum>(B)</enum><text>issue guidelines for the conduct of hearings under subsections 553(d)(4) and 553(e) of this
section, including to assure a reasonable opportunity for
cross-examination. Each agency shall adopt regulations for the conduct of
hearings consistent with the guidelines issued under this subparagraph.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H25443F7DFD9B4227AD9F20A5682E0377" indent="up1"><enum>(4)</enum><text>The Administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs shall issue guidelines
pursuant to the Information Quality Act to apply in rule making
proceedings under sections 553, 556, and 557 of this title. In all cases,
such guidelines, and the Administrator’s specific determinations regarding
agency compliance with such guidelines, shall be entitled to judicial
deference.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H72CC75C737CD41788909D7C941FEB5E1"><enum>(l)</enum><header>Inclusion in the record of certain documents and information</header><text>The agency shall include in the record for a rule making, and shall make available by electronic
means and otherwise, all documents and information prepared or considered
by the agency during the proceeding, including, at the discretion of the
President or the Administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory
Affairs, documents and information communicated by that Office during
consultation with the Agency.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H4DE93378349044F291CADBFFDDEEEB1E"><enum>(m)</enum><header>Monetary policy exemption</header><text>Nothing in subsection (b)(6), subparagraphs (F) and (G) of subsection (d)(1), subsection (e),
subsection (f)(3), and subparagraphs (C) and (D) of subsection (f)(5)
shall apply to rule makings that concern monetary policy proposed or
implemented by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System or the
Federal Open Market Committee.</text></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection></section><section id="HED7C22840ED84876B66E48B7BF11FC7B"><enum>204.</enum><header>Agency guidance; procedures to issue major guidance; presidential authority to issue guidelines for
issuance of guidance</header>
<subsection id="H77583FC1E5F949A2AB7D06AB63BA37CE"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text><external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/5/5">Chapter 5</external-xref> of title 5, United States Code, is amended by inserting after <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/5/553">section 553</external-xref> the following new section:</text>
<quoted-block id="H756BD2930BAA49B9A12981571EED4E8D" style="USC">
<section id="H16510D42F7E84B139A7CDDDDBF7BD40C"><enum>553a.</enum><header>Agency guidance; procedures to issue major guidance; authority to issue guidelines for issuance of
guidance</header>
<subsection id="HAB78D83C120F43BAB310AF628281BEB1"><enum>(a)</enum><text>Before issuing any major guidance, or guidance that involves a novel legal or policy issue arising
out of statutory mandates, an agency shall—</text>
<paragraph id="HC89787B995774536B3CBAE8C61FD238D"><enum>(1)</enum><text>make and document a reasoned determination that—</text>
<subparagraph id="HF032D128A4494F018C1095920B15E955"><enum>(A)</enum><text>assures that such guidance is understandable and complies with relevant statutory objectives and
regulatory provisions (including any statutory deadlines for agency
action);</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H8F557BEE127243B9B93815767D1B8C7C"><enum>(B)</enum><text>summarizes the evidence and data on which the agency will base the guidance;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H03A96F3D52544445BF509D612BAB3F2F"><enum>(C)</enum><text>identifies the costs and benefits (including all costs to be considered during a rule making under
section 553(b) of this title) of conduct conforming to such guidance and
assures that such benefits justify such costs; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H6D7D12A5256F4D94A85746398B6450A3"><enum>(D)</enum><text>describes alternatives to such guidance and their costs and benefits (including all costs to be
considered during a rule making under section 553(b) of this title) and
explains why the agency rejected those alternatives; and</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H6C35AD332CDC4955A6355BC79F8A2AC3"><enum>(2)</enum><text>confer with the Administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs on the issuance
of such guidance to assure that the guidance is reasonable,
understandable, consistent with relevant statutory and regulatory
provisions and requirements or practices of other agencies, does not
produce costs that are unjustified by the guidance’s benefits, and is
otherwise appropriate.</text></paragraph><continuation-text continuation-text-level="subsection">Upon issuing major guidance, or guidance that involves a novel legal or policy issue arising out of
statutory mandates, the agency shall publish the documentation required by
subparagraph (1) by electronic means and otherwise.</continuation-text></subsection><subsection id="HC91026E8C0FE4823BBBC8FDAE356D0A5"><enum>(b)</enum><text>Agency guidance—</text>
<paragraph id="HA3C6FCC9491F41EEA2922D12E26B5B09"><enum>(1)</enum><text>is not legally binding and may not be relied upon by an agency as legal grounds for agency action;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H20D8C355AFDC4B69869C1C0D194EC28E"><enum>(2)</enum><text>shall state in a plain, prominent and permanent manner that it is not legally binding; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H83C6AF38A3594DC8B41A3512ADEAB903"><enum>(3)</enum><text>shall, at the time it is issued or upon request, be made available by the issuing agency to
interested persons and the public by electronic means and otherwise.</text></paragraph><continuation-text continuation-text-level="subsection">Agencies shall avoid the issuance of guidance that is inconsistent or incompatible with, or
duplicative of, the agency’s governing statutes or regulations, with the
goal of minimizing the potential for uncertainty and litigation arising
from such uncertainty.</continuation-text></subsection><subsection id="H40C009BB0A614B46977665B6FB1FAE26"><enum>(c)</enum><text>The Administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs shall have authority to issue
guidelines for use by the agencies in the issuance of major guidance and
other guidance. Such guidelines shall assure that each agency avoids
issuing guidance documents that are inconsistent or incompatible with, or
duplicative of, the law, its other regulations, or the regulations of
other Federal agencies and drafts its guidance documents to be simple and
easy to understand, with the goal of minimizing the potential for
uncertainty and litigation arising from such uncertainty.</text></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection id="HCD0F232F9BD843F495AA9AEF79624E8A"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Clerical amendment</header><text>The table of sections for <external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/5/5">chapter 5</external-xref> of title 5, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/5/553">section 553</external-xref> the following new item:</text>
<quoted-block id="H08906B077DD7405EAD75E94E2347C296" style="OLC">
<toc regeneration="no-regeneration">
<toc-entry level="section">553a. Agency guidance; procedures to issue major guidance; authority to issue guidelines for
issuance of guidance.</toc-entry></toc><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection></section><section id="H7754E0835CFA4CDAB7BC0D2E976CB6FC"><enum>205.</enum><header>Hearings; presiding employees; powers and duties; burden of proof; evidence; record as basis of
decision</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline"><external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/5/556">Section 556</external-xref> of title 5, United States Code, is amended by striking subsection (e) and inserting the following:</text>
<quoted-block id="H67D22A53E3FB4315BD3DA755E6F320D4" style="OLC">
<subsection id="H2700307667FD4FCB8AC33249FE4CD8D4"><enum>(e)</enum>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="HD97D4F327701448B89042B3ED492FB5E"><enum>(1)</enum><text>The transcript of testimony and exhibits, together with all papers and requests filed in the
proceeding, constitutes the exclusive record for decision in accordance
with section 557 and shall be made available to the parties and the public
by electronic means and, upon payment of lawfully prescribed costs,
otherwise. When an agency decision rests on official notice of a material
fact not appearing in the evidence in the record, a party is entitled, on
timely request, to an opportunity to show the contrary.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HB89BC9F21FB742E38368D03189D38F7B" indent="up1"><enum>(2)</enum><text>Notwithstanding paragraph (1) of this subsection, in a proceeding held under this section pursuant
to section 553(d)(4) or 553(e), the record for decision shall also include
any information that is part of the record of proceedings under section
553.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HBE3F6C572944462EB4F63C898932AEAF"><enum>(f)</enum><text>When an agency conducts rule making under this section and section 557 directly after concluding
proceedings upon an advance notice of proposed rule making under section
553(c), the matters to be considered and determinations to be made shall
include, among other relevant matters and determinations, the matters and
determinations described in subsections (b) and (f) of section 553.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HA360CEF61F8D4C5EB0DC7AC1A0460396"><enum>(g)</enum><text>Upon receipt of a petition for a hearing under this section, the agency shall grant the petition in
the case of any major rule, unless the agency reasonably determines that a
hearing would not advance consideration of the rule or would, in light of
the need for agency action, unreasonably delay completion of the rule
making. The agency shall publish its decision to grant or deny the
petition when it renders the decision, including an explanation of the
grounds for decision. The information contained in the petition shall in
all cases be included in the administrative record. This subsection shall
not apply to rule makings that concern monetary policy proposed or
implemented by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System or the
Federal Open Market Committee.</text></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</section><section id="H21977B29BB9042ECAF1A9F81738445AF"><enum>206.</enum><header>Actions reviewable</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline"><external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/5/704">Section 704</external-xref> of title 5, United States Code, is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="H643A87C8E5B34F6A8F8E35F62E89A82E"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by striking <quote>Agency action made</quote> and inserting <quote>(a) Agency action made</quote>; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H2B00269AA0144285BAD724510DB06CB0"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following: “Denial by an agency of a correction request or, where
administrative appeal is provided for, denial of an appeal, under an
administrative mechanism described in subsection (b)(2)(B) of the
Information Quality Act, or the failure of an agency within 90 days to
grant or deny such request or appeal, shall be final action for purposes
of this section.</text>
<quoted-block id="HCAC09B52204148AC85DD4951A4C2F011" style="OLC">
<subsection id="H12F5E8D104DB4C68A79BF3AF597A6921"><enum>(b)</enum><text>Other than in cases involving interests of national security, notwithstanding subsection (a) of
this section, upon the agency’s publication of an interim rule without
compliance with section 553(c), (d), or (e) or requirements to render
final determinations under subsection (f) of section 553, an interested
party may seek immediate judicial review under this chapter of the
agency’s determination to adopt such rule on an interim basis. Review
shall be limited to whether the agency abused its discretion to adopt the
interim rule without compliance with section 553(c), (d), or (e) or
without rendering final determinations under subsection (f) of section
553.</text></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></section><section id="H35B99E0A077245E59CF9C1442E9DBCDE"><enum>207.</enum><header>Scope of review</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline"><external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/5/706">Section 706</external-xref> of title 5, United States Code is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="H865D30A6580C47D59280FFC1EE94D2AE"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by striking <quote>To the extent necessary</quote> and inserting <quote>(a) To the extent necessary</quote>;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H4CD29B9D5B3C45BE8CC39E7EFADC8BAF"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in paragraph (2)(A) of subsection (a) (as designated by paragraph (1) of this section), by
inserting after <quote>in accordance with law</quote> the following: <quote>(including the Information Quality Act)</quote>; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HE40C0937997C448BBE833AD5F2E0D3FD"><enum>(3)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block id="H98062960193F48579F0AE6840F93059F" style="OLC">
<subsection id="HA27B47BC230241EBA4A41F3651ECE5FC"><enum>(b)</enum><text>The court shall not defer to the agency’s—</text>
<paragraph id="H305B869091EA4092A709EDEA4434459D"><enum>(1)</enum><text>interpretation of an agency rule if the agency did not comply with the procedures of section 553 or
sections 556–557 of chapter 5 of this title to issue the interpretation;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HD3E8784506B349C09292118DC0209FFC"><enum>(2)</enum><text>determination of the costs and benefits or other economic or risk assessment of the action, if the
agency failed to conform to guidelines on such determinations and
assessments established by the Administrator of the Office of Information
and Regulatory Affairs under section 553(k);</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HD2F633C44F62464895F292023A572612"><enum>(3)</enum><text>determinations made in the adoption of an interim rule; or</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HFBFAC8B49F884DF489D6F616614F6012"><enum>(4)</enum><text>guidance.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H56475D9F27FB49B8AFE4A0EB06813447"><enum>(c)</enum><text>The court shall review agency denials of petitions under section 553(e)(6) or any other petition
for a hearing under sections 556 and 557 for abuse of agency discretion.</text></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></section><section id="H5AD75769AF1A4D30BAF1AC792DC10D2E"><enum>208.</enum><header>Added definition</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline"><external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/5/701">Section 701(b)</external-xref> of title 5, United States Code, is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="H41B5053CE1E54A8099A4E9B0743568B1"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in paragraph (1), by striking <quote>and</quote> at the end;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H31C95B6F32654DEDAA44003EB9DD38C8"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in paragraph (2), by striking the period at the end, and inserting <quote>; and</quote>; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H66ADA964030C4427B66DA5B3409EFD6F"><enum>(3)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block id="HF7274B543D0D4E159B5EA7A59D6373E8" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="H2D259D033A414770B343CD6883208001"><enum>(3)</enum><text><term>substantial evidence</term> means such relevant evidence as a reasonable mind might accept as adequate to support a conclusion
in light of the record considered as a whole, taking into account whatever
in the record fairly detracts from the weight of the evidence relied upon
by the agency to support its decision.</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></section><section id="H0B618F0B7FE0458686E99D04A7FC5CC5"><enum>209.</enum><header>Effective date</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The amendments made by this title to—</text>
<paragraph id="HB4EB46D4FC9D448384F98D53028F9571"><enum>(1)</enum><text>sections 553, 556, and 704 of title 5, United States Code;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H386E7164089F4E86B8F8A1294AC95B56"><enum>(2)</enum><text>subsection (b) of section 701 of such title;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HB6734738A6E8469B870FCF28623386FD"><enum>(3)</enum><text>paragraphs (2) and (3) of section 706(b) of such title; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HA615A11FF5844FDC8FDC28E8D7D937AF"><enum>(4)</enum><text>subsection (c) of section 706 of such title,</text></paragraph><continuation-text continuation-text-level="section">shall not apply to any rule makings pending or completed on the date of enactment of this title.</continuation-text></section><enum>III</enum><header>Regulatory Flexibility Improvements Act</header>
<section display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HAA62C78DC0274D98BE17C6E4EC51AB26" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>301.</enum><header>Short title</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">This title may be cited as the <quote><short-title>Regulatory Flexibility Improvements Act of 2014</short-title></quote>.</text>
</section><section id="HD6FB28C613694CC4A2EAF9BA4B724CFA"><enum>302.</enum><header>Clarification and expansion of rules covered by the Regulatory Flexibility Act</header>
<subsection id="HF3A33F4F745B4DC4B3272957EEDB5040"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Paragraph (2) of <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/5/601">section 601</external-xref> of title 5, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:</text>
<quoted-block id="HB73A079642E2481DABDC14679F4ECCEE">
<paragraph id="H39FFEDF837EB406BAB632B535AEEC8AE"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Rule</header><text>The term <term>rule</term> has the meaning given such term in <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/5/551">section 551(4)</external-xref> of this title, except that such term does not include a rule pertaining to the protection of the
rights of and benefits for veterans or a rule of particular (and not
general) applicability relating to rates, wages, corporate or financial
structures or reorganizations thereof, prices, facilities, appliances,
services, or allowances therefor or to valuations, costs or accounting, or
practices relating to such rates, wages, structures, prices, appliances,
services, or allowances.</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection id="HA886ACB2C2A848F9901BBC4914F721CD"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Inclusion of rules with indirect effects</header><text><external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/5/601">Section 601</external-xref> of title 5, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:</text>
<quoted-block id="HCE6DB59072BB415AA5D8B313D1102D27">
<paragraph id="HB2C2D9F313954294A97D4318AC7D4BA7"><enum>(9)</enum><header>Economic impact</header><text>The term <term>economic impact</term> means, with respect to a proposed or final rule—</text>
<subparagraph id="HC04F49D773274E9EB54600FD8806ABF7"><enum>(A)</enum><text>any direct economic effect on small entities of such rule; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HA795ED038BBF4DEE90A9B8863FA6323E"><enum>(B)</enum><text>any indirect economic effect (including compliance costs and effects on revenue) on small entities
which is reasonably foreseeable and results from such rule (without regard
to whether small entities will be directly regulated by the rule).</text></subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>. </after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection id="HE0B91042019548C9B4158D6B13CDC131"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Inclusion of rules with beneficial effects</header>
<paragraph id="HAB7D0DA6C2034541B5FFAD3AFF2EAC57"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Initial regulatory flexibility analysis</header><text>Subsection (c) of <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/5/603">section 603</external-xref> of title 5, United States Code, is amended by striking the first sentence and inserting <quote>Each initial regulatory flexibility analysis shall also contain a detailed description of
alternatives to the proposed rule which minimize any adverse significant
economic impact or maximize any beneficial significant economic impact on
small entities.</quote>.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H7FA17256322A4C6F9EF333E20F8E42CF"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Final regulatory flexibility analysis</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The first paragraph (6) of <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/5/604">section 604(a)</external-xref> of title 5, United States Code, is amended by striking <quote>minimize the significant economic impact</quote> and inserting <quote>minimize the adverse significant economic impact or maximize the beneficial significant economic
impact</quote>.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H8F16925046584922BE2A15A1C6A9CD1B"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Inclusion of rules affecting tribal organizations</header><text>Paragraph (5) of <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/5/601">section 601</external-xref> of title 5, United States Code, is amended by inserting <quote>and tribal organizations (as defined in section 4(l) of the <act-name parsable-cite="ISDA">Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act</act-name> (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/25/450b">25 U.S.C. 450b(l)</external-xref>)),</quote> after <quote>special districts,</quote>.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HDC155DCE888446F5880FB666EC062995"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Inclusion of land management plans and formal rulemaking</header>
<paragraph id="HD05D10A7FA2E4AE480A9FF72B9101A1A"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Initial regulatory flexibility analysis</header><text>Subsection (a) of <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/5/603">section 603</external-xref> of title 5, United States Code, is amended in the first sentence—</text>
<subparagraph id="H67A05671120B44068A59C142EB50A843"><enum>(A)</enum><text>by striking <quote>or</quote> after <quote>proposed rule,</quote>; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H122F8CA576A649C7A913C2F46DB2379C"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by inserting <quote>or publishes a revision or amendment to a land management plan,</quote> after <quote>United States,</quote>.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HB185F985F52E4DAB94F9BCDE7EA1106F"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Final regulatory flexibility analysis</header><text>Subsection (a) of <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/5/604">section 604</external-xref> of title 5, United States Code, is amended in the first sentence—</text>
<subparagraph id="HADD8C4F7477E4CF1B8CC75ABF6746147"><enum>(A)</enum><text>by striking <quote>or</quote> after <quote>proposed rulemaking,</quote>; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H9D8BA20026AD4577A213B2E275AAF9CE"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by inserting <quote>or adopts a revision or amendment to a land management plan,</quote> after <quote>section 603(a),</quote>.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H37B8576C07654307954C75C55F30F921"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Land management plan defined</header><text><external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/5/601">Section 601</external-xref> of title 5, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:</text>
<quoted-block id="H6E97A86BBDD54A25AF7917AA1E4472AF">
<paragraph id="H854BC221C40E418BBCA229C209A56491"><enum>(10)</enum><header>Land management plan</header>
<subparagraph id="H3CF33BF5A78B4E41AD0674036C98E6EE"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The term <term>land management plan</term> means—</text>
<clause id="H0AD47FBC53F54FC0A5A431D6C12D08CF"><enum>(i)</enum><text>any plan developed by the Secretary of Agriculture under section 6 of the <act-name parsable-cite="FRRRP">Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974</act-name> (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/1604">16 U.S.C. 1604</external-xref>); and</text>
</clause><clause id="H947EEEC609DC47B99338AC8DE016A709"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>any plan developed by the Secretary of the Interior under section 202 of the <act-name parsable-cite="FLPMA">Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976</act-name> (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/43/1712">43 U.S.C. 1712</external-xref>).</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H5494B90501804531A0D73DF3FA1E5A29"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Revision</header><text>The term <term>revision</term> means any change to a land management plan which—</text>
<clause id="HF2A627B9E19A4DD4A58F06B912009460"><enum>(i)</enum><text>in the case of a plan described in subparagraph (A)(i), is made under section 6(f)(5) of the <act-name parsable-cite="FRRRP">Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974</act-name> (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/1604">16 U.S.C. 1604(f)(5)</external-xref>); or</text>
</clause><clause id="HA72A1063A1174A7B92979673BF46A15B"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>in the case of a plan described in subparagraph (A)(ii), is made under <external-xref legal-doc="regulation" parsable-cite="cfr/43/1610.5">section 1610.5–6</external-xref> of title 43, Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor regulation).</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H4DDD0377405D40E2AD087AA10828D7D4"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Amendment</header><text>The term <term>amendment</term> means any change to a land management plan which—</text>
<clause id="HE1FFE2E473D749B7AF2A8A65F7C5A97D"><enum>(i)</enum><text>in the case of a plan described in subparagraph (A)(i), is made under section 6(f)(4) of the <act-name parsable-cite="FRRRP">Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974</act-name> (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/1604">16 U.S.C. 1604(f)(4)</external-xref>) and with respect to which the Secretary of Agriculture prepares a statement described in section
102(2)(C) of the <act-name parsable-cite="NEPA69">National Environmental Policy Act of 1969</act-name> (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4332">42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C)</external-xref>); or</text>
</clause><clause id="H47974B26068E483498C908FC77398075"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>in the case of a plan described in subparagraph (A)(ii), is made under <external-xref legal-doc="regulation" parsable-cite="cfr/43/1610.5">section 1610.5–5</external-xref> of title 43, Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor regulation) and with respect to which
the Secretary of the Interior prepares a statement described in section
102(2)(C) of the <act-name parsable-cite="NEPA69">National Environmental Policy Act of 1969</act-name> (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4332">42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C)</external-xref>).</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HB4E42C54ED8D4F84931F28A2AEEBD31A"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Inclusion of certain interpretive rules involving the internal revenue laws</header>
<paragraph id="H8D861079058F43D38997B1A708A8F066"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Subsection (a) of <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/5/603">section 603</external-xref> of title 5, United States Code, is amended by striking the period at the end and inserting <quote>or a recordkeeping requirement, and without regard to whether such requirement is imposed by
statute or regulation.</quote>.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H9F4EFF4CD9B849AAA44C373EA9417966"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Collection of information</header><text>Paragraph (7) of <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/5/601">section 601</external-xref> of title 5, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:</text>
<quoted-block id="H4CC54B5BF81F473696BBF45C5654BEF5">
<paragraph id="H3E9CFDB5E84043E497BA9B6A9228DAA8"><enum>(7)</enum><header>Collection of information</header><text>The term <term>collection of information</term> has the meaning given such term in <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/44/3502">section 3502(3)</external-xref> of title 44.</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H14E6354BBC1B41B094D398867E07BDD8"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Recordkeeping requirement</header><text>Paragraph (8) of <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/5/601">section 601</external-xref> of title 5, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:</text>
<quoted-block id="H6BF47137A6384CBAB7F805C6A8487F55">
<paragraph id="HAF2AC513970240C9A7A086B1342486FC"><enum>(8)</enum><header>Recordkeeping requirement</header><text>The term <term>recordkeeping requirement</term> has the meaning given such term in <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/44/3502">section 3502(13)</external-xref> of title 44.</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HC12D1481F0744438AED83742890A76FF"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Definition of small organization</header><text>Paragraph (4) of <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/5/601">section 601</external-xref> of title 5, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:</text>
<quoted-block id="HF58AD31427A8428BB5B886F44B7A70E6">
<paragraph id="H4E56E25264944468B51C5CD4A8CF45B9"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Small organization</header>
<subparagraph id="H1DC69EEAED204B30B3C11CBC08721439"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The term <term>small organization</term> means any not-for-profit enterprise which, as of the issuance of the notice of proposed
rulemaking—</text>
<clause id="HEA6CB06654414F43B371BFB2E2EFB2DE"><enum>(i)</enum><text>in the case of an enterprise which is described by a classification code of the North American
Industrial Classification System, does not exceed the size standard
established by the Administrator of the Small Business Administration
pursuant to section 3 of the <act-name parsable-cite="SBA">Small Business Act</act-name> (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/632">15 U.S.C. 632</external-xref>) for small business concerns described by such classification code; and</text>
</clause><clause id="HBFDE653B52D4480E8537B5B93D088B9F"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>in the case of any other enterprise, has a net worth that does not exceed $7,000,000 and has not
more than 500 employees.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H9F65C8C74FC7489B879F04372CEE6815"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Local labor organizations</header><text>In the case of any local labor organization, subparagraph (A) shall be applied without regard to
any national or international organization of which such local labor
organization is a part.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H73308F6ABFDD4B9BAA5FAF10E2759F39"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Agency definitions</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Subparagraphs (A) and (B) shall not apply to the extent that an agency, after consultation with the
Office of Advocacy of the Small Business Administration and after
opportunity for public comment, establishes one or more definitions for
such term which are appropriate to the activities of the agency and
publishes such definitions in the Federal Register.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection></section><section display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HEDB08D4A10CD48A78308421BC6ED51AF"><enum>303.</enum><header>Expansion of report of regulatory <linebreak></linebreak>agenda</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline"><external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/5/602">Section 602</external-xref> of title 5, United States Code, is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="HFA57F5CB976F40ED82C974BCDFE9F108"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in subsection (a)—</text>
<subparagraph id="H5D8F72AC05654E6B8E76C926A58307BA"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in paragraph (2), by striking <quote>, and</quote> at the end and inserting <quote>;</quote>;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H4E04D19CCC4D43AB9486D42DE50CF622"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph (4); and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H7859AA997D6B461380A785EED37FE89B"><enum>(C)</enum><text>by inserting after paragraph (2) the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H9E9B4FBB42DA46CE98EFCD542151E0AA" style="USC">
<paragraph id="HD995EBD7A3CC4197AE9DD683B91EC82E"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a brief description of the sector of the North American Industrial Classification System that is
primarily affected by any rule which the agency expects to propose or
promulgate which is likely to have a significant economic impact on a
substantial number of small entities; and</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HB96CB3FB90934A8BBA227FC7BC4BBCB2"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in subsection (c), to read as follows:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H037EC580CF5B4CF3B7A78D49C3ECB97A" style="USC">
<subsection id="HA76A3F48505F411DAD4E761F9950DBE3"><enum>(c)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Each agency shall prominently display a plain language summary of the information contained in the
regulatory flexibility agenda published under subsection (a) on its
website within 3 days of its publication in the Federal Register. The
Office of Advocacy of the Small Business Administration shall compile and
prominently display a plain language summary of the regulatory agendas
referenced in subsection (a) for each agency on its website within 3 days
of their publication in the Federal Register.</text></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></section><section id="H8E61754FFBFD4144B42617D597486CF5"><enum>304.</enum><header>Requirements providing for more detailed analyses</header>
<subsection id="H70D7BFE0E87E40E68D94CF87474E4349"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Initial regulatory flexibility analysis</header><text>Subsection (b) of <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/5/603">section 603</external-xref> of title 5, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:</text>
<quoted-block id="H35598F6EEEE948F6BF9A16AF8A6948D8">
<subsection id="HC1DB1A23231240B59C0A415297D5D958"><enum>(b)</enum><text>Each initial regulatory flexibility analysis required under this section shall contain a detailed
statement—</text>
<paragraph id="H19B9C409822241AEA87D645B7BB0566C"><enum>(1)</enum><text>describing the reasons why action by the agency is being considered;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H479C267595514385A52A137526C46E96"><enum>(2)</enum><text>describing the objectives of, and legal basis for, the proposed rule;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H11C4F3D0E6C54D7FB786195DA5047149"><enum>(3)</enum><text>estimating the number and type of small entities to which the proposed rule will apply;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H32AFF8C0CABF4A589EFCB83A97C0F588"><enum>(4)</enum><text>describing the projected reporting, recordkeeping, and other compliance requirements of the
proposed rule, including an estimate of the classes of small entities
which will be subject to the requirement and the type of professional
skills necessary for preparation of the report and record;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H6532279730A44D64A7E805DFB06EF80A"><enum>(5)</enum><text>describing all relevant Federal rules which may duplicate, overlap, or conflict with the proposed
rule, or the reasons why such a description could not be provided;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HC321380B557B4A9198ED09821442ED80"><enum>(6)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">estimating the additional cumulative economic impact of the proposed rule on small entities beyond
that already imposed on the class of small entities by the agency or why
such an estimate is not available;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HCCC9EC39FF734184AE920A2CA930C6FA"><enum>(7)</enum><text>describing any disproportionate economic impact on small entities or a specific class of small
entities; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HC88E56A478804D9381E75F64D92670D8"><enum>(8)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">describing any impairment of the ability of small entities to have access to credit.</text></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection id="H5BBD58B7FB164C6A9339340538776D25"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Final regulatory flexibility analysis</header>
<paragraph id="HAA4E94D783904DB5A0DBB5E3A9076797"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline"><external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/5/604">Section 604(a)</external-xref> of title 5, United States Code, is amended—</text>
<subparagraph id="H31369973D2A44D97A03AF950287AE040"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in paragraph (4), by striking <quote>an explanation</quote> and inserting <quote>a detailed explanation</quote>;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H9E84A70086ED48F1BEAEF4A748AD5992"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in each of paragraphs (4), (5), and the first paragraph (6), by inserting <quote>detailed</quote> before <quote>description</quote>; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HE4F13757322640CB9DF51C94D0A7041A"><enum>(C)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H57318D7A43614574840A86935D021AB9" style="USC">
<paragraph id="H45900B1320F64468BBD9FF3135CDAE77"><enum>(7)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">describing any disproportionate economic impact on small entities or a specific class of small
entities.</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H36F1CB7CF6354CF9A2940BB0FFBB4573"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Inclusion of response to comments on certification of proposed rule</header><text>Paragraph (2) of <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/5/604">section 604(a)</external-xref> of title 5, United States Code, is amended by inserting <quote>(or certification of the proposed rule under section 605(b))</quote> after <quote>initial regulatory flexibility analysis</quote>.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HF5078CFFE0794F2EA2588A93A2E61297"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Publication of analysis on website</header><text>Subsection (b) of <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/5/604">section 604</external-xref> of title 5, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:</text>
<quoted-block id="H29E2BEDE20FC4A8D824230ACC2AFA436">
<subsection id="HDAAC4DBD90F94144B6C97E890AF3A56E"><enum>(b)</enum><text>The agency shall make copies of the final regulatory flexibility analysis available to the public,
including placement of the entire analysis on the agency’s website, and
shall publish in the Federal Register the final regulatory flexibility
analysis, or a summary thereof which includes the telephone number,
mailing address, and link to the website where the complete analysis may
be obtained.</text></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H5837487809494984A538885A3858D240"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Cross-References to other analyses</header><text>Subsection (a) of <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/5/605">section 605</external-xref> of title 5, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:</text>
<quoted-block id="H7CC383AA668D4A78B3317ABEE6CEA086">
<subsection id="H279E30CCF4D04898B48AF1761329FCED"><enum>(a)</enum><text>A Federal agency shall be treated as satisfying any requirement regarding the content of an agenda
or regulatory flexibility analysis under section 602, 603, or 604, if such
agency provides in such agenda or analysis a cross-reference to the
specific portion of another agenda or analysis which is required by any
other law and which satisfies such requirement.</text></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" id="H5AC1B7C9DD724ADA88F788B3C38E44F7"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Certifications</header><text>Subsection (b) of <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/5/605">section 605</external-xref> of title 5, United States Code, is amended—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" id="H70FD7E0F016747898946A8C6F1CC1454"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by inserting <quote>detailed</quote> before <quote>statement</quote> the first place it appears; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="HB6B0BC095BA94A3A8DD9809A39AE40A8"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by inserting <quote>and legal</quote> after <quote>factual</quote>.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H43FAAEAF918A497E9A84A4B7399E01DF"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Quantification requirements</header><text><external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/5/607">Section 607</external-xref> of title 5, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:</text>
<quoted-block id="H82678673C3B54698A12606A8ECCDE57A" style="USC">
<section id="H033791F5685E4047A2F16BBC1B899CDA"><enum>607.</enum><header>Quantification requirements</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">In complying with sections 603 and 604, an agency shall provide—</text>
<paragraph id="HD01A506EE812488F854C0C03AFD58736"><enum>(1)</enum><text>a quantifiable or numerical description of the effects of the proposed or final rule and
alternatives to the proposed or final rule; or</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H598135B8A2B246368B4AC0C977FCAB42"><enum>(2)</enum><text>a more general descriptive statement and a detailed statement explaining why quantification is not
practicable or reliable.</text></paragraph></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection></section><section id="H9BD8272F08BD41A996E7C0250441050D"><enum>305.</enum><header>Repeal of waiver and delay authority; additional powers of the Chief Counsel for Advocacy</header>
<subsection id="H54DF7D5A0C4F4E49987B4FADF5633DFE"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Section 608 is amended to read as follows:</text>
<quoted-block id="HBDA36756E8384B1F8ACBFB27B973FFB8" style="USC">
<section id="H855049148E6344FAA13945500549FADB"><enum>608.</enum><header>Additional powers of Chief Counsel for Advocacy</header>
<subsection id="HB05FAF5535294D72A5776850357FADA4"><enum>(a)</enum>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="H241113F3C37740B8BFF4FC6DEA277F5A"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 270 days after the date of the enactment of this section, the Chief Counsel for
Advocacy of the Small Business Administration shall, after opportunity for
notice and comment under section 553, issue rules governing agency
compliance with this chapter. The Chief Counsel may modify or amend such
rules after notice and comment under section 553. This chapter (other than
this subsection) shall not apply with respect to the issuance,
modification, and amendment of rules under this paragraph.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HB25B871867F249DCA2E10DA93ADCA03D" indent="up1"><enum>(2)</enum><text>An agency shall not issue rules which supplement the rules issued under subsection (a) unless such
agency has first consulted with the Chief Counsel for Advocacy to ensure
that such supplemental rules comply with this chapter and the rules issued
under paragraph (1).</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HA3021612DCCD4740B76DF4FB7672758E"><enum>(b)</enum><text>Notwithstanding any other law, the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business Administration
may intervene in any agency adjudication (unless such agency is authorized
to impose a fine or penalty under such adjudication), and may inform the
agency of the impact that any decision on the record may have on small
entities. The Chief Counsel shall not initiate an appeal with respect to
any adjudication in which the Chief Counsel intervenes under this
subsection.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H550FCF406DE74BDCB5C434ADC2545BA0"><enum>(c)</enum><text>The Chief Counsel for Advocacy may file comments in response to any agency notice requesting
comment, regardless of whether the agency is required to file a general
notice of proposed rulemaking under section 553.</text></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection id="HB5BE2FBC240343D39A2F1ADA1F58A3A3"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Conforming amendments</header>
<paragraph id="HD7432C79D536495BB9C5D63E43CC2EE4"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 611(a)(1) of such title is amended by striking <quote>608(b),</quote>.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H96A1E4F2049544918608AFFE01D433FF"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 611(a)(2) of such title is amended by striking <quote>608(b),</quote>.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H0F1DCAA84A254952861656509D6A145C"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 611(a)(3) of such title is amended—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" id="H5E630AC348E741B2B434D37825653051"><enum>(A)</enum><text>by striking subparagraph (B); and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="HD2F5E5012EE743F6AB62F6F90D07B9EA"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by striking <quote>(3)(A) A small entity</quote> and inserting the following:</text>
<quoted-block id="H557ABB7E31F5417D8C079DDE8FC1185B">
<paragraph commented="no" id="H2A17F75B9F7041E392E780933B80A72F" indent="up1"><enum>(3)</enum><text>A small entity</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="HAA239F158D7D49EE97C1ED7C4747179D"><enum>306.</enum><header>Procedures for gathering comments</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline"><external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/5/609">Section 609</external-xref> of title 5, United States Code, is amended by striking subsection (b) and all that follows through
the end of the section and inserting the following:</text>
<quoted-block id="H0AAF205A93E84A519A22071C4B077F32">
<subsection id="H76A5CF2EB5ED40B7B0DA8D22F6540CCD"><enum>(b)</enum>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="H973BCA1E6B034556A078D4E17B8AD054"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Prior to publication of any proposed rule described in subsection (e), an agency making such rule
shall notify the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business
Administration and provide the Chief Counsel with—</text>
<subparagraph id="H7B905B0ADB2F49709F3D369672B267BF" indent="up1"><enum>(A)</enum><text>all materials prepared or utilized by the agency in making the proposed rule, including the draft
of the proposed rule; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HA0E807246C6345E9BC114D90F13A1125" indent="up1"><enum>(B)</enum><text>information on the potential adverse and beneficial economic impacts of the proposed rule on small
entities and the type of small entities that might be affected.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H3706E5BB89474DF7AFAD2D7AC1E2A3DB" indent="up1"><enum>(2)</enum><text>An agency shall not be required under paragraph (1) to provide the exact language of any draft if
the rule—</text>
<subparagraph id="H4FC6E552F9AC4F0A90CFF2B0E793B37C"><enum>(A)</enum><text>relates to the internal revenue laws of the United States; or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H9A84C8E140FA4E85831043746E1DC8A3"><enum>(B)</enum><text>is proposed by an independent regulatory agency (as defined in <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/44/3502">section 3502(5)</external-xref> of title 44).</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H016E52494C8C493882531BC9A1E90261"><enum>(c)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 15 days after the receipt of such materials and information under subsection (b),
the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business Administration shall—</text>
<paragraph id="HD84494A1246144C59DA37C2791E26347"><enum>(1)</enum><text>identify small entities or representatives of small entities or a combination of both for the
purpose of obtaining advice, input, and recommendations from those persons
about the potential economic impacts of the proposed rule and the
compliance of the agency with section 603; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HF7BC94186684414CB26E1CCF3104D0F6"><enum>(2)</enum><text>convene a review panel consisting of an employee from the Office of Advocacy of the Small Business
Administration, an employee from the agency making the rule, and in the
case of an agency other than an independent regulatory agency (as defined
in <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/44/3502">section 3502(5)</external-xref> of title 44), an employee from the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs of the Office of
Management and Budget to review the materials and information provided to
the Chief Counsel under subsection (b).</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H2FA385AA4288411087CBD9E2DF4B2784"><enum>(d)</enum>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="HB77B31C7136C4F0EB373879A9A7B625F"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 60 days after the review panel described in subsection (c)(2) is convened, the Chief
Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business Administration shall, after
consultation with the members of such panel, submit a report to the agency
and, in the case of an agency other than an independent regulatory agency
(as defined in <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/44/3502">section 3502(5)</external-xref> of title 44), the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs of the Office of Management and
Budget.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H2D4FFEA97B2B4B2987A9DABAB67CDD65" indent="up1"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Such report shall include an assessment of the economic impact of the proposed rule on small
entities, including an assessment of the proposed rule’s impact on the
cost that small entities pay for energy, an assessment of the proposed
rule’s impact on start-up costs for small entities, and a discussion of
any alternatives that will minimize adverse significant economic impacts
or maximize beneficial significant economic impacts on small entities.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H387FB002BA124F0994168A463FDD9198" indent="up1"><enum>(3)</enum><text>Such report shall become part of the rulemaking record. In the publication of the proposed rule,
the agency shall explain what actions, if any, the agency took in response
to such report.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HAF0961AFAA384072B19F5BA369F31161"><enum>(e)</enum><text>A proposed rule is described by this subsection if the Administrator of the Office of Information
and Regulatory Affairs of the Office of Management and Budget, the head of
the agency (or the delegatee of the head of the agency), or an independent
regulatory agency determines that the proposed rule is likely to result
in—</text>
<paragraph id="HBAD1A8672B254F7AA5F94A5F7C2A3A3D"><enum>(1)</enum><text>an annual effect on the economy of $100,000,000 or more;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HDBF557D2B1254F23982ED21DA775A8C6"><enum>(2)</enum><text>a major increase in costs or prices for consumers, individual industries, Federal, State, or local
governments, tribal organizations, or geographic regions;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H53A64C496DB6408499D620B5F3A24820"><enum>(3)</enum><text>significant adverse effects on competition, employment, investment, productivity, innovation, or on
the ability of United States-based enterprises to compete with
foreign-based enterprises in domestic and export markets; or</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H47771438283A4E6AA97B36F5D8EEDA38"><enum>(4)</enum><text>a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H39084B94B0844D88AC923C16F893026E"><enum>(f)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Upon application by the agency, the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business Administration
may waive the requirements of subsections (b) through (e) if the Chief
Counsel determines that compliance with the requirements of such
subsections are impracticable, unnecessary, or contrary to the public
interest.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HE1D11FFEA9AF4E9785D7BB43F8272490"><enum>(g)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A small entity or a representative of a small entity may submit a request that the agency provide a
copy of the report prepared under subsection (d) and all materials and
information provided to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small
Business Administration under subsection (b). The agency receiving such
request shall provide the report, materials and information to the
requesting small entity or representative of a small entity not later than
10 business days after receiving such request, except that the agency
shall not disclose any information that is prohibited from disclosure to
the public pursuant to section 552(b) of this title.</text></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</section><section id="HD527F92C83F2442BB693895E31F64838"><enum>307.</enum><header>Periodic review of rules</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline"><external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/5/610">Section 610</external-xref> of title 5, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:</text>
<quoted-block id="H042C0470D81D4462849D9CB185BD6AEF" style="USC">
<section id="H6C9EA59291E54D9D8342732A07DD4B9B"><enum>610.</enum><header>Periodic review of rules</header>
<subsection id="HE59D397DD29C424D90F0389A65B5B95B"><enum>(a)</enum><text>Not later than 180 days after the enactment of this section, each agency shall publish in the
Federal Register and place on its website a plan for the periodic review
of rules issued by the agency which the head of the agency determines have
a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities.
Such determination shall be made without regard to whether the agency
performed an analysis under section 604. The purpose of the review shall
be to determine whether such rules should be continued without change, or
should be amended or rescinded, consistent with the stated objectives of
applicable statutes, to minimize any adverse significant economic impacts
or maximize any beneficial significant economic impacts on a substantial
number of small entities. Such plan may be amended by the agency at any
time by publishing the revision in the Federal Register and subsequently
placing the amended plan on the agency’s website.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HD0F8D32AB58C4F52B3E3037C29C5BA93"><enum>(b)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The plan shall provide for the review of all such agency rules existing on the date of the
enactment of this section within 10 years of the date of publication of
the plan in the Federal Register and for review of rules adopted after the
date of enactment of this section within 10 years after the publication of
the final rule in the Federal Register. If the head of the agency
determines that completion of the review of existing rules is not feasible
by the established date, the head of the agency shall so certify in a
statement published in the Federal Register and may extend the review for
not longer than 2 years after publication of notice of extension in the
Federal Register. Such certification and notice shall be sent to the Chief
Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business Administration and the
Congress.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H3E08D8A985794A50B619A9461A1E0564"><enum>(c)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The plan shall include a section that details how an agency will conduct outreach to and
meaningfully include small businesses (including small business concerns
owned and controlled by women, small business concerns owned and
controlled by veterans, and small business concerns owned and controlled
by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals (as such terms are
defined in the Small Business Act)) for the purposes of carrying out this
section. The agency shall include in this section a plan for how the
agency will contact small businesses and gather their input on existing
agency rules.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H718B69E7AC224558954C0EA8554573C0"><enum>(d)</enum><text>Each agency shall annually submit a report regarding the results of its review pursuant to such
plan to the Congress, the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business
Administration, and, in the case of agencies other than independent
regulatory agencies (as defined in <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/44/3502">section 3502(5)</external-xref> of title 44) to the Administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs of the
Office of Management and Budget. Such report shall include the
identification of any rule with respect to which the head of the agency
made a determination described in paragraph (5) or (6) of subsection (e)
and a detailed explanation of the reasons for such determination.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H98AB58BC8C534A64B07981969CECE3AF"><enum>(e)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In reviewing a rule pursuant to subsections (a) through (d), the agency shall amend or rescind the
rule to minimize any adverse significant economic impact on a substantial
number of small entities or disproportionate economic impact on a specific
class of small entities, or maximize any beneficial significant economic
impact of the rule on a substantial number of small entities to the
greatest extent possible, consistent with the stated objectives of
applicable statutes. In amending or rescinding the rule, the agency shall
consider the following factors:</text>
<paragraph id="H28700EB5086648ACBAE0EDDC9AEA4DD2"><enum>(1)</enum><text>The continued need for the rule.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H24697150535C422790A630AA1ED3B5F9"><enum>(2)</enum><text>The nature of complaints received by the agency from small entities concerning the rule.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H249BB7791FD84ABAA4E2EB2F0C756D36"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Comments by the Regulatory Enforcement Ombudsman and the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small
Business Administration.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H45B22C7332974D4899F2F3423A227B48"><enum>(4)</enum><text>The complexity of the rule.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H8BDF210FECCE426A9CBCF56F63FEC76F"><enum>(5)</enum><text>The extent to which the rule overlaps, duplicates, or conflicts with other Federal rules and,
unless the head of the agency determines it to be infeasible, State,
territorial, and local rules.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H5BDAB79560614EAE905C1CA17570AA04"><enum>(6)</enum><text>The contribution of the rule to the cumulative economic impact of all Federal rules on the class of
small entities affected by the rule, unless the head of the agency
determines that such calculations cannot be made and reports that
determination in the annual report required under subsection (d).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HA99774A73D574189A9566FA53782051A"><enum>(7)</enum><text>The length of time since the rule has been evaluated or the degree to which technology, economic
conditions, or other factors have changed in the area affected by the
rule.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HFF461C7C2B2A4F4894B5EAC4EDEA0576"><enum>(f)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Each year, each agency shall publish in the Federal Register and on its website a list of rules to
be reviewed pursuant to such plan. The agency shall include in the
publication a solicitation of public comments on any further inclusions or
exclusions of rules from the list, and shall respond to such comments.
Such publication shall include a brief description of the rule, the reason
why the agency determined that it has a significant economic impact on a
substantial number of small entities (without regard to whether it had
prepared a final regulatory flexibility analysis for the rule), and
request comments from the public, the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the
Small Business Administration, and the Regulatory Enforcement Ombudsman
concerning the enforcement of the rule.</text></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</section><section id="H2D17FE257D174098A6110B12AD9BD37D"><enum>308.</enum><header>Judicial review of compliance with the requirements of the Regulatory Flexibility Act available
after publication of the final rule</header>
<subsection id="HC42998A6E6A346E192D9A46E99DFF405"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Paragraph (1) of <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/5/611">section 611(a)</external-xref> of title 5, United States Code, is amended by striking <quote>final agency action</quote> and inserting <quote>such rule</quote>.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H8213DF43CED84EFF9A223380B4CF15E2"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Jurisdiction</header><text>Paragraph (2) of such section is amended by inserting <quote>(or which would have such jurisdiction if publication of the final rule constituted final agency
action)</quote> after <quote>provision of law,</quote>.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HE5845D819A064BDEBB15389800E4B5E9"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Time for bringing action</header><text>Paragraph (3) of such section is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="H7C0FF126F01B4DC8AF9228EDA5635B3D"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by striking <quote>final agency action</quote> and inserting <quote>publication of the final rule</quote>; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H8D91B9AA59DC4852A9A49CC5F95EFE70"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by inserting <quote>, in the case of a rule for which the date of final agency action is the same date as the
publication of the final rule,</quote> after <quote>except that</quote>.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H02641184ADD3449A9ACFF9A7A9A99503"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Intervention by Chief Counsel for Advocacy</header><text>Subsection (b) of <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/5/612">section 612</external-xref> of title 5, United States Code, is amended by inserting before the first period <quote>or agency compliance with section 601, 603, 604, 605(b), 609, or 610</quote>.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="HC9D496D7D22E402CB02B18FC6FB1C45F"><enum>309.</enum><header>Jurisdiction of court of appeals over rules implementing the Regulatory Flexibility Act</header>
<subsection id="H0BDA262942A546BEB55BA1630805064B"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text><external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/28/2342">Section 2342</external-xref> of title 28, United States Code, is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="H2C058E1B5935469AADE762548FE053F8"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in paragraph (6), by striking <quote>and</quote> at the end;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H1D3C4894C3BC4849AC8EE7A3F9C2E983"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in paragraph (7), by striking the period at the end and inserting <quote>; and</quote>; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H684EA9DD6A81499494B31677597FAB03"><enum>(3)</enum><text>by inserting after paragraph (7) the following new paragraph:</text>
<quoted-block id="H1E633EADEE7D4FC2B9FE5BDC62A9553B">
<paragraph id="H5028C5946CCB43D38C50D165457D9955"><enum>(8)</enum><text>all final rules under <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/5/608">section 608(a)</external-xref> of title 5.</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H9A954D84A9EE44D3A5760B6750E3DE43"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Conforming amendments</header><text>Paragraph (3) of <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/28/2341">section 2341</external-xref> of title 28, United States Code, is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="H3187E56EF1D94EFFB4CB352215D30770"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in subparagraph (D), by striking <quote>and</quote> at the end;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HB50CC01AB1D942F5B584DE905F10DDFE"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in subparagraph (E), by striking the period at the end and inserting <quote>; and</quote>; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H171FF5F3B58E4828A539F71678AD5B79"><enum>(3)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:</text>
<quoted-block id="H7C45F2A80D3E477B802BE132A82DEA3A">
<subparagraph id="H4801DC2A399243DCB28726E18C117A3C"><enum>(F)</enum><text>the Office of Advocacy of the Small Business Administration, when the final rule is under <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/5/608">section 608(a)</external-xref> of title 5.</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H9A42979644A048BA9BD1C2A748AC3B27"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Authorization To intervene and comment on agency compliance with administrative procedure</header><text>Subsection (b) of <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/5/612">section 612</external-xref> of title 5, United States Code, is amended by inserting <quote>chapter 5, and chapter 7,</quote> after <quote>this chapter,</quote>.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="H19D6DA357D1E42C9A2918D2183C9945E"><enum>310.</enum><header>Establishment and approval of small business concern size standards by Chief Counsel for Advocacy</header>
<subsection id="H4CEB304C381C468BAD2E7A02D85F9188"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Subparagraph (A) of section 3(a)(2) of the Small Business Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/632">15 U.S.C. 632(a)(2)(A)</external-xref>) is amended to read as follows:</text>
<quoted-block id="H0CE0C7458F4642BCBBEFD9E4FFFFE02C" style="OLC">
<subparagraph id="HAE539E3B30B24DC09C2DE5ED1ECCA251"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>In addition to the criteria specified in paragraph (1)—</text>
<clause id="H4C2B2FC7E31140CEA841D8F1E510DAC9"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the Administrator may specify detailed definitions or standards by which a business concern may be
determined to be a small business concern for purposes of this Act or the
Small Business Investment Act of 1958; and</text>
</clause><clause id="H6ACEDB033EDD47D88DAFA30E4E0B3017"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the Chief Counsel for Advocacy may specify such definitions or standards for purposes of any other
Act.</text></clause></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection id="HCDF757DAA228439BB4725D02904378E4"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Approval by chief counsel</header><text>Clause (iii) of section 3(a)(2)(C) of the Small Business Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/632">15 U.S.C. 632(a)(2)(C)(iii)</external-xref>) is amended to read as follows:</text>
<quoted-block id="H144A22FE62D6435EB2421F632EBA7420" style="OLC">
<clause id="HB6A703369E034E7D88671EB0459C9C99"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>except in the case of a size standard prescribed by the Administrator, is approved by the Chief
Counsel for Advocacy.</text></clause><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection id="H559467E87CC243D9974DCD2101503656"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Industry variation</header><text>Paragraph (3) of section 3(a) of the Small Business Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/632">15 U.S.C. 632(a)(3)</external-xref>) is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="H5C4217B7CFE74B5CA61316B6804C75D5"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by inserting <quote>or Chief Counsel for Advocacy, as appropriate</quote> before <quote>shall ensure</quote>; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HDB10733B030C4751A7F05D1267A4EC95"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by inserting <quote>or Chief Counsel for Advocacy</quote> before the period at the end.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H98FC29AD5959477BA965EA721DB67159"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Judicial review of size standards approved by chief counsel</header><text>Section 3(a) of the Small Business Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/632">15 U.S.C. 632(a)</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:</text>
<quoted-block id="HE2BC3CA9962F47C08809018E9A3996F2" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="H9A0D99957E9C4C31B7E13397AB7A7B56"><enum>(9)</enum><header>Judicial review of standards approved by chief counsel</header><text>In the case of an action for judicial review of a rule which includes a definition or standard
approved by the Chief Counsel for Advocacy under this subsection, the
party seeking such review shall be entitled to join the Chief Counsel as a
party in such action.</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection></section><section commented="no" id="HEFE922F6F4144EC3BE476100026B70BA"><enum>311.</enum><header>Clerical amendments</header>
<subsection commented="no" id="H2D72A89E4AED44148C04ADECED3E71E5"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text><external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/5/601">Section 601</external-xref> of title 5, United States Code, is amended—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" id="HE1B8C09A60474AA5A24F0DDF7251E82F"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in paragraph (1)—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" id="H12D1915E89844610A4B6859C6E4CDCB4"><enum>(A)</enum><text>by striking the semicolon at the end and inserting a period; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="HC1100461F0F241C881903A6264EFAB88"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by striking <quote>(1) the term</quote> and inserting the following:</text>
<quoted-block id="HE8DA76D11D8A48438C7BEC929369B46C">
<paragraph commented="no" id="H639009D4A61E4494809181953E15A847"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Agency</header><text>The term</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="HD05DCE3EBDF045078D7DD8E48AB08D69"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in paragraph (3)—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" id="HEA1C1517F3614D0EB678439F2E6AE310"><enum>(A)</enum><text>by striking the semicolon at the end and inserting a period; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="H436BF73059C147CFAB14C1E4511D1C8B"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by striking <quote>(3) the term</quote> and inserting the following:</text>
<quoted-block id="HFD65EE93F2FC4C87B563F2ACB29063FA">
<paragraph commented="no" id="H51905283B17840588DDBDE9588F749A9"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Small business</header><text>The term</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H572E0521C88C47D7A635BFB2CC049D11"><enum>(3)</enum><text>in paragraph (5)—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" id="HB8DDB563BBE54F709E9BBA3ECFF890E5"><enum>(A)</enum><text>by striking the semicolon at the end and inserting a period; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="H03734E85BC5B4F14B928888E7CAFDA6A"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by striking <quote>(5) the term</quote> and inserting the following:</text>
<quoted-block id="HF59A3B8C90ED4059B5DF5EACF9F4EB8A">
<paragraph commented="no" id="H535C054B8BCC42A894B4F5E09D36D713"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Small governmental jurisdiction</header><text>The term</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H8F494BABF8D245A4940AB40767EF5E6D"><enum>(4)</enum><text>in paragraph (6)—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" id="H0928CBF114CF4D97B7C7E90D877676FD"><enum>(A)</enum><text>by striking <quote>; and</quote> and inserting a period; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="H188785D85E85455EAD4C0623522B34B5"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by striking <quote>(6) the term</quote> and inserting the following:</text>
<quoted-block id="H850C0A6D27B147829A12FE888FD90494">
<paragraph commented="no" id="HE3305378F17A4D399983A6DF1DE8A3D5"><enum>(6)</enum><header>Small entity</header><text>The term</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" id="H3E194478413047FDAC9E79FADC4F3781"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Incorporations by reference and certifications</header><text>The heading of <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/5/605">section 605</external-xref> of title 5, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:</text>
<quoted-block id="H0915FE7EDB26430BB554BE9E4EA96AA0" style="USC">
<section commented="no" id="HC6187E18BBC6477FAFA25E5694EFFE7A"><enum>605.</enum><header>Incorporations by reference and certifications</header></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" id="HF7CAABE2C16E483D9E2E1BB0F9D26E29"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Table of sections</header><text>The table of sections for <external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/5/6">chapter 6</external-xref> of title 5, United States Code, is amended—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" id="HFC5629B0E05C42E5951239347C16EA96"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by striking the item relating to section 605 and inserting the following new item:</text>
<quoted-block id="H6CD25E35461F4E2FAEA54D0FF006380B" style="USC">
<toc regeneration="no-regeneration">
<toc-entry level="section">605. Incorporations by reference and certifications.</toc-entry></toc><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H4F28F71A78DF4D529CEFD5881F3EC26A"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by striking the item relating to section 607 and inserting the following new item:</text>
<quoted-block id="H6B3AED048A0143B69BDE24411E0F2178" style="USC">
<toc regeneration="no-regeneration">
<toc-entry level="section">607. Quantification requirements.</toc-entry></toc><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block><continuation-text continuation-text-level="paragraph">and</continuation-text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H4A2E5E47A3974C9E96BD0D684062E4BE"><enum>(3)</enum><text>by striking the item relating to section 608 and inserting the following:</text>
<quoted-block id="H7B7AE6EBCE2443438450D69F4E7C34FB" style="USC">
<toc regeneration="no-regeneration">
<toc-entry level="section">608. Additional powers of Chief Counsel for Advocacy.</toc-entry></toc><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HCCAC8ABA03654DA7A4E72FF7F051F1AC"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Other clerical amendments to chapter 6</header><text><external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/5/6">Chapter 6</external-xref> of title 5, United States Code, is amended as follows:</text>
<paragraph id="H6FCE2590472C4790A68671C6F2D034A4"><enum>(1)</enum><text>In section 603, by striking subsection (d).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H4A314BDFBFAA46698E2900066561D010"><enum>(2)</enum><text>In section 604(a) by striking the second paragraph (6).</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H7A945741644F405185E6D509DDD66B55" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>312.</enum><header>Agency preparation of guides</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 212(a)(5) the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/5/601">5 U.S.C. 601</external-xref> note) is amended to read as follows:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HE041EED48D01407CB86F4C844763BBDC" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="HA9E02E037F234D2983AEF389A2EA9602"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Agency preparation of guides</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The agency shall, in its sole discretion, taking into account the subject matter of the rule and
the language of relevant statutes, ensure that the guide is written using
sufficiently plain language likely to be understood by affected small
entities. Agencies may prepare separate guides covering groups or classes
of similarly affected small entities and may cooperate with associations
of small entities to distribute such guides. In developing guides,
agencies shall solicit input from affected small entities or associations
of affected small entities. An agency may prepare guides and apply this
section with respect to a rule or a group of related rules.</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</section><section id="HBDD7BC1B5BDF40C08D756E076CF572CB"><enum>313.</enum><header>Comptroller General report</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this title, the Comptroller General of the
United States shall complete and publish a study that examines whether the
Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business Administration has the
capacity and resources to carry out the duties of the Chief Counsel under
this title and the amendments made by this title.</text>
</section><enum>IV</enum><header>Sunshine for Regulatory Decrees and Settlements Act</header>
<section id="H50AC16DD5EC0491181B3C011AEDCEC30" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>401.</enum><header>Short title</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">This title may be cited as the <quote><short-title>Sunshine for Regulatory Decrees and Settlements Act of 2014</short-title></quote>.</text>
</section><section id="H9FFCCD47756746E684B532133803EB96"><enum>402.</enum><header>Definitions</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">In this title—</text>
<paragraph id="H5BBDC90115E9460B9931C0F1565636AE"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the terms <term>agency</term> and <term>agency action</term> have the meanings given those terms under <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/5/551">section 551</external-xref> of title 5, United States Code;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HE0ADF8EA36974C7A9779CA79D97F36A2"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the term <term>covered civil action</term> means a civil action—</text>
<subparagraph id="HFCE51D09278E44E991DD6724F30AD767"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">seeking to compel agency action;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H18EF7B8FEF1F4FC981A5806E490F3E5C"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">alleging that the agency is unlawfully withholding or unreasonably delaying an agency action
relating to a regulatory action that would affect the rights of—</text>
<clause id="H4B622956BB8D40DBA13AA6FCD2CEBA40"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">private persons other than the person bringing the action; or</text>
</clause><clause id="H0083DE2DAF3447EB984581F8C291189C"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a State, local, or tribal government; and</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HBEBC19C810294FDFBB8E57730CAD8565"><enum>(C)</enum><text>brought under—</text>
<clause id="H7382E6B6345C48F18DF4CE577E29C9C8"><enum>(i)</enum><text><external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/5/7">chapter 7</external-xref> of title 5, United States Code; or</text>
</clause><clause id="H01631A8B01984E4E945256B059FE6BCE"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>any other statute authorizing such an action;</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H2CB205751FAD4443A637996A01464FAB"><enum>(3)</enum><text>the term <term>covered consent decree</term> means—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HAA0E978278EA4521B64213E872800815"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a consent decree entered into in a covered civil action; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H48C94FDBE9804011B999F9D3B19BA208"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">any other consent decree that requires agency action relating to a regulatory action that affects
the rights of—</text>
<clause id="H4C597BCA2F724856BA033DB302E2F360"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">private persons other than the person bringing the action; or</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HC201598740E84044AA947A257FBE3970"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a State, local, or tribal government;</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H26D2657AF49343698712BCC6A4169709"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the term <term>covered consent decree or settlement agreement</term> means a covered consent decree and a covered settlement agreement; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HD27B65A4B02D485881930C827A5E99C0"><enum>(5)</enum><text>the term <term>covered settlement agreement</term> means—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HE83A9C45C6BE4202A7EB7270C4F99EC6"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a settlement agreement entered into in a covered civil action; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H9AC037AB1A8A4D9D879F9DB7C1BA5FDD"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">any other settlement agreement that requires agency action relating to a regulatory action that
affects the rights of—</text>
<clause id="HE9301E7D5E4E481B9F18C347B4B11322"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">private persons other than the person bringing the action; or</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HC8202C3A60354C5EADFF939F49A990C1"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a State, local, or tribal government.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph></section><section id="H2775BEDAA4AB4157B992A4B5721557C9"><enum>403.</enum><header>Consent decree and settlement reform</header>
<subsection id="H9395800D796A40B3816B39DDA681DC19"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Pleadings and preliminary matters</header>
<paragraph id="HB321E75AE65345CF8318487857DF6DD4"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>In any covered civil action, the agency against which the covered civil action is brought shall
publish the notice of intent to sue and the complaint in a readily
accessible manner, including by making the notice of intent to sue and the
complaint available online not later than 15 days after receiving service
of the notice of intent to sue or complaint, respectively.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H9F936C6F1B85490DB2340E1A6CD757E7"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Entry of a covered consent decree or settlement agreement</header><text>A party may not make a motion for entry of a covered consent decree or to dismiss a civil action
pursuant to a covered settlement agreement until after the end of
proceedings in accordance with paragraph (1) and subparagraphs (A) and (B)
of paragraph (2) of subsection (d) or subsection (d)(3)(A), whichever is
later.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H1B7C63CDDA4140A38A1DBDE7C0440914"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Intervention</header>
<paragraph id="HDCE6A033FBC04F9FBE39B25309851108"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Rebuttable presumption</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In considering a motion to intervene in a covered civil action or a civil action in which a covered
consent decree or settlement agreement has been proposed that is filed by
a person who alleges that the agency action in dispute would affect the
person, the court shall presume, subject to rebuttal, that the interests
of the person would not be represented adequately by the existing parties
to the action.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H5BB3F7A3179D4295BB9B2D2FDA577B03"><enum>(2)</enum><header>State, local, and tribal governments</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In considering a motion to intervene in a covered civil action or a civil action in which a covered
consent decree or settlement agreement has been proposed that is filed by
a State, local, or tribal government, the court shall take due account of
whether the movant—</text>
<subparagraph id="H3A6123BFBD9445BBA68422EAA59419A5"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">administers jointly with an agency that is a defendant in the action the statutory provisions that
give rise to the regulatory action to which the action relates; or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HDFF634A8E67B42E3ADCAF1A61ACC05C2"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">administers an authority under State, local, or tribal law that would be preempted by the
regulatory action to which the action relates.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H22DCC566DE2C41338D232C632897EA22"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Settlement negotiations</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Efforts to settle a covered civil action or otherwise reach an agreement on a covered consent
decree or settlement agreement shall—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HDF8C0579A9DE4BC98D1132A457922D13"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">be conducted pursuant to the mediation or alternative dispute resolution program of the court or by
a district judge other than the presiding judge, magistrate judge, or
special master, as determined appropriate by the presiding judge; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H8AF9C4A1D68E4EAB98084E27BD315518"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">include any party that intervenes in the action.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H93DD2D01A6F24E0FABC2FAD06BD3A3FF"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Publication of and comment on covered consent decrees or settlement agreements</header>
<paragraph id="HBCDEC5C1213042D896E21BFC52DD2E75"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Not later than 60 days before the date on which a covered consent decree or settlement agreement is
filed with a court, the agency seeking to enter the covered consent decree
or settlement agreement shall publish in the Federal Register and online—</text>
<subparagraph id="HB428D920D17D4FEC8906CA27BC9DB5D8"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the proposed covered consent decree or settlement agreement; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H63DC6ADACE614A2881857FBF995D99C8"><enum>(B)</enum><text>a statement providing—</text>
<clause id="HF9B544383EB543479EECC138D24D353E"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the statutory basis for the covered consent decree or settlement agreement; and</text>
</clause><clause id="H78336A4F362D451090C96A1C5B8C7FFA"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>a description of the terms of the covered consent decree or settlement agreement, including whether
it provides for the award of attorneys’ fees or costs and, if so, the
basis for including the award.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H3638DC71CDDB412AB5A7400984176867"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Public comment</header>
<subparagraph id="H6C4DC15B593047089E22B153A2B826DE"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">An agency seeking to enter a covered consent decree or settlement agreement shall accept public
comment during the period described in paragraph (1) on any issue relating
to the matters alleged in the complaint in the applicable civil action or
addressed or affected by the proposed covered consent decree or settlement
agreement.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H61A9684F23A944468E1F4AD5F3FA789C"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Response to comments</header><text>An agency shall respond to any comment received under subparagraph (A).</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H94321925A3254F71BF3EC6C179793A9E"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Submissions to court</header><text>When moving that the court enter a proposed covered consent decree or settlement agreement or for
dismissal pursuant to a proposed covered consent decree or settlement
agreement, an agency shall—</text>
<clause id="HB1402963BEB543B685B034BFF61EDB27"><enum>(i)</enum><text>inform the court of the statutory basis for the proposed covered consent decree or settlement
agreement and its terms;</text>
</clause><clause id="H0F222F41ACE0479B8EBDBC2BB4BAF519"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>submit to the court a summary of the comments received under subparagraph (A) and the response of
the agency to the comments;</text>
</clause><clause id="HB8013CACC5AF44BD8EFD25DDC1C819EA"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>submit to the court a certified index of the administrative record of the notice and comment
proceeding; and</text>
</clause><clause id="HE8E31111893F4DB39595B432CE48EC90"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>make the administrative record described in clause (iii) fully accessible to the court.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HA464340C51E041B284A4CAA8664D5826"><enum>(D)</enum><header>Inclusion in record</header><text>The court shall include in the court record for a civil action the certified index of the
administrative record submitted by an agency under subparagraph (C)(iii)
and any documents listed in the index which any party or amicus curiae
appearing before the court in the action submits to the court.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H7CCBE8C19A434E1EB4DD4BA7A7F9804E"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Public hearings permitted</header>
<subparagraph id="H54CE3EFBB519498ABACB8E2F70C6312F"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">After providing notice in the Federal Register and online, an agency may hold a public hearing
regarding whether to enter into a proposed covered consent decree or
settlement agreement.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H8A6281D8E17F4862A19270753FE08C41"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Record</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">If an agency holds a public hearing under subparagraph (A)—</text>
<clause id="H5C2CAB14E2324205A3E78CFFB4CDEDC0"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the agency shall—</text>
<subclause id="H03516E70545B4001BFAB1F6A541DF9E4"><enum>(I)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">submit to the court a summary of the proceedings;</text>
</subclause><subclause id="H9EA7C434F63B44D685CACAEE7FF28372"><enum>(II)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">submit to the court a certified index of the hearing record; and</text>
</subclause><subclause id="H216371DB4A314497BCA916ECA3019378"><enum>(III)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">provide access to the hearing record to the court; and</text>
</subclause></clause><clause id="HA52D6C365FA6481BA127FED43DF2CDA2"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the full hearing record shall be included in the court record.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H3F00FE3944144404B5C797BD9F921F9A"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Mandatory deadlines</header><text>If a proposed covered consent decree or settlement agreement requires an agency action by a date
certain, the agency shall, when moving for entry of the covered consent
decree or settlement agreement or dismissal based on the covered consent
decree or settlement agreement, inform the court of—</text>
<subparagraph id="H574B56A2BF904333897D8F62128725D5"><enum>(A)</enum><text>any required regulatory action the agency has not taken that the covered consent decree or
settlement agreement does not address;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H6D5522D98E1D4769B46EF56A92290564"><enum>(B)</enum><text>how the covered consent decree or settlement agreement, if approved, would affect the discharge of
the duties described in subparagraph (A); and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HCB608A9D7C0F420EAA5E45BB9CCEC4CC"><enum>(C)</enum><text>why the effects of the covered consent decree or settlement agreement on the manner in which the
agency discharges its duties is in the public interest.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H8AAB8B84D1AA4971BE1F9056A9DCAB08"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Submission by the Government</header>
<paragraph id="HEE46165A109A461D9A8639435118BC78"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>For any proposed covered consent decree or settlement agreement that contains a term described in
paragraph (2), the Attorney General or, if the matter is being litigated
independently by an agency, the head of the agency shall submit to the
court a certification that the Attorney General or head of the agency
approves the proposed covered consent decree or settlement agreement. The
Attorney General or head of the agency shall personally sign any
certification submitted under this paragraph.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H71A4E90FB53F4DBCB395C0C788C1CB8D"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Terms</header><text>A term described in this paragraph is—</text>
<subparagraph id="HDEECB8A91C2C43D19602F3C272AA4EC1"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in the case of a covered consent decree, a term that—</text>
<clause id="H61BCA177D6CA4B9AAB4A2D81EFB0083F"><enum>(i)</enum><text>converts into a nondiscretionary duty a discretionary authority of an agency to propose,
promulgate, revise, or amend regulations;</text>
</clause><clause id="H59D523C585764CD5BCACAE6A45613C1F"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>commits an agency to expend funds that have not been appropriated and that have not been budgeted
for the regulatory action in question;</text>
</clause><clause id="H2DE405DF09864234980E0CC3D2AEC9A6"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>commits an agency to seek a particular appropriation or budget authorization;</text>
</clause><clause id="HE5B9BA39952A4C92AF8E398F0200565C"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>divests an agency of discretion committed to the agency by statute or the Constitution of the
United States, without regard to whether the discretion was granted to
respond to changing circumstances, to make policy or managerial choices,
or to protect the rights of third parties; or</text>
</clause><clause id="H58BD7734D8D947CAA2D2119E1B7FCD5C"><enum>(v)</enum><text>otherwise affords relief that the court could not enter under its own authority upon a final
judgment in the civil action; or</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HC4C29854A03C4DDF8CB779D556064D04"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in the case of a covered settlement agreement, a term—</text>
<clause id="HEEBDAC1716F14AA79F7543AB264221EC"><enum>(i)</enum><text>that provides a remedy for a failure by the agency to comply with the terms of the covered
settlement agreement other than the revival of the civil action resolved
by the covered settlement agreement; and</text>
</clause><clause id="H7C3EB9DA7B8F42DF96713061258DCC4C"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>that—</text>
<subclause id="H5DBE389B251B4458A820725FBF2D0B22"><enum>(I)</enum><text>interferes with the authority of an agency to revise, amend, or issue rules under the procedures
set forth in <external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/5/5">chapter 5</external-xref> of title 5, United States Code, or any other statute or Executive order prescribing rulemaking
procedures for a rulemaking that is the subject of the covered settlement
agreement;</text>
</subclause><subclause id="H70C18D809FF24506AD421786F22E9A67"><enum>(II)</enum><text>commits the agency to expend funds that have not been appropriated and that have not been budgeted
for the regulatory action in question; or</text>
</subclause><subclause id="H2594C343919142CA9E00907173A95121"><enum>(III)</enum><text>for such a covered settlement agreement that commits the agency to exercise in a particular way
discretion which was committed to the agency by statute or the
Constitution of the United States to respond to changing circumstances, to
make policy or managerial choices, or to protect the rights of third
parties.</text>
</subclause></clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H8D95DAB912764B42B4900B08AEAF76EA"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Review by court</header>
<paragraph id="H9A0D8125EF274448ACE553B949B27171"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Amicus</header><text>A court considering a proposed covered consent decree or settlement agreement shall presume,
subject to rebuttal, that it is proper to allow amicus participation
relating to the covered consent decree or settlement agreement by any
person who filed public comments or participated in a public hearing on
the covered consent decree or settlement agreement under paragraph (2) or
(3) of subsection (d).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HE580353142DF494EB07637455CC00183"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Review of deadlines</header>
<subparagraph id="HBE2411179246453CA3F73FADBA0C22C6"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Proposed covered consent decrees</header><text>For a proposed covered consent decree, a court shall not approve the covered consent decree unless
the proposed covered consent decree allows sufficient time and
incorporates adequate procedures for the agency to comply with <external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/5/5">chapter 5</external-xref> of title 5, United States Code, and other applicable statutes that govern rulemaking and, unless
contrary to the public interest, the provisions of any Executive order
that governs rulemaking.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H11A6AD10312640E2BE90F35299EBE1DB"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Proposed covered settlement agreements</header><text>For a proposed covered settlement agreement, a court shall ensure that the covered settlement
agreement allows sufficient time and incorporates adequate procedures for
the agency to comply with <external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/5/5">chapter 5</external-xref> of title 5, United States Code, and other applicable statutes that govern rulemaking and, unless
contrary to the public interest, the provisions of any Executive order
that governs rulemaking.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H1AB406DD929C4B1E86F30CA821B7F0C6"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Annual reports</header><text>Each agency shall submit to Congress an annual report that, for the year covered by the report,
includes—</text>
<paragraph id="H3AA796D567F8483684EE22F877278647"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the number, identity, and content of covered civil actions brought against and covered consent
decrees or settlement agreements entered against or into by the agency;
and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HFF7C3BC959894AD2B5F559F735C2C6A2"><enum>(2)</enum><text>a description of the statutory basis for—</text>
<subparagraph id="H028B056274034FAA9AD30CD263FC5FB0"><enum>(A)</enum><text>each covered consent decree or settlement agreement entered against or into by the agency; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H48C6915EB3B543E89F76F83D8355FBD6"><enum>(B)</enum><text>any award of attorneys fees or costs in a civil action resolved by a covered consent decree or
settlement agreement entered against or into by the agency.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="HC86C5A2A75284F8BBC863F350F272DB9"><enum>404.</enum><header>Motions to modify consent decrees</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">If an agency moves a court to modify a covered consent decree or settlement agreement and the basis
of the motion is that the terms of the covered consent decree or
settlement agreement are no longer fully in the public interest due to the
obligations of the agency to fulfill other duties or due to changed facts
and circumstances, the court shall review the motion and the covered
consent decree or settlement agreement de novo.</text>
</section><section id="H6EE423A1DF7F4BF78B12EC0EAE14E301"><enum>405.</enum><header>Effective date</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">This title shall apply to—</text>
<paragraph id="HB32298BA83C046C39ACE6D4F48C4A7C2"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">any covered civil action filed on or after the date of enactment of this title; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HFC038D264C0F4A8F9EA11BA0BF0370D5"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">any covered consent decree or settlement agreement proposed to a court on or after the date of
enactment of this title.</text>
</paragraph></section>
Passed the House of Representatives February 27, 2014.Karen L. Haas,Clerk