[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 946 Engrossed in House (EH)]

111th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 946

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 AN ACT


 
  To enhance citizen access to Government information and services by 
  establishing that Government documents issued to the public must be 
                written clearly, and for other purposes.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Plain Writing Act of 2010''.

SEC. 2. PURPOSE.

    The purpose of this Act is to improve the effectiveness and 
accountability of Federal agencies to the public by promoting clear 
Government communication that the public can understand and use.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Agency.--The term ``agency'' means an Executive agency, 
        as defined under section 105 of title 5, United States Code.
            (2) Covered document.--The term ``covered document''--
                    (A) means any document that--
                            (i) is relevant to obtaining any Federal 
                        Government benefit or service or filing taxes;
                            (ii) provides information about any Federal 
                        Government benefit or service; or
                            (iii) explains to the public how to comply 
                        with a requirement the Federal Government 
                        administers or enforces;
                    (B) includes (whether in paper or electronic form) 
                a letter, publication, form, notice, or instruction; 
                and
                    (C) does not include a regulation.
            (3) Plain writing.--The term ``plain writing'' means 
        writing that the intended audience can readily understand and 
        use because that writing is clear, concise, well-organized, and 
        follows other best practices of plain writing.

SEC. 4. RESPONSIBILITIES OF FEDERAL AGENCIES.

    (a) Preparation for Implementation of Plain Writing Requirements.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 9 months after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the head of each agency shall--
                    (A) designate 1 or more senior officials within the 
                agency to oversee the agency implementation of this 
                Act;
                    (B) communicate the requirements of this Act to the 
                employees of the agency;
                    (C) train employees of the agency in plain writing;
                    (D) establish a process for overseeing the ongoing 
                compliance of the agency with the requirements of this 
                Act;
                    (E) create and maintain a plain writing section of 
                the agency's website that is accessible from the 
                homepage of the agency's website; and
                    (F) designate 1 or more agency points-of-contact to 
                receive and respond to public input on--
                            (i) agency implementation of this Act; and
                            (ii) the agency reports required under 
                        section 5.
            (2) Website.--The plain writing section described under 
        paragraph (1)(E) shall--
                    (A) inform the public of agency compliance with the 
                requirements of this Act; and
                    (B) provide a mechanism for the agency to receive 
                and respond to public input on--
                            (i) agency implementation of this Act; and
                            (ii) the agency reports required under 
                        section 5.
    (b) Requirement to Use Plain Writing in New Documents.--Beginning 
not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, each 
agency shall use plain writing in every covered document of the agency 
that the agency issues or substantially revises.
    (c) Guidance.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 6 months after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Director of the Office of Management 
        and Budget shall develop and issue guidance on implementing the 
        requirements of this section. The Director may designate a lead 
        agency, and may use interagency working groups to assist in 
        developing and issuing the guidance.
            (2) Interim guidance.--Before the issuance of guidance 
        under paragraph (1), agencies may follow the guidance of--
                    (A) the writing guidelines developed by the Plain 
                Language Action and Information Network; or
                    (B) guidance provided by the head of the agency 
                that is consistent with the guidelines referred to in 
                subparagraph (A).

SEC. 5. REPORTS TO CONGRESS.

    (a) Initial Report.--Not later than 9 months after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the head of each agency shall publish on the 
plain writing section of the agency's website a report that describes 
the agency plan for compliance with the requirements of this Act.
    (b) Annual Compliance Report.--Not later than 18 months after the 
date of enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the head of 
each agency shall publish on the plain writing section of the agency's 
website a report on agency compliance with the requirements of this 
Act.

SEC. 6. JUDICIAL REVIEW AND ENFORCEABILITY.

    (a) Judicial Review.--There shall be no judicial review of 
compliance or noncompliance with any provision of this Act.
    (b) Enforceability.--No provision of this Act shall be construed to 
create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable by 
any administrative or judicial action.

SEC. 7. BUDGETARY EFFECTS OF PAYGO LEGISLATION FOR THIS ACT.

     The budgetary effects of this Act, for the purpose of complying 
with the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010, shall be determined by 
reference to the latest statement titled ``Budgetary Effects of PAYGO 
Legislation'' for this Act, submitted for printing in the Congressional 
Record by the Chairman of the House Budget Committee, provided that 
such statement has been submitted prior to the vote on passage.

            Passed the House of Representatives March 17, 2010.

            Attest:

                                                                 Clerk.
111th CONGRESS

  2d Session

                               H. R. 946

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 AN ACT

  To enhance citizen access to Government information and services by 
  establishing that Government documents issued to the public must be 
                written clearly, and for other purposes.