[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 946 Enrolled Bill (ENR)]
H.R.946
One Hundred Eleventh Congress
of the
United States of America
AT THE SECOND SESSION
Begun and held at the City of Washington on Tuesday,
the fifth day of January, two thousand and ten
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 necessary for 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 is clear, concise, well-organized, and follows other best
practices appropriate to the subject or field and intended
audience.
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 as required under paragraph (2) 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.
Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Vice President of the United States and
President of the Senate.