[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 3079 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

112th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 3079

   To make participation in the American Community Survey voluntary, 
except with respect to certain basic questions, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              May 10, 2012

  Mr. Paul (for himself, Mr. Boozman, and Mr. Vitter) introduced the 
 following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on 
               Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
   To make participation in the American Community Survey voluntary, 
except with respect to certain basic questions, 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. PARTICIPATION IN AMERICAN COMMUNITY SURVEY TO BE VOLUNTARY.

    (a) In General.--Except as provided in subsection (b), no criminal 
penalty shall apply, under section 221 of title 13, United States Code, 
or any other provision of law, for refusing or willfully neglecting to 
answer questions in connection with the survey, conducted by the 
Secretary of Commerce, which is commonly referred to as the ``American 
Community Survey''.
    (b) Exceptions.--Nothing in subsection (a) shall--
            (1) apply in the case of a question that elicits only 1 or 
        more of the items of information described in subsection (c); 
        or
            (2) be considered to waive any penalty imposed by reason of 
        conduct described in section 221(b) of title 13, United States 
        Code.
    (c) Information Described.--The items of information described in 
this subsection are as follows:
            (1) The name of the respondent.
            (2) Contact information for the respondent.
            (3) The date of the response.
            (4) The number of people living or staying at the same 
        address.
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