The Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA), enacted in 1980 and revised upon its reauthorization in 1986 and 1995, created the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) within the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to oversee information policy within the executive branch. The Act requires, among other things, that agencies secure OMB approval before collecting information from the public. Since 1995, this has...
Paperwork Reduction Act
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Committee:
Project Stages:
1. Gather ideas - Completed2. Select ideas - Completed
3. Council approval - Completed
4. Picking a researcher - Completed
5. Committee consideration - Completed
6. Back to the council - Completed
7. Consideration by the full conference - Completed
8. Implementation - Current
Stage:
8. Implementation
Contacts
Consultant
Stuart Shapiro
Professor
Rutgers University
This project examined the Paperwork Reduction Act (“PRA”), 44 U.S.C. §§ 3501–21, broadly to determine whether the statute itself or agencies’ practices under the Act could be improved. Among other things, the project considered the costs and benefits of PRA compliance, whether the Act’s goals could be achieved in a more efficient manner, whether the Act needs to be updated to account for advances in social media and other new technologies, whether the Act should apply to voluntary collections of information, and whether the Act should apply when an agency seeks to collect information from special government employees. The research consultant for the PRA project was Associate Professor Stuart Shapiro, who serves as Director of the Public Policy Program at Rutgers University’s Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy.
Final Recommendation
Implementation
The Paperwork Reduction Act (“PRA”) governs the ability of federal agencies to compel private parties to disclose information. 44 U.S.C. §§ 3501–21. The law aims to minimize the burden imposed on individuals, businesses, and other entities resulting from data collection by the federal government. Whenever a federal agency seeks to obtain information from a group larger than 10 individuals, it must comply with the PRA. Among other things, the PRA requires agencies seeking such information to make a determination that the contemplated collection of information is necessary for proper performance of agency functions. In addition, agencies must submit their proposed data collection instrument to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (“OIRA”) for approval. The approval process normally includes two required public comment periods totaling at least 90 days and normally takes 6-9 months to complete, although, in June 2011, OIRA implemented a “fast track” review process for certain information collections for which agencies obtain generic approval.
At its 56th Plenary Session on June 14-15, 2012, the Administrative Conference adopted Recommendation 2012-4, Paperwork Reduction Act. This recommendation addresses a variety of issues that have arisen since the Act was last revised in 1995. For instance, despite OMB guidance on the application of the PRA to social media, the Act does not yet account for new technologies. The proposal offers suggestions for improving public engagement in the review of information collection requests and for making the process more efficient for the agencies and OMB.
Project Documents
Committee Meetings & Events
56th Plenary Session
June 14, 2012 - 1:00 pm EDT
June 15, 2012 - 9:00 am EDT
Location name:
Commodity Futures Trading Commission
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