H.R. 653 — what changed

“(E) copies of all releasable records, regardless of form or format, that have been requested three or more times under paragraph (3); and

“(F) a general index of the records referred to under subparagraphs (D) and (E);”

changed “(m) Consolidated online request portalElectronic submission of requests

changed “(1) Request portal required—The Consolidated online request portal—The Director of the Office of Management and Budget, in consultation with the Attorney General, shall ensure the operation of a consolidated online request portal that allows a member of the public to submit a request for records under subsection (a) to any agency from a single website. The portal may include any additional tools the Director of the Office of Management and Budget finds will improve the implementation of this section.

changed “(2) Rule of construction—This subsection shall not be construed to alter the power of any other agency to create or maintain an independent online portal for the submission of a request for records under this section. The Director of the Office of Management and Budget shall establish standards for interoperability between the portal required under paragraph (1) and other request processing software used by agencies subject to this section.”section.

added “(3) Email request required—Each agency shall accept requests for records under subsection (a) through an email address and shall publish such email address on the website of the agency.”

changed “(A) records opinions that embody the working law, effective policy, or the final decision are controlling interpretations of the agency; orlaw;

changed “(B) records final reports or information memoranda created 25 years or more before by an entity other than the date on which a agency, including other Governmental entities, at the request is made under subsection (a)(3);”of the agency and used to make a final policy decision;

added “(C) guidance documents used by the agency to respond to the public; and

added “(D) records or information created 25 years or more before the date on which a request is made under subsection (a)(3)”

“(h) The Office of Government Information Services

“(1) Establishment—There is established the Office of Government Information Services within the National Archives and Records Administration. The head of the Office is the Director of the Office of Government Information Services.

“(2) Review of FOIA policy, procedure, and compliance—The Office of Government Information Services shall—

“(A) review policies and procedures of agencies under this section;

“(B) review compliance with this section by agencies;

“(C) identify methods that improve compliance under this section that may include—

“(i) the timely processing of requests submitted to agencies under this section;

“(ii) the system for assessing fees and fee waivers under this section; and

“(iii) the use of any exemption under subsection (b); and

“(D) review and provide guidance to agencies on the use of fees and fee waivers.

added “(3) Mediation services—The Office of Government Information Services shall offer mediation services to resolve disputes between persons making requests under this section and agencies as a non-exclusive alternative to litigation and may issue advisory opinions at the discretion of the Office or upon request of any party to such mediation services.

removed “(3) Mediation services—The Office of Government Information Services shall offer mediation services to resolve disputes between persons making requests under this section and agencies as a non-exclusive alternative to litigation and, at the discretion of the Office, may issue advisory opinions if mediation has not resolved the dispute.

“(4) Submission of report

“(A) In general—The Office of Government Information Services shall not less than annually submit to the committees described in subparagraph (C) and the President a report on the findings from the information reviewed and identified under paragraph (2), a summary of the Office’s activities under paragraph (3) (including any advisory opinions issued), and legislative and regulatory recommendations to improve the administration of this section.

“(B) Electronic availability of reports—The Office shall make available any report submitted under paragraph (A) in a publicly accessible format.

“(C) Congressional submission of report—The committees described in this subparagraph are the following:

“(i) The Committee on Oversight and Government Reform of the House of Representatives.

“(ii) The Committees on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and the Judiciary of the Senate.

“(D) Direct submission of reports and testimony—Any report submitted under paragraph (A), any testimony, or any other communication to Congress shall be submitted directly to the committees and the President, without any requirement that any officer or employee outside of the Office of Government Information Services, including the Archivist of the United States and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, review such report, testimony, or other communication.

“(5) Submission of additional information—The Director of the Office of Government Information Services may submit additional information to Congress and the President that the Director determines to be appropriate.

“(6) Annual meeting required—Not less than once a year, the Office of Government Information Services shall hold a meeting that is open to the public on the review and reports by the Office and permit interested persons to appear and present oral or written statements at such meeting.”

“(I) such determination and the reasons therefor;

“(II) the right of such person to seek assistance from the agency FOIA Public Liaison; and

“(III) the right of such person to appeal to the head of the agency any adverse determination, within a period determined by the agency that is not less than 90 days after the receipt of such adverse determination; and”

“(8) Disclosure of information for increased public understanding of the Government—Each agency shall—

“(A) review the records of such agency to determine whether the release of the records would be in the public interest because it is likely to contribute significantly to public understanding of the operations or activities of the Government;

“(B) for records determined to be in the public interest under subparagraph (A), reasonably segregate and redact any information exempted from disclosure under subsection (b); and

“(C) make available in an electronic, publicly accessible format, any records identified in subparagraph (A), as modified pursuant to subparagraph (B).

“(9) Increased disclosure of information—Each agency shall—

“(A) make information public to the greatest extent possible through modern technology to—

“(i) inform the public of the operations and activities of the Government; and

“(ii) ensure timely disclosure of information; and

“(B) establish procedures for identifying categories of records that may be disclosed regularly and additional records of interest to the public that are appropriate for public disclosure, and for posting such records in an electronic, publicly accessible format.”

“(P) the number of times the agency invoked a law enforcement exclusion under subsection (c);

“(Q) the number of times the agency engaged in dispute resolution with the assistance of the Office of Government Information Services or the FOIA Public Liaison;

“(R) the number of records that were made available in an electronic, publicly accessible format under subsection (a)(2); and

“(S) the number of times the agency assessed a search or duplication fee under subsection (a)(4)(A) and did not comply with a time limit under subsection (a)(6).”

“(3) Electronic accessibility of reports—Each agency shall make each such report available in an electronic, publicly accessible format. In addition, each agency shall make the raw statistical data used in its reports available in a timely manner in an electronic, publicly accessible format. Such data shall be—

“(A) made available without charge, license, or registration requirement;

“(B) capable of being searched and aggregated; and

“(C) permitted to be downloaded and downloaded in bulk.”

“(6) Attorney General FOIA report

“(A) In general—The Attorney General of the United States shall submit to Congress and the President an annual report on or before March 1 of each calendar year which shall include for the prior calendar year—

“(i) a listing of the number of cases arising under this section;

“(ii) each subsection under this section, each paragraph of the subsection, and any exemption, if applicable, involved in each case, the disposition of such case, and the cost, fees, and penalties assessed under subparagraphs (E), (F), and (G) of subsection (a)(4); and

“(iii) a description of the efforts undertaken by the Department of Justice to encourage agency compliance with this section.

“(B) Electronic availability—The Attorney General of the United States—

“(i) shall make each report described under subparagraph (A) available in an electronic, publicly accessible format; and

“(ii) shall make the raw statistical data used in each report available in an electronic, publicly accessible format, which shall be—

“(I) made available without charge, license, or registration requirement;

“(II) capable of being searched and aggregated; and

“(III) permitted to be downloaded, including downloaded in bulk.”

“(i) Government Accountability Office—The Government Accountability Office shall—

“(1) conduct audits of administrative agencies on compliance with and implementation of the requirements of this section and issue reports detailing the results of such audits;

“(2) catalog the number of exemptions under subsection (b)(3) and agency use of such exemptions; and

“(3) review and prepare a report on the processing of requests by agencies for information pertaining to an entity that has received assistance under title I of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 (12 U.S.C. 5211 et seq.) during any period in which the Government owns or owned more than 50 percent of the stock of such entity.”

“(j) Chief FOIA Officer

“(1) Designation—Each agency shall designate a Chief FOIA Officer who shall be a senior official of such agency (at the Assistant Secretary or equivalent level).

“(2) Duties—The Chief FOIA Officer of each agency shall, subject to the authority of the head of the agency—

“(A) have agency-wide responsibility for efficient and appropriate compliance with this section;

“(B) monitor implementation of this section throughout the agency and keep the head of the agency, the chief legal officer of the agency, and the Attorney General appropriately informed of the agency’s performance in implementing this section;

“(C) recommend to the head of the agency such adjustments to agency practices, policies, personnel, and funding as may be necessary to improve its implementation of this section;

“(D) review and report to the Attorney General, through the head of the agency, at such times and in such formats as the Attorney General may direct, on the agency’s performance in implementing this section;

“(E) facilitate public understanding of the purposes of the statutory exemptions of this section by including concise descriptions of the exemptions in both the agency’s handbook issued under subsection (g), and the agency’s annual report on this section, and by providing an overview, where appropriate, of certain general categories of agency records to which those exemptions apply;

“(F) serve as the primary agency liaison with the Office of Government Information Services and the Office of Information Policy; and

“(G) designate one or more FOIA Public Liaisons.

“(3) Compliance review required—The Chief FOIA Officer of each agency shall—

“(A) review, not less than annually, all aspects of the agency’s administration of this section to ensure compliance with the requirements of this section, including—

“(i) agency regulations;

“(ii) disclosure of records required under paragraphs (2), (8), and (9) of subsection (a);

“(iii) assessment of fees and determination of eligibility for fee waivers;

“(iv) the timely processing of requests for information under this section;

“(v) the use of exemptions under subsection (b); and

“(vi) dispute resolution services with the assistance of the Office of Government Information Services or the FOIA Public Liaison; and

“(B) make recommendations as necessary to improve agency practices and compliance with this section.

“(k) Chief FOIA Officers Council

“(1) Establishment—There is established in the executive branch the Chief FOIA Officers Council (in this subsection, referred to as the Council).

“(2) Members—The Council shall consist of the following members:

“(A) The Deputy Director for Management of the Office of Management and Budget.

“(B) The Director of the Office of Information Policy at the Department of Justice.

“(C) The Director of the Office of Government Information Services at the National Archives and Records Administration.

“(D) The Chief FOIA Officer of each agency.

“(E) Any other officer or employee of the United States as designated by the Co-Chairs.

“(3) Co-Chairs—The Director of the Office of Information Policy at the Department of Justice and the Director of the Office of Government Information Services at the National Archives and Records Administration shall be the Co-Chairs of the Council.

“(4) Support services—The Administrator of General Services shall provide administrative and other support for the Council.

“(5) Consultation—In performing its duties, the Council shall consult regularly with members of the public who make requests under this section.

“(6) Duties—The duties of the Council include the following:

“(A) Develop recommendations for increasing compliance and efficiency under this section.

“(B) Disseminate information about agency experiences, ideas, best practices, and innovative approaches related to this section.

“(C) Identify, develop, and coordinate initiatives to increase transparency and compliance with this section.

“(D) Promote the development and use of common performance measures for agency compliance with this section.

“(7) Meetings

“(A) Regular meetings—The Council shall meet regularly and such meetings shall be open to the public unless the Council determines to close the meeting for reasons of national security or to discuss information exempt under subsection (b).

“(B) Annual meetings—Not less than once a year, the Council shall hold a meeting that shall be open to the public and permit interested persons to appear and present oral and written statements to the Council.

“(C) Notice—Not later than 10 business days before a meeting of the Council, notice of such meeting shall be published in the Federal Register.

“(D) Public availability of Council records—Except as provided in subsection (b), the records, reports, transcripts, minutes, appendixes, working papers, drafts, studies, agenda, or other documents that were made available to or prepared for or by the Council shall be made publicly available.

“(E) Minutes—Detailed minutes of each meeting of the Council shall be kept and shall contain a record of the persons present, a complete and accurate description of matters discussed and conclusions reached, and copies of all reports received, issued, or approved by the Council.”