---
kind: "section"
citation: "44 U.S.C. § 3509"
title: "44"
title_heading: "Public Printing and Documents"
number: "3509"
heading: "Designation of central collection agency"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/44/3509"
units:
  - "Chapter 35 — Coordination of Federal Information Policy"
  - "Subchapter I — Federal Information Policy"
---

# §3509. Designation of central collection agency


The [Director](/usc/44/3502.md?p=4) may designate a central collection [agency](/usc/44/3502.md?p=1) to obtain information for two or more [agencies](/usc/44/3502.md?p=1) if the [Director](/usc/44/3502.md?p=4) determines that the needs of such [agencies](/usc/44/3502.md?p=1) for information will be adequately served by a single collection [agency](/usc/44/3502.md?p=1), and such sharing of [data](/usc/44/3502.md?p=16) is not inconsistent with applicable law. In such cases the [Director](/usc/44/3502.md?p=4) shall prescribe (with reference to the [collection of information](/usc/44/3502.md?p=3)) the duties and functions of the collection [agency](/usc/44/3502.md?p=1) so designated and of the [agencies](/usc/44/3502.md?p=1) for which it is to act as agent (including reimbursement for costs). While the designation is in effect, an [agency](/usc/44/3502.md?p=1) covered by the designation may not obtain for itself information for the [agency](/usc/44/3502.md?p=1) which is the duty of the collection [agency](/usc/44/3502.md?p=1) to obtain. The [Director](/usc/44/3502.md?p=4) may modify the designation from time to time as circumstances require. The authority to designate under this section is subject to the provisions of [section 3507(f)](/usc/44/3507.md?p=f) of this subchapter.


## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 104–13, § 2, May 22, 1995, 109 Stat. 180; amended Pub. L. 106–398, § 1 [[div. A], title X, § 1064(b)], Oct. 30, 2000, 114 Stat. 1654, 1654A–275.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Prior Provisions

A prior section 3509, added Pub. L. 96–511, § 2(a), Dec. 11, 1980, 94 Stat. 2821, related to designation of central collection agency prior to the general amendment of this chapter by Pub. L. 104–13.

Another prior section 3509, Pub. L. 90–620, Oct. 22, 1968, 82 Stat. 1304, related to plans or forms for collecting information, submission to Director, and his approval, prior to the general amendment of this chapter by Pub. L. 96–511.

### Amendments

2000—Pub. L. 106–398 substituted “subchapter” for “chapter”.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 2000 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 106–398 effective 30 days after Oct. 30, 2000, see section 1 [[div. A], title X, § 1065] of Pub. L. 106–398, Oct. 30, 2000, 114 Stat. 1654, formerly set out as an Effective Date note under former section 3531 of this title.

### Effective Date

Section effective Oct. 1, 1995, except as otherwise provided, see section 4(a) of Pub. L. 104–13, set out as a note under section 3501 of this title.