---
kind: "section"
citation: "44 U.S.C. § 3581"
title: "44"
title_heading: "Public Printing and Documents"
number: "3581"
heading: "Presumption of accessibility for statistical agencies and units"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/44/3581"
units:
  - "Chapter 35 — Coordination of Federal Information Policy"
  - "Subchapter III — Confidential Information Protection and Statistical Efficiency"
  - "Part D — Access to Data for Evidence"
---

# §3581. Presumption of accessibility for statistical agencies and units

- (a) **Accessibility of Data Assets.—** The head of an [agency](/usc/44/3502.md?p=1) shall, to the extent practicable, make any [data asset](/usc/44/3502.md?p=17) maintained by the [agency](/usc/44/3502.md?p=1) available, upon request, to any statistical [agency](/usc/44/3502.md?p=1) or unit for purposes of developing evidence.
- (b) **Limitations.—** [Subsection (a)](#a) does not apply to any [data asset](/usc/44/3502.md?p=17) that is subject to a statute that—
  - (1) prohibits the sharing or intended use of such asset in a manner as to leave no discretion on the issue; or
  - (2) if enacted after the date of the enactment of this section, specifically cites to this paragraph.
- (c) **Regulations.—** The [Director](/usc/44/3502.md?p=4) shall prescribe regulations for [agencies](/usc/44/3502.md?p=1) to carry out this section. Such regulations shall—
  - (1) require the timely provision of [data assets](/usc/44/3502.md?p=17) under [subsection (a)](#a);
  - (2) provide a list of statutes that exempt [agencies](/usc/44/3502.md?p=1) from the requirement under [subsection (a)](#a) pursuant to [subsection (b)(1)](#b-1);
  - (3) establish clear and consistent standards, to the extent possible, for complying with [section 552a of title 5](/usc/5/552a.md) (commonly known as the “Privacy Act of 1974”) and any other applicable law requiring the protection and confidentiality of individually identifiable information; and
  - (4) require a transparent process for statistical [agencies](/usc/44/3502.md?p=1) and units to request [data assets](/usc/44/3502.md?p=17) from [agencies](/usc/44/3502.md?p=1) and for [agencies](/usc/44/3502.md?p=1) to respond to such requests.
- (d) **Rule of Construction.—** Nothing in this section may be construed as altering existing intellectual property rights or the terms of any contract or other binding, written agreement.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 115–435, title III, § 303(a), Jan. 14, 2019, 132 Stat. 5554.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

The date of the enactment of this section, referred to in subsec. (b)(2), is the date of enactment of Pub. L. 115–435, which was approved Jan. 14, 2019.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Section effective 180 days after Jan. 14, 2019, see section 403 of Pub. L. 115–435, set out as an Effective Date of 2019 Amendment note under section 306 of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.