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Bill114th CongressFiled Mar 25, 2015Government Operations and Politics
H.R. 1615

DHS FOIA Efficiency Act of 2015

Bill journey · stage 2 of 5

Under committee review

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Law

What it doesSummary passed house amended (Jun 25, 2015)

(This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the House of Representatives on June 11, 2015. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

DHS FOIA Efficiency Act of 2015

(Sec. 2) Directs the Chief FOIA Officer of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS):

  • within 90 days after enactment of this Act, to issue an updated regulation implementing the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and to identify the total annual implementation costs;
  • to develop guidance on reporting standards related to costs of processing FOIA requests;
  • within 120 days after enactment of this Act, to identify unnecessary and duplicative actions taken by DHS in processing such requests;
  • to eliminate such actions within 12 months after identifying them; and
  • within 90 days after enactment of this Act, to develop a plan to automate the processing of requests and to issue guidance to the relevant DHS components regarding the goal of reducing the backlog in processing requests by 50% between FY2015 and FY2018.

Requires the regulation implementing FOIA to include: (1) public guidance on procedures to be followed when making requests for DHS rules, opinions, orders, records, or proceedings; (2) updated guidance to the DHS components for processing such requests, which may include information on automated processing; and (3) detailed information on fees and costs associated with, and on the appeals process for, requests.

Directs the Chief FOIA Officer to include: (1) in each semiannual privacy report submitted under the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004, the total costs to DHS of meeting FOIA requirements and assessments of progress made toward meeting backlog goals, of whether DHS has adequate staffing and other resources to address such goals, and of progress made toward automating the processing of requests; and (2) in the second semiannual privacy report for FY2016, a description of any cost savings identified from, and the plan developed for, automating the processing of requests.

(Sec. 3) Directs the Chief FOIA Officer to provide such plan, upon completion, to DHS components and seek written feedback regarding the extent to which each component will adopt the plan, the associated costs, and the projected time lines.

What just happenedJul 7, 2015

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Who’s behind it

Rep. Carter, Earl L. "Buddy" [R-GA-1](R-GA)Sponsor
9 cosponsors9 R
Read on Congress.gov
9cosponsors2committees20actions5subjects
  1. Jul 7, 2015IntroReferral

    Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

    Judiciary Committee
  2. Jun 25, 2015FloorH38310

    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

  3. Jun 25, 2015FloorH37300

    On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 423 - 0 (Roll no. 387). (text: CR 6/23/2015 H4570-4571)

  4. Jun 25, 2015Floor8000

    Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 423 - 0 (Roll no. 387).(text: CR 6/23/2015 H4570-4571)

  5. Jun 25, 2015FloorH30000

    Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H4665-4666)

  6. Jun 23, 2015FloorH37220

    At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.

  7. Jun 23, 2015FloorH8D000

    DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1615.

  8. Jun 23, 2015FloorH30000

    Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H4570-4572)

  9. Jun 23, 2015FloorH30300

    Mr. Carter (GA) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

  10. Jun 11, 2015CalendarsH12410

    Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 106.

  11. Jun 11, 2015CommitteeH12200

    Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Homeland Security. H. Rept. 114-148.

    Homeland Security Committee
  12. Jun 11, 2015Committee5000

    Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Homeland Security. H. Rept. 114-148.

    Homeland Security Committee
  13. May 20, 2015Committee

    Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.

    Homeland Security Committee
  14. May 20, 2015Committee

    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

    Homeland Security Committee
  15. May 13, 2015Committee

    Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended) by Voice Vote .

    Oversight, Investigations, and Accountability Subcommittee
  16. May 13, 2015Committee

    Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

    Oversight, Investigations, and Accountability Subcommittee
  17. Apr 7, 2015Committee

    Referred to the Subcommittee on Oversight and Management Efficiency.

    Oversight, Investigations, and Accountability Subcommittee
  18. Mar 25, 2015IntroReferralH11100

    Referred to the House Committee on Homeland Security.

    Homeland Security Committee
  19. Mar 25, 2015IntroReferralIntro-H

    Introduced in House

  20. Mar 25, 2015IntroReferral1000

    Introduced in House

Passed House amendedJun 25, 201536

(This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the House of Representatives on June 11, 2015. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

DHS FOIA Efficiency Act of 2015

(Sec. 2) Directs the Chief FOIA Officer of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS):

  • within 90 days after enactment of this Act, to issue an updated regulation implementing the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and to identify the total annual implementation costs;
  • to develop guidance on reporting standards related to costs of processing FOIA requests;
  • within 120 days after enactment of this Act, to identify unnecessary and duplicative actions taken by DHS in processing such requests;
  • to eliminate such actions within 12 months after identifying them; and
  • within 90 days after enactment of this Act, to develop a plan to automate the processing of requests and to issue guidance to the relevant DHS components regarding the goal of reducing the backlog in processing requests by 50% between FY2015 and FY2018.

Requires the regulation implementing FOIA to include: (1) public guidance on procedures to be followed when making requests for DHS rules, opinions, orders, records, or proceedings; (2) updated guidance to the DHS components for processing such requests, which may include information on automated processing; and (3) detailed information on fees and costs associated with, and on the appeals process for, requests.

Directs the Chief FOIA Officer to include: (1) in each semiannual privacy report submitted under the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004, the total costs to DHS of meeting FOIA requirements and assessments of progress made toward meeting backlog goals, of whether DHS has adequate staffing and other resources to address such goals, and of progress made toward automating the processing of requests; and (2) in the second semiannual privacy report for FY2016, a description of any cost savings identified from, and the plan developed for, automating the processing of requests.

(Sec. 3) Directs the Chief FOIA Officer to provide such plan, upon completion, to DHS components and seek written feedback regarding the extent to which each component will adopt the plan, the associated costs, and the projected time lines.

Reported to House with amendment(s)Jun 11, 201517

DHS FOIA Efficiency Act of 2015

(Sec. 2) Directs the Chief FOIA Officer of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS):

  • within 90 days after enactment of this Act, to issue an updated regulation implementing the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and to identify the total annual implementation costs;
  • to develop guidance on reporting standards related to costs of processing FOIA requests;
  • within 120 days after enactment of this Act, to identify unnecessary and duplicative actions taken by DHS in processing such requests;
  • to eliminate such actions within 12 months after identifying them; and
  • within 90 days after enactment of this Act, to develop a plan to automate the processing of requests and to issue guidance to the relevant DHS components regarding the goal of reducing the backlog in processing requests by 50% between FY2015 and FY2018.

Requires the regulation implementing FOIA to include: (1) public guidance on procedures to be followed when making requests for DHS rules, opinions, orders, records, or proceedings; (2) updated guidance to the DHS components for processing such requests, which may include information on automated processing; and (3) detailed information on fees and costs associated with, and on the appeals process for, requests.

Directs the Chief FOIA Officer to include: (1) in each semiannual privacy report submitted under the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004, the total costs to DHS of meeting FOIA requirements and assessments of progress made toward meeting backlog goals, of whether DHS has adequate staffing and other resources to address such goals, and of progress made toward automating the processing of requests; and (2) in the second semiannual privacy report for FY2016, a description of any cost savings identified from, and the plan developed for, automating the processing of requests.

(Sec. 3) Directs the Chief FOIA Officer to provide such plan, upon completion, to DHS components and seek written feedback regarding the extent to which each component will adopt the plan, the associated costs, and the projected time lines.

Introduced in HouseMar 25, 2015

DHS FOIA Efficiency Act of 2015

Directs the Chief FOIA Officer of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to finalize and issue an updated regulation implementing the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), which shall include: (1) public guidance on procedures to be followed when making requests for DHS rules, opinions, orders, records, or proceedings; (2) updated guidance to the DHS components responsible for processing such requests; and (3) detailed information on fees and costs associated with, and the appeals process for, such requests.

Requires such Officer to: (1) identify the total annual cost to DHS of implementing FOIA, (2) develop guidance on reporting standards related to costs of processing requests, (3) identify and eliminate unnecessary and duplicative actions taken by DHS in processing requests, and (4) develop a plan to automate the processing of requests.

Requires the Chief Privacy Officer of DHS to update and issue guidance to the heads of each of the relevant DHS components regarding the goal of reducing the backlog in processing requests by 50% between FY2015 and FY2018.

Directs the Chief FOIA Officer to include: (1) in each semiannual privacy report submitted under the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 the total costs to DHS of meeting FOIA requirements for the period covered by the report and an assessment of progress made toward meeting the backlog goals, and (2) in the second semiannual privacy report for FY2016 a description of any cost savings identified and the automation plan developed.

DHS FOIA Efficiency Act of 2015 — Informed