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HR 1615 114th Congress House Government Operations and Politics Administrative law and regulatory procedures Congressional oversight Department of Homeland Security Freedom of information Right of privacy

DHS FOIA Efficiency Act of 2015

Introduced: March 25, 2015 Introduced by: Carter, Earl L. "Buddy" Republican · Georgia See on congress.gov
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 Everywhere this bill has been 18 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jul 7, 2015
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Jun 25, 2015
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Jun 25, 2015
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)
Jun 25, 2015
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)
Jun 25, 2015
Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H4665-4666)
Jun 23, 2015
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.
Jun 23, 2015
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1615.
Jun 23, 2015
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H4570-4572)
Jun 23, 2015
Mr. Carter (GA) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
Jun 11, 2015
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 106.
Jun 11, 2015
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Homeland Security. H. Rept. 114-148.
May 20, 2015
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
May 20, 2015
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
May 13, 2015
Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended) by Voice Vote .
May 13, 2015
Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Apr 7, 2015
Referred to the Subcommittee on Oversight and Management Efficiency.
Mar 25, 2015
Referred to the House Committee on Homeland Security.
Mar 25, 2015
Introduced in House
 Votes taken on this bill 1
DateChamberWhat was voted onResultYes–No
Jun 25, 2015 House · vote #387 On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended Passed 423–0 See who voted →
 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

(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's happening now July 7, 2015

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

 Committees of jurisdiction 3
 Cosponsors 3
All 3 Republican 3