US Congress House Bill 1615 (Prior Session Legislation)

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Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 10-0)
Status: Engrossed on July 7 2015 - 50% progression, died in committee
Action: 2015-07-07 - Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Pending: Senate Judiciary Committee
Text: Latest bill text (Engrossed) [PDF]

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.

DHS FOIA Efficiency Act of 2015

Rep. Earl Carter [R-GA]	Rep. Michael McCaul [R-TX]	Rep. John Katko [R-NY]	Rep. Will Hurd [R-TX]
Rep. Mark Walker [R-NC]	Rep. Barry Loudermilk [R-GA]	Sen. Martha McSally [R-AZ]	Rep. John Ratcliffe [R-TX]
Rep. Scott Perry [R-PA]	Rep. Candice Miller [R-MI]

2015-06-25 - House - On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended (Y: 423 N: 0 NV: 10 Abs: 0) [PASS]

Date	Chamber	Action
2015-07-07	Senate	Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
2015-06-25	House	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
2015-06-25	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)
2015-06-25	House	Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H4665-4666)
2015-06-23	House	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.
2015-06-23	House	DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1615.
2015-06-23	House	Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H4570-4572)
2015-06-23	House	Mr. Carter (GA) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
2015-06-11	House	Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 106.
2015-06-11	House	Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Homeland Security. H. Rept. 114-148.
2015-05-20	House	Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
2015-05-20	House	Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
2015-05-13	House	Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended) by Voice Vote .
2015-05-13	House	Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
2015-04-07	House	Referred to the Subcommittee on Oversight and Management Efficiency.
2015-03-25	House	Referred to the House Committee on Homeland Security.
2015-03-25	House	Introduced in House

Type	Source
Summary	https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/1615/all-info
Text	https://www.congress.gov/114/bills/hr1615/BILLS-114hr1615ih.pdf
Text	https://www.congress.gov/114/bills/hr1615/BILLS-114hr1615rh.pdf
Text	https://www.congress.gov/114/bills/hr1615/BILLS-114hr1615eh.pdf
Roll Call	https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2015387