article: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Government Paperwork Elimination Act''. SEC. 2. AUTHORITY OF OMB TO PROVIDE FOR ACQUISITION AND USE OF ALTERNATIVE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES BY EXECUTIVE AGENCIES. Section 3504(a)(1)(B)(vi) of title 44, United States Code, is amended to read as follows: ``(vi) the acquisition and use of information technology, including alternative information technologies that provide for electronic submission, maintenance, or disclosure of information as a substitute for paper and for the use and acceptance of electronic signatures.''. SEC. 3. PROCEDURES FOR USE AND ACCEPTANCE OF ELECTRONIC SIGNATURES BY EXECUTIVE AGENCIES. (a) In General.--In order to fulfill the responsibility to administer the functions assigned under chapter 35 of title 44, United States Code, the provisions of the Clinger-Cohen Act of 1996 (divisions D and E of Public Law 104-106) and the amendments made by that Act, and the provisions of this Act, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget shall, in consultation with the National Telecommunications and Information Administration and not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, develop procedures for the use and acceptance of electronic signatures by Executive agencies. (b) Requirements for Procedures.--(1) The procedures developed under subsection (a)-- (A) shall be compatible with standards and technology for electronic signatures that are generally used in commerce and industry and by State governments; (B) may not inappropriately favor one industry or technology; (C) shall ensure that electronic signatures are as reliable as is appropriate for the purpose in question and keep intact the information submitted; (D) shall provide for the electronic acknowledgment of electronic forms that are successfully submitted; and (E) shall, to the extent feasible and appropriate, require an Executive agency that anticipates receipt by electronic means of 50,000 or more submittals of a particular form to take all steps necessary to ensure that multiple methods of electronic signatures are available for the submittal of such form. (2) The Director shall ensure the compatibility of the procedures under paragraph (1)(A) in consultation with appropriate private bodies and State government entities that set standards for the use and acceptance of electronic signatures. SEC. 4. DEADLINE FOR IMPLEMENTATION BY EXECUTIVE AGENCIES OF PROCEDURES FOR USE AND ACCEPTANCE OF ELECTRONIC SIGNATURES. In order to fulfill the responsibility to administer the functions assigned under chapter 35 of title 44, United States Code, the provisions of the Clinger-Cohen Act of 1996 (divisions D and E of Public Law 104-106) and the amendments made by that Act, and the provisions of this Act, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget shall ensure that, commencing not later than five years after the date of enactment of this Act, Executive agencies provide-- (1) for the option of the electronic maintenance, submission, or disclosure of information, when practicable as a substitute for paper; and (2) for the use and acceptance of electronic signatures, when practicable. SEC. 5. ELECTRONIC STORAGE AND FILING OF EMPLOYMENT FORMS. In order to fulfill the responsibility to administer the functions assigned under chapter 35 of title 44, United States Code, the provisions of the Clinger-Cohen Act of 1996 (divisions D and E of Public Law 104-106) and the amendments made by that Act, and the provisions of this Act, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget shall, not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, develop procedures to permit private employers to store and file electronically with Executive agencies forms containing information pertaining to the employees of such employers. SEC. 6. STUDY ON USE OF ELECTRONIC SIGNATURES. (a) Ongoing Study Required.--In order to fulfill the responsibility to administer the functions assigned under chapter 35 of title 44, United States Code, the provisions of the Clinger-Cohen Act of 1996 (divisions D and E of Public Law 104-106) and the amendments made by that Act, and the provisions of this Act, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget shall, in cooperation with the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, conduct an ongoing study of the use of electronic signatures under this title on-- (1) paperwork reduction and electronic commerce; (2) individual privacy; and (3) the security and authenticity of transactions. (b) Reports.--The Director shall submit to Congress on a periodic basis a report describing the results of the study carried out under subsection (a). SEC. 7. ENFORCEABILITY AND LEGAL EFFECT OF ELECTRONIC RECORDS. Electronic records submitted or maintained in accordance with procedures developed under this Act, or electronic signatures or other forms of electronic authentication used in accordance with such procedures, shall not be denied legal effect, validity, or enforceability because such records are in electronic form. SEC. 8. DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION. Except as provided by law, information collected in the provision of electronic signature services for communications with an executive agency, as provided by this Act, shall only be used or disclosed by persons who obtain, collect, or maintain such information as a business or government practice, for the purpose of facilitating such communications, or with the prior affirmative consent of the person about whom the information pertains. SEC. 9. APPLICATION WITH INTERNAL REVENUE LAWS. No provision of this Act shall apply to the Department of the Treasury or the Internal Revenue Service to the extent that such provision-- (1) involves the administration of the internal revenue laws; or (2) conflicts with any provision of the Internal Revenue Service Restructuring and Reform Act of 1998 or the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. SEC. 10. DEFINITIONS. For purposes of this Act: (1) Electronic signature.--The term ``electronic signature'' means a method of signing an electronic message that-- (A) identifies and authenticates a particular person as the source of the electronic message; and (B) indicates such person's approval of the information contained in the electronic message. (2) Executive agency.--The term ``Executive agency'' has the meaning given that term in section 105 of title 5, United States Code. Passed the Senate October 15 (legislative day, October 2), 1998. Attest: GARY SISCO, Secretary.
summary: Government Paperwork Elimination Act - Requires the Director of the Office of Management and Budget: (1) in providing direction and overseeing the acquisition and use of information technology, to include alternative information technologies that provide for electronic submission, maintenance, or disclosure of information as a substitute for paper and for the use and acceptance of electronic signatures; (2) to develop procedures for the use and acceptance of electronic signatures by executive agencies; (3) to ensure that, within five years, executive agencies provide for the option of electronic maintenance, submission, or disclosure of information as a substitute for paper and for the use and acceptance of electronic signatures, when practicable; (4) to develop procedures to permit private employers to store and file electronically with executive agencies forms containing information pertaining to employees; and (5) in cooperation with the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, to conduct and report to Congress on an ongoing study of the use of electronic signatures on paperwork reduction and electronic commerce, individual privacy, and the security and authenticity of transactions. Provides for: (1) the enforceability and legal effect of electronic records and signatures; (2) protection from disclosure of information collected in the provision of electronic signature services for executive agencies; and (3) applicability exceptions with respect to administration of the internal revenue laws.