Overview
Title
An Act To amend chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, to require Federal agencies to submit to the Comptroller General of the United States a report on rules that are revoked, suspended, replaced, amended, or otherwise made ineffective.
ELI5 AI
The GAO Database Modernization Act of 2023 is a rule that asks government departments to keep track of and report any old rules they change or cancel to a special office, so we know which rules are still useful. This rule will only be in place for six years before it might be stopped or changed again.
Summary AI
S. 679, also known as the “GAO Database Modernization Act of 2023,” aims to update the way federal agencies report on rules that are no longer effective. The bill requires that when a federal agency revokes, suspends, replaces, or amends a rule, or if a rule is otherwise nullified, it must report this information to the Comptroller General. The report should include details such as the rule's title, Federal Register citation, submission date to the Comptroller General, and a description of the changes. This requirement will expire six years after the bill is enacted.
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AnalysisAI
The S. 679, also known as the "GAO Database Modernization Act of 2023," is a legislative proposal intended to enhance the reporting mechanisms related to federal rules. Specifically, it mandates that federal agencies must report to the Comptroller General whenever an established rule is revoked, suspended, replaced, amended, or otherwise rendered ineffective. This requirement is temporary, with a sunset clause that automatically removes it after six years.
General Summary
The act essentially introduces a new level of accountability for federal agencies regarding the rules they implement. By requiring these agencies to report changes, the act aims to ensure that the Comptroller General is kept abreast of the regulatory landscape. The act could potentially lead to increased transparency in federal rule-making, allowing for more oversight and understanding of regulatory changes.
Significant Issues
A number of issues arise from the provisions of this bill. One key concern is the lack of specificity in the criteria for determining when a rule is considered ineffective. This vagueness could result in inconsistent interpretations and implementations by federal agencies. Moreover, while the bill imposes a reporting requirement, it does not specify penalties for non-compliance. This absence of enforcement measures might lead to some agencies ignoring the requirement without facing any repercussions.
An administrative burden is another significant issue. The additional reporting could require agencies to allocate more resources, potentially diverting attention from other critical functions. Furthermore, questions remain about how the reports to the Comptroller General will be used, raising concerns about the effectiveness of this additional bureaucratic layer.
Finally, the sunset clause poses another issue. The automatic expiry of this reporting amendment after six years might disrupt processes if they are found to be beneficial, requiring new legislation to continue the practice.
Impact on the Public
This act could have varied impacts on the public. On a broad scale, it aims to foster transparency and accountability within federal agencies, which could lead to better-informed citizens and stakeholders. However, the ambiguity surrounding what constitutes an "ineffective" rule might result in uneven regulatory disclosures, potentially confusing the public.
The administrative burden might lead to inefficiencies within agencies, which could, in turn, affect the speed and effectiveness of public services they provide. However, if utilized effectively, the reports submitted to the Comptroller General could lead to more informed policy-making, indirectly benefiting the public through improved governance.
Impact on Specific Stakeholders
Federal agencies are the primary stakeholders impacted by this legislation. The reporting requirement likely necessitates additional resource allocation and could potentially slow down other regulatory processes due to the new administrative load. Yet, this could incentivize agencies to be more deliberate in rule-making, knowing that changes will be reported and scrutinized.
The Comptroller General and oversight bodies are also significant stakeholders. They stand to gain an enhanced capacity for oversight and analysis of federal rules, providing them with better tools to ensure government accountability. However, without clarity on how these reports will be utilized, there is a risk of these becoming an inefficiency rather than a benefit.
In conclusion, while the "GAO Database Modernization Act of 2023" aims to promote transparency and oversight, its potential success is dependent on how ambiguities and operational burdens are addressed in practice. The absence of enforcement measures and potential administrative inefficiencies stand out as areas needing careful consideration to ensure that the act achieves its intended goals without unintended drawbacks.
Issues
The lack of a clear process or criteria for determining when a rule is considered ineffective in Section 2 could lead to ambiguity in implementation and potential legal challenges.
The requirement for Federal agencies to report to the Comptroller General as stated in Section 2 might create additional administrative burdens, yet there is no clarity on how these reports will be utilized effectively, potentially leading to inefficiencies.
The absence of consequences for a Federal agency's failure to submit the required report according to Section 2 could result in widespread non-compliance, undermining the bill's goals.
The sunset clause in Section 2, which terminates the amendment after 6 years, could cause disruptions if the established process is found to be beneficial and requires continuation beyond that period.
Section 1 lacks substantive content beyond stating the act's short title, providing no context or detail about its implications, beneficiaries, or budget considerations, thereby obscuring transparency and potential favoritism.
Sections
Sections are presented as they are annotated in the original legislative text. Any missing headers, numbers, or non-consecutive order is due to the original text.
1. Short title Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The GAO Database Modernization Act of 2023 is the official name that may be used to refer to this piece of legislation.
2. Rules no longer in effect Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The section amends U.S. law to require federal agencies to report to the Comptroller General when they change or cancel existing rules, providing details like the rule's title and changes made. This reporting requirement will expire six years after the law is enacted.