TL; DR Act of 2019

Too Long; Didn't Read Act of 2019 or the TL; DR Act of 2019

This bill requires a federal agency to provide a clearly-marked section at the top of a communication (both hard copy and electronic) that the agency sends to an individual if such communication requires or authorizes such individual to act.

The clearly-marked section shall include

• the authorized or required action;
• if a response by the individual is required, optional, or not permitted;
• all deadlines to complete the authorized or required action;
• how to complete the authorized or required action; and
• the contact information for the agency, department, or office that can assist or answer questions relating to the authorized or required action.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4929 Introduced in House (IH)]

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116th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 4929

  To improve communication from executive agencies to individuals by 
         requiring clear instructions, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            October 30, 2019

   Mr. Moulton (for himself, Mr. Meadows, Mr. Trone, Mr. Norman, Mr. 
Cisneros, and Mr. Fitzpatrick) introduced the following bill; which was 
           referred to the Committee on Oversight and Reform

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To improve communication from executive agencies to individuals by 
         requiring clear instructions, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Too Long; Didn't Read Act of 2019'' 
or the ``TL; DR Act of 2019''.

SEC. 2. RESPONSIBILITIES OF EXECUTIVE AGENCIES.

    (a) In General.--Beginning on the date that is not later than 6 
months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the head of each 
agency shall provide, to the extent practicable, at the top of each 
communication (both hard copy and electronic) that the agency sends to 
an individual that authorizes or requires such individual to take an 
action, a clearly marked section that includes--
            (1) the authorized or required action;
            (2) if a response by the individual is required, optional, 
        or not permitted;
            (3) all deadlines to complete the authorized or required 
        action;
            (4) how to complete the authorized or required action; and
            (5) the contact information for any agency, or department 
        or office thereof, that can assist or answer questions relating 
        to the authorized or required action.
    (b) Public Reports of Compliance.--
            (1) Initial report.--Not later than 9 months after the date 
        of the enactment of this Act, the head of each agency shall 
        publish on the plain writing section of the agency's website, 
        maintained pursuant to section 4(a) of the Plain Writing Act of 
        2010 (5 U.S.C. 301 note), a report that describes the agency 
        plan for compliance with the requirements of this Act.
            (2) Annual compliance report.--Not later than 18 months 
        after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually 
        thereafter, the head of each agency shall publish on the plain 
        writing section of the website of the agency, maintained 
        pursuant to section 4(a) of the Plain Writing Act of 2010 (5 
        U.S.C. 301 note), a report on agency compliance with the 
        requirements of this Act.
    (c) Authority of Director of the Office of Management and Budget.--
The Director of the Office of Management and Budget may promulgate 
regulations or develop and issue guidance to implement the requirements 
under this section.
    (d) Agency Defined.--In this Act, the term ``agency'' has the 
meaning given the term ``Executive agency'' as that term is defined in 
section 105 of title 5, United States Code.
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