No official summary available for this bill.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6356 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 6356
To establish protections for individual rights with respect to
computational algorithms, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
December 2, 2025
Ms. Clarke of New York (for herself, Ms. Lee of Pennsylvania, Ms.
Pressley, Ms. Jayapal, Mr. Bell, Mr. Carson, Ms. Chu, Mr. Davis of
Illinois, Mr. Deluzio, Mr. Jackson of Illinois, Ms. Kelly of Illinois,
Mr. McGovern, Ms. Norton, Ms. Ocasio-Cortez, Mr. Pocan, Mrs. Ramirez,
Mr. Thompson of Mississippi, Ms. Tlaib, Mrs. Watson Coleman, Ms. Wilson
of Florida, Mr. Garcia of Illinois, and Mrs. Foushee) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and
Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Oversight and Government
Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in
each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the
jurisdiction of the committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish protections for individual rights with respect to
computational algorithms, 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; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Artificial
Intelligence Civil Rights Act of 2025''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as
follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Definitions.
TITLE I--CIVIL RIGHTS
Sec. 101. Discrimination.
Sec. 102. Pre-deployment evaluations and post-deployment impact
assessments.
TITLE II--COVERED ALGORITHM AND CONTRACT STANDARDS
Sec. 201. Covered algorithm standards.
Sec. 202. Relationships between developers and deployers.
Sec. 203. Human alternatives and other protections.
Sec. 204. Prohibition on retaliation; whistleblower protections.
TITLE III--TRANSPARENCY
Sec. 301. Notice and disclosure.
Sec. 302. Study on explanations regarding the use of covered
algorithms.
Sec. 303. Consumer awareness.
TITLE IV--ENFORCEMENT
Sec. 401. Enforcement by the Commission.
Sec. 402. Enforcement by States.
Sec. 403. Private right of action.
Sec. 404. Severability.
Sec. 405. Rules of construction.
TITLE V--FEDERAL RESOURCES
Sec. 501. Occupational series relating to algorithm auditing.
Sec. 502. Additional Federal resources.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Collect; collection.--The terms ``collect'' and
``collection'', with respect to personal data, mean buying,
renting, gathering, obtaining, receiving, accessing, or
otherwise acquiring such data by any means.
(2) Commercial act.--The term ``commercial act'', with
respect to a covered algorithm, means an act conducted for
monetary or other valuable consideration, including conducting
an activity in furtherance of obtaining such consideration.
(3) Commission.--The term ``Commission'' means the Federal
Trade Commission.
(4) Consequential action.--The term ``consequential
action'' means an act that is likely to have a material effect
on, or to materially contribute to, access to, security and
authentication relating to, eligibility for, cost of, terms of,
or conditions related to any of the following:
(A) Employment, including hiring, pay, independent
contracting, worker management, promotion, and
termination.
(B) Education and career and technical education,
including assessment, proctoring, promotion of academic
integrity, accreditation, certification, admissions,
enrollment, disciplinary actions including suspension,
expulsion, or referral to law enforcement, eligibility
for graduation, grade promotion or degree conferral,
academic performance evaluation, and provision of
financial aid and scholarships.
(C) Housing and lodging, including rental and
short-term housing and lodging, home appraisals, rental
subsidies, publicly supported housing, and mortgage
lending.
(D) Essential utilities, including electricity,
heat, water, municipal trash or sewage services,
internet and telecommunications service, and public
transportation.
(E) Health care, including mental health care, and
dental, vision, and adoption services, and other health
care-related services, treatment options, trials, and
studies.
(F) Credit, banking, and other financial services.
(G) Insurance, including insurance claim
determinations.
(H) Actions of the criminal justice system, law
enforcement or intelligence operations, immigration
determinations or enforcement, border control (vetting,
screening, and inspection), child protective services,
child welfare, and family services, including risk and
threat assessments, situational awareness and threat
detection, investigations, watchlisting, bail
determinations, sentencing, administration of parole,
surveillance, use of unmanned vehicles and machines,
and predictive policing.
(I) Justice and determinations concerning guilt or
liability, including assignment of cases or counsel,
bail determinations, pre-detention risk assessments,
case intake, sequencing, and processing, awards of
actual or punitive damages, and binding and nonbinding
determinations in arbitration, mediation, or other
alternative dispute resolution.
(J) Elections, including voting, requirements for
documentation or proof of identity to vote or register
to vote (and determinations about whether an individual
meets those requirements), redistricting, polling place
resources, reduction or alteration of multilingual or
English language voting materials, alteration of the
manner in which voting materials are provided or
distributed, reduction, consolidation, or relocation of
voting locations in elections for Federal, State, or
local office (including early, absentee, and election-
day voting locations), reduction in days or hours of
in-person voting during a period occurring prior to the
date of an election for Federal, State, or local office
during which voters may cast ballots in such election,
election security, and election administration,
including maintenance processes for voter registration
lists that add a new basis for removal from the list of
active voters registered to vote in elections for
Federal, State, or local office, or that incorporate a
new source of information in determining a voter's
eligibility to vote in elections for Federal, State, or
local office.
(K) Government benefits and services, as well as
verification of identity, citizenship, and immigration
status, fraud prevention, and assignment of penalties.
(L) A public accommodation.
(M) Any other service, program, product, or
opportunity which has a comparable legal, material, or
similarly significant effect on an individual's life as
determined by the Commission through rules promulgated
pursuant to section 553 of title 5, United States Code.
(5) Covered algorithm.--The term ``covered algorithm''
means--
(A) a computational process derived from machine
learning, natural language processing, artificial
intelligence techniques, or other computational
processing techniques of similar or greater complexity,
that, with respect to a consequential action--
(i) creates or facilitates the creation of
a product or information that is used as an
integral part of the consequential action;
(ii) promotes, recommends, ranks, or
otherwise affects the display or delivery of
information that is used as an integral part of
the consequential action;
(iii) makes a decision; or
(iv) facilitates human decision making; or
(B) any other computational process deemed
appropriate by the Commission through rules promulgated
pursuant to section 553 of title 5, United States Code.
(6) Covered language.--The term ``covered language'' means
the 10 languages with the most speakers in the United States,
according to the most recent data collected by the United
States Census Bureau.
(7) De-identified data.--The term ``de-identified data''
means information--
(A) that does not identify and is not linked or
reasonably linkable to an individual or a device,
regardless of whether the information is aggregated;
and
(B) with respect to which any developer or deployer
using such information--
(i) takes reasonable technical measures to
ensure that the information cannot, at any
point, be used to re-identify any individual or
device that identifies or is linked or
reasonably linkable to an individual;
(ii) publicly commits in a clear and
conspicuous manner--
(I) to process and transfer the
information solely in a de-identified
form without any reasonable means for
re-identification; and
(II) to not attempt to re-identify
the information with any individual or
device that identifies or is linked or
reasonably linkable to an individual;
and
(iii) contractually obligates any person
that receives the information from the
developer or deployer--
(I) to comply with all of the
provisions of this paragraph with
respect to such information; and
(II) to require that such
contractual obligations be included in
all subsequent instances for which the
information may be received.
(8) Deployer.--
(A) In general.--The term ``deployer'' means any
person that uses a covered algorithm for a commercial
act.
(B) Rule of construction.--The terms ``deployer''
and ``developer'' shall not be interpreted to be
mutually exclusive.
(9) Developer.--
(A) In general.--The term ``developer'' means any
person that designs, codes, customizes, produces, or
substantially modifies an algorithm that is intended or
reasonably likely to be used as a covered algorithm--
(i) for such person's own use, or use by a
third party, in connection with a commercial
act; or
(ii) for use by a government entity.
(B) Assumption of developer responsibilities.--In
the event that a deployer uses an algorithm as a
covered algorithm, and no person is considered the
developer of the algorithm for purposes of subparagraph
(A), the deployer shall be considered the developer of
the covered algorithm for the purposes of this Act.
(C) Rule of construction.--The terms ``developer''
and ``deployer'' shall not be interpreted to be
mutually exclusive.
(10) Disparate impact.--
(A) In general.--The term ``disparate impact''
means an unjustified differential effect on an
individual or group of individuals on the basis of an
actual or perceived protected characteristic.
(B) Unjustified differential effect.--For purposes
of subparagraph (A), with respect to the action,
policy, or practice of a developer or deployer, a
differential effect is unjustified if--
(i) the developer or deployer fails to
demonstrate that such action, policy, or
practice causing the differential effect is
necessary to achieve a substantial, legitimate,
and nondiscriminatory interest; or
(ii) in the event the developer or deployer
demonstrates such interest, an alternative
action, policy, or practice could serve such
interest with less differential effect.
(C) Application to covered algorithms.--With
respect to demonstrating that a covered algorithm
causes or contributes to a differential effect, the
covered algorithm is presumed to be not separable for
analysis and may be analyzed holistically as a single
action, policy, or practice, unless the developer or
deployer proves that the covered algorithm is separable
by a preponderance of the evidence.
(11) Harm.--The term ``harm'', with respect to a
consequential action, means a non-de minimis adverse effect on
an individual or group of individuals--
(A) on the basis of a protected characteristic;
(B) that involves the use of force, coercion,
harassment, intimidation, or detention; or
(C) that involves the infringement of a right
protected under the Constitution of the United States.
(12) Independent auditor.--
(A) In general.--The term ``independent auditor''
means an individual that conducts a pre-deployment
evaluation or impact assessment of a covered algorithm
in a manner that exercises objective and impartial
judgment on all issues within the scope of such
evaluation or assessment.
(B) Exclusion.--An individual is not an independent
auditor of a covered algorithm if such individual--
(i) is or was involved in using,
developing, offering, licensing, or deploying
the covered algorithm for a commercial act;
(ii) at any point during the pre-deployment
evaluation or impact assessment, has an
employment relationship (including a contractor
relationship, but not including a contractor
relationship for the auditing service described
in subparagraph (A)) with a developer or
deployer that uses, offers, or licenses the
covered algorithm; or
(iii) at any point during the pre-
deployment evaluation or impact assessment, has
a direct financial interest, a reasonably
foreseeable future financial interest, or a
material indirect financial interest in a
developer or deployer that uses, offers, or
licenses a covered algorithm, not including
routine payment for the auditing services
described in subparagraph (A).
(13) Individual.--The term ``individual'' means a natural
person in the United States.
(14) Personal data.--
(A) In general.--The term ``personal data''--
(i) means information that identifies or is
linked or reasonably linkable, alone or in
combination with other information, to an
individual or an individual's device; and
(ii) shall include derived data and unique
persistent identifiers.
(B) Exclusion.--The term ``personal data'' does not
include de-identified data.
(15) Process.--The term ``process'', with respect to
personal data, means to conduct or direct any operation or set
of operations performed on such data, including analyzing,
organizing, structuring, retaining, storing, using, or
otherwise handling such data.
(16) Protected characteristic.--The term ``protected
characteristic'' means any of the following actual or perceived
traits of an individual or group of individuals:
(A) Race.
(B) Color.
(C) Ethnicity.
(D) National origin, nationality, or immigration
status.
(E) Religion.
(F) Sex (including a sex stereotype, pregnancy,
childbirth, or a related medical condition, sexual
orientation or gender identity, and sex
characteristics, including intersex traits).
(G) Disability.
(H) Limited English proficiency.
(I) Biometric information.
(J) Familial or marital status.
(K) Source of income.
(L) Income level (not including the ability to pay
for a specific good or service being offered).
(M) Age.
(N) Veteran status.
(O) Genetic information or medical conditions.
(P) Any other classification protected by Federal
law.
(17) Public accommodation.--
(A) In general.--The term ``public accommodation''
means--
(i) a business that offers goods or
services to the general public, regardless of
whether the business is operated for profit or
operates from a physical facility;
(ii) a park, road, or pedestrian pathway
open to the general public;
(iii) a means of public transportation; or
(iv) a publicly owned or operated facility
open to the general public.
(B) Exclusions.--The term ``public accommodation''
does not include a private club or establishment
described in section 101(b)(2).
(18) State.--The term ``State'' means each of the 50
States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the United
States Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
(19) State data protection authority.--The term ``State
data protection authority'' means an independent public
authority of a State that supervises, investigates, and
regulates data protection and security law in the State,
including handling complaints lodged against persons for
violations of State and relevant Federal laws.
(20) Transfer.--The term ``transfer'', with respect to
personal data, means to disclose, release, disseminate, make
available, license, rent, or share such data orally, in
writing, electronically, or by any other means.
TITLE I--CIVIL RIGHTS
SEC. 101. DISCRIMINATION.
(a) In General.--A developer or deployer shall not offer, license,
promote, sell, or use a covered algorithm in a manner that--
(1) causes or contributes to a disparate impact in a manner
that prevents;
(2) otherwise discriminates in a manner that prevents; or
(3) otherwise makes unavailable,
the equal enjoyment of goods, services, or other activities or
opportunities, related to a consequential action, on the basis of a
protected characteristic.
(b) Exceptions.--This section shall not apply to--
(1) the offer, licensing, or use of a covered algorithm for
the sole purpose of--
(A) a developer's or deployer's self-testing (or
auditing by an independent auditor at a developer's or
deployer's request) to identify, prevent, or mitigate
discrimination, or otherwise to ensure compliance with
obligations, under Federal law;
(B) expanding an applicant, participant, or
customer pool to raise the likelihood of increasing
diversity or redressing historic discrimination; or
(C) conducting--
(i) good faith security research; or
(ii) other research, if conducting the
research is not part or all of a commercial
act; or
(2) any private club or other establishment not in fact
open to the public, as described in section 201(e) of the Civil
Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000a(e)).
SEC. 102. PRE-DEPLOYMENT EVALUATIONS AND POST-DEPLOYMENT IMPACT
ASSESSMENTS.
(a) Pre-Deployment Evaluations.--Prior to deploying, licensing, or
offering a covered algorithm (including deploying a material change to
a previously-deployed covered algorithm or a material change made prior
to deployment) for a consequential action, a developer or deployer
shall conduct a pre-deployment evaluation in accordance with the
following:
(1) Preliminary evaluation.--
(A) Plausibility of harm.--
(i) Developers.--The developer shall
conduct a preliminary evaluation of the
plausibility that any expected use of the
covered algorithm may result in a harm.
(ii) Deployers.--The deployer shall conduct
a preliminary evaluation of the plausibility
that any intended use of the covered algorithm
may result in a harm.
(B) Results.--Based on the results of the
preliminary evaluation, the developer or deployer
shall--
(i) in the event that a harm is not
plausible, record a finding of no plausible
harm, including a description of the
developer's expected use or the deployer's
intended use of the covered algorithm, how the
preliminary evaluation was conducted, and an
explanation for the finding, and submit such
record to the Commission; and
(ii) in the event that a harm is plausible,
conduct a full pre-deployment evaluation as
described in paragraph (2).
(C) Previously-deployed covered algorithms.--When
conducting a preliminary evaluation of a material
change to, or new use of, a previously-deployed covered
algorithm, the developer or deployer may limit the
scope of the evaluation to whether use of the covered
algorithm may result in a harm as a result of the
material change or new use.
(2) Full pre-deployment evaluation.--
(A) For developers.--
(i) Independent auditor evaluation.--If a
developer determines a harm is plausible during
the preliminary evaluation described in
paragraph (1), the developer shall engage an
independent auditor to conduct a pre-deployment
evaluation.
(ii) Pre-deployment evaluation
requirements.--The evaluation required under
clause (i) shall include a detailed review and
description, sufficient for an individual
having ordinary skill in the art to understand
the functioning, risks, uses, benefits,
limitations, and other pertinent attributes of
the covered algorithm, including--
(I) the covered algorithm's design
and methodology, including the inputs
the covered algorithm is designed to
use to produce an output and the
outputs the covered algorithm is
designed to produce;
(II) how the covered algorithm was
created, trained, and tested,
including--
(aa) any metric used to
test the performance of the
covered algorithm;
(bb) defined benchmarks and
goals that correspond to such
metrics, including whether
there was sufficient
representation of demographic
groups that are reasonably
likely to use or be affected by
the covered algorithm in the
data used to create or train
the algorithm, and whether
there was reasonable testing,
if any, across such demographic
groups;
(cc) the outputs the
covered algorithm actually
produces in testing;
(dd) a description of any
consultation with relevant
stakeholders, including any
communities that will be
impacted by the covered
algorithm, regarding the
development of the covered
algorithm, or a disclosure that
no such consultation occurred;
(ee) a description of which
protected characteristics, if
any, were used for testing and
evaluation, and how and why
such characteristics were used,
including--
(AA) whether the
testing occurred in
comparable contextual
conditions to the
conditions in which the
covered algorithm is
expected to be used;
and
(BB) if protected
characteristics were
not available to
conduct such testing, a
description of
alternative methods the
developer used to
conduct the required
assessment;
(ff) any other
computational algorithm
incorporated into the
development of the covered
algorithm, regardless of
whether such precursor
computational algorithm
involves a consequential
action;
(gg) a description of the
data and information used to
develop, test, maintain, or
update the covered algorithm,
including--
(AA) each type of
personal data used,
each source from which
the personal data was
collected, and how each
type of personal data
was inferred and
processed;
(BB) the legal
authorization for
collecting and
processing the personal
data; and
(CC) an explanation
of how the data
(including personal
data) used is
representative,
proportional, and
appropriate to the
development and
intended uses of the
covered algorithm; and
(hh) a description of the
training process for the
covered algorithm which
includes the training,
validation, and test data
utilized to confirm the
intended outputs;
(III) the potential for the covered
algorithm to produce a harm or to have
a disparate impact in the equal
enjoyment of goods, services, or other
activities or opportunities, and a
description of such potential harm or
disparate impact;
(IV) alternative practices and
recommendations to prevent or mitigate
harm and recommendations for how the
developer could monitor for harm after
offering, licensing, or deploying the
covered algorithm; and
(V) any other information the
Commission deems pertinent to prevent
the covered algorithm from causing harm
or having a disparate impact in the
equal enjoyment of goods, services, or
other activities or opportunities, as
prescribed by rules promulgated by the
Commission pursuant to section 553 of
title 5, United States Code.
(iii) Report.--The independent auditor
shall submit to the developer a report on the
evaluation conducted under this subparagraph,
including the findings and recommendations of
such independent auditor.
(B) For deployers.--
(i) Independent auditor evaluation.--If a
deployer determines a harm is plausible during
the preliminary evaluation described in
paragraph (1), the deployer shall engage an
independent auditor to conduct a pre-deployment
evaluation.
(ii) Pre-deployment evaluation
requirements.--The evaluation required under
clause (i) shall include a detailed review and
description, sufficient for an individual
having ordinary skill in the art to understand
the functioning, risks, uses, benefits,
limitations, and other pertinent attributes of
the covered algorithm, including--
(I) the manner in which the covered
algorithm makes or contributes to a
consequential action and the purpose
for which the covered algorithm will be
deployed;
(II) the necessity and
proportionality of the covered
algorithm in relation to its planned
use, including the intended benefits
and limitations of the covered
algorithm and a description of the
baseline process being enhanced or
replaced by the covered algorithm, if
applicable;
(III) the inputs that the deployer
plans to use to produce an output,
including--
(aa) the type of personal
data and information used and
how the personal data and
information will be collected,
inferred, and processed;
(bb) the legal
authorization for collecting
and processing the personal
data; and
(cc) an explanation of how
the data used is
representative, proportional,
and appropriate to the
deployment of the covered
algorithm;
(IV) the outputs the covered
algorithm is expected to produce and
the outputs the covered algorithm
actually produces in testing;
(V) a description of any additional
testing or training completed by the
deployer for the context in which the
covered algorithm will be deployed;
(VI) a description of any
consultation with relevant
stakeholders, including any communities
that will be impacted by the covered
algorithm, regarding the deployment of
the covered algorithm;
(VII) the potential for the covered
algorithm to produce a harm or to have
a disparate impact in the equal
enjoyment of goods, services, or other
activities or opportunities in the
context in which the covered algorithm
will be deployed and a description of
such potential harm or disparate
impact;
(VIII) alternative practices and
recommendations to prevent or mitigate
harm in the context in which the
covered algorithm will be deployed and
recommendations for how the deployer
could monitor for harm after offering,
licensing, or deploying the covered
algorithm; and
(IX) any other information the
Commission deems pertinent to prevent
the covered algorithm from causing harm
or having a disparate impact in the
equal enjoyment of goods, services, or
other activities or opportunities as
prescribed by rules promulgated by the
Commission pursuant to section 553 of
title 5, United States Code.
(iii) Report.--The independent auditor
shall submit to the deployer a report on the
evaluation conducted under this subparagraph,
including the findings and recommendations of
such independent auditor.
(b) Deployer Annual Impact Assessment.--After the deployment of a
covered algorithm, a deployer shall, on an annual basis, conduct an
impact assessment in accordance with the following:
(1) Preliminary impact assessment.--The deployer shall
conduct a preliminary impact assessment of the covered
algorithm to identify any harm that resulted from the covered
algorithm during the reporting period and--
(A) if no resulting harm is identified by such
assessment, shall record a finding of no harm,
including a description of the developer's expected use
or the deployer's intended use of the covered
algorithm, how the preliminary evaluation was
conducted, and an explanation for such finding, and
submit such finding to the Commission; and
(B) if a resulting harm is identified by such
assessment, shall conduct a full impact assessment as
described in paragraph (2).
(2) Full impact assessment.--In the event that the covered
algorithm resulted in harm during the reporting period, the
deployer shall engage an independent auditor to conduct a full
impact assessment with respect to the reporting period,
including--
(A) an assessment of the harm that resulted or was
reasonably likely to have been produced during the
reporting period;
(B) a description of the extent to which the
covered algorithm produced a disparate impact in the
equal enjoyment of goods, services, or other activities
or opportunities, including the methodology for such
evaluation, of how the covered algorithm produced or
likely produced such disparity;
(C) a description of the types of data input into
the covered algorithm during the reporting period to
produce an output, including--
(i) documentation of how data input into
the covered algorithm to produce an output is
represented and complete descriptions of each
field of data; and
(ii) whether and to what extent the data
input into the covered algorithm to produce an
output was used to train or otherwise modify
the covered algorithm;
(D) whether and to what extent the covered
algorithm produced the outputs it was expected to
produce;
(E) a detailed description of how the covered
algorithm was used to make a consequential action;
(F) any action taken to prevent or mitigate harms,
including how relevant staff are informed of, trained
about, and implement harm mitigation policies and
practices, and recommendations for how the deployer
could monitor for and prevent harm after offering,
licensing, or deploying the covered algorithm; and
(G) any other information the Commission deems
pertinent to prevent the covered algorithm from causing
harm or having a disparate impact in the equal
enjoyment of goods, services, or other activities or
opportunities as prescribed by rules promulgated by the
Commission pursuant to section 553 of title 5, United
States Code.
(3) Reports.--
(A) To the deployer.--After the engagement of the
independent auditor, the independent auditor shall
submit to the deployer a report on the impact
assessment conducted under paragraph (2), including the
findings and recommendations of such independent
auditor.
(B) To the developer.--Not later than 30 days after
the submission of a report on an impact assessment
under subparagraph (A), a deployer shall submit to the
developer of the covered algorithm a summary of such
report, subject to the trade secret and privacy
protections described in subsection (e)(3).
(c) Developer Annual Review of Assessments.--A developer shall, on
an annual basis, review each impact assessment summary submitted by a
deployer of its covered algorithm under subsection (b)(3)(B) for the
following purposes:
(1) To assess how the deployer is using the covered
algorithm, including the methodology for assessing such use.
(2) To assess the type of data the deployer is inputting
into the covered algorithm to produce an output and the types
of outputs the covered algorithm is producing.
(3) To assess whether the deployer is complying with any
relevant contractual agreement with the developer and whether
any remedial action is necessary.
(4) To compare the covered algorithm's performance in real-
world conditions versus pre-deployment testing, including the
methodology used to evaluate such performance.
(5) To assess whether the covered algorithm is causing harm
or is reasonably likely to be causing harm.
(6) To assess whether the covered algorithm is causing, or
is reasonably likely to be causing, a disparate impact in the
equal enjoyment of goods, services, or other activities or
opportunities, and, if so, how and with respect to which
protected characteristic.
(7) To determine whether the covered algorithm needs
modification.
(8) To determine whether any other action is appropriate to
ensure that the covered algorithm remains safe and effective.
(9) To undertake any other assessment or responsive action
the Commission deems pertinent to prevent the covered algorithm
from causing harm or having a disparate impact in the equal
enjoyment of goods, services, or other activities or
opportunities, as prescribed by rules promulgated by the
Commission pursuant to section 553 of title 5, United States
Code.
(d) Joint Developer and Deployer Obligations.--If a person is both
the developer and deployer of a covered algorithm, the person may
conduct combined pre-deployment evaluations and annual assessments,
provided that each combined evaluation or assessment satisfies all
requirements for both developers and deployers.
(e) Reporting and Retention Requirements.--
(1) Reporting.--A developer or deployer that conducts a
full pre-deployment evaluation, full impact assessment, or
developer annual review of assessments shall--
(A) not later than 30 days after completion, submit
the evaluation, assessment, or review to the
Commission;
(B) upon request, make the evaluation, assessment,
or review available to Congress; and
(C) not later than 30 days after completion--
(i) publish a summary of the evaluation,
assessment, or review on the website of the
developer or deployer in a manner that is
easily accessible to individuals; and
(ii) submit such summary to the Commission.
(2) Retention.--A developer or deployer shall retain all
evaluations, assessments, and reviews described in this section
for a period of not fewer than 10 years.
(3) Trade secrets and privacy.--A developer or deployer--
(A) may redact and segregate any trade secret (as
defined in section 1839 of title 18, United States
Code) from public disclosure under this subsection; and
(B) shall redact and segregate personal data from
public disclosure under this subsection.
(f) Rulemaking.--
(1) Authority.--The Commission may, in accordance with
section 553 of title 5, United States Code, promulgate such
rules as may be necessary to carry out this section.
(2) Additional regulations.--Not later than 2 years after
the date of enactment of this Act, the Commission shall--
(A) promulgate rules, pursuant to section 553 of
title 5, United States Code, specifying--
(i) what information and factors a
developer or deployer shall consider in making
the preliminary evaluation or preliminary
impact assessment described in subsections
(a)(1) and (b)(1), respectively;
(ii) what information a developer or
deployer shall include in a summary of an
evaluation, assessment, or developer review
described in subsection (e)(1)(C); and
(iii) the extent to and process by which a
developer may request additional information
from a deployer, including the purposes for
which a developer is permitted to use such
additional information; and
(B) in promulgating such rules, consider the need
to protect the privacy of personal data, as well as the
need for information sharing by developers and
deployers to comply with this section and inform the
public.
TITLE II--COVERED ALGORITHM AND CONTRACT STANDARDS
SEC. 201. COVERED ALGORITHM STANDARDS.
(a) Covered Algorithm Use.--A developer or deployer shall do the
following:
(1) Take reasonable measures to prevent and mitigate any
harm identified by a pre-deployment evaluation described in
section 102(a) or an impact assessment described in section
102(b).
(2) Take reasonable measures to ensure that an independent
auditor has all necessary information to complete an accurate
and effective pre-deployment evaluation described in section
102(a) or an impact assessment described in section 102(b).
(3) With respect to a covered algorithm, consult
stakeholders, including any communities that will be impacted
by the covered algorithm, regarding the development or
deployment of the covered algorithm prior to the deploying,
licensing, or offering the covered algorithm.
(4) With respect to a covered algorithm, certify that,
based on the results of a pre-deployment evaluation described
in section 102(a) or an impact assessment described in section
102(b)--
(A) use of the covered algorithm is not likely to
result in harm or disparate impact in the equal
enjoyment of goods, services, or other activities or
opportunities;
(B) the benefits from the use of the covered
algorithm to individuals affected by the covered
algorithm likely outweigh the harms from the use of the
covered algorithm to such individuals; and
(C) use of the covered algorithm is not likely to
result in a deceptive act or practice.
(5) Ensure that any covered algorithm of the developer or
deployer functions--
(A) at a level that would be considered reasonable
performance by an individual with ordinary skill in the
art; and
(B) in a manner that is consistent with its
expected and publicly-advertised performance, purpose,
or use.
(6) Ensure any data used in the design, development,
deployment, or use of the covered algorithm is relevant and
appropriate to the deployment context and the publicly-
advertised purpose or use.
(7) Ensure use of the covered algorithm as intended is not
likely to result in a violation of this Act.
(b) Deceptive Marketing of a Product or Service.--It shall be
unlawful for a developer or deployer to engage in false, deceptive, or
misleading advertising, marketing, or publicizing of a covered
algorithm of the developer or deployer.
(c) Off-Label Use.--
(1) Developers.--It shall be unlawful for a developer to
knowingly offer or license a covered algorithm for any
consequential action other than those evaluated in the pre-
deployment evaluation described in section 102(a).
(2) Deployers.--It shall be unlawful for a deployer to
knowingly use a covered algorithm for any consequential action
other than a use evaluated in the pre-deployment evaluation
described in section 102(a), unless the deployer agrees to
assume the responsibilities of a developer required by this
Act.
SEC. 202. RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN DEVELOPERS AND DEPLOYERS.
(a) Developer Responsibilities.--A developer shall do the
following:
(1) Upon the reasonable request of the deployer, make
available to the deployer information necessary to demonstrate
the compliance of the deployer with the requirements of this
Act, including--
(A) making available a report of the pre-deployment
evaluation described in section 102(a) or the annual
review of assessments conducted by the developer under
section 102(c); and
(B) providing information necessary to enable the
deployer to conduct and document a pre-deployment
evaluation under section 102 (a) or an impact
assessment under section 102(b).
(2) Either--
(A) allow and cooperate with reasonable assessments
conducted by the deployer or the deployer's designated
independent auditor; or
(B) arrange for an independent auditor to conduct
an assessment of the developer's policies and practices
in support of the obligations under this Act using an
appropriate and accepted control standard or framework
and assessment procedure for such assessments, and
provide a report of such assessment to the deployer
upon request.
(b) Contracts Between Developers and Deployers.--
(1) Requirements.--A developer may offer or license a
covered algorithm to a deployer pursuant to a written contract
between the developer and deployer, provided that the
contract--
(A) clearly sets forth the data processing
procedures of the developer with respect to any
collection, processing, or transfer of data performed
on behalf of the deployer;
(B) clearly sets forth--
(i) instructions for collecting,
processing, transferring, or disposing of data
by the developer or deployer in the context of
the use of the covered algorithm;
(ii) instructions for deploying the covered
algorithm as intended;
(iii) the nature and purpose of any
collection, processing, or transferring of
data;
(iv) the type of data subject to such
collection, processing, or transferring;
(v) the duration of such processing of
data; and
(vi) the rights and obligations of both
parties, including a method by which the
developer shall notify the deployer of material
changes to its covered algorithm;
(C) shall not relieve a developer or deployer of
any requirement or liability imposed on such developer
or deployer under this Act;
(D) prohibits both the developer and deployer from
combining data received from or collected on behalf of
the other party with data the developer or deployer
received from or collected on behalf of another party;
and
(E) shall not prohibit a developer or deployer from
raising concerns to any relevant enforcement agency
with respect to the other party.
(2) Retention of contract.--Each developer shall retain for
a period of 10 years a copy of each contract entered into with
a deployer to which it provides requested products or services.
(c) Rule of Construction.--For purposes of this section, any
requirement for a developer to contract with, assist, and follow the
instructions of a deployer shall be read to include a requirement to
contract with, assist, and follow the instructions of a government
entity if the developer is providing a service to a government entity.
SEC. 203. HUMAN ALTERNATIVES AND OTHER PROTECTIONS.
(a) Right to Human Alternatives.--
(1) Rulemaking.--Not later than 2 years after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Commission shall promulgate
regulations in accordance with section 553 of title 5, United
States Code, specifying the circumstances and manner in which a
deployer shall provide to an individual a means to opt-out of
the use of a covered algorithm for a consequential action and
to elect to have the consequential action concerning the
individual undertaken by a human without the use of a covered
algorithm.
(2) Considerations.--In promulgating the regulations under
paragraph (1), the Commission shall consider the following:
(A) How to ensure that any notice or request from a
deployer regarding the right to a human alternative is
clear and conspicuous, in plain language, easy to
execute, and at no cost to an individual.
(B) How to ensure that any such notice to
individuals is effective, timely, and useful.
(C) The specific types of consequential actions for
which a human alternative is appropriate, considering
the magnitude of the action and risk of harm.
(D) The extent to which a human alternative would
be beneficial to individuals and the public interest.
(E) The extent to which a human alternative can
prevent or mitigate harm.
(F) The risk of harm to individuals beyond the
requestor if a human alternative is available or not
available.
(G) The feasibility of providing a human
alternative in different circumstances.
(H) Any other considerations the Commission deems
appropriate to balance the need to give an individual
control over a consequential action related to such
individual with the practical feasibility and
effectiveness of granting such control.
(b) Individual Autonomy.--A developer or deployer may not
condition, effectively condition, attempt to condition, or attempt to
effectively condition the exercise of any individual right under this
Act or individual choice through--
(1) the use of any false, fictitious, fraudulent, or
materially misleading statement or representation; or
(2) the design, modification, or manipulation of any user
interface with the purpose or substantial effect of obscuring,
subverting, or impairing a reasonable individual's autonomy,
decision making, or choice to exercise any such right.
(c) Right To Appeal.--
(1) Rulemaking.--Not later than 2 years after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Commission shall promulgate
regulations in accordance with section 553 of title 5, United
States Code, specifying the circumstances and manner in which a
deployer shall provide to an individual a mechanism to appeal
to a human a consequential action resulting from the deployer's
use of a covered algorithm.
(2) Considerations.--In promulgating the regulations under
paragraph (1), the Commission shall do the following:
(A) Ensure that the appeal mechanism is clear and
conspicuous, in plain language, easy-to-execute, and at
no cost to individuals.
(B) Ensure that the appeal mechanism is
proportionate to the consequential action.
(C) Ensure that the appeal mechanism is reasonably
accessible to individuals with disabilities, timely,
usable, effective, and non-discriminatory.
(D) Require, where appropriate, a mechanism for
individuals to identify and correct any personal data
used by the covered algorithm.
(E) Specify training requirements for human
reviewers with respect to a consequential action.
(F) Consider any other circumstances, procedures,
or matters the Commission deems appropriate to balance
the need to give an individual a right to appeal a
consequential action related to such individual with
the practical feasibility and effectiveness of granting
such right.
SEC. 204. PROHIBITION ON RETALIATION; WHISTLEBLOWER PROTECTIONS.
(a) Prohibition on Retaliation.--
(1) In general.--A developer or deployer may not
discriminate or retaliate against an individual (including by
denying or threatening to deny the equal enjoyment of goods,
services, or other activities or opportunities in relation to a
consequential action) because the individual exercised any
right, refused to waive any such right, raised a concern about
a consequential action under this Act, or assisted in any
investigation or proceeding under this Act.
(2) Rules of construction.--
(A) Differential in service or goods.--Nothing in
this Act shall prohibit a developer or deployer from
denying service to an individual, charging an
individual a different price or rate, or providing a
different level or quality of goods or services to an
individual if the differential in service is necessary
and directly related to the value provided to the
developer or deployer by the covered algorithm.
(B) Loyalty programs.--Nothing in this Act shall
prohibit a developer or deployer from offering loyalty,
rewards, premium features, discounts, or club card
programs that provide benefits or rewards based on
frequency of patronizing, or the amount of money spent
at, a business consistent with this Act.
(b) Whistleblower Protection.--A developer or deployer may not,
directly or indirectly, discharge, demote, suspend, threaten, harass,
or otherwise discriminate or retaliate against an individual for
raising a concern, reporting or attempting to report a violation of
this Act, or cooperating in any investigation or proceeding under this
Act.
TITLE III--TRANSPARENCY
SEC. 301. NOTICE AND DISCLOSURE.
(a) In General.--Each developer or deployer shall make publicly
available, in plain language and in a clear, conspicuous, not
misleading, easy-to-read, and readily accessible manner, a disclosure
that provides a detailed and accurate representation of the developer
or deployer's practices regarding the requirements under this Act.
(b) Content of Disclosure.--The disclosure required under
subsection (a) shall include, at a minimum, the following:
(1) The identity and the contact information of--
(A) the developer or deployer to which the
disclosure applies (including the developer or
deployer's point of contact and electronic and physical
mail address, as applicable for any inquiry concerning
a covered algorithm or individual rights under this
Act); and
(B) any other entity within the same corporate
structure as the developer or deployer to which
personal data is transferred by the developer or
deployer.
(2) A link to the website containing the developer or
deployer's summaries of pre-deployment evaluations, impact
assessments, and annual review of assessments, as applicable.
(3) The categories of personal data the developer or
deployer collects or processes in the development or deployment
of a covered algorithm and the processing purpose for each such
category.
(4) Whether the developer or deployer transfers personal
data, and, if so, each third party to which the developer or
deployer transfers such data and the purpose for which such
data is transferred, except with respect to a transfer to a
governmental entity pursuant to a court order or law that
prohibits the developer or deployer from disclosing such
transfer.
(5) A prominent description of how an individual can
exercise the rights described in this Act.
(6) A general description of the developer or deployer's
practices for compliance with the requirements described in
sections 102 and 201.
(7) The following disclosure:
``The audit of this algorithm was conducted to comply with
the Artificial Intelligence Civil Rights Act of 2025, which
seeks to avoid the use of any algorithm that has a disparate
impact on certain protected classes of individuals. The audit
does not guarantee that this algorithm is safe or in compliance
with all applicable laws.''.
(8) The effective date of the disclosure.
(c) Languages.--The disclosure required under subsection (a) shall
be made available in each covered language in which the developer or
deployer operates or provides a good or service.
(d) Accessibility.--Any disclosure provided under this section
shall be made available in a manner that is reasonably accessible to
and usable by individuals with disabilities.
(e) Material Changes.--
(1) Notification.--If a developer or deployer makes a
material change to the disclosure required under subsection
(a), the developer or deployer shall notify each individual
affected by such material change prior to implementing the
material change.
(2) Requirements.--Each developer or deployer shall take
all reasonable measures to provide to each affected individual
a direct electronic notification regarding any material change
to the disclosure, in each covered language in which the
disclosure is made available, and taking into account available
technology and the nature of the relationship with such
individual.
(3) Log of material changes.--
(A) Retention period.--Beginning after the date of
enactment of this Act, each developer or deployer shall
retain a copy of each previous version of the
disclosure required under subsection (a) for a period
of at least 10 years after the last day on which such
version was effective and publish each such version on
its website.
(B) Log of material changes.--Each developer or
deployer shall make publicly available, in a clear,
conspicuous, and readily accessible manner, a log
describing the date and nature of each material change
to its disclosure during the retention period described
in subparagraph (A), and such descriptions shall be
sufficient for a reasonable individual to understand
the material effect of each material change.
(C) Clarification.--The obligations described in
this paragraph shall not apply to any previous version
of a developer or deployer's disclosure of practices
regarding the collection, processing, and transfer of
personal data, or any material change to such
disclosure, that precedes the date of enactment of this
Act.
(f) Short-Form Notice.--
(1) In general.--A deployer shall provide a short-form
notice regarding a covered algorithm it develops, offers,
licenses, or uses in a manner that--
(A) is concise, clear, conspicuous, in plain
language, and not misleading;
(B) is readily accessible to individuals with
disabilities;
(C) is based on what is reasonably anticipated
within the context of the relationship between the
individual and the deployer;
(D) includes an overview of each applicable
individual right and disclosure in a manner that draws
attention to any practice that may be unexpected to a
reasonable individual or that involves a consequential
action;
(E) is not more than 500 words in length; and
(F) is available to the public at no cost.
(2) Timing of notice.--
(A) Existing relationship.--If a deployer has a
relationship with an individual, the deployer shall
provide an electronic version of the short-form notice
directly to the individual upon the individual's first
interaction with the covered algorithm.
(B) No relationship.--If a deployer does not have a
relationship with an individual, the deployer shall
provide the short-form notice in a clear, conspicuous,
accessible, and not misleading manner on their website.
(3) Rulemaking.--The Commission shall promulgate
regulations in accordance with section 553 of title 5, United
States Code, specifying the minimum content required to be
included in the short-form notice described in paragraph (1),
which--
(A) shall not exceed the content requirements
described in subsection (b); and
(B) shall include a template or model for such
short-form notice.
(g) Reporting Mechanism.--Each developer or deployer shall make
publicly available, in a clear, conspicuous, and readily accessible
manner, a mechanism for an individual impacted by a covered algorithm
to report to the developer or deployer potential violations of this
Act.
SEC. 302. STUDY ON EXPLANATIONS REGARDING THE USE OF COVERED
ALGORITHMS.
(a) Study.--
(1) In general.--The Commission shall conduct a study, with
notice and public comment, on the feasibility of requiring
deployers to provide a clear, conspicuous, easy-to-use, no-cost
mechanism that is accessible for individuals with disabilities
and allows an individual to receive an explanation as to
whether and how a covered algorithm used by the deployer
affects or affected an individual.
(2) Requirements.--The study required under paragraph (1)
shall include the following:
(A) An overview of the purposes for which an
explanation would be provided to an individual and the
extent to which an explanation would feasibly serve
such purposes.
(B) How explanations can be provided in a manner
that is clear, conspicuous, easy-to-use, no-cost,
accessible to individuals with disabilities, effective
for individuals with limited English language
proficiency, and calibrated to the level of risk based
on the covered algorithm.
(C) An assessment of the feasibility of a
requirement for deployers to provide a mechanism for
individuals who may be affected or were affected by a
covered algorithm to request an explanation that--
(i) includes information--
(I) regarding why the covered
algorithm produced the result it
produced with respect to the individual
making the request; and
(II) that is truthful, accurate,
and scientifically valid;
(ii) identifies at least the most
significant factors used to inform the covered
algorithm's outputs; and
(iii) includes any other information deemed
relevant by the Commission to provide an
explanation for an individual who may be
affected or was affected by a covered
algorithm.
(D) An assessment of what information a developer
must provide a deployer in order to ensure explanations
can be provided to individuals upon request.
(E) The extent to which current technical
capabilities of covered algorithms impacts the
feasibility of providing explanations.
(F) How a deployer can take reasonable measures to
verify the identity of an individual making a request
for an explanation to ensure that the deployer provides
an explanation only to the affected individual,
including steps a deployer should take to ensure the
safe and secure storage, collection, and deletion of
personal information.
(G) Recommendations for Congress on how to
implement regulations around mechanisms for
explanations.
(3) Consultation.--In conducting the study required under
this subsection, the Commission shall consult with the National
Institute of Science of Technology, the National
Telecommunications and Information Administration, the Office
of Science and Technology Policy, and any other agency deemed
relevant by the Commission.
(b) Report.--Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment
of this Act, the Commission shall submit to the Committee on Commerce,
Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Energy
and Commerce of the House of Representatives a report that includes the
findings of the study conducted under subsection (a), together with
recommendations for such legislation and administrative action as the
Commission determines appropriate.
SEC. 303. CONSUMER AWARENESS.
(a) Notice of Consumer Rights.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 90 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Commission shall publish, on the
internet website of the Commission, a web page that describes
each provision, right, obligation, and requirement of this Act
(categorized with respect to individuals, deployers, and
developers) and the remedies, exemptions, and protections
associated with this Act, in plain and concise language, in
each covered language, and in an easy-to-understand, accessible
manner.
(2) Updates.--The Commission shall update the information
published under paragraph (1) as necessitated by any change in
law, regulation, guidance, or judicial decision. Any such
update shall be published in plain and concise language, in
each covered language, and in an easy-to-understand, accessible
manner.
(b) Annual Report.--Not later than 2 years after the date of
enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Commission shall
publish on the internet website of the Commission a report that--
(1) describes and summarizes the information contained in
any pre-deployment evaluation, impact assessment, and developer
review submitted to the Commission in accordance with this Act;
(2) describes broad trends, aggregated statistics, and
anonymized information about performing impact assessments of
covered algorithms, for the purposes of updating guidance
related to impact assessments and summary reporting, oversight,
and making recommendations to other regulatory agencies; and
(3) is accessible and machine readable in accordance with
the 21st Century Integrated Digital Experience Act (44 U.S.C.
3501 note).
(c) Publicly Accessible Repository.--
(1) Establishment.--
(A) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the
Commission publishes the first annual report under
subsection (b), the Commission shall develop a publicly
accessible repository to publish each pre-deployment
evaluation, impact assessment, and developer review
submitted to the Commission in accordance with section
102.
(B) Requirements.--The Commission shall design the
repository established under subparagraph (A) to--
(i) be publicly available and easily
discoverable on the internet website of the
Commission;
(ii) allow users to sort and search the
repository by multiple characteristics (such as
by developer or deployer and date reported)
simultaneously;
(iii) allow users to make a copy of or
download the information obtained from the
repository, including any subsets of
information obtained by sorting or searching as
described in clause (ii), in accordance with
current guidance from the Office of Management
and Budget, such as the Open, Public,
Electronic, and Necessary Government Data Act
(44 U.S.C. 101 note);
(iv) be in accordance with user experience
and accessibility best practices, such as those
described in the 21st Century Integrated
Digital Experience Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 note);
and
(v) include information about the design,
use, and maintenance of the repository,
including any other information determined
appropriate by the Commission.
(2) Publication of additional summaries.--The Commission
shall publish in the repository any pre-deployment evaluation,
impact assessment, and developer review not later than 30 days
after receiving such evaluation, assessment, or review, except
if the Commission has good cause to delay such publication.
(3) Trade secrets and privacy.--The Commission--
(A) may redact and segregate any trade secret (as
defined in section 1839 of title 18, United States
Code) from public disclosure under this subsection;
(B) shall redact and segregate personal data from
public disclosure under this subsection; and
(C) may withhold information as permitted under
section 552 of title 5, United States Code.
TITLE IV--ENFORCEMENT
SEC. 401. ENFORCEMENT BY THE COMMISSION.
(a) Unfair or Deceptive Acts or Practices.--A violation of title I,
II, or III or a regulation promulgated thereunder shall be treated as a
violation of a rule defining an unfair or deceptive act or practice
under section 18(a)(1)(B) of the Federal Trade Commission Act (15
U.S.C. 57a(a)(1)(B)).
(b) Powers of the Commission.--
(1) In general.--Except as provided in subsection (c), the
Commission shall enforce this Act and the regulations
promulgated under this Act in the same manner, by the same
means, and with the same jurisdiction, powers, and duties as
though all applicable terms and provisions of the Federal Trade
Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 41 et seq.) were incorporated into
and made a part of this Act.
(2) Privileges and immunities.--Any person who violates
title I, II, or III or a regulation promulgated thereunder
shall be subject to the penalties and entitled to the
privileges and immunities provided in the Federal Trade
Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 41 et seq.).
(3) Authority preserved.--Nothing in this Act shall be
construed to limit the authority of the Commission under any
other provision of law.
(4) Rulemaking.--The Commission may promulgate in
accordance with section 553 of title 5, United States Code,
such rules as may be necessary to carry out this Act.
(c) Jurisdiction.--Notwithstanding section 4, 5(a)(2), or 6 of the
Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 44, 45(a)(2), 46) or any
jurisdictional limitation of the Commission, the Commission shall also
enforce this Act and the regulations promulgated under this Act, in the
same manner provided in subsections (a) and (b), with respect to--
(1) organizations not organized to carry on business for
their own profit or that of their members;
(2) common carriers subject to the Communications Act of
1934 (47 U.S.C. 151 et seq.) and all Acts amendatory thereof
and supplementary thereto;
(3) a bank, savings and loan institution described in
section 18(f)(3) of the Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C.
57a(f)(3)), or Federal credit union described in section
18(f)(4) of such Act;
(4) an air carrier or foreign air carrier subject to the
Federal Aviation Act of 1958 (49 U.S.C. App. 1301 et seq.); or
(5) a person, partnership, or corporation subject to the
Packers and Stockyards Act, 1921 (7 U.S.C. 181 et seq.), as
amended.
SEC. 402. ENFORCEMENT BY STATES.
(a) In General.--In any case in which the attorney general of a
State or a State data protection authority has reason to believe that
an interest of the residents of the State has been or is threatened or
adversely affected by the engagement of a person in a practice that
violates title I, II, or III, or a regulation promulgated thereunder,
the attorney general may, as parens patriae, bring a civil action on
behalf of the residents of the State in an appropriate Federal district
court of the United States that meets applicable requirements relating
to venue under section 1391 of title 28, United States Code, to--
(1) enjoin any such violation by the person;
(2) enforce compliance with the requirements of this Act;
(3) obtain a permanent, temporary, or preliminary
injunction or other appropriate equitable relief;
(4) obtain civil penalties in the amount of $15,000 per
violation, or 4 percent of the defendant's average gross annual
revenue over the preceding 3 years, whichever is greater;
(5) obtain damages, restitution, or other compensation on
behalf of the residents of such State;
(6) obtain reasonable attorneys' fees and litigation costs;
and
(7) obtain such other relief as the court may consider to
be appropriate.
(b) Rights of the Commission.--
(1) Notice to the commission.--
(A) In general.--Subject to subparagraph (C), the
attorney general of a State shall notify the Commission
in writing that the attorney general intends to bring a
civil action under subsection (a) before the filing of
the civil action.
(B) Contents.--The notification required under
subparagraph (A) with respect to a civil action shall
include a copy of the complaint to be filed to initiate
the civil action.
(C) Exception.--The notification described in
subparagraph (A) shall not be required if the attorney
general of the State determines that it is not feasible
to provide such notice before filing the action.
(2) Intervention by the commission.--Not later than 180
days after receiving notice under paragraph (1), the Commission
shall have the right to intervene in the action that is the
subject of the notice.
(3) Effect of intervention.--If the Commission intervenes
in an action under subsection (a), it shall have the right--
(A) to be heard with respect to any matter that
arises in that action; and
(B) file a petition for appeal.
(c) Investigatory Powers.--Nothing in this section may be construed
to prevent the attorney general of a State from exercising the powers
conferred on the attorney general by the laws of the State to--
(1) conduct investigations;
(2) administer oaths or affirmations; or
(3) compel the attendance of witnesses or the production of
documentary or other evidence.
(d) Coordination With Relevant Agencies.--
(1) Consultation.--The Commission may consult with any
relevant Federal agencies as necessary to carry out this Act.
(2) Memorandum of understanding.--Not later than 180 days
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Commission, in
coordination with any relevant Federal agencies, shall
establish, through a memorandum of understanding--
(A) procedures for coordinating investigations and
enforcement actions;
(B) protocols for information sharing and technical
assistance;
(C) standards for determining the division of
enforcement authority between the Commission and such
Federal agencies; and
(D) processes for referral of complaints between
agencies.
SEC. 403. PRIVATE RIGHT OF ACTION.
(a) Enforcement by Individuals.--
(1) In general.--Any individual or class of individuals
alleging a violation of title I, II, or III, or a regulation
promulgated thereunder, may bring a civil action in any court
of competent jurisdiction.
(2) Relief.--In a civil action brought under paragraph (1)
in which the plaintiff prevails, the court may award--
(A) treble damages or $15,000 per violation,
whichever is greater;
(B) nominal damages;
(C) punitive damages;
(D) reasonable attorney's fees and litigation
costs; and
(E) any other relief, including equitable or
declaratory relief, that the court determines
appropriate.
(3) Rights of the commission and state attorneys general.--
(A) In general.--Prior to an individual bringing a
civil action under paragraph (1), such individual shall
notify the Commission and the attorney general of the
State where such individual resides, in writing and
including a description of the allegations included in
the civil action, that such individual intends to bring
a civil action under such paragraph. Not later than 60
days after receiving such notice, the Commission and
State attorney general shall each or jointly make a
determination and respond to such individual as to
whether they will intervene in such action. The
Commission and State attorney general shall have a
right to intervene in any civil action under paragraph
(1), and upon intervening, to be heard on all matters
arising in such action and file petitions for appeal of
a decision in such action. If a State attorney general
does intervene, they shall only be heard with respect
to the interests of the residents of their State.
(B) Retained authority.--Subparagraph (A) shall not
be construed to limit the authority of the Commission
or any applicable State attorney general to, at a later
date, commence a civil action or intervene by motion if
the Commission or State attorney general does not
commence a proceeding or civil action within the 60-day
period described in such subparagraph.
(b) Invalidity of Pre-Dispute Arbitration Agreements and Pre-
Dispute Joint Action Waivers.--
(1) In general.--Notwithstanding any other provision of
law, no pre-dispute arbitration agreement or pre-dispute joint
action waiver shall be valid or enforceable with regard to a
dispute arising under this Act.
(2) Applicability.--Any determination as to whether or how
this subsection applies to any dispute shall be made by a
court, rather than an arbitrator, without regard to whether
such agreement purports to delegate such determination to an
arbitrator.
(3) Definitions.--For purposes of this subsection:
(A) Pre-dispute arbitration agreement.--The term
``pre-dispute arbitration agreement'' means any
agreement to arbitrate a dispute that has not arisen at
the time of the making of the agreement.
(B) Pre-dispute joint-action waiver.--The term
``pre-dispute joint-action waiver'' means an agreement,
whether or not part of a pre-dispute arbitration
agreement, that would prohibit or waive the right of 1
of the parties to the agreement to participate in a
joint, class, or collective action in a judicial,
arbitral, administrative, or other related forum,
concerning a dispute that has not yet arisen at the
time of the making of the agreement.
SEC. 404. SEVERABILITY.
If any provision of this Act, or the application thereof to any
person or circumstance, is held invalid, the remainder of this Act, and
the application of such provision to other persons not similarly
situated or to other circumstances, shall not be affected by the
invalidation.
SEC. 405. RULES OF CONSTRUCTION.
(a) In General.--Nothing in this Act shall be construed to--
(1) waive or otherwise limit any requirement under the
National Labor Relations Act (29 U.S.C. 151 et seq.) for an
employer (as such term is defined in section 2 of such Act (29
U.S.C. 152)) to bargain collectively regarding the deployment
or effects of a covered algorithm;
(2) absolve an employer of any obligation to ensure a
covered algorithm and its effects comply with health and safety
laws;
(3) allow an employer to deploy a covered algorithm that
interferes with the rights of employees under any Federal,
State, or local law; or
(4) absolve any other duty or requirement under any other
Federal, State, or local law.
(b) Otherwise Applicable Requirements and Authority.--No regulation
or standard imposed under this Act may be construed in a manner that
would lessen the stringency of the requirements of any applicable
Federal or State agency that are otherwise applicable. This Act does
not divest any such agency of any authority derived from any other
applicable law.
TITLE V--FEDERAL RESOURCES
SEC. 501. OCCUPATIONAL SERIES RELATING TO ALGORITHM AUDITING.
Not later than 270 days after the date of enactment of this Act,
the Director of the Office of Personnel Management shall exercise the
authority of the Director under section 5105 of title 5, United States
Code, to establish a new occupational series and associated policies
covering Federal Government positions in the field of algorithm
auditing (as described in the report of the Government Accountability
Office entitled ``Artificial Intelligence: An Accountability Framework
for Federal Agencies and Other Entities'' (GAO-21-519SP), dated June
30, 2021), which shall include algorithm auditing practices, platform
auditing, evaluation and assessment of artificial intelligence systems,
computer security, independent evaluation and audits of computer
systems, data science, statistics, auditing of anticompetitive
practices, and related fields.
SEC. 502. ADDITIONAL FEDERAL RESOURCES.
(a) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to the Commission and other Federal agencies enumerated in
this Act such sums as may be necessary to carry out this Act.
(b) Commission Personnel.--Notwithstanding any other provision of
law, the Commission may hire not more than 500 additional personnel to
accomplish the work of the Commission with respect to unfair or
deceptive acts or practices relating to the development or deployment
of covered algorithms in accordance with this Act.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
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