PRINTER'S NO. 2481
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
1824
Session of
2017
INTRODUCED BY MASSER, O'NEILL, MILLARD, WHEELAND AND HEFFLEY,
SEPTEMBER 26, 2017
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT, SEPTEMBER 26, 2017
AN ACT
Amending Title 71 (State Government) of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes, establishing a plain writing
requirement for executive agencies.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Title 71 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
Statutes is amended by adding a part to read:
PART II
EXECUTIVE BRANCH
Chapter
11. Preliminary Provisions (Reserved)
13. Plain Writing
CHAPTER 11
PRELIMINARY PROVISIONS
(RESERVED)
CHAPTER 13
PLAIN WRITING
Sec.
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1301. Definitions.
1302. Duties.
1303. Reports.
1304. Enforceability.
1305. Budgetary effects.
§ 1301. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this chapter
shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Agency." The Governor and a department, board, commission,
authority and other officer and agency of the Commonwealth. The
term does not include a court or other officer or agency of the
unified judicial system, the General Assembly and its officers
and agencies or an independent agency or State-affiliated
entity.
"Covered document." As follows:
(1) A document that:
(i) is necessary for obtaining a State government
benefit or service or for filing taxes;
(ii) provides information about a State government
benefit or service; or
(iii) explains to the public how to comply with a
requirement the State government administers or enforces.
(2) The term includes, in paper or electronic form, a
letter, publication, form, notice or instruction.
(3) The term does not include a regulation.
"Plain writing." Writing that is clear, concise, well-
organized and follows other best practices appropriate to the
subject or field and intended audience.
§ 1302. Duties.
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(a) Preparation.--
(1) No later than nine months after the effective date
of this section, the head of each agency shall do the
following:
(i) Designate at least one senior official within
the agency to oversee the agency implementation of this
chapter.
(ii) Communicate the requirements of this chapter to
the employees of the agency.
(iii) Train the employees of the agency in plain
writing.
(iv) Establish a process for overseeing the ongoing
compliance of the agency with the requirements of this
chapter.
(v) Create and maintain a plain writing section of
the agency's website as required under paragraph (2) that
is accessible from the homepage of the agency's website.
(vi) Designate at least one agency point-of-contact
to receive and respond to public input on the following:
(A) Agency implementation of this chapter.
(B) The agency reports required under section
1303 (relating to reports).
(2) The plain writing section of the agency's website
described under paragraph (1)(v) shall do the following:
(i) Inform the public of agency compliance with the
requirements of this chapter.
(ii) Provide a mechanism for the agency to receive
and respond to public input on the following:
(A) Agency implementation of this chapter.
(B) The agency reports required under section
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1303.
(b) Plain writing in new documents.--No later than one year
after the effective date of this section, each agency shall use
plain writing in each covered document of the agency that the
agency issues or substantially revises.
(c) Guidance.--
(1) No later than six months after the effective date of
this section, the Office of Administration shall develop and
issue guidance on implementing the requirements of this
section. The Office of Administration may designate a lead
agency and may use interagency working groups to assist in
developing and issuing the guidance.
(2) Before the issuance of guidance under paragraph (1),
an agency may follow the guidance of one of the following:
(i) The writing guidelines developed by the Plain
Language Action and Information Network.
(ii) Guidance provided by the head of the agency
that is consistent with the guidelines referred to under
subparagraph (i).
§ 1303. Reports.
(a) Initial report.--No later than nine months after the
effective date of this section, the head of each agency shall
publish on the plain writing section of the agency's website a
report that describes the agency plan for compliance with the
requirements of this chapter.
(b) Annual compliance report.--No later than 18 months after
the effective date of this section, and annually thereafter, the
head of each agency shall publish on the plain writing section
of the agency's website a report on agency compliance with the
requirements of this chapter.
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§ 1304. Enforceability.
A provision of this chapter may not be construed to create a
substantive or procedural right or benefit enforceable by an
administrative or judicial action.
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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