summary
Introduced
In Committee
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
112th Congress
Bill Summary
Clearing Unnecessary Regulatory Burdens Act or the CURB Act - Requires each federal agency to: (1) report to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs on the costs and benefits of each significant regulatory action and of identified alternatives; (2) develop or have written procedures for the approval of significant guidance documents; (3) maintain on its website a list of such documents in effect; (4) establish and advertise on its website a means for the public to electronically submit comments on such documents and a request for issuance, reconsideration, modification, or rescission of such documents; and (5) publish a notice in the Federal Register announcing that a draft of an economically significant guidance document is available, make such document publicly available, invite comment on such draft, and respond to such comments. Defines a "significant regulatory action" as any regulatory action that is likely to result in a regulation that may: (1) have an annual effect on the economy of $100 million or more or adversely affect in a material way the economy, a sector of the economy, productivity, competition, jobs, the environment, public health or safety, or state, local, or tribal governments or communities; (2) create a serious inconsistency or otherwise interfere with an action taken or planned by another agency; (3) materially alter the budgetary impact of entitlements, grants, user fees, or loan programs or the rights and obligations of recipients thereof; or (4) raise novel legal or policy issues arising out of legal mandates and the priorities, principles, and provisions of this Act. Authorizes an agency head, in consultation with such Office, to identify a particular document or category of such documents for which the procedures of this Act are not feasible or appropriate. Requires agencies to notify the Administrator in emergency situations or when they are obligated by law to act more quickly than normal review procedures allow. Allows a reduction or waiver of civil penalties on small entities for failure to comply with regulatory requirements.
AI Summary
This bill, known as the CURB Act, mandates that federal agencies implement new procedures for regulatory actions and guidance documents to reduce unnecessary burdens. Specifically, agencies must report to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) on the costs and benefits of significant regulatory actions, which are defined as those likely to have an annual economic impact of $100 million or more, create significant inconsistencies with other agencies, materially alter budgets, or raise novel legal/policy issues. Agencies must also establish written procedures for approving significant guidance documents, which are agency statements of general applicability that interpret laws or policies but are not regulations themselves. These documents, if deemed "significant" (meeting similar economic or policy impact thresholds as significant regulatory actions), must be listed on agency websites, and the public must be provided a way to electronically submit comments or requests for their issuance, reconsideration, modification, or rescission. For "economically significant guidance documents," agencies must publish a draft in the Federal Register, make it publicly available, invite public comment, and respond to those comments. The bill also allows for exceptions to these procedures in emergencies or when legal obligations require faster action, and it introduces provisions for reducing or waiving civil penalties for small entities in cases of first-time reporting violations.
Committee Categories
Military Affairs and Security
Sponsors (3)
Last Action
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 112-220. (on 07/20/2011)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://www.congress.gov/bill/112th-congress/senate-bill/602/all-info |
| BillText | http://gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BILLS-112s602is/pdf/BILLS-112s602is.pdf |
| Bill | http://gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BILLS-112s602is/pdf/BILLS-112s602is.pdf.pdf |
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