Bill > H2903

This bill, titled the Paperwork Reduction Act of the Commonwealth, establishes a program to reduce the burden of state paperwork on the public and improve government efficiency, with the Secretary of Administration and Finance overseeing its implementation. The Act aims to minimize the time, effort, and financial resources individuals and entities spend generating or providing information to state agencies, while also ensuring the public benefits from and has access to government information. It mandates that state agencies and authorities, defined broadly to include executive offices, departments, and public higher education institutions, actively reduce information collection burdens, improve data quality, promote public access to information, and strategically use technology. A key provision requires agencies to notify the public in writing or electronically about the existence of public information exceeding four pages, providing clear instructions on how to request it, rather than automatically disseminating large documents. The bill also defines terms like "burden," "collection of information," and "person" to clarify its scope and purpose, ultimately seeking to preserve natural resources and decrease energy consumption by reducing unnecessary paperwork.