5 U.S.C. § 301: Departmental regulations

The head of an Executive department or military department may prescribe regulations for the government of his department, the conduct of its employees, the distribution and performance of its business, and the custody, use, and preservation of its records, papers, and property. This section does not authorize withholding information from the public or limiting the availability of records to the public. “This Act may be cited as the ‘Working Dog Health and Welfare Act of 2023’. The term ‘agency’ has the meaning given the term in section 551 of title 5 , United States Code. The term ‘working dog’ means a dog that has received specialized training in order to perform a particular productive function. The term ‘working dog program’ means a program, the operations of which include the employment of working dogs. The term ‘working dog recommendations’ means the recommendations included in the report of the Government Accountability Office entitled ‘Working Dogs: Federal Agencies Need to Better Address Health and Welfare’, as published in October 2022. Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act [ Dec. 23, 2024 ], the head of each agency that manages a working dog program shall implement the working dog recommendations. Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, a contractor that manages a working dog program on behalf of an agency shall implement the working dog recommendations. Not later than 60 days after the date on which the head of an agency or a contractor that manages a working dog program on behalf of an agency implements the working dog recommendations under this subsection, the head of the agency shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Oversight and Accountability of the House of Representatives a report on the explicit steps the agency or contractor has taken to complete the implementation. Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act [ Dec. 23, 2024 ], the Secretary of State shall take appropriate steps to ensure that donations of working dogs provided to foreign partners by the Department of State are executed and monitored according to the working dog recommendations. With respect to an agency that establishes a working dog program, or enters into a contract for the establishment of a working dog program, after the date of enactment of this Act, the head of the agency shall ensure that the working dog program implements the working dog recommendations. No additional funds are authorized to be appropriated for the purpose of carrying out this Act.” “This title may be cited as the ‘Federal Cybersecurity Workforce Assessment Act of 2015’. the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate; the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate; the Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate; the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate; the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives; the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives; the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform [now Committee on Oversight and Accountability] of the House of Representatives; and the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the House of Representatives. The term ‘Director’ means the Director of the Office of Personnel Management. The term ‘National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education’ means the initiative under the national cybersecurity awareness and education program, as authorized under section 303 of the Cybersecurity Enhancement Act of 2014 ( Public Law 113–274 ) [ 15 U.S.C. 7443 ]. The term ‘work roles’ means a specialized set of tasks and functions requiring specific knowledge, skills, and abilities. identify all positions within the agency that require the performance of cybersecurity or other cyber-related functions; and assign the corresponding employment code under the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education in accordance with subsection (b). Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [ Dec. 18, 2015 ], the Director, in coordination with the National Institute of Standards and Technology, shall develop a coding structure under the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education. Not later than 9 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director, in coordination with the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, and the Director of National Intelligence, shall establish procedures to implement the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education coding structure to identify all Federal civilian positions that require the performance of information technology, cybersecurity, or other cyber-related functions. Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall establish procedures to implement the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education’s coding structure to identify all Federal noncivilian positions that require the performance of information technology, cybersecurity, or other cyber-related functions. the percentage of personnel with information technology, cybersecurity, or other cyber-related job functions who currently hold the appropriate industry-recognized certifications as identified under the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education; the level of preparedness of other civilian and noncivilian cyber personnel without existing credentials to take certification exams; and a strategy for mitigating any gaps identified in clause (i) or (ii) with the appropriate training and certification for existing personnel. to identify all encumbered and vacant positions with information technology, cybersecurity, or other cyber-related functions (as defined in the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education’s coding structure); and to assign the appropriate employment code to each such position, using agreed standards and definitions. Not later than 1 year after the date after the procedures are established under paragraph (1)(E), the head of each Federal agency shall complete assignment of the appropriate employment code to each position within the agency with information technology, cybersecurity, or other cyber-related functions. Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director shall submit a progress report on the implementation of this section to the appropriate congressional committees. identify information technology, cybersecurity, or other cyber-related work roles of critical need in the agency’s workforce; and describes the information technology, cybersecurity, or other cyber-related roles identified under paragraph (1); and substantiates the critical need designations. current information technology, cybersecurity, and other cyber-related roles with acute skill shortages; and information technology, cybersecurity, or other cyber-related roles with emerging skill shortages. identify critical needs for information technology, cybersecurity, or other cyber-related workforce across all Federal agencies; and submit a progress report on the implementation of this section to the appropriate congressional committees. analyze and monitor the implementation of sections 303 and 304; and not later than 3 years after the date of the enactment of this Act [ Dec. 18, 2015 ], submit a report to the appropriate congressional committees that describes the status of such implementation.” “This Act may be cited as the ‘Plain Writing Act of 2010’. “The purpose of this Act is to improve the effectiveness and accountability of Federal agencies to the public by promoting clear Government communication that the public can understand and use. The term ‘agency’ means an Executive agency, as defined under section 105 of title 5 , United States Code. is necessary for obtaining any Federal Government benefit or service or filing taxes; provides information about any Federal Government benefit or service; or explains to the public how to comply with a requirement the Federal Government administers or enforces; includes (whether in paper or electronic form) a letter, publication, form, notice, or instruction; and does not include a regulation. The term ‘plain writing’ means writing that is clear, concise, well-organized, and follows other best practices appropriate to the subject or field and intended audience. designate 1 or more senior officials within the agency to oversee the agency implementation of this Act; communicate the requirements of this Act to the employees of the agency; train employees of the agency in plain writing; establish a process for overseeing the ongoing compliance of the agency with the requirements of this Act; 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; and agency implementation of this Act; and the agency reports required under section 5. inform the public of agency compliance with the requirements of this Act; and agency implementation of this Act; and the agency reports required under section 5. Beginning not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, each agency shall use plain writing in every covered document of the agency that the agency issues or substantially revises. Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget shall develop and issue guidance on implementing the requirements of this section. The Director may designate a lead agency, and may use interagency working groups to assist in developing and issuing the guidance. the writing guidelines developed by the Plain Language Action and Information Network; or guidance provided by the head of the agency that is consistent with the guidelines referred to in subparagraph (A). Not later than 9 months after the date of enactment of this Act [ Oct. 13, 2010 ], 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 Act. Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, 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 Act. There shall be no judicial review of compliance or noncompliance with any provision of this Act. No provision of this Act shall be construed to create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable by any administrative or judicial action. “The budgetary effects of this Act, for the purpose of complying with the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010 [ 2 U.S.C. 931 et seq.], shall be determined by reference to the latest statement titled ‘Budgetary Effects of PAYGO Legislation’ for this Act, submitted for printing in the Congressional Record by the Chairman of the House Budget Committee, provided that such statement has been submitted prior to the vote on passage.” the Boy Scouts of America; the Girl Scouts of the United States of America; the Boys Clubs of America; the Girls Clubs of America; the Young Men’s Christian Association; the Young Women’s Christian Association; the Civil Air Patrol; the United States Olympic Committee [now United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee]; the Special Olympics; Campfire USA; the Young Marines; the Naval Sea Cadets Corps; 4–H Clubs; the Police Athletic League; Big Brothers—Big Sisters of America; National Guard Challenge Program; and serve individuals under the age of 21 years; provide training in citizenship, leadership, physical fitness, service to community, and teamwork; and promote the development of character and ethical and moral values. No Federal law (including any rule, regulation, directive, instruction, or order) shall be construed to limit any Federal agency from providing any form of support for a youth organization (including the Boy Scouts of America or any group officially affiliated with the Boy Scouts of America) that would result in that Federal agency providing less support to that youth organization (or any similar organization chartered under the chapter of title 36, United States Code, relating to that youth organization) than was provided during the preceding fiscal year to that youth organization. This paragraph shall be subject to the availability of appropriations. Paragraph (1) shall not apply to any youth organization that ceases to exist. any senior officer (including any member of the board of directors) of the youth organization is convicted of a criminal offense relating to the official duties of that officer or the youth organization is convicted of a criminal offense; or the youth organization is the subject of a criminal investigation relating to fraudulent use or waste of Federal funds. authorizing a youth organization to hold meetings, camping events, or other activities on Federal property; hosting any official event of a youth organization; loaning equipment for the use of a youth organization; and providing personnel services and logistical support for a youth organization.” who is a citizen or national of the United States at birth; and whose birth is registered in the United States; and is issued by a Federal, State, or local government agency or authorized custodian of record and produced from birth records maintained by such agency or custodian of record; or is an authenticated copy, issued by a Federal, State, or local government agency or authorized custodian of record, of an original certificate of birth issued by such agency or custodian of record. Beginning 2 years after the promulgation of minimum standards under paragraph (3), no Federal agency may accept a birth certificate for any official purpose unless the certificate conforms to such standards. Each State shall certify to the Secretary of Health and Human Services that the State is in compliance with the requirements of this section. Certifications under subparagraph (A) shall be made at such intervals and in such a manner as the Secretary of Health and Human Services, with the concurrence of the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Commissioner of Social Security, may prescribe by regulation. Each State shall ensure that units of local government and other authorized custodians of records in the State comply with this section. The Secretary of Health and Human Services may conduct periodic audits of each State’s compliance with the requirements of this section. at a minimum, shall require certification of the birth certificate by the State or local government custodian of record that issued the certificate, and shall require the use of safety paper or an alternative, equally secure medium, the seal of the issuing custodian of record, and other features designed to prevent tampering, counterfeiting, or otherwise duplicating the birth certificate for fraudulent purposes; shall establish requirements for proof and verification of identity as a condition of issuance of a birth certificate, with additional security measures for the issuance of a birth certificate for a person who is not the applicant; shall establish standards for the processing of birth certificate applications to prevent fraud; may not require a single design to which birth certificates issued by all States must conform; and shall accommodate the differences between the States in the manner and form in which birth records are stored and birth certificates are produced from such records. the Secretary of Homeland Security; the Commissioner of Social Security; State vital statistics offices; and other appropriate Federal agencies. The Secretary of Health and Human Services may extend the date specified under paragraph (1) for up to 2 years for birth certificates issued by a State if the Secretary determines that the State made reasonable efforts to comply with the date under paragraph (1) but was unable to do so. Beginning on the date a final regulation is promulgated under subsection (b)(3), the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall award grants to States to assist them in conforming to the minimum standards for birth certificates set forth in the regulation. The Secretary shall award grants to States under this paragraph based on the proportion that the estimated average annual number of birth certificates issued by a State applying for a grant bears to the estimated average annual number of birth certificates issued by all States. Notwithstanding subparagraph (B), each State shall receive not less than 0.5 percent of the grant funds made available under this paragraph. computerizing their birth and death records; developing the capability to match birth and death records within each State and among the States; and noting the fact of death on the birth certificates of deceased persons. The Secretary shall award grants to qualifying States under this paragraph based on the proportion that the estimated annual average number of birth and death records created by a State applying for a grant bears to the estimated annual average number of birth and death records originated by all States. Notwithstanding subparagraph (B), each State shall receive not less than 0.5 percent of the grant funds made available under this paragraph. There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary for each of the fiscal years 2005 through 2009 such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section.”