7 USC 7031 - Electronic filing and retrieval

Collapse to view only § 7031. Electronic filing and retrieval

§ 7031. Electronic filing and retrieval
§ 7032. Accessing information and filing over the Internet
§ 7033. Availability of agency information technology funds
§ 7034. Federal Crop Insurance Corporation and Risk Management Agency
§ 7035. Confidentiality

§ 7031. Electronic filing and retrieval

(a) In general

(b) ApplicabilityThe agencies referred to in subsection (a) are the following:

(1) The Farm Service Agency.

(2) The Natural Resources Conservation Service.

(3) The rural development components of the Department included in the Secretary’s service center initiative regarding State and field office collocation implemented pursuant to section 6915 of this title.

(4) The agricultural producer programs component of the Commodity Credit Corporation administered by the Farm Service Agency and the Natural Resources Conservation Service.

(1) provide a method by which agricultural producers may—

(A) download from the Internet the forms of the agencies specified in subsection (b); and

(B) submit completed forms via electronic facsimile, mail, or similar means;

(2) redesign the forms by incorporating into the forms user-friendly formats and self-help guidance materials; and

(3) ensure that the agencies specified in subsection (b)—

(A) use computer hardware and software that is compatible among the agencies and will operate in a common computing environment; and

(B) develop common Internet user-interface locations and applications to consolidate the agencies’ news, information, and program materials.

(d) Progress reports

(Pub. L. 106–222, § 2, June 20, 2000, 114 Stat. 353.)

§ 7032. Accessing information and filing over the Internet

(a) In general

(b) Implementation

In carrying out subsection (a), the Secretary shall ensure that an agricultural producer is able—

(1) to file electronically or in paper form, at the option of the agricultural producer, all forms required by agencies of the Department specified in section 7031(b) of this title;

(2) to file electronically or in paper form, at the option of the agricultural producer, all documentation required by agencies of the Department specified in section 7031(b) of this title and determined appropriate by the Secretary; and

(3) to access information of the Department concerning farm programs, quarterly trade, economic, and production reports, and other similar production agriculture information that is readily available to the public in paper form.

(Pub. L. 106–222, § 3, June 20, 2000, 114 Stat. 354.)

§ 7033. Availability of agency information technology funds

(a) Reservation of funds

From funds made available for agencies of the Department specified in section 7031(b) of this title for information technology or information resource management, the Secretary shall reserve from those agencies’ applicable accounts a total amount equal to not more than the following:

(1) For fiscal year 2001, $3,000,000.

(2) For each subsequent fiscal year, $2,000,000.

(b) Time for reservation

(1) Establishment

(2) Maintenance

(d) Return of funds

(Pub. L. 106–222, § 4, June 20, 2000, 114 Stat. 354.)

§ 7034. Federal Crop Insurance Corporation and Risk Management Agency

(a) In generalNot later than December 1, 2000, the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation and the Risk Management Agency shall submit to the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate a plan, that is consistent with this subchapter, to allow agricultural producers to—

(1) obtain, over the Internet, from approved insurance providers all forms and other information concerning the program under the jurisdiction of the Corporation and Agency in which the agricultural producer is a participant; and

(2) file electronically all paperwork required for participation in the program.

(b) AdministrationThe plan shall—

(1) conform to sections 7031(c) and 7032(b) of this title; and

(2) prescribe—

(A) the location and type of data to be made available to agricultural producers;

(B) the location where agricultural producers can electronically file their paperwork; and

(C) the responsibilities of the applicable parties, including agricultural producers, the Risk Management Agency, the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation, approved insurance providers, crop insurance agents, and brokers.

(Pub. L. 106–222, § 5, June 20, 2000, 114 Stat. 355.)

§ 7035. Confidentiality

In carrying out this subchapter, the Secretary—

(1) may not make available any information over the Internet that would otherwise not be available for release under section 552 or 552a of title 5; and

(2) shall ensure, to the maximum extent practicable, that the confidentiality of persons is maintained.

(Pub. L. 106–222, § 6, June 20, 2000, 114 Stat. 355.)