Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA)
RequirementAll federal public websites* must comply with the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35) to ensure that information collected from the public minimizes burden and maximizes public utility. One of the principal requirements of the PRA is that organizations must have OMB approval before collecting information from the public (such as forms, general questionnaires, surveys, instructions, and other types of collections), and they must display the current OMB control number on the collection. Organizations should review the PRA and implementation guidance to ensure their public websites meet the full range of requirements. |
How to Implement
- Paperwork Reduction Act (full text)
- Paperwork Reduction Act, Section 3507, "Public Information Collection Activities"
- Guidance from OMB: "Paperwork Requirements"
- Social Media, Web-Based Interactive Technologies, and the Paperwork Reduction Act (PDF, 83 KB, 7 pages, April 2010)
- Fast-Track Process for information collection—OMB worked with agencies to create a process that allows agencies to create a generic clearance for information collections relate to customer service delivery.
Resources
- OMB—Guidance on Agency Survey and Statistical Information Collections: Questions and Answers When Designing Surveys for Information Collections (PDF, 813.78 KB, 99 pages, January 2006)
- OMB—Standards and Guidelines for Statistical Surveys (PDF, 317.74 KB, 41 pages, September 2006)
- How to Collect Customer Feedback—engage your customers to deliver a great customer experience.
Examples
- Peace Corps displays its OMB control number for collecting data about prospective volunteers.
- Department of Education lists its OMB control number on its online survey.
*These requirements apply to executive departments and agencies and their public websites. Check the specific law to see if it also applies to the judicial or legislative agencies or to intranets.
Content Lead:
Natalie Davidson
Page Reviewed/Updated: July 23, 2012
