7 U.S.C. § 7031 — Electronic filing and retrieval

Page 1956 TITLE 7—AGRICULTURE § 7031 tinue to perform all functions delegated or as- signed to the entity or person as of that termi- nation date. (4) The authority of the Secretary to estab- lish in the Department the position of Under Secretary of Agriculture for Marketing and Regulatory Programs under section 7005 of this title. (5) The authority of the Secretary to estab- lish within the Department the position of As- sistant Secretary of Agriculture for Civil Rights, and delegate duties to the Assistant Secretary, under section 6918 of this title. (6) The authority of the Secretary to estab- lish in the Department, under section 6971 of this title— (A) the position of Under Secretary of Ag- riculture for Research, Education, and Eco- nomics; (B) the Office of the Chief Scientist; and (C) the National Institute of Food and Ag- riculture. (7) The authority of the Secretary to estab- lish in the Department the Office of Advocacy and Outreach in accordance with section 6934 of this title. (8) The authority of the Secretary to carry out amendments made to this chapter by the Agricultural Act of 2014. (9) The authority of the Secretary to carry out the amendments made to this chapter by section 772 of the Agriculture, Rural Develop- ment, Food and Drug Administration, and Re- lated Agencies Appropriations Act, 2018. (10) The authority of the Secretary to carry out the amendments made to this chapter by the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018. (Pub. L. 103–354, title II, § 296, Oct. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 3238; Pub. L. 105–277, div. A, § 101(a) [title X, § 1001(4)], Oct. 21, 1998, 112 Stat. 2681, 2681–42; Pub. L. 107–171, title X, § 10704(c), May 13, 2002, 116 Stat. 518; Pub. L. 110–234, title VII, § 7511(b), title XIV, § 14013(b), May 22, 2008, 122 Stat. 1267, 1453; Pub. L. 110–246, § 4(a), title VII, § 7511(b), title XIV, § 14013(b), June 18, 2008, 122 Stat. 1664, 2028, 2215; Pub. L. 113–79, title I, § 1610(b), Feb. 7, 2014, 128 Stat. 710; Pub. L. 115–334, title XII, §§ 12411(b)(2), 12416, Dec. 20, 2018, 132 Stat. 4980, 4982.) Editorial Notes REFERENCES IN TEXT This chapter, referred to in subsecs. (a) and (b)(8)–(10), was in the original ‘‘this title’’, meaning title II of Pub. L. 103–354, Oct. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 3209, known as the De- partment of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994. For complete classification of title II to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 6901 of this title and Tables. Reorganization Plan No. 2 of 1953, referred to in sub- sec. (b)(2), is Reorg. Plan No. 2 of 1953, June 4, 1953, 18 F.R. 3219, 67 Stat. 633, which is set out as a note under section 2201 of this title. The Agricultural Act of 2014, referred to in subsec. (b)(8), is Pub. L. 113–79, Feb. 7, 2014, 128 Stat. 649. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 9001 of this title and Tables. Section 772 of the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2018, referred to in subsec. (b)(9), is section 772 of title VII of div. A of Pub. L. 115–141, Mar. 23, 2018, 132 Stat. 397. Subsec. (a)(2) of section 772 of Pub. L. 115–141 is classified to section 6931 of this title. The remainder of section 772 of Pub. L. 115–141 is not classified to the Code. The Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, referred to in subsec. (b)(10), is Pub. L. 115–334, Dec. 20, 2018, 132 Stat. 4490. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title of 2018 Amendment note set out under section 9001 of this title and Tables. CODIFICATION Pub. L. 110–234 and Pub. L. 110–246 made identical amendments to this section. The amendments by Pub. L. 110–234 were repealed by section 4(a) of Pub. L. 110–246. AMENDMENTS 2018—Subsec. (b)(6)(B). Pub. L. 115–334, § 12411(b)(2), substituted ‘‘Office of the Chief Scientist’’ for ‘‘Re- search, Education, and Extension Office’’. Subsec. (b)(9), (10). Pub. L. 115–334, § 12416, added pars. (9) and (10). 2014—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 113–79, § 1610(b)(2)–(4), sub- stituted ‘‘The authority’’ for ‘‘the authority’’ in pars. (1) to (7), a period for semicolon at end of pars. (1) to (5), and a period for ‘‘; or’’ at end of par. (6)(C). Pub. L. 113–79, § 1610(b)(1), substituted ‘‘affect:’’ for ‘‘affect—’’ in introductory provisions. Subsec. (b)(8). Pub. L. 113–79, § 1610(b)(5), added par. (8). 2008—Subsec. (b)(6). Pub. L. 110–246, § 7511(b), added par. (6). Subsec. (b)(7). Pub. L. 110–246, § 14013(b), added par. (7). 2002—Subsec. (b)(5). Pub. L. 107–171 added par. (5). 1998—Subsec. (b)(4). Pub. L. 105–277 added par. (4). Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries CHANGE OF NAME Reference to the Office of Advocacy and Outreach deemed to be a reference to the Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement, see section 12406(a)(2) of Pub. L. 115–334, set out as a note under section 6934 of this title. EFFECTIVE DATE OF 2008 AMENDMENT Amendment of this section and repeal of Pub. L. 110–234 by Pub. L. 110–246 effective May 22, 2008, the date of enactment of Pub. L. 110–234, see section 4 of Pub. L. 110–246, set out as an Effective Date note under section 8701 of this title. SUBCHAPTER X—FREEDOM TO E-FILE Editorial Notes CODIFICATION This subchapter was enacted as part of the Freedom to E-File Act, and not as part of the Department of Ag- riculture Reorganization Act of 1994 which in part com- prises this chapter. § 7031. Electronic filing and retrieval (a) In general Not later than 180 days after June 20, 2000, in accordance with subsection (c), the Secretary of Agriculture (referred to in this subchapter as the ‘‘Secretary’’) shall, to the maximum extent practicable, establish an Internet-based system that enables agricultural producers to access all forms of the agencies of the Department of Agri- culture (referred to in this subchapter as the ‘‘Department’’) specified in subsection (b). (b) Applicability The agencies referred to in subsection (a) are the following: Page 1957 TITLE 7—AGRICULTURE § 7034 (1) The Farm Service Agency. (2) The Natural Resources Conservation Service. (3) The rural development components of the Department included in the Secretary’s serv- ice center initiative regarding State and field office collocation implemented pursuant to section 6915 of this title. (4) The agricultural producer programs com- ponent of the Commodity Credit Corporation administered by the Farm Service Agency and the Natural Resources Conservation Service. (c) Implementation In carrying out subsection (a), the Secretary shall— (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 sub- section (b)— (A) use computer hardware and software that is compatible among the agencies and will operate in a common computing envi- ronment; and (B) develop common Internet user-inter- face locations and applications to consoli- date the agencies’ news, information, and program materials. (d) Progress reports Not later than 180 days after June 20, 2000, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report that describes the progress made toward imple- menting the Internet-based system required under this section. (Pub. L. 106–222, § 2, June 20, 2000, 114 Stat. 353.) § 7032. Accessing information and filing over the Internet (a) In general Not later than 2 years after June 20, 2000, in accordance with subsection (b), the Secretary shall expand implementation of the Internet- based system established under section 7031 of this title by enabling agricultural producers to access and file all forms and, at the option of the Secretary, selected records and information of the agencies of the Department specified in section 7031(b) of this title. (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 De- partment specified in section 7031(b) of this title and determined appropriate by the Sec- retary; 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 tech- nology 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 re- serve from those agencies’ applicable accounts a total amount equal to not more than the fol- lowing: (1) For fiscal year 2001, $3,000,000. (2) For each subsequent fiscal year, $2,000,000. (b) Time for reservation The Secretary shall notify Congress of the amount to be reserved under subsection (a) for a fiscal year not later than December 1 of that fis- cal year. (c) Use of funds (1) Establishment Funds reserved under subsection (a) shall be used to establish the Internet-based system re- quired under section 7031 of this title and to expand the system as required by section 7032 of this title. (2) Maintenance Once the system is established and oper- ational, reserved amounts shall be used for maintenance and improvement of the system. (d) Return of funds Funds reserved under subsection (a) and unob- ligated at the end of the fiscal year shall be re- turned to the agency from which the funds were reserved, to remain available until expended. (Pub. L. 106–222, § 4, June 20, 2000, 114 Stat. 354.) § 7034. Federal Crop Insurance Corporation and Risk Management Agency (a) In general Not later than December 1, 2000, the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation and the Risk Man- agement 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 con- sistent with this subchapter, to allow agricul- tural producers to— (1) obtain, over the Internet, from approved insurance providers all forms and other infor- mation concerning the program under the ju- risdiction of the Corporation and Agency in which the agricultural producer is a partici- pant; and (2) file electronically all paperwork required for participation in the program. (b) Administration The plan shall—