Guidance Out Of Darkness Act or the GOOD ActThis bill establishes requirements concerning the posting of agency guidance documents. Specifically, an agency must publish guidance documents online on the dates they are issued, publish all of its guidance documents that are in effect in a single location on a designated website, display a hyperlink on its website that provides access to the guidance documents on such website, and indicate on such website if a guidance document has been rescinded.The documents must be categorized as guidance documents and further divided into subcategories.No later than five years after the enactment of this bill, the Government Accountability Office must report on agency compliance with these requirements.
The enactment of HB1515 would significantly affect how federal agencies communicate their guidance to the public. Agencies would need to publish guidance documents in a unified online location, categorized efficiently to facilitate easier access for the general public. This change is intended to help individuals and organizations understand agency policies and regulations better, possibly increasing compliance and interaction with governmental processes. The proposal requires agencies to be proactive in updating and managing their guidance resources, promoting effective use of digital platforms in governance.
House Bill 1515, termed the Guidance Out Of Darkness Act or GOOD Act, aims to enhance public access to agency guidance documents by mandating agencies to publish these documents online at the time of issuance. The bill defines guidance documents broadly to encompass various forms of information issued by agencies, such as memoranda, notices, and bulletins. By establishing strict publication requirements, the bill seeks to eliminate confusion around the availability of guidance materials and improve transparency in government operations.
While many support the increased transparency and public access aspects of HB1515, there may be concerns regarding data security and the implications for proprietary information included in guidance documents. Additionally, critics might argue about the potential burden on agencies to comply with stringent publication requirements, suggesting that while transparency is important, it should be balanced with operational feasibility. The bill also stipulates exemptions under the Freedom of Information Act for certain documents, maintaining a level of confidentiality that could reassure agencies while pursuing greater transparency.