TITLE 7 - US CODE - SUBCHAPTER X - FREEDOM TO E-FILE

7 USC 7031 - Electronic filing and retrieval

(a) In general
Not later than 180 days after June 20, 2000, in accordance with subsection (c) of this section, 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 Agriculture (referred to in this subchapter as the Department) specified in subsection (b) of this section.

(b) Applicability
The agencies referred to in subsection (a) of this section 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 Secretarys 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) of this section; 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) of this section

(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
Not later than 180 days after June 20, 2000, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report that describes the progress made toward implementing the Internet-based system required under this section.

7 USC 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) of this section, 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) of this section, 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.

7 USC 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
The Secretary shall notify Congress of the amount to be reserved under subsection (a) of this section for a fiscal year not later than December 1 of that fiscal year.

(1) Establishment
Funds reserved under subsection (a) of this section shall be used to establish the Internet-based system required 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 operational, reserved amounts shall be used for maintenance and improvement of the system.

(d) Return of funds
Funds reserved under subsection (a) of this section and unobligated at the end of the fiscal year shall be returned to the agency from which the funds were reserved, to remain available until expended.

7 USC 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 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) Administration
The 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.

(c) Implementation
Not later than December 1, 2001, the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation and the Risk Management Agency shall complete implementation of the plan submitted under subsection (a) of this section.

7 USC 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.