The Plain Writing Act

SEC. $2.$ PURPOSE.

The purpose of this Act is to improve the effectiveness and accountability of Federal agencies to the public by promoting clear Government communication that the public can understand and use.

SEC. $3.$ DEFINITIONS.

In this Act:

AGENCY.$$The term $$agency$$ means an Executive agency, as defined under section $105$ of title $5,$ United States Code.

COVERED DOCUMENT.$$The term $$covered document$$

means any document that

is necessary for obtaining any Federal Government benefit or service or filing taxes;

provides information about any Federal Government benefit or service; or

explains to the public how to comply with a requirement the Federal Government administers or enforces;

includes $($whether in paper or electronic form$)$ a letter, publication, form, notice, or instruction; and

does not include a regulation.

PLAIN WRITING.$$The term $$plain writing$$ means writing that is clear, concise and well$-$organized, and that follows other best practices appropriate to the subject or field and intended audience.

SEC. $4.$ RESPONSIBILITIES OF FEDERAL AGENCIES.

PREPARATION FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF PLAIN WRITING REQUIREMENTS.$$

IN GENERAL.$$Not later than $9$ months after the date of enactment of this Act, the head of each agency shall$$

designate one or more senior officials within the agency to oversee the agency implementation of this Act;

communicate the requirements of this Act to the employees of the agency;

train employees of the agency in plain writing;

establish a process for overseeing the ongoing compliance of the agency with the requirements of this Act;

create and maintain a plain$-$writing section of the agency$$s website as required under paragraph $(2)$ that is accessible from the home page of the agency$$s website; and

designate $1$ or more agency points of contact to receive and respond to public input on implementation and reports required under section $5.$

WEBSITE.$$The plain$-$writing section described under paragraph $(1)($E$)$ shall$$

inform the public of agency compliance with the requirements of this Act; and

provide a mechanism for the agency to receive and respond to public input on implementation and reports required under section $5.$

REQUIREMENT TO USE PLAIN WRITING IN NEW DOCUMENTS.$$Beginning not later than $1$ year after the date of enactment of this Act, each agency shall use plain writing in every covered document of the agency that the agency issues or substantially revises.

GUIDANCE.$$

IN GENERAL.$$Not later than $6$ months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget shall develop and issue guidance on implementing the requirements of this section. The Director may designate a lead agency and may use interagency working groups to assist in developing and issuing the guidance.

INTERIM GUIDANCE.$$Before the issuance of guidance under paragraph $(1),$ agencies may follow the guidance of the writing guidelines developed by the Plain Language Action and Information Network or guidance provided by the head of the agency that is consistent with those guidelines.

Question

You work in the editorial department of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration $($OSHA$).$ Based on the Plain Writing Act, which new OSHA document must be written in plain language?

A$.$A Congressional act granting OSHA greater authority to set construction safety rules

B$.$A report to Congress detailing manufacturing safety violations

C$.$A user$$s guide to safe workplace practices in agriculture

D$.$A manual detailing OSHA employee benefits

E$.$Safety regulations for the railway industry