H.R. 4820: Freedom from Government Surveys Act

This bill is known as the Freedom from Government Surveys Act. Its primary purpose is to make participation in the American Community Survey (ACS) voluntary, rather than mandatory. Here are the key components of the bill:

Voluntary Participation

The bill amends existing laws to clarify that individuals are not required to answer questions from the American Community Survey. Specifically:

• No Penalty for Non-Response: Under the bill, if a person chooses not to respond to the ACS, they cannot face any penalties. This means that individuals would no longer be subject to fines or other repercussions for not answering the survey.
• Clarification of Voluntary Nature: The Secretary of the relevant government department is mandated to include a clear statement on the survey itself, indicating that participation is optional. This aims to ensure that recipients of the survey understand that they have the right to decline to participate.

Impact on Current Law

The bill modifies two sections of Title 13 of the United States Code:

• Section 221: This section currently outlines penalties for failing to respond to the ACS, but the bill adds that such penalties shall not apply to individuals who do not answer.
• Section 193: This section is amended to emphasize the voluntary nature of the survey by requiring a statement on the survey itself about its non-mandatory status.

In summary, if this bill is enacted, it would change the American Community Survey from a mandatory survey to a voluntary one, ensuring that individuals can choose whether or not to participate without facing penalties.

Relevant Companies

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