The Senate has joined the House in passing legislation (HR-5759) to further the move away from paper-based government services, including by requiring that any public-facing paper-based form, application or service be made available in a digital format.
It also would promote the use of electronic signatures on government forms and require that all public-facing agency websites and digital services meet requirements designed to improve online delivery of services and make information more readily accessible.
Agencies also would have to increase use of web and data analytics to improve their websites and respond to user needs. New sites would have to meet the standards upon launch while existing sites would have to be brought up to them within one year. Agencies further would be encouraged to make their intranets conform to the requirements.
Agency CIOs would be responsible for meeting the requirements, monitor the agency’s digital service delivery, and use qualitative and quantitative data relating to the agency customers’ experience and satisfaction, and to identify areas where improvement is needed.
The Senate also passed S-3031, under which agencies would have to assess their properties under new guidance to be set by the GSA on identifying the age and condition of property and the extent to which it is used and needed. When a piece of property is declared excess, other federal agencies would have an opportunity to claim it; if unclaimed, there would be a period for state agencies to claim property, after which the property would be made available for sale or donation to the public. The bill has not come up before the House, however.