Crowdsourcing and Citizen Science Act of 2016
Latest action (30 Nov 2016): Introduced
What this bill does
H.R. 6414, the Crowdsourcing and Citizen Science Act of 2016, would give federal agencies explicit legal authority to use crowdsourcing and citizen science—methods that solicit voluntary public participation—to advance their scientific and research missions. It would allow agencies to accept volunteer services for these projects (with safeguards ensuring volunteers don't replace federal employees), requires agencies to disclose privacy, data-ownership, and other terms to participants, and directs agencies to make resulting data and technologies publicly available where practical. It also allows partnerships with private companies, universities, and other governments, sets rules for accepting outside funding, and requires human-subjects protections and participant liability waivers.
The bill primarily affects federal agencies (excluding legislative branch agencies), which would gain new tools and procedures for engaging the public in research, and members of the public who choose to volunteer as participants in these projects. It also assigns roles to the General Services Administration and the Office of Science and Technology Policy to support agencies with training, guidance, and periodic reporting to Congress on project outcomes.
The bill was introduced in the House on November 30, 2016, by Rep. Paul Tonko and referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. According to the Congressional Research Service, this bill itself was not enacted as standalone legislation, but its provisions were incorporated into other bills that were later enacted into law.
Plain-English summary generated by Bill100 AI from the official record. Always verify against the source below.
Official summary
Crowdsourcing and Citizen Science Act of 2016
This bill authorizes executive agencies to: (1) use crowdsourcing and citizen science approaches to conduct activities designed to advance their missions, (2) accept volunteer services performed as part of a crowdsourcing or citizen science project, and (3) enter into an agreement to share administrative duties for such activities with private sector entities or state, tribal, local, or foreign government agencies.
"Citizen science" means a form of open collaboration in which individuals or organizations participate in the scientific process. "Crowdsourcing" means a method to obtain needed services, ideas, or content by soliciting voluntary contributions from a group of individuals or organizations, especially from an online community.
Agencies shall: (1) make public and promote such projects to encourage broad participation of consenting participants, and (2) endeavor to make data collected through such projects open and available, in machine readable formats, to the public.
The General Services Administration shall identify and develop relevant products, training, and services to facilitate the use of crowdsourcing and citizen science activities.
Common questions
- What does H.R. 6414 do?
- H.R. 6414, the Crowdsourcing and Citizen Science Act of 2016, would give federal agencies explicit legal authority to use crowdsourcing and citizen science—methods that solicit voluntary public participation—to advance their scientific and research missions. It would allow agencies to accept volunteer services for these projects (with safeguards ensuring volunteers don't replace federal employees), requires agencies to disclose privacy, data-ownership, and other terms to participants, and directs agencies to make resulting data and technologies publicly available where practical. It also allows partnerships with private companies, universities, and other governments, sets rules for accepting outside funding, and requires human-subjects protections and participant liability waivers. The bill primarily affects federal agencies (excluding legislative branch agencies), which would gain new tools and procedures for engaging the public in research, and members of the public who choose to volunteer as participants in these projects. It also assigns roles to the General Services Administration and the Office of Science and Technology Policy to support agencies with training, guidance, and periodic reporting to Congress on project outcomes. The bill was introduced in the House on November 30, 2016, by Rep. Paul Tonko and referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. According to the Congressional Research Service, this bill itself was not enacted as standalone legislation, but its provisions were incorporated into other bills that were later enacted into law.
- Has H.R. 6414 become law?
- Not yet. As of 30 Nov 2016, H.R. 6414 is introduced.
- Who sponsored H.R. 6414?
- H.R. 6414 was sponsored by Rep. Paul Tonko [D-NY20] (Democrat-NY), with 2 cosponsors.
- What's the latest action on H.R. 6414?
- Introduced (30 Nov 2016).
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