Title 44 — Public Printing and DocumentsRelease 119-73
§3512 Public protection
Title 44 › Chapter CHAPTER 35— - COORDINATION OF FEDERAL INFORMATION POLICY › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER I— - FEDERAL INFORMATION POLICY › § 3512
Summary
No one can be punished for not answering a government information request if the form does not show a valid control number given by the Director under this law, or if the agency did not tell the person that they do not have to respond unless the form shows that valid number. A person can use this rule as a full defense at any time during agency proceedings or in court.
Full Legal Text
Title 44, §3512
Public Printing and Documents — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person shall be subject to any penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information that is subject to this subchapter if—
(1)the collection of information does not display a valid control number assigned by the Director in accordance with this subchapter; or
(2)the agency fails to inform the person who is to respond to the collection of information that such person is not required to respond to the collection of information unless it displays a valid control number.
(b)The protection provided by this section may be raised in the form of a complete defense, bar, or otherwise at any time during the agency administrative process or judicial action applicable thereto.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
Prior Provisions
A prior section 3512, added Pub. L. 96–511, § 2(a), Dec. 11, 1980, 94 Stat. 2822, related to protection of persons failing to maintain or provide information if information collection request did not display current control number prior to the general amendment of this chapter by Pub. L. 104–13. Another prior section 3512, added Pub. L. 93–153, title IV, § 409(b), Nov. 16, 1973, 87 Stat. 593, related to information for independent regulatory agencies, prior to the general amendment of this chapter by Pub. L. 96–511.
Amendments
2000—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 106–398 substituted “subchapter” for “chapter” in introductory provisions and par. (1).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
of 2000 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 106–398 effective 30 days after Oct. 30, 2000, see section 1 [[div. A], title X, § 1065] of Pub. L. 106–398, Oct. 30, 2000, 114 Stat. 1654, formerly set out as an
Effective Date
note under former section 3531 of this title.
Effective Date
Section effective Oct. 1, 1995, except as otherwise provided, see section 4(a) of Pub. L. 104–13, set out as a note under section 3501 of this title.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
44 U.S.C. § 3512
Title 44 — Public Printing and Documents
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73