Sec. 202. Transition to more efficient and secure mail delivery
2,374 words·~11 min read·
/bill/115/hr/756/ih/section-202A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
Subchapter VII of chapter 36 of title 39, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: For purposes of this section— the term delivery point means a mailbox or other receptacle to which mail is delivered; the term primary mode of mail delivery means the typical method by which the Postal Service delivers letter mail to the delivery point of a postal patron; the term door delivery means a primary mode of mail delivery whereby mail is placed into a slot or receptacle at or near the postal patron’s door or is hand delivered to a postal patron, but does not include centralized delivery, curbside delivery, or sidewalk delivery; the term centralized delivery means a primary mode of mail delivery whereby mail receptacles of a number of delivery points are grouped or clustered at a single location; the term curbside delivery means a primary mode of mail delivery whereby a mail receptacle is situated at the edge of a sidewalk abutting a road or curb, at a road, or at a curb, and can be served by a letter carrier from a motorized vehicle; and the term sidewalk delivery means a primary mode of mail delivery whereby a mail receptacle is situated at the edge of a sidewalk and can be served by a letter carrier from the sidewalk.
It shall be the policy of the Postal Service— to provide access to secure, convenient mail and package delivery receptacles to the greatest number of postal patrons feasible; and to use the most cost-effective primary mode of mail delivery feasible for postal patrons. For any new delivery point established after the date of enactment of the Postal Service Reform Act of 2017 , the Postal Service shall provide a primary mode of mail delivery other than door delivery, with a preference for secure, centralized delivery.
Paragraph
(1)shall not apply in circumstances in which the new delivery point is built or established within a block of existing delivery points whose primary mode of mail delivery is door delivery. Not later than 1 year after the date of the Postal Service Reform Act of 2017 , each Postal Service district office shall identify the business delivery points within its service area that are appropriate candidates for conversion from door delivery to centralized delivery, curbside delivery, or sidewalk delivery. Beginning not later than October 1, 2018, the Postal Service shall implement a program to convert delivery points identified under paragraph
(1)to centralized delivery, curbside delivery, or sidewalk delivery at a rate sufficient to ensure that— not less than 20 percent of such delivery points are converted by September 30, 2019; not less than 40 percent of such delivery points are converted by September 30, 2020; not less than 60 percent of such delivery points are converted by September 30, 2021; not less than 80 percent of such delivery points are converted by September 30, 2022; and all such delivery points are converted by September 30, 2023. In carrying out conversions under paragraph (2), the Postal Service shall provide written notice at least 60 days in advance of the implementation date of a change in primary mode of mail delivery to postal customers served by an applicable delivery point. Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of the Postal Service Reform Act of 2017 , each Postal Service district office shall identify the residential delivery points within its service area that are appropriate candidates for conversion from door delivery to centralized delivery, curbside delivery, or sidewalk delivery. Not later than October 1, 2018, the Postal Service shall commence a program to convert delivery points identified under paragraph
(1)to centralized delivery, curbside delivery, or sidewalk delivery. Such program shall operate as follows: Not later than 3 months after the identification of the delivery points under paragraph (1), the Postal Service shall divide such delivery points into geographically based address units (such as street blocks or other similar reasonably segregable units) not to exceed 50 delivery points per unit. Not later than 6 months after such identification, the Postal Service shall provide written notification to postal patrons served by each identified delivery point containing the following: Notice that the delivery point has been proposed for conversion to a more efficient primary mode of mail delivery to more economically provide universal postal service and improve service. A description of the new primary mode of delivery proposed by the Postal Service and a visual example of such mode. A conversion consent form and notice that conversion for residential addresses is on a voluntary basis. A description of benefits of conversion to the postal patron, including access to secure mail and package delivery, and benefits of conversion to the Postal Service, including a smaller environmental impact for delivery. A description of how the conversion process would work, and the monetary costs (if any) to the postal patron. Any other information the Postal Service considers necessary. No delivery point may be converted under this subsection unless prior written consent is provided to the Postal Service by a postal patron served by such delivery point who is at least 18 years old, except as provided for in subparagraph (E). Prior to the conversion of a delivery point under this section, any written consent so provided may be withdrawn by such patron or by any other postal patron served by such delivery point who is at least 18 years old upon written notification to the Postal Service. The Postal Service shall place on the Postal Service’s public website an option to request that a consent form or consent-withdrawal form be delivered to any delivery point identified for conversion under this subsection. Upon the receipt of written consent applicable to at least 40 percent of the delivery points within an address unit described under subparagraph (A), the Postal Service shall— not later than 30 days after the date that the requisite percentage is reached, provide written notice to each delivery point within such unit stating that the conversion threshold has been reached and that— with respect to any delivery point for which a consent for conversion was received, that the primary mode of mail delivery for such address will be converted; and with respect to any delivery point for which a consent for conversion was not received, that— a postal patron served by such delivery point may elect, by written consent, at any time to convert the primary mode of mail delivery to the same form of delivery as the converted delivery points in such unit; and if such a patron provides such consent, the primary mode of mail delivery shall be converted not later than 30 days after the date of such consent or, in any case where the conversion of delivery points has not yet occurred, upon implementation of that conversion; not later than 90 days after the date that the requisite percentage is reached, but not less than 30 days following the written notice under clause (i), convert the delivery points for which consent was received to the applicable new primary mode of mail delivery; and following the conversion of an address unit, ensure that the primary mode of mail delivery for any new residents to the address unit is the converted primary mode of mail, regardless of the primary mode of mail delivery for the previous occupant. Any delivery point created pursuant to subsection (c)(2) shall be automatically and irrevocably deemed to consent to delivery conversion if the delivery point is established within, or later becomes a part of, an address unit that is proposed for conversion to a different primary mode of mail delivery. In making a determination to convert the primary mode of mail delivery under this section, the Postal Service shall consider— the impact of weather conditions, physical barriers, or any other factor that may impact the feasibility of providing a primary mode of mail delivery other than door delivery (such as a factor that may significantly reduce the potential cost savings associated with providing centralized delivery or curbside delivery); whether the address is in a registered historic district (as that term is defined in section 47(c)(3)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986), is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is designated as a National Historic Landmark, or is of historic value; and population density and the concentration of poverty. The Postal Service shall establish and maintain a waiver program under which, upon application, door delivery may be continued, or provided, for a delivery point identified under subsection (d)(1) or (e)(1) at no cost to the applicant in any case in which— centralized delivery, curbside delivery, or sidewalk delivery would, but for this paragraph, otherwise be the primary mode of mail delivery; and door delivery is necessary in order to avoid causing significant physical hardship or physical safety risks to a postal patron. An address receiving door delivery pursuant to a waiver under this subsection— shall be counted, for purposes of the reporting requirement under subsection (j), as an address that receives the primary mode of mail delivery which the address would be subject to if not for the waiver; and shall, not later than 60 days after ceasing to meet the requirements of paragraph (1), be converted to the primary mode of mail delivery which is otherwise applicable. In carrying out conversions under this section, the Postal Service shall establish procedures to— solicit, consider, and respond to input from the general public, postal patrons, State and local governments, local associations, and property owners; calculate and make publicly accessible the cost or savings of the conversion to the Postal Service as well as the average conversion cost or savings to each postal patron and any cost or savings to the State and local government; and place centralized delivery points in locations that maximize delivery efficiency, ease of use for postal patrons, and respect for private property rights. The Postal Service shall provide for a voucher program under which, upon application, the Postal Service may defray all or any portion of the costs of new mail receptacles associated with conversion from door delivery under this section which would otherwise be borne by postal patrons. Not later than 60 days after the end of each of fiscal years 2018 through 2023, the Postal Service shall submit to Congress and the Inspector General a report on the implementation of this section during the most recently completed fiscal year. Each such report shall include— the number of residential and business addresses that— receive door delivery as of the end of the fiscal year preceding the most recently completed fiscal year; receive door delivery as of the end of the most recently completed fiscal year; and during the most recently completed fiscal year, were converted from door delivery to— centralized delivery; curbside delivery; and any other primary mode of mail delivery; the estimated cost savings from the conversions described in paragraph (1)(C); a description of the progress made by the Postal Service toward meeting the requirements of the phaseout under subsection (c); and any other information which the Postal Service considers appropriate. The Inspector General shall issue an annual audit report on the implementation of this section not later than 90 days after the date on which the Postal Service releases its annual report under subsection (j). Such report shall include— an audit of the data contained in the Postal Service’s report under subsection (j); and an evaluation of the Postal Service’s implementation of the voucher program under subsection (i). Subchapters IV and V shall not apply with respect to any action taken by the Postal Service under this section. . The table of sections for chapter 36 of title 39, United States Code, is amended by adding after the item relating to section 3691 the following: 3692. Delivery-point modernization. . Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Postal Service shall begin to collect data on delivery mode costs and the potential savings of converting to more cost-efficient primary modes of mail delivery. Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Postal Service shall submit to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate a report describing the findings of the study conducted under paragraph (1). Not later than 2 years after the date on which the Postal Service commences delivery point conversions pursuant to subsections (d)(2) and (e)(2) of section 3692 of title 39, United States Code (as added by subsection (a)), and not later than 3 years thereafter, the Inspector General of the Postal Community shall conduct a study of the costs and benefits of such conversions. Not later than 1 year after the date on which the Inspector General conducts each study required under paragraph (1), the Inspector General shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform of the House of Representatives a report on the results of each study. The studies required under paragraph
(1)shall assess the following: The cost savings realized by the Postal Service from the conversions under subsections (d)(2) and (e)(2) of section 3692 of title 39, United States Code (as added by subsection (a)), and the projected cost savings the Postal Service is likely to realize from full implementation of such conversions. The expenses incurred by the Postal Service to achieve such conversions and the projected expenses the Postal Service is likely to incur from full implementation of such conversions. The impact of the conversions on— read and response rates to mailed advertising; advertising mail revenue earned by the Postal Service; small businesses, including small home-based businesses; and mail volumes shipped through the Postal Service. Any other factors the Inspector General considers relevant to provide a complete analysis of the costs and benefits associated with the conversions described under such subsections. The Inspector General shall conduct a cost benefit analysis to determine the net cost or benefit to the Postal Service of the conversions conducted under such subsections and include the analysis in each report submitted under paragraph (2).