Under current law, copies or phonorecords of a previously published nondramatic literary work may be reproduced and distributed in specialized formats for use by people who are blind or have another disability without infringement of the work’s copyright. S. 2559 would expand that exemption to include all literary works and previously published musical works in text or notation. The bill also would expand which specialized formats could be reproduced and distributed under the exemption and would expand the groups of people who could receive such copies. Under certain circumstances, S. 2559 also would allow the export or import of those copies.
Using information from the Copyright Office, CBO estimates that implementing the bill would have no significant effect on the federal budget because that office would not be required to undertake any rulemakings to implement the bill.
Enacting S. 2559 would not affect direct spending or revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply.
CBO estimates that enacting S. 2559 would not increase net direct spending or on-budget deficits in any of the four consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2029.
CBO has not reviewed S. 2559 for intergovernmental or private-sector mandates because section 4 of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act excludes from the application of that act any legislative provisions that are necessary for the ratification or implementation of international treaty obligations. CBO has determined that the bill falls within that exclusion.
