House Resolution 5242, the Small Business Paperwork Amnesty Act, was recently revived in Congress. The bill, which would provide amnesty for businesses making their first reporting mistake, could have far-reaching effects for any number of businesses that face reporting requirements, including worker safety records.

The bill would amend Title 44 of the United States Code “to provide for the suspension of fines under certain circumstances for first-time paperwork violations by small-business concerns.” The decisions will be made by the head of each agency or administration. Fines will still be imposed on first-time offenders if the agency head determines the violation has the potential to cause serious harm to the public interest, if it interferes in the detection of a criminal act. Offenders would have to correct the violation within six months to avoid a fine.

Robert Shull, deputy director for auto safety and regulatory policy for progressive think-tank Public Citizen, testified Tuesday before a House subcommittee, arguing that the bill “would give amnesty to businesses that neglect to collect and report information that could be vital to public health and safety.”