STRATEGIC PLAN.

SEC. 13104. STRATEGIC PLAN. (a) Development of Plan.— (1) In general.—The Director shall, in close consultation with the Patent Public Advisory Committee and the Trademark Public Advisory Committee, develop a strategic plan that sets forth the goals and methods by which the United States Patent and Trademark Office will, during the 5-year period beginning on January 1, 2003— (A) enhance patent and trademark quality; (B) reduce patent and trademark pendency; and (C) develop and implement an effective electronic system for use by the Patent and Trademark Office and the public for all aspects of the patent and trademark processes, including, in addition to the elements set forth in section 13103, searching, examining, communicating, publishing, and making publicly available, patents and trademark registrations. (2) Contents and consultation.—The strategic plan shall include milestones and objective and meaningful criteria for evaluating the progress and successful achievement of the plan. The Director shall consult with the Public Advisory Committees with respect to the development of each aspect of the strategic plan. (b) Report to Congressional Committees.—Not later than 4 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director shall submit the plan developed under subsection (a) to the Committees on the Judiciary of the Senate and the House of Representatives.