SENATE BILL REPORT

HB 1475

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

Title: An act relating to state agency rule-making information.

Brief Description: Requiring state agency rule-making information to be posted on each state agency's web site.

Sponsors: Representatives Orcutt, Probst, McCune, Eddy, Herrera, Johnson, Short and Kelley.

Brief History: Passed House: 2/23/09, 92-0.

Committee Activity: Government Operations & Elections:

SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS & ELECTIONS

Staff: Sharon Swanson (786-7447)

Background: The primary institutional means for providing notice to the public of agencies' rulemaking activities is the Washington Administrative Code that is published by the Code Reviser in the Washington State Register (Register). The Register is a bi-weekly publication distributed on the first and third Wednesday of each month. The Register website contains state agencies' pre-proposals, notices of proposed rules, emergency and permanently adopted rules, public meetings, requests for public input, notices of rules review, executive orders of the Governor, court rules, summary of Attorney General opinions, juvenile disposition standards, basic filing procedure, agency rulemaking activity, quarterly rulemaking report, state maximum interest rate, closing date calendar, pre-proposal calendar, and a list of designated rules coordinators.

Summary of Bill: Within existing resources, state agencies must maintain a website containing the agency's rulemaking information, including the complete text of proposed rules, emergency rules, and permanent rules proposed or adopted within the past 12 months. A direct link to the rulemaking page must be displayed on the agency's homepage. An agency's rulemaking website may contain a direct link to the index page on the Register website that includes the agency's rulemaking activity.

The agency rulemaking website must include the time, date, and place for the required hearing of a proposed rule and procedures and timelines for submitting written comments and supporting data.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.

Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.