BILL REQ. #:  S-1197.1 

Read first time 02/08/13.   Referred to Committee on Governmental Operations.

     AN ACT Relating to improving the business climate and stimulating job creation by requiring certain agencies to establish a formal review process of existing rules; adding a new section to chapter 43.21A RCW; adding a new section to chapter 43.22 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 43.70 RCW; and creating a new section.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The legislature finds that regulatory processes impose significant costs on doing business and significantly influence investment behavior, location decisions, start-up activity, expansions, and hiring. The legislature further finds that, for more than a decade, the executive and legislative branches have called upon state agencies to review their regulations to achieve meaningful regulatory reform and improve the regulatory climate for Washington businesses. However, a 2012 performance audit conducted by the state auditor's office found that the departments of ecology, health, and labor and industries have not adopted sufficient streamlining processes or formally measured the results of their streamlining activities. Thus, it is the intent of the legislature to formally direct these three state agencies to achieve the regulatory reform that has been repeatedly called for by the governor and the legislature.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 43.21A RCW to read as follows:
     The department of ecology must establish and annually perform a formal review process of its existing rules. The goal of the review is to decrease the numbers of, simplify the process, and decrease the time required for obtaining licenses, permits, and inspections, as applicable, in order to reduce the regulatory burden on businesses without compromising public health and safety. Benchmarks must be adopted to assess the effectiveness of streamlining efforts. The department must establish a process for effectively applying sunset provisions to rules when applicable. The department must report back to the applicable committees of the legislature with its review process and benchmarks by January 2014.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   A new section is added to chapter 43.22 RCW to read as follows:
     The department of labor and industries must establish and annually perform a formal review process of its existing rules. The goal of the review is to decrease the numbers of, simplify the process, and decrease the time required for obtaining licenses, permits, and inspections, as applicable, in order to reduce the regulatory burden on businesses without compromising public health and safety. Benchmarks must be adopted to assess the effectiveness of streamlining efforts. The department must establish a process for effectively applying sunset provisions to rules when applicable. The department must report back to the applicable committees of the legislature with its review process and benchmarks by January 2014.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4   A new section is added to chapter 43.70 RCW to read as follows:
     The department of health must establish and annually perform a formal review process of its existing rules. The goal of the review is to decrease the numbers of, simplify the process, and decrease the time required for obtaining licenses, permits, and inspections, as applicable, in order to reduce the regulatory burden on businesses without compromising public health and safety. Benchmarks must be adopted to assess the effectiveness of streamlining efforts. The department must establish a process for effectively applying sunset provisions to rules when applicable. The department must report back to the applicable committees of the legislature with its review process and benchmarks by January 2014.