HB 2136 - DIGEST

      Directs a regulating agency to furnish an applicant for a permit or license with a written statement of all applicable regulations to be complied with to obtain the license or permit.

      Authorizes a regulated party to inquire as to the use and relevance of reports required by a regulatory agency, and if the agency cannot provide evidence of the utilization in its decision-making process, the party may discontinue the required report.

      Directs agency personnel to be sensitive to the fact that many businesses may not understand the statutes, and to the appearance of inequity in enforcement proceedings.

      Requires delays in granting permits to be linked by the agency to specific insufficiencies of the applicant, not to broad policies.

      Directs agencies to evaluate risks to public health and safety on the basis of the severity of risk without reference to the source of the risk.

      Requires the development and implementation of regulations that acknowledge good faith compliance with rules.

      Appoints a five-member building technologies advisory board to advise the state building code council about advances in construction and design technologies.

      Establishes a contract specifications task force to develop criteria for bid proposals.

      Provides that any contract not let to the lowest responsible bidder is void.

      Creates the office of citizens' regulatory ombudsman to establish a system of complaint and proper redress for persons or firms injured by erroneous or biased decisions by state agencies.

      Authorizes the ombudsman to file an action in superior court against state agencies on behalf of injured citizens.