BILL REQ. #:  S-0629.1 

Read first time 01/19/09.   Referred to Committee on Labor, Commerce & Consumer Protection.

     AN ACT Relating to rules adopted by the department of labor and industries; and adding a new section to chapter 43.22 RCW.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   A new section is added to chapter 43.22 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) The legislature finds that the proliferation of rules by state agencies is problematic for many of our citizens and businesses. Voluminous and complicated rules can ultimately increase economic difficulties for employers and may diminish job opportunities. When small employers must spend their time working to identify, understand, and comply with a variety of rules, there is less energy devoted to job development and business expansion. The rules adopted by the department of labor and industries alone span more than one volume of the Washington Administrative Code. Therefore, the legislature intends to begin with the department of labor and industries to institute a moratorium on adopting new rules and launching a thorough review of the necessity and effectiveness of the current rules.
     (2) Notwithstanding other statutory rule-making authority, the director of the department of labor and industries may not adopt or pursue the adoption of any rule from the effective date of this act until July 1, 2011, except under the following circumstances:
     (a) The rule is required by federal law; or
     (b) The director is adopting rules implementing the annual readjustment of basic rates of industrial insurance under RCW 51.16.035.
     (3)(a) Beginning on the effective date of this act, the director of the department of labor and industries shall review the agency's rules to determine which rules continue to be necessary and effective.
     (b) The department will consult with the members of the workers' compensation advisory committee established under RCW 51.04.110 and with the members of the Washington industrial safety and health act advisory committee established under RCW 49.17.055 to develop standards for reviewing rules and to prioritize the rules for review. The standards shall be developed with the ultimate goal of reducing the number and length of rules at the department of labor and industries.
     (c) Upon determining that a rule is no longer necessary or needs revising, the department shall repeal or revise the rule after July 1, 2011.