BILL REQ. #:  H-1726.1 

READ FIRST TIME 02/22/13.   

     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 a continuous, formal review process of its rules. The review must be based on a prioritized work plan and must include rules relating to licenses, permits, and inspections. The review must identify rules that can be simplified, amended, or repealed with a goal to reduce the regulatory burden on businesses without compromising the public health or safety. Performance measures 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 present an update to the applicable committees of the legislature regarding its review process, performance measures, and accomplishments of its streamlining efforts by January 2014, and every other year thereafter.

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 a continuous, formal review process of its rules. The review must be based on a prioritized work plan and must include rules relating to licenses, permits, and inspections. The review must identify rules that can be simplified, amended, or repealed with a goal to reduce the regulatory burden on businesses without compromising the public health or safety. Performance measures 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 present an update to the applicable committees of the legislature regarding its review process, performance measures, and accomplishments of its streamlining efforts by January 2014, and every other year thereafter.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4   A new section is added to chapter 43.70 RCW to read as follows:
     The department of health must establish a continuous, formal review process of its rules. The review must be based on a prioritized work plan and must include rules relating to licenses, permits, and inspections. The review must identify rules that can be simplified, amended, or repealed with a goal to reduce the regulatory burden on businesses without compromising the public health or safety. Performance measures 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 present an update to the applicable committees of the legislature regarding its review process, performance measures, and accomplishments of its streamlining efforts by January 2014, and every other year thereafter.