2005 Washington Revised Code RCW 19.85.030: Agency rules — Small business economic impact statement — Reduction of costs imposed by rule.

(1) In the adoption of a rule under chapter 34.05 RCW, an agency shall prepare a small business economic impact statement: (a) If the proposed rule will impose more than minor costs on businesses in an industry; or (b) if requested to do so by a majority vote of the joint administrative rules review committee within forty-five days of receiving the notice of proposed rule making under RCW 34.05.320. However, if the agency has completed the pilot rule process as defined by RCW 34.05.313 before filing the notice of a proposed rule, the agency is not required to prepare a small business economic impact statement.

     An agency shall prepare the small business economic impact statement in accordance with RCW 19.85.040, and file it with the code reviser along with the notice required under RCW 34.05.320. An agency shall file a statement prepared at the request of the joint administrative rules review committee with the code reviser upon its completion before the adoption of the rule. An agency shall provide a copy of the small business economic impact statement to any person requesting it.

     (2) Based upon the extent of disproportionate impact on small business identified in the statement prepared under RCW 19.85.040, the agency shall, where legal and feasible in meeting the stated objectives of the statutes upon which the rule is based, reduce the costs imposed by the rule on small businesses. Methods to reduce the costs on small businesses may include:

     (a) Reducing, modifying, or eliminating substantive regulatory requirements;

     (b) Simplifying, reducing, or eliminating recordkeeping and reporting requirements;

     (c) Reducing the frequency of inspections;

     (d) Delaying compliance timetables;

     (e) Reducing or modifying fine schedules for noncompliance; or

     (f) Any other mitigation techniques.

[2000 c 171 § 60; 1995 c 403 § 402; 1994 c 249 § 11. Prior: 1989 c 374 § 2; 1989 c 175 § 72; 1982 c 6 § 3.]

Application -- 1995 c 403 §§ 201, 301-305, 401-405, and 801: See note following RCW 34.05.328.      Findings -- Short title -- Intent -- 1995 c 403: See note following RCW 34.05.328.      Part headings not law -- Severability -- 1995 c 403: See RCW 43.05.903 and 43.05.904.      Severability -- Application -- 1994 c 249: See notes following RCW 34.05.310.      Effective date -- 1989 c 175: See note following RCW 34.05.010. Publication of small business economic impact statement in Washington State Register: RCW 34.08.020.