2014 Code of Alabama
Title 41 - STATE GOVERNMENT.
Chapter 22 - ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURE.
Section 41-22-23 - Submission and review of proposed rules; fiscal note required for rules with economic impact.

Section 41-22-23Submission and review of proposed rules; fiscal note required for rules with economic impact.

(a) The notice required by subdivision (a)(1) of Section 41-22-5 shall be given, in addition to the persons therein named, to the chair of the legislative committee. The agency shall furnish the committee with 33 copies of the proposed rule or rules, and no rule, except an emergency rule issued pursuant to subsection (b) of Section 41-22-5 shall be effective until these copies are so furnished. Any member of the Senate or House of Representatives who requests a copy of proposed agency rules from the Chair of the Joint Committee on Administrative Regulation Review shall be provided a copy and the agency proposing rules shall furnish additional copies of the proposed rule or rules immediately. The form of the proposed rule presented to the committee shall be as follows: New language shall be underlined and language to be deleted shall be typed and lined through.

(b) The committee shall study all proposed rules and may hold public hearings thereon. In the event the committee fails to give notice to the agency of either its approval or disapproval of the proposed rule within 35 days after filing of the adopted rule with the Legislative Reference Service pursuant to Section 41-22-6, the committee shall be deemed to have approved the proposed regulation for the purposes of this section. In the event the committee disapproves a proposed rule or any part thereof, it shall give notice of the disapproval to the agency. Any disapproved rule shall be suspended until the adjournment of the next regular session of the Legislature following the date of disapproval and suspension of the committee or until the Legislature shall revoke, by joint resolution, the suspension of the committee. The rule shall be reinstated on the adjournment of the legislative session in the event the Legislature, by joint resolution, fails to sustain the disapproval and suspension of the committee.

(c) The committee may propose an amendment to any proposed rule and may disapprove the proposed rule and return it to the agency with the suggested amendment. In the event the agency accepts the rule as amended, the agency may resubmit the rule as amended to the committee. In the event the agency does not accept the amendment, the proposed amended rule shall be submitted to the Legislature as disapproved, as provided in Section 41-22-24.

(d) An agency may withdraw a proposed or certified rule. An agency may resubmit a rule so withdrawn or returned under this section with minor modification. Such a rule is a new filing and subject to this section but is not subject to further notice as provided in subsection (a) of Section 41-22-5.

(e) The committee is authorized to review and approve or disapprove any rule adopted prior to October 1, 1982.

(f) A rule submitted to the committee which has an economic impact shall be accompanied by a fiscal note prepared by the agency in accordance with this subsection. Upon receiving the fiscal note, the committee may require additional information from the submitting agency, other state agencies, or other sources. A state agency shall cooperate and provide information to the committee. At a minimum, the fiscal note submitted with a proposed rule shall include the following:

(1) A determination of the need for the regulation and the expected benefit of the regulation.

(2) A determination of the costs and benefits associated with the regulation and an explanation of why the regulation is considered to be the most cost effective, efficient, and feasible means for allocating public and private resources and for achieving the stated purpose.

(3) The effect of the regulation on competition.

(4) The effect of the regulation on the cost of living and doing business in the geographical area in which the regulation would be implemented.

(5) The effect of the regulation on employment in the geographical area in which the regulation would be implemented.

(6) The source of revenue to be used for implementing and enforcing the regulation.

(7) A conclusion on the short-term and long-term economic impact upon all persons substantially affected by the regulation, including an analysis containing a description of which persons will bear the costs of the regulation and which persons will benefit directly and indirectly from the regulation.

(8) The uncertainties associated with the estimation of particular benefits and burdens and the difficulties involved in the comparison of qualitatively and quantitatively dissimilar benefits and burdens. A determination of the need for the regulation shall consider qualitative and quantitative benefits and burdens.

(9) The effect of the regulation on the environment and public health.

(10) The detrimental effect on the environment and public health if the regulation is not implemented.

(g) In determining whether to approve or disapprove proposed rules, the committee shall consider the following criteria:

(1) Would the absence of the rule or rules significantly harm or endanger the public health, safety, or welfare?

(2) Is there a reasonable relationship between the state's police power and the protection of the public health, safety, or welfare?

(3) Is there another, less restrictive method of regulation available that could adequately protect the public?

(4) Does the rule or do the rules have the effect of directly or indirectly increasing the costs of any goods or services involved and, if so, to what degree?

(5) Is the increase in cost, if any, more harmful to the public than the harm that might result from the absence of the rule or rules?

(6) Are all facets of the rulemaking process designed solely for the purpose of, and so they have, as their primary effect, the protection of the public?

(7) Any other criteria the committee may deem appropriate.

(Acts 1981, No. 81-855, p. 1534, §23; Acts 1986, No. 86-472, p. 880, §1; Acts 1993, No. 93-627, p. 1051, §1; Act 2001-306, p. 376, §1; Act 2001-309, p. 385, §1; Act 2014-457, §1.)