State Register Notice - submitted 10/31/00 for publication 11/6/00.

Task Force charge. Legislation in 2000 created a Rules Reform Task Force made up of four legislators and four persons appointed by Governor Ventura. Minnesota Laws 2000, chapter 469, section 5, which states:

"The task force must study and make recommendations to the governor and the legislature by January 15, 2001, on issues relating to review of agency rules. The recommendations must include, but are not limited to:

(1) a process to be used by agencies, the governor, and the legislature to identify and prioritize rules and related laws and programs that will be subject to legislative review;

(2) a process by which the legislature will review rules and related laws and programs identified under clause (1);

(3) the estimated agency and legislative time and resources required for review of rules and related laws and programs under the processes recommended under clauses (1) and (2);

(4) the effect of possible repeal of agency rules on the state budget and any loss of benefits to citizens of the state resulting from such a repeal;

(5) the desirability of changes in the rulemaking requirements of the Administrative Procedure Act, given increased legislative scrutiny of rules; and

(6) an analysis of ways to ensure or encourage compliance with state policies and goals using methods other than rulemaking, such as administrative penalty orders, descriptive guidelines, best management practices, compliance incentives, technical assistance, training, and procedural templates.

In making its recommendations, the task force must consult with interested parties, and must consider relevant state and federal laws and commitments."

Meeting schedule. The Rules Reform Task Force meeting schedule is as follows:

- Friday, November 10, 2000, at 10:30 a.m., in Room 300S of the State Office Building.

- Friday, December 1, 2000, at 9:30 a.m., in Room 300S of the State Office Building.

- Thursday, December 14, 2000, at 9:30 a.m., in Room 400N of the State Office Building.

- There will possibly be one more meeting in late December 2000 or early January 2001 for the Task Force to review, edit, and approve the Task Force’s final report.

* The agenda for each meeting will be posted on the Task Force web site. Each meeting will last approximately two hours.

* The State Office Building is located at 100 Constitution Avenue in St. Paul.

Public comment encouraged. The Task Force encourages the public to submit written comments or to testify with their opinions generally about rule reform and specifically about the six items listed in chapter 469, section 5. Testimony should be related to the scheduled agenda items for each meeting. If you are interested in submitting written comments or testifying before the Task Force, contact Adrienne Buske by phone at 651-296-2955 or by email at Adrienne.Buske@house.leg.state.mn.us.

Task Force web site. Task Force minutes, handouts, and other information are available on the Task Force web site: www.commissions.leg.state.mn.us/rtf/rtf.htm.

Send comments regarding this site to:
www@commissions.leg.state.mn.us

Updated: (jhr)