Bill Aims to Requlate Cost to Businesses First

With the legislative session beginning next week, several lawmakers have been very busy pre-filing bills for consideration. This is one that has a great deal of merit as it will require state officials to consider the "cost to business" before implementing new regulations.

Rep. Addia Wuchner, R-Florence (66^th District) announced today she and Rep. Joe Fischer, R-Ft. Thomas (68^th District) have filed legislation for the 2012 session which if passed would provide for greater oversight over administrative regulations in Kentucky and the potential economic impact on those businesses covered by the regulation. 

We've witnessed first-hand how Federal agencies like the EPA and their layers of bureaucracy have impacted Kentucky coal and entities in my district like Sanitation District 1, without any concern about the devastating impact their unchecked actions are having on our Commonwealth and its economy,” said Rep. Wuchner.  “Thankfully leaders like Congressman Geoff Davis are trying to reins in these administrators and their ‘wild-west’ mentality, and we need to do the same thing in Frankfort that Congressman Davis and others are trying to do in Washington.” 

The bill, which is modeled after Congressional Davis’ REINS Act that passed the full House earlier this month, would create a new section under KRS Chapter 13A which deals with administrative agencies in Kentucky.  Under the proposal by Representatives Wuchner and Fischer, which would be known as the Kentucky REINS Act, it would require legislative approval on any administrative regulations that would have a major economic impact before that regulation would go into effect.  It would also require the agency administering the proposed regulation to issue a fiscal note that would include a cost analysis of the regulation on those affected entities or businesses, and a determination by the administrative body on the overall economic impact of the regulation. 

The bill is pre-filed as BR 356 for the 2012 Regular Session.