227.137
227.137
Economic impact reports of proposed rules. 227.137(1)(1) In this section, "agency" means the departments of agriculture, trade, and consumer protection; commerce; natural resources; transportation; and workforce development.
227.137(2)
(2) After an agency publishes a statement of the scope of a proposed rule under
s. 227.135, and before the agency submits the proposed rule to the legislative council for review under
s. 227.15, a municipality, an association that represents a farm, labor, business, or professional group, or 5 or more persons that would be directly and uniquely affected by the proposed rule may submit a petition to the department of administration asking that the secretary of administration direct the agency to prepare an economic impact report for the proposed rule. The agency shall prepare an economic impact report before submitting the proposed rule to the legislative council staff under
s. 227.15 if the secretary of administration directs the agency to prepare that report. The secretary of administration may direct the agency to prepare an economic impact report for the proposed rule before submitting the proposed rule to the legislative council staff under
s. 227.15. The secretary of administration shall direct the agency to prepare an economic impact report for the proposed rule before submitting the proposed rule to the legislative council staff under
s. 227.15 if the secretary determines that all of the following apply:
227.137(2)(a)
(a) The petition was submitted to the department of administration no later than 90 days after the publication of the statement of the scope of the proposed rule under
s. 227.135 (3) or no later than 10 days after publication of the notice for a public hearing under
s. 227.17, whichever is earlier.
227.137(2)(b)
(b) The proposed rule would cost affected persons $20 million or more during each of the first 5 years after the rule's implementation to comply with the rule, or the rule would adversely affect in a material way the economy, a sector of the economy, productivity, competition, jobs, the environment, public health or safety, or state, local, or tribal governments or communities.
227.137(3)
(3) An economic impact report shall contain information on the effect of the proposed rule on specific businesses, business sectors, and the state's economy. When preparing the report, the agency shall solicit information and advice from the department of commerce, and from governmental units, associations, businesses, and individuals that may be affected by the proposed rule. The agency may request information that is reasonably necessary for the preparation of an economic impact report from other state agencies, governmental units, associations, businesses, and individuals. The economic impact report shall include all of the following:
227.137(3)(a)
(a) An analysis and quantification of the problem, including any risks to public health or the environment, that the rule is intending to address.
227.137(3)(b)
(b) An analysis and quantification of the economic impact of the rule, including costs reasonably expected to be incurred by the state, governmental units, associations, businesses, and affected individuals.
227.137(3)(c)
(c) An analysis of benefits of the rule, including how the rule reduces the risks and addresses the problems that the rule is intended to address.
227.137(4)
(4) The agency shall submit the economic impact report to the legislative council staff, to the department of administration, and to the petitioner.
227.137(5)
(5) This section does not apply to emergency rules promulgated under
s. 227.24.
227.137 History
History: 2003 a. 118.
227.138
227.138
Department of administration review of proposed rules. 227.138(1)(b)
(b) "Department" means the department of administration.
227.138(2)
(2) If an economic impact report will be prepared under
s. 227.137 (2) regarding a proposed rule, the department shall review the proposed rule and issue a report. The agency shall not submit a proposed rule to the legislative council staff for review under
s. 227.15 (1) until the agency receives a copy of the department's report and the approval of the secretary of administration. The report shall include all of the following findings:
227.138(2)(a)
(a) That the economic impact report and the analysis required under
s. 227.137 (3) are supported by related documentation contained in the economic impact report.
227.138(2)(b)
(b) That the agency has statutory authority to promulgate the proposed rule.
227.138(2)(c)
(c) That the proposed rule, including any administrative requirements, is consistent with and not duplicative of other state rules or federal regulations.
227.138(2)(d)
(d) That the agency has adequately documented the factual data and analytical methodologies that the agency used in support of the proposed rule and the related findings that support the regulatory approach that the agency chose for the proposed rule.
227.138(3)
(3) Before issuing a report under
sub. (2), the department may return a proposed rule to the agency for further consideration and revision with a written explanation of why the proposed rule is returned. If the agency head disagrees with the department's reasons for returning the proposed rule, the agency head shall so notify the department in writing. The secretary of administration shall approve the proposed rule when the agency has adequately addressed the issues raised during the department's review of the rule.
227.138(4)
(4) No person is entitled to judicial review of any action taken by the department under this section.
227.138 History
History: 2003 a. 118.
227.14
227.14
Preparation of proposed rules. 227.14(1)
(1)
Form and style. In preparing a proposed rule, an agency shall adhere substantially to the form and style used by the legislative reference bureau in the preparation of bill drafts and the form and style specified in the manual prepared by the legislative council staff and the revisor under
s. 227.15 (7). To the greatest extent possible, an agency shall prepare proposed rules in plain language which can be easily understood.
227.14(1m)
(1m) Exception; preparation of certain environmental rules based on federal regulations. 227.14(1m)(a)(a) Notwithstanding
sub. (1), an agency may use the format of federal regulations published in the code of federal regulations in preparing a proposed rule for publication or distribution and in preparing a proposed rule for filing if the agency determines that all or part of a state environmental regulatory program is to be administered according to standards, requirements or methods which are identical to standards, requirements or methods specified for all or part of a federal environmental regulatory program.
227.14(1m)(b)
(b) Notwithstanding
sub. (1), an agency may use the format of federal regulations published in the code of federal regulations in preparing a proposed rule for publication or distribution and in preparing a proposed rule for filing if the agency determines that all or part of a state environmental regulatory program is to be administered according to standards, requirements or methods which are similar to standards, requirements or methods specified for all or part of a federal environmental regulatory program.
227.14(1s)
(1s) Exception; preparation of certain rules based on federal food code. Notwithstanding
sub. (1), if the department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection or the department of health and family services prepares a proposed rule based on the model food code published by the federal food and drug administration, the proposed rule may be in the format of the model food code.
227.14(2)(a)(a) An agency shall prepare in plain language an analysis of each proposed rule, which shall be printed with the proposed rule when it is published or distributed. The analysis shall include all of the following:
227.14(2)(a)1.
1. A reference to each statute that the proposed rule interprets, each statute that authorizes its promulgation, each related statute or related rule, and an explanation of the agency's authority to promulgate the proposed rule under those statutes.
227.14(2)(a)3.
3. A summary of and preliminary comparison with any existing or proposed federal regulation that is intended to address the activities to be regulated by the proposed rule.
227.14(2)(a)5.
5. A summary of the factual data and analytical methodologies that the agency used in support of the proposed rule and how any related findings support the regulatory approach chosen for the proposed rule.
227.14(2)(a)6.
6. Any analysis and supporting documentation that the agency used in support of the agency's determination of the rule's effect on small businesses under
s. 227.114 or that was used when the agency prepared an economic impact report under
s. 227.137 (3).
227.14(2)(b)
(b) If the proposed rule is prepared in the format authorized under
sub. (1m), the analysis shall include a reference to the federal regulation upon which it is based. If the proposed rule is prepared in the format authorized under
sub. (1m) but differs from the federal regulation as permitted under
sub. (1m) (b), the analysis shall specify each portion of the proposed rule that differs from the federal regulation upon which it is based.
227.14(2g)
(2g) Fiscal effect of rule. On the same day that an agency publishes a proposed rule under this section that may have a significant economic impact on small businesses, the agency shall submit the proposed rule and the analysis required under
sub. (2) to the small business regulatory review board. The board may use cost-benefit analysis to determine the fiscal effect of the rule on small businesses and shall determine whether the agency has complied with
subs. (2) and
(2m) and
s. 227.114 (2) and
(3). Except as provided in
subs. (1m) and
(1s), each proposed rule shall include provisions detailing how the rule will be enforced. If the board determines that the rule does not include an enforcement provision or that the agency failed to comply with
sub. (2) or
(2m) or
s. 227.114 (2) or
(3), the board shall notify the agency of that determination and ask the agency to comply with any of those requirements. In addition, the board may submit suggested changes in the proposed rule to the agency, including proposals to reduce the use of cross-references in the rule. The board shall send a report of those suggestions and of any notice of failure to include enforcement provisions or to comply with
sub. (2) or
(2m) or
s. 227.114 (2) or
(3) to the legislative council staff. The notification to the agency may include a request that the agency do any of the following:
227.14(2g)(a)
(a) Verify that the proposed rule does not conflict with, overlap, or duplicate other rules or federal regulations.
227.14(2g)(b)
(b) Require the inclusion of fee information and fee schedules in the analysis under
sub. (2), including why fees are necessary and for what purpose the fees will be used.
227.14(2m)
(2m) Quality of agency data. Each agency shall, in cooperation with the department of administration, ensure the accuracy, integrity, objectivity, and consistency of the data that is used when preparing a proposed rule and when completing an analysis of the proposed rule under
sub. (2). Each agency shall reduce the amount of cross-references to the statutes in proposed and final rules. A person affected by a proposed rule may submit comments to the agency regarding the accuracy, integrity, or consistency of that data.
227.14(3)
(3) Reference to applicable forms. If a proposed rule requires a new or revised form, an agency shall include a reference to the form in a note to the proposed rule and shall attach to the proposed rule a copy of the form or a description of how a copy may be obtained. The revisor shall insert the reference in the code as a note to the rule.
227.14(4)(a)(a) An agency shall prepare a fiscal estimate for each proposed rule before it is submitted to the legislative council staff under
s. 227.15.
227.14(4)(b)
(b) The fiscal estimate shall include the major assumptions used in its preparation and a reliable estimate of the fiscal impact of the proposed rule, including:
227.14(4)(b)1.
1. The anticipated effect on county, city, village, town, school district, technical college district and sewerage district fiscal liabilities and revenues.
227.14(4)(b)2.
2. A projection of the anticipated state fiscal effect during the current biennium and a projection of the net annualized fiscal impact on state funds.
227.14(4)(b)3.
3. For rules that the agency determines may have a significant fiscal effect on the private sector, the anticipated costs that will be incurred by the private sector in complying with the rule.
227.14(4)(c)
(c) If a proposed rule interpreting or implementing a statute has no independent fiscal effect, the fiscal estimate prepared under this subsection shall be based on the fiscal effect of the statute.
227.14(4)(d)
(d) If a proposed rule is revised so that its fiscal effect is significantly changed prior to its issuance, an agency shall prepare a revised fiscal estimate before promulgating the rule. The agency shall give notice of a revised fiscal estimate in the same manner that notice of the original estimate is given.
227.14(4m)
(4m) Notice of submittal to joint legislative council staff. On the same day that an agency submits a proposed rule to the joint legislative council staff under
s. 227.15, the agency shall prepare a written notice of the agency's submittal to the joint legislative council staff. The notice shall include a statement of the date on which the proposed rule has been submitted to the joint legislative council staff for review, of the subject matter of the proposed rule and of whether a public hearing on the proposed rule is required, and shall identify the organizational unit within the agency that is primarily responsible for the promulgation of the rule. The notice shall be approved by the individual or body with policy-making powers over the subject matter of the proposed rule. The agency shall send the notice to the revisor for publication in the register. On the same day that the agency sends the notice to the revisor, the agency shall send a copy of the notice to the secretary of administration.
227.14(5)
(5) Copies available to the public at no cost. An agency, upon request, shall make available to the public at no cost a copy of any proposed rule, including the analysis, fiscal estimate and any related form.
227.14(6)(a)(a) Notwithstanding
s. 227.01 (10), in this subsection, "proposed rule" means all of the agency's proposal to promulgate a rule.
227.14(6)(b)
(b) An agency may withdraw a proposed rule at any time prior to filing under
s. 227.20 by notifying the presiding officer of each house of the legislature and the legislative council staff of its intention not to promulgate the proposed rule.
227.14(6)(c)
(c) A proposed rule shall be considered withdrawn on December 31 of the 4th year after the year in which it is submitted to the legislative council staff under
s. 227.15 (1), unless it has been filed in the office of the revisor under
s. 227.20 (1) or withdrawn by the agency before that date. No action by a legislative committee or by either house of the legislature under
s. 227.19 delays the date of withdrawal of a proposed rule under this paragraph.
227.15
227.15
Legislative council staff. 227.15(1)
(1)
Submittal to legislative council staff. Prior to a public hearing on a proposed rule or, if no public hearing is required, prior to notice under
s. 227.19, an agency shall submit the proposed rule to the legislative council staff for review. The proposed rule shall be in the form required under
s. 227.14 (1), and shall include the material required under
s. 227.14 (2) to
(4). An agency may not hold a public hearing on a proposed rule or give notice under
s. 227.19 until after it has received a written report of the legislative council staff review of the proposed rule or until after the initial review period of 20 working days under
sub. (2) (intro.), whichever comes first. An agency may give notice of a public hearing prior to receipt of the legislative council staff report. This subsection does not apply to rules promulgated under
s. 227.24.
227.15(1m)
(1m) Internet access to proposed rule. The joint legislative council shall create and maintain an Internet site that includes a copy of each proposed rule received under
sub. (1) in a format that allows the site to be searched using keywords. Each agency shall provide the joint legislative council with the proposed rules and other information needed to comply with this subsection in the format required by the joint legislative council. The Internet site shall include a section devoted to proposed rules affecting small businesses, as defined in
s. 227.114 (1). The Internet site shall also include all of the following:
227.15(1m)(a)
(a) The electronic mail address and telephone number of an agency contact person for each proposed rule.
227.15(1m)(d)
(d) The written report of the legislative council staff review of the proposed rule prepared under
sub. (2) and any agency comments regarding that report.
227.15(1m)(e)
(e) The time, date, and place of any public hearing specified in the notice in
s. 227.17 as soon as that notice is submitted to the revisor of statutes under
s. 227.17 (1) (a).
227.15(1m)(f)
(f) The place where comments on the proposed rule should be submitted and the deadline for submitting those comments.
227.15(2)
(2) Role of legislative council staff. The legislative council staff shall, within 20 working days following receipt of a proposed rule, review the proposed rule in accordance with this subsection. With the consent of the director of the legislative council staff, the review period may be extended for an additional 20 working days. The legislative council staff shall act as a clearinghouse for rule drafting and cooperate with the agency and the revisor to:
227.15(2)(a)
(a) Review the statutory authority under which the agency intends to promulgate the proposed rule.
227.15(2)(b)
(b) Ensure that the promulgation procedures required by this chapter are followed.
227.15(2)(c)
(c) Review proposed rules for form, style and placement in the code.
227.15(2)(d)
(d) Review proposed rules to avoid conflict with or duplication of existing rules.
227.15(2)(e)
(e) Review proposed rules for adequate references to related statutes, rules and forms.
227.15(2)(f)
(f) Review proposed rules for clarity, grammar, punctuation and use of plain language.
227.15(2)(g)
(g) Review proposed rules to determine potential conflicts and to make comparisons with related federal statutes and regulations.
227.15(2)(i)
(i) Streamline and simplify the rule-making process.
227.15(3)
(3) Assistance to committees. The legislative council staff shall work with and assist the appropriate committees of the legislature during the rule-making process. The legislative council staff may include in its report recommendations concerning proposed rules which the agency shall submit with the notice required under
s. 227.19 (2).
227.15(4)
(4) Notice of changes in rule-making authority. Whenever the rule-making authority of an agency is eliminated or significantly changed by the repeal, amendment or creation of a statute, by the interpretive decision of a court of competent jurisdiction or for any other reason, the legislative council staff shall notify the joint committee for review of administrative rules and the appropriate committees of each house of the legislature as determined by the presiding officer of each house. This subsection applies whether or not the rules of the agency are under review by the legislative council staff at the time of the change in rule-making authority.
227.15(5)
(5) Annual report. The legislative council staff shall submit an annual report to the chief clerk of each house of the legislature, for distribution to the legislature under
s. 13.172 (2), and to the governor summarizing any action taken and making recommendations to streamline the rule-making process and eliminate obsolete, duplicative and conflicting rules.
227.15(6)
(6) Public liaison. The legislative council staff shall assist the public in resolving problems related to rules. The assistance shall include but is not limited to providing information, identifying agency personnel who may be contacted in relation to rule-making functions, describing the location where a copy of a rule, proposed rule or form is available and encouraging and assisting participation in the rule-making process.
227.15(7)
(7) Rules procedures manual. The legislative council staff and the revisor's bureau shall prepare a manual to provide agencies with information on drafting, promulgation and legislative review of rules.
227.16
227.16
When hearings required. 227.16(1)
(1) Except as provided under
sub. (2), all rule making by an agency shall be preceded by notice and public hearing as provided in
ss. 227.17 and
227.18.
227.16(2)
(2) Subsection (1) does not apply if any of the following conditions exist:
227.16(2)(b)
(b) The proposed rule brings an existing rule into conformity with a statute that has been changed or enacted or with a controlling judicial decision.
