Rod Boshart, CR Gazette –
Gov. Terry Branstad’s executive order requiring a “jobs impact statement” for all new government rules and regulations would become a permanent statutory requirement under a bill passed by the Iowa House on Wednesday.
Representatives voted 92-0 to pass their first bill of the 2012 session. House File 2042 mandates that every proposed administrative rule under a notice of intended action or published without notice must contain a jobs impact statement which outlines the objective and statutory authority of the rule and analyzes and sets out in detail the impact of the proposed rule on state agencies, local governments, the public, and the regulated entities — including regulated businesses and self-employed individuals affected by the rule. The statement must also determine whether a proposed rule would have a positive or negative impact on private sector jobs and employment opportunities.
“This is a way to make the governor’s executive order permanent and binding on all future agencies and administrations. I think it’s a very positive bill,” said Rep. Chip Baltimore, R-Boone, the measure’s floor manager. “It keeps administrative rule clutter to a minimum and it really makes the agencies dig deep when they’re trying to understand exactly what they’re supposed to be doing and the impacts that what they do have on the citizens of Iowa.”
As part of requirement detailed in H.F. 2042, a state agency would have to take steps to minimize the adverse impact on jobs and the development of new employment opportunities before proposing a rule. The administrative rules coordinator may waive the jobs impact statement requirement for emergency-filed rules or if unnecessary or impractical, according to the legislation.
Rep. Dave Heaton, R-Mount Pleasant, said gubernatorial directives – like Branstad’s executive order 71 – insures that future governor’s will have to get legislative permission to alter the required job impact assessment for bureaucratic agencies.
Baltimore said the governor’s office indicated that the order – issued last March – has helped to “weed out and prevent” some frivolous and minor rule provisions from becoming part of the state’s administrative code.
“This is a bill that’s long overdue, in my opinion,” said Baltimore of a measure that now goes to the Democrat-led Senate.
In issuing the order, Branstad said his goal was to “ensure that state government’s eyes are affixed on job creation, retention and development” when issuing rules and regulations. He said he expected the required jobs impact statement would assist his administration in creating 200,000 new jobs over five years that he promised during the 2010 campaign.
“House Republicans are committed to creating policies that put Iowans back to work. During these difficult economic times, we must not let government rules create uncertainty for Iowa’s businesses,” said House Majority Leader Linda Upmeyer, R-Garner. “The best way to put Iowans back to work is to advance policies that create an environment that encourages employers to keep and create jobs right here in Iowa.”
In other action, House members approved changes to the Legislature’s 2012 schedule that moved up by one week the “funnel” deadlines for non-money bills to receive committee support to remain eligible for consideration in the current session of the split-control General Assembly.
“I think it’s a good goal for us to try to finish early this year,” said Rep. Andrew Wenthe, D-Hawkeye. “I think the people of Iowa would appreciate that.”
Rep. Dave Deyou, R-Nevada, said the resolutions adopted Wednesday should enable the Legislature to wrap up before the April 17 target when the 100 days of expense money expires for lawmakers, but he noted that accelerated timetable would be achievable “as long as things go well.” Last year disagreements over the state budget caused an overtime session that last 172 days – the third longest in history – and ended hours before the new fiscal year began on July 1.
