Rule Review

The General Assembly finds:

• Many government programs may be adopted without stating the direct and indirect costs to consumers and businesses and without consideration of such costs in relation to the benefits to be derived from the programs.

• Agency action taken without evaluation of its economic impact may have unintended effects, which may include barriers to competition, reduced economic efficiency, reduced consumer choice, increased producer and consumer costs, and restrictions on employment.

• Agency rules can negatively impact the state's business climate by impeding the ability of local businesses to compete with out-of-state businesses, by discouraging new or existing businesses from moving to this state, and by hindering economic competitiveness and job creation.

Accordingly, it is the continuing responsibility of agencies to analyze the economic impact of agency actions and reevaluate the economic impact of continuing agency actions to determine whether the actions promote the public interest.