May. 01, 2018
HARRISBURG – As part of ongoing efforts to reduce burdensome state regulations, the House of Representatives on Tuesday approved legislation authored by Rep. Dawn Keefer (R-York/Cumberland) to allow businesses to thrive, stimulate economic growth and decrease unnecessary government oversight.
Based on the federal REINS Act (Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny Act), Keefer’s
House Bill 1237, known as the Pennsylvania REINS Act, would establish an enhanced review process for major regulations that impose a substantial cost burden on communities, businesses and/or the Commonwealth.
“For far too long Pennsylvania businesses have suffered under the regulations unnecessarily placed upon them. In most cases your elected representatives and senators did not have the opportunity to review or analyze these regulations before they were put into place,” Keefer said. “My bill would decrease unnecessary government oversight and create a freer market in which businesses can once again thrive and become job-creating engines like they once were. It’s a shield to protect Pennsylvania jobs and workers.”
The Pennsylvania REINS Act would establish an enhanced review process for major regulations that impose a substantial cost burden on the Commonwealth. A major regulation – or economically significant regulation – is defined as having an impact on the state, municipalities and/or the business community of $1 million or more per year.
As part of the review process, the Independent Fiscal Office would verify the cost of the regulations. The General Assembly would then have 30 calendar days or 10 legislative days, whichever is longer, to vote on the proposal. If a vote is not taken in that time or the regulation is voted down in either chamber, it would not be implemented.
Additionally, if the state Independent Regulatory Review Commission has approved the regulation, or an agency has decided to implement the regulation without the commission’s approval, a concurrent resolution must be introduced in the Legislature and be passed by the House and Senate.
The bill now goes to the Senate for consideration.
Representative Dawn Keefer
92nd Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Greg Gross
717.260.6374
ggross@pahousegop.com
RepKeefer.com /
Facebook.com/RepKeefer