(TRENTON) — Legislation sponsored by Assemblyman John Burzichelli to prohibit state agencies and departments from adopting new rules and regulations that exceed federal standards, unless authorized by state law, was released Thursday by an Assembly panel.
“Our tangled web of regulations may mean well, but they’ve largely done nothing more than stunt economic growth and hurt our business environment,” said Burzichelli (D-Gloucester/Cumberland/Salem). “We’re now on the road toward changing that.”
The Assembly Regulatory Oversight and Gaming Committee chaired by Burzichelli unanimously released the bill (A-2486) that prohibits state agencies from promulgating new regulations exceeding federal standards or requirements unless specifically authorized by state law.
The bill also requires all state agencies, within 45 days after the bill is enacted, to provide the Legislature with notice of any existing rules exceeding federal requirements that the state agency does not have explicit authorization to exceed.
Burzichelli emphasized the bill would only affect new rules and regulations and would give limited emergency authority to enact temporary rules higher than the federal standard in cases where the public interest needed quick protection.
“These bills provide clarity to our businesses and require the light of day to shine on regulations that too often have been adopted without proper public input and oversight,” Burzichelli said. “They’ll also help ensure against overly stringent or nonsensical rules by giving the legislative branch stronger oversight responsibilities. This is progress we need.”
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