House Speaker Pro Tempore Terry O’Donnell, R-Catoosa, passed a bill that he said will ensure agency rules go through a more transparent and thorough process before being approved or repealed.

Senate Bill 913, by O’Donnell and Sen. Julie Daniels, R-Bartlesville, would create the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (JCAR) to review and recommend to the Legislature approval or repeal of agency rules.

“State agencies promulgate rules that once approved by the state Legislature have the full effect of law,” O’Donnell said. “The problem is, we currently have one House committee dedicated to overseeing rules from almost 200 agencies, boards and commissions during the crush of the four-month legislative session. This measure would establish a committee that would meet throughout the year to review these rules to see which might need to be removed or amended. This would lead to much greater transparency and greater input into the rule-making process.”

No agency may adopt, amend or revoke any proposed rule if it receives express written disapproval from the governor or a cabinet secretary within 30 days of the agency providing the executive with note of the rule.

The measure also would require every state agency to publish agency rules on its website, including those exempt from the Administrative Procedures Act. Agencies also would be required to respond to small businesses requesting a review of their rules no later than 90 business days and to the Legislature or governor within 30 days instead of the 90 days currently provided for in law.