541-A:2 Joint Legislative Committee on Administrative Rules. –
I. There is hereby created a joint legislative committee to be known as the joint legislative committee on administrative rules. The committee shall be composed of 10 members of the general court and 10 alternates to be appointed for 2-year terms ending on the first Wednesday in December of even-numbered years as follows: 5 members of the house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house in consultation with the minority leader, not more than 3 of whom shall be from the same party; 5 members of the senate, appointed by the senate president in consultation with the minority leader, not more than 3 of whom shall be from the same party; 5 alternate members of the house of representatives appointed by the speaker of the house in consultation with the minority leader, not more than 3 of whom shall be from the same party; and 5 alternate members of the senate, appointed by the senate president in consultation with the minority leader, not more than 3 of whom shall be from the same party. If a member of the committee is unable, for any reason, to attend a meeting or a portion of a meeting of the committee, the chair shall designate an alternate member to serve regardless of the number of other senators or representatives who attend the meeting. The committee shall elect a chair and a vice-chair from among its members, provided that the chair shall rotate biennially between the house and senate members.
II. The joint legislative committee on administrative rules shall meet at least once each month and more often as necessary for the prompt discharge of its duties. The director of legislative services shall provide services to the committee. The joint legislative committee on administrative rules shall adopt rules to govern its operation and organization. A quorum of the committee shall consist of 6 members. Members of the committee shall be entitled to legislative mileage as provided to members for attendance at sessions of the general court.
III. The committee may hold public hearings on a proposed or previously adopted rule on its own initiative. The committee shall give public notice of any hearing at least 7 days in advance in the rulemaking register. Any public hearing shall be scheduled at a time and place chosen to afford opportunity for affected persons to present their views. The committee may consult with the standing legislative committee having jurisdiction in the area of the rule under review.
IV. In addition to its ongoing review of proposed and adopted rules, the committee shall:
(a) Petition an agency under RSA 541-A:4 to adopt rules if the agency has clear rulemaking authority which it has not used.
(b) Review statutory passages granting rulemaking authority. On the basis of this review, the committee shall, before each regular legislative session, make written recommendations to the president of the senate and the speaker of the house as to how such passages should be amended to eliminate confusing, inefficient, or unnecessary statutory language.
(c) Make written recommendations, when appropriate, to the president of the senate and the speaker of the house as to how the legislative oversight of rulemaking might be improved. These recommendations may include proposed amendments to RSA 541-A.
(d) Have the authority to amend and provide the final approval of the drafting and procedure manual developed by the director of legislative services and the commissioner of administrative services under RSA 541-A:8.
(e) Notify the chairpersons of appropriate standing committees of the general court in writing when committee recommendations are made to agencies relative to legislation as a result of reviewing proposed and adopted rules.
(f) Make written recommendations, when appropriate, to the president of the senate, the speaker of the house of representatives, and the chairs of standing committees of the general court having jurisdiction over the subject matter of an agency concerning the amendment or repeal of the statutory authority of an agency that has enforced rules which are not effective or not otherwise valid, or that has not commenced rulemaking or adopted rules as required by statute.
(g) [Repealed.]