For Release: June 19, 2007
Contact: J. Tucker Martin or David Clementson
Email: tucker.martin@oag.state.va.us or dclementson@oag.state.va.us
Phone: 804-786-2071
Proposals Highlight Meeting of Attorney General’s Government and Regulatory Reform Task Force
Richmond- Attorney General Bob McDonnell welcomed the Government and Regulatory Reform Task Force to Richmond today for a full meeting featuring 63 new recommendations to reduce excessive and burdensome regulations in Virginia. The Attorney General highlighted two of the recommendations in his remarks to the Task Force. The Attorney General directed the Task Force to move forward with work to codify public participation guidelines for state agencies in an effort to increase the public’s opportunity for input. He also endorsed a proposal to simplify the manner by which small and minority-owned businesses are registered with the state, making it easier for minority and small business men and women to participate in the Virginia economy.
Speaking about these proposals, the Attorney General noted, “A republican form of government requires proper and plentiful opportunities for public input. Government officials must seek out, and take under consideration, the viewpoints of their constituents. This includes all those who serve the citizenry, elected and unelected. With this in mind, I have directed the Task Force to begin the process of codifying the public participation guidelines for all state agencies. Some of our agencies do a great job of encouraging, and allowing for, public comment. Others could stand some improvement. The proposal that ultimately emerges from the Task Force will be part of our 2008 legislative agenda, and it will ensure that every state agency adheres to the same baseline standards for public comment and input.”
McDonnell continued remarking, “I am also pleased by the work done by the Task Force to identify means by which we can simplify certification requirements for minority-owned, woman-owned, and small businesses. Currently, business owners seeking certification as a minority-owned, woman-owned or small business must apply separately and provide additional paperwork for each application. The certification process should be streamlined to allow for one application and one review process for these certifications. The Task Force will work to consolidate this process for greater efficiency. Our economy is strengthened when barriers to participation and competition are eliminated.”
The Attorney General also announced that the Task Force will officially launch an Environmental Working Group by August of this year. The Environmental Working Group will bring the number of working groups within the Task Force to five. The others are Agriculture, Healthcare, Small Business and Administrative Process Act. Working groups gave in-depth briefings to the full Task Force at today’s meeting. For more information on the content of those briefings please use the link found at the conclusion of this release.
Members of the Task Force were also briefed on the upcoming implementation of various changes to the Commonwealth’s Administrative Process Act. These changes were included within the Task Force’s first set of recommendations, of which there were 29 total. The highlight is the creation of a “fast track repeal” process for outdated or unnecessary regulations. Other recommendations also streamline the Administrative Process Act to make it easier for other changes to be made. Passed by the General Assembly, this will take effect on July 1st, and greatly aid in the Task Force’s efforts. The Task Force is currently working with the affected agencies to implement both the current and prior recommendations of the Task Force and the impacted agencies have been receptive to many of those recommendations with proposed follow-up action.
In addition, the Task Force was also updated on the progress of HB 3164, patroned by Delegate Brian Moran (D-Alexandria), and passed this session of the General Assembly. That legislation, set to go into effect on July 1, deals with the creation of a one-stop small business permitting program to be implemented within the Department of Business Assistance. The concept of a one-stop small business permitting program is one supported by the Attorney General and the Task Force. Representatives from the Attorney General’s Office will continue to advise the Department of Business Assistance in setting up the program and will continue to make recommendations to the Task Force on how to improve the new law upon its implementation. The goal is to streamline and consolidate the process of setting-up small business to incorporate both state and local requirements.
Attorney General McDonnell’s Government and Regulatory Reform Task Force was announced in August of 2006. It is conducting a systematic review of state regulations with the goal of minimizing adverse impacts on commerce and society while preserving the important public safety, health and welfare protections that many of the regulations provide. The Task Force continues to seek citizen input. Any citizen who has a problem with a specific regulation, or a recommendation for the Task Force is encouraged to email: regreform@oag.state.va.us.
To learn more about today’s meeting, see the recommendations of the Task Force, and read more about the Task Force in general, please visit: http://www.vaag.com/PRESS_RELEASES/NewsArchive/Announcement.html.
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