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Ohio CSI Office Reviews 1,500 Rules in 2013
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio’s Common Sense Initiative Office reviewed more than 1,500 proposed rules in 2013, reports Lt. Gov. Mary Taylor, who oversees the office.
CSI released its annual report Monday, which included key findings and regulatory reform efforts for the past year. In the two years since Ohio’s business rules have been reviewed as part of CSI, business rule filings have slowed by 25% compared to the historical average. The CSI rule review process was initiated in 2012.
“Since 2011, Gov. John Kasich and I have focused on creating a better environment in Ohio for small businesses to expand, create jobs and grow our economy,” Taylor said. “Part of that effort includes reducing government red tape while making sure regulations that are necessary make sense and protect the health and safety of all Ohioans. The results show Ohio’s regulatory environment is improving, our economy is growing, but there is still more work to do.”
For each business rule, agencies are required to articulate why the regulation is necessary, how the agency worked with its stakeholders to develop the rule, how the rule impacts business, and why the purpose of the regulation justifies that business impact. If the agency hasn’t justified the need for the rule, the CSI Office can make recommendations to reduce the impact in the rule, to improve the analysis, or even to go back to the drawing board on the rule.
Business rule filings totaled 1,519 in 2012 and 1,543 in 2013, down from the historical average of 2,044 from 2003 to 2011. In addition, the office last year worked directly with several businesses to resolve regulatory burdens that were standing in their way.
Examples of these efforts include CSI assisting nonprofit organizations that provide meals to students before and after school as well as during the summer; making it easier for a hospital to navigate licensing regulations in order to recruit qualified nurses from the military; and helping several businesses get building permits approved in order to expand their operations.
The annual report can be viewed at the CSI website, where suggestions to cut government red tape may also be submitted. Those interested may also “like” the agency on Facebook, and follow @CSI_Ohio on Twitter.
SOURCE: Office of Lt. Gov. Mary Taylor
Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
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