(1) The general assembly finds that regulation should be imposed on an occupation or profession only when necessary for the protection of the public interest. The general assembly further finds that establishing a system for reviewing the necessity of regulating an occupation or profession prior to enacting laws for such regulation will better enable it to evaluate the need for the regulation and to determine the least restrictive regulatory alternative consistent with the public interest. (2) (a) For proposals submitted on or after July 1, 2022, any professional or occupational group or organization, any individual, or any other interested party that proposes the regulation of any unregulated professional or occupational group shall submit the following information to the department: (I) A description of the group proposed for regulation, including a list of associations, organizations, and other groups representing the practitioners in this state, and an estimate of the number of practitioners in each group; (II) A definition of the problem or problems to be solved by regulation and the reasons why regulation is necessary; (III) and (IV) Repealed. (V) The benefit to the public that would result from the proposed regulation; (VI) The cost of the proposed regulation; and (VII) A description of any anticipated disqualifications on an applicant for licensure, certification, relicensure, or recertification based on criminal history and how the disqualifications serve public safety or commercial or consumer protection interests. (b) Repealed. (3) (a) (I) Except as provided in subsection (3)(b) or (3)(c) of this section, the department shall conduct an analysis and evaluation of any proposed regulation. The analysis and evaluation must be based upon the criteria listed in subsection (4)(b) of this section. (II) Repealed. (III) For a proposed regulation submitted on or after July 1, 2022, the department shall submit a report to the proponents of the regulation and to the general assembly no later than: (A) June 30 of the year following the year in which the proposed regulation was submitted, for a proposed regulation submitted on or after July 1 and on or before December 31; and (B) December 31 of the same year in which the proposed regulation was submitted, for a proposed regulation submitted on or after January 1 and on or before June 30. (b) (I) After review of a proposal to regulate a professional or occupational group that was submitted on or after July 1, 2022, the department may decline to conduct an analysis and evaluation of the proposed regulation only if: (A) The department previously conducted an analysis and evaluation of the proposed regulation of the same professional or occupational group, issued a report not more than thirty- six months prior to the submission of the current proposal to regulate the same professional or occupational group, and finds that no new information has been submitted that would cause the department to alter or modify the recommendations made in its earlier report on the proposed regulation of the professional or occupational group; (B) The proposed regulation appears to regulate fewer than two hundred fifty individuals; or (C) The department determines that at least thirty-three other states license, certify, or require registration of members of the same professional or occupational group. (II) (A) If the department declines to conduct an analysis and evaluation pursuant to subsection (3)(b)(I)(A) of this section, the department shall reissue its earlier report on the proposed regulation to the proponents of the regulation and the general assembly. (B) If the department declines to conduct the analysis and evaluation pursuant to subsection (3)(b)(I)(B) or (3)(b)(I)(C) of this section, the department shall notify the proponents of the regulation and the general assembly that it is declining to conduct the analysis and evaluation and the reason for so declining. (III) Repealed. (IV) For a proposed regulation submitted on or after July 1, 2022, the department shall reissue its earlier report or issue the notice no later than: (A) June 30 of the year following the year in which the proposed regulation was submitted, for a proposed regulation submitted on or after July 1 and on or before December 31; or (B) December 31 of the same year in which the proposed regulation was submitted, for a proposed regulation submitted on or after January 1 and before June 30. (c) If the department receives a proposal to regulate a professional or occupational group indicating, based on documentation verified by the department, that the unregulated professional or occupational group poses an imminent threat to public health, safety, or welfare, the department shall promptly notify the proponents of the proposed regulation and the legislative council of the general assembly of the imminent threat and shall submit to the legislative council the documentation on which it bases its finding of imminent threat. Within thirty days after receipt of the notice and documentation from the department, the legislative council shall conduct a hearing to examine the documentation and determine whether it concurs with the department's finding that an imminent threat exists. In conducting its examination, the legislative council shall consider whether regulation of the professional or occupational group without first obtaining an analysis and evaluation pursuant to paragraph (a) of this subsection (3) will substantially alter the impact on public health, safety, or welfare. The department may forego the analysis and evaluation only if the legislative council notifies the department that the legislative council concurs with the department's finding of imminent threat to public health, safety, and welfare. (4) (a) (Deleted by amendment, L. 96, p. 796, § 7, effective May 23, 1996.) (b) The determination as to whether such regulation of an occupation or a profession is needed shall be based upon the following considerations: (I) Whether the unregulated practice of the occupation or profession clearly harms or endangers the health, safety, or welfare of the public; (I.5) Whether the practitioners of the profession or occupation exercise independent judgment, and whether the public can reasonably be expected to benefit from the direct regulation of the profession or occupation if a practitioner's judgment or practice is limited or subject to the judgment or supervision of others. (II) Whether the public needs, and can reasonably be expected to benefit from, an assurance of initial and continuing professional or occupational competence; (III) Whether the public can be adequately protected by other means in a more cost- effective manner; and (IV) Whether the imposition of any disqualifications on applicants for licensure, certification, relicensure, or recertification based on criminal history serves public safety or commercial or consumer protection interests. (c) (Deleted by amendment, L. 96, p. 796, § 7, effective May 23, 1996.) (5) Repealed. (6) (a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this subsection (6), the supporters of regulation of a professional or occupational group may request members of the general assembly to present appropriate legislation to the general assembly during each of the two regular sessions that immediately succeed the date of the report required pursuant to subsection (3) of this section without the supporters having to comply again with the provisions of subsections (2), (3), and (4) of this section. Bills introduced pursuant to this subsection (6) shall count against the number of bills to which members of the general assembly are limited by any joint rule of the senate and the house of representatives. (b) If, pursuant to paragraph (b) or (c) of subsection (3) of this section, the department of regulatory agencies declines to conduct an analysis and evaluation of the proposed regulation of a professional or occupational group and reissues a prior report on the proposed regulation of the same professional or occupational group or finds that the unregulated professional or occupational group poses an imminent threat to public health, safety, or welfare, as confirmed by the legislative council of the general assembly, the supporters of the regulation of the professional or occupational group may request that members of the general assembly present appropriate legislation to the general assembly during each of the next two regular sessions that begin after the date the department reissues its original report on the proposed regulation or the date on which the legislative council notifies the department that it concurs in a finding of imminent threat pursuant to paragraph (c) of subsection (3) of this section, whichever is applicable. (7) This section is exempt from the provisions of section 24-1-136 (11), and the periodic reporting requirement of this section shall remain in effect until changed by the general assembly acting by bill. (8) As used in this section, "department" means the department of regulatory agencies.
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