Businesses, child-care providers urge Legislature to rein in administrative rulemaking

Representatives of small-business groups, manufacturers and child-care operators told the Michigan House Rules Committee that the state’s administrative rule system imposes substantial costs and uncertainty on businesses and providers and asked the Legislature to tighten oversight and increase transparency.

Amanda Fisher, state director of the National Federation of Independent Business in Michigan, said rules crafted by agencies can carry large compliance costs and sometimes exceed legislators’ intent. She cited federal-study figures for context — “compliance cost just for federal regulations per employee across all sectors was about $12,800 per employee” and said small firms bear disproportionate costs. Fisher also described a Michigan example: a 2011 statute leading to Michigan Public Service Commission rules requiring more…