House Health and Welfare committee outlines compressed rules schedule, opens limited discussion on department routing slips

The House Health and Welfare Committee on an organizational day said it will compress routine rule reviews into a shorter schedule this session, allow limited discussion and amendments to department routing slips (RSs) when introduced, and continue to permit remote testimony for public hearings.

Chairman Vanderwaute told the committee that rule review remains an important oversight function and that committee members will get a chance to see and question rules when they are posted. "Rules are what somebody else writes to interpret the statutes that we passed," Vanderwaute said, urging members to read the materials posted online.

Nut graf: The committee plans to complete most Health and Welfare rule reviews in two full days of meetings, add several days for the Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing (DOPL), and will accept remote and in-person public testimony. Members were informed that RSs are the sponsor's personal property but that limited discussion and amendments to an RS introduced before the committee may be permitted; the committee also encouraged sponsors to revise and reintroduce RSs when substantial edits are needed.

Vice Chair Marco Erickson told members the rules review will be shorter than in prior years. "In the past, we had a whole lot of presentations from various bureau chiefs," Erickson said. "This year, we are blessed to have Jared Larson, who is our government liaison...luckily, this year, we can do the full rules for health and welfare in two sessions." Erickson said DOPL will get four separate days for its rules so each presenter can appear without excessive delay.

Committee secretary Irene Moore confirmed that committee dockets, RSs and agendas will be posted online and available to members. Representative Lucas Kaylor asked whether the rules will be posted online or given in paper format; Kaylor said, "The rules that we're reviewing, are they online or are they going to be given to us in paper format to read?" Moore answered that materials are online and that members would also have a printed docket for the first two days.

On RSs (routing slips), the committee chair explained how the body will handle amendments and amendments' limits. Vanderwaute said past practice discouraged discussion when an RS was introduced but that the committee decided this session to allow limited discussion so sponsors and members can consider possible amendments. He cautioned members that an RS is "the personal property of the person presenting it" and recommended referring back to sponsors if substantial changes are needed rather than attempting to remake the RS on the spot.

The committee also discussed public testimony procedures. Vanderwaute said both remote and in-person testimony are accepted and that sign-ups are handled in advance. "We do online or remote testimony. They have to sign in online and get on the schedule," he said, and added that the committee may enforce time limits when many people sign up. Erickson said staff manage remote sign-ups and noted instances with many supporters and limited time to hear everyone.

Logistics and committee housekeeping items included a request for minute proofreaders; representatives McCann and Egbert volunteered. Vanderwaute also walked members through acronym sheets and a facts packet placed on members' desks as reference materials.

Discussion versus decisions: the committee set a schedule and operating guidelines (a direction and procedural plan) but did not take formal votes on rules or bills during the meeting. No bill hearings, motions, or votes were recorded in the transcript provided.

Ending: The committee adjourned after completing introductions and outlining the rules schedule and procedures; members were told the next meetings will begin with rules review on Tuesday and Wednesday and that they should expect additional rule-related meetings later in the week for DOPL.