Senate Commerce panel approves three Department of Labor rule dockets; agency plans to move many provisions into statute

The Idaho Senate Commerce Committee on an administrative voice vote approved three rule dockets from the Idaho Department of Labor, and heard the department say it will ask the Legislature to move major portions of its unemployment insurance rules into statute to make them easier for the public to find and understand.

Janie Revere, director of the Idaho Department of Labor, told the committee the department conducted a comprehensive review under the governor's 0-based regulation initiative and is proposing to eliminate outdated rules and rules that restate state or federal law. "There were no significant changes to the rules. Rather, we are eliminating outdated rules and rules that restate state or federal statute," Revere said. She said the agency simplified language and found "no fiscal impact to the general fund or any dedicated or federal funds."

Revere told senators the department intends to introduce legislation that would move significant portions of the rules into statute. "The intent of the legislation is to ensure that the unemployment insurance program…