Sec. 1. 5 MRSA §8059-A is enacted to read:

§8059-A. Quality of information in rule-making proceedings

1.__Definitions.__As used in this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, when referring to information provided and used by agencies in rule-making procedures, the following terms have the following meanings.

A.__"Influential information" means information that an agency reasonably determines will have or does have a clear and substantial impact on important public policies or important decisions within the private sector.

B.__"Information" means any communication or representation of knowledge such as facts or data, in any medium or form, including textual, numerical, graphic, cartographic, narrative or audiovisual forms.__ "Information" does not include opinions, when the entity presenting the information makes it clear that what is being offered is someone's opinion rather than fact.

C.__"Integrity of information" means the security of the information, including protection of information from unauthorized access or revision and protection against the compromise of information through corruption or falsification.

D.__"Objectivity" when referring to information, means the extent to which information is presented in an accurate, clear, complete and unbiased manner and is presented within a proper context.

E.__"Quality" means utility, objectivity and integrity.

F.__"Utility" means the usefulness of information to its intended users.

2.__Establishment of standards; criteria.__In conducting rulemaking under this chapter, an agency shall incorporate information quality criteria into its agency rule-making practices and shall adopt specific standards of quality that are appropriate for the various categories of information that are used as evidence in a rule-making proceeding under this chapter.

A.__To assess the objectivity of information, the agency shall: