Sec. 1. 5 MRSA §8052, sub-§3, as enacted by PL 1977, c. 551, §3, is amended to read:

3. Statements and arguments filed. When a public hearing is held, written statements and arguments concerning the proposed rule may be filed with the agency within 10 days after the close of the public hearing, or within such longer time as the agency may direct. The agency shall specifically consider each and every written statement and argument as part of its responsibility under subsections 4 and 5.

Sec. 2. 5 MRSA §8052, sub-§3-A is enacted to read:

3-A.__Copies of proposed rules available upon request.__ Copies of proposed rules must be made available in accordance with the following:

A.__An agency shall make copies of the proposed rule available to persons upon request and also post the proposed rule on the agency's publicly accessible site on the Internet on the earliest of the following dates:

(1)__At least 20 days prior to hearing on any proposed rule;

(2)__At least 30 days prior to the comment deadline of any rule; and

(3)__The date of publication of notice.

B.__The agency must include with a copy of the proposed rule a summary stating the exact nature of the proposed rule; the effect of the proposed rule on the substantive services provided under the rule or affected by the rule; the cost-effectiveness of the proposed rule to the State; the effect that the proposed rule would have on programs outside of State Government that are subject to the proposed rule; or the effect of the proposed rule on any reimbursement for services that are subject to the proposed rule.__The summary must also include the underlying basis for the statements or conclusions.

Sec. 3. 5 MRSA §8052, sub-§4, as amended by PL 1991, c. 632, §1, is further amended to read:

4. Relevant information considered. The agency shall consider all relevant information available to it, including, but not limited to, economic, environmental, fiscal and social impact