Sec. 2. 5 MRSA §8053, sub-§3-A, as amended by PL 1995, c. 373, §5, is further amended to read:

3-A. Copies of proposed rules available upon request. At least 20 days prior to hearing on any proposed rule and at least 20 days prior to the comment deadline of any rule without a hearing, the agency shall make copies of the proposed rule available in writing or, with agreement of the requestor, electronically to persons upon request.

Sec. 3. 5 MRSA §8053, sub-§4, as amended by PL 1981, c. 524, §9, is further amended to read:

4. Fee schedule. The agency may establish a fee schedule for notice and for proposed rules under subsection 1, paragraph B, imposing a cost reasonably related to the actual expense entailed. Fees may vary depending upon the method of transmission of notice and the rules being transmitted.

Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this Act takes effect when approved.

SUMMARY

Under current law, the written notice required in the agency rule-making process must be made by delivery or mail to statutorily specified recipients. This bill permits required notice to be given to recipients via electronic mail, so long as those recipients have agreed in advance that such a manner of notice is acceptable. The bill also permits copies of proposed rules to be distributed in the same manner by agencies. As a result, the bill provides agencies with another medium by which to distribute rule-making information and conserves paper resources.