Effective 28 Aug 1995

640.674. Rulemaking authority, procedure. — 1. Under the provisions of sections 640.651 to 640.686, the department shall establish such procedures, policies and qualifications as may be necessary for the administration of sections 640.651 to 640.686. The department shall promulgate administrative rules that ensure an equitable distribution of funds among the energy using sectors. The department may establish interest rates. The department may develop rules relevant only to certain sectors or entities to assure an equitable program.

2. No rule or portion of a rule promulgated under the authority of sections 640.651 to 640.686 shall become effective until it has been approved by the joint committee on administrative rules in accordance with the procedures provided in this section, and the delegation of the legislative authority to enact law by the adoption of such rules is dependent upon the power of the joint committee on administrative rules to review and suspend rules pending ratification by the senate and the house of representatives as provided in this section.

3. Upon filing any proposed rule with the secretary of state the department shall concurrently submit such proposed rule to the committee, which may hold hearings upon any proposed rule or portion thereof at any time.

4. A final order of rulemaking shall not be filed with the secretary of state until thirty days after such final order of rulemaking has been received by the committee. The committee may hold one or more hearings upon such final order of rulemaking during the thirty-day period. If the committee does not disapprove such order of rulemaking within the thirty-day period, the department may file such order of rulemaking with the secretary of state and the order of rulemaking shall be deemed approved.

5. The committee may, by majority vote of the members, suspend the order of rulemaking or portion thereof by action taken prior to the filing of the final order of rulemaking only for one or more of the following grounds:

(1) An absence of statutory authority for the proposed rule;

(2) An emergency relating to public health, safety or welfare;

(3) The proposed rule is in conflict with state law;

(4) A substantial change in circumstance since enactment of the law upon which the proposed rule is based.

6. If the committee disapproves any rule or portion thereof, the department shall not file such disapproved portion of any rule with the secretary of state and the secretary of state shall not publish in the Missouri Register any final order of rulemaking containing the disapproved portion.

7. If the committee disapproves any rule or portion thereof, the committee shall report its findings to the senate and the house of representatives. No rule or portion thereof disapproved by the committee shall take effect so long as the senate and the house of representatives ratify the act of the joint committee by resolution adopted in each house within thirty legislative days after such rule or portion thereof has been disapproved by the joint committee.

8. Upon adoption of a rule as provided in this section, any such rule or portion thereof may be suspended or revoked by the general assembly either by bill or, pursuant to Section 8, Article IV of the Constitution of Missouri, by concurrent resolution upon recommendation of the joint committee on administrative rules. The committee shall be authorized to hold hearings and make recommendations pursuant to the provisions of section 536.037. The secretary of state shall publish in the Missouri Register, as soon as practicable, notice of the suspension or revocation.

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(L. 1995 H.B. 414)