77-436. Joint committee on administrative rules and regulations; creation, membership and chairperson; meetings and quorum; duties; report to the legislature; compensation and expense allowances. (a) There is hereby established a joint committee on administrative rules and regulations consisting of five senators and seven members of the house of representatives. The five senator members shall be appointed as follows: Three by the committee on organization, calendar and rules and two by the minority leader of the senate. The seven representative members shall be appointed as follows: Four by the speaker of the house of representatives and three by the minority leader of the house of representatives. The committee on organization, calendar and rules shall designate a senator member to be chairperson or vice-chairperson of the joint committee as provided in this section. The speaker of the house of representatives shall designate a representative member to be chairperson or vice-chairperson of the joint committee as provided in this section. The minority leader of the senate shall designate a senator member to be the ranking minority member of the joint committee as provided in this section. The minority leader of the house of representatives shall designate a representative member to be the ranking minority member of the joint committee as provided in this section.

(b) A quorum of the joint committee on administrative rules and regulations shall be seven. All actions of the committee may be taken by a majority of those present when there is a quorum. In odd-numbered years the chairperson and the ranking minority member of the joint committee shall be the designated members of the house of representatives from the convening of the regular session in that year until the convening of the regular session in the next ensuing year. In even-numbered years the chairperson and the ranking minority member of the joint committee shall be the designated members of the senate from the convening of the regular session of that year until the convening of the regular session of the next ensuing year. The vice-chairperson shall exercise all of the powers of the chairperson in the absence of the chairperson.

(c) Except for rules and regulations revoked pursuant to K.S.A. 77-426(d), and amendments thereto, all proposed rules and regulations shall be reviewed by the joint committee on administrative rules and regulations during the public comment period required by K.S.A. 77-421, and amendments thereto. The committee may introduce such legislation as it deems necessary in performing its functions of reviewing administrative rules and regulations.

(d) The committee shall issue a report to the legislature following each meeting making comments and recommendations and indicating concerns about any proposed rule and regulation. Such report shall be made available to each agency that had proposed rules and regulations reviewed at such meeting during the agency's public comment period for such proposed rules and regulations required by K.S.A. 77-421, and amendments thereto. If having a final report completed by the public hearing required by K.S.A. 77-421, and amendments thereto, is impractical, a preliminary report shall be made available to the agency containing the committee's comments. The preliminary report shall be incorporated into the final report and made available to each agency.

(e) Except for rules and regulations revoked pursuant to K.S.A. 77-426(d), and amendments thereto, all rules and regulations filed each year in the office of secretary of state shall be subject to review by the joint committee. The committee may introduce such legislation as it deems necessary in performing its functions of reviewing administrative rules and regulations.

(f) The joint committee shall meet on call of the chairperson as authorized by the legislative coordinating council. All such meetings shall be held in Topeka, unless authorized to be held in a different place by the legislative coordinating council. Members of the joint committee shall receive compensation, travel expenses and subsistence expenses or allowances as provided in K.S.A. 75-3212, and amendments thereto, when attending meetings of such committee authorized by the legislative coordinating council.

(g) Amounts paid under authority of this section shall be paid from appropriations for legislative expense and vouchers therefor shall be prepared by the director of legislative administrative services and approved by the chairperson or vice-chairperson of the legislative coordinating council.

History: L. 1977, ch. 321, § 19; L. 1980, ch. 304, § 8; L. 1981, ch. 366, § 4; L. 1983, ch. 307, § 5; L. 1988, ch. 368, § 1; L. 1988, ch. 366, § 44; L. 1995, ch. 93, § 4; L. 2010, ch. 95, § 20; L. 2011, ch. 14, § 3; L. 2018, ch. 117, § 7; L. 2022, ch. 61, § 8; April 28.