§610 Periodic review of rules

Summary

Agencies must, within 180 days after this chapter starts, post in the Federal Register a plan to review any rule that has or will have a big economic effect on a large number of small businesses or similar small groups. The plan can be changed later by posting the update in the Federal Register. The review must decide if each rule should stay the same, be changed, or be removed while still meeting the law’s goals. Rules that existed when the chapter took effect must be reviewed within 10 years. Rules made later must be reviewed within 10 years after they are published as the final rule. If the agency head cannot finish on time, they must say so in the Federal Register and may extend the deadline one year at a time, for up to five years total. When reviewing, agencies must consider five things: whether the rule is still needed; public complaints or comments; how hard the rule is to follow; whether it overlaps, repeats, or conflicts with other rules (Federal, State, or local); and how long since the rule was last checked or whether technology, the economy, or other factors have changed. Each year, agencies must post in the Federal Register a list of the rules they will review in the next 12 months, with a short description, the need for and legal basis of each rule, and an invitation for public comment.