Publication Summary

The objective of the SBEIS, as established in RCW 19.85.040, is to identify and evaluate the various requirements and costs that the rule might impose on businesses. In particular, the purpose is to determine whether a disproportionate impact of the compliance costs is borne by the State′s small businesses. The legislative purpose of the Regulatory Fairness Act (RCW 19.85) is set out in RCW 19.85.011: "The legislature finds that administrative rules adopted by state agencies can have a disproportionate impact on the state's small businesses because of the size of those businesses. This disproportionate impact reduces competition, innovation, employment, and new employment opportunities, and threatens the very existence of some small businesses. The legislature therefore enacts the Regulatory Fairness Act with the intent of reducing the disproportionate impact of state administrative rules on small business."