HB2260 - 512R

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1. Section 41-1001.01, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE41-1001.01. Regulatory bill of rights; small businesses

A. To ensure fair and open regulation by state agencies, a person:

1. Is eligible for reimbursement of fees and other expenses if the person prevails by adjudication on the merits against an agency in a court proceeding regarding an agency decision as provided in section 12‑348.

2. Is eligible for reimbursement of the person's costs and fees if the person prevails against any agency in an administrative hearing as provided in section 41‑1007.

3. Is entitled to have an agency not charge the person a fee unless the fee for the specific activity is expressly authorized as provided in section 41‑1008.

4. Is entitled to receive the information and notice regarding inspections and audits prescribed in section 41‑1009.

5. May review the full text or summary of all rule making rulemaking activity, the summary of substantive policy statements and the full text of executive orders in the register as provided in article 2 of this chapter.

6. May participate in the rule making rulemaking process as provided in articles 3, 4, 4.1 and 5 of this chapter, including:

(a) Providing written comments or testimony on proposed rules to an agency as provided in section 41‑1023 and having the agency adequately address those comments as provided in section 41‑1052, subsection D, including comments or testimony concerning the information contained in the economic, small business and consumer impact statement.

(b) Filing an early review petition with the governor's regulatory review council as provided in article 5 of this chapter.

(c) Providing written comments or testimony on rules to the governor's regulatory review council during the mandatory sixty-day comment period as provided in article 5 of this chapter.

7. Is entitled to have an agency not base a licensing decision in whole or in part on licensing conditions or requirements that are not specifically authorized by statute, rule or state tribal gaming compact as provided in section 41‑1030, subsection B.

8. Is entitled to have an agency not make a rule under a specific grant of rule making rulemaking authority that exceeds the subject matter areas listed in the specific statute or not make a rule under a general grant of rule making rulemaking authority to supplement a more specific grant of rule making rulemaking authority as provided in section 41‑1030, subsection C.

9. May allege that an existing agency practice or substantive policy statement constitutes a rule and have that agency practice or substantive policy statement declared void because the practice or substantive policy statement constitutes a rule as provided in section 41‑1033.

10. May file a complaint with the administrative rules oversight committee concerning:

(a) A rule's, practice's or substantive policy statement's lack of conformity with statute or legislative intent as provided in section 41‑1047.

(b) An existing statute, rule, practice alleged to constitute a rule or substantive policy statement that is alleged to be duplicative or onerous as provided in section 41‑1048.

11. May have the person's administrative hearing on contested cases and appealable agency actions heard by an independent administrative law judge as provided in articles 6 and 10 of this chapter.

12. May have administrative hearings governed by uniform administrative appeal procedures as provided in articles 6 and 10 of this chapter and may appeal a final administrative decision by filing a notice of appeal pursuant to title 12, chapter 7, article 6.

13. May have an agency approve or deny the person's license application within a predetermined period of time as provided in article 7.1 of this chapter.

14. Is entitled to receive written notice from an agency on denial of a license application:

(a) That justifies the denial with references to the statutes or rules on which the denial is based as provided in section 41‑1076.

(b) That explains the applicant's right to appeal the denial as provided in section 41‑1076.

15. Is entitled to receive information regarding the license application process before or at the time the person obtains an application for a license as provided in sections 41‑1001.02 and 41‑1079.

16. May receive public notice and participate in the adoption or amendment of agreements to delegate agency functions, powers or duties to political subdivisions as provided in section 41‑1026.01 and article 8 of this chapter.

17. May inspect all rules and substantive policy statements of an agency, including a directory of documents, in the office of the agency director as provided in section 41‑1091.

18. May file a complaint with the office of the ombudsman‑citizens aide to investigate administrative acts of agencies as provided in chapter 8, article 5 of this title.

19. Unless specifically authorized by statute, may expect state agencies to avoid duplication of other laws that do not enhance regulatory clarity and to avoid dual permitting to the extent practicable as prescribed in section 41‑1002.

B. The enumeration of the rights listed in subsection A of this section does not grant any additional rights that are not prescribed in the sections referenced in subsection A of this section.

C. Each state agency that conducts audits, inspections or other regulatory enforcement actions shall create and conspicuously post on the agency's website a small business bill of rights in plain English containing the applicable rights prescribed in this section, section 41-1009 and any other agency-specific statutory rights. The agency shall provide each regulated small business with a written copy of the small business bill of rights before the agency initiates an inspection, audit or other regulatory enforcement action. The agency inspector, auditor or regulator shall obtain the signature of an authorized on-site representative of the regulated small business indicating that the representative received a copy of the small business bill of rights. At the request of an authorized on-site representative of the regulated small business, the agency may provide an electronic document of the small business bill of rights and at the request of the representative obtain receipt in the form of an electronic signature. If an authorized on-site representative refuses to sign receipt, the agency inspector, auditor or regulator shall document the refusal and proceed with the enforcement action. In addition to the rights listed in this section and section 41‑1009, the small business bill of rights shall include the process by which a small business may file a complaint with the office of ombudsman‑citizens aide or any appropriate state government ombudsman to investigate administrative acts of agencies. END_STATUTE

Sec. 2. Section 41-1009, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE41-1009. Inspections and audits; applicability; annual report

A. An agency inspector, auditor or regulator who enters any premises of a regulated person for the purpose of conducting an inspection or audit shall:

1. Present photo identification on entry of the premises.

2. On initiation of the inspection or audit, state the purpose of the inspection or audit and the legal authority for conducting the inspection or audit.

3. Disclose any applicable inspection or audit fees.

4. Afford an opportunity to have an authorized on‑site representative of the regulated person accompany the agency inspector, auditor or regulator on the premises, except during confidential interviews.

5. Provide notice of the right to have on request:

(a) Copies of any original documents taken by the agency during the inspection or audit if the agency is permitted by law to take original documents.

(b) A split of any samples taken during the inspection if the split of any samples would not prohibit an analysis from being conducted or render an analysis inconclusive.

(d) Copies of any documents to be relied on to determine compliance with licensure or regulatory requirements if the agency is otherwise permitted by law to do so.

6. Inform each person whose conversation with the agency inspector, auditor or regulator during the inspection or audit is tape recorded that the conversation is being tape recorded.

7. Inform each person interviewed during the inspection or audit that:

(a) Statements made by the person may be included in the inspection or audit report and may become a public record.

(b) Participation in an interview is voluntary, unless the person is legally compelled to participate in the interview.

(c) The person will be allowed at least twenty-four hours to review and revise any written statement that they are asked to sign by the agency.

(d) The person has the right to have an attorney representing the person or representing the regulated person present during the interview.

B. On initiation of an audit or an inspection of any premises of a regulated person, an agency inspector, auditor or regulator shall provide the following in writing:

1. The rights described in subsection A of this section and section 41‑1001.01, subsection c.

2. The name and telephone number of a contact person who is available to answer questions regarding the inspection or audit.

3. The due process rights relating to an appeal of a final decision of an agency based on the results of the inspection or audit, including the name and telephone number of a person to contact within the agency and any appropriate state government ombudsman.

4. The regulated person has the right to be represented by an attorney, and that the agency shall not take any adverse action, treat the regulated person less favorably or draw any inference as a result of the regulated person's exercise of the right to be represented by an attorney.

5. The information and documents provided to the agency may become a public record, and the regulated party may redact trade secret, proprietary and confidential information.

6. The expiration date or statute of limitations applicable to the agency's right to file a compliance action against the regulated person arising from the inspection or audit, which shall be applicable to both new and amended compliance actions.

C. An agency inspector, auditor or regulator shall obtain the signature of the regulated person or on‑site representative of the regulated person on the writing prescribed in subsection B of this section indicating that the regulated person or on‑site representative of the regulated person has read the writing prescribed in subsection B of this section and is notified of the regulated person's or on‑site representative of the regulated person's inspection or audit and due process rights. The agency shall maintain a copy of this signature with the inspection or audit report and shall leave a copy with the regulated person or on‑site representative of the regulated person. If a regulated person or on‑site representative of the regulated person is not at the site or refuses to sign the writing prescribed in subsection B of this section, the agency inspector, auditor or regulator shall note that fact on the writing prescribed in subsection B of this section.

D. An agency that conducts an inspection shall give a copy of the inspection report to the regulated person or on‑site representative of the regulated person either:

1. At the time of the inspection.

2. Notwithstanding any other state law, within thirty working days after the inspection.

3. As otherwise required by federal law.

E. The inspection report shall contain deficiencies identified during an inspection. Unless otherwise provided by law, the agency may provide the regulated person an opportunity to correct the deficiencies unless the agency determines that the deficiencies are:

1. Committed intentionally.

2. Not correctable within a reasonable period of time as determined by the agency.

3. Evidence of a pattern of noncompliance.

4. A risk to any person, the public health, safety or welfare or the environment.

F. If the agency allows the regulated person an opportunity to correct the deficiencies pursuant to subsection E of this section, the regulated person shall notify the agency when the deficiencies have been corrected. Within thirty days of after receipt of notification from the regulated person that the deficiencies have been corrected, the agency shall determine if the regulated person is in substantial compliance and notify the regulated person whether or not the regulated person is in substantial compliance. If the regulated person fails to correct the deficiencies or the agency determines the deficiencies have not been corrected within a reasonable period of time, the agency may take any enforcement action authorized by law for the deficiencies.

G. For agencies with authority under title 49, if the agency does not allow the regulated person an opportunity to correct deficiencies pursuant to subsection E of this section, on the request of the regulated person, the agency shall provide a written explanation of the reason that an opportunity to correct was not allowed.

H. An agency decision pursuant to subsection E or F of this section is not an appealable agency action.

I. At least once every month after the commencement of the inspection, an agency shall provide a regulated person with an update on the status of any agency action resulting from an inspection of the regulated person. An agency is not required to provide an update after the regulated person is notified that no agency action will result from the agency inspection or after the completion of agency action resulting from the agency inspection.

J. For agencies with authority under title 49, if, as a result of an inspection or any other investigation, an agency alleges that a regulated person is not in compliance with licensure or other applicable regulatory requirements, the agency shall provide written notice of that allegation to the regulated person. The notice shall contain the following information:

1. A citation to the statute, regulation, license or permit condition on which the allegation of noncompliance is based, including the specific provisions in the statute, regulation, license or permit condition that are alleged to be violated.

2. Identification of any documents relied on as a basis for the allegation of noncompliance.

3. An explanation stated with reasonable specificity of the regulatory and factual basis for the allegation of noncompliance.

4. Instructions for obtaining a timely opportunity to discuss the alleged violation with the agency.

K. Subsection J of this section applies only to inspections necessary for the issuance of a license or to determine compliance with licensure or other regulatory requirements. Subsection J of this section does not apply to an action taken pursuant to section 11‑871, 11‑876, 11‑877, 49‑457.01, 49‑457.03 or 49‑474.01. Issuance of a notice under subsection J of this section is not a prerequisite to otherwise lawful agency actions seeking an injunction or issuing an order if the agency determines that the action is necessary on an expedited basis to abate an imminent and substantial endangerment to public health or the environment and documents the basis for that determination in the documents initiating the action.

L. This section does not authorize an inspection or any other act that is not otherwise authorized by law.

M. Except as otherwise provided in subsection K of this section, this section applies only to inspections necessary for the issuance of a license or to determine compliance with licensure or other regulatory requirements applicable to a licensee and audits pursuant to enforcement of title 23, chapters 2 and 4. This section does not apply:

1. To criminal investigations, investigations under tribal state gaming compacts and undercover investigations that are generally or specifically authorized by law.

2. If the inspector, auditor or regulator has reasonable suspicion to believe that the regulated person may be engaged in criminal activity.

3. To the Arizona peace officer standards and training board established by section 41‑1821.

N. If an inspector, auditor or regulator gathers evidence in violation of this section, the violation may be a basis to exclude the evidence in a civil or administrative proceeding.

O. Failure of an agency, board or commission employee to comply with this section:

1. May subject the employee to disciplinary action or dismissal.

2. Shall be considered by the judge and administrative law judge as grounds for reduction of any fine or civil penalty.

P. An agency may make rules to implement subsection A, paragraph 5 of this section.

Q. Nothing in this section shall be used to exclude evidence in a criminal proceeding.

R. Each agency shall report annually to the ombudsman‑citizens aide on or before April 1 the following information regarding complaints filed against the agency during the preceding calendar year:

1. The number and disposition of petitions for the making of a rule or a review of an existing agency practice or substantive policy pursuant to section 41‑1033.

2. The number and disposition of complaints filed with the administrative rules oversight committee.

3. The number and disposition of motions filed pursuant to article 6 or 10 of this chapter and title 12, chapter 7, article 6. END_STATUTE

Sec. 3. Section 41-1376, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE41-1376. Powers and duties

A. The ombudsman‑citizens aide shall:

1. Investigate the administrative acts of agencies pursuant to section 41‑1377, subsections A and B except as provided in section 41‑1377, subsections C, D and E. The ombudsman‑citizens aide shall investigate the administrative acts of an agency without regard to the finality of the administrative act.

2. Annually before January 1 prepare a written report to the governor, the legislature and the public that contains a summary of the ombudsman‑citizens aide's activities during the previous fiscal year. The ombudsman‑citizens aide shall semiannually present this report before the legislative council. This report shall include:

(a) The ombudsman‑citizens aide's mission statement.

(b) The number of matters that were within each of the categories specified in section 41‑1379, subsection B.

(d) Selected case studies that illustrate the ombudsman‑citizens aide's work and reasons for complaints.

(e) Ombudsman‑citizens aide's contact statistics.

(f) Ombudsman‑citizens aide's staff.

3. Before conducting the first investigation, adopt rules that ensure that confidential information that is gathered will not be disclosed.

4. Appoint a deputy ombudsman and prescribe the duties of employees or, subject to appropriation, contract for the services of independent contractors necessary to administer the duties of the office of ombudsman‑citizens aide. All staff serves at the pleasure of the ombudsman‑citizens aide, and they are exempt from chapter 4, articles 5 and 6 of this title. All staff shall be subject to the conflict of interest provisions of title 38, chapter 3, article 8.

5. Before conducting the first investigation, adopt rules that establish procedures for receiving and processing complaints, including guidelines to ensure each complainant has exhausted all reasonable alternatives within the agency, conducting investigations, incorporating agency responses into recommendations and reporting findings.

6. Notify the chief executive or administrative officer of the agency in writing of the intention to investigate unless notification would unduly hinder the investigation or make the investigation ineffectual.

7. Appoint an assistant to help the ombudsman‑citizens aide investigate complaints relating to child protective services in the department of economic security. The assistant shall have expertise in child protective services procedures and laws. Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, the ombudsman‑citizens aide and the assistant have access to child protective services records and to any automated case management system used by child protective services in the department of economic security.

8. Annually on or before september 1, prepare and submit to the director of the governor's office of strategic planning and budgeting, the chairperson of the joint legislative budget committee and the cochairpersons of the administrative rules oversight committee a written report on the scope and severity of reported violations of the small business bill of rights pursuant to section 41-1001.01 by state agencies during the preceding calendar year.

B. After the conclusion of an investigation and notice to the head of the agency pursuant to section 41‑1379, the ombudsman‑citizens aide may present the ombudsman‑citizens aide's opinion and recommendations to the governor, the legislature, the office of the appropriate prosecutor or the public, or any combination of these persons. The ombudsman‑citizens aide shall include in the opinion the reply of the agency, including those issues that were resolved as a result of the ombudsman‑citizens aide's preliminary opinion or recommendation. END_STATUTE