AR HB1904

House and Senate Committees on Public Health, Welfare, and Labor shall jointly conduct a study of public notice and participation procedures for environmental permits, certifications, authorizations, and approvals issued by the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality, Department of Health, Arkansas Natural Resources Commission, and Oil and Gas Commission.

Four state agencies must submit reports within 60 days detailing each type of environmental permit they issue, including the name, authorizing law, required public notice procedures, and public participation procedures for each permit type.

Study shall examine methods of public notice, efficacy of current notice requirements, best practices in other states, who is reached by current notices, and whether notice and participation procedures adequately account for actions affecting third parties.

Joint committee meetings shall occur at least once every two months, with a final written report due to the Legislative Council by December 1, 2020, including findings and recommended draft legislation.

Study concludes upon submission of the final report to the Legislative Council.