SPONSOR: Hurlbert
COMMITTEE ACTION: Voted "Do Pass" by the Standing Committee on Corrections and Public Institutions by a vote of 11 to 0.
This bill makes all general specification documents issued by the Department of Transportation under Section 226.096, RSMo, subject to the rulemaking requirements of Chapter 536, to ensure public notice, comment, and legislative oversight.
PROPONENTS: Supporters say that a specification was changed this year which could make more than half of local quarries no longer eligible for Department of Transportation projects. Though rules are governed by Chapter 536's provisions to increase public input and transparency, these specifications do not have the same process. Sometimes, the documents listed as "specifications" would be better as rules. Inconsistent processes lead to inconsistent results and cause confusion. The rulemaking procedures give a better opportunity for submitting relevant expert testimony. The cost calculation for the specification in question was done on the back of a napkin and that is insufficient rigor.
Testifying in person for the bill were Representative Hurlbert; Missouri Concrete Association; Infra; Arnie Dienoff.
OPPONENTS: There was no opposition voiced to the committee.
OTHERS: Others testifying on the bill say that the specification process is meant to guarantee quality. The rulemaking process would likely slow the changes in specification documents from a few months to a year.
Testifying in person on the bill was Eric Schroeter, Modot.
Written testimony has been submitted for this bill. The full written testimony and witnesses testifying online can be found under Testimony on the bill page on the House website.
Statutes affected: