Public hearing and committee recommendations

(a) After receiving the required report, the Joint Standing Committee on Government Organization may conduct public hearings to receive testimony from the public, the Governor or his or her designee, the group, organization, or individual who submitted the proposal for regulation, a professional who works in the field, a board member who regulates the profession, and any other interested party. (b) The Joint Standing Committee on Government Organization may issue additional findings and recommendations regarding: (1) The least restrictive regulation of the occupation or profession; and (2) Whether regulation would result in the creation of a new agency or board or could be implemented more efficiently through an existing agency or board. (c) The Joint Standing Committee on Government Organization shall provide the Performance Evaluation and Research Division of the Office of the Legislative Auditor’s report and its findings and recommendations, if any, to the next regular session of the Legislature. (d) The Performance Evaluation and Research Division of the Office of the Legislative Auditor shall publish its report on its website. The Joint Standing Committee on Government Organization shall also make the report and any additional findings and recommendations publicly available. (e) Any committee considering legislation to enact or modify an occupational regulation shall receive the Performance Evaluation and Research Division of the Office of the Legislative Auditor’s report and the Joint Standing Committee on Government Organization’s findings and recommendations as provided for in subsection (b) of this section, if applicable, prior to voting on the legislation. (f) Nothing in this article shall be construed to preempt federal regulation or to require a private certification organization to grant or deny private certification to any individual.