
ASG is moving on a recommendation by Administrative Law Judge Marie Lafaele for the government to have clear rules and procedures that would help the public seek redress or assistance from government departments and agencies.
The ALJ observed at a cabinet meeting last year that ASG lacks clear guidelines and rules for people seeking assistance for a range of services to follow.
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An executive order that the governor issued last week establishes a process to ensure a coherent and efficient rule-making system within the executive branch to lower public costs and ease regulatory burdens on the people of American Samoa.
Each department and agency is to designate rules reform officers whose task is to evaluate existing rules of the agency and make recommendations for the creation, repeal, replacement or modification of the rules consistent with applicable law.
The Rules Reform Officers are to be appointed within 30 days from January 21, the date of the executive order.
A Rules Reform panel is to be established comprising five persons from Legal Affairs, Budget, Treasury, Administrative Law Judge and Office of the Governor.
The panel’s tasks are to:
- advise on recommended rules that eliminate jobs or inhibit job creation;
- if outdated, unnecessary or ineffective;
- impose costs that exceed benefits, create a serious inconsistency or otherwise interfere with regulatory reform initiatives;
- policies already in place or in this order; and
- derive from or implemented executive orders or other governor directives that have been subsequently rescinded or substantially modified.
Beginning May 1 this year, each Rules Reform Officer shall provide a report to the panel detailing the agency’s progress towards:
- Improving and implementation of rule reform initiatives and policies;
- Identify rules for repeal, replacement or modification; and
- Identify recommendations to statutes pursuant to the executive order.