Three public sessions slated on shoreland zoning rule

Lakeland Times

...How the process works

If neither of the legislative committees votes to object to the rule within 30 days of receiving it, the rule can be formally filed and enacted.

If either of the committees objects, a joint Assembly-Senate committee would take it up. If that committee objected, a bill would have to be introduced and passed by both legislative chambers and signed by Gov. Jim Doyle to block the rule.

The DNR could agree to postpone enactment and undertake revisions. However, as Petersen observed in his column, that is not likely to happen given the time and money the agency has spent developing the revision.

Neither is it likely that the Legislature would pass legislation to block NR115. Even if it did, Doyle would probably not veto a rule developed by his own agency.

Once the Legislature's jurisdiction ends, the agency is free to file the rule with the Secretary of State. Normally, the rule will take effect about 45-75 days later.