Ohio regulations require modicum of common sense

February 12, 2014

QUESTION: As a business owner, there are several rules that can make it difficult and oftentimes more expensive to expand my business. I know there was some type of review committee organized a few years ago to help streamline the regulations. Is that program still active?

ANSWER: Many business owners have unfortunately experienced the same frustrations as you throughout Ohio, which is why the review committee you refer to, the Common Sense Initiative, was formed. The CSI was launched in January 2011 by Gov. John Kasich and placed under the leadership of Lt. Gov. Mary Taylor (a fellow CPA) and is still very active.

The goal of the CSI is to reform Ohio's regulatory policies and help make Ohio a jobs- and business-friendly state. CSI reviews Ohio's regulatory system to eliminate excessive and duplicative rules and regulations that stand in the way of job creation.

In addition, a nine-member Small Business Advisory Council was created to advise the CSI, governor and lieutenant governor on the adverse impact government regulations have on small businesses. (Crystal Faulkner serves on the SBAC representing Southwest Ohio.)

Taylor recently issued a 2013 annual report for the CSI that included key findings and regulatory reform efforts. Last year, the CSI office reviewed more than 1,500 proposed rules. Since the inception of CSI, state agencies have filed 25 percent fewer business rules. As agencies review existing regulations and develop new ones, CSI requires them to analyze the regulation's impact to business by going through a "Business Impact Analysis."

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