Reviewing Urban-Rural Asymmetries in Legislation Act
The RURAL Act establishes a process allowing any legislator to request a Rural Impact Report for proposed legislation. The report will analyze the effects of the bill on farmers, rural communities, and rural school districts, including impacts at both the community and legislative district levels. Additionally, the report will compare these effects with those on suburban and urban districts to provide a comprehensive understanding of the bill’s differential impacts.
Key Provisions
Legislator-Initiated Rural Impact Reports: Any member of the legislature may formally request a Rural Impact Report for proposed legislation to assess its potential effects on rural communities, agricultural stakeholders, and rural schools.
Scope of Analysis: Reports must evaluate economic, social, regulatory, and educational impacts on farmers, rural communities, and school districts, including potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences.
Community and District-Level Assessment: Reports must provide data and analysis specific to rural communities, legislative districts, and school districts to ensure localized impacts are clearly identified.
Comparison with Non-Rural Districts: Each Rural Impact Report must include a comparative analysis of the bill’s projected effects on rural districts versus suburban and urban districts, highlighting disparities or differential consequences.
Impact on Rural Schools: Reports must assess how proposed legislation affects rural school districts, including funding, student enrollment, access to educational resources, teacher recruitment and retention, and school closures or consolidations.
Timely Report Completion: Rural Impact Reports must be completed within a defined timeframe to ensure they are available for legislative deliberations before a bill is considered for passage.
Public Availability: Completed reports must be made publicly accessible, ensuring transparency and allowing rural communities to understand potential impacts before legislation is enacted.
Model Language
Section 1. Title. This Act shall be known as the RURAL Act (Reviewing Urban-Rural Asymmetries in Legislation Act).
Section 2. Purpose. The purpose of this Act is to ensure that proposed legislation is evaluated for its potential effects on rural communities, agricultural stakeholders, and rural school districts before enactment, promoting informed decision-making and transparency in the legislative process. Additionally, the Act provides comparative analysis between rural, suburban, and urban districts to highlight disparities and ensure balanced policymaking.
Section 3. Request for Rural Impact Report
(a) Any member of the Legislature may submit a formal request for a Rural Impact Report on any bill introduced in the legislative session.
(b) Requests shall be submitted to the Office of Legislative Analysis (or equivalent agency), which shall be responsible for conducting the assessment.
Section 4. Contents of Rural Impact Report
(a) A Rural Impact Report shall include:
(1) An analysis of the bill’s direct and indirect effects on rural communities, including economic, social, and regulatory impacts.
(2) A specific assessment of the potential consequences for farmers and agricultural businesses.
(3) A localized breakdown of effects by legislative district and affected rural communities.
(4) A comparative analysis of the bill’s projected impact on rural districts versus suburban and urban districts, including any identified disparities or differential consequences.
(5) An assessment of the bill’s impact on rural school districts, including but not limited to:
- School funding and budget allocations.
- Student enrollment and demographic shifts.
- Access to educational resources, including technology and extracurricular programs.
- Teacher recruitment, retention, and workforce stability.
- Potential for school closures or consolidations due to legislative changes.
(6) Identification of potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences of the proposed legislation.
(b) Reports shall incorporate data from relevant agencies, industry experts, education officials, and rural stakeholders to ensure accuracy and comprehensiveness.
Section 5. Timeline for Completion
(a) The Office of Legislative Analysis shall complete the Rural Impact Report within [X] days of receiving a valid request.
(b) If additional time is needed due to data limitations, the requesting legislator shall be notified in writing with an estimated completion date.
Section 6. Public Disclosure
(a) Completed Rural Impact Reports shall be made publicly available through the Legislature’s official website.
(b) Copies shall also be provided to the requesting legislator, relevant legislative committees, and rural stakeholder organizations upon request.
Section 7. Implementation
(a) This Act shall take effect on [effective date] and shall apply to all legislation introduced on or after that date.
(b) The Office of Legislative Analysis shall develop procedures for requesting and conducting Rural Impact Reports within [X] days of enactment.