The Attorney General’s “Government and Regulatory Reform Task Force” released its full report Thursday, making 350 recommendations for change for more than 20 agencies and boards in state government.

The three-year study was conducted by experts in the fields of agriculture, infrastructure, the environment, small business and health care, along with general public input. The group performed a line-by-line review of more than 8,700 pages of regulations that govern Virginians’ everyday lives.

Examples of recommendations for change included elimination of regulations no longer permitted by state law, consolidation of similar regulations in different parts of the administrative code covering the same subject area and updates to regulations, some of which had not been updated in more than 20 years.

Four significant legislative proposals of the Task Force have been approved by the General Assembly. These include: fast-tracking certain amendments to regulations, ensuring full public participation in the rule-making process, and expanding the scope and transparency of one of Virginia’s public-private partnership acts.

The systematic review began in 2006 under former Attorney General Bob McDonnell, joined by the Governor’s Office, the Lieutenant Governor, past and present legislators, business leaders, consumer advocates and private citizens. At public meetings, regulations were reviewed and voted on for modification, elimination, external action or retention.

“Virginia’s regulations affect so many aspects of our lives,” says Attorney General Bill Mims. “By bringing together citizens and policy experts to propose reforms in the administrative code, former Attorney General Bob McDonnell performed a great public service. The Task Force’s reasoned, common sense decisions will make our state government more effective and efficient.”