(2) Upon identifying a specific law, the board:

(a) May recommend to the agency, board or commission that imposes or administers such a law that the agency, board or commission consider an exception or waiver to the law, where permitted by law, to assist in workforce development and economic development efforts in the region. Within 60 days of receiving a recommendation from the Eastern Oregon Border Economic Development Board under this paragraph, the agency, board or commission shall review the recommendation and hold a public hearing in the region or otherwise consider information from the public and stakeholder entities to determine whether:

(A) The law has posed a repeated disadvantage to workforce development and economic development in the region in the last five years compared to comparable laws, rules or other forms of regulation imposed by the State of Idaho or a political subdivision of the State of Idaho; and

(B) An exception or waiver to the specific law may be made for the purpose of furthering workforce development or economic development in the Eastern Oregon Border Economic Development Region.

(b) If the agency, board or commission determines that an exception or waiver may not be made under paragraph (a) of this subsection, may recommend to the agency, board or commission or to the Legislative Assembly that a specific exception or waiver be allowed for the purpose of workforce development or economic development in the region.

(3) The Eastern Oregon Border Economic Development Board may not recommend an exception or waiver to a specific law that is related to employment or state taxation. [2017 c.703 §5; 2019 c.72 §3]