(a)
(1) The agency rules shall be divided in six (6) groups to be determined by the Governor to ensure that the number of agencies in each group and the number of subject matter areas represented by each group are approximately equal.
(2) If the Governor has not determined the groups by January 1, 2019, the President Pro Tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall determine the six (6) groups to ensure that the number of agencies in each group and the number of subject-matter areas represented by each group are approximately equal.
(3) If neither the Governor nor the President Pro Tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives have determined the groups by April 1, 2019, all of the state agencies shall be subject to immediate evaluation in one (1) group and:
(A) Except as provided in § 25-15-402 concerning an initial rule report, a final rule report shall be filed by an agency:
(i) No earlier than May 1, 2019, and no later than July 1, 2019; and
(ii) No earlier than May 1 of every twenty-fourth year after May 1, 2019, and no later than July 1 of every twenty-fourth year after July 1, 2019; and
(B) The evaluation shall be completed no later than:
(i) December 31, 2042; and
(ii) December 31 of every twenty-fourth year after December 31, 2042.
(b)
(1) Each group of agencies assigned under subdivision (a)(1) or subdivision (a)(2) of this section shall be evaluated in a four-year time period.
(2) Group 1 shall file a report:
(A) No earlier than May 1, 2019, and no later than July 1, 2019; and
(B) No earlier than May 1 of every twenty-fourth year after May 1, 2019, and no later than July 1 of every twenty-fourth year after July 1, 2019.
(3) Group 2 shall file a report:
(A) No earlier than May 1, 2023, and no later than July 1, 2023; and
(B) No earlier than May 1 of every twenty-fourth year after May 1, 2023, and no later than July 1 of every twenty-fourth year after July 1, 2023.
(4) Group 3 shall file a report:
(A) No earlier than May 1, 2027, and no later than July 1, 2027; and
(B) No earlier than May 1 of every twenty-fourth year after May 1, 2027, and no later than January 1 of every twenty-fourth year after July 1, 2027.
(5) Group 4 shall file a report:
(A) No earlier than May 1, 2031, and no later than July 1, 2031; and
(B) No earlier than May 1 of every twenty-fourth year after May 1, 2031, and no later than July 1 of every twenty-fourth year after July 1, 2031.
(6) Group 5 shall file a report:
(A) No earlier than May 1, 2035, and no later than July 1, 2035; and
(B) No earlier than May 1 of every twenty-fourth year after May 1, 2035, and no later than July 1 of every twenty-fourth year after July 1, 2035.
(7) Group 6 shall file a report:
(A) No earlier than May 1, 2039, and no later than July 1, 2039; and
(B) No earlier than May 1 of every twenty-fourth year after May 1, 2039, and no later than January 1 of every twenty-fourth year after July 1, 2039.
(c) Agency rules that have been in effect for twenty-four (24) years or longer on August 1, 2017, shall remain in effect until the date of their first scheduled evaluation as provided under this section unless otherwise approved or rejected in accordance with the Arkansas Administrative Procedure Act, § 25-15-201 et seq.