Chapter 334 Oregon Laws 1999

Session Law

AN ACT

HB 3035

Relating to review of agency rules; amending ORS 183.335.

Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:

SECTION 1. ORS 183.335 is amended to read:

183.335. (1) Prior to the adoption, amendment or repeal of any rule, the agency shall give notice of its intended action:

(a) In the manner established by rule adopted by the agency under ORS 183.341 (4), which provides a reasonable opportunity for interested persons to be notified of the agency's proposed action;

(b) In the bulletin referred to in ORS 183.360 at least 21 days prior to the effective date; [and]

(c) At least 28 days before the effective date, to persons who have requested notice pursuant to subsection (7) of this section; and

(d) At least 49 days before the effective date, to the persons specified in subsection (14) of this section.

(2)(a) The notice required by subsection (1) of this section shall state the subject matter and purpose of the intended action in sufficient detail to inform a person that the person's interests may be affected, and the time, place and manner in which interested persons may present their views on the intended action.

(b) The agency shall include with the notice of intended action given under subsection (1) of this section:

(A) A citation of the statutory or other legal authority relied upon and bearing upon the promulgation of the rule;

(B) A citation of the statute or other law the rule is intended to implement;

(C) A statement of the need for the rule and a statement of how the rule is intended to meet the need;

(D) A list of the principal documents, reports or studies, if any, prepared by or relied upon by the agency in considering the need for and in preparing the rule, and a statement of the location at which those documents are available for public inspection. The list may be abbreviated if necessary, and if so abbreviated there shall be identified the location of a complete list;

(E) A statement of fiscal impact identifying state agencies, units of local government and the public which may be economically affected by the adoption, amendment or repeal of the rule and an estimate of that economic impact on state agencies, units of local government and the public. In considering the economic effect of the proposed action on the public, the agency shall utilize available information to project any significant economic effect of that action on businesses which shall include a cost of compliance effect on small businesses affected. For an agency specified in ORS 183.530, the statement of fiscal impact shall also include a housing cost impact statement as described in ORS 183.534; and

(F) If an advisory committee is not appointed under the provisions of ORS 183.025 (2), an explanation as to why no advisory committee was used to assist the agency in drafting the rule.

(c) The Secretary of State may omit the information submitted under paragraph (b) of this subsection from publication in the bulletin referred to in ORS 183.360.

(d) When providing notice of an intended action under the provisions of subsection (1)(c) of this section, the agency shall provide a copy of the rule that the agency proposes to adopt, amend or repeal, or an explanation of how the person may acquire a copy of the rule. The copy of an amended rule shall show all changes to the rule by bracketing material to be deleted and showing all new material in boldfaced type.

(3)(a) When an agency proposes to adopt, amend or repeal a rule, it shall give interested persons reasonable opportunity to submit data or views. Opportunity for oral hearing shall be granted upon request received from 10 persons or from an association having not less than 10 members before the earliest date that the rule could become effective after the giving of notice pursuant to subsection (1) of this section. An agency holding a hearing upon a request made under this subsection shall give notice of the hearing at least 21 days before the hearing to the person who has requested the hearing, to persons who have requested notice pursuant to subsection (7) of this section and to the persons specified in subsection (14) of this section. The agency shall publish notice of the hearing in the bulletin referred to in ORS 183.360 at least 14 days before the hearing. The agency shall consider fully any written or oral submission.

(b) An agency that receives data or views concerning proposed rules from interested persons shall maintain a record of the data or views submitted. The record shall contain: [all written materials submitted to the agency in response to a notice of intent to adopt, amend or repeal a rule. The record shall contain a recording or summary of oral submissions received at hearings held for the purpose of receiving those submissions.]

(A) All written materials submitted to an agency in response to a notice of intent to adopt, amend or repeal a rule.

(B) A recording or summary of oral submissions received at hearings held for the purpose of receiving those submissions.

(C) Comments of the committees submitted under subsection (15) of this section.

(4) Upon request of an interested person received before the earliest date that the rule could become effective after the giving of notice pursuant to subsection (1) of this section, the agency shall postpone the date of its intended action no less than 21 nor more than 90 days in order to allow the requesting person an opportunity to submit data, views or arguments concerning the proposed action. Nothing in this subsection shall preclude an agency from adopting a temporary rule pursuant to subsection (5) of this section.

(5) Notwithstanding subsections (1) to (4) of this section, an agency may adopt, amend or suspend a rule without prior notice or hearing or upon any abbreviated notice and hearing that it finds practicable, if the agency prepares:

(a) A statement of its findings that its failure to act promptly will result in serious prejudice to the public interest or the interest of the parties concerned and the specific reasons for its findings of prejudice;

(b) A citation of the statutory or other legal authority relied upon and bearing upon the promulgation of the rule;

(c) A statement of the need for the rule and a statement of how the rule is intended to meet the need;

(d) A list of the principal documents, reports or studies, if any, prepared by or relied upon by the agency in considering the need for and in preparing the rule, and a statement of the location at which those documents are available for public inspection; and

(e) For an agency specified in ORS 183.530, a housing cost impact statement as defined in ORS 183.534.

(6)(a) A rule adopted, amended or suspended under subsection (5) of this section is temporary and may be effective for a period of not longer than 180 days. The adoption of a rule under this subsection does not preclude the subsequent adoption of an identical rule under subsections (1) to (4) of this section.

(b) A rule temporarily suspended shall regain effectiveness upon expiration of the temporary period of suspension unless the rule is repealed under subsections (1) to (4) of this section.

(7) Any person may request in writing that an agency mail to the person copies of its notices of intended action given pursuant to subsection (1) of this section. Upon receipt of any request the agency shall acknowledge the request, establish a mailing list and maintain a record of all mailings made pursuant to the request. Agencies may establish procedures for establishing and maintaining the mailing lists current and, by rule, establish fees necessary to defray the costs of mailings and maintenance of the lists.

(8) This section does not apply to rules establishing an effective date for a previously effective rule or establishing a period during which a provision of a previously effective rule will apply.

(9) This section does not apply to ORS 279.025 to 279.031 and 279.310 to 279.990 relating to public contracts and purchasing.

(10)(a) No rule is valid unless adopted in substantial compliance with the provisions of this section in effect on the date the rule is adopted.

(b) In addition to all other requirements with which rule adoptions must comply, no rule adopted after October 3, 1979, is valid unless submitted to the Legislative Counsel under ORS 183.715.

(11) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (10) of this section, an agency may correct its failure to substantially comply with the requirements of subsections (2) and (5) of this section in adoption of a rule by an amended filing, so long as the noncompliance did not substantially prejudice the interests of persons to be affected by the rule. However, this subsection does not authorize correction of a failure to comply with subsection (2)(b)(E) of this section requiring inclusion of a fiscal impact statement with the notice required by subsection (1) of this section.

(12) Unless otherwise provided by statute, the adoption, amendment or repeal of a rule by an agency need not be based upon or supported by an evidentiary record.

(13) When an agency has established a deadline for comment on a proposed rule under the provisions of subsection (3)(a) of this section, the agency may not extend that deadline for another agency or person unless the extension applies equally to all interested agencies and persons. An agency shall not consider any submission made by another agency after the final deadline has passed.

(14) The notices required under subsections (1) and (3) of this section must be given by the agency to the following persons:

(a) If the proposed adoption, amendment or repeal results from legislation that was passed within two years before notice is given under subsection (1) of this section, notice shall be given to the legislator who introduced the bill that subsequently was enacted into law, and to the chair or co-chairs of all committees that reported the bill out, except for those committees whose sole action on the bill was referral to another committee.

(b) If the proposed adoption, amendment or repeal does not result from legislation that was passed within two years before notice is given under subsection (1) of this section, notice shall be given to the chair or co-chairs of any interim or session committee with authority over the subject matter of the rule.

(c) If notice cannot be given under paragraph (a) or (b) of this subsection, notice shall be given to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and to the President of the Senate who are in office on the date the notice is given.

(15)(a) Upon the request of a member of the Legislative Assembly or of a person who would be affected by a proposed adoption, amendment or repeal, the committees receiving notice under subsection (14) of this section shall review the proposed adoption, amendment or repeal for compliance with the legislation from which the proposed adoption, amendment or repeal results.

(b) The committees shall submit their comments on the proposed adoption, amendment or repeal to the agency proposing the adoption, amendment or repeal.

Approved by the Governor June 23, 1999

Filed in the office of Secretary of State June 24, 1999

Effective date October 23, 1999

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