41-1033 - Petition for a rule or review of an agency practice, substantive policy statement, final rule or unduly burdensome licensing requirement; notice

41-1033. Petition for a rule or review of an agency practice, substantive policy statement, final rule or unduly burdensome licensing requirement; notice

A. Any person may petition an agency to do either of the following:

1. Make, amend or repeal a final rule.

2. Review an existing agency practice or substantive policy statement that the petitioner alleges to constitute a rule.

B. An agency shall prescribe the form of the petition and the procedures for the petition's submission, consideration and disposition. The person shall state on the petition the rulemaking to review or the agency practice or substantive policy statement to consider revising, repealing or making into a rule.

C. Not later than sixty days after submission of the petition, the agency shall either:

1. Reject the petition and state its reasons in writing for rejection to the petitioner.

2. Initiate rulemaking proceedings in accordance with this chapter.

3. If otherwise lawful, make a rule.

D. The agency's response to the petition is open to public inspection.

E. If an agency rejects a petition pursuant to subsection C of this section, the petitioner has thirty days to appeal to the council to review whether the existing agency practice or substantive policy statement constitutes a rule. The petitioner's appeal may not be more than five double-spaced pages.

F. A person may petition the council to request a review of a final rule based on the person's belief that the final rule does not meet the requirements prescribed in section 41-1030. A petition submitted under this subsection may not be more than five double-spaced pages.

G. A person may petition the council to request a review of an existing agency practice, substantive policy statement, final rule or regulatory licensing requirement that the petitioner alleges is not specifically authorized by statute, exceeds the agency's statutory authority, is unduly burdensome or is not demonstrated to be necessary to specifically fulfill a public health, safety or welfare concern. On receipt of a properly submitted petition pursuant to this section, the council shall review the existing agency practice, substantive policy statement, final rule or regulatory licensing requirement as prescribed by this section. A petition submitted under this subsection may not be more than five double-spaced pages. This subsection does not apply to an individual or institution that is subject to title 36, chapter 4, article 10 or chapter 20.

H. If the council receives information that alleges an existing agency practice or substantive policy statement may constitute a rule, that a final rule does not meet the requirements prescribed in section 41-1030 or that an existing agency practice, substantive policy statement, final rule or regulatory licensing requirement exceeds the agency's statutory authority, is not specifically authorized by statute or does not meet the guidelines prescribed in subsection G of this section, or if the council receives an appeal under subsection E of this section, and at least three council members request of the chairperson that the matter be heard in a public meeting:

1. Within ninety days after receiving the third council member's request, the council shall determine whether any of the following applies:

(a) The agency practice or substantive policy statement constitutes a rule.

(b) The final rule meets the requirements prescribed in section 41-1030.

(c) An existing agency practice, substantive policy statement, final rule or regulatory licensing requirement exceeds the agency's statutory authority, is not specifically authorized by statute or meets the guidelines prescribed in subsection G of this section.

2. Within ten days after receiving the third council member's request, the council shall notify the agency that the matter has been or will be placed on the council's agenda for consideration on the merits.

3. Not later than thirty days after receiving notice from the council, the agency shall submit a statement of not more than five double-spaced pages to the council that addresses whether any of the following applies:

(a) The existing agency practice or substantive policy statement constitutes a rule.

(b) The final rule meets the requirements prescribed in section 41-1030.

I. At the hearing, the council shall allocate the petitioner and the agency an equal amount of time for oral comments not including any time spent answering questions raised by council members. The council may also allocate time for members of the public who have an interest in the issue to provide oral comments.

J. For the purposes of subsection H of this section, the council meeting shall not be scheduled until the expiration of the agency response period prescribed in subsection H, paragraph 3 of this section.

K. An agency practice, substantive policy statement, final rule or regulatory licensing requirement considered by the council pursuant to this section shall remain in effect while under consideration of the council. If the council determines that the agency practice, substantive policy statement or regulatory licensing requirement exceeds the agency's statutory authority, is not authorized by statute or constitutes a rule or that the final rule does not meet the requirements prescribed in section 41-1030, the practice, policy statement, rule or regulatory licensing requirement shall be void. If the council determines that the existing agency practice, substantive policy statement, final rule or regulatory licensing requirement is unduly burdensome or is not demonstrated to be necessary to specifically fulfill a public health, safety or welfare concern, the council shall modify, revise or declare void any such existing agency practice, substantive policy statement, final rule or regulatory licensing requirement. If an agency decides to further pursue a practice, substantive policy statement or regulatory licensing requirement that has been declared void or has been modified or revised by the council, the agency may do so only pursuant to a new rulemaking.

L. A council decision pursuant to this section shall be made by a majority of the council members who are present and voting on the issue. Notwithstanding any other law, the council may not base any decision concerning an agency's compliance with the requirements of section 41-1030 in issuing a final rule or substantive policy statement on whether any party or person commented on the rulemaking or substantive policy statement.

M. A decision by the council pursuant to this section is not subject to judicial review, except that, in addition to the procedure prescribed in this section or in lieu of the procedure prescribed in this section, a person may seek declaratory relief pursuant to section 41-1034.

N. Each agency and the secretary of state shall post prominently on their websites notice of an individual's right to petition the council for review pursuant to this section.