Source: http://www.legis.state.wv.us/WVCODE/code.cfm?chap=29a&art=3&section=18
Timestamp: 2017-07-22 14:55:30
Document Index: 473421388

Matched Legal Cases: ['§29', '§29', '§29', '§29', '§29', '§29', '§29', '§29', '§29', '§29', '§29', '§29', '§29', '§29', '§29', '§29', '§29', '§29', '§29', '§29', '§29', '§29', '§29', '§29', '§29', '§29', '§29', '§29', '§29']

Chapter 29 A Entire Code ‹ Chapter 29
| Chapter 29B › Printer Friendly Versions
Chapter 29A | Article 29A - 3
| Section 18
1 - DEFINITIONS AND APPLICATION OF 2 - STATE REGISTER
29 A- 3 - 1 29 A- 3 - 1 A 29 A- 3 - 1 B 29 A- 3 - 2 29 A- 3 - 3 29 A- 3 - 4 29 A- 3 - 5 29 A- 3 - 6 29 A- 3 - 7 29 A- 3 - 8 29 A- 3 - 9 29 A- 3 - 10 29 A- 3 - 11 29 A- 3 - 12 29 A- 3 - 13 29 A- 3 - 14 29 A- 3 - 15 29 A- 3 - 15 A 29 A- 3 - 15 B 29 A- 3 - 16 29 A- 3 - 17 29 A- 3 - 18 29 A- 3 - 19 29 A- 3 - 20 3A - HIGHER EDUCATION RULE MAKING
3B - STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION RULE 4 - DECLARATORY RULINGS AND DECLARA
WVC 29 A- 3 - ARTICLE 3. RULE MAKING.
WVC 29 A- 3 - 1 §29A-3-1. Rules to be promulgated only in accordance with this
In addition to other rule-making requirements imposed by law
and except to the extent specifically exempted by the provisions of
this chapter or other applicable law, and except as provided for in
article three-a of this chapter, every rule and regulation
(including any amendment of or rule to repeal any other rule) shall
be promulgated by an agency only in accordance with this article
and shall be and remain effective only to the extent that it has
been or is promulgated in accordance with this article.
WVC 29 A- 3 - 1 A
§29A-3-1a. Filing proposed amendments to an existing rule; and
repealing an existing rule.
(a) An agency shall file all sections of the proposed rule
when proposing an amendment to an existing rule. The proposed rule
shall be accompanied by note of explanation as to the effect of the
amendment and its relation to the existing rules.
(b) An agency proposing to repeal a rule, shall file the rule
in its entirety with the provisions of the rule struck through. An
agency may not repeal a rule by reference in another rule.
WVC 29 A- 3 - 1 B
§29A-3-1b. Rules of the tax department.
Notwithstanding the provisions of section eight, article two
of this chapter, the tax commissioner may reproduce the same in his
state tax bulletin and may, upon request, distribute copies of the
proposed or emergency rule after such proposed or emergency rule
has been filed in the state register and may charge a reasonable
fee in an amount set to recover his cost of duplicating and mailing
the same. The moneys so received shall be deposited in the
treasury to the credit of the tax commissioner's account for
printing, office supplies or postage.
WVC 29 A- 3 - 2 §29A-3-2. Limitations on authority to exercise rule-making power. (a) Except when, and to the extent, that this chapter or any
other provision of law now or hereafter made expressly exempts an
agency, or a particular grant of the rule-making power, from the
provisions of this article, every grant of rule-making authority
to an executive or administrative officer, office or agency,
heretofore provided, shall be construed and applied to be
effective only:
(1) If heretofore lawfully exercised in accordance with the
prior provisions of this chapter and the resulting rule has not
been revoked or invalidated by the provisions hereof or by the
(2) If exercised in accordance with the provisions hereof.
(b) No executive or administrative agency shall be deemed to
have power and authority to promulgate a legislative rule without
compliance with this article unless: (1) The provision of this
code, heretofore or hereafter enacted, granting such power and
authority, expressly exempts its exercise from legislative rule-making review prior to promulgation or (2) the grant of such
power and authority is exempted from the application of this
chapter by the express provisions of this chapter. To the extent
any such grant of power and authority, not so exempt, shall be
deemed to exceed the limits and provisions of this article, such
power and authority to promulgate legislative rules is hereby
WVC 29 A- 3 - 3 §29A-3-3. Rules of procedure required. In addition to other rule-making requirements imposed by
(a) Each agency shall adopt procedural rules governing the
formal and informal procedures prescribed or authorized by this
chapter. Procedural rules shall include rules of practice before
the agency, together with forms and instructions.
(b) To assist interested persons dealing with it, each
agency, shall so far as deemed practicable, supplement its rules
or regulations with descriptive statements of its procedures.
WVC 29 A- 3 - 4 §29A-3-4. Filing of proposed legislative exempt rules, procedural
rules and interpretive rules.
(a) When an agency proposes a legislative exempt rule,
procedural rule or an interpretive rule, the agency shall file in
the State Register a notice of its action, including the text of
the rule as proposed.
(b) All proposed rules filed under subsection (a) of this
section shall have a fiscal note attached itemizing the cost of
implementing the rules as they relate to this state and to persons
affected by the rules. The fiscal note shall include all
information included in a fiscal note for either house of the
Legislature and a statement of the economic impact of the rule on
the state or its residents. The objectives of the rule shall be
clearly and separately stated in the fiscal note by the agency
issuing the proposed rules. A legislative exempt, procedural or
interpretive rule is not void or voidable by virtue of
noncompliance with this subsection.
WVC 29A-3-5
§29A-3-5. Notice of proposed rulemaking. When an agency proposes to promulgate a rule other than an emergency rule, it shall file with the Secretary of State, for publication in the State Register, a notice of its action, including therein any request for the submission of evidence to be presented on any factual determinations or inquiries required by law to promulgate such rule. At the time of filing the notice of its action, the agency shall also file with the Secretary of State a copy of the full text of the rule proposed and a fiscal note as defined in subsection (b), section four of this article. If the agency is considering alternative draft proposals, it may also file with the Secretary of State the full text of such draft proposals. The notice shall fix a date, time and place for the receipt of public comment in the form of oral statements, written statements and documents bearing upon any findings and determinations which are a condition precedent to the final approval by the agency of the proposed rule and shall contain a general description of the issues to be decided. If no specific findings and determinations are required as a condition precedent to the final approval by the agency of the approved rule, the notice shall fix a date, time and place for the receipt of general public comment on the proposed rule. To comply with the public comment provisions of this section, the agency may hold a public hearing or schedule a public comment period for the receipt of written statements and documents, or both. If findings and determinations are a condition precedent to the promulgation of such rule, then an opportunity for general public comment on the merits of the rule shall be afforded after such findings and determinations are made. In such event, notice of the hearing or of the period for receiving public comment on the proposed rule shall be attached to and filed as a part of the findings and determinations of the agency when filed in the State Register. In any hearing for public comment on the merits of the rule, the agency may limit presentations to written material. The time, date and place fixed in the notice shall constitute the last opportunity to submit any written material relevant to any hearing, all of which may be earlier submitted by filing with the agency. After the public hearing or the close of the public comment period, whichever is later, the agency shall not permit the filing or receipt of, nor shall it consider, any attempted ex parte communications directed to it in the form of additional comment prior to the submission of its final agency-approved rule to the Legislative Rule-Making Review Committee pursuant to the provisions of section eleven of this article. The agency may also, at its expense, cause to be published as a Class I legal publication in every county of the state any notice required by this section. Any citizen or other interested party may appear and be heard at such hearings as are required by this section. Prior to the submission of any agency-approved proposed rule to the Secretary of State, the agency shall respond to public comments received during the rule-making process and explain the reasoning for comments being incorporated or not incorporated into the rule. Failure to adequately respond to public comments may be grounds for rejection of the proposed rule. WVC 29 A- 3 - 6 §29A-3-6. Filing findings and determinations for rules in state
register; evidence deemed public record. (a) Incident to fixing a date for public comment on a
proposed rule, the agency shall promulgate the findings and
determinations required as a condition precedent thereto, and
state fully and succinctly the reasons therefor and file such
findings and determinations in the state register. If the agency
amends the proposed rule as a result of the evidence or comment
presented pursuant to section five, such amendment shall be filed
with a description of any changes and statement listed for the
(b) The statement of reasons and a transcript of all
evidence and public comment received pursuant to notice are
public records and shall be carefully preserved by the agency and
be open for public inspection and copying for a period of not
less than five years from the date of the hearing.
WVC 29 A- 3 - 7 §29A-3-7. Notice of hearings. Notices of hearings required by sections five and six of
this article shall be filed in the state register not less than
thirty nor more than sixty days before the date of such hearing
or the last day specified therein for receiving written material. Any hearing may be continued from time to time and place to place
by the agency which shall have the effect of extending the last
day for receipt of evidence or public comment. Notice of such
continuance shall be promptly filed thereafter in the state
WVC 29 A- 3 - 8 §29A-3-8. Adoption of legislative exempt, procedural and
interpretive rules.
An agency shall consider a legislative exempt, procedural and
interpretive rule for adoption not later than six months after the
close of public comment and file a notice of withdrawal or adoption
in the State Register within that period. An agency's failure to
file the notice constitutes withdrawal and the Secretary of State
shall note the failure in the State Register immediately upon the
expiration of the six-month period.
A legislative exempt, procedural or interpretive rule may be
amended by the agency prior to final adoption without further
hearing or public comment. The amendment may not change the main
purpose of the rule. If the fiscal implications have changed since
the rule was proposed, the agency shall attach a new fiscal note to
the notice of filing. Upon adoption of the rule, including any
amendment, the agency shall file the text of the adopted
legislative exempt, procedural or interpretive rule with its notice
of adoption in the State Register and the rule is effective on the
date specified in the rule or thirty days after the filing,
whichever is later or as specified in this code.
WVC 29 A- 3 - 9 §29A-3-9. Proposal of legislative rules.
When an agency proposes a legislative rule, other than an
emergency rule, it shall be deemed to be applying to the
Legislature for permission, to be granted by law, to promulgate
such rule as approved by the agency for submission to the
Legislature or as amended and authorized by the Legislature by law.
An agency proposing a legislative rule, other than an
emergency rule, after filing the notice of proposed rulemaking
required by the provisions of section five of this article, shall
then proceed as in the case of a procedural and interpretive rule
to the point of, but not including, final adoption. In lieu of
final adoption, the agency shall finally approve the proposed rule,
including any amendments, for submission to the Legislature and
file such notice of approval in the state register and with the
legislative rule-making review committee, within ninety days after
the public hearing was held or within ninety days after the end of
the public comment period required under section five of this
article: Provided, That upon receipt of a written request from an
agency, setting forth valid reasons why the agency is unable to
file the agency approved rule within the ninety-day time period,
the legislative rule-making review committee may grant the agency
an extension of time to file the agency approved rule.
Such final agency approval of the rule under this section is
deemed to be approval for submission to the Legislature only and
does not give any force and effect to the proposed rule. The rule
shall have full force and effect only when authority for
promulgation of the rule is granted by an act of the Legislature and the rule is promulgated pursuant to the provisions of section
WVC 29 A- 3 - 10 §29A-3-10. Creation of a legislative rule-making review
(a) There is hereby created a joint committee of the
Legislature, known as the legislative rule-making review committee,
to review all legislative rules of the several agencies and such
other rules as the committee deems appropriate. The committee
shall be composed of six members of the Senate, appointed by the
president of the Senate, and six members of the House of Delegates,
appointed by the speaker of the House of Delegates. In addition,
the president of the Senate and the speaker of the House of
Delegates shall be ex officio nonvoting members of the committee
and shall designate the cochairmen. Not more than four of the
voting members of the committee from each house shall be members of
the same political party: Provided, That in the event the
membership of a political party is less than fifteen percent in the
House of Delegates or Senate, then the membership of that political
party from the legislative house with less than fifteen percent
membership may be one from that house. The members shall serve
until their successors shall have been appointed as heretofore
provided. Members of the committee shall receive such compensation
and expenses as provided in article two-a, chapter four of this
code. Such expenses and all other expenses, including those
incurred in the employment of legal, technical, investigative,
clerical, stenographic, advisory and other personnel shall be paid
from an appropriation to be made expressly for the legislative
rule-making review committee, but if no such appropriation be made,
such expenses shall be paid from the appropriation under "Account No. 103 for Joint Expenses," but no expense of any kind whatever
payable under said Account No. 103 for joint expenses shall be
incurred unless first approved by the joint committee on government
and finance. The committee shall meet at any time, both during
sessions of the Legislature and in the interim.
(b) The committee may adopt such rules of procedure as it
considers necessary for the submission, presentation and
consideration of rules.
WVC 29A-3-11
§29A-3-11. Submission of legislative rules to the Legislative Rule-Making Review Committee. (a) When an agency finally approves a proposed legislative rule for submission to the Legislature, pursuant to the provisions of section nine of this article, the secretary of the executive department which administers the agency pursuant to the provisions of article two, chapter five-f of this code shall submit to the Legislative Rule-Making Review Committee at its offices or at a regular meeting of such committee a number of copies in electronic or paper form as requested by the committee, which shall include the following information: (1) The full text of the legislative rule as finally approved by the agency, with new language underlined and with language to be deleted from any existing rule stricken through but clearly legible; (2) A brief summary of the content of the legislative rule and a description and a copy of any existing rule which the agency proposes to amend or repeal; (3) A statement of the circumstances which require the rule; (4) A detailed description of the rule’s purpose and all proposed changes to the rule; (5) A fiscal note containing all information included in a fiscal note for either house of the Legislature and a statement of the economic impact of the rule on the state or its residents; (6) One copy of any relevant federal statutes or regulations; (7) An explanation of the statutory authority for the rule, including a detailed summary of the effect of each provision of the rule with citation to the specific statute which empowers the agency to enact such provision; (8) All public comments for each proposed rule. An agency may consolidate substantially similar comments in the interest of efficiency; (9) All written responses by the agency to the substance of any public comments received, including whether the agency chose to modify the proposed rule in response to the comments or, if no changes were made, the rationale for declining to incorporate or make any suggested changes responding to the public comments. An agency may consolidate substantially similar responses in the interest of efficiency: Provided, That the agency’s response shall address each issue and concern expressed by all comments received; and (10) Any other information which the committee may request or which may be required by law. If the agency is an agency, board or commission which is not administered by an executive department as provided for in article two, chapter five-f of this code, the agency shall submit the final agency-approved rule as required by this subsection. (b) The committee shall review each proposed legislative rule and, in its discretion, may hold public hearings thereon. Such review shall include, but not be limited to, a determination of: (1) Whether the agency has specific statutory authority to propose the rule and has not exceeded the scope of its statutory authority in approving the proposed legislative rule; (2) Whether the proposed legislative rule is in conformity with the legislative intent of the statute which the rule is intended to implement, extend, apply, interpret or make specific; (3) Whether the proposed legislative rule overlaps, duplicates or conflicts with any other provision of this code, any other rule adopted by the same or a different agency, with federal statutes and rules, or with local laws and rules; (4) Whether federal funding will be impacted by its expiration and explanation as to such; (5) Whether the proposed legislative rule is necessary to fully accomplish the objectives of the statute under which the rule was proposed for promulgation; (6) Whether the proposed legislative rule is reasonable, especially as it affects the convenience of the general public or of persons particularly affected by it; (7) Whether the proposed legislative rule could be made less complex or more readily understandable by the general public; and (8) Whether the proposed legislative rule was proposed for promulgation in compliance with the requirements of this article and with any requirements imposed by any other provision of this code. (c) After reviewing the legislative rule, the committee shall recommend that the Legislature: (1) Authorize the promulgation of the legislative rule; (2) Authorize the promulgation of part of the legislative rule; (3) Authorize the promulgation of the legislative rule with certain amendments; (4) Recommend that the proposed rule be withdrawn; or (5) Reject the proposed rule. The committee shall file notice of its action in the State Register and with the agency proposing the rule: Provided, That when the committee makes the recommendations of subdivision (2), (3), (4) or (5) of this subsection, the notice shall contain a statement of the reasons for such recommendation. (d) When the committee recommends that a rule be authorized, in whole or in part, by the Legislature, the committee shall instruct its staff or the office of Legislative Services to draft a bill authorizing the promulgation of all or part of the legislative rule and incorporating such amendments as the committee desires. If the committee recommends that the rule not be authorized, it shall include in its report a draft of a bill authorizing promulgation of the rule together with a recommendation. Any draft bill prepared under this section shall contain a legislative finding that the rule is within the legislative intent of the statute which the rule is intended to implement, extend, apply or interpret and shall be available for any member of the Legislature to introduce to the Legislature. WVC 29 A- 3 - 12 §29A-3-12. Submission of legislative rules to Legislature.
(a) No later than forty days before the sixtieth day of each
regular session of the Legislature, the cochairmen of the
legislative rule-making review committee shall submit to the clerk
of the respective houses of the Legislature copies of all proposed
legislative rules which have been submitted to and considered by
the committee pursuant to the provisions of section eleven of this
article and which have not been previously submitted to the
Legislature for study, together with the recommendations of the
committee with respect to such rules, a statement of the reasons
for any recommendation that a rule be amended or withdrawn and a
statement that a bill authorizing the legislative rule has been
drafted by the staff of the committee or by legislative services
pursuant to section eleven of this article. The cochairman of the
committee may also submit such rules at the direction of the
committee at any time before or during a special session in which
consideration thereof may be appropriate. The committee may
withhold from its report any proposed legislative rule which was
submitted to the committee fewer than two hundred twenty-five days
before the end of the regular session. The clerk of each house
shall submit the report to his or her house at the commencement of
All bills introduced authorizing the promulgation of a rule
may be referred by the speaker of the House of Delegates and by the
president of the Senate to appropriate standing committees of therespective houses for further consideration or the matters may be
otherwise dealt with as each house or its rules provide. The
Legislature may by act authorize the agency to adopt a legislative
rule incorporating the entire rule or may authorize the agency to
adopt a rule with any amendments which the Legislature shall
designate. The clerk of the house originating such act shall
forthwith file a copy of any bill of authorization enacted with the
secretary of state and with the agency proposing such rule and the
clerk of each house may prepare and file a synopsis of legislative
action during any session on any proposed rule submitted to the
house during such session for which authority to promulgate was not
by law provided during such session. In acting upon the separate
bills authorizing the promulgation of rules, the Legislature may,
by amendment or substitution, combine the separate bills of
authorization insofar as the various rules authorized therein are
proposed by agencies which are placed under the administration of
one of the single separate executive departments identified under
the provisions of section two, article one, chapter five-f of this
code or the Legislature may combine the separate bills of
authorization by agency or agencies within an executive department. In the case of rules proposed for promulgation by an agency which
is not administered by an executive department pursuant to the
provisions of article two of said chapter, the separate bills of
authorization for the proposed rules of that agency may, by
amendment or substitution, be combined. The foregoing provisionsrelating to combining separate bills of authorization according to
department or agency are not intended to restrict the permissible
breadth of bills of authorization and do not preclude the
Legislature from otherwise combining various bills of authorization
which have a unity of subject matter. Any number of provisions may
be included in a bill of authorization, but the single object of
the bill shall be to authorize the promulgation of proposed
legislative rules.
(b) If the Legislature during its regular session disapproves
all or part of any legislative rule which was submitted to it by
the legislative rule-making review committee during such session,
no agency may thereafter issue any rule or directive or take other
action to implement such rule or part thereof unless and until
otherwise authorized to do so, except that the agency may resubmit
the same or similar proposed rule to the legislative rule-making
review committee in accordance with the provisions of section
eleven of this article.
(c) Nothing herein shall be construed to prevent the
Legislature by law from authorizing, or authorizing and directing,
an agency to promulgate legislative rules not proposed by the
agency or upon which some procedure specified in this chapter is
(d) Whenever the Legislature is convened by proclamation of
the governor, upon his or her own initiative or upon application of
the members of the Legislature, or whenever a regular session ofthe Legislature is extended or convened by the vote or petition of
its members, the Legislature may by act enacted during such
extraordinary or extended session authorize, in whole or in part,
any legislative rule, whether submitted to the legislative
rule-making review committee or not, if legislative action on such
rule during such session is a lawful order of business.
(e) As a part of any act that amends chapter sixty-four of
this code, authorizing the promulgation of a proposed legislative
rule or rules, the Legislature may also provide, by general
language or with specificity, for the disapproval of rules not
approved or acted upon by the Legislature.
(f) Whenever a date is required by this section to be computed
in relation to the end of a regular session of the Legislature,
such date shall be computed without regard to any extensions of
such session occasioned solely by the proclamation of the governor.
(g) Whenever a date is required to be computed from or is
fixed by the first day of a regular session of the Legislature, it
shall be computed or fixed in the year one thousand nine hundred
eighty-four, and each fourth year thereafter without regard to the
second Wednesday of January of such years.
WVC 29 A- 3 - 13 §29A-3-13. Adoption of legislative rules; effective date.
(a) Except as the Legislature may by law otherwise provide,
within sixty days after the effective date of an act authorizing
promulgation of a legislative rule, the agency shall promulgate the
rule in conformity with the provisions of law authorizing and
directing the promulgation of the rule. In the case of a rule
proposed by an agency which is administered by an executive
department pursuant to the provisions of article two, chapter
five-f of this code, the secretary of the department shall
promulgate the rule as authorized by the Legislature. In the case
of an agency which is not subject to administration by the
secretary of an executive department, the agency which proposed the
rule for promulgation shall promulgate the rule as authorized by
(b) A legislative rule authorized by the Legislature is
effective upon filing in the State Register, or on the effective
date fixed by the authorizing act or, if none is fixed by law, a
later date not to exceed ninety days, as fixed by the agency.
(c) The Secretary of State shall note in the State Register
the effective date of an authorized and promulgated legislative
rule and shall promptly publish the duly promulgated rule in the
Code of State Rules maintained by his or her office.
WVC 29 A- 3 - 14 §29A-3-14. Withdrawal or modification of proposed rules.
(a) Any legislative rule proposed by an agency may be
withdrawn by the agency any time before passage of a law
authorizing or authorizing and directing its promulgation, but no
such action shall be construed to affect the validity, force or
effect of a law enacted authorizing or authorizing and directing
the promulgation of an authorized legislative rule or exercising
compliance with such law. The agency shall file a notice of any
such action in the state register.
(b) At any time before a proposed legislative rule has been
submitted by the legislative rule-making review committee to the
Legislature pursuant to the provisions of section twelve of this
article, the agency may modify the proposed rule to meet the
objections of the committee. The agency shall file in the state
register a notice of its modifying action including a copy of the
modified rule, but shall not be required to comply with any
provisions of this article requiring opportunity for public comment
or taking of evidence with respect to such modification. If a
legislative rule has been withdrawn, modified and then resubmitted
to such committee, the rule shall be considered to have been
submitted to such committee on the date of such resubmission.
WVC 29 A- 3 - 15 §29A-3-15. Emergency legislative rules; procedure for
promulgation; definition.
(a) Any agency with authority to propose legislative rules
may, without hearing, find that an emergency exists requiring that
an emergency rule be promulgated and promulgate the emergency rule
in accordance with this section. The agency shall file the
emergency rule, together with a statement of the facts and
circumstances constituting the emergency and a listing of state
agencies, professions, businesses and other identifiable interest
groups affected by the proposed emergency rule, with the Secretary
of State, who shall publish a notice of the filing in the State
Register. However, an agency's good faith failure to list all known
state agencies, professions, businesses and other identifiable
interest groups is not a basis for disapproval of the emergency
rule or does not subject the emergency rule to judicial review. The
emergency rule becomes effective upon the approval of the Secretary
of State in accordance with section fifteen-a of this article or
upon the approval of the Attorney General in accordance with
section fifteen-b of this article or upon the forty-second day
following the filing, whichever occurs first. The emergency rule
may adopt, amend or repeal any legislative rule, but the agency
shall state, with particularity, the circumstances constituting the
emergency requiring the adoption, amendment or repeal, and the
emergency rule is subject to de novo review by any court having
original jurisdiction of an action challenging its validity. An agency shall immediately file a copy of the emergency rule and the
required statement with the Secretary of State and one copy with
the Legislative Rule-Making Review Committee.
An emergency rule is effective for not more than fifteen
months and expires earlier if any of the following occurs:
(1) The Secretary of State, acting under the authority
provided in section fifteen-a of this article, or the Attorney
General, acting under the authority provided in section fifteen-b
of this article, disapproves the emergency rule because: (A) The
emergency rule or an amendment to the emergency rule exceeds the
scope of the law authorizing or directing the promulgation of the
rule; (B) an emergency does not exist justifying the promulgation
of the emergency rule; or (C) the emergency rule was not
promulgated in compliance with the provisions of this section. An
emergency rule may not be disapproved pursuant to the authority
granted by clauses (A) or (B) of this subdivision on the basis that
the Secretary of State or the Attorney General disagrees with the
underlying public policy established by the Legislature in enacting
the authorizing legislation. An emergency rule which would
otherwise be approved as being necessary to comply with a time
limitation established by this code or by a federal statute or
regulation may not be disapproved pursuant to the authority granted
by paragraphs (A) or (B) of this subdivision on the basis that the
agency has failed to file the emergency rule prior to the date
fixed by the time limitation. When the authorizing statute specifically directs an agency to promulgate an emergency rule, or
specifically finds that an emergency exists and directs the
promulgation of an emergency rule, the emergency rule may not be
disapproved pursuant to the authority granted by paragraph (B) of
this subdivision. An emergency rule may not be disapproved on the
basis that the Legislature has not specifically directed an agency
to promulgate the emergency rule, or has not specifically found
that an emergency exists and directed the promulgation of an
(2) The agency has not previously filed and fails to file a
notice of public hearing on the proposed rule within thirty days of
the date the proposed rule was filed as an emergency rule, in which
case the emergency rule expires on the thirty-first day;
(3) The agency has not previously filed and fails to file the
proposed rule as approved by the agency following the close of the
public comment period with the Legislative Rule-Making Review
Committee within ninety days of the date the proposed rule was
filed as an emergency rule, in which case the emergency rule
expires on the ninety-first day;
(4) The Legislature has authorized or directed promulgation of
an authorized legislative rule dealing with substantially the same
subject matter since the emergency rule was first promulgated, in
which case the emergency rule expires on the date the authorized
rule is made effective; or
(5) The Legislature has, by law, disapproved the emergency rule, in which case the emergency rule expires on the date the law
(b) Any amendment to an emergency rule made by the agency
shall be filed in the State Register and does not constitute a new
emergency rule for the purpose of acquiring additional time or
avoiding the expiration dates in subdivision (2), (3), (4) or (5),
subsection (a) of this section: Provided, That the emergency
amendment becomes effective upon the approval of the Secretary of
State in accordance with section fifteen-a of this article or upon
approval of the Attorney General in accordance with section
fifteen-b of this article or upon the forty-second day following
the filing, whichever occurs first.
(c) Once an emergency rule expires due to the conclusion of
fifteen months or due to the effect of subdivision (2), (3), (4) or
(5), subsection (a) of this section, the agency may not refile the
same or similar rule as an emergency rule.
(d) An agency may not use the provisions of this section to
avoid or evade any provision of this article or any other
provisions of this code, including any provisions for legislative
review and approval of proposed rules. Any emergency rule
promulgated for that purpose may be contested in a judicial
proceeding before a court of competent jurisdiction.
(e) The Legislative Rule-Making Review Committee may review
any emergency rule to determine: (1) Whether the emergency rule or
an amendment to the emergency rule exceeds the scope of the law authorizing or directing its promulgation; (2) whether there exists
an emergency justifying the promulgation of the emergency rule; and
(3) whether the emergency rule was promulgated in compliance with
the requirements and prohibitions contained in this section. The
committee may recommend to the agency, the Legislature or the
Secretary of State any action it determines appropriate.
(f) For the purposes of this section, an emergency exists when
the promulgation of an emergency rule is necessary: (1) For the
immediate preservation of the public peace, health, safety or
welfare; (2) to comply with a time limitation established by this
code or by a federal statute or regulation; or (3) to prevent
substantial harm to the public interest.
WVC 29 A- 3 - 15 A
§29A-3-15a. Disapproval of emergency rules and amendments to
emergency rules by the secretary of state; judicial
(a) Upon the filing of an emergency rule or filing of an
amendment to an emergency rule by an agency, under the provisions
of section fifteen of this article, by any agency, except for the
secretary of state, the secretary of state shall review such rule
or such amendment and, within forty-two days of such filing, shall
issue a decision as to whether or not such emergency rule or such
amendment to an emergency rule should be disapproved. An emergency
rule filed by the secretary of state shall be reviewed by the
attorney general as provided for in section fifteen-b of this
(b) The secretary of state shall disapprove an emergency rule
or an amendment to an emergency rule if he determines:
(1) That the emergency rule or an amendment to the emergency
rule exceeds the scope of the law authorizing or directing the
promulgation thereof; or (2) That an emergency does not exist justifying the
promulgation of the emergency rule or the filing of an amendment to
the emergency rule; or
(3) That the emergency rule or an amendment to the emergency
rule was not promulgated in compliance with the provisions of
section fifteen of this article.
(c) If the secretary of state determines, based upon the
contents of the rule or the supporting information filed by the
agency, that the emergency rule should be disapproved, he may disapprove such rule without further investigation, notice or
hearing. If, however, the secretary of state concludes that the
information submitted by the agency is insufficient to allow a
proper determination to be made as to whether the emergency rule
should be disapproved, he may make further investigation,
including, but not limited to, requiring the agency or other
interested parties to submit additional information or comment or
fixing a date, time and place for the taking of evidence on the
issues involved in making a determination under the provisions of
(d) If the secretary of state determines, based upon the
contents of the amendment to an emergency rule or the supporting
information filed by the agency, that the amendment to the
emergency rule should be disapproved, he may disapprove such
amendment without further investigation, notice or hearing. If,
however, the secretary of state concludes that the information
submitted by the agency is insufficient to allow a proper
determination to be made as to whether the amendment should be
disapproved, he may make further investigation, including, but not
limited to, requiring the agency or other interested parties to
submit additional information or comment or fixing a date, time and
place for the taking of evidence on the issues involved in making
a determination under the provisions of this section.
(e) The determination of the secretary of state shall be
reviewable by the supreme court of appeals under its original
jurisdiction, based upon a petition for a writ of mandamus,
prohibition or certiorari, as appropriate. Such proceeding may be instituted by:
(3) Any person whose personal property interests will be
significantly affected by the approval or disapproval of the
emergency rule by the secretary of state.
WVC 29 A- 3 - 15 B
§29A-3-15b. Disapproval of emergency rules and amendments to
emergency rules by the attorney general; judicial
amendment to an emergency rule by the secretary of state under the
provisions of section fifteen of this article, the attorney general
shall review such rule or such amendment and, within forty-two days
of such filing, shall issue a decision as to whether or not such
emergency rule or such amendment to an emergency rule should be
(b) The attorney general shall disapprove an emergency rule or
an amendment to an emergency rule if he determines:
(c) If the attorney general determines, based upon the
secretary of state, that the emergency rule should be disapproved,
he may disapprove such rule without further investigation, notice
or hearing. If, however, the attorney general concludes that the
information submitted by the secretary of state is insufficient to allow a proper determination to be made as to whether the emergency
rule should be disapproved, he may make further investigation,
including, but not limited to, requiring the secretary of state or
other interested parties to submit additional information or
comment or fixing a date, time and place for the taking of evidence
on the issues involved in making a determination under the
(d) If the attorney general determines, based upon the
however, the attorney general concludes that the information
(e) The determination of the attorney general shall be
prohibition or certiorari, as appropriate. Such proceeding may be
instituted by:
emergency rule by the attorney general.
WVC 29 A- 3 - 16 §29A-3-16. Legislative review of procedural rules, interpretive
(a) The Legislative Rule-Making Review Committee may, with the
assistance of the Legislative Auditor's Office, review any
procedural rule, interpretive rule or existing legislative rule to
determine if the rule is achieving its purpose, and based on its
determination, if the rule should be continued, amended or
(b) Following the review, the Legislative Rule-Making
Committee shall make recommendations to the agency or board, which
promulgated the rule, and to the Joint Committee on Government and
WVC 29 A- 3 - 17 §29A-3-17. Prior rules. Any rule lawfully promulgated prior to the effective date of
this chapter shall remain in full force and effect until:
(1) Such rule is expressly made ineffective by the
provisions of this chapter, or
(2) Such rule should expire by reason of failure to refile
the same as provided in section five of article two, or expires
pursuant to its own terms and provisions lawfully made before the
effective date of this section, or
(3) Such rule is repealed by the lawful act of the agency,
in conformity with this chapter, or
(4) Such rule is invalidated by an act of the Legislature or
the force and effect of another law.
WVC 29 A- 3 - 18 §29A-3-18. Severability of legislative rules.
Unless there is a provision in a legislative rule specifying
that the provisions thereof shall not be severable, the provisions
of every legislative rule, whether enacted before or subsequent to
the effective date of this section, shall be severable so that if
any provision of any rule section or amendment thereto is held to
be unconstitutional or void, the remaining provisions of the rule
shall remain valid, unless the court finds the valid provisions are
so essentially and inseparably connected with, and so dependent
upon, the unconstitutional or void provision that the court cannot
presume the Legislature would have enacted the remaining valid
provisions without the unconstitutional or void one, or unless the
court finds the remaining valid provisions, standing alone, are
incomplete and are incapable of being executed in accordance with
the legislative intent: Provided, That if any legislative rule has
its own severability clause, then that severability clause shall
govern and control with respect to that section, in lieu of the
provisions of this section. The provisions of this section shall
be fully applicable to all future amendments to legislative rules,
with like effect as if the provisions of this section were set
forth in extenso and every such amendment were reenacted as a part
thereof, unless such amendment to the legislative rule contains its own severability clause.
WVC 29A-3-19
§29A-3-19. Sunset provision in rules. (a) Any new legislative rule promulgated pursuant to this article after April 1, 2016, shall include a sunset provision terminating the rule after five years: Provided, That the rule may be renewed for additional terms of five years or less by the Legislature pursuant to the rule-making procedures and authority in this article: Provided, however, That if a different sunset or termination provision exists in the statute under which the proposed rule is promulgated, the enabling statute’s provision shall control: Provided further, That this subsection shall not apply to rules promulgated by the Department of Environmental Protection or emergency rules promulgated pursuant to section fifteen of this article. (b) Any legislative rule existing as of April 1, 2016, that is thereafter modified pursuant to this article shall include a sunset provision as part of the modification setting forth a termination date for the rule: Provided, That the rule may be renewed for additional terms of years by the Legislature pursuant to the rule-making procedures and authority in this article: Provided, however, That if a different sunset or termination provision exists in the statute under which the proposed rule is promulgated, the enabling statute’s provision shall control: Provided further, That this subsection shall not apply to rules promulgated by the Department of Environmental Protection or emergency rules promulgated pursuant to section fifteen of this article. (c) The existence of a sunset provision terminating a rule shall not preclude the repeal of such rule by the Legislature prior to the expiration of the sunset provision. (d) As part of its rule review under this article, the Legislative Rule-Making Review Committee is authorized to establish a procedure for timely review of rules prior to the expiration for those agencies that have affirmatively sought renewal prior to expiration. The procedure may include a requirement that the agency show cause as to why the expiring rule is required and necessary to be continued for another term of years. (e) The Secretary of State shall provide notice to the promulgating agency at least eighteen months prior to every rule’s expiration date. WVC 29A-3-20
§29A-3-20. Executive review of agency rules, guidelines, policies and recommendations. (a) All executive agencies with rule-making authority shall: (1) Review and evaluate all state rules, guidelines, policies and recommendations under their jurisdiction that have similar federal rules, guidelines, policies and recommendations; (2) Determine whether the state rules, guidelines, policies and recommendations are more stringent than federal counterparts; (3) Provide for a comment period for all rules, guidelines, policies and recommendations; and (4) Submit a report to the Joint Committee on Government and Finance and the Legislative Rule-Making Review Committee on or before November 1, 2017, which shall include: (A) A description of the state rules, guidelines, policies and recommendations that are more stringent than federal counterparts; and (B) Comments received from the comment period provided for in subdivision (3) of this subsection. (b) Within four years of the enactment of this law, each executive agency with rule-making authority shall review all of its rules and determine whether the rules should be continued without change, modified or repealed. On or before July 1, 2020, each agency shall submit a report to the Legislative Rule-Making Review Committee which includes the following information for each rule under the agency’s jurisdiction: (1) A description of the rule; (2) A determination of whether the rule should continue without change, be modified or repealed; and (3) The reasoning for said determination. Note: WV Code updated with legislation passed through the 2016 Regular Session
§29 A- 3 - 5 - (Amended Code)
§29 A- 3 - 11 - (Amended Code)
§29 A- 3 - 19 - (New Code)
§29 A- 3 - 20 - (New Code)
§29 A- 3 A- 20 - (New Code)
SB619 SUB1 enr (Uploaded - 03/17/2016)
2016 Regulatory Reform Act