AL Code § 34-21-127 (2021)
2021 Code of Alabama|Title 34 - Professions and Businesses.|Chapter 21 - Nurses.|Article 7 - Enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact.|Section 34-21-127 - Rulemaking Authority.

Section 34-21-127Rulemaking authority. (a) The commission shall exercise its rulemaking powers pursuant to the criteria set forth in this compact and the rules adopted under this compact. Rules and amendments shall become binding as of the date specified in each rule or amendment and shall have the same force and effect as this compact. (b) Rules or amendments to the rules shall be adopted at a regular or special meeting of the commission. (c) Before the adoption of a final rule by the commission, and at least 60 days in advance of the meeting at which the rule shall be considered and voted upon, the commission shall file a notice of proposed rulemaking on the website of the commission and on the website of each licensing board or the publication in which each party state would otherwise publish proposed rules. (d) The notice of proposed rulemaking shall include all of the following: (1) The proposed time, date, and location of the meeting in which the rule shall be considered and voted upon. (2) The text of the proposed rule or amendment and the reason for the proposed rule or amendment. (3) A request for comments on the proposed rule from any interested person. (4) The manner in which interested persons may submit notice to the commission of their intention to attend the public hearing and any written comments. (e) Before adoption of a proposed rule, the commission shall allow persons to submit written data, facts, opinions, and arguments, which shall be made available to the public. (f) The commission shall grant an opportunity for a public hearing before it adopts a rule or amendment to a rule. (g) The commission shall publish the place, time, and date of the scheduled public hearing. (1) Hearings shall be conducted in a manner providing each person who wishes to comment a fair and reasonable opportunity to comment orally or in writing. All hearings shall be recorded, and a copy of the recording shall be made available upon request. (2) Nothing in this section shall be construed as requiring a separate hearing on each rule. Proposed new rules or amendments to existing rules may be grouped together for the convenience of the commission at hearings required by this section. (h) If no one appears at a public hearing, the commission may proceed with the adoption of a proposed rule. (i) Following a scheduled hearing date, or by the close of business on the scheduled hearing date if a hearing was not conducted, the commission shall consider all written and oral comments received. (j) The commission, by majority vote of all administrators, shall take final action on a proposed rule and shall determine the effective date of the rule, if any, based on the rulemaking record and the full text of the rule. (k) Upon determination that an emergency exists, the commission may consider and adopt an emergency rule without prior notice, opportunity for comment, or hearing, provided that the usual rulemaking procedures provided in this compact and in this section shall be retroactively applied to the rule as soon as reasonably possible, in no event later than 90 days after the effective date of the rule. For the purposes of this subsection, an emergency rule is a rule that is adopted immediately to do any of the following: (1) Satisfy an imminent threat to public health, safety, or welfare. (2) Prevent a loss of commission or party state funds. (3) Satisfy a deadline for the promulgation of an administrative rule that is required by federal law or rule. (4) The commission may direct revisions to a previously adopted rule or amendment for purposes of correcting typographical errors, errors in format, errors in consistency, or grammatical errors. Public notice of any revision shall be posted on the website of the commission. The revision shall be subject to challenge by any person for a period of 30 days after posting. The revision may be challenged only on grounds that the revision results in a material change to a rule. A challenge shall be made in writing, and delivered to the commission, before the end of the notice period. If no challenge is made, the revision shall take effect without further action. If the revision is challenged, the revision may not take effect without the approval of the commission. (Act 2019-102, §3.)