§953. Procedure for adoption of rules; agency rule review

A. Prior to the adoption, amendment, or repeal of any rule, the agency shall:

(1)(a) Give notice of its intended action and a copy of the proposed rules at least ninety days prior to taking action on the rule. The notice shall include:

(i) A statement of either the terms or substance of the intended action or a description of the subjects and issues involved;

(ii) A statement, approved by the legislative fiscal office, of the fiscal impact of the intended action, if any; or a statement, approved by the legislative fiscal office, that no fiscal impact will result from such proposed action;

(iii) A statement, approved by the legislative fiscal office, of the economic impact of the intended action, if any; or a statement, approved by the legislative fiscal office, that no economic impact will result from such proposed action;

(iv) The name of the person within the agency who has the responsibility for responding to inquiries about the intended action;

(v) The time when, the place where, and the manner in which interested persons may present their views thereon; and

(vi) A statement that the intended action complies with the statutory law administered by the agency, including a citation of the enabling legislation.

(vii) A statement indicating whether the agency has prepared a preamble which explains the basis and rationale for the intended action, summarizes the information and data supporting the intended action, and provides information concerning how the preamble may be obtained.

(viii) A statement concerning the impact on family formation, stability, and autonomy as set forth in R.S. 49:972.

(ix) A statement concerning the impact on child, individual, or family poverty in relation to individual or community asset development as set forth in R.S. 49:973.

(b)(i) The notice shall be published at least once in the Louisiana Register and shall be submitted with a full text of the proposed rule to the Louisiana Register at least one hundred days prior to the date the agency will take action on the rule.

(ii) Upon publication of the notice, copies of the full text of the proposed rule shall be available from the agency proposing the rule upon written request within two working days.

(c) Notice of the intent of an agency to adopt, amend, or repeal any rule and the approved fiscal and economic impact statements, as provided for in this Subsection, shall be mailed to all persons who have made timely request of the agency for such notice, which notice and statements shall be mailed at the earliest possible date, and in no case later than ten days after the date when the proposed rule change is submitted to the Louisiana Register.

(d) For the purpose of timely notice as required by this Paragraph, the date of notice shall be deemed to be the date of publication of the issue of the Louisiana Register in which the notice appears, such publication date to be the publication date as stated on the outside cover or the first page of said issue.

(2)(a) Afford all interested persons reasonable opportunity to submit data, views, comments, or arguments, orally or in writing. In case of substantive rules, opportunity for oral presentation or argument must be granted if requested within twenty days after publication of the rule as provided in this Subsection, by twenty-five persons, by a governmental subdivision or agency, by an association having not less than twenty-five members, or by a committee of either house of the legislature to which the proposed rule change has been referred under the provisions of R.S. 49:968.

(b)(i) Make available to all interested persons copies of any rule intended for adoption, amendment, or repeal from the time the notice of its intended action is published in the Louisiana Register. Any hearing pursuant to the provisions of this Paragraph shall be held no earlier than thirty-five days and no later than forty days after the publication of the Louisiana Register in which the notice of the intended action appears. The agency shall consider fully all written and oral comments and submissions respecting the proposed rule.

(ii) The agency shall issue a response to comments and submissions describing the principal reasons for and against adoption of any amendments or changes suggested in the written or oral comments and submissions. In addition to the response to comments, the agency may prepare a preamble explaining the basis and rationale for the rule, identifying the data and evidence upon which the rule is based, and responding to comments and submissions. Such preamble and response to comments and submissions shall be furnished to the respective legislative oversight subcommittees at least five days prior to the day the legislative oversight subcommittee hearing is to be held on the proposed rule, and shall be made available to interested persons no later than one day following their submission to the appropriate legislative oversight subcommittee. If no legislative oversight hearing is to be held, the agency shall issue a response to comments and submissions and preamble, if any, to any person who presented comments or submissions on the rule and to any requesting person not later than fifteen days prior to the time of publication of the final rule.

(iii) The agency shall, upon request, make available to interested persons the report submitted pursuant to R.S. 49:968(D) no later than one working day following the submittal of such report to the legislative oversight subcommittees.

(3)(a) For the purposes of this Subsection, the statement of fiscal impact shall be prepared by the proposing agency and submitted to the Legislative Fiscal Office for its approval. Such fiscal impact statement shall include a statement of the receipt, expenditure, or allocation of state funds or funds of any political subdivision of the state.

(b) For the purposes of this Subsection, the statement of economic impact shall be prepared by the proposing agency and submitted to the Legislative Fiscal Office for its approval. Such economic impact statements shall include an estimate of the cost to the agency to implement the proposed action, including the estimated amount of paperwork; an estimate of the cost or economic benefit to all persons directly affected by the proposed action; an estimate of the impact of the proposed action on competition and the open market for employment, if applicable; and a detailed statement of the data, assumptions, and methods used in making each of the above estimates.

B.(1)(a) If an agency finds that an imminent peril to the public health, safety, or welfare requires adoption of a rule upon shorter notice than that provided in Subsection A of this Section and within five days of adoption states in writing to the governor of the state of Louisiana, the attorney general of Louisiana, the speaker of the House of Representatives, the president of the Senate, and the Office of the State Register, its reasons for that finding, it may proceed without prior notice or hearing or upon any abbreviated notice and hearing that it finds practicable, to adopt an emergency rule. The provisions of this Paragraph also shall apply to the extent necessary to avoid sanctions or penalties from the United States, or to avoid a budget deficit in the case of medical assistance programs or to secure new or enhanced federal funding in medical assistance programs. The agency statement of its reason for finding it necessary to adopt an emergency rule shall include specific reasons why the failure to adopt the rule on an emergency basis would result in imminent peril to the public health, safety, or welfare, or specific reasons why the emergency rule meets other criteria provided in this Paragraph for adoption of an emergency rule.

(b) The agency statement required in Subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph shall be submitted to the speaker of the House of Representatives and the president of the Senate at their respective offices in the state capitol by electronic transmission if such means are available. If electronic means are not available, the agency statement shall be submitted to the office of the speaker of the House of Representatives and the president of the Senate in the state capitol by certified mail with the return receipt requested or by messenger who shall provide a receipt for signature. The return receipt, the receipt for signature, or the electronic confirmation receipt shall be proof of receipt of the agency statement by the respective offices.

(2) Notice of the emergency rule shall be mailed to all persons who have made timely request of the agency for notice of rule changes, which notice shall be mailed within five days of adoption of the emergency rule. The Office of the State Register may omit from the Louisiana Register any emergency rule the publication of which would be unduly cumbersome, expensive, or otherwise inexpedient, if the emergency rule in printed or processed form is made available on application to the adopting agency, and if the Louisiana Register contains a notice stating the general subject matter of the omitted emergency rule, the reasons for the finding of the emergency submitted by the agency, and stating how a copy thereof may be obtained.

(3) The validity of an emergency rule or fee may be determined in an action for declaratory judgment in the district court of the parish in which the agency is located. The agency shall be made a party to the action. An action for a declaratory judgment under this Paragraph may be brought only by a person to whom such rule or fee is applicable or who would be adversely affected by such rule or fee and only on the grounds that the rule or fee does not meet the criteria for adoption of an emergency rule as provided in Paragraph (1) of this Subsection. The court shall declare the rule or fee invalid if it finds that there is not sufficient evidence that such rule or fee must be adopted on an emergency basis for one or more of the reasons for adoption of an emergency rule as provided in Paragraph (1) of this Subsection. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, the emergency rule or fee shall remain in effect until such declaratory judgment is rendered. The provisions of R.S. 49:963 shall not apply to any action brought pursuant to this Paragraph. The provisions of this Paragraph are in addition to R.S. 49:963 and shall not limit any action pursuant to R.S. 49:963.

(4)(a) Within sixty days after receipt of the agency statement required in Paragraph (1) of this Subsection by the presiding officer of either house for an emergency rule or fee, an oversight subcommittee of that house may conduct a hearing to review the emergency rule or fee and make a determination of whether such rule or fee meets the criteria for an emergency rule or fee as provided in Paragraph (1) of this Subsection and those determinations as provided in R.S. 49:968(D)(3). If within such time period an oversight subcommittee finds an emergency rule or fee unacceptable, it shall prepare a written report containing a copy of the proposed rule or proposed fee action and a summary of the determinations made by the committee and transmit copies thereof as provided in R.S. 49:968(F)(2).

(b) Within sixty days after adoption of an emergency rule or fee, the governor may review such rule or fee and make the determinations as provided in Subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph. If within such time period the governor finds an emergency rule or fee unacceptable, he shall prepare a written report as provided in Subparagraph (a) and transmit copies thereof to the agency proposing the rule change and the Louisiana Register no later than four days after the governor makes his determination.

(c) Upon receipt by the agency of a report as provided in either Subparagraph (a) or (b) of this Paragraph, the rule or fee shall be nullified and shall be without effect.

C.(1) An interested person may petition an agency requesting the adoption, amendment, or repeal of a rule. Each agency shall prescribe by rule the form for petitions and the procedure for their submission, considerations, and disposition. Within ninety days after submission of a petition, the agency shall either deny the petition in writing, stating reasons for the denial, or shall initiate rulemaking proceedings in accordance with this Chapter. Each agency with an appropriated operating budget of five million dollars or more shall include on its website a description of the procedure for submitting petitions in accordance with this Paragraph.

(2)(a) At least once prior to January 1, 2020, and at least once during every six-year period thereafter, each agency subject to Paragraph (1) of this Subsection which engages in rulemaking shall conduct a public hearing for the purpose of allowing any interested person the opportunity to comment on any rule of the agency which the person believes is contrary to law, outdated, unnecessary, overly complex, or burdensome. The agency shall publish notice of the meeting in the Louisiana Register, give notice of the meeting electronically to the appropriate legislative oversight committees, and shall provide notice of the meeting to all persons who have made timely request of the agency for notice of rule changes, all no later than thirty days prior to the meeting.

(b)The notice of the meeting shall contain:

(i) The name of the agency.

(ii) The purpose of the meeting.

(iii) The time and place of the meeting.

(iv) The process for requesting reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities.

(v) The name and contact information of the person within the agency to whom interested persons should direct their views regarding the agency's rules, if in writing, and the deadline for submission of written comments.

(c) The agency shall consider fully all written and oral comments and submissions concerning its rules. The agency shall advise persons who provide oral comments that in order to be submitted to the legislative oversight committees, comments must be submitted to the agency in writing. The agency shall issue a response to each submission describing the principal advantages and disadvantages of the rule changes suggested in the submission. In addition, the agency may prepare a statement explaining the basis and rationale for the rule in question identifying the data and evidence upon which the rule is based. All such statements and responses to submissions shall be furnished to the respective legislative oversight committees in the manner provided by R.S. 49:968(K) and shall be made available to interested persons as soon as possible but no later than one day following their submission to the appropriate legislative oversight committees.

D. When a rule is adopted, amended, or repealed in compliance with federal regulations, the adopting agency's notice of intent and the actual text of the rule as published in the Louisiana Register, must be accompanied by a citation of the Federal Register issue in which the determining federal regulation is published, such citation to be by volume, number, date, and page number.

E. Beginning January 1, 1987, no agency shall adopt, amend, or repeal any rule if the accompanying fiscal impact statement approved by the Legislative Fiscal Office indicates that said rule change would result in any increase in the expenditure of state funds, unless said rule is adopted as an emergency rule pursuant to the requirements of this Section or unless the legislature has specifically appropriated the funds necessary for the expenditures associated with said rule change.

F.(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Chapter to the contrary, if the Department of Environmental Quality proposes a rule that is not identical to a federal law or regulation or is not required for compliance with a federal law or regulation, the Department of Environmental Quality shall adopt and promulgate such proposed rule separately from any proposed rule or set of proposed rules that is identical to a federal law or regulation or required for compliance with a federal law or regulation. However, if the only difference between the proposed rule or set of proposed rules and the corresponding federal law or regulation is a proposed fee, the Department of Environmental Quality shall not be required to adopt and promulgate such proposed rule or set of proposed rules separately. For purposes of this Subsection, the term "identical" shall mean that the proposed rule has the same content and meaning as the corresponding federal law or regulation.

(2) When the Department of Environmental Quality proposes a rule that is not identical to a corresponding federal law or regulation, or is not required for compliance with a federal law or regulation, the Department of Environmental Quality shall provide a brief summary which explains the basis and rationale for the proposed rule, identifies the data and evidence, if any, upon which the rule is based, and identifies any portions of the proposed rule that differ from federal law or regulation if there is a federal law or regulation which is not identical but which corresponds substantially to the proposed rule. Such summary shall be provided along with the notice of intent and shall be published in the Louisiana Register or made available along with the proposed rule as provided in Item A(1)(b)(ii) of this Section. The Department of Environmental Quality may also provide such a summary when proposing a rule identical to a corresponding federal law or regulation or proposing a rule which is required for compliance with federal law or regulation to explain the basis and rationale for the proposed rule.

(3) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Chapter to the contrary, when the Department of Environmental Quality proposes a rule that is identical to a federal law or regulation applicable in Louisiana, except as provided in Paragraph (4) of this Subsection, it may use the following procedure for the adoption of the rule:

(a) The department shall publish a notice of the proposed rule at least sixty days prior to taking action on the rule as provided below. The notice, which may include an explanation of the basis and rationale for the proposed rule, shall include all of the following:

(i) A statement of either the terms or substance of the intended action or a description of the subjects and issues involved.

(ii) A statement that no fiscal or economic impact will result from the proposed rule.

(iii) The name of the person within the department who has responsibility for responding to inquiries about the intended action.

(iv) The time, place, and manner in which interested persons may present their views thereon including the notice for a public hearing required by R.S. 30:2011(D)(1).

(v) A statement that the intended action complies with the law administered by the department, including a citation of the specific provision, or provisions, of law which authorize the proposed rule.

(b) Notice of the proposed rule shall be published at least once in the Louisiana Register and shall be submitted with a full text of the proposed rule to the Louisiana Register at least seventy days prior to the date the department proposes to formally adopt the rule. The Office of the State Register may omit from the Louisiana Register any such proposed rule the publication of which would be unduly cumbersome, expensive, or otherwise inexpedient, if the Louisiana Register contains a notice stating the general subject matter of the omitted proposed rule, the process being employed by the department for adoption of the proposed rule, and stating how a copy of the proposed rule may be obtained.

(c) Notice of the intent of the department to adopt the rule shall be mailed to all persons who have made timely request for such notice, which notice shall be mailed at the earliest possible date, and in no case later than ten days after the date when the proposed rule is submitted to the Louisiana Register.

(d) For the purpose of timely notice as required by this Paragraph, the date of notice shall be deemed to be the date of publication of the issue of the Louisiana Register in which the notice appears, such publication date to be the publication date as stated on the outside cover or the first page of said issue.

(e) The department shall afford all interested persons an opportunity to submit data, views, comments, or arguments related to the proposed rule, in writing, during a period of no less than thirty days. The department shall consider fully all written comments and submissions respecting the proposed rule.

(f) The department shall make available to all interested persons copies of the proposed rule from the time the notice of its adoption is published in the Louisiana Register.

(g) The department shall issue a response to comments and submissions describing the principal reasons for and against adoption of any amendments or changes suggested in the written comments and submissions and specifically addressing any assertion that the proposed rule is not identical to the federal law or regulation upon which it is based. The department shall issue such response to comments and submissions to any person who presented comments or submissions on the rule and to any requesting person no later than fifteen days prior to the time of publication of the final rule.

(h) No later than fifteen days prior to the time of publication of the final rule in the Louisiana Register, the secretary or any authorized assistant secretary of the department shall do each of the following:

(i) Certify under oath, to the governor of the state of Louisiana, the attorney general of Louisiana, the speaker of the House of Representatives, the president of the Senate, the chairman of the House Committee on Natural Resources and Environment, the chairman of the Senate Committee on Environmental Quality, and the Office of the State Register that the proposed rule is identical to a specified federal law or regulation applicable in Louisiana.

(ii) Furnish the chairman of the Senate Committee on Environmental Quality and the chairman of the House Committee on Natural Resources and Environment the response to comments and submissions required under Subparagraph (g) of this Paragraph, together with a copy of the notice required under Subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph.

(i) Unless specifically requested, in writing, by the chairman of the House Committee on Natural Resources and Environment or the chairman of the Senate Committee on Environmental Quality within ten days of the certification provided under Subparagraph (h) of this Paragraph, there shall be no legislative oversight of the proposed rule. If, however, legislative oversight is properly requested, R.S. 49:968 and Items (A)(2)(b)(ii) and (iii) of this Section shall thereafter apply with respect to the proposed rule.

(j) In the absence of legislative oversight, the proposed rule may be adopted by the Department of Environmental Quality no earlier than sixty days, nor later than twelve months, after the official notice of the proposed rule was published in the Louisiana Register; provided, however, that the proposed rule shall be effective upon its publication in the Louisiana Register, said publication to be subsequent to the act of adoption.

(4) The procedures set forth in Paragraph (3) of this Subsection for the adoption by the Department of Environmental Quality of rules identical to federal laws or regulations applicable in Louisiana shall not be available for the adoption of any rules creating or increasing fees.

G.(1) Prior to or concurrent with publishing notice of any proposed policy, standard, or regulation pursuant to Subsection A of this Section and prior to promulgating any policy, standard, or final regulation whether pursuant to R.S. 49:954 or otherwise under the authority of the Louisiana Environmental Quality Act, R.S. 30:2001 et seq., the Department of Environmental Quality, after August 15, 1995, shall publish a report, or a summary of the report, in the Louisiana Register which includes:

(a) A statement identifying the specific risks being addressed by the policy, standard, or regulation and any published, peer-reviewed scientific literature used by the department to characterize the risks.

(b) A comparative analysis of the risks addressed by the policy, standard, or regulation relative to other risks of a similar or analogous nature to which the public is routinely exposed.

(c) An analysis based upon published, readily available peer-reviewed scientific literature, describing how the proposed and final policy, standard, or regulation will advance the purpose of protecting human health or the environment against the specified identified risks.

(d) An analysis and statement that, based on the best readily available data, the proposed or final policy, standard, or regulation presents the most cost-effective method practically achievable to produce the benefits intended regarding the risks identified in Subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph.

(2) No regulation shall become effective until the secretary complies with the requirements of Paragraph (1) of this Subsection.

(3) This provision shall not apply in those cases where the policy, standard, or regulation:

(a) Is required for compliance with a federal law or regulation.

(b) Is identical to a federal law or regulation applicable in Louisiana.

(c) Will cost the state and affected persons less than one million dollars, in the aggregate, to implement.

(d) Is an emergency rule under Subsection B of this Section.

(4) For purposes of this Subsection, the term "identical" shall mean that the proposed rule has the same content and meaning as the corresponding federal law or regulation.

(5) In complying with this Section, the department shall consider any scientific and economic studies or data timely provided by interested parties which are relevant to the issues addressed herein and the proposed policy, standard, or regulation being considered.

H. The Department of Wildlife and Fisheries and the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission may employ the timetables and provisions of Subsection B of this Section in promulgating rules and regulations relative to hunting seasons, trapping seasons, alligator seasons, shrimp seasons, oysters seasons, and finfish seasons and size limits, and all rules and regulations pursuant thereto. Rules adopted annually pursuant to this Subsection which open and close the offshore and fall shrimp seasons, the oyster seasons, the marine finfish seasons, the webless migratory game bird hunting season, and the trapping season shall be effective for the duration of the respective season. Notwithstanding the provisions of Paragraph (B)(4) of this Section, any legislative oversight hearing held on a rule proposed under the provisions of this Subsection shall be held no earlier than five days and no later than thirty days following the date of adoption of the rule.

Acts 1966, No. 382, §3, eff. July 1, 1967. Amended by Acts 1974, No. 284, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1975; Acts 1975, No. 730, §1; Acts 1976, No. 279, §1; Acts 1978, No. 252, §1; Acts 1980, No. 392, §1. Acts 1983, No. 713, §1; Acts 1984, No. 953, §1; Acts 1985, No. 371, §1, eff. July 9, 1985; Acts 1986, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 11, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1987; Acts 1987, No. 853, §1; Acts 1990, No. 1063, §1; Acts 1990, No. 1085, §§1 and 2, eff. July 31, 1990; Acts 1991, No. 104, §1, eff. June 30, 1991; Acts 1993, No. 119, §1; Acts 1993, No. 274, §1; Acts 1993, No. 386, §1; Acts 1995, No. 512, §1; Acts 1995, No. 642, §1; Acts 1995, No. 1057, §1, eff. June 29, 1995 and Jan. 8, 1996 (1/8/96 date applicable to Dept. of Health and Hospitals only); Acts 1996, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 36, §3, eff. May 7, 1996; Acts 1999, No. 1183, §1; Acts 2008, No. 580, §6; Acts 2010, No. 777, §1; Acts 2012, No. 781, §1, eff. June 13, 2012; Acts 2012, No. 854, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2013; Acts 2013, No. 220, §23, eff. June 11, 2013; Acts 2014, No. 791, §18; Acts 2018, No. 454, §1, eff. January 1, 2019.