When the board 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 board 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 five of this article. If the board 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 board 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 board of the approved rule, the notice shall fix a date, time and place for the receipt of general public comment on the proposed rule.

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 board when filed in the state register.

In any hearing for public comment on the merits of the rule, the board 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 board. After the public hearing or the close of the public comment period, whichever is later, the board 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 board-approved rule to the Legislative Oversight commission on education accountability pursuant to the provisions of section twelve of this article.

The board 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.