Part III. Public Participation Procedures
6VAC16-10-50. Public comment.
A. In considering any nonemergency, nonexempt regulatory action, the agency shall afford interested persons an opportunity to (i) submit data, views, and arguments, either orally or in writing, to the agency; and (ii) be accompanied by and represented by counsel or other representative. Such opportunity to comment shall include an online public comment forum on the Town Hall.
1. To any requesting person, the agency shall provide copies of the statement of basis, purpose, substance, and issues; the economic impact analysis of the proposed or fast-track regulatory action; and the agency's response to public comments received.
2. The agency may begin crafting a regulatory action prior to or during any opportunities it provides to the public to submit comments.
B. The agency shall accept public comments in writing after the publication of a regulatory action in the Virginia Register as follows:
1. For a minimum of 30 calendar days following the publication of the notice of intended regulatory action (NOIRA).
2. For a minimum of 60 calendar days following the publication of a proposed regulation.
3. For a minimum of 30 calendar days following the publication of a reproposed regulation.
4. For a minimum of 30 calendar days following the publication of a final adopted regulation.
5. For a minimum of 30 calendar days following the publication of a fast-track regulation.
6. For a minimum of 21 calendar days following the publication of a notice of periodic review.
7. Not later than 21 calendar days following the publication of a petition for rulemaking.
C. The agency may determine if any of the comment periods listed in subsection B of this section shall be extended.
D. If the Governor finds that one or more changes with substantial impact have been made to a proposed regulation, the Governor may require the agency to provide an additional 30 calendar days to solicit additional public comment on the changes in accordance with § 2.2-4013 C of the Code of Virginia.
E. The agency shall send a draft of the agency's summary description of public comment to all public commenters on the proposed regulation at least five days before final adoption of the regulation pursuant to § 2.2-4012 E of the Code of Virginia.
Statutory Authority
§§ 2.2-4007.02 and 53.1-266 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 38, Issue 11, eff. March 5, 2022.
6VAC16-10-60. Petition for Rule Making.
A. As provided in § 2.2-4007 of the Code of Virginia, any person may petition the agency to consider a regulatory action.
B. A petition shall include to the following information:
1. The petitioner's name and contact information;
2. The substance and purpose of the rulemaking that is requested, including reference to any applicable Virginia Administrative Code sections; and
3. Reference to the legal authority of the agency to take the action requested.
C. The agency shall receive, consider, and respond to a petition pursuant to § 2.2-4007 and shall have the sole authority to dispose of the petition.
D. The petition shall be posted on the Town Hall and published in the Virginia Register.
E. Nothing in this chapter shall prohibit the agency from receiving information or from proceeding on its own motion for rulemaking.
Statutory Authority
§§ 2.2-4007.02 and 53.1-266 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 38, Issue 11, eff. March 5, 2022.
6VAC16-10-70. Appointment of regulatory advisory panel.
A. The agency may appoint a regulatory advisory panel to provide professional specialization or technical assistance when the agency determines that such expertise is necessary to address a specific regulatory issue or action or when individuals indicate an interest in working with the agency on a specific regulatory issue or action.
B. Any person may request the appointment of a RAP and request to participate in its activities. The agency shall determine when a RAP shall be appointed and the composition of the RAP.
C. A RAP may be dissolved by the agency if:
1. The proposed text of the regulation is posted on the Town Hall, published in the Virginia Register, or such other time as the agency determines is appropriate; or
2. The agency determines that the regulatory action is either exempt or excluded from the requirements of the Administrative Process Act.
Statutory Authority
§§ 2.2-4007.02 and 53.1-266 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 38, Issue 11, eff. March 5, 2022.
6VAC16-10-80. Appointment of negotiated rulemaking panel.
A. The agency may appoint a negotiated rulemaking panel if a regulatory action is expected to be controversial.
B. An NRP that has been appointed by the agency may be dissolved by the agency when:
1. There is no longer controversy associated with the development of the regulation;
2. The agency determines that the regulatory action is either exempt or excluded from the requirements of the Administrative Process Act; or
3. The agency determines that resolution of a controversy is unlikely.
Statutory Authority
§§ 2.2-4007.02 and 53.1-266 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 38, Issue 11, eff. March 5, 2022.
6VAC16-10-90. Meetings.
Notice of any open meeting, including meetings of a RAP or an NRP, shall be posted on the Town Hall and Commonwealth Calendar at least seven working days prior to the date of the meeting. The exception to this requirement is any meeting held in accordance with § 2.2-3707 D of the Code of Virginia allowing for contemporaneous notice to be provided to participants and the public.
Statutory Authority
§§ 2.2-4007.02 and 53.1-266 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 38, Issue 11, eff. March 5, 2022.
6VAC16-10-100. Public hearings on regulations.
A. The agency shall indicate in its notice of intended regulatory action whether it plans to hold a public hearing following the publication of the proposed stage of the regulatory action.
B. The agency may conduct one or more public hearings during the comment period following the publication of a proposed regulatory action.
C. An agency is required to hold a public hearing following the publication of the proposed regulatory action when:
1. The agency's basic law requires the agency to hold a public hearing;
2. The Governor directs the agency to hold a public hearing; or
3. The agency receives requests for a public hearing from at least 25 persons during the public comment period following the publication of the notice of intended regulatory action.
D. Notice of any public hearing shall be posted on the Town Hall and Commonwealth Calendar at least seven working days prior to the date of the hearing. The agency shall also notify those persons who requested a hearing under subdivision C 3 of this section.
Statutory Authority
§§ 2.2-4007.02 and 53.1-266 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 38, Issue 11, eff. March 5, 2022.
6VAC16-10-110. Periodic review of regulations.
A. The agency shall conduct a periodic review of its regulations consistent with:
1. An executive order issued by the Governor pursuant to § 2.2-4017 of the Administrative Process Act to receive comment on all existing regulations as to their effectiveness, efficiency, necessity, clarity, and cost of compliance; and
2. The requirements in § 2.2-4007.1 of the Administrative Process Act regarding regulatory flexibility for small businesses.
B. A periodic review may be conducted separately or in conjunction with other regulatory actions.
C. Notice of a periodic review shall be posted on the Town Hall and published in the Virginia Register.
Statutory Authority
§§ 2.2-4007.02 and 53.1-266 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 38, Issue 11, eff. March 5, 2022.