Notices of Changes in Proposed Rules

After an agency has published a Proposed Rule in the Utah State Bulletin, it may receive comment that requires the Proposed Rule to be altered before it goes into effect. A Change in Proposed Rule allows an agency to respond to comments it receives.

As with a Proposed Rule, a Change in Proposed Rule is preceded by a Rule Analysis. This analysis provides summary information about the Change in Proposed Rule including the name of a contact person, anticipated cost impact of the rule, and legal cross-references.

While the law does not designate a comment period for a Change in Proposed Rule, it does provide for a 30-day waiting period. An agency may accept additional comments during this period and, at its option, may designate a comment period or may hold a public hearing.

Following the Rule Analysis, the text of the Change in Proposed Rule is usually printed. The text shows only those changes made since the Proposed Rule was published in an earlier edition of the Utah State Bulletin. Additions made to the rule appear underlined (example). Deletions made to the rule appear struck out with brackets surrounding them ([example]). A row of dots in the text between paragraphs (. . . . . . .) indicates that unaffected text, either whole sections or subsections, was removed to conserve space. If a Change in Proposed Rule is too long to print, the Division of Administrative Rules may include only the Rule Analysis. A copy of rules that are too long to print is available from the agency or from the Division of Administrative Rules.

From the end of the 30-day waiting period through 120 days after the publication date, an agency may notify the Division of Administrative Rules that it wants to make the Change in Proposed Rule effective. When an agency submits a Notice of Effective Date for a Change in Proposed Rule, the Proposed Rule as amended by the Change in Proposed Rule becomes the effective rule. The agency sets the effective date. The date may be no fewer than 30 days nor more than 120 days after the publication date of the Change in Proposed Rule. If the agency designates a public comment period, the effective date may be no fewer than seven calendar days after the close of the public comment period nor more than 120 days after the publication date. Alternatively, the agency may file another Change in Proposed Rule in response to additional comments received. If the Division of Administrative Rules does not receive a Notice of Effective Date or another Change in Proposed Rule by the end of the 120-day period after publication, the Change in Proposed Rule filing, along with its associated Proposed Rule, lapses and the agency must start the process over.

Changes in Proposed Rules are governed by Section 63G-3-303, Rule R15-2, and Sections R15-4-3, R15-4-4, R15-4-5b, R15-4-7, R15-4-9, and R15-4-10.