STATE ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES ACT

West Virginia Code Chapter 29A

Article titles are linked to the text of the article below.

ARTICLE 1. DEFINITIONS AND APPLICATION OF CHAPTER.
§29A-1-1. Legislative findings and statement of purpose.
§29A-1-2. Definitions of terms used in this chapter.
§29A-1-3. Application of chapter; limitations.
§29A-1-4. Application of open governmental proceedings law. 

ARTICLE 2. STATE REGISTER.
§29A-2-1. Duty of the secretary of state.
§29A-2-2. State register created.
§29A-2-3. Contents of state register.
§29A-2-4. Contents of state register deemed a public record.
§29A-2-5. Agency rules to be filed in state register; failure to file.
§29A-2-6. Format and numbering of agency rules filed in state register.
§29A-2-7. Publication of state register.
§29A-2-8. Publication of rules by agencies.
§29A-2-9. Making orders and records available.

ARTICLE 3. RULE MAKING.
§29A-3-1. Rules to be promulgated only in accordance with this article.
§29A-3-1a. Filing proposed amendments to an existing rule.
§29A-3-1b. Rules of the tax department.
§29A-3-2. Limitations on authority to exercise rule-making power.
§29A-3-3. Rules of procedure required.
§29A-3-4. Filing of proposed procedural rules and interpretive rules.
§29A-3-5. Notice of proposed rulemaking.
§29A-3-6. Filing findings and determinations for rules in state register; evidence deemed public record.
§29A-3-7. Notice of hearings.
§29A-3-8. Adoption of procedural and interpretive rules.
§29A-3-9. Proposal of legislative rules.
§29A-3-10. Creation of a legislative rule-making review committee.
§29A-3-11. Submission of legislative rules to the legislative rule-making review committee.
§29A-3-12. Submission of legislative rules to Legislature.
§29A-3-13. Adoption of legislative rules; effective date.
§29A-3-14. Withdrawal or modification of proposed rules.
§29A-3-15. Emergency legislative rules; procedure for promulgation; definition.
§29A-3-15a. Disapproval of emergency rules and amendments to emergency rules by the secretary of state; judicial review.
§29A-3-15b. Disapproval of emergency rules and amendments to emergency rules by the attorney general; judicial review.
§29A-3-16. Legislative review of procedural rules, interpretive rules and existing legislative rules.
§29A-3-17. Prior rules.

ARTICLE 3A. HIGHER EDUCATION RULE MAKING.
§29A-3A-1. Definitions.
§29A-3A-2. Rules to be promulgated only in accordance with this article.
§29A-3A-3. Limitations on authority to exercise rule-making power.
§29A-3A-4. Rules of procedure required.
§29A-3A-5. Filing of proposed procedural rules and interpretive rules.
§29A-3A-6. Notice of proposed rule making.
§29A-3A-7. Filing findings and determinations for rules in state register; evidence deemed public record.
§29A-3A-8. Notice of hearings.
§29A-3A-9. Adoption of procedural and interpretive rules.
§29A-3A-10. Proposal of legislative rules.
§29A-3A-11. Creation of a legislative oversight commission on education accountability.
§29A-3A-11a. Additional powers and duties; subpoena powers.
§29A-3A-12. Submission of legislative rules to the legislative oversight commission on education accountability.
§29A-3A-13. Submission of legislative rules to Legislature.
§29A-3A-14. Adoption of legislative rules; effective date.
§29A-3A-15. Withdrawal or modification of proposed rules.
§29A-3A-16. Emergency legislative rules; procedure for promulgation; definition.
§29A-3A-16a. Disapproval of emergency rules by the secretary of state; judicial review.
§29A-3A-17. Legislative review of procedural rules, interpretive rules and existing legislative rules.
§29A-3A-18. Prior rules.

ARTICLE 3B.  STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION RULE MAKING.
§29A-3B-2. Rules to be promulgated in accordance with this article.
§29A-3B-3. Rules of procedure required.
§29A-3B-4. Filing of proposed rules.
§29A-3B-5. Notice of proposed rule making.
§29A-3B-6. Filing findings and determinations for rules in state register; evidence deemed public record.
§29A-3B-7. Notice of hearings.
§29A-3B-8. Adoption of rules.
§29A-3B-9. Submission of legislative rules to the legislative oversight commission on education accountability.
§29A-3B-10. Emergency legislative rules; procedure for promulgation; definition.
§29A-3B-11. Legislative review of procedural rules, interpretive rules and existing legislative rules.
§29A-3B-12. Prior rules.

ARTICLE 4. DECLARATORY RULINGS AND DECLARATORY JUDGMENTS.
§29A-4-1. Declaratory rulings by agencies.
§29A-4-2. Declaratory judgment on validity of rule.

ARTICLE 5. CONTESTED CASES.
§29A-5-1. Notice required; hearing; subpoenas; witness fees, etc.; depositions; records.
§29A-5-2. Rules of evidence; taking notice of facts; correction of transcript.
§29A-5-3. Orders or decisions.
§29A-5-4. Judicial review of contested cases.
§29A-5-5. Exceptions.

ARTICLE 6. APPEALS.
§29A-6-1. Supreme court of appeals.

ARTICLE 7. GENERAL PROVISIONS.
§29A-7-1. Limitations on certain administrative powers.
§29A-7-2. Notice generally.
§29A-7-3. Repeals; subsequent legislation.
§29A-7-4. Construction and effect; severability of provisions.

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ARTICLE 1. DEFINITIONS AND APPLICATION OF CHAPTER.

§29A-1-1. Legislative findings and statement of purpose.

The Legislature finds and declares that administrative law and the administrative practice and procedure of the various executive and administrative officers, offices and agencies comprises a body of law and policy which is voluminous, often formulated without adequate public participation and collected and preserved for public knowledge and use in an unacceptable and essentially inaccessible fashion. The Legislature further finds that the delegation of its legislative powers to other departments and agencies of government requires of the Legislature that the rules and regulations of such other departments and agencies, which have the force and effect of law because of their legislative character, should be carefully and extensively reviewed by the Legislature in a manner properly respectful of the separation of powers but in keeping with the legislative force and effect of such rules and regulations. Accordingly the Legislature has and by this chapter intends to fix by law uniform and settled administrative practices and procedures, subject only to enumerated exceptions, for the exercise of executive rule- making authority and for the exercise by executive and administrative officers, offices and agencies of lawfully delegated legislative power, with appropriate legislative review of that exercise of such delegated legislative authority and with established procedures for legislative oversight of the exercise of executive rule-making authority.

In that light chapter twenty-nine-a of this code establishes, with enumerated exceptions, procedures for rule making, declaratory rulings by agencies and the conduct of contested administrative cases, together with a plan for the systematic preparation, public consideration, orderly promulgation, preservation and public availability of the body of law, policy and administrative decisions within the purview of this chapter.

§29A-1-2. Definitions of terms used in this chapter.

For the purposes of this chapter:

a) "Agency" means any state board, commission, department, office or officer authorized by law to make rules or adjudicate contested cases, except those in the legislative or judicial branches;

(b) "Contested case" means a proceeding before an agency in which the legal rights, duties, interests or privileges of specific parties are required by law or constitutional right to be determined after an agency hearing, but does not include cases in which an agency issues a license, permit or certificate after an examination to test the knowledge or ability of the applicant where the controversy concerns whether the examination was fair or whether the applicant passed the examination and shall not include rule making;

(c) "Interpretive rule" means every rule, as defined in subsection (i) of this section, adopted by an agency independently of any delegation of legislative power which is intended by the agency to provide information or guidance to the public regarding the agency's interpretations, policy or opinions upon the law enforced or administered by it and which is not intended by the agency to be determinative of any issue affecting private rights, privileges or interests. An interpretive rule may not be relied upon to impose a civil or criminal sanction nor to regulate private conduct or the exercise of private rights or privileges nor to confer any right or privilege provided by law and is not admissible in any administrative or judicial proceeding for such purpose, except where the interpretive rule established the conditions for the exercise of discretionary power as herein provided. However, an interpretive rule is admissible for the purpose of showing that the prior conduct of a person was based on good faith reliance on such rule. The admission of such rule in no way affects any legislative or judicial determination regarding the prospective effect of such rule. Where any provision of this code lawfully commits any decision or determination of fact or judgment to the sole discretion of any agency or any executive officer or employee, the conditions for the exercise of that discretion, to the extent that such conditions are not prescribed by statute or by legislative rule, may be established by an interpretive rule and such rule is admissible in any administrative or judicial proceeding to prove such conditions.

(d) "Legislative rule" means every rule, as defined in subsection (i) of this section, proposed or promulgated by an agency pursuant to this chapter. Legislative rule includes every rule which, when promulgated after or pursuant to authorization of the Legislature, has (1) the force of law, or (2) supplies a basis for the imposition of civil or criminal liability, or (3) grants or denies a specific benefit. Every rule which, when effective, is determinative on any issue affecting private rights, privileges or interests is a legislative rule. Unless lawfully promulgated as an emergency rule, a legislative rule is only a proposal by the agency and has no legal force or effect until promulgated by specific authorization of the Legislature. Except where otherwise specifically provided in this code, legislative rule does not include (A) findings or determinations of fact made or reported by an agency, including any such findings and determinations as are required to be made by any agency as a condition precedent to proposal of a rule to the Legislature; (B) declaratory rulings issued by an agency pursuant to the provisions of section one, article four of this chapter; (C) orders, as defined in subdivision (e) of this section; or (D) executive orders or proclamations by the governor issued solely in the exercise of executive power, including executive orders issued in the event of a public disaster or emergency;

(e) "Order" means the whole or any part of the final disposition (whether affirmative, negative, injunctive or declaratory in form) by any agency of any matter other than rule making;

(f) "Person" includes individuals, partnerships, corporations, associations or public or private organizations of any character;

(g) "Procedural rule" means every rule, as defined in subsection (i) of this section, which fixes rules of procedure, practice or evidence for dealings with or proceedings before an agency, including forms prescribed by the agency;

(h) "Proposed rule" is a legislative rule, interpretive rule, or a procedural rule which has not become effective pursuant to the provisions of this chapter or law authorizing its promulgation;

(i) "Rule" includes every regulation, standard or statement of policy or interpretation of general application and future effect, including the amendment or repeal thereof, affecting private rights, privileges or interests, or the procedures available to the public, adopted by an agency to implement, extend, apply, interpret or make specific the law enforced or administered by it or to govern its organization or procedure, but does not include regulations relating solely to the internal management of the agency, nor regulations of which notice is customarily given to the public by markers or signs, nor mere instructions. Every rule shall be classified as "legislative rule," "interpretive rule" or "procedural rule," all as defined in this section, and shall be effective only as provided in this chapter;

(j) "Rule making" means the process for the formulation, amendment or repeal of a rule as provided in this chapter.

§29A-1-3. Application of chapter; limitations.

(a) The provisions of this chapter do not apply in any respect whatever to executive orders of the governor, which orders to the extent otherwise lawful shall be effective according to their terms: Provided, That the executive orders shall be admitted to record in the state register when and to the extent the governor deems suitable and shall be included therein by the secretary of state when tendered by the governor.

(b) Except as to requirements for filing in the state register, and with the Legislature or its rule-making review committee, provided in this chapter or other law, the provisions of this chapter do not apply in any respect whatever to the West Virginia board of probation and parole, the public service commission, the board of public works sitting as such and the secondary schools activities commission: Provided, That rules of such agencies shall be filed in the state register in the form prescribed by this chapter and be effective no sooner than sixty consecutive days after being so filed: Provided, however, That the rules promulgated by the state colleges and universities shall only be filed with the higher education governing boards: Provided, further, That such agencies may promulgate emergency rules in conformity with section fifteen, article three of this chapter.

(c) The provisions of this chapter do not apply to rules relating to or contested cases involving the conduct of inmates or other persons admitted to public institutions, the open seasons and the bag, creel, size, age, weight and sex limits with respect to the wildlife in this state, the conduct of persons in military service or the receipt of public assistance. Such rules shall be filed in the state register in the form prescribed by this chapter and be effective upon filing.

(d) Nothing herein shall be construed to affect, limit or expand any express and specific exemption from this chapter contained in any other statute relating to a specific agency, but such exemptions shall be construed and applied in accordance with the provisions of this chapter to effectuate any limitations on such exemptions contained in any such other statute.

§29A-1-4. Application of open governmental proceedings law.

(a) All meetings of an agency, board or commission of the executive branch of government or of the legislative rule-making review committee which may only be convened upon the presence of a required quorum, and which are convened for the purpose of making a decision or deliberating toward a decision as to the form and substance of a rule, as defined in subsection (i), section two of this article, are subject to the open governmental proceedings law as set forth in article nine-a, chapter six of this code, except as may otherwise be provided for in this section.

(b) When an agency, board or commission is considering the form and substance of a rule or proposed rule, the informal occurrence of (1) consultations between the governing members of the agency, board or commission and its staff members, (2) deliberations by the governing members, or (3) the engagement of a governing member or members in the process of making a decision, does not constitute a meeting within the meaning of article nine-a, chapter six of this code when, during such stages, neither a quorum nor the convening of the governing members of the agency, board or commission is required.

(c) When the legislative rule-making review committee is considering the form and substance of a rule or proposed rule, the informal occurrence of (1) consultations between the members of the committee and its staff members, (2) deliberations by the governing members, or (3) the engagement of a governing member or members in the process of making a decision, does not constitute a meeting within the meaning of article nine-a, chapter six of this code when, during such stages, neither a quorum nor the convening of the members of the committee is required.

(d) After public hearing or the close of the public comment period, during which hearing or period an agency, board or commission has received statements concerning the form and substance of a rule or proposed rule, the agency, board or commission 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 agency-approved rule to the legislative rule-making review committee pursuant to the provisions of section eleven, article three of this chapter. Nothing contained herein shall prohibit the agency, board or commission from soliciting or receiving information relating to the rule or proposed rule from the federal government, from the Legislature or its members, or from another agency, board or commission of the executive branch of the government of this state.

(e) After a proposed rule is approved for submission and is submitted to the legislative rule-making review committee pursuant to the provisions of section eleven, article three of this chapter, the right of the people to assemble, to petition government, to consult for the common good, to instruct their representatives, and to apply for redress of grievances, in accordance with the provisions of section sixteen, article III of the Constitution, shall reserve to a person the right to freely communicate, ex parte or otherwise, with the agency, board or commission or the legislative rule-making review committee in attempts to influence deliberations or decision-making regarding the form and substance of the proposed rule prior to authorization being granted for promulgation of the rule.

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ARTICLE 2. STATE REGISTER.

§29A-2-1. Duty of the secretary of state.

It is the nondiscretionary, nondelegable duty of the secretary of state to establish and maintain the state register hereby created, and offer copies for subscription and public distribution in accordance with the provisions of this article.

§29A-2-2. State register created.

There is hereby created in the office of the secretary of state, a public record to be known and denominated as the state register, to be established, compiled, indexed and copied, and such copies offered for subscription and distribution, in accordance with the provisions of this article.

§29A-2-3. Contents of state register.

The secretary of state shall receive and file in the state register:

(a) Every notice of a proposed rule or a public hearing for the finding of facts or public comment on a proposed rule.
(b) The text of every proposed rule and subsequent proposed amendment thereto and fiscal notes attached thereto.

(c) Every determination of fact or judgment tendered by an agency for inclusion therein and every notice of submission to the Legislature or its rule-making review committee made in conformity with this chapter.

(d) Every executive order tendered by the governor.
(e) Every notice of and the text of any report or finding of the legislative rule-making review committee and such other material as may be tendered by the clerk or presiding officer of either house of the Legislature for filing in the state register.
(f) Such other material related to administrative procedures and actions as an agency may desire to make a public record or the secretary of state may deem appropriate, or where required by law.

(g) Notice of and the text of any action by an agency of the Legislature or its committees relative to the process of promulgation of rules tendered to the secretary of state for inclusion in the register.

(h) Every other paper required by law to be filed in such register or which may be filed therein in order to comply with any other provision of law.

§29A-2-4. Contents of state register deemed a public record.

Every paper filed in the state register shall be a public record provable and admissible as evidence if otherwise relevant, of which judicial notice may be taken, either under lawful certification or by reason of duplication and distribution as a copy of the state register in accordance with this article.

§29A-2-5. Agency rules to be filed in state register; failure to file.

(a) Notwithstanding any filing prior to the effective date of this section, each agency shall hereafter file in the state register a certified copy of all of its lawfully adopted rules which are in force on the date of such filing and all of its proposed rules which have not become effective prior to the date of such filing. All such rules and proposed rules shall be arranged, compiled, numbered and indexed in accordance with the provisions of section six of this article, and shall also include a designation of each rule as either legislative rule, interpretive rule or procedural rule. Any agency desiring to pursue promulgation of a rule proposed prior to the effective date of this section but not then yet effective, shall refile such proposed rule, following the procedure set forth in article three: Provided, That it shall not be necessary for the agency to again hold a public hearing to determine facts or public comment, but in all other respects the procedures provided for the promulgation of rules under this section shall be complied with. On or before the first day of January, one thousand nine hundred eighty-three, any other agency required by law to file its rules in the state register in order for such rules to be effective shall resubmit and refile such rules in accordance with this section. If any agency fails to file a certified copy of any rule or proposed rule in accordance with this section on or before the first day of January, one thousand nine hundred eighty-three, then such rule or proposed rule not so filed shall be thereafter void and unenforceable and shall be of no further force and effect except as to enforcement of its effective provisions for actions, causes or matters occurring prior to the first day of January, one thousand nine hundred eighty-three.

(b) Except for such changes in the designation and numbering of a rule, including numerical references within a rule, as are required to comply with the provisions of section six of this article, no legislative rule filed under the provisions of this section may be amended in any way prior to such filing unless such amendment is made in compliance with the requirements of article three of this chapter.

§29A-2-6. Format and numbering of agency rules filed in state register.

(a) Each proposed rule filed by an agency requiring a notice to be published in the state register in accordance with the provisions of section five, article three of this chapter shall include as its initial provisions: (1) A statement identifying such rule as a legislative rule, an interpretive rule or a procedural rule, as the case may be; (2) a statement of such section, article and chapter of this code to which such rule or any part thereof relates; and (3) a statement of the section, article and chapter of this code or any other provision of law which provides authority for the promulgation of such rule. The agency shall be estopped from relying on any authority for the promulgation of such rule which is not stated therein in accordance with the requirements of this subdivision.

(b) Each rule when filed, to be finally effective, shall have attached thereto an abstract of its promulgation history prepared by the agency showing the date of the filing in the state register of the content of, or notice of any procedure relating to, action necessary under this chapter to cause such rules to be finally effective: Provided, That any error or omission in such abstract shall not affect the validity of any rule or action in respect thereto.

(c) The secretary of state shall prescribe by legislative rule a standard size, format, numbering and indexing for rules to be filed in the state register and he may prescribe such procedural or interpretive rules as he deems advisable to clarify and interpret the provisions in this section. The secretary of state shall refuse to accept for filing any rules which do not comply with the specific provisions of this section, and he may refuse to accept for filing any rules which do not comply with the procedural rules issued by him pursuant to this section until the rules sought to be filed are brought into conformity with the secretary of state's procedural rules.

(d) Unless and until the secretary of state prescribes otherwise by rule issued and made effective under the provisions of subsection

(c) of this section, each rule filed in this state register shall be on white paper measuring eight and one-half inches by eleven inches, typewritten and single-spaced, with a one inch margin at the top, bottom and each side of each page, and shall be reproduced photographically, or by xerography or other duplication process. The secretary of state may grant specific exceptions to such requirements in the case of maps, diagrams and exhibits, if the same may not be conveniently folded and fastened with the other pages of rules and in the case of rules which incorporate the promulgation of a federal agency or other organization which could not be submitted in the standard size and format except at undue expense. Materials submitted for inclusion in the state register shall be fastened on the left side by two or more fasteners attached through holes suitable for insertion into ring binders.

(e) The secretary of state shall also prescribe by procedural rule a uniform system for the electronic filing of a proposed rule or emergency rule or a modification thereof, or a legislatively authorized rule, either (1) by the direct electronic transmission of data to a terminal in the office of the secretary of state, or (2) by the delivery to the secretary of state of a machine-readable copy of the filing on a medium such as magnetic tape or disk, or the like, which system shall be used in the process of filing proposed rules, emergency rules, modifications and authorized rules with the secretary of state. The secretary of state may grant exceptions to the requirement for electronic filing in the case of agencies, boards or commissions which do not have reasonable access to a compatible electronic transmission system or a means of creating a machine-readable copy, but, if an exception is granted, the secretary of state shall create a machine-readable copy of the proposed rule, emergency rule, modification or authorized rule. The electronic filing required by the provisions of this section shall not obviate any requirement for the filing of printed paper copies of the proposed rule, emergency rule, modification or authorized rule as may be required by this chapter.

§29A-2-7. Publication of state register.

(a) The Legislature intends that the secretary of state offer to the public convenient and efficient access to copies of the state register or parts thereof desired by the citizens. The provisions of this section are enacted in order to provide a means of doing so pending any other means provided by law or legislative rule.

(b) All materials filed in the state register shall be indexed daily in chronological order of filing with a brief description of the item filed and a columnar cross index to (1) agency and (2) section, article and chapter of the code to which it relates and by which it is filed in the state register and (3) such other information in the description or cross index as the secretary of state believes will aid a citizen in using the chronological index.

(c) To give users of the code of state rules a means to know whether the rule is being superseded by a version of the rule that has become effective, but not yet been final-filed, prepared, proofed and distributed, or may be superseded by a rule which is being proposed and promulgated pursuant to article three but not yet become final, the secretary of state shall provide with each update of the code of state rules, a copy of the rule monitor and its cross index which shows the rules that have become effective but not yet distributed and the rules which may be superseded by a rule which is being proposed. The copy of the rule monitor distributed with the updates of the code of state rules shall state plainly that this version of the rule monitor only shows the status of the promulgation of rules as of the date of distribution of the update of the code of state rules, and that to obtain the most recent status of the rules, the user should consult the rule monitor in the most recent publication of the state register. With the first distribution to the loose leaf version of the code of state rules the secretary of state shall also distribute a divider where the current rule monitor shall be maintained. With the first distribution, the secretary of state shall also include instructions, with a copy for insertion in or on the front of each volume of the loose-leaf versions of the code of state rules, to users on how the rule monitor can be utilized to determine whether the version of the rule in the code of state rules is currently in effect. This subsection is not to be construed to require that subscribers to the updates of the code of state rules receive a subscription to the state register.

(d) The secretary of state shall cause to be duplicated in such number as shall be required, on white paper with two punches suitable for fastening in two-ring binders, the permanent biennial state register, the chronological index and other materials filed in the register, or any part by agency or section, article or chapter for subscription at a cost including labor, paper and postage, sufficient in his judgment to defray the expense of such duplication. The secretary of state shall also offer, at least at monthly intervals, supplements to the published materials listed above. Any subscription for monthly supplements shall be offered annually and shall include the chronological index and materials related to such agency or agencies, or section, article or chapter of the code as a person may designate. A person may limit the request to notices only, to notices and rules, or to notices and proposed rules, or any combination thereof.

(e) Every two years, the secretary of state shall offer for purchase succeeding biennial permanent state registers which shall consist of all rules effective on the date of publication selected by the secretary of state, which date shall be at least two years from the last such publication date, and materials filed in the state register relating thereto. The cost of the succeeding biennial permanent state register and for the portion relating to any agency or any section, article or chapter of the code which may be designated by a person purchasing the same shall be fixed in the same manner specified in section eleven of this article.

(f) The secretary of state may omit from any duplication made pursuant to subsection (e) of this section any rules the duplication of which would be unduly cumbersome, expensive or otherwise inexpedient, if a copy of such rules is made available from the original filing of such rule, at a price not exceeding the cost of duplication, and if the volume from which such rule is omitted includes a notice in that portion of the publication in which the rule would have been located, stating (1) the general subject matter of the omitted rule, (2) each section, article and chapter of this code to which the omitted rule relates, and (3) the means by which a copy of the omitted rule may be obtained.

(g) The secretary of state may propose changes to the procedures outlined in the section above by proposing a legislative rule under the provisions of section nine, article three of this chapter, but may promulgate no rules containing those changes unless authorized by the Legislature pursuant to article three of this chapter.

(h) Beginning the first day of July, two thousand one, one half of the fees and amounts collected for the sale of the state register, the code of state rules and other copies or data provided by the secretary of state shall be deposited in the state general revenue fund and one half of the fees in the service fees and collections account established by section two, article one, chapter fifty-nine of this code for the operations of the office of the secretary of state. Any balance remaining on the thirtieth day of June, two thousand one, in the existing special revenue account entitled "state register" as established by chapter one hundred twenty-one, acts of the Legislature, regular session, one thousand nine hundred eighty-two, shall be transferred to the service fees and collections account established by section two, article one, chapter fifty-nine of this code for the operation of the office of the secretary of state. The secretary of state shall dedicate sufficient resources from that fund or other funds to provide the services required in this article.

§29A-2-8. Publication of rules by agencies.

(a) No agency may duplicate copies of its rules for general distribution except in accordance with this section. However, a duly certified copy may be provided by the agency, at the cost of reproduction, if requested and if not presently available from the secretary of state. Whenever an agency desires multiple copies of all or parts of its rules or other materials filed in the state register, it shall purchase the same from the office of the secretary of state: Provided, That when reproduction of the number of copies desired by the agency can be accomplished at a lower cost by the agency, it shall notify the secretary of state in writing of such lower cost and, unless the secretary of state shall within ten days agree to furnish such copies for an equal and lower cost and do so within twenty days thereafter, may proceed at its cost to acquire such copies elsewhere if otherwise authorized to do so by law.

(b) Any published rules may be distributed only to those persons who specifically request a copy of the rules and may not be distributed in any manner to persons who have not requested a copy. The agency may print or otherwise acquire only the number of copies of any rule that it may reasonably anticipate will be requested by members of the general public.

(c) Except as provided in this section, no agency may expend funds to alter the format or presentation of such rules from that provided in the state register (except to adequately fasten and bind the pages) or expend funds to compensate the office of secretary of state to do so.

(d) Whenever for public convenience an agency deems it appropriate to reproduce one or more rules for general public distribution in some printed form, such as a booklet or other format not provided by copying the state register, the agency shall give written notice to the secretary of state and the legislative auditor of its intention to do so, including therein the anticipated cost and the source or account of appropriations therefor. Such notice shall be recorded in the state register as other notices. After twenty days shall have elapsed, the agency may proceed unless the secretary of state shall have made a finding that such additional publication is unnecessary or unduly expensive. Any such findings shall be served on the agency and the governor and filed in the state register. The governor may, within ten days after receiving such finding, order such publication canceled or order such amendment thereof as is appropriate in his judgment. Any such order of the governor shall be effective until and unless the Legislature shall otherwise provide. In the absence of such an order by the governor, the agency may proceed in accord with its original notice of intent.

§29A-2-9. Making orders and records available.

Every agency shall file in the state register all final orders, decisions and opinions in the adjudication of contested cases except those required for good cause to be held confidential and not cited as precedent. Except as otherwise required by statute, matters of official record shall be made available for public inspection pursuant to rules adopted in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.

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ARTICLE 3. RULE MAKING.

§29A-3-1. Rules to be promulgated only in accordance with this article.

In addition to other rule-making requirements imposed by law and except to the extent specifically exempted by the provisions of this chapter or other applicable law, and except as provided for in article three-a of this chapter, every rule and regulation (including any amendment of or rule to repeal any other rule) shall be promulgated by an agency only in accordance with this article and shall be and remain effective only to the extent that it has been or is promulgated in accordance with this article.

§29A-3-1a. Filing proposed amendments to an existing rule.

(a) Rules promulgated to amend existing rules may be filed on a section by section basis without having to refile in the state register all of the other sections of an existing series numbered rule: Provided, That such filing shall list, by proper citation, those sections, not amended, which are directly affected by those sections amended: Provided, however That amendments so filed shall be accompanied by note of explanation as to the effect of such amendment and its relation to the existing rules.

(b) Rules promulgated to amend existing rules and filed as an emergency rule may be filed on a section by section basis without having to refile in the state register all of the other sections of an existing series numbered rule: Provided, That such filing shall list, by proper citation, those sections not amended, which are directly affected by those sections amended.

§29A-3-1b. Rules of the tax department.

Notwithstanding the provisions of section eight, article two of this chapter, the tax commissioner may reproduce the same in his state tax bulletin and may, upon request, distribute copies of the proposed or emergency rule after such proposed or emergency rule has been filed in the state register and may charge a reasonable fee in an amount set to recover his cost of duplicating and mailing the same. The moneys so received shall be deposited in the treasury to the credit of the tax commissioner's account for printing, office supplies or postage.

§29A-3-2. Limitations on authority to exercise rule-making power.

(a) Except when, and to the extent, that this chapter or any other provision of law now or hereafter made expressly exempts an agency, or a particular grant of the rule-making power, from the provisions of this article, every grant of rule-making authority to an executive or administrative officer, office or agency, heretofore provided, shall be construed and applied to be effective only:
(1) If heretofore lawfully exercised in accordance with the prior provisions of this chapter and the resulting rule has not been revoked or invalidated by the provisions hereof or by the agency, or
(2) If exercised in accordance with the provisions hereof.

(b) No executive or administrative agency shall be deemed to have power and authority to promulgate a legislative rule without compliance with this article unless: (1) The provision of this code, heretofore or hereafter enacted, granting such power and authority, expressly exempts its exercise from legislative rule-making review prior to promulgation or (2) the grant of such power and authority is exempted from the application of this chapter by the express provisions of this chapter. To the extent any such grant of power and authority, not so exempt, shall be deemed to exceed the limits and provisions of this article, such power and authority to promulgate legislative rules is hereby revoked.

§29A-3-3. Rules of procedure required.

In addition to other rule-making requirements imposed by law:

(a) Each agency shall adopt procedural rules governing the formal and informal procedures prescribed or authorized by this chapter. Procedural rules shall include rules of practice before the agency, together with forms and instructions.

(b) To assist interested persons dealing with it, each agency, shall so far as deemed practicable, supplement its rules or regulations with descriptive statements of its procedures.

§29A-3-4. Filing of proposed procedural rules and interpretive rules.

(a) When an agency proposes a procedural rule or an interpretive rule, the agency shall file in the state register a notice of its action, including the text of the rule as proposed.

(b) All proposed rules filed under subsection (a) of this section shall have a fiscal note attached itemizing the cost of implementing the rules as they relate to this state and to persons affected by the rules and regulations. Such fiscal note shall include all information included in a fiscal note for either house of the Legislature and a statement of the economic impact of the rule on the state or its residents. The objectives of the rules shall be clearly and separately stated in the fiscal note by the agency issuing the proposed rules. No procedural or interpretive rule shall be void or voidable by virtue of noncompliance with this subsection.

§29A-3-5. Notice of proposed rulemaking.

When an agency 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 agency 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 four of this article. If the agency 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 agency 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 agency of the approved rule, the notice shall fix a date, time and place for the receipt of general public comment on the proposed rule. To comply with the public comment provisions of this section, the agency may hold a public hearing or schedule a public comment period for the receipt of written statements and documents, or both.

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 agency when filed in the state register.

In any hearing for public comment on the merits of the rule, the agency 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 agency. After the public hearing or the close of the public comment period, whichever is later, the agency 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 agency-approved rule to the legislative rule-making review committee pursuant to the provisions of section eleven of this article.

The agency 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.

§29A-3-6. Filing findings and determinations for rules in state register; evidence deemed public record.

(a) Incident to fixing a date for public comment on a proposed rule, the agency shall promulgate the findings and determinations required as a condition precedent thereto, and state fully and succinctly the reasons therefor and file such findings and determinations in the state register. If the agency amends the proposed rule as a result of the evidence or comment presented pursuant to section five, such amendment shall be filed with a description of any changes and statement listed for the amendment.

(b) The statement of reasons and a transcript of all evidence and public comment received pursuant to notice are public records and shall be carefully preserved by the agency and be open for public inspection and copying for a period of not less than five years from the date of the hearing.

§29A-3-7. Notice of hearings.

Notices of hearings required by sections five and six of this article shall be filed in the state register not less than thirty nor more than sixty days before the date of such hearing or the last day specified therein for receiving written material. Any hearing may be continued from time to time and place to place by the agency which shall have the effect of extending the last day for receipt of evidence or public comment. Notice of such continuance shall be promptly filed thereafter in the state register.

§29A-3-8. Adoption of procedural and interpretive rules.

A procedural and interpretive rule, shall be considered by the agency for adoption not later than six months after the close of public comment and a notice of withdrawal or adoption shall be filed in the state register within that period. Failure to file such notice shall constitute withdrawal and the secretary of state shall note such failure in the state register immediately upon the expiration of the six-month period.

A procedural or interpretive rule may be amended by the agency prior to final adoption without further hearing or public comment. No such amendment may change the main purpose of the rule. If the fiscal implications have changed since the rule was proposed, a new fiscal note shall be attached to the notice of filing. Upon adoption of the rule (including any such amendment) the agency shall file the text of the adopted procedural or interpretive rule with its notice of adoption in the state register and the same shall be effective on the date specified in the rule or thirty days after such filing, whichever is later.

§29A-3-9. Proposal of legislative rules.

When an agency proposes a legislative rule, other than an emergency rule, it shall be deemed to be applying to the Legislature for permission, to be granted by law, to promulgate such rule as approved by the agency for submission to the Legislature or as amended and authorized by the Legislature by law.

An agency proposing a legislative rule, other than an emergency rule, after filing the notice of proposed rulemaking required by the provisions of section five of this article, shall then proceed as in the case of a procedural and interpretive rule to the point of, but not including, final adoption. In lieu of final adoption, the agency shall finally approve the proposed rule, including any amendments, for submission to the Legislature and file such notice of approval in the state register and with the legislative rule-making review committee, within ninety days after the public hearing was held or within ninety days after the end of the public comment period required under section five of this article: Provided, That upon receipt of a written request from an agency, setting forth valid reasons why the agency is unable to file the agency approved rule within the ninety-day time period, the legislative rule-making review committee may grant the agency an extension of time to file the agency approved rule.

Such final agency approval of the rule under this section is deemed to be approval for submission to the Legislature only and does not give any force and effect to the proposed rule. The rule shall have full force and effect only when authority for promulgation of the rule is granted by an act of the Legislature and the rule is promulgated pursuant to the provisions of section thirteen of this article.

§29A-3-10. Creation of a legislative rule-making review committee.

(a) There is hereby created a joint committee of the Legislature, known as the legislative rule-making review committee, to review all legislative rules of the several agencies and such other rules as the committee deems appropriate. The committee shall be composed of six members of the Senate, appointed by the president of the Senate, and six members of the House of Delegates, appointed by the speaker of the House of Delegates. In addition, the president of the Senate and the speaker of the House of Delegates shall be ex officio nonvoting members of the committee and shall designate the cochairmen. Not more than four of the voting members of the committee from each house shall be members of the same political party: Provided, That in the event the membership of a political party is less than fifteen percent in the House of Delegates or Senate, then the membership of that political party from the legislative house with less than fifteen percent membership may be one from that house. The members shall serve until their successors shall have been appointed as heretofore provided. Members of the committee shall receive such compensation and expenses as provided in article two-a, chapter four of this code. Such expenses and all other expenses, including those incurred in the employment of legal, technical, investigative, clerical, stenographic, advisory and other personnel shall be paid from an appropriation to be made expressly for the legislative rule-making review committee, but if no such appropriation be made, such expenses shall be paid from the appropriation under &Account No. 103 for Joint Expenses,& but no expense of any kind whatever payable under said Account No. 103 for joint expenses shall be incurred unless first approved by the joint committee on government and finance. The committee shall meet at any time, both during sessions of the Legislature and in the interim.

(b) The committee may adopt such rules of procedure as it considers necessary for the submission, presentation and consideration of rules.

§29A-3-11. Submission of legislative rules to the legislative rule-making review committee.

(a) When an agency finally approves a proposed legislative rule for submission to the Legislature, pursuant to the provisions of section nine of this article, the secretary of the executive department which administers the agency pursuant to the provisions of article two, chapter five-f of this code shall submit to the legislative rule-making review committee at its offices or at a regular meeting of such committee fifteen copies of: (1) The full text of the legislative rule as finally approved by the agency, with new language underlined and with language to be deleted from any existing rule stricken through but clearly legible; (2) a brief summary of the content of the legislative rule and a description and a copy of any existing rule which the agency proposes to amend or repeal; (3) a statement of the circumstances which require the rule; (4) a fiscal note containing all information included in a fiscal note for either house of the Legislature and a statement of the economic impact of the rule on the state or its residents; (5) one copy of any relevant federal statutes or regulations; and (6) any other information which the committee may request or which may be required by law. If the agency is an agency, board or commission which is not administered by an executive department as provided for in article two, chapter five-f of this code, the agency shall submit the final agency-approved rule as required by this subsection.

(b) The committee shall review each proposed legislative rule and, in its discretion, may hold public hearings thereon. Such review shall include, but not be limited to, a determination of:
(1) Whether the agency has exceeded the scope of its statutory authority in approving the proposed legislative rule;
(2) Whether the proposed legislative rule is in conformity with the legislative intent of the statute which the rule is intended to implement, extend, apply, interpret or make specific;
(3) Whether the proposed legislative rule conflicts with any other provision of this code or with any other rule adopted by the same or a different agency;
(4) Whether the proposed legislative rule is necessary to fully accomplish the objectives of the statute under which the rule was proposed for promulgation;
(5) Whether the proposed legislative rule is reasonable, especially as it affects the convenience of the general public or of persons particularly affected by it;
(6) Whether the proposed legislative rule could be made less complex or more readily understandable by the general public; and
(7) Whether the proposed legislative rule was proposed for promulgation in compliance with the requirements of this article and with any requirements imposed by any other provision of this code.

(c) After reviewing the legislative rule, the committee shall recommend that the Legislature:
(1) Authorize the promulgation of the legislative rule; or
(2) Authorize the promulgation of part of the legislative rule; or
(3) Authorize the promulgation of the legislative rule with certain amendments; or
(4) Recommend that the proposed rule be withdrawn.
The committee shall file notice of its action in the state register and with the agency proposing the rule: Provided, That when the committee makes the recommendations of subdivision (2), (3) or (4) of this subsection, the notice shall contain a statement of the reasons for such recommendation.

(d) When the committee recommends that a rule be authorized, in whole or in part, by the Legislature, the committee shall instruct its staff or the office of legislative services to draft a bill authorizing the promulgation of all or part of the legislative rule and incorporating such amendments as the committee desires. If the committee recommends that the rule not be authorized, it shall include in its report a draft of a bill authorizing promulgation of the rule together with a recommendation. Any draft bill prepared under this section shall contain a legislative finding that the rule is within the legislative intent of the statute which the rule is intended to implement, extend, apply or interpret and shall be available for any member of the Legislature to introduce to the Legislature.

§29A-3-12. Submission of legislative rules to Legislature.

(a) No later than forty days before the sixtieth day of each regular session of the Legislature, the cochairmen of the legislative rule-making review committee shall submit to the clerk of the respective houses of the Legislature copies of all proposed legislative rules which have been submitted to and considered by the committee pursuant to the provisions of section eleven of this article and which have not been previously submitted to the Legislature for study, together with the recommendations of the committee with respect to such rules, a statement of the reasons for any recommendation that a rule be amended or withdrawn and a statement that a bill authorizing the legislative rule has been drafted by the staff of the committee or by legislative services pursuant to section eleven of this article. The cochairman of the committee may also submit such rules at the direction of the committee at any time before or during a special session in which consideration thereof may be appropriate. The committee may withhold from its report any proposed legislative rule which was submitted to the committee fewer than two hundred twenty-five days before the end of the regular session. The clerk of each house shall submit the report to his or her house at the commencement of the next session.
All bills introduced authorizing the promulgation of a rule may be referred by the speaker of the House of Delegates and by the president of the Senate to appropriate standing committees of the respective houses for further consideration or the matters may be otherwise dealt with as each house or its rules provide. The Legislature may by act authorize the agency to adopt a legislative rule incorporating the entire rule or may authorize the agency to adopt a rule with any amendments which the Legislature shall designate. The clerk of the house originating such act shall forthwith file a copy of any bill of authorization enacted with the secretary of state and with the agency proposing such rule and the clerk of each house may prepare and file a synopsis of legislative action during any session on any proposed rule submitted to the house during such session for which authority to promulgate was not by law provided during such session. In acting upon the separate bills authorizing the promulgation of rules, the Legislature may, by amendment or substitution, combine the separate bills of authorization insofar as the various rules authorized therein are proposed by agencies which are placed under the administration of one of the single separate executive departments identified under the provisions of section two, article one, chapter five-f of this code or the Legislature may combine the separate bills of authorization by agency or agencies within an executive department. In the case of rules proposed for promulgation by an agency which is not administered by an executive department pursuant to the provisions of article two of said chapter, the separate bills of authorization for the proposed rules of that agency may, by amendment or substitution, be combined. The foregoing provisions relating to combining separate bills of authorization according to department or agency are not intended to restrict the permissible breadth of bills of authorization and do not preclude the Legislature from otherwise combining various bills of authorization which have a unity of subject matter. Any number of provisions may be included in a bill of authorization, but the single object of the bill shall be to authorize the promulgation of proposed legislative rules.

(b) If the Legislature during its regular session disapproves all or part of any legislative rule which was submitted to it by the legislative rule-making review committee during such session, no agency may thereafter issue any rule or directive or take other action to implement such rule or part thereof unless and until otherwise authorized to do so, except that the agency may resubmit the same or similar proposed rule to the legislative rule-making review committee in accordance with the provisions of section eleven of this article.

(c) Nothing herein shall be construed to prevent the Legislature by law from authorizing, or authorizing and directing, an agency to promulgate legislative rules not proposed by the agency or upon which some procedure specified in this chapter is not yet complete.

(d) Whenever the Legislature is convened by proclamation of the governor, upon his or her own initiative or upon application of the members of the Legislature, or whenever a regular session of the Legislature is extended or convened by the vote or petition of its members, the Legislature may by act enacted during such extraordinary or extended session authorize, in whole or in part, any legislative rule, whether submitted to the legislative rule-making review committee or not, if legislative action on such rule during such session is a lawful order of business.

(e) As a part of any act that amends chapter sixty-four of this code, authorizing the promulgation of a proposed legislative rule or rules, the Legislature may also provide, by general language or with specificity, for the disapproval of rules not approved or acted upon by the Legislature.

(f) Whenever a date is required by this section to be computed in relation to the end of a regular session of the Legislature, such date shall be computed without regard to any extensions of such session occasioned solely by the proclamation of the governor.

(g) Whenever a date is required to be computed from or is fixed by the first day of a regular session of the Legislature, it shall be computed or fixed in the year one thousand nine hundred eighty-four, and each fourth year thereafter without regard to the second Wednesday of January of such years.

§29A-3-13. Adoption of legislative rules; effective date.

(a) Except as the Legislature may by law otherwise provide, within sixty days after the effective date of an act authorizing promulgation of a legislative rule, the rule shall be promulgated only in conformity with the provisions of law authorizing and directing the promulgation of such rule. In the case of a rule proposed by an agency which is administered by an executive department pursuant to the provisions of article two, chapter five-f of this code, the secretary of the department shall promulgate the rule as authorized by the Legislature. In the case of an agency which is not subject to administration by the secretary of an executive department, the agency which proposed the rule for promulgation shall promulgate the rule as authorized by the Legislature.

(b) A legislative rule authorized by the Legislature shall become effective thirty days after such filing in the state register, or on the effective date fixed by the authorizing act or if none is fixed by law, such later date not to exceed ninety days, as is fixed by the agency.

(c) The secretary of state shall note in the state register the effective date of an authorized and promulgated legislative rule, and shall promptly publish the duly promulgated rule in a code of state rules maintained by his or her office.

§29A-3-14. Withdrawal or modification of proposed rules.

(a) Any legislative rule proposed by an agency may be withdrawn by the agency any time before passage of a law authorizing or authorizing and directing its promulgation, but no such action shall be construed to affect the validity, force or effect of a law enacted authorizing or authorizing and directing the promulgation of an authorized legislative rule or exercising compliance with such law. The agency shall file a notice of any such action in the state register.

(b) At any time before a proposed legislative rule has been submitted by the legislative rule-making review committee to the Legislature pursuant to the provisions of section twelve of this article, the agency may modify the proposed rule to meet the objections of the committee. The agency shall file in the state register a notice of its modifying action including a copy of the modified rule, but shall not be required to comply with any provisions of this article requiring opportunity for public comment or taking of evidence with respect to such modification. If a legislative rule has been withdrawn, modified and then resubmitted to such committee, the rule shall be considered to have been submitted to such committee on the date of such resubmission.

§29A-3-15. Emergency legislative rules; procedure for promulgation; definition.

(a) Any agency with authority to propose legislative rules may, without hearing, find that an emergency exists requiring that emergency rules be promulgated and promulgate the same in accordance with this section. Such emergency rules, together with a statement of the facts and circumstances constituting the emergency, shall be filed with the secretary of state, and a notice of such filing shall be published in the state register. Such emergency rules shall become effective upon the approval of the secretary of state in accordance with section fifteen-a of this article or upon the approval of the attorney general in accordance with section fifteen-b or upon the forty-second day following such filing, whichever occurs first. Such emergency rules may adopt, amend or repeal any legislative rule, but the circumstances constituting the emergency requiring such adoption, amendment or repeal shall be stated with particularity and be subject to de novo review by any court having original jurisdiction of an action challenging their validity. Fourteen copies of the rules and of the required statement shall be filed immediately with the secretary of state and one copy shall be filed immediately with the legislative rule-making review committee.
An emergency rule shall be effective for not more than fifteen months and shall expire earlier if any of the following occurs:
(1) The secretary of state, acting under the authority provided for in section fifteen-a of this article, or the attorney general, acting under the authority provided for in section fifteen-b of this article, disapproves the emergency rule because: (A) The emergency rule or an amendment to the emergency rule exceeds the scope of the law authorizing or directing the promulgation thereof; (B) an emergency does not exist justifying the promulgation of the emergency rule; or (C) the emergency rule was not promulgated in compliance with the provisions of this section. An emergency rule may not be disapproved pursuant to the authority granted by paragraphs (A) or (B) of this subdivision on the basis that the secretary of state or the attorney general disagrees with the underlying public policy established by the Legislature in enacting the supporting legislation. An emergency rule which would otherwise be approved as being necessary to comply with a time limitation established by this code or by a federal statute or regulation may not be disapproved pursuant to the authority granted by paragraphs (A) or (B) of this subdivision on the basis that the agency has failed to file the emergency rule prior to the date fixed by such time limitation. When the supporting statute specifically directs an agency to promulgate an emergency rule, or specifically finds that an emergency exists and directs the promulgation of an emergency rule, the emergency rule may not be disapproved pursuant to the authority granted by paragraph (B) of this subdivision. An emergency rule may not be disapproved on the basis that the Legislature has not specifically directed an agency to promulgate the emergency rule, or has not specifically found that an emergency exists and directed the promulgation of an emergency rule,
(2) The agency has not previously filed and fails to file a notice of public hearing on the proposed rule within thirty days of the date the proposed rule was filed as an emergency rule; in which case the emergency rule expires on the thirty-first day.
(3) The agency has not previously filed and fails to file the proposed rule with the legislative rule-making review committee within ninety days of the date the proposed rule was filed as an emergency rule; in which case the emergency rule expires on the ninety-first day.
(4) The Legislature has authorized or directed promulgation of an authorized legislative rule dealing with substantially the same subject matter since such emergency rule was first promulgated, and in which case the emergency rule expires on the date the authorized rule is made effective.
(5) The Legislature has, by law, disapproved of such emergency rule; in which case the emergency rule expires on the date the law becomes effective.

(b) Any amendment to an emergency rule made by the agency shall be filed in the state register and does not constitute a new emergency rule for the purpose of acquiring additional time or avoiding the expiration dates in subdivision (2), (3), (4) or (5), subsection (a) of this section: Provided, That such emergency amendment shall become effective upon the approval of the secretary of state in accordance with section fifteen-a of this article or upon approval of the attorney general in accordance with section fifteen-b of this article or upon the forty-second day following such filing, whichever occurs first.

(c) Once an emergency rule expires due to the conclusion of fifteen months or due to the effect of subdivision (2), (3), (4) or (5), subsection (a) of this section, the agency may not refile the same or similar rule as an emergency rule.

(d) The provision of this section shall not be used to avoid or evade any provision of this article or any other provisions of this code, including any provisions for legislative review and approval of proposed rules. Any emergency rule promulgated for any such purpose may be contested in a judicial proceeding before a court of competent jurisdiction.

(e) The legislative rule-making review committee may review any emergency rule to determine (1) whether the emergency rule or an amendment to the emergency rule exceeds the scope of the law authorizing or directing the promulgation thereof; (2) whether there exists an emergency justifying the promulgation of such emergency rule; and (3) whether the emergency rule was promulgated in compliance with the requirements and prohibitions contained in this section. The committee may recommend to the agency, the Legislature, or the secretary of state such action as it may deem proper.

(f) For the purposes of this section, an emergency exists when the promulgation of an emergency rule is necessary (1) for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, safety or welfare, (2) to comply with a time limitation established by this code or by a federal statute or regulation, or (3) to prevent substantial harm to the public interest.

§29A-3-15a. Disapproval of emergency rules and amendments to emergency rules by the secretary of state; judicial review.

(a) Upon the filing of an emergency rule or filing of an amendment to an emergency rule by an agency, under the provisions of section fifteen of this article, by any agency, except for the secretary of state, the secretary of state shall review such rule or such amendment and, within forty-two days of such filing, shall issue a decision as to whether or not such emergency rule or such amendment to an emergency rule should be disapproved. An emergency rule filed by the secretary of state shall be reviewed by the attorney general as provided for in section fifteen-b of this article.

(b) The secretary of state shall disapprove an emergency rule or an amendment to an emergency rule if he determines:
(1) That the emergency rule or an amendment to the emergency rule exceeds the scope of the law authorizing or directing the promulgation thereof; or
(2) That an emergency does not exist justifying the promulgation of the emergency rule or the filing of an amendment to the emergency rule; or
(3) That the emergency rule or an amendment to the emergency rule was not promulgated in compliance with the provisions of section fifteen of this article.

(c) If the secretary of state determines, based upon the contents of the rule or the supporting information filed by the agency, that the emergency rule should be disapproved, he may disapprove such rule without further investigation, notice or hearing. If, however, the secretary of state concludes that the information submitted by the agency is insufficient to allow a proper determination to be made as to whether the emergency rule should be disapproved, he may make further investigation, including, but not limited to, requiring the agency or other interested parties to submit additional information or comment or fixing a date, time and place for the taking of evidence on the issues involved in making a determination under the provisions of this section.

(d) If the secretary of state determines, based upon the contents of the amendment to an emergency rule or the supporting information filed by the agency, that the amendment to the emergency rule should be disapproved, he may disapprove such amendment without further investigation, notice or hearing. If, however, the secretary of state concludes that the information submitted by the agency is insufficient to allow a proper determination to be made as to whether the amendment should be disapproved, he may make further investigation, including, but not limited to, requiring the agency or other interested parties to submit additional information or comment or fixing a date, time and place for the taking of evidence on the issues involved in making a determination under the provisions of this section.

(e) The determination of the secretary of state shall be reviewable by the supreme court of appeals under its original jurisdiction, based upon a petition for a writ of mandamus, prohibition or certiorari, as appropriate. Such proceeding may be instituted by:
(1) The agency which promulgated the emergency rule;
(2) A member of the Legislature; or
(3) Any person whose personal property interests will be significantly affected by the approval or disapproval of the emergency rule by the secretary of state.

§29A-3-15b. Disapproval of emergency rules and amendments to emergency rules by the attorney general; judicial review.

(a) Upon the filing of an emergency rule or filing of an amendment to an emergency rule by the secretary of state under the provisions of section fifteen of this article, the attorney general shall review such rule or such amendment and, within forty-two days of such filing, shall issue a decision as to whether or not such emergency rule or such amendment to an emergency rule should be disapproved.

(b) The attorney general shall disapprove an emergency rule or an amendment to an emergency rule if he determines:
(1) That the emergency rule or an amendment to the emergency rule exceeds the scope of the law authorizing or directing the promulgation thereof; or
(2) That an emergency does not exist justifying the promulgation of the emergency rule or the filing of an amendment to the emergency rule; or
(3) That the emergency rule or an amendment to the emergency rule was not promulgated in compliance with the provisions of section fifteen of this article.

(c) If the attorney general determines, based upon the contents of the rule or the supporting information filed by the secretary of state, that the emergency rule should be disapproved, he may disapprove such rule without further investigation, notice or hearing. If, however, the attorney general concludes that the information submitted by the secretary of state is insufficient to allow a proper determination to be made as to whether the emergency rule should be disapproved, he may make further investigation, including, but not limited to, requiring the secretary of state or other interested parties to submit additional information or comment or fixing a date, time and place for the taking of evidence on the issues involved in making a determination under the provisions of this section.

(d) If the attorney general determines, based upon the contents of the amendment to an emergency rule or the supporting information filed by the agency, that the amendment to the emergency rule should be disapproved, he may disapprove such amendment without further investigation, notice or hearing. If, however, the attorney general concludes that the information submitted by the agency is insufficient to allow a proper determination to be made as to whether the amendment should be disapproved, he may make further investigation, including, but not limited to, requiring the agency or other interested parties to submit additional information or comment or fixing a date, time and place for the taking of evidence on the issues involved in making a determination under the provisions of this section.

(e) The determination of the attorney general shall be reviewable by the supreme court of appeals under its original jurisdiction, based upon a petition for a writ of mandamus, prohibition or certiorari, as appropriate. Such proceeding may be instituted by:
(1) The secretary of state;
(2) A member of the Legislature; or
(3) Any person whose personal property interests will be significantly affected by the approval or disapproval of the emergency rule by the attorney general.

§29A-3-16. Legislative review of procedural rules, interpretive rules and existing legislative rules.

The legislative rule-making review committee may review any procedural rules, interpretive rules or existing legislative rules and may make recommendations concerning such rules to the Legislature, or to the agency, or to both the Legislature and the agency.

§29A-3-17. Prior rules.

Any rule lawfully promulgated prior to the effective date of this chapter shall remain in full force and effect until:
(1) Such rule is expressly made ineffective by the provisions of this chapter, or
(2) Such rule should expire by reason of failure to refile the same as provided in section five of article two, or expires pursuant to its own terms and provisions lawfully made before the effective date of this section, or
(3) Such rule is repealed by the lawful act of the agency, in conformity with this chapter, or
(4) Such rule is invalidated by an act of the Legislature or the force and effect of another law.

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ARTICLE 3A. HIGHER EDUCATION RULE MAKING.

§29A-3A-1. Definitions.

As used in this article:
(a) "Commission" means the legislative oversight commission on education accountability;

(b) "Board" means the university of West Virginia board of trustees or the board of directors of the state college system as defined in chapter eighteen-b of this code, or both, or any person employed by such boards who is granted rule-making authority under the provisions of said chapter.

§29A-3A-2. Rules to be promulgated only in accordance with this article.

In addition to other rule-making requirements imposed by law and except to the extent specifically exempted by the provisions of this chapter or other applicable law, every rule and regulation (including any amendment of or rule to repeal any other rule) shall be promulgated by the board only in accordance with this article and shall be and remain effective only to the extent that it has been or is promulgated in accordance with this article.

§29A-3A-3. Limitations on authority to exercise rule-making power.

(a) Except when, and to the extent, that this chapter or any other provision of law now or hereafter made expressly exempts the board, or a particular grant of the rule-making power, from the provisions of this article, every grant of rule-making authority to the board heretofore provided, shall be construed and applied to be effective only:
(1) If heretofore lawfully exercised in accordance with the prior provisions of this chapter and the resulting rule has not been revoked or invalidated by the provisions hereof or by the board; or
(2) If exercised in accordance with the provisions hereof.

(b) The board shall not be deemed to have the power and authority to promulgate a legislative rule without compliance with this article unless: (1) The provision of this code, heretofore or hereafter enacted, granting such power and authority, expressly exempts its exercise from legislative rule-making review prior to promulgation or (2) the grant of such power and authority is exempted from the application of this chapter by the express provisions of this chapter. To the extent any such grant of power and authority, not so exempt, shall be deemed to exceed the limits and provisions of this article, such power and authority to promulgate legislative rules is hereby revoked.

§29A-3A-4. Rules of procedure required.

In addition to other rule-making requirements imposed by law:
(a) The board shall adopt procedural rules governing the formal and informal procedures prescribed or authorized by this chapter. Procedural rules shall include rules of practice before the board, together with forms and instructions.

(b) To assist interested persons dealing with it, the board, shall so far as deemed practicable, supplement its rules or regulations with descriptive statements of its procedures.

§29A-3A-5. Filing of proposed procedural rules and interpretive rules.

(a) When the board proposes a procedural rule or an interpretive rule, the agency shall file in the state register a notice of its action, including the text of the rule as proposed.

(b) All proposed rules filed under subsection (a) of this section shall have a fiscal note attached itemizing the cost of implementing the rules as they relate to this state and to persons affected by the rules and regulations. Such fiscal note shall include all information included in a fiscal note for either house of the Legislature and a statement of the economic impact of the rule on the state or its residents. The objectives of the rules shall be clearly and separately stated in the fiscal note by the agency issuing the proposed rules. No procedural or interpretive rule shall be void or voidable by virtue of noncompliance with this subsection.

§29A-3A-6. Notice of proposed rule making.

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.

§29A-3A-7. Filing findings and determinations for rules in state register; evidence deemed public record.

(a) Incident to fixing a date for public comment on a proposed rule, the board shall promulgate the findings and determinations required as a condition precedent thereto, and state fully and succinctly the reasons therefor and file such findings and determinations in the state register. If the board amends the proposed rule as a result of the evidence or comment presented pursuant to section five, such amendment shall be filed with a description of any changes and statement listed for the amendment.

(b) The statement of reasons and a transcript of all evidence and public comment received pursuant to notice are public records and shall be carefully preserved by the board and be open for public inspection and copying for a period of not less than five years from the date of the hearing.

§29A-3A-8. Notice of hearings.

Notices of hearings required by sections six and seven of this article shall be filed in the state register not less than thirty nor more than sixty days before the date of such hearing or the last day specified therein for receiving written material. Any hearing may be continued from time to time and place to place by the board which shall have the effect of extending the last day for receipt of evidence or public comment. Notice of such continuance shall be promptly filed thereafter in the state register.

§29A-3A-9. Adoption of procedural and interpretive rules.

A procedural and interpretive rule, shall be considered by the board for adoption not later than six months after the close of public comment and a notice of withdrawal or adoption shall be filed in the state register within that period. Failure to file such notice shall constitute withdrawal and the secretary of state shall note such failure in the state register immediately upon the expiration of the six-month period.

A procedural or interpretive rule may be amended by the board prior to final adoption without further hearing or public comment. No such amendment may change the main purpose of the rule. If the fiscal implications have changed since the rule was proposed, a new fiscal note shall be attached to the notice of filing. Upon adoption of the rule (including any such amendment) the board shall file the text of the adopted procedural or interpretive rule with its notice of adoption in the state register and the same shall be effective on the date specified in the rule or thirty days after such filing, whichever is later.

§29A-3A-10. Proposal of legislative rules.

When the board proposes a legislative rule, other than an emergency rule, it shall be deemed to be applying to the Legislature for permission, to be granted by law, to promulgate such rule as approved by the board for submission to the Legislature or as amended and authorized by the Legislature by law.

When proposing a legislative rule, other than an emergency rule, and after filing the notice of proposed rule-making required by the provisions of section five of this article, the board shall then proceed as in the case of a procedural and interpretive rule to the point of, but not including, final adoption. In lieu of final adoption, the board shall finally approve the proposed rule, including any amendments, for submission to the Legislature and file such notice of approval in the state register and with the legislative oversight commission on education accountability.

Such final approval of the rule under this section is deemed to be approval for submission to the Legislature only and does not give any force and effect to the proposed rule. The rule shall have full force and effect only when authority for promulgation of the rule is granted by an act of the Legislature and the rule is promulgated pursuant to the provisions of section fourteen of this article.

§29A-3A-11. Creation of a legislative oversight commission on education accountability.

(a) There is hereby created a joint commission of the Legislature known as the legislative oversight commission on education accountability to review all legislative rules of the board and such other rules as the commission deems appropriate. The commission shall be composed of six members of the Senate appointed by the president of the Senate and six members of the House of Delegates appointed by the speaker of the House of Delegates. No more than five of the six members appointed by the president of the Senate and the speaker of the House of Delegates, respectively, may be members of the same political party. In addition, the president of the Senate and the speaker of the House of Delegates shall be ex officio nonvoting members of the commission and shall designate the cochairmen. At least one of the Senate members and one of the House members shall be members of the committee on education of the Senate and House, respectively, and at least one of the Senate members and at least one of the House members shall be a member of the committee on finance of the Senate and House, respectively. The members shall serve until their successors shall have been appointed as heretofore provided. Members of the commission shall receive such compensation and expenses as provided in article two-a, chapter four of this code. Such expenses and all other expenses including those incurred in the employment of legal, technical, investigative, clerical, stenographic, advisory and other personnel shall be paid from an appropriation to be made expressly for the legislative oversight commission on education accountability, but if no such appropriation be made, such expenses shall be paid from the appropriation under "Account No. 103 for Joint Expenses," but no expense of any kind whatever payable under said account for joint expenses shall be incurred unless first approved by the joint committee on government and finance. The commission shall meet at any time both during sessions of the Legislature and in the interim.

(b) The commission may adopt such rules of procedure as it considers necessary for the submission, presentation and consideration of rules.

§29A-3A-11a. Additional powers and duties; subpoena powers.

(a) In addition to the powers and duties conferred upon the commission pursuant to the provisions of this article, the commission shall make a continuing investigation, study and review of the practices, policies and procedures of the board and of any and all matters related to education in the state and shall make annual reports to the Legislature of the results of such investigation, study and review.

(b) These reports shall describe and evaluate in a concise manner:
(1) The major activities of the board for the fiscal year immediately past, including important policy decisions reached on initiatives undertaken during that year, especially as such activities, decisions and initiatives relate to the implementation of (1) the constitutional requirement of providing a thorough and efficient education to the children of this state and (2) the objective of improving the quality of education at all levels in this state.
(2) Other information considered by the commission to be important, including recommendations for statutory, fiscal or other reform and reasons for such recommendations.
Further, these reports may specify in what manner said practices, policies and procedures may or should be modified to satisfy said constitutional requirement and to improve the quality of education at all levels in this state.
The commission may meet as often as may be necessary and employ such professional, clerical and technical personnel as it considers necessary to perform effectively the duties herein prescribed.

(c) The commission shall conduct a study to determine whether the bureaucracies of the state board of education and each county board of education are of such size and complexity that they do not best serve the educational needs of the children of the state. The commission may request assistance from the legislative auditor to conduct this study.

(d) For purposes of carrying out its duties, the commission is hereby empowered and authorized to examine witnesses and to subpoena such persons and books, records, documents, papers or any other tangible things as it believes should be examined to make a complete investigation. All witnesses appearing before the commission shall testify under oath or affirmation, and any member of the commission may administer oaths or affirmations to such witnesses. To compel the attendance of witnesses at such hearings or the production of any books, records, documents, papers or any other tangible thing, the commission is hereby empowered and authorized to issue subpoenas, signed by one of the cochairmen, in accordance with section five, article one, chapter four of this code. Such subpoenas shall be served by any person authorized by law to serve and execute legal process and service shall be made without charge. Witnesses subpoenaed to attend hearings shall be allowed the same mileage and per diem as is allowed witnesses before any petit jury in this state.

If any person subpoenaed to appear at any hearing shall refuse to appear or to answer inquiries there propounded, or shall fail or refuse to produce books, records, documents, papers or any other tangible thing within his control when the same are demanded, the commission shall report the facts to the circuit court of Kanawha County or any other court of competent jurisdiction and such court may compel obedience to the subpoena as though such subpoena had been issued by such court in the first instance.

§29A-3A-12. Submission of legislative rules to the legislative oversight commission on education accountability.

(a) When the board finally approves a proposed legislative rule for submission to the Legislature, pursuant to the provisions of section ten of this article, the board shall submit to the legislative oversight commission on education accountability at its offices or at a regular meeting of such commission fifteen copies of (1) the full text of the legislative rule as finally approved by the board, with new language underlined and with language to be deleted from any existing rule stricken-through but clearly legible; (2) a brief summary of the content of the legislative rule and a description and a copy of any existing rule which the agency proposes to amend or repeal; (3) a statement of the circumstances which require the rule; (4) a fiscal note containing all information included in a fiscal note for either house of the Legislature and a statement of the economic impact of the rule on the state or its residents; and (5) any other information which the commission may request or which may be required by law.

(b) The commission shall review each proposed legislative rule and, in its discretion, may hold public hearings thereon. Such review shall include, but not be limited to, a determination of:
(1) Whether the board has exceeded the scope of its statutory authority in approving the proposed legislative rule;
(2) Whether the proposed legislative rule is in conformity with the legislative intent of the statute which the rule is intended to implement, extend, apply, interpret or make specific;
(3) Whether the proposed legislative rule conflicts with any other provision of this code or with any other rule adopted by the same or a different agency;
(4) Whether the proposed legislative rule is necessary to fully accomplish the objectives of the statute under which the proposed rule was promulgated;
(5) Whether the proposed legislative rule is reasonable, especially as it affects the convenience of the general public or of persons particularly affected by it;
(6) Whether the proposed legislative rule could be made less complex or more readily understandable by the general public; and
(7) Whether the proposed legislative rule was promulgated in compliance with the requirements of this article and with any requirements imposed by any other provision of this code.

(c) After reviewing the legislative rule, the commission shall recommend that the Legislature:
(1) Authorize the board to promulgate the legislative rule; or
(2) Authorize the board to promulgate part of the legislative rule; or
(3) Recommend that the rule be withdrawn.
The commission shall file notice of its action in the state register and with the board proposing the rule: Provided, That when the commission makes the recommendations of subdivision (2) or (3) of this subsection, the notice shall contain a statement of the reasons for such recommendation.

(d) When the commission recommends that a rule be authorized, in whole or in part, by the Legislature, the commission shall instruct its staff or the office of legislative services to draft a bill authorizing the board to promulgate all or part of the legislative rule. If the commission recommends that the rule not be authorized, it shall include in its report a draft of a bill authorizing promulgation of the rule together with a recommendation. Any draft bill prepared under this section shall contain a legislative finding that the rule is within the legislative intent of the statute which the rule is intended to implement, extend, apply or interpret and shall be available for any member of the Legislature to introduce to the Legislature.

§29A-3A-13. Submission of legislative rules to Legislature.

(a) No later than forty days before the sixtieth day of each regular session of the Legislature, the cochairmen of the legislative oversight commission on education accountability shall submit to the clerk of the respective houses of the Legislature copies of all proposed legislative rules which have been submitted to and considered by the commission pursuant to the provisions of section eleven of this article and which have not been previously submitted to the Legislature for study, together with the recommendations of the commission with respect to such rules, a statement of the reasons for any recommendation that a rule be withdrawn, and a statement that a bill authorizing the legislative rule has been drafted by the staff of the commission or by legislative services pursuant to section twelve of this article. The cochairman of the commission may also submit such rules at the direction of the commission at any time before or during a special session in which consideration thereof may be appropriate. The commission may withhold from its report any proposed legislative rule which was submitted to the commission fewer than two hundred ten days before the end of the regular session. The clerk of each house shall submit the report to his house at the commencement of the next session.

All bills introduced authorizing the promulgation of a rule may be referred by the speaker of the House of Delegates and by the president of the Senate to appropriate standing committees of the respective houses for further consideration or the matters may be otherwise dealt with as each house or its rules provide. The Legislature may by act authorize the board to adopt a legislative rule incorporating the entire rule. The clerk of the house originating such act shall forthwith file a copy of any bill enacted in contemplation of this section in the state register and with the board and the clerk of each house may prepare and file a synopsis of legislative action during any session on any proposed rule submitted to the house during such session for which authority to promulgate was not by law provided during such session.

(b) If the Legislature fails during its regular session to act upon all or part of any legislative rule which was submitted to it by the legislative oversight commission on education accountability during such session, the board may not thereafter issue any rule or directive or take other action to implement such rule or part thereof unless and until otherwise authorized to do so.

(c) Nothing herein shall be construed to prevent the Legislature by law from authorizing or authorizing and directing the board to promulgate legislative rules not proposed by the board or upon which some procedure specified in this chapter is not yet complete.

(d) Whenever the Legislature is convened by proclamation of the governor, upon his own initiative or upon application of the members of the Legislature, or whenever a regular session of the Legislature is extended or convened by the vote or petition of its members, the Legislature may by act enacted during such extraordinary or extended session authorize, in whole or in part, any legislative rule whether submitted to the legislative oversight commission on education accountability, or not, if legislative action on such rule during such session is a lawful order of business.

(e) Whenever a date is required by this section to be computed in relation to the end of a regular session of the Legislature, such date shall be computed without regard to any extensions of such session occasioned solely by the proclamation of the governor.

(f) Whenever a date is required to be computed from or is fixed by the first day of a regular session of the Legislature, it shall be computed or fixed in the year one thousand nine hundred eighty-four, and each fourth year thereafter without regard to the second Wednesday of January of such years.

§29A-3A-14. Adoption of legislative rules; effective date.

(a) Except as the Legislature may by law otherwise provide, within sixty days after the effective date of an act authorizing promulgation of a legislative rule, the board shall promulgate the rule only in conformity with the provisions of law authorizing and directing the promulgation of such rule.

(b) A legislative rule authorized by the Legislature shall become effective thirty days after such filing in the state register, or on the effective date fixed by the authorizing act or if none is fixed by law, such later date not to exceed ninety days, as is fixed by the board.

(c) The secretary of state shall note in the state register the effective date of an authorized and promulgated legislative rule, and shall file such legislative rule in the state register in lieu of the proposed legislative rule previously filed pursuant to section seven of this article.

§29A-3A-15. Withdrawal or modification of proposed rules.

(a) Any legislative rule proposed by the board may be withdrawn any time before passage of a law authorizing or authorizing and directing its promulgation, but no such action shall be construed to affect the validity, force or effect of a law enacted authorizing or authorizing and directing the promulgation of an authorized legislative rule or exercising compliance with such law. The board shall file a notice of any such action in the state register.

(b) At any time before a proposed legislative rule has been submitted by the legislative oversight commission on education accountability to the Legislature pursuant to the provisions of section thirteen of this article, the board may modify the proposed rule to meet the objections of the commission. The board shall file in the state register a notice of its modifying action including a copy of the modified rule, but shall not be required to comply with any provisions of this article requiring opportunity for public comment or taking of evidence with respect to such modification. If a legislative rule has been withdrawn, modified and then resubmitted to such commission, the rule shall be considered to have been submitted to such commission on the date of such resubmission.

§29A-3A-16. Emergency legislative rules; procedure for promulgation; definition.

(a) The board may, without hearing, find that an emergency exists requiring that emergency rules be promulgated and promulgate the same in accordance with this section. Such emergency rules, together with a statement of the facts and circumstances constituting the emergency, shall be filed in the state register and shall become effective immediately upon such filing. Such emergency rules may adopt, amend or repeal any legislative rule, but the circumstances constituting the emergency requiring such adoption, amendment or repeal shall be stated with particularity and be subject to de novo review by any court having original jurisdiction of an action challenging their validity. Fifteen copies of the rules and of the required statement shall be filed forthwith with the legislative oversight commission on education accountability.
An emergency rule shall be effective for not more than fifteen months and shall expire earlier if any of the following occurs:
(1) The secretary of state, acting under the authority provided for in section sixteen-a of this article, disapproves the emergency rule because: (A) The emergency rule or an amendment to the emergency rule exceeds the scope of the law authorizing or directing the promulgation thereof; (B) an emergency does not exist justifying the promulgation of the emergency rule; or (C) the emergency rule was not promulgated in compliance with the provisions of this section. An emergency rule may not be disapproved pursuant to the authority granted by paragraphs (A) or (B) of this subdivision on the basis that the secretary of state disagrees with the underlying public policy established by the Legislature in enacting the supporting legislation. An emergency rule which would otherwise be approved as being necessary to comply with a time limitation established by this code or by a federal statute or regulation may not be disapproved pursuant to the authority granted by paragraphs (A) or (B) of this subdivision on the basis that the board has failed to file the emergency rule prior to the date fixed by such time limitation. When the supporting statute specifically directs the board to promulgate an emergency rule, or specifically finds that an emergency exists and directs the promulgation of an emergency rule, the emergency rule may not be disapproved pursuant to the authority granted by paragraph (B) of this subdivision. An emergency rule may not be disapproved on the basis that the Legislature has not specifically directed the board to promulgate the emergency rule, or has not specifically found that an emergency exists and directed the promulgation of an emergency rule.
(2) The board has not previously filed and fails to file a notice of public hearing on the proposed rule within sixty days of the date the proposed rule was filed as an emergency rule; in which case the emergency rule expires on the sixty-first day.
(3) The board has not previously filed and fails to file the proposed rule with the legislative oversight commission on education accountability within one hundred eighty days of the date the proposed rule was filed as an emergency rule; in which case the emergency rule expires on the one hundred eighty-first day.
(4) The Legislature has authorized or directed promulgation of an authorized legislative rule dealing with substantially the same subject matter since such emergency rule was first promulgated, and in which case the emergency rule expires on the date the authorized rule is made effective.
(5) The Legislature has, by law, disapproved of such emergency rule; in which case the emergency rule expires on the date the law become effective.

(b) Any amendment to an emergency rule made by the board shall be filed in the state register and does not constitute a new emergency rule for the purpose of acquiring additional time or avoiding the expiration dates in subdivision (2), (3), (4) or (5), subsection (a) of this section.

(c) Once an emergency rule expires due to the conclusion of fifteen months or due to the effect of subdivision (2), (3), (4) or (5), subsection (a) of this section, the board may not refile the same or similar rule as an emergency rule.

(d) Emergency legislative rules currently in effect under the prior provisions of this section may be refiled under the provisions of this section.

(e) The provision of this section shall not be used to avoid or evade any provision of this article or any other provisions of this code, including any provisions for legislative review and approval of proposed rules. Any emergency rule promulgated for any such purpose may be contested in a judicial proceeding before a court of competent jurisdiction.

(f) The legislative oversight commission on education accountability may review any emergency rule to determine (1) whether the board has exceeded the scope of its statutory authority in promulgating the emergency rule; (2) whether there exists an emergency justifying the promulgation of such rule; and (3) whether the rule was promulgated in compliance with the requirements and prohibitions contained in this section. The commission may recommend to the board, the Legislature, or the secretary of state such action as it may deem proper.

(g) For the purposes of this section, an emergency exists when the promulgation of a rule is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, safety or welfare or is necessary to comply with a time limitation established by this code or by a federal statute or regulation or to prevent substantial harm to the public interest.

§29A-3A-16a. Disapproval of emergency rules by the secretary of state; judicial review.

(a) Upon the filing of an emergency rule by the board, under the provisions of section sixteen of this article, the secretary of state shall review such rule and, within forty-two days of such filing, shall issue a decision as to whether or not such emergency rule should be disapproved.

(b) The secretary of state shall disapprove an emergency rule if he determines:
(1) That the emergency rule or an amendment to the emergency rule exceeds the scope of the law authorizing or directing the promulgation thereof; or
(2) That an emergency does not exist justifying the promulgation of the emergency rule or the filing of an amendment to the emergency rule; or
(3) That the emergency rule or an amendment to the emergency rule was not promulgated in compliance with the provisions of section sixteen of this article.
(c) If the secretary of state determines, based upon the contents of the rule or the supporting information filed by the board, that the emergency rule should be disapproved, he may disapprove such rule without further investigation, notice or hearing. If, however, the secretary of state concludes that the information submitted by the board is insufficient to allow a proper determination to be made as to whether the emergency rule should be disapproved, he may make further investigation, including, but not limited to, requiring the board or other interested parties to submit additional information or comment or fixing a date, time and place for the taking of evidence on the issues involved in making a determination under the provisions of this section.

(d) The determination of the secretary of state shall be reviewable by the supreme court of appeals under its original jurisdiction, based upon a petition for a writ of mandamus, prohibition of certiorari, as appropriate. Such proceeding may be instituted by:
(1) The board;
(2) A member of the Legislature; or
(3) Any person whose personal property interests will be significantly affected by the approval or disapproval of the emergency rule by the secretary of state.

§29A-3A-17. Legislative review of procedural rules, interpretive rules and existing legislative rules.

The legislative oversight commission on education accountability may review any procedural rules, interpretive rules or existing legislative rules and may make recommendations concerning such rules to the Legislature, or to the board, or to both the Legislature and the board.

§29A-3A-18. Prior rules.

Any rule lawfully promulgated prior to the effective date of this chapter shall remain in full force and effect until:
(1) Such rule is expressly made ineffective by the provisions of this chapter; or
(2) Such rule should expire by reason of failure to refile the same as provided in section five of article two, or expires pursuant to its own terms and provisions lawfully made before the effective date of this section; or
(3) Such rule is repealed by the lawful act of the board, in conformity with this chapter; or
(4) Such rule is invalidated by an act of the Legislature or the force and effect of another law.

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ARTICLE 3B.  STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION RULE MAKING.

§29A-3B-1.  Definitions.

As used in this article:
(a) "Commission" means the legislative oversight commission on education accountability created in section eleven [§29A-3A-11], article three-a of this chapter.
(b)  "Board" means the West Virginia board of education.

§29A-3B-2. Rules to be promulgated in accordance with this article.

In addition to other rule-making requirements imposed by law and except to the extent specifically exempted by the provisions of this chapter or other applicable law, every rule and regulation (including any amendment of or rule to repeal any other rule) shall be promulgated by the board in accordance with this article and shall be and remain effective only to the extent that it has been or is promulgated in accordance with this article.

§29A-3B-3. Rules of procedure required.

In addition to other rule-making requirements imposed by law:
(a) The board shall adopt procedural rules governing the formal and informal procedures prescribed or authorized by this chapter. Procedural rules shall include rules of practice before the board, together with forms and instructions.
(b) To assist interested persons dealing with it, the board shall, so far as deemed practicable, supplement its rules or regulations with descriptive statements of its procedures.

§29A-3B-4. Filing of proposed rules.

(a) When the board proposes a procedural, interpretive or legislative rule, the agency shall file in the state register a notice of its action, including the text of the rule as proposed.

(b) All proposed rules filed under subsection (a) of this section shall have a fiscal note attached itemizing the cost of implementing the rules as they relate to this state and to persons affected by the rules and regulations. Such fiscal note shall include all information included in a fiscal note for either house of the Legislature and a statement of the economic impact of the rule on the state or its residents. The objectives of the rules shall be clearly and separately stated in the fiscal note by the agency issuing the proposed rules. No procedural or interpretive rule shall be void or voidable by virtue of noncompliance with this subsection.

§29A-3B-5. Notice of proposed rule making.

When the board proposes to promulgate a rule other than an emergency rule, it shall file in the state register a notice of its action, including a text of the rule proposed, a fiscal note as defined in subsection (b) of section four, and any request for the submission of evidence to be presented on any factual determinations or inquiries required by law to promulgate such rule. If the board is considering alternative draft proposals, it may include the text thereof.

The notice shall fix a date, time and place for the taking of evidence for any findings and determinations which are a condition precedent to promulgation of the proposed rule and contain a general description of the issues to be decided. If no findings and determinations are required as a condition precedent to promulgation, the notice shall fix a date, time and place for receipt of public comment on such proposed rule.

If findings and determinations are a condition precedent to the promulgation of such rule, then an opportunity for 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.

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.

§29A-3B-6. Filing findings and determinations for rules in state register; evidence deemed public record.

(a) Incident to fixing a date for public comment on a proposed rule, the board shall promulgate the findings and determinations required as a condition precedent thereto, and state fully and succinctly the reasons therefor and file such findings and determinations in the state register. If the board amends the proposed rule as a result of the evidence or comment presented pursuant to section five, such amendment shall be filed with a description of any changes and statement listed for the amendment.

(b) The statement of reasons and a transcript of all evidence and public comment received pursuant to notice are public records and shall be carefully preserved by the board and be open for public inspection and copying for a period of not less than five years from the date of the hearing.

§29A-3B-7. Notice of hearings.

Notices of hearings required by section five of this article shall be filed in the state register not less than thirty nor more than sixty days before the date of such hearing or the last day specified therein for receiving written material. Any hearing may be continued from time to time and place to place by the board which shall have the effect of extending the last day for receipt of evidence or public comment. Notice of such continuance shall be promptly filed thereafter in the state register.

§29A-3B-8. Adoption of rules.

A rule shall be considered by the board for adoption not later than six months after the close of public comment and a notice of withdrawal or adoption shall be filed in the state register within that period. Failure to file such notice shall constitute withdrawal and the secretary of state shall note such failure in the state register immediately upon the expiration of the six-month period.

A rule may be amended by the board prior to final adoption without further hearing or public comment. No such amendment may change the main purpose of the rule. If the fiscal implications have changed since the rule was proposed, a new fiscal note shall be attached to the notice of filing. Upon adoption of the rule (including any such amendment), the board shall file the text of the adopted rule with its notice of adoption in the state register and the same shall be effective on the date specified in the rule or thirty days after such filing, whichever is later.

§29A-3B-9. Submission of legislative rules to the legislative oversight commission on education accountability.

(a) When the board finally adopts a legislative rule, the board shall submit to the legislative oversight commission on education accountability at its offices or at a regular meeting of such commission ten copies of (1) the full text of the legislative rule as finally approved by the board, with new language underlined and with language to be deleted from any existing rule stricken through but clearly legible; (2) a brief summary of the content of the legislative rule and a description and a copy of any existing rule which the agency proposes to amend or repeal; (3) a statement of the circumstances which require the rule; (4) a fiscal note containing all information included in a fiscal note for either house of the Legislature and a statement of the economic impact of the rule on the state or its residents; and (5) any other information which the commission may request or which may be required by law.

(b) The commission shall review each proposed legislative rule and, in its discretion, may hold public hearings thereon. Such review shall include, but not be limited to, a determination of:
(1) Whether the board has exceeded the scope of its statutory authority in approving the proposed legislative rule;
(2) Whether the proposed legislative rule is in conformity with the legislative intent of the statute which the rule is intended to implement, extend, apply, interpret or make specific;
(3) Whether the proposed legislative rule conflicts with any other provision of this code or with any other rule adopted by the same or a different agency;
(4) Whether the proposed legislative rule is necessary to fully accomplish the objectives of the statute under which the proposed rule was promulgated;
(5) Whether the proposed legislative rule is reasonable, especially as it affects the convenience of the general public or of persons particularly affected by it;
(6) Whether the proposed legislative rule could be made less complex or more readily understandable by the general public; and
(7) Whether the proposed legislative rule was promulgated in compliance with the requirements of this article and with any requirements imposed by any other provision of this code.

(c) After reviewing the legislative rule, the commission shall recommend to the Legislature any statutory changes needed to clarify the legislative intent of the statute upon which the rule is based or to otherwise modify the activity subject to the rule, or may make such other recommendations to the Legislature or the board, or both, as it deems appropriate.

§29A-3B-10. Emergency legislative rules; procedure for promulgation; definition.

(a) The board may, without hearing, find that an emergency exists requiring that emergency rules be promulgated and promulgate the same in accordance with this section. Such emergency rules, together with a statement of the facts and circumstances constituting the emergency, shall be filed in the state register and shall become effective immediately upon such filing. Such emergency rules may adopt, amend or repeal any legislative rule, but the circumstances constituting the emergency requiring such adoption, amendment or repeal shall be stated with particularity and be subject to de novo review by any court having original jurisdiction of an action challenging their validity. Ten copies of the rules and of the required statement shall be filed forthwith with the legislative oversight commission on education accountability.

An emergency rule shall be effective for not more than fifteen months and shall expire earlier if any of the following occurs:
(1) The board has not previously filed and fails to file a notice of public hearing on the proposed rule within sixty days of the date the proposed rule was filed as an emergency rule; in which case the emergency rule expires on the sixty-first day.
(2) The board has not previously filed and fails to file the proposed rule with the legislative oversight commission on education accountability within one hundred eighty days of the date the proposed rule was filed as an emergency rule; in which case the emergency rule expires on the one hundred eighty-first day.
(3) The board adopts a legislative rule dealing with substantially the same subject matter since such emergency rule was first promulgated, and in which case the emergency rule expires on the date the authorized rule is made effective.

(b) Any amendment to an emergency rule made by the board shall be filed in the state register and does not constitute a new emergency rule for the purpose of acquiring additional time or avoiding the expiration dates in subdivision (1), (2) or (3), subsection (a) of this section.

(c) Once an emergency rule expires due to the conclusion of fifteen months or due to the effect of subdivision (1), (2) or (3), subsection (a) of this section, the board may not refile the same or similar rule as an emergency rule.

(d) Emergency legislative rules currently in effect under the prior provisions of this section may be refiled under the provisions of this section.

(e) The provision of this section shall not be used to avoid or evade any provision of this article or any other provisions of this code, including any provisions for legislative review of proposed rules. Any emergency rule promulgated for any such purpose may be contested in a judicial proceeding before a court of competent jurisdiction.

(f) The legislative oversight commission on education accountability may review any emergency rule to determine (1) whether the board has exceeded the scope of its statutory authority in promulgating the emergency rule; (2) whether there exists an emergency justifying the promulgation of such rule; and (3) whether the rule was promulgated in compliance with the requirements and prohibitions contained in this section. The commission may recommend to the board, the Legislature, or the secretary of state such action as it may deem proper.

§29A-3B-11. Legislative review of procedural rules, interpretive rules and existing legislative rules.

The legislative oversight commission on education accountability may review any procedural rules, interpretive rules or existing legislative rules and may make recommendations concerning such rules to the Legislature, or to the board, or to both the Legislature and the board.

§29A-3B-12. Prior rules.

Any rule lawfully promulgated prior to the effective date of this chapter shall remain in full force and effect until:
(1) Such rule is expressly made ineffective by the provisions of this chapter; or
(2) Such rule should expire by reason of failure to refile the same as provided in section five of article two, or expires pursuant to its own terms and provisions lawfully made before the effective date of this section; or
(3) Such rule is repealed by the lawful act of the board, in conformity with this chapter; or
(4) Such rule is invalidated by an act of the Legislature or the force and effect of another law.

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ARTICLE 4. DECLARATORY RULINGS AND DECLARATORY JUDGMENTS.

§29A-4-1. Declaratory rulings by agencies.

On petition of any interested person, an agency may issue a declaratory ruling with respect to the applicability to any person, property or state of facts of any rule or statute enforceable by it. A declaratory ruling, if issued after argument and stated to be binding, is binding between the agency and the petitioner on the state of facts alleged, unless it is altered or set aside by a court, but it shall not be binding on any other person. Such ruling is subject to review before the court and in the manner hereinafter provided for the review of orders or decisions in contested cases. Each agency may prescribe by rule the form for such petitions and the procedure for their submission, consideration and disposition.

§29A-4-2. Declaratory judgment on validity of rule.

(a) Any person, except the agency promulgating the rule, may have the validity of any rule determined by instituting an action for a declaratory judgment in the circuit court of Kanawha county, West Virginia, when it appears that the rule, or its threatened application, interferes with or impairs or threatens to interfere with or impair, the legal rights or privileges of the plaintiff or plaintiffs. The agency shall be made a party to the proceeding. The declaratory judgment may be rendered whether or not the plaintiff or plaintiffs has or have first requested the agency to pass upon the validity of the rule in question.

(b) The court shall declare the rule invalid if it finds that the rule violates constitutional provisions or exceeds the statutory authority or jurisdiction of the agency or was adopted without compliance with statutory rule-making procedures or is arbitrary or capricious, or that, in the case of a rule adopted pursuant to section five, article three of this chapter, action under said section five was not justified.

(c) When the invalidity of a rule has been so declared, the agency shall, within thirty days after such declaratory judgment has been entered, acquiesce therein and modify or rescind such invalidated rule in accord with the requirement of such declaratory judgment unless the agency promptly, and in any event within such thirty-day period, notifies the plaintiff or plaintiffs of its intention to apply for an appeal to the supreme court of appeals from such declaratory judgment pursuant to section one, article six of this chapter. In the event such agency shall thereafter make timely application for such appeal, the acquiescence of the agency in the invalidity of such rule shall not be required until thirty days after timely applications for such appeal have been refused or within thirty days after the appeal has been dismissed or otherwise disposed of in the supreme court of appeals by an affirmance of the judgment invalidating said rule.

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ARTICLE 5. CONTESTED CASES.

§29A-5-1. Notice required; hearing; subpoenas; witness fees, etc.; depositions; records.

(a) In any contested case all parties shall be afforded an opportunity for hearing after at least ten days' written notice. The notice shall contain the date, time and place of the hearing and a short and plain statement of the matters asserted. If the agency is unable to state the matters in detail at the time the notice is served, the initial notice may be limited to a statement of the issues involved. Thereafter, upon application a more definite and detailed statement shall be furnished. An opportunity shall be afforded all parties to present evidence and argument with respect to the matters and issues involved. The required notice must be given as specified in section two, article seven of this chapter. All of the testimony and evidence at any such hearing shall be reported by stenographic notes and characters or by mechanical means. All rulings on the admissibility of testimony and evidence shall also be reported. The agency shall prepare an official record, which shall include reported testimony and exhibits in each contested case, and all agency staff memoranda and data used in consideration of the case, but it shall not be necessary to transcribe the reported testimony unless required for purposes of rehearing or judicial review. Informal disposition may also be made of any contested case by stipulation, agreed settlement, consent order or default. Each agency shall adopt appropriate rules of procedure for hearing in contested cases.

(b) For the purpose of conducting a hearing in any contested case, any agency which now has or may be hereafter expressly granted by statute the power to issue subpoenas or subpoenas duces tecum or any member of the body which comprises such agency may exercise such power in the name of the agency. Any such agency or any member of the body which comprises any such agency may exercise such power in the name of the agency for any party upon request. Under no circumstances shall this chapter be construed as granting the power to issue subpoenas or subpoenas duces tecum to any agency or to any member of the body of any agency which does not now by statute expressly have such power. When such power exists, the provisions of this section shall apply. Every such subpoena and subpoena duces tecum shall be served at least five days before the return date thereof, either by personal service made by any person over eighteen years of age or by registered or certified mail, but a return acknowledgment signed by the person to whom the subpoena or subpoena duces tecum is directed shall be required to prove service by registered or certified mail. All subpoenas and subpoenas duces tecum shall be issued in the name of the agency, as aforesaid, but any party requesting their issuance must see that they are properly served. Service of subpoenas and subpoenas duces tecum issued at the instance of the agency shall be the responsibility of the agency. Any person who serves any such subpoena or subpoena duces tecum shall be entitled to the same fee as sheriffs who serve witness subpoenas for the circuit courts of this state; and fees for the attendance and travel of witnesses shall be the same as for witnesses before the circuit courts of this state. All such fees shall be paid by the agency if the subpoena or subpoena duces tecum were issued, without the request of an interested party, at the instance of the agency. All such fees related to any subpoena or subpoena duces tecum issued at the instance of an interested party shall be paid by the party who asks that such subpoena or subpoena duces tecum be issued. All requests by interested parties for subpoenas and subpoenas duces tecum shall be in writing and shall contain a statement acknowledging that the requesting party agrees to pay such fees. Any such agency may compel the attendance of witnesses and the production of books, records or papers in response to such subpoenas and subpoenas duces tecum. Upon motion made promptly and in any event before the time specified in a subpoena duces tecum for compliance therewith, the circuit court of the county in which the hearing is to be held, or the circuit court in which the subpoena duces tecum was served, or the judge of either such court in vacation, may grant any relief with respect to such subpoena duces tecum which either such court, under the West Virginia Rules of Civil Procedure for Trial Courts of Record, could grant, and for any of the same reasons, with respect to a subpoena duces tecum issued from either such court. In case of disobedience or neglect of any subpoena or subpoena duces tecum served on any person, or the refusal of any witness to testify to any matter regarding which he may be lawfully interrogated, the circuit court of the county in which the hearing is being held, or the judge thereof in vacation, upon application by such agency or any member of the body which comprises such agency, shall compel obedience by attachment proceedings for contempt as in the case of disobedience of the requirements of a subpoena or subpoena duces tecum issued from such circuit court or a refusal to testify therein. Witnesses at such hearings shall testify under oath or affirmation.

(c) Evidentiary depositions may be taken and read as in civil actions in the circuit courts of this state.

(d) All hearings shall be conducted in an impartial manner. The agency, any member of the body which comprises the agency, or any hearing examiner or other person permitted by statute to hold any such hearing for such agency, and duly authorized by such agency so to do, shall have the power to: (1) Administer oaths and affirmations, (2) rule upon offers of proof and receive relevant evidence, (3) regulate the course of the hearing, (4) hold conferences for the settlement or simplification of the issues by consent of the parties, (5) dispose of procedural requests or similar matters, and (6) take any other action authorized by a rule adopted by the agency in accordance with the provisions of article three of this chapter.

(e) Except where otherwise provided by statute, the hearing in any contested case shall be held in the county selected by the agency.

(f) Notwithstanding the provisions of subparagraph (a) of this section, upon request to the agency from any party to the hearing all reported testimony and evidence at such hearing shall be transcribed, and a copy thereof furnished to such party at his expense. The agency shall have the responsibility for making arrangements for the transcription of the reported testimony and evidence, and such transcription shall be accomplished with all dispatch.

§29A-5-2. Rules of evidence; taking notice of facts; correction of transcript.

(a) In contested cases irrelevant, immaterial, or unduly repetitious evidence shall be excluded. The rules of evidence as applied in civil cases in the circuit courts of this state shall be followed. When necessary to ascertain facts not reasonably susceptible of proof under those rules, evidence not admissible thereunder may be admitted, except where precluded by statute, if it is of a type commonly relied upon by reasonably prudent men in the conduct of their affairs. Agencies shall be bound by the rules of privilege recognized by law. Objections to evidentiary offers shall be noted in the record. Any party to any such hearing may vouch the record as to any excluded testimony or other evidence.

(b) All evidence, including papers, records, agency staff memoranda and documents in the possession of the agency, of which it desires to avail itself, shall be offered and made a part of the record in the case, and no other factual information or evidence shall be considered in the determination of the case. Documentary evidence may be received in the form of copies or excerpts or by incorporation by reference.

(c) Every party shall have the right of cross-examination of witnesses who testify, and shall have the right to submit rebuttal evidence.

(d) Agencies may take notice of judicially cognizable facts. All parties shall be notified either before or during hearing, or by reference in preliminary reports or otherwise, of the material so noticed, and they shall be afforded an opportunity to contest the facts so noticed.

(e) Upon motion in writing served by any party as notice may be served pursuant to section two, article seven of this chapter and therein assigning error or omission in any part of any transcript of the proceedings had and testimony taken at any such hearing, the agency shall settle all differences arising as to whether such transcript truly discloses what occurred at the hearing and shall direct that the transcript be corrected and revised in the respects designated by the agency, so as to make it conform to the whole truth.

§29A-5-3. Orders or decisions.

Every final order or decision rendered by any agency in a contested case shall be in writing or stated in the record and shall be accompanied by findings of fact and conclusions of law. Prior to the rendering of any final order or decision, any party may propose findings of fact and conclusions of law. If proposed, all other parties shall be given an opportunity to except to such proposed findings and conclusions, and the final order or decision shall include a ruling on each proposed finding. Findings of fact, if set forth in statutory language, shall be accompanied by a concise and explicit statement of the underlying facts supporting the findings. A copy of the order or decision and accompanying findings and conclusions shall be served upon each party and his attorney of record, if any, in person or by registered or certified mail.

§29A-5-4. Judicial review of contested cases.

(a) Any party adversely affected by a final order or decision in a contested case is entitled to judicial review thereof under this chapter, but nothing in this chapter shall be deemed to prevent other means of review, redress or relief provided by law.

(b) Proceedings for review shall be instituted by filing a petition, at the election of the petitioner, in either the circuit court of Kanawha County, West Virginia or in the circuit court of the county in which the petitioner or any one of the petitioners resides or does business, or with the judge thereof in vacation, within thirty days after the date upon which such party received notice of the final order or decision of the agency. A copy of the petition shall be served upon the agency and all other parties of record by registered or certified mail. The petition shall state whether the appeal is taken on questions of law or questions of fact, or both. No appeal bond shall be required to effect any such appeal.

(c) The filing of the petition shall not stay enforcement of the agency order or decision or act as a supersedeas thereto, but the agency may stay such enforcement, and the appellant, at any time after the filing of his petition, may apply to such circuit court for a stay of or supersedeas to such final order or decision. Pending the appeal, the court may grant a stay or supersedeas upon such terms as it deems proper.

(d) Within fifteen days after receipt of a copy of the petition by the agency, or within such further time as the court may allow, the agency shall transmit to such circuit court the original or a certified copy of the entire record of the proceeding under review, including a transcript of all testimony and all papers, motions, documents, evidence and records as were before the agency, all agency staff memoranda submitted in connection with the case, and a statement of matters officially noted; but, by stipulation of all parties to the review proceeding, the record may be shortened. The expense of preparing such record shall be taxed as a part of the costs of the appeal. The appellant shall provide security for costs satisfactory to the court. Any party unreasonably refusing to stipulate to limit the record may be taxed by the court for the additional costs involved. Upon demand by any party to the appeal, the agency shall furnish, at the cost of the party requesting same, a copy of such record. In the event the complete record is not filed with the court within the time provided for in this section, the appellant may apply to the court to have the case docketed, and the court shall order such record filed.

(e) Appeals taken on questions of law, fact or both, shall be heard upon assignments of error filed in the cause or set out in the briefs of the appellant. Errors not argued by brief may be disregarded, but the court may consider and decide errors which are not assigned or argued. The court or judge shall fix a date and time for the hearing on the petition, but such hearing, unless by agreement of the parties, shall not be held sooner than ten days after the filing of the petition, and notice of such date and time shall be forthwith given to the agency.

(f) The review shall be conducted by the court without a jury and shall be upon the record made before the agency, except that in cases of alleged irregularities in procedure before the agency, not shown in the record, testimony thereon may be taken before the court. The court may hear oral arguments and require written briefs.

(g) The court may affirm the order or decision of the agency or remand the case for further proceedings. It shall reverse, vacate or modify the order or decision of the agency if the substantial rights of the petitioner or petitioners have been prejudiced because the administrative findings, inferences, conclusions, decision or order are:
(1) In violation of constitutional or statutory provisions; or
(2) In excess of the statutory authority or jurisdiction of the agency; or
(3) Made upon unlawful procedures; or
(4) Affected by other error of law; or
(5) Clearly wrong in view of the reliable, probative and substantial evidence on the whole record; or
(6) Arbitrary or capricious or characterized by abuse of discretion or clearly unwarranted exercise of discretion.
(h) The judgment of the circuit court shall be final unless reversed, vacated or modified on appeal to the supreme court of appeals of this state in accordance with the provisions of section one, article six of this chapter.

§29A-5-5. Exceptions.

The provisions of this article shall not apply to the workers' compensation fund, the bureau of employment programs, the state tax commissioner, the state road commissioner, the state road commission, and the teachers' retirement board.

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ARTICLE 6. APPEALS.

§29A-6-1. Supreme court of appeals.

Any party adversely affected by the final judgment of the circuit court under this chapter may seek review thereof by appeal to the supreme court of appeals of this state, and jurisdiction is hereby conferred upon such court to hear and entertain such appeals upon application made therefor in the manner and within the time provided by law for civil appeals generally.

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ARTICLE 7. GENERAL PROVISIONS.

§29A-7-1. Limitations on certain administrative powers.

No process, requirement of a report, inspection, or other investigative act or demand shall be issued, made, or enforced in any manner or for any purpose except as authorized by law.

§29A-7-2. Notice generally.

Whenever an agency or person is authorized or required to give any notice under this chapter, unless a different method of giving such notice is otherwise expressly permitted or prescribed, such notice shall be given either by personal delivery thereof to the agency or person to be so notified, or by depositing such notice in the United States mail, postage prepaid, in an envelope addressed to such agency or person at the last-known address of such agency or person. Proof of the giving of notice in either such manner may be made by the affidavit of any officer or assistant or employee of the agency, or by affidavit of any person over eighteen years of age, naming the agency or person to which or to whom such notice was given and specifying the time, place and manner of the giving thereof.    

§29A-7-3. Repeals; subsequent legislation.

All acts or parts of acts which are inconsistent with the provisions of this chapter are hereby repealed to the extent of such inconsistency, but such repeal shall not affect pending proceedings. No subsequent legislation shall be held to supersede or modify the provisions of this chapter except to the extent that such legislation shall do so specifically and expressly.

§29A-7-4. Construction and effect; severability of provisions.

Nothing in this chapter shall be held to limit or repeal additional requirements imposed by statute or otherwise recognized by law. No procedural requirement shall be mandatory as to any agency proceeding initiated prior to the effective date of this chapter. If any provision of this chapter or the application thereof to any person or circumstance is held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications of the chapter which can be given effect without the invalid provision or its application, and to this end the provisions of this chapter are declared to be severable.