Notice is hereby given in accordance with § 2.2-4007.01 of the Code of Virginia that the Board of Housing and Community Development intends to consider amending 13VAC5-80, Virginia Standards for Individual and Regional Code Academies. The purpose of the proposed action is to update the requirements for local code academies to reflect current practices of the Virginia Building Code Academy for consistency in the operation of the state and local academies and to clarify reporting and assurance requirements for the local academies to ensure compatible courses and practices.

The agency is seeking comments on this regulatory action, including but not limited to, (i) ideas to be considered in the development of this proposal, (ii) the costs and benefits of the alternatives stated in this background document or other alternatives, and (iii) potential impacts of the regulation. The agency is also seeking information on impacts on small businesses as defined in § 2.2-4007.1 of the Code of Virginia. Information may include (i) projected reporting, recordkeeping, and other administrative costs; (ii) the probable effect of the regulation on affected small businesses; and (iii) the description of less intrusive or costly alternatives for achieving the purpose of the regulation.

Anyone wishing to submit comments may do so via the Regulatory Town Hall website (http://www.townhall.virginia.gov), or by mail, email, or fax to Steve Calhoun, 600 East Main Street, Suite 300, Richmond, VA 23219, (804) 371-7150, fax number: (804) 371-7092, email address: steve.calhoun@dhcd.virginia.gov Written comments must include the name and address of the commenter. In order to be considered, comments must be received by midnight on the last day of the public comment period.

A public hearing will be held prior to and following the publication of the proposed stage of this regulatory action and notice of the hearing will be posted on the Virginia Regulatory Town Hall website (http://www.townhall.virginia.gov) and on the Commonwealth Calendar website (http://www.virginia.gov/cmsportal3/cgi-bin/calendar.cgi). Both oral and written comments may be submitted at that time.

Statutory Authority: §§ 36-137 and 36-139 of the Code of Virginia.

Public Comment Deadline: December 19, 2012.

Agency Contact: Stephen W. Calhoun, Regulatory Coordinator, Department of Housing and Community Development, Main Street Center, 600 East Main Street, Suite 300, Richmond, VA 23219, telephone (804) 371-7000, FAX (804) 371-7090, TTY (804) 371-7089, or email steve.calhoun@dhcd.virginia.gov.