Title of Regulation: 18VAC76-31. Public Participation Guidelines (amending 18VAC76-31-50).

Statutory Authority: §§ 2.2-4007.02 and 54.1-2505 of the Code of Virginia.

Public Hearing Information: No public hearings are scheduled.

Public Comment Deadline: November 30, 2016.

Effective Date: December 15, 2016.

Agency Contact: Elaine J. Yeatts, Senior Policy Analyst, Department of Health Professions, 9960 Mayland Drive, Suite 300, Richmond, VA 23233, telephone (804) 367-4688, FAX (804) 527-4434, or email elaine.yeatts@dhp.virginia.gov.

Basis: The Department of Health Professions has regulatory authority under § 54.1-2500 et seq. of the Code of Virginia to promulgate regulations. The action conforms the department's regulation to Chapter 795 of the 2012 Acts of Assembly.

Purpose: The purpose is clarity and conformity to the Administrative Process Act (§ 2.2-4000 et seq. of the Code of Virginia). Participation by the public in the regulatory process is essential to assist the department in the promulgation of regulations that will protect the public health and safety.

Rationale for Using Fast-Track Rulemaking Process: The amendment was recommended by the Department of Planning and Budget and is intended to merely conform the regulation to the statute. Therefore, there is no controversy in its promulgation.

Substance: The department has amended subsection A of 18VAC76-31-50 to provide that interested persons may be accompanied by and represented by counsel or other representative when presenting their views in the promulgation of any regulatory action.

Issues: Other than conformity and consistency between law and regulation, there are no primary advantages or disadvantages to the public in implementing the amended provisions, since the provisions are already in the Code of Virginia. There are no primary advantages and disadvantages to the agency or the Commonwealth.

Department of Planning and Budget's Economic Impact Analysis:

Summary of the Proposed Amendments to Regulation. Pursuant to Chapter 795 of the 2012 Acts of Assembly,¹ the Department of Health Professions (DHP) proposes to add language to its public participation guidelines to allow interested parties who are responding to a regulatory action to have counsel or a representative with them.

Result of Analysis. Benefits outweigh costs for all proposed changes.

Estimated Economic Impact. In 2012, the General Assembly passed legislation that allows interested parties who are commenting on proposed regulations to have their counsel or other representative with them while they are presenting "data, views and arguments." DHP now proposes to change its regulation that governs public participation to conform regulation to this statutory change. Benefits likely outweigh costs for this change as it will inform interested parties who turn to this regulation before commenting that they may bring a representative with them when commenting.

Businesses and Entities Affected. This proposed regulatory change will affect all individuals who comment on pending regulatory changes.

Localities Particularly Affected. No locality will be particularly affected by these proposed regulatory changes.

Projected Impact on Employment. These proposed regulatory changes are unlikely to affect employment in the Commonwealth.

Effects on the Use and Value of Private Property. These proposed changes will likely not affect the use or value of private property in the Commonwealth.

Real Estate Development Costs. These proposed regulatory changes are unlikely to affect real estate development costs in the Commonwealth.

Small Businesses:

Definition. Pursuant to § 2.2-4007.04 of the Code of Virginia, small business is defined as "a business entity, including its affiliates, that (i) is independently owned and operated and (ii) employs fewer than 500 full-time employees or has gross annual sales of less than $6 million."

Costs and Other Effects. No small businesses are likely to incur any additional costs on account of these clarifying changes.

Alternative Method that Minimizes Adverse Impact. No small businesses are likely to incur any additional costs on account of these clarifying changes.

Adverse Impacts:

Businesses. No businesses are likely to incur any additional costs on account of these clarifying changes.

Localities. Localities in the Commonwealth are unlikely to see any adverse impacts on account of these proposed regulatory changes.

Other Entities. No other entities are likely to be adversely affected by these proposed changes.

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¹ http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?121+ful+CHAP0795

Agency's Response to Economic Impact Analysis: The Department of Health Professions concurs with the analysis of the Department of Planning and Budget.

Summary:

Pursuant to § 2.2-4007.02 of the Code of Virginia, the amendment provides that interested persons submitting data, views, and arguments on a regulatory action may be accompanied by and represented by counsel or another representative.

Part III
Public Participation Procedures

18VAC76-31-50. Public comment.

A. In considering any nonemergency, nonexempt regulatory action, the agency shall afford interested persons an opportunity to (i) submit data, views, and arguments, either orally or in writing, to the agency; and (ii) be accompanied by and represented by counsel or other representative. Such opportunity to comment shall include an online public comment forum on the Town Hall.

1. To any requesting person, the agency shall provide copies of the statement of basis, purpose, substance, and issues; the economic impact analysis of the proposed or fast-track regulatory action; and the agency's response to public comments received.

2. The agency may begin crafting a regulatory action prior to or during any opportunities it provides to the public to submit comments.

B. The agency shall accept public comments in writing after the publication of a regulatory action in the Virginia Register as follows:

1. For a minimum of 30 calendar days following the publication of the notice of intended regulatory action (NOIRA).

2. For a minimum of 60 calendar days following the publication of a proposed regulation.

3. For a minimum of 30 calendar days following the publication of a reproposed regulation.

4. For a minimum of 30 calendar days following the publication of a final adopted regulation.

5. For a minimum of 30 calendar days following the publication of a fast-track regulation.

6. For a minimum of 21 calendar days following the publication of a notice of periodic review.

7. Not later than 21 calendar days following the publication of a petition for rulemaking.

C. The agency may determine if any of the comment periods listed in subsection B of this section shall be extended.

D. If the Governor finds that one or more changes with substantial impact have been made to a proposed regulation, he may require the agency to provide an additional 30 calendar days to solicit additional public comment on the changes in accordance with § 2.2-4013 C of the Code of Virginia.

E. The agency shall send a draft of the agency's summary description of public comment to all public commenters on the proposed regulation at least five days before final adoption of the regulation pursuant to § 2.2-4012 E of the Code of Virginia.