Colorado Code § 24-4-103

Rule-making - procedure - definitions - statutory citation correction
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(1) 
When any agency is required or permitted by law to make rules, in order to establish procedures
and to accord interested persons an opportunity to participate therein, the provisions of this
section shall be applicable. Except when notice or hearing is otherwise required by law, this
section does not apply to interpretative rules or general statements of policy, which are not
meant to be binding as rules, or rules of agency organization.
(1.5) If an agency reinterprets an existing rule in a manner that is substantially different
than previous agency interpretations of the rule or if there has been a change in a statute that
affects the interpretation or the legality of a rule, the office of legislative legal services shall
review the rule in the same manner as rules that have been newly adopted or amended under
paragraph (d) of subsection (8) of this section upon receiving a request for such a review of the
rule by any member of the general assembly.
(2) When rule-making is contemplated, public announcement thereof may be made at
such time and in such manner as the agency determines. The agency shall establish a
representative group of participants with an interest in the subject of the rule-making to submit
views or otherwise participate informally in conferences on the proposals under consideration or
to participate in the public rule-making proceedings on the proposed rules. In establishing the
representative group, the agency shall make diligent attempts to solicit input from
representatives of each of the various stakeholder interests that may be affected positively or
negatively by the proposed rules. If the agency convenes a representative group prior to issuing a
notice of proposed rule-making as provided in paragraph (a) of subsection (3) of this section, the
agency shall add those persons who participated in the representative group to the list of persons
who receive notification of proposed rule-making as provided in paragraph (b) of subsection (3)
of this section.
(2.5) (a) At the time of filing a notice of proposed rule-making with the secretary of state
as the secretary may require, an agency shall submit a draft of the proposed rule or the proposed
amendment to an existing rule and a statement, in plain language, concerning the subject matter
or purpose of the proposed rule or amendment to the office of the executive director in the
department of regulatory agencies. The executive director, or his or her designee, shall distribute
the proposed rule or amendment, the agency's statement concerning the subject matter or
purpose of the proposed rule or amendment, and any cost-benefit analysis prepared pursuant to
this section to all persons who have submitted a request to receive notices from the department
of regulatory agencies about proposed rule-making. Any person may, within five days after
publication of the notice of proposed rule-making in the Colorado register, request that the
department of regulatory agencies require the agency submitting the proposed rule or
amendment to prepare a cost-benefit analysis. The executive director, or his or her designee,
shall determine, after consultation with the agency proposing the rule or amendment, whether to
require the agency to prepare a cost-benefit analysis. If the executive director, or his or her
designee, determines that a cost-benefit analysis is required, the agency shall complete a cost-
benefit analysis at least ten days before the hearing on the rule or amendment, shall make the
analysis available to the public by posting the analysis on the agency's official website, and shall
submit a copy to the executive director or his or her designee. The executive director, or his or
her designee, shall post the analysis on the department of regulatory agencies' official website.
By filing an additional notice published in the Colorado register, the agency may postpone the
hearing on the rule or amendment to comply with the requirement to complete the cost-benefit
analysis at least ten days before the hearing. Failure to complete a requested cost-benefit analysis
pursuant to this subsection (2.5) shall preclude the adoption of such rule or amendment. Such
cost-benefit analysis shall include the following:
(I) The reason for the rule or amendment;
(II) The anticipated economic benefits of the rule or amendment, which shall include
economic growth, the creation of new jobs, and increased economic competitiveness;
(III) The anticipated costs of the rule or amendment, which shall include the direct costs
to the government to administer the rule or amendment and the direct and indirect costs to
business and other entities required to comply with the rule or amendment;
(IV) Any adverse effects on the economy, consumers, private markets, small businesses,
job creation, and economic competitiveness; and
(V) At least two alternatives to the proposed rule or amendment that can be identified by
the submitting agency or a member of the public, including the costs and benefits of pursuing
each of the alternatives identified.
(b) The executive director, or his or her designee, shall study the cost-benefit analysis
and may urge the agency to revise the rule or amendment to eliminate or reduce the negative
economic impact. The executive director, or his or her designee, may inform the public about the
negative impact of the proposed rule or the proposed amendment to an existing rule.
(c) Any proprietary information provided to the department of revenue by a business or
trade association for the purpose of preparing a cost-benefit analysis shall be confidential.
(d) If the agency has made a good faith effort to comply with the requirements of
paragraph (a) of this subsection (2.5), the rule or amendment shall not be invalidated on the
ground that the contents of the cost-benefit analysis are insufficient or inaccurate.
(e) This subsection (2.5) shall not apply to orders, licenses, permits, adjudication, or
rules affecting the direct reimbursement of vendors or providers with state funds.
(f) Repealed.
(g) Each state rule-making agency with a website containing rule-making information
shall include the following information on its website:
(I) Information about the cost-benefit analysis process set forth in this subsection (2.5);
and
(II) A link to the online regulatory notice enrollment form created by the executive
director of the department of regulatory agencies or the executive director's designee and listed
on the department's website.
(2.7) (a) As used in this subsection (2.7):
(I) "Director" means the director of the office of state planning and budgeting.
(II) "State mandate" has the same meaning as set forth in section 29-1-304.5 (3)(d),
C.R.S.
(b) No agency shall promulgate a rule creating a state mandate on a local government
unless the agency complies with the requirements of section 29-1-304.5, C.R.S.
(c) (I) Except as provided in paragraph (g) of this subsection (2.7), beginning January 1,
2014, for each proposed rule that includes a state mandate, an agency shall provide to the
director a description of:
(A) The proposed rule;
(B) The nature and extent of any consultations that the agency had with elected officials
or other representatives of the local governments that would be affected by the proposed state
mandate;
(C) The nature of any concerns of the elected officials or other representatives of the
local governments;
(D) Any written communications or comments submitted to the agency by an elected
official or other representative of a local government; and
(E) The agency's reasoning supporting the need to promulgate the rule containing the
state mandate.
(II) The director shall review the information provided pursuant to subparagraph (I) of
this paragraph (c) and, if it complies with the requirements of this paragraph (c), the director
shall send a written notice of compliance to the agency. An agency shall not conduct a public
rule-making proceeding unless the agency has received the written notice of compliance from
the director.
(d) Each agency shall develop a process to actively solicit the meaningful and timely
input of elected officials and other representatives of local governments into the development of
proposed rules with state mandates affecting local governments. Each agency shall implement its
process no later than January 1, 2014, and post the process on the agency's website.
(e) The executive director of each department shall be responsible for ensuring
implementation of and compliance with this subsection (2.7).
(f) The general assembly shall appropriate any moneys necessary for the implementation
of this subsection (2.7) to the office of state planning and budgeting in the annual general
appropriation act for the fiscal year 2013-14.
(g) Beginning January 1, 2014, for each proposed rule of the state board of education
that imposes a new state mandate or an increase in the level of service for an existing state
mandate beyond that required by statute, the department of education shall comply with the
provisions of paragraph (c) of this subsection (2.7).
(3) (a) Notice of proposed rule-making shall be published as provided in subsection (11)
of this section and shall state the time, place, and nature of public rule-making proceedings that
shall not be held less than twenty days after such publication, the authority under which the rule
is proposed, and either the terms or the substance of the proposed rule or a description of the
subjects and issues involved.
(a.5) If the agency proposes a rule to increase fees or fines, at the time of giving notice
of proposed rule-making or within ten days following the adoption of an emergency or
temporary rule that increases fees or fines, the agency shall send a written or electronic
notification to each member of the general assembly notifying the members of the general
assembly of the proposed rule or the adoption of an emergency rule and specifying the amount
of the increase in the fees or fines.
(b) Each rule-making agency shall maintain a list of all persons who request notification
of proposed rule-making, including temporary or emergency rule-making. Any person on such
list who requests a copy of the proposed rules shall submit to the agency a fee that shall be set by
such agency based upon the agency's actual cost of copying and mailing the proposed rules to
such person. All fees collected by the agency are hereby appropriated to the agency solely for the
purpose of defraying such cost. On or before the date of the publication of notice of proposed
rule-making in the Colorado register, the agency shall mail the notice of proposed rule-making to
all persons on such list. If a person requests to be notified by electronic mail, notice is sufficient
by such means if a copy of the proposed rules is attached or included in the electronic mail or if
the electronic mail provides the location where the proposed rules may be viewed on the
internet. No fees shall be charged for notification by electronic mail. A person may only request
notification on his or her own behalf, and a request for notification by one person on behalf of
another person need not be honored.
(4) (a) At the place and time stated in the notice, the agency shall hold a public hearing
at which it shall afford interested persons an opportunity to submit written data, views, or
arguments and to present the same orally unless the agency deems it unnecessary. The agency
shall consider all such submissions. Any proposed rule or revised proposed rule by an agency
which is to be considered at the public hearing, together with a proposed statement of basis,
specific statutory authority, purpose, and the regulatory analysis required in subsection (4.5) of
this section, shall be made available to any person at least five days prior to said hearing. The
rules promulgated by the agency shall be based on the record, which shall consist of proposed
rules, evidence, exhibits, and other matters presented or considered, matters officially noticed,
rulings on exceptions, any findings of fact and conclusions of law proposed by any party, and
any written comments or briefs filed.
(a.5) Subject to the provisions of section 24-72-204 (3)(a)(IV), any study or other
documentation utilized by an agency as the basis of a proposed rule shall be a public document
in accordance with the provisions of part 2 of article 72 of this title and shall be open for public
inspection. Subject to the provisions of section 24-72-204 (3)(a)(IV), all information, including,
but not limited to, the conclusions and underlying research data from any studies, reports,
published papers, and documents, used by the agency in the development of a proposed rule
shall be a public document in accordance with the provisions of part 2 of article 72 of this title
and shall be open for public inspection.
(b) All proposed rules shall be reviewed by the agency. No rule shall be adopted unless:
(I) The record of the rule-making proceeding demonstrates the need for the regulation;
(II) The proper statutory authority exists for the regulation;
(III) To the extent practicable, the regulation is clearly and simply stated so that its
meaning will be understood by any party required to comply with the regulation;
(IV) The regulation does not conflict with other provisions of law; and
(V) The duplication or overlapping of regulations is explained by the agency proposing
the rule.
(c) Rules, as finally adopted, shall be consistent with the subject matter as set forth in the
notice of proposed rule-making provided in subsection (11) of this section. After consideration
of the relevant matter presented, the agency shall incorporate by reference on the rules adopted a
written concise general statement of their basis, specific statutory authority, and purpose. The
written statement of the basis, specific authority, regulatory analysis required by subsection (4.5)
of this section, and purpose of a rule which involves scientific or technological issues shall
include an evaluation of the scientific or technological rationale justifying the rule. Each agency
shall maintain a copy of its currently effective rules and the current status of each published
proposal for rules and minutes of all its action upon rules, as well as any attorney general's
opinion rendered on any adopted or proposed rule. Such materials shall be available for
inspection by any person during regular office hours.
(d) Within one hundred eighty days after the last public hearing on the proposed rule, the
agency shall adopt a rule pursuant to the rule-making proceeding or terminate the proceeding by
publication of a notice to that effect in the Colorado register.
(4.5) (a) Upon request of any person, at least fifteen days prior to the hearing, the agency
shall issue a regulatory analysis of a proposed rule. The regulatory analysis shall contain:
(I) A description of the classes of persons who will be affected by the proposed rule,
including classes that will bear the costs of the proposed rule and classes that will benefit from
the proposed rule;
(II) To the extent practicable, a description of the probable quantitative and qualitative
impact of the proposed rule, economic or otherwise, upon affected classes of persons;
(III) The probable costs to the agency and to any other agency of the implementation and
enforcement of the proposed rule and any anticipated effect on state revenues;
(IV) A comparison of the probable costs and benefits of the proposed rule to the
probable costs and benefits of inaction;
(V) A determination of whether there are less costly methods or less intrusive methods
for achieving the purpose of the proposed rule; and
(VI) A description of any alternative methods for achieving the purpose of the proposed
rule that were seriously considered by the agency and the reasons why they were rejected in
favor of the proposed rule.
(b) Each regulatory analysis shall include quantification of the data to the extent
practicable and shall take account of both short-term and long-term consequences.
(c) The regulatory analysis shall be available to the public at least five days prior to the
rule-making hearing.
(d) If the agency has made a good faith effort to comply with the requirements of
paragraphs (a) to (c) of this subsection (4.5), the rule shall not be invalidated on the ground that
the contents of the regulatory analysis are insufficient or inaccurate.
(e) Nothing in paragraphs (a) to (c) of this subsection (4.5) shall limit an agency's
discretionary authority to adopt or amend rules.
(f) The provisions of this subsection (4.5) shall not apply to rules and regulations
promulgated by the department of revenue regarding the administration of any tax which is
within the authority of said department.
(5) A rule shall become effective twenty days after publication of the rule as finally
adopted, as provided in subsection (11) of this section, or on such later date as is stated in the
rule. Once a rule becomes effective, the rule-making process shall be deemed to have become
final agency action for judicial review purposes.
(6) (a) A temporary or emergency rule may be adopted without compliance with the
procedures prescribed in subsection (4) of this section and with less than the twenty days' notice
prescribed in subsection (3) of this section, or where circumstances imperatively require, without
notice, only if the agency finds that immediate adoption of the rule is imperatively necessary to
comply with a state or federal law or federal regulation or for the preservation of public health,
safety, or welfare and compliance with the requirements of this section would be contrary to the
public interest and makes such a finding on the record. Such findings and a statement of the
reasons for the action shall be published with the rule. A temporary or emergency rule may be
adopted without compliance with subsections (2.5) and (2.7) of this section, but shall not become
permanent without compliance with such subsections (2.5) and (2.7). A temporary or emergency
rule shall become effective on adoption or on such later date as is stated in the rule, shall be
published promptly, and shall have effect for not more than one hundred twenty days after its
adoption or for such shorter period as may be specifically provided by the statute governing such
agency, unless made permanent by compliance with subsections (3) and (4) of this section.
(b) The period of effectiveness provided by this subsection (6) does not apply to
temporary or emergency rules adopted by the public utilities commission under section 40-2-108
(2), C.R.S.
(7) Any interested person shall have the right to petition for the issuance, amendment, or
repeal of a rule. Such petition shall be open to public inspection. Action on such petition shall be
within the discretion of the agency; but when an agency undertakes rule-making on any matter,
all related petitions for the issuance, amendment, or repeal of rules on such matter shall be
considered and acted upon in the same proceeding.
(8) (a) No rule shall be issued except within the power delegated to the agency and as
authorized by law. A rule shall not be deemed to be within the statutory authority and
jurisdiction of any agency merely because such rule is not contrary to the specific provisions of a
statute. Any rule or amendment to an existing rule issued by any agency, including state
institutions of higher education administered pursuant to title 23, C.R.S., which conflicts with a
statute shall be void.
(b) An agency shall not issue a rule or amend an existing rule unless the issuing agency
first submits the rule to the attorney general for the attorney general's opinion as to its
constitutionality and legality. If an agency issues a rule or an amendment to an existing rule
without first submitting the rule or amendment to the attorney general, the rule or amendment is
void.
(c) (I) (A) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, including section
24-4-107, and except as provided in subsection (8)(c)(I)(B) of this section, on and after
November 1, 1993, all rules adopted or amended during any one-year period that begins each
November 1 and continues through the following October 31 expire at 11:59 p.m. on the May 15
that follows such one-year period unless the general assembly by bill acts to postpone the
expiration of a specific rule.
(B) A rule adopted pursuant to section 25.5-4-402.4 (6)(b)(III) expires at 11:59 p.m. on
the May 15 following the adoption of the rule unless the general assembly acts by bill to
postpone the expiration of a specific rule.
(C) Postponing the expiration of a rule does not constitute legislative approval of the rule
and is not admissible in any court as evidence of legislative intent. Postponing the expiration
date of a specific rule does not prohibit any action by the general assembly pursuant to
subsection (8)(d) of this section with respect to the rule.
(II) It is the intent of the general assembly that, in the event of a conflict between this
paragraph (c) and any other provision of law relating to suspension or extension of rules by joint
resolution (whether said provision was adopted prior to or subsequent to this paragraph (c)), this
paragraph (c) shall control, notwithstanding the rule of law that a specific provision of law
controls over a general provision of law.
(d) (I) An agency that has adopted or amended a rule shall submit the adopted or
amended rule, including a temporary or emergency rule, to the office of legislative legal services
in the form and manner prescribed by the committee on legal services. The office of legislative
legal services shall first review the rule or amendment to the existing rule to determine whether
the rule or amendment is within the agency's rule-making authority and for later review by the
committee on legal services for its opinion as to whether the rule conforms with subsection
(8)(a) of this section.
(II) The committee on legal services shall direct the office of legislative legal services to
review the rules submitted by adopting agencies using graduated levels of review based on
criteria established by the committee. The criteria developed by the committee on legal services
must provide that the office of legislative legal services review every rule as to form and
compliance with filing procedures and that, upon request of any member of the committee or any
other member of the general assembly, the office of legislative legal services provide full legal
review of any rule during the time period that the rule is subject to review by the committee.
(III) The official certificate of the director of the office of legislative legal services, or
the director's designee, as to the fact that an agency submitted a rule to the office of legislative
legal services or as to the date an agency submitted a rule, as shown by the records of the
director's office, as well as to the fact that an agency failed to submit a rule to the office of
legislative legal services, as shown by the nonexistence of such records, shall be received and
held in all civil cases as competent evidence of the facts contained in the official certificate. The
office of legislative legal services shall retain records regarding the review of rules pursuant to
this section in accordance with policies established pursuant to section 2-3-303 (2). If an agency
issues a rule or an amendment to an existing rule for review by the committee on legal services
pursuant to this subsection (8) without submitting the rule or amendment to the office of
legislative legal services within twenty days after the date of the attorney general's opinion on
the rule or amendment pursuant to subsection (8)(b) of this section, the rule or amendment is
void.
(IV) The office of legislative legal services shall present its findings to the committee on
legal services at a public meeting held after timely notice to the public and affected agencies.
The committee on legal services shall, on affirmative vote, submit such rules, comments, and
proposed legislation at the next regular session of the general assembly. The committee on legal
services is the committee of reference for any bill introduced pursuant to this subsection
(8)(d)(IV). Any member of the general assembly may introduce a bill that rescinds or deletes
portions of the rule. Rejection of such a bill does not constitute legislative approval of the rule.
Only that portion of any rule specifically disapproved by bill is no longer effective, and that
portion of the rule that remains after deletion of a portion of the rule retains its character as an
administrative rule.
(V) Each agency shall revise its rules to conform with the action taken by the general
assembly. An agency shall not repromulgate a rule that has been allowed to expire by action of
the general assembly pursuant to subsection (8)(c) of this section because the rule, in the opinion
of the general assembly, is not authorized by the state constitution or statute, unless the authority
to promulgate the rule has been granted to the agency by a statutory amendment, by the state
constitution, or by a judicial determination that statutory or constitutional authority exists. Any
rule so repromulgated is void. Any rule that an agency revises pursuant to this subsection
(8)(d)(V) shall be transmitted to the secretary of state for publication pursuant to subsection (11)
of this section. Passage of a bill repealing a rule does not result in revival of a predecessor rule.
(VI) This subsection (8)(d) and subsection (4.5) of this section do not apply to rules of
agency organization or general statements of policy that are not meant to be binding as rules.
(VII) For the purpose of performing the functions assigned it by this subsection (8)(d),
the committee on legal services, with the approval of the speaker of the house of representatives
and the president of the senate, may appoint subcommittees from the membership of the general
assembly.
(e) The office of legislative legal services shall identify rules that were adopted during
each applicable one-year period as a result of legislation enacted during any legislative session,
regular or special, commencing on or after the previous eight calendar years. After the rules have
been identified, the office of legislative legal services shall notify in writing any prime sponsors
of the enacted legislation who are still serving in the general assembly and the current members
of the applicable committees of reference in the senate and house of representatives for that
enacted legislation that a rule has been adopted as a result of the legislation; except that the
office of legislative legal services need not provide the notice regarding an adopted rule if the
rule resulted from legislation that was enacted more than eight calendar years prior to the rule's
adoption.
(8.1) (a) An agency shall maintain an official rule-making record for each proposed rule
for which a notice of proposed rule-making has been published in the Colorado register. Such
rule-making record shall be maintained by the agency until all administrative and judicial review
procedures have been completed pursuant to the provisions of this article. The rule-making
record shall be available for public inspection.
(b) The agency rule-making record must contain:
(I) Copies of all publications in the Colorado register with respect to the rule or the
proceeding upon which the rule is based;
(II) Copies of any portions of the agency's public rule-making docket containing entries
relating to the rule or the proceeding upon which the rule is based;
(III) All written petitions, requests, submissions, and comments received by the agency
as of the date of the hearing on the rule and all other written materials, or a listing of such
materials, considered by the agency in connection with the formulation, proposal, or adoption of
the rule or the proceeding upon which the rule is based, which materials shall be available for
public inspection during working hours;
(IV) Any official transcript of oral presentations made in the proceeding upon which the
rule is based or, if not transcribed, any tape recording or stenographic record of those
presentations and any memorandum prepared by a presiding official summarizing the contents of
those presentations;
(V) A copy of any regulatory analysis or cost-benefit analysis prepared for the
proceeding upon which the rule was based, if applicable, and any formal statement made to the
agency promulgating the rule by the executive director of the department of regulatory agencies
regarding such cost-benefit analysis;
(VI) A copy of the rule and explanatory statement filed in the office of the secretary of
state;
(VII) All petitions for exceptions to, amendments of, or repeal or suspension of the rule;
(VIII) A copy of any objection to the rule presented to the committee on legal services
by the office of legislative legal services pursuant to subsection (8)(d) of this section and the
agency's response;
(IX) A copy of any filed executive order with respect to the rule; and
(X) A copy of any information provided to the director pursuant to paragraph (c) of
subsection (2.7) of this section and the written notice of compliance from the director.
(c) Upon judicial review, the record required by this section constitutes the official rule-
making record with respect to a rule. The agency rule-making record need not constitute the
exclusive basis for agency action on that rule or for judicial review thereof; except that, this
paragraph (c) shall not be interpreted to allow the introduction of evidence or information into
such rule-making record from outside of the public rule-making hearing, or to allow such
introduction of evidence or information without notice to all parties to such hearing and
opportunity to respond.
(d) If an agency includes information required by subparagraph (X) of paragraph (b) of
this subsection (8.1) in the rule-making record, the agency shall provide a copy of the portion of
the record that includes such information with the executive committee of the legislative council
in accordance with the provisions of section 24-1-136 (9).
(8.2) (a) A rule adopted on or after September 1, 1988, shall be invalid unless adopted in
substantial compliance with the provisions of this section. However, inadvertent failure to mail a
notice of proposed rule-making to any person as required by subsection (3) of this section shall
not invalidate a rule.
(b) An action to contest the validity of a rule on the grounds of its noncompliance with
any provision of this section shall be commenced within thirty days after the effective date of the
rule.
(8.3) (a) On or after August 11, 2010, all new or amended rules or regulations
promulgated pursuant to this section that refer to persons with disabilities shall comply with the
provisions of section 2-2-802, C.R.S., as applicable to the new or amended rule.
(b) Violation of this subsection (8.3) shall not be grounds to invalidate any new or
amended rule; however, such rules shall be amended to reflect the provisions of section 2-2-802,
C.R.S., in any subsequent revision.
(c) Nothing in this subsection (8.3) shall constitute a requirement to change the name of
any department, agency, or program of the state.
(9) Each agency shall make available to the public and shall deliver to anyone requesting
it a copy of any notice of proposed rule-making proceeding in which action has not been
completed. Upon request, such copy shall be certified. The agency may make a reasonable
charge for supplying any such copy.
(10) No rule shall be relied upon or cited against any person unless, if adopted after May
1, 1959, it has been published and, whether adopted before or after said date, it has been made
available to the public in accordance with this section.
(11) (a) There is hereby established the code of Colorado regulations for the publication
of rules of agencies of the executive branch and the Colorado register for the publication of
notices of rule-making, proposed rules, attorney general's opinions relating to such rules, and
adopted rules. The code and the register shall be the sole official publications for such rules,
notices of rule-making, proposed rules, and attorney general's opinions. The code and the
register shall contain, where applicable, references to court opinions and recommendations of the
legal services committee of the general assembly that relate to or affect such rules and references
to any action of the general assembly relating to the extension, expiration, deletion, or rescission
of such rules and may contain other items that, in the opinion of the editor, are relevant to such
rules. The register may also include other public notices, including annual departmental
regulatory agendas submitted by principal departments to the secretary of state pursuant to
section 2-7-203, C.R.S.; however, except as specifically permitted by law, the inclusion of such
notices in the register shall be in addition to and not in substitution for existing public notice
requirements.
(b) The secretary of state shall cause to be published in electronic form, and may cause
to be published in printed form, at the least cost possible to the state, the code of Colorado
regulations and the Colorado register no less often than once each calendar month. In the event
of any discrepancy between the electronic and printed form of the code or the register, the
electronic form shall prevail unless it is conclusively shown, by reference to the rule-making
filings made with the secretary of state pursuant to this section, that the electronic form contains
an error in publication.
(c) (Deleted by amendment, L. 2010, (SB 10-123), ch. 104, p. 350, § 1, effective April
15, 2010.)
(d) The agency adopting a rule shall file the adopted rule, together with the attorney
general's opinion rendered in connection with the rule, with the secretary of state for publication
in the Colorado register pursuant to subsection (12) of this section within twenty days after
adoption of the rule. Upon written request of an agency, the secretary of state shall correct
typographical and other nonsubstantive errors appearing in the rules as filed by the agency that
occur after final adoption of the rules by the agency during the preparation of the rules for
publication in order to conform the published rules with the adopted rules. The agency shall also
file notices of rule-making proceedings pursuant to subsection (3) of this section with the
secretary of state in sufficient time for publication in the register pursuant to subsection (5) of
this section. An agency shall file rules revised to conform with action taken by the general
assembly with the secretary of state for publication in the register and in the code of Colorado
regulations. The office of legislative legal services shall notify the secretary of state whenever a
rule published in the code is rescinded or a portion of the rule is deleted by the general assembly
and whenever a rule or a portion of a rule is allowed to expire in accordance with subsection
(8)(c)(I) of this section. The secretary of state shall direct the removal from the code of material
that was deleted, rescinded, or allowed to expire.
(e) The secretary of state shall establish and maintain an accurate docket system for
recording the time and date of the filing of each document, the agency filing the same, and the
title or description of such document required to be filed for publication under the provisions of
this section, which docket system shall be cross-indexed as to such time, date, agency, and title
or description.
(f) (Deleted by amendment, L. 2010, (SB 10-123), ch. 104, p. 350, § 1, effective April
15, 2010.)
(g) Publication of notices and other required information related to proposed and
adopted rules shall be by electronic publication.
(h) (Deleted by amendment, L. 2010, (SB 10-123), ch. 104, p. 350, § 1, effective April
15, 2010.)
(i) (I) (Deleted by amendment, L. 2010, (SB 10-123), ch. 104, p. 350, § 1, effective April
15, 2010.)
(II) The Colorado register shall contain only such notices, proposed rules, adopted rules,
opinions, and other relevant information and materials as are filed pursuant to law with the
secretary of state.
(III) (Deleted by amendment, L. 2010, (SB 10-123), ch. 104, p. 350, § 1, effective April
15, 2010.)
(j) Repealed.
(k) (Deleted by amendment, L. 2010, (SB 10-123), ch. 104, p. 350, § 1, effective April
15, 2010.)
(l) (I) An agency may request the secretary of state to correct a statutory citation
contained in a rule, including a form incorporated into a rule, as published in the code of
Colorado regulations if:
(A) The general assembly has relocated the statute in a manner that renders the rule's
citation to the statute inaccurate; and
(B) The agency submits to the secretary a written determination by the attorney general
that finds that the condition specified in subsection (11)(l)(I)(A) of this section applies, specifies
what the correct citation is, and identifies each citation that should be corrected.
(II) Upon receipt of a request that complies with subsection (11)(l)(I) of this section, the
secretary of state shall correct in the code of Colorado regulations each statutory citation listed in
the determination specified in subsection (11)(l)(I)(B) of this section.
(III) A statutory citation correction authorized by this subsection (11)(l) is not rule-
making and need not comply with any requirements of this section other than those specified in
this subsection (11)(l).
(m) Repealed.
(12) All rules of any agency that have been submitted to the attorney general under the
provisions of subsection (8) of this section and the opinion of the attorney general, when issued,
shall be filed in the office of the secretary of state. The secretary of state shall require that all
rules of any agency that have been submitted to the attorney general under the provisions of
subsection (8) of this section and the opinion of the attorney general, when issued, be filed in an
electronic format that complies with any requirements established pursuant to sections 24-37.5-
106 and 24-71.3-118.
(12.5) (a) A rule may incorporate by reference all or any part of a code, standard,
guideline, or rule that has been adopted by an agency of the United States, this state, or another
state, or adopted or published by a nationally recognized organization or association, if:
(I) Repeating verbatim the text of the code, standard, guideline, or rule in the rule would
be unduly cumbersome, expensive, or otherwise inexpedient;
(II) The reference fully identifies the incorporated code, standard, guideline, or rule by
citation and date, identifies the address of the agency where the code, standard, guideline, or rule
is available for public inspection, and states that the rule does not include any later amendments
or editions of the code, standard, guideline, or rule;
(III) The code, standard, guideline, or rule is readily available to the public in written or
electronic form;
(IV) The rule states where copies of the code, standard, guideline, or rule are available
for a reasonable charge from the agency adopting the rule and where copies are available from
the agency of the United States, this state, another state, or the organization or association
originally issuing the code, standard, guideline, or rule; and
(V) The agency maintains a copy of the code, standard, guideline, or rule readily
available for public inspection at the agency office during regular business hours.
(b) The agency shall provide certified copies of the material incorporated at cost upon
request or shall provide the requester with information on how to obtain a certified copy of the
material incorporated by reference from the agency of the United States, this state, another state,
or the organization or association originally issuing the code, standard, guideline, or rule.
(c) If any agency incorporates or proposes to incorporate any material by reference in a
rule and the version or edition of the material to be incorporated has not previously been
provided to the state publications depository and distribution center, and if the rule or proposed
rule does not identify where the incorporated material is available to the public on the internet at
no cost, then the agency shall provide one copy of the material in either paper or electronic
format to the state publications depository and distribution center. The state librarian shall retain
the copy of the material and shall make the copy available to the public.
(13) Any agency conducting a hearing shall have authority on its own motion or upon
the motion of any interested person for good cause shown to: Administer oaths and affirmations;
sign and issue subpoenas; regulate the course of the hearing, set the time and place for continued
hearings, and fix the time for the filing of appropriate documents; take depositions or have
depositions taken; issue appropriate orders which shall control the subsequent course of the
proceedings; and take any other action authorized by agency rule consistent with this article. In
the event more than one person engages in the conduct of a hearing, such persons shall designate
one of their number to perform the functions of this subsection (13) and subsection (14) of this
section as can best be performed by one person only, and thereafter such person only shall
perform those functions which are assigned to him by the several persons conducting such
hearing.
(14) Subpoenas shall be issued without discrimination between public and private parties
by any agency or any member, the secretary or chief administrative officer thereof, or, with
respect to any hearing for which a hearing officer or an administrative law judge has been
appointed, the hearing officer or administrative law judge. A subpoena shall be served in the
same manner as a subpoena issued by a district court. Upon failure of any witness to comply
with such subpoena, the agency may petition any district court, setting forth that due notice has
been given of the time and place of attendance of the witness and the service of the subpoena, in
which event, the district court, after hearing evidence in support of or contrary to the petition,
may enter an order as in other civil actions compelling the witness to attend and testify or
produce books, records, or other evidence, under penalty of punishment for contempt in case of
contumacious failure to comply with the order of the court. A witness shall be entitled to the fees
and mileage provided for a witness in sections 13-33-102 and 13-33-103, C.R.S.

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