Amended in Senate August 21, 2014

Amended in Senate August 18, 2014

Amended in Assembly May 1, 2014

Amended in Assembly April 9, 2014

California Legislature—2013–14 Regular Session

Assembly BillNo. 2723


Introduced by Assembly Member Medina

(Coauthor: Assembly Member Fox)

February 21, 2014


An act to amend Sections 11340, 11342.535, 11342.610, 11346.3, and 11346.5 of the Government Code, relating to administrative procedure.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

AB 2723, as amended, Medina. Administrative procedure: small businesses.

The Administrative Procedure Act governs the procedures for the adoption, amendment, or repeal of regulations by state agencies and for the review of those regulatory actions by the Office of Administrative Law.

Existing law requires the notice of proposed adoption, amendment, or repeal of a regulation to include, among other things, a description of all cost impacts, known to the agency at the time the notice of the proposed action is submitted to the Office of Administrative Law, that a representative private person or business would necessarily incur in reasonable compliance with the proposed action. Existing law defines “cost impact” as the amount of reasonable range of direct costs, or a description of the type and extent of direct costs, that a representative private person or business necessarily incurs in reasonable compliance with the proposed action.

This bill would define “cost impact” to include those direct costs that a representative private person or sole proprietorship, small business, and business necessarily incurs in reasonable compliance with the proposed action.

Existing law requires every state agency to prepare and submit to the Office of Administrative Law a final statement of reasons with the adopted regulation that includes, among other things, an explanation setting forth the reasons for rejecting any proposed alternatives that would lessen the adverse economic impact on small businesses, as defined. Under existing law, a “small business” does not include, among others, a landscape architect, an architect, or a building designer or an entity organized as a nonprofit institution.

This bill would instead provide that a “small business” does not include a landscape architect, an architect, or a building designer with 50 or more employees or an entity organized as a nonprofit institution with more than 100 employees.

Existing law requires each state agency proposing to adopt, amend, or repeal a major regulation on or after November 1, 2013, to prepare a standardized regulatory impact analysis in the manner prescribed by the Department of Finance. Existing law requires the standardized regulatory impact analysis to address, among other things, the creation of new businesses or the elimination of existing businesses within the state.

This bill would require the analysis to address, the creation of new businesses or the elimination of existing businesses within the state, including the impact on sole proprietorships and small businesses, as defined.

If a state agency, in proposing to adopt, amend, or repeal any administrative regulation, makes an initial determination that the action may have a significant, statewide adverse economic impact directly affecting businesses, including the ability of California businesses to compete with businesses in other states, existing law requires the state agency to include certain information in the notice of the proposed action, including, but not limited to, identification of the types of businesses that would be affected.

This bill would require that information to additionally include the size of businesses that would be affected.

begin insert

This bill would incorporate additional changes to Section 11346.3 of the Government Code proposed by AB 1711 that would become operative if this bill and AB 1711 are both chaptered and this bill is chaptered last.

end insert

Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

P3    1

SECTION 1.  

Section 11340 of the Government Code is
2amended to read:

3

11340.  

The Legislature finds and declares as follows:

4(a) There has been an unprecedented growth in the number of
5administrative regulations in recent years.

6(b) The language of many regulations is frequently unclear and
7unnecessarily complex, even when the complicated and technical
8nature of the subject matter is taken into account. The language is
9often confusing to the persons who must comply with the
10regulations.

11(c) Substantial time and public funds have been spent in adopting
12regulations, the necessity for which has not been established.

13(d) The imposition of prescriptive standards upon private persons
14and entities through regulations where the establishment of
15performance standards could reasonably be expected to produce
16the same result has placed an unnecessary burden on California
17citizens and discouraged innovation, research, and development
18of improved means of achieving desirable social goals.

19(e) There exists no central office in state government with the
20power and duty to review regulations to ensure that they are written
21in a comprehensible manner, are authorized by statute, and are
22consistent with other law.

23(f) Correcting the problems that have been caused by the
24unprecedented growth of regulations in California requires the
25direct involvement of the Legislature as well as that of the
26executive branch of state government.

27(g) The complexity and lack of clarity in many regulations put
28small businesses, which do not have the resources to hire experts
29to assist them, at a distinct disadvantage. Given the importance of
30small businesses within the California economy, it is especially
31important that regulations that may have significant impacts on
P4    1the private sectors be evaluated to determine the potential impact
2on these smaller size businesses.

3

SEC. 2.  

Section 11342.535 of the Government Code is amended
4to read:

5

11342.535.  

“Cost impact” means the amount of reasonable
6range of direct costs, or a description of the type and extent of
7direct costs, that a representative private person or sole
8proprietorship, small business, and business necessarily incurs in
9reasonable compliance with the proposed action.

10

SEC. 3.  

Section 11342.610 of the Government Code is amended
11to read:

12

11342.610.  

(a) “Small business” means a business activity in
13agriculture, general construction, special trade construction, retail
14trade, wholesale trade, services, transportation and warehousing,
15manufacturing, generation and transmission of electric power, or
16a health care facility, unless excluded in subdivision (b), that is
17both of the following:

18(1) Independently owned and operated.

19(2) Not dominant in its field of operation.

20(b) “Small business” does not include the following professional
21and business activities:

22(1) A financial institution including a bank, a trust, a savings
23and loan association, a thrift institution, a consumer finance
24company, a commercial finance company, an industrial finance
25company, a credit union, a mortgage and investment banker, a
26securities broker-dealer, or an investment adviser.

27(2) An insurance company, either stock or mutual.

28(3) A mineral, oil, or gas broker.

29(4) A subdivider or developer.

30(5) An entity organized as a nonprofit institution with more than
31100 employees.

32(6) An entertainment activity or production, including a motion
33picture, a stage performance, a television or radio station, or a
34production company.

35(7) A utility, a water company, or a power transmission company
36generating and transmitting more than 4.5 million kilowatthours
37annually.

38(8) A petroleum producer, a natural gas producer, a refiner, or
39a pipeline.

40(9) A manufacturing enterprise exceeding 250 employees.

P5    1(10) A health care facility exceeding 150 beds or one million
2five hundred thousand dollars ($1,500,000) in annual gross receipts.

3(11) A landscape architect, an architect, or a building designer
4with 50 or more employees.

5(c) “Small business” does not include the following business
6activities:

7(1) Agriculture, where the annual gross receipts exceed one
8million dollars ($1,000,000).

9(2) General construction, where the annual gross receipts exceed
10nine million five hundred thousand dollars ($9,500,000).

11(3) Special trade construction, where the annual gross receipts
12exceed five million dollars ($5,000,000).

13(4) Retail trade, where the annual gross receipts exceed two
14million dollars ($2,000,000).

15(5) Wholesale trade, where the annual gross receipts exceed
16nine million five hundred thousand dollars ($9,500,000).

17(6) Services, where the annual gross receipts exceed two million
18dollars ($2,000,000).

19(7) Transportation and warehousing, where the annual gross
20receipts exceed one million five hundred thousand dollars
21($1,500,000).

22

SEC. 4.  

Section 11346.3 of the Government Code is amended
23to read:

24

11346.3.  

(a) State agencies proposing to adopt, amend, or
25repeal any administrative regulation shall assess the potential for
26adverse economic impact on California business enterprises and
27individuals, avoiding the imposition of unnecessary or unreasonable
28regulations or reporting, recordkeeping, or compliance
29requirements. For purposes of this subdivision, assessing the
30potential for adverse economic impact shall require agencies, when
31proposing to adopt, amend, or repeal a regulation, to adhere to the
32following requirements, to the extent that these requirements do
33not conflict with other state or federal laws:

34(1) The proposed adoption, amendment, or repeal of a regulation
35shall be based on adequate information concerning the need for,
36and consequences of, proposed governmental action.

37(2) The state agency, prior to submitting a proposal to adopt,
38amend, or repeal a regulation to the office, shall consider the
39proposal’s impact on business, with consideration of industries
40affected including the ability of California businesses to compete
P6    1with businesses in other states. For purposes of evaluating the
2impact on the ability of California businesses to compete with
3businesses in other states, an agency shall consider, but not be
4limited to, information supplied by interested parties.

5(3) An economic assessment prepared pursuant to this
6subdivision for a proposed regulation that is not a major regulation
7or that is a major regulation proposed prior to November 1, 2013,
8 shall be prepared in accordance with subdivision (b). An economic
9assessment prepared pursuant to this subdivision for a major
10regulation proposed on or after November 1, 2013, shall be
11prepared in accordance with subdivision (c), and shall be included
12in the initial statement of reasons as required by Section 11346.2.

13(b) (1) All state agencies proposing to adopt, amend, or repeal
14a regulation that is not a major regulation or that is a major
15regulation proposed prior to November 1, 2013, shall prepare an
16economic impact assessment that assesses whether and to what
17extent it will affect the following:

18(A) The creation or elimination of jobs within the state.

19(B) The creation of new businesses or the elimination of existing
20businesses within the state.

21(C) The expansion of businesses currently doing business within
22the state.

23(D) The benefits of the regulation to the health and welfare of
24California residents, worker safety, and the state’s environment.

25(2) This subdivision does not apply to the University of
26California, the Hastings College of the Law, or the Fair Political
27Practices Commission.

28(3) Information required from state agencies for the purpose of
29completing the assessment may come from existing state
30publications.

31(c) (1) Each state agency proposing to adopt, amend, or repeal
32a major regulation on or after November 1, 2013, shall prepare a
33standardized regulatory impact analysis in the manner prescribed
34by the Department of Finance pursuant to Section 11346.36. The
35standardized regulatory impact analysis shall address all of the
36following:

37(A) The creation or elimination of jobs within the state.

38(B) The creation of new businesses or the elimination of existing
39businesses within the state, including the impact on sole
P7    1proprietorships and small businesses, as defined in Section
211342.610.

3(C) The competitive advantages or disadvantages for businesses
4currently doing business within the state.

5(D) The increase or decrease of investment in the state.

6(E) The incentives for innovation in products, materials, or
7processes.

8(F) The benefits of the regulations, including, but not limited
9to, benefits to the health, safety, and welfare of California residents,
10worker safety, and the state’s environment and quality of life,
11among any other benefits identified by the agency.

12(2) This subdivision shall not apply to the University of
13California, the Hastings College of the Law, or the Fair Political
14Practices Commission.

15(3) Information required from state agencies for the purpose of
16completing the analysis may be derived from existing state, federal,
17or academic publications.

18(d) Any administrative regulation adopted on or after January
191, 1993, that requires a report shall not apply to businesses, unless
20the state agency adopting the regulation makes a finding that it is
21necessary for the health, safety, or welfare of the people of the
22state that the regulation apply to businesses.

23(e) Analyses conducted pursuant to this section are intended to
24provide agencies and the public with tools to determine whether
25the regulatory proposal is an efficient and effective means of
26implementing the policy decisions enacted in statute or by other
27provisions of law in the least burdensome manner. Regulatory
28impact analyses shall inform the agencies and the public of the
29economic consequences of regulatory choices, not reassess
30statutory policy. The baseline for the regulatory analysis shall be
31the most cost-effective set of regulatory measures that are equally
32effective in achieving the purpose of the regulation in a manner
33that ensures full compliance with the authorizing statute or other
34law being implemented or made specific by the proposed
35regulation.

36(f) Each state agency proposing to adopt, amend, or repeal a
37major regulation on or after November 1, 2013, and that has
38prepared a standardized regulatory impact analysis pursuant to
39subdivision (c), shall submit that analysis to the Department of
40Finance upon completion. The department shall comment, within
P8    130 days of receiving that analysis, on the extent to which the
2analysis adheres to the regulations adopted pursuant to Section
311346.36. Upon receiving the comments from the department, the
4agency may update its analysis to reflect any comments received
5from the department and shall summarize the comments and the
6response of the agency along with a statement of the results of the
7updated analysis for the statement required by paragraph (10) of
8subdivision (a) of Section 11346.5.

9begin insert

begin insertSEC. 4.5.end insert  

end insert

begin insertSection 11346.3 of the end insertbegin insertGovernment Codeend insertbegin insert is amended
10to read:end insert

11

11346.3.  

(a) begin deleteState agencies end deletebegin insertA state agency end insertproposing to adopt,
12amend, or repeal any administrative regulation shall assess the
13potential for adverse economic impact on California business
14enterprises and individuals, avoiding the imposition of unnecessary
15or unreasonable regulations or reporting, recordkeeping, or
16compliance requirements. For purposes of this subdivision,
17assessing the potential for adverse economic impact shall require
18agencies, when proposing to adopt, amend, or repeal a regulation,
19to adhere to the following requirements, to the extent that these
20requirements do not conflict with other state or federal laws:

21(1) The proposed adoption, amendment, or repeal of a regulation
22shall be based on adequate information concerning the need for,
23and consequences of, proposed governmental action.

24(2) The state agency, prior to submitting a proposal to adopt,
25amend, or repeal a regulation to the office, shall consider the
26proposal’s impact on business, with consideration of industries
27affected including the ability of California businesses to compete
28with businesses in other states. For purposes of evaluating the
29impact on the ability of California businesses to compete with
30businesses in other states, an agency shall consider, but not be
31limited to, information supplied by interested parties.

32(3) An economicbegin insert impactend insert assessment prepared pursuant to this
33subdivision for a proposed regulation that is not a major regulation
34or that is a major regulation proposed prior to November 1, 2013,
35shall be prepared in accordance with subdivisionbegin delete (b).end deletebegin insert (b), and shall
36be included in the initial statement of reasons as required by
37Section 11346.2.end insert
An economic assessment prepared pursuant to
38this subdivision for a major regulation proposed on or after
39November 1, 2013, shall be prepared in accordance with
P9    1subdivision (c), and shall be included in the initial statement of
2reasons as required by Section 11346.2.

3(b) (1) begin deleteAll end deletebegin insertA end insertstatebegin delete agenciesend deletebegin insert agencyend insert proposing to adopt, amend,
4or repeal a regulation that is not a major regulation or that is a
5major regulation proposed prior to November 1, 2013, shall prepare
6an economic impact assessment that assesses whether and to what
7extent it will affect the following:

8(A) The creation or elimination of jobs within the state.

9(B) The creation of new businesses or the elimination of existing
10businesses within the state.

11(C) The expansion of businesses currently doing business within
12the state.

13(D) The benefits of the regulation to the health and welfare of
14California residents, worker safety, and the state’s environment.

15(2) This subdivision does not apply to the University of
16California, the Hastings College of the Law, or the Fair Political
17Practices Commission.

18(3) Information required frombegin insert aend insert statebegin delete agenciesend deletebegin insert agencyend insert for the
19purpose of completing the assessment may come from existing
20state publications.

21(c) (1) Each state agency proposing to adopt, amend, or repeal
22a major regulation on or after November 1, 2013, shall prepare a
23standardized regulatory impact analysis in the manner prescribed
24by the Department of Finance pursuant to Section 11346.36. The
25standardized regulatory impact analysis shall address all of the
26following:

27(A) The creation or elimination of jobs within the state.

28(B) The creation of new businesses or the elimination of existing
29 businesses within thebegin delete state.end deletebegin insert state, including the impact on sole
30proprietorships and small businesses, as defined in Section
3111342.610.end insert

32(C) The competitive advantages or disadvantages for businesses
33currently doing business within the state.

34(D) The increase or decrease of investment in the state.

35(E) The incentives for innovation in products, materials, or
36processes.

37(F) The benefits of the regulations, including, but not limited
38to, benefits to the health, safety, and welfare of California residents,
39worker safety, and the state’s environment and quality of life,
40among any other benefits identified by the agency.

P10   1(2) This subdivision shall not apply to the University of
2 California, the Hastings College of the Law, or the Fair Political
3Practices Commission.

4(3) Information required from state agencies for the purpose of
5completing the analysis may be derived from existing state, federal,
6or academic publications.

7(d) Any administrative regulation adopted on or after January
81, 1993, that requires a report shall not apply to businesses, unless
9the state agency adopting the regulation makes a finding that it is
10necessary for the health, safety, or welfare of the people of the
11state that the regulation apply to businesses.

12(e) Analyses conducted pursuant to this section are intended to
13provide agencies and the public with tools to determine whether
14the regulatory proposal is an efficient and effective means of
15implementing the policy decisions enacted in statute or by other
16provisions of law in the least burdensome manner. Regulatory
17impact analyses shall inform the agencies and the public of the
18economic consequences of regulatory choices, not reassess
19statutory policy. The baseline for the regulatory analysis shall be
20the most cost-effective set of regulatory measures that are equally
21effective in achieving the purpose of the regulation in a manner
22that ensures full compliance with the authorizing statute or other
23law being implemented or made specific by the proposed
24regulation.

25(f) Each state agency proposing to adopt, amend, or repeal a
26major regulation on or after November 1, 2013, and that has
27prepared a standardized regulatory impact analysis pursuant to
28subdivision (c), shall submit that analysis to the Department of
29Finance upon completion. The department shall comment, within
3030 days of receiving that analysis, on the extent to which the
31analysis adheres to the regulations adopted pursuant to Section
3211346.36. Upon receiving the comments from the department, the
33agency may update its analysis to reflect any comments received
34from the department and shall summarize the comments and the
35response of the agency along with a statement of the results of the
36updated analysis for the statement required by paragraph (10) of
37subdivision (a) of Section 11346.5.

38

SEC. 5.  

Section 11346.5 of the Government Code is amended
39to read:

P11   1

11346.5.  

(a) The notice of proposed adoption, amendment, or
2repeal of a regulation shall include the following:

3(1) A statement of the time, place, and nature of proceedings
4for adoption, amendment, or repeal of the regulation.

5(2) Reference to the authority under which the regulation is
6proposed and a reference to the particular code sections or other
7provisions of law that are being implemented, interpreted, or made
8specific.

9(3) An informative digest drafted in plain English in a format
10similar to the Legislative Counsel’s digest on legislative bills. The
11informative digest shall include the following:

12(A) A concise and clear summary of existing laws and
13regulations, if any, related directly to the proposed action and of
14the effect of the proposed action.

15(B) If the proposed action differs substantially from an existing
16comparable federal regulation or statute, a brief description of the
17significant differences and the full citation of the federal regulations
18or statutes.

19(C) A policy statement overview explaining the broad objectives
20of the regulation and the specific benefits anticipated by the
21proposed adoption, amendment, or repeal of a regulation, including,
22to the extent applicable, nonmonetary benefits such as the
23protection of public health and safety, worker safety, or the
24environment, the prevention of discrimination, the promotion of
25fairness or social equity, and the increase in openness and
26transparency in business and government, among other things.

27(D) An evaluation of whether the proposed regulation is
28inconsistent or incompatible with existing state regulations.

29(4) Any other matters as are prescribed by statute applicable to
30the specific state agency or to any specific regulation or class of
31regulations.

32(5) A determination as to whether the regulation imposes a
33mandate on local agencies or school districts and, if so, whether
34the mandate requires state reimbursement pursuant to Part 7
35(commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4.

36(6) An estimate, prepared in accordance with instructions
37adopted by the Department of Finance, of the cost or savings to
38any state agency, the cost to any local agency or school district
39that is required to be reimbursed under Part 7 (commencing with
40Section 17500) of Division 4, other nondiscretionary cost or
P12   1savings imposed on local agencies, and the cost or savings in
2federal funding to the state.

3For purposes of this paragraph, “cost or savings” means
4additional costs or savings, both direct and indirect, that a public
5agency necessarily incurs in reasonable compliance with
6regulations.

7(7) If a state agency, in proposing to adopt, amend, or repeal
8any administrative regulation, makes an initial determination that
9the action may have a significant, statewide adverse economic
10impact directly affecting business, including the ability of
11California businesses to compete with businesses in other states,
12it shall include the following information in the notice of proposed
13action:

14(A) Identification of the types and size of businesses that would
15 be affected.

16(B) A description of the projected reporting, recordkeeping, and
17other compliance requirements that would result from the proposed
18action.

19(C) The following statement: “The (name of agency) has made
20an initial determination that the (adoption/amendment/repeal) of
21this regulation may have a significant, statewide adverse economic
22impact directly affecting business, including the ability of
23California businesses to compete with businesses in other states.
24The (name of agency) (has/has not) considered proposed
25alternatives that would lessen any adverse economic impact on
26business and invites you to submit proposals. Submissions may
27include the following considerations:

28(i) The establishment of differing compliance or reporting
29requirements or timetables that take into account the resources
30available to differing size of businesses.

31(ii) Consolidation or simplification of compliance and reporting
32requirements for differing size of businesses.

33(iii) The use of performance standards rather than prescriptive
34standards.

35(iv) Exemption or partial exemption from the regulatory
36requirements for differing size of businesses.”

37(8) If a state agency, in adopting, amending, or repealing any
38administrative regulation, makes an initial determination that the
39action will not have a significant, statewide adverse economic
40impact directly affecting business, including the ability of
P13   1California businesses to compete with businesses in other states,
2it shall make a declaration to that effect in the notice of proposed
3action. In making this declaration, the agency shall provide in the
4record facts, evidence, documents, testimony, or other evidence
5upon which the agency relies to support its initial determination.

6An agency’s initial determination and declaration that a proposed
7adoption, amendment, or repeal of a regulation may have or will
8not have a significant, adverse impact on businesses, including the
9ability of California businesses to compete with businesses in other
10states, shall not be grounds for the office to refuse to publish the
11notice of proposed action.

12(9) A description of all cost impacts, known to the agency at
13the time the notice of proposed action is submitted to the office,
14that a representative private person or business would necessarily
15incur in reasonable compliance with the proposed action.

16If no cost impacts are known to the agency, it shall state the
17following:

18“The agency is not aware of any cost impacts that a
19representative private person or business would necessarily incur
20in reasonable compliance with the proposed action.”

21(10) A statement of the results of the economic impact
22assessment required by subdivision (b) of Section 11346.3 or the
23standardized regulatory impact analysis if required by subdivision
24(c) of Section 11346.3, a summary of any comments submitted to
25the agency pursuant to subdivision (f) of Section 11346.3 and the
26agency’s response to those comments.

27(11) The finding prescribed by subdivision (d) of Section
2811346.3, if required.

29(12) (A) A statement that the action would have a significant
30effect on housing costs, if a state agency, in adopting, amending,
31or repealing any administrative regulation, makes an initial
32determination that the action would have that effect.

33(B) The agency officer designated in paragraph (14) shall make
34available to the public, upon request, the agency’s evaluation, if
35any, of the effect of the proposed regulatory action on housing
36costs.

37(C) The statement described in subparagraph (A) shall also
38include the estimated costs of compliance and potential benefits
39of a building standard, if any, that were included in the initial
40statement of reasons.

P14   1(D) For purposes of model codes adopted pursuant to Section
218928 of the Health and Safety Code, the agency shall comply
3with the requirements of this paragraph only if an interested party
4has made a request to the agency to examine a specific section for
5purposes of estimating the costs of compliance and potential
6benefits for that section, as described in Section 11346.2.

7(13) A statement that the adopting agency must determine that
8no reasonable alternative considered by the agency or that has
9otherwise been identified and brought to the attention of the agency
10would be more effective in carrying out the purpose for which the
11action is proposed, would be as effective and less burdensome to
12affected private persons than the proposed action, or would be
13more cost effective to affected private persons and equally effective
14in implementing the statutory policy or other provision of law. For
15a major regulation, as defined by Section 11342.548, proposed on
16or after November 1, 2013, the statement shall be based, in part,
17upon the standardized regulatory impact analysis of the proposed
18regulation, as required by Section 11346.3, as well as upon the
19benefits of the proposed regulation identified pursuant to
20subparagraph (C) of paragraph (3).

21(14) The name and telephone number of the agency
22representative and designated backup contact person to whom
23inquiries concerning the proposed administrative action may be
24directed.

25(15) The date by which comments submitted in writing must
26be received to present statements, arguments, or contentions in
27writing relating to the proposed action in order for them to be
28considered by the state agency before it adopts, amends, or repeals
29a regulation.

30(16) Reference to the fact that the agency proposing the action
31has prepared a statement of the reasons for the proposed action,
32has available all the information upon which its proposal is based,
33and has available the express terms of the proposed action, pursuant
34to subdivision (b).

35(17) A statement that if a public hearing is not scheduled, any
36interested person or his or her duly authorized representative may
37request, no later than 15 days prior to the close of the written
38comment period, a public hearing pursuant to Section 11346.8.

39(18) A statement indicating that the full text of a regulation
40changed pursuant to Section 11346.8 will be available for at least
P15   115 days prior to the date on which the agency adopts, amends, or
2repeals the resulting regulation.

3(19) A statement explaining how to obtain a copy of the final
4statement of reasons once it has been prepared pursuant to
5subdivision (a) of Section 11346.9.

6(20) If the agency maintains an Internet Web site or other similar
7forum for the electronic publication or distribution of written
8material, a statement explaining how materials published or
9distributed through that forum can be accessed.

10(21) If the proposed regulation is subject to Section 11346.6, a
11statement that the agency shall provide, upon request, a description
12of the proposed changes included in the proposed action, in the
13manner provided by Section 11346.6, to accommodate a person
14with a visual or other disability for which effective communication
15is required under state or federal law and that providing the
16description of proposed changes may require extending the period
17of public comment for the proposed action.

18(b) The agency representative designated in paragraph (14) of
19subdivision (a) shall make available to the public upon request the
20express terms of the proposed action. The representative shall also
21make available to the public upon request the location of public
22records, including reports, documentation, and other materials,
23related to the proposed action. If the representative receives an
24inquiry regarding the proposed action that the representative cannot
25answer, the representative shall refer the inquiry to another person
26in the agency for a prompt response.

27(c) This section shall not be construed in any manner that results
28in the invalidation of a regulation because of the alleged inadequacy
29of the notice content or the summary or cost estimates, or the
30alleged inadequacy or inaccuracy of the housing cost estimates, if
31there has been substantial compliance with those requirements.

32begin insert

begin insertSEC. 6.end insert  

end insert
begin insert

Section 4.5 of this bill incorporates amendments to
33Section 11346.3 of the Government Code proposed by both this
34bill and Assembly Bill 1711. It shall only become operative if (1)
35both bills are enacted and become effective on or before January
361, 2015, (2) each bill amends Section 11346.3 of the Government
37Code, and (3) this bill is enacted after Assembly Bill 1711, in which
38case Section 4 of this bill shall not become operative.

end insert


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