(1) Prior to the adoption, amendment, or repeal of any rule, the administrator shall:
(a) give at least twenty days' notice of his intended action. The notice shall include a statement of either the terms or substance of the intended action or a description of the subjects and issues involved, and the time when, the place where, and the manner in which interested persons may present their views therein. The notice shall be mailed to all persons who have made timely request of the administrator for advance notice of his rule-making proceedings and shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the State;
(b) afford all interested persons reasonable opportunity to submit data, views, or arguments, orally or in writing. In case of substantive rules, opportunity for oral hearing must be granted if requested by twenty-five persons, by a governmental subdivision or agency, or by an association having not less than twenty-five members. The administrator shall consider fully all written and oral submissions respecting the proposed rule. Upon adoption of a rule the administrator, if requested to do so by an interested person either prior to adoption or within thirty days thereafter, shall issue a concise statement of the principal reasons for and against its adoption, incorporating therein his reasons for overruling the considerations urged against its adoption.
(2) No rule is valid unless adopted in substantial compliance with this section. A proceeding to contest any rule on the ground of noncompliance with the procedural requirements of this section must be commenced within two years from the effective date of the rule.
HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 8-800.424; 1974 (58) 2879.