Arizona § 41-1023 - Public participation; written statements; oral proceedings

§ 41-1023. Public participation; written statements; oral proceedings

A. After providing notice of docket openings, an agency may meet informally with any interested party for the purpose of discussing the proposed rule making action. The agency may solicit comments, suggested language or other input on the proposed rule. The agency may publish notice of these meetings in the register.

B. For at least thirty days after publication of the notice of the proposed rule making, an agency shall afford persons the opportunity to submit in writing statements, arguments, data and views on the proposed rule, with or without the opportunity to present them orally.

C. An agency shall schedule an oral proceeding on a proposed rule if, within thirty days after the published notice of proposed rule making, a written request for an oral proceeding is submitted to the agency personnel listed pursuant to section 41-1021, subsection B.

D. An oral proceeding on a proposed rule may not be held earlier than thirty days after notice of its location and time is published in the register. The agency shall determine a location and time for the oral proceeding which affords a reasonable opportunity to persons to participate. The oral proceeding shall be conducted in a manner that allows for adequate discussion of the substance and the form of the proposed rule, and persons may ask questions regarding the proposed rule and present oral argument, data and views on the proposed rule.

E. The agency, a member of the agency or another presiding officer designated by the agency shall preside at an oral proceeding on a proposed rule. If the agency does not preside, the presiding official shall prepare a memorandum for consideration by the agency summarizing the contents of the presentations made at the oral proceeding. Oral proceedings must be open to the public and recorded by stenographic or other means.

F. Each agency may make rules for the conduct of oral rule making proceedings. Those rules may include provisions calculated to prevent undue repetition in the oral proceedings.