Arizona § 41-1026 - Emergency rulemaking

§ 41-1026. Emergency rulemaking

A. If an agency makes a finding that a rule is necessary as an emergency measure, the rule may be made, amended or repealed as an emergency measure, without the notice prescribed by sections 41-1021 and 41-1022 and prior review by the council, if the rule is first approved by the attorney general and filed with the secretary of state. The attorney general may not approve the making, amendment or repeal of a rule as an emergency measure if the emergency situation is created due to the agency's delay or inaction and the emergency situation could have been averted by timely compliance with the notice and public participation provisions of this chapter, unless the agency submits substantial evidence that the rule is necessary as an emergency measure to do any of the following:

1. Protect the public health, safety or welfare.

2. Comply with deadlines in amendments to an agency's governing law or federal programs.

3. Avoid violation of federal law or regulation or other state law.

4. Avoid an imminent budget reduction.

5. Avoid serious prejudice to the public interest or the interest of the parties concerned.

B. Within sixty days after receipt, the attorney general shall review the demonstration of emergency and the rule in accordance with the standards prescribed in section 41-1044.

C. If the emergency is in accordance with the standards in section 41-1044, the attorney general shall create a certificate of approval and file the rule with the secretary of state. The secretary of state shall publish the rule in the register as provided in section 41-1013 and publish the rule in the code.

D. A rule made, amended or repealed pursuant to this section is valid for one hundred eighty days after the filing of the rule with the secretary of state.  The emergency may be renewed for one more one hundred eighty-day period if all of the following requirements are met:

1. The agency determines that the emergency situation still exists.

2. The agency follows the procedures prescribed in this section.

3. The agency files a notice of the renewal of the emergency with the attorney general before the expiration of the preceding one hundred eighty-day period.

4. The agency makes the rule as a proposed rule or has issued an alternative proposed rule pursuant to section 41-1022.

5. The agency receives approval of the renewal from the attorney general before the expiration of the preceding one hundred eighty-day period.

6. The attorney general creates a certificate of approval and files the rule with the secretary of state.  The secretary of state shall publish the renewal of the emergency rule in the register as provided in section 41-1013 and publish the rule in the code.

E. A rule that is made pursuant to this chapter shall repeal an emergency rule made, amended or repealed if the emergency is still effective within the one hundred eighty-day period.

F. On expiration of the one hundred eighty-day period, the secretary of state shall remove the emergency rule from the code. If a rule has not been made pursuant to subsection E of this section, the rule in place before the emergency is restored.